Dickey wins the NL Cy Young. The Mets being the geniuses they are will get rid of him.
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/11/report-news-corp-closing-in-on-deal-for-yes-stake-79279/Nov. 19th: News Corp. would acquire 49% of YES in the transaction according to Richard Sandomir and Amy Chozick, but there would be the option to increase their stake to as much as 80% in 3-5 years. I cant help but wonder if that option is an indication that the Steinbrenners have their eye on selling the club down the line. The network, meanwhile, is worth a bit more than $3 billion, meaning it is likely more valuable than the team itself. In-freakin-sanity.
Nov. 15th: Via Matthew Futterman: News Corp. is closing in on a deal to purchase a minority stake in the YES Network. They have their eye on the nearly 40% share currently owned by long-time investors Goldman Sachs and Providence Equity Partners. The Yankees own about one-third of the network and arent selling any portion of their share.
Last month we learned that the team was looking for investors to buy out Goldman and Providence. News Corp. is a monster, the worlds second largest media group in terms of revenue. They have stakes in FOX, The New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal among many other media outlets. Futterman says YES is likely to raise the monthly fees (which currently lag behind other regional networks) it receives from cable providers when their contracts expire in the coming years. In other words, the deal will make the Yankees a ton of money and your cable bill might be slightly higher in the future. Business as usual, really.
Eh, I think the amount of years is correct on the deal to where the Angels aren't going to regret it too much. The guy can play Centerfield, although not very well so it's feasible that he won't have to DH much during his contract. 5 years really isn't too bad. I mean he's 31 now so the contract will end when he's 36. That isn't too old. Especially for a guy that doesn't depend on his speed and doesn't depend on his production for being at a premium position like catcher or shortstop. This isn't an A-Rod contract where he's signed till he's 45.
The dollars aren't pretty but they aren't a number that will handicap a big market franchise like the Angels and you pretty much have to overpay for big name free agents nowadays.
Eh, I think they're going to regret it a few years from now. Let's see if he stays healthy and out of trouble. There were a teams leery of a long term investment on him for good reason.
The problem with overpaying today is that you pay for it tomorrow. The Yanks are a good example of that (and so is the God awful Vernon Wells deal the Angels are stuck with). And the 2011 Angels are a great example that winning the off-season means absolutely nothing.
Or he doesn't OD in 2 years.I think it's a good contract depending on two things:
1. He averages 120-130 games per season for the life of the contract
2. He averages a .280/.340/.470 line for the life of the contract
Or he doesn't OD in 2 years.
I think it's a huge concern for the Angels. He had trouble in Texas, now he is in LA party central. This guy can't even walk about with money in his wallet, how will he handle LA.Doesn't that go with #1? What's the point of saying that? Do former drug addicts always have to live with the stigma of being former drug addicts?
Doesn't that go with #1? What's the point of saying that? Do former drug addicts always have to live with the stigma of being former drug addicts?
Josh Hamilton has more baggage than an airline's lost luggage office. Putting a cocaine addicted alcoholic in LA is like putting a fat kid in a Little Debbie factory.
Clubhouse dynamic should be interesting. Pujols was reportedly upset and held a grudge when the Cardinals signed Matt Holliday to a big contract a couple years ago, making him the highest paid player on the club. Now Pujols is no longer the highest paid player on the Angels. And now they'll be competing to out-Jesus each other to see which one's the more pious snob.
Former? The guy has relaped several times. He's not a former drug addict. He's a current drug addict who barely has his problem under control.
Hamilton has admitted to needing a chaperone to follow him everywhere because his addiction and temptation is so bad. He doesn't carry more than $5 dollars with him.I've never heard of any of his "relapses" except for the one at the bar where he got drunk. And honestly if it's just alcohol it's not that big of a deal as it was a one time problem.
Correct me if I'm wrong if there was more than one reported issue.
We should also label Carlos Ruiz a drug addict, too.
Hamilton has admitted to needing a chaperone to follow him everywhere because his addiction and temptation is so bad. He doesn't carry more than $5 dollars with him.
I've never heard of any of his "relapses" except for the one at the bar where he got drunk. And honestly if it's just alcohol it's not that big of a deal as it was a one time problem.
Correct me if I'm wrong if there was more than one reported issue.
We should also label Carlos Ruiz a drug addict, too.
And how bad has that effected his performance on the field? Not terribly bad I'd imagine.
I actually think the move to the Angels could be beneficial for Hamilton's recovery. An addicts ability to stay sober is directly tied to his or her ability to positively cope with stress in life. In Texas he was expected to be the face of the franchise and therefore it was always a media storm with Hamilton. With the Angels he will simply be one of many stars on the team and I think there will be much less personal pressure. He still needs to be vigilant about his sobriety, but I think less scrutiny will make that a little bit easier.
I hear what you are saying and agree, but I still think there's a difference in being in an ensemble of stars and being "the man" who is expected to take the team on your shoulders and will them to victory. He is making more money than Pujols on a year by year basis, but Pujols contract was definitely bigger and he is still regarded by most as the best player in baseball. And with Trout there and the solid pitching they have I just think there won't be as much specific focus on Hamilton as it was here in Texas.
I know you live in Houston so I'm not sure how much Astros news eclipses Rangers news, but here in the DFW Hamilton couldn't sneeze without the media reporting and analyzing it to death.
I do get what you're saying, though. But with a big contract comes big expectations. There's just no way around it.
Sucks for Houston though, they sucked in the NL Central which is generally regarded as one of the easiest divisions and now they're in the AL West which is shaping up to be one of the toughest. Wouldn't be surprised to see a new record set for the worst record in a major league season. The AAAstros can't catch a break.