3205 replies to this topic

[Lex]

I might add that A-Rod isn't being paid for RBIs. His package, which everyone agrees was mistakenly over-generous, is based in large part on the revenue he can generate as he cruises past milestone after milestone. As we saw over the weekend, he's going to continue to do that, even if he's not the player he was.

Of course the assumption behind those incentives is that A-Rod is some kind of beloved figure to the fans. They feel the same way about him as they do towards Rivera and Jeter and they'll come out to see him pile up the numbers.

I think that's wrong.

[Wilfrid]

I disagree with your assumption. Any time A-Rod comes to bat at Yankee stadium, myriad flash-lights start going off. A-Rod's franchise value doesn't depend on him being sweet and cuddly, it just depends on him being really, really famous. People go to Yankee stadium not because they're A-Rod fans, but just to gawp at A-Rod. And that's only the beginning of the revenues.

We both know that, whatever Wright's merits as a player and person, he's never going to be in that superstar bracket. Hence the difference in remuneration, which I certainly wish was smaller.

[Lex]

I disagree with your assumption. Any time A-Rod comes to bat at Yankee stadium, myriad flash-lights start going off. A-Rod's franchise value doesn't depend on him being sweet and cuddly, it just depends on him being really, really famous. People go to Yankee stadium not because they're A-Rod fans, but just to gawp at A-Rod. And that's only the beginning of the revenues.

Those same people are really interested in keeping up with Kim Kardashian's love life. (As A-Rod come closer to those records it's only a matter of time before she starts dating him.)

Honestly, I wonder if the number of people who care about him breaking those records is really significant, especially after the steroids revelations.

[Stone]

I've never gotten the impression that anyone cares about A-Rod's steroid accusations. He's not in the same boat as McGuire, Sosa, Bonds and others.

[Wilfrid]

Kim Kardashian has almost 15 million Twitter followers. Idiots with cameras have dollars to spend. This is why the Yankees are worth two-and-a-half billion dollars.

And much as you might wish it, it's pure fantasy to suppose that the steroids scandal has stuck to A-Rod as it has stuck to McGwire, Bonds, et al. To the extent people think about it at all, they assume he'd have been much the same player with or without steroids.

Cross-posted with Stone (gold star).

[Lex]

You seem to have forgotten that Alex Rodriguez is the most hated man in baseball.

And then there was that heartwarming moment when he used his children as human shields.

[Wilfrid]

He's also the biggest attraction in baseball. There's no contradiction there. This is a polarized country, remember?

We know now that Wright, while he may continue to be a valuable position player, is not going to carry a franchise. Wilpon told us that, remember?

Today, if A-Rod is fully fit, any MLB manager would pick him ahead of Wright.

Although A-Rod's contract is inflated - and more importantly, too long - he's of much, much greater value than Wright when it comes to revenue.

You force me to make these points.

[Lex]

I'm glad you're happy with A-Rod. It will make my work easier.

You have heard, of course, about the Yankees' "budget?" What are they trying to get down to next year? $189 million? Something like that? How's A-Rod's salary going to fit in with that? Assuming the Steinbrenners are serious, I think having all that money tied up in one player is going to hurt.

[Stone]

A new low for sports trash-talk. "Oh yeah, well, just wait until your team has to do its budget next year. Nyah nyah nyah."

When Jewish sports fans start talking trash, it gets ugly fast.

[Lex]

Ouch. That really stings.

Here's an interesting blog piece, written in mid-March, about how the Yankees are going to manage their finances in the coming years. The thrust seems to be that it will be difficult but possible. Of course it also assumes that the young pitchers (Nova, Pineda, and Hughes) will all perform well. That didn't turn out to be accurate.

[Wilfrid]

I'm glad you're happy with A-Rod. It will make my work easier.

You have heard, of course, about the Yankees' "budget?" What are they trying to get down to next year? $189 million? Something like that? How's A-Rod's salary going to fit in with that? Assuming the Steinbrenners are serious, I think having all that money tied up in one player is going to hurt.

Yeah, I think you have a budget a little closer to home you should be worrying about.

[Lex]

Absolutely true.

I think the settlement the Mets owners reached with the Picard, Madoff settlement lawyer, has brought some stability. Within a couple of weeks the Mets signed a long term deal with Jon Niese, one of their good young pitchers. I don't think that was a coincidence.

Anyway, I will take a break from posting the Lex-o-Matic stats for a couple of weeks.

[Wilfrid]

You think A-Rod is about to go on a tear?

[Lex]

It will be May 1st tomorrow. He's due to go on IR.

[Adrian]

I've said this before, but it's worth reiterating that the contract price reflects the value of the player over the course of the entire contract and not just a given season. A-Rod may be vastly overpaid, but the total value of the contract has to be looked at in terms of his total production over the life of the deal, not just for any one season.* Usually, a player, even an elite player, may take a discount on the early contract salary for consistent payments throughout. Thus, he'll tend to under-perform his yearly salary in the later years. Similarly, a team may backload a deal to win when the player's productive at the start.

* Yes, yes, the circumstances of the A-Rod deal, etc. Not my point.