I’m a big proponent of building through the system, and I think the Yanks are very much on the right track. But I also think the org wants to maintain its winning ways, particularly this year and next.

The hitting has been frustratingly ineffective. You and SJ argue a bat is more needed, but not a rental bat. And seemingly we shouldn’t surrender any significant prospect for it or pitching. In fact SJ seems to be suggesting that the season be surrendered at the trade deadline – personally, I’d wait another month for Posada’s surgery. My questions are what bat, where would that batter play, and what would you give to get it? I’m cool with picking up Holliday or Teixeria (even though the latter is a rental) because they fill holes on next year’s roster (assuming Teixeria can be extended). But they won’t come cheap. After that, who? Dunn isn’t the ideal fit. Heck, I’d like to do a deal for a guy from Milwaukee’s stash of young corner OF’s and prospects, but what would they want that we can supply? Probably, like most other teams, pitching – but which would you part with?

You said “pitching is not the problem, the offense is the problem, believe it or not we’re losing more games at 2-1 and 3-1 or 4-3 than we win.” In fact, the Yanks are 10-10 in 1 or 2 run games where they score 3 runs or less. This is a function of very recent history, where in the last 4 games they are 1-3 in such games. I agree with many here that pitching is the problem, particularly for the playoffs. You go on and on about CC blowing up in the playoffs – so did Wang, and so have many other pitchers in a single season. To borrow an SJ favorite, that’s a straw man argument. But counting on Rasner and Ponson at the back of the rotation, or hoping Kennedy can rebound to replace one, or that we can wait for Wang and Hughes in August or September is questionnable in my mond. I don’t think we should do something now – unless it’s to help the pen. But mid-July when we see how Kennedy’s coming around and whether Rasner and/or Ponson can hold up is when we’ll need to act.

Personally I’m not ready to write off the season and focus on ’09 or ’10. And I’ve been following the Yanks since likely before you were born (can remember hearing about Mazaroski’s Series HR, saw Mantle hit in the Stadium), so the spoiled by the late 90′s argument won’t fly.

Look, if the hitting doesn’t come around, we’re toast. But that can possibly be corrected by better performances by the players here now – we’ve already seen some nice turnarounds this season (Damon, Giambi). It’s also possible that Rasner, Ponson, IPK, and Giese will suffice, or that they plus the returns of Hughes and Wang will. I just have less faith in that prospect, so adding a starter, preferably a good one, is something I’d welcome, since that will also be a need in ’09.

We could also use a pen arm – or a miracle comeback from Hawkins. I like our relief prospects in this area, but they’re not going anywhere, and we can’t predict whether they’ll perform well this season.

Finally, the CC for a paycheck thing. Your comments on this have been insulting. There is no way to guarantee that he won’t extend – or resign shortly after the season – with the team that acquires him. If he should move to a team that he then helps carry to postseason success (not such a big if), he could easily fall off the market in the afterglow. Now I don’t think we should put all our eggs in CC’s large basket, but Randy Wolf doesn’t ring my chimes so much. We don’t need a questionnable #4 starter – got lots of those.

I love following our prospects just like you. I was bitching about the lack of info out of Tampa just the other day and that a blog for them is in order – the perfect hobby for you and SJ in my mind – sincerely! But orgs aren’t built on prospects alone. The Rays are shaking things up with a good young team – but they were built more on trades and FA’s than prospects. 3 starters acquired in trades – 2 as pickups in salary dumps. An amazing pen turnaround all based on FA’s or trades – only Howell & Hammel came up through the ranks. And look at the players – only Crawford, Upton, and Longoria among the starters, and Gomes and Riggans on the bench were Tampa draftees. And they were willing to turn a 21 year old BA #1 minors prospect OF and some spare parts into a starting SS and a promising #3 starter. By the way, for an example of how a young player with multiple years of majors experience can make an offensive turnaround, take a look at our past prospect C Navarro. Cleveland’s a much better example of a team built from within, and what’s that getting them this season? So you’ve gotta be willing to make changes and cash chips – hopefully with an eye to the future as well as next month.

I’m not insisting on trades at this point – but I’m also not surrendering this season yet. I’m big on patience – but also big on winning, not whining. Cashman’s public pronouncements are meaningless – if he can find a decent deal for a player to help this team now, he’ll pull the trigger. I hope if he can, he does.

Sorry for the bible.

it was a great show from what i remember. i loved the format. wish they would have went with something similar for the new all-star game derby…

If A-Rod’s going to bang a beyond-MILF, over-the-hill pop starlet, he was better off doing it when the “Ray of Light” album was out.

I did catch Overreactionary Yankee Fan’s screen name.

I also look forward to Farnsworthy misrepresenting everyone’s nationality again tonight. Can’t wait for him to get on Sidney Ponson’s fat St. Lucian butt.

I like your little tidbit earlier about the possibility that missing out on the playoffs might be a blessing in disguise.

It might put things into perspective, help fans be realistic when it comes to expectations, and allow the team to continue with what seems to be a long-term schedule for success.

I will say, however, that the Yankees and their fans are overvaluing their prospects right now.

And everyone who keeps babbling about Johan, CC, etc. being health risks, just STOP. Its a sport, there are always health risks. Its a business, there are always risks required for success. The Yankees have made some trades that ended up showing poor results (Javier Vasquez, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown to name a few), but sooner or later they are going to take that necessary risk, stop overvaluing every prospect, and strike gold.

Since Matsui’s on the DL, that would be the only option.

Also, does anyone know if Gardner is taking any reps in CF during BP? If they’re intent on resting Melky, and Damon is good to go, we may see Damon in CF (now I lay me down to sleep…) and Gardner in LF again.

Yankee Stadium CF isn’t exactly a snap. Even if you can chase down fly balls, it takes some getting used to.

I do agree that the bullpen is low on the totem pole of our worries. It’s our offense, lack of contact hitters, always looking for the long ball, many times swinging at the first pitch when the opposing pitcher is wild. We used to be able to knock out the starting pitcher by the 5th or 6th inning based on being patient and raising their pitch counts, getting into their weaker bullpens to go on and win the game.