Postgame notes: Peace and harmony in the Bronx
Posted by: Josh Thomson - Posted in Misc on Apr 18, 2010 
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The Yankees leave for a nine-game road swing that begins in Oakland on Tuesday. They’ll bring little metaphorical baggage with them, not after a 9-3 start that is their best since 2003.
My game story tomorrow will focus on how Andy Pettitte found himself in the middle of eight strong innings, entering what he called survival mode and coming out with his second win of the season. The fitting finish for Pettitte kind of epitomizes the Yankees’ start. Almost all is right in their world, even at some moments when it seems it’s not.
• We’ll start the postgame with Pettitte. He said he scuffled early because of mechanical issues. Jorge Posada thought Pettitte finally loosened up in the middle innings, leaning on his experience to overcome a rocky stretch that was softened by the defense of Mark Teixeira.
Here’s Pettitte discussing how he felt fortunate to escape with such a strong outing and why the joy of winning here and competing for another championship brought him back:
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• The afternoon included a small dose of self-perseverance for Teixeira, too. He slugged his first homer in 40 at-bats this season, his longest stretch without a long ball to open a season since 76 homerless at-bats to kick off 2007. Teixeira said he didn’t feel relief, quipping, “I had a pretty god feeling I was going to hit one this year.” Last year’s co-AL home run champ said “I’ve never hit 1.000, never will, and you always want to try and get better.”
• That question was now asked of Nick Johnson, who went 0 for 4 and earned a hat trick by looking at three different stirke threes. Johnson said he’s working in the batting cage on his lower half, which has been coming out from under him, but he also admitted the need to turn more aggressive. “I’ve been too passive, but I have to just go to the cage and keep working,” Johnson said. Joe Girardi disagreed. “We talk about him getting on base and he’s doing that,” Girardi said. “The hits are going to come.”
• I’ll have more tomorrow on Javier Vazquez, who will start Tuesday in Oakland in an attempt to regain his form of a year ago. But even with Vazquez, Yankee starters finished the homestand 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 37.2 IP. They allowed just 27 hits and 15 walks and struck out 36.
• Mariano Rivera recorded his fifth save. He is now just one shy of Eric Gagne’s record streak of 51 straight games saved at home, which Gagne accomplished from 2002-04 with the Dodgers.
• Here’s a listen to Girardi’s postgame, where he discusses Pettitte, Jeter, Johnson, Teixeira and more:
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Gagne, pffffft. Mo does it by the grace of God and hard work.
im surprised some people are saying the boards are more fun when the yanks are losing. Thats heresy in my mind!
nba playoffs are in full swing and i have yet to watch a minute.
the nba provides the appetizer portion of dinner…but now that the yanks are back, filet mignon is served…
Via ESPN/Marchand:
The Yankees have played 160 games, including postseason, since A-rod returned from his hip injury.
They’ve won 109 of them.
These guys are good.
Nick does have to be more aggressive, but I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Andy is just remarkable; his smarts and experience are a tough combination to beat
Wow, those SP #s are incredible; it’s asking a lot, but I would love to see them take those #s out to the West Coast.
Mo looked pretty awesome; some of the pitches he threw were just picture perfect.
Thanks Josh!
I couldn’t help myself but I took a peak at PA’s new blog and I love his sarcasm that probably annoys some of his new posters with the run(w/ a line marked through replaced by ‘win’) prevention comments …ha he knows how rile people up
ed
beware of trolls.
it’s a VERY long season…but this could be one of those *special* regular seasons…and by that i mean 110 win type season.
Tim Britton hasn’t impressed me much as a writer, but, he nailed the NY media pretty well, here. They will try to make a story where there is none.
“NEW YORK — After a 5-2 win completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers and a 5-1 homestand, the Yankees encountered a small issue: There are no big issues with this team.
The only problems left to discuss are of the petty variety — questions regarding when Mark Teixeira and Javier Vazquez will turn it around, and not if; the extent of Derek Jeter’s head cold; whether Nick Johnson, on a day in which he struck out looking three times in a win, can sometimes be too patient at the plate.
Focusing the microscope on such minutiae is what happens when a New York team plays as well and as harmonically as these Bombers have two weeks and four series victories into the year. And while in the past, Yankees’ games may have occasionally been bereft of drama, their clubhouse never was. Early in 2010, however, all — in the most extensive sense of the word — seems well.”
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com…..p;c_id=nyy
Yankee starters finished the homestand 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 37.2 IP. They allowed just 27 hits and 15 walks and struck out 36.
===============
Are these as good as Oakland’s, or Phillies’ ?
GB, the link isn’t working; I’m on Yankees.com now and don’t see the article…
Ummm.
Pete got 202 comments on today’s game thread!
Looks like he is already turning the blog around
Seriously, Gagne was juiced to the core those years.
You actually care how many comments Pete is getting on his blog?
Boooo
Sens Pens 1-1
“Pete got 202 comments on today’s game thread!”
sadly, 101 of those comments were Pete denigrating the readers.
Betsy
I dont like Pete. Never have. He is, to steal the word of xyz, a person who gets off/enjoys denigrating others. On top of that, he is the ultimate Red Sox fan.
So, Yes, I do not want to see him succceed!
Betsy, it’s linked on the right hand drop down column on the front page of MLB.com under “Yankees sweep behind vintage Pettitte”. sorry about the broken link.
GB, no problem – and no apologies necessary! I’m going to read it now – thanks!
SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRREEE!!!
Pens back up 2-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, I did read that article earlier, but the part you quoted is very true, GB. It is amazing how smoothly things are going. I’ll be glad when this trip is over, lol….
xyz
First time I’ve been to his site in months. I scanned through the thread and there weren’t any posts by Pete.
Of course, being the immature stooge he is, he could have deleted them, so as to pretend they never existed.
Remember when the bullpen was a wreck and Granderson was a choke artist after the first Game….good times.
202 is good?
Can everyone call a truce and stop the personal sniping? Please?
m
It’s not good.
It is, though, a decent start in his first full season.
m, you’re a little late.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/ne.....tsuspended
YES!!! More fairness in the sports world. Another great addition to this sports weekend!!
Garnett suspended!!
“m, you’re a little late.”
She’s in Hawaii. Everything takes longer there
So everyone kissed and made up? Good! Peach and harmony on LoHud is a GOOD thing.
m
Half joking, half serious question:
Would you like Kurt Suzuki if he went to the Red Sox?
:please say no, please say no:
I may be in Hawaii, but got Georgia on my mind.
That’s *Peace* and harmony.
Sadly, CR9, unless he does something that lacks integrity, I would still like him.
Why would they trade for him anyway? They’ve got a catcher.
LOL
That’s certainly your right, and a respectable sentiment!
Why would they trade for him? Because Buster Olney says they should and it’s their right to receive him as a trade deadline present!
Just kidding with the Hawaii thing! It certainly doesnt take long to tan there!
SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOREEEE!!!
SID THE KID!!!!!
3-1 PENS!!!!
There was no kissing and no making up.
Betsy, getting an early season west Coast trip out of the way is always good. Taking 6 of 9 would be just fine with me, and 5 of 9 wouldn’t be horrible. Oakland has an outstanding roration and closer. Not a great offense but, woth three pesky hitters like Davis, Lewis and Sweeney in the outfield and two guys that always seem to hit NYY pitching in Chavez and Ellis with a really good infield will make things interesting. Not a lot of running on Suzuki behind the plate, either, besides really coming on with the bat, and watch out for Pennington at shortstop..
The Angels won’t play another three games like the did in NY, though, they did win one. With baltimore, you never know what will happen when they play. I just want to get through them before they remember how to hit. Pitching is the big unknown with them.
“He is, to steal the word of xyz, a person who gets off/enjoys denigrating others.”
Like sports officials and members of the media?
Like that you mean?
haha, CR9
If you’re late here, it’s not “fashionably late,” it’s “Hawaiian time”
Phils fans: definition of class, I tell you!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=5098407
Oakland might be the best ballpark for Vasquez to right the ship. Fly ball pitcher – big ballpark with tons of foul ground.
CR9
If you think it was right for Garnett to get suspended do you think Cook should have been also?
I’m home!!!!!!!!
Raise your hand if you missed me!
That’s silly, of course eveyone missed you, Erica. No need for a roll call.
Isn’t there sniping here everyday?
I noticed it was more quiet here today.
I wonder what genius moves LaRussa will pull tonight?
Maybe have the bat boy pinch hit or ask one of the beer vendors to pitch an inning?
Nick in SF April 18th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
That’s silly, of course eveyone missed you, Erica. No need for a roll call.
*****************
But I have been practicing my roll call nod!!!!
GB, the Yankees outplayed the Angels; it wasn’t just a matter of the Yankees catching the Angels at a bad time. A 9 game WC trip is icky, definitely getting it out of the way is a good thing. When you look at it as 9 games, it seems a lot, but what you have to do is (and I’m sure they are doing it) take one game at a time. The Yanks have always played well on the road, though I would take 5-4. I just want to get out of Dodge (Oakland) ASAP as I think that park is a disgrace and I despise playing there
I didn’t even realize there was sniping, lol
Betsy
Are you liking Gardner and Pena maybe a little bit now?
MaineYankee, I don’t know how to take that question; that makes it sound like I had something personal against them.
Just because I wanted to see Russo make the team doesn’t mean I didn’t like Pena at all.
Betsy
It was just that earlier you didn’t seem to want them on the team. If I misunderstood you forgive me.
MaineYankee, I replied to you and the Korean student and the Far East, but I don’t know if you want to go back to an old thread to look for the reply… not everything back there was so pretty.
Jerry Manuel’s on the bullpen phone, “Tell Rodriguez to start warming up. I know it’s only the second inning!”
Wow ! The Mets have the bases loaded. Lets see if they can do anything.
Nick
Yes I saw it. I had to post and run and was gone for 2hrs. I drive taxi part time so it wasn’t exactly helping out.
I preferred Russo to make the team, but I never disliked Pena in any way.
I hope the Mets fail
lol @ wainright
After yesterday, it’s kind of fun to see LaRussa fail too.
Wow the Cardinals are a joke. How do you choke like that and to the Mets of all teams.
It’s not like they are facing a good team.
Wainright’s allowed to have a bad game…
I don’t think the mets are as bad as they’ve played the last 2+ years. There has to be something about ownership/management that has sucked the life out of this team.
I really do not understand the attraction of having the pitcher bat. These at bats are embarrassing to watch. No other sport forces a clearly inferior player to perform a specified task. An NFL kicker does not have to go play linebacker, because he is not a linebacker.
This is the highest level baseball can be played at in the world, yet NL pitchers get basically 3 or 4 free outs every game. Why do we have to watch these pitchers go up there and flail at pitches when they have very little shot of doing anything with them?
If you didn’t like Pete why did you read the blog when he was the one writing it? I mean clearly you did or you wouldn’t have an opinion of him.
I hope the Mets go to the World Series.
M, I don’t agree – they’ve been awful. They have good players, but they’ve been awful. They’re not necessarily put together that well and I don’t think they are run that well, but the players deserve grief for their “efforts”.
That said, people were panicking WAY too early, just two weeks into the season.
I hate the Mets – almost as much as I hate the Sox.
m
I’m sorry the Mets are not that good. You can sugarcoat it anyway you want but when a team chokes over and over again that’s bad.
All is well so far in yankee land.
Long season but so far so good. Not in love with Winn but when you are complaining about the 24th or 25th player you have a pretty good team!!!!!!!!!!!
Betsy-
“I hate the Mets – almost as much as I hate the Sox.”
You’ve just got to stop mincing your words.
connorf
I didnt come here for him!
I came here for the opinions and knowledge of certain posters.
A lot of people here know more about the game of baseball than Pete could ever dream!
I have a strong opinion of him because he came on the messages denigrating others, also via email, because of opinions that apparently did not agree with his.
Just look at their rotation. The Mets organization is a joke !
Guys like Jose Reyes are overrated. And Mets fans said that he was better than Jeter, LMAO !
Maine Yankee
Cook?
peter getting face time on nesn.
the sawx need to pick it up. epstein is a smart guy do not bury them unless this keeps up until july timeframe…
Anytime the Mets want to give us David Wright I’ll take him.
LOL MTU….I don’t spend my time thinking about the Mets because I’d rather be happy thinking about the Yankees. Cub fans hate the White Sox and vice versa – it’s just the way it goes when a city has two teams.
Not a purist. And NOT a fan of pitcher batting.
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Maine Yankee
Cook?
———————————————————
Who was the one that took out Savard?
:RAISED HAND:
“peter getting face time on nesn.”
————-
pete was on nespn a few times last year too.
MTU (aka GBURL) April 18th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Anytime the Mets want to give us David Wright I?ll take him.
———————————————————————
Unless you have a team I’m not sure where the Yankees would play him.
I think Javy will have a good start and turn things around.
Also, look out for Hughes. Has great stuff, is poised on he mound. Expect a big year from him.
MaineYankee
What is your handle on the Rangers site?
My answer is No. Because it was a clean hit, a hit with his shoulder, not his elbow, and his shoulder did not extend to make the hit. Unfortunate result, but clean hit.
And the recipient of the clean hit was a Bruin! So that shades my POV.
I feel sad for the Mets. Watching the press conference after Maine got his behind handed to him his last start against the Rockies made me sad.
MaineYankee April 18th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
MTU (aka GBURL) April 18th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Anytime the Mets want to give us David Wright I?ll take him.
———————————————————————
Unless you have a team I’m not sure where the Yankees would play him.
_______
LF
Sens back within 4-2. Boooo
lol, Betsy.
I think you sorta agreed with me.
Fire Jerry & Omar, & we’ll see some improvement.
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
MaineYankee
What is your handle on the Rangers site?
My answer is No. Because it was a clean hit, a hit with his shoulder, not his elbow, and his shoulder did not extend to make the hit. Unfortunate result, but clean hit.
And the recipient of the clean hit was a Bruin! So that shades my POV.
—————————————————–
I’m not on the Rangers site. I only post here.
Your answer was what I expected . I expect you would feel otherwise if Sid had been lost for the season.
I think that while Pete has his opinions about certain people (like Alex), he’s also fairly objective. If what stuart says here accurately reflects what Pete said in his interview, then I would agree with it – the Red Sox do need to pick it up, and it’s way too early to bury them. If they’re playing like this in July, and are > 10 games out, that’s a different story. As far as Theo and his smarts – not knowing him I really can’t say. Some of the weird decisions there might be due to factors other than Theo.
Anyway, I like Girardi. Sure, he and the team are on auto-pilot. But I think the team likes playing for him.
MaineYankee
I am not a Pens fan.
I am a NY Rangers fan.
I have no moral obligation to feel bad for Savard. Like I said, though, unfortunate result, clean hit. And again, like I said, my POV is shaded because I am anti-Boston!
Mark- Can’t Touch This April 18th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Not everyone can make that transition. Remember Youk in lf last year?
CR9
It’s obvious your opinion is colored. No place in the game for head shots. And he has a history of that type of play.
It will be pretty embarrassing for the Sox if they don’t make the playoffs. They’ve spent a lot of money and haven’t made the smartest moves (imo).
Sure, we spend a whole lot. But we’ve got Alex, Jeter, Tex, CC, AJ, Rivera, Posada. We spend a lot, but it can be argued that we’ve spent well.
Also, the comparison is not equal.
Garnett was an intentional, violent elbow to the face.
CR9
Like you said your POV is colored.
It’s pretty amazing how dramatically different Garnett acts now and how he did in minnesota. Now, I’m not going to say that it’s the city or the club, because it’s been pretty dramatic. I guess, it’s amazing that Garnett never did this kind of thing with the T-wolves.
m
Yeah that’s what some Red sox fans don’t get. They shouldn’t be talking about Theo not spending money because they have a 177 million dollar payroll. The question should be : What did you spend it on ?
MaineYankee
You’re right. No place in the game for head shots and possible career ending injuries. Also, he has a history of cheap shots. If his hit came against any other team, I’d probably say that Cooke deserved to be suspended.
m
I think he did but it was a smaller stage so it didn’t get as much attention.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
PENS WIN!!!!
HOME ICE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If the Mets get rid of Minaya and Omar things will improve but not that much. They just don’t have the talent to beat the best teams in baseball especially in the postseason.
maineyankee,
I thought of that. maybe I wasn’t paying attention as much in his early days. but for the longest time he had a good reputation. humble and what not. i guess he couldn’t act tough with out a crew behind him.
cr9
Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t say Garnett was innocent but Q has a rep and a history with Pierce. If he hadn’t gone over and started mouthing off it never would have happened.
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
:RAISED HAND:
****************
Thank you!!!!
(And don’t worry, I counted Mr. Nick in Sf’s attitude as a raised hand)
“It will be pretty embarrassing for the Sox if they don’t make the playoffs.”
————
I don’t see it that way.
The Sox, Rays, and Yanks all appeared to be good teams. One of them had no chance of making the playoffs.
The Sox aren’t the 3rd best team in the AL, but they could technically be the 3rd best team in the AL and not make it.
The Rays and Yankees look like the 2 best teams in the AL if not the majors.
The Sox team should be embarrassed of their first 12 games, but not making the playoffs wouldn’t be quite as embarrassing –
because of how good TB and NY are.
The Celtics were huddling, right? Then someone went over and Garnett threw the elbow of irritation?
m
From what I’ve read he didn’t change when he came to Boston. He always has had a rep for his colorful
language during games. And I don’t think humble applies. Doc said when he came to the Celts he’d never seen anyone so intense.
BD,
I thought of that after I wrote that.
Still, the Sox outspend the rest of the league, too.
I stand by my original statement that they haven’t spent well. And the SS situation…
It’s a bit tricky as they’re in the self-proclaimed “bridge year”. People laughed at that, but it might not be that off. They need to ride out the contracts of older/ineffective players, much like the Yankees did with Sheffield, Giambi, and Pavano.
It’ll be interesting to see what direction the Sox go. They’re definitely going to have to pay if they want good players. But they haven’t always been willing to pay. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
M, no I don’t agree with you because I blame the players – the team is not very good.
I also don’t see how the Yanks are on auto-pilot, but maybe I’m just misunderstanding what you mean.
MaineYankee
Yes, Q and Pierce do have a history, dating back to college. But the altercation, IMO, all started because of Pierce’s history of flopping and diving and crying and whining.
I think mel is along the right trail. He came to Boston and has acted with an arrogance about him, probably because he was finally surrounded with actual talent.
I followed him with Minny, because he was a true class act. Not anymore. IMO
Joe, disagree. I don’t think Pete was objective at all. He loved Giambi and detested Alex; the nice thing about Sam, Chad and Josh is that I have no idea how they feel about the players. Pete’s constant comments about Alex were disgusting.
Betsy that was the only thing I hated about Pete.
As Francona said last year, his team won 95 games and they still finished 8 games out of first. That could happen this year – either way, one of the 3 AL East teams (if not two) are not making the playoffs. The 1993 Giants won 103 games, but the Braves that year won 104 (I think those were the records)………..talk about bad luck.
Betsy
Are you in the fantasy league with Trisha and Erica?
Betsy,
Didn’t you say the players were decent enough but playing poorly?
And as far as auto-pilot, I meant no crisis, no disharmony. Girardi doesn’t have to do much managing beyond filling the lineup and pitching changes. (exaggerating here)
But, I think part of the reason why the Yankees are playing so well, is because of Girardi. He empowers the role players. He’s patient with the players who are slumping. He puts the relievers right back on the proverbial horse when they fail.
Carl, Pete was nice to me, but I got sick and tired of his comments. Then he’d say that he was just being funny – no, he wasn’t. It wasn’t funny and it wasn’t professional. He was a hypocrite in how he treated Giambi (who I never really took too and who I now detest for talking to SI about Alex) and Alex. When he moved to Boston, he made comments about Joba that were the complete opposite of comments he made here. I never think about the man unless people bring him up, but I’m really not a fan.
Maine is already at 80+ pitches in the 4th inning. The Cards are gonna be in the Mets burnt up bullpen pretty soon I’d say.
CR9
There again I think you bias is coloring your take on the situation. Pierce has been having trouble with that shoulder and missed some time because of it. Do I think he has a low pain tolerence. Maybe. You ought to be familar with flopping being a soccer fan.
M, the Mets have some good players, but who cares if they’ve played like crap for a few years? It means that they are less than the sum of their parts. I do blame ownership, but I’m not going to relieve the players of their share of that blame. Just because teams have some good players doesn’t make them good teams……that’s really my point.
Ok, thanks for explaining about auto-pilot. I agree that the Yanks really enjoy playing for him. If you heard AJ talk about Joe during the off-season, it would be pretty obvious how well-thought of he is in the clubhouse. Allowing children in the clubhouse, and setting aside a day for the girls, was a big deal – and it should be. Joe treats these guys like human beings, not robots.
CR, no. I used to play fantasy baseball in my office, but after a month or so, I always ended up neglecting my team.
I can’t believe Maine has made it to the 4th; either he looks good or the Cards are just awful right now. They could easily have lost the first game of the series as well.
The season is way too early to write the Mets off. I just hate that the Yankees are going to be on the backburner while sports radio shows lead off with the Mets.
Betsy
I e-mailed Pete about his bias on Arod but he wasn’t to receptive to my POV.
“CR, no. I used to play fantasy baseball in my office, but after a month or so, I always ended up neglecting my team.”
LOL. Same as me. With our slow starts, I started to lose interest in the fantasy teams. Havent played in years!!
____
MaineYankee
Yep. My handle, CR9, is the king of diving and whining. But I love him anyways because he generally, not all the time, acted with class, and he is GORGEOUS!!!!! STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Pierce has whined to the referees every game of his entire career, and it doesnt help my opinion of him that the CSN commentator, Tommy Heinsohn, whines about referees all game long, every game. In spite of the fact that the Celts are the beneficiary of the gift referee calls
CR9
Thanks for showing my Pens some love. Sens have too many injuries. Philly beat the Devils and really should be up 3-0 instead of 2-1. Here’s hoping the Canadiens take it to the Caps. Why the Pen love if you are a Rangers fans?
This is the best I have seen this Yankee team in 10 years. Let’s see if it can last to October and beyond. Sox look pretty bad, and let’s hope they keep that up until October. Rayz (or should we start calling them the Raysins) on the other hand may have a club to contend with.
CR9
As one that has followed the NBA you should know that griping on every non call is rampant. Koby and Lebron are two big time offenders and they get all the calls and non calls as it is.
“Why the Pen love if you are a Rangers fans?”
Well, I have a few reasons.
1. I want all the top seeds to advance, just in case the Bruins advance. I feel as if the Pens or Caps should be able to dispatch of the Bruins fairly easily. I DONT want the Bruins getting an easy road!
2. If the Pens start a dynasty, it will finally take away from the ***asterisked dynasty of the Patriots. It seems like every time I flip by ESPN, they are still talking about a ***dynasty that last won 6 years ago. Maybe if the Pens win a couple in a row, the ridiculous talk of the Pats faded ***dynasty can be put to rest.
3. In football (soccer), a player sometimes decides that he has won all he can in a city, and wants to fulfill dreams elsewhere, like Ronaldo leaving Man U to go to Madrid. Maybe, if Sid wins enough in Pitt, he will want to come to the GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, NEW YORK, and win with us.
Albert Pujols drinks Crystal light!??!?!
Cue cackling?
LOL Mets
It was only a matter of time 3-3
Pitt
Do you remember that Game 1 NYR versus Pitt? We had a 3-0 lead midway through the game, and then some Pitt player took a shot from center ice, and on the way in, it deflected off a Ranger and into the net and turned the whole game around. YUCK!
Bodhi, a poster on this site with knowledge of hockey, thinks that MA Fleury may be struggling because he may be injured. I have a bit of concern over that.
Mets bullpen time pretty soon.
The only thing I am concerned about with the Yankees, is the lack of concern I have about the Yankees. It’s a little unnerving being this comfortable with a team this early. No they are not perfect, but I am not even concerned about thier imperfections. It’s a little weird
Maine
Yes. I understand.
The neighborhood they are showing in St. Louis, now called “The Hill”, had a slightly different nickname back when Yogi was growing up there. The first part of it was a derogitory term for Italians.
Boston stinks right now. I didn’t like their off season signings except of course Lackey who is a horse. They can’t hit. They sign Cameron who stinks, is old, strikes out too much, and made Ellsbury move positions, bad move. They sign Scutaro who prior to last year was a lifetime part timer, give him 12m for 2 yrs and expect him to be a key contributor at a key position, bad move. They sign Beltre whose best yrs are behind him and he was an obvious juicer, bad move. They have Youkalis, Beltre, Lowell, Martinez, and Ortiz and not enough places for them to play so Martinez has to catch and he’s a terrible catcher with no arm and now the pitchers aern’t happy, bad move. Theo all of a sudden doesn’t look like a genius and I’m loving it. I hope they stink all year.
Yep time for the Mets to use that bullpen
Tarheelyank: it’s kind of like what Peter (or was it Greg?) Brady said… when you least expect it, expect it.
Tarheelyank
It’s like 1998 and 1999. You just know this team is really good just like those teams.
Josh
Since Gagne is an admitted steroid user, listed in the Mitchell report, don’t mention or compare him to Mariano, it’s disrespectful to Mo’s legacy.
Speaking of Italians, there is this funny term (I dont think it is derogatory) that I enjoy.
I am part Italian, so I dont mean it as anything prejudiced.
Whenever I see Frankie get a hit or see his beautiful smile, if I am on the phone with a friend, or watching the game with someone, I say “I love that Eye-Tie!!”
Is that word derogatory?
Nick
exactly
Jeremy
Those kind of teams (and years) are so rare that I guess that what has me a little unnerved.
“the nba provides the appetizer portion of dinner…but now that the yanks are back, filet mignon is served”
Best comment of the Month!!!!
Nick in SF:
I though peter said, “pork chops and apple sauce”
Tarheel
Long season and they are bound to do something over the next 150 games to test your faith. File away how you feel today and remember it when they do.
CR9: I have no idea about that one… it sounds benign enough. The term I’m thinking about is definately derogitory though. I actually hadn’t heard it in many, many years until my dad mentioned the history of the neighborhood while we were dining at an Italian restaurant there.
Jenny: Peter definitely said “pork chops and apple sauce”, but he said a lot of other things too!
Yanks are 9 and 3 with Johnson and Tex hitting well below 200, Swisher hitting 200, and Arod with 1 HR, scarry when they start to hit.
pat
Good advice, thanks
I was in a conversation with a sux fan. They are convinced that the sux are cursed because of Scott Brown (the Republican) who is in Ted Kennedy’s seat. I don’t believe in curses, but if the sux want to go on another 86 year WS drought so be it!
Eduardo Nunez BA .351 OPS .942
Ivan Nova ERA 2.04 WHIP 1.02
Maybe, if Sid wins enough in Pitt, he will want to come to the GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD, NEW YORK, and win with us.
====
Don’t hold your breath.
Scott Brown will have to face the Bay State voters again in 2012, so I hope that’s not it.
According to my media guide, Ted Kennedy Jr. (son of the senator) threw out the first pitch of Opening Day at the stadium in 1974 for unknown reasons, but that didn’t seem to curse us.
Then again, if it was 1974, it was probably Shea Stadium, so maybe the curse boomeranged on the Sox in 1986.
Bodhi, a poster on this site with knowledge of hockey, thinks that MA Fleury may be struggling because he may be injured. I have a bit of concern over that.
====
Guins tightened up in front of Fleury, who looked a little bit more with it tonight. Still think a lower body injury is being coped with.
bodhi
Thanks for that quick shoot down!
Hey, I always hold out hope! Just so my hopes are not dashed, you dont have any personal knowledge, right?
Nick in SF April 18th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
According to my media guide, Ted Kennedy Jr. (son of the senator) threw out the first pitch of Opening Day at the stadium in 1974 for unknown reasons, but that didn’t seem to curse us.
===================================
Teddy jr was recovering from cancer and a leg amputation, and Big Stein was friends with Teddy.
Want to know why the Yankees are doing so well:
So far the Yankees have a +25 run differential.
They second in the AL in BA and 1st in runs scored and Hrs.
#5 five in ERA with Vasquez not locked in(very close to top 3).
They have the best infield in baseball, and the best closer.
Need I say more.
Ah, thanks Jenny. Wow, you are a font of Brady Bunch/Kennedy Clan/Big Stein knowledge.
Met vs Cards 3-3 top of the 8th headed repeat of yesterday unless someone scores.
Wow David Wright strikes out alot. I don’t know who it was but I wouldn’t want Wright on the yankees.
more like a font of early 70s trivia
Jeremy-
It was me.
And I’ll take Wright anytime the Mets want to give him up.
‘Wow David Wright strikes out alot. I don’t know who it was but I wouldn’t want Wright on the yankees.’
The thing that’s funny is you sound serious about this. Him or Jose Reyes the Yankees would jump for those plyrs. if they were on the market.
Oh and that OF F-Mart
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
bodhi
Thanks for that quick shoot down!
Hey, I always hold out hope! Just so my hopes are not dashed, you dont have any personal knowledge, right?
====
Dude,
If you think the ‘Guins are going to let Sidney Crosby walk, when he is the face of the franchise, and they have millions of dollars worth of merch sales locked up in him, you’re mad.
Further, he’s tied up for another 3 years, is a kid from Nova Scotia who is living in sheer bliss in the bosom of the Lemieux family home.
His younger sister, who also plays hockey, is extremely tight with Lemieux’s hockey playing daughter, as is Sid wit Lemieux’s son, Austin.
The Crosby and Lemieux families might as well be one. Sid is not leaving Pittsburgh – not in three years – not ever.
MTU(aka GBURL)
Maybe he would be better if he left the Mets and their loser mentality. Actually I rather have adam wainwright.
CR9,
Another thing: are you aware that the Penguins have the best two centermen in the game, a third great one in Staal, and probably the worst collection of wingers in the NHL?
Sid and Malkin go nowhere.
I’ve seen Wright make plays most 3rd baseman wish they could make.
And he’s not exactly a bad hitter either.
I’ll take him anytime.
Brandon’s Awesome (I make throws more awesome than Bernie ever did)
Yeah the Yankees would have gone after those guys 2 or 3 years ago but their performances since then have been average. I’ve seen a good number of Mets games and Wright is not clutch he strikes out a lot. He hasn’t been the same since 2008.
David to Mets GM: ‘I want out’
Cashman to Mets GM: ‘I got Romine and Brackman, I’ll even throw in Nunez or Pena’
Mets GM: ‘We have traded David Wright to the Yankees’
David: Sure I’ll play LF or RF
bodhi
I didnt know the history there. Even so, I never really thought that he would leave.
But things change in time. Maybe in 3 years, he will have had a falling out with them.
The NHL is supposedly not going to allow NHLers to play in the next Olympics.
If I’m the Rangers, I ‘tamper’ with Crosby while still under contract with the Pens, and promise him that we would allow him time off from the NHL schedule to play in Sochi if he signed with us.
Obviously, there is a less than 1% chance of him leaving…
Well if you had Wright in the Yankee lineup all he would do is strike out in key situations. Yes he is a good hitter but he is not tough mentally. I don’t know what happened to him but maybe if he left the Mets he would improve.
bodhi
LOL
When Max Talbot is scoring the game winning and only 2 goals in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup, it speaks volumes to the talent level of a Crosby/Malkin/Staal.
I wonder, though, if Talbot was on the 4th line?
___
Aside from that, a person can always dream of possibilities!
MTU(aka GBURL)
Also I saw a lot of games where Wright made a lot of throwing errors to first base last year.
‘Well if you had Wright in the Yankee lineup all he would do is strike out in key situations. Yes he is a good hitter but he is not tough mentally. I don’t know what happened to him but maybe if he left the Mets he would improve.’
You srsly believe that? My god please do not be so naive to what you hear, he is playing disinterested on that team and he’s hit in the clutch but his team has cracked in the clutch.
Brandon’s Awesome (I make throws more awesome than Bernie ever did)
That’s what I said. He might change if he left the Mets because they have a loser’s mentality.
It would make sense because he was one of the best at 3rd in the NL and an All Star. Ever since they collapsed in 2007 and 2008 he has fallen apart.
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
bodhi
I didnt know the history there. Even so, I never really thought that he would leave.
But things change in time. Maybe in 3 years, he will have had a falling out with them.
The NHL is supposedly not going to allow NHLers to play in the next Olympics.
If I’m the Rangers, I ‘tamper’ with Crosby while still under contract with the Pens, and promise him that we would allow him time off from the NHL schedule to play in Sochi if he signed with us.
Obviously, there is a less than 1% chance of him leaving…
====
The point is, the pieces around Malkin and Crosby will change. They, however, are the constants.
Lemieux will never let either go.
Wouldn’t rather have Wright than Arod but I sure could find a place for him to play. He’s a good player that hasn’t reached his peak yet.
Jeremy-
I’ll tell you what.
This is all moot anyway since we have a 3rd baseman.
However, if Wright ever becomes available you pass on him so I can have him.
And thanks in advance for passing.
Wainwright is a horse.
Jeremy, you said and I quote….
‘Wow David Wright strikes out alot. I don’t know who it was but I wouldn’t want Wright on the yankees’
‘Yeah the Yankees would have gone after those guys 2 or 3 years ago but their performances since then have been average. I’ve seen a good number of Mets games and Wright is not clutch he strikes out a lot. He hasn’t been the same since 2008.’
The Red Sox, Rays, etc… would all find a spot for him, yes even the Yankees.
I think it stinks that the Yankees have gotten off to such a great start and the Tampa Rays have the identical record.
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
bodhi
LOL
When Max Talbot is scoring the game winning and only 2 goals in a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup, it speaks volumes to the talent level of a Crosby/Malkin/Staal.
I wonder, though, if Talbot was on the 4th line?
====
Talbot is very useful to the Guins. He is a fourth-line center but also doubles as a RW for Malkin. He is actually a crafty, heady player.
The three centers make plays – as do the four defensemen they have who are mail carriers – Gonchar, Letang, Goligoski and now, Leopold – the wingers are role players.
It works because of the brilliant middle and skilled D. If you watch the Penguins, and the wingers are handling the puck, that means they are being outplayed.
Blake-
“Wainwright is a horse.”
Yeah, a one trick pony. (just kidding).
bodhi
“The point is, the pieces around Malkin and Crosby will change. They, however, are the constants.”
I understood that.
“Lemieux will never let either go.”
You’re prediction/guarantee is probably 99.9999% right. I just like to hope anyway!
Brandon’s Awesome (I make throws more awesome than Bernie ever did)
Come on ! You left out the part where I said that he might improve if he leaves the Mets because the Mets have a losers mentality.
You can’t just take out something to make a point. I said that two times.
I really dont think Hockey should be discussed in this forum. Sometimes I feel its bad enough that non related Yankee comments about other teams are in here but hockey ?? Do we need a moderator?
Doreen, it’s ok, those Rays will get smacked around plenty when they play us.
Cr9,
Why don’t the Rangers just fire Glen Sather, and hire someone who can successfully draft talent of his own?
“Yeah, a one trick pony. (just kidding). ”
If that one trick is being good at pitching
Keep in mind NY is not a Hockey town.
Now Reyes on the other hand the Mets can keep him.
Blake, he pitches in the National League. Do you think he’d have 90 pitch complete games in our League. He’s another Vasquez as far as Im concerned. You face weak 7-8-9 hitters night after night.
“I think it stinks that the Yankees have gotten off to such a great start and the Tampa Rays have the identical record. ”
Patience Doreen. Tampa is a very good team. But the yankees handled them well down at the Trop already.
And here’s the bigger issue – the way Tampa is playing is going to be difficult to sustain in certain ways.
They’re bull pen is just so bad other than Soriano.
That pen is going to get worse as the year goes on and their workload increases.
They are going to have to score a lot of runs to make up for the bull pen.
Blake-
Speaking of pitching.
What’s your opinion ?
What of Joba’s lost FB velocity.
Does it ever return to 2007 levels, or gone for good ?
CB, Michael Kay said the Tampa Bullpen stinks. He said coming into the season he didnt understand the Tampa Bay bandwagon.. He said Tampa was being overated.
Well, it’s not like they have to draft players from Hell’s Kitchen.
Maybe they need a stronger presence in Europe than they currently have. They finally have the pure scorer that has eluded them for years.
They just don’t have much to go with him.
@Nick in SF -
I’d really like some help on that, though.
It just takes some of the joy out of the quick start. Just a little.
“Blake, he pitches in the National League. Do you think he’d have 90 pitch complete games in our League. He’s another Vasquez as far as Im concerned. You face weak 7-8-9 hitters night after night.”
no probably not, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good. People vastly overstate the difference in the two leagues. The AL is better, no question about it, but this idea that a pitcher like Wainwright can only succeed in the NL and would be mediocre in the AL is ridiculous. Vasquez will be fine as well.
MTU im concerned about Joba’s conditioning. He seems to have gotten out of shape and the reports of him drinking were disturbing. I think if the guy had more desire to be a great pitcher he could do it. He is still young, but he has got to focus and get into shape.
MTU,
I don’t know if he will ever throw 98 consistently again, I kinda doubt it to be honest. The good news is that he doesn’t have to. If he can improve his command he still has plenty good enough stuff to be a really good pitcher.
CB -
Are you saying that Tampa has a problematic bullpen?
I’m not worried; I am impatient, I guess. It just feels like it’s been such a long time since April has been this good and I don’t like having to share it with another team in the division!
“It works because of the brilliant middle and skilled D. If you watch the Penguins, and the wingers are handling the puck, that means they are being outplayed.”
As a Rangers fan, that is just sad for me to read!
Leaving our coaching out of it, we have no significant skill from any of our centerman. Dubinsky and Anisimov could be good in the future. Christensen (hopefully we resign for cheap) is a decent 3rd or 4th line C.
We have a few pretty decent 2nd or 3rd line wingers in Cally and Avery, a pretty good 4th line winger in Prust (hopefully, he is resigned), and our only genuine top line player in Gaborik (who is injury prone).
We get no defense from our defense, at this point. Staal got a little better defensively and offensively late this season, and our our only Dman with real offensive skill is Del Zotto, and he should grow into a pretty solid Dman in a couple years.
We signed the winger from Norway, the 5’7 skilled scorer. Hopefully, he’ll pan out.
CB, Michael Kay said the Tampa Bullpen stinks. He said coming into the season he didnt understand the Tampa Bay bandwagon.. He said Tampa was being overated.
———-
First of all, the Tampa bullpen does stink. But Kay is a complete idiot and makes a determination of an entire team based on their bullpen? Thats ridiculous. Tampa has the best team defense in the league (yes even better than the vaunted red sox). They have 5 good to very good starting pitchers, a great offense and a ton of speed on the basepaths. Tampa is not going away.
I actually think Wainwright would be fine in the AL. The guy has good stuff.
Bohdi-
“Well, it’s not like they have to draft players from Hell’s Kitchen.”
What’s wrong with Hell’s Kitchen ?
My Mother grew up there.
Tampa is not over rated. They are a terrific team – very balanced. A team that can beat you in a range of ways. They can hit, they have very good starting pitching and they are a plus defensive team.
They are a team that would be the favorite to win the world series in many seasons. But the yankees just look to have a very special team.
The Rays have one major achilles heal – it’s that bull pen. If their starters can’t give them a ton of length they are going to struggle some.
But make no mistake – they are a terrific team. It’s remarkable what they’ve done down there given how limited their resources are.
One thing to watch this season – David Price. He absolutely has the talent to explode. That game he threw against the yanks was remarkable.
Think about how good the yanks line up was. You watched the first inning of that game and it was clear the yanks essentially had no shot to win.
@Doreen, CB says it much better, but I’ll say it the best way I can:
Lance Cormier.
Blake-
“If he can improve his command he still has plenty good enough stuff to be a really good pitcher.”
Starter or reliever ?
Either ?
Doreen-
I know what you’re saying. I also looked at the standings and shook my head a bit.
What can you say – the yanks and rays are just terrific teams.
Over 162 games however I think the yanks depth and experience is going to allow them to pull away.
But it may take some time.
Just like the yanks – the rays starting pitching is going to prevent them from having an extended losing streak.
bodhi
Dont take offense (if you are a Pens fan), because I have nothing against the Pens, and only something against the Bruins…
The Rangers dont get high enough draft picks, because we either make the playoffs or are just on the outskirts of the playoffs.
The Pens tanked a couple years to end up with Crosby and Malkin. The Rangers are not smart enough to do that.
__
Heck, Dolan is not even smart enough to fire Sather.
Though, in Sather’s defense, he has drafted a couple decent guys, and one great one. Del Zotto has a bright future. Cherapanov was going to be a STUD (unfortunately, that did not end so well). Staal has a bright future. And Henrik is one of the top 5 goalies in the league.
Also, he made the deal for Jagr, who revived our franchise, while playing in Renney’s defensive system.
MTU,
Either. I still don’t know where they go with him. I think they will see how this year plays out and re-eval in the offseason. We saw an example tonight of a pitcher (Wainwright) who had success at the big league level first as a reliever and then as a starter. I think Joba just needs to have a successful season this year and worry about his role for next year after the season.
Yeah, CR9, Del Zotto is a good looking young player. Don’t sell Staal short. Good DNA and he’s very sound positionally with a nice reach.
Sather has lived off the fat of Barry Fraser’s work for years. It was Fraser who found players like Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson. When was the last time Sather had a decent draft?
He should be dumped. The time has come.
CB, I forgot to give you your due on the Iclandic derivatives swap. Very well played.
“Lance Cormier.”
Mike Ekstrom?
Blake-
Just wanted your take.
Thanks.
The Sox are 5 back through 12 games. Not panic time yet for them but those are two pretty good teams in front of them. Boston matches up horribly with the Rays so its going to be tough for them to gain games back against them head to head as the season goes on.
Ok, fine, Randy Choate.
“Brandon’s Awesome (I make throws more awesome than Bernie ever did)
Come on ! You left out the part where I said that he might improve if he leaves the Mets because the Mets have a losers mentality.
You can’t just take out something to make a point. I said that two times.”
Yes I can, I’m Awesome.
Personally, I do not have the faith that some might in the Rays SP.
Neither Niemann nor Price are proven commodities and there is just as much room for them to regress as to progress.
And as has been pointed out there BP is thin and vulnerable.
FIRE SATHER!
Dolan just does not care.
It’s sad. What’s even more sad is that Dolan has a dispute with Steinbrenner, a guy whose sole mission in life is to win. “Winning is second only to breathing” said Mr. Steinbrenner once. A truly great man with a great vision, and a great and charitable human being.
Dolan should start worrying about his fans like Mr. Steinbrenner does, rather than disliking him.
Kanekoa Texeira is struggling a little bit with the Mariners. He had a torrid spring, so let’s hope he stumbles enough for them to send him back to us. He was the throw in, on the Betamit trade. Amazing!
Cherapanov was going to be a STUD (unfortunately, that did not end so well).
===
Yes, that was tragic.
The Rangers’ problem, since the Herb Brooks days, is that they often villify their own most talented players. Kovalev was always stymied by the way they played. When they had Zubov, Leetch and Kovalev, they had three of the league’s most skilled players, and they found a way to fuel the negativity surrounding the two Russians from within.
They allowed Phil Esposito, a complete idiot, to run down Reijo Ruotsalainen, perhaps the greatest pure skater to ever play hockey. I’ll give Sather credit for scooping him up and having him help Edmonton win another Cup.
They just seem to undermine their most talented players. It doesn’t help that the fan body isn’t particularly sophisticated. They think in cliches.
Just listened to Manuel’s post game. He’s got no shot with this team. His 2 best players are playing poorly(Wright/Reyes), Bay’s off to a slow start, Beltran’s hurt and the rest of the team stinks. No power, can’t hit, this is a 70 win team in a lousy league. Omar’s done a nice job with the leagues highest payroll, a job only Isiah could appreciate. I mean are they that bad that Cora is batting 2nd and Catalanato cleanup, please!
Wade Davis looks good so far but he is also inexperienced.
JMO, but I think teams with mainly young staffs tend to fade later in the season, and their inexperience can make them vulnerable to the pressures of a pennant race.
The Sox could have an advantage in the game tomorrow because their players will be up and will have had their prune juice and be ready to go at 11:00 AM.
Anyone who believes that The Tampa Rays are not a ballclub, is in for a rough ride this summer……As pointed out by CB , their pen ( as in past seasons ) is very suspect……Also the Boston Red Sox are legit as well……..Rays, Sox, White Sox, Tigers, Rangers & Mariners all will be in a dogfight come Labor Day for the Wild Card……
Nick, Ted Jr. probably threw out the first pitch because he was recovering from bone cancer.
Blake-
They also will have gotten they’re daily dose of Geritol.
Bodh, did you go to Phil’s game on Thursday? I thought you mentioned that you did. If so, what did you think?
“It doesn’t help that the fan body isn’t particularly sophisticated.”
I’ll try to not take that as an insult….
Though some idiot Rangers fans used to insult Jaromir and blame him for our failures.
__
But, on the other hand, I know if I was a Pitt fan, I WOULD NOT have been booing Crosby after the Olympics, as they did.
If anything, I would have cheered him, even if he did beat the USA.
Thank you Nick. That means alot. I mean how many bankrupt country references am I ever going to get the chance to make on a baseball blog.
Angela Merkel just went and ruined all of my Dustin Pedroia visited Athens to sell baklava and got carded when ordering turkish coffee with uzo lines…
“They also will have gotten they’re daily dose of Geritol. ”
yes, the Rays probably aren’t used to getting up before noon.
Hellickson will be up soon enough.
They can also get an average bullpen arm cheap at the deadline
If they make the playoffs and can shift Davis to the pen, they’ll have another guy.
The Rays are for real in 2010.
The Yanks are better but anything can happen in the playoffs (should that be the case).
Neither team has had a serious injury yet either….
Doreen, why let it bother you? The Rays haven’t faced the type of teams the Yankees have (ok, they have beaten the Sox), but they lost 2/3 at home to the Yankees and they have not faced a stretch like the Yankees have. What the Yankees have done is incredibly impressive.
Betsy, thanks, that’s what commenter Jenny said too. It looked pretty odd on the list.
“Though, in Sather’s defense, he has drafted a couple decent guys, and one great one. Del Zotto has a bright future. Cherapanov was going to be a STUD (unfortunately, that did not end so well). Staal has a bright future. And Henrik is one of the top 5 goalies in the league.”
Eh, I rather give Gordie Clark the credit.
Kovalev did score the all important first Ranger goal in Game 6 against the Devs in 1994!!
The Rays are tied with the Yankees but they have beat up the Orioles for a lot of their wins. And most of their losses are to the Yankees.
The yankees record is more impressive looking because of the teams we’ve taken out. The red sox (at home), the rays (at home), the angels at NYS (who always play tough and are favorites for the AL west), and the rangers at NYS (also favs for the AL west).
And the manner in which they have done it.
Alot of the Rays games were quite dicey, they were 3 blown saves away from having a losing record against the Orioles to start the season.
Also, it’s 12 games; did we really expect the Yankees to separate themselves from anyone? I don’t think the Yankees are losing sleep over it….so we shouldn’t
Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) April 18th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Bodh, did you go to Phil’s game on Thursday? I thought you mentioned that you did. If so, what did you think?
=====
Yes, Betsy. Thought he was fine, mostly ahead of the hitters, good life and velo, cutter working, and he’s back to that sharp curve.
I figured he’d keep the change in his pocket for a while and he did. I wasn’t concerned really with the walks. It was a good first start – about what I expected.
Kudos to the bleachers for getting the two-strike HUUUUGHHESSS chant going.
Youk: Greek god of collection agencies?
The Rays are in win now mode for sure. They likely will be losing Crawford and maybe Pena after this season so I can see them going and getting a piece if they need it to try and win this year. I don’t see them going anywhere and think they’ll give the Yanks all they want for the division.
You’re welcome, Nick. I love the Kennedys, so I’m up on that thing; Ted Jr. is a remarkable person.
Trevor
Believe me, I am not in the business of defending Sather. He is a washed up old hack who can only make poor high priced signings and trade with his buddies.
The Phoenix Coyotes of New York are succeeding this year
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Kovalev did score the all important first Ranger goal in Game 6 against the Devs in 1994!!
====
Kovalev did a good deal more than that. He actually functioned as the center on Messier’s line, in that he controlled the puck in the neutral zone. Messier made the dramatic, if calculated, guarantee, but it was really Kovalev who delivered the goods.
Very under rated, his contribution, which is, in light of his talent, absurd.
The Sox & Rays play tomorrow? Feels like they’ve been playing for a week.
Regardless of how the Sox & Rays play, the Yankees have beaten 4 teams that were expected to contend this year. Good stuff!
The Rays’ achilles’ heel is going to be their bullpen. And if their starters can’t give quality innings, it’s only going to get worse.
Going to bed…good weekend in Yankeeland.
Blake-
You see the Rays winning > 105 games because it’s gonna take at least that to win the pennant ?
Actually, he didn’t throw the change because the scouting report on the Angels suggested they are a good change-up hitting team….He was much better than I thought he would be. I still have the game on tape and his stuff was dynamite. Phil really likes his cutter – I know someone had mentioned (was it CB or SJ?) that he changed his pitching pattern 2nd time through the order – and it seems it was no accident.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
“The cutter is something I’ve worked on for a while now, and it felt good tonight. I threw it when guys were looking for fastballs, and it was really effective,” Hughes said. “Sometimes in a fastball count, I almost prefer the cutter because it’s moving away from the barrel, where a changeup sometimes fades toward the barrel.”
“The Rays are in win now mode for sure. They likely will be losing Crawford and maybe Pena after this season”
————
I wouldn’t say “for sure” at all.
They have one of the deepest farm systems in the game.
They’ll replace Crawford and have plenty of firepower in the minors that will arrive in Tampa over the next several years.
They will be very good for a while (maybe 5-6 more years?)
before they finally run out of talent and start another 10 year Ice Age.
Jerkface, I agree. I respect the Rays a lot, but the Yankees are better; the Yankees are the best team in baseball.
“Very under rated, his contribution, which is, in light of his talent, absurd.”
Agree completely.
BD-
Being very good and being the best are 2 different things.
Greek gods… the new market inefficiency
I was going to sign Zeus in the off season but I figured I could just prevent blight through mutual deterrence so I opted for Ares and then inked Poseidon to interrupt the cruise line traffic.
i cant see two teams in the same division winning 100 games, Has that ever happened ??
Baltimore would have to win 50 games for that to happen and Toronto no more than 70. I think both arent good but they arent that bad..
Pencil in Tampa for 93 wins as far as I can see, BoSox with 89, Toronto with 72 and Baltimore with 66. Yanks at 105 if anyones interested
CB-
The Yankees are gonna send all comers to Hades.
Thunderbolt prevention?
CR9 April 18th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
“It doesn’t help that the fan body isn’t particularly sophisticated.”
I’ll try to not take that as an insult….
Though some idiot Rangers fans used to insult Jaromir and blame him for our failures.
__
But, on the other hand, I know if I was a Pitt fan, I WOULD NOT have been booing Crosby after the Olympics, as they did.
If anything, I would have cheered him, even if he did beat the USA.
====
Well, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. And brashness in expressing it gets mistaken for real erudition.
Hockey is the most misunderstood of the four major sports, because most people don’t grow up here playing it, and they also are vulnerable to biases that have become sort of truisms.
This wouldn’t be the end of the world if hockey wasn’t also so vulnerable in terms of ticket sales. There are a lot of frankly clueless people functioning as the voice of the sport in certain cities, and FOs actually make personnel decisions based on those narratives.
Hockey talk needs to be banned. NY is a baseball town. I will rank the teams of importance to NY fans:
1. Yankees
2. Giants
3. Mets
4. Knicks
5. Jets
6. Rangers
7. Devils
8. Nets
9. Islanders
Not sure why the Greek mythology talk, but I love it, lol
No love for the Liberty?
“Being very good and being the best are 2 different things.”
—————
well, they could be the best.
I like the Yankees chances, but Tampa’s pitching is going to keep them in the race for a while. They CAN beat the Yankees.
David Price could be a Cy Young contender for a number of years.
Price is 24.
Davis is 24.
Garza is 26.
Niemann is 27
Shields 28
I believe Hellickson is 23.
Jake McGee is 23.
They are just loaded with young pitching.
People forget that these guys are still getting better.
Don’t get me wrong… I’ll take the Yanks any day. But the Rays could develop into an absolute powerhouse with that pitching staff.
The Mets go ahead of the Giants cause it’s baseball. And I think more people care about the Nets than the Devils.
The Yankees are going to soar to #28 on the wings of Hermes.
Nite all.
Think positive.
BD, Hellickson hasn’t proven a thing in the major; shouldn’t we wait and see how he does before we rave about him? I don’t know who Jake McGee is; presumably another minor leaguer? I think it’s way too early to call them a potential powerhouse.
“Thunderbolt prevention?”
Big Papioudopolis’ lumber?
There’s a minotaur in the monstah…
More people might care about the Red Sox than the…. what did you call them? Islanders?
You talkin’ ’bout L
ST?
Dan Shaughnessy’s hair does remind one of the Gorgon Medusa……..
“BD, Hellickson hasn’t proven a thing in the major; shouldn’t we wait and see how he does before we rave about him? I don’t know who Jake McGee is; presumably another minor leaguer? I think it’s way too early to call them a potential powerhouse.”
Weird huh? Everyone thinks all Tampa prospects are going to work out for sure. I know they’re talented and all but as some folks like to say around here “they’re just prospects”.
Betsy -
Not separate as in a gap, but the Yankees are 9-3. It would have been nice for Tampa to be 8-4. That’s all I’m saying.
I’m not bothered, or worried, or upset. Or anything like that. I know the Rays are a good team; I know the Yankees are probably a better team than they are. I never expect an easy season, not in the AL East.
I am happy that the Yankees are starting out this way rather than the way they have in past seasons. At least they’re not looking to close any gaps, no matter the size.
I didn’t realize, after the Yankees beat Tampa 2 of 3 that they went on and won some games.
Betsy,
Their system is stacked with top of the rotation type pitchers.
I have no problem calling their pitching staff a potential powerhouse.
Barring injury, I’d call it a major upset if they don’t continue to have one of the better pitching staffs in the majors for the next 4+ years.
I forgot Matt Moore. It’s almost ridiculous how many guys they have who would be the top prospects overall for many teams.
One could argue that Yankees fans lack sophistication, as some want to go out and buy the best players, and trade way the farm for one player. Our own commentator, Kay, is biggest cliche.
Many of the Rangers fans on the Lohud blog were not too happy at the time with the signings of Drury and Gomez (myself included). Nobody was happy with the resigning of Roszival and signing of Redden.
_____
“FOs actually make personnel decisions based on those narratives”
Toronto?
But, to most people, it does not take sophistication to get the number 1 pick twice and number 2 pick twice. (a la Pitt)
Keep in mind that David Price can void his contract and go for arbitration in any year he is eligible, Shields options are very expensive, and Matt Garza will get more and more expensive as well.
The rays will be good, but they will never equal the Yankees in the long run because they don’t have the market for it.
Rays fans are really the worst. I wish they’d move em over here to Orlando, or get that new stadium. I’d buy season tickets.
Trevor,
you want to provide any scouting reports on these guys?
Or are you just crossing your fingers and hoping they don’t work out like everyone else?
PLEASE dont allow David Ortiz’ father into America again to bring him any more steroids during the All Star Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Their system is stacked with top of the rotation type pitchers.”
Tampa has terrific young talent but no team other than perhaps Texas is stocked with top of the rotation talent.
Tampa has two top of the rotation type arms in their organization – Price and Garza and that’s it.
Jerkface,
no doubt, but they’ll have all of those guys for the forseeable future.
With the arms they have coming through the system, I just don’t see how they won’t have one of the better staffs in the game for the next 3-4 years.
I suppose if they want to go super cheap and not pay discounted arbitration rates for #1 or #2 starter caliber guys, they’re in trouble.
but if that’s the case, they need to fold that franchise immediately.
CB,
you’re not that high on Hellickson?
Ok, BD – I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I’m not going to worry about the Rays when we need to concern ourselves with whether any of the Yankees young pitchers can develop. It’s really vital that Phil turn into a top of the rotation type because, after him, where are the near-certain, high-ceiling prospects?
Doreen, I know what you mean – I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to make it sound like you were worried. I guess at this point in the season I’m not even looking at the standings. What the Yankees have done is pretty amazing, so I’m not paying attention to anyone else. The 9 game road trip is going to be rough, so I don’t expect to be in first place at the end of it.
I’m sure the Rays will continue to have a very good staff, but a rotation full of #1s? That’s asking almost the impossible. I wonder if people think every starter on the Rays is a #1 type simply because they’re the Rays and people respect their talent.
I’m not familiar with Texas’ talent, but if pitching is so hard to develop, we can’t even guarantee that all of Texas’ pitching will turn out.
I’m not saying the Yankees need to worry.
I just see alot of excuses for the Rays, like “they only played the Orioles” or they are losing Crawford so this is their last chance.
The Rays have one of the best farm systems, especially with pitching, and will continue to be a contender for a while.
That’s all.
BD,
Hellickson is good but he’s not a top of the rotation guy. He’s actually not that close to top of the rotation.
He doesn’t really have a great out pitch – perhaps his change. He’s dominating the minors because the mixes 3 pitches well.
But none of those pitches is truly special.
Hellickson, Davis and McGee are very valuable arms – they are good. But none of them look like they are top of the rotation type guys.
Texas’s young pitching is deeper than the rays. They have four guys who legitimately have top of the rotation potential, though two of them – Feliz and Scheppers might wind up in the pen, though that would be such a mistake. So even they aren’t probably stocked with top of the rotation guys.
Those guys are just too hard to find.
That’s why chapman got 30M from the Reds.
Somebody mentioned it earlier on here, maybe Nick, and it’s worth repeating.
I know you were joking Ed, but the diversity on this blog is magnificent. This is not a Yankees blog. This is a community for Yankees fans to gather and talk about the Yankees, or anything else that they choose to discuss.
The only thing not allowed on this blog is rooting for any Boston team!!!! The only exception because she’s been grandfathered in is mel.
Betsy -
I glance at the standings, but don’t usually take them seriously until after the All-Star break. West coast trips can be rough, but they’re going there on a good note AND it’s not a terrible thing that they get this done early.
They did so much better the first 12 games than I had expected – opening on the road in Boston & Tampa and then facing the Angels & Rangers. Now this 9-game swing on the west coast – it’s a tough way to open the season. On a personal note, I don’t know how I’m going to stay away for the wc games. Last season I realized if I started watching, I usually stayed up for the whole game, but I pay for it the next day. I guess I’ll dvr and watch in the morning.
I agree with BD. Tampa is going to be in it for the long haul. They are just very good at identifying and developing talent. They really are.
The Yanks match up well against the Rays. Price has seemed to give the Yanks the most problems the last few season but everyone else the Yanks have hit well from what I remember. Yanks also have the bullpen advantage.
Jerkface I think the Rays would work better in Orlando also, put them by the new Magic Arena, or Tampa might work, charlotte if all else fails…anything is better than where they currently play
Wow -
Just got to see Teixeira’s most excellent play from earlier today! Never again should a Yankees team have revolving first basemen. Never.
Not only did he make a great catch, but had the presence of mind to immediately try for the DP, even if he didn’t get it.
Great play.
Doreen
Agreed. It’s amazing and a testament to Teixeira’s mental toughness, that he does not take his struggles at the plate to the field.
BD, I’m not making excuses for the Rays; it’s not their fault the O’s were on their schedule. What I’m saying is that the Yankees have played incredibly well. They just took 2/3 from most of the major AL contenders and just swept an AL West contender. I expect them to be good for awhile; as a matter of fact, this division is going to be a beast because the O’s and Jays will not be down for long. We need to cross our fingers that the Yankees young talent develops because if it doesn’t, well – I don’t want to think about that. Jeter, Mo, Po and Andy won’t be around forever. I won’t count Po because I think we are ok at catcher. Pena is not Jeter’s replacement and we have no top position prospects outside of catcher in the upper minors. Our SP in the minors is sort of shaky at the top – and we can’t catch a break with the injuries. In short, the Yankees have to keep up with the Jones’.
CB,
We’ll see on Hellickson. From what I’ve seen and read he has tremendous fastball command and his change has really developed with good fade and good mechanics on all of his pitches.
With Price on board, I guess they only need some good 2′s or 3′s in there anyway.
Like you said, they are doing a very good job at using those draft picks.
Let the Rays move here:
http://www.howderfamily.com/gr.....unties.jpg
Doreen,
it seems like Tex has been making an amazing play in the field every game so far.
I think they should just give him the Gold Glove now.
Doreen, I like that the Yankees are getting their WC trips out of the way early…….As I said before, if they just take it one game at a time, it won’t seem so bad (whereas if you look at it as 9 games, it’s “ugh”).
Why doesn’t Tampa Bay use some of their pitching talent to address their bullpen problem?
m,
they will.
Ken April 18th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
i cant see two teams in the same division winning 100 games, Has that ever happened ??
___________________________
NL West Division 1993
Tm W L W-L% GB
Atlanta Braves ATL 104 58 .642 —
San Francisco Giants SFG 103 59 .636 1.0
Houston Astros HOU 85 77 .525 19.0
Los Angeles Dodgers LAD 81 81 .500 23.0
Cincinnati Reds CIN 73 89 .451 31.0
Colorado Rockies COL 67 95 .414 37.0
San Diego Padres SDP 61 101 .377 43.0
After they’ve delayed arbitration a year?
“With Price on board, I guess they only need some good 2’s or 3’s in there anyway. ”
To me this is the major story overall with the Rays. In a certain sense they don’t really “need” Hellickson or McGee or Davis to be front line guys. Of course they would want that but they arent’ desperate for that.
I think Hellickson may wind up more like a 3 (which is extremely valuable – especially to the Rays) but with Price and Garza they already have a terrific potential 1-2 that will anchor them for the next several seasons.
Price and Garza are just very talented. Not a guarantee but they really are good.
M,
Didn’t you notice they put Andy Sonnanstine into the bullpen?
*gives up 5 bombs by throwing 85 mph cutter over and over*
*is andy sonnanstine*
timo -
That would have been before the 3 divisions and the wild card, right?
Imagine winning 103 games and not making the post-season? Wow.
timo,
wow, seems like so long ago that there were only 2 divisions.
I guess there is a big difference with 3 divisions in each league now.
Ealier today when I was updating the Yankee farm teams, I failed to notice that trenton played a Double Header against Portland. They split with Trenton winning the first game 3-1 behind DJ Mitchell’s big right arm and the bats of David Adams, Austin Krum and Brandon Laird.
In Game #2, they lost 2-1 with Lance Pendleton pitching the first 4 innings, giving up 2 runs in the ist inning on a walk and 2 doubles. Laird had his first AA homer, a solo shot in the 4th inning.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_prtaax_2
In LOST alt-lohud, we’re all complaining that Freidman is ruining sonnanstines career by putting him in the bullpen.
And wondering if he’ll ever get his 90 mph fastball back
lol. You mean there’s more Andy Sonnanstines in the pipeline?
CB, the Yankees pitching situation after this year is somewhat up in the air. Andy may or may not come back, but even if he does, it’s still just a one year thing. We don’t know about Javy, either. If Phil has a good year this year, he’d probably be the #4 next year; what would YOU do to fill in the rest of the rotation? I guess maybe give McAllister a shot? That only covers one spot and it would leave the back end still sort of shaky.
Correction: They split with ***Portland*** winning the first game
Don’t short change Sonnanstine… he can give up home runs with his hanging change that really isn’t much of a change off his fastball with the best of them.
GB, thanks! How are you feeling?
You’re very welcome, Betsy. Had a bit of a nap. Morgan brought the twins by while she went shopping, so we got in a little sack time. After that, I’m raring to go for the next hour.
haha. Andy’s just mad at being put in the bullpen. Wasn’t he their best starter in ’08?
“what would YOU do to fill in the rest of the rotation? I guess maybe give McAllister a shot? That only covers one spot and it would leave the back end still sort of shaky.”
None of the pitchers the yankees have in the minors are going to be talented enough or ready to slot into the rotation next year.
That’s just the way it is. I don’t think McCallister or Nova are going to be good enough to pitch in the yankees rotation other than as make shift guys you slot into the #5 spot for a period of time.
Maybe that’s pessimistic on my part but that’s just my sense.
The yankees have a significant dearth of high quality arms that profile as starting pitchers in the upper minors.
Maybe Jeremy Bleich – but that’s really contingent on him being able to throw with the enhanced velocity he found last year while still being able to command his stuff.
However, you fall on the issue of Joba, him not developing as a starting pitcher is just a significant problem for the organization. There’s no two ways about it. He might profile to be a terrific reliever – but the organization has a lot of depth with relievers.
Despite all of the young pitchers they’ve drafted and signed they really don’t have any close to ready guys to slot into the rotation next season.
The closest guys are in A ball.
The combination of Joba’s regression and not being able to sign Cole has had a significant impact on the organization’s depth and usable talent.
Its interesting how unwilling the Rays seem to build their bullpen from their farm system. They don’t want to start arbitration clocks on their guys before getting really good contributions out of them. They have to deal with turn over in their rotation internally, and bullpen pitchers are cheapest on the market.
So they end up with a lot of odd guys like Bradford, Choate, etc. Or they make minor trades for guys who aren’t that great hoping to strike gold.
Soriano was a real change of pace.
CB,
ugh… did you have to bring up Cole again?
though that did turn into Heathcott, correct?
I’m not much on Nova or Noesi, but, I think that McAllister can do for NYYs what Shields does for Tampa and that’s plenty decent enough.
CB, thanks. Now I’m trying not to be completely depressed, lol.
Thanks to years of bad drafting, the Yankees are paying and paying and paying dearly; I want to know when they are going to stop paying, lol.
GB, aww, you saw the twins? That’s great…
Jerkface,
that’s true.
and Soriano was a bit of a surprise, though probably a worthwhile trade/signing given the circumstances (even with their payroll, IMO).
I think they’ll call up Hellickson this year.
Their bullpen is going to struggle and after they lose 3-4-5-6 games because of it they’re going to make the call to AAA.
How long they take to address the bullpen could be the difference between really contending for the divison or settling for a run at the wildcard.
I refuse to think about Cole – there’s no point in doing so. We just have to concentrate on the system going forward. I guess we’ll have to tread water until some of the younger kids develop – that means spending yet more $$$ and giving more long-term contracts to aging FA? I’m not looking forward to that. Phil not only needs to have a good year (for a #5 ), but he’s going to have to take pretty big leap forward in 2011. It’s not fair to put that pressure on him, but that’s where it stands.
“though that did turn into Heathcott, correct?”
Yeah. But if Cole doesn’t get hurt he is very likely to be a top 3 pick in next years draft and next draft looks like it is going to immensely talented.
Cole has #1 pick talent. If Renaudo wasn’t such a huge stud, Cole really would have a shot to go #1 (still could) next year.
Heathcott would have to be quite something to “make up” for that.
Yes Doreen, before they went to three divisions, no wild card, so the Giants were out of luck. That was Bonds first year in SF, when he was a skinny guy and fun to watch.
GB7,
absolutely…
I’d sign up for a 23yr old James Shields on the Yanks in 2011.
Bleich if he apparently controls that new found mid 90′s fastball and Betances or Brackman if he can stay healthy and improve right now are possible legit #5 options…and ppl keep on saying do not sleep on Banuelos, that kid is a riser so 2011 right now Bleich is in the lead but Banuelos could leap him so could Betances.
CB,
oh I know. I hate even seeing the name Gerrit Cole.
I was just saying at least they got something in return for that debacle.
I always thought McAllister was a potential #3 or #4, but to barely be a #5? I hope you’re wrong, CB, lol.
Not being a Yankee is Cole’s loss. You had a chance to be on a perennial contender.
Betsy,
I think he meant in 2011.
And specifically for the Yankees.
he could probably be a #3 right now on some teams. Pittsburgh?
m,
that’s true… but it’s still a loss for the Yankees.
1 pick away from Porcello… and then Cole.
Grrr
I am not high on Brackman at all; I don’t see him as a successful starter, and not in NY. The Yankees really like Bleich a lot; where is he, AA? Banuelos is years away from a spot in the rotation; he’s a baby. As it stands, he’s going to miss a month or two thanks to his appendectomy. That’s not going to help his progress any. It’s a shame about Joba, but hopefully his career as a starter isn’t quite done. We don’t need multiple top of the rotation youngsters if Phil develops into one; we coud just use another promising young pitcher.
I think Nova goes right into the BP.. 98 mph and a sinker would be all he needs.
BD, I’m assuming that either or both of Pettitte/Vazquez return in 2011 and McAllister takes on the role of Park or Aceves with Aceves going in a trade after the season. McAllister in long relief in 2011 and into the rotation in 2012. The best is yet to come with the young pitchers, though, as long as they stay healthy.
GB7,
I could be selling McCallister short. Part of why I say what I’m saying is that it’s just so difficult for a young pitcher to break into the yankees rotation.
Guys who are immensely talented like Hughes and Chamberlain struggled mightily. McCallister isn’t close to that level. I don’t know how much tolerance the team will have to transition McCallister to the rotation.
I would start him out in the bull pen.
If he eventually could turn out to be Shields that would be tremendous. But Shields really does have a plus change and a nice cutter. I don’t think any of McCallister’s offering are truly plus major league quality pitches.
And without a true plus pitch it’s going to be very rocky for him to try to step into a rotation on a team that is focused on winning the world series.
BD, who are you referring to? Sorry, lol…
Betsy,
I meant McCallister – in response to your “barely a #5″
“I am not high on Brackman at all; I don’t see him as a successful starter, and not in NY. The Yankees really like Bleich a lot; where is he, AA? Banuelos is years away from a spot in the rotation; he’s a baby. As it stands, he’s going to miss a month or two thanks to his appendectomy. That’s not going to help his progress any. It’s a shame about Joba, but hopefully his career as a starter isn’t quite done. We don’t need multiple top of the rotation youngsters if Phil develops into one; we coud just use another promising young pitcher”
Brackman has a very high ceiling, ppl w/ his stuff you pray he finds it. Remember what Atlanta did w/ Neftali Feliz…how’s that looking?
Banuelos is legit, everyone that talks about this kid, the FO is calling him Whitey, after Whitey Ford other GMs call him the left handed Pedro Martinez. He’s a baby but he just dominates as a baby.
CB, hey I appreciate your honesty; you may very well be right. In your opinion then, do you re-sign Javy if he has a good year and performs well in the playoffs (crossing my fingers)? This way, we’d have CC, AJ, Javy, Phil…..someone, in 2011.
Unless Bleich turns out ok, it appears we’ll have to go the FA route for the next few years. After that, it’s ok to have #2 or #3 types filling out the rotation, but Phil’s development is huge for this franchise.
Brackman, may by better off in the pen, where there’s less chance of his mechanics getting out of wack in short spurts, eventually becomeing a set-up or closer. It’s Mitchell, Banuelos, Bleich and Phelps that need to be watched closely. Haven’t seen any of Black and Ramirez and very little of Warren to say anything about them.
GB7,
That’s the key, I believe, that they can bring these guys up slowly and work them in.
I see no reason right now that CC won’t be with the Yanks for a long time. AJ and Phil are here.
If they don’t have either Andy or Javy, I think they’ll go pretty hard after Cliff Lee (they might anyway).
So they may or may not even have a spot for him if Cashman honors his commitment to go with Joba as a starter (obviously a lot can happen between now and then).
It would be nice to know that McCallister can and/or will be able to help out as early as next season in some capacity (and be dependable within reason).
BD, in 2011? That’s what I figured, lol. Well, who knows? Andy was one guy who was successful right away; you don’t know where these types are coming from.
GB7, gun to your head…who makes the rotation competition first
Banuelos or Bleich?
Brandon,
Manny looks good. What do you think of Jose Ramirez?
the Yanks may not have a ton of guys ready in the minors for 2010/2011, but they look pretty good in the lower levels.
2012/2013 could be huge.
Brandon, at some point, potential has to turn into performance. I’m not holding my breath for Brackman. I’m high on Banuelos based on what I’ve heard, but he’s 18 – he’s not close to the majors. My question to CB was about next year and maybe even the year after that; our rotation is going to have some question marks to answer.
Betsy,
you never know with most guys.
There aren’t many David Prices and Strasburgs to go around.
I feel optimistic that the Yankees have a ton of younger guys in the lower levels.
You really just hope a couple of them turn into solid starters and if you’re lucky… “aces”.
But the more guys you ahve, the better your odds.
BD, I don’t think Cash has committed to Joba as a starter. He said he thinks Joba is a starter, but I didn’t take that as a committment.
where’s SJ44?
I think he likes the prospect talk…
he’s missing out.
Betsy,
maybe commitment wasn’t the right word.
I just meant that he’s said that he sees joba as a starter.
So I’m at least considering him as a possibility for the 2011 rotation… like I said, SO much could happen between now and then, of course.
There is very little comparison to Ford and Banuelos. Ford, from his first game until his last was the epitome of the “crafty left hander”. Banuelos has a much better fastball at the age of 19 than Pettitte ever had. He’s going to add to that as his body matures. He would have just finished high school. he’s also more polished than Leiter and Guidry at that age. what he ends up being will depend on health and Banuelos.
BD, lol – I had a moment of depression, but it wasn’t all THAT bad, lol. I was thinking only of the next few years and that kind of got me negative because I don’t relish going the big FA route again. I do recognize we have a lot of good arms at the lower levels.
CC: here for awhile (hopefully he’ll age well).
AJ: here for awhile (same)
Phil: here for awhile (hopefully as a future ace)
*Javy/Lee?
?
I completely agree with you, by the way.
BD, I’ve been hearing real good stuff about Ramirez, power fastball, they believe his control will improve, I don’t know if he’ll be better than Arodys, but they say his secondary pitches are farther along and right now his stats are better than Arodys, still too early.
GB7,
but how is his “pitchability” ?
CB, Two thoughts on the 2011 Yankee rotation….How Vasquez’s audition goes in 2010, and then if Joba gets back to basics, they very well may revisit him as a starter…….Cliff Lee & Carl Crawford, are costly options……..Much is riding on Phillip Hughes this season moving forward…….
BD, I really hope it works out for Joba as a starter even if he’s not a #1 or #2. Boy, who’d have thought we’d be having this discussion at this time last year?
For what it’s worth I really do think Andy will come back again. This is his usual song and dance but if he’s throwing the ball even close to as well as he has been since last summer he is not going to retire.
If Andy comes back they’ll have to make a decision on how to fill out that fifth spot and much of that is going to depend on the kind of year and money Cliff Lee is looking for.
Brackman seems lost. He’s walking fewer guys but now he’s sitting at 89-91. He pitching more like Chris Young or Jon Rauch than Randy Johnson. If he makes it to the majors chances are it will be as a reliever.
To be honest, the next guy in the system with true front line promise is Jose Ramirez and he’s in Charleston years away.
Pat M, how’s it going? Very well said….. LOL Young Master Phil has the weight of the franchise on his broad shoulders; it’s no big deal, right? LOL Just kidding, but Joel Sherman did mention a week or so ago in an article how important Phil is to the Yankees and I think he’s right.
Unless injuries or poor performance befalls Bleich, there’s no way that Baneulos reaches the ML before Bleich. Hopefully Banuelos and Bleich get ST invites next year and Pettitte works with them on their pick-offs and holding runners, although Bleich has a great move.
“How Vasquez’s audition goes in 2010, and then if Joba gets back to basics, they very well may revisit him as a starter…….”
Pat M.,
I agree – resigning Vazquez is possible depending on how he does.
Joba – who knows. It was somewhat depressing seeing him work out of the stretch his last appearance even with the bases empty.
That doesn’t look like someone headed back to the rotation but it’s always difficult to predict young pitchers.
‘Brandon, at some point, potential has to turn into performance. I’m not holding my breath for Brackman. I’m high on Banuelos based on what I’ve heard, but he’s 18 – he’s not close to the majors. My question to CB was about next year and maybe even the year after that; our rotation is going to have some question marks to answer.’
Betsy just read GB’s post, that kid is special, Banuelos might be the youngest LH to come up in baseball when it’s all said and done, if he stays healthy and on track. He was a futures allstar at 18.
Brackman is a guy you just don’t give up on either.
“Banuelos might be the youngest LH to come up in baseball when it’s all said and done, ”
Tough to say with Martin Perez also in the minors.
CB, thoughts on Banuelos? If he turns into a #2 or #3, that would be terrific and the same goes with Bleich. The Yankees won’t ever let their rotation fall into a state of disrepair so to speak, so we’ll be ok, but we know that they want to build (eventually) a mostly homegrown rotation.
I’m in no rush to push Banuelos to the majors; he needs to develop at his own pace.
CB my question, can Manny Banuelos be the next Fernandomania? From everything I hear, they say yes, what’s your opinion.
BD (Boston Dave) – NJ walk tracker = 14 April 19th, 2010 at 12:46 am
GB7,
but how is his “pitchability” ?
———————————————————————————————————————-
“Pitchability” is through the roof (if YS had a roof). Seriously, of the names mentioned, I’d say only three or 4 ever pitch for NYYs, though. The rest are trade bait or washouts.
Brandon, I’m not suggesting the Yanks give up on Brackman, but at some point expectations become tempered. I was watching a replay of Phil’s game and Al Leiter was talking about Brandon Wood, about how talented he is and how he was rated very highly in 2005. He said that at some point prospects stop becoming prospects……….While I don’t think we are there yet with Brackman, I also don’t think we are far away from that.
LOL that word “pitchability” is now like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Betsy, he’s going through nearly the same thing Feliz did. And then Texas made him a star.
What’s crazy is if Banuelos is as good as ppl say, it’s gonna be wierd hearing the Manny chants.
GB7,
you’re probably right…. though depending on bullpen needs I suppose 1-2 more could sneak in.
Who are we comparing to Neftali Feliz? I hope its not Brackman.
I hate to continue to sing the praises of CC…
but all of this prospect talk is so much more leisurely when the Yanks have their #1 starter settled.
If the Yanks didn’t have CC, they may manage the farm differently, and there might be a sense of panic that just isn’t there now.
I’m not comparing Brackman to anyone; he’s not anywhere close to the majors, lol.
Jerkface,
I didn’t do it!
BD, it’s ok, lol, because what you said is spot on about CC.
“Who are we comparing to Neftali Feliz? I hope its not Brackman.”
It’s not really a comparison, the sense here is he’s done deal him, but again you risk giving up on someone w/ a high ceiling, who’s just coming off TJS and starting to throw again…I do think he may end up in the BP b/c of mechanics…but his situation is almost Feliz like..b/c the Braves gave up on him.
You can’t compare Banuelos to Valenzuela. Banuelos doesn’t have a trick pitch but he throws harder. as far as fan hysteria, the Dodgers have a huge Mexican market. so far, he’s been everything a team could want from an 18-19 year old pitcher. He’s going to have a big female following as he climbs the ladder, because many will see him as their son and want to take care of him. He’s not some big overgrown kid and the teenage girls are just about the same age. It makes it nice that he’s a very polite and well mannered kid, too…much like most of Tyson’s kids were and are.
Tyson is another that will climb the organization ladder. He’ll manage in the majors some day. He’s young but a born baseball lifer.
BD, you’re right of course. Those that don’t make it into the rotation will flesh out the bullpen and the rest are trade material.
GB I’ll ask the question again, remember this is NY, if he is the goods is he the next Fernandomania, just look at the hype Joba got, so I ask again
I do think he may end up in the BP b/c of mechanics…but his situation is almost Feliz like..b/c the Braves gave up on him.
–
Well they traded him to acquire one of the best first basemen in the league, they didn’t exactly give up on him. Thats like saying the Yankees gave up on Arodys.
“If the Yanks didn’t have CC, they may manage the farm differently, and there might be a sense of panic that just isn’t there now.”
That’s true. Paradoxically, it took the Yankees six years to get a true ace (using 2003 as the year as the last year that their starting pitching was really good), which underscores how important it is to grow your own.
“can Manny Banuelos be the next Fernandomania? From everything I hear, they say yes, what’s your opinion.”
That seems very unlikely. I think we’ll need to wait until Banuelos gets to AA until we have a better sense of what his ceiling is.
Lefty pitchers with even a sense of how to pitcher are going to do very well in the low minors. Whether or not they can continue to excel as the competition matures is a question.
It’s doubtful that Banuelos ever has N. Feliz’ electric arm, but, Banuelos still has a spare battery in his arm for that extra charge.
Has there been any actual confirmation on why Banuelos and Brackman missed their starts? Confirming they are both on the DL and why?
I’ve seen hearsay, but have the Yankees come out and confirmed either?
Brandon, I answered it already. He won’t have that kind of following until or unless he’s winning 18-20 games from the start. It won’t ever turn into Banuelosmania, though.
stuckey, appendectomy
There are very few organizations that have a chance to move 2 talented and promising left handers into the rotation in consecutive years. Chances aren’t necessarily 90% but, maybe 50-50.
Brandon, is that confirmed anywhere?
It was released on the prospect forum for PSP and NYYFan
Manny and Andrew both (emergency appendectomy).
Both? What are the odds?
This is the only non-confirmed confirmation I’ve seen on Banuelos. what I mentioned the other night was a game radio report from the Daytona broadcast team, which explains the confusion somewhat.
“High-A: Tampa 8, Daytona 4
Brandon Braboy, starting in place of Manny Banuelos, who is recovering from an appendectomy, tossed four innings of one-run ball before handing the game to Craig Heyer, Pat Venditte and Phil Bartleski. In a rare bout of ineffectiveness, Venditte got touched for three runs in 2 1/3 innings. He did strike out five in that time, moving his season total to 13 in 7 1/3 innings. Corban Joseph, Neil Medchill, Trent Lockwood, Mitch Abeita Melky Mesa each doubled in the win. Mesa and Myron Leslie had a pair of RBIs apiece.”
scroll down to “Around The System – Day 9″
http://minormatterstrenton.blo.....chive.html
And our wild horse Eduardo Nunez went 4 for 5 w/ a HR
“Both? What are the odds?”
Very high, considering Brackman doesn’t have an appendix anymore…
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....ts/?p=3562
This is why I’m asking if anyone has seen any actual confirmed reports by the organization about either of these two.
Bitter?
Yup.
In the link that I just put up, there is a series of great stills of DJ Mitchell’s side sessions and a little further down some videos of Romine, Laird and Mitchell in batting practice and bullpen session.
Wouldn’t the odds be low?
“Very high, considering Brackman doesn’t have an appendix anymore…”
There was an implicit temporal aspect in my post…
The odds would be low, but they’d be higher after it happened to the first guy.
stuckey, thanks for posting that. I’m just fantasizing, but I feel like I just got some insight into where Rich Harden got that surly, already-half-beaten attitude. Not being able to get out of the 5th innning most nights might have helped too.
This could be a fun series in Oaktown.
stuckey hopefully it’s not elbow, or something longterm. Than we don’t know right now what’s wrong w/ Brackman.
Pel,
I don’t get it. One’s mad at the other? mad at the Yankees?
Oooof, I meant thanks to Pel.
Post something good, stuckey, you’re pre-thanked.
“stuckey, thanks for posting that. I’m just fantasizing, but I feel like I just got some insight into where Rich Harden got that surly, already-half-beaten attitude. ”
I gotta tell ya Nick, I’m a fan, but sometimes I admit I’m guessing as to what you’re talking about…
It’s good to keep ‘em guessing.
7 day dl for brackman?
yanks are playin great, nice to see, only issue really is if johnson keeps sucking him and granderson/swisher should switch places
I’m thinking of flying up to the bay to catch Young Master Phil throw Wednesday……Nick in SF, what are the chances of scoring good seats ???
>This could be a fun series in Oaktown.
Nick, you’re right about that.
Initially, I was going to grudgingly watch the two 10:05PM starts and now I just can’t wait to see said superstars OAK is bringing to the banquet.
Oh, look. It’s Edwar Ramirez, Chad Gaudin, and Brett Tomko.
=/
Nevermind.
Pat M, I think the chances are pretty good on the secondary market, the wild card is the possibility of inclement weather… but that could also help with tickets. I haven’t secured my own for Wednesday night yet, I’ve been holding off waiting for info from my brother… let me know if you’re coming up. Destiny is calling.
Yankees are set with SP for a few years. They have their eyes on Cliff Lee. Joba is now a luxury, and perhaps their future closer. The way Pettitte is pitching he can go another year or two if needed. This only becomes an issue if there is a salary cap after the 2011 CBA gets done.
Bodhi
Good point about the Pens wingers. That’s why the Sens are clogging the middle, and it almost worked. Note how Stahl and Malkin and Crosby and Malkin are playing more on the same lines.
Note to Lohud bloggers–sorry about the Pens interjection.
BD,
From last night..when I said that the Rays were in ” win now mode” I didn’t really mean that they see this as a last chance season like am aging team would..
They have made it known they are cutting payroll next year and that will likely lead to them losing two of their best players. So while they do have young talented players to take their place, I think its reasonable to expect some production and perhaps leadership dropoff next season. This isn’t by any stretch a last chance for the Rays but it could be their best chance for a couple of years and if they are in the race and for example and need a bullpen arm to put them over the top I cam see them renting a player to go for it this year…that’s all I meant.
MTU,
I don’t think the Rays are as good as the Yanks. I just meant I think they will hang around and unless the Sox make some changes I can see them both distancing themselves from Boston.
CB, what you said about the Yankees not having any high profile SP prospects above A ball is another reason why the decision not to pursue Chapman was a bit curious to me.
Just read in today’s NY Post that the Yankees will be going to the White House next Monday to be honored by the President for winning the World Series. Pretty cool.
Fran -
Yay!
I was just looking at the schedule, and realize the 9-game “west coast trip” is just a 6-game west coast trip and then back east for 3 in Baltimore.
Nice way to pass the time on your off day, being honored by the President.
If the way Andy pitched was in survival mode then I hate to see him in “desperation mode”!