BSN07

If he wants way more then what the market for COF is getting then yes let him walk. They can look for a trade. Or bring in a 1 year stop gap like Burrell or Abreau. They might not produce like Bay, but they will come at about half the price. Like Gom pointed out, a lot will have to do with the economy. If say Detroit can't draw any fans(good possibility, Detroit is one of the hardest hit areas) and their finances go in the toilet, maybe a player like Miggy with his 140M deal might become available(just an example). Or what if the Brewers fall on hard times, players like Fielder, Hardy, or Braun could become available to clear payroll. Theres really no telling until we get a little further down the line. After the first couple months of the season, the picture on team finances should become more clear.

Sorry if it was mushy or anything, I wasn't trying to relay my message that way:lol: I agree with 100% with how you explain the financial goal of MLB. I suppose my real beef is when people always jump right to the end of things, like bringing up the financial benefits. When they do this they tend to miss out on a lot of the positive aspects this brings to the table also. In truth I know and understand the financial aspects of this. It's huge. But it should not be the soul focus. I think I was just trying to bring some other aspects off the back burner is all.

13 pitcher started a game for the Yanks in 2008- Mussina was good Pettitte was ok Wang was hurt Joba was in the Pen Hughes, Kennedy, Igawa, Aceves, Bruney, Pavano, Ponson, Rasner, Kennedy, and Giese where mediocre or worse.

Good point Dojji. I stated earlier about the Country vs Country rivalries that go on here. But I guess it's something you have witness first hand to understand how serious they are. And yes most are probably looking at it from an "American" only perspective.

Well this is more of a personal deal and I guess it falls under the promotion of the game, but maybe it will help show my perspective. Since the first Netherlands game of the WBC, I've had 5 new additions to the team I coach. And out of the 5, 4 of the parents told me their children wanted to play baseball after watching the WBC on TV. I know this probably doesn't hold much water, seems how I can't prove it on a message board, I guess I'll just have to hope you guys have had enough experience with me on here to know I wouldn't go through the trouble of making this crap up:D It's not much, but I'm all for anything that get's kids out of the house and on to a ball field. Maybe that's what it is, you guys see the financial benefits of the WBC going on there. Where as I see the on field results here.

Yes we have established the financial benefits. Can anyone see past the $? Man I hate it when the stereo types about my fellow Americans are right:D Where are the guys from the Dominican, England and Canada when you need them:lol:

Yes I agree, part of the motivation is $.There's no reason it wouldn't be. But it's not the only reason. Part of the motivation is to expand the game itself. And by doing this the talent pool will increase. Which will lead to a better on field product. And who is not for that? And of course when your product is great and you have widened your audience, the $ will increase as well. That's just smart business. I guess you need to be separated from it. I'm sure there all they talk about is the financial aspect of things. Not shocking considering it's America. But here and other places it's about the game itself. You guys can't understand the impact of what the Netherlands team did for the Sport of baseball here. Funding has gone up for the clubs, clubs are seeing a hefty rise in participation from younger kids. People are starting to take notice of the sport. And this is because of the WBC.

It's about the quality and globalization of the game of "Baseball". From a business standpoint, Global Marketing(WBC)=more people playing= more quality players= better on field product= $ So yes in the end, the game is better, and MLB will undoubtedly benefit financially at some point.

There is no spot for him. Only the Yankees bring in guys that play a position they already have filled. Try and keep up.;)

Your an Idiot. If you had been paying attention you should know that this Ownership group and FO have shown they will let a popular player go if they feel he's too expensive. But you miss these type of things when jumping on the Wagon....:thumbdown

He needs to be more aggressive, and not so much of a nibbler. Hopefully after 2 seasons, he has finally realized the K-Zone in the MLB is not the size of a Cadillac.

What? No. I'm not claiming poverty or anything like that. I said I don't blame the team for not giving him 15M or whatever. And I said the Yankees and LA teams might be the only ones that will. If he goes to the Yanks because he got a big $ deal, so be it. I'm not against people making as much as they can even if it means they play for the Yanks. Wow you totally took my post the wrong way They may not be 35 when they sign, but they will be 35 at some point in their deals, and you will regret it. Typical Yankees fan, you look 1 or 2 years into a deal, while disregarding the back end of the deal when they will be old and making even more money. And for most guys not on something 31-33 is about their physical peak.

I tend to actually lean the opposite way. Most teams don't rely on FA to complete the better part of their core roster. Honestly most teams can't afford too. It might have been that way in the past, but I think the overall mold of the way to run a franchise has shifted to drafting and developing homegrown players. And keeping them signed to deals that benefit both player and organization. If I had to venture a guess, I would say outside of the Yankees most teams cores can be traced back the their farm system in one way or another. The Yankees in the mid to late 90's could say this, but not anymore. Don't hurt yourself trying to connect the dots though, we would miss you too much. Although I didn't mention Dice-K in my previous post. I guess you can take him off the team as well even though the didn't sign him from another MLB organization. But the Sox would still have good core regardless.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3983805 I think this is the final nail in the Cutler ordeal. Now it will be who trades for him. Cassel and 3rd round pick to Denver for Cutler and 2nd and 6th rounder.... Obviously I'm joking. I guess TB will be in on him. Minny has said there not interested(morons), Miami maybe if they don't see Chad as more then a stopgap Chicago should be taking a look Jets should really be taking a look. Detroit Mcdaniels could really have the last laugh SF might have some interest Any others?

I like Bay a lot. But I don't blame the team for not to sign him for 15m+ a year considering what the market for COF has been recently. And before one of the ass clowns points it out, yes I do know JD Drew makes 14M a season, and Bay is a better player overall. But the market is different now, and the only team still playing by the old market values for it's FA signings resides in the Bronx. The economy gave the owner's the ultimate excuse to cut players salaries. I don't see them giving that back very soon. I fully expect Hank to keep spending to compensate for his teams futility. He's like the Guy with a 3 inch cock, and the Yankees are his million $ Ferrari. Or the 5 foot tall guy who insists on driving a full size lifted pick up truck, that he needs a boost to get in and a phone book to see over the steering wheel.

Guys I know where your coming from. But there is a bigger picture here. The first WBC(living in the States) I don't recall watching a single game. Your right, to you and most everyone you know, the WBC is pointless injury risk to our teams players. But outside the US, this tournament is a huge advertisement for the game of Baseball. Europe and most other countries are Futbol(soccer) 1st. Which means more of the money and a lot of the top athletes play that instead of Baseball. This tournament showcases Baseball. And that's what it's really all about. It's about getting more people involved in the game world wide. Which in the long run will help turn out more quality players, which in turn increases the quality of the game. And with all that in the end, the game at the Major League Level will benefit. Listen I know this seems like walking into a Starbucks with a Coffe you got from across the street at another Starbucks and saying " Look how great this coffee is everyone". But around the World, a lot of people don't know what Starbucks is(not literally but you catch my drift). Another thing to consider is especially here in Europe, Countries are very competitive with each other. There Century old rivalries that get played out of the pitch. The best way to promote a new game here and a lot of other places is to make it Country vs Country. Just thought I'd share my perspective being an American living outside the Fish Bowl the is the good Ol US:D: