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View Full Version : Hey Red Sox fans...Shut it!



TopDawg
11/15/2006, 04:10 PM
Says this guy (http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6173822?FSO1&ATT=HMA) (sorta) :D


I hate to slap any limits on free speech, but from now on, there are two words I never again want to hear out of the city of Boston.

"Evil Empire."

And I really, really don't want to hear them out of Larry Lucchino's mouth.

No more complaining about the Yankees' payroll, Red Sox fans. Your team is the second-fattest cat on the block.

The Red Sox just won the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes with an astounding $51.1 million bid. They are not paying $51.1 million for Matsuzaka's services. They are paying the Seibu Lions $51.1 million just for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka. Just to get in the door. If they can't reach an agreement with Matsuzaka, the Red Sox get their money back. But they are expected to reach a deal.

Six major league teams spent less than that on their entire 2006 payroll.

Now, it is possible that the Red Sox aren't really paying that much; deals with Japanese teams are rumored to feature more secret handshakes than sixth-grade recess. But they are obviously spending a ton. Once they get around to actually, you know, paying the pitcher, their total bill could reach $100 million over five years.

The Red Sox see Matsuzaka as a 26-year-old ace and a gateway to the Japanese market, which explains why they see this as an investment.

But Matsuzaka has never even pitched in the major leagues. For all we know, the secret to his famed "gyroball" is illegally applied yogurt sauce, and he'll be a bust here.

If the Yankees made an offer like this, you know what would happen.

Lucchino, the Red Sox president, and many Boston fans would whine that the Yankees were spending recklessly, messing up baseball's payroll structure, sending the country into a recession and complicating the situation in the Middle East.

Four years ago, when the Yankees outbid Boston for Jose Contreras, an angry Lucchino told The New York Times "the evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America."

That deal was for four years and $32 million.

The Red Sox will apparently pay more just for the right to negotiate.

Hey, it's their money. They have it and they can spend it how they please. Maybe it will turn into a brilliant move, both for the baseball team and the business.

I just don't want to hear any whining from Boston fans about the Yankees payroll. Last year, the Yankees spent around $199 million, which is nuts. But the No. 2 team was the Red Sox, at $120 million, for a team that finished in third place in the A.L East.

etc. etc.

mrowl
11/15/2006, 04:18 PM
IMO they won't sign him, that bid was just to keep him off the payroll of the yanks.

plumbob
11/18/2006, 04:03 PM
ha

Ruuuuuufus
11/19/2006, 12:29 AM
there's no way they pay that much and don't sign him.

The Red Sox want him for the entrance into the Japanese market. It's absolutely crazy the kind of following that Matsui and Ichiro get. I was in Canada a couple months ago and saw jerseys for only three players: Wells (plays in Toronto), Ichiro and Matsui.

If Matsuzaka even reaches a Matsui-level of play he will be well worth the investment for the amount of crap he's going to sell. If Matsuzaka turns down Boston's deal he's going to have to wait 2 more years, will probably lose about $20 million USD in salary, a boatload of endorsement money and Seibu will lose the $51m as well.

These transfer fees are pretty common for Euro soccer players, and can run pretty high (Zidane ~85m USD).

sanantoniosooner
11/19/2006, 12:31 AM
geez.........Yankees V RedSocks.

That's like UT V USC as far as the oh crap factor.

GrapevineSooner
11/19/2006, 12:43 AM
Walking out of the AAC tonight after the Mavs game, a 'Yankees Suck' chant broke out.

I was with my wife and had no part in it, though.

mrowl
11/19/2006, 10:02 AM
there's no way they pay that much and don't sign him.


fyi, if they don't sign him. they get the money back.

TopDawg
11/19/2006, 10:23 PM
Walking out of the AAC tonight after the Mavs game, a 'Yankees Suck' chant broke out.

I was with my wife and had no part in it, though.

Man, some people hate us so much it's embarrasing. :O

mrowl
12/10/2006, 07:40 PM
IMO they won't sign him, that bid was just to keep him off the payroll of the yanks.

am I gonna be right?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2692964