Category: MLB General

As another year draws to an end, the holiday season is grasping people from all over.  The rush to give gifts and the wait to receive them is foremost on the mind of many.  The fact that a person may not deserve a gift or there maybe little love between giver and recipient is of little consequence.  If potential giver is likely to be recipient of another giver, then potential giver becomes giver.  Across the country neighbors and co-workers who are very low on gift giving lists will receive gifts anyway.  This passage of presents mixed with a pinch of “love” often smells worse than old eggnog.  It is for this very reason that Johnny Damon’s decision to sign with the New York Yankees instead of the Boston Red Sox represents a simpler spirit of Christmas.  

Indeed the hot stove of Major League Baseball is piping hot with signings, arbitration and trades galore.  We see teams overpaying for players usually considered above average, but nothing great.  Teams create havoc for their budget in the future when they sign 27-year-olds to five-year deals that never work out.  Ah, the smell of free agency in the off-season.  

The holidays are here and everyone is eager to go out and buy their loved ones gifts that they will enjoy.  People go out to the malls in both Boston and New York looking to get the baseball fan in the family a nice new jersey.  In New York hot sellers are a nice Derek Jeter jersey or maybe an Alex Rodriguez one.  For people in Boston they probably go out and buy a nice David Ortiz jersey or Johnny Damon one.  Oh wait! This just in, the Johnny Damon jersey’s are coming off the shelves today, and new ones are being put up on New York shelves.  Why do you ask? Well the New York Yankees are proud to offer their beloved fans a new gift idea, a new blue and white pinstripe Johnny Damon jersey!

    Manny Ramirez?  Still in Boston.

    Johnny Damon?  Still a free agent, waiting for the right offer.

    Nomar Garciaparra?  Agreed to a one-year deal in L.A., while Rafael Furcal signed the contract Nomar once appeared destined to receive.

By: Jon Morrill

    The Gajillion dollar contract. The fight with Varitek. The Ball Slap. Not being a “true” Yankee. His Image. The signing yet not really with Boston, then ending up in New York. The A-Rod Curse. Controversy and brouhaha has seemed to follow Alex Rodriguez around the past 5 years like stink on a dog.

         Looking down at the list of free agents that have signed with teams so far this winter and even at some of the trades that have gone through, we see that very few would have made much sense for the Yankees.  B.J. Ryan, and Tom Gordon wanted to close.  Brian Giles and Paul Konerko wanted to remain with their former teams.  The Yankees did not need to acquire any starting pitchers with injury histories: Beckett, Burnett, Byrd or have a void to fill behind the plate.  With Torri Hunter and Andrew Jones free agents next year it makes little sense to overpay for 4 years of centerfielder Johnny Damon, and ruin the chance to pick up a real stud next winter.  Juan Peirre would have been a good one year option, but the Cubs likely gave away too much for a one year fill-in.  A case could be made that 1B Lyle Overbay would have been a good fit, but the Yankees did not have the pieces for that deal.  When looking at all of these moves, LHP Demaso Marte looks like the only guy who the Yankees could have acquired, for say Andy Phillips, that would have made sense for the team.  For whatever the reasons, this year’s free agent class did not cater very well to the needs of the Yankees, but one man would be a perfect fit: Nomar Garciaparra.

Do Major League Baseball GM’s understand what they are doing? Do J.P. Ricciardi or Pat Gillick thoroughly think things through? The reason I’m asking these questions is because I’m astonished at the contracts players have been receiving this off-season, especially the pitchers. I don’t know about you, but if I’m running a Major League organization, I’m not willing to pay someone $75,000 per inning to pitch for my team, unless the back of his jersey says “Rivera” or “Clemens”.

By: Jon Morrill

This past week, rumors ran rampant about a possible deal between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies involving two little-known journeymen outfielders, Manny Ramirez and Bobby Abreu. Apparently they both have some offensive potential; one’s a Gold Glove winner, the other a former World Series MVP… or something. I didn’t even know that the Red Sox had won a recent World Series. I’m even told that the A-brew kid won a Home Run Derby somewhere–I don’t know, I’m not even that into baseball.

Steroids is just one factor that threatens the integrity of baseball. Sports is supposed to be a game of fair play. One major issue that needs to be addressed is a salary cap in Major League Baseball. This article gives hard-nosed facts to prove my point about the need for a salary cap.

Looks like a boring off-season for the Yankees, as Brian Cashman sits back, watches the Red Sox pick up talented players from the Marlins, as he waits for the antique sale.

If their over 35, been on the disabled list, and have the tag-name “BUM” on it, Brian Cashman wants them. Why not look at the young talent? Hasn’t he learned a lesson by now? Why, of course not. It’s the Yankee tradition, and we, the fans, are sick of it.