Opening day roster guess No. 1
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 26, 2009 
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The day after Christmas. A little more than a month and a half before pitchers and catcher report to spring training. The Yankees have so far made three trades, signed two major league free agents and chosen a Rule 5 draft pick.
At this point, there is at least the slightest chance — though still very unlikely — that the opening day roster will be chosen from the current group of Yankees. This seems to be a good time to take a guess at the 25 players who will break camp with New York in April.
My guess includes just one additional free agent signing. He’s an outfielder who fits Brian Cashman’s (public) plan of a not spending too much, he has experience at all three outfield positions, he has experience in the AL East and his numbers are outstanding against left-handed pitching.
For the last spot in the bullpen, I went with a guy who has caught the Yankees’ eye in spring training in the past and was pitching extremely well late last year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Rotation
CC Sabathia
A.J. Burnett
Andy Pettitte
Javier Vazquez
Phil Hughes
Bullpen
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Damaso Marte
Dave Robertston
Alfredo Aceves
Chad Gaudin
Jonathan Albaladejo
Catchers
Jorge Posada
Francisco Cervelli
Infield
Mark Teixeira
Robinson Cano
Alex Rodriguez
Derek Jeter
Nick Johnson
Ramiro Pena
Outfield
Brett Gardner
Reed Johnson
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Jamie Hoffmann
Jamie Hoffmann will end up back in LA
How about a pinch hitter off the bench with some pop?
With regards to Damon: Would have liked to have kept him in the DH role as his offer of 7M was generous for a FA DH. IMO he would be more valuable in the two spot than Nick Johnson.
Gardner really doesn’t need a righthanded platoon hitter as he hit .302 against lefties, albeit a small sample size. Is his arm really any better than Damons? I don’t remember seeing him play LF last year.
Ideally, if the price were right, DeRosa would be helpful in that he could fill many roles without much dropoff on offense, but he’ll take the best offer from the Giants.
I’m just throwing this out there, but is there an infielder FA, who might be able to take over left field and play good defense while offering some offense,perhaps hitting in the 2 spot while moving Johnson down in the order, not necessarily power-switch hitter Orlando Hudson for example?
Have some concerns in the bullpen with all the young arms, as Robertson, for example, had to be shut down late in the season for what sounds like elbow tendinitis. If FA Kiko Calero was available on a one year reasonable contract, would there be any interest?
Difficult for me to believe that the Yankees would waste the entire past season of Joba Chamberlain’s rules and insert him back into the bullpen.
I can’t believe that the Yankees have spent all this time building up Joba and protecting his innings, only to throw it away by putting him in the pen.
I think it is more likely Hughes starts out in the pen until they can solidify it with other options, mainly because he is the one with the innings limit this year. Due to the possibility of injuries, etc, Hughes will still get a good number of starts this year.
As far as Joba is concerned, Verlander was 11-17 with a 4.84 ERA in ’08. He was also only hitting about 91-93 on the radar. I am hoping Joba has the kind of bounce back that Verlander did.
I honestly believe that Joba will be in the rotation and Hughes will be in the bullpen.
Joba has no innings restrictions.
With hughes we would have to sit through the hughes rules.
Chad, I like your rotation and the bullpen..one question, if that is what happens and Hughes gets the #5 spot then do you think that closes the door for good on Joba the starter?
Johnson .402 career OBP >>>>>>> Damon’s .355 career OBP
Johnson >>>> Damon in 2 hole
December 26th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Austin, not a problem. I’ll link the organizational hitters chart. Both of these charts are for the end of 2009.
http://www.baseball-reference……ting.shtml
Wow, I’m not totally convinced that this is a better team than the team that road down the canyon of heroes. No true #5 hitter to protect A-rod, say what you will Melky/Damon/Godzilla had a lot of clutch hits and I am concerned about rp depth, especially from the left side. I think Dunn will be a stud and a Thornton close once he gets his command figured out. I see the bullpen and a lf with pop an issue.
Doreen, what I’d posted earlier is only my thoughts and not based on anything that I’ve heard or read. My apologies if I gave the impression of inside knowledge.
The Yankee switch hitters may hit better from the left side, but, they’re not bad from the right side. They also have two of the best right handed hitters in baseball.
Jordan-Johnson also hit into 15 DP’s to Damon’s 9, in 80 less AB’s. It’s not the OBP but the speed in the 2 hole I’m concerned about.
reed johnson couldn’t play in the mets putrid outfild, enough said right there
“Johnson .402 career OBP >>>>>>> Damon’s .355 career OBP
Johnson >>>> Damon in 2 hole”
I don’t think it is going to happen, but if the Yankees re-sign Damon, it will be Damon batting second, regardless of Johnson being better in one stat category.
Gb7 no they aren’t bad from the right side and they do have jeter and arod but Ideally they could use another quality right landed bat in the lineup IMO.
Not so sure about Albaladejo. He and Mark Melancon will battle it out for a bullpen role.
Cashman should be able to do better than Reed Johnson.
The month of March will answer the questions of Joba and Hughes.
GB7, (from previous thread)
Thanks for all your great insights on the farm. I too believe that Horne has been forgotten. And in answer to an earlier question, he is not a guy with mediocre stuff. When healthy, he was a genuine live arm, with crackling breaking stuff and movement on just about everything. I wouldn’t say he was a sure-fire prospect but he was a very good one, and if he can get back to what he was could still figure,
What’s the story, GB, with Humberto Sanchez? Any hope for him? Also would be interested in your view of Kontos and where he might fit in. My guess is that this will be the year when several of our young injured pitchers re-emerge.
And count me with those who feel Gardner will be a major asset hitting out of the nine hole in the line-up. We may need more than Hoffman as a righty option, but Gardner can handle the brunt of the workload. His speed and defense will more than compensate for his lack of power.
I’ll ask this question again. Is there a free agent infielder available who might be had for a reasonable contract that could play the outfield-LF-with good defense and a good arm, and still fill in, in the infield? Thinking someone like switch hitter Orlando Cabrera?
The deal that Johnson signed will pay him what the Yankees offered to Damon if he earns the various incentives that are in the contract over the two years.
I don’t see Damon being brought back.
doreen -
jon lester emerged in his 24th year as a really good starter. that’s about when i look for it to happen with pitchers. joba is ready and hughes is right there too almost. joba will be 25 next sept and hughes 24.
25 is no magic age, but it’s an age when the body ,mind, and training start to come together. i believe in a long minor league apprenticeship simply because i think there are lessons that need to be learned slowly.
pitching is a craft and learning a craft takes time. but these have have paid their dues at this point. no matter which one of hughes or joba gets the fifth starter role, there is little chance that these five won’t miss 15 starts between them or more.
that’s just probability. so the one who doesn’t get the job at first needs to stay stretched out if both are thought to be starters. that’s where it gets problematic. how do you keep joba or hughes stretched out if they are in the bullpen ?
the yankees always rush a guy when they have a need and they ” ease” him back into the rotation. they say they are doing it right, but hey don’t.
so the question to me is how does the starter who doesn’t get the 5th starter job keep their length for the 15 starts that will likely be there for that starter if he’s ready ?
Coke was nothing great, and Dunn was far from a sure thing, and I am not sorry about the Yankees giving them up for what they got in return. But by trading those two, they are banking an awful lot on a few nice PS appearances by Marte, following a pathetic regular season.
So why not put Granderson in the 2 hole based on your reasoning? He hit into 1 DP IIRC in 2009.
Double plays are apart of the game. It doesn’t excuse the fact that present day Nick Johnson is a bigger offensive weapon than present day Johnny Damon.
And with a .402 OBP instead of a .355 OBP in front of Tex and ARod, the opportunity for more runs increases significantly.
Just think about how many times Jeter and Johnson will be on 1st and 2nd for the heart of the order.
“Thinking someone like switch hitter Orlando Cabrera?”
When did he start switch hitting? You must be thinking of somebody else. Besides, OC still thinks, rightfully so, that he is a capable ML starting SS.
Yea if were goin that cheap then I’d rather re-sign Nady than go with reed Johnson. Nady couldn’t possibly throw any worse than Damon could he? He’s got more upside and you have Gardner to fall back on..
I hope the Yankees spend a decent amount of time this spring working on bunting skills. Gardner should be able to get a number of bunt hits with the speed he can run.
Its frustrating to see that most of the players don’t know how to bunt.
think he meant orlando hudson
Rhapsody, I agree that it would be hard to believe, scraping the Joba as a SP effort. However, I find it just as hard to believe they’d put Hughes in the pen for a second year in a row, He’s always been at the front of their “develop our own SP effort”, and if you think he has inning limits now, wait until he has spent 2 years in a row pitching out of their pen. Something has to give. My guess is that Joba does, at some point, end up in the pen and PH in the rotation. On MLB a few weeks ago Cashman even admitted Joba is a different (in a good way) pitcher out of the pen. If you can believe Joel Sherman, he wrote that “some inside the NYY” are beginning to feel Joba is better suited for the pen. Who knows, but it’ll be interesting to see.
bottom line
December 26th, 2009 at 9:42 am
GB7,
Thanks for all your great insights on the farm. I too believe that Horne has been forgotten. And in answer to an earlier question, he is nto a guy with mediocre stuff. When healthy, he was a genuine live arm, with crackling breaking stuff and movement on just about everything. I wouldn’t say he was a sure-fire prospect but he was a very good one, and if he can get back to what he was could still figure,
What’s the story, GB, with Humberto Sanchez? Any hope for him? Also would be interested in your view of Kontos and where he might fit in. My guess is that this will be the year when several of our young injured pitchers re-emerge.
And count me with those who feel Gardner will be a major asset hitting out of the nine hole in the line-up. We may need more than Hoffman as a righty option, but Gardner can handle the brunt of the workload. His speed and defense will more than compensate for his lack of power.
————————————————————
Not sure that H. Sanchez won’t end up being much more than a throw-in in a trade. Can’t get healthy and he’s wild. As far as Kontos, I haven’t seen much of him in a few years, so, I can’t give a fair opinion. The organization likes him, though. Maybe the once highly rated Jason Hirsh can provide some good starts in NY this coming year.
Coke was nothing great, and Dunn was far from a sure thing, and I am not sorry about the Yankees giving them up for what they got in return. But by trading those two, they are banking an awful lot on a few nice PS appearances by Marte, following a pathetic regular season.
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Would FA Kiko Calero be a reasonable option?
Mark in Tampa December 26th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Coke was nothing great, and Dunn was far from a sure thing, and I am not sorry about the Yankees giving them up for what they got in return. But by trading those two, they are banking an awful lot on a few nice PS appearances by Marte, following a pathetic regular season.
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True but when was the last time the pen at the beginning looked like the one at the end of the season, it’s a work in progress but with Robbie and Marte in the 7th, Joba the 8th and Mo it’s a good looking base.
Hard to believe people are complaining about a lineup that has Jeter, Arod, Texiera, and Posada/Cano… but there it is. Johnson will be serviceable… altho I’m sure we’ll miss Damon’s speed.
I would be greatful not to see Albaladejo again. I hope Melancon will come into ST strong and take it.
I’d love for a Holliday but not if it means another long term big time contract.
In my mind, NJ replaces Johnson, and Granderson replaces Damon, except NJ will hit second and CG will hit 5 or 6…? I guess it’ll take some getting used to. I for one, would hope that Damon finds his way back to the Yankees somehow.
Marte was hurt for most of the season. When he was finally healthy he pitched very well.
Too much egg nog!!!
Yes I did mean Orlando Hudson. Thanks!
Why would anybody possibly think that either Orlando Hudson or Orlando Cabrera could possibly play left field? Hudson has been shut down in each of the last three years with hand and wrist injuries.
If O-Dog could play LF that could be interesting. How much is he asking for?
Randy, Seems to me the odd one out has to go to AAA to continue starting so he can stay stretched out. That is, if the team really wants both to be SP. If Joba doesn’t win the #5 job, maybe they just put him in the pen. It’s the old” 12 best pitchers philosophy.” Hughes, however, may indeed go to AAA to stay ready. I don’t see them pitching out of the pen 2 years in a row.
Hmmmmm. My roster would be a little different. I agree there is one more outfielder likely to be added and, based on all of the blog speculation, I suspect Reed Johnson is the most likely guy so I will go along with that guess. My differences are in the pitching staff. I note that Mitre is not on your roster and I suspect that he would beat out Albaladejo unless he is traded first. But I think, maybe hope is a better word, the final spot is won by Mark Melancon. I also think that Dunn would have been awarded that spot if he had not been traded.
However my most serious difference is that I believe the Yankees will start with Joba as their 5th starter for four reasons:
1) They will not want to have to endure Hughes Rules;
2) They still believe Joba is a top of the rotation starter;
3) Worst case is that if by June Joba is ineffective as a starter, they can stretch Hughes out and he would be the second half number 5 and Joba would be the set up guy;
4) The most likely scenario for 2011 is that Pettitte retire, Vasquez is not resigned, Lee is signed as a free agent and Joba and Hughes are the back end of the rotation. This is especially desirable if the Yankees budget allows them to sign Crawford in addition to Lee.
GB7-
Can’t find any injury reports for 2009 on Orlando Hudson.
Just asking the question, instead of a Reed Johnson signing.
NYYROC
If you have followed baseball over the years and watched a few of the great ones develope you would understand like I fo that it’s much too early to write off Joba as a rotation guy.
I do like Phil but consider he too will be on an innings limit.
No I don’t believe too much of what Joel Sherman has to say about the Yankees or their players.
What I do know is that unexpected injuries usually have a way of solving depth problems in any rotation.
True but when was the last time the pen at the beginning looked like the one at the end of the season, it’s a work in progress but with Robbie and Marte in the 7th, Joba the 8th and Mo it’s a good looking base.
****************************************
The back end of the pen is looking pretty strong with Joba as the bridge and heir apparent to Mo.
Still not loving Posada in the 5th spot as protection for Alex.
In a way 25 is sort of a magic age, not just for athletes — it’s right around that time that the brain pretty much finishes developing. Up till then most are not playing with a full adult deck. It shows up in all sorts of ways, even crime figures (young guys settle down a bit after that age). So our key youngsters are just about at the point where they should be showing us not only their adult physical strength and maturity, but their full mental capacity.
Something to look forward to watching in the coming season.
The bench is a very poor hitting one as designed. It looks much like last year’s bench until Hinske and Hairston were acquired. I understand the regulars play nearly everyday, but pinch hitting is sometimes required and injuries do occur. They need another hitter for the outfield, plain and simple.
That is what it looks like now. But a bench of Cervelli, Pena, Johnson, and Hoffmann is pretty weak. Johnson and Hoffman are quite a step down from Harrison and Henske.
I know they won’t play much but last year’s team did have the strongest bench in years. Not the reason for a WS win but a contributing factor none-the-less.
Also, that bench is thin in infield coverage, as in one player to cover 2B, SS and 3B in a pinch. Better pray for no infield collisions, or bench-clearing brawls. Well let’s hope for the best and, well, not worry about planning for the worst. Or, they could resign Harrison.
Rhapsody, Thanks for your insight. For the record, I have been a NYY fan for over 50 years so I have seen many great ones develop. Unfortunately the NYY have not developed too many great pitchers recently. I’m hoping Joba, Phil and others change that. I am not writing Joba off as a SP. In fact, I was of the minority opinion that the team should start the season with both in the rotation (with a back up plan ready: AA, Gaudin, Duchesher(sp?)etc). I think both can be good SP, but the team has painted itself into a corner, as far as getting both into the rotation, by acquiring JV.
Albaladejo stinks. Melancon will step up this season.
I think Joba gets #5 role and Hughes is sent down to AAA to stretch out his innings. Cashman hinted at that recently when he said loser goes to bullpen or AAA. If Hughes won out of ST, Joba would go to pen…If Joba wins, Hughes goes to AAA.
Cashman has longer term picture in mond and can live without Hughes in pen until June.
Also, that bench is thin in infield coverage, as in one player to cover 2B, SS and 3B in a pinch. Better pray for no infield collisions, or bench-clearing brawls. Well let’s hope for the best and, well, not worry about planning for the worst. Or, they could resign Harrison.
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Or they could try and sign DeRosa to a creative FA deal, put him in LF and supply backup at 2B and 3B. Not proposes this, but bringing it up as an option to solve the problem of lack versatility and bench.
Everyone is undervaluing Joba as a starter – his past season at his age gives him similar numbers to most players that evolve into top of the rotation starters. Hughes will also eventually be a starter, but he is younger than Joba and needs to build up more innings. So Hughes starts in the pen and will pick up some starts later in the season and prep to be a starter next year after Andy retires.
Those two with CC and AJ will give the team a great top 4 in the rotation for several years. If they retain Vasquez past this season they will have a nice 5 man rotation for the next few years.
Hughes isn’t going down. Let him give us what he can out of the 5 spot and put him in the pen for the post season. Forget Mitre.
Gammons says that Bay would rather play in Beirut than Queens.
I’ve actually heard lots of good things about Beirut. Seriously.
And the Mets were absolutely decimated by injury last season. Omar certainly hasn’t helped but they have their share of talent over there.
Between Joba and Hughes for the #5 spot, IMO it will go to the one most prepared ,and in shape to start. Both should be told to get ready for a starting position.
Orlando Hudson is certainly a far superior player than someone like Reed Johnson. I doubt, however, he would want to come as a bench player as he has always been a productive starter.
gb7-
totally off topic, but i have found the perfect golf coach for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v....._embedded#
check about a minute in .
… and for anyone who plays golf, you might want to watch this guy.
he seems at first totally off the wall, but he’s like a mad genius that saturday night live would lampoon.
his swing is really good , and if anyone watches his whole you tube series they’ll pick up a few universal swing principles that apply to the baseball swing too.
classic case of the web pulling someone out of the woodwork.
However they use Joba and Hughes, having two good young arms isn’t a bad problem to have.
Yankee Trader
December 26th, 2009 at 10:11 am
GB7-
Can’t find any injury reports for 2009 on Orlando Hudson.
Just asking the question, instead of a Reed Johnson signing.
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His late season slump was because of his wrist, and when they put Belliard in as his replacement, he never got his job back. He’s not worth the concern that his thumb/wrist injuries and inexperience in the outfield brings.
Could Orlando Hudson shift to LF as a starter?
“And with a .402 OBP instead of a .355 OBP in front of Tex and ARod, the opportunity for more runs increases significantly.”
The opportunities may increase significantly (about 4 extra opportunities a month in a 6 month season), but I wouldn’t bet on the runs increasing much, if at all. For my money, if both guys got 600 PA’s in the 2 hole, Johnson would not score more runs than Damon.
with the slim pickings in the free agent bargain bin, I suspect the left fielder and strong bench bat will come during an early or mid-season trade.
apart from those two spots, that’s a damn strong roster.
now that could be a very strong BP
Bullpen
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
Damaso Marte
Dave Robertston
Alfredo Aceves
Chad Gaudin
Jonathan Albaladejo
now this is a so-so OF…need to add a better LFer if they are going to carry those other two
it was me
GB7-
OK we posted at the same time. Glad you’re back and on the blog.
I’m just trying to think out of the box. Is there a free agent infielder who could do a good defensive job in LF, and provide a good OBP and average, while filling in the infield on an as needed basis? I’m not sold yet on a platoon of Gardner/Reed Johnson/Hoffmann.
start joba in the rotation and phil as the long-man. it wont be long before we need a starter due to injury and then go from there. if you wind up having to deal with ‘phil rules’ at the end of the year, it would mean that he became a needed part of the regular rotation and pitched well enough to hit his innings limit. if the need doesnt arrive, then he goes back to scranton. this would be the least likely thing to happen with him, although he’s dominated down there, he needs to get back into the ‘every 5th day’ routine and work on his secondary pitches. the need for phil in the rotation will arise and he will answer the call. by starting him in the majors in the pen, you delay him just long enough that the innings limit won’t be an issue at the end of the year.
my prediction is that whenever phil does get a spot in the rotation, he will not give it up for the rest of his yankees career.
NYYROC
I’m up in my 60s myself and a avid lifelong Yankee fan.My earliest boyhood Yankee Recollections are of the great Yankee and Dodger WS of the early 50s watched in black and white with my Dad.
I believe that the Yankees have a plan with Joba that they intend to adhere to. I’m not saying that eventually he will not end up in the pen, but that next spring, it seems to me, is too early to abort the plan they have laid out for him. Jmo.
I could be wrong, I have been before, but there seems to be more of plan with every move, basically I see more of a structured approach to the future with this Yankee front office in recent time then in the days of GS.
mick December 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hughes isn’t going down. Let him give us what he can out of the 5 spot and put him in the pen for the post season. Forget Mitre.
==============================
So why do you think Cashman made that statement if there is no chance of Hughes going down to AAA?
I love it when people pronounce their opinions as facts–not. If you have logical evidence to back your statement up, I’m all eyes.
“I’ve actually heard lots of good things about Beirut. Seriously”
Me too. Some obvious issues, but it’s a pretty sweet location, right on the Mediterranean, and is a popular tourist attraction.
This is an opinion site. Can’t have a gut feeling?
randy l.
December 26th, 2009 at 10:23 am
gb7-
totally off topic, but i have found the perfect golf coach for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v….._embedded#
check about a minute in .
… and for anyone who plays golf, you might want to watch this guy.
he seems at first totally off the wall, but he’s like a mad genius that saturday night live would lampoon.
his swing is really good , and if anyone watches his whole you tube series they’ll pick up a few universal swing principles that apply to the baseball swing too.
classic case of the web pulling someone out of the woodwork.
————————————————————
I couldn’t see a thing that would help me. Not a decent slide in the bunch and nothing that shows how to hit that dog. I would never have missed him, unless the dog was right in front of me.
Orville taught me everything that i know.
mick December 26th, 2009 at 10:34 am
This is an opinion site. Can’t have a gut feeling?
===============================
Of course you can, and I welcome seeing it. But there is a difference between stating your opinion and pronouncing something as fact. Just sayin”
I for one don’t think joba will ever be a good SP, sit in the 8th hole learn how to close from the master,learn the cutter from him & get that mean streak back…take over when Mo is done
Good looking predictions, Chad! Agree, except I think there’s about a 60% chance Joba starts, Phil in pen
Maybe 30% chance Damon or Holliday in LF.
“Is there a free agent infielder who could do a good defensive job in LF, and provide a good OBP and average, while filling in the infield on an as needed basis?”
Mark DeRosa. Problem is he almost certainly won’t take a 1 year deal.
Come back Johnny – there is an opening!
Sorry I’ll watch my syntax next time.
beirut was once considered the ‘paris of the mediterranean” and is on the rebound
from wiki:
“The city is the focal point of the region’s cultural life, renowned for its press, theaters, cultural activities, and nightlife. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction,[2][3][4] and the redesigned historic city center, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a tourist attraction. Beirut was named the top place to visit in 2009 by the New York Times.[5] It was also listed as one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by Lonely Planet in 2009.
i had the extreme displeasure of watching much of its destruction from the deck of a u.s. navy vessel as we “neutrally observed” the israeli bombing of lebanon.
we were in fact running interferance for the iaf’s flank.
a little off topic for a sec…after all the crap you have to go thru to board a jet how can this guy get on board with that stuff…289 peeps on board
You can definitely put me on the side that thinks Joba will be a dominant starter–though it might take a year or two more before he gets there. He is still learning the craft.
But in the long-term view that Cashman has, I htink he is committed to making it happen, even if we have to watch Joba’s continuing on the job training.
My prediction–Joba wins 12-15 this year, and 18-20 in 2011.
joeman December 26th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I for one don’t think joba will ever be a good SP, sit in the 8th hole learn how to close from the master,learn the cutter from him & get that mean streak back…take over when Mo is done
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Joeman
Is that a gut feeling or one based on fact? Brad needs to know.
I also think Joba is more likely as the No. 4 starter. The tough call is Hughes to Triple-A to resume development as s starter or to the bullpen.
No way they go into 2010 with that weak of a bench. If oyu go with Cervelli, Pena and Hoffman with Gardy in LF that doesn’t add up very well unless Hoffman proves adequate as a part-time LF platoon guy.
I’m not even sure who is still available, but a healthy Nady is definitely a better option than Reed Johnson. I’d also be more interested in Jason Michaels, Randy Winn, Marlon Byrd, Gabe Kapler and others.
They don’t need 12 pitchers with four horses that are proven inning eaters (851 IP in ’09) at the top of the rotation.
scott podsednik, garrett anderson, ryan church = better than reed johnson
Hey people….Dont you think the Yankees should go after Randy Winn? In alot of ways he is like Damon and he should come cheaper. I think he would be a pretty interesting fit in a 2 year contract maybe.
“I’m not even sure who is still available, but a healthy Nady is definitely a better option than Reed Johnson. ”
absolutely.. Also, just about everything on this blog is opinion. It’s assumed.
Rhapsody, I agree that Cashman has some kind of plan. Last year’s “Joba Rules” didn’t really benefit Joba or the team. And although Hughes BP work was a key in helping the team get to the playoffs, I believe Csahman still wants him to get a shot at SP. As you said 24/ 25 is too young to give up on guys who have shown signs of being good SP. Cashman keeps his plans pretty close to the vest so I am not sure what he’s up to. But I do think it will be something well thought out, certainly something better than the haphazard Joba Rules of 2009. Can’t wait for ST to start!
Brad S77 December 26th, 2009 at 10:40 am
You can definitely put me on the side that thinks Joba will be a dominant starter–though it might take a year or two more before he gets there. He is still learning the craft.
But in the long-term view that Cashman has, I htink he is committed to making it happen, even if we have to watch Joba’s continuing on the job training.
My prediction–Joba wins 12-15 this year, and 18-20 in 2011.
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if that is going to be anywhere close he’s going to need his own private pitching coach down in ST…whenever he starts a a little something goes wrong he becomes a wreck and never recovers
Brad S77 December 26th, 2009 at 10:40 am
You can definitely put me on the side that thinks Joba will be a dominant starter–though it might take a year or two more before he gets there. He is still learning the craft.
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Have to respectfully disagree. Joba does not seem to have the mental makeup i.e. attention span needed to start. JMO but he just seems better suited for the pen. No need to be a deep thinker out there.
joeman December 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
if that is going to be anywhere close he’s going to need his own private pitching coach down in ST…whenever he starts a a little something goes wrong he becomes a wreck and never recovers
==================================
I really like your point. In my opinion, Joba was hurt last year by Eiland trying to convert him from a swing and miss pitcher to a pitch to contact pitcher. Going from a 4 seam fastball to 2 seam fastball was a mistake.
Joba will be a dominant start if his velo returns.
” Not a decent slide in the bunch and nothing that shows how to hit that dog.”
gb7-
as long as you aim at the dog, it’s safe.
Yankee Trader
December 26th, 2009 at 10:30 am
GB7-
OK we posted at the same time. Glad you’re back and on the blog.
I’m just trying to think out of the box. Is there a free agent infielder who could do a good defensive job in LF, and provide a good OBP and average, while filling in the infield on an as needed basis? I’m not sold yet on a platoon of Gardner/Reed Johnson/Hoffmann.
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Derosa would be the best option. Or, they could try to get Scott Hairston from the Dodgers. He’s at least better than brother Jerry.
My preference would be Omar Infante with the Braves. He’s a good glove at a lot of positions, a fine hitter with a little power and good speed.
I’ll agree with joeman on Joba not ever become a good starting pitcher. One, I just don’t think he’s smart enough (yes I know he’s young, but I think he’s got concrete for brains) and two, what’s the point of being able to throw four pitches if you’re going to nibble all the time and shake of your very experienced catcher? I just think his mentality is better suited for the pen.
mick December 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Have to respectfully disagree. Joba does not seem to have the mental makeup i.e. attention span needed to start. JMO but he just seems better suited for the pen. No need to be a deep thinker out there.
=============================
I agree he had some problems there, but I think that can get better with maturity and Ritalin.
“Jamie Hoffmann will end up back in LA”
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another genius
The Yanks got stronger by adding Vasquez, but in a way I’m sorry, because I’d like to see both Phil and Joba develop as starters. I assume they will be competing for the 5th starter spot during spring training. That’s gonna be fun to watch.
If there’s no room for both to start, I think the loser may be traded. It’d be a waste to keep either of them a relief pitcher. OTOH the Yanks will need many more than 5 starter due to injuries, double-headers, etc., so both of them are likely to be starting for much of the season.
Rumblings are that Ben Sheets may sign with Seattle…giving them 3 strong Aces at top of rotation.
just stumbled across Boras’ twitter, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t make me LOL.
http://twitter.com/realscottboras
“I really like your point. In my opinion, Joba was hurt last year by Eiland trying to convert him from a swing and miss pitcher to a pitch to contact pitcher”
This could be. I certainly understand where Eiland’s thinking is. He’s trying to turn him into a guy who can get 19-21 outs per outing, rather than 15-16. I don’t think it’s especially realistic to expect Joba to be he guy he was out of the pen, when he starts. Probably both physically and mentally impossible.
I agree he had some problems there, but I think that can get better with maturity and Ritalin.
==================================================
I know where he can get the Ritalin but not so sure if we can wait for the maturity to arrive.
“Joba will be a dominant start if his velo returns.”
correct. He’s average without the 95mph + fastball. Hopefully it’ll be back next year.
randy l.
December 26th, 2009 at 10:49 am
” Not a decent slide in the bunch and nothing that shows how to hit that dog.”
gb7-
as long as you aim at the dog, it’s safe.
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You know…I was going to be nice to you for the rest of the year, but….
“Rumblings are that Ben Sheets may sign with Seattle…giving them 3 strong Aces at top of rotation”
Potentially. Who knows what Sheets will bring? Hasn’t thrown in a big league game for 15 months. So far as I’ve read, nobody’s seen him throw.
“Rumblings are that Ben Sheets may sign with Seattle…giving them 3 strong Aces at top of rotation.”
Seems like Seattle is putting all their eggs in the 2010 basket.
“3) Worst case is that if by June Joba is ineffective as a starter, they can stretch Hughes out and he would be the second half number 5 and Joba would be the set up guy”
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best idea have seen pertaining to this. To me NYY has invested too much in Joba to give up at this point. In addition, does NYY really wan’t to have a ‘Hughes Rules’ situation. Unless Joba completely bombs in ST. You have to start him at the beginning of the year and take it from there…
Hard to believe people are complaining about a lineup that has Jeter, Arod, Texiera, and Posada/Cano… but there it is. Johnson will be serviceable…
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yes it is
Brad S77
December 26th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Rumblings are that Ben Sheets may sign with Seattle…giving them 3 strong Aces at top of rotation.
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That sound you hear is your stomache…from eating too much colby cheese. Nice try, though.
Everyone off-handedly dismissing starting Brett “White Lightning” Gardner in left is over-looking one simple fact: he’s a damn good outfielder.
Hell, even Red Sox fans understand this:
http://oneifbylandsports.blogs.....balls.html
Gardner and Granderson, at least vs. right-handed starters, would be amazing to watch (plus it would give Girardi a chance to use “Gardy” and “Grandy” liberally).
joeman December 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
a little off topic for a sec…after all the crap you have to go thru to board a jet how can this guy get on board with that stuff…289 peeps on board
===================================================
Wasn’t it strapped to his groin? He got on in Nigeria and transferred in Amsterdam, I believe.
That is a horrible outfield. And Albaladejo stinks.
best idea have seen pertaining to this. To me NYY has invested too much in Joba to give up at this point.
================================================
vinny-
What have they invested? I said all along, this was an experiment. No guarantee to succeed. What if we needed a closer, say Mo fell off a cliff (to paraphrase someone who recently said that) wouldn’t all the Joba to starter stuff stop?
vinny-b (NJ and Granderson – thank you Cashman!) December 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Hard to believe people are complaining about a lineup that has Jeter, Arod, Texiera, and Posada/Cano… but there it is. Johnson will be serviceable…
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not so much the lineup & how strong of a bench do you need ..but the bench will be weak
And Albaladejo stinks
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http://www.dailymotion.com/vid.....-vid_music
I’m ok with Gardner for 450 AB in LF… reasonable to expect him to hit around .280, do all the small ball stuff. Love having a tablesetter in the #9 hole. Could hit second when Johnson isn’t playing. Don’t like Granderson’s low OBP there. Not sure how good his arm is but he and Granderson are going to be flying all over the deepest part of the field. Huge upgrade over Damon in terms of range.
I have to take issue with the complaints about the protection in the #5 hole. Posada will be just fine. We’re all a little starry-eyed about Matsui because of his huge postseason, but Posada has been just as good overall and does it from both sides of the plate. Nothing wrong with throwing Granderson in there against righties either. Could also argue that Cano is a better hitter than Granderson. Killer 5-6-7 no matter how you look at it.
We do need a better 4th OF – Gardner is valuable even if he doesn’t hit, but not to the tune of 400+ ABs as a starter. Swisher also scares me – I could see him tailing off to .220 and disappearing for most of the season. Reed Johnson would be a solid option for the reasons Chad mentions, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cashman comes up with something better. There are going to be a lot of quality guys with stinging pride looking for one year deals in March because they couldn’t get what they wanted.
“i had the extreme displeasure of watching much of its destruction from the deck of a u.s. navy vessel as we “neutrally observed” the israeli bombing of lebanon.
we were in fact running interferance for the iaf’s flank.”
As a sailor of as an evacuee ?
This is the year that both Humberto Sanchez and Melancon step it up. Melancon makes the team. Alba gets traded toward the end of camp (after pitching well as he always does in ST) and Sanchez gets sent down to be the closer with a trip back up to the majors later in the year.
This is Sanchez’ make or break year and he makes it finally.
PS: DO NOT forget Rumulo Sanchez as a short term reliever he has better gas and mental makeup handling 3 to 9 outs than starting….think Joba.
HC
HC
mick December 26th, 2009 at 11:02 am
joeman December 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
a little off topic for a sec…after all the crap you have to go thru to board a jet how can this guy get on board with that stuff…289 peeps on board
===================================================
Wasn’t it strapped to his groin? He got on in Nigeria and transferred in Amsterdam, I believe.
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don’t know where it was planted but they just about do a full body ex-ray….after the shoe bomber now you have to take your shoes off….what next drop your pants and lift your skirts
Joba’s biggest mistake was coming in too heavy for openers. He was still having a good season (8-2, 3.73 in 21 starts) before all the Joba Rules nonsense kicked in.
Winn is sorta intriguing because of his versatility but he offers no power and will be 36 in June.
DeRosa or Byrd are the only guys I would really want to have, but both are likely too expensive.
* or *
Cashman comes up with something better. There are going to be a lot of quality guys with stinging pride looking for one year deals in March because they couldn’t get what they wanted.
=============================
Guerrerro,Anderson and Dye?
Randy Winn?
don’t know where it was planted but they just about do a full body ex-ray….after the shoe bomber now you have to take your shoes off….what next drop your pants and lift your skirts
=====================================================
That actually might help the airline industry.
Randy Winn five years ago? Sure.
Randy Winn today? Not so much.
comfortablynumb December 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’m ok with Gardner for 450 AB in LF… reasonable to expect him to hit around .280, do all the small ball stuff. Love having a tablesetter in the #9 hole. Could hit second when Johnson isn’t playing. Don’t like Granderson’s low OBP there. Not sure how good his arm is but he and Granderson are going to be flying all over the deepest part of the field. Huge upgrade over Damon in terms of range.
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Gardner is as close to a auto out, won’t bunt & won’t take a walk…to go along with he can’t hit. You know how those situations with men on 2nd & 3rd with two outs finds these kind of hitters…plus his D is average
Of the 2-4 million dollar guys I think Nady has the most upside. (assuming he would be that cheap)
Joeman,
If you believe in defensive statistics, Gardner’s D is well above average. In left field it would play even better.
I’ve never been a huge Gardner fan, but I think it’s unfair to judge his hitting on his rookie season. Almost all hitters struggle when they first come up. Give him time to mature and maybe he could be decent.
I’m not saying he’ll be an all-star, or even well above average. I’m just saying decent.
“scott podsednik, garrett anderson, ryan church = better than reed johnson.”
No way. Garrett Anderson is a cripple. Posednik and Church are just naturally stiffs.
I’m going to see if I can dig up some names who are still available and might be 1 year bargains in March.
GreenBeret7 December 26th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Brad S77
December 26th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Rumblings are that Ben Sheets may sign with Seattle…giving them 3 strong Aces at top of rotation.
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That sound you hear is your stomache…from eating too much colby cheese. Nice try, though.
=================================
Very shrewd! I had that joke waiting for someone to fall for it! LOL!
Dye and Anderson are lousy OFers and Vladdy can’t play out there at all. Whoever is added needs to be a RH hitter for balance.
On the debate about NJ in the two hole — I would hit him there against LHP, but put Granderson there against RHP.
The Yanks had dominant teams with guys like Ricky Ledee and Chad Curtis playing left.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it (just go with the best defensive option since the offense can easily handle one weak bat, imho).
EricVA December 26th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Joeman,
If you believe in defensive statistics, Gardner’s D is well above average. In left field it would play even better.
I’ve never been a huge Gardner fan, but I think it’s unfair to judge his hitting on his rookie season. Almost all hitters struggle when they first come up. Give him time to mature and maybe he could be decent.
I’m not saying he’ll be an all-star, or even well above average. I’m just saying decent.
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ok lets just average OFer & below average hitter as of now
http://www.yankees.mlb.com/200...../#comments
Under Roster tab, Depth Chart.
When you see the yANKEES depth chart compare it to the Phillies,Angels,Sawx,and Mariners.
Yankees have no depth at left field, right field, 3rd base, Pena covering Jeter and Cano, no back up for Swisher, and it shows Swisher covering Tex, left field and right field.Posada is listed as DH. Johnson not listed as DH or 1st base.
Clearly some holes need to be filled in soon.
hardwired December 26th, 2009 at 11:20 am
The Yanks had dominant teams with guys like Ricky Ledee and Chad Curtis playing left.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it (just go with the best defensive option since the offense can easily handle one weak bat, imho).
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those two were better than Gardner
bronx, as a sailor. we sailed back and forth just off the coast and could often see the jets on thier bombing runs. i dont mean to get into the politics of the whole mess, but it was heartbreaking to me to think of the destruction that was being done to the people down below.
one thing i also remember quite clearly was that when you could see the shore, the color changed from dusty brown to verdant green as you sailed south past the lebanese/isreali border.
Left Field-Should have picked up the Pieman last year, like GB7 recommended-Felix Pie!!!!!! Finally starting to come around!!
I really think the no brainer ( I may be wrong) is to sign DeRosa for two,he can play all over the field and is a decent hitter..this would fill the team out
yeah, derosa really seems the perfect fit for the roster right now, but if reports are correct, he’ll be off the board very soon.
however, in cash we trust!
I would rate Chad Curtis higher than Gardner.
Ricky Ledee, however, was a .243 career hitter w/a .325 OBP (the exact same as Gardner’s, ironically). He also was nowhere near the defensive outfielder that Gardner is. I wouldn’t rate Ledee ahead of Gardner in any category except power.
A few thoughts – well, first of all, good morning!
1) I think Andy is gone no matter what next year; that’s just how it has to be. CC, AJ, Javy (or potentially Lee), Joba, Phil. The only way I see Andy coming back is if Joba is bad this year and they put him in the pen for 2011 (meaning, permanently).
2) Randy, exactly (I just read your post from the prior thread). Phil (assuming he loses the competition) needs to keep stretched out – forget the short-man role for him. I don’t know how serious Cash was about Robertson in that role, but at least he mentioned the possibility (that is, if hisshoulder is ok). Also, I really think Phil (if he’s the loser) should go to AAA. It’s the only way he’ll consistently get work in: going through lineups more than once, using all his pitches and getting his innings. Granted, it’s different going through MLB lineups more than once (instead of AAA), but it sure is better than the alternative. I had a nightmare last night that Cash gave up on Phil as a starter and said he was better suited to the pen. Ouch.
3) No Damon for LF. He’s a terrible OF and now he doesn’t have the DH to fall back on.
4) Doreen mentioned something earlier that I found a bit concerning. Why on earth did the Yankees draft so many pitchers who are injured or who project purely as relievers at this point? They seem to have very little SP depth in the upper levels of the minors.
hardwired December 26th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I would rate Chad Curtis higher than Gardner.
Ricky Ledee, however, was a .243 career hitter w/a .325 OBP (the exact same as Gardner’s, ironically). He also was nowhere near the defensive outfielder that Gardner is. I wouldn’t rate Ledee ahead of Gardner in any category except power.
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fair
Phil in the pen is really a ridiculous idea and makes no sense………unless they make him the long man (and that still makes no sense as he wouldn’t pitch that much). If he’s the short man, he can’t use all his pitches and it would take him weeks to get stretched out (so forget making a spot start or two).
OK Here are some LF slim picking cheap[1-2 million]? maybe one year? options. Off the top of my head
Rocco Baldelli
Marcus Thames
Eric Hinske
Eric Byrnes
Reed Johnson
Jonny Gomes
Jeremy Reed
Yankee Trader December 26th, 2009 at 11:36 am
OK Here are some LF slim picking cheap[1-2 million]? maybe one year? options. Off the top of my head
Rocco Baldelli
Marcus Thames
Eric Hinske
Eric Byrnes
Reed Johnson
Jonny Gomes
Jeremy Reed
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thats why DeRosa is a nice all around player to have for two years
That is not a good pen. Chad…….I don’t agree at all. Abaladejo? He’s been horrific for us the last couple of years pitching in real games. I assum you don’t think Melancon will have a decent enough spring to make the team? I’m not even a fan of his, but if he has a good spring, he should make the team over a proven mediocdrity like Albaladejo (who I liked a lot at one point…………..but, enough is enough with him. He stinks.)
“4) Doreen mentioned something earlier that I found a bit concerning. Why on earth did the Yankees draft so many pitchers who are injured or who project purely as relievers at this point? They seem to have very little SP depth in the upper levels of the minors.”
The yankees have been drafting high-upside power pitchers lately. Not all of them pan out but the more you have the better chances that one will…Having the ability to produce power arms for the bullpen isn’t a bad thing either.
What about updating this post to add the opening day age of these players?
I don’t think the Yankees will beat SF’s offer for Derosa. What is Nady asking for money wise?
DeRosa doesn’t want to sign with SF but they are currently his best offer. He wants ti play in NY. Doesn’t look like the Yanks want to pay him 5 mil for 2 yrs. I bet the Mets grab him if they lose out on Bay. DeRosa makes a lot of sense for the Yankees.
Trader, Pie would be a nice pick-up, if for nothing more than as a defensive gem. He does appear to have finally found his bat. Working with Crowley seems to have worked wonders. I wonder if Long could help even more. He was the Cobs top prospect a couple of years ago, and, is still quite young.
Also still concerned about the pen. Robertson had to be shut down late in the season, for 2 weeks, with elbow tendinitis. Marte was plain awful, even in the Twins series, until something just clicked. Boon Logan-no thanks. I think another, possibly affordable, “experienced” bullpen arm would be an asset-Kiko Calero anyone?
i love it when ppl assign work for chad and sam that they can just as easily look up themselves!
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....p?c_id=nyy
Nady is a Boras client!
What is good about Mark DeRosa, besides him being able to play multiple positions, including 3rd Base (to spell ARod a day off).
nud, derosa’s not gonna be around by the time bay settles. the mets seem to be the guy getting run over by the bus they thought they were going to board, if you want it, you go get it and dont wait for them to come to you or you’ll be under the bus again, especially when you play 2nd fiddle in your own home town.
“Nady is a Boras client!”
so, Boras isn’t exactly working miracles this offseason. If they can get him for 3 or 4 million then he has much more upside than any of the other guys mentioned.
I don’t get the idea of putting CG in the 2 hole against RH pitchers; he’s got too much power for that.
Johnny Damon is not the only good #2 hitter in the world. NJ fits that slot perfectly. As I posted a week or so ago, my brother lives in Florida and watches Marlins games all the time. He said (actually confirmed, since I never thought it was a problem) that NJ is fine scoring from 2nd or going to 1st to 3rd. Who cares if he’s not a speed demon?
Braeden, try comparing the Yankees roster to all of the other teams, especially the Angels. The Yankees are sill the best team in baseball.
Line up
SS Jeter
DH Johnson
1B Tex
3B Alex
CF Grandy
C Jorge
2B Cano
RF Swish
LF Byrd (Long Shot Guess)
Rotation
CC
AJ
Andy
Javy
Joba
Pen
Mo
Hughes
D-Rob
Marte
Logan
Melancon
Aceves
Bench
Cervelli
Pena
Gardy
Miranda (longshot guess)
Hardwired, I don’t like that argument at all. This is a brutal division – every edge that can be taken should be taken. I don’t think Gardner is close to being a MLB caliber starter no matter what kind of success we had years ago.
“You know…I was going to be nice to you for the rest of the year, but….”
gb7-
it’s hard enough that you’re trying to quit smoking.
you might blow a gasket trying to be nice too.
one thing at a time.
This guess does not have Johnny Damon on it.. FAIL!
CR9-
If we get the 2008 version of DeRosa, who has always been a very professional hitter, then if he fits under the X-mas tree he’d be valuable.
Attached are his 2008 splits:
http://www.baseball-reference......8&t=b
Four tiers of LF options:
1. Holliday (16-18 million)
2. Damon (6-10 million)
3. Nady (3-5 million)
4. Gardner (virtually nothing).
Just guessing on the prices. I would pick one of these though depending how much they can spend.
nud
December 26th, 2009 at 11:48 am
nud, derosa’s not gonna be around by the time bay settles. the mets seem to be the guy getting run over by the bus they thought they were going to board, if you want it, you go get it and dont wait for them to come to you or you’ll be under the bus again, especially when you play 2nd fiddle in your own home town.
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oops. Somebody forgot to change back to his other name while conversing with himself.
Blake, they’re all injured – IMO, it’s a bad job of drafting. Also, how many pitchers do you need for the pen? I want to see them develop starter……What does it say about the quality of the drafting if these guys all prove to not be good enough to start?
As the market falls (see Johnny Damon for reference) a RH Marlon Byrd could be a good move for a 1-year deal with a team option of another year and bide time for Crawford’s free agency in 2011.
Jamie Hoffmann would have to impress well in order to make the cut in spring training.
Kevin Russo is a sleeper to make the team.
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/t....._id=407781
cr9 dont discount derosa’s ability to play all over. the yankees roster is chock full of guys who can onlyl play one position and rerely need a day off, so one guy who can spot several positions and give you mlb level play around the diamond is very valuable to this team. loading the bench with 2 or 3 guys to back up players who rarely need the backup is a waste of roster space and the rustiness it creates makes you even more hesitant to give the regulars a spell. having derosa actually encourages you to give guys more rest to get him in the lineup, keeping everyone fresher as the marathon grinds on.
Cash is aware of the lack of OF depth and will fix that. I also am not satisfied by the very weak bench.
DeRosa is a very nice player, he is right handed, has some thump in his bat, would be a nice number 2 hitter against tough lefties and yes, he can play a lot of positions. People like to point out his 2nd half swoon last yr but he hurt his wrist right after the trade to St Louis and he needed an operation on it right after the season. That is why he had a bad 2nd half. For 4-5 mil, they should sign him. He is a nice player. Great fit.
Is “Avatar” filtered?
Nick in SF in Charlotte, NC
December 26th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Is “Avatar” filtered?
**************
Ummmmmmmmmmmm… no??????????
There is the answer.
Happy Boxing Day.
gb, that was me who mistakenly typed nud into the name box instead of the start of the comment box, sorry nud i didnt realize it until i posted 2x.
Supposedly, depending on what you read the Yankees are either at 196M or 198M and I don’t know if that includes projected arbitration rulings on Gaudin and Mitre?
Yankee Trader
I see. His 2006 and 2007 years are not so bad, if he fit under our budget. But, that is only 3 reasonably good years. 1 in Texas, a hitters park, and 2 with the Cubs, and Wrigley is a hitters park most of the time.
I guess YS is a “hitters park” and in our lineup, he might be able to thrive moreso.
2010 Yankee Calendars were IMPOSSIBLE to come by today. (December 26th is the universal day that calendars go on sale for 50% off, FYI).
If that is not a sign that the bandwagoners are out in full force, I do not know what is.
And I wasn’t calendar shopping since 7am or anything like that………
2010
Derek Jeter-ss
Nick Johnson-dh
Mark Teixeira-1b
Alex Rodriguez-3b
Matt Holliday-lf
Jorge Posada-c
Robinson Cano-2b
Nick Swisher-rf
Curtis Granderson-cf
Francisco Cervelli-c
Jamie Hoffman-of
Ramiro Pena-inf/pr
Brett Gardner-of/pr
CC Sabathia
Javier Vazquez
AJ Burnett
Andy Pettitte
Phil Hughes
Mariano Rivera
Joba Chamberlain
David Robertson
Damaso Marte
Alfredo Aceves
Mark Melancon
Boone Logan
AAA:
Jesus Montero-c
Aroldis Chapman-sp
Zachary McAllister-sp
Ian Nova-sp
Happy Boxing Day to you as well, Nick.
Chelsea dropped more points today, so it is indeed a happy start.
randy l.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:52 am
“You know…I was going to be nice to you for the rest of the year, but….”
gb7-
it’s hard enough that you’re trying to quit smoking.
you might blow a gasket trying to be nice too.
one thing at a time.
————————————————————
I have enough of a gasket left to deal with the likes of you.
Yesterday it appeared to be, ERICA, or maybe LoHud just didn’t want to read my as-sessment.
Nick in SF in Charlotte, NC
December 26th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Yesterday it appeared to be, ERICA, or maybe LoHud just didn’t want to read my as-sessment.
***********
I vote for the latter
A couple changes:
1) I think Joba wins the competition for the 5th starter. Phil goes to the bullpen but pitches 2+ innings per outing to stay stretched out. So if a starter goes 5 or 6 Phil can come in for 2-3 innings and pass the ball to Mo. This keeps his innings limited early in the year and keeps him stretched out to start later in the year. On days where Phil is not setting up, Robertson and Marte are capable of picking up the slack.
2) Melancon over Albaladejo- Albaladejo is good for nothing but garbage innings. Melancon has nothing to learn in AAA if he can’t contribute in a more meaningful way right away he could still benefit from those garbage innings more so than anything he could do in AAA, so I see no reason to keep Albaladejo over him.
3) I think Hoffmann might got to AAA after we work out a deal with LA to keep him. I think with Reed Johnson we won’t need Hoffmann on the ML roster, but he could still provide nice depth in AAA which we definitely could use. I think we sign Johnson and someone like Hinske or perhaps Tatis for additional depth in LF. If Gardner is not up to the task we need something more than Johnson and Hoffmann behind him.
Betsy,
By no means am I suggesting the other Teams are better. I mentioned Only, that their depth charts seen deeper. Yankees chart doesn’t (as of Dec 26, 2009) list Nick Johnson or Javier!
I doubt Mitre and Gaudin will be on the roster now that Vazquez is here. Javy pushes everyone down 1 peg on the depth chart. Their contracts won’t be difficult to dump.
Also, if for some insane reason Holliday doesn’t work out, I’m warming up to Marlon Byrd. He hit a ton of doubles (40+) to go along with his 20 HR. He plays above average defense in all 3 OF spots and has no major health issues.
I’d even sign him to a guaranteed 2 year deal because he can move to the bench in the 2nd year of his deal if they signed Crawford after the 2010 season. Also, Byrd’s contract wouldn’t be difficult to move since this is a down market and the Yanks would probably get him at a bargain price given the abundance of LF’rs out there.
Heard we signed OF Geoffrey Sarnataro last week. Anyone have any info on this guy?
Heard we signed OF Geoffrey Sarnataro last week. Anyone have any info on this guy?
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Believe he’s a pitcher that was signed by the Mets.
looks good chad but it should be melancon over albaladejo
Chad, Melancon for Big Jon
GB7-
Haven’t heard anymore discussion about trading for switch-hitting Ryan Doumit as LF/backup catcher. Gaudin or Mitre plus a lower level prospect get that done?
I still would like willingham or Ross.
Almost a whole post about the roster without the mention of the H word. Brett is all over it as I am but I didn’t want to mention his name.
Doumit would cost McAllister + Gaudin and I’m not so sure I want Ryan Doumit (or Swisher for that matter) patrolling LF in Yankees stadium.
I really hope the Yankees focus on run prevention if they pass on Holliday.
Byrd is the best defender in LF remaining, not to mention his 60+ XBH in 2009.
Don’t think either Josh Willingham or Cody Ross are available, and would cost too much in prospects.
I’d be interested in Willingham for the right price, but Byrd costs money alone.
Yankee Trader
December 26th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
GB7-
Haven’t heard anymore discussion about trading for switch-hitting Ryan Doumit as LF/backup catcher. Gaudin or Mitre plus a lower level prospect get that done?
————————————————————
The last legitamate rumor I saw about Pittsburgh shopping him was about a month ago, but, yeah, he’d make a fine acquisition. He’s never played left field, but, he’s played a good right field. Not sure about Swisher playing in left field, though. I’d still be happy with that deal if it was reasonable.
Bret-
Byrd might very well get a 3 year contract. Perfect fallback option for the Mets if Bay doesn’t sign there.
brett, we can hope thats the lineup…
YankeeRay,
As long as the Yankees are ‘taking their time’ monitoring all these podunk LF candidates, we both know Holliday remains a possibility. It’s funny that LF is so easy to solve yet the Yankees haven’t budged. They could easily just sign Byrd and wrap up the off-season but they haven’t and won’t and we know why.
Reed Johnson, with his back problems, would be a perfect fit – for this disastrous off-season.
Yankee Trader
December 26th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Bret-
Byrd might very well get a 3 year contract. Perfect fallback option for the Mets if Bay doesn’t sign there.
—
Even so, since the market is flooded with jobless OF’s, that 3 year deal will be bottom basement bargain level and could easily be moved after 2010 to make room for Crawford.
Bret-
Aren’t Holiday cards now selling 50% off?
Well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reed Johnson is a .282 career hitter
http://www.baseball-reference......re02.shtml
Yankee Trader
December 26th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
GB7-
Haven’t heard anymore discussion about trading for switch-hitting Ryan Doumit as LF/backup catcher. Gaudin or Mitre plus a lower level prospect get that done?
————————————————————
Gaudin and Mitre are both due arbitration raises, but, in response to the other poster’s suggestion of McAllister, not a chance. Perhaps Gaudin, and Brandon Braboy and Charles Nolte or Lance Pendleton plus cash would satisfy their needs.
I just tried again; filtered!
Ok I’ll wade in the dirty waters of Joba/Hughes. I think they should start the season with Joba in the rotation and Hughes in the pen.
If someone gets hurt or we get to around June 15th, I stretch out Phil to get him into the rotation to get his innings up. Someone will get hurt and Phil will be needed, the key is back load his innings. Worst (best) case scenario all 5 starters stay healthy and Hughes starts in AAA after June 15th ready to fill in when necessary.
Come the playoffs, if the top 4 starters are healthy then Joba and Phil will find themselves back in the pen anyway, kinda like how in the NBA you play 9 or 10 guys all season and then come the playoffs you cut down the rotation to 7 or 8. For the next few years, Joba and Phil are relievers come the postseason.
So Joba starts all year until the postseason, Phil relieves for 2 months and then starts the rest of the year, even if it means in AAA to get those innings up.
Just wanted everyone to know,Yankees, took ebay’s No. 1 spot this season,selling 551,230 items this past year.
http://www.zellspinstripeblog.com has the details.
Amazing, Yankees hated but, haters identify with a Winner everytime!
The Yankees would not send Holliday home for the holiday’s without a big present to think about.
He sat down with the fam, discussed his options…
As soon as Bay signs with the Sox, the Mets will put out an absurd offer for Holliday.
The Yankees will then swoop in, tack on 1 year to their current offer (which is 5 years 85 million according to ‘Lost’) and attach a 24 hour deadline to the offer like they did with Tex.
Holliday will then have to choose between the Mets and the Yanks.
This outcome has been brewing a long time now.
About midway through the 2009 season, Holliday said he’s ‘open’ to playing in ‘NY’.
That could mean 2 things:
Mets.
Yankees.
Boras is a good coach.
Regarding Yankee Gear: I have traveled all over the U.S. and most of Europe and Yankee gear dominates. I was in Prague a couple of years ago and and shops were selling a variety of Yankee hats including pink. Imagine wearing a pink Yankee cap!
In summary,
Holliday will accept the Yanks 6 year 102 million dollar offer before the 24 hour time limit expires.
With the choices I see, this is the year Robbie learns to hit in the 5 hole. I’m concerned about NJ becoming the 08 jeter behind damon. What was it 18 or so dp’s?
Don’t know much about CG but he will have to prove himself to me.JV does nothing but help the starting Ro. We got younger yep, but not at all sure we got better overall. Gardner is Gardner. He could become a 9 hole guy hitting 270-or so and with some work and dedication be a 350 or so obp.
If this team at the moment, I don’t see a hundred wins hope im wrong. If they win 100 it is likely to be on the backs of the starting Ro. The O will I think miss Sui and Damon.
Hope you’re right Brett. I still think that’s a pretty good deal for him…
I think Holliday is just a fantasy, but the lineup would be ridiculous with him in the five spot. It’s just impossible for me to see how he fits financially in 2010 and beyond.
Byrd makes more sense to me in terms of it being realistic. I don’t know about three years, though. He had never hit more than 10 HR before hitting 20 last year. Had never had more than 42 extra base hits before getting 65 last year. HE had never driven in more than 70 runs, but drove in 89 in ’09.
That kind of contract year hyper productivity is kinda scary.
Nick in SF in Charlotte, NC
December 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I just tried again; filtered!
************
Nick……
Avatar, avatar, avatar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Yankee fan for almost 50 years and seeing many high and a number of lows, I want the Yankees to field the best possible team.If spending your own money to improve your team wrong? Hardly. Is Holliday impossible financially? I don’t know, but I can’t conceive that they have such fiancial issues that they can’t pay for a Derosa, Nady,if healthy, for example. I don’t want to knowingly put a below average player in the field so the Yankees can feel good amount some arbitrary payroll limit.
Can’t get it to link. http://www.bostonherald.com.
Article: Javier Vazquez gives Yankees a fistful of aces.
They rank sawx rotation as 6th,Phillies 3rd, Mariners and Cubs 8th, Angels 13th with variables on the sawx rotation’s health.
Yankees 1st!!
Let’s hope Cashman doesn’t make the same mistake he does every year and pencil in unproven pitchers in the starting rotation. A team with the Yankees’ resources shouldn’t be rolling the dice with their starting rotation. Your fifth starter, Hughes, has proven over and over again that he can’t get big leagure hitters out as a starter. What’s the fallback when he fails again? Chamberlain? He hasn’t cut it as a starter yet either. This is not saying they can’t, it’s just that they haven’t. Its poor management when you’re a team with the Yankees resources to plan on going into the season with unproven starters. Get Bedard or Sheets (and resign Wang while you’re at it) or we’ll wind up with the equivilant of Rasner, Ponson, Karstens, Giese, Small, Chacon, Gaudin, Mitre, etc as we have every year since Cashman took over the reins.
The outfield is a huge mess and its beginning to look like Cashman is going to have to spend big, once again, to bail himself out. That means Bay or Holliday. I could have lived with DeRosa this year in a holding pattern to get Crawford next year. But rumor has it that he’s going to Frisco. Realistically, we could use both Holliday and Crawford, anyway. Granderson has worked himself down to being a potential platoon player (he batted under .200 against lefties last year) and Swisher, despite decent numbers compiled against weaker pitchers, isn’t a good hitter and is no threat against good pitching (see last year’s playoffs). He can’t hit a breaking pitch.
The Yankees are really good as currently constructed but they are one injured CC or one injured Arod/tex away from not being nearly as good…I think they need to consider that before they cross Holliday off the list.
Rover —
Nick Johnson and Granderson had similar numbers to Matsui and Damon if you look at away game stats. I did that because NJ and CG played in pitchers’ parks while the NYS is clearly a hitters park.
Granderson is a huge upgrade over Damon defensively too.
Considering they are significantly younger than the guys they are replacing it’s reasonable to think NJ and CG will be better in 2010 and it is equally reasonable to think Damon and Matsui could start fading in their age 36 seasons.
Vasquez is a major upgrade as the No. 4 starter, so I think the Yanks are better than they were in ’09, pending resolution of the LF and bench situations.
Not sure about us not having pitching depth in the upper levels of the minors.
Upper Level SP prospects
Zach McAllister
Ivan Nova
Romulo Sanchez
all at AAA
(You also can add Alan Horne coming back from injury.)
At AA
Jeremy Bleich (terrible AA campaign, but Yankee scouts still like his stuff)
Hector Noesi (pleasant surprise last season, is this season’s Nova.)
Wilkin DelaRossa (even if they see him as a bullpen piece in the long run – good stuff.)
(You also have Christian Garcia coming back from injury, if he could ever stay healthy – he could pitching in AAA by June.)
That is a pretty good group in AAA and AA – especially after you used considerable chips to get major league talent – Dan McCutchen, Ian Kennedy, Eric Hacker, Chase Wright, Jeff Marquez, Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf,
Arm injuries last season –
George Kontos (who looked prett solid coming up thru the system – TJ surgery in June.)
Dellin Betances (a similar elbow surgery that Mariano had when he was pitching in A ball.)
Brett Marshall
By June – You could add
David Phelps and DJ Mitchell to your AA rotation – I think they’ll rise fast thru the system.
Wow,only Weaver and Saunders on the Angels pitched more than 150 innings,they will miss Lackeyy for sure.
Happy Kwanzaa to anyone who observes Kwanzaa.
Blake, and the Sox are one injured Lester or Youkillis away from not being as good – you can say that about any team.
IF we sign someone like Reed Johnson our offense is down like 10 levels from last year…so we lose Damon and matsui and add Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson…OUCH
We DEFINITELY should sign Jason Bay or Matt Holliday
Finally! Enough with that Happy Holiday stuff. Baseball!
Fine with Gardner, but won’t be disappointed if we sign a LF. No to platooning Granderson. I like Alby, but we can do better than that.
Joba to the bullpen fits his personality and, thus, his impact on the game.
Matt Holliday is the big wildcard. I don’t know how much the organization likes him. They loved Tex, but were willing to let the Sox get very close to signing him, even though Cash had the ace up his sleeve. If they think that Holliday is one of the best players in the game, then I could see them signing him.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!
Happy Boxing Day to all (I’m not British, but have always loved the fact that they have another holiday right after Christmas)
I’m pretty amazed that some people think we need more. 98 had Chad freaking Curtis in left. We are the best team in baseball and it’s not close.
Holliday fits the budget at 17 AAV.
Andy Pettitte, Javier Vazquez, Nick Johnson and Kei Igawa all come off the books after 2010.
11.75 + 11.5 + 5.5 + 4 = 32.75 million
The primary needs in 2011 would be Lee + Vazquez if he performs well.
Unfortunately, Swisher+Cano+Granderson pay increases will cost 6 million more.
However, I hate to open this can of worms but…
If Joba returns to the pen and looks like the lights-out setup guy from 2007, the Yankees can afford to reduce Rivera down from 15 million per year. Joba would have to really be virtually unhittable like he was in 2007. It’s certainly possible. If Joba looks ready for the closer role, offer Rivera setup money. That frees up 5 million.
The Yanks can possibly keep Jeter at 18 million AAV per season which is 1 million less AAV than the contract he signed in his prime. It was a backloaded deal though so he’d go from 21 million in 2010 to 18 million in 2011. That’s another 3 million bucks.
No need to sign another player to a 5/6 yr deal worth over 100 mil. The madness has to stop sometime. Yanks will have a very serviceable LF to start the season and they can make a trade mid-year if there is a need to upgrade. I wanted Matt Holliday at first, but I think it is gluttony to have another 18 mil per yr player. Especially when there isnt a need like there was a HUGE need for Tex last yr
Cashman wouldn’t say it is inappropriate unless he meant it. He never used those words last yr when saying he was out of the Tex race,
Holliday isnt coming………
m
December 26th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Finally! Enough with that Happy Holiday stuff. Baseball!
————————————————————
Happy Holiday, Mel.
Happy Holiday GB!
There’s no guarantee that Pettitte’s and Vazquez’ salaries are “coming off of the books” after the 2010 season.
Happy holiday, Bronx. I was just trying to brighten Mel’s day.
lol. When you have a health scare, everyday’s worth celebrating.
I know GB and I thought I would reciprocate…
86w183 …..
Byrd makes more sense to me in terms of it being realistic. I don’t know about three years, though. He had never hit more than 10 HR before hitting 20 last year. Had never had more than 42 extra base hits before getting 65 last year. HE had never driven in more than 70 runs, but drove in 89 in ‘09.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josh Hamilton was out for considerable time in 2009 and Byrd covered for him. For Byrd, more playing time meant better numbers.
I’d expect similar numbers with him in LF.
It’s extremely unrealistic to think Jeter or Rivera would be getting a pay cut in 2010.
I think Phelps and DJ Mitchell are gonna start in AA.
GreenBeret7
December 26th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
There’s no guarantee that Pettitte’s and Vazquez’ salaries are “coming off of the books” after the 2010 season.
—
I’m fine with keeping both but I prefer Cliff Lee and one of those two. Depending on how he pitches in NY the second go-around, I’d be more inclined to keep Vazquez since he’s younger and getting Lee would add a 2nd lefty to the rotation.
m
December 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
lol. When you have a health scare, everyday’s worth celebrating.
————————————————————
The only thing that scared me was Nurse Karloff. brrrrr.
This link comes with a Warning.This is a Philly blog, it requires no registration. If they sense you are a troll, THEY WILL CURSE YOU OUT, and it’s allowed on that blog!!
http://www.thefightins.com
Betsy, that’s true but I don’t care if the red sox are any good
86w183
December 26th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
It’s extremely unrealistic to think Jeter or Rivera would be getting a pay cut in 2010.
—
The Yankees will definitely factor in age since Jeter will be getting a long term deal, possibly 4-5 years at age 36 and Mo is 40.
How is it unrealistic to think Jeter would be insulted by a contract that is 1 million less AAV than the one he signed in his prime?
How is it unrealistic to think Joba can become a dominant closer and a better option than giving a 40 year old reliever anything more than 10 million dollars per season?
Did you happen to notice Trevor Hoffman’s recent deals?
He’s still effective.
He’s still the all-time saves leader.
He took a pay cut on teams without Joba.
He isn’t even sniffing 10 million.
The Yankees would not send Holliday home for the holiday’s without a big present to think about.
He sat down with the fam, discussed his options…
As soon as Bay signs with the Sox, the Mets will put out an absurd offer for Holliday.
The Yankees will then swoop in, tack on 1 year to their current offer (which is 5 years 85 million according to ‘Lost’) and attach a 24 hour deadline to the offer like they did with Tex.
Holliday will then have to choose between the Mets and the Yanks.
This outcome has been brewing a long time now.
About midway through the 2009 season, Holliday said he’s ‘open’ to playing in ‘NY’.
That could mean 2 things:
Mets.
Yankees.
Boras is a good coach.
—–
I wasn’t aware that the comment section had taken to writing fan-fiction.
Phelps won’t start in Trenton. Not even sure that Mitchell will be there to start the season.
>>>>>>>
“They loved Tex, but were willing to let the Sox get very close to signing him, even though Cash had the ace up his sleeve.”
Don’t think there was ever a minute Teixeira was signing in Boston or anywhere else. He wanted to be a Yankee. Boston’s purpose in the proceedings was merely to get him the salary he wanted, where he wanted it.
Brett
You forgot Hoffman is 3 yrs older than MO.
Mo should be able to go as long as Hoffman.His career era is 2.25, Hoffman’s is 2.73.
I’m thinking Mo will have a job for a few more years.
Both are 40, and Hoffman over that mark, a 2, anything era is great!
Colin Curtis for LF!
I mean a platoon of Colin Curtis and Jamie Hoffman for LF – with Gardner being our 4th outfielder. Gardner has more value being a late sub outfielder and a pinch runner.
Bret —
Seriously? You actually believe the Yanks would even suggest a pay cut to Jeter on the verge of becoming the first Yankee with 3,000 hits?
And don’t ever again compare the Yankees way of doing business with the Padres. The greatest closer in the history of the game will not be getting a pay cut. I’m sure the Yanks will save a lot of money on the closer one day, but they won’t be sdaving money on Mariano.
Colin Curtis is maybe a 6th or 7th OF. He had a sub .700 OPS in Scranton. He’s Gardner without the speed.
Outfield
Brett Gardner
Reed Johnson
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Jamie Hoffmann
.
.
No way in HALE these are the NYY Opening Day outfielders !
I agree with 86w183 that the team looks stronger than last year right now. Depth is the only area where they’re. Having Melky and Gardner meant having a fairly capable backup for an injured or resting outfielder. Today, the replacement would be Hoffman or Pena.
Also, one reason our bullpen turned into an asset last year was that Girardi had a lot of choices. He was able to find some who were pitching well that year. Relief pitchers tend to be erratic. Trading so many potentially decent RPs could hurt us. For example, it wouldn’t be surprising if Coke or Bruney or even Dunn had a good year in 2010 and Robertson and Aceves regressed.
These are minor weaknesses. I expect this team to win 210 games in 2010.
Why is everyone is putting Joba in the Pen?
~ So wait a min.. We spend the entire year babying Joba so he doesnt go over 150 inns.
~ Now were gonna do the same thing w/ Hughes.
Were smarter than most fans…and some reporters, cmon guys
~ Give Joba an entire year to either fail or succeed.
~ Joba has to start, as Hughes is only pitching 150 inns this year.
~ Joba still has 4 pitches….Phil looked normal in the playoffs..
Luvtap
December 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Why is everyone is putting Joba in the Pen?
~ So wait a min.. We spend the entire year babying Joba so he doesnt go over 150 inns.
~ Now were gonna do the same thing w/ Hughes.
Were smarter than most fans…and some reporters, cmon guys
~ Give Joba an entire year to either fail or succeed.
~ Joba has to start, as Hughes is only pitching 150 inns this year.
~ Joba still has 4 pitches….Phil looked normal in the playoffs..
===================================================
Agreed. Joba has completed less then 100 innings in the minor leagues. Give him a chance to work on his craft.
I want thim to succeed. We need to give him the opportunity to pitch without any restrictions. This whole notion that joba is a “failed” starter after pitching one year in the majors is absolutely absurd.
I see a lot of people obsessing over a few million here or there. The Yankees have the money and will spend it if they have to. There are self imposed limits to spending, no hard and fast rules. Cashman has painted himself into a corner in the outfield and will have to spend the Steinbrenner’s money once again to make it right. Whether he owns up to it now, or in mid season when the Yankee offense will be screaming for a middle of the order hitter and he’s forced to do it, he will. Who knows what will be available mid-season and what the Yankees will have to pay. The same goes for the starting pitching. You can make a better case, I suppose, for waiting to see how the pitching develops before making a move mid season next year. It doesn’t seem likely to me, based on what we’ve seen so far, that Hughes or Chamberlain is an answer, but you can give them one more try. If it was me, I’d at least re-sign Wang and take a run at a devalued Bedard. They’re a lot more likely, in my eyes, to succeed as a starter at this point than Hughes and Chamberlain. Also, as a contender, you’d be nuts to count on Nova, McAllister, Kontos or any of those others to give you anything this year, or probably ever, for that matter.
RhapsodyInBlue
December 26th, 2009 at 10:30 am
NYYROC
I’m up in my 60s myself and a avid lifelong Yankee fan.My earliest boyhood Yankee Recollections are of the great Yankee and Dodger WS of the early 50s watched in black and white with my Dad.
I believe that the Yankees have a plan with Joba that they intend to adhere to. I’m not saying that eventually he will not end up in the pen, but that next spring, it seems to me, is too early to abort the plan they have laid out for him. Jmo.
I could be wrong, I have been before, but there seems to be more of plan with every move, basically I see more of a structured approach to the future with this Yankee front office in recent time then in the days of GS.
Rhapsody – same age group here and similar memories except my dad and I were Dodger fans back in the black and white days of TV. After the Dodgers left I rooted for the Pirates until they beat the Yankees in ’61. I was in college and away from NYC and felt like I was a traitor so I became a Yankee fan and have been a diligent observer ever since.
I will say that I agree 100% that Cashman has a plan and that his bosses (especially Hal Steinbrenner) have not only signed on but have given the plan a budget that for the first time I believe will be observed.
I am sure that the Cashman/Yankee plan is not only for this year but for five years and one of its strategic goals is most likely reducing the length of contracts in order to have greater flexibility. I also believe the Yankees will continue to emphasize building their minor league system.
And, yes, use the younger players to trade for more experienced players as well as to promote them to the parent team.
Joba will be in the rotation. Period. Hughes will (hopefully) be in AAA. Joba can pitch essentially a full season’s worth of innings now. Hughes isn’t even close to that level yet. Not to mention the fact that Joba being a better option out of the rotation than hughes renders any opinion of who is better in the bullpen obsolete.
Don Vito A. Bellamo, we haven’t even signed Johnson, don’t jump to conclusions.
Joba will be in the rotation. Period. Hughes will (hopefully) be in AAA. Joba can pitch essentially a full season’s worth of innings now. Hughes isn’t even close to that level yet. Not to mention the fact that Joba being a better option out of the rotation than hughes renders any opinion of who is better in the bullpen obsolete.
This.
I think Joba gets #5 role and Hughes is sent down to AAA to stretch out his innings.
Line up
SS Jeter
DH Johnson
1B Tex
3B Alex
CF Grandy
2B Cano
C Jorge
RF Swish
LF Gardner
Rotation
CC
AJ
Andy
Javy
Joba
Pen
Mo
D-Rob
Marte
Logan
Melancon
Aceves
Bench
Cervelli
Pena
DeRosa
Miranda
The problem with Granderson batting fifth is that he is no protection for A-Rod. In a clutch situation with A-Rod coming up, an opposing manager will walk A-Rod and bring in any schlock lefty to dispose of Granderson (who hit .182 against lefties last year). Matsui, last year’s #5, did not have this glaring weakness and offered protection to A-Rod. To a lesser degree, you have the same problem with Swisher. He can’t hit breaking pitches. He hammers fastballs. He won’t swing at breaking pitches, balls or strikes. If its a schlock that can’t get breaking pitches over consistently for strikes that he’s facing, he’ll either walk on bad breaking pitches or hammer the fastball. In a pinch, against Swisher, bring in a pitcher who can get his breaking ball over consistently and Swisher is dead meat. The point of this is that if you’ve got a team with guys with extreme weaknesses like these two, the overall numbers may not look bad, but you’ll be losing the close games by being outmanuevered when the game is on the line.
As far as Cashman having a plan. There is a fine line between having a plan and wishful thinking. You can plan that Hughes and Chamberlain (and Kennedy a couple of years ago) are going to be big league pitchers. but if you are a good General Manager, you’ll have a viable contingency plan when your wishful thinking doesn’t materialize. The question is, when Hughes and Chamberlain fail once again as starters this year, what’s your plan?
El Duque, DeRosa’s about to sign with the Giants. We signed OF Geoffrey Sarnataro last week.
I can’t see the loser of Joba and Hughes going to AAA. The bullpen very much needs one or the other. Have we so soon forgotten what the pen was like before Hughes arrived?
There are many posts regarding Joba’s value as a starter . It is heartening to read that he still has his believers, which, of course includes me. It does seem un-Yankee like to spend time on his development (NOT experiment) including 2 stints in the rotation to either demote him to the bullpen or AAA. And those who doubt his IQ need to show this board proof of that statement otherwise just cease.
REPOST – just because.
Benny Blanco
December 26th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Luvtap
December 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Why is everyone is putting Joba in the Pen?
~ So wait a min.. We spend the entire year babying Joba so he doesnt go over 150 inns.
~ Now were gonna do the same thing w/ Hughes.
Were smarter than most fans…and some reporters, cmon guys
~ Give Joba an entire year to either fail or succeed.
~ Joba has to start, as Hughes is only pitching 150 inns this year.
~ Joba still has 4 pitches….Phil looked normal in the playoffs..
===================================================
Agreed. Joba has completed less then 100 innings in the minor leagues. Give him a chance to work on his craft.
I want thim to succeed. We need to give him the opportunity to pitch without any restrictions. This whole notion that joba is a “failed” starter after pitching one year in the majors is absolutely absurd.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Joba suffered a shoulder injury at the end of 2008. I believe, it was Coney who said that it takes a least a year for full recovery.
Joba at this point is NOT a good starter, PERIOD !!! Hughes has much better make-up and attitude. Joba is much better suited to replace Mo ( WHEN HE RETIRES ) if, and that’s a big if, he gets his 97-98 mph fastball back with a good break on his slider.!!!
Joba made asinine remarks last year after having bad outings
that were nothing but immature excuses. Right after all-star game he had 3 outstanding starts and that was it for the year. What he did in relief later was nothing outstanding as he didn’t have his good stuff. Was just pitching to contact with luck. Don’t think Albaladejo will make it. Gardner should make it as 4th OF’er and p-runner. Very valuable there. When he learns to keep ball out of the air, he could be a starter. LF could be any number of players, gotta wait and see. Can’t people understand, you can’t have a current all-star at every spot !!! Not needed !!!
Will the Yankees still sign Johnny Damon? I hope they do, Damon can still hit and will be a vital cog to the Yankees run for another World Series title.
I think some of us are giving X Nady a little too high of a rating. His arm, according to many who watched him try to rehab in AAA last season before surgery #2, may have fallen off already. Not to mention, he’s been primarily a RF in the past. I like him as a bench option, but honestly, he might be forced to retire with the way his arm is now.
Also, concerning the 40 man roster, someone mentioned Kevin Russo as a sleeper to make the big club and I agree. He is extremely versatile, playing thoughout the infield and corner outfield. Reminds alot of people of Cody Ransom before last season, minus some of the power. Both were AAA All Stars in Scranton and gained their way into Cash’s graces. I don’t see how the Yanks can keep Russo, Nunez, Corona, and Pena ALL on the 40 man for too long. There’s been an argument over who is the SS of the future, Pena? Nunez? Corona? Might be time to decide that. This time last year most people would’ve said Pena, but I don’t know about now because injuries forced him to NY early and deprived him of a year of development. If his ceiling is MLB Utility, trade him and give Russo or Nunez/Corona his spot. Also, it’s about time for the clock to strike on Juan Miranda, now or never buddy. Lastly, if certain pitchers can’t stay healthy and get above High A and AA ball by August, can we be rid of them too? Seems like wasted space on the 40 man to me. Chances are guys like De La Rosa would clear waivers right now anyway.
Lastly, the Yanks only have one guy (Mike Rivera) on their Non Roster Invitee List for ST so far, I feel like some of these names floating around, like Reed Johnson and some of the kick the tires SP out there, will end up in ST with invites. We always have one or two guys who are at least in the running for a roster spot via the non roster invites, and a good number of these guys even end up contributing to the team throughout the year. Let’s wait and see who gets an invite to Big League Camp this year. Could be interesting.
I wouldn’t be obsessing too much about the Yankees minor leaguers for the next couple of years. Outside of catchers Montero (who I think should be an outfielder), Cervelli and Romine, the Yankee farm system is barren of useful (to the Yankees) prospects above low Class A. The minor league infielders are not in the class of what’s in the majors and, barring injury, Jeter, A-Rod, Cano and Teixiera aren’t going anywhere for several years. The Yankees traded their one decent minor league outfielder (outside of Montero). The Yankees already have brought up their best pitchers: Chamberlain, Hughes, Robertson, Aceves and Kennedy (who they’ve traded). What’s left are longshots, at best (McAllister, Nova, Kontos, Betances, Brackman, Heredia, Banuelos). Only catchers Romine and Cervelli look like they may end up being Yankees as potentially decent replacements for Posada in a couple of years.
where would boone logan fit?
With the suddenly frugal nature of the Yanks (i.e. the Damon situation) I’m not sure whether or not we’ll see another signing. I was looking all over for some analysis of the whole offseason situation and I saw this:
http://garbagetimesports.squar.....nkees.html
That’s what I found. It lays out a lot of stuff in a simpler way.