LoHud Yankees Blog looking for pinch hitters
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 19, 2011 
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I didn’t come up with the Pinch Hitters series, but it’s become a tradition here at the LoHud Yankees Blog. The series has become incredibly popular during those slow weeks in January and February, and I love getting new opinions and points of view on the blog.
Of course, we’ll be running the Pinch Hitters series again this winter. We’re looking for anyone who would like to write a post — 400 words or so — about anything related to the Yankees. It could be your opinion of offseason moves, or your indignation at Don Mattingly not being in the Hall of Fame. It could be your defense of Jesus Montero as a legitimate superstar, or your plea for the Yankees to deal Montero as soon as possible.
Whatever you have to say, email your ideas to me — a few sentences explaining what you want to write — and I’ll make some choices to start organizing a schedule. In early January, I’ll begin contacting the folks chosen for the series. Please, no more than one proposal per person. It’s not necessarily first come, first serve, so take your time coming up with what you want to write.
The absolute cutoff for submissions will be Friday, January 6. Send your ideas to: cjennings (at) lohud.com. As always, I’m looking forward to reading them.
YT-the way I read it, the announcement is coming from Japan not MLB
This BS they’re pulling with Darvish reminds me of how Lebron James dragged out “The Decision” as if the whole world was hanging on his every move.
Get this crap over and done with so we can talk about other pitchers.
The anticipation fizzled out long ago. It’s one thing to build up anticipation. It’s another to drag along so long that people forget why they’re supposed to care.
This BS they’re pulling with Darvish reminds me of how Lebron James dragged out “The Decision” as if the whole world was hanging on his every move
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I suspect the Yankees know where they stand in the Darvish matter and are feverishly looking into other pitchers already.
Can we do a virtual show of hands to see who actually thinks we’re going to sign Yu?
I heard about a poll on the radio last night where around 1,600 Rays fans were aided which pitcher they should trade to add offense to their club…..over 500 people chose David Price. I found that interesting…..perhaps Rays fans think like Rays management……Price is going to get expensive and he would belting the most in return……so trade him for a major haul and keep the rest.
Asked not aided
Also bring not belting …..ugh droid
Price is going to get expensive and he would belting the most in return……so trade him for a major haul and keep the rest
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Doubt they’d trade with the Yankees unless it was a Montero/Banuelos package or something along those lines. Price may get a little expensive, but he’s not a free agent til after the 2015 season.
With the potential pitching that Towers is lining up in Arizona Im not sure Upton will be available at all before his contract is up……
With the potential pitching that Towers is lining up in Arizona Im not sure Upton will be available at all before his contract is up……
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His contract is a bargain anyway. Even the last 2 years are quite reasonable given what he’s capable of giving you.
“Price may get a little expensive, but he’s not a free agent til after the 2015 season.”
He’s probably going to get a lot expensive in arbitration starting next year with his comps and service time…..he opted out of his contract.
“His contract is a bargain anyway. Even the last 2 years are quite reasonable given what he’s capable of giving you.”
It is but he starts making real money next year and if the Dbacks weren’t competitive then perhaps they’d move him to add pieces……problem is that they are competitive and likely will be for awhile.
Towers has some serious pitching prospects on the way to go with IPK, Hudson, and Cahill
Convient that the Fighters are going to announce their acceptance at prime time in the states……they knew they were taking it as soon as they got it but wanted the 4 days of free press and the drama.
Kubel deal with Zona might mean a couple things:
1) They’re probably out on Kuroda
2) For those seeking Beltran, any chance of him taking anything less than 2 years and an easily reachable option year is probably pretty close to 0%.
in the spirit of the pinch hitter’s series ,here’s one of the best sports sentences ever:
“It was in the books while it was still in the sky.”
who wrote this ?
actually this is the time of the year to read great baseball books.
two of my favorites are “summer of 49″ by david halberstam and “dock ellis in the country of baseball” by donald hall
http://www.amazon.com/Dock-Ell....._ep_dpt_10
donald hall also wrote “fathers playing catch with sons” which is also a good read
What is Beltran’s market, though? I know what he wants.. but what can he actually get? Maybe it just seems like the market has been slower to develop this year than in the past but the time-table is pretty similar and I’m just growing more impatient.
Beltran’s market though: Based on the signings we’ve already seen? Based on what teams need him?
What is Beltran’s market, though?
======================
What was Kubel’s?
@JonHeymanCBS: #dbacks were in on kuroda but are probably done after kubel signing. Nice winter for them w/ cahill too.
KURODA
Are we supposed to be spelling Kuroda in all caps??? Is this an LGY rule?
Kubel is younger with less of an injury history, isn’t he? Or did I make that up? Totally possible on a Monday morning.
BryanHoch Let’s play a game: What did Joe Girardi say he wants for Christmas? Answer to follow later today. #yankees
Beltran on a 2 year deal would be nice.
“What did Joe Girardi say he wants for Christmas?”
A Russ Martin bobblehead doll?
Did Girardi say he wanted a Kuroda for Christmas?
With Cuddyer, Kubel, and Willingham all signed…..the market for Beltran should move soon.
If the Yankees want Kuroda, the DBacks being out helps clear the way. If the Red Sox will spend the money, they also could be competitors. Hopefully, Kuroda would want to come to the Yankees to have a chance of winning.
I still would like Beltran on a two year deal. The younger players signing for more years doesn’t seem to me to rule out a two year possibility. I would be shocked if the non-spending winter changes for Beltran.
My guess is a shiny new binder.
Mlbtraderumors is projecting Price to get nearly 8 million next year as an arb 1…..think what he will get next year and in 2014 if he continues to perform….
G. Love would make a great pinch hitter.
dogface December 19th, 2011 at 9:08 am
This BS they’re pulling with Darvish reminds me of how Lebron James dragged out “The Decision” as if the whole world was hanging on his every move
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I suspect the Yankees know where they stand in the Darvish matter and are feverishly looking into other pitchers already.
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I wish you were right, but I don’t think you are. The entire winter has been so much about patience and the constant drumbeat about this is set that is set that at least for me it’s I no longer care. Money has become such an issue along with the constant spin of the cost of FA’s and anyone to trade for that we already have the basis now for the spin for the upcoming season.
I think they are daily looking for pitchers, but when your not willing to trade what the other teams are looking for it’s not conversations that are productive in getting to a move.
Is anybody else bored w the Darvish thing ?
Glad when it’s over.
Sucked up too much Oxygen IMO.
I think they are daily looking for pitchers, but when your not willing to trade what the other teams are looking for it’s not conversations that are productive in getting to a move.
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Good thing they didnt listen to this when the teade came up last summer for Ubaldo Jimenez. Sometimes (ask the Indians), paying four players for one isnt the best idea, just because a team asks you to overpay.
MTU December 19th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Is anybody else bored w the Darvish thing ?
Glad when it’s over.
Sucked up too much Oxygen IMO.
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MTU I’m bored with the whole winter thing. So much energy has gone in to talking about the current team and the prospects that I think it’s just put the guys out there we have now and let the chips fall where they may. Somebody will be wrong and somebody will be right, then next offseason we can agaikn again have all these fun conversations.
Which was worse.. waiting for Lee or waiting for Darvish?
Kinda funny since neither will be playing for us..
gary-
Not all OS’s are as boring as this one.
I doubt they are waiting for Darvish…..they could have had him if they really wanted. They put everything on hold last year until the Lee situation was resolved…..I don’t think they are doing that with Yu nearly as much……just nothing there yet to do.
ac1 December 19th, 2011 at 10:09 am
I think they are daily looking for pitchers, but when your not willing to trade what the other teams are looking for it’s not conversations that are productive in getting to a move.
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Good thing they didnt listen to this when the teade came up last summer for Ubaldo Jimenez. Sometimes (ask the Indians), paying four players for one isnt the best idea, just because a team asks you to overpay.
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I agree, we aren’t going to overpay. I didn’t say if it was right or wrong but in the environment right now of high demand and low supply that is the only thing that would cause some of the deals to happen. I think we pretty much have our pitching staff for the coming season.
Shame-
At least Lee would have been a game changer.
Darvish is an unknown quantity.
Blake-
This OS so far – zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !
Snooze city.
Boring is not the word. To do NOTHING to improve the team at the deadline. To do NOTHING to improve the team in the off season…is bunk. And for people to accept that ineptitude is mind-boggling as a Yankees fan with high standards.
blake December 19th, 2011 at 10:13 am
I doubt they are waiting for Darvish…..they could have had him if they really wanted. They put everything on hold last year until the Lee situation was resolved…..I don’t think they are doing that with Yu nearly as much……just nothing there yet to do.
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Blake, I agree they have been activily looking. I just can’t tell right now if any moves will be made, I sort of doubt it. Time is getting pretty short, I think at some point the focus really goes to ST and away from player selection. I got to believe we are getting close to that time after the first of the year.
Bret-
I did not say I was against it.
Just that it lacks a certain panache.
Flair.
Spice.
Bret The Hitman December 19th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Boring is not the word. To do NOTHING to improve the team at the deadline. To do NOTHING to improve the team in the off season…is bunk. And for people to accept that ineptitude is mind-boggling as a Yankees fan with high standards.
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Some of us don’t accept it, it’s almost like an arrogance at times has set in when you listen to the management chain. We have all said that it’s possible postering, but so far they have walked the talk.
Who knew plan B after Cliff Lee was to do NOTHING for a whole entire year? Not even a tweak at the deadline? Not even a minor upgrade in the off season? It’s kind of amazing.
But what guys out there are worth making moves for? If Felix or Kershaw were available, that’d be one thing.. but all indications are that the good starters signed for decent contracts aren’t being moved by their respective teams. I mean.. Jimenez was the big talk at the deadline. Jimenez. People on the board were willing to move half the farm for …Jimenez?!.. smh.
Good morning Erin
, MTU, Shame, Gary, Blake and Randy I,
We’ll be fine with or without Yu. Sign Bartolo and Jones and call it a winter.
Sign one or both of the Cuban although I prefer Solar.
For better or worse the heady days of GMS are gone.
Buried with him.
This is the Hal era.
Get used to it.
It’s not necessarily worse. It’s just “different”.
MTU December 19th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Is anybody else bored w the Darvish thing ?
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MTU, I was bored with Darvish 2 weeks ago.
Bret The Hitman December 19th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Who knew plan B after Cliff Lee was to do NOTHING for a whole entire year? Not even a tweak at the deadline? Not even a minor upgrade in the off season? It’s kind of amazing.
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Plan B I think ended up being Soriano, Bartolo, and Freddie. We did fairly well with that. The team did do well last year so I think they are willing to gamble a bit on that strategy going forward. If the Yanks had not made the playoffs last year things would have been different.
Get real…these other GM’s are making things happen.
Mat Latos isn’t exactly a poster child for being a trade candidate.
Thoughts from the weekend (other than that the Giants are frustrating)
1. I don’t understand Kubel signing with Arizona. They have a pretty good RF (Upton) and no DH spot for him. Hmmmm….maybe this means they’ll put J-Ups on the block (kidding)
2. Given the haul San Diego got for Mat Latos I would not expect the Yankees to be trading for a young rising ace anytime soon. Granted, it was a huge overpay from a frustrated Cincy GM, but I wouldn’t expect Billy Beane (for example) to say “you know, I saw what San Diego got for Latos but I’m going to ask for a lot less for Gio” more likely he’s going to say “holy crap, based on what San Diego got for Latos I’ve been asking for way too little for Gio.”
3. Fully prepared for Toronto to wind up with Darvish. He’s reported to be asking for $15 mil a year to offset not only his salary from the Nippon Ham team but also the endorsements he had in Japan.
Morning Comet
Comet-
Good morning.
Lot’s of word play possible with the young Cuban.
You call Soler “solar”.
I call him “filet of Soler”.
Although there does not appear to be anything “fishy” about his ability.
The yankees are one of the top four teams in baseball. What are they supposed to do? Trade off the farm system and sign and aging pitcher to make you happy? The biggest thing to improve the team is a return to health. They aren’t eating Burnett’s contract and dumping another 2 year, $25 mil contract on a tire patch.
I didn’t think our team last year was that bad.. Minority viewpoint?
Jorgie won’t be a black hole in our DH spot for half the year this go-round (regardless of who you place the blame on for that situation). Arod should theoretically be healthier and Uncle Joe has (hopefully) a new shiny Japanese player to slot there to keep him fresh. Our pen was incredibly effective even with the Joba and Soriano injuries. Our rotation outside of AJ (who still gives us a 50/50 shot) is in flux of course but at least we have a few young guys competing for spots (Hughes, due for a bounce back. Nova may regress but then there is Noesi/Warren/Phelps to possibly step in).
Am I the only one who’s peeved? Either I’m losing my mind or Yankees fans are losing their edge.
Bret The Hitman December 19th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Who knew plan B after Cliff Lee was to do NOTHING for a whole entire year? Not even a tweak at the deadline? Not even a minor upgrade in the off season? It’s kind of amazing.
——————
The Yankees are frustrating; but I understand it.
1. In the rotation, the guy you want to upgrade from the most, you can’t because of his contract (AJ)
2. In the field the places you can upgrade most are at C and the OF corners – at C they have a potential stud, so they don’t have to go out and bring in someone else and in the corners, there aren’t any clear upgrades available (yet) to what the Yankees have in Swisher and Gardner. Maybe they get Cespedes – when he becomes available – but take a look at the OF’s – who do you want? Beltran? Kubel? Willingham?
3. I would have liked them to be more imaginative in the rotation than just bringing back Freddy Garcia – mostly because I don’t expect Garcia to be as good in 2012 as he was in 2011 – but they still might…who knows.
The offseason is still relatively early.
DKnobler MLB confirms that Brewers won right to negotiate with Aoki, Japanese center fielder
Morning Comet – I like your plan!! I’ve been hoping to resign Colon since last season even when he was on fumes… you cant forget how to pitch like he did early on. He looked incredibly sharp.
Beltran will get more playing time with the Cards or Cubs than he will with the yankees…..and they don’t need Kuroda. They may like him, but, not for multiple years and he’s not taking one year.
Bret-
As we sit we are a 95 + win team.
A few tweaks are really all that’s needed.
If you are talkin’ WS that’s a crapshoot.
Look at the Sux and the Phillies.
Designed on paper to be heads and shoulders above everyone else, and to win it all.
Where did they wind up ?
By the way, I am not advocating doing nothing.
Just saying that we need not be in any hurry.
No move is better than the wrong move.
That’s my 2 cents.
Bret The Hitman December 19th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Am I the only one who’s peeved? Either I’m losing my mind or Yankees fans are losing their edge.
———-
No you’re not – I just don’t see what obvious moves there are that are there to be made.
Since passing on Danny Haren, they have done nothing significant. That was July 2010.
GreenBeret7 December 19th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Beltran will get more playing time with the Cards or Cubs than he will with the yankees…..and they don’t need Kuroda. They may like him, but, not for multiple years and he’s not taking one year.
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The only way Beltran gets to the Yankees is if they do one of two things A) Deal Swisher; B) Deal Montero.
Ieptitude?
Wow.
97 wins is ineptitude.
They did improve their team in the second half – they brought Nova back up.
The off-season is boring until it’s not and then it’s boring again until it’s spring training. It’s the same every year.
They got CC done right away (thank heavens), as well as Garcia.
There are no urgent moves to be made. There is no reason to pay too much for ANYTHING that’s out there this off-season. There is not much that is known to be available that is all that much better than what they already have, ESPECIALLY if you consider the cost.
Ineptitude.
Right.
Bret The Hitman December 19th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Am I the only one who’s peeved? Either I’m losing my mind or Yankees fans are losing their edge.
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Bret I could be wrong but you were on board with the Montero for Jimenez deal, weren’t you?
Shame Spencer December 19th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Which was worse.. waiting for Lee or waiting for Darvish?
Kinda funny since neither will be playing for us..
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Waiting for Lee was worse, because it was one of the only times that Cashman seemed willing to overpay. I think that we dodged a bullet with that one.
New Post: Darvish bidding winner to be announced tonight
Not making a trade is not doing nothing.