"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Don’tcha Wanna Give Me What I Need, Baby?

Money Grab.

[Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Image]

Categories:  1: Featured  Baseball  Games We Play

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27 comments

1 ms october   ~  Jan 24, 2012 4:11 pm

the boras-detroit connect remains strong as hell.

weird fit but what the hell.

2 Simone   ~  Jan 24, 2012 4:19 pm

Good for Prince.

3 Alex Belth   ~  Jan 24, 2012 4:30 pm

Rangers, Yanks, Tigers, Angels, Sox, Rays. These are some good ass teams in the AL, boy.

4 RIYank   ~  Jan 24, 2012 4:56 pm

[2] Exactly.
I mean, if Detroit wants to try to buy a pennant, fine.

You guys know the Red Sox signed Cody Ross to play RF for them, right? I like David Pinto's theory that this is management's way of telling the fans, "Oh, you didn't like JD Drew because he was too sabermetric for you? Okay, here's a gritty player. Suck on it."

5 monkeypants   ~  Jan 24, 2012 4:57 pm

That's a crazy stupid contract for the Tigers. Though they'll be a lot tougher next year, that's for sure.

6 rbj   ~  Jan 24, 2012 5:00 pm

Dang. Gonna have to pop up there a few times to watch the fireworks. Ilytch is old, I guess he figures if he can't take it with him, might as well spend it.

7 Ara Just Fair   ~  Jan 24, 2012 5:23 pm

Holy Smokes! Good in the short term for Detroit. Most likely terrible down the road. Man, I'm psyched that Fat Albert and Prince have joined to the A.L. It will definitely add some new juice to the games with Anaheim and Detroit.

8 Simone   ~  Jan 24, 2012 5:31 pm

[3] The AL will be a beast.

9 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jan 24, 2012 5:41 pm

I know it looks bad for Detroit down the road. But shit happens. Remember when the Vernon Wells contract was going to destroy the Blue Jays? It didn't. Remember when the Vernon Wells contract was going to limit what the Angels were going to do in free agency? It didn't. Sometimes these contracts screw everything up down the road, sometimes they don't. But I really don't think there's anyway to tell now what's going to happen in 5 years. Projecting 2012 is hard enough.

10 Yankee Mama   ~  Jan 24, 2012 6:34 pm

That is one beefed-up rotation. It's been an interesting off season. On paper, the competition will be fierce. I wonder how the new inter league rules will play out. It seems like the NL will potentially be at a disadvantage.

I'm looking forward to spring.

Now, all we need is a thumper. Who?

11 monkeypants   ~  Jan 24, 2012 6:41 pm

[9] Remember when the Vernon Wells contract was going to destroy the Blue Jays? It didn't. Remember when the Vernon Wells contract was going to limit what the Angels were going to do in free agency? It didn't.

OK, but that doesn't mean Wells' contract wasn't bad, and presumably it *has* limited what the Jays/Angels have done at least to some degree. In any case, I think we can reasonably predict that this contract will look bad in five or seven years for whatever teams is holding it. Whether that screws *everything* up is yet to be seen.

12 Diane Firstman   ~  Jan 24, 2012 7:36 pm

Twitter sad news:

Neil Best @sportswatch

After seven seasons at YES, @YESKimJones will not return in 2012. YES offered her a contract but she opted to explore other opportunities.

==============
sigh .... I'll miss her.

13 joejoejoe   ~  Jan 24, 2012 7:49 pm

MLB is becoming more like the NBA where you need a cap wizard for a GM.

Bad contracts hurt. Look at the White Sox with Adam Dunn and Alex Rios. You can squint and say it's not so bad but there are knock on effects like losing Mark Buehrle. Under the new bargaining agreement the Yankees were always going to dip below the luxury tax one year to reset the rate. Fixed contract costs make it harder to dip so you cut corners in roster construction. In 2016 when Brian Cashman is explaining why this reclamation project is actually a great value or that he is giving some young outfielder a chance it's going to be because he's got $42 million dollars of old bones under contract in Tex and A-Rod, not because he likes giving people a chance.

14 RIYank   ~  Jan 24, 2012 7:52 pm

[12] No! Damn!
I wonder what the other opportunities are. She must have a good gig lined up to pass on the Yes contract.

15 William Juliano   ~  Jan 24, 2012 7:56 pm

[9] [11] I think the Wells contract did hurt the Jays, and would still be weighing them down if not for the Angels generosity. Having said that, it's worth noting that the Tigers are owned by an 80-year old multi-billionaire who may not care too much how much Fielder is overpaid in five years.

[12] [14] I've always thought she preferred football, so maybe something in that arena.

16 Boatzilla   ~  Jan 24, 2012 7:58 pm

I don't see how Fielder fits that team. They already have the best-hitting first baseman in the game (perhaps the best hitter in the game). Puzzling.

17 Boatzilla   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:01 pm

[14] Double damn! She was the true bright spot in that game crew. Insightful. Attractive. And she really has an uncanny ability to do quick, brief interview that's also meaningful. Great questions.

18 RIYank   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:08 pm

[16] Cabrera will move to 3B.

19 Alex Belth   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:20 pm

17) I didn't like her much at first but I think she improved each season. Wonder where she'll go next? And not for nothing, Sweeny Murti should have that gig.

20 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:44 pm

[15] Illitch is that old? I don't really care about contracts, just think of how terrifying pitching to Miggy and Prince back to back will be? Also, if thet make a WS isn't it worth it?

21 William Juliano   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:48 pm

[19] I am not sure on Sweeny. Maybe I am wrong, but he doesn't seem to provide much in the way of analysis and rarely asks the right questions. Curry should be the one in the locker room because he always gets to the point and addresses the issues that need to be raised.

[20] He's 83. No surprise that the other team in hot pursuit was the Nats, who are also owned an 80-something multi-billionaire.

22 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Jan 24, 2012 8:53 pm

[21] If I were an 80+ billionaire, in addition to funding my favrortie charities, I'd sign guys to those contracts too! Also, Mo for 1-yr at $30million to close it out, and Scarlett Johanssen to.. oh wait, that's not for the Banter..

Anyhoo, Scott Boras remains the man..is anyone better at their job in any field than this guy?

23 Alex Belth   ~  Jan 24, 2012 9:02 pm

21) You know, I'd forgotten about Jack. Of course, he's the in-house fit. Somehow I thought he might be beyond that job but he really hasn't been on TV long. Naturally, he'd be great.

24 yobi   ~  Jan 24, 2012 9:39 pm

re Kim Jones:

I wouldn't be surprised if she does something semi-regular with francesa. He's just not as good on his own and she seems to be the only one he likes to work with - she's done a few extended segments since the Penn State scandal broke.

25 RIYank   ~  Jan 25, 2012 8:31 am

If I were gonna spend big money on a player, I think I might have a close look at this guy. Could Cashman be interested but keeping quiet about it?

26 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Jan 25, 2012 11:18 am

[21] [23] I will miss Kim Jones and her goofy but smart ways; Jack Curry does ask the hard questions gently, and would be great filling that role.

Idk, Prince Fielder forever? Don't you think a knee or chronic hamstring issue is possible with that body type (CC is different)?

And the corners defense will be tenterhooks for Tigers fans.

27 Greg G   ~  Jan 25, 2012 1:15 pm

Al Belth should take over for Kim Jones. He would give the hard hitting questions. He doesn't have Kim's legs, but he is a natural on camera.

When Victor Martinez comes back (at full strength) this is going to be an even scarier lineup.

The clubhouse manager better hire an assistant to help him bring in food for the post game spread. Prince can eat, and Cabrera is no slouch. They ought to have a hotdog eating contest during the 7th inning stretch.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
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