David Pinto answers Doug Melvin

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 16, 2008 1:43 PM CST Comment 21 comments

I've been meaning to post something about Doug Melvin's nonsensical whining about the Yanks' bid on C.C. Sabathia.

Now, I don't have to come up with anything original, since David Pinto responded so well:

Doug Melvin doesn't understand the Yankees bid for CC Sabathia:

"It sounds like they're overbidding," Melvin said. "If the speculation is true that we've offered CC $100 million, why would you offer $140 million? Why wouldn't you offer $110 million?"

Because, Doug, if they offered $110 million you might bid again. This way, they drive out all of the teams that can't afford $140 million, and see who's left. This leaves the Yankees with a lot less work to do. Since Sabathia is probably worth around $27 million a year, or $162 million over six years, the Yankees just took the bidding up to a decent level where it will move along faster.

Melvin should bid $150 million for six years. In all likelihood, the Yankees will top that. So Doug gets to look like a hero to the Milwaukee fans for being willing to spend top dollar on Sabathia without shelling out any money, plus he forces the Yankees to bid higher.

If all the other teams are scared away by New York's offer, the Yankees get Sabathia cheap. If they take part in incremental bidding, however, there's a chance another team breaks it's limit on CC. If someone bid $125 million, then $135 million, maybe they feel they've invested so much time in trying to obtain Sabathia's services that they are willing to break their $140 million limit and go to $145 or $150 million. If, however, that limit is met with the first bid, there's no reason to even get started. So by trying to drive out all the other bidders, the Yankees might actually save money over using Melvin's rational strategy.

It seems like obvious posturing on the part of Melvin for the fans and media, so everyone can blame the Yankees for ruining baseball and feel sorry for the Brewers, rather than blame the Brewers for not paying market price for Sabathia.

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Ahha!

The Tom Hicks FA-bidding-theory?

;)

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Nov 16, 2008 1:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

all i know is...

the brewers wore Sabathia’s arm out at the end of last year. Pitch counts didn’t seem to exist for him. Melvin doesn’t want him back, but gets to save face to his fans by putting an offer out there he knew wouldn’t be expected.

Don’t be surprised if CC’s arm falls off next year, and that team’s GM whines about the workload put on him by the Brewers.

by ksf42001 on Nov 16, 2008 1:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

can't type

expected = accepted

by ksf42001 on Nov 16, 2008 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He had

almost the exact same workload last year.

07: 241 IP
08: 253 IP

Is it a good sign? No. But he has had 6 years at or near 200 innings.

by BHill on Nov 16, 2008 2:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

only one stat though

That’s two years of pitching 20-25% more than his recent average (~195 innings).

Also, while it was only 12 extra innings between 07 and 08, he threw 650 more pitches getting there. Not to mention the fact, a lot of that is weighted heavily towards the end of the season, since he had 7 complete games in his last 17 starts. That’s a lot of work, so hopefully he has the same genetic mutation Nolan Ryan had, or his future health prospects are nil…

by ksf42001 on Nov 16, 2008 3:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

CC

weighted heavily towards the end of the season, since he had 7 complete games in his last 17 starts.

He averaged 110.6 per start in his 18 games with Milwaukee. He averaged 107.38 in 18 starts with Cleveland. The 7 complete games is likely due to pitching in the NL. They came against the:

Reds
Giants
Cards
Nats
Astros
Pirates
Cubs (last game of the year)

His pitch counts aren’t terribly out of line with the rest of the league, but I understand your point. He did throw 188 more pitches than anyone else last year.

by BHill on Nov 16, 2008 4:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

they should have put him on the Brandon McCarthy workload so he’ll stay healthy…

by SteveP on Nov 16, 2008 5:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hit the nail on the head.

I got a text from my buddy from Wisconsin bitching about it just like Melvin. Pony up, because it shouldn’t be a surprise the Yankees blow your initial bid out of the water.

I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker! I am the motherfucking shore patrol! Give this man a beer.

by TheBZA on Nov 16, 2008 1:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

[sigh]

Melvin should bid $150 million for six years. In all likelihood, the Yankees will top that. So Doug gets to look like a hero to the Milwaukee fans for being willing to spend top dollar on Sabathia without shelling out any money,

Could we set up quantitative criteria for when a GM is making a genuine bid, versus a posturing bid?

My goodness, calling out “fake” bidding is so tired, and so divorced from reality it borders on diagnosable.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Nov 16, 2008 2:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Melvin is boring me.

Bring up Matt West '09

by Chase Irwin on Nov 16, 2008 3:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Melvin

I wonder if he was protesting when as the GM of the Rangers they offered ARod 10/252?

"Colt mccoy sucks, mack brown needs to be fired." - Longhorn

by DaheelzCM on Nov 16, 2008 2:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chris

IIRC I think Melvin was against the AROD signing and wanted to put that money towards pitching.

A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555

by boomer1 on Nov 16, 2008 3:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i thought that happened during the the no GM term

was Melvin around for Arod?

Corollary: where was the MSM defense for Hicks and 252M. That contract was supposed to ruin baseball but was never topped and was actually opted out of for a bigger contract by the yankees.

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 16, 2008 3:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This reminds me.

“I would say it’s the end of the world as we know it. …
I am speechless by that contract. … It’s unbelievable.
Literally, it will take the sport down, that contract.
We’re right back to the ridiculous contracts. It can’t be.”
- Marlins president David Samson,
on reports Ichiro Suzuki would sign a $100 million contract

“My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?”
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Nov 16, 2008 3:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Melvin was around for ARod

Although supposedly, he wanted to strip down and rebuild (despite the fact the farm system in 2000-01 wasn’t exactly stacked).

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 16, 2008 3:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The only way the Rangers were going to rebuild

was to kick Melvin’s useless ass to the curb. The atrocious minor league draft and development on his watch was one of the biggest reasons the ’00s were so painful.

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 17, 2008 8:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs