Yahoo! Sports – Poll Results: Is Beltran Worth It?
I’m not sure if this link will show you the poll results, but as I type this Friday night 42 percent of respondants say he’s worth the big bucks, 58 percent say he still has something to prove.
Since we don’t know how many bucks we’re talking about (and the Yankees appear not to be involved in the bidding), this landslide seems to indicate something other than an evaluation of Beltran’s fantasy friendly and awfully attractive talents.
I’ve been noticing the comments on RotoWorld lately seem to suggest than any contract less than $2M is a fair deal for a backup player or a middle reliever. This isn’t meant as a critique of their comments so much as a suggestion that we all get a grip. Are most of the players who are signing for $1M that much better than the players who can be had for $300,000?
In some cases, probably, but the reality is that there is so much dough out there that until the contracts approach $10M a year a lot of teams aren’t flinching. I’ve always sided with the players on labor issues, because is isn’t their problem if owners want to spend too much, but the money is getting freaky.
But the insane money and the casual disregard of everyone but Doug Mientkiewicz about it is really bugging me. Sports used to be our best reality TV, in part because we could imagine it all happening in much the same way even if there wasn’t an audience willing to pay for it, but that isn’t true anymore. Now more than anything else, it all resembles professional wrestling.
I now find myself wishing that they would all simply shut up. Make your money, I’m not against that. Create your entertainment empires. Just don’t ask me to pay for your stadiums, and let the players play.
Especially if that means that Carlos Beltran will joins the Mets. Yes, I think I’m becoming more of a fan, less of a fantasist. And I’m wondering what that 58 percent were thinking.