Lee’s wife unimpressed by New York fans
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 26, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Sam and I talked about this story during today’s chat…
It seems during the ALCS, Cliff Lee’s wife, Kristen, was not happy with the way Yankee fans treated her while she was sitting in the Rangers family section at Yankee Stadium.
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” she said. “When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
These stories come and go every winter, and it’s always hard to know how much — if any — things like this play a role in a player’s decision about where to sign and where to play. I don’t think something like this can be a deal breaker, but it might be one more thing in the Pro list for Texas.
Dallas is fairly close to the Lee’s home in Arkansas, the Rangers have some money with new ownership and a massive TV deal, and there are bound to be some good feelings after this run through the playoffs.
If I had to guess right now, I’d still say Lee will be wearing pinstripes next season — they’re going to pay him well, his friend CC Sabathia is here, he knows he can win in New York — but the Rangers might be legitimate competition.
Chip I like the creativity but there’s no way Cleveland goes for that deal, nor should they
My bet – the Rangers make an offer that, while a lot of money, is calculated to just fall short of what the Yankees offer. That way they can tell their fans that they tried, and even offered a lot of $$$, just not as much as those dirty New Yorkers.
It will give Rangers’ fans one more player for them to boo.
I wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating the Rangers in the Lee sweepstakes. They will be real competition.
Cue the part in the movie “GoodFellas” when Henry Hill’s wife says she needs some money to go shopping and he asks how much and she puts her thumb and forefinger apart about 3 inches….
I am sure if the Yankees offer the most money Mrs. Lee will learn to love NY.
Cashman needs to go October 26th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Cue the part in the movie ?GoodFellas? when Henry Hill?s wife says she needs some money to go shopping and he asks how much and she puts her thumb and forefinger apart about 3 inches?.
*******************************
Lol, this is ridiculous on a couple of levels.
1) You won’t mind the fans as much when your hubby is bringing home the bacon.
2) $23 million dollars a year can buy a lot of ear plugs for you and the kiddies when you head to ballgames.
3) Mrs. Cliff Lee, you won’t have to live in New York City. You could be living in New Jersey.. the people there are much nicer (hehehehehe!).
i doubt this is a real issue. she’ll be happy with a boatload of money
the real issue is that the yankees will contend for the life of lee’s contract, the rangers likely will not. if lee wants to go to the hall of fame, he’ll need rings
“Lee’s wife unimpressed by New York fans”
Just a little bit late on this one.
Should read:
“Lee’s wife unimpressed by New York fans/ Lee’s agent unimpressed with wife’s comments”
Joe, I didn’t think of that. But your idea makes a lot of sense.
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” she said. “When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
————————————
They say money can’t buy happiness, but enough can make the fans disappear and heal the heart.
Fran, please pass along my best wishes to Trisha.
Erin-
You aren’t in the path of this big storm are you?
Remember when CC wanted to play on the west coast?
Lets all have a chuckle thinking about that…
Mrs. Lee, we won’t scream obscenities at you if your husband pitches in New York. Simple solution to a simple problem! See, it can all work out.
“That way they can tell their fans that they tried, and even offered a lot of $$$, just not as much as those dirty New Yorkers. ”
Nolan Ryan doesn’t strike me as that kind of guy. He seems like an in your face competitor to me.
Erica-the worst of it hit this morning. I had to walk into work in almost monsoon-like conditions. Not a good day to be without an umbrella (although one of the girls I work with said hers blew away LOL) I did not have a fun morning at all, my clothes were completely soaked and they took forever to dry.
This Lee thing is far from a slam dunk. I am in no way certain the Yankees offer more money, especially considering that there is no income tax in Texas and the billion dollar cable deal. And the Rangers know how much money Lee would bring in each year in ancillary ways.
But then again, the Yankees might decide to overpay and accept the possibility of a broken down pitcher 4-5 years down the road.
Yanks will just insanely outbid everyone just like w/ CC….you can’t say if 3 teams offered the same contract that everyone would go running to the Yanks
Chip October 26th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
OF COURSE I DON’T ACTUALLY SEE ANY OF THAT HAPPENING
————————————————————————————-
Why suggest something you don’t see happening?
he asks how much and she puts her thumb and forefinger apart about 3 inches…
————
If I am right, that’s about 7 Gs in real cash if it’s a 100 dollar stack, that will last you about two hand bags, a scarf and a raincoat on fifth Ave. She will ask for more…
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” she said. “When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
—-
Did she not pay attention to how the Rangers’ fans conducted themselves?
“Yanks will just insanely outbid everyone just like w/ CC….you can’t say if 3 teams offered the same contract that everyone would go running to the Yanks”
I think the Yanks ultimately win, but the problem is the bidding is likely to start at CC’s AAV of $23MM. At that point it starts getting hard to blow people away with a high bid.
You know, if you are a good old boy and girl from Arkanasas, family and lifestyle might matter a great deal. I think knowing that you are going to be putting upwards of $140 million in the bank might make you a little less concerned if you are taking an offer that’s $10 million less. How much money is enough?
I think the Yanks ultimately win, but the problem is the bidding is likely to start at CC’s AAV of $23MM. At that point it starts getting hard to blow people away with a high bid.
–
I doubt any other team could even match an AAV of $23 million…
Cashmoney October 26th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
he asks how much and she puts her thumb and forefinger apart about 3 inches…
————
If I am right, that’s about 7 Gs in real cash if it’s a 100 dollar stack, that will last you about two hand bags, a scarf and a raincoat on fifth Ave. She will ask for more…
******************
she’s got big hands
You have to like Pete Abe. His latest tweet reminds Ms. Lee her husband played in Philly.
I can’t believe that Chad wasted space printing this nonsense. Do you think Texas fans were very kind to Yankee fans during the ALCS? Do we believe that if Texas offers Mrs. Lee’s husband $18M and we offer $23M that she’s going to tell him to take the $18M because Texas has nicer fans? Please.
“I doubt any other team could even match an AAV of $23 million…”
If the Rangers are bidding for him, isn’t that where they have to start?
“# Wave Your Hat October 26th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
You have to like Pete Abe. His latest tweet reminds Ms. Lee her husband played in Philly.
”
ha ha always had some funny one liners on here…maybe I need to start following
Something else to keep in mind. There was a game in Texas this season that Lee couldn’t finish because of the intense heat. He wilted, got tired and had to be taken out. This is a guy that likes to pitch complete games. He’s not going to have that problem in NY. That could play a role in his decision. Just sayin’.
Quotes from USAToday article:
I love this city,” Lee says. “I love my teammates. It’s going to be a good team for years to come. For my family, this couldn’t be a better situation.
” I’m just more focused on helping this team win a World Series.”
Then came the words that the Rangers will hang onto.
“If we do that,” Lee says, “it would be hard to walk away.”
It has been long assumed that Lee, who is earning $9.6 million this season, would end up a Yankee, given that they spent $243.5 million on two starters the last time they failed to reach the World Series in 2008. Those two starters now are ready to recruit him: CC Sabathia is one of Lee’s best friends and a former teammate in Cleveland, and A.J. Burnett is another Arkansas native, who like Lee, is a client of agent Darek Braunecker.
Yet, Lee and Kristen say, the Dallas-Fort Worth area feels like home to their family, which includes daughter Maci, 7. They are just a 40-minute flight from their hometown of Benton, Ark.; they are moving into a restored 1927 house in Little Rock this winter.
They attended the same middle and high schools, and their families and friends still live there.
“That’s the greatest thing, being so close to home,” says Kristen.”
“Cliff can fit in anywhere, but it makes my life a lot easier. We’ve never had a short commute before. Having a direct flight from Little Rock is great.”
Perhaps the Rangers’ greatest sales pitch simply was having Kristen sit in the visiting family section at Yankee Stadium during the playoffs. She says there were ugly taunts. Obscenities. Cups of beer thrown. Even fans spitting from the section above.
“The fans did not do good things in my heart,” Kristen says.
“When people are staring at you, and saying horrible things, it’s hard not to take it personal.”
Who knows if the fans’ behavior will have any affect on Lee’s decision. Nothing ever unravels him, Kristen says, unless something interferes with him during deer hunting season, which starts Nov. 13 in Arkansas. Free agency can wait a little longer.
“Everyone in Arkansas thinks the world of him,” says family friend Larry Crain, 69. “Little Rock has historically been Cardinals territory. But you see more and more Rangers fans now. They’re even wearing his jersey.”
It will have to be a very sizeable offer to offset lower taxation playing in Texas, and I hope the Giants win in 4, to give the Yankees more time to woo him before hunting season.
Off topic:
For those of you who might be interested in who might be our new Pitching coach. Here’s another possibility.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.co.....instr.html
Thanks guys for the info on Piersall.
I always knew the name, but not much about the player.
Patrick October 26th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Chip I like the creativity but there’s no way Cleveland goes for that deal, nor should they
———————
Oh of course not.
They might be willing to do the Carmona part of the deal, but there’s as much chance of them dealing Sizemore as there is of the Mets dealing David Wright.
Next thread
Cliff Lee son’s hamster prefers Texas sodding over NY.
I’m sure it will also be pointed out to her that the fans are a lot nicer to the wives of Yankees than they are to the wives of Yankee opponents.
Curt Young, recently resigned from A’s or Don Cooper, a NY native[if Ozzie Guillen is fired], might be better choices. Certainly don’t expect Mike Harkey to step in.
I think a great DH for us next season would be Paul Konerko, and if you wanted to stick and twist it to the Sux, Ortiz, lol.
Erin-
Just glad you are safe!
The Bleacher Creatures should add her name to the roll call every time hubby starts a game at the Stadium. She’ll soon think there’s no fans like Yankee fans.
Curt Young is interviewing with the Sux, and they want him as their pitching coach.
Trader -
Girardi wants the org to look at Harkey, but you’re right, he’s not getting the job.
Gammons has Curt Young possibly replacing Farrell in Boston (of course Gammons isn’t even really trying anymore)
The bottom line, Cashman will pick a pitching coach who works in the style that Cashman wants to see the organization go in – strict inning and pitch limits for young pitchers at all levels.
Newsflash:
Manny Ramierez found a manager he would like to play for
http://www.sportingnews.com/ml.....o-play-for
I see Boston getting Curt Young. If the Yanks follow their SOP, the next pitching coach seems likely to be Scott Aldred.
YT-
The Sux are all over Young.
I think Aldred is the frontrunner but I really don’t care who gets it as long as they have a good track record and are thoroughly professional.
NY Yankees pitching coach; Patterson or Allred
Can the Rangers new ownership afford to nearly double their 2010 payroll?
Aldred ** not Allred **
If the Rangers are bidding for him, isn’t that where they have to start?
—
Doesn’t matter, they don’t have the payroll to support a $23 million AAV contract.
Al-
I’ll be the new Pictching coach as long as Mrs. Lee doesn’t b*tch at me.
Erica in NY October 26th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Erin-
Just glad you are safe!
**************************
Thanks Erica!
She won’t have that problem if Cliff is on the team.
Pete has served us well today.
Here’s a nice article he posted about Bill Shannon.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....ace_b.html
My choice would be Gil Patterson
“Can the Rangers new ownership afford to nearly double their 2010 payroll?”
blake-
I don’t think they need to do that to sign Lee. They were at $64MM this year, their 2011 commitments are currently $37MM, that gives them some room to maneuver.
Al-
What is Patterson’s current status ?
Mentioned by Sam for part time DH next season- Giambi-Oh no!!
Also mentioned to a lesser degree-Damon, Matsui and Thome.
Erica-your wish might just come true!!
Manny with Toronto-will be lucky to get 4 million.
Chip, you stole my thunder (little crackle?)
Best way to avoid mistreatment as a visitor’s wife is to be on the home team.
Then she won’t have to deal with the even greater abuse if he signs with Texas.
U\Yankee fans will be kind unless he has a month like September in New York (bad starts, bad back=bad language!)
MTU October 26th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Al-
I’ll be the new Pictching coach as long as Mrs. Lee doesn’t b*tch at me.
——————
I wouldn’t worry. You could always turn the DMs loose.
MTU – I tell you what, if the Yankees hire me to be their pitching coach, she could bi**h all she wants.
I’ve learn to turn a deaf ear on those I don’t want to listen to, or deal with. Comes from being old.
KPB-
She’d probably b*itch at them too !
BIG AL October 26th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
My choice would be Gil Patterson
……………………………………..
I concur but could he be pried from the Oakland organization ?
Wave, I don’t know…lot of guys are either due or will get raises and they will.have to fill out the rest of the team as well. It may not double but I see no way they keep it under 100M if they sign Lee
Right now Patterson is coaching in AA I think, and I don’t know what his contract is. Oakland just released their pitching coach, he’s on his way to Boston, so I don’t have that answer.
If someone has knowledge of Gil Patterson, please respond.
Just to prepare you – this year’s group of “Guys the Yankees should go after”
Obviously Cliff Lee.
Beyond that though:
Via trade
Oakland’s Brett Anderson and Craig Breslow
FA’s
Eric Hinske (I think he would be a great complimentary bat on the bench)
Randy Choate (LH specialist with success in the AL East)
Scot Downs (another LH reliever with success in the AL East who could serve as a late inning guy rather than just a lefty specialist)
Zach Duke if he’s non-tendered
Rick Ankiel (same as Hinske but a better defensive outfielder – only slightly, doesn’t play 1b but if you want to give Tex a rest you can move Swisher down to 1b and play Ankiel in RF)
Jesse Crain (Twins relief pitcher – coming off a very strong season 62K in 68 IP with 27 BB and 53 hits)
AAA – not AA
I don’t think that 37 million on cots includes all the arbitration years players they have.
Wave Your Hat October 26th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
“Can the Rangers new ownership afford to nearly double their 2010 payroll?”
blake-
I don’t think they need to do that to sign Lee. They were at $64MM this year, their 2011 commitments are currently $37MM, that gives them some room to maneuver.
——————
Rangers just got a very good TV deal. They’ll have plenty of money to spend.
Chip -
I’d put Paul Konerko at the top of my DH wish list.
Al-
I guess Mrs. Lee hasn’t figured out a few things:
1 Those fans don’t represent all Yankee fans.
2 There are fans just like them, and worse, at other stadiums including Texas.
3 Money can be very useful, and a lot of money can be even more useful, and the Yanks are gonna offer more of it than Texas.
4 Skyboxes are way better than just sitting in the stands.
I rest my case.
What Alex Rodriguez should do (if he’s truly a team guy) is tell Texas that he’ll forgive the money they owe him if they sign Lee and trade him and Josh Hamilton to the Yankees for AJ Burnett.
But he won’t do that because he’s too much of a me first guy…
and if you can’t sense the sarcasm look harder.
BIG AL October 26th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Chip -
I’d put Paul Konerko at the top of my DH wish list.
——————
My DH wish list has one name on it: Jorge Posada.
(Jesus Montero behind the plate)
blake-
That’s probably right. But they’ll have the $80MM 2011 Fox payment and the post-season money.
Plus a new ownership team anxious to make a splash in the country’s 4th largest market.
108 stitches-
Isn’t Gil Patterson currently the AAA Columbus Clippers[Indians] pitching coach? He taught Doc Halladay the cut fastball.
SJ has already stated that the Rangers can not use revenue from their TV deal for current payroll. It may have to do with the way the bankrupcy was settled, or other reason.
I do not know how he knows this but that’s what he said (or something like it).
Chip -
OK on Jorge, if he’s healthy, and if he’s productive. I’m looking at next season, and beyond. How Posada reacts to sitting on the bench as a back-up C, and DH, remains to be seen if he can, and will, accept that role. Love to be a fly on Cashman’s wall this winter.
Yankee Trader October 26th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
*********************
Yes, he’s with the Clippers.
Let’s see what happens after he gets lit up like a Christmas tree by the Giants.
Wave, that may be the case but im guessing they have a pretty hefty mortgage payment to make as well after buying the team. I don’t know the specifics or what they can afford….im just saying that if they want to sign Lee and keep that team together long term then their ownership is going to have to committ to significantly more payroll….none of their players are going to get cheaper in the future.
OK. Just for the sake of argument.
Let’s say the Yanks can’t get Lee.
Who is plan B ?
And please don’t suggest Greinke. He’s not a fit for NY.
What frontline pitcher do we trade for, and who do we have to give up to get him ?
MTU -
The Rangers having funds is one thing, but, they owe MLB lots of money, A-Rod a ton of money, and I’d think those obligations would come first.
I can’t see MLB letting the new Rangers owners go deeper into debt, without first paying their current debt off, IMO.
MTU-
I can’t imagine what’s to stop the Rangers from using the 2011 TV payment to pay salaries. With respect to the balance of the new deal which picks up in 2015, I think, I don’t see how you could know what they could do without knowing the details of the new financing put in place in connection with the bankruptcy resolution. I don’t know if the details of that financing are publicly known yet.
MTU -
The plan after not getting Lee – punt!
Let’s deal in fact.
The Rangers cable deal doesn’t kick in for a few years and puts the Rangers in the “have” instead of the “have” not revenue sharing bracket so the net gain is less than you would imagine.
NY State Tax on a $20M per year contract would be about $500,000 before a tax professional worked a little magic to make that number go down.
The Rangers current payroll is at $64M. They have 10 players who are arb. elig and 3 of them – Hamilton, Cruz and Wilson are due for nice raises over the $6.5M they are currently making combined. Vlad has an option which adds another $5M to his deal for next year. Kinsler +$2M, Lewis +$1M, Feldman +$2M, etc….. It all starts to add up fast.
It will all come down to whether Lee is willing to take a “hometown” discount and if he was going to do that, why didn’t he in Philly who he also went to a WS with.
Al-
SJ has adressed this in the past. Perhaps, he will be kind enough to repeat the reason(s).
Assuming he is correct, those stating that the Rangers can use money from they’re TV deal are incorrect.
Ask SJ next time he is around.
so I was listening to xm on the way home, which is pretty much Cliff Lee stories anytime I listen, and they were interviewing a former player (Todd Walker???)
He thought the story about the fans treatment of Mrs Lee was exaggerated.
He also said to be honest, you go for the money.
I guess it is just a slow news day waiting for the WS
8.97% NJ and NY state income taxes, versus none in Texas.
Erica- How much more will the Yankees have to offer to entice Lee to come to NY instead of Texas, besides the usual 1st class plane rides to and from Little Rock for his family?
You know, I never rooted for a guy to get beat, but I’m rooting for Cliff Lee to get beat. I’m so tired of the whole thing already. If he doesn’t get beat, at least I want him to pitch a pedestrian game, you know, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, 7 hits, 2 runs. Whenever something becomes about one player, it takes all the fun out of it.
MTU -
Here’s the deal with the Rangers TV deal, and how much they will have to spend.
http://www.usatoday.com/commun.....-tv-deal/1
blake, I’m sure the Rangers have significant debt, it’s just that after the bankruptcy resolution the details don’t seem to have been reporte, or at least a quick google search didn’t show them.
Pat-
No offense meant but Lee is about as mercenary as it gets.
He’s 32 years old and this is his last big payday.
I can’t see him giving Texas, or anybody else for that matter, any kind of discount.
That is unless there is a major league baseball team that plays in Arkansas.
Al-
There better be a plan B. Always gotta have one. Plan C too.
MTU -
One more story about Rangers TV deal. They will have plenty of money to go after Lee.
http://www.dallasnews.com/shar.....1c7ac.html
Alex’s annual pay is equal to 4 $8 million per year players.
That’s a crusher, and shouldn’t allow Hank a restful nights sleep for the next 7 years.
The Rangers current payroll is at $64M. They have 10 players who are arb. elig and 3 of them – Hamilton, Cruz and Wilson are due for nice raises over the $6.5M they are currently making combined. Vlad has an option which adds another $5M to his deal for next year. Kinsler +$2M, Lewis +$1M, Feldman +$2M, etc….. It all starts to add up fast.
——————————-
Asides from Hamilton, I think Lee is a priority over another else that’s on that list. The inquiry should start with whether TX can afford Hamilton’s arb and Lee’s contract within their budget next year. I think the answer is yes.
TX will put forth a competitive offer to lee IMO.
my plan B is Kuroda.
MTU-
If there’s a Plan B it isn’t obvious. I don’t think Greinke is in the cards. The Yanks would have to start by re-signing Andy. If he actually retires (I don’t think he will), it would make the situation doubly difficult. The Yanks would have to make a blockbuster deal, trade off Montero, or one of our outfielders plus AAA pitching.
I don’t see what else would land a frontline pitcher, do you?
Wave, that’s it…we just don’t know the specifics or how it will help them, but Im curious to see if they could actually pull off giving Lee 20+ million dollars plus all the raises that are due…less than a year after buying the team. We shall see.
Al-
SJ was very direct in his statements regarding the TV deal.
I don’t remember his reasons. Sorry.
That’s the overall deal. it doesn’t say anything about why the Rangers might not be able to dip into the revenue stream.
Again. I suspect it’s related to the terms of the Bankruptcy.
MTU –
When you look at FA SP, it’s not good pickings. The Yankees would have to go the trade route, and that would be costly.
Imagine the other GM, he knows you lost out on Lee, and knows you need a good SP badly, barrel anyone.
Let them have Lee.
Best thing NY can do is give the impression they want him.
We have 3 players making more than 20 a year already.
We lost to Colby Lewis twice!
Our guys just need to perform better, period.
Not signing Lee won’t prevent us from making the playoffs again.
Re: the Rangers TV deal…….
Under the terms of their financing deal for the team, they aren’t allowed to borrow against the TV deal for player payroll.
They have so much debt on the purchase of the team, the TV deal is the primary reason they got the financing to prevail at auction.
The managing general partners have less than 10 million dollars of their own money in the deal. Their deal is basically all debt until the big TV money kicks in so they can begin reducing the debt.
Per MLB rules, teams are allowed to carry a certain debt threshold. If they go over it, the partners are required to immediately get the team under the debt threshold.
The other factor re: the TV money is the larger payments don’t kick in until 2013.
The large deal is an extension of the present deal and those big payments don’t begin for another two years.
In other words, the TV deal, which is lucrative, comes with strings attached in order to satisfy the significant debt payments on the team.
In order for them to sign Lee, they have to make sure they have the kind of revenue to carry a very large payroll in order to remain competitive the next 5-6 years.
Its a big juggling act. Which is why Chuck Greenberg, a very smart man, keeps talking about “lifestyle” when it comes to keeping Lee.
He knows his funds can only go so far.
MTU -
The Rangers TV deal was not really new, it was an extension, with a huge increase.
The Rangers now have a much bigger TV deal than the Cowboys, but, then again the Rangers are able to win their games, lol.
I root for the NY Giants, and whoever is playing the Cowboys.
Here’s the deal with the Rangers TV deal, and how much they will have to spend.
————————————————————————————————————————-
After that was published Fox came out and said that the deal has been significantly overstated and that it’s worth about half of that amount.
Furthermore the deal does not commence until 2014.
And if Fox is willing to spend roughly 80 mil a season on the rights to Ranger games imagine how much revenue they bring in by broadcasting those games.
Now think about the Yanks who essentially have no middleman to siphon off revenue. The Yankees are their own Fox!
WYH-
No. Any team is going to want equal talent in return.
I very much hope they sign Lee. He is the best solution all the way around.
It’s gonna take a lot to pry away a good starter, and who is more battle tested than Lee at this point.
Answer: no one.
One still has to consider the possibility of failure though and the options.
$208M is the debt they agreed to assume at auction.
The deferred salaries to Alex, Michael Young and others is not all due this year but the agreement was for that money to be put in escrow so it needed tp be set aside immediately.
If the Yankees don’t get Lee, Id look what it might take to get AL battle tested Justin Verlander or try again to trade for Josh Johnson.
SJ44 -
Thanks for that input.
It’s too bad that Mrs. Lee seems to be judging NYers and Yankee fans by a group of idiots.
SJ-
Thank you for clarifying that once again.
SJ44=
I believe the Rangers get a significant up front payment from Fox in 2011. Of course, the new financing may restrict what the Rangers can do with it, I have no idea.
SJ44 -
If it’s a long term contract for Lee, can they structure it so he’s paid the most money after the tv money kicks in?
The purchase of the Rangers was for $590M with $385M of that being in cash, leaving $205M in debt. It looks like the latest Forbes estimate (prior to their new television deal) pegged the franchise as being worth $451M. I have no idea how any of that will affect the operation of the Rangers, but it looks like assuming another $150M+ committment would be difficult at this point. I guess the question isn’t so much if the Rangers can’t offer Lee $150M+ but whether they should. If the Yankees sign Lee and he falls apart with 5 years and $100M+ left on the contract it would be rather uncomfortable. If that happened to the Rangers on the other hand, it would significantly alter the way in which they could operate the franchise. Pitching is always risky, but in order to outbid the Yankees for a 32-year old free agent, the Rangers better be extremely confident in his ability and his health.
http://youbeenblinded.com/the-.....ction/8634
Lee’s wife is also reportedly unimpressed with the Pike Place Public Market, Milwaukee sausage races, Kansas City fountains, Canada, Rally Monkeys, the Commonwealth of Maryland, Peter Gammons’ teeth, and the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
If I were Cashman Id level with Joba, straight up, and tell him he better work his tail off in the offseason.
He’s still an asset to this team.
I would also dangle one of the young catchers for an arm or two.
Phil will be better. Cc will be strong. AJ has to be better.
Lee isn’t necessary. Other arms, younger, are.
Nick-
She has a lot of hangups.
Who needs her (other than Cliff).
The Yankees are not going to trade for Verlander, Johnson, etc…………not only are they very likely unavailable, it would take a king’s ransom to even get the ball rolling. If the Yankees do not sign Lee, which I think is a very real possibility, then they have to have other options……..and although I can’t think of them, I’m sure Cash has.
RIP Bill Shannon – what a tragedy. My condolences to his family and friends.
“$208M is the debt they agreed to assume at auction.”
The sales price was $575MM. I’m missing something here if SJ44 is correct that there’s only $10MM of equity.
SJ44, since you are here can you explain?
if Lee does stay in Texas, the Mariners get to see him five times a year (+/- a game or two).
it’ll serve them right.
sour grape’d.
What would it take to get Josh Johnson?
Lee’s wife has been known to be impressed by long rows of zeros that follow a dollar sign, however.
As has surely been pointed out as nauseum already.
Nice of her to provide something for worriers to worry about, though.
CC loves the West Coast!!!!!!
“The managing general partners have less than 10 million dollars of their own money in the deal. Their deal is basically all debt until the big TV money kicks in so they can begin reducing the debt.” -SJ44
“The purchase of the Rangers was for $590M with $385M of that being in cash, leaving $205M in debt. ” -tk
Help, I’m confused.
Outside of her opinions on Canada, I think me and Mrs. Lee are possible soul mates.
And I find the dining options in Queens to be vastly underrated.
“CC loves the West Coast!!!!!! ”
He sure does, that’s why he goes back to visit his family there, with a car load of Yankees money, lol.
Al-
A lot.
Montero, + + + +
If only we could teach Mrs. Lee about how great Taiwanese food is, she would love Queens!
I bet there are already a lot of Mrs. Lee’s in Queens already, in fact. She would fit right in.
thankful to know of this article (Lee’s wife not liking NY).
in candidness, been hoping the Yankees do not land Cliff Lee. Tired of buying every big-name player. And also, because Cliff Lee happens to look like a serial killer.
hopefullly he signs with a NL team.
Wave
A chunk of the $385M cash was financed and is technically new debt. The $205M in debt is what Hicks owed people.
If the fans behavior was that bad I don’t blame her for making a statement. And not for one minute do I not believe the fans were guilty as charged. I go to about 20 games a year and am amazed at some people’s behavior.
I read somewhere that the new Ranger’s ownership has an influx of broadcast revenue coming in starting next season. It’s more than enough to cover Lee’s salary. After reading that the Rangers have the money to sign him and now finding out his wife likes the short commute, I can’t help but think he’s staying in Texas. We can thank the Seattle GM for going back on his word at the trade deadline when the Yanks are without Cliff Lee in 2011.
I still don’t know what prompted her to reveal this today. Why even share the story? All it does is paint her husband’s next potential employer in a negative light. Hell, they lived in Philly… I’m sure they’ve seen worse. Maybe not personally, but seen worse.
Nick-
She seems to have a problem with the feng shui in the Bronx, and possibly in Queens as well.
Mike,
Just a crazy thought. I realize we’d have to empty the prospects garage, so to speak. That’s why the Lee deal is so important, it’s only money, no prospects.
Perhaps this is the real reason Cashman was willing to part with Montero, he was afraid he’d have more trouble signing Lee away from another contender.
how many times does ‘closer to Arkansas’ actually end up on the ‘Pro’ side of the ledger???
this might be a first.
vinny-
Lee is a serial killer. He kills every freakin’ team he faces in the PS.
Laura – I Bleed Blue October 26th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Something else to keep in mind. There was a game in Texas this season that Lee couldn?t finish because of the intense heat. He wilted, got tired and had to be taken out. This is a guy that likes to pitch complete games. He?s not going to have that problem in NY. That could play a role in his decision. Just sayin?
**********************
Was that the game in late Aug vs. the Twins? I hadn’t heard that the reason he left was the heat (looking at the boxscore, one might conclude it was because he gave up 5 runs in the first 3 innings
) Cliff pitched 7 other games in Texas this season and only one other was less than 7 innings and 3 were complete games.
Hi Vinny-b and Drive 4-6
perhaps now that the mayor no longer needs to plan a WS victory parade, he can work on charming Mrs Lee
I read this on another board:
Per Peter Gammons::Very unlikely that Lee will leave Texas no matter what happens in the WS..
Sites that Texas will bid as high as needed to keep him because on tv deal and also the taxes etc….
********
Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff LeeCliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee Cliff Lee.
well Tom, that about says it all!
Well if the sale to the Rangers was basically all debt, their lenders will decide if Lee becomes a Ranger, I guess.
SJ44,
Thanks for the great explanation of the tv revenue. I beleive it was ESPN.com that said the Rangers had the revenue to sign Lee. given the tv money. Shouldda know better than to believe it.
Gammons was also sure Tex was going to the Red Sox, saying that was their plan for like two years no?
MTU:
wzup brother. Hope everythin well in UT
yup. You right. Double meaning
MTU -
If the family issue is so big with the Lee family, offer them a deal similiar to that of Clemmens in Houston. Let him be with his family 3 days a week, and be with the team the remainder of time.
Al-
I believe that to an absolute certainty.
And you’re right. If miss out on Lee it’s empty the vault time.
That’s why it makes so much sense that the Yankees go all out and be all in.
Even with that, you still have to hope it turns out right.
I hope it does.
Wow, Tom in NJ -
how long did that take you to do????
Though, it sums it up about right.
hi upstate Kate
hope all is well : )
Wave,
Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan have less than 10 million of their own money in the deal.
The cash they came up with in the deal came from outside investors who, by the terms of their investment, have to be bought out (with interest) at certain points down the line.
Its a very complicated deal. One of the more complicated I’ve seen.
Currently, the franchise is upside down re: franchise value vs. debt that is currently being carried.
MLB let this happen because Bud didn’t want Mark Cuban in MLB.
So, the Rangers have to reduce their debt and that TV deal is the asset to do so.
They not only have to satisfy their creditors, they have to satisfy the exit strategy terms of their investors.
Could they sign Lee? Yes, on three conditions:
1. The deal is structured for the bulk of the payments not kicking in until 2013 or 2014.
2. They satisfy their creditors AND investors.
3. They can show Lee how their payroll will be competitive over the life of the deal so Lee can see the Rangers can keep the team in tact
Like I said, its a complicated deal and not as simple as “They have TV money, they can give Lee whatever he wants”.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....qus_thread
3:02pm: Lee’s agent Darek Braunecker told ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, “The story is not an issue to us. Her experience in New York is certainly a non-issue. She enjoys New York as much as anyone enjoys New York.”
******
Of course Braunecker has to say this at this point. As to intangibles, the Rangers do have some of them in their favor……..but not necessarily all (not referring to $$). He’s always seemed to like pitching in NY…
Copy and past Doreen.
I dream in Cliff lee.
OT, I just finish watching the movie ‘Sugar”. It’s a moving and realistic piece that evolved around a D.R. player’s experiences on and off baseball fields in America. A very well done HBO film IMO. recommended!
And I got a little carried away.
-Sorry.
Peter Gammons – Really a source to put your faith in, just like he called the Tex deal as done, and Tex will be a Red Sox, right.
Tom -
Were you trying to say something?
Al-
All sort of accomodations to taste can and should be made.
We offered CC an opt out didn’t we ? Wasn’t that for his comfort ?
We have ambassadors to speak with Cliff don’t we ?
We need to do everything we can, and I’m sure they will.
Vinny-
Still vertical. How are things in your neck of the woods ?
Hi upstate Kate,
Who knows, if Texas wins the WS maybe they will hold a rodeo that will make tickertape look silly lol
I really don’t think Lee is coming here. If I make myself believe what I type then I’ll be less disappointed if he stays in Texas.
Thanks SJ44. I got the feeling the deal was complicated. But I can’t help feeling the management group, the lenders and the investors all thought about what they were going to do with Lee when they went into the deal.
Let’s hope the Yanks bid higher than the Rangers planned for.
Tom in NJ -
No need to apologize – it was funny (I thought!)
One thing I left out…..
Lee could also stay in Texas if he decides to take less money in a deal structured in a way to keep the team competitive. Similar to how I suggested the Yankees and Jeter structure his new deal.
IMO, this is an unlikely option to take place.
Gammons was the reason I decided to pay the insider fee on ESPN.
I always knew he had a Red Sox bent to everything he wrote, but damn if it wasn’t one of the first sites I would visit every day.
Buster Olney is an ersatz Gammons.
If getting Lee depends solely on which team can, and will, write the biggest check, he’s a NY Yankee. IF, IF, IF ………
“The cash they came up with in the deal came from outside investors who, by the terms of their investment, have to be bought out (with interest) at certain points down the line.”
I look at the Yankees signing Cliff Lee to a Sabathia-type contract as a reasonable risk, but given the Rangers situation I don’t see how that risk would be acceptable to either them or Cliff Lee. If the balancing act doesn’t work they will either slash the payroll around him or ask him to accept a trade. We often discuss flaws and risks associated with the Yankees, but can you imagine if they were in this position? Signing Lee would be characterized as putting the success of the franchise in his hands. Sounds like you nailed it when discussing Greenberg’s “lifestyle” comments.
I thought it was funny too Tom…kinda sums up all you hear on espn, mlb, xm…Cliff lee all the time
thanks for the reminder Cashmoney, “Sugar” is on my list of movies to see.
OK time to rake a few leaves before dinner
SJ44 -
If taxes are an issue, any team, including the Yankees, could structure a deal that pays him over a longer period of time. I’m not sure what rules MLB has in place for those extended contracts, do you?
If they can’t sign Lee, they at least need to get the bidding really, really high!
Drive, I kind of feel the same way, lol. I’m assuming he’s not coming here so that it won’t bother me so much if he doesn’t…………….but it won’t help. LOL If he doesn’t come here, it will still be like a punch in the stomach
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets.....-cliff-lee
After reading all of that, I would put the Yankees’ chances of signing Cliff Lee south of 50 percent. Well south.
How about this, we send AJ on a hunting trip with Lee, AJ hands him a letter from the Yankess that says; We have just given the following offer to your agent, $25 million/6 years/an option on year 7. We realize you’re trying to land a huge buck, but so are we. How about it, deal!
If he doesn’t come here, it will still be like a punch in the stomach
—————————
Choose punch in a bowl instead, for the celebration of his arrival in NY.
Let’s say Lee doesn’t sign with the Yankees, what other options are available via trade market for a young, viable #2 arm? Realistically speaking. I know everyone will mention Greinke, and I’m sure the Yankees will do their due diligence in checking in on him, but who else might possibly be available.
OT, I just finish watching the movie ‘Sugar”.
——————————————————————-
My wife cried at the end.
It’s not only a good baseball flick but just a flat out great movie. It’s was one of the best reviewed movies of 2009.
To all who haven’t seen it….SEE IT!
Robinson Cano wants you to.
SAS, upstate kate, Fran the original, Erin, and JM……….. you can check you mail boxes now. I have e-mailed you my final tribute. Enjoy!!
The notion of Jeter sacrificing for the team only entails him to take an above market price contract for 15 Mil AAV from the Yankees which he won’t likely to get anywhere else. It’s a small sacrifice IMO, if at all. I hope he does it.
Jeers, it’s a moving social piece with baseball in it. Me like…
Al-
If Texas wants AJ instead of Cliff I’d be glad to oblige but only after he speaks with Cliff.
One more question. Perhaps, directed to SJ.
Can/will the Yankees take out insurance on Lee in case of injury ?
(I’m not counting on that. Just curious).
Thanks in advance.
Cashmoney-
This is Jeter’s last contract, he’s not taking a pay cut, nor should he. His being on the Yankees accounts for a huge revenue, so he’ll get paid based more on that than his play on the field.
Betsy,
Rob Neyer has no idea what he is talking about. Read him at your own risk.
I don’t think any team will be able to insure Lee’s entire contract.
Pitchers contracts these days are getting tougher and tougher to insure on deals longer than 3 years.
A deal of Lee’s size? I don’t see any team being able to insure that deal.
Even if you could, the premiums would be prohibitive.
MTU – Hunting can be a very dangerous sport, people have been known to be injured out in the woods, he, he.
SJ-
Thanks. Perhaps they can insure a portion of it.
That’s a ton of financial risk. Lee is healthy but it would be nice if the Yanks were able to mitigate some the risk.
The risk to a smaller market team is incomprehensible IMO.
Al-
Yes. Especially if they are not properly attired.
SI_JonHeyman
#rangers owner greenberg on news mrs cliff lee was put off by yankees fans: “it doesn’t hurt”
SJ – many thanks for discussing the Texas deal and how it relates to Lee. Besides how it pertains to the Yanks, I really find this stuff fascinating on an intellectual basis. It really is juggling a lot balls at once.
If what you report is accurate – and I’ve no reason to believe it isn’t – then there is no way on this earth that Lee is offered a deal competitive to what the Yanks can offer him. And, given what Lee has been through – 4 teams in two years, with the Phillies, Mariners, and now Rangers each saying they want to win, yet still trading him away for financial reasons – I would think he would be a wee bit skeptical of any complex explanations by any ownership of why he should believe them, and take a discount.
I have to think, logically, that if Cash shows him money and respect, much as he did CC, then Lee will be in Yankee pinstripes.
Betsy,
Haven’t you been bashing Neyer all season?
MTU -
Along with that note AJ will be bringing to Lee, I bought him a new deer skin hat, with a big white fuzzy tail on top. It should help AJ keep warm on his trip.
Aside from the last line, that entire Neyer post was quotes/excerpts from the USA Today story. He didn’t reveal anything new except one line of his opinion, derived from those quotes.
Greenberg is right……I really wish she hadn’t made those comments. Darn.
Video of Wilmer Romero (from 7/10)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2h7-MsBZK0
What’s your point, LGY? I posted that because clearly the story is picking up steam…….it’s not a small deal that Mrs. Lee did not have a good experience at YS
I’m worried that Mrs. Lee will talk to Mrs. Sabathia and maybe even Phil’s (real) mommy and then we won’t have any of them.
AJ will be our Ace unless Andy comes back.
We are doomed.
Money talks and BS walks.
Bottom line, if the Yankees significantly outbid the Rangers, Lee will come.
He is a difference maker. He’s worth going “all in”.
So why did Mrs. Lee feel the need to expose this, 1 week after the incident occured, and a day before her husband pitches in the WS?
She had to have known the stir it would cause in NY, considering how NY is considered the favorites for Lee’s services in the winter. Just an odd story and even odder timing.
The Yankees have some questions and I’m sure Cliff Lee will do his due dilegence with all parties! The problem of the Yankees needing Cliff Lee could be exacerbated by Cliff waiting until late in the game to decide where he goes. That type of logjam could cause a lot of difficulty with the Yanks signing others in case Cliff decides to go elsewhere. I have not counted out the Red Sox and Cliff Lee either. He would be a big coup for them and also really hurt the Yankees.
Mark Cuban’s higher bids really hurt the Ranger’s being able to afford Clif Lee IMO. If Cuban had been awarded the team, Cliff Lee would most likely be a Ranger in 2011.
I am going out on a limb here and saying what happened at YS has a 0% impact on where Lee ends up.
# Nick in SF October 26th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I’m worried that Mrs. Lee will talk to Mrs. Sabathia and maybe even Phil’s (real) mommy and then we won’t have any of them.
AJ will be our Ace unless Andy comes back.
We are doomed.
haha
Nick -
I guess we’re all lucky to have alreadt crossed that bridge, into reality.
Mrs Lees experience was so appaling at YS that Amber is pushing for CC to opt out next year.
Rumor has it she wants part of the rodeo social scene in Texas.
It is truly a shame that Mrs. Lee was bothered by the fans at Yankee Stadium.
On the other hand, if it keeps the Yankees from spending hundreds of millions over the next few years on a guy who’s going to be 33 next year and who will soon be on the “back nine” of his career, then I guess it wasn’t such a bad thing.
Ok, fine – you can assume all you want that Lee will be a Yankee; it doesn’t make it so.
“So why did Mrs. Lee feel the need to expose this”
Red Light Fever.
You put a camera or microphone in some peoples faces and they just start talking.
Ok, fine – you can assume all you want that Lee will be a Yankee; it doesn’t make it so.
–
The same goes for your assuming in the opposite direction.
Idea ………………..
We should arrange for SJ44 and Nick in SF to have a sports column.
This way when the folks here need to read something to get their talking points, at least it will be better info, and will lead to more intelligent conversations on this blog.
Just a thought, and it was mine, no one wrote it down for me to repeat as true.
And, given what Lee has been through ? 4 teams in two years, with the Phillies, Mariners, and now Rangers each saying they want to win, yet still trading him away for financial reasons
*********************
The Mariners didn’t trade them because of financial reasons. They traded him because, to put it delicately, they sucked.
trade *him*
Neither does being a naysayer about everything NYY make it so.
LGY – I’m on that limb with you.
RayVT – Oh, Mark Cuban would have made the most sense, financially, in so many ways. I hope Rangers’ fans really like Nolan Ryan, because his winning the team, instead of Cuban, is disadvantageous for the team’s success. And I don’t say that lightly. Yes, Ryan has made a difference in terms of changing the culture there. But, you look at what Cuban did for the Mavs, and it’s hard to think that he wouldn’t have had a similar impact.
Indirectly, the Yanks should thank Bud. Maybe send him a bottle of wine, or a flower arrangement, when they do sign Lee.
Assuming Lee will be here is not the same as saying this incident will have zero impact on the decision.
Lee may end up in Texas. It won’t be because some idiots at YS
Cliff Lee loved the phillies, but his price was so exorbitant that instead of extending him they traded him away. And now he is going to take a deal from the Rangers? Yea, no.
So why did Mrs. Lee feel the need to expose this, 1 week after the incident occured, and a day before her husband pitches in the WS?
**********************
Were the quotes necessarily gathered today? Or could it be that the ‘reporter’, for whatever reason, has been hanging on to them till now?
I think many people are missing the significance in Mrs. Lee’s comments on the Yankee fans. It’s not that they alone would be the deciding factor in Lee not signing with New York – but it’s another reason to add to all the other more substantive ones.
Maybe it was Lonn Trost and Randy Levine heckling Mrs. Lee.
Sabatoge by bean counters!
Ever since the Yankees tried to trade Jesus Montero (a guy that has been compared to Frank Thomas offensively), I was 100% positive that the Yankees would sign Cliff Lee. There is no way they get outbid, no matter what the price. If Cashman was willing to trade away Jesus Montero, a guy that could be a top 5 hitter in this league, for 3 months of Cliff Lee, there is no ceiling to the amount of money he would offer Lee.
At the same time I read about Lee’s reaction to the possible NY trade and it’s insanely obvious that Lee is very open to being a Yankee. I’d almost say that he was looking forward to being a Yankee before that deal fell through.
Lee will be a Yankee, I’d bet a lot of money on that.
Some fans are jerks and should lose their season tickets, but if Lee says he doesn’t want to come to NY because of a few ‘holes, I call BS.
eboland11
Lee didn’t seem too upset re: USA Today story about his wife getting hassled: “What can u do? U can’t control 50,000 people.”
“I know it’s been made into a big deal but that’s really all it is — just 2 or 3 or 4 people acting like fools.”
CompassRosy – yes, you are correct, they stunk, and thought they could get a better team by trading him for younger, cheaper, and better players. But, to me, that qualifies as a financial consideration. They started out saying that Lee and Felix would lead them to a division title. When it became apparent that wasn’t happening, they bailed on him and that plan.
Grrrr, Patrick is willing to bet more money but I’m on the same side of the wager!
Some posters are so negative, all the time, it’s as if that’s what their live is all about.
Some can only post all the reasons why Cliff Lee should not, or will not, sign with the Yankees.
I hate to be the one to break this news, but, this is a NY Yankees blog, and the vast majority of us believe in the Yankees, and don’t find a need to explain any and all short comings, unless that’s your true purpose of being here in the first place.
pat-thank you for relaying that last bit of info. At least somebody has their head screwed on right.
Good to see you guys again. It’s another off-season of mystery, intrigue and of course insider information.. but the truth is, not much has happened down here in Tampa as of yet.
Expect the Yankees to go after Lee hard, with CC backing them.
As far as women telling their husbands what they can and can’t do, regarding their occupation.. that’s BS. Lee is a winner, wants to play for a winner and was hoping that he was traded to the Yanks at the same time we thought he was going to be. Texas is a good team, and offers him closeness to his family, but when you’re making the $$ Lee is going to be making, Home is wherever you want it to be..
Yes, it’s a shame that we didn’t get Lee and that cost us the WS, but truth be told.. we didn’t play like a WS team, the rangers did and even did without Lee starting more than once.
Here’s looking forward:
Root for the Giants, and when the series is over the Tampa boys are going to be here and I’ll have some info, well just as soon as I have some info.
P.S. Yanks prefer Crawford over Werth and are interested.
Greinke, could be but doubtful:
A) Don’t have the pieces (or unwilling I should say)
B) Concerns about his shoulder and pitching in NY
Lee wouldn’t foreclose NY before the bidding starts.
LGY-
You didn’t got out on a limb. You went out on a tree trunk.
I think you’re safe.
anyone know something about this wilmer romero kid?
I know I’m in the minority and the perception of the media and others teams fans shouldn’t bother me, but I’d rather see Lee go elsewhere or stay with the Rangers.
I don’t feel the Yankees have a god given right to every player and as much as I’d rather win over anything else, some of the “specialness” is taken away if the deck is stacked so highly in your favor.
Plus we’re gonna have to hear “if you can’t beat him, BUY him” all year. God forbid he’s not lights out every game, we have to hear about being a possible bust. Let him go toil away with some other club.
When have CC & Hughes for the long haul. You have to assume Burnett will be a semblence of his former self. You should be able to find 2 other pitchers to round out our staff after that.
The $$$ for Lee can be sprinkle around to be more players to round out the roster.
You know what really got me last year tho:
A) No Damon or Matsui
B) Glass Johnson
C) Aroldis Chapman wasn’t in pinstripes.
*sigh*
BIG AL October 26th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Some posters are so negative, all the time, it’s as if that’s what their live is all about. Some can only post all the reasons why Cliff Lee should not, or will not, sign with the Yankees.
I hate to be the one to break this news, but, this is a NY Yankees blog, and the vast majority of us believe in the Yankees, and don’t find a need to explain any and all short comings, unless that’s your true purpose of being here in the first place.
**********
Why don’t you publicly chastise Chad and Sam for posting the above then? Are they wrong to do so? Is it not news? Is it wrong to discuss and debate the possibilities?
You don’t get to define what a Yankee fan is.
Lost-
Welcome back. look forward to whatever insight you can provide.
Q: Why would Mrs. Lee say those things?
A: To increase the $$$ the Yankees will throw at hubby. That’s it. You can take a shovel to the rest of her comments.
Lost -
Chapman may yet be a MLB star, but watching him pitch in the PS, he was fast, but straight, and he got hit. Too much money to risk on a maybe.
Greg Maddux says hello…..
As long as we’re using hindsight, Vlad was the signing that would have helped the Yankees far more than Damon or Matsui.
Nick I have no idea how you tied Mrs. Lee to Taiwanese food in Queens but it was brilliant.
By the time Opening Day rolls around I’m sure we’ll come up with another bet we can both be happy with!
They started out saying that Lee and Felix would lead them to a division title. When it became apparent that wasn?t happening, they bailed on him and that plan.
*************
Joe ~
I don’t remember hearing any of the M’s brass saying anything about “division titles” when Lee was acquired. Cliff basically fell in Jack’s lap (i.e., he got him for nothing) and so he took the low risk, high reward chance that Cliff MIGHT help them get to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the entire offense (save Ichiro) stunk, the clubhouse was even stinkier, the manager was canned and Cliff was traded. Seems like Jack felt that whatever he could get for Cliff at the deadline exceeded the value of draft picks he’d get if he’d hung on to him.
The one big unknown in all discussions regarding player acquisitions IMO is Hal Steinbrenner.
No one knows much about what his thinking is regarding the future, for all we know he may be interested in selling the team at some point to cash out. What we do know is he seems to be much more inclined to stick to ironclad budgets than his father was. The first sign of that was after taking over operational control when Cashman wanted to acquire Jermaine Dye mid-season and Hal told him no. Then last winter he stuck to a very hard budget, which resulted in a $2.9 million total bench expenditure.
I’m not saying adherence to a budget is a bad thing, not at all. We just don’t know what Hal’s thinking is going forward. I don’t believe he has established a consistent track record and philosophy as an owner yet.
WCYF -
I don’t think of you as a Yankees fan, but rather an agitator, here just to stir up trouble, nothing more. All you do is post negative thoughts about a team you claim to be a fan of.
I have no issues with those that post their feelings about players and coaches, if they do so with thoughts about how they think it could have been different.
My problem is with folks like yourself, the fake fan, here only to create trouble. This is perhaps why you tend to get into with most of the regular posters.
So, enjoy yourself, I know what you are, even if you might fool some here.
Later …………..
Big Al:
Sure he could use some experience and work, but I think he is a winner for sure (or will be)
West Coast Yankee Fan:
Hal is a bit more conservative then George, but he’s all about putting together a championship team each and every year. As far as selling the Yankees, doubtful.. but everybody has a price I suppose.
but everybody has a price I suppose
–
Even Cliff Lee
The Rangers giving out what will likely be at least the second highest salary to a pitcher ever, comprising of nearly half their current payroll. Sounds feasible.
Lee knows without him the Rangers are irrelevant. Exaggerated editorialized reports of “TV Deal” income or not, the Rangers will have to alter their franchise significantly to deal with Lee, and kiss the rest of their young players goodbye while they’re at it. Cruz, Andrus, and the rest aren’t going to be making league minimum forever, not to even mention the probable MVP’s salary.
Speaking of the Ms, I wonder if they will put Ichiro on the trade block. Ichiro seems to be a luxury instead of a necessity on a team that probably won’t contend in the next couple years.
BIG AL October 26th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
WCYF – I don’t think of you as a Yankees fan, but rather an agitator, here just to stir up trouble, nothing more. All you do is post negative thoughts about a team you claim to be a fan of.
I have no issues with those that post their feelings about players and coaches, if they do so with thoughts about how they think it could have been different.
My problem is with folks like yourself, the fake fan, here only to create trouble. This is perhaps why you tend to get into with most of the regular posters. So, enjoy yourself, I know what you are, even if you might fool some here.
*************
I could care less what you think. You just can’t handle being challenged on your trite jingoism.
Lost is back…
As in Lost in Little Rock?
Why do fans have to be obnoxious when not provoked?
It’s annoying, anywhere ..
The people ripping on Cliff Lee’s wife are about as classy as those that harassed her at the game. She felt uncomfortable and was entitled to feel that way. Seriously – it’s one thing to be a rude jerk at a game, it’s another thing to be so stupid as to hurt your team’s chances to lock up the division and more for the next 5 years. Lame.