Rodriguez: “Take small bites, and take it from there”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 28, 2012 
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Since September 9, Alex Rodriguez has come to the plate 74 times. He’s had an extra-base hit exactly once. He’s drawn some walks, and he had that three-hit game over the weekend, but this is the Yankees No. 3 hitter and he’s basically a table-setter.
“Our objective is, we don’t care who does it, we just want to win games,” Rodriguez said. “Swing at strikes, and if they don’t pitch to us, pass the baton to the next guy. We have to trust our nine-man lineup. Not one guy here is going to (do it all). It’s not tennis or golf. Our job here is to take what they give us, take small bites, and take it from there.”
Small bites. That’s what Rodriguez has given the Yankees lately. He had two doubles and two homers in a span of four games earlier this month, and he actually hit .315/.367/.493 in the month of July, but he hasn’t been a run producer lately. That deep fly ball to center field last night, would have that gone out if Rodriguez had the same power as before?
“Sometimes he drives the ball better than others, but there have been some situations I know he’s been up where there’s been a runner at third and he’s just said, ‘I have to get the guy in,’” Joe Girardi said. “He’s done a good job of doing that. He drove a ball the other day to right-center, so maybe that’s a good sign.”
The Yankees lineup badly needs Rodriguez right now. Without Mark Teixeira — and with some of their lefties really struggling against left-handers — the Yankees need Rodriguez to bring some balance. They don’t necessarily need him to be an MVP again — that’s Cano’s job – but they need him to be productive.
“I think for the team, it’s real important,” Girardi said. “For him (as well). He had three hits in that 14-inning game, he had a couple hits or a hit the day before. I don’t know if that took a lot out of him or what happened in that situation, but that’s why I felt it was good to give him the day off (Wednesday). We do need to get him going. When he’s rolling, our lineup can be really potent.”
It’s not all on Rodriguez, but he certainly could make a big difference.
“I’m gonna go out and do the best I can, just like I did (last night),” he said. “You go out, you prepare, you leave it all out there. And that’s all you can do.”
Associated Press photo
When you have time for a good laugh:
Interview with the Boss-George Steinbrenner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygs-4GfqPcM
Miss you Boss!
Alex isn’t getting his foot down quick enough….as he’s aged it’s just been much harder for him to keep his leg kick and timing in sync…..and he’s not quick enough anymore to make up for it when he’s off……I’m hoping he’ll get hot here and carry it in to the playoffs because its simply a different offense when he hits….
the yankees needs to realize that arod is not going to hit consistently for power anymore and he is not going to play the field more so it is imperative that they find a legit 3b. One of the reason for his extension was HR record chase but even that is in doubt.
Ghostwriter September 28th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Joel Sherman ?@Joelsherman1
Column 1 http://bit.ly/QYMjex He’s become AJ Nova, so #Yankees can no longer trust him in ’12 with a game that matters.
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It’s an interesting question to contemplate. If game 161 is a must-win game, do the Yanks run Nova out there?
“I’m gonna go out and do the best I can, just like I did (last night),” he said. “You go out, you prepare, you leave it all out there. And that’s all you can do.”
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And doesn’t he “look marvelous” even when striking out or running down the first base line on a groundout. Billy Crystal!
Nope.
AROD is now an average 3B. That’s okay if his salary didn’t eat so much of the cap. Blake, he already does guess. Hence, the slider on the first pitch at one at bat was missed by a foot.
“I’m gonna go out and do the best I can, just like I did (last night),” he said. “You go out, you prepare, you leave it all out there. And that’s all you can do.”
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This is really the best response that he could have offered. I’ve come to like ARod over the last 2 or 3 years as he’s matured. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him come through for the Yanks at some key moments.
Joelsherman1
Column 2 http://bit.ly/OZ3a4D Doesn’t matter how many #Yankees fail in clutch, A-Rod will get outsized attention and criticism
blake – 11 spots might be enough that Nova should be out there.. I’m just not sure what Joe does here. I dunno that it would surprise anyone to see him go with Lowe/Garcia over Nova because of that ‘vet experience’ they bring to the table. I can’t say I agree necessarily, but it’s up to Nova to make his case.
IMO, they should just put him in the pen now, because there’s no way he should make that next start anyway. Not with us being in a dead heat for the division. So get him out there as soon as you can to see if he’s a plausible option. See if he gains something on some of his stuff knowing he only has to go 3-6 batters.
trisha – I ducked out in he 8th because as sweet as my gummy concoction was it had a bit of a salty taste to it due to my tears. Gushers, for the record, are gummy candy with a sugary syrup liquid center. They are delicious! I have a meeting this morning but would love to see the post you’ve prepared.
Austinmac-
If my math is correct the AAV of A-Rods contract is 27.5M. Tack on the 6M performance/marketing bonus for passing Mays next season and he will count as 33.5M toward the LT Cap of 178M-over that is taxed at 42.5%
08:$27M, 09:$32M, 10:$32M, 11:$31M, 12:$29M, 13:$28M, 14:$25M, 15:$21M, 16:$20M, 17:$20M
$30M marketing agreement based on home run milestones ($6M each for reaching 660, 714, 755 and tying and breaking major league HR record)
This is going to be a dog race to the finish… 6 games left for both the O’s and Yanks. Boston’s roster is in shambles, but they could still take at least one game from both us and the O’s just out of spite. Gotta hope they do more damage against the O’s…but that team has a habit of showing up against us.
Still can’t understand the logic behind pulling Hughes when he was below 100 pitches and having a great game…. and then leaving Nova in, in that situation last night.
This is what frustrated me so much yesterday… it’s a culture thing. You need everyone to feel the urgency to win. That starts with the FO and trickles down to the manager and should to the players.
If it’s a must win and Nova doesn’t pitch vs Boston next Tuesday, game 161, if you want your other starters on 4 days rest, who are you going to? Phelps-he might have pitched recently out of the pen?
Lowe?
Garcia?
Kuroda on 3 days rest?
“AROD is now an average 3B. That’s okay if his salary didn’t eat so much of the cap. Blake, he already does guess. Hence, the slider on the first pitch at one at bat was missed by a foot.”
Alex has always guessed a lot….he’s always looked for certain pitches and tried to damage them in certain counts….what I mean is that he’s probably going to have to cheat a bit more now meaning that he’s going to have to start sooner to get to good fastballs…which means he’s going to get beat sometimes with breaking pitches…but a lot of players become good at this as they age….start sooner and become better guessers.
I think Alex is struggling with the reality that he can’t do some of the things he used to do anymore….he thinks he can wait longer than he can….
The situtation with Alex is one reason I’ve said that Headley might make more sense than any trade target if he’s actually out there…..he’s a switch hitter….a really solid defender at 3B….he’s cost controlled for a couple of years and he’d allow Alex to move to the primary DH.
Shame-
The RS are saving Lester and Buchholz for the Yankee series and using Cook, Stewart[rookie obtained for Youkilis] and Doubront. They should easily beat up on Cook and Stewart.
The O’s should easily beat up on Cook and Stewart.
Yankee Trader September 28th, 2012 at 9:22 am
If it’s a must win and Nova doesn’t pitch vs Boston next Tuesday, game 161, if you want your other starters on 4 days rest, who are you going to? Phelps-he might have pitched recently out of the pen?
Lowe?
Garcia?
Kuroda on 3 days rest?
====================
I wouldn’t disturb Kuroda’s routine. I would go with Nova, and keep him on a short leash, with Phelps as the first option out of the ‘pen.
Blake-
Would the Yankees want to move Alex as a 27.5M/year player to the permanent DH and have him share time with Jeter, Tex?
I think they will want to reserve that position for another cheap lefty bat to rotate with them.
Lester and Bucholz have been pretty awful against the Yanks this year. Facing them isn’t nearly as scary a proposition as it has been in years past.
Ghost-
I agree on a short leash for Nova. Has Phelps pitched with less than 2 days rest out of the pen?
the problem with nova is between the ears. he has good if not great stuff but he does not know how to adjust if something is not right. Very good pitchers knows how to read hitters and their at bats.
“Would the Yankees want to move Alex as a 27.5M/year player to the permanent DH and have him share time with Jeter, Tex?”
I think they have to think about whats best for the club and not worry about what money is allotted to what position…..Alex still plays 3B at an acceptable level and they should still play him there some….but the best way to get value out of his contract is to keep him on the field….and if DHing most of the time will help do that then maybe they should start considering it….plus Headley is a really good player.
fantasygame101 September 28th, 2012 at 9:34 am
the problem with nova is between the ears. he has good if not great stuff but he does not know how to adjust if something is not right. Very good pitchers knows how to read hitters and their at bats.
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I don’t think that his problems are in his head. He has a good make-up, and he’s a tough kid. He didn’t allow the Yanks yoyo treatment of him last year to faze him, and I’ve never seen him get scared on the mound. Nova is just going through a rough patch with his mechanics right now. Once he rediscovers some consistency with his mechanics, he will be back to normal.
I really don’t know enough about headley to say yay or nay on it, I do know his trade value is at it’s noontide right now. Dunno if the yankees want to part pieces for him. I think Rod can still play 3b for 1 or 2 years. what i don’t understand is that ppl continue to expect irrationally that rod to carry a team. party like it’s 1999? I can very well be wrong on arod since i suppose anyone can have a hot streak in theory and practice. But the centaur has been robbed all of his power, well more or less.
YT, I don’t know if Phelps has been used for any kind of extended outing out of the bullpen on short rest.
I think that Arod would flourish as the regular DH. The only question is what to do with third base. One option could be to move Jeter into the slot, trying out Nunez at shortstop, and the other option would be to go out and acquire a solid third baseman or a shortstop.
Would rather face Cook and Stewart.
Lester has been better this month, but gets no run support. Got a win vs the Yankees earlier this month despite giving up 7 walks. Guess that was one of the Yankees 1 for 15 or so with RISP.
Buchholz has been fair this month, but post all star his ERA is .311 and BAA .225
Doesn’t Headley play the outfield as well? You could use him as a 3b/of and really get a lot of flexibility with his skills. His aquisition would be a no brainer if Yanks could pull it off.
I’m not sure Jeter has the arm to play 3rd?
Cano?
It’s not really Cashman’s way to trade for a position player that is peaking… He likes to pick up players coming off bad years.
Much as I agree with a lot of what has been said about Arod, I don’t see the Yanks moving him unless they eat most of his contract and that would be the point of moving him.
Can’t believe Nova pitches in a meaningful game 161. Manage the BP so that Phelps is available for at least 5 innings and have him start it. Looks like Lowe is being tested for a bigger role or perhaps that was just mop up duty last night.
You guys that are all hot-to-trot for expanded instant replay, need to start with balls\strikes outta the HP Ump. Welke was absolutely BRUTAL last night, and it started with the 1st Yankee batter of the game\Jeet. Jeter’s 1st 2 called strikes were both 3 inches inside, and he was so mad he took a stroll outside the batters box. When Jeet does this, you know an Ump has his head up his rear. Welke also took the Yanks outta their one rally when he reversed counts on hitters with his horrible calls in the crucial 7th inning. Welke was callin’ strikes on pitches inside, outside, high and low. By the 9th inning, Martin knowing he would Not have to catch anymore pitches that Welke would eyeball, let him know how horrible a game Welke had called. If the rationale for instant replay is to “get it right”, you gotta start with Blue behind the plate.
I don’t know enough about Headley except what I see stat wise. He’s a switch hitter about 40 points higher vs righties, strikes out a lot close to 1 per 4 abs has driven in >100 runs and is their only hitter with > 20 homers.
Maybe if the price was right, Hughes, who would thrive in that stadium, would be part of a deal, if an extension for him was acceptable to the new Padres ownership.
Instant replay is easier to implement than a balls/strikes control. Easier should come first. Then once the public loves it, you can move to hard stuff. I have an idea for the latter using a wireless HUD monocle that displays the zone & pitch location using the pitchfx camera data, but I doubt the MLB would go that far.
He is done.
it will be harder to watch him play next year.
Thanks a lot for that most moronic contract in any pro sports.
Yankee Trader September 28th, 2012 at 8:43 am
The bullpen is going to determine how the Yankees fare the last 6 games and in the postseason.
We have two lefties, one in Logan who’s gassed from overuse and one in Rapada who is seldom used lately, because he’s a true LOOGY and with expanded rosters the opposing manager will sub a righty.
It might make some sense to put Hughes in the pen because lefties as of last Sunday only hit .205, while Nova holds lefties to a .272 BA[from this weeks USA Today Sports Weekly]
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Hughes is not going to the bullpen. You have to have 4 starters for the playoffs this year, and Hughes is definitely one of the top 4 starters for us now. They are not going to start Phelps in his place.
S.D. will ask for a king’s ransom for headley.
SD, my bad… too early in the morning.
Instant replay on balls/strikes with a human umpire would make the games interminable. With some kind of 3-D imaging and a computer, it might make sense, but otherwise, I would just stick with we’ve got. Generally speaking, instant replay is more trouble than it’s worth.
Once again, Arod has played DH more than he needs to, not because he has to. Due to the injuries to Gardner and Tex, there have been ample opportunities for Girardi to put Arod at DH (look at how many times Ibanez has had to play LF and that leaves DH open) and he has taken them.
JF-
Instant replay should at least be expanded for close plays at any base.
Just put a neutral ref upstairs,in front of a multiple angle replay video with a headset to the crew chief for the final “corret” call.
No time would be wasted, because the manager wouldn’t need to come out of the dugout. Galarraga would have had his perfect game!
if Yanks aren’t contemplating bridging year or two and the complete overhaul of this offense, then they should make run at hamilton and load up on 13 then let Cano walk if his contract demand is outrageous.
jacksquat September 28th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Once again, Arod has played DH more than he needs to, not because he has to. Due to the injuries to Gardner and Tex, there have been ample opportunities for Girardi to put Arod at DH (look at how many times Ibanez has had to play LF and that leaves DH open) and he has taken them.
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Your point?
“I’m not sure Jeter has the arm to play 3rd?”
you actually need as much or more arm strength to play SS than you do 3B. That wouldn’t be an issue I don’t think….the issue would be that they don’t have anybody else to play SS and Jeter is still their best option there.
Ghostwriter September 28th, 2012 at 10:04 am
jacksquat September 28th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Once again, Arod has played DH more than he needs to, not because he has to. Due to the injuries to Gardner and Tex, there have been ample opportunities for Girardi to put Arod at DH (look at how many times Ibanez has had to play LF and that leaves DH open) and he has taken them.
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Your point?
—
That’s in reply to all the people thinking Arod has to move to DH full time. I don’t think he has to, yet.
What I don’t want is the Yankees trading the farm for Headley. I don’t dislike Headley, I would just rather keep our top prospects so that we can possibly get some cheap production in the near future. Even some proponents of trading for Headley have also said that developing the farm is essential to get under the cap and still have a very good team.
Yankee Trader,
Yea that is my idea as well, no reason the umpire union wouldn’t go for it. They get an extra paid position that would be a good final resting spot for older umps that can’t physically handle the field.
Jack-
I don’t think Hughes should go to the bullpen.
The blog was talking about putting Nova in the pen. My point was only that the one lefty in the pen, Logan is gassed and the one LOOGY, Rapada, is effective as a LOOGY only, and that Hughes gets lefties out better than any other starter on the team except for Pettitte.
“Doesn’t Headley play the outfield as well? You could use him as a 3b/of and really get a lot of flexibility with his skills. ”
he has in the past….but he’s a lot better at 3B
I used to be against robot umpires. I have changed my mind.
AROD is unquestionably trying his hardest and doing his best. He simply does not have the body to do what he once did. Taking small bites is fine if your not hitting third or fourth in the lineup. That position requires production he no longer gives. One extra base hits in the last nearly 60 ABs is a major problem.
I do hope the management sees how his decline and antipated further decline cries out for the need to add to the offense. With AROD one year older, the rest of the vets one year older, Swisher gone, Granderson turning into Adam Dunn, Teixiera being a .250 hitter, they have severe needs going forward.
I believe they will answer these needs by adding another vet. Vets are cheap and can be had on one year deals.
JF-
I wouldn’t even use an ump in the upstairs video room. I’d use a neutral reviewer with good eyes and sense like yourself.
Alex will remain the primary 3B for another year or so. Jeter won’t be moving off SS.
I would like to see Alex get away from his super-wide stance. It doesn’t seem to be working all that well.
Acquiring Headley would likely be very expensive in terms of prospects. Perhaps Alex Gordon, who is also a potential 3B/OF combo guy would be a better (easier) target.
ghost, at this point, part of arod’s value is that he can still be at least average at 3b even with deterioriation of his offensive skill, there still aren’t a ton 3b who can hit better than rod. in short, you might be able to get a DH who can hit better than the 3b that is going to replace rod.
“Maybe if the price was right, Hughes, who would thrive in that stadium, would be part of a deal, if an extension for him was acceptable to the new Padres ownership.”
I would think the Padres would love Hughes…..the issue is that they’d be trading their best player for a pitcher thats controlled less than he is. Headley value is at an all time time high….so they probably should consider trading him….the problem is that unless they are getting a ton of young players I’d keep him if I were them. I certainly think it would take more than a year of Hughes to get him…..
for example, if rod was healthy this year, it’s not a stretch to think that he could have comparable numbers to those of headley, age and potential aside.
I think Gordon makes sense as the Royals are looking hard for starting pitching…..Hughes might be as good as they can get via trade…the problem with trading Hughes is that he’s currently their 2nd best pitcher signed for 2013 and I really would hate to deal him now that he’s finally turning in to something.
jacksquat September 28th, 2012 at 10:10 am
That’s in reply to all the people thinking Arod has to move to DH full time. I don’t think he has to, yet.
What I don’t want is the Yankees trading the farm for Headley. I don’t dislike Headley, I would just rather keep our top prospects so that we can possibly get some cheap production in the near future. Even some proponents of trading for Headley have also said that developing the farm is essential to get under the cap and still have a very good team.
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Arod is still a very good hitter, but he seems to have a hard time staying healthy for the last couple of years. Moving him to DH fulltime would somewhat protect him against injury, keeping him in the lineup, and maximizing his production.
Definitely agree on a non-umpire for reviews.
Don’t need someone who might be reluctant to over-rule his colleagues.
Train replay officials separately, test them and assign them to one ballpark for the season with the stipulation there will be no socializing/fraternizing with players and club officials.
Personally, I am AGAINST instant replay, but if the powers-that-be truly wantta “get it right”, they gotta start with the balls\strikes calls. Otherwise, leave things alone, and let the Umps, “call ‘em as they see ‘em”.
Headley would likely require a King’s Ransom:
Padres Likely To Trade Chase Headley
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 25, 2012 at 1:11pm CST]
The Padres are drawing “huge” amounts of interest in third baseman Chase Headley, and there’s a “strong probability” of a trade, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Padres are “down the road” with several teams willing to part with high-end prospects for Headley, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter).
The Yankees are unlikely to make a strong push for Headley, Heyman reports. Though they will consider third base options now that Alex Rodriguez is on the disabled list with a broken hand, they don’t want to surrender top prospects for Headley. The Yankees will ask the Padres about Headley, but haven’t done so yet, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).
Headley has a .268/.361/.423 batting line in 421 plate appearances for the Padres this year. He earns $3.48MM in 2012 and will remain under team control through 2014. GM Josh Byrnes has reportedly set a tremendously high asking price for Headley. The Orioles, Indians, Pirates, A’s and others have checked in on the 28-year-old.
Arod is still a very good hitter, but he seems to have a hard time staying healthy for the last couple of years. Moving him to DH fulltime would somewhat protect him against injury, keeping him in the lineup, and maximizing his production.
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His last 2 injuries were a hbp and foul into his foot. DH’ing doesn’t prevent that obviously. I don’t think playing 3B adds much to his injury risk. He plays 3B adequately imo so I don’t think there is a pressing defensive need to move him to DH.
If they could get Headley somehow without extreme cost, I’d be fine with it, but I don’t think that’s possible.
Cashmoney September 28th, 2012 at 10:13 am
ghost, at this point, part of arod’s value is that he can still be at least average at 3b even with deterioriation of his offensive skill, there still aren’t a ton 3b who can hit better than rod. in short, you might be able to get a DH who can hit better than the 3b that is going to replace rod.
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The additional production that you would get out of having ARod in the lineup more consistently as a DH likely would outweigh the defensive contribution that you would give up. A big part of the reason that ARod’s numbers are down is because it seems like he is always either hurt or coming back from an injury. If you can mitigate his tendency to get hurt by DH-ing him, then I think that it makes a lot of sense to do so.
Hughes is too good for Gordon. Use him to get Cargo, Upton or Headley, but not Gordon.
There aren’t many 26-year old pitchers with 50+ wins (52)
Personally, I am AGAINST instant replay, but if the powers-that-be truly wantta “get it right”, they gotta start with the balls\strikes calls. Otherwise, leave things alone, and let the Umps, “call ‘em as they see ‘em”.
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Of course you have the worst possible combination of opinions.
blake, hamilton…he costs you money and a draft pick. you can’t part with any significant pieces in Yanks rotation… robbing peter to pay paul, so to speak. the same concept with headley. The qualifier would be Hamilton accept a deal that’s less than 6 for me… but he should be at the top of your offensive solution for the Yanks.
ghost, i see what you saying … but as Jack have mentioned… Rod did not get hurt because he was playing 3b. he got hurt cuz he got hurt.
Alex Gordon:
12:$6M, 13:$9M, 14:$10M, 15:$12.5M, 16:$12.5M player option
Finally two good years in a row. However only 12 homers so far, barely more than Ichiro.
Royals need starters. So will the Yankees if Pettitte and Kuroda don’t return.
The additional production that you would get out of having ARod in the lineup more consistently as a DH likely would outweigh the defensive contribution that you would give up.
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i am not talking about defensive contribution …i am saying it’s hard to find a 3b that has rod offensive potentials as oppose to finding a DH who might give u 850 ops.
btw, giving up on Nova after two season is silly. it’s also silly to continue trotting him out there after last night as starter. well, really one more start.
I would use Phelps in place of Nova’s next start if they still need to win at that point. Or, if they plan to use Nova in the bullpen (and Phelps), they could even start Lowe, again if it isn’t an important game.
The interesting things about giving up or acquiring draft picks this year is the new CBA which limits total expenditures. The Yankees, having one of the better records, will have little money to spend comparatively speaking. Therefore, adding picks potentially for Swisher and possibly others may give them more high picks than they have don’t enough money to sign.
Cashmoney September 28th, 2012 at 10:23 am
ghost, i see what you saying … but as Jack have mentioned… Rod did not get hurt because he was playing 3b. he got hurt cuz he got hurt.
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Perhaps. He had the hip injury that was dogging him for a long time, and playing in the field couldn’t have helped with that. Obviously, I wasn’t suggesting that he could be entirely protected from injury. My point is that the guy seems to have trouble staying in the lineup. it makes sense to mitigate some of that risk, considering that he is injury prone and seems to take a long time to recover. Moreover, the Yanks would benefit from having a dedicated DH, and ARod has had a lot of success in that slot this year..
When you got Phelps in-the-wings, running Nova out there is dumb. Nova’s variation on Ali’s “I am the Greatest” proclamation, also makes him a cariacature of laughable proportions. Nova should currently be rotting on-the-pine till 2013.
AROD’s injuries this year don’t bother me nearly as much as his limited production when he does play. This year represents another in the line of declining production levels. Five straight years of decline and now down to an OPS of .783.
He is no longer a middle of the order hitter.
Of all the ways to measure Jeter’s greatness – five World Series rings, club-record 3,296 hits, .307 postseason batting average – the most telling statistic associated with him is this: During Jeter’s 18 seasons in the big leagues, the Yankees were mathematically eliminated prior to taking the field for five regular season games. Five. In nearly two decades. All of them came at the end of 2008, and Jeter, who was injured, only played in one of them.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ter-092612
great article by Morosi
Nova is a young pitcher. He doesn’t always completely command his stuff and he doesn’t yet know how to pitch i.e. when the pitch needs to be a little off the plate or a few mph faster or slower. All these things come with experience and two years is not enough. He may yet get to be a decent starting pitcher.
Have to go.
If any win is a must win, for the Yankees tonight is it. Need to turn around facets of their entire game from last nights 0 for 7 with RISP, 5 hit, poor pitching from the starter and the the bullpen. The only thing they did right last night was not make an error, well can’t count the wild pitch officially as an error.
Need some high test in that engine. Start with winning tonight and winning the last games too.
Otherwise the Yankees will be changing out the old spark plugs for new ones this offseason.
Have a great day everyone.
Ghostwriter September 28th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Cashmoney September 28th, 2012 at 10:23 am
ghost, i see what you saying … but as Jack have mentioned… Rod did not get hurt because he was playing 3b. he got hurt cuz he got hurt.
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Perhaps. He had the hip injury that was dogging him for a long time, and playing in the field couldn’t have helped with that. Obviously, I wasn’t suggesting that he could be entirely protected from injury. My point is that the guy seems to have trouble staying in the lineup. it makes sense to mitigate some of that risk, considering that he is injury prone and seems to take a long time to recover. Moreover, the Yanks would benefit from having a dedicated DH, and ARod has had a lot of success in that slot this year..
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Well his hip injury came from the torque of his swing, so again DH’ing that would still be a factor, if that is still bothering him. I wouldn’t mind a dedicated DH, the main problem with moving Arod to DH is the cost associated with it, namely getting a good 3B to replace him.
“The qualifier would be Hamilton accept a deal that’s less than 6 for me… but he should be at the top of your offensive solution for the Yanks.”
I agree….I’d like to keep it to 5 years though….I worry about Hamilton’s health and his approach at the plate with age but he’d really make them better for 2 or 3 years.
A-Rod has used up All the Brownie Points he earned with his “09″ Playoff heroics. The guy ducks outta the lineup with a week to go, and frequently languishes in the DH Slot. He NO longer hits, Never was a Leader, and is NO longer a contributor to this team in any way, shape, or form.
I was hoping Bichette would have turned into a phenom, hitting .370 for the second half in AA, but that didn’t happen… and I don’t think Adams is the answer.
the shorter the better blake, but i think it will takes 6 at minimum.
Alex Gordon is a pretty darn good player right smack in the middle of his prime that is signed to an affordable contract. He’s a good defender…hits for average and has 51 doubles this year…..he would be a good fit for the Yankees and I think a Hughes for Gordon deal makes some sense on each side given that the Royals need pitching badly and are kinda loaded with outfielders in their system.
The problem as Ive said is that I’m not sure they can afford to deal Hughes right now…..without knowing what’s going to happen with Pettite or Kuroda…and with Nova’s struggles and Pineda’s situation up in the air it’s hard to think about dealing Hughes right now.
Now if Andy and Kuroda come back…..and if they could sign maybe a Dan Haren (if his option is declined) or something then maybe you think about it…..tough to say.
Someone needs to get Nova to throw more fastballs.
He’ll never be consistent until he gets better fastball command.
As for signing extra draft picks….. you just have to make sure you select guys who will sign for slot. The Yanks biggest screw up in recent drafts was choosing Gerrit Cole who made it clear he was going to college, period.
My prediction is the Yankees will not make any outreach to Hamilton. No chance they will add a $20 million plus salary. They will cut such salaries, not add them.
But, let their be no question. Hamilton would be a remarkable addition.
“Someone needs to get Nova to throw more fastballs.”
someone needs to get Nova to throw less fastballs down the middle and up
I don’t think their is any way the Yanks sign Hamilton…..but other than Swisher the significant trades they have made over the last few years have not turned out as well as the free agent options they declined would have.
Giving up on Nova at this stage of the game would be beyond myopic. You can’t make career decsions based on a guy’s last couple outings.
I would run Nova out against the Sox next week, for several reasons. First, I think he is due for a good start; this is just a gut feeling. Second, if he does give us six solid innings next week, it’ll give Girardi a chance to set up his pitching staff for the postseason. I think that it’s worth taking a chance on Nova if he is kept on a short leash.
I agree. The Hamilton stuff is pipe dream material. I do NOT see KC dealing Gordon for 1yr of Hughes. The Yanks should focus on getting a bona fide 3B, and once they accomplish that, move to replacing Swish, whether it be Ichiro or whatever their fancy.
DONNYBROOK September 28th, 2012 at 10:40 am
A-Rod …He NO longer hits, Never was a Leader, and is NO longer a contributor to this team in any way, shape, or form.
===========================================
Wildly exaggerated.
Blake —-
I like Gordon. I just don’t think he’s worth Hughes.
A-rod’s ‘languishing’ at DH: .313 .380 .476 .856
The thing with Gordon is, he has pretty nasty L/R splits this year.
vs RHP as LHB .318 .392 .498 .890
vs LHP as LHB .243 .303 .356 .659
Lets see……….. we have Jerky and Ghosty circling the wagons in A-Rod’s defense. You will be reminded of this often, as A-Rod continues to drag this team down with both his Play and his Pay \$189 Mill.
A-rod & Tex are both stupendously overpaid for what they provide. No argument there. Both are still providing above average production.
RE: Alex Rodriguez, IMO, could have been one of the greatest players of all time, made a conscious decision to cheat to try and gain an advantage, he wasn’t the first and won’t be the last, he was offered an obscene amount of money and who wouldn’t have taken it, so he is what he is and aging former star, possibly breaking down more frequently because of PED use, what is more important is the organization has to develop a realistic approach as to how to use whatever Alex has left to give, to keep running him out their in a strategic spot in the batting order isn’t working. Does his lack of expected performance affect others on the team? I really don’t know but I do know that what the organization is doing now doesn’t seem to be working and the team is struggling to make the post season.
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 10:51 am
A-rod’s ‘languishing’ at DH: .313 .380 .476 .856
================
Which is really my point here. DHing seems to agreee with ARod. If we can get 100 to 120 games out of him, hitting at this level, then it’s worth a try. If he is operating as a slightly above average third baseman then it shouldn’t be that difficult to replace him; it seems like we have to replace him a lot now, anyway…
Separating DH averages from 3B averages is misleading in my opinion. Their is no way playing third causes him not to hit. Watch him at the plate and you will see why he doesn’t hit. He takes far too many called third strikes and can’t hit an 88 mph fastball if it is up and in.
He has cut down on his swing and his power has evaporated. It is not helping his current .270 average either.
AROD will continue to decline at any position. It is what it is.
“The thing with Gordon is, he has pretty nasty L/R splits this year.”
that is true….and it would be an issue to consider especially if they aren’t able to add a RH bat also.
DONNYBROOK September 28th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Lets see……….. we have Jerky and Ghosty circling the wagons in A-Rod’s defense. You will be reminded of this often, as A-Rod continues to drag this team down with both his Play and his Pay \$189 Mill
—————
Google sunk cost, and then talk to me about his salary. It’s a fait d’accompli, and there’s nothing that can be done about it. And if you’re going to say ridiculous things like saying the man makes NO contribution to the team, then you shouldn’t be surprised that somebody might call you out on it.
“You will be reminded of this often, as A-Rod continues to drag this team down with both his Play and his Pay \$189 Mill.”
the only reason it drags the team down is because the owners let it…..that’s what everyone seems to miss….they point all their anger towards Arod for signing a big contract that was offered to him. The owners of the team gave him the deal….and now they are holding it against their own team. Who’s fault is that?
Matsui, Damon, and Posada were run outta town in order to use the DH Slot to rest regulars. NOW, A-Rod is gonna occupy that spot more than 50% of the time, and that % is only gonna increase. You can crunch the numbers all you want, but having a player that makes his kinda $$$, in that spot MORE than 50% of the time, Hurts the team Now and down the round. The chickens are Quickly coming home to roost.
austinmac September 28th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Separating DH averages from 3B averages is misleading in my opinion. Their is no way playing third causes him not to hit. Watch him at the plate and you will see why he doesn’t hit. He takes far too many called third strikes and can’t hit an 88 mph fastball if it is up and in.
He has cut down on his swing and his power has evaporated. It is not helping his current .270 average either.
AROD will continue to decline at any position. It is what it is.
==============
I’ve been hearing from Girardi (as well as a lot of people on this board) over the last couple of years how DH-ing is akin to a half-day off, and cuts down on the wear and tear on a player. Was that all BS?
If an acceptable 3B can be found then Alex can DH a lot. Ideally a LH bat that might sit vs LHP with Alex playing 3B maybe 40 % of the time.
Will it help? Probably a little.
As I said yesterday, you gotta drag Jeet Off of the field, you gotta drag A-Rod Onto the field. No excuse for A-Rod begging off, with a week to go and the Division Championship in question.
DONNYBROOK September 28th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Matsui, Damon, and Posada were run outta town in order to use the DH Slot to rest regulars. NOW, A-Rod is gonna occupy that spot more than 50% of the time, and that % is only gonna increase. You can crunch the numbers all you want, but having a player that makes his kinda $$$, in that spot MORE than 50% of the time, Hurts the team Now and down the round. The chickens are Quickly coming home to roost.
=============
You’re missing the point: The $$$ don’t matter any more. They mattered before the contract was signed. Now it’s a just a debt. If ARod is as useless as as you said he is, then the Yanks best move would be to cut him, try somebody else at his position, and pay him what he’s owed.
Having a player take 50% of the DH PAs is ideal. You can’t rest your entire team enough at the DH spot otherwise without incurring massive talent penalties by playing backups.
Hughes is too good for Gordon. Use him to get Cargo, Upton or Headley, but not Gordon.
There aren’t many 26-year old pitchers with 50+ wins (52)
———
Seriously doubt MLB GMs are looking at pitching wins when evaluating a player in a trade.
Gordon had a 139 OPS+ in 2011 and a 120 OPS+ this year. Hughes, alone, is not nearly enough.
Donnybrook —
Do you get off on making stuff up?
Using the DH to “rest regulars” had nothing to do with Damon, Matui or Posada leaving the Yankees. Damon turned down a contract. Matsui chose not to wait and the Yanks signed Nick Johnson. Jorge got old.
If A-Rod is the DH 120 times next year that still give them 20 for Jeter and 20 for the others, which should be plenty.
Blake is right, the contract is an albatross. Ownsership purchased the albatross and now insists that it wont pay for more “pets”.
blake September 28th, 2012 at 11:01 am
“You will be reminded of this often, as A-Rod continues to drag this team down with both his Play and his Pay \$189 Mill.”
the only reason it drags the team down is because the owners let it…..that’s what everyone seems to miss….they point all their anger towards Arod for signing a big contract that was offered to him. The owners of the team gave him the deal….and now they are holding it against their own team. Who’s fault is that?
==============
Spot on. Hank obviously screwed the pooch with this contract. The Yanks probably bid against themselves to sign him to that deal, and even if they weren’t bidding against themselves, they should have let him walk at that price.
I think Girardi’s “half days” at DH are largely BS and a bad strategy. First of all, whoever replaces Arod or Jeter (mostly) in the field when they DH, essentially is your DH, so they need to be good hitters, or you have subpar DH production. You could possibly do that with Chavez and Nunez, but you need to stick with Nunez in the field, and Chavez needs to stay healthy. Secondly, how much rest do you really get simply by not playing defense? Even when you DH, you still have to make full preparations before the game, and most guys are going to want to spend time in the cage during the game between their at bats to stay loose. They still have to run the bases. I think the only position that would get significant rest by not playing the field is catcher.
I think they should just give Arod and Jeter full days off every 7-10 games (mostly during longer stretches of consecutive games without an off day), and get a real mostly full time DH, and not a crappy platoon!
Okay……… So now it’s Blake, Ghosty, and Jerky in A-Rod’s corner. Got it down.
DONNYBROOK September 28th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Okay……… So now it’s Blake, Ghosty, and Jerky in A-Rod’s corner. Got it down.
============
Don’t you mean Blakey, Ghosty, and Jerky?
ARod is notorious for his work ethic.
It’s been common knowledge since the beginning of his career that he is one of the hardest working players in MLB and is borderline obsessed with baseball
His body is failing him, but questioning his desire to play is riduculous.
“Okay……… So now it’s Blake, Ghosty, and Jerky in A-Rod’s corner. Got it down.”
would you like to join the winning side?
Don’t you figure A-rod and Pujols have cured MLB GM’s of the long term expensive deals for star players over 30?
No way I want to see Hamilton a Yankee next year. The guy sits out with a sinus headache and watches his team get blown out by the Angels in the middle of a division race.
jacksquat September 28th, 2012 at 11:11 am
I think Girardi’s “half days” at DH are largely BS and a bad strategy…
===============
I agree that it’s bad strategy, which is why I prefer a dedicated DH. But I have to think that DHing almost has to cut down on the wear an tear for an older player, and reduce some injury risk if only by limiting exposure on the field.
“Don’t you figure A-rod and Pujols have cured MLB GM’s of the long term expensive deals for star players over 30?”
you would think…..but the Angels had an example right in front of them with Arod and they signed Albert anyway…..so I’ve stopped trying to predict what teams will do for players…..
LGY September 28th, 2012 at 11:15 am
ARod is notorious for his work ethic…
====================
I don’t think that “notorious” is the word that you want to use here .
LGY September 28th, 2012 at 11:15 am
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BTW, welcome to the winning side
blake September 28th, 2012 at 11:20 am
“Don’t you figure A-rod and Pujols have cured MLB GM’s of the long term expensive deals for star players over 30?”
you would think…..but the Angels had an example right in front of them with Arod and they signed Albert anyway…..so I’ve stopped trying to predict what teams will do for players….
=========
It really is hard to figure sometimes…
Moreno bit hard on Wells, so he learned Nothing. He figures the battle for LA trumps all.
DONNYBROOK September 28th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Moreno bit hard on Wells, so he learned Nothing. He figures the battle for LA trumps all.
—
He is going to lose that battle, and not just because everyone knows they aren’t really an LA team.
DHing may have the effect of saving wear and tear over the course of a year, but it doesn’t make the fastball or curveball easier to hit because you didn’t have to run in from third base before getting your bat. To think otherwise is silly.
I don’t think that “notorious” is the word that you want to use here .
———-
Notorious typically carries a negative connotation, but it doesn’t have to refer to something negative. Infamous or well known probably would have been a better choice of words though to avoid confusion
I see no reason to question ARODs drive or effort. He is simply declining physically. That’s what players ususally do at his age.
What is the average OPS for a starting third baseman?
austinmac September 28th, 2012 at 11:29 am
DHing may have the effect of saving wear and tear over the course of a year, but it doesn’t make the fastball or curveball easier to hit because you didn’t have to run in from third base before getting your bat. To think otherwise is silly.
——————
I think that the effect of making him a dedicated DH would be bit more complex than just saving him the trouble of jogging out to third base. It would give him more time in the cage, more time to study pitchers’ tendencies, and maybe even a little more time to stretch or get on the exercise bike before an AB. The guy is known for his work ethic.
I don’t think that there is any argument that ARod will decline as a player. However, the rate of his decline could be slowed somewhat.
Tip your cap to Morrow last night. He seems to pitch his very best whenever facing the Yankees.
Not sure why that is, but early yesterday afternoon I warned people here that Morrow would be difficult and he certainly was.
Let’s hope the team can turn things around tonight vs another Jays hurler
Arod’s contract just needs to be ignored. (picture Glenn Close saying this and it’s much more effective.. ‘I will not be ignored, Dan!’)
I feel like Arod was kinda pointing out what we all already knew about that Minny loss in that quote.. that Girardi bungled it and the team felt the same.
Shame Spencer September 28th, 2012 at 11:44 am
Arod’s contract just needs to be ignored. (picture Glenn Close saying this and it’s much more effective.. ‘I will not be ignored, Dan!’)
================
I wonder what Steinbrenner thinks about that deal….
I may be delusional but I think ARods’ lack of production is due to his inability to stay on the field for long stretches to develop a rhythm. It seems everytime he looks like he’s about to break out he gets hurt and misses time. If Jeter and Ichiro can bounce back from looking like old washed up has beens so can ARod.
I am happy to ignore AROD’s contract, but Hal will not. It impacts every move going forward.
I guess we should tip our hat to the Jays’ relievers too. I Twin starter who left early looked pretty hat tippable too. Nothing like the gentlemanly conduct of regular hat tipping.
If they could get Headley without including Banuelos or Austin, I might be ok with that, even if it included Hughes (since he has only 1 year left before free agency).
Nishioka asked the Twins to release him and offered to give back his 2013 salary, so naturally they obliged today and he’s officially a free agent.
–
Very rare for a player to do this.
I wonder what Steinbrenner thinks about that deal….
————
Which one? Hank was the one that brokered it, so Hal probably hates it.
At first when Hank came into the picture I though he was nothing more than a pampered buffoon. I still think he’s a buffoon.. but if I ever stumble upon the keys to his cage I’d let him out in a heartbeat.
The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.
Nishioka’s the one that broke his leg right?? Was that this season or last, they all bleed together sometimes lol..
Talk bad about ARod all you want, but at least
Cano has been getting hot lately and Martin continues to hit the ball all over
the park.
Those are 2 positives you can take from the game last night.
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 11:58 am
The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.
—————
Wow. Interesting.
Did you hear that blake? We have a new reason to complain about letting that contract hamper us!!! This is foolery.
Shame Spencer September 28th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I wonder what Steinbrenner thinks about that deal….
————
Which one? Hank was the one that brokered it, so Hal probably hates it.
At first when Hank came into the picture I though he was nothing more than a pampered buffoon. I still think he’s a buffoon.. but if I ever stumble upon the keys to his cage I’d let him out in a heartbeat.
=========
The one that brokered it. I’m sure that Steinbrenner keeps a lid on it, out of politenesss, but I bet that inside he must seethe over that deal like that Glen Close character did.
Jeter and Ichiro are not dealing with likely long term steroid usage. AROD has declined five straight years. Their is absolutely no reason to think he will rebound. He has lost his bat speed along with his foot speed. Plus, he has needed surgery to his knee and hip. He body is failing him.
I hope the team management doesn’t include an AROD bounce back in assessing the future.
I have watched via TV at least a half dozen balls hit by AROD that I thought were gone for sure only to see them caught on the track. I hate to think of what 4-5 years from now will look like.
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 11:58 am
The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.
====================
If every team gets the extra money, then the Yanks remain at a relative disadvantage with respect to this contract.
Shame,
I will certainly incorporate the new TV revenue in my future Hal cheapskate bashing. Thanks.
Jeter and Ichiro are not dealing with likely long term steroid usage. AROD has declined five straight years. Their is absolutely no reason to think he will rebound. He has lost his bat speed along with his foot speed. Plus, he has needed surgery to his knee and hip. He body is failing him.
–
Lets not go crazy. Jeter & Ichiro’s baseline performance is much lower than A-rod’s. A-rod had way more talent offensively than both of them, and the margin of that talent may be hit harder by decline than either Ichiro or Jeter. Ichiro was pretty bad the past 2 seasons & Jeter’s 2010 was not pretty. Coincidentally came at the same age A-rod is now.
Ghost – I can’t imagine Hank would feel any remorse over the deal. He strikes me as an all in type of guy. He, like George, would probably just spend his way out of it. Why not?
Hal is probably worried about how his great grandkids will pay for their private educations.
Hank… not so much
A-Rod is like a Tree due to his steroid usage. You need to count the rings Inside. He is physically older than his birth certificate would indicate. The guy is ageing as quickly as Joe Hardy did as he retreated on that fly ball in CF.
“The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.”
Hal: does it change the luxury tax threshold? If not then I shall use that 27.5 million to buy a new beach house.
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Jeter and Ichiro are not dealing with likely long term steroid usage. AROD has declined five straight years. Their is absolutely no reason to think he will rebound. He has lost his bat speed along with his foot speed. Plus, he has needed surgery to his knee and hip. He body is failing him.
–
Lets not go crazy. Jeter & Ichiro’s baseline performance is much lower than A-rod’s. A-rod had way more talent offensively than both of them, and the margin of that talent may be hit harder by decline than either Ichiro or Jeter. Ichiro was pretty bad the past 2 seasons & Jeter’s 2010 was not pretty. Coincidentally came at the same age A-rod is now.
====================
Jeter’s and Ichiro’s dropoffs also seemed much more sudden and precipitous than Arod’s steady decline. In fact, I never bought into the notion that Jeter was washed up in large part, because the dropoff seemed too sudden and too steep, and too disconnected from his history. On the other hand, A-Rod’s performance seems to be following a downward trend. Still, he could learn to thrive with a dimished skill set, and still contribtue 20-25 homers per year if he can stay healthy…
Ghostwriter September 28th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 11:58 am
The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.
====================
If every team gets the extra money, then the Yanks remain at a relative disadvantage with respect to this contract.
—————-
I think the fact that it’s across the board makes it the same advantage for everyone, no? Half those other clubs will bury it in their owners pockets. Some might splurge on one player or two, but could it really help them more than us if it’s the same amount of increase?
When does this deal kick in?? Because I’m about to start ranting that if they set aside this money for the next two seasons it can pay for them going over the luxury tax in 2014.
I think if Alex can stay healthy then he’ll adjust and bounce back ….the problem is and what separates him from Jeter as they age is staying on the field. Alex hasn’t played 140 games since 2007.
From the article Blake linked to this morning:
“It’s more than talent,” Jeter said, when I asked why the Yankees play long-sleeve baseball every year. “We make sure everyone has the same mindset here. That’s the bottom line: Everyone has to be on the same page. If you’re not on the same page, then you’re in the wrong place. You have to be on board with what we’re trying to do.”
“They have no choice but to understand,” Jeter said. “If you don’t understand, I’ll be the first one to let you know.”
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ter-092612
“Lets not go crazy. Jeter & Ichiro’s baseline performance is much lower than A-rod’s.”
That all depends on how you define performance doesn’t it? I mean Jeter is a first time HOF so he performed at a very high level and though I may not agree, many do not consider his defense to the thing that gets him into the Hall.
27.5 + 27.5 = $55 million to cover any luxury tax costs without effecting the bottom line.
“27.5 + 27.5 = $55 million to cover any luxury tax costs without effecting the bottom line.”
it’s a sham….they will treat the 2014 rule change as a salary cap and laugh all the way to the bank while pointing to the CBA.
I see nothing in AROD’s performance to make me optimistic. Could he improve? I sure hope so, but I have been hoping for that the last couple of years.
I am not ready to use Ichiro as an illustration for a comeback. He is hitting .280 with a low OBP. In my mind, it would be a mistake to count on him as Swisher’s replacement next year.
Shame Spencer September 28th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Ghostwriter September 28th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 11:58 am
The new fox deal makes A-rod free. Every team gets an extra 27.5 million dollars starting next season from the new TV deal. So feel free to add that to payroll, HAL.
====================
If every team gets the extra money, then the Yanks remain at a relative disadvantage with respect to this contract.
—————-
I think the fact that it’s across the board makes it the same advantage for everyone, no? Half those other clubs will bury it in their owners pockets. Some might splurge on one player or two, but could it really help them more than us if it’s the same amount of increase?
===========
My point was that relative to their competition, the Yanks are no better off with the extra money than they were before it, because everybody got the same amount, i.e., none of the other teams are saddled with this albatross.
If we keep heaping on Arod, he’s sure to hit a few HR’s this weekend. Bury him!
In reality, the extra TV money will not impact the Yankees spending. They still will want the windfall of being below the cap. It will help teams like the Rays spend more. Rather than helping the Yankees, it will move toward further equalization of spending.
Ghost – I see what you’re saying. Fair point.
I’ll be realistic and say if Arod bats .280 with a .360 OBP and 20+ HR for the next couple of yrs, I’ll be content. His contract is an anchor, but there’s nothing we can do about that. All we can hope for is that he stays healthy for a season or two. Unfortunately, I’m not optimistic in that regard.
I don’t think I am criticizing AROD. He works hard and gives it all he has and is a smart player. However, the stats are the stats. He is in decline and has been for a number of years.
It would be nice if he hit two home runs in the reaminder for the season to get to 20. He has been at 18 a long time.
with the new TV money from FOX, the reduced payroll, and the money we’ll get from revenue sharing the profit margins are going to be awesome in the future…..I’m so excited.
blake September 28th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
“27.5 + 27.5 = $55 million to cover any luxury tax costs without effecting the bottom line.”
it’s a sham….they will treat the 2014 rule change as a salary cap and laugh all the way to the bank while pointing to the CBA.
—————-
I never wanted to believe it early on… I really haven’t been much for railing against the ownership in the past, but this year’s off-season opened a lot of eyes.
I think JF brought it up before but I must have missed it because this news about the TV deal is pretty infuriating given all the ‘woe is me’ stuff we heard regarding the CBA out of the FO.
That all depends on how you define performance doesn’t it? I mean Jeter is a first time HOF so he performed at a very high level and though I may not agree, many do not consider his defense to the thing that gets him into the Hall.
–
Well its not really up for debate. Jeter is a first ballot, inner circle, hall of famer, agreed but compared to A-rod he was a 2nd stringer. A-rod from age 20 to age 33 had 2 seasons with an OPS under .900. Jeter from his first full season till now has 2 seasons with an OPS over .900. A-rod started at a much loftier height to fall from, and margin of that talent is much greater. Think of A-rod. He is hitting .270 and getting on base, but the real thing that is missing is power. Because he has established a huge power baseline in his career. Jeter has declined, the past 3 seasons his OPS is under .800, but because it is falling from less lofty heights, and because he is losing less than A-rod is from slugging (dropping 50 points vs dropping 150 pts) you think he is declining less.
Frankly Jeter (& Ichiro) simply had less of a cliff to fall off of.
So is this year’s Ivan Nova who he really is, or is it a sophomore slump?
I think during last year’s win streak he was in over his head, but his stuff has been even better at times this season. Could he put it together or will he always be too inconsistent?
Country Club,
I too would be content with those numbers.
I’m just not going to get upset about a team spending 180+ mil on payroll. If they cant get to the playoffs at that number, shame on them.
This may be the best baseball movie since The Sandlot: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/42/
Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey.
Shame,
The new TV deals start in 2014
With MLB’s national media rights revenues part of the league’s central funds that are distributed evenly to all 30 clubs, each one will see $50 million annually, or an additional $26.28 million each year over the $23.72 million they now see. That could give each club the ability to be competitive for a star-caliber free agent, and then some.
The following breaks down how the broadcast deals will look once completed
http://bizofbaseball.com/index.....Itemid=122
Kev,
I watch Nova and his 96 mph fastballs, curve that falls off the table and sharp slider and wonder why he gets hit so much. It is command, I believe. It is far too early to consider him a failure. Command is something that is achievable.
If you are gonna compare A-Rod’s “numbers” to Jeet’s, you need to use A-Rod’s numbers After he got off the Juice. A-Rod’s steroid numbers are Bogus, and can Not be compared to Any player that was playing straight-up.
Austinmac,
The problem with Nova’s command is that he has always had that problem, so it is not something that can just be fixed. He has upside though, especially with the new slider, and I think he would be fine trade bait.
His command/stuff is why I suggested the Yankees move him last offseason when he was at peak value.
Jeter and Arod are the proverbial apples and oranges. They were/are both performers in different ways.
If you are gonna compare A-Rod’s “numbers” to Jeet’s, you need to use A-Rod’s numbers After he got off the Juice. A-Rod’s steroid numbers are Bogus, and can Not be compared to Any player that was playing straight-up.
–
1. You don’t know that Jeter used or didn’t.
2. Who cares? A-rod compiled numbers against players that were using, and was better than all of them users or not.
3. hit .300 .401 .567 .968 for 6 season with 2 1+ OPS seasons after testing was implemented.
Guess innocent until Proven guilty holds NO sway around here.
CountryClub September 28th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I’m just not going to get upset about a team spending 180+ mil on payroll. If they cant get to the playoffs at that number, shame on them.
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It’s not about being upset about how much money the spend or don’t spend.. it’s about ownership crying welfare, as if their hands are tied. If their hands are tied because of the deals they already handed out, then say so. Say you messed up on a number of contracts and are going to ride it out until they’re expired. Own the mistake at least. Instead of saying ‘well if this new CBA wasn’t in place we’d still be going balls out, but you know MLB, they just want to sh*t on the Yankees.’
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Shame,
The new TV deals start in 2014
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Thanks JF.
Jeter and Arod are the proverbial apples and oranges. They were/are both performers in different ways.
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Well for a while they played the same position, which makes them both apples
A-rod was the superior defender & hitter. They were placed in different places in a lineup, but that has more to do with their ability which is specifically what I’m talking about. A-rod’s skill ceiling was higher and he reached it more often, so when he declined be it from age or what have you it is going to be felt more.
Yeah Jerkface is right. The command issue has dogged Nova before, and I question the idea that command is “achievable.” Far more guys never get around their stuff than do.
I believe last season CB said Nova’s problem is that his arm trails too much, creating movement but also command problems.
A-Rod’s steroid numbers are Bogus
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How bogus could they be if a large number of players were using them during that time.
I pray that Jeter and Arod don’t retire at the same time. I don’t want to live through the million articles/comments comparing the 2 when they’d be HOF eligible.
Shame – just on my way out and was perusing the posts. I’m running one of the pro bono legal clinics today (a shout out for helping out/giving back) so I don’t want to put up the response without being here to talk to you about it. I know we’ll meet up later in the day so I will see ya then!
(Actually had a nightmare last night that combined today’s clinic with a Yankee loss – I had clients waiting for me and they called to tell me that but I was sitting in the car listening to a Ys postseason playoff game and said I’d be there as soon as I could. Ys were leading 4-2 but I heard a lot of yelling and screaming in the clinic (you know how dreams can do those things – apparently the clients were not Ys fans) and when I went in, Ys were losing 10-4, and it was the 8th inning…
)
Shame Spencer September 28th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
blake September 28th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
“27.5 + 27.5 = $55 million to cover any luxury tax costs without effecting the bottom line.”
it’s a sham….they will treat the 2014 rule change as a salary cap and laugh all the way to the bank while pointing to the CBA.
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I never wanted to believe it early on… I really haven’t been much for railing against the ownership in the past, but this year’s off-season opened a lot of eyes.
I think JF brought it up before but I must have missed it because this news about the TV deal is pretty infuriating given all the ‘woe is me’ stuff we heard regarding the CBA out of the FO.
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You know… I really don’t care about the fact that they (the players and the owners) make lots of money, and I don’t much care how they share it out between them–that’s none of my business, as far as I’m concerned. (However, I do find the way that they fight over the money to be quite unseemly.) I like baseball, and as long as I get my money’s worth as a fan, and there aren’t frequent stoppages in play, then I’m happy. What I can’t abide is how the owners try to get the taxpayers to finance their ballparks to socialize their costs, even as they keep the profits.
blake September 28th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
with the new TV money from FOX, the reduced payroll, and the money we’ll get from revenue sharing the profit margins are going to be awesome in the future…..I’m so excited.
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Hal will be right there with you.
Look at it like this, Jeter’s had a resurgence this year, why can’t A-Rod do the same? So much of this game is about making adjustments.
Someone suggested in a post that Nova be used in the pen in the postseason. Remember this. If you insert Nova, you lose somebody else. Just make sure that you feel he can successfully be the long man out of the pen because there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room for 2 long men, unusually they use Phelps that way too.
I think we’ve seen the last of Nova for this yr. I don’t think he makes his next start and I don’t think he’s on the post season roster.
Look at it like this, Jeter’s had a resurgence this year, why can’t A-Rod do the same? So much of this game is about making adjustments.
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Yea and consider Jeter’s ‘resurgance’ is a .798 OPS, that just speaks to what I’m talking about when you consider their baseline talent. And we had to have 2 worse seasons before Jeter turned it around. Hopefully A-rod can pull the equivalent next season (or starting in the playoffs)
I’d go with Garcia or Nova over Lowe. eppley is the odd man out.
IMO, Phelps and Lowe are going to be on the post season roster with Lowe acting as the long man. I think they’re going to use Phelps as a 6th/7th inning guy.
“Look at it like this, Jeter’s had a resurgence this year, why can’t A-Rod do the same? ”
he could….but one thing to consider is that Jeter is and has been a lot healthier….
Arod was a talented player. Jeter is a talented player. Both made significant offensive contributions to their respective teams. The Yanks don’t win all the WS without Jeter. Yes, Arod’s performance has fallen off and yes it hurts the team. Do we feel it more because he started at loftier heights? Of that I am not so confident.
Gotta get some work done.
See ya tonight. Go Yankees! Let’s hang a 10 spot on the Jays.
Jerkface September 28th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I’d go with Garcia or Nova over Lowe. eppley is the odd man out.
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Eppley has had a better year than any of them. It seems to me that the last slot on the postseason pitching staff should go to either Joba or Nova.
Good to see A-Rod is being made the scapegoat for last night’s shocking performance in Toronto. There is no more deserving cause.
I’m a Yankee fan to the core but with the exception of a handful of games, notably the comebacks in Boston and Atlanta, I have not enjoyed watching this team play this year. Too many veteran players on a downward spiral, no up-and-coming youngsters, no one hitting for average, constant failure with RISP, inconsistent starting pitching, too many pie throwers in the pen.
I readily admit I have been spoilt by Yankee teams of the past but to be blunt, I’ll be glad when the season is over and my suffering is at an end.