Pinch hitting: James Ramos
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Pinch hitters on Feb 13, 2011 
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Our last Pinch Hitter is James Ramos, a 26-year-old who grew up in Hazlet, N.J., before attending the University of Notre Dame. The last game he saw at old Yankee Stadium was had Carl Pavano on the mound. “I never realized how universally hated the Yankees and their fans are until I lived in Minnesota for a few years after college,” he wrote. “ ‘Minnesota nice’ vanishes pretty quickly when the Yankees roll into town.” James now works in the city and lives back in New Jersey with his wife.
For his guest post, James took exception to the idea that the Yankees season is over before it’s even started.
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Spring training means hope springs anew for 29 teams. Sadly, according to a large group of their fans, the New York Yankees are the one team that has no hope for the 2011 season. After coming within two games of the World Series last year, the Yankees were only able to upgrade their catcher, designated hitter and bullpen this offseason.
As many Yankee fans have pointed out, “we” were unable to sign Cliff Lee. This will be a miserable season for “us” because “we” will finish fourth behind the Blue Jays. Why haven’t “we” traded Montero, Nunez and Laird for Felix Hernandez?! “We” should trade for Johan Santana so the Mets won’t have a better record than “us.”
I’ve come to realize there is a significant divide amongst us Yankee fans.
There are the reactionaries and the pessimists, only satiated by the offseason in which CC and Teixeira offset the (“retroactively awful”) signing of A.J. Burnett. These fans are more often than not in the “we” and “us” crowd when referring to the Yankees. Then there are the optimists and rational observers who are able to refer to our team as “the Yankees” or “they” when discussing how this team is still better than just about every team in the Major Leagues. Perhaps not forging that “we” link between yourself and the team leads to the ability to objectively judge the offseason in the context of other moves made in the American League.
How can we think that the Yankees are not condemned to failure with their current rotation? The 2009 World Champions had Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes, Mitre, Gaudin and Aceves as their fourth and fifth starters. That group combined for 63 starts (in which the Yankees went 39-24) or 32.5% (304 of the 935) of the innings by Yankees’ starters. Combined, they put up a 16-17 record with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.625 WHIP.
It is certainly plausible that Mitre, Nova and whoever else takes up the back end of the rotation can combine for something similar. The Yankees’ strong offense and bullpen should keep them competitive in every game the No. 4 and 5 pitchers start.
The team in March is never the team in October. The Yankees will be one of the best teams in baseball all year, and as the season progresses, Brian Cashman will make the necessary moves to improve the team.
Contrary to what some may think, the season is not over before pitchers and catchers report.
Associated Press photo
Great post, James!
I was taken aback by the ’09 numbers for the Yankees’ 4 and starters.
Good stuff.
Good way to end the Pinch Hitters…with a positive post. Thanks James …
. Thanks to all the Pinch Hitters for helping add to discussions and pass the time leading up to Spring Training and the start of Yankee Baseball …Yay !!!
Happy P’s & C’s everyone ….
Go Yankees 2011 !!!
Oops, 4 and 5 starters
I like the post, though I have to disagree in that I refer to the Yankees as “we” and “us” though I am not a pessimist nor am I reactionary. I would rather sit back and wait to see where things go before worrying. But besides that, I agree that the season is not over in March.
Thanks Dionysius Thelxinoe. I’ll check out that Google app.
A “Voice of Reason” post. Well done.
Any Yankee fan, and there are quite of few on this (and other) blog who believes the season is “doomed” before it starts, shouldn’t be posting on Yankee blogs.
It’s a moronic POV and only shows one’s ignorance of baseball in general, and this team, in particular.
Concerns? Absolutely a legitimate topic to discuss.
“Doomed”? Complete idiocy that shouldn’t be encouraged.
The season isnt over and the Phillies and Red Sox aren’t locks for the world series either…..
The area where there is a perceived overwhelming advantage to the Red Sox over the Yankees is the back end of the rotations ……which is strange to me considering how mediocre -bad Boston was in that very area last season.
Blake
then apparently you haven’t been listening to Mitch Williams. Not only does he think the WS will be between the RS and Phillies, but he thinks the biggest gap in baseball will be in the AL east! Oh wait…didn’t he also say the sox were going to make the playoffs last year
How many teams might be better?
Phillies,rs & that is no guarantee.
You add a solid # 2 pitcher to the yankees & i take them over any team in baseball, if hughes & burnett are a little better wich i expect.
I still recall how the Red Sox swept the first 8 games against the Yankees in 2009. Outside of the head-to-head, the teams had otherwise played evenly, but that didn’t stop the usual doomsayers from declaring the Yankees’ season over. In July.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Nice post James and sensible at that. Optimism should be the buzzword. The month of March has to shake out before any real thoughts can be made in certain areas of the team.
I see zero correlation btw we/pessimist and Yankee/optimist, but the article pointed out a few obvious things. Team won’t the same in Oct and not a single game has started. The comparison in 09 to 11 rotations is somewhat sound argument. I think most Yanks fan do think of the winter in context of the div and league which one can argue has gotten better since 09. But chiefly, I think when your biggest rival made a flurry of perceived good to great moves it is some what rational for fans to react negatively after the Yanks lost their prize.
In any case, the divide i believe is in the expectations. Some holds a must win WS title standard, some ‘mere’ hope the team put together competitively with a chance for post season.But regardless, the concern expressed of our inexp/never was/ has been back end of rotation are very rational in lieu of our chief competition.
So where does this lead us… starting of the baseball season. We will find out one way or another if the boys are up to task for another run.
I think we should at least wait until the Yankees loose their 1st game before we declare the season over
Well done post James.
I’m pretty confident that the Yankees are better than the RS, and close enough to the Phillies that the could win a short series, especially if they let Montero be Montero and they get come sort of bounce back seasons from some of their aging veterans.
I think the Phillies are going to have more trouble winning the east than a lot of folks think…..yes they have a great rotation but there are a lot of good staffs in the NL and their lineup is very unbalanced and aging…..Manuel was talking about having to potentially hit Rollins 5th to even it out the other day. I just don’t think its going to be the cake walk everyone thinks for them or the Sox…..losing Werth hurts them short term.
For a gossip break, here is the link to a story about Michael Kay’s wedding. Bernie Williams jammed with the band.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/l.....MsgSfdqNjO
Expecting Montero to be a difference maker this year is placing an excessive amount of pressure on a kid who has yet to have a ML AB.
It’s doubtful his impact, if any, will tip this season.
It’s more about the pitching and guys like Jeter, Tex, Granderson, and Arod (especially against LH) having bounceback seasons.
If Kay is marooned on desert island. would he take a bag of frozen chicken parm instead of her?
Doreen,
I answered you on the last thread. I am looking forward to getting together toward the end of May.
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Fran,
I am have problems with ESPN. I have to straighten them out. I have decided to try to give it a go.
I don’t know. I think a lot more of the people in here are voicing concerns than declaring the season over. I think that’s a bit of broad stroke.
I think if you did a poll in here it would overwhelmingly show people think the Yankees are going to win the division and at least make the post season.
I know there are some posters who beat a dead horse about their “worries” and that’s their thing, but for the most part I get upset when people tell other people in here not to have thoughts and be concerned about trends we’ve been seeing over the years.
For instance, I’m a Dallas Cowboy fan. I’ve been one since I saw Bucky Dent in the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders ABC made for TV movie as a tot.
That said, I think Tony Romo doesn’t have what it takes to win a championship and falls apart when the pressure is on. I thought Wade Phillips was a horrible coach. Does that make me a horrible Cowboy fan?
An entire legend of fandom was created around Red Sox and Cubs fans who believed the team would always screw it up and lose in the end.
Just the other night the Cavs sold out the arena against the Clippers (The Clippers?) with a wild pack of fans there to will them to break a 26 game losing streak. At first I was laughing about that and then I realized how cool it was to see the fans rally around their team even though everyone in the city has been complaining about their Cavs and how much they stink this season.
Part of being a fan is being a critic. Some people in here go too far with it at times, but it goes with being a fan.
If this place is only a place for the uber positive it would be a very boring place full of cookies and back rubs.
Be careful what you wish for. Part of the fan experience is talking about your team and it’s players and even worrying about them. You invest yourself in these teams for entertainment, pleasure and diversion from some of the stuff in life that just stinks.
If you disagree with someone in here, tell them and take them on. It’s what makes the blog click.
But don’t tell them they don’t have a right to voice their concerns. That’s bullyism. I’d rather you tell someone they are a moron every single day than tell them they don’t have a right to speak/write/what have you.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! What a nice way to start the day. I cannot agree with SJ more that it is a totally MORONIC point of view to posit that the Yankee season is finished because a group of chicken littles can’t see past their noses. I might point out that some of that group (albeit a minority) would be convinced that the Sux had a better team if the ’27 Yankees were on the field!
By the way, the 2011 doomsday fans would unequivocally be the same group that would complain if the Yankees had a combination of Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes, Mitre, Gaudin and Aceves as their fourth and fifth starters – if you get my point.
I’m betting that the naysayers were pretty jazzed about getting a rotation of Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, C.M. Wang, Kevin Brown and a newly aquired Carl Pavan in 2005. How did that work out? Any of them excited that year when Aaron Small was added to the roster? Shawn Chacon? Seriously doubtful.
There is nobody breathing that can say with absolutely certainty that Mitre and Nova WILL NOT work out. But I say with absolute certainty that there’s a chance that they might! Nobody can say with absolutely certainty that Colon and Garcia WILL NOT show us some quality pitching. But I can say with absolute certainty that there’s a chance that they might! In fact I believe we are going to get some happy surprises from Mitre, Nova, Colon, and Garcia.
I’m excited about this season, I’m excited about the possibilities and watching the whole thing unfold, I’m excited to see what our farm system may have to offer, I’m excited for once not to be a fan of a team that “purchased” the season, and I trust the Yankee organization enough to know they will be watching closely and will make moves when and if moves are necessary.
I look forward to seeing the Sux knocked from here to China at the hands of the New York Yankees.
GO YANKEES!!!!!
“Expecting Montero to be a difference maker this year is placing an excessive amount of pressure on a kid who has yet to have a ML AB”
It might if my opinion mattered, but it doesn’t. I’m just a jerk posting on a blog.
It can tip the season if all other things are equal: CC being CC, Hughes taking a step forward, AJ bouncing back to a little better than league average, Granderson being more like he was after the adjustments Long made, Jeter and A-Rod each moving up about 10 points in OPS+.
If given the chance, I think Montero can put up an .850ish OPS from June 1st one.
That one extra bat from the C position can tip the scales if the foregoing takes place.
I don’t think the stated concerns about the backend of the rotation are rational at all, not when they’re accompanied by a premature anointing the RS. Yes, there are huge question marks back there, but it’s the same with the RS rotation. And for all their ‘perceived’ improvements, all they did was replace the production they lost thru free agency, as it’s been stated here many times.. And they still don’t have a decent candidate for catcher.
I, for one, will be very very surprised if even one of the young arms does not step forward this spring and plays a role with the parent club this year.
Ian O’Connor with almost fulsome praise about Kay’s wedding.
I have decided to try to give it a go.
*************
SAS,
I’m glad
Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Diony, so you concede there are ‘huge question marks’ but it’s not rational to be concern?
Dionysius (love the name by the way),
I haven’t bought into the Red Sox hype at all. I think their 3-5 looks good on baseball cards, but based on last season they are beatable.
I also don’t think that lineup is more than 4 deep and I expect Pedroia to have foot problems once he starts pounding his little elfin feet all over the dirt.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to this season is watching the media and fans deal with the fact that the Red Sox aren’t going to beat the Yankees.
I expect a lot from the Yankees this season and I think all the Red Sox hype might bring out some of the tiger in the Yanks.
Can you imagine the outrage in Boston if Nova or Garcia out pitch Beckett or Lackey in a big game?
Can’t wait for it.
James -
Well, I’m ready for Spring Training, and I think the Yankees are, too!
The “battle lines” may not be all that cut-and-dried, but there certainly are different approaches by different fans.
Cashmoney says:
February 13, 2011 at 10:10 am
Diony, so you concede there are ‘huge question marks’ but it’s not rational to be concern?
———
As I posted above, not when it’s accompanied with anointing the RS, who have just as many questions in THEIR rotation, but nowhere near the level or quality of prospects on the horizon.
Not surprisingly I’m not conceding anything except that it is possible that the back end of the rotation will get the job done, and well! So I’m not even in the group with “huge question marks”. Can’t wait to see it unfold. All is well with my world. I root for the Yankees. That’s always more than enough to fill my cup and even have it run over. I continue to remember that the privilege is mine to root for them and not theirs to have me as a fan!
****************
Fran, laptop coming home tomorrow, thank God! (The jerk in Texas never sent me the parts.)
*************
Boy Jodi Applegate must have wanted to meet Derek Jeter pretty badly…
Jeter didn’t RSVP according to Kay.
G Love, I was actually HOPEFUL last winter when they signed Lackey to an AJ-level contract, considering his numbers at Fenway. And he did not ‘disappoint.’
Let’s go along with that thought and declare both have ‘huge question marks’ in their rotation, is it still not a concern and a rational one?
There are only a few saying the season is over. They just say it frequently. Most of us with concerns believe this team is sorely lacking in the rotation. Can that be fixed? Absolutely. Will it? Who knows.
A poster said the Yankees would be favorites with a no. 2 starter. I agree, but that suggests that will occur. I have my doubts one will be available for a price the team will pay.
Blind optimism and insulting people who have concerns is just as irritating and foolhardy as those who sat the team is doomed.
Jeter didn’t RSVP according to Kay.
Guess this means Kay won’t be getting an invitation to Derek and Minka’s wedding
***********
Trisha, glad you’re finally getting the computer. Oh and I agree with your post at 10:02
austinmac, one person’s “blind optimism” is another person’s 2009. The point is you cannot know that 2011 will not be the bomb for the Yankees, as rostered. Nobody can.
I don’t see anyone insulting people who have “concerns”. I see people saying that calling the season over already should be reserved for morons – and I disagree that there are only a few doing that. The lohud blog is hardly the only place where Yankee fans reside.
James great positive post, good way to end the guest spot.
GLove, don’t you know that people who have concerns are terrible fans?
Fran –
And for any nostradamuses out there, what was your call on the 2010 San Fran team and rotation?
Aha!
Let’s take lackey for example, despite many considered a disappointing year Lackey had 4.4 era with a slightly better peripheral of 3.85 and XFIP of 4.32 while accruing a 14-11 record and 215. precisely which of mitre/garcia/colon or other do u expect to duplicate those numbers and innings?
CC – Lester (close)
Hughes – Bucholz (Bucholz was better last season, Hughes is 2 years younger and could easily close the gap if not surpass him)
AJ – Beckett (AJ is healthier but Beckett has been a little more consistent)
Garcia – M’zaka (Garcia had a 1 point advantage in ERA+ last season)
Nova – Lackey (this is the one real advantage but Lackey was league average in terms of ERA+. The Yankee could match that)
Trisha, sorry, I disagree. There are people here who have no tolerance for anyone who has concerns and who would like to see this place rid of anyone but the most positive posters.
except lackey wasn’t paid aj money to be their number 5 starter. i will compare him to aj, not a trash 5th starter.
Blake, the back end of our rotation looks to be extremely weak. As to the Sox, Dice K is hardly great, but he’s a fine #5 and Lackey should be better. He’s going to be better than our #4. I don’t see why it’s a huge deal if people think the Sox are better unless Yankee fans just can’t handle anyone saying anything positive about the Sox. I think the Sox are better – definitely – but I also don’t believe they are good enough to be crowned already (no team is). I’m not conceding anything
Cashmoney says:
February 13, 2011 at 10:20 am
Let’s go along with that thought and declare both have ‘huge question marks’ in their rotation, is it still not a concern and a rational one?
—————–
Yes.
Look, i rhink you’d agree that pitching is the most unpredictable aspect of this game. Outside of SF and Philly, who DOESN’T have huge question marks and concerns.
But the descriptions I’ve seen here about the Yankees rotation, in the context of the AL East, have been over the top, imo.
Concerns are ok and are justified because the back half of the rotation is very uncertain right now……but there isn’t a team in baseball without concerns heading into ST…..most have more than the Yanks do.
The Yankees are pretty solid save one glaring flaw…..will it be a fatal flaw? I don’t know but they do have options and the time and resources to address it if need be.
Trisha,
I agree no one knows what this or any season holds. There are just too many variables.
However, pick the Yankee guru ofmyournchoice. Theynall say pitching is the key. The Yankee rotations a concern. To think otherwise is very optimistic.
I recall a lot of optimism in 2009 with the big additions.
I think the Lohud blog is where this and many other Yankee fans reside.
Betsy, I think there may be great impatience with posters who have nothing but concerns 24-7 (think posters during every game who come here and do nothing but b*tch unless every play on the field is perfect and the Yankees win every game – they do exist!)
As someone who sees a potential silver lining in every cloud, I admit that I just breeze past most of the posts where people voice concerns, because I really don’t have much to say in return other than “I disagree.” But when every post you read from a poster is negative, it does get to be a bit much.
JMO
Rich, why does it matter than Phil is 2 years younger at this point? At some point, that gap is going to stop mattering. You have to give Buchholz an edge until Phil goes out and does it.
Lackey is not the #5 starter; he’s going to be the #3 or 4. Even so, if going by your matchups, I expect Lackey to be quite a bit better than our #5.
I will go out on a limb and say that there are significantly more blind optimists on this board then there are those saying this season is over.
Just too many folks who think all these questionable scenarios will play out in the yankees favor.
And as for the yankee rotation versus the boston rotation…..there really isn’t a comparison. The boston rotation is better AND has more potential for upside. If guys like Beckett and Lackey and even Dice K pitch more like their best years, and the Yankees get the same out of their 3-5, Boston wins the division by 8+ games.
What’s lost in all the discussion about the back end of the rotation is that it was the offense that sputtered the last 5 weeks of the season. The Yanks could get what they need out of the 4 & 5 spots in the rotation this year, but we really need comeback seasons from Jeter, Posada, ARod and Tex for the Yanks to fullfill their potential.
austinmac, I definitely agree with pitching being the key. I also admit to being very optimistic…
Trish, the only people who should be “taunted” (if that’s even what I really mean” are people who clearly don’t like the team – people who hate everything they do and consistently complain that the team stinks, every player stinks, etc… You know who I mean – those people make their attitude obvious. For those who don’t like “negative” posters, then they should do what you do and skip those posters; the lecturing is ridiculous.
Drive, it’s not forgotten by me………….and I still don’t get why people are assuming Pedroia is going to have foot problems and won’t be healthy.
Betsy,
Bostons rotation looks better when you write the names down but actual performance on the field is what matter and it really wouldn’t be hard to match what they did 3-5 last year……it’s the sane guys.
Also, they have no depth. Wakefiekd is their #6 and they have virtually nothing in the upper levels after that and significant injury risk (Beckett, Lackey, Dice K).
They do probably have more potential and certainty there but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if the Yankees back end performs closer to there level than a lot think.
If lecturing is ridiculous, what is lecturing about the lecturing?
Betsy
When you assess a young pitcher, under 25, age is a critical contextual factor because it imposes the lens through which their development should be viewed.
Except for a few outliers like Dwight Gooden and maybe King Felix, most pitchers don’t mature until they have had several seasons as ML starter. Hughes has had one, Bucholz has had 3.
Slot him anywhere you want, Lackey is a league average pitcher.
Cashmoney, taking Lackey as an example, if addressed to me, sorry but I can’t address your points one way or another because I don’t follow those type of stats. I’m strictly old school, though I’m sure those have some merits as well as drawbacks.
What I saw with lackey last year was inconsistency, and an ERA that hovered near 5 for a significant portion of the season. He had nine starts where he gave up 5 or more runs. He clearly did not pick up the slack when Beckett went down.
I’ll gladly take another season like that from him in 2011.
good takes Blake.
“I will go out on a limb and say that there are significantly more blind optimists on this board then there are those saying this season is over.”
Wait. Let me guess, you’re not an optimist.
Carlo,
You can’t assume Beckett bounces back unless you’re also going to assume AJ will as well. I think the real difference will be decided by the 4th and 5th spots…..how Lackey and Dice K pitch and his the Yanks are able to fill those spots.
Drive 4-6 – great post. And I couldn’t agree more. We need our hitters to hit. Any rotation and bullpen will be worn out if they have to deficit pitch game after game after game. It’s easy to forget all the posts about “numbers of hitters left on base” game after game after game.
******************
carlo, I always get a little concerned when someone uses the term “blind optimist.” I think Doreen can tell you that I was one of the few people who never abandoned ship in 2009, no matter how bleak the situation seemed to be at any given moment. I was called a blind optimist more than once during that season.
I live by the saying that where there is life, there is hope. And you can’t prove me wrong – unless/until you can. You can’t use a prior season to predict an upcoming season. If that were the case, Jeter would have had a career year last year.
This is one Yankee team that will see several young arms interested in seizing the opportunity to make their mark in moving up the ladder. Betances and Banuelos still need to build up innings at the AA and AAA levels but others are at the stage where they can make a contribution without the concern of limiting their innings.
It will be a delicate balance for Girardi / Rothschild to distribute enough innings in March to get a good read on Garcia, Colon, and Prior while doing the same with the young arms.
Trisha,
Optimism is a good thing. I hope at the end of the season you can give me a giant “I told you so”.
I remember the Yankees desperate for a pitcher in 1964, and Mel S. appeared and saved the season. I agree it can happen.
“……..and I still don?t get why people are assuming Pedroia is going to have foot problems and won?t be healthy.”
Same reason people think Alex is going to have hip problems. Not fair to answer one question in the positive and the other in the negative.
Tom in N.J. says:
February 13, 2011 at 10:45 am
If lecturing is ridiculous, what is lecturing about the lecturing?
——–
Well, then why lecture about the lecturing to the lecturing?
Jk
Blake, I guess we’ll see ……….. it’s a new season and I’d like to think that AJ will be better (he will, but how much remains to be seen), Nova will show promise as the #5 and Garcia will be decent. No matter my concerns about Phil, I hope he blows everyone away this year……..and yes, puts Buchholz to shame, lol.
Rich, I think that’s fair, but I think this is an absolutely huge year for Phil. I just hope he won’t react physically to the heavy workload from last year.
SJ
Is Steve Swindal back in the fold?
Pat, I agree……..I’m not assuming Alex will have issues, nor do I assume Pedroia will have foot issues. I’m assuming players’ good health until I see otherwise.
I just remember last February when everyone was saying that Boston would only need to score 2 or 3 runs a game to win 100 because their rotation was so good……staff of aces, more like a #1, a #2, two #4′s and a #5 this year……
“Trisha,
Optimism is a good thing. I hope at the end of the season you can give me a giant “I told you so”.
I remember the Yankees desperate for a pitcher in 1964, and Mel S. appeared and saved the season. I agree it can happen.”
There ya go!
Betsy,
Yup ….that’s why they play the games
The 2011 season schedule is really whacked. The Yanks play 20 of their first 26 at home. Over a third of the season’s games against Bost, 7 of the 19, will be played by May15. When you look at the schedule and count the starts, the back end of the Yanks rotation would pitch 4 of the 7 games.
With the schedule front loaded with home games, it’s going to be important for the Yanks to get off to a fast start. When it comes to the dog days of August, the Yanks only have 2 short homestands and play just 9 games at home.
You can say that Alex will have hip issues, but the guy still puts up very impressive offensive stats for most players even with hip issues. Even when you adjust for position, that’s the difference between Alex, Pedroia, and even Jeter.
Well, on that note I think I will go and conquer the great outdoors!
So nice to be with the good ole gang at the beginning of another season.
YAHOO!!!!!
blake says:
February 13, 2011 at 10:51 am
I just remember last February when everyone was saying that Boston would only need to score 2 or 3 runs a game to win 100 because their rotation was so good……staff of aces, more like a #1, a #2, two #4?s and a #5 this year……
———–
I have the same recollection. And for some strange reason, their pitching concerns don’t even come into play, not to mention their catching.
The John Lackey seen last year is as good as he’ll ever get. He blew up and lost it with teammates last year when they played less than adequate defense behind him. It won’t be any different this year with a cautious Pedroia and less than average Scutaro behind him. The weak catching won’t help him in throwing out runners and Ellsbury won’t be making diving catches regularly to re-injure his ribs.
I have no idea where some of you dig up these cool stats, but can anyone tell me AGon’s lifetime numbers against Pedro Feliciano?
Small sample, DT
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....8;teamId=2
It’s not the legitimate concerns…it’s the whining. Some fans look at the Yankees glass half empty while looking at the Sox glass half full. Both teams have concerns. Injuries are as a concern for the Sox…maybe more so than for the Yankees. Will AJ pitch up to par? Well..will Lackey, Beckett or Dice K do the same? They were not anywhere near as good as they should have been last year …yet Yankee fans give them the benefit of the doubt about having better years but not AJ and Phil…strange. As far as lineups …basially we have our same lineup this year. Last year the Yankees scored the most runs in MLB with quite a few players having down years. Imagine if they have a better year this year ?? I THINK (not know) that the Yankees will do everything possible to get the rotation where
it needs to be but that takes patience …something many Yankee fans lack. Too many fans listen to what sports anaylst and reporters have to say when they are only making personal predictions too. I wonder how many of them predicted the Giants would win the WS last season?
I’ll wait to see how it plays out on the field ….not what it says on paper. I can’t wait for the season to begin….
Go Yankees 2011 !!!
rumor of the morning…Albert could end up of all places KC
AGon’s lifetime numbers against Pedro Feliciano
.200 BA ( 3 for 15) 0 HR 2 RBI 0 BB 8 K’s according Baseball Reference.com
Does anyone know what current Yankees if any went to Kay’s wedding?
if the Yankees were offered Beckett for Burnett how could they refuse…just saying
“Perhaps not forging that “we” link between yourself and the team leads to the ability to objectively judge the offseason in the context of other moves made in the American League.”
objectively speaking, i think the writer has a bias towards subjective thinkers
i see no connection between objective thinking and optimism or pessimism.
if i say i like vanilla ice cream, i’m saying something totally subjective and not something objective.
so what?
there is pessimism in this?
i don’t think so.
many of the differences on this blog are simply preferences and subjective in nature .
i like small ball. i like players who are fundamentally sound who can play situational baseball.
i also like gms who get the most bang for their buck and who think about their rotation two years ahead of time and don’t put all their eggs in one free agent pitcher basket.
so what?
it’s like liking vanilla ice cream.
people who think their subjective feelings are rational and therefore right are really confusing what rational means.
a really rational person would not root in the first place. rooting for a sports team is a totally subjective and probably irrational experience .
so does being subjective equate to being pessimistic and negative as james says?
nah, he’s just saying people who disagree with him are not “rational” and are “pessimists”.
any really rational baseball fan would say the yankees are a good team with 60% of their rotation being question marks.
but that’s ok, if it makes james and others feel better to overlook this little problem, no problem. they can root how they want
Beckett: 11:$15.75M, 12:$15.75M, 13:$15.75M, 14:$15.75M
Burnett: 11-13:$16.5M annually
Burnett’s contract is one less year. That’s why I would take him. It’s a little easier to eat and he has been healthy.
Wow -
Michael Kay looks so happy and his bride look absolutely stunning! And happy, as well.
Just to get an idea of the kind of production the 2009 team got by position.
2009 OPS by position:
C: .767
1B: .953
2B: .860
3B: .834
SS: .868
LF: .839
CF: .739
RF: .839
DH: .858
2010 OPS by position:
C: .773
1B: .823
2B: .915
3B: .757
SS: .699
LF: .755
CF: .782
RF: .834
DH: .777
Given his propensity for giving up home runs, Beckett pitching in Yankee Stadium would be a nightmare. Josh Beckett has big time stuff, but he’s as much of a headcase as Burnett is. Plus, Josh Beckett is world class punk. No thanks.
Actually, if folks actually read the posts, they would see many of us saying having “concerns” is a worthy discussion topic and nowhere does anyone state it makes anybody in here a “bad fan” to have concerns.
If you can find posts stating otherwise, now would be the time to dig them up.
I like to think I am an optimist. And I could care less if someone has a generally pessimistic outlook.
What gets my goat is the short sightedness of quite a few posters on here.
Baseball is a marathon game played in a even bigger marathon season. Certainly not a sprint.
So when someone posts that the season is over, or the game is over, or player X sucks, after a minuscule sample size, it tells me you haven’t been paying attention. And sorry that is not pessimism-that is ignorance.
The Yankees will be right there in the wild card race. They have made the playoffs before with less of a starting rotation. The problem comes in the playoffs especially if they don’t pick up an impact starter because as we have seen in years past the bats certainly don’t carry this team in the postseason
Drive 4-6, thanks.
The best post I’ve read this winter/spring. I am so sick of hearing that
#1. The Red Sox have added so much talent to their current team, hello, they DIDN’T ADD ANYTHING, they EXCANGED talent for talent, they exchanged CC and AGON for A. Beltre and VMart (who were very, very good in their own right), they are way behind in talent at the C position and the Yankees’ bullpen is better.
#2. That the Yankees will be lucky to win 80-89 games this season! Hello, they still have the same lineup that led MLB in runs scored in 2010, they have now added Montero who will have a monster season (if he’s allowed to play), they added Andrew Jones who kills LH pitching and is a much better defensive player than Thames, I see a comeback year for Martin. They arguably have the BEST BP in MLB now and starters just need go 5-6 innings instead of 7 or 8. They WILL find pitching, they have the 4-5th best minor league system and will be able to offer a lot in trades.
Nova/Noesi/Warren/Phelps/Brackman/Betances/Banuelos are very highly regarded pitching prospects and will be able to contribute in 2011 at a high level! Garcia will be very adequate at the #5 hole until Carmona/Liriano/Blanton/Saunders become Yankees.
I’m sorry this 2011 Yankees’ team is a 98-100 win team and WILL make the playoffs!!!
If you look a Beckett and Burnett’s career numbers they are.comparable pitchers with Beckett being a little more consisent. The biggest thing as Rich pointed out is that AJ is on contract for a year less and is healthier……plus I like him better. Gimmi AJ.
Can’t wait for Sterling’s call when Martin lauches one… ‘ There is goes…It is hiiiiiiiiierrr , It is farrrrrr…. and itersssssssssss…caught… right on the infield! Sry folks…
The R*d S*x ARE the 2011 World Champions .
How’s the 2011 season NOT over ?
BobKlap Had a great time at Kay’s wedding last night, like an old Yankee reunion. Sat with @SI_JonHeyman @JoelSherman1 @JackCurryYES and Lupica.
Now there’s a lampshade on the head, conga line party table if I’ve ever seen one!
So Kay’s wedding was sort of a geek convention.
Rich, there is a D&D death match after the wedding.
timmyb72,
To say that Boston exchanged 2 good hitters for 2 goods hitters is disingenuous. Beltre had a very solid year but he is no Agon. If Gonzalez is healthy he will be good for 40/120. Victor Martinez is basically a DH/1B at this point who is injury prone. Crawford is a dynamic multi dimensional player who does so much.
That being said they are also adding Youkolis and Ellsbury back to lineup and if healthy Pedroia.
I think the 2 lineups are very close but I give Boston a slight edge due to the top of their lineup. The Yanks get the bullpen edge and the Sox get the starting rotation edge which in the end tips the scale to them. Now if the Yanks can land a Liriano then the Yanks get the edge
Was Torre invited?
Betsy,
Or Mussina for that matter
Triple, so we should put AGon down for career high production in his first year in a new league, the AL East no less?
Too bad you and I can’t make a bet that I can collect on.
Triple, that’s right, lol. The most immature thing I ever heard on the radio was Kay saying he was happy that Moose never got a ring
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 11:25 am
If you look a Beckett and Burnett’s career numbers they are.comparable pitchers with Beckett being a little more consisent. The biggest thing as Rich pointed out is that AJ is on contract for a year less and is healthier……plus I like him better. Gimmi AJ.
———————————-
who cares about a contract, both are over-paid
both healthy Beckett is the better SP
I am very optimistic on AJ’s coming year after reading that article on Rothschild by Carig.
“The goal has been getting Burnett to stop worrying about the tiniest details of his mechanics, to instead focus on attacking the hitter in the batter’s box.”
AGon is a really good hitter but he has exactly two. 900+ OPS seasons in his career and he’s coming off shoulder surgery. Obviously Fenway should be more favorable than Petco but I want to see him do it on the big stage and in the new league before Im labeling him the 2nd coming of Ted Williams.
“To say that Boston exchanged 2 good hitters for 2 goods hitters is disingenuous. Beltre had a very solid year but he is no Agon. If Gonzalez is healthy he will be good for 40/120″
—————————–
Offensively, Beltre’s .919 OPS last season is higher than every year of Gonzalez’s career except 2009.
When you factor in defense, Beltre’s 7.1 WAR last season is higher than any year of Gonzalez’s career. 1.8 higher than Gonzalez last season.
Beltre was one of the best players in baseball last season. Much better than very solid.
Dionysius Thelxinoe,
I could be wrong but I am pretty sure he has already hit 40 in SD. Take a look at his away stats. They are not that far off of Pujols. If he is healthy to me those numbers are conservative. In SD in one of the worst parks to hit homers and with no lineup protection he still averaged 30 and 100. You don’t think he can increase those 10 and 20 in a hitters park and in a stacked lineup?
Joeman,
Who is better if they are both healthy doesn’t matter either because Beckett hasn’t shown that he is or can stay healthy.
LGY,
Let me know what Gonzalez’s OPS was on the road. then we can talk. Let me ask you a question. If the Yanks exchanged Tex for Pujols did their hitting improve or did they just replace 1 good hitter with another?
Beckett is 4 years younger played two less years
LGY is right….Gonzalez is a better player than Beltre but he will be hard pressed to provide the value that Beltre did for the Sox last year…
Triple, hey maybe you’re right, who knows?
I’d still be willing to bet money.
New league. East coast media glare versus laid back left coast.
DVR Alert!!!
Make sure to set your DVRs for Better With You for February 16 and 23-Nick Swisher will be on
There’s a really cute video of Nick and Joanna at the end of the article.
http://www.tvline.com/2011/02/.....you-video/
“Let me know what Gonzalez’s OPS was on the road. then we can talk.”
So you want to evaluate a player based on only 81 of the 162 games of the season? Talk about disingenuous.
“If the Yanks exchanged Tex for Pujols did their hitting improve or did they just replace 1 good hitter with another?”
No, because Pujols has clearly been the better and more productive player. This is not the case with Adrian Beltre in 2010 and what Gonzalez has to replace.
Beltre last season was a more productive and valuable baseball player than Gonzalez has ever been in a single season in his career.
People are forgetting how much offense the Boston bench added last year because of injured players. Mike Lowell and Bill Hall for two. They lost that advantage. Those losses added considerable offense. Not sure that their new offense is much better than a push. I’m guessing that their ’11 is slightly better. Jenks could be very good in his new role or he could end up pouting. Papalbon is anybody’s guess.
Don’t the sox lose a bit defensively by having Youk at 3rd instead of Beltre?
AJ is healthier.
Dionysius Thelxinoe,
It is def a good debate but let me ask you this. When was the last above average hitter to come over to the Red Sox and disappoint? I can only think of Renteria. It seems like every time they get someone they get better and have insane years.
Papi,Manny,Bay,Beltre
Pat,
Heard the rumor he’s back in good graces again.
Fran-great article on Kay’s wedding!
They really picked that awful Michael Buble song as their first dance though??? LOL
“So when someone posts that the season is over, or the game is over, or player X sucks, after a minuscule sample size, it tells me you haven’t been paying attention. And sorry that is not pessimism-that is ignorance.”
tar-
agree totally.
ignorance is the downer.
the yankees are really strong in everything but starting pitching. they may be strong in starting pitching by mid season, but as of now it’s a weak spot.
to say anything else is sugarcoating a problem.
Cano just looks like he’s lovin life these days….
http://c0013644.cdn1.cloudfile.....x2_49345d3
Kate,
If Youk is as he used to be at 3B then he’s fine there but he’s not as good as Beltre and with his age and bony type I can’t imagine that move could be a good thing with regards to keeping him healthy.
LGY,
If both players are healthy I would be shocked if Agon doesn’t have a better offensive season then Beltre this year
SAS -
Saw your response. I’ll bet the munchkin misses his gramma just as much!
*body type *….Youk is of the big bony type.
When did Kay say that Jeter didn’t RSVP?
GreenBeret7,
But they still have super utility Lowrie,Kalish and Cameron to sub in if anybody gets hurt
pat February 13th, 2011 at 11:54 am
Cano just looks like he’s lovin life these days….
http://c0013644.cdn1.cloudfile…..x2_49345d3
***********************************
Ooooh…that totally made my day.
Beckett has had I believe 1 year where he wasn’t healthy (last year 127 IP)
Since 06 Beckett has gone over 200 IP 3 times & Burnett has done it twice
Burnett wasn’t healthy in 03 & 06
Beckett wasn’t healthy in 10
Triple, excellent point.
But he ain’t doing 40-120.
Jeter didn’t RSVP? That’s rude….
Sux lose a lot defensively with Youk then Beltre imo. Also why this love in the media for Jenks? If he was so great, why do the White Sox give him up? Everytime I saw him last year he was blowing save after save. Sorry would much rather have Soriano than over weight Jenks.
SJ
It would appear so.
http://images3.listindiario.co.....E0C4C.jpeg
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 11:51 am
AJ is healthier.
————————————
C-note Beckett has a better year in 11
W’s
ERA
K’s
IP
Great picture of Cano. Thanks for sharing.
Never got a cloud picture before.
Triple
The issue is whether AGon will be better in 2011 than Beltre was in 2010
Key: “beckett wasn’t healthy in 2010″ …..which is more relevant than 2006. They are the same type pitchers at this point, Beckett has been more consistently good in his career but as I said earlier I would rather have the healthier and shorter contract of the 2 at this point.
Betsy,
I also believe he didn’t go to Murcer’s funeral or Bob Sheppards
LGY,
He will hit for a lesser average but his counting stats will be higher
“Offensively, Beltre’s .919 OPS last season is higher than every year of Gonzalez’s career except 2009.”
lgy-
the problem is that beltre improved his ops playing at fenway park for a whole year a hundred points above his lifetime average ops.
bay had a similar upswing.
what if gonzalez gets this ops bump too of a 100points ?
there are some players who are fenway players. i think gonzalez will be one and crawford won’t.
Erin
Glad to help!
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Key: “beckett wasn’t healthy in 2010? …..which is more relevant than 2006. They are the same type pitchers at this point, Beckett has been more consistently good in his career but as I said earlier I would rather have the healthier and shorter contract of the 2 at this point.
————————
so age doesn’t mean anything
Triple Short of a Cycle February 13th, 2011 at 11:56 am
GreenBeret7,
But they still have super utility Lowrie,Kalish and Cameron to sub in if anybody gets hurt
———————————————————————————————————————-
Give me a 38 year old back-up center fielder every time. If Kalish has to get 200 at bats again, Boston’s got some issues. As far as Lowrey goes, he’d be replacing either Youkilis, Pedroia or Scutaro. Is that an improvement?
Triple, I don’t care about any of those – Jeter was under no obligation (and I don’t want to get into that). Actually, I got confused – for some reason, I thought Jeter didn’t tell Kay whether he was coming or going to the wedding. It’s not rude of him not to go, it would have been rude not to tell Kay if he was or was not. Since that’s not the case, it’s my mistake
Blake …take me up on that bet ?
I mean that I thought Jeter didn’t tell Kay whether he was coming or not coming to the wedding……but that was my mistake in misreading the comment.
New Post: The good, the bad and the unknown
Betsy,
Jeter didn’t RSVP to Kay’s wedding
so age doesn’t mean anything”
Yea, just not as much as health and that extra year on his.contract IMO.
The difference between Beckett and Burnett health wise is that Beckett has chronic or ongoing problems with his back and finger.
Joeman,
What bet?
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
so age doesn’t mean anything”
Yea, just not as much as health and that extra year on his.contract IMO.
———————————————————-
he’s had one year where he was unhealthy, there’s not a pattern here, most SP in BB go through a year where they get hit by the injury bug…to call him a unhealthy is crazy
Triple, all that means is that he didn’t attend……I’m sure he told Kay that he couldn’t go.
this one
# joeman February 13th, 2011 at 11:59 am
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 11:51 am
AJ is healthier.
————————————
C-note Beckett has a better year in 11
W’s
ERA
K’s
IP
# LGY February 13th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
The difference between Beckett and Burnett health wise is that Beckett has chronic or ongoing problems with his back and finger.
————————————————————
look at his IP last 4 years and show me where where injuries were a issue with him besides last year ( maybe a start or two in 08)
Joeman,
As LGY pointed out Becketts injuries are of the chronic nature and figure to keep.cropping up. I don’t know who will have a better season in 2011 and that want what we were talking about….we we’re taking about who you’d rather have. I think they’ll have comparable seasons in 2011 because they are comparable pitchers…..
If Gonzalez reverts back to his career splits, the Red Sox could be extremely vulnerable against lefties. They also have no quality lefty relievers.
# blake February 13th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Joeman,
As LGY pointed out Becketts injuries are of the chronic nature and figure to keep.cropping up. I don’t know who will have a better season in 2011 and that want what we were talking about….we we’re taking about who you’d rather have. I think they’ll have comparable seasons in 2011 because they are comparable pitchers…..
————————————————————–
well if they are even as you say I’m taking the player that is 4 years younger…who cares about the contract
No Rich in NJ, that would be an incorrect guess. I am very optimistic about the season. I believe we are one of the top 4 teams in the AL and I believe we are capable of an October appearance where anything can happen. That said, I don’t sit here pretending the rotation stacks up with other top teams nor do I sit here pretending we can’t trade anyone because we have a farm system dynasty on the horizon. Can we win in 2011, sure, but we were better suited to win in 2010 in my opinion.
Regarding James’ pinch hit post, i would deconstruct the 2 categories he defines as follows:
1. “optimists and rational observers” – those who agree with James opinion of the offseason.
2. “reactionaries and the pessimists, only satiated by the offseason in which CC and Teixeira offset the (“retroactively awful”) signing of A.J. Burnett.” – those who disagree with James.
I would humbly propose that there might be other categories. For example, there might be this category: Those who think that when Boston is a better team going into the season than the Yankees, then they complain that Yankee front office has hardly performed optimally; but those complaints should not be misconstrued by 2-dimensionally-minded people as meaning that the Yankees have no chance!
The question mark isn’t the back end of the rotation (Garcia had a solid season last year and, if healthy, is a perfectly fine #4 or 5, and they should be able to find a #5-level among the group of contenders) or the front end. The issue is Burnett at #3. If he is as awful as he was last year, the Yanks are in a bind. The problem with that head case is, you never know how he’s going to perform from one day — even one inning — to the next. He can be sailing along, pitching beautifully, then he hits one little bump and implodes. You can’t trust him. However, the additions to the bullpen should enable them to get by with the tattooed idiot at #3 until the inevitable deadline deal for a front-line starter. If Hughes takes the next step — pitches to his capability for the whole season instead of just the first half — which there’s no reason to think he can’t, then with 3 frontline starters in the rotation, potentially the best bullpen in the game and a dangerous lineup, the Yanks will definitely be a postseason team.
James living in Minnesota myself and going to see the Yankees whenever they are here, I can definitely agree with your take about how much the people in Minnesota hate and I mean with a passion HATE the Yankees.
Makes it that much sweeter whenever the Yankees beat up on them. Which as we know is ALWAYS, haha. Love it.