Saturday, January 22, 2005

Extensions for everyone

There was expected to be a big story out of the Rangers yesterday, but the guess was for a player signing of significance (Delgado) and not contract extensions for the GM and the manager. Did anyone see this coming? And was it a transparent ploy to knock the socks off of Carlos Delgado, or did Tom Hicks really just coincidentally decide to do this on the same day that they were visiting the desire of their hearts?

And what about this?

Extensions for Buck and Hart

The day's announcement was quite a turnaround for Hicks, who on Tuesday twice said the Rangers were not focused on contract extensions this week, but rather on improving their scouting and development programs in the Dominican Republic.
But, he added, he might "discuss the future over a cocktail." Hicks said the final details of the extensions were worked out over dinner Thursday night.

"We want to have the managerial talent to have a contending team for many years along the lines of what Atlanta has done with [manager] Bobby Cox and [GM] John Schuerholz," Hicks said. "I've never felt better about the management of the Texas Rangers than I do now."


So, if I understand this correctly, on Tuesday, there was no sign of this going down? But on Friday it’s done? Did Hart and Buck get Hicks drunk before having him sign their extensions on the plane? And if it was done to convince Delgado to sign, and he doesn’t really care about the stability of the management team, but rather the size of his contract, then don’t you look pretty stupid making a decision to impress a signing who doesn’t sign anyway?

I am trying to understand what all of this means, but that is always difficult when following the day-to-day developments of the Rangers. At least it appears they will go to any length to sign Delgado. With that the case, one must hope that it gets done quickly, as the Rangers have claimed they need his answer quickly rather than to be used to bid up the Mets and Marlins.

Meanwhile, The NY Times Claims the Rangers offer was 4 years/48 million …Which knocks the other offers off the table one would think…

Links:

Hockey fan rips NHL from the grave


OTTAWA (AP) - An ardent hockey fan who died this week used his obituary to denounce the NHL lockout.
Archie Bennitz, 84, instructed his son to criticize NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and union leader Bob Goodenow in his death notice. Bennitz called Bettman and Goodenow "skunks for denying him the pleasure of watching the NHL on TV this year," the obituary in the Ottawa Citizen read. Bennitz also urged Bettman to step aside in favor of Wayne Gretzky.
David Bennitz said his father had become increasingly angry during his last month in the hospital as the lockout dragged on. Hockey was the only thing he watched on TV.



Develanno says its over


Devellano, the alternate governor for the Red Wings and their former general manager, said saving the season is far from a priority for the owners.
"We want the right deal," he told the Free Press. "The hockey's not important.
"My hope and wish is (these talks) start us toward a deal for next season."
Even before talks ended Thursday, Devellano told the paper that time had run out to save the season.

"The season's done," he said. "There's no chance that the right deal can remotely be done in the next little while. There's too much work to be done. There's too many I's to dot and T's to cross. You are not going to get this collective bargaining agreement done in two days, three days, one week or two weeks. It's over."


Meanwhile, Al Strachan knows the owner’s plan


If the league really wanted a settlement, it would have grabbed that offer from the players and signed as quickly as possible. At worst, it would have used that offer as a starting point for negotiations.
It did neither, for the simple reason that the plan is what it always has been -- to shut down for a year.


USA Soccer and players agree to truce


Under the interim deal, players will be paid $2,750 per qualifier, up from $2,000 in qualifying for the 2002 tournament. The bonus for each win, which had been $2,200 to $4,000, depending on the opponent and whether the game was in the United States or abroad, will rise to $6,250 for games against Mexico and Costa Rica, and to $4,750 against Guatemala, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago.


Patriots a dynasty?

Mavs beat the Mighty Bobcats

No comments: