Having read this thread I now enjoy, most of all of the acronyms, MFY! Never have three letters said so much about the devil's toys.
It's official: http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/st...EZ?SITE=TXHOU&SECTION=SPORTS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Selig OKs Trade of A-Rod to Yankees NEW YORK (AP) -- It's official: Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee. Commissioner Bud Selig approved the record-setting deal Monday, allowing the reigning American League MVP to be traded to New York by the Texas Rangers. Texas will pay $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's $252 million, 10-year contract, the most cash included in a trade in major league history. The Rangers get All-Star second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named - but they also will pay Rodriguez through 2025. "I am very concerned about the large amount of cash consideration involved in the transaction, and the length of time over which the cash is being paid," Selig said. "I want to make it abundantly clear to all clubs that I will not allow cash transfers of this magnitude to become the norm. However, given the unique circumstances, including the size, length and complexity of Mr. Rodriguez's contract and the quality of the talent moving in both directions, I have decided to approve the transaction." Rodriguez will move from shortstop, a position at which he's been a seven-time All-Star, to third base, where he will replace injured Aaron Boone. The Yankees will keep captain Derek Jeter at shortstop. "I don't think he ever thought about playing another position until the concept came up," said Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras. "He decided it didn't make a difference - shortstop, third base, center field. He wanted the opportunity to play on a competitive team." The Rangers will wind up paying $140 million for three seasons with Rodriguez, an average of $46.7 million annually for three last-place finishes in the AL West. The Yankees will owe him $112 million over seven years. Baseball's biggest spenders will raise their payroll to about $190 million. "The disparity is not healthy for the sport," Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo said. "But everyone runs their team the way they see fit, and they did it by the rules."
It doesn't matter what position ARod plays. Offensive production is still offensive production. His runs don't count for double just because he plays short. Sure at some positions, it is hard to find good players. But the Yankees already had a shortstop who is their captain and the image of their team.
this is just wrong. it does matter. there are a ton of OFs who a team can employ who can mash 30HR, for example. that universe of players shrinks significantly when you look at middle infielders. so having a middle infielder who hits 30HR is significant, because you then have a larger universe of outfielders to select from who can do the same. now if that SS can hold down his position really well...and he hits the same as some slugging outfielder...now you really have value in the guy. he's provided a little value added that you're not getting from others. this is why i think the loss of soriano is significant...because there aren't many 2B you can find who hit 30-30.
Does it really matter where A-Rod plays? Third-base is JUST AS RARE in the majors these days. A-Rod won't be the best SS ever. Who cares. He'll be the best SS and 3B ever.
What an unbelievable move...Without Boone being a stupid azz, this never would have happened... I love A-Rod and hate to see him go, but this makes the most sense from a business standpoint...Although, it is kinda silly for a club to still pay $67MM of a remaining $179MM...Hell, if I'm the Yanks, I'd do this all day long...
I disagree about them only doing this if Boone got hurt. I think they would have gotten A-Hole anyway and moved Boone to 2B. It has just been built up by mediots (another great SoSH term - damn, is there nothing that place can come up with?) who are obsessed with the curse of bambino shtick. What is going to be funny is to see what SiaS does when the MFYs don't win the world series this season (which it could happen again, but maybe not).
Let me prefact this by saying I am a Padre fan so I have no ties to the Yanks, Rangers or Red Sox. Red Sox - They could have had A-Rod and didn't pull the trigger. They and their fans should have nothing to ***** about, if they wanted him they could/should havbe gotten him. Good news is they (IMO) have better starting pitching than the Yankees which will make them a great team and IF they can get as much offensive production as they did last year they will be fighting with the Yanks (personally I think alot of guys had career years offensively and I think they will not be nearly as good offensively) Rangers - They were going no where with A-Rod. IMO they got a better deal getting Soriano than Manny. They both can hit like crazy and both are at best average defensively (Soriano is below average IMO). But Soriano will get you 30-40 bombs, 30-40 steals and is much more resonably priced than Manny or A-Rod. Yankees - They added the best player in baseball. Their lineup looks awesome with an all star at every position except 2B. They also have a great bull pen, so if they hav ethe lkead in the 8th it's over. Problem is they lost a large chunk of their starting pitchers and although thye potentially have replacements for them I don't think they are as good as Pettite, Clemens and an aging David Wells as a group. So yes it was a big move by the Yankees but it does not destroy Boston's chance of beating the Yankees, it helps the Rangers by at least saving some money and the Yankees again make a huge move that shows why the Yankees are so loved/hated.
So your goal is to win the American League East but not the World Series? I doubt SiaS would feel the same way that you do, rule.
Not that it makes any difference, Soriano will be gone after the season, if not sooner. The only advantage is that Hicks, Muse gets to stave off bankruptcy a little longer than they would have if they were saddled with the Manny contract. They're going even fewer places without A-Rod than with him. But at least it will be easy to get tickets to the games.
No, I'm satisfied if the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the playoffs. There's no way to satisfy Steinbrenner. Even if the Yankees win the World Series, he wouldn't be satisfied for a week because he'd be worrying about 2005 already.
Agree with you about satisfying SiaS, but I find it amusing that your team has 26 titles since '18 to my team's big fat zero, but YET you are not satisifed unless you beat them? And here all this time, I thought Red Sox fans were obsessed with beating the MFYs but at least with you, it is the other way around.
Just like any fan, beating your number one rival is almost just as sweet. Make no mistake, the ring is still the #1 prize.
I used to absolutely love baseball. My Dad worked for the Jays, I went to spring training every year, hung out at the park, was a batboy in a couple games, players' wives babysat me, got postcards from my favorite players, etc. It was among the best times of my life...I was just a baseball freak. Could name the stats if every ML and a lot of minor players, ages, height, weight, etc. I even smuggled a walkman into private school to listen to the games in my bunk after lights out... I barely pay attention any more. I can't get into a sport where over half the teams are out of contention from opening day. Money doesn't mean you'll win, but not having it means you wo't. There was a time when teams spent stupidely, and teams with lesser payrolls but superior GMs, minor league development, etc. could beat them. Now teams like the Yankees spend whatever they need to have the best teams AND then spend whatever more they need during the season to make up for their mistakes. I honestly doubt I'll ever be a real fan again until this is somehow corrected. It's depressing.
Hmm..maybe you should stop watching the NBA too. The Eastern Conference and about 7 teams in the West have no realistic shot at a championship. The result of the MLB season is actually much harder to predict than an NBA season. From 1991 on, 4 different franchises have won an NBA championship.
I think there are some teams from the East who at least have a shot at getting to the Championship. And on some levels, making the playoffs is enough. I honestly think there would be less complaining about the imbalances in baseball if the playoffs were expanded yet again. Add two more wild cards per league, and I think you'd see a difference, even if those wild cards very rarely made it past the first round. The exclusivity of the playoffs in any given year helps this perception that teams are out of it very early on because it is hard to make the playoffs in baseball even if your team is pretty good. Teams can consistently win in MLB and consistently not make the playoffs. I know purists like it the way it is (or actually liked it better when there was no wild card at all). The regular season means more if you have to win your division, blah, blah, blah. But I do think that expanding the playoffs again would help to fight the perception that most teams are out of it on opening day. There are a good many teams that just having a better chance at a playoff appearance would make a big difference.
