New York Yankees’ President responds to Chuck Greenberg’s statement
Chuck Greenberg reflected back on the signing saga involving Cliff Lee over the weekend, and made the controversial deduction that the Rangers were able to break Lee’s intent on joining the Yankees by delaying a final decision and involving the Phillies.
"I think if we wouldn't have gone to Arkansas that last time, I think he was going to sign with the Yankees," Greenberg said.
The revelations made by Chuck have inadvertently triggered a war of words between Texas Rangers and New York Yankees these days, and the situation seems to be getting worse as each day passes by. The two teams have a history of post-season rivalry, but that seems like an understatement at the moment. Both clubs have been looking for glory and the recent World Series challenge saw them pitted against each other in the 2010 American League championship.
The rivalry has been reignited, once again, following controversial remarks from Rangers boss, Chuck Greenberg. The new general management partner and Chief Executive Officer issued a statement during the Rangers’ fanfest event, last week that opened the gates for a major verbal spat. The owner talked on Cliff Lee’s signing by the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee, who collected most of the clubs’ attention during the winter break period, was part of the Rangers’ unit in 2010.
The Yankees were looking for a way to lure the ball thrower to the Bronx stadium for a reasonable multi-year deal. The bidding war, however, ended in a draw between the Rangers and the Yanks, as the Phillies sprung up from the shadows to steal away Lee from the free agency for a 120-million-dollar deal, spanning over 5 years.
Nonetheless, the comments ignited a verbal spat in the form of a response from the Yankees’ President, Randy Levine. According to media reports, Levine called Greenberg delusional and presumptuous.
"(Greenberg) has been running the Rangers for a few minutes and seems to believe he's mastered what everyone else is thinking," Levine said.
The issue is beginning to get very bitter and confrontational. Considering the prevailing notion that the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are archrivals only on the field may not hold true, off the field. The Yanks and the Texans are starting a feud of their own. Baseball has not seen many instances like these, but if matters really do get out of hand, the commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig, will have to take some action.
The Yankees face a hard contest in the American League once the season kicks off in April. The club will be up against the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in the East division. The Rangers, on the other hand, will face the likes of the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels in the Western division. There will be a lower probability for success in reaching the playoffs on both ends of the region. If the Yanks meet the Texans in the post-season again, things could get very intense.
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