Boston owner: Rodriguez deal shows system 'woefully out of whack' (Sour Grapes Alert)

SF Gate ^ | 02/18/04 | AP

[playball0]

Boston owner: Rodriguez deal shows system 'woefully out of whack'

Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Red Sox owner John Henry now believes a salary cap could be good for baseball after watching the rival Yankees trade for Alex Rodriguez -- a deal his own franchise could not complete.

[playball0]

Henry mortgaged his future by paying too much for Boston. Sour grapes.

[TheBigB]

If the Yanks release Boone, the Sox should sign him. Wonder what kinda reception he'd get at Fenway? ;)

[Pukin Dog]

Waaa! "I couldn't afford A-Rod, so nobody else should be allowed to either" Waaa!

[Paradox]

John Henry, the guy who sold the lowly Marlins, only to see them beat the Yankees for the World Weries? This is some convoluted sour grapes (although I DO think baseball is messed up...).

[DCPatriot]

I don't care if the Yankmees sign an entire lineup of A-Rods.

IT'S THE PITCHING, STOOPID"!!!

[dfwgator]

That's why the Yanks signed Kevin Brown and are about to get Greg Maddux.

[saquin]

The Yanks were able to get A-Rod, when the Sox couldn't, because the Rangers were willing to pay more of A-Rod's contract for the Yanks. Why? Because the player they were getting from the Yanks (Soriano) had a much cheaper contract than the player they were getting from the Sox (Ramirez). It's that simple. The Yanks had a young, potentially great player who was very cheap. The Sox had a great player who was overpriced. The Rangers found the package offered by the Yankees much more attractive. And it wasn't because the Yankees offered more money. They just offered more value, in the form of a young player they had developed. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work?

This sour grapes whining by the Sox management is very unattractive.

[Skooz]

I am no fan of the NFL's salary cap, but something is clearly wrong when all but a few teams are out of it before spring training starts. Every year. Year after year.

[TheBigB]

Update: Maddux will sign with the Cubs.

[Pikamax]

hey John Henry, the Marlins with their World championship says hello.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

That's why the Yanks signed Kevin Brown and are about to get Greg Maddux.

All because Steinbrenner was unwilling to show a little respect to Pettite. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[So Cal Rocket]

Really? Maddux, Wood, Pryor... not bad

[TheBigB]

Maddux has agreed to an approximately 3-yr, $24 million contract with the Cubbies.

Maddux, Wood, Prior, Clement, and Zambrano are now the game's top rotation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1737634

[Zack Nguyen]

I am no fan of the NFL's salary cap, but something is clearly wrong when all but a few teams are out of it before spring training starts.

I don't know - I don't think Anaheim has a high payroll. And I know that the Marlins don't. Putting a good team together relatively cheaply is still possible.

[dfwgator]

I stand corrected. Good for the Cubbies.

[dfwgator]

Now if only the Cubs can get a manager that won't leave them in too long.

[Mr. Bird]

The economics of baseball is too convoluted for a simple solution like a salary cap (which would never fly with the union anyway).

The major economic problem with MLB is the inability of the league to consolidate revenues under the league umbrella and distribute accordingly. Teams cut their own media and merchandising deals, and that creates the foundation for inequities across the board.

Of course, you can't directly compare the NFL and MLB, but there are some useful questions to ask regarding both: how can the Green Bay Packers successfully compete with the NY Giants, but the Milwaukee Brewers have no chance competing vs. the Yankees? I think it's because the Packers and the Giants are merely divisions of the same product (the NFL), whereas MLB has failed to brand itself accordingly. Therefore the Yankees can capitalize on MLB's failings by merchandising itself (partnerships with British soccer teams) and retaining the TV rights to the largest market in the U.S.

You can't begrudge the Yankees for taking advantage of their situation; but I think the game would enjoy more success if each season presented more questions than who the Yankees would face in the postseason.

[rbmillerjr]

Baseball is boring as it is.

It's fast becoming even more boring. Soon it will be Yankee lovers vs. Yankee haters.

Salary cap works for America's favorite sport - FOOTBALL.

[bigdog]

Betcha Maddux wins less than a million per game.

Go Braves

[Labyrinthos]

The NY Mutts have a high payroll and look how much they suck.