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I've never been a big contract year guy. Though it may move certain players up a bit on the draft list, for the most part it's of little consequence for me.

However, there are a lot of players that put a lot of creedence into contract years. One team was posted (I believe it was Edwards Kings, forgive me if I'm wrong) using contract years as a highlight for their picks.

Let's look at the other side of the coin.

My question is this. Does signing a big contract before the season have an equally negative effect?

Should I be worried if I own Brandon Phillips or Tulowitzki, or now Wainwright?

Will these guys and others simply coast as opposed to the contract year theory of players playing harder?

Thoughts? Especially from the players who put a lot of emphasis on contract years.

people always get lazier after getting their "pot of gold". it's human nature.

Are you much of a contract year guy?

case by case. i did take furcal. HE IS HUNGRY!!!!



[ March 23, 2008, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

Being that you are a "character" guy...and factor in a players mental makeup into your rankings...I doubt it would impact your style.



In football, you can see quite a bit of difference in the year before and the year after a player gets that big payday contract, securing financial independence for himself and his family for generations to come sometimes.



Players that are driven by success or even their stats or by making the All-Star game and such...the goal setters...are less driven by the dollar, and usually their contracts have little impact on their play.



Younger players letting themselves gain weight or not focusing/working on their defensive weaknesses, but rather just hit well seem to be the ones who are just playing for the money and fame.



~Lance

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

case by case. i did take furcal. HE IS HUNGRY!!!! AHA!

One of the few guys I may bump up in a contract year. The reasoning being is that a contract year will not help you hit or pitch better. Sure, the argument would be that they are more focused but when it comes down to it the hitter still has to hit a nasty slider and his mind won't do that.

However, base stealers in a contract year may be more apt to steal more insignificant bases to raise his numbers. Just my opinion.

When I first read the title...I was thinking it was about the Hungry guys like yourself (Dan) and Shawn and Andy...as opposed to the $100,000.00 winner fat cats!!!



~Lance

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Being that you are a "character" guy...and factor in a players mental makeup into your rankings...I doubt it would impact your style.





~Lance Right on the mark.

I would imagine age has a lot to do with their mentality. The older a player is, the more I see him playing "harder" for that new contract.



Meanwhile, the younger guys who just got paid will still play with passion, even though they are now multi-millionaires.



I'm not a contract year guy at all....more of an "age guy".



What I do wonder is how guys like Fielder, Hamels, and others will respond after being renewed. Will they play with a chip on their shoulders or will they act like a child that just got his favorite toy taken from them?

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

quote:Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

case by case. i did take furcal. HE IS HUNGRY!!!! AHA!

One of the few guys I may bump up in a contract year. The reasoning being is that a contract year will not help you hit or pitch better. Sure, the argument would be that they are more focused but when it comes down to it the hitter still has to hit a nasty slider and his mind won't do that.

However, base stealers in a contract year may be more apt to steal more insignificant bases to raise his numbers. Just my opinion. [/QUOTE]Didn't Eric Byrnes hit the same amount of HR's he usually hits but steal 30 more bases then usual in a contract year last year?

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

people always get lazier after getting their "pot of gold". it's human nature. and then show up drunk to the draft



sorry, it was to easy...

Originally posted by UFS:

quote:Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

people always get lazier after getting their "pot of gold". it's human nature. and then show up drunk to the draft

[/QUOTE]yes, even that

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

quote:Originally posted by UFS:

quote:Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

people always get lazier after getting their "pot of gold". it's human nature. and then show up drunk to the draft

[/QUOTE]yes, even that [/QUOTE]But then they rally in baseball

Originally posted by Hard Heads:

quote:Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

quote:Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

case by case. i did take furcal. HE IS HUNGRY!!!! AHA!

One of the few guys I may bump up in a contract year. The reasoning being is that a contract year will not help you hit or pitch better. Sure, the argument would be that they are more focused but when it comes down to it the hitter still has to hit a nasty slider and his mind won't do that.

However, base stealers in a contract year may be more apt to steal more insignificant bases to raise his numbers. Just my opinion. [/QUOTE]Didn't Eric Byrnes hit the same amount of HR's he usually hits but steal 30 more bases then usual in a contract year last year? [/QUOTE]For every Eric Byrnes I can match with an Andruw Jones and raise you a Carlos Zambrano.I am convinced that it is about 50/50 for over or underperforming in a contract year.The guys that I get a little leary of are the big free agent contracts with a new team even more in a new league.They seem to have such a feeling of needing to justify that new contract.

I think Rick Thomas is in a contract year.

This is Ivan Rodrigez contract year. He usually gets paid between 10 to 14 million a year. If he expects to be paid like that he will have to have a big year. This will be the best contract player this year. If not his salary should be drastically cut. Ivan will play for the money.

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

I think Rick Thomas is in a contract year. If so, certainly worth the investment.

Originally posted by BudFox:

This is Ivan Rodrigez contract year. He usually gets paid between 10 to 14 million a year. If he expects to be paid like that he will have to have a big year. This will be the best contract player this year. If not his salary should be drastically cut. Ivan will play for the money. He could have a wonderful year and still kiss the eight figure contract good bye.

It was me. I drank the koolaide on contract years this year, using it at a decider when looking at numerous players. I have seven of my projected starting 23 and all seven were in my first fifteen picks (Vladdy, Penny, Abreu, Johjima, Blalock, Hudson, and K-Rod). Players I like this year anyway, but maybe the contract year will give at least a couple the "edge".

i will make this real simple for most of you.....in professional what do ALL players want.......RESPECT!!!!!......how is respect measured in professional sports u ask??.....by getting PAID....bottom line period exclamation point!!!!!!





and yes RT is in a contract year and feels he will not get paid the money he deserves but he will still show up everyday and play hard...why?? because he loves the game!!!!

On a side note, RT and I are proud owners of Ivan Rodriguez. I hope Gordon is proud of us for taking the 7th best catcher off the board.

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

On a side note, RT and I are proud owners of Ivan Rodriguez. I hope Gordon is proud of us for taking the 7th best catcher off the board. I hope you're right. Sitting there in the 16th round, I certainly felt it was a good buy.

Originally posted by NorCalAtlFan:

quote:Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

On a side note, RT and I are proud owners of Ivan Rodriguez. I hope Gordon is proud of us for taking the 7th best catcher off the board. I hope you're right. Sitting there in the 16th round, I certainly felt it was a good buy. [/QUOTE]Well, we didn't stick our neck out that far. I think we waited until the 17th!!

Pudgee is a good buy now that he's slamm'n hit it spring, a hint he'd replace grander at the top, and now the certainity he will be at the top against lefties. He should be going no later than the 10th catcher off the board.

It's one thing when a team is co-owned by a MB regular and a non-MB guy...but double the pain when a team is owned by two MB guys and wins...do they BOTH get to claim the victory on their resume...???



I say no.



Take half that cash...but please don't try and both stake a claim in the victory.



~Lance