Scott Cordischi On Sports: Pedroia Gets What He Deserves, No More
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Now that’s more like it!
After five days of speculation about a new mega contract extension for Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, a deal was finally consummated.
Initially, speculation was that Pedroia was in line for a 5-year deal worth $100 million to which this sports writer/broadcaster responded, “that’s too much!”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile I love Pedroia and his hustle, grit and determination, $20 million per season is too much for a player with that type of production.
Generally speaking, you can count on a batting average of somewhere around .300, 15-20 homeruns and 75-85 RBI. While those are very respectable numbers for a Major League second baseman, they are not numbers worthy of being one of the highest paid players in the game.
Granted, it is not our money being spent here (although, you could argue that it is), it’s John Henry’s. Still, $20 million per season is a salary reserved for wither a top of the rotation starting pitcher or a slugger who not only hits around .300, but also belts 30+ homeruns and 100+ RBI.
Yes, I love Pedroia’s no-nonsense attitude and his day-to-day approach to the game. He is Boston’s version of the old Charlie Hustle. And, for a team that was desperate for leadership in the clubhouse this season, he is certainly one of the players filling that void.
In the end, he will reportedly settle for a 7-year deal worth $100 million which works out to be about $14 million per year. That may not be in the neighborhood of $20 million per season, but it’s still a pretty nice neighborhood! And it’s more in line with what he’s worth by today’s baseball standards.
-Is anyone really surprised that Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun has been exposed as a fraud? Not me! I didn’t fall for his “I’m innocent” stance last year when he got off on a technicality because his urine sample was “mishandled” on its way to being tested. To refresh your memory, Braun’s sample tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and he was going to be suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games. Braun appealed the suspension because a man by the name of Dino Laurenzi Jr., couldn’t get his sample to a local FedEx office in time Friday afternoon so he stored the sample in his basement over the weekend before sending it out on Monday. That was all that Braun’s attorney’s needed to get the positive test overturned. After the ruling went in Braun’s favor, he strongly asserted his innocence which some people actually bought. Not this person. Now Braun has been caught with his hands in the proverbial cookie jar once again and realizes that there is no beating the mound of evidence against him in regards to the Biogenesis Clinic in Miami from which he received PED’s. So now he’s sorry. He admits that he’s human and that he has made some mistakes. That’s all fine, but where was that apology a year ago? Had it been made then, it would have been easier for us to accept. Now, he has ruined the life of some poor schmuck like Laurenzi to which he has not yet offered an apology. And he is the not-so-proud owner of the 2011 National League MVP Award which should be handed to Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp who finished second in the voting that year. Welcome to Lance Armstrong’s new world Ryan. Maybe you should dress in one of those bratwurst suits in Milwaukee during the Brewers next home stand because you might be the biggest sausage in baseball today.
-“Monday Morning Quarterback” by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King is one of the best weekly reads for football fans out there. This week, King caught up with Patriots QB Tom Brady and got his thoughts on Aaron Hernandez and more which you can read right here. Brady’s response when asked what he thought about Hernandez and the murder charges against him was flawless. Brady said that he has “moved on.” Here’s more of what he told King. “I’ve seen a lot of things over 13 years, and what I have learned is that mental toughness and putting aside personal agendas for what’s in the best interest of the team matters most. My job is to play quarterback, and I’m going to do that the best way I know how, because I owe that to my teammates regardless of who is out there on the field with me. I have moved on. I’m focusing on the great teammates I have who are committed to helping us win games. The only thing I care about is winning. Nothing is going to ever get in the way of that goal. I’m just excited to report to camp and see what we can accomplish as a team. The fate of our season will be determined by the players in our locker room—nothing else.” Spoken like a true professional and someone who understands how to deal with the media. Now that’s the Patriot Way!
-While I must admit that I do have some questions about Clay Buchholz and his willingness to play with a little pain, I will stop well short of questioning his toughness or how injured his shoulder really is. Only Buchholz knows how it feels which is why the rest of us need to settle down and have faith that he is doing the right thing for himself and the team. If Buchholz is guilty of anything, it’s learning how to discuss his condition with the media that covers the team. If he said something like, “I really want to come back and pitch right now but the doctors are telling me not to,” instead of saying, “if this were September and these were important games, I could go,” then he’d do a lot better in the court of public opinion.
-Pats TE Rob Gronkowski (arm, back) and WR Julian Edelman (foot) were placed on the PUP list by the team to start training camp. TE Jake Ballard was taken off that list and has been physically cleared to practice with the team which officially opens camp on Friday. BTW, Bill Belichick will address the media for the first time since the arrest of Aaron Hernandez on Wednesday. It is possible that Belichick may have been asked by Kraft to issue a brief statement on the subject to start. Then again, given the legal issues at stake, he may be instructed to steer clear of the subject. However, one thing seems certain. Whether or not Belichick addresses the Hernandez issue, he will surely deflect any future questions on the subject and we will likely hear his usual, “I’m only concerned about the guys that are here in uniform today” retort. Chalk it up under, Bill being Bill.
-I have been telling friends for years how much I enjoy rooting for Phil Mickelson every time he’s on the course. Why? Because, unlike so many of the emotionless “robots” on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has always seemed to genuinely appreciate the applause and adoration from the fans. Even though he’s been at it for more than 20 years, he still seems humbled by the applause and he returns the affection by fist-bumping and high-fiving fans during his rounds. Add to that what a good family man he appears to be and he’s certainly a professional athlete that appears to be worth rooting for.
-Did you see where Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand were invited to try out for the Canadian Olympic Hockey team which will compete in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia?
-For those of you who are fans of the Boston College football program, the Eagles were picked to finish last in the ACC’s Atlantic Division in the preseason poll released earlier this week. BC went (2-10) overall and just (1-7) in the ACC in 2012.
-As bad as things are right now for Ryan Braun, word is that Major League officials have even more evidence on Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and his connections to the Biogenesis Clinic. It will be interesting to see if A-Rod takes a deal from MLB to be suspended for the remainder of the year like Braun or if he will fight the charges. Most Yankee fans would prefer he never put on the pinstripes again.
-Finally, a get-well wish to my friend Dolphin Paul’s wife – Paula. She broke her ankle in a few places and had to have surgery to repair the break. As someone who has a plate and screws inside his ankle from a break many years ago, I know what she is about to go through. However, it shouldn’t be a problem. She’s been carrying her husband for the last 25 years. It’s about time he returned the favor….lol!
