The Republic of Sport

Neutral Zone

Neutral Zone's Comments

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Red Sox-Jays deal-killer?

Well, the Sox will most likely ask for a 72-hr window to negotiate a contract extension. I don't think the Sox want Halladay for just one year. If they're going to trade for him, they're going to make sure that they sign him long term.

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Red Sox-Jays deal-killer?

If all the Jays want are Buchholz and Kelly, I would do it in a heartbeat if I was the Red Sox. Prospects are so hit and miss anyway. What is the likelihood that either Buchholz or Kelly will become as dominant as Halladay one day? Probably not very high. The Red Sox get Halladay, you're talking about multiple championships in the next 5-6 years. I'll sacrifice 2 top prospects any day for that.

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Red Sox-Jays deal-killer?

I agree that the Angels and Yanks have more prospects to offer, but I'm not sure if either team is that desperate to get Halladay like the Red Sox are. I don't think Henry is unwilling to pony up money for Halladay. Afterall, they were prepared to give Texiera $170 million last year. Halladay's contract extension would cost less than that. Plus the contract extension won't kick in 'til after the 2010 season, when Ortiz, Lowell, and Varitek will be off the books.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Sheffield not ready to retire

If they have an opening at DH, they would've brought back Matsui. DH next year will be reserved for Posada and Damon. Also, short porch is in right field and Sheff is a dead pull hitter. Makes no sense. Yankee Stadium is built for left-handed hitters.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Angels, Dodgers pursuing Halladay

Well, Santana's first year with the Mets was great. 16-7 with a 2.54 ERA, his lowest of his career. Had the Mets bullpen not blown 8 saves in games in which he left with a lead, Santana would've been a 20 game winner and a probable Cy Young winner. Also, you can be a better pitcher in another league but not win the Cy Young because the other league may have better pitching than the league he came from. Plus pitching is so unpredictable from year to year. You could have one year where there were no clear cut great pitcher but somebody has to win the Cy Young. Conversely you can have a year where there are 3-4 great pitchers who in any other year each one could be a Cy Young winner. So you can't say that just because Santana hasn't won the Cy Young in the NL, he hasn't been as good a pitcher as he was in the AL.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Angels, Dodgers pursuing Halladay

Actually, the Red Sox and Yankees both pulled their offers for Santana, which is why the Twins had to settle for the garbage that the Mets gave them.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Angels, Dodgers pursuing Halladay

uh...that's not happening. First off, the Yanks declined Mitre's 2010 option. So he's not even part of the team anymore. Kennedy and Miranda are mediocre prospects as best. Bruney is an erratic reliever who wasn't even good enough to make the postseason roster. I'm a Yankee fan and that offer is laughable. If you want to trade for Halladay, at least offer up some prospects that other teams would want.

Here's a more realistic offer:

Joba Chamberlain
Jesus Montero
Zach McAllister

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Angels, Dodgers pursuing Halladay

I think the Yankees will take the Sabathia approach and just wait for him to become a FA next year. Then they won't have to give up any prospects. It doesn't make sense for the Yankees to give up 2 or 3 AAA prospects for essentially one year of Halladay's service.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Big obstacle to Twins re-signing Mauer

And that means what exactly? Ron Shapiro is also the agent of about 20 other players who have switched teams in their careers.

Posted Monday November 23, 2009, About: Source: Damon won't take pay cut

The Yanks are able to pay more than any other team, but it doesn't mean that they will unless they really want the guy. Case and point last year with Abreu.

Posted Saturday November 21, 2009, About: Yankees keeping eye on Halladay

No thanks to Matt Holliday. If I'm giving $100 million to someone, I'm spending it on pitching. I would bring Damon back for 1 more year, then go after Carl Crawford next year, who is a better all around player and will be cheaper than Holliday.

Posted Saturday November 21, 2009, About: Yankees keeping eye on Halladay

Well, they do have Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero. Every scout raves about Montero's bat. Plus he's only 19.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

On a per game basis, yes, each football game requires a massive amount of preparation compared to the other sports. However, it's unfair to implicate that the other sports are "easier" to play because there's less preparation involved on a game to game basis. Also, in football the level of preparation differs from position to position. I don't think a kicker has as much to prepare week to week compared to the QB. A Defensive Tackle doesn't need to know what the offense is going to do. He just needs to prepare for his responsibility. Football's preparation is completely different than any other team sports in that way.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

I'm pretty sure he said that jokingly if he did say that he could save the Browns. The media loves to take every quote out of context. So I'll take it with a grain of salt. Maybe if the Browns receivers can catch a pass once in a while they can say something.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Source: Heat 'hot' after Iverson

I don't know about that. Wouldn't it be quitting on yourself if you're content with just being a bench player instead of striving for something more? If you're a professional basketball player, shouldn't you do everything you can to get in the starting lineup? To me, those player who are just happy to sit on the bench and collect their million dollar checks are the real quitters. AI may be a jerk of a person, but I've always looked at him as a fearless competitor who is never afraid of going into the paint or hitting the deck. That's not the mark of a quitter in my books.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

Shockey has a lot of talent no doubt, but I just don't think he was a great team player. He was kinda like the Manny Ramirez in the team. All-world talent, but also a distraction much of the time to the team. I don't think anyone can actually deny that Shockey has talent. If he could stay healthy, he'd be a hall of fame TE.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

If only that was true, Knicks fans wouldn't have been suffering the past decade. I can't remember the last time the Knicks have gotten a "best" player from any team. The last great player was Patrick Ewing, and he was drafted by the Knicks. So I'm not sure what the heck you're talking about.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

The Giants won a Super Bowl with Kevin Boss at TE. That's how he's worked out. Shockey in his tenure with the Giants never sniffed the Super Bowl.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Source: Heat 'hot' after Iverson

Right, because AI is so known for being clutch right?

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Source: Heat 'hot' after Iverson

If you don't like your job, and you quit to go to another company that offers a better opportunity, why is that wrong? It's ok for normal people to do it, but not for professional athletes?

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Shockey: LeBron couldn't cut it in NFL

let's not forget also that Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest receiver of all time, never had blinding speed either. He just had great hands and ran great routes.