Is that the same kind of deadline that A-Rod had?

Classic.

If Sabathia allows the window of opportunity to slam shut, the original offer is gone forever. The new offer will only be $139,000,099.99.

Yeah, if you don't accept it we'll guarantee more years and money BUT... we'll tell the media you came to us to get the deal and we'll pretend your agent is in trouble. I'm super serious.

If this is what Hal is saying I'd love to know what Hank is saying.

Come back home CC. Sign with the Giants or something. Don't cross to the dark side.

Are we sure this is Hal and not Hank?

(Damn, ark beat me to this sort of comment.)

Jesus, that's 70 million gallons of gas CC can buy for his Prius---up from only about 35 million gallons just a few months ago! Give him another few months and he might be able to buy Venezuela!

When does Hal accuse CC of not understanding what an honor it is to play for the Yankees? When he does, the cycle will be complete.

If it was Hank, he would have said something about the privilege of playing for the 26 time WS champions and that if CC doesn't recognize that, the Yankees will find someone who will. Or something like that. This is just standard negotiating without any bluster.

If this is what Hal is saying I'd love to know what Hank is saying.

He's already ordered CC to be cast in chains and flogged for disobeying his lord and master.

Hank gave a deadline to the Twins, too. Worked out well.

With the Yankees' money, they should be able to get back to the playoffs when the Tampa Bay reign of domination ends, but we all know that isn't enough. Yankees look at seasons like 2001 and 2003 as failures.

Is Sabathia the guy to lead them back to a title? His career postseason record is 5 starts, 7.92 ERA, 25 innings, 22 walks, 24 strikeouts.

Small sample size, I know. But those walks really stand out, especially for a guy with great control in the regular season. Maybe they should spend the $ they are offering him to sign both Burnett and Lowe, and if that's not enough, steal Beckett from the Red Sox when his contract is up.

Sheriff Hal,

Lemme get this straight: If you set a deadline of --just for the sake of an example-- December 1st and Sabathia takes his time and ultimately decides that he wants to take the offer... but waits until December 5th... you wouldn't welcome him with all the fanfare you could muster? Hal, don't you realize that you are giving him the out he might be looking for to take a lesser offer? Do you really think he gives a rat's backside whether you set an arbitrary deadline or not? He, and everyone else who cares about baseball, knows that the Yanks would be ga-ga to have Sabathia. You don't bully the guy you are begging to save your franchise and shower with enough cash to put his great great grandchildren on Easy Street. Something like attracting more bees with honey instead of vinegar?

Instead of an idle threat, go the other way: make him feel comfortable taking all the time he needs to make what is a major life decision. Don't put a date stamp on an offer like a carton of milk. Don't give him the excuse to take less money from the Dodgers ("Well, the Yanks pulled their offer, so this was the best available to me and where I wanted to be all along...")

I wonder how Cashman feels about all this. I'm guessing it mildly irritates him.

Instead of an idle threat, go the other way: make him feel comfortable taking all the time he needs to make what is a major life decision. Don't put a date stamp on an offer like a carton of milk. Don't give him the excuse to take less money from the Dodgers ("Well, the Yanks pulled their offer, so this was the best available to me and where I wanted to be all along...")

The Yankees have seem to gone in the opposite direction of how they used to negotiate. I'm thinking specifically of the soft touch they used to get Mussina past his I Don't Like No Big City objections to playing in New York. I wonder if the Steinbrenners 2.0 are believing their own hype?

If I'm reading TFA correctly, it seems as if Hal's deadline for CC accepting the deal is some as yet undetermined point before the end of time.

I wonder how Cashman feels about all this. I'm guessing it mildly irritates him.

I'm sure it was tough enough for Cashman when he just had one Steinbrenner making his life difficult. With two, I expect him to go full clocktower before the end of his contract.

It sounds like some of the other teams have been slow to get their offers in (or raise them) in the face of the Yankees' blitzkrieg. It kind of sounds like CC's trying to get extra coin out of someplace he really wants to play and the Yankees don't want to be used to run the price up for other teams.

He's already ordered CC to be cast in chains and flogged for disobeying his lord and master.

Well, at least he's getting a snoot-full of the treatment he can expect in New York all the time... even before he signs on the dotted line.

Small sample size, I know. But those walks really stand out, especially for a guy with great control in the regular season.

Simply put, Brett Myers is one of the great hitters of our generation. At least C.C. kept him in the park...

It sounds like some of the other teams have been slow to get their offers in (or raise them) in the face of the Yankees' blitzkrieg. It kind of sounds like CC's trying to get extra coin out of someplace he really wants to play and the Yankees don't want to be used to run the price up for other teams

I think that's basically it, with the twist that they're concerned he doesn't really want to play in NY, and he has no intention of signing there, and that they're wasting their time chasing after him. Really though, once you've made the offer, you check in once or twice a week and that's it, right? Is not like they can't afford to sign both CC and someone else.

Simply put, Brett Myers is one of the great hitters of our generation.

He puts in a lot of work on his hitting at home.

What a clown. Hopefully he really is running the show, as opposed to someone with a clue (Cashman).

Really people? We're getting on Steinbrenner the Younger for this? Here is all that he said:

“We’ve made him an offer. It’s not going to be there forever,”

What's the big deal here? It really is striking to me how often innocuous stories about the Yankees are construed as signs of infighting and disfunctional management.

if this was any other team, the thread would look differently. 19 and 22 nailed it. If the yankees knew for a fact that CC wasn't signing, they have a solid plan B (some combination of Tex and AJ/Lowe). If they knew for a fact that they WERE getting CC, they can continue with their plan A. The only real disaster would be if they waited and waited for CC and then didn't get him. Plan C (non of the big players, or perhaps really overpaying for Lowe) are not attractive.

Then, from an emotional standpoint, they don't like being used by free agents who have no real intention of playing for them. At some point they're going to have to draw a line in the sand to prevent that from happening.

22 is a fine theory, but that's not how you respond to that situation. I'm not quite sure why people can't be somewhat reasonable, especially when they're running billion-dollar enterprises that their entire families are counting on, but there's such a thing as finesse. Lacking that, you have tact. Lacking that, a modicum of skill. Then there's a soft touch, even-keeled, a little anxious, and finally there is useless bloviating and schoolyard bully/whiner tactics like "We have better things to do, so here's our offer, and we'll publicly announce that you have a certain timeframe."

It fools nobody and makes him look like a fool.

Then, from an emotional standpoint, they don't like being used by free agents who have no real intention of playing for them. At some point they're going to have to draw a line in the sand to prevent that from happening.

Seriously. As if any team could offer one of the biggest contracts in history and then sit around and wait forever while their plans are on complete hold.

What's the big deal here? It really is striking to me how often innocuous stories about the Yankees are construed as signs of infighting and disfunctional management.

A lot of people hate the Yankees, so they want them to be dysfunctional. They read it into every story that comes up that even mentions Hank or Hal, regardless of the actual content of the story.

It really is striking to me how often innocuous stories about the Yankees are construed as signs of infighting and disfunctional management.

It's also striking to me how often these innocuous stories about the Yankees turn out to be signs of infighting and dysfunctional management. These are the freaking Yankees we're talking about here - people take these stories in this way because there's been a long tradition of infighting, backstabbing, and knee-jerk reactions dating back to when Big Stein the Elder first bought the team.

I'm learning more and more about Joey B. Barry Bonds? Irredeemable ####### deserving of the worst punishments that he can be given. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner? Misunderstood businessmen who only seek certainty and truth, deserving of sympathy.

Oh, quit biting my ankles and go seek doggie therapy, you annoying little schnoodle.

jeez, between Jeff K., Joey B., and the Brothers Jones, the last 4 posts make me feel like I'm in the middle of a Thanksgiving dinner with a bickering family.

I think all this is saying is that at some point the Yankees need to forget about CC and move on to Tex. I'm glad the Yankees realize this.

jeez, between Jeff K., Joey B., and the Brothers Jones, the last 4 posts make me feel like I'm in the middle of a Thanksgiving dinner with a bickering family.

Offseason Yankee threads have a habit of feeling like that.

I think all this is saying is that at some point the Yankees need to forget about CC and move on to Tex. I'm glad the Yankees realize this.

Word.

A lot of people hate the Yankees, so they want them to be dysfunctional. They read it into every story that comes up that even mentions Hank or Hal, regardless of the actual content of the story.
You forgot the "Not that there's anything wrong with that." :)

Extend 33 to the Yankees/Steinbrenner saga, and it works. Except that for the Steinbrenner Yankees, it's Thanksgiving dinner every night of the year. You have George vs. Billy, George vs. Winfield, Illegal Contribution George, New York vs. Tampa, Hank vs. the world apparently. It's been 35 years of the Lockhorns.

Edit: used the wrong word.

To spice up the offseason, maybe the Yankees should arrange a cage match between CC and Tex, winner gets an astronomical contract.

It's been 35 years of the Lockhorns.

Except the Yankees are occasionally funny! The funniest thing about the new Yankees FO is that last year, Hank was right about Johan! Hank was right, #############!

Except the Yankees are occasionally funny!

You didn't like the "Bed, Bath and Beyond Our Budget" panel from about 3 Sundays ago? You are losing your sense of humor, my friend.

The Lockhorns bat around .333 for me. 1 in 3 panels is funny.

You didn't like the "Bed, Bath and Beyond Our Budget" panel from about 3 Sundays ago? You are losing your sense of humor, my friend.

Honestly, I stopped reading the comics page when I moved to New York and started getting my news from the Times and the internet. Also, I'm not married!

the only comics I ever read were Calvin and Hobbes and the Far Side. They both ended around the same time, IIRC.

Two funny comics: XKCD and Brewster Rockit: Space Guy. They're both right in my wheelhouse. I'm easily pleased though, I like Beetle Bailey, Dilbert, and Get Fuzzy too. The Far Side was awesome.

I'm easily pleased though, I like Beetle Bailey, Dilbert, and Get Fuzzy too.

So you're the one! I was wondering why they kept that strip around.

In terms of online comics, the three which I regularly check are Sinfest, the Order of the Stick, and Penny Arcade.

I'm a fan of Questionable Content.

In terms of online comics, the three which I regularly check are Sinfest, the Order of the Stick, and Penny Arcade.

I'll second OOTS and Penny Arcade as being very good. They probably don't have universal appeal, but if you have a nodding familiarity with their conventions, they can both be incredibly funny. Penny Arcade especially makes me bust out laughing at least 6 times a year... not bad for a comic.

There is nothing wrong with negotiating with deadlines. There is also nothing wrong with signaling during games. For example, it makes sense to signal via a public announcement when doing so would either cause others to react in a way that benefits you; this is especially so in zero sum games, which negotiations/auctions are. (In non-zero sum games, you risk decreasing the pot size even while increasing share.)

Making a public announcement that you are bidding high and bidding quickly for CC is helpful for the Yankees because it may scare off others, even if not true. It may also create public or private pressure. It may also signal to CC you commitment.

I don't see how a public announcement that you have a deadline is helpful, though. The message to CC can be conveyed to CC easily enough without it being public. I suppose by publicly committing you are making it more likely (to CC) that your deadline is strong. But, that kind of lost credibility after ARod. The risk, though, is that you piss off CC by continuing to make things public when he has not. You also allow others to offer good close contracts with the promise to continue negotiating, leaving the door open to CC that he may get the best deal elsewhere. (The risk of having the deadline is different than the risk of having the deadline signaled publicly.)

So, I don't see the purpose in this.

The best internet comic is easily XKCD. I marvel at the way that guy's sense of humor is perfectly in line with my own - even though I know very little about math, science or computers - and I even find his stick figure drawings to be surprisingly expressive.

But, that kind of lost credibility after ARod.

Really? I have a considerably different memory, which is that it worked perfectly. I remember no other team even being close to the A-Rod contract ballpark, and A-Rod basically crawling back to the Yankees, without daddy Boras even being involved no less.

"Jesus, that's 70 million gallons of gas CC can buy for his Prius---up from only about 35 million gallons just a few months ago! Give him another few months and he might be able to buy Venezuela!"

I, for one, welcome my new CC overlord.

The best three comics are Frazz, Get Fuzzy, and Pearls Before Swine, in that order. PBS is on the downswing though, I'm afraid.

EDIT: Forgot Dilbert. That's in there somewhere.

The best internet comic is easily XKCD.

Awesome.

xkcd is terribly awesome. It's not for everyone, but I find achewood pretty excellent as well. The Perry Bible Fellowship was good in its day.

If I'm reading TFA correctly, it seems as if Hal's deadline for CC accepting the deal is some as yet undetermined point before the end of time.

Pretty much. I just read it as saying that they're not going to foreclose their other options just because they're waiting on Sabathia, and if they spend the money elsewhere, then so be it.

Yeah, if you don't accept it we'll guarantee more years and money BUT... we'll tell the media you came to us to get the deal and we'll pretend your agent is in trouble. I'm super serious.

I should point out that I was told by Angels PR that Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez are no longer on speaking terms. The reports of Boras misleading A-Rod were 100% legitimate.

I should point out that I was told by Angels PR that Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez are no longer on speaking terms. The reports of Boras misleading A-Rod were 100% legitimate.

Heck, A-Rod himself revealed this to a national television audience on "60 Minutes" a year ago. It's not at all a secret.

The lengths to which some people around here will go to engage in revisionist history, honestly.

Pretty much. I just read it as saying that they're not going to foreclose their other options just because they're waiting on Sabathia, and if they spend the money elsewhere, then so be it.

Yup, the Cubs did this with Maddux after '92. He wanted to test the market, got the Braves offer, then came back to them asking if they would match it. Larry Himes responded with, "Sorry, we spent your money. We just signed Jose Guzman. You shouldn't have waited so long."

Luckily, Guzman continued a HOF career so the Cubs didn't miss Maddux. Err, wait...

Yup, the Cubs did this with Maddux after '92. He wanted to test the market, got the Braves offer, then came back to them asking if they would match it. Larry Himes responded with, "Sorry, we spent your money. We just signed Jose Guzman. You shouldn't have waited so long."

Good times, good times.

CC is going to get his money. I don't think I'd bluff someone who I'm sure is holding a full house. At least wait until December to try to get in his head. Are Lowe and Burnett going to sign before CC anyway?

Joey, A-Rod got exactly what he wanted: an extension and a raise. The "Boras was shut out, so we won" baloney was just the Yankees covering their asses. You can bet that Boras was sitting back and laughing at the media and fans who ate it up.

I don't think I'd bluff someone who I'm sure is holding a full house.
Let's try this analogy:
Wells Fargo comes to you with 20 gold bars in hand and you offer them 90% of the maximum you are ready offer. Do you pressure them for a "Deal Or No Deal"? Or do you go with an offer for half that price to Fred C. Dobbs as he's leaving the mountain with 10 gold bars worth of gold?

Nah, that's not any better.

Wells Fargo comes to you with 20 gold bars in hand and you offer them 90% of the maximum you are ready offer. Do you pressure them for a "Deal Or No Deal"? Or do you go with an offer for half that price to Fred C. Dobbs as he's leaving the mountain with 10 gold bars worth of gold?

Edmundo, are you reading the collected works of Bret Harte or something?

No actually I picked up on the Caro book about Robert Moses from the Lounge. Kind of pretty far from Bret Harte.

CC is going to get his money. I don't think I'd bluff someone who I'm sure is holding a full house. At least wait until December to try to get in his head. Are Lowe and Burnett going to sign before CC anyway?

Do you think another team is going to make Sabathia a bigger offer than the one the Yankees have made?

Do you think another team is going to make Sabathia a bigger offer than the one the Yankees have made?

He'll get one close enough that it's not going to matter. If the Yankees are really blowing away the field, as the Yankees want the world to believe, then CC will take it if money is his only concern. If money isn't his only concern, then the high pressure sales pitch in the media is only going to push him away. Either way, it's only November 21st. Let CC eat his turkeys, take his nap, and then start planting stories with John Heyman to harass him if you think that will help.

If money isn't his only concern, then the high pressure sales pitch in the media is only going to push him away.

This is the gentle nudge, after the holidays they will unleash (or should that be ungag) Hank.

This is the gentle nudge, after the holidays they will unleash (or should that be ungag) Hank.

Ha! I would love it if we nicknamed Hank The Gimp.

There's also Dinosaur Comics.

The Yankees are being run by rubes. What is with this deadline BS? If CC had any reservations about playing for a franchise that has in the past 8 years failed to turn close to $1.5 billion of salary into a World Series, how will a deadline help convince him to sign with such a scrubby operation?