Kibitzer
Sky Soldier
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 5,676
- Reaction Score
- 24,714
. . . redefines the term "blockbuster."
Also evokes the advice of the immortal W.C. Fields: "Never give a sucker an even break."
Begin with an ownership group fronted by Magic Johnson purchasing the Dodgers for over two Billion bucks from the chintzy McCourts. Fast forward to their acquisition of a batch of talented players from many other teams (read about that elsewhere if you wish).
Then they became enchanted with the notion that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (solid hitter and Gold Glove fielder) would be the player to lead the Dodgers to the promised land. So they went after him, much to the surprise and delight of the beseiged Red Sox management.
The Dodgers got their man. He is now 31 and his best years are likely behind him. The Dodgers are on the hook to pay him $127 million over the next 6 years. In 2018, when he is 36, they will pay him $21.5 million.
To get Gonzo, the Dodgers also had to take Josh Beckett, formerly an ace but now renowned for a diminishing fastball, a general orneryness, and an insatiable appetite for fried chicken (and beer to better slosh it down, during games, in the clubhouse yet). He was 5-11 with the Sox, is now 0-1 with the Dodgers, and will be paid $31.5 million over the next two years (including $15.75 million in 2014 at age 34).
Apparently, in an act of extreme chutzpah, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington tried to foist John Lackey on the Dodgers but that was so over-the-top that it was indigestible. So he graciously sent them Carl Crawford instead. CC spent two injury-plagued seasons in Boston, he is now 31 and has 5 more years and $102.5 million to go on his contract. And, oh yeah, he just underwent Tommy John surgery so won't play this season.
The thought that leaps to mind: What were they thinking?
Also evokes the advice of the immortal W.C. Fields: "Never give a sucker an even break."
Begin with an ownership group fronted by Magic Johnson purchasing the Dodgers for over two Billion bucks from the chintzy McCourts. Fast forward to their acquisition of a batch of talented players from many other teams (read about that elsewhere if you wish).
Then they became enchanted with the notion that first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (solid hitter and Gold Glove fielder) would be the player to lead the Dodgers to the promised land. So they went after him, much to the surprise and delight of the beseiged Red Sox management.
The Dodgers got their man. He is now 31 and his best years are likely behind him. The Dodgers are on the hook to pay him $127 million over the next 6 years. In 2018, when he is 36, they will pay him $21.5 million.
To get Gonzo, the Dodgers also had to take Josh Beckett, formerly an ace but now renowned for a diminishing fastball, a general orneryness, and an insatiable appetite for fried chicken (and beer to better slosh it down, during games, in the clubhouse yet). He was 5-11 with the Sox, is now 0-1 with the Dodgers, and will be paid $31.5 million over the next two years (including $15.75 million in 2014 at age 34).
Apparently, in an act of extreme chutzpah, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington tried to foist John Lackey on the Dodgers but that was so over-the-top that it was indigestible. So he graciously sent them Carl Crawford instead. CC spent two injury-plagued seasons in Boston, he is now 31 and has 5 more years and $102.5 million to go on his contract. And, oh yeah, he just underwent Tommy John surgery so won't play this season.
The thought that leaps to mind: What were they thinking?
