Clemons signs with the Yankees

**Brock Landers** · 05-07-2007, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Reputation and options have a lot to do with that too... watch a guy like Andrew Brackman this year. He doesn't have good numbers for NC State this spring, but he's 6'10" and has the UPSIDE to throw really hard- so some team is going to take him in the middle of the first round and pay him top-10 money.

Saw Brackman pitch at BC earlier this year. Throws gas. Its only his third year playing baseball too- scouts talk about his raw ability and how high his ceiling might be. Still, maybe he has hit his ceiling and he is meant to play basketball- who knows.

The case about Yankees keeping their talent goes right in with being able to afford the free agents. Sure, they develop a guy like Jeter, but who else can afford him? The Yanks have the money to pay whatever they want for anyone and dont have to worry about being outbid for the most part. And the point about giving higher bonuses is right on- I think Buster Olney's book talks about this (if its not his book its another one) why even down to the draft level, the money the Yankees can throw around is ridiculous.

That said, the Red Sox are by no means cheapskates or anything, but the 140 or whatever the Red Sox have on payroll (the DiceK posting fee is totally separate and is recovered in other ways) doesnt compare to the 195M+ Clemens the Yankees shell out. Its like comparing the Red Sox and Brewers or Reds in terms of payroll. There is still much left to decide this year and 6 games is not a lot to make up for NY. They need to play better- Im not basing my happiness on the Sox on the 6 game lead, but more on the fact that one team looks good and plays well and the other is playing awful (pitching and defensively).

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 02:39 PM

why shouldn't the $51m posting fee for "DICE-K"(or whatever the number was) count?

**Brock Landers** · 05-07-2007, 02:44 PM

not a contract, not luxury taxable, doesnt go back to the "pool" for the low income teams. mlb doesnt count it neither will i.
kei igawa's posting fee doesnt count either.

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 02:54 PM

fair enough. I was just wondering.

this posting fee thing seems like a bunch of crap.

**Brock Landers** · 05-07-2007, 03:05 PM

no kidding it kinda sucks. but at the same time, these players were under contract in japan. why would the japanese team just let them go without getting anything in return? its not like they are sending us DiceK and we are sending them 3 prospects.

**smmokan** · 05-07-2007, 03:05 PM

Kei Igawa doesn't count, period.

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

no kidding it kinda sucks. but at the same time, these players were under contract in japan. why would the japanese team just let them go without getting anything in return? its not like they are sending us DiceK and we are sending them 3 prospects.

and we don't send cuba $50m for guys we sign from there. maybe its time it became a true World Series. Oh wait, we'd get our asses kicked.

**smmokan** · 05-07-2007, 03:20 PM

That's because they have to illegally defect from Cuba to play in the bigs.

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

That's because they have to illegally defect from Cuba to play in the bigs.

no way!!!

**iceman** · 05-07-2007, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by gonehuckin

maybe its time it became a true World Series. Oh wait, we'd get our asses kicked.

No, we wouldn't. Something like 77% of the players in the bigs are from the U.S.. If we had free access to players from Cuba and if Japanese teams didn't lock their rookies up with 10-year contracts, that percentage would sink.

It's impossible to tell how much it would sink, but I bet at least 65% of the players would still be from the U.S.

MLB teams don't care where players are from, they want to win. Despite all the great Dominican talent, for example, there are more players from Cali, FLA and Texasss (and possibly other states, not sure about that) in the bigs than there are from the Dominican.

Just because most American players don't care about international competition doesn't mean we don't have homegrown talent still.

**smmokan** · 05-07-2007, 03:57 PM

I have to admit, this is pretty damn funny- from today's Sports Guy blog.

Am I the only one that finds this Clemens/Pettitte thing more than a little odd? I can imagine that when Roger told his wife that he was going back to the Yankees she had the same look on her face that Michelle Williams did when Heath Ledger told her he was going 'fishing' with Jake Gyllenhaal."

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

No, we wouldn't. Something like 77% of the players in the bigs are from the U.S.. If we had free access to players from Cuba and if Japanese teams didn't lock their rookies up with 10-year contracts, that percentage would sink.

It's impossible to tell how much it would sink, but I bet at least 65% of the players would still be from the U.S.

MLB teams don't care where players are from, they want to win. Despite all the great Dominican talent, for example, there are more players from Cali, FLA and Texasss (and possibly other states, not sure about that) in the bigs than there are from the Dominican.

Just because most American players don't care about international competition doesn't mean we don't have homegrown talent still.

World Baseball Classic, and yes the stars of the league did play and the US got its ass kicked.

**Brock Landers** · 05-07-2007, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by gonehuckin

World Baseball Classic, and yes the stars of the league did play and the US got its ass kicked.

A lot of the Americans didnt play. I mean, Mike Timlin was on the team. A US team with all the best players playing, and not skipping, would probably lead to a US victory, though there are some great teams out there like cuba and the DR and venezuela (on top of Japan).

By the way im watching a red sox game from last year right now on nesn, and vernon wells is absolutely nasty.

EDIT- For SSD: http://randomthoughts.ianbethune.com/?p=1037

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-07-2007, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

EDIT- For SSD: http://randomthoughts.ianbethune.com/?p=1037

That is the fucking funniest thing ever. I hope it's prominently featured in the commemorative 2007 World Series DVD.

**smmokan** · 05-07-2007, 07:40 PM

Brokeback Manny. Classic.

**Dufflogic22** · 05-07-2007, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

Kei Igawa doesn't count, period.

yep, was it 50 mil to play in the minors?

**iceman** · 05-07-2007, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by gonehuckin

World Baseball Classic, and yes the stars of the league did play and the US got its ass kicked.

You're an idiot, shut the fuck up. Seriously. You know nothing, shut the fuck up you fucking squid.

Remdawg and Orsillo laughing so hard they couldn't call the game is classic.

manny is odd.

**TJ.Brk** · 05-07-2007, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Brock Landers

EDIT- For SSD: http://randomthoughts.ianbethune.com/?p=1037

bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Man Manram looks like he is in prison and is letting everybody know Julian is his bitch

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

You're an idiot, shut the fuck up. Seriously. You know nothing, shut the fuck up you fucking squid.

Remdawg and Orsillo laughing so hard they couldn't call the game is classic.

manny is odd.

thanks for the intelligent conversation. you've proven that you know more than I do by simply calling me names. good job.

-aaron

**iceman** · 05-07-2007, 09:27 PM

Asshole.

eight characters exactly.

**iceman** · 05-07-2007, 09:29 PM

Why would i want to debate you? Get serious.

**stump832** · 05-07-2007, 09:58 PM

It doesn't get much worse than a Yankee fan from Quebec. Fuck the yankees, fuck the habs, fuck clemens.

Oh and smmokan - you couldn't be more wrong about money and draft slots. Theres a reason why teams like the Sox and Yankee are able to offer huge money to late-round picks who are considered tough-signs.

**gh444** · 05-07-2007, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Why would i want to debate you? Get serious.

You'd rather just insult me for no reason. People tend to do that when they get frustrated. I understand. It'll be ok. One of these days you'll actually begin thinking before you type. Although that might be tough given the lack of intelligence and the amount you post.

**72Twenty** · 05-07-2007, 11:12 PM

As an Astros fan, at first I was kinda bummed. But really, I don't think he would have really helped the 'Stros much this season. What they need is better offense. Now... if Nolan Ryan could turn back the clock a bit and come pitch for the 'Stros again... THAT would be something.

**pharmer** · 05-07-2007, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by IskiEC

And what's with this starting pitching in June shit? Roger's reached the level where he dictates his own season now and doesn't have to play the whole season or hit spring training with the rest of the team? Must be great for that team atmosphere... His arrogance has truly reached a new level. I mean he's always been an asshole, even in Boston, but I've got a new appreciation for this loser. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to watch on as a baseball bat rips through his scull and splatters his little red-neck, pea-brain all over the place.

The worst part of the whole thing to me is that he tries to make himself look good to the media by claiming he wants to be home with his family more. He is such a pussy to use his family as a scapegoat. Who will criticize a man for wanting to be with his family?? Nobody. His wife and children needed him more 10 years ago when they were small. Where was he then??

I hope the through the skull comes from the hand of Mike Piazza. After all, Piazza has to get his revenge eventually. They are slated to play at the stadium in the end of June.