Greetings from Gate E-9
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 14, 2008 
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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.
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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.
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://claybuchholzloveslaptop.....rello.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.
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, Pavano doesnt count he hasnt pitched in 2 years. Giambi plays a platton of 1st & DH.
50 mil for 1.5 positions ?
DEAL.
He should “dominate” the GCL. He played in AA this year. That’s 3 classifications higher the GCL.
Gotta use minor league stats carefully. They don’t tell the entire story on a player.
I wouldn’t allow Pavano in Yankee Stadium. He doesn’t deserve to even wear their logo. I just can’t believe he’s been able to rehab wearing the Yankees stuff…disgusts me.
Brandon:
He played 28 games with the Mets. He’s a 250 hitter sucks against lefties so we need 2 spots on the roster for a 1B.
That makes no sense……….Tex cost more but play’s against both righties and lefties.
“The best part was spotting which secondary characters were in previous Judd Apatow movies.”
Wow, if this is really the truth, then I am glad that I am not going to be seeing this movie.
SJ44:
Name who is better that TEX at 1B, not name Pujols.
The comparison between Tex and Giambi is interesting because it points out how out of line people’s expectations are for Tex.
Tex has never had any years even close to as good as the two years Giambi had prior to signing his deal with the yankees.
Given how disappointing he’s been as a yankee it’s easy to forget how phenomenal giambi was with the bat before he was signed.
His last season in Oakland he had an OPS+ of 198. Year before that an OPS+ of 187. That means Giambi was close to twice the production of a league average hitter. Twice the production.
Tex’s best year ever was last year when he had an OPS+ of 150. His career OPS+ is 139.
He’s nowhere near the player Giambi was when the yankees gave him that massive contract, even accounting for differences in defense.
“What, the Yankees can’t afford Tex and CC?”
What, are you Scott Boras? No, they are not signing both Tex and CC, that is the whole point of this stupid argument–they need CC more than they need Tex, and since they are not signing both, keep dreaming about Teixeira and if you love him so much as a player, get MLB Extra Innings and follow all his at-bats for the Angels next year. If the Yankees land CC, they will find someone else to play first, most likely via trade since the 1B market is pretty thin after Tex. Since there aren’t any 2008 offseason trade rumors circulating yet except for a lot of people calling for Cano-for-Kemp, I don’t have any names to tell you to calm your salivating over Teixeira. Check back in November for further updates.
Sj from your lips to Cashmans ears..
I agree if the ydid sign CC the y pitching will be fabulous next year.
cc, wang, joba, hughes, and either moose or pettitte. .WOW…
the pen will be good they have many many good young arms including melancon.
then they need to worry about cf, 1b, and see about Cano.. Nady in my opinion should be in Rf. the loss of Abreu’s $16 mill will allow further financical flexibilty and his softness is epidemic on this team..
1B will be interesting but they even if they sign cc for a insane contract, moose, and pettite for 1 yr deals they still will have saved $60 mill…. They are losing Pavano’s $10 mill waste, $21 from giambi, and Abreu $16, and Kyle and latroy etc… They need to absolutely not repeat the previous mistakes of long term insane deals..
They also can trade either Hideki or Damon if it makes sense….They are not that far off from being a very good team again..
They are not dead this year yet if hideki comes back, hughes, and the rich guys play better.. This team still has talent and are under achieving.. IF they decide to trade Cano and get a good CF then 2b is much easier to fill, it is not a offensive position…
SJ, we’re having an argument about baseball, but why you feel the need to be such an obnoxious twit is beyond me. Your answer is that we give long, bad contracts only to Yankees, ok. That makes a ton of sense. Thanks for educating me.
Timothy have you been watching Mike Jacobs this year ? he’s doing it during a pennant race, the NY stats you brought up is his rookie year in NY, he’s improved alot since then.
Tim,
Youkilis is better than Tex. So is Berkman. At his age, Fielder is right up there with Tex offensively. I’m not even talking about Pujols, who is obviously better. That’s 4 guys, and Tex will be outearning all 3 guys with his new contract.
Sorry but, I’ll pass. You don’t pay a good player great money and get a great player.
He’s a good player and not worth what he will get to sign his new deal.
Its not going to be a an all star at every position team anymore folks. Not after this year.
When it comes to position player changes, think smaller because they aren’t spending 100+ million on position players in the off-season.
Andrew, you need to calm down, too.
And Jacobs is not an answer at first, he is already Melky at the plate. a lower than 300 OBP? Really? That’s what you want at first when there is a premier 1B available? What 1B that are as good or better than Tex are available?
Lance Berkman on a good day is better than TEX.
Tex is a good player that is it.. he is attractive because he is not that old, he is a good fielder, and he is a switch hitter.. Those attributes allow roster flexibilty etc but that is it..
Tex is Tino Martinez with a little higher BA and OBP.
Tino was a very good player but far from great and a even better player on a good team..Tino also was much cheaper in relative term then Tex….
SJ44, I didnt say he shouldn’t dominate GCL, simply pointing out that Brandon was wrong in his assertion that he didnt.
Thanks for your sage advice that we should be “careful” about using statistics.
Again, I simply pointed out that he was 8-21 with 3 extra base hits this week in his return to AA. In following him this year pretty closely, he has not had many weeks like this. I’m not extroplating his stats to say hes the next Manny Ramirez, simply stating that he has had a couple of good weeks with the Pirates organization, and that it’s possible that moving to a new organization will help him out.
SJ I disagree on 1 point I think Tex is bette rthen Youkilis..
Again Tex is Tino, who can switch hit with a slighty higher OBP I ould guess but did not look it up…
Trade Cano for some young position player and sign the O-Dawg.
First baseman that are better hitters than tex besides pujols:
Berkman
Cabrera
Howard
Fielder
Good argument that Youklis is better as well at his point.
Tex fits into that next tier of first baseman – Tex, Youklis, Adrian Gonzalez.
iiiiiiiii HATE Kevin Youkilis.
Derrick Lee is also better then Tex….
Andrew, you need to calm down, too.
And Jacobs is not an answer at first, he is already Melky at the plate. a lower than 300 OBP? Really? That’s what you want at first when there is a premier 1B available? What 1B that are as good or better than Tex are available?
He’s a guy that won’t shed immense payroll off the Yankees will be 27 or 28 yrs. old and can play ABC baseball, he also can defend his position and fade into a lineup instead of standing out, sounds right to me, getting him and CC won’t hurt at all.
Maybe Cano& a scrub for Adrian Gonzalez.
Or something lesser for Casey Kotchman.
Keep Damon. He is a gamer, and we dont have many left. He is solid.
Stuart,
To me, its all about prioritizing your needs.
As bad as this team has been offensively (and they have been bad), and as bad as Cano has been (he’s been awful for most of the year), losing Wang and Chamberlain has killed this team.
Nothing against guys like Giese, Rasner and Ponson, who are giving everything they have to help the team. However, when you lose a guy like Wang, it has a trickle down effect on the entire staff.
The innings, the wins, the quality starts. It also affects bullpen usage, the difference between winning and losing series, etc.
Add to it losing Joba? Sometimes, its too much to overcome.
Yes, other teams have had injuries. Yes, they can hit better. But, the point I’m making is, the game is built from the pitching staff out.
If your frontline starting pitching is strong, you can survive bad offensive years. If it isn’t, you are cooked.
That’s why, in terms of priority, CC is the great need for this team than Tex.
“Berkman
Cabrera
Howard
Fielder”
None of them are available. Fielder might be, but you want that fat tub of lard playing first base? He’s got DH written all over him. Now, that is a Giambi comparison.
The 3 top 1B Baseball are obvoiusly Pujols, Tex and Berkman are even…I forgot to add who is available for the Yanks to get……..
“Maybe Cano& a scrub for Adrian Gonzalez.”
Nope. Pads got him dirt cheap thru 2011.
I honestly can care less who the 3b coach is. I think that has zero to do with what is plaguing this team.
I think the same applies to Kevin Long. He’s not losing the games, giving away at bats and regressing in front of our eyes.
It’s the players folks. Our “heroes”.
The mix needs to change.
Step 1 – trade Cano for a stud 1b, stud OF or stud Pitcher. I start there. Trading Cano and filling a hole is addition by subtraction. He’s a terrible presence on this club. The coaches have to apologize for him. He seems disinterested in winning. He needs to go. We need to get value for him now since he’s only going to continue to lose value until his contract year. He’s that kind of player.
Step 2 – Sign CC. I’m not as sure as some of you that he will come here. I actually think it’s a bit of a longshot since in history there are teams who outbid us on the open market for starting pitching. I hope he’s interested, but I won’t be surprised to see him land somewhere else for more money and years than the Yankees were willing to commit.
If you can’t land CC, I would take a look at Sheets or Burnett (if he opts out), but I would not give them the year commitments, but give them the dollar commitments. I want nothing to do with Oliver Perez.
Step 3 – Trade for a 2b who is solid defensively and is a grinder who doesn’t give away at bats. He doesn’t have to hit .300. Just be able to move the runners and do the little things.
This again falls to our organization scouting the other teams minor league systems extensively.
As SJ has said many times, we should be identifying the players who are blocked in other systems who project to be solid minor leaguers.
Our front office should know what middle infielders, outfielders and 1b are blocked who deserve a shot and we should take a chance on guys like that. They won’t be sexy names, but they will be hungry and have desire and be loyal and thankful to the Yankees for getting them from the other team and giving them their shot.
As for who should go? Abreu, Cano, Melky, Giambi, Betemit right off the bat.
I’m fine with letting Damon and Matsui finish out their deals here.
I also would bring back Ponson for rotation depth. I like him and think he has the stuff to be a good 4-5 in this rotation.
Mussina and Andy? It should be up to them. I don’t go more than year to year with either of them. I’d like them back, but I want to know they want to be back. We don’t need Andy waffling during the off season. He should be able to tell the team quickly if he wants to continue his career or not.
Give me a rotation of CC, Wang, Joba, Andy, Moose with Ponson and Hughes as the rotation depth and I’ll be happy. Starters always get hurt and Ponson and Hughes will get plenty of starts. We need to go back to the days of having 6-7 starters capable of walking in and winning like we used to have.
“He’s a guy that won’t shed immense payroll off the Yankees will be 27 or 28 yrs. old and can play ABC baseball, he also can defend his position and fade into a lineup instead of standing out, sounds right to me, getting him and CC won’t hurt at all.”
Right, he can play “ABC baseball” except for the parts about hitting for average or getting on base or being fast.
I don’t think the Yanks will go after Tex but not because of the money but because of the roster flexibility. If Posada is still unable to catch when he comes back (there is no guarantee on his shoulder), the Yanks will probably want to make him the everyday 1st baseman. If they have Tex then there is no place for Posada except DH and then where does Matsui play?
CC doesn’t even want to come to the East Coast, so I don’t see signing him as even an option. Put that together with the fact that I think Texas is going to go hard after him, due to Nolan Ryan’s influence down there, he’s not coming near the Yankees. We are going to look elsewhere.
SJ44, I didnt say he shouldn’t dominate GCL, simply pointing out that Brandon was wrong in his assertion that he didnt.
He didn’t and 4 games are a very low sample size. Again GCL is almost equaled to DSL competition so I wouldn’t read into that.
stuart:
D.Lee about even, but again un obtainable………
“Name who is better that TEX at 1B, not name Pujols.”
SJ already covered some of the ones that I would point to, Youkilis, Berkman, Prince…but the important point, to me, is that there is very little scarcity at the position. Because there are also guys like Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Howard, Derrek Lee, Justin Morneau, Miguel Cabrera plays first now, etc. etc.
Teixeira doesn’t jump out far above his peers. He is good, but he is not worth the money that he is going to get. I am hoping the Yankees aren’t the ones giving it to him.
“Derrick Lee is also better then Tex….”
All evidence to the contrary.
Andrew, which one of those guys do you think we could get? Howard, Lee, Morneau, Cabrera, Berkman, Youk, Pujols are not available.
I always thought CC favored NY. why all of a sudden all this talk about LA.
Derrick Lee is also 33 years old.
I seriously could go for a Mike Jacobs or Casey Blake at 1B in 09′
“None of them are available. ”
Just because none of them are available doesn’t mean that you should pay the 6th best hitter at an offensive position as if he were the best player at that position.
Pujols, Berkman, Howard and Miguel Cabrera are all better first baseman than Tex taking offense and defense together. Fielder is a much better hitter.
Tex falls into that next echelon of first baseman – youklis, gonzalez, dereck lee.
Would you sign Youklis to a $140M deal? Dereck Lee?
If you’re going to approach free agency by saying none of the players better than Tex are available so I’ll just pay him as if he were pujols because pujols is not available you are going to make a poor signing.
That’s exactly the mindset Scott Boras is assuming teams will take with Tex.
Sj,
No arguement from me.. But the injuries are overblown this team still has very good talent and the scrub pitchers(giese and ponson and moose) have done way more then could ever be expected..
I think get CC and then not much else…Trading Cano is an option that should be looked at for a guy like Kemp for sure.
Trade some excess stud arms for 1B.. Do not resign Abreu and then Matsui is the full time DH, Damon full time LF and all they need is CF and 1b.. Those positions can be solved.. Chrisitian is your 5th outfielder/Pinch runner (valuable guy late in games), they will be fine…
if you ad posada and matsui to the lineup it is muh more proffessional..
damon, jeter, arod, matsui, nady, posada, cano,cf, and 1B and whomever is a good lineup..
they also loose Damon and Matsui after next year… They have Ajax on the way but absolutely need a lot more position options….
“Step 1 – trade Cano for a stud 1b, stud OF or stud Pitcher. I start there. Trading Cano and filling a hole is addition by subtraction. He’s a terrible presence on this club. The coaches have to apologize for him. He seems disinterested in winning. He needs to go. We need to get value for him now since he’s only going to continue to lose value until his contract year. He’s that kind of player”
Is this how the brochure will read??? You’ve rattled off about a half dozen negative characteristics and you expect a stud player for him????
WORST CASE SCENARIO:
CC SIGNS WITH DODGERS & TEX RESIGNS WITH ANGELS:
who do we get for our rotation & 1B ?
Another reason to like Jacobs
small ball
Brandon,
Jacobs has good power but he’s not a good fielder at all. In fact according to BBTF he’s been the worst fielding 1B in the NL this year (-9 defensive runs saved).
I’m not sure I’d be too happy about picking up Jacobs. He hits lots of home runs but he’s basically a .250-.270 hitter that doesn’t take many walks.
Tex = young Giambi without steroids. but with much better glove and switch hitting. He is closer to Tino in Seattle but again better glove and switch hitter.
Tino got 6 years about 30 Mil. Tex will get nearly 4 times that. Oh how times have changed.
I hate the fact that Giambi’s contract scares off other big contract offers. Giambi’s contract was a farce based on PED numbers. Just because his contract was a mistake doesn’t mean every long term contract will be the same.
That said, I like Tex in the Bronx and I can’t see how they don’t explore the possibility but they can thrive without him if everybody else just does their job.
Morneau is better then Tex, no contest also..
Brandon
The Nationals 1st round draft pick isn’t happy with what was offered him and he has already signed a contract with an Independent League Team so what Alonso is doing isn’t unprecedented. By that signing he loses his NCAA eligibility but can still sign with the Nationals if they can come to an agreement by tomorrow night.
Jacobs’ OBP is less than Cano’s. That’s hard.
G. Love:
Great theory but you will not get a stud for Cano, with out paying off his contract.
Trading is something that will cost Prospects..good one’s, if you want a good return…
I was under the understanding that most people here are like Cash, don’t trade the youth?
So instead you go after the best available FA, both pitching and filling a gapping whole, 1B……also not having to sign (2)1B cheap that have to platoon…and take 2 roster spot’s.
The question wasn’t “who is a first baseman that is not named Pujols that is better than Tex, AND is obtainable”, so why are you now shifting the discussion to that, even though YOU are the one that seemed pretty confident that there are no 1B not named Pujols better than Teixeira? There are a lot of 1B-men on the level with Tex, that is what should be clear to all you Teixeira TrueBelievers now that names have been thrown out there. The void at first will be filled, I am pretty certain of that, but it doesn’t make sense for it to be filled through a gigantic contract.
“I always thought CC favored NY.”
You must have heard things in reverse. NY always favored CC.
He’s a west coast guy and would prefer to be there all things being equal. Yankees will have to overpay, but they’ll do what they can to make sure all things aren’t equal.
stuart:
Sorry forgot him agreed, but not obtainable for us.
Saltalamacchia for Ivan Nova/ Phil Coke/George Kontos
We get a power switch hitting C/1B, Texas gets three quality arms.
Either way Yanks need to take advantage of their pitching depth and acquire some young position players.
I don’t know if taking on Cano’s salary will be an issue to other teams. They are getting him, essentially, for cheap, considering the deal he signed this past year. Despite this year, his “potential” still seems to say that the contract he has is more than doable for a lot of teams.
CB, I don’t think the difference between Tex and those guys is as great as you are making it out to be. I think he’ll give us solid production and there just isn’t a better option than him. Jacobs sucks, I don’t even want to hear it. Is there some possibility of trading for Adrian Gonzalez? If so, that’s a great idea, but I don’t see why the Padres would do that without being absolutely blown away. The Yankees have the money to put together these deals, that’s why they paid what they had to with Mo, Posada, and ARod, you accept that the end of the contract won’t be so great in return for having production in the beginning.
CB:
Miguel Cabrera is not better that Tex as an overall player
Johnathan Ian Kennedy would be the first to go in any deal. I had 2 preferences Salty or I know it sounds crazy but Milledge in Washington.
“I was under the understanding that most people here are like Cash, don’t trade the youth?”
No way, the Yankees have so much youth that this offseason would be a good time to trade some of it if you could build the right package to land a difference-making first baseman. I also think that other teams probably hold Cano in more value than we Yankees fans do right now, as well, so if he was being included in trade talks you might not have to give up a ton of other prospects + Cano to land an impact-type player, be it 1B, OF, SP, whatever.
It doesn’t mean anything but Vernon Wells has just been placed on waivers.
‘Is there some possibility of trading for Adrian Gonzalez?”
ZERO!!!! Forget Gonzalez. Pads only have to pay $13.5M to keep him thru 2011. He’s going nowhere.
I still don’t understand the fascination with Saltalamcchia?
“I always thought CC favored NY.
You must have heard things in reverse. NY always favored CC.”
haha, your right my bad i was thiking of Lebron James.
“Great theory but you will not get a stud for Cano, with out paying off his contract.
Trading is something that will cost Prospects..good one’s, if you want a good return…
I was under the understanding that most people here are like Cash, don’t trade the youth?”
Cano comes with a below-market value contract, with several arbitration years already bought out. its a good contract, not cumbersome.
trading Cano doesnt mean you have to do it for a veteran, or someone who’s 35 years old.
“It doesn’t mean anything but Vernon Wells has just been placed on waivers.”
Means the Yanks will still see him next week in Toronto.
How can anyone take Keith Law seriously when he’s completely biased against the Yankees?
Mike (Baltimore, MD): what is with the Yankees’ pitcher development? With all the arms in the minors (Brackman, Horne, Marquez, Betances, Sanchez, Melancon, etc.) why are we still having to deal with the likes of Rasner and Giese?
Keith Law: (1:39 PM ET ) Brackman’s hurt. Horne’s hurt (again) and terrible when he tried to come back. Marquez has been awful (and where’s that Yankee fan who tried to snark me over Marquez last year?). Betances is several years away. Melancon’s a reliever, ultimately. They don’t have anyone close and good enough to come fill those spots.
**He hates Phil, so much so that he doesn’t even consider him good enough to come up and help the rotation. I suspect that we won’t see him admit he was wrong if Phil develops into a stud, just like we haven’t seen him criticize Clay Buccholz.
Mitchell {NYC}: Yanks seem to have NO intention to move Jesus Montero off catcher has he improved defensively this year and at 18 should continue to improve. Offensively he is dominating a league made up of players 3 years or more older then him. He has to be in the top 2 or 3 catchering prospects? How would you rate his upside as oppssed to Wieters {whos is 4 years older}.
Keith Law: (1:55 PM ET ) I wouldn’t put him in the top 2 or 3 catching prospects because I don’t believe he’ll end up a catcher. I don’t enjoy pretending.
Any bakcup FA pitching options if CC chooses somewhere else ?
Saltalamacchia is a 1B with a mask on.
That’s what I thought about Gonzalez. So this just goes to my point. Tex is in that strata with these great first baseman, but he’s the only one available. We don’t have any real options other than Tex.
The point about whether Posada will be able to catch is a great point, but I think the logical place for him is DH in that event.
Matsui, on the other hand, if he gets healthy enough, which I think is pretty unlikely, to play regularly again, then we’ll just do what we’re doing now and rotate in the outfield and at DH.
CB:
I respect everything you have said, however I totally dis-agree with the Tex issue granted we may not have a shot, but I know he likes the east coast, he grinds out AB’s, he switch hits, gold glove 1B, would have the short porch advantage in NY. and he’s only 28……If we don’t get him, I see him playing with the O’s.
I know Derrick lee is older and these other players are not available that is not the point. the point is Tex is a very good player but far from great and will be getting paid grea t money, ie a bad deal for the buyer.
Again the Yanks do not need a great player at each position and especially if there rotation is as good as we expect with a very good pen…
The Yanks are better off saving there money for when a better deal is available.. Jacobs is just SJ’s suggestion that is it. .The point is Jacobs is a 280, 20, 80 guy who would come cheap… That is the point not that he is better then Tex because obviously he is not…
Gee I wonder what size jersey CC is I’m saying 58 Hank better get on the horn to Majestic and get them sewing up those #52 pinstripes.
“How can anyone take Keith Law seriously when he’s completely biased against the Yankees?”
what did Keith Law say there that isnt true?
“The Yanks are better off saving there money for when a better deal is available.. Jacobs is just SJ’s suggestion that is it. .The point is Jacobs is a 280, 20, 80 guy who would come cheap… That is the point not that he is better then Tex because obviously he is not…”
Stuart it seems like we agree for once. Tex will yield Albert Pujols money and he doesn’t belong in the same sentence as him.
The Yankees do not need a guy like Jacobs who can’t even get on base more than 3 out of 10 times. If we’re even considering Jacobs, we should just sign Giambi to a smallish 1 year deal. Even at his age, he is better than Jacobs.
Anyone have any updates on Gerrit Cole?
Maybe Peter could get something. After all,tomorrow at 11:59 is the deadline.
Cano’s contract is far from onerous.. Cano would have many many takers for him.. He is a knucklehead but he is a very talented knucklehead who has put up some very good #’s prior to 08 and he is only 25…
People lose track of how young some of the yankee players are; melky just turned 24(i think) Cano is 25, Hughes just turned 22, Joba is 23, etc.Robertson is 23 and Melancon the same…
These guys are young….
Keith Law is one of the best analysts out there, maybe you don’t like hearing what he has to say, but it doesn’t make him wrong.
Betsy:
You won’t find many scouts who think Montero will catch in the minors. Law has always spoken highly of his bat, but he’s not going to be catcher.
stuart:
I can agree with your take on this Tex thing, so what options do you offer, how will they obtain them. Were will the offense come from in 09? How many people at 1B do we need to carry?
what has hughes done to prove the naysayers like keith law wrong?
even if he has a good september, it won’t do much to dust away his detractors…. because kennedy also had a good September last year and now looks like he doesn’t even belong. september stats are meaningless for the most part because you are facing teams who are out of it and there are no scouting reports and teams have mailed it in for the most part. every team brings up young players and lets them loose.
the only way for hughes to validate his status is to throw 150 above average innings next year at the ML level. and its not even a given that he gets a guaranteed spot in the rotation to start the year.
keith law isin’t exactly saying anything thats untrue… this has been a pretty bad year for all of our prospects aside from the charleston guys.
“Anyone have any updates on Gerrit Cole?”
Law called Cole 50/50. Says Bleich will sign for sure. Says Bittle will not sign for sure.
I think Montero still has a chance to stick at catcher. From what I’ve heard, he’s improved at the position.
“I don’t think the difference between Tex and those guys is as great as you are making it out to be.”
It’s enormous.
Here are the value over replacement player (VORPs) for the past two years (2007/ 2006) of those players compared to Tex. And of note – Tex arguably had the best year of his career last year just based on his OPS.
VORP just looks at how many runs better the player’s production is compared to a marginal player at that position.
Pujols: 72/ 85
Berkman: 42/ 70
Howard: 54/82
Fielder: 69/ rookie yr
Cabrera: 71/79 (as a third baseman)
Tex: 43/37
The gap between the Tex’s offensive production and those other hitters is enormous. He’s nowhere near those hitters. Not even close.
Note – while cabrera’s vorp’s were compared to other third baseman even if you readjusted them comparing them to first baseman they would be substanstially higher than Tex’s production.
Tex is a better fielding first baseman than cabrera but cabrera is a much better hitter and is younger. Overall – net defense and offense – Cabrera is the better first baseman.
You’re right take Coke out put Kennedy in there. At this point a change of scenery would do him well. I wouldn’t mind Milledge either, he’s got all the talent and plays the game with a passion, something this team lacks…
Can Jocobs play D?
For all those here who like to psychoanalyze players, here’s a new patient for you. Captain Tek filed for divorce yesterday. Are his marital woes responsible for his bleak year?
ANthony Jacobs was just a suggestion again getting adequate 1b with all the arms the yanks can move and boochu bucks coming off the books should be doable.. I know we will not be getting mourneau or pujols etc.. but i assume there are guys in AAA with large upside or other guys who can fil in..
If Jorge goes to 1B because of his shoulder then the search shifts from 1b to catcher.
The bottom line is it appears the Yanks have 2 huge needs offensively for next year and that is CF and 1b. IF they eliminate giambi and abreu which they should do then 1b and CF are still the wholes that need to be fixed and Damon cannot be the full time CF nor Nady so do not even ask..
Law is actually pretty fair, IMO.
He, like Pete himself, sometimes sneaks in a few snide, sarcastic remarks into his answers because he gets annoyed with the Yankee fans whining, but he rarely is “biased”, he tells it as it is.
It wouldn’t be that bad now that I think about it if we don’t sign Cole because we will get that pick at the same spot again next year along with whatever happens with free agency and I also heard, next year is a strong drafting class, much better than this year more like 06 and 07 I think.
stuart:
These players are young but they are not the core from 95-96, with Jeter, Pettit, Mo, Posada, El Duque.
Wang and Joba, are the only one’s that are proven, Cano I do not know about him…Melky IMO 4th OF option……….
“Cano’s contract is far from onerous.. Cano would have many many takers for him.. He is a knucklehead but he is a very talented knucklehead who has put up some very good #’s prior to 08 and he is only 25…”
True, but have heard some of the suggestions. Cano for Hanley Ramirez. Cano for Adrian Gonzalez. Cano for Kershaw AND Loney. If he was playing well, you don’t get these deals. Playing the way he is, the guy who said Cano for Kemp makes as much sense as anyone.
stuart:
I never suggested Damon full-time, however he could do LF/CF with Christian or Melky defensivly late. until the ASB.
Posada will not play 1B………and talk about a horrible 1B, why would you put him there…..(37)
I DVR’d yesterdays game as I was at work. I avoided all the scores on my way home and settled in to watch the game once at home. I watched the first three or four innings and began to fast forward through the game. I can’t remember ever starting to skip through a game that I taped unless it was a blow-out. The team is just playing uninspired baseball and it is frustrating to watch from a fans perspective.
All I can say is, thank god football season starts in a couple of weeks because I am done going out of my way to watch these guy play any more this year.
“Captain Tek filed for divorce yesterday. Are his marital woes responsible for his bleak year?”
Maybe vice versa?
“and talk about a horrible 1B, why would you put him there…..(37)”
he’s an awful 1B? how do you really know this, except that you think it?
FYI
“The Boston Herald reports that “there will be no ‘player to be named’ in the trade that brought Paul Byrd to Boston.”
According to the newspaper, the Indians agreed to trade Byrd without getting a player in return because the Red Sox were the only team willing to absorb the entire $2 million remaining on his contract. The impending free agent is scheduled to make his Red Sox debut Friday.”
The only team, wow. No Washburn, no Byrd. The NYY FO must have a great plan in the works (Joba and Phil back with Moose, Andy and Sir Sid for the run to the wire?)
“so what options do you offer, how will they obtain them. Were will the offense come from in 09? How many people at 1B do we need to carry?”
There is no way we can know what options there are. Its not like we have the resources of Cashman to call other GM’s and ask about potential 1B. We can discuss Tex because he will definitely be a FA but we simply don’t know any other definite options.
Ronald you tell me
Jacobs defense
CB, you can measure offensive production in different ways. I would prefer to look at OPS over VORP, where there are only three 1B better than Tex (920) this year: Pujols (1.063), Berkman (1.033), and Youk (960). The next closest to him is Prince Fielder at 906. And Prince will not be a 1B over the course of his career. After that, there’s no one until Morneau at .885.
“Captain Tek filed for divorce yesterday. Are his marital woes responsible for his bleak year?â€
Maybe vice versa?”
In Tek’s filing he cited Mrs V’s “chronic pissing and moaning about men left on base and average w/ RISP”.
What did Law say that was wrong re: the Yankees?
Let’s be honest, its been a HORRIBLE year for player development with the Yankees.
Hughes and Kennedy have ZERO ML wins this year. Hughes has been hurt since April and Kennedy has been so bad, his own teammates practically voted him off the island.
Shelley Duncan (remember him?) was supposed to provide RH pop off the bench. How did that work out.
Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera have fallen off the map this year and perhaps off the team for next year.
Humberto Sanchez has been very slow to comeback from TJ and elbow chip surgery and has been relegated to GCL ball all year.
Jeff Marquez and Alan Horne pitched themselves out of “top prospects” status.
Jose Tabata was so petulant and unproductive, they traded him.
What’s gone right in player development this year?
Austin Jackson, Mark Melancon, Zach McAllister, Phil Coke (classic late bloomer?), Ramiro Pena (the reason why they traded Gonzalez) and the Charleston team (despite injuries, several very nice prospects on that team, led by Montero). That’s it.
We, as Yankee fans may not like hearing/reading it but, those are the cold, hard facts. Not Law’s fault for telling the truth.
Timothy CLougher,
I am not a paid scout or baseball guy but I will try to answer your question..
the Yanks have a surplus of relief arms for sure and many of them appear to be well respected so therefore they can think of trading some surplus arms for a !B or CF.. Veras who I am against trading but say for arguements sake they decided to trade veras,bret gardner, Coke, and Kennedy, could they get Joey Votto or AdAM Laroche or someone else?? I am not saying do this but the Yanks have assets this is not the Darrel May and tim redding days..They make this trade they insert Melancon for veras and they lose nothing off there 25 man roster… I am not saying do this but just giving you a bad example of what can be done.
There are options that I am just not aware of or knowledgable enough to talk about but the yanks have assets..Are Votto or laroche as good as Giambi offensively I think no, but they are cheaper, and can play everyday, and field better.. Everything is a trade off. But you need to have a well balanced team.. Teams that just pitch great or mash usually do not win it all. My take is teams that do everything at least middle of the pack and some things near the top echelon statistically win it all that is my take.. Texas has no chance they mash but cannot field or pitch. You need to be at least avg in fielding, speed, pitching , pen, power ,and overall hitting to be dominate team..
I wouldn’t mind Milledge either, he’s got all the talent and plays the game with a passion, something this team lacks…
Do you notice on this blog we say Milledge can be had for IPK yet no one here wants to talk about the possibility of it. A 5 tool defensive upside in CF yet no one wants to talk about it, I wonder why
Brandon, you are obviously not very intelligent, so please define what “dominating” the GCL means to you? 1.800 OPS? Home run in every at bat?
Again, the only numbers I talked about were Tabata’s strong week in his return to AA. It’s obvious reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.
Again, the only numbers I talked about were Tabata’s strong week in his return to AA. It’s obvious reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.
Bro I’ve been following Tabata’s progress for years I know yor not going to sit there and tell me he’s dominating right now. Just keep it honest. He hit poor pitching for 4 games that isn’t dominating. You know what agree to disagree.
Again, the only numbers I talked about were Tabata’s strong week in his return to AA. It’s obvious reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.
Bro I’ve been following Tabata’s progress for years I know your not going to sit there and tell me he’s dominating right now. Just keep it honest. He hit poor pitching for 4 games that isn’t dominating. You know what agree to disagree.
..sorry for the double post..
Stick a fork in them, their done
Lowest I’ve felt in many years, high priced salary’s that arem’t producing. The youth movement has been a fiasco, they can’t stay healthy and when they are other than Joba, Kennedy, Hughes, Melky and Cano don’t produce. You have to think hard about a more impatient batter than Cano. Many of us saw most of this coming.
Brandon:
Touche
“Humberto Sanchez has been very slow to comeback from TJ and elbow chip surgery and has been relegated to GCL ball all year.”
What’s going on with Sanchez??? I see he pitched the other night, but went 3 weeks between one inning appearances in the GCL. What gives with that?
TurnTwo:
He’s 37, doesn’t want to play there and his big value for the Yanks was him at C.
SJ,
You were talking earlier about trading some of the young arms for young position players, NOT superstars. I agree that Teixeira is NOT coming here, and for good reason. He wants too much money. Posada’s ability to catch is certainly up in the air. What about dealing a few of these pitching prospects like some combo of Ian Kennedy, J. Brent Cox, David Robertson, Humberto Sanchez and Alan Horne to Texas for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. God knows the Rangers need pitching and Salty and Posada can platoon between C and 1B. This also allows the Yanks to keep 1B or C warm for Jesus Montero without tying up those spots with long-term contracts.
Additionally, a trade of Robinson Cano for Matt Kemp would be a GREAT deal. Kemp hits righty and can play a strong CF. Just the type of player the Yanks could use. Cano would be a good fit for LAD as they need a 2nd baseman and he works well with Larry Bowa.
I see them signing Sabathia and resigning either Moose and/or Pettitte. Not much needs to be done with the bullpen if Marte comes back, Melancon and Robertson step up and Veras and Edwar continue to pitch effectively.
They need to shore up the bench with a couple of decent hitters/fielders. Guys like Brandon Boggs and Alex Cora.
I also think signing Adam Dunn would be a GREAT move. He may strike out quite a bit, but the guy has enormous lefty power and knows how to take a walk.
I think they end up moving Matsui as he is only able to DH at this point in his career.
I know Ronald give me a sec. I have to check something
Lastings Milledge YES, NO, HMMM….IS HE TOO DIFFERENT TO TALK ABOUT
“Ronald you tell me
Jacobs defense ”
One play doesn’t mean he’s a good defender. I could show you webgems from Giambi this year, doesn’t mean he’s any good. In truth, Jacobs is a pretty poor defender. In fact according to BBTF he’s the worst 1B in the NL http://www.baseballthinkfactor.....s_to_date/
Patrick â„¢:
I agree with so don’t just say TEX isn’t coming to NY…
Anyone else just feeling real bummed out today with the reality of the season being over setting in?
I’ve thought for a while they were done, but now that it’s all but a given, kind of bums me out.
“Kennedy has been so bad, his own teammates practically voted him off the island.”
hehe
Patrick â„¢:
Or the Yanks have better options and provide none.
Probably because the media made him out to be a headcase when he was with the Mets.
Kennedy for Milledge would be a no brainer.
hypothetically speaking, how would Jacobs become our 1B ?
“Stick a fork in them, their done”
Overused comment. Please stop….
Brandon, I don’t think Kennedy is bringing Milledge back, but who knows. They’ve both performed below some people’s expectations, but Milledge has generally been more highly regarded as a prospect and what he’s done this year is light-years more productive than what Kennedy’s done.
Patrick â„¢:
Or he is the 6th best at the position, that’s just not true, and we are talking about guys that are obtainable without depleting the Farm system we just built up.
“He’s 37, doesn’t want to play there and his big value for the Yanks was him at C.”
if Yogi Berra could swallow his pride and move from behind the plate, Jorge can. he’s gotta get over that.
his value is behind the plate, but if he cant throw anyone out anymore, they’re going to have to play him somewhere to keep his bat in teh lineup.
I do not understand the mega love for salty.
yes he was a big prospect but he has done nothing so far at the major league level..And he appears to be a bad fielding catcher also..
people act on this site like he is some established star, but the point that Texas has excess bats(Davis) and need arms fits my scenario.. we have arms they have bats, how about some deal…..
that is what can happen.
hypothetically speaking, how would Jacobs become our 1B ?
Through arbitration I think.
Jacobs is not the answer, sorry Brandon.
Jacobs has a fielding % of .989
I’d go to battle in 2009 with a lineup of:
Damon-CF
Jeter-SS
Nady- RF
A. Rodriguez- 3B
Dunn- LF
Posada- C/1B
Kemp- CF
Saltalamacchia- 1B/C
O. Hudson- 2B
A Rotation of:
Sabathia-lhp
Wang- rhp
Chamberlain- rhp
Mussina or Pettitte
Hughes- rhp
A bullpen of:
Milton or Giese
Veras- rhp
Ramirez- rhp
Robertson- rhp
Marte- lhp
Melancon- rhp
Rivera- rhp
and a Bench of:
Cora- IF
Gardner- OF
Molina- C
Betemit- IF/OF
Timothy I just explained why we can’t provide “better options” Sorry bro but I don’t have any MLB GM’s on speed dial to ask them about first basemen. I want Teixeira on the team too but he’s not worth a 7-10 year contract @ $140-$180 million.
Bob yes I am bummed. I never thought I’d look to other teams with envy as to their players and how they are playing. It is a bad time for Yankee fans.
I think most Football teams have less injuries than we do and our injuries are crushing.
TurnTwo
August 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
“Wonder what kind of deal CC will be looking for?â€
lots of money for lots of years.
Let’s see. Yanks are desperate for CC. Yanks have lots and lots of money. Lot’s other big teams will be involved in the Bidding. My guess is Richest pitching contract in the history of baseball for lots of years.
TurnTwo:
Then you have to find a harder position to fill C, with out any good FA available there. So Molina would be the evry day catcher, I don’t think he could last for the whole year.
I think I missed the part where Ned Colletti got drunk enough to trade Kemp for Cano.
Mark Ellis instead of Hudson.
Jacobs is not the answer, sorry Brandon.
Niether is TEX at 20+ million for each of the next 7-10 yrs., sorry Timothy.
they can only sign Dunn if they trade Matsui or Damon..
I think having damon and matsui for only 1 more year at reasonable money is a benefit and you keep both of them around…
Cano for C. Kotchman & something else yay or nay ?
I want Teixeira on the Yankees but whenever I think about it this question pops into my head, “Do I really want the Yankees to pay Teixeira $20 million in 2015 when he’s 35, and has been declining offensively and defensively for the past 3 years?” NO
If he would take a 5 year deal I’d be on board but theres no way he gets less than 7 years.
O-dog over Ellis.
Dunn = another guy who strikes out a lot. Yeah we definitely need that over Damon and Matsui who dont strike out a lot. Moron!
Lol Brandon, you are still arguing about a point that I never made, no matter how many times I write it, so yes we will agree to disagree.
“Then you have to find a harder position to fill C, with out any good FA available there. So Molina would be the evry day catcher, I don’t think he could last for the whole year.”
not necessarily. Jorge could then be Molina’s backup.
perhaps platoon Jorge at 1B with a lefty on the mound, and let Miranda get a chance to play 1B with righties on the mound.
or you use some pitching to get a Saltalamacchia-type catching prospect… a Gerald Laird, Josh Bard, etc.
No more fence swingers. Ill take 10-15 homeruns and a .300 avg (plus good RISP). Dunn is homerun or nothing, and that is one of the reasons the yankees are where they are now. everyone wants to hit the homerun. You want to be really drastic, start fining/benching or pulling any player who swings at the first pitch, or fails to make a solid attempt to move a baserunner over.
“I would prefer to look at OPS over VORP, where there are only three 1B better than Tex (920) this year: ”
Looking at statistics for only one year is really shortsighted. That’s not a particularly valid way to assess who the better player is overall. That tells you who is better this year but performances vary year to year and that’s not enough data to judge whether signing a player to a long term contract for $140M makes sense.
No team would hand out a 7 yr $140-150M contract based on one year of performance.
If you wanted to do that then Xavier Nady is a better player than Tex.
If you prefer raw OPS instead of unadjusted position specific numbers like VORP then take a look at each player’s career OPS+ (adjusts for the ball park they play in – important for Berkman and Howard):
Pujols: OPS+ 168
Berkman: OPS+ 148
Howard: OPS+ 140
Cabrera: OPS+ 141
Fielder: OPS+ 132
Tex: OPS+ 132
Again – tex is nowhere near those other players. Not even close. And Fielder’s career numbers are difficult to assess because he’s still so young and hasn’t played enough seasons. But Fielders OPS+ of 156 last year as a 24 year old is higher than any OPS+ texeira ever put up.
Tex’s career OPS+ is nearly identical to Jason Bay’s (131).
Would you pay Jason Bay $140M? No way. Not even close.
Tex has developed this “name brand” that has somehow made people willing to pay a premium for him that doesn’t correspond to the real value in production you’ll get back.
And please don’t start with Tex’s defense and how he’s a gold glover. Over his career he’s been an average to moderately above average defensive player – I’ve looked at multiple different ways of measuring defense and Tex is nowhere close to as good as a guy like Pujols or Youkilis.
There is no way to argue that signing a career OPS+ player of 132 to a $140M contract makes sense or is a good value. When you factor in that 132 OPS+ player plays first base then its an even worse move.
Should the CC and Tex signings fall through, whose the yanks 2nd at pitcher ?
Tex is light years ahead of Jacobs. It’s not even close. We’re talking about a guy who has been in the top 20 overall in OPS in four of the last five years. And he’s 28- only one year older than Jacobs. And a gold glove defender. And a switch hitter.
“Cano for C. Kotchman & something else yay or nay ?”\
it wouldnt happen. Braves like him as their 2B of the future, and dont need a 2B with Kelly Johnson holding it down.
2nd… Ben Sheets
“Pujols: OPS+ 168
Berkman: OPS+ 148
Howard: OPS+ 140
Cabrera: OPS+ 141
Fielder: OPS+ 132
Tex: OPS+ 132
Again – tex is nowhere near those other players. Not even close. And Fielder’s career numbers are difficult to assess because he’s still so young and hasn’t played enough seasons. But Fielders OPS+ of 156 last year as a 24 year old is higher than any OPS+ texeira ever put up.”
Not even close? Fielder and Tex have the same OPS+ according to your stats and he’s only eight percent lower than Howard. Not a huge divide there.
Jason Bay and Tex are incomparable. An outfielder should have a higher OPS than your average infielder.
The Yankees are where they are because of too many “stars” who coast to big numbers, and not enough gamers.
The example of this is Cano vs. Knoblauch on the 98-01 teams. Cano has tons more talent, but Knoblauch would give the gritty at-bat, and even though he made mistakes and errors, his head was always in the game and he played with passion. Elsewhere, we have Abreu vs. O’Neill, and even Jeter 96-01 vs. old and dispassionate Jeter.
This teams’ heyday was not built by playing fantasy baseball, and it won’t be fixed that way.
Hey Joba Rules…
You might want to refrain from the name calling in future posts. I am entitled to my opinion as much as you are. But calling me a moron is uncalled for.
Every team has power hitters. Mickey Mantle hit a ton of home runs and took a lot of walks but struck out unmercilessly as well. Not saying Dunn is Mantle but he DOES have the ability to drive in a ton of runs with his power. You can’t have all .300 hitters hitting 10 HR. Even the Yankee teams of the late ’90s who were built around “manufacturing the run” had a Strawberry, a Fielder or a Tino to drive in the runs that Jeter, Paulie, Brosius and Boggs set up.
“Not even close? Fielder and Tex have the same OPS+ according to your stats and he’s only eight percent lower than Howard. Not a huge divide there.”
except that Fielder right now doesnt require that type of long term comitment, either.
for example, if you were to trade Cano, plus for Fielder, you could go year by year thru arbitration, and determine if he’s worth a long term deal by the way he performs over his first couple years with the pinstripes.
How bout we trade Ian Kennedy to Boston for Kevin Youkilis? That would definitely work out for both teams. i like it.
Hypotheically how would Salty become our 1B ?
Nobody was arguing that Mike Jacobs is better than Teixeira. SJ44 simply put the name forward as a cheaper option at first.
By the way CB, to be fair, Tex has been one of the best fielding 1B’s in the league this year. But like you said its just one season and over a larger period of time Tex is average to above average.
Is it me or am I the only one who thinks Bruce Springsteen is over rated?
Why is Jonathan Ortiz still in Charleston?
Fielder is not someone we want playing 1B.
And CB, I think the adjusted stats are flawed. Penalizing Tex for playing in hitters parks assumes that he wouldn’t put up the same numbers in pitchers parks, and I think that is far from necessarily the case.
MikeinBH
August 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hey Joba Rules…
You might want to refrain from the name calling in future posts. I am entitled to my opinion as much as you are. But calling me a moron is uncalled for.
Every team has power hitters. Mickey Mantle hit a ton of home runs and took a lot of walks but struck out unmercilessly as well. Not saying Dunn is Mantle but he DOES have the ability to drive in a ton of runs with his power. You can’t have all .300 hitters hitting 10 HR. Even the Yankee teams of the late ’90s who were built around “manufacturing the run†had a Strawberry, a Fielder or a Tino to drive in the runs that Jeter, Paulie, Brosius and Boggs set up.
My apologies. 1998-2000 we didnt have a hitter who had more than 28 homeruns. I dont consider that homerun hitters. Now we have A-Rod who is the homer hitter, but they are all solos. We need those Paulies, Brosius, Tinos. Another thing about those guys, they worked their butts off. I would still take Oneill, bernie, and tino instead of the three who play those positions now.
There are a lot of cheaper options than Tex at first. Jacobs is one of them. Shelley Duncan and Juan Miranda are others. That doesn’t mean that it’s worth even mentioning them as guys we want playing 1B on the New York Yankees.
No CC then the yanks go to plan B.. That is go internally.. joba, wang, hughes(the real hughes) moose, and Pettitte that ain’t bad and use the $ elsewhere…
Sheets is to risky, he is hurt to often…. I would have to look at all FA’s to come up with other options but overpaying because of your concern you will get no new goodies is a losing proposition that George Steinnbrenner mastered but it does not work..
I am not good with dates but when they had WInfield and each year tried to add a new expensive toys it never worked out back then also..
If the Yanks had a $140 mill payroll that would not be the end of the world.. Again they have a well stocked pen with reinforcements on the way, some premium arms a few years away in the minors and with a resourceful management they are not exactly the Pirates… There are options out there.. ANy team other then the Yanks that sign either tex or CC are not siginign anyone else right off the bat…
I have trust in Cashman if he wants to come back, and Hank stays out of it the Yanks will be fine…
dont trade Cano, he needs a kick in the butt. I think the Yankee brass assumed that hiring Girardi was giving them the best combination of a manager. I think the Yankee brass figured they were getting a great preparation guy which Girardi appears to be, a good researcher, which he appears to be, and a “Pinella tough guy ” who unlike Torre would kick guys in the butt. They have not gotten that yet from Girardi. Cano will be great, but he needs a kick in the butt or a benching.
Orlando Hudson was a spare part in his AL days, so while he is doing well (injured now) in the NL, it may not translate in the AL.
“No CC then the yanks go to plan B.. That is go internally.. ”
no chance. they did it this year, and got burned. they’re signing at least one veteran pitcher to a nice contract.
fool me once, shame on you.
fool me twice, shame, well, uh… you just cant get fooled again.
“Not even close? Fielder and Tex have the same OPS+ according to your stats and he’s only eight percent lower than Howard. Not a huge divide there.”
You have conveniently ignored Fielder’s OPS+ from last year which was better than Teixeira’s (and that was in Teixeira’s best offensive year). So basically Fielder (who was in his first full season in the bigs), outdid Teixeira during his best offensive season. I’d say Fielder projects to be a better hitter in the future.
“Jason Bay and Tex are incomparable. An outfielder should have a higher OPS than your average infielder.”
If Tex was a 2B or SS you’d have a point but usually 1B are very good hitters with power, just like corner outfielders. Comparing Bay and Tex is totally valid.
“Not even close? Fielder and Tex have the same OPS+ according to your stats and he’s only eight percent lower than Howard. Not a huge divide there.”
This is why I originally only looked at the last two years of production.
For young players like Howard and Fielder looking at career statistics isn’t that meaningful because they haven’t played enough seasons to compare to an older veteran like Tex.
But Fielder’s OPS+ of 156 last year is significantly higher than Tex’s best production. Howard’s peak production of an OPS+ of 167 makes tex look silly.
And the difference between a career OPS+ of 132 and 140 is substantial. That’s a major difference in production.
“Jason Bay and Tex are incomparable. An outfielder should have a higher OPS than your average infielder.”
This is completely incorrect. First base has by far the highest average production of any position on the field. By far. It’s the easiest position to play and teams routinely stick their worst fielder’s there.
And you were the one who didn’t like VORP – which adjusts for the position the player plays.
You were the one who preferred using OPS to judge players.
So the fact is that at the same ages, Bay and Tex have nearly identical OPS+ and Tex plays a position with a significantly higher average level of production.
They are very comparable players by OPS and Bay plays a position where it is harder to find the kind of production he gives.
Again – no one would pay Bay $140M but for some reason (scott borass? perhaps..) people think Tex is a great player worth taht much money.
Anyway you want to look at it Tex is just not that good. He’s not an elite player.
if cashman stays in control of the team , this is the high water mark. this is not a transition. this is an implosion.
players in isolation by themselves mean nothing. it’s how they are put together with other complimentary players. tex means nothing if he’s not surrounded by players who can play.
are the twins full of stars? obviously not, but they have players a manager can do things with. there is a twins way of playing that permeates their whole system. the yankees have players that make no sense in relation to each other. you can’t just add up numbers they got in some other situation with other players.
that’s a major flaw in thinking that many on this blog have. numbers are not created in a vacuum. they are created in a specific situation. they don’t always translate to other situations.
seriously, the longer cashman runs the show the worse it’s going to get. just like some players are limited, he’s limited by just being smart. smart isn’t enough. lots of people are smart. creativity is needed in addition. putting a team together is more art than science.
one change is needed and a whole lot of things will improve, and that is to get rid of the architect of this disaster of a team. and that would be cashman.
Don’t know if anybody posted this earlier but John McDonald was placed on waivers. He is owed 1.9M next year but would be a nice pickup for us if Jeter is injured…let me rephrase that, Jeter is hurting (hand/wrist, ankle/foot, etc) and McDonald is a great defender. His bat is pretty bad though.
Whose to say Mike Jocobs woudn’t be a good fit at 1B? the more i look at it, the more it makes sence to me.
Stuart, we also had no pitching in the Winfield days. It wasn’t Winfield or Rickey or Mattingly or Jack Clark that prevented us from winning World Series. The playoff format was also different, as only two teams per league went to the post-season in that era.
The Disabled Mess
August 14th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Is it me or am I the only one who thinks Bruce Springsteen is over rated?
It’s YOU. He’s the best entertainer in the world. Show at Giants Stadium was THREE hours and Fifteen minutes and No breaks.
If Tex played on better teams, his OPS would compare to Pujols.
Why is Jonathan Ortiz still in Charleston?
There is no need to rush him.
Whose to say Mike Jocobs woudn’t be a good fit at 1B? the more i look at it, the more it makes sence to me.
Ronald I agree.
Are the Angels going to be willing to sign
1. KRod 12- 13 mil per 4/5 yrs
2. Vlad /15 mil option
3. Tex 15 – 17 mil per 6/-8 yrs
They can do it $ wise but it’s not really their M.O.
Ronald, is it the poor defense, poor speed, poor OBP, or the poor AVG that makes him look like a good option to you?
The question going forward will be, who is part of the problem, and who is part of the solution?
The answers are not so clear cut–Cano, Cabrera, Matsui b/c of his age and injuries, others.
Also, our stalwarts like Jeter and Posada are playing youngsters positions, but their age is obviously a factor from here going forward. Both are great offensive players FOR THEIR POSITION, but neither gives an offensive advantage at 1st base, DH, or outfield. What do you, or can you, do with them?
As long as we sign CC, im gooood.
CF & 1B will work themselves out.
With a Rotation of CC,Wang, Joba, Moose, Pettite
who really need Texiera at 25 mil a year ?
“It’s YOU. He’s the best entertainer in the world. Show at Giants Stadium was THREE hours and Fifteen minutes and No breaks.”
i can pick a banjo for 4 hours. doesn’t mean i’m good at it.
Turntwo, what are your thoughts on the pavano contract? If we sign another mediocre pitcher to an even longer, more expensive contract would that be getting fooled the first time or the second time?
“And CB, I think the adjusted stats are flawed. Penalizing Tex for playing in hitters parks assumes that he wouldn’t put up the same numbers in pitchers parks, and I think that is far from necessarily the case.”
This makes absolutely no sense. Do you know what adjustment means?
Looking at adjusted stats does the exact opposite of what you said it does.
It doesn’t “penalize” a hitter for playing in a pitcher’s park. It does the opposite. It corrects the effects of a hitter playing in a pitcher’s park.
Looking at adjusted numbers deflates the production of guys like Berkman and Howard who play in banjo box stadiums.
Looking at raw OPS like you were originally doing in fact penalized Tex compared to guys like Berkman and Howard.
By looking at OPS+ I was giving Tex the complete best case scenario benefit of the doubt.
OPS+ is a relatively context neutral stat. It’s exactly what you want to look at when comparing hitters.
Even looking at OPS+ – a stat which should help Tex somewhat – even then he’s nowhere close to those other guys.
Bronx –
I think the smart money is that the Angels let K-Rod walk and sign the other two.
Someone needs to dump a bucket of cold water on Tex’s head if he thinks he is going to get a 10 year deal. Boras has him brainwashed.
Randy I could not disagree more.. You think Cashman does not know this is a mish mash of soft stars?? He has known it for years and finally got management to see it..
If it was up to Cashman I bet Arod would not be on the team this year.. Cashman is far from a fool.. He also remembers they had Chad Curtis in LF and ramiro mendozo in the pen etc..
He is aware they could not change the personality of the team any faster then they have.. they are lucky they unloaded the big unit, jaret wright, and sheffield over the last couple of years else it would have been even worse..
Cashman use to watch the games in 96 trhu 2001 also
“Are the Angels going to be willing to sign
1. KRod 12- 13 mil per 4/5 yrs
2. Vlad /15 mil option
3. Tex 15 – 17 mil per 6/-8 yrs”
I’d guess they let Krod go.
“if cashman stays in control of the team , this is the high water mark.”
So you think he’s going to make the Yankees a last-place team next year with his non-gritty, never-played-the-game ways?
I’m starting to think you don’t like him very much.
Anothny:
His fielding % is .989 (.991 last yr)
He’s a 1B so it’s not like were expecting someone speedy.
he’s gonna hit 20-25 HR with 70-80 RBI
he’s young and there won’t be any pressure batting 7th
enough?
Stuart–The failure of the Winfield years had a lot to do with an abysmal starting pitching staff.
We used to throw the Niekro brothers out there in those days. The only top starter we had was Guidry in those years. Leiter got traded. Rags was made the closer. The best pitchers we had were Dennis Rasmussen and Rhoden and outside of Rasmussen almost winning 20 one season I recall, he wasn’t very good.
By the time we traded Winfield for Mike Witt (remember him?), our offense was in shambles and the only reason you went to the stadium was to cheer for Mattingly, Pags and the other team.
Obviously, that all changed in when Buck took over and the team started showing something.
Guys: We won in 96-00 because we had ridiculous, amazing starting rotations. Not because of Chad Curtis or Clay Bellinger or any of those guys.
“This is completely incorrect. First base has by far the highest average production of any position on the field. By far. It’s the easiest position to play and teams routinely stick their worst fielder’s there.”
How are you coming to this assertion? Do you have some numbers that show that first base has the highest average production? And instead of putting that one position against the average production of three players in the outfield, can you compare it to the averages of each teams’ most productive outfielder so that you don’t include the Melky Cabreras of the world?
“Captain Tek filed for divorce yesterday. Are his marital woes responsible for his bleak year?â€
Maybe vice versa?â€
In Tek’s filing he cited Mrs V’s “chronic pissing and moaning about men left on base and average w/ RISPâ€.
Now THAT is funny!
randy l.:
You tell me how the hell Cashman’s the reason for this.
I looked close, I didn’t see him standing next to Cano on the fly ball goof last night.
I looked 2 game s back, I looked close I didn’t see Cash, not running hard out of the box with Cano’s hit.
I can name quite a few and same thing Cash wasn’t in any footage.
His job is to acquire and listen to scouts about there evaluation of talent. This is Joe G’s 1st year, everyone new it would be tough. I just cannot blame Cash for this lazy playing, if we lost and it at least looked like we were giving 100% I could live with that, or diving for grounder’s that just thru the infield OK….but we are not doing that, and Cashman has nothing to do with it.
Youkilis is better than Tex. You all just hate him because he kills the Yankees.
On the other hand, Millar is way worse than Tex, and he kills the Yankees, too.
“Anothny:
His fielding % is .989 (.991 last yr)
He’s a 1B so it’s not like were expecting someone speedy.
he’s gonna hit 20-25 HR with 70-80 RBI
he’s young and there won’t be any pressure batting 7th
enough?”
Nope. He’s not that young, he’s 27. He’s got an AVG of .251 and an OBP of .297. That is abysmal for 1B.
“enough?”
Looking at fielding percentage is silly. He has no range.
He is a .250-.270 hitter and he has very little plate discipline. The only benefit I see is that he hits for a lot of power.
Honestly, Giambi is a better overall player than Jacobs. If it came down to trading for Jacobs, I’d much rather sign Giambi to a short deal and keep the prospects it would take to get Jacobs.
Cano WILL NOT BE TRADED…. At least I think…… What the Yankees need to do is split up Melky and Cano like Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle were split up… They are great friends, which is great, but it seems to affect them on the field… Trade or get rid of Melky.. He should not be on the team come 2009; honestly he should already be gone…
Mike Jacobs is a no and first of all the Yankees need to see if Jorge Posada can play C before anything else, which I feel he will not be able to do consistently anymore ultimately landing him a spot at 1B/Dh… A lot of questions the Yankees have to make…
FACT IS they will get younger in the off-season and more athletic. This will happen by trade. They will trade for a OF whether its Shane Victorino, David Dejesus, Ryan Spilbourghs or whoever else….
Questions:
Will the Yankees decide to keep Matsui?
How many of their own free agents do they bring back?
Which prospects become expandable for trade?
A lot should happen in this off-season…
Signing pitchers to huge, long term deals is almost always a bad idea. Look at zito or mike hampton. The fact is after Sabathia, none of the guys are really that good either. If they’re going to take long, huge contracts, it would be stupid to sign them. Plug someone in internally for a year while our prospects develop and see if there are any good free agents available at sensible prices the year after. You’re a lot better off in the long term if you suffer for one or two years using below-average in-house options, instead of suffering 5 or 6 years because you signed a pitcher with two good years left to a 7 yr/150m contract.
Secondly, we have satisfactory options for our rotation next year. We can use at least Wang, Joba, and Hughes (for part of the year anyway) and we should be able to resign either mussina or pettite to shorter, more sensible contracts. After that we can fill in with kennedy, horne, marquez or aceves if they develop, rasner, zambrano if he is better. We can also sign a lower-profile starter or trade for a pitcher who is at the end of an overpriced contract. It might not be as good as getting Sheets would be in the short term, but in the long term you are much better off.
“If Tex played on better teams, his OPS would compare to Pujols.”
Because Pujols has had so many dynamite hitters surrounding him in that line up?
Come on. Pujols has played his entire career on terrible hitting teams with awful line ups. He gets no protection in that Cardinals line up.
Pujols has never had a hitter like Chipper Jones playing with him like Tex did in Atlanta. The texas line ups Tex was part of were far, far better than any team Pujols played with.
If you want to take line up into consideration then Pujols becomes an even more incredible player.
There is just no comparison between him and Tex. Pujols is a historically great player. Tex is a very good player in this era.
Pujols would be worth every cent he got. Tex is nowhere near him as a player.
Jonathon you think Cashman understands the starting pitching equation; joba ,wang, hughes, brachman, cole, beilich, betances, mccalister, and others.
Cahsman gets it it just takes time…
The yanks if health is good have 3 under 28 homegrown starters; joba, wang, and hughes, he knows that pitching wins if I know it I am confident Cahsman knows it.. But the Yanks still have to many stars regardless of the starting pitching situation.
And fredo K rod is looking for MO money not 12 a yr. $15 mill a yr…
TKinDC:
Funny how they would keep offense……..
Anthony can you give me an available 1B with a high OBS & high AVG who isnt gonna cost us 25mil a year ?
Re: Cano
The Yankees thought they could snap him out of mental lapses and less than enthusiastic play seen in 2006 and 2007 by signing him to a 4-year, $30M deal plus club options in 2012-2013 and in the process buy out some free agency years but it backfired.
The Yankees can’t chance that he’ll suddenly come out of his funk in 2009 and cross fingers that he’ll finally put together 2 consistent halves of a season.
He is what he is. Deal him over the winter.
CB:
Pujols is a great player, but he is IR waiting to happen.
“Youkilis is better than Tex. You all just hate him because he kills the Yankees.”
Youkilis doesn’t have the track record that Tex has but he is certainly having a very good year.
And Pujols does it while injured in one way or another all the time
Pujols kinda scares me
“Turntwo, what are your thoughts on the pavano contract? If we sign another mediocre pitcher to an even longer, more expensive contract would that be getting fooled the first time or the second time?”
just need to be smart in who you’re giving the money to.
Sabathia is as good an option to give it to as anyone. it’s always going to be a gamble to give someone that much money for that long of a deal, but you need to do the research, and get the odds in your favor as best as possible.
you cant be afraid to take a chance. right now, seems like the yankees have already made up their mind for next year.
Did anybody else read the NY Times entry that focused on Moose and the way he thinks about next year (as well as aging pitchers generally)?
He won’t want anything more than a one-year deal. I would guess at $9-11M. As long as there is an obvious slot for him he is good to go for next year.
I am less certain that Andy will want to come back – and I wouldn’t want to give him $16M although I guess $9M would be an ‘insult’. (someone please insult me like that)
Forget Plans A and B, we need to go straight to plan CC.
No Tex. CC.
The beauty of CC in the rotation is that it puts the other pitchers in the rotation one slot down (or over, or whatever). Whether Wang is or isn’t an ‘ace’, he would be a great #2/ co-ace with/behind CC.
Older Moose and/or Pettitte as 3/4 types, and some combo of innings-limited Joba/Hughes and 4/5 types. What’s not to like?
Take CC out of the equation and you’re asking for more out of the rest of them, even if you bring someone else it too. Because no one else the Yanks might bring in as a FA will bring what CC brings. Doesn’t mean we can’t have a very good rotation next year without CC, but he could make it great.
Give the fat man a fat contract!
wouldn’t trading cano now (offseason) be considered selling low? i think so. unless you think this year’s numbers are actually what he is.
The only big contract guy we need is A-rod. If we can get back to hard working, everyday players like Bernie, O’Neil and Tino we’ll be in great shape.
Are pitching is looking good for next year:
C.C.?
Wang
Joba
Andy? (most likely)
Moose? (50/50)
Phil
We just need some field position players that can do the little things like bunt, steal bases, produce runs, all the things the great dynasty team of the 90′s did!
hey Pete WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH JOEL SHERMAN? he’s on the kay show really insulting and hating on hank stein. calling him names. he banned from the clubhouse or something?
“Anthony can you give me an available 1B with a high OBS & high AVG who isnt gonna cost us 25mil a year ?”
Yes, Giambi won’t cost 25mil a year and his OBP is still great. There is no reason for us to rush to the bottom of the barrell with a guy like Jacobs- and give up prospects for him no less.
Turntwo, I agree, it’s all about being smart in who you give the money to. The thing is after CC, there might not be anyone like that.
I’d like to see the Yankees go after CC provided his arm looks healthy in physicals and the contract isn’t too ridiculous. paying him for 6 or 7 years to likely produce for 5 is ok, going longer than that is probably a bad idea.
Cano & someone else for Conor Jackson ?
And actually, I don’t believe Tex will get 25mil a year either.
“paying him for 6 or 7 years to likely produce for 5 is ok, going longer than that is probably a bad idea.”
and thats what they’ll have to do. give him 7 years/$150 million, and hope that he pitches worth his value for years 1 thru 4.
years 5, 6, and 7 are almost understood to be not worth the expected value of production in return for the salary paid, but you gamble on the first half of the deal.
Where do you see TEX going & for how much ?
“wouldn’t trading cano now (offseason) be considered selling low? i think so. unless you think this year’s numbers are actually what he is.”
I think the question is, would he ever get back to 2006 and 2007′s numbers, or is he going to settle into some kind of mix between this year and one of those years? His OBP is still abysmal, and he his focus/mental side of the game have regressed. The questions they’ll have to face are: will he mentally rebound from a down year and realize that he needs to have a different level of focus and preparation for all facets of his game? Is he someone that we should cut bait on now and try to turn into a better player at a position where they have a need?
Giambi must go, this team must look very different next year, or we will certainly be having these same discussions next year.
As for Pettitte, I don’t see any way the Yankees bring him back at 16M, and he is in a position of not having to pitch unless his number is met. I don’t think he would have come back this year for less than he is getting, and if offered 9 or 10 he may just stay home.
Yes, Giambi won’t cost 25mil a year and his OBP is still great. There is no reason for us to rush to the bottom of the barrell with a guy like Jacobs- and give up prospects for him no less.
Jacobs would require $$$ after the Marlins release him off his arbitration. They tried to deal him to SF for Bengie Molina but they couldn’t get the Giants to bite so Jacobs is going to go through arbitration when he wins he will be dealt for cheap.
TKinDC, I read that piece on Moose too, we talked about it a bit on here when it first appeared.
Given that we currently have a grand total of zero pitchers slotted for the rotation who aren’t coming off an injury and/or on innings limits again, I think there’s a pretty obvious slot for Moose next year.
Regarding the Hall of Fame consideration for Moose mentioned in that piece, I pointed out before that Moose should get extra credit for racking up so many wins while playing for bad teams. For example, look at what he’s doing this year…
As for Pettitte, let’s see how he finishes this season. I think that will have a lot to do with whether he even wants to come back. But it would be nice to have a lefty in the rotation, especially if we don’t get CC.
Plus, as Pettitte declines in skill level, his grittiness increases, as does hit innings appetite. If he gets really mediocre he might put on a few pounds, fall out of shape, and then become indispensable.
I think Tex will go to either LAA, NYY, or NYM. I’m guessing he’ll get about 20M per year.
“Where do you see TEX going & for how much ?”
Angels or Mets for 120-150 million. Just a guess.
I think the Yankees will make some calls regarding Tex and they’ll probably offer him a shorter deal (like 5 years) but I doubt he will accept.
When everybody seems to agree that the team needs to get younger and more athletic – the idea that we must get rid of the youngest positional all-star on the team is laughable.
Just get Bowa or a higher voltage cattle prod. In Pete’s article the other day about melky and cano there was a quote from A-Rod saying they needed more pressure on them.
So I would junk Melky and his 1st base slides and tell Girardi to start riding Cano hard.
Just don’t trade him – it is on the organization to get the most out of his obvious talent.
The Yankees face a pressure that other teams don’t have to bear. They are the New York Yankees, the Gold Standard of baseball excellence. They are expected to win and going all the way back Murderer Row they are expected to have star power. The Mets don’t face this pressure. The Red Sox dont face this pressure. Nobody does but the Yankees. They are a different animal.
Some of Hank’s statements makes one believe that he understands the Yankees are expected to have marquee names. They dont need a roster full of them, but they best have someone hot, someone who makes people come to the ballpark. The current big names are getting older. They need to be replaced in the near future.
That’s why you will never see the Yankees undertake a 3 year or 5 year plan to simply develop their own players .There is more competition in New York for the enterainment dollar than anywhere else. This isn’t Boston, where the about the only summer choices are between attending Red Sox games or taking the Duck Tour.
The Yanks need stars to continue drawing 4 million fans. Of course they can sail along till the novelty of the new Stdium wears off in a couple of years. But Hank , IMO, understands that things can change in a hurry and he does not want to go back to drawing a million fewer fans.
That’s why, regardless of the reasons put forth about the Yankees not going after a Texeira, it won’t surprise me when they do.
Yankes staff ERA since 1996
1996: 4.65 (9th in AL)
1997: 3.84 (1st in AL) 1st rd. knock out by Sandy Alomar
1998: 3.82 (1st in AL)
1999: 4.13 (2nd in AL)
2000: 4.76 (6th in AL)
Yankees staff in 2008 is at 4.27(8th) as of now. Not bad considering 3/5 of it has been replacement players w/ a new bullpen. Remember in 2005 we were (10th) in the AL in pitching in 04′ we were (6th). Again it doesn’t look like much but we’re on the right track.
The Tex offseason may be similar to Arod last year. He comes out saying don’t even call if it’s not at least 10yr/200M, and when nobody calls he goes to the team that will bail him out with @7/125-140. Then he says it’s because he always wanted to be there.
Yankees staff ERA since 1996
1996: 4.65 (9th in AL)
1997: 3.84 (1st in AL) 1st rd. knock out by Sandy Alomar
1998: 3.82 (1st in AL)
1999: 4.13 (2nd in AL)
2000: 4.76 (6th in AL)
Yankees staff in 2008 is at 4.27(8th) as of now. Not bad considering 3/5 of it has been replacement players w/ a new bullpen. Remember in 2005 we were (10th) in the AL in pitching in 04′ we were (6th). Again it doesn’t look like much but we’re on the right track.
(sorry double post)
“Plus, as Pettitte declines in skill level, his grittiness increases, as does hit innings appetite. If he gets really mediocre he might put on a few pounds, fall out of shape, and then become indispensable.”
Well maybe if he aged 15 years overnight but as it is, he’s way too young.
For this offseason, is it CC or bust ?
Nick in SF –
I largely agree – it is just that if the Yanks went nuts and signed 2 SPs then there could be an issue.
The O’s weren’t really that bad when Moose was there – it was before Angelos had ruined them. As for the 2008 Yanks? TBD!
I personally think that Andy’s arm isn’t healthy. I don’t buy the ‘he was on HGH a long time and now that he’s off he’s not good’ argument, but he just might not have much left.
Above all – I admire Moose a lot because he went to the best school in Northern California from what I have heard.
Good point, Patrick. Maybe Andy needs to disappear until the 2025 season and then come back older, wiser, slower, and better.
Watch we won’t get CC.
Instead we’ll make some stupid trade for someone like Oswalt.
Or sign Burnett and watch him take over Pavano’s role on the roster.
Giambi is not a good option at any price.. the brittleness and inabiltiy to field and play everyday is too much.
Giambi is done as a Yankee hear that Cashman, please..
they need to get away from that stuff..
Giambi gets a pass because of expectations. He has a great OBP but his BA with RISP is horrible, his RBI totals also are terrible.. That cannot be discounted..
Time to move on from giambi and abre.. it is better to cut ties 1 year to early then 1 year to late.. BYE BYE
TKinC: you are dead to me.
Anthony Teixeira, you are forgetting about Baltimore as a potential landing place for your beloved one. He’s a hometown boy, there has been speculation for a while that Angelos might open up the purse for him. With that said, aren’t the Nationals supposed to start spending money sooner or later? They should throw a bid down on the Mid-Atlantic’s own, too, at least to save face and say they tried if he ends up going to the O’s.
Maybe Tex will end up with the Delmarva Shorebirds.
Is this Girardi’s fault?
Nationals placed infielder Alberto Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 5, with a left hamstring strain.
Watch we won’t get CC.
Instead we’ll make some stupid trade for someone like Oswalt.
Why the one thing we won’t do is trade top tier young SP, Hughes isn’t going anywhere and that’s what it would take plus a Jackson to land Oswalt. Don’t see that happening at all.
Or sign Burnett and watch him take over Pavano’s role on the roster.
Doubt it, definitely not longterm.
“Instead we’ll make some stupid trade for someone like Oswalt.
Or sign Burnett and watch him take over Pavano’s role on the roster.”
I like your approach, Bob, it’s like reverse psychology, so saying it will hopefully make it less likely to happen…and boy do I hope neither of those things happen. Oswalt would not be pretty facing AL lineups, and Burnett is just scary in every way–his erratic pitching, his injuries, his terrible facial hair, yikes.
Andrew –
The family that owns the Nats (the Lerners) are beginning to catch a little heat because the product on the field stinks.
They have drafted well – despite the most incompetent GM in the league – but they are not going to play for a guy like Tex until the buzz from the new ballpark dies down and they have to start winning.
You will know they are getting serious when Stan Kasten fires Jim Bowden and hires a GM who doesn’t wear clown shoes.
Surpised people want Pettitte back.He’s elbow has been a problem the last three years.You really want another season of Mussina,Pettitte,Wang in the rotation.All three of them has been in the DL nearly every year the past three years.
People keep talking about getting younger yet they want to bring back too many vetern players.1 or 2 is alright but this rotation is one pitch from pulling a hamstring.
Nick–
I have bets that he is going to the Blue Rocks and if not them then Ripken’s Aberdeen team.
FYI I leave for Ocean City in 7 days and hope you didnt ruin anything there for me lol.
My “beloved one”? Ok. Anyway, yeah, there is some talk of the O’s, but I don’t see it happening. I think Tex wants to be somewhere that winning is a possibility in his lifetime.
“Instead we’ll make some stupid trade for someone like Oswalt.
Or sign Burnett and watch him take over Pavano’s role on the roster.â€
Can everyone just bow their heads in prayer.
pray we get CC.
Honestly, I would take Cano and see if I could do a trade with Mil for Prince Fielder.
I know all the stuff about his defense and size, but the guy can play and would rake in the stadium. He’s also younger than Cano and by all accounts, the Brewers don’t want to give into his contract demands.
I loved his Dad as a player and I think Prince is better than his Dad.
Mil is probably going to lose CC and possibly Sheets. They will be desperate for some pitching.
I would strongly consider trading Cano, Kennedy and some other pitching prospects to get back Prince.
Maybe if we take on the big contract of Bill Hall, who I think would be useful here, we could sweeten the pot.
I know Hall is a bit of an utility guy. Has he ever seen any time at 2b? Is that not possible with him?
Just curious.
I know a lot of people want to deal Cano for Kemp and I would sign off on that too, but I’d rather take a run at some young established stud players with him first before we give him up.
Imagine opposing pitchers having to pitch to Arod with Prince protecting him.
I like that thought. If Cano and others could get him, it’d be a great move.
gayle –
That would be the Aberdeen Ironbirds
haha what if we got Prince, and then he convinced CC to join the yanks.
woudn’t that be something ?
Fielder worries me.
He may be 450 Lbs. by opening day.
I’d be very leary of giving him a big contract.
TKInDC–
Thanks for bringing me up to speed. I want to see the Nats get good, fill the ballpark and eventually land players like Teixeira just to see how Angelos reacts. Whoever replaces Bowden should have a lot to work with in terms of resources and talent in the system, and they will be replacing, like you said, an incompetent idiot.
Hall’s played some games at 2B before; no idea on how he did there
How is Bowden still a GM?
That has to be one of the biggest mysteries in sports.
Listening to Pettitte’s WFAN interviews recently I get the impression that he’ll pitch as long as the Yankees continue to want him. Not sure if he’ll feel wanted if they ask him to take a big pay cut, though.
whats the latest in mlb? im shocked that 82% think that we are not making the playoffs
Andrew –
Another issue that complicates things for the Nats is that Bud Selig didn’t allow them to have their own broadcast rights – so they share MASN with the O’s.
In the interleague games they combined the two broadcast teams – it was strange.
Didn’t Pettitte say he wanted to pitch in the new stadium?
I don’t know part of me thinks it’s time to say goodbye.
We need some fresh guys here. Too many ties to the glory years as well as to the 2004 collapse. PArt of me thinks it burdens the team.
Imagine a rotation of
CC
Ponson
Joba
Livan Hernandez (to eat innings)
Wang
With Fielder at 1B and Britton, Albaladejo, and Bruney setting up Rivera
Livan?? And Ponson?? Over Moose or Pettitte?
Nick,
I just came back from lunch and read the comments. TkInDC went over the line. That was horrific.
That being said, Moose does need to come back next year. Maybe he’ll become the next Moyer.
TKinDC, I usually enjoy what you write, just not that comment about the ‘Furd
Dave D,
If that happens, I’ll personally offer to cook ribs at the end of the dugout where the water cooler is during the game just to keep the big boys energy up.
“Honestly, I would take Cano and see if I could do a trade with Mil for Prince Fielder.”
Ok, you’ve trade a 2B and change for a DH.
Now what? Who plays 2B?
Dave D
you are insane
TK–
How do the Nats draw in the new stadium, despite the team being terrible? Also, have you gone and is it worth a trip down from NY?
Dave D–
The Magnificently Overweight 7? Is that what you want to call your collection of talent?
Maybe CC/Ponson/Livan/Britton/Albaladejo/Bruney can get Edwar into their exercise/nutritional program, one of them can be to him what Clemens was to Pettitte (without the HGH, hopefully). I love that Wang and Rivera are still included–are you assuming that Wang gained like 80 pounds while he hasn’t been pitching?
Heyman is saying Hal is running the new show.. I hinted this a few months ago, while Hank was the one doing the public speaking a part of me always thought he was the decoy and the real guy running the show is Hal Steinbreiner, he’s the guy that’s into the minor leagues was checking the farmsystem since 06′ or 07′ when the reports came that Prince Hal may be the future owner. Interesting….
It doesn’t make sense to trade Cano now. It would absolutely be selling low. Players at middle infield positions with his ability at the plate are extremely rare. Many of his peripherals, line drive %, balls hit into play, etc. are in-line with his career norms. It appears more of those balls have been hit into gloves than in the past. I also think the departure of Bowa and absence of Posada has affected him. I would do two things. 1) Get rid of Meachem, sign a more intense 3rd base coach in the Bowa mold. Not just to babysit Cano, for the sake of the whole team. 2) If his play doesn’t improve next year, trade Melky. If after doing all that, he still struggles then I would consider trading him. I don’t think his value will get lower than it is now and he if he is going to rebound, and I think it is likely he will, it’s worth hanging on to him.
kd –
Wow – 2 Golden Bears on the blog? Shouldn’t you guys be playing the bongos somewhere?
(we tease b/c we love!
)
TK did y ou read the recent story about one of the Nats scouts being allegedly involved in gambling??
http://www.bizofbaseball.com/i.....8;Itemid=1
wonder if they can get david wells back
OK people later.
signing a pitcher to a big money contract for over 5 years is bad buisness and the yankees know it. it didnt make sense last year, and it doesnt make any sense now.
The reason Pettite makes sense at $16m per is that we only have to sign him for a year at a time unlike signing someone else where we have to risk getting stuck paying them 10-15m for several years if they don’t produce.
PBL,
i agree with you, but if the right trade came up you would have to deal Cano.
Dave D, are you going for the all-fat team?
Brandon, Sherman was saying the same thing on 1050 about Hal running the organization.
Yeah Bob, I agree— we need some fresh faces and need to part with the 2004/glory days players. It’s like we’ve had this dark cloud over us and we need to erase all the bad memories from that time. This franchise needs a fresh start. We are moving into a new stadium and we need to re-shape the core of this franchise.
I’m not sure if buying mercenaries like CC, Sheets, Texieria will really solve our problems… Cashman needs to make under the radar type moves/trades and even explore trades for guys like Cano to help re-shape the offense.
PBL and we get the draft picks for Moose
Ok now I got to go, it’s freaking raining here.
Andrew –
They don’t sell out the park by any stretch – but it is a very nice park. Honestly, I would wait a couple of years because the city and owners decided to put it in essentially a blighted neighborhood so that it would generate development. (it worked with the b-ball/hockey arena in downtown)
In 2-3 years it will be a great part of town and the parking/metro situation will be much better. Right now it is not nearly as good as it will be imo.
gayle –
last I heard – Bowden was being questioned by the FBI (!) about his knowledge of kickbacks in Latin American signing bonuses.
I’ll read that now though – thanks for the link.
tk- we’re everywhere. it’s all good, the farm did beat us last year, almost as painful as 2004.
i agree, we can’t sell robbie too low. my real concern is that he packs it in mentally for the rest of the year and we can’t even trade him for a 3rd starter.
someone has to put the fear of george steinbrenner in him, time to make him a gamer.
it’s time for the yankees to get tino/paulie gamervision back
Why dont the Yanks hit in the clutch? This is the question.
Hal has always had the power… he is the reason there was no Santana trade.
Why was Hank even assigned power? What exactly does he do aside from making ridiculous statements?
I’ll tell you who would hit in clutch and protect Arod as well as loosen him up….
his best buddy and future cleanup hitter…
“So you think he’s going to make the Yankees a last-place team next year with his non-gritty, never-played-the-game ways?”
nick in sf-
no, i think he’s going to make them a last place team this year if someone doesn’t jump in and smack some sense into him.
actually not playing is not that much of a handicap for cash because he’s competing with other smart guys who never played either. that’s a new mandated trend in baseball for gms because mlb has found it creates fan interest because fans ( and especially bloggers) can identity better with people who have never played the game.
i like cash fine as a human being.
as a gm, as i said ,
i like cash fine as a human being.
That’s the biggest thing going on today? A tree vs. tree hugger battle?
And since when is Prince Fielder a 1B? What does he do, sit on first base and catch with his folds?
gayle, I think I left Ocean City in pretty good shape, though the Dumsers at around 123rd St. was running low of malted milkshakes by the end of my week there and I might have left a few divots on the Links at Lighthouse Sound. Nowhere near the holes, of course.
If you like steamed crabs, the Crab Bag had really good ones, the best in recent memory. For softshells, Rippons makes great ones, though they’re getting prohibitively expensive.
Yes, I gained weight there.
TKinDC, what team do you root for again??? I know you said you were pulling for the Terps in September because your uncle’s neighbor’s butler went there, but do you have a team of your own? Because I would like to rip them.
Oh, and I would happily play the bongos if I could do it while driving the bulldozer to knock down the trees that are blocking our stadium renovation plan.
kd: thanks for having my back. I see big things from the Bears this year, pending the QB situation.
“Why was Hank even assigned power? What exactly does he do aside from making ridiculous statements?”
Chain smokes, eats at restaurants in Tampa, probably hangs out with the family race horses, drinks a lot of Diet Cokes. Listens to Randy Levine whine about whatever he saw on the YES Network that he didn’t like. Stuff along those lines, probably.
We don’t get draft picks for Moose if he retires – right? Was Brandon assuming he would pitch somewhere else? Because I don’t think there is any chance of that.
kd – I’m worried about Nick – he was so upset that he called me TKinC. And I agree that someone needs to put the spurs to RC
the one, the only…the Manny.
Dave D,
With Rich Garces as pitching coach.
With Boras blowing in Tex’s ear, it’s no surprise the staggering $$ that is already being thrown around. He’s a very good player, but not that good–and it says here he’s gonna stay with LAA.
It’s interesting that the Sox turned down a TEX deal ATL proposed for Youks and Hansen (then turned around and traded Hansen for zilch as part of the Manny deal). May not like Theo, but he hasn’t been wrong very often when it comes to assessing talent.
Nick in SF -
Vanderbilt (don’t giggle)
Texas Longhorns (picked grad school based purely on athletics)
Terps – (Dad’s alma mater)
LMAO @ bulldozer! Drill Drill Drill
get Manny, Tex and a stud pitcher.
Damon cf
Jeter ss
Arod ss
Manny dh
Tex 1b
nady rf
posada c
matsui lf
cano 2b
andrew
the nats are drawing just a smidge under 30,000 so far this year, but not even as much as they drew in thier first year in washington. i was down in dc a couple of days before it opened and walked around it, its very pretty from the outside and looked nice inside. one thing about waiting, right now, from the 1B side, you get a nice view of the capitol, but with all the new construction going on there, it looks like that won’t be the case much longer.
attendance for the franchise (mlb rank)
2008: 29,999 (18th) *when i said a smidge, i meant it!
2007: 24,217 (25)
2006: 26,585 (21)
2005: 33,657 (11)
2004: 9,356 (30) last year in montreal.
we aren’t signing manny. we certainly aren’t signing manny, tex, and cc.
cc, hopefully. tex, at a reasonable price, so probably not, and definitely not manny.
Giambi is a good guy and may be popular in the clubhouse but this team has to cut bait with him after this season.
Signing him even to a cheap deal strays away from the plan of getting younger.
We have first baseman Juan Miranda down in Scranton who’s 25 and he’s batting .298, 9 home runs and 45 rbi’s in 83 games. No one in Trenton. 24 year old Kevin Smith in Tampa who’s batting .283, leads the team in hits and total bases. Then you have first baseman Brandon Laird for the RiverDogs. He’s 21 and he has 18 home runs and 67 rbi’s along with 187 total bases in 104 games. He’s tied for 5th in the South Atlantic lead for home runs.
manny would protect arod, and hit in clutch. we’ve got the $$$, let’s spend it.
3 years 60 mill
manny’s a quitter
manny would love to stick it to the redsox.
how do u know manny wouldnt decide its more fun to stick it to the yankees after he signs with them?
abreu, melky and cano will be gone next year
I wouldn’t be opposed to Manny or Teixeira. They both have helped their new clubs.
Manny is Manny, but he’s also one of the greatest right hand hitters of all time.
Nick, no worries. We Cal Bear/Yankee fans have to stick together.
TK- don’t worry about nick. he’ll be ok.
robbie needs to be told that it’s a short trip back to the bench. maybe he saw soriano do stupid things for a while and sign a HUGE contract and thinks he can do the same
there’s a AA middle infielder who was so good, we traded the attorney general. any ideas about his eta and what he brings bat wise?
my reason for asking is that at some point, the left side of the infield will not be defensively adequate. Carmen Angelini doing well in the minors?
not next year, but they have to move jeter sometime
manny’s a) potentially disruptive b) aging c) a headcase d) a horrible fielder e) at a position we already have several players f) asking for far for more than he’s worth.
granted, he can hit, but not as well as he used to and you can expect that trend to continue. furthermore there are a lot of guys who can hit out there with none of his issues.
manny is the ultimate heaad case but it comes back to my original question, who will hit in the clutch for us next year?
Ah, Vanderbilt, the Summu Cum Losers of the SEC. Actually, I have no particular beef with Vandy, since the enemy-of-my-enemy is my friend, and I’m officially anti-Vols after attending the Cal debacle in Knoxville a couple seasons ago.
As for Texas, I am anti-Longhorn as long as the lowlife Mack Brown is there. He and his backroom shenanigans cost Cal a deserved Rose Bowl berth at the end of the 2004 season. Never mind that we subsuquently laid a huge egg and got blown out by the Texas Tech at the Holiday Bowl while Texas played a fantastic game vs. Michigan at the Rose Bowl. It was still wrong. So very wrong.
Only thing about Miranda is that he is horrible with the glove but can hit.
manny would dh, we still have matsui.
There are reports that the O’s have signed Matusz at a $3.1M signing bonus to a major league deal.
How much much more could Gerrit Cole possibly get?
kd, i think you’re talking about ramiro pena, who was promoted to aa a few weeks ago. id say he’s got a ways to go before you cant plan on him, he’ll need at least one more full year in the minors, probably two.
Cole probably wants more.
oh, and i seriously think manny would be a very large mistake. posada, matsui, and damon will be dhing next year. manny can’t play left well enough to justify his bat. and he’s a total tool that wanted to get away from the fishbowl.
imagine what the coverage would be like before the first yankees red sox game? who in the yankee clubhouse would cover for him like papi did?
throw in giambi, betemit, pavano, off next years payroll. we will have the $$$
Cole probably wants more. I think the Yanks are going to have to give him at least 4 mil. He was supposed to go early but he was asking for a lot and Borass. However, it won’t be the end of the world for us. We will get the same pick next year in a better drafting class.
the yanks dont have a clutch hitter amongst them. Tex and Manny would fill that bill.
if we are going to spend the money spend it on cc since we will likely need a starter and pitching is more important than hitting.
or spend it on teixeira, who can hit and play gold glove 1b, where we need a player, and has none of manny’s mental issues.
why you would spend it on manny is beyond me. it’s completely illogical. did you not notice the red sox just did everything they could to get rid of him because he was so disruptive. do you really think he wouldn’t pull any of the same stuff with us? where would you play him? dh, where we already have matsui and we can cheaply sign a ton of right-handed bats who can hit with none of the side issues? lf, where he is a disaster and we already have damon/nady? furthermore he is aging. his numbers are declining. it would be a classic example of paying a player for who he was and then regretting it.
“manny would dh, we still have matsui.”
matsui coming off knee surgery and posada coming off shoulder surgery are unlikely to play thier positions much next year, so you’d have ‘mr. gold glove’ in left, when he feels like playing, basically 3 DH’s and no LFer
There’s no shame in getting beaten by the 3rd best team in Texas Nick – buck up! And the Longhorns fans are so fanatical that they get any bowl berth that is even barely within reach. Mack Brown can sell!
And I’m sure that a solid road loss against the dreaded Terps will bolster your rankings in the BCS. How can you win when Kyle Bowler is in the same state as you?
we need hitting. that’s been our downfall. Manny and Tex will take the load off arod.
“Ah, Vanderbilt, the Summu Cum Losers of the SEC.”
That’s OK. Vandy grads usually turn out winners in life.
pay abreu less and keep him in rf, nady in left.
Just a thought ….
To solve the Meacham problem, put Paulie O’Neill in as 3rd base coach. From experience he knows and understands judgement of outfield throwing arms and would instill fire into the team.
kd & PBL -
Spot on about Manny – he is a nut and a self-absorbed slacker. Boras doesn’t deserve the time of day if he calls.
OK gang – gotta jet! At least we won’t lose one tonight!
Summa Cum Losers? ouch! how’s that glass house ventilation?
manny for 2-3 years wouldn’t kill us.
Pineapple Express was hilarious. But anyways I really want to see Hughes back on the mound.
arod and manny are best friends.
getting manny and tex would take a load off arod. so would having cc, wang, and joba, moose/pettite, and hughes start. as would getting matsui and posada back and turning cano around. the difference is we can do the other things for free or at little cost, except for cc, with a much shorter committment. and then with manny you have additional character risks.
since when do we worry about money? and when did pitchers hit in the AL? our problem has been hitting, clutch hitting to be exact. how do we solve that problem “for free or at little cost?”
Apparently Rollins isin’t happy in Philly
If the Phillies make Rollins available… would you trade for him and move him to CF?
Hey now, I’ve never met a Vandy grad I didn’t like, I was just referring to its usual place in the SEC standings. Cal is sometimes that bad but often not in recent years.
Kyle Boller notwithstanding, I have nothing but confidence in Cal’s chances against the Terps. But we’ll know much more about both teams after the season starts.
this new fiscally responsible regime will kill us. are the stein boys so afraid of spending their inheritance?
they have the largest payroll in baseball…that’s not good enough for you?
so they can’t spend more? when did the salary cap go into effect? wont about 75 mill come off the books next year?
your ticket prices, beer, parking and hot dogs are going up either way.
jj
they’ve got the largest payroll (about 25% higher than the next team) and according to hank (one of the supposed cheapskates) they plan on going after the top talent this and thats on top of being around
get an ace to add to wang joba pettitte hughes and 2 big bats , that won’t break us.
sorry bad edit, should be
*they plan on going after the top talent this offseason*
big money pitchers contracts of 5+ years NEVER work out for the team that signs them. can you name one that has?
whoever they get they will overpay, it’s the yankee way.
players use the yanks to get their money. we need to sign players who want to play here and will settle for less. good luck with that.
can jimmy rollins play 2b?
“If the Phillies make Rollins available… would you trade for him and move him to CF?”
I’d trade for him and put him at SS.
Moose! how long was his contract, I think 6 years
Testing
sorry pete