Today in The Journal News
-
- May
- 22
Joba Chamberlain is on his way to the rotation. And oh, by the way, the Yankees won a game. Mike Dougherty has the story.
Derek Jeter was back in the lineup a day after getting hit on the hand. This notebook also has news on Chien-Ming Wang and A-Rod.
——————
The Yankees had little choice but to come clean on their plans for Joba last night. Otherwise Joe Girardi would look like a dope for using his set-up man two innings in an eight-run game. Unfortunately, it took the spotlight off Darrell Rasner.
Here’s all he’s done in three starts: 19 14 2 2 2 11.
Rasner looks like this year’s Aaron Small or Shawn Chacon, a guy who comes out of nowhere to provide valuable innings.
——————
One further though on Joba being turned into a starter: It’s a necessary move because of the status of Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
I think regardless of what he does this season, 2008 is the final season Mussina spends in pinstripes. He will either retire or play somewhere else.
The Yankees also have to assume Pettitte is done after this season. For two years now he has threated to retire and been sweet-talked back with a giant bag of money. Given how poorly he has pitched recently and self-inflicted turmoil he dealt with all winter, this could be it for him.
The Yankees can’t afford to go into the offseason with Wang and four question marks. They need Chamberlain prepared and ready to go for 2009 as a starter.
Phil Hughes, until proven otherwise, is an injury risk. I personally believe he will prove reliable. But until he does, you can’t assume that. Ian Kennedy also has to prove he can pitch in the majors.
In a way, the Yankees had no choice but to convert Chamberlain.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 am by Peter Abraham.
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Way to point out next year Pete. Everyone thinks about right now and forgets that we will need to fill in a staff next year. Thats why I am all for a Wang/Sabathia/Joba/Hughes/??? staff in 09
Wang
Pettite
Mussina
Rasner
Joba
BYE BYE IGAWA-SAN! What do we do with his contract though?
Just remember that I expect Hughes to have his x-ray next week and then be cleared to get his arm back in shape which will take about four weeks.
Pete,
You took the wrong time to get a few days off.;)
Big ups to Rookie Rasner for keeping the launch of the home grown starting staff program from being an abject failure YTD. Great news, of course, about Joba but still…it hints at panic re 2008 and (worse) smells like Hammerin’Lil’Boss manifesting his will, an act that 30+Yr NYY fans remember well (regretably).
Pete, hope your moms enjoyed JerseyBoys, but remind her that when you take a day off work, fights break out.
I think Patterson needs to be seriously given some consideration here. I will begein to beat the dead horse….now.
He is:
On his third straight season dominating the upper minors.
Dominating while throwing lots of strikes.
Dominating while not giving up hits.
Dominating while striking guys out.
Again, it is tough to find a pitcher that has all four of those qualities on his resume that doesn’t end up pitching successfully in the major leagues.
Ohlendorf gets ONE of the four (strikes)...he has given up MORE hits than innings while stiking out well under one per inning in the minors.
JB Cox at least fills 2 since he has not given up hits and throws lots of strikes, but he doesn’t strike a ton of guys out and hasn’t done it in the upper minors consistently yet.
PATTERSON FOR PRESIDENT.
Wasn’t this the not-so-secret secret plan all along though, minus doing the stretching out in the majors? I am glad to see it happening, mainly because its nice to see the Yanks have a plan and follow through on it.
With no Moose or Andy next season, it should be one heck of a dogfight to fill the last rotation spot or two next spring!
Joe,
But with Ohlendorf don’t you think his numbers would be a little better if he weren’t getting used in 100 different ways? He isn’t a long reliever after all, and they keep throwing him out there for that.
Also, Pete, what’s up with Britton? Do they have like 3,000 options on him or something? Why keep bringing him up if you aren’t going to ever use him?
Hi Pete, I didn’t read all the comments last night, but did anyone mention that Austin Jackson had 7 RBIs for Trenton last night and that Jose Tabata hit his first AA homer? Great posts last night. Best, Jerry
Whats Joba’s inning limit this year, and can the Yankees hit it without going over? The senario I have playing in my head is one where theyre in September and in contention, if they miss the playoffs will Joba have gotten enough innings but if they make the playoffs and have a deep run, will he go dangerously over the limit. Same for Hughes, tho I suppose it wont matter since he’s injured.
Does Pete watch the same Phil Hughes everyone else has been observing? I don’t understand the love fest and blinding confidence. Is there a conflict of interest with a link to his blog?
Joba’s innings limit is under wraps, but its likely to be around 150 innings.
Scooter: Phil has all the physical tools to be a very good major league pitcher. He was outstanding in the minors (although its starting to look like both he and IPK needed another year of seasoning). I think the injuries have derailed him a bit and for some reason he has lost the will to challenge guys. Hopefully his ribs were the problem and he fixes whatever is going on between his ears (which might be nothing more than the weight of the baseball world being placed on the shoulders of a 21 year old kid). I hope he gets Ricky Vaughn glasses!
Oh, what does everyone think of this outfield in 2 years?
Jackson in left, Gardner in Center and Melky in Right… Maybe Tabata should learn to play first…
I wouldn’t mind giving Patterson a shot. But I’m guessing Melancon or Cox will be here soon (prob after the ASB) to fix that open wound. And I would still also give Gardner a shot and rest Damon or Abreu. Hopefully, the Yanks have broken out of their slump, but if not, then this could also be worth a looksee.
IPK just needs to get aggressive. Challenge hitters. He should be a good 4 or 5. (Or long man).
From what I read… Tabata just got spooked. He apparently has a higher ceiling than AJax, but AJax has definitely been able to hit his stride a lot sooner. If Tabata can get his head on straight and stop whining, he should be a damn good outfielder. But his build his leaning him to right field vs Center. Melky, Gardner, AJax and Tabata – definitely a nice conundrum to have.
ARX – Joba has a 150 inning limit this year – regular season. Post season – all bets are off.
Pete –
You need to go on every major sports talk venue today and say what you wrote above. I’m sure most of the talk will ignore the future of the Yankees starting pitching staff if this is not done. I think a lot of people are making the assumption that Pettitte will come back simply because he stated at one point he would like to be pitching in the new stadium. Likewise, I think a lot of people who’ve been impressed with Mussina’s improvements think he may came back as well. I think both of those things are possibilities, but you have to be smart and realize that maybe only one of those two return, or as you said, neither of those two return to the rotation next season.
As it is, it’s Wang, Chamberlain for sure and three question marks for next season. (And even Chamberblain, until he does it, is a question mark, really.)
I’m excited to see how all this unfolds.
And Darrell Rasner sure pitched a much-needed gem last night. I surely hope he is NOT 2008 Aaron Small/Shaun Chacon, but a new and unexpected permanent addition to the pitching staff going forward.
When it comes to Phil Hughes, one way to gauge whether the predictions match the talent is to look to the number of teams that wanted him and how prominently he has figured into trade discussions up to now, despite being off the table in most cases. There are no guarantees with young pitchers, just like there are no promises in life. He’s had nagging injuries to date, but nothing with his arm, so that’s reason to take the “injury prone” tag with a big grain of salt.
As for prospects who start off slowly, causing everyone to doubt the advance praise, I’m reminded of two NFL quarterbacks.
When Terry Bradshaw first came up as QB for the Steelers, his early results were so bad that there was talk that the Steelers should do an IQ test to see whether he had the raw material to understand the pro game. Turns out he did, although as a sportscaster he can give me a severe migraine. Phil Simms was injured a lot in the early part of his career. He lost some years and probably a few lines in the record book as a result but he went on to have some of the finest moments a QB has ever had.
When it comes to breaking in young pitchers, Yankee fans are like 50 year olds who never had a kid. Folks, they don’t arrive fully grown, walking and talking. (And that smell is called “diapers.”) But take heart, the awkward years are over before you know it. You gotta have some patience.
“Does Pete watch the same Phil Hughes everyone else has been observing? I don’t understand the love fest and blinding confidence. Is there a conflict of interest with a link to his blog?”
Did you see him pitch at all last year in the majors? It’s a small sample size but he pitched 75 innings and was league average at 21. That’s not a small feat by any means.
Have patience. Look at his minor league resume, most if not all of the pitchers who put up numbers like he has in the majors all went on to have very successful big league careers.
“most if not all of the pitchers who put up numbers like he has in the majors ”
It should say “like he has in the minors”
Murphydog,
As usual great post!
I agree that Tabata has more upside than any of the three I threw out there. But at the same time, Melky’s build suggests he won’t be playing center his entire career, and I can see him being a great defensive RF, as well as a consistent bottom of the order bat. If Gardner continues to progress with the bat, he has to play into the equation somehow, given his excellent defense and baserunning. AJ is a future star, so he has to fit into the plan somewhere.
I hope Tabata gets it together, but he is falling behind the other 2 don’t you think?
Hughes has the tools; but he is fragile.
murphydog-
i was wondering what that smell was when hughes and kennedy pitched.
you always have away with words.
i really like hughes,but he’s 21 and rasner is 27. there is no doubt that rasner is more seasoned than hughes. the red sox tend to take more time before bringing up their young pitchers. buccholz and lester are clearly older.
i would prefer they slow down hughes development by having him pitch for at least 7-8 starts in the minors while working on a third pitch. i also believe his body needs time to develop some physical maturity. something is not right with all the injuries. and body injuries may eventually affect his arm if they haven’t already.
it’s all about joba now. if he does well, the youth plan gets a shot in the arm. it would also buy time for hughes. to use your analogy, i prefer they don’t come up to the yankees until they are out of diapers.
its all good today! joba being stretched out is great news! and with the way the starters are failing lately, he might be able to do the enitre thing at the mlb level. i think olly and edwar will be able to do a decent job until melancon or someone else busts thier way into the equation.
one game doesnt turn this team around, but i’m gonna savor this one all day! big rubber game tonight!
Great post murphydog
Let’s not forget Joba may have his struggles too initially.
randy l
I see Joba’s promotion as an opportunity for the Yankees to keep Hughes in AAA for as long as necessary this season. In the long-run that would be a win-win. Kennedy, as well, may get to spend some more time in AAA. I’m of two minds on the AAA time, but there’s no doubt that there’s more freedom to really work on secondary and tertiary pitches. And, they’ll only be a phone call away if Pettitte or Mussina or whoever should falter.
Most important is the need for everyone involved (including the fans) to be flexible, to adjust to the situations with these pitchers as they develop. “Go with the flow” in other words.
do the yankees pay any attention to them scoring runs with pena at third instead of meacham?
..and about the coaches in general. long, thompson, eiland, and meacham al seem kind of like the same guy. quiet , steady, behind the scene kind of guys. is that too many coaches without much personality. there are perks having guys like zimmer or bowa around.
i think everybody’s a little too down on pettitte right now. he has always been a slow starter and then he’s always been a stud after the asb. im not ready to write him off yet. moose is a different story, he had slipped so far by last august that he had nowhere to go but up. i commend his reworking his pitch sequencing, etc. but i think its only a matter of time before the hitters adjust to what he’s doing now, its just too fine a line to pitch with the diminished stuff he has.
if neither guy is on the roster next season, they are going to have to aquire at least on dependable veteran to fill out the staff.
randy l –
Pena was at third on Tuesday night, too, when the only runs scored were on ARod’s HR. So – small sample size!
ham fighter,
there is close to 90 mil. coming off the payroll next season. I think about 18 of it is going to CC for 4 years.
way off base, Pete. converting Joba HAD to be the plan all along, and had nothing to do with Phil or Ian.
Also, these Rasner/Small comparisons have to stop. Rasner never looked like anything but a potentially pretty good pitcher out there every time, and simply got derailed by injury and overlooked for shinier-looking pieces. By contrast, Small couldn’t even get mop-up work for bad Marlin teams before coming out of nowhere. Rasner may turn out better than we all think.
3rd base coach! this is an issue on a team that has one of the lowest ba’s with risp, the 3rd base coach! hell, they could have gone the last week without anyone in the 3rd base box!
personally, i think the fact that i broke out my green on white yankees hat (with a shamrock on the bill) had more to do with yesterday than the 3rd base coach!
S.A. brings in a very valid point. Joba will not have the instant success he’s experienced as a one-inning pitcher. His fastball will likely be 93-94-95. Hitters will be able to see him much more than once per appearance, so the slider, devastating as it is, will become that much more familiar to the batter.
Joba and Phil have extraordinary stuff, but it will take more than one season to develop them as seasoned pitchers at the MLB level.
Randy also brings up a valid point about Hughes’ physical development. Ditto for Joba, who has had arm issues and weight issues.
If Joba, Phil, and Ian make up 3/5ths of the starting rotation, be prepared for a rebuilding season or two, and not a 95-100 win Season.
Randy l –
But, I will agree with you that coaches except Pena all seem to share the same demeanor. Heck, they even look alike!!
ham fighter –
It might be your lucky Yankee Irish hat, but I think it’s because I purchased a NY Yankees paperware (plates, cups, napkins) to use this weekend (not very “green” but it felt like the right impulse purchase at the time!)
I’d like to think that what people mean when they compare Rasner to Small is that the expectations for Small were not too great that year and he turned out to be quite a godsend that season. Rasner, likewise, was not expected to be a part of the rotation and has so far done a remarkable job. Other than that, the two pitchers’ careers are quite different.
“And, they’ll only be a phone call away if Pettitte or Mussina or whoever should falter.”
that’s the added bonus of having hughes or kennedy chomping at the bit to get back up. while they are improving they also are ready to go at any time.
mussina has been a pleasant surprise after a rocky start. if he can win half his games this year,it’s really all that the yankees can expect. the yankees need more from pettitte. wang is wang. joba is the wild card and what happens with him is probably a tipping point for the yankees.
if he does well, the yankees have another pitcher who can get them wins above a .500 rate. i would normally think joba is too young to have this kind of pressure put on him, but he’s got that charisma about him that makes you think he’s the exception to the rule.
the yankees are in effect betting the “business” on joba, at least as far as making the playoffs this year. i wouldn’t have put so much on a kid like joba, but now that the yankees have made that bet, i’ll be of course pulling for it to work.
a lot changes if he pulls off a first year verlander like year .
Let’s hope IPK can feed off of the teams performance last night.
rasner’s breakthrough so far makes me wonder what we might get out of jeff karstens this year. not that anyone has him on a level with hughes or joba, but he has always been seen as maybe one step ahead of rasner, and both are older, more mature and seasoned than kennedy and iak.
if karstens and rasner could just give the yankees dependable, league-average innings this year, it would allow the big 3 alot more time to develop without so much pressure.
Even if IPK struggles a bit(which I am really really hoping Does NOT happen) tonight, I am hoping the Yankees offense that we saw yesterday will not go into hiding.
sorry, i meant they are more seasoned than kennedy or hughes.
“personally, i think the fact that i broke out my green on white yankees hat (with a shamrock on the bill) had more to do with yesterday than the 3rd base coach!”
just in case, keep wearing the shamrock hat.
what about the larger issue that the yankees coaches are lacking in personality? they are the polar opposite of last years coaches.
can you imagine having a beer with long, eiland, and thompson?
why do i keep thinking of the bob newhart show?
Doreen – Where did you get the Yankees paperware? Online?
I have some friends who are Mets fans and we’re having them over soon.
doreen,
...and ppl say nobody’s doing anything to break the bad streak!
Definitly a great move. I can’t wait to see how this plays out.
I can only imagine how crazy Yankee land will be the day of Joba’s first start =]
Joe from Long Island –
Modell’s. It’s called a “Party Pack” and it has 24 plates, cups, forks and napkins. It cost $20.
ham fighter –
you also might want to pick-up the yankees vs. mets chess set. i got one for chrismas a couple of years ago, and while its worthless for chess (too hard to tell the pawns from the rooks) i have had alot of fun with the figurines. i glued the yankees manager in my car and in my house we refer to him as ‘dashboard billy’
ham fighter –
Dashboard Billy! Gotta love it.
Kennedy should have gone to school last night seeing what Darrell Rasner did and has been doing.
One more good start by Rasner should make him the serious No. 3 starter ahead of Mussina and Kennedy.
This is the time for Kennedy to step up and show what he’s made of. He must know that Horne and McCutchen will soon be lurking behind and others behind them.
Tonight could be a telling start for Kennedy.
Can’t wait for Diet Coke and Idiot today to be whining about Joba and how they will GRILL Cashman and Girardi next time they are on
WHAT ARE THEY DOING HE CAN’T START HE LOST TO MANHATTEN IN COLLEGE!!!!!!!!
“3rd base coach! this is an issue on a team that has one of the lowest ba’s with risp, the 3rd base coach! hell, they could have gone the last week without anyone in the 3rd base box!”
part of me was thinking that yankees spent so much time stuck on third maybe they should have someone interesting to talk too. it get’s lonely out there, stuck so close yet so far from home.
Kennedy was actaully better last outing. He threw one terrible pitch and it got crushed. The first HR he gave up you had to tip your cap to Iwamura. That was up and in (and a ball) and he turned on it. He just has to stay away from the big inning. That has been his problem almost every start.
I haven’t listened to any sports talk to know what anyone is saying on this move.
But someone mentioned that some dope on sny said it was a awful move.
First of all what team in thier right mind would leave a potential ace in the pen. Second what good does a lights out 8th inning guy if you can’t ever get to him?
The Yankees were 1000% right starting the transition to the starting rotation, no if’s and’s or buts about it.
This move will also put some pressure on the other pitchers (Andy, Kennedy) to get their acts together to pitch well. I am leaving Mussina and Wang out of that becuase they have pitched well this year.
Pete,
Just a comment: I’m not entirely convinced that Moose is out the door with the Yankees (yes, he just had a horrible start, but he’d had 5 very good ones before). Let’s see how the season plays out before kicking him out the door.
In re: Pettitte, yes, he might retire, but he sort of has carte blanche to come back if he wants to.
But I agree with Joba to the rotation – No. 1s and 2s don’t grow in trees, and to the extent the Yankees have too many good SPs, they can trade him for other pieces they need.
M&MD should be interesting today. Francessa will not approve this move. I’m already giggling
“there is close to 90 mil. coming off the payroll next season. I think about 18 of it is going to CC for 4 years.”
sure, and then another $18 million a year for the next 3 years after that, too.
CC already turned down $20 million for 4 years to stay in Cleveland, no way he’s testing the market to take less than that elsewhere.
this is a great day for yankees fans. arod is back, big win last night helps most of us climb back off the ledge at least for another day, and joba to the rotation.
unfortunately, momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. here’s to hoping IPK can take a lesson from watching Rasner last night, and stay aggressive.
Of course all the naysayers of ESPN will reverse course and say taking Joba out of a set-up role is not the way to go but what they think has no relevance to the matter.
All of this was the plan in early spring training and the key was to have Mark Melancon build his arm strength and he’s right on target with elevation of 2 levels and soon to AAA. His projection to be in the Yankee bullpen by the All Star break is very much a reality and just in time for Joba to be established in the starting rotation to make a 2nd half impact.
Now for the hitting woes …..............
Steve Phillips thinks it isn’t a good move. So the Yankees must have made the right choice.
“WHAT ARE THEY DOING HE CAN’T START HE LOST TO MANHATTEN IN COLLEGE!!!!!!!!”
LOL. I wonder how many times Russo will mention the Manhattan game today. Get ready.
i get why mike (and especially) mad dog get so much crap, and alot of it is deserved. BUT…mike francessa is a BIG (and i do mean BIG) yankee fan of longstanding. i know his knowlege of the minors is below the majority of posters here, lets give the guy some credit, he certainly is one of us when it comes to being a loyal yankees fan. last year, he refused to give in when dog had the yankees “DONE” in may, and skewered him the whole rest of the summer. i may not always agree with him, and he sometimes makes me whince with the stuff he says, but he is definatly one of us.
I don’t think the Yankees are betting on absolute results from any one or two of our young pitchers. I think the bet is that looking at our entire ‘stable’ of young arms, that we will be able to compete. Sure, Phil and Joba have the most upside and highest expectations, but Cashmans knows many great pitchers have taken years to develop. Who know, maybe Raz will turn out to be our big surprise. From Santana, Liriano, RJ and Nolan down a long list, success is not always instant for young pitching studs.
I do believe Andy will be in the SR next year, barring injury. It won’t be at $16m, but probably around $10m. Next year, Andy will be this years Moose, an experienced vet who could be our #5 if the kids are good, but possibly be better. Andy next year should be better then Moose this year. He is both good insurance and a good guy to have on a staff with so many young guns.
I just cant see Moose coming back next season, given the options in the system who would be another year closer to providing innings on the cheap.
andy’s an interesting call… he’s expressed interest in pitching in the new stadium next season, but you cant think that Cashman will really want to offer him a multi-year deal.
i think if Pettitte agrees to a one year deal for about what he’s making this year, as long as he’s healthy, he’ll be back for one more.
I don’t want to count chickens before they hatch, I don’t like to think too far ahead. But if they can pull out a win tonight, automatically the situation brightens. They will have won 2 out of their last 3 and taken a series. You can do nothing about what went before, but you can take it from here, and that (2 of 3) would be something to build upon.
“Of course all the naysayers of ESPN will reverse course and say taking Joba out of a set-up role is not the way to go but what they think has no relevance to the matter.”
dont forget Boomer and Carton on WFAN this morning, too. they’re on record as it being an awful decision.
If the Yankees have the horses, Cashman will not be sentimental about bringing back either Andy or Mussina. See, Bernie Williams. Andy and Mike will only be back if they are needed. IMO.
i don’t think the analysis of Pettitte’s performance is rational. he’s had bad stretches almost every year. and his most recent performance was actually pretty good, IMO. anyway, it is way to small a sample to speculate that “how he has pitched recently” would impact how either the Yankees or Pettitte will plan for 2009.
but certainly his future is always questionable in terms of whether he’ll retire, since he seems to think about it every year.
its the easiest thing to do, blast the yankees for moving joba. he is doing a great job where he is and its extremly unlikely he will put up anywhere near the same #’s in his first 12 mlb starts. the earliest he could prove them wrong might be by mid-season next year, which in tv land is 2 1/2 eternities. and of course, nobody will ever call them on it, because they will be far too busy making stupid prognostications about next year’s crop.
“Wang/Sabathia/Joba/Hughes/???”
That ??? better be a lefty. It really hurts that once Pettitte is gone they will need a lefty pitcher. With the short porch at Yankee Stadium, a lefty is a must.
Sabathia is lefty. That is part of his intrigue in Free Agency.
I agree with those who think Ohlendorf could thrive in the 8th inning instead of getting up in the first inning one game, fifth the next, seventh two days later. Joba needs to start. Starters will ALWAYS be more valuable than anything other than a dominant closer.
Be patient with Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson. Tabata is the younger player in AA ball and won’t turn 20 till August. Austin Jackson also has a chance to be special, but neither is likely to be ready til 2010.
Yanks need a RH bat and LH reliever ASAP… a package of prospects to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady/Bay would make a lot of sense. It would have include Alan Horne but it would be worth it for this year and next.
Joba and other moves could very well put a damper to Kei Igawa being the stud starter of the Yankee pitching staff.
His neck must be sore from watching every prospect in sight passing him by to the point of finally seeing his season end as a mop up man for the Single A Tampa Yankees.
His interpreter has already heard him call Darrell Rasner an a.. *%@#*&^! in Japanese and Alan Horne will soon be called the same.
He probably doesn’t realize that his AAA teammates are calling him a big time roster clogger.
looking at how so many of the tv and radio personalities are generally of the type that don’t like the yankees – i think there constant chatter about how bad a move it is for joba to go to the starting rotation is because they are afraid of the success he can bring.
when phillips, who hates the yankees says that its a bad move – maybe he means for the mets.
id be willing to sign sabbathia for 4 years at a very high salary in order to stay out of a 6 or 7 yr contract. dont think he’d take it, but a guy with all those innings on his arm the past few years is a terrible risk on a 6 yr deal.
i see them trading for a lefty, maybe oswalt, who would have 3 yrs/$45M plus a $16M club option left on his contract. maybe someone else, certainly we arent going to hold onto ALL of our young RH pitchers, and gardner looks very much like a nice NL trading chip.
Oswalt is right handed
and Oswalt is currently out injured, i believe.
Oswalt also doesn’t want to play for the Yankees, nor would I personally want him.
duh, i’m an idiot as he is on my fantasy team. i was thinking about veterans to fill the moose/pettitte void and i fixated on oswalt for one.
Rob Neyer states
“I suspect that most Yankee fans have never heard of Peter Abraham (I hope I’m wrong). But Abraham, who covers the Yankees for the Lower Hudson Journal News and also writes frequently for their web site, has become my go-to guy for breaking Yankee news.”
For the rest of the story quotes Peter twice but you will need ESPN insider to view.
http://tinyurl.com/57su7b
Since I stumbled on your website in April 2007, you have also been my go to guy for Yankee news. So it great to see others in the business give you credit for all your hardwork.
oswalt left his last start with a pulling sensation in his hip, he threw his bp session the other day and said it felt fine and he is starting today vs. philly.
see i do know something!
Yanks need a RH bat and LH reliever ASAP… a package of prospects to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady/Bay would make a lot of sense. It would have include Alan Horne but it would be worth it for this year and next.
..........................................................
Excellent points 86W183 and as June/July approach, this could be reality. In doing so, it could solve 3 problems. If Jason Bay can play 1st base, and Brett Gardner called up, it may have to include the popular Shelley to the Pirates along with others. Marte of course would be the elusive LH in the bullpen.
This could also grease the skids for Damon going elsewhere. If memory serves correct, Nady can also play some 1st base.
btw, when oswalt left his last start he had already thrown 110+ pitches.
Before I deem Moose expendable and anoint Raz the Yankees’ 2009 #4 or #5 starter, I’d like to see how the league adjusts to Raz after a couple of more outings.
Moose’s last start/tantrum/meltdown aside, I see enough interesting things out of him this year to leave open the possibility that Moose may complete his journey to Moyer-vana. If he does, he could be a rubber-armed #4 or #5 innings eater whose W-L doesn’t much matter.
I’m inclined to believe that Pettitte is more done than Moose, due to Andy’s oft-mentioned desire to be home and/or his not so much discussed elbow issues. If Pettitte is gone and the Yanks also cut ties with Moose they’ll have Wang, Hughes, Joba, IPK and maybe Rasner (or some other kid) in 2009, barring a trade or FA acquisition. Even assuming a Sabathia-like pick up, IMO they’ll still need a reliable #4 or #5 who can eat innings while the kids ramp up their innings, overcome the bumps and fight for rotation spots. It would be a mistake to cut Moose if he is in fact becoming the very pitcher they will need next year.
i would imagine Marte and Nady are definately get-able, but you know the pirates would hold out for a stockpile of talent.
if you can get them on a reasonable deal, it would be worth looking into.
i dont believe that Cashman would be looking to include Horne in a deal, though. Marquez and McCutcheon? prob more realistic.
i dont see rasner pitching this well all season for sure, but he shouldnt need to. if he could just give us #4 type numbers (that is keep us in games for 6 innings 3-4 runs) thats all we can ask of him. if karstens or horne could come up and give us similar #’s, it would be a HUGE help in developing our younger guys, and then at the end of the season rasner and horne/karstens could be valuable trading chips.
GO JOBA !!!!
GO RASNER !!!!
Last Year;
Jeff K. 11.05 1-4 w-l
Raz 4.01 1-3 w-l
Both pitched better than the stats show, and both got injured. They were thought of as the best we had at the time. This year, they were pasted over for the big 3. They are journeymen pitchers and should do ok…not great. As the team starts to put up more runs, one can do more with the young pitchers, without losing games. If they have the pressure of having to pitch a one/two run game taken off, they can relax a just pitch their game…maybe even win. 27/08?
New York Yankees, major league crapshooting at its best.
Anyone know anything about this guy Al Aceves the Yanks signed out of the Mexican League? He was dominant in High A, though old for that league. (25) He was promoted to Trenton and pitched 7 shutout innings in his first start the other day.
Personally, I think both Pettitte and Moose are done after this season.
Both guys are too shaky to invest 11-16 million bucks a year in, even if its a one year deal.
Andy is not taking a paycut to come back. Unfortunately, unless he really turns it around, he’s no longer a 16 million dollar a year pitcher.
Moose? He’s exceeded expectations but, let’s see how the league adjusts to his new pitching style. Still gotta make 30 starts a year and eat innings and that ain’t easy at 39.
JMO but, the Yankees are going “all in” on either Tex or CC next year. Not both.
They aren’t getting bogged down with two long term deals. A primary reason why they are in last place today.
They will go for one and I think it will be CC. You put CC and Wang, two major innings eaters, at the top of the rotation, followed by Joba and Hughes (all 4 under 30) and you have something special.
Its still a game of pitching.
They can package a few of the younger arms for a first baseman. Young pitching is a huge commodity in the game today and the Yankees have a lot of it.
Being able to get a solid, cost controlled first baseman shouldn’t be difficult in the off-season.
This is the last year of the failed “all star at every position” garbage.
They are going back to their roots and re-tooling the team as it was during the Dynasty Years.
Pitching, defense and a solid, balanced lineup.
They have enough stars (Jeter, Arod, Posada, Rivera, Wang, Joba, etc), they need grinders. Tough outs, tough guys.
That’s lacking on this team right now and that will change for next season.
does anyone believe that pitching afraid to make a mistake due to any possbility of getting it back,changes a pitchers mindset even when they insist it doesn’t?
“Both pitched better than the stats show, and both got injured.”
It just felt like the team was snakebit. All these muscular injuries keeping Wang and Moose (and Karstens) out early, and then Pavano (obviously) went down, and then the Rasner and Karstens BOTH got taken out by comebackers in the first inning within a week or two of each other.
personally, i’m pretty satisfied that using ollie, edwar, hawkins and farns will work pretty well, not as good as the farnsjobamo has worked so far, but well enough. if and when melancon or whoever come to join the party, all the better.
every pitcher in the organization can see the opportunity before them. its gotta be stoking theier competetive fire to know that moving from trenton to the big ballyard is right there for the taking. all it takes is a few of those guys to grab the brass ring and not let go to solidify this pitching staff, and it’s already started with rasner.
NEXT!...step right up and have your shot at the show!
Hey Johan !
Betcha you didn’t know that so much turmoil existed in Metland. You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet. Minaya has little farm system to work with and you will wing it almost alone.
How do you stand the clubhouse headcases ?
Rasner has been solid through each of his 4 brief MLB seasons—3.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .244 BAA. He’s been solid every chance he’s been given.
I’m thrilled that Joba is going to be in the rotation.
That said I want to emphasize the fact that he is going to struggle coming back.
He hasn’t been throwing his curve or change much since coming up to the majors.
He’s going to need some time to get the feel back for both pitches, especially the change. He’ll need to get the kind of feel back for those pitches that will enable him to throw them in different counts consistently rather than simply as “show me” pitches which is how he was using them in the pen.
He’s also going to need some time to rebuild his arm strength.
And of course on top of that he’s going to have the usual growing pains any 22 pitcher will have.
That said, this is absolutely the right move and I like how the Yankees are being flexible in their approach.
With an innings cap of 150 coming into the season I’d of guessed Joba wouldn’t have been able to make more than 15-18 starts.
But given how bad the team has been he just hasn’t thrown many innings. So they’ve accelerated the plan to get him into the rotation – he’ll be making more starts than expected.
What I also like is how the team is operating in a coordinated, unified fashion. It’s really, really refreshing to see.
What I mean by that is that transitioning Joba is the central focus – but to support that move there have been very organized, coordinated moves up and down the organization.
Specifically, promoting Melancon quickly (while still getting him innings – love the way they threw him for 3 innings in his last appearance). And of course promoting Robertson, Cox and McCuthchen.
We haven’t spoken about Horne much but he’s coming back to throw probably next week. He had a great spring. He’s going to be a factor.
Finally, don’t write off Hughes. He’s going to be very, very good.
“Being able to get a solid, cost controlled first baseman shouldn’t be difficult in the off-season.”
You think??? Dodgers won’t move Loney. Reds won’t move Votto. Youklis, Adrian Gonzalez, Kotchmann???? Nope.
So who? Ryan Garko? Injury plagued Nick Johnson (is he still cost controlled?)?
I also agree that after this year Moose will retire just hearing some of his recent interviews most especially last weeks interview on WFAN (you can listen on theri web site he is a GREAT interview) he strikes me as the type of guy who is not going to hang around. He is too smart for that.
gotta be killing karstens that he hasnt been available to pitch so far. he’s fought his way up through the system a couple of times and injuries have knocked him back down each time. this season, when a rotation spot is crying to be filled, he hasnt been able to take the ball. now just as he finishes his latest rehab, he’s been passed by rasner, kennedy and possibly horne, and joba is about to take another rotation spot, while he hasnt made a start yet (looks like monday might he his first.)
i dont have crazy expectations for the guy, but i sure hope he gets his chance to at least be the long man/spot starter and show what he can do.
“Yanks need a RH bat and LH reliever ASAP… a package of prospects to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady/Bay would make a lot of sense. It would have include Alan Horne but it would be worth it for this year and next.”
Not sure if I agree with this on two counts.
1) I am a little hesitant giving up Horne but it might not be so bad if we can get Marte.
2) Where in the outfield would you put Nady? Bay wouldn’t come so easy.
“You think??? Dodgers won’t move Loney. Reds won’t move Votto. Youklis, Adrian Gonzalez, ”
He didn’t say a potential All-Star young 1B. He said solid and cost-controlled. Solid fielder who hits for decent average, takes his walks and has some pop. That’s a much lower bar than you’re setting, I think.
I still don’t know who that is, though
LaPorta is blocked by Prince Fielder, but I don’t know if you could feel good assuming he’ll be your starting 1B in 2009, not without a solid backup plan.
Fredo,
Things change in every off-season. You look around AAA at guys who are blocked elsewhere. At the major league, teams needs shift constantly.
They can find a first baseman in the right deal. They don’t necessarily need to play Mark Teixiera 200 million dollars because there aren’t first basemen available.
For example, you think Shawn Casey could have helped this team this year? He was available and the Red Sox didn’t even need a first baseman. He’s helped them win games this year.
Again, you don’t need stars at every position. This team won World Series with the likes of Luis Sojo and Jose Vizcaino playing second base and Chad Curtis playing left field.
Why? They had pitching, defense, role players, and the right mix between stars and reserves.
That’s what they are looking to get back to being again.
For those eagerly anticipating Mike and Dog today, Girardi is usually on the show on Thursdays at 5:05. That would be worth a listen. Gives them 4 hours to work themselves into a lather over Joba before Joe steps in against them.
“2) Where in the outfield would you put Nady? Bay wouldn’t come so easy.”
Nady’s played 1B a fair amount over the years. I figure he’s not stellar on D, but he won’t kill you. If he plays 1B a lot and spells Abreu and Damon in the corners, that’s a pretty good number of ABs. Thing is he’s been so hot in the early going, you might be buying high. And I also read they wanted to hang on to him until the break, so you’d probably have to overpay to get him early.
“LaPorta is blocked by Prince Fielder, but I don’t know if you could feel good assuming he’ll be your starting 1B in 2009, not without a solid backup plan.”
Not to mention it would cost the Yankees plenty. Would have to be a high end prospect rather than a Horne, McCutchen type.
pat, MMD always get worked into a lather and threaten to skewer joe g. then turn into paper tigers when he’s on and play all buddy-buddy.
The Brewers will open a corner OF spot for LaPorta when he is ready.
‘Again, you don’t need stars at every position. This team won World Series with the likes of Luis Sojo and Jose Vizcaino playing second base and Chad Curtis playing left field.”
Which is why I mentioned Garko, who is a decent bat, right handed, and can play the position. Tribe might be content to go with a combination of Aubrey and VMart at 1B. Who knows?
“For example, you think Shawn Casey could have helped this team this year? He was available and the Red Sox didn’t even need a first baseman. He’s helped them win games this year.”
Perhaps, but he’s generally a lefty singles hitter. I don’t think signing him would have made much sense for the Yankees. I know he banged out a bunch of doubles in April and hit well for the Sox until he got hurt, but it’s really easy to say a move would have been good in hindsight.
“You think??? Dodgers won’t move Loney. Reds won’t move Votto. Youklis, Adrian Gonzalez, Kotchmann???? Nope.
So who? Ryan Garko? Injury plagued Nick Johnson (is he still cost controlled?)?”
My pick is Kendry Morales of the Angels. The Yankees and Angels have done trades before and Morales is stuck behind Kotchman.
I don’t think he’ll be spectacular or anything but watching those Angels hitters they are all pests and they play good defense.
Re: Joba, I agree with CB. He will have the usual struggles starters have over the course of the season.
But, make no mistake. He’s a starting pitcher. He even pitches like a starter in relief. One reason why the league was catching up to him a bit this year.
For example, in the game he imploded against the Indians, they knew everytime Joba shook off Molina, it was to throw the slider. So, they laid off it, got on base, and the rest is history.
You know where Cleveland picked that up? From their advance scout who was in Chicago watching the Yankees play and he picked it up in Joba’s outing in the rain soaked game.
Watching him pitch in the minors last year, it was amazing how his velocity and stuff held up through the later innings.
He’s the real deal. A true #1, #2 starter.
Folks just have to be patient and allow it to happen.
Let’s face it. As currently constructed (with Joba in the 8th inning), the Yankees aren’t winning the World Series this year. So, moving him isn’t that big a deal.
This is the PERFECT time to transition him into the rotation. You get him the innings and the work needed to grow into a top starting pitcher and you have the depth in the organization to fill the relief role.
At the same time, it actually makes the team better. Thereby increasing its chances of winning.
For once, its a “perfect storm” in the right way for the Yankees. The perfect time to put him in the rotation.
ham
usually but they have had some heated interviews with Cashman.
just wanted to say how pshyched i was to see jeter out there last night! WHAT A STUD!
i think the # of guys who would refuse to sit out after what happened the night before could be counted on one hand.
suzyn waldman said when she asked him after tuesday’s game if he thought he’d broken a bone, he said maybe, but im playing tomorrow night either way.
dont see that invisible C coming off that uni for years to come!
“I also agree that after this year Moose will retire just hearing some of his recent interviews most especially last weeks interview on WFAN (you can listen on theri web site he is a GREAT interview) he strikes me as the type of guy who is not going to hang around.”
I don’t know if he’ll be back with the Yankees but I think he’ll be back. If he finishes the season less than 40 wins away from 300 I think he’ll go to a NL team and go for 300 wins.
If Moyer can still win with an 80 MPH fastball then Moose can definitely still win in the NL.
I wonder if this is the time frame they wanted or if the Yankees recent struggles are pushing up the conversion…
I thought they might have aimed for this to start towards the end of June… Then bring him back as a starter rigth after the all-star break.
Not that I’m complaining, I think the sooner he gets some starts under his belt, the better for him and the Yankees.
Morales is a guy who could fit that role. A good example.
The Brewers are trying LaPorta in RF but he can’t play RF. In fact, he’s pretty bad in right.
If they can sign Fielder, they have a valuable asset in LaPorta on the trade front. If they can’t, they can move Fielder and have LaPorta to play first.
He’s eventually going to be a first baseman or DH. His OF instincts are really bad.
If you have an OF of Braun in left and LaPorta in right, you better hope your offense scores 10 runs a game. That would be, far and away, the worst two corner OF’s on one team in baseball.
I doubt the Brewers see that as their long term solution in the OF.
“Not to mention it would cost the Yankees plenty. Would have to be a high end prospect rather than a Horne, McCutchen type.”
Horne is a pretty high-end prospect. It’d have to be a package, it’s true. Maybe Horne and a Zach McAllister or something like that. A AAA arm with upside and an A-ball arm with lots of upside. But LaPorta’s got lots of upside too, and the Yanks have a dearth of hitting prospects, especially at the upper levels of their system.
Garko’s hit really poorly this year, though he’s taking some walks. He might be a decent buy-low candidate, though it does look like he strikes out a lot. If he rebounds over the course of the season, I might try to pick him off as my plan B or C behind some guys who might be blocked in AAA or some such.
“Perhaps, but he’s generally a lefty singles hitter. I don’t think signing him would have made much sense for the Yankees. I know he banged out a bunch of doubles in April and hit well for the Sox until he got hurt, but it’s really easy to say a move would have been good in hindsight.”
Whozat, considering that they have two 1B’s who can’t even hit singles and can’t play the position, Casey would have been an OK addition. Good clubhouse presence too as I understand it. Of course, having Casey wouldn’t have carried much weight for Boston if Youklis didn’t have the position flexibility he seems to possess. He got his AB’s as a result of the 3B’s injury.
Still too early to get serious about trading moves but the nagging 1st base / left field question lingers and continues to drag this team down.
The aforementioned thoughts of a deal with Pittsburgh has a nice ring to it.
Xavier Nady is a very serviceable corner OF / 1B option and along with Damaso Marte, fills needs.
Cashman has 6-8 weeks to evaluate the farm system and float the idea of moving Damon to any potential suitor as trading chips. He also gets more time for Brett Gardner to progress.
this may be a stupid question, but with the demand for instant replay becoming a topic twice in a week, what would stop a home team from showing replays on the big screen/scorboard once the manager goes out to start an arguement? the umps obvoisly talked it over last night. how could they not overturn the call if they saw the ball bouncing off the yellow steps in the corner of their eye, during their meeting?
plus the brewers have Corey Hart to play RF in Milwaukee, who is himself a very underrated but productive player. He’ll hit .280/25/85 with 20 SBs a season.
now, if the Brewers are set on LaPorta in RF, i’d gladly take Hart to play RF if/when Abreu leaves.
I agree that its to early to be talking seriously about trades…
Lets see if this group can get it together first, and lets see who the minors produce in the next couple months.
Casey would have been an excellent addition to the team. But, when you have 21 million committed to one guy, you are loathe to not give him every chance to be productive.
Another example of how using money poorly can bite you in the butt.
This is where scouting comes in. When you are looking to fill a need (first base) in a cost effective, yet productive, manner, this is where scouting comes into play.
There are guys out there who can play. You just gotta find ‘em.
Good teams with good scouting departments, do just that.
“Horne and a Zach McAllister or something like that”
Sure the Brewers would say Horne and Betances, but you’re in the neighborhood with that.
However, as someone pointed out, the Brewers may end up trying to move Fielder instead (far more costly….especially if goes back on meat)and give 1B to LaPorta.
Morales is an interesting thought. Halos have nowhere for him.
“Morales is a guy who could fit that role. A good example.”
I know a lot of Angels play good D, but I don’t think Morales does. Not to say he mightn’t be a solid trade-target, but to be clear about what I think they’d be getting. Like most Angels hitters, he makes a lot of contact, so he won’t be a high-OBP guy. Good bottom of the order hitter, adequate D. That’s what I think. Certainly another name to add to the pile.
What of Juan Rivera as an RF option? His D isn’t so great, right? If Abreu doesn’t get back to his high-OBP ways, I think they have to go in another direction. Damon, Melky, Rivera with liberal sprinklings of Gardner to improve the D could work.
Don’t know if this is a good idea – but I’d like to see the yankees look into Andy LaRoche.
I have no idea if he’s available – but for whatever reason it seems like the Dodgers have done everything possible to screw up his development. And it just seems like for whatever reason they don’t fully believe in him.
The Dodgers are wasting his talent by jerking him around (and that was going on way before Torre got there).
I think he’s at the low point of his value – he’s getting older and already had the labrum surgery.
I don’t know if LaRoche has ever played first and I know the team has tried way too much to stick guys at first.
But he’s a right handed bat and I think he’s going to have a good pro career somewhere. It seems like it’s not going to be with the Dodgers. Just a thought.
Its definitely too early to talk trades right now.
However, teams are setting the groundwork to see what could be available.
At this point, the Yankees needs are obvious.
Some of those needs can be filled from within. Others will have to be filled (whether in season or the off-season) going outside the organization.
It takes two to make deals and nowadays, teams get tougher and tougher to deal with in making in season deals. Nobody wants to give up anything unless the deal is very lopsided.
Not exactly the best way to do business.
CC turned down 4 years 80 Mil deal from Indians already. No way he is going sign for 3-4 years. He will be looking in the range of what Santana got. I think he will be getting a better deal than Santana 8 Years 160 Mil as Sabathia is a free-agent and there will be bidding. Remember Santana was not a free-agent. Also Sabathia’s CY young performance is more recent than Santana’s.
one thing that has gotten no play yet is jorge. just because he’s taken a month off doesnt mean he’s going to be able to catch when he comes back, his shouler is messed up. remember that he has rested it twice so far and the last time, he blew it out on 2 throws to 2nd base. there’s certainly a chance that he will not be able to catch regularly this season even if he doesnt need surgery.
this might be where we convert him into a 1b, and go looking for a starting catcher instead (molina is not an everyday guy). i know that jorge is dead-set against leaving the tools behind, but it is probably his long-term future and it would really help the shoulder situation. he cant be worse in the field than giambi, and he certainly hits well enough to make up for his not really being a 1bman. one thing, though, if we go that route, we need a ‘glove man’ to back him up, just like we do now. cash’s biggest roster mistake this season imo.
“Don’t know if this is a good idea – but I’d like to see the yankees look into Andy LaRoche.”
Wonder whether the Dodgers are completely sold on DeWitt. He’s exceeded expectations so far with the big club. Unless either he or LaRoche can play 2nd, one of them will probably have to be moved.
SJ stop w/ the LaPorta thing, I want this guy on my roster but I just don’t see Milwaukee giving him up, I’d trade Ohlendorf + Kennedy for that guy to be my next 1B
“Casey would have been an excellent addition to the team.”
yeah, in retrospect. But, did you look at the Yankees in the offseason and say “you know what this team needs? Another lefty bat, but one without much power…”
If Casey’s split against lefties was better, I’d agree. But it isn’t. Ensberg’s is. He’s been terrible, it’s true. But based on anything you could have known coming into the season, I think Ensberg was the right choice.
Joba doing a transition to starter shouldn’t take too long seeing as that’s all he was prior to last year.
With Dave Eiland’s help he’ll need to change his mound demeanor, tempo, and approach using his entire arsenal but at different intervals as a game progresses.
Hitters will make adjustments for their 2nd at bats and so will Joba in giving different looks.
Jorge and Jose’s pitch calling will be very important.
NYY:
Not sure Sabathia gets more than Santana but you are 100% right on the years. Yanks won’t be alone in that bidding. I’d expect the Dodgers to be in it. Mets too.
He may get more than Santana after all.
SJ,
What are your thoughts on the upcoming draft?
It looks a lot thinner than the past 2 years. I don’t think the chances of a really high end talent (Hosmer?) falling to the yankees due to signability.
One guy who fits that bill is Tanner Scheppers from Fresno State. I’m suprised that his draft stock has fallen so far so quickly. Stress fractures aren’t that serious. It is his shoulder but in many ways that a better injury than anything related to an elbow. Perhaps people are worried that the fracture was related to bad mechanics.
I could see the yankees taking a chance on him given their past record on drafting despite “injury concerns.” First round may be too high for him as he could be available later.
Tons of first baseman – which do you like?
CC won’t get Santana money.
One of the problems is, his market will be VERY small.
Boston won’t pay that kind of money. Neither will the Mets, since they have Santana.
The Dodgers? Frank McCourt (as Joe Torre found out with Santana) ain’t doin’ it.
The Angels? Nope.
The Sabathia Market is currently shaping up like the Giambi Market did in the ‘01 off-season.
One team can do it and has the need to do it. The Yankees.
Do they bid against themselves, as they did in the Giambi negotiations?
Does CC take less to stay in Cleveland or go to another team? Does he get big, yet fair money from the Yankees and go to NY?
That’s to be determined.
I think there will be a bigger bidding war for Tex than CC. I also think Tex will get a lot more money than CC on the open market. Its why I would venture away from the Tex market.
Let the Mets overpay for him. He’s a very good player. He’s not a difference maker. For 20+ million a year, you gotta be a difference maker, IMO.
Fredo Corleone
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
NYY:
Not sure Sabathia gets more than Santana but you are 100% right on the years. Yanks won’t be alone in that bidding. I’d expect the Dodgers to be in it. Mets too.
He may get more than Santana after all.
Also Sox will definetly get involved just to drive the price up.
“With Dave Eiland’s help he’ll need to change his mound demeanor, tempo, and approach using his entire arsenal but at different intervals as a game progresses.”
So…he’ll need to go back to what he’s been doing for years.
It’s true he’ll need to lean on his catchers for patterns, though. If he can execute their plan consistently, he’ll be fine.
Fredo,
In the strange world of Ned Colletti – I really think they like Dewitt.
It seems that they’re willing to pull the rug out from under LaRoche for any reason possible.
Bonxbyte:
I’m guessing it takes close to a month to have him starting. Beyond needing to be stretched out, he needs time to get his feel back on the change-up. Nothing plus about that pitch right now. I think he’s 10 months removed from starting as they prepared him for moving to the big club pen in July of last year.
SJ44 – Jason Bay and Xavier Nady are interesting names. Do you think it would take much from the Yanks to get either by the trading deadline? Rather than waiting until the season is over.
the one thing Joba has to remember is don’t get caught in an Edwar Ramirez situation, throwing breakings balls as a swing and a miss pitch when you have that fastball and slider, he has the weapons he just has to remember don’t let the hitter recognize your breaking stuff use that fastball to keep them honest, Pedro was one of the best at doing this.
God bless that guy I hated him as a Red Sox but he actually helped Edwar in the offseason.
I’m in full agreement with Brandon for getting LaPorta. If it takes Kennedy and Ohlendorf, so be it. Eventually some pitching pieces will have to used in deals and the farm system has no high rising 1st baseman any time soon.
Tino Martinez can take all the time necessary to make a decent 1st baseman out of LaPorta.
speaking of changing tempo, i hope someone has noticed how slowly kennedy has gotten out there and made a correction. last season, he worked fast and the d was usually crisp behind him. this year he takes an eternity to throw. alot of what goes on between pitcher/batter is psychological and when you’re taking forever to pitch, the batter has to feel like he’s scared to pitch to me, while working fast gives the batter less time to think. working fast also gives that impression that you are in charge out there. i know its not THE answer to his problems, but i think it contributes.
Ohlendorf and Kennedy would not get us LaPorta. I think we are currently living in fantasy land as far as LaPorta being traded in the near future.
“The Yankees can’t afford to go into the offseason with Wang and four question marks.”
That doesn’t change even if Joba is in the rotation. He’ll be a question mark just like the other unproven rookies. Plus by doing so you create another question mark in the bullpen. Who will set up then?
Moving Joba to the rotation is a very bad decision. You can tell that Girardi and Cashman don’t want to do it, at least not this year. Hank is driving this train. Too bad Hank doesn’t know anything about baseball.
saucY,
I didn’t see the play live, just the highlight. Did they rule a legit homerun a double?
This is actually the third time in the week, two involving us and the third involving a NL team on the same day as the Delgado homerun.
Re: Rasner, Hughes, and young pitching. Some are calling Rasner a rookie. He is not. He’s been up and down several times. I was down on him because he didn’t particulary impress me the times he came up. But I have to tell you that he’s got my attention now. He’s dealt with injuries, demotions, and designations quite well. He’s “anchored” the rotation in a way, as one of the steadiest and most reliable pitchers on the staff. He’s done it with poise and control, giving up very few free passes.
Re: Hughes. He frustrated many of us to no end, but if he bounces back like Rasner he’ll make all of us forget about Rasner. Hughes was brought up too early, but it wasn’t by choice (thanks, Carl). I think we forget (even though we’re reminded so often) just how young Phil is. He’s got the goods, we know that.
Is the plan to stretch Joba out in the Bronx? It may not be the most correct way, but it certainly is the most beneficial.
I hope we can keep the momentum going a little today. Whatever you do, Joe, don’t bring Ross in the middle of an inning. He couldn’t put a candle out, let alone a fire. Ross is good, but I kinda miss Bruney in that role.
“I’m in full agreement with Brandon for getting LaPorta. If it takes Kennedy and Ohlendorf, so be it.”
It’s going to take some guys with more upside than that, I think.
“I think he’s 10 months removed from starting as they prepared him for moving to the big club pen in July of last year.”
They also prepared him as a starter this spring.
it might take more RER, LaPorta most likely is a franchise 1B, he’s the equivalent of a lotto pick in the NBA.I’d even go Marquez,Kennedy and Ohlendorf.
“You can tell that Girardi and Cashman don’t want to do it, at least not this year. Hank is driving this train.”
Wow. You couldn’t be more wrong. They have been saying from the beginning that the plan was to move him back to a starting role during this season. Now they’re doing exactly what they’ve always said they planned to do.
“The Dodgers? Frank McCourt (as Joe Torre found out with Santana) ain’t doin’ it.”
Disagree. The Santana thing was as much about prospects they’d have to let go as anything (See: Yankees and Red Sox). Sabathia as an anchor of a staff featuring young up and comers Billingsley and Kershaw would set them up for sometime.
They’ve got a ton coming off the books with Kent, Garciaparra, Lowe, Penny (they may pick up his $9M option) and Furcal all up after this year and A. Jones after ‘09.
“I’m in full agreement with Brandon for getting LaPorta. If it takes Kennedy and Ohlendorf, so be it.”
I don’t think Kennedy and Ohlendorff is getting you Matt Laporta.
SJ
How good is the kid at UM that worked out with Alex this off season?
“I don’t think Kennedy and Ohlendorff is getting you Matt Laporta.”
realistically I know that’s not enough I’m just throwing scenerios out there
I’ll buy into that idea Brandon. If Milwaukee is in the NL Central hunt in July, it will be pitching they’ll need and the Yankees have some pieces to offer. The next 6-8 weeks will set the stage.
A quick note about Mike Mussina’s future plans –
John Feinstein who wrote a book with Moose and Glavine about last season was being interviewed on the radio down here and strongly suggested that Moose was going to hang it up after this season. Moose’s kids are 8 and 10 years old and he wants to be home while they are still young enough to enjoy the years. (I haven’t had teenage kids, but I think you understand the drift)
Moose seemed to support this in his comments on the FAN interview which was excellent.
Feinstein was very complimentary of Moose as a good, if somewhat difficult guy – also said that Moose had come to terms with the fact he wouldn’t reach 300 wins.
i dont know that the dodgers plan is (likely torre is just waiting for nomar to come back and take a young player’s spot) but i can tell you that the dodgers announcers are totally sold on dewitt. the praise is gushing and believe me vin scully is as tied into the organizational thinking as anybody in dodgerland.
LaPorta is a top 5 prospect now. Those guys very rarely get traded.
It would be great – but it’s not likely unless Hughes was included, IMO.
And if the Brewers do sign Fielder and decide to trade LaPorta they are going to use him as the centerpiece to acquire a high end pitcher with major league experience in a Haren like deal. They are trying to compete now.
Prospect for prospect deals with guys at LaPorta’s level are very rare. That’s why the Young Garza deal was so unusual.
“How good is the kid at UM that worked out with Alex this off season?”
Yonder ? he is a future power LHB at 1B 20 HR 90 RBI potential, just think this Alex was working out w/ him and he lasted w/ him.
“I’d even go Marquez,Kennedy and Ohlendorf.”
Brandon, putting more limited-upside AAA arms in there isn’t going to help.
The guy could be a franchise hitter. You have to be willing to part with some high-upside young players. With McAllister, Betances and Brackman all being potentially dominant arms that are a couple years away, you can afford to part with one of them. And you’d have to. In addition to some interesting piece that’s closer to MLB. Kennedy could regain that status with a solid year…a guy who’s put together a good 2/3 of a season in the AL East and is still under control for 5 more years would have a lot of value. Horne has more upside, so he’d also have value if he authors another good effort this year and stays healthy.
TKinDC,
Didn’t know that in regards to Moose.
CB,
I follow the bouncing shrink when it comes to the Yankees in the draft.
Their “performance coach” (aka, shrink) has been to Vanderbilt, UM, and Florida that I know of in recent weeks.
That tells me they are centering on college players (no surprise) and probably on lefty pitchers.
Brett Jacobson of Vanderbilt, although not a lefty, is one pitcher rumored to be of interest to the Yankees.
If somebody big drops because of signability issues, of course they will pounce.
Its a thin draft. I have a feeling the Yankees will center on one guy and if they don’t get him, just fall on the best available athlete theme.
A guy to keep an eye on. Dennis Raben, OF, University of Miami.
If the pitchers they want don’t fall to them, Raben is a guy to watch. He was hurt earlier in the year. He gets overshadowed by Yonder Alonso and Jamelle Weeks (who are both Top 10 picks, IMO) but he can really play.
He reminds me of a young Paul O’Neill. He had a great summer in the Cape last year and I’d love for him to fall to the Yankees.
He may not. But, you never know.
Where I think they are planning to flex their financial muscle this year is the Latin American free agent market.
Cashman has already made 2 in-season trips to LA and the rumors are flying the Yankees are ready to spend whatever it takes to sign 3-4 of the top guys.
Supposedly, its a big year in the LA market.
Laporta is basically destroying the minor leagues and dictating what balls can and cannot go into his strike zone.
I don’t think Kennedy and Ohlendorf snag him, although I do agree that with Braun and Fielder, the Brewers could trade him.
I just don’t think they will, he looks so legit.
“this may be a stupid question, but with the demand for instant replay becoming a topic twice in a week, what would stop a home team from showing replays on the big screen/scorboard once the manager goes out to start an arguement?”
That would be one of the funniest things I have seen in baseball.
“LaPorta is a top 5 prospect now. Those guys very rarely get traded.
It would be great – but it’s not likely unless Hughes was included, IMO.”
Makes sense. So, do you get Morales to pair with Miranda and form a two-headed all-Cuban powerhouse of poor fielding at first base?
Next 33+ games is a farily “soft” schedule for NY.
Couldn’t be a better time to start this transition for Joba.
Yanks need to play those 33 games at 20-13…
“Brandon, putting more limited-upside AAA arms in there isn’t going to help.”
yeh I was afraid of that. I’d want to do a bulk B pospects deal but in reality we’re talking about Horne, Betances or McAllister..
“They also prepared him as a starter this spring.”
Insomuch as 9 and 2/3 innings over 6 appearances was preparing him to start, I’ll go along with you on this.
“Where I think they are planning to flex their financial muscle this year is the Latin American free agent market.
Cashman has already made 2 in-season trips to LA and the rumors are flying the Yankees are ready to spend whatever it takes to sign 3-4 of the top guys.
Supposedly, its a big year in the LA market.”
Better place to spend than the FA market. T