Does Girardi deserve an extension?
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Nov 18, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
The last time the Yankees had a lame-duck manager was 2007, when Joe Torre was in the final year of his deal. Torre’s contract was a distraction all year, the Yankees lost (again) in the first round of the playoffs and we all know how the winter went from there.
Now it’s Joe Girardi going into the 2010 season in the final year of his contract. Since today is the day that the manager of the year awards are being announced, I thought it was fitting to discuss Girardi. Does he deserve some security?
The Yankees have recently shown zero inclination to do deals ahead of time with anyone. A-Rod, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera played out their contracts and it certainly looks like Derek Jeter will do the same (something I’m sure we’ll discuss more as the winter goes on). If Girardi is a lame-duck manager, it would seem to be only fair.
But managers are not players, and history has shown that an extended losing streak or a slow start in this city can put the cross-hairs on a manager/coach very quickly – do the Yankees want to open themselves up to that kind of potential distraction if they stumble early next year?
With players, I get the philosophy. The Yankees have the money to over-pay for a player once he hits the open market, so they aren’t fearful of that happening. They can afford to let a player finish his contract, be sure he doesn’t hurt himself in that final year and then compete with the rest of the league for that player content that they have the resources to make the best offer regardless. They don’t need the exclusivity window that comes with negotiating during the deal.
With a manager, though, there isn’t the threat of a career-ending injury or (usually) drastic change in ability. If they like Girardi and like his approach, why not lock him up? It rewards him for bringing a title back to the Bronx and it removes the inherent “Fire him!” response that often comes with a lame-duck manager who hits a rough patch. I’m not saying give him five years; I’m saying give him an extension and take the immediacy of 2010 off the table.
So, a one-year or a two-year, if you were to do an extension?
I think one. And then if there is another WS appearance, another one. I don’t really think it needs to go beyond that. Just enough so that he’s not a “lame duck” following a successful year.
And then you have to define “success.”
Winning a WS?
Getting to the WS?
Getting to the ALCS?
Winning the division?
Getting to the playoffs?
Winning 100-plus games?
Winning 90-plus games?
Managing through extenuation circumstances and/or disaster scenarios?
Before I address a Girardi extension, I will say this:
Matt Holliday is overrated and I pray the Yankees don’t sign him.
So is John Lackey. Someone wrote yesterday that he’ll get a Zito esque contract. Well, we all know how that turned out and Lackey is 31. A 7 year contract to a guy with a history of shoulder and arm issues? Doubt it.
I was shocked to see Burnett get 5 years and 80 million with his history, but I’ll take that over 7 and a 126 or whatever it was.
Yankees should wait on Girardi’s extension.
They should not wait on Jeter’s.
I believe he should be extended through 2011.
Not a big believer in long term contracts for managers because I don’t want them too comfortable.
Joe Torre got too comfortable (despite his protests of the contrary) and his work product was not the same as it was when Don Zimmer was beside him.
It also made his last couple of years with the Yankees tension filled and (IMO) not as productive as they could have been.
Girardi took over for a legend (not easy to do) won a WS in his second year, and completely transformed himself into more of a players manager and less of a marine.
At the end of the day, that deserves a raise/extension, at least through 2011.
the last thing we need is a manager contract distraction
girardi is young so i would add 2 yrs to his deal & make it a 3 year contract
2010-2012
mo maybe a 2 year/30 million dollar deal
jeter 3 year/60 million
i dont think jeter is worth 20 million a year but you cant cut his pay & compared to arod,tex & others it will be hard not to give him a raise even if its a small one not based on his stats but because he is jeter.
jmo
Of course he deserves an extension! With a healthy Jorgie/Wang in 08 they would have made the P.S.IMO (how many teams lose their all star catcher and ace before mid season and don’t miss a beat, doesn’t happen)…the guy has proven all he needs to, give him at least 2 years.
I love what Girardi did this year.
There is basically no chance a Joe Torre managed team would have been able to completely reinvent that bullpen the Girardi’s team did.
And if the Yankees choose to give him an extension, that would be great.
All of that said, I don’t know how playing (or managing) out the contract you signed makes you a “lame duck.”
If the Yankees gave him a one or two-year extension, and became convinced at some point that a change needed to be made at the end of this year, does ANYBODY think the contract would slow them down???
It is simply bad business to take on unneeded risk, especially when EVERYBODY, included the peerless Mariano Rivera, is playing by the same set of rules.
I think they should give Girardi an extension. He’s earned it, IMO.
Girardi lame-duck status is not the same as Torre lame-duck status.
IMO Torre’s status was much more incendiary.
That being said, I don’t see reason why they shouldn’t give him a 2 year extension. Half million raise per year?
bru,
Based on Jeter’s stats this past year he was the best player on the team.
Who knows how his numbers will hold up but a 3/60 mil deal isn’t out of the question.
I could also see him getting incentive clauses as he moves up the hit list.
He’ll likely finish in the top three on the hits list for his career.
“It was a good use of his money; but also a good show of his “people” skills and/or negotiating skills to be able to let Tex know of the Yankees interest in spite of it not looking like they were interested”
doreen-
you can’t take it away from him. he handled the whole thing very well. teixeira is a player who’s perfect for the yankees. he naturally gets what it is to be a yankee. just a really good signing.
I don’t see any rush.
Where else is he going to go?
The Yanks should lock Joe up!. He did an awesome job with the bullpen and resting up CC and the staff.
I say definitely give him an extension
Extend Girardi through 2011 and go from there but do it before spring training to eliminate questions and controversy. Between the Torre fiasco and the pitching he had in ’08, he did reasonably well but on several occasions in ’09 Alex and others said the team fully bought into Girardi’s plan.
The full coaching staff should be retained also.
heyman saying the yankees or rs get halladay
no way i trade joba or hughes,montero & another player for a pitcher that will be 333 yrs old
if i trade my top prospects it has to be for king felix or verlander or i dont do it
but what a rotation
I would give Joe a one-year extension through 2011. No need to give him more than one extra year at a time. I’ve seen many situations where a manager gets 2 or 3 years and then things do not work out and he is fired in the current season.
From the “six-year free agent” previous thread….my comment:
Bring back Kevin Thompson for a Scranton corner outfield spot. He was most recently on the Texas Ranger’s AAA Oklahoma roster (but not the 40-man). KT would have been an upgrade over Freddy Guzman (similar speed, better bat and glove) and would have more opportunities under Joe Girardi (who values speed) than he did with Joe Torre.
No, he needs to win a WORLD SERIES FIRST !
33 yrs old
not 333
Extend away.
Yeah, I never really got that either. Extending someone’s contract before it runs out *only* makes sense if you’re afraid they’ll jump ship when they’re a free agent. I don’t think Girardi particularly wants to leave, and it’s not like the Yanks are going to get out-bid on him. The downsides, however, can be huge. Look at the Mets. There was talk of Minaya being fired before his three-year extension even kicked in(!). Look at Charlie Weis, who they rushed to give one of the biggest contracts ever because he only lost to USC by one score. Evaluate a guy for his next deal only once you know everything he’s done on his current deal.
Anybody who claims Girardi is a lame-duck manager this year is just stirring up trouble for the sake of it. I was as critical as anybody of his managing during the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean he can’t improve or he doesn’t have good qualities already. I also think Brian Cashman values stability at the helm.
Lastly, if a team makes a habit of extending managers before their contracts come up, then when they do let them play out the string without a new deal, that’s when you legitimately stir up the ‘lame duck’ crowds. If letting them finish their contracts before talking extensions is SOP, then that talk becomes muted, since there’s no reason to infer anything from the lack of security.
since girardi only make 2.5 million a year, is it a really big decision?
when the yankees are signing a player like jeter , rivera, posada, etc early they are making a big gamble on the future. what if posada couldn’t throw for example. that’s 30 million or so of value right out the window.
if girardi does something the yankees don’t like, they can get rid of him and maybe there’s 5 million at stake.
it’s not like girardi is going to relax so much that he becomes a slacker because he has a longer contract. he ‘s not wired that way .
no manager is perfect, but girardi is a good fit with this team . he has a good shot at another run of championships. i think that’ll motivate him just fine. i’d give him an extension.
Give Girardi an extension then sign him to a new deal if the team does well and you can reach a good agreement.
Agreeing with SJ in principle, contracts for managers should go 3-4 years at a time at most. Extend them if it’s a successful situation, bring in someone new if it isn’t. Just because you don’t give long term contracts to managers doesn’t mean Girardi (or anyone) can’t keep managing here for as long as Torre did or longer. As long as it’s going good and isn’t getting stale … keep it going.
That doesn’t necessarily mean winning it all every single year, although that would be nice. Say for example half the starting lineup and rotation gets injured like recent seasons, but they still make the playoffs and do reasonably well thanks to the manager doing a good job pulling everyone together.
Maybe the team plays great all year but another team just puts together a better season and earns it over the Yanks, rather than the Yanks simply going flat like some recent years.
Some years that’s the best you can do, and it’d be a shame to run the manager outta town if you actually have a good team situation or you know the roster’s going to be healthier/better the next year.
bru,
You know, you raise an interesting point.
Halladay will be 33 going into 2010? I’m not sure when his bday is but it is relatively moot…32/33…same difference.
When we traded for Clemens, he was 36 and still pretty darned good (drugs or not). Halladay is 3 years younger than that and pretty darned good himself.
BUT, the x-factor is the players we give back and on that front I agree, not to mention the extension we’d likely have to/want to give Halladay to avoid losing him.
Truth be told, I’d personally entertain something built around Joba but when you start throwing in 3 or 4 additional players on top of Joba, that’s where it gets a bit worrisome. I wouldn’t mind it if they ship a Montero out because there has to be some give and take with prospects. He’s a catcher, that’s valuable, but aren’t a lot of people saying he’ll end up being a 1B or maybe RF? Seems to me that those are two positions that are easily filled down the road.
Tough decision…not one I’d want to have to make the call on.
Ultimately, I think we’ll pass and I am okay with that, but if he goes to the Sox, that obviously carries its risks for the Yankees.
I detect a battle royale in the ALCS next year between Boston and NYY.
No.
What’s in it for the Yankees to do it?
Even though Girardi is in the final year of a contract, I don’t see him as a “lame duck”. More like a free agent year.
He seems to have the support of ownership, the front office and the players so you play out the deal and negotiate when the season is over.
I think manager of the Cubs might be a long term goal for Girardi but manager of the Yankees is his 5 year plan, so what’s the hurry?
I see no reason to extend his contract. I don’t get the lame duck title of any manager coming into his last year of contract.
He may help with his input on what players to try to keep and acquire, but its not like he sets policy that becomes law for all time.
He makes plenty, as they gave him his TV show with Kay on top of his manager job.
Will a last year on the contract make him likely to steal information about the team so he can go elsewhere to manage? If he leaves the Yankees will probably be able to find someone else to manage.
Lame duck refers to lack of clout to get things done. If that is the case, that he can’t get things done on the team, then it stands to reason that he shouldn’t be given a new contract.
Cashman didn’t sign an extension to his contract. None of the players signed extensions to their contracts when they were in their last seasons. Why should it be any different for Girardi?
Even if he had an extension, it wouldn’t mean a lick if the Yankees are doing poorly. Calls for his dismissal would be loud if there was no perceived reason for their struggles. The only negative would be he would get more money for being fired with an extension. Yeah. That makes sense.
The Mad Prince in Pinstripes
lackey is not the right fit imo
halladay is going to get a massive contract & cost us a ton of prospects
5 yrs/100 million minimum
probably more
imo we have to get another pitcher because teams will upgrade
i just cant see giving halladay a 5 yr/100 million dollar contract & cost us one of hughes/joba & maybe montero & more for a few good years
pitchers fall off in their early to mid 30′s
either wait or trade for a younger pitcher
Lock him up, he’s good for the team. Pretty much anyway.
Girardi earned an extension. Give him a two year extension, and Cashman as well.
Backtracking the conversation a little…..
Tex had a very good year but it might be a little premature to be talking Captain, retiring numbers and HOF ceremonies.
The Yankees have had lots of good players and good leaders who weren’t Captain and have had many years where they did not have a Captain at all. It’s ceremonial and not a necessity.
“They’ll probably also want a veteran catcher in Triple-A (might be keeping the spot warm until Jesus Montero comes up).”
if were the yankees , i’d sign molina for another year and keep cervelli at triple a because if posada and cervelli are the yankees catchers and one goes down, then there’s a newbie coming up who doesn’t know the staff.
plus, why not keep cervelli’s mlb service time from ticking away? he’ll surely get some mlb time because posada and molina are not leikely to play injury free.
i just think this would be a small move the yankees could make that would give them an edge over other teams.
it’s not the end of the world if cervelli gets the back up job, but he’s not exactly a seasoned back up yet. what if he regresses?
In a Halladay trade, I would look at it from the Toronto perspective. What would you have to get back to make it worthwhile? I obviously don’t know what their thoughts are, but if it were me, I would have to get back two young ML ready pitchers with upside as a atarting point. Maybe that would be the finishing point as well, depending on the offers.
For the Yankees, that would mean Hughes AND Joba. Kennedy doesn’t get it done. Neither does anybody in the system right now. If I am NY, I don’t do that.
For the RS, start with Bucholz, then there is nobobdy left after that. A reliever doesn’t get it done, so no to Bard, and Bowden is not sufficient. They already traded the piece that could have gotten it done-Masterson.
I don’t think the Redsox have the prospects to get Halladay and Gonzalez. Who do they go for?
Right now, the Yankees have more pressing issues once those issues are resolved and if the Yankees want to extend him during the spring training that’s fine with me.
However, Cashman worked as a lame duck GM during a season his team missed the playoffs for the first time in many years. If Girardi’s boss can do it so can he….
If the Yanks won 89 games last season like they did in 2008?
They’re actually in the playoffs.
I think Joe’s been a very good manager. And he seems to be self adjusting.
Maybe next season he won’t get caught on camera running down the dugout to look in his binder.
And he could lose the braces.
Toronto won’t get the same offer for Halladay than they got in July.
A player one year out of free agency doesn’t garner a huge return. That’s why they should have dealt him in July.
Unless Toronto is going to give Doc permission to negotiate an extension with a prospective team (highly unlikely), nobody is emptying their farm system to trade for him.
He’s probably more likely to begin next season in Toronto than anywhere else unless the Jays want to take a lesser package for him.
“However, Cashman worked as a lame duck GM during a season his team missed the playoffs for the first time in many years. If Girardi’s boss can do it so can he….”
Cash doesn’t have daily meetings with the media.
“why not keep cervelli’s mlb service time from ticking away?”
Because it’s unethical to keep a player in the minors for that reason only when he has otherwise earned a promotion, maybe? Yeah, teams do it with their star guys to hang onto them for another year, but this is hardly the situation the Yanks face. If Cervelli makes the ML roster better, have him up. There’s no need to play those BS games.
Bronx Jeers
November 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
And he could lose the braces.
******************
I feel sorry for him with those braces. He looks so uncomfortable!
I believe in rewarding success, so I think Girardi deserves a contract extension.
Sign him to a new 3 year deal with a raise. He set a goal when he was first signed and he accomplished it within 2 seasons. Not only that, he’s proven that he can adapt to a situation and change his style of managing to fit the team.
I’m not always a fan of his in-game moves but he won a world series, how can you complain about that?
SJ44,
Toronto got crap offers for Halladay in July, they were smart not to trade him then. If they don’t get anything better this winter, they should really just hang on to him and try again at the deadline.
The Sox need a bat. I can see them pushing hard for gonzo.
This links to story on Joba preparing to start for 2010.
I love this quote, because it verifies what you see in the dugout – with Chamberlain always glued to Pettitte’s side. That’s what I want to see for Joba – that Andy is always whispering in his ear.
CC is also great with the kids, and of course, Mo out in the bullpen with his pupils – that generational thing from pitcher to pitcher will be critical for the Yankees as they move into a thankfully pitching-centric era of integrating more and more young arms.
And Jennifer, if you’re reading, this is what that idiot Klapisch could have written about, rather than leaping to the conclusion that Joba is bound for a life of guzzling because he and Posada shared a bottle of champagne, and because of his mother’s substance abuse problems.
(I am still worked up about that piece of crap writing that piece – that is just irresponsible and based on nothing but the writer’s poisoned pen).
Joba has great people looking out for him.
http://www.northjersey.com/spo.....47302.html
‘As for his own holiday wishes, Chamberlain would love to see free agent Andy Pettitte return to the rotation.
“I love Andy to death. He’s become one of my best friends. … I always take a jab at him [saying that] I can keep you young,” said Chamberlain, who spoke with Pettitte last week. “He’s been one of the biggest influences in my life as far as growing up as a human being, not only as a baseball player.”‘
Look what Santana went for at 29 in the offseason trade market, before the recession. Now subtract from that package and you have what Halladay will go for at 33.
i see them giving teams a window to negociate an extention to maximize their return
they would be crazy not to
Mike RI
The Red Sox really do not have what it takes to get Gonzo. Buchholz should not be enough to headline a deal to get him.
The trade market has changed radically since the Yanks and Sox drew a line around their top prospects over Santana two years ago.
SJ44, why wouldn’t Toronto give Doc permission to negotiate an extension with a prospective team? As you point out, they could negotiate a more favorable trade that way.
I do not see why the Blue Jays would not give Doc permission to negotiate an extension with a prospective team.
It has become common practice for teams to do this.
I cannot think of a recent time when a player was denied that by his team.
It doesn’t matter. If the team loses they can fire a manager regardless of contract. Contract just pays him.
An extension would just be financial security. Since Girardi can manage elsewhere or broadcast he’ll be fine. It really does not matter.
Do you think a contract extension will stop calls for his head if the team gets way behind? I doubt it.
Thinking about this a little more.
I don’t think an extension is necessary. Girardi’s job description as manager of the Yankees is to get the team in a position to win the World Series. He fulfilled his job description. He didn’t do anything extra. That may be unfair. Maybe not.
I also agree that the “lame duck” phrase is a made up situation. If he has the support of the front office and his clubhouse, he is not a lame duck. Torre came under fire not so much because he as lame duck as much as because he did not fulfill his job description from 2004 on.
If a manager is doing such a horrendous job as to be totally ineffective, he will be fired regardless how many years are left (unless you’re talking 5 and upwards) on the contract. Long-term contracts (more than 3 years) don’t seem to be a good idea for managers, anyway. In general.
bru/SJ44,
It is being rumored that Toronto will allow the team that trades for Halladay a 72 hour window to negotiate an extension, similar to Twins and Santana a couple years back. Not sure if its confirmed by Toronto yet, but why wouldn’t they?
Bru, I agree…if you’re going to ship out a guy like Joba or Hughes (or both plus other prospects AND 100 million), the starter has to be a lot younger than 33.
I’d love to just go with Hughes and Joba but with their roles in the bullpen (Hughes more-so) I am not ready to believe that they will jump right into the rotation and be effective. I do think we’ll see improvement from Joba though and I’d hate to see him go to Toronto and haunt us for years to come. I know you can’t necessarily do business that way because there are always risks involved, but still.
bodhisattva-that’s a great article. I had posted one from the Daily News earlier today that was similiar. I think it’s great that Joba wants Andy to come back-it’s obvious those two have become really close.
“Because it’s unethical to keep a player in the minors for that reason only when he has otherwise earned a promotion, maybe?”
in my book , it’s unethical to even have any player’s rights owned by a team for six years. i think all players should be free agents and there should be no draft, but since these are the rules that are played by all teams, why wouldn’t the yankees do what other teams do?
teams keep players down all the time to get the most productive 6 mlb years out of them.it’s fantasy of yours if you think they don’t.
the annoying thing is that if they don’t extend him, ny media will spend all summer talking about don mattingly.
do it quietly, do it this winter
I’m fine leaving him as is for now – the Yankees have other prioritie. Cash and Hal like him, so Joe is in a fine position even without a contract for 2011
Thanks, Erin, I will look for it.
Continuity is the way you plant seeds for future championships…and Andy, CC, Mo seem to relish the role of mentor. I should add that AJ is very responsive to the younger guys too.
That makes Girardi and his coaches jobs a lot easier.
“i think all players should be free agents and there should be no draft”
Agreed.
Managers are like college coaches, except college coaches always want at least four years left on their contracts because they say it’s crucial for recruiting.
Girardi has no more job security with a two year extension than he does without one. But if he wins it all in 2010 he’ll have leverage that no impending FA manager has ever had.
If I were one of the Steinbrothers I’d want to tie him up because of cost certainty.
I would also initiate conversations with Mariano and Derek who are the icons of the last 15 years and should be treated differently than any other player(s).
Andrew, good point about Tex being a slow starter in general. He is one of the best in the game, but I just don’t see why he is a GREAT player, which is what is being talked about. If he’s great, then there are a lot of great players…..I don’t love throwing the term around because then it becomes meaningless. Tex is a terrific player –that’s enough for me.
the point about Montero isn’t the position he plays but the fact that he’s a 19-20 yr old bat that is major league ready now with true 80 ability pwer wise who has shown to be a .300+ hitter…
If I’m the Ynaks with a core of mid-late 30′s players as my core I do not give away a 20yr old who could be a perrenial .320+/40hr+/100rbi+ bat for anybody….
example had the Cards in 2000 traded Pujols away for the best SP at the time(Pedro/Randy/Schilling) they would absolutely today be regretting that decision and they’re fans would be beyond depressed. Montero is a once in a generation type talent that you don’t trade for anybody in my mind
if joba can pitch to a 4 era or lower it simply is not worth it compared to joba’s 500.000 or a million a year compared to 20 million or more for doc
you are talking 20 million a year more for doc than joba
that hurts us in other areas
i would need to get a younger pitcher than doc
Regarding the extension window for Halladay:
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/ar....._mind.html
I don’t see the Yanks adding Doc with a big new contract.
The guy’s at the forefront of any discussion on who’s been the top pitcher over the last 7 seasons.
Are they really going to add another 20$ million dollar pitcher?
Mark in Tampa
November 18th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
In a Halladay trade, I would look at it from the Toronto perspective. What would you have to get back to make it worthwhile? I obviously don’t know what their thoughts are, but if it were me, I would have to get back two young ML ready pitchers with upside as a atarting point. Maybe that would be the finishing point as well, depending on the offers
*******************************************************
i think from Toronto’s perspective if you move Hallady then you have to try to fill the biggest holes you have in your system and looking at their system SP isn’t it. Remember
AM I wrong but shouldnt Jeter be given the same time frame of a contract that ALEX has? ARod is locked up until he’s about 42 years old. IMO that is too long – cant have the left side of the infiled over 40!! But what are they supposed to do with Derek?? – I feel 3 years is too little. Myabe put in some club options for years 4 and 5 – but re-negotiate after 2 years – THOUGHTS?????
Per MLB TRADE RUMORS .COM
Jon Heyman’s latest column begins with this simple declaration:
“The Yankees recently called the Blue Jays to express interest in superstar pitcher Roy Halladay.”
Isn’t it weird that in the American system the clubs own the players and decides where you go..??
Much as I’d love Doc in pinstripes I can’t see paying him over $ 15 M a year and that won’t get it done. He’ll be 33 in May.
Of course if Pettite retires I think the Yankees have to get the best starter possible to replace him and Halladay’s value goes up in my mind.
I have said many times Joba, Hughes and Montero are off limits in my view but I’d consider moving anyone else.
champ809,
See, this is the problem though. He’s 19 or 20 years old. Not 23 or 24 and not on the Yankees.
My point is, scouts and analysts can conjecture all they want to about what a guy COULD do. Fact is, you don’t know until he gets the opportunity to show his worth.
Remember Jose Tabata? He was 19 or 20 once and they were saying similar things about his future. We traded him to Pittsburgh and he hasn’t done jack…YET. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.
Shoot, we don’t even know if Austin Jackson will pan out until he gets the chance. Hopefully he will, but only time will tell.
In the right deal, you have to consider trading almost anyone.
The Blue Jays didn’t give permission to teams to negotiate an extension with Halladay in July.
Nor did Cleveland with Cliff Lee.
Some teams do it and some teams don’t.
Plus, you have Halladay one year away from going anywhere HE wants to go. That’s what gets lost in all this.
Roy Halladay’s next destination is going to be a place Roy Halladay, and not the Toronto Blue Jays, wants to play at.
Just as in July when he had his no trade clause in his pocket, Doc controls the situation.
He’s not giving up free agency for nothing.
francessa saying again that only halladay is the answer to all their problems
he said let toronto take anybody they want from them
whatever it takes
4,5,6 prospects
here we go
If the economy keeps going on a downward trend why would you look to commit to more money being paid to a manager when there is no need to?
If the economy rebounds there will be even more funds for the Yankees to work with.
I doubt there are any FA who go to a team because of the manager. They are nothing like a college coach. Sure, they can go out and recruit, but their job is selling the city and the organization, not themselves and how they personally will help with the development of that player.
ahhhh
there it is
Bru.. let it begin Halliday for the Holliday
“Of the list of former Yankees, the one that makes the most sense to bring back is Justin Christian. He his a good outfield glove and can fill in at all three spots, he hits for average, has decent extra base power and runs like a deer”
—————————————————
I really like him also. If Gardner exits via a trade this winter, it would be intelligent for NYY to target him. Ideal off the bench
same with joba in the pen
everybody is wrong except him
the Blue Jays are getting Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan back to add to all the good young guys that they showcased last year Romeros and Rumplestilkins and and the likes…they need postion players more than pitching specifically conrner infielders and catching which is why they would insist on Montero/Joba + or Montero/Hughes + pkg from the Yanks and there is no way i’d do it if i’m Cash.
I’d roll the dice that Halladay hits the FA market and i just write him a check if i determine that i need him and if not oh well. I’d worry less about the Red Sux getting him because i can’t see the Sox giving Bay/Holliday 18mil this year and then next year giving BOTH Hallady AND Beckett 22-24mil a piece with Lester moving up in his arb years and Martinez a FA looking at 15-18mil also
Yanks dont really need Halladay. I wouldn’t include Chamberlain, Hughes or Montero in a trade for him. People were saying over the trade deadline that the yanks need to add him if they want a chance to win the world series. They didn’t trade for him and still won the world series. If the Jays would like a package built around Austin Jackson than I would do that.
If Cashman didn’t trade for Johan Santana when they needed an ace why would he trade Hughes or Chamberlain now when they already have an ace in Sabathia.
i dont disagree but they need more than that
a pitcher,lf,1b at the minimum
a catcher & 2b are other concerns
if they can get an ace,lf,1b they are ok
per the signature
Lock-up Giardi. And let Jeter wait.
after the world series had taken it, it was a given. I should have known better…
Matt Holliday is over-rated.
Truer words have never been spoken
“Cash doesn’t have daily meetings with the media.”
During that season he just about did…..
cash shouldjust wait for becket,lee,etc next year
sign holliday,pettitte & matsui
payroll at 201 million a little lower
bebsy chile yous be needin ta gets sum lovin or sumptin wit tha ways ya goes on
does ya eva has any talkin thas not dissin playas or haffin hert failure fo evry hurts
86w183,
For a starter of Halladay’s caliber, you’re not going to get him w/o giving up probably two of Hughes, Joba, Montero, Jackson.
So, if we went that route, we can’t expect to keep all those guys.
I am not lobbying for that trade.
Cashmans job is to just keep Halladay away from Boston.
I feel so out of the discussions…. Stupid Internet Policy Gestapo
I still think one plus to getting Halladay is what he was able to do to help AJ. Adding him to the team gives even more depth.
I don’t think the Yankees want to go into the post season again just being able to count on 3 starters. Yes, it worked this year, and CC can pitch on short rest, but in the world series Utley had CC’s number. Having a 4 man rotation of good starters gives an even better chance of shutting the door.
Mike RI
November 18th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Cashmans job is to just keep Halladay away from Boston.
*************
Exactly
The Mad Princess
Pujols was 20 the year before he came up and had similar sucess the year before making the Cards out of spring 2001..as i said in the example looking back now what trade would you have made that would have made you feel good today looking at the walking HOF’er that Pujols is?
Montero could hit in the majors NOW! but as they are wanting him to stick at the catcher position he needs more work defensively. At worst he could probably play now and be Mike Piazza over the next 10-12 years.The Yanks however would like to coach him up some more to see he can be a better defensive catcher and keep his bat there
Erica-my Christmas Eve on Sesame Street DVD came yesterday!! I’m going to force myself to wait until Christmas Eve to watch it.
If the Yankees do indeed get Holliday then I can’t imagine that Pettite is back. You go CC, Holliday, AJ, Hughes/Joba (whoever is left), and assorted others. Then, then marginal additional dollars for Doc is about 10mm over Pettite.
Cashman job is to just get in a bidding war force the red sox to offer more for Halladay. Cashman cant block every player from going to the red sox. He already stole Teixeira from them. If the red sox really want Halladay they have enough young players to get him.
Erin
November 18th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Erica-my Christmas Eve on Sesame Street DVD came yesterday!! I’m going to force myself to wait until Christmas Eve to watch it.
*****
LOL… or you can watch it twice
Holliday also pitches? Is he any good at it, like Swisher good?
Seven
November 18th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Cashman job is to just get in a bidding war force the red sox to offer more for Halladay. Cashman cant block every player from going to the red sox. He already stole Teixeira from them. If the red sox really want Halladay they have enough young players to get him.
******************
You’re right. But I think Cash will do everything he can to keep him out of Boston
I have no problem with Girardi having one year remaining on his contract. It’s often said that being in the final year of a contract motivates players. If that’s true, then the same logic also applies to managers.
The NY Giants never want their HC to be a lame duck, and I have always thought that was a stupid policy. If a manager or HC can’t live with the pressure of being in the “cross-hairs” then maybe they aren’t cut out to hold their jobs long-term.
Contracts are negotiated with a time certain length. If that length was sufficient at the time of contract formation, it should be sufficient for the life of the contract.
Erin
You’re right. But I think Cash will do everything he can to keep him out of Boston
__
I agree. I actually think that the Yankees will trade for Halladay, and that I will hate the trade.
No way Seven
If the Sox do intend to ante up and pay. we got to go all in.
If we are both going after a batter. than yes. Boston can have him, However we can’t afford an ACE like Hallday to join Beckett and Lester.
Erica – always OPPC
November 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
LOL… or you can watch it twice
***************
True. But I figure it’ll be worth the wait if I can make it ’til Christmas Eve. Plus, I’m not really in the “holiday specials” mood yet. Although I just found out last night that the Grinch is on this weekend. So that may just get me in the mood.
bru,
No on Holliday.
Bad decision.
Overrated.
That is one area I must part ways with you.
Boras will rip off any team that signs that clown and he is nowhere near as good as Tex.
Erin
November 18th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Erica – always OPPC
November 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
LOL… or you can watch it twice
***************
True. But I figure it’ll be worth the wait if I can make it ’til Christmas Eve. Plus, I’m not really in the “holiday specials” mood yet. Although I just found out last night that the Grinch is on this weekend. So that may just get me in the mood.
*********
The love songs station on Sirius radio went all Christmas on Monday. So basically, ready or not Christmas is coming.
Anyway, my window of internet usage is coming to an end… Bye for now everyone
champ809,
First of all, why are you insulting me? I’m trying to have a discussion with you…Mad Princess??? Unnecessary.
Secondly. Montero, until he steps in the batters box for a major league team, should NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER be compared to Albert Pujols OR Mike Piazza.
Are you kidding me?????
Girardi deserves an extension. He won, players like him, hes a good guy and means well. Give it to him.
lol, on MLBTradeRumors there is a post that Heyman claims that the Yankees talked to the Jays expressing their interest in Halladay.
He must be reading this blog.
There’s a fine line between lame duck and being too comfortable.
“Secondly. Montero, until he steps in the batters box for a major league team, should NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER be compared to Albert Pujols OR Mike Piazza.”
Exactly, he hasn’t done steroids yet.
what most of the fans who want to give the world away for Halladay want is to go into the playoffs with 4 “aces” in CC,Halladay,Pettite and AJ feeling that nobody can match up with and that’s how fans think but this ain’t fantasy ball…the phillies just went to back to back World Series with Joe Blanton as their 4th starter…next year we’ll have a more mature dare i say more consistant Joba as our 4th starter and that should be more than enough as talent wise he should be better than anybody else’s 4th starter
to me you cannot give up on Joba,Hughes,Montero or Jackson for a guy you can probably get for $ next year
As far as Girardi goes I don’t really care if he’s a lame duck manager or not but he did just win a world series so giving him an extra year isn’t a big deal.
If he wants a 3 year extension on top of the remaining year that is too much.
Once Torre got that kind of job security he became “grandpa Joe the ambassador of the game” and seemed less interested in the Yankees.
Not saying Girardi would do that, but job security does strange things to people. I actually think Girardi with that kind of job security has the potential to become really screwy.
That said, he did a great job this season and I think he has a fire for winning that seemed to evaporate in Torre in later years.
As for Hallyday, I love him and would want him in our rotation.
It comes down to cost. What’s it going to take?
I don’t see how we get him without giving up one of Joba/Hughes and other goodies like Robertsen and one of the young catchers.
The good news is the Yankees have the pieces to make that trade but it’ll hurt and will also take the Yankees out of trades in mid-season when a need could arise that needs to be filled.
Still, a rotation with CC, Doc, AJ, Andy and whoever doesn’t get dealt from Joba/Hughes should help this team win 110 games or more next season.
We get him and Gammons will take a headfirst dive off those Monstah seats.
champ809,
And thirdly, how do you know that Montero could go to New York and hit RIGHT NOW?
Its conjecture…the opinion of a scout or an analyst.
I’d LOVE it if that were a guarantee and would have no desire to trade him but if he was THAT good, defensive short comings or not, he’d be in NY already.
He could learn just as many defensive tricks from Posada and Tony Pena as he can anywhere else IF he is that good.
Stop overhyping prospects.
“to me you cannot give up on Joba,Hughes,Montero or Jackson for a guy you can probably get for $ next year”
SOLID POINT.
Its almost the same exact scenario as Johan Santana where we said “No Thanks” and waited on the Big Fella, CC Sabathia, 2009 World Series Champion!!!
We can blockade Boston Harbor, but what if they try to get Doc in over land???
Don’t shoot until you see the red of their socks!
Erin
November 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Bronx Jeers
November 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
And he could lose the braces.
******************
I feel sorry for him with those braces. He looks so uncomfortable!
————————————————————
Girardi was asked about the braces on one of his shows earlier this year. He said that it was part of a geal that he made with his daughter to get her to have braces put on her teeth. If she agreed, he’s also have them put on his.
From all of what is being said about Montero’s bat, I doubt that the Yankees would trade him at this point. Cashman will make trades but certain players are on his list and no one will get him to trade them.
I am not sure if Montero is on that list, but I tend to think he is with all the chatter that goes on about him. I think Cashman would be more willing to let Jackson go over Montero.
Cashman has shown he is willing to wait a bit for the talent to develop.
Like the scene of a train wreck, I keep returning to Vernon Wells contract. There may be room for creativity here.
Would the player’s union allow something like this:
Yankees take Vernon Wells and Halliday from Jays, but only take on 1/2 of Wells contract.
Yankees spin Wells somewhere else for something else (LF, minor leaguers).
Just thinking out loud. This is the only way Halliday leaves the Jays early, IMO.
I’m sorry Mad Prince I wasn’t insulting you i just misread/mistyped….no insult intended
player projections and comparisons are made all the time if you compare/profile players at similar points in their careers scouts,gms’,personnel folks make comparables all the time…doesn’t always pan out but what is undeniable is Montero’s professional career production to this point is remarkable at not just the raw stats his periphs are even more telling as to the potential he has as a hitter
“Its almost the same exact scenario as Johan Santana where we said “No Thanks” and waited on the Big Fella, CC Sabathia, 2009 World Series Champion!!!”
While I agree with not giving up prospects and long term money for Johan, are you acting as if 2008 never happened?
We said “No Thanks” and missed the 2008 playoffs and waited on the Big Fella, CC Sabathia, 2009 World Series Champion!!!
GreenBeret7
November 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Girardi was asked about the braces on one of his shows earlier this year. He said that it was part of a geal that he made with his daughter to get her to have braces put on her teeth. If she agreed, he’s also have them put on his.
***********************
Awwww…that’s sweet. What a good dad!!
Girardi should be manager of the year and Man of the Year ! C’mon Time Magazine, do the right thing!
“He said that it was part of a geal [sic] that he made with his daughter to get her to have braces put on her teeth.”
God only knows what he promised to get Melky to stop sliding into first base.
No extention, please.
CR9
we missed the playoffs because of injury(Posada,Matsui,Wang) and not because we didn’t have Johan perse
Not that I think it would happen but…
“Yankees spin Wells somewhere else for something else (LF, minor leaguers).”
Why wouldn’t you want to keep Wells if you were only paying half his contract?
-Jeter is the Captain of the team Joe the mgr.Leadership is by example.Yankees say they wait,then they ALL wait.That goes for Joe and Jeter too. Why cause a morale problem? Yankees stand to benefit in contract years,look what Damon and Matsui did especially during postseason.
-Besides where is their a better place in baseball to play, for Jeter and Joe,both are playing for the best?
The prestige is with the Yankees.Jeter is a pure bred Yankee.He’s not going anywhere.This is the only team he ever wanted to play for,since he was a kid.His legacy is etched in this team.
-Yankees policy says they wait.Players are never stolen from the Yankees FOR MORE MONEY OR A BETTER CONTRACT,are they? They seem to never want to leave if I recall correctly!!
Can we get Doc without giving up Joba and or Phil? Ajax, Montero, a few other good kids to Toronto.
“He said that it was part of a geal [sic] that he made with his daughter to get her to have braces put on her teeth.”
Now I feel like a bad parent. I only promised he wouldn’t miss gum that much and he would thank me some day.
If the Blue Jays trade Halladay it will probably go along with the window to negotiate a contract with him. If its to the right team, Halladay would more than likely agree to that. That means there is no guarantee that he hits FA next year.
More teams are working to lock up their special talent, and if the players like it where they are they are seeing (and constantly hearing) how great it is for a player to stay with one team.
I don’t think its critical for the Yankees to get Halladay, but I sure wouldn’t mind seeing him in pinstripes pitching along side CC, AJ, Pettitte and Hughes/Joba. It makes the rotation as good as their circular lineup was this year.
With the pitching matchups being uneven, in that your number 4 or 5 could be going against their ace, having that type of depth in SP would be incredible.
Its worth the Yankees talking about a trade. Its not like anything will be done before the winter meetings anyway, and even then it may not happen with any team if they get too greedy.
One if by land, two if by sea?
PittsburghYankeeFan: I think the players’ union would only be involved if Wells was being asked to give up some of his salary, a la Arod to Boston when they put the kibosh on the deal.
I don’t see Wells wanting to give up $ anyway, especially if he was just going to be spun off to a non-contender. The only way a trade works involving Wells, I think, is if Toronto eats part of his salary like Tom Hicks did with Arod until the ugly opt-out.
Steve-
Can we get Doc without giving up Joba and or Phil? Ajax, Montero, a few other good kids to Toronto.
- Nope. something has to give
Montero could hit in the majors NOW! but as they are wanting him to stick at the catcher position he needs more work defensively
=====
yeah, champ, his stick is already there. And I don’t think most would think you’re taking some leap saying so. They want him to make it behind the plate and the kid himself is very motivated to do so, also.
I agree with extending the contract. As someone said before the last thing the team needs is managerial contract drama. Extend him till 2012(another two years) and go from there.
Girardi wasn’t going to go the full RR tracks deal. He was wearing the invisiline type in the beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that YES also had something to do with it.
Francesa is going on and on about how the Mets “must” get Halladay.
Just what an offensively-challenged team needs – another pitcher to lose 2-1 games, assuming, of course, he doesn’t injure his groin again.
I dont think there’s any way Girardi would take a 1 yr extension after winning a World Series, its kind of insulting to him. If the Yanks want to extend him, then extend him 2-3 years at most, if not, they can always get after it next offseason. Whether Girardi is a “lame duck” or not, if the Yanks aren’t playing well, fans & the media will call for his job, no matter how many years he has left on his deal. And as far as eating up his contract if they fire him post-extension, how much have we paid for Kei Igawa’s services?
champ,
I must insist that I HOPE Montero pans out…don’t misconstrue my comments about his age or anything like that as pessimism.
I’d love to see him up and productive for the Yankees as Jorge’s successor asap but you also have to be realistic in your expectations of a kid that age.
Only rarely do guys like Pujols jump on the scene at that age.
Not one single poster here has given any real reason to extend Girardi’s contract other than talking about the drama. Guess what sports fans, that drama will be there with or without a contract extension. Its NY and the media will always be talking about the managers job security if the team struggles.
That just isn’t a good reason to give him an extension.
If they did trade for Halladay I think I would rather give up a package with either Montero and or Jackson. I would not trade Joba and Hughes. You can never have enough arms in my opinion. And Joba and Phil are no longer prospects they contribute to the major league team. If you can get Halladay and keep both Chamberlain and Hughes you have a great shot to repeat next year.
If Doc is sighted in Lexington or Concord, unleash hell.
“I love Andy to death. He’s become one of my best friends. … I always take a jab at him [saying that] I can keep you young,” said Chamberlain, who spoke with Pettitte last week. “He’s been one of the biggest influences in my life as far as growing up as a human being, not only as a baseball player.”‘
____________________________________________________________
I knew I always liked Joba! Seriously, this made me teary….
Cashman also worked thru the end of his contract without an extention. It appears the business model is to let the contract run it’s course (both players and front office) without an extention.
Why do people expect the Yankees to operate like other teams?
They take care of the people who work for them,why sweat?
If the Yankees wanted to be ordinary or mediocre they wouldn’t need to carry as high a payroll.Joe and Jetes will be taken care of soon enough.
Congrats to Scioscia and Tracy, I guess.
Girardi came in 3rd
John Henry: give me Twitter or give me death!
A very happy and sad day..Roger live from Amsterdam will be roger from the middle east starting from january.This must be the biggest news of today isn’t it?haha
So we have determined that scioscia won because of adenhart’s death. if that is the case, i guess bobby anreu, torii hunter or vlad guerrero should win MVP because of their gutty play getting through the season.
Sorry if not girardi, gardenhire deserved that award way more.
pat
November 18th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
“He said that it was part of a geal [sic] that he made with his daughter to get her to have braces put on her teeth.”
Now I feel like a bad parent. I only promised he wouldn’t miss gum that much and he would thank me some day.
————————————————————
There has been extensive studies done on why kids go bad. Parents take their kids gum away and the kid becomes Cody Jarrett.
“Made it, Ma. Top of the world.”
“There is basically no chance a Joe Torre managed team would have been able to completely reinvent that bullpen the Girardi’s team did.”
What garbage. If they didn’t sign Tex and CC, it wouldn’t matter what he did with the bullpen. They gave Torre Pavano and Giambi to work with, that’s why he didn’t win. Look at the 96 roster – NOT superstars. Torre helped make Jeter and Mo what they are today. Torre had to fight to keep both. George wanted to trade Rivera and demote Jeter.
Bullpen is meaningless if you don’t already have a good team, and that’s what Tex and CC made the Yankees.
no way i trade joba or hughes,montero & another player for a pitcher that will be 33 yrs old
Why not? 33 is not too old for a starting pitcher. Look at the top starters the last 10-15 years – most pitched well into their late 30s/early 40s.
If any of these guys pan out, you can sign theym in a couple years when the Jays can’t afford them.
GB
At least he won’t an overbite in his mugshot.
Why did Sciosia win ? He must have had the best record in the league after the All Star break….?
** won’t have an overbite in his mugshot.
pat
November 18th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
GB
At least he won’t an overbite in his mugshot.
————————————————————
LMAO. Yeah, he’ll have that going for him. In the prison yearbook, they’ll write, “Best looking kid on death row. Great teeth.”
I think people are going to be surrpised as to what uit takes to get Halladay at this point.
The Mets STOLE Santana from the Twins under similar circumstances (Beginning of his “walk” year).
What makes you think it would take ANY of Joba, Hughes, Ajax or Montero to get him? I don’t.
With each passing day, TOR’s leverage drops.
The only issue at this point is whether you want to or need to outbid BOS & keep him away from there (although their eyes are on King Felix – good luck with that Theo).
pat
November 18th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
** won’t have an overbite in his mugshot.
————————————————————
Typos are catching, aren’t they?
I read somewhere a day or two ago,that a Yankee executive was quoted as say,Jeter would never see free agency.If I find it again I’ll post the link.
-In other news Boras is trying to get the Cardinals to open their wallet wide if they want Holliday.Cardinals plan to go after Xavier Nady if they can’t resign Holliday.
-It goes without saying,STL FANS,hate Boras now!!
Haiku,
I hear ya re: Boras
That guy is going to help Holliday absolutely rip off some team. I hope its not the Yankees.
I am not at all sold on Matt Holliday.
He’s good, but he’s not worth a contract that approaches anything even remotely close to what Tex got.
Yet he’ll get something at least in the relative area.
Sad.
Holliday is a very good player. He is significantly better OF, in my opinion, than the Yankees have or that I have read may be available. Is he worth Texiera money? I don’t think so nor do I think any team will think so either.
A five year deal for a 30 year old for $100M or less seems like a good idea to me. And I do think he will be better in five years than Crawford will be even if Crawford ever became available to the Yankees.
What do you all think of Mark DeRosa as a cheaper option in LF next season?
He’s not Johnny Damon and he’s been a bit banged up over the past year, but he’s a gritty fella.
I just wonder if he’s Type A
Yes give Girardi a one year extension.
Can’t see Holliday or Halladay as Yankee options because:
2009 starting payroll was 208M and change, which doesn’t include another 5M or so Pettitte reached in incentives. Let’s say year end payroll was around 213M.
Next,Jeter, Cano, and Swisher have built in raises for 2010 around 5M total, plus Cabrera and a few others will get arbitration raises.
IF, BIG IF, the Steinbrenners want the starting 2010 salary to be just under 200M, lets say 199M, let’s now guess where they go with resigning their own free agents, signing other free agents, making trades for players one year removed from FA, trades period for established players.
Come up with a 25 man roster that can compete in the AL East for a chance to go back to the WS,and stay under 200M.
Attached are 2009 start of the season salaries.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/salaries?team=nyy
Thoughts?
Sam, Chad??
PITT YANKEE FAN-
I hate to get into the Vernon Wells debate. I personally would hate to see the Yankees end up with that awful contract even if it meant ending up with Halladay. Just to support your thought about Toronto paying half of his contract which would be approx 10 mil per. The Yankees can then trade him and they too can pay half which would be 5 mil.(I know its not like them to do that anymore but….) Im sure with Toronto on the hook for 10million and the Yankees paying another 5 there would be plenty of suitors for Vernon Wells.
the point about Holliday not being worth Tex $ is that Holliday to me is a $15mil/yr player not $20mil so 5yrs/100mil for Holliday or Bay is too much and when it’s all said and done both guys will see that the market is different than they are thinking.
What Boston offered Bay- 4yrs/60mil- is about right to me. Holliday beause he’s younger maybe can get an extra year but 5yrs/75-80mil to me is about right and I would prefer to have Crawford in LF for the Yanks for my moolah
if i were Vernon Well’s agent i would be trying to explore all ways possible that i could help Toronto move him so that i could get him to a team that plays on grass….i think the crux of the problems with him are due to injury and playing on the turf…if you go back and look at his healthy years before the contract you can see how he earned the deal that he got…if Toronto ate 40% of the remaining money in the deal ala Texas w/Arod i’d take him and put him in RF. Imagine an outfield of Crawford LF-AJax CF-Wells RF(healthy)defensively that would be sick!
Lineup
Jeter
Crawford
Wells
Tex
ARod
Posada
Miranda
Cano
AJax
the deepest most versatile balanced lineup we’ve ever had
eh, i don’t really buy into the whole “off the field distraction” meme that runs through the narratively-inclined baseball analytical world. There’s no reason why anything happening off the field would affect his ability to make decisions on the field, just like there’s no reason why something off the field (like jeter’s contract this year) would affect a player’s performance on it. Sure, Girardi is a good manager. An excellent manager, actually. But who’s to say there’s nobody out there. Cash should have his guys keeping track on anybody who might be available to manage in ’11, no matter how well Girardi has done in his first two years.
I love Girardi’s work with the bullpen – I really think his ability to manage flexibility into a strength is exceptional, but he is not without flaw – his affinity for the sac bunt, the molina thing, the aceves/robertson thing, and sitting swisher in the WS all come to mind as the kind of mistakes he is (at least a little bit) prone to making. Somebody with his understanding of statistics should know that sac bunting with a good hitter is a bad decision 10 times out of 10, and should also know that posada’s offensive contribution is greater than molina’s defensive.
Of course, I doubt i’d mind having Girardi on board for the next decade – his macromanagerial approach is something i agree with wholeheartedly. But just because he is good doesn’t mean there is nobody out there who is better. It would be rash to make a decision before you have to.
champ809:
“the deepest most versatile balanced lineup we’ve ever had” would not include vernon wells or juan miranda, and in all likelihood wouldn’t include Austin Jackson either. I could live with him on the team, but there’s no reason whatsoever to replace nick swisher with vernon wells. Offensively, Nick Swisher >>>>>>>>>>>Vernon Wells. Defensively, Nick Swisher>>>>>>>>Vernon Wells. Contractually, Nick Swisher >>>>>>>>>>>Vernon Wells.
from Kevin S
Lastly, if a team makes a habit of extending managers before their contracts come up, then when they do let them play out the string without a new deal, that’s when you legitimately stir up the ‘lame duck’ crowds. If letting them finish their contracts before talking extensions is SOP, then that talk becomes muted, since there’s no reason to infer anything from the lack of security.
I agree with this
Jerry: bingo. having a “lame duck” policy as SOP is the best all-around approach
Pete
you are out of your mind if you think Nick Swisher is better than Wells…the only thing bad about Wells is his contract!
He’s a 3 time gold glove outfielder…Swish will never win a gold glove, ever.
as far as offense Well’s worst two years in the last 8 years would equal Swish’s year last year
from ’03-’07 wells averaged .285/.350obp/.500+slg%/28-33hrs/45doubles/100rbis and gold glove defense…my thesis is that if can return and remain healthy playing on grass and not breaking down on turf that he could possibly return the player he was earlier in his career when many thought he’d be the best CF’er in the game. At a 40% discount to his current contract i’d take that shot if i’m the Yanks for the next 5yrs as he’s only 30yrs old
As far as AJax being part of that offense as well as Miranda i believe in the talent that i see and the projections if AJax becomes what i think he will be then he’s a Shane Victorino type .290-300/15-20hrs/30+sbs hitting 9th in my lineup.
As far as Miranda i’m looking at a guy who projects to offer us Matsui ’09 like production as a power LH hitter in our lineup.
If we assume that to be true in both cases that would be the deepest most balanced lineup that i’ve seen the Yanks put out in the 30+ years that i’ve been a fan!
Girardi’s reward is not getting fired. He did poorly last year and if he had done poorly again this year he would have been gone. Now he gets to stay and prove that it wasn’t all Cashman (getting him great players to manage). Not likely to see a big bump in player quality next season like there was this one, so whatever improvement Girardi shows should be a valid demonstration that he is still learning and growing. Won’t go into the litany of his stumbles this year, since they were pretty well chewed over here in real time, but those who have not forgotten will agree that he still has some learning and growing to do as a manager. I think he can do it — he did improve this year — but he’s all the more likely to remember he still has a ways to go if he’s not prematurely extended.
We won it all this year in spite of Girardi, not because of him. The only thing he should be extended is the courtesy of not being fired after a road victory.
Hard to argue with the best record in baseball and going 11-4 in the post season against 3 very good teams…give him a 2 year extension.
I don`t believe in contract extensions for anyone..If you wanted to sign a person for a longer time than you should do so from the beginning..If Giradi does a good job nexy year I`m sure the Yankees will reward him with a good contract..I`ve been a Union man for over 35 years and when we negotiate a contract for our selves and it is signed by both parties we both know where we stand and at the end of the contract the negotiation process begins again it is fair to both sides and does not need to be changed..Some might say I`m talking apples and oranges but i don`t see it that way..