Every major sports writer has predicted Sabathia to cave and take the monster deal that the Yankees will inevitably offer him. However, I see a different scenario playing out in the Sabathia sweepstakes.
For one, the Yankees are a dying team, they are old, are run by a crazy family and obviously have some internal issues if they cant make the playoffs with one of the highest payrolls. Sabathia knows this, he has only a couple more years of being absolutley dominant left in him and he would like a chance at a title, something the Yankees cannot offer him.
The Yankees are filled with bad prospects, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, they all have shown glimpses but never have materialized into star players. Which means for the organization that they cannot get better internally, they are constantly looking for FA's and outside of organization. This can be disastrous for a couple of reasons. Number one, you do not get the comradery that you can have from the players playing togethor for 3 to 4 years in the minors. Take for example the Brewers, the Phillies, the Rays, to some extent the Red Sox. All of these teams are excellent teams and have built from within and their players enjoy eachother, the clubhouse is a fun place to be in. 3 of the 4 teams I mentioned have made the World Series, two of them winning it. Comradery goes a long way.
If Sabathia signs with the Yankees, he will be joining a team full of arrogant little **** who all make as much or probably more than he does, and have ego's the size of the Empire State Building. And he knows he will feel some animosity in the clubhouse. Whereas he could stay with Milwaukee, a team full of his friends, and teammates where he obviously enjoyed his stay.
Another reason I dont see him going to the Yankees is the simple fact that he loves to hit the ball. With the Yankees he may get to hit once a year, but if he stays in the NL he hits every 5 games and he obviously has enjoyed hitting. Being able to hit and hit fairly well is a huge fan favorite and makes a star attraction in the NL.
One of the biggest factors to look at would be who he is playing. Obviously in the NL Central you play some pretty good teams like the Cubs or the Astros, but there are some really big bottom feeders in the NL Central and the NL that the Brewers play regularly. But in New York he is playing the elite, he has to play the Ray's, the Red Sox, the Blue Jays, even the Orioles are a good team. Plus he obviously dominated NL hitting as his ERA was under 2 for his whole stay in Milwaukee.
He dominated in the NL, whereas he struggled for some of the year in the AL...hmmm, hard choice?
Another reason he would be more likely stay in Milwaukee than move, would be the simple fact he has already bought a home in Milwaukee and moved his family up there for awhile. They are comfortable here, it's a laid back community with great private schools for his children. Heck, I live 5 houses away from Craig Counsell, and I see him playing with his kids all the time in the yard...no one bothers him for autographs, people just mind their business. I also live a couple of blocks away from Ryan Braun...no one bothers him, he occasionally gets in his nice car and drives away...but no one bothers him.
If you even tried to play with your kids in the yard in New York, you would be assaulted by photographers and people asking you questions. And sure, to some extent people like the attention but it is also a major turn down, you want SOME privacy in your life and he can definetley get that in Milwaukee.
Not to mention Milwaukee is becoming a big baseball town, fans coming to see Sabathia made Milwaukee break their record attendance for the Brewers...more like demolished it. And in New York he would be just another one of those guys who makes a lot of money. Here in Milwaukee he is the star, he shares it with maybe Braun and Fielder, but C.C. is the real STAR on the team.
Maybe this is just a desperate plea to C.C., but I really feel the money coming from New York is overrated. It's a dying organization with a lot of bad players with big contracts. If he signs with Milwaukee he has a shot at a title in the next few years, maybe even next year. And he has a lot of friends here who love him and want him to come back...that is something he wont feel in the New York clubhouse.
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Comments (40) Add A Comment
Nice blog. I really hope that CC doesn't sign with the Yankees. You gave very good reasons as to why CC should stay put.
Redwing19
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35094)
i really hope CC stays with the Crew that would be awesome if we could keep him
The Scandalous One…
Appleton , WI
Total Comments (254)
great blog very nice
The Scandalous One…
Appleton , WI
Total Comments (254)
u give a lot of good reasons why he should stay that is pretty cool you live that close to Ryan Braun and Craig Counsell have you ever talked to them or anything
The Scandalous One…
Appleton , WI
Total Comments (254)
I actually attend the same high school Counsell did. Yeah I have gotten batting tips from Counsell and he ran the Village 5K with a couple of us baseball players
CiA is X
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (767)
It would be cool if he signed with Miluakee, but like you said, he has a few years of true dominance in him, you figure he'll want to get paid. Maybe the Yanks aren't a destination, but there are others out there who will pay him too.
jrslim64
Moorpark , CA
Total Comments (14)
he will be a dodger!
Big Danny
Woodland , CA
Total Comments (1)
I agree jrslim...I think its between Houston, LA, and Milwaukee...
CiA is X
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (767)
It would be awesome if he signs a long-term contract with Milwaukee.
PackersLP21
Titletown, WI
Total Comments (14517)
CC... please don't go to the Yankees.
PackersLP21
Titletown, WI
Total Comments (14517)
Excellent blog and very thorough analysis.
I think its a big stretch to call the Yankees a dying team though. As long as they are willing to keep shelling out the huge salaries, they will continue to buy themselves play-off spots (or at least put themselves in contention) every year. Until MLB actually changes the salary structure with some type of hard cap, it will keep happening.
YODA
Total Comments (16722)
I agree, but it comes to a point when FA's say "No! I want a friendlier place where I will be happy" Look at the Yankees dugout and locker room...no one smiles. Its a hell hole for players right now and C.C. would be dumb for signing there.
Somtimes happines defeats money
CiA is X
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (767)
Well, it is sadly true that Sabathia will not be playing for the Y
YLG 241327
Death Valley, CA
Total Comments (299)
Milwaukee or New York???HMMMMMMM
Let's see, Milwaukee, brewery,brewery, Wisconsin, Cheese, HMMM Weiner races....
On the other hand, New York, World Stage, Yankees,baseball legends, 26 World Titles,Brand new Unbelievable Stadium, Hmmmmm tough choice....
Expert basher
Valley Cottage , NY
Total Comments (10)
I love how people comment about how this is a well pieced together blog. It???s obviously blind biased opinions from a typical New York Yankee hater. Is that okay? Sure. But you actually need to make some sense if you???re going to start a topic such as CC Sabathia not coming to the Yankees.
First things first??? if Sabathia turned down the Yankees, he???ll probably turn down the largest contract ever offered to a pitcher. He could potentially turn down $160-$190 million dollars to play for a team that may not even contend next season. At least the Yankees are open about spending money sensibly in order to approve their team. In the past, the Yankees haven???t been sensible in spending their dough. (signing Contreas, Vazquez, Pavano, Johnson, Wright, Sheffield, trading for Kevin Brown etc???) But now, the Yankees seem dedicated in turning away from those type of bad free agents (Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe, for example). They seem more acknowledgeable, especially Brian Cashman, that starting pitching wins you ball games. Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain are already penciled in for the 2009 Starting Rotation. That???s a back-to-back 19 game winner and a young flame thrower who has the potential to become the Yankees ace. Let???s say the Yankees sign Sabathia and then sign AJ Burnett, they will throw out a rotation of: CC Sabathia, Chien-Ming Wang, AJ Burnett, and Joba Chamberlain. The fifth starter could be Phil Hughes (who I have not given up on), Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina (who won 20 games). That???s a pretty dominate Starting Rotation. Plus, the Yankees could entice Sabathia even more by trading for his friend, Centerfielder Mike Cameron, which would likely include a package of Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, Wilson Betemit, and a lower-level minor league pitcher.
I also believe you are misinformed when you say the Yankees are filled with bad prospects. Where is the mention of Steven Jackson (3-0, 3.17 ERA in Triple A), Mark Melancon (1-1, 2.70 ERA in Triple A), Anthony Claggett (4-2, 2.15 ERA in Double A [someone we acquired in the Garry Sheffield trade]), Kevin Whelan (0.68 ERA in AFL [Also acquired in the Garry Sheffield trade]), Kevin Russo (.351 BA in AFL; .307 in double A), Austin Jackson (.285 in Double A, future Yankee CF), Dellin Bentances ( 3.67 ERA in single A; stands at 6???8 and has been compared to David Price), and Jesus Montero (.326 BA in Single A). Where is the mention of all these guys? Plus, how about Allan Horne and Juan Miranda? They still have trade value.
The dynasty 90???s Yankees were a mixture of free agents/trades and homegrown talent. Tino Martinez, Paul O???Neill, Scott Brosious, Chuck Knoblauch, Roger Clemens, David Wells, David Cone, Joe Girardi, Darrel Strawberry, Chili Davis, Wade Bogs, Jim Leyrtiz, Orlando Hernandez, Jeff Nelson, Mike Stanton, Tim Raines and Luis Sojo were all brought in via F.A or trades. Only Andy Pettitte was a homegrown pitcher.
Sabathia loves to hit the ball??? does he love it so much that he will turn away the largest contract ever offered to a pitcher? Something tells me??? no, he won???t.
Funny thing is that you mention how the Yankees are filled with a lot of bad players with big contracts??? all those contracts just ended. Giambi, Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez??? onto of Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Damaso Marte???
So, stop the blind hate.
icw
Englewood , NJ
Total Comments (63)
When I posted it, it randomly added question marks so please ignore them.
icw
Englewood , NJ
Total Comments (63)
ICW, the probelem with the question marks is probably because you copied and pasted from a word document. It doesnt work well with FN.
And I anticipated the yankee lovers coming out...so here goes.
At a certain point a player doesnt worry about how much he makes...whats the big difference between 25 million a year and 20?? Honestly if you are going to go to a team for just 5 million a year more...you are a bad person and I dont want you on my team anyway.
Next you mentioned they would trade for Cameron...they have already said it isnt happening.
So what the Yankees have a new stadium? Miller park is what 6 years old? And extremeley nice still!
The Brewers have a caring GM, a loveable Owner, both of whom hang out in the locker room and can connect to a player. What do the Yankees have...a disfunctional family running the show.
The Yankees are not going to be good next year...not in the next 5 years. Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera...these are all guys who the Yankees are relying on to add some youth to their team...to bad everyone of them has come up to the bigs and sucked.
It has been proven that even if you spend millions of millions of dollars...you cant win. Take the Cubs...they bought Lee, Soriano, Edmonds, Ramirez, Fukudome, Harden...this team should win! But because they dont have the chemistry that players who have grown up togethor have...they dont win.
If I was given the choice to go to the Yankees or the Brewers...a 160 million contract compared to a 100 million...I wouldnt hesitate to go to the Brewers. Who cares about the big market? Sabathia is THE star in Milwaukee. He has to compete with Arod, Jeter, Abreu, Cano, probably Burnett...in Milwaukee he is everything to the fans.
CiA is X
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (767)
I love how you call me a Yankee lover yet you come off as a Brewer lover (don't see too much of those) .
I also love how you did not comment on me totally naming so many good Yankee prospects.
icw
Englewood , NJ
Total Comments (63)
I also love how the Yankees are labled, according to you, as being run by a crazy family. You do understand that Brian Cashman pretty much has full control of the team? Hank is just someone who talks to the AP, nobody pays him much attention. I trust Hal more than I do Hank... but it's all a moot point because Cashman is pretty much making every team decision. He's running the show for the most part.
You also act as if Cashman is never around like the GM of the Brewers is. Cashman is pretty much by the batting cages every day during the regular season.
icw
Englewood , NJ
Total Comments (63)
It's pretty clear that you have no understanding of the Yankees farm system as well. You just know Kennedy, Hughes, Chamberlain, and Melky but that's all. I want you to counter all those minor leaguers I just named and tell me how they won't be the future of the Yankees?
icw
Englewood , NJ
Total Comments (63)
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