I don't get it. Is the Matuszaka story more like jidaimono or sewamono? Is Brian Cashman assuming a mie pose while the other GMs just freeze around him?
Maybe it's more like Noh drama and the GMs are wearing masks?
Actually, much of the shenanigans that Tyler Kepner describes here, such as teams offering side deals to win the bidding, are nothing inherently Japanese. Unless you consider corrupt business practices to be uniquely Japanese.
Update - The headline has since been changed to "In Bidding for Ace, the Cards Are Held Close to the Vest"
I'd be more stunned that a member of the New York Times was yammering on like they knew what they were talking about regarding another culture's art if their brand spanking new (and still in-construction) building wasn't such an boring, bland piece of crap.
A chance to really put a stamp architecturally on the most famous skyline in the world - something seen for at least 30 blocks as you drive up 8th avenue (and probably down 9th) and THAT's what you approved? An institutional square gray rectangle with the personality of hospital air-conditioner? I'm literally sad for architectural progress whenever I see the damn thing, which is pretty much every day.
Sorry, I've had that rant in me for a week. We're all lucky it was that short.
And yes, that article blows. Angry! Grrrr - ROARK SMASH!
*Please note I am not condoning Howard Roark as any kind of metaphor to aspire to.
We (Mets) were "outed" in bidding on him. This is gonna be very weird. I was wondering something as I was walking down the street. Doesn't this bidding system itself solely and SPECIFICALLY add an enormous amount of money to his contract? Because a team that spends 20 million (or whatever the bid is) HAS to sign whatever Boras puts in front of them or be utterly screwed?
2 The contract won't necessarily be higher. Remember that if there's no deal, Matsuzakasan stays in Japan, where he makes less than a tenth of what he could sign for. Both sides will want to work something out before the 30 days.
If you could keep the money from the bid if you didn't sign the player, then no one would bid very high and the posting team would never want to post anyone.
It would be better if the prices were shouted aloud like on "Price is Right".
Minaya: $30,000,000!
Cashman: $30,000,001!
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.
A chance to really put a stamp architecturally on the most famous skyline in the world - something seen for at least 30 blocks as you drive up 8th avenue (and probably down 9th) and THAT's what you approved? An institutional square gray rectangle with the personality of hospital air-conditioner? I'm literally sad for architectural progress whenever I see the damn thing, which is pretty much every day.
Sorry, I've had that rant in me for a week. We're all lucky it was that short.
And yes, that article blows. Angry! Grrrr - ROARK SMASH!
*Please note I am not condoning Howard Roark as any kind of metaphor to aspire to.
We (Mets) were "outed" in bidding on him. This is gonna be very weird. I was wondering something as I was walking down the street. Doesn't this bidding system itself solely and SPECIFICALLY add an enormous amount of money to his contract? Because a team that spends 20 million (or whatever the bid is) HAS to sign whatever Boras puts in front of them or be utterly screwed?
If a team wins the posting process and can't come to an agreement with him they get their posting money back. So no, they're not utterly screwed.
It would be better if the prices were shouted aloud like on "Price is Right".
Minaya: $30,000,000!
Cashman: $30,000,001!
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.