especially P — IPK plus Washburn

Caught Stealing Percentage
Player 2006 2007 2008 Career
Molina (33) .426 .295 .473 .418
I-Rod. (36) .510 .309 .360 .470

Make of it what you may. Pudge is older, Molina is a lot fatter. Molina has been better this year, in limited games, Pudge was better the previous 3 years and for his career. Who ever you think is ‘better’, Pudge is still excellent.

As a FULL time Catcher, Pudge has won 13 Gold Gloves in 17 seasons. He is considered on of the best defense Catchers in MLB history. He ain’t a kid anymore, but has averaged 133 games over the last 5 years, 129 games last year.

Also, Molina has been great, but it not great at blocking the plate. There have already been a nunber of plays at the plate where he was out of position.

This was an excellent trade. If we get 2 picks for him, it becomes unbelieveable! By the by, you might notice that Cashman LIKES to go for trades that yield draft picks. As a top finishing team, we always get bottom of the barrel picks, and this is one smart way of getting some higher placed picks.

No offense, but you go with that premise, while I’ll go with the low bullpen ERA, excellent performances from our top 3 starters (plus the possibility of getting Wang back at some point), and the assumption that our offense is going to turn it on, especially considering how some of them, like Cano, are heating up. As mentioned, we went from Molina, Gardner, and Melky to Nady, Pudge, Melky. I don’t see missing chemistry (I’ve played amateur team sports too), but I do see a missing solid starter. Whether that becomes Washburn, Kennedy, Aceves, Wang, C-Word, or a combination, this team has a fine chance to make their run and get in.

I understand the offense hasn’t done well in big spots (last night, for example), but it only takes one big spot to change that. Otherwise, Tino wouldn’t be thought of as some postseason hero…

I need to see whether Boston and Tampa make any moves, but I do think the Yanks will overtake one or both of them.

i’m not happy about this at all

offensive upgrade as well, bat him in the 5 hole.

That is exactly my point, if you estimate the chances of the Yankees making the playoffs based on statistics, then it is even worse! I just see a team that runs hot for 3 games, cold for 7, has a game where the pitchers shine but the bats are off, or a game where hitting is on but dismal pitching is the rule or a game where both pitching and hitting are non existent. I have played amateur team sports all my life, and apart from statistics, there is that “chemistry” or “clutch” or whatever you want to call it, and i am sorry to say it, but these guys just do not have it.
And yes, I am a lifetime Yankee fan and will continue to be.