The news that the Yankees have picked up Gary Sheffield’s option has resulted in Sheffield’s irritated reaction and his predicted threats to be an unhappy camper if he’s traded. Not only that, Sheffield has said that he’s not going to be happy playing first base next season for the Yankees without an extension of his contract. What a shock! Gary Sheffield is unhappy about his contract.
    Sometimes I think the Yankees cut off their own noses to spite their faces. The best thing they could do is to simply reject the option and let both parties go their separate ways. Now they’re faced with Sheffield objecting to his treatment and not only threatening the team that trades for him, but the team that is slated to pay him $13 million next season. No team in it’s right mind is going to deal high value prospects for an irritated Gary Sheffield who is going to arrive in a sour mood; and the Yankees, if they can’t deal him, are going to have to go through the spring with another controversy on their hands if (when) Sheffield begins squawking about his displeasure.

    This is just a matter of greediness on the part of the Yankees, who think that they are going to use the fact that Sheffield hasn’t got a no-trade clause in his contract to deal him and get something for him as opposed to losing him for nothing; but as Sheffield has shown in the past, there are ways for a player to have a no-trade clause without having a no-trade clause. Something that the Yankees are going to learn the hard way because of their belief that they’re smarter than everyone else.

    There’s an article in today’s New York Times detailing Jeff Suppan’s involvement in opposing stem cell research; a commercial slated to be run locally during game four of the World Series, were it to be played last night, had a hatless and somewhat obscure looking Suppan voicing his opposition to the practice and the idea of human cloning. (In the interest of full disclosure, I’m not sure about human cloning either—-except for me. I should be cloned!) Other athletes who made their name in Missouri who are involved in the campaign (ostensibly to re-elect incumbent senator Jim Talent over his opponent Claire McCaskill) are Kurt Warner and Mike Sweeney. The Times article has an undercurrent of disapproval at Suppan involving himself in such an issue; but what I’m wondering about is why does anyone care?
    If an athlete of any kind has an opinion on an issue and is asked to help a political candidate with whom he agrees to get elected, why should it bother anyone? To automatically assume that an athlete, simply because he’s an athlete will have any influence on a campaign is overestimating both an athlete’s power over others and his knowledge of issues. Everything must be taken into context. Many athletes today are religious; some present a facade of being religious as part of a public relations ploy. Who knows what these men believe or don’t believe; or how much they truly understand about an issue about which they donate their time and name recognition? That anyone who is voting would allow an athlete to dictate to them how to allocate their vote is a sad statement in and of itself.
    So many famous athletes today lend their name and face for a public event. Curt Schilling, "Mr. Conservative Republican"——advocate of all things Bush——conveniently forgot his dedication to mandates and rules of law when he vehemently disagreed with the way the QuesTec was altering the way balls and strikes were called and smashed the thing. Years ago, the late Eric Show was lambasted for his open membership in the arch-conservative John Birch Society. These men are not experts in regards to any of these issues and their opinions aren’t worth any more than mine or yours. If an athlete is pro-choice or pro-life, then that is his opinion based on his own values; and if said athlete wants to lend his name to causes that he feels strongly about, then why should he be ridiculed or have articles written leaning toward opposition to his or her involvement?
    In essence, these athletes are using and being used. Their skills in sport have allowed them a certain place in society; politicians or interest groups are using the athlete’s name recognition and skills in sports to attach themselves to something that will generate interest. Both sides are receiving benefit. The world is full of people who opine about things that they haven’t the full facts about; but it doesn’t take extensive research to have an opinion about something and to let that opinion be known. And if Jeff Suppan or whoever wants to allow themselves to be a part of something that they feel strongly, then there’s no reason to consider them to be anything more than a politically involved citizen simply because they can throw or hit a baseball.

    I was preparing to write a blog detailing exactly why the Mets shouldn’t follow through on their rumored pursuit of Moises Alou to fill one of their holes at a corner outfield spot; but in checking his statistics in preparation for presenting my case, I came to the conclusion that his production would be a welcome and affordable addition.
    I mistakenly thought that Alou’s having missed time this season with injuries was an ongoing trend over the last few seasons; but it wasn’t. Alou has played regularly and played well. His power numbers have been consistently good; he still doesn’t strike out very much and, despite his taking relatively few walks, he’s got a good OBP. Plus, he’s not going to cost the money that the acquisition of a Manny Ramirez or Gary Sheffield would. Because of the above reasons, Alou will probably be in heavy demand for a large number of teams. But if the Mets are one of them, signing Alou to a manageable contract would allow them to allocate more of their budget toward the two starting pitchers they’re going to need to continue this season’s domination of the National League.

    Speaking of Gary Sheffield, there is talk that the Yankees are going to pick up Sheffield’s $13 million option and then trade him. One thing I would like to say is caveat emptor —let the buyer beware. If Sheffield is traded to a team that he doesn’t want to play for; or if that team refuses to extend his contract as he is undoubtedly going to demand—-watch out! Because an irritated Gary Sheffield is a disruptive Gary Sheffield. I am not one who believes that Sheffield is the ogre that some have portrayed him to be. I think he’s been a good teammate for the better part of his career. But when Gary’s unhappy, everyone around Gary has to be unhappy as well. And whoever deals for him had better be prepared to extend him or face the consequences. Just a word to the wise.  

    As great and productive an agent as Scott Boras is for his clients, his selection by Daisuke Matsuzaka as his representative for his jump to the U.S. is going to limit the number of teams that are going to be willing to post the money to negotiate with him and then provide the contract that Boras is going to demand. The number of teams that could afford Matsuzaka was already limited; now it is dwindled down to a short list.
    The Yankees; Mets; Dodgers; Mariners; Angels; Red Sox; White Sox; Phillies; Rangers; and Orioles are probably the only teams that are going to have the money available to spend on a pitcher that is well-regarded, but still a slight risk. My guess is that it’s going to come down to the Mariners and Yankees.
    I don’t think that the Mets can afford to spend the money necessary for Matsuzaka when there are many available starters for them to choose from; starters that they can pretty much forecast their production. The Red Sox have so many needs in their rotation and lineup, that it would be foolish to risk that money on Matsuzaka unless they are extremely confident that they are going to get the performance that they are paying for. As for the other teams mentioned, Ken Williams with the White Sox tends to acquire his talent via trade. The Orioles and Phillies aren’t going to get into a bidding war with the big market bullies and then spend money that could be allocated elsewhere.
    What it may come down to is where Matsuzaka would like to go; Boras has a tendency to send his players to whichever team offers the most money regardless of their on-field situation. That is not a criticism. It’s up to the player to tell the agent what team he would like to play for; and then up to the agent to negotiate it—-not the other way around. Matsuzaka’s selection of Boras as his agent may even preclude the pitcher from ending up in Seattle.
    In looking at the entire situation as a whole; with the posting money rumored to be heading as high as $15-$20 million; and Matsuzaka hiring Boras; it may be that the Japanese star has already made his decision regarding which team for whom he’d like to play. With the money that is going to be spent before he even throws a pitch in the majors, the only team that is willing to spend in such a way is the New York Yankees. And it’s starting to look like Yankee Stadium is where Daisuke Matsuzaka is going to call home next season.