Ignorance Is Not Bliss

This was a story in Newsday today:

Lebron James loves playing at Madison Square Garden, which is known as The Mecca of Basketball. But Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo isn't impressed with the Knicks' home.

"To me, it's just another arena," Rondo said of playing at The World's Most Famous. "I'm too young to know about the tradition."

I think, instead of too young, what he meant to say was that he was too ignorant.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not that difficult to pick up a book to educate yourself. Hell, all you have to do is flip on the MSG Network for a day to have the history of the Garden shoved down your throat.

It's a sad comment and what makes it even worse is that he doesn't even realize how pathetic it is. The modern day athlete is surely something to behold.

How Lowe Can You Go?

After the Mets made a $36 million offer over 3-years to Derek Lowe, agent Scott Boras reportedly told GM Omar Minaya that the bidding begins at $16 million per season for his client. Really? That's curious, because there are a lot of people who would love to know where they are getting that kind of money in this market.

This offseason has been a rough one for free agents. Agents and owners have been in stare down mode for the past 2 months, waiting to see who will blink first, Moves have been few and far between, with many players settling for much less than they had originally sought when they entered free-agency. Nevertheless, super-agent Boras refuses to give in with any of his guys. He still believes he can get the 5-year, $90 million contract he was asking for his client during the winter meetings. Well, he's a much smarter man than I am, so let's break this down and see who Boras can get involved in a bidding war.

The Red Sox? If we don't count young upstarts like Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz, Boston has five established big league starters. (Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wakefield, Penny, and Lester). They seem set, don't they? If the Sox are looking to upgrade the team for next season, I would find it safe to assume they will go after a bat and not another starter in an already crowded rotation. One down.

The Yankees? Money certainly is not the issue. However, the Yankees really do not need more pitching and are still waiting to hear back from Andy Pettitte on their one-year offer. You never want to count Cashman and the Steinbrenner's out on anyone, but it is diificult to see them offering the $16 million Lowe and Boras are seeking when there isn't the need. Two down.

The Phillies and Braves? These are both teams who certainly have legitmate interest in the right-hander, except each is highly unlikely to get involved into a bidding war with New York. Neither team is financially better off than the Mets (if you believe the Wilpons about the Madoff scandal) and, in the Braves case, they will not go long term with another pitcher approaching 40.

So, we come back to the Mets who will not bid against themselves. They might have to up their offer to $13 million per year and with attainable incentives to keep Lowe happy for the length of the contract. However, that is a lot easier to stomach than needlessly overpaying for the 36-year old.

The truth is that Lowe, with the Mets, is a difference maker. The depth he adds to the rotation, the experience he offers Maine and Pelfrey, and the quality innings he can eat may get the Mets to the next level. His worth is not the same on any other team and it is why the Mets will be the highest bidder.

Supply and demand.

The Mets may be low-balling him but, like it or not, Derek will have to come to terms with the fact that it's the best one out there.