I guess we could argue all day about what is "foolish use of money". It is easy to look back and say it was foolish to sign Dice-K for that amount of money, but at the time you could make a case that it was a reasonable investment. It was an investment that was well within the means of the team. It didn't threaten the solvency of the organization and it brought us a much needed piece of what turned out to be a championship team.
My advice is to stop worrying about John Henry's tax return. The team should make all the "wise" investments in scouting and building quality "home-grown" talent (as they have done with Youk, Pedroia, Elsbury, Papelbon...), but not be afraid to make the large investments in quality free agents. Sometimes those investments will work out, and sometimes they won't, but it does not make them foolish. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Salemi Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 2:02 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Dice-K It is certainly possible to win and be foolish with your money. But I think we have a better chance of winning if we're smart. On Jun 4, 2011, at 9:25 AM, Steve Gendron <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: My point is that the only measure of success in MLB is winning or losing. If the Sox do not win, I take no solace in the fact that their ledger is well balanced. From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Salemi Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 12:43 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: Dice-K How is losing the World Series a wise use of money? On Jun 3, 2011, at 9:38 PM, Steve Gendron <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: So, as a fan, you would be happier if the Sox lost the World Series , but had a lower payroll? From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray Salemi Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 8:15 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: Dice-K I consider the wise use of money to be part of the skill of the MLB game. So, just as I criticized idiocy in Lugo, I complain about money wasted on DiceK . On Jun 3, 2011, at 4:58 PM, Steve Gendron <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: It is hard to argue that $20M per year (including the $50M fee) is a fair price for any player. The money in baseball is just stupid. However, it was about the going rate for an experienced pitcher with his credentials at 26 years of age. Most pitchers have their best years ahead of them at that age. It was a calculated risk that didn't work out as well as the team had hoped. Furthermore, Dice K was not terrible. 2007 was pretty good, and it culminated with a game 7 win over the Indians in the ALCS, and a game 3 win over the Rockies in the WS. 2008 was outstanding. At that point, I think we would have all agreed that it was worth the investment to bring Dice to the Sox. At 28 years old, who would have predicted it would be all downhill from there. And I revert to my usual position. It is not up to the fans to worry about player salaries. The Red Sox are underpaying some players and overpaying others. It all comes out in the wash. The franchise is a HUGE moneymaker. John Henry makes a fortune whether he pays Dice-K $20M or $200K. Why do we care how much additional profit he makes on the team? Bring me the best players and bring me championships and I will continue buying the tickets, hot dogs, beers, shirts, hats, and season subscriptions to NESN. It is a win-win. I am sad to see the Dice-K era come to an end. I was always hopeful he would turn it around and fulfill his promise. Steve From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dan DiBiase Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 6:47 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: Dice-K Larry, actually, 2011 was his last year signed with the Sox, so he's effectively done. It seemed like a lot of money for ANY pitcher at the time, and very few 'experts' sounded a note of caution. And he was an excellent pitcher in Japan, but it just didn't seem like his skills translated here. Too many pitches, too much of a 'backwards' pitcher, too stubborn to use his fastball, too disinclined to get into shape. Ah well, it only cost the Sox money, at least we didn't have to send any prospects away for him (although would they have been more reluctant to sent Casey Kelly to SD in the Gonzalez deal if we didn't have Dice-K?). Dan D Central NJ USA ________________________________ From: Larry Rupp <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Thu, June 2, 2011 8:36:14 PM Subject: Re: Dice-K The lack of traffic on this topic has me believe either our group is all on a long Memorial Day holiday or just doesn't care anymore for dice - either way it would appear we no longer have to worry about him on the roster this season however didn't we lock him up for 6 years - 2 good years, 2 bad years, this season and next year? The pitching market is not looking good this year - Yankees are already looking and have come up empty thus far and will drive prices high for the limited pitchers potentially on the market. Settle in for some knuckleballs - and Salty having more passballs... On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 3:55 PM, Dan DiBiase <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Looks like he will be getting Tommy John-san surgery, effectively ending his time with the Sox. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/06/as_daisuke_mats.html Dan D Central NJ USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Red Sox Citizens" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/redsoxcitizens?hl=en.
