The Boston Red Sox and International Free Agent Exploits

So the Red Sox may have exploited (AKA cheated) the International Free Agent system this year? Wonder if ESPN even covers it....

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) May 11, 2016

The internet is a gift and a curse much like most everything on a long enough time line. You can easily sit down and write our 100 pros and 100’s cons for most anything on the internet. WebMD is great because it can save you hundreds of dollars in doctor bills only to find out the Mexican you ate for lunch gave you heartburn but at the same time it seems obligatory to put “cancer” down as a possible cause for each and every symptom on the site. This can be said about Twitter as well which I absolutely adore. I love the fact that you can talk to people around the world at any given time but at the same time, especially if you run a blog, you have lots of opinions and lots of differing opinions that you may not necessarily agree with. How you handle those opinions either makes you a nice guy, a troll or a jerk and there is usually no in between. I will reserve judgement on which one of these three I received this week when I discussed the MLB Trade Rumors article showcasing the fact that the league is now investigating the Boston Red Sox for possibly exploiting and cheating the international free agents market but it sure was a doozy.

If you missed what happened here is the Reader’s Digest version of it. The Red Sox signed a boat load of IFA’s including Yoan Moncada a year back and now face the same penalties as the Yankees do in the international market. Neither team can sign an IFA for more than $300K and while that has slowed down the Yankees pursuits of the top tiered talent in the league that has not stopped the Red Sox whatsoever. The league is investigating the Red Sox after the team signed a group of IFA’s that all share the same trainers for exactly $300K despite the fact that these men were expected to sign for much more this summer. The league thinks the Red Sox signed them all as a package deal which not officially breaking any written rule it is still an exploit.

Now me being me, a Yankees fan with a Yankees blog and a Yankees-centric passionate following, I posted something on twitter along the lines of “The Boston Red Sox are exploiting (AKA cheating) the IFA system and I wonder if ESPN will even cover it” and apparently some of my Red Sox readers took offense to that. This one follower in specific asked me things such as “did you read the details of what is being investigated? It’s laughable and not “cheating.” When I pushed back that MLB Trade Rumors ran the article, a credible news source, and that yes I was pretty well versed in what had been released to the public I got what I consider to be an immature “back against the wall” comment. The comment, word for word, was “show me the rule that is being broken. If you think that the IFA system is without its flaws you are mistaken.”

Now. I don’t remember saying the IFA system was perfect or that anything in this world other than my wife and children were without its flaws. All my work is very well documented either on Twitter or on my blog and I challenge anyone to show me where I said it was perfect or without flaws. Secondly we can argue semantics all day but those same semantics have to go both ways. Boston Red Sox fans, for the most part because you cannot lump them all together obviously, were up in arms when Alex Rodriguez took steroids and thought he should be suspended for it. If I threw out a hypothetical response along the lines of “show me a failed test” most Red Sox fans wouldn’t want to hear that. They would argue masking agents and all that hoopla. So no, there isn’t a specific rule written that says you can sign a small village to $300K deals each but when you get your money you have to give $200K of yours to this guy and you have to give $150K of yours to that guy but that doesn’t make it any less of an exploit. Exploits, semantics or not or no matter how you want to spin it, is cheating. If you disagree I respect that but I believe you’re wrong. That’s my opinion and you should respect that.

Look, I get it. You’re a homer. I understand because I’m a homer too. Maybe we can be friends, we have plenty of non-Yankees fans friends on our blog including some Red Sox fans. We’re respectful to those who are respectful to us despite their allegiances but when you come at us like this that changes this into a whole new ball game. And no, I won’t put their Twitter handle on this post or link to their site, who did it is not important. It’s the message. It’s the need for respect. We’re all fans here and if you’re just happy your team is doing whatever they need to do to win then just say it. I’ll respect you a whole lot more for it.

Be good everyone and Happy Friday!

When Did Bat Flipping & Showing Up Your Opponent Become Okay Again?

Many times I find myself not watching the MLB Playoffs or the World Series if the New York Yankees aren’t in it, I can’t help it but the games just aren’t as interesting for me without a vesting personal interest. This season I decided to go against the grain a bit and watch as much playoff baseball as I could, although obviously I’ve missed more than my fair share, and I see a trend developing that I find to be pretty disturbing, the bat flip and showing up your opponent apparently is okay again.

I saw it happen in the American League Wild Card Game when the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros faced off head-to-head. Carlos Gomez is known to be a confident player, I call it cocky but whatever, and had a bat flip while Colby Rasmus did as well on what turned out to be the game-winning home run off Masahiro Tanaka. I didn’t like it as a fan and I’m sure the Yankees players and Tanaka specifically didn’t appreciate it either, just a hunch. The bat flipping didn’t stop there though as Jose Bautista did one as well in Game 5 of the ALDS. I understand that was the biggest postseason home run since Joe Carter’s walk-off home run against the Philadelphia Phillies but there is a higher purpose at stake here, it’s called respect.

In Game One of the 2015 World Series the Kansas City Royals came from behind to beat the New York Mets on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Royals star Eric Hosmer. Naturally when the winning run crossed the plate in front of his home crowd an emphatic bat flip and helmet toss came along with the victory once again. Celebrating is one thing, disrespecting the opposing team, pitcher and fan base is another and there is a fine line. Bat flips, in my opinion, are crossing that line.

Come to think of it… the Astros lost the series after their bat flips. The Blue Jays lost their series against these same Royals after the Jose Bautista bat flip seen round the world. Are the Royals the next victim of some instant karma? Guess you’ll have to stay tuned. 

The World Needs a Little More RE2PECT

If I have learned anything in my 28 years of living I have learned that one thing this world is lacking and could really use is a little more respect. Respect for others, respect for the game, and respect for ourselves. Derek Jeter was a walking poster child for this philosophy during his 20 year tenure as the New York Yankees shortstop and with him gone I worry that he may take a little of that with him.

Derek was well known to talk to opposing players during the game, umpires before an at bat, tip his cap to the opposing pitcher, people in the stands while he was on the on-deck circle, and to each and every member of personnel in the clubhouse behind closed doors. This is just what we know as fans from a very guarded and very secretive man and ball player so imagine all the things we don’t know or won’t learn until now since he is retired. The Yankee Way, or as I liked to call it the “Jeter Effect” trademark pending,  may be on the way out along with Jeter and his personal belongings.

The Yankees are their fans are entering an era that many of us have never seen, the era without the great Derek Jeter, an era without the Boss George Steinbrenner, an era without Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig, and an era without respect. When I speak of respect I hold the players as accountable as the fans and I speak of respect from the players as well as to the players. I speak of respect to your men and women covering the team from Buster Olney all the way down to the aspiring writers and fans. I don’t want to stand on my soapbox and scream “can’t we all just get along?” but really, can’t we?

We are all on the same team here and we’re all a family. Hal Steinbrenner, Joe Girardi, Alex Rodriguez, the 25^th man on the active roster, the towel boy in the clubhouse, the ball boy on the field, the trainers, the writers who cover the team, the fans who passionately follow the team, the guy selling hot dogs in section 203 or that bald guy who keeps yelling all game long. We’re all on the same team and we need to start acting like it.

I used to run and basically own a sports forum that had daily threads and live discussions during the game and the unwritten rule was that anything, within reason of course, said in those live blog type threads was brushed off. We’re fans and we’re passionate and while that thin line between douche and passionate gets blurred sometimes as long as we didn’t go overboard it was overlooked and understood by all. It really made for a great environment, a friendly environment, and an active environment because we could all vent, call for this person and that person’s job, and at the end agree and work towards one common goal.

With that said I challenge everyone reading this today to add a little more respect and a little more understanding into your life. The most patient person in the world can use a little more patience and the most understanding person in the world could always understand a little more. As we head into this offseason of uncertainty and this era of new beginnings I challenge everyone here to start it off the right way, with respect. I love this game, I love this team, and I love each and every one of you reading this and I truly appreciate you all. Pay it forward, go!

The Daily Dozen - Derek Jeter Day

The Daily Dozen - Derek Jeter Day Edition

The Ceremony as seen through my eyes from my comfortable couch in Ohio!

1. THE FIELD

2. THE FANS

3. THE GRANDMA FROM NEW JERSEY

4. THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE PARENTS IN SPORTS

5. THE HEIR APPARENT

6. THE MANAGER

7. THE PLAYERS

8. THE CHILDHOOD HERO

9. THE LEGENDS

10. THE BOSS

11. THE ENTRY

12. THE SPEECH

Quick Hit: Derek Jeter In Commercials

Derek Jeter and the #RE2PECT commercial got me thinking what other commercials has Derek Jeter been in? There was more than I thought by a long shot surprisingly so enjoy Jeter showing a side we didn't get to see nearly enough in his time as a player, his human side. Enjoy!

#RE2PECT

Gatorade commercial stealing a base off John Lackey

Ford commercial

Visa commercial with the late George Steinbrenner

Gillette commercial w/ Tiger Woods singing "Stayin' Alive"

This is Sportscenter - Who Touched My Razor?

"I Live For This"

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Cards

The Daily Dozen - August 27, 2014

The Daily Dozen - August 27th, 2014 - The David Price Gets Blown Up Edition
(Twelve Takeaways from Tonight's Game vs. the Detroit Tigers)

1. The Yankees needed a win tonight to keep their playoff hopes alive.  With the Seattle Canos losing earlier in the day 12-4 to the Rangers, the Bronx Bombers had a chance to cut the lead in the race for the 2nd Wild Card down to 2.5 games and only 2 behind Detroit.  And of course they would have to do it against David Price, who only gave up 1 hit in his last start...

2. My parents were at the game tonight to see Jeter's last game in Detroit.  This is a true statement unless Detroit can catch the Royals in the AL Central.  My dad was rooting for the Yankees and my mom was rooting for the Tigers.  Something about a house divided... By the way, I realized there was a 30 second delay on the ESPN broadcast when I talked to my dad in the 8th inning on the phone.

3. The third inning.  That should be all I have to say unless you have been living under a rock for the last 3 hours.  David Price basically got owned.  The Yankees put together 9 straight hits and 8 runs against the former Cy Young winner including 2 sacrifice flies after he was out of the game.  That inning showed what the Yankees are capable of doing and in my opinion should have been doing all season.  Want to see the inning again?  Check out this picture provided by WFAN:

4. How did the Tigers respond in the bottom half of the inning?  With NADA.  Shane Greene got the shutdown inning, which proved to be very important later in the game.

5. Shane Greene for Cy Young? Rookies have now started 53 games for the Yankees this year posting an impressive 34-19 mark.  That's a .642 winning percentage by the way.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California have the best overall record in the majors and their win percentage is .595.  Shane Greene is sporting a .167 batting average against which is 4th in the majors and a .474 ops by opposing batters which is 9th in the majors.  He finished the game with 7 strong innings with 8 strikeouts, only 1 walk, and 69 of his 101 pitches were strikes.  In fact, he threw a first pitch strike to 20 of the 29 batters he faced.  Most importantly...he is now 4-1 in 9 starts.

He seems a long way from this picture.  Might as well
just change the 'T' to a 'C'. (Photo Credit: MiLB.com)

6. David Price was less than stellar tonight to say the least.  He tied a record for hits allowed in a start with 12 (previously gave up 12 on 4/29/11 vs. the Angels) and had his second shortest outing in his career pitching 2+ inning (the shortest being on 7/4/09 vs. the Rangers).  He also tied a dubious personal record with 8 runs allowed in an inning and shattered the hits allowed in an inning with 9 (the previous mark being 5).

7. Mandatory Derek Jeter Update.  With Jeter's RBI double in the 3rd inning he now has 3,442 hits and 1,295 RBI in his career.  He's predicted to only get 30 more hits according to ESPN, which would leave him 43 hits shy of 5th place all-time.

8. Through 3 innings the Yankees were 8 for 14 with RISP.  This bucked a trend set all year long.  In fact, the Yankees hitters were 8 for 9 in the 3rd inning alone after stranding 2 runners in each of the first 2 innings. In 2014, the Yankees have averaged leaving 3.43 runners in scoring position per game (stats courtesy of TeamRankings.com).  Tonight that number was 2. #RE2PECT

De-rek Je-ter...De-rek Je-ter...De-rek Je-ter...

9. Miguel Cabrera knocks home the first Tiger run.  Of course he did!  He's been money against the Yankees since 2003 when he took the Marlins offensively on his back and delivered a World Series ring to a crappy organization that sold the players like used parts the next offseason.  Cabrera's career batting average against the Yankees is .355 in 51 regular season games including a .323 average against pitchers currently on the roster.  He has batted .371 in 20 games at New Yankee Stadium, which seems anemic to the .409 he hit in 6 games at Old Yankee Stadium.  But this season? He's only hitting .143 against the Yankees.  Yeah...something is probably really wrong with his legs.  I wish I could hit .307 with just my arms.

10. How often do catchers get hit in the groin region by a baseball?  One time too many if you ask Francisco Cervelli!

11. Victor Martinez hit his 26th home run tonight.  This is a career high for him, which seems like an awfully low number for such a good hitter.  But on further inspection, he has had several injuries that have hampered his power.  His previous high was 25 for Cleveland in 2007.  Since then he has hit 2 (injury-riddled season), 23 (traded to Boston in mid-season), 20, 12, 0 (missed 2012 season for Tigers), and 14.  His 162-game average is 21, so Tigers fans have to be feeling pretty good about that.

12. Mandatory Playoff Odds Update.  The Yankees sit 2.5 games out of the 2nd Wild Card position held by the Mariners.  The odds of the Yankees making the playoffs as of August 26th was 12.3%, the highest probability since August 12th.  This percentage will likely jump to 15% after tonight's win.  SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE!?!  Baltimore's chances sit at 96.6%  On August 3rd, the Royals had a 16% chance of making it...they now sit at 68%.  Detroit is at 64%. Seattle 49%.

Some Yankees Fans Really Continue To Dissapoint Me

The fans of the New York Yankees really disappoint me sometimes, especially when you make videos like this. Funny or Die posted a parody of the Derek Jeter "RE2SPECT" tribute only this time it was geared towards Alex Rodriguez and it was named "FL13K You." If funny or die are my only two options I guess I am going with the latter. How disrespectful and petty do you have to be to do something like this to kick the guy while he is down? This wasn't done by a Yankee fan, I don't believe a true Yankee fan would do this.

If you want to watch the video click the link, http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/9306. I know it was probably meant to be funny but it wasn't and it wasn't appreciated. Stay classy, stay respectful, and believe in Karma. Just imagine what you could accomplish if you put your obvious talent and resources to good use. Be the bigger and better person and get over it. He's human. When you go to church your sitting in a room full of sinners, not a room full of saints, and you and I and the guy down the road making pizza is no different than Alex.

You're better than this Yankee family, act like it.

The Daily Dozen - 2014 All-Star Game Edition

THE DAILY DOZEN
(Twelve Takeaways from Tonight's Game - 2014 All-Star Game Edition)

1. Derek Jeter is 40 and Still Hits Like He's 20.  I don't care what Wainwright may be saying...the double to lead off the game was classic Jeter.  He was the obvious pick for MVP and he deserved it to be honest.  According to Baseball Tonight, Jeter finished his All-Star Game career with a .482 average.  The crowd at Target Field game him a great sendoff.

The Great One...Derek Jeter...The Great One

2. Mike Trout is the best player in baseball hands down.  No question about it.  The best hitter in baseball is Miguel Cabrera, but the best overall player is Mike Trout...did you SEE that triple...just saying.

3. Jon Lester really sucks and I hate him. *Unless he becomes a Yankee.

4. How the heck does Milwaukee have so many All-Stars and one of them isn't Ryan Braun?  I smell a rat...could it be the next guy I talk about?

5. Bud Selig resembles a robot.  Since he is retiring I am officially throwing in my name to be the next Commissioner of Baseball up there with Bob Costas, Mike Greenberg, Pete Rose, and Daniel Burch.

"I assure you, I am NOT a robot..."

6. Yasiel Puig does not impress me at all.  Just in case you missed it...this guy acts like Jose Canseco and bats in clutch situations like Mike Gallego.  I can't wait until he gets busted for using PEDs.

7. The American League had a double, triple, and home run in the 1st inning by Jeter, Trout, and Cabrera.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau the last time that happened in an All-Star Game was in 2004 by the AL off of Roger Clemens, then with Houston.

8. Tulowitzki needs to be a Yankee by Friday.  Send the Farm...the whole farm.  He WANTS to be a Yankee...let's make that happen, shall we Mr. Cashman?  He could play 3rd base for the rest of the season and take over for his hero at SS next season.

Yeah...he'd look good in Pinstripes.  Source: Fox Sports

9. Dee Gordon is really, really, really fast.

10. I can actually stand Harold Reynolds.  This is a bit of an oddity because for the most part broadcasters in general get on my nerves, especially when they repeatedly say RBIs on the air.  IT'S FREAKING RUNS BATTED IN! RBI...get it right Joe Buck!

11. How do the Dodgers ever lose?  With a rotation of Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Beckett, and Haren?  Of course both Beckett and Billingsley (remember that guy?) are on the DL.  Seriously...Mattingly better get these guys deep into the playoffs or he may be let go...which would be great for the Yankees since he should be the next Manager...just saying...

Sure...he could use a haircut, but a straight-up trade of Kershaw
for A-Rod would look really nice right about now!
#GetGreedy

12. Jim Caple of ESPN.com predicted the American League would win 5-3 and that Derek Jeter would be named the MVP.  He may have come in contact with Marty McFly in Back to the Future II in my humble opinion.  He is now the only source there I can reliably trust.  Yes, I know...Mike Trout got the MVP award...but we all know who deserved to get it. #RE2PECT

Seriously...this guy needs to play the lottery!

The Daily Dozen - Home Run Derby Edition

THE DAILY DOZEN
(Twelve  Takeaways from Tonight's Game - 2014 Home Run Derby Edition)

1. Jose Bautista is incredibly talented...can you believe he bounced around the league from Baltimore to Tampa Bay to Kansas City to Pittsburgh (all in 2004) before making his mark in Toronto in 2010 with his amazing 54 home run campaign.  He came over to Toronto in 2008 as a journeyman having never hit more than 16 homers in a season.  Since 2010, he has hit 54, 43, 27, 28 and 17 this season so far.  The guy didn't even use all 7 outs in the 1st round hitting 10 to advance to the AL finals...guess he should have used that last out.  Only 4 in the AL Final...possibly due to being off the field for 2 hours.

2. Yasiel Puig needs to just shut his mouth and drop the antics from now on...how embarrassing for him being shut out in the 1st round!  I saw a tweet tonight that read as follows: "Jose Cano has a 0.00 ERA in the last 2 Home Run Derbies"....CLASSIC.  ESPN had to keep bleeping out Puig as he cussed on "live" television.  CLASSLESS.

"Man, maybe next time I should shave some planets into my hair..." Source: Getty Images

3. Giancarlo Stanton absolutely raked in the 1st round.  The longest home run of the night projected at 510 feet.  Did you see the kid that caught it?  He didn't expect to catch one way up there.  Once again Stanton was thrown off kilter by the long layoff from the new format.

This guys is an absolute beast.

4. Welcome back to Minnesota Justin Morneau!  Barring his concussions he is still a great talent.  He probably tried a little too hard tonight coming back to his "home".

5. There have been several pairs of teammates in the Home Run Derby.  I know this because Burch and a few of our followers reminded me #TGPResearchDept.  Here is the complete list in case you were wondering:

1985 - Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken, Jr (Baltimore) -- was won by Dave Parker with SIX home runs total.  It was a different format with 2 innings total between leagues.  Not many home runs...but with only 6 outs per squad, this was actually impressive.
1990 - Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco (Oakland) combined for 1 home run at Wrigley Field
1991 - Paul O'Neill and Chris Sabo (Cincinnati) -- um Cal Ripken, Jr. hit an unheard of 12 homers at the SkyDome that year.  The previous record was 6 in the very first.  Pauly had 5.
1992 - Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff (San Diego) -- McGwire hit 12 that year matching Ripken
1995 - Ron Gant and Reggie Sanders (Cincinnati) vs. Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez (Cleveland)...OH v OH.  Belle hit 16, a new record.
1998 - Chipper Jones and Javy Lopez (Atlanta)
2003 - Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds (St. Louis)
2011 - Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz (Boston)
2013 - Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Donaldson (Oakland) -- Cespedes eliminated his own teammate in the new format.

6. I actually like the new format.  It prevents fatigue and rewards the bashers from the 1st round.  Oh...Stanton just laid a goose egg giving Frazier a 1-0 win in the NL final.  Wait, what's this?  @JoeyBats19 only hit 4 losing to defending champ Cespedes after waiting for 2 hours to hit again.  Nope...don't like the format at all.

7. Robinson Cano looks ridiculous in a Mariners hat.  Just saying.

8. THIS GUY. 

I don't even know what to say.

9. It would have been great to see Mickey Mantle vs. Willie Mays in the old-fashioned Home Run Derby in 1960.   Hard to imagine an event like that with no crowd.

10. Todd Frazier is not very animated.  Even in this picture back in the day with El Capitan:

"Bet you I can hit more home runs than you..."

But get this...he was on the team from New Jersey that won the Little League World Series and was also a Punt, Pass, and Kick Champion...thanks Chris Berman! (sarcasm)

11. The Stand Up 2 Cancer moments are always very moving.  I just wish it wasn't tied to people getting into more debt.  How about you just donate $4 million because you want to MasterCard?

12. The Re2pect Video has gone viral and there is a reason.  Watch it HERE!  The best scene is at 1:12 in my humble opinion. 1.68 million views today alone.

RE2PECT

Must see. I don't even feel like I need to say anything, this video speaks for itself. Well done Jordan.