That said, if this weekend Masahiro Tanaka presses the red EJECT button in his contract, declaring himself a free agent, I hereby propose that the Evil Empire quickly go into a full graciousness mode - wishing him the best of luck as we escort him and his memorabilia swag to the nearest concrete loading dock. If Tanaka opts-out, it should be made clear that we loved having him, cherished every minute, and we are saddened that he will not return, regardless of what he finds in the vast meadow of free agency.
This isn't about Tanaka, who I believe is worth every penny of the $67 million the Yankees would pay him over the next three years. Nor is it about the partial tear in his elbow, which could sideline him at any time. Nor is it about his significant decline last season - 13-12 with a 4.74 ERA - to become certifiably mediocre. (He did, of course, have a stellar post-season.)
If Tanaka walks, it clearly hurts our chances in 2018. The Yankees will need a veteran, innings-eating replacement, and such lug nuts do not come cheap. Yes, we have rookies. But until they're actually successful in the majors, Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, Domingo German, et al remain prized Scrantonians, and who knows whether Chad Green can start? My official hope: Tanaka returns under the terms that still look fair.
But as a psychotic and, perhaps, disturbed Yankee fan, I have always believed our franchise remains the gold standard in American sports. We have the greatest tradition, the greatest track record, the greatest fan base, the greatest mountain of money, and we occupy center stage in the greatest city in the world. We do not measure success in single championships, but with dynasties.
If someone doesn't want to play for the New York fucking Yankees, that's his right and privilege. But I suggest he first makes a private call to Robbie Cano. Tanaka has the chance to play his entire U.S. career in pinstripes and someday become a sports icon of New York City. If he prefers to kick the tires on Cincinnati for an extra million, let's wish him bon voyage.
ReplyDeleteBut as a psychotic and, perhaps, disturbed Yankee fan, I have always believed our franchise remains the gold standard in American sports.
Perhaps this blog should start a sidebar contest concerning potential new names that might be applied to "It Is High! It Is Far! It Is... caught." after John Sterling retires (or is non-renewed).
One early candidate might be:
Psychotic and, perhaps, disturbed
Look in the mirror my friends. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteI should have mentioned that I'm on the same page concerning Tanaka. If he stays, great. The remainder of his contract comes in at a "fair" price vis a vis Tanaka's talent, potential, and the current market.
If he walks, there's no point in trying to get into a bidding war with the other teams. Tanaka should go to the Dodgers and be their 4th guy. Fine. Great.
God, we should have gotten Verlander/Upton instead of Gray.
"WHY MAKE BILLIONS WHEN YOU CAN MAKE MILLIONS"? - (AUSTIN POWERS).
ReplyDeleteTHIS WILL BE THE MANTRA OF TANAKA'S AGENT (WHOEVER THAT IS)......
I'M SURE GREED WILL STEP IN HERE, AND HE WILL AGREE, WITH HIS AGENT, TO OPT-OUT AND TRY FOR A 1 OR 2 YEAR TACK ON TO HIS DEAL, WITH A SLIGHT RAISE.
WHETHER SOME TEAM WILL ACTUALLY RISK ALL THAT MONEY FOR A PITCHER WHO ALREADY HAS A TEAR IN HIS ARM (AND LETS FACE IT, DECLINING NUMBERS), I DOUBT IT.
.....HOWEVER, I BELIEVE BY EXERCISING HIS OPT-OUT, AND SEEING THAT NO OTHER TEAM BITES, AFTER A LONG NEGOTIATING PROCESS, HE WILL REMAIN WITH THE YANKS, FOR THE 3 YEARS HE HAD LEFT, AT A SLIGHT RAISE. (SAY, $70 MILL INSTEAD OF THE $67 MILL HE WAS OWED).
IF ONE TEAM BITES, MY ENTIRE THEORY IS OUT THE WINDOW....BUT I DON'T THINK SO.
I HOPE HE STAYS.
I hope he stays, too.
ReplyDeleteOur being the gold standard was once true. It lasted from 1920 to 1965. That was it. We've had a few pockets of being the goldtone standard in the late 70s, late 90s, and maybe we will again in the next few years. But that's about it. Otherwise, we've been the floundering plaything of an unstable egoist and now, his sons.
I'm a fan, but also a realist. If the Professor wants to go, I wouldn't blame him. He might decide to stay because the new kids are the best shot he'll ever have at getting a ring. Aside from that, why stay? Our owners are lame, our GM is erratic, the past 20 years of on-field management have been a string of luck, semi-competence, and pique.
More accurately, we've been more the tin standard over the past 50 years than the gold standard. The gang who couldn't shoot straight. The bumbling boobs of the Bronx.
So, I hope Tanaka stays. But I can understand anyone who wants to get out of Dodge, for any reason. We'll muddle on with a new manager, and hopefully the new boss won't be the same as the old boss, which is what happened with Girardi.
On the other hand, I can't wait for April.
Signed,
Psychotic and, perhaps, disturbed
Sometimes it is great to be in denial. To act as if nothing ever changes. As if I will die listening to John Sterling at the age of ninety, full well knowing he is more than 20 years my senior.
ReplyDeleteSo LBJ sort of stirred my nightmare and I do not like that.
On the other hand, the suggestion is great. Although I have read many splendid lines on this blog, this is one I noticed too. But, one may wonder, does he not deserve an afterlife. The John Sterling Memorial Blog.
Oh and Tanaka should definitely go to Seattle
When John Sterling dies, we should turn this into a blog about death.
ReplyDeleteWell Mustang, what would be different then?
ReplyDeleteHoping they learned from the CC Opt out. The extra years they had to tack on to keep him have been brutal and the price outrageous for the production.
ReplyDeleteor maybe they learned from the A-Rod opt out? I like Tanaka. Tough guy. Good pitcher, but if he can get more years and money from somebody else there's nothing to say but sayonara.
ReplyDeleteKeep the Professor if you can but do not add any years to his contract. More money is fine with me. Hell, it's Hal's dough so why do I care? It's the extra years I'd worry about. If the extra years are the sticking point, give Tanaka a party at NYY Steak and bid him a fond farewell.
ReplyDeleteMustang: He is High. He is Far. He is Gone!
ReplyDeleteRe Tanaka: I also hope that he stays. But some marginal guy just got 78 Million for four years somewhere (you could look it up! So it really comes down to Duque's point. Either there's value in being a Yankee or there's more value in getting more money. I (as a person without a lot of money) always think well why would someone with 100 million dollars need to have 110 million dollars. Perhaps this is why I am never in position to ask myself that question. I don't know. Then again ten million dollars is a lot of money. I suppose he could give it away. Or buy a boat.
Last thing on John Sterling and Death (Brought to You by Accubilt (Accubuilt currently builds 60 percent of the hearses used at American funerals) "Accubilt the last ride you'll ever need!" official sponsor of the Hebrew Home of the No Longer Aged":
Do not worry about his passing. One day Artificial Intelligence will take the place of all sports announcers and we will be able to pick the voice/attitude/persona etc. of our announcers. We we will have access to a holographic John Sterling or for me and even better, Phil Rizutto on our virtual 4D goggles.
It's sort of like how De-rek Jeet-er still got the stadium announcement he wanted until he retired.
We'll be OK.
Doug K.
Agreed on all of this! I can't believe that Tiger Tanaka is really going to get some significant new offer...
ReplyDeleteand if he does, more power to him! No use paying big bucks for bad years.
I think if he's smart, he'll realize that, and become even more of a fan favorite by saying, 'Hey, a deal
is a deal, I love New York, etc.'
By the by, as Urban Farmer rocks the house here, are we going to get snapshots of Alphonso's noir trip to Amsterdam? Where are the pix of our esteemed Dutch colleague???
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately we will have to make do with words and our own imagination.
DeleteNot only was I not allowed to make images, they even took away my cell phone before I could enter the bar. There was this sort of gang (or a claque, the result is the same) that was very protective. Shielding him off.
It seems he demands a lot of respect. And gets it. Something you don't understand when you look at him. We all know his picture. And then add grease, lobster butter, oyster drippings and spilling liquids from an array of orifices.
But the wisdom, the wisdom.
Yankees own Colonel Kurtz and I did not even think of becoming as much as a remote shade of Willard.
So,no pics
If Tanaka opts out, let him go...his health is suspect...great post season pitching aside. Tanaka is one twinge away from retirement.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHere's the biggest number (for me) in all this: 35 HR in 180 innings.
If some other team thinks that's worth in excess of $67 million -- well, fine! Let's applaud that franchise, and then see what they'll demand in exchange for freaking Ellsbury.
He is staying :)
ReplyDeleteAnon beat me to it.
ReplyDelete'OL HOSS HIT IT ON THE HEAD.
ReplyDeleteHE PRETTY MUCH SAID, "A DEAL IS A DEAL AND I LOVE NEW YORK."
.....AND NOW THE FANS WILL LOVE HIM EVEN MORE.
SMART.
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