Latest from CJ on Free Agency (He likes it here, a lot)
by rooster on Nov 1, 2011 6:29 AM CDT
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PrintI don't think I've seen this article on Scoreboard Daily linked on LSB. It has a long interview with CJ, and this section regarding his FA situation is something I found really interesting.
ScoreBoard: Well, one of those factors is you. I know there’s not much you can say – or even much to know at this point, but what are the chances you’ll be back next year?
C.J. Wilson: Yeah, there’s a great chance because I like it here and I’ve won here. I’ve proved that I can be a good pitcher here. There have been a lot of people over the years that have said it’s impossible to pitch here in Texas and look what we did here on the rotation – we went out and won a bunch of games and threw a bunch of innings and did stuff that no other organization can say…not even the mighty Red Sox or Yankees. They didn’t do what we did. It’s now all about figuring out how all of the guys on the team – not just me – there’s Elvis, Nelson, Josh, Ian – a lot of guys have contractual things that are coming up. I think one thing the Rangers want me to know is what they’re planning on doing with all of these other guys in the long term. So that gives me confidence that we’re going to keep winning.
ScoreBoard: What have you thought so far about your time here?
C.J. Wilson: The only thing I’ve been concerned about the last couple of years is being the best starting pitcher I can so my team can win the most games. I don’t know. It hasn’t even been 24 hours in that sense. I had a conversation with my agent today and he told me to be patient – that nothing is going to happen for a while. Some other teams might call and the Rangers might call but there’s not going to be an actual offer for a while. There won’t be a quick resolution so I guess it’s good that I have other things to do. I’m going to a wedding for a couple of days and then I’m driving home to California for a bit, I’m going to go to Japan for a bit for business and travel a bit with my race team. I’m only going to take about 10 days off and then I’ll start training again.
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Player speak
I am not criticizing him for it but it’s something almost all players do. You can’t take anything from comments made 3 days after the season ended.
There’s a lot to build on, we did a lot of firsts for this organization. We were the second-best team in the big leagues. We should be proud of that. We’re going to use this for motivation and come in next year and try to do better."
“I don’t know, I’m not thinking too much about the business decisions right now to be honest with you. I’m more thinking about how much fun it was with these guys, and how much I enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to getting home with my family and relaxing. That’s it. That’s going to take care of itself later, but right now I’m not too concerned with it.”
From Cliff Lee last year about this time.
My first thought as well.
Lip service is part of the game. And CJ has already said that he needs to be wooed… I sometimes get the feeling that he has no particular loyalty at all to the Rangers.
"...out of the shadows of unprecedented success, the sun shines down upon this team waiting to thrill anew." - ghostofErikThompson
Loyalty
I don’t think he owes any loyalty to the Rangers. Nor does any player. I don’t think it’s fair for fans to expect guys to show loyalty to an organization, especially before they have ever had a chance to hit the free agent market and have an actual choice where they want to play.
I agree.
I don’t care whether he has loyalty or not. But the lip service is tiresome.
"...out of the shadows of unprecedented success, the sun shines down upon this team waiting to thrill anew." - ghostofErikThompson
From your comments here,
it sounds like CJ not signing with the Rangers will be from a lack of interest on the Rangers end.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
by GhettoBear04 on Nov 1, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I never have, though I did say if we won the World Series in 2010
I would. Well we lost then, and in 2011. It is a very interesting story
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
I bet it's car related.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
What do you do in the automotive world?
Good chance I know you.
by Black Francis on Nov 1, 2011 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions
I modify and race (roadcourse) production Porsches as a hobby
mostly on the tracks in Texas, although I did help crew for a Grand Am team at Daytona couple of years ago
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
Sounds like fun
If I could find a way to make money in racing I’d love to do that.
by Black Francis on Nov 1, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions
the only way to make a little money in racing
is to start with a lot of money. It’s a bottomless pit
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
I know one guy who did it.
Not just the racing alone, though. He built racing engines.
by Black Francis on Nov 2, 2011 2:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Mmmk.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
I don't know why they wouldn't want him
There’s no other decent free agent pitcher out there who is all but guaranteed to throw you 210 or more quality innings. In order to keep moving forward they either have to bring him back or trade for someone just as good. I’d rather just bring the guy back and use the trade chips to get stronger elsewhere.
by Black Francis on Nov 1, 2011 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree
he is healthy, and determined to improve. I don’t think I have ever met many people more driven to excel than CJ, and I have been on many admissions committees/panels and interviewed many candidates for high level positions.
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
My assumption:
They assume that they have enough guys who are capable of being above average to All Start level pitchers for the next few years from internal development, but nobody who is likely to be a Cy Young caliber Ace. CJ probably falls just short of this designation over the next few years and the Rangers are probably hesitant to give out too many years to a pitcher over 30.
If you told the Rangers right now that the Yankees were going to whip out their money dong and smack everybody over the head with it in the Yu Darvish sweepstakes, I think they’d be much more invested in bringing CJ back. Until then, though…
I think we’ll see waffling.
"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels
I'd much rather see Wilson back than get into this Darvish thing
Devil you know, you know.
by Black Francis on Nov 1, 2011 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I know the Rangers have scouted Darvish pretty extensively
…but we have seen what Wilson can do in the MLB. With the dollars involved I don’t think it makes sense to gamble on Darvish replacing Wilson’s innings.
By the way, what do you think was Wilson’s problem in the playoffs? I’m thinking he was just tired. I get sick of people saying he’s a headcase or a choker. Gets a little tired, loses a bit of command, has a few bad breaks along the way, and there you have it. I was disappointed he didn’t do better but haven’t seen anything that makes me wish he’d go elsewhere.
by Black Francis on Nov 1, 2011 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions
the only thing I heard was he had trouble getting a good grip on the playoff balls.
They have so much graphics on them that tactile qualities suffered. Nothing about fatigue or pain. Who knows by 250 innings I cannot imagine not being just a tad worn out.
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
Did CJ
have to use different baseballs than everyone else in the playoffs?
"Calmer than you are dude"
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Nov 2, 2011 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you check out Sabathia, Verlander, Greinke, Lee, etc post-season ERA's?
most of those guys earned 2x as many runs this post-season vs their regular season records. They must have used the same balls as CJ
we're from Texas
CJ says "Relax"
by eclou on Nov 2, 2011 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
the most important thing is he's proven he can pitch here
and isnt bothered by the heat. that alone is worth the price.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I think that if Nolan Ryan puts on the full court press and Rangers make a compelling offer, Cj returns
But if we don’t hear Ryan start talking about how much he wants CJ back pretty soon, then I will take that to mean that they aren’t all that serious about keeping him.
"Because you’re the stupid, stupid, so quit fucking being stupid"--- courtesy of ab03, the great connoisseur of stupid.
i get the feeling ryan has grown tired of cj's personality
i could be completely wrong, but it just doesn’t seem like they are all that enthralled with bringing him back,
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
I think the lack of "we really want him back" quotes from Ryan is pretty telling
"Because you’re the stupid, stupid, so quit fucking being stupid"--- courtesy of ab03, the great connoisseur of stupid.
I haven't came out and said
…that I want pizza for lunch, but goddammit I do.
by Black Francis on Nov 2, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Agreed!
It’s pretty tough to blame the Rangers for their lack of positive statements towards CJ. How well did all of their positive statements towards Lee work out last year? Ultimately, negotiations will be handled out of the public eye, and public statements aren’t necessary.
just a hunch, no real solid proof or anything
just things here and there, and the low ball offer allegedly made in spring training
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
this interview on ben and skin is exactly why i defend cj
sure he says some dumb stuff sometimes, but more often than not the guys misunderstood or misquoted and attacked for it.
and it’s starting to happen with holland too, just because they are having fun and accessible on twitter.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
Somebody earlier said the Rangers were offering Holland because..
they were tired of his silliness. I thought that was a pretty crazy reason to want to get rid of a pitcher with very high potential, and a lot of shut outs this year. And now I hear Nolan Ryan is tired of CJ saying stuff that is basically true, but not normally said. Michael Young is already on the team and can be counted on for politically correct, canned quotes. CJ just needs to be CJ and winning a bunch of games, throwing a lot of innings, and striking out a large number of batters.
Did anyone else hear Josh Lewin yesterday?
He was asked if CJ was well liked in the clubhouse, and his response was “C.J. is liked by a few guys, and tolerated by most.”
"It’s Advil and beef in the Texas Rangers, you yankee bastard."
- Nolan Ryan
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