Peter Abraham: Being a Journalist and Homer Need Not Be Exclusive
After the Red Sox lost to the Indians Saturday night to even the series at 1 game a piece Peter Abraham published the following post on his blog:
It could be worse, Yankees fans
Yes, the Yankees are home for the winter. But at least Brian Cashman didn’t give up Ian Kennedy or Melky Cabrera for Eric Gagne.Comical as well that Boston sank so much money into Nancy Drew (who wasn’t good enough to start Game 1) and it was former right fielder Trot Nixon who had the big hit in Game 2.
But the good news for Boston is that $103 million No. 3 starter Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to go in Cleveland.
So much ignorance in one post. Let’s break it down.
It could be worse, Yankees fans
Really? Not getting tossed from the first round of the playoffs for the 3rd straight year with a payroll 50 million higher than any other Major League Baseball team is worse? Being 3 victories away from the World Series while the Yankees are making winter vacation plans is worse? Having a Manager that isn’t left twisting in the wind while those running the team take their time deciding his fate is worse? Hell, is even knowing who actually runs the damn team worse? Because if the Red Sox situation is worse, maybe I need to pull out my dictionary. That word can’t mean what I think it means.
But at least Brian Cashman didn’t give up Ian Kennedy or Melky Cabrera for Eric Gagne.
A senseless comparison, since neither did the Red Sox. Boston gave up 3 players for whom they had no room. For each player, there was a more prized player higher on the minor league depth chart. That’s what a good farm system allows a team to do. Keep their top prospects while using second tier players for trades. It’s a low risk situation. Of course, I doubt Peter Abraham actually has any working knowledge of the Red Sox minor league system, so I probably shouldn’t expect anything resembling accuracy on the topic.
Comical as well that Boston sank so much money into Nancy Drew (who wasn’t good enough to start Game 1) and it was former right fielder Trot Nixon who had the big hit in Game 2.
About as comical as Kenny Lofton, once a Yankee, killing his former team the entire series while New York pays Johnny Damon 13 million a year to not play center field, not stay healthy, not hit .275, and not throw the ball to second without hitting the cutoff man.
Want more comedy? Check out Jason Giambi’s stats this year, and then check out his salary for next. Compare to Ortiz. Hilarious. Still not doubled over? Check out the money New York is paying Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa. Compare to Beckett. Now try and pick yourself off the floor.
But the good news for Boston is that $103 million No. 3 starter Daisuke Matsuzaka is ready to go in Cleveland.
Without even getting into the idiocy of judging Dice-K’s worth in his first year, I’m confident he’ll give Boston more than 45 year old Roger Clemens gave New York in game 3 against Cleveland. 18 million for 2 innings and an exit that resembled a hip replacement patient leaving the hospital.
One rarely finds a paid journalist who’s as much of a homer as Peter Abraham, but this post is so over the top, even for Abraham, that it comes very close to reaching the level of satire. Maybe that’s what happens when the team you cover goes into the season with high hopes and ends not only in disappointment but complete disarray. You turn your focus elsewhere.
(edit: Pete Abraham today made this statement: “Tonight determines whether Daisuke Matsuzaka was worth all that money”. A 6 year contract but after tonight we can deem it a success or failure. Bizarre statement.)
