Kevin Baker's book is here!

Kevin Baker's book is here!
"... an exemplary sports book..." Kirkus Reviews

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Big-spending Redsocks to pay $51 million for nothing

Transactions this weekend by the two of the three best teams in baseball illustrate the widening power gap in the game.

To bring back li'l Dustin Pedroia, big-spending Boston ditched Hanley Ramirez and the remainder of his $22 million contract. Ramirez - a known killer of Yankee pitching - must be traded within the next few days. Don't we all wish the Yanks had an open roster slot?

Meanwhile, the Yankees dropped li'l Ronald Torreyes - a great utility infielder and good luck charm - for the return of Greg Bird, (who promptly went 0-4.) Thus, we found ourselves last night in a bizarre, nearly unprecedented dimension: Nobody hurt (aside from Jordan Montgomery, who wasn't starting, and Jacoby Ellsbury, who no longer counts.) It won't last long, of course. Somebody will get pregnant. And as Yankee pitchers continue to slog, the trade deadline looms ever larger.   

But the big-spending Redsocks just keep clunking along. Right now, they have no choice but to write the checks and grin. They are $51 million in the tank for mistake money... this season alone, and like Lady MacBeth, they recognize that the bloodletting must continue. 

Along with the $22 million for Ramirez, big-spending Boston must pay Pablo Sandoval ($18 mill) and Rusney Castillo ($11 mill). It goes into a $233 million opening day payroll, highest in the game, nearly $60 mill more than the Yankees. They are so far into the financial abyss that Castillo cannot be promoted from Pawtucket, because his presence would crush the team's already disastrous luxury tax threshold. They'll pay Sandoval and Castillo for two more years, and pretend they're pass-through payouts to Michael Cohen.

And hey, it's working. They're in first, two games up. But if something happens to a front-liner, they won't have a Clint Frazier or Ronald Torreyes to call up from Triple A "Aw-fuckit" Pawtucket. They won't even be able to call back Hanley Ramirez. They're in a position occupied by the Yankees through much of the middle 2000s - able to contend but vomiting bad contracts.

They are what the 2020 Yankees could be, if we suddenly lard up our roster with aging veterans on bad, win-now contracts. The Yankees are in a unique situation - a great lineup with young players who should improve. They also have the financial might of the NYC market, which they should dominate.  

So... on this Memorial Day weekend, how is this for a long-term hope:

That the Yankees use their financial strength to grow younger, not older. There can be a new Core Four, or even a Core Five or Core Seven. But there should never be a reason to bind ourselves to a player for 10 years, so long that he is assured of eventually becoming a millstone. Big contracts, short duration, and instead of always buying on July 31, the Yankees should sell off assets for future prospects. If we must trade Frazier, Drury, Wade, Austin, et al - and I'm not saying we have to - let's get even younger. Let's not be the big-spending Redsocks. 

Have a great Memorial Day everybody, and let's play nice with each other, okay?

12 comments:

KD said...

With Sale I fear the red socks are better positioned for the post season than we are. Socks fans have hope. We are out early. Sorry to say...

KD said...

How do you rank last night’s game, duque? Can it be a pineapple when we all know Sunny will crap the bed?

Rufus T. Firefly said...

Can the Yankees get a double occupancy rate for Toonces & Gray in psych rehab?

(Toonces & Gray sounds like a Las Vegas lounge act.)

How many more starts does Gray get before he is demoted to long (mop-up) man? It kinda stinks mentally penciling in the loss when he pitches.

Austria's Only Baseball Fan said...

It is high, it is far, it is... raining again. Since I have a concert tonight at 19:30 CET (not long after the scheduled first pitch), I checked the international weather and, lo and behold: it’s raining now in the Bronx and is not supposed to stop till about 05:00 p.m. (NYC time). I suppose I could offer you a video of what I will be hearing this evening (Mahler’s Second), but this should be more universally entertaining: you can even mime bowling along with Yma Sumac as she sings about an earthquake in an unintelligible language (go direct to 1:14:40). Viel Spaß!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20TAGRElvfE

Publius said...

https://youtu.be/csvWXwYjtpQ

Cashman and Boone, early this morning.

Alphonso said...

If it rains all weekend, Luis can start again on Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

EVERYONE MAY LAUGH AT THIS, BUT.....

RIGHT NOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I RATHER HAVE CLINT FRAZIER AS OUR STARTING LEFT FIELDER THAN GIANCARLO STANTON.

THEY KEEP SAYING HOW HE IS "ON THE SAME PACE" AS LAST YEARS NL MVP SEASON.

ALL I KEEP SEEING IS TERRIBLE AT BATS AGAINST ANY AND ALL RIGHT HANDED PITCHERS.

HE CAN'T HIT A SLIDER FROM A RHP.

IT EVEN LOOKS LIKE HE CAN'T HIT A FASTBALL FROM A RHP.

FORGET ABOUT A CLUTCH HIT AGAINST A RHP.

I DON'T WANNA HEAR ABOUT, "HE IS ADJUSTING TO NEW YORK".....

CLINT FRAZIER DIDN'T HAVE TO ADJUST LAST SEASON AS HE BELTED A WALK OFF 3 RUN HOMER, SOMETHING I AM PRETTY POSITIVE WE WONT SEE ALL SEASON FROM STANTON.

THERE... I SAID IT.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY GUYS.

Anonymous said...

It used to be, Spahn and Sain and pray for rain. Now it's, pitch Serverino and then pass the vino.

Doug K.

Joe Formerlyof Brooklyn said...


Barolo? Or Chassagne Montrachet?

Note also: GStanton 7 HR in 52 ABs vs. LHP, 4 in 139 ABs vs. RHP. Fugly!


Rufus T. Firefly said...

JFOB,

I would go for the Montrachet every time.

Carl J. Weitz said...

Id take a nice aged premium Barolo.

Isiyku Abdulahi said...


I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.