After last month's trade that sent all-star centerfielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta, the remaining Pittsburgh Pirates weren't afraid to let it be known they weren't too happy with the decision.
And after Tuesday's two trades that sent backup outfielder Eric Hinske to the Yankees, and starting outfielder Nyjer Morgan and southpaw reliever Sean Burnett to Washington, the Bucs players weren't ecstatic with the timing of the mini fire sale, to say the least.
Shortstop Jack Wilson - himself the subject of trade rumors - said he was "beyond, beyond tired" of the Pirates' deals the last few seasons, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
"They're businessmen. They're trying to achieve winning baseball in Pittsburgh. The biggest question is: When is that going to be? When do things start turning around?" he said.
The Pirates, who haven't made the postseason or had a winning record since 1992, were five games under .500 and six games out of first place in the NL Central entering yesterday.
Last season, they also dealt two of their starting outfielders, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.
Construction begins in Miami
On Tuesday night, the final financial arrangements were completed for the bonds for the 37,000-seat retractable-roof stadium at the former Orange Bowl site the Florida Marlins plan to call home starting in 2012. By 7 a.m. yesterday, workers began grading the area, according to Marlins president Martin Samson.
A formal groundbreaking is scheduled for July 18.
"There are no hurdles," Samson said. "There's nothing left."
The Marlins have tried for years to get their own stadium, one with a retractable roof. Since their inception in 1993, they have shared a building with the Miami Dolphins, and ownership groups have long blamed the frequent threat of rain for poor ticket sales.
Ramirez keeps driving 'em in
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez, the leading all-star vote-getter at the position, pushed his RBI streak to 10 games yesterday. His two-run double in the third inning against the Nationals extended the team record.
They were the 22d and 23d RBIs for Ramirez since the streak began.
The previous Marlins record for consecutive games with an RBI was eight, shared by five players. The major-league record is 17, set in 1922 by Ray Grimes of the Chicago Cubs.
Noteworthy
After their trade with the Pirates, the Nationals sent outfielder Elijah Dukes to triple-A Syracuse to make room for their two newly acquired players. . . . Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez will return to the team Monday after going on the disabled list in early May with a dislocated shoulder. . . . Diamondbacks righthanded ace Brandon Webb told MLB.com that he will not undergo right shoulder surgery and hopes to return in September.
Contact staff writer Jorge Castillo at 215-854-2928
or castillo@phillynews.com.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
