Pitching matchups for the Baltimore series
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- September
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Friday: RHP Radhames Liz (6-5, 6.90) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (3-1, 5.26), 7:05, MY9
Saturday: TBA vs. RHP Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.80), 1:05, YES
Sunday: LHP Chris Waters (3-3, 4.75) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (13-14, 4.57), 8:05, ESPN
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on Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 4:01 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Farewell! “The House That Ruth Built”, see you next year!
If it wasn’t Aceves on the mound…I’d be afreaid of that TBA feller…but we’ll be OK…Sweep the Orioles and we stay alive….Boston is going to lose their next 3 straight ( AT LEAST ! )
seriously, if the yankees dont sweep this series, facing those so-called pitchers Baltimore is throwing out on the mound, that would be a rather sad way for the stadium to go out.
going out for the game tonight and to say goodbye to the stadium.
I’ll leave the Sunday night finale for those who have thousands to spend and don’t mind getting to work late on Monday
It was nice to see the crowd giving Moose that ovation.
As free agents go, Moose has more than earned his money as a Yankees.
8 years (2 contracts) and the guy has taken the ball, pitched well for the most part, and carried himself with a lot of class.
Can’t ask for any more than that when you sign free agents.
Toronto GM, JP Riccardi says they are willing to add years to Burnett’s contract if he wants to stay in Toronto instead of opting out but they won’t get into a bidding war for him.
I was wondering if Sunday night’s Yankees game will be broadcast on regular TV here in the city for those of us who don’t have cable and so cannot watch ESPN. Does anyone have any idea if there’s a provision in place to take care of this?
You have to think AJ is getting himself into the high water atmosphere (16+ million a year) with the year he has put together.
I doubt years will be the issue. As it is with all potential free agents, its all about the cash.
Pavano and Aceves to pitch in the last series. Makes sense; thanks Cashman for passing on Johan!
Michael Kay said last night that Mussina might be one of the best free agent signings ever. Easy to dismiss at first thought, but it is a good point. The Yankees never won with him, but baseball IS a team game. I can think of few who might have been better over their FA contracts. Randy Johnson with Arizona; maybe Reggie with the Yanks, but even that was only 5 years.
“I doubt years will be the issue. As it is with all potential free agents, its all about the cash.”
Years is always the issue. Cash too, but years are huge. Sabathia will get 7. You can book that.
I for one am glad to see Aceves. Can do without Pavano. Seeing the way AA pitched, and how Phil Coke has, maybe they were looking at the wrong two young guys to bring up with Hughes and Kennedy. Although, I think Hughes will be great for many years. Kennedy sucks!
Going to Sunday night’s game to say farwell to the Stadium and looking forward to it. As for Pettite he better give us a game to remember on Sunday night.
“Michael Kay said last night that Mussina might be one of the best free agent signings ever”
Among pitchers, it’s near the top. Most long term FA deals for pitchers go pretty bad. Mussina’s initial deal was for 6 years. He wasn’t very good for two of them but was excellent over most of the other 4. He’s batting .500 on the 2 year extension.
At least take 2 of 3, and Sunday’s is a MUST WIN.
Fredo,
What I mean is, just extending his deal won’t be enough to keep him in Toronto. The dollars will have to be well north of what’s he’s earning now.
You are correct, dollars AND years are the keys. I think JC wants to take one (dollars) out in place of adding more years.
I can’t see that working in this case.
After Sabathia, he’s the guy teams will pay a lot of money to in this free agent season. Especially with all the injury questions surrounding Sheets.
Mussina said his favorite memory was the final game of the ‘03 ALCS. For those who don’t remember, it was the one when he pitched four innings in relief, NYY came from behind to tie the game in the 8th when Jeter, Matsui and Williams scored (the latter two on a double by Jorge), and the game remained tied until Aaron Boone hit a homer on the first pitch he saw in the llth.
I have several favorite memories. I’m with Moose, that one would be my favorite game in this Stadium — full of unexpected moments and grit, and won from behind by so many people managing to do what they had to do, with laughs as well as nail-biting.
My favorite season in this Stadium has to be 1998, when the team was a team in the fullest sense of the word, and played that way all year.
My favorite players at Yankee Stadium: Mattingly and Jeter.
Favorite single Stadium memory: Yankees on the field after the final game of the 1996 World Series. It had been a long, long time.
Catfish Hunter, Goose Gossage, Jimmy Key, Andy Pettite (three years ago) are some pretty good FA pitching signees over the years. Reggie and Winfield turned out pretty well, too.
I think we mostly agree that we will need two front-end type starters from this off-season. The plan must revolve around CC, who I really didn’t like, but it is looking like he is the only real choice. However, with all of the attention that must be paid to him, and he will likely not be a quick signing, some of the others could likely end up elsewhere. The second starter may have to come from a trade. Who would be possibly available that would be a satisfactory piece?
Grienke
Bedard–would probably be OK with two other aces, where he isn’t the main guy
Any other possibilities?
They won’t come cheap, but it may have to be done.
Maddux is best free agent signee hands down, he wound up with 10 spectacular years in Atlanta (original 5 years plus a second re-up). I’d probably rank Moose after Maddux, Pedro, and RJ as best free agent long term deals, but considering the company is all sure fire first ballot HOFers, he’s done pretty well for himself.
I was just going to say you can make a big case that Mussina was on the best free agent pitcher signings! Espically given the long term deal, look at all the long term free agent busts out there.
I think everyone knows what a big Mussina fan I am, well I was getting tery eyed last night watching him walk off the mound. I am going to tomorrows game and I’d bet i’ll be balling like a baby seeing my last game at Yankee Stadium.
“You have to think AJ is getting himself into the high water atmosphere (16+ million a year) with the year he has put together.”
That’s my main beef with Burnett, he’ll want ace money, and he’s not an Ace. This year he hasn’t even been that good. He has 18 wins, but an ERA over 4, and a whip of 1.3. Those aren’t ace numbers. He’s never had even one great year. He’ll also be 32 at the start of next season, and is a DL stint waiting to happen. He’s basically a league average pitcher who only truly dominates the Yanks. However the Yankees have gotten dominated by so many scrubs this year that Burnett’s starts against us don’t really say much. The only FA starter I hope the Yanks throw money at is CC.
On another note I’m hoping Andy has one more big game in him, and can win the final game on Sunday. It’s been tough to watch him struggle. It’s to bad he got injured at the worse possible time.
“Catfish Hunter, Goose Gossage, Jimmy Key, Andy Pettite (three years ago) are some pretty good FA pitching signees over the years. Reggie and Winfield turned out pretty well, too.”
Absolutely, and like I said, at first thought, I wouldn’t even put Mussina in that group, I was mostly disappointed that Mussina wasn’t 20 wins/sub 3 ERA every year. That is always the unreal ecpectations that tend to hope for with a FA. But when you look at the number of years, and what he has done, especially compared to other big time, big money FA, he has been pretty impressive. Best FA ever is certainly hyperbole, but still pretty good. I would guess maybe Maddux with Atlanta would be best ever, forgot about him before.
Eric Bedard had shoulder surgery yesterday and is out 6-9 months.
That’s a guy you don’t even think of acquiring.
Teams are loathe to trade their young arms these days because many teams in the game (thanks to the financial growth in baseball) aren’t in bad financial straits.
If you want to trade for young pitching, be prepared to give up a lot for it.
Greinke isnt going anywhere and Bedard needs shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, apparently.
Pete, I got to thinking about something last night. I know you’ve criticized the countdown lever all season, much of which I agree with, but something struck me. The idea is inherently corny and not that extravagant to begin with. But what if the lever was a way for the Yanks to just return some favors for people and businesses that have done things for them the last couple of years. Kind of like “here, take your minute in the spotlight.” I’m not sure how much insider info you have on the festivities for Sunday, but maybe everything that you think that has been missing from the ceremonies this year will be made up for on Sunday with one of the most well done and extravagant closing ceremonies ever. I do agree that they could’ve done much more this year, but I’ll reserve judgement until after Sunday.
Why did he wait so long to have it? He hasn’t pitched since July. WHy put yourself so far behind the eight ball?
Andy is one strikeout short of 2000 for his career, it would be nice for him to get that milestone and a win in the last game at Yankee stadium. As much as people have ragged on him (and not that he’s pitched super well), he has only gotten 10 runs of support in his last five starts, which were all losses. A few of them he definitely pitched decently enough to win, it just looks uglier when the losses pile up.
He’ll want ace money and he will get it from somebody. When everybody in the game needs pitching, Burnett is in a great position to name his price.
The prices aren’t going down in baseball. From the Yankees perspective, if you are going to generate an additional 100 million per year to your bottom line (which is what the additional revenues in the new Stadium will generate) money shouldn’t be an issue when fielding a team.
Its the Catch-22 the Yankees find themselves in these days. In a perfect world, they would rather lower payroll. Its less of a luxury tax hit, it means less to the small market teams, and its a more efficient way to run your business.
However, when you are charging what you are charging for the new Stadium, fans don’t want to see the Scranton/Trenton Yankees in New York and be told that 2011 will “be our year”.
They also, despite the hype, don’t have a bevy of young players ready to assume starring roles on this team in the next year or two. In fact, aside from Austin Jackson, they don’t have a single position player prospect above A Ball that’s actually a potential replacement for anybody on this current roster.
That means they will have to use free agency and the trade market to remake this roster.
Obviously, they have to be smart about it. However, when you are charging what you are charging for admission, et al to the new Stadium, fans don’t want to hear about austerity programs when it comes to filling out the roster.
Its a bad Catch-22 the Yankees find themselves in but, its of their own choosing. They now have to find a way to make the best out of it.
I didn’t know about Bedard, that’s unfortunate. I thought he was just shut down for the year so he would be healthy by ST. Obviously, he is no option.
I realize that to get young pitching, it will cost dearly. I am not even sure who I would be prepared to see leaving for a young SP. I also realize that most will be untouchable(Volquez/Miller/Verlander/Felix) no matter what you might offer. But, I think that the trade option will have to be explored since it will be very difficult to sign 2 top SPs.
SJ44,
I have no problem with the Yankees spending money. A guy like CC is worth the cash he’ll want. If you look at Burnett’s career he simply isn’t that good. You’re absolutely right in saying he’ll get Ace money from someone. I’m just hoping the Yankees do not give it to him. The team that does will most likely regret it.
I really believe you just need the one signing (CC).
Then you have Mussina (he will resign), Wang, Joba, Hughes, Aceves, Coke, Chase, even a late call up for Brackman if he gets it together, and others.
I dont really understand this innings limit thing. Let them pitch. If they get a tired arm, put them on the DL. Why are we the only team who insists on babying their young pitchers?
And the worst part, we baby them and they still end up on the DL, so whats the point? Tampa has let their guys pitch and it has worked out for them.
We have enough in the minors to try that plan out and bring others up later in the year.
I bring Andy back if he wants it. He is smart enough to make changes where needed. I never question his heart.
Or, here is a radical plan.
We have so many bullpen pitchers, bring up 3 starters and 10 pen guys and everyone pitch no more than 3 innings per game. This will assure you can almost bring anyone in at any time and should allow you to watch your innings limits since that seems to be what matters most.
Does anyone know if the Sunday ceremonies are going to start at 7, or 7:30, BEFORE the 8 p.m. game start time itself?
Or are the ceremonies going to commence at 8 p.m., and then the game starts later? If that’s the case, then DANG it’s gonna be a late late night.
I still haven’t heard/read anything concrete about what the Yankees are gonna do Sunday in terms of ceremony. How about you?
I read that Girardi said he wants Mo to pitch the last inning regardless of whether it’s a save situation or not.
He joked that he hoped the game isn’t tied in the 9th and Mo would have to pitch 5 innings.
Agreed, Mo pitching the last inning for the Yanks is the only way to go.
But if the O’s win, then their last pitcher is actually the last pitcher on the mound. And that’s only OK if the Yanks win with a walk-off run of any sort.
One way to solve the dilemma: Gotta win.
On the Road,
I agree with the stop babying philosophy. I would just rather not go into next year with 2 question marks to fill out the rotation. We tried that this year. Everybody skewered Cashman for doing that, I can’t see taking that same risk again.
The Yankees are expect to release info today.
Another thing YES starts coverage at 6pm and will show ALL the pregame ceromonies. Thank GOD we don’t have to listen to Bucka nd Tim during it. It is bad enough they’ll be doing the game.
Buck and Tim are on Fox not ESPN. You’ll be hearing Morgan and Miller Sunday night.
I truly believe that Phil Hughes is better than he pitched in April and i am hoping it had something to do with the rib injury. He still has a similar problem that Joba had early on. Too many pitches being thrown. It’s nice to strike everyone out but you have to pitch to get ground balls and pop ups. His stuff is nasty. You saw that the other nice and last year in that game in Texas and in the playoffs at Cleveland. Lower expectations and i think he is going to be fine.
It had to be hard knowing you were saved and they let Santana end up across town.
Kennedy is a different story. I dont see the same talent i see in Phil.
Trade Kennedy. I dont think he has the attitude for NYC anyway. I listened to him after his last loss and Hughes after his start and you could tell Hughes knew how to handle it, and Kennedy is just too cocky for the results we have seen.
Rumor has it Derek Lowe wants out of the laid back NL West and back into a higher adrenaline AL East. Any takers?
Miller and Morgan suck. This last game ever at Yankee Stadium vs. the Orioles will someone become all about the Boston Red Sox. They really do suck at announcing.
Lowe–Maybe a last resort
Someone = Somehow.
Was at last nights game. It seems that Girardi is still in punishment mode toward Melky, its got to be hard for Melky to go to LF while the 178 hitter is in CF. I still don`t understand the fascination with Gardener. He is a great OF with speed and energy but he will never be the everyday CF.
VOlquez in Cinn who everyone is talking about has fallen off from ace status of late, and thats in a weak league.
Those of us who love Nady and think hes superb, which he is, is hitting about 275 as a Yankee. But we are all killing Cano for his offense this year which is only about 12 points lower than nady.
I know Cano has had in the field issues, but he awfully close to Nadys average in an “off” year
I would not bring Petitte back, I would bring mussina back as a # 5 starter only.
Here’s an interesting find: Which moves were really Cashmans? The answer is here:
http://blogs.trb.com/sports/ba....._ther.html
Cashman All The Way: Bobby Abreu, Alfredo Aceves, Armando Benitez, Wilson Betemit, Kevin Brown, Brian Bruney, Shawn Chacon, Tony Clark, Roger Clemens (both times) Johnny Damon, Kyle Farnsworth, Glenallen Hill, Kei Igawa, David Justice, Al Leiter, Cory Lidle, Hideki Matsui (re-signing in November 2005), Damaso Marte, Tino Martinez (his return), Jose Molina, Mike Mussina (re-signing in November 2006), Xavier Nady, Denny Neagle, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte (his return), Sidney Ponson (both times), Darrell Rasner, Mariano Rivera (re-signing in November 2007), Alex Rodriguez (the 2004 trade), Ivan Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez, Robin Ventura, Jose Vizcaino, Bernie Williams (re-signing in December 2005), Jeff Weaver
His Player, Not His Price: Jason Giambi, Sterling Hitchcock (re-signing in December 2001), Steve Karsay, Jorge Posada (re-signing in November 2007), Rondell White, Bernie Williams (re-signing in November 1998)
He Might As Well Have Been at the Atlantis With His Family: Aaron Boone, Jose Contreras, Dwight Gooden (return in 2000), Chris Hammond, Orlando Hernandez, Randy Johnson, Travis Lee, Jim Leyritz (re-signing in November 1999), Jon Lieber, Esteban Loaiza, Kenny Lofton, Raul Mondesi, Alex Rodriguez (re-signing in November 2007), Gary Sheffield, Ruben Sierra (return in June 2003), Darryl Strawberry (his re-signing in November 1998), David Wells (return in December 2001), Jaret Wright
CC
Burnett
Lowe
Garland
Sheets
Penny
Perez
Dempster
I’m not saying the Yankees should sign anybody other than CC. Point is..after CC who is the most dependable/consistent starter on this list?
pat my bad, but you get my point. They are just as bad.
I hope Melky goes to Spring Training and lights it up. His hitting dropped off, but he was the best fielder we had and made the defense a lot better. I remember a game with Damon in center where he dropped two fly balls. One cost us the game. I like Damon, but with that arm he is no CF. And Gardner should be used to steal bases late in games at most.
CC and Garland. I think Garland will fit in as a Yankee.
Sheets the same Sheets that just left a game with elbow pain?
What a strange game, huh?
A year ago, if you could have your pick between Bedard & Burnett we would’ve all picked Bedard (ignoring the LH/RH thing).
Bedard was surly then injured, and now they’re probably just miserable.
The Yankees might decide to try to bring back both Mussina and Pettitte rather than going after a longer contract committment with someone like Burnett.
Mussina would come back, his brother had even stated this. Pettitte would probably have to take a cut, but both of them would be year to year, and wouldn’t end up blocking talent that becomes ready for the big stage for long.
I think CC is the main target for them to try and sign. That gives the Yankees CC and Wang at the top. Add in Mussina and Pettitte it leaves opportunities for Joba, Hughes and whoever else becomes ready for the bottom rung on the rotation.
Yes, That Sheets. I don’t want the Yankees to sign him either. The above list is just a list that shows FA Starting Pitchers.
I’m not sold on Burnett. He only makes 30 starts in contract years.
Muddy,
We’ve only got 1.5 pitchers right now. You try for CC & AJ hoping to land at least one. You’ve still got to fill 2-3 slots.
They’re not going to go and sign 3-4 FA pitchers with long contracts.
That means one year contracts for the two Yankee vets or dipping into the well.
Mel, that was my point.
I think CC is the main target for the Yankees and while Burnett might be a backup, if the Yankees do sign CC I don’t really see them wanting to have 2 longer term contracts for pitching.
Pettitte and Mussina will probably be OK at this point with year to year contracts, or a year with a mutual option for a second year. That allows for more flexibility for the Yankees. Covers them for starters while working toward bringing up home grown talent such as Hughes or Joba when they are ready rather than early because of need.
I wouldn’t mind Lowe as a secondary guy—- eats innings, pitches big games, competes. knows what his role is.
SJ -
The question is… what if we don’t get CC and he pulls a Maddux and takes less money to go elsewhere? Then what is our course of action?
Holy Macro. people! The sky is falling!
Steve Phillips has actually come to his senses… He wrote this in his latest column on ESPN.com:
“I think they should make Joba Chamberlain a full-time starter and just keep an eye on his innings rather than moving him back and forth between the rotation and bullpen.”
The “Joba HAS to Stay in The Bullpen Club” sure lost one high-ranking members…
Hanky alert:
http://tinyurl.com/Yankee-vets-look-back
the only thing to like about Garland is he is durable. He’s had an ERA below 4.00 just once in seven full seasons as a starter. He’s an upgrade on the bottom of the rotation, but not a huge one.
Oliver Perez has some appeal to me as do Dempster and Burnett. Penny could be a low risk/high reward guy on an incentive laden deal.
85-71 after this weekend and still hanging on by a thread. It will be interesting to see how well they play at Toronto. A sweep there has a very outside chance of making at least the 1st game in Boston mean something. NEVER SAY DIE…
Bananas,
Paul Byrd vs. Burnett tonight. So we’ll see.
There’s going to be a Yankees Stadium marathon on Sunday starting at midnight:
BaseballChannel.TV will be airing classic Yankees games Sunday to commemorate the final regular season game being played that night at Yankee Stadium.
The games include:
• 1996 ALCS, Game 1: Jeter’s controversial HR helps lift Yanks over O’s (Jeffrey Maier)
• 1996 World Series, Game 6: Yankees Put Away “the Team of the ’90s”
• May 14, 1996: Dwight Gooden’s No-Hitter
• May 17, 1998: Baseball Immortality! David Wells’ Perfect Game*
• 1999 World Series, Game 4: Roger Clemens & Mariano Rivera combine to lead Yanks to Title
• 2000 World Series, Game 2: Subway Series Intensity: Clemens vs. Piazza
• 2001 World Series, Game 4: Tino Martinez’s HR in the 9th sets the stage for Derek Jeter’s “Mr. November” game-winner
• June 13, 2003: Roger Clemens 300th Win/4,000th K
• 2003 ALCS, Game 7: Babe, Bucky… BOONE! Aaron’s Blast Sinks Sox
• 2008 All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
It seems that after CC the rest of the starting pitchers on the market have their flaws:
AJ-seems to always miss 10 starts a year
Sheets-Always hurt
Penny-Hurt
Perez-inconsistent
Lowe-35 years old
Garland-4-5th starter.
The Safest bet(s) amongst these guys just might be Lowe. He’s pitched in big games before, he wins, and he pitches around 200ins. a year.
If the yankees sign CC they will have an Ace. With Wang comming back and Joba (hopefully) being in the rotation next year the 2-3 spots on the staff will be better. Moose is a good #4-5.
CC
Wang
Joba
Moose
Lowe
Joba would most likely be #5 because it would help keep his innings down…
With not making the playoffs, the Yankees are going to be in Win Now Mode.
I think Derek Lowe would be a good pick up at the bottom. If they dont get CC, look for them to try to make a trade. If only Toronto didnt have a decent season, we could have tried to wrangle Halladay out of there. NO BURNETT!!!!
I do find Brad Penny interesting though, even coming off an injury.
mel- do you know if Cablevision gets that channel? If it does I think my dvr will explode.
The problem with Lowe is that gives you two power-sinker guys in the rotation. One of the reasons this pitching staff has struggled is that there were too many guys (Ponson, Kennedy, Pavano, Rasner) with similar pitching styles. A rotation of CC, Wang, Joba, AJ and Mussina/Pettite/Hughes is a different look every day and that helps.
Burnett to me is the biggest risk/reward guy. Is he a star just tapping into his potential who will flourish under the bright lights of the big city? Or is he the chronic underaqchiever he’s been most of his career. At his best he’s dominant. At his worst he’s maddening.
Timmy Lupus
September 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
He’s basically a league average pitcher who only truly dominates the Yanks.
______________________________________________________
Total fabrication on someone’s part. In career 7 games against Boston, Burnett is 5-0 with an ERA of 2.37 and 47 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. Against the Yanks, in 10 games, he’s 6-3 with an ERA of 2.58 in 68.1 innings.
He also has a 7-4 record with a 2.98 against Tampa. His ERA against Baltimore is high but still is 7-1. at 4.97.
He clearly dominates more teams than the Yankees.
GB7,
He does have good numbers against Boston. Tampa until this season was the worst team in the division so take those numbers with a grain of salt, and regardless of his 7-1 record a 4.97 ERA isn’t dominating anyone. As I said his career numbers bear out he’s a league average pitcher (maybe slightly above but not much), but he’ll want to be paid like an Ace. Add to that his age, and injury history I don’t think it would be worth the risk. If you think the Yankees would be smart in signing him that’s fine. In the end neither of us has any bearing on who they sign or don’t sign so it isn’t worth arguing over.
Should be a sweep. Would be nice for the team to leave the fans with a few wins.
Kevin