Greetings from Gate 9
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 01, 2008 
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Here’s how you know you’re at the airport early. The Hudson News isn’t open yet. Yet inexplicably the Brooks Brothers is. So you can’t buy a newspaper but you can get a nice polo shirt.
Today we’re headed for Detroit and a makeup game. And by “we” I mean that half the beat is on this 6 a.m. flight. We’re flying to Detroit, going right to Comerica Park, covering the game then flying to Tampa tonight. There will be some quality sleeping in Tampa tonight.
Not much else to report. Check back later for the lineups. Happy Labor Day.
What?! Nobody else up? Have a good day Pete. Go Yanks..?..!
Hey first comment – good luck Yanks!
Pete, you should have flown out late last night! Then you could have slept somewhat in this morning in Detroit.
Hey Pete…
It appears that bonehead play by Cano on Saturday took the life out of the team. I would not be surprised if they go 3-7 on the trip.
I am so tired of his lack of urgency-type attitude. When each game now is like the “7th Game of the WS” and he just flips the ball shows he is NOT a “gamer”, if you know what I mean.
Maybe this offseason is the time to deal this guy for a #1 starter, move Jeter to second, A-Rod to SS and get a 3B or move Ransom there. This team needs a shakeup and that would be a shakeup.
Your thoughts?
I can see moving Cano for a young starting pitcher or outfielder… hello Dodgers? It wouldn’t be difficult to find a less expensive “gamer” like Mark Ellis or David Eckstein for 2B.
Then it’s time to decide how to spend the $ 80 M or so that’s coming off the books. With the FA market limited I expect the Yanks to be active in pursuing guys whose teams might want to get out from under some contract(s).
No way Jeter moves to 2B or ARod to 3B at this stage, but Jeter to CF or ARod to 1B might be options at some point in the future.
I don’t think a middle infield of Jete and Arod cuts it, they both have below average range factors which will probably only get worse not better
WE don’t seem to have a minor league SS ready to step in, so we’re prob stuck with Jete at short and Arod at third next year
2B-do we think Orlando Hudson id an uograde over Cano? At 32 years old. maybe he’s an incredible effort/attitude guy who can help us in that regard, but numbers wise Cano has it all over him including age, power, being lefty in YS. I wonder if the better solution is to try to bring Bowa back as 3B coach, which I assume is not likely
1B hate to say it, but maybe we sign a bad contract just to get Texeira in. In know we’ll have to sign him till he’s 40 to get 4-5 good years out of him, but one thing the yankees still have is the payroll to overpay. We could really use his glove, his OBP, and he’s probably hit about as many HR’s a Giambi in YS
WE need some studs in the OF who can chase balls down
I still say we need to see what we have with Gardner
If he can bunt, slap, walk his way to say a >350 OBP, wih his great speed, and seemingly tough attitude, he’s really help us
But since he’s not playing, we don’t know enough about him
And if he’s going to bat.215 with a .280 OBP he can’t be our centerfielder
I would let Abreu walk (professional hitter, even fairly clutch, but soft, can’t catch anything unless it’s hit right to him, and likely to get worse at his age)
Nady prob plays right, Damon plays left, and we need to plug in a CF…if not gardner then it could be Melky again (I hope not) or go out and get a Shane Victorino or someone like that
I assume Jorge is back behind the plate, with Molina as backup, and Matsui is the primary DH
Pitching, we Need CC (hope his arm doesn’t fall off!) then it’s probably CC, Joba, Wang, Hughes, Moose with alternatives being Kennedy, Geise, Rasner, Pettite….not a bad starting staff
Pen I assume we’ll mix and match next year, think we have some talent as long as they are not over used.
7-3, 8-2, 9-1 (LOL) or 10-0 (ROFLMAO) and the Yankees will be back in the Wild Card race when they return home from this 10 game MAKE OR BREAK ROAD TRIP ( which, by the way, includes a trip to Anaheim where we play OH SO WELL )
Yankee fan or Souvenir Hunter?
from nj.com
“It’s already started — people trying to make off with “souvenirs” from Yankee Stadium before it’s torn down. Signs have been ripped off walls, numbers off of seats. Stadium security recently busted a fan for trying to make off with a toilet seat from one of the Stadium restrooms. This kind of behavior, sadly, is only going to get more common as the countdown numbers get lower, and the Yankees have added extra security for the final games to combat it. If the Yankees are eliminated on or before the night of Sept. 21, they may need a lot more than cops on horses to keep order.”
pat -
I read that.
Of course, it’s not something I would do or condone, but a small part of me gets that there are people that would like to display an authentic Yankee Stadium toilet seat (ew!) in their home!
Seriously, though, I hope the last homestand doesn’t turn ugly. I hope the fans who are there at least remember all the good things that have happened in that stadium, especially the last 14 or so years, and not let one bad year spoil everything. It would sure help if the Yankees win that last game, no matter what the season has come down to. But if they happen to lose it, I hope they don’t close the stadium to resounding “boos.” THAT would be really, really sad.
Doreen
They’ll never do it but it would be great if they let the fans go down on the field after the final game is played.
My Mom told us stories about how the fans used to walk across the field after the games to leave the Stadium and she used to go run around the bases before they left.
I’d take that memory over a used toilet seat anyday.
pat -
That would be an awesome thing for them to do if it could be done in an orderly way. But you know there would be people trying to pry homeplate out of the dirt, and sod off the field. And it would just end up being bedlam.
It must have been nice “back in the day” – a great memory.
Sadly that would never happen in today’s environment…too many idiot fans would begin ripping things out and it would turn into a melee.
hey pete i’ll be at the game today.sitting behind home plate wearing my dimaggio shirt.can’t wait to see cano.What about brian roberts for cano.
“It appears that bonehead play by Cano on Saturday took the life out of the team. I would not be surprised if they go 3-7 on the trip.”
This team has shown very little life all year. With the exception of the 8 game streak after the ASB this team has been under performing offensively for the entire year. And even that streak can be largely attributed to a good stretch from the starters and bullpen. While the play by Cano was inexcusable, the life was long gone before that play.
I don’t think moving Arod to short and Jeter to 2nd is the solution. Their ranges are only going to get worse as the years go on and frankly, I’m not sure Arod is svelte enough at this point to be close to what he was years ago defensively (at SS).
I’d stick with Cano at least one more year and see if he matures a bit. As one poster indicated about a week ago, if you just remove his numbers for April, he is close to his career average (near .300) and that includes the miserable May and June.
I also think (as do about 99% of the posters here)that adding CC would be a great move but we can’t assume its in the bag. If Beckett is done, the Red Sox will be big players as well. As will the Mets. Some posters have mentioned that we should not stop at CC and add Sheets or Burnett. Well, if CC is signed at a ridiculous amount before they are, those guys will get absurd offers from teams scrambling after losing out on CC. So I’m not sure that signing more than 1 starter is a viable plan.
I’m lukewarm to giving Tex a ton of money and years especially if we end up with Jorge not being able to catch.
I’d really like to see the Yankees move some of their pitching prospects (and I include Hughes and Kennedy as prospects) to pry some young MLB talent (like Davis from the Rangers).
In 1968 I was at the final game at the Stadium against the Cleveland Indians. The place was desolate, crowd couldn’t have been more than 5,000… and that’s in the “old” stadium configuration.
We got to run out on the field after the game and touch the monuments… I slid everywhere I could slide and pulled up a handful of dirt from the infield and grass from the outfield. Mom was so pleased when I got home! What a day for a ten year old.
They should let kids have that opportunity after the final home IF it’s clear that post-season is out of the question.
Has anyone heard if they will resume Stadium tours if/when the team is eliminated? I’ll be up there the first weekend of October and would love to visit the old place.
86w183 – A colleague of mine just went on the stadium tour a couple of weeks ago and the person giving the tour mentioned that there will definitely be tours throughout the fall. Keep checking the yankees website for details.
Cano is doing his best airhead job of playing himself out of the Bronx. He is who he is. There’s no point in hiring a psychic to fix his head. Let another team try it.
Cashman now realizes that he gave him financial security much too soon.
Thanx 56—– I promise not to go sliding around the field at 50!!!
I thnk Cano needs the kind of hands on coaching he got last year. This staffd seems as passive as Torre’s and you simply can’t coach Cano the same way you do Jeter. I agree a trade must be considered, but assigning him a kick butt coach wouldn’t hurt!
Cano for Kemp? Then we would have a centerfielder. OR take someone like say Victorino and give up less. How about Cody Ross from the Marlins? The man has pop and has a good arm. He also knocks in a bunch. If the deal included hughes, would you do it? I mean we really need a CF. We can try to trade melky for an arm. Anyone?
A CF is a need, but if you believe in Austin Jackson its a 2009 need only. To me you can get by with Cabrera, Gardner, and/or Damon for ’09 to buy another year for Jackson and then use Matsui/Damon money/flexibility for a big bat corner outfielder. Cano for Kemp with the idea that Kemp or Jackson would play LF in ’10 has merit as well.
Ross is a good player and the Marlins might be interested since Cameron Maybin is waiting in the wings. Plus Ross is arbitration eligible and you know how the Marlins love to limit payroll!
Some random thoughts about next year – since it’s never too early to get ready for next year.
Infield:
SS and 3d base are set for ’09. But trading Cano for Starting Pitching or impact position player (maybe a catcher) will be considered. While trades seldom work out the way they seem to have worked this year for Volquez and Hamilton, Cano has the kind of talent, IMO, with which you can do a similar deal.
1st base: It’s a real issue, but not the way you’d think.
While a few months ago I would have said it was impossible to consider not saving a spot for Po at first base over the next three years, the shoulder injury may have changed everything.
Po may or may not be able to catch next year, but if his shoulder is not a lot better, he won’t be able to hit much either, whether he’s at 1st base or catcher. And the Yankees won’t really know what they have in Po by ST.
Do they gamble and make off season plans assuming Po’s OK? IMO, no. The Yankees were forced to think about catching this year and do not want to again next year despite all the Georgie-love. The doubts about Po’s shoulder, I think, will force the Yankees to make a move at catcher. Catcher is an everyday position. While Molina has a great arm and calls a good game, the Yankee catcher has to hit. I smell a deal for catcher for ’09 before they consider bending over backward to acquire Tex for 1st base.
That takes us back to Big G. Nady can play first but his ’08 season is shaping up like a career year. I don’t think Cash should count on X-man to put up similar numbers next year, so IMO he fits better at LF than 1st base. (Matsui can’t play LF everyday with those knees). Giambi’s numbers (other than batting average and RISP) are still valuable if not staggering. And he did manage to play a lot more games at 1st this year than anyone expected. Crazy as it sounds, if G is willing to take a big pay cut for a one-year deal, Cash has to think about keeping him over Matsui (Matsui can’t play 1st). If they keep G, IMO that puts Matsui in play as a trade piece to an AL club looking for a DH/part-time LF. I think the volatility at 1st base and catcher also means they re-sign Abreu for RF.
Rotation still a priority? Yes, but the Yanks’ willingness to overpay for CC depends on how high they rank their needs at Catcher and 1st base. They scraped by with patches in the rotation this year and may do so until the young guns come online. IMO, it’s Catcher, then starting pitcher and only then do they make a big deal at 1st base.
SO, how’s that sit with your coffee and bagels this morning?
I don’t get all the talk about Cano’s contract being an issue. He’s making 3 million dollars this year and would have gotten that in arbitration. A 4/30 contract has the potential to save the Yankees million of dollars over those 4 years or be a big enough bargain that another team would be willing to take it on.
A little perspective. 3 million is the same amount that Ian Kennedy made in signing bonus + salary last year. Cano’s whole 4 year contract will cost the Yankees about the same amount as Kei Igawa’s posting fee. In the scheme of things, Cano’s contract is a bargain.
murphydog -
I’ll say this — you’re a maverick! (Presidential campaign word of the week.)
Posada not well enough to catch or hit?
Big G back at first?
Keep Damon/Gardner/Melky in CF?
What’d'ya know, no Cano?
Holy dust in the infield, batman!
Seriously, though, I’ll bet the Yankees have about a dozen white boards with every possible configuration and contingency working – and if they don’t currently, they will mighty soon.
Anything’s possible. And not knowing what Jorge will have for them IS a big problem. Changes are easier to swallow coming of a disappointing year.
No to Kemp. Nothing I’ve heard makes me think he’s an improvement over Cano.
trade cano,hughes,ajax,and someone else for kemp,loney,billingsley.
you solve the first base and center field problem,replace hughes with possibly an upgrade,get younger at center and first.
now you can work on trading,nady,damon,matsui for youg corner outfielders and pitching even if you have to throw in some young minor league pitching.
now you have young outfielders,first base and 3 of you’re rotation is wang,joba,billingsley.you add a free agent ace and things look good.
as long as we keep joba,wang and get a young potential ace like billingsley,carmona or someone like that and sign a fa pitcher,with brackman being in the mix in a year or two i think that would be fine.
I think the Yanks have to plan on Posada being ready and will look for a less expensive insurance policy like David Ross or Rod Barajas to go with Molina.
Bringing back Giambi and Abreu just guarantees another year with a lineup that is too lefthanded, too old and too slow. You cannot expect there to be much trade interest for Matsui or Damon with their $ 13 M salaries for ’09.
That’s why I don’t think they should bring back any of the FA except Pettite or Mussina (not both). I am an advocate for signing Teixiera and CC…. but that won’t be easy no matter how much money is offered.
It’ll be a challenging and fascinating off-season for sure.
We’d be crazy to trade Hughes
Many great pitchers (Glavine/Randy Johnson/Shilling/Guidry/Maddux) struggle for a while
No one kow if Hughes will be good, it’s unknowable, but it’s nuts to give up a young pitcher who mosr scouts love this early
Also, his value is way down, so we wouldn’t even get what we would have one year ago
I don’t think you give up on cano, as frustrate as we are with him, he may be the most talented 2nd baseman in the league
Can you get him to focus and play harder, I think he needs a mentor, like Bowa or someone else, for some reason jeter doesn’t take that role on
His mistakes are more noticed because every game is a must win
Manny R. made a boatload of mistakes for 2 WS teams, they just go overlooked because he and the team compensated, which the Yankees never do this year
If Posada comes back to play 1st base, which seems to make some sense, who is the first string catcher?
cervelli.
murphydog: not good.
you wan’t them to field the same mess.
trade hughes for a ceterfielder,trade cano for a young stud pitcher like cain,etc…. now you fix ceter field,replace hughes,then package kennedy and prospects for a young first baseman.
use some more of the pitchers that the yankees have way to much of to bring in another young pitcher.
center,first base are taken care of and you fill 2 rotation spots to go with wang,joba and any fa pitchers the yankees sign.
next would be working on the 2 corner outfiels spots.