That Game was a preview of what's to come with no Gonzo..

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

The middle relief is pretty weak. And the defense has been shockingly bad so far too. I'm confident that guys like Cameron and Scutaro will end up being positive defensively--both have single handedly blown games already' date=' surprisingly.[/quote']

They're bad now, but I think they'll improve. You don't just overhaul a bullpen in April.

 

Ortiz has been bad for awhile, and those signs of life toward the end of last season aren't amounting to anything. Cut the cord.

[yankees228]

J_E, based on things I've read, it seems that the possibility existed for the Red Sox to acquire Teixeira without entering a bidding war with the Yankees.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

J_E' date=' based on things I've read, it seems that the possibility existed for the Red Sox to acquire Teixeira without entering a bidding war with the Yankees.[/quote']

 

Just because ESPN hasn't gotten wind of the Yankees' pursuit of Player X, doesn't mean Player X isn't on their radar.

[yankees228]

Just because ESPN hasn't gotten wind of the Yankees' pursuit of Player X' date=' doesn't mean they aren't Player X isn't on their radar.[/quote']

 

That's true, but there are a few important points here. First, I'm not speaking of my opinion as if it's fact. Only you are doing that. Second, we can only go on what we know, and at the time, Teixeira didn't appear to be a priority for the Yankees (based on how they dealt with Sabathia versus how they dealt with Teixeira). Third, based on all the information available to us (and that's all we can go on), Steinbrenner relented to Cashman's request at the last minute to put up the funds to make a legitimate offer to Teixeira, after initially declining.

 

On the surface, this does not appear to be a team that was dead set on signing Teixeira, which is the picture you're trying to paint.

 

Fact is, neither of us know, and we can only make logical inferences about what transpired. It's a pointless conversation, because none of us will ever know what actually happened, but while the scenario you laid out is a plausible one, mine is as well.

[example1]

They're bad now' date=' but I think they'll improve. You don't just overhaul a bullpen in April.

 

No, you overhaul it in November-February. Unfortunately that didn't happen this year.

 

I can assure you that in 2011 I won't mind that the MR corps is weak. The Sox weren't going to sign an arm like Valverde, and resigning Wagner (who was really the only good pen arm they lost) wasn't a realistic option.

 

Wagner will net them the 20th and 39th overall pick in the 2010 draft, so that's a really good thing. I will tolerate some mediocre arms to get a few first round picks.

 

Ortiz has been bad for awhile, and those signs of life toward the end of last season aren't amounting to anything. Cut the cord.

 

They need another option first. I have no problem with them cutting the cord though.

[jacksonianmarch]

For the billionth time' date=' it was not the front office's fault. What, you mean you would actually be [i']happy[/i] with Teixeira on this team at such a horrendous price that even the Yankees (richest team in baseball) withdrew from the bidding (because that's what it would take)?

 

The FO didn't fail. They didn't give out a catastrophically bad contract that almost certainly would have hindered further improvement in other areas. Mark Teixeira isn't a one of a kind player.

 

I don't know how many times that has to be explained before it sinks in.

 

 

 

http://www.neonsumo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sky-falling.jpg

 

Jesus Christ, it is almost pointless, but I'll give it a shot again.

 

The sox had Tex in their sites. They had a number, given by Boras, that would have gotten him. They could have met in the middle, which is called negotiating, which is exactly what the Yankees did after the sox f***ed up the Tex negotiations. Henry had an 8yr 170-175mil deal in hand. Boras asked for a 8yr 200mil deal for Tex. Henry refused to budge, EVEN THOUGH there were better offers on the table (from Washington and Baltimore reportedly, two places that absolutely suck). He then got pissed and thought that bitching to the media would help him. With that bitching, Cash got enough gumption to ask Hal to extend the payroll and make an offer. He went to Boras with a 8yr 175 mil deal, which Boras declined. Then met closer to the middle at 8yrs $184mil.

 

The fact is, you need to know what is out there, and who is involved. Tex was the prime offensive free agent, probably of the past 3-5 yrs and looked to be the best one to hit the market until Pujols does after 2011. He was the holy grail for offensive impact. He was represented by a dirtbag who ALWAYS gets the highest dollar figure. You cannot go to that guy with a number and refuse to negotiate. It just f***s everything up. Then, bitching to the media, taking your contract negotiations to the media, that's a pisspoor move, and exactly why he's a Yankee right now.

[Dipre]

Jesus Christ, it is almost pointless, but I'll give it a shot again.

 

The sox had Tex in their sites. They had a number, given by Boras, that would have gotten him. They could have met in the middle, which is called negotiating, which is exactly what the Yankees did after the sox f***ed up the Tex negotiations. Henry had an 8yr 170-175mil deal in hand. Boras asked for a 8yr 200mil deal for Tex. Henry refused to budge, EVEN THOUGH there were better offers on the table (from Washington and Baltimore reportedly, two places that absolutely suck). He then got pissed and thought that bitching to the media would help him. With that bitching, Cash got enough gumption to ask Hal to extend the payroll and make an offer. He went to Boras with a 8yr 175 mil deal, which Boras declined. Then met closer to the middle at 8yrs $184mil.

 

The fact is, you need to know what is out there, and who is involved. Tex was the prime offensive free agent, probably of the past 3-5 yrs and looked to be the best one to hit the market until Pujols does after 2011. He was the holy grail for offensive impact. He was represented by a dirtbag who ALWAYS gets the highest dollar figure. You cannot go to that guy with a number and refuse to negotiate. It just f***s everything up. Then, bitching to the media, taking your contract negotiations to the media, that's a pisspoor move, and exactly why he's a Yankee right now.

 

That's true, but there are a few important points here. First, I'm not speaking of my opinion as if it's fact. Only you are doing that. Second, we can only go on what we know, and at the time, Teixeira didn't appear to be a priority for the Yankees (based on how they dealt with Sabathia versus how they dealt with Teixeira). Third, based on all the information available to us (and that's all we can go on), Steinbrenner relented to Cashman's request at the last minute to put up the funds to make a legitimate offer to Teixeira, after initially declining.

 

On the surface, this does not appear to be a team that was dead set on signing Teixeira, which is the picture you're trying to paint.

 

Fact is, neither of us know, and we can only make logical inferences about what transpired. It's a pointless conversation, because none of us will ever know what actually happened, but while the scenario you laid out is a plausible one, mine is as well.

 

Learn.

[jacksonianmarch]

Learn what? Y228 chose the most politically correct option. I chose to rehash what Cashman said to the media. You know, the guy who happened to be the one making the decision to extend an offer? You are just too much sometimes.

[Dipre]

Learn what? Y228 chose the most politically correct option. I chose to rehash what Cashman said to the media. You know' date=' the guy who happened to be the one making the decision to extend an offer? You are just too much sometimes.[/quote']

 

You know nothing about the negotiations. I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is baseless conjecture on your part. Besides, if anyone here rehashes anything said by someone from the Sox FO to the media we're "drinking the Kool-Aid". Funny how that works.

[PWNdroia]

I've called Ortiz done since the end of the 2008 season. He's long finished.

[TheKilo]

Props to Y228 as he makes a whole hell of a lot of sense in this thread. Those who are painting the "Boston never had a chance" picture are simply putting blinders on to the whole situation.

 

The Sox had a face to face meeting with Boaras and Tex and could not close the deal. For people who pride themselves on being awesome salespeople, it's a pretty glaring failure.

[BSN07]

Props to Y228 as he makes a whole hell of a lot of sense in this thread. Those who are painting the "Boston never had a chance" picture are simply putting blinders on to the whole situation.

 

The Sox had a face to face meeting with Boaras and Tex and could not close the deal. For people who pride themselves on being awesome salespeople, it's a pretty glaring failure.

 

But I thought in that meeting it came up that no matter what the Sox offered that day, the Yankees would be getting a call to counter? I could be wrong though. But I seem to remember reading something like that. Regardless it sucks and will continue to suck until the the Sox acquire a big time bat. Then all the "Tex" crap will probably fall by the way side.