Greetings from Gate E-9
-
- August
- 14
Here we are at the Harmon Killebrew International Airport in Minneapolis waiting to return home. This airport is actually very nice and easy to use.
Caught Pineapple Express last night. I wouldn’t rush out to see it, but you could probably do worse. James Franco and Seth Rogan are funny. The best part was spotting which secondary characters were in previous Judd Apatow movies.
The Yankees are off today and start a three-day homestand on Friday against the Royals. It’ll be interesting to see how the crowd treats them. Let’s be honest, the road trip was brutal. It’s one thing to lose, it’s quite another to play so carelessly.
——————
Bruce Springsteen released four live songs from his current tour on iTunes. One of them is The Ghost of Tom Joad with Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. Morello’s guitar solo at the end of the song is amazing. He’s really innovative. You can download the song or video if you’re interested.
UPDATE: 4:20 p.m.: Yeah, I’m an idiot. Morello is with Rage Against the Machine. That’s what I get for blogging when I’ve had three hours of sleep. Thanks to everybody who set me straight.
——————
Check back later, the Yankees have said they’ll provide an update on Dan Giese’s shoulder. If he’s out, they’ll need a starter for Tuesday and it could well be Phil Hughes.
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on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am by Peter Abraham.
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You mean Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine Fame..
(Trent Rezor is the main face of Nine Inch Nails as an FYI)
Should be very interesting to see how the crowd reacts… i am guessing they will jump on the team the first chance they get if they dont blow the royals out of the stadium…
and i believe tom morello was from Rage Against The Machine /Audioslave… amazing guitarist regardless…
Ben beat me to it, but yeah, Morello would be from either Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave or The Watchmen. Far as I know, he’s never been in NIN.
A lot of people said no to the Yankees winning to the post-season.
And I thought I was negative.Good to keep the faith guys.
Haha I came to post the same thing about Tom Morello but it looks like Ben and Johnny already covered it. He is definitely one of the greatest guitarists of all time. I think Rolling Stone magazine put him in their top 100 list.
Yeah Tom Morello is from Rage Against the Machine and most recently Audioslave. Trent Reznor is NIN and adds a band to tour.
Oh, and the Yankees look terrible and the Rays and Sox continue to win. Start booking those October vacations boys.
I’m actually going to root for the wild card to come out of the AL Central at this point.
Jeez, I was going to say Tom Morello is with Rage Against The Machine, but you all beat me to it! I saw him play in Chicago 2 weeks ago, it was pretty awesome.
Going to my first/last Yankee game of the year and the “Old Stadium” on Saturday. Flying in from Chicago to get one more glimpse. Hopefully I can see a win too!
If they play hard and focused baseball the rest of the way, regardless of results, the crowd won’t get on them.
If they play like they did yesterday? They crowd will kill them, as they should.
No excuse to play the kind of game they played yesterday. The mental mistakes? Can’t play like that at this time of the year and think you are going to the playoffs.
They will especially rip the guys who look like they have packed it in for the season. Of which, there seems to be a few on this team right now.
We will find out which guys want to be back next year by the way they play these final 6 weeks.
The guys that play like dogs? Regardless of stats, projections, stature, fantasy points, or any of that other nonsense, you get rid of them. You don’t win championships with dogs on your team.
Players play themselves on and off teams by the way they carry when their teams aren’t playing high stakes games late in the year.
Barring a miracle (highly unlikely), the Yankees will not be playing high stakes games late in the year for the first time in a very long time.
We will get a good look at the character of these guys with the way they handle these next 6 weeks.
audioslave broke up. Morello is back with Rage. Actually De La Rocha is back with the other guys who made up Audioslave.
If they don’t make a run in the next two weeks it’ll be time to start playing Matt Carson, Juan Miranda, maybe even Austin Jackson for a September call up. Also Hughes and Kennedy should get starts to try and show something.
Can’t believe the hall pass Girardi and the NY Media gave Cano for that play at 2B. Because Cano says the umpire told him Mauer would have been safe? Did you clowns watch the replay? He was OUT and it wasn’t all that close.
I was in favor of taking a shot with Sexson. I am equally in favor of releasing him now. His at bats lately have been dreadful. I’d rather watch Betemit hitting right handed… ok, no I wouldn’t but you get the idea. Time for Carson to get a sniff since neither Gardner nor Chrstian has distinguished himself.
Hopefully these will be the last 3 home games of the “Girardi Era”.
We Want Showalter or Mattingly to manaage our Yanks!!!
And we want Oppenheimer for GM.
The Pudge trade ruined our season!!!
Not to be a blog whore (if that’s a word), but the Springsteen/Morello video is on my blog. Pete is right, Morello’s solo at the end is really cool.
http://claybuchholzloveslaptops.blogspot.com/2008/08/bruce-springsteen-tom-morello.html
I know the numbers say we have a chance, but Cano or Melky do something dreadful daily. I’m not just blaming them, it’s just becoming very hard to watch them play.
I can’t believe it but A-rod, Damon, Jeter seem like the only people playing with passion/sense of urgency/heart, call it what you want.
It looks like the Yankees partook of a little puffing of the Pineapple Express on this road trip. I can’t remember another 6-12 stretch by the Yankees since September of 2000. It’s been ugly and injuries aren’t an excuse when you get good pitching performances out of Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner and aren’t able to score enough runs to win ballgames.
The team isn’t out of it mathematically… yet.
But it sure looks like they’re out of it mentally. Granted a 10-Game cross-country trip is no cakewalk, but they looked dead from day-1.
This team doesn’t play to win, they HOPE to win. And oddly enough unlike politics, it takes more than HOPE to win. As Girardi says about IPK, they’ve “got to show me something.”
With the injuries to the Rays and the Sox maybe some ground can be made up in time for the sprint. From the looks of it though, we’ve taken a pit stop while everyone else has picked up the pace slightly. Let’s hope the gatoraid works some magic.
“Blog whote” is TWO words.
Oops. Meant “blog whore.”
I am also not ready to throw in the towel.
It obviously looks really bad now but there is still a chance, even if it is minimal.
I am hoping what happened is that the team thought they would just start winning ball games in the second half like they did last year and are now realizing that the gap is closing rather quickly.
Players are starting to talk and say things they normally wouldn’t. They are getting worried. I predict a good home stand and a nice 8 of 12 games in the win column.
Lets look at it this way, we are Yankee fans, and we quite honestly are not used to being in this position this time of the year. We have as good a chance as Minnesota does and its still doable.
My concern is this, when players are pressured they press, I hope some of these guys dont continue to try to hit 6 run homers and have more bad at bats.
The stress of not playing well, playing from behind in the standings, knowing that if you lose a game you lose ground is tough. They put themselves in this position early in the season.
Girardi skills or lack of will have alot to do with the success or failure. I think he needs to stop trying to show us how smart and creative he is and put the best hitters in the lineup, play every game like its his last, and play them one at a time.
Otherwise its going to be over sooner than later
Will Manny play for the Yankees next year? What do you all think? Will he want to get back at Boston so bad he’ll take a 2-year deal? Do the Yankees want him? Or would he be another in the failed 8-year pattern of hiring past-their-prime superstars? Interested in opinions.
Aardvark:
I know I’m a minority here, but I say yes get Manny..
“Yeah Tom Morello is from Rage Against the Machine and most recently Audioslave. Trent Reznor is NIN”
Yeah I was going to point this out too, Morello’s current project is The Night Watchman.
“audioslave broke up. Morello is back with Rage. Actually De La Rocha is back with the other guys who made up Audioslave.”
Actually RATM became Audioslave, same people except Zach de la Rocha left and they added Chris Cornell as vocals. RATM got back together last year and did a few concerts and a small tour but don’t seem to be getting back together. If you’re looking for some new stuff from either check out One Day As A Loin for Zach and The Night Watchman for Morello.
Re: the Giese note…
It SHOULD be Phil Hughes Tuesday REGARDLESS.
“Will Manny play for the Yankees next year? What do you all think? Will he want to get back at Boston so bad he’ll take a 2-year deal? Do the Yankees want him? Or would he be another in the failed 8-year pattern of hiring past-their-prime superstars? Interested in opinions.”
Yankees should have no interest in Manny, I don’t think Manny has that much interest in the Yankees. He would cost too much money, the team already has enough old OF and DH-types, and he doesn’t fit the mold of position player that they need to target: young and athletic.
Maybe Tampa will sign him to DH and occasionally play LF—he could get back at Boston that way, and still feast on Yankees pitching, I’m sure an ideal scenario for Manny.
manny will quit on whatever team signs him before his next contract ends. that’s what he is, a quitter.
“Maybe Tampa will sign him to DH and occasionally play LF–he could get back at Boston that way, and still feast on Yankees pitching, I’m sure an ideal scenario for Manny.”
actually, Tampa is the perfect localtion for him, though i dont think they’d open up the wallet for him.
he could DH for them daily, play the saux 19 times a year, and live in a media market where he could disappear after the games are over.
Vermillion –
That is One Day as a Lion, not as a Loin!
I votes yes not because i really think that they will make it but i still have some hope !
In regard to Manny I realize I may have a biased view, but I honestly give Manny a lot of credit for the two World Series rings.
With that being said, I have said on here before that Manny carries with him enough baggage to even fill the clubhouse at the new stadium.
He is a tremendous offensive threat, but if he doesn’t get his way in something he will come up with bad knees and half efforts. Watching him play for the Dodgers I see no evidence of the sore knees he complained about right before getting traded and even didn’t play the first game of the Yankees/Sox series.
“actually, Tampa is the perfect localtion for him, though i dont think they’d open up the wallet for him.”
Honestly, I think their new ownership is more willing to spend, plus they still get revenue sharing money—why not spend on someone that they could view as “the final piece” that makes their lineup (arguably) as potent as Boston or Anaheim? They are trying to get a new stadium, it always makes taxpayers feel a little better about footing the bill for those kinds of ventures when it’s for a team with bigtime players. Cue: Manny.
18% of us still are keeping the faith…..Believe…YOU GOTTA BELIEVE !!!
When a team wins, they look like they’re having fun, have great chemistry, everyone is sharp, etc., yada yada. You ignore the stupid mistakes, because a win is a win. Remember that 8 game winning streak?
When a team loses, especially in a losing streak, everyone is ‘flat’, no one has ‘fire’, there’s no ‘chemistry’.
It’s an illusion. Just because the results aren’t there doesn’t mean the team is a bunch of lazy bums thinking about how they’re going to spend their money on a nice October cruise.
Why don’t we sign Manny, to help us threw the next 2yrs, the Yanks aren’t going to make trades they want to hold tight to the prospects…FA signing will fill the void, he is the best pure hitter in the game today..
Don Vito A. Bellamo:
I do believe with Melky in CF, and Cano at 2nd, we have a very slim shot.
“Why don’t we sign Manny, to help us threw the next 2yrs, the Yanks aren’t going to make trades they want to hold tight to the prospects…FA signing will fill the void, he is the best pure hitter in the game today..”
I don’t buy that they aren’t going to make any trades for a second. In case you forgot, the organization tried filling too many voids through free agent signings and a lot of them completely failed. Those prospects have been stockpiled with the intention of either seeing if they become major league contributors or turning them into other already-established major leaguers that would help for more than just 2 months. That’s why the Nady and Marte trade happened, because those guys will be around (Nady definitely, I still think Marte will be as well) for 2009.
Free agents will not fix the offense. CC will do a lot for the rotation if he’s signed, but giving Tex a 6 or 7 year deal is just more of the same logic that screwed the team up starting in 2001.
Good morning my friend Mr. Don Vito A. Bellamo!
It’s really tough to back this team when everyone including ownership quit.
Manny is playing for a lively team that’s coming from behind, rising in the standings, and thrilling their fans with a much better late season than last year. His eccentricities play well in El Lay, the fans enjoy his act. Now ManRam’s a moody guy and getting older too. Is he going to perform as well not being in a scene that lifts him up?
Andrew:
CC would be a nice signing but lets not forget what happens when you pitch in the AL East, ERA climbs I don’t care who it is, and you must have offense to win…...
Good morning, everyone.
Hopefully the day off and some home cooking will energize the team.
O/T but you can watch the Olympics via live stream or by archived video. Right now I’m watching Venus struggle against Yi. Interesting result for Blake v. Federer, too.
Here’s the link for the video homepage: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/index.html
Do yourselves a favor and don’t think about the Yankees until tomorrow!
I would rather deal with Manny being Manny, than Cano being Cano..
how about we get rid of cano and not have to deal with lazy quitters altogether.
At least Manny puts it all out on the table and, when he has something to play for, gives it his all.
“when he has something to play for, gives it his all.
so lemme get this straight, this year, his (ex) team leads in the wc and is right behind tampa in the divisionand he’s playing for a $20M option. you’re right, he’s got nothing to play for.
“At least Manny puts it all out on the table and, when he has something to play for, gives it his all.”
Seriously????
yeah, poor guy, working for chump change and looking at a chump-change option and another piece of crap ws ring.
why couldnt the sox give him something to play for?
FIRE GIRARDI !!!!!!
“The guys that play like dogs? Regardless of stats, projections, stature, fantasy points, or any of that other nonsense, you get rid of them. You don’t win championships with dogs on your team.”
SJ44,
My dog reads this blog with me every day. He was very upset by your above comments.
The dodgers are a mediocre team and manny is exposing the NL pitching weakness
does he read it with you, or does he read it to you?
thanks for the link mel. i always forget about some of these olypic sports. table tennis? handball?
where the hell are horseshoes and darts?
“does he read it with you, or does he read it to you?”
What are you a wisenheimer or something? Seriously, though, yes, he does read it to me. He does the reading, but I do the writing. It’s a great partnership!
nbc is so freakin married to beach volleyball that you dont get to see much of the other lesser sports. dont suppose that it has anything to do with the fact that they show beach volleyball every summer on weekends do you?
how is he with the crossword?
saucY,
Don’t forget to watch Ortiz take on the Chinese in badminton.
my cat cant read at all!
thats why she always gets lost driving!
Tom Morello of Nine Inch Nails? Oh, Pete that is such an insult.
skeptic,
Program the GPS, but if your cat is Toonces you’ve got no chance anyway.
I really enjoyed Pineapple Express
Paging Larry Bowa to the Fundamentals Ward.
skeptic, maybe it’s your cats vision? cataracts maybe?
okay, that was bad…
lol, you know how you guys hate the wave? Li is about to serve 6-5 in the second set and they’re telling the crowd to be quiet. So what do they do? They yell and do the wave.
True, black Yankee, the Dodgers are a mediocre team (like others we could mention), but they are lively, rising in the standings, thrilling their fans, etc., like I said. Manny may very well be exposing the pitching in a poor division of a lesser league, but in addition his personality is enjoyed by his fans. Nothing you said in any way contradicts my comments. We may both be right. But I think my question still stands. Will he do as well elsewhere?
So it looks like the Pavano thing is really happening, huh?
Rotation hopefully will be:
Mussina
Pettitte
Joba
Hughes
Pavano
With Ponson as backup. I would keep Ponson around at this point, he’s pretty good
“With Ponson as backup. I would keep Ponson around at this point, he’s pretty good”
Pavano is not coming up to take Ponson’s rotation spot, unless Ponson is the next to go down due to injury.
I don’t see any reason not to give Hughes and other young starters a chance a this point. The season is toast. Heck, if we really tank and fall into the bottom 15 our first-round pick will be protected if we sign a Type-A free agent.
ok. we all get it and i think pete does. morello is in rage. he’ll make the change when he gets back to the blog.
This could be a real horrible 6 weeks or the best we’ve seen since 78. I hope I’m wrong but my guess is it won’t be good, even if we go 500 the rest of the way.
Ponson deserves to be starter, heck he’s our number 3 guy right now..
Right now I have more confidence in Ponson than Hughes..
All of the Apatow Johnny-come-latelys make me laugh. I like to watch his movies and see who I can identify from “Freaks and Geeks,” still his best work by far.
“15 our first-round pick will be protected if we sign a Type-A free agent.”
you know, right now they pick in the ower 20’s… guess its not too hard to imagine, if they absolutely fall off the pace or decide sept is a tryout for 2009.
dont see that happening, though.
Joba is weeks away, it could all be over but the crying by then.
I don’t understand y u guys take it for granted that CC is going to be a Yankee next year? It’s not given. Same with Tex. U guys assume that Tex will be a yankee if Hank feels like he needs to sign him. It’s not just the Yanks that have money to spend. All the big market teams have money comming of the books or have money to spend. RedSox, Angels,Dodgers all are in good financial situation to spend. I think Theo might have got rid of Manny to clear lots of dough to go after CC. I am not saying RedSox are going to sign CC. I am just saying they will go after him as hard as Yanks/Dodgers or any other team.
I’d rather see Ponson than Pavano. Pavano may have been good in the day, but he hasn’t faced ML hitters in years. And he’s not going to be welcome in the clubhouse.
David Price got his first AAA start yesterday. Took his first professional loss with 3 runs off 7 hits in his shortest pro outing of 4 innings. He’s going to be a beast.
NYY:
Good point.
Don’t know if this has been discussed yet, but Raul Ibanez was claimed off waivers today. Could it be by the Yanks, thinking about him for CF or LF and benching Melky?
NYY:
I just don’t think anyone can match us dollar for dollar…
NYY:
FA wise we could afford 3 big ones and some addtional help, most teams to include Boston can afford just 1.
NYY:
Also if we a grading GM’s, Theo has done better than Cash the past couple of years, granted Cash was financial tied up the past 3-4yrs. So we will see this year, to me it is his real test…..
THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEE YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAANKKKKKKKKKKKEEEESSSSSS SSSSSUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKK
So does your education.
Foul Pole Squirrel:
Maybe but I doubt the Yanks want to deal with the Seattle GM again..
I don’t think anybody are assuming CC is coming to NY. I think what people are saying is, the Yankees have to make it a priority to make sure he comes to NY.
For those who say, “what’s changed between not getting Santana and now having to give CC whatever he wants”? Simple answers:
1. Not making the playoffs.
2. Hughes and Kennedy not panning out.
What they (the Yankees) may have wanted to do, or felt could work, a year ago, hasn’t worked.
So, you make an adjustment to your thinking.
Its not complicated. CC Sabathia is a free agent and will command the highest salary ever given to a starting pitcher in the history of the game. That’s based on his performance this year and the fact that everyone can bid for him.
For those who don’t like his waistline, this isn’t a bodybuilding contest. Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano are more fit than CC Sabathia. They have also been hurt more than CC has ever been hurt in his entire life.
Its imperative for the Yankees to get Sabathia. They need him, he knows it, and its a matter of doing what it takes to close the deal.
“FA wise we could afford 3 big ones and some addtional help, most teams to include Boston can afford just 1.”
Boston can afford just one???? Wouldn’t count on that. Lot off the books after ‘08.
Clay,
lol about your dog. Could it be that while you’re away from your computer he posts as “stuart”?
SJ44:
I totally agree on the CC. Though I know we don’t necessarily agree on the offensive side of things.
I like that song that NIN did “Bulls on Parade.” Trent Reznor and Tom Morello were great on that track!
Fredo Corleone:
Sorry I meant big signings and I stand by that.
Timothy post George and Tampa tampering Cash has done real good imo, him and Billy Eppler, they have been targeting the right players ex. remember they would have gone Crede or Encarnacion if they could have, they targeted Mike Lowell and almost landed him on 1B. The forward movement is to my liking, the attention to detail most importantly that Piit’s deal I look at Nady as a player that could have played w/ the 98’ Yankees he’s dangerous yet the league pays no attention to him.
I think this coming season they will land the right SP ACE (CC Sabathia) and move onto finding some young diamonds in the rough, perhaps Saltalamacchia, a Greinke, I think another couple of options will be Baltimore FA that Dominican pitcher I can’t remember his name. Anyway point is this can be fixed by the faction.
CC stands for CA-Ching!
Fredo Corleone:
We could afford both Tex and CC, were I think Boston would be able to do 1. They both are worth it, they are both relatively young…...
You build a team from the pitching out. Its still a game of pitching.
Forget the all star at every position lineups. That’s gone after this year. The Yankees will move away from that philosophy in the off-season.
Its why those are believe Tex will be a Yankee will be upset. He’s not coming to NY.
They can use their surplus of young pitching to find position players. Maybe not superstars but, solid players who help teams win games.
Their biggest question re: position players in the off-season will be Cano. Can they fix him or is he a lost cause?
Whatever the decision is, they have to make the right one re: Cano.
If they think they can fix him, then you do what it takes to make it happen. If they think he’s a lost cause, then you have to deal him and make the best possible deal you can.
That’s going to be a tough call for the Yankees.
CC? That’s an easy call. Its just money.
Don’t know if this has been discussed yet, but Raul Ibanez was claimed off waivers today. Could it be by the Yanks, thinking about him for CF or LF and benching Melky?
I’d prefer Jody Gerut but it could be possible, the yankees did not claim Washburn but no one said anything about Ibanez if we did that would mean Matsui gets shut down.
Does anybody really think that Pavano will make a major league start in the regular season? I’ve always heard that it takes at least 12-18 months after TJ surgery to regain velocity. Please don’t try to convince me that Pavano is a quick healer.
Justin Christian IS a better baseball player than A-Rod.
Brandon:
I agree the Tampa Coup, has been a hinderance, that’s why I feel Cash is gonna make some huge moves this off-season at least I hope.
I know we have to have CC, and I’m sure it will be pricey.
With his thinking on holding on to prospects so tight, that is why I feel he will go after a bat (Manny/Tex) I prefer Tex because he would satisfy so many issue’s with 1 guy, I’m not sure he can get Tex. WE need a bat bad and it will have to come via FA..
“Sorry I meant big signings and I stand by that.”
You can stand by it all you like, but it’s not true. Boston has about $40M off the books this year and they’re ‘08 payroll is $20M+ less than the ‘07 was. Don’t know that will chose to be, but they can be very much involved in FA’s next year. Pitching is where they’d likely be most involved.
What about Casey Blake for 1B if we miss out on Tex?
SJ44:
You know we could probably get Hudson for a reasonable price, this may give us time to see if Cano can come around, if not Hudson is a good 2nd baseman.
How is Tex not a solid player that helps teams win games? Why does his status as superstar mean the Yankees won’t go after him? Makes no sense at all to me. He’s exactly the type of player the Yankees should be looking at: he’s versatile, great offensively and defensively, a switch hitter, great power and can hit for average. We have an open spot at first and no one who can really fill it. (No, I do not believe Posada will or should be playing at 1B, he will either DH or catch.)
no such thing as Harmon Killebrew International Airport…
Rage would also do a great live cover of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” when they were touring for Evil Empire.
They aren’t touching Manny and Tex isn’t coming to NY.
They aren’t dealing with Scott Boras on those two guys. They have enough of a problem trying to deal with him on Bleich and Cole. They aren’t subjecting themselves to Boras for Manny and Tex.
Like I said, forget about the all star lineup. Its a thing of the past after this season.
They will go back to building the team from the pitching staff out, filling in the holes with productive, rather than older, expensive players, and go from there.
With his thinking on holding on to prospects so tight, that is why I feel he will go after a bat (Manny/Tex) I prefer Tex because he would satisfy so many issue’s with 1 guy, I’m not sure he can get Tex. WE need a bat bad and it will have to come via FA..
I doubt this Manny and Tex I would say are 95 % not going to be targeted by this regime. Problem w/ the Yanks are players that give a damn no offense but Manny doesn’t give a damn and having him w/ this mix spells more problems for the youth because the they’d be looking up to him too and mimicing his actions. Not a pretty picture. Tex again longterm declining years see Giambi, see Varitek, see any player that has 4-5 years more than they deserve.
Fredo Corleone:
Then it will be a dog fight for CC, and if the Sux make again this year we may lose out on him.
I think Cashman is gonna have to look at his minor league pitching surplus and make some deals to get younger position players on the roster. I wonder what it would take to pry either David Murphy or Chris Davis from the Rangers… those are the type of deals Cashman needs to be pursuing.
“Could it be by the Yanks, thinking about him for CF or LF and benching Melky?”
Definitely could be the Yanks who won the claim, but Ibanez can’t play center. I think it’s likely he ends up back in Seattle. He’s cheap and will be a Type A. Unless the M’s see return commensurate with 2 top 45 pix, they’ll pull him back. MLBTR says the Twins did not get him. Boston wouldn’t let him get to Tampa I don’t think. Could be the Yanks, but I don’t know what they’d do with him.
What about Casey Blake for 1B if we miss out on Tex?
That I can see.
They aren’t dealing with Scott Boras on those two guys. They have enough of a problem trying to deal with him on Bleich and Cole. They aren’t subjecting themselves to Boras for Manny and Tex.
Yup I forgot that too, this is a big reason why my 95 % No just went to 99 % No
WOW… small sample size but it looks like Tabata just needed a change of scenery.
The Angels didn’t trade Kotchman to rent Tex. Arte Moreno and Boras are very, very tight. Boras almost became a part-owner in the Angels when Moreno offered him shares in the team. He wasn’t ready to leave the agent business, so he declined.
They will work out a deal to keep Tex in Anaheim.
The Yankees aren’t going to pay two free agents a combined 300+ million bucks in the off-season. Its not going to happen.
Everybody who follows the game reports the same thing. The Yankees have made CC Sabathia their #1 target and that’s the guy they will go all in to get.
They can get another first baseman and not have to pay 150+ million for his services.
Posey signed in SF. Matusz just about done in Baltimore.
Boras and clients are in for a whirlwind 36 or so hours.
There are only so many $20M per year long term contracts any one team can hand out – even the yankees with their enormous revenues.
So the question with Texeira isn’t whether he would make the yankees better.
The question is whether he is worth handing out one of those high money salary slots to.
Texeira will not simply cost $140-180 M. There is an enormous opportunity costs associated with that contract – it most definitely confines their flexibiity and will prevent them from making other possible moves in the future.
And then of course there are the salary tax implications.
Tex could very well be the worst type of player to bring into new york. A very good player who is signed to a big deal who the fans and media will expect to elite player production from. But he’s never going to produce at that level because he never has in the past.
Then all of the cries about Tex being overrated, not clutch, not a winner, overpaid, etc., etc. will start. We’ve seen this act before.
People will expect Albert Pujols or Lance Berkman like production from Tex. But when they get production closer to Jason Bay’s from Tex they are going to throw him under the bus and say the yankees made a bad move.
And then in 2012 when both true superstars like Pujols and Berkman are free agents there’s going to endless laments about why they signed Tex and how it was such a bad move.
I love Tom Morello’s guitar work for REO Speedwagon.
Hudson and Cano wouldn’t be on the same roster. Hudson also just had wrist surgery, so signing him and expecting him to be ready to be the starting 2B is a dicey proposition. I think Cano is heavily involved in trade rumors during the offseason but eventually ends up staying put. That’s based in nothing other than my feeling—but I think he will be connected to a lot of teams, and I think if the right deal is there then someone else is playing second for the Yankees on Opening Day.
And, Anthony, the reason that Tex is unappealing is because of the length of the contract he will receive. He has all those skills you mentioned, yes, but they will have begun to deteriorate once you get into that contract. Also, those types of deals are usually back-loaded, meaning the salary numbers will be highest when his performance is probably lowest. He might help the team win games, but his signing would just be Jason Giambi all over again.
SJ44:
To go all out for FA pitcher’s that when they come to the AL East will get hit their ERA will rise (doesn’t matter who) and not go after a proven producer is the wrong strategy? Especially with no position player’s ready till 1 in 09 AJ (if he doesn’t have a set back) and the rest 10/11….
I think Cashman is gonna have to look at his minor league pitching surplus and make some deals to get younger position players on the roster. I wonder what it would take to pry either David Murphy or Chris Davis from the Rangers… those are the type of deals Cashman needs to be pursuing.
That could happen I doubt the Rangers deal Chris Davis but a young SP for a potential young 1B stud cost controlled could be a possibility. I’d attempt as crazy as this sounds to ship Ian Kennedy to Washington and see if we can pry away a Lastings Milledge.
Now I’m not advocating the pursuit of Yu Darvish. But if you’re interested and really bored, there’s archived video of Japan v. Cuba @ the link I gave above. Darvish was topping out at 151.
‘WOW… small sample size but it looks like Tabata just needed a change of scenery.”
You mean the fishbowl that is Trenton, New Jersey was just too much for him?? (:
Andrew:
I think having Hudson just as a back-up plan, not trade Cano and have Hudson as the evryday 2nd at least until he’s healthy.
WOW… small sample size but it looks like Tabata just needed a change of scenery.
Nah at that level he’s seeing poorer pitching, he was struggling the few games before last night’s at his pace it’s not out of the question that he will be in the same league w/ Carlos Urena, Kevin De Leon and Eduardo Sosa.
“I’d attempt as crazy as this sounds to ship Ian Kennedy to Washington and see if we can pry away a Lastings Milledge.”
They’d probably counter with Willy Mo Pena. (:
So what about the length of the contract? Tex isn’t even 30 years old yet. By the end of his contract, $20M, with increasing revenues and inflation, will be pocket change. He and Giambi are totally different creatures. The two problems with Giambi are his health and his defense. Those are not big issues with Tex, at all.
CC Sabathia won the Cy Young Award last year in the AL. He’s not going to wilt over pitching in the AL East.
Look at the AL East this year. Its not exactly been an offensive juggernaut. The Red Sox have hit ok but, not as well as last year.
Toronto and the Yankees have been awful for most of the year and Baltimore is up and down.
There isn’t a successful team in baseball that does not build its team from the pitching staff out. Why do you think Tampa is so good this year? Its because of pitching.
Unfortunately, the Yankees don’t have enough young arms that can stay healthy. They need CC Sabathia more than any other team in baseball.
If you don’t sign him, and Moose and Andy decide to retire, you have ONE starting pitcher that has pitched over 150 innings in one season at the major league level. Wang, and he is coming off a serious foot injury.
If you are the Yankees, you can’t go into next season with that much uncertainty in the pitching.
Their #1 priority, before they do anything else, is to sign CC and convince Moose and Andy to come back with team/player friendly 1 year deals.
If they do that, then they have a pitching staff.
Once you have that, its much easier to fill the holes they will need to fill among their position players.
Also, on the Casey Blake front, he would be a good fit but he hasn’t played very much first base in his career (104 games at first in almost 10 years in the bigs). If you want to build the team from the pitching staff out, it seems like a bad idea to have an inexperienced every-day first baseman. Plus, I think some team will offer to pay him to play 3rd full-time and that’s his primary position, so I don’t see the Yankees being a match.
CB:
I respect your opinion but Tex is a very good 1b that is 28.
I don’t think he is worth 20mil a year but 17/18 I think he is worth that if he can be had for that.
Oh, and Albert Pujols will NEVER be in a Yankee uniform, so you can forget about that. He is Mr. Cardinal, they will open the checkbook for him.
Now I’m not advocating the pursuit of Yu Darvish. But if you’re interested and really bored, there’s archived video of Japan v. Cuba @ the link I gave above. Darvish was topping out at 151.
That’s 94 mph not bad.
“Nah at that level he’s seeing poorer pitching,”
I hadn’t been watching. Am I to assume the Pirates did what the Yankees should have done all along, and put him in Hi-A?
I think with Tex the problem is the years. Signing someone for that long ties your hands if things go wrong. They want to get away from that so that they can be more flexible.
SJ44:
I never said he would wilt, but 18 games against any of the AL East teams will make his ERA rise.
I am psyched about Hughes. I have no statistical backup, just a hunch, but he is gonna lead us to the playoffs.
Andy is second half Andy, Moose having a career year, Joba back in action, Hughes living up to the hype, and the GiePonRasAAA beast filling is as needed.
Don’t forget Matsui, either. I’m glad to see JoeG has decided that Melky’s glove is not enought to keep him on the roster.
Damon (LF)
Jeter
Abreu
ARod
Matsui (DH)
Nady (CF)
Giambi (1B)
IRod/Molina
Cano
That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
They may not make a run at Tex, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.
Just accepting sub par play from the position, shouldn’t be an option, especially when first base is a position for most teams where offense is a given.
Sticking a catcher with a bum shoulder over there shouldn’t happen, but since the Yankees signed a 37-year old catcher to an 4-year deal, that’s what we’ll likely be stuck with.
Other than that, where are your options? Betemit, Shelley Duncan? Juan Miranda? Yikes.
Casey Blake is 35 years old. You guys are complaining about signing Tex but you want to give a 4 year deal (because that is what he will get from someone) to a 35 year old guy that really isn’t all that good?
Pete, I pooped my pants during pinapple express. The movie was sooo funny. The “hamburgeler” line was funny. Along with the 2 daewoo lines. I thought it was up there with superbað
Kennedy and Humberto Sanchez for Saltalamachia?
I respect your opinion but Tex is a very good 1b that is 28.
I don’t think he is worth 20mil a year but 17/18 I think he is worth that if he can be had for that.
I think CB he it on the nail. Tex will be paid like a Pujols maybe even higher and when people find out he’s not that great they are going to rip him ala Arod but worse. The Yankees FO will never hear the end of it w/ thier fans I don’t see this happening and plus the Angels traded a legit talent for him there is a huge possibility he stays in LA.
CC Postulates:
1. The Yankees need CC.
2. Hank will not sleep until CC is in pinstripes.
3. CC loves eating up NL hitting.
4. CC likes to hit homeruns.
5. CC likes the west coast.
6. CC likes money.
7. The Yankees have money. Lots of money.
8. Hank will make it rain for CC.
9. Other teams have money, too.
10. CC is not worth $25 million a year.
SJ44:
Signing CC agreed is a must, but you need offense as well.
Even if we get him and he throw’s 15 no hitter’s, there are 4 other pitcher’s that need run support, hell he will need a run to win the no-hitter and your ACE usually faces the other ACE.
Tim,
Tex is a very good player. But he is not a great player. He’s just not. Just take a look at his body of work over his career. He has a much bigger name than what his level of play warrants. People perceive him to be a great player. He will get paid like a great player. But he’ll never produce like a great player because he never has before.
Go back and look at all of the $100M + contracts. Many of the worst of them were the ones given to guys who were very good players but not great ones.
And in new york it’s even tougher. There will be intense, unrealistic expectations on Tex.
It’s not just that he’s worth 17/18M so ok let’s overpay him 20M because we need him. It’s the length of the contract that’s the killer.
The Posada and Mo deals were stupidly long, the ARod deal is probably stupidly long, but signing Tex until he turns only 39 when he’s shown himself to be a healthy player and doesn’t look like he’s going to be breaking down is not a bad long-term deal.
Before I hung up, I put it to him like this:
“If the Reds come to you Friday with a $3 million big league contract, what will happen?”
“You’ll be writing a story about me going to the independent league,” he said.
I thought this would get done. But what I hadn’t count on is the ARod factor. Alex Rodriguez, that Alex Rodriguez, is Alonso workout partner and friend. ARod has told Alonso if things don’t work to his liking, he welcome to live with Rodiguez next season and play for Newark or Long Island of the Atlantic League. My guess ARod doesn’t live in fifth floor walk-up.
There hasn’t been a lot of back and forth between Alonso’s representatives and the Reds. But he did not rule out signing.
“I try to stay positive,” he said. “They lost two big hitters. I’d love to play there. But hey knew what I wanted when they draft me. If they weren’t going to give it to, why did they take me. They knew what they got themselves into.”
If the Reds don’t sign Alonso, they get the eighth pick in next year’s draft.
CB , SJ what happens w/ Yonder if this happens ?
“So what about the length of the contract? Tex isn’t even 30 years old yet. By the end of his contract, $20M, with increasing revenues and inflation, will be pocket change. He and Giambi are totally different creatures. The two problems with Giambi are his health and his defense. Those are not big issues with Tex, at all.”
Giambi wasn’t hurt until he came to the Yankees. So what that Tex hasn’t been hurt yet? Also, $20 million is what you think the number will be for year #7? Give me a break. He will be getting more than that, did you forget that Scott Boras is involved? His defense is superior, great, but offensively he would not live up to the contract over the years that he’d be signed. Also, players are starting to decline earlier nowadays, so I don’t buy that he will still be sprite and productive at 35 as a sure thing.
I don’t think that New York gives Giambi a hard time with all the money he’s making. The only guy who gets that treatment is A-Rod because people just hate him for whatever reason and he’s become the face for this team’s failures. I don’t think Tex is going to get that type of treatment. He seems like a fairly uncontroversial guy, unlike A-Rod.
“CB , SJ what happens w/ Yonder if this happens ?”
Goes back in the draft.
Take Abreu, Giambi, Sexson, Betemit, Pudge..out of the line-up
Damon
Jeter
Arod
Hideki
Posada
X
Cano
Melky
Christian
That leaves us going into next season with the same line-up now, barring Hideki and Posada stay healthy.
wow lots of stuff here today. Casey Blake? these are things I think people dont realize. Guys wearing other teams uniforms may look great watching them play once a week or once a month, but you need to watch guysa play everyday to get a feel. Blake is not better than anyone we currently have offensively except Molina, Melky, Betemit, Sexson, maybe IROD
Pavano?? I`ll take Ponson, hes a battler. They should have traded Pavano to the NL last year, took a loss, and moved on.
P.S. the writer that wrote that report should be ashamed of themselves I just skimmed through it right now and couldn’t believe all those errors.
“Goes back in the draft.”
cant he go back to school? i was under the impression he was an undergrad, but am i wrong?
Wonder what kind of deal CC will be looking for?
Man I’m finding it difficult to accept our future off season woes. Looks like a lot of fixing to do and not a lot of options. I was never a huge fan of CC as he was awful last playoffs, but we really need a name brand pitcher to at least get part of that swagger back. Can’t be worrying about a rotation filled with un-proven young guns and aging vets. Lets face it, after Wang & Joba, there are question marks aplenty . I’m sure we’re all hoping Hughes comes back next week and makes another splash. I think if we can have a rotation next year with Wang,Joba and Hughes in it, everybody can ease up in the organization a bit having produced 3 quality starters (And possibly a nice 1-2-3) from within. It would be quite an accomplishment.
Maybe a strong rotation can instill the life back into this offense! which doesn’t look like it’s going to see a major overhaul as most guys are signed.
Tex may get more than 20M at the back end because the deal is structured that way, but he won’t get more than that annually.
When Tex turns 35, that will have been 6 years of a possibly 10 year contract. That means, even if your theory is right that he’s going to suddenly break down at 35, which I think is unlikely, he will have played over half of his contract already.
with ARod as an advisor and mentor, and Boras as an agent, you wonder if this kid is now strictly going to play hardball, and just tell everyone to lay off, bc he’ll only sign with NY… kind of like what we heard Brett Marshall did leading up to the draft.
I don’t think Tex is going to get that type of treatment. He seems like a fairly uncontroversial guy, unlike A-Rod.
He didn’t get the uncontroversial opinion in Atlanta and when he signs the big money every thing changes, for instance for 20+ million per year the average fan would expect steller D, 40 HR/ 130 RBI or bust w/ him.
“Wonder what kind of deal CC will be looking for?”
lots of money for lots of years.
“That leaves us going into next season with the same line-up now, barring Hideki and Posada stay healthy.”
that seems about right. upgrade in CF and upgrade at 1B, and the rest is going to remain about the same.
You don’t understand baseball economics Anthony. The Yankees have waited for years to get out from under bad, long term deals.
They are tired of contributing so much money to the luxury tax pool, their competitors are able to use it to compete against them.
To the Yankees, that’s wasted money.
They are already over 50 million OVER the second place team (the Red Sox) in payroll.
How is that working out for them this year?
They aren’t going to make the same mistakes again.
Yes, they need offense. That doesn’t mean they have to sign Tex or they can’t find a first baseman. Believe it or not, there are first basemen out there who are good players that don’t cost 17 million dollars a year.
I’ll give you one name. Mike Jacobs of the Marlins. He’s arbitration eligible at the end of this year. He’s a pretty solid player, his lefty bat would be great at the Stadium, and the Yankees did talk to the Marlins about him at the deadline.
With so many players arbitration elgible on their club next season, the Marlins will most likely trade Jacobs in the off-season.
Jacobs, and a righty bat to spell him against some tough lefties, and that’s not a bad combo at the position.
Big names? No. Effective and affordable? Yes.
There are trades, other FA’s, other ways to build the team, etc.
Fans look at a free agent list and say, “take players A, B, C, and D and you are set.
However, if you understand baseball economics, and what the Yankees have been trying to do for the last 3 years, you will see why they won’t sign both Tex and CC.
If they sign CC, and bring back Moose and Andy on one year deals, they will have the flexibility to trade some of their minor league arms for major league talent.
Its why they built up the system with quality arms.
TurnTwo that sounds like tampering to me. If Alex lands us Yonder hey I’m all for it. Justin Smaok also is not meeting eye to eye w/ Texas.
“cant he go back to school? i was under the impression he was an undergrad, but am i wrong?”
If he signs with an indie team, school’s out. Might be out anyway. As I undersatand it, the Reds own his draft rights til sometime just before the draft next year. JD Drew went thru this. Was the 2nd pick in the 1997 draft. Didn’t sign and then was the 5th pick in the 1998 draft.
Brandon,
This is all posturing by Alonso. I would be very surprised if he did not sign.
He just doesn’t have that much leverage as a junior. He can talk about the independent league all he wants. (It’s also pretty crummy on the part of his camp to be leaking ARod’s name into this… would not be happy if I was Alex. He doesn’t need any more negative news about him).
He’s a good prospect – but in no way great. He’s really a one tool player who many people think was a bit of an overdraft where he was selected.
It would essentially be unheard of for a player of his talent, drafted where he was to get a major league contract. Going on past precedents – he just does not warrant that kind of deal.
This year I think agents are trying to push the envelope in the draft aggressively to establish a new standard for drafted players and for how much they sign (the agents will need to do this more and more as the free agent market isn’t close to what it was before…).
So it’ll be interesting to see. But Alonso’s only option are to go back for his senior year or play in the independent league.
If he’s selected next year out of the independent league – what is he going to do if his contract demands aren’t met or if he’s drafted #20 or something? Is he going to play in the independent league a second year? No way. He’s already an older guy.
If he were a pitcher or a 5 tool player it would be a different story.
We’ll see. This has shaped up into an interesting draft year.
“He didn’t get the uncontroversial opinion in Atlanta and when he signs the big money every thing changes, for instance for 20+ million per year the average fan would expect steller D, 40 HR/ 130 RBI or bust w/ him.”
Does the average fan get on Giambi about failing to play stellar D or being pretty much awful in the clutch? He’s getting paid as much as Tex would. And I’m not sure what treatment in Atlanta you’re talking about. If you mean that people were upset that he would be signing a big contract with the highest bidder, well, that’s not really a controversy that is going to follow him after he’s already done it.
“TurnTwo that sounds like tampering to me. If Alex lands us Yonder hey I’m all for it. Justin Smaok also is not meeting eye to eye w/ Texas.”
oh, its def tampering. doesnt mean they cant get away with it, though.
“Nah at that level he’s seeing poorer pitching, he was struggling the few games before last night’s at his pace it’s not out of the question that he will be in the same league w/ Carlos Urena, Kevin De Leon and Eduardo Sosa.”
Not sure what you are talking about, but Tabata is back in AA and raking in his first week back. I dont think he had a week like this all year with Trenton. Again its only a week, but its his best week all year.
SJ I was just thinking about that guy too. Mike Jacobs is not a good OBP % but the kid can hit and field his ass off at 1B. He definitely could go through arbitration and sign w/ us.
“However, if you understand baseball economics, and what the Yankees have been trying to do for the last 3 years, you will see why they won’t sign both Tex and CC.”
Right, and that’s why they handed out those contracts to A-Rod, Posada, and Mo. Because they are trying to get out of long expensive deals with aging stars. Great point.
“So, you make an adjustment to your thinking.”
sj-
what are you , some kind of radical free thinker?
actually change a plan when it doesn’t work?
wow, now i’ve heard everything.
seriously, isn’t adjusting to changing conditions what competing is all about.
the yankees have fallen in love with a plan.
being prepared for multiple scenarios is almost always a much better approach than having a “plan”.
the injuries are a serious problem, but the way the players left are playing is as much of a problem.
i would put molina back in as the primary catcher and have pudge as the back up, say 60/40.
i would play arod at short and jeter wherever to show there are no sacred cows on the team. it dosn’t have to stay like that for long , but the numbers and conventional thinking be damned . this team needs change and creativity.
girardi has proven to be too conventional. he’s got to loosen up. he needs a zimmer like bench coach to give him some alternative ideas instead of the same old, same old from the sunglasses brigade he has for coaches.
the yankees are at the present an embarrassment.
that’s got to change.
george may not be at full capacity, but last place isn’t hard for him to understand.
that’s the direction they are going in at the present.
This blog has turned into a bog, a large sloppy mire where everybody wallows around insulting each other and tearing apart Hank, Cashman, Girardi and most of the Yankees.
Ungrateful ,spoiled , with impossible expectations and an undeserved sense of entitlement
just a lovely bunch of folks.
Andrew:
Let’s not compare Giambi and Tex, what hurt Giambi was Steriod’s….........remember we lost him when he was counted on….
SJ, CB, or anyone who would like to answer,
I really cannot stand Meacham any longer, he’s cost numerous runs for us this year(whether it’s getting the runner throw out, or keeping the runner from scoring). And frankly, statistics aside, I am super uncomfortable with him on 3rd base. Are the FO aware of this at all? Do you think he will be back?
Fredo,
How much did posey sign for? I haven’t seen that story reported yet.
I know I’ve said this before, but I don’t see how the Yankees in good conscience could say that Phil needs at least another start in AAA (for stamina or other reasons) and then bring him up here when he’s not ready. They already did that to him once (he was not supposed to come up until last September), and do they need to do it again? For a team that values Phil highly (and they clearly do, since they would not deal him for Santana), they have an odd way of showing it. Now, I could be jumping the gun, but IMO, they have to find a pitcher, ANY pitcher, other than Phil, to bring up in place of Giese.
Not sure what you are talking about, but Tabata is back in AA and raking in his first week back. I dont think he had a week like this all year with Trenton. Again its only a week, but its his best week all year.
Dude he was in GCL just the other day, he didn’t dominate down there, came up to AA just recently, I’m a Tabata fan but he isn’t raking that much. He went 4 for 4 the other night other than that he’s not raking.
I said this yesterday, but I don’t know that the Yankees are going to fire Meachem. I really hate when teams choose to decide who their coach/manager’s staff ought to be, although if Bobby is this bad, then firing him may be justified. Joe would not be happy about that, but then again, professional considerations have to come before personal
Yeah, and you are really sold that he’s going to come to New York and immediately fix all the Yankees’ offensive problems, Anthony, so I’m sure that you’d be singing this same B.S. tune once he got to May 2009 hitting .240. Plain and simple—one player isn’t fixing the offense, especially a player that fits the mold of the teams that have been run out there in the last 7 years. You know, the one that had all the big name guys who were expected to be huge power hitters and run producers.
If you field a real offensive baseball team, one with unselfish guys who know their roles are to hit situationally and score runs any way possible, and spend your money on a consistent, durable pitcher to give you 200 innings, you have more of a chance of succeeding. If you want to replace one departing player who didn’t live up to a contract with a new guy expected to deliver big time in NY, and ignore filling in the front of the rotation, then you are dooming yourself for more years of mediocre baseball.
sj- what other players are arbitration eligible and due to make some change that you could see being traded?
Let’s not compare Giambi and Tex, what hurt Giambi was Steriod’s…………remember we lost him when he was counted on….
You do know that Tex was also rumored to be involved w/ steroids
SJ44:
No fan is saying take A, B, C, or D, it’s just you think everyone else is wrong.
Long term contracts I don’t think the Yanks are as worried about them as you, at least not as much as you think other wise why sign A-rod, you can find his production with other position player’s out there. 28mill for 10yrs?? that’s a huge contract. Jacobs another good player but with the pressure of NY he could be another Melky at the plate.
All I’m saying is Tex is proven and really worth a look.
Andrew,
First, no way is Tex going to be hitting .240 come May. Second, who said anything about one guy fixing the offense? All I’m saying is he’s a great first baseman and brings great production to the offense. It’s not like our offense is so terrible that we’re looking for a savior. Third, what in God’s name does this have to do with filling in the rotation? What, the Yankees can’t afford Tex and CC?
Boras is not Alonso’s advisor. Brian Peters is his advisor.
He can go back to school if he chooses. Its more likely he will go to the Independent League if he doesn’t sign with the Reds.
Andrew:
I said pitching was a must 1st, but offense shouldn’t be forgotten, because it is a real need.
“They are already over 50 million OVER the second place team (the Red Sox) in payroll.”
The redsox are actually 4th in 2008, behind detroit and nym- and this difference is closer to 100 million than 50 million.
Jabu,
I don’t think Meacham has done a very good job. That said i think people are making way too much of his effect on the team.
When meacham makes a mistake – it’s very obvious. That’s the nature of being a third base coach.
But how many runs has he cost them. Can’t be more than 10 or so?
Their offense is going to score 200 runs less than what they did last year and around 150 runs less than they were reasonably expected to score this year.
10 runs is roughly one win. That sounds right to me. Meacham may have cost them one game in aggregate. But compared to the real problems facing this team his contribution isn’t that signficant.
That said, I don’t think he’ll be brought back.
I see CC as the major piece that we need. We can live with someone less than a TEX. Someone like Blake who was mentioned earlier.
What i would like to see done is the Yankees move Cano for a young 1B of CF.(CF unlikely)
We dont need an an all star hitting 2nd baseman. We need one who can get on base & plays terrific defense. Someone LIKE an O-Dog, or Grudzelanik, someone of that caliber.
Thats killing two birds with one stone, you get an OBS guy, and an upgrade on defense.
I’ll be okay with trading Cano as long as they get some concrete back, don’t trade him fo` no scrubs now.
Jacobs another good player but with the pressure of NY he could be another Melky at the plate.
He played in NY and quite good may I add.
“They are already over 50 million OVER the second place team (the Red Sox) in payroll.â€
Cut Giambi, Pavano, & Abreu, BAM !! 50 mil gone.
Of course it’s important to fix the pitching situation. But as it stands now, we’ve got enough pitching if we can just get 4 runs a game.
For years we’ve backed up the likes of Chacon, Lidle (bless his soul), and Small. Now you’ve got Ponson giving you 2-3 run outings and we can’t back that up?
The fact is that we’re missing two big bats and the rest of the lineup is not doing enough to compensate. Even with the addition of Nady.
And I’ve been silent about Cano, but if he doesn’t get his head out of his you know what he’ll be on my hate list soon.
Anthony,
I’m glad you brought up Arod, Posada and Rivera.
allow me to explain to you why they are different from Tex.
1. All three were the #1 players at their respective positions last year. Tex is not.
2. All 3 were Yankees. Two of them from Day One, the third a guy who will end up as the all-time HR king. Meaning more money to the coffers of the Yankees, who is also a big drawing card.
3. The Yankees, unlike other teams, often sign their own free agents when they are still at the top of their game. Even if they drop off a bit, they still tend to sign their own free agents.
I know you can’t comprehend why they won’t spend for Tex. I’m just trying to explain to you how and why they do their business a certain way.
CB:
I read Posey signed for $7.5M
Cut Giambi, Pavano, & Abreu, BAM !! 50 mil gone.
and still you have to fill positions.
“Right, and that’s why they handed out those contracts to A-Rod, Posada, and Mo. Because they are trying to get out of long expensive deals with aging stars. Great point.”
Who would you have replaced any of those 3 with if the Yankees didn’t sign them? Also, are you of the opinion that if 3 players sign big contracts, then there is no limit to how many more the team can add over the next two years? Furthermore, all three of those guys are statistically at the top of their positions, and they’ve done it here in NY. A-Rod is the best player in baseball, Posada is one of the best catchers (injury aside) and Rivera speaks for himself.
Teixeira is not the best first basemen in baseball but he is going to have to be paid as though he is. All three also fill roles that are not that easy to replace with new talent. I’m sure you would have been thrilled to replace Posada with Paul LoDuca or Yorvit Torrealba, and have parted ways with Rivera, and had Joe Crede’s bad back, or worse, Wilson Betemit playing 3rd this year. The Posada contract looks bad because he’s hurt, but to say that they were terrible moves at the time while also saying that they are proof to justify why they should go after Teixeira? Not buying that.
Baseball is a long season, anything can happen during the next 6 weeks.
If we get Hughes, Matsui, and Pavano, yes, I said it, or another arm for the staff, then we have a great chance of being competitive during these final weeks.
Fredo,
I assume it was a major league deal? How much of the 7.5 was his signing bonus?
“Dude he was in GCL just the other day, he didn’t dominate down there, came up to AA just recently, I’m a Tabata fan but he isn’t raking that much. He went 4 for 4 the other night other than that he’s not raking.”
Dude again I dont know what your definition of dominating is, but he played 4 games in the GCL and had 2 home runs and like a 1.300 OPS. Now hes moved up and hes 8-21 with 3 extra base hits in 5 games for a .950 OPS or so. Again small sample size but he clearly “dominated” GCL and hes having probably his best week in AA this week.
“and still you have to fill positions.”
1.5 positions really, Pav