We’re soooo sensitive in this country. And, apparently, in others as well.
Not exactly sure why pitcher Yu Darvish issued an apology through the Rangers Tuesday afternoon after his comment about the Yankees' signing of pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. New York is giving Tanaka a contract worth $22 million a year, dwarfing the $9 million Texas is paying Darvish.
“I think the Yankees gave him a little bit too much,” Darvish told reporters at Rangers' spring training in Surprise, Ariz.
He soon thereafter issued an apology, emphasizing that the comment was a joke.
“I am sorry if anyone took my comment seriously about Masahiro Tanaka at the press conference today,” Darvish said in a statement. “I assumed by the reaction in the room that everyone knew I was joking.”
Apologize for what exactly? Darvish is speaking the truth. The Yankees are drastically overpaying Tanaka.
In 2012 the Rangers signed Darvish to a 6-year, $56 million contract (in addition to a $51 million posting fee). The Yankees, after a $20 million posting fee, gave Tanaka a deal worth $155 million over seven years. By my math that’s $99 million more guaranteed dollars to Tanaka (yet to throw his first spring training pitch) over Darvish (2nd in last year’s Cy Young voting).
No doubt that, if offended, Tanaka is being too thin-skinned.
Only debate left is whether, in fact, the Yankees overpaid or whether the Rangers are merely getting a tremendous bargain.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
