Author Topic: "The Client" (Read 7771 times)

pravata · « **on:** December 19, 2006, 11:54:55 am »

"It was mentally draining," Matsuzaka said. "It was tough. I'm not used to having an agent, and leaving everything up to him was something that was new to me."

The Link (Which is funny because Boras had said that Matsuzaka had made a thorough study and had an opinion about offers being made in other free agent contracts.)

Further illuminations on Boras' negotiating style

The Sox brass indicated that their initial offer wasn't countered and they've made a second offer and are waiting for a counter on that.
The Link

Boras was masterfully isolating his client as the final days approached. That left the Red Sox no other choice but to get on a plane last Monday and flush out their negotiating counterparts. ...

The Red Sox contingent didn't apprise Boras that it was in California until after their plane had touched down. ...

Red Sox even got a proposal from Boras: six years and $66 million. (not ONE hundred meeellion oswalts?) Boston countered with a take-it-or-leave-it proposal of $52 over six seasons. The Link (This article also highlights Boras' misunderstanding of the Japanese culture. Which is interesting in light of his comments of how he "understood" the primary motivation for Matsuzaka in the negotiations was "respect".)

Consequently,...

"Mets zero in on Zito today

AP Article Last Updated: 12/19/2006 06:54:57 AM PST

New York Mets executives planned to visit Barry Zito in the Los Angeles area today on a "recruiting visit." "

The Mets were also able to meet with Beltran personally. Seeing the client in person seems to be the key to cutting through the Boras BS. A note all teams should take when dealing with the various Boras wannabes.

Taras Bulba · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:57:34 am »

Curious to see how the second Drew physical goes.

Froback · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2006, 12:14:14 pm »

Is that all that is left to our off-season? Watching other teams do stuff?

Are the Astros done? Not sure what else they could add to the line-up, but who mans the 4/5 spots in the rotation sure has me wondering.

I guess they could be done, but things sure have gone silent recently. I guess after the whirl-wind trade talks the team is taking a breather before it begins again.

I know alot of people would like to see Huff re-signed, but until Morgan is moved that does not appear to be happening... btw, anyone else surprised by the lack of buzz around Huff from other teams?

pravata · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2006, 12:23:37 pm »

Quote:

Is that all that is left to our off-season? Watching other teams do stuff?

Are the Astros done? Not sure what else they could add to the line-up, but who mans the 4/5 spots in the rotation sure has me wondering.

I guess they could be done, but things sure have gone silent recently. I guess after the whirl-wind trade talks the team is taking a breather before it begins again.

I know alot of people would like to see Huff re-signed, but until Morgan is moved that does not appear to be happening... btw, anyone else surprised by the lack of buzz around Huff from other teams?

ADD is a scourge of modern society. "All that is left..." WTF? A 5 player trade, 3 FA signings, (Dave Borkowski 12/13) one of which to the biggest contract in team history, not enough for you? Something needs to happen every single day? The Hendricks/Boras connection in that post not spelled out clearly enough for you? As for Huff, consider this from Alyson Footer " A player's ability to make adjustments often separates the elite players (Bagwell, Biggio) from the average (Aubrey Huff)." Oh, also, Roger Clemens is still undecided. And now. And again, now, still undecided. There's your Astros news for today.

Andyzipp · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2006, 12:50:44 pm »

If Ensberg can be dealt, they will attempt to sign Huff. Sadly there is no market for Ensberg.

toddthebod · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2006, 01:15:33 pm »

I wonder if the Astros could package Ensberg and Burke to the Red Sox for Lowell, Crisp, and some cash.

Ensberg's upside is clearly higher than Lowell's (and they might like Ensberg's extremely high OBP), but I would take Lowell's consistency at the plate as well as his defense at third. The Sox also seem to be looking for a secondbaseman.

Astroholic · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2006, 02:21:26 pm »

Um if the trade Burke, wouldn't the Astros need a second baseman in 08?

Astroholic · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:25:33 pm »

Will Conrad be ready? Will Pence be ready to play CF? I think trading Burke would create a major issue for the stros in 08.(I can't believe I am saying this as I was not a Burke fan pre 05)

toddthebod · « **Reply #15 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:46:03 pm »

If Brooks Conrad is available, great, if he's not, there are always going to be short-term free agent options. For example, if the Astros were looking for a second baseman this year, they could still sign Mark Loretta. (In fact, I wish the Astros could sign Mark Loretta and not have to deal with Craig Biggio for another season.) Marcus Giles I read somewhere is only getting a one-year deal from the Padres. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

toddthebod · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2006, 04:03:38 pm »

And next season there will be someone else who is looking for a one-year deal to re-establish himself. Giles is just this year's example. (And Giles may not do anything this upcoming season to warrant a longer deal -- pearticularly in Petco Park). I wouldn't worry about finding a secondbaseman next season if Conrad isn't ready.

jaklewein · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2006, 04:28:30 pm »

(In fact, I wish the Astros could sign Mark Loretta and not have to deal with Craig Biggio for another season.)

Don't think I haven't thought about the possibility of Bidge playing poorly next year, b/c I have. That said, I think he's going to help the club plenty in '07. I think he's going to be given more days off (more on the road as has been documented well in here), which will keep him fresh and playing to his strengths at MMP. I'm really looking forward to watching him this year...especially after Bags playing days came to an abrupt end. I feel quite lucky to have seen him play his last game in spring training last year. Got the stub tucked away somewhere.

JimR · « **Reply #23 on:** December 28, 2006, 11:01:15 am »

good job, Mike. sometimes the idiocy overwhelms me, too.

toddthebod · « **Reply #24 on:** December 28, 2006, 12:59:45 pm »

Sorry Mihoba. I'm just not as sentimental as you. For me (unlike you), the game is not about trivia questions or career statistics, its about: (1) the drive for a world series victory; and/or (2) watching quality baseball.

I am bored to tears with watching over the hill veterans try to reach career milestones. Not to be pithy, but those milestones tend to be millstones around the necks of their teams (see Exhibit 1 -- Cal Ripken).

So I am cheering for Craig not because I particularly care about him getting to 3000 hits. I am cheering for Craig because the Astros need him to be a productive hitter this season. And they need him to be an average fielder at second. And I am concerned that he will be neither.

The lasting memory of Craig Biggio should not be his 3,000th hit. The memory of Biggio should be of the 1993-2001 seasons when he was an absolute baseball god.

I loved Bagwell as a player. But I am glad that he is now in the front office and not on the field. I loved Hakeem as a player, but I was glad when he left the Rockets (now there is a prime example of an aging superstar trying to hold his team hostage). And I loved Craig Biggio as a player, but I will be glad when he gets his 3,000 hit so he can retire and the team can move on.

JimR · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2006, 12:05:24 pm »

this is just idiotic and is indictative of the depth of your appreciation for the game itself. it is a fantasy approach, where neither the "games" nor the players are real.

Tralfaz · « **Reply #27 on:** December 29, 2006, 12:43:55 pm »

Todd, if you were running this organization, how would you deal with the public relations nightmare axing Biggio would create? And how would you deal with the attitude of your club house after the organizations has cut it's most beloved player and it's clear leader during the swansong of his career? And , while dealing with this, Mark Loretta will step in for a year and win you a world series? No pressure there.

toddthebod · « **Reply #28 on:** December 29, 2006, 01:24:39 pm »

Pravata: How are you using the term appreciate? Do you mean "to understand" or do you mean "to value?" I understand why Biggio is playing second for the Astros in 2007. EVERYONE understands it. It still doesn't change the fact that the Astros would likely be a more competitive team in 2007 without Biggio.

But I do not find an intrinsic "value" in having Biggio on the field to get his 3000th hit. As a fan of the Houston Astros baseball TEAM, I care less about Craig Biggio's individual career statistics than I do about how the team performs in 2007. And I find it difficult to understand why anyone would think that Biggio reaching 3,000 hits changes his importance in the team's history. I think that Biggio's place in Astros' history is set regardless of whether he gets another hit in his career. The only importance of 3,000 hits is because that artificial number is viewed as guaranteeing hall of fame entry. And while I would like to see Craig Biggio in the hall of fame, whether or not he (or Jeff Bagwell) gets into the hall of fame or not isn't something that I lose a whole lot of sleep over.

And Jim. Fuck off. I appreciate "professional" baseball just fine. I am happy that your dementia leads you to believe that you are superior to me or have a deeper appreciation of the "game" than I do. My recommendation is that you get the DVD collection of "When it was a game" ($28.99 on Amazon) and jerk off to the gashouse gang.

toddthebod · « **Reply #29 on:** December 29, 2006, 01:38:44 pm »

Is Biggio the most beloved player in the clubhouse? I was under the impression that a lot of the players on the team think he's an asshole. Maybe I'm wrong.

Tralfaz. You are right. There is no way that the team could get rid of Biggio this season. And I have never said, "fire Biggio . . . get rid of him."

All I said was that I wish that we didn't have to deal with Biggio this season and that someone else (Mark Loretta in particular) could be the Astros secondbaseman in 2007. And I will be happy when the Astros can move on.

But let me pose this hypothetical. What if Biggio ends 2007 with a sub-.300 OBP and wants to be the starting secondbaseman in 2008 and makes this publicly known? If you are the general manager or owner, what do you do? I haven't heard Biggio say that he intends on retiring after this season. Have you?

JimR · « **Reply #30 on:** December 29, 2006, 01:38:56 pm »

thanks for the recommendation, Mr. Private School Soccer Jocksniffer. i have watched those tapes, and they are very good.

pravata · « **Reply #31 on:** December 29, 2006, 01:42:02 pm »

I mean value, in more ways than you've shown yourself capable fo understanding; for many years now. You think it's a mystery to the Astros, one of the best teams in baseball during the past decade, that they could get a 2b with better statistics for 07 than Biggio? Does an individuals statistics make a better team? It's not all about 3,000 hits and the HoF neither.

Tralfaz · « **Reply #32 on:** December 29, 2006, 02:10:37 pm »

Well if Biggio is considered a club house A hole by alot of players, that's news to me. I know Dierker and Biggio had a few tense moments, but beyond that what are you basing this opinion on?

From what I understand, Biggio's playing time will be scaled back a bit in '07. This would probably be even more so if he chooses to play in '08. I have no problem with that. I want Biggio's influence, in any capacity, for the next generation of Astros players to witness first hand. More Biggio, less myspace please.

Foghorn · « **Reply #36 on:** December 29, 2006, 04:06:49 pm »

The silliest part is Todd is advocating Loretta as a step up from Biggio. Here's Loretta's numbers the last 4 years. See if you can guess when they started steroid testing...

Year--AVG/OBP/SLG

2003--314/372/441
2004--335/391/495
2005--280/360/347
2006--285/345/361

Biggio's OBP is a lot less than Loretta's but his SLG is much higher. I'm not sure there's a lot of difference in the final offensive output between the 2 players.

If you want to make a case for Biggio splitting time with Burke at 2B, I'm all for that. Especially given how Biggio's home/road splits look (I still say Biggio has tinkered with his swing for maximum MMPUS effect, which kills his road productivity).

But I'm not sure how Loretta instead of Biggio makes this a better team on the field. I'd say to bump out one of the organizations top players of all time, on the verge of a MAJOR career milestone, fan favorite and every single other intangible out there for a guy who is just as good (maybe worse) is the dumbest thing ever.

I'm sure the other players would love that. "Gee, we can spend an entire career with the Astros only for them to bench me (cut me) when I'm less than 100 hits away from 3000 to bring in a guy whose stats aren't any better than mine."

THATS the ticket.

Danimal · « **Reply #38 on:** December 29, 2006, 07:38:45 pm »

Craig Biggio is FAR from an a-hole... Maybe hes intense at work, where he is paid to be, but shouldn't we all be? Anyone who has met him off the field would absolutely laugh at that statement.

DVauthrin · « **Reply #39 on:** December 29, 2006, 08:04:32 pm »

If craig was hurting the team by playing maybe i'd understand, but he's not. I'd want to walk up to Drayton and punch him if he let Biggio get 3000 in a different uniform. Biggio and Bagwell are the face of this franchise and will be for a long time, and their is something special about them playing their whole careers in Houston. They DESERVE to go out on their terms.

You do realize you can win and still have biggio accomplish his milestone todd don't you? And the fact you think loretta is so much better is laughable.

You would never make it in the game because you think all these players are robots and that personal goals and egos/feelings don't have to be factored in when running a successful franchise. It's not as easy as this guy is better than this guy all the time. And it never will be.

I contend the Astros will field a winning 2007 baseball team and craig biggio will get his 3,000 hit at MMP in july.

If that has no meaning to you as a fan, you really need to re evaluate the meaning of being a fan.

pravata · « **Reply #40 on:** December 30, 2006, 01:55:22 pm »

"3,000" is just a bauble. It is the logical conclusion of the fundamental philosophy of the Astros, the entertaining part of the game is the players on the field. That is where they put their focus. Try to keep and obtain players that the fans are interested in coming to see. That philosophy works even when historic milestones aren't being chased.

Some teams focus on the owner, (Yankees) some have made a cult of the GM (A's) or the manager (Cardinals), the ballpark (Cubs) the hotdogs (Dodgers), or even the city, (Red Sox). Astros try to keep the game between the lines and when distractions crop up, minimize them.

It is true that the Astros ultimate goal is to be a successful business. Mclane was a successful businessman when he bought the team. He didn't know anything about baseball. He knows about profits. He has, I think, also figured out that the surest way to make money in baseball is to win games. They're not going to put players on the field just because they are names.

Author Topic: "The Client" (Read 7771 times)

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Andyzipp

No? in Austin

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