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When I woke up this morning I would have thought that both of these things were equally possible – never, ever going to happen. All week we have been hearing about the bidding war between the Cardinals and the newly rechristened Miami Marlins – would Pujols stay put in St. Louis for a mere $200 million or move to the glitz and glamor of South Beach like LeBron for a gawdy $220 million. Then, almost without a whisper it was done – a ten year $250 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
With Orange County super agent Scotty Boras rumored to be pitching client Prince Fielder to the Angels the Pujols move also looked to make sense – only the historical fact that the Angels often “participated” in chasing the whale only to flinch when it came time to pull the trigger put these rumors on the back burner. In fact, on one nationally syndicated show before the signing was officially announced the show’s producer briefly discussed the rumor and then quipped “like the Angels will ever finish a deal like this.” A mere 40 seconds later that producer was eating crow as the deal was confirmed.
With this signing, Angels owner Arte Moreno has now spent more money for a player ($250,000,000) than he spent to buy the team in the first place ($183,000,000). Sources close to the team report that the value of the franchise (currently $283,000,000) is expected to immediately jump to over half a billion dollars. In addition, the team looks to reap further profits from additional naming rights, advertising rates and merchandise sales.
In the end, it was simply a deal that the cardinals could not match. Keeping Pujols in St. Louis, one of the best baseball markets in America, would do very little to add value to the franchise and would have severely compromised the team’s ability to sign or keep quality players around Albert. The signing with the Angels was win-win. Albert will move to the American League where he can DH for the last few years of his career while adding great value to a team that is an instant favorite to win the American League.
I guess we have few sports fans on the other side of the aisle on here. I, for one, will say that this is the most significant thing to happen to Orange County sports at least since the Ducks won Lord Stanley’s Cup, and it will make going to Angels games so much fun next year.
So, he gets a quarter of a billion dollars for hitting a ball with a stick. And then there are complaints about teachers getting $60 k a year and a decent pension. Sheez.
If they give someone $250 million using taxpayer money, then we have the right to howl. Oh wait, they did that already, except it was half a billion and it was wasted on an Obama fundraiser/investor company called Solyndra. The Angels instantly increased the value of their team by several hundred million dollars while the taxpayers got stuck with nothing for their forced investment and the Solyndra executives got handsomely compensated, including bonuses this year. Thank you for pointing out the problem with government in such a succinct way Rapscallion.
How about the prices of concessions and tickets going up? Does THAT give us the right to complain if expectations aren’t met, genius?
Why did Solyndra go bankrupt, Newbie?
By the way, the rest of us are trying to keep politics out of the hallowed sports column.
Solyndra went bankrupt because the Chinese can make the same product cheaper.
The people of the USA are out $500,000,000.00 because the government has no business making investment decisions in what should be a private enterprise free market decision.
And the Obama administration knew that before they gave half a billion of our dollars to one of Obama’s crony bundlers.
And Diamond, if Rapscallion can engage in a political tangent (by not keeping politics out of your hallowed sports column), I can respond to it. But feel free to ignore that part. I feel so chastened.
“They gave half a billion of our dollars to one of Obama’s crony bundlers”
Can we bet $10,000 on the truth of this statement?
You’re right that I overlooked Rap’s digression, N00b, because it was innocuous rather than overstated. Still: point taken.
For once I agree with Mr. Diamond
What the fuck does Solyndra or taxpayer bailouts have to do with Albert Pujols becoming a Halo?
What’s next? Talking about “Fast and Furious” on a BCS Bowl write up?
“So, he gets a quarter of a billion dollars for hitting a ball with a stick. And then there are complaints about teachers getting $60 k a year and a decent pension. Sheez”
GF – Rapscallion started the conversation off-topic.
Well, I’ll explain it to you slowly, GF. Often we have complaints about the vast amounts of money paid to the allegedly loathsome public servants, you know, teachers, janitors, roadworkers, etc. Apparently the fact that some folks make a living wage is anathema to some other folks.
Now, here we have a person with a limited skill that does little if anything to improve the locality except for a small adrenaline rush from time to time. And he gets paid a vast fortune, which wil be paid by the public personae who follow baseball, etc. I’m betting some of them piss and moan about teacher pay and pensions. As teachers provide, in my opinion, much more value to society than this guy, I’d say it’s a matter of priorities and fits in the discussion just fine.
OK, Diamond. No more sports related posts here! Heaven forbid we look for a diversion from the negativity that reigns supreme in the world of politics. Even I like an escape not involving cannabis now and then.
Besides, fuck the Angels. I’m a Phillies fan LOL!
“For once”? We agree a lot of the time, Legalization Man; you just don’t usually admit it.
And I wasn’t complaining about this being a sports post. I wish that all Geoff’s posts were sports posts — at least until he finds another shape-shifting hooker!
No, you weren’t complaining. That would be Rapscallion.
It’s a rarity. I actually enjoyed reading this Geoff Willis piece. And surprisingly, I liked the one on “Fast and Furious” too.
It’s not much of a sports post, than it is a contract discussion.
Baseball is a sport and Willis’ latest entry is a sports post.
Please get over yourself because you have:
a) diverted from the point of a rarely enjoyable article from Geoff Willis
b) an obvious constant axe to grind with Geoff Willis
While I may not see eye to eye with Geoff or some of the conservative members here on a political ideological plain, I am also not afraid to give props or credit when it is due. And I also reserve my venom for both ideological sides equally.
Hell must be freezing over because I’m in agreement with The Great One and skallywag.
Well, you avoided the question regarding vast amounts of money spent on a particular individual, the price of which will be passed on to the public one way or the other. The value of the team has nothing to do with it, and if the guy gets injured then it will be a disaster.
You attempted to change the subject completely, but sorry, not going to bite. You’re the type who complains about public workers, who get paid a living wage and provide, for the most part, excellent service. So if you think it’s ok to pay this guy this sum, that the fans are going to be picking up, (and even if not, it’s obscene), then from now on keep quiet about the pay earned by those who actually provide something of real service.
We get it Rapscallion, you are a communist that believes that all revenue is the public’s doled out “fairly” as you see fit, and we are capitalists that believe the market is the best driver of income division based upon ingenuity, creativity and productivity.
Is that what he said? I didn’t get that from it at all!
Sometimes it’s those 3 things and often it’s not. Often it’s based upon legacied income, inherited wealth, and insider trading and gaming of the system.
As opposed to the government doling out resources which is always based on fairness and has nothing to do with “gaming the system?”
That’s all you want us to concede, Geoff — that “it’s not always based in fairness”? Conceded! And yet there can be better or worse — we can make common cause, for example, in standing up against crony capitalism — and it compared to the market failures that crop up in laissez-faire economics.
You’re familiar with the term “market failures,” right? Perhaps you would deign to explain it to us!
Good shot at the false dilemma, GW. Yes, it’s either live with legacied progenies or the government will dole out resources. What crap.
Chris Paul reportedly coming to the Lakers for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Is there something in the water today?
Amazing that Geoff woke up this morning. Obviously Geoff does not do his homework—as usual.
Ok Mr. Expert, do you care to share your thoughts or are you too smart for your own good?
Too smart for you Newbi……..
Another brilliant and insightful comment from a new poster. Welcome to the Juice and I look forward to your future cryptic and useful comments.
If you’re gonna be like some sort of greeter/welcomer here, you can’t call yourself Newbie any more.
This all seems like a positive development – but, looking at this from another perspective: aren’t the Angels and Anaheim currently or soon negotiating a new deal for Anaheim Stadium?
Certainly locking up Pujols for 10 years Arte has greatly improved the value and long term propects of the team. But isn’t Arte from Arizona and have deep roots there? Isn’t Arizona (Phoenix) lacking an American League team?
Just saying ……..
rapfarts complains because someone is gettiing paid big bucks . aka ocupoo crowd . someone with a skill unlike public employees .. haaaa oh by the way genious tax payers are not paying his salary . if this was a public employee or a teacher u bet your ass we would be screaming bit its a private sector job .. the kind of jobs u know that are leaving due to dems , unons , and public employees ..
oh and anon as far as concessions and tickets . we are not forced to buy anything . un like taking tax$$$$ to feed the union goons
diadmond yes this was a sports post look who started it =RAPFARTS
Off your meds today?
HEY RAPFARTS heres the big bifference you dont get . the fans dont have to pay this if they dont want too . they can not go to the game , not buy beer , not buy hot dogs , teachers live off who – the tax payers who have to pay taxes .. change your meds so you can see better .
But those who do will be paying, right? And how is the fellow more important than a teacher?
rap more meds ..albert P limited skills YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BASEBALL , YOU HAVE NO IDEA .. HE CAN DO SOMETIHNG ONLY ABOUT 30 PEOPLE IN THE WORLD CAN DO AT HIS LEVEL ..
a bad teacher who sucks up tax payer money HELL YES
I don’t know why I’m bothering, but the point is that folks like you piss and moan about teachers making a living wage, and yet someone with allegedly limited value to society makes 25 mill a year and there’s apparently no discussion about misplaced values. I hope that this is not too abstract a point for you to understand.
RAP YOU FAILED TO UNDERSTAND TAX PAYERS PAY TEACHERS AND FIREMAN AND ALL PUBLIC WORKERS ..AND WE HAVE TOO WITH OUR TAXES THAT WE MUST PAY .. WE DONT HAVE TOO PAY FOR ALBERT P SALARY . WE DONT HAVE TO GO TO THE GAMES AND PAY FOR THEIR STUFF , AKA PARKING , BEER , FOOD . I HOPE U SEE THE DIFFERENCE ..
I don’t give a rat’s ass who pays for it–that’s not the point. The point is, and this is the last time I’ll try and get you to see it, is that there is much complaining from some quarters about teachers getting a living wage (as if they should be paid WalMart salaries) and little commentary from the same folks about an aging ballplayer getting $25 million. That is all.
Did you really buy the “we believe in merit” line?
Well you could make a case that the MLB Players’ Union had something to do with the skyrocketing salaries.
A LIVING WAGE FOR THE CALIF TEACHERS THE HIGHEST PAID TEACHERS IN THE UNION . UNFREAKING BELIVEABLE ..
RAPFARTS YOU DONT GET IT … WE DONT PAY ALBERT P SALARY .. WE PAY TEACHERS OVERPAID SALARIES ..
Wel, now you’ve hit on the point, finally–you think teachers are overpaid. Why do you think that? Have you taught at a junior high lately? Yet someone who plays a game gets a quarter billion?
Getting it yet?
“.. you think teachers are overpaid. Why do you think that? Have you taught at a junior high lately? Yet someone who plays a game gets a quarter billion?”
Yeah .. it’s called the “free market.” If you don’t like it – go live in China.
Of course liberals have fucked up the so-called free market here so much that it is hard to tell the difference.
I think a lot of people are overpaid, but who cares. That’s the end product of being able to negotiate your salary. Which I think is a pretty good thing to do in a free country whether it is done collectively or individually,
Actually skallywag, China is a bad example if you are going to tell someone to leave. Antarctica might be the continent you want to reference since there is nothing there but an ice base, penguins and snow.
Good point about China. It’s actually a capitalistic dictatorship, but that’s probably lost on our little commentator.
That’s quite a nonanswer there, young fellow, and so nonsensical it’s hard to know where to begin.
We’re not talking about the “free market,” whatever that is. We’re talking about the social and societal value of certain occupations, and what they are worth.
So again, and I hope you read it slowly, do you think teachers are overpaid? Why? Are they worth considerably less than an athlete?
I know these are tough questions when you like to use a rude little talking point (and it does give your compadre GO a small woodie).
See if you can work up a rational response.
Great One, Small Woodie – Priceless.
skally your return volley to rap was classic ..
how do you vern have you been pulling a george michael in the bathrooms
do i think teachers are overpaid IN CALIF HELL YES . 50% DROP OUT RATE doing a great job rapfarts and as to your small woddie i will tell you the samething i told vern are you pulling a george michael hanging around bathrooms
here is your anwser rapfarts you can go to school and become a teacher . join the unions , some get paid big bucks for doing hothing try to get rid of a teacher with the union ..ITS inpossibell .. now someone like albert p takes TREMEDOUS SKILL AND IF YOU DONT PERFORM THEY CUT YOU .. THE ONES THAT DO… MAKE BIG$$$$$$$$$ a skill that VERY , VERY FEW IN THE WORLD CAN DO . teachers dime a dozen ..
So we have your answer. Teachers are a dime a dozen. Grossly overpaid athletes are a rare and precious commodity that should be revered and have rose petals cast before their little tootsies touch the ground.
Got it.
yes and teachers walk on water get over paid can never be fired and think their job is the toughest job on earth . GOT IT
I think you meant underpaid.
How many windmills do you see, Juan Quixote ?
no read my lips overpaid aka make TOO MUCH MONEY .. also democrap read the labels on the meds you take their might be a skull n crossbones on it ..
Your being a self taught idiot explains why you don’t understand the proper use of sarcasm.
You mock teachers thinking they walk on water…so you think they can’t.
You mock teachers thinking their job is the toughest on earth…you think it’s not.
They think they can never be fired…you think they can.
They are overpaid….SO YOU THINK THEY ARE NOT !
So you are either a closet liberal, or an idiot.
no democrap you a teacher union hack . who lives of the back of tax payers . the only way you make money is off the tax payers = big question even a teacher can anwser = what happens WHEN THE TAX PAYERS = AKA PRIVATE SECTOR LEAVE . what happens to you .. OH I KNOW LETS SPEND 5-6 MILLION ON ADS FOR MORE TAXES .. what a complete morron you are ..
Hey genius…..I’m what you call an entrepreneur . I own a business and am a job creator.
I’m not an old man like you getting social security and complaining about socialism.
oh your the 1 percent , old man wrong , getting soc sec.. wrong that is what libs do live off the gov . i have my own place einstein . and sit back and listen to you complain about how teachers have it so rough ..
” and sit back and listen to you complain about how teachers have it so rough ..”
Now stop making stuff up again. I’ve never made that complaint.
Here is some facts: Teachers in California are the highest paid in the nation. We rank in the nation 48th in English and 49th in Math. We have an over 60% drop out rate in LAUSD and most of the Public Schools in California are failing. So we pay top dollar to get sh@@ results. 80% of all monies in the public school system goes to pay these waste of space teachers and top heavy admins. We have had school days cut, sports, music, etc…… Except not one cut in salary for the lousy teachers or admins. So the truth is the teachers in California suck, they don’t give a cra* that the parents suck too and above all most of the idiot teachers are liberals teaching liberal crap to our kids!
Teachers don’t have it tough, the kids do and the parents like myself who have to move all over the place to find one decent public school. Like I am sure most California citizen parents will agree.
That is one majorly hysterical rant! Not a shred of fact, of course, but shrill and hideous–outstanding. (Love the “liberals teaching liberal crap” comment–probably the best stupid thing in there.)