Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
While we chew on the latest Alex Rodriguez rumor, I just wanted to take a second to mention that Bronx Banter turned five years-old this month. I'm very proud of that as we head into year six. And for three years now, I've had a great co-writer in Cliff (not to mention all the great contributors over the years--from Will, Emma and Bruce, to Ed Cossette, Allen Barra, Chris DeRosa and Brian Gunn, just to name a few). Most of all, thanks to you guys for continuing to drop by.
Was this the first post:
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/3106.html
But, that was 5 years ago?
If I am AROD, I agree to the demands of "no Boras at the table", only if the Yankees agree to have George Castanza as their representative in negotiations.
vr, Xei
And we keep coming back for the solid writing at this site. And all the bantering.
PS, I'd take that certain player back, for the right price. Right handed power? check. Solid (if not spectacular) glove at third? check. All-time HR champ in pinstripes (where it belongs)? double check.
Can Stephon Marbury play third base?
And happy birthday to the Banter. Who's supplying the cake, and where do I get my piece? =)
8 so this is the dimaggio year.
Hell, if this blog was "Boras Banter" it would be celebrating it's 666-th birthday, and Alex, Cliff, & Co. would be the highest paid baseball writers in the business ... waiting to opt out of their contracts on Opening Day.
Seriously, six years is no small feat. Congratulations, and please keep up the great work!
Oh, and, I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with the player in question. How do Feinsand and Madden dig up these obscure names??
I think baseball toaster is like the third home for it, no?
Just one comment on Arod. I am over him. I don't want him. It's pitching, not hitting that won those titles. Let's not fall for that siren song again. I really don't want him back.
If he wants to come back on the Yankees terms, gotta make that happen.
As for these rumors, they are (1) unnamed sources from a story by (2) Bill Madden in the (3) Daily News. This might qualify as being story that's 0-for-3.
I'll await some confirmation before I discuss it.
I swear I fell asleep last night with those same thoughts in my head, and awoke this morning with a new attitude about the third baseman.
Some would say I've been manipulated (nay, brainwashed!) by the stories in today's papers, published in the same place where I'm certain I read A-Rod's obituary just weeks ago.
I have a different theory.
The ghost of ARod must have come to me in a dream.
Before He revealed Himself in my dreamworld, there I was -- playing third base for the 2008 New York Yankees. I knew I was not qualified to be on the field, but I also understood I got the job because the team didn't have to trade Melky Cabrera, nor Ian Kennedy for me, nor did my new bosses have to commit 4 years at top dollar to watch me play baseball like the 41 year old man that I am.
There was a pop up. Way, way up.
The ball disappeared into the bright lights of the Stadium. I couldn't see it.
I had to look away from the harsh light, and lowered my gaze to the field.
I saw ARod jogging toward me wearing a brand new Tampa Bay Rays (no Devil!) jersey.
He smiled, and suddenly shouted "Boo!"
I was scared, and the ball landed in the dirt behind me.
Yankee fans started booing me as ARod rounded third, and headed home.
I watched the ball spinning in the dirt. There would be no throw to the plate.
Perhaps I had too much salsa before I went to bed, but I'm taking this dream as a sign that the Yankees should at least talk to the deadman.
Anyway, happy b'day BB.
And, you want to be my latex salesman. I don't think so!
J/K AB
That way, you can save the blue chippers (IPK, Melky) for the positions which are harder to fill. You need to have ML trade options - not everyone wants 3 MiL'ers in trade. Sometimes they want MLers too, but most of our MLers are immovable due to years or price. We need more flexibility, not less.
"Another indication that the Yankees haven't ruled out Rodriguez: They are talking to free agent Mike Lowell not just about replacing Rodriguez at third base, but also about playing first, major-league sources tell Rosenthal.
Lowell, 33, has been unable to reach an agreement with the Red Sox, who offered him a three-year deal believed to be in the range of $38 million to $40 million. After Lowell became a free agent, a source said the Yankees were "all over" Lowell. The Red Sox would lose two options at third if the Yankees signed Lowell to play first and kept Rodriguez, perhaps leading them to increase their pursuit of the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera in a trade."
while it would be nice to throw a wrench into the red sox plans ... i'm pretty sure i don't want 4 years of mike lowell at 1stbase, especially at the price tag he's going to come with
8 If that's the way you feel about it, does that now make it the Furious Five? >;)
I heard a similar rumor (with no legs) that the Sox would sign Lowell at 3B and go for ARod at SS and try to dump Lugo on somebody (eating part of his salary). This would throw a wrench in the Yankees plans.
I don't think either rumor holds much water.
And I agree that the union rep doesn't have the last word on this, although it's relevant that he says so even if he's wrong. (Cashman, I'm sure, would rather not have to battle the union to make a new contract stick.)
The Yankees, who lost $21 million worth of contract subsidy from the Rangers when Rodriguez opted out of the last three years of his contract, do not want A-Rod's agent involved in the process at all.
"We will not negotiate with Scott Boras," a Yankees source told the Daily News. "He cannot be in the room."
If he comes back (or hell, no matter where he goes) I don't want to hear how we're all SO MEAN and he's so SENSITIVE and we're hurting his feelings. He's a bullshit artist of the highest degree.
http://tinyurl.com/3ajor6
I can only assume he was struck by lightning following that.
41 Leverage, leverage, leverage.
Love,
Scott Bor- I mean Alex Rodriguez
I can't shake the feeling that Simone has been right all along, this is all about leverage . . . but if this doesn't result in a deal with the Yanks, wouldn't it be even more clear that the Yanks aren't involved?
Or is this a ploy to get the Angels to drop a big offer, and fast?
50 "That deal is high-priced, it is long, it is... He's signed with the Angels."
Dead on with the Sterling haha.
Official statement from Alex Rodriguez
11/14/2007 3:27 PM ET
After spending time with Cynthia and my family over these last few weeks, it became clear to me that I needed to make an attempt to engage the Yankees regarding my future with the organization.
Prior to entering into serious negotiations with other clubs, I wanted the opportunity to share my thoughts directly with Yankees' ownership. We know there are other opportunities for us, but Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness.
As a result, I reached out to the Yankees through mutual friends and conveyed that message. I also understand that I had to respond to certain Yankees concerns, and I was receptive and understanding of that situation.
Cynthia and I have since spoken directly with the Steinbrenner family. During these healthy discussions, both sides were able to share honest feelings and hopes with one another, and we expect to continue this dialogue with the Yankees over the next few days.
Given the public nature of those remarks, it seems to me that he's coming back, and this was the first step in trying to smooth things over with the fans. As upset as I've been with him, I'll take him back under these circumstances, gladly.
But it would be a great tactic. What has been the story for the last 2 weeks? "The market for A-Rod is non-existent." "Seems like he isn't going to get what the Yanks would have given him if he'd stayed." "Boras might have finally eff'd up."
Simone is right 53 - this could jump start the bidding in a huge way. "Tony/Ned, I know Mr. Moreno/Mr. McCourt is reluctant to commit so much payroll to a single player, but as you know, A-Rod is talking with the Yankees right now, against my better advice, and if you want any chance with him, I need something I can take to Alex right now, or he is going to make up his own mind."
This is totally possible. Damn.
Let's ask Cynthia.
I realized this about myself when I started thinking it would be a good idea to sign Bonds.
I'm just blown away the News (or was it Post) article wasn't horse shit. If this doesn't work out, I'm gonna be even more pissed! I think even the even tempered among us will go from 'meh, what can ya do' to the 'he's dead to me' side.
i am having mixed feelings. i really don't want to root for this guy.
And you're right - if A-Rod comes crawling back, that's hardly the Yankees negotiating with him.
65 68 Let's say A-Rod comes back. Wouldn't signing Bonds still be a great idea? Giambi at 1B, Bonds at DH, A-Rod at 3B.
52 that's really great.
the offense needs him, no doubt... it is the circus i was looking forward to doing without.
I was too. I don't like the guy. Frankly, I think he's one of the bigger jackasses in baseball.
But I felt the same way about Roger. He's a jackass. I don't like him. At all. But if he can help the team, I'll root for the production.
74 "Giambi at 1B, Bonds at DH, A-Rod at 3B" is perfect.
I hope Cash just keeps tying the Sox up in knots. Just talking to Lowell is great. Hell, talking to everyone you don't want is great. The people you do want, though, you don't talk to them - you sign them.
It would be a heroic return for unmentionable if he came back with an honorable, decent contract. And I'm trusting Cash to explain what that contract looks like. It sure better not exceed 30 for the prime years trailing down to 10 in the twilight years, however they actually structure the payouts. That would look an awful lot like 230 over ten years.
Just sayin...
"It is high-priced, it is long, it is... with the Angels."
Anyway, that was a great line. Good work!
This metaphor isn't working for me.
I think it might work better if the women did it, actually.
I just have a hard time justifying signing ANYONE for a 10 yr contract - it's too much of a crapshoot. I don't think anyone predicted the dramatic demise of Giambi. The players who are worth those kinds of contracts are few and far between. If you could slot 2 players in on shorter contracts without losing production, doesn't that make more sense then locking up a player for 10 years in the hopes that the production will continue for all of those years?
88 that isn't a grammatical quibble. "it" refers to the contract and "he" refers to arod. it's not a problem.
A-Rod sure put a roman candle on your cake, eh?
52 RIYank, that was perfect.
"He reached out to us through a third party," Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview. "He has expressed a desire to stay a Yankee. He's even willing to make certain sacrifices to do so."
http://tinyurl.com/32zuzz
If this is true, everything I have said over this period would be correct.
1) Boras is calling the shots
2) He told ARod he could get much bigger money AND ARod could go back to the Yanks with an offer to match.
3) Boras overestimated the market (10/#350? HA!)
4) Boras managed to make ARod look like crap with the WS announcement and NO talks to the Yankees before the Opt out (we know ARod well enough to know he would never have the balls to pull that WS thing, and even ARod was smart enough to know that would trash his rep)
5) ARod sees where this is going. The Angels MIGHT (might) match the Yankees offer (8/$240m)
6)ARod realizes it's time to close Boras down and make things right.
Cashman/the Steinettes are NOT gonna let ARod use them. That would be 100 times worse then 'going back on their word'. Unless ARod taped his conversation, or there is something in writing, he can't prove anything was said. If he pulls crap, the Yanks will say they offed him the same deal, minus $21m, and he had to shine Jeters cletes for a year.
74 I though of that too!! And what would happen? That sound you hear would be a collective millions of RSN fans shitting their pants at the same time. A 3-4-5 of ARod-Bonds-Giambi? HA! It would be the only thing Fox/ESPN ever talked about. Every game would be a Yankee game. HA!
But...that's unpossible! We know what he's thinking!
Nothing wrong with LOADED and CHEAP either. They dance on Tuesdays after MYSTIQUE & AURA.
Congrats Alex and Cliff.
with love and baseballs
E double
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