Youk a Yankee!

[ibot2much]

It is a game. He is being paid to play......nothing more or less

[Dojji]

Maybe, but I don't buy it. The 'just a game' has a culture and a narrative built around it that it's entirely fair to take into account. Youk knew that when of all the 29 other teams he could have signed with, he inked his deal with NYY.

[redsoxfan3]

Maybe, but I don't buy it. The 'just a game' has a culture and a narrative built around it that it's entirely fair to take into account. Youk knew that when of all the 29 other teams he could have signed with, he inked his deal with NYY.

 

I like Youk as a person and for what he did in his time in Boston, but he made a business decision. I do not like the fact that Youk is playing for the Yankees, but what can you do? The White Sox declined his 13 million option for 2013. With that in mind, his agent went out and got him a 12 million dollar deal with the Yankees, not to mention he received a 1 million buyout for his contract. That means that his agent got him 13 million total for 2013 that he was going to receive if the White Sox picked up his option. Bick did a great job. I don't know what his other offers were, but if the Yankees offered him the most money at 12 million, then I think it was a great deal for him from a business standpoint. You cannot really fault Youk for that. This game is a business. s*** happens. When he wears the pinstripes, I will not be a fan of his and I actually hope he plays s*****.

[ibot2much]

Maybe, but I don't buy it. The 'just a game' has a culture and a narrative built around it that it's entirely fair to take into account. Youk knew that when of all the 29 other teams he could have signed with, he inked his deal with NYY.

 

Did "all the 29 other teams" offer him something?

[mvp 78]

Can't be mad at Youk for going where the $ is. If he pulled a Ray Allen and went to a rival for less $, then I could see why people would be mad.

[Lucienbel]

I like Youk as a person and for what he did in his time in Boston, but he made a business decision. I do not like the fact that Youk is playing for the Yankees, but what can you do? The White Sox declined his 13 million option for 2013. With that in mind, his agent went out and got him a 12 million dollar deal with the Yankees, not to mention he received a 1 million buyout for his contract. That means that his agent got him 13 million total for 2013 that he was going to receive if the White Sox picked up his option. Bick did a great job. I don't know what his other offers were, but if the Yankees offered him the most money at 12 million, then I think it was a great deal for him from a business standpoint. You cannot really fault Youk for that. This game is a business. s*** happens. When he wears the pinstripes, I will not be a fan of his and I actually hope he plays s*****.

 

Exactly. I think I said it earlier in the thread, but once Youk left it was over for me. I'll always appreciate what he did in Boston, and he was a fun player to watch....not too many hitters like him out there. Different season, different times. And as others have said, it's hard to blame him for taking a deal worth that much....doubtful many other teams were offering that kind of money.

[jacksonianmarch]

I like how most everyone here is level headed about his decision. Those who think he's an ass for picking the Yankees, he was offered the most money in terms of AAV by the Yankees and he is offered a chance to win right away. I think it was the Guardians who offered him a 2yr $18 mil deal, but if he has a good yr in the Bronx, he'd make more over the next 2 yrs AND the Guardians arent winning s*** for another 3-4 yrs.

 

And let's all be honest here. For the sox fans responding here, if you were offered $13 mil for one yr to play in the Bronx, you'd sign on in an instant. Hell, if someone offered me $1 million to tattoo the Red Sox logo on my back in gigantic print, I'd do it. Let's not be hypocrites here

[Palodios]

I like how most everyone here is level headed about his decision. Those who think he's an ass for picking the Yankees, he was offered the most money in terms of AAV by the Yankees and he is offered a chance to win right away. I think it was the Guardians who offered him a 2yr $18 mil deal, but if he has a good yr in the Bronx, he'd make more over the next 2 yrs AND the Guardians arent winning s*** for another 3-4 yrs.

 

Agreed. New York is also the closest city to Boston, so all of his friends, and his wife's family are relatively close.

 

And let's all be honest here. For the sox fans responding here, if you were offered $13 mil for one yr to play in the Bronx, you'd sign on in an instant. Hell, if someone offered me $1 million to tattoo the Red Sox logo on my back in gigantic print, I'd do it. Let's not be hypocrites here

 

Okay, its time to get a TalkSox collection box running.

[jacksonianmarch]

Go for it. If the collection box nets me a 7 figure payday, you can tattoo anything you want on my back. I've never had a tattoo, so it's a clean slate my man.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I like how most everyone here is level headed about his decision. Those who think he's an ass for picking the Yankees, he was offered the most money in terms of AAV by the Yankees and he is offered a chance to win right away. I think it was the Guardians who offered him a 2yr $18 mil deal, but if he has a good yr in the Bronx, he'd make more over the next 2 yrs AND the Guardians arent winning s*** for another 3-4 yrs.

 

And let's all be honest here. For the sox fans responding here, if you were offered $13 mil for one yr to play in the Bronx, you'd sign on in an instant. Hell, if someone offered me $1 million to tattoo the Red Sox logo on my back in gigantic print, I'd do it. Let's not be hypocrites here

 

I think most Sox fans are ok with it because we all know that he's just a shell of the player he used to be, so the Yankees spent a lot of money on a .245/.350/.435 player.

[seabeachfred]

I think most Sox fans are ok with it because we all know that he's just a shell of the player he used to be, so the Yankees spent a lot of money on a .245/.350/.435 player.

 

I think we have to look at the Youkilis move to New York with a different perspective than we did when Damon went from our team to the Yankees, and for that matter Cretin Clemens. Youk was traded from the Sox to the Pale Hose and when they didn't pick up his option had to pick a team. For $12 million for a single season it was pretty much of a no brainer from where I sit. Damon just kissed us off after saying he would never play for the Yankees and went with them anyway, the God damn liar. As for the Cretin, yes, he went to the Bronx via Toronto but his words of being with a real organization and his barbs against Boston immediately brought the brickbats on him. Youk has said nothing of the sort. In fact I am still irritated that the Red Sox have not reissued #21 to anyone. To me the sooner that crud is totally forgotten by the Red Sox t he better.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think most Sox fans are ok with it because we all know that he's just a shell of the player he used to be, so the Yankees spent a lot of money on a .245/.350/.435 player.

 

Wait, so you mean a player who is better than Shane Victorino?

[Behindenemylines]

Youk gave his all to the Sox while he was in Boston, but he is in decline and is no longer an all-star player. The best days for Youk are behind him so I can't get mad at him for taking some of that $pankee $$$$$.

[TylerD]

I'm sure even he is ashamed of going to the Yankees.

[a700hitter]

Now, that Bobby V is gone, youk doesn't have any axe to grind with us. If Bobby V had still been here, Youk would have been on a mission to beat us. I still think he will have a very good year. Youk likes to take the ball the other way, but he didn't have enough power in Fenway to be dangerous with the HR ball to RF. Yankee Stadium's RF porch will play right into his sweet spot. He'll lose doubles, but I peg him for 25-30 bombs.

[SoxSport]

I saw some rankings of the top 10 3rd baseman on MLB channel last night, and they actually had Youks ranked 3rd! I thought that was pretty ridiculous, but then they said these rankings were based on pre-season a year ago--which is ancient history. But why show them now? Maybe it's just the media power of the Yankees. Any player they have gets a boost? Sure, but Youks is way way down the list now. Not really a 3rd baseman anymore. You wonder if he can last a year at 3B. The Yankees are looking more and more like Swiss cheese.

[who]

I saw some rankings of the top 10 3rd baseman on MLB channel last night, and they actually had Youks ranked 3rd! I thought that was pretty ridiculous, but then they said these rankings were based on pre-season a year ago--which is ancient history. But why show them now? Maybe it's just the media power of the Yankees. Any player they have gets a boost? Sure, but Youks is way way down the list now. Not really a 3rd baseman anymore. You wonder if he can last a year at 3B. The Yankees are looking more and more like Swiss cheese.

 

Well, he doesn't have a choice at this point. He is their third baseman.

[reYoukilis]

I dont see anyone mentioning Youks lates comment about "always being a Red Sock" but I think it was cool and him joining the Yanks isnt the same as when Clemens and Damon did it. It isnt even as bad as when Wade Boggs did it. Youk did it for a job.

 

I wish him all the luck in the world except for winning.

[jacksonianmarch]

Youk is either going to be spectacularly good or spectacularly bad and here's why. If he is truly healthy and comes out strong, he'll win the support of the Yankee fans who are looking forward to seeing someone else step in for AFraud. If he starts out slow, he'll be the embedded Red Sox player and he'll get crucified at home on a nightly basis. Also, the Yankees have a few prospects who are big league ready and capable of handling the hot corner, so the leash wont be long

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Youk said he was proud to be a Yankee. Proud and Yankee should not be in the same sentence for a former Red Sox player.

[jacksonianmarch]

Youk said he was proud to be a Yankee. Proud and Yankee should not be in the same sentence for a former Red Sox player.

 

He's trying to undo the s*** he said earlier

[Spitball]

He's trying to undo the s*** he said earlier

 

I agree. I honestly believe he must feel a certain amount of guilt for signing with the enemy...but he isn't in a position to say it publicly.

[reYoukilis]

I agree. I honestly believe he must feel a certain amount of guilt for signing with the enemy...but he isn't in a position to say it publicly.

But he did and he's no dummy so I have to feel that the first comment "Ill always be a Red Sock" was genuine and was ready to take the hits. And I agree that "proud to be a Yank" is him trying to smooth things out a little.

 

It might be guilt but it also may be love. I hate the Yanks but when it comes to Yanks or retirement, I cant hate an ex-Red Sock for taking the Yanks.

[jung]

Red Sock for life...Yankee for now....what dif does it make. Players are going to play for who pays them. There is simply too much money at stake these days. I don't blame Youk a bit. Players are likely doing far worse things than play for the Yanks given the kind of money teams are throwing around under the right circumstances these days. Guys are going to do everything they can do to keep playing. If Satan himself decided to own a MLB team, guys would be lining up to play for him. A paycheck is a paycheck.

[reYoukilis]

Just saw Youk in a Yankees uniform for the first time. AHHH!!! MY EYES!!!

[a700hitter]

The ball he hit to RF would have been a HR in Yankee Stadium.

[Youk Of The Nation]

What the hell am I supposed to do about this username now?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

You can switch forums.

[Youk Of The Nation]

I could change it to my SOSH username...

 

It will be interesting to watch Youk as a Yankee this season, though. It seems more difficult for me than it was with Damon. I started actually caring about baseball in 2002, so I only watched Damon for 4 seasons. I watched Youk for 6 full seasons and parts of three more. It's the first time in my short tenure as a Sox fan that I've had to see a longtime favorite play for the Yanks. All the rest of the players who have gone over have either been minor guys or guys I never liked anyways. Mientkiewicz, Bellhorn, et cetera.

[a700hitter]

You can switch forums.

He'd have to change his User Name to Youk of the Empire if he goes to a Yankee forum.