Comments on: The Man That Got Away

By: Stephanie Liscio

Stephanie Liscio — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:13:49 +0000

I said the exact thing yesterday! Then I joked that they’ll just trade him back to the Dodgers pretty soon anyway.

By: The Doctor

The Doctor — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:58:28 +0000

Thanks Stephanie. I can’t tell you how disgusted I was to hear we were after him, and then how relieved I was when we failed to sign him. Even from Boston’s flush-with-cash perspective, this deal makes absolutely no sense (and here I was thinking the Pagan deal was absurd!). Why spend the whole second half of last season getting out from under long, bloated contracts to declining players, only to go out first thing and sign 2 new declining players to long, bloated contracts?

By: Stephanie Liscio

Stephanie Liscio — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:55:38 +0000

It’s like the popular guy has the clap and we just haven’t realized it yet because we’re young and innocent.

By: Stephanie Liscio

Stephanie Liscio — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:52:23 +0000

Keith Law had a piece on Victorino and mentioned his stats against right-handed pitching. They were not good. Now I know the Indians need someone that can hit left-handed pitching, but you’re offering all that money to someone who will essentially be a platoon player sooner rather than later. I think having Victorino for 4 years at that price would have been a disaster…especially when the Indians’ funds are so limited.

And I agree with The Doctor…it’s like they’re watching ESPN or the MLB Network and just chasing “popular” players. I wouldn’t have minded Victorino, but nowhere near that price. In the long run, Boston will be mocked for this and the Indians can be thankful that they’re not the ones being made fun of. His numbers aren’t so astronomical that they can’t be nearly replicated by much cheaper options.

By: Susan Petrone

Susan Petrone — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:50:10 +0000

But @Swift, my scenario actually happened.

By: The Doctor

The Doctor — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:34:56 +0000

At 31 going on 32, at which point a player’s skills are already in severe decline, paying almost any price for a guy who hit .255 with 11 home runs last year would have been a terrible decision. There will be at least 75-100 quad-A players who the Indians could sign for the minimum, plug in right field, and get the same (or likely better!) production from. Hell, I’d bet with a full season, even LaPorta could exceed those numbers. A couple of years ago I really used to think Shapiro and Co. had it together what with their savvy trades, but every winter meetings when I see all the FA’s connected to the Indians, I start to wonder a little more if they’re even looking at the numbers or just watching ESPN and then going after whoever Jim Bowden says is a good player.

By: Swift

Swift — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:09:18 +0000

“While Cleveland may never be regarded as one of the cool kids, someday, years from now, Shane Victorino may see us in the grocery store. He may stop us, tell us we look great, and do the ring check to see if we’re available. We won’t be. And that will be okay too.”

LoL

Actually, be the pessimistic Cleveland fan, the more likely scenario is that years from now, Cleveland will be on the rebound after an ugly romanace, see Shane in the grocery, convince ourselves he is still cute, and throw ourselves into his arms, not realizing, till it is too late, that he is a washed up bum, and was probably a bum even when we had a crush on him years earlier.

By: Susan Petrone

Susan Petrone — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:04:45 +0000

Drew, I suspect you’re correct as far as Boston overpaying for Victorino’s services. That’s a lot of dough. On the plus side, if the Tribe really has $44 million to play with on the free agent market, perhaps we could do some interesting things.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:38:48 +0000

Well said and great analogy. I am not sure if it still a popular thing to do on the east side of Cleveland on Friday nights, but I too would attend Friday night skate. It was a great activity before high school hockey games.

As for Shane Victorino, I am glad that the Indians offered the $11M/yr for 4 years, that was a respectable offer. And $5M is a lot of money to any athlete. He just turned 32 and will be 35 when this contract ends. There is a big difference between a 35 and 36 year old OF who relies on speed and I think he has a better opportunity to sign a fatter deal in 3 years than in 4 years, and it may be $5M of difference. I really think the only loser here is the Boston Red Sox, because $13M a year for his services is steep, not ridiculous but above market for sure.