Report on the Beach Boys
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 02, 2008 
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No, not Brian Wilson and Co. We’re talking about Andrew Brackman, Jeremy Bleich, Austin Romine and Damon Sublett.
The Hawaiian Winter League has started and there are four Yankees on the roster of the Waikiki Beach Boys. They play at Les Murakami Stadium.
For Brackman, it’s his first taste of competition since he finished his Tommy John rehab. He was their first-round pick in 2007. Bleich was a supplemental first round pick in the 2008 draft. Sublett is a 2007 draft pick (seventh round) who was with Single-A Tampa this season but played only 42 games.
Romine is a bright prospect, a high school catcher who went high in the 2007 draft and performed well at Single-A Charleston (.300/.344/.437).
The league runs through Nov. 15. You can follow the Yankees players on the HWL web site, which has stats. Minor League Baseball.com also is keeping the stats.
UPDATE, 9:44 p.m.: Hey, this is cool. Mel, one of our loyal readers is blogging about the HWL. So check that out.
————
This could be it for the blogging for a new days unless there is some news to report. It’s time for a little break.
no more blog posts?? But how will I get through my day??
Alright I guess you deserve a break Pete lol – Thanks as always
Who are the Beach Boys? Just kiddin’
Peter what am going to do ….work?
Take a break big guy you earned it.
Nick,
“Never go with a hippie to a second location.â€
Why…because you might have too much fun or because you just might not be the same person ever again?
I would love to see Torre and Manny go into Fenway and beat the Sox.
John,
Don’t do that, you just might jinx it.
I would love to see the Sox out in the first round.
Pete:
Just leave us a fresh thread every couple of days, doesn’t need to be much. We’ll do the rest.
Who’s this Brian Wilson fellow? Everyone knows Mike Love is the brains behind the Beach Boys!
Can anyone tell me if Brett Gardner is playing winter ball? If not I think thats a joke. He needs to learn how to hit, how not to strike out if he is going to be a real candidate for Cf
thanks pete for this blog, we all appreciate it
John,
Don’t forget about Nomah too!
Wow sort of surpised to see Lidge up again after the amount of pitches he threw last night
“My name is Andrew Brackman and I am a 1st round Yankee draft pick and am currently getting paid to play baseball in Hawaii.”
If only I was born talented instead of beautiful.
Did Cano ever play in Hawaii cause he often plays like he’s on vacation?
Please just drop by once a day, I’m seriously gonna die without this blog. It takes away a good hour from other stuff I should be doing. It’s like something I depend on at this point.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO
Pete, make sure you tell us what is going on today in the journal news every morning
wow he looked sharper tonight than he did last night. Being a Phillies fanyou never want to count your chickens before they hatch but wow cant believe one more and we move on.
Victorino is so charming… this is the first time i’ve heard him speak
he would love it in NY
Stephen M
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
John,
“Don’t forget about Nomah too!”
In that case you shouldn’t forget about Derek Lowe either, he won a ring with the Sox in 2004.
Boy, If I didn’t know any better, with the way everyone is talking, you would think that Pete was some kind of pusher.
Smoltz is actually a good analyst, so is Granderson
TBS’ promotions and commercials are unbearable though.
Tank –
Brian Cashman would have to get the new Phillies’ GM drunk enough to agree trading Victorino to us during the GM/Winter meetings.
haha
vader, we need our sttuff all day everyday
you cant just stop cold turkey
we would go through withdrawals lol
Romine = Pudge behind the plate or Elston Howard in the OF.
This kid is a good one.
“Boy, If I didn’t know any better, with the way everyone is talking, you would think that Pete was some kind of pusher.”
i’ll just say” never go with a sports writer to a second location”.
I see Brackman pitched the opener and did his best to emulate IPK. Bleich was their Hughes pitching slightly better in the next game but was still ineffective.
I’m sensing a statement from Hank blaming the poor performance on a team wide “lethargic malaise” stemming from a case of “bad vibes” that the manager had picked up in Oahu.
“I see Brackman pitched the opener and did his best to emulate IPK. Bleich was their Hughes pitching slightly better in the next game but was still ineffective”
yeah lets trade them for bats..you know damon is gonna need a bunch this year….. >.>
Brackman is overrated.
He already 23 years old and yet to throw a pitch in professional baseball. He is a project. He had bad college numbers, control problems, doesn’t have a changeup, and is 6’10 so is he will take a while to figure out his mechanics.
A Cashman specialty– an injured pitcher with a ton of question marks and about a 10% chance of reaching his ceiling.
Pete–mel has a great blog following the HWL
Watching CC makes me appreciate Hughes that much more. Hughes is a proven big game performer while CC bombs in every playoff game he has been in.
I don’t think Joba will be a great big game pitcher just because I can see him trying to overpower guys too much, but Hughes already is. He is unflappable.
Keep the kids, only sign Lowe because he is a big game performer too.
“Brackman is overrated.
He already 23 years old and yet to throw a pitch in professional baseball”
hes not 23 yet….Andrew Brackman P R R 6′ 10″ 270 age 22 12-04-1985…stop with the overrated nonesense…just the fact that hes making his second (2) pro start tonight shows how silly it is to say hes overrated…
The Mariners sound as dysfunctional as a team can possibly be. No GM, no manager and veterans who a publicly saying they don’t want to be part of a rebuilding plan.
No wonder Cash stayed in NY.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....ethru.html
I think it is unfair to say that CC Sabathia bombs in every playoff game he has pitched.
He indeed had his troubles last year, but this one should remember that he has pitched four or five games in a row on 3 days rest and some of those have been complete games.
I think the Brewer’s have overused him particularly in the last month and he just didn’t have any gas left in the tank tonight.
I completely agree that Hughes has a great future. At the same time to compare him at this point in his career to Sabathia is interesting. I’m not trying to disparage Hughes but you are calling a pitcher unflappable who did not win a single game this year.
Randy Johnson didn’t figure it out until he was 30.
Brackman has plenty of time. Though he does seem like a guy, so far in his career, who does not pitch up to his stuff and underachives. He should strikeout every batter with the ball coming out his hand 96 MPH with movement from a 6’11 man with that knuckle curve. He looks to be way too hittable for a guy with that stuff, like Burnett. Hopefully Nardi can hammer him out.
No political posts here, please. None. Take it someplace else.
You won’t get away this time, Dooku.
“I’m not trying to disparage Hughes but you are calling a pitcher unflappable who did not win a single game this year.”
most pitchers would flap a lot of they lost every game. not hughes, unflappable.
and in losing every game , you have to give him that’s he’s very consistent.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure the Cubs are cursed.
I can see Brackman ending up in the pen. For one thing it will get him to the majors quicker. He has 2 plus pitches which is good enough to be a reliever. Unless he could develop a change up quickly I would make him a reliever.
I totally agree, Rebecaa…
yeah. Cursed.
cubs ARE cursed
Brackman and Bleich…..Cashman’s hopefuls for 2010… “Generation _____????” Next year, amidst mediocre performance from these two, management will trumpet them as the “Arms of the Future”, as the immediate needs will be filled only with hot air next year.
the cubs have to be cursed, nothing else can explain whats happening.
Wow CUBS stink. They are cursed!!
lets hear all the “But the NL sucks!” cries. Comon, you know who you are.
5 runs in the NL is like 1 in the AL, right?
Cubs are done
Torre Magic.
Yanks lead 5-0!
Brackman is overrated.
He already 23 years old and yet to throw a pitch in professional baseball. He is a project. He had bad college numbers, control problems, doesn’t have a changeup, and is 6′10 so is he will take a while to figure out his mechanics.
A Cashman specialty– an injured pitcher with a ton of question marks and about a 10% chance of reaching his ceiling.
10 % chance of reaching his high ceiling ? After TJS he is hittin 96 MPH at times 97 , he has 3 plus pitches, 2 potentially plus plus. Name a big pitcher that got it so early ?
Chris Young was traded before he could get it no one believed a tall pitcher like him would get control now look at him.
Randy Johnson another late bloomer because he was 7’0 tall and location/arm angles are the first thing they have to contend with. Either learn your pitching prospects or shut up and HWL do you know how many prospects that are over there are top tiers ? do you know how it is not to pitch for 1 yr. and half and then to pick up a ball in your first official pro ball setting ? Yeh my bet is no.
“Manny & The Juniors” are doing their thing. They may well take the tour all the way to Beantown.
If Girardi managed the game, they would have scored 6 runs.
Cubs are cursed.
Buster….I do believe the AL is better than the NL.
Just one small indicator is the All Star record the last 10-15 years.
The two WS the Sox won they swept the NL team.
Just my opinion.
Cubs are cursed.
Buster-How do you figure?
Wow! the academic in me is statrting to believe in curses.
It’s amazing how irrational baseball makes me.
In order for the Cubs to reverse their curse, they will have to come back from an 0-2 deficit in the division series, and then come back from an 0-3 deficit TWICE in the NLCS and World Series.
It’s possible…
Plus many consider the AL East the toughest division in baseball.
I hate the Dodgers but I do kind of enjoy seeing the Cubbies suffer.
2 with over 90 wins, and 1 within a game of 90. I’d say that is the best division in baseball.
Go listen to Pet Sounds, Pete.
The most talented Cubs team in 100 years and they will get swept in the 1st round.
Curses do exist.
You know the funny thing is? I think the Cubs will hae an easier time of it in LA and be back in Wrigley for a (heartbreaking) game five.
What are Hank, Hal, and Levine thinking as they are watching this?
While our current manager is getting busted for lying, our former manager is about to go to the WS.
If they don’t feel sad/upset/angry/infuriated, then they don’t have a pulse.
Wow the cubs are not looking too good huh.
dodgers baby! Mattingly’s ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wasn’t saying the NL is not inferior. I’m pointing out the number of people who seem to totally discredit the NL as a “AAA league”. I wouldn’t really measure the All star game as an indicator. Rather, count the WS champs, which I believe is 8-4 in the last 12 years
about to go to the ws? A little early for that proclamation don’t ya think?
They’ve won one game, this game is still very early, and they still have another round to go thru.
Lets also not forget the choke job that Joe T lead the Yankees to in 2004.
Rumor has it that the farm director has instructed all scouting personnel to focus only on pitching prospects in need of TJ surgery. If a prospect’s ligs and other relevant parts are in good working condition, pass. Let’s repair and start from scratch.
Phillies will never beat this team in the ALDS, they are going to the WS easy. They have magic. Torre and Manny have them believing.
Just like Torre had the Yankees believing for the last 3 years? Okay.
lets not forget the choke job the cubs pull… all the time…
The Phillies are the most scariest offense you’d ever want to bump into. Your talking about the same team that stepped into LA and swept them.
Buster,
I certainly think there are some very good teams and players in the NL, and I would never equate the NL with AAA.
At the same time, it seems that many pitchers who excell in the NL don’t fare as well in the AL.
And now torre can win as many postseason games in 2 days as he did in the last two years at the helm of our beloved.
To quote that horrid mid 90′s one hit wonder 2 Non Blondes, “What The “Heck” Is Going On Here!!!!”
well, they believed to rally to make the playoffs, yeah i do. The team of 2005-2007 had been declared DEAD at all star break or slightly before.
Mel, you started blogging too? Thats awesome.
Good for you!
jennifer–why hate on joe torre?
i happen to be glad to see a former beloved manager and first baseman leading a team that isnt even in the AL to a possible championship
Someone tell me what inning it is in the Cubs game ? Last I checked 3rd or 4th inning right ? Don’t count that offense out.
Buster: Daily News declared the Yanks dead last year on 4 July.
Okay, okay, I know it’s the News…but that’s totally not the point.
You have to feel for Zambrano – 1 ER, 4 unearned.
I am still very bitter over 2004. Sorry. I think he should have been gone after that.
This team was so bad this year, no one, St. Joe, Casey, Sweet Lou, Billy or management by committee could have won.
im so bitter, i wish we had torre
girardi was a disaster. we are seeing first hand what torre meant to the franchise.
this franchise is an embarassment. hank is worse than james dolan.
Brandon,
Bottom of the third.
I’m not sure Billingsley can pitch w/ a 5-0 lead it’s going to come down to the BP.
The breakdown, which was dramatic, sudden and abrupt in 04, simply continued in spiral down mode over the next four years, as the bodies crumpled, the spirits dissipated, and here we are. Is it a coincidence or just happenstance that 04 was the beginning of the A-rod era?
it would have been justified if Torre was gone after 2004, but he wasn’t. And it was time to go in 2008. But not the way it happened.
Anyways, good luck to all the ex-yankees. In this series, I just will root for Proctor, Mattingly, Bowa, and Torre more than Lilly, Lou, and Soriano.
Now I know why we traded Sori..my god Billingsley wasn’t throwing strikes it was 2-0 force him to use more than 3 pitches to get you jesus.
Tom,
Dolan is much better than Hank, atleast Dolan stays out of the media and keeps his mouth shut.
The breakdown, which was dramatic, sudden and abrupt in 04, simply continued in spiral down mode over the next four years, as the bodies crumpled, the spirits dissipated, and here we are. Is it a coincidence or just happenstance that 04 was the beginning of the A-rod era?
That also was the beginning of the Javy Vasquez/Kevin Brown era.
.218 career BA in the postseason for soriano as of last nights 0′fer game. 18 mil for a leadoff guy who gets hurt often.
I’m kind of upset my TV at my parents’ house doesn’t have an SAP button so I can’t practice my Spanish.
But that aside.
When Kevin Brown punched a wall, there was only so much Joe Torre could do.
The Yankees didn’t fail in 2004 because of Joe Torre. They failed because Dave Roberts stole second and they didn’t now how to regain a momentum that before they had always had.
What is Torre’s legacy? 04 to 07? 96 to 01? 96 to 07? If it’s the whole enchilada do you weight the early years? the late years? or strike a balance? or question how relevant really is the manager?
I may have to quit watching baseball if a Dodgers-Red Sox WS manifested itself.
Dolan is much better than Hank, atleast Dolan stays out of the media and keeps his mouth shut.
Dolan is TOOL ! don’t even get me started on that piece of crap ! banning Ewing and Checketts and Grunfield, keeping Oakley unemployed catering to every crap that Isiah Thomas’s regime damaged. DON’T GET ME STARTED !
If Mariano gets 3 outs (in consecutive games, mind you) then we win.
Mariano is responsible for 2001 and 2004.
It should have never even gotten to a game 6.
tom-
Are you saying Torre would have made a difference on the Yanks this year? How?
I’m saying it here so everyone will know, and that I can be known as the one who said it first.
The Dodgers will win the World Series this year.
Are you saying Torre would have made a difference on the Yanks this year? How?
The BP would have had a 5 ERA
Torre’s Legacy: 4 WS in first 5 years. Greatest Collapse in sports history . Didn’t get out of the first round the last 3 years. Made postseason all 12 years. Turned down an incentive ladened “Offer”. Went to LA and took Mattingly with him. Likes Green Tea.
Lee is a GG 1st baseman and Derosa is a very slick fielding 2B and they both make errors.
The Cubs ARE cursed.
So, the Dodgers took advantage of the ivy. That should be disallowed. I wonder if you know who thinks there’s barbed wire in YS?
Rebecca & Pete, thanks for the nod.
Buster,
Add to that. The man who wears really big shoes.
Other than in really extreme situations, is the manager really that important? Until Manny arrived in town the local press often had a field day heaping criticism on Torre. Then Manny arrives and ignites Ethier, Loney, Kemp, Martin and even Kent (tho he denies it), and here we are. Would the result have been the same with Grady Little still at the helm? I would guess yes but we’ll never know. Joe has managed well but nothing exceptional other than rolling with Manny, letting him do his thing, and giving him free reign in the clubhouse….in that respect, Joe gets an A..not all managers would have let it play out.
When your team puts a lot of runs on the board the manager’s good.
When your team strands guys by the dozen, the manager’s terrible.
Unfair, but that’s the way it is.
Torre is very lucky in that Arizona chose not to show up for the second half of the season.
Girardi was very unlucky that the Yankees chose not to show up in the first half of the season.
DAmn Derek Lee has some tough hands
mel: No problem.
I don’t blame Mo for 2001. He had one bad outing that just happened to be game 7, but it should never have gotten to game 7. We should have won game 6.
2004, again, Mo had a couple bad performances, but if the rest of the team had done it’s job it wouldn’t have mattered. Okay, so there was one game he legitimately blew, but that’s ot the point.
If Cashman has any compassion for Girardi, he puts a dominant team on the field next year and gives him a team that can win. He does not deserve this constant bashing and Torre comparisons for the team underperforming. Get him some real ballplayers and trade for some real pitchers. Stop leaving Girardi out to dry.
Rebecca, so what you are saying is MO is responsible for 2004?
I agree.
Joe has been much more attentive and more in the game this year than in his last 5 years or so with the Yankees. He is always on the first step of the dugout with either his pitching or bench coach, or both, at his side focussing on the game. Most unlike his last 4-5 years in pinstripes when he was generally seated comfortably holding Jeter’s bat in the dugout, often appearing to be in a sonombulent state. By his own admission the last 3 years or so in NY were not fun, and it showed and perhaps affected his ability to manage. As he had said, he likes LA and is having fun again.
Manny strikes AGAIN!
HR
Meaningless.
manny goes deep—it’s so weird seeing him slapping bowa’s hand on his way around…isnt it?
Manny did it again. 6 –0, and Joe looks like a genius.
Damn, I don’t care what Manny does off the field, I want him as the DH.
Manny is growing on me.
Manny is a freak
He is amazing…
Nomar, Manny, Lowe. Its weird seeing me want them to do good. But I’ll root for many redsocks fan watching fever pitch if they do play the sox in the WS….
Harden is the Cubs best pitcher. He will get them a victory.
Lilly is a big game pitcher too ready for game 4. Cubs lineup is full of right handed bats they will pound Kershaw. Maddux doesn’t stand a chance either if Torre chooses him.
This series will come back to Wrigley. The Wrigley ghosts will come out and propel them to victory.
like*
Cashman better get Manny.
I don’t want Cc, Sheets, or Tex. I want Manny as the DH.
Trade Matsui to the NL to be a DH somewhere, we need Manny.
What are you nuts I’d still take CC over all of them.
Hate to say it, but if it comes down to the Sox and Dodgers for the title, I’ll root for the Sox.
I cannot root for this Dodgers team.
Yeah Mr. Torre has been lucky these last 13 years. Just bumping ass backwards into the playoff’s all those years, winning world series, setting records for most total wins in a season, managing to keep the lid on in the pressure cooker that is New York, winning on the left coast with an inferior Dodger team and earning himself a place in the Yankee pantheon. Just Lucky my aunt fanny! The guy is a great manager, the more people deny that the less informed and more bitter they appear. Why is it so hard for some to admit the man is good and that we were lucky to have him?
It’s too late for this nonsense.
The only question is: Can Manny play 1B?
manny doesn’t want to play for NYY.
Don’t be surprised if there is a “99″ in pinstripes next year..if McCourt doesn’t pony up the $$$$$ Boros wants. Don’t you think Cashman will speak at length with Torre, who will respond earnestly since that is his way. Given his public statements (and those of Bowa and Mattingly) the input is a given. As reported, all Manny wants to do is play baseball (for big $$$$ of course) and then go home.
“manny doesn’t want to play for NYY.”
Do we need this stupid rumor for every FA? Manny is from NY. He would LOVE to be a DH for the Yankees.
CC = playoff fraud.
This is the same trap that Cashbum has fallen into since 2001. First off the guy doesn’t want to be here, he will only come here if we severely outbid. He is also a playoff bum. He doesn’t have what it takes to handle the East Coast and he knows it.
Use that money for legit playoff performers like Manny and Lowe.
Go to Vegas much SOS???????
S.o.S.27
December 27th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Lets hope the conditioning coach doesnt get in the way of the 08 start.
08 predictions
Santana’s a Yankee and wins Cy Young
Girardi Manager of the Year
Arod Back to Back MVP
Jeter wins batting title
Giambi is the 08 version of Fielder(pinch hitter)
Damon steals 35 bases
Cano hits 25 homeruns and 310 avg.
Matsui traded
Miranda takes over firstbase
Duncan rotates dh and right field
Wang wins 19 games
Kennedy rookie of the year
ALL STARS Cano,Jeter,Arod,Santana,Wang,Posada.
27th Championship over the Dodgers. 4-1 Jeter gives Torre his bat to keep.
Bill Porter,
He was and still is a good man, but you’ve got to admit that this has more to do with Manny and Arizona, right?
unreal
Were he to be here, it would be as the DH…tho he just went back to the wall and plucked the ball off the ivy..no wall phobia for the ManRam.
“harwood
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Manny is from NY. He would LOVE to be a DH for the Yankees.”
no he wouldn’t. Ask Brandon.
I don’t know what’s scarier. That SoS was so wrong or that youk actually kept that post.
Technically, Miranda did take over 1B.
MEL–
LMAO
I have heard just as many “reports” that he wants to play in NY as he doesn’t. The only specific negative I heard was a few years ago that he was not then interested im playing for the Mets.
those who want manny are falling into the same trap this team has been since 01…no thanks
also, sabathia once again failed in a postseason game!
look at the pitchers who are winning in the playoffs? billingsly, shields, myers, lowe, lester, hamels
i know they are not all slouches but they are also not $100 million dollar top name pitchers!
Jas*n B*y (MVP) >>> Manny Ramirez
So much young power pitching this year
Billingsly, Hameles, Shields, Lester, Myers, Lackey, Gallardo
We need to build around Hughes and Joba.
harwood: Brandon is *the* blog source on Manny. He says Manny doesn’t want to come to NY, he’s not coming.
An interesting fact.
After Boston traded Manny it had the best record in the American League!
ER, We will see a Yankees-Red Sox WS
Torre, Mattingly, Bowa, Proctor, Manny going back to Fenway this October.
What a disaster! I feel so horrible for Girardi, it wasn’t his fault he was chosen to replace Torre. Nobody should degrade him, all your anger should be directed towards Hank Dolan.
Most depressing October in franchise history? Not only are we not in it, but the results are turning out to be worst case scenario.
The first issue will be whether McCourt want to pay anything close to what Boros will ask. Certainly not beyond a 2 year deal since it is difficult to fathom Manny as anything other than a DH beyond 2 years, at most. Realistically, that should eliminate alL NL teams if the Yankees are interested.If they are, he will be here, unless he really doesn’t want to play here but I find that diffcult to believe.
Do we need this stupid rumor for every FA? Manny is from NY. He would LOVE to be a DH for the Yankees.
He told his own friends in Washington Heights. There’s more of him that wants to go down as a NY legend killer, he told some people he’d want to play in Florida or Philly, one of his closest coach Charlie Manuel in Philly was his batting coach in Cleveland if Philly decides to let Burrell walk Manny being Manny will hit Philly. Also his home is in Florida and they’d be looking to add a big name on that team he nearly was dealt to FLA on deadline day had FLA not balked.
“harwood: Brandon is *the* blog source on Manny. He says Manny doesn’t want to come to NY, he’s not coming.”
Ive seen him post about it before. I see no reason to buy into the an anonymous person posting inside info in a blog comments section.
If we can move Matsui Manny in NY makes sense for him and us.
Guys, Who needs Manny? We have Brett Gardner!
I will only believe news from Bobcat. Nobody else has any valid sources.
sign Burnett.
No NL team is going to give Manny more than 2 years. His greatest asset is his bat. It won’t slow down for many years. It was so sad to see how old and broken down Vlad looks. Especially against the Red Sox.
Do you think the players are rooting for or against Torre?
I think all of them are rooting for him just to spite Hank and show him what he missed. Hank knows nothing about baseball though, so I don’t think it matters.
Wow, mel got a little blurb up top.
If we can move Matsui Manny in NY makes sense for him and us.
In what way ?, I’m not disagreeing w/ moving Matsui, you Girardi’s word to be the loudest in that lockerroom, Georgy doesn’t like Manny, Alex is one of Manny’s best friends off the field, can you imagine the first sign of trouble after a botched play ? or him coming late to BP, that won’t slide in NY or in a lockerroom w/ Georgy, Mo and Jetes. Manny also is not an everyday OF you trot him out there day by day he will get hurt.
“he told some people he’d want to play in Florida or Philly,”
NL florida? Mannys next contract has DH written all over it. Im pretty sure Ive heard him quoted outside blog comments as saying he doesnt want to play the field for his next contract.
It’s funny to me because GI Joe and Cashman have both agreed on one thing w/ the next OF acquistion or player brought up, he has to be athletic to play in that OF, they are starting to value the 5 tool approach this offseason.
Odessy: It doesn’t get worse than 1986.
Wilson,
The players are rooting for Mr. T. because they love him.
The Mets collapse really helped out the Yankees. They had a lead down the stretch, but blew it. I think that gave Hank & Co. some degree of satisfaction.
Im pretty sure Ive heard him quoted outside blog comments as saying he doesnt want to play the field for his next contract.
Where ? because I never heard that. You’d think people around High Bridge would say that if it were true.
Posada is irrelevent. This is Arod and Jeter’s franchise now.
Jorge also said he will not play any 1B and told us to make our prized phenom a reliever. He also amditted to
Kay he would have gone to the Mets if he gave them the extra year. He is not a team player, he is a mercenary.
Wow. The Cubs need to play their postseason in april, or something.
Or maybe November.
Where are we going to get this mythical 5 tool OF?
Jackson has 5 tools but doesn’t excel at any of them, he is solid, not spectacular.
Gardner has 1 tool.
Rebecca,
If this score holds up, they will have been outscored 13-2 in the first 2 games.
Posada is not a mercenary.
and you’re nuts.
Soriano seems to be hitting inches above the ball. Maybe he’s hoping for a big cut that will never come..
mel: Why does that remind me of 1996?
“Now I know why we traded Sori..my god Billingsley wasn’t throwing strikes it was 2-0 force him to use more than 3 pitches to get you jesus.”
Soriano strikes out again. Brandon, this is why I’m not totally against the Yankees trading Cano. IMO Robi is a very similar player to Soriano with a bit better defense. But they have similar bad at bats, despite loads of talent. If we can get young high on base guys with a better approach or pitching for Robi, you have to consider it imo.
Where are we going to get this mythical 5 tool OF?
Jackson has 5 tools but doesn’t excel at any of them, he is solid, not spectacular.
Gardner has 1 tool.
Aparently you need to learn patience. We don’t know where they may come from, it may be from a trade or internal. Meanwhile I hear ya on Gardner yet Girardi loves him and alot of people believe he has bounce back ability so they will let him earn his shot.
Did they issue Manny a used batting helmet? How else could it get so dirty so quick?
Rebecca,
Were you even born?
posada irrelevant?
i can’t believe what i just read.
“can you imagine the first sign of trouble after a botched play ? or him coming late to BP, that won’t slide in NY or in a lockerroom w/ Georgy, Mo and Jetes.”
Obviously. We all know Manny comes with baggage. And I honestly think what he did in Boston was disgusting. But this isnt Boston.
If there are problems so be it. Get though them. The guy is up for grabs and hes one of the best active hitters. All time even.
And his friendship with Arod plays into it. Arod is our ambassador to Manny. Arod will keep him cool. Can you imagine some of our hitters benefiting from listening in on Arod/Manny conversations? God what if he teaches Arod to hit in the clutch?
If we make room and Cash is willing to risk the down side Manny is coming here. I believe that. Even if you have some third hand info of Manny once saying something it means nothing. Manny flipped on a dime on Boston and retiring there. He doesnt say something and mean it. He just talks.
“Meaningless Stats
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Where are we going to get this mythical 5 tool OF?”
the location where unicorns come from. Doesn’t matter. I like the fact NYY is trying to move/operate in this direction.
Soriano strikes out again. Brandon, this is why I’m not totally against the Yankees trading Cano. IMO Robi is a very similar player to Soriano with a bit better defense. But they have similar bad at bats, despite loads of talent. If we can get young high on base guys with a better approach or pitching for Robi, you have to consider it imo.
I don’t compare Sori to Robi, IMO Robi’s a better hitter, it’s going to be interesting w/ Alex and Kevin working w/ him in D.R. how he bounces back from his one bad yr.
Tabata was our 5 tool OF’er, but would they preferred trading him for a 1 tool (if you consider his 20 HR power a tool) player in Nady.
Trades like that are why you can’t trust Cashman
Zambrano gets an ovation for giving up 6 runs? I must have missed some crucial aspect of the game. I suspect the 3 errors had something to do with it.
Manny will be welcome by Yankee fans because gave Boston the big medial-digit.
this is why I’m not totally against the Yankees trading Cano. IMO Robi is a very similar player to Soriano with a bit better defense.
If Cano could regain his 2006 form with his new stance, he would be unstoppable. He will be a excellent asset to our team and will be very valuable, which will be why Cashman decided to sign him long term.
That’s the difference between Yankee fans and Cub fans. Zambrano gets taken out after giving up 6 runs and the Cub fans cheer him. A-Rod gets booed, no appreciation for the efforts or his ability.
Pretty sad for NY.
Cano hit .340 with 50 double, 20 HR power with GG defense. He is such a good hitter, you do not give up on him.
manny can teach Arod how to hit in the clutch.
now i’ve heard it all, on this board.
I believe Zambrano only gave up 2 earned runs.
Is Zambrano crying?
Well, okay..maybe not..but he looks like he might start
mel: I was born in 1986
vinny-b
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
“Meaningless Stats
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Where are we going to get this mythical 5 tool OF?â€
the location where unicorns come from. Doesn’t matter. I like the fact NYY is trying to move/operate in this direction.
“We’re off to Candy Mountain…”
thats why Cubs fans are the most loyal and best in sports. thats why they deserve to win over the frontrunning Dodgers fans.
Manny flipped on a dime on Boston and retiring there. He doesnt say something and mean it. He just talks.
You think Manny leaving Boston was a surprise to me ? or us from Washington Heights ?
He’s been hating it there for 2 yrs. prior to this yr. alot of stuff that you don’t know went on over there in deciding to leave.
Brackman starts in 1.5 hours.
Brandon: You told us
If the Yanks were to consider Manny, Damon would be the most valuable source of info as to whether the relationship could work.
Maybe one reason Cubs have this century-old problem is that Cubs fans cheer poor outcomes exactly the same as good ones? Think about it.
mel
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
“Manny will be welcome by Yankee fans because gave Boston the big medial-digit”
And I believe Boston fans will laugh their heads off when Manny knows he has his big contract, doesn’t have to really run to first or play hard, laughs when he misfields a ball, decides his knees hurt and can’t play, and physically assaults the Yankee ticket secretary when he doesn’t get the tickets he wants.
Watching guys like Billingsly, Hamels, Shields, etc. this postseason should show why we should not give up on Hughes. That could be us next year.
Rebecca I remember being called a liar to this then everyone was spooked. I really don’t care if people believe it or not, just don’t make false statements. For instance someone had the audacity to say Manny wants to play in NY, no he doesn’t, he’s looking for a big pay day the one thing he hates about NY is he wouldn’t live relaxed at all, there’s a reason he doesn’t live in NY, there’s a reason his family is spread in Florida and D.R. and there’s a reason he dispises the media, yet people here are telling me he’d loves to play here. He grew up hating the Yankees, that is a fact, he never wanted to come here and hasn’t changed there one bit.
Man. the Cubs are painful to watch.
for the love of God, not another viagra commercial
Omar is drooling too thinking about an outfield of Fernando Martinez-Beltran-Manny
with an infield of Wright-Reyes-Murphy and a solid guy like Kotchman playing 1st? A winning catcher like AJ Prezynski becoming the leader?
With K-Rod closing games and Bobby Parnell, Eddie Kunz, Smith, and Stokes setting up?
They could be a young, winning team Omar assembles in Queens.
Brandon, algunas veces pienso que sabes Manny
*pienso que conoces Manny.
es la misma cosa.
Mark Cuban is going to make sure this doesn’t happen again next year— CC will be there guaranteed. CC did list Chicago as his favorite road city.
ray,
Don’t be bitter. We won’t let him touch the outfield grass. And guess what? He beat out the force play at first yesterday!
Anyway, you guys got Bay. No one in Boston cares where Manny goes or what he does. He means nothing.
Brandon,
What you say may be true, but if the suitors don’t line up like they didn’t for Alex this past winter he might decide that NYS might be a nice change of scenery after all.
mel,
I’m honestly not bitter, just amused. Of course Manny beat out the force play yesterday. Right now he is playing for the last huge contract of his career!
For all the Manny love here tonight, you’d think he actually done something of significance in this game. He struck out twice, hit a HR when they were up by 5 and drew a walk.
Isn’t that the same stuff A-Rod gets booed for?
The hero tonight was the pitching, not Manny.
“He’s been hating it there for 2 yrs. prior to this yr.”
No. What Manny does is come contract time he says he loves you then he hates you then he loves you then he hates you again. Then he gets what he wants or stops playing till you trade him.
http://wbztv.com/sports/redsox.....59455.html
“For instance someone had the audacity to say Manny wants to play in NY”
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08.....123658.htm
Rebecca si yo los conocÃa te digo que el blog nuncas lo supieras.
pat,
That’s not my point. My only thing is that Manny’s one of the best pure hitters. That’s all I care about. Well some good pitching would help, but from what I’ve seen Manny’s arm’s not very strong.
Oh look! The cubbies scored a run
pat: personally, wouldn’t be mentioning Arod and Manny in the same sentence. Not as far as hitting is concerned.
Oohh! A point!
Brandon: No es palabra para ‘blog’ en español?
Siempre te creo, pero no soy la chica màs inteligente en el mundo
Snap they scored a run !
“That’s the difference between Yankee fans and Cub fans. Zambrano gets taken out after giving up 6 runs and the Cub fans cheer him. A-Rod gets booed, no appreciation for the efforts or his ability”
i heard many a boo from cub fans today
el impermeable
once this game is over, i could imagine tomorrow’s newspaper headline: Torre, 1 step closer to the World Series.
vinny-b
I’ve been watching baseball much longer than Rebecca has been alive (ouch) and when history is written, Manny and A-Rod will be mentioned in the same sentence and probably not in the order that you would like them to be.
Where’s Nick?
OSU’s about to redeem the Pac-10 against the Mountain West.
I’m guessing Rebecca is the youngest one here? I’m young myself too, but I was born in ’84.
The media will be insufferable tomorrow, with Francessa leading the parade.
And he won’t mention Billingsly, Martin, or Frucal— it will all be Torre and Manny.
pat: even if it were the case, statistics don’t always tell the story. Much like some/many accounts of history.
TBS needs to stop showing the cubs fans. It’s depressing
And the Dodgers kick the extra point. I might turn this off the Cub fans are making me want to cry.
Brandon -
According to Kat O’Brien by via e-mail:
I’m wondering how cheap are we talking?
maybe it’s the jerseys. Did the cubs go with their pinstripes yesterday?
So who woulda thunk the lowly 84 win dodgers would maybe sweep the team w/ the best record?
I certainly didn’t. But then again, the cubs could win three in a row. They do have the talent and pitching.
Chicago sports radio should be interesting tomorrow..er..later today.
These fans are making me sad.
Ed,
The question is how does Garko hit against teams other than the Yankees?
Harden and Lilly are better than Dempster and Zombrano
Cubs will be back in Wrigley next Wednesday.
Wow Manny and the Dodgers are bulldozing the Cubs…
You think the pressure of not winning a championship since 2000 is overbearing. Try 100 years. This will be a tough hole to dig out of.
The cubs look like the 2007 Yankees so far, just simply outpitched.
Even Marmol is getting hit now.
This series is over.
Congrats Torre, show Hank what we’ve been missing and make him squirm– couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Buster
My guess is the lowly 84 win Dodgers would have had a better record with Furcal leading off[out after back surgery] and Manny as the catalyst for a full year. I’d take Martin, Ethier, Loney, and Kemp and give you Posada,
Abreu, Giambi, and Cabrera. I’d even throw in Hughes and Kennedy for Billingsly and Kuo!!!
This is not a terrible team!!
Ryan Garko, he of the .750 ops? I thought the idea was to get better.
And yes I know his career OPS is .800, which would have been good for 18th best in baseball for a first baseman.
What’s the Torre obsession about? The Yankees and most of the fans have moved on.
tom-
You never responded why the Yankees would have been better with Torre?
Ed: I usually am the youngest one on here.
I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
Mel– what’s wrong with rooting for our former manager?
if the yanks aren’t in it–i’d love to see joe torre and donnie B get a ring
mel – its why I, and probably many, root for the dodgers now.
Torre, Mattingly, Bowa, Proctor >>> Pinella, Soriano, Lilly
I could care less about the dodgers otherwise. Its the only yankee connection to the playoffs that I have any sentiments to.
I want Teixeria.
of course, I want Manny first and foremost
But get a real 1st baseman please, a 2 way player who can hit and field. stop using that as a 2nd DH for aging players like jorge or matsui. get a real 1B.
you are seeing first hand how important defense is in the playoffs.
Mel-
Totally agree. Torre turned down 5M for one year to go to LA, drive his convertible Mercedes down Rodeo Drive, and drink green tea. I wish him all the best, and hope his real right hand man-Bowa comes back to the Yankees!!
This is the most depressing game I have ever seen. If I was a dodger fan, I’d restrain myself not for fear of retaliation, but sympathy for cubs fans…as I speak, theriot errors a throw to first
Jesus just throw the gloves away Cubs…I’m sorry but you are cursed !
Has Mike Francessa cursed this board?
Why is everyone so obsessed with Torre? What he does has no baring on the Yankees, unless you let the words of Joel Sherman and Bill Madden’s influence your existence.
I’m just saying, why obsess about Torre’s impending success? Like it makes our plight any worse? We’re still the same team. We still have a bright future.
I don’t care if people boo or cheer for the guy. Just saying that it’s time to move on.
Has Mike Francessa cursed this board?
Why is everyone so obsessed with Torre? What he does has no baring on the Yankees, unless you let the words of Joel Sherman and Bill Madden’s influence your existence.
an we just support our current manager pkease
*Can we support our current manager please
vinny b
I don’t need stats, all I need is eyes. I accept that baseball is a game of failures and I can appreciate a player for what they do; not condemn them for what they don’t do.
Cheering successes are more fun to me than dwelling on negatives. Someday I’ll be able to tell my grandkids that I saw a player hit 3 HRs and drive in 10RBI in one game. I can tell them I saw the same player hit his 6 or 700th HR. How many players can I say that about? Probably only 1 or 2.
Now you can say that I could also tell them that I saw a guy strike out or pop up with the bases loaded down by a run too. But how many could I say that about? 1000+.
The FG is GOOD !
Raiders 10 Cubs 1
Mel –
Here are his career numbers against the AL east:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
vs. BAL 11 42 6 10 2 0 0 4 4 12 0 0 .238 .313 .286 .598
vs. BOS 12 40 1 9 3 0 1 5 0 6 0 0 .225 .326 .375 .701
vs. TB 21 77 12 24 9 0 3 17 4 13 0 0 .312 .365 .545 .910
vs. TOR 15 58 8 18 6 1 2 9 3 12 0 0 .310 .369 .552 .921
“*Can we support our current manager please”
Absolutely! Where is he playing GOLF tomorrow?
Is that a howling wind or do boo birds come out at night?
Sorry if this “Torre lovefest” bothers some, but thats only because of an incorrect assumption that for every success Torre gets, Girardi loses. We are simply rooting for our former manager on a blog about the yankees. Hey, if the Yanks were in it, I could care less about the Dodgers. But I have no other reason to watch.
might be time for the cubs fans to make a deal with the devil
What a pitiful game
Rebecca –
of course its a good thing. we could learn something new everyday that we didn’t know about.
“I’m guessing Rebecca is the youngest one here? I’m young myself too, but I was born in ‘84.”
im 19
they had a priest sprinkling holy water and blessing the cubs dugout, prior to game 1.
don’t know where that goat was, but the Father might’ve needed to cover the entire stadium.
Ed,
Sign him up!
Wow the Cubs are just getting embarrassed. Wood and Marmol both get rocked.
“This is the most depressing game I have ever seen”
Did you not watch gm 7 of 2004 alcs?
Ralphie D –
I posted that became you came on tonight.
RalphieD,
Are you DFox? He’s also 19.
I knew it was dangerous when everyone jumped on their bandwagon. They never perform when that happens.
Mel –
Garko would be available via trade. Kat O’ Brien said he will come cheaply in a trade. So I’m guessing how cheap would it cost? Kennedy and some B prospects?
“Are you DFox? He’s also 19.”
no i am not lol?
Tom: I left after the Damon GS. But, most Yankee fans were and still are demand the WS title. In this case, they just want to win a game.
Ed,
LOL. You work harder than Cash. They need to hire you.
Please deliver a real 1B and Shane Victorino.
Well hello underager!
I think I’ve decided I now hate the cubs. No more lovable losing for you.
Hamels vs. Lowe
Myers vs. Billingsly
Moyer vs. Kuroda
Blanton vs. Maddux
Garko would be available via trade. Kat O’ Brien said he will come cheaply in a trade. So I’m guessing how cheap would it cost? Kennedy and some B prospects?
It would take a bit more than that. Kennedy and a B prospect well lets put it this way the B prospect would have to be a position player and right now that guy would be Romine or Angelini.
Joe Koshansky take a flyer. The kid never got at chance to play, he been blocked by Helton.
minors stats: http://minors.baseball-referen.....i?pid=7891
I’m only 12, so I think I’m the youngest one here.
Oregon St. totally, like, choked! Pac-10 shame continues.
I don’t think the Yankees will get value dealing Kennedy in the AL but the NL could be a different story.
…Are you kidding me?
Now they want to play? Jeez. I guess it gives them momentum.
That foul ball kicked up chalk.
Mel –
I wish. lol. studying business isn’t for me. i once took business marketing for 1 semester, i didn’t like it one bit so I switched to computer info systems.
As far as suggesting to trade for Garko and Victorino, we need to somehow voice our opinons to the beat writers to pass the idea on to Cashman. That’s why I emailed Kat about the Garko thing, but she didnt mention she would try or something.
Tom I’d be careful w/ a 26 yr. old like that.
Too bad the Cubs couldn’t do that earlier.
is it just me or does kemp not look too swift in the outfield…prbly just me
Nick,
MY FAULT! I called it with 2 minutes left. I was hoping that Utah and BYU would slip up.
Ralphie: I’m not huge on Kemp either.
Ed,
Don’t worry. The Yankees have lots of eyes on the blog.
mel, that’s noble of you taking the blame, but I think the fault lies with the team that lost to Stanfurd.
Tom -
and so has Kendry Morles, Nick Evans, and Daniel Murphy been blocked. all 3 of them switched to the outfield. Evans is being blocked by Delgado and still is, since Omar is bringing him back. Daniel Murphy is being blocked by Wright but Murphy would handle 1B as well. Kendry was blocked by Kotchman and now, Texieiera. if Texieiera leaves the Angels, Kendry will be the Angels’ 1B.
It would take a bit more than that. Kennedy and a B prospect well lets put it this way the B prospect would have to be a position player and right now that guy would be Romine or Angelini.
does Melky fall into that catagory? so far their left field is being platooned by Fransico and Delluci (sp).
Brandon, I know just throwing names around blocked prospects and such. He could be shelly duncan, or, he could be another version of another mid 20s recent bloked prospect:
http://minors.baseball-referen.....i?pid=6843
This reminds me of the teases the Knicks have when a good team is blowing them out by 30 and they cut it to 15 with 2 minutes left in the 4th.
Then Eddy Curry has a turnover and the dream is killed.
Mel –
let’s hope so.
This Dodger pitcher makes me look skinny!
“a B prospect well lets put it this way the B prospect would have to be a position player”
Wilson Betemit has a B in his name. Can we use him?
They should have woke up earlier.
When’s the last/next time the Yankees play at Wrigley?
aw
chin up little sad cubs fans that tbs keeps on showing
Gameday is up for Beach Boys.
No Brackman, but Sublett is the DH and Romine is catching. I hope Romine can catch Brackman.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....n_waiwin_1
Pat -
Cashman needs to get Mark Sharpio seriously drunk during the GM/winter meetings in order for him to agree. lol.
Brackman isin’t pitching tonight?
Then Eddy Curry has a turnover and the dream is killed.
You mean when Jamal Crawford turns it over and Eddy Curry stands letting some short guy rebound over him.
Ed: I would not be averse to that.
Ed: here’s a list of 1b prospects. It’s from January of this year
http://www.projectprospect.com.....s-jan-2008
Our payroll this year-$209,081,577
Giambi-23,428,571
Mussina 11,071,030
Abreu 16,000,000
Pettitte 16,000,000
Pavano 11,000,000
Farnsworth 5,916,667
Hawkins 3,750,000
Ensberg 1,750,000
Traber 500,000
Henn and Karstens close to 800,000
That’s a possible savings of $90,216,268
That brings payroll down to around 119,000,000.
I’m hearing that the Yankees will spend 180M on payroll, so that’s 61M to spend on free agents and increasing salaries on returning players.
Given this, and that Lowe, Teixeira, and Manny are Boras clients, if we signed all three and let all our own free agents go, there wouldn’t be much wiggle room to fix the bench, handle players in arbitration years and pick up Marte’s 6M option, plus pick up another starter.
We’re getting younger, more athletic and trying to shore up our starting pitching to compete in the AL East, the toughest division in baseball.
You’re the GM, you have 60-65M to spend, now find me the players who fill our holes and stay within budget.
Can’t commit to another 210M budget, because Lehman Brothers, AIG and Wachovia have pulled out their multimillion dollar committments for their skyboxes next year!!
WOW….LMAO that ump said no extra innings w/ that one
Rebeeca –
Where is Al from Burger King tonight?
I still think Battle could be a 5-tool CF stud.
Promote him like we did Jackson, let him skip a level. Maybe he needs a change of scenery.
Tom –
thanks for the list.
Ed,
Can you find out what Victorino’s contract status is? I think he’s only been in the majors since Abreu trade or Rowand’s face dance with the wall.
His status would determine the kind of package that would go back, no?
Yanks played at Wrigley about 3-4 years ago. I was at the game that Juan Blowcevedo imploded & the tying run was picked off of first in the 9th with Jorge up.
Mel –
You are right. Shane took over RF after Bobby was traded. Then he took over CF when Rowand left for fre agency.
As you requested:
2008: Near Minimum
2009-11: Arb. Eligible
2012: Free Agent
ed: Not just Mel that likes the flyin’ Hawaiian!
It was June 2003, Charles Gipson was picked off of 1st to end the game.
Rebecca –
lol alrites. then, all aboard on the “Pineapple Express”! if you didn’t know, Pineapple Express is another one of his nick names.
mel
I looked up Victorino a few days ago. I didn’t realize he was a Rule 5 pick up for 2 seasons. Only stuck in Philly because LA didn’t take him back so Philly outrighted him to their minor leagues.
So…I guess no more playing time for Fukudome
Ohhhhh Lou just dissed Fukudome
Wow. Lou harsh on Fukodome.
pat and Ed,
Thanks for that info.
a BREAK????????/
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
what did Lou said about Fukudome? my parents hogged the tv so i cant see.
Could we pick up Fukudome for cheap? He reminds me of Paul O’Neil
Know who else was a Rule 5-er?
Promise not to hate me?
Johan Santana.
Shane Victorino, why would the phils make him available?
if we entice the phillies with some top young talent like kennedy, then they might be willing to trade victroino
Tom,
Because they wouldn’t be able to resist a package that includes a certain young pitcher with a famous last name.
Rebecca – I know the Marlins and the Astros are really kicking themselves.
Okay, kind of scary. I was kidding, Jeff was not.
Rebecca: There are many rule 5 picks that have been good:
Roberto Clemente
George Bell
Bobby Bonilla
Jody Davis
Darrell Evans
Kelly Gruber
Josh Hamilton
Willie Hernandez
Dave Hollins
John Hudek
Mike Morgan
Scott Podsednik
Bip Roberts
Johan Santana
Joakim Soria
Derrick Turnbow
Dan Uggla
Sublett (DH) draws a 1-out walk.
…
In what world is Kennedy considered “top young talent”?
ahh, Joakim Soria. the Royals did their homework before selecting him. good choice.
Ed-in the postgame interview, Lou interrupted a question about Fukudome, saying he didn’t want to hear any more about Fukudome! Said the kid is struggling and he’ll put (I forget who…someone else) out there, and that there was no reason to put him(Fukudome) out there anymore.
In what world is Kennedy considered “top young talent�
in the eyes of a team that is desperate for pitching like the Rangers.
Don’t forget Josh Phelps.
Joakim Soria & Dan Uggla were rule 5 players as well as
Roberto Clemente
Nitro: the world of 2007.
SA –
thanks. I don’t blame Lou though. Fukudome’s number has fallen a lot since early September.
He said Fukudome was struggling as well. Maybe its just frustration being asked 48 times about one player and Lou had enough.
Gotta feel a little bad for Sweet Lou though, that had to be tough sitting through that game.
SA: For real?
Guess the old Lou is back a bit. Which is good. Cubs have been playing dead.
Right, well, I’m off to Vermont for the weekend. Catch you all Sunday.
Soria was right up there with Mariano and Nathan as the best closers in the AL in 2008. If any of those 3 guys were on the Angels this year, they would have broken the Saves record.
I’m sorry to ask this but do high schools teach students how to write papers anymore? 25 papers and 3 clear thesis statements!
In my 3 years dealing with Freshmen their writing is getting worse.
Should have gone to school to get my masters in history, but no, had to go for English…..
Yeah, Lou is not a happy camper right now. lol
Rebecca –
have fun in Vermont.
I’m sorry to ask this but do high schools teach students how to write papers anymore? 25 papers and 3 clear thesis statements!
Tom – since I finished high school 4 years ago, I do remember writing a thesis as a practice.
Romine works a 1 out walk
Sublett…2-2, 1 run scored, 1 double, 4 RBI, 1 walk
Romine…1-1, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 walk
Maybe Sublett could translate to RF. He was a RP in college so he has an arm. Right now it’s Ajax and check out the Dominican. The Yankee scouting staff seem to know pitching, catching and second basemen. OF not so much, you would think they could draft one OF per draft that one could follow or at least wait to develop. IN 2008 at least two more 2B. Guys go hire a couple of OF scouts for God’s sake.
Galloway an OF who was highly rated (top 100)and is very fast was taken and signed by Florida in the 8th round for God’s sake. Tell me how well we drafted this year, it is to weep. In the meantime Boston signed their top 14 picks a lot of them high ceiling players.
Sublett…2-4, 1 run scored, 1 double, 4 RBI, 1 walk, .500
Romine…2-3, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, 2 walks, .286
I got the day off today but pass it down
Florida Marlins are the kings of hazing
Texas with Nolan Ryan at the helm will be more pitching oriented during the offseason.
Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Melky Cabrera for Josh Hamilton.
DO IT ! ! !
does anyone know if Gardner is playing winter ball?
anyone hear the hot stover rumor…Matt Holliday to the Yanks for Cano? It’s in the Daily News
With Nolan Ryan at the contols, the Texas Rangers will want pitching during the offseason.
Give them Kennedy, Jeff Marquez, and Melky Cabrera for Josh Hamilton.
“Give them Kennedy, Jeff Marquez, and Melky Cabrera for Josh Hamilton.”
is this serious, or a joke?
“anyone hear the hot stover rumor…Matt Holliday to the Yanks for Cano? It’s in the Daily News”
Makes sense, if they sign him long term. My only question would relate to where they are actually going to play him… Damon in LF, Nady in RF, Matsui at DH (of course, unless someone from that group is moved themselves).
“anyone hear the hot stover rumor…Matt Holliday to the Yanks for Cano? It’s in the Daily News”
If the yankees are goimg to try to not spend so much, trading Cano for Holliday would not be a good place to start.
Holliday is due for a huge pay raise and they’d have to overpay for Orlando hudson.
Please not Cameron!
Daily News: NO TALK ON MCLOUTH TRADE, YET
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10.....131891.htm
Decision makers in The Bronx and Pittsburgh said yesterday there was nothing to the Yankees New York Yankees acquiring outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates – yet.
S/B NY Post
Texas won’t be trading Josh Hamilton for anything less than a proven #1 or @2 starter plus at least one blue chip prospect.
They’re despearte for pitching, but their not going to trade away their best offense player.
does sabathia’s 7.92 postseason era worry anybody?
“does sabathia’s 7.92 postseason era worry anybody?”
not a bit.
“does sabathia’s 7.92 postseason era worry anybody?â€
Why would it. He’s not going to be a Yankee.
“does sabathia’s 7.92 postseason era worry anybody?”
Why should it? It’s not as though he owns the worst ERA among the 254 pitchers in baseball history who have pitched 25 or more postseason innings.
His is only the 2nd worst.
I think it’s difficult to pinpoint why Sabathia’s post season numbers aren’t too impressive.
Is it because he’s over-adrenalized? Not just throwing is normal game because of the heightened circumstances?
Or is it because of the number of innings he pitched in order to get to the post season both years, especially this one?
I seriously doubt that he ends up in New York, but if he does, I suspect that there will be fewer complete games for CC, especially if the bullpen is as good next season as it has been this season. So, perhaps fewer innings and less pressure during the regular season would translate to an easier time during the post-season.
Or not.
Trading for Holliday would be good in terms of replacing the production of Abreu. Since Abreu made 16 million this year, it wouldn’t be a huge jump in salary after the extension they would most likely give Holliday.
This move also probably shuts the door on aquiring Teixeira, which is fine with me.
last night brett meyers had a tougher postseason at-bat than i’ve seen from a yankee hitter in 5 years.
The Brewers over used Sabathia’s arm. 4 starts in a row on short rest. Brilliant. Anyone not expecting these results?
While I be fine with passing on Sabathia if there are other pitchers brought in, I think more of this post season appearance had to do with being over used.
“This move also probably shuts the door on aquiring Teixeira, which is fine with me.”
if you’re going to remake the team, you can certainly do worse than adding two all star caliber players at their respective positions, both under the age of 30.
oh, i know, i know. you cant just think you cant sign FAs and expect to win a WS.
but you’d have a core 1-5 of Damon, Jeter, ARod, Teixeira, and Holliday. wow.
He wasn’t too impressive in game 1 of last year’s ALDS either but his opponent left about a zillion guys on base.
What ever happened to that Minnesota pitcher that beat Moose in 2 consecutive ALDS game 1′s? He was pretty good. Is he available? Maybe we can get him in a trade for some of our overhyped prospects.
Holliday is a good ballplayer, but if the Yankees have to trade Cano for him, how is getting him any kind of offset to losing Abreu?
Holliday isn’t going to produce that many runs. His home / away splits are large enough to give concern that he won’t produce anywhere near as his average suggests.
Fun player to watch, but I doubt he will produce 100 RBIs, and his defense won’t make up for the lack of output. Add to that having to sign another 2nd baseman, it just doesn’t make sense to me.
“last night brett meyers had a tougher postseason at-bat than i’ve seen from a yankee hitter in 5 years.”
Make that two. Sabathia threw 98 pitches last night. 20% of those were to Brett Myers who followed a 9 pitch walk with a 10 pitch at bat that resulted in a flyout. He had Sabathia shaking his head.
Texas isn’t trading Josh Hamilton for pitching. That would be silly. They gave up Edison Volquez to get him, so, I don’t think that they’d trade him to get a Volquez back.
Offer Tex, IPK and filler for Hank Blaylock. He’d be decent first baseman. He’s healthy again and played the final month of the season at 1b.
Off topic but before the ’07 season Hamilton was selected by the Cubs in the Rule 5 draft. Think they’d rather have him than Fukudome right now?
‘but you’d have a core 1-5 of Damon, Jeter, ARod, Teixeira, and Holliday. wow.”
If we are to believe the Yankees intend to go at it with a $180M or so payroll in ’09, this is not going to happen. It would be a tough front five though.
LOL at Evan and Joe on WFAN are pathetic. They spent the whole first segment whining about the playoff system and how it rewards the hot team instead of the team with the best record over the course of the season. In other words, they feel sorry for the Cubs (and they just actually said this). I don’t feel sorry for the Cubs. They’ve played and pitched disgracefully and they don’t deserve, thus far, to advance. Also, this is life in the playoffs and it’s been this way forever. Does anyone think the Pirates were better than the Yankees when they won the WS on Bill Mazeroski’s HR? The A’s were the best team in baseball in 1990, but they lost badly to the Reds that year. The 2006 Cardinals were hardly the best team in baseball that year overall, but they won. This is what makes sports great. The Patriots were by far the best team in football last year and they lost the Super Bowl to the Giants. Are Evan and Joe complaining about that? The Cubs don’t deserve to advance in the playoffs any more than the Dodgers or any other team does.
“Offer Tex, IPK and filler for Hank Blaylock.”
IPK in that ballpark??? I think Texas might know better.
“the Yankees intend to go at it with a $180M or so payroll”
Fredo, Good call there. I can see the yankee’s spending more on pitching this offseason and trying to aquire league average offensive players to fill the holes at 1b and cf.
Don’t forget the Yankees are planning of having Posada and Matsui back and healthy next year. That should offset the loss of at least Abreu alone.
Brackman better be a Yankee at somepoint next season.
“Offer Tex, IPK and filler for Hank Blaylock.â€
IPK in that ballpark??? I think Texas might know better.
That’s true, Texas needs more ground ball type guys in that Park.
I was just throwing names around….
Too bad Nick Johnson is always hurt. He’d be an Ideal first base candidate next year…..
Tom: who is this ‘Tex’ ??
“They spent the whole first segment whining about the playoff system and how it rewards the hot team instead of the team with the best record over the course of the season. In other words, they feel sorry for the Cubs (and they just actually said this).”
Jeez! What do they want? Cubs are playing at home against the playoff team with the worst record. How is that system not rewarding them? Would they think it better if they just named the Cubs NL Champs?
Great analogy with the Giants. Postseason is sometimes about the best team, but it’s ALWAYS about the team that’s playing best. As the Giants proved, those two aren’t always the same team and if you can’t be both, it’s better to be the latter.
nevermind. Had misread the post.
“Brackman better be a Yankee at somepoint next season.”
He can play the “ghost” of Randy Johnson at next years opening ceremony!
“Daily News: NO TALK ON MCLOUTH TRADE, YET
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10.....131891.htm
Decision makers in The Bronx and Pittsburgh said yesterday there was nothing to the Yankees New York Yankees acquiring outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates – yet.”
the Yankees listen to Fransesca, now?
nevermind AJ Burnett. Bronson Arroyo is next.
“Brackman better be a Yankee at somepoint next season”
I’d think they’d let him have at least 1 full year of minor league exp. before they’d call him up.
So far he’s had what, 5 innings or so of pitching experience?
I don’t think Mcclouth is a viable option right now. Sure he’d be a nice get and all, but, at what cost?
Does CC 600 innings in 2 years bother anyone?
I love the articles that talk about nothing. It’s like the Seinfeld version of sports reporting.
Here’s some more “stories”
“NO TALKS IN THE HALLADAY – BETEMIT SWAP. YET ”
“YANKS/METS STAY MUM IN REVIVING SANTANA DEAL”
“ZAMBRANO-KAZMIR REVERSAL? NO WORD YET!”
Bronx Jeers: Very true. The stories that are going to be comming out next year gave less validity than anything said by the weekly world news: http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/category/headlines/
the Yankees listen to Fransesca, now?
nevermind AJ Burnett. Bronson Arroyo is next.
Oh my lord. Can you imagine?
Arroyo would have a weekly spot on his show and Francesa can say how he got Arroyo here
Somebody has a mancrush.
This is how we start the offseason?
jennifer–it bothers me quite a bit—
everyone says what a “horse” he is–a great team mate for taking the ball every three days 4 times in a row.
to me it shows the utter disregard the brewers are showing for this man’s future. some people are already condemning CC as a playoff choker–but he’s jusy been worn out the last 2 years. i’m not saying i’m against getting him, but if we do i’d like to think that we would use him more judiciously
Mel–i saw that—
but i just coudn’t bring myself to read it
wow, good results from our representatives in hawaii.
i was lurking last night (blackberry isn’t always the easiest to post from). some hilarious comments in the previous thread, esp. bruce for 3B coach
is Garko supposed to get better? i like him, but i think some here are overvalueing the guy in terms of what we would have to give up in order to obtain him.
Thanks Mel,
I needed that. Did you link on the 100$ Hankie photos?
ARod: “See this bill? The Yankees pay me one of these for every time I adjust my jockstrap.”
http://www.nypost.com/photos/g.....hoto03.htm
Okay, guys. Hank made a big promise that the Yankees might not be able to deliver on.
You’ve got 2 big name position players and their outrageous wages leaving, so there will be money available. But do the Yankees really want to blow it all? I don’t think so. My feeling is that the Yankees need 2 big FA signings to keep the wolves at bay mixed in with some TBA’s.
Question of the Day: Staying with that premise, what big name signings would satisfy you this offseason?
Question of the Day: Staying with that premise, what big name signings would satisfy you this offseason?
Tex and Orlando Hudson with a trade of Cano for McClouth.
saucY,
lol. Yes, the BeachBoys did well. Updates on the blog.
Yes, we need Springsteen doing a mash, “Born to Run Wild” with Gardner on the basepaths. Right now, we’ve got the ghost of Jimi Hendrix doing “Purple Haze”.
j/k. Meachem wasn’t so awful in the second half of the season.
Russell,
You’ve got one big name coming and one big name going.
And where’s your big FA pitcher?
Babe Ruth, that’s the only one that would satisfy me right now. A pitcher and fielder and hitter all rolled up in one.
“Meachem wasn’t so awful in the second half of the season.”
i can agree with that. a couple head scratchers early on, but i think getting used to someone new kinda highlighted their differences.
by the way, Pete, at least one new post per day, please. i don’t care if it’s an ipod recap, football picks, or even another reminder not to talk politics on the blog. we need a clean slate. plus, my mouse is getting tired from scrolling so much…
“Question of the Day: Staying with that premise, what big name signings would satisfy you this offseason?”
They have what 60 mil. bucks to spend? (Less I guess when you factor in Wang being arbitration eligible).
Somthing tells me they’d be more inclined to go after pitching than offense–Matsui, Posada and Cano should be healthy and/or better next year.
But then again: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ano-s.html
I see them signing two pithcers from this group:
CC
Lowe
Burnett
Moose
Pettite
Decision makers in The Bronx and Pittsburgh said yesterday there was nothing to the Yankees New York Yankees acquiring outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates – yet
y is this taking so long
i don’t like this Orlando Hudson, he singlehandedly destoryed two of my fantasy baseball team.
Most unclutch mofo on fantasy baseball ever.
well of course I had to play him because my first second baseman was hanging around in my bench for the majority of the season.
Most Valuable Benchwarmer – Robbie Cano
Here’s what we should do:
Cano/Prospect to SD for Peavy
Sign Orlando Hudson
Sign Teixera-No more than 7 years, say 7 years 147 million. If that’s not enough say see ya
We aren’t getting CC-He’s definitely staying in the NL
Bring back Pettitte, try and convince Mussina to come back. If Moose is retiring sign a veteran that can give us 200 innings-Such as Lowe, Oliver Perez, Jon Lieber
Either sign Mike Cameron or do the trade to get Mclouth. Mclouth is really not a true CF though, probably better suited to play right.
Bye Bye-Giambi/Abreu/Pudge
Lineup
1. Damon LF
2. Jeter SS
3. Teixera 1B
4. A-Rod 3B
5. Matsui DH
6. Posada C
7. Mclouth CF
8. Nady RF
9. Hudson 2B
Rotation
1. Wang
2. Peavy
3. Joba
4. Mussina
5. Pettitte
we don’t need Tex. No longterm contract/no Tex.
however, Cano for Holiday *may* be very intelligent. Then signing an Orlando Hudson to play 2nd.
we improve production in the outfield, while maintaing production at 2nd base. At the same time, team chemistry is changed. (ie one less laid-back person on team)
Teams haven’t even held organizational meetings yet.
That’s why all these “proposed trade offers” that are being written about by the media is BS. Its just something to fill space.
Nobody knows who is going to be available anywhere until teams hold organizational meetings.
Until then, ignore everything your read because its BS and nothing more.
Tom,
I really think they stick with Cano. The team is not so awful that we have to fill holes by trading players. You’re not going to get equal value back for him.
We also need a true 1B, so I’ll say Tex. If he’s rediculous with his demands, then trade for a young 1B like Kotch (great reggae band) or Garko.
I think that Burnett would be a perfect fit and would definitely satisfy the big FA pitcher signing bill.
As much as I like Gardner, I would love to trade for Victorino.
So my big FA signings would be AJ & Tex.
I would fill my CF hole by trading for Victorino. From the sounds of it, McClouth would be too expensive.
Pettitte will be back and doesn’t count. He’ll be (hopefully) middle-to-back of the rotation.
If the payroll is between 180-190 (I believe Buster on this one), it gives the Yankees more than enough money to remake the team.
Its not like they are the Marlins. They aren’t just going to give up stupid FA deals for guys who aren’t worth the money.
They will sign FA’s that fit into what they will be trying to do.
Mike, i played Cano all season and almost won my league. the only reason i lost was because the guy i went up against (head to head league) decided to pick up new starting pitchers every day, stocking up on W’s and K’s. no innings limits and i tried to take the high road.
if i paid for the league, i probably would have managed with a different strategy, however…
“S.A.-Looking forward to 2009 and save Robbie Cano!
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 am
Oh my lord. Can you imagine?
Arroyo would have a weekly spot on his show and Francesa can say how he got Arroyo here”
lol. No SA, that wouldn’t be good. : )
i like Burnett, also
Victorino isn’t going to be on the market.
That’s the thing with trade proposals. Most teams don’t want to trade their best players away to the Yankees (or anybody for that matter) because Yankee fans like that player.
Especially those, like Victorino, who are cost effective and who they control (financially) for a few more years.
Trades get made when there are legitimate matches that cover the issues teams have in the marketplace.
From the Rockies perspective, trading Matt Holliday does nothing for them unless they get a package full of young, under control, close to ML ready, prospects.
If they can’t get that, it pays to keep him, at least until the trade deadline next year.
Cano? If he goes anywhere, its probably going to be for a frontline starting pitcher. Trading him for another bat doesn’t really make a lot of sense unless they are able to shore up their pitching issues in the FA market.
vinny-b,
It’s not fair to access CC after what he’s been through, but the AJ bandwagon might get a little crowded.
From Mike Mussina’s brothers blog:
“….I really don’t know what he is going to do next year. I think he was mentally prepared to retire, but after doing so well, and knowing how close the Hall of Fame is (some people think he’s in already, but who knows) I think it’s going to be hard to walk away. At this point, that’s all I will say about Mike. I don’t want to rile up the haters. They’ve had a tough year as it is.”
It wouldn’t be fair to assess CC, either.
SJ,
Sigh. I know that about Victorino. It’s just that he’s a local boy done good, so it’s a dream for me.
mel, Tex is a Boras guy so his demands are going to be nuts. Garko would be league average at first at best, Kotchman too. If the price is right either one would be fine.
Victorino is a nice player, again I think he’d be league average at best in CF. His numbers are nothing great considering he plays in one of the best hitters parks in baseball.
I don’t think they’d trade Cano either.
mel: I still love CC.
tho, i don’t expect him to join NYY.
mel,
I hope there is room on that bandwagon for diversity because I think there is a good chance Burnett goes to Boston!!!! Sorry, I know I am being a kill joy.
The NFL circulated a memo this week to all of its teams warning of tough economic times ahead and to plan accordingly.
They warned about keeping their spending down because revenue projections are going to fall short of their goals this year.
For the first time EVER, General Motors is not buying ad time on the Super Bowl broadcasts. Several other longtime NFL sponsors are pulling back.
When you see that in the NFL Marketplace, I don’t think its a stretch to say its going to hit baseball as much, or more, than its hitting the NFL.
That may determine a lot on the free agent market.
Its not just about the salaries and years you put up for guys. Teams have been able to insure most, if not all, of a good number of the contracts on their rosters.
With the credit crunch and insurance issues around the country, that’s changing. Teams are being told that insuring certain deals will be tough to do. That means the team is on the hook for the money in its entirety.
Depending on how the financial structure of a team operates, that could cut into their lines of credit. If that happens, expect teams to approach the FA market VERY cautiously, if at all.
Tom Hicks of the Rangers, thought to be an aggressive player in the FA market this off-season, told his baseball people this week that he doesn’t want to be a player for the high end guys. He’s pulling back.
Its looking more and more like the economy is going to play a big role in baseball free agency this off-season. If that’s the case, just writing checks to fill all your needs seems to be a strategy that won’t be taking place for a lot of teams. Perhaps, even the Yankees.
ray (sox fan), Do the Sox intend on spending Manny’s 20mil on free agents?
are they going to keep there payroll around where it was at the begining of the season?
Taking the contract demands off the table, I think what happened yesterday with CC actually helps the Yankees.
They can give a very solid sales pitch to him about how much his workload hurts him at the end of a season.
By going to a team (the Yankees for example) with a deep bullpen, the greatest closer in history at the back end, a solid lineup, and the ability to pitch in a GREAT ballpark for lefthanders (the field dimensions are the same as the old stadium), he could be better in the post-season than than he is right now.
More money, less innings, better team, and better staff to manage his innings. That’s a pretty compelling sales pitch.
Tom – My opinion on the Red Sox:
They need to figure out what to do with Varitek, Lugo, Lowell, Drew and Crisp.
They also need to figure out what to do about Wakefield, Byrd, and Bucholz.
They have some money coming off of the books, so it will be interesting to see how they act in the offseason.
They do have a nice young core of Pedroia, Ellsbury, Bay (will they extend him), Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, Masterson and Papelbon. They also have some hitters in the minors that are coming, with Lars Anderson a few rungs down. They have Daniel Bard who might be a very good bullpen arm if he can gain control (he throws consistently in the mid to high 90s).
mel,
You’re from Hawaii?
SJ – How will years be effected by the current environment. I think part of the hesitation on some of these guys: Tex, Santana (last year), CC is length of contract. Big dollars per year is not a problem, but many years of dead money will become burdensome.
Will this allow the Yankees to outspend on dollars per year while keeping the number of years reasonable.
I cannot see replacing both Abreu and Giambi with league average ballplayers. One, yes, but not both.
Even if Posada comes back 100% and Cano gives us his 2007 season, and both Matsui and Damon stay healthy, we still don’t get there offensively.
Plus, the chances of all that going right aren’t high. It would be like drawing to an inside straight.
That’s also why I can’t see trading Cano for a starting pitcher, although from what I read that is certainly being discussed. There’s not enough offense on the FA market to make it work, IMO.
To my mind, the only way out of the box is to sign Texeira, because I don’t see that kind of RF talent to sign instead. I’d listen to other ideas, but I haven’t seen one yet that makes sense to me.
Tom,
I think right now the Sox have some unanswered questions that will impact how active they are in the free agent market.
Right now the future of Mike Lowell for the next year is a question mark. Will the Sox need to get a 3rd baseman for next year?
Varitek is at the end of his contract. He is a Boras client and will want more than the Sox are willing to give especially considering Tek’s poor offense this year. Will the Sox need to get a catcher for next year?
Do the Sox stay with Wakefield in the starting rotation next year? Does Bucholtz make it back in the rotation? The Sox bullpen has been inconsistent. How do the Sox address the bullpen needs and how the starting rotation looks definitely impacts their actions with free agents.
I think whenever the Sox finish their postseason there will begin to be some substantive indications how the Sox will proceed.
On a different note, I still think the Yankees end up with CC. True he didn’t do well last year in the playoffs, but I am willing to give him a pass on this year’s playoffs because he has been really been overused by the Brewers the last few weeks. And that is why I think Boston may pursue Burnett.
Years affect the deals because it impacts how much of the deal you can insure.
For example, let’s say you want to sign CC or somebody else to a 6 or 7 year contract. If insurance only covers 3 years of the deal, that means the team is on the hook for the rest of the money.
Meaning, that’s between 75-100 million bucks they are on the hook for if something happens to the player. That will impact their lines of credit.
If the insurance companies really dig in and only decide to guarantee two years, its even worse.
When you do these deals, you have to be able to have them insured in order for MLB to approve. If you can’t insure the entire deal, you have to show you can cover it if something happens.
In most cases, that’s a combo of cash on hand and a line of credit.
Credit lines in all businesses are drying up all over the country. I don’t think its a stretch to say sports will also fall under this umbrella.
In addition, teams have to determine if its even wise to be make these kind of long term commitments in this unsure economic environment.
Rich people didn’t get rich making bad deals.
I think the Yankees will approach free agency with a lot of caution. I think they will target a couple of guys, offer them more upfront money and less years, and see how it goes.
After getting out from under some contracts (like Giambi’s) that tied up money and years for a long time, I don’t see them traveling down that road this off-season. Especially with the economy in the shape its in right now.
Man would that be stupid do people realize Robi’s had 1 bad season, 1 and they want to quit on him ? I said it once I’ll say it again he should get drop kicked in the balls if he trades him.
SJ44-
I’m confused. It is my almost certain understanding that contracts can only be insured for specified reasons, basically injury.
Are you saying that you know for a fact that insurance companies aren’t insuring injury? I have not heard that insurance, as opposed to credit, has generally become harder to obtain.
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/.....ord/344102
oh man you can’t make it up
AJ Yanks,
Technically, I’m not “from” Hawaii.
Just found this little tidbit: CC Sabathia signed a LOI to play football and baseball at the University of Hawaii.
Victorino was also offered a full-ride football scholarship from UH. Shane’s speed was his ticket in the draft.
They were almost football teammates at UH.
Talk about crossing paths. Think that CC wishes that their paths never cross last night?
You can’t trade Cano unless you get a lot back in return. If you did, like any other player with a no trade clause, you do it.
That said given the year he had, its doubtful you get a lot back in return.
Folks have to take the current economic enviroment under consideration when proposing trades. I know the teams are.
Robbie’s contract is very reasonable. On a team that is looking for payroll flexibility, I don’t see the Yankees moving him unless they are overwhelmed.
Yanks should have no trouble getting McLouth for no great cost considering the Pirates gave them Nady and Marte for hardly anything: Two nothing pitchers and a formerly-hot prospect.
“They need to figure out what to do with Varitek, Lugo, Lowell, Drew and Crisp.
They also need to figure out what to do about Wakefield, Byrd, and Bucholz.”
My guesses:
Varitek: 2 year deal, $6M-$8M per
Lugo: What can they do. Tough guy to trade w/o eating a lot of $$$
Drew: Play him in Right
Lowell: Some thoughts this hip injury could be career threatening. Have to see where this goes. Maybe Youkilis to 3rd and sign a 1B
Crisp: Traded. He’s on for ’09 at a little less than $6M. Won’t bring much back, but someone could use a CF like that even w/ a marginal bat
Wakefield: Pick up another year at $4M
Byrd: Sayonara
Buccholtz: Depends on how his winter goes. From what I read, his issues may be more in his head than his arm. Confidence issues, particularly w/ his fastball. He struck out about a batter an inning this year while stinking the joint out, so the stuff seems there. Wouldn’t shock me if he were traded, but it wouldn’t shock me if he was back in Boston either.
If teams can’t insure large contracts, they won’t offer them because they don’t want to be on the hook for all the money if something happens to the player.
Yes, its insured against injury. Those premiums they pay on them are tax deductible to the teams.
However, if the teams can’t get insurance, or enough of it, on a player contract, they take a double hit. One, they don’t get any tax relief, or financial relief if the player goes down. Two, they are on the hook for the entire deal and that impacts their finances in other areas.
It all gets down to risk and who is willing to take it on.
A lot of teams may be very leery in this current economic enviroment to take on more risk than recommended because nobody knows how long these hard times are going to last.
A lot free agency is timing. It could turn out that timing is not on the side of the guys who are going to be on the open market this off-season.
Time will tell.
The economic climate is an imponderable right now.
The comps for a CC contract right now are Zito and Santana. Economics aside, that means a 6 or 7 year deal.
No big FA pitcher is going to sign, IMO, until CC does. So going into the negotiations, you are looking at Zito and Santana.
That puts teams signing CC in a tough position. There is probably a general feeling out there that prices may fall, but until they do they haven’t.
I’ll be watching with great interest.
Fredo,
If Cano lost trade value by sucking in the first half, but finishing strong, then Buchholz had his stolen (sorry, couldn’t resist) with a season that was worse than Phil Hughes (who had an injury excuse).
Isn’t Buchholz supposed to be their Joba? I don’t see them trading him.
“Yanks should have no trouble getting McLouth for no great cost considering the Pirates gave them Nady and Marte for hardly anything:”
Nady and Marte were heading into walk years in ’09. McLouth is under the Pirates control for another three seasons. Big difference. McLouth will cost more.
FWIW, Tabata remains pretty highly thought of in baseball circles.
Yanks should have no trouble getting McLouth for no great cost considering the Pirates gave them Nady and Marte for hardly anything: Two nothing pitchers and a formerly-hot prospect.
What are you smoking ? The Pirates thought they got ripped off in deal #1 you think they’re going to sell low on McClouth ? Also people as good as McClouth has been he’s had only one season like this, only one and now he’s an all star alright IDK why I smell Roger Cedeno w/ him but I do.
SJ – Thanks for the info!
I think Boston is in for a very interesting offseason. We will certainly learn how much Boston values what Varitek can do for a pitching staff. They will also probably try to remake their bullpen a bit in front of Papelbon. Do they keep Masterson in the pen or move him back to a starter. They too are getting old in certain positions.
Interesting times.
SJ, I understand insurance pretty well but what I thought you were saying was that insurance companies were more reluctant than in the past to insure injury risk. I had not heard that. Insurance is underwritten differently than finance, so I had not thought that the injury insurance market had dried up.
If that is indeed true (I’m a little dubious), that will affect contracts enormously.
Ray, are Pedroia, Pap, and Youk arbitration elegible?
Picks for today’s games?
Kazmir over Buerhle even though I think Buerhle will have a good game.
Santana over Matsuzaka even though Matsuzaka seems unbeatable.
Ray (Red Sox fan)
I have some inside information to give you about the Yankees.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3623945
It’s all well and good and sounds nice saying the Yankees are going to toe the line with free agents and not offer long deals and try to make it up with higher annual avg. salaries, but it’s not going to work.
If the Yankees say to CC we’ll give you 4 years and 100 million or 5 years and 125 (which I don’t think they will — I bet they barely touch 20/year with him) and another team comes in with a Johan type Mets deal, he’s going with the other team.
This kind of strategy, while sounding good for the Yankees to adopt, is similar to Cashman’s off season strategy of last year telling the rest of baseball “we’re not trading our prospects”.
The decisions of your organization can’t be black and white. You have to be flexible and definitely not come out saying “this is how we’re doing business now and that’s it!” because there are a lot of other teams in the league who will best the Yankees at player signings if the Yankees take this stance and stick to it.
Part of the way you win is you are open to anything and making some hard fast rule w/in the organization about contract length is a certain way to make sure we’re out of it for top free agents and the only guys we’re going to be in on are the old ones who are looking to cash in on their last three year deal.
Do I think signing CC to a 7 year deal is a good idea?
No.
But we have NO pitching rotation. Our ace is coming back from a foot/leg injury, our stud has shoulder issues…
If there ever was a time to open the checkbook and be a bit cavalier, it’s now.
If we get outbid for CC and AJ (and possibly Lowe) because we’ve made some new rule on contract length that the rest of the league doesn’t seem to be adhering to, then this organization is in deep trouble.
Sometimes you have to be both bold and stupid to get lucky.
if Cano regains his 2006 form and was traded, those who wanted Cano traded will be sorry and “blaming Cashman” that hetraded Cano
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ano-s.html
Hey guys,
I just started a new blog and was wondering if you guys could give me some tips. let me know what you think
http://2130pinstripes.blogspot.com/
if the market affects the Yankees, it affects every other team worse.
Meaning, offers may down across the board.
That’s the thing to keep an eye on this off-season.
On the Cano speculation — I don’t think we’re trading him.
I agree with everyone else that the benching at the end of the season was the sure sign they are keeping him.
His value may still be high, but it’s not as high as it was/should be.
I will say this though — if you can trade Cano for a young proven rotation arm and a top positional prospect, you’d be stupid not to do it.
My feelings about Cano are well documented.
I love his talent but I don’t like him as a player.
I think he is exactly the kind of slick airhead that destroys teams chances and pollutes clubhouses for years to come.
When Jeter, Posada, Mo types ride off into the sunset, do you want Cano to be the veteran leader on this team showing people the Yankee way?
Think about that for a second — In a few years, it’s Cano (and Arod) as our veteran guys.
The worst thing that could happen to this organization is young talented guys come up and get exposed to Cano’s brand of “intensity”.
If you think he’d be a good role model for younger players in the future, you’re just being silly and ignored the season he just had.
I’ve been saying that for awhile as pissed off as some people get w/ Robi some of it is unwarranted and the minute Long tweaked his stance he showed progress. Robi is a quick learner, can hit in the postseason can hit in a clutch spot and doesn’t quit no matter what. He makes mistakes but that one season of mistakes is not enough to erase him from our field.
Teams go through the good and bad w/ thier prospects, fans go through that, this fanbase keeps on saying they support the young player but is one of the most two faced lies ever, the idea I get w/ 30-40 % of this NYY fanbase is you want all star everywhere and then bitch about it as soon as they don’t produce. I guy like Robi Cano you guys want him gone no matter what, yet this is the same fanbase that at one time was crying about Soriano and old vets like Aaron Boone and Scott Brosius. How about let the kid learn in the system for once !
Hey guys can you read my blog and let me know what you think?
http://2130pinstripes.blogspot.com/
G. Love is right, though not many people will want to admit it. Sure he is a great ballplayer but there are tradeable ideas out there.
A guy like Robi Cano* (I was pissed)
Now I’m not saying I don’t want CC, but you guys have to prepare yourselves for the possibility of him playing elsewhere next season.
Like Cashman said, the Yankees might not be on the top of certain players’ list [i.e. CC]. They’re not going to throw tons of money to get a player to come here, when he really doesn’t want to be here. That’s a recipe for disaster.
And people keep saying, “We need an ace. Someone who can dominate in the postseason.” Well, then, you’ve got to take a look at CC’s post season performances. Lots of red flags. Yes, he’s pitched a criminal amount in the last 2 weeks. But he said that he wasn’t fatigued last night. He just didn’t finish his pitches or whatever. Of course that could be player talk like there’s manager speak. And he pitched badly against the hapless Yankees the two times we saw him in the ALDS.
Fatigue? Adrenaline? Choke? We don’t know. But he *might* not fulfill the definition of an ace if he can’t pitch well for us in the postseason. If not, then he’s not worth that ungodly sum of money it might take to get him.
Wang, Joba, possibly AJ (who will be cheaper than CC), Pettitte, Hughes, Aceves, possibly Brackman is a pretty nice pool to pull from in the next 1-2 years.
SJ — Agreed. If the rest of baseball tighten their purse strings this off season and no one is offering CC the Johan type deal, then the Yankees can swoop in and possibly convince him and others to take a high salaried short term deal and go back to free agency in a few years when the economy will have improved (hopefully).
I just think from watching free agent signing history, there is always one idiot in the room who sees a guy like CC as a savior and bucks the trend and gives him exactly the deal he was looking for.
Think about Zito and Soriano — they both hit dollar amounts and year commitments that blew away what the off season speculation would be for them.
Some owner always loses their minds.
That said, if the economy and the credit crunch prevents owners from being able to make that kind of commitment to players, then it’s a different story and plays to the Yankees advantage.
Understanding the McLouth stuff is purely BS, but man, what a guy to get – hard-nosed, young, multi-talented…
I like the thought of it.
Anyone with some premature suggestions on what would need to be offered for Pitts to consider?
“Santana over Matsuzaka even though Matsuzaka seems unbeatable.’
Santana has been a tough customer this year. 16-7, 3.50 or so ERA, 200+ K and he didn’t walk many. Wouldn’t stun me if he grabbed a few 3rd place votes for Cy Young. He didn’t face Boston this year and was better on the road than at home, but I like his chances.
Of course if the Halos come out tight as a drum, like the Cubs did last night, they’re probably effed. I doubt Scoscia will let that happen though.
I second that Mel… there is doubt surrounding CC Sabathia’s durability and I think that will be enough to stay away. Though they might drive up the price for another team.
I am behind this.
If you want McLouth start with a package of Hughes and Austin Jackson.
That would get him.
Ian Kennedy and Melky ain’t going to do it. He’s not a salary dump.
McClouth’s one good season he was hitting .270 w/ all the hard nose crap people say.
This is Nate McClouth as a career batter
.260/.335/.469 (REALLY)
My opinions on Cano’s suitors:
- Orioles: Why in the hell would the Yanks trade within the divison?
-White Sox: Give me Alexie Ramirez, Clay Richards, Chris Getz, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Nick Swisher,
-Indians: Grady Sizemore. ‘Nuff said.
-Tigers: OFer Matt Joyce?
-Mets: No one I really want except for David Wright, Daniel Murphy, and Nick Evans.
-Brewers: Manny Parra and Ryan Braun. ’nuff said.
-Pirates: No one I really want, except for Nate McLouth. I do want to want Ryan Doumit and Nyjer Morgan.
-Cardinals: No one I want besides Yadier Molina and Kyle McCellan.
-Dodgers: NO no no and no.
-Giants: Tim Lincecum, John Bowker, and Alex Hinshaw.
-Rockies: Matt Holliday for Cano wouldn’t be enough. If Cano regains his 2006 form, those who wanted Cano traded will be traded.
-Diamondbacks: no one.
-Twins: Would the Twins trade Francisco Liriano? They don’t need a 2B, they are have Matt Tolbert waiting to take over.
“If you want McLouth start with a package of Hughes and Austin Jackson.”
Wouldn’t take anywhere near that. It would be costly though.
I figured my post would fire some people up. Gotcha Brandon.
AJ IS our McLouth – he’s just 6 years younger.
Yanks don’t typically like to wait, though. We waited with Bernie. Didn’t really have to wait with Jeter.
Who else did the Yanks allow for growing pains at the ML level over the past 10 years?
Tom
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
“Ray, are Pedroia, Pap, and Youk arbitration elegible?”
Tom, of those three players I believe the only player that is arbitration eligible at the end of this season is Youkilis.
Ortiz is signed through the 2010 season and I think Pedroia is signed through the 2011 season.
Youkilis will be in for a huge raise, he makes 3 million right now.
Someone please explain this fascination w/ Nate McClouth, what has been overly impressive of his MLB career ?
.260/.335/.469
Someone tell me.
Who else did the Yanks allow for growing pains at the ML level over the past 10 years?
How has the FA offseason draft worked for the Yankees the past 5-7 yrs. ? really we could go as back as 8
There is no such thing as a pitcher who is a lock to win any game, let alone a playoff game.
I will be the first one to write off CC’s performance last night as the product of being absurdly overworked. But it shows he’s a human being who is susceptible to fatigue. He does not suddenly become invincible in the postseason.
The “we need an ace” syndrome is bad for any team. It leads teams to overvalue starters and underestimate the potential for injury and decline. It got us Randy Johnson, who was horrendous in the playoffs for two years and blocked us from getting Beltran. It got the Giants Zito and the Rockies Hampton. I could go on and list just about every big, long-term FA pitching contract (Johnson being in the tail-end of his when the Yankees got him) ever signed for a top-level pitcher. They just about all end up very badly, and many begin very badly. They are all the product of a team deciding that it needs an ace and will pay anything to get one.
Santana was exactly the ace the Mets wanted, but they didn’t make the playoffs anyway because they neglected other serious holes on their team, like an execrable bullpen.
G. Love correctly points out that the Yankees have big holes in their rotation. So what happens if we break the bank on CC and can’t land other decent starters (partly because we max out on the CC contract)? We don’t plug all the holes, and we still have too many games started by the Rasners and Ponsons of the world. And God forbid CC gets hurt or declines a bit.
We won’t see CC on the Yankees next season, not because the Yankees couldn’t afford him if they wanted to, but because the team will make the correct decision to avoid giving a pitcher who has thrown a distressingly high number of innings over the past two years an extremely large contract.
Brandon,
Uh. He has a hard nose? He hit a big homerun to beat the Yankees?
if Cano gets me Sizemore rather than McClouth, I would be happy. other than that, i’m against trading Cano.
The only reason the pirates would trade McClouth is because his value is at its all time high.
Look at it realistically:
Nate is 26 and has had 1-1/2 good years in the four he’s played.
Cano is 25 and has had 3 good/very good years in the four he’s played.
“Someone please explain this fascination w/ Nate McClouth, what has been overly impressive of his MLB career ?’
Virtually the same OBP/SLUG% as Cano for his career.
“if Cano gets me Sizemore”
He doesn’t.
Tough econ. times ahead?
Maybe finally they will dismantle the Rays after this season, and we can get Kazmir and Price somehow.
Jeremy,
Tim McCarver (ugh, I know) correctly points out that Billingsly, Broxton, Shields, and Lester are all underrated and helping their teams succeed.
If you’re patient enough, those guys will rise to the surface. Pettitte, Wang, Coke, etc. It didn’t work with Hughes and Kennedy, but if you have a healthy Wang and Joba we could’ve survived that miscalculation. The story is still unwritten on Hughes and Kennedy as well.
Fredo -
like I said, if Cano regains his 2006 form. those who wanted Cano traded will be sorry.
“like I said, if Cano regains his 2006 form.”
He still doesn’t getting you Sizemore. It’s not all that close.
Fred
That Mclouth in the NL he will not duplicate those numbers in the AL see Nady
*get
That’s really the only way I deal Robi, he gets me Grady Sizemore than I do it. He gets me Lincecum than I do it, McClouth isn’t enough, what’s his face in LA is not a good fielder at all, James Looney I’d strongly think about it. Other than that Cashman would deserve tomatoes thrown at him if he were to deal Robi.
Jeremy,
McCarver (ugh) says (correctly) that Billingsly, Broxton, Shields, and Lester are underrated but key to the success of their teams.
If we’re patient enough, the Pettittes, Wangs, and Cokes will rise to the surface.
The book is still open on Hughes and Kennedy. Their stories have not been written yet.
“That Mclouth in the NL he will not duplicate those numbers in the AL see Nady”
Not necessarily. See Bay. See Miguel Cabrera going for 37 and 127 in what people thought was a bad year.
Fredo –
I know it won’t. it was scarasm.
“if Cano regains his 2006 form and was traded, those who wanted Cano traded will be sorry and “blaming Cashman†that hetraded Cano”
only if Cashman traded him for less than what he’s worth, and we presume now that he wouldnt do that.
The team is not so bad that you’re going to have to trade your one and only young starter.
‘That Mclouth in the NL he will not duplicate those numbers in the AL see Nadyâ€
It depends on how he his the breaking ball. The NL is more of fast ball league compared to the AL which throws more breaking balls.
Fredo he’s not in thier league
McClouth does not = Miguel Cabrera’s talent, Jason Bay and Nady has been questionable at times. As good of a season he’s had it’s a .279 clip as a career high going to the NL, there are strong signs he won’t be able to duplicate that in the AL. Again the fascination w/ McClouth is Fatcessa driven and if you all want that then fire Cashman and hire Mike Francesa as your GM.
Yeah, all this “you’ll be sorry if you trade Cano” warnings are ridiculous.
Some of you guys are acting like he’s going to be the best player in baseball soon.
He’s not.
He’s not even the best 2b in baseball by a long shot.
Under the hypothetical that you trade him, I guarantee you the only type of people Cashman would trade him for are sure things that the team is lacking hence you’re giving him up for real value.
I’m intrigued about what could get for him.
If San Diego offered Peavy for him, for instance, I’m not sure how you can openly dismiss that.
And what makes people think Peavy is getting dealt I keep hearing that name too much, the Padres aren’t doing that.
Lots of articles about sports economics.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....id=3622898
Read the last point of Effect No. 2 and how the new stadiums might actually help the NY teams ride out a downturn.
if Francesa were the GM, then would no longer be a yankees fan.
Brandon,
might as well add the McClouth does not equal a Shane Victorino’s career numbers as well, or Sizemore.
Brandon, I think Peavy would only be dealt if the Padre’s could get AT LEAST a Haren type deal–6-8 true prospects.
The yankees don’t have the goods.
They start making deals that Fatboy is echoing on WFAN that is the day I quit too. I’m tired of hearing him w/ his cronies lobbying for McClouth, Arroyo and god I forgot what other garbage he….oh yeh lobbying for Marte how did that work out !
brandon: don’t forget David Wright for Youk.
Mets fans loved that one.
“might as well add the McClouth does not equal a Shane Victorino’s career numbers”
ED:
Nate McLouth 1305 career abs .798 career .OPS
Shane Victorino 1531 career abs .762 career .OPS
That’s about 1/2 season more abs for Victorino and Victorino plays half his games in a hitters paradise.
I literally understand the Mets fans gripe w/ him, here you have one fat slob telling them ..No you should trade Wright or Reyes, there not going to be winners, the Met fans don’t want to do that, yet this Diet Coke drinker can’t let them explain there sideabout why they don’t want to do that. His solution is trade young players for sure thing now players because he believes “Your objective is too improve the team” what he doesn’t weigh is theobjective is to also be flexible and build a program, something Jumbo snacks doesn’t understand.
“Yeah, all this “you’ll be sorry if you trade Cano†warnings are ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous” isn’t fair. It’s unlikely anyone’s going to usurp the title of “best 2B in baseball” from Utley any time soon. But just because you don’t like Cano as a person doesn’t erase his 126 OPS+ 2006 (with a .342 average!) and 120 OPS+ 2007, along with the fact that he is just 25.
Before this year, it would have been ridiculous not to think he could be one of the best 2Bs in the league.
Now if this year was simply the result of Cano being lazy and not having a tough guy, Bowa-type to light a fire under him, then his problems are easily solved, right? Isn’t the solution no more complicated than bringing in a coach who treats Cano the same way Bowa did, or Girardi taking that kind of stance with Cano? If it’s really that simple, we should see another great season from Cano in 2009.
In other words, we’re LUCKY if Cano’s biggest problem is his attitude. It’s a lot easier to fix a bad attitude than a lack of talent.
By the way, if the Padres offered us Peavy for Cano straight up, Cashman would accept and then fall over laughing. Have you seen Peavy’s contract?
You know he does it on the road to Tom and Vitorino is a better fielder, runner, hitter, you name it.
Why does Francessa continue to refer to Youkallis as a “kid”? He is 29 years old.
Mets don’t need to do much. Get a leader like Orlando Hudson to play 2B, get rid of Delgado and let Murphy play 1B, sign Manny, and sign K-Rod.
Thats is more sensible than trading the core.
That’s Peavy’s contract past 2009
10:$15M, 11:$16M, 12:$17M, 13: $22M club option ($4M buyout)
Tom -
Nate was being but a 4th OFer up until this season where he won the CF job over Nyjer Morgan during spring training. Meanwhile, Shane took over the outfield job full time when Bobby was traded here to the Yanks, and when Rowand crashed into the wall.
mel,
McCarver is right (egads) for the most part, except for the “underrated” part. Fans of the Dodgers and Red Sox (and the teams they play) know these pitchers well.
A young, healthy, effective, internally developed, and cost-controlled starter is the Holy Grail of baseball in today’s pitching market. Young pitchers who are not top prospects, but show potential, are also extremely valuable. Unlike a big name FA, you can try these pitchers in the rotation at minimal cost. If things don’t work, you can send them down or trade them.
On the other hand, if you end up with a huge FA pitching contract on the books and something goes wrong, which isn’t unlikely with pitchers, you are screwed.
Mets don’t need to do much. Get a leader like Orlando Hudson to play 2B, get rid of Delgado and let Murphy play 1B, sign Manny, and sign K-Rod.
Correction: Murphy is a 3B by trade but could handle 1b as well. Nick Evans is their real 1B prosepct but could handle 3b as well. Why both of them moved to the OF this year? They were blocked by Delgado and Wright. Evans is still blocked by Delgado now that Omar said he will bring Delgado back.
Francesa is better without the other idiot (maddog).
nevertheless, one would think New York City, would be able to do much better then him. Maybe, JT the Brick etc.
anyone, really
Brandon,
2008 splits HOME: .316 / .885 AWAY: .272 / .721.
At home he’s ’07 Cano
on road he’s ’08 Cano
The trade scenarios are fun to come up with, but the purpose of the exercise is to fill the holes we’ve got without creating other holes.
3 slots in the rotation
1B
CF
Andy and Moose fill 1 or 2 of the slots, leaving 1 slot to fill via FA. If you get a big fish, you can fill the 5th slot inhouse.
1B-either Tex or trade. There are NO internal options at this point.
CF-if you get Tex and one big FA pitcher, you will have shored up your team enough to go with either of our 4th OF.
CF is last priority at this point. You shouldn’t spend a lot of money or prospects when we have Damon, Nady, part-time Matsui, and 2 4th OF.
Best case scenario:
-Get Abreu to sign a 1-yr deal to DH
-Andy and Moose come back
-Joba to start
-Sign CC or AJ
-Sign Tex (or trade for 1B)
-Sign a CF to a 1-yr deal or go with the kids.
I don’t think we’re going to get CC and honestly, I wouldn;t be heartbroken. I initially wanted him at all costs but I’ve slowly started to back away with him. First off, its not realistic to think he signs here over a WC team. Secondly, do we really want someone like that on the team who will only come here if we overpay by an absurd amount? And his postseason performances are alarming and a guy with that much wear and tear to a 7 year deal is just asking for trouble.
“Mets don’t need to do much. Get a leader like Orlando Hudson to play 2B, get rid of Delgado and let Murphy play 1B, sign Manny, and sign K-Rod.”
Get top free agents at 2B, LF, and closer. Yeah, that’s not much at all!
They should upgrade at 2B by any means necessary, but I would put Murphy there and keep Delgado at first. Delgado’s production is still good and the Mets would essentially be paying just $8 million for him considering his buyout.
K-Rod would be a big mistake for any team because his value will be absurdly inflated due to his save totals. He would be a bigger mistake for the Mets, whose whole pen is rotten. The Mets need to patch up the entire pen rather than sink a ton of money into a closer.
Jeff: you have it right, on all counts.
if Burnett/Peavy, do not enter the bronx. Then they may have to overpay.
“Someone please explain this fascination w/ Nate McClouth, what has been overly impressive of his MLB career ?
.260/.335/.469
Someone tell me.”
Isn’t it rather the same with the love people keep wanting to give Jody Gerut?
Jeremy,
Starting bid is 5/$75 for K-rod.
The Mets might not have any choice. They can’t let what happened last year happen again. You have to build your bullpen back to front.
I really don’t have a problem with Victorino. He’s a nice ball player and all. He has a good skill set, he’s fast.
But look who baseball-reference has as his most similar player heading in to this year:
(scroll down):
http://www.baseball-reference......sh01.shtml
Jeremy — I respectfully disagree with you completely, lol.
I don’t think attitude is an easy adjustment, in fact, I think it’s one of the hardest things to adjust in a player and rarely changes.
Think of all the attitude type players in the past — Henderson, Sheffield, Soriano, Shea Hildenbrand, Randy Johnson etc.
How many of them changed and I mean seriously changed over the course of the careers?
And what Guarantee is there that just getting a new Bowa is going to snap Cano to attention?
There’s no guarantee even if we bring back the real Bowa.
The fact you need another employee to attempt to make a grown man playing baseball play up to his potential is preposterous and should clearly demonstrate why this guy is not someone we can trust.
So let me get this straight — Bowa (or his clone) comes in, Cano starts to hit.
What happens if Bowa (or his clone) quits or gets hired to manage another team or gets ill?
Under your theory, Cano will fall into a tailspin.
Let him be someone else’s headache.
If he can’t consistently get himself up for playing 2b for the Yankees, he’s better off somewhere else and we’re better off with equally talented motivated players in his place.
K-Rod is a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. He’s vastly overrated for a closer
“Secondly, do we really want someone like that on the team who will only come here if we overpay by an absurd amount? And his postseason performances are alarming”
Ever hear of this baseball player who some call “Arod”?
Isn’t it rather the same with the love people keep wanting to give Jody Gerut?
Oh we have a genius here. Meanwhile Jody Gerut actually played in the AL, and the goal is to get an athletic playable stop gap that would allow time for Austin Jackson to progress. Come to think of it he’d be alot cheaper than a Nate McClouth who’s only hit overly well in one season.
I really think the Cubs will end up winning and this will be their 2004.
Harden is the best pitcher of any team and he is going tomorrow night. Lilly is a big game pitcher and was their hottest pitcher in September. I think getting out of the pressure cooker of Chicago will help them.
How great would it be if Torre helped break 2 historic curses? It can still happen…
I didn’t mean to seem like a jerk or anything, I was just really wondering what the difference between the love people give McClouth and the love given to Gerut. I don’t see Gerut as anything special, nor do I see McClouth as anything special
Tom,
LOL. I didn’t even need to click to find out who’re you’re talking about.
Both switch hitters, too.
My interest is personal, but you hear Shane’s name called a lot in late and critical situations. Walk-offs. And not always homeruns. It could be a walk-off base bit, a steal to get into scoring position, or using his speed to beat the throw to home. In other words, not so many boneheaded plays on the basepaths.
“K-Rod would be a big mistake for any team because his value will be absurdly inflated due to his save totals”
Granted, saves are a crap stat, but he didn’t exactly post a Borowksi-like season. He’s still has a solid K rate, ERA, etc. WHIP was troubling as he still walks a few too many, but his BAA is still very strong and he’s a young guy. He’s still pretty damn solid.
That’s the point. Do we really need more A-Rod’s on our team?
nope.
“I don’t think attitude is an easy adjustment, in fact, I think it’s one of the hardest things to adjust in a player and rarely changes.
Think of all the attitude type players in the past — Henderson, Sheffield, Soriano, Shea Hildenbrand, Randy Johnson etc.”
Cano has had 1 bad year and really didn’t demonstrate a bad attitude in the sense the Henderson (serial malcontent), Sheffield (ditto), Hildenbrand (hothead w/ a moron manager), Randy Johnson (cranky diva).
Cano just showed a lack of focus, not a mean or surly streak.
No one seems to think Cano is a bad young player, just that things have come easily to him and reacted to adversity badly. I tend to think that it is growing pains and that Joe Girardi finally took the bull by the horns and benched Robi. After that happened, things improved.
If it was Peavy for Cano, then even I wouldn’t take the deal. But I don’t see them moving him for anything other than top flight talent coming back.
youk,
If I were the GM or owner that wouldn’t have happened.
Now, I have a soft heart so I might have taken Little Lord Fauntleroy back, but I wouldn’t have gotten taken.
CORRECTION –
“If it was Peavy for Cano, then even I wouldn’t take the deal.”
I WOULD take that deal – whoops.
“Now if this year was simply the result of Cano being lazy and not having a tough guy, Bowa-type to light a fire under him, then his problems are easily solved, right?”
If he needs this to right, he is not destined to be great. Great players don’t need that kind of motivation.
if Cashman were not overruled, that wouldn’t have happened.
Personally, I think the Yankees absolutely need to trade either Damon or Matsui. Damon would fetch a bit more, but I believe he’s more valuable for one year. Sadly, Matsui’s immobile. See what he brings . . . maybe a #5 starter?
Chris my problem isn’t about liking McClouth but I certainly wouldn’t buy high on McClouth because he is no sure thing. He could be Roger Cedeno in waiting. Here’s what I like about Jody Gerut he cheap, he’s a stop gap, he can defend the gap shots and plays LF/CF/RF also was a hell of a hitter in a pitchers ballpark, I’d like to know his success rate on breaking pitches because that was his problem years ago, add a short porch in the new Yankee Stadium you have a very viable cheap option.
IMO if they didn’t have the stupid rule that there must be an all-star from every stinking team and we didn’t play the Pirates in interleague no one would be pining for McLouth.
Now that Francesa has developed a Bronson Arroyo-like fixation on the fairhaired CF, we are faced with useless speculation.
update
G. Love,
There are no guarantees with attitude or talent. Look at Andruw Jones. He went from being one of the best players in baseball to one of the worst, seemingly overnight, and has remained terrible for two seasons. Why? I don’t think anyone knows, not even Jones.
You speculate that Cano had a bad 2008 because of his attitude, but you don’t really know. I agree it can appear that way sometimes. But if it really is his attitude, apparently he concentrated hard enough to have two tremendous seasons and then couldn’t keep it together. Considering that he kept his attitude in check for two years, plus his excellent rookie season, I think it shouldn’t be too hard to get him to re-focus. He *has* been consistently great for the Yankees. You just can’t overlook how good he has been.
By the way, it’s not my theory that Bowa = good Cano and no Bowa = bad Cano. In fact I think that’s silly, and that Cano’s problems are due to bad luck and mechanical problems and not to his attitude. I was trying to respond to your point, which was that Cano’s attitude is a serious problem. It was not a problem in 2005-2007. If a certain kind of coach can keep Cano’s bad habits (if they really exist) in check, then it shouldn’t be hard to coach Cano that way again.
An interesting note about the “bad attitude” players you listed. With the exception of Hillenbrand, who is just a lousy baseball player, and Soriano, who is “merely” a pretty good OF, you named the greatest leadoff hitter ever, a great OF with 499 HR, and one of the greatest pitchers ever. Production is infinitely more valuable than attitude.
But is Gerut a FA, or would the Padres ask for a lot in regards to him? Heck, package him up with Peavy and give them whatever they want
“If he needs this to right, he is not destined to be great. Great players don’t need that kind of motivation.”
Wrong – there are lots of talented guys that need to be hit with a 2 x 4 from time to time – Manny Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins come to mind, I can keep going if you like.
“If he needs this to right, he is not destined to be great. Great players don’t need that kind of motivation.”
In your opinion. Who knows what goes on in these guys’ heads and behind the scenes?
this is what Bobby Abreu is afraid to do and Cashman doesn’t want to see it anymore in the outfield.
As for Gerut being a free agent this offseason, this is his contract:
2008: Near Minimum
2009: Arb. Eligible
2010: Free Agent
Jody Gerut is a FA Chris and no I don’t see the Pads dealing Peavy people get that name out of your head it’s not going to happen.
“IMO if they didn’t have the stupid rule that there must be an all-star from every stinking team and we didn’t play the Pirates in interleague no one would be pining for McLouth.”
In fairness, McLouth made a lot more sense than a lot of players voted into the ASG and with 19 homers, 65 RBI, 70 runs and a .900 OPS, his presence was not without at least some merit.
That said, no way would I get near trading Cano for him and I’d be careful about what prospects I’d offer. I don’t really see a match there. I’m also waiting to see him do it twice. Second half stats for McLouth were well off his 1st half. Jury’s out on which is the real Nate McLouth.
“In your opinion. Who knows what goes on in these guys’ heads and behind the scenes?”
I don’t give a shyte what goes on behind the scenes. None of greats need someone bearing down on them to perform. Cano apparently does.
“Wrong – there are lots of talented guys that need to be hit with a 2 x 4 from time to time – Manny Ramirez and Jimmy Rollins come to mind, I can keep going if you like”
Can if you want. It ain’t one tenth the size of the list of players who are great because they are self motivated to be.
Fredo are you freaking kidding me, so Robi Cano has to great ? Now you come up w/ some assinine statement that great players don’t need to be motivated, have you watched MLB. I don’t want to sound like a tool but really come on !
“Fredo are you freaking kidding me, so Robi Cano has to great ?”
You’re the guy who says “I’ll only trade him for Lincecum or Sizemore”. Cano obviously isn’t close to as valuable as those two, but in your mind he must have a shot of being great or you wouldn’t bring him up in that context.
“I don’t give a shyte what goes on behind the scenes. None of greats need someone bearing down on them to perform. Cano apparently does.”
According to whom? Commenters on this blog?
We just don’t know. But if it’s really true that Cano can hit .325 if he just has someone kick his ass every now and then, I say we should consider ourselves extremely lucky! Most players couldn’t hit .325 if their lives depended on it.
Yes I know that Fredo but again I think your letting one season of bad overweigh everything. He’s had one bad season and down the stretch he didn’t quit that has to count for something because he could have just gone to shut down mode but didn’t. I think too many people are letting this one season dictate what to do w/ Robi, he has more upside true but what he needs is to go through the good and the bad it will only make him better and the team better in the long run.
We just don’t know. But if it’s really true that Cano can hit .325 if he just has someone kick his ass every now and then, I say we should consider ourselves extremely lucky! Most players couldn’t hit .325 if their lives depended on it.
Exactly you know how hard it is to hit around .320 – .340 w/o drawing walks ? that’s what people keep on missing he has an effortless way about him that can even out in pressure spots these players don’t grow on trees. I wouldn’t let one bad season dictate what I would do w/ Robi Cano if I were a GM but that’s just me.
“I think too many people are letting this one season dictate what to do w/ Robi”
Brandon, I’m not for trading him. He’s a very good talent who had a bad year. Wouldn’t call him untouchable, but wouldn’t sell him low either…and right now, that’s the only way you can sell him.
“Exactly you know how hard it is to hit around .320 – .340 w/o drawing walks ?”
Which is why he’ll probably never do it again. He’s no more a .340 hitter than he is a .270 hitter. In the end, I believe he’ll settle right in the middle. Probably around .300
Would anyone like trading Cano for Matt Cain?
No fan should expect to see Melky in a Yankee uniform again. Unless his pal Cano rededicates himself to playing concentrated baseball, he will find himself in the same situation.
So I hear this Evan Longoria kid is pretty good
This infatuation with Jody Gerut is beyond me. He’s a 30-year old part time player who has had 500 AB in the last four years COMBINED. He had his career high in just about every stats as a rookie in 2003.
Gerut is not a FA but he’s probably very cheap in terms of prospects. I would gladly trade Melky for him as he can take over the CF or LF job instantly. Heck if I’m not mistaken I think he has a strong enough arm to man RF as well. The guy has 5 tools.
As for Brackman I sincerely hope to see him end next season at AA. While I generally don’t like SPs with TJS he does have alot of upside whether it be a starter or potential closer.