04-30-2010, 12:10 PM
<!--quoteo(post=93766:date=Apr 30 2010, 11:02 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Apr 30 2010, 11:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=93764:date=Apr 30 2010, 11:59 AM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 30 2010, 11:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=93759:date=Apr 30 2010, 10:19 AM:name=mindbodyspirit)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mindbodyspirit @ Apr 30 2010, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=93755:date=Apr 30 2010, 10:09 AM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 30 2010, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=93752:date=Apr 30 2010, 09:58 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Apr 30 2010, 09:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Stark on Pujols:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->"No contract has any effect on Albert," he said. "Albert is the best player in Major League Baseball. As great a superstar as Ryan Howard is, there's no comparison to Albert Pujols. He stands above all the rest."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is bullshit. Of course it has an effect. It sets a floor. What salary does the best player get paid more than. If you're Pujols' agent, do you prefer negotiating a contract before or after the Howard deal?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
With all respect, the Howard contract doesn't set anything. AROD's contract is the only contract approaching Pujols's stratosphere. Pujols is like Manny Ramirez with defense, more speed, and a top-notch attitude. Howard is the Frank Thomas of this generation (<i>NOT</i> Mo Vaugn or Cecil Fielder, as some have paralelled). Much as Frank Thomas's salary had little to do with Manny or AROD, Howard has next to nothing to do with Pujols.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Howard is a 30 year-old first baseman.
Pujols is a 30 year-old first baseman.
Rodriguez got his deal as a 25 year-old third baseman.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're forgetting A-Rod's more recent contract prior to last season (10 yr / $275 Million/ at age 32). That said, I think the Howard contract definitely does have an impact on what Pujols gets.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think Yankee money is irrelevant unless the Yankees are bidding against you for your own FA. A-Rod can't possibly earn his money at the end of that contract but the point is, the Yankees don't care. They have a bottomless cash-pit. They can afford to pay stupid money to lock in superstar's remaining good years. Few, if any other teams have the same luxury. This will hurt the Cards. Howard's contract hurts the Phillies.
Maybe someday, after the Cubs are done paying silly money for guys who AREN'T superstars, we'll be in a position to do this sort of thing.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->"No contract has any effect on Albert," he said. "Albert is the best player in Major League Baseball. As great a superstar as Ryan Howard is, there's no comparison to Albert Pujols. He stands above all the rest."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is bullshit. Of course it has an effect. It sets a floor. What salary does the best player get paid more than. If you're Pujols' agent, do you prefer negotiating a contract before or after the Howard deal?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
With all respect, the Howard contract doesn't set anything. AROD's contract is the only contract approaching Pujols's stratosphere. Pujols is like Manny Ramirez with defense, more speed, and a top-notch attitude. Howard is the Frank Thomas of this generation (<i>NOT</i> Mo Vaugn or Cecil Fielder, as some have paralelled). Much as Frank Thomas's salary had little to do with Manny or AROD, Howard has next to nothing to do with Pujols.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Howard is a 30 year-old first baseman.
Pujols is a 30 year-old first baseman.
Rodriguez got his deal as a 25 year-old third baseman.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're forgetting A-Rod's more recent contract prior to last season (10 yr / $275 Million/ at age 32). That said, I think the Howard contract definitely does have an impact on what Pujols gets.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think Yankee money is irrelevant unless the Yankees are bidding against you for your own FA. A-Rod can't possibly earn his money at the end of that contract but the point is, the Yankees don't care. They have a bottomless cash-pit. They can afford to pay stupid money to lock in superstar's remaining good years. Few, if any other teams have the same luxury. This will hurt the Cards. Howard's contract hurts the Phillies.
Maybe someday, after the Cubs are done paying silly money for guys who AREN'T superstars, we'll be in a position to do this sort of thing.