The Milwaukee Brewers believed in CC Sabathia. But did he believe in them? Judging by his introductory press conference in Yankee pinstripes, apparently not.
No, you can’t blame CC for taking $161 million to live in New York, the city that never cheaps. But you can blame him for saying this: “I think it would have been even more immense pressure [in Milwaukee], because they wouldn’t have been able to put the pieces around to actually help me win. I think I can get that here.”
Aside from the crazy notion that there’s less pressure in the Big Apple than the Big Beer Mug, that’s a provocative statement. But before delving into Sabathia’s indictment of the Brewers, let’s be clear.
The Brew Crew doesn’t make the 2008 playoffs without Sabathia. He was Milwaukee’s postseason Moses, a consummate gentleman and the perfect teammate. He was a modern-day Don Sutton, only without the perm.
Put simply, he’ll always be revered here.
But his exit needs work.
All CC had to do was say it’s all about the money. Because, as athlete after athlete proves, it’s always about the money. Nobody would’ve minded.
Instead, he took a veiled shot at his former team – a team that bent over backwards to accommodate him – by saying that the Brewers can’t win. Maybe he didn’t mean it maliciously, because he’s not the malicious type, but how else do you interpret Milwaukee being unable “to put the pieces around me to help me win”? Especially considering that the pieces were largely around him before he left.
If I were a Brewer, I’d be disturbed. Perturbed, even. And pretty darned determined to prove him wrong.
No, the Brewers can’t compete with big-market teams like the Yankees when it comes to high-priced free agents. But free agency is just one way to build a team, not the definitive way.
The Yankees are proof. They can buy everyone this side of Ted Williams’ frozen head and they still haven’t won a World Series since 2000. But teams like Arizona, Florida and St. Louis have, while Houston, Colorado and even Tampa Bay have been just a few wins away. So how did they do it?
Well, if you’re good at developing young talent, then your farm system becomes your own private free agent pool. This is exactly how the Brewers put winning talent around Sabathia. Show me a free agent more valuable than Ryan Braun. Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira may be more expensive, but neither is more valuable. And Sabathia’s fellow free-agent headliner in New York is A.J. Burnett, but he’s no better than Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo.
Can the Yankees buy more talent than the Brewers? Absolutely. But can the Brewers beat the Yankees despite that? Absolutely. Because the Yankees can be richer, but the Brewers can be smarter. Just ask Tampa, the American League’s version of Milwaukee, which may still win the A.L. East even after New York’s offseason spending spree.
It’s silly to say that Milwaukee couldn’t have built a winner here. Had CC signed with Milwaukee, he and Gallardo give the Brewers one of the National League’s top one-two pitching punches, while Dave Bush and Manny Parra are above average at the third and fourth rotation spots. Meanwhile, the lineup needs only slight upgrades at third base and second base. Upgrades that are already in Milwaukee’s private free-agent pool, because minor leaguers Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar are basically ready for the majors.
So all that’s left is rebuilding the bullpen. And even with $100-to-$120 million going to CC, the Crew would have enough pennies left over to do it.
Presto, a winning team. Maybe not in the mold of those snobbish Yankees, but a winner nonetheless.
Look, CC will always be welcome in Milwaukee. He’s right up there with the 1982 Brewers.
But if Sabathia really thinks the Brewers can’t win, then it’s best that he left for the Dark Side. Because we knew him as Anakin Skywalker. But he’s becoming Steinbrenner’s latest Darth Vader.
Quote of Note
“Maybe they can trade for Chad Pennington.”
– Boomer Esiason on CBS, after Brett Favre’s New York Jets lost to Seattle, putting their playoff hopes on very thin ice. In the last four games, Favre has one touchdown pass, six interceptions and has been sacked nine times. Pennington, meanwhile, has the Miami Dolphins on the brink of the playoffs after last season’s 1-15 debacle.
Green Bay Reunion
Nice that Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren got to share a warm moment in Seattle on Sunday. Because with the beating he’s taking from the New York media, Favre needs all the warm moments he can get. (But no pressure, CC.)
Tony Award
On Sunday, Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez went over 1,000 yards receiving for the season. With somebody named Tyler Thigpen throwing to him. Does Packers GM Ted Thompson still think he’s not worth a second-round draft pick?
Sadly, the answer is probably yes.
And Finally…
Yet more evidence that Chinese birth certificates are as trustworthy as Rod Blagojevich denials.
The age question still hasn’t stopped dogging former Milwaukee Buck Yi Jianlian. And he’s not even a gymnast.
Tune in every Tuesday morning during the 6 o’clock hour when I join Doug Russell and Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM for Tuesdays with Howie. You can also find the segments in their Audio Vault. I’ll also chat with Mitch Teich on WUWM’s Lake Effect Friday at 11 a.m. And don’t forget to check out our new fitness column, Training with Tim.
