Comments on: Salary cap? Baseball needs something

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 22:43:00 +0000

I have been to a minor league one time: in 1999 (?), I saw a game between the now-defunct Portland (Ore.) Rockies and the Everett Aquasox during a Northwest League [Short-A] game at Portland’s Civic Stadium (now PGE Park). It wasn’t too bad, but the Rockies lost the game. (oh well) (currently, Portland has the AAA Beavers).

I agree about Willie Bloomquist being a great utility player. Every MLB team needs some players like him if they want to succeed. Heck, he got more playing time last year than Jeff Cirillo (who never did live up to his potential in Seattle). The nearest short-A teams to where I live are the Everett Aquasox and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Someday, I’d like to go to a Tacoma Rainiers (AAA) game, as I’d consider them my home AAA team and they’re relatively close.

The Anaheim Angels should be one of the contenders in the AL West this coming 2004 season.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 08:11:44 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

Teachers certainly deserve a decent salary, probably more than they get. But whether you’re talking teachers, ball players or store clerks, you want someone who cares about their job and isn’t just chasing a pay check.

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Some things you must love because they’re impossible to like

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 07:58:20 +0000

If you get a chance – watch a minor league game. We have the Lancaster Jet Hawks (formerly a Mariner’s single A affiliate, now Diamondbacks). Their games are also instructive as the players are students themselves. Plus they are cheap games and just plain fun. Willie Bloomquist – now a Mariner utility infielder, played here, and although he may be marginal as a big leaguer, it was easy to see why he got his "cup of coffee". He was always doing the little things – backing up throws, getting into position to make plays – a real team player who got the most out of his ability. I enjoyed watching him. As a Boston fan I have my own complaints about A-Rod but honestly no one twisted the Ranger’s arm into giving him that absurd contract that was light years more than any other offer he got. Texas back then was trying to buy a pennant, they also had I-Rod, Rafael Palmero, and later got Juan Gonzalez back – on paper a formidable lineup with no pitching. They then went and overpaid for Chan Ho Park who rarely won outside Dodger Stadium – All in all, lot of money for a laughingstock team. Unlike some high-buck ballplayers, A-Rod at least produces like he was paid for, and as far as I know, without the stink of steroids. I too like the Mariners but prefer the Angels. They too can be accused of buying hired guns but in this case I think the new Hispanic owner is also trying to build a team with some real Hispanic stars to represent the Hispanic population in the Anaheim fan base. I think that’s not only legitimate but smart and about time. Honestly, the formerly Disney owned Angels were a pretty "pale" team.

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Some things you must love because they’re impossible to like

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 03:36:16 +0000

As long as the fans will pay the cost, why deprive the players of their salaries? It does drive the ticket prices up but that keeps out the riff raff.
If you have to cap something, cap Teacher’s salaries. They are always hollering about bread and circuses and how nations fall.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 00:47:27 +0000

In the past few years, I have truly become a diehard baseball fan. I’ve always like baseball, but only as I have gotten older have I learned about and appreciated the game’s subtleties.

I don’t think baseball really needs a salary cap. Players (like "Pay-Rod") choose to play for the Yankees for more than just money (although that’s the #1 reason); they do it because of the Yankees historical legacy and "mystique", if you want to call it that. Also, it’s about being in the bright lights, big city, big media market thing, although that can certainly backfire. As for New York, A-Rod won’t have any trouble adjusting to the big city; in fact, I think he’ll thrive on it, that’s just his personality.

Don’t think that I’m an A-Rod fan, however. I’m a Seattle Mariners fan, and we don’t take kindly to him choosing the Texas Rangers and his outrageous contract with them over playing for a contender. Trust me, next time he shows up at Safeco Field in a Yankees uniform, he’ll be booed, and booed LOUDLY. His first return to Seattle in a Rangers uniform resulted in Monopoly money and (real) coins being tossed onto the field. We hate the Yanks, and we hate A-Rod.

I’m looking forward to April as well, as the Mariners have made some good changes in the off-season, adding Scott Spiezio at third base to replace the ineffective Jeff Cirillo, and Rich Aurilia at shortstop. Losing Kazuhiro Sasaki was unfortunate, but Eddie Guardado should fill in nicely (I know, "stolen" from the Twins). I still think that the Mariners need a solid power hitter if we really want to be contenders, but mostly this year is about keeping what we already have (Edgar Martinez, Boone, Olerud) and adjusting to our Mike Cameron-less outfield. Anyway, sorry for the rambling, bring on MLB 2004!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 18:15:18 +0000

Baltimore won the World Series in 1983, not 1982. The winners in 1982 were the Cardinals. I know, I know, what kind of St. Louisan am I?

The kind who roots for the Kansas City Royals, that’s what kind. 🙂

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 12:27:05 +0000

I’m a Red Sox fan (by birth) but I have to admit John Henry’s comments regards a salary cap struck me pretty funny (as in sad). It is certainly true money won’t guarantee a world series title. It is even more true regards buying a single high priced talent, regardless of ability. More often it is a detriment to team performance, and A-Rod in Texas is the best example, even though he fullfilled his end of the deal. The successful Yankee teams of the 90’s were notable not only for a lot of home-grown talent but a lack of strong egos and attitude. I think a balanced roster of B+ level "professional" ballplayers that function well as a team competes well against any collection of A level talent divided by ego, for far less money (the 2002 Angels).

On other notes, it will be interesting to see if Giambi or anyone else falls from the top tier as a result of the Steroid investigations now making headlines. If the sport truly gets cleaned up I will be glad. Pro athletes may not ask for the job of role model but it is thrust on them nonetheless. Like it or not, they (and the teams that pay them) have an obligation to be sensitive to the impact their conduct has on their young fans. It pains me but any one watching Garciapara at the end of last season and the during the playoffs has to wonder if he’s still one of the elite short stops. Jeter, if he takes his role of Captain and team leader seriously, may yet admit he is the one who should move to 2nd or 3rd.

Dave, I’m glad you’re talking baseball again. April can’t get here soon enough.

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Some things you must love because they’re impossible to like

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 11:18:08 +0000

Did you see where the Cardinals and Albert Pujols have agreed on a 7 year 100 Million dollar contract? Makes him the fastest player in major leauge history to reach the 100 million mark.

I like my Cardinals and all, but wow! Though in this day and age, I’m not sure what any teams choice are. They’ve done it to them selves by giving these enormous salleries. I just can’t see it not biting them in the butt some day. Seems similiar to a company over expanding too quickly at times.

Of course if the Cards hadn’t signed him, the Yankees would have, and probalby turned him into a pitcher or catcher.