You know I adore you. Really, truly I do. The crazy antics, the dancing, the Bud Light case on your head, the bullpen band, the Scrabble, the goggles, the arguments over spelling, the Friendly's Scoop segments, the absolute lack of any kind of real filter on what comes out of your mouth and the great sense of clubhouse camaraderie you help engender. And obviously, most of all, the phenomenal lights-out pitching you deliver (especially during last season, and most especially during last year's postseason). I can't imagine the Sox bullpen without you- and I am quite serious about that.
But we need to talk.
As much as your lack of a verbal filter entertains me, this is one situation in which you really, really need to just bite your tongue. I have no doubt that you are just venting some frustration, and that most (if not all) ballplayers feel like you do during their contract negotiations.... but: talking about all this money that you "deserve", and comparing yourself to veteran Mariano Rivera (who is hands-down the best closer to ever play the game), and generally being petulant and whiny? You've got to stop.
I'm not saying you're not worth more than they're paying you. I'm not even saying you're wrong for feeling that way. But you have just two years service time - two years! - and that means, unfortunately, that what you are "worth" and what you "deserve" are two very different things.
Fair or not, the major league baseball system basically results in underpaying rookies and new guys for their first two or three years of service... and then basically overpays them from there on out. Yes, that means you have to "suffer" through a couple of years at $400-500K a year, but you'll be making seven figures from year 4 on forward.
Also, I know you'd like to make the $900,000 Ryan Howard did after his second year - but (a) he won NL Rookie of the Year his first year, (b) he won the National League MVP award in his second year, and (c) he racked up 31 win shares that same second year. You were phenomenal, no doubt about it - but you had 12 win shares to his 31. Your value as a closer who saw 58.3 innings of work is just flat not the same as that of an everyday player and league MVP. You and Ryan Howard are not equivalent for salary purposes-- it's apples and oranges.
One player who is comparable to you: Bobby Jenks. He is a closer at very nearly the same service level, with 65 innings of work last year and 14 win shares. Your ERA and WHIP lines beat him out, but his overall value to his club is higher than yours by about the same margin. He made $450,000 last year, and is quite contented with his raise to $550,000. That's who you need to be making comparisons to, not Ryan Howard.
And I wouldn't argue at all if you felt you deserved to make even a little more than Jenks -- baseball has (ridiculously) started tying "respect" to salary, and I get that. You're the reigning World champ, I'd support a $575,000 payday. But you've got to stop with the thinking that you're somehow entitled to a near $1 million dollar paycheck after just two years (one of which saw you shut down with an injury). It's unrealistic, and if it leads to you getting offended by a half million dollar offer from the club... it could be potentially toxic to your working relationship in the future.
The Red Sox adore you, Boston adores you, the fans adore you - and everyone will totally back your giant payday that will most certainly be your due. But only after you finish up your third year and maintain your health and value. Even though you're priceless to the fans, that doesn't mean you "deserve" a million dollar salary at this moment.
And I say that with nothing but love.
on March 5, 2008 2:41 PM
My exact sentiments, TG. I just finished posting almost the exact same thing at Cursed to First, even. You just said it a lot better than I did. :)