A couple weeks ago Delmon Young rattled off a few juicy criticisms of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization saying, “”When it comes to free agency, no use trying to stay around there for the long haul. ‘Get your six years and leave.” Asked why he hadn’t been called up when rosters expanded in September, Young offered one more pointed thought: “”The only thing I can think of is they’re being cheap.”

Guess what? Some of the D-Rays players are offended.

” … I don’t think anybody in this locker room is feeling sorry for him,” rightfielder Aubrey Huff said. “A lot of guys worked hard to get here. … He rubbed a lot of people in here the wrong way. It was the wrong thing to say. He showed a little immaturity and that’s why he’s not here. It takes a lot of nerve to say the organization is cheap when you got $5.8-million (to sign).”

So who’s right, Huff or Young? Well, are the D-Rays cheap? Their payroll is $29,893,567. That’s a league-low $29,893,567. In 2001 they raked in $12,384,000 in revenue-sharing dollars. That number jumped to $20 million in 2004. According to a Forbes report the D-Rays had a higher operating income (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) than any other team in the major leagues last year except the Baltimore Orioles

So, again, are they cheap? Well they spend no money. And they make a lot of money. Yes, that would make them cheap. Is Naimoli pocketing cash before he hands the team over to Stu Sternberg? Yes.

So speak up Delmon. The team that drafted you is a joke. And despite the tenor of the comments made by Rhodes Scholar Huff you have every right to be upset.

No, don’t feel sorry for Delmon. He’s set for life in terms of cash and who cares if he has to stay in the minors for a few more years? He’s still playing baseball. And probably winning more often than his poor-fielding brethren in TB.