Comments on: It’s always about the money

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:08:41 +0000

He said exactly what he is suppose to say, if he didn’t he would look exactly like Jonathon Paplebon does now, an egotistic penny pincher.

By: Joba Homer

Joba Homer — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:31:43 +0000

Joba is a good hearted person and came from NOTHING to a person like that 350 thousand dollars is a huge deal as it would be for me as well, I honestly believe that the money is not a huge deal to him.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:48:37 +0000

what a terrible thread.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:25:59 +0000

Saying he “held out” after being drafted seems like it’s really misstating the situation… wasn’t he going to go play his senior year at Nebraska and try to improve his draft status (since he didn’t have a great junior year? You make it sound like he was going to hold out and sit at home pouting (or go pitch for the St. Paul Saints)…

By: Johnny

Johnny — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:22:56 +0000

Very classy Pete..you must feel very proud of that.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:13:32 +0000

This may have been said already, but it bears repeating. The rest of us don’t do a job where one day could end our career completely. I don’t think people really get this through their heads when thinking about athletes. Also, their agents know this is the case and push them not to sign things.

Joba has a right to think he deserves more, just like I do when I walk into my boss’s office to ask for a raise after having performed well. I think it’s hypocritical of you to post one day with “he didn’t receive one cent more for what he did last year” outrage, and then turn around and say he’s a money-grubbing liar.

You’ve been telling us all this time how much he loves the organization and would empty trash baskets to help the team, and how he was cleaning toilets at the public rec facilities in his hometown just four or five years ago. Now you’re going to say that he’s being fake? Shame on you for exploiting his feel-good story and then turning around on him as soon as he wants to feel secure and have the money to support his son and his disabled father in a way his family was never able to before.

By: KevinP

KevinP — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:37:38 +0000

Pete,

Oh, okay. So a player can refuse to sign, even though he has no power, yet demand more money. The team can bow to his wishes or give him a slight raise OR just pay him the minimum obligation.

Is that a correct statement?

If so, I assume the reason why the Yankees did not give him more was probably:

- he only pitched 24 big league innings last year
- he held out for money $$$ previously, this is the team’s turn to kinda recoup the extra amount they paid out previously

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:11:17 +0000

While of course the money (over the course of his career) matters, jumping to the conclusion that his 2008 salary really matters to him might be a stretch. I agree that he was sugar-coating it, but what I think he meant was “Hey, what’s the most they reasonably could have given me for 2008? $430K? What’s the difference? I love the game, I want to play, and I already got a $1M+ signing bonus. An extra $40,000 is going to make no difference to me this year.”

“If he really doesnâ€™t play for money, he would have accepted what the Yankees offered him on June 10 and reported to Tampa. He didnâ€™t.”

Comparing this to his bonus negotiations is so completely wrong I’m shocked you’d do it. Coming out of college there is no guarantee of ANY future money (other than a meager minor league salary). He had injury issues and knew that making the majors was FAR from a sure thing, as unliklely as that possibility seems in hindsight. Getting the highest bonus possible should be the most important thing for any amateur player – and rightly so. It may be the only money they EVER earn as a professional.

You’re jumping to the conclusion that he’s lying about what he thinks of his 2008 salary because he wanted as large a signing bonus as possible. That’s ludicrous – you’re comparing apples and oranges.

By: Jax

Jax — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:01:28 +0000

Gerry good points. It’s not a given he’s going to be a great reliever or closer for that matter. Many people are saying that. He only pitched 24 innings at the major league level. But they where 24 coddled innings. He always came in maybe with an exception of 1 or 2 times with no one on base. He had 2,3 and sometimes 4 days off. Joba has yet to prove he can even pitch 3 and sometimes 4 days in a row without losing any of his stuff. Which is what a closer/reliever is asked to do daily. I can’t believe many fans are anointing him the next great thing when truth is he has A LOT more to prove.

By: TomTom

TomTom — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:38:05 +0000

And pete I do Appreciate you bringing is out. YOu are a sports wirter and one of the best because you dont always say what certain individuals like to hear. But you say the hard truth, but respectfully.