Damn Yankees, when does football start?

[Desnudo]

"News
New York's WABC-TV and New Jersey's Bergen Record are both reporting that free-agent pitcher Greg Maddux will sign with the New York Yankees sometime this week. It should come as no surprise that Maddux shares agent Scott Boras with one former Texas Ranger, Alex Rodriguez. The former Braves starter was reportedly considering an increased two-year offer in the neighborhood of $14-15 million from his former team, the Chicago Cubs, after turning down varying levels of interest from the Giants, Dodgers, and Cardinals. He has won 15 or more games in a major-league record 16 straight seasons."

hxxp://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpbmdmam0wBF9TAzI1NjY0ODI1BHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=fanball-yankeesmadduxmaybene&prov=fanball&type=lgns


I don't pray often, but please let anyone but them win the world series this year.

[BishopMVP]

Just wait until they get Vidro too.

[Peregrine]

As I told a co-worker, if they want to build a pitching staff based on people who were dominant circa 1996, they're doing great.

[FBPro]

Not soon enough, though the scouting combine is this coming weekend on NFL Network. I know what I'll be doing.

[Galaril]

Good job Larry Luchino.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Good job Larry Luchino.

What does he have to do with this? Were the Red Sox ever interested in Maddux? Should they be? It's thinking like that that will sink your organization. You don't go after the same guys the Yankees are, simply because they are. Especially when Georgie is directing traffic.

I think the Maddux signing, if it happens, clearly opens the door for a deal for Vidro.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

What does he have to do with this? Were the Red Sox ever interested in Maddux? Should they be? It's thinking like that that will sink your organization. You don't go after the same guys the Yankees are, simply because they are. Especially when Georgie is directing traffic.

I think the Maddux signing, if it happens, clearly opens the door for a deal for Vidro.

No, actually I am still venting about the A-Rod mess.

[rkmsuf]

Maddox will probably not be a Yankee...by all accounts this is nothing but NY media throwing stuff against the wall...

[Fonzie]

What does any of this have to do with Ted Nugent?

[Ksyrup]

It has more to do with Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw, I believe. Ted was just there for show.

[damnMikeBrown]

If MLB were a sports sim, the review would be, "This game has great potential. I can see there is an incredible opportunity of depth, and involved game play. The options and intricacies involved in managing/GM'img a team are immense, such that you'd never tire of playing. The downside is that the finances are completely broken, thus making the game completely unplayable. Wait for a big patch, of next years version."

[tucker342]

LOL

[tucker342]

dola-

As I told a co-worker, if they want to build a pitching staff based on people who were dominant circa 1996, they're doing great.

ummm Maddux is still one of the best pitchers in the league.... His ERA was a little high, but that's cause he started the year so poorly... I bet it will be the same old Greg Maddux this season.


One more thing, I REALLY hope The Yankees don't get him...

[judicial clerk]

"Can you take me high enough?!, something something, Yesterday!"

er, wait was that damn Yankees?

On a serious note, Vidro at second base would be awesome, if you are a Yankee fan.

Question: Last year I heard people talking about how shitty Derek Jeter had become. Is this true? I don't follow the regular season very closely anymore.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by tucker342

ummm Maddux is still one of the best pitchers in the league.... His ERA was a little high, but that's cause he started the year so poorly... I bet it will be the same old Greg Maddux this season.

Maddux might still be a good pitcher, but he's not the "same old" Maddux from a couple of years ago. The last two years, his H/9 IP and BB/9 IP went up, while his K/9 IP went down, from the previous two years.

Taken from a recent Rob Neyer article:






Hits/9 W/9 K/9

2000-2001 8.3 0.9 6.8

2002-2003 9.0 1.4 5.2









He's still a decent pitcher, and with the Yankees' offense, he'd probably win 15 games in his sleep. Still, he's not quite as automatic as he used to be. And there's an increased chance that he could completely lose it, given that he's always relied on something other than his "stuff."

[McSweeny]

rotoworld says this is just BS new york media and no deal is happening... though they did grab El Duque on a minor league deal

[Fonzie]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

It has more to do with Jack Blades and Tommy Shaw, I believe. Ted was just there for show.

Ah, now it all makes sense.

[Raven Hawk]

Although this refers to last year, I seems quite appropriate now.

hxxp://www.theonion.com/onion3904/yankees.html

[Ksyrup]

From the Sports Guy's newest column:



Another silver lining: This A-Rod fiasco made us realize that Ben Affleck needs to be stopped. I loved "Good Will Hunting" as much as anyone, but did you see him ranting and raving at the Daytona 500? Since when did Ben Affleck become The Voice of Red Sox Fans? Who nominated him? Would a true Sox fan ever propose to a chick with a big ass from the Bronx? In a million years? I really think we should vote on this -- let's have an election and everything. Ben Affleck needs to be stopped. I'm not kidding.

(And really, who is Affleck to lecture us about someone ruining the sport of baseball? Isn't this the same guy who sold out with "Reindeer Games," "Paycheck," "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon," "Gigli" and everything else? Has any actor cashed in as gleefully and gratuitously as Ben Affleck? How is this different than A-Rod weaseling his way to New York? And when you think about it, isn't working for the Weinsteins basically the Hollywood equivalent of playing for the Yankees? I thought so.)

[General Mike]

I'm done with baseball, forever.

[Fonzie]

As was noted in the other Yankees thread, every move they make that further distances their payroll from that of the rest of the league will increase the likelihood of MLB moving toward some sort of salary cap. Of course, there will have to be a work-stoppage of some sort to finally bring the Players Association to their senses on this issue, and it'll be painful, but it'll have to happen if the sport is to survive the ever-widening market disparities.

So, in a twisted sense, what the Yankees are doing now by buying or trying to buy every quality player available is going to be best for baseball in the long run, as it will accelerate the move towards some sort of cap system/payroll equality.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Fonzie

As was noted in the other Yankees thread, every move they make that further distances their payroll from that of the rest of the league will increase the likelihood of MLB moving toward some sort of salary cap. Of course, there will have to be a work-stoppage of some sort to finally bring the Players Association to their senses on this issue, and it'll be painful, but it'll have to happen if the sport is to survive the ever-widening market disparities.

So, in a twisted sense, what the Yankees are doing now by buying or trying to buy every quality player available is going to be best for baseball in the long run, as it will accelerate the move towards some sort of cap system/payroll equality.

I hope they win 130 games and the World Series for the next five years. Then baseball will have achieved what they have set in motion. No one will watch outside of NY and the game will have to change. I've seen the light...Go Yankees!!!

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

I hope they win 130 games and the World Series for the next five years. Then baseball will have achieved what they have set in motion. No one will watch outside of NY and the game will have to change. I've seen the light...Go Yankees!!!

Actually it would just be like baseball from 1920-1970.

[Castlerock]

This is from Rick Reilly back in 1999 but it still true:

Rooting for the Yankees takes all the courage, imagination, conviction and baseball intelligence of Spam. It's like rooting for Brad Pitt to get the girl or for Bill Gates to hit Scratch 'n' Win. (This is why I'm proposing legislation that would allow only those born in one of the five New York boroughs to be Yankees fans. All others who root for the team will be considered overdog-loving, Eveready-chucking, bandwagon-hopping, fair-weather, brownnose, pucker-lipped human goiters and be required to turn in their pinstriped underwear or be tossed into the East River with only Chuck Knoblauch to throw them a life preserver.)

[mckerney]

...and the Lakers are going to have their 70 win season this year because they added two superstars, yadda yadda yadda.

The Yankees will obviously enter the season favored by the media, though I'd be surprised to see them as the champs at the end of the year. Yes, they picked up Alex Rodriguz, a player with so much of an impact on a team that the Mariners tied the major league record for wins the year after he left. And although he's better than Soriano, it remains to be seen how much of an improvement having Rodriguez instead will have.

Also, if it comes down to them playing in the playoffs again, I'd much rather have the Red Sox rotation.

[sterlingice]

Looks like Maddux will not be joining the Yankees, but rather, as has been reported for months, the Cubs. At least, according to AP.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1737634

The deal is pending a physical, but the 37-year-old Maddux is expected to report Wednesday with the rest of the Cubs pitchers and catchers. Maddux, who spent the last 11 years with the Atlanta Braves, was the last major free agent to agree to a deal.

SI

[jerem77]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Looks like Maddux will not be joining the Yankees, but rather, as has been reported for months, the Cubs. At least, according to AP.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1737634


SI

This was the happiest news I've had all day. Being a Cubs fan I could've cared less who the Yankess picked up this winter... except Greg Maddux. Though I'll NEVER like the Red Sox, I was very close to becoming a Yankee Hater.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by jerem77

This was the happiest news I've had all day. Being a Cubs fan I could've cared less who the Yankess picked up this winter... except Greg Maddux. Though I'll NEVER like the Red Sox, I was very close to becoming a Yankee Hater.

Why in the blue hell did they give him 3 years and $24 Million?

[AgPete]

Originally Posted by jerem77

This was the happiest news I've had all day. Being a Cubs fan I could've cared less who the Yankess picked up this winter... except Greg Maddux. Though I'll NEVER like the Red Sox, I was very close to becoming a Yankee Hater.

If Maddux can revert back to his old self for one year, can you imagine a healthy rotation with him, Prior and Wood? If there is one team besides my home team I root for in MLB, it's the Cubbies. I'd love to see them end the streak and beat the Yankees in the process.

[Fonzie]

As a Cardinals fan, I was hoping to see Maddux go anywhere but Chicago. Rats.

At the same time, I think 3 years for $24 million is silly money to spend on a slowly declining 37 year-old (albeit a very good pitcher). The fact that the Cubs are paying that much, and thus diverting their resources from improving other aspects of their team, makes me happy.

[Fonzie]

Dola-

Originally Posted by AgPete

If Maddux can revert back to his old self for one year, can you imagine a healthy rotation with him, Prior and Wood?

They don't really need the "old" Maddux to elicit an eek from me; last year's version will be tough enough, especially when one considers that they've also got Clement and Zambrano. If they're all healthy that'll be perhaps the best 1-5 starting rotation in baseball.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Looks like Maddux will not be joining the Yankees, but rather, as has been reported for months, the Cubs. At least, according to AP.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1737634


SI

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Crap, even after all the moves the Astros have made this off-season this is going to make it really tough for us to unseat the Cubs as NL Central champs...

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Crap, even after all the moves the Astros have made this off-season this is going to make it really tough for us to unseat the Cubs as NL Central champs...

Yeah, but as pretty as that "NL Central" banner looks versus "Wild Card" (is there any difference aside from the lettering?), who really cares in the end. All that matters is getting to the playoffs because then it's all about the short series and anything can happen.

SI

[JeeberD]

Well, last year the wildcard certainly didn't come from the NL Central. Hopefully, if the Astros can't take the division, they'll be improved enough to get the wildcard. But that's nothing that you can ever count on...

[jerem77]

Originally Posted by General Mike

Why in the blue hell did they give him 3 years and $24 Million?

Why else-so that he would sign with them.

Actually, there are several very good reasons for the cubs to sign Maddux, and at that kind of money...

1. 24 million is chump change for the Cubs. They have been underspending for years. Sorry Fonzie, but I doubt this will really hurt their spending in other areas.

2. Cubs fans have never really forgiven management for letting Maddux walk away. Bringing him back to win #300 provides a sort of undoing of the past mistake

3. Maddux only needs to be as good as last year or slightly better to make this team better.

4. Lastly and most importantly. The presence of Clemens and Pettite on the Astros will make the other pitchers better. Those two guys have a lot to teach. Maddux can do the same for the Cubs young pitchers. The knowledge he can impart onto Wood, Prior, etc. is invaluable.

[Easy Mac]

I hate Greg Maddux because:

A. Once a Cub, always a Cub
B. He looks like Matthew Broderick from Godzilla, but not from Ferris Buehler
C. He goes where the money is, he has no loyalty (you're not worth that much... see also Tom Glavine).
4. He's a Cub

So I say Fuck Greg Maddux, fuck him right in his ear. He's been overrated for the past 2 years and isn't nearly as effective once they realized there is a strike zone. I'd rather have a million Gay Hamptons than 1 Greg Maddux.

[Vince]

Tell us how you really feel, Easy Mac

[Easy Mac]

He is a cod... yes, i mean cod.

[sterlingice]

Rangers: Blalock inks five-year deal

Well, some more good news today. This deal did allow the Rangers to lock up Blalock for 5 years. So, at least they aren't just sitting on that cash and they're trying to build a core. If they could sign Teixeira, they'd be in even better shape.

For anyone not familiar with why anyone would sign a young guy for a lot more than he's making, it's something a lot of small market teams have to do to try and keep costs down. Basically, instead of paying him league minimum his first couple of years and then having his contract explode to $10M each of his arbitration years, they'll sign him to something like a 5 year, $3M per so he gets his money spread out more and it's guaranteed (pray for no injuries) while the team gets to save some cash and maybe even sign them for their first year of free agency. It a good way to save money, but if he gets injured or doesn't pan out, you're stuck with dead money on your books. It's backfired on a lot of teams but a risk you have to take if you're a small market club. I know the Royals are looking long and hard at Angel Berroa, Ken Harvey, Jeremy Affeldt, Jimmy Gobble, Miguel Ascensio, and Kyle Snyder this year to see if they can and should lock up any of them long term and maybe even sign away their first year of free agency.

SI

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

I hate Greg Maddux because:

B. He looks like Matthew Broderick from Godzilla, but not from Ferris Buehler

That's a great reason, although I'd have gone with the "He looks like the Matthew Broderick who killed a mother and daughter while driving around Ireland on vacation, but not from Ferris Bueler."

That's a bigger travesty than Godzilla. But it's close.

[McSweeny]

you guys see this gem on rotoworld today?

Alfonso Soriano is two years older than his listed age of 26, the Rangers have revealed.
Soriano revealed his actual age to the Yankees last summer and the Rangers knew the truth before trading for him this week. This doesn't come as much of a surprise, as there have been rumors about Soriano being older than his listed age ever since he became a top prospect. The change makes it less likely that he'll get much better than he is now, but since Soriano is such a unique player, he could go in any direction regardless of how old he is.

not sure what to think here... So the rangers kicked back money and picked up a guy who is 2 years older than everyone thought? Great deal Hicks

[Desnudo]

To hell with where Maddux signed, let's get this thread back on track: Damn the Yankees and all the evil they represent. A conclusive study is coming out soon in The Economist that they are responsible for global warming, white slavery, syphillis, and the black plague.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

To hell with where Maddux signed, let's get this thread back on track: Damn the Yankees and all the evil they represent. A conclusive study is coming out soon in The Economist that they are responsible for global warming, white slavery, syphillis, and the black plague.

Global warming, yes (For better baseball weather in New York)
White slavery, yes (Something to do with blackmailing Giambi, Clemens, Wells, et al to come to the Yankees with threats of enslaved mothers)
Syphillis, yes (Steinbrenner wants to keep Jeter on a short leash so he created STDs to keep him from partying all night)
But, surprisingly enough, not the black plague. That was the CIA.

SI

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by McSweeny

you guys see this gem on rotoworld today?



not sure what to think here... So the rangers kicked back money and picked up a guy who is 2 years older than everyone thought? Great deal Hicks

Interesting. I don't see this on ESPN. Although, this info gives new meaning to the headline "Soriano to inject life into Rangers." Yes, 2 more years' worth!

[Ksyrup]

I found this interesting in Bob Klapisch's article:



"One major league executive said the Mets could have afforded Rodriguez, and have only themselves to blame for the Yankees' coup.

"Why didn't they pick up the phone and try to trade (Jose) Reyes?" said the executive. "He's going to be a great player and costs a lot less than (Alfonso) Soriano. One guy is making $5.4 million, the other is making $300,000."

Do the math: With the $9 million (the Rangers are picking up) in deferred money, Soriano will cost $14 million. Next year he'll make $9 million in arbitration. Throw in the other $9 million and now Soriano will cost $18 million.

"I don't think that's such a great deal for Texas," the executive said. "Reyes might have made more sense if someone had been smart enough to think of it."


Soriano will cost Texas as much as, if not more than, A-Rod would have for the next couple of years. I guess that's worth ridding yourself of the rest of his contract...but if the two players are essentially a wash money-wise, is Texas just posturing when they say they've got more financial flexibility, and wouldn't it have made more sense to hold onto him, looking for a better deal?

[Ksyrup]

Clement's always been inconsistent. If the lights suddenly come on, great for the Cubs. If not, he'll be gone.

[ISiddiqui]

One major league executive said the Mets could have afforded Rodriguez, and have only themselves to blame for the Yankees' coup.

Is he saying that the Mets should have traded Reyes and it is the Mets fault that the Yanks got A-Rod? How silly! The Mets have Kaz Matsui now. Why would they want A-Rod and drive their payroll over $100 million again?

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Is he saying that the Mets should have traded Reyes and it is the Mets fault that the Yanks got A-Rod? How silly! The Mets have Kaz Matsui now. Why would they want A-Rod and drive their payroll over $100 million again?

This was the lead-in to those paragraphs I cited. They suggest that the Mets may have been interested, seeing as though they lost out on him 3 years ago.



"And the crosstown Mets, who could have signed Rodriguez three years ago before deciding they couldn't afford him, are still stinging today.

"I find it curious that this was a deal that somehow only the Yankees could get done," Al Leiter told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I mean, any team, or any team with the financial ability -- and there are more than a few -- would gladly spend $16 million a year to get Alex Rodriguez, as great a player as he is."

[sterlingice]

I may be mistaken now, but this time last year wasn't Reyes about as close to untouchable as any prospect in the minors? Last I checked, the Mets were thinking he *is* the next A-Rod so why give him and $100M up? Obviously, he's a prospect so there's no telling if he pans out, but, still- if I were them, I'd save that cash for pitching *and* see what Reyes can do.

SI

[ISiddiqui]

Indeed. Leiter isn't being smart here. Kaz Matsui may be a great SS and Reyes can develop as a wonderful player playing 2B for a bit. Signing A-Rod would be a mess. Reyes would have no room to develop and I can't see them signing A-Rod and making him a 3B.