Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 30, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Carl Pavano, yes Carl Pavano, gave the Yankees a good start against Toronto. Kevin Devaney has the story.
Mariano Rivera is working overtime lately out of the bullpen. This notebook also has updates on Joba Chamberlain, A-Rod and a suspension for two prospects.
goin to today game cant wait second game in the last 2weeks
good grief take the politico elsewhere…
I have concerns about Razz tonight. Last time in Toronto did well… can he do it again? I dunno… let’s hope so.
Childish comment, yes, but soon we’ll all know A LOT more about her… not all very good too.
In the mean time, Carl Pavano?!
WTF???!!!
Concerns about Cy Razz? Pshaw!
Anybody know anything about the starter for the BJ’s today? It looks like he’s a reliever.
Good thing we worked counts last night and got into their bullpen. We did do that didn’t we?
Hey folks – if you want to spout about politics kindly take it to another place – It is a baseball blog.
Please and thank you –
agree with my fellow DC insider TK… take the politics elsewhere. If you want to talk Yanks, welcome!
Agreed, TKDC –
Still, occasional Bill Clinton womanizing jokes (although old) and George Bush stupidity jokes kinda feel like they could always be fair game though. That’s as close to politics as we oughta get here, and even then only if the joke is well-timed and they’re not too often.
Unless … can McCain throw as well as Posada or coach third base? We may need a catcher or a 3B coach next year.
Bye-bye Bobby –
This is from Heyman’s autopsy of the Yankee’s season:
“This will likely be the last hurrah for the ever popular Giambi and also for Abreu. “He has 15 home runs,” complained one Yankee official. “What’s that? Fifteen home runs for $15 million.” Actually, $16 million.”
Carl Pavano, stopper?
Hotness from Alaska on the ticket with McCain?
Who’s been messing with the mushrooms on my pizza?
TKinDC -
I would love to know which Yankee official said that, and how far up the food chain he/she is, because I believe the Yankees knew exactly what they were going to get from Abreu, and I’m pretty sure he’s given them, for the most part, exactly what they expected, offensively.
One of the reasons he wasn’t wanted on the Phillies anymore was because his HR power had diminished. The Yankees did not need him to be a huge HR force, because there were (are?) others in the lineup who cover that. How many guys come to the Yankees and slip seamlessly into the lineup like he has? Certainly you can look at the difficulties Pudge Rodriguez is having and appreciate just how well Abreu did. Though, Nady, too, for that matter, has fit in without too many blips.
Mind you, I’m not even going to try to guess what the Yankees will do about Abreu afater the season is done. My feeling is that so many things have to be done that any number of scenarios could unfold. (X depends on Y depends on Z, etc.) So, Abreu could be gone, or Abreu could be retained. (Wow, I really went out on a limb there, didn’t I?
)
Abreu has been as advertised – minimal HR power; steady, good at bats; great arm albeit afraid of the wall. Is he “worth” $16M – it’s all relative. If you envision Damon in left with ?? (Jeter?) in center then he is expendable with X moving to right. If you want and are able to trade Damon, then Abreu stays.
Pudge is a puzzle – but i am concerned that Jorge’s road to recovery will be a long one – he may wind up our first baseman.
Doreen –
There’s an old trick used to figure out who ‘sources’ are in articles that I heard once – which I think has some use – Since writers only talk to a couple people for a story, often people who say something off the record are also overtly quoted on the record elsewhere in a story.
Incidentally – it is pretty dumb to look at players the way the source does. I lean towards letting Abreu go but I understand your mixed feelings about him.
TKinDC -
That would make sense.
Frankly…Damon seems to be one of the few players I like to watch on this team, who gives it his all every day, and has had a solid year as a lead-off guy. I don’t mind him in left field.
As for the rest of the offseason…it will be more interesting than any other, I think. Does anyone suspect that if Carl Pavano does exceedingly well, that the Yankees give him a 1-year deal? They were saying last night on the broadcast that Cashman, throughout all of Pavano’s travails, still believes he can win here, if healthy.
“if Carl Pavano does exceedingly well, that the Yankees give him a 1-year deal?”
They have a 13 million option on him.
Pat,
The reason I asked is because I don’t think there is a chance in hell they’ll pick up that option…but re-sign him for less?
TKinDC August 30th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Bye-bye Bobby -
This is from Heyman’s autopsy of the Yankee’s season:
“This will likely be the last hurrah for the ever popular Giambi and also for Abreu. “He has 15 home runs,†complained one Yankee official. “What’s that? Fifteen home runs for $15 million.†Actually, $16 million.â€
Hearing this crap scares me a bit, TK.
He’s ONLY hit 15 HR’s? Haven’t they learned anything about acquiring only HR happy hitters? I would contend that Bobby Abreu has given them what they’ve needed in the form of LESS HR’s. Sheesh.
I would also say that I hope whatever Yankee “official” said that is someone that would have nothing to do with how the team is constructed in the future. Because really it speaks more to his stupidity, than it does to a lack of contribution by Abreu.
Like him or not, all things point to Pavano having more arm strength right now than Phil Hughes does.
It’s not an impossibility that Pavano is really healthy. His next start is scheduled vs. Tampa Bay. If he throws a quality start then he jumps ahead of Kennedy on the depth chart.
Good teams realize when it’s better to rid themselves of a player a year sooner than a year too late.
Such is the case of Bobby Abreu. He may like New York and desire to stay in New York but it doesn’t mean it will happen.
Certain components will need to take shape before a final decision is made on him.
Not as clear cut of a case like Giambi’s. Watching player moves during the offseason will carry intrigue. Each move will have a direct affect on another.
This winter’s hot stove will show a lot, I think, about Cashman’s vision of this team going forward. In the past few seasons, Cash has been limited in terms of what moves he could make by a number of onerous contracts and no-trade clauses. This will be the year to see how he does without the impediments in his way.
Angel – Tales told by idiots, full of sound & fury, signifying nothing
August 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
TKinDC August 30th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Bye-bye Bobby -
This is from Heyman’s autopsy of the Yankee’s season:
“This will likely be the last hurrah for the ever popular Giambi and also for Abreu. “He has 15 home runs,†complained one Yankee official. “What’s that? Fifteen home runs for $15 million.†Actually, $16 million.â€
Hearing this crap scares me a bit, TK.
He’s ONLY hit 15 HR’s? Haven’t they learned anything about acquiring only HR happy hitters? I would contend that Bobby Abreu has given them what they’ve needed in the form of LESS HR’s. Sheesh.
________________________________________________
That had to be Hank Steinbrenner. He’s as bad as those complaining about Abreu’s loss of power. Abreu was never a home run hitter….no more than Paul O’Neill was. He’s always been a line drive gap hitter. He had two freak seasons at 30 and only one more at 25. I’ll take his run production any time. His steals may start to dip, but, it’s difficult to steal bases when the only power is the guy hitting behind you and Giambi isn’t hitting anything.
How weird is it that Carl Pavano has two wins while Kennedy and Hughes have none.