I don't get it. When MJ used to play on 1 year contracts and got 30M a year no one batted and eyelash. What's the big deal with Clemens getting 18M? He was the best pitched in MLB and he was on a one year contract. Now he gets paid. I don't see a problem. I'm apathetic about Clemens but if I'm 40, at the top on my profession, and I now it's coming to an, I would want to get paid. If you're a CEO or an Investment Banker with maybe two more years you don't drive for big $$$s? Why the standard for Clemens?
Are people aware of the enormous amounts of money that other individuals, at or near the top of their respective entertainment related professions, receive as fees, income, endorsements and/or salaries(for example: television actors; race car drivers; variety, game, and talk show hosts; comedians; magazine and periodical publishers; movie actors; golfers; singers; directors and producers(television and film); rap preformers; tennis players; musicians; boxers; poets, authors and writers(of everything from songs to to science fiction, humor, self-help, how-to books or the latest diet fad; wrestlers; etc.) but I don't think I can ever recall a substantial amount of negative public reaction even after some such individuals have repeatedly acted in a variety of ways that established their character to be entirely self serving, morally bankrupt, and disgustingly unacceptable and/or criminal. Here we have a future hall of famer with the truly amazing ability and talent to remain among the top pitchers in MLB for more than twenty years. He is finally rewarded with the kind of salary having been paid in the NBA for many years, even to first year players fresh out of high school, probably avoiding prison only because they could jump and needed little if any talent since the NBA had nearly run out of players that could shoot, play defense or display any understanding of how to play as a team. I can't understand the hostility or anger, and the attacks on Roger Clemens character are simply strange if viewed from a career perspective.
Mike McD and outathepark, I think MJ and Roger are a lot different in their roles. MJ was a factor in every game, and he was worth whatever he wanted because he was that valuable to the Bulls and the game. But what worries me is $18M is simply too much for any a pitcher like Clemens for one year in today's market, with today's crop to choose from. Now the bar is so much higher than last year's $$. So, it's apparent the Astros can afford it, but what happens when the next phenom wants crazy money to match Roger's $$ and he takes his current team out of balance to accomodate? Smaller franchises can't compete with this. It's the wild wild west all over again.
the attacks on Roger Clemens character are simply strange if viewed from a career perspective. How do you figure? He never kept his word when he left the Sox, he turned his back on the Jays, he lied about retiring with the Yankees. He's due to catch some nastiness. Having said that . . . He doesn't help his teams win. He pads his own stats. The team winning or losing or even existing is inconsequential to him. Utter bullshit. The guy's a self-centered dick who used to keep his Walkman on while his manager was trying to talk to him in Boston, but to say he never cared/ isn't a competitor is silly. Look at his adjusted ERAs (ERA+): he was helping someone win. DrJohn, one of those Cy Youngs was sentimental. I should have gotten it last year. Look at my posting history.
Rocket is to baseball what the NBA is to the NBA
I agree that he is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, his physical talent to pitch for twenty year may be unmatched with Nolan Ryan as the exception. I rooted for him many times because I wanted the TEAM to win but his legacy is that of an classless selfish ass in my opinion. Was Roger throwing at batters heads classy? Were his actions that of a role model when he threw the splintered bat at Piazza during World Series on national TV and then lied by saying he thought the bat was the ball? Hit a homer off him and he throws at your head then claims he is trying to pitch inside but "it got way". He was called "intense" when he acted like a spoiled jerk. He is not a likeable guy. He is not fan friendly and he is very arrogant. His contract last year allowed him to leave the team on days he didn't pitch. Real team guy? I truly believe he would rather go 20-1 with an ERA of 2.00, win the CY Young award on a team that is 70-92 as opposed to having a record of 8-15 with ERA at 4.50 and winning the World Series. Outatthepark..... The NBA is a different sport. Fewer roster spots so more $$ per player and unlike pitchers they play every game. One NBA player can deliver a playoff spot or a title. MJ never left the Bulls for free agency and remember he was underpaid many years, he honored his contract with the promise by Jerry Reinsdorf that he would be taken care of. Jordan was responsilble for the BIG network TV money that supported ALL of the NBA franchises so very few begrudged his final years at 30M with the Bulls, but his legacy fades slightly with the Wizards. The game of baseball is going downhill and I love the game. The drive for BIG $$$ for homers and stats over the good of team led to the steroid scandal. The owners, commissioner, players and agents are all at fault. This was a great thread for discussion. I enjoyed everyone's thoughts and opinions.
The Red Sox (and the Blue Jays and the Yankees after that) didn't want him at the exorbitant price he was asking Technically, the Blue Jays never got a chance to keep him because he demanded a trade after the second season when he realized they weren't going to win a World Series any time soon. if someone offered you 18mill to play a sport that you LOVED and the you are GOOD at you'd take it and you'd play That's pretty obvious. What some people might be a little perturbed about is that he asked for a record $22million in arbitration. He was the NL Cy Young winner last year, but in no way was he the best pitcher in the major leagues in 2004. Not even close. and you just watch when the ASTROS win the series this season you'll all be claiming you were behind CLEMENS the whole time After losing Kent, Beltran and Miller and getting no one of consequence to replace them, I'd be VERY surprised if they make the playoffs this year. I'd be quite happy (as an American League fan) to see a snakebit squad like the Astros finally get to the World Series. But I definitely wouldn't put any money on that happening.
slight derail So who's cap will he wear in the Hall of Fame? I know it is up to the commitee and not the player so which team is most representative of his career? /slight derail
So who's cap will he wear in the Hall of Fame? Excellent query. My guess is the one he has most ring(s) with. The evil empire.
So who's cap will he wear in the Hall of Fame? "GoldenPalace.com"
I think he'll probably end up wearing a Boston Red Sox cap, just because that's the team that established his career AND where he's played the longest. They'll just do the same thing they did with Wade Boggs. Though, to be honest (and a bit silly) on a per-year basis, his best performance was with the Toronto Blue Jays. The pitching triple crown and a Cy Young every year he played!
Minor digression: how much do the Astros fans love the guy? Are a substantial majority of them going to say, "Yup, $18 mil is worth it, and $22 mil woulda been okay too"? Or are they going to say...something else?
You know ,I said this earlier, if you don't like the salary don't go. Seriously, every organization has some player grossly overpaid for what he does. i was unhappy with the shit Seattle put on the field last year and after opening day I didn't go. Point is I can talk shit if I want to! Everyone is up in arms over this contract and how they think it's skewing salaries. Remember A-rod, Tom Hicks. That screwed up more than this one year reward for a cy-young season. Also who would you rather have? Clemens or Pedro? No lo contendre!
Clemens or Pedro? No lo contendre! Actually, I think it could be a pretty close contest for overall value (pitching quality * innings pitched) to their team for this single season. Clemens may be old, but Martinez has that tear in his labrum. Which contract do I think was the better one, Clemens with Astros or Martinez with Mets? That's a tough call.
J. Santana - asked for "only" $6.8mil in arbitration this year, so it's unlikely he would be able to TRIPLE that the next season (but don't count him out in 5 years) Santana is likely to sign a long term contract worth more than 6.8 a year. So who knows what he can command at the end of that contract. I just find it odd that Clemons continues to play after making such a be thing about being with his family! I guess 18mil is more important than quality family time! Thats a shame...
When I say "Fuck Clemens, " I'm not saying he isn't worth the money. I'm just saying he is, well, in the words of McLaw, a "classless selfish ass." He could be making a million billion dollars and pitching 40 wins per season and I would still think he was a prick. When he pitches, I turn off the TV.
So whose cap will he wear in the Hall of Fame? Hello, self-linking to my own column. :)
I just find it odd that Clemons continues to play after making such a be thing about being with his family! Don't find it odd. If Clemens actually does what he says, then you should be astonished.
