Chamberlain, Lester to give talk
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- December
- 22
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Greetings from vacation.
Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., e-mailed today to say that Joba Chamberlain and Jon Lester will be speaking on campus on Jan. 27. Tickets ($20) are on sale now and kids are half-price. It certainly would be interesting to see those two guys talk.
I can’t speak for Lester, but Joba is very entertaining in those settings.
Go to Sacred Heart’s site for more information.
————
Meanwhile, this is shocking. But the report from a Dominican newspaper that Manny Ramirez is about to sign with the Yankees is not true according to Brian Cashman.
People need to wrap their heads around the idea that just because the Yankees have $80 million coming off the books doesn’t mean they’re going to spend every dime of it. Once a team gets to a certain payroll threshold, they don’t have to stay there.
Think Andy Pettitte and maybe a bat in January when the market starts to fall apart. But Manny for three years? Joe Girardi might as well quit now and save time if they do that.
Bob Klapisch, as he often does, explains it well.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Will Joba be using Youkilis’ head as a prop?
Francesa claims the Jets collapse on same level as Mets.
he right.
I wonder if Lester will regress to the mean this year.
More giggles and snickers from Scott Boras, courtesy of MLB-Rumors-R-Us.com
By Tim Dierkes [December 22 at 12:02pm CST]
12:02pm: Boras gave a prepared statement regarding the Angels and Tex, saying that the player’s interest has been sincere.
Can someone tell Lester that he doesnt have to tear his ear off with his baseball cap. Caps are worn above the ears not through. See Joba.
Denver’s collapse is worse than the Jets
3 game lead with 3 to play.
Actually the link says it’s on Tuesday the 27th in case anybody was making plans.
ray,
Lester is a legit ace. A top 5 pitcher in baseball.. he won’t regress much.
He may start off slow like Sabathia did last year but he should put his ace-like numbers up by the end of the year.
Mangini isnt a real coach. He doesnt understand concepts. He coached one good game against the Titans. It goes to show how what a good coach Belichick is by the way his pupils left and cant succeed. But, then again, he did have his video cameras and hasnt won without them.
Ray – Belicheck is doing a pretty good job coaching this year. The Pats still have talent but I have never seen a team so decimated by injury to key players. They lost arguably the best player in the game, their starting running back, both back-up running backs for a substantial period of time and 3/4 of the defense and still might win 11 games.
“Lester is a legit ace. A top 5 pitcher in baseball..”
is this Peter Gammons?
Sx3,
When he first came up, he struggled throwing strikes. Im concerned that if players start taking his pitches, they’ll get ahead in the count often and he’ll be 100 pitches and out by the 5th inning again.
ray (sox fan)
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I wonder if Lester will regress to the mean this year.
————————————————————
Ray, I don’t know if he’s pitched long enough at full strength to have a mean. I’m more concerned that he doesn’t have a bit of a medical setback. This is going to be an important year in his recovery. In fact, the next four years will be. I hope he stays healthy nd pitches…except.you now…when he pitches against the Yanks, and they make him sick to his stomach. After that, as long as he’s around .500,I’m happy. He’s been a Hell of a picher, so far.
I propose a trade…Igawa and Shelley Duncan for Lester. Hard to pass up that kind of 2 for one deal, huh?
When has Cashman ever confirmed a rumor even if it was true? Never. He denies till the press conference. Not saying it is true but Cashman wouldnt say so even if it was.
Funny Lester is top five with Beckett, CC, Halladay, Cliff Lee all in the league not even going thru the second set of King Felix, Lackey, Kazmir, Burnett, etc. I can’t imagine if one of those guys was on the Sox they would immediately jump up on the list as well. He is however top 5 lefties in baseball I think is safe to say, Sanatana, CC, Cliff Lee, Kazmir and Lester. Fair enough. Trying to think of other guys that come to mind. This is definitely from some person reading too much Peter Gammons. I remember when Gammons picked Matt Clement for the Cy Young award the year they signed him, can you be any more of a homer.
jason,
I know Belichick is a good coach, even without the videotape. Belichick coaches like its a video game and no other team adjusts to it. That’s why he’s able to win with Cassel. He could throw any quarterback and have a good chance to win because he’s smarter than any other coach. He does not always win, but has a great shot to every time.
Another Anti-Manny post Pete !!
“I wonder if Lester will regress to the mean this year.”
ray,
Regression to the mean isn’t an applicable idea to a young pitcher like Lester.
He’s still in the learning phase so there is no way to really say what his true mean performance is, particularly given his illness.
All that said – Lester was legit last year. That was his breakout year. You could just see it – he learned to command his stuff. And the stuff has always been very good.
Lester did three things last year that made him successful – he got ahead on guys and stopped walking people, started generating many more ground ball outs, and in turn started giving up far fewer home runs.
His cut fastball really came into it’s own. He was throwing it harder and still controlling it better.
Interestingly, Lester’s strikeout rate went down but his ratio of K:BB went up a lot. That’s the sign of a pitcher who is learning the value of throwing less and pitching more.
He’s going to be a top notch #2 starter for a long time if he stays healthy. Watching him pitch you could just see he was figuring things out and understanding his talent.
Afternoon everyone! I actually have a couple hours to post today, how cool is that?
Anyway, I keep hearing people telling me that the Yankees are going to get Manny, and I have to, very, very slowly, explain why they will not…
True. Cashman still hasn’t confirmed the CC rumors are true.
Manny should shave his head in good faith. Then let the talks begin.
Sexton:
Untrue. Cashman is forthright about things that have not happened or will not happen. When something does happen, he refuses to comment until it’s official.
Found this on another message board, thought it was funny
Since the Jets won the Super Bowl:
There have been 39 Super Bowls played.
There have been 8 Presidents in office (10.5 Terms).
There have been 14 Olympic Games Played.
There have been 10 Leap Years.
There have been 90 Lunar Eclipses.
There have been 23 Solar Eclipses.
Haley’s comet has been seen once.
Gas went from an average of $0.35/gallon to an average of $3.98/gallon in the US.
Eric Mangini, Brian Schottenheimer, and Mike Tannenbaum were born.
The internet, and Microsoft Windows were created.
Cell phones, Laptop computers, VCRs, CD Players, and DVD Players were invented.
Giants stadium was built.
Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon.
The first space shuttle was launched.
The Berlin Wall was opened.
Eric Mangini needs to be gone, regardless.
Francesa tries to compare Coughlin and Mangini.
the difference? Coughlin was already proven as qualified, before taking the Giants job.
ray,
One other thing on lester – what I would worry about is his arm and his workload. He had a very large jump in his innings last year. It was around 65 innings more in 2008 than 2007.
That’s not a good thing. That’s what I’d be worried about most with him. Part of that was the post season but I was surprised that the sox let him throw that many innings without capping him.
Lester may have a little too much hype, but he has performed better than Kazmir, Burnett, and Felix Hernandez; though they may have more potential. Lester has more potential than Cliff Lee and Lackey from here forward, IMO. He may not be one of the 5 best in baseball, but he is very good.
jennifer: Sounds about right, but you should try one of those lists for “since the last time the Cubs won the World Series”!
I’m not anti Manny. He’s a great hitter. But he’s not a very good fit with the manager they have, the payroll they have and with the kind of team they want to build.
They hired Girardi and retained Cashman with the idea of becoming younger, cheaper and more focused on pitching and defense. How does Manny fit that model?
And I’m dying for somebody to explain how exactly Joe Girardi would be able to manage Manny. This is a guy who does not run out grounders, does not break up double plays, does not hustle in the field and when upset will stand there with the bat on his shoulder as he did against Mariano that night. This is a guy who faked injury to sit out of games.
Only a fool would be swayed by those two months in Los Angeles. Manny was obviously auditioning for his next contract.
Do you think maybe, just maybe, there was a reasons the Red Sox decided to get rid of him despite knowing Ortiz had a bad wrist? Do you think there’s a reason not one other team – not one – has made him an offer?
If you want to invite that trouble into Yankee Stadium, good luck. As a beat writer it would be a great subject to write about and I hope they do it. But I’m trying to explain the practical reasons it makes no sense.
For someone to assume the Yankees will use up the 80 million that came off the books is no more ridiculous than you assuming they won’t.
Great points CB.
Coughlin covered the spread last night ?
since the Cubs last won the world series:
panama canal was opened
teddy roosevelt was president
The Titanic
-Built
-Sailed
-Sunk
-Found
Two World Wars
Dropped the Atomic Bombs on Japan
The Russian Communist Revolution and formation of the USSR
Break up of the USSR
Women’s Rights
Prohibition
National Football League was created
JFK was assassinated
The Computer
The Personal Computer
Television
Henry Ford’s Model T (actually the same year)
the roaring 20’s
the depression
korean war
vietnam
cell phones
babe ruth
movies(that werent silent
” Lester was legit last year. That was his breakout year. You could just see it – he learned to command his stuff. ”
i really like lester as a pitcher. i think farrels’ philosophy of establishing the fastball sunk in with lester. farrel believes a well placed fast ball alone can win games because a hitter can’t look in and out at the same time.
wacthing lester pitch, you can tell he has a plan and the command to execute the plan. as a baseball fan, what’s not to like? as a yankee fan, he’s likely going to be tough for a long time.
… that’s one more reason to get manny too. he be a hedge against tough lefties like lester.
great post pete. i am glad you did it, it carries weight.
the reality is you can’t motivate him. he marches to his own beat.
any news of matsui’s rehab?
Vinny; That’s more like it
“Untrue. Cashman is forthright about things that have not happened or will not happen. When something does happen, he refuses to comment until it’s official.”
but all he said was “not true” right? to the initial info of the 3 year/$75 million contract…
so maybe its 2 years/$50 with an option? or 3 years/$60 million?
seems as though Cashman likes to play with semantics in situations like this, no?
i guess my point being that just because Cashman said “not true” and really nothing else, he didnt really deny or confirm anything at all. thats the essence of Cashman in every press conference or interview i’ve ever heard him participate in.
Good job Vinny. Boy that is depressing to read if you are a fan of the Cubs.
Pete there is no practical in Baseball, everyone is well over paid….but it’s about winning with the Yanks…going after Cameron didn’t fit your model either, however they entertained it… Manny helps bridge to were Cashman and Giradi want to be as a franchise, with out giving up any prospects..IMO
An email with the creator of the “Manny” Rumor
On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 12:24 PM, FRANKLIN MIRABAL wrote:
>
>
> Manny will supply the absence of Bobby Abreu y Jason Giambi.
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:52:18 -0500
>> From:destro
>> To: impactodeportivo@hotmail.com
>> Subject: Manny Ramirez Story
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Your Manny Ramirez story is being disputed by the mainstream english
>> media as well as being shot down by Brian Cashman.
>>
>> Do you have more information? Most people are simply calling this a lie.
>
>
> ________________________________
> Get 5 GB of storage with Windows Live Hotmail. Sign up today.
“Manny will supply the absence of Bobby Abreu y Jason Giambi.”
ha! what does that even mean?
ray (sox fan)
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Great points CB.
————————————————————
Afternoon, Ray. There’s something about Lester that reminds me of Dave Dravecky. The comeback from cancer, to try pitching again. Dravecky had a different type of cancer, but, the situation is the same…two talented left handed pitchers. Dravecky didn’t have quite the fastball, but, he had the guts. He’s quite a story. That’s what really bothers me about people that complain about everything and those that waste God-Given talents and their lives. I had the privilege to hear him speak at a VA hospital for returning troops. An amazingly inspirational and positve guy about everything.
Some Yankee fans make me laugh (just to clarify I am a Yankee fan)….we hate me first players like Manny and would never want a Red sock like him on the Yankees, yet we want more solid, younger, everyday type players like Xavier Nady.
Now that Manny is not longer on the redsox, we want him no matter the cost and Cashman should look to trade cost controlled Nady because he isn’t good enough to play everyday.
Obviously Nady isn’t in Manny’s league offensively, but he can at least play defense and won’t be a distraction to his teammates or manager throughout the ‘09 season.
It’s likely that the person he’s writing to only knows spanish.
doesnt mean much, i guess he is just saying why. but i dont get it.
I agree with all of that Pete, but there are also reasons for him as well. We lost alot of offensive production with the losses of the Big G and Bobby, Swisher may have a comeback year but that still wont bring us close to that production. This is also while banking on rebound years from Jorge, Matsui, a little bit Jeter and alot Cano.
Not to mention Mannys knack for clutch hitting, say what you want about the guy, and god knows i have for the past what 8 years, but he does get it done in big spots. Definatly something the Yanks have lacked fully for the last 4-5.
I wont comment on how he left the Sox cause thats been beaten to death, but look at how they treat all of their former stars about to reach free agency. Adding Manny would totally add some problems, like the worst defensive outfield in MLB, and the guy has a personality for sure,but save for Damon maybe thats what weve been lacking the last few years.
“doesnt mean much, i guess he is just saying why. but i dont get it.”
yeah, you were basically asking the source of the rumor, and they were explaining why it makes sense for the Yankees to sign Manny.
“doesnt mean much, i guess he is just saying why. but i dont get it.”
You asked him in english he probably doesn’t know english is all I’m saying.
If you are all in, you are all in!
Getting Tex says they are all in.
Anything else is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Get younger and better defensively? Sign Tex. Period!!
NO to old, defensively challenged players who can only DH and double NO to players who quit on their team when it suits them.
The window of opportunity is fast closing for Jeter, Mo and Posada and Arod to some extent as well. The rest of the team is just interchangeable parts.
“i really like lester as a pitcher. i think farrels’ philosophy of establishing the fastball sunk in with lester. ”
He did. One of the major changes in what he did was his first pitch.
Lester increased his first pitch strike rate from 50% first pitch strikes in 2007 to 58% first pitch strikes in 2008. That’s a huge jump in first pitch strikes.
He threw his fastball 40% of the time as his first pitch and his cut fastball around 30% of the time as his first pitch.
So commanding those two pitches and getting them in for strikes was a big part of what he did last year.
“Pete there is no practical in Baseball, everyone is well over paid….but it’s about winning with the Yanks…going after Cameron didn’t fit your model either, however they entertained it”
That’s not true Tim, Cameron fits exactly what Cashman wants, a one year player, at a position where we currently lack offense, who is above average defensively. What’s not to like there?
Losing every game is preferable (to me) to having an ego centric cancer like manny on the Yankees. He is the anti Paul O’Neil, Jeter persona.
“Bob Klapisch, as he often does, explains it well”
Peter: that’s debatable. His view of Manny co-existing with Girardi may be accurate. However, his assessment of Girardi as manger of the Yankees is a complete joke. To the point, the article is unreadable.
I don’t expect you to share my opinion. Fans and “journalists” do not think alike. Furthermore, journalists/writers take up for one another. The analogy of the lawyer & shark, comes to mind.
Pete, I don’t disagree with one thing that you have said about Manny being impossible to control. But everyone who is saying that Girardi’s style totally clashes with Manny’s must have missed the fact that Girardi lost the clubhouse this year.
I mean he couldn’t get the “good” guys to play hard for him. So does it really matter if he could handle Manny or not? From has been written and said about him, Girardi treated them all like little kids so Manny would fit right in.
One thing is for certain, the lineup needs assistance…Be it in the form of Manny or better yet Texeria…..They must be good in 09…..
StandingO’Neill:
The money they have to take on as well as the players that would be leaving “prospects” Cameron is 36…Manny is 36…If I’m putting money on an older player, I would much rather have Manny.
I can picture Manny selling “contraband” candybars out of his locker for 10$.
The Yankees DO have the money to sign Tex or Manny, but I’d give like a 25% chance of them ending up signing Mark, and a big fat ZERO percent chance of signing Manny. First of all, it would cause a logjam in the OF/DH area. Someone would essentially need to get traded and I don’t really see that happening right now. Second of all, he’s a massive risk for three or even two years and it’s just not worth all the distractions. Manny is a great hitter, but offers little else besides complaining about which ever team he’s on and pushing down old secretaries. If you could somehow guarantee he’d compete and give it his all over the duration of the contract, sure, but you can’t do that. Chances are he’d quit at some point, create some controversy, demand a trade, etc. etc. The Yankees are a classy organization and although they do spend a lot of money, they still try their hardest to bring classy and stand up players into the fold. They’ve made mistakes in the past with free agent signings, but they’re not going to make another huge mistake by signing Manny. I’m not worried.
“And I’m dying for somebody to explain how exactly Joe Girardi would be able to manage Manny.”
And Tito did a good job? Maybe Girardi is the kind of manager Manny needs. (Torre doesnt count Manny played that half season for Boras not Torre.)
Id worry more about the Manny/Jorge relationship. If Manny quit on the team Jorge would murder him.
But optimistically I think there are alot of players and people in the Yankee organization that make what happened in Boston impossible for Manny to duplicate here.
There is risk in every FA Pete. This doesnt change our need. Still need a bat at minimum.
Well Kevin they did sign Gary Sheffield.
Tim,
A) Does anyone in baseball still consider Melky or Igawa(I couldn’t type that without laughing) a prospect? Melky would be a nice 4th outfielder, same as Gardner.
B) You get Cameron for one year at $10 million. You get Manny for 2-3 years at $25 million a year. Cameron can play the field, Manny can’t. Cameron shows up to play everyday, Manny apparently does not.
Again I’ve said Manny is a million times better as a hitter than Cameron. And Cameron is a million times less of a distraction.
Cameron is a whiff machine, I could see him hitting meaningless homeruns with no one on base ala Giambi..
Jesus…when will these kids ever learn that baseball is watching for this crap? You have to wonder if they have agents and who the coaches/managers are.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3787286
“And I’m dying for somebody to explain how exactly Joe Girardi would be able to manage Manny.”
I guess the same way he “manages” the rest of the team.
I love how you keep bringing up Girardi as if he really matters in a decision like this. Wasn’t it true that some players didn’t get along with Girardi? Are they still there?
Girardi was brought in for the supposed youth movement they were going to do.. Those plans have obviously changed.
StandingO’Neill:
I repsect your view, we can agree to dis-agree. I hated the Cameron move, I’m actually glad it didn’t happen..
Destro, I think your email should read something like:
Hola,
los periodicos y las revistas en ingles se dicen que estas mentiendo y no es verdad de Manny. Que son sus (sources)
Brandon might be able to help me out some, but I think that’s the gist of it in Spanish.
You know Pete good thing the Patriots didn’t get Randy Moss on their team because he’s a head case and a trouble maker….wait they did.
Manny is a head case but hey.Pettitte and Giambi used HGH and Gooden and Strawberry snorted all the coke in the bronx.
But Manny is the bad guy huh.
Tim,
Thats fine that we disagree, but I just wanted to say the reason Cashman targeted Cameron was mainly for his defense. Throw in the one year contract and his ability to hit for power and have a respectable OBP and he would have been a perfect fit.
Also strikeouts and no different than any other out.
Lester is definitely on of the top 5 Red Sox pitchers. I’ve been out of the loop this morning getting to the airport and checked in and all. What a zoo.
Anyway, have they had the Manny press conference yet? What’s the equivalent to the Pulitzer in the D.R.?
MoBoy(aka McLovin):
very good point, Moss hey Pete this is a hard one to dispute..and hey they haven’t won anything with him either..
Manny must come here!!!! How do we replace giambi and abreu’s bat??!!! HU??!!
About Joe Girardi , IF HE CAN’T HANDLE THIS HE CANT BE A MAJOR LEAGE MANAGER!!!!!
MoBoy:
They took Moss on the cheap for one year. Like the Yankees had under Torre, it’s a different culture in that locker room under Belichick and there are so many teams leaders around to keep everybody in place.
It’s not really a comparable situation. One wide receiver can’t wreck a football team. They would have just cut him with the limited time he had left. Signing Manny means you have Manny.
Manny is a great hitter and I’m sure he’s nice to his friends and family. I’m just saying he would be a bad fit with the Yankees, that’s all. Just because a guy can hit doesn’t mean you ignore everything else.
“Meanwhile, this is shocking. But the report from a Dominican newspaper that Manny Ramirez is about to sign with the Yankees is not true according to Brian Cashman.”
Too funny with these posts.
First off, big obstructing contracts were how the Yankees got wound up to this point. Why repeat it now that you are out of it? Are they the New York Knicks all over again?
Their offense needs work, but they have a potentially great staff and very good bullpen. They will win a lot of tight games. Look at the Rays offense last year and tell me how good they were? They were poor with RISP. They don’t walk and they strikeout a lot. Look where they ended up. Scoring enough to win games.
Manny would be a nice fit without the baggage, but the baggage is there and has been said, how much would he care? Tex, love him, perfect fit for what they need. But another mega long deal? Do you want another for a guy who is Arod at first? He hasn’t won, he puts up lofty numbers, but does he scare you when he bats? I see him getting crucified the same way Arod does.
I think the Yankees have now created themselves a lot of flexability going forward money wise. With teams in financial trouble, they can make lopsided trades to improve the offense on salary dumps for short term contracts. They can sign guys for less money and less years who are still good. And they would leave themselves open to landing some of the fine young superstars who might be free agents or available over the next 2 seasons.
MoBoy, thats a fair point but there are a few details your leaving out.
Like Moss was acquired still in his prime, one a one year gamble and at a relatively fair price.
Manny is 36, can’t play the field and would cost a boatload of money for a few years.
Strawberry was a bargin gamble by Steinbrenner, it paid off.
I don’t condone steroids at all, but one thing you can’t say is that they weren’t trying to win. When Manny refused to play because he was mad about his contract, well thats not trying to win.
It’s true, Manny could come here and be as good as ever and even be a model citizen. My biggest problem is how much it would cost, and how long the contract would be. Personally I’ve never liked the guy and would have a hard time cheering for him, but that’s a separate issue for me to deal with.
Tim: They’re 27-6 with Moss. Please tell me you didn’t make that point.
Our savior has no comment as to why these kids take steroids. At least not 3 days before his birthday.
But from that article is this:
“Both players were in the Dominican Summer League. Forty-two of 69 suspensions announced this year under the minor league program have involved DSL players.”
61% of suspensions involved The Dominican Summer League? I smell another Dominican conspiracy!
Either that or it’s obvious that these players are not reading their Impacto Deportivo.
StandingO’Neill:
Maybe so, I guess if the Cameron move happened, I would really have wanted Tex at 1st then, actually that would be a great move all the way around, for defense and offense.
Old pal, Andy Phillips has signed a minor league conact and an invite to spring training with Pittsburgh. If he ever calls it quits, I’d like to see him get a job coaching in the Yankee system. He never had all of the talent in the world, but, he’d try anything to improve himself like learning different positions to help himself and his teams.
Manny isn’t a bad fit for the team. Girardi is the bad fit for the team.
“You know Pete good thing the Patriots didn’t get Randy Moss on their team because he’s a head case and a trouble maker….wait they did.”
this is part of my point, too. this stuff happens all the time in sports, yet the clubhouse isnt disturbed, the organizations are still standing, and players manage to move on and succeed.
Pete:
Maybe one wide receiver can’t wreck a team, but that’s not going to stop TO from trying.
Pete:
The Yanks would be 135-27 with Man-rod…:)
Nick in SF at SFO:
LMAO
“Maybe one wide receiver can’t wreck a team, but that’s not going to stop TO from trying.”
ha! seriously, they’ve done about all they can do to shoot themselves in the foot, yet they still hold their own destiny to get in if they win next week. amazing.
LOL at that Jets list. An even better one for me being a Giants fan in Philly right now:
Since the Eagles have won a Super Bowl….
I agree Tim, and I would absolutely love Tex. But Cashman is in a no win situation here.
He could have gotten Tex and everyone would scream about why didn’t he get Sabathia because pitching wins.
Then he gets Sabathia and everyone screams that the yankees need more offense and defense, and he should have gotten Tex instead.
Then there are just the greedy people who want Cashman to sign both, even if it means a payroll of $250 million and $75 million dollars spent on 3 players. The Yankees have a lot of luxuries, getting one of these players is something most teams dream about. We got Sabathia, we got the hard nosed role player in Swisher everyone always craves, be happy with that.
There were only 46 states when the Cubs last won a series…
Pete,
I appreciate your opinion, but I think you’re ignoring the fact that the Yankees lop 30 million plus off the payroll next season AND next seasons free agent class is abysmal.
Cashman and the Yankees have to be sitting there realizing they have a 3 year window (with CC) to win with this current crop of vets. They could still use an impact bat and in Tex’s case a defensive upgrade.
It all comes down to do the Yankees believe Manny or Tex are better than Matt Holliday and Jason Bay (who are the premiere free agent hitters next season).
If they think Manny and Tex are better and are better fits for this team, then now is the time to lock them up since next off season the pickings are slim and the Yankees will have to trade top prospects to fill holes.
I think before all is said and done they are in on both of these hitters and could very well land one.
Manny’s not getting any real offers until Tex signs so any Manny news is speculation at this point just like you’re speculating that the Yankees aren’t going to spend big on any other player.
If the Yankees have proved anything so far it’s that they’d rather sign a guy and not have to surrender players (unless they are scrap like Betemit) to acquire their targets.
I don’t know which of Tex or Manny the Yankees end up with, but I think they get one of them before all is said and done.
And if the Yankees start building their roster because of potential conflicts with their manager who makes a fraction of what they players make in a year, then the Yankees have to admit to themselves they have the wrong “manager”.
Not getting a player because Girardi might not be able to handle them is ridiculous.
The reasons not to get Manny are he’s a defensive liability and you have a lot of DH types already on the roster.
His personality, while an annoyance, didn’t stop Boston from winning 2 W.S. championships.
“The Yanks would be 135-27 with Man-rod…:)”
That’s Man Ram.
“Man Rod” is Madonna’s pet name for… oh never mind
There was no income tax when the Cubs last won.
There was no social security when the Cubs last won the world series. And there probably will be no social security whenever they win their next World Series. Sad
well said, G. Love.
“One thing is for certain, the lineup needs assistance…Be it in the form of Manny or better yet Texeria”
the best theatre would be teixeira going to the red sox and manny to the yankees, but i guess teixeira to the yankees wouldn’t be so bad. i’m kidding of course because he’d be very good with the yankees.
i agree the yankees need more hitting. there really is quite the debate going on about who that hitter should be. manny seems to stir up a lot of emotions that have nothing to do what he does on the field.
i also on reflection think that girardi probably would have trouble managing manny, but i think that’s more girardi’s problem than manny’s. anyone who is so rigid about one of the 5 major food groups like ice cream really has to loosen up.
i think i may know why pete seems so down on manny coming to the yankees. i think his instinct for self preservation is kicking in. can you imagine the first time he called manny a liar in print?
like i said, great theatre.
Bronx Jeers
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Our savior has no comment as to why these kids take steroids. At least not 3 days before his birthday.
But from that article is this:
“Both players were in the Dominican Summer League. Forty-two of 69 suspensions announced this year under the minor league program have involved DSL players.”
61% of suspensions involved The Dominican Summer League? I smell another Dominican conspiracy!
Either that or it’s obvious that these players are not reading their Impacto Deportivo.
————————————————————
I didn’t post it with regard to where they are from. I posted it because I was wondering who is looking out for these kids best interests. Race or nationality had nothing to do with it as far as I’m concerned. It’s still a huge problem in this country, too. Another reason I posted it was because it involved a Yankee prospect. Don’t attempt to paint everything posted as racist.
Moss was a gamble into a good system that didn’t necessarily need him. Just as Doc Gooden or Straw was for the Yankees. The core team was already and he either fit it or he was gone. Manny wouldn’t be a piece to a cog here. This team is still searching to right it and find it’s core system and players. Manny would need to be a big part of it. He potentially would become a disuptive part of the team that you couldn’t just rid yourself of. These are guaranteed contracts unlike football. Completely different situation.
According to Impacto Deportivo, I’m getting a pony for Christmas. That wasn’t even on my Christmas list!
The Randy Moss is a great point . . The Yankees dealt with Sheff, Kevin Brown and Randy Johsnon.. and heck even Arod beats to a different drum . And from all accounts the club house wasn’t a wreck and wasn’t the reason why we didn’t win. Yes we had Tore . . But its Girardis JOB to hold the clubhouse together . . IF he can’t do it . then maybe he should go.
What are we suppose to do Pete .. Sign Priests ,Salvation Army reps and Red Cross Donors
“i think i may know why pete seems so down on manny coming to the yankees. i think his instinct for self preservation is kicking in. can you imagine the first time he called manny a liar in print?
like i said, great theatre.”
See, common ground for Manny and Girardi. They can start talking about how much Pete rags on them and laugh about it. By mid season they will be best friends.
Randy, to be fair to Pete he has said before he welcomes Manny coming to the Yankees since it would make his job far more enjoyable. Since this is a blog his suggestion that it would be a bad idea for the Yankees to sign Manny is fair game.
Ok ok, I’m not gonna sit here and argue all the reasons why we need Tex and/or Manny. I dont think we NEED either and I certainly dont think we’ll be getting both (if either). But I do need to say that I agree with the minority here that is confused as to why signing Manny would be such a bust.
I get the reasons both for and against this signing, but what I dont understand are the people that are gonna pull a Proctor and burn their pinstrips over it. Are you people kidding? David Justice, a well known woman beater, is still the guy that hosts shows like “Kids on Deck” for Christ’s sake! Lets not pretend we all value character over winning. The ‘98 type teams were special because they were and always will be the exception. Without guys like Manny, guys like Jeter might look *gasp* average.
How many championships did the Yankees win with Randy Johnson, Sheffield and Kevin Brown let alone playoff series?
Shame you make a very good point, but who on here is threatening to burn their pinstripes if the Yankees sign Manny? I’m clearly against it but would still have to cheer for him if he came. Doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and buy a Manny jersey.
Aside from the defensive flaws and long term contract he brings which I see as a problem, I also don’t like the way he plays the game. Doesn’t make him a bad ballplayer, just goes against my personal taste.
They came darn close .. esp in 2004 . My Point exactly . .It can be done with Nut jobs !
Darn, they’re making me trun off my blackberry, I’m going to miss the press conference!
Good day.
john
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
How many championships did the Yankees win with Randy Johnson, Sheffield and Kevin Brown let alone playoff series?
————————————————————
You may not have liked them and team mates may not have always gotten along with them, but, you can’t debate the effort they gave. The same can’t be said about the extremely talented Ramirez.
“His personality, while an annoyance, didn’t stop Boston from winning 2 W.S. championships.”
But it did keep them from winning 3. And while he was always at least a little off and always marching to the beat of his own drum, he didn’t appear to become lethal until about February of 2008. That was about the time that he signed on with Scott Boras.
“Tim: They’re 27-6 with Moss. Please tell me you didn’t make that point.”
They’re 18-1 by my count.
Well effort is all relative I guess. Seemed pretty obivous these guys wanted the big paycheck more than anything. I mean Sheffield imploded the same way Manny did last year whenever it got to contract time. He certianly wasn’t a team player when the Yankees landed Abreu and flew off the handle afterwards. Plus Joe Torre basically did right by every player that played for them and constantly was able to deal with any issues better than anyone. Some credit must go to him for dealing with everyone in that clubhouse.
“According to Impacto Deportivo, I’m getting a pony for Christmas. That wasn’t even on my Christmas list!”
sorry nick,just because someone sent you a pile of manure doesn’t mean there’s a pony around that goes with it.
“Just because a guy can hit doesn’t mean you ignore everything else.”
Pete, give it up. I’ve been singing this tune for days now and it’s been falling on deaf ears. The Manny lovers on this blog are desperate; that’s the only thing that explains this love affair with a guy who, at least 6 months ago, they despised.
The Yankees offense(the way it is now) has the potential of being extremely bad. If Posada doesn’t have a good year/gets hurt or the days that he doesn’t play your bottom of the lineup is Posada/Molina, Nady, Swisher, Gardner. That is assuming that Matsui is healthy and has a good year and Cano returns to form. If not that would be an awful lineup. That means you are counting on Damon, Jeter and Arod to carry the team. I am not saying that Cash has to get Tex but they HAVE to get another good hitter to add to the top of the lineup. They dont need to score 900 runs but they need players who can hit good pitching and who’s to say that the bottom of the lineup will do anything but hit other teams #5 starters?!
Is this going to be like celebrity death match Joba Vs Jon ?
Being that I am very familiar with Sacred Heart and running thru it’s halls.. I have to ask, “WTF?”.
“You may not have liked them and team mates may not have always gotten along with them, but, you can’t debate the effort they gave. The same can’t be said about the extremely talented Ramirez.”
now that’s just not fair. i remember the time that manny raced over and through a super human diving effort cut off damon’s throw that was supposed to go to the cut off man and then hit the cut off man with a perfect throw.
now tell me that didn’t take effort.
I definitely understand the guy is a polarizing figure. You basically either love him or hate him without an in between. Generally though, I see a lot of people in the comments section saying they wouldnt root for the Yankees if they sign Manny.
My question is: Who are you people and what corrupt, capitalistic organization have you been rooting for your whole lives?! Cause the one I’ve been rooting for all these years is run by a guy who also doesnt really fit with my personal taste named George.
Laura:
And the Manny hater’s on this blog will be wondering why we don’t have any offense and keep losing 2-1…
“sorry nick,just because someone sent you a pile of manure doesn’t mean there’s a pony around that goes with it”
line of the month.
It’s the 9th 2-1 in favor of our opponent, 2 men on Hideki’s knee hurts come out of the line-up, so 1 out 2 on base here come Cameron? and Swisher?…sorry doesn’t get me excited…
Tim,
The offense isn’t explosive, but it isn’t terrible either. This isn’t the 2005 Astro lineup. Nady and Swisher hitting at the bottom of a batting order is something a lot of teams would love to have.
Of course another bat would be nice but I don’t see it as a necessity.
“And the Manny hater’s on this blog will be wondering why we don’t have any offense and keep losing 2-1…”
I never said we don’t need another big bat. In fact, that’s pretty much all I’ve been saying since the off-season started. We need to partially replace what we’ve lost with Abreu and Giambi. I just don’t think Manny should be the replacement.
Anyone see that Andy Phillips signed with the Pirates? Was on mlbtraderumors.com
Shame, the minute someone is in pinstripes, I root for him. I only abandon a player if he is either selfish or dogging it. I don’t hate Manny, nor do I love him. I fear his erratic and simple personality, and don’t think it will play well in the Bronx. I have to agree with Laura that people have to be feeling extremely desperate to want someone who lied about injuries, knocked down an elderly team representative, and refused to play in certain games. I don’t care how great a hitter he is, that crap won’t play in the Bronx.
In response to the person who said that the Yankee offense has the potential to be really bad – so do they have the potentially to be really good. And with a top-notch pitching staff, I take my chances. (I happen to think the offense will be fine. Time will tell.)
Losing Abreu and Giambi, is a huge glut of run production…relying on Jorge and Hideki to return to form is a big risk as well…I have no quams with Nady or Swisher batting 7 and 8, with a proven run producer, very skilled hitter in the line-up and espicially with-out giving up any prospects to obtain this person, he just happens to have dread-locks..:)
I’m waiting for Boras to allege that the actions of the Sawk and the Angels, taken together, constitute collusion….a grievance complaint to follow, from the King of hubris.
“I didn’t post it with regard to where they are from. I posted it because I was wondering who is looking out for these kids best interests. Race or nationality had nothing to do with it as far as I’m concerned. It’s still a huge problem in this country, too. Another reason I posted it was because it involved a Yankee prospect. Don’t attempt to paint everything posted as racist.”
Are you kidding? Because I was kidding.
My post was a play on an earlier post that dealt with Dominican players and Pete’s supposed criticism of them.
On a more serious note, that article and specifically the % of infractions in that league is troubling. I would surmise that many fringe players are hoping to raise their stats to the point of getting drafted. Even the smallest of signing bonuses would make a huge difference in the lives and families of many Dominican athletes. I guess they feel it’s worth the risk. It’s a sad reality.
And I like Trisha, no matter who we get will root for them regardless once they don the stripes..
Way I see it,
Yanks need
1) 4th starter innings eater – Pettite most likely
2) backup middle infielder
3) 3rd string veteran catcher – AAA and fill in if Posada isn’t right
4) CF veteran (luxury)
5) Another big bat to hit next to Arod 3rd or 4th (luxury)
If Arod is a 3 hitter Matsui or Posada can hit 4th for now. Not ideal but not horrible.
Between the tons of corner bats available on the FA market and the usual mid season trade opportunities – Cashman can get another bat if needed really any time. He also has about a 20 man deep pitching staff to deal from as well.
I do not see Cash going for Tex or Manny unless their prices come way down. Stop gaps out there include Giambi, Abreu, Burrell, Anderson, Millar, Frank Thomas, Baldelli, Griffey, even Dunn.
Giambi can be replaced by Giambi-lite (aka Swisher). Abreu is a loss in the 3 spot, but its time for some to step up at assume that role, (ahem Cano). Damon may slow but he’s still reliable as the leadoff hitter, Jeter is declining but he’s still good in the 2 spot and you still have Arod in the middle of that order.
Posada and Matsui are wildcards, but if they can stay healthy I have no doubt that both will hit around their career norms.
The reason I really wanted cameron is because he just adds another decent bat in that order instead of having to hope Gardner can straighten it out or Melky can play everyday.
Still a good lineup in my opinion that could produce 800 runs. If the pitching does what we expect, the Yankees are should be a solid team.
“And I like Trisha, no matter who we get will root for them regardless once they don the stripes..”
I beg to differ. if and when Manny signs with the Yanks, goes show being the Manny he was in Boston, do you still root for him?
Also for all the talk about needing another bat and how it should be Manny, why not Adam Dunn?
And please spare me the strikeout argument. He’s not good in the field, but he’s better than Manny and can at least fill in at first occasionally. He’ll come cheaper, hits lefthanded, takes a walk and hits for power.
Bronx Jeers
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Are you kidding? Because I was kidding.
————————————————————
Then your joking failed miserably, because I’m not laughing.
Vito:
That list has 2 guys worth there salt and could fit in Abreu, or Anderson..but they to are aging and are not as good as Manny..but I would take one of them…I would prefer Abrue but he wants 3 yrs as well….that is the only reason to me, Manny is appealing, 2 500 hr guys in the same line-up..
http://www.wfan.com/Sweeny-Say.....ntRating=1
Sweeny Says: Go Get Tex
StandingO’Neill:
Ok because Giambi would smoke him in a foot race..
If Girardi doesn’t change his ways, he’ll be gone irrespective of Manny, one way or another,
Call me crazy but I am excited about perhaps seeing Gardner hit 9th and man CF against RHP’s. His speed is game changing. If given a full time chance I think he will be a respectable enough hitter to get on base and make things happen.
StandingO’Neill:
Dunn is not better at fielding than Manny, and that is not tough to do..
“He’ll come cheaper, hits lefthanded, takes a walk and hits for power.”
because Manny is better. why settle for less of a player?
I love Manny’s hitting but he is too much of a risk to pull an operation Shut Down. That list of bats I gave is under the assumption they would be 1 year deals – stopgaps as I said. Basically a bat to get thru 09 with on the cheap since the free agent market for those guys is practically non existent.
“Ok because Giambi would smoke him in a foot race..”
Sorry but I missed what you are getting at here. Perhaps its because my brain has gone numb after staring at a monitor all day, but could you please explain.
As to Manny, Girardi did say “who wouldn’t want him, he’s a hall of fame hitter”.(At the Torre affair per Pete’s audio)
But of course he was prevaricating which is what a member of the Yankee management team does when you don’t like what he says.
Pete, I have said in previous posts I am on board with your opinions most of the time but as a lifelong diehard Yankee fan I am so nervous that Cashman and Girardi will get in the way of Manny becoming a Yankee.
People have piled on Manny for how he left Boston but when you listen to the Dodgers such as Mattingly and Torre they only praise the guy. I know he was playing for a contarct there but the same can be said for Arod in 07, Sabathia in 08 as well as Burnett. The Red Sox paid Manny well but they also tried trading him for Arod in 04 while putting him on waivers. There are two sides to every story.
We must sign Manny!!!!!
Vito
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Call me crazy but I am excited about perhaps seeing Gardner hit 9th and man CF against RHP’s. His speed is game changing. If given a full time chance I think he will be a respectable enough hitter to get on base and make things happen.
————————————————————
I was surprised that Gardner didn’t go to play winter ball to work on his hitting and in particular, his bunting.
StandingO’Neill:
Sorry I was being sarcastic, why settle for him when he has more athletic down side than Manny..
“if and when Manny signs with the Yanks, goes show being the Manny he was in Boston, do you still root for him?”
If Manny were signed and proves to be the same selfish jerk he was in Boston then no I wouldn’t root for him since he would be in one of the two categories of players I will not root for: selfish and/or dogging it.
“I was surprised that Gardner didn’t go to play winter ball to work on his hitting and in particular, his bunting.”
maybe he wanted to be home when his wife gave birth? idk, just saying that could be a reason.
It’s the Burnett signing that is going to keep the Yanks from improving their offense. The Yanks chose to use their money on a 32 year old pitcher that has spent so much time on the DL that he’s earned Platinum Level privelges. In the trainer’s room he has his own luxurious monogramed bathrobe. In an effort to cut costs, the Yanks have secretly saved a used one and have unstiched the “CP” monogram ( guess who) and restiched it with an A and a J.
I hope I’m wrong, but I’m very concerned that the Yanks will regret the Burnett signing before the contract is fullfilled. Bedides his 8 trips to the DL, an expectation has been created that he will perform at a level he’s never consistently performed at in his career.IMO, the money would have been better spent on Teixeira. At least then the Yanks would have been more balanced.
Turn two…better contract, more flexibility.
Can people stop talking about this 2-1 bull crap? Here are the cold hard facts
Last year the yankees averaged 4.87 runs a games. The Rays averaged less than that. Last years offense was NOT THAT BAD. The 2009 offense will be better, younger and cheaper. Here is how:
Molina posted last year 216/263/313
Posada average is 271/342/427
Posada might not do as good as he career numbers state, but he will be a HUGE improvement over Molina
Giambi 2007 numbers 247/373/502
Swisher career numbers are 244/354/451
Swisher is 10 years younger that Giambi, much cheaper and can put up equal numbers to Giambi and knows how to take a pitch or two
Abreu and Matsui numbers are very similiar. Just because we lose Abreu doesnt mean we lose his bat. Nady is a solid bat and will put up good numbers, better than Melky etal…
Cano SHOULD play better and the rest of the team should be more or less the same.
If we average around 4.87 runs or better we will not lose games 2-1.
This Manny thing is just plain stupid. We dont need him as much as he thinks we need him. He serves one role on this team, as DH/OF. We dont need another DH/OF.
Swisher has more athletic downside than Manny? Really?
What most seem to ignore were Randy Levine’s comments at the CC/AJ press conference…..Paraphrasing, ” we have a lot of money coming off the books and will spend what we have to in order to win the Championship”. This comment has not been countermanded by Hal or anyone else since.
“better contract, more flexibility.”
lesser player.
StandingO’Neill:
If we cannot get Manny, you have to entertain Tex, IMO…but I would rather have Abreu back than Dunn…
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
http://www.wfan.com/Sweeny-Say.....ntRating=1
Sweeny Says: Go Get Tex
I hereby nominate Sweeny for General Manager.
StandingO’Neill
Swisher has more athletic downside than Manny? Really?
You lost me, you were talking about Dunn, and yes he has more athletic down-side than Manny..
scottwebber2, you seem to conveniently be forgetting that Manny lied about injuries, took himself out of games, pushed down an elderly team official, whacked a teammate in the face in the dugout, laughed when he dropped balls in the field, and made a living out of styling at the plate and not hustling to first base. Oh yeah, he urinated in the outfield also. I don’t think either Arod or CC has been accused of that kind of behavior.
The Sox tried trading Manny after Manny made it clear to every newspaper under the sun that he no longer wanted to play in Boston.
You say there are two sides to every story. (My father always said there were three – mine, yours, and the truth…) But for the sake of argument we will say there are two. Your side of the story says “We must sign Manny!” The other says “NEVER!”
I don’t know Pete, but I get a feeling you are going to get proven wrong here. Its not just about the payroll, there is a bit of a hole in this lineup. I imagine that cash is talking to Damon about what really went down in Boston. That might be a big factor on whether or not the yanks make this move.
“Then your joking failed miserably, because I’m not laughing.”
That doesn’t really surprise me.
You know I wouldn’t be terribly offended if you skip over my posts.
I’m also going to be interested to see which version of Melky we get if the Cameron deal ends up being dead in the water and Melky is there at spring training. I am wondering if this experience will have caused Melky to get religion.
Turntwo…agreed, but I’m just going by the perceived restraints that Cashman has put on the payroll. Plus lets not sell Dunn short, he’s a very good player.
arial…Randy Levine is a j@ck@ss, don’t listen to anything that comes out of his mouth.
Tim…Abreu < Dunn, and you can get Dunn at a cheaper cost. Therefore I’d take Dunn.
“I imagine that cash is talking to Damon about what really went down in Boston. That might be a big factor on whether or not the yanks make this move.”
agreed. as ive said before, im still puzzled as to why noone in the NY media has gotten a hold of Damon at this point to comment about Manny and the current situation.
Trisha,
ok thank you, that’s the answer i’m looking for.
Peter selectively posts or otherwise references comments of colleagues who agree with him regarding Manny, and selectively excludes those who do not….e.g., Dan Graziano, who is as respected a beat reporter as you will find and does not fall victim to hyperbole. See his interview of yesterday on the POTY blog as an example.
“Last years offense was NOT THAT BAD.”
I beg to differ. Did you watch them at all last year? Did you see the countless times they left RISP with less than 2 outs? Did you see how many DPs Jeter hit into? Did you watch the games where crappy pitchers (who got beat by everyone else in the league) were dominating them like they were some two bit little league team?
Consider yourself lucky if you missed all of that because it was beyond painful to watch.
We were ranked 10th in runs last year, 10th.
The Rangers, Indians, White Sox, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers, Twins all finished ahead of us.
The freakin Twins finished ahead of us in runs scored.
Sorry Tim, thought we were still on Swish. I think they both should stay far away from a glove. I’m just saying that if I have to take one of those guys for the next two years, at their current perceived salary, I’d take Dunn.
sweeny has a point
“I am wondering if this experience will have caused Melky to get religion.”
the same competition we saw last year when Brett almost break camp with the team. hopefully, this coming one will be more of a havoc.
Pete – I dont know if you are trying to convince your readers or trying to convince yourself, but you are being naive if you dont think either Manny or Teixeira will be a Yankee next year and I have no idea why you are so adamant in your disbelief.
Trisha:
You know what, I would love to see Melky bounce back…to me that would be awesome…
“Trisha,
ok thank you, that’s the answer i’m looking for.”
Ed, absolutely!
Avg with RISP can be a fluky stat, which is evident by how the twins finished in the Top 10 in runs scored.
I’d be willing to bet you could run a similar lineup out there next year and you’d see an increase in avg with RISP.
randy l -
To respond to your response to me in the last thread -
First and foremost – Happy Holidays, Randy.
Second and not nearly as important – You’re right about Jeter. Had second thoughs about putting the “un-Jeter” in there, but I think you know what I meant.
Hey, I’ve got an open mind, and really, I’m a Yankee fan. So, if they’re winning I’m happy pretty much no matter how they get there. I don’t like every Yankee who has ever worn the pinstripes, nor do I expect to. But since we have this very academic exercise here of stating our preferences, I’d prefer no Manny.
Frankly, I wish Mr. Teixeira would make his decision already – just go to Boston, already!!!!
StandingO’Neill:
No prob, I thought it was me and re-read some posts…:)
What are we all gonna talk about when Manny signs were ever…:)
“Plus lets not sell Dunn short, he’s a very good player.”
i wont sell Dunn short because he is a nice player, but if i were to choose one, to me its not really a choice.
but should the Yankees feel Dunn is a legit option, i wouldnt mind his 40 HRs in the middle of the order… i just dont get the sense that they feel that way.
id think Dunn’s market wont even form until Manny signs and maybe Abreu, and maybe you can get him at a real reasonable rate… i just dont know where he plays, bc id prob bat Matsui over him at DH, Swisher at 1B (better defense), and Damon in LF (unless you move Damon to CF, and play Dunn in LF, but that might be as bad an OF defense as anyone has in the league).
Peter,
All that leadership lead by cheating/videotaping really helped Rodney Harrison not use HGH!!
Tim…How awesome the Arod-Manny combo would be! lol.
As I said I am against it, but as a fan it would be fun to watch. I’m out for the day, been good talking with you.
“Frankly, I wish Mr. Teixeira would make his decision already – just go to Boston, already!!!!”
Better yet, pull an A-Rod, tell Boras to take a hike and sign with us for a more reasonable amount.
We had a losing record last year against
Pittsburgh
Kansas City
Texas
Cincinatti
Detroit
Cleveland
We couldn’t even beat bad pitching last year. The offense is a MAJOR concern
On a totally different topic, any word on Andy lately?
Bill’s leadership is so elite, that Vince Wilfork pokes people in the eyes and takes cheap shots on quarterbacks too!
great job by Sweeney on that blog entry.
Gardner Info…
Brett and his wife Jessica had their first son, Thomas Hunter, on November 21st, 2008 – probably why no winter ball.
Also,
in 94 AAA games he hit .296 with a .414 OBP, 11 triples, 70 BB to 76 K’s, and stole 37 bases (80% success rate)
His call up in August produced this line the rest of the season: 20-68 .294 BA, 8 steals, 1 CS
I think he could break out next year and produce an Jacoby Ellsbury like season if given a chance.
Look I repsect everyone on this blog, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and much prosper to you all and your families in the new year..
yes I still want Manny, sorry…:)
Bronx Jeers
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
“Then your joking failed miserably, because I’m not laughing.”
That doesn’t really surprise me.
You know I wouldn’t be terribly offended if you skip over my posts.
————————————————————
I believe you made the first response, not me. However, face facts. You screwed up even making the comment. Now…you can ignore.
We all know how this will end….
We will get off to our usual mediocre start. The pitching will be improved and the offense will be very inconsistent and we will lose a bunch of low scoring games and be a horrendous RISP team because of all the holes in the lineup (Melky/Gardner/Cameron, Swisher, Nady etc.)
We will be looking to trade for Matt Holliday or someone big by June to try and salvage the season after spending $243 million on pitching and neglecting the offense and counting on aging players coming off injuries to carry us to a title.
Tim, I would love to see the same. When Melky was sent to Scranton, conventional wisdom was that it was done to break up the Robby-Melky tandem that seemed to be dooming both of them. I still see Melky as an extremely talented player who got off track. It would be great if it turns out that he is back and the experience of almost losing his job taught him a valuable lesson and he becomes the player he was when he spent his first full year with the Yanks.
Arliss, I would just like to say in Pete’s behalf that I don’t think he is being naive in the least in believing that neither Tex nor Manny will be in pinstripes. Sure anything can happen, but nothing the Yankees have done to date has given any indication that either player is prominent on their radar screen. It is as fair to read that as a lack of real interest as it is to read it any other way.
If either player ends up with the Yankees, then they do. But there is nothing that makes me think it is going to happen. We’re all out here trying to do the same thing: read the tealeaves. Obviously not everyone is reading them the same way. But it is all sincere and honest.
“Look I repsect everyone on this blog, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and much prosper to you all and your families in the new year..
yes I still want Manny, sorry…:)”
Same to you, Tim (your Manny position notwithstanding).
“sweeny has a point”
Tex sure. But Not on Aron Rowand he doesn’t. That’s as bad an idea as I can think of. Rowand is terrible defensively and has an awful contract.
The Yankees definitely need another good bat from somewhere. It doesn’t make sense to get all this great pitching and then not have the offense to win. You need a balance everywhere. This calls to mind when Cash made some great trades last year at the deadline but wouldn’t pull the trigger on Washburn. Maybe Washburn wouldn’t have solved our problems, but who knows? All I know is that it seems they made great strides (despite I-Rod being disappointing) but failed to fully execute. Doing it half-assed is never going to work. If we are going to try to buy a championship, let’s go all the way. Maybe that means Manny, maybe it means Tex, or someone else- Dunn, Burrell, somebody via trade. But we’ve got to do something and it can’t be a guy like Mike Cameron, it’s got to be more substantial than that.
Mark my words -
If we don’t add a big bat this winter, then Cashman will be scrambling to find a big bat (a la Holliday/Carlos Lee/Berkman/ etc.) in the middle of June and will be forced to mortgage the farm to try and salvage the season. He knows spending $243 mil on pitching and not making the playoffs is a death wish.
Watching boom or bust hitters like Cameron, Swisher, and Nady trying to get clutch hits with 2 outs is going to be painful to watch. You are only delaying the inevitable by not getting a big bat now.
Being in the top 10 is not bad, considering that the phillies were 9th and we scored more than the rays. You know, talk to the rangers and the tigers and asked them about all the runs scored last year.
our batting average was 2nd, in the majors, with 2 outs and risp. 2nd!
our lf batted were ranked 7th best in the major and our DH was ranked 6th in the major and 2nd in the AL.
Hence, we dont need a LF or a DH. We have that already
our 1b and catcher was our problem last year.
and yes, we did hit into a ton of DP’s, but doesnt speed and youth fix that?
I am starting to realize why Peter doesn’t want Manny to be a Yankee as an open New England patriots Fan he is most possible an under covered Red Sox fan ( he will never admit it) so he doest want that Manny should destroy the sawx !!!
GO MANNY!! MANNY AS YANK!!
Vito
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Gardner Info…
Brett and his wife Jessica had their first son, Thomas Hunter, on November 21st, 2008 – probably why no winter ball.
Also,
in 94 AAA games he hit .296 with a .414 OBP, 11 triples, 70 BB to 76 K’s, and stole 37 bases (80% success rate)
His call up in August produced this line the rest of the season: 20-68 .294 BA, 8 steals, 1 CS
I think he could break out next year and produce an Jacoby Ellsbury like season if given a chance.
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I was as disappointed more in his lack of bunting ability than anything…bunting for sacrifices and, especially, bunting for hits. He could really cause havoc on the bases if he were to ad 25 or 30 bunt hits a year to his totals…especially against tough hitters and when he’s slumping. Oddly, he was a good bunter in the minors. It’s like he forgot how.
arial
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Peter selectively posts or otherwise references comments of colleagues who agree with him regarding Manny, and selectively excludes those who do not….
Likewise I think the pro Manny lobby is ignoring the poll that shows that 2 of every 3 Yankee fans want nothing to do with the bum.
GB7,
Actually I screwed up twice.
1. I assumed you had a sense of humor.
2. I engaged you by responding to one of your posts.
Trust me I won’t be making those mistakes again.
Over and Out.
Pete, you seem to be pretty sure Manny is not coming to the Yankees. Would hate to see you eat your words.
I like the fact the media is 100% convinced Manny is not coming to the Yankees. That makes me believe there is still a good chance it will happen.
Swisher is a not a good baseball player. The idea that him and Gardner are going to replace Abreu/Giambi is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
Adam Dunn is the guy we need. A power bat to go along with ARod and a good OBP. He could be Matsui’s replacement.
Pete you are VERY ignorant to think the Yankees won’t make a run at Manny…. and no one is buying that you deep down really want Manny to be a Yankee so you can have something more to cover… please.
“Oddly, he was a good bunter in the minors. It’s like he forgot how.”
maybe he just freaked out a little bit when he got to the major leagues?
you dont just forget how to do things, so i’ll give him the benefit of the doubt… i agree though, with his speed he could lay down a number of bunts over the season to force the corner IFs to pull in a little bit, and it gives Gardner a better chance to pull or place one quickly by them that otherwise would go thru.
“Swisher is a not a good baseball player. The idea that him and Gardner are going to replace Abreu/Giambi is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.”
MUCH better defense and MUCH less money. Can’t replace the offense I agree but plugging Adam Dunn in the lineup could help.
“that otherwise would go thru”
otherwise *wouldnt* go thru.
“Swisher is a not a good baseball player. The idea that him and Gardner are going to replace Abreu/Giambi is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.”
28 year old Nick Swisher average season: 244/354/451 28HR
38 year old Jason Giambi 2008 season: 247/373/502 32HR
Have a feeling that Cashman will try and steal Bradley or Burrell in January.
Yeah, count me on the “Why don’t the Yankees just sign Adam Dunn?” train. None of the “baggage” and personality problems that exist with Manny are factors, and it’s still a big bat, a lefthanded one no less, as well as a decades-younger one. It almost seems too easy…so what is the problem?
The more the possibility of the Yankees signing Manny continues to lurk and loom about, the less I like it. Just sign Dunn and rid yourself of a billion headaches!
I dont get it…..football is a team sport, yet the Patriots are 27-6 with that malcontent Randy Moss……but yet the same people who point out stats like that, tell me that on my baseball team, in a game as individual as any, Manny Ramirez, an equally dominant force in his own sport as Moss, would be a disaster should it land Ramirez?
Are people genuinely under the impression that adding the best hitter in baseball, regardless of attitude, negatively impacts a team? Does anyone here truly think that with Manny, the Yankees win less games than they do without him over the next 2-3 years? I mean seriously, is this what people are saying when they make a case against him joining the club?
If so, please provide me tangible proof of Manny ever making a team worse than it was without him.
“Just sign Dunn and rid yourself of a billion headaches!”
FWIW, isnt Dunn a player who’s notoriously been thought of by GMs and baseball people around the league as a loafer and a lazy player? that he doesnt care about winning, has a lack of passion for playing the game?
A couple of weeks ago Manny said he might retire because he’s not feeling the love(read m-o-n-e-y). He cheated his way off the Red Sox fully expecting a 4 year $100mil deal from someone.
Can you imagine what a disaster he’d be for any team to sign him for less than he feels he deserves? That team would be dealing with a pre-existing attitude problem. What’s worse is that his actions have already proven that he’s not above cheating his employer out of his best effort when he’s unhappy (read u-n-d-e-r-p-a-i-d).
It’s buyer beware unless someone agrees to give him the $100mil that Boras promised him.
If Manny unequivocally makes a team better, who would know that better than a team that already had him? By that same token, why would Boston let him go – and practically drive him to the airport to get him out of town – when they had team options to keep him?
Arliss,
Ask David Ortiz. He’s the one who said Manny needed to leave. Do you think he would have said that if Manny was helping, not hurting, the team?
Brian,
The media is not 100% convinced that Manny is not coming, tho if you read the blog you might believe that to be the case. Aside from Mark Feinsand of the News, there are others including Dan Graziano of the Ledger who think Manny is needed and that there is a good chance he will be in Pinstripes. Posted below is his interview of yesterday on the POTY blog.
“POTY Blog, Q: Do you think the Yankees can win the AL East as currently composed? Why or why not?
Dan, A: I think they can. Their starting rotation is obviously outstanding, provided Burnett stays healthy, and they’ll bring back what was a very strong bullpen in 2008. I do think they need another bat, though. They have some nice hitters in the lineup, but they could use another big-time power threat to pair with A-Rod in the middle. There are people in the organization who worry about this, which is why the Manny talk is not just rumor — there really is a push by some members of the organization to pursue him. If they were to get a hitter like that, I think you might have to make them the favorites in the AL East. Without him, they’re a strong contender for the division title along with Boston and Tampa Bay.
Q: What, if anything, would you recommend the Yankees do to complete their offseason makeover?
A: Whoops. I think I answered that one already. They need one more starting pitcher, but I don’t have any reason to believe they won’t eventually sign Pettitte. They need a center fielder, but I think the Mike Cameron discussion is one they can and may go back to. Or they could sign a cheap free agent like a Mark Kotsay or somebody like that, just so they don’t have to rely on Gardner and Cabrera. (They’re looking for somebody to play it for one year, thinking Austin Jackson may be ready in 2010). And as I mentioned earlier, I’d look for a way to add some punch to the middle of the lineup. Just not sure you can count on Posada or Matsui or Swisher to provide any reasonable protection for A-Rod.”
Unfortunately, the silly rumor of an agreed upon 3 year deal that ran yesterday caused the “Anti-Mannys” to seize upon it and Cash’s obvious response of “Not True”. Even if Manny were to come, it will be later rather than sooner given the methodical and lengthy approach of Boras.
The only way the legs can be cut out from under any Manny rumors would be for Cash to say “we are not interested in Manny..he will never wear pinstripes”. But then again, “Bubby Crosby will be our center fielder on opening day”.
ellen
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
If Manny unequivocally makes a team better, who would know that better than a team that already had him? By that same token, why would Boston let him go – and practically drive him to the airport to get him out of town – when they had team options to keep him?
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Not to mention buying him a first class $7 million ticket.
Did manny unequivocally make the Dodgers better? Boston let him go because he told them he wasnt playing there anymore. Do you think from a baseball perspective they wanted to let him go? He shut it down, he was finished, not playing for them any longer. Its absolutely ludicrous to think they let him go because they thought jason bay made their team better. They did the only thing he left them capable of doing. It was trade Manny for jason Bay, or pay manny $20+ million to sit out.
You guys read the Boston Globe and Herald way too much. I swore somehow despite this 1.000 OPS monster acting out in his 7+ years with the red sox that he managed to help them win 2 world series…..how did that happen with such a negative player on the team?
Manny Ramirez saw postseason action this past season, and Joe Girardi did not.
I’m not coming down, in this reply, on either side of this matter; rather, I’m just sayin’.
Weren’t we supposed to have a Major Announcement today regarding a FA signing? Geesh, you just can’t trust people these days…
Sure once he decided to not play it was time for him to leave. How about the other 7 years there? Or his time in Cleveland? Or Joe Torre’s pleas to have him back in LA? All that is moot?
“TurnTwo
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
“Just sign Dunn and rid yourself of a billion headaches!”
FWIW, isnt Dunn a player who’s notoriously been thought of by GMs and baseball people around the league as a loafer and a lazy player? that he doesnt care about winning, has a lack of passion for playing the game?”
I’ve only heard this from JP Ricciardi, and I dont really consider him a credible source. He has badmouthed a lot of players hasnt he?
“Once he decided not to play”? It was during the season. There were games being played. He was under contract. He doesn’t get that choice. What happens if he’s a Yankee and decides “not to play?” You really want this guy so badly that you can convince yourself that this is OK? Wow. Good for you!
Arliss,
For the Anti-Mannys’, press and fan alike,the only things that matter are Manny’s last two months in Boston. The preceding 14 plus years or so, are totally irrelevant. He is a BUM!!!!! The precipitating events be damned..they do not count”. Neither does the hell-hole of Red Sox Nation, particularly its ownership element, past and present, and consistent shameful history of dealing with it’s fallen stars.
Plain and simple, Manny is a bum!!! He is despicable, not worthy of wearing the hallowed pinstripes with the interlocking NY, that that esteemed man of virtue, The Babe
wore with pride and honor (when sober) and established the sacred precedent.
@Brian
It actually seems to me like the media is MORE interested in Manny going to the Yanks than anything. They jumped on the story out of the Dominican newspaper, and none seem to be following up with the fact that it was denied by Cashman. Manny to the Yankees makes for a better story, and the media always goes with the story.
I still don’t think they’re going to get Manny. Go ahead and look at our offensive stats last year; they’re not as bad as you’d think. I think the unpleasantness stemming from a third place finish has colored our perceptions. I remember those 2-1 losses as well as anybody… but maybe they actually happen every year and we only noticed this time because we didn’t make the playoffs.
Actually, Manny has tons of precedent. Did you watch him? He was a monster running out fly balls, patrolling the outfield like a gamer, wasn’t he? I really liked all those years of him watching his hitting prowess from the batter’s box – oops, that wasn’t a home run? Please don’t mistake him for a great player. He’s a hitting savant. When he wants to be. And if that is what you want, like I said, good for you. No worries. You’re not going to convince me of his great work ethic, as if he was forced to behave badly by the big bad Boston machine.
“You guys read the Boston Globe and Herald way too much.”
And you didn’t watch Manny far enough.
“For the Anti-Mannys’, press and fan alike,the only things that matter are Manny’s last two months in Boston.”
Actually no, Arliss. We are also counting what Manny did when he left Cleveland and came to Boston. He signed on to play rightfield and then told the Sox he wouldn’t play right. When they forced him to go out in right field during spring training, he “pulled a hamstring” and took himself out of the game. Then he was seen walking around the dugout without any kind of limp.
Perhaps you should REALLY get to know about Manny Ramirez and his nonstop antics before you criticize those who DO know more than you about Manny and aren’t pleased with his behavior.
Tim Clougher is a poster who knows all about Manny and still wants him. That I can respect and understand. Those who come on and try to make a case for him obviously knowing only a fraction of what he is all about just make themselves look downright silly. Stop putting people down when you don’t know a quarter of the reality.
Manny-
Would only offer series of one year contracts, with a “termination for cause” clause, well defined in the contract. Would start with a lower offer, with a list of incentives, to keep him reaching for the carrot.
Only position is DH, especially in Yankee stadium.
Now if he is signed, where, realistically would Matsui approve a trade to,[Japan?] or does he become an expensive utility player?
As for Teixeira, tying him up for 8 years doesn’t make a lot of sense for us at a position where we don’t have our greatest need. In all honesty, with Boston’s lineup, he IMO doesn’t serve a need for them, unless Lowell’s career is over.
Here’s hoping that the Nationals offer him the largest contract and he signs with them. Picking in the top two in the draft the next couple years might make them the Tampa Bay Rays equivalent, at least for the second half of Teixera’s contract.
Of the big hitters left in FA, all but Teixeira are DH’s-Burrell, Abreu, Dunn, Giambi, Bradley, and Manny. If Bradley were healthy, and could stay healthy and “sane” he’s the one player who could possibly play in RF.
I’ll be quite surprised if the Yankees come in at the last minute to get Teixeira, UNLESS, he tells Boras he only wants to be a Yankee and is willing to be creative when it comes to a contract.
I guess I have hit the big time…I have an imposter. None of the earlier posts by my name are mine.
Will Drs. Cox, Kelso, and Dorian be there as well?
Trisha – Prove to me how manny makes a team worse. Once someone can do that, then they can garner some credibility. Name a team that is worse with Manny on it. Not such an easy task when we are discussing the best pure hitter in baseball and possibly in the history of baseball.
Wow, Manny moved from RF to LF, then went on to drive in 850+ runs in 7 and a half seasons in Boston while playing for a fan and ownership base he hated. How about Pedro Martinez, that greedy scumbag, can you believe what he did to those poor red sox? How about that villain Johnny damon who left them for more money? How about that jerk Nomar who quit on them? All these player feuds with ownership yet the finger always gets pointed squarely at the player.
How about Mr Torre, did he say Manny made his team worse?