Is there a message here for the dockers

[GilG]

The author touches on free agency and the difference about signing stars as to solid established players. I think there is certainly a parallel in any professional sports that if that is done right, if indeed it is a science or just a lottery, then you can build a championship winning side.

Don't be fooled, Bowie Cash. The Red Sox are absolutely not creating any "model" for any other MLB team, or Freo or any other AFL club.

Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, Red Sox free agent signings, are recent All-Stars and are hardly "solid established players." Neither is their homegrown second baseman -- and former MVP -- Dustin Pedroia, who they re-signed to an astronomical deal this season, nor is fellow homegrown, star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who's now likely be in line for an insane long-term deal for over $100 million and is a sure bet to leave Boston to get it. When you break it down, only three of the Sox eight everyday position players can qualify as "role players." The only reason they're on the team is that the Sox had ridiculous sums of money tied up in other players and couldn't afford to trade for or sign new high-priced ones to fill those spots. The Red Sox have had tens of millions invested in former All-Star pitcher and Game 6 winner John Lackey and have just re-signed Game 5 winner Jon Lester to a $13 million, one-year contract. This off-season, Boston will move to fill the three "role" spots with higher-priced talent.

The AFL would have to completely -- God forbid! -- "North Americanize" its policies on player movement for any MLB "Moneyball" concept to come to fruition. That would mean the following:

1. Stripping all players of their rights to "nominate" clubs to be traded to or sign with (unless their managers successfully negotiated with the clubs for them to have "no-trade" clauses in their contracts, which allow MLB players to veto trades to a number of other clubs)
2. Allowing clubs to make mid-season trades and sign free agents
3. Making all free agency unrestricted

Just say no, AFL. For me, that's the beauty of the league -- it's NOT North American. Why would it EVER try to be? That's the same reason I pray the AFL doesn't allow players' surnames on the backs of jumpers and its stadium game-day entertainment coordinators don't over-stimulate crowds by pumping loud music every second of an event. AFL is not MLB, the NFL, the NBA, or the NHL.

Memo to the AFL: Keep it real. Keep it unique. Advance with modern societal values, but keep the traditions and culture. Keep it Australian.

I say to the AFL what our Billy Joel once sang, "I Love You Just the Way You Are."

And with that long, off-topic rant, I'll alight from my soapbox.

 

[Docker Alyssa]

RTB 2014. Moneyball.

 

[Danny Cullen]

The AFL would have to completely -- God forbid! -- "North Americanize" its policies on player movement for any MLB "Moneyball" concept to come to fruition. That would mean the following:

1. Stripping all players of their rights to "nominate" clubs to be traded to or sign with (unless their managers successfully negotiated with the clubs for them to have "no-trade" clauses in their contracts, which allow MLB players to veto trades to a number of other clubs)
2. Allowing clubs to make mid-season trades and sign free agents
3. Making all free agency unrestricted

Just say no, AFL. For me, that's the beauty of the league -- it's NOT North American. Why would it EVER try to be? That's the same reason I pray the AFL doesn't allow players' surnames on the backs of jumpers and its stadium game-day entertainment coordinators don't over-stimulate crowds by pumping loud music every second of an event. AFL is not MLB, the NFL, the NBA, or the NHL.

Memo to the AFL: Keep it real. Keep it unique. Advance with modern societal values, but keep the traditions and culture. Keep it Australian.

Good idea to send this particular bit to Eyebrows (or Vlad or whatever name is used to disparage). Rinse and repeat and send to his successor when he finally ****s off.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Thanks, BpG! I came out of the womb a baseball fan. I even used to pitch in high school and have a no-hitter to my credit! So, I take it we're Perth Heat fans?

I too was born a pure baseball fan, though sadly of the Phillies allegiance, which has not always been the easiest of rides.

As for the ABL teams, no, the Heat are definitely not my team, even when living in Perth I despised their setup and arrogance.

I follow the Canberra Cavalry now, in the old ABL I tended to follow either of the Melbourne teams, until the last year when the Canberra region finally got a team. Check out the vision stream broadcast of the Cavs games (next series not due until late November) and see if you notice a familiar voice...

 

[Tbonefreo]

Gilg your alot of fun

 

[GilG]

Gilg your alot of fun

Onya, Tbone! You, too. This whole site is fun.

 

[ep2018]

Disagree, if they were too bloody good for us how come the scoring shots were even? We lost that game because of lack of composure in front of the sticks. Our 'poor' game was more than a match for Hawthorn's tactics.

Remember Hawthorn played poorly too.

 

[PurpleGreenRed]

I still struggle to talk about the GF. Hurts too much. Still!