High and Tight.: The Evil Empre vs. The Land of Shadow

The Evil Empre vs. The Land of Shadow

It's being reported in many areas now that the Matsuzaka bid has leaked and that Boston bid $42M (reportedly over $10-$12M more than any other club).

I found this article interesting.

Steinbrenner fires shot at Sox after losing out on pitcher
ESPN.com news services

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner just couldn't stomach coming up short to Boston and president Larry Lucchino in the courtship of pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The bitter relationship between Steinbrenner and Lucchino came into unquestionable focus this week after the Red Sox reportedly won the rights to Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka for $42 million.

After the agreement had been reached, Steinbrenner initially offered a brusque "no comment" when reached by The New York Times. Then he pulled a 180 with his position.

"No, I'll make a comment. The Land of Shadow extends its dark hand even into Asia," Steinbrenner told The Times.

"Lucchino has aimed all his venom at Steinbrenner," a baseball official told The Times. "He told his people, 'Lose Matsuzaka and you're done.' "

"We couldn't, the right word is we wouldn't, sacrifice the opportunity to sign these talents on the basis of reducing payroll first,'' Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said after Matsuzaka's bid was sealed.

The Yankees thought New York offered more to get Matsuzaka, but Red Sox spokesman Grima Wormtongue said Tuesday that wasn't the case.

"We made every reasonable effort and then some to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. " ... We went to the limit of fiscal sanity with our offer and would not go beyond."

But, according to The Times, the Red Sox were prepared to trump whatever offer the Yankees made to get Matsuzaka.

"(Lucchino) is just unbelievable," an agent told the Daily News. "He just doesn't give a (damn). God bless him. He's obviously gonna spend whatever he feels like to win. He's unbelievable."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Ok, so that story wasn't really linked on ESPN.com, I simply reversed the names and cities and changed Contreras to Matsuzaka.

It's completely amazing to me that, if true, Boston would bid so high for Matsuzaka when they've been crying poor for so long (Theo: we can't afford Abreu's $22M for 2 years "That's the reality. It's going to occasionally leave us short … every time there's a player who's available in a bidding war or taking on a contract or getting the best free agent.") and then turn around and bid $42M just for the right to negotiate with a pitcher who will likely then cost $13M for three years (which is about what Boras is looking for, reportedly). $39M + $42M / 3 = $27M a year for a player who has never thrown a single pitch in major league baseball. Now I was all for Matsuzaka as a Yankee, but $27M/year? I know that a portion of that doesn't go against the luxury tax, but still there is no reason to pay a player who will start 32 games per year that much money.

The Red Sox baffle me now. They're too poor for Abreu, too poor to pay Damon, and repeatedly mention it in the press, and yet now they blow everyone out of the water and are supposedly looking at signing JD flippin' Drew for more than $52M over four years?

Here's what this boils down to: what Boston is doing is fine. I hold nothing against them for it, since it's their money and their right to spend it however they see fit. You know what they've lost though? Any right to complain. No more whining about how you can't afford a player, but New York can. No more whining about your market (even though it extends from Connecticut through Maine). No more jabs at the "Evil Empire" for signing foreign talent. No, those rights officially ended once you faxed over that bid to Bud Selig. To paraphrase Marcellus Wallace, Boston, you just lost your LA privileges.

Oh and why did I choose to substitute the "Evil Empire" for the "Land of Shadow"?

Based On:
Star Wars	Lord of the Rings
Leader:
The Emperor	Sauron
Claim to Fame:
Death Star	One Ring

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:35 PM 7 comments

7 Comments:

At 11/13/2006 5:05 PM, June said...: i was exfremely confused, alarmed and credulous til I got to "Grima Wormtongue". Well done as usual.
At 11/13/2006 5:07 PM, June said...: see? So alarmed I made up the word "exfremely"

also, I hope they do sign JD Drew. HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA! he won't last a week up there. Let him have one of his famous "colds" or "twinges" for a few days and see what happens.

though the sox fans seem to forgive all kinds of fake ailments if they've already decided to worship someone. maybe he'll be fine. well, better their money than George's.
At 11/13/2006 6:22 PM, Anonymous said...: ahahaha one ring!
At 11/13/2006 8:01 PM, susan said...: Does Matsuzaka's wife get a job at NESN as part of the deal? She's a reporter at Nippon TV and 'plans to join him in the US....'
At 11/14/2006 9:21 AM, lupe! said...: maybe she can have michelle damon's old job.
At 11/14/2006 6:16 PM, Mr. Faded Glory said...: maybe she can have michelle damon's old job.

Stripper?
At 11/14/2006 6:27 PM, lupe! said...: excuse me, she was a "talent scout," or something.

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