Putting on my Tuesday night Sox.

by Allen Chace on Mar 4, 2008 9:43 PM EST in News

Sometimes, it's not as easy to be proud of our team and our organization.

This story doesn't thrill me. I'm not even concerned about the act so much: there are few to none males who do not do that after the onset of puberty. Where is the intelligence in, y'know, not closing the blinds or curtains? I don't know. Not thrilling in the least, and I feel at least a bit of shame as a Sox fan over this.

Not much better.

"It's a tough situation for me right now," Papelbon said. "I feel like with me being at the top of my position, I feel like that (salary) standard needs to be set and I'm the one to set that standard and I don't think that the Red Sox are really necessarily seeing eye to eye with me on that subject right now."

I don't necessarily disagree with Paps. He needs to be treated fairly. I've talked in the past about how I can see where players can feel insulted when getting say, $575K vs. $725K. It's like play money to most of us, but that is the reality of their salary structure. I do feel, however, that where Paps needs to address his concern is to union chief Don Fehr. The CBA is what makes it possible for the Sox to pay whatever they wish until he reaches arbitration. If you've been watching the news of any other teams, you'll know that quite a few other players in Paps' situation have been publicly unhappy about their "plight" as well. Am I the only one who doesn't remember this being so big an issue before?

Despite seeing things his way, to some degree, I really don't like airing all this out to the press. I don't feel like it's the best way for Paps to get what he wants: the Sox generally like to keep all these kinds of talks private/confidential. I'm not sure Theo is the kind of guy to see Paps talking like this and say: "Oh, okay. Maybe we should just give him whatever he wants instead of possibly making him upset."

The Sox beat the Pirates 5-3 this afternoon. Daisuke pitched effectively for three innings, Paps tossed a 1-2-3 4th, and Julian Tavarez and Craig Hansen pitched a scoreless inning apiece. In Randy just might be wrong news, Argenis Diaz went 3-4 on the day while knocking in 2 and scoring once. First cut my ass.

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Paps

Tough call on Paps. They'd set a terrible precedent by giving him one year at more than the renewal price, with Pedroia, Ellsbury, Buchholz, etc. coming down the pipeline.

I'd offer 4 years/$20 million, take it or leave it. It's probably a little less than he'd make over the life of his contract via arbitration, but it gives some economic security if a hiccup were to occur.

And interesting point about bringing this concern to Fehr. If I were king, I'd rank guys after their second year, sort of like how they rank free agents. And I'd send the handful of "Type A" sophomores to arbitration.

I forgive you Bill Buckner.

by tommy.otm on Mar 4, 2008 10:08 PM EST 0 recs

Re: Paps

You're absolutely right tommy. Those guys would start expecting significant raises at the same point in their careers: I also think it's bizarre that he's thinking about Ryan Howard's $900K as a benchmark. (Not in that particular story, but I thought I'd seen that mentioned elsewhere) To say that Paps is at the top of his age group in closers like Ryan Howard is with his age group in first basemen isn't controversial at all. But to say that the top closer is as valuable as the top first baseman is absolutely ridiculous.

by Allen Chace on Mar 4, 2008 10:13 PM EST up 0 recs

Howard and Paps

I think it's a fair comparison, at least in terms of relative worth to each team, the relative depth of the teams' pockets and the relative role each has played in earning a ring (or not).

I forgive you Bill Buckner.

by tommy.otm on Mar 4, 2008 10:24 PM EST up 0 recs

Re: Howard and Paps

I don't know, the Phillies have plenty of money.

And agreed on your points, but with Theo Epstein in charge and Bill James looking over his shoulder, they're probably not going to look at this in an anecdotal way. They no doubt know all about the relative value of an elite closer vs. an elite first baseman.

by Allen Chace on Mar 4, 2008 10:29 PM EST up 0 recs

Re: Howard and Paps

You are right, in absolute terms, an elite 1st basemen > an elite closer.

I forgive you Bill Buckner.

by tommy.otm on Mar 4, 2008 10:43 PM EST up 0 recs

Re: Putting on my Tuesday night Sox.

Reforming the industry would be difficult indeed. The root of the problem is that people (you and me) are willing to pay large sums of money to watch baseball. The owners take their % cut, which would likely be the same % regardless of the actual $ numbers. The league takes its % cut, and so on.

Where does the remaining money go? Well they sure as hell aren't going to refund it or, God forbid, cut ticket prices. So it goes to the players.

Good players make teams more attractive to the public, drawing more interest, bringing in more $. Lather, rinse, repeat.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 5, 2008 12:42 PM EST 0 recs

Re: Putting on my Tuesday night Sox.

Regardless of what's going on with negotiations (and I, personally, think if Pap's getting a deal at all, it will not be a big one), I agree, Pap should not open his mouth about it. It seems an awful lot like he's complaining to the media. Nobody likes a whineymouth.

by Liza on Mar 5, 2008 7:41 PM EST 0 recs

Re: Putting on my Tuesday night Sox.

I will agree with someone I "saw" today (don't remember where exactly I read it), where Paps doesn't even seem to be complaining compared to fellow indentured servants Cole Hamels and Prince Fielder. That being said, thanks Liza. People agreeing with me is a necessity with this ego.

by Allen Chace on Mar 6, 2008 1:24 AM EST up 0 recs