This Jason Varitek situation is a fascinating one, and one which should still get a bit more fascinating each day that passes by and The Red Sox captain is still unsigned. What makes it fascinating is the 3 month long game of chicken the Sox and Varitek have been playing, while the puppet master, Varitek's agent Scott Boras, seems to be tugging the wrong strings in this scenario.
Boras and Varitek (Boratek) thought they were in for a winter of being courted by potential suitors, that didn't happen, especially after Boratek declined arbitration. Now in order for Varitek to sign with any other team, that team would have to ship two draft picks to Boston (something Varitek claims he did not know, something an agent should ensure the player knows when presented with arbitration). That, apparently, has the rest of MLB thinking, "a little to rich for my blood boys." So now in lieu of several suitors, there is one...and there really was only one suitor, the Boston Red Sox.
Here is where we stand now. Varitek wants to be a member of the Red Sox and the Red Sox still want to have Varitek work their pitching staff. However, at this point I think Boratek need the Red Sox more than the Red Sox need Boratek, not to say Tek is dispensible, but the truth of the matter remains Varitek will be 37 in April, and the Sox need to get younger at that position, and Varitek's skills are steadily diminishing.
Given the lack of viable options at the catcher position, the Sox still need to (and I am confident they will) sign Jason Varitek, if it is a guaranteed second year that is holding up this deal, get it done. The second year around the ballpark of $8 million isn't going to hinder the Sox during the 2010 season, and even should Varitek go down with an injury or his bat continues to slow down (I hope it doesn't slow down to below the .220 he batted in '08) who better to tutor the two catching prospects in the Sox organization, George Kottaras or Dusty Brown, than Tek?
The fact Varitek is closer to 40 than 30 presents the very real scenario of needing to get younger behind the dish, and there is a feeling that Kottaras, Brown, or returning backstop Josh Bard are not every day catchers, so what is the next move? Easy, sign Tek for 2 years. This gives the Sox some time for a couple of things to happen, trade for a young catcher or continue to develop Kotarras or Brown. Either way, the Sox need to sign Tek, there is nothing else out there. Sure there has been talk of trading for some younger guys such as Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden from Texas or Miguel Montero from Arizona, which regardless of what happens with Tek, they Sox should still make one of those moves if the asking price makes sense, but other than that there isn't much else out there.
What we have here is a win, win, lose situation if the Sox sign Tek. Tek comes back, he gets at least a 2 year deal (in my opinion it will be 2 yrs) and the Sox get their captain back, win/win. The loss comes for Boras, who already lost some face in the wake of these negotiations when Varitek and Sox owner John Henry had a 90 minute face to face meeting to try to get the ball rolling again without Boras present. Not that I have ever met any of the parties involved in these negotiations, but you have to think Varitek feels a bit baited and switched, it is telling to me that Tek didn't know if he declined arbitration the Sox would get two draft picks, even Tek has to know he's not worth that much. Boras and the Red Sox had a solid working relationship which began to sour with the antics of former Left Fielder, Manny Ramirez. Manny wanted out of his contract with Boston so he could hit the Free Agent market this offseason and secure at least a 4 year deal as opposed to the two options at $20 million the Sox held, Manny threw the quintessential "take my ball and go home" fit. This forced the Sox to trade Manny to LA at the 2008 trading deadline (where they got Jason Bay who filled in nicely in Left). My feeling is the Boras over calculated what teams would be willing to sign Ramirez for and overplayed his hand in that situation as well as the Tek scenario. Point of interest, Manny is still on the market in late January, who would have thunk it?. The relationship continued to hit a sour note with the Mark Teixira negotiations when the Sox were the front runners to land the slugging first baseman, until he signed with the Sox primary rivals, the New York Yankees. Boras cut off his nose to spite his face, had Boras worked with the Sox to get Tex, he could have gotten Tek signed at a higher price in an unofficial package, and then the Yanks would have been desperate and signed Manny to a better deal than what he is going to get now.
This has to be a tough situation for Varitek who is one of the most loyal people in the game, loyal to the team where he caught 4 no hitters, and won two World Series, and loyal to the agent who 4 years ago got him a 4 year $40 million contract at the age of 33. Tek wants to retire in Boston, and I am confident he is going to retire in Boston, but all parties involved need to take a step back and take off their rose colored glasses and be able to call a spade and get this deal done.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
DeFillippo Jagged Off
You interview, you're fired. That was the basic premise coming out of the Athletic Department of Boston College over the past few days as the story was leaked indicating BC Head Football Coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, was going to be fired if he interviewed for the vacant New York Jets Head Coach position in the NFL. Apparently Coach Jags interviewed yesterday, and was subsequently fired today. Hats off to BC Athletic Director Gene DeFillippo.
DeFillippo has something rare in organized sports today...integrity. Integrity for himself, the people he hires, but more importantly for his Athletic Program. DeFillippo held a press conference today to talk about the events of the day, more at a high level not drilling down to the details, but did it in a way that left both parties with their dignity. DeFillippo referenced his personal relationship with Coach Jags, saying he was a good friend before Jags came to BC and expects that friendship to continue. He would not discuss specifics or a time line of the events which transpired, but handled himself in a manner which suggested he was taken by surpise, hurt, but ready to move on as well. DeFillippo, at one point in the press conference, actually read a statement Coach Jags had prepared, again showing the class and integrity of BC's AD. This is the first time I have ever witnessed anything like this, where a situation which could have turned ugly, I mean Willie McGhee ugly, seems to have worked out amicably for both parties. I have used my reading between the lines ability to conclude there must be an agreement in place where neither party is going to publicly discuss, timelines, details, or financial restitution (which you have to assume there is).
I have no issue with coaches looking for better opportunities,and realistically Coach Jags may not have like the whole NCAA thing (recruiting, dealing with Alumni, and oh yeah running a Major Conference Football Program) and that is fine, but I feel Coach Jags didn't do the right thing here. If this was year four of a five year contract, and he pulled DeFillippo aside and said "Hey Geno, I don't know this college thing is working out, and I want to return to the NFL, I think there may be a few things I may look into, is that cool?" It may or may not be cool, but it would have been the right thing to do. To Manny out of a contract to get back to the NFL after only two years, leaves the program between scared and screwed. This give the perception to potential recruits of an unstable program, this leaves the AD to find a new head coach in the fat of recruiting season, and what about the players who came because of Coach Jags? Do they think themselves lied to and taken advantage of? What about the coaching staff, granted a majority of the coaches are left over from the last regime, but now they have to be thinking about their future. How is the program to begin to move on from the 2 game losing streak they are on, and now add this drama to it, I do not envy Mr. DeFillippo right now, but I do respect him.
Coaching changes in College Football where a coach leaves for a better opportunity is not rare occurence in this day and age, but what makes this one different is the way DeFillippo handled the aftermath. A case could be made the fact it was so public wasn't handled correctly by either party, but the way it was dealt with in the end, ultimately was the right thing for both DeFillippo and Coach Jags, but I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come.
DeFillippo has something rare in organized sports today...integrity. Integrity for himself, the people he hires, but more importantly for his Athletic Program. DeFillippo held a press conference today to talk about the events of the day, more at a high level not drilling down to the details, but did it in a way that left both parties with their dignity. DeFillippo referenced his personal relationship with Coach Jags, saying he was a good friend before Jags came to BC and expects that friendship to continue. He would not discuss specifics or a time line of the events which transpired, but handled himself in a manner which suggested he was taken by surpise, hurt, but ready to move on as well. DeFillippo, at one point in the press conference, actually read a statement Coach Jags had prepared, again showing the class and integrity of BC's AD. This is the first time I have ever witnessed anything like this, where a situation which could have turned ugly, I mean Willie McGhee ugly, seems to have worked out amicably for both parties. I have used my reading between the lines ability to conclude there must be an agreement in place where neither party is going to publicly discuss, timelines, details, or financial restitution (which you have to assume there is).
I have no issue with coaches looking for better opportunities,and realistically Coach Jags may not have like the whole NCAA thing (recruiting, dealing with Alumni, and oh yeah running a Major Conference Football Program) and that is fine, but I feel Coach Jags didn't do the right thing here. If this was year four of a five year contract, and he pulled DeFillippo aside and said "Hey Geno, I don't know this college thing is working out, and I want to return to the NFL, I think there may be a few things I may look into, is that cool?" It may or may not be cool, but it would have been the right thing to do. To Manny out of a contract to get back to the NFL after only two years, leaves the program between scared and screwed. This give the perception to potential recruits of an unstable program, this leaves the AD to find a new head coach in the fat of recruiting season, and what about the players who came because of Coach Jags? Do they think themselves lied to and taken advantage of? What about the coaching staff, granted a majority of the coaches are left over from the last regime, but now they have to be thinking about their future. How is the program to begin to move on from the 2 game losing streak they are on, and now add this drama to it, I do not envy Mr. DeFillippo right now, but I do respect him.
Coaching changes in College Football where a coach leaves for a better opportunity is not rare occurence in this day and age, but what makes this one different is the way DeFillippo handled the aftermath. A case could be made the fact it was so public wasn't handled correctly by either party, but the way it was dealt with in the end, ultimately was the right thing for both DeFillippo and Coach Jags, but I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Wild Card Weekend
I still have a hard time swallowing the "Patriots ended the 2008 season with an 11-5 record and didn't make the playoffs, but also lost the division to the friggin' Dolphins" pill. But something happened around 10:30 am on January 4, 2008 as I was watching the Saturday Wild Card games on DVR...I can watch the games and route against the teams I hate! Pissah!
I was with the majority of Patriots fans who hated Peyton Manning, until their Super Bowl season, when my Mom asked me why I hated Manning. I had to sit back and just as I was about to say "he's over-rated, and he is in too many commercials," my Mom hit me off with on of the best follow up questions I have ever seen in my experience in the media, "How would you feel about Manning if you weren't a Patriots fan?" I thought about it, and actually Peyton Manning is everything I believe a pro athlete should be. So I have been able to appreciate Manning ever since then, that being said this morning I got to watch the Colts take on the San Diego Chargers. Now the Chargers are the franchise I hate more than any other in Pro Sports, yes that includes the Yankees. I always have despised the attitude of the Chargers, and especially after the recent contests between the Pats and Chargers. I hate their higher than tho attitude, and Philip Rivers is the quintessential spoiled brat. When those two masses meet, it was easy and fun for me to route for the Colts...until Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning forgot how to connect on the long ball. The fact the Colts lost to the Chargers is a similar feeling, to a lesser degree, as if the Pats had lost to the Chargers in a playoff game.
Of course before that game, I was watching the NFC Wild Card game between the Falcons and the Cardinals. This was a great game for me because I was able to sit back without any real care as to the outcome of the game, and watch two all-time great skill players in Kurt Warner and Edgerrin James do what they did back in their heyday. On the other side of the ball it was great to see Boston College's own Matty "Heisman (even though he didn't win the Heisman)" Ryan continue his story like rookie season into the Playoffs. Ultimately the Falcons had to play from a position they hadn't had to play from all season, behind. Atlanta did alright, but ultimately lost to the home town Cardinals, but it was certainly an entertaining game, and was a better game than what most of us Man-Town experts thought it would be.
Then just a few minutes ago, I had another unique experience...I was a Ravens fan. Yeah, a Ravens fan. I hate Baltimore fans, as they are more arrogant and less knowledgeable than Boston fans, and here I am cheering like a fool alongside of them, and yes it is because of a hatred I have cultivated toward Miami since 1986 and the "Squish the Fish" game. I have long felt Chad Pennington ins the epotime of an over rated quarterback. He just annoys me, usually I can give you some facts and legitimate in-sight, but truth be told he just friggin' annoys me, so to see him throw 3 interceptions was fabulous, superb, nifty, wicked awesome, fantabulous! I loved it. I don't get Yankees Fans in Boston, and on that same note, I don't get Dolphin fans in Patriot territory either. To be quite ignorantly honest with you that is a major part of my disdain for the Dolphins as well, and the best thing about sports, is sometimes that is all you need to wish for misery to a franchise.
There is still the Philly/Minnesotta game, but you know what...I couldn't care less about that game. I really couldn't. So instead of watching that, I am watching some MLB network shows I have on my DVR. I will probably watch the second half of that game, but maybe I will go to the gym, or make my Chicken Salad for my lunches for the week, who knows. I have already had my fun this weekend. Another plus for this weekend, with all of the games, it gives us the opportunity to move on from all the nonsensical Brett Favre drama.
Of course, the only thing which would have made this weekend better for me is having the Pats in the playoffs beating the Ravens in Foxboro, but as Mick Jagger said "You don't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find, you get what you need."
I was with the majority of Patriots fans who hated Peyton Manning, until their Super Bowl season, when my Mom asked me why I hated Manning. I had to sit back and just as I was about to say "he's over-rated, and he is in too many commercials," my Mom hit me off with on of the best follow up questions I have ever seen in my experience in the media, "How would you feel about Manning if you weren't a Patriots fan?" I thought about it, and actually Peyton Manning is everything I believe a pro athlete should be. So I have been able to appreciate Manning ever since then, that being said this morning I got to watch the Colts take on the San Diego Chargers. Now the Chargers are the franchise I hate more than any other in Pro Sports, yes that includes the Yankees. I always have despised the attitude of the Chargers, and especially after the recent contests between the Pats and Chargers. I hate their higher than tho attitude, and Philip Rivers is the quintessential spoiled brat. When those two masses meet, it was easy and fun for me to route for the Colts...until Reggie Wayne and Peyton Manning forgot how to connect on the long ball. The fact the Colts lost to the Chargers is a similar feeling, to a lesser degree, as if the Pats had lost to the Chargers in a playoff game.
Of course before that game, I was watching the NFC Wild Card game between the Falcons and the Cardinals. This was a great game for me because I was able to sit back without any real care as to the outcome of the game, and watch two all-time great skill players in Kurt Warner and Edgerrin James do what they did back in their heyday. On the other side of the ball it was great to see Boston College's own Matty "Heisman (even though he didn't win the Heisman)" Ryan continue his story like rookie season into the Playoffs. Ultimately the Falcons had to play from a position they hadn't had to play from all season, behind. Atlanta did alright, but ultimately lost to the home town Cardinals, but it was certainly an entertaining game, and was a better game than what most of us Man-Town experts thought it would be.
Then just a few minutes ago, I had another unique experience...I was a Ravens fan. Yeah, a Ravens fan. I hate Baltimore fans, as they are more arrogant and less knowledgeable than Boston fans, and here I am cheering like a fool alongside of them, and yes it is because of a hatred I have cultivated toward Miami since 1986 and the "Squish the Fish" game. I have long felt Chad Pennington ins the epotime of an over rated quarterback. He just annoys me, usually I can give you some facts and legitimate in-sight, but truth be told he just friggin' annoys me, so to see him throw 3 interceptions was fabulous, superb, nifty, wicked awesome, fantabulous! I loved it. I don't get Yankees Fans in Boston, and on that same note, I don't get Dolphin fans in Patriot territory either. To be quite ignorantly honest with you that is a major part of my disdain for the Dolphins as well, and the best thing about sports, is sometimes that is all you need to wish for misery to a franchise.
There is still the Philly/Minnesotta game, but you know what...I couldn't care less about that game. I really couldn't. So instead of watching that, I am watching some MLB network shows I have on my DVR. I will probably watch the second half of that game, but maybe I will go to the gym, or make my Chicken Salad for my lunches for the week, who knows. I have already had my fun this weekend. Another plus for this weekend, with all of the games, it gives us the opportunity to move on from all the nonsensical Brett Favre drama.
Of course, the only thing which would have made this weekend better for me is having the Pats in the playoffs beating the Ravens in Foxboro, but as Mick Jagger said "You don't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find, you get what you need."
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