Why are they still messing with Sarasota?

The Sarasota county commissioners will vote in a few hours on whether to keep talking with the Reds about renovations to Ed Smith Stadium. Meantime, the folks in Goodyear, AZ are unspooling a red carpet from Second Street to Sky Harbor Airport.

Seems to me, the decision should be easy.

Florida is pushing teams out. Arizona is welcoming them. Florida towns havent rushed in to fill the potential breach if the Reds leave Sarasota. Goodyear has. In Sarasota, the Reds are willing to pay ($9 mil) to stay in a renovated facility. In Goodyear, they'd get a new place for free.

Easy.

I dont often use this space (or any other) to suck up to the Reds. But the only reason they're even still discussing things with a place that is so obviously ambivalent about their presence is, the organization values its history (Fla. is where they've always trained) and its fans. But at some point, you say enough is enough, thank Sarasota for its time and move west.

Look, I love Sarasota. In March, it's a small slice of paradise. I couldnt care less about Arizona, especially the Phoenix area, which is flat, hot, scorched and ugly. But beyond PR and good feelings, there is no reason for them to stay on the Gulf. Time to move on.