The many demands of the Red Sox
That was a close one. The Red Sox-A’s series was almost canceled. And all because MLB welshed on a promise to pay coaches and staff $40,000 each to make the trip to Japan.
Apparently, today’s strike was a long time coming. Curt Schilling said MLB reneged on a number of promises it made to the players — promises made to convince the Sox to make the trip.
From Boston.com:
Curt Shilling was one of the players involved in the negotiations last fall.
“We had an agreement. We had an agreement in October,” Schilling said. “I was one of the five or six players on the phone call. Some of the things they promised they’ve already taken away. From the players’ point of view, we all felt the same way. They can’t do this. This can’t happen.”
Schilling said a few things have already been “taken away” by Major League Baseball, according to the pitcher.
“In October when we were on the phone call, they wanted this trip to happen so badly, and now they’ve fallen by the wayside time and time again. The things we were adamant about at the time we reiterated time and time again, and it was never an issue.”
What things?
“Different personal things that were supposed to happen from an accommodations standpoint. Little things that tend to make trips like this easier. It’s been more than one thing. Hopefully, it’s just miscommunication, and it will be fixed,” Schilling said.
So, seriously Curt, what things?
We here at Umpbump put our heads together, and we think we know some of the things the Sox might have requested:
1. Buccholz could care less about the coaches — he wants the team to pay for his hot flavor-of-the-month girlfriend to make the trip (last year it was a Victoria’s Secret model; this year it’s a Penthouse pet).
2. Schilling wants his Weight Watchers meals.
3. Mango salsa for Papi.
4. A travel-size oxygen tent for J.D. Drew.
5. A ‘fro comb for Coco.
6. A six-pack of Slump Buster Energy Drink for Youk (or, alternately, an actual slumpbuster if he doesn’t get off to a good start).
7. Just for Men hair dye for Lowell.
8. Manny: what does Manny NOT want…..let’s see, maybe start with a gas grill, a classic Cadillac, and his personal clubbie from Cleveland.
9. Insoles for Pedroia.
10. Wakefield wants his Binky back.
11. Papelbon requested some pants.
12. A new pair of “five-toed socks” for Dice-K.
What things do you think the Red Sox insisted on?
February 21st, 2008 at 6:44 am
I am, of course, extremely sympathetic to the Pythagorean wins argument that the Mariners played above their heads last season, and do think they were somewhat lucky.
However, there is an emerging theory that a team with a great bullpen and a truly god-awful back end of the rotation is very likely to have a Pythagorean wins projection that is below its actual ability. And I actually subscribe to this theory. I think it is already pretty well established that teams with outstanding bullpens generally can outperform their pythagorean projection, because they are yielding less of their runs in the highest leverage situations. But it also seems plausible to me that a truly awful backend of the rotation is skewing the pythagorean results as well, because the team is giving up TONS of runs in bunches, and as we know, the way to screw up your pythagorean projection is to score or yield tons of runs all at once.
Now I’m not at all sure if the Mariners were really an 88-win team last year talent-wise, but I think it’s plausible that they may secretly have actually been an 82 win team or something like. And if you replace your 5th starter with an ace, which is essentially what the Mariners have done with Bedard, then you could easily be adding 5 or 6 wins, easily putting you on the verge of contention.
I’m not saying I like the Bedard trade, because I don’t, but I can’t say it was truly horrible, because I’m not convinced that it is entirely impossible for the Mariners to contend this year. I’ll tell you one thing – if the Mariners were ever to wake up and realize that they just have to cut Vidro and eat his contract, and then go out and sign Barry Bonds to be their DH, I think you’d have to say they would instantly become a contender.
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February 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I think you have a solid point here, Nick. And I do agree that bullpens have something to do with it. I just used Pyth formulas because it’s easy to convey. I think I need to look at the Mariners front three and their run differentials in the games they pitched. Future project. That I think only you will read.
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February 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
So where does this put Horacio Ramirez? Is he expected to be in the pen?
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February 21st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Danny, I’m pretty sure he’ll pitch in long relief. But maybe he’ll pitch in AAA if he doesn’t have a good spring.
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February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I would read it, Paul.
Would I understand it? Now that’s an interesting question.
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