Spring Training 2020

[mvp 78]

Some of them don't even wear normal "sleeves" to pitch. Now they have to wear this thing.

 

If Sale is wearing it (the most finicky guy in MLB), I think everyone else is fine with wearing it.

[Slasher9]

i'm just happy at the thought that my one trip up to Fenway to see the Sox play this year won't cost me a mortgage payment for the tix.....

[mvp 78]

i'm just happy at the thought that my one trip up to Fenway to see the Sox play this year won't cost me a mortgage payment for the tix.....

 

Wait until September. They'll be handing them out for free outside the gates.

[Slasher9]

Wait until September. They'll be handing them out for free outside the gates.

 

going up in April to see Tito come back to town. hoping to stubhub tix the day of the game for $20.

[mvp 78]

going up in April to see Tito come back to town. hoping to stubhub tix the day of the game for $20.

 

Monster Tix for the price of an XL coffee at Dunkies!

[moonslav59]

now some splits please.

 

lol!

[Kimmi]

He already earned enough for lifetime security at that point.

 

Even more reason why he doesn't need to hold out for the most money.

 

Opt for the happiness, Mookie.

[mvp 78]

Seems like Mookie bets on himself.

[vegasbob]

lol!

 

Mazza, Alvarez and Poyner made a mess of it today on the mound . They won't be seen for too long on any Moon list except the DFA. Sale starting the year on the 15 day IL, not his fault nor his arm's, but is almost too ironic for words.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Seems like Mookie bets on himself.

 

I like it. I hope he wins and breaks someone else's bank. The Red Sox have moved on, and verse vicea.

[Larry Cook]

Mazza, Alvarez and Poyner made a mess of it today on the mound . They won't be seen for too long on any Moon list except the DFA. Sale starting the year on the 15 day IL, not his fault nor his arm's, but is almost too ironic for words.

 

Mazza looked terrible. No control, no movement, nothing special as far as his stuff.

 

Maybe we could trade him to the angels for a bucket of used baseballs.

[Kimmi]

Seems like Mookie bets on himself.

 

Yes, he does.

 

It also seems like he thinks he is bigger than the team.

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, he does.

 

It also seems like he thinks he is bigger than the team.

 

What does that mean, really?

 

On the field he has always given it 100%. And apparently he also has strong leadership qualities, according to comments Alex Speier recently made on Twitter-Speier learned this when researching his book on the 2018 team.

 

I do understand how you feel about Mookie's drive for the money, but I think as far as on the field goes, he is an exemplary team player.

[moonslav59]

Yes, he does.

 

It also seems like he thinks he is bigger than the team.

 

I've never got any sense of that in the least.

[Kimmi]

What does that mean, really?

 

On the field he has always given it 100%. And apparently he also has strong leadership qualities, according to comments Alex Speier recently made on Twitter-Speier learned this when researching his book on the 2018 team.

 

I do understand how you feel about Mookie's drive for the money, but I think as far as on the field goes, he is an exemplary team player.

 

Yes, he's an exemplary player. I still think that he thinks that he's bigger than the team.

[Larry Cook]

Can Weber win the fifth starter spot in the rotation?

 

The competition is really weak this year for the end of the rotation,

 

Does hang’em Chaim have a trade in store for a starter before the end of spring training?

[S5Dewey]

What does that mean, really?

 

On the field he has always given it 100%. And apparently he also has strong leadership qualities, according to comments Alex Speier recently made on Twitter-Speier learned this when researching his book on the 2018 team.

 

I do understand how you feel about Mookie's drive for the money, but I think as far as on the field goes, he is an exemplary team player.

 

At the risk of putting words in Kimmie's mouth, some players...like Mookie...are out for every cent they can get regardless of what it does to the team payroll while others.. like XBo & TB12...look at the bigger picture. They'd rather take a little less money, be surrounded by better players, and give the TEAM a better chance to win.

 

As we are learning, it doesn't matter how much money an owner has. What matters is how much money he's willing to spend.

[Bellhorn04]

At the risk of putting words in Kimmie's mouth, some players...like Mookie...are out for every cent they can get regardless of what it does to the team payroll while others.. like XBo & TB12...look at the bigger picture. They'd rather take a little less money, be surrounded by better players, and give the TEAM a better chance to win.

 

Those are fair comments.

 

But the whole premise of being part of a 'team' or above the 'team' is shaky. We're talking about a hard cold business where players are constantly being traded, cut, left dangling in free agency et cetera. They're treated like commodities. As are general managers and managers who are being fired and replaced all the time.

 

I'm not trying to sing the blues for the players here, I'm just talking about the realities of the 'team' concept.

[mvp 78]

At the risk of putting words in Kimmie's mouth, some players...like Mookie...are out for every cent they can get regardless of what it does to the team payroll while others.. like XBo & TB12...look at the bigger picture. They'd rather take a little less money, be surrounded by better players, and give the TEAM a better chance to win.

 

As we are learning, it doesn't matter how much money an owner has. What matters is how much money he's willing to spend.

 

Seems like TB12 isn’t a lock to take less with the Pats now?

[Kimmi]

At the risk of putting words in Kimmie's mouth, some players...like Mookie...are out for every cent they can get regardless of what it does to the team payroll while others.. like XBo & TB12...look at the bigger picture. They'd rather take a little less money, be surrounded by better players, and give the TEAM a better chance to win.

 

As we are learning, it doesn't matter how much money an owner has. What matters is how much money he's willing to spend.

 

This is a part of it. There's also just the fact that Mookie doesn't care about what team he plays for, as long as he's getting the most money. That doesn't scream 'team' concept to me. That screams "me, me, me!"

 

Also, I remember reading a comment about how part of Mookie's arbitration settlement involved him getting a private suite on the road. I don't know if that was true or not, but if true, what kind of message does that send to his teammates?

 

IMO, and it's only my opinion, when a player is going to hold out for the most money without regard to any other factors, there is a lot of ego involved. I think most posters have agreed with that. This is a self-centered approach, not a team approach.

[notin]

This is a part of it. There's also just the fact that Mookie doesn't care about what team he plays for, as long as he's getting the most money. That doesn't scream 'team' concept to me. That screams "me, me, me!"

 

Also, I remember reading a comment about how part of Mookie's arbitration settlement involved him getting a private suite on the road. I don't know if that was true or not, but if true, what kind of message does that send to his teammates?

 

IMO, and it's only my opinion, when a player is going to hold out for the most money without regard to any other factors, there is a lot of ego involved. I think most posters have agreed with that. This is a self-centered approach, not a team approach.

 

Maybe MLB should come up with their own form of currency to pay players with to allow their egos to be satisfied?

 

"You contract pays you two bajillion Manfred Bucks per year for the next 5 seasons?"

 

"Woohooo!! How much is that is real money?"

 

"We'll talk later. Sign here."

[Kimmi]

Those are fair comments.

 

But the whole premise of being part of a 'team' or above the 'team' is shaky. We're talking about a hard cold business where players are constantly being traded, cut, left dangling in free agency et cetera. They're treated like commodities. As are general managers and managers who are being fired and replaced all the time.

 

I'm not trying to sing the blues for the players here, I'm just talking about the realities of the 'team' concept.

 

I completely agree with you that management is also at fault in terms of sometimes treating players like commodities. I still have not forgiven Theo for trading Bronson Arroyo. It works both ways.

 

By all accounts, Mookie seems like a very stand up guy, both on the field and off. Right or wrong, I am just so turned off by his need to squeeze every last penny out of his free agency that he can that it has really slanted me against him in that regard.

 

Give me a player like Bogaerts any day over one like Mookie.

[Bellhorn04]

This is a part of it. There's also just the fact that Mookie doesn't care about what team he plays for, as long as he's getting the most money. That doesn't scream 'team' concept to me. That screams "me, me, me!"

 

Also, I remember reading a comment about how part of Mookie's arbitration settlement involved him getting a private suite on the road. I don't know if that was true or not, but if true, what kind of message does that send to his teammates?

 

IMO, and it's only my opinion, when a player is going to hold out for the most money without regard to any other factors, there is a lot of ego involved. I think most posters have agreed with that. This is a self-centered approach, not a team approach.

 

But Kimmi, is there loyalty on the other side, from the front office?

 

Let's not forget that they traded Mookie - and Price. For business (payroll) reasons.

 

They also said goodbye to Porcello, Holt et cetera.

 

There's no loyalty going either way.

[Kimmi]

Maybe MLB should come up with their own form of currency to pay players with to allow their egos to be satisfied?

 

"You contract pays you two bajillion Manfred Bucks per year for the next 5 seasons?"

 

"Woohooo!! How much is that is real money?"

 

"We'll talk later. Sign here."

 

LOL

 

I think Manfred should forfeit his salary to Mookie.

 

Not that it would put a dent in that $420 million, but it at least Mookie would be earning that money.

[Kimmi]

But Kimmi, is there loyalty on the other side, from the front office?

 

Let's not forget that they traded Mookie - and Price. For business (payroll) reasons.

 

They also said goodbye to Porcello, Holt et cetera.

 

There's no loyalty going either way.

 

I agree, and I was posting that at the same time that you posted this.

 

Loyalty does work both ways. And I am disheartened by the lack of it on both sides.

[Kimmi]

I agree, and I was posting that at the same time that you posted this.

 

Loyalty does work both ways. And I am disheartened by the lack of it on both sides.

 

That said, I can understand the 'lack of loyalty' more from the owners side of things than I can from the players side of things.

 

Not that it makes it any more right, but I can understand it.

[Bellhorn04]

That said, I can understand the 'lack of loyalty' more from the owners side of things than I can from the players side of things.

 

Why's that?

[mvp 78]

But Kimmi, is there loyalty on the other side, from the front office?

 

Let's not forget that they traded Mookie - and Price. For business (payroll) reasons.

 

They also said goodbye to Porcello, Holt et cetera.

 

There's no loyalty going either way.

 

^^^

[notin]

But Kimmi, is there loyalty on the other side, from the front office?

 

Let's not forget that they traded Mookie - and Price. For business (payroll) reasons.

 

They also said goodbye to Porcello, Holt et cetera.

 

There's no loyalty going either way.

 

There never has been "loyalty". Players were only loyal to their team before because the Reserve Clause told them they had to be. Do people think Ted Williams would have played his whole career in Boston if he had any say? Or Joe DiMaggio with the Yankees (especially since they were among the lower paying teams in MLB, per David Halberstam)? Even nowadays, are the Jared Weavers and Xander Bogaerts really "loyal" because they forego free agency? Or do they just like the status quo? You know, not want to put the kids in new schools, etc...

[jad]

That said, I can understand the 'lack of loyalty' more from the owners side of things than I can from the players side of things.

 

Not that it makes it any more right, but I can understand it.

 

Why? Because it's fine for an owner to f*ck over an employee 'for business reasons' but it's not ok for employees to get the best deal they can for themselves?? the only way I can 'understand' that is on the assumption that all business-owners are amoral capitalist pigs, which, despite the growing evidence, I'm not (yet) willing to do. If that were the case, rather than accept it, we should all be sharpening up our pitchforks. Rich and privileged owners/entertainers/trust-funders should be held to higher moral standards than the rest of us, not lower standards.