More on jackasses (pun intended)
I did a little guest spot on OverTheMonster, expanding on the topic what distinguishes mere mercenaries from real jackasses, the long history of non-rivalry between Boston and Cleveland, and what small differences still remain between the Red Sox and the Yankees.
6 months ago
Jay
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Great article.
Also, I think I’m going to start using the saying “MFY”
by world dictator on
Dec 21, 2008 11:16 PM EST
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I’ve been thinking about just calling them the Yankers from now on. Yanker shortstop Derek Jeter, Yanker ownership, front-running Yanker fans.
by Jay on
Dec 21, 2008 11:58 PM EST
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Maybe it’s just because I grew up in the South, but I’m fairly satisfied with the inherent pejorative value of the name “Yankees.” There’s not really anything more that needs to be said.
by still ill on
Dec 22, 2008 3:47 AM EST
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You just sent me into fits. My first job out of college was in North Carolina and every time I was called a Yankee—even in jest—it raised my hackles because of the baseball connotation. Believe me, I was happy to be distinguished as a Northerner, but I hated the association with the Evil Empire that is the Yankees.
On a side note, there a tons of Indians fans in North Carolina. I put in a lot of nights at Grainger stadium back in those days.
by PatBordersHelmet on
Dec 22, 2008 10:34 AM EST
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Yeah I found Indians stuff at two different antique stores in Burlington, NC once.
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on
Dec 22, 2008 6:24 PM EST
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That makes sense. Burlington hosted an Indians affiliated Rookie ball baseball club for years. The team still exists, but they’re a Royals affiliate now.
by PatBordersHelmet on
Dec 22, 2008 7:12 PM EST
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Ah, right. I knew there was some sort of official connection. My roommate, who’s from Durham, has mentioned that before.
It was cool, I found a Bob Feller autographed picture and, in a different store, reprints of the PD from our Series victories in 1920 and 1948. I’m kicking myself for not buying all of those things.
Burn on, big river, burn on...
by Turkmenbashi on
Dec 23, 2008 12:21 AM EST
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All they need is a pitcher named Bullington.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
by westbrook on
Dec 23, 2008 10:04 PM EST
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A guy’s moniker at OTM is 0157H7? Geez that is way too soon. Too soon after what, I’m not sure, but it just feels too soon.
by supermarioelia on
Dec 21, 2008 11:30 PM EST
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I bet he just spews verbal diarrhea all day over there
by APV on
Dec 22, 2008 8:30 AM EST
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“disgusting yankee filth” is a great tag.
by cleveland teamer on
Dec 22, 2008 9:33 AM EST
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Great story, Jay, and you’re comment using CC’s projected value to show how much the Yankees overpaid is masterful.
While I agree with most of your positions, I am not prepared to give the Red Sox a pass for the creation of competitive imbalance. The Red Sox, along with the other big spending major market teams, are also culpable for expanding payroll, driving the prices up which perpetuates increased spending by all of the teams in general and the Yankees in particular. It’s a vicious cycle, and they are a party to it.
"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.
by Harry Doyle on
Dec 22, 2008 11:20 AM EST
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I agree they are a party to it, i.e., undeniably a part of the problem. At the same time, if you look at all the top spending teams, which other one is facing a challenge within their own division, from a team that spends an order of magnitude even higher?
New York Yankees $ 209,081,577
New York Mets $ 137,793,376
Detroit Tigers $ 137,685,196
Boston Red Sox $ 133,390,035
Chicago White Sox $ 121,189,332
Los Angeles Angels $ 119,216,333
Los Angeles Dodgers $ 118,588,536
Chicago Cubs $ 118,345,833
Seattle Mariners $ 117,666,482
Atlanta Braves $ 102,365,683
St. Louis Cardinals $ 99,624,449
[12-16 – Phillies, Jays, Astros, Brewers, Indians]
San Francisco Giants $ 76,594,500
Look at it by division:
• The Red Sox are outspent by the Yankees — $76 million
• The White Sox are outspent by the Tigers — $16 million
• The Mariners are outspent by the Angels — $1.5 million
• The Braves are outspent by the Mets — $35 million
• The Cardinals are outspent by the Cubs — $18 million
• The Giants are outspent by the Dodgers — $44 million
So it should be clear here that the Yankees are in their own category, and the Dodgers and Mets are the next tier of villains, if we define “villainy” as trying to buy a title by spending about 40% more than your competitors can. The Red Sox, on the one hand, are much farther outspent by the Yankees than any other second-in-revenue club. On the other hand, they do outspend the Blue Jays by $33 million. The essential point remains, they are part of the problem, but what is unique only to the Red Sox is that they are one of the worst offenders of the system while also being one of its worst victims.
by Jay on
Dec 22, 2008 2:54 PM EST
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You forgot:
Florida Marlins $ 1,987,432
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
by westbrook on
Dec 22, 2008 7:12 PM EST
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I take exception to a single point of all that you made here and there, Jay. Accepting the money doesn’t automatically make CC or anyone else a jackass, no matter how much they preferred to sign elsewhere.
Yes, I studied your example of the businessman with a record label.
CC could suffer a career ending injury in his first start in NY. Athletes’ careers are short.
The money that Steinbrenner overpaid is better left with CC’s family than Steinbrenner’s family.
CC became a jackass of his own volition by mouthing the words that Yankee marketers advised him to spew. CC is as aware as anyone else that baseball is broken and that millions of baseball fans around the country suffer anguish over the financial imbalance. CC could have taken the contract, smiled and shut his piehole.
by elsandito on
Dec 22, 2008 1:33 PM EST
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I thought that was where Jay was going at first too, hence I defended CC when the Jackass thread was first posted.
But I think, and Jay will correct me if I’m wrong, that signing with the Yankees and taking their money does not, in and of itself, make the player a jackass. It’s signing onto the Yankee’s company line of aura, mystique, a tradition of excellence that was built on hard work, determination and skill among players and within the organization. When CC talked about coming to NY because it was the place where he could win and about getting chills when he said he was on the Yankees was when he became a jackass.
"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.
by Harry Doyle on
Dec 22, 2008 2:19 PM EST
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Well, as long as we can agree that he became a jackass somewhere in there, I see little point in arguing about it.
by Jay on
Dec 22, 2008 2:55 PM EST
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I fail to see how the money is better left in Sabathia’s family than in Steinbrenner’s. If anything, I’m sure the Steinbrenner family is more practiced at large-scale philanthropy and/or investment that might lead to job creation, i.e., probably more effective at it. Who exactly is served by Sabathia ending up with more money? His family, four generations hence?
I see no evidence that you read or understood my analogy. It makes no difference who has a career-ending injury and when. We can assume off the bat that this is his last significant contract, but it doesn’t matter — either way, he’s worth $130 million or more. Shunning his prior priorities for extra bags of cash he can’t ever spend, allowing himself to become the best single example of the economic corruption that makes the sport into a competitive sham … these things make him a jackass. He can take the money, give it to his family, spend it on charities or whatever.
by Jay on
Dec 22, 2008 3:00 PM EST
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Whether or not CC himself lives to spend this money, or some member of his family spends it, is a measurement that you decided, it’s not an absolute measurement.
The Steinbrenners will have over 2 trillion dollars to either pay or save over the next 8 years. I think they will be able to muddle through with that total. It’s a far greater number than CC’s family will have an opportunity to realize. And the Steinbrenner’s duration of opportunity extends beyond the next 8 years. When your family has only one shot at the big pot, you make it the biggest pot you can.
Whether CC is or is not a jackass for taking more money can be debated. But, his proclamations about Yankee glory, after all the things he said previously, makes him a no doubter.
by elsandito on
Dec 22, 2008 3:18 PM EST
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Okay then, agree to disagree about the precise moment he became a jackass.
by Jay on
Dec 22, 2008 3:33 PM EST
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How about: the instant he put on that hat?
by odradek on
Dec 23, 2008 1:12 AM EST
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Whether or not CC himself lives to spend this money
Unless he really goes on a bender, he will have a hard time spending $130 million in his lifetime. Even MC Hammer couldn’t do that. Sabathia’s kids are set, and their kids as well.
by odradek on
Dec 23, 2008 1:14 AM EST
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People make poor investment choices and people get sick. Pretty soon you’re down to 65 million and scraping by.
by elsandito on
Dec 23, 2008 11:04 AM EST
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Reading those comments over at OTM made thank my lucky stars that I’m was raised an Indians fan and have LGT to read every day. I think rooting for the Red Sox stunts your growth.
by PatBordersHelmet on
Dec 22, 2008 6:03 PM EST
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Playing for them also stunts one’s growth.

That never gets old, does it?
Signature to be named later.
by emd2k3 on
Dec 23, 2008 11:09 AM EST
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You know what non “jackass” I wouldn’t mind trading for? The soon to be expendable Mike Lowell
by world dictator on
Dec 23, 2008 1:32 PM EST
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How about 2 guys who didn’t have a chance to choose to be a jackass, and whose pitching careers were destroyed by society…?
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
by westbrook on
Dec 23, 2008 10:07 PM EST
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Well look who is playing the role of the New York Knicks. Enough of this Red Sox love. Screw them.
by hans on
Dec 23, 2008 2:20 PM EST
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… and we’re getting Franklin Gutierrez when he becomes a FA in 2016.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
by westbrook on
Dec 23, 2008 10:08 PM EST
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Eff ’em. They might only be half as bad as the Yankees, but the Yankees are clearly infinitely bad.
Do the math.
by still ill on
Dec 24, 2008 3:41 AM EST
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Yeah, Jay’s closet love of the Red Sox has me worried.
by oxforddave on
Dec 24, 2008 3:08 PM EST
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