Texas Rangers' CEO Chuck Greenberg is trying his best to create some sort of rivalry with the New York Yankees, no doubt hoping to coattail his Rangers away from their insignificant perch upon the MLB landscape.
Greenberg's latest attempt at needling the Yankees and perhaps more importantly, their fans, came with comments he made about what he says was his and the Rangers' role in keeping Cliff Lee out of New York.
"Even though Philadelphia was probably not in (on Cliff Lee), they were always in the back of our mind," Greenberg said. "I think if we wouldn't have gone to Arkansas that last time, I think he was going to sign with the Yankees. We pried the door open a little bit to give ourselves another opportunity. And ultimately the Phillies were able to take advantage of that opportunity that we created."
Seems like a lot of revisionist's history on the part of Greenberg, but who can blame him?
He is trying like hell to create interest in what, at least until last season, has been one of the most meaningless franchises in professional sports history.
In fact, until a few months ago, the Texas Rangers were the only franchise, out of 30 in major league baseball, never to have won a post-season series. Now, with spring training less than a month away, Greenberg is doing his best to keep Texas at the forefront of the minds of the baseball world.
And who can blame him? He's doing what any smart businessman should do in this situation, even if his motives are transparent to anyone who takes the time to ask themselves a few obvious questions.
In reality, the Phillies probably took Lee away from the Rangers, not the Yankees. During the weeks leading to his signing, Lee was texting numerous Texas teammates, telling them that, between the Yankees and Rangers, his preference was to return to the Rangers, as long as the deal was right.
And when the dust settled from Lee signing with Philly, the reality that emerged was that the Rangers' offer to Lee was at least as strong as the Yankees' offer, and perhaps even stronger when tax rates were taken into account. Not that the truth of the situation has anything to do with Greenberg's attempt to use the Yankees to make a name for himself and his Rangers.
Don't forget, this is not the first time Greenberg has attempted to generate interest off the backs of the Yankees and their fans. Consider what the new Rangers owner/executive had to say about the New York fans during the World Series.
“They were either violent or apathetic, neither of which is good," Greenberg stated during a radio interview. "So I thought Yankee fans were by far the worst of any I've seen in the postseason. I thought they were an embarrassment."
When called out on those comments, Greenberg was forced to tuck his tail between his legs and apologize. Nevertheless, he likely got what he wanted from the whole thing—more national attention for himself and his franchise, even if it was only fleeting.
Perhaps one day Greenberg will get what he truly wants. Perhaps one day the Texas Rangers will be a franchise that has lasting importance in the sports world, but that's never going to come with his loose lips and obvious attempts to create a rivalry out of nothing. It will only come with a lot more winning and October games from the Rangers.
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