I hit .760 in my slow pitch softball league leading off and playing CF around 25 years ago. I am much slower and wider now.This might help in terms of competitive balance. Scouting report?
I hit .760 in my slow pitch softball league leading off and playing CF around 25 years ago. I am much slower and wider now.This might help in terms of competitive balance. Scouting report?
Not sure this is fair. Bloom has apparently been ordered to move Betts. An extremely limited number of teams are in a position to do business with him. His objective is to maximize return for a player who has stated he won't resign until after he goes to free agency. The options are to wait that player out and collect a low draft pick or to trade him now for something better. Verdugo and Graterol clearly meet that standard, and if Graterol had been in better shape, this would have been an OK deal. The fact that Graterol isn't healthy doesn't implicate Bloom, who (if I'm recalling correctly from Speier's piece) wouldn't have seen the medicals until after the trade was agreed to.Why should he be reasonable? He has his padawan bent over a barrel and there's nothing Bloom can do about it. He doesn't get Mookie Betts, he still has the odds-on-favorite to win the National League. Bloom's bosses have made it pretty clear that they want to cut payroll and this is the only team that is going to take Betts AND Price off his hands. Bloom has to make this deal more than Friedman does, which is why these boasts of, "I'm taking Mookie off the table" are so laughable. Fine, go ahead, now you're where you were two weeks ago, only no your superstar free agent is pissed at you that you tried to deal him and the moody pitcher, who has 10/5 rights in a few months is also annoyed.
Friedman has no obligation to make this easy for Bloom and TBH, if Friedman really wanted to be an asshole, he'd offer him less.
I have to say that if the first major transaction of Chaim Bloom is any indication, we're in for a long, dumb tenure with our new GM. I'm not even remotely impressed, this has been a disaster.
I can't speak for this guy, but CLNS Media does a lot of work in Boston. It's not out of the question that he knows people.This is a giant hedging pile of nothing from someone I have never heard of. Why are we sharing this?
Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?"Suddenly not as good", so basically, we pretty much made the deal, THEN did our due diligence and it turns out, it kind of sucks.
Henry: So what happened to the deal Chaim?
Bloom: Turns out it wasn't a good one. Weird huh?
Henry: Then why did you attempt to make that deal in the first place?
Bloom: Uhm, you see. The thing about that is ...
Henry is (a) in the loop every step of the way, (b) has the final say on what Bloom puts in front of him, and (c) is quite aware the deal Bloom made might be the *only* deal to be made that meets the goal of getting Betts's and Price's salaries off the books."Suddenly not as good", so basically, we pretty much made the deal, THEN did our due diligence and it turns out, it kind of sucks.
Henry: So what happened to the deal Chaim?
Bloom: Turns out it wasn't a good one. Weird huh?
Henry: Then why did you attempt to make that deal in the first place?
Bloom: Uhm, you see. The thing about that is ...
It does seem like there is an ego thing going on at times with these GMs, I agree that LA should be able to find a prospect around #12 or #15 or whatever and finish this, but Friedman seems like he doesn't want to 'give in' to his former subordinate.Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?
Friedman: The Red Sox insisted on more compensation after Graterol's medicals came back worse than they thought. Deal fell apart because they wanted an additional minor league guy.
Kasten: We have a really good farm system, right? There must have been somebody you could've part with that would make them happy. I'm sick of getting to the World Series and losing.
Friedman: Uhm.....because I don't want to?
Exactly what I was driving at.Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?
Friedman: The Red Sox insisted on more compensation after Graterol's medicals came back worse than they thought. Deal fell apart because they wanted an additional minor league guy.
Kasten: We have a really good farm system, right? There must have been somebody you could've part with that would make them happy. I'm sick of getting to the World Series and losing.
Friedman: Uhm.....because I don't want to?
Isn't the answer that it turned out not to be as good because they thought they were putting a top-flight arm in system but it turns out he may top out at reliever."Suddenly not as good", so basically, we pretty much made the deal, THEN did our due diligence and it turns out, it kind of sucks.
Henry: So what happened to the deal Chaim?
Bloom: Turns out it wasn't a good one. Weird huh?
Henry: Then why did you attempt to make that deal in the first place?
Bloom: Uhm, you see. The thing about that is ...
Ok fair enough, but the content of the tweet was also worthless. Sources tell me that if things don't change that there is an ok chance that this deal falls through. You could replant Sanford Stadium with all those hedges.I can't speak for this guy, but CLNS Media does a lot of work in Boston. It's not out of the question that he knows people.
It was reported yesterday that whether he won or lost wouldn't change the LAD/LAA deal.Pederson lost his arb case so his salary is only $7.75m. Wonder if Moreno is angered because he might have to give up a better +1 now to complete the deal at the lower compensation level.
Meh. If the roles were reversed, we'd all be splooging about how Bloom arrived at a reasonable price for the asset he's trying to acquire and sticking to it. It's just buisness, and Friedman is good at it---not because he's dicking Bloom around, but because he's sticking to his price.It does seem like there is an ego thing going on at times with these GMs, I agree that LA should be able to find a prospect around #12 or #15 or whatever and finish this, but Friedman seems like he doesn't want to 'give in' to his former subordinate.
And relievers pitch in more games.It does make sense. Starters throw more innings and pitches.
Yea I just don’t think this is right:FTFY:
Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?
Friedman: The Red Sox insisted on more compensation after Graterol's medicals came back worse than they thought. Deal fell apart because they wanted an additional minor league guy.
Kasten: The Red Sox wanted more? They should have asked for more initially. Yeah, I agree. Fuck 'em.
Friedman: Love that Dodger blue, Boss.
If he wants to pull a Cherington and keep all of his prospects until most of them become worthless, that's his prerogative.Exactly what I was driving at.
Another decent prospect to get this done for a team swimming in good prospects doesn't seem outlandish for a team that wants one of the best players in the game.
"Lose" the trade to win the war.
Hell no. I'm happy if the deal falls through. If you get another top 6-10 prospect kicked in then the deal becomes fair. Sox are right to ask for this.So, to catch up, we're mad that Sox are trading Mookie but also mad the trade might fall through?
Do we really need to compare reliever WAR to SP WAR? /sighAnd relievers pitch in more games.
My point is that arm injuries affect relievers as much as they affect starters.
I’m sorry, how were they supposed to see Graterol’s medical reports before the trade negotiations happened? Was he supposed to call up Thad Levine and say, “Hey, we’re thinking of acquiring Graterol in a trade with the Dodgers, could you forward us his medical reports?”"Suddenly not as good", so basically, we pretty much made the deal, THEN did our due diligence and it turns out, it kind of sucks.
Henry: So what happened to the deal Chaim?
Bloom: Turns out it wasn't a good one. Weird huh?
Henry: Then why did you attempt to make that deal in the first place?
Bloom: Uhm, you see. The thing about that is ...
This doesn't really make sense. Why should they have asked for more initially if they didn't know about Graterol's medical issues at the time, or at least the extent of them? The Sox thought they were doing a trade of Mookie + Price = major-league ready outfielder + virtually-major-league ready starting pitcher. But now they know, which they apparently didn't before, that the trade actually would be Mookie + Price = major-league ready outfielder + virtually-major-league ready reliever. That's a big difference.FTFY:
Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?
Friedman: The Red Sox insisted on more compensation after Graterol's medicals came back worse than they thought. Deal fell apart because they wanted an additional minor league guy.
Kasten: The Red Sox wanted more? They should have asked for more initially. Yeah, I agree. Fuck 'em.
Friedman: Love that Dodger blue, Boss.
What does WAR have to do with the rate of prohibitive arm injuries re: starters and relievers?Do we really need to compare reliever WAR to SP WAR? /sigh
Clearly when billionaires buy sports teams their dream is to continuously finish second.FTFY:
Kasten: So what happened to the deal Andrew?
Friedman: The Red Sox insisted on more compensation after Graterol's medicals came back worse than they thought. Deal fell apart because they wanted an additional minor league guy.
Kasten: The Red Sox wanted more? They should have asked for more initially. Yeah, I agree. Fuck 'em.
Friedman: Love that Dodger blue, Boss.
When a billionaire buys a sports team, their dream is to continuously make money. Everything else is secondary. The Dodgers are making money hand over fist and have been doing so since 1989. Winning a World Series is nice, but it's not like Kasten is Jean Yawkey or Mike Ilitch and is looking to win one title before going to the big mansion in the sky.Clearly when billionaires buy sports teams their dream is to continuously finish second.
Wasn't that part way to Jeremy Jacob's business model?Clearly when billionaires buy sports teams their dream is to continuously finish second.
And that once the trade falls through the Red Sox go into fire sale mode until they get under the luxury tax threshold.So, to catch up, we're mad that Sox are trading Mookie but also mad the trade might fall through?
I think that GBM might have different priorities than Delaware North did.Wasn't that part way to Jeremy Jacob's business model?
Good enough to keep the fans interested and ticket sales up, not good enough to have to pay superstars to stick around.
Yup. Sinden wouldn't have tendered a contract to JBJ. In replacement, the Sox would have signed Hunter Pence to a deal for half the value and twice the length. Absolutely would have taken Mookie to arbitration like he did Ray Bourque back in the day. Before the salary cap, there were probably only one or two professional sports organizations more shameful than the Bruins.Wasn't that part way to Jeremy Jacob's business model?
Good enough to keep the fans interested and ticket sales up, not good enough to have to pay superstars to stick around.
Or, you know, they just say screw it, we’re going for it one last time and then sell Betts off at the deadline and aim to re-set the luxury tax in ‘21. They can very likely get two injured players for Mookie in July.And that once the trade falls through the Red Sox go into fire sale mode until they get under the luxury tax threshold.
And that Betts will be asked every day about re-signing with the Red Sox at the end of the year.
And that every other player will be asked every day about Betts and Price being traded and then untraded.
And that every other player will be asked about the possibility of being traded in the fire sale.
And that the season is doomed before it even begins, trade or no trade.
But no Verdugo, so the Red Sox don't have any "awful" people on the team (wink, wink).
This is what I would have done.Or, you know, they just say screw it, we’re going for it one last time and then sell Betts off at the deadline and aim to re-set the luxury tax in ‘21. They can very likely get two injured players for Mookie in July.
Agreed, I'm all for this deal blowing up. I appreciate different levels to this---they likely are concerned about ability to sign Mookie, they may or may not like his projected performance curve up against the contract, they want to get younger, they may want Price gone (and certainly want his contract gone), they have a rep that may be impacted if deal falls through, bringing them back now tougher etc. And I still hope it blows up.Or, you know, they just say screw it, we’re going for it one last time and then sell Betts off at the deadline and aim to re-set the luxury tax in ‘21. They can very likely get two injured players for Mookie in July.
There is a theory in economics about marginal utility. Basically it hopes to address, how desirable or valuable (or price paid) is an apple to a guy who is really hungry versus a guy with an apple farm? And the conclusion is the marginal utility declines as the commodity increases.When a billionaire buys a sports team, their dream is to continuously make money. Everything else is secondary. The Dodgers are making money hand over fist and have been doing so since 1989. Winning a World Series is nice, but it's not like Kasten is Jean Yawkey or Mike Ilitch and is looking to win one title before going to the big mansion in the sky.
No, you're not the only one. Maybe the union always does this, and this just happens to be about a trade involving a much bigger name player so we hear about it. But, the medical discussion hardly seems that unusual.Am I the only person who doesn't totally understand the Players Union statement on this? This isn't unprecedented.
sameMy abject hatred for the Yankees ended October 20th, 2004 with Johnny Damon’s homer.
Billionaires differ, of course, but I've heard people talk about how for these people it is usually less about making an annual operating profit, but about owning teams because it buys them entrance into a very exclusive club. That gives them both status and also additional business opportunities. In addition, the owners of the Red Sox will make tons more profit in capital gains when they sell, than they will make on operational profit. It's not even close.So while making the next $million is clearly of value to a billionaire, I would suspect that the greatest marginal utility for the billionaire who buys a sports team might not be $ but rather a ring.
If that's the case then your conversation would be something more likeWhen a billionaire buys a sports team, their dream is to continuously make money. Everything else is secondary. The Dodgers are making money hand over fist and have been doing so since 1989. Winning a World Series is nice, but it's not like Kasten is Jean Yawkey or Mike Ilitch and is looking to win one title before going to the big mansion in the sky.
Unfortunately, this equally explains why farmer Friedman might not be as eager to add Boston's apple to his bushel basket as we all assume he is.There is a theory in economics about marginal utility. Basically it hopes to address, how desirable or valuable (or price paid) is an apple to a guy who is really hungry versus a guy with an apple farm? And the conclusion is the marginal utility declines as the commodity increases.
Obviously doesn’t have smaht pahkTime to back out and start over, Chaim.
View: https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/1225901885577711616
It's basically a tweet. We want to shout at people for no reason other than making ourselves feel important.No, you're not the only one. Maybe the union always does this, and this just happens to be about a trade involving a much bigger name player so we hear about it. But, the medical discussion hardly seems that unusual.
#notallbillionairesIf that's the case then your conversation would be something more like
Henry: So what happened to the deal Chaim?
Bloom: Turns out it wasn't a good one. Weird huh?
Henry: Then why did you attempt to make that deal in the first place?
Bloom: Uhm, you see. The thing about that is that we got a look at the medicals, and the pitcher's arm might snap off at the shoulder during spring training.
Henry: But the Dodgers are still taking Price and we're still off-loading both salaries?
Bloom: Yep.
Henry: Outstanding work, Chaim. Be sure to send the kid a gift basket from us while he's in the hospital.
I live in Dodger country. There is some real pressure. Its nothing like Boston. The weather is way too nice for LA fans to get as passionate as fans in cold weather places with a team that has been dissected and talked about winter after winter for generations. The pressure is ready to explode by the time spring rolls around. Could you imagine if the Red Sox lost two series with a major scandal involved? Good grief.Why?
Maybe the Dodgers really like Verdugo. Maybe they think they're going to get Mookie next year anyway. Maybe they're ambivalent about Price even with the subsidy. Who knows?
I know the Dodgers and their fan base are eager for a title. I question how much pressure those fans will put on the team if this deal falls through. I don't know how much of that pressure exists in LA outside of the Lakers. I also think the cheating scandals takes some of the pressure off. Fans can convince themselves that the team would have been good enough to win one already, and it is easier for them to direct their hate at opposing teams than it is the laundry.
edit: I mean, damn. Friedman is running the show there. He's done a great job in LA. He isn't getting fired for holding a firm line on a trade.
Yeah it's weird for Tony Clark to automatically double down like that.Am I the only person who doesn't totally understand the Players Union statement on this? This isn't unprecedented.
Time to back out and not start over!Time to back out and start over, Chaim.
View: https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/1225901885577711616
Hey ... there are ground rules about using a joke like thatYeah it's weird for Tony Clark to automatically double down like that.