Several major news sources have reported tonight that Lee has come to terms and will sign with the Phillies for less than either the Yankees or Rangers offered. He "wanted to come home."
Really? Halladay and Lee?
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Hey Jimmy03...you beat me to it, pretty crazy huh?
I love it. The Yankees can take their money back to the bank now...or more likely, will throw a bundle at the next guy.
This is the year I look for one of the Orioles' (yes, they still have a team) young guns to break out-the potential is there-but unless the pitching staff does a whole season like they did the last 2 months last summer, we're fighting for third...and I'm the only guy on this whole wide web site that posts about the O's.
I watched "10th Inning" while on the treadmill yesterday. Thank you Ken Burns for not showing that little snot-nosed Jeff Maier interfering with Tony Tarasco, robbing my O's of a shot at the Series. Glad to hear the little jerk is doing well... yea, gotta let it go, but it has only been 15 years...
Thank you Cliff Lee for letting the Bronx bums know they can't buy everything they want.
This is the year I look for one of the Orioles' (yes, they still have a team) young guns to break out-the potential is there-but unless the pitching staff does a whole season like they did the last 2 months last summer, we're fighting for third...and I'm the only guy on this whole wide web site that posts about the O's.
I watched "10th Inning" while on the treadmill yesterday. Thank you Ken Burns for not showing that little snot-nosed Jeff Maier interfering with Tony Tarasco, robbing my O's of a shot at the Series. Glad to hear the little jerk is doing well... yea, gotta let it go, but it has only been 15 years...
Thank you Cliff Lee for letting the Bronx bums know they can't buy everything they want.
Espn is reporting that Lee took a guarenteed five years 120 million with an easily vesting option for a sixth year and that the final Yankee's offer had been worth 148 million counting the option. Texas offer was also higher than the Phillies offer. I guess in the end it wasn't totally about the money with Lee. I have mixed feelings. He would have been great for Texas but I was really scared about giving six or seven years considering how every other longterm pitcher's contract has worked out before. Almost a sigh of relief that Texas doesn't have to tie down that much money in a pitcher. There is no guarantee of a World's championship even with him as Texas found out last year.
By the way, what a big four with Halliday, Hamels, Oswalt, and Lee.
I won the office pool!!! 
GED10DaD
GED10DaD
I've seen $100 mil for five years and 120 for five years. Either way Lee's decision was not entirely about money. Supposedly he loved his time with the Phillies, the clubhouse, manager and the fans. Yes, the same fans that the national media loves to characterize as drunken bums. I've also heard that he contacted the Phillies first to find out their level of interest.
Playing in front of 45,000 fans every night at a great ballpark is very appealing. I know the Yankees and Red Sox games have the same situation but not many others cities create that atmosphere at every game. Going to a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park is like sitting at a great outdoor bar with your friends with the added pleasure of watching a baseball game.
This does put a lot of pressure on the Phillies to win the World Series. With this pitching staff anything else is a failure.
Playing in front of 45,000 fans every night at a great ballpark is very appealing. I know the Yankees and Red Sox games have the same situation but not many others cities create that atmosphere at every game. Going to a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park is like sitting at a great outdoor bar with your friends with the added pleasure of watching a baseball game.
This does put a lot of pressure on the Phillies to win the World Series. With this pitching staff anything else is a failure.
Roy Oswalt as a number 3 starter. Now that's a rotation.
quote:I guess in the end it wasn't totally about the money with Lee.
I can't wait to hear Lee explain what drove his decision now since it doesn't seem to have been driven by either of the two things everyone thought (money, family/lifestyle). Strange.
Assuming the reports are true regarding reasons, I think it is refreshing to see a talented athlete refuse the money whip and instead go play where he really wants to play. I say the Yankees will finish no better than 3rd in 2011.
Hokieone - I cannot dislike the O's with Buck there and the Ripkin history. Love to see them have a great season.
Hokieone - I cannot dislike the O's with Buck there and the Ripkin history. Love to see them have a great season.
quote:Originally posted by Texas1836:
...I say the Yankees will finish no better than 3rd in 2011...
In AL East? I will take that bet all day long!
quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:quote:I guess in the end it wasn't totally about the money with Lee.
I can't wait to hear Lee explain what drove his decision now since it doesn't seem to have been driven by either of the two things everyone thought (money, family/lifestyle). Strange.
TX, It's very simple. He wanted to play in Philadelphia. He likes the team, the city and the LIFESTYLE!
Heard on ESPN this morning that his wife loved Philadelphia. As we all know "if momma ain't happy then ain't nobody happy". Plus they said he loved his time in Philly so it seems like a fit.
I guess $20m makes the hurt go away from being let go a year ago? He says he wants to be part of that 5 man rotation...my bet is Philly doesn't keep all 5 anyway.
On lifestyle, I'll explain this to you just like I did to the NY people. It's no offense to Philly, and it's not saying Dallas is a better lifestyle than Philly. LEE was defining lifestyle as proxmity to his home in Arkansas and being able to be closer to his family there. In the end, that evidently wasn't as important as he made it out to be.
Looks like he just chose the team he thinks will win the most World Series titles over his contract term.
On lifestyle, I'll explain this to you just like I did to the NY people. It's no offense to Philly, and it's not saying Dallas is a better lifestyle than Philly. LEE was defining lifestyle as proxmity to his home in Arkansas and being able to be closer to his family there. In the end, that evidently wasn't as important as he made it out to be.
Looks like he just chose the team he thinks will win the most World Series titles over his contract term.
TX,
Your'e probably right about the rotation. They are trying to trade Blanton and also Ibanez.
My guess is that the Phils GM Ruben Amaro spent the winter meetings last week laying the ground work for trades for those two guys knowing he could make a run at Lee if he got rid of their combined $18 mil for next year.
Your'e probably right about the rotation. They are trying to trade Blanton and also Ibanez.
My guess is that the Phils GM Ruben Amaro spent the winter meetings last week laying the ground work for trades for those two guys knowing he could make a run at Lee if he got rid of their combined $18 mil for next year.
fillsfan, we're hearing the same thing down here on Lee contacting the Phillies first because he liked his partial season up there so much. He was also pretty clear about hating the August Texas heat. But in the end, this is just like all the other signings...follow the money. They always sign with the team that offers them the most. Phillies offer the most annually with a player option buyout....so he signs with red pin stripes.
I don't think they can get rid of Ibanez without absorbing most of his salary though, so the savings won't be 18 million.
I would have to agree with you 3 bagger. Also, they only have Oswalt for next year so that's a few more million off the payroll.
It's the cheese steaks I bet.
Suprise Suprise Suprise
I have been a Yankee fan all my life, but I have been INCREDIBLY disappointed in the way the organization has been run lately. I don't believe Girardi, the incredulous micro-manager, is a good fit for the team. Nor do I think the third baseman is either. If The Boss was still running the show, the whole Jeter fiasco would never have went the way it did. He would have signed, just like he did, but smoothly and out of the media. And now the Lee ordeal...making a big deal out of nothing concrete and tangible whatsoever. Is this all to be blamed on the overzealousness of the New York media? Or, the way I look at it, some questionable decisions coming out of the organizational front office.
I also have my own reserves about the new stadium and the quality of watching a baseball game with the experience. I'll save that for another post.
In the end, I have a lot of respect for Lee and the decision he made. He owed no one anything, and looked out for himself and what would be best for his family. $100+ million is a lot of money no matter how you look at it, and the location and comfort was more important to him than the extra buck. Does it give Philly a competitive advantage on the field? Absolutely, and rightfully so. Congrats to Cliff Lee
I also have my own reserves about the new stadium and the quality of watching a baseball game with the experience. I'll save that for another post.
In the end, I have a lot of respect for Lee and the decision he made. He owed no one anything, and looked out for himself and what would be best for his family. $100+ million is a lot of money no matter how you look at it, and the location and comfort was more important to him than the extra buck. Does it give Philly a competitive advantage on the field? Absolutely, and rightfully so. Congrats to Cliff Lee
Legacy? Maybe? He's more likely to put up HOF numbers pitching for Philly than he would be in Texas or even the Big Apple... just tougher divisions to get wins in.
And, I tend to believe him that he really enjoyed his time in Philly... of course I also believe that Cam Newton knew nothing about money discussions and that Barry Bonds just rubbed some cream he got at the drugstore on his sore aching muscles.
And, I tend to believe him that he really enjoyed his time in Philly... of course I also believe that Cam Newton knew nothing about money discussions and that Barry Bonds just rubbed some cream he got at the drugstore on his sore aching muscles.
quote:I also believe that Cam Newton knew nothing about money discussions and that Barry Bonds just rubbed some cream he got at the drugstore on his sore aching muscles.
its nice to see that not every player salivates to wear the pinstripes no matter how big the check!
anyone know the story Mitch Williams was relating on MLB TV about what happened to Lee's wife at Yankee stadium?
anyone know the story Mitch Williams was relating on MLB TV about what happened to Lee's wife at Yankee stadium?
In one of the playoff games in Yankee stadium, Lee's wife was on the receiving end of some rather colorful language and spit offered up by some Yankee faithful.
Another interesting note, Ranger's brass said Lee was going to sign with the Rangers had the 7th year been made part of the deal. The Ranger's balked, saying 6 was the maximum term. I think the Ranger's made the right call there.
Another interesting note, Ranger's brass said Lee was going to sign with the Rangers had the 7th year been made part of the deal. The Ranger's balked, saying 6 was the maximum term. I think the Ranger's made the right call there.
TX, You keep going back to the Phillies offered him the most money, not true. Although the Phils offered the most per year, the total contract is $28 mil less than the Yankees and $18 mil less than the Rangers best package.
Re: Philadelphia
I never would have thought I would end up living in the Philadelphia area. Until moving there I never heard anything but jokes about Philadelphia. We've lived there long enough for both kids to spend their school education (except one month of kindergarten) in one school district.
Here's how I describe Philadelphia to people who don't know. It's not the best of anything. But it's far from the worst of anything. It's a nice place to live and raise kids. It's big on culture, history and education. It has great restaurants. It's just not the sophistication of NY, Boston or DC (I've lived in NY and Boston). It's two hours from the beach, mountains, NY and DC. It's an underrated city.
From an athlete's standpoint, if you're winning and successful Philadelphia is one of the great places to play. The fans are bipolar. The athlete better be consistant.
I never would have thought I would end up living in the Philadelphia area. Until moving there I never heard anything but jokes about Philadelphia. We've lived there long enough for both kids to spend their school education (except one month of kindergarten) in one school district.
Here's how I describe Philadelphia to people who don't know. It's not the best of anything. But it's far from the worst of anything. It's a nice place to live and raise kids. It's big on culture, history and education. It has great restaurants. It's just not the sophistication of NY, Boston or DC (I've lived in NY and Boston). It's two hours from the beach, mountains, NY and DC. It's an underrated city.
From an athlete's standpoint, if you're winning and successful Philadelphia is one of the great places to play. The fans are bipolar. The athlete better be consistant.
quote:You keep going back to the Phillies offered him the most money, not true. Although the Phils offered the most per year, the total contract is $28 mil less than the Yankees and $18 mil less than the Rangers best package.
I said annually. If you take the total contract minimum value divided by years, Phillies offered the most per year...$24m. You have to factor in the player option buyout at the end. Yankees and Rangers both offered $22-23m, depending on who you listen to but for 6 years.
If I'm the Royals GM I call Brian Cashman and hold up the Yankees for Zack Greinke. Otherwise the Yankees #4 and #5 might be Nova and Mitre. All together now ... Who?
From what I have red, the Royals want major league ready prospects to fill needs up the middle. Yankees have any of that?
Joba, Brackman, Betances, Montero, Nova seem like decent and ready prospects for a young club like KC.quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
From what I have red, the Royals want major league ready prospects to fill needs up the middle. Yankees have any of that?
By the way, Greinke will not go to New York! He has a no trade clause and certain cities are in that contract that he will not go to, but it's his call as well. Trust me on that one!
What we're hearing in Texas....where we have lots of young pitching prospects....is KC isn't interested in pitching prospects because they like what they have.
Of course he wants to play here!
its the city of BROTHER-LEE LOVE !!!!
its the city of BROTHER-LEE LOVE !!!!
Was this in a Philadelphia paper? Or are you willing to admit you thought of it?quote:Originally posted by njbb:
Of course he wants to play here!
its the city of BROTHER-LEE LOVE !!!!
The Daily News: Merry Cliffmas!
I have a question.
Since the advent of free agency, how does this affect opportunities for players in the minors?
My underlying thoughts are these.
Teams go after free agents to plug holes, or needs because they want to win the World Series. Instead of giving a kid a shot(40 man roster), they seek out a veteran, maybe a journeyman because he has played at the MLB level, decent, but not great.
Each year that minor league player(roster spot) stays in the minors in favor of the veteran, how he may have done is unknown. I am aware there are only so many jobs-roster spots at that level, but if the club drafted them, why are they unwilling to provide the opportunity aside from a MLB contract? Take a chance!
If we went back in time prior to free agency, a player stayed with his team unless he was traded or released, in general.
If a team wasn't doing well, wouldn't they bring up someone from their farm to take someone's place?
Don't know much about the legalese or rules, but I do remember players once being sent up or down depending on production. Nowadays, they just go shopping?
Since the advent of free agency, how does this affect opportunities for players in the minors?
My underlying thoughts are these.
Teams go after free agents to plug holes, or needs because they want to win the World Series. Instead of giving a kid a shot(40 man roster), they seek out a veteran, maybe a journeyman because he has played at the MLB level, decent, but not great.
Each year that minor league player(roster spot) stays in the minors in favor of the veteran, how he may have done is unknown. I am aware there are only so many jobs-roster spots at that level, but if the club drafted them, why are they unwilling to provide the opportunity aside from a MLB contract? Take a chance!
If we went back in time prior to free agency, a player stayed with his team unless he was traded or released, in general.
If a team wasn't doing well, wouldn't they bring up someone from their farm to take someone's place?
Don't know much about the legalese or rules, but I do remember players once being sent up or down depending on production. Nowadays, they just go shopping?
I don't think a single player would want to go back to the old days of the Reserve Clause where you were owned by a club until they no longer had any use for you. Free agency is the greatest thing to happen to players. Salaries did not have to be very high when there was no option to leave a club after several years. You took what the club wanted to pay or you quit. That was your two options. Clubs like the Yankees and Cardinals at one time had forty plus farmclubs each so the fight to the Majors from the Minors was much harder than it is now.
quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
In one of the playoff games in Yankee stadium, Lee's wife was on the receiving end of some rather colorful language and spit offered up by some Yankee faithful.
Another interesting note, Ranger's brass said Lee was going to sign with the Rangers had the 7th year been made part of the deal. The Ranger's balked, saying 6 was the maximum term. I think the Ranger's made the right call there.
Oh please with that poor wife story! There are unfortunately a few dirtbag fans in many sports arena's. Just go on youtube and search fan fights in philly, boston, NY , etc. and you will see that it is all over. And which city was just voted the most dangerous city in the USA? St. Louis!
Her being harassed can happen at plenty of venues! Idiots have no zipcode that you can avoid!
I would believe he preferred Philly period!-
and not this whiny story - all baseball fans know is unfortuantely too common with drunken
fools in several stadiums. especially Philly, Yankee stadium, Citifield, and Boston just for starters.
Chill out K complex. Bothsportsdad heard a vague reference to it on the radio and asked what happened. There was no commentary about NY fans, just an answer to his question. NY isn't all bad fans anymore than Texans don't all wear cowboy hats....altho bad fans in NY may out number Cowboy hats in Texas. 
quote:Originally posted by K Complex:quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
In one of the playoff games in Yankee stadium, Lee's wife was on the receiving end of some rather colorful language and spit offered up by some Yankee faithful.
Another interesting note, Ranger's brass said Lee was going to sign with the Rangers had the 7th year been made part of the deal. The Ranger's balked, saying 6 was the maximum term. I think the Ranger's made the right call there.
Oh please with that poor wife story! There are unfortunately a few dirtbag fans in many sports arena's. Just go on youtube and search fan fights in philly, boston, NY , etc. and you will see that it is all over. And which city was just voted the most dangerous city in the USA? St. Louis!
Her being harassed can happen at plenty of venues! Idiots have no zipcode that you can avoid!
I would believe he preferred Philly period!-
and not this whiny story - all baseball fans know is unfortuantely too common with drunken
fools in several stadiums. especially Philly, Yankee stadium, Citifield, and Boston just for starters.
However, in the 20 major leauge and 30 MiLB stadiums in which I have seen games, I have not witnessed any group that could "out rude", "out racial, sexual and disability slur" the Yankee Bleacher Creatures.
quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
Chill out K complex. Bothsportsdad heard a vague reference to it on the radio and asked what happened. There was no commentary about NY fans, just an answer to his question. NY isn't all bad fans anymore than Texans don't all wear cowboy hats....altho bad fans in NY may out number Cowboy hats in Texas.
No- I wasnt trying to defend idiot NY fans- I have a problem with Mrs. Lee story as really being a factor. Now excuse me while I go back and listen to those many thousand of angelic Philly Flyer fans as the chant Crosby S+++ks!