So, what’s it like to cover the Yankees?
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- September
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Kirsten writes: Here’s my question: So what exactly do you all do, meaning the merry band of beat writers? As in how about “a day in the life of a beat writer”? What’s it like in the press box and the postgame scrum? I’m always curious about these kinds of things.
Answer: There’s an excellent question. I’ll try and break down an average day. We don’t all follow exactly the same routine, but it’s pretty close.
Schedule: The clubhouse opens to the media 3.5 hours before the game, no matter what time the game starts. The clubhouse closes 60 minutes before first pitch. Major League Baseball sets these rules, not individual clubs. It’s the same in every park, home or away.
Because the Yankees are a very competitive beat, we’re in the clubhouse from when it’s open until when it closes. You use this time to talk to the players and coaches. There’s a lot of time standing around, just waiting to see if there is some news. The vast majority of the Yankees are more than happy to talk to us and are very friendly.
The clubhouse must open up (MLB rules) 10 minutes after the last pitch and it’s open to the media until the last player leaves.
So for a typical 7:05 game, I would get to the park around 2:45 p.m. and leave around 12:30 a.m. depending on how long the game lasts and how much rewriting I have to do. Blogging has added more time to the day.
The beat writers, generally, tend to cover every road game and about half the home games. Most of us cover every Red Sox and Mets game regardless of location. I think by the time this season is over, I’ll have covered around 120-125 games.
The manager: In baseball, you interview the manager before the game and after. Before the game, you get information and quotes for stories you need to do at that time. It would be typical to ask about upcoming games, injuries, trends, etc. There are times the pre-game interview can go 30-40 minutes. Postgame, it’s usually 5-10 minutes. The smart managers usually have a pretty idea of what we’re looking for.
Deadlines: These vary by the paper. Most of us have to do at least one story that is due either before the game or in the early innings. This is typically a notebook. Then you send the first edition of your game story right when the game ends. After you do some interviews, you rewrite that story and send it again. Then you might also rewrite your notebook. So in essence, you write the same story twice. Often, there is a third story as well, a sidebar.
When the team is in a different time zone, almost all of us have to “an early.” This is a story that subs for the game story in early editions of the paper. It’s basically something that will be replaced by the game story. This is generally a crappy thing to have to do because you often don’t have much to work with and you know it’s not going to end up in the final edition of the paper.
Conducting interviews: There are unwritten rules for beat writers. Postgame, it’s every man (or woman) for himself or herself. You get what you need as quickly as you can so you can go back to the press box and write your story. There are no 1-on-1 interviews. Before the game, if you’re talking to one of the players you pretty much get the player alone unless somebody asks you to join in. Depending on what you’re asking, usually it’s OK.
Beat writers hate it when they’re interviewing a player and some other reporter just tries to butt in or listens in. These interlopers are usually not beat writers. It’s usually some clown who doesn’t know any better.
Off the record: Most papers will not allow anonymous quotes without some good reason. But we talk to players often without necessarily interviewing then, just to get the mood of the team, their opinion of another player, things like that. The best stuff you learn is often informally.
Travel: Contrary to popular opinion, we don’t fly with the team. We all make our own travel plans. Once in a while, you might end up at the same hotel as the team. I try and avoid it. There are too many fans hanging around and I don’t want to be around the team all the time. Also, it has been my experience that staying in the team hotel sometimes leads to seeing things you don’t really want to see.
The press box: At the Stadium, every paper has two seats in the front row. Most papers send two or three writers to games. The News and the Post send seven or eight for big games. On the road, there is generally a row for visiting writers. Anaheim has a great vantage point. Pittsburgh does not. Boston not so much, either. The White Sox actually sit the media down the right field line. You can’t see the rotation on pitches, it’s pretty awful.
Teams don’t feed the reporters, they charge us for dinner. It’s great in some places (Kansas City, Cleveland) and awful in others (Oakland, Chicago). The Yankees fall sort of in the middle. The food in the clubhouse is off limits. There’s a little concession stand in the press box at the Stadium. Soda, water, hot dogs, the basics. No beer.
The Yankees beat is a good one. We all get along and while it’s competitive, it never gets ugly. In fact, we usually have a good time and there are plenty of laughs. But I’ve covered some teams when writers literally came to blows.
The people covering the Yankees are really good at what they do. If you’re a fan willing to scan a few sites, you can get a lot of information. Compare it to another city sometime. It’s staggering how much baseball copy comes out of New York on a given day.
The question I get all the time is whether I want the Yankees to win. Sure I do. I want to cover a good team and watch good baseball. If the Yankees are doing well, my stories will get better play in the paper. More people will read them. It’s better for me professionally. ESPN wanted me on a lot more often when they were in contention than they have lately.
But I’m not rooting for the Yankees. There’s a difference. If they lose, I don’t go home bummed out.
I’ll also readily admit that there are players I hope do well. If a guy is cordial to you and respects your job, why wouldn’t you want him to do well at his job? It’s just human nature.
So there you have it. I hope this answers your question, Kirsten. If anybody else has a question, feel free to e-mail me any time.
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on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 4:50 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Pete,
Great, great stuff.
You forgot to put in: “Go back to press box and trash the manager.”
I can tell who’s NOT cordial to you and who doesn’t respect your job!
What do you mean you stay at different hotels to avoid seeing things you dont want to see. It’s Arods fault isnt it?? =)
So what things have you seen at the team hotels? Don’t give us names if you don’t want to.
from Tyler Kepner’s Blog. The Fortunato refered to is Bernie’s marketing rep who was with him on his trip yesterday to the White House.
Asked if Williams would visit Yankee Stadium during the final home stand, Fortunato seemed to indicate that he would. Williams has not returned in public to the Stadium since his last game there as a player in 2006.
“Those details are all being worked out as we speak,†Fortunato said. “As soon as there’s something official or final, we will work on that. All that stuff is being worked on right now. I think it’s going to be a good day.â€
That was awesome! Your blog is the best.
Does Lupica get a booster chair in the press box?
Excellent post, Peter. Thanks for a good read.
thanks again for the inside look Pete.
“But I’m not rooting for the Yankees. There’s a difference. If they lose, I don’t go home bummed out.”
So you’re not a Yankees fan?
If you are serious in claiming to have no rooting interest in the Yankees than I suggest you go back over this blog and check out some of your statements. The moment I started reading it, my immediate reaction was “why does a beat writer wear his affiliation so blatantly on his sleeve?”
And Pete, these are the Yankees fer cryin out loud. If you had the Mets gig, then you’d absolutely need them to do well to get any professional recognition. The Yankees will always get the limelight.
Boston’s visitor clubhouse is notoriously tiny and cramped for space. It must be difficult trying to do an interview sideways and bunched up.
There’s many minor league venues with more space according to what many writers have said but . . . . that’s Bahhstin for ya.
this was seriously one of the coolest things I have read on this blog !! thanks!! (not that I don’t love the daily stuff! Don’t get me wrong!)
Just wanted to say that I appreciate the great job you do on the blog every day. I especially appreciate the insights you provide as a New Yorker stuck in England (many games are just too late for me to catch, like those wonderful 10pm west coast games, aka 3am GMT). I know I can always look forward to some insights into the NYY scene when your early blog entries appear each day. Thanks.
Pete
Thanks for the kind of insight that I haven’t heretofore seen anyplace else.
I for one appreciate the insight you bring to your writing as well as your great sense of humor.
Keep up the good work.
Pete,
Thanks. I enjoyed reading about “a day in the life of a beat writer.”
I have to say, the last couple of games I went to I decided to keep a scorecard, something I used to do all the time, but haven’t done in quite a while. It made me ask the question to myself, how does someone actually follow the game AND record all that happens without a whole lot getting lost in the process???!!! Even with a pitcher taking forever between pitches, there were times I’d write down what just happened and still miss the next pitch – especially if I also decided to look at the radar reading at the stadium (which, by the way, I never find until the 4th inning so).
So, my respect and admiration to you and all your brethren who enhance this baseball lover’s experience.
went to A GAME
And just to clarify, I meant the radar reading a whichever stadium I was at, not THE Stadium.
Thanks very much for that awesome article, Peter.
Pete is NOT a fan of the Yankees, No.
One of your best articles.. Great job..
Pete,
Does YES have different or better access to Giradi and the players than you or other beat writers?
In the news conference Kim Jones will fire a number of questions in a row without being interupted. Does she always open the conference or get to ask more questons than the other reporters?
Just fabulous, Pete. Thanks for going to the trouble (once again) to let us feel like we’re “in the know”. You really are the best.
Hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly.
very professional.
you are going to go a long way in the field.
I hope you are preparing your book.
Vast majority of Yankees freindly and talkative! Pete, which Yankees do all they can to avoid you guys?
friendly
Pete,
Thanks for a great entry. Your blog is the best, hands down.
I’m curious about the relationships between the writers and the team. Are there unwritten understandings about what things a writer learns cannot be written about, such as drinking, affairs, etc.? While on the road, do players and writers ever eat together or socialize in other ways? How is it possible to spend so much time with the players, build relationships with them, and not be a fan? How is it possible to love baseball as much as you obviously do and not be a fan?
Thanks again.
Great inside stuff Pete –
This blog has been a great source of info all year – I just wish it was a better team to cover into October
Doreen,
Good job keeping score. I think the more you do it the easier it gets. I have scored every game for many, many years. It’s even more than second nature to me and my wife likes to mimic my movements and poke fun at me. My grandmother was scorer and I carry on that small family tradition. If you are interested, there is a fun book called The Joy of Keeping Score by Paul Dickson. You’ll never look at the game the same way again.
Pete isn’t rooting for they Yankees like Fox news is “Fair and Balanced” coverage! Just kidding. Pete for Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting on the mystery of Joe Girardi’s fourth place Yankees!
Todd –
Thank you for the book recommendation. I think I’ll take a look. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing it, but it took a bit for it to come back to me. I did have my husband cracking up at me, though. A runner had been thrown out trying to steal, and I couldn’t think of the correct abbreviation. So, I wrote SB with an “x” over it. I figure if Phil Rizzuto can get away with “WW,” I can get away with SB with an “x” over it.
Pete,
Thanks for the inside information. This was great to read because I want to become a sports journalist in the future.
Pete, amazing post!
Also confirms that beat writing, no matter how glamorous it seems from the outside, is so totally not for me
you do it best.
How are protected picks calculated?
I think the top 15 picks in the draft are protected. Is this solely based on wins/losses or do division winners automatically get a lower draft pick.
A few more losses and singing CC this offseason won’t cost so much.
Gotta stay positive!!
Also, it has been my experience that staying in the team hotel sometimes leads to seeing things you don’t really want to see.
Pete; Like What???
P.S. you are doing your job to keep the blog interesting in those hard days….. Thanks a million!
al, you probably don’t want to know. I have a feeling johnny damon’s naked pull ups might fit in there somewere.
Doreen,
The most interesting thing about scoring is that it’s all yours. No two people score exactly alike. My “basic style†comes from my grandmother, but I’m always refining it. The Hall of Fame had an exhibit once with scorecards through history and from all over the world. There were homemade ones and complex ones and official ones. I learned a lot from them.
I was in the hospital once and didn’t have my scorebook. A nurse got me a piece of paper and a pencil and I made a scorecard and scored the game on the radio. Jimmy Key beat Cleveland that day.
Very interesting article, Pete.
Thanks.
great post pete. thanks
The question I get all the time is whether I want the Yankees to win. Sure I do. I want to cover a good team and watch good baseball. If the Yankees are doing well, my stories will get better play in the paper. More people will read them. It’s better for me professionally. ESPN wanted me on a lot more often when they were in contention than they have lately.
Nice to know the Beat writers can be in it for themselves
Pete,
You are the best. Great article
Todd –
Years ago, there were a lot of games that were not covered on television, especially the west coast games, and those are the ones I most avidly scored. It was easier to focus on the radio play-by-play if I scored it. Otherwise, I felt like I was sitting there looking into blank space. And if I tried to do something else (read or clean my room), I’d miss out on both the game and the other activity.
Thanks Pete! Love that there are things you could snoop out that you don’t need to know, and completely agree. There are areas I don’t even need to get into with my adult son, let alone players on my team. Continue to spare me the details!
That was excellent, Pete. I’m gonna send the link to Romenesko, in fact.
But I have one question: since you don’t root for the Yanks, who do you root for? Or don’t you root for any baseball team?
“Beat writers hate it when they’re interviewing a player and some other reporter just tries to butt in or listens in. These interlopers are usually not beat writers. They’re usually some clown who doesn’t know any better.”
Yeah, how dare they try to get a story too. Boo hoo.
What, Peter? No quips today about your Mighty Patriots? Hmmm, I wonder why.
I don’t wish harm on any athletes (with the obvious exception of Jonathan Papelbon), but I won’t say that Brady’s injury didn’t please me.
Why, you ask? Because Randy Moss doesn’t deserve to win a Super Bowl. He’s a waste of oxygen.
Rockin’ Rich,
Peter is an SF Giants fan…god only knows why.
I live near the bay area and that team is about as boring and annoying as they come.
Their offense is a joke, Zito was the worst signing of the 21st century (if not of all time), Barry Bonds is the ultimate scumbag, and Brian Sabaen should have been fired 10 years ago.
Hey Pete – I wonder if too much of working out on Giselle and not enough of working out on the field caused little Tomboy’s problem. Actually I think he started to show cracks last season. That’s what happens when you pick pretty poison.
Doreen,
You bring up an excellent point about scoring radio games. They can be a unique and interesting challenge. In years when WADO 1280 AM was my only link to the Caribbean World Series, I was challenged by the radio and by the fact that my Spanish is far from perfect. But I think things like that sharpen you up as a scorer just like scoring the All-Star game and the Hall of Fame Game. Students take notes and we are all students of the game.
And yeah, I do realize I take this all way too seriously.
“Thanks Pete! Love that there are things you could snoop out that you don’t need to know, and completely agree. There are areas I don’t even need to get into with my adult son, let alone players on my team. Continue to spare me the details!”
I’m with you. When I see people too interested in that kind of stuff it makes me wonder about their maturity level (as opposed to their chronological age). We have enough to process with each player’s on-the-field production without worrying about what happens off the field.
“When I see people too interested in that kind of stuff it makes me wonder about their maturity level”
Marginally higher than those who participate in that kind of stuff would be my guess.
Pete: Wow, this is really cool. Thanks for the insight. As a blogger, I find this really interesting. I someday will like to cover the Yankees myself & as a Yankees fan, that would make my job alot more fun! I just started a blog early on during ST but I’m still working on it. I try to do my best to keep the fans updated. There has been times I’ve slacked off but that’s when I do a summary on what happened one week then the next. Your work inspires me to write more. Anyways check out the blog sometime @ http://www.adiehardyankeesfan.blogspot.com ..I still have alot to fill the fans in on the Bombers but as of right now I gotta get going. I’ll be back later on with the latest updates, headlines, pictures & so on.
p.s_ keep up the good work & go yankees!!
Pete,
Thanks for the insightful article.
This confirmed a lot of how I thought your job works.
I thought it was interesting that you stay away from the team hotel on the road. I wonder if that is common among other writers?
I think in the old days writers stayed and even partied with the players more than today, but that is a guess based on stuff I’ve read.
“How are protected picks calculated?
I think the top 15 picks in the draft are protected. Is this solely based on wins/losses or do division winners automatically get a lower draft pick.
A few more losses and singing CC this offseason won’t cost so much.
Gotta stay positive!!”
Jason, it’s straight record.
I assume a lot of folks here have already checked it out – but the information in the blog write-up by Chad at SWB is phenomenal!
We need every shred of good news we can find.
You guys need to read this
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-you-kidding-el-duque-its-been-dream.html
You guys need to read this
johnsterling.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-you-kidding-el-duque-its-been-dream.html
If I were covering the Yankees, I wouldn’t want to stay in the same hotel either. The players would probably be distrustful of the reporter. It’s no way to nurture a professional relationship.
Thanks for the insight Pete. I know the last few weeks of this season are going to be tough in keeping this blog lively. This was a nice start.
TK:
To compliment the SWB talk, below are a couple scouting reports from Keith Law, who was at the Portland/Trenton series. Largely encouraging stuff on Sanchez and Jackson:
• Trenton starter Jeff Marquez was ordinary, 89-92 mph with very good downhill plane and fair sink at 89-90. His best secondary pitch was a change or split-change in the low-80s, sometimes with good bottom but other times it was flat with late fading action. Neither of his breaking balls was plus, and he had a kitchen-sink approach rather than any clear pitching plan. If he can work consistently as a sinker-changeup guy, he could pitch in the big leagues, but he’s not a starter in the AL East.
• Right-hander Humberto Sanchez (Trenton) made an appearance—hard to miss him—working at 91-94 mph in one inning with a solid 11-to-5 curveball that has good but not great depth. He showed surprising command of both pitches and worked to both sides of the plate with his fastball.
• Back to Jackson, the center fielder gets a little better each time I see him—he had solid at bats all night, showed his usual great bat speed, and continues to improve his reads on balls to the outfield. He has a little big-league in him, unfortunately, not running hard on deep groundballs, which has been a problem with other Trenton hitters this year as well.
Thanks Fredo – that’s good info.
this –
“He has a little big-league in him, unfortunately, not running hard on deep groundballs, which has been a problem with other Trenton hitters this year as well.”
is a little troubling – winning organizations that build from within need to beat hustle into the heads of the players at all levels. It used to be called the Oriole way down here – maybe it is the ‘Angel Way’ now. A couple fewer performance analysts and a few more drill sergeants.
“I wonder if too much of working out on Giselle and not enough of working out on the field caused little Tomboy’s problem”
Actually Bernard Pollard rolling over Brady’s lower leg was the root cause of Tomboy’s problem yesterday. Giselle is going to be his problem over the next 5 months.
I sort of hate the Pat’s but even still, losing Brady hurts the entire league. A tough loss. Pat’s will lose a few extra games.
Agreed TK. You want to hear they’re hustling all the time.
That said, the fact that Law sees improvement with each look at the kid probably speaks well of the work he’s putting into it. The concern that he’s a tremendous athlete sans baseball instincts dissipates with each scouting report you read.
When he goes on the road, Pete avoids staying at team hotels,as he said.
Instead, he favors that well known national hotel chain with branches in most every downtown area in the country: “ROOMS.”
They’re conveniently located near the affiliated national restaurant chain, “EATS.”
I think Law is being a tad harsh on Jackson.
He’s like a lot of kids these days. You just need to remind him what he represents as a player and how he needs to conduct himself on the field. That’s why they are in the minor leagues.
Unlike Tabata for example, Jackson is extremely coachable. That’s one reason why he has ascended so quickly.
Its nice to see Hughes put together a performance like he did yesterday. It also validates why he was left in the minors and not part of the September callups. He needs the work and he needs the development time.
If there is anything the Yankees can take from this season its the following:
If your goal is to truly DEVELOP players, throwing them into the fire, without a lot of experience, is not the way to do it.
Its a process and its not always a straight upward track for every prospect.
Phil Hughes is a kid that needs work. Frankly, the more time he spends in the minors, the better he will be when he gets his next shot in the majors.
I know the Yankees are anxious to correct the mistakes of their past. However, you don’t do it by rushing kids to the majors.
Hopefully, they learned that lesson this season and don’t get tempted to rush Austin Jackson. Unlike a lot of overhyped Yankee position player prospects of the past, this kid is the real deal.
He’s just not ready to be an everyday CF at the major league level yet. BTW, there is nothing wrong with that.
“I sort of hate the Pat’s but even still, losing Brady hurts the entire league. A tough loss. Pat’s will lose a few extra games”
It does hurt the league a little. Hurts the Patriots more, though I’d still expect them to win their swiss cheese division. They won’t be at the Super Bowl without a ticket though.
TKinDC
September 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Fredo – that’s good info.
this –
“He has a little big-league in him, unfortunately, not running hard on deep groundballs, which has been a problem with other Trenton hitters this year as well.â€
is a little troubling – winning organizations that build from within need to beat hustle into the heads of the players at all levels. It used to be called the Oriole way down here – maybe it is the ‘Angel Way’ now. A couple fewer performance analysts and a few more drill sergeants.
_
If the remarks saying that Jackson and others are not putting out full effort, then, it’s either BS, or, there are issues with the manager and coaching staff, because, during the times that I saw Jackson, Tabata, Curtis and others play in Charleston and Tampa, hustle and effort was not an issue for them. That’s the area that needs to be checked out.
The Pats’ should win their division but they may not sweep their division. 5-1 – 4-2 instead of 6-0. Next Sunday may be their biggest test away against the Jets.
Great read, Thanks Pete. Keep up the good work.
-C
GB7 –
That is good to hear – you’ve no doubt seen AJax play more than Law has so I respect what you have to say here.
The comment seemed to characterize the team as having questionable hustle – hopefully it is just wrong.
Trade the prospects, they are fat and not worth much.
Fire Cashman, he reads fanboy blogs that drool over has-beens and never-will-be’s who dominate at the AAA level. Big deal!!! For every Joba there are 10 Kennedys and Hughes which means NOT A SANTANA!!!!
How irresponsible for the Yankees to keep a mediocre executive like Brian employed.
Regarding SJ44’s comments on Phil Hughes and the Yanks taking their time with him in AAA – it makes me think more and more that they should not limit their pursuit of starting pitchers to CC, but should also look long and hard at AJ as well, with an eye towards signing both of them. Then, with Wang, Moose and/or Andy – and Joba starting out in the pen again, and Hughes at AAA to get his regular work in, the Yanks would have not only the depth any team needs but quality depth that few have.
Signing two new starters would also give needed time for the group after Hughes and Joba – the McAllisters, Brackmans, and Betances’ – to develop without the pressure to help the big-league team ASAP.
It’s really paranoid of me to say this, but I wonder if these mercenary “scouts” look at our players with a much more critical eye much in the way we look at them in a favorable eye.
It’s not a problem in Scranton. Funny play in the bottom of the 10th last night. Guy hits a double advances to third on the throw, which goes into the dugout so he hustled home. Didn’t want to vacate home plate, but did where he waited patiently at 3rd for Duncan to end the game as only he could.
Huh, didn’t realize that Vince Young’s out for a while, too.
Joe,
I would definitely pursue both CC and A.J.
1. Many here want to put all their eggs in one basket, assuming money is everything. The problem is plenty teams have money nowadays.
2. A.J. will likely be a part-time starter. j/k
3. You can never have too much pitching.
cool post & is one of the reasons I follow this blog every day, including the off-season.
Pete, who do you root for then?
Sayonara Stick – bring back some talent!
“Mark Feinsand is reporting that the Yankees have sent Gene Michael to Japan to scout potential acquisitions for ‘09.
That Michael was sent to Japan for the first time signifies a shift for the Yankees, who have relied on their Pacific scouts for several years. Following the disastrous signing of Kei Igawa, however, the Yankees aren’t taking any chances, sending one of their most trusted talent evaluators to look at potential acquisitions.”
Aside from 33 year old starting pitchers and BP arms (which we don’t really need), what else does Japan have this year? I don’t think they are posting Darvish. Is there a Fukudome-type position player that is available?
Stick is an imperative part of our off-season decision making. He is the one guy I trust to turn this around. Sending him to Japan to scout some inferior players does seem kind of meaningless. Atleast send him to Australia or Taiwan where a lot of premier talent is available that we have not tapped into yet.
TB @ Boston.
No question, rooting for Tampa even if there’s more a chance that Tampa falls off than Boston.
TK, i’ve been going to the Charleston games since I returned from Iraq, and since 2007, Tyson has impressed me as a really top instructor and manager. Tyson was a coach for the Riverdogs before becoming manager. I’d hate to see him leave, but, if and minor league manager deserved a promotion, he’s the one. He has a two man coaching staff, and, this is a problem in the syatem, I think. He has a hitting and a pitching coach. These lower teams have a real need for an infield/outfield coach. One thing that you didn’t see on his teams was a lack of hustle. These guys had practice on a daily baseis during home games. Tyson, by the way, was indeed named after Joe Torre.
E-rod,
Let’s make it even easier. Have players and their agents send video if they’re interested in playing for the Yankees. Then we can go scout the ones we like. Otherwise it’s a needle in the haystack kind of thing.
I know that’s breaking about 5 rules, but who cares? We’re the Yankees!
daily basis
For every Joba there are 10 Kennedys and Hughes which means NOT A SANTANA!!!!
And when they get Sabathia you’ll crawl under your little rock to never be heard of again. No one was blocking Ian Kennedy, Hughes on the other hand has promise and you don’t deal those types not at the expense of over spending for a #1 not only w/ prospects but dollar figures especially one who will be on his declining yrs. in the backend of his contract.
You want to rip on Cash, again rip him on the Tabata deal selling him low, rip him on not dangling IPK and a Gardner for a Rich Harden other than that it’s mute, I’m not crying over Santana if you are just go to Shea because there is much more that you need to learn about this team if you keep on thinking that was it.
The Yankee scouts were at the Olympics watching a lot of games. If they are sending Stick out there, it probably means either someone caught their eye, or they have been in some talks already.
“Mark Feinsand is reporting that the Yankees have sent Gene Michael to Japan to scout potential acquisitions for ‘09.
He’s checking if Yu Darvish is the real deal.
GB7 –
Good stuff – Charleston seems to have had a productive year. I also agree about beefing up the staff – investing $200K/yr on a couple of coaches would be money well spent.
mel –
The Japanese are fanatical baseball fans, I’m sure that there is tons on info about their best players available.
No way that we would ever sign a AAAA pitcher from there. Especially a lefty with a questionable attitude.
Brandon,
I’d rather Stick go to Japan to watch sumo and eat real sushi than check him out.
Yu won’t be worth the money. He’s not significantly better than the mlb guys.
Pass. Pass. Pass.
TK,
That’s the problem. Igawa was the second best pitcher from Japan. Strikeout king and other awards. Decent signing at the time, but he got thrown into the fire. Even Dice-K had a bad year. We’re seeing a better (albeit luckier) Dice-K this year. Igawa seems to be pitching better after making whatever adjustments they’ve been working on. You know, I’d bet he could survive in the NL.
That’s why I put a * on AL East pitchers when targeting pitchers. AJ > CC in that regard. Especially seeing how the Yankees and the Red Sox ate CC for lunch in the postseason.
Mel, how do you know what Yu is worth? If the Yankees are interested it might very well mean that he could be better than those in the MLB that they are looking at. Yu might be worth it over, say, Burnett.
“again rip him on the Tabata deal selling him low,”
What exactly did you expect Tabata to bring?
CC’s post season is a bit of a small sampling, no? Its all about timing.
Its also dependant on how much he is used during the regular season and if he is just out of gas by the playoffs, which is why I don’t see the Brewers doing much if they make it that far.
I think a better fairer question to ask Pete is.
Which former Yankee was a real dirt bag, and which was very nice. I want a shocker. Like say Sheffield was a real nice guy. I think that would shock most people.
Tabata might not even make it to the Majors. What then?
$13:
The scuttlebut on Darvish is a posting fee in the neighborhood of $65M. That’s before a contract. Probably looking at somewhere close to $120M when all is said and done. Maybe he’s worth that, I don’t know, but they can probably get 4 years of Burnett, a proven commodity, for half that.
“Like say Sheffield was a real nice guy”
Funny you say that – Peter Gammons swears that Iron Sheff is a great guy and an interesting talker – who knew?
(I suspect that Joe Torre and Brian Cashman have a different opinion)
mel he ain’t there for Hitowki Iwase, the big fish is Yu Darvish who is 21 yrs. old and has an arsenal of pitches velocity up to 97 mph, Stick is there to see how real this kid is.
Koji Uehara in his 30’s use to top out 95 now not so, Kenshin Kawakami is in his 30’s doesn’t top out more than mid to high 80’s, lefty Hitoki Iwase high 80’s not much there, the token is Darvish if Stick is on this trip.
Mac Nut,
Did you watch the Olympics? I did. I’m no expert (far from it), but I wouldn’t post $50M to talk to him.
It’s my opinion, so take it for what it’s worth. Which isn’t very much.
What exactly did you expect Tabata to bring?
Something more than a mid 30’s Marte and a Nady. Tabata’s the type of name when he hits his peak lands you a stud to sell low at 19 was just ridiculous.
TKinDC
Real nice guy? If you like the combative whoa is me type of people. I guess you can say that than.
TK, Tyson is really young (33 years old) and takes his job seriously. Not sure that you can credit him for his team’s behavior, but, before all home games and most road games that I’ve seen, he has the kids interacting with the fans, signing autographs, talking to the kids and older fans in particular.
Oddly (or, going back to the 2 day yammering over irony/ironic) Tyson comes out of the Boston system as an infielder. He’s going to be a big help if he stays in the Yankee system. The Riverdogs had a really good record…one of the top three for the year, but, it was over the whole year (consistant). He lost a few of his best pitchers to promotion. Mainly, it was defense that killed the hopes for a title run.
You’re correct, though…investing a couple hundred thousand in coaching staffs would be a small price to pay for the overall investments being spent on the talent. That’s why these kids aren’t learning things the right way…there’s enough instructors to teach them.
CC,
Yes, that was a small sampling, but if people want to use it to knock Wang then I’ll use it to knock CC.
Wang and CC are similar players as far as historical stats go.
I’m not a big CC fan, but I won’t punch a gift horse in the mouth for sure.
sorry that was at you, mac nut, not CC!
Brandon, good to see you are trashing the Tabata trade again. You might even say he is “raking”.
Wow Wagner out for next year as well
Chris V,
Not fair. Some people feel ‘liberated’ when they leave the Yankee system.
There’s a lot of pressure that comes with the territory and not everyone can handle it.
People are always wanting to give away prospects to get good players, so why trash it when it actually happens.
As SJ said, Tabata and the pitchers doing well helps the Yankees in the future. That means we have quality kids on the farm and teams feel more assured that the Yankees aren’t selling fool’s gold.
“Something more than a mid 30’s Marte and a Nady. Tabata’s the type of name when he hits his peak lands you a stud to sell low at 19 was just ridiculous.”
The trade had to be made. Yankees were one back in the AILC when they did the deal. By doing the deal they filled two needs and theoretically better positioned themselves for a run to the playoffs. Didn’t work out that way, but the deal does not get done if Tabata’s not in it and it was deal that needed to be made.
Ok now someone who knows about this stuff please tell me that they did not know about Wagner weeks ago when he started this whole mess. Did they think it was going to heal and if they knew he had it over a month ago why not deal with it then if you knew he was going to be out a year.
Brandon, good to see you are trashing the Tabata trade again. You might even say he is “rakingâ€.
I’m sorry yes that trade did make us a playoff team I clearly see that, on top of that the kid I’m going to repeat this was in year 1 of AA ball ! at 19 ! No everything about that move was sweet ! I mean Nady is going to be cheap ! he won’t be declining to his .280 self …you got some people here who want Abreu to come back again an ageing lineup ! that’s what it is and instead of keeping young position players w/ the type of upside they need they continue to deal them for the wrong deal !
gayle September 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Wow Wagner out for next year as well
Just heard that. K-Rod to the Mets?
“Wow Wagner out for next year as well”
Really???
Bad for Wagner. Good for Francisco Rodriguez.
RIP Mets.
Wagner is a jerk – but losing your closer at this point? That is brutal.
gayle,
They knew AND they lied. How dare they!
Mel, that doesn’t mean that the Yankees didn’t see things they wanted to see. I didn’t watch the baseball games much on the Olympics, but the scouts sure did. Not only for the Yankees, but a lot of other teams.
I really don’t care who the Yankees sign, as I have no control over it anyway, but I would think that Stick is going to know the worth of whomever he is scouting.
Brandon, Tabata hasn’t shown much of anything yet. Don’t over-value him. After all, Melky was hitting in the high 300’s in the minors, and he hasn’t exactly fired up the bat in the majors.
While he might have been traded at a lower value, it might very well have been deserved. It also might be better for both him and the Yankees. You never know.
This is the first I’ve heard about the Pirates getting the better end of the deal.
“Good for Francisco Rodriguez.”
Well at least if Frankie comes here we don’t have to hear about Joba doing his patented ‘yelling spin-move’ off the mound after a strikeout.
Nobody loves K-Rod more than K-Rod.
Brandon, Tabata hasn’t shown much of anything yet. Don’t over-value him. After all, Melky was hitting in the high 300’s in the minors, and he hasn’t exactly fired up the bat in the majors.
There is a big difference between Melky and Tabata and you know it.
by ‘here’ I mean to the Mets.
RIP Mets.
Wagner is a jerk – but losing your closer at this point? That is brutal.
The Mets will join us in the RIP party.
TK:
Mets are 22-11 since Wagner last pitched. In the putrid NL, they may very well survive.
As far as Billy Wagner dont let the door hit you on the way out.Ever since he left the Phillies he has been persona non grate as far as I am concerned. Dont wish an injury on anyone but karma has a way of coming around
Mets are 22-11 since Wagner last pitched. In the putrid NL, they may very well survive.
Oh no they were doing well before, but they won’t live off that for long. Now it sinks in to that BP that they have to be perfect, unless Parnell is for real the RIP suite will have 2 NY teams.
“Nobody loves K-Rod more than K-Rod.”
Did not know this about his character. Wouldn’t mind being Krod right now. Hitting FA as a record breaking closer at age 26??? That’s a sweet spot to be in.
Brandon,
You are getting way too carried away on Jose Tabata.
First off, Xavier Nady is 29 years old. He’s not in his Mid-30’s.
Jose Tabata isn’t as good a player as Xavier Nady. He may not ever be as good a player as Nady. Fact is, he won’t be as a good a player as Nady for the next 2-3 years. That’s how you judge the trade and not what Tabata MIGHT be in 3-4 years.
By then, guys like Jackson, DeLeon, Almonte, Mesa, etc, may all be more advanced than Tabata. Nobody knows how these things shake out down the road. What we do know is that Tabata needs a lot of work.
Marte? Even in his struggles, Marte can be an asset to this team next year.
Just because Tabata is young doesn’t mean he’s going to be a player.
Its not just the attitude stuff. That can change. Its the weight gain, lack of power, lack of instincts, especially defensively.
Those are not the things that make a kid, no matter how young, “untouchable”.
Perhaps he will get better. However, you make it sound as if Cashman gave up a superstar for two nobodies and that’s not the case.
Its like folks ripping the trade after one Jeff Karstens start. You don’t see those folks around now since Karstens came back to earth.
The Yankees aren’t where they are because of the Nady trade. They are where they are because many of their core players played poorly for most of the season and because of that, they couldn’t overcome the injuries when they hit the team.
Mac Nut,
What you say is true. And it saddens me. We got burned once and they didn’t learn? The system is truly flawed and they want to support it rather than bust it?
As a person of Japanese descent, I take pride in Japanese baseball and their players, so it pains me a bit to take the position. But IMO they need to stay away if it costs too much.
The Olympics was basically an amateur tournament and Japanese baseball is AAAA.
I am curious, though, how does Yu compare with Dice-K?
“Oh no they were doing well before, but they won’t live off that for long. Now it sinks in to that BP that they have to be perfect, unless Parnell is for real the RIP suite will have 2 NY teams.”
Certainly can’t argue that it isn’t possible. Phils have a closer, but their pen is close to as hideous as the Mets these days. Pretty much a tossup at this point between those two.
By then, guys like Jackson, DeLeon, Almonte, Mesa, etc, may all be more advanced than Tabata. Nobody knows how these things shake out down the road. What we do know is that Tabata needs a lot of work.
SJ Melky Mesa did you really go there ? the kid is struggling in S.I. not even in A ball, DeLeon has a way to go Sosa is the guy lighting up DSL in every aspect. Almonte is still really raw in A ball. All I’m saying for what they got back it wasn’t enough and someone miscalculated what this team was.
“All I’m saying for what they got back it wasn’t enough and someone miscalculated what this team was.”
I think you’re half right in this assessment.
Fredo Phils pen has sucked the past 2 weeks but they have been near lights out this season.
Melky is what he is. But he did what a lot of “can’t miss” prospects never, ever do. He contributed at the major league level for more than one season.
You can’t use Melky in your argument because he was the exception to the rule in that he overachieved.
“I sort of hate the Pat’s but even still, losing Brady hurts the entire league. A tough loss. Pat’s will lose a few extra games.”
Depends on how you look at it. I heard some sportcasters saying this morning that another perspective is that it helps the entire league since it opens up more opportunities for other teams to excel. Me, I could care less that he’s out for the season. See I have gotten very jaded since Yankee fans are expected to see injuries as part of the game – same with other sports then. And so I do.
And what has killed the Phillies most recently is not the pen but Pat the Bat going into one of his annual funks at the plate and not contributing at all
mel had Tabata been in the majors Melky wouldn’t even be in the same sentence. Melky was rushed at 20, Tabata went through playing w/ an injured wrist nearly the whole 07’ season he had it hurt since the Futures game in 06’ and played through it. Anyway no they aren’t in the same sentence even w/ Melky being in MLB Tabata is and was the better hitter between the 2.
“Fredo Phils pen has sucked the past 2 weeks but they have been near lights out this season.”
Yeah, that’s sort of what I meant when I said their pen has been close as hideous as the Mets THESE DAYS.
And here is my take on the season thus far (I had posted it down below but as usual when the thread had dried up!):
Lots of things go into the demise of a season. There were many times when Joe Green Tea did things that fans questioned, and times when Joe Green Tea came back and said he might have done things differently. The one that screams out of course is Joba and the bugs.
I think that Girardi made his share of mistakes this season, probably more than a seasoned manager would have made; and with the underproducing team, I think those mistakes really hurt us. I can only hope that he will figure out a way next year to be more proactive in switching what needs to be switched. Mainly I hope that he will be quick to juggle the lineup with players who aren’t getting it done, switching 4 and 5 when he needs to, 5 down to 7, etc.
Other than that, other than Bobby Abreu I can’t think of any player who had an overall productive season. So when people are ready to stomp on the Arods of the world, a little shoe time has to also be reserved for Derek Jeter. Yes he came back like the Phoenix when it appeared that the Yankees were on their last leg, but his GIDP were legend. If you have the energy and desire, check out how many games were potentially lost when he killed a rally.
Sad year indeed.
Pitching? If Kennedy and Hughes had won half of their games, as dismal as the season was, we’d still be in the running. And of course CM going down was devastating. So in the end it always comes down to pitching.
Oh well.
And what has killed the Phillies most recently is not the pen but Pat the Bat going into one of his annual funks at the plate and not contributing at all
Don’t forget JRoll he went through and still is going through an unclutch streak that resembles worse than Arod’s.
(And here was the post after mine. I like his even better. It does lend perspective to the entirety of the season, with the realities of losing key position players as well as pitching woes.)
Briantrust
September 8th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Cashman grossly miscalculated with Hughes and Kennedy. Neither were ready. Them going down, plus the freak acident of Wang getting hurt, put more pressure on Andy & Moose. Moose has risen to the occasion, while Andy has melted down (With the exception of his last start). Hughes and Kennedy going down early, also meant a rush move to get Chamberlain into the rotation asap. They have to stop yo-yoing Joba, or we’re going to see more injuries lkie the one he had this year. Next year they should either keep him in the pen or start him. The lineup is a mystery. Arod was injured early, and Jeter and Cano had off years. Giambi, Abreu, and Damon have produced, but losing Posada also hurt. The injury that hurt the most was losing Matsui. He’s a contact hitter, that is clutch. Losing him in the middle of the order, put too much pressure on Arod (God forbid), and Giambi wasn’t enough protection in the lineup hitting after him. Girardi’s mistake was keeping Giambi in the five hole for this long, who’s walks are down and strikeouts are up.
Very insightful, thanks Pete!
Brandon,
I didn’t say they’re on the same level. But what Melky did was significant. He started in center field for the New York Yankees for a significant amount of time. I’m saying that needs to be acknowledged. Melky might be trash to you, but he was a treasure for the Yankees for a little bit there.
I know you love Tabata, but it’s business. And in this business one in the hand is worth two in the bush. You HAVE to overpay with prospects because they’re a significant risk.
I know you know this, but the bell can not be unrung.
Trisha that is completely true, Bobby Abreu has been the most consistant Yankee this season, one would even say the most clutch Yankee in 08’. This year Jeter’s GIDP have made me cringe you can call them before it even happens, Arod in the clutch has been putrid to near pathetic, just pathetic, he grounds out when you need a flyball, when he stings one the inf makes a play, he doesn’t go w/ the pitch anymore and in the crunch his strike zone gets wider than Mike Francesa’s gut. There is no way anyone can sugar coat how horrible he’s been this season (See STUART I DO RIP HIM), And as bad as Arod has been Cano has been near horrific to a point I wonder if he’s just trying to pull everything, I said it before he swings at first pitches, expands his zone because he knows he’s tough to strikeout so the SP throws him slop and he offers.
The 4 biggest knocks Wang and Joba went down no one could have predicted that and add Jorge Posada which one can say when he was shutdown was when the season was lost. Matsui down we lost production from the #5 spot but as soon as we lost Georgy everything the heart, the little toughness we had left, the little grit we had left, the leadership went all out the window to YES comments and we have to do this and that.
brandon you are right about J-roll but he has been like this pretty much all season whereas Pat at least had a very productive month or so then just went in the tank as usual.
“Melky might be trash to you, but he was a treasure for the Yankees for a little bit there.”
Treasure???? Seems something of a stretch. He was, for a time, adequate. Helped you a little, but did not hurt you. Treasure? Well, I’d never look at him as a treasure….’cept for a couple hours last October…..before the freakin’ midges attacked Joba.
Brandon,
You are making it sound as if the Yankees gave up Tabata for two nobodies. Fact is, that’s not the case.
Not only that but, everybody in the organization, and even those around baseball, have re-adjusted their thinking re: Tabata.
He’s not a five tool player. He doesn’t run well, doesn’t play the OF well and doesn’t hit with power.
The wrist surgery? It was a hamate bone. A very minor surgery.
His weight gain has hurt his bat speed more than his wrist did.
Personally, I hope the kid grows up and can get it together.
However, he’s not an elite prospect. He really isn’t. He’s more hype than substance.
As with all prospects, that changes based on performance.
In terms of raw ability though, the Yankees have other OF’s in their organization (at the lower levels) with as much or more raw ability.
How it translates at the higher levels of play will determine their fate.
The trade? That’s a trade you make 10 times out of 10 and never look back.
This isn’t the Marlins. The Yankees have the ability to fund a successful minor league operation AND major league team.
Its not an either or proposition.
Their issue is having enough young players ready to play at the major league level in 2009 and 2010. They don’t, which is why the trade not only had to take place but, from the Yankees perspective, they are fortunate it did.
Haha. Fair enough.
Brandon,
Are you daft? Did you think Tabata was going to bring back Josh Hamilton? You sound like a ninny with all of your unfounded Tabata love. Tabata’s stock has been going down the past couple of seasons in case you hadn’t noticed. You really need to get over your stalkerish love affair with Tabata. Do you know how many can’t miss prospects struggle mightily their first few years in the bigs? Tabata isnt even considered as can’t miss. He isnt as good as any of the Uptons and they’re struggling. By the time Tabata gets to the majors and is good there’ll be another hot shot prospect in the Yankee org. that you can diefy. There’s no guarantee Tabata will EVER be as good as Nady is now. You probably have never seen Tabata play and you’re ready to give him milk and honey baths. Please for the love of Jesus Montero get over it already.
Is anyone else annoyed by the main headline on yankees.com?
“Yankees Show Determination”
Really? I didn’t know losing two of three to the worst team in the AL was showing determination. Didn’t know almost getting no hit by someone in their 1st ML Start was showing determination.
Did the definition of determination change in the 4 hours i was sleeping last night?
Thanks Pete!
Great, candid explanation. Hopefully your sources of information will be as generous to you as you are to us.