In Defense of Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla Day, celebrated every July 1, epitomizes the power of strategic financial planning. This day commemorates an iconic contract that turned a one-time payout into a 25-year stream of annual payments, showcasing the brilliance of thinking ahead for long-term security. Bonilla's foresight in securing a deal that ensures he gets paid well into retirement serves as a compelling lesson in financial wisdom and negotiation. This story not only marks a significant moment in sports history but also highlights the importance of planning for the future, making it a fascinating topic for anyone interested in securing their financial well-being.
Unpopular Opinions: Potential World Series Ratings Disasters
Join Brendan, Todd, and Peter as they delve into a lively debate about potential World Series matchups that might not win the viewership game. From the American League's low-draw teams to National League's less appealing picks, discover unique perspectives on baseball's biggest event.
The Series We Need and Deserve
Yet, here we are, and I believe it's beneficial for baseball and everyone around the world. The Texas Rangers acquired Jacob DeGrom from the New York Mets in the offseason, signing him as a free agent. Then, at the trade deadline, they decided it wasn't enough to have one injured pitcher from the New York Mets, so they traded for the esteemed Max Scherzer.
High Hopes & Disastrous Results: B.J. Upton (5 YEARS - $72.5 MILLION)
Explore the rise and fall of B.J. Upton following his $72.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. Uncover how this MLB player's performance shifted from power-hitting base stealer to a series of strikeouts. This real-life account sheds light on the risks and realities of high-stake baseball contracts, providing valuable insights for sports enthusiasts, analysts, and baseball fans alike. Discover the untold story of Swing Badder Contracts in professional baseball.
The Player who Never Played
There is a major league baseball player who played in 105 games and never batted. He never played in the field. This is a player in the Baseball Almanac who never swung a bat or caught a ball yet he played in 105 Major League baseball games.
Hopes Dashed for $75 Million: Jake Arrieta
The fans in Philadelphia envisioned a great pitcher leading to playoffs and maybe even a World Series. They got a below average team and a pitcher who was never healthy enough to contribute. Despite the results, Jake Arrieta received $75,000,000. The fans got overpriced tickets and hot dogs.
The First 40-40 $5 million Man
Jose Canseco was Major League Baseball’s first $5 million man. It’s fair to say that since that contract was signed, inflation has made the $5 million contract almost an insulting joke given Canseco’s impact on the game as one of the original “Bash Brothers” with fellow Oakland A, Mark McGuire.
Ocular Enhancers
Endy Chavez has been robbed of his place in history. He should have been the start of a rally for the Mets in game 7 of the 2006 NLCS to beat the Cardinals and move on. With Jim Edmonds on first and Scott Rolen at the plate, Chavez who had somehow managed to hit .306 robbed a home run that would have put the Cardinals up 3-1 and threw to first base to double up Edmonds.
Sometimes Less is More
Looking at the highest and lowest payrolls, there doesn’t seem to make much difference in creating winners. Specifically, twelve teams made the playoffs. Seven of the twelve had payrolls in the bottom half of the thirty teams.