The hammer falls

As was widely suspected after being mentioned both by Dejan and Perrotto, the Pirates are really, truly, actually interested in Eric Byrnes. I think I might just stay away from my computer until some time Monday so that Dave Littlefield doesn't ruin my Christmas.

To re-iterate, when phrases like

Byrnes, 29, a right-handed hitter with occasional pop and plenty of fire

and

"No one plays harder, and he'll prove that again," said Sasson (Byrnes' agent)

are used, they're only used because of an absence of actual baseball ability. Let's try this once and for all,

ERIC BYRNES IS NOT GOING TO PUT ONE MORE PERSON IN THE SEATS THAN ANYONE YOU ALREADY HAVE ON YOUR TEAM WILL, NOR WILL HE HELP YOU WIN ANY MORE BASEBALL GAMES THAN THEY WILL. STOP WASTING MONEY AND RUINING CHRISTMAS, DAVE LITTLEFIELD.