Beginning today, a new feature here on the site bearing an old name: Morning Java.
I’ll try to focus on issues a bit beyond our city borders, more often than not, stuff I wouldn’t commit to a column because, candidly, that just isn’t the site’s literal selling point. It might be Pittsburgh, it might be, as with this one on Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million contract with the Marlins, something that just touches on Pittsburgh.
Love the new feature, old name and the return of the bobble heads. Graphics are cool, especially when paired with one's own morning cup of java.
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Great points too.
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Thanks DK.
When I first heard of Stanton's contract I thought the same-he's going to sell the franchise for big profit. When I saw how it was backloaded I changed my mind. He's saddling the franchise with debt. Clubs typically shave payroll to make the books attractive.
The option in year 7 if exercised by Stanton begs the question, would the Yankees rethink signing A Rod after he opted out. The Pirates are breathing easy that they aren't paying him that jack after talk of trading the two top prospects for him. Baseball money plus dumb not good,
I'm genuinely surprised at the number of people who think this deal is a good thing for the Marlins, in terms of winning baseball games. The next massive contract to a player on a low payroll team that actually works out will be the first. This is not how baseball works.
Do you think there's any shot he stays? I'd say you're dreaming if you don't think he's gone. This is the problem. Pens fans don't need to worry about Sid leaving. Steelers fans don't worry about Ben leaving. Hockey was a bigger mess than baseball, and they fixed it.
I think thats what DK was saying but I could be wrong. 75% of hockey teams can spend to the cap if they choose. How many teams in baseball can make that deal. Less than 10 I'd guess and probably more like 4 or 5.
This is such a false idea star level players leave teams all the time in sports with a payroll cap. The Penguins couldn't keep Hossa, didn't resign Niskanen (some labeled Pen's best D-man last year.) Also are the Steelers being helped by dead money looming with Troy and Miller?
Hahahaha, right on, Andrew.
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All the Pens were able to do with a cap was keep those bums Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury. Their real stars got away.
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Nailed it.
The Pens chose not to sign those guys, they could have, they chose not to. With the Steelers, if you make bad signings i.e. Big Lamar, you pay the price. IF you do things right, and sign the right guys, you can keep all your players, within reason. Bucs have no shot w/ Cutch.
The Pirates control the rights of 5/6 most valuable hitters for at least 2 more years.
Nothing productive is happening in 280 characters. Completely divorce team's dependence upon local revenue or have baseball suffer economic harm then there will be payroll cap.
It doesn't bother me that Cutch'll probably be going elsewhere after his age 31 season. After all, players start to decline around age 30 anyway. Should we really want them to give a 32 year old an 8 year, 200+ million dollar deal?
Don't know if this is a trend or not but both Stanton's and Martin's contracts are both heavily back loaded. I suppose this 'makes sense' as far as anything related to baseball contracts make sense. But the rationale escapes me.
I think the back loading also has to do with the Marlins signing a new local tv deal in the near future that is expected to significantly boost their revenues.
Toronto's rationale is that they have little available payroll now, but many contracts coming off the books in a few years. They're essentially sacrificing the future in order to take a shot at winning right now.
I also read their TV deal is about to grow also, NMR. Toronto is a huge mkt. Each time a new TV deal gets done, the $ divide between the haves and have nots gets wider & wider. I still say the gutless small mkts accept scraps from the big mkts rather than fight for change.
According to baseball-reference.com, Roberto Clemente made $758K during his 18 year career. Adjusted for inflation, that's $5,030,803 in 2014 dollars, or one year of Edinson Volquez plus a 2014 Dodge Charger (the one he won for his 1971 World Series MVP listed for about $3,300).
Really enjoyed this DK! Thanks for being versatile and keeping everything fresh for us, the subscribers. It's things like this that will keep the subscribers coming! Blessings, DK!
Cutch will be paid after his option year. What most fans want is the pirates to compete at a level of payroll that allows for them to be successful. No question the Marlins owners are looking to sell and bolt before the big money kicks in.
DK, what does each team get from their TV deals. The NFL is around 40 million per team, correct? What do the Pens get and what do the Pirates get? How long are the Root deals for?
Biggest issue w revenues is local TV deals. According to a story I read today, the Marlins current deal pays them approx. $12-18M/season, while LAD receive $334M/season. Marlins deal is supposedly up soon. DK has pointed out many times that the Bucs have an awful deal w ROOT.
DK is the best there is in the journalistic world on this subject. Everything he says in the video is spot on. Stanton will play for another team in a few years. Why would a team allow him the ability to opt out if this were on the up and up? This is a farce of a contract IMO.
How crazy is it that he'll be able to make a hundred million bucks off the Marlins, and still probably be able to get another $300m contract once he opts out.
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The entire Pittsburgh Pirate franchise, as it currently stands, was purchased for $92m.
Bucs just lost RM not because they did not offer a fair contract. Some are now suggesting the Bucs offered 4/$60+. The big mkt teams never lose a player they really want over $. But, it happens to every small mkt team over & over. Cutch will be traded in a few yrs. Sad, but true.
It's not "Small Market . . . . it's SMALL MINDED teams that make bad local media contracts.
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The teams in Pirates own division are similar sized markets, and Bucs don't even attempt to spend within $25 million of Brewers, Reds, and Cardinals.
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"Small Market" is a copout!!!!
The next month or so will answer all the questions about these guys once and for all. If they're unwilling to do what it takes to sign Liriano or Volquez or someone like them it's going to speak volumes. If AJ is their big off season move, they have some questions to answer.
JG: I said big mkt teams don't lose players they really want to small mkt teams because of money. In other words, the Bucs will lose Cutch because they can't afford him if he demands mkt value. That never, ever happens to the big mkt teams.
Groat: I'm not defending the Bucs TV deal or their payroll. They screwed up the TV deal & underspend every yr. But, even a perfectly negotiated TV deal w ROOT & spending to the point they lose money each yr. probably can't get them anywhere near the payroll of the large mkts.
To make the Playoffs, all the Pirates have to do is beat the teams in their division.
The teams in their division are all similar sized in market—except for "suddenly I am worrying about" the Cubs.
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Comparing Pirates' pursuit of players to Angels, Dodgers, Yankees,etc a crock
Yes but it is naive to think that 20 years of losing didn't have an impact on revenue streams. And that is reflected in ticket prices and the TV contract. The Brewers, Reds, and Cardinals all out-drew the Pirates this season.
this is great. Really love the background too!
what kind of motivation/impetus would it take for there to be any change in baseball's economics? Probably blow the league up as it doesn't really seem to me that either side (owners/players) are eager to change anything?
Read his column from last week. Nobody wants the change except fans of smaller teams like the Pirates. The owners don't want, nor do the players i.e. union.
I can just imagine Stanton some time last week calling one of his buddies and saying something like, "I hope you're sitting down because you're not going to believe this."
I think DK should blindfold himself & pull a bobble off the shelf, and that should be the topic for the day. Never mind. Probably wouldn't work so well on Cecilio Guante or Tommy Sandt day. :-)
Can we switch topics on MJ? Colbert has assembled a paper thin roster depth-wise, we are always up against the cap limit & now we are a turned ankle away from having a complete unknown taking meaningful carries in important games. Totally unacceptable. How does he keep his job?
Six starters on Defense are out, and Steelers still 7 - 3. Off. linemen have missed whole games.
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Blount released for insubordination, and still desirable to winning contender.
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How is that a paper-thin roster? Seems to me, depth is what has them still in the hunt.
Agreed! People are always talking about firing coaches, but Colbert has been average at best for a number of years now. The 08 draft was a freakin joke, no one is left from 09, there have been multiple busts and our overall depth is a joke. I think it's high time for a change!
Groat: They are 7-4. Paper thin means they don't have many adequate back-ups - not that they don't have some good starters. Feel free to prove me wrong. Their 7-4 record is built on some really bad opponents. They can never sign F/A of consequence because the money is gone.
Sweet Jimmie,
Thanks for catching my typo: 7—4
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Not trying to prove you wrong. Rooneys' philosophy has ALWAYS been to 1/ sign their own; and 2/ NOT pursue big FA. Not Colbert's call
Biggest signings have been Farrier and Ryan Clark—middle of road.
D missing 6/11 starters VG
Groat: You can say defenders are missing, but none of those 6 were destined for the Pro Bowl, were they? Shazier, Jones, Ike, Troy, etc. I'll stick with my stance that they are a team with several terrific players, several mediocre players and a lot of weak ones. Paper thin.
If they're smart, they try locking him up with another contract ASAP. The bar will only be set higher every year. That said, I don't think they stand a chance at keeping him past this contract. The window to win is '15-'18. The "future" everyone keeps referring to is now.
On the assumption that Morning Java is the miscellaneous thread, I thought this Fortune article about the "hated" Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was interesting on many levels.
I read a very similar story yesterday about Ryan Howard. His mother & twin brother were supposedly stealing money from him while they were keeping an eye on his finances. They just settled out of court.
Keith Law says that the Russell Martin deal is a very good one for the Blue Jays.
He must not have been reading the comments here since Martin gave the Blue Jays his autograph.
Hope he's right: I like Russ.
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Jon Heyman says Bucs were not in top 2 for Martin.
How many surprised that Blount went back to the Patriots? Word is he wasn't exactly a locker room favorite there either, but I'll bet my next paycheck Belichick figured he could give them some insight on the Steelers offense if they happened to see them in the playoffs.
I'd say it's more likely that Blount was an absolute stud for them last year.
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I don't think he would have been cut as quickly if he was running more like Le'veon Bell. Not that I disagree with cutting him.
That's kind of one of those propositions that could never be proven. If he was running like Bell he'd have had enough carries he wouldn't have been upset.
That's true but Bilichick had to think of the fringe benefits as well. Interesting how Blount decided to pull a fireable offense the same day we learned Ridley would have season ending surgery. Like he knew he might have a safety outlet, or talked with the Pats before the game.
Is that days he plays baseball, or everyday...including the ones he's just sitting on his butt doing nothing but counting his money? I guess that's a tough job, but someone has to do it. "In this weeks episode, Mike Rowe counts Giancarlo Stanton's money."
If that's $68,000 a day, 365 days a year, it means he can burn $40 a minute (a $20 dollar bill every 30 seconds) for the next 13 years and still have over $34 million dollars when he was done, and that’s if he collect no interest.
Bet, but. but Tomlin is the players coach. Cardinals are not a small market team in revenue or popularity. Cubs will be good in the next two years and when they spend on pitching look out. Neal H was correct. The farm system has to produce for the Pirates to compete
St. Louis is barely ahead of Pittsburgh in TV market size. Cincinnati and Milwaukee are behind by 10 spots. Yet those two consistently have significantly higher payrolls than Pittsburgh does.
Nutting is a notch above Loria as an owner. He's cheap, but not a swindler. That said, Loria just did sign their best player to the richest contract in North American sports history; something that will never be said about Nutting.
Last of TOP 30 International prospects just signed.
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Yankees, despite supposedly limited to spending only a little over $2 million, signed 9 (NINE) players.
No other team signed more than 2.
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Bucs signed 0 (ZERO)!
Thanks, Bud, for changing the system and making it so fair
As per Schefter: "Bills coaches are preparing with the belief that the game vs. Jets will be moved to Monday night in Detroit, Pittsburgh or Washington."
Why not Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh since the Steelers have a bye?
Small risk of an AL team that likes to platoon taking him. I think he could be worth the 25th spot on a roster as DH/1B/PH for 200 AB or so.
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Allie made it to AAA - after not hitting at all for two years - in 116 less PA than Andrew McCutchen. Still crazy raw.
Thanks, Milo!!
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I was becoming short of breath waiting for the little chicks to be pulled protectively under our wings.
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Whew! At least Willy is safe.
Bye bye, Brent!
The Ghost of Roberto would like to respond to you, Black Cloud. But, he couldn't hear you with all of those batting title, regular season & WS MVPs, & Gold Glove trophies stacked up around him.
Infielder Pedro Florimon claimed off waivers from the Nationals. Also seeing multiple mentions of pitcher Radhames Liz coming to terms. Anywhere from a 2 year big league deal to a minor league deal. He's 31 & hasn't pitched in the big leagues in a few years.
Two things, re: Liz
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1. Huntington has a crazy amount of respect for Rene Gayo.
2. Gone, thankfully, are the days of non-tendering a reliever over a couple hundred thousand bucks. Marginal cost of having this guy on a two year deal is worth the risk.
NMR,
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I vaguely remember Liz with the Orioles. Big time control issues, but those apparently are gone & he's still throwing 98. They need some heat in that bullpen.
Reports have Liz signing a 2 year $3 million deal which on the surface makes no sense for a 31 year old that hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2009. Giving Volquez $5 million last winter made no sense to me either. This is where I shut up until I see him pitch.
Ha! I've pretty much given up trying to make sense out of relievers in general. Wouldn't surprise me any more or less if this guy never got an out or ended up closing games by August.
Would this be a good time to start my campaign to bring JP Arencibia to Pittsburgh ? He can back up Pedro at 1st base, be a power RH bat off the bench & serve as a 3rd catcher. It would allow you to non tender Gaby & save a few bucks. And he mashes lefties.
Official from Pirates - added Willy Garcia, Nick Kingham, Jameson Taillon & Elias Diaz.
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DFA - Ike Davis, Ramon Cabrera.
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Outright to Indy - Brent Morel.
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Nothing official on Liz.
So NHL Network is showing the Flyers HOF ceremony for Lindros and LeClair. The pinnacle of their career was reaching the Finals once and getting swept by the Wings. I'm glad the Pens don't do this.
November 20, 2014
Morning Java: Giancarlo’s echo
by Dejan Kovacevic • Videos • Morning Java, Pirates
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Beginning today, a new feature here on the site bearing an old name: Morning Java.
I’ll try to focus on issues a bit beyond our city borders, more often than not, stuff I wouldn’t commit to a column because, candidly, that just isn’t the site’s literal selling point. It might be Pittsburgh, it might be, as with this one on Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million contract with the Marlins, something that just touches on Pittsburgh.