The organization needs to get over it. Beltran wanted more money, that shouldnt stop them from having any negotiations with players Boras represents. Its just stupid.
but if a company offered you $80k and your current company offer you 60k? and that's it while the other keeps on pursuing you .... are you a loyal employee? HELL NO!!! $$$$$$$$ talks
A lot of respect lost for Andy. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/4392653.html Team Andy shovels, and it's not snow By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle It might be the season of searching for a good deal, but if you're buying the stuff Team Andy is shoveling, then you probably shop at the same place as New York's, make that, Deer Park's favorite son. It's that place where defective merchandise comes cheap. Such as: The book the faithful Andy Pettitte recently must have come across, the one that had a page torn out and one of the deadly sins — greed — conveniently missing. Don't get me wrong, greed can be good in moderation. Nothing wrong with chasing a dollar, or 32 million of them for that matter. But as Team Andy has turned the spin dial to full-tilt in the wake of Pettitte's signing with the New York Yankees, don't get caught up in the angling and logic being spewed. This isn't much? Saturday, Pettitte told us he was shocked the Astros didn't try hard enough to raise their offer and that his hometown team, "really didn't do much." Yeah, all they did was go out and fortify the lineup with a $100 million slugger in Carlos Lee, sign proven veteran Woody Williams, hire a pitching coach, set aside millions for Roger Clemens' possible return and allow Pettitte to take longer than they would have liked to decide whether he wanted $12 million. Earlier, Pettitte's representation, the formidably shrewd team of Alan and Randy Hendricks, tried mightily and with a measure of success to turn Pettitte's signing with the Yankees into an indictment of the Astros. Blaming the Astros They implied the tired, no longer valid perception that Astros owner Drayton McLane was too frugal to get it done. They strategically planted stories with New York and national media outlets, one national columnist pointing out that this deal was killed over a measly $2 million and the Astros' misstep damaged a harmonious relationship between McLane and the Hendricks brothers. Huh? Anyone else remember the bizarre, hostile words exchanged between the sides in 1998? That's when Clemens first appeared to be headed home, punctuating the end of the deal by saying of former GM Gerry Hunsicker and current team president Tal Smith, "I can't work alongside those two men." As for the supposed $2 million impasse here, it was never about just $2 million. That's 99 Cent Store hyperbole. Still, that's the story you're supposed to believe. Clearly, had McLane bumped his offer to Pettitte, the counterpoint from Team Andy would have been: "OK, now let's talk about the player option in the second year, like the Yankees." It was about an additional $16 million, minimum. Perhaps $18 million. Pettitte's father, Tommy, even got into the act, telling New York Newsday the Astros' offer and trade attempt for White Sox starter Jon Garland was, "another slap in the face" from the Astros. Start slapping I don't know about you. But if I'm a pitcher who's had elbow trouble two of the past three years and was offered $12 million to pitch, while still getting to tuck my kids into bed, hanging with my lifelong friends and attending my home church, then slap away. The only slap in the face was by Pettitte. He is a good man. Church-going. Sings in the choir. Brings his best. But in this case he was at his worst. The advice Pettitte has followed contradicts everything he ever said was most impor-tant in his life. It also cast a shadow on all the good feelings he brought his hometown. "My heart started pulling me, tugging me to come back down here." — Andy Pettitte, December 2003, about Houston Sometimes the best spin is none at all. All Pettitte needed to do was be honest. Tell us it was about the money. Tell us, yeah, it's going to be tough leaving the wife and kids again for maybe eight months, but $32 million is $32 million. We'd understand. "My family is the most important thing to me. I think everybody realizes that now. I'm sure everyone thought I'd just go after the money. It wasn't about the money. I could have gotten a lot more money other places." — Andy Pettitte, December 2003 Everyone should realize something else now. Team Andy again is talking about it not being about the money, even saying again that Pettitte could have gone elsewhere for considerably more than the two-year, $32 million paid by the Yanks. They've turned the tables. They've blamed McLane. Don't buy it. Exploring all the options Even in opening discussions with the White Sox for Garland, all McLane and the Astros did was explore all options. It wasn't a slap in the face. It was the Astros doing exactly what Team Andy did. They searched for the best deal and had an alternative plan. Goose, say hello to the gander. The Astros being smart shoppers clearly was something Pettitte and his representation did not expect. They're used to having the Astros over a barrel, making them wait, calling the shots. The Astros made one offer here and compared it to the one over there. That's not just smart baseball, it's smart business. Fans are smart, too, and should realize this was about good, old American greed, nothing more and nothing less. Pettitte has every right to cash in, sure. Good for him. He had his reasons for wanting to stay, but in the end Pettitte was no different than, say, Terrell Owens. There were 32 million reasons home is where he'll hang his Yankees cap.
I disagree on WillieT. He seems to be progressing in a positive direction, getting better month by month, not getting worse. He is becoming a high impact guy. I think he will have a career more like Kenny Loften than Geral Young. Also, we are going to need a fast centerfielder to help Carlos "He's not fat, just big boned" Lee play defense.
You just don't understand, Max. "I know New York is where God wants me." How can you argue with that? http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/s...1165770490-zOVWvD1GXJT+c1+F3rsaFQ&oref=slogin
The difference between 80k and 60k is taking your family on a nice vacation to Disney. The difference between $16 million and $12 million is taking your family on a nice vacation in a Russian space ship. AP has made over $70 million in his career. His children's children's children's children already have their college paid for. I'm not saying he should have stayed for less. I am just not going to blame the Astros for not wanting to give him carte blanche on a second year. Even if the Astros would have gone to $14 mil, the Yankess would have gone to $18. Then he'd be saying to the press that the Astros could have had me for $16 million. Where does it end? For the Astros, it ended at 1 year for $12 million.
It nobody's friggin business how much AP has in the bank. Its irrelevant. This is a BUSINESS...nothing more nothing less. Teams make buisiness decision and players make business decisions. This is not a popularity contest. He pissed off the Yankees with his decision a few yrs back and he pissed us off with this one....move on. All you in Drayton's corner (and im not anti drayton....just using this as an example) have no problem when HE makes a BUSINESS decision....so why be mad now? After all...it was Drayton's business decision (be it right or wrong or indifferent) that led to AP's decision...period. If you dont buy the whole "its not about the money" thing....then dont....its ur right. The yanks certainly didnt buy his family reasoning...but thats forgotten now. What do you expect AP to say? Do you think he is going to come out and say "well, my contract is up with the astros and i am a free agent....i have the right to pitch where ever the hell i want...and i dont see why i should sacrafice 2 or 3 million...<snicker> even tho ive got more than my next 3 generations will ever need...to pitch in houston" Do you expect him to blame his own selfish motives, regardless of what they are? He isnt going to come out and say "well...duh...look at the yankees lineup...u think i want to play for a team where im as much of an offensive threat as my 7 and 8 hitters????" Not gonna happen....he will say what he needs to say and thats it. The reason im pissed is that i think it will have an impact on Clemens...as gay as that is...but thats how it goes.
NJRocket, I honestly have no problem with Andy leaving for more money. That's his perogative. Just don't act like a little whiny b**** about the Astros slapping him in the face when all they're doing is trying to improve their team. Just sign with the Yankees and be done with it.
i'm the last person to criticize a guy for seeking God's will in his life. but he needs to stop the whining about mistreatment from the 'stros. his father's comment about the potential trade for garland being "a slap in the face" was just ridiculous.
True...no need to whine....my guess is that his agents are feeding him stuff as well...who knows.....just get me Garland
I'd still take Kenny Lofton on this team RIGHT NOW over Willy T... at least that way, we don't have to have Lofton kicking our ass 2-3 times a year.
I think the whole thing was handled very poorly by Pettite. Hold a press conference just to place blame on the Astros. Screw you, you are old, not very good last yr, coming off major elbow surgery and are not worth 16 million dollars. I'd rather have 27 yr old stud Garland, who would probably have a sub 3 era in the NL, than you. The Astros made the smart decision.Go to hell Andy, don't let the door hit you on the ass on they way out. Go to NY so you can knocked out in the ALDS by a younger better team like the Yankees do every yr. we'll be fine w/o you, just like Beltran's sorry ass.
what's the word on garland or jennings? if we get either one of those.. i'll be confident in our season, plus a roger in midseason??
What is the big deal with Jennings. from what I see is stats are not very good. Why is everyone so high on him.
He had one very good game against the Astros. I guess it left an impression on alot of the people here. I'm with you, I'm not that high on Jennings. I think Garland is overrated as well and his stats are misleading given the team he played on.
Rumor Central on Insider is "weakly" linking us to Suppan....saying that we are possibly in the mix along wit a few other teams....supposedly theres a 4 yr deal on table now from maybe pitt....wouldnt mind suppan at this point since the Garland thing seems dead. Maybe Suppan and Jennings could round out the rotation
From Allyson Footer's mailbag this week: http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1759055&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou Why didn't the Astros pay the extra $2 million to keep Andy Pettitte? That is cheap for starting pitching this year. -- Shawn L., Greenwich, N.Y. Before we analyze the Pettitte situation, let's all get one thing straight. The Astros did not lose Andy over a measly $2 million. You can be angry at him for taking the Yankees' offer or you can be angry at the Astros for not upping the ante, but the notion that this was decided over $2 million is completely untrue, even though that's what his agents would like you to believe. The Astros offered $12 million for one year and did not budge from that offer. The Yankees' initial offer was $15 million. The final counteroffer from Pettitte's camp included a player option for 2008. The Yankees agreed to pay Pettitte $16 million in '07 with a player option worth the same for 2008. Pettitte's agents came back to the Astros and offered the same deal, for a little less -- $14 million in '07, with a player option for $14 million in '08. The Astros absolutely were not going to agree to the player option. That leaves them completely powerless a year from now, and even though Pettitte said he would not pick up the option if he was hurt and unable to play, that presents a gray area that would require hours of discussion, to define exactly what "hurt" means. That could be interpreted a dozen different ways. The Astros did not want to make a $28 million commitment to someone with a history of elbow problems. The Yankees' package is worth $32 million. The Astros offered $12. That's a difference of $20 million. It's that simple. If Pettitte was looking for a one-year deal, I would think the Astros would have increased their offer. I'm sure they could have gone to $14 million, maybe $15 million. But the player option was the deal-breaker, and I suspect Pettitte's camp knew the Astros would never agree to it, anyway. Let me also say that I believe the Astros' interest in Pettitte was a little less than they publicly indicated. That needs to be said -- this thing is a two-way street. After going over everything that transpired in the past week, here's what I think: I believe Pettitte wanted to sign with the Yankees all along. Too many things happened that just are a little too coincidental to actually be coincidences. First, let's review the SI.com report that appeared on Tuesday, suggesting that the Yankees were close to signing Pettitte and that a deal could be done by the end of the week. Now, there is no doubt that all sorts of garbage flies around at the Winter Meetings. Hundreds of rumors are floated out there, many of which have very little credibility. The SI.com report was different. It was written by Tom Verducci, one of the most respected baseball writers in the country, not to mention one of the most accomplished, giving him no reason at all to throw something out there just to get his name in the mix. As I was listening to Pettitte's agents say that there was no truth to that report, in the back of my mind I kept thinking, there's no way Verducci made this up. Sure, baseball execs float misinformation through the media all the time, but Tom's too savvy to buy into something that didn't have a strong, strong chance to be true. So, that didn't sit well with me. When I heard the news Friday, I thought, OK, Pettitte just signed with the Yankees and it just happens to be the end of the week. Just like Verducci wrote. Hmm. I never in a million years thought Andy would go back to the Yankees. I adamantly stated that whenever asked. I truly believed it would not matter how much the Yankees outbid the Astros, that he would stay in Houston. I was dead wrong. That said, I sensed a lot of frustration on Pettitte's part (and every other starting pitcher, for that matter) with the struggles of the Astros' offense the past two years. One particular game stands out in my mind: The Astros played an 18-inning game on Aug. 15 against the Cubs that lasted until close to midnight, then had a day game the next day. Andy pitched a complete game, the Astros didn't score and they lost, 1-0. As Pettitte stood at his locker and said all the right things to reporters, I could tell he was furious. And I thought, he does not belong here. He needs to be on a better team. Good teams overcome the fatigue of having to play a day game after an 18-inning game. They find ways to win. This was simply not a good team. Now, the offense is going to be better next year with Carlos Lee. Woody Williams will be a great addition to the rotation. If Andy envisioned himself on that team and slotted in Clemens for a June return, he had to know the Astros would likely be playoff bound. That's not what this is about. He wanted to go back to the Yankees. While I am shocked, I do not fault him. I absolutely believe he was sincere three years ago when he said he came home for family reasons. I don't think his family is any less important to him now. But his heart is with the Yankees, and I wish him well. I don't believe it was only the money factor that drove him. Yes, the Yankees were essentially offering $20 million more and that certainly was a factor. But also, he just wants New York. And before you ask, no, players do not know how dumb they sound when they say they're insulted by someone offering them "only" $12 million. They also don't know how dumb their family members sound when they say things like "it was just another slap in the face by the Astros" and all of the other garbage that you, the fans -- the ones who have rent and mortgages and car payments and kids in college and bills and credit card debt, and actually have to budget for these life necessities -- have to read about and listen to. Pettitte did not come off well with some off his comments when he addressed the media Saturday morning, and judging by the public's reaction, he's paying the price. And while his image is somewhat tarnished, to me, he'll always been one of the most professional and genuine players I've ever dealt with. He brought class, dedication and a winning attitude to this team and he was part of some of the brightest moments this franchise has ever had. Let's not forget that.
