Mike North told us today that Roland Hemond showed Kenny Williams the way early on Kenny's GM career, as Kenny didn't have a clue when it came to the salary cap. And Northy went on to say he wished Hemond was still around.

Fred agreed on all points.

I never realized baseball had a salary cap. Further proof that 'you learn something new every day'.

I didn't hear it, but, if accurate, that's pretty bad.

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"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

Maybe the problem is that Kenny was told that there is a salary cap.

Someone should send him an email and let him know that in baseball you can overpay as much as you want.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Great, and then what, we end up with the Dan Mason of baseball on the south side?

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Holy shit. Pappy is under the belief that baseball has a salary cap? Wow. What's worse is Fred agreeing. Nobody on Team Pappy corrected him? Rock should know better. I don't expect Jen Jen to know that. She's not there to help the radio show anyway. Is it just the fact that they all believe they have to agree with Pappy even when they know he's wrong.

That's why Pappy should be gone. Above all other things. He really doesn't know sports. He's just stupid. Stupid with sports and all other issues.

It really is pathetic to have your morning talk show host not know baseball doesn't have a salary cap.

I heard that this morning too. It was not a slip of the tongue, as both Mike and Fred specifically used the phrase "salary cap". I was laughing to myself...so maybe their stupidity is somewhat entertaining.

That said, I assume they were referring to managing a budget (salary limit).

While there is no salary cap, there is a "luxury tax" where if your total teampayroll exceeds $x, the team is forced to contribute $ to a pool which is distributed to small market teams? The Yankees and the Red Sox make yearly payments....

Luxury tax was introduced a few years after KW became a GM.

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"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

The luxury tax was adopted on August 5th 2002.

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@audioidkid

There was also a baseball luxury tax from 1997-1999.

Yeah. Luxury tax was 2 years after Kenny got the job. Plus, that's not what Pappy meant. Any idiot can figure out the luxury tax. If you're over a certain amount you have to pay. Not that tough.

Even your very casual baseball fan knows they don't have a cap. Pappy's been doing sports radio for 16 years. He doesn't know that? What a joke.

Either Fred actually agreed with him or doesn't listen to him anymore.

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@audioidkid

I agree that North is an idiot and that he was probably referring to the luxury tax. That being said, what is troublesome if true, is that KW said he needed Hemond's assistance to manage luxury tax issues (as Hemond probably had previous experience dealing with it going back to 97-99). This could be more KW fodder for Big Fan...

That's fine and dandy, but there's no SALARY CAP.

And when Kenny Williams got there, the Sox were nowhere near the point where they had to worry about a 'luxury tax' - and furthermore, why would Roland Hemond be any type of expert on it. Did they have luxury taxes back when Roland didn't wear Depends?

Isn't Roland Hemond the guy who drafted Kurt Brown at #5:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1985_1_1.shtml

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The name's Rockmore. Beef Rockmore

Fred is so trained to be a yes man he can't help it. Fred lost his spine years ago. There is no getting it back now.

"That's right Mike."

"Couldn't have said it better."

"Absolutely correct."

"No disputing that Pappy."

"You're right Mike. The damn liberals are ruining the country."

They still are nowhere near the luxury tax threshold and never will be under Reinsdorf (note: that is not a shot at him - just reality)...the idea that North was referring to the luxury tax seems a stretch. It is both simple to calculate and rarely comes into play (only the Yankees & Red Sox paid anything in '07).

From the New York Post: In computing the luxury tax, the commissioner's office takes the average values of contracts for 40-man rosters and adds benefits. The threshold for last season was $148 million - teams are taxed at 40 percent for every dollar spent above that number. (The White Sox ranked 4th in MLB last year @ $109,290,167)

Right. I didn't hear this converstaion but I trust Grid. He wasn't talking about luxury tax. Pappy doesn't even know there is a luxury tax probably. He was talking about a salary cap.

He was talking out of his ass and once again came across looking like an absolute idiot. 1.5 million for this idiot.

Roland Hemond was retained to assist KW in the negotiation of contracts. KW had no experience in such matters as a minor league director.

It's time to return to calling fred by his nickname "steve".

That's right Frank!

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Ok. I believe Hemond did assist KW. Big Fan has reported inside info on that. So what? Many organizations have multiple voices. Pappy is still an idiot for thinking there is a salary cap in baseball.

Just don't ask Mike about the NFL' s anti-trust exemption.

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You cannot make me care about the WNBA.

Agree with both good dolphin and Beardown on this one.

All:

Just to be clear and to backup Grid's post...

Both Mike and Fred said the words "SALARY CAP" and used it in reference to KW & the Sox....

Never was Luxury Tax mentioned...and what the F, any one of us could manage the freakin luxury tax.

I'm not sure about doug or Mopery.

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You know me like that.

Jerry Angelo filled out my W4...
He failed to check the box.

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@audioidkid