Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Rant On Robinson Cano, Jay Z, & Free Agency Games



I have not written a rant in a very long time, probably since the September and October run of the 2012 Yankees, but it’s time… It’s beyond time. Robinson Cano, Jay Z, and this whole debacle have made it time. Here goes nothing.

The New York Yankees President Randy Levine said that they would not be willing to go $300 million on a deal for anyone or go 10 years on a contract, both of which Robinson Cano is asking for. Good for him and good for the Yankees if you ask me. Cano is not coming off of his demands for a major contract and thinks that his super-agent Jay Z is going to get him all the wealth he could ever want, and he will. Cano thinks he has the Yankees over a barrel much like Alex Rodriguez did in 2007 but he is wrong and here is why. In 2007 the Yankees were coming off of a postseason appearance and an American League East title, we had nowhere to go but down. What’s the worst that happens if we don’t sign Cano we finish in a tie for fourth place and miss the playoffs? Oh wait…

Jay Z thinks he is smarter than everyone else because he has built a MUSIC empire in Rockafella Records and even went as far as to “diss” Scott Boras in one of his songs but I have news for him, his posturing is working. Does anyone really think that the New York Mets have the money and the inclination to hand Cano his contract demands? They can barely afford what they have now regardless of the fact that they just got out from under, partially minus the buyout, the Johan Santana contract. The Mets are not spending that kind of money and if they are it will shock the hell out of me. If Jay Z really wants to scare the Yankees take Cano to go see a team with a real need at second base, a team that will be in contention next year and beyond, and a team that will actually spend the money. Go see the Detroit Tigers, go see the Los Angeles Dodgers, go see the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Atlanta Braves (if they can trade Dan Uggla), etc. You’re bluffing and your poker face sucks Shawn Carter and if this is how we’re going to play then adios Cano. We don’t want you Robbie if you’re going to be a greedy prick, and I know that sounds funny coming from a guy who once started  a Yankees blog called The Greedy Pinstripes. And we don’t need you if you are going to be all about the money.

We have won a lot more World Series with guys like Scott Brosious, Jim Leyritz, Shane Spencer, and Chad Curtis then we have handing out 10 year maxed out deals to pre-Madonna’s like Alex Rodriguez. If Robbie doesn’t want to sign with us and meet in the middle, in the immortal words of the great Michael Kay, see ya! If Cano wants 10 years or even nine years, see ya. If Cano wants a dime over $200 million, see ya. We go out and we sign a Kelly Johnson or an Omar Infante, we take the hit and loss in production at second base, and we go upgrade elsewhere. We go sign a Jacoby Ellsbury to take over in right field and we sign a Brian McCann to give us an upgrade at catcher and we sign a Jhonny Peralta to replace the suspended Alex Rodriguez, we spend wisely on starting pitching, we upgrade the bench and the minors with depth, and we go out and we win in spite of it all. Robinson Cano is not irreplaceable, nobody is no matter what anyone says, and it may take a season or two but we will rebuild, we will re-tool, and we will reconquer Major League Baseball, with or without Cano.

14 comments:

  1. I'm exhausted after reading that rant. Like the Shawn Carter touch.
    You left out Chuck Knoblauch.
    My choice as of today is...Mackey Sasser. He would hardly ever make a throwing error. And,
    he can catch.

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    1. I left out Knobby since, like Nunez, he got inside his own head a little too much.

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  2. Daniel...
    I am beginning to like your thinking more and more every day.
    I would have added the Cuban FA's to the list of options for us (no draft picks involved)!

    The feed back from some fans is going to be tough, as it was when the Yanks let Matsui, Johnny Damon and ??? (I forget) go after 2009. "Better to let them go a year too soon than a year to late!", I always say, right or wrong...I don't know.

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    1. Yes I think we should sign all the Cuban guys that we can. Especially the ones like Raicel Iglesias that are willing to go to the minors when they sign.

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  3. Well, lest anyone forget, we do have Tex coming back...that may help a little bit in the power department. IF (still hate that word), Nunze can adapt to 3rd base, we should be ok...even better than getting someone from the outside. Conversely, should we use him as a trading chip, he has a lot of talent, maybe with another team he would have a chance to show it. Just a thought!

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  4. "pre-Madonna’s like Alex Rodriguez"

    I see what you did there

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  5. I'm a longtime fan and have to preface by saying I like Cano, but no nonsense. Jay-Z has unfortunately gotten in his ear, thinks he has the Yankees management (and by proxy the fans) by the cajones and definitely thinks he's the juice as an agent.

    I really wish the fans could start a grass roots effort to reinforce the fact that they can see that even at half the rate he's asking for, the smart money isn't on Cano here. If you look at some alternatives like Omar Infante 2B, Beltran RF, and even someone like Jhonny Peralta for third and a platoon lefty catcher like AJ Pierzinski, they blow guys like Cano (and even Granderson who I like) away i post season batting avg and OBP. They could drop less money and get some guys who'll make a real impact (ala the old A's/Red Sox style of doing things).

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    1. With $300 million you could sign Infante, Tanaka, Corey Hart, Brian Mcann, Jhonny Peralta, Matt Garza, and STILL have a few dollars left over for lunch at the New York Steak.

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    2. joconnr1.....sign me up. I'm with you.
      That has been my tacked for months, and it very well could happen.
      Look forward to reading your words again.

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    3. It's like watching the blood run out of your body waiting for Cano/ARod/Tanaka. They can't do it. This is their chance to patch holes with winners who've been there in the post season before and have produced. I just hope they take it and don't worry about appeasing fans with big names.

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    4. They will wait on Tanaka, they have to wait on A Rod, but I cannot see them waiting on Cano waiting much past the winter meetings in December.

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  6. TRADE ALERT :
    Being reported, the Tigers, and Texas have agreed to trade....Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler.
    If so, bad news for Yankees......Tigers were thought to be in on Robinson Cano.
    Lord, they should have traded Cano last July.

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  7. JOHN..once more. The fine poster from the dark side...YFU. Step up !
    This is our time. When you joined the 'Block Buster Brotherhood of New York', you sold your soul.
    Hot stove, winter meetings, baseball driven rumors...that is why you were conceived.

    You are not in the broom closet, nor invoke Jersey Boy hocum. Take your place in the wall.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)