It’s so hard to be a saint in the city
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- February
- 21
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Here’s a great shot from the AP of Nick Swisher having a little fun while signing autographs.
I think that will be it for tonight in terms of blogging. The games get started on Wednesday and that will be a welcome change from the workouts.
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on Saturday, February 21st, 2009 at 7:44 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Man, Swish is just awesome. We finally have our clubhouse ring leader.
The blog sisters fell back and said …
“Don’t that man look pretty”
swish and damon should make a fun clubhouse
i cant wait for games to start….gonna be so much fun
I’m glad players like Swisher Damon Tex etc are around. They lightened things up. The team in the past was way too serious too corporate. Now the team looks like they could be having fun.
OMG! that is the greatest photo EVER!
Swish will be the GREATEST yankee EVER!
Nick Swisher has fit in right away. Good for team chemistry and good for taking away from all the boring A-Rod jibberish.
If done right, Girardi will get him enough playing time with all his versatility.
Gotta like a guy who doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously. Looking forward to a good year with some good guys.
Great photo of Swish. Does anybody know if Mlb mobile will be showing play by play of the games. Last year they only showed the plays after the innings during spring training. Where can I get the WBC games on mobile. Glad to get any info, Thanks. Have a good night Pete. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
“OMG! that is the greatest photo EVER! Swish will be the GREATEST yankee EVER”
yes. Even better then Ruth, Gerhig, Dimaggio, Berra, Mantle etc. Cuz he stuck his tongue out, in a photo
very exciting just got the mlb at bat update for iphone and it says for the 2009 season they will be streaming live audio from the games with no blackout restrictions meaning that we can listen to susan and john without a radio at the game ha ha
I love that pic – this is the 2nd one of Nick where his tongue his hanging out – I think that says a lot, lol.
Gayle posted a story at the end of the previous thread about Damon joking with Swisher about needing a loan – this clubhouse (granted, I’m sure there were fun moments in prior Spring Trainings) just seems a lot looser. It’s hard not to laugh when someone is always happy and joking like Swish is….and then, of course, CC is always such a positive presence. I think Mo, Jete, Po and Andy must think this is a really welcome change of pace because the new guys the Yanks have brought in recently have been such sourpusses (Johnson), idiots (Pavano – to put it kindly), whiny drama queens (Sheffield) without any sense of humor. Then, AJ is there to keep things just a tad off-kilter – and Tex is there to balance things out. I think these guys are going to bring the best out in each other. Maybe I’m being pollyanna-ish and seeing just what I want to see, but after last year (the worst in my Yankee fanhood), the fact that I feel such hope is a blessing.
Whats so great about a guy who acts like a screwball? my kids give me the same face every day. I’m not saying theres anything wrong with it, it’s good for a laugh but come on. It doesn’t mean theres any chemistry, it just means he’s a wacko who likes to have fun…
“I think that will be it for tonight in terms of blogging.”
For some reason I don’t believe you Pete…
Swisher should play CF. I don’t care if he doesn’t care to.
Jason – Exactly.
We’ll see where this great ‘chemistry’ is during the 1st 3 game losing streak.
Same story every year— we are supposed to have ‘great’ chemistry because of some new additions. The atmosphere is ‘lighter’ and ‘looser’. Last year, we were supposed to have Joba, Hughes, Duncan, and Kennedy and a new manager to make this team younger and more cohesive. It resulted in no playoffs.
In 07, we rid ourselves of Sheffield, Wright, Randy etc. and we had the Melky/Cano duo always dancing and smiling and towards the end of the year we had outgoing guys like Shelly Duncan, Joba, Hughes, Bruney etc. plus Clemens there to provide leadership… it led to another 1st round exit.
In 06, we lost Sheffield and Matsui for the season and ARod had a miserable year. We ended up filling in with guys like Cairo, Andy Phillips, Aaron Guiel, Melky, Sal Fasano, etc. and the clubhouse seemed looser without the superstars. We won 97 games and were embarrassed by Detroit.
Same story every year. Bottom line— It is about wins and losses. The 06 Cardinals hated eachother and their manager, yet they beat the loosey goosey Mets in the NLCS and ton the WS.
Chemist is the most overrated aspect of baseball. This isin’t the NBA where you have 5 guys on the court and you need to work together. Or the NFL where you work as units. Baseball is an individual sport.
A-Rod isin’t going to hit better because Nick Swisher made him laugh. This is great Spring Training fodder to keep us occupied, nothing more unfortunately.
the title for this entry is one of the best Bruce songs
Swish is going to be the guy in charge of keeping the clubhouse loose—- he is the only player who has virtually no pressure on him. The guy hit .219 last yr and is going to probably be a bench player.
Guys like CC, AJ, Teix have enormous contracts and expectations to live up to and the fans/media except instant gratification. As MO said… they better get off to a fast start or the booing will start.
Swisher on the otherhand can just be himself and be one of the clubhouse frat boys that keeps everybody loose. He doesn’t have the weight of the world on him like the other guys. He’s going to play an important role in the clubhouse.
I always wanted us to acquire Eric Byrnes, just to be a leader and guy who can loosen things up during the grind of the 162.
Well, we now have a younger, better, and crazier version of Byrnes. Very excited. I just hope he can be himself and not check his personality at the door like most of our other past acquisitions.
IS IT ME OR DOES SWISHER NEVER HAVE HIS TOUNGE IN HIS MOUTH LOL…..HE IS GREAT SWISHER AND GARDNER PLATOON FOR CENTER ..THE END SEND MELKEY ON HIS MERRY WAY IF HE CANT BEAT GARDNER HE SHOULDNT BE HEAR BUT WE WILL SEE…
LETS GO YANKEES
As long as he isin’t a liability, Swisher should be the CF’er.
I know he hated it, but if his choice is playing CF or sitting on the bench, I’m sure he would embrace playing CF. Especially on this team, surrounded by these hitters where he knows he’s going to win.
He should get plenty of reps in ST to see if he can handle it. Even if he is below average, its ok. So long as he isin’t a liability.
Um can someone explain to me how they can say distractions mount? this is old news.
NEW YORK (TICKER) —The distractions keep mounting for the New York Yankees.
The son of Yankees vice president Felix Lopez Jr. was arrested in 2002 for trafficking in a banned date-rape drug that athletes use for muscle recovery and for possession of anabolic steroids, according to a report Saturday in the New York Post.
Felix Lopez III served 19 months of probation after pleading guilty to reduced charges in 2003.
Lopez III had been seen working out at the Yankees’ minor league complex but was asked to stay away after the Post made team sources aware of his criminal past.
The 30-year-old Lopez III was arrested at his Tampa home in September 2002 as part of a nationwide Drug Enforcement Administration sting, for trafficking in a drug known as GBL – a chemical relative of the date rape drug GHB.
During the raid, police found vials of anabolic steroids, a shotgun and paperwork referring to chemicals used to make Ecstasy, according to the report.
Lopez III also was arrested on a battery charge in 2005 after allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend. That case later was dropped.
His father, Lopez Jr., is the son-in-law of Yankees principle owner George Steinbrenner.
Earlier this week, a source told the Post that Lopez III had been hired as a strength trainer for the Yankees’ minor league facility, which is overseen by Lopez Jr.
But Lopez III, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, and Howard Rubenstein – a spokesman for George Steinbrenner – all denied that the younger Lopez had been, or was going to ever be, hired by the Yankees.
From Swisher on twitter
This team is amazing. Cannot believe I have been blessed enough to be here. I am on cloud 9
LOVE HIM!!
Jen– just saw that. So awesome. Can’t wait till the games start
Swisher seems like a great guy. I bet him, Damon, Joba and CC all went out last night and got trashed, CC drank more than he could handle.
By the way, I was looking at Swisher’s twitter and he is saying that he is running more than he’s ever run in camp. Didn’t Pete say that Girardi was going to scale back the running a bit this camp?
Sooner or later, all these things surrounding the team become white noise, and they will totally tune them out, if they haven’t already.
The thing that bothers me with this team is how they have gotten off to slow starts the last 4 years or so. The players they have added are slow starters as well. CC was very slow to get going last year, somebody detailed earlier how much better Burnett has been in the second half, and Tex is a notorious slow starter. Put that with Posada and Mo easing into the beginning of the season, and they could be in an early hole. I think Nady usually starts quick, let’s hope he does. Also hope that Arod knocks down that wall that is robert’s book, and has an ‘07-like start. If the Yanks are close through mid-May, they will run away with it. If not, another dogfight for their playoff lives.
I really like Swisher and I hope the Yanks keep him and I hope he finds his swing. But if you want to know how out of whack baseball’s salary structure is, the fact that a Nick Swisher will be making $24.55 million over the next few years – and is still considered a relative bargain – well, look no further.
Mark – A fast start is important for so many reasons, this year especially. Between the Selena Roberts book, the steroid thing, keeping Boston/TB in the rear view mirror, CC/AJ etc. getting off to good starts for their own well-being with the fans/media etc.
A slow start will be very detrimental. Our first 6 games are against the Os and Royals too. Considering, as you mentioned, that most of our key players are slow-starters, I’m not expecting much. But it is crucial for them to get off to that quick start.
Patrick- I said that to Nick!
Maybe they don’t run in other camps.
We should retire Swisher’s number immediately.
There was a youtube video with Swisher (when he was with OAK) talking about how much he hates Josh Beckett. I saw it the day we traded for him… ever since then, I knew I would love him.
“There was a youtube video with Swisher (when he was with OAK) talking about how much he hates Josh Beckett. I saw it the day we traded for him… ever since then, I knew I would love him.”
He and I share something in common!
“I really like Swisher and I hope the Yanks keep him and I hope he finds his swing. But if you want to know how out of whack baseball’s salary structure is, the fact that a Nick Swisher will be making $24.55 million over the next few years – and is still considered a relative bargain – well, look no further”
yet Orlando Hudson and Bobby Abreu, are on 1-year 5 million dollar contracts.
many ways NYY could have upgraded the offense, without dropping $180 million/8 years, for 1 player.
Swish for HOF!!!
“Well, we now have a younger, better, and crazier version of Byrnes. Very excited. I just hope he can be himself and not check his personality at the door like most of our other past acquisitions”
I hope so. I liked Eric Byrnes, from day 1. I belive he was underated defensively (at least in his early Oakland days)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgZi-zaOshQ
That’s the Swisher video you’re talking about, right TT?
“many ways NYY could have upgraded the offense, without dropping $180 million/8 years, for 1 player.”
i love to complain!! my team signed the best position player available, and even though it’s not my money, i’m going to sit here and try to sound smart and contrarian!
what does Orlando Hudson have to do with upgrading the offense? where was he going to play?
same with Abreu.
none of those guys play 1B. and none of them can hold Teixeira’s jock.
they should just change the name of this place to the Whiner’s Forum.
ps. Eric Byrnes is terrible.
terrible.
doesn’t like Beckett?
ok with me.
duh: and your arrogant posts are, as well.
at least i’m not sitting here and complaining about signing a franchine 1Bman.
let’s see.
hits for average? check. hits for power? check. gets on base? check. switch hitter? check. hits in the postseason? check. excellent defense? check. under 30 years old? check. great character? check.
no, you’re right. the yankees should go to the bargain bin when there is Hall of Fame level talent available.
Instead of spending $180 million on Teixeria,
We could have signed
Hudson for the bench for $3 million
Dunn for 1st for $8 mil
Abreu in right for $5 mil
Cameron in center (trade) for $8 mil
For the same price as Teixeria and upgraded FOUR positions and gotten them all at 1 yr deals too. We also would not be blocking Jesus Montero/Brandon Laird.
We could have also gone after Matt Holliday next winter to be our cornerstone right fielder.
Teixeria is a good player but not a smart investment when you see above at how we could have spent the money and retained flexibility while making the team even better.
duh: STFU.
ps: the name fits you.
I bet that would have all panned out too right Jason? It’s not as if Dunn preferred the national league, we have too many outfielders, we would have had to trade a minor leaguer, and people hate to be benchers or anything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Hard to believe we got Swisher for Betemit lol
Hudson for the bench for $3 million
Dunn for 1st for $8 mil
Abreu in right for $5 mil
Cameron in center (trade) for $8 mil
———————————-
Yeah that would have been great.
Hudson is injury prone and a poor hitter away from Arizona.
Dunn is awful on defense.
Abreu is awful on defense and in decline on offense.
Cameron is barely above Melky?Gardenr.
Try again.
I said this before and apparently in bears repeating. Why do people assume that becuase player X signed for Y they would sign for Y with the Yankees. When has a player ever taken less to sign with the Yankees?
Jen, thanks for posting that!
Swisher obviously loves being a Yankee and what fan can’t get behind that? Aww, I really hope he has a good year – he’s impossible not to love.
“Yeah that would have been great.
Hudson is injury prone and a poor hitter away from Arizona.
Dunn is awful on defense.
Abreu is awful on defense and in decline on offense.
Cameron is barely above Melky?Gardenr.
Try again”
you’re right, that would have been bad.
point is: it was a buyer’s market. It would’ve been nice to see Cashman show a bit of creativity, to solve the offense. Instead of dropping 180million/8yrs for 1 player.
Like Burnett…. Swisher has the personality to be a STAR off the field in NYC. He is clearly already a fan favorite without even playing a game yet lol, but if he does well, he will be revered here. He just has such a great personality. He’s going to love the spotlight and big stage and bright lights… he was born for this.
Creativity? If I have $100 to use at a Casino do you spread the money around to 5 tables with bad odds or throw it all in to one table that’s almost a sure thing?
Jason:
I don’t particularly like Dunn, however i definitely see where you’re coming from. And would’ve preferred Holiday over Texeria, as well.
anyway, hopefully NYY will get off to a decent start. Prefer to see the current structure (Girardi/Cashman) remain in tact.
vin – I think it’s been established that Cashman has no creativity. I do agree with you. If Cashman was more innovative, then Teix would not be necessary. He can’t solve problems without throwing money at them, unfortunately.
what is that lump on swisher’s neck
Teixeira has a pretty good chance of making the Hall of Fame. In fact, what he does as a Yankee will probably determine it. It’s good to add HoF level talents.
Looks like a bandaid on his neck.
Teixeria is one of the most dedicated players in the game and his body will age well. He is certainly on a HOF trajectory if he keeps up his numbers. He is also the best (or 2nd best) defensive 1B in the league.
If he wins a couple of rings with us and continues to put up the numbers, he is in. He was such a wise investment for us. Great player, great person.
Tex has 203 HRs through 6 seasons and age 28 and has won 2 gold gloves.
kevin has some more great photos of the new stadium:
http://nyyankeesrumors.com/new.....ate-22109/
Tex will win AL MVP.
I love Nick Swisher….
We also have Nick Swisher for 2 more years at a very reasonable price to play corner OF in 2010 and 11…after we lose 3 corner OF’s after this season
I was shocked to read that Tex only made one All-Star game… shows how slow of a starter he really is.
in other news:
MLB network = greatest channel in history of television
Swisher’s contract also has a $10 million dollar team option for 2012. So we could have him for 4 seasons.
Tex and Swisher are both perfect fits for the team. We were very fortunate to be able to get both. And buying low and early on Swisher was smart and creative on Cashman’s part. Letting Tex develop a market before swooping in was also smart if not creative. Selling Darrell Rasner to Japan for 1M was smart and funny.
just to have a little fun…
anyone want to take a wild guess on which Yankee will hit the first regular season homerun at the new stadium?
i’m calling a johnny damon leadoff homerun on opening day.
yeah, that right.
Hideki Matsui.
I say Swish!!
A-Rod will hit the first one
gmen21 February 21st, 2009 at 11:22 pm
what is that lump on swisher’s neck
**********************
That’s where they plug in the AC cord.
Brett Gardner!
Swisher will hit the 1st HR and they will promptly stop the game in order to retire his number in monument park. The HOF committee and Bud Selig will also be on hand to induct him in the hall at that same time. Do not miss any of this action.
Angel Berroa
Girardi felt that Jeter needed a day off, and Berroa filled in for him and hit a moon shot off Cliff Lee
Grady Sizemore
“Swisher will hit the 1st HR and they will promptly stop the game in order to retire his number in monument park. The HOF committee and Bud Selig will also be on hand to induct him in the hall at that same time. Do not miss any of this action”
lol. Amazing what sticking your tongue out, will do for a fanbase.
Daily News Photo Day photos much better than the other ones.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....o_day.html
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....fense-ever
Without comment
Yankees 2005 season
That season, the aggregate UZR in the Bronx was -130 runs. -130! Despite a tremendous offense worth +139 runs, only nine runs remained due to defensive ineptitudes.
How were they that bad? Not only is it the worst team defense of playoff teams, it is the worst team defense of anybody since at least 2002. The next worse mark belongs to the 2003 Brewers at -75 runs. Essentially, the Yankees defense in 2005 fell 5.5 wins below the next worse defense in the same seven year span.
Of players with at least 70 games played at a position, only Alex Rodriguez’s third base performance of +1.4 runs surpassed the league average mark of zero. After Rodriguez came Tino Martinez, with a -1.3 mark at first base, and Hideki Matsui, with -1.9 run defense in left field. Jason Giambi logged 78 games at first base as well, with -3.2 run defense. So far, things don’t look that bad, but we’re just getting started.
Every stathead’s favorite whipping boy, Derek Jeter, is next with a -12.5 rating at shortstop. Jeter won a gold glove for his “stellar” defense. His partner up the middle, Robinson Cano, played even worse defense, at -18.4 runs. The poor defensive performances of both Bernie Williams and Gary Sheffield dwarf that figure, however. Williams played -28.6 run defense in centerfield, which was almost equally as poor as Sheff’s -29 UZR in right field.
So there you have it: the worst defensive team in the win values era. I would venture a guess that their reign would extend even farther back as well. Luckily, they were able to hit, but the team could have been even better with more solid defenders. Everyone is quick to point fingers at A-Rod or concoct other reasons for their dearth of recent championships, but perhaps much of it has to do with how offensive production looks sexier than defense, and the Yankees have trotted horrible defenders out, time and time again.
Kingdom February 22nd, 2009 at 12:03 am
Swisher will hit the 1st HR and they will promptly stop the game in order to retire his number in monument park. The HOF committee and Bud Selig will also be on hand to induct him in the hall at that same time. Do not miss any of this action.
*********************************************************
Hopefully Swish will be batting 4th instead of that journey man scrub ARod.
Jason,
You are forgetting a very important aspect of the Teixeira signing…it kept him from Boston. It made us better at their expense. Even if Teixeira’s presence conservatively only adds 3 wins, Boston loses 3. That nets us 6 wins over Boston. In the AL East, that’s HUGE!
“Even if Teixeira’s presence conservatively only adds 3 wins, Boston loses 3.”
3 actually isn’t all that conservative. It’s about right. While keeping him from Boston was obviously a good thing, you’re wrong in Boston losing 3. How can not having a guy who was never on their team cost them 3 losses?
I guess what he means is that if Boston got Teixeria, they would add 3 wins. But since they didn’t get Teixeria and lost him to a division rival, they lost the 3 games they should have gained.. hence a 6 point swing.
In theory they didn’t lose any actual games, but they didn’t gain any and we gained what they should have. I think?
pat February 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 am
Daily News Photo Day photos much better than the other ones.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....o_day.html
===================================================
Those are so much nicer than the other ones. They actually look like normal humans.
“Those are so much nicer than the other ones. They actually look like normal humans.”
They didn’t take any pictures of Edwar, so yes this is technically correct.
http://img527.imageshack.us/im.....eggar1.jpg
Yankees are gonna be on 30 clubs 30 days tonight at 8 eastern
where is pete?
The Daily News pictures are better – the ones inside against the dark background with AJ, Pettitte, Damon and Nady are awesome. The outside ones that look like they used some kind of weird lens are still a little strange – especially Joba.
Amazing. The 1st exhibition games start on Wednesday and Manny Ramirez is still not signed. Who woulda thunk it ?
Good quote from Kevin Cash in the Boston Globe today. Talks about what a solid rotation the Yankees have and then ” ..but what people don’t know is that there are some pretty good young arms here too. Melancon has as good a stuff as you’ll ever see… but what stuff. This kid Andrew Brackman has a tremendous arm. When he figures it our, watch out. He can really throw. And the guys in here are great.”
Let’s hope Cash knows what he is talking about.
It should be a good performance incentive for Swisher that Joe Girardi said the Nady and he will compete for the Right Field position.
Even though Joe says he is not looking to platoon them, I think they’ll both make the team. Swisher can play all 3 outfield position and Nady can play LF too, so I see there being room for both on the roster, and I wouldn’t be eager to trade
Finally a Yankee that has some personality besides the Big G and JD!
If I’m Cashman, I pull the trigger on a Melky for Big G trade just for clubhouse morale. I’d give the Big G a $2.5 mil contract to be director of clubhouse fun.