Randy Levine = GMS reincarnate

About a week after Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg bragged about derailing the Yankees’ chances of signing Cliff Lee, team president Randy Levine fired back on Friday. Hilarity ensued.

Greenberg, at last Sunday’s Fan Fest in Arlington:

"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. While we would have preferred that he would have chosen to go with us, we’re real pleased that he’s going to the other league."

First of all, why would you brag that you were unable to re-sign a free agent in the first place? That is just stupid. Also, how does he know that Lee didn’t intend to sign with Philly the whole time? Randy Levine apparently felt the same way, and let Chucky know:

"I think Chuck is delusional. He’s been in the game a few minutes, but it seems to be that he thinks he knows what everybody else is thinking. He should really let Cliff Lee speak for himself."

Levine, channeling his inner George Steinbrenner, wasn’t done though. Here comes the moneyshot:

"If he really wants to impress us then he can get the Rangers off of welfare and show how they can be revenue-sharing payers, rather than recipients for three years in a row, without financing from Major League Baseball. That would really be something."

Ruthless, absolutely ruthless.

According to the Daily News, when asked for a reaction, a Rangers spokesman said Greenberg would not be commenting on the subject. The Phillies also declined comment.

I think that the comments about Lee were unnecessary. There’s no reason to say that, especially when you failed to sign the guy. Plus, it makes Greenberg look like a sore loser. In my opinion, he comes off as a guy who is acting like what the Yankees have been stereotyped as — brash, pompous windbags.

On the same note, I don’t condone Levine’s comments (although I do find them hilarious). He probably shouldn’t have said what he said, but, then again, neither should have Greenberg. Plus, he kinda had a point about the revenue sharing/welfare comment. When other teams complain about how much the Yanks spend and stuff like that I never hear them whine about receiving the luxury tax.

Also, this isn’t the first time Greeny has run his mouth. He also took some shots at the Yanks in November, following his team’s triumph in the ALCS. In his defense, he did apologize profusely for these quotes:

"I thought Yankee fans, frankly, were awful. They were either violent or apathetic, neither of which is good. So I thought Yankee fans were by far the worst of any I’ve seen in the postseason. I thought they were an embarrassment."