Non-Pettitte news and notes
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 04, 2011 
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Assuming I’ve done some fairly simple math correctly, I have 8,975 words of transcribed quotes from today’s press conference. I’ve been sorting through that most of the day, but believe it or not, there have actually been things going on in the non-Andy Pettitte baseball world, including some Yankees news.
• According to good buddy Sweeny Murti, the Yankees have signed Ronnie Belliard and Eric Chavez to minor league deals. Considering the Yankees have a wide-open spot on their bench, those two could be legitimate candidates for the Opening Day roster.
• Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees have at least discussed attempting a trade for a left-handed starting pitcher. Rosenthal mentioned Joe Saunders, Scott Kazmir, Wade LeBlanc, Clayton Richard and Gio Gonzalez as potential targets. Not sure why Oakland would trade Gonzalez, but to me, he’s probably the name that stands out most.
• Robinson Cano has reportedly switched agents and will now be represented by Scott Boras.
• Vladimir Guerrero apparently got his $8 million. He’s settled on a one-year deal with the Orioles.
• The Rangers might or might not be working toward trading Michael Young to Colorado.
• Turns out Jim Edmonds is not retiring. He’s heading back to St. Louis on a minor league deal. Another outfielder, Gabe Gross, has landed a minor league deal with the Mariners.
Gio is intriguing. It’s something to monitor.
Ooops.
The average age of the AAA Yankees may actually be greater than that of the big league team if these signings continue!
Nick in SF February 4th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Gio is intriguing. It’s something to monitor.
+++++++++++
He’s a bum….not worth it.
Not worth Montero, no.
He can’t even spell his whole first name…how smart can he be?
Isn’t that the name of a car?? Gio Metro??
I find fault with you “we can always sign Montero when he’s 26″ reasoning.
We don’t know that. He might be extended by either the A’s or more likely the team Beane spins him off to.
And if he’s worth signing at 26, he’s probably even more valuable during his cost-controlled years.
We’ll continue this tomorrow Nick (if you like)…Bring this up again then…Good night and pleasant dreams.
yankees really stocking up on players to send to the minors.
“Isn’t that the name of a car?? Gio Metro??”
——————–
A wise man once told me that the higher quality the car a woman shares a name with, the higher quality the lady.
I suspect the same logic can be applied to baseball players.
washed up players…
suppose that Po has a very good year at DH and he enjoys DHing does this effect Montero in 2012
some very nice young catchers in the majors right now…..Posey,Santana,M Montero,Wieters & Arencibia….doesn’t look like J Montero will be here in 11 but here’s to 12
–
If Po has a good year and DH it only affects Montero if Montero is a worse hitter than Posada. If Montero is an awesome hitter, or shows the PROMISE of being one, then why would they re-sign Posada? If they did it would be for a role that doesn’t eliminate PA’s for Montero. Literally the only way Posada being re-signed affects Montero is if Montero is bad enough to warrant it. Its all up to Jesus.
And as for your list, Santana is not a good defensive catcher and neither is Arencibia, though both are good bats. And both are 4 years older than Jesus. Montero is above average for a catcher with the bat and good defense, and Posey is an all-star. Wieters has yet to live up to his hype.
The scary thing about Jesus is that has a better bat tool than all of these guys and is younger to boot. He could end up providing the same defense as JP or Santana.
Gio is intriguing. It’s something to monitor.
Ooops.
—
Are we still monitoring Jeter’s ground ball rate?
These minor league deals might contain language that allows the player to opt out if he doesn’t make the major league roster so let’s not assume all of these guys are heading to SWB quite yet.
Are we still monitoring Jeter’s ground ball rate?
–
I had to turn the monitors off in disgust.
It just occured to me the real reason that Andy Pettitte retired….
He was upset that Johnny Damon isn’t coming back to the Yankees!
The sad thing is, both guys would outhit Pena or Golson. Only problem is lack of defensive versatility
Good night Yankee people!!!!
(I’ll be at my desk at work in 8 hours when you come to realize I am right about my 11:03 statement and wish to discuss)
Anyone know what Chavez has been up to the last few season?
It’s unknown.
That’s pretty good WCYF
Sorry just kidding! Chavez has had serious injury problems. He has only played in 64 games the last 3 years with a total of 3 home runs and 25 RBI’s.
There are people left here tonight.
Finally watched the rest of the Pettitte press conference. I had to go to work 20 minutes into it. I loved where he called out Brian Costello for coming to his house. Too funny. Ill miss seeing him pitch but I’m glad he was able to go out on a high note.
tyanks,
Me too.
Have a good night.
Goodnight SAS hope the weather is friendly to you.
So Cano is now a Boras guy. Can’t wait to see how much he will want. 20 million for 8 years?
I’m about to go to sleep, but saw the query about Chavez. Here is an interesting story on him from the SF Chronicle. Be well, all. Good night.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/.....y_id=82472
So Cano is now a Boras guy. Can’t wait to see how much he will want. 20 million for 8 years?
-
We’ll see how he is playing in 3 years and then the Yankees can decide on the 20 mil or not.
I wonder what A-Rod has told Cano about Boras.
Good morning morning people. Or those that don’t sleep.
Good morning, Al.
Thought I was the only one up.
I can see the low risk, high reward in signing these guys, but, I still believe we have better in SWB ready to contribute, and we don’t need has-beens that are nothing but walking wounded.
Sorry Chuck, I didn’t hit refresh, and took too long getting back.
OK – Catch you later.
Good morning, morning people.
It feels much earlier than 7:18 am.
Big Al -
It strikes me that perhaps the Yankees are putting back-up possibilities in place in case of trade? Not saying a trade is imminent.
Good morning, morning people
Live from my desk at work.. woohoo!
Good morning, Erica -
Sorry you have to be at work so early. Bad enough it’s Saturday.
So, people were barking up the wrong tree – it’s wasn’t Lee, it was Damon who decided Pettitte’s fate?
Morning gang, waiting for the kids/grandkids to arrive from the frigid north for a 10 day visit.
Gary -
That sounds like fun!
Erica in NY February 4th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
It just occured to me the real reason that Andy Pettitte retired….
He was upset that Johnny Damon isn’t coming back to the Yankees!
———————————————————————————–
So we can blame Damon because he was too greedy last year.
If he had signed that 2 year contract Andy would be pitching this year.
Hi Doreen they were anxious to beat their sneaks out of NY. Wonder why?
Doreen-
I didn’t “have” to be here so early. But I am usually out around 12 on Saturdays so I tend to come here earlier. And for some reason I find it much easier to be here at 7am on a Saturday than Monday-Friday.
Anyway……
Am I supposed to believe its a coincedence that Andy months of indecision, Andy Pettitte notified all of his retirement just after Johnny Damon had his Tampa Bay press conference? Andy saw there was no hope he would be playing with Johnny again and decided to throw in the towel rather than face a Damon-less team.
(P.S. I am wearing my Uggs
)
Gary -
I have no idea why they’d want to leave NY!
68 here already our way to 77. Guess we will take it. The last 5 days of 80′s were really nice.
I see there are again rumors out there about the Yanks getting another Starting Pitcher.
good morning all
Erica
that is an interesting spin!
Doreen fun watching the flights online on flight tracker, they are almost out of Pa and can feel I expect the heat already. The little ones are 2 and 4 they are just water rats when they are down here.
Erica -
You make a good case.
It’s a good day for Uggs.
Gary -
I LOVE flight tracker!
My husband had a trip to Las Vegas recently and we tracked his flight all the way home – it kind of makes the trip more real, and it goes a little faster knowing where exactly in space a person is. Does that make sense?
My folks live in Florida full time now and we visited over the summer. You walk from their living room to the pool. We spent the week in bathing suits (except to go out to eat). No need for anything else.
I can imagine the squeal of delight from your grandkids as they splash into the water!
Have a great time w/ your family Gary. We used to go down to visit my parents for spring break every year when my son was young.
Eric Chavez huh? He was on his way to super stardom before his body betrayed him. Mostly his back if I recall.
An elite defender with 30 HR power playing in a canyon of a park. He’s not even old.
Between him and Jones? That’s a lot of Gold Gloves coming to camp.
it will be interesting to see who makes the trip north
Despite feeling the effects of the 16oz margarita I drank last night, I am wide awake. The worst thing about waking up early every day of the week is it transfers to the weekends too. Thank God I wake up at 8 though and not 6.
I know last night I started something when I said the parent said our rotation is awful and someone agreed with it. I think if you think the rotation is awful then you can, we all have different feelings about things. I hate liver but everyone in my family loves it. We don’t hold it against eachother.
I laughed it off when the parent was where I work was saying they’re awful. If I let it get to me then he knows it bothers me, if I go with it and laugh it off. If he thinks I feel the same way then he won’t be able to rile me up and it will take the fun out of it. Besides, it will be more fun when the Rays are in 3rd place at the end of the season like he said the Yankees will be.
Gary
How fun that your family can come down here and escape the yucky weather up north. Thank goodness for the south. My Dad is flying up to Oklahoma for 2 weeks so he has been out buying warm clothes.
good morning tyanks
I am not thrilled w/ the rotation, but I am not losing sleep over it either. Too many variables over 162 games to worry in Feb!
I hate waking up late on days off. Free time mustn’t be wasted lying in bed!
I drive my wife crazy on vacations. Our schedules do not vibe.
Kate
Same here, I think our lineup is good enough to back up almost any starter. Having pitching woes makes me happy we have such a great set of position players and DH. I think many teams would wish they had the guys we have.
Bronx Jeers-
Are you the type that needs to schedule every minute of vacation to maximize your time away?
Bronx Jeers -
You sound like my husband. I had to adjust to his vacation schedule and to be honest, it works out better for us. But it took a while for me to get to that realization.
Good morning folks.
Are we there yet ?
Is it soup ?
Jeers
I am the same way. I am a morning person and feel like I have wasted the day if I sleep in. We usually get up early on vacation too b/c we like to pack it in.
Man, with Vlad signing with the O’s, the AL East is becoming like the Big East is in basketball. Every team in the division is capable of having a winning record. Can we move that playoff expansion up a year?:)
Good morning morning folks…
I think I owe an answer to Nick in SF, so please indulge me for a moment while I respond to a conversation from last night.
_____________________
Nick in SF February 4th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
I find fault with you “we can always sign Montero when he’s 26? reasoning.
We don’t know that. He might be extended by either the A’s or more likely the team Beane spins him off to.
And if he’s worth signing at 26, he’s probably even more valuable during his cost-controlled years.
+++++++++++++++++++++
The way I look at it is this:
He probably will become a Boras client (based on influence from ARod, Cano, Tex, and others). Therefore, he avoids giving up any FA time.
2011–he comes up after 2 months
2012 thru 2016–Owned by team and goes thru arbitration
Summer of 2107–He gets traded for a 3 month rental, and becomes a FA for 2018 at age 28.
So, based on my assumption that Boras will acquire him as a client, I suspect he will go to FA.
Your second point is totally valid. Of course he is worth more when he is cheaper.
But I come back to the second point I made in the post you responded to:
“If the talks about Cashman trying to trade Montero to acquire Soria are true, then you cna bet he would do a deal for Gio. Soria’s WAR values fluctuate between 2.7 and 3.8, and Gio hit 4.3 last year. Get used to it…Cashman may in fact trade Montero for a player like Gio if he can.”
My overall point is that I don’t believe Cashman considers Montero to be untouchable or even would hold him back in trades many of us would hold him back from. I am suggesting we get used to the possibility that he may soon be traded.
Doreen February 5th, 2011 at 7:22 am
Big Al -
It strikes me that perhaps the Yankees are putting back-up possibilities in place in case of trade? Not saying a trade is imminent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doreen:
Hopefully you’re right. As we know, the sense of need comes in the way of at least one proven starter. Nothing against the high rising arms in the system but they’re better served with a full year at AAA and / or get ready to be moved up.
There’s dispensable players to be used to get a deal done.
108 stitches February 5th, 2011 at 8:53 am
There’s dispensable players to be used to get a deal done.
+++++++++++++++
I would hope Cashman could do a deal without giving up Montero…but not sure if it will happen.
I’m the total opposite. I’m a night owl. If I go to bed early I feel like I’m missing out. When I wake up early on my days off I just sit around for hours not doing anything.
Good morning everyone. Sorry I’m late
Gary, enjoy your family’s visit.
Cashman cknowledged yesterday that he knows the starting rotation needs work. He’s just not sure how it will fill out yet. IMO Nova can be the #5 starter. That still leaves a need for a #4.
There has to be something out there worth the cost of trading for first.
I would rather just see what we have and make adjustments later.
Or if this happens to be a transition year then so be it. Let’s find out
more about what we have.
If something presents itself great but I’m not expecting anything, and I wouldn’t get fleeced. We’ve come this far. Why blow the farm up now ?
Should be an interesting season. Full of all sorts of surprises.
MTU February 5th, 2011 at 9:01 am
+++++++++++
Agreed
I don’t think Montero is untouchable, but he is worth more than Gio Gonzalez
Hi Fran I worry as much about #3 as I do #4 and #5, until AJ shows that he can be the consistent pitcher we need the jury is still out on him.
upstate kate February 5th, 2011 at 9:02 am
I don’t think Montero is untouchable, but he is worth more than Gio Gonzalez
_____________________________________________________________________
Kate for sure on that one, but if someone makes a offer with a top pitcher included (one wonders how that happens unless the guy is going to bolt to FA) I think they would move him.
Gary, I just have to believe that AJ will be better this season. Maybe the new pitching coach will be the key. And if AJ did have personal issues last season, hopefully they are resolved and that will help.
I was in a couple of discussions yesterday, and one person was kind enough to provide some data to counter a point I was trying to make. I want to respond to it because htey went to so much trouble.
I made the point that I think the post steroid era will have more small ball, and therefore the defensive role at C will be more important than it was during the steroid years, and how Jorge was able to be efffective because clubs were not looking to run as much.
The poster put up numbers that showed only a slight increase in SBs as an average across the league.
Personally, I never believe league averages or macro numbers in general are the best way to evaluate a changing trend. The slow adapters tend to hold down the numbers and hide the shift. My point at the time was that a better way to look at it would be to examine only the clubs that are direct threats to the Yankees and see what they are doing.
For example, in 2010 the Rays stole 172 bases (way above average), the Chisox stole 168, and in 2011 the Red Sox could steal close to or over 200. When faced with this renewed offensive threat, the Yankees have been shown to be ill-prepared, and singles and walks turn into doubles and triples, with double steals and suicide squeezes putting more pressure on the team and rattling the pitchers.
The point I was getting to is that the Yankees need a strong defensive catcher (and more effort by pitchers) to stop the running game, and that Montero might not be up to the task.
Add to that my preference for as many LH Sp as possible to better hold runners on, and it is a main reason why I brought up the names Gio Gonzales and Johan Santana as key trade targets for this year.
My wish would be that our October roster has a SP staff of CC, Santana, Gio, Hughe, and AJ, and that if we could move AJ, our 2012 staff would be CC, Santan, Gio, Hughes, and Banuelos. I really believe strong LH SP, coupled with strong C defense and overall defense, will be a strategic advantage in AL East and play-offs.
Fran the original February 5th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Gary, I just have to believe that AJ will be better this season. Maybe the new pitching coach will be the key. And if AJ did have personal issues last season, hopefully they are resolved and that will help.
________________________________________________________________________
Hope so it’s a key component of any success we expect to have. Can’t afford a repeat of last year. The SP has to at least keep the team in the game and aviod those early big innings where deficit becomes too great.
I hope people are not getting their hopes too high on AJ ?
Improvement is possible IMO but he isn’t going to morph into Cy Young anytime soon.
I wouldn’t trade Montero for anyone other than a stud pitcher, and there aren’t any of them available at this time.
Got to run. catch you all later. have a good day.
Lost in alot of these discussions will be can Jeter bounce back from last year? Derek hasn’t been the player that you expect to hit into DP’s, strikeout, not get runners advanced or scored with less than two outs. Derek is a hugh component of the Yanks offense and success. We need him to get back to the player he was before last year.