Spring Training 2020

[Bellhorn04]

You would think that as good as these athletes are, they wouldn't need to have the biggest contract in order to validate their worth.

 

Maybe it's because I'm not a multi-millionaire, but I just don't get it.

 

I do understand, up to a point, why they go for as much money as possible. I think a lot of it is male ego for sure.

 

I think part of it is they don't want to be the guy who 'left money on the table'. It's almost a sign of weakness to do that.

[notin]

I do understand, up to a point, why they go for as much money as possible. I think a lot of it is male ego for sure.

 

I think part of it is they don't want to be the guy who 'left money on the table'. It's almost a sign of weakness to do that.

 

To me, that's a sign of stength. "I don't need your effin charity!! These $225 million dollars is all I need!"

 

OK, that evokes a lot less of an image of John Wayne when I read it aloud than when it did in my head...

[Kimmi]

With the way this season might go, little things will get me excited lmao. We might not have a ton to get excited about.

 

I have a more optimistic outlook on this season than most people.

 

The Sox are going to make some noise! Be excited!

[Kimmi]

I agree.

 

Merely playing Major League Baseball is so insanely difficult to do that the act of getting there is a status symbol of sorts.

 

But really, nothing says "appreciation" like US dollars...

 

Give me $20 mil, I'd feel very much appreciated.

[Kimmi]

I do understand, up to a point, why they go for as much money as possible. I think a lot of it is male ego for sure.

 

I think part of it is they don't want to be the guy who 'left money on the table'. It's almost a sign of weakness to do that.

 

That's an interesting perspective. I don't see leaving money on the table as a sign of weakness. I actually see it as a sign of strength, if anything.

[notin]

Give me $20 mil, I'd feel very much appreciated.

 

Exactly.

 

But would you feel appreciated if you received $20 mill and all the other teachers and janitors in your building received $40mill apiece?

[Kimmi]

Exactly.

 

But would you feel appreciated if you received $20 mill and all the other teachers and janitors in your building received $40mill apiece?

 

I would probably not be happy if all the other employees were making $40 mil, but that's not quite the same thing.

 

I wouldn't be asking for $41 million so that I could be the highest paid teacher in the building.

[notin]

I would probably not be happy if all the other employees were making $40 mil, but that's not quite the same thing.

 

I wouldn't be asking for $41 million so that I could be the highest paid teacher in the building.

 

A fair addendum.

 

But the logic of equating appreciation and “respect” in my example is the logic that applies here. That it still exists with these absurd sums of money is another matter...

[Bellhorn04]

Players hire agents and agents have incentive to get every last dollar. A % of it is theirs.

[Kimmi]

A fair addendum.

 

But the logic of equating appreciation and “respect” in my example is the logic that applies here. That it still exists with these absurd sums of money is another matter...

 

I get your point. No one wants to feel disrespected when it comes to his/her salary.

[notin]

Players hire agents and agents have incentive to get every last dollar. A % of it is theirs.

 

Yes. One of my oft-repeated lines when someone expects a hometown discount or cheaper contract is Player X “hired an agent for a reason.” Sometimes I add “And that reason wasn’t to give a hometown discount.”

[Bellhorn04]

According to Mookie, when the Red Sox made their first extension offer a couple of years ago, for 8 years and 200 million, he was very tempted to take it, because it was such a huge amount of money. But his mother kind of talked him out of it, told him not to act rashly and emotionally etc.

 

So it's actually all Mookie's mother's fault!

[Bellhorn04]

Yes. One of my oft-repeated lines when someone expects a hometown discount or cheaper contract is Player X “hired an agent for a reason.” Sometimes I add “And that reason wasn’t to give a hometown discount.”

 

Yes, you've said that many, many times.

 

There are exceptions, though, Bogaerts for one.

[notin]

Yes, you've said that many, many times.

 

There are exceptions, though, Bogaerts for one.

 

A major exception when you consider who his agent is and how close to free agency he was when he signed it...

[notin]

According to Mookie, when the Red Sox made their first extension offer a couple of years ago, for 8 years and 200 million, he was very tempted to take it, because it was such a huge amount of money. But his mother kind of talked him out of it, told him not to act rashly and emotionally etc.

 

So it's actually all Mookie's mother's fault!

 

Oh please. Which one of us can honestly say our mother didn’t talk us out of accepting a job that pays $200 million?

[Elktonnick]

Yes, you've said that many, many times.

 

There are exceptions, though, Bogaerts for one.

 

Not every player wants to get every last cent. Some players value security. I suspect Bogie saw Pedroia's situation and may have thought there but for the grace of God goes I. He may have thought a bird in the hand.

[mvp 78]

Yes, you've said that many, many times.

 

There are exceptions, though, Bogaerts for one.

 

Varitek

[mvp 78]

Oh please. Which one of us can honestly say our mother didn’t talk us out of accepting a job that pays $200 million?

 

Which one of us is an MLB MVP?

[notin]

Which one of us is an MLB MVP?

 

Ooooh. Trivia Night!!

 

I think it was Thunder

[TylerD]

I have a more optimistic outlook on this season than most people.

 

The Sox are going to make some noise! Be excited!

 

I hope you’re right Kimmi!

[mvp 78]

Ooooh. Trivia Night!!

 

I think it was Thunder

 

Well, he does seem to be too good for us now.

[Larry Cook]

I have been really impressed with Duran thus far in camp. Stays back on the ball and swings straight through the ball.

 

Hopefully he has a good year in the minors and makes the big club next year,

[Hitch]

According to Mookie, when the Red Sox made their first extension offer a couple of years ago, for 8 years and 200 million, he was very tempted to take it, because it was such a huge amount of money. But his mother kind of talked him out of it, told him not to act rashly and emotionally etc.

 

So it's actually all Mookie's mother's fault!

 

 

That's the shocker for me. Coming off a .264 average season. Making him rich beyond imagination and giving him all the security he could need, and he said no.

 

I get believing in yourself, but I just do not know how he turned that one down.

[notin]

That's the shocker for me. Coming off a .264 average season. Making him rich beyond imagination and giving him all the security he could need, and he said no.

 

I get believing in yourself, but I just do not know how he turned that one down.

 

Mother knew best?

[notin]

According to Mookie, when the Red Sox made their first extension offer a couple of years ago, for 8 years and 200 million, he was very tempted to take it, because it was such a huge amount of money. But his mother kind of talked him out of it, told him not to act rashly and emotionally etc.

 

So it's actually all Mookie's mother's fault!

 

The weird thing is, the Red Sox might be better off that Mookie rejected this deal.

 

Had he accepted it, sure, they would have retained him, and for an insanely reasonable price. But from what we’ve learned about Betts, had he signed this deal, absolutely no way would he be happy with his contract...

[Bellhorn04]

The weird thing is, the Red Sox might be better off that Mookie rejected this deal.

 

Had he accepted it, sure, they would have retained him, and for an insanely reasonable price. But from what we’ve learned about Betts, had he signed this deal, absolutely no way would he be happy with his contract...

 

'Insanely reasonable' - I like that.

[moonslav59]

If the offer was $300M/10, it would have been insanely unreasonable for Mookie to accept, as is.

[vegasbob]

Conor Wong starting to look like Mr. Right. Congrats on GS yesterday. Reading between the lines from Roenicke, he may have some way to go as a defensive catchewr, but certainly lots of upside.

 

Looking for Chavis to play today and get his bat atrted. 0-5, with 4 K's isn't sending much of a message yet, but it's super early.

 

Why do I think Verdugo could become one of those guys that is hard to get behind and root for. Is it the diamond earrings or something else ? The Sox do need to give him plenty of time to prevent a back injury recurrence.

[illinoisredsox]

Varitek

 

Varitek did both; he signed an extension after the 2004 season and went free agent when that contract ended after 2008. IIRC, the free agent thing didn’t go so well; he was after Posada money and resigned with the Sox for less than half that.

[Hitch]

Mother knew best?

 

I guess we'll find out at the end of this season.