Comments on: Selfish players emerge after hibernating for the winter. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:58:55 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54848 Sarah Green Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:43:06 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54848 I agree with your observation about Tulo, Cano, Utley, etc. It's definitely a strategy that works best for exceptional young players. But I do think Papelbon's injury that first year just came about through overuse. They ran him out there a little too often for such a young pitcher, especially considering the guy only went into relief at the last minute anyway. Even so, it would behoove the Red Sox to sign Papelbon early, yes---after all, it's only money, and Boston has plenty of it. Closers of his caliber are hard to come by, and if they let him hit the open market there will be a bidding war. Cole Hamels may be a different story, however. On the whole, though, I think there's definitely a savings if you can sign a young player to a deal while he's still in that "just happy to be here" phase. Both Paps and Fielder seem to be already reaching the end of that phase, though. Speaking of Fielder, I definitely think the Brewers should lock up Fielder. A lot of guys who hit 50 homers have weight problems, but there aren't a lot of guys who hit 50 homers. I agree with your observation about Tulo, Cano, Utley, etc. It’s definitely a strategy that works best for exceptional young players. But I do think Papelbon’s injury that first year just came about through overuse. They ran him out there a little too often for such a young pitcher, especially considering the guy only went into relief at the last minute anyway. Even so, it would behoove the Red Sox to sign Papelbon early, yes—after all, it’s only money, and Boston has plenty of it. Closers of his caliber are hard to come by, and if they let him hit the open market there will be a bidding war. Cole Hamels may be a different story, however. On the whole, though, I think there’s definitely a savings if you can sign a young player to a deal while he’s still in that “just happy to be here” phase. Both Paps and Fielder seem to be already reaching the end of that phase, though. Speaking of Fielder, I definitely think the Brewers should lock up Fielder. A lot of guys who hit 50 homers have weight problems, but there aren’t a lot of guys who hit 50 homers.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54847 Coley Ward Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:46:06 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54847 Also, Sarah, I think your point about locking up younger players through their arbitration elegible years is a good one, but I don't think it's the best option in all cases. Would the Red Sox be wise to sign Papelbon to a long deal, only one year after an arm injury prematurely ended his rookie season? Would the Phillies be wise to lock up Cole Hamels, even though he has chronic back problems (and a propensity to get into bar fights)? Should the Brewers lock up Prince Fielder, despite his weight problem? I think, almost without exception, the young players who get these contracts are guys like Tulo, Cano, Utley -- guys who are healthy and fit and demonstrate leadership skills. Also, Sarah, I think your point about locking up younger players through their arbitration elegible years is a good one, but I don’t think it’s the best option in all cases. Would the Red Sox be wise to sign Papelbon to a long deal, only one year after an arm injury prematurely ended his rookie season? Would the Phillies be wise to lock up Cole Hamels, even though he has chronic back problems (and a propensity to get into bar fights)? Should the Brewers lock up Prince Fielder, despite his weight problem?

I think, almost without exception, the young players who get these contracts are guys like Tulo, Cano, Utley — guys who are healthy and fit and demonstrate leadership skills.

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]]> By: coley http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54846 coley Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:34:40 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54846 Nick, I don't think you can blame the Phillies for Ryan Howard's $900,000 contract. Howard is a special case. The Phils kept him in the minors when he could have been putting up big numbers in the majors. Paying him a little extra was the least they could do. Plus, each team has a system they use to devise a young player's salary. The Phils' system gives a player extra dough for winning the MVP and rookie of the year awards. Lots of teams have a similar system, but few teams have a player who has won as much hardware as Howard. If you want to criticize the Phillies, take them to task for their lowball offer to Howard in arbitration this year. Howard's arbitration win is going to lead to a spike in player salaries that could really screw small market teams. Nick, I don’t think you can blame the Phillies for Ryan Howard’s $900,000 contract. Howard is a special case. The Phils kept him in the minors when he could have been putting up big numbers in the majors. Paying him a little extra was the least they could do. Plus, each team has a system they use to devise a young player’s salary. The Phils’ system gives a player extra dough for winning the MVP and rookie of the year awards. Lots of teams have a similar system, but few teams have a player who has won as much hardware as Howard.

If you want to criticize the Phillies, take them to task for their lowball offer to Howard in arbitration this year. Howard’s arbitration win is going to lead to a spike in player salaries that could really screw small market teams.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54845 Sarah Green Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:17:13 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54845 Well, maybe what the teams should be doing is saying, "Okay, here's what you get if we renew you....but here's the longer-term deal we're willing to offer at this time. You pick." I'm sure the Sox and the Brewers would like to lock up their young stars and it seems like said stars want to be shown (ahem) the monay. Hey, it worked for Grady Sizemore? @ Margaret, I hear what you're saying...but I think Schilling will end up having the surgery anyway, after the rehab proves ineffective. Which is fine if he's normal Joe Schmo citizen, but not fine for a pro athlete. I feel very pessimistic when the doctor says the pain was so severe, Schilling couldn't even turn a doorknob and that his arm looked like spaghetti. How do you rehab spaghetti? And how is he going to help out down the stretch suffering from Spaghetti Arm?? Bah. Well, maybe what the teams should be doing is saying, “Okay, here’s what you get if we renew you….but here’s the longer-term deal we’re willing to offer at this time. You pick.” I’m sure the Sox and the Brewers would like to lock up their young stars and it seems like said stars want to be shown (ahem) the monay. Hey, it worked for Grady Sizemore?

@ Margaret, I hear what you’re saying…but I think Schilling will end up having the surgery anyway, after the rehab proves ineffective. Which is fine if he’s normal Joe Schmo citizen, but not fine for a pro athlete. I feel very pessimistic when the doctor says the pain was so severe, Schilling couldn’t even turn a doorknob and that his arm looked like spaghetti. How do you rehab spaghetti? And how is he going to help out down the stretch suffering from Spaghetti Arm?? Bah.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54844 Nick Kapur Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:30:38 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54844 Yeah, I've been really baffled about all these second or third year players bitching about their contract renewals. I mean, they all got raises. Those guys have absolutely no leverage. It's ridiculous to complain when you just got a raise despite the team would have been completely within its rights to pay you the major league minimum. Once again, I think we have to lay some blame at the doorstep of the Phillies and the ridiculous $900,000 they gave to Ryan Howard. Now suddenly everyone thinks they deserve $900,000, when the team could just as easily pay them $380,000. Since when is a raise nobody had to give you a "slap in the face"? Yeah, I’ve been really baffled about all these second or third year players bitching about their contract renewals.

I mean, they all got raises. Those guys have absolutely no leverage. It’s ridiculous to complain when you just got a raise despite the team would have been completely within its rights to pay you the major league minimum.

Once again, I think we have to lay some blame at the doorstep of the Phillies and the ridiculous $900,000 they gave to Ryan Howard. Now suddenly everyone thinks they deserve $900,000, when the team could just as easily pay them $380,000.

Since when is a raise nobody had to give you a “slap in the face”?

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]]> By: Margaret http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54843 Margaret Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:04:40 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54843 From what I know about Schilling's injury and the procedure in question, I think the problem is that even with surgery, there's a solid chance he still won't be able to pitch. With either the surgery or rehab, the chances that he'll get more than 70% or so of his strength back is pretty slim. Additionally, from a medical standpoint-- surgery isn't the preferred option. Surgery should always be considered a last resort, whether the patient is a pro athlete or not. I think the Sox made the right choice given the information they have. From what I know about Schilling’s injury and the procedure in question, I think the problem is that even with surgery, there’s a solid chance he still won’t be able to pitch.

With either the surgery or rehab, the chances that he’ll get more than 70% or so of his strength back is pretty slim.

Additionally, from a medical standpoint– surgery isn’t the preferred option. Surgery should always be considered a last resort, whether the patient is a pro athlete or not.

I think the Sox made the right choice given the information they have.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-54842 Sarah Green Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:48:27 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-54842 Having read all the various reports in this Schilling-Sox power play, I have come to two conclusions: 1) The Sox should've let Schill have the surgery. He's going to be gone for the first half of the season anyway, right? So why not at least give yourselves a chance he'll be back---and more importantly, effective---in the second half? Even if this current rehab program works (which is doubtful), Schilling's arm may only get back to a point where he is good for batting practice. 2)That said, Schilling has not been comporting himself well with these little confabs in the parking lot with reporters. That's just a distraction. If he really feels so strongly, he should have just refused Boston's course of treatment and allowed them to void his contract. Having read all the various reports in this Schilling-Sox power play, I have come to two conclusions:

1) The Sox should’ve let Schill have the surgery. He’s going to be gone for the first half of the season anyway, right? So why not at least give yourselves a chance he’ll be back—and more importantly, effective—in the second half? Even if this current rehab program works (which is doubtful), Schilling’s arm may only get back to a point where he is good for batting practice.

2)That said, Schilling has not been comporting himself well with these little confabs in the parking lot with reporters. That’s just a distraction. If he really feels so strongly, he should have just refused Boston’s course of treatment and allowed them to void his contract.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-45840 Paul Moro Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:22:35 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-45840 Yes, it's true, Rich. His BABIP was a ridiculous .393 last year, and that is just unsustainable. I am not at all sold on BJ Upton yet, for that reason. Yes, it’s true, Rich. His BABIP was a ridiculous .393 last year, and that is just unsustainable. I am not at all sold on BJ Upton yet, for that reason.

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]]> By: Rich http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-45839 Rich Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:16:07 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-45839 Anyone else thinking BJ Upton is going to have a terrible regression to the mean? I think I saw somewhere that he had .400 BABIP. Anyone else thinking BJ Upton is going to have a terrible regression to the mean? I think I saw somewhere that he had .400 BABIP.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/03/04/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/comment-page-1/#comment-45780 Sarah Green Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:34:09 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/selfish-players-emerge-after-hibernating-for-the-winter/#comment-45780 Those are excellent additions, Melissa. And let's not forget Butch Huskey---a great name for a tough roller derby broad. Also, how much fun is it to say "Billy Joe Robideaux"? Sounds like he should be part of Rollie Fingers' gambling ring. Or maybe a lounge singer in Vegas. Those are excellent additions, Melissa. And let’s not forget Butch Huskey—a great name for a tough roller derby broad. Also, how much fun is it to say “Billy Joe Robideaux”? Sounds like he should be part of Rollie Fingers’ gambling ring. Or maybe a lounge singer in Vegas.

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