On Bruney, Albaladejo and Posada
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- February
- 11
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I’m sick of A-Rod, too. So here’s some baseball stuff to turn the tide:
Brian Bruney and Jonathan Albaladejo were at the workout this morning.
Bruney remains trimmed up and was in great spirits. I think he is going to be a big, big piece of the puzzle. Although he pitched in only 34.1 innings last season, opponents hit .153 off him. He also handles left-handed hitters well.
Bruney isn’t as colorful as Joba, but he has that same competitive mindset and he’s not afraid to challenge hitters. I think he can be an effective set-up man and will allow Joe Girardi to use Damaso Marte in optimal situations. Marte, in my mind, is not a pure eighth-inning guy
And don’t sleep on Albaladejo. He made the team out of camp last season and pitched fairly well (outside of one bad outing against Detroit) before he hurt his elbow. He’ll have a shot.
I’m also surprised by what I’ve seen from Jorge Posada. He is showing good pop in the cage and I think it’s a good sign that on Feb. 11 he’s receiving balls in a crouch and coming out of it to throw. The Yankees will be cautious with him all camp but he seems to be on pace for Opening Day.
For a guy like Posada, given his age and experience, it’s better to be cautious. As long as he gets his at-bats, how many innings he catches in the spring isn’t a huge concern. He can catch the new pitchers in the bullpen to learn them.
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on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 at 3:06 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Abreu to the Angels and Dunn to the Nationals means the dominoes are starting to fall.
1) Where does Manny wind up
2) Does Nady or Swisher go to Atlanta in a trade for a nice return – being that ATL has few other options at this point
Sweet – first time first post.
Albaledejo also pitched tremendously well in winter ball.
You also have Melancon, Robertson, Sanchez, possibly Horne, Kontos, and Hacker as righty relief and Coke, Dunn, and Kroenke (if returned) as lefty relief as potential pen pieces in 2009. This will not be a weakness.
sorry about the repost but i’m really sick of steriods:
anyone seen cano at camp? is he there early?
tex/arod 3/4 or arod/tex 3/4?
how are matsui’s knees?
anyone know if jeter actually drinks gatorade?
let’s talk about anything other than steriods
steroids, i really can spell
Bruney will emerge as the guy before Mo.
I’d expect an Atlanta trade any minute now.
I like Bruney, too, and I don’t see why he wouldn’t be as successful this season as last. If confidence counts for anything, and I think it counts for a lot, he should be great for the Yankees this year.
I still think Manny ends up with the Dodgers. Unless there’s a sleeper somewhere. Hey, maybe ARod can forgo his $30 million in bonuses in order for the Yankees to sign Manny???? Nah. Just kidding. Really, just kidding.
I don’t think they’re going to trade Nady or Swisher.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for Jorge. Sounds so cliche at this point, but he really is key.
Almost forgot about Albaladejo. If everyone in the bullpen performs as hoped, it really is an embarrassment of riches out there. No such thing as too much pitching, however.
Good to hear that about Posada.
Bruney needs to show he can give a full season of relief innings. 75 IP is where he should be IMO.
5 Iron:
1)Manny to the Dodgers
2)Think the Braves would go with what they have before trading for Nady. I think they’d offer a pretty good prospect (read: among the lower third of their Top 10) for Swisher.
If Abreu and Dunn signed today, it tells me word went out that the Dodgers were going another way. And that would have to be Manny, no?
I think the bullpen shakes out like this to start the season:
Rivera
Bruney
Marte
Veras
Ramirez
Albaladejo
Aceves
Good news.
I’m starting to think that Cashman is intending to go with Nady and Swisher on the roster for the time being.
He would have had to have acquired some kind of veteran bench bat to cover for the loss of one of them and he’s made no moves of the kind.
Considering camp is starting soon, I got to believe this is the roster.
It’s the best move to keep them both. If something happens to Damon, Matsui or Posada you are are going to need one of them severely to fill in at OF or DH.
The only thing I fear is Girardi uses the flexibility they both give him to keep changing the lineup from day to day.
I think that was a flaw of his last season where a guy would go 4 for 5 and find himself on the bench the next day.
You one true thing ARod said during his press conference….a lot of respectable journalists are following Selena Roberts off a cliff. Pete Abe, Joe Posnanski, Tom Verducci (although I’m not sure how respectable he’s ever been) have made fools of themselves defending her as vehemently as they have. I’ve found it quite amusing.
Difference is now that Dunn and Abreu are off the board is that the Yankees might actually be able to get more in return for one of Nady or Swisher, making a trade more feasible. Their value is up now that potentially better trade-free options are gone, so maybe that pushes the Braves closer to what Cashman was demanding, or maybe another team still looking for an OFer (San Francisco if they lose out on Manny?) would also get involved.
I think the smart money is still on the two of them starting the year in New York, though, but this does make things a little more interesting.
Good stuff.
Pete – I also hope you get to interview Mark Melancon at some point and give us your take.
I love Brian Bruney, always have. I still believed in him after Torre burned him out and then unceremoniously relegated him to nothingness status. To watch the guy pitch is to know he has so much damned talent!
I truly celebrate the way Girardi handles a bullpen, I must say.
You have to give Brian Bruney a lot of credit.
He’s an example of a guy who took control of his career.
He lost a ton of weight, got in great shape, and was throwing the ball really well last year.
He got hurt on a wet field in Chicago, in a game that NEVER should have been played, rehabbed, and came back stronger.
Instead of resting on laurels, he lost ANOTHER 16 pounds (making him nearly 50 pounds thinner than he was in 2007) for this season.
That’s a guy who you root for and hope he has a huge year.
I agree on Albie. A scout I know that saw him pitch this winter said he could be the “surprise guy” in the Yankee bullpen this year. He even recommended his team try and acquire him. He really likes what he brings out of the ‘pen.
As far as Posada is concerned, I was at a charity event in Tampa the week of the Super Bowl. I asked a couple of players how he is doing and they all said the same thing….”He’s back throwing and hitting pain free”.
If that holds up, that’s a big piece of the puzzle going in the right direction for the Yankees.
Steve – Guess it all comes down to how desperate the Braves are. I have no knowledge of their organization but a Nady + other good pieces (relief or starting pitching prospect depth at work) can bring back something worthwhile.
Previous thread:
I’ve never given you grief about what you post Pete, but this is a little too much:
“You can’t really believe anything he says, so asking him questions won’t prove anything.”
If this were true, than why do you call for Alex to do it the “right” way and hold a press conference? I mean, if he’s a liar and we can’t believe ANYTHING, what would a press conference do?
I love every Yankee regardless, just because they r a Yankee. He fessed up to a mistake he made and gave up a timetable of his use. ALL THIS, mind you, without a grand jury or Congress. That’s more than we have gotten from ANY steroid user still playing.
I’d take him at his word for this. IMO, the highest profile player in the game would be crazy to use steroids while they r starting to test.
On a more baseball note, what is the consensus of Melky’s ceiling?
SJ44, I’m particularly interested in your opinion on this matter?
Doubles, gap power, or more of a hit for average kind of guy. I think we ca rule out slugger at this point. But seriously, what kind of hitter can we hope, realistically, cabrera can become?
If you really want to get your blood boiling, you’ll enjoy today’s effort by SF Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins. Jenkins, you may recall, wrote an earlier column imploring CC Sabathia to forego the big money and glitz and phoniness of New York and stay home (for much less) with the Giants. This is the same Jenkins, as I mentioned at the time, who likes to wax poetic during US Open time about tennis stars showing their talents on the biggest stage.
Today Jenkins writes:
“You can’t help but wonder what CC Sabathia thinks of all this. He knew he was signing with a corporate bully, tossing money into the air like confetti, but he had no idea the Yankees’ so-called Bronx Zoo would escalate into full-scale chaos so quickly.
For one thing, the Yankees’ so-called powerhouse is hardly that. This is an old and terribly vulnerable team, starting with Derek Jeter, who turns 35 this summer and continues a gradual decline so evident, the stat guys are calling him the worst defensive shortstop in the American League.
The aging catcher, Jorge Posada, is trying to recover from shoulder surgery. So is Mariano Rivera, the storied but 39-year-old closer. Hideki Matsui is coming off his second major knee surgery in two years. Center field, the position with all that Yankees history, has become a grim struggle between Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner.
Nobody knows what to expect from Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher or Robinson Cano – or, for that matter, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte in the rotation. There’s no help coming from a farm system that hasn’t produced an impact position player since Jeter – 14 years ago. Alex Rodriguez, who has a rather fragile psyche anyway, will find that curiosity and skepticism accompany his every at-bat, now that 156 of his career home runs are officially tarnished.
It’s a good thing the Yanks picked up Sabathia and Mark Teixeira for $28.2 billion, or whatever it was, because this is one flawed outfit. And that’s just on the field. The A-Rod circus and the residue of Joe Torre’s book should make for some really fun times around the clubhouse, and that’s a situation Joe Girardi, a manager who likes things nice and simple, won’t be able to handle.
And to think, Sabathia’s life would have been so much simpler if he’d signed with the Giants. Don’t give me this nonsense about “he had to do it” because of the money. He was either going to be an insanely rich Yankee or a ridiculously rich Giant. There are athletes who know the difference, who have settled for less in the name of lifestyle and common sense. CC just might wish he’d joined them.
E-mail Bruce Jenkins at bjenkins@sfchronicle.com.”
http://tinyurl.com/dhyvbb
bonds wasn’t in the list of 104. it would be really funny if arod wasn’t on the list and he was tricked into confessing.
With Abreu and Dunn gone, it would seem to me that Manny has no where else to go but back to LAD. If I were them, I’d low ball him and make him beg like the dog that he is.
I don’t see the OF rotation messing up the lineup. I think 1-7 should remain pretty consistent.
Damon
Jeter
Tex
Arod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Nady, Swisher, Cabrera, and Gardner can all fight it out for the last two spots, but that’s not too much in terms of lineup changes.
I’ve been saying this for weeks, but I still see Damon starting games in CF with Swisher and Nady in Left and Right, and one of those guys taking a seat late in the games while Damon moves to LF and Cabrera/Gardner comes in as a defensive replacement. I just don’t see how they can’t optimize the hitting while all that good pitching is on the mound. More strikeouts = less balls for Damon in CF.
we have the best bullpen in baseball…
nick,
bruce jenkins is an idiot, i’ve never ever enjoyed reading a column of his. as a tennis player myself, his understanding of the game is downright poor. just because he knows brad gilbert doesn’t make him an expert
Good to hear Posada showing good pop at the plate. It’s tough to get real excited though until he’s making throws at game speed behind the dish. Those snap throws to second are going to be the real test.
Nick,
I would say, CC has 161 million reasons why he is happy he chose NY! lol
He didn’t seem like a unhappy guy at the charity event I saw him at during Super Bowl week.
At least he didn’t sing “I left my heart in SF” during the live auction.
Joey,
Melky should be a gap hitter. I thought his swing got real long last year after he hit some HR’s in April. I think it really messed him up, especially from the right side, and he was out of whack the rest of the season.
I hope he gets back to being the line drive, patient hitter he was until last year. Time will tell if that happens.
Nick in SF -
Wow! Guess he doesn’t really like the Yankees at all, huh? Whew.
Sour grapes this harvest?
“bonds wasn’t in the list of 104. it would be really funny if arod wasn’t on the list and he was tricked into confessing.”
He would be on suicide watch.
“I just don’t see how they can’t optimize the hitting while all that good pitching is on the mound. More strikeouts = less balls for Damon in CF.”
Very good point. If there is a backup OF it should be Gardner since Melky cant hit and Gardner’s faster.
*Supposedly* all 104 on the list were informed in 2004.
Melky can hit, he just didn’t last year for whatever reasons.
SJ44,
Pete keeps updating his blog but unfortunately I’d like to respond to your response to me from the last thread.
You said:
“Do you think they just found out what was going on? That’s less credible than anything any baseball player can say about steroids.”
Where did I say I thought that? What did that have to do with my post? The answer is, I didn’t say I thought that and it has nothing to with what I said in my post. You are attacking my “credibility” on a point not made by me.
You said:
“Personal attacks on Roberts, or any journalist, is not my thing. I don’t think that’s right. It is fair game though to talk about how they come upon information, the scope of it, and the agenda they may or may not have with the subject they are covering.”
This is a sly comment. You say personal attacks are not right, then insinuate the reporter has an agenda (which insinuates an unfair agenda). You have made many posts over the last few days which could be viewed as an attack on Selena Roberts, as have many other people.
You said:
“I think most of us just have “Arod fatigue”.
I think you have made more posts than anyone on the subject. I’ve refrained since Saturday, so maybe my fatigue is less.
You said:
“The information she got on him was correct. How she got the information, her actions before and after getting the information, and the fact she is writing an unauthorized bio on the subject she is now going after, are fair game to discuss.”
Leaks are not new. Depending on whose ox is gored, we all applaud or condemn them. But your beef should be with the person who leaked this info, not on the reporter who got the leak. If your beef is with the reporter that ship has long since sailed, and anyway, that’s what a free press does.
Jenkins is a chump Nick in SF…….Meanwhile the Giants are a good power hitter from being a factor in the NL West and they haven’t done didley…..CC will soak up the The Yankee environment
I know a fair bit about pitching mechanics, but I’m shallow on hitting mechanics. Can someone please explain what it means when you say a guy’s swing has gotten “long”? What does this mean, what does it look like? And can you give an example of a compact swing? Thanks
I really, really doubt that Damon will play much CF except in an emergency.
That question about whether A-Rod actually wasn’t on the list but was tricked into confessing is hilarious. I’m sure it can’t be true, but can you imagine? Suicide watch is right.
Oh no, Bruce Jenkins thinks we are not going to lose! We are screwed. I guess I should become a Giants fan because they are such a great team.
We are going to lose, that is.
IMO our whole season depends on Posada. If he’s healthy and can hit like he’s capable of, I think we can win 100+ games.
If he’s not, then we’ll do well to get to 95.
Wave,
She is writing an unauthorized biography, in which she questions his sexuality, in the “Rise and Fall of Alex Rodriquez”.
Real “journalism” or tabloid stuff? I’ll choose the latter.
Not every leak is a violation of the law. In this case, it was. Can you not see the difference?
Somebody broke the law to give her that information. It may not bother you.
However, if somebody did that to you, I don’t think you would be a happy camper about it happening.
Nick
Union says no. They say they told the 85 active players on the list that the Feds confiscated their tests but not the result of the test.
I can’t wait for registration.. it’ll weed out idiots.
That said, I can’t wait for the season to start.
“we have the best bullpen in baseball…”
Might potentially be, but there’s a lot more mystery there than we’d like. Rivera and Marte are the only guys close to a sure thing to perform well in their jobs. After that, there’s nothing close to a lock.
CC, AJ, Tex and Swisher are geting baptism by fire. Welcome to NY!
Is that writer Jenkins aware they have Barry Zito @ 18M per year and just signed Randy Johnson in the offseason.
He should worry about his own teams shortcomings before reflecting on his bitter disappointment that they didn’t get CC.
i mean if you really want to talk a waste of money/uncertainty in the rotation.
Lincecum/Cain/?/?/? – Giants rotation
outside of Randy Winn/Molina/Rowand/Roberts I actually couldn’t tell you there lineup.
The Giants actually have a fairly decent rotation. Lincecum /cain is probably the best young YOUNG 1-2 punch in the majors. Johnson will probably post a sub 4 ERA and decent Ks in the NL West. Sanchez is an injury risk but puts up a great K rate when healthy. They also have Noah Lowry and yes, Barry Zito.
But then they have great prospects in Alderson and Bumgarner etc. So they dont suuuuck, Joey.
As he’s critical of the CC and Teixeira signings, I suppose Jenkins thinks the Giants shouldn’t commit the $65 million or so it would take to lock down Manny, even though it would likely make them the favorite to win their division.
I don’t get how anybody, including Pete, could defend journalists so much.
Yea, sometimes they write great stories that really reflect reality, other times, they r looking for a juicy story or something for a headline.
Heres a tip for life: If you look for something hard enough, you will find proof of it, even if it really isn’t true.
Weren’t there a group of people whom vote for ROTY who voted in Volquez when he wasn’t even a rookie?!
What makes a journalists word any more truthful than a ballplayers?
frits-
IF johnson makes it thru the season. IF Sanchez makes it thru the season.
I see your points. If you read the Jenkins article, all i was trying to point out is that every problem Jenkins cited with the Yankees, his beloved Giants have 3 fold.
And he’s still crying about CC not coming to SF. Well heres a newsflash for Jenkins:
There is a player named Manny Ramirez who is as much of an impact as CC, if not more. So instead of writing articles on why the biggest FA pitcher went to NY instead of SF, he should write about Manny and why he should be with the Giants.
Who need to smile?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDJjyoYLxAA
When did SR have the test results? Cause, honestly last year ARod signed his ten year deal that eclipsed his old deal, so it would seem he was still on the Rise. What made her think there was a fall?
Joey, I couldn’t agree more. Put Manny on that team and they would win the NL West. With a power combo of Lincecum/Cain/Johnson et al, that team could very well make a playoff run. It seems crazy, it really does, but Manny would fill a far greater hole than CC. Of course, not literally. CC is quite a big bigger.
Joey- As dave said last night journalists have a sense of entitlement that seemingly makes them better than us normal people. If they are on a witch hunt they are just being good journalists if I drove around A-Rod’s home and stalked him I would be thrown in jail for a decent amount of time. However this Roberts woman is a folk-hero to the media-types its absurd really. Congrats Selena you ruined an athletes career and are going to make millions off of it, it truly is a selfish industry.
i have to stand with the constitution here against the people attacking roberts.
i see no proof that she broke any laws.
her report was correct and confirmed by arod.
nothing he charged about her was correct.
i dont like reporters following people, but i love freedom of the press.
ham stop
MYGIRLS – Funny coming from a person who adds nothing to the conversation.
Nick
you provided his e-mail. why dont you compose a nice response. Something very Nick in SF like We will all sign it and send it him.
carl, what is innacurrate there?
Alby ( does he have a nickname yet?) had an incredible winter. Here are his stats for those interested.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=nyy
Hey Nick,
Since Jenkins referenced the “stat guys” in his Jeter comment, maybe we should send him a link to what the “stat guys” project for the Yankees and Giants records this season.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/fantasy/dc/
“Supposedly all 104 on the list were informed in 2004.”
nick in sf-
no one seems to be clear on that. i’ve read conflicting reports.
Ham Fighters
February 11th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
i dont like reporters following people, ***but i love freedom of the press***
————————————————————
There’s a Hell of a lot of difference between “Freedom OF the press” and “Freedom FOR the press”.
I’m liking our bullpen this year, I think Cash has it right giving a bunch of hard-throwing kids a shot through the BP. I like Bruney, i think he’s going to have a big year, I’m looking forward to seeing a full season out of him.
I think it’s important that we have Swisher and or Nady on the bench/platooning, someone might get hurt, and it will keep Damon and Matsui fresher down the stretch.
This will be the most competitive spring training in several years for bullpen spots. Multiple good arms.
Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland will have hard decisions to make for the final cuts. Nothing quite like depth in this game.
I was thinking the exact same thing about Bruney and Joba. I’ve been a HUGE Bruney fan since the first time he threw for the Yankees (against the Royals I believe.) And he is a little like Joba, the competitiveness, the “hit me if you can” attitude, wanting the ball, etc. I think his problem with Arizona was the lack of control, but except for a few bouts with that (okay, and 2007), he’s been a great pick up for the Yankees the last three seasons.