A few notes and links on a cold, slow day
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Jan 24, 2011 
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Good thing I have all of this skiing gear. It’s freezing here in New York! Spring training opens in three weeks, until then, it’s probably best to get used to the cold days and the slow news days like this one. Granted, we’ve gotten used to the slow news already. Here are a few links from today.
• The guys over at River Ave. Blues looked at whether Sergio Mitre might be a better rotation option than some of the free agents occasionally linked to the Yankees this winter.
• Speaking of potential rotation additions, one of them came off the market today when Armando Galarraga was traded to Arizona.
• More proof that not all top prospects becoming top big leaguers: Today Andy LaRoche settled on a minor league deal with the A’s and Clayton Mortensen was traded to Colorado after being designated for assignment.
• In the AL East, the Rays are still figuring out what to do with Jake McGee and the Blue Jays might look to make additional trades to move the pieces they added in the Vernon Wells deal.
Jake McGee has a real nice arm……Wondering what was going on with him for 2011….. He can lift the Rays pen a few notches….
“That being said, McGee, a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder with an overpowering fastball, came through the Rays system as a starter with good friend RHP Wade Davis, who was also drafted in 2004. And Hickey said, in general, it’s much more valuable to have a 180- to 200-inning guy than a reliever who throws 40-60.”
Pat M
I think as a lefty they should definitely give him a chance especially with all the tough left handed hitters in the AL East. And especially since they have no bullpen.
I’ve had the opportunity to spend a good portion of today here and it’s always interesting to see how the morning shift differs from the afternoon group and then it’s time to buckle up for the rough and tumble night group……Saturday night is alright for fighting is my description of the LoHud PM version….
joeman trying to pull a Jon Heyman on Nick. Said everyday Lee would be a Ranger but trying to take credit for calling the Lee thing.
Over/under on the amount of time it takes WCYF to appear now that I mentioned Uncle Jon?
Pat M
I agree, there is such a difference in who is on here throughout the day. I often check the blog and comments throughout the day on my phone, I don’t comment unless its a topic I feel comfortable commenting on. But there is a big difference depending on time of day.
Is anyone going to the Cashman breakfast hosted by Francesa? From what everyone has said the last one was really good. I’m expecting this one to be good too especially with the whole Soriano thing.
LGY…..You just made point, the evening has an edge to it here…..
I am disgused by Pat M’s cruel remarks, but I’m assuming they’ll look more benign by the morning.
Pat M
Sunday brunch crowd vs last call crowd.
Nick in SF / LGY….Who’s buying the last round ??? I’ll leave the tip….I’ll still basking in the glow of my new pool girl from earlier today….Nothing can bring me down !!!! No comments guys…
I think you’re supposed to call a doctor if you’ve been basking in the glow for more than 4 hours… what, no comments? My bad.
Golden State Warriors +6 hosting the red-hot Spurs, total waste of money?????
Pat M. January 24th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Nick in SF / LGY….Who’s buying the last round ??? I’ll leave the tip….I’ll still basking in the glow of my new pool girl from earlier today….Nothing can bring me down !!!! No comments guys…
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You’ve certainly crushed the best jokes, Pat.
Sounds like Pat’s new pool girl is the Viagra of pool girls.
GB….That’s one med I haven’t asked for……
Beyond re-signing Pettitte, Kevin Millwood, Doug Davis, Justin Duchscherer, Freddy Garcia and John Maine are probably the best of the unappetising lot. Mitre isn’t any better, but probably no worse. There just wasn’t much on the markets this year. I’d still prefer going after Kazmir over those, other than Pettitte. I’d add Kazmir even with Pettitte.
Pat M. January 24th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
GB….That’s one med I haven’t asked for……
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From your description of her, even Randy wouldn’t need it.
GB….The pre-camp vibe is that Kazmir is healthy and both he and the Angels are excited and are looking forward to a much better season……I’d welcome him to the Yanks rotation however I doubt the Halos have any interest in moving him……He’s being counted upon to be the lefty factor in their staff…..He’s their # 4 guy behind Weaver, Haren & Santana…….They have a good rotaion….
Can I interrupt the thrilling conversation that’s going on to say that I think Jeters new mansion is ridiculous. Who needs a house that big? Seriously.
Oh, and I’m going to attempt to take a day off work once pre spring training workouts have started in Feb. Apparently the fields are all open and just anyone can walk around the stadium and watch the Yankees workout.
GB,
As we discussed last night, I am having Chad send you my email address.
The conversation on here tonight is………………………..
Anybody know why Orlando Cabrera never stays long in one place ?
3-1 / 9-2 / 5-1….The odds for winning The World Series….Phillies / BoSox / Yankees….Odd thing is that both Boston & NY are 5/2 to win The AL Pennant
LGY January 24th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Over/under on the amount of time it takes WCYF to appear now that I mentioned Uncle Jon?
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2 hours on the nose. Did you win?
Pat, I think Kazmir will be just fine. He reminds me a lot of Al Lieter with the erratic pitching and arm miseries. He would be a fine addition…like I said, with or without Pettitte in the fold.
SAS January 24th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
GB,
As we discussed last night, I am having Chad send you my email address.
The conversation on here tonight is………………………..
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Sorry about the talk, SAS, but, Pat brings out the worst in me and Randy is just an easy target.
Looking forward to the off line conversations. Thank you.
tyanksfan36 January 24th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Can I interrupt the thrilling conversation that’s going on to say that I think Jeters new mansion is ridiculous. Who needs a house that big? Seriously.
Oh, and I’m going to attempt to take a day off work once pre spring training workouts have started in Feb. Apparently the fields are all open and just anyone can walk around the stadium and watch the Yankees workout.
—
The one in Tampa? It didn’t look that big when I checked it out on Google Maps about a year ago when it was being built. Are there any recent pics anywhere?
GB….I see him ( Kazmor ) being one of the comeback players in 2011….I’ve been mesmerized by watching my Tennis sweetheart Caroline Wozinacki on ESPN playing in the Down Under Open…..Lookin real fine…..WCYF, I say you win….LGY is watching reruns of Leave it To Beaver in his dreams…..Not enough action here tonight…
Lucky you, TY. Get lots of pix and hang around the scouts and eavesdrop to get some scoops and baseball gossip.
GB,
Men will be men. I was just joshing with you guys.
Good Night Morning People……A very slow and uneventful Monday night here………
Anybody want to have breakfast with Cashman and Francessa this morning?
I have to work early today and wont be able to make it but I’ve got two tickets if you’re interested and available
Here’s the link : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA.....CA:US:1123
THese things had a $100 face value but I know it’s way late at this point and I’ll take what I can get basically..
I think Kazmir is the angels 5, Pineiro would be their 4.
I’ll be recording Francesa’s show today. It should be interesting to see what Cashman has to say this morning as last year’s breakfast he was quite candid with his comments.
Good morning, morning people.
Last year’s breakfast with Cashman – I remember it being a very positive thing. They were coming off the World Championship and he had made some big moves (Granderson, Javy) that people were still able to be positive about at the time.
I don’t expect this year’s breakfast to have the same tone, do you? With the disappointment of not signing Lee, the unexpected tenor of the Jeter re-signing, the “split” about getting Soriano, I would imagine it could be perdy interesting. Though Francesca does run the thing pretty well. He’s at his best at this type of work.
****
I agree that Jeter’s house is rather big, but, hey, what else should he spend his money on? It’s not gaudy or anything, just big.
I used to live on Staten Island growing up. And there’s lots of cookie cutter neighborhoods there – the same ranch house for entire blocks. Or ranches alternated with Capes. The lots are not big – 40 by 100 maybe? Anyway, I used to visit my parents when they lived there and sometimes I would take a detour on the way home to visit neighborhoods I used to live in. Well, it is unbelievable what people have done. “Mansions” on 40×100 lots (so, no backyard and no front lawns), totally out of character with the rest of the homes on the block. It doesn’t even matter if the larger homes are attractive – they stick out like sore thumbs.
Anyway, I don’t think Jeter’s house sticks out like a sore thumb.
Good Morning.
I’m giving AP one more week to re-up and then I’m movin’ on for now.
If he doesn’t show up for the start of the season maybe he’ll go with the half season meal plan.
Mitre is only good for half a season at best.
If AP does not return I’d go with the Duke if healthy, if not I’d probably get an innings eater like Millwood.
There is a huge drop off from AP. He would really solve a lot of problems.
good morning early birds!
YAY it is above zero today
BOO it is snowing again
Doreen
I looked for that Carrie Fisher commercial, and was surprised to see how much weight she had put on.
Kate-
Stay warm.
Think of all the money you save on refrigeration, and you have
plenty of ice cubes for mixed drinks.
If I were you I would on the first plane to the Caribbean.
For about a month. You could thaw out real nice.
The odds of not getting either Lee or AP were really low.
Super low in fact. You’d have to figure on at least one.
Sometimes you roll the dice and you just crap out.
Snake eyes comes up.
The Yankees were flying high w/o a net.
That’s always dangerous territory.
Or maybe this year’s “netting” for sale was too flimsy to help.
A Salmon swimming upstream right now. Let’s hope they make the last falls and get to the spawning ground.
We’re one pitcher away from having a great team.
Just one.
Solamente Uno.
Que lastima ! Por favor Andy.
Ayuda Nuestros. Grande Hombre de Los Yankees.
(I figured maybe it would help if I appealed to him in another language. I don’t speak Texan so I went with Espanol.)
“Anyway, I don?t think Jeter?s house sticks out like a sore thumb.”
The majority of the houses in the neighborhood are under 3000 SF. His is 30,000 SF. Sore thumb.
Pat-
At that size more like a sore Elephant.
It’s snowing here and it wasn’t supposed to be snowing here.
pat -
Just judging from the picture I saw.
I guess we don’t have to worry about the terms of his last contract!
it is the Jeter stimulus project, think of how many people he employed building it, and will employ maintaining it
Kate-
It was “shovel ready”.
Chez Jetér?
IMHO Jeter would have absolutely mo problem if he ever decides to throw a pajama party.
Wait till you see his water Taxi.
edit: “no”. Mo certainly wouldn’t be a problem either. He could stop by on his way back to Panama.
This article had 4 pictures of the finished house.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/20.....pa-mansio/
The overhead shot doesn’t give much perspective to the size. The cars on the driveway in relation to the size of the house and the amount of pavers on the driveway is what gave me perspective of the size of it.
MTU,
Wonder how many acres in Montana Jeter could’ve got for the price of that house
Jeter should have just bought the Hurst Castle @ San Simeon.
The State of Ca. could sure use the money.
Blake-
Think Ponderosa sized.
For my taste a way better investment.
Each to their own.
Blake-
Actually there are several Movie stars who own property there.
I know that Fonda and Turner used to have a mega ranch up there.
Redford owns a huge piece of property in Northern Utah.
It’s where the “Sundance” film festival comes from.
MTU,
Me too. If im building a 10+ million dollar home I would have no neighbors…..but to each there own. Nice house. Funny that he’s selling his place in NY for over twice the amount it cost to build that mansion…..
time to hit the trail again soon.
Hope you all have a good day.
MTU,
Yea I know….Redford has the right idea
Blake-
You know how I am. Give me those wide open spaces. Don’t fence me in.
Those digs are more “conventional” for people of his station.
Jeter is a great ballplayer but I’m guessing he thinks the wilderness is for hicks, and for making toothpicks.
pat,
The house directly to left of Jeter’s in the picture looks larger than 3,000 square feet. That’s what I based my judgment on. It is about the size of a small hotel, though. Could it be the homes on the waterfront are larger (even if not as large as Derek’s) than the homes off it? I’d love to see an aerial view of the neighborhood.
In any event, it’s his money and he didn’t build an eyesore, looks-wise.
MTU,
I will help with your Pettitte communications.
Come on Andy, saddle her up for one last rodeo.
How can he say no to that?
Austin-
I knew I could count on you.
Thanks for the lesson in “Texas-speak” pardner.
MTU,
Your welcome Hoss. Now let’s go see what Hop Sing is whipping up for breakfast.
Well, I went to googlemaps and did find Jeter’s house. No mistaking it.
The houses on the waterfront are bigger, but not nearly as large as Jeter’s. The house next door has a tennis court on the waterfront. Jeter could have three. But, I think the thing that makes his house stick out is it looks like he left no green. (This picture looks like it was taken before the house is 100% completed, but close to it.) Much like the homes I was talking about back on SI.
Still, what else can he spend his money on?
Mitre is the long man out of the bullpen ……. period. If Aceves comes back at all it won’t be until mid-season.
Whether Pettitte returns or not, I still want another LH in the rotation and the best of the lot comes from either Scott Kazmir or Wandy Rodriquez.
It’s up to Cashman to put the pieces together to have either pitcher. Kazmir’s contract is $12M and Rodriquez less after his arbitration. The payroll can stand it.
A little morning gossip:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2.....rodriguez/
I must say, I really like Alex’s trench coat.
Doreen
According to Zillow.com, homes on the water surounding his are about 5000-6000 SF and homes across the street from his are 2000-3000SF.
http://www.zillow.com/homes/58.....ect/17_zm/
Zillow.com of your own neighborhood is an interesting thing to look at if you haven’t before.
108 Stitches,
I agree completely. I prefer Wandy, but Kazmir is worth an expensive shot.
pat -
I never heard of Zillow. I’ll have to check it out.
Listen, no doubt Jeter’s house is big. At least the house itself is not ugly. But looking at the aerial view of the neighborhood, his is definitely of the low-maintenance landscape type.
I’d prefer some green if it were me.
I am not seeing anything about Scott Kazmir that makes me want him. His ERA is almost 6 overall, and is even higher vs TB and BOS.
I want a tour of Casa Jeter!!
Cameron’s pretty low maintenance if she went to Paris with just carry-on luggage.
I would have loved to have been able to go to that meet and greet breakfast today with Francesa interviewing Brian Cashman.
If there is a Q&A session, I would hope that someone would have the nerve to ask him “Why were you so against giving up the 31st pick in this year’s draft at a shot at getting Rafael Soriano when a year earlier you gave up the organization’s 3rd highest rated in prospect in Arodys Vizcaino in the trade for Javy Vasquez who was always going to be nothing more than a 1 year rental?”.
“I am not seeing anything about Scott Kazmir that makes me want him. His ERA is almost 6 overall, and is even higher vs TB and BOS.”
Is going to be what you’ve seen, rather than what you see. From 2005-2008, Kazmir posted a 3.50 ERA in the AL East. He averaged 30 starts a season and averaged nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. His WAR for those 4 seasons was 17.1 and he was twice an allstar. However, even when going well, he came with some warts. His walk rate has always been unacceptably high and has never been able to pitch deep into games, averaging less than 6 innings per start over his career. In fact, he’s had only one season where he’s averaged more than 6 IP per start and that was in ’07, when he managed to average 6.08 innings per start.
pat -
It just means she’s going to buy her wardrobe there. I want to see the pictures/reports of how much luggage on the way back.
New Post- Pinch Hitting: Ed Conde
I agree with Kate on Kazmir. Besides it’s hard to see the Angels dealing him while it’s easy to see Houston putting Rodriguez on the block.
And as I’ve said many times I would try to find out the price tag on Fausto Carmona.
I guess I’m the only one who cares on one iota about Derek and his digs.
86w183 -
It’ s not so much care as something to talk about.
“Why were you so against giving up the 31st pick in this year’s draft at a shot at getting Rafael Soriano when a year earlier you gave up the organization’s 3rd highest rated in prospect in Arodys Vizcaino in the trade for Javy Vasquez who was always going to be nothing more than a 1 year rental?”.
Can’t answer for Cashman, but as bad as Vazquez was in 2010, he was coming off a very strong 2009 and entering his walk year. There was reason to believe the Yankees would need the 200 innings he had put up like clockwork over the previous decade. In dealing Vizcaino, they Yankees were dealing from a position where they were quite deep and Vazquez stood to gain the Yankees as many as two picks in the 1st 60 picks if he had even an average Javier Vazquez year. It’s also worth noting that Cashman has used his 1st couple picks in the past two drafts on postion players, perhaps addressing the fact that the quality and depth of the organizations postion player prospects lags considerably behind that of the pitching prospects. Could be he was looking to expand on that effort again in the upcoming draft with picks 31 and 40-something (comp for Vazquez).
And he didn’t want to pay closer money for an EIG.
I greatly appreciate what Andy Pettitte has done for the Yankees all these years–would love to see him return this season but let’s crap or get off the pot–he has had months to make up his mind.