Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Rest Of The Story

I wrote in late December at how mystified I was that Jason Bay went to the Mets for only 10% more than what the Sox offered him. It turns out what I had then for information was just the tip of the iceberg. I now 100% understand why Jason left the Sox for New York and I don't blame him one bit.

It came out this week that the Sox wanted Jason to sign a contract with all kinds of medical clauses and conditions in it even though he has been nothing but healthy in his MLB career. The Sox offered him 2 guaranteed years at $15 Million and then 2 more at $15 Million if he met certain health and productivity levels. The Mets offered him $16.5 Million per year for 4 years, guaranteed, plus an optional 5th year.

It sounds as if there is still a lot more to this story which we may or may not ever find out. Anyway, I certainly understand now why Jason took the Mets offer over what the Sox offered him. He made the best decision for himself and his family and I wish him nothing but the best.

In fact, I now am questioning the business tactics used by the Red Sox in general. If this is how they treat their best player - Jason led the Sox in Home Runs, RBI and was 2nd in Runs Scored in 2009 - during contract negotiations that doesn't say much about the organization. When you combine this with how they have treated Mike Lowell - The MVP of the 2007 World Series - over the past few months I have a very bad taste in my mouth for the Sox right now. If they keep it up they are going to get a bad reputation and the best players may start passing the Sox up no matter how much money they offer them.

Mood: Disappointed.

Failed Advertising Slogan Of The Day:

"The day you give someone a Lexus is the day you lose your soul."

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Feeling Lucky, Punk?

Only a little more than two full years until the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. You better start planning how to commemorate this event now if you haven't already.

What better way to remember this historical tragedy than by hopping on a boat on a cruise from say, England to New York? Yes, it's the Titanic Memorial Cruise by the British travel firm Miles Morgan Travel. You and a few thousand other random people can pile onto the luxury ocean liner MS Balmoral in Southhampton, England for 12 days of adventure on the high seas.

You may want to hurry if you are interested in taking part as 12 of the 21 cabin types have wait lists and another 5 have limited availability according to their website. Right now the lowest priced cabin is about $4,324 US Dollars. I say about because the price is actually in British Pounds on the website. Thank god for online currency converters.

I am glad that there are so many people willing to tempt fate and hit the high seas 100 years to the week that the Titanic sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic. This just sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. There is no way in hell I would go on this trip, not even if you paid me. I don't even want to speak the word Titanic the whole month of April 2012. Have fun for me and make sure to bring your life jacket!

Mood: Horrified

Movie Quote of the Day:

"Boy, this is a mother dictionary." - Say Anything