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Sunday, December 10, 2000

With the winter meetings in full swing this weekend, it's a reminder that it's that time of year again when agents, owners, players and sports writers attempt to put into perspective all those zeroes -- or in the case of Turk Wendell, all those 9s -- at the end of the brand spankin' new contracts the players find in their Christmas stockings.

For help, The Guy In the Stands turns to -- where else? -- Florida, which has come up with an ingenious way to fill its vacant hotel rooms in the off-season. (A reminder to CNN: We need those rooms back by spring training.)

But back to matters.

Point: George W. Bushhas spent millions of dollars and practically every waking minute over the past 31 days to gain a 500-something-vote edge over Al Gore in the extra-inning marathon for the presidency. All this for a $400,000-a-year job, and that's with recently approved raise. Granted, a perk or two goes along with being leader of the free world. You get a four-year, no-cut, no-trade contract. And it's the closest a mere mortal will get to knowing what it's like to be Mario Lemieux. And let's not forget all those Washington Wizards freebies.

Nevertheless, it's a $400,000-a-year job. Frankly, in baseball, only new Reds Manager Bob Boonewould find that figure attractive.

Counterpoint: Homer Bush, amiable young second baseman of the Toronto Blue Jays, worked just 76 days this past year, saw his batting average drop from .320 to .215 ... and will get a raise from the $1.6 million he made last season to about $2 million in 2001.

A vote for Bush

There is at least one memorabilia collector out there who has more than a little interest in the outcome of the extra-inning Bush-Gore Game of the Century in Florida. He or she bought Nolan Ryan'sfinal player's contract, signed in 1988, at auction last month. It not only has the signature of a Hall of Famer and all-time strikeout king, but that of the Texas Rangers' president at the time -- George W. Bush.

Pause for the clause

Contracts are so much more than dollars and cents anymore (see: Alex Rodriguez). Arn Tellem, agent for Mike Mussina, says the thorniest issue in getting the deal done with the Yankees had nothing to do with money or even baseball. Mussina wanted to continue to be able to play pickup basketball in the off-season. The Yankees said no. A big deal? It was for Mussina, who has built a full-size indoor court at his home in Montoursville, Pa. "That's all he does. He's a hoop junkie," Tellem said.

The compromise (and it's in writing): From the final day of the season through Dec. 31, Mussina will be allowed to play pickup games with friends and family, but not in an organized league.

And one more thing

The Guy winced when he heard that the Phillies signed setup man Rheal Cormier to a three-year, $8.75 million deal and the Mets signed 40-year-old John Franco to three years and $10.5 million. But no matter the wasted millions, he couldn't help but chuckle when the Mets announced a deal with fellow middle reliever Turk Wendell. At least Wendell stuck up the Mets with style. He signed not for $9.4 million, but -- sporting a penchant for the No. 9 -- a penny short of $9.4 million or $9,399,999.99. His contract included a signing bonus of $299,999.99. And if all he achieves all the incentives in the deal, Wendell's total payout will come to a cool $9,999,999.99. Pity the accountants.

Un-Barry-able

Surprise! Surprise! Barry Bonds lived down to his Mr. Anti-October reputation, going 3 for 17 with no homers and one run batted in as the Giants lost to the Mets in the division series. Yet despite unpopular opinion, Bonds (19 for 97, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, .196 career) is not the worst postseason hitter of this era. After poring over every postseason series summary since Bonds made his fall debut in 1990, The Guy actually found six hitters with a minimum 75 at-bats who have worse averages.

Player	AB	H	HR	RBIs	BA
Mike Bordick	81	12	0	6	.148
David Justice	334	54	13	53	.162
Robin Ventura	107	18	3	15	.168
Joey Cora	76	13	1	1	.171
Joe Girardi	104	18	0	1	.173
Bobby Bonilla	150	28	5	18	.187

This 'n' that

The Yankees split up their World Series winnings this week. A full series share came to $294,783.41. FYI: A full series share in 1903 came to $1,182.02. ... Pirates ticket price hikes for 2001 don't seem so bad when you consider that the Cubs raised the price of a bleacher seat at Wrigley Field from $15 to $20 and the Yankees this week jacked up the price of their best seats at Yankee Stadium from $55 to $65. ... Total player salaries were a record $1,959,152,626 in 2000, up $500 million from 1999. Considering the $88.5 million handed out to Mike Mussina and the $51 million given to Denny Neagle in the past two weeks, and with Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Mike Hampton still to sign, breaking the $2 billion barrier in 2001 seems like a foregone conclusion. ...

Rodriguez agent Scott Boras after the Mets pulled out of the A-Rod sweepstakes: "I got calls from all the other wolves and they seemed to be pleased that one wolf was dead." ... Where is he now? Former Indians All-Star second baseman Carlos Baerga purchased the Bayamon Cowboys in his native Puerto Rico. ... The 2001 Hall of Fame class will be announced next month. The Twins have mounted a letter-writing campaign for Bert Blyleven.

Shot and a jeer

Shot: A postseason appearance aside, how bad must things be in Oakland? The Pirates outdrew the A's by 20,020 fans in 2000.

Jeer: Does anyone else find it ironic that the basic agreement between the players and owners expires on Halloween night 2001 -- a date that that will likely signal the start of another strike/lockout/baseball black hole?

Steve Ziants can be reached at sziants@post-gazette.com.