Wednesday, December 21, 2005
'What’s the plan here, anyway?' Part IV: Re the Sox' latest megapress-conference extravaganza (this time post-Johnny Damon): I know Reader No. 1 may still disagree, but I think it's time to dust off Tony's not-so-old column, i.e. 'C-H-A-O-S.' ... I have mixed emotions about Damon's departure. But I'm taking rather non-mixed delight in seeing Sox management trying to explain this one away.
'He could be here next year,' Part II: Reader No. 1 on Johnny's departure:
"1. It's clearly a loss.
"2. As to how the fandom responds, I can report the 8-year fan in our household's initial comments: 'The Yankees will fall apart in 2008 beause the players are old and they will be broke.' The 'Nation' will survive, notwithstanding the new round of agenda mongering evident from this morning's Big Show debates between Johnson and Buckley and the inevitable Shaughnessy column, with the dual-GMs and now ownership the main punching bags.
"3. As written at least twice previously, those who want to understand how the Red Sox today make decisions, Theo or no Theo, should read and re-read this excellent 2004 article from Baseline magazine. In the current context, pay particular attention to the section on player valuation and the A-Rod trade. As the excellent Baseball Prospectus made clear in analysis of the 2005 free agent market, the problem with signing Damon is paying top dollar for his next 4 years of production.
"Of course, we still need a center fielder and leadoff man! Red Sox 7x24, 365. I suspect ownership finds the hysterical reactions a price worth paying for all the attention."
'Thanks to Judge Jones ...': John deconstructs the evolution of the anti-evolution Discovery Institute's creationist theory as constructed around Intelligent Design. Translation: He likes Judge Jones' decision. A lot.
'He could be here next year,' Part II: Reader No. 1 on Johnny's departure:
"1. It's clearly a loss.
"2. As to how the fandom responds, I can report the 8-year fan in our household's initial comments: 'The Yankees will fall apart in 2008 beause the players are old and they will be broke.' The 'Nation' will survive, notwithstanding the new round of agenda mongering evident from this morning's Big Show debates between Johnson and Buckley and the inevitable Shaughnessy column, with the dual-GMs and now ownership the main punching bags.
"3. As written at least twice previously, those who want to understand how the Red Sox today make decisions, Theo or no Theo, should read and re-read this excellent 2004 article from Baseline magazine. In the current context, pay particular attention to the section on player valuation and the A-Rod trade. As the excellent Baseball Prospectus made clear in analysis of the 2005 free agent market, the problem with signing Damon is paying top dollar for his next 4 years of production.
"Of course, we still need a center fielder and leadoff man! Red Sox 7x24, 365. I suspect ownership finds the hysterical reactions a price worth paying for all the attention."
'Thanks to Judge Jones ...': John deconstructs the evolution of the anti-evolution Discovery Institute's creationist theory as constructed around Intelligent Design. Translation: He likes Judge Jones' decision. A lot.
