Forgoing Free Agnecy and looking for a Lifetime Extension

When a MLB player's contract expires they become a "free agent" 

 

At that point they can sign with any team that desires and can afford their services. Common sense dictates that during free agency a player looks to sign a contract that offers them the most money for the longest period of time. Contract terms all vary depending on the player's age, ability, statistics, position, comparable contracts, and the overall market place. Besides the money, perhaps the next biggest stumbling point in negotiations is length of contract as the longer a deal goes the higher the risk of injury and poor/diminishing performance by the athlete. Logically teams prefer to offer shorter (1or 2 year) deals, but all the top free agents want long term commitments (5 years and beyond).

In the real world, I was once a single free agent, but 5 years ago today I signed a marriage contract

 
 
 

 
 
and I just wanted  to declare that I have no intention of going real world free agent and am looking for a lifetime service contract extension from my amazing wife - Astrid!!!!!!!!

 who is beautiful inside and out.She has been there for me in every way and I know the years ahead will only get better as we build a new team through the farm system one day.

Happy Anniversary and Holler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SB Winter Meetinsg

Baseball's Winter Meetings are taking place this week. The way I see is if these multimillion dollar teams, players, and low life agents can have a convention to wheal and deal why can we?  I mean with have suits and sweaters

 

and can get together to make moves. So without much further ado let's use MLB as a template and set up a Softball Winter meeting Agenda

Agenda Item #1 Introduce media lightning rod and controversial manager 

•  Red Sox hire Bobby Valentine and Miami Marlins hire Ozzie Guillen

•  and after a 6 month hiatus softball manager Dio Jackson is now back
  

Dio

looking to take the championship reigns back

Agenda Item #2 - Big Money spent on Free Agents

• Papelbon, Bell, Reyes, Pujols, Fielder, Wilson all have or are going to get paid

• In Softball, the rich will always get richer
  

  

 Agenda Item #3 - New Stadium used to attract players

• The Marlins use their impressive new dome home
  as a selling point

• In softball 28th street will be back which will definitely bring in and back former players

Agenda Item #4 - Bidding Wars on Top Players

• Scott Boras types going to try and drive up player prices
• In softball top impact players are at a premium and the Recruiting Game is ruthless

 

Agenda Item #5 - Young Players

• The days of trading off your entire farm system are over. Young players are durable and affordable.

• In Softball Young players are not only the future

but can also courtesy run. The market for these players is important because it represents an out of the box recruiting strategy.

Big Apple Rookie of Year Christian Goris, 2nd from left

as you try and lock in players who are hitting their peak

Competition is especially complicated for these guys. A topic for another day.

Agenda Item #6 - Older player market

• Big Papi, Vlad, Thome find it harder to get big deals or promised playing time as Dh types get flexed on

• In softball, studs of yesterday like Tommy Helegson have been forced to take short term deals with winless teams like the Legends to prove their worth
  

Agenda Item #7 - Thin Pitching Market

• CJ Wilson offered a 6 year deal, Ridiculous. People Always overpay for pitching
• Softball is the same. Most pitchers (not all) look to stick up the market for the highest bidder. Someone always caves in

Agenda Item #8 - Rumors

• Players, fans, bloggers, agents, GM's, owners, reporters are all like high school girls passing notes. They love rumors, bitch style
• Everyone in softball loves juicy rumors, drama  and gossip (bochinche in Spanish). It's part of teh social element.

Let the Softball Hot Stove begin

AGAIN... "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you."

I've been here before as Met fan before, AGAIN, and AGAIN ,and AGAIN.

• 1977 - I was a little kid but Mets Salary dumped Seaver  - team would suck for years
• 1990 - Darryl Strawberry was not resigned - AGAIN team would suck for years
• 2011 - Reyes deemed to expensive and injury risk to resign - AGAIN - team will suck for years

As a free agent shortstop in his prime, Reyes was a rarity.  The 28-year-old had one of the finest seasons of his nine-year Mets career in 2011, winning his first batting title and posting the fourth season in which he was worth about six wins above replacement. He has all 5 tools, he can hit, hit for power (extra bases), speed, defense, and a strong arm. For that skill set he will receive $102M over the first six years of his contract, and has a $4MM buyout on a seventh year option. Can't blame a brother for getting paid.

I'm a Met fan and everyone knows I loved but recognized Jose Reyes flaws.

as he was frequently injured and more importantly not old school approved for his on field celebration/antics. Old school veterans like Keith Hernandez hated him, most Yankee fans hated him for the Jeter SS comparisons, the Phillies hated him, hell whole the National League East hated him (ironically the Marlins tried to beat him up several times but hypocritically signed him), and finally he completely shit on the fans in his last game as a Met 

This whole situation reminds me of the famous Ralph Kiner story about being traded to the Cubs. Kiner played for the last place Pirates and was clearly their best player. He went in to ask for a raise and legendary Pirate general manager Branch Rickey (notoriously cheap) told him, "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you." He was then traded. Same shit with Reyes. Met ownership is broke and committed to rebuilding. Rebuilding means you are going to suck for a while. In the long run,  this is probably a good smart thing, but just the prospect of waiting a long time AGAIN hurts.
Unfortunately, Met fans have been here before,  AGAIN, and AGAIN, and AGAIN.

2011 Team Name Review

Softball team names can be meaningful, shallow, traditional, clever, or politically incorrect. With the year almost over, I thought it would be fun to review some 2011 team names I encountered:

Softball Insider Rated  Best Team Name - Old School

While the team's roster and performance was in transition this year, their name in and of itself is so cool as "there is no school like the old school"

Softball Insider Rated Best A96 Team Name - The Hustlers

It's all about the Hustle. Every player on this team should always Hustle.

Softball Insider Rated Identity Crisis Name - Pray for Rain

 

Championship Team where everyone wore Cyclone shirt, but team name was Pray for Rain.

Softball Insider Rated Most Responsible Name -  Trojans

Team name had nothing to do with condoms but subliminally it sent a good message.

Softball Insider Rated Almost Got it Right Name.. Almost - Diesel Rangers

The team is not only close to winning on the field, but its also close to getting its name right. In 2010 the team was called Diesel Express. However, it had previously been called Lawn Rangers. So in 2011 the names were merged to Diesel Rangers. Damn. Almost. Lawn Rangers is so much more New York City Central Park symbolic.

Softball Insider Rated Best B96 Corny Generic Name - Bravery

Bravery ??? Cmon that name would never be allowed above 96th street, but lo and behold it proved worthy as the team dealt with massive internal and external challenges to show true honor and courage.


Softball Insider Rated - Most Corporate -  Charter Fabric & LawyerTime

"The Man" means fully sponsored.

Softball Insider Rated - Bridge and Tunnel Award  - West NY

OK never mind that this 10-0 team joked in the playoffs, at least we saved the league and let everyone know we were still loyal to NY even if we played in Jersey City.

Softball Insider Rated - Best Neighborhood Name -  Hell's Kitchen

 Even the life long Hell's Kitchen resident would admit the neighborhood has under gone massive turnover but the name still has a special tough NY meaning associated with it. This team also gets kudos for best colors as their pumpkin orange fit the season.

Finally, I don't want to forget you COED players out there so
Softball Insider Rated - Best Coed Team Name - 

Can't Make that up

Good Blogmates

One of the highest compliments you can give a player is call him a great teammates.  Softball/Baseball is a game of failure and it helps to have good teammates that are honest and supportive to help you through the hard times.  Life is no different as the saying goes  "that's what friends are for".

Recent Blogs have me starting to lose my sense of humor as everything is so tense and gloom.  I get my fair share of blog comments that usually run the full spectrum from funny to sad, bland to controversial, ignorant to brilliant and so forth. Recently, I have gotten an overwhelming amount of positive comments from my fellow Blog Mates that have me feeling much more upbeat, calm, and relaxed. 

Comment # 1 - Keep The Faith Ricky. You're too good of a person not to reach your goals. Sometimes it just takes longer than we want.

Comment #2  - Oh, Ricky. I know the wave that's crashing in on you right now. And I know more than a few people (myself included) feeling trapped by the times we are living through. Bad economy and a political environment that seems intent on making it worse. Then winter comes and no more ballgames and since the game is what some of us have to make the harshness of life recede for a bit, hopelessness can start to overwhelm. Don't despair, my friend. There is always something you can do without having to ask anyone's permission. I've decided to use the next three months to acquire some new skills that might make a difference in my economic situation by the time spring arrives. In the meantime, I'm taking every scrap of a job I can dig up and working for less money than I have had to take for 20 years. But right now, it's better than nothing. And by the time I've taken a few classes, spring will be here. And with it, renewal of the game and who knows, lots of other possibilities. As JIM SAYS ABOVE, KEEP THE FAITH, Ricky. Better days are coming and you are not alone.

Comment #3 - I don't knowbut from reading his post addressing your concerns he sounds like someone who is going to achieve great success in the business world. He is a realist, a go getter and an individual that will do what it takes to get ahead in spite of the obstacles ahead. He has a spirit that is positive and contagious. Good luck

Comment #4 - Remember Ricky, you're never too old to learn new things away from the business world. At 49 I learned to play guitar and now I play every day as I work from home. There are probably many things you're not involving yourself with that you could because of the stresses you speak of. Take a deep breath and step back. Things come easier that way. Find other things until the right thing comes along in the business world. You're a great guy. trelax. It'll come when you stop looking so hard. Distract yourself.

Comment #5 - I hear you Ricky. As it's been said before, every one of us has our own struggles. Don't feel sorry for yourself. Get some rest. Clear your mind. Remind yourself what it is you want, and then do the things you think you need to do to get there. It can be done.

Comment #6 - Times are hard Ricky right now and you are not alone. Take some time to reflect on what makes you happy in life. My suggestion would be if you can get away for a few days and relax, maybe a different setting is what you need. Also if you have time volunteer at your local hospital, or community center;sometimes just keeping busy can help you focus. Good luck and remember have faith.

 

You guys are Great Blog Mates Thank You