The Business of Baseball
While this blog might give the impression that I spend most of my days thinking about Harvard and sunsets, truth is, I spend most of my waking hours thinking about baseball, as I research my forthcoming book on the 1978 pennant race between the Yankees and the Red Sox. One of the themes of that book is baseball's transition to a free-agency economy and its effects upon the game.
With that in mind, I was intrigued to read this Dan Shaughnessy story from the Globe, in which he analyzes the off-season moves of Sox GM Theo Epstein.
A year after his weird walkaway, Theo is throwing dollars around like a young George Steinbrenner. In New York Yankee fashion, he's been bidding against himself for some players and never again can he stand on the Fenway lawn and say the Red Sox do not have the means to compete financially with the erstwhile Evil Empire.
Epstein spent $50 million just for the rights to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka—though if they don't sign him, they get it back—then signed so-so free agent J.D. Drew for $70 million. Shaughnessy describes Drew as a "passionless, often-hurt showcase warrior who did not appear to have any other suitors." (Can you say "Carl Pavano"?)
Curious moves by Epstein in a very demanding baseball town...Quite clearly, he should have re-signed Johnny Damon, who was a great player for the Sox and seems to fill any team he's on with positive energy. J.D. Drew? You're welcome to him....
Meanwhile, the Yankees have re-signed former ace Andy Pettitte, who left the team to pitch for the Astros three years ago. "I know New York is where God wants me and where he’s put me for this year," Pettitte said.
I am astounded at the ability of some Christians to believe that God gives a damn which baseball team will pay them $16 million a season.... Did God also tell Pettitte to take steroids?
Nonetheless, Yankee fans will likely welcome Pettitte back with an outpouring of affection, even though he left the team to play in (please) Houston. No one expects loyalty in baseball anymore, so the lack of it is rarely held against a player.
Last year, by the way, Pettitte was 14-13, with an ERA of 4.20.....
