Why was Mookie traded, exactly?

[mvp 78]

Even with a lot of bad Boston teams in the past, yes, it was definitely nice to see if Boggs could still take a batting title or if rice could challenge in any of the triple crown categories. But that always felt like a consolation when the team was just flat out losing anyway...

 

Those teams would have looked much more competitive in the modern division alignment/wild card scenarios. They were never terrible. They were typically an above average team that wasn't good enough to be in the upper echelon.

[mvp 78]

I believe it's true that there's a relationship between MLB salaries and MLB ticket prices, although they don't move in lockstep.

 

Them not moving in lockstep refutes the original point.

[notin]

Those teams would have looked much more competitive in the modern division alignment/wild card scenarios. They were never terrible. They were typically an above average team that wasn't good enough to be in the upper echelon.

 

While possible, the future divisional alignments of the sport did not make those teams more watchable at the time. I did not find some of the poor Patriot teams in the Grogan Era more watchable because I knew one day the Colts would leave the AFC East...

[Bellhorn04]

Them not moving in lockstep refutes the original point.

 

I don't think it's necessary for economic relationships to move in lockstep.

 

Then again, I don't really understand much about economics.

[notin]

I don't think it's necessary for economic relationships to move in lockstep.

 

Then again, I don't really understand much about economics.

 

Nobody does. It's the softest of the soft sciences...

[mvp 78]

Nobody does. It's the softest of the soft sciences...

 

Pseudoscience. Hogwash.

[notin]

Pseudoscience. Hogwash.

 

Give me physics anyday...

[mvp 78]

Give me physics anyday...

 

My HS teacher lecturing us on why only centripetal force exists and centrifugal force is ********.

[notin]

My HS teacher lecturing us on why only centripetal force exists and centrifugal force is ********.

 

I take it if he ever saw the process for separating plasma from blood cells, he would deem it witchcraft...

[moonslav59]

I guess we are now officially over Mookie being traded.

 

There is nothing new to say about it.

[jad]

Those who set ticket prices are given one principal charge: Set the prices such that you maximize gate revenue. They would make the exact same calculations whether player payroll is $300million or 10cents.

[Bellhorn04]

The grim spectre of injury hangs over all these $300 million plus contracts.

 

Last night Tatis suffered a shoulder injury, the kind that looked like it could be serious.

 

Mookie is out of the Dodgers lineup tonight with lower back stiffness, which is presumably nothing serious.

[Nick]

I guess we are now officially over Mookie being traded.

 

There is nothing new to say about it.

 

still pissed that Lester wasn't signed...

[moonslav59]

still pissed that Lester wasn't signed...

 

Deep breath. Let it out slowly...

[Kimmi]

still pissed that Lester wasn't signed...

 

I am far more irked about not re-signing Lester than I am about not re-signing Mookie.

[notin]

I am far more irked about not re-signing Lester than I am about not re-signing Mookie.

 

I think I would mind the Lester situation less of they just made him a reasonable offer and he turned it down. The insultingly low offer put the blame squarely on the Sox as opposed to making it Lester's decision to leave on his own...

[Kimmi]

I think I would mind the Lester situation less of they just made him a reasonable offer and he turned it down. The insultingly low offer put the blame squarely on the Sox as opposed to making it Lester's decision to leave on his own...

 

I agree. I think Lester would have happily stayed with the Sox had he been given a reasonable offer.

[notin]

I agree. I think Lester would have happily stayed with the Sox had he been given a reasonable offer.

 

I won't go that far. He did hire an agent for a reason...

[moonslav59]

I agree. I think Lester would have happily stayed with the Sox had he been given a reasonable offer.

 

What gets me is there was never a second offer (Betts & Lester).

 

Even if the second offer was too low, also, at least fans get the impression you tried harder.

[notin]

What gets me is there was never a second offer (Betts & Lester).

 

Even if the second offer was too low, also, at least fans get the impression you tried harder.

 

Some will. Others believe the organization can print money and should just give up whatever it takes to get the deal done...

[Bellhorn04]

Some will. Others believe the organization can print money and should just give up whatever it takes to get the deal done...

 

As Slasher put it, just give Mookie a blank contract and let him fill in the numbers...

[moonslav59]

Some will. Others believe the organization can print money and should just give up whatever it takes to get the deal done...

 

I do think we should have offered both these players somewhere near what they ended up getting, but even a second offer given at the halfway point between offer #1 and their eventual contract is not only good for the optics with fans and the media, but also may get the player to come back with a reasonable counter offer that might even be less than what they ended up getting.

[Bellhorn04]

I think with Lester it worked out Even Steven. Ben basically traded him for Porcello, and Rick helped us win in 2018. After Lester got another ring with the Cubs in 2016.

[notin]

I do think we should have offered both these players somewhere near what they ended up getting, but even a second offer given at the halfway point between offer #1 and their eventual contract is not only good for the optics with fans and the media, but also may get the player to come back with a reasonable counter offer that might even be less than what they ended up getting.

 

It is a tough call, because some players are hellbent on reaching free agency, and some agents are hellbent on getting their clients there. I mean, for most of these guys, free agency is what they have been working their whole lives for =- it's a chance to have their whole financial lives suddenly transformed just for playing baseball. And for a lot of them, it's the first time they get to choose what team they will play for.

 

But then. it does appera to be true that a certain amount of them are happy with the status quo team and will gladly extend for lots and lots of money, even leaving a few million on the table to stay put. (And some just like to take it now and avoid leaving more on the table in the event of injury or sudden ineffectiveness)...

[moonslav59]

It is a tough call, because some players are hellbent on reaching free agency, and some agents are hellbent on getting their clients there. I mean, for most of these guys, free agency is what they have been working their whole lives for =- it's a chance to have their whole financial lives suddenly transformed just for playing baseball. And for a lot of them, it's the first time they get to choose what team they will play for.

 

But then. it does appera to be true that a certain amount of them are happy with the status quo team and will gladly extend for lots and lots of money, even leaving a few million on the table to stay put. (And some just like to take it now and avoid leaving more on the table in the event of injury or sudden ineffectiveness)...

 

I wouldn't expect them to take a "second offer" or counter offer. Just for the optics, it should have been done.

 

It makes us fans think we valued them very lowly.

[Maxbialystock]

I wouldn't expect them to take a "second offer" or counter offer. Just for the optics, it should have been done.

 

It makes us fans think we valued them very lowly.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong--and I often am--but weren't the Lester and Betts departures (from low bids) the result of the FO paying too much for lousy players like Sandoval and H. Ramirez?

[moonslav59]

Correct me if I'm wrong--and I often am--but weren't the Lester and Betts departures (from low bids) the result of the FO paying too much for lousy players like Sandoval and H. Ramirez?

 

It's hard to pin the finances on any chosen 1 or 2 players. You could blame Betts' departure on Sale, Bogey or Eovaldi or even Price.

 

They could have afforded Lester, because we spent that money on other players, afterwards.

 

My point is more about at least giving the impression you tried to keep these two.

[notin]

Correct me if I'm wrong--and I often am--but weren't the Lester and Betts departures (from low bids) the result of the FO paying too much for lousy players like Sandoval and H. Ramirez?

 

Probably a factor. Along with Rusney Castillo.

 

And in the case of Betts, while not a lousy player, the mega deal for Price may have been a factor? I want to count Eovaldi, too, although it looks as though Betts was already rejecting Sox offers before he was signed...

[Kimmi]

I won't go that far. He did hire an agent for a reason...

 

I would go that far. I really think Lester wanted to stay with the Sox. If I recall correctly, he was looking for something comparable to Homer Bailey's deal. Something along those lines would have gotten it done, IMO.

[Kimmi]

What gets me is there was never a second offer (Betts & Lester).

 

Even if the second offer was too low, also, at least fans get the impression you tried harder.

 

With Lester, I don't believe he ever countered the team's offer. I think after the initial lowball offer, Lester felt disrespected to the point where he said the negotiations were done.

 

With Mookie, his counter was so unreasonable (IMO) that the writing was on the wall. No need for the Sox to make another offer.