Peters is doing the PC move. All agents want there players to be free agents and get a monster Yankee contract.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 07:40 AM ET  11.16 by aap1970

Peters is doing the PC move. All agents want there players to be free agents and get a monster Yankee contract.

Like 99% of players, Crawford's services go to the highest bidder.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

Crawford's option was for $10M, and he's the team's top paid player.... In some ways, he may benefit with the extra year should the economy recover....

good point-
he's still underpaid- but that's only for MAX one more year

You know that they're not gonna resign him, so trade him now. This is exactly what's wrong with baseball. Too many teams. They don't deserve a team in Tampa. They have built a young exciting team that should be in contention for years, but nobody down there cares enough to support them. Unless they fill up the park with fans from Boston or New York the attendance sucks....

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:45 AM ET  11.16 by Sovereign

Like 99% of players, Crawford's services go to the highest bidder.

If the rival company for whom you worked, offered to double your salary and give you a guaranteed 5-7 years on that contract, would you go? Why are baseball players any different?

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

They have attempted to keep the team together and have increased payroll, including the first four year deal for Crawford..... so, you have no idea what they may do.... The issue, as I see it, is more that Crawford sees Free Agency one year away & a potential bidding war.... BTW: attendance at Tampa 2007- 1.3M 2008 - 1.7M 2009 1.8M (up 5%).... they're making progress and increasing attendance while most teams are decreasing because of the economy....

A true baseball town with that team should draw at least 2.5 million. It seems like the only time they fill up the place is with Red Sox and Yankee fans that make the trip south. Watch a Sox vs. Rays game in Tampa and it seems Sox fans outnumber Rays fans 2 to 1. They have developed some great young talent over the years, they need to keep guys like Crawford and Kazmier not let them go.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET  11.16 by jnorman41

A true baseball town with that team should draw at least 2.5 million. It seems like the only time they fill up the place is with Red Sox and Yankee fans that make the trip south. Watch a Sox vs. Rays game in Tampa and it seems Sox fans outnumber Rays fans 2 to 1. They have developed some great young talent over the years, they need to keep guys like Crawford and Kazmier not let them go.

It isn't Yankees fans making the trip south to Tampa. A lot of Tampa residents are simply Yankees fans. They've held spring training in Tampa for a while and built up a fan base there.

Carl Crawford, come to New York. Left field is open. We'll slot you in #2 right behind Jeter. You'll score 130 runs and be a perennial allstar.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET  11.16 by jnorman41

A true baseball town with that team should draw at least 2.5 million. It seems like the only time they fill up the place is with Red Sox and Yankee fans that make the trip south. Watch a Sox vs. Rays game in Tampa and it seems Sox fans outnumber Rays fans 2 to 1. They have developed some great young talent over the years, they need to keep guys like Crawford and Kazmier not let them go.

I thought it was a mistake to get rid of Kazmier at the time, but now the move does not look that bad.

What the hell is the NY Baseball Digest?

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:51 AM ET  11.16 by Pickle_T.Johnstone

I thought it was a mistake to get rid of Kazmier at the time, but now the move does not look that bad.

He could bounce back Pickle, I wouldn't have cut him loose just yet.................

Rays should make their best long-term offer well prior to the start of the season. If Crawford doesn't take it or at least doesn't seriously negotiate it, then they should trade him. They can't afford to let that much talent leave the organization with no return.

The Rays attendance is pitiful considering that went to the WS in '08. They should have packed them in for all of '09, up to the point of where they fell out of the race. Yet they were playing in front of <15K in mid-week games. The Milwaukee Brewers drew far more fans with a team that finished under .500.

It is that lack of a loyal fan base that pushes players like Crawford out of the organization.

QUOTE:

Originally posted by

btw: there are many places, including Atlanta, Florida and LA/Anaheim, where I can personally attest to the fact that the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs bring in a disproportionate number of fans for opposing teams.... this is because a lot of people from these three large cities have been dispersed around the US and go to see their teams when they're in town....

Further, there are legions of Yankees and Red Sox fans that have probably never set foot in the teams' respective cities, let alone the ballparks.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:37 AM ET  11.16 by SlinkyRedfoot

Further, there are legions of Yankees and Red Sox fans that have probably never set foot in the teams' respective cities, let alone the ballparks.

OUCH

This notion of fans rooting for teams they have no connection to is quite perplexing

That's better.

This is the place to be

QUOTE(#19):

Originally posted 10:52 AM ET  11.16 by SlinkyRedfoot

That's better.

*LOL*

QUOTE(#19):

Originally posted 10:52 AM ET  11.16 by SlinkyRedfoot

That's better.

Great to see you here Slinky. This thread while not brand new, is a certified pre-owned one

Do we have a TIN to look it up on Threadhix.com?