Jose Tabata was penalized 3 games for storming out of the clubhouse and going home moments after striking out in the seventh inning of Saturday's game. "The expectations of who I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do finally got to me," he said through assistant coach and translator, Julius Matos. "I made an irrational decision. Maybe it was immaturity, inexperience or just that I didn't know how to handle what was happening. I just kept thinking I am not producing the way I should be and maybe I didn't belong here." Tabata, who was hitting just .188 at the time of the incident, is frustrated enough that he contemplated asking the Yankees for his release. There's no chance he would have gotten it, but that he was even in that frame of mind seems like a bad sign for the future.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2008/265655.html

This is probably a dumb question, but can someone give me a solid reason why more older ballplayers don't represent themselves during contract negotiations? Kenny Rogers situation made me ask that same question again. Note that this question only pertains to older established players that are in their final years (where their market value is pretty much established). I can totally understand a young player using an agent, as those players really need a 3rd part to "sell" themselves to teams during their prime years (how else could Zito get $126 mil?).

Take Mariano Rivera for example, who is represented by Fern Cuza. It was pretty clear all along that he was coming back to the Yanks, and while both parties were always in agreement with what his market value salary was, the only thing they were haggling about were the years (3 vs. 4). Assuming a 4-5% agent commission (just a random guess as I have no idea what the norm is), are you telling me that Mariano paid some guy almost $2 mill on his $45 mill contract just to file paperwork? Maybe I'm over simplifying things, but (for the most part) aren't all ball contract more or less the same (pretty boilerplate)? Clearly qualifying this as a simplification, isn't all you need to do is change the numbers and dates from his previous contract and BAMM......you got yourselves a new contract? Couldn't he have done this himself? At the least, couldn't he have hired some lower priced attorney? Even if my assumed commission rate is way off, it still sounds amazingly unnecessarily expensive. Guys like Schilling and Rogers in their twilight representing themselves make alot of sense.

Thoughts??? I hate to use-up a diary for this, but I would like more insight into the signing process if anyone can shed some light.

Thanks.

-Fartbals

Who is your bet for who will be the Red Sox opening day closer?

Poll

Who is your bet for who will be the Red Sox opening day closer?

6%

Chan Ho Park

8 votes

5%

Chris Reitsma

7 votes

5%

Runelvys Hernandez

7 votes

31%

Craig Hansen

41 votes

29%

Mike Gonzalez

39 votes

22%

Jonathan Papelbon (?)

29 votes

131 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

As  a die-hard Sox fan, it pains me to hear the inevitability of Manny being traded (even if he is a major headache). Everything I've read says this trade is linked to the Sox signing Drew, but I want no part of JD who is a clubhouse cancer in his own right and won't come remotely close to offsetting the lost production of Manny.

I've heard rumors attaching Manny to San Diego, San Francisco, LA, Texas, and Anaheim. I know its a "shot in the dark" guess at this point, but where do you guy think he will wind-up, and for what?

1. Padres
   
2. Giants
   
3. Dodgers
   
4. Rangers
   
5. Angels
   
6. Stay with Red Sox

I've primarily only heard of team names at this point and not really players. This article from the Courant (http://www.courant.com/sports/baseball/hc-baseup1128.artnov28,0,7018352.story?coll=hc-headlines-base ball) quotes the following:

"The Dodgers might be the best fit for the Red Sox, with an array of top minor league prospects at their disposal, including third baseman Andy LaRoche, pitcher Chad Billingsleyand outfielder Matt Kemp. And Ramirez, who has veto power over any trade, would probably welcome a reunion with former Red Sox manager Grady Little."

What are others insights? Anyone heard of more rumors?

Poll

If You Were A Betting Man, Where Do You Think Manny Wind-Up?

11%

Rangers

21 votes

10%

Angels

19 votes

2%

Padres

4 votes

38%

Red Sox

68 votes

8%

Giants

15 votes

28%

Dodgers

51 votes

178 votes | Poll has closed