"Say No to Johan"

by satyanaas on Feb 29, 2008 10:33 AM EST

An interesting article over at Slate discusses the Yankees and Red Sox's passing on Santana. According to the article at least, there was a lot of fan opposition to spending a lot of money on a big name free-agent. The article goes on to discuss the rising trend of more knowledgeable fans (who know about VORP) and valuing cultivation of home-grown talent/prospects vs. free-agent signings. Basically, stuff you guys are always going on about. ; )

Say No to Johan:
Why Red Sox and Yankee fans are happy they won't be rooting for the best pitcher in baseball.

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I would sign him in a minute

If I had a big budget franchise.

The Bosox were sorta burned by Matt Clement.

The Yankees have been burned numerous times (Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Randy) by Brian Cashman signing pitching free agents at their "top" because it seemed like the thing to go when they wanted to be winners every year.

So if your GM has more money than brains (heh), then yeah, don't spend stupid money on past-their-prime pitchers (Mike Stanton or Rheal Cormier, anybody?).

"Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day" - Harry S. Truman

by Lonesome George on Feb 29, 2008 11:30 AM EST reply actions

BF: Question

Do you know which big name pitching acquisitions by the Yankees were Cashman's idea and which came as mandates from higher up?

I get the impression, perhaps false, that Cashman was forced into the Pavano and R Johnson moves.

Two Dunns enter, but only one Dunn leaves...unless neither do because they decide to hunt, play cards, drink and fish. -Slyde

by Man Mountain on Feb 29, 2008 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

You could be 100% correct sir!

But Cashman is the GM, at least that's what his title says.

So even though George Steinbrenner might have told him to "DO IT!", Cashman could have said "No, this is not a good investment of our resources."
Call me stupid, call me Ishmael, call me idealistic (but don't call me late to dinner), but if a grown-up kinda guy gets big bucks to make big decisions and can't tactfully say "No" to his boss when he thinks it's a bad idea, then he also bears responsibility for the results.

"Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day" - Harry S. Truman

by Lonesome George on Feb 29, 2008 2:44 PM EST up reply actions