Another day with no real news

I fell asleep last night with ESPN News still on my television.  Which, of course, means I woke up this morning to ESPN News.

The first thing I hear, before I even open my eyes, is one of the ESPN talking heads crowing that "the rumored Yankees offer of four-years worth between $50 million and $55 million to play first to Mike Lowell is ‘pure fantasy’ according to ‘sources’.

You’d think my first reaction would be happiness.  (This was all reported yesterday as well.  I knew the rumor was there was no deal on the table, but this morning was the first I had heard the ‘pure fantasy’ comment.)  It wasn’t.  I actually felt a little sorry for Mike.  If I’m trying to get a job and going through intense negotiations with my possible employer, I don’t have to read about it in the papers, online and watch myself on television.  Granted, no one is offering me $15 million to do what I do, but take the money out of the equation and focus on the humanity.  Lowell is being talked about like he’s an object not a person and, since I’m fond of him, it makes me feel sorry for him.

Not so ARod.  🙂

The latest story is that Warren Buffett advised him to make a deal with the Yankees without Scott Boras.  Buffett’s quote " A-Rod really loves being a Yankee" absolutely cracked me up.  Yes, he loves it so much he opted out of his contract.  These folks realize they can’t rewrite history, right?  That everyone who follows baseball watched Game 4 of the World Series (or, at least, heard what ARod let Boras do during the 8th inning of that game) and everyone read what ARod was looking for in a new contract.  None of it smacked of loving the Yankees or, hell, even baseball.  It is painfully obvious that ARod went back to the Yankees, not because he ‘loves being one’ but because no one else would have him at his ridiculous contract demands.

But the Yankees didn’t disappoint ARod or their fans.  After they swore they wouldn’t deal with him, they, once again, are throwing ridiculous numbers at him because they need him as much as he needs them.  Without ARod, the Yankees are in third place in 2007.  And since no one wants ARod, well he certainly needs the Yankees, doesn’t he?

I’m not sure how many different ways I can write "I just want this to be over because the waiting is killing me".  But I’m sure I’ll write it many more times before the off-season is over.

So, instead of wringing your hands over Mike Lowell, enjoy the photos of Jacoby at the parade in his honor yesterday.

Ellsbury wiped away a tear as Madras Mayor Jason Hale proclaimed it Jacoby Ellsbury Day. He recalled being so nervous he almost threw up driving to the ballpark for his first start for the Red Sox, and pitcher Josh Beckett advising him, "Just don’t screw it up."  

Asked what advice he had for kids who wanted to follow in his footsteps, Ellsbury said, "I kept my nose clean and worked hard. They can do that."