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Talk About the Rising Price of Gas ...
2004-11-17 14:38
by Jon Weisman

Saw the nifty movie Sideways on Veterans Day and, among many other things, was struck by a passing shot of a Buellton gas station where the posted prices were under $2 per gallon. What a bargain that seems like today.

Over the past week, I've had the opposite reaction reading about the first wave of free agent contracts:

  • Troy Percival, two years, $12 million
  • Vinny Castilla, two years, $6.2 million
  • Christian Guzman, four years, $16.8 million
  • Cory Lidle, two years, $6.3 million
  • Omar Vizquel, three years, $12.25 million

    Collectively, we're talking 13 years, $53.55 million, or $4.12 million per year. Yet one could argue that none of the above players performs at a level that would guarantee they will be starters at their positions, or in Percival's case the closer, by the end of 2005.

    Perhaps the Dodger budget won't stretch quite as far as we might have thought. There is some real talent out there, but you start to feel poorer when it costs $40 to fill up your tank just so you can spin your wheels.

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