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
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!
