Comments on: Stop the madness, please

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:56:57 +0000

Boy, I guess with all the starter trouble we’ve had over the last 8 years, we’ve been wasting that Mariano guy in the bullpen, huh? I’m sure if I searched the archives, I’d find a post where you supported this, right?

By: Hal S.

Hal S. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:53:43 +0000

I agree to an extent…

If Joba’s arm gets tired again this year, the Yanks have to think about moving him back to the pen; end of story. I would rather have him contribute 70 innings than zero!

With that said, it is a but disingenuous to refer to 70 innings as just ANY 70 innings. Presumably, the Yanks would use Joba in the 8th inning in close games. Surely THOSE 70 innings are more valuable than the 70 innings Dan Giese may contribute, right?

By: Tony C

Tony C — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:06:53 +0000

If you want an example of just how little anyone really knows about what will happen in baseball, just think about how many times you heard some “expert” pick the Rays to win the A.L. penant last year. I think NONE would be the answer. It’s fun to talk baseball but but no none has a crystal ball.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:16:22 +0000

THANK YOU! Finally, someone writes an article that makes sense! Agree with every point…hopefully the morons who want Manny will root for whatever team he eventually signs with…

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:23:05 +0000

“To read some comments on the blog, people think Cano, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy has bad seasons on purpose. ”

Because you haven’t trashed on A-Rod’s lack of “clutchness” before.

C’mon Pete! He’s only played in a handful of playoff games! Give him some time!

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:19:42 +0000

I still have yet to read anyone discussing Joba’s role on this pitching staff in light of Mariano’s shoulder surgery in October. Again, he had a calcification on his AC joint of his throwing arm “shaved down” — a non-trivial injury (due to rotator cuff proximity) and surgery.

No one can assume that Mo will be 100% by the start of the season, or upon pitching in 2009 season’s early cold weather months. This alone is reason enough to consider Joba for a role in the bullpen.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:26:30 +0000

Couldn’t agree more.

By: YankeeBaseball

YankeeBaseball — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:55:13 +0000

Agree on all Pete said except Kennedy, who will never be good as a Yankee. His best hope is to get traded to the weak NL West. Perhaps he could be a #4 or #5 there. He doesn’t have the stuff to be nibbling on the corners and his mental approach is simply bizarre. I remember after one particularly poor outing, in the postgame interview he said he thought he did pretty good. WTF???

By: Bob Mac

Bob Mac — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:46:32 +0000

It seems to me if everyone has the same opinion or hesitate to post a contrary opinion their is no point in a blog. No we are not GMs, but baseball fans like to think and talk as if they were in the winter. That is why it is a hot stove league. People sitting around expressing opinions on what should be done. Opinions are just that. They are not facts as many seem to think. Just because one has an opinion they feel confident about does not make it truth. For example, the two “experts” on MLB Hot Stove just concluded without hesitation Joba should be in the pen. Are they right or wrong? Next year will tell us this fact and not sportwswriters or bloggers. All opinions should be encouraged here even if we disagree.

By: nyyfaninlaaland

nyyfaninlaaland — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:16:23 +0000

By the way, since we’ve discussed Manny’s clutchness and big game performances, has anybody thought to notice that he’s hit over .250 once in 4 WS?

Yes his production there has been decent, he’s been very good in the DS matchups, though those numbers are bumpped up quite a bit by his last 2 seasons, and his div. Series career numbers are pedestrian, though his last 4 series have been very good.

Performance in such environments, because they are small sample sizes, tend to skew wildly. Manny is a great hitter, but his approach to the game is so uncertain – and seemingly money rooted – he becomes risky. At $20+ MM that’s a lot of risk.

Health will always dictate how a player performs. Posada was awful against runners this year, but everyone knew he was playing with a torn labrum, so everyone ran on him. He came back from shoulder trouble earlier in his career, and we have a solid defensive backup to sub in late in games if necessary. He may require more DH time as we go forward, but that will be limited this year. No one knows if he’s done at C yet. And DH will be more available as an option if he needs it in future seasons.

Is Jeter finished at SS? Not yet – a player is a package of both his offensive and defensive contributions, and the package he brings is still solid for the position. Jeter still makes the routine plays – 12 E’s this season. Yes his range is diminished, and we don’t have the Drew, Tulo, or like young SS stud playing here or the top minors. I fully expect Jeter will move 2-3 seasons down the road if the team needs him to, and also agree he could fill a role in the OF at that point. After all, he does seem to care a bit about winning. And we do have a range of kids in the low minors that might be something at that spot.

A little patience is a good thing. Last season NY was devastated by starting pitching injury. Gotta feel better about that. Let’s try to avoid thinking of all that can go wrong – if all does, we’re hosed again. Right now things look pretty good. Adding Pettitte as the #4 would fit the Yankee way – keep you’re name players. It’s a nice tradition few orgs can or will maintain.