forkit

You know, it's too bad we didn't take that same tact with Paulie... You perform, you get wonderful pay. You perform miserably, you aren't terrifically overpaid, especially after only one or two solid seasons in the Bigs. I know, I'm about to be blindsided by the "The Sox are screwing Mark," "Sox Management is the cheapest and worst management ever," "I demand JR sell this team to someone with money that will buy a winner, no matter what it costs and I demand it now!" crowd... But again...this is a business, folks. Players like Mark [and his father] are treating this as a business and the owners, who put ALL the money up front are damned sure treating it like a business. They [both sides] make the decisions they make for what they feel are rational reasons. You don't have to like the Sox management's reasons. You're a fan. They own the team. They choose how to allocate their limited resources. You don't have to like Mark [and his family's] decisions. You're a fan. You are not the player and it is not your career. Take about four steps back and try to see through the eyes of each side. Forkit!

Spend the difference in salaries teaching Olivo to hit the curveball/offspeed stuff [or do a better job laying off of them]. But...He'll be fine. Forkit!

Well, we appreciate your sentiment. I assume you are indepentently wealthy and will be buying the Sox for $650 million and then you'll immediately spare no expense, getting us ARod, IRod, Bart and Pettitte. Did I miss anyone? And...errr...I assume you'll file for bankrupcy and sell the team for pennies on the dollar? But hey! It'll be different! Forkit!

He's about to experience a large drop in per year income. Some team may low ball him and get him to sign early, but I'd bet he falls into that slass of free agents that doesn't get a sniff until the big boys get out of the way and then the middle of the pack folks start signing. Forkit!

All I said was that I didn't see anything in Rowan to lead me to think he can be enough of a player to start as CF for this team. You all can crap on Borchard all you like...Most of you posting this have very short attention spans and swing from over enthusiasm to depression depending on the prevailing winds...Borchard is in his third year TOTAL of full time organized baseball. He has shown flashes of his hitting ability and unquestionable power. He spent all of last year fighting nagging tendonitis, plus recovering from his prior foot surgery. Let's see how he does now that he's healthy. Reed? It's difficult to tell how fast he can make it to the bigs. He certainly outpaced even the most optimistic projections for his move up the minor league system, with great success. Give him a chance in spring training. The worse that happens is he goes back down. But maybe he'll surprise everyone once again. You can keep saying all you want about Rowan. I just don't see it. Sorry. Forkit!

By the way...for accuracy... It's a two year contract with a one year club contract. Forkit!

How do I start Borchard over Rowan? Did I say that??? What I said was...Rowan does not have enough up side potential for me as a starting CF and IF we are going with "on the job training," I'd prefer to see them play one of two younger players with much higher potentials: Borchard or Reed. Both Borchard and Reed have much higher ceilings than does Rowan. In my opinion, Rowand ain't a starting CF in the majors. Will Borchard be? I don't know. Ask me after spring training. Same with Reed. BUT I do know both have tons more talent than Rowan. Sorry. That's just the truth. I'd prefer a CF with some experience, personally. Or maybe Soriano. I don't think Rowan will be enough. Just my opinion. Forkit!

The one effect this may have on Bart is that Ozzie may be viewed by him positively [or negatively] and then if his agent doesn't find better offers, he can always use the "I was waiting to see who they hired" excuse... We'll see. Forkit!

I'd like more than Aaron Rowand in CF. Sorry. If we're going to do "on the job training," I'd vote for Borchard and Reed before Rowand. I don't think he's a starter. I don't think he has much upside. Just my opinion. Forkit!

And of course, one last thing, lest folks here somehow think I am anti-Maggs... Until recently, my wife and I would eat dinner before games out at the bar [nice beer and burgers], watching Maggs field. He's a very nice guy and a very good player. Nothing has diminished my feelings for him or anyone else. It's not unreasonable for Maggs to be asked to view the remaining last option year of his current contract in light of a new long-term contract that is structured based on current salary conditions. In my opinion, if Maggs was a complete free agent, he would not get $14 mill a year over 3-5 years in the current environment, so it would wise for him to agree with to a new contract that, in effect, rolls the current 2004 option year into a totally new contract [unless he thinks he can get $15-$20 mill as a free agent elsewhere, but I doubt he thinks that]. So don't write Maggs off just yet. We don't know that the current free market value of CLee is ... well, pick a number. Times may have changed significantly since last off season and even since the prior one. Maybe his value isn't as high as we thought, either. And one last one...I know we won't offer Carl "the dinosaur" Everett arbitration, because of the range we'd have to pay him. But I keep reading that there's "no way in hell" he'd accept half his current salary. In my opinion, he'll be lucky if he gets $5 mill, because of the slumping free agent market salaries, his lack of range and his lack of knees. What if Carl's available for $4 mill per? These suddenly deflating salaries really makes it important to try to trade Konerko and anyone else over paid and underperforming, especially if you can find a team that thinks they can catch a player likely to rebound after a poor year. Forkit!

Steve: You have to wait to see how this free agent year starts to play out and if salaries really are in decline. Alot of the decisions by teams will depend this. No one knows what Colon will get...Obviously, his agent wants more than what the Sox offered. But so far, all indications say that was a very fair offer and he may not see more. But only time will tell. Let a few players sign or get traded. And then you'll get a better feeling about where things are going this year and next. If salaries are declining, you may see potential 2005 players willing to be traded to teams and immediately re-signed to longer term contracts, because they will be worried the market will be softer yet next year. Let's see how it all plays out. Forkit!

Before you get all in a frenzy, take a deep breath and think! Sheeesh! NOT ONE FREE AGENT HA S SIGNED YET. NOT ONE PLAYER HAS BEEN DEALT! Just wait until you see how the hands play out. It's obvious the demand for higher salaries in general is not there. Players and owners don't know the going rate yet for players. There is going to be some touching and feeling going on before anything happens. Let both sides try to figure out where the line in the sand is for the big names...Then things will begin to get clear. Most of you have already begun talking about jumping ship or shooting JR or KW or...Sheesh! There isn't even a market yet! The Sox are playing their cards. We have NO idea what they will eventually decide to spend, because they are showing the poker face they have to show right now. They know salaries will likely be quite a bit lower, but until other teams start showing some interest, ala bidding, they don't know where salaries will fall out. Boston and at least ten other teams have already said they are likely reducing payroll this year. In this atmosphere, the Sox ain't gonna tell free agents, let alone the public, what they are willing to spend. It would be irresponsible of anyone at the Sox to name their actual salary max, because until they know what the market settles out to be for free agents like Colon, Pettitte, etc, there is no way for them to gauge their needed salary level. So hoping that they are right about declining salaries [and all signs point to their being correct], they mumble something about their spending being about the same. That's nothing to be worried about. They are playing their cards. Folks, you need to learn to think a bit and look at all the sides. You react without thinking to every little piece of crap the media reports out there. It's the first weekend in November. So far, the only offer any player has seen that anyone knows about is the Sox offer to Colon. And so far, that's a decent offer. Most of you already have the Sox finishing last in our division and MLB folding the team. Take a breath and step back from the window. It's a long winter and we're liable to see lots of stories, many of them total BS, going in both directions. And until a handful of players sign and or are dealt, no one knows what the market for top tier players is, so they also don't know how aggressive or successful the Sox will be in signing and building the 2004 team. Stop making fools of yourselves, ranting and raving...There's been NO news of anything yet. Forkit!

Hold on there, pardner... Maggs can certainly rework his deal... They have been speaking with him about a future deal and his future here probably hinges on whether he understands he is overpaid [in today's marketplace] at $14 mill and is willing to be flixible on rolling his 2004 option year into a more palatable long-term contract. Again...Life isn't what you want, it's what it is. Same with baseball. Just because you want a player, unless you are the owner, you have to live with what you get. Forkit!

I think they left Big Jon in the minors so there would be no pressure on him--let him heal up and start fresh in 2004. They gave him a pressure situation and he ended up injured. Better to let him get his work in in the minors and then go full-tilt in spring training. Borchard? Hopefully, his wrist tendons are happy and his foot is back to normal. He's probably a bit tired as well, since he hasn't had many years playing a full baseball season, unlike most guys that play high school and/or college ball, since he focused fully on football. It'd be nice to see him give Reed a run, as well as Reed give him a run. Forkit!

Let me ask this one more time: He's a converted SS...is he capable of playing SS or only 2nd [or CF]? It would be hard to beat out Jeter...it's not that difficult to beat out our current outspoken free agent... Just curious and frankly, I don't know what he's capable of. Forkit!

I have heard deferrals mentioned by both sides. Neither metioned or accused the other of including incentives. Forkit!

Let's see... No one wants Manny, who some here have described as "the best hitter currently in baseball," at his current salary of $20 mill per, even if they don't have to trade anything to get him... No one wants Shammee, who many people speculated George would be eager to grab to help with attendance, even if they didn't have to trade anything to get him... Frank's here, at the lower of two option possibilities... I've read all the hand-wringers saying that we didn't offer Bart a fair offer or that it was "BS" because it was partially deferred. But where's the signs that this free agency period is gonna feature escalating salaries? Forkit!

Rex: I didn't say it would have been easy. What I said was that they had a very legit chance in 1994. They paid the price of no playoffs. Staying the course and fixing the system would have been easier then than it is now, since it will take another strike and a mojor disruption before the two sides are at such a place again. That was a wasted opportunity for baseball. And at this point, I think it would benefit both sides. These folks [both sides] couldn't even agree on steroid abuse measures and a world-wide rights draft...which were both no brainers. Forkit!

And though people "hate" JR for trying to get a legit salary structure in 1994, think of it this way... What if the owners had actually showed some guts and stayed the line and gotten a salary cap? Wouldn't things be much better now? Instead, we'll be heading back to the same labor impasse and the Yankees spend, spend, spend... They had a good chance of getting something done in 1994, since they had already paid the price of no post season...They should have gone the course and done it right. Forkit!

Boston is just hoping that someone wants Manny but can't stomach paying a quadrillion dollars AND throwing in a bag of balls...so they are offering door number three: Hold your hand up and you, too, can owe Manny AT LEAST $100 million dollars!!! But...like I said before about a different player...maybe no one will show up at that price. The economic times have changed since someone at Boston lost their mind trying to outbid George [How would you have liked to win that bidding war???]. Forkit!

I ain't voting. It's a meaningless question to me. I live here. I grew up a Sox fan. When my father changed teams and started listening to the Cubs, I remained a Sox fan. I actually got him back to the Sox the year before he died [sorta like saving Darth Vader, for all you young guys here]. Some of my brothers are Cub fans and some are Sox fans. My two sisters were bandwagon jumping Cub fans...but there were a lot of them out this way so I figure they caught it from someone at work... To me, being a fan is not just longing for the rings. The Sox are in my blood, like the Bears are in my blood. I just want the Sox to play baseball. Give me the Cell, a nice warm spring day, my wife and I having a burger and a beer, watching Crede, CLee, Maggs, Frank and now Robbie...throw in Burlyman and Marte...How about adding a little Reed and maybe a Borchard...Man, I'm feeling better already. The Marlins? Good for them and their fans. Doesn't mean a thing to me, so I can't rate it. I'm a Sox fan. That's all I know and all I want to know. It's not an option. It's in my blood. Forkit!

I like Frank. I hope he plays first base 80 percent of the time. He deserves to retire here and I hope he no longer has to agonize over where to finish his long and storied career. I'll be happy to see him in the Hall wearing a Sox uniform one day. Forkit!

In case people think I am anti-Colon or anti-player... I hope our offer is the best he gets. Then I hope his agent calls the Sox and asks to sign the contract. Nothing would make me happier. I think they offered him a fair contract and I would love to see him pitch lights out for the Sox in 2004. I hoped he really meant what he said about liking it here and wanting to come back and win. I hope he isn't just another guy looking for the last available dime and his words are meaningless. I can hope, right? Forkit!

Entertainment business... Is that where a guy like Kevin Costner asks you to spend a quadrillion dollars building a crazy set based entirely in water with no fiscal restraint? And then everyone at the studio leaves or gets fired? It's only the entertainment business if you look at the total picture. For example: Did you think about the backers of Waterworld? You do know they farm out to investors the risk on these pictures, right? The studios are just the people that distribute the movies. So, think of it like this...You are a business person that makes money investing in motion pictures. Kevin Costner comes to you and makes his pitch about Waterworld and you see the $200 million dollar budget and say no. Then, a bunch of Costner fans say nasty things about you because you refused to spend a crazy amount of money for a crazy movie...But as an investor that invests for a living, you'd have made a sound business decision. See, it's easy to throw out these analogiers and say it's like this or it's like that. But the truth is this: It's a business. Period. The Sox ownership apparently feel they can maximize revenues by spending roughly $60-ish million dollars in 2004. That's their right as owners. They get to run their business as they see fit. They don't owe you a big name player that they feel is demanding too much relative to their total salary structure. That's business. Forkit!

Our luck, Boras will want us to provide each of the Crede's Crew members with offices and staffs and salaries... Forkit!