Yankees set home opener festivities
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Apr 08, 2010 
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World Series rings, Bernie Williams and a former cast member of The West Wing. I’m sold! Here’s the press release from the Yankees.
The New York Yankees will hold the 108th home opener in franchise history on Tuesday, April 13 vs. the Los Angeles Angels at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Prior to the first pitch, the Yankees will celebrate their 2009 World Championship with a ring ceremony.
Gates will open to fans with valid tickets beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Yankees ask their fans to please budget ample time when planning their trip to the Stadium and to consider using public transportation.
Festivities will begin at 12:15 p.m. with a ceremony to award Yankees players and coaching staff with their championship rings from the 2009 season. Hall of Famers and former Yankees greats Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra—who won a combined 16 World Series titles—will be on hand to help pass out the commemorative rings to the defending World Champions in a ceremony on the infield.
In addition to the ring ceremony, the Yankees’ 2009 championship flag—as well as flags commemorating each of the Yankees’ other 26 World Championships—will be on display for the Opening Day ceremony and game, encompassing the roof of the entire Stadium.
Kristin Chenoweth, Emmy and Tony Award winner and star of stage and screen who is starring in the upcoming Broadway musical “Promises, Promises,” will perform the National Anthem. Colors will be presented by the West Point color guard, and a giant American flag will be unfurled in the outfield by the West Point Cadets. At the conclusion of the anthem, the Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve (VFC-12), a US Navy Reserve fighter squadron, will execute a fly over. Known as the “Fighting Omars,” the VFC-12 is one of the Navy’s two Reserve Hornet squadrons.
The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by five-time All-Star Bernie Williams, a member of the Yankees’ run of four World Championships in five years from 1996-2000. It will mark the first time that Williams—who threw out the first pitch prior to Yankees’ 2009 ALCS Game 6 clincher—will throw out an Opening Day ceremonial first pitch. He will become the ninth former Yankees player to be bestowed the Opening Day honor.
During the seventh-inning stretch, United States Army Sergeant First Class Mary Kay Messenger will perform “God Bless America.”
Haris (Nashville, TN)
Not to keep harping on the Yankees payroll thing, but let’s be honest, it’s not like they’ve somehow worked hard and earned the biggest richest market in the country. MLB is a cartel that handed out 30 territorial monopolies, and the Yankees [and later Mets] were handed the best one. You can’t seriously claim that most teams aren’t at a serious competitive disadvantage.
Klaw (1:49 PM)
Teams are at a competitive disadvantage on the open market for free agents. There’s a draft that controls costs and limits the number of premium players each team can acquire, and that’s a pretty level playing field. If a team doesn’t want to pony up to acquire young talent so that they don’t have to flush money down the Suppan-Davis toilet, that’s their own fault.
I wish I could be there
I had tickets for a 33% markup, but I”m going to be away for work
Bryan (WI)
Mark A. could have easily inserted the Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Angels or Cardinals in his comments. He just chose the team that, year in and out, has the highest payroll. The point I’m sure he was trying to make is that ANY large market team can drive up a players value so much, that it makes it virtually impossible (especially with Boras as an agent) for a small market team to sign that player and subsequently surround him with enough talent to compete at a playoff caliber level. I’m not saying that a high payroll buys you a world series (insert Cubs here), but it can surely increase the odds in your favor.
Klaw (1:53 PM)
There’s so much wrong with that. Your team needs that one particular player to compete? It’s impossible to sign a $20 million player on an $80-100 million payroll? How did the Rays and Rockies reach the World Series in recent years in this “virtually impossible” situation? Sure, the Yankees have better odds, but arguing that we should artificially reduce the Yankees’ odds – which are largely structural – to make everything even strikes me as absurd. If you want more money to spend on players, field a better product. Even the Yankees didn’t start ramping up payroll away from the pack until after they’d started winning in the late ’90s.
REPOST
Did anyone else think they were seeing Craig Hansen out there last night instead of Bard? I didnt see anything special about him that screamed CLOSER. Straight as an arrow fastball that the players seem to get a read of. I dont believe he struck anyone out. I dont see hitters being in a mismatch ala Zumaya. Could this be another over hyped Sox pitcher? Or is this kid for real?
One more thing. Is it just me or does Pettitte look just as good today as he did 10 years ago? The man just knows how to pitch. The Ortiz strikeout was absolute nails.
Forbes’ Business of Baseball 2010 is up
http://www.forbes.com/lists/20....._Rank.html
Surprise surprise, Loria’s Marlins lead in operating income.
“Not to keep harping on the Yankees payroll thing, but let’s be honest, it’s not like they’ve somehow worked hard and earned the biggest richest market in the country. MLB is a cartel that handed out 30 territorial monopolies, and the Yankees [and later Mets] were handed the best one. You can’t seriously claim that most teams aren’t at a serious competitive disadvantage.”
Yes, you can argue that the Yankees are at a competitive disadvantage, and probably would be right.
How much money is it going to take for these owners to pocket before somebody realizes that George Steinbrenner probably isnt even the 10 richest owner in the MLB. He just happens to be the guy who most desires winning, and pays the 200 million.
How much money goes from the Yankees and other teams like Red Sox to the lower level teams, that just finds its way into the pockets of the owners?
How much “Yankee Tax” does there to have to be for it to be recognized as a competitive disadvantage?
How many Joe Wests or Angel Hernandez or Marty Fosters or Tim McClellands do there have to be?
Has Pettitte become a “crafty” left-hander?
Tom Watson is leading the Masters after almost winning the British last year at age 60…I know its early but that’s still unbelievable to me.
I guess the fact that we have to deal with two teams in the same market, doesn’t count against us.
So what if we are in the biggest market. There’s so much more to do in New York than in Ho Hum, Minnesota. There are like 10 professional sports teams.
Tom in NJ April 8th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Has Pettitte become a “crafty” left-hander?
———————————————————————————————————————-
how come there are no “crafty” righties?
can anyone tell me if they are replaying all the ceremonies on YES later that night
I’ve wondered that myself GB.
Also should we start calling righties ‘northpaws’?
I’m going to hate being stuck at work Tuesday afternoon.
at least Matsui will be there to get his ring in person…….hoooray opening day DAY games
Tom in NJ April 8th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I’ve wondered that myself GB.
Also should we start calling righties ‘northpaws’?
———————————————————————————————————————-
If left handers are called port siders, are right handers called starboard siders?
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter April 8th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
That song is very deep. LOL
Its on my iPod
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Mine too! I LOVE that song.
Ack, these weird symbols keep popping up in the posts.
That’s a pretty impressive lineup – Bernie, Yogi and Whitey? I can’t wait – how I hope the weather is like today.
Erin April 8th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m going to hate being stuck at work Tuesday afternoon.
_________________________________________________________________________
I know!!!! I’m not going to be able to concentrate on anything that day. They better replay the ceremonies at night….
Blake, I LOVE Tom Watson; I was heartbroken when he didn’t win the British Open. LOL He reminds me of Huckleberry Finn. I see Freddie Couples has two birdies already; he’s my favorite – then again, who doesn’t love Freddie?
The reception for Matsui will be a thing to see. It is so weird seeing him in the Angels uni, and it will remain that way all year. Best of luck to him though, hopefully he gets some meaningless hits in the series next week (meaningless, in that the Yankees win all the games so he can’t do any major damage, of course).
GB, awful awful awful….
“# NYY626 April 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Erin April 8th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m going to hate being stuck at work Tuesday afternoon.
_________________________________________________________________________
I know!!!! I’m not going to be able to concentrate on anything that day. They better replay the ceremonies at night….”
If they dont replay it and anybody doesnt have a DVR, just let me know. I’ll DVD it!
We’re taking our daughters to see “Promises, Promises” on May 16th. My daughter loves Kristen Chenoweth. I love her voice and her comedic talent. She should do a great job with the National Anthem.
Wish I could go to opening day!
I also with I could be there to witness the ceremony in person.
I will be watching via MLB Network. Unless MLB EI airs the Yes feed. As of today, only the 1st week schedule is available.
blake
Although pretty early, it’s still impressive that he’s the leader in the clubhouse!
I get so tired of the Masters and their elitism. I cant believe we only get 3:30 of live tv coverage, on ESPN no less.
Since they are playing the Angels will Matsui be honored before the game as well? It would be the classy thing to do.
Just saying: for Austin Jackson fans, he’s 1-1 with a double.
Not sure if there are any Johnny Damon fans around, but, he’s 0-1 with a strikeout
I guess right handers are just ‘normal’. Lefties are ‘crafty’.
I call CC the ‘Hefty Lefty’.
For those of you who are working on Tuesday, believe it or not, I have taken that day off from work. Here on the West Coast the game begins at 10 a.m. No way I was going to work that day and have to read all about the ceremony online.
Lardin-I have seen “former players” receive their rings when that player returns to the stadium where he played the previous year.
The Yankees are all about class. Unless Matsui prefers to receive his ring away from the ceremony, I can certainly envision that Matsui will be afforded the opportunity to receive his ring in front of a sold-out Stadium. I can almost hear the standing ovation for him right now.
this is cool.
I’m thinking of taking that day off as well….of course I can tape it, but it’s not the same thing.
I cant wait for the standing ovation that Matsui will receive.
Warning Track Power April 8th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
For those of you who are working on Tuesday, believe it or not, I have taken that day off from work. Here on the West Coast the game begins at 10 a.m. No way I was going to work that day and have to read all about the ceremony online.
**********************
You were smart. I don’t know why I didn’t think to work a half day or something.
Kristen Chenoweth is a babe.
Rishi April 8th, 2010 at 1:52 pm -
George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees from CBS for 10 million dollars. Yes, only 10 million. If what you say were true, and no one worked hard to build anything, how was George able to do that?
The Yankees were struggling under CBS, George bought them, invested, took risks, and built an international brand out of the Yankees, started the TV network that is a cash cow, and made the team wildly successful. How can you say no one worked hard for anything?
Yes, the Yankees had the benefit of a large market, but it takes risk, hard work, and smart investment to make a sports organization as successful as the Yankees.
I wish I could take off on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Since they are playing the Angels will Matsui be honored before the game as well?”
Makes sense he would. Didn’t Ramiro Mendoza get his WS ring from the Sox when the Yankees opened in Fenway in 2005 or am I misremembering?
Yay!!! I’m so excited! And I’m so glad Matsu will be there :’)
CR9 April 8th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
“# NYY626 April 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Erin April 8th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I’m going to hate being stuck at work Tuesday afternoon.
_________________________________________________________________________
I know!!!! I’m not going to be able to concentrate on anything that day. They better replay the ceremonies at night….”
If they dont replay it and anybody doesnt have a DVR, just let me know. I’ll DVD it!
_________________________________________________________________________
Thanks for the offer! Yes some of us people are still DVR-less in this day in age. I can probably tape it though lol
I have a question for the people who live in the NY/NJ area who subscribe to The Yes network.
How much does that cost per month? Have always been curious. If I could subscribe, I would.
If I lived in the NY/NJ area, I would definately be a Yes customer.
“Yes, the Yankees had the benefit of a large market, but it takes risk, hard work, and smart investment to make a sports organization as successful as the Yankees.”
Much to Fred Wilpon’s dismay, very true.
That will be awesome!
WTP – Yes network is part of your basic cable package for most cable providers in these parts. It’s not a ala carte paid servive.
repost
champ809 April 8th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Chip
I gotta say you’re reaching on this Posada non issue you’re trying to conjure up.
Yes, Posada is a proud man, very proud player and catcher. We all know this.
Jorge also knows that his days squating behind the plate wearing pinstripes as the primary C are are nearing their glorious end. Trust me he’s fully aware of this.
He will in fact go out of his way to mentor Jesus, ‘Velli and Romine not only the position but the Yankee Way.
It behooves him to accept his potential future role on this team as a professional bat ala Chilli Davis and emergency/occasional C if he’s interested in extending his career with the Yanks another year or two after his contract runs out in 2011.
I could see him dh-ing and maybe catching 15 games in 2012 and getting maybe 300-350 abs and being very productive in that role. If he catches 90 games in 2011 that’ll be alot in my opinion.
I will be at the game on Opening Day and I’m so excited !!!!! I’ve been fortunate to get to the last Opening Day and the last game at the Old Stadium. Also Opening Day at the new Stadium too.
WTP ..I live in NY so I get YES in my TWC package ….thankfully …
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Stuckey-Thanks for the info. I must say, I’m “shocked” the Yes Network is part of the basic package. I assumed the channel would be a la carte and be very expensive.
Chalk one up for the customer(what a concept)
Joe West has done the impossible.
He got many Yankees and Sox fans to agree on something.
They both think he should shut-up.
Have fun YanksGal.
Did anyone see ESPN when they showed a plane flying by the first hole as Tiger teed off.
The plane had a message which read “Did you mean Bootyism?”
LOL
Tiger who?
Forget about it!
Champ,
Again, I’m not saying dump Posada. I was responding to MLBTradeRumors saying that if each team could remove one contract they would pick removing AJ from the Yankees. I was simply saying that there are four I would remove before getting to AJ and they were (in order):
Igawa
Miranda
Marte
Posada
I wasn’t saying Jorge’s a bad guy. I wasn’t saying Jorge’s done as a player. I was saying that Jorge is a proud guy who has been resistant to considering playing anywhere other than catcher and I don’t believe he would gracefully step aside to allow Montero to move into his spot.
With that in mind, I think that it would cause a fracture within the clubhouse and fan base to have an unhappy Jorge being phased out while Montero is being phased in. We always talk about how the worst job in baseball is going to be being the closer for the Yankees after Mariano retires, but the same holds true for whomever replaces Jeter at SS or Posada at catcher.
Think about it – in Boston there are people (and some players) who would rather have Varitek starting at catcher even though he’s completely cooked and his replacement is a legitimate All-Star. Look at the reaction to Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson as the replacements to Damon and Matsui….Think about what it’s going to be like replacing one of the “Core Four” who is still productive with an unproven kid? It won’t be easy for Montero either way, but I think it would be easier if Jorge wasn’t looming over his shoulder.
Yanksgal07 April 8th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
I will be at the game on Opening Day and I?m so excited !!!!! I?ve
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That’s awesome-I’m jealous! Have a great time
pat April 8th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Joe West has done the impossible.
He got many Yankees and Sox fans to agree on something.
They both think he should shut-up.
****************************
What no 5 year olds giving speeches?
They should get Kelli O Hara back at some point to do GBA. She was amazing.
Did Ronan do anything for the Sox at their opener? I’m telling you the Tynan curse is already wreaking havoc on beantown
I love that Austin is getting off to a good start.
The trade was the right move for the Yanks in terms of the current roster setup and being defending champs and the best 1-3 yr plan for the team but by the end of this season I think most will look back and realize this was one of those rare deals where all involved were winners, i.e. the Yanks, Tigers and D-Backs, but also realize how much talent we gave up in those deals in A Jax, Coke, IPK, Melky and Viz…
I think both AJax and IPK will be in the ROY conversation for their respective leagues. That’s if IPK would still qualify.
Melky and Cokie I think will be very productive contributors on their teams.
Viz is gonna be off the charts in the Braves farm this season and may pass Teheran as the top pitching prospect in their system by season’s end.
While it made perfect sense to move what we moved for Grandy and Javy it is also a nice chunk talent. They best part is that the farm is teeming with kids that have even higher ceilings and potentially bigger futures.
Just more “living proof” as to the “real” state of the Yanks farm system which as currently constituted is actually closer to top-5 than middle of the pack.
CHIP-Your point is based on a lot of “assumptions” and “possible scenarios”.
Have you considered the chance that Montero will be traded in order to fill a hole the team may need? I have. There is no guarantee Montero or Austin R. will be the Yankees catcher of the future.
Posada already understand he can no longer, not will be asked to catch 140 games. 100-120 games behind the plate, with the occasional DH slot will serve him well.
Warning Track Power –
Of course it’s based on assumptions and possible scenarios.
Heck, Jorge tomorrow in Tampa could tear his Achilles running the bases and his career could be over.
Pat, are you reading a Sox blog?
Neyer agreed with West, lol. Sorry – the Yanks and Sox should just go on taking their pitches and wearing out pitchers. If the umps/MLB have a problem with that, stick it.
Well, Chip, I hope you knocked on wood with that last comment
“Sorry – the Yanks and Sox should just go on taking their pitches and wearing out pitchers. If the umps/MLB have a problem with that, stick it.”
AGREED! LOL
My point is Chip is that I don’t think Jorge would be unhappy to the point that it would cause fracture in the clubhouse for something that is so obvious to even him.
He’s not going to be sulking like a 6yr old because the team the made him a legend is breaking in his 21yr old replacement when he’ll be a 41yr old player.
In fact he’ll know that he’s physically not capable of catching even 70-80 games without it wearing him out thereby severely limiting his offensive production.
At this point Posada is maybe 2-3 yrs of good offensive production away from cementing his HOF status. It won’t make a difference how many more of those games he actually catches.
Georgie said this ST that Jesus could have the catching job after this season. Georgie will be the primary DH and backup C, maybe even the #3 catcher, come 2011.
Georgie will turn 39 during this season and 40 during the 2011 season. He?s not crazy enough to think he?s going to get another big payday in 2012 and beyond.
Let?s just hope he has as good a 2010 as he did in 2009?
WarningTrackPower
If you think that Montero may get traded then you’ve clearly just awaken from a 2yr hibernation and have no clue what’s been happening here lately.
You can’t possibly be that thick skulled can u?
Champ-I can not agree with you more. I think it would shock the world is Jorge began to sulk or be a distraction in the clubhouse when the time comes.
He’s a Yankee with a lot of class. I can envision him doing all he can to help whichever player takes his role as the starting catcher.
That being said, during the sox series, anybody else notice that Jorge is about as slow as Molina was last year? haha-I think over the off-season Jorge has lost about a step or two.
Hello All!
I had to stop in and give my two cents. While driving home I almost crashed listening to mlb on xm radio compare Cano and keebler. I dont know who casey stern’s co host was but he irritated the heck out of me by implying that cano couldn’t tie pedroia’s cleets.
He then proceeded to say that the little hobbits glove game is much better than cano and how cano is so lazy.
I’m so tired of people picking on my boy cano.
Chip,
What you’re failing to grasp is Jorge made those comments a few years ago when he 35-36. There’s a boatload of difference between 35-36 and 39-40 in baseball years.
You’re trying to conjure up some nonsense that doesn’t take into consideration that Montero may not even be ready to spilt the catching duties with Posada next season which is the last season of Posada’s contract.
I doubt the Yankees resign Posada. Cashman’s been down this road with Bernie and he held firm and took all the blows for not resigning an iconic player who was past his expiration date.
The Yankees will not resign Posada after next season to be a DH. He doesn’t even profile well as a DH. If he came back on a 1 year deal after next season, it would be part time catcher like Varitek is right now who would be mentoring Montero in 2012.
You’re assuming that Montero will be ready next year to start a full season and push Jorge to the bench. That’s a big assumption.
The more likely scenario is that Montero is ready and is broken in at catcher in small doses with Jorge doing the primary catching and Montero DH’ing next season should the team not bring back Nick Johnson.
As for Jorge’s personality fracturing the clubhouse, you’re worshipping a bit too hard at the altar of the newspaper writers who need stories to write about big bad Jorge and his bat attitude. That nonsense has made it’s way to this blog which is even more sad.
All Jorge Posada has done is work his tail off for this team and help it win multiple championships.
I doubt he wants his remaining days as a Yankee to be remembered as some petulant child stomping around because the Yankees brought up a young catcher who should eventually replace him.
I don’t think Jorge would do that and I don’t think Jeter or Mo would let their friend go out as the hysterical baby you’re painting him out to be.
He’s the starting catcher for the next 2 seasons without injury. That’s what he was signed for. As for Montero, his time will come and so will Romine’s, but it’s not today and there is no way to be sure it’s next season until this season plays out first.
Name the three active pitchers who have finished in the top 5 of the Cy Young voting in both leagues?
Selig also took the off-days away from the ALCS schedule because it benefited the Yankees and Soscia whined…
GLove, fantastic post!
CR – of course.
Champ –
Couldn’t disagree with you more on the AJax trade working out well for all three teams. The Tigers will be fine with it in the long run because even if Austin Jackson doesn’t pan out they still got a tremendous young pitcher in Scherzer. The D’Backs made a foolish deal. They gave up two potentially high end starters for a pitcher who has been good for exactly half a season (Jackson) and a back of the rotation starter on a good team (Kennedy). NL RoY will not include Kennedy – it will be Heyward, Strasburg, and maybe Buster Posey. Jackson may be in the mix for the AL but it will likely wind up with Neftali Feliz.
As for the Vazquez deal – let’s be honest – the Braves made that deal because they had to cut money. Vizciano hasn’t pitched above short season ball – projecting him to be a star is like looking at a nursery school kid doing fingerpainting and saying he’s going to grow up to be President of the United States. Melky is what he is, an extra outfielder who will be greatly exposed being asked to do more than bat at the bottom of a very good lineup.
1. CC Sabathia
2. Cliff Lee
3. Santana
mrpappageorgio April 8th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Rishi April 8th, 2010 at 1:52 pm -
George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees from CBS for 10 million dollars. Yes, only 10 million. If what you say were true, and no one worked hard to build anything, how was George able to do that?
********************************************************************
Even better…. George only put up 1 million cash of his own $ to close the deal. If he sold today the family would clear close to a billion R O I…. he ran the family shipbuilding biz into the ground but he hit a Micky Mantle tape measure shot with the team.
Jim
No
Benny Blanco April 8th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Hello All!
I had to stop in and give my two cents. While driving home I almost crashed listening to mlb on xm radio compare Cano and keebler. I dont know who casey stern?s co host was but he irritated the heck out of me by implying that cano couldn?t tie pedroia?s cleets.
He then proceeded to say that the little hobbits glove game is much better than cano and how cano is so lazy.
****************************
It’s a good thing I wasn’t listening to this-I probably would have crashed. lol
did soscia really whine or was he basically speaking for all the manager’s last post-season. the schedule was a joke. anybody could have seen that. the reason for all those off-days was pure greed by MLB offices and the tv networks.
greed and nothing else. all about the bottom line. the MLB offices don’t care about the young kid on the east coast who can’t stay awake past 10 pm to watch the entire game. are you kidding?
it’s about time the off-days were eliminated. now if only more day games would be schedule during the playoffs, that would be even more impressive.
Chip talk to me come August and then let’s evaluate.
Pettitte, Beckett, Santana?
Francessa just completely ignored the Yankees and Mets today in favor of Tiger Woods. He spent literately 10 seconds at the beginning of the show saying “nice win” and has yet to talk about them. Tierney did the same thing, no idea about Joe and Evan, Kay looks like his show is going to be Tiger for a while too.
I’ve turned off the radio. I don’t care about Tiger Woods, I want to hear them talk about Granderson. Doesn’t look like that is going to happen today.
“Pettitte, Beckett, Santana?”
No
Sabathia, Santana, Lee
Champ-The Yankees just unloaded there top minor league prospect to the tigers. So yes, I do believe that any and all Yankees minor league players can be traded.
That’s why I don’t get caught up in all the hype with “prospects” because there is no guarantee that player will wear the pinstripes.
Is Montero “untouchable”? Has Cash gone on record to state that? I would be surprised if he did.
When and if Montero is ready to join the big club, I will welcome him with open arms. But there is no guarantee he will and its possible he will be traded to fill a need that the team may have in a year or two.
Posada a bad contract? If we don’t have Posada, we could easily be an also-ran this year. Right now, he’s as hard to replace as anyone the Yanks have. Chip, you’re usually pretty level-headed but you are way off base on this one.
“Sabathia, Santana, Lee”
No
Sabathia, Santana, Beckett
CC and Santana are definitely the first two.
hmm… maybe Beckett? I can’t imagine Vasquez finished in the top 5 in the AL.
Pettitte, Sabathia, Beckett
“Sabathia, Santana, Beckett”
No
“Pettitte, Sabathia, Beckett”
No
Pettitte, Santana, Sabathia
BTW
Arizona’s concern about Scherze is that they feel he will have to moved to the ‘pen to holdup and as a starter will breakdown with arm injury.
Jackson at least gives them a guy with front of the ‘ro stuff he will give them 200 innings as their #3 who if he hits his ceiling in the NL could be a 1A type. Assuming they can get Webb healthy they would in effect have 3 1-1A arms at the front of their ‘ro.
IPK i think will end up more of a strong #3 esp in the NL West than #5….many of you guys sell him way too short and all he does it go out and outperform…. He has great “pitchabilty” and he will show that this season.
Haren, Santana, Sabathia?
“Pettitte, Santana, Sabathia”
DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!
Haren, Sabathia, Lee
ARGH!!!
Zito
Derek Lowe
CC
?
AJax wasn’t the Yanks top prospect….Montero was and is and yeah Ca$h pretty much has gone on record…If you need him to put I will never trade Jesus Montero!” in quotes you won’t see that but do you really need to?….really!?
Darn-Why didn’t I think of Santana? At least I got 2 out of 3. lol
What about Randy Johnson?
He won the CY in both leagues.
G. Love -
I just want to make this clear:
1. I am NOT trying to conjure up anything. Again, I was simply saying that in a hypothetical world where you can erase 1 contract from each team; before dumping AJ Burnett I would consider erasing Jorge’s contract. But there are three I would remove before him – seriously, what’s wrong with that?
2. If you don’t think there will be controversy about letting Jorge go after this contract wraps up then you’re nuts. You mention the fact that Cash held firm on Bernie, well how much flak did he take for that decision – and Bernie was obviously fading – Jorge is still a very productive player.
3. Montero could start tomorrow in the bigs. His bat is that good. Yes, he needs work defensively, but he could build that in New York working with Girardi and Pena, so yes, I think Montero will absolutely be ready to catch in the bigs next season.
4. I love how you believe that you know more about what Jorge is like than people (beat writers) who are actually around him day in and day out. I agree, he’s a hard worker and has helped the Yankees immensely – but he’s also been profiled as stubborn and hot tempered. Two years ago his shoulder was garbage, he couldn’t throw…not he couldn’t throw well, but he couldn’t throw period…the Yankees wanted him to play 1b so they could put a catcher back there who could actually throw and Jorge threw a hissy fit. So you think if he’s still productive a year from now he’s going to say “yeah, I’m cool letting the kid catch.”
Posada a bad contract? If we don’t have Posada, we could easily be an also-ran this year. Right now, he’s as hard to replace as anyone the Yanks have. Chip, you’re usually pretty level-headed but you are way off base on this one.
This isn’t about this year…this is about next year. That’s what the article I was responding to was about.
Bronx Jeers April 8th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
What about Randy Johnson?
He won the CY in both leagues.
************
No longer active
By the way – not for nothing but Posada’s contract is awful.
Cashman got suckered on that one – giving Jorge a deal like that because Jorge “the wonderful guy who would do anything for the Yankees” was about to sign with the Mets.
Pettie, Sabathia, Santana
“What about Randy Johnson?”
Not active.
Thinking I’m going to need to take a half-day next Tuesday for the festivities…
Chip April 8th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
By the way – not for nothing but Posada’s contract is awful.
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LOL.
Not even close to awful…
Ahh the old active qualifier. Missed that.
In my mind he is still active in regards to the fact that I’m still upset that he came up lame in the 2006 playoffs.
Chip-Are you wearing a red sox jersey as you type
this non-sense?
I would venture to guess that you are.
Unreal!!!
chip,
You do realize that Posada is one of the more valuable players on the team when you consider leadership and position production relative to other teams right?
And G. Love -
I have no doubt that Cash will hold firm on Jorge – but forget about the way things went with Bernie – how many people were/are killing Cash for holding firm on Damon and Matsui – and those guys were replaced by established major leaguers….
has Dontrelle Willis managed to get it all figured out?
“This isn’t about this year…this is about next year. That’s what the article I was responding to was about.”
Next year is the price you pay for having Posada this year, and the previous two.
Posada’s contract isn’t awful, either. The fourth year was the price the Yanks paid for not having another catcher that could replace him, and he’d have been pretty darn hard to replace when he was signed anyway because he was one of the most valuable catchers in baseball – he still is for that matter.
Plus, my guess is you’ll be pretty darn glad to have Posada next year. The chances of Montero being an everyday catcher next year is pretty slim – FIRST Montero has to show he’s a major league quality catcher to begin with, and IF he does that he’s going to need some time to learn the ropes.
As to what Cashman will do about Jorge in 2012, who knows? Its so far away it’s ridiculous to speculate.
Warning Track Power –
No I’m not.
Blake –
Yes, I know Jorge is a big time leader (at times) on this team. But I also think that his “selflessness” is overblown.
As an out of market Yankee fan, does anyone know if the opening ceremonies and game will be played on any station other than the Yes network (which I do not have access to in Chicago)?
Michelle-I plan to watch the game via the MLB Network. That might be the best alternative
There’s a party going on right here. a CELEBRATION to last throughout the year, Go Yankees!! I can’t wait for the guys to get their rings, so much pride and motivation to do it again will follow.
Wave Your Hat April 8th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
“This isn’t about this year…this is about next year. That’s what the article I was responding to was about.”
Next year is the price you pay for having Posada this year, and the previous two.
Posada’s contract isn’t awful, either. The fourth year was the price the Yanks paid for not having another catcher that could replace him, and he’d have been pretty darn hard to replace when he was signed anyway because he was one of the most valuable catchers in baseball – he still is for that matter.
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I agree with you. Jorge is getting 13 mil next year based on previous production and it is the price you pay for having one of the most productive offensive catchers over the last 15 years.
Having said that if you gave me the chance to eliminate a $13 mil contract to a 40 year old catcher when I have a 20 year old monster waiting in the wings, why wouldn’t you do that?
Heck, the Yankees could use that $13 mil to sign Jayson Werth, or, if they don’t think Montero’s ready – Victor Martinez – an All-Star catcher in his prime…
Chip, I disagree with you completely.
There is no way Igawa or Miranda should be ahead of BUrnett. We are paying Burnett big money to pitch into his late 30s.
Igawa makes nothing. 4 mil per year and the contract is almost up. 4 mil doesnt mean jack.
Miranda makes nothing.
AJ Burnett makes 16 mil.
The only contract I think the yankees would love to give up other than burnett is A-rod. Because he is signed for so long for so much.
You are way off base I think in your choices. They really don’t make sense, for you focusing on fringe players. If I wanna save the yanks 4 mil I’d void Marte.
So the Yankees, who willingly signed AJ to the contract, regret it already? That’s nice.
By saying that’s nice, I mean I don’t agree. However, I don’t really want to get into it, so I’ll leave it at that.
It’s hypothetical….
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
So the Yankees, who willingly signed AJ to the contract, regret it already? That’s nice.
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No, not at all.
The column was an op-ed on MLBTraderumors.com it was going team by team and picking out which player he (the author) would remove if he were GM and could do it.
Jerkface
I’m “shocked” you disagree.
Let me ask you this though – in that hypothetical where you can remove a contract if you remove AJ or A-Rod who do you replace them with?
Removing Igawa or Miranda is removing dead money.
If the Yankees removed Marte they have a bunch of LH relief pitchers who are probably just as good as Marte.
If they remove Posada they’ve got Montero (and Romine)
Chip, I don’t think they regret it (by the way, I didn’t mean to come off as snippy when I said I didn’t want to get into it; this is a discussion blog after all, lol. I just meant I didn’t want to get into an argument). I was responding to Jerkface, who said the Yankees would dump AJ’s contract if they could. Considering they signed him just last year and are very happy with him, I don’t think they are in any rush to get rid of him. I totally disagree with MLB trade rumors, but then I never go there anyway (well, I did during the off-season, but I have no reason to now).
They signed Burnett because they were desperate. 95% of Yankee fans despised it when he was first signed… signing an erratic, control-challenged, injury-prone (at the time) pitcher for ages 32-36 was not a smart move.
It was a dumb contract.
You can replace Burnett this year with Joba.
A-Rod cannot be replaced, Burnett can. If they could do it again, I bet they wouldn’t have signed Burnett. They would have still signed A-Rod.
Betsy,
Often you sign a player for longer than you like because that’s the market price. Burnett was an immediate need and in order to fill it, they bit the bullet on the 5th year.
Yankees now have returned to the post-season and won, seemingly have more depth/options than they did a year ago, and might likely take a chance on eliminating those last two years and take their chances next year.
It’s nothing personal or has anything to do with “regret”. it’s a practical matter (not to mention a wholly hypothetical one), not a personal one.
“If they remove Posada they’ve got Montero (and Romine)”
Not yet they don’t.
And they may not next year either.
This is where you are going wrong on Posada. He’ll earn his money this year, and in all likelihood he’ll earn it next year. The chances of Montero (to say nothing of Romine) being ready to fill Jorge’s shoes in 2011 are remote.
I don’t know where this is from, but Mo is THE BEST EVER AT EVERYTHING; it was posted on NYYFans:
****The Yankees closer ripped the umpire after West criticized the Yankees and Red Sox over the pace of their games. West was the crew chief for this week?s series between the teams.
?It?s incredible,? Rivera told The Post. ?If he has places to go, let him do something else. What does he want us to do, swing at balls?? ***
AJ’s contract is worse than Posada’s. Posada is one of the top 3 hitting catchers in baseball. AJ is an erratic pitcher with great stuff, but mediocre results. Who cares about his D? Have you seen V-Mart’s D?
Mark Teixeira is often compared to a robot, as if he were a baseball-playing machine. He does everything the right way. He is a switch-hitter. He is an excellent baserunner. He is a Gold Glove first baseman. He says the right things. He almost doesn’t seem real. Except that his wires seemingly get crossed every April. After three hitless games in Boston, Teixeira is going back to the shop to reboot his system. He and hitting coach Kevin Long planned to meet at the Yankees’ minor league complex …
___
at least he hasnt come unhinged like David Ortiz.
Ugh, the stupid ? keeps popping up.
Any link for that Tex blurb?
ha. if mo is ripping joe west you know it is bad.
stuckey,
Exactly.
Giambi was a need at the time too… but you think the Yanks would have loved to opt out of that contract 2-3 years in?
Current need does not = Past need.
Great quote, Betsy!
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=5067076
merchand’s piece on tex. complimentary and dead on i think.
Watch Joe West and all the umps squeeze Mo…
Oh, thanks. I’m not going to read it…..
Rishi, isn’t that fantastic?
“Let me ask you this though – in that hypothetical where you can remove a contract if you remove AJ or A-Rod who do you replace them with?”
Burnett has already been “replaced” … with Vasquez. You’re now 3 deep in reliable vets, just like they were before they pulled the trigger on Vasquez. They’ve got Hughes/Chamberlain and a bunch of dept (Mitre, Z-Mac) to try to piece together a 5th starter, plus 16 million back in play to perhaps try to pick up a vet with a more agreeable contract.
Betsy -
I don’t think you’re following. No one is saying that the Yankees regret signing AJ. The article was based on the author’s opinions – for example he also says that the Mets would remove either Ollie or Castillo…etc…
Wave -
I think if Jorge tomorrow was lost for the season Montero would be the Yankees starting catcher. He’s ready offensively and anything he lacks defensively he could pick up working daily with Girardi and Tony Pena.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
?It?s incredible,? Rivera told The Post. ?If he has places to go, let him do something else. What does he want us to do, swing at balls?? ***
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That’s hilarious. Mo is awesome
i dont think aj is a dumb contract at all. he came through several times last year. he was the only one pitching well in april. he has that 15 inning 2-0 game (went 8 or 9 i think), with posada btw and in the playoffs.
Watch Joe West and all the umps squeeze Mo…
__
this would go against their whining about long games though.
Game 2 of the world series was big.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=5066650
Here’s the link to Mo’s comments. Timmy K agrees with West, but I think Timmy is just referring to the time outs, etc… and not to the Yankees/Sox being patient.
A-Rod’s contract was half because of the player and half because of the HR record.
The Yanks wanted to have the clean HR king and the greatest player ever to be associated with the Yankees. They wanted to make money off it, they wanted packed houses every night and to milk each achievement he receives over the years. They had dollar bills in their eyes.
Yeah, his numbers have asterisks next to it now, but the Yanks are going to making money off him anyway. They can’t celebrate his accomplishments, but they will still get packed houses and eyeballs on YES to watch it.
A-Rod contract’s will pay for itself. Burnett’s contract is FAR worse than A-Rod’s. If the Yanks could choose one of those contracts to opt out of, I’d say it would be 4 years of AJ over 7 years of A-Rod.
aj’s era was just over 4 last season. In the AL East that is not bad. I mean he isnt CC Sabathia, but he isn’t some schmuck off the street either.
Chip, I’m following; most of the responses here think AJ’s was a dumb contract and the Yankees regret it now. Ok, I disagree……that’s why I’m bowing out of this particular discussion.
I also think along the same lines as Patrick in CT. that this is Jorge’s last go around as the starting catcher….I can see him in a limited role as the club’s backstop and more as a DH come 2011….The question will be what about Nick Johnson ???? Is he on a 1 year deal with a club option ???/
People ahve to differeniate between “bad” or “regrettable” with “worst”. “Worst” is a relative term and not necessarily negative. It just means as a practical matter, something isn’t as attractive as the others.
And that’s Burnett’s contract. Do the Yankees do it all over again knowing what they know now. I’d say yes. You can’t put a price on getting another ring.
But if after this year they’d exercise an opt-out. I’d say yes too. Just as a purely business decision.
Plus AJ has been part of loosening up the clubhouse. I don’t think Cashman would change anything knowing what he knows today.
As for porky west, i dont think he should be allowed to ump any sox or yankee games anymore as he clearly has a bias against both teams. Go to obscurity and ump there (KC, Pittsburgh, San Diego). Then people will say, ‘ who is joe west?”.
Chip: A-rod is owed massive money for a lot of years. They could have replaced him with Beltre. Posada is not owed much money for the hitter he is and his contract is up next year. The other amounts are too trivial. Miranda signed a 4 year 2 mil contract. He barely makes league minimum.
AJ Burnett is pretty much the easiest call here.
No AJ Burnett, no #27, it’s that simple
“And that’s Burnett’s contract. Do the Yankees do it all over again knowing what they know now. I’d say yes. You can’t put a price on getting another ring.
But if after this year they’d exercise an opt-out. I’d say yes too. Just as a purely business decision.”
Absolutely. If they had an opt out, I would think they’d exercise it as well.
I don’t like hypotheticals at all.
Replace a-rod with beltre? Yeah we don’t win that WS last year with Adrian Beltre at 3rd instead of A-Rod.
New Post: Vazquez itching to pitch
And that’s Burnett’s contract. Do the Yankees do it all over again knowing what they know now. I’d say yes. You can’t put a price on getting another ring.
But if after this year they’d exercise an opt-out. I’d say yes too. Just as a purely business decision.
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agree. we are in a different position now than we were when we first signed that deal.
George Steinbrenner said many times when asked the question of what it was like to own the New York Yankees, ” Owning the Yankees is like owning the Mona Lisa. There’s only one of them. “
Pat M, I agree about Jorge, but I don’t think he’ll be back in 2012. If he is, it will likely be as a pure DH on a 1 year deal.
I agree about AJ, of course; not just because of that, but because he’s an excellent teammate. I don’t think Cash regrets it nor do I think he would do it over; if AJ isn’t so hot by the 5th year, well – they’ve got at least 1 WS and maybe more. NJ and the Yanks have a mutual option….
A-Rod is more valuable than AJ. So is Jorge.
Just the way it is. Nothing personal. If you had to choose 1 contract to get rid of, it would be AJ’s.
The Steinbrenner’s don’t sweat contracts and they write the checks so why do fans?
with all the non-sense on her about Jorge and replacing A-Rod w/Beltre, i have been reminded why i stayed away from this place for so long.
unreal!
new thread
“Not to keep harping on the Yankees payroll thing, but let’s be honest, it’s not like they’ve somehow worked hard and earned the biggest richest market in the country”
It’s not like you worked hard to be born in the richest and free-est country in the world, rather than Somalia or Myanmar.
Similar – Do you think the US basketball team should pay a luxury tax to other countries?