Monday, October 27, 2003
LET THE RUMOURS BEGIN
Well, I may not know what I'm talking about, but I've got to give myself props for at least trying to validate McKeon's controversal decision--which, in case you haven't heard, worked out brilliantly. I think McKeon and Beckett got a little lucky (I would have never in a million years predicted a complete game--Beckett somehow got himself out of the kind of late inning jams that undid Zito, Prior, and Martinez), but as I wrote before, it was a fundamentally sound decision. Meanwhile, the holy trinity of daily/weekly scribes, Rob Neyer, Joe Sheehan, and King Kaufman, were all harshly criticial of McKeon before the game, thus, dear reader, only the stunning insight exclusively available at Some Calzone for Derek could offer you a window into the brilliant mind of Jack McKeon. My only regret is that the Yanks lost 2-0. It would have been so much sweeter if they could have somehow mustered a single run, and thus all Yankeedom could place the blame squarely on Derek Jeter's shoulders. (Really, folks, he's just not that good a shortstop.)
OK, enough of that.
Niles has a good piece about the free agent market, and I think he's right that position players will generally see their salaries decline, but starters might see a relative raise. You want an idea how much top pitchers will command? Colon reportedly turned down $36 M over 3 years from the White Sox to become a free agent. Like Colon and his agent, I have little doubt somebody (or maybe the White Sox) will eventually pay him more. (I'll be quite shocked if Guerrero ends up making more than $75 M over 5 years--mostly because I don't think he'll end up in New York.)
Here are some of the crazier rumours already starting to circulate:
* the Devil Rays are interested in acquiring Mike Cameron (hey, don't you guys already have a good, cheap CF?)
* former Indian manager Charlie Manuel is among those rumoured to be in the hunt for Grady's now-vacant job. Wait, that's not the crazy part. This is: Manuel is currently toiling as a roaming coach for the Phillies--god forbid the Phillies should consider promoting him first to their top coaching job.
* I've read more than a couple "Trade Soriano!" decrees from writers in Yankeedom (most popular trade idea--Beltran for Soriano). If Big Stein's thinking the same way, he's as good as gone.
I'll keep you posted.
