Cliff Lee's best days could be ahead of him. Brian Cashman's mouth could ensure that his are behind him.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was asked a question yesterday that he never should have answered. During a luncheon sponsored by New York’s WFAN Radio yesterday, Cashman was asked whether or not Derek Jeter would finish his new Yankees contract in the outfield.
He replied in the affirmative.
Here, he answers a question about a freshly-signed integral part of their franchise and delivers an answer that isn’t going to help anything. Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million deal with a fourth-year option. When the press conference was held in December, Jeter used the word ‘angry’ to describe the tone of his talks with the Yankees in working towards the new contract, but said he would put any bad feelings behind him.
So, if Jeter is willing to do that, why would Cashman even address a question like this? He knows the market his team is in and he is more than aware of the popularity of his long-tenured shortstop. This was careless and borderline classless and that’s putting it lightly. View full article »
Is this man the future of the Phillies in right field? Find out what the folks at MLB Network think tonight.
Another Sign That I’m Completely Desperate for Baseball
I’ve been watching the MLB Network religiously. Their “Top 10 Right Now” series is nothing short of awesome, if for nothing else, its ability to spark endless debate between my friends. “MLB’s 20 Greatest Games” has been a pleasure to watch as well. Last night’s episode featured #17, game four of the 2004 ALCS between the Yankees and the Red Sox… an instant classic, and one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. And don’t even get me started on “Hot Stove”… never has a network been able to make their sport so interesting when games are literally not being played.
Tonight, they continue to deliver the goods, baby.
MLB Network will debut it’s list of “Top 50 Prospects” tonight at 9:00 pm, and look for Domonic Brown to be featured on the higher end of that list. It’ll also be interesting to see where any other Phillies may fall and prospects from division rivals.
I will certainly be watching, and I’ll provide you with some info on the show and Phillies-related news some time late tonight or tomorrow morning.
This is the longest winter of my life… I can’t wait anymore. The anticipation for my fantasy baseball league doesn’t help to calm me, either. If you’re as in much pain as I am, take a listen to Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow’s lunch with Charlie Manuel yesterday. Get your fix.
Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn, Illinois is a sponsor of Chicago Bears radio broadcasts. John Stone, now a former employee of the dealership, refused to take off his Packers tie when asked by his boss. The boss then gave him an ultimatum and asked him to choose between wearing the tie or keeping his job. Stone chose the former.
Jerry Roberts, the “boss” in this situation, is justified in his actions. Wearing a Packers tie the day after the Bears NFC Championship loss wouldn’t necessarily rub customers the right way. That, combined with the fact that they have a sponsorship deal with Bears? Eh, not good for business.
So I take it a bow tie wouldn’t have gone over well either?
Laviolette Keeps Flyers on Toes
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t want to see his team perform the way they did on December 20th against the Florida Panthers.
The 5-0 loss to a dismal Panthers team was the team’s final game before their one-week break over the holiday season. They Flyers will get another week off for the All-Star break after tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center.
This time, “Lavs” will not let the Flyers falter in their second “getaway game” of the year.
Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a piece on Laviolette who held a full practice yesterday, despite the fact that the team played two days in a row against New Jersey and at Chicago.
The coach, who is all business, had this to say.
“We didn’t do very well last time we had a break,” Laviolette said. “We talked about it briefly. All you can do is address things and bring it to [their] attention. It’s a big game and an important game. We want to make sure we end it the right way.”
Do you love this coach? Or do you love this coach? C’mon…
You can still catch the Phils this March, even if you can't make it down to Frenchy's at Bright House Field
The hype surrounding the Phillies this upcoming season is at levels we have never seen before. Talk of the 2011 campaign has wet the collective palate of the Philadelphia fan base since the signing of Cliff Lee in December. The team will open their season on April Fools Day against the Houston Astros…
…but you won’t have to wait that long to see them.
The Phillies announced today that 12 games will be televised during Spring Training, beginning March 6th against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here is the full TV schedule for the team, as they pack the month of March with more than enough games to keep you hungry. View full article »
The Yankees and Rangers may have lost out on the Cliff Lee Sweepstakes, but both teams made transactions in the past 24 hours to try and make a splash in the continuing offseason.
Those “splashes” seem more like the bubbles that rise to the surface after you fart in a pool…
The Yankees have come to terms with free agent Russell Martin. Martin comes from the Los Angeles Dodgers where hip injuries plagued him in 2010. Martin only played in 97 games, hitting .248 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI.
Phillies fans may remember Russell Martin for his fiery attitude and verbal confrontation with Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino (above). The two exchanged words during the 2008 NLCS, when Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda an inside pitch that almost hit Victorino in the head.
Backup catcher Matt Treanor signed a one-year deal with Rangers for $850,000. Treanor actually played a significant role in the first half of last season and led the Rangers in starts at the catcher position until Bengie Molina was acquired from the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants in July. Treanor will backup newly-signed free agent Yorvit Torrealba.
Treanor hit .211 last year with 5 homers and 27 RBI.
Reeling from the loss of Lee, it’s good to know that both teams have stopped the bleeding… sorta… eh, not really.
It’s been confirmed by a number of sources that Cliff Lee has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies! Here are some tidbits:
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is reporting that it’s a five-year deal.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that five years will earn Cliff Lee about $100 million. However, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says that the deal is “somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million”.
If all of this checks out, Lee left a ton of money on the table by not signing with either the Rangers or Yankees.
Buster Olney reports that the Yankees final offer was a 6-year, $138 million deal with an option for a 7th year.
Tim Brown from Yahoo! Sports says that with the vesting option, Cliff Lee could have made $161 million with the vesting option. “They were the high bidders.”
This deal should all but guarantee that Joe Blanton will be shopped to get rid of the $17 million remaining on his contract.
It appears that MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan was the first to break the news on MLBTradeRumors.com, Jon Heyman confirmed it moments later.
This means that in his short tenure as Phillies GM, Ruben Amaro has acquired Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee… twice! How is that even possible? And does this mean that Cole Hamels is going to be the fourth pitcher in a starting rotation? Is that even fair?
In other news, some football streak ended recently…
