Comments on: Breaking: Sox Not Signing Teixeira

By: Andrew out of Rochester

Andrew out of Rochester — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:20:32 +0000

Brace yourselves. The Angels are supposedly out of the bidding now. With teams supposedly dropping like flies out of these negotiations, I can’t imagine that Teixeira and Boras wait too much longer to make a decision before the money isn’t there anymore.

And I’ve thought long and hard, and I can’t picture any scenario that makes sense to me where Tex signs with Washington. I really can’t. I know he’s a Boras disciple who always goes for the value of the dollar, but I just cannot see it happening.

Not that it makes a ton more sense to sign with Baltimore, but I digress.

By: neal s

neal s — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:05:24 +0000

That story is great, Ai(oo)R. AM radio is so weird and so cool, and I’ve gone through phases where I completely nerded out for it. Like the time a few years ago when I listened to the Orioles play the Yankees — on the New York Station — while I was in North Carolina.

I think your theory sounds about right. At least, it’s as plausible (if not more so) as any other.

By: Andrew out of Rochester

Andrew out of Rochester — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:23:53 +0000

I suppose that the Warehouse would, if this were the case, say that they can use the time and energy that would be lost in said bidding war on other things, like signing some pitchers, who hammering out contract details with our arbitration eligible guys, or signing a catcher (although seriously, do we really need a nationwide search for Baltimore’s Next Top Catching Mentor ™?? Just sign freaking Gregg Zaun already and be done with it)

By: random dude

random dude — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:03:58 +0000

@air: you’re right that this is the right move if he wants to come to Baltimore, and ends up doing that. But I take issue with this: “Now, if Tex really doesn’t want to be Oriole, then we probably can’t outbid everyone else enough to sign him anyway, so no sense getting in the bidding war anyway.” If he doesn’t really want to be here and will sign elsewhere, wouldn’t it make sense to drive up his price by getting into a bidding war? Just a thought.

By: Andrew out of Rochester

Andrew out of Rochester — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:42:03 +0000

Two things:

1) I think I’ve finally figured out the Orioles part in this whole farce, thanks to Roch. And if I’m right, I must say I approve the notion. Let me explain.

My theory is that the Orioles figure that the only way Tex ends up in Baltimore is if he wants to be in Baltimore more than elsewhere, assuming the money is even. So they put in a good faith first offer to show they are serious (and it’s a good opening bid that is probably pretty closely matching what he’s actually worth – as opposed to what he’ll end up with due to the bidding war). Then they wait. When Boras and Tex get the deal they want on the table from Boston, Washington, or Anaheim, if Tex in his heart wants to be an Oriole more than a Sock or an Angel or a Gnat, he’ll come back to the Orioles and say “This is what it takes. Match this offer and I’ll sign the deal right now”. Then they can offer or not offer but really have the whole situation in their own hands, and not get in a bidding war, which they probably figure would only make him more expensive in the end anyway. Now, if Tex really doesn’t want to be Oriole, then we probably can’t outbid everyone else enough to sign him anyway, so no sense getting in the bidding war anyway.

If that’s true – and it’s just my theory, but it feels about right, matching with what we’ve heard about geographic advantages and so on – I think it’s the right way to play it, honestly. In this case, if Tex never comes back to us with an offer to match, this is on him. The O’s made a good offer to open and have openly indicated a willingness to expand the deal to get it done. But there really is no use in getting into a bidding war with bigger market teams (RSN or no RSN) in Anaheim and Boston.

That’s my theory, and my opinion on the hypothetical situaton. In reality, we continue to know fuck-all. Hot Stove Fever, Catch It!!!

2) I was driving through the Catskills this morning, racing the winter storm that eventually engulfed all of New York, and stopped in a one-horse town by name of Hancock, up near the northeastern corner of PA. There’s nothing out there, but it is a wonderful country. I’ve been camping in the area before, and it’s really, really nice. But there ain’t nothing up there at all. But I climb into my car after a rest stop and tune through the radio stations I can get, looking for Mark Teixeira info, when whose voice do I happen upon?

Charlatan Fisk himself, talking something about being disappointed in MacPhail or something – I only had the signal on this overcast grey morn in the mountains for about 45 seconds…but it was a real “Holy Shit” moment for me to hear the weakest radio signal in the Maryland area loud and clear (albeit briefly) in the wilderness of Upstate New York. God Bless you, Drew, it made me real happy to hear some honest-to-God Baltimore sports talk after an admittedly horrible night (I was rushing around to evacuate Rochester and get to New York City before the storm engulfed me, and had been up at that point for around 30 hours straight).

Does this matter to any of you? Nah, but I thought I’d share one of the many, many ways Baltimore sports keep me sane through the winter madness.

Cheers.