With all the money out there for Japanese players, you would think someone would pay this guy’s posting price. Thanks to Tim.
Month: November 2006
Funny money
This story correctly points out that the Tribune company is putting lipstick on a pig before selling it (not just the Cubbies, but the whole shootin’ match), but fails to note the tax advantages that accrue to new franchise owners. In short (and I’m not accountant, so don’t expect too many details), for the first five years after buying a team new owners can depreciate the expense of salaries, which amounts to a substantial tax break.
Which is why so many owners get into baseball, last five years, and then start complaining about all the money they’re losing and move on.
Is a Cubs title in the cards?
Jeff Passan – MLB – Yahoo! Sports
I guess I should make Jeff Passan a category. He’s consistently right about things, writes well and is sometimes, like in this comic look at recent Cubs’ history, very funny.
I’m not sure what to make of Soriano moving to center field. After the initial reluctance he seemed to adjust to left field. He’s fast enough to chase stuff down out there, so I suspect it could work (with some miscues).
As for the money, it’s funny. None of it makes any rational sense. Maybe the Cubs got better this week, maybe not, but at least the scratch is going to the performers.
How much is Matsuzaka worth?
As usual, David Gassko does a great job breaking down the components. But, of course, I have quibbles. . .
It isn’t clear to me why there is little chance of Matsuzaka breaking down. It seems to me some significant portion of the risk is that the pitcher breaks down, no matter how convincing the history is.
He doesn’t address the explosion of revenue that accrues when you win. Tampa Bay might generate more revenue winning 80 games than 70, but that bump is tiny compared to the bump you get (I’m assuming) going from 87 to 97 wins and winning the World Series.
The risk in this scenario is different than the one for a team trying to compete (rather than win the whole enchilada).
With so much money in the owners’ pockets it’s hard not to think that the concept of “value” is pretty much dead.
Sheff on the move
Yankees trade Sheffield to Tigers for 3 pitching prospects – MLB – Yahoo! Sports
He’s not always said the comfortable thing, but it seems that Gary Sheffield has pretty-much always been someone to admire. The things Leyland and Dombrowski and Sheff himself say in this story do nothing to undermine that thought.
And the Yankees trading for prospects? Has the world turned upside down?
J.D. Drew opts out of contract
The oft-injured outfielder said $33 Million isn’t enough. That’s his right and he shouldn’t be criticized for exercising it, but I’ll be surprised if he gets more money guaranteed.
Padres Deal Barfield!
Padres trade 2B Barfield to Indians for two prospects – MLB – Yahoo! Sports
At Ron Shandler’s First Pitch Arizona Forum over the weekend, Blue Jays scout Kimball Crossley and Baseball HQ prospect analyst Deric McCammy looked at videos of Arizona Fall League players and analyzed their mechanics and predicted their futures.
Crossley said he never looked at video and was a little put off watching from the side angle (first base) rather than behind the plate, but that didn’t keep him and McCammey from gushing over Kevin Kouzmanoff. Both analysts like his swing, like his power, like his body and like his makeup, which is enough for me to say that maybe the Padres didn’t get taken in this trade.
Neither analyst thought Kouzmanoff would be a star, and while Barfield probably isn’t going to be one of the elite either, he’s a top notch defender at a middle position who has proven he can handle big league pitching.
No knock on Kouzmanoff, really. Seeing him play in person, well actually seeing him hit in person, makes you believe that he will hit. But he’s a slow runner who will be average at best in the field. And he’s older than Barfield.
The Padres got a pitcher, too. Andrew Brown is out of options. This is the third time he’s been dealt for a big league hitter. The first two were Gary Sheffield and Milton Bradley. He may well end up having a big league career but at this point that’s all.