Bobby V Canned

[Kevin Seitzer]

OK, I'll take him on the Yankees to replace Ibanez/Jones/Chavez next year at DH.

Wait, are we talking about A-Gonz or the frozen head of Ted Williams?

[heyelander]

Wait, are we talking about A-Gonz or the frozen head of Ted Williams?

The Yankees need to get younger, so either would be a fine addition.

[DJBeasties]

I am so relieved he is gone. It wasn't just the adversity, it's how he handled it. Worst day to day mgr I've ever seen in any sport. Maybe he got an unfair shake to some extent but I am just happy he is gone.

[GwynnInTheHall]

The Yankees need to get younger, so either would be a fine addition.

/Thread

[Todd Zola]

Greinke would be a disaster in Boston and I think he's smart enough to know that.

This will no doubt be the conventional thinking but I don't happen to agree with it.

[BuckyBuckner]

This will no doubt be the conventional thinking but I don't happen to agree with it.

Why not? He's basically stated that he doesn't like cities with huge media exposure, like New York and Boston. I don't have the time to track down a quote but I know he's basically said this in the past.

[B-Fly]

The Yankees need to get younger, so either would be a fine addition.

A-Gonz is only 30. I think he'd be a great RBI guy through age 35.

[chancellor]

This will no doubt be the conventional thinking but I don't happen to agree with it.

Hmmm...why not? After his tour in Milwaukee, I think the conventional thinking is right. Greinke was essentially coddled by a very supportive local media, and had significantly better home splits - despite Miller turning into a plus hitters park. Put him under a much more aggressive media base and a vicious fan base, and he'll likely not do well, IMO.

[Sharky]

I thought Gonzalez was still a good signing, but if you have an opportunity to get out of the Crawford and Beckett deals, you do what you've gotta do. And Gonzo had some problems besides the manager this year, he was openly complaining about the umps ("How are you supposed to have a professional at-bat with these umpires nowadays?"), which will get you nowhere.

Spot on! Gonzalez was the price for getting rid of Crawford and Beckett.

[Todd Zola]

Hmmm...why not? After his tour in Milwaukee, I think the conventional thinking is right. Greinke was essentially coddled by a very supportive local media, and had significantly better home splits - despite Miller turning into a plus hitters park. Put him under a much more aggressive media base and a vicious fan base, and he'll likely not do well, IMO.

Long story short is I think there is too much going back and explaining a random event using anecdotal evidence.

This guy can't play in New York. That guy can't hit in the clutch. He can't close.

I know we are talking about humans, so there are absolutely individual instances where the assumption is true. But by and large, it is a random event(s) that we feel the need to explain with something other than "stuff happens."

So I don't pick and choose - I elect to not try to discern where the human element applies and where benefit of the doubt applies and give everyone benefit of the doubt.

I'm not right 100% of the time but I am right more often than not which should be the objective.

[TopChuckie]

Long story short is I think there is too much going back and explaining a random event using anecdotal evidence.

This guy can't play in New York. That guy can't hit in the clutch. He can't close.

I know we are talking about humans, so there are absolutely individual instances where the assumption is true. But by and large, it is a random event(s) that we feel the need to explain with something other than "stuff happens."

So I don't pick and choose - I elect to not try to discern where the human element applies and where benefit of the doubt applies and give everyone benefit of the doubt.

I'm not right 100% of the time but I am right more often than not which should be the objective.

This conversation feels like deja vu, but I think the issue isn't near as much a question of will Greinke be able to handle Boston, or any other high pressure, big market team, as it is, do you want to invest the money it will take to find out. Based on the past, and his own statements, clearly anxiety is more of a risk with him than most other players. Whether you believe it's a real issue or not, you are not doing your due diligence as a GM if you don't take it into consideration.

Right now, the last thing Boston needs is another big money free agent flop. Unfortunately for them, both of the top free agents, Greinke and Hamilton, carry more unique risks than the typical free agent. So while any big money contract is a greater risk, these are two of the greatest. While it's nice to be flush with money to spend, these are not ideal times to do it.

[BuckyBuckner]

This conversation feels like deja vu, but I think the issue isn't near as much a question of will Greinke be able to handle Boston, or any other high pressure, big market team, as it is, do you want to invest the money it will take to find out. Based on the past, and his own statements, clearly anxiety is more of a risk with him than most other players. Whether you believe it's a real issue or not, you are not doing your due diligence as a GM if you don't take it into consideration.

Right now, the last thing Boston needs is another big money free agent flop. Unfortunately for them, both of the top free agents, Greinke and Hamilton, carry more unique risks than the typical free agent. So while any big money contract is a greater risk, these are two of the greatest. While it's nice to be flush with money to spend, these are not ideal times to do it.

Well said. I think the Sox will re sign Ross and Ortiz and maybe some mid level guys and go after players in 2014. I remember someone pointing out (I think in person not on this site) that the free agent class in 2014 is much better.

[Don Quixote]

Well said. I think the Sox will re sign Ross and Ortiz and maybe some mid level guys and go after players in 2014. I remember someone pointing out (I think in person not on this site) that the free agent class in 2014 is much better.

The free agent class for the year plus-one is always better than the current class. Then some of those guys get signed to extensions, and voila! another "mediocre" free agent crop, with the media saying, "But look who's available NEXT year!"

Rinse and repeat.

Never look at next year's free agents without considering who is actually going to be on the market.

[BuckyBuckner]

The free agent class for the year plus-one is always better than the current class. Then some of those guys get signed to extensions, and voila! another "mediocre" free agent crop, with the media saying, "But look who's available NEXT year!"

Rinse and repeat.

Never look at next year's free agents without considering who is actually going to be on the market.

Good point. Though I think the Sox would be better served it they didn't just spend their money cause they felt they needed to. But I think they will be under a lot of pressure to just that.

[Long John]

Well said. I think the Sox will re sign Russ Ortiz and maybe some mid level guys and go after players in 2014. I remember someone pointing out (I think in person not on this site) that the free agent class in 2014 is much better.

Russ Ortiz would only improve their pitching staff. Good idea.