Thursday, December 09, 2010

THE ASYLUM CLOSES TODAY

Actually, it probably closed last night. Most of the agents and GMs have left the winter meetings with all the "big-name' free agents signed. Except for Cliff Lee, of course, but his agent leaves with a $140 million offer burning a hole in his night deposit bag.

One thing that upsets me is all the free agents who run around saying, "I want to go where I have a chance to get to the World Series. I want to go to a team that can win." And then they end up taking the biggest money offer. Not Cliff Lee. When asked if the Washington Nationals offered $1 more than the Yankees, where would he go? Answer: The Nationals. There you go folks: greedy but honest.

The "Evil Empire" strikes again. Oh, not that one. This time it's the Red Sox who spent the most money after signing Carl Crawford to a 7-year, $142 million contract. That's a $200 million commitment to 2 players. I guess it'll be a while before owner John Henry complains about the Yankees spending again.

I mentioned previously about the Yanks backing up a Brinks truck in front of Cliff Lee's house. After hearing about the Sox signing Crawford, GM Brian Cashman was heard to say, "We're going to need a bigger truck."

So the Tampa Bay Rays went from going to the Series, to not making the playoffs, to winning the AL East and now...back to oblivion. They're more volatile than the stock market.

Poor Arte Moreno with the Angels. He was willing to spend a lot of money to upgrade his team, as long as a player wasn't represented by Scott Boras. For two days, it was said that the Angels were the front-runner for Crawford, and now - nothing. What's left for Moreno now: Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui, two former Yankees who can no longer play in the field and both on the downside of their hitting prowess.

***FROM RJ CURRIE***
"Sports Deke note: This week marks 11 years since Dwight Perry began writing Sideline Chatter. He has been called the dean of sports humorists in the U.S."
Congratulations, Dwight. The unpublished e-mails to Chad Picasner would certainly further that 'humorist' assessment.

I can't think of a better place to hold Baseball's Winter Meetings than Disney World's Fantasyland. The meetings themselves may be over, but hang on sports fans, the Silly Season will continue.

Only 68 days to pitchers and catchers.

CP-

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