Winter leagues moving into the postseason
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 02, 2012 
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Winter leagues in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico have already concluded their regular season games, and Puerto Rico will do the same in a couple of days. Here’s a quick look at how some of the Yankees finished up the regular season in various winter leagues.
• Hector Noesi went to the Dominican Republic to get innings, and he finished with 46.2, the second most in the Dominican Winter League. Noesi made 10 starts, going 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA. He walked 10, struck out 27 and allowed a .251 opponents batting average. He’s pitched 2.2 hitless innings in the postseason. The workload brings him up to 130.1 innings for the year, which basically the same amount as Dellin Betances had this year.
• Rule 5 pick Cesar Cabral faced 48 batters in the Dominican. Seven of them had a hit, three of them walked and only one of them came around to score. He inherited 11 runners, and let one of them score. Cabral finished with a 0.71 ERA and a .159 opponents batting average, while getting both right-handers and left-handers out. He’s struck out the only batter he’s faced in the postseason.
• In Mexico, the regular season just ended on Friday, and Jorge Vazquez finished as the league leader with 60 RBI. He was second with 18 home runs and ranked fourth with a .330 batting average. Vazquez has always raked down in Mexico, which is what led the Yankees to sign him in the first place. He did strikeout 66 times — second-most in the league — but when he makes contact, he does some damage.
• Also down in Mexico, Ramiro Pena finished hitting .246/.317/.369 with four homers and three errors as the regular shortstop for Culiacan. A single on the last day of the season snapped a six-game hitless streak for Pena, who was actually putting up pretty solid offensive numbers before that end-of-the-year slide.
• Getting back on the field after a spring shoulder injury, Colin Curtis finished with a .261/.369/.369 slash line in Venezuela. He was hitting for much more power in the first half of the season, but his production fell off a little bit. He got most of his time in left field, but did play some center and right.
• Finishing with a surprisingly productive winter was Double-A shortstop Jose Pirela, who hit .301/.344/.407 as a teammate of Curtis down in Venezuela. Coming off a not-so-great season with Trenton, Pirela finished eighth in the league in batting average and fourth in hits. He got most of his time at second base.
• Switch pitcher Pat Venditte wrapped up his winter in Mexico by pitching two scoreless innings in his final regular season appearance. He finished with a 2.34 ERA and a .204 opponents batting average while routinely pitching at least two innings at a time. Lefties didn’t do much against him, but right-handers were especially shutdown, limited to a .191/.212/.309 slash line against Venditte.
• Signed to another minor league deal, catcher Gustavo Molina hit .256/.313/.314 in Venezuela while splitting time at catcher with Yankees minor leaguer Jose Gil, who hit .272/.326/.432. Molina got slightly more playing time, but Gil finished with twice as many RBI.
• Season numbers for a few minor league outfielders in the Dominican Republic, none of whom had a ton of playing time: Zoilo Almonte hit .171 with nine strikeouts in 35 at-bats, Abe Almonte hit .154 with two stolen bases in 39 at-bats, and Melky Mesa hit .208 with three doubles and three triples in 48 at-bats.
Do the Venezuelans know that Gus Molina is an imposter?
Pirela doing that is quite impressive, all the players in that league are guys who have put time in the majors and or triple a guys, so his level of competition is higher than he ever played.
The Yankees have been trying to put a square in a peg hole with him, since they don’t have shortstops, they have had him playing there and we have seen with his errors that has not worked out. I would bet that has affected his offense, as someone who struggles at much as he did last season, is probably going to have some spill over.
The problem is with Joeseph and Adams at second, there is no room there either, so if the kid wants to play he is going to have to get better at short stop even if it’s not his best position.
Lets see what Venditte does at Triple A this season, he certainly works his tail off, and deserves to get one step closer to his dream.
Pirela hit well, but, the fielding was as usual, brutally bad whether he played 2nd or short this winter. A little surprised at just how little they played Gary Sanchez in the Dominican league this year.
Stats of Yankees playing in the fall and winter leagues.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=nyy
I’m going to be rooting hard for Cabral. Seeing him succeed wouldn’t take away completely the sting of losing Ace to the Red Sox, but it would be a nice start.
Ace was money as a Yank.
How do you know his fielding was brutally bad at second, I looked at the link you posted, there were no defensive #s listed?
According to Yankee people and Patrick Teale, Pirela is a very good second baseman, if you meant he was terrible at Trenton, I don’t think he played many games if at all there.
Anyway it’s good to see a young kid who struggled play in a league with older competition and do that well.
To Ghost: While you may feel that EJax is comparable to AJ, and you may be right with the exception of age and therefore possibly upside, having a sub age-30, 200 innings guy in the rotation for the next 3 or so years along with CC wouldn’t hurt. Remember that the kids coming up from the minors won’t be expected to contribute 200 innings.
If you see any other comparable or better options available on the market that are readily available, please point them out to me.
Looking forward to Noesi and Cabral in ST. Would like to see Venditte too, but he doesn’t appear to stand a chance. Pena will be just depth behind Nunez.
I checked the nightly boxes from the winter leagues and 11 errors in 60 games spells brutal. Defense has never been a strong suit and his minor league numbers haven’t improved. 118 erors in 440 games is ugly in any league.
pass on jackson, there’s a reason he’ll be with his 7th team this year (in 9 seasons)
Derek Jeter made 134 errors in 453 minor league games.
not like Pirela’s. He can’t go back on pop-ups, weak arm and slow hands. he’s no shortstop.
just sayin that kids in the minors can improve and they make errors….not necessarily an indicator of what they’ll become either way
Oh, no!!! Cashman is still sleeping. Baltimore is sniffing heavily on Crisp.
blake January 2nd, 2012 at 9:52 pm
just sayin that kids in the minors can improve and they make errors….not necessarily an indicator of what they’ll become either way
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He’s still around because there’s nobody else to replace him….yet.
I thought Boston might sign Crisp…..who is going to play RF for them?
i didnt think boston liked crisp the first time, i cant see them signing him again.
Brandon Weeden – definitely a better quarterback than he was a pitcher.
kalish and sweeney as of now.
DaSaint007 January 2nd, 2012 at 9:32 pm
To Ghost: While you may feel that EJax is comparable to AJ, and you may be right with the exception of age and therefore possibly upside, having a sub age-30, 200 innings guy in the rotation for the next 3 or so years along with CC wouldn’t hurt. Remember that the kids coming up from the minors won’t be expected to contribute 200 innings.
If you see any other comparable or better options available on the market that are readily available, please point them out to me.
===========
The similarities between the two are pretty striking, with the exception that AJ had slightly better numbers than Jackson, and fewer red flags. AJ had more strikeouts and a better WHIP and ERA. And Jackson seems to wear out his welcome everywhere he’s been. Now, we are supposed to expect that all of a sudden, at age 28 Jackson is going to put it all together when he hasn’t in the last 8 years? No, I don’t see the need to sign this guy. Frankly, I like my chances with AJ better.
The Yanks are fine with what they have for now. Making moves just for the sake of making moves doesn’t make much sense to me. Besides, if the Yanks aren’t willing to do one year for Kuroda, then why should we expect them to do three years for Jax?
according to wallace matthews at espn, edwin jackson is looking for 5 years at $12M per. now way the yankees step in that pile…
“kalish and sweeney as of now.”
yea I know but….yuck
Ys Guy January 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 pm
according to wallace matthews at espn, edwin jackson is looking for 5 years at $12M per. now way the yankees step in that pile…
————
It’ll be interesting to see who does that deal.
Edwin Jackson should be a huge no no. A guy with his stuff who can’t K more than 7 per 9 on average, with a bad walk rate, and a 1 HR/9. Just avoid avoid avoid.
I’m not sure anybody will do that deal.
as I said….if they could get him on a 2 year deal and then trade AJ then that’s an upgrade…..but wouldn’t go beyond that.
I pass on Jackson. Having AJ and Jackson in the rotation would risk wearing the bullpen out by the All-Star break.
as opposed to Garza’s 1 homer per 9 innings and just over 7 strikeouts per 9 innings? Walks are a little high is all. Persuasive argument there.
blake January 2nd, 2012 at 10:41 pm
as I said….if they could get him on a 2 year deal and then trade AJ then that’s an upgrade…..but wouldn’t go beyond that.
===========
I’m not sure that it’s an upgrade at all. Sure, he’s younger than AJ, and can throw harder, but the guy has the same walk rate, and a worse K-rate, and higher WHIP than AJ. And then there are all those teams that he has been with over the years… It suggests to me that either everybody thinks that they can fix him, until they have to try working with him, or there is something worse going on (e.g., poor work habits, attitude, etc.)
as opposed to Garza’s 1 homer per 9 innings and just over 7 strikeouts per 9 innings? Walks are a little high is all. Persuasive argument there.
–
This is a strawman. I’m not arguing Garza vs Edwin, I’m arguing AGAINST Edwin only. However, if you wish to bring Garza into it: Garza doesn’t require a long term deal, we would have him only for 2 years. Garza actually DOES strike out batters, and last year K’d 9/9 and has an average of 7.5 (not just over 7, its half way to 8!), walks less, and gives up less hits. Edwin’s WHIPs have been terrible for the most part, he can’t seem to even stay in the same league for an entire season, and has never put together a full season.
You’re the one that through up the numbers, not me. Nothing “strawman” about it.
Ghost,
Jackson is in no way perfect….in some easy he’s a younger AJ…..but AJ was better when he was younger and Jackson is better than AJ now…..I’d much rather have Jackson for the next two years than AJ….money aside.
Garza is what they need really if Theo will deal fairly….big if
From 2008 on, when they both established themselves as starters full time, all of Garza’s peripherals are better, as is his ERA, FIP etc.
garza is a headcase
not worth top prospects
7.5 is half way to 7, also. What’s your point?
Nothing “strawman” about it.
–
The strawman is that you decided to turn it into Edwin vs Garza, when I am merely arguing against Edwin. That is the strawman.
“To “attack a straw man” is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by replacing it with a superficially similar yet unequivalent proposition (the “straw man”), and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position.”
You turned my post into Edwin vs Garza. Its not. Edwin on his own is a bad choice. Edwin vs Garza is still in Garza’s favor. You’re bad at debate.
7.5 is half way to 7, also. What’s your point?
–
That you are bad at arguments.
Garza’/s not worth 3 high end prospects, let alone 4 of them. Unless they unload Garcia or Burnett, I don’t care for either one, and I don’t mean by paying 2/3rds of Burnett’s salary.
blake January 2nd, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Ghost,
Jackson is in no way perfect….in some easy he’s a younger AJ…..but AJ was better when he was younger and Jackson is better than AJ now…..I’d much rather have Jackson for the next two years than AJ….money aside.
============
You keep saying that Jax is better than AJ, but you don’t back it with anything. I’ve looked at the numbers, and virtually across the board, AJ’s numbers are as good as Jackson’s, if not better. And AJ doesn’t seem to have the baggage that Jax does.
GreenBeret7 January 2nd, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Garza’/s not worth 3 high end prospects, let alone 4 of them. Unless they unload Garcia or Burnett, I don’t care for either one, and I don’t mean by paying 2/3rds of Burnett’s salary.
———–
I agree that Garza isn’t worth 3 high-end prospects. However, deciding no to go after Garza doesn’t mean that the Yanks have to go after Jax.
edit:
Ghostwriter January 2nd, 2012 at 11:05 pm
GreenBeret7 January 2nd, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Garza’/s not worth 3 high end prospects, let alone 4 of them. Unless they unload Garcia or Burnett, I don’t care for either one, and I don’t mean by paying 2/3rds of Burnett’s salary.
———–
I agree that Garza isn’t worth 3 high-end prospects. However, deciding not to go after Garza doesn’t mean that the Yanks have to go after Jax.
Leave a comment below
Jackson let’s a lot less of the guys on the other team cross home plate. That’s how he’s better than AJ.
Ghot. between the two of the (Garza/jackson), I’d take Jackson, but, not for those years and and at that money.
I’d rather the Yankees just give Kuroda or Oswalt what they want for one year, even if they are overpaid a little, than trade prospects for Garza or get locked into Jackson for multiple years.
Who they replace in the rotation is another matter.
***Ghost***. between the two of the (Garza/jackson
Ghost,
ok here are some numbers to back it up.
Jackson: 2009: ERA 3.62, FIP 4.28, WAR 3.6
2010: ERA 4.47 FIP 3.86, WAR 3.8
2011: ERA 3.79, FIP 3.55, WAR 3.8
Burnett : 2009: ERA 4.04 FIP 4.33, WAR 3.5
2010: ERA 5.26, FIP 4.83, WAR 1.4
2011: ERA 5.15, FIP 4.77, WAR 1.5
So you see….Jackson and Burnett were pretty similar if you use the pre 2010 version of AJ….however the current version isn’t as good as the current Edwin Jackson and according to WAR the difference is around 2 wins.
Putting aside salary and prospect cost, you would choose EDWIN JACKSON over Matt Garza?
I don’t know what it would cost to acquire Garza….it may be prohibitive and that’s fine….but he’d really lengthen the rotation and I could see him being the difference between winning a WS and not winning a WS…..or winning the division and not winning the division..
You slot him into the 2 spot and if he gives basically the same type of season he has the last 4 seasons and he’d probably push for 18-20 with the Yankees…..and he also gives you a legit guy to face opposing quality 2 starters in the playoffs.
“Putting aside salary and prospect cost, you would choose EDWIN JACKSON over Matt Garza?”
i wouldn’t…..Jackson may have more upside I guess but I know what I’m getting pretty much with Garza and he’s a fine pitcher for what he is now.
The Red Sox earlier named Garza, who went 10-10 with a 3.31 ERA in 2011, his only one with the Cubs, as a target in Theo Epstein compensation talks, but it’s unclear wether the Cubs would even consider trying to solve the compensation issue while making a bigger Garza deal with Boston. They wouldn’t surrender Garza straight-up for Epstein, and it’s possible the Cubs would want to keep Garza and the compensation issues totally separate. The Red Sox don’t have pitching prospects to match the Yankees or Blue Jays but do have hard-throwing righthander Anthony Ranaudo, who was drafted by Epstein, the new Cubs president.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/b.....2/34146543
Are you going to “put aside” the demands in talent (plus salary for just 2 years) for MATT GARZA?
here is a hint….Theo isn’t giving away his best trade chip as compensation for himself and Boston doesn’t matchup well at all for what the Cubs are said to want.
LGY January 2nd, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Jackson let’s a lot less of the guys on the other team cross home plate. That’s how he’s better than AJ
===========
Yes, that’s very nice, except all of the of the other numbers (WHIP, etc.) suggest to me that Jackson’s ERA over the last couple years is an illusion, and not to be trusted. (And the 5.16 ERA that he posted in Arizona in 2010 doesn’t inspire confidence either.) Jeff Weaver or AJ–take your pick, because that is who Jax is, Put him against the Sox or the Jays several times a year, and watch his ERA rise.
If anything happens to one of the rotation starters, I’d just as soon go with Noesi.
I’d go with Noesi to start with if they can’t or don’t sign or trade for anyone else…..
Night everyone…..
AJ’s baggage dates back to 1921.
Okay, over the last three years, Jax’s number are a bit better than I thought, and a bit better than AJ’s, but not by much:
era era+ whip h/9 hr/9 bb/9 k/9
Jax 3.96 108 1.36 9.2 0.9 3 7.1
Burnett 4.79 93 1.45 9 1.2 4 7.9
Even so, I still don’t see a significant improvement in Jax over Burnett. Going after Jackson is still a bad idea in my book. Even a two-year deal seems like to much to me….
It doesn’t really make sense to include 2009 when discussing what to expect from AJ next season.
KURODA still makes the most sense. It makes so much sense you just might think it’s too good to be true. But it’s not!
Trade AJ and 20M. Sign KURODA for 12M. You have increased the payroll by 5.5M and added 2-3 wins.
You say $5.5M for 2-3 wins? What a bargain!
Working hard to protect the image.
http://www.terezowens.com/the-.....-cover-up/
Stanford + 5 doesn’t look so good now….
Wow, Oakie State doesn’t punch it in ….Thank You
Brandon Weeden is the OK State QB?
Wasn’t he our prospect like 10 years ago?
LGY January 2nd, 2012 at 11:39 pm
It doesn’t really make sense to include 2009 when discussing what to expect from AJ next season.
=========
I don’t see why not. 2009 isn’t so far in the past that it’s completely irrelevant. Across his larger body of work, the last couple years are still outliers. It isn’t entirely out of the question that he could return to his 2009 levels. Having lost about 1.5 mph off his fastball hardly accounts for the decline in his performance over the last couple years. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him get back to a 4.40 ERA in 2012. The truth is that he really didn’t pitch that badly in 2011–he just had an absolutely craptastic August. If you exclude August, AJ pitched to an ERA of about 4.27 in 2011.
BTW, I’m not trying to make excuses for AJ. The point is that AJ is still capable of pitching up to his historical norms. Excluding August, AJ’s WHIP in 2011 was 1.32, and he struck out 8.4 hitters while walking 4 battters per 9-innings. These numbers are right in line with his career marks of 1.33, 8.2, and 3.8, respectively. So, AJ definitely still has the ability to compete at a fairly high level in the Major Leagues.
If there is a silver lining, it is that AJ’s lapse in 2011 only lasted for a few starts in August. In 2010, AJ had a horrible June, followed by a brief recovery in July, before disappearing for the rest of the year. In this respect, 2011 was significantly better than 2010, and gives AJ something to build upon. Moreover, now, that Rothschild has seen AJ have one of AJ’s extended slumps first-hand, he might be able to manage it better in the future, possibly heading off the slump before it starts or shortening the length of the slump.
yanks 27……Brandon Weedon was indeed drafted by The Yanks back around 02-03….I think the was shipped off to teh LA Dodgers from Proctor or Bubba Crosby…Or something like that….Came up with a bad shoulder and re-invented himself asa QB for Oakie State….
Weeden was a 2nd round pick in 2002 and sent with Jeff Weaver and another pitcher for kevin Brown.
Well there we go….He was part of the Kevin Brown trade…..Should have known that GB7 would know the details…..Happy New Year old buddy !!!
Pat M.,
Hope you had a great holiday season this year and all was perfect.
Not sure why I remember that trade involving Weeden, other than thinking that was too soon to give up on a 2nd round pick, after 1 year.
Pat M, would you have ever imagined that both the UCLA basketball and football teams would come to play in the Bay Area at the same time on Saturday and it would be the hoopsters who would lose by the wider margin??? Almost unfathomable! Not a good day for the song-stealers from the southland.
Nonetheless, Happy New Year!
Thanks for the well wishes, Pat. Not a bad time here. Woke up on New Year’s Eve and found a $100 a month pay raise in my stocking. Nice way to start the new year.
You to Nick……..Lost weekend in the Bay for the boys from Hollywood…….Cuts like a knife for me…..
The Bruins are on my bad list this season, they cost me some coin with those early season losses. I wouldn’t trust them to do much for your this year. Bad. Bad Bruins.
OK.
Who’s up besides me ?
Im up but its two hours later where I am! Have you milked the cows yet?
Blake-
That’s Maine Yankee’s job.
That and feedin’ the chickens.
Noticed a strong Garza vs. Jackson debate last night.
By the way, I’m not a big fan of either one.
Push comes to shove and all else equal (it’s not) I go with Garza.
good morning!!
there is that name again
Yeah Kate.
Maybe the moon is made of green cheese and dreams really do come true.
morning guys! from mlbtr:
“Agent Steve Hilliard told Sponichi last week that free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda is working toward a decision and considering options in Japan and with MLB teams, Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker notes”
…this guy really really wants to go home to japan and imo this is a last call for bids that they can take to japan to pump up the price. of course if japanese teams come in way under U.S. teams, he’ll stay here but if he’s that homesick you’d have to expect him to try to stay on the west coast.
MTU,
I only argued that Jackson is better than AJ
Id love to add Garza depending on the price.
MTU
not sure if I told you, but the cutest dog has Lyme Disease…she just finished a month of antibiotics and is doing fine
Blake-
Jackson does seem to be a younger version of AJ.
Garza’s problem, which has always been his challenge, is that is he sometimes gets too emotional on the mound.
He loses focus because of it and seems to get rattled.
His stuff is great and he is seasoned in the AL East.
If he ever could learn to control his temper IMO he’d be a better pitcher.
His stuff can be nasty.
Ys,
I sorta get that feeling as well……I like Kuroda and he’s seemingly a great fit…..my guess is that the Yankees maybe sense that too and perhaps that’s why they haven’t already signed him…….they don’t want to comitt to someone that may want to be somewhere else.
Kate-
You didn’t. I’m sorry to hear that. Will there be any lingering afterefects ?
MTU,
Very true re: Garza……however folks that saw him a lot last year said he used his secondary stuff a lot more etc…..the numbers back that up.
Blake-
With Garza I’m not worried about the stuff. It’s there.
I’m worried about his makeup.
I think Crapstein will demand too much for him.
If he was reasonable a deal might be struck.
I don’t expect him to be.
The Tigers seem willing to offer Turner. I’m not sure I would offer Betances ++.
Maybe.
And l still prefer a second lefty starter.
None available right now.
upstate kate January 3rd, 2012 at 7:54 am
MTU
not sure if I told you, but the cutest dog has Lyme Disease…she just finished a month of antibiotics and is doing fine
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It seems odd to me that they can find it and treat it better in dogs than in humans.
I know because I have it and it took 2 years and me finding a Dr. out of town to find out.
If Kuroded doesn’t sign soon he’ll get rusty.
i think if kuroda and his agent got on a plane and flew to the east coast and met with teams, especially the red socks, the yankees interest would increase considerably. but since all you’ve heard about the guy in the last 6 months is that he wants to either go home or stay in cali, cash (and the socks) dont want to start a bidding war that may impel them into another bad contract. seems to be a defacto armistice going on between boston and da bronx.
Maine-
Any lingering problems from it ?
with turner on the table, the yankees won’t get garza without putting manny on the table. so you have to think hard about how much you want garza and how much it could affect the payroll 3-4 years down the line.
Where is Bartolo Colon when you need him ?
Is he visiting Dr. P again ?
Y’s-
I don’t want him THAT much.
Actually not even close to that much.
MTU/MY
They have a snap test for it now (sorta like a pregnancy test). It just took a drop of blood. She had been limping intermittantly for a few weeks and lost her spunk. We had a lot of ticks this fall as it was very mild (even tho she is on flea/tick meds). We never used to have a Lyme problem up here, guess it was bound to move northward.
MTU January 3rd, 2012 at 8:07 am
Maine-
Any lingering problems from it ?
—————————————————–
Yes.
I’m pretty much disabled.
I only drive Taxi part time and that depends on how I feel that day.
Lots of muscle pain.
Kate-
I hope her recovery is 100%.
As good as Joba’s will be.
Kate
It’s probaly been there longer than you know.
Convential Dr’s have been slow to acknowledge it’s a problem.
Maine-
I am very sorry to hear that.
There are certain trails I will not hike in the Summer because of that concern.
you know, the more i think about things, the more i like what cashman is doing. we have one of the best teams in mlb but its getting old and several of the older guys will be with us for a while. so if we want to be able to compete 4-5 years down the road, we need young, controlled guys who can become major contributors or else we’ll have to go through what the cubs are now and what the phillies are about to enter into, an old overpriced team with nothing in the minors thats going to replenish it. I think it’s either this or we’re going to fade, then rebuild. i know most yankees fans way to see shiny new objects under the tree every year but at some point you have to look at the 5 year plan and adjust accordingly. i think that’s what’s going on now.
Im not sure Turner is really on the table for Garza……the report was only that they’d trade him for the right pitcher. If they were willing to include him you’d think a deal would already be done given that he’s a better prospect than was dealt in either of the Latos or Gonzalez deals.
Y’s-
I’m with you.
I’d rather see the Yankees make no moves rather than foolish ones.
Yeah, I agree Ys. There really isn’t that much available anyway, so why trade away the future. Altho I do like Garza.
Kate,
Sorry to hear that
i read the other day that the tigers had offered turner for gio gonzalez. i think it was olney who said it and they also said he is on the table for garza. i’d have to think that if he was in-play for gio he’d have to be in-play for garza.
Off hiking today.
Here’s the theme for the hike.
“Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the clear winds blow”
It’s called “The Eagle Craggs” and it’s near Zion NP.
Ys,
I agree……I think the counter argument to that however is that the Yankees may have a championship window here and we don’t know how much longer it’ll be open…..Jeter, Alex, Tex, Rivera, Sabathia etc…..are all getting older …..this may be Mo’s last year.
I think the Yanks are set up for longterm success…..however I also think you have to be realistic in terms of where your team will be in 3-4 years……what if the prospects don’t hit? What if the best time to win is now?
Its something the Yankees always have to balance and Im not suggesting they go out and mortgage the future for a dumb trade just to “do something”……but if something makes sense then they should push to try and improve for this 2012 team that may be only a piece or two away from a title run. JMO…….it may not be as easy when #42 isn’t jogging in from the pen anymore……
” i’d have to think that if he was in-play for gio he’d have to be in-play for garza.”
The only place I saw it definitely said that Turner was offered for Garza was from that Scott Swaim guy on twitter …..maybe I missed it…..that said…..Gio has twice as many years of control as Garza…..so it wouldn’t be that far fetched to offer him for Gio but hold back for only two years of Garza.
Buster Olney Buster_ESPN
@
Tigers have made it known to other teams that they are willing to trade Jacob Turner in a deal for the right pitcher. That’s a big piece.
This is Buster’s tweet…..no mention of Garza in particular
ON THE OTHER HAND, the phillies got harry leroy halladay for a package centered around kyle drabek who has turned into a total bust. (travis d’arnaud had a great aa season last year, though).
ON THE OTHER OTHER HAND, i dont see halladay wearing any WS rings.
LenBermanSports Jan 3. Greatest date in #Yankees history. Jan 3, 1920. The Yankees buy Babe Ruth. Jan 3, 1973. George Steinbrenner buys the Yankees.
it’s also AJ’s birthday today (a popular topic on here, I have no doubt
)
and a gossip break:
http://tiny.cc/zpmtl
The yankees don’t need anymore pitchers now,unless it is a guaranteed number 2 or better.
They should just wait til a free agent pitcher is available & or a trade makes sense.
Maybe if hughes is good enough but not great,he is traded at the deadline or an attractive pitcher is traded at the deadline that makes sense.
You trade a montero,banuelos,betances for a hamels,cain,king felix,etc…,not garza.
What the yankees need to do is get rid of the ugly contracts like burnett,arod,etc…,and really consider if they wan’t to hand out 2 more 5-8 year,20 + million dollar a year contracts to cano & granderson.
I just can’t see blowing up the farm for garza.
too many other hands
have a great hike MTU
thanks Blake. She was amazingly better after only 3 doses of a/biotics. Sorry it took so long for MY to be diagnosed.
Here’s my solution.
Forget Garza.
Forget Jackson.
Forget Kuroda.
Get Bartolo.
Make a new drink using 1 part Colon, 1 part Noesi, or 1 part Chamberlain.
Stir gently. Serve it up.
Problem solved.
Think of it like a Margarita. Only different.
Thanks Kate. I will.
And if you happen to need a chaser for that drink.
You have a Phelps or a Warren.
And in the meantime, please get me a Soler and a Nakajima while I wait.
“I just can’t see blowing up the farm for garza.”
No me neither…..but there is a number id pay. I would honestly cross Felix off my list…..I think even if he ever is available the price is going to be so high that it would be counter productive. Id look at Hamels in free agency instead if he makes it there.
Blake-
Hamels woud be interesting but I think the trend is for teams to extend or re-sign there young starters.
The Giants may not be able to re-sign both Cain AND Lincecum.
I would love to try and get the Freak if he ever becomes available.
I don’t even care that he’s not a lefty.
edit: their not there. sorry.
Could V. Padilla be in the Yanks future as a Long Man or BU SP?
colon is toast.
Good morning all.
Another reason Turner might have been offered for Gonzalez is that he’d be the only lefty in the starting rotation, an area they had expressed initial interest in addressing.
No to Garza unless the Yankees can protect their top 5-6 assets.
by Gen on Jan.03, 2012 @ 11:21 am, under MLB
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman tweeted that the New York Yankees and Hiroyuki Nakajima are still far apart in negotiations but a deal could still be worked out. However, Sponichi is reporting that NY is offering around US$1M a year (or about 77M yen, which is close to 1/4 the 280M yen he made this past season) without any permission for a support staff. And while Nakajima approached negotiations without any set lower limits in salary, the amount was much lower than they were expecting.
Sports Hochi is reporting that Yu Darvish reportedly left for the United States with his father on January 1. While it is not certain why he is visiting the US, Sports Hochi is guessing that Darvish wanted to visit Arlington, TX to get a feel for the place. He will also probably checking out the Texas Rangers’ facilities.
Darvish is not expected to meet with the team during his visit or to undergo any medical examinations.
“The Giants may not be able to re-sign both Cain AND Lincecum.”
I don’t think they’ll keep them both.
Colon is not toast.
Guess we have a difference of opinion sir.
That’s cool though.
Ray-
Hopefully not a prayer.
Guy is toxic.
MTU January 3rd, 2012 at 8:52 am
I like SF LHP Bumgarner best.
Toast is OKAY for your colon.
RayVT January 3rd, 2012 at 8:54 am
Could V. Padilla be in the Yanks future as a Long Man or BU SP?
**********************
Let’s hope not
Ray-
Unfortunately not available.
Happy New Year Erin.
I missed you.
I wondered where you were. Thought maybe you went into hibernation.
Colon is not toast.
===================
Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. Certainly can see the argument for those who suggest he is. He was not good in the 2nd half of the season. Stopped giving the Yankees length and was very hittable.
New thread —->
New Post: A lost lefty
I can see Phil Hughes becoming the No. 3 starter and Hector Noesi as the No. 4 starter both with head turning outings in spring training. This leaves Burnett as the very back end of the bullpen eating up junk / slop innings so Girardi can space out the workload for the rest of the bullpen.
Why should a mistake big contract get in the way of winning baseball ?
DF-
I say pair Colon with Noesi and/or Chamberlain for 1 more season.
Save money and prospects.
My 2 cents.
MTU January 3rd, 2012 at 8:57 am
I kind of agree, but he’d be cheap & pretty good. I also would prefer giving Colon another shot!
wow, yu darvish is IN THE COUNTRY!!?? why wasn’t his landing covered? i think live coverage of the jet crossing into US airspace escorted by stealth fighter jets and air force one would have been appropriate at the very least!