Why the MLB Hot Stove means nothing

Imagine you have a job to perform a certain task and then at the end of the week after working long, grueling hours, you are told thanks but we are just gonna throw it in the trash. Here is why I bring up this example....

Carl Crawford was signed by the Boston Copycat Sox to a whopping 7 year $142 million deal. I say copycat because Yankees were the first to be major A-holes in the league and steal talent and now the Red Sox just took the page right out of their playbook. Can't wait to hear the Sox fans complain about the Yankees offer to Cliff Lee for over $140 million (which history shows they will)

The thing that bothers me is that you can spend the day trying to follow these meetings but I feel I know more than the reporters that are there. Which inside source said that Crawford was going to the Angels? or the Yankees? or the Nationals (wait that was for Jayson Werth and they gave him same money as Crawford)?

These hot stove reports are just stupid fillers for a league that is in its off-season yet still stands to make money. Everyone would be perfectly happy with waiting patiently for the final report at the end of the week that says the weekly signings. Tell me which you think is better:

Today the following big signings were completed:

Jayson Werth to Nationals
Adrian Gonzalez to Red Sox
Carl Crawford to Red Sox
Adam Dunn to White Sox
JJ Putz to Diamondbacks (more on this in next post)
Carlos Pena to Cubs

-OR-

1PM: Carl Crawford met with Brian Cashman and thinks he has gorgeous eyes

1:14PM: Carlos Pena says Crawford wants to go to LA

1:30PM: Florida Marlins offer Crawford 10 year $15 million for sh*ts and giggles

2:01PM: Yankees offer Derek Jeters actual contract to Crawford after realizing that money can actually get a player like Carl Crawford. But he has a clause that requires him to babysit Jeter while he bitches about it.

4:00PM: Peter Gammons reports exclusively that Carl Crawford was seen with Nolan Ryan but likely asked him where the meeting room was. Still there is a strong chance this is indication that Crawford wants to go to Texas.

4:59PM: Boston Red Sox officially sign Carl Crawford to 7 year $141 million deal

I prefer the first but then again, that means we would have to hear about Brett Favre all day so there is some sports coverage. Just wish there would be more accurate reports than simply saying the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Mets, and Rangers are interested in a player...I want my news to be unexpected! I want to say "Wow thanks Peter Gammons it took a true courageous effort to dig out that story!"


On the note of Red Sox and Yankees spending, people always wonder what it is like to be a Yankees fan. I have come up with the example no other writer has ever come up with that perfectly describes the feeling of "buying" a top tier team. This kinda thing reminds me of the first time I get Madden 2000. They had this feature where you can draft your team and if you still didnt have enough superstars, any trade would be accepted so the Marshall Faulk for Rick Mirer would be considered fair and you are left with a team that can beat the Pro Bowl roster. Everyone has done it in the past and the question is "Did you ever feel silly when you went 16-0, winning by college football like margins, and won the Super Bowl?" The answer is no it actually felt great and amazing to be able to simulate your game and know the box score would be stacked. This is what its like to be a Yankees fan but in real life.

So the Sox have: Pedroia, Ellsbury, Jewkillis, Gonzalez, Crawford in their lineup which is top stuff. It will be interesting to see them make a run at the division now that they Rays are going to be out of the picture until 6 years from now when they have a roster full of #1 draft picks being paid $500K again.