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Ted Robinson of NBCSports.com fires away on what’s making news in Major League Baseball, the National Football League and professional tennis.

Robinson called the play-by-play on NBC's Major League Baseball Game of the Week telecasts from 1986-89. Additionally, he has done play-by-play for the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets. Since 2000 Robinson has provided play-by-play for NBC Sports on the French Open and Wimbledon. He also previously served in that role at the U.S. Open for USA Network. Robinson is also the play-by-play voice of the San Francisco 49ers on KNBR.



Teixeira signing fallout wide-ranging

Posted: Friday, December 26, 2008 3:23 PM

The Yankees' pre-Christmas strike to land Mark Teixeira impacts teams, players (especially someone named Manny) and fans. Let’s take a look:

 

THE FANS: If you are a fan of the Yankees how can you be upset with the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira wearing pinstripes? Wednesday’s New York Times outlined the ticket prices for the new Yankee Stadium. The cheapest seat in the second deck is $40. That’s the left-field foul pole against Kansas City on a Monday night in May at $40 per ticket.

 

How do the Yankees make sure those seats stay filled? How do the Yankees make sure telecasts of their games on the regional sports network they own deliver strong ratings which lead to top-dollar ad buys despite the serious downturn economically? The answer: provide value.

It has long been held that the entertainment industry weathers well bad economic times but those new prices the Yankees are charging will test that belief. The Yankees are following the philosophy that value is more important in lean times. And a fan buying a Yankee Stadium ticket knows the chances are great that he or she will get their money’s worth.

 

RED SOX: They have the money to pay Teixeira, they had the need for him but they didn’t close the deal. The easy verdict is to say the Red Sox need a bat to replace Manny Ramirez, yet they were one game from the World Series last season. General manager Theo Epstein made the sensible comment about looking at every decision in both the long and short term and his track record commands faith. The owner publicly wailed about the Yankees spending but how much sympathy could a team generate when its payroll is $140 million?

 

MANNY RAMIREZ: Were those recent stories about the Yankees’ reported interest in giving Ramirez a three-year, $75 million deal planted in a Dominican Republic newspaper? The Yankees were seen as the fallback for Ramirez but now the Yankees are out of the picture. The Angels say they are out and so the Dodgers seem to stand alone in having an interest in Ramirez. Unless another team arises, the Dodgers hold the leverage over Ramirez and his agent Scott Boras. And how is Ramirez going to get the minimum three-year deal needed to save face after the disgraceful way he forced a trade from the Red Sox last July?

 

NATIONALS: Where do they turn after losing out on Teixeira? Their pursuit of him marked the first run they have made at a signature player but Teixeira never appeared to take them seriously. Signing Daniel Cabrera won’t do much to excite fans.

 

BREWERS: The Brewers not only got stung when CC Sabathia signed with the Yankees, they got stung again when the Angels lost Mark Teixeira to the Yankees. That’s because Teixeira’s free-agent rating in the Elias Sports Bureau rankings was slightly higher than Sabathia so under the rules of compensation for teams losing Class A free agents the Angels get the Yankees’ first-round pick in the June 2009 draft while the Brewers get the Yankees’ second-round selection. The compensation for both teams also includes each getting a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds. All of what’s gone with the Yankees and their doling out $423.5 million on three players has Brewers owner Mark Attanasio calling for a salary cap.  

 

ANGELS: Getting the Yankees’ first-round pick in June’s draft is of little consolation for the loss of Teixeira as the Angels spent less on 2008 draftees than any MLB team as their player development has slowed. Angels owner Arte Moreno has been stellar in his stewardship of the club but has yet to receive an October reward. Teixeira was supposed to change that. Now the Angels’ ledger is tilted with more losses (Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, Garret Anderson and Jon Garland) than gains (re-signing Juan Rivera). They Angels are in the hunt for free-agent closer Brian Fuentes and reports have them making a play in the trade market for Jake Peavy. But there is work ahead for this team to maintain its dominance atop the AL West.

 

ANDY PETTITTE: Following the signing of Teixeira, there’s much speculation that the Yankees may pull their one-year, $10 million offer that Pettitte has yet to accept. The team is well insulated against any negative backlash. But why would this $10 million really matter to the Yankees? Their revenue sharing payment will drop with the write off of many costs associated with the opening of the new Yankee Stadium.

 

REST OF THE AL EAST: Baltimore’s bid for Teixeira, a Maryland native, failed but the Orioles’ rebuilding is just beginning to show progress. Tampa Bay has shown no willingness to budge from its plan. Then there is Toronto. They have tried to play with the big boys, finishing ahead of Boston in 2007 and spending big to keep Vernon Wells but they must feel like baseball’s Sisyphus. How much patience can Toronto have with the current system?

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Comments

Excellent analysis.The Yankees are first and foremost a business.As such they are in the position of having to protect three entities worth over 3.5 billion dollars! It's laughable when you here comments like Attanasio's.Capitalists preaching socialism.Cost certainty...for the owners! Ask yourself if the Brewers would have ponied up a contract of over 100mm.,but I guess he thinks that would be reasonable!

comnsnse (Sent Friday, December 26, 2008 6:01 PM)

It won't matter how many free agents the Yankees sign it will not make a difference. When a team has bad ownership the free agent market cannot be of any value. The "Boss's Kid" is a bigger flake than George ever was. So get ready Yankee fans for another bad ending.

Bob, Tarzana, Ca. (Sent Friday, December 26, 2008 7:42 PM)

I still don't see where the Yankees gained all that much over last year. Defense at first base, definately. Giambi's numbers and Tex numbers are not all that different, G did slack off the  second half but is always dangerous. Mussina won 20, can CC and AJ do that this year? Will they be healthy? CC's record was better in the NL than the AL. Burnett is always hurt. The rest of the team is old and / or playing for themselves. NY spent a lot of money to sort of better themselves, but it could backfire very easily on them. Can't wait for the season to open! By the way, a very loyal Red Sox fan all my life, almost 70 now,living in MD now, but still working and active.

Dick Mullin Laurel MD (Sent Friday, December 26, 2008 10:07 PM)

Legends are what we make of them, something beyond the realm of normal existence. Sports has always offered us legendary individuals so why not legendary teams? The Yankees are a fabled organization with a proud tradition and fanciful characters throughout their storied history. So is it any wonder that their budget seems surreal, almost improbable and approaching mythological proportions?

Teixeira,Sabathia, and Burnett are now part of the Yankee pantheon which rule the baseball universe. But like the Greek gods of antiquity, the Yankees may appear powerful yet have an achilles heel to worry about. Nothing is sure in this life, even for legends. And certainly the Yankees are no more guaranteed a World Series championship than any other team in baseball. A sea vessel must still prove it's seaworthiness in a storm. The Yankees must still battle their way to a championship and hope that along the way Goliath does not meet David.

Better is the end of a matter than it's beginning, so said a wise man of old. Time will tell how truly wide ranging is the impact of the signing of Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett. This could have the makings of a Greek Tragedy for the Yankees.

Alex Martinez, Cranston, RI (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:42 AM)

It'll only matter if they win it all - and there's certainly no guarantee that that will happen.  Age will factor into this team's performance, if not in '09, then most assuredly in '10 and thereafter.  An infield of 30-year olds does not make for a defensively strong team --- and the outfield is hardly loaded with Gold Glove defenders.  Old and slow is what they've got, and how many titles will that really bring 'em?

Matt Nousak (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:12 AM)

It's a real shame that $40 will be the cheapest seat in the house at the new stadium.  These new ticket prices will keep many loyal baseball fans out of the stadium.  Just because of no other reason than they can't afford to go.  That's not fan friendly at all.  I know it's all about the money these days, but this is ridulous.  The Yankees are ruining baseball for everyone.  I agree with the owner of the Brewers, this sport needs a cap, and the sooner the better.

Ken, Bronx, NY (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:44 AM)

"How much patience can Toronto have with the current system?"

Toronto? How much patience can anyone have with the current system?

Wallace Matthews put it most succinctly:

The Yankees don't want to compete -- they just want to be coronated.

Laird Cregar (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:24 PM)

These player's are absolutely inconsiderate of the people who are paying their salary's. This makes me sick and i have been a fan for 22 years.  I am a philadelphia phillies fan and what these guys are asking for during these tough economic times when we are focused on "golden parachutes" for coporate CEO's, major taxpayer bailouts, and massive layoffs makes me sick to my stomach.  I am less of a baseball fan because of this.  These players dont need this kind of money to survive.

Gabe G., Pennsville, NJ (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 6:44 PM)

OK, the Yankees are Major League Champions. Send them on a year-long world tour to play exhibition games.

The more mortal teams will then play for the world series championship.

Baseball will never retain what remains of it's popularity without a salary cap. sports are about fair competition. How fair is it for one team to be able to have payroll three or four times greater than it's competitors?

John Wooster, Ohio (Sent Saturday, December 27, 2008 7:16 PM)

And why so many Yankee haters. At least the yanks invest in their product. Its sure easy to root for a team like the Yankee, and believe me, I been thought the good and bad, so why its all the crying about.

Juan Martinez (Sent Sunday, December 28, 2008 12:20 PM)

Baseball is in bad need of a cap.  That is why the NFL is so intriguing.  From year to year, your team can move from worst to first  Every team has a legitimate shot.  With that being said, a team must have chemistry.  Also can Tex handle the New York media?  Can C.C. handle it?  A lot of great players became "normal" in NY.

Ron Martin, NC (Sent Sunday, December 28, 2008 2:53 PM)

$40 the cheapest ticket at Yankee Stadium, not to mention $10 hotdogs.  Man I hope that stadium is half full this season.  Yankee fans can go to Camden Yards spend 40$ for great seats and much better food.

Jason Gordon (Sent Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:32 PM)

In reply to Mr. Mullen, you are only partially correct when you say the Yankees didn't gain all that much over last year.  

Regarding the trades, Tex and Pujols are tied as the best defensive first basemen in the majors but the trade really pays off when you look at Giambi's spotty health record and astronomical strike out ratio over the last five years in comparison.  

As far as CC goes, yes he will most certainly replace Mussina's career year but remember, last year Yankee RHP Wang was ankle injured so next year they get his lifetime 54-20, 3.79, and back to back 19 win seasons back.  So in effect the team will be better off than last year by virtue of returning healthy players.

Burnett is in the same league as new Red Sox pitcher Penny who has actually been injured more than most and to echo another: "He's coming from a DH less league, a weak division, and a hitter-unfriendly park.  Let's see what he does in hitter-friendly Fenway with the best DH's and strongest division in baseball.  Also, there's a reason he's getting $5 mil versus the $9.25 mil he's used to getting: It's the most anyone is willing to pay.  If the Sox didn't pony up he'd be lucky to get $3.5 mil.

As far as all you whiners out there; Boston is in at $140 mil this year.  It was only a few short years ago when Boston was screaming about a plump Yankee payroll.  The Yankees will pay their competitors about $29.5 mil this year in luxury tax...free money to ownerships who are not serious about winning.

Ray C. Apex, NC (Sent Tuesday, December 30, 2008 4:02 PM)

Remember the Florida Marlins and the Rays, the most expensive is not always the best.  Baseball is full of events that cannot be controlled.  Remember some of the best signings are the ones that don't happen.  Young talent is where it is at, just around the corner there will be a Texeria or Ramirez just beginning to bloom. Look at Pedoria, Youkilis, and Ellsbury young talent at the beginning of their career.  The Yankees spend money on individual highly rated talent, does that make a team and chemistry.  GO Red SOX, in Theo we trust... glad we are rid of Manny and I hope no team is foolish enough to give him a long term deal, his actions were so unprofessional.  What a despicable role model for young children...

Dee O'Connor, Massachusetts (Sent Friday, January 02, 2009 6:23 PM)

"It's laughable when you here comments like Attanasio's.Capitalists preaching socialism."
I agree with Attanasio more so then you. You cannot have strict market priciples in sports because you cannot play in a vacuum. By your logic the Yankees could exist as a sole entity. I think it would be boring watching them practice or play inter-squad scrimmages every night.
You need good competition. I ten year old in Pittsburg or Kansas City should think his team has a chance and that their best players are not just biding there time for Free Agency and a one-way to the East Coast elites.

Joe R Boston, MA (Sent Friday, January 09, 2009 5:12 PM)

actually $12 is the cheapest seat in the New Yankee stadium(bleachers) and last year and the year before that those same $40 seats were $35 and the attendance for yankee stadium did not seem all that bad then did it??

Mike (Sent Monday, January 12, 2009 12:23 PM)

the yankees have not won the world series in nine years. in the 80's they didn't win,the wild card cardinals have won, and how about the marlins in 03 and the ray's season last year. so all you jealous fans stop whining and buy a ticket.

michael thomas rochester n. y. (Sent Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:02 PM)

The Yankees have deep pockets because they’ve earned those deep pockets. When the Steinbrenners bought the franchise from CBS in 1973, the franchise was virtually worthless. The even had to pay to have their games broadcast on local radio. They slowly restructured the franchise to create revenue streams that smart teams now only emulate. This in turn created capital that was put back into the franchise to make it stronger and better.  The result was an overall consistent quality of play and competition that the fans have come to depend on and they come back game after game, year after year creating more money that is then again turned back into the franchise.  This is called an effective business model just like countless other effective business models in this nation that are the main reason why this nation rose from a small struggling nation two hundred years ago into the richest nation on earth. Success like this should be celebrated not denigrated and this overall trend in this nation over the last 20 years to ridicule success and celebrate dependency is why this nation has been drifting into the same socialistic mindset that has plagued the rest of the world over the last half century. Clint Eastwood was right. We have become a nation of whiners and complainers instead of the nation of achievers and doers that we used to be. This constant Yankee bashing is just a symptom of the petty resentment of success which is dragging this nation into the despair of mediocrity that grows more prevalent with each passing day.  

Bill Stuttig, Bronx, New York (Sent Friday, February 13, 2009 12:48 PM)



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