Scenes from Tampa, plus some notes and links
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 17, 2012 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Check it out, actual pictures from Tampa. The Associated Press has moved from photos from the Yankees minor league complex, where guys are getting in their early work before camp officially opens.
That’s Derek Jeter taking batting practice; Joba Chamberlain, Cory Wade, Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova doing some running; Jeter and Ramiro Pena fielding grounders; prospect Mason Williams; and Chamberlain and Nova throwing on the side with Larry Rothschild.
My guess is the complex will be pretty quiet this weekend, but you never know. Guys might actually show up to get some work in on a Saturday.
Of course, today’s biggest news centers on a guy who won’t be in Tampa rather than the handful of guys who are already there. Here are a few notes and links from today…
• In the A.J. Burnett deal, the Yankees will get $5 million in salary relief this season and $8 million next season. Wonder if they already know that $5 million is what they need to make their final offseason signings this time around.
• Speaking of which… Jon Heyman says the Yankees will wait until the Burnett deal is official before finalizing deals with additional hitters. He says it’s still going to be Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez added to the roster.
• The fourth mystery team in the Burnett trade talks? Buster Olney says it was the Phillies, who would have needed to move Joe Blanton to make a deal work. And just to stop these emails ahead of time… No, I don’t think the Phillies would have offered Domonic Brown.
• Down in Tampa, Joba Chamberlain is still optimistic about his surgically repaired elbow. He’s up to 35 pitches, three times a week off a half mound.
• Michael Pineda said today that he got to camp weighing about 280 pounds and needs to lose 10 during spring training. Seems pretty reasonable, to be honest.
• Jayson Stark asked 20 baseball sources to rank various things about the offseason. The Yankees were named as the second most improved American League team — the Angels, of course, were first — and their Montero-for-Pineda deal was named as the best trade of the winter.
• Head over to River Ave. Blues to check out Mike Axisa’s picks for the Top 30 Yankees prospects.
Associated Press photos
I love the picture of Joba running so fast that the camera could only catch a blur
I thought it was a little interesting that the Yanks preferred the 8 million to come off next years payroll…..they only have 118 million now committed to 2013
Ibanez will be as futile as Randy Winn.
He’ll be the boo-birds target within a few weeks.
ESPNNYYankees
Source tells me AJ deal not likely to be approved by commish til monday or maybe tuesday pending result Pitt physical
i love how we’re replacing posada’s bat with a guy who has no business in the field and actually has a lower slash line playing in the NL of all places..
yeah, nothing could possibly go wrong with that. please be wrong stupid rumor. don’t let him be right ;<<
How many of Lin’s lay-ups have not gone in tonight?
Just let it go people…. Ibanez is coming and there is nothing you or I can do about it.. just accept it. Its not the end of the world..
I guess the question if who is better between AJ and Blanton has been answered
I still think it’ll be Damon and they are just posturing with Ibanez.
The Hornets?…really?
“Just let it go people…. Ibanez is coming and there is nothing you or I can do about it.. just accept it. Its not the end of the world..”
End of the world, no. But once again, the Yanks are devaluing the DH spot and making it much less productive than it should be. They already have given up getting any offense from the Catcher, now the DH is a black hole, too. Damon has had success in NY, he likes playing in NY, and he should be brought back.
Knicks showed tonight why they desperately need Melo and JR. Novak is their only SG or SF that can shoot and Fields showed why I said earlier he’s not a crunch time player. I’m out. Enjoy the night.
Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN
Scott Kazmir threw at about 86-87 mph today, touched 89 mph in his workout; that’s better than last season with LAA. About 10 scouts there.
Minor league deal? Make him a reliever
Yanks will have one of the more productive DH numbers in the AL with the combo of Jones, Ibanez, Alex, Tex, Granderson , Jeter and company…..The days of a one guy DH are over folks…..
blake February 17th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
I thought it was a little interesting that the Yanks preferred the 8 million to come off next years payroll…..they only have 118 million now committed to 2013
*************
Well just take a look at the free agent class coming up. You’ve got 3 frontline starters and OF’s, two places where the Yankees may very well look to add.
I just don’t see Gardner and Swisher as the bridge to Mason Williams, Heathcott and Santana. And those guys may never pan out so the Yankees need to get younger and/or better in the OF.
Philly? Wonder if they were willing to kick in more $$?
Damon has the want of coming back to the Yankees but his pursuit of getting 3,000 hits causes many to wonder if he’ll sacrifice himself when conditions warrant him doing so. If that is a non-issue, then he’s the better bat of those available and he still has some speed and is still a smart baserunner.
He otherwise is not needed defensively. The team is flexible enough to only need him in LF in an emergency. If he wants $2.5 MM with incentives, will Scott Boras give his OK ?
Not surprised the Hornets won. It’s kind of like the Yanks situation right now with the Knicks. MLB teams always get up to try to beat the Yanks. Now lll other b-ball teams are now focused to stop Lin and Knicks. Lin has to adjust and has to take care of the ball.
Knicks got screwed on the foul call on the side line with a minute to go….Hell the Hornets were trying to call a timeout, instead they get free throws
Ibanez best days are clearly behind him, but he’s a gamer and a good guy.
Great work, Chad.
Love the picture of the guys running.
Kinda glad AJ is not headed to the City of Brotherly Love.
Great to see Joba in the middle of everything. Man is he a fast healer. Just needs to shed some rust and some lbs.
Interesting to see how the league sees the offseason for the Yankees. Props to that bum, Cashman.
108 stitches……..Think back to 2009 and remember just how bad Johnny was in leftfield and how deep into the outfield Derek had to go for relays ……I think the Yanks want guys who are more than a one trick pony….I like Damon but frankly I rather they sign Matsui than Damon….I still think Ibanez can squeeze one more good year offensively……Then again I was wrong about Randy Winn a few seasons ago….Time will tell…..
Really nice article on AJ by Matthews. Didn’t know there was a heart in Wally’s chest.
http://espn.go.com/new-york/ml.....very-penny
Perhaps Raul Ibanez can become what Ruben Sierra once was during the 90′s. Only the best of Yankees talents evaluators know what his true value is.
.Think back to 2009 and remember just how bad Johnny was in leftfield and how deep into the outfield Derek had to go for relays ……I think the Yanks want guys who are more than a one trick pony
–
Damon can still run to get a ball. Ibanez was the worst OFer (or 2nd worst) in baseball last year. And he is 40. He has trouble on outfield reads, he can barely throw, he takes bad routes, and he is old. He is a disaster. Like a worse Marcus Thames.
Face….He’s still better than Damon……
You can only give Ibanez the benefit of the doubt. IIRC ibanez had a hamstring injury with the Phillies. Keep the man off the field if possible.
No platooning Gardner with Jones. He’s an every day player. Especially in the field.
Face….He’s still better than Damon……
–
Not defensively or at anything probably. You’re weighting ‘arm’ a bit too heavy here and ignoring foot speed, range, ability to track a fly ball, etc. Damon has never had the range factors Ibanez put up in the OF in Phi.
Ibanez is slow and cannot field. Damon is atleast speedy and can run to the ball. Who cares if his arm is a noodle. Moreover, who cares if Ibanez or Damon can field, get the better hitter. And thats Damon.
I don’t think Ibanez is at all better than Damon…..and when you factor in that Ibanez woud have to learn a new league I think it makes the decision even easier.
Wally is a hack for the most part…..but kudos to him for writing that article about AJ….
The current Yankee 40-man roster pending the departure of Burnett and putting Pedro Feliciano on the 60-day DL when the season starts.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....p?c_id=nyy
There are tons of animated gifs of ibanez’ bad fielding. For the mariners (when he was likely to be good) and for the Phillies (when we know he is bad). Gifs are not a proof of anything, but why would so many people focus on Ibanez’ defense enough to make gifs of all his bad plays?
If you go by metrics, or eye test (gifs!) it says Ibanez is a bad fielder.
In UZR he was dead last in OF. Runs Saved 3 year trailer (and this is from 2010!)
Ibanez -17 Runs Saved
Ibanez -53 +/- in LF 3 years
So 2 years ago when he was 38 he was one of the worst by Runs Saved and the worst by +/- (basically grading you for making plays and dinging you for missing them) and then he aged 2 years and was the worst rated OFer by UZR.
You are reaching so so so so hard to suggest Ibanez is a better defender than Damon.
David Waldstein
@DavidWaldstein
Looks like the Yankees doctors didn’t like the results of an MRI on Okajima’s left shoulder.
1 hour ago via TweetDeck
http://i.imgur.com/sGx7Q.gif <– Raul Ibanez fielding any ball ever
So glad Oki flunked his phiz. So glad.
Defense should be a very minimal part of the decision anyway…..they are signing the player to DH vs RHP…..and to be an emergency outfielder
Okajima’s MRI showed a build up of suck in his rotator cuff
You can make it really simple.
Damon 2011 110 OPS+
Ibanez 2011 90 OPS+
Plus Damon is still a good runner.
There’s a significant difference. But the Yankees seem obsessed with pinching pennies.
m…..Lakers are back home after their Grammys road trip, fully expect for them to put a very nice run together……Face, for less money than inking Damon, you’re getting a lefthanded DH and a very good backup lefthanded hitting corner infielder…….We’ll see about Ibanez ….
Good news today………………………………………
AJ finally got the rubber key
Okajima failed his physical
Knicks lost
So Pineda’s overweight. Great offseason, Yanks!
blake February 17th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
I don’t think Ibanez is at all better than Damon…..and when you factor in that Ibanez woud have to learn a new league I think it makes the decision even easier.
Wally is a hack for the most part…..but kudos to him for writing that article about AJ….
————————————————————————————————————————-
I suppose that works both ways then, doesn’t it? The pitchers have to learn him too.
Bad news today………………………….
Ibanez may be coming to the Yankees……..instead of Damon ?
Pineda trying to become a matching bookend to CC in girth
Chavez being considered again, what a waste of a roster space. Will he go on the DL from breaking his finger when signing his contract ?
Pat M.
Vintage Kobe going off on the Suns.
Shannon Brown draining 3′s. Too little, too late for us.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2la8snp.gif <– this one is good because the ball was hit right towards him.
Jerkface February 18th, 2012 at 12:27 am
http://i41.tinypic.com/2la8snp.gif <– this one is good because the ball was hit right towards him.
—
But, but.. he's a gamer and a good guy! And he does't have that awful 3000 hits incentive!
Face, for less money than inking Damon, you’re getting a lefthanded DH and a very good backup lefthanded hitting corner infielder
–
Chavez hasn’t been good for 2 years outside of 30 PAs before his foot broke in half because he is Eric Chavez. It will be surprising if either survive past June.
The point of the left handed DH is that the player should be a good hitter. Ibanez hit .256 .307 .440 .747 vs righties last year. Clearly you are betting on a 40 year old resurgence, but this guy ain’t B. Bonds. Damon gives you protection against lefty relievers late in a game and better coverage in the field.
Has there ever been a team in MLB that has 2 – 6′ 7″ 300 plus lb. starting pitchers in the rotation at the same time ?
Face…..Well you better get onboard and hope it works out because baseball is the perfect game by not so perfect athletes…..m, I’m giving up 9 points tonight so I need the Lakers to close this out once the 2nd team is done……Once again, The Yanks will have one of if not the most effective DH power and run producers in the AL….I think Ibanez has a good bounce back season …….
Did you just see that spin & step back J, Pat M?
Yjere’s a lot of pissing and moaning and hand wringing over wgoch player gets signed to ?DH. It’s rather much a waste of energy because there just isn’t enough of a difference for 2 days worth of posting about it.
wringing over ***which*** player
Before there are any Pineda is fat comments (oh wait, there already were) I would like to point out that 10 extra pounds spread out over 6’7″ is nothing, especially for a 23 year old that can lose it in a week or two.
Watching ’300′ for the first time. AJ’s favorite movie.
Lakers cover the spread…….Later gang….
Is that why all our pitchers are approaching 300 lbs? AJ tribute?
Lol. Adrian Gonzalez said earlier in the week he wanted to take a bigger leadership role.
Today he says the Yankees made some great moves, but last year (Colon/Garcia) were “great as well”.
They are definitely reading from the same script.
300 wins in tribute to AJ!
I don’t want the Yanks to sign Ibanez because if they do they will be a man who can competently play the field short every game he doesn’t start.
The Yanks should give Chris Dickerson a shot vs.RHP. He’s a career .270 BA, .355 OBP hitter vs.RHP. Unlike Ibanez, he can play the outfield competently with a stronger arm and greater range. He’s a decade younger than Ibanez. I seriously doubt Dickerson batting in the ninth slot for the first month would hurt the Yanks. He’s already on the team.
I say give Dickerson April then May if he has a good April, and so on. The Yanks 1-8 hitters could carry him if he struggles. Remember whoever starts at DH wouldn’t necessarily be the team’s DH for the year, that includes Dickerson if he was the DH vs.RHP (Jones the DH vs.LHP) to start 2012.
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/
Scroll down the left side, “Raul Ibanez Takes Pride In His Defense”. The mans own former team has a section devoted to his miscues. Ughhh
If I were Boston I’d be thinking about Damon playing LF and Crawford moving to RF. Damon can cover that small LF and Crawford can take advantage of his speed in the somewhat large RCF. I don’t know if he burned his bridge there though.
If I were Boston I’d be thinking about Damon playing LF and Crawford moving to RF. Damon can cover that small LF and Crawford can take advantage of his speed in the somewhat large RCF. I don’t know if he burned his bridge there though
====================================
Other than the fact that the Sox have to play 81 games on the road and the fact that Crawford doesn’t have the arm to play right field, this suggestion would be not be totally absurd.
If I were Boston I’d be thinking about Damon playing LF and Crawford moving to RF. Damon can cover that small LF and Crawford can take advantage of his speed in the somewhat large RCF. I don’t know if he burned his bridge there though
====================================
Other than the fact that the Sox have to play 81 games on the road and the fact that Crawford doesn’t have the arm to play right field, this suggestion would not be totally absurd.
On the road they could use an alternative arrangement, if necessary. Damon can still run. And arm in RF is not all that important.
My preference would be Hideki Matsui for thr LH DH and spare outfielder……As is the case with Johnny Damon it’s, their persceptive worth that doesn’t exactly fall in like with the Yanks thinking…….So we get Branyan and Ibanez as for fit table components for that role……..Mats back in the lineup would be a huge shot in the arm……….Hey Godzilla, this is your last dance, you’ve banked much coin, sign for less and let’s make a run into the deep, late October nights……
If the alternative is Ibanez I take Matsui every time.
Your best and strongest arm is always in right, other wise guys will be swipping 3rd on any ball hit
I was also hoping for Ian Stewart to handle the corner inf roles and provide a renewed and healhy stick from the left side…..Still a young guy
Andy Pettitte gets a ST invite to instruct.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....um=twitter
That article says Lou Pinella is going to do sme work with YES this Spring. Did I read that right?
Lou in the booth sounds like fun.
“I suppose that works both ways then, doesn’t it? The pitchers have to learn him too.”
Always tougher on the hitter….especially when you’re 40
Another reason I like Damon (and JF eluded to this) is because even though he’d only play against RHP ….he can hit lefties and therefore if they bring in lefties late in games you don’t have to take him out…..
Let’s say they have an outfield injury and Jones has to play one of the corners……it would be much better to have a DH then without a massive platoon split like Ibanez has.
blake
I think you’re making this DH about 2 players and the Yankees are looking at it as more wide ranging than that.
I’ll always have a soft spot for AJ. He had his moments, and he wasn’t a scumbag, which is more than I can say for some of the other pitchers the team signed last decade.
Whenever he had a good start, it felt heroic, you know? That’s clearly not a good thing, but does anyone connect to that feeling?
Ah well. Here’s to AJ. Now sign Chavez and Damon/Ibanez and be done.
“If I were Boston I’d be thinking about Damon playing LF and Crawford moving to RF.”
I heard Jim Rice interviewed last week and he mentioned Crawford in RF.
He said he believes Crawford is the first Sox left hander to play LF in Fenway and that the angles out there are better for the throws for a righty.
Damon being lefty wouldn’t help with that but it made me recall what Rice said about Crawford.
“I’ll always have a soft spot for AJ.”
Me too. The bandwagon left town but I’m still on it.
“I think you’re making this DH about 2 players and the Yankees are looking at it as more wide ranging than that.”
Sure….but I think the point still stands if they want to optimize the roster
pat
For all the complaints about how Cashman builds this team we can be glad it wasn’t Theo doing it for the Yanees.
He left the RS in a real mess. Lots of holes and ownership unwilling to spend to fill them.
Listening to Boston stations there is alot of angst about what the RS will be like this year.
I even heard one say that the RS players were told the new manager wouldn’t be Bobby only to find out later they were lied to.
It was also said that the players really don’t like Bobby.
Anytime AJ started you knew there was a chance he’d be brilliant that day……the last couple years those days we’re a lot less often ……by he always gave you that chance.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....-1.1024729
This article is for all the Doctors on lohud who were concerned over Ivan Nova’s forearm…:)
Stay Classy, ESPN.
http://larrybrownsports.com/me.....or-picture
blake February 18th, 2012 at 8:00 am
“I think you’re making this DH about 2 players and the Yankees are looking at it as more wide ranging than that.”
Sure….but I think the point still stands if they want to optimize the roster
————————————————————————————
The thing is that they see it differently. It doesn’t prove who is right, just that it seems to be the way they choose to do it.
It’s their team and their money so I guess that gives them the privilege to do that.
“It’s their team and their money so I guess that gives them the privilege to do that.”
Of course
Good morning.
Some positives on the prospect Diego Moreno:
Baseball Prospectus prior to 2011 season ranked him 9th in Pirates system
Prior to 2010 draft he had the best pure arm in the system, sitting at 94-96 routinly touching 98, with very good control, walking 8 of the 174 batters he faced in 2010.
Best secondary pitch is CU with deceptive arm action and good late action.
He was very effective in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason [20.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 20/3 K/BB]
Negatives:
No curveball, slider lacks two plane break, fastball can be flat at times.
The Pirates began souring on him last summer in large part because of a suspension in 2010. Moreno was kissing a fan in the Class AA Altoona bullpen during a game and was suspended a week for “unprofessional conduct.” In general, the team saw immaturity issues on and off the mound and, later that winter, left him exposed in the Rule 5 draft. No one claimed him.
Projection:
Closer potential or set-up man
I think the fact that Novas forearm issue occurred right before a several month layoff was a fortunate break…..it likely helped fully over the winter and hopefully will be a non-issue……its when those things crop up during the season and guys try to pitch through the discomfort that more of the problems arise I would guess.
Kissing a fan in the bullpen? That’s kind of funny, actually.
Will always have a soft spot for AJ, as well.
“If the alternative is Ibanez I take Matsui every time.”
Yes.
Kissing a fan in the bullpen? That’s kind of funny, actually.
——————————
The other player Exicardo Cayones has little chance of making it but this Moreno kid is the one with the real Cajones!
“The bandwagon left town but I’m still on it.”
I finally jumped off the wagon. Good luck to him.
There is something that bothers me a little though. I know about the wife not traveling and all, but it seems kind of strange that he put convenience (Pirates ) over winning.
Now I know it wasn’t really his choice, but I feel like if he could have picked between the Pirates and lets say the Angels, he would have picked the Pirates. IMO that just doesn’t demonstrate a very big desire to win. I could be totally wrong, but I just don’t see that fire to win.
Anyway I wish him nothing but the best.
The other player Exicardo Cayones has little chance of making it but this Moreno kid is the one with the real Cajones!
——-
Mm well done.
I’ve always had & always will have a soft spot for AJ.
I’m on that bandwagon heading for Pittsburgh!! The bandwagon just passed by a certain city of brotherly love, and will hopefully make a u-turn and go there later this summer before the trade deadline.
Would love to see AJ pitch in more post season games. Hoping he makes it to Philly! *finger’s crossed*
The Phillies were smart to pursue AJ. Halliday was the best (only?) pitching coach who ever made a positive difference for him.
Tar,
I don’t know. Maybe he values balancing his personal life with his baseball life? Seems fair to me.
Tar-
The mystery team turned out to be the Phillies, offering Joe Blanton in the deal. I’m sure he would not have nixed that one.
Good morning all… long time no see (well 3-4 days anyway)
I think Cashman did very well getting all that $$$ relief for AJ.
As for the DH debate it may well be that both Matsui and Damon put too high a price their respective heads, thus making Ibanez the more attractive option from a business standpoint.
The defensive argument is comical. NONE of the three is a decent outfielder any more.
I would prefer Matsui or Damon as a hitter because of the NYC experience, but Philly isnt exactly a warm, cozy low-pressure rural atmosphere. I suspect any of the three would put up some pretty good numbers in 300-400 AB.
“Kissing a fan in the bullpen? That’s kind of funny, actually.”
Cashman wanted a protege?
I wish AJ all the best. He could be frustrating to watch, but he had his great moments.
I understand why he would want to stay on the E coast. He gets to see a lot more of his family. And he could potentially make a difference for the Pirates.
But the fan may have sane, blake. So maybe Cashman is the one who could learn something.
Somebody is going to be fired at ESPN over the Lin headline. Disney will not let that slide.
Maine
It’s sometimes too easy to blame the guy who left. If Theo was there, he would have had to have patched holes like he had done in the past and now Ben gets to show off his mending skills.
Yankee fans are agonizing over the 24th and 25th men on the roster and it’s been how many years since the Sox have had a Plan A at SS?
The Bobby V stories you mentioned were reported here in NY too as well as media saying players aren’t happy with what the spring training routine is going to be. Reminiscent of Girardis first year when everyone thought he was going to run everyone to death? Creatures of habit don’t like change.
I wonder if the Pirates will give his wife 10 roundtrip limo rides between their home in Maryland and Pittsburgh, as the Blue Jays did?
“And he could potentially make a difference for the Pirates.”
Probably at the trading deadline…
Rich – I honestly wasn’t surprised the phillies pursued AJ. I figured the mystery team was an easternly contender. I read that the phillies were looking to trade Blanton to the pirates. I thought maybe they were looking for a swap. blanton to pit & AJ to philly. They have the team to make it to the post & AJ gives a post season upgrade over Blanton. And then there the Roy/AJ bromance
Tar – I’ve chosen family over a money job far away. Life is more important & AJ already has a ring. IMO it shows how important family is to him & that’s a plus in my book. It doesn’t mean AJ doesn’t want to win ballgames or is satisfied with losing. He has a great opportunity ahead of him in trying to help a losing team.
“Maybe he values balancing his personal life with his baseball life? Seems fair to me.”
I certainly can’t condemn him for it, but still…..
I want players who live for reaching that ultimate goal. We are lucky the Yankees have a lot of those kind of players. Not sure AJ fits in that group.
See how quick I jumped off the bandwagon
YT
All things being equal I’m sure he would go with the winner
“Yankee fans are agonizing over the 24th and 25th men on the roster…”
Well, they have little roster flexibility because they have so many big contracts, and we are scolded by some for discussing Montero even if we don’t bring up the subject, so that is one of the few offseason topics to talk about on a Yankee blog.
LD
Maybe it’s something they revisit during the season?
Tar – “I want players who live for reaching that ultimate goal. We are lucky the Yankees have a lot of those kind of players. Not sure AJ fits in that group. ”
If CC’s wife refused to move to NY & wanted to stay in california (or near a losing team), do you think CC would be a yankee? IMO, the answer is no & it doesn’t make him any less of a person because he doesn’t put being on a winning team ahead of his wife & children
Lockdown,
I agree with you on the family issue. Family supersedes even winning.
Yankees don’t have any more big contracts than Philly does. what NY has is a lot of medium range contracts ($10-17 mil).
I looked at the hit/spray charts for both Damon and Ibanez in their home ballparks last year.
Ibanez had the ability to hit them out in left, while Damon didn’t have any outs or hits even close to the left outfield wall. However it appeared that Ibanez had many of his outs on the right side of the infield and I suspect the teams in the AL will be putting a shift on him.
If the team is looking for a DH that can still run, has some power to hit them out in right, especially in YS, and from what I read from posting here-can track the ball better playing in left , than Ibanez, Damon should be the pick between the two. Both Ibanez and Damon likely would get very little time in the OF anyway.
YT
For some reason, there is the thought that Ibanez can still play the OF but that Damon can’t. Yet Ibanez is now awful defensively, so he is more likely to be put in the OF and hurt a team.
Rich
My statement was meant as perspective not a complaint about anyone agonizing.
If Kevin Long has a chance to work with Russell Branyon in ST, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins the DH position. He’s the last Mariner to have 30 homeruns for a season[2009].
Lockdown
AJ makes a lot of money. There is no reason why he couldn’t set the wife up temporarily in a new city while he’s there. Especially if it presents a better opportunity for him to win.
CC is exactly the example of what AJ isn’t. A man who wants nothing more than to win ( and be a Yankee), yet he still makes his family his number one priority.
looked at the hit/spray charts for both Damon and Ibanez in their home ballparks last year.
———-
But how do those parks play? I forget. They may change their approach.
“Just let it go people…. Ibanez is coming and there is nothing you or I can do about it.. just accept it. Its not the end of the world..”
Benny, insert any name for Ibanez and the comment is the same.
But when you have X (don’t know the exact number) arm-chair managers who know what’s best for the team, you’re always going to have that interminable unrest. And since there is no universal agreement amongst the arm-chair managers, I’m always grateful that the Yankees have a vote!
“Yankee fans are agonizing over the 24th and 25th men on the roster…”
I’m thinking that Pat actually meant “agonizing.” There does appear to be some of that going on!
Whoever they sign would be the third string LF behind Gardner and Jones.. this is NOT a decision about defense. It’s a decision about anticipated productivity vs RHP as a part-time DH and the comparative cost.
Can’t choose one over the other unless/until I know the final cost of each. If $$$ is equal I take Damon. But if it’s $ 1 M for Ibanez or $ 4 M for Damon i definitely go with Ibanez.
If you saw Damon in LF for Tampa last season you wouldn’t even let him bring a glove to training camp. He was that bad. Either ir more likely to play 1B than LF.
Oops, didn’t see Pat’s post on perspective.
I still say that agonizing over anything over which you have no control is a huge waste of good energy.
Among the available FA for DH, I’d like Matsui. He played a little OF last year and it was good enough for OAK where he wouldn’t embarass himself if used in an emergency in NY.
Always been a Matsui fan.
Otherwise I am fine with Ibanez/Branyan duking it out and whoever emerges has a 90 day period to perform and if either of them don’t, then package some of their pitching depth into a trade for a real OF who happens to rake against RHP.
I hear you, pat, although to me bad Yankee decisions are merely a semi-pleasant annoyance, at least compared to what I really agonize about in real life.
“Whoever they sign would be the third string LF behind Gardner and Jones.. this is NOT a decision about defense. It’s a decision about anticipated productivity vs RHP as a part-time DH and the comparative cost.”
Methinks you are corrrect, sir!
Me also thinks that whomever they sign will be an appropriate signing given the way the organization has structured its DH role.
The more important question is: Is ball-handling something that can be improved upon? I’d be lying to say that I have total comfort with 21 turn overs (or however many there were) with Lin being in the high numbers.
But as someone said earlier, there are adjustments he’s going to have to make, and it’s obvious that every competitor’s strategy is to cover him like darkness at night and freeze him out whenever and wherever possible.
Rich
I meant perspective as far as other teams might have even bigger problems.
I figured everyone has the perspective between baseball agony and real life agony.
Hey Trish —-
Teams will now bait Lin into thinking he has a clearer path to the basket than he does and he has to learn to recognize that.
Additionally he has to keep dishing to shooters even when the shots aren’t falling and he got away from that as well.
Still fascinating to watch this evolve…. by the way, what was the ESPN headline people are squawking about?
Still fascinating to watch this evolve…. by the way, what was the ESPN headline people are squawking about?
“Chink In Knicks armor”, above the picture of Lin.
WOW…. the unemployment rate just went up slightly