Go look at my plan for the Yankees, 2009. Check the date. Check what I predicted for salaries for free agents who I would have signed for the Yankees. In comparing what the players I predicted to sign with the Yankees, Here is the results. Here' the link for any of you who want to check.
Check the 36th post in the thread. Dated 9/29.
CC predicted: 7 years, 140 million.
CC actual: 7 years, 161 million.
Difference of 3 million a year, I missed by 13%.
Pettitte predicted: 1 year 8 million
Pettitte actual: Assuming Pettitte pitches 180IP [he's averaged 195 for his career, including his injury plagues 2004], he would earn 7.75 million, with an additional 0.3 million, bringing him up to 8.05 million. If he pitches more or less, the value will change, but as of now, with my subjective analysis, I'd say I missed by less than 1%.
AJ predicted: 16 million per year
AJ actual: 16.5 million per year
I missed by less than 4 percent.
So, example1....
I think when you say that the standards that I "choose to harp on seem arbitrary and certainly pale in comparison to standards that most other people would deem reasonable (say, FA signings)", I think you're talking out of your ass.
I seem to either know what I'm talking about, or my guesses are unbelievably lucky.
Once again..the deal is good for Lester, could be good for the Sox, and bad for baseball. Bad for baseball because it sets a new and more expensive precedent in a very bad economic time. This is coming from a guy who cries and whines about a cap. I'm pointing out the OBVIOUS that it's disingenious to believe what he says about curbing spending when he does it himself.