Felipe Lopez loses arbitration

[2k6nats]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-02-14-4016573382_x.htm

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Washington Nationals won their salary arbitration case against Felipe Lopez, who will make $4.9 million this season under a decision released Thursday.

The infielder had asked for $5.2 million in a hearing Wednesday before arbitrators Christine Knowlton, Elliott Shriftman and Steven Wolf.

Lopez made $3.9 million last season, when he hit .245 with nine homers, 50 RBIs and 24 steals.

The case was baseball's first of the year. Washington split its two hearings last year, with closer Chad Cordero winning and pitcher John Patterson losing.

[ronnynat]

$4.9 million sounds about right. You can't base it on just last season. That one bad season can definitely keep you from winning that extra $300,000, though.

[saltydad]

I almost had hoped he would win, so his psyche would be filled with positive feelings when the season started.

[tomterp]

He stunk last year, if he doesn't perform in spring training he'll be discarded, though I have no idea what the backup plan is.  He should be exceptionally grateful he gets $4.9m after a AAA performance.

[Dave B]

i remember when soriano went to arb, it was said that players mostly win.

the nats beat him. i think the nats beat patterson last year. did they beat cordero? now they beat felipe.  go, the man.

[shoeshineboy]

I almost had hoped he would win, so his psyche would be filled with positive feelings when the season started.

I think he knew he was almost certain to lose, but he had nothing to lose in giving it a shot. If a player is less motivated to play making 4.9M than being paid 5.2M than they have serious mental problems. Anytime a player is a situation where he is on a one year deal and on the bubble of losing a starting job, he is motivated regardless of the salary because his future earning potential is at stake. Besides that, players on simply motivated to play period. They don't really need to get paid a more simply to have a reason to want to play baseball and play to win.

[ronnynat]

I think he knew he was almost certain to lose, but he had nothing to lose in giving it a shot. If a player is less motivated to play making 4.9M than being paid 5.2M than they have serious mental problems. Anytime a player is a situation where he is on a one year deal and on the bubble of losing a starting job, he is motivated regardless of the salary because his future earning potential is at stake. Besides that, players on simply motivated to play period. They don't really need to get paid a more simply to have a reason to want to play baseball and play to win.

are you drinking tonight, shoeshineboy? 

[spidernat]

How nice must it be to lose and still come out making 4.9 mil? Let's cry him a river.

[spidernat]

are you drinking tonight, shoeshineboy? 

I thought the exact same thing   Maybe he's tired.

[sportsfan882]

That's funny as hell.   

This year is huge for Felipe.  If he plays well, he'll likely get a juicy 3-4+ year deal with us or somewhere else.  If he sucks again he definitely won't be a Nat next year and will likely get a cheap 1-2 year deal elsewhere.

[shoeshineboy]

are you drinking tonight, shoeshineboy? 

Damn. I hate when I edit a post and submit before reading it. I shouldn't post and watch the TV screen at the same time. Of course, it meant to read: "Besides that, players are simply motivated to play, period. They don't really need to get paid a little bit more simply to have a reason to want to play baseball, and play to win."

[ronnynat]

Damn. I hate when I edit a post and submit before reading it. I shouldn't post and watch the TV screen at the same time. Of course, it meant to read: "Besides that, players are simply motivated to play, period. They don't really need to get paid a little bit more simply to have a reason to want to play baseball, and play to win."

lol..no worries. I got it. It was just hilarious to read.

[nats2playoffs]

How nice must it be to lose and still come out making 4.9 mil? Let's cry him a river.

He got a $1 million RAISE.

[spidernat]

lol..no worries. I got it. It was just hilarious to read.

Yeah it wasn't the typical SSB post.

He got a $1 million RAISE.

It's insane that he can underperform and still get a 25% hike in salary.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

He can get a job as a bouncer easily enough (lots of ink and unpleasant personality), though probably not at 4.9 mil.

He stunk last year, if he doesn't perform in spring training he'll be discarded, though I have no idea what the backup plan is.  He should be exceptionally grateful he gets $4.9m after a AAA performance.

[xposbrad]

Yeah it wasn't the typical SSB post.

It's insane that he can underperform and still get a 25% hike in salary.

Ya, only in baseball!! He did suck last year, I don't know why the nats offered so much.

[Navy Yard]

3.9 mil isn't half worth those offensive numbers

[shoeshineboy]

Ya, only in baseball!! He did suck last year, I don't know why the nats offered so much.

If they don't offer something in that range, they likely lose in arbitration and end up paying even more. They knew what they needed to offer in order to win.

[PANatsFan]

I wish I could get a raise to suck at my job.

[spidernat]

I wish I could get a raise to suck at my job.

 


Lopez just joined a bunch of pictureso chicks in this dubious distinction.

[ronnynat]

My Felipe predictions: 500 PA, .276 AVG, 16 HR, 73 RBI, .360 OBP, 32 SB

[PANatsFan]

You caught me at PWS - posting while sleepy

[PANatsFan]

My Felipe predictions: 500 PA, .276 AVG, 16 HR, 73 RBI, .360 OBP, 32 SB

I hope you are right - I see him hitting .240, .270 OBP for some other team

[ronnynat]

I hope you are right - I see him hitting .240, .270 OBP for some other team

We'll see if he has that same "I don't give a ****" attitude again this season. If so, you're probably right. If not, I think I'm a little closer. I expect him to turn it around.

BTW, I think that'd be one of the worst OBP's of all time.

[spidernat]

My Felipe predictions: 500 PA, .276 AVG, 16 HR, 73 RBI, .360 OBP, 32 SB

  I'd welcome that in a heartbeat. And if we got similar stats from Guzman it would be awesome.