Overrated and overblown
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 15, 2012 
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The Yankees have an aging problem.
I’m not sure it’s as significant as it’s often made out to be — it’s often portrayed as if every key piece of the roster is in his late 30s — but it’s certainly a problematic situation. The Yankees irreplaceable closer is in his 40s, and their left side of the infield is showing signs of aging while still signed to multi-year contracts.
Like Dan wrote in this morning’s Pinch Hitter post, the Yankees might very well need to make some position change decisions within a year or two. They might have to find a new closer next season, it’s unclear how much longer Derek Jeter will be a viable defensive shortstop and the team has to wonder how well Alex Rodriguez’s body will hold up while playing the field every day. It’s not a disaster, but it’s worth monitoring. And plenty of people are monitoring it.
What the Yankees do not have is an overwhelming problem at first base.
Mark Teixeira’s decline is similar to the Yankees aging roster: A concerning situation often blown out of proportion. The past two years, Teixeira hasn’t been nearly the all-around hitter he was in 2009 (and the Yankees are paying him to be that sort of all-around hitter). He’s struggled left-handed, his batting average has dipped, and he hasn’t been the perpetual MVP candidate the Yankees expected when they signed him to an eight-year contract.
But let’s not pretend he’s been so dreadful that the Yankees would be better off with his bat on the bench.
Teixeira is still a very good defensive first baseman, he’s still one of the game’s best power hitters, and he still does a good job drawing walks and getting on base. The past two years, he has failed to measure up against the game’s truly elite first basemen — Cabrera, Pujols, Gonzalez, Fielder, Votto, Konerko – but he hasn’t fallen into the lowest levels either. He’s been at the top of that second tier of first basemen, much closer to Ryan Howard than Mitch Moreland.
Is more expected of Teixeira? Absolutely. The Yankees expect more, the fans expect more and Teixeira expects more. He’s been hitting third in the New York Yankees lineup for three years, and that spot only goes to a player who’s supposed to be one of the very best hitters in the game. For the past two years, Teixeira has not been that kind of hitter. Right-handers have given him trouble, and he’s struggled through extended slumps. It’s a problem for a guy signed for five more years at 22.5-million per year.
But to say he’s become a devastating drain on the lineup — and Dan is certainly not alone in suggesting such a thing — is simply not true.
Associated Press photo
Ken rosenthal reports:
AJ Burnett trade has a “soft deadline” of this Saturday.
All that said about Tex, this year he’s likely to be only the 5th best offensive first baseman in the AL.
Chad –
I agree. Tex is still very much in his prime and I don’t see him as a drain on the lineup. Has he lived up to his contract? Probably not. But I don’t think most players do.
Jeter is a short timer at this point. He’s got two years left and the Yankees will be fine with him at SS for those next two years.
To me the biggest issue is going to be Alex at 3b. How will he respond to the treatment he had in Germany? If Kobe’s NBA season is any indication then I would say things look positive. Within a year or two he’s going to be the primary DH on this team – so the focus now should be on who to look to as a replacement at 3b when that time comes.
“But to say he’s become a devastating drain on the lineup — and Dan is certainly not alone in suggesting such a thing — is simply not true. ”
I agree…..but Tex can be a drain on the lineup against RHP when he’s your 3 hitter…..not so much that you’d take him out of the lineup because the power is still nice…..but certainly to the point where he needs to improve or move down.
WYH,
But as you know that speaks to the immense level of talent at the position – especially after the AL “stole” perhaps two of the top five overall bats in the game.
I like Konerko, but to say TEX doesn’t measure up to him is ridiculous. I’d be worried if I were Boston. Not only do they have an Albatross\Gonzalez around their neck, but the Albatross has a busted wing and is having trouble flying\HR.
I think Tex is going to bounce back this year……I doubt he will ever hit. 300 again….but. 280 with an OBP close to .400 is what they need and at 31 where he should be.
Gonzalez is an albatross?
Not yet. Guy can rake.
Gonzalez is a lot better hitter than Tex is right now based on last year.
Compared to Princes deal, Sawx got a steal with Adrian, especially of you value his defense.
BD-
Sure, but the unfortunate thing is that the top four offensive first basemen are all on teams that the Yanks have to beat. But I don’t want to push that observation too far, it’s the team that matters and not the position by position comparison.
Maybe you meant Crawford is a potential albatross deal though.
The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.
He’s a good hitter but makes too much money and blocks a position loaded with elite hitters.
The shoulder is giving Gonzalez a shortage in the Power Dept. Teams do Not pay that kinda money long term for gap hitters or guys that will play handball with The Green Monster. Pete Rose be damned.
Ken rosenthal reports:
AJ Burnett trade has a “soft deadline” of this Saturday.
———————
Not exactly breaking news since he’d need to be in camp by Sunday. I’d doubt they’d bring him in if they were indeed making a deal after all this speculation.
WYH,
Gonzo, Pujols, Fielder, and who am I forgetting?
Miggy is a 3B now, chuckle.
- Blake -
Power and contract is what it’s about.
Donny,
I don’t think HR are as important if Adrian is driving in the runs. No reason to think he won’t be an elite hitter for years.
But I do think Tex will close the gap from last season with AG.
“I think Tex is going to bounce back this year……I doubt he will ever hit. 300 again….but. 280 with an OBP close to .400 is what they need and at 31 where he should be.”
blake-
I don’t know about that .400 OBP, the sequence .410 .383 .361 .341 doesn’t look too good for predicting that, although I guess there’s always hope. Though not much, IMO.
“February 15, 2012 at 12:10 pm The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.”
True….and part of the reason I have some concerns about the offense going g forward is because its built on him being an elite hitter and he just hasn’t been since 2009
The problem was people like Gammons were crediting Adrian with 80HR back in March last year.
He should hit 30-40.
Crawford and that wrist surgery do Not bode well. A hitter of that type with a wrist problem is a HUGE red flag.
BD-
Oops, you are correct of course. Mark Tex up to the 4th best offensive first baseman.
Things are looking up already!
“Power and contract is what it’s about.”
Power and “contact” maybe…..and Tex hasn’t made a lot of good contact against RHP in two years.
WYH,
Hah, seriously though, it’s not fair to rank Tex against other AL 1b (well, not as the only measure of course.)
If Tex improves batting lefty even a little bit, he’ll be doing his part.
The Yanks as a team can compete with anyone if each guy does their part. I think Tex will do his in ’12.
dogface – Agree with you that the evidence would need to be extremely solid to get Braun’s case thrown out. But I still think all of these delays are related to the PR angle somehow. Has this story gotten much ink since it initially broke? There was some more coverage when he got the MVP, of course, but other than that it hasn’t been a story the media has been riding.
Konerko is #4 in the AL.
Where does Tex rank overall as a hitter in the AL?
I think I’m still too fresh off of my dislike for Giambi to hate Tex as much as some other people do lol.
Giambi was on our team for a long time, man. Sometimes its hard to believe. I still like to pretend we went straight from Tino to Tex.
It was reasonable to view Texiera as a hedge against Jeter and A-Rod aging/declining. If he continues to decline (or even remains the same) v. RHP (the majority of AB), in the context of relative austerity, his contract may constrain what they are able to acquire as yet another potential hedge. That’s why some of us viewed Montero as being untouchable, except for a young impact bat.
blake February 15th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Where does Tex rank overall as a hitter in the AL?
—————-
I wonder where his splits rank hitting LH vs. RH.
Bud previously owning the Brewers makes the delay in resolving the Braun failed drug test smell to high Heaven.
Tex is an elite player…..like probably top 10-15 in baseball when he faces LHP and bats right handed…….the problem the last two seasons is the other 2/3 of games.
Say it isn’t so AJ? snif….snif….snif….snif….:-(
“Bud previously owning the Brewers makes the delay in resolving the Braun failed drug test smell to high Heaven.”
My understanding is that this is a judges decision and that Bud has nothing to do with it.
Update on burnett
http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/....._post=true
Bud controls the weather.
“If a deal is completed, the Yankees plan to move quickly to sign free-agent designated hitter Raul Ibanez and infielder Eric Chavez, sources said. One or both of those signings could occur even if Burnett is not moved.”
Thanks for the link, GB. That quote had me scratching my head though..
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.
He’s a good hitter but makes too much money and blocks a position loaded with elite hitters.
————————————————————————————————————————-
The only thing that’s a drain is what’s on your brain to keep thinking up crap like this. His job is to get on base and drive in runs. He does that well.
“Where does Tex rank overall as a hitter in the AL?”
Depends how you measure it, but his wRC+ is 124, which puts him in the low twenties in the AL and a solidly above-average hitter.
- BLAKE -
Yea right. And Sgt Shultze knew nothing about Col. Hogan kanoodling with Klink’s Secretary.
They shouldn’t sign either of Ibanez or Chavez…..
“If a deal is completed, the Yankees plan to move quickly to sign free-agent designated hitter Raul Ibanez and infielder Eric Chavez, sources said. One or both of those signings could occur even if Burnett is not moved.”
_
Unless this a joke, I can only hope that maybe one day smart people will run this team.
“If a deal is completed, the Yankees plan to move quickly to sign free-agent designated hitter Raul Ibanez and infielder Eric Chavez, sources said. One or both of those signings could occur even if Burnett is not moved.”
Ugh – just keep Burnett then.
“The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.
He’s a good hitter but makes too much money and blocks a position loaded with elite hitters.”
Not sure I’d describe it as a “problem”, but as a pure observation of fact, I see the point.
But that said, this is the risk the the Yankees incur by being players for the “big FA of the offseason” types – there are no guarantees of performance/value.
Pujols carries risk. CJ Wilson carries risk. Prince Fielder carries risk.
You have to be in it to win it, and anytime a team “wins” the offseason, there is always the chance X year’s offseason win will come with a price to pay for subsequent Y and Z offseasons.
If indeed this is a “problem”, there are 2 solutions:
1.) Avoid high-dollar/long-term contracts.
2.) Have a bottom-less pit payroll. Where you perpetually escalate spending to try to mitigate previous spending that isn’t working out ideally.
The future committments of all thirty teams.
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.
He’s a good hitter but makes too much money and blocks a position loaded with elite hitters.
“Depends how you measure it, but his wRC+ is 124, which puts him in the low twenties in the AL and a solidly above-average hitter.”
How much do his awesome numbers against lefties prop up his overall numbers though.
I didn’t see LGY’s post. Spot on.
Ibanez AND Chavez?
Either Joe Girardi has wrestled power away from Cashman or Cashman can no longer evaluate talent effectively.
The guy hits 39 Dingers and knocks in 111 and he’s a drain????
The Yankees have Mark Teixiera in RF making half as much money.
They would be much better off today if they kept Swish at 1B and signed Holliday a year later.
“That’s why some of us viewed Montero as being untouchable, except for a young impact bat.”
————
True. Yanks can still win if they hold other teams to 2-3 runs because of their elite pitching staff.
Perhaps the best way to counteract a less productive lineup is to reduce the amount of production you need from them to win.
An aging offense isn’t a good thing, but a more balanced team isn’t. I doubt hte Yankees lineup will ever drop out of the top 10 or so in run production. If their pitching staff can enter the top 5 or so, they’ll be in good shape.
- Mr Optimistic
Chavez is a waste…..they don’t need him and he will be hurt half the season anyway.
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
“If a deal is completed, the Yankees plan to move quickly to sign free-agent designated hitter Raul Ibanez and infielder Eric Chavez, sources said. One or both of those signings could occur even if Burnett is not moved.”
_
Unless this a joke, I can only hope that maybe one day smart people will run this team.
————————————————————————————————————————-
That’ll certainly leave you out of the running for GM if it takes someone smart.
“Unless this a joke, I can only hope that maybe one day smart people will run this team.”
According to many folks here, the NY Yankee corporate machine makes money hand-over-fist.
Hard to believe such a machine isn’t operated by smart people.
Maybe the jokes on all of us?
“How much do his awesome numbers against lefties prop up his overall numbers though.”
Per baseball reference he has an sOPS+ of 108 vs RHP. which puts him slightly above average.
I just don’t know what the hell you’d do with Ibanez besides asking him to stand in a corner. Ruben Sierra he is not
“Either Joe Girardi has wrestled power away from Cashman or Cashman can no longer evaluate talent effectively.”
As I have said, Cashman used to say that he gave Torre control over marginal construction. It’s probably the same with Girardi, who, it seems, I was completely wrong about.
“They would be much better off today if they kept Swish at 1B and signed Holliday a year later.”
Perhaps, but probably no flag in 2009.
Cashman is currently “busy” at Rikers Island. He will tend to Yankee business once visiting hours are over.
blake February 15th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Chavez is a waste…..they don’t need him and he will be hurt half the season anyway.
—————–
I thought he was retiring!? What happened to all that chatter?
“Per baseball reference he has an sOPS+ of 108 vs RHP. which puts him slightly above average.”
Which is a problem because his contract is massively above average.
“They would be much better off today if they kept Swish at 1B and signed Holliday a year later.”
In hindsight…..yup.
Cashman said at Tex’s PC that he would be an “anchor” of our lineup for the next half decade as the current stars start fading out
As it turns out, Tex is fading along WITH the old stars. It is just another reason why the Montero trade was shortsighted. Now he was a guy who could have legitimately been an “anchor” along with Cano.
Now all we have is Cano and in 2 years, having to pay Granderson $120 million from ages 33 on to start to decline. Great situation we put ourselves in by trading Montero.
“They would be much better off today if they kept Swish at 1B and signed Holliday a year later.”
Because Holliday is incapable of declining or having less productive years like Teixeira has?
Show of hands – who was against the Teixeira deal when it was made?
This is the committment of all teams
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
“If a deal is completed, the Yankees plan to move quickly to sign free-agent designated hitter Raul Ibanez and infielder Eric Chavez, sources said. One or both of those signings could occur even if Burnett is not moved.”
_
Unless this a joke, I can only hope that maybe one day smart people will run this team.
“Per baseball reference he has an sOPS+ of 108 vs RHP. which puts him slightly above average.”
Exactly……so he’s slightly above average in 2/3 of games and awesome in 1/3…..that’s fine but not exactly what they signed up for.
http://mobile.newsday.com/inf/.....nopaging=1
“I just don’t know what the hell you’d do with Ibanez besides asking him to stand in a corner.”
———-
when you look at the avg DH from 2011, a tandem of Jones/Ibanez would still be above average.
Maybe Damon is better, but acting like Ibanez, strictly against righties, is somehow a complete disaster doesn’t make sense to me.
I agree there are better options, but again, if the other guys produce as they should, having a slightly above average DH isn’t going to be the reason they do or don’t win games.
“Maybe the jokes on all of us?”
In that we root for cloth (as Seinfeld said) no matter who owns it, and no matter how often they make suboptimal baseball decision?
Yup, which explains this:
“According to many folks here, the NY Yankee corporate machine makes money hand-over-fist.”
But that said, this is the risk the the Yankees incur by being players for the “big FA of the offseason” types –there are no guarantees of performance/value.
Pujols carries risk. CJ Wilson carries risk. Prince Fielder carries risk.
——-_
Every player carries a different amount of risk.
Since they signed Tex, blake and CB have been posting about their fear with Tex’s LH swing.
Those are the type of things the Yankee talent evaluators need to do a better job of recognizing on the free agent market.
So the Angels actually offered AJ the best deal?
That’s surprising.
“They would be much better off today if they kept Swish at 1B and signed Holliday a year later
But they most likely would not have won it 2009 without him.
Someone is trying to trademark Linsanity, but:
Milord A. Keshishian, an attorney with Milord & Associates, a patent, trademark and copyright firm in Los Angeles, said in a telephone interview that the law “doesn’t bode well” for anyone trying to make money through a Linsanity trademark.
“This looks like a bad-faith attempt to profit from Jeremy Lin’s recent acclaim,” he said of the trademark applications.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....siness_pop
“Per baseball reference he has an sOPS+ of 108 vs RHP. which puts him slightly above average.”
And he is getting paid like he is one of the top 5 hitters in the sport. He is probably OPS’ing about .80-100 points lower than we were expecting him to. His average has also completely fallen off. I remember at Cash’s press conference, he kept referencing how they valued his combination of BA AND power. Well, the BA has disappeared.
He was tied for 36th with Ryan Howard in OPS last year, barely ahead of the likes of Johnny Peralta, Seth Smith, and Matt Joyce.
Shane Victorino had a higher OPS than him last year.
He also doesn’t hit in the playoffs and goes through way too many cold streaks for a top player. If he was getting paid $100 million? Fine. But at almost double that, he is a major albatross.
“Those are the type of things the Yankee talent evaluators need to do a better job of recognizing on the free agent market.”
That’s a fair point. But a very real underlying premise of this forum is “knowledgeable” fans who contend they are capable of making better decisions than the Yankee decision makers – i.e. the Montero trade, their interest in Ibanez (etc, etc, etc, etc).
So then a fair, relevant question is – who here was against the Tex signing at the time?
Because Holliday is incapable of declining or having less productive years like Teixeira has?
Show of hands – who was against the Teixeira deal when it was made?
——-_
Holliday hasn’t shown any evidence of a decline and is in a much better position going forward with his swing. Tex has already had 2 decline type years.
I was against the Teixeira signing, btw.
So the Angels actually offered AJ the best deal?
===========================
Burnett would fit OK out there as the #5. If the Angels offered Abreu and for Burnett with the Yankees paying $10M or so, that’s actually a pretty good result for both teams.
I was for signing Texeira, but against signing AJ.
Lin can pretty much have any Asian woman he wants at this point – in the whole world. For some reason I’m picturing Howard Stern playing matchmaker for him. That would make for a funny episode. I doubt Lin or the Knicks would agree to it though.
I see that those cheering the loudest at Cashman for “stealthily” moving in on Boston to steal Teixeira are the same ones complaining about it now. This development comes as a total shock to me.
So then a fair, relevant question is – who here was against the Tex signing at the time?
=====================================
Crickets
I’ve said it before about Tex and I will say it again … the issues with his problems batting left handed cannot be understated enough.
But it is not because of age or a depreciation in talent. Tex is struggling batting left handed in ways that he did not prior to coming to the Yankees because (by his own admission) he has become too focused on pulling every pitch.
It is mechanical … his batting stance has changed, his approach has changed, and his performance has suffered as a result of this.
When do you Tex be late on a fast ball … very rarely. But often do you see him get fooled and roll over off speed pitches … way too often. The man is getting himself out because his instinct is to start his bat as quickly as possible to pull the pitch.
Did we not see the same thing with Giambi and for anyone old enough to remember, Steve Kemp? They see that short right field porch and they cant help themselves … and before you know it, they are pulling everything in sight, teams are overshifting on the infield, and throwing mostly off speed garbage.
I’ll say this about Tex, his talent is underrated because as bad as he has been with his mechanics and approach, its amazing that he has remained as productive as he has been since joining the Yankees … if he becomes the all-field hitter he was prior to joining the Yankees, just imaging how much better he will be.
“So then a fair, relevant question is – who here was against the Tex signing at the time?”
I don’t think the discussion is about whether they should have signed him as much as it is that he needs to be better than he has been the last two years…..even Tex knows that.
“Holliday hasn’t shown any evidence of a decline”
Before 2010, what evidence did Tex present?
Before 2011, what evidence did Carl Crawford show?
It can happen overnight, which is the point. No player is immune to this possibility.
“I was against the Teixeira signing, btw.”
Fair enough then. I’d consider your criticism then not in hindsight.
“So then a fair, relevant question is – who here was against the Tex signing at the time?”
Definitely searchable, I was not only against getting Tex, I guaranteed the entire forum it was never going to happen.
Now if fairness to Tex, it had nothing to do with his skills. It was more that I didn’t feel the Yanks needed him, i.e., I’ve always been against the “super star at every base” aspect of the game.
I was also against the 2nd Vazquez trade, btw.
As soon as Lin returns to his norm, you people will drop him like you do every other player that you’re drooling over when they’re hot.
I except a regression to the mean for Lin. How could anyone not? The problem is that we don’t know what his mean is. #bubble bursting
In this most recent edition of The Hourly A.J., the sage of the ongoing efforts to relocate Allan James Burnett to Pittsburgh, we learn that the Yankees and Pirates are still stuck where they were yesterday, anywhere from between $3 million and $5 million apart on how much of the remaining $33 million on Burnett’s contract the Pirates should assume.
According to the proverbial “source with a knowledge of the negotiations,” the Pirates are holding fast to only taking on $10 million of Burnett’s salary, not a bad deal when you consider they would be a getting a guy who throws close to 200 innings a year — not saying they’re good innings — for $5 million per, while the Yankees are looking for between $13M-$15M. At that level, the Yankees expect any prospects they receive in the deal to be “marginal” at best.
“It ain’t rocket science,” the source said. “The Pirates know what the number is. Now either they hit the number, or AJ’s in Tampa on Sunday.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yo.....-the-dough
Fair enough then. I’d consider your criticism then not in hindsight.
——–
I can’t gloat too much though. I wanted them to sign Manny.
And in my usual style, I have not once been critical of Tex, despite any problems he may have had with his offense. I think his defense has more than made up for it – though I understand the disappointment with his not hitting the way people thought he would be hitting.
The fate of Lin doesn’t interest me. It’s his journey that captivates me. I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. It’s pretty darn good entertainment. It’s great for the NBA because the brand was void of feel-good stories and moments. Too much negative press.
“I don’t think the discussion is about whether they should have signed him as much as it is that he needs to be better than he has been the last two years…..even Tex knows that.”
Blake, we all gravitate towards different things, but unless I’m completely off my rocker there seems to be posts by regulars here describing Tex’s contract as a mistake and an albatross moving forward, utterly discounting the notion that MLB player’s are not always completely linear and that Tex could have a bounce back season(s).
I think there is discussion here, in the last 20 minutes, about Tex’s signing being a mistake.
You disagree?
I would keep AJ rather than bring Abreu back.
Signing Tex made an enormous amount of sense in the 2008-2009 off season. I was for it then, and I don’t blame the Yanks for it at all.
I see that those cheering the loudest at Cashman for “stealthily” moving in on Boston to steal Teixeira are the same ones complaining about it now. This development comes as a total shock to me.
——-
Nice Lohud fallacy
“As soon as Lin returns to his norm, you people will drop him like you do every other player that you’re drooling over when they’re hot.”
You know I won’t GB! I’ll feel sorry that everyone is dropping him and will then feel the need to adopt him.
Not that I’m expecting him to turn into a pumpkin. But if he should, I’ll be there to pick him (up).
Now we want to get rid of Texie too? snif….snif….snif….snif
I was also against the 2nd Vazquez trade, btw.
——
yet another shortsighted trade by them. And we heard the same things about Vizcaino that are leaking about Montero “he’s immature, doesn’t work that hard, Jose Ramirez is better, etc”.
Meanwhile, at age 20, he is striking out a guy per inning at the majors (and only had one bad outing where he gave up 5 runs otherwise his ERA would be great as well).
“It ain’t rocket science,” the source said. “The Pirates know what the number is. Now either they hit the number, or AJ’s in Tampa on Sunday.”
Yea right.
I was Against Wage and Price Controls back in the 70′s for you record keepers. Got that down?
Whether or not any of us like any particular signing, it’s fair to rate a GM on how his acquisitions worked out. He (or perhaps one day, she) doesn’t get a pass because some fans like some moves.
“Nice Lohud fallacy”
Why confine it to LoHud?
Before 2010, what evidence did Tex present?
Before 2011, what evidence did Carl Crawford show?
It can happen overnight, which is the point. No player is immune to this possibility.
——-
That’s true, but again, different levels of risk here.
Holliday has a great swing and bat speed.
“I think there is discussion here, in the last 20 minutes, about Tex’s signing being a mistake.
You disagree?”
I think there is a difference in claiming maybe it was a mistake with hindsight knowledge (Im not) and saying they should have never signed him…….I just think/hope he bounces back and improves left handed……I think he can with some changes.
Jeremy Lin is a second year player getting his first opportunity to play, and has only logged 44 NBA games played, with most of those being in VERY limited action.
Yes, he was a 4 year senior and he’s 23, but he did not come from or play in a big-time college program.
And PG and C are the hardest positions to learn in the NBA.
Point being, he’s on an unconscious run, no doubt about it, but on the other hand, he still might have a LOT of development/learning left in him.
He’s going to come off this run, but people are assuming he’s going to find a lower level and STAY there, like he isn’t like any other NBA young player and could get BETTER with experience.
if nothing else, there is no reason to think he cannot learn to turn the ball over less, augment his passing game and improve his long range shooting.
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I see that those cheering the loudest at Cashman for “stealthily” moving in on Boston to steal Teixeira are the same ones complaining about it now. This development comes as a total shock to me.
——-
Nice Lohud fallacy
————————————————————————————————————————-
What fallacy? You and your boyfriend were two of the loudest cheerleaders.
Shame, you said earlier that you wished SJ would come back or others would return to the morning crew. The reason they left has continued to post here, under multiple monikers, but his “signature” is unmistakeable.
Kleenex Queen February 15th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
All I can wish is that karma continues to visit him, and frequently, which it undoubtedly does and will because nobody could be that horrendous a human being and be living a decent life.
I remember at Cash’s press conference, he kept referencing how they valued his combination of BA AND power. Well, the BA has disappeared.
///
EA,
How ironic is it that Cashman was strutting about this regarding Tex (whom I have hope will bring a more level LH swing with him to ST) and he turns around and deals away the guy who will be in the company of an elite handful of hitters for the next decade or so in these combined categories.
I’m with Rich: hoping that a smarter GM/Manager team is in store in the future – the nearer, the better.
What fallacy? You and your boyfriend were two of the loudest cheerleaders.
—————
I wasn’t even posting on this board when the Yankees signed Tex, but nice try.
It ain’t rocket science,” the source said. “The Pirates know what the number is. Now either they hit the number, or AJ’s in Tampa on Sunday
=================================
This “source” seems to be operating under some delusions.
The Pirates are probably going to stand on that 10 million offer and make the Yanks either take it or go to camp with AJ…..that’s probably what Id do if I were them.
Why do some people think it’s a putdown to insinuate that someone is gay? It’s freakin’ 2012!
yet another shortsighted trade by them. And we heard the same things about Vizcaino that are leaking about Montero “he’s immature, doesn’t work that hard, Jose Ramirez is better, etc”.
///
SMH. Being stupid is one thing, dealing low blows to a young kid with his back turned as he goes out the door is something that makes me ashamed of these people.
Really, STFU about Montero and get on with your own business (not you – Yankee management). If you’re so insecure about your move that you resort to cheap shots, well then, maybe you should not have made it.
You weren’t posting on this name, maybe.
Well it’s super rare that a PG and a coach share the same brain. But that’s essentially the case with D’Antoni and Lin. Lin’s high school coach basically sat down with him and said “Ok, you’re the offense coordinator and I’m the defense coordinator. Make it happen.”..or something to that effect. Lin is could be that rare quarterback with the skill set that is impossible to teach. He just has a feel for the game. He’s not very athletic but he gets the job done. I still think the Knicks need to get everyone healthy and on the same page and sign JR Smith for shooting guard.
Rich – for the sake of argument, let’s say that there is a player out there who is known to be virtually flawless and after whom every team is clamoring. Say the Yankee$ are lucky enough to get that player and he ends up bombing. Do you hold the GM accountable?
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Why do some people think it’s a putdown to insinuate that someone is gay? It’s freakin’ 2012!
///
I don’t know what you’re referencing, but I’d offer: Because some people still think (and wish) it was 1950?
Gotta run to my nutrition class. Karaoke and red wine tonight with hot young co-eds. Eat your heart out.
You weren’t posting on this name, maybe.
—————
Feel free to keep grasping at straws.
“Whether or not any of us like any particular signing, it’s fair to rate a GM on how his acquisitions worked out.”
I’m all about objective evaluation of a GM’s success, particularly when it’s supported by empirical data and particularly when its evaluated in context of the comparable success rate of his peers.
That said, preemptive criticism of moves such as the Montero trade, where some here are utterly convinced of its outcome essentially exists in a vacuum of the people making the criticisms haven’t demonstrated a better success rate than the person they’re criticizing.
Who has Brian Cashman been consistently outguessed by, either in baseball or here?
We’ve empirically established he is not infallible.
I haven’t seen much in the way of a strong argument one way or another overall he’s good or bad at his job.
Lin is an inexperienced PG playing a crazy amount of minutes as the primary ball handler almost every time down the floor.
Once Melo gets back and the Knicks find a decent back-up PG (Baron Davis?) I can’t see his turnovers staying this high. And even if he is prone to turnovers, if he keeps DISHING and SWISHING like this it’s a small issue!
Do we hold the GM accountable for American Idle? God he was sought after by numerous teams! How about for Jose Contreras? Every scouting report in the world said that Contreras was a must-have. Is Theo accountable for the way Dice-K panned out?
I may have a piece published soon about my patient Jorge (not his real name) who I took care of in the Bronx. It deals with issues surrounding parks, the Yankees, green space, and 161st Street.
http://whyitstime.blogspot.com.....nkees.html
Realistically, the Pirates are gonna have the same end result with or without AJ. As a Yankee fan, I want AJ to go, but it doesn’t make sense for the Pirates.
trisha
Yes, although no one is flawless, because the sample size is almost certainly going to be somewhat large over time, so he is going to have unintended successes as well. Does he not get credit for those? So I think everyone should be viewed on their body of work.
“I don’t know what you’re referencing, but I’d offer: Because some people still think (and wish) it was 1950?”
This:
“What fallacy? You and your boyfriend were two of the loudest cheerleaders.”
FTR, I’m glad we signed Tex. He has tightened up the infield, which was in dire need after watching Giambi throw the ball into CF, as well as giving the catcher no chance on throws home?
Anyone remember that Wang start in Fenway several years ago, in which Giambi’s throws were on display and cost us a couple of runs?
If you want to look at a GM’s success rate on balance, that’s certainly a more fair thing to do than to target him with a particular player. There are many many “Can you believe?” and “Who would have thought!” stories in the pantheons of MLB.
Rich, I thought someone was speculating about a player’s sexuality. I recall all sorts of Jeter/Alex stuff on the teenybopper sites a few years ago.
“So I think everyone should be viewed on their body of work.”
Just said the same thing. I certainly agree with the “body of work”.
“If you want to look at a GM’s success rate on balance, that’s certainly a more fair thing to do than to target him with a particular player. There are many many “Can you believe?” and “Who would have thought!” stories in the pantheons of MLB.”
Right, and on balance, in light of his trades, his payroll advantage, his free agent signing, and his stated goal of no longer having to acquire pitching from the outside because he had built an in-house pipeline of talent, I think that at best, Cashman is on the edge.
CAN’T believe we had Abreu but AJ refused the trade…. Doesn’t aj get it? He’s not wanted, GTFO
Hmm!!
I was for:
1.) AJ
2.) Tex
3.) CC
4.) DJ
5.) ARod
6.) Posada
7.) Jesus
8.) Cano
9.) Soriano
10.) Hughes
11.) Torre
12.) Joba
13.) All 3 B’s
14.) Colon
15.) Mattingly
16.) Pavano (Ouch!)
17.) Martin
I was against:
1.) Girardi
2.) Vazquez
3.) Garcia
4.) Johan Santana
5.) Trading Jesus
6.) Red Sox!!!
JAP
I recall that, especially during that Mariner fight some years ago that may have cost Chad Curtis his job here.
Trisha – Totally agree with you re: SJ and the old crew… although I did have a good laugh trying to pretend that was Betsy
I miss Betsy too lol, she made everyone on here mad at her. She was a better antagonist than science had been. Science just stood there being all factual. People got mad. Not nearly as entertaining.
willwill – AJ’s wife will not fly and one of his trade requirements has always been to be relatively close to their home.
I’m going all in.
Tex OPS’s over .900 this year.
Just because it’d be yet another instance that flies in the face of a assumption some (am I allowed to say “some” so it doesn’t qualify as a LoHud fallacy?) posters here seem to hold that statistical baseball trends are all linear.
The decline is like some out-of-control runaway freight train with no brakes heading down a steep mountain slope.
“I’d rather keep A.J. than…”
Do I sense a new meme?
I do think Tex confronted a painful realization about his LH hitting. I don’t think it’s just lip service that he intends to make some wholesale adjustments.
He was actually making adjustments even as that ALDS was playing out. He hit a rocket off a much more level swing that Austin I-run-down-everything Jackson plucked out of the air and pulled in. He had that very important BB with the bases loaded.
The frustration with him, and the refrain lingered, but he already was trying to facilitate changes. For instance, his swings and ABs were much more constructive than Swisher’s from the left side. IMO, Swisher LH and Russell Martin were in “no chance” territory with their approaches in that series.
Does anyone have a link to this AJ-Abreu thing?
J. Alfred Prufrock February 15th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Rich, I thought someone was speculating about a player’s sexuality. I recall all sorts of Jeter/Alex stuff on the teenybopper sites a few years ago.
————————-
Oh you mean when they used to take pictures like this?
http://thesportspin.com/2011/0.....hortstops/
Seriously, raise your hand if you remember this!
“Seriously, raise your hand if you remember this!”
I don’t even have to click on the link.
Shame – although Betsy could be maddening and extremely frustrating when it came to the Hughes stuff, there wasn’t a mean bone in her body. That differs greatlty from others who have been bounced from the forum and keep popping back up. Conversely, there isn’t a kind bone in their bodies.
Rich – It did leave a lasting impression…
Pruf, yep, been arguing the same about Teix down the stretch, into postseason. He hit that opposite field double off of Verlander, and a couple of LF LD outs. Teix was definitely conscious of trying to go to left vs. RHP.
trisha – Agreed on all points.
Rich,
How would you stack Cashman up against:
Epstein
Amaro
Tony Reagins
Ken Williams?
Your various Mets and Cubs GM’s over the last decade or so?
teix is the man, there is a defensive part of the game some ppl forget, and hes nasty.
his hittin is at time frustrating but 111 rbi’s means he gets the job done…
stuckey
I don’t think it’s outrageous to think Tex will bounce back next year. He’s still only 32 years old.
The big question will be how long can he sustain that bounce back. When you sign a contract like Tex’s you kind of assume the back end won’t be pretty, and unfortunately Tex already had a couple of seasons that you think would come towards the end of the 8 years.
“teix is the man, there is a defensive part of the game some ppl forget, and hes nasty.
his hittin is at time frustrating but 111 rbi’s means he gets the job done…”
SFT
“Tex OPS’s over .900 this year.”
I think he could…..I hope he’s serious about making changes to his Lefty swing….he’s at an age now where he can still do it…..the older he gets the harder it will be.
stuckey
It’s so hard to do that because of payroll variance.
I’m in on Andrew Friedman.
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
JAP
I recall that, especially during that Mariner fight some years ago that may have cost Chad Curtis his job here.
///
What a surprise that Curtis, with his “fundamentalist” type leanings would object to a few words between these guys during a brawl. Jesus loves you, Curtis! Hell, he probably started the rumors.
I would love to have been a fly on the wall though, or just have seen Jeter’s (probably deadpan) expression, when Curtis tried to dictate to him what “team” etiquette called for from him in that situation.
“Rich – It did leave a lasting impression…”
I’m guessing yours was different than mine.
Poll question:
Do you take .260 30 HR 100RBI from Tex as the #5 hitter this year?
I take it and run.
The biggest offense question mark is what can to expect from A-Rod. This is a bigger question in my mind than who the DH is. It really is the unknown. Whatever production we get from a DH who will be hitting in the bottom third of the order, (maybe 6th at best), is pretty much a bonus. We know its going to be an older guy who is platooning and sitting to give regular guys 1/2 a day off.
What this offense does not need is another bang or boom type player. Id rather see a guy who can get on and hit 8th and set the table for 9/1/2, than a guy who hits .230 with power hit 6/7th.
I don’t want to go full Moneyball on it, but we give enough outs away with our sluggers, Tex, A-rod, and Swish. Im looking for a guy like what Bobby Abreu used to be. And dont tell me Damon is that guy, it’s not 2008.
Gary February 15th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
J. Alfred Prufrock February 15th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Alfred, less to do with comfort, more to do with erroding skills. He was at the end of the busline. Wish he would have hung it up the previous year. I’d take most anyone right now over him, he can’t get it done anymore, retirement was the right decision.
///
Yeah, guess you missed the ALDS. Though his bat is slower, he knows how to hit, and can still hit with power left-handed. I said all year he can still hit RH, but they pulled the plug on that very early, which I understood (though I thought it was stupid). He recently said his right-handed swing would have come around, and I don’t think that was self-delusion. I’ve watched his career, unlike some.
_________________________________________________________________________
Well I watched his whole career also and Jorge was a great player, your point he showed up for the ALDS, my point he missed the rest of year. Guess we are both right? The guy was in his 40?s, his swing wasn’t coming back and he was like running like concrete on the basepaths. There comes a time when everyone has to hang it up and it was his time.
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
The problem with Tex is he’s a drain on the roster in both $ and opportunity cost.
He’s a good hitter but makes too much money and blocks a position loaded with elite hitters.
———————-
There are better hitters than Tex at 1b, but are any of those hitters better defensively than Tex there? I would say no.
Tex’s glove and range are tremendously important to the entire team. Because of his range at 1b Robbie can cheat a little toward the middle to cover for Derek. Because of his glove, throws from Derek, Alex or Nunez that a lesser 1b might lose get turned into outs (or at the very least don’t enable a baserunner to advance)
And, quite frankly, any of the 1b who rank ahead of Tex offensively are going to command an even greater salary or more sacrifice or both to get.
Consider that by not getting Tex the Red Sox had to deal the majority of their top level prospects, and give a Tex like contract for AGone. The Angels, by losing Tex (and other factors) are now tied into Albert Pujols through his declining years. Joey Votto is going to earn at least the same amount as Prince does.
So do I or will I look at Tex’s contract as a bad thing? Absolutely not.
Also, agree that it was excruciating to watch Giambi game in and game out, trying to turn DP’s and make throws to home. Excruciating. Let’s just hope Teixy can make those mechanical adjustments vs. RHP with some consistency.
yankeefeminista February 15th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Pruf, yep, been arguing the same about Teix down the stretch, into postseason. He hit that opposite field double off of Verlander, and a couple of LF LD outs. Teix was definitely conscious of trying to go to left vs. RHP.
///
Yuh, he did – forgot about that. I think Tex will really get after it. What the results will be – we’ll see, but they’re bound to be better.
Off to the assy line, we are making two pans of Eggplant Parm for a big party tonight, egg wash, flour and breadcrumbs, fry and bake. I’m not the head chef, but I do get to be the line cook
Gary – have fun!
FTR, I don’t miss Betsy’s beratement of Hughes at all. Sorry, Betsy.
Chip – good post!
yankeefeminista February 15th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Also, agree that it was excruciating to watch Giambi game in and game out, trying to turn DP’s and make throws to home. Excruciating. Let’s just hope Teixy can make those mechanical adjustments vs. RHP with some consistency.
///
I’ll always be grateful for those two jacks in Game 7 2003 ALCS, but that’s the word for watching Giambi in the field: excruciating.
And how absurd, that he should try to intimidate Alex Rodriguez, who works as hard as anyone and was a plus defender for years. He even looked slick at third in this recent postseason.
Tex is more like Alex; him running at full speed from first before the Castillo drop says all you need to know about Tex’s heart.
Tex’s glove and range are tremendously important to the entire team. Tex’s glove and range are tremendously important to the entire team. Because of his range at 1b Robbie can cheat a little toward the middle to cover for Derek. Because of his glove, throws from Derek, Alex or Nunez that a lesser 1b might lose get turned into outs (or at the very least don’t enable a baserunner to advance)
————-
I believe tremendously is a gross overstatement.
This will probably start an uproar on here, but I’ll say it anyway. I don’t think Tex’s range at 1B is all that special.
What happen to Betsy?
Gary, bring some food back for us.
I’d try to 3 team it now to get abreu back. I just don’t think anyone left out there has the OPS and OBP that abreu can provide… Damon clearly cares more about 3k than anything else
yankeefeminista February 15th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
FTR, I don’t miss Betsy’s beratement of Hughes at all. Sorry, Betsy.
///
x200
Craw, I think she just decided to take a break from the forum. She has been back from time to time. My guess is that once the season begins, she’ll be back here, though I have no way of knowing that for sure.
Rich,
My point is, criticizing Cashman’s use of his vast resources needs a control, a standard. I think that’s the basis of ALL objective criticism.
I think it only fair, to put Cashman’s use of his vast resources in the “against” column, to offer some example of someone who has performed demonstratively better with comparable (as much as there is such a thing) resources.
I don’t feel any of the guys I named did a demonstratively better job with the resources they had, at least to a degree I think they’d do even better had they the additional resources Cashman had.
Epstein’s got Lackey, Dike-K and Crawford on his record.
Amaro gave that contract to his first baseman.
I personally think sometimes HAVING the resources and the expectations that come with it is perhaps more than an organic negative than we credit it for. Those guys have to contend with the compulsion by fans and the organization to spend.
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Tex’s glove and range are tremendously important to the entire team. Tex’s glove and range are tremendously important to the entire team. Because of his range at 1b Robbie can cheat a little toward the middle to cover for Derek. Because of his glove, throws from Derek, Alex or Nunez that a lesser 1b might lose get turned into outs (or at the very least don’t enable a baserunner to advance)
————-
I believe tremendously is a gross overstatement.
This will probably start an uproar on here, but I’ll say it anyway. I don’t think Tex’s range at 1B is all that special.
——————
I won’t roar – I will say I think you’re wrong. But you’re entitled to be as wrong as you want to be.
Would you at least concede that among the top offensive 1b in the game Tex is probably if not the best defensive player at the position then in the top 3?
Trisha,
Thanks!
Thank you Trisha
Nothing happened to Betsy. I am sure she will be around. I’ll be happy to see her sans the Hughes’ diatribes.
Craw and Chip -
Welcome!
“Teix was definitely conscious of trying to go to left vs. RHP.”
He was….but mechanically if he doesn’t change his swing plane that approach is going to result in a lot of lazy fly balls to LF Im afraid….
.I do think and hope that was the start if something positive though…..he need to get flatter and shorter so that he can let’s those pitches on the outer half and offspeed pitches travel deep then shoot them the other way on a line.
“The big question will be how long can he sustain that bounce back. When you sign a contract like Tex’s you kind of assume the back end won’t be pretty, and unfortunately Tex already had a couple of seasons that you think would come towards the end of the 8 years.”
LGY, do you think the Yankees should be in the business of offering guaranteed contracts of 6 years or more from a policy standpoint?
blake, agree, but he was (italicize) hitting some solid balls to left late in the year. Here’s hoping.
I won’t roar – I will say I think you’re wrong. But you’re entitled to be as wrong as you want to be.
Would you at least concede that among the top offensive 1b in the game Tex is probably if not the best defensive player at the position then in the top 3?
—————
I think Tex is great at scooping the ball and stretching for balls. I also think he has excellent reaction time on balls hit in his immediate vicinity which allows him to make all those highlight reel dives and stabs.
But his range, imo, is average.
Is he a top 3 1B? Eh. I’ll say top 5.
LGY, average range, based on what?
stuckey February 15th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
LGY, do you think the Yankees should be in the business of offering guaranteed contracts of 6 years or more from a policy standpoint?
____________________
LGY can answer for himself, but my take on this is that if other teams are going to offer 6 year contracts then the Yankees would be hamstringing themselves if they categorically refused to do so also.
If you’re a free agent, unless you’re getting the same amount of money (or more) over a shorter period of time, which in turn means a higher AAV and higher payroll, then why would you sign with the Yankees for four years when the Red Sox are offering you 6?
In no particular order, my top 3 defensive 1B are Pujols, Votto, and AGon.
LGY -
Could you give me the names please?
And if Thome is one of them I’m gonna find you and hit you with a dead fish
Pujols? Really? I admit, I don’t see many St. Louis games, but I’ve never thought of Albert as being a particularly good defensive player. Especially recently where oblique injuries have kind of hampered him.
LGY, do you think the Yankees should be in the business of offering guaranteed contracts of 6 years or more from a policy standpoint?
—————
Yes.
I was and am for the Tex trade. He is a very good defender, very good teammate was great power. He will, in my opinion, hit much better this year. Ackowledging an issue is the first step to success.
As it stands, the only 1b I would take over Tex right now is Joey Votto and as I said, I think he’s going to end up commanding a Prince Fielder type contract. While I think Votto is currently better – I don’t think he’s $20 or $30 mil better than Tex.
” was and am for the Tex trade. He is a very good defender, very good teammate was great power. He will, in my opinion, hit much better this year. Ackowledging an issue is the first step to success.”
I agree with you that by acknowledging the issue he’s heading towards correcting the flaw to his batting approach.
Probable compensation picks from 2012.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/......html#more
Note: When I say “right now” I am basing that on age/ability/contract and what was ultimately given up to get him.
Gonzalez is probably better right now than Tex too – but to get A-Gone cost Boston Tex money plus some of the organization’s top prospects while all Tex cost the Yankees was money (and the draft pick that the Angels eventually used on Mike Trout)
“…leaking about Montero “he’s immature, doesn’t work that hard…”
Montero called himself out. He said he wasn’t practicing enough and he didn’t used to listen alot.
Maybe Betsy finally got lucky and caught a man ?
stuckey
That’s one way to look at it.
Does your embarrassing energy levels for dumping on a 22 year old kid ever dry up???
If the kid said it, far from demonstrating a weakness, it shows he is accountable and has learned.
He’s bleepin’ 22 years old.
*DO your energy levels…
Pujols is awesome defensively. Has everything. Range, reaction time, glove work, arm and great decision maker.
yankeefeminista February 15th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
FTR, I don’t miss Betsy’s beratement of Hughes at all. Sorry, Betsy.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Romine was her first Phil Hughes…because he disappointed her. She fell right in with the rest of the idiots on both of them.
Cano said the same thing. What’s the point and how do you measure something like that statement with regard to other prospects: how do you categorize what “practicing enough” means for one player vs. another, etc? And on minor league vs. pro level? Not sure what this quote means and not really measurable…
“Yes.”
I agree.
Assuming some of these deal will work out and some will not, do you think:
A.) Its reasonable to expect the bill to eventually come, affecting the Yankees payroll down the line; or
B.) The Yanks should just perpetually spend over (lapping) the mistakes to compensate, assuming more and more back-end risk?
Almost time to come out of hibernation for some real baseball, yes ! !
LGY February 15th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Pujols is awesome defensively. Has everything. Range, reaction time, glove work, arm and great decision maker.
————–
As I said – I’ll take your word for it. Defense, more than any other aspect of the game, is very subjective.
I’m catching up here, did Montero get dumped????
J. Alfred Prufrock February 15th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Does your embarrassing energy levels for dumping on a 22 year old kid ever dry up???
If the kid said it, far from demonstrating a weakness, it shows he is accountable and has learned.
He’s bleepin’ 22 years old.
—————-
Buck Showalter used to say that your character isn’t defined by what you say to the press, it’s defined by what you do when you think no one is watching you.
I could care less what a kid (or any ballplayer) show me that you’re mature and I’ll believe that you are.
sorry – should have read: I could care less what a kid (or any ballplayer) says. Show me….
yankeefeminista February 15th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Cano said the same thing. What’s the point and how do you measure something like that statement with regard to other prospects: how do you categorize what “practicing enough” means for one player vs. another, etc? And on minor league vs. pro level? Not sure what this quote means and not really measurable…
///
It doesn’t mean anything. It’s cherry picked to justify the suits’ side-of-mouth plants. Most kids on the upswing say this kind of stuff, anyway. “Now I know what it takes..” etc.
Oh, see! See! He AGREES with the Yankees that he’s a lazy SOB! See! See!”
Defense is “subjective,” but Teix’s range is well above average at a position where many first basemen are statues. No way he is average.
Nick in SF February 15th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I’m catching up here, did Montero get dumped????
///
Yes, but apparently once was not enough for the blood lusty.
“Buck Showalter used to say that your character isn’t defined by what you say to the press, it’s defined by what you do when you think no one is watching you”
Buck Showalter (who I like, btw) had a problem with Ken Griffey, Jr. wearing his cap backwards. That’s so anal, it’s scary.
Shouldn’t the award-winning YES being streaming activity from camp all day long right about now? Now that would be ground-breaking.
I’d take the Pitt $10 Mill and move on. The Yanks have reached a point of No Return in regard to hanging onto AJ. Has anyone Ever seen Ibanez and Abreu inna room at the same time??? Same Player. NIX
“Shouldn’t the award-winning YES…”
What do they win awards for, sucking?
Stuckey
It depends on the player. For example. I will be very disappointed if they have a chance to sign Cole Hamels and pass. The opportunity to sign an under 30 elite LHS is too rare.
On the other hand, while I was at one time looking forward to Matt Holliday in pinstripes, once they signed Tex I was completely against signing him because I thought they had too many big money contracts.
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
“Buck Showalter used to say that your character isn’t defined by what you say to the press, it’s defined by what you do when you think no one is watching you”
Buck Showalter (who I like, btw) had a problem with Ken Griffey, Jr. wearing his cap backwards. That’s so anal, it’s scary.
——————————-
Well I didn’t say I agreed with Buck on everything – but his take on character is pretty spot on for me.
Yanks should continue to hold out on AJ. No reason to rush.
The NY Yankee organization sat Montero down for 2 games in June (I believe) 2011.
This is not the actions of an organization looking to protect the trade value of a player.
I don’t know what it means. I don’t know the reasons that caused it. I don’t know what the Yankees intentions were. I don’t know if their actions were warranted or appropriate. i don’t know how Montero received it, or how he reacted to it, short of long term.
And neither does anyone else.
Anyone attempting to condemn or defend Montero about this issue has absolutely ZERO credibility. You don’t even know what you’re defending him against or condemning him for.
All we know is there was smoke that as far as we know, doesn’t surround most players, and reasonable people should be able to simply acknowledge this and consider it a potential factor without getting indignant about it, one way or another.
Buck is old school and only anal when necessary. You disrespect The Game and Buck is gonna climb your tree. That’s the way he took the cap backward. Almost any other young player does this and Buck gets applauded for his stepping forward. Griffey Jr Always was a media favorite, and Always gotta free pass with them, even when he was MIA in Cinn for years.
Chip, speaking of doing something “when you think no one is watching you,” as per the panopticon–someone’s always watching…
I understand your frustration with people misunderstanding and misusing Montero’s anecdote about how Arod helped him, but that particular nugget isn’t something the Yankees put out.
Your “neutrality” has no credibility.
Repeating what he said was not to dump on Montero.
You and others seem to think untrue things are being leaked about him as a way to cover up a big mistake.
My point is if Montero has confirmed the things that were “leaked” about him, they aren’t untrue.
ooops,
The best indicator of Montero’s ability to take instruction is the way he changed his body. After be told he was overweight, by the time he was called up to NY he was undeniably Lin-like lean.
Would you take Konerko over Teixeira? I wouldn’t. Would you take Cabrera? Well, yes, but I wouldn’t let him play the field. Would you take Fielder? Again, sure, but I wouldn’t let him play the field and I wouldn’t want him for more than another couple of years. Texieira’s still in the top 5 all-around 1B in baseball, especially important while the left side of the infield is aging as he makes them look good regularly.
I really wish the Yankees kept Montero and I thought the Pineda trade was a mistake. Look I realize people’s concern about the pitching, but with all do respect the Yankees allowed the 3rd fewest runs in the league and 2nd fewest runs of the AL playoff teams. I mean how many fewer runs do you want them to give up?? Yes they got lucky with pitchers, but you know what the Cardinals got lucky they won the world series, the Rays got lucky they made the playoffs, the Yankees got lucky avoiding a lot injuries last year. Luck happens every year with every team is some way, shape, or form. Come on the Yankees should have been patient another year and relied on their arms in their system. Yes Montero did not have a position, but I don’t see what’s so wrong about giving him a chance to platoon as catcher and DH for one year. I mean it’s not like world will blow up if he is bad. Yankee fans are not giving young guys fair chances and just want a finished product now.
Sure Teixeira doesn’t hurt the Yankees, but my issue with this Yankees lineup is they lack that 330 hitter. You know that hitter who is nothing more than an absolute pain in the a** to get out. That hitter that seems to just have that consistent knack to foul off pitcher pitch after pitcher pitch. They don’t have a hitter like that. I want anyone who is reading this to watch the video highlight of Jesus Montero’s homerun off of Jered Weaver last year and you tell me what Yankees hitter is hitting that pitch that was right on the inside corner to Montero out of the ballpark. NO YANKEES HITTER besides Montero hits that pitch out of the park. This is why you need the younger hitting, they hit better pitches more from good pitchers than do the veteran hitters. When Montero hits that type of pitch from Weaver out of the park, that gives me every reason to believe he’ll become a 330 hitter at some point. Young hitters aren’t supposed to be hitting pitches like that out of the park and Montero did.