Frank McCourt Is Wimpy

...and pissy too. From Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times:

McCourt said the latest phase of negotiations ended the moment agent Scott Boras made him a counterproposal instead of simply accepting or declining an offer the Dodgers made Wednesday of a two-year, $45-million contract with much of the money deferred without any added interest. By Thursday evening, Boras had asked for two years at $45 million with an opt-out clause that Ramirez could exercise at the end of the first year, only with no deferred salary.

McCourt called Boras' counteroffer "too little too late" and said negotiations would resume with "a fresh start." He said he stressed to the agent that he had wanted a resolution by Friday because he didn't want the negotiations to dominate conversation Sunday, the day the Dodgers opened the gates of their new spring training ballpark.

But why not consider the offer when the two sides appear to be so close?

"Because we're going to start from scratch," McCourt said.

But why start from scratch when you're so close?

"I answered it twice," McCourt said.

He looked away from the reporter who asked the question and didn't say another word until another question was asked by another reporter.

McCourt later apologized for ignoring the inquiry, saying that he wanted to field another question because a Dodgers spokesman had told him he could speak to the assembled media for only one more minute. He spoke for almost six more. The next question he took was from an MLB.com reporter who asked him about the joys of opening a new spring training ballpark and hosting the final rounds of World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium.

Me-ow!

Anyway, do you want to know how individual SoSG members line up on the Manny issue? Here's a handy guide:

DON'T BE CHEAP, FRANK
Sax: Did I Say $45 Million? Sorry, I Meant $10 Million, Fun With McCourt Math

WALK AWAY, FRANK
EK: Manny NPV'ing Manny

EVERYBODY SUCKS, HEY IT'S MICKEY ROURKE
Orel: Scott Boras Is Just Misunderstood, Mickey Meets Manny