Monday, March 22, 2010

Joe Mauer re-signs with Twins - a great day for baseball, a bad day for Squawker Lisa

The Yankees have four $20 million players, and Squawker Lisa was determined to get one for the thumb. But fortunately for the concept of competitive balance, St. Paul native Joe Mauer has decided to stay with the home team and reject Lisa's recruiting pitch:
Besides, the thing is about being a Yankee is that it puts you in a whole other level of superstardom. Joe Mauer has arguably been the best all-around player in the league for years, but he will only get the attention he deserves if he puts on the pinstripes. Will Mauer get the ads Derek Jeter does if he stays in Minnesota? No. Will Mauer host SNL or get to introduce artists at the American Music Awards as a Twin? Doubtful.
Lisa, I concede that no megacontract can fill the hole in one's heart from never having the chance to introduce artists at the American Music Awards.

But if being a Yankee "puts you in a whole other level of superstardom," then why did Darryl Strawberry, as you point out, wear a Met jersey on "Celebrity Apprentice"? You see, the 1986 Mets also had a whole other level of superstardom.

Lisa, is it a coincidence that just as the Mauer deal was being announced, the Yankees were sending top prospect Jesus Montero to the minors? Now the Yankees actually need Montero to learn how to catch, rather than just hit well enough to be used as trade bait for someone like, say, Joe Mauer.

But don't panic if Montero isn't quite ready this year when the aging Posada inevitably breaks down. If Francisco Cervelli can't handle the job, perhaps the Mets can be of assistance. They may not have enough starting pitching, but Omar Minaya cornered the market on backup catchers. Even Mike Jacobs was told to dig out his old catching gear. Want the guy who hit a game-winning homer off Jonathan Papelbon? Omir Santos is available. Want another cult Philly favorite after Sal Fasano? How about Chris Coste?

And now Brian Cashman can spin platitudes of how he intends to use the farm system to keep the Yankees on top - at least until Carl Crawford becomes a free agent.

11 comments:

Adam said...
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Adam said...

Let's not forget that while SNL has been pretty terrible for a while now, Peyton Manning hosted it as a Colt, as did Wayne Gretzky as a King. No disrespect to Jeter, but Mauer proved today that he cares about baseball, not being a celebrity.

Jonmouk71 said...

It has been said that the major reason the Yankees wanted Mauer was supposedly to keep him from the Red Sox - but the Sox have Victor Martinez - why did they need Mauer? It was the Mets (and their multiple 3rd string catchers) that wanted Mauer, not the Yankees. But the Evil Empire was defeated - yet it was the Red Sox that dropped $102 million to get Dice-K and gave a ton of money to Lackey which cut out the Mets. But somehow it's the Yankees who are bad for baseball...

Adam said...

Isn't that funny how the Red Sox can stay seemingly in lock-step with Yankee revenue and still be treated with kid gloves with because of their history? Ditto the Cubs, unless you're from the Upper Midwest like me and just dislike all Chicago sports teams.

Sully said...

Not 100% sure what you are talking about Adam.

As a Red Sox fan who no longer lives in Boston or New York, I don't see the Red Sox (or us fans) being treated with kid gloves from anyone (save for Peter Gammons.)

Everyone else on the planet Earth mentions the Red Sox and Yankees in the same sentence for huge payrolls, gutting other teams and "ruining the game."

I think it is bullocks, but trust me... outside of the Northeast, people HATE HATE HATE the Red Sox

Sully said...
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Anonymous said...

"outside of the Northeast, people HATE HATE HATE the Red Sox". Yeah, about the only thing they hate more than the Red Sox is the Yankers.

Lisa Swan said...

Sully, I think there is definitely a pro-Red Sox bias on ESPN, and in the media overall. Or at least an anti-Yankee one!

Adam, as for SNL, Peyton and Gretzky are the most famous faces in their sport. The only way Mauer would become as famous as them is if he became a Yankee, IMHO.

Anonymous said...

That's some humble opinion you have there. Joe Mauer will ONLY become famous if he plays in NY? How much are you getting paid to spin these lies?

ESPN is about as fair and balanced as it gets. You losers just can't see it though, because you're all so brainwashed by the spin doctors at the "just say NO to YES" network. Without the constant stream of lies and pandering and b.s. (like what you get from the propaganda-meisters at YES), it appears (only to you) that ESPN is anti-Yankee, when in fact they are just reporting the facts.

I think the New York media needs to get off the Yanker payroll and open their eyes to the rest of the baseball world, and realize that there are superstars in other parts of the country too. But we all know that won't happen. They only know what Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumb (i.e. Hank and Hal) pay them to know.

Subway Squawkers said...

Peter Gammons ran for president of Red Sox Nation while he was on ESPN's payroll. Can you imagine the outrage if any ESPN broadcaster, who is supposed to be objective, had aligned himself that way with the Yankees?

MONDOAS said...

Strawberry wore a Muts jersey because he was a star on that team. On the Yankees, he was a good guy off the bench or an occasional starter. When he reminisces and thinks about the good old days, he will forever think of his days with the Muts.

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