A few mid-December minor league notes
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 20, 2011 
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Just checked in very briefly with Mark Newman, the Yankees vice president of baseball operations down in Tampa. The Yankees complex is dotted with assorted minor leaguers every offseason, but Newman said he also see Dave Robertson on a daily basis.
“He works out, then goes fishing,” Newman said.
A few notes on the Yankees minor league system…
• Center fielder Slade Heathcott is still rehabbing from his second shoulder surgery. Newman said it’s “going fine” and Heathcott should be able to at least go through some drills in spring training. Whether he’s ready to open the season is still uncertain.
“Depends on spring training,” Newman said. “We’re not going to push him at all, and we’re not going to let him push himself.”
• One of Heathcott’s teammates, J.R. Murphy, is ready to go after an ankle/foot injury. Newman said he should be 100 percent by spring training, and although he has worked at third base and the outfield, Murphy will “predominantly” catch next year.
• The Yankees kept Justin Maxwell on the 40-man roster because they believe he’ll be healthy and could contribute off the bench next season. He had a good, but injury-shortened year in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season. “He’s got some tools, and he’s a high-caliber individual who works,” Newman said.
• Newman denied a report that Jorge Vazquez is going to play in Japan. ”News to me,” Newman said. “Still on my board. Still under contract.”
• Former supplemental-round pick Jeremy Bleich is still rehabbing from 2010 shoulder surgery. He didn’t pitch at all last season.
• Lower-level pitching prospect Jose Ramirez did not pitch past August 11, but his sore elbow never required surgery. “He’s alright,” Newman said.
• Although he’s moved quickly through the system and went to the Fall League this offseason, Newman said it’s too early to put reliever Chase Whitley on the big league radar.
• Newman seemed high on Cuban utility man Ronnier Mustelier, another Fall League guy who played in High-A last season. He wasn’t a big name on the international market, but the Yankees believe he could be a legitimate big league option down the road. “He’s got some tools,” Newman said. “He can hit, and he plays a lot of different positions. He can run. Built like a running back. He’s strong, stocky. He’s got a chance to help us in the future as a corner utility guy.”
• The Yankees have not had any talks about bringing back Mark Prior, and Newman doesn’t expect that to happen. “Right now I would say no,” he said. “But never say never.”
• Newman said there’s a chance the Yankees will have to wait to get the bulk of their minor league signings done. If they don’t happen in the next couple of days, they won’t happen until after the holidays, sometime in January.
• The entire Scranton/Wilkes-Barre coaching staff — Dave Miley, Butch Wynegar, Scott Aldred and Frank Menechino — will be back next season, running the team through a bizarre schedule of road games.
Even if Cano has one off season between now and the end of his contract, the FA price will be sky high. He’d have to really tank to affect that, and it seems so unlikely.
Pujols, Hanley and Reyes are strong evidence of that. All three at still very highly valued.
Not sure what this headline even means, but I had to share because it sounded so dumb. It was next to an espn.com link about the Rangers winning the Darvish bid (to talk).
“By dropping $51.7 million just to speak to Yu Darvish, the Rangers grew up.”
Pujols, Hanley and Reyes are strong evidence of that. All three at still very highly valued.
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I disagree with Hanley. It hasn’t just been 1 off season with him. It has been a steady decline, He has attitude problems and is becoming very injury prone
grew up or threw up?
?He works out, then goes fishing,? Newman said.
****************
Will D-Rob be having fish for his Christmas dinner?
It was a very bad decision the rangers made on darvish.
He has to be an ace in the majors for it to pay off.
Now it is possible,but not likely.
The majors is different world,where hitters have power,experience.
ron- T
he majors is different world,where hitters have power,experience.
—–
and Patience
I think it was a great move for Texas. The posting fee doesn’t count towards payroll (or luxury tax threshold) so it’s really not that big a deal. Texas is getting a ton of money out of their TV deal, they can afford to spend some of it on a posting fee for a potential ace pitcher.
Darvish is the real deal and if Feliz fulfills his potential the Rangers are going to have a really scary rotation.
Also keep in mind, Texas was the organization that scouted Darvish THE MOST out of any other team in the major leagues. They reportedly had someone at every single one of Darvish’s starts this past year. It’s not like they are taking a flier on some dude with a lot of hype, they know exactly what they are getting.
I think it was a great move for Texas. The posting fee doesn’t count towards payroll (or luxury tax threshold) so it’s really not that big a deal.
=========
??? It’s $52 million! It has to be paid up front, so it doesn’t even have the benefit of being spread out over future years. And if Darvish flames out, the money is gone. What happens if the guy gets injured? It might work out for the Rangewrs, but it is a big risk. And the luxury tax threshold is only a very small piece of the calculus.
Patrick December 20th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Also keep in mind, Texas was the organization that scouted Darvish THE MOST out of any other team in the major leagues. They reportedly had someone at every single one of Darvish’s starts this past year. It’s not like they are taking a flier on some dude with a lot of hype, they know exactly what they are getting.
==
They never saw him face Major League hitters or pitch on four days rest. There is still a lot of guesswork here.
one also has to figure in the cost of lost investment profit from the posting fee.
they don’t just have the 52M sitting in a large cookie jar. it must be liquidated from existing accounts, where it at the least is drawing interest. so, one has to also calculate in the lost money made from the liquidated positions.
The problem with bidding $50mil is they leave little wiggle room in the deal for success.
This is now going to be a 5-6 year, $100-120mill starter.
This could “just barely pay off” if he’s one of the top 5-10 pitchers in baseball and never gets injured.
This could be Barry Zito bad. Let’s hope so
Triple,
Disagree all you want, the point is that the rest of the MLB still highly values him. How many teams reportedly came knocking when they signed Reyes?
Texas watched Darvish in Japan against against Japanese hitters.
I’m sure the Yankees watched Irabu in Japan against japanese hitters.
No mystery meat for the Yanks. Woot. Smart move by the Yankees.
RadioKev
Triple short of a french fry Denigrating Hanley in his mind justifies the beer buckett trade.
CB,
Yea the videos are kinda useless from a baseball sense…..however there is one slow mo shot from the side of him and he hits a few balls the other way in game situations off breaking balls that I thought were impressive…..he is a little long but they could work on that and the bat speed looks legit. Reminds me of Nellie Cruz a little bit just in the bit I’ve seen. It would be a gamble no question……..and it may be a total waste ……but with the total lack of impact outfielders available…..I wouldn’t mind taking a flyer.
But then unlike hanley Popeye beckett has a great attitude and work ethic.
blake – it all depends on the price. Remember, the Yanks won a few with OFs like Shane Spencer, Chad Curtis, and Rickey Ledee.
I love how in Patrick’s mind 50 million doesn’t matter cause it doesn’t count towards the luxury tax.
Popeye chicken and beer make Beckett inpervious to injury.
Sign Beltran. No excuse not to upgrade where you can.
“blake – it all depends on the price. Remember, the Yanks won a few with OFs like Shane Spencer, Chad Curtis, and Rickey Ledee.”
And a lot better starting pitching though…..and a prime age Jeter, Posada, Bernie etc…….
The Rangers don’t pay luxury tax anyway……so that doesn’t matter nearly as much. It still.comes out of the owners pocket and they’ve already said it would limit other moves for them. As I said earlier…..Texas would have been scary had they signed Fielder and traded for Garza or someone like that…
Darvish probably makes them better……but the degree he does is much less predictable.
@jcrasnick: Interest in Roy Oswalt has picked up now that he has told clubs he only wants a 1-year deal.
LGY December 20th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@jcrasnick: Interest in Roy Oswalt has picked up now that he has told clubs he only wants a 1-year deal.
========
Well, I’m a lot more interested now!
blake – true, but curtis granderson isn’t exactly chopped liver. neither is this montero guy. my point is that you can win with less than all stars in the of. i agree with you about stable starting pitching, and i think the yanks are not so bad off in that area.
so, roy oswalt is now saying all he wants for xmas is…. a one-year deal? if he’s interested in ny, there may be something to work with.
Didn’t Oswalt take a swipe at Arod during the steroid fiasco?
Hey Japan, if you want Jorge “El Chato” Vazquez, the Yanks are now conducting a silent auction.
Word of caution: minimum posting fee is $51.7M.
Let’s have an auction for Sidd Finch!
Oswalt is just another ageing NL Chucker that would get torched in the AL, and especially the AL East. NIX
“Yea the videos are kinda useless from a baseball sense…..however there is one slow mo shot from the side of him and he hits a few balls the other way in game situations off breaking balls that I thought were impressive….”
Blake,
Those were the moments that caught my eye as well. Those were impressive.
That said-the video’s are so cynical its hard to make anything from it.
I found them really annoying. How dumb do they think people are.
The most impressive clips you show of the guy are of him taking the ball the other way in game action. Impressive plate coverage and ability to drive the ball the other way.
Then when you finally get to his batting practice most of what you show is him jerk pulling the ball out of the stadium or going to center field so you can write, “500+ feet Out of the Park!”
That’s just so cynical. No close ups of his hands or base. Just annoying. They really think baseball fans are just dumb.
@AndrewMarchand: @jcrasnick Oswalt’s agent just told me that he would be interested in the Yanks, but he has not talked to Cashman recently. #sometingtowatch
- GHOSTY -
Yea, that’s me from TDN.
http://wnflam.com/news/article.....cal-issue/
Braun Okay!
“The majors is different world,where hitters have power,experience.”
==========
Well, keep in mind that he’ll be facing the likes of the A’s and the M’s for about 40 games.
__________________
parish the thought….
http://tinyurl.com/bvrjcme
“That’s just so cynical. No close ups of his hands or base. Just annoying. They really think baseball fans are just dumb.”
Qft.
Joe,
No argument
Oswalt or Kuroda on a one year deal for the same money?
for the rangers, it’s a $100+ mil committment. but if they ever want to trade yu, then it’s only the contract and not the bid. so if he ends up being bad, it still won’t be zito contract bad…
Those video’s showed an arrogance in Cespedes. He has some makeup issues.
I’d take Melky Cabrera in RF after Swish leaves. I think Melky is a .300 hitter now. He has played in the Yankees organization for 8 years of his career and he knows that the team won’t tolerate his BS and will ship him out at the drop of a hat.
Cabrera’s contract will probably fall short of Cespedes’ but Melky is a known quantity in NY. He had some clutch hits and has grown up finally.
Cespedes with his showboating is like Melky on roids x 1000
Kuroda is a much better bet than Oswalt to provide quality innings.
Oswalt has had too many health problems recently. Especially his back.
Kuroda is the guy they should sign.
“Kuroda is a much better bet than Oswalt to provide quality innings.”
I tend to agree. Oswalt is a competitor…..but his stuff has taken a step back and he has the health issues.
Rangers will be pouring out tons of money for Darvish and Greenberg, another BK filing down the road ???
if kuroda wants to play in ny. one can’t force it.
between the business last year about only wanting to play on west coast, and kevin towers statement that he got tired of kuroda just sitting on his offer, i wonder about his sincerity/makeup.
i obviously have no insight into this, but cash better have.
I wouldn’t draw any inferences about Cespedes make up from any of those videos. It’s impossible to do so with any valid conclusions.
They are just so overproduced/ over edited you can see much of him at all as a player and definitely not as a person.
He was just working out. Everything we see if from the perspective and shaped by what his handlers have decided to show.
i don’t know that we can or should hold those videos against cespesdes. whomever made them didn’t seem to have much insight into MLB. not necessarily his fault.
What does Melky’s video with that pornstar say about him?
Those videos are all his agents doing. All I’ve seen are the videos…..this is from someone I assume has seen him live.
Yankees @YankeeSource 2h That said, if I was a hitting coach I’d leave Cespedes hitting mechanics alone for the most part, has a true power hitter swing.
Yankees @YankeeSource 2h Watching Cespedes, he wastes so much power in his disconnected upper and lower half movements. K. Long could turn him into a HR machine.
If Braun took a substance that increased his testosterone by a large amount, despite them saying it wasn’t a PED, guess what? It is a PED. Testosterone increases give additional strength and energy to muscles. It improves the recovery time as well. Isn’t that what steroids will do? Higher testosterone leads to increased muscle mass, lower body fat, increased energy.
Any drug a play takes is supposed to go through medical personnel. I don’t care if it’s a “private” medical issue. This just shows that he did take something and it increased his testosterone levels artificially. It makes just as guilty as all the minor leaguers who took supplements that lead to suspensions. It wasn’t something approved by the league.
TMZ reported that the substance Braun took was prescribed by a doctor for a medical condition…..cited an mlb source. No clue how accurate it is as it is TMZ…..but MLB network reported it also.
Braun is in his prime physical condition.
What drug would he be taking for a medical condition?
And one that elevates his testosterone levels.
Doesn’t pass the smell test as it currently stands.
@AndrewMarchand: Source: Yanks still not interested in Oswalt, despite demands down to one-year
Today, buried in an article about the Rangers winning the negotiating rights to Yu Darvish, George King says that several teams are “kicking the tires” on acquiring Burnett, but the Yankees will have to eat more than that $8M if they want to get serious about a trade. Joe wrote exactly that earlier this month, suggesting they may need to pay about two-thirds of the remainder of his contract to make a deal happen, a la the Derek Lowe trade. Even then, they’re likely to get little in return, a fringy prospect or maybe a spare bench piece in the best case. Either way, if the Yankees intend to move the righty, they’re basically going to have to give him away.
http://www.riveraveblues.com
@AndrewMarchand: Source with knowledge of the bidding: Yanks bid less than $20M for Darvish. I don’t know exact #, but less than $20M, definitely
if the Yankees had the rights to Darvish most of you would be talking 2nd coming, this talk about hoping he tanks is total BS
we don’t know enough about this mystery drug. and, until the appeals process is worked thru, we likely won’t.
one of the shames of this current era, is this cloud of suspicion that envelopes pro athletes. they need to be more pure “than Caesar’s wife”, if you’ve read any Shakespeare.
All the nervous nellies will be upset if the Yankees don’t pounce on Oswalt.
Indecisive, weak, no plan bla bla bla.
The video that was sent out a few weeks ago was very similar to a movie trailer as it’s sole purpose was to garnish publicity and it worked…….The private workouts have raised a lot of eyebrows and has raised the level of interest in him……I think the Yanks take a very hard and considerable look at both the Cuban Outfielders……….Kuroda trumps Oswalt across the board…..Kuroida is a very fine starting pitcher, very smart on the mound……
,What drug would he be taking for a medical condition?”
Being in prime physical condition doesn’t necessarily mean you wont have a medical problem…….
“Watching Cespedes, he wastes so much power in his disconnected upper and lower half movements. K. Long could turn him into a HR machine.”
Why I wish he were 19…
At 26-it’s a real climb. How many can do what Curtis did?
He does have great tools though. Better than Soler, though hard to compare physiques given ages.
joeman most of us have lived through both the Irabu and Igawa signings I think everyone here or most everyone understands that is a risk, by no means a sure thing more then likely the 2nd coming of irabu.
I was diagnosed with Low-T at a relatively young age, so it can happen to anybody.
But something still doesn’t smell right – why not report it to MLB that you are taking a medication for a known physical ailment? Why not, before you start the treatment, ask MLB if it is allowable? I can’t imagine a player just taking a drug with doing some due diligence.
I haven’t heard of any medication for other physical ailments that impact testosterone levels..though I haven’t extensively researched it.
It sems like Texas is always throwing around big money, just before they crash & burn! I believe a guy named ARod was very costly years ago to another Texas owner that helped him lose his shirt! Also, the big oil companies rake in the cash & then look for pennies usually shortly thereafter. Maybe the next Texas owner will be a real big guy like Mark Cuban! LOL!
Well Blake one would think if Braun is not injured but taking a drug that MLB would be aware of it.
If he has a condition of some type you would think that the information would be in the public domain.
yclept
From my understanding Braun has elevated testosterone levels.
A lot of people get nervous because they think the yankees always have to be doing something.
It’s like an anxiety.
What they are doing is trying to get value for their dollar,instead of throwing money around.
I’m sure they won’t mind dropping 120-132 million or so,on a 28 year old or so hamels.
That takes him to 34 years old,instead of trading a betances,montero + more for a garza,danks,gio,or an older pitcher.
Cashman probably trades betances,montero + more for a hamels,feix,cain,etc…
We are set up very nice for a deadline trade,if prices drop,or a fa pitcher like hamels,cain,etc…
I just don’t see many good pitchers reaching fa.
They will be traded first to get compensation.
The mets made a terrible decision by not trading reyes,when he would bring in at least 2 elite prospects.
They already have some nice pitching in the minors,and should of got something for reyes.
Just don’t understand letting him go for nothing,
If i am them,i trade wright next.
“At 26-it’s a real climb. How many can do what Curtis did?”
Not many……however i guess you could argue the Yanks gambled Ian Kennedy and Austin Jackson that Granderson could be fixed……though Granderson had a much higher performance floor as he had a big league track record of being a good player. It all comes back to how much the Yanks are willing to gamble and how confident they are that he will be able to make the adjustments…….I have no idea really
Triple short of a french fry Denigrating Hanley in his mind justifies the beer buckett trade.
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Both him and I were talking about now you moron. Learn to read. Plus nobody brought up Beckett. Hanley is not the same guy he was 3 or 4 years ago
you’d think that a player as organized and thoughtful as Braun is supposed to be would have known beforehand what drugs are permissible under the cba, and what he was taking would affect his testing, and gone through the appropriate channels. But, again, we only have imperfect information here.
anyone have odds on Braun opening the season with the team?
Manny had a “medical condition” that had him taking female fertility drugs.
Every Team has their approved doctors, those doctors are supposed to approve any substance the players are taking, be it drug or supplement or vitamins.
This doesn’t pass the smell test at all. If he had a legit medical issue, did he go through the team doctor? Oh, wait, its a private issue so we can only be told it was for a medical condition, just like Ramirez taking those drugs.
Higher testosterone is a PED, even if it isn’t a steroid, it gives a lot of the same results as steroids do. This could be the next thing for players looking to gain and edge.
“Well Blake one would think if Braun is not injured but taking a drug that MLB would be aware of it.”
HIPAA
ron – absolutely. and i have long thought that the should look to move wright for the right deal
i do think they are making some good moves here, signing veteran relief pitchers. what it will do is give them a stable of veteran guys on short term deals that other, contending clubs might find attractive come the trade deadline. that’s how you re-stock your farm system.
We are set up very nice for a deadline trade,if prices drop,or a fa pitcher like hamels,cain,etc…
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Prices never drop and if any of those pitchers are to be traded they will ask for Banuelos and Betances
Mr. Happy Face coming out of his positive shell.
If you follow the game long enough you will see that great players go through trends during the course of their career.
Hanley could be just another who needs a change of scenery, how you Miquel cabrera?
While I agree the Mets should have dealt Reyes at the break I like them didn’t think a team with a protected first round pick would sign Reyes so at the very least they figured they would have gotten a first round pick and a sandwich instead of a third round (basically garbage) and a sandwich pick. They got more for Beltran then Reyes
“Prices never drop and if any of those pitchers are to be traded they will ask for Banuelos and Betances”
Always looking at the bight side of things. A change of pace.
I believe Manny Ramirez also claimed he was taking the female fertility drug for an undisclosed “medical condition.” This latest info on Braun doesn’t pass the smell test either, at least not to me.
if the Yankees had the rights to Darvish most of you would be talking 2nd coming, this talk about hoping he tanks is total BS
——
Very impressive Lohud fallacy Joeman!
But Manny was trying have kids.
I believe that Dr that prescribed the Braun medication was Dr Seuss. If this had happened to a Yankee, the press woulda already burned him at the stake. The press shoulda hoisted Braun from the highest flagpole, but NO, Braun gets a pass and Jeet gets lambasted for giving away souvenir baseballs petaining to an endeavor involving consenting adults. Ridiculous.
Jim Bowden makes me want to throw up. Listening to him rave about yu!!! At least Casey stern is being the voice of reason.
Hanley could be just another who needs a change of scenery, how you Miquel cabrera?
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He is not the same player he was 3 years ago. he is supposed to be in his prime and he is regressing in every facet of his game.
I don’t speak Rhapsody so i have no idea what how you Miquel Cabrera means?
Braun may be guilty…..but its not out of the realm of possibility that some medication coukd have caused a failed test. Ill wait and see…..if he is just spinning it then I hope he gets suspended but as a baseball fan I hope its not true……
Triple Short of a french fry.
Hanley can still hit you enbecile.
If he goes to another team with a deep line up where he will have to be pitched to.
Why he is held in high esteem.
Blake-
Unfortunately in the world of sports and entertainment HIPAA rules are often not followed. If you go and google him, there are some nasty rumors floating around.
Bret The Hitman December 20th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Didn’t Oswalt take a swipe at Arod during the steroid fiasco?
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Yes, but so did Berkman and they ended up being teammates.
An inside source from the MLB network (yes, i actually have one… go figure) says that Braun was taking herpes medication, and that triggered the false test.
I love how in Patrick’s mind 50 million doesn’t matter cause it doesn’t count towards the luxury tax.
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If we are evaluating this deal from a purely competitive standpoint the posting fee doesn’t matter at all. Obviously it matters from a financial point of view but unless you know the Rangers finances I don’t think you can comment. Obviously if the posting fee is a big hit that will prevent them from making other moves it hurts but we just don’tk now that to be true.
The reason a Yankee would be lambasted is simply because any Yankee news (or not news) is big. That said it would be big if it were a RSox as well, but it would most likely get covered up by the RSox Nation ESPN bias.
The part that causes me to hesitate on Braun is the extremely high reading & a later normal one.
Why he is held in high esteem.
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His power has declined for a few years now and his Isolated Power rate steadily decreased for the third straight season.
Not good for someone going through their mid-20s, where power usually develops, not fade away. — it’s not just variation in his HR/FB rate, which can experience seemingly random fluctuation from year to year. He became a different hitter in 2010, hitting more balls into the ground at the expense of his fly balls.
His speed isn’t the same either. he had the lowest success rate of his career last year.
He is always dinged up and now has attitude problems but your right he is the same stud he was 4 years ago which was the point of my first post about him.
An inside source from the MLB network (yes, i actually have one… go figure) says that Braun was taking herpes medication, and that triggered the false test.
—
This sounds accurate, it was reported last week that certain medications for herpes would cause a positive test result
The Rangers don’t pay the luxury tax anyway….most teams have actual payroll restrictions based upon the bottom line……they don’t just make up a number for their budget like the Yankees do.
Hanley Ramirez was injured last season.
He hit .342 in 2009, .410 OBP didn’t do bad in 2010 either.
I don’t see a decline like you do. Players get hurt all the time and then rebound.
He’s only 27 years old.
- RayVT -
Ortiz got to continue down the cake walk when it was revealed he was on that failed test list, so I don’t buy the R\Sox getting ripped also stuff. ESPN will do all they can to bury Any negative R\Sox info.
ID-
That would be antiviral medications and I can’t find any connection between their use and raising testosterone levels.
blake December 20th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Those videos are all his agents doing. All I’ve seen are the videos…..this is from someone I assume has seen him live.
Yankees @YankeeSource 2h That said, if I was a hitting coach I’d leave Cespedes hitting mechanics alone for the most part, has a true power hitter swing.
Yankees @YankeeSource 2h Watching Cespedes, he wastes so much power in his disconnected upper and lower half movements. K. Long could turn him into a HR machine.
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Since the 2nd post by “The Source” seems to contradict the first post, which one do you believe? (I wouldn’t change his swing, he has so much power) vs (he wastes so much power in his disconnected….). Yeah, he’s quite a scouting source.
Maybe if does, he has a lousy attitude because the team has traded for his replacemnt at SS.
A player btw who is injured all the time his entire career.
Anyone know what the Rangers Current team payroll is?
Braun tested high for synthetic testosterone. So, could it be a false positive, or does the herpes medication have testosterone as a component?
The Hell with Oswalt. I notice that he never said anything about giving back the wins the Astros got with Clemens and Pettitte provided for them. He’s another washed up blowhard.
If You guys are gonna get into attitudes, you gotta mention the rumblings eminating from the Yankee Clubhouse regarding Montero……………………………………….To Be Continued?????????????
A player btw who is injured all the time his entire career.
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2005 – 2008 he averaged 158 games
2010 and 2011 he averaged 130
2009 was the one year he missed a good chunk of the season.
He has had problems with Freddy Gonzalez and then Mckeon long before Reyes was signed.
Reyes is by far a better fielder and Hanley should have been expected to switch positions
Sounds like Oswalt wants people to think the Yanks are interested.. but Cash is always watching! He knows, man. He just knows.
Why don’t we let the Braun matter play out before we all play expert. Doing otherwise is what so many criticize the media about.
Further, why do we all need to act as if Darvish isn’t any good since the Rangers got his rights. If the Yankees had won, all would be raving about his upside. I don’t know how he will do, but the Rangers who are a well run organization over the last few years obviously think he has ability worth a huge amount of money.
The Rangers are better with him than without. They have been to the last two World Series. It will not be easy to beat them.
I have maintained since October the Yankees need to try to improve the team. The better the team the better the odds of winning. Pretty simple concept. Thus far, the staff is the same as last year except for the loss of Colon. The rest of the roster is the same without Chavez and Jones. They have no infield depth other than Nunez and no outfield depth at all. Dickerson and Maxwell have never demonstrated the ability to play if someone is out an extended period.
This is not a winning off season thus far.
Everyone talks about the trade deadline. With more teams available for the post season, there is going to be a LOT less talent available.
Want to raise your testosterone and look like this?
http://www.thermolife.com/products/T-BOL/
Everyone talks about the trade deadline. With more teams available for the post season, there is going to be a LOT less talent available.
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+1
Tell us how you really feel on Oswalt, GB
Reyes not exactly the 2nd coming of larruping Lou.
Hanley had better continue taking grounders at SS.
Hey ID, what happened to the Jets this weekend?
Gossip Break: Yankee offspring edition:
Dlauraposada my angel http://pic.twitter.com/Sva5Bk6G
Anyone know what the Rangers Current team payroll is?
=========================
Can’t tell yet w/o knowing Darvish’s number and their arb cases, but it would appear they’ll end up in the $115M range
I agree with GB on Oswalt. Getting old, bad back and fastball velocity significantly declining. Coud he bounce back? Sure, but I wouldn’t bet $10M+ on it.
“With more teams available for the post season, there is going to be a LOT less talent available” at the trade deadline.
+2
Braun should be suspended anyway just for the ick factor of making me read the word herpes on my favorite Yankee blog.
oops
Over under on how many Yankees on the 25 man roster currently have herpes.. I’ll set it at 4.5
According to ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand, the Yankees bid less than $20 million for Yu Darvish.
The Rangers won exclusive negotiating rights to the Japanese right-hander with a record $51.7 million posting fee. Compared to that effort, the Yankees barely even tried. Darvish, 25, posted a sparkling 1.44 ERA and 276/36 K/BB ratio in 232 innings this past season in Nippon Professional Baseball. Texas now has a 30-day window to work out a contract with him. The Cubs also bid less than $20 million, according to Marchand
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So the Yankees bid less for Darvish than Kei Igawa? How does that make sense?
Makes a lot of sense to somebody.
I’m glad I didn’t break the blog with my bad bolding skills, but I would’ve blamed that on Braun too.
You’re much less likely to acquire an STD if you give the gift basket within 8 hours of the sexual activity.
It doesn’t make sense but they bid just in case
It doesn’t make sense to those who didn’t have anything to lose.
Hanley Ramirez
2009 OPS .954, wOBA .410, fWAR 7.4
2010 OPS .853, wOBA .373, fWAR 4.6
2011 OPS .712, wOBA .317, fWAR 1.3
Granted he was hurt for some of 2011, but the trends aren’t great.
- DOGGY -
Thanks for that Ranger team $$$ figure.
The only Yankee beat writer with less of a clue than Marchand is Matthews. i’m guessing that about 5 people in the organization knows what the Yankee bid actually was. Doubtful those 5 would be spilling their guts to a hack like Marchand.
austinmac-
I would have been excited if Yu Darvish was putting on the pinstripes. As it turns out the Rangers will be shelling out more money for him than they would have for CJ Wilson, and that might just be in salary alone.
Wilson and his 16 wins, 223 innings, 206 strikeouts, .232 BAA has gone to their chief rivals in the division. Arlington is a hitters park, and more homers were hit there than in anyother stadium this past season.
Granted the Yankees have not had a winning offseason so far, but there is still 3 month to go and the Yankees will find pitching.
and Marchand knows what the Yankees bid how? some unnamed source just happened to tell him?
2008 his numbers are decent, he was injured in 2011.
Too small of a sample for me. I don’t see it.
I just don’t get how 2 more teams entering the playoffs will turn MLB into the NBA….
2/3 of the teams in the league are still NOT making the playoffs. That’s kind of a lot. People make it seem like we’re reverting to NBA or NHL standards where literally 1/2 of the teams make it.
“With more teams available for the post season, there is going to be a LOT less talent available” at the trade deadline.
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Depends on the season. There have been teams in the past (I remember the White Sox doing it) who were “in contention” as the trade deadline approached – yet traded away their assets anyway. Plus, one extra wild per league card doesn’t exactly put the entire sport into contention. There will always be talent available at the deadline from teams looking to rebuild, even if they are on the outskirts of contending status.
Is this really Don Mattingly, or his evil twin Donna?
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....e-1.994358
You?re much less likely to acquire an STD if you give the gift basket within 8 hours of the sexual activity.
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Braun knew he had failed his dug test when he accepted the NL MVP Award. He shoulda temporarily declined the award and explained he would claim it when vindicated via the appeals process. But NO, he proceeds to go right on with that Howdy Doody act of his.
YT- evil twin. Definitely.
A good discussion of Braun & his failed test for PEDS.
http://deadspin.com/5869473/vi.....c-steroids
AdamRubinESPN Post reports #Mets likely to eliminate one minor league team — in Kingsport, Tenn. — in a cost-saving move.
Oh, no. The Red Sox and Blue Jays have interest in tuning into “The Oswalt Factor”. Yanks need to jump in with a 3 year contract, double the yearly salaries just to keep him away from those teams.
Mets are looking to dump Fernando Martinez – man – three years ago he and Joba were the two guys you could have gotten just about anyone in baseball for if you used them to center up a deal (along with Homer Bailey) oh how the mighty have fallen.
That said – I would still take FMart as a minor league option – he is only what 24?
I just don’t get how 2 more teams entering the playoffs will turn MLB into the NBA….
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It doesn’t. What it does do is delay teams, be they legit competitors, delusional, or otherwise, from waving the proverbial white flag. For example, if it’s July 29th and the Royals find themselves 3 games back of the 2nd wild card, they may be less inclined to deal a J. Soria to another team for prospects than they would be they were 10 games behind the only wild card under the previous system.
GB,
Has anyone here advocated Oswalt?
Erin December 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
AdamRubinESPN Post reports #Mets likely to eliminate one minor league team ? in Kingsport, Tenn. ? in a cost-saving move.
The Mets have been cutting back on their mL teams and development for a few years now. The surest sign that they have big, big money problems.
This business with selling non-voting shares of the team, to raise $200M, is their last best hope to stave off insolvency and selling. Even with that cash (which they don’t have and appears more and more problematic), they have to pay out $65M off the top, to pay off loans to MLB and Bank of America. That does not begin to include the multimillions owed to their other creditors.
Sandy Alderson’s job, from day one, has been to get the team’s affairs in order for a sale. His reward, I believe, will be to replace Bud as commissioner.
- YANKEE BID FOR DARVISH SCRAWLED ON SCRAP OF PAPER IN CASHMAN’S TRASHCAN –
$29,000,028
Joe from Long Island December 20th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Erin December 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
AdamRubinESPN Post reports #Mets likely to eliminate one minor league team ? in Kingsport, Tenn. ? in a cost-saving move.
The Mets have been cutting back on their mL teams and development for a few years now. The surest sign that they have big, big money problems.
This business with selling non-voting shares of the team, to raise $200M, is their last best hope to stave off insolvency and selling. Even with that cash (which they don’t have and appears more and more problematic), they have to pay out $65M off the top, to pay off loans to MLB and Bank of America. That does not begin to include the multimillions owed to their other creditors.
Sandy Alderson’s job, from day one, has been to get the team’s affairs in order for a sale. His reward, I believe, will be to replace Bud as commissioner.
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If Rubin’s right (which I highly doubt since he is, after all, an ESPN employee) then that’s a disgusting conflict of interest and MLB and the Mets should be ashamed of themselves and offer full refunds to all Met season ticket holders (both of them!)
austinmac December 20th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
GB,
Has anyone here advocated Oswalt?
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Off and on, but, expect that to pick up with reports of him maybe taking a 1 year deal. Regardless of the cost, the Yankees must win the all important “Biggest Winter Splash Title”.
YT,
Granted their is still time to improve the team, but I do wonder if it will happen. Put me in the doubtful category.
The Yankees will find pitching.
The offense will improve with:
Swisher playing in a walk year for a new contract.
Tex improving from the left side.
A healthy A-Rod
Jeter not tinkering with his swing as he did the first half.
Gardner getting on base.
Montero playing everyday.
Things will be OK
FWIW, via MLBTR:
Yahoo’s Tim Brown heard yesterday that Hiroki Kuroda was close to agreeing to a new contract. However, it’s not clear which team is nearing a deal with the right-hander. Here are the details and more of Brown’s links from around MLB:
•The Mariners, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox and Yankees were among the teams that informed Brown they were not the team nearing a deal with Kuroda.
Chip – I was the one speculating on the Mets’ future, not Rubin, just to make that clear.
Beyond that, it is a bit of a conflict. However, nobody, for what it’s worth, in MLB seems to mind much. MLB has a habit of getting involved in the affairs of loser clubs. Look at the Rangers and Dodgers, for instance.
Bud and Fred are good friends. It is also in MLB’s interest not to have their teams file for bankruptcy protection.
Both Mets’ fans probably don’t care, either.
Where is the Red Sox trophy for winning last year’s Off-Season???
Patrick – is it march yet?
It’s actually shocking that Selig hasn’t forced the Wilpons to sell. It’s embarrassing that a team playing in the biggest market in the country can’t outbid Miami for their franchise player. And that’s just the latest in a long line of absurd moves the MEts have made
I’m sorry ID, but I had to say something
I’m going to say pass on Oswalt.
None of the FA pitchers available really get me excited:
Oswalt and Kuroda are both old – Oswalt has injury issues.
Edwin Jackson is essentially a 28 year old AJ Burnett
Let someone else spend their money and roster spots on this chaffe.
New RUMOR:
Yahoo’s Tim Brown heard yesterday that Hiroki Kuroda was close to agreeing to a new contract. However, it’s not clear which team is nearing a deal with the right-hander. Here are the details and more of Brown’s links from around MLB:
The Mariners, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers, Red Sox and Yankees were among the teams that informed Brown they were not the team nearing a deal with Kuroda.
patrick – man was that ugly… but realistically it was a disgusting bout of football everywhere this week.
- POSSIBLE NOMINEEES TO BE THE NEXT COMMISSIONER OF MLB -
(1) GEORGE WILL
(2) KEITH OLBERMANN
(3) JACKIE AUTRY
(4) JOE TORRE
(5) MITT ROMNEY
If someone else signs Kuroda I may fly into a Bret the Hitman level spazz out.
DONNY just stop…
Patrick December 20th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
It’s actually shocking that Selig hasn’t forced the Wilpons to sell. It’s embarrassing that a team playing in the biggest market in the country can’t outbid Miami for their franchise player. And that’s just the latest in a long line of absurd moves the MEts have made
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Well I think the embarassing part isn’t that they couldn’t outbid the Marlins for Reyes – it’s that they didn’t even make an offer. If you’re going to do that; trade him in July. But they wouldn’t do that because they wanted to use Reyes as a draw to keep fans coming to the games in the second half of the season.
I think it boils down to MLB determining that they can only admit to one failing franchise at a time and the Dodgers are on the front burner right now.
I’m actually a little shocked that Bud didn’t try to set something up where the Wilpons got the Dodgers (the team they’ve wanted since day one) and MLB took over the Mets instead.
If someone else signs Kuroda I may fly into a Bret the Hitman level spazz out.
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hahahaha
It appears as though kuroda doesnt want to come here. Lets just close the book on this dude.
LGY December 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
If someone else signs Kuroda I may fly into a Bret the Hitman level spazz out.
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Worse than the Jim Thome saga of last year?
patrick – man was that ugly… but realistically it was a disgusting bout of football everywhere this week.
==========================
Makes for pretty good X-mas Eve theatre, IMO. Kind of like the idea of both teams pretty much playing for their lives.
You got me laughing with Keith Olbermann…..please no!!!! How about Bob Costas?
Joe from Long Island December 20th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Erin December 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
AdamRubinESPN Post reports #Mets likely to eliminate one minor league team ? in Kingsport, Tenn. ? in a cost-saving move.
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A rookie league team ??? BFD.
I still vaguely wonder what this world would look like if George W. Bush got the job he wanted and ended up as the Commissioner of Baseball…I heard Selig let him believe he’d get the job too lol!
Joe In LI,
The Mets are every bit the financial and public image disaster as the Dodgers are. Two of the top three teams in baseball in terms of a fan base to draw from is a nightmare for baseball and almost as much of an embarrassment to the Commissioner’s office as the drugs and steroids scandal was/is.
Doc Joe…..Outstanding observations regarding Sandy and the Commish’s Office
New Post- Reports: Oswalt seeking one year; Kuroda nearing a deal
Thanks for this post Chad. It’s always interesting to hear from Mark Newman.
Honestly… I’m not so sure the Mets are the fools in the Reyes situation. That’s a lot of money for a speed guy with broken wheels. They would be better off spending every dollar of what Reyes got on pitching. Why they don’t… well no one every accused them of knowing what they were doing.
Yeah, they should have traded him… for all we know they tried to and decided the return package wasn’t worth the PR hit for the second half of 2011.
ID,
Well I’m an Eagles fan so I liked the football I saw last week. Do you realize Philly actually still has a shot at the playoffs? The reality of it happening is really small but at 6-8 there’s still a chance!
If the Eagles win vs Cowboys and Redskins and
Giants lose to Jets and
Giants beat Cowboys
The eagles win the division..
This is what’s left with the available starting pitching on the FA market:
Name Age 2011 team 2011 stats 2012 team Contract
Bartolo Colon 38 Yankees 8-10, 4.00 ERA not signed
Aaron Cook 33 Rockies 3-10, 6.03 ERA not signed
Kyle Davies 28 Royals 1-9, 6.75 ERA not signed
Doug Davis 36 Cubs 1-7, 6.50 ERA not signed
Justin Duchscherer 34 A’s Injured not signed
Zach Duke 28 D’backs 3-4, 4.93 ERA not signed
Jeff Francis 31 Royals 6-16, 4.82 ERA not signed
Armando Galarraga 30 D’backs 3-4, 5.91 ERA not signed
Rich Harden 30 A’s 4-4, 5.12 ERA not signed
Livan Hernandez 37 Nationals 8-13, 4.47 ERA not signed
Edwin Jackson 28 Cardinals 12-9, 3.79 ERA not signed
Kenshin Kawakami 36 Braves 1-10, 5.15 ERA not signed
Hiroki Kuroda 37 Dodgers 13-16, 3.07 ERA not signed
Rodrigo Lopez 36 Cubs 6-6, 4.42 ERA not signed
Paul Maholm 29 Pirates 6-14, 3.66 ERA not signed
Kevin Milwood 37 Rockies 4-3, 3.98 ERA not signed
Roy Oswalt 34 Phillies 9-10, 3.69 ERA not signed
Brad Penny 33 Tigers 11-11, 5.30 ERA not signed
Oliver Perez 30 Nationals Minors not signed
Joel Pineiro 33 Angels 7-7, 5.13 ERA not signed
Javier Vazquez 35 Marlins 13-11, 3.69 ERA not signed
Tim Wakefield 45 Red Sox 7-8, 5.12 ERA not signed
Brandon Webb 32 Rangers Injured not signed
Chris Young 32 Mets 1-0, 1.88 ERA not signed
Honestly… I’m not so sure the Mets are the fools in the Reyes situation
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This is true but think about if this were the Yankees. Your franchise shortstop is in his prime, coming off a great year and there is no heir apparent to take over at SS. The Marlins outbid NY for the player. I mean that sounds insane just typing it! The fact that the Mets are in such bad shape competitively and financially just speaks to the terrible job the Wilpons have done with the team. Not signing Reyes might be the right move if you are evaluating it in a void but to me it’s the culmination of terrible ownership and management.
New Post:
Reports: Oswalt seeking one year; Kuroda nearing a deal —->
As equally digusting was hand picking some of these owners (the same ones that are failing) and allowing one owner to own a piece of three teams at the same time (John Henry – Montreal, Marlins and Yankees).