Happy Birthday Alex Rodriguez
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jul 27, 2010 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Alex Rodriguez turns 35 today. No player has ever hit more home runs before his 35th birthday, and Rodriguez’s 2,629 hits are the most for a just-turned-35-year-old since Robin Yount had 2,733. Rodriguez has homered on his birthday five times. He did it in 1996, 2001, 2004 and twice in 2002.
Associated Press photo
Joel Sherman has very good sources, and that quote you provided doesn’t point to a time frame. What I read from Joe is that they don’t want to put him in the pen before late September.
The following people have submitted lineups for GTLU so far today. If you don’t see your name, please let me know.
Erin
Phil in Columbus
YankeeRay
YankeeBlue222
Erica
Chuck58
Yankee Trader
upstate kate
Fran (the original)
bisonthrow
Warning Track Power
Arod better hit one out on his birthday
If the Yankees are indeed interested in acquiring Kansas City Royals All-Star closer Joakim Soria, they will face one more hurdle — a no-trade clause. The Yankees are one of the six teams on Soria’s no-trade list, a baseball official with knowledge of the contract tells ESPN New York.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-…..id=5413863
Happy Birthday, Alex. Now please get that 600th HR. I’m tired of reading and hearing about how you didn’t do it.
Soria is smart. Doesn’t want to get trapped in a setup role.
Jerkface, I don’t agree. His quote was that the Yankees are thinking about putting Phil in the pen to bolster the relief crew…….and he said that it would be to help with his innings limits. That means he’s referring to a time well before late September – if he was referring to late September/end of season, there would be no innings limits to worry about because the post-season would be upon them.
I personally would not put Phil in the pen before very late September because I think he needs to keep starting – and I’m glad the Yankees apparently feel that way.
Happy birthday, Alex!
I also have a lineup from:
justinxdance27
No. Unfortunately, the characters will be around until their computers stop working.
—————————–
lol
Girardi also said yesterday that in a close game in the 8th inning, he would still lean towards Joba.
I wouldn’t take anything he says seriously.
So who would want Soria now anyway? The guy doesn’t want to pitch in NY – major red flag.
GGBG July 27th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Is there any way to get rid of the characters that don’t display properly?
———————————————————————————————————————-
No. Unfortunately, the characters will be around until their computers stop working.
no word on monkeys yet (for a pet)?
That means he?s referring to a time well before late September ? if he was referring to late September/end of season, there would be no innings limits to worry about because the post-season would be upon them.
–
I disagree, you’re just reading that into it. If they don’t skip Hughes, they could put him in the bullpen middle of september when he is 10 IP away from his limit to bolster the relief corps (FOR THE PLAYOFFS).
Its not a specific enough sentence to read into it the worst case for Hughes.
Joe is not the sole decision maker on how Phil is handled – I doubt he’s even the major decision maker; Cash is.
He did lean towards Joba, then he looked his binder….
Betsy,
Sherman was quoting the Yankees correctly.
They do see Hughes as a solution to the pen issues toward the end of the year and into the post-season.
They can’t put an exact date on it because they don’t know where and when he will be at his innings limit.
But, Sherman’s source on this story, somebody I know, is 100% legit.
His story is accurate.
Please stop worrying about Phil Hughes. He will be fine.
SJ44 July 27th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Bret,
The problem with all your various trade scenarios is twofold:
1. They aren’t remaking the team at the deadline because they don’t have to. Every move you are proposing involves them pretty much remaking the team. No team with the best record in baseball does that in the middle of the season.
2. The moves involve trading cost controlled players, who are productive like Gardner, to take on more payroll. Really, much more payroll and the Yankees aren’t going to do that.
****************
SJ44,
I’m merely speculating under the assumption the Yankees are interested in Werth. Werth impacts their finances so maybe there are contingent personnel moves that make it financially feasible to pursue him.
If it’s true the Yankees are on Werth, maybe Pettitte is retiring and there’s still money to keep Werth/Crawford in LF and sign Lee.
Or maybe Mo is retiring, so getting Soria now is essential and that frees up 15 mil.
Maybe Pettitte and Mo are both retiring, so it’s essential to get Lee, Werth/Crawford and Soria.
I’m not operating under the assumption that the Yankees would aggressively pursue Werth and not have the money to keep him.
If the Yankees are aggressively pursuing Werth, I’m trying to rationalize how he would fit the roster.
The budget is an issue but the Yankees wouldn’t be in on Werth at all if he stops them from doing other things they need to do.
I would think any player acquisition should facilitate subsequent moves, not hinder them.
GB-
I asked if you were OK ?
Everything good ?
How on earth were you able to escape Wratchet’s clutches so quickly this time ?
Was is the bear grease ?
You didn’t have to resort to the Stiletto did you ?
I don’t agree, Jerkface – and I expect them to skip Phil anyway.
Vinny-
“No word on monkeys yet (for a pet)?”
I wouldn’t take a chance. I hear they like to grind people’s organs up and eat them.
SJ, seriously -would you PLEASE stop telling me not to worry every time I mention ****’s name?
You’re not going to respond, but I’m going to say it anyway. YOU are the one who said yesterday that you would keep him starting until the end of the season so that his development continues. Why is it OK when YOU say it, but it’s not when I say it? Please…….it’s just too easy to go back and check what you said.
I don?t agree, Jerkface ? and I expect them to skip Phil anyway.
–
Even if they skip Hughes he could be up against his inning limit in September. And the quote said, “at some time”, not “in august” or “now”
“Picking him up and saying he’s the closer in waiting is like saying that the Yankees should trade for Jose Reyes to serve as a utility infielder so that they’ll have a short stop for when Jeter is done.”
———————————-
Chip,
Those situations could not be more different.
Soria as the EIG would pitch just as much if not more than he would as the closer.
Jose Reyes would barely play.
The analogy does not fit at all.
And Betsy is correct in reading Verducci to say the Phillies had discussions, as in internal discussions.
Nowhere does it say the Yankees and Phillies discussed this deal.
Happy Birthday Alex!
What is the debate about? Skipping Phil and keep him starting? Or start him until he’s very close to his cap and put him in the bullpen?
Either way is entirely plausible.
It depends on Robertson or if Bret’s dreams come true.
We’ve seen what has happened when Phil is skipped. It does no one any good.
Also, that makes it sound like the Yankees have no clue what they are doing with this kid. All they have to do is skip him two starts and then he’ll be fine to start the rest of the year. I don’t care about the post-season; I know he’s going to the pen – he’s certainly not starting.
SJ44 July 27th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Betsy,
Sherman was quoting the Yankees correctly.
They do see Hughes as a solution to the pen issues toward the end of the year and into the post-season.
They can?t put an exact date on it because they don?t know where and when he will be at his innings limit.
But, Sherman?s source on this story, somebody I know, is 100% legit.
His story is accurate.
Please stop worrying about Phil Hughes. He will be fine.
—————————–
this doesn’t really qualify as “news”
The Yankees won’t need all 5 starters in the playoffs and Hughes makes the most sense to shift to the pen for the playoffs.
Anyone with half a brain can see this – doesn’t really take a super source to confirm it.
Jerkface, if they skip him twice, at most he’ll be up against the limits in late September – by then, it doesn’t even matter. If the Yankees intend to put him in the pen to bolster it, then that means they don’t have to skip him…..they really can’t skip him until Andy gets back, so I would hope they have a solid plan in place by then.
Betsy,
Please be fair. Give the Yankees credit. They know what they’re doing. They just choose to keep it to themselves. They give out misinformation all the time as a smokescreen.
Just believe half of what they say. The half that jibes with what is actually happening.
Folks, make sure you send your birthday wishes to Alex, because, you know, he reads this blog and will be thanking you for your kind thoughts as soon as he gets back to the hotel tonight.
The following people have submitted lineups for GTLU so far today. If you don’t see your name, please let me know.
mine was posted at 2:02 under the last post.
GTLU
Jeter-SS
Swisher-RF
Tex-1B
ARod-3B
Cano-2B
Posada-C
Granderson-CF
Miranda-DH
Gardner-LF
CC” Big Game ” Bathia….
M, and he’s clearly unhappy about it (but he’ll have to deal with it). I agree it’s not helping things, but then again I don’t think skipping him has caused him to struggle…..
Yeah, NTU. I had no idea what you were talking about. everything went just fine as far as the initial exam. They will have everything together tomorrow morning and give me the official word, but, they’re happy with it.
Now, that means that they’re happy that I’m dying and won’t be coming back to bother them, or, they’re happy that it’s taken care of.
Seriously, they said everything is clear as far as they can tell until they finish all of the lab work and reading the X-rays more closely. I go back tomorrow for the official okey-dokey.
I wouldn’t take a chance. I hear they like to grind people’s organs up and eat them
—————————————-
on that note, a Manchester might be better. Monkeys have sharp teeth.
thanks doreen
I’m find myself agreeing more and more with Giuseppe. He’s apparently a more socially-skilled me.
I think some fans are intent on punishing Joba Chamberlain, and that includes those who advocate trading for him.
The guy is a mess right now, but he still has a live arm.
There are a handful of people in the world who can thrown the ball 94 MPH consistently and up to 97 on occasion, and right now he’s being bested by the small handful of people in the world who can turn around a 94mph fastball.
The bottom line is Chamberlain’s upside is higher than what he can currently get back in a trade. And he’s still VERY young.
And can still thrown in the mid-90’s.
Trading him now is an emotional overreaction.
repost
champ809 July 27th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Chip
the Reyes/Soria analogy is just dumb.
Soria would pitch in almost every game that Mo pitched in and would have an immediate impact on the club now.
It’ would be the ‘96 Yanks model all over again where the Yanks played 6 inning games because they had Mo for the 7th and 8th and Wetteland for the 9th except 100 times better as Wetteland is no ‘mo.
If you are running Soria out in the 7th and 8th innings then Mariano in the 9th the game is over. period.
The Yanks would be locks to repeat this fall and it again would be in house insurance should Mariano get injured late Aug/Sept.
It’s nothing like trading for Reyes and having him sit on the bench 3-4 games a week. Shame on you because you know better than that.
It’s one thing if you don’t agree with the probable price of acquiring Soria but there really is no argument with the philosophy benind the move from Ca$h’s point of view as it helps him to accomplish 3 things;
1-shoring up the 1 glaring weakness on the current club with the best available option making them a much tougher out come sept. most would say a lock…
2- giving them an insurance policy should the most important player on the team- Mo- get hurt at anytime the remainder of this season and postseason…remember he pitched the whole last postseason in extreme pain
3- having the next best closer in the game in house to assume the role should Mariano decide to hang up his cleats after this season or next season.
Also, that makes it sound like the Yankees have no clue what they are doing with this kid. All they have to do is skip him two starts and then he?ll be fine to start the rest of the year. I don?t care about the post-season; I know he?s going to the pen ? he?s certainly not starting.
–
Actually, it doesn’t. Hughes is at 111 IP with 12 more starts left, if he goes 6 innings per start he will be at 183 IP by the end of Sept, which is slightly over the appropriate amount of innings they want for him AND does not give any room to move him to the pen and give him a few relief outings to dip his toes in before the playoffs.
If you give hughes 10 more starts he is at 170 IP (if he goes 6 in each) and you have 5-10 IP worth of relief work to get him ready.
If anything, it sounds like the Yankees know exactly what they are doing.
Betsy July 27th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Also, that makes it sound like the Yankees have no clue what they are doing with this kid. All they have to do is skip him two starts and then he?ll be fine to start the rest of the year. I don?t care about the post-season; I know he?s going to the pen ? he?s certainly not starting.
——————–
It’s not just the Yankees. No team has a clue how to develop young starters.
Everyone killed the Yankees for the way they handled Joba and praised the Tigers for how they handled Porcello – now Porcello is in the minors and Joba stinks.
The Yankees are going to do what they think is best, they could not care less what you, me, Joel Sherman or any one who does not collect a paycheck from the New York Yankees thinks about it. And that’s absolutely the right way for them to operate.
GB-glad to hear everything checked out OK today. Did you get to see your favorite nurse???
How does it make it sound like the Yankees have no clue with Hughes?
Because they didn’t give you a date when they are going to put him in the bullpen.
I said yesterday they intend on keeping him in the rotation. That is the plan.
Sherman isn’t saying anything different.
He is saying, what the Yankees are currently feeling, that Hughes can go into the pen when he is at or near his innings limit and that would keep them from having to overpay for relief help at the trade deadline.
Every single day you fret over something about Phil Hughes.
If they intend on putting him in the bulllpen in the post-season, they aren’t going to wait until the post-season to do it. They will do it sometime in September to get him ready for that duty.
Its the “when” we don’t know.
As I said, Sherman’s story is accurate pertaining to the Yankees thinking at the moment.
Bret,
I’m not sure they are “in” on Jayson Werth for all of the reasons outliined. To make it work, you have to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
Seems to me to be too much to deal with at this time.
M, I am not one of those fans who hates the FO and blames them for everything; believe me, I give them their due. I don’t think (sorry to say) you’re reading my posts. All I am saying is that they need to decide at some point if they want Phil to start until late september/post-season or go into the pen. Now Joe has said they’d prefer to keep him starting – that means they have to skip him. If they do want to put him in the pen earlier than late September, then they won’t have to skip him. Sherman said the Yankees are thinking about whatever it is they intend to do – that tells me they haven’t really made any firm decision. They’re going to have to do that pretty soon as it’s basically August now.
“Maybe Pettitte and Mo are both retiring, so it’s essential to get Lee, Werth/Crawford and Soria.”
How does one get from Rivera/Pettitte retiring = Werth or Crawford is “essential” to put in LF?
I fail to see the connection?
BG-
OK. I know what I would hope for if I were them.
Vinny-
Yup. Much safer.
4 Days, 1 hour, and 31 Minutes until the Trade Deadline!
(Can’t come quickly enough)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Betsy,
Who’s clearly upset?
MTU, I tried the bear grease and garlic around my neck, but, she ate the garlic and licked off the bear grease. I think she swallowed the stilleto, because when she was done gnawing on my leg, the knife was gone.
Last night was one of the better games I’ve seen the Yanks play in awhile. The Indians played well also. Nice crisp well played game. Now the Yankees need to go out and jump on Josh Tomlin tonight. Need to get the Indians down and keep them down. CC pitches a strong 7 innings with Park and Joba in the 8th and 9th because the Yanks are up 8 -1. 4game sweep of the Indians and 2 out of 3 in Tampa. Nice 6-1 road trip.
champ809 July 27th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Chip
the Reyes/Soria analogy is just dumb.
Soria would pitch in almost every game that Mo pitched in and would have an immediate impact on the club now.
It’ would be the ‘96 Yanks model all over again where the Yanks played 6 inning games because they had Mo for the 7th and 8th and Wetteland for the 9th except 100 times better as Wetteland is no ‘mo.
If you are running Soria out in the 7th and 8th innings then Mariano in the 9th the game is over. period.
The Yanks would be locks to repeat this fall and it again would be in house insurance should Mariano get injured late Aug/Sept.
It’s nothing like trading for Reyes and having him sit on the bench 3-4 games a week. Shame on you because you know better than that.
It’s one thing if you don’t agree with the probable price of acquiring Soria but there really is no argument with the philosophy benind the move from Ca$h’s point of view as it helps him to accomplish 3 things;
1-shoring up the 1 glaring weakness on the current club with the best available option making them a much tougher out come sept. most would say a lock…
2- giving them an insurance policy should the most important player on the team- Mo- get hurt at anytime the remainder of this season and postseason…remember he pitched the whole last postseason in extreme pain
3- having the next best closer in the game in house to assume the role should Mariano decide to hang up his cleats after this season or next season.
——————————————
Champ -
Relief pitchers are completely unpredictable. A dominant closer my stink in a set up role (Eric Gagne); a guy who has been dominant as a set-up guy may inexplicably fall apart (Phil Hughes) and guys you couldn’t count on at all may get on a roll that carries you (Marte and Robertson)
As for having a closer in waiting – worry about who is going to replace Mo when Mo tells you he’s leaving.
GB7
Did you go to a VA facility?
Jerkface, am I missing something? I said Phil would be fine if skipped 2 starts -and you just confirmed that. That means they can start him until very late in September.
Chip, I don’t think there is one right way to develop a pitcher. A lot of it is luck……..You can treat the pitcher like a fragile piece of china and he’ll still get hurt. You can treat him like a piece of meat and abuse him and maybe he’ll handle it. He might not develop into the stud, he might turn into a stud unexpectedly. Who really knows?
Erin July 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
GB-glad to hear everything checked out OK today. Did you get to see your favorite nurse???
———————————————————————————————————————-
OUCH!!!! Erin, I’ll bet you was a cowboy in another life. You really dig in the spurs.
M, Phil is clearly not happy about being skipped because he’s a competitive guy. I’m not suggesting his whining or complaining, just that he’s not happy having innings limits.
Erica in NY July 27th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
4 Days, 1 hour, and 31 Minutes until the Trade Deadline!
(Can?t come quickly enough)
*************************
Seriously. LOL
Betsy,
You always say we’re misinterpreting what you say. Now that may be true, but this is your exact quote:
“Also, that makes it sound like the Yankees have no clue what they are doing with this kid.”
Also, the Yankees usually like to lay out their plans. So if there’s a lot of misinformation or contradicting stories, I wouldn’t draw any conclusions about the specific info itself or the front office.
justinxdance27 -
You’re welcome.
GB7 -
That sounds encouraging.
stuckey99/Giuseppe Franco -
I haven’t paid full attention this afternoon, but I definitely feel a “vibe” of some fans wanting Joba punished for not being what they wanted him to be. Disappointment run amok, so to speak.
Jerkface, I thought registration was supposed to fix this stuff!
How many people on this board have a background as major league pitching coaches or major league pitchers? None? Good, stop worrying about what people a lot smarter than you are planning to do to maximize the career of Phil Hughes.
GB7,
Glad to hear things look good. And please keep the farm updates coming for those of us who are too lazy to check for ourselves.
Yeah, Phil. It’s about the only military benefit left that I don’t have to pay for.
Vinny B
FWIW, I used to work for a vet and he wouldn’t treat monkeys. Too nasty and they carry human diseases. My advice, get a dog
I completely agree with SJ44. The writing is on the wall that Hughes will be pushed to the bullpen at the end of the regular season or at the start of the playoffs.
No sense to fret over when that will be. They don’t need 5 starters in the playoffs and it would be ludicrous to think Javy would go to the pen.
Knowing Hughes will be in the pen also helps them not overpay for a reliever.
Before Saturday, they really only need a solid bench guy and maybe a decent reliever. Think along the lines of the moves made last year.
champ809 July 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
**********
Awesome post.
I agree with it 100%.
GB
sounds like you are in good spirits, I guess you escaped another close call!
And I’m a little hurt that you think I’m not reading (sadly) your posts. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I read it for what it’s worth.
Betsy July 27th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Jerkface, am I missing something? I said Phil would be fine if skipped 2 starts -and you just confirmed that. That means they can start him until very late in September.
Chip, I don?t think there is one right way to develop a pitcher. A lot of it is luck??..You can treat the pitcher like a fragile piece of china and he?ll still get hurt. You can treat him like a piece of meat and abuse him and maybe he?ll handle it. He might not develop into the stud, he might turn into a stud unexpectedly. Who really knows?
——————
Right, so if the Yankees feel the smart money is moving Hughes to the pen for the end of the season or skipping his starts then that’s what they’re going to do. They know what they’re doing, you may not like it, but it’s their plan and until you’re named the first female GM of the Yankees they aren’t going to ask your opinion.
Jerkface, am I missing something? I said Phil would be fine if skipped 2 starts -and you just confirmed that. That means they can start him until very late in September.
–
Then what are you complaining about Joel Sherman’s post and the ‘Yankees’ for??? Thats what they said they are doing!
GTLU
SS Jeter
RF Swisher
1B Teixeira
DH Rodriguez
2B Cano
C Posada
CF Granderson
DH Miranda
3B Pena
LF Gardner
Thank you Doreen!
Thank you, Clare. The reports were all that I could hope for them to be. Being stalked by The Beast Of Tampa was a scary time, though.
GreenBeret7 July 27th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
OUCH!!!! Erin, I?ll bet you was a cowboy in another life. You really dig in the spurs.
***************************
LOL
Sorry, GB. But I had to ask. I know how much you were looking forward to seeing her.
GTLU
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Tex 1B
Alex 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Granderson CF
Miranda DH
Gardner LF
GB7
Glad everything went well with your checkup. The lady of the house is a VA nurse here in Columbus and they can be tough. I know there are times I sleep with one eye open.
Bret,
I’m not sure they are “in” on Jayson Werth for all of the reasons outliined. To make it work, you have to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
Seems to me to be too much to deal with at this time.
**********
SJ44,
If we are to assume the Yankees are in on Jayson Werth, there must be a way to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
Maybe it’s too much to deal with but if it happens, then either Mo and/or Pettitte have privately expressed a will to retire after 2010.
That’s the only way Werth fits in with their payroll and plans IMHO.
If we are to assume the Yankees are in on Jayson Werth, there must be a way to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
–
Gardner in no way balances Werth. They keep both.
upstate kate July 27th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
GB
sounds like you are in good spirits, I guess you escaped another close call!
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m not sure which would be the worst punishment…dealing with The Beast or having to read Chip and Bret discuss trade proposals.
Glad you got a good report GB….good to hear!
“I used to work for a vet and he wouldn’t treat monkeys. Too nasty and they carry human diseases. My advice, get a dog”
——————————————
kate: thank you. I did hear somewhere, that monkeys like to throw their excrement at people. If indeed this is the case, after the first time it happens, i am taking him for a ride to the Florida Everglades.
Nice going, GB. Now, just get the final results tomorrow and get out of Dodge.
Phil in Columbus July 27th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
GB7
Glad everything went well with your checkup. The lady of the house is a VA nurse here in Columbus and they can be tough. I know there are times I sleep with one eye open.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Tampa has a great hospital facility. Except for that one thing. At least when you sleep with one eye open you get some sleep.
Jerkface July 27th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
If we are to assume the Yankees are in on Jayson Werth, there must be a way to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
–
Gardner in no way balances Werth.
********
In isolation, no.
“If we are to assume the Yankees are in on Jayson Werth, there must be a way to balance cost to acquire him, payroll and where he fits.
Maybe it’s too much to deal with but if it happens, then either Mo and/or Pettitte have privately expressed a will to retire after 2010.
That’s the only way Werth fits in with their payroll and plans IMHO.”
The internal logic of this speculation does nothing if not lead back to the less convoluted conclusion that Yankees would simply just take the comparable production of Brett Gardner at $600k, rather than having to “justify” the cost of outfielders who will command 20 to 24 TIMES that amount.
Everyone is overreacting. This team has the best record in baseball with a questionable bullpen and a CF who is just starting to hit. Every team has flaws this season. This isn’t MLB2k10, where you can trade a sack of marbles for an unnecessary commodity like Werth or Soria.
I’m just envisioning the playoffs and seeing DRob in the 7th and Hughes in the 8th. That’s if CC doesn’t pitch a complete game
Werth’s a free agent next season anyway so 2011 has nothing to do with it.
And he’s not really having a very good season so I’m not sure where the love comes from.
GB,
Glad you survived Nurse Karloff and got an encouraging report.
I wouldn’t be so quick to write off Phil as a sure thing to move to the pen in October.
Innings limits, as far as I know, don’t make a lick of difference to Cashman when the postseason comes around. Its primetime and the main goal is to win a World Championship.
What if Hughes gets on a roll even half-resembling his early season brilliance in September and finishes the year something like 18-5 or 19-5 with a 3.60 ERA? Do you honestly think they won’t want him starting in October against high octane offenses?
Gb-
” I tried the bear grease and garlic around my neck, but, she ate the garlic and licked off the bear grease. I think she swallowed the stilleto, because when she was done gnawing on my leg, the knife was gone.”
OMG. She ate the knife too. Worse than I thought.
In isolation, no.
–
or at all!
Thanks for the kind thoughts, Joe and Blake. Much appreciated.
How can they be “firm” with their plans on Hughes right now?
What if he pitches lights out over his next 7 starts, and gives them 7 innings per start?
If he does, that gets him to approx 165 innings by the end of August.
Do you know that means? It means that they may have to ramp up his move to the bullpen earlier in order to fit into the innings limits.
What if he pitches horribly in his next 7 starts and only gives them 30-35 innings? It means he can start deeper into September.
They don’t have to have plans set in stone right now. They have to know, which they do, in a general way when they think they can move him into the pen smoothly.
Also, what if one of the starters suffers a season ending injury? If so, that plan is scrapped and Hughes is in the rotation for the post-season.
Its why getting wrapped up in it is an exercise in futility.
Let it play out and see how the season shakes out.
GreenBeret7 July 27th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
upstate kate July 27th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
GB
sounds like you are in good spirits, I guess you escaped another close call!
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m not sure which would be the worst punishment…dealing with The Beast or having to read Chip and Bret discuss trade proposals.
***********
People like me GreenBeret. Offline. Online. Most of the time.
I am sure of it.
I can’t speak for Chip though.
j/k Chip
Yankees on Soria’s no trade list:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....-list.html
man we were so close to having cliff lee now.
GB7
Give it up, she is hot isn’t she?
GB,
Great news! You don’t have to go on the DL and miss the post-season! lol
Congrats on the clean bill of health.
“And he’s not really having a very good season so I’m not sure where the love comes from.”
Knuckleheads – like chicks – love the longball.
SJ44 July 27th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Its why getting wrapped up in it is an exercise in futility.
Let it play out and see how the season shakes out.
____________________________________________
Exactly!!
SJ44 July 27th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Its why getting wrapped up in it is an exercise in futility.
Let it play out and see how the season shakes out.
************************
SJ, stop making sense.
Thank you fran. Great preliminary reports. all I have to do his get these bites on my leg taken care of. She was desperate, gnawing on my leg all the way out to the cab.
Stark on Werth 5 minutes ago via MLBtraderumors Twitter
Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth told ESPN’s Jayson Stark he’s “not up late reading the blog sites” regarding trade rumors, but he doesn’t expect to be dealt. Stark agrees, though he notes that the Phillies did toss Werth’s name out there to many teams.
Thanks, SJ. Yeah, I’m day to day right now. Thanks for the kind thoughts.
Bret The Hitman July 27th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
champ809 July 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
**********
Awesome post.
I agree with it 100%.
——————
Shocking Bret
Overpaying for Soria is just dumb and hopefully not something Cashman is seriously considering.
As for worrying about having an in-house replacement for Mariano; don’t. None of us know how many more years Mariano is going to want to pitch and having an in-house guy isn’t mandatory.
Let’s say he retires after next season:
Papelbon
Valverde
Cordero
Heath Bell
and Joe Nathan; are all free agents, and other pitchers will be on the market as well.
In addition, Mo’s replacement could come from one of the plethora of pitchers GreenBeret talks about on a regular basis.
Anyone want to help me figure out a three team trade using Chamberlain and Gardner to get Chris Paul to the Knicks?
Chip
Ca$h right now is about 1 thing;
Improving this seasons club to defend the title and repeat as champions, period.
Soria handing off to Mo is an unbeatable combo and everybody in the game knows it.
Soria is not “a relief pitcher” he’s been the 2nd best closer in the game next to Mo for the last 4yrs so his track record is impeccable.
If Ca$h can find a way to add him to this team without trading off the majorleague club then it allows him to achieve his main goal of readying this team for postseason war!
He will not trade Montero to get that done and with the depth that he has in the minors he shouldn’t have to if KC is rreally open to trading Soria. If Ca$h doesn’t like the price he won’t do the deal.
But please let’s stop pretending that Soria is Brendan League or JJ Putz or any ole relief pitcher because he’s not he’s a cut above.
SS Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
C Jorge Posada
CF Curtis Granderson
DH Juan Miranda
LF Brett Gardner
This isn’t MLB2k10, where you can trade a sack of marbles for an unnecessary commodity like Werth or Soria.
———————–
How about MLB The Show (either 08 or 09)? I traded Damon for Crawford straight up and then proceeded to break 3 offensive single-season records with him.
Is that close to real life?
Phil in Columbus July 27th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
GB7
Give it up, she is hot isn’t she?
———————————————————————————————————————-
If she was strapped into the electric chair, she’d be hot. One might compare her to Phyllis Diller on a bad day.
Anybody else think that the reason the Yankees are on Soria’s “do not trade list” is because he knows they have the greatest closer of all time and being a closer he wants to well….. close.?
Champ -
Brian Cashman is never about just this year. He’s always thinking about the big picture – he doesn’t tend to make short sighted trades and overpaying for a relief pitcher is as short sighted as it gets.
Stuckey,
I find myself believing that you are a more analytically-gifted version of me. You tend to explain my arguments better than I do.
GreenBeret 7,
I’m happy you got good news today but I will admit that the image of some wretched old hag of a nurse licking bear grease off of God know what is sort of freaking me out.
So thanks for that.
GB,
I didn’t know you were dealing with a health scare. Best wishes with the results tomorrow.
“Anybody else think that the reason the Yankees are on Soria’s “do not trade list” is because he knows they have the greatest closer of all time and being a closer he wants to well….. close.?”
Perhaps he’s concerned with Joba Chamberlain accidentally sitting on him in the bullpen?
Blake -
I was making this point yesterday – that if I’m Soria, in the midst of a long term deal and I get traded to the Yankees this week the first thing I do when the season ends is opt out of my contract and force the Yankees to either pay me closer money to set up or sign with a team that will let me close.
Either way, projecting Soria’s “long term” future with the Yankees would be getting way ahead of ourselves.
blake – could be that. Could also be that he and his agent figure that if the Yanks do want such a high caliber player, they’d be willing to pay extra for the privilege and give him more money to waive that no-trade.
Chip
That’s the beauty of this trade because it’s not just about this year but Soria is cost controlled until 2014 @ below market and Mo is not pitching for more than 2 more seasons tops.
B. Jeers, it wasn’t for the faint of heart.
SJ, You make too much sense…..GB, great news you tough sob
I am glad all you guys and gals are out big game hunting that leaves the small varmits for me and the Yankees.
We won’t starve. Guarantee you that.
Soria can’t opt out of his contract as he doesn’t have enough service time in yet….I think
GB,
Sounds like your experience with your nurse(s) has been considerably different than mine the last several months.
Most of my nurses (and nurse’s assistants) were young and very cute. It was like an x-rated fantasy I’ve had more than once. LOL.
Cashman isn’t just about winning this year champ.
He has to balance it against the future.
If he was just about winning this year, he would have added Nunez to the Lee deal and gotten him.
He and the Yankees didn’t value Lee enough to give up 5 players, 3 of them upper level prospects, in order finish the deal. A correct evaluation, IMO. Especially since it would be an enormous surprise if they didn’t sign him in the off-season.
By doing what he did in the Lee talks, its pretty clear that while he wants to improve this teams chances of winning the WS, he isn’t about to mortgage the future to do so.
Let’s take Soria for example. If he does indeed have the Yankees on his no trade list, in order for him to waive it, you are going to have to pay him.
In other words, he’s going to want to be paid like an elite closer, which he is, in order to waive his no trade clause.
That means the Yankees would have to pay a setup man 10+ million dollars a year for the next 1-2 years. Not a great allocation of resources.
Soria’s main attribute, even more than his talent, is a very friendly contract. To have to re-do it in order for him to waive his no trade makes acquiring him much more costly and not worth doing.
That’s before we even get to the players that have to go back to KC to do the deal.
That’s why while on paper, it would be great to get him, as in most of these deals, the devil is in the details.
Its why most deals never materialize past the discussion stage these days.
champ809 July 27th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Chip
That?s the beauty of this trade because it?s not just about this year but Soria is cost controlled until 2014 @ below market and Mo is not pitching for more than 2 more seasons tops.
————————
That’s a misconception.
As a player in the middle of a long term deal Soria can opt out of his contract after this year. Even if he was willing to re-up with the Yankees as a set-up pitcher until Mo retires it certainly won’t be at this same “below market” contract.
If the Yankees are truly on Soria’s no-trade list, then the guy is a loser. Any player that doesn’t want to play on ANY team that has a chance every single season to win a championship (NYY, Philly, Boston, etc…) is a loser.
GF, it was just a semi-annual check to make sure they cleared up the problem. I go back in January and if all is good, it’s once a year. Thanks for the kind words, Bud.
GF-
Why would you tell GB something like that ?
Are you really that cruel ?
The man’s recovering. Have mercy !
stuckey,
Lol
Joe, that’s a possibility I would imagine. As Chip said, if something like that didn’t happen though then I wouldn’t be wild about being a set up guy if I’m Soria.
GF, in no way could Nurse Karloff be thought of as an x-rated fantasy.
It’s not surprising that the Yankees are on Soria’s list. It’s an excellent bargaining chip.
SJ –
to continue on your Soria point – that assumes Soria would stay here to set up for any amount of money.
If he opted out of his contract following a trade to the Yankees there would be no shortage of teams willing to both pay him and let him close:
Angels, Braves, Phillies, White Sox, just to name a few.
Thanks, Pat M. Much appreciated.
All this talk about GreenBeret’s nurse is making me realize why he’s such a cranky old buzzard. Please let me know where I can mail her a few extra bucks to ensure that she gives you a spongebath next time you have to see her.
Perhaps Soria would want his option years guaranteed.
That’s 23 million dollars in options.
Joakim Soria rhp
3 years/$8.75M (2009-11), plus 2012-14 club options
3 years/$8.75M (2009-11), plus 2012-14 club options
signed extension with Kansas City 5/17/08
09:$1M, 10:$3M, 11:$4M, 12:$6M club option, 13:$8M club option, 14:$8.75M club option ($0.75M buyout for each option)
Chip-
You just crossed the line there.
That’s cruel and unusual punishment.
Sick, really.
Chip, where are you seeing that Soria can opt out following a trade? It was not listed on COTS MLB.
Suzy Waldman is going to be on Sports Time Ohio with Bruce Drennan this afternoon. If anyone has it in a sports package it could be good. Bruce has an opinion on everything and is annoying. He is a good interviewer though. I’m pretty sure very few times has she come across someone like him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t9-DIKDGGA
It has nothing to do with Soria’s competitive nature…..or lack of it.
Its good business to have the Yankees on your no trade list.
This way, you get PAID in order to waive it.
If the Yankees want Soria, or any other team on his no trade list, they will pay for the right for him to waive it. Its how a player can control his own destiny. Good business, if you ask me.
Some of you need to realize that while its a game and a hobby to us, this is a job for the players. This is how they make their living and they have to maximize every opportunity to do so.
“If the Yankees are truly on Soria’s no-trade list, then the guy is a loser. Any player that doesn’t want to play on ANY team that has a chance every single season to win a championship (NYY, Philly, Boston, etc…) is a loser”
Never as simple as that. Maybe he put the Yankees on the list because he knows he can’t close here and didn’t want to jeopardize potential earnings. Maybe his agent had him put the Yankees on a no trade list as a way of giving him some leverage if indeed there’s mutual interest in trading him to the Yankees (i.e., “I’ll waive the NTC of the Yankees pick up all three of my option years right now”). Maybe he’s just not comfortable with the pace of big cities. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t make the guy a loser.
GB–Good one at 2:15 about characters and the computers. Being with Nurse Ratchett puts you in a happy mood.
Chip,
There is no “opt-out” clause. The Royals have the option on each of the last 3 years of his deal with $750K buyouts each year.
Players with a certain amount of service time in the middle of multi-year contracts can request a trade if they are traded in season during the time they are under contract.
If the trade request isn’t granted, they can become free agents.
I’m not sure if Soria has enough ST to fall under this rule.
Even if he doesn’t though, if he has a no trade clause, he has the hammer as to where he will go.
(i.e., “I’ll waive the NTC of the Yankees pick up all three of my option years right now”).
*********
Precisely. Most of his contract is non-guaranteed in fact.
Here’s the breakdown after 2010.
4 million guaranteed.
23 million non-guaranteed.
Phil in Columbus July 27th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Suzy Waldman is going to be on Sports Time Ohio with Bruce Drennan this afternoon. If anyone has it in a sports package it could be good. Bruce has an opinion on everything and is annoying. He is a good interviewer though.
***I’m pretty sure very few times has she come across someone like him.***
———————————————————————————————————————-
Only if she’s been on this board.
austinmac July 27th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
GB–Good one at 2:15 about characters and the computers. Being with Nurse Ratchett puts you in a happy mood.
———————————————————————————————————————
Yeah, right. Believe me, I was crying on the inside for 5 hours.
“I’m not sure if Soria has enough ST to fall under this rule.”
I thought it was six years service time.
Soria’s working on his 4th year.
big prospect package + paying out money to get Soria to waive his no trade……can’t see that happening at all.
Bret The Hitman July 27th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
(i.e., “I’ll waive the NTC of the Yankees pick up all three of my option years right now”).
*********
Precisely. Most of his contract is non-guaranteed in fact.
Here’s the breakdown after 2010.
4 million guaranteed.
23 million non-guaranteed.
——————————————————–
Brett,
Pursuing you down the rabbit hole, Soria would not want the Yankees to pick up his 3 options in exchange for dropping his NTC as the options are for below-market levels. It would be more likely for a lucrative extension and not picking up the current options or for the donkey behind curtain #2.
Jerkface July 27th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Chip, where are you seeing that Soria can opt out following a trade? It was not listed on COTS MLB.
—————-
It’s not a clause in his contract – it’s a rule for all players in the middle of long term deals.
If they get traded during that deal they can either demand a trade or, if the trade is not granted, elect to forgo the remaining years on their contract and become free agents.
Soria’s option years are club options. Some become guaranteed based on number of appearances. As of right now he is on schedule for his 2012 option but it depends on either 55 appearances in 2011 or 110 combined for 2010-2011. He’s got about 40 for 2010 right now.
I don’t think Soria put the Yanks on his no-trade list for the small chance that if the Royals did a swing a trade he could negotiate his options being guaranteed.
GB 7
Is it safe to say that this Nurse Karloff you speak of is a better qualified nurse than the mother of Norman Bates ?
MTU July 27th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
GF-
Why would you tell GB something like that ?
Are you really that cruel ?
The man’s recovering. Have mercy !
———-
Hey, I’ve been recovering, too.
Perhaps that’s why my recovery went so much faster than anyone expected! LOL.
GF-
“Hey, I’ve been recovering, too.
Perhaps that’s why my recovery went so much faster than anyone expected! LOL.”
You do have a point.
GTLU lineups today: If you’re name is missing, let me know.
Erin
Phil in Columbus
YankeeRay
YankeeBlue222
Erica
Chuck58
Yankee Trader
upstate kate
Fran (the original)
bisonthrow
Warning Track Power
justinxdance27
champ809
comet
Unknown
RayVT
With a no-trade clause, club options can be controlled by the player.
23 million dollars guaranteed is a nice haul for a NTC.
Health is not guaranteed.
Appearance benchmarks are therefore, not guaranteed.
Thanks Doreen!
If the Yanks were to in fact trade for Soria I suspect they would have no problem picking up the options on his contract as he would then be cost controlled below market for 4 more years.
Soria does not have enough service team to opt out of his contact if he’s traded and the Yanks would not renegotiate his deal and pay him closer $ say beginning next season.
Soria could and I’m sure would demand that the options be picked up which I’m sure the Yanks would have no problem doing.
And I never said that Ca$h would mortgage the future to win this season. In fact I said that he would decide whether the price for the player was “worth it” keeping the long range health of the franchise in mind.
Right now his priority is any and all ways that he can improve to 2010 club heading into the postseason drive.
GB – very happy to hear the health news.. Good Job!
Soria does not have enough service time to evoke an opt out of his contract
FYI with the 2007 CBA:
Trade Demands: Provision allowing players traded during multiyear contracts to file trade demand during 15 days after the World Series is eliminated for new multi-year contracts. Right to demand trade remains for players who signed multi-year deals before ratification of the 2007-11 CBA.
MTU -
It might do both of them some good.
How come it took so long to find out that the Yankees are on Soria’s no-trade list??
I saw that they were restructuring the HOF exlections into 3 eras and categories.
as far as execs go, there should be 4 of them in. GMS, Marvin Miller, Charles O. Finley and John Fetzer.
Players that belong….Ron Santo, Tommy John and Jim Kaat from the Veteran’s Committee.
They finally need to correct a long overdue slight. A wing for scouts.
GTLU is Closed for Today. No More Line Ups.
Thanks, Bronx B. Your kind words are much appreciated.
I never paid attention to Ankiel play until this past weekend. That kid can play. If Yanks picked him up that wouldn’t be so bad.
According to the Yahoo bloggers- Joba’s trade value is quite high.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....mlb-258502
Doreen July 27th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
How come it took so long to find out that the Yankees are on Soria’s no-trade list??
**********
The timing of this revelation is interesting.
New Post w/lineup
New thread
Line up!
Some good news from down on the farm:
Trenton (AA) beta New Britain today, 4-3. Adam Warren got his third win without a defeat at AA. He pitched 6-1/3 innings and gave up 5 hits and 4 runs. His ERA at Trenton is 2.95.
Brandon Laird had 2 hits including a home run and Luis Nunez was 2 for 3.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_treaax_1
I never paid attention to Ankiel play until this past weekend. That kid can play. If Yanks picked him up that wouldn?t be so bad.
–
Can play what? Hopscotch? .237 .289 .474 .763
He is kind of a failure as a pitcher and a hitter. Its a shame his command went haywire as a pitcher.
Bret,
First I don’t think the Yanks would make a play for Soria unless they knew something about Mo that we don’t know yet.
But if they did know Mo was going to hang it up in 2011 then I don’t think they would bat an eye over paying Soria 7 mil a year to close for them. Those option years are not exactly off the charts expensive for a 26 year old closer like Soria.
But, they wouldn’t pay him that to set-up nor do I think that Soria has any desire to be 2nd fiddle. That’s proabably part of the reasoning behind the Yanks being on the NT list.
The second reason is he doesn’t want to be paid 6.5 AAV to close for the Yanks. That’s practically what they paid Krazy Kyle to walk guys for 2 years. More likely he’d demand a new contract getting paid 10-12 per for 5-6 years or even more.