Comments on: For the last time: the final days of Johnny Jesus http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:20:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: This morning in the Middle East, er, the Matsuzaka negotiations (And: Is Scott Boras pulling a Fonzie?) at The Feeding the Monster Blog — In which the author discusses Boston, the Red Sox, the media, and very occasionally popular music. http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-643587 This morning in the Middle East, er, the Matsuzaka negotiations (And: Is Scott Boras pulling a Fonzie?) at The Feeding the Monster Blog — In which the author discusses Boston, the Red Sox, the media, and very occasionally popular music. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:42:09 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-643587 [...] might get sick of negotiating with Boras, who’s establishied an impressive track record of obstinancy and lying and looks more and more like he’s preparing to waterski right over that great white. (Like I [...] [...] might get sick of negotiating with Boras, who’s establishied an impressive track record of obstinancy and lying and looks more and more like he’s preparing to waterski right over that great white. (Like I [...]

]]> By: Jenny http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3016 Jenny Thu, 07 Dec 2006 04:45:29 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3016 Seth, can you clarify the Josh Beckett deal for me? The way I understand what you wrote about it in the book, it was railroaded through by Lucchino in an attempt to shift media and fan attention away from internal problems in the wake of Theo's resignation. This was done over the objection of several baseball ops guys, specifically Jed Hoyer. Given the close relationship between Jed and Theo and thus the probable similarity in their viewpoints, I have been assuming all year that had Theo still been GM, that trade would not have occurred. Is this your take? Every time I try to advance this view to others, they call me a ballwashing Theo apologist or something of that ilk. One sportswriter (Bill Madden?) even wrote in all seriousness that the trade was Theo's fault because he was "in the building." Some help here? I know it's not Damon-related, but that section of the book was really self-explanatory. Seth, can you clarify the Josh Beckett deal for me? The way I understand what you wrote about it in the book, it was railroaded through by Lucchino in an attempt to shift media and fan attention away from internal problems in the wake of Theo’s resignation. This was done over the objection of several baseball ops guys, specifically Jed Hoyer. Given the close relationship between Jed and Theo and thus the probable similarity in their viewpoints, I have been assuming all year that had Theo still been GM, that trade would not have occurred. Is this your take? Every time I try to advance this view to others, they call me a ballwashing Theo apologist or something of that ilk. One sportswriter (Bill Madden?) even wrote in all seriousness that the trade was Theo’s fault because he was “in the building.” Some help here? I know it’s not Damon-related, but that section of the book was really self-explanatory.

]]> By: HFXBOB http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3015 HFXBOB Thu, 07 Dec 2006 04:01:11 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3015 zoowah, in response to what you said about Eric Wilbur. First in his defence I think he's smart, does his homework, and isn't shy about speaking his mind. So I read him. But I agree about the snarkiness. The entry today was a perfect example. He got in shots at Drew, Nixon, Lugo and many other players, and of course Sox management took heat for just about everything they've done the past few years. Wilbur even took some good stuff Grady Little said about Drew and spun it around to look bad because of who said it. The biggest irritation for me is that beating the dead horse thing. Last year he would not let up about the Arroyo deal, and this year we'll probably hear about it all over again. It gets old. zoowah, in response to what you said about Eric Wilbur. First in his defence I think he’s smart, does his homework, and isn’t shy about speaking his mind. So I read him. But I agree about the snarkiness. The entry today was a perfect example. He got in shots at Drew, Nixon, Lugo and many other players, and of course Sox management took heat for just about everything they’ve done the past few years. Wilbur even took some good stuff Grady Little said about Drew and spun it around to look bad because of who said it. The biggest irritation for me is that beating the dead horse thing. Last year he would not let up about the Arroyo deal, and this year we’ll probably hear about it all over again. It gets old.

]]> By: crimsonohsix http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3008 crimsonohsix Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:24:56 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3008 David Ortiz had a breakout year in 2003. A bunch of statisticians predicted he was undervalued. So why is it so hard to predict changes in baseball market inflation? Wall Street traders manage to predict real-life inflation (CPI, PCE) quite accurately on a monthly basis. David Ortiz had a breakout year in 2003. A bunch of statisticians predicted he was undervalued.

So why is it so hard to predict changes in baseball market inflation? Wall Street traders manage to predict real-life inflation (CPI, PCE) quite accurately on a monthly basis.

]]> By: Ogie Oglethorpe http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3007 Ogie Oglethorpe Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:23:35 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3007 Well played cursemyreverse. Damon never saw a microphone or camera he didn't like. He also never had anything meaningful to say. I liked him as a player and as a personality at first but enough was enough. All the people crying for Damon are a joke. Sure he wanted to play here but he was going where the richest contract was offered. Once he signed with the Yanks he was dead to me, once he started recruiting Manny and Papi to the Yanks he became somebody who I'd like to see fail, miserably. Let's move on. If you don't like the current Sox lineup and still want to root for Damon maybe you should move on too. Well played cursemyreverse. Damon never saw a microphone or camera he didn’t like. He also never had anything meaningful to say. I liked him as a player and as a personality at first but enough was enough. All the people crying for Damon are a joke. Sure he wanted to play here but he was going where the richest contract was offered. Once he signed with the Yanks he was dead to me, once he started recruiting Manny and Papi to the Yanks he became somebody who I’d like to see fail, miserably. Let’s move on. If you don’t like the current Sox lineup and still want to root for Damon maybe you should move on too.

]]> By: tinisoli http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3004 tinisoli Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:09:13 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3004 Re: Johnny's celebrity act getting old... I'd be willing to wager that Theo, Henry, and Lucchino are equally queasy when Schilling is on WEEI or pulling his "I'm the only one who speaks the truth" messiah routine. In general, I wish all of these guys would just STFU and play, whether it's refraining from screaming at an ump when you're not even in the game (Trot), talking about "towelheads" (Timlin) or stumping for a presidential candidate (Schilling). There exceptions to the rule, but for the most part the most compelling thing a pro athlete can do is practice his craft well. Re: Johnny’s celebrity act getting old…
I’d be willing to wager that Theo, Henry, and Lucchino are equally queasy when Schilling is on WEEI or pulling his “I’m the only one who speaks the truth” messiah routine. In general, I wish all of these guys would just STFU and play, whether it’s refraining from screaming at an ump when you’re not even in the game (Trot), talking about “towelheads” (Timlin) or stumping for a presidential candidate (Schilling). There exceptions to the rule, but for the most part the most compelling thing a pro athlete can do is practice his craft well.

]]> By: Centerfield13 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3001 Centerfield13 Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:07:38 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2006/12/06/for-the-last-time-the-final-days-of-johnny-jesus/#comment-3001 I'm a Sox fan in exile, carpet-bagging in Florida, so I've had the pleasure of cheap Sox tickets at the Trop, plus being able to follow the Devil Rays. One of those comments is sarcastic... Anyway...people need to lay off Julio Lugo and forget the Wil Cordero references. 1. He's a good guy, and was all around well-liked in Tampa. 2. The charges from Houston were dropped, and the Astros definitely over-reacted when they released him. 3. The comparisons between him and Cordero cannot have anything to do with playing ability, but rather ethnicity and criminal charges. I think Cordero's weren't dropped, by the way, so there's even less similarity. When it comes to playing ability, Lugo is far, far better than Wil Cordero ever was. Cordero essentially became a DH for teams who needed bench power, while Lugo can field, run, and hit pretty well. I'm excited about how the Sox will look in '06 if everything pans out. It won't be as scary a line-up as 2003, but who cares? As long as we don't have Dustin Mohr and other rejects, we're in good shape. I’m a Sox fan in exile, carpet-bagging in Florida, so I’ve had the pleasure of cheap Sox tickets at the Trop, plus being able to follow the Devil Rays. One of those comments is sarcastic…

Anyway…people need to lay off Julio Lugo and forget the Wil Cordero references.

1. He’s a good guy, and was all around well-liked in Tampa.

2. The charges from Houston were dropped, and the Astros definitely over-reacted when they released him.

3. The comparisons between him and Cordero cannot have anything to do with playing ability, but rather ethnicity and criminal charges. I think Cordero’s weren’t dropped, by the way, so there’s even less similarity.

When it comes to playing ability, Lugo is far, far better than Wil Cordero ever was. Cordero essentially became a DH for teams who needed bench power, while Lugo can field, run, and hit pretty well.

I’m excited about how the Sox will look in ‘06 if everything pans out. It won’t be as scary a line-up as 2003, but who cares? As long as we don’t have Dustin Mohr and other rejects, we’re in good shape.

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