Good Lord, game threads. Right. What’s a game thread?
Are we there already? Man, I’ve got to get up to speed on this spring training business.
Luckily for us, Chad Jennings is on the case—as always.
I tell ya, I’m feel more disconnected with the daily happenings of the team than I have since I began this blog in 2002. But not in an unpleasant way. I kind of like the distance. This way, everything carries an element of surprise—learning about the new guys (who?), remembering the veterans (he’s still around?). The further away I get from the 365-day news cycle, the happier I am, and the easier it is for me to just show up as a fan and root.
Picture by Bags.
Great that you decided to drop by Alex :). Appreciate that you have other obligations these days, and I like Chad's news (his tab is next to your's on my computer). But I kinda miss not only game threads, but your comments on art, food, and NYC.
Here in DC, the only talk is about Harper leaving for the Yanks in 2018. While he is clearly a fab talent, do you think the Yanks will make a push for him in that time frame, given all the guaranteed $$$ coming off the rolls by then?
[1] I know you didn't ask me, but my two cents says that if he survives injury-free with steady production and no major scandals to 2018 they do make a big push, provided that they haven't also buried themselves in inordinate debt for any reason or put themselves on/over the line like they did with Tanaka. Yet, their biggest desire will always be for front line starting pitching; if Severino and whomever else steps up from the system haven't completely established themselves as such, that will be their first option. To be honest, I'm none too excited about Harper right now, personality issues aside it's too far down the line to speculate, even if setting aside a big chunk of change for him now is better than waiting. Trying to get under the cap these last several years has not produced much more than a fake playoff cameo, in which they were almost obviously the underdog.
By 2018 the Yankees will have cleared A-Rod, Teix, and CC's contracts, and if they husband the money (sorry, no WS titles for the next few years) they can pay for Harper and Strasburg. But are they worth it? Yes, it'll be a (and probably only one) WS title. Then the team will be paying for the decline of Hall of Famers. I would rather develop talent within. Adding pieces where necessary, just not build around imports.
[3] Harper would only be about 26 in 2018 - I can image a 5 year deal at $40 million, allowing him to re-test the free-agent market at age 31 or 32. But a 10 year+ deal is out of ther question.
I'm reminded of what was supposed to be a DiMaggio comment when asked about the high salaries George was handing out to free agents. He said if he was a free agent, he'd come to George and say "George, we're about to become partners!"
So Chapman gets 30 games and won't appeal.
Seem fair?