Thursday a.m. stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 15, 2007 11:09 AM CST in News Comment 36 comments

The latest in the ongoing Kenny Rogers saga...Tom Hicks wants an apology from Rogers if the Rangers are going to sign him:

Like his general manager did a day earlier,Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Wednesday that under "certain circumstances," he would welcome a fourth marriage between the club and free agent pitcher Kenny Rogers.

Hicks also made clear what those "certain circumstances" would entail: Some degree of a public apology from Rogers for the way his last tour with the Rangers ended in 2005.

"He's got to take care of some unfinished business," Hicks said. "He's got to apologize."

That may be appropriate, but here's what I'm wondering...do the Rangers need to apologize to Rogers because someone in their organization told reporters that Rogers was ducking a start to try to protect his stats? If that person is still in the organization, isn't Rogers entitled to an apology from that guy, as well?

The quotes from Anthony Andro's article make it sound less than likely that Hicks feels that way:

"I would consider letting him sign a short-term contract with us," Hicks said. "Those certain circumstances would have to be met. He has to take care of some unfinished business."

Hicks said that unfinished business would include an apology to the Rangers and the fans.

"If you don't want to do that, play somewhere else," Hicks said.

Yeah, it doesn't sound like Hicks is real interested in bringing Rogers back.

Also from Andro:

Hicks also said that free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter, who lives in Prosper, is seeking a seven-year contract. That figures to be a tough sell for a Rangers team that is getting younger. Hunter is 32.

Good grief. If it is going to take a seven year deal to land Hunter, then I think you can forget about him being a Ranger. I don't think there's any chance they do that.

Evan Grant also talks about the Jeff Cogen reassignment, and goes through some possible successors, including a couple of candidates -- John Hart and George W. Bush -- who, one would hope, Hicks would know better than to bring in because of the negative effect their presence would have on a good chunk of the fan base.

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7 years?

7 years is a joke right?

I mean, if Hunter thinks he can get 7, shouldn't A-rod get like a 20 year contract?

by BAC on Nov 15, 2007 11:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

W?

That's definitely a joke. For one thing, he won't be available until at least June or July, when impeachment proceedings are complete.

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 15, 2007 11:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The George W. Bush thing

seems pretty unlikely, just because I don't think Bush would want that kind of attention. He's probably going to disappear.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 15, 2007 11:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Didn't you hear?

He said he has big plans to "replenish the ol' coffers." He plans on a busy few years of speechifying.

Bret Gardner is big, we are little.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 15, 2007 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here you go:

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000743.htm

Bret Gardner is big, we are little.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 15, 2007 11:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure

that once someone is President, he doesn't go back to working for other people later...

Bush would only re-enter baseball as commissioner, and that is highly unlikely given the polarizing nature of his second term. I guess it is a remote possibility in ten or fifteen years if all Bush-related smoke clears and people find themselves liking him (its been known to happen with history and presidents). But certainly not any sooner than that.

(That or he'd be named Commish as a political favor for President Jeb in 2012.... )

by JBImaknee on Nov 15, 2007 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I seriously doubt JD

would even go 5 years...

Bret Gardner is big, we are little.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 15, 2007 11:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Im happy

to bring rogers back on a one year or two year. He was one of the best ranger pitchers of all time. Does he still have gas left? Does he want to come here? Those questions have to be asked.

"I'd need a picture of Jamey with a shotgun saying "This is my Boomstick!" before I could see that one." DJCahill

by NYTXFAN on Nov 15, 2007 11:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

sounds like neither of those will happen to me

rogers may be open to playing in texas but i doubt he cares enough to apologize to them now now when he wouldnt before.

no way do we go 7 years, maybe hunter comes here when noone else gives him 7 either but im beginning to think he will go somewhere else, which i know almost everyone is fine or happy with.

still hoping for fukudome here.

by DSheppard on Nov 15, 2007 11:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Fukudome news

According to foxsports.com (Ken Rosenthal), Fukudome has received an offer from the Tokyo Giants, and is uncertain as to whether or not he will stay in Japan or come to the US. Supposedly expecting a decision after Thanksgiving.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 15, 2007 11:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mmm... posturing

by JBImaknee on Nov 15, 2007 11:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

is it really

usually people say its really about the money but moving to a foreign country where you don't know the language is a big deal. if the money is even remotely similar, I think everyone takes the hometown deal.

by ab03 on Nov 15, 2007 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt the money is remotely similar

His offer from his former team was 4 years 17 million. I imagine the tokyo giants offer is bigger, but i doubt that much bigger.

Hed be looking at 40+ in the states, maybe significantly more if there are a lot of teams really interested.

by DSheppard on Nov 15, 2007 12:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And cost of living is ridiculously lower here

For a silly example, every Japanese colleague I talk to tells me that sushi costs about much, much more there than here in Cali. Which is why that is about the only thing they eat while in the States.

But in reality, even though the dollar is getting weaker, $40 million to spend in the US goes considerably further than the same in Japan. Especially if that involves living in Tokyo.

by JBImaknee on Nov 15, 2007 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well

if he is only going to temporarily stay in the U.S. but spend his money in Japan while maintaining a home there, then his U.S. dollars aren't going to go that far at home.

by ab03 on Nov 15, 2007 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

but to clarify

it doesn't make up for discrepancy between the two contracts. I didn't realize it was so much difference. Still, personally I wouldn't want to live in a country where I didn't speak the language. It's a very lonesome thing, in my opinion.

by ab03 on Nov 15, 2007 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I though

Fukudome speaks pretty good English? Not sure where I heard that.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 15, 2007 2:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter, If

it comes down to these 2 offers: lets say 6/90 15 a year, or 4/68 17 a year. Which one would you do?

by sprite on Nov 15, 2007 12:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

of the two

I'd do 4/68. But I'd rather not do either.

Eh.

by SteveOla on Nov 15, 2007 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

id want to give 4/68

but he would take 6/90

although getting a buyout for the last year would be better, just in case there are no ready replacements after 4 years.

by DSheppard on Nov 15, 2007 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

4/68

is what i'd do as well. By the end of the contract he'll be 36, and you could probably flip him for someone useful if he starts to fade. He'll never go 4 yrs, but we can hope.

by sprite on Nov 15, 2007 12:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If he starts to fade

Who would give something useful for a 17 mil. a year mediocre outfielder?

Brett Gardner is big, we are little.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 15, 2007 12:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By fade,

I don't mean going from, .270 25hr 90Rbi one year to .240 15hr 70Rbi the next. But if you see him losing a step in the field, or not catching up to the fastball the way he should. Someone will give you something useful for him. If Damon (13mil) can supposedly get Crede, we can probably get something for Hunter.

by sprite on Nov 15, 2007 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rogers

do the Rangers need to apologize to Rogers because someone in their organization told reporters that Rogers was ducking a start to try to protect his stats? If that person is still in the organization, isn't Rogers entitled to an apology from that guy, as well?

This wasn't a public act, so it's different. For all anyone knows, that apology happened in 2005.

by hightowersmith on Nov 15, 2007 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So...

...Rogers needs to publicly apologize to the Rangers, but the Rangers don't need to publicly apologize to him?

And fwiw, I'd be shocked if that apology happened in 2005.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 15, 2007 1:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rogers

Again, Rogers act was in public. It's probably on youtube.

The apology to Rogers? I don't know, call him. That's probably the only way to find out.

Y'know, there's a difference between the two things.

by hightowersmith on Nov 15, 2007 1:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

also

There's no moral equivalence between the two either. What Rogers did was significantly worse than what the unidentified person did to Rogers. Not to say that the innuendo and rumors were classy, but what Rogers did was really terrible.

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Nov 15, 2007 1:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know

I don't recall the Rangers getting all hung up on Frankie Frank giving an apology, and his act was much worse than anything Kenny ever did.

"I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia" - Stephen Colbert www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Nov 15, 2007 2:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Frankie

Maybe they didn't want to interrupt his court schedule.

by hightowersmith on Nov 15, 2007 2:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you heard

The Wire season 5 debuts Jan. 6. Halleleuia. Only 10 episodes though.

You might find this interesting:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/22/071022fa_fact_talbot?printable=true

Brett Gardner is big, we are little.

by Brian Thomas on Nov 15, 2007 3:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

O yeah

I've had season 4 in my netflix queue for months, too.

The end of Sopranos and The Wire rapid fire, alas alack.

by hightowersmith on Nov 15, 2007 4:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hunter prediction

The Rangers will make an offer, but it will be bested by some crazy team willing to go 6 or 7 years with him and too much money. Within minutes, Reeves, Galloway and lots of fans will be claiming that Hicks lowballed Hunter because he really doesn't care about winning.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Nov 15, 2007 1:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

huh

sounds like what happened with Zito last year.

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Nov 15, 2007 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and

Matsuzaka, Teixeira, Lee, Pudge...I don't feel sorry for Hicks one bit, but most criticism of him is incredibly shallow and short sighted.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Nov 15, 2007 1:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Torii for 7 years here = Me becoming a Rays fan real quick.

Besides their new name and uniforms give me the sunshine that just brightens my day.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 15, 2007 2:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Kenny shouldnt appologize

That cameraman was an idoit. He deserved what he got... and im sure he got a lot out of it (money wise). He was the one that was repeatedly sticking his camera in kenny's face all douchy like being a giant turd sandwich. I wish more reporters got assaulted. It would be fun.

by dubman on Nov 15, 2007 4:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs