Ramirez hot topic on MLB Network
Posted: Friday, January 02, 2009 12:36 PM
Yesterday I watched the debut of the MLB Network and realized that this venture was long overdue. Even though late to the party, the good news is MLB got this right.
Beautiful sets, full high definition, an impressive roster of analysts and top-flight management led by MLB Network President Tony Petitti, a sharp hire, are essentials and all are present.
But nothing matters without carriage on cable systems throughout the country. And MLB learned from the NFL’s mistakes. The last negotiation for MLB’s Extra Innings package was contentious but MLB emerged with guaranteed carriage for its start-up network in over 50 million homes, a number the NFL Network has yet to reach.
MLB has outperformed its fellow leagues in one area -- multimedia. MLB.com is a raging success, both the primary fuel behind the growth in revenues and salaries through this decade and the industry’s safety net against the economic downturn.
Now the MLB Network is the last piece of a puzzle that provides devoted fans with one-stop shopping. No longer does the dedicated fan need to search listings and guides to find a nightly highlight show. No waiting for a basketball game or tennis match to end to get some baseball highlights.
The first show on the MLB Network was a sampling of the network’s foundation, one hour of hardcore baseball with opinion taking the place of highlights. And it was no surprise that Manny Ramirez was the first big topic.
Dueling opinions brought home the point that most fans have no basis to filter the words they hear from the experts. Players have tight bonds. Once they move to doing analysis on television, many show they still think like a player. And they are generally tight, some even related to, agents. As well, it is wise to remember that writers, either in print or on television, rely on sources for information. Some favor management, others lean on agents. So some words from “informed sources” reflect the view of executives while one viewpoint last night sounded as if it had written by Scott Boras. (Disclaimer: this space is no different. Having been “used and abused” by agents in past incarnations of reporting, it is safe to regard most information here as originating from management).
The former players mainly discussed Ramirez in a vacuum. Nothing mattered to them but his numbers. The argument is shallow since who denies Ramirez’s Hall-of-Fame pedigree? I listened in some disbelief until sensible words finally came from Al Leiter. You can’t ignore Ramirez quitting on Boston, nor his massive cost nor the fact that the Boston players endorsed his July trade to the Dodgers.
More specifics followed from the informed writers serving as analysts -- one wisely posturing that the market shows no signs of meeting Ramirez’s asking price for a new contract. Then came words from the Boras text that claim all great players get their dollars at some point. There is truth in that theory but there has never been a free agent like Ramirez -- one who quit on a team and months later seeks a five-year contract as a free agent.
I spoke to a team president last week and his is a club that has occasionally been linked to having an interest in Ramirez. He thought Ramirez would have a hard time bettering the Dodgers two-year offer that was summarily dismissed by Boras.
Boras called the Dodgers this week but he needs another team to get in the bidding. Some reports are suggesting the Giants could enter the fray. There is some rational basis to speculate that they would since they have fine starting pitching and badly need a power bat. Also, they are staring at a season-ticket base that is shrinking from a peak of 29,000 to under 20,000 for 2009. Ramirez would no doubt sell some tickets. And there is the double whammy that if the Giants sign Ramirez they keep him away from their divisional rival.
Is Boras writing a screenplay or are the Giants legitimately interested in Ramirez? If the answer is yes, the bidding “war” Boras needs might occur. If the answer is yes, the Giants, already burdened with the onerous Barry Zito contract must ask themselves where Ramirez will find motivation? Can you invest so heavily in a player and not have even a shred of concern about his drive?
Whatever is said on MLB Network is one thing but in the real world of baseball’s executive suites, management has only one real question about Ramirez: At what cost is it worth signing him?
