tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post6610118691145334355..comments2023-09-08T07:43:02.167-05:00Comments on The Nationals Interest: A sign the apocolypse is upon us...Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15511181153423391650noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-48391746187049121912007-05-08T16:17:00.000-05:002007-05-08T16:17:00.000-05:00This is a very interesting issue. Having thought ...This is a very interesting issue. Having thought about it a lot, I agree that a player on a baseball team should be a member of the team in a meaningful sense. <BR/><BR/>Mike Golic said this morning that the only players whose reaction is important are those who consider themselves Clemens' peers--i.e., A-Rod, Jeter, Rivera, etc. No one cares what Robinson Cano thinks, and Cano realizes that his opinion doesn't matter so he won't make much noise about Clemens' cushy arrangement. The stars, though, are another matter. They apparently signed off on the deal, but it will be interesting to see whether they grumble about it as the season progresses.<BR/><BR/>By the way, stay tuned over the next few days for a post comparing Clemens to the game's greatest pitchers.Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511181153423391650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-67617266720995074802007-05-08T15:12:00.000-05:002007-05-08T15:12:00.000-05:00(different 'anonymous' than today's previous post)...(different 'anonymous' than today's previous post)<BR/><BR/>This goes back to a brief comment I made a couple of days ago, but should have articulated at the time. Clemens' deal is outrageous. Not only financially, but last time I checked, baseball was a team sport. So, now he doesn't have to travel unless he's playing? What the heck does that say to the rest of the team? The least he could do is warm the benches for the rest of them. <BR/><BR/>If he is genuine, truly there because he loves baseball (and not just for the paycheck), he will travel with the team, no matter the deal. There are players out there who don't even get to play the position they grew up loving and knowing. They are not playing what I consider their "genuine" position - one that's innate to them. That's not the case for pitchers and catchers. <BR/><BR/>Come on, Clemens, while you may be a 'great' pitcher, I wouldn't consider you genuine unless you were there for your team continuously. If you only participate when you want to, it will give everyone more reasons to dislike the Yankees, and well, we have enought of THOSE already!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-54283732466571573962007-05-08T11:13:00.001-05:002007-05-08T11:13:00.001-05:00Chris--How could you do this to my fantasy team?! ...Chris--<BR/><BR/>How could you do this to my fantasy team?! I was counting on you!!Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511181153423391650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-24111380126070792112007-05-08T11:13:00.000-05:002007-05-08T11:13:00.000-05:00I want to make something clear: I don't blame or ...I want to make something clear: I don't blame or begrudge the Yankees for their success. However, I think we overstate the extent to which the qualities Anonymous cites led to that success. <BR/><BR/>The fact is that the Yankees are the biggest team in the biggest media market in the country. Their cable deal alone gives the team a cash advantage over every other team in baseball, and the cash flow from the luxury boxes in the new stadium will only increase their advantage. <BR/><BR/>Should the Yankees be blamed for their financial success? No, but let's not pretend that it was brains and skill that produced the advantage they enjoy over virtually every other team in the game.Erikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15511181153423391650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-6848518811398620892007-05-08T10:37:00.000-05:002007-05-08T10:37:00.000-05:00Jason Simontacchi? You need to change this blog t...Jason Simontacchi? You need to change this blog to The Nationals' Disinterest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14170319.post-8310897590741834082007-05-08T09:00:00.000-05:002007-05-08T09:00:00.000-05:00When we take swipes at the Yankees and their manag...When we take swipes at the Yankees and their management, let's try to keep it focused on what might help the Nationals. Would Yankee-like money help them? Would an unforgiving (but always attendance record setting) fan base that accepts nothing less than World Championships help them? Would a little Brian Cashman luck help them (recall his mid season acquistion of Aaron Boone that zenithed in one of the most memorable home runs in MLB history and Yankee lore)? Would owners and management who take big risks in pursuit of big ambition help them? The answer is all of the above. And, the same is true for any other club in baseball. What's my point? Maybe what is wrong with baseball (for those of you who insist that something actually is wrong with what is the most entertaining sport in America) is that not enough teams are like the Yankees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com