Relieving Boston of Some Old Sox

Just a year ago, former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt's stubborn refusal to relinquish control of his nearly insolvent baseball team but the image and the future of one of Major League Baseball's most iconic franchises into questionable uncertainty. A year later, the ownership group including Los Angeles sports legend Magic Johnson has the Dodgers in the thick of the playoff race and relieving other trouble franchises of toxic assets with massive contracts.

"We understand that you have to spend money to be good in this league." 

These are the words straight from the lips of Magic Johnson. The Dodgers have acted consistently with that statement. During the second half of the season, the Dodgers had acquired former batting champion Hanley Ramirez (.254, 20 HR, 79 RBI) from the Miami Marlins, and former All-Star and Gold Glove winner Shane Victorino (.260, 10 HR, 47 RBI) from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Those moves, in and of themselves, made a splash in the National League West race. It seemingly forced the hand of the (currently) first place San Francisco Giants to upgrade their anemic batting order via a trade to acquire Hunter Pence (.260, 18 HR, 75 RBI) from the Phillies. Those trades, however, are footnotes in light of the mega deal that went down between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox last Friday.

A winner who knows how to win.

CHANGE OF SCENERY

The Hat Trick has run multiple articles this year about the dysfunction that is the Boston Red Sox. Going into the 2011 MLB season, many writers, myself included, thought that the season could be skipped and the Red Sox could just be handed the American League pennant. Boston made blockbuster hot stove transactions in the offseason leading into 2011, acquiring All-Stars left fielder Carl Crawford (.282, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 31 GP) and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.298, 16 HR, 90 RBI).

The Red Sox's epic collapse at the end of last season and borderline lunacy in their clubhouse this season has resulted in a team with a losing record, a lot of finger pointing, and over a quarter-billion dollars in undesirable contracts. Nowhere did I mention that any of those players tied to the big contracts forgot how to play baseball because I don't think they did. I think they ran their courses in Boston.

Boston isn't always the most wholesome place to be.

GET WINS OR DIE TRYING

The Dodgers are a proud historic franchise. While they are regularly a playoff contender, they were once a fixture in the National League Championship Series and World Series until the late 1980s. The Dodgers have not won the National League since their World Series winning year of 1988, when Kirk Gibson was the Most Valuable Player of the National League and a hobbled hero delivering a pinch hit walk off homerun in Game 1 of the Fall Classic instead of the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In other words, the Dodgers have not tasted real glory in a very long time.

Last week, the Dodgers acquired Crawford, Gonzalez, and All-Star pitcher and 2007 World Series champion starting pitcher Josh Beckett (5-12, 5.21 ERA) in a trade that sent much lower profile players to the Red Sox, except for struggling first baseman James Loney (.254, 4 HR, 35 RBI). The Dodgers acquired what will either be a lottery of All-Star players or a booby prize of roughly $210 million in dead weight contracts.

Magic Johnson and the Guggenheim Group gambled that the three big names they acquired still know how to  play baseball at the highest level and, more importantly, are hungry to prove their former employer wrong and win a championship. The Dodgers will make a very serious run at the postseason in September while the only post-anything in the Red Sox's immediate future is Post Raisin Bran and sour grapes. Both teams in this trade could be really big winners or really big losers.

Matt Kemp: You wanted help? You got it!

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

All images cited in prior editions of The Daily Hat Trick

Lies Damned Lies and Statistics – MLB – July 20, 2012

The pennant races are getting really hot. With two additional Wild Card teams being invited to the playoffs this season, there are very few teams already looking ahead to next year. There are some players on teams that will be involved in some important series with some factoids on their resumes that might surprise you.

Jamie Moyer is Major League Baseball’s active leader in career wins.

The 49 year old Colorado Rockies pitcher has been in the big leagues since before I was old enough for the “12 and over” doses of Tylenol. I’m in my late 30s. To my knowledge, he is the sole remaining active professional athlete in a major sports league who played when I was in elementary school.

In fact, for contrast, there are only six active NHL players, two NFL players (Jason Hanson of the Detroit Lions and John Kasay of the New Orleans Saints), and no remaining active NBA players who played when I was in high school. The college contemporaries are growing thin, too.

Moyer has always been a solid contributor to his teams’ starting rotation, but never a dominating pitcher for an extended period of years like several of the men just beneath him on this list. Nonetheless, Moyer, with 269 career wins, leads all other active major leaguers. Unfortunately, playing for the Rockies, he will not add to that total very much.

Moyer in 1986. With good health and a little luck, a man can pile up a lot of wins in a quarter century.

C.C. Sabathia is the fifth in career MLB wins among active players.

C.C. Sabathia is one of the best pitchers in the game; many would argue the best left hander. But at a position in which players can remain active less than a year before their 50th birthdays, the fact that C.C., who debuted in 2001 and turns 32 tomorrow, is among the top five active win leaders is a powerful statement about just how dominant he is.

To put this in perspective, the active career wins leader born after Sabathia is 31 year old Carlos Zambrano of the Miami Marlins. Zambrano is 18th among active pitchers with 130 wins. The active career wins leader among lefties who are C.C.’s junior? Twenty-eight year old Zack Greinke of the Milwaukee Brewers, tied for 49th in wins among active pitchers with Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies with just 85 career wins.

The big question is can C.C.'s career win total ever exceed his weight in pounds? 2

Albert Pujols is 10th in career runs scored among active players.

Again, the fact that arguably the game’s best player is in the top 10 for active career achievements sounds intuitive. He is the best complete hitter of his time, has average speed, and is a smart baserunner, so why wouldn’t he be high on the career run list? However, at age 32, a healthy baseball player like Pujols is not in the twilight of his career, as players in other sports would be; he’s in (the back end of) his career peak. This is what makes this statistic somewhat incredible.

Pujols has scored 1,341 runs in his career as of this morning. Comparing him similarly to Sabathia, the active career leader, younger than Pujols, in runs scored is 32 year old Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees with 926. That ranks Teixeira 32nd among active players. In fact, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies is the next-highest active career leader in runs scored after Pujols among players under the age of 35, ranked 18th with more than 200 fewer runs scored.

Pujols is no diva; he isn't afraid to bring it to the catcher at the plate. Sometimes that doesn't work out so well. 3

The active career leader in triples, Carl Crawford of the Boston Red Sox with 112, is not even in the top 100, all-time for career triples.

This stat is as big of an illustration as any showing how much the game of baseball has changed. The top three all-time leaders are Hall of Famers Sam Crawford, Ty Cobb, and Honus Wagner, all Dead Ball Era hitters. If Crawford left the game today, he would rank 118th all-time.

What has changed? What are the characteristics of a play resulting in a triple? Typically there are three elements: a very hard hit line drive (all the way into the outfield), an awkward bounce off of the right centerfield or right field wall, and a speedy baserunner. The majority of the time a triple is hit, it comes from a left handed hitter. Lefties, of course, are more likely to put the ball in right field, which is almost a necessity for a triple since the greatest distance from the outfield to third base is from right field.

In the Dead Ball Era, some outfield walls were often farther back than modern walls, sometimes upwards of 500 feet to centerfield, meaning that, in some parks, a righty could pull the ball to left, get a quirky bounce off the wall, and still reach third. Sports nutrition supplements did not exist. Endurance and strength conditioning were not in the lexicon of any major professional sports, let alone the one sport in which an out of shape person could thrive – baseball. Fielding was not as crisp and synchronized as today. Outfielders were not as fast, and baserunners were willing to take more risks because hitters were less able to bring them home during the Dead Ball Era than today. In short, it was easier to reach third.

Hall of Famer Sam Crawford is the MLB all-time leader in career triples. 5

No relation to Carl Crawford, sliding to third. 4

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from www.businessinsider.com
2) Image from www.cleveland.com
3) Image from www.usatoday.com
4) Image from www.flikr.com
5) Image from http://coquitlamlittleleague.ca

The Hot Stove 2011 – Was It “Werth” The Wait?

Last December, The Daily Hat Trick ran a piece looking at four of the most significant free agency acquisitions in Major League Baseball. The signings of Jayson Werth, Adrian Gonzales, Carl Crawford, and Cliff Lee all made waves and were expected to shift some of the balance of power in baseball. Today we will take a look at what was said in the offseason, and what impact those players are having, a little more than halfway through the season. The article appears as it was originally published in December, with my signature hindsight commentary in blue. 

December 15, 2010 ---

The San Francisco Giants organization's first World Series win in 56 years may be yesterday's news, but Major League Baseball news is hot off the press in the sports world. There have been more free agent and trading power moves in the past month in MLB than I can remember at any time this century. The Daily Hat Trick would not be complete without opining on a few of the high impact transactions.

Jayson Werth - Washington Nationals

This move could be "Werth" its weight in gold if Werth continues the steady improvement in his game that he has experienced each year since he joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007. If he simply performs at his 2010 level, it is fair value for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals get a legitimate 5 tool player who could protect Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup.

The seven year, $126 million deal for Werth sounded alarms in the sporting world. The Nationals have not been known, historically, for nine figure contracts nor the revenue streams consistent with the ability to sign such a player. In addition to the salaries being paid to Zimmerman ($8M/yr) and pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg ($3M/yr), one may wonder if the Nationals priced themselves out of future free agent competitions, especially if the team has any intention of retaining the services of Strasburg and Zimmerman  beyond the 2012 and 2013 seasons, respectively.

Jayson Werth - they aren't paying him $18 million/year for his looks.

I personally believe this was a good move. 1) It sends a message that the Nationals are serious about making their organization competitive quickly and that the team is willing to pay. 2) They secure the services of an outfielder who can do it all at the plate for the long term. 3) While the team will control Strasburg's rights after next season (in which Strasbug may not even play as he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery) there is absolutely no guarantee that the Nats will resign Zimmerman in three years.

Zimmerman, barring injury, will be 28 years old, in his prime, and unless I am overlooking someone, will be THE marquee free agent in the heading into the 2014 season. He will command a contract ranging anywhere from $120-$150 million. Unless the Nationals can become contenders and pack more than 3,000,000 people into Nationals Park by the end of the 2013 season, I do not see how the economics could ever line up to retain the services of Strasberg and Zimmerman while paying Jayson Werth. The Werth singing ensures that the Nationals will not be bankrupt of impact offensive players after 2013.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: B

Hat Trick Hindsight says:

This deal, so far, was not “Werth” it. The Nationals paid a small fortune and mortgaged some of their future to acquire the 32 year old Werth, who was coming off of career highs in Philadelphia in 2010.

Through the first half of the season, Werth has been abysmal, considering his contract. Werth is experiencing career lows, since becoming an everyday player in the majors, in batting average (which wouldn’t even make an acceptable grade point average), on base percentage, slugging percentage, and has been merely “adequate” (as opposed to “outstanding” or even “good”) in the power categories. Werth is in the midst of a vicious slump which, if not corrected soon, could pull his batting average below the Mendoza line and place a “1” at the front of his average.

In spite of Werth’s woes, the Nationals are playing .500 baseball for the first time since they moved to D.C. If Jayson Werth can simply regain his career average form, let alone his form from 2010, the Nationals could pose a serious challenge in the National League East in 2012, especially with the expected return of Stephen Strasburg to the pitching rotation. Werth is on pace to eclipse a career high for walks, so opposing pitchers are still demonstrating some respect for Werth’s potential. However, this nine-figure signing will go down as the biggest free agency bust of the 2011 offseason unless Werth starts hitting the ball.

Hat Trick Hindsight grade: D

Adrian Gonzalez - Boston Red Sox 

Boston threw a gasoline soaked dry log into the hot stove, probably stealing the log from Yankees fans. No, there was no nine figure signing (yet...wink, wink) in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, but this is, unquestionably, the blockbuster trade of this offseason. For those of you who are casual baseball fans, only tuning in during September and/or October, not familiar with Gonzales and his exploits with the San Diego Padres, let me sum up the value of this first baseman: M.V.P.

San Diego receives three minor league prospects, first baseman Anthony Rizzo (AA), triple threat starting pitcher Casey Kelly (AA; pitching, fielding at shortstop and batting), and centerfielder and speedster Reymond Fuentes (A), and a player to be named, at a probable combined cost of less than a half-million dollars. All three have demonstrated tremendous upside, particularly the 21 year old, power hitting Rizzo. Yes, I incorporated the phrase "triple threat" into a baseball discussion; I am from the South, where football is king (so sue me)!

Boston picks up the franchise first baseman in Gonzales, relieving the Padres of both his $6 million in salary and the possibility of receiving nothing in exchange for this valuable commodity the Friars could not afford to resign in 2012. The Red Sox also placed themselves back into the mix in the American League East race with the Yankees (note the absence of "...and the Tampa Bay Rays..." from that statement). Make no mistake; there will be a mega-dollar, long term signing of Gonzalez in the not so distant future.

Adrian Gonzalez - He may not have signed an extension yet, but I do not think that big smile is because he is happy to see reporters. 2

Gonzalez will be the bane of Yankee fans for many years to come. Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports reported late that week that Gonzalez, himself, said that he had yet to sign a contract with the Red Sox . Gleeman suggested that Gonzales and the Red Sox have a preliminary agreement in place, but will delay the official signing for the purpose of circumventing provisions of Major League Baseball's luxury tax penalty for teams with high payrolls. I have not read or heard any hard numbers, but one can count on the Red Sox tendering a long-term offer to Gonzales approaching or exceeding $100 million.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A


Hat Trick Hindsight says:

As expected, Gonzalez made the big bucks, signing a 7-year extension worth $154 million this past April. He HAS been worth every penny.

Gonzalez picked up right where he left off in 2010. He is a Triple Crown threat and a legitimate MVP candidate in the American League. The Red Sox are in first place and lead the majors (or are close to the lead) in nearly every team batting category. If the Red Sox, as many expect, win the American League pennant and reach the World Series, they can point back to the signing of Gonzalez as, possibly, the biggest reason for the surge to the top.


Hat Trick Hindsight Grade: A+

Carl Crawford - Boston Red Sox 

Earlier I stated that the Gonzalez signing would enable the Red Sox to return to the front of the AL East race with the Yankees, excluding the Rays. The signing of leftfielder Carl Crawford from the Rays to a 7 year, $142 million contract with the BoSox is what excluded them. A true five-tool player and perennial All-Star, The Perfect Storm, in spite of batting left handed at Fenway Park (not being as able to take advantage of the Green Monster in left field as a righty), is expected to rain misery on AL East pitchers and wash out the skid that Beantown has suffered at the hands of the Yankees (splitting the regular season series but losing in the division race) since 2009.



There's a storm coming to New England. Carl Crawford - "The Perfect Storm" 3

 The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A

Hat Trick Hindsight says:

After a slow start in April, Crawford regained form and put up solid numbers in May and June. Unfortunately, Crawford has been hampered by a hamstring injury, causing him to miss a month of action before returning to the lineup last night. If first impressions matter, Crawford appears to have picked up where he left off, going 2 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored in last night’s return against the Baltimore Orioles. Crowford’s return will boost a batting order that is already looking down at the other 29 MLB clubs. So far…so good.

Hat Trick Hindsight Grade: C 

Cliff Lee - Philadelphia Phillies

I planned on covering the hottest of the hot stove over a week ago, but no wrap up of the big MLB transactions to date would be worthy of being written without sharing thoughts on the big whopper of 2011 free agency - starting pitcher Cliff Lee. It was worth the wait. Not only was the Lee signing, announced late Monday evening, the biggest move in this offseason, but the end result was the most shocking.

After weeks of speculation about the bidding war for Lee, between the Yankees and the Texas Rangers, whom Lee helped lead to the 2010 American League Championship Series win over the Yankees, Lee chose to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, the team Lee helped (after a late season trade from the Cleveland Indians) win the National League pennant before losing in the World Series to the Yankees in 2009 (and being subsequently traded to the Seattle Mariners shortly after the season). Even more stunning is that Lee left millions of dollars on the table with the Rangers and Yankees to sign with the Phillies for 5 years and $120 million. I am not sure who the happier of the two is between Phillies Fan and Lee's wife, Kristen, who will not have to pack up the house and kids to live in a fifth different MLB city in the span of 17 months and reportedly wanted nothing to do with New York.

Phillies Fans should consider naming Mrs. Lee the honorary first lady of Philadelphia, or at least a giant "THANK YOU!" 4

This move draws parallels to The Decision by LeBron James of the NBA this summer to "take his talents to South Beach" and play for the Miami Heat. Lee, like James, would have made millions more by signing with a different team. James joined two All-Star superstars in Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Lee joins a rotation including three perennial All-Stars and Cy Young candidate pitchers in reigning National League Cy Young winner Roy Halliday, 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, and 2005 National League Championship Series MVP Roy Oswalt. Lee also received (a lighter version) criticism similar to that which James faced in light of his move, being accused of chasing a championship. I am confident that Lee can live with that criticism. In my opinion, we could skip the regular season and just hand the National League East to the Phillies right now.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A+


Hat Trick Hindsight says:

The Phillies pitching staff, at times, has appeared to be bulletproof. Lee is a huge chunk of the reason why. Even if you are not impressed with Lee pitching three consecutive starts resulting in complete game shutouts…even if you are not impressed with Lee’s streak of 34 consecutive scoreless innings in June…what cannot be ignored is that the Phillies have the best record in Major League Baseball.

How important is Lee to that standing? With a 9-6 record, Lee has an opportunity to win 20 games in 2011. He should, barring injury, pitch more than 200 innings and strike out more than 200 batters, making the job of his teammates in the bullpen and on the field far less stressful and carrying the team on his back when he starts.

Hat Trick Hindsight Grade: A


It is a good thing Cliff Lee did not arrange a prime time special on ESPN and announce that he would, "return his talents to the City of Brotherly Love." 5

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

1) Image from huffingtonpost.com
2) Image from NBCSports.com
3) Image from zimbio.com
4) Image from board.spawn.com
5) Image from nj.com

The Hot Stove Keeps Getting HOTTER!

The San Francisco Giants organization's first World Series win in 56 years may be yesterday's news, but Major League Baseball news is hot off the press in the sports world. There have been more free agent and trading power moves in the past month in MLB than I can remember at any time this century. The Daily Hat Trick would not be complete without opining on a few of the high impact transactions.

Jayson Werth - Washington Nationals

This move could be "Werth" its weight in gold if Werth continues the steady improvement in his game that he has experienced each year since he joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007. If he simply performs at his 2010 level, it is fair value for the Washington Nationals. The Nationals get a legitimate 5 tool player who could protect Ryan Zimmerman in the lineup.

The seven year, $126 million deal for Werth sounded alarms in the sporting world. The Nationals have not been known, historically, for nine figure contracts nor the revenue streams consistent with the ability to sign such a player. In addition to the salaries being paid to Zimmerman ($8M/yr) and pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg ($3M/yr), one may wonder if the Nationals priced themselves out of future free agent competitions, especially if the team has any intention of retaining the services of Strasburg and Zimmerman  beyond the 2012 and 2013 seasons, respectively.

Jayson Werth - they aren't paying him $18 million/year for his looks.

I personally believe this was a good move. 1) It sends a message that the Nationals are serious about making their organization competitive quickly and that the team is willing to pay. 2) They secure the services of an outfielder who can do it all at the plate for the long term. 3) While the team will control Strasburg's rights after next season (in which Strasbug may not even play as he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery) there is absolutely no guarantee that the Nats will resign Zimmerman in three years.

Zimmerman, barring injury, will be 28 years old, in his prime, and unless I am overlooking someone, will be THE marquee free agent in the heading into the 2014 season. He will command a contract ranging anywhere from $120-$150 million. Unless the Nationals can become contenders and pack more than 3,000,000 people into Nationals Park by the end of the 2013 season, I do not see how the economics could ever line up to retain the services of Strasberg and Zimmerman while paying Jayson Werth. The Werth singing ensures that the Nationals will not be bankrupt of impact offensive players after 2013.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: B

Adrian Gonzalez - Boston Red Sox 

Boston threw a gasoline soaked dry log into the hot stove, probably stealing the log from Yankees fans. No, there was no nine figure signing (yet...wink, wink) in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, but this is, unquestionably, the blockbuster trade of this offseason. For those of you who are casual baseball fans, only tuning in during September and/or October, not familiar with Gonzales and his exploits with the San Diego Padres, let me sum up the value of this first baseman: M.V.P.

San Diego receives three minor league prospects, first baseman Anthony Rizzo (AA), triple threat starting pitcher Casey Kelly (AA; pitching, fielding at shortstop and batting), and centerfielder and speedster Reymond Fuentes (A), and a player to be named, at a probable combined cost of less than a half-million dollars. All three have demonstrated tremendous upside, particularly the 21 year old, power hitting Rizzo. Yes, I incorporated the phrase "triple threat" into a baseball discussion; I am from the South, where football is king (so sue me)!

Boston picks up the franchise first baseman in Gonzales, relieving the Padres of both his $6 million in salary and the possibility of receiving nothing in exchange for this valuable commodity the Friars could not afford to resign in 2012. The Red Sox also placed themselves back into the mix in the American League East race with the Yankees (note the absence of "...and the Tampa Bay Rays..." from that statement). Make no mistake; there will be a mega-dollar, long term signing of Gonzalez in the not so distant future.

Adrian Gonzalez - He may not have signed an extension yet, but I do not think that big smile is because he is happy to see reporters. 2

Gonzalez will be the bane of Yankee fans for many years to come. Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports reported late that week that Gonzalez, himself, said that he had yet to sign a contract with the Red Sox . Gleeman suggested that Gonzales and the Red Sox have a preliminary agreement in place, but will delay the official signing for the purpose of circumventing provisions of Major League Baseball's luxury tax penalty for teams with high payrolls. I have not read or heard any hard numbers, but one can count on the Red Sox tendering a long-term offer to Gonzales approaching or exceeding $100 million.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A

Carl Crawford - Boston Red Sox 

Earlier I stated that the Gonzalez signing would enable the Red Sox to return to the front of the AL East race with the Yankees, excluding the Rays. The signing of leftfielder Carl Crawford from the Rays to a 7 year, $142 million contract with the BoSox is what excluded them. A true five-tool player and perennial All-Star, The Perfect Storm, in spite of batting left handed at Fenway Park (not being as able to take advantage of the Green Monster in left field as a righty), is expected to rain misery on AL East pitchers and wash out the skid that Beantown has suffered at the hands of the Yankees (splitting the regular season series but losing in the division race) since 2009.

There's a storm coming to New England. Carl Crawford - "The Perfect Storm" 3

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A

Cliff Lee - Philadelphia Phillies

I planned on covering the hottest of the hot stove over a week ago, but no wrap up of the big MLB transactions to date would be worthy of being written without sharing thoughts on the big whopper of 2011 free agency - starting pitcher Cliff Lee. It was worth the wait. Not only was the Lee signing, announced late Monday evening, the biggest move in this offseason, but the end result was the most shocking.

After weeks of speculation about the bidding war for Lee, between the Yankees and the Texas Rangers, whom Lee helped lead to the 2010 American League Championship Series win over the Yankees, Lee chose to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, the team Lee helped (after a late season trade from the Cleveland Indians) win the National League pennant before losing in the World Series to the Yankees in 2009 (and being subsequently traded to the Seattle Mariners shortly after the season). Even more stunning is that Lee left millions of dollars on the table with the Rangers and Yankees to sign with the Phillies for 5 years and $120 million. I am not sure who the happier of the two is between Phillies Fan and Lee's wife, Kristen, who will not have to pack up the house and kids to live in a fifth different MLB city in the span of 17 months and reportedly wanted nothing to do with New York.

Phillies Fans should consider naming Mrs. Lee the honorary first lady of Philadelphia, or at least a giant "THANK YOU!" 4

This move draws parallels to The Decision by LeBron James of the NBA this summer to "take his talents to South Beach" and play for the Miami Heat. Lee, like James, would have made millions more by signing with a different team. James joined two All-Star superstars in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Lee joins a rotation including three perennial All-Stars and Cy Young candidate pitchers in reigning National League Cy Young winner Roy Halliday, 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, and 2005 National League Championship Series MVP Roy Oswalt. Lee also received (a lighter version) criticism similar to that which James faced in light of his move, being accused of chasing a championship. I am confident that Lee can live with that criticism. In my opinion, we could skip the regular season and just hand the National League East to the Phillies right now.

The Daily Hat Trick Grade: A+

It is a good thing Cliff Lee did not arrange a prime time special on ESPN and announce that he would, "return his talents to the City of Brotherly Love." 5

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

1) Image from huffingtonpost.com
2) Image from NBCSports.com
3) Image from zimbio.com
4) Image from board.spawn.com
5) Image from nj.com