More on that absurd letter
Everyone is joining in and mocking that ludicrous open letter to the fans from Bob Castellini and Walt Jocketty. Here is CSG’s perspective and one of our favorite commenters has this post. Heck, even non-Reds blogs are getting in on the act.
Don’t miss Daedalus’ editing of the offending letter, as well.
I hope the Reds only sent that letter via email; it would break my heart to think that trees actually died for that drivel.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Is it me, or is this really that big a deal? Despite all the hullabaloo being raised I can’t manage to summon any outrage over this, being that the typical “letter to the fans” doesn’t even say as much as this one did.
Or maybe the life has just been beaten out of me by this year’s team. But even so, moving Griffey was reasonable, and moving Dunn…well, Dunn is the kind of player that would have infuriated half the fan base whether he was kept or traded. Given that, the return on that trade (assuming the Owings rumor is true) is also quite reasonable. I also note that as I recall, JinAZ’s analyses earlier this year pointed to the distinct possibility that Dunn’s total value (offense + defense) did not match the level of pay he would be likely to get on the free agent market.
So…whatever. Actions speak louder than words and their recent actions seem to be, if not necessarily moves I would have made, then at least defensible.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Still, it was a funny editing of the letter.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
If you want to blame somebody for this season, blame it on Krivsky. He grabbed some bargains, but he overpaid on replacement level players. BIG BIG MISTAKE. Let’s take a look at the 2008 payroll he flushed down the tube.
Freel - 3.0 million
Patterson - 3 million
Valentien - 1.325 million
Fogg - 1.0 million
Coffey - 0.925 million
Bako - 0.75 million
Stanton - 3 million
Ross - 2.9 million
Hatteburg - 1.85 million
Castro - 1.075 million
This list includes buyouts for the DFAs. So with an opening day payroll of $74,117,695 that makes 25.4% of the payroll spent on losers who are either not on the team, or on the team and just horrible.
Any you guys think you could operate a succussful if you paid your employees 25.4% more than they should make? With Krivsky it was death by one thousand cuts.
And now on the the letter. This is a admission of how bad we suck. Which to me signifies that we have moved to the last and final stage of grief……acceptance. (Cliff notes: Kubler-Ross stages of grief = denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance)
Now that we accept that this team will lose this season, we free our rookies of expectation which will allow them to succeed. Next year will be better and 2010 will be domination.
I think it is also funny to see Chad’s emotions evolve. I think he is currently in the anger/bargaining stage, given that he is justifying his behavior through others.
Chad we will ge through this. Trust me I know, I was a Colts fan before Edge and Peyton. We are a team that has lost, but we are not losers. The Cubs are fucking losers. Chad now we need to focus on not being defeated, although we may lose.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
the picture Daedalus uses of Patterson always cracks me up….and makes me cry.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:39 am
In my opinion, there is a single litmus test for the Castellini/Jocketty administration this offseason and that is whether or not Patterson is on this team next year. If he’s still here, then the gloves surely need to come off (or stay off in many folks’ cases). Sorry Corey; you’re that bad.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Can we print out Daedalus’ letter and mail to Bob and Walt with a P.S. that says shut up and get us a winner.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am
Daedalus’s edit is reeeaaally good.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
For some much needed wishful thinking, check out JC Bradbury’s Braves blog post where he advocates carving up that team. Assuming it could be worked out, trading for Chipper Jones would be just the kind of move I would expect out of Jocketty.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
The admins invited letters… here in another found on Cincinnati.com
fandemad wrote:
to jockety and castelini– thank you for stepping up and taking responsibility for your team. i know that you are being torched by the locals. but if anyone looks at this situation objectively, they would see that the other pro team in town’s g.m./owner made an egregious personel move this week and then hid from the press and left his coach, as well his teams integrity, flapping in the breeze. you guys got it right, congratulations. i like the direction the team is moving in, i like the stock piling of young arms, the willingness to spend money, the drafting of the best available (as opposed to the easiest to sign), the scouting in latin america and the fact that as an every game watcher i see that we are developing some special players. i feel that we are heading in a successful direction and i am loyal and supportive. however, i have one problem–patterson is the antithesis of what you are trying to do– please help lower my blood pressure– no more .190 avg players ahead of kids
8/21/2008 1:23:44 AM
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:55 am
I’m waiting for the letter that assures us Corey Patterson won’t be a red next year.