GO ABBA GO!!!

[SlaveNoMore]

Hank Chinaski
yankee fan question: for those not at the last game, afte A-rod hit the homer they showed him in the dugout, he seemed a bit too upbeat talking to teammates. I wasn't sure whether to take it as the acceptable "C'mon guys we can hit this guy!" Or whether it was more the unacceptable "Yeah, i hit a home run! Contract extension!"

Slave, which was it?

(C) - "Take that Jeter, you one-for-nineteen hitting and three rally-killing double plays motherfucker!"

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Won't this be obvious to even the most idiotic fan? What do they get, the ability to say "we didn't fire him"? The irony is, with A-Rod and Rivera poised to leave, they'd have plenty of money to pay him with. (And the Red Sox can become the team with the highest payroll . . . )

No. You would think so, but it won't be obvious. Hell, I just spoke to a partner/fan who thought it was a fair offer. He was offered a contract that pays him significantly more than any other manager in the league, I believe (but am not certain -- isn't Piniella the next highest at like $3.5 mil?) even if he doesn't make the playoffs. The only thing wrong with his contract is the length, which makes it obvious that he's on the hot seat and needs to go if he can't win. It sure as hell isn't about money. His last contract paid him a premium to manage a team with the highest payroll over the last 15 years (or however long it's been). Aside from the press, not exactly a difficult gig.

If ARod leaves, he's a moron and he'll be leaving to make less money than the Yankees offer him before he opts out. And if he does go, then fuck him. It'll just cement my feeling that he is too weak for New York. Go play in Anaheim where no one cares about the post season as long as your highlights are perfect.

If Mariano leaves, it may be because of Torre and I would hate to see him go. Why would he leave to play for another manager anyway and less money? And he won't leave because of money. I can't see Steinbrenner letting him go over a million dollars or two.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
It's Boras, who's always crazy. His problem is that he won't have the Yankees involved in a bidding war. The yankees will either resign A-rod, using some of the Rangers' money, or they won't. But once A-rod's gone, their offer won't go up, because they've lost the subsidy. Only the Red Sox seem likely to pay as much as the Yankees--who else-the Angels? Maybe, but Boras seems to want to create the impression that A-rod can do better by becoming a free agent. I just don't think so.

Agree 100%. And, after he opts out, won't other teams take the Yankees offer and subtract $20 million and start from there or below?

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
How do you "fire" someone if their contract naturally expires.

Did the Astros "fire" Beltran when he went to go play for the Mets?

Oh stop. Torre is so loved in New York that anything short of an automatic extension is paramount to George kicking him the fuck out the door.

TM

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
I'd love to see Torre in a Mariners uniform (the real uniform, not the Moose, though that might be entertaining, too). Not sure it's the best fit for him, though. Seems, from the left coast anyway, that his strength is managing egos and not getting in the way of the talent. How would he do with young talent and a mid-market payroll?

I was surprised to see (from Ty's chart that he posted a month or 2 ago) that the Mariners have a pretty high payroll. 7th overall as I recall and surprisingly higher than the Giants. I'm sure most of that is Ichiro but still. Goddammit. I'd like to see a manager with some sort of experience. Hargrove was phoning it in and under McLaren we had the biggest losing streak/collapse of all time. And right before the post season. Nice timing. Anyway - I'll still take Torre.

[SlaveNoMore]

ThurgreedMarshall
No. You would think so, but it won't be obvious. Hell, I just spoke to a partner/fan who thought it was a fair offer. He was offered a contract that pays him significantly more than any other manager in the league, I believe (but am not certain -- isn't Piniella the next highest at like $3.5 mil?) even if he doesn't make the playoffs. The only thing wrong with his contract is the length, which makes it obvious that he's on the hot seat and needs to go if he can't win. It sure as hell isn't about money. His last contract paid him a premium to manage a team with the highest payroll over the last 15 years (or however long it's been). Aside from the press, not exactly a difficult gig.

I thought it was more than fair - and probably geared more towards keeping goodwill with Posada, Mo and Pettite than anything else.

If ARod leaves, he's a moron and he'll be leaving to make less money than the Yankees offer him before he opts out. And if he does go, then fuck him. It'll just cement my feeling that he is too weak for New York. Go play in Anaheim where no one cares about the post season as long as your highlights are perfect.

Agree 110% and why I think he very well may stay.

If Mariano leaves, it may be because of Torre and I would hate to see him go. Why would he leave to play for another manager anyway and less money? And he won't leave because of money. I can't see Steinbrenner letting him go over a million dollars or two.

I just can't see Mo leaving the team that is going to be on his cap in Cooperstown and his number on the left field wal - even if the Torre "scenario" completely pissed him off.

[LessinSF]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Jesus man, are you trying to kill me? I just got over seeing Barry Bonds's face every night for the past year and now you want to kill me with A-Rod?

Aren't the fans still mad about overpaying for Zito? Which I still don't understand why the Giants did that - it's like they never saw him in Oakland.

There is a difference between paying the best position player in baseball and paying someone everyone knew was a No. 3 pitcher.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by dtb
When I was ordering my kids' costumes on line (don't ask...), I figured I'd buy myself one, too. They had some funny ones, and they were not expensive.

So, I did get the go-go girl getup, and just now I realized that it looks a lot like Paisley's avatar. The dress isn't too bad, actually, the wig is hilarious, and the boots I'm sure won't last more than a wearing or two (but who cares? it was cheap).

The BEST news is that today I found out that I actually can wear it somewhere (other than to work, natch). One of the kids from my eldest's school is having a Halloween party, and in talking to his dad today, I discovered that it's for the whole family, costumes expected.

Woohoo!

REMEMBER! Rule #1 for Halloween parties. Walk inthe door already drunk. It's the only way to make sure you are in character, break down the inhibitions, etc. Have fun!

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Originally posted by dtb
When I was ordering my kids' costumes on line (don't ask...), I figured I'd buy myself one, too. They had some funny ones, and they were not expensive.

So, I did get the go-go girl getup, and just now I realized that it looks a lot like Paisley's avatar. The dress isn't too bad, actually, the wig is hilarious, and the boots I'm sure won't last more than a wearing or two (but who cares? it was cheap).

The BEST news is that today I found out that I actually can wear it somewhere (other than to work, natch). One of the kids from my eldest's school is having a Halloween party, and in talking to his dad today, I discovered that it's for the whole family, costumes expected.

Woohoo!

Your halloween theme song.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore

I just can't see Mo leaving the team that is going to be on his cap in Cooperstown and his number on the left field wal - even if the Torre "scenario" completely pissed him off.

We once thought that in Boston. 3 retirements later . . .

[dtb]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
REMEMBER! Rule #1 for Halloween parties. Walk inthe door already drunk. It's the only way to make sure you are in character, break down the inhibitions, etc. Have fun!

Aw, shucks, Hank. You're like the big brother I never had! Thanks, man.


PS - Ollie, my theme song seems to be broken. What was it?

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
Agree 100%. And, after he opts out, won't other teams take the Yankees offer and subtract $20 million and start from there or below?

TM

Start well below. Any team that pays above $20m less than the yankees offer is willing to pay ARod more than the yankees are. I don't think it will happen: first, few teams are capable of paying what the yankees are able; fewer still are willing to do it, even if they're capable. It's even less likely that another team would be willing to go $20m more than the yankees.

Of course, Boras managed to get $52m out of the Red Sox for a #3 starter, even though they were bargaining against themselves and already were starting at $51m, so who knows?

The only reason it makes sense to leave is even though the yankees would pay more in the near term, Arod wants a 10 year contract and the yankees are willing to only, say, 7 years.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
We once thought that in Boston. 3 retirements later . . .

Mo has class.

[SlaveNoMore]

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
The only reason it makes sense to leave is even though the yankees would pay more in the near term, Arod wants a 10 year contract and the yankees are willing to only, say, 7 years.

But those 3 years become moot if Arod is chasing a record a la Barry, because whoever is running the Yanks in those years will never let him leave.

[Anne Elk]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
We once thought that in Boston. 3 retirements later . . .

Rock-et. Rock-et.