Randy Johnson announces retirement
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 05, 2010 
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From tonight’s Randy Johnson conference call:
• “I would like to officially announce my retirement. I’ve taken this long because I definitely wanted to kind of relax from the season being over and make sure I had a clear head when I made this decision, and that I would be making it wholeheartedly, and that I would stick with it. Without a doubt, 100 percent, I will be retiring at this time.”
• Johnson said he wanted to go out on his terms. He had a herniated disk in his last season with the Yankees, then had two back surgeries within a year, and ultimately decided he didn’t want to go out that way. So he came back to pitch again, and had an 11-win season with the Diamondbacks.
• “I feel that it’s all just part of something that comes with a long career. Eventually you have to say that it’s time. Could I play another year? I believe I could. But I also realize over the past three or four years, my skills obviously were diminishing.”
• Johnson just listed some of the great pitchers he came to know in his time. Koufax. Spahn. Gibson. Etc. “My peers that I looked up to, in certain categories, I was amongst them. That really says a lot about, I guess, my longevity.”
• Asked what cap he’ll wear in Cooperstown, Johnson said that’s not up to him. “I will wait down the road and consult with whoever I have to consult with, if I’m elected to the Hall of Fame.”
• “One thing I’ve always tried to tell some of the younger pitchers I’ve played with is how hard your preparation has to be.”
• Johnson doesn’t remember who his first strikeout was against. He does, however, remember his first game as a September call-up with the Expos in 1988. It was against the Pirates and he remembers that Glenn Wilson hit two home runs off him. One of the writers on the conference call looked it up during the call: Johnson’s first K was against Orestes Destrade.
• Johnson on his reputation for being fiery and ornery: “I don’t regret being that way. I only regret that that’s kind of the way I was portrayed, but I got the most out of myself being that way.”
• Johnson said he would like to coach some day, but not right away. He said he really enjoyed talking to and working with Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez in San Francisco. Johnson said Sanchez reminds him of himself as a young pitcher. “The one thing I’ve really enjoyed doing the past few years, for anybody who wants to listen, is just helping people.”
• What would Johnson like his legacy to be? “That I gave everything that I had. I was maximum effort from day one.”
• “I would have to say the pinnacle of my career was doing my part to get my team to the World Series and then doing my part in the World Series.”
• “I will miss having an outlet to be that competitive. Every fifth day, it was a process and I enjoyed and I relished that process. I enjoyed preparing and knowing who I was going to be pitching against… There’s not a golf game that I can play that will ever match how competative I was in baseball.”
• About Edgar Martinez as a Hall of Fame candidate: “I’m hoping he gets a lot of consideration. I know it’s been debated whether a DH is worthy of that, but in my time I’ve never seen a better pure hitter than him.”
• At 7:43, Johnson’s conference call ended with a very kind thank you to the writers who covered Johnson during his career. “I will see you down the road,” Johnson said.
The Vikings are interested.
“Without a doubt, 100 percent, I will be retiring at this time.”
Hmmm. Didn’t Richard Nixon say the same thing, before he ran for prez the 2nd time? Or such.
How long before rumors of skeletons in the closet start to surface? I mentioned this in the last thread, and I am not suggesting anything here, but how likely is it that he was that good that late in his career in this day and age without a little help from his ‘friends’?
“The Vikings are interested.”
I think he has to go to the Jets first.
In effect, “Blunder Boy” Epstein has nothing to show for the LaRoche – Kotchman deal last year except for a minor leaguer to be named from Seattle.
Never really wanted him in NY. Especially considering the way Javy was ridden out of town on a rail to get him, and it was a bad fit all around…that said, Yanks probably don’t make the playoffs without him (I think he was 5-0 against Boston that season). So thanks for that, RJ.
tex’s friend January 5th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
bill hall for kotchman?
really?
sox really get these sweetheart trades dont they?
have they ever been on the losing end of a trade?
————————————————–
How about the Gagne deal they made a few years ago at the deadline? Granted Gabbard and Murphy aren’t anything special but still, that was clearly the losing end of a trade.
Being the “people person” Johnson is and always was, he’ll be celebrating his retirement at his favorite restaurant this evening. He’ll be sitting at a table for one.
i’d love to know how getting bill hall can be construed as winning at… anything. they could have traded a broken bat for him and still lost on the deal.
Randy Johnson was one of the most dominant lefties of all time, and will deservedly be in the HOF in 2015 as a first balloter.
Should he have been a Yankee? Yes, at the 2004 trade deadline.
Interesting to think what would have happened…Yankees would have beat the Sox in 2004 ALCS (since the 5-0 Johnson would have pitched game 5), win the WS, and Joe Torre would still be managing the Yankees.
Cashman would have left the team in disgust, since the Tampa faction would have taken over the club, probably around 2006-7. Payroll would have been about $225-250 million right now, with Hank running the club with Damon Oppenheimer.
Sox would still have been looking for their first WS since 1918.
What an interesting alternative universe.
Not a big fan, but the man is a first-ballot HOFer. I’m not sure if he’ll go in as a Diamonback or an M.
The guy at MLB trade rumors that conducts the chats says that the Jays and Angels are the front-runners for Chapman
Dreamt last night there was a surprise announcement that we signed Chapman.
“The Vikings are interested.”
I think he has to go to the Jets first.
————————————————————–
if only to have his picture taken standing next to Rex Ryan.
Here’s Keith Law getting all giddy about the Sox:
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....dlaw_keith
In adding Adrian Beltre, the Red Sox continue to remodel. By signing one of the game’s premier defensive third basemen, the Sox now have one of the best-fielding lineups in the game, with plus defenders at potentially five positions and the only question marks on defense in center (where Jacoby Ellsbury’s defensive value is a subject of much debate) and behind the plate.
Combine those defenders’ ability to turn balls in play into outs with the six-deep rotation — including new addition John Lackey and perhaps a bounceback season from Daisuke Matsuzaka (who threw much better late in the season after he came off the DL) — and Boston should be among the league leaders in fewest runs allowed.
********Yeah, in two starts, one of which he got clobbered in.
Nick in SF…..I’m taking the Big 10 Iowa Hawkeyes plus 6 and the $$ line at 185.00….G.T. runs the ball well, but that’s in the ACC not the Big 10…….All part of my comeback tour
If I may go off-topic for just a moment. My daughter attends a program at NYIT (New York Institute of Technology) called VIP (Vocational Independence Program). It is a post-secondary program for students with learning disabilities who don’t quite fit into the traditional college mold.
My daughter will be graduating from this program in May. There are not too many of this type of program anywhere in the country. It has been a wonderful experience for my daughter.
At any rate, each year they hold a dinner dance/auction for the parents, students and alumni. And each year they are looking for donated items that can be bid upon to raise funds for the program. Donated items have included time shares, tickets to Broadway shows/sporting events, sports memorabilia, gift baskets (food items, personal care items, cosmetics, etc.). They look for a spectrum of donations that will appeal to all price ranges. They especially appreciate when there are lower priced items (usually the gift baskets) for bidding that might appeal to the students and alumni who attend.
Last year we bid on and took home an autographed photo of Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford and tickets to a broadway show. My daughter’s friend took home a helmet signed by Eli Manning. My husband works for an international cosmetics/hair products company and donated gift baskets of their product.
If you or anyone you know might be interested in donating something to the auction, click on my name for more information. If you need to contact me directly, let me know.
Thank you.
Now, back on topic -
I can’t believe Randy Johnson is 46. It is truly amazing that he has had a career pitching for that long. No matter what the results he had with the Yankees, no matter the surly personality, the man is a Hall of Famer.
Randy is going in as a D-Back, no question. Four Cy Youngs, NL triple crown, a WS MVP & Ring.
First D-Back in the HoF?
You know, as far as the Red Sox go, there are worse ways to go than focusing on pitching and defense for a year as a bridge to somewhere.
You just have to hope that the pitching and defense holds up.
PittsburghYankeeFan
The Yankees biggest mistake was in the Winter of 2004, when they let Schilling go to the Sox without a fight. Even if we didn’t have the chips, we could have upped the price so that the Sox had to give up something for him. The second biggest was not bunting on the guy in game 6.
I love it. The Red Sox are stockpiling mediocre low on base percentage castoffs. They’ve completely gotten away from what made them successful. They used to take chances on high obp guys like Bill Mueller. Now they take chances on low obp cadavers like Bill Hall, Adrian Beltre and career utilityman Marcos Scutaro.
I love Theo’s new plan.The best part about it is they are spending money like drunken sailors. They already had $21 mil worth of 3rd basemen. Bill Hall made $6,925,000 last year. If Hall makes that again this year ( and I dont know if he does)the $ox will spend more on their 3rd basemen ( $28 mil)than the Yankees are paying A Rod ( $27 mil)!LOL
Tom in NJ,
First D-Back.
Correction Winter 2003/04.
Pat M, I will be rooting for Iowa, good luck. I just joined you in a solidarity bet, plus Iowa-Alabama palay and teaser.
I had a lovely time volunteering in Sioux County, Iowa during the 2004 presidential campaign. Site rules forbid me from discussing it further.
Doh, I have also had many lovely times in Atlanta… but I’m already bought into Iowa, oh well.
The 2010 Red Sox are the 2005 Yankees. Be as giddy as you want, Keith Law, and bring it on.
You obviously did not follow the Yankees back then, Whatsa, because if you did, you wouldn’t have posted what you just posted. Jerry Colangelo hated George and refused to trade with him. The D-Backs demanded Soriano and Nick Johnson for Schilling – right, like that was going to happen. They then took garbage from the Sox. I believe Colangelo was fired not long after……..and deservedly so, for putting his own agenda ahead of the team’s.
Drive 4-5,
The Sox know the Yanks are back on top, with a new Stadium, decent farm system, a solid core of players, and flush with cash. Let’s make them wait 100 years for their next championship, if we even let them have another at all.
Sounds like a wonderful program, Doreen. My congratulations to your daughter on her upcoming graduation and to you and your husband for helping her work through what has to some trying issues for you and your entire family. I can donate a picture of Nurse Karloff, but, don’t blame me if you get struck with it.
It’s either the picture ot a DVD of Mavis Bacon’s typing course.
The redsoxs continue to get older, while the Yankees younger. Yep that is improving. Yankees tried that already and failed.
No, Tom, there are already a lot of D-Bags in the Hall of Fame.
Wait, you said D-back?
Never mind.
(repost):
#
Casey Kotchman got traded? How about that.
News to Gammons I guess as this is what he said about Kotchman’s tremendous potential recently and how much the Sox loved him and were committed to him:
“They want to give Casey Kotchman every chance. I must say, a year ago in spring training, I did a thing on ESPN.com about the five guys I thought would have breakout seasons. Kotchman was one of them.
One of my favorite statistics in looking at young players as they come up, do they have more walks and more extra-base hits than strikeouts?
On the major-league level, in the last 50 years, there are only 11 of them – Pedroia and Pujols are two of them, by the way – that have that.
Kotchman’s numbers were unbelievable in the minor leagues. It’s such a good predictor of guys being really good hitters. Actually, he’s not that far from it on the major-league level. Except for the time, he was hitting .330-something in Anaheim in 2008 and got beaned. He struggled after that. Then, he didn’t play much here.
He’s a great first baseman. I get the impression Tito really wants to play him. I can see him, I talked to [Angels hitting coach] Mickey Hatcher about it a lot during the playoffs, he said if he can just relax, this ballpark was made for him. He’s Nick Johnson with defensive skills. So it will be interesting to see what happens with him.”
http://fullcount.weei.com/spor…..le-holley/
Perhaps it’ll be the picture. I’d better keep the typing course.
Uh Betsy, Obviously you must not be a fan for long since Colangelo is the OWNER of the D-Backs, and wouldn’t fire HIMSELF! Almost had me there…so close….
Betsy
Colangelo didn’t want to trade at the 04 deadline, but did after the 04 season. He was an idiot of the first degree, and in the end got what he deserved.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Ty Cobb was the first, Nick.
Looking back, it was really kind of funny that a lot of people thought that the Mariners got taken in the Mark Langston trade.
Oh No.
I am all in with GT and the over.
Well, at least it is just Tues…
Nick, Pat M, Hope you guys are well.
GB7- Did a jog around Grayson this AM. Hope all is well with you. Hope you are back in the area soon. Cheers.
-dennis
I just found out Bill Hall makes a Lugo-esque $8.4 Mil in 2010. Incredible. You’d think either Seattle or Milwaukee has to pick up some of that money. But the fact is, the Red Sox are well over $21 mil’s worth of 3rd basemen. A Rod should ask for a raise! lol
Doreen – Ain’t it Just “Grand”?
January 5th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
You know, as far as the Red Sox go, there are worse ways to go than focusing on pitching and defense for a year as a bridge to somewhere.
You just have to hope that the pitching and defense holds up.
————————————————————
I believe that it will end up being “A Bridge Too Far”, Doreen.
Drive 4- 5 January 5th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
I love it. The Red Sox are stockpiling mediocre low on base percentage castoffs. They’ve completely gotten away from what made them successful. They used to take chances on high obp guys like Bill Mueller. Now they take chances on low obp cadavers like Bill Hall, Adrian Beltre and career utilityman Marcos Scutaro.
I love Theo’s new plan.The best part about it is they are spending money like drunken sailors. They already had $21 mil worth of 3rd basemen. Bill Hall made $6,925,000 last year. If Hall makes that again this year ( and I dont know if he does)the $ox will spend more on their 3rd basemen ( $28 mil)than the Yankees are paying A Rod ( $27 mil)!LOL
===========================================
Drive, You forgot Mike Cameron. Is he a 7.5m player? Has averaged 150 k’s over the last 4 years.
The guy at MLB trade rumors that conducts the chats says that the Jays and Angels are the front-runners for Chapman
**************************
Hi Betsy,
Yesterday they said the Marlins. Guess no one really knows for sure.
Hey guys I’ve been away from the blog for a few weeks and I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year !
Also I have only one reaction to the moves the Red Sox have been making… HAHAHA LOL !
Adrian Beltre ? Bill Hall ? Mike Cameron ? LOL ! Please ! What are the Red Sox the nursing home. Honestly I see the Rays as a bigger threat than the Red Sox right now and I’m not being arrogant.
“I just found out Bill Hall makes a Lugo-esque $8.4 Mil in 2010. Incredible. You’d think either Seattle or Milwaukee has to pick up some of that money”
Supposedly the $7.15M Milwaukee sent to Seattle to defray Hall’s 2010 costs will be wired to Boston as part of the deal.
Uh, Whatsa – next time get your info correct:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Colangelo
However, his ways of spending caused the Diamondbacks to fall to near bankruptcy starting in 2003. The team was losing money at an alarming pace. He was forced to resign his managing general partner post in the late summer of 2004 and Ken Kendrick took responsibility as the lead among the team’s investors.
Hello, dennis, I hope you are well… as well.
The truth is, Georgia Tech plays in a regional basketball conference with which few of us are familiar.
I do hope you hit your over!
dennis-Costanza
January 5th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Oh No.
I am all in with GT and the over.
Well, at least it is just Tues…
Nick, Pat M, Hope you guys are well.
GB7- Did a jog around Grayson this AM. Hope all is well with you. Hope you are back in the area soon. Cheers.
-dennis
————————————————————
Evening, Dennis. Hope all is well with you and Miss Amy. always enjoy the games at Grayson. Great place to watch the kids. Can’t wait until the season starts.
Thanks for the kind words. Depends on the reports tomorrow. If all goes well, I’ll go back to Ft. Myers, Florida for a week, then fly up to Alton, Illinois for a week to check on my mom and then, back home. By that time, Spring Training camps will almost be ready to open. Hope that ya’ll had a great holiday season and have a great year coming up…except for….well…you know, that lottle annual thing.
Hey Fran, that’s true – who knows? I’m looking forward to Sunday!
Nice reference GB…
I can donate a picture of Nurse Karloff, but, don’t blame me if you get struck with it
***************************
GB,
I can’t believe that you would be willing to part with such a prized possession!
Hey Dennis – how are you and Amy?
“The guy at MLB trade rumors that conducts the chats says that the Jays and Angels are the front-runners for Chapman”
How would he know?
Nick.
Was Oregon the class of the Pac 10?
-dennis
Betsy,
Me too. I’ll email you later in the week to set a time and get directions.
Her nickname should be the Nurse of Frankenstein – leave poor Boris Karloff out of this as he was reputed to be a wonderful man.
Rich, I think he’s clairvoyant, lol. How do any of these guys know anything?
Fran – great! I hear we’re in for another storm on Friday – I already hate this winter, lol
Drive 4- 5
January 5th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
I just found out Bill Hall makes a Lugo-esque $8.4 Mil in 2010. Incredible. You’d think either Seattle or Milwaukee has to pick up some of that money. But the fact is, the Red Sox are well over $21 mil’s worth of 3rd basemen. A Rod should ask for a raise! lol
————————————————————
They’re trying to buy up all of the corner infielders and outfielders to hold MLB hostage. Now, NYYs will have to fill their needs by going through Boston. Hope Cashman really is friends with Epstein.
SI_JonHeyman
holliday’s 8th year vests at $17 mil if he finishes in the top 10 in MVP voting in the 7th year. #cardinals, #kingofthewinter
about 1 hour ago from web
Nick, Pat M-
I got -5 and 51.5…
Any different?
-dennis
Sadly, yes.
Though the down-year Trojan$ looked ok vs… I forget.
A school with an admissions office…
-dennis
Betsy
Some people have good sources. I doubt that guy does.
GB7,
So that’s Theo’s Grand Plan huh? Too bad they dont have any corner outfielder’s we’d want lol Nancy Drew, anyone? lol
+5.5, 51 at my book.
Noreaster
January 5th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Nice reference GB…
————————————————————
Thanks, Nor. That was one of my favorite war movies, along with “Bridge At Remagan” and “To Hell and Back”.
Fran (the original) and OPPC member
January 5th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
I can donate a picture of Nurse Karloff, but, don’t blame me if you get struck with it
***************************
GB,
I can’t believe that you would be willing to part with such a prized possession!
————————————————————
Yes, Fran. That’s my only flaw. I’m generous to a fault.
Thanks Nick.
Tease anything?
-dennis
Betsy,
Correct, Colangelo was forced to resign, in essence being fired. One thing we can agree on is that he was a jerk, and didn’t like George & vice versa. With that being said, you still have to fly Cash down to Shillings house, break bread, and try and sell the guy on NY. Curt & his agent could have put pressure on the organization to trade him to NY if he felt wanted. Good thing the days of grudges, misconceptions, & paranoia steer our business plans seem to be over.
And I’ve bene a fan for more than 30 years, I just don’t have the time to analyze every minute detail.
Dennis-Costanza…..Can’t shake that ACC connection ???? It’s going to come down to Iowa stopping G. Tech on the ground……The over’s are at 51 ????
Drive 4- 5
January 5th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
GB7,
So that’s Theo’s Grand Plan huh? Too bad they dont have any corner outfielder’s we’d want lol Nancy Drew, anyone? lol
————————————————————
Epstein is right up there as a deep thinker…just like that other Epstein, Juan.
Man you have to love Zduriencik as a GM. He has depantsed every GM that he’s traded with. You want to talk about the GM for the last two years, it’s got to be Jack Z. Where he started in Seattle and where the team now, totally amazing. Kotchman is an excellent 1B defensively. And Seattle got him for bad spare parts. Lee, League, Kotchman and Figgins. Anyone think that Seattle is in the playoffs this year. In a couple of years with his drafting skills Z will have a powerhouse. He needs to sign King Felix but this year will make the team legitimate. This is a great trade for Seattle. Last year I saw Kotchman rob Yankee hitters on shots that he stabbed, ranging left and right. He was jerked around for years and could come into his own this year. Seattle fans must be basking in the warms this year.
“Some people have good sources. I doubt that guy does.”
He opines.
He did say it was his best GUESS. Halos make some sense given their radio silence this off season. FWIW, nobody who does have good sources has been able to make anything more than an educated guess on Chapman’s landing spot. Give Mr. Dierkes at MLBTR a break.
HEY GUYS I NEED YOUR HELP.
A SOX FAN JUST REPLIED TO ME WITH THIS AND I DON”T KNOW HOW TO REPLY.. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IN RESPONSE TO THIS?
————-
the ’10 Sox look nothing like the ’05 Yanks. Dave Cameron wrote an article at Fangraphs last offseason about how historically awful that defense was. Even if you think UZR misses the boat on an individual level, those Yanks were 137 runs worse than average that year. The next lowest team was only minus 67. They were horrendous. Ignoring the numbers, they had an old Sheffield, an awful (at the end of his career) Bernie, an ineffective Matsui, Jeter before he committed to defense, A-Rod while he was still getting the hang of the position, Cano before he had Larry Bowa up in his grill all the time, the statuesque Giambi at first, and Jorge “Passed Ball” Posada as the receiver (he didn’t count toward that -137, since UZR doesn’t rate catcher defense). I can’t think of a team more unlike this current iteration of the Red Sox than the ’05 Yanks.
PatM.
I think this will game will go over. GT is a good football team but you may be right that I am biased. Time will tell.
Hope time went lightly for you over the holidays.
-dennis
Iowa +11.5/Alabama +1.5
GB7 -
Ha! Ha!
I’m glad Nurse Karloff wasn’t around today. Hope your results are good.
I’ve got a copy of Mavis Beacon somewhere around here.
But I can still remember taking typing in 8th grade: asdfjkl; asdfjkl; asdfjkl;
The worst advice I ever got from my mom? Take steno and typing. I did. I excelled in both. This is not a good thing, necessarily. Entry level, low-risk. Better not to have a fall-back position.
HELP ME SOMEBODY HELP ME A SOX FAN JUST OWNED ME
Whatsa, I was short with you and I had no reason to be – I apologize. I was just reading an article from the Boston Globe from that time and it seems as if Schilling really wanted to play under Francona……who knows, maybe that was the reason he agreed to go to Boston? Whatever it was, the Diamondbacks could have gotten more for Curt had they not been so darn unreasonable in their demands.
Betsy,
Didn’t hear that about the weather. I hope we don’t get another storm.
I think I’ll wait until the players take the field before I make the Mariners into the next dynasty.
Fran, me too…..and it’s just the beginning of January,lol.
GB7 -
Perhaps a Bridge not far enough?
(I know, I know, not a movie reference.
)
The Big Unit’s first year with the Yankees in ’05 was decent enough, all things considered, as he went 5-0 against Boston. ’06 was much worse. I still like Giambi’s quote about Johnson’s ’06 season- “we won him a lot of games.”
I don’t think the Mariners are a dynasty, but I think they’re going to be pretty darn good this season. Cliff Lee and the other guy? Pretty good 1-2 punch.
But it looks like all they’re really doing is replacing the Angels as the toughest team in the AL West (at least as far as the Yankees are concerned).
And what I love is they gotta actually play the games, right?
for the Carl Crawford haters out there, here’s what Buster Olney says about his outfield D:
“It also shows why Carl Crawford may turn out to be one of the big beneficiaries of this culture shift. The Rays’ speedy leftfielder is headed to free agency after next season, and though he has good-if-not-great offensive stats, he is a defensive beast, the Peyton Manning of leftfield defense. In one team’s metrics, the second-most plays made by a leftfielder out of the perceived zone (the area in which the average fielder is expected to make a play) was 78, by the Royals’ David DeJesus. Crawford had 105. He ranked first in ultimate zone rating among leftfielders the same way Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in Beijing — by blowing away the competition.”
Defensively, the 2005 Yankee team were as bad as advertised. Something like 8 DHs out in the field. It was a horror show.
J-Dawg -
Ain’t it the truth????
Johnson sure was the beneficiary of a lot of run support.
Doreen, the Ms will be good – definitely. I’m just not ready to proclaim them some powerhouse. The best teams in baseball are still in the AL East (and add Philly to that).
Doreen – Ain’t it Just “Grand”?
January 5th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
GB7 -
Ha! Ha!
I’m glad Nurse Karloff wasn’t around today. Hope your results are good.
I’ve got a copy of Mavis Beacon somewhere around here.
But I can still remember taking typing in 8th grade: asdfjkl; asdfjkl; asdfjkl;
The worst advice I ever got from my mom? Take steno and typing. I did. I excelled in both. This is not a good thing, necessarily. Entry level, low-risk. Better not to have a fall-back position.
————————————————————
But I can still remember taking typing in 8th grade: ***asdfjkl; asdfjkl; asdfjkl;***
LMAO. it took me a few minutes to realize that you weren’t copying something I had typed and making fun of me.
I hated typing class in high school. Never have been able to touch type.
“I think I’ll wait until the players take the field before I make the Mariners into the next dynasty.”
Have to admit that Jack Z is doing a nice job. I’d have wanted LaRoche over Kotchman because the team really needs power, but he puts a premium on defense, which may well make more sense in their park. Speaking of defense, he apparently locked the game’s best defensive center fielder for four years.
HEY GUYS I NEED YOUR HELP.
A SOX FAN JUST REPLIED TO ME WITH THIS AND I DON”T KNOW HOW TO REPLY.. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IN RESPONSE TO THIS?
————-
the ‘10 Sox look nothing like the ‘05 Yanks. Dave Cameron wrote an article at Fangraphs last offseason about how historically awful that defense was. Even if you think UZR misses the boat on an individual level, those Yanks were 137 runs worse than average that year. The next lowest team was only minus 67. They were horrendous. Ignoring the numbers, they had an old Sheffield, an awful (at the end of his career) Bernie, an ineffective Matsui, Jeter before he committed to defense, A-Rod while he was still getting the hang of the position, Cano before he had Larry Bowa up in his grill all the time, the statuesque Giambi at first, and Jorge “Passed Ball” Posada as the receiver (he didn’t count toward that -137, since UZR doesn’t rate catcher defense). I can’t think of a team more unlike this current iteration of the Red Sox than the ‘05 Yanks.
============================================================
Nothing…he’s right. The red sox this year are going to be built on pitching and defense. They can’t keep up with our offensive firepower…so they’re not going to try. It’s really the most intelligent thing they could’ve done.
Frank, not disagreeing at all – the guy has done a marvelous job of turning that franchise around. However, they still have to get it done on the field. If they do, then that’s just another team in the AL to contend with; the NL stinks.
dont tell me he’s right! what are you a SOX FAN? help me out!! help me support teh idea that the 2010 red sox are the 2005 yankees… and don’t base everything on defense! base it on philosophy.. go ahead its all yours
If that Mariners team has any catastrophic injuries and they collapse, that Cliff Lee deal could be a disaster. They’re paying out a lot of money and they have just one power bat.
GB7 -
So funny. I can still hear the 30-odd typewriters (not electric) pounding, POUNDING, in unison!
I did like shorthand, though. It’s like a secret code. (Of course, I forgot everything I ever knew in that regard. Sigh.)
The thing is, the Sox may have very good pitching, great D and ok offense, but it doesn’t help them that the Yankees have very good pitching,good D and a fantastic offense. The Yankees are more balanced than the Sox are.
Betsy -
No, no. Not crowning Seattle at all. But they were aggressive and really improved themselves this winter.
The AL East is always a pain in the you-know-what! Even the Orioles are a pain.
Here’s the thing with the Orioles, though. They were always such a great franchise that I’m a little sad that they’ve been so bad the last, what, 8 years or so. It’s a shame.
For Seattle to be a Dynasty they would have to win something. I’m just amazed at the skill of Zduriencik as in finding value in other teams’ leftovers. He just signed Guitierrez to a four year 20 mil contract. This for the top CF in baseball is quite good. (Understatement) I expect him to steal Pie from Baltimore momentarily.
The fact that Johnson was able to pitch well enough in his last Yankee season to win 17 games is rather remarkable since he was pitching with a back that he hurt early in the season and needed surgery right after the season.
The RS are a team in transition. That’s why it’s so important for the Yankees to maintain financial flexibility so that they can block their acquisitions.
Doreen, the AL East is a war zone. Even the bad teams are not “bad” – the O’s and Jays have very talented young players on the way. In a few years, the division might be a free for all.
Rich, the Yankees should not make any moves just to block Red Sox moves…….
It can’t be a surprise to anyone that Kotchman was traded.
Doreen – Ain’t it Just “Grand”?
January 5th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
GB7 -
So funny. I can still hear the 30-odd typewriters (not electric) pounding, POUNDING, in unison!
I did like shorthand, though. It’s like a secret code. (Of course, I forgot everything I ever knew in that regard. Sigh.)
————————————————————
Never had to take that class. Good thing because I had enough issues with English. I do remember using the spiral steno pads with the shorthand alphabet on back. I thought the printers of those things had gotten drunk.
Randy Johnson was a lot of things. Hard worker. Father, husband, son. Mariner, Astro, Diamondback. Yankee. One of the greatest pitcher in the history of the game.
Mostly though he was kind of a dick.
Johnson had a fair amount of run support in 2006:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/p.....expanded-2
Betsy
“Rich, the Yankees should not make any moves just to block Red Sox moves…….”
You don’t think we should sign Mauer if he becomes a FA?
Count of Montefusco
January 5th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Randy Johnson was a lot of things. Hard worker. Father, husband, son. Mariner, Astro, Diamondback. Yankee. One of the greatest pitcher in the history of the game.
Mostly though he was kind of a dick.
————————————————————
So were DiMaggio, Mantle and Martin. What’s your point?
Laroche is older, paid 7 mil last year versus 3 and much poorer defensively. Seattle won 85 games last year. That team has been so bad for so long that Jack Z can do anything he wants. I’m not saying that the Yankees should start trembling next year but you have to admire a job well done. This isn’t war, it’s sport. Seattle is the leader in focusing on defense and are stealing underappreciated players. There is a reason that the walking pylons are being discarded. They cost games.
“Man you have to love Zduriencik as a GM. He has depantsed every GM that he’s traded with. You want to talk about the GM for the last two years, it’s got to be Jack Z. Where he started in Seattle and where the team now, totally amazing. Kotchman is an excellent 1B defensively. And Seattle got him for bad spare parts. Lee, League, Kotchman and Figgins. Anyone think that Seattle is in the playoffs this year. In a couple of years with his drafting skills Z will have a powerhouse. He needs to sign King Felix but this year will make the team legitimate. This is a great trade for Seattle. Last year I saw Kotchman rob Yankee hitters on shots that he stabbed, ranging left and right. He was jerked around for years and could come into his own this year. Seattle fans must be basking in the warms this year”
——————————————————-
I will take Cashman. To me, Cashman is the best GM in baseball, at the moment
Billy Beane who?
So Holliday stays in STL for 7 yrs., $120m?
Too much & too long.
So if Pujols commands say $30m per next season, who else will STL afford to keep?
I don’t care how much run support Johnson got in 2006. He still took the ball for every start, which is more than you can say for Brown, Wells and Orlando Hernandez. He could have taken the money and had surgery during the season instead of after.
Mantle was by all accounts not a dick. My uncle sat next to him once on a plane flight and said he was very approachable and entertaining – talked to him throughout the flight.
I think it’s tough to compare GMs given the payroll disparities, but Cash is one of the better GMs.
Won – Loss records have to be viewed in the context of run support.
“You don’t think we should sign Mauer if he becomes a FA”?
Oh boy, there’s an argument brewing. The question is with the length of the contract and the time in years that Mauer can catch. Probably the most expensive DH in history. Makes sense in Boston. Catches for three years and then becomes the DH. Or the Yankees put Montero in mothballs and sign Mauer for many, many millions.
As long as we are offering anecdotes, DiMaggio was great to my dad when he met him in SF.
There’s no argument on Mauer. In the unlikely event he becomes a FA, you go for him.
Montero will find a position. We don’t even know that he can remain at catcher.
When truly great players are available, you sign them.
At the very least, you force the RS to pay him $35m a year for 10 years.
things i will remember about Randy Johnson
1. he didnt impress during his time with the yankees
2. 2001 world series
3. the all-star game at bat with larry walker
4. exploding a bird with a pitch
Agreed re: Mauer.
If he ever hit the open market, you give him a blank check and tell him to fill it in.
You don’t pass on Joe Mauer for Jesus Montero.
Doubt he hits the open market though.
GB7-I always heard Dimmaggio and Martin were dicks, but I never heard Mantle. Where does that story come from?
I will take Cashman. To me, Cashman is the best GM in baseball, at the moment
Billy Beane who?
I like Cashman just fine. However
Budget 200 mil, vs 100 mil.
Abreu, Swisher, Granderson, Vazquez – salary dumps.
A little context here.
GB, I’m with on Randy Johnson, he battled his tail off and always took the ball….I remember watching in horror in Anahiem ( game 5 ) in 05 when Bubba Crosby crashed into Gary Sheffield in front of the San Diego Zoo sign in right center and dropped the ball…..Yanks fought back in that game and should have won it……Johnson was very good in relief after Mussina chumped his game 5 start…..
Mantle was great around team mates and was humorous when telling stories, he was a real jerk to kids wanting autographs. DiMaggio was respected by his team mates, but, not necessarily liked. Martin was Martin, he had no real talents, but thought he deserved star treatment. Dugouts and floors are luttered with the bodies. I was a Mantle fan, and I still am, from the first day that I knew about baseball, but, he was still a jerk.
If Mauer doesn’t hit the open market, it’s because he’ll sign a below market deal with the Twins.
There’s no way a deal a penny-pinching organiztion like the Twins will be anything close to what Mauer could get on the open market.
To be fair, there are stories of Mantle getting muggd for autographs. I can understand to an extent his annoyance with fans.
Martin was a very talented manager, but unfortunately had baggage.
I will be very disappointed if the Minnesota Twins don’t make every effort to keep Joe Mauer a Twin.
I have no idea if the Twins will re-sign Mauer, but they do have this new park:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....mlb,211945
which should generate revenue streams.
I also hear bad things about Phil Rizzuto. He would cheat autograph suppliers by promising to sign autographs if he received X amount of money, and then refusing to show up and sign anything after he got the money. The card suppliers couldn’t do anything since suueing him would cost more money than they would actually get if they won the trial.
My wife had dinner several times with Mantle when she was in high school and her dad has played golf with him a couple of times.. They both said he was very nice each time they were around him. I found out about this because she had a signed baseball from him in her room. When I asked her about it she said, “yea I got that from some baseball player guy down in Georgia” she didn’t even really know who he was, just that he used to play baseball….unbelievable.
+I will be very disappointed if the Minnesota Twins don’t make every effort to keep Joe Mauer a Twin.+
Not me if he ends up with an interlocking NY.
Actually, I will be disappointed if the Yanks don’t go all out for Joe Mauer.
Montero will find a position. We don’t even know that he can remain at catcher.
When truly great players are available, you sign them.
At the very least, you force the RS to pay him $35m a year for 10 years.”
Well that’s just it, we don’t know how long Mauer can remain at catcher. A big Mauer contract could hamstring a team for years. That’s a scary gamble. I’ve never been a Posada fan but he’s been great regarding health. Sign him as fitness instructor after his contract. There’s a man who knows his body.
I like your second statement better. Run up Mauer’s numbers for Boston.
Wait till we do it all over again
January 5th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
GB7-I always heard Dimmaggio and Martin were dicks, but I never heard Mantle. Where does that story come from?
————————————————————
In every Mantle biography you pick up, they talk about how he was with team mates, and especially the rookies, but, also some of the crude and cruel things he said to kids and adults. He was never all that fond of writers, either. He was woeshipped by players on other teams, too. His problems were with regular people. It changed over the last couple of years…after he quit drinking. I had too chance meetings with him. Once in Chicago when I had this 3 foot by 4 foot mock up Jello Box with his baseball card on hit. Mantle saw it and walked on past. We were seated next to the Yankee dugout. Pepitone saw it and had him sign it. The second time was at a card show. Not really pleasant.
Perhaps it was just the booze.
Wave Your Hat -
Well, yeah, if they don’t make every effort, of course, I’d love him to be on the Yankees.
But at some point, teams have got to really try to keep the players who are the face of their franchise.
BTW, I heard that Phil Rizzuto story from 2 different card show memorabilia salesmen or whatever you call those people.
Pat M.
January 5th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
GB, I’m with on Randy Johnson, he battled his tail off and always took the ball….I remember watching in horror in Anahiem ( game 5 ) in 05 when Bubba Crosby crashed into Gary Sheffield in front of the San Diego Zoo sign in right center and dropped the ball…..Yanks fought back in that game and should have won it……Johnson was very good in relief after Mussina chumped his game 5 start…..
————————————————————
I never really cared about peronalities of the players after I grew up. all i cared about was effort and production. It makes it better when they are good guys, but, the other two is my concern..in that order.
“He was never all that fond of writers, either”
————————————————–
to his credit
Doreen-
I don’t understand the Twins. Why weren’t they in on someone like Beltre?
Hall for Kotchman. The Boy Genius snookered by Z. Love it.
vinny-b (NJ and Granderson – thank you Cashman!)
January 5th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
“He was never all that fond of writers, either”
————————————————–
to his credit
————————————————————
No arguement there.
?“He was never all that fond of writers, either”
to his credit
No arguement there.”
You know, Chad, Sam and Josh might take that personally.
Or is present company excepted?
“You know, Chad, Sam and Josh might take that personally”
—————————————————
then they do. One would like to believe they know their contemporaries.
So, naturally my Red Sox fan friends are boldly stating that hte Red Sox “have the best rotation in baseball”
I do agree it’s lined up to be one of the best (though not THE best), but what do you guys think?
For sake of argument, who, aside from the Yankees, may have the best rotation in 2010?
Mantle was/is one of my heroes. I just caught the end of his career – the last four years. Never heard anything bad about him at the time. However he was apparently a drunk most of his adult life and a self confessed mean one at that. He did a redemptive commercial just before he died telling kids not to waste their life as he did. Great ball player.
The Mariners need a bat to hit behind Ichiro and Figgins. They never had interest in re-signing Beltre. That says a lot.
Wave -
Saving it for Mauer?
Boston has the best rotation in baseball if none of the starters get hurt.
The Mariners, Cardinals, and Giants all have really good 1-2′s.
The rotation of the Yankees and RS are so close that neither fanbase should pretend that either one is better.
I like the Mariners #1/#2 the best.
GreenBeret7
January 5th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Wait till we do it all over again
January 5th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
GB7-I always heard Dimmaggio and Martin were dicks, but I never heard Mantle. Where does that story come from?
————————————————————
In every Mantle biography you pick up, they talk about how he was with team mates, and especially the rookies, but, also some of the crude and cruel things he said to kids and adults. He was never all that fond of writers, either. He was woeshipped by players on other teams, too. His problems were with regular people. It changed over the last couple of years…after he quit drinking. I had too chance meetings with him. Once in Chicago when I had this 3 foot by 4 foot mock up Jello Box with his baseball card on hit. Mantle saw it and walked on past. We were seated next to the Yankee dugout. Pepitone saw it and had him sign it. The second time was at a card show. Not really pleasant.
————————
Wow, I’m shocked. How could anyone be rude and unpleasant to someone as nice as yourself?
Doreen-
I guess so, but Mauer needs more help than he’s got if the Twins are ever going to win it all.
I think Boston has the best 1-3 rotation but I like the Yankees better overall.
CC/Beckett- edge Yankees
AJ/Lester – edge Sox
Pettite/Lackey- edge Sox
Vasquez/DiceK or Bucholtz- edge Yankees
Hughes or Joba/Wakefield – edge Yankees
I like the Yankees better in 3 of the 5 rotation spots including the ace position.
Much of Mantle’s issues (and Maris’ too) was because of the hammering they took by the press, for no other reason than people like Jimmy Cannon, Dick Young and Oscar Fraley. They seemed to take delight in writing crap about those two in particular. They were the New York version of Boston’s Dave Egan. It was the press that fanned the flames about Mantle early in his career about being a coward and a draft dodger because he wasn’t in the military. Mantle was turned down by the draft board 4 times, but, they still called him everything but Mickey Mantle. It took until Roger Maris came to NY to change things because these 3 jerks found a new target,
Who cares if the Red Sox have the best rotation. They still can’t score any runs especially outside of Fenway with that lineup. And their bullpen is not as good as last year.
You’d be hard pressed to find a better 1-2 than the Mariners have now in the past decade. It’s just their 3-5 that is questionable.
Same goes for St Louis and perhaps San Fran is interesting, especially if some of their prospects (Bumgarner) make the team.
Phillies with Halladay and Hamels could compete too.
Seattle’s Ryan Rowland-Smith has potential. He’s a 27 year old lefty. He didnt enter the rotation till late Juy, but in 15 starts he had a 3.27 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He doesnt strike out many,but he only allowed 27 walks in 96 innings ( 52 k’s). He could be a decent #3 behind King Felix and Cliff Lee.
I wouldn’t give Lackey an edge over Pettitte. I’ll take Andy in a big game over him any day.
Vazquez is the wild card. He could be anything from a #2 to a #4.
The White Sox rotation could be very good too. They have 4 solid starters:
Buehrle
Peavy
Danks
Floyd
Rich, I was basically giving Lackey the edge over Pettitte because of age. I think that one is really close. If you take Pettitte over Lackey then the Yankees have the advantage in 4 of the 5 and you’re right, Vazquez could very well pitch like the #2 in the Yankees rotation.
The Rays could have a very good rotation this year as well. People are forgetting about them some in terms of pitching 1-5.
The Sox and Yanks have very comparable rotations. The biggest difference between the two rotations is the #6 starter. The yankees have a huge advantage there (as long as either hughes or joba stay stretched out).
Boston is going to have a good team that could be very tough in the division. They look like they are going to project to be a 95 win team next year or so. The yanks are a few games better (97 wins or so). But it is close.
That said, Boston has more risk in their potential performance due to the narrowing on the skill sets on the team, IMO. If Ortiz doesn’t hit they could struggle to score runs. And Ortiz lost a great deal of bat speed last year.
The Mariners are about another impact bat away from being really really good. I wouldn’t want them in a playoff series as they are now.
Tom in N.J.
January 5th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
The White Sox rotation could be very good too. They have 4 solid starters:
Buehrle
Peavy
Danks
Floyd
————————————————————
I’d kill to see Danks pitching for the yankees.
“I wouldn’t give Lackey an edge over Pettitte. I’ll take Andy in a big game over him any day.”
I’m a huge Andy Pettitte fan but the last time Andy had a better year than Lackey was 2005.
Andy is a gamer, though, no question.
I give Dr. Andrews the edge over Lackey.
I hope this isn’t accurate:
“Aroldis Chapman Update: Decision Coming Soon?
By Mark Polishuk [January 5 at 8:48pm CST]
Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes may be nearing a close. According to Rodriguez, Chapman is saying that he “expects to sign within the next three or four days.” As many as 15 clubs have shown some degree of interest in the Cuban left-hander, including several small-market franchises.
One such team, the Marlins, are particularly taken with Chapman since they hope that South Florida’s large Cuban population will tempt the 21-year-old into signing at something of a hometown discount. Rodriguez reports that the Marlins have already made a $13MM contract offer to Chapman and have now raised that offer — a wise move given that the Red Sox have already offered Chapman $15.5MM.
The Marlins’ maneuvering may be all for naught, however. An unnamed source tells Rodriguez that the Angels and Blue Jays seem to be the favorites to sign the Cuban left-hander, and that Chapman will sign with one of the two clubs for “around $21MM.”
From MLBTR.
“The Mariners are about another impact bat away from being really really good. I wouldn’t want them in a playoff series as they are now.”
I agree. I’m really surprised as it looks like Griffey could DH for them, which is a head scratcher.
White Sox not shabby-Peavy, Buehrle, Danks, Floyd and best set-up pitcher in Matt Thornton.
Rays pretty decent with Garza, Neimann, Shields, Price, and Davis.
In NL Braves still good minus Vazquez- Hudson, Jurrjens, Hanson ,Kawakami, and Lowe.
Then for top 2 there’s Cardinals with Wainwright and Carpenter and Giants with Lincecum and Cain plus Mariners with Hernandez and Lee.
GB-
Why do you like Danks so much ?
Our team is almost set, and one of the most important factors this season will be health. With the workloads on the pitching staff up from the playoff run, Girardi & Eiland will have to keep the pulse of the staff, especially where AJ & Andy are concerned. I would think that with the depth of the staff, the big three will get rest when they need it. That’s where the Vasquez move makes sense. He’s bene healthy, and pitched 200+ innings the past few years. I just wonder how he’ll handle the season long grind of the AL East. The true test of a Yankees starting pitcher is when they take the mound against the Sox. The last time Javy failed miserably, let’s hope he can do a more respectable job this time around.
“I agree. I’m really surprised as it looks like Griffey could DH for them, which is a head scratcher.”
I know, it seems like the Mariners are in a win now mode due to the fact that they may lose Felix in a couple years. I know Griffey probably puts fans in the seats and theres a sentimental component with him but he just doesn’t seem to fit what they are trying to do at the moment. I like Griffey though so I’m glad he has somewhere to play if he wants to keep playing.
The Braves staff is good too:
Hanson
Jurrjens
Hudson
Lowe
Kawakami
My dad was once watching the Home Shopping Network while Mickey Mantle was hosting a show trying to sell something-
A woman called up and said that in the 60s she was pulled over to the side of the road in rain with car trouble and Mickey Mantle stopped and helped her. Mick’s reply…..
“You must have been one good looking lady”
forgot about the White Sox. that rotation is really good as well.
Floyd made the Yanks hitters (and the Sox hitters – though they were a much weaker lineup) look silly last season.
MTU
January 5th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
GB-
Why do you like Danks so much ?
————————————————————
talented, young and left handed. He won’t be 25 until the start of the season. He knows how to pitch.
I like Danks also. Lefty .248 batting average against tough on righties also. Floyd actually had a slightly higher ERA but was given less run support and strikes out most batters on that staff with lowest BA against.
The Kotchman trade as an individual move makes sense for the M’s but given the context of their team it’s not an optimal one.
The M’s have gotten better but they also have narrowed the ways in which they can win. They were a weak hitting team last year and now they really have limited power. Adam LaRoche would have helped them diversify their skill set.
Their top 2 is the best in baseball, but their rotation afterwards isn’t great. Winning with so much emphasis on defense could be a challenge without strong pitching 1-5.
In this sense, the Marrow trade is particularly odd.
“I’m a huge Andy Pettitte fan but the last time Andy had a better year than Lackey was 2005.
Andy is a gamer, though, no question.”
Pettitte did have a better xFIP in 2008:
3.73 v. 3.88
I strongly believe in stats, but there is something about Pettitte that doesn’t always show up in pitching metrics. Or maybe it’s because he now has off periods because of his age. Either way, for one season, at the risk of being called a homer, I’ll take Andy.
If Aroldis Chapman signs a 5yr major league deal, how long would the team have control of him before he’d be an unrestricted free agent?
the arbitration rules are slipping my mind right now
Where is it written in stone that Dice K is going to be any better than Vazquez? The back of the Red Sox rotation features 2 pitchers that put a ton of batters on base and 43 year old Tim Wakefield. Their front 3 is very good, obviously.
But if Dice K doesnt pitch a lot better than last year and Bucholz pitches like he did at the end of ’09 the Red Sox are in big trouble. If the Yankees 5th starter was a career 12 -14 4.91 ERA and 1.495 WHIP would we be confident in him? Bucholz had 8 good starts last year and 5 terrible starts.
Boston-
Do you think the Yankees would consider a major league deal for Chapman with all the budget issues ?
Danks is every bit as good as Lester and could end up being better.
Boston Dave – XXVII
January 5th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
So, naturally my Red Sox fan friends are boldly stating that hte Red Sox “have the best rotation in baseball”
I do agree it’s lined up to be one of the best (though not THE best), but what do you guys think?
—————————————————–
Good evening Boston Dave.
First, I agree that both the Yankee starting rotation and the Sox starting rotation will be among the toughest in baseball.
I personally have to say that the Yankees have an edge in the starting five, primarily because of the presence of CC.
I don’t think the Sox have anyone that can really come close to matching CC right now.
As always how healthy the starting pitchers remain will be a crucial factor. As a Sox fan I am glad they signed Lackey, but I do wonder about his long term health.
I’m not that enamored with Mariners. great 1-2 punch for starters with Rowland-Smith as #3 but not much after that, so-so bullpen, downgrade at 1st, weak fielder at 2nd, below average hitter at SS, fading DH. Do they have a LF’er?
Angels still tough and still have four pretty decent balanced starting staff, and suspect they’ll sign one more starter.
Texas will be interesting. If Vlad is available to DH for 3M, he hits very well in Arlington.
GB-
That’s quite an endorsement.
GB, Mantle’s issue with kids and autograph’s some have suggested was due to his guilt about his own kids and his poor fathering perceptions…….I saw him at Spring Trainings and he always seemed to be a happy go lucky guy…He spent some time with the OF’ers, but he was just killing time to hit the links with Whitey. Murcer & Michaels….I do have an signed ball by him & Joe Namath, from when they had their Personnel firm / employment agency
“Pettitte did have a better xFIP in 2008:
3.73 v. 3.88″
Andy has pitched 15 seasons in the big leagues. In 13 of those 15 seasons his BABIP has been over .300. That’s not a random occurrence. For his career it’s been .315.
The information FIP provides does not model one of the biggest issues in Andy’s game – he gives up a lot of hits. He always has.
Also, Andy is a fairly fly ball prone pitcher so I’m not sure why normalizing his home run rates as xFIP is sound.
One last post for the day… Chapman might be close to signing.
While a Yankee, Johnson sued the mother of his illegitimate daughter for less than 100K in a child support dispute. He’d had a years-long relationship with the woman but had never once met the then 16-year-old. Not one time.
Imagine being 16, knowing your father is filthy rich and has four months of vacation every year, and has never once granted you an audience? Imagine knowing he thinks so little of you that he’ll spill your personal business in the papers over a lousy (to him) 100K?
We’ve had a lot of a-holes on the team over the years but none were bigger than that stick-legged, mullet-haired, choke artist.
I’m not naive to the ways of the world, but I’d rather lose than win with a jag-off like that on my team.
“Either way, for one season, at the risk of being called a homer, I’ll take Andy.”
Fair enough.
ray,
I agree that CC is clearly the best pitcher amongst the two teams (and in the AL east…) but I think you’re selling Lester a little short.
He is a tremendous pitcher with great stuff.
“Also, Andy is a fairly fly ball prone pitcher so I’m not sure why normalizing his home run rates as xFIP is sound.”
That’s all I could find to make my point!!!
Seriously, I hate using the word intangible (e.g., I think it slights Jeter’s ability), but Andy brings something to the mound, particularly late in his career, that doesn’t show up in stats. I think Cash would call it pitchability.
CB
I have been a big fan of Lester, not only because of his baseball abilities but because he is a good guy.
I think he is a very good pitcher, I just don’t see him as of yet reaching what I would call CC level.
Rich,
Andy has always given up a ton of hits and had very good but not elite control.
Despite that he’s been a very effective pitcher. That’s not an accident.
He does know how to get guys out that relates to the context of the game at hand.
So Holliday sucked the cardnals dry, they seem
happy about it !
Pat M.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
GB, Mantle’s issue with kids and autograph’s some have suggested was due to his guilt about his own kids and his poor fathering perceptions…….I saw him at Spring Trainings and he always seemed to be a happy go lucky guy…He spent some time with the OF’ers, but he was just killing time to hit the links with Whitey. Murcer & Michaels….I do have an signed ball by him & Joe Namath, from when they had their Personnel firm / employment agency
————————————————————
Namath Girls and Mantle Men. Yeah, Pat. I’m sure much of it had to do with family issues. There’s a book called “America’s Prodigal Son” by Tony Castro. It’s about mantle. He interviewed everyone including Mick’s wife. He wrote that obviously most issues stemmed from the drinking, but, that was because of his father’s death and that of the entire Mantle males never reaching the age of 40. Castro says that Mantle and Mays were two of the most insecure adults that he gad ever researched…that neither one believed that they were really that good and that it wouldn’t last. great book.
Much like David Wells, Jack Morris and Bert Blyleven, Pettitte pitches to the score board and only cares about the winning score.
My dad beat up Joe Dimaggio
“Carl
January 5th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
My dad beat up Joe Dimaggio”
Liar liar pants on fire!