Today in The Journal News
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- July
- 13
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The Yankees were swept by the Angels as playing against a top team again proved troublesome.
Joe Girardi plans to spread out playing time in the outfield after the break. This notebook also has updates on A-Rod and Sergio Mitre.
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Coming to you from Gate B-24 in Atlanta …
Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Mariano Rivera arrived in St. Louis last night, having taken a private plane chartered by Jeter. They’ll take part in the festivities tonight. Jeter was disappointed to hear that his WBC pal, Dustin Pedroia, had asked out of the game to attend to his pregnant wife.
“I hope she’s doing OK,” he said. “It would have been fun to play with him again, but your family has to come first.”
A-Rod will spend the break with his kids and Dr. Mark Lindsay, his physical therapist. He told The Daily News that he planned to watch “every inning” of the All-Star Game, which is kind of funny considering he was actually in the game last season and left Yankee Stadium before it was over while Jeter hung around for all 15 innings.
Meanwhile, I’ve been at the gate for 20 minutes and for 15 of them, an alarm has been going off. Here is what it sounds like:
So far, three Delta employees have stopped, looked at the door and kept walking rather than, you know, seeing what the alarm was for or perhaps even stopping it.
I finally went over to the next gate and asked the person there to do something. “Oh, they’ll get to it,” she told me.
“It’s been going on for 15 minutes,” I said.
“That’s not my job, sir,” she said.
And people wonder why airlines are failing. Meanwhile. “they” still haven’t got to it.
At least the annoying buzz obscures the “please do not smoke in the terminals” announcement made every 17 seconds. Is there really a danger in this day and age that smokers will somehow think its OK to light up in airports? They can’t get their lighters through security anyway. You probably could space those announcements out a tad.
I’m cranky. Connecting at 5:45 a.m. will do that.
This entry was posted
on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 5:45 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Mornin’ Pete.
Hang in. You’ll be home sweet home soon enough. Enjoy your break.
Airports are just unbelievable. The one in Orlando has been asking us to “Pardon their appearance” because they’re making this “better” for us for the last 5 or so years. The guts have been hanging out of the ceiling for all this time and aside from the flat screen TVs that are hanging from the plumbing or whatever it is in that exposed ceiling, I can’t figure out what the “improvements” are!
But they do have that cool monorail that takes you from the gates to the baggage claim area.
So, the HR Derby is tonight already? And the AS game is tomorrow. And Wednesday and Thursday off? Is that the schedule? I’ll probably watch the festivities, but frankly if there was something better to do, I’d do it!
I didn’t know Pedroia had stepped out of the game because of his wife. I hope she’s okay. Anyone know the story on that?
The Yanks peformance against Boston and Anaheim is very troublesome. You have to also consider that Ortiz wasn’t hitting when we played them and the Angels were missing two of their best players……scary.
The Yankees are 2-4 against the Angels and it easily could’ve been 3-3 if it wasn’t for a couple of bad breaks yesterday. People need to relax about records against other teams in the first half as they have a tendency to change somewhat in the second half.
Their record against supposed “good teams” isn’t troublesome at all.
Torre’s Yankees couldn’t beat the Angels either and their record this season against the Red Sox is more of a freakish thing than a telling sign this team is full of chokers.
The fanbase and media always make a bigger deal of this issue than the players do.
“The fanbase and media always make a bigger deal of this issue than the players do.”
Because the players understand that momentum is only as long as your next starter’s performance.
2-4 against the Angels isn’t HORRIBLE. It ain’t good, but it’s not horrible.
When you throw that together with the 0-8 against the RS, sure, it sounds really, really bad. But I’m not sure you can fairly lump those together. Also, it’s not good to make a “fait accompli” type assessment against the Red Sox at midpoint when for the last couple of years the Yankees have done poorly against them in the beginning and then recouped at the end. I’ll reserve judgment on that for the end of the year. Also agree that in the Red Sox games, mostly they were not dominated by Boston, but a loss IS a loss, so you can’t dwell on that, either.
Also, they’ve held their own with the Rays.
I’m most concerned with Joba finding his way and who the 5th starter will be in place of Wang for the time being. If Aceves is back in the pen after the break, I believe that’s not as much of an issue, as well. Bruney is a bit worrisome, though.
I tell ya, some distance from these past 3 games will help to sort the true problems from the ” wow did the play some crummy baseball against the Angels” problems.
The failure and ineptitude of some airlines opens avenues for others. Try Virgin America whenever you have the chance. Great prices, perfect service, an entirely new approach to travel, starting with cabin lighting. Oh. And there’s wi-fi on board.
Pete:
Its funny you mentioned that. When I was 20, I had a 5:00 flight to Los Angeles to visit my father. Well because the flight was at 5:00am I decided to go out partuing all night before hand. Huge mistake.
To make an extremely long story short, I was at the airport and lit up a couple cigarettes at my gate HONESTLY thinking I was outside. Airport Security then, under the circumstance, saw the condition I was in and just let me smoke away.
Or so the police report goes…
Next thing I remember I am on my fathers couch. Man, I miss being 20.
Doreen: She went into early labor. I think shes around 7 months pregnant or so. He said shes doing OK.
*partying
“I didn’t know Pedroia had stepped out of the game because of his wife. I hope she’s okay. Anyone know the story on that?”
She went into labor 7 weeks early about a week or so ago. Doctor’s stopped it, but she’s been hospitalized since.
In Atlanta Airport, there are little rooms on the concourse where you can go and smoke. Pretty crazy.
Thanks, Christina. That’s really scary. I wish them all well.
Thanks, Steve B., also.
Noticed Carlos Pena was named the replacement for Pedroia, giving the AL something like four or five 1B’s. I think Hill is now the only 2B on the AL. Guess Zobrist could play 2nd and Youkilis could be viewed as an alternative at 3B, but I thought Pedroia bowing out might have opened it up for either Kinsler or Cano to be added.
By the way, we all know that if the Yankees don’t make the playoffs that Girardi is probably gone. Cashman might be too, but I suspect he’ll survive and that Girardi will be the fall guy.
Anyhow, is it possible that the Yankees and Cubs might be exchanging managers for the 2010 season?
It is very speculative to be talking about that possiblity right now, but if the Yankees don’t make the playoffs, the Yankee ownership might be looking for a high profile manager to lead their 200M team. Piniella could leave Chicago if they don’t make the playoffs, new ownership and possibly a new GM and we all know that the Steinbrenner sons love Sweet Lou. We know that LaRussa is a possibility too, but I’m not so sure how he’ll fit in NY with his known bad reputation with the media and alike. Of course, certain knowledgeable fans would want LaRussa because of his pitching coach Dave Duncan. However, if Piniella is available, I have a hard time thinking that Yankee ownership won’t gravitate towards Piniella. Sweet Lou is volatile, but he’s calm down some and the NY media loves him and so do many Yankee fans.
Anyway, I’m just wondering what might be if the worse case scenario happens this season because I think Yankee ownership will want a manager with experience and such a high profile that he will get more respect in the clubhouse, media and fanbase.
I forgot to add that I think Girardi’s long-term goal is to manage his hometown team the Cubs. However, I don’t know if the new Cub management and whomever is their GM will think the same thing.
Ian Kinsler got robbed. He was the logical replacement to Pedroia and Maddon picked Carlos Pena to replace him. He went with 4 natural 1B and only Aaron Hill as a 2B starter or reserve.
“He told The Daily News that he planned to watch “every inning” of the All-Star Game”
That’s what TIVO is for!
“Anyhow, is it possible that the Yankees and Cubs might be exchanging managers for the 2010 season?”
Hard to imagine anyone, even the Cubs, wanting Joe G if he can’t manage this team to the postseason.
Cubs have already picked up Piniella’s option for 2010 anyway. He’s not missed the postseason since taking the gig and he’ll likely be in the hunt for this year, despite some tough injuries and some mindnumbingly stupid moves by Hendry.
Kinsler is hitting .250 and Pena is hitting .228. I fail to see what makes either one All-Star worthy.
GB
Using batting average alone this year would raise eyebrows on more than a few All Star selections.
Replacing a 2B, of which there is now only 1, with your own 1B who isn’t having an eye popping kind of year just doesn’t pass the sniff test to me.
“Ian Kinsler got robbed. He was the logical replacement to Pedroia and Maddon picked Carlos Pena to replace him”
Giving Kinsler a hard look, I’m not so sure he was robbed. To wit:
- Kinsler has hit .228 since April 30.
- He’s got a .298 average & .955 OPS at home. On the road those numbers are .204 &.681 respectively.
- He had a .344 avg and 1.147 OPS vs. lefthanders. Against righties, which are about 70% of his plate appearances? .217 and .700
“Replacing a 2B, of which there is now only 1, with your own 1B who isn’t having an eye popping kind of year just doesn’t pass the sniff test to me.”
Maddon earned the right to do it. No worse than Torre and Francona taking guys like Stanton and Okajima. Zobrist has only played 40 games at 2B, but he and Hill are as at least offensively, are the best the AL had to offer.
Kinsler’s average is bad, but he’s very preoductive with 20 HR< 54 RBI and 18 SB. Choosing another 1B and carrying just one fuilltime 2B is stupid in any language.
There should be a committee choosing the All-Stars and let the manager just manager them at the game. This system of letting one guy make these decisions with the overwhelming number on conflicts of interest is ridiculous.
I don’t understand the BCS-Obscession with team by team matchups. This isn’t football. I guess its a funky “note” you would see in media notes prior to a game. Its a meaningless stat.
Two years ago, the Yankees were undefeated against the Indians and lost to them in the ALDS. Last year, they won the season series against both the Red Sox and Rays. Didn’t do them much good, did it?
The Yankees have been awful in Anaheim for years. I remember attending a 3 game sweep there a few years ago, when Joe Torre was managing, that they kept pitching to Vlad with guys on base and Vlad kept hitting HR’s. One, a grand slam off Tom Gordon that cost them a game.
These records don’t matter. What matters, and what will be the determining factor as to whether or not they make the playoffs is, how they can they stablilize the rotation?
How can they get the 3-4-5 starters performing better.
If they can, they will not only make the playoffs but be a very tough out because this is a good team.
If they can’t, they aren’t making the playoffs because no team can do it with only 2 starting pitchers.
This is the time the organization has to be brutally honest.
Winning trumpets development at the major league level with a large market team. Especially the Yankees.
For all the praise the Red Sox get for their “kids” and their “vaunted farm system”, they have 2 40 years olds and Brad Penny in the rotation instead of Clay Buchholz and any of their other “kids”.
You know why? Because winning trumpets development. You develop kids at the minor league level. You win at the major league level.
They have to get another pitcher. Not just some scrub. A guy that can step in, give them innings, and win games. In other words, someone who can give you more than 3-4 innings when you are given multi-run leads.
At this time, they only have 2 guys on the staff who can do that. Not enough to make the playoffs.
Add another arm or two, they are in the playoffs.
Ken Davidoff going with the non-knee jerk reaction to the Yankees season:
“If I were a Yankees fan, I wouldn’t get too concerned about your team’s troubles against the Angels and Red Sox. Just focus on making the playoffs – which of course will be easier by beating all teams. There have been too many examples of playoff series _ the 1983 NLCS, 1988 NLCS and 2001 ALDS between the Yankees and A’s come to mind _ in which the two teams produced lopsided results in the regular season that reversed themselves in October.”
English > me
Hill and Zobrist have been the best offensive players among guys who play the majority of time at 2B.
http://blogs.trb.com/sports/baseball/blog/
A B for the Yankees? I suppose these grading things are silly, but boy – Ken’s a tough marker. They’re 15 games over and leading the wild card hunt – how do the Yankees not get at least a B+? I’m not sure I would lump AJ in with Tex and Swish as far as streaky -he’s only had 3 really bad games and he’s pitched very, very well for a period about 6 or 7 starts.
BUT – he gets it:
If I were a Yankees fan, I wouldn’t get too concerned about your team’s troubles against the Angels and Red Sox, at least regarding the “mental edge” stuff. Just focus on making the playoffs – which of course will be easier by beating all teams. There have been too many examples of playoff series _ the 1983 NLCS, 1988 NLCS and 2001 ALDS between the Yankees and A’s come to mind _ in which the two teams produced lopsided results in the regular season that reversed themselves in October
Betsy,
A “B” is a fair grade for the first half of the year. Not a bad grade. Still gets you into many great colleges in America. But, not yet Ivy League worthy.
Given how they started, you take where they are right now.
The key is how you finish. Everything else is meaningless.
SJ —
Amen brother! At the end of the year it’s a clean slate for the eight teams that advance and nothing else matters but being one of the eight.
For all the consternation about 0-8 versus Boston the Yanks are 2 1/2 up on Texas and 3 1/2 on Tampa Bay for the Wild Card and each team has played three more home games than the Yanks have.
I’m starting to think more and more that Halladay doesn’t go anywhere and the Yanks have to pursue Cliff Lee or possibly Doug Davis. The Yanks might match up pretty well with the Tribe because their Triple-A is so bad they need quantity as much as quality in any deal. Their top Triple-A pitcher in ERA is Tomo Ohka for cryin out loud.
The good thing is that I don’t think the Yanks are asleep at the wheel – they will add a starter. I think they need two, however. I don’t know what their plans are for Joba, but sending him out there to pitch like he has is hurting the pen and it’s actually losing us games. Aceves back in the pen will help a lot – I still think they can use another arm there, but getting 2 SP is more important
we need to make some trades to get over the hump. this is cashmans job to figure out.
I guess that’s fair, SJ – and he did have good comments to say about the team.
Firing Acta doesn’t seem like the right thing to do – he didn’t put that lousy team together. I guess Tony Bernarzard can now try and get Manual fired like he did with Willie – rumors were hot and heavy he was sniffing around Acta like bees around honey a couple of years ago.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports......html#more
So – CC isn’t good enough to lead the Yankees to through the playoffs, and the Yankees should give up if the Angels make it as well.
“The Yanks might match up pretty well with the Tribe because their Triple-A is so bad they need quantity as much as quality in any deal.”
Tribe will want high end pitching prospects for Lee. They aren’t taking garbage for the sake of quanity.
The Indians are also a fair trade partner for the Yankees in another regard….
They don’t need a “catcher of the future”. They have Carlos Santana, who is one of the best prospects in the game. That saves Montero.
Mark Shapiro though doesn’t want to trade Cliff Lee. I doubt he would trade him for “B” Prospects.
Its funny to me. Everybody in the media and many in the fan base, choose to ignore the 2,000 pound gorilla in the room. Roy “Doc” Halladay.
All this, “JP won’t trade him in the division”. “Cash won’t trade, Joba, etc”, is all rubbish.
He’s the guy you go get if you are the Yankees. He’s not 40 year old Randy Johnson and he’s not some kid who may or may not ever project to being a good starting pitcher.
He’s a known commodity. On and off the field, you know what you are going to get with him.
Basically, you try and structure a deal that keeps the one guy out you don’t want to deal. Other than that, you have to do everything you can to bring him in.
If you don’t get him, have a Plan B.
All this, “we can’t trade the kids” stuff is nonsense.
What you can’t do is convince yourself guys are just going to turn it around drastically in a season when that rarely occurs.
JP doesn’t have as much leverage as the media thinks he does in this stuff.
All it takes is for Doc to say, “I want to go to X team”. He does that, everything changes.
JP either deals him for the best deal on the table from that team, or loses him for draft picks next year.
Nobody is trading their top 4 prospects for Roy Halladay. Nobody so, that’s not even a consideration. Its 2 top prospects and 2 lower level guys. Certainly within the Yankees parameters without ruining the system.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....midseason/
GAMES TO WATCH
Starting Sept. 21, the Yankees play three games at Angel Stadium, which is always their toughest road ballpark, and after a day off, they come home for three against Boston, the team that beat them in all eight games in the first half. The Yankees need to have a big enough lead for a playoff spot by then, or those games could break their chances.
*** I guess there’s no possibility the Yankees could win the game, lol.
Tex as MVP? I don’t know – aside from 3 weeks, he’s been pretty bad/mediocre offensively (though there is no doubting his incredible defense). Alex, for me, is closer to the MVP……
If Doc would tell JP, I want to go to the Yankees……..that would be idea. However, what are the odds that he does that? Now that he’s being shopped, Doc will probably be just happy to get to a winning team. There’s no reason for him to say that he only wants to go one place – Santana didn’t.
It really depends what the Yanks think about Joba now……..they may be annoyed at him, but annoyed to kick him out of the rotation? I don’t know -he’s still something of their golden child.
Funny how some things never change. Last year the NYY Achillies heel was SP. During the winter Cashman’s mantra was we are getting SP, we will go as far as our SP takes us etc. Here we are 1/2 way through 2009 and the fate of the season seems once again to rest on the SP. Imagine where the team would be without the acquisitions of CC & AJ. What was a strength coming out of ST, SP depth, is now a concern due to injury (CMW & IPK) and the team’s decision to put Ace & PH in the pen without really replacing the depth they provided. I wouldn’t get too excited about Mitre. He’s another mediocre journeyman. His AAA #s? Igawa has good AAA #s too and I don’t think anyone wants to see Igawa in pinstripes. Mitre pitched 8 SO innings vs Buffalo? Buffalo is the Mets farm team and one of the worst teams in the IL. I saw them play last week and they have nobody ML ready on that team. He may at least provide some IP, but unless the NYY want to stretch out Ace or PH I believe Cashman will acquire a SP soon.
Looks like Sherman is giving a Sabathia a B for the 1st half. That’s pretty fair IMO. I think he’s pitched better than the team’s 9-10 record in his starts suggests, but he hasn’t exactly been Koufax. He’s done his job in terms of being an innings eater and to the extent that there’s an adjustment period that comes with pitching for the game’s most visible team, he hasn’t allowed that to eat him up they way it has many before him.
How much money could the ticket have saved. Seems like you’ve been traveling for 12 hours. Bummer.
Betsy,
Don’t compare Santana and Halladay. Two different people who view life two different ways.
Guys have a no trade clause for a reason. They want to go to where they want to go if they are to be traded.
If not, they wouldn’t ask for one.
No question that if the Yankees are to right themselves against the “elite” teams”, they’ll need a quality arm or two and a better utility IF than Ransom.
Cashman has his work cut out for him for the next 17 days to find the needed help without dealing the very best of prospects such as Montero.
True, the team is only 3 games out but they’ve had their chances and let them slip away. Another year out of the postseason just won’t cut it. The jobs of Cashman and Girardi are on the line for what happens over the next 74 games.
The utility infielder isn’t going to decide “big” games.
Its all about getting your starting pitching under control.
Cody Ransom isn’t the determining factor to the Yankees playoff chances.
“Tex as MVP? I don’t know – aside from 3 weeks, he’s been pretty bad/mediocre offensively (though there is no doubting his incredible defense). Alex, for me, is closer to the MVP……”
I think it’s Jeter. Easily the team’s most consistent player both offensively and defensively this year. He’s been terrific.
Steve B —
Give me a freakin’ break! I never said anything aobut garbage. I pointed out that the Cleveland system is so bad an extra arm or two might be as valuable holding out for one particular guy.
The Yankees can’t get Cliff Lee for Edwar, Tomoko and Albaladejo… but they might be able to get him without Hughes or Joba which I don’t believe is the case with Halladay.
Halladay is an iconic figure in Toronto, truly a “face of the franchise” type guy. Lee is not in that category. In fact anyone in baseball could have had him for a bowl of fruit loops 18 months ago.
What other starters might be gettable?
When did Pete start auditioning to replace Andy Rooney? It’s rough having to travel and watch Yankee games for a living. Man up!
Have to agree with Jeter for first half MVP. Good glove, great bat…as consistent as ever.
If Halladay wants to be a Yankee when all is said and done he will be a Yankee.
I’m sure Toronto would love to trade him to the NL for a boatload of great players, but if Halladay decides he doesn’t want to deal with hitting every game he can block a trade to the NL.
This is really a big moment for Cashman and the Yankees. Here you have a guy available who fixes a lot of the problems with the big club and makes the team a tougher team.
The ripple effect of having Halladay in the organization could be felt for years with the young pitchers coming up he will influence.
With Andy riding off into the sunset shortly, that kind of veteran who could take an established AJ Burnett under his wing in Toronto and help him thrive is incredibly valuable.
The next 5 years of Halladay in a Yankee uniform is most definitely worth the next 5 years of Joba or Phil and whatever other prospects we’d have to trade save Montero who should be held back in any deal.
Halladay will be the anti-Clemens in that he’ll show the pitchers in the organization the way that doesn’t include needles.
He can tell them about getting demoted to A ball and working his back. About setbacks and failures and pitching philosophy.
You want to keep all your precious little gumdrops in the organization fine.
But when this guy goes to another contending team and they ride him into the playoffs don’t grim and grouse.
86:
Not sure on Lee. To me the only way they trade him with out some A-list talent going back is if they can get someone to take Hafner’s deal with him.
Barring that, who do the Yankees offer? I can’t imagine a package centered around someone like McAllister would be enough for Shapiro to part with Lee.
I’d vote for Jeter as team 1st half MVP too. He’s having one of his best years. I guess he’s not done yet!
Also, Melky may not be putting up big #s, but I am impressed with how he often comes through in the clutch. Not saying he’s Pinella, but Lou was like that in the 70s. He put up decent #s, but he had a knack for clutch hits.
GLove,
That’s the way I see it. All this angst about the guy’s age, as if he is in a rocking chair, is nonsense.
You would you have rather had on the mound Friday night wtih a 4 run lead?
Don’t tell me what somebody is going to be as a player in 2012 because that’s a guess. Give me knowns vs. unknowns every time.
If you can’t match up because JP is asking for too much? That’s a different story.
However, if Joba, Romine and Jackson would get you Halladay, and they don’t pull the trigger on it, its a mistake IMO.
I wonder if AJ is going to talk to Doc at the ASB. That would never go public but……just wondering.
Regarding the Santana trade, we really don’t know if Santana had limited the Twins on the teams he would go to. He might have said that he wanted to go to NY, which might have been why Smith called the Yankees at the last hour trying to get something from them that was better than what he got from the Mets.
Halladay being on the market could be a dictate from the Jays owners. Today was the first time I heard any of the talking heads on radio bring this up. With the owner dying and the economy, they could be looking at freeing up some overhead to show more profit for an eventual sale. It may mean Rios or Wells being packaged with Halladay to reduce payroll.
With the Wells contract looking so poor, they may have to deal Rios.
If they are looking to reduce payroll they will deal with anyone who can give them a decent return despite not liking having to deal with their own division.
“Maddon earned the right to do it. No worse than Torre and Francona taking guys like Stanton and Okajima. Zobrist has only played 40 games at 2B, but he and Hill are as at least offensively, are the best the AL had to offer.”
Robinson Cano says hi.
He has a higher OPS than both of them.
hate to head into the break after getting swept but at least we’re still in a good position to make the playoffs. Maybe the sour taste will serve as extra motivation to keep the guys sharp coming out of the break. I’m really starting to wonder if the Yankees are just severely allergic to first place in the AL East.
“Robinson Cano says hi.
He has a higher OPS than both of them.”
Correction, he has a higher OPS than Hill. He has about 100 more AB’s than Zobrist however so it’s not fair to compare them head to head.
Either way, lazy Cano is having a better year than both Hill and Kinsler.
McAllister, Melancon and Pena/Nunez for Cliff Lee?
Does that get it done?
Is Arizona going to take offers on Danny Haren? I’d love to get him in pinstripes… but that’s be as much talent as Halladay and maybe more… like Toronto, Arizona has an albatross of a contract (Eric Byrnes) they’d love to out from under.
The D’Backs have said Haren isn’t available.
They just raised 150 million dollars in a capital call last week so, their money issues are gone.
Upton and Haren are off limits on the trade market.
“Robinson Cano says hi.
He has a higher OPS than both of them.”
Well, to the extent that Cano’s .829 OPS is higher than Zobrist’s 1.013, I guess you’re right.
“Well, to the extent that Cano’s .829 OPS is higher than Zobrist’s 1.013, I guess you’re right.”
Already corrected my error. But Robinson Cano also has 100 more AB’s than Zobrist as I mentioned earlier as well and that’s a significant amount.
Either way, you were remiss in not mentioning Cano as one of the better second baseman in the league.
“McAllister, Melancon and Pena/Nunez for Cliff Lee?”
Don’t know. Certainly they seem to have bullpen issues a guy like Melancon may be able to help address. Not sure on Pena/Nunez. Don’t think either are as good as Cabrera (Pena is older), but I don’t know what else they may have in terms of middle infielders.
been off the blog for a few days so forgive if this discussion is a repeat, but aside from Halladay, what guys are likely to be available that would be an attractive option to the Yankees? Are we going to look to improve anywhere other than pitching?
“Either way, you were remiss in not mentioning Cano as one of the better second baseman in the league”
Didn’t say he wasn’t. Just said offensively, the other two have been better. Hill and Cano’s numbers in terms of OBP and slugging have been pretty much identical. That’s a coin toss at best. Hill’s been a little more productive.
“I finally went over to the next gate and asked the person there to do something. “Oh, they’ll get to it,” she told me.
“It’s been going on for 15 minutes,” I said.
“That’s not my job, sir,” she said.”
not many people know that was Brianna Cashman, Brian’s cousin. it turns out the cashman family has a long line of survival genes for doing as little as possible yet keeping their jobs
At what point are the Yankees going to have to bite the bullet and carry three catchers? It’s pretty obvious that Cervelli is the only catcher with whom Sabathia feels comfortable. I say one more mediocre start and the Yankees make a September call up one month early.
“McAllister, Melancon and Pena/Nunez for Cliff Lee?”
I doubt it.
Honestly I don’t think the Yanks will trade for a good starting pitcher. I could see them trading for a mediocre guy to fill in at fifth starter until Wang gets back. I could also see them trading for another reliever.
The solution to our pitching problem is on the roster right now. Joba and Andy have to pitch better, it’s as simple as that. Hughes shouldn’t be in the bullpen but it’s too late to remedy that.
I can’t justify trading for a good to great starting pitcher with those guys on the roster. If Joba and Pettitte are now ineffective 4 inning pitchers this team doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs. They simply must be better.
What kills me is the solution to our starting pitching problems is no sitting idle in the bullpen. Phil Hughes could really help this team but that whole situation was mismanaged.
I think a huge part of Jeter’s “improvement” this season has been the switch to him hitting in the leadoff spot.
I know he was hurt at the end of last season, but he has been reaching base much more in the first inning
“At what point are the Yankees going to have to bite the bullet and carry three catchers? It’s pretty obvious that Cervelli is the only catcher with whom Sabathia feels comfortable. I say one more mediocre start and the Yankees make a September call up one month early.”
Yeah, I find it amazing that CC was able to win a Cy Young award without Cervelli.
Pete,
That’s funny about the alarm, I’ve actually had that happen to me once and it took them almost a half hour to turn off the alarm. Same thing happened though, pilots and other (it was JetBlue for me) employees would walk by enjoying their coffee. Many would look at the door, annoyed, and speak louder to make sure their companion heard about their night of drinking, which inspired a lot of confidence in families with young children and people not used to flying.
“At what point are the Yankees going to have to bite the bullet and carry three catchers? It’s pretty obvious that Cervelli is the only catcher with whom Sabathia feels comfortable. I say one more mediocre start and the Yankees make a September call up one month early.”
That’s a joke, right?
“I can’t justify trading for a good to great starting pitcher with those guys on the roster. If Joba and Pettitte are now ineffective 4 inning pitchers this team doesn’t deserve to make the playoffs. They simply must be better.”
So why make changes or trades ever? Might as well go with what you got and hope they play better, right?
I mean, why release Berroa, he just has to play better, right?
If you have a chance to get another number one starting pitcher and he makes your team better without crippling your team in the long term you do it.
Saying Joba and Pettitte must pitch better is not a solution in my opinion.
The organization owes Joe Torre an apology. He fell on the sword for Cashman, who collected this bunch of overpaid stiffs.
“It’s pretty obvious that Cervelli is the only catcher with whom Sabathia feels comfortable.”
This is same Sabathia who pitched half his career innings to Victor Martinez, right? The same Sabathia who posted a sub 2.00 ERA pitching to Jason Kendall last summer?
It ain’t about Cervelli. It’s about Sabathia himself.
Also, I was at the SWB game in Syracuse yesterday and I have to say, Sergio looked really strong. Edwar however, has serious trouble getting AAA players (including Berroa – who had an RBI double in the bottom of the 9th to make the game 3-2). I think it’s a good move if the Yankees call him up for a start or two, he had impeccable control and his pitches were moving all over the place. I saw him hit 94 on the gun a couple times. I’m going to post a complete report on 161st-and-river.com later on my lunch break, I’ll post here when it’s up
The Yanks can make trades, and call guys up, and make a million different moves. None of these things replace the most important thing a team needs to win against the
best G-U-T-S GUTS!
200 million and they still need the best pitcher in the majors?
I’d laugh but it’s not really funny.
Those alarms are only turned off with a restricted key, which is probably why it remained on for so long. I work at a University and these are all over campus.
It is annoying, which is the whole point of them. Someone used a door they weren’t supposed to.
Bronx Jeers,
I’m not saying they need him, I’m just saying if they can get him and it doesn’t cost too much in terms of prospects then they need to make it happen.
And Pete, you really have to do something about your panicky commenters. It’s really tough to get through all the whining to find actual baseball conversation and well structured debate. A lot of these people are hurting your site because more intelligent and level headed fans go to other communities so that they don’t have to lecture children all day.
Soon boston will have a road trip and lose some games. it will all even out
The Yankees don’t need Halladay, they need balls.
raymagnetic,
My comment wasn’t so much directed at you as it was just saying it in general.
They may not need Halladay but they need a ML pitcher for certain.
Wrong Troy, They don’t have any West Coast trips, all done. This is what everone was talking about. We are screwed.
Got it, Fan Interference-Reality Check – balls and guts. You sure can call ‘em. Thanks for the post! Geesh.
Homer
July 13th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Wrong Troy, They don’t have any West Coast trips, all done. This is what everone was talking about. We are screwed
***
You are absolutely right. I am sure Boston will win every game on the road for the rest of the season. You don’t need to go to the west coast to lose games.
The Sox are 31-14 at home, 23-20 on the road. I am pretty sure they won’t go 38-0 on their remaining road trips. But if they do, I will actually eat crow
Wow,
It’s true. They are led by the gelding Arod. A glove slapping sissy boy, who still isn’t clutch when the team needs him most.
“They don’t have any West Coast trips, all done. This is what everone was talking about. We are screwed.”
Ah right and Boston can’t lose to anyone else on the road except west coast teams? Try taking the time to look at the performance splits of Boston’s roster between home and road. They are a completely different team away from Fenway, offensively especially.
3 games back at the All Star break with 10 games left to play head-to-head is about as far from “screwed” as you can get.
i know we’ve been bringing this up all year but notice how the yankees faced the angels 3 best pitchers and missed out on an injured ervin santana and sean o’sullivan or whoever the heck is their 5th starter nowadays…and of course they got to feast (for 4 innings at least) on joba and pettite..
if boston doesn’t face halladay and ricky romero when they start playing on friday against the blue jays (unless of course halladay is a yankee by then – hopefully) then they may as well start looking to win the WC because it seems this “trend” ain’t ending anytime soon…
Patrick, I agree with you about Hughes (& Ace) helping the SP problem that now faces the NYY. Not saying PH would be a savior, but in 9/2007 he went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA and helped the team down the stretch. He’s a much better pitcher now and if given the chance I think he’d improve the team’s chances. He’s one of the 5 best pitchers on the team right now and he only pitches 2 or 3 innings a week. Bruney needs to step up to even make it an option however.
“They don’t have any West Coast trips, all done. This is what everone was talking about. We are screwed.”
We are screwed because Boston doesn’t have to play weak Oakland and Seattle teams, or play the Angels who they routinely beat up? Give me a break! Not playing the West is a negative for Boston.
Fan Interference-Reality Check – I’m not going to engage in your hyperbolic rants. But if they make you feel better, keep typing. I’m not a believer in questioning a team’s heart – and I have certainly seen enough games to know that the team has plenty of it. You need a bit of help. Good luck with that.
Wow
Then why answer my post in the first place. Hypocrite. The only way this team can have heart is by beating LA & Boston. If they can’t do that, then there’s no World Series. Which is the entire point of the Yankees Universe. That’s it!
They’ve gone past the point of no return with Hughes as a starter this year, he is in the bullpen for the rest of the year unless they want to create a situation where they are stretching him out in AAA or sacrificing starts in the bigs where he can only go 3 innings–and either way it would take something like 3-4 weeks’ time to fully stretch him out to go 100 pitches in a game again, losing the best reliever not named Mo for that long is a big problem considering Bruney is a shell of his former self and no other right-handed reliever has distinguished themself this year.
the yankees built a team of infielders,outfielders & pitching last.
i would have done it the opposite way.
all the huge contracts.
the rs get youk for 8 million we get tex for 23,same with becket vs sabathia & on & on & on.
they have a 120 million dollar payroll we have almost a 100 million dollars more.
our outfield is very suspect although not the end of the world.
if joba struggles over his next 2 games i put him in the pen,hughes in the 5th spot & trade for a number 3 starter.
the yankees have been making the same mistake of using pettite as a number 2 or three when he is a # 3 or #4 pitcher.same with joba.
he is a # 5 pitcher not a 3 or 4.
even if we keep hughes in the pen joba needs to be a # 5 pitcher right now.
why go out & get a number 4 or 5 pitcher when we have 2 of them & need a # 3 pitcher?
sabathia
halladay
burnett
pettitte
joba or
sabathia
burnett
lee
pettitte
joba lines up nicely with wang coming back too add debth & hughes if we wen’t out & got a reliever.
joba right now is hurting us bigtime & hurts us much less in the pen or as a 5th starter.
There is a strong possibility that Boston might get Halladay. If that happens we are done for a few years. Beckett, Lester and Halladay = several WS championships.
Homer
July 13th, 2009 at 10:25 am
There is a strong possibility that Boston might get Halladay. If that happens we are done for a few years. Beckett, Lester and Halladay = several WS championships.
***
Have you considered applying for membership to Red Sox nation then? You might have a future as a Sox fan
Homer,
True. This organization won’t win another championship, until two things happen, Cashman goes, and Arod is right behind him.
“Not playing the West is a negative for Boston.”
They’ve played 7 series against the AL West. They’ve lost 2 of the three games in all of them but the last one, when they took 2 of 3 from Oakland.
I honestly think Arod is a jinx and obviously a lightning rod. Too much money and publicity. We should have let Boston have the jinx.
Right, all A-Rod’s mashing in July needs to be replaced because he stunk yesterday. After all he is just a stat compiler who gets meaningless hits, and he can never be a part of a winning team because he’s not clutch and tough-minded. Because all of that is so tangible and real, and after all more important than what he produces on a year-to-year basis.
Oh and I think Homer is as blind as the Greek poet whose name he is taking, since after all so much discussion has been bandied about regarding the Red Sox acquiring Halladay–and if it were to happen, the remaining 80 games or so that the team has to play to get their World Series title would be automatic wins, because their 1-3 starters would be so impressive.
Eph Boston and their fans ! They had 2 good years in 9 decades (2004, and 2007). Nothin to celebrate before 2004 thats for sure.
“I honestly think Arod is a jinx and obviously a lightning rod. Too much money and publicity. We should have let Boston have the jinx.”
The destinies of both organizations changed, when Cashman didn’t bother to see Curt Schilling ,and let the Sox just have him, while letting Roger, Andy, and Wells leave. Bringing in Arod wasa no-brainer in 2004. There is no excuse for bringing him back in 2007. That’s on the ownership. Cashman was right about not bringing Arod back. Although he’s been wrong on just about everything else this past decade.
The Yankees don’t need Halladay, they need balls.
==========================================================
Don’t they start each game with like 6 dozen news balls..
Balls, guts and momentum are defined by who pitches that day – and how well they pitch…
if your starter isn’t afraid to throw strikes and gets people out – the team will hit for the most part..if they feel that they need to score 15 runs to win every game then they will start to swing at ridiculous pitches to make up for the fact that they don’t have confidence in that days pitcher…
good pitching beats good hitting EVERY time…and conversly even minor league hitting will beat up bad pitching as the yankees proved this weekend..
thats why i’m surprised that some fans think that keeping some of the MINOR league hitting talent the yankees have is more important than getting one of the best pitchers in baseball – who will show up and give them balls, guts and momentum…
the cardinals who have the best hitter on the planet are only 7 games above .500, the giants who have absolutely no hitting but have one of the best starting rotations in the majors are 10 games above 500…and to add to that they had barry bonds who won the MVP like 100 times and never won the WS with him on the team…
Steve B,
That is like saying that we have tough schedule coming up if we had 5 series remaining against the Nationals and Marlins because they both beat us 2 out of 3. Boston is miles better than Seattle and Oakland, and usually kill the Angels. If they didn’t take advantage, that is on them, just like losing to the Nationals was inexcusable for the Yanks. At the same time, having road series against Oak and Sea should be a good thing for us, although I am not loking forward to another LA series.
Troy, What have we accomplished in the last 9 years. We certainly have not gone all the way, which is the ONLY thing that counts.
Andrew, I’m talking when they get to the playoffs. Who will touch those 3?
First of all I think the Yankees can trump any Buchholtz centered offer the Red Sox could make for Halladay.
Buchholtz is older than Phil & Joba and he’s not even up in the majors dominating. He’s tearing up AAA like Phil used to do.
You think if he were truly ready (he’s 25 I think) the Red Sox wouldn’t have traded Penny by now?
The Red Sox want to win and if he could help them win right now he’d be in Boston.
He’s being called up for a showcase start on Friday. It could be for a Victor Martinez trade or a Halladay trade or someone who isn’t even on the radar knowing Theo.
While Buchholtz is tearing up AAA he has a reputation for being a night life guy who has growing up to do. He’s also publicly come out against how the organization is handling him.
I don’t think it’s a question of if the Red Sox will trade him. It’s a question of who they are trading him for.
Hughes or Joba are both better investments than Buchholtz. They are both younger and are both currently in the majors doing well. Joba is inconsistent right now, but he’s still too good for AAA otherwise he’d be there like Buchholtz.
If Cashman puts Joba or Hughes up in a trade for Halladay we’ll get him.
If he doesn’t and Boston gets him for Buchholtz you know he didn’t really try.
The thing that scares me about Boston is they are way under their payroll right now w/o Manny on the roster. They have the room and flexibility to take on this guy.
I still think Halladay will come down to the Yankees and Red Sox since Roy has the no trade protection and can dictate where he goes.
we can’t let halladay go to boston because then we are 2 great pitchers away from catching them.
we have the farm system to give up joba,romine,ajax & another prospect or just the three.
scouts watched buchholz in his last outing & he is being brought up to face of all teams the jays after the break.
if halladay goes to the sox without us getting another ace we are probably done.
i think cashman does it or tries.
we have 2 solid pitchers & 2 major question marks in the rotation.that is it.
no 5th starter & no debth.
one injury to cc or burnett & our rotation is gone.
There hasn’t been a single confirmed report that Boston has even talked to Toronto. In fact, all the reports point to Halladay not being traded. Toronto is just seeing if somebody will make a Herschel Walker-type stupid trade for him. The only way Boston even gets involved is if the Yanks appear close to a deal, they will talk to try to drive the price up.
Homer
July 13th, 2009 at 10:36 am
“Troy, What have we accomplished in the last 9 years….”
I graduated College and started law school. What have you accomplished? Flaming internet message boards doesn’t rate as an accomplishment FWIW.
“We certainly have not gone all the way…”
Speak for yourself, I drove to florida and back several times.
Is it the travel or the teams that freak people out about West Coast road trips?
Anyone who travels to the left coast often can tell you, it’s the west to east trip home that is more physically taxing on east coasters than the other way around so success on the west coast probably isn’t fatigue related.
If anything, the games played after those trips probably impact them more physically than the games out west.
Players body clocks being what they are, probably don’t feel it as much as 9-5ers either.
Mark:
Not really looking to draw any conclusions from it, just pointing out the AL West has not worked out well for them this time around.
Great and accurate post G Love. Mark, There have been no confirmed reports yes, but it has been stated they have talked to both the Yanks and Sox. Who would confirm them anyway? Certainly not the GM’s.
I still think if there was to be a deal with Toronto for Halliday, Cashman will be dealing with which of the 2 ( Wells / Rios ) will he be taking back to NYC…..Swisher / Melky will be going north as well as some lesser names…..Joba is the more likey candidate…..
Isn’t this was a Yankees blog and not a Rob NY blog???????
Bronx Jeers
July 13th, 2009 at 9:58 am
200 million and they still need the best pitcher in the majors?
I’d laugh but it’s not really funny.
==============
I agree, that is pretty pathetic. You field a team worth that much and they shouldn’t need to spend another 20 million per year on a starter. “Should” is the key word though.
Maybe 250 million will put us over…
All this A-Rod talk is moronically stupid.
Of course not. A-Rod hasn’t been clutch all season.
He didn’t hit three dingers in the series.
He didn’t help the team snap a 5-game losing streak with one swing the night he came back against the O’s.
He didn’t hit the game-tying 2-run home run in the 9th against Brad Lidge when the Phillies were in town.
He didn’t hit line a 2-run double off the wall in the 7th inning which gave the Yanks the lead at Fenway. A lead that Sabathia and the pen later couldn’t hold.
He didn’t hit a walkoff dinger against the Twins.
He didn’t hit the go ahead home 2-run home run in the 7th inning against the Mariners a couple of weeks.
He also didn’t hit another homer to dead center the very next night to extend a slim 1-run lead in the 8th inning to a 2-run lead and a little more breathing room for Mo.
He also didn’t get the biggest hit of the entire series in Atlanta and the one that really got the team rolling again.
Nope, A-Rod hasn’t had a “clutch” hit all season. Elias says 14 of his 17 home runs this season have come with one team or the other leading by two runs or fewer.
Considering he’s played 30 fewer games than several of his teammates, A-Rod has been as “clutch” as any player on the team this season.
He’s one of the primary reasons why this team struggled when he was gone or not playing well and then turned things around when he got hot.
Those who continue the A-Rod bashing obviously have the brain activity of a cabbage head.
Pat M — I personally would like to see Rios and Halladay come to NY. Rios is the man despite his numbers and maybe a change of scenery would do him some good.
it depends on if boston want’s to give up 3 or 4 prospects & spend on halladay in addition to having to deal with the becket & bay contracts.
if i am cash i am on the phone with the jays & offering joba,ajax to start.
we simply can’t let him go to the sox.
halladay replaces joba so we are much better there,if we give up romine we have many catchers & montero to replace him,ajax can be replaced.
it will get complicated if the jays ask for both joba & hughes,montero or cano.
Homer July 13th, 2009 at 10:25 am
There is a strong possibility that Boston might get Halladay. If that happens we are done for a few years. Beckett, Lester and Halladay = several WS championships.
———————–
Um, no there isn’t.
Theo hangs onto his prized kids even more than Cashman does.
He’s even less likely to go to the Red Sox as he is going to the Yanks.
The thing that scares me about Boston is they are way under their payroll right now w/o Manny on the roster. They have the room and flexibility to take on this guy.
=================
But maybe they figure signing Bay to an extension and taking on Wells and Halladay is too much.
I doubt it but maybe.
Personally, I don’t think JP is going to be able to unload Wells or Rios, but if he does and picks up ONE premium prospect, he did his job.
The “drama” of the Halladay saga, as if he is somehow dangling between the Yankees and the Red Sox and holds the key to the AL East race in his hands, is contrived nonsense not based in any sort of reality. But, it’s a lot easier to talk about than the reality that Halladay most likely won’t get traded and if he does, it won’t be to either Boston or New York.
Giuseppe Franco,
I think you are wrong. Theo has traded the kids before and will do it again. He traded Hanley Ramirez to get Beckett, didn’t he?
Plus, the fact that Buchholz is still in the minors when some of their starters have stunk this year says something. He would trade Buchholz in a second if that’s what JP wanted.
“But maybe they figure signing Bay to an extension and taking on Wells and Halladay is too much.’
Taking Wells would be a dealbreaker for them, IMO. They’ll live with their own stupid contracts (Lugo, Drew, Matsuzaka), but they won’t take on someone else’s stupid contracts.
I actually think what will happen is we will get Halladay and one of their bad contract OF’ers for a package centered around Hughes/Joba & then a choice of Melky/Gardner and a few lower level prospects. I don’t think Toronto would want to take on Swisher because of the money owed.
I think Toronto would take back Igawa to give the Yankees some payroll relief on the OF they bring back (whether it be Rios or Wells).
I like both Rios and Wells. I hate Wells’ contract, but I don’t hate him as a player. If he hits .280 and knocks in 20 HR’s as an OF that’s not horrible. That is about what he appears to be right now.
I think the problem Cashman would have isn’t the talent he’d be giving up and it isn’t the money he’d be spending…it’d be the perception that he bought the player and that the Yankees just buy what they need.
I’m still not sure why that is a bad thing. When I need something, I buy it if I can afford it.
Not to mention as Yankee fans we are paying through the nose to go see and watch this team.
I want them to spend so I feel like my money is on the field and not in Hank’s safe deposit box.
wfan: hughes, montero, austin jackson for halladay
nooooo way! i wouldn’t trade the farm for 1 player
Taking Wells would be a dealbreaker for them, IMO.
==============
Should be a dealbreaker for any team.
Like I said, if JP somehow unloads Wells too and gets a premium, ML-ready prospect, he would have done a fantastic job.
Steve B, I forgot about Jeter….can’t believe that. Jeter has been absolutely fantastic.
SJ, good point……hey, I would love it if AJ could convince his buddy to put the screws to JP. I really doubt it would happen, but that would be great. Of course, JP wouldn’t have to trade Doc – he could just sit and take the picks…….
“it’d be the perception that he bought the player and that the Yankees just buy what they need”
You say that as though the $425M they locked themselves into over last winter didn’t set that perception in stone.
Stultus Magnus July 13th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Giuseppe Franco,
I think you are wrong. Theo has traded the kids before and will do it again. He traded Hanley Ramirez to get Beckett, didn’t he?
Plus, the fact that Buchholz is still in the minors when some of their starters have stunk this year says something. He would trade Buchholz in a second if that’s what JP wanted.
——————-
Theo isn’t trading any of this prized kids. The Ramirez deal was four years ago.
They had a shot at getting Santana and wouldn’t do it because they didn’t want to part with Lester.
Don’t you think Theo now thanks his lucky stars he didn’t pull the trigger on that deal?
You bet your ass he does.
If you think Cashman is a prospect hugger – Theo is even more so.
No sense getting worried about Boston getting Halladay because it’s not going to happen.
in fact, I don’t think Halladay is going to be traded at all before the deadline.
I heard that trade proposal – Kim Jones actually isn’t sure if that would get it done. That’s lunacy – the Jays would be all over that. That would be ludicrous for the Yankees – not that it matters as they would never offer that package.
wfan: hughes, montero, austin jackson for halladay
Well I’d have two problems with this deal, I’m a Hughes Homer and Monstero is a special player. Either of those guys should be the centerpiece of a deal like this with other movable parts, not traded together IMO.
If Toronto is absolutely set on trading Rios or Wells along with Halladay then Rios would be the one for me.
If Joba, Melky/Swish, Romine and 1 other would get it done then the Yanks should do that.
We would be losing enough payroll next year in Damon, Matsui, Pettite, Nady (40mm) that we could afford to take on the extra this year.
We needed an OF next year anyway and Rios would be a better get than Holiday and Bay probably stays in Boston.
“Not to mention as Yankee fans we are paying through the nose to go see and watch this team.
I want them to spend so I feel like my money is on the field and not in Hank’s safe deposit box.”
How is it in any way unclear that this is the case, with or without Roy Halladay? How can there be complaints of stinginess if money is a reason for not acquiring Halladay? Is it now possible to be stingy and a money-hoarding franchise while simultaneously spending $200 million on a roster?
I got to be honest. You guys who know me know I don’t go ga ga for prospects, but they can’t trade Montero.
He’s a catcher with ridiculous power. You can’t find that anywhere.
Considering that PED’s are supposedly out of the game, a guy with his kind of natural power will be like spotting a Sasquatch in the future.
I realize he can come up and suck, but I want to see him get a shot here more than any other prospect we’ve had in years.
taking wells is a deal breaker for anyone. That’s not going to happen. Even if a team could afford to take him (which VERY few could) the ones that can afford it will realize that no one else they are competing with in the trade market is willing to take him so he’s not moving.
looks like the Phillies are taking a looong look at Pedro…if he signs there, are they out for Halladay? May be a sign that they’re conceding to Halladay going elsewhere or nowhere
things yankee fans and everyone else need to stop saying..
1)stop saying “a 200 million dollar team and this is all we get”… about 6 players make up roughly 100 million dollars of that 200 mil….jeter who is a very good player makes 20 million – posada who is a very good player makes 14 million damon and matsui who are good players make 13 mil each – each if paid what the market says, should be making about 30 million combined instead of the 60 million they make – so yes its a 200 million dollar team but they aren’t getting 200 million dollars in value…thats like the pentagon paying $500 for a toilet seat….it does the same job as a $10 toilet seat…they paid what they paid at the time but they overpaid – so its a 200 million dollar team yes but its playing like a 140 million dollar team which is about right..
2)stop saying the yankees won 26 world championships as if thats an argument breaker on who is the best team..and conversly the redsox only won 2 WS in 90 years….thats living in the past….in miami, where i live, people still talk about the dolphins perfect season – that happened like 40 years ago….times have changed – just because the yankees won 26 WS doesn’t make them the favorite to win anything in 2009….if you believe that go to your room and take down that farrah fawcett poster you have up and put up something more relevant thats happened like in the last 6 months..
3) hanging your hopes on “when wang comes back in 2 weeks” or “when joba and pettite start pitching better” will only make you watch the rays & redsox playing in the 2009 ALCS..
4) if you are of the belief that AJAX and Montero (and about 8 more minor leaguers)are untoucable and the yankees can fix their problems from within then you may as well take a nap for about 5 years and wake up in 2014 so you can start complaining about how bad ajax is when he goes 0-5 and what good is montero if he can only DH but can’t play in the field…
Andrew,
Do you know how much profit the Yankees make each year?
I guarantee you when all is said and done they are not operating at a loss.
I’m sure there is a lot more money to spend and less to pocket.
I’m not calling them cheap, but I think Cashman citing payroll concerns is hollow when the team makes the kind of money it does off of the stadium, YES, etc.
The team is a cash cow. The most valuable team in sports.
Phillies signing Pedro could affect the Halladay trade talks in that it gives Amaro more leverage, he won’t look as desperate when he and JP are negotiating because his rotation will have added Pedro. Granted that’s a far cry from adding Halladay, but Amaro could use Petey’s signing as a negotiating tool that helps him not give up at least one of his “untouchables”.
Joba, Melky/Swish, Romine, Ajax for Halladay and Rios is a fair trade and relieves payroll for Toronto especially if they take Melky back.
That leave an OF of Damon, Gardner/Melky and Rios with Swish/Melky and Hinske in platoon roles.
“I mean, why release Berroa, he just has to play better, right? ”
Well the difference is, Berroa sucks and Pettitte/Joba don’t.
Theo isn’t trading any of this prized kids. The Ramirez deal was four years ago.
They had a shot at getting Santana and wouldn’t do it because they didn’t want to part with Lester.
Don’t you think Theo now thanks his lucky stars he didn’t pull the trigger on that deal?
You bet your ass he does.
========================
That’s because Lester has been doing a great job. Cashman might have some regrets about Santana because Hughes and Joba have not yet lived up to their billing. But I doubt he even has regrets because he offered them a good package and they turned it down.
Instead they got the Mets junk.
Theo is a shrewd GM, he will part with the kids and has in the past and he is also not very nostalgic with the veterans on the team, trading Nomar, not resigning Pedro, trading Ramirez, etc.
If he wants to make that trade and thinks it will help the Sox in years to come, he will do it.
new thread
Doc has the no trade clause….All he needs to ask what teams are interested and go from there……Yanks have big dollars coming off the books after this season, the do get some luxury tax relief due to the Stadium payments, and the free agents that are available this winter are not a good crop……Forget all this under 200 million payroll, it’s never going to be……You want The Doctor, pick Wells or Rios….Give me Joba / Hughes, Melky, and 2 prospects ( mid-level )…He’s all yours….Jays move major coin from their books
“I’m not calling them cheap, but I think Cashman citing payroll concerns is hollow when the team makes the kind of money it does off of the stadium, YES, etc”
Everyone has a budget, even the Yankees. Tell you one thing about money be made off the Stadium. If they’re making any at all, it’s WAAAAY less than was projected this time last year. Would assume ad revenue is down at YES too.
Poor Pete! that alarm sounds awful! It made me laugh though. of course, at your ears’ expense.
I don’t think it’s about what the Yankees can afford; I think it has to do with how much luxury tax they can stomach. Any contract they enter into automatically costs them more than face value because of the luxury tax. I think it’s understandable on the part of the Yankees to be prudent about how much they want to subsidize the rest of the league. That’s the cost-benefit for them. Are they helped more than the rest of the league is helped by each additional expenditure of salary dollars.
Stultus Magnus July 13th, 2009 at 11:16 am
That’s because Lester has been doing a great job. Cashman might have some regrets about Santana because Hughes and Joba have not yet lived up to their billing. But I doubt he even has regrets because he offered them a good package and they turned it down.
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I have no doubt that Cashman doesn’t regret not trading Hughes for Santana.
Hughes and Sabathia >>>>> Santana
GLove I do not know or really care about the exact numbers found in the Yankees’ balance books. As a lifelong capitalist I believe any company is allowed to turn a profit, and when it comes to pro sports I believe that a team is allowed to keep profits as long as they’re committed to putting a great team out on the field every year. The Yankees have done that this year in spades, and I am willing to accept that acquiring yet another big-money player in the middle of the season while subsequently trading the farm is not within the realm of possibility at this time.
I also will not hold it against the organization and accuse them of not doing enough to deliver a great product to the fans paying their hard-earned dollars because I think it’s a bogus criticism. Other teams’ fans (especially the Angels come to mind, who whiffed on Teixeira and Sabathia and K-Rod and only signed Abreu for cheap) could make that argument this year if they didn’t acquire someone like Halladay or an equivalent “missing piece”.
Clearly the Yankees need another arm. Would it be nice if that arm were Halladay? Yeah. But I am not going to wring my hands if they don’t acquire Halladay and accuse the organization of not doing enough and pinching pennies.
Pretty funny post actually. I liked the part about the airport.
E-Rake Hit-ski
I think Homer is right about A-rod. He is a joke and not a true yankee. He has no desire to win a championship for this organization, his only priority is to get paid and mess around with call girls. This team was better without him so why don’t the yankees get rid of him and replace him with a player who wants to win. And while I’m talking about cleaning house we should get rid of Brian Crashman, and trade Robinson Cano because he is nothing but a lazy, dumb player. He has been with this team since 2005 and is still inconsistent, compare him to dustin pedroia who doesn’t have the same amount of talent as cano but has heart and determination unlike cano, and pedroia is a winner like jeter is a winner. Cano is a loser.
SJ44: If you are still there – will you please outline how a rotation prepares for a game. There has been much talk about lack of conditioning, etc. What type of conditioning do the pictures perform daily and on game day? I would guess that it will vary from pitcher to pitcher.
But a Day in the Life of a Rotation Pitcher would be interesting to some of us. Thanks.
Should have added: How do the days’ pitcher and catcher interact on game day. Thanks again.