Comments on: Taking a look at the Indians moves

By: alan t.

alan t. — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:46:50 +0000

Let me correct myself. The best thing about that contract is the money. The second-best thing about that contract is the opt-out to let him go home.

By: alan t.

alan t. — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:45:26 +0000

If memory serves, I think the Thome contract was purportedly $23 million more than the Indians' final offer, including the extra year, not $9 million. Regardlesss, anybody who knocks Sabathia for taking advantage of his opportunity to move on to much greener pastures is a royal goof. And the best thing about that contract is, assuming he doesn't have health issues and/or a huge downturn in performance, he'll still be in his early 30s and able to opt-out and finish his career on the West Coast.

By: Schmoker

Schmoker — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:12:45 +0000

Jim Thome leaves for an extra nine million bucks and the press around here bends over backwards to be understanding. CC Sabathia leaves for an extra NINETY MILLION dollars and the press around here calls him greedy.

Jeez, I wonder why?

What nauseating is the Indians leaking their puny offer to him during the season so he could be portrayed as the bad guy in all of this, as if their offer to him was even legitimate. Good lord, the Brewers even offered 30 million dollars more than the Tribe.

Good for CC. I'm glad he got out of here and to a place where winning is the priority.

By: alan t.

alan t. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:36:06 +0000

Please. Sabathia wasn't "manipulated." I'm sure Sabathia and his wife had a nice long talk, and they agreed that the first three years with that kind of dough is worth waiting three years until the Giants pick up the remainder of the contract.

By: barry

barry — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:42:20 +0000

let's not forget the influence of the union (who gets their cut of CC's $) as well as his agent, who makes a percentage of what his client makes. they have the incentive to influence CC to make as much $ as possible.

also, let's not forget other potential influences; i honestly believe the bamboozler was ready to sign with the cavs, but his wife hammered on him to take the money and run.

and cc himself may not be completely aware if he's been manipulated. but what's done is done and the reality that the athlete *usually* takes the most money, so taking it so personally by expecting otherwise seems a little unrealistic.

By: Terry Grant

Terry Grant — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:09:32 +0000

So far I like what the Tribe has accomplished. Wood is one of the premier closers and Smith is a pretty decent addition to the bullpen. Valbuena gives them some depth in the minor leagues. I still want them to acquire another ML infielder who can hit.

By: larry d.

larry d. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:52:58 +0000

Point taken, alan.

I'm hoping the folks at Cleveland Clinic can patch a working elbow together using parts from Hafner and Wood combined.

By: alan t.

alan t. — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:54:25 +0000

How long into the season before Wood's elbow falls off? I say no later than July 20. O.K., maybe July 21.

And larry, I'm a submariner, too. If you want to have a happy marriage, you have to be.

By: larry d.

larry d. — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:01:38 +0000

Shapiro said he likes Valbuena's bat and thinks he can develop into an average fielder and runner. A team that claims to be small market should value defense and athleticism more than the Shapiro does. And I understand Smith is a submariner. Oh boy.

Who says Sabathia can't be happiest in New York? It seems like a great place to spend the summer.

By: terje

terje — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:15:36 +0000

i don't understand the kind of greed that motivates cc sabathia. maybe it's because nobody ever asked me to choose between $100 million and $160 million. judging by the choices i've made in my own life i think i'd go where i am happiest and take the smaller stack. whatever cc.