You could be right...and if he signs...that would obviously throw that argument right out the window. But, you can't be naive and think that it won't play a factor into his decision....his wife obviously didn't like the treatment she received. Women are like elephants, they never forget anything.
Of course she didn't like it. Who would? That doesn't mean that if the Yankees offer $20M more than Texas that she'll hold a grudge against an entire city because of a handful of nameless, drunk fans. Lee himself said it wouldn't be a factor, and stated the same reasons I listed earlier (before he had made his comments). So what makes more sense? That Lee is lying, and is just saying it to drive up the price, knowing full well that he could never pitch in a city that had fans who spit on his wife? Or that he's being honest, and knows that you don't make business and life decisions because of the behavior of a few drunk idiots, whoever they might be? I'm going with the latter.
I think Lee will sign with the Yanks when it's all said and done. Today's papers have taken quotes from both Lee and his Wife and said they still love NY...it was only a few fans..blah blah. 150 Million reasons to sign with the Bronx Bombers.
let me break it down for you: Leon's wife deserves to have a cinderblock thrown at her Lee's wife DIDN'T deserve to have beer thrown at her.
Wow. In other uplifting news, Sabathia will be undergoing knee surgery. LoHud Commence with the gnashing of teeth.
Saying he won't put any stock into the fans actions' is rediculous. Of course he will. He won't base his decision on it, but it WILL be a factor, however large or small. That being said, unless the Yankees just destroy any other offer, I don't think he signs there. There's a myriad of reasons, ranging from an aging core, a craptacular bullpen to straight mismanagement at times.
The Lee thing will be interesting. If I were Cliff Lee, I'd be sick of moving, but who knows. The Yankees shouldn't dump a Nova or Montero. They have major money commitments to aging players and they're going to need all the farm system they can get. -X-
what some people fail to realize...is that Cliff Lee's wife likes the commute to Arlington from their home in Little Rock. The mishap with the fans at the Yankee game won't help convince her....you guys are blowing it off like it's nothing, the money will erase all that. I don't think it's that simple. Sometimes money isn't everything.....not everybody can be bought...like Arod, Burnett, or CC. If Lee signs with the Yanks...good for him, he's set for life.....but it's not a slam dunk that it will happen.
Right. And my vote is for "very small." Lee seems to be thinking the same. Wait, what? A craptacular bullpen? Um... the Yanks had one of the better bullpens in the league this year, dude. And the aging core thing doesn't make much sense to me, either. Jeter, A-Rod, Mo, Pettitte, and Posada are aging, sure. That's hardly their core anymore, though. After that, you've got Granderson, Teixeira, Cano, Swisher, Gardner, Sabathia, Robertson, Hughes, Joba, etc. With Montero, Romine, and a host of other young pitchers behind them.
Hey, how about refuting an argument using more than a snarky comment? Or is that all you've got? It's a fact that the Yankee bullpen was one of the best in the league. Third best pen ERA. First in OPS against. Second in WHIP. Sorry, how is that wearing pinstriped shades? Or are you trying to argue that Jeter and Posada are more important to the team than Cano and Teixeira?
How'd the great pitching fare against Texas? Teix is an injury waiting to happen. the left side of the infield fucking sucks. There's a good shot Montero wont be there next year. Joba is a piece of crap. Granderson has always been hot and cold. Burnett. heh.
MB I understand your point, but there's also this quote from a scout in a Jayson Stark article: "Cliff would go to Siberia if they offered him the biggest contract." Money isn't everything and with a World Series run who knows if he's developed a soft spot for Texas, but all previous indications have said it's what's most important to him.
Yeah..I'm not saying he won't sign with the Yanks, TCGF....i was merely presenting a reason why he might go elsewhere....
And that's certainly an objective analysis. Sheesh. Let's judge a pen based on a six-game sample, instead of a 162-game sample. Teix is an "injury waiting to happen"? Based on what? Pure conjecture, and I doubt that lessens his value in the context we're discussing. Montero might not be there next year. But he'll be there soon. Again, think of the context in which we were discussing this. Granderson has always been hot and cold? So what? Joba pitched better than his line this year. A-Rod's defense is adequate... his bat certainly doesn't suck. Jeter's on the way down most likely... but I already acceded that. We were talking about the rest of the team. Nice cherry-picking, too.
Lee is very good friends with Sabathia and was looking for a new house in NY in July when all the rumors were that he was coming to NY. I still think this is where he ends up.
