SB Nation User Blog: kazanjianm

Rewarding history- unique to the times

kazanjianm — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:38:56 -0000

Jorge Posada- 36 years old and a catcher- 52 million dollars

Mariano Rivera- 38 years old- right handed pitcher 45 million dollars

Andy Pettite 35 years old left handed pitcher 15 million (forget the HGH for a second)

The three players listed above have three things in common. They are/were:

1.) Part of the Yankee dynasty teams of the late 90's early 00's

2.) Came up through the Yankees organization.

3.) (with the exception of Pettite) These players have spent their entire careers with the Yankees. Lets forget what happened to Bernie Williams for a second (It contradicts my argument).

Most contracts, when given, are calculated to measure future production or future potential. Think of the complaining about the Ryan contract in football this past spring. Or Darren Dreifort, the former Dodger pitcher who recieved a 55 million dollar deal, for five years only to win a handful of games over the life of the contract. CRINGE- Carl Pavano. While it is true that Posada had a career year at the age of 35 and Rivera proved to be effective last year (and lights out once again this year) I cannot halp but speculate that history played a part in these players big paydays. Across town, at the same age, Mike Piazza was given the Bernie Williams treatment (It was terrible PR when Pettites services were outbidded by the Astros and Bernie was given a pink slip). Piazza is just one example, My point is, most teams ONLY pay for future potential. While the Yankees wronged Pettite and Bernie in the past, they made up for it with the unorthodox signings of Posada, Pettite and Rivera in the winter of 2007..........On a separate note

please check out (hopefully you will get a laugh)

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (Part 1)

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (Part 2)

Taking Steroids One Day At A Time

Bill James says that "The Next Fernando Valenzuela" is for real

kazanjianm — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:38:33 -0000

Hi folks,

This is a clip of a young man who had a 300/0 strikout walk ratio in the Mexican League......No im kidding. It is actually a funny animation that I made. Forgive me, I just read the disclaimer about the sabermetrics blog..... and I agreed to it. I will also say that i do plan on actively participating in this blog. But this is "me introducing myself"......In all sincerity, I am an absolute baseball nut who is fascinated with the math behind baseball.

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (part 1)

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (part 2)

Thank you for letting me bend the rules a bit!- Merrill Kazanjian

via fc04.deviantart.com

The Next Fernando Valenzuela

kazanjianm — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:23:01 -0000

Hi, I am an VERY WARPED animator/filmmaker who is an absolute baseball nut! I hope you like my videos! Here is the teaser:

Do you want to see a 108 MPH fastball? Do you want to see the most wicked heat in the history of baseball? Go to Mexico and bring a radar gun! A short movie by Merrill Kazanjian

and here are the links to my videos:

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (Part 1)

The Next Fernando Valenzuela (Part 2)

via fc04.deviantart.com