Comments on: The union doesn’t have a problem with Cliff Lee’s deal

By: flyboat44

flyboat44 — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:38:20 +0000

Lee definitely made the right decision. Good for him.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:08:07 +0000

Not, to mention I’m pretty sure the Yanks were ready to throw 170 over 7 if that’s what it took to get him. If not 165 over 7 at least. The first offer was the last offer planned by Cash? You never make the first offer the most you’re willing to spend. There is usually a negotiation after offer #1 where concessions are made. Philly obviously was the only team to get much of a chance at that, and Texas as well. It sounds like NY was there just giving Lee an edge to the teams he wanted to play for most. For a crazy wicked change in the big scope of things, don’t you think?

By: macjacmccoy

macjacmccoy — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 07:20:15 +0000

Well if you believe him then he did leave money on the table bc he said he plans to finish his career in Philly. Which makes me believe he tends to retire after his contract with the Phillies ends. If thats the case and hes telling the truth then he is leaving money on the table bc if he plays out his Phillies contract then retires he would have collected $120 million if he played out his contract in NY or Tx and then retired he would have collected significantly more.

By: bigdicktater

bigdicktater — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:45:31 +0000

Mr. J.: go to a game at Wrigley and I’ll bet you’ll understand why Kerry Wood accepted less money to play (a) with the organization he came up to the bigs with, and (b) play half the season in the finest setting bar none for a ball game.

By: bigdicktater

bigdicktater — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:41:44 +0000

Mr. J.: the comments below are referring to “Stranger In a Strange Land” by Robert Heinlein.
Highly recommended, read it when you have a chance.

By: derf2

derf2 — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:31:52 +0000

Interesting story.

By: easports82

easports82 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:51:27 +0000

No, I threw out altruistic. And I also applaud that it seems that his family factored into the decision. But, the coverage appears to me to focus on the amount he’s not guaranteed to make instead of how the Phillies build a team around the salary of the big 4 starters.

True, he could blow out his arm and miss out on about $13 mil the last year (there’s still the buyout). However, I doubt that factors in to a player’s mentality when making the selection.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:48:24 +0000

I got to agree with both of you. He made a choice on quality of life but still is getting top dollar either way. He said it himself that once you make a certain amount “enough is enough.”

On the other had, Kerry Wood took less money for quality of life reasons, which are absurd. Now he’ll play on a crappy team AND get paid MUCH less than he could have. Dummy.

By: ta192

ta192 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:39:39 +0000

Great American author, I’m a “Glory Road” fan, but “SIASL” is certainly his best known…

By: Angelos

Angelos — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:37:19 +0000

Are people using the work “altruistic?”

We’re just acknowledging that he left guaranteed dollars on the table, choosing the better place for him instead of absolute top dollar.

He blows out his arm or goes to shit in general, he’s make zero dollars after this contract is up, so he could make less with the decision he made. Not peanuts, but less.

I applaud him for making a decision factoring in the whole quality of life for himself and his family, but I’m not nominating him for sainthood.

By: easports82

easports82 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:22:25 +0000

Unless I’ve read the reports wrong, he’s taken a slightly lower overall value for the contract for a slightly higher annual average on the contract. Can we stop with the notion that Lee made some altruistic, heartfelt gesture to sign with the Phillies? Assuming they don’t pick up the option year, he’s setup to be a mercenary, a la Clemens the last couple years, where he could still command more cash than he’s scheduled to get.

He’s getting paid. A lot.

By: pauleee

pauleee — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:27:21 +0000

Robert A. Heinlein FTW!!

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:12:50 +0000

Grok: never heard the word before. Thanks for teaching me something today, Craig.

By: natedawg321

natedawg321 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:10:53 +0000

Craig – it’s “On the gripping hand” not “On the third hand”.