Yogi and Joba being honored by Baseball Assistance Team
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 13, 2012 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
This year’s B.A.T. dinner will honor Yankees Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain will also be recognized as the winner of the organization’s Bart Giamatti Award, and for the fourth straight year, the Yankees as a whole will be recognized as the American League team that donated the most money to B.A.T. during spring fundraising. Here’s the announcement from B.A.T.
The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) will honor legendary Hall of Famer Yogi Berra at the 24th annual “Going to Bat for B.A.T. Fundraising Dinner,” which will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. The “Going to Bat for B.A.T. Fundraising Dinner” is the largest fundraising event for the Baseball Assistance Team, which is an organization dedicated to helping members of the Baseball Family who are in need.
New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana will receive the Big B.A.T./Frank Slocum Award, which goes to an individual who provides financial support and generosity to the B.A.T. organization. Additionally, New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain will be recognized with the Bart Giamatti Award, which goes to an individual in baseball who best exemplifies the compassion demonstrated by the late Commissioner. The New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks are the respective American League and National League recipients of the Bobby Murcer Award, which is presented to the team in both the A.L. and N.L. whose players commit the most amount of money to B.A.T. during the Spring Training Fundraising Tour. This is the first time the D-backs have won the award, while this is the fourth consecutive year that the Yankees have won.
At the “Going to Bat for B.A.T. Fundraising Dinner,” fans are given the opportunity to interact with Baseball Hall of Famers and former and current Major League Baseball players while raising money that goes toward assisting members of the Baseball Family who have fallen on hard times. The night’s festivities include a cocktail hour in which attendees have the opportunity to meet and receive autographs from baseball legends and Hall of Famers, and players are seated with guests at each table during the dinner. All proceeds from the evening go to the Baseball Assistance Team.
“The Baseball Assistance Team is proud to honor the legendary Yogi Berra whose legacy is one of baseball’s greatest treasures,” said B.A.T. President Gary Thorne. “Yogi has believed in B.A.T.’s mission from the very beginning. We are pleased to offer fans the opportunity to thank him for all he has given to the great game of baseball, while also having the opportunity to raise money to help others who need help and have nowhere else to turn.”
“B.A.T. has helped many members of the baseball family over the years, and that makes this honor really special for me,” said Yogi Berra. “I’m hoping to see a lot of old friends at the dinner, and if I can help encourage people to donate to this great cause, that’s a great thing too.”
Grammy Award-winning recording artist Chrisette Michele will perform the National Anthem prior to the dinner. In 2007, she released the critically-lauded album “I AM.” The album included the song “Be OK,” which led to her first Grammy Award, and also “Epiphany,” which debuted at #1 on Sound Scan. Chrisette’s fourth album will be released in early Spring 2013 and is simply titled, “BETTER.”
Associated Press photo
They could have had a Melky, Garnder , Ichiro OF with Grandy as trade bait
@keithlaw: First two. “@frongbak: @keithlaw If you are Angels GM do you try to trade Bourjous, Trumbo, Kendrys, or none of the above?”
Jerkface December 13th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
For a 3000 chase to be worth anything you have to be close to it. No one buys tickets to see the 2920 hit. Ichiro is most likely going to get 3000 hits in 2015 or the very end of 2014.
————-
Again, you’re thinking small time. 40,000 tickets is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. When I talk about marketing Ichiro I’m talking about millions of people in Japan who will be watching Yankee games and buying his Yankee jersey.
Again, you’re thinking small time. 40,000 tickets is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. When I talk about marketing Ichiro I’m talking about millions of people in Japan who will be watching Yankee games and buying his Yankee jersey.
–
That happens irregardless of 3000 hits. And even if you want to say it will be boosted by a 3000 chase, again he has to be close for it to be boosted.
They may as well have signed Darvish as he is more popular in Japan than ichiro right now. Think of the revenues!
“When I talk about marketing Ichiro I’m talking about millions of people in Japan who will be watching Yankee games and buying his Yankee jersey.”
If a Japanese person watches an MLB broadcast in Japan does this directly benefit the Yankees?
Not talking about merchandise, just broadcast rights
Not talking about merchandise, just broadcast rights
–
I assume it benefits YES. Though I’m pretty sure the Yankees are already getting most if not all of their games aired in Japan thanks to Kuroda.
Jerkface –
Apples and watermelons there – Ichiro’s contract is a pittance compared to the cost of signing Darvish.
And no, he doesn’t have to be close to boost the numbers for the Yankees. He just has to be in uniform. Remember the stories about how all of Taiwan would tune into Yankee games when Wang pitched – now they’ll have that sort of audience every time Ichiro suits up.
Kuroda pitches once a week – Ichiro plays every day.
Blake -
When Melky was busted for steroids Cashman was asked about him and said he wasn’t surprised because they viewed Melky as at best a good fourth outfielder or a below average starting outfielder – my guess is that was the nice way of saying “no way no how is that clown ever putting on pinstripes again”
Kuroda pitches once a week – Ichiro plays every day.
–
Yankees games are aired all the same.
“I assume it benefits YES.”
Interesting, I would have guessed that MLB retained world rights.
If YES really does have the rights for Yankee games anywhere, than not signing Darvish was really kind of dumb.
Yanks are fine in Japan – Matsui’s tenure assured that for years to come – - – -
“When Melky was busted for steroids Cashman was asked about him and said he wasn’t surprised because they viewed Melky as at best a good fourth outfielder or a below average starting outfielder – my guess is that was the nice way of saying “no way no how is that clown ever putting on pinstripes again””
Yea….we’ll see Cash
Actually as I’m reading more into it, MLB International controls the rights and the money is shared among teams. I wonder if that changed, all these articles are old. In which case, boo on Ichiro’s 3000 hits it doesn’t matter.
I don’t believe the advertising dollars from Japanese firms and companies is subject to equal distribution of mlb teams – it is how the Rangers pocketed extra coin this year – and it is possibly how Yanks can make extra coin – - – - -
The Yankees can only benefit from ticket sales, in stadium merchandise sales (out of stadium merch is shared), and advertising in the stadium itself
I was under the impression that advertising on the broadcasts – which can be blue screened/green screened in behind home plate can also go directly to the team – at least that is what I heard the Rangers did – - – -
Ichiro draws fans because like Jerkface, people just like Ichiro.
For 6-6.5 mil/year they get good defense, at least decent hitting, durability, speed, and the type of hitting they are lacking. It’s not optimal (I wanted Melky) but he isn’t breaking the bank.
I was under the impression that advertising on the broadcasts – which can be blue screened/green screened in behind home plate can also go directly to the team – at least that is what I heard the Rangers did – – – -
–
Yea thats where they can gain advertising, in the stadium itself on the digital screens behind home plate & in the outfield, like where the Yankees had Yomiuri and Komatsu.
I like Ichiro and am fine with him back….but the issue is that he was close to a 4th outfielder for almost 2 full seasons before his time with the Yanks…..
“That happens irregardless of 3000 hits.”
Yellow card.
Sapporo revenue counts.
Digital advertising was big for the Rangers – it was almost like airing a commercial during their games – Yanks should hopefully benefit as they did with Matsui (though Matsui was huge) – - – -
Ok so how much revenue did that digital advertising bring in to the Rangers coffers?
I enjoy watching Ichiro and under normal circumstances two years would be fine. Now, it is a limitation having to heavily rely on a 41 year old in 2014. They can no longer “afford” mistakes.
amend my previous question. How much additional “Japanese revenue” did that digital advertising bring in?
Tar December 13th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
amend my previous question. How much additional “Japanese revenue” did that digital advertising bring in?
—————
You’ll have to ask Lon Trost or Randy Levine but my guess would be in the neighborhood of “a lot”
Irregardless or irrespective
You’ll have to ask Lon Trost or Randy Levine but my guess would be in the neighborhood of “a lot”
–
Too bad the additional Japanese revenue didnt allow them to sign josh Hamilton
Yu Darvish is a different case, because he also brought in a lot of Iranian revenue with all those digital ads in Farsi.
But any revenue for japanese players is, of course, better than no revenue from less popular players. So I can understand that. Still the Yankees talking about Ichiro & 3000 hits as a reason to sign him for 2 years smells like “We know we’re not going to be very good so we’re going to squeeze all the extra revenue we can out of 2014″
Jerkface December 13th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
You’ll have to ask Lon Trost or Randy Levine but my guess would be in the neighborhood of “a lot”
–
————
I think you’re underestimating the costs much like you overestimate the impact of ticket holders on team revenues.
Jerkface December 13th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
But any revenue for japanese players is, of course, better than no revenue from less popular players. So I can understand that. Still the Yankees talking about Ichiro & 3000 hits as a reason to sign him for 2 years smells like “We know we’re not going to be very good so we’re going to squeeze all the extra revenue we can out of 2014?
————
I don’t think that’s the plan but I do think there is that aspect to it. They were counting on getting additional revenue from Alex chasing Bonds and being the guy who was going to make the record clean again – that’s out the window. They saw, firsthand, the buzz that surrounded Jeter chasing 3,000 and probably figured that they can multiply that effect by millions by having Ichiro draw the Japanese and Japanese American communities plus Yankee fans.
and I’m sure that their partners at Steiner Sports are quite happy with this arrangement as well.
hahahahaha Ryan Dempster gets 2 years $13/year from Boston – oh lord that’s so awful.
I think you’re underestimating the costs much like you overestimate the impact of ticket holders on team revenues.
–
The rights for MLB International are like around 100 million for the entire shebang. The Rangers are not getting half or a quarter of what the MLB makes off the games for advertising. There has to be some overestimation there on your part.
How much do you think they are making?
The Yankees should be selling ad space on their digital whatsits for when Ichiro is at the plate, and then ad space to japanese companies for behind where ever ichiro is going to sit in the outfield. That gives them the most coverage to sell to companies as any replays are going to feature whatever Ichiro does.
Nick,
You are being farsi-cal.
We’ll know there’s some seriously fishy 2014 business going on if they sign Johnny Damon for two years to chase his 3,000th hit after they sign Ichiro.
“The Yankees should be selling ad space on their digital whatsits for when Ichiro is at the plate, and then ad space to japanese companies for behind where ever ichiro is going to sit in the outfield.”
But why stop at Japan.
Think of the possibilities Venezuelan ads for Montero, Dominican ads for Cano, Centaur ads for Alex oops.
Even if Ichiro does not bring direct revenue, there is value in the bolstering the Yankees brand in Japan when it is inevitably going to take a hit in the US because of Hal’s spendthrift ways.
I’m not sure how much direct revenue the chase for 3,000 hits brings. As Jerkface correctly points out, all merchandise sales are shared except those sold within the stadium.
But why stop at Japan.
–
Well I think the idea is that Japanese companies will pay more than American companies to reach exclusively japanese audiences. I don’t know if South American or Alpha Centaurian companies will do the same.
@YankeeSource: The Fighters are strongly considering using Shohei Otani as an IF rather than as a pitcher. Possibly at SS.
I guess The Fighters don’t buy “pitching holds the keys to the kingdom” theory.
http://es.pn/VD5Sd4
This is an interesting article about the Dodgers finances.
Note: the writer says that the dodgers tv deal is 2nd highest (yanks are number 1)
The guy throws 100 mph and they are going to put him at SS? wtf?
Cool article, sheds some light on the Dodger’s bankruptcy dealing. Apparently MLB can smack them down on the settlement capping their TV revenue at 84 and actually make most if not all of their TV deal applicable to the revenue sharing process. That means the hold up is probably both in: A. negotiating the price & B. the dodgers trying to work the deal to their advantage to keep as much money as possible hidden
Note: the writer says that the dodgers tv deal is 2nd highest (yanks are number 1)
–
The Dodgers rumored deal is for less money overall but also for less years. I think its more money per year total.
Finally some Dodgers justice
Though if they simply negotiated for the team to get 84 million and the dodgers to get a huge equity stake they’d be able to skirt the rules :<
@LoHudYankees
No!!! Hamilton signing finally hits home. RT @craigcalcaterra: LoL http://www.latimes.com/sports/.....vrit=53285 …
–
The wars finally come to your doorstep, Chad
@Ken_Rosenthal: Rival exec on #Rangers: “They could do Swisher, Pierzynski and LaRoche. That is a lot of offense.”
Interesting read. Maybe the Dodgers aren’t such a lock to give $200M to Cano after all.
Rangers will also be paying out more revenue sharing monies than they bargained for. That’s a shame.
Not to change the subject, but can someone explain to me how Ramiro Pena got a major league contract from the Braves? Did he get Frank Wren drunk?
Blake -
LaRoche makes no sense for them, they already have a lefty 1b.
LaRoche makes no sense for them, they already have a lefty 1b.
–
They can move Moreland to RF or just… forget about him because he is Mitch Moreland
Or DH of course
Hell I would take him as a throw in as part of a Granderson deal. Murphy, Olt, Moreland for Granderson – works for me
Jerkface -
They could just move Nelson Cruz to DH and go with an OF of Martin, Granderson and Gentry
Or they move Kinsler to the OF to put Profar at 2b
Yea they have options, Mitch Moreland isn’t stopping them. I’d take that trade in a second.
Jerkface,
Lets be realistic. What are the chances that trout repeats last years performance? You’ve been pretty good with forecasting players tendencies and trends.
Beats me, Trouts great. I think he could easily put up another .900 OPS season, or even better.
Dear Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, and Brian Cashman,
I have to say, as a lifelong Yankee fan, that I am frustrated, perplexed, and utterly disgusted by the direction you have chosen to take this team. The thing that long separated the Yankees from the rest of Major League Baseball was their willingness to spend in all areas of baseball operations to ensure a top quality product on the field. From premier scouting and front office operations in guys like Gene Michael to the perfect clubhouse manager in Joe Torre, the Yankees were always the team that gave back to the fans by spending what they felt was necessary to ensure that the entertainment we witnessed as fans matched the expenditure of the our hard-earned money.
However, this offseason, you have chosen to ignore the fans and their hunger for a top quality product on the field. You have also turned your backs on loyal homegrown Yankees such as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte, who have poured blood, sweat, and tears into many a season as your employees, playing their hardest, often through injury, in pursuit of a World Series title. You have turned your backs on them by failing to surround them with a competitive team, by failing to provide them with offensive upgrades, a strong starting catcher, and most of all– youth to give them one last hope of a championship. Those remaining Core 3, along with guys like Ichiro and Kuroda, know their time is running out. They are fierce competitors who yearn for one last ring, and yet you have failed them. You have failed the fans. The same fans who pay $35 for parking, $11 for a beer, and $60 for a ticket, all to see the world-famous New York Yankees pursue their annual quest for a World Championship.
If I were a season ticket holder, you would see the last of me. As a fan who cannot afford season tickets, I will not attend a single game nor watch your precious YES Network, as you have isolated myself and many fans with your several non-committment to putting the best product on the field. Not only does this apply to your construction of your 25-man roster, but also your severe neglect of your scouting department, minor leagues, and international signings.
I can only pray that you put the team up for sale and that an owner who is capable of blending all critical aspects of running a baseball team purchases the once-mighty Yankees. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d hope for the Steinbrenners to sell the Yankees. For all of his faults, and there were many, George Steinbrenner loved this team and was committed to putting a quality product on the field night in and night out. His decision-making was rash and questionnable at times, but no one questionned his desire or committment. However, the apple DOES fall far from the tree.
Hal, either show a committment to building this team in a way that expresses a desire to retain and grow your fanbase or announce that the team is up for sale. Do this, before you lose your dedicated fanbase, as you continue your penny-pinching ways.
montero could’ve been the center of a trade piece for giancarlo
http://bleacherreport.com/arti…..fit/page/5
more I read more I dislike all the yankees front office. if pettite, mo, jeter weren’t on the nyy I dunno if I’d even care 1%.
now reading the coney post above
The team is not a juggernaut, it’s not how many of us wanted it, but it is a competitive team.
coney1 December 14th, 2012 at 12:30 am
Dear Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, and Brian Cashman,
“you have isolated myself and many fans with your several non-committment to putting the best product on the field. Not only does this apply to your construction of your 25-man roster, but also your severe neglect of your scouting department, minor leagues, and international signings.”
bravo — I am so angry right now.. I hole a little hope that something will happen from not until spring training, but the last few years we have gotten to know these lame steinbrenner kids. I can’t express the anger and frustration I have towards them at all.. its not about spending money, its about the final result and having this hideous team that was rescued by pitching for the past few years make them win enough to hide the flaws from the front office on down.. it is disgraceful. George would be ashamed of these idiots. They don’t even like baseball or go to games and they own the yankees. baffled !!
thanks for sharing that coney1.
Watching the yankees is more boring than watching the pirates. The dullest offense in history.
They were so overmatched its embarrassing to say I am a yankee fan.. they watch videos trying to find teh pitchers flaw and pattern to cheat a HR.. not get on base, not put a good swing on it.. but to hit a HR.. it’s all they want to do.
we signed Kevin bad-back Youkilis LOL PALM2FACE! I mean look at our team. you couldn’t invent it and to have the steinbrenners acting the way they are? holy cow this is opposite land.
jacksquat December 14th, 2012 at 12:47 am
The team is not a juggernaut, it’s not how many of us wanted it, but it is a competitive team.
—
the offense is not competitive. they were barely a .500 offense last year and this year they’ll be more like a .400. how many games did we see something similar to first inning jeter gets on base, someone HR’s and then dead until 8th or 9th inning that a few walks and a past ball got us the win. no competitive at all. embarrassing.
Absolutely Penny!
There is nothing about this team to get excited about. Andy Pettitte is 40, Mariano Rivera is 43, Jeter is 39 and coming off a major leg injury, A-Rod is 38 and may never play again, Kuroda is 37, Ichiro 39 with two consecutive bad years, Youkilis has a bad back, Pineda may not pitch until at least July, no starting catcher, no RF, no DH. What is there to like about this team? CC Sabathia?
It really is NOT fair to judge the yankees on how much the team costs/salaries . It not our fault we have all these bad contracts with overpaid under performers. I know Cashman and crew like to run it our face, we W 95 games had more HR then anybody.. BIG DEAL! They are so dull and boring nobody was showing up for post season yankee game. Unheard of. all of our frustrations are falling on deaf ears, HAL has to go before we ever get our yankees back.
Didn’t your dad say they’re working on a secret trade that will fix the offseason? We can only hope.
I love how people are buying the excuse that Arod stunk because of his hip.. the guy has been average at best since 2010 but its his hip. LOL. Arod himself believes it otherwise he’d probably cry his way to the asylum. Headcase arod is never gonna be a better than avg player again! Unless they unban PEDs!
Jerkface December 14th, 2012 at 1:06 am
Didn’t your dad say they’re working on a secret trade that will fix the offseason? We can only hope.
my dad? wtf are you talking about?
Agreed. I get sick of reporters saying how the Yankees should be able to win on $189MM and the Yankees still spend more than anybody, blah, blah, blah. What they fail to mention is approximately $55MM of that $189 will go to two players (Tex and A-Rod) who have either severly underperformed or are no longer capable of playing at a high level or even at all (possibly in A-Rod’s case).
my dad? wtf are you talking about?
–
P isn’t short for Penny? I think the pseudonym generator you programmed did a poor job otherwise.
dont get what you are saying. also dont care.
Greetings all ! Off for some duck hunting this weekend. Just a few thoughts……….
No one really cares about this stuff as it is just a form of luxury entertainment, people should pay more attention to the many ‘real’ problems in the country (jobs, homelessness, the hungry, the price of fuel / oil, victims who still suffer from ‘Sandy’, our national debt etc.
The Yankees have limitations set by ownership and everyone will have to share in the mediocrity that will follow, fans, players, front office employees, vendors, janitors etc.
Many other teams are improving including several in the AL East. We are essentially standing still with an ‘OLD’ team that has no immediate help in its minor league system, it continues to get even ‘OLDER’ with no infusion of youth. There won’t be another ring this year or in the immediate future.
Get used to it.
The Yanks are stupid to give Ichiro, a 39-year old coming off his two worst seasons, two years when he’s not collecting his 3000th hit in the second year of the contract because he will not hit well enough – 394 hits to be exact (an average of 197 hits a season) – to reach hit #3000. Even if he collected as many as 184 hits in 2013 he’d still need to collect 200 in 2014 to reach 3000 hits before contract’s end. Assuming he collects 170 hits a season 2013-14, he would have only 2946 hits through 2014 and the Yanks would have to give him another year if they want him to get 3000 hits as a Yankee. The Yanks basically paid Ichiro to get only CLOSER to 3000 hits.
He’s too old to give two years to and so what if he signed a two-year contract with Boston or Philadelphia? Boston is not winning the 2013 and/or 2014 World Series after winning 69 games last season, not with signing Dempster, Victorino, Napoli, and Ross who will all be contractual disasters and Philadelphia is not winning the 2013 and/or 2014 World Series after finishing .500 last season.
Once again the Yanks bid against themselves like they did with Pettitte who is NOT worth $2M more than Mariano Rivera and Youkilis who is NOT worth twice as much as Mark Reynolds. They should’ve offered Ichiro a year and $6M take it or leave it and if he’s so good he should have no problem getting another one-year contract after it.
And lemme get this straight: if the Yanks give Ichiro the reported two years $12-13M to Ichiro, they couldn’t give four-time Gold Glove catcher Martin two years $16M the Pirates gave him? Why didn’t they just sign Martin for two years $16M then tell Ichiro and Youkilis a year and $6M each take it or leave it? If both reject those offers, you sign Hannahan and Chavez (when he was still a free agent) for a year and $3M each, platoon them at 3B (Chavez backs up at 1B) and offer Hairston another ringless player like Ichiro a year and $6M and platoon him.
He’d need to collect 210 hits in 2014 if he hit 184 in 2013 to reach 3000 hits in 2014.
Good Morning LoHud faithful.
Are we there yet ?
Most of the action this year seems to be out on the West coast.
With the possible exception of the Jays.
Maybe they should upgrade their name to the Toronto Condors ?
They certainly upgraded their team.
Bigtime.
Is this your O ?
Jeter
Ichiro/Hairston
Cano
Tex
Puke
Grandy
Ibanez
Cervelli
GGBG
Dinger ouput:
Jeter- 15
Ichiro-10
Cano-30
Tex-35
Grandy-40
Puke- ?
GGBG-5
Cervelli-5
Ibanez-20
BA:
Jeter- .300
Ichiro- .285 +
Cano- .300 +
Tex- .230 +
Puke- .250 +
GGBG- .285 +
Cervelli- .250 +
Ibanez ?
Grandy- .230 +
Great SP, Pen, and D.
Middle of the pack O.
Good enough ???
MTU- I hope that is not the O on opening day.
Not good enough, not even a 90 win team at this point.
The Yankees currently are running the risk of being the 2012 Phillies….
Good morning -
MTU -
I think generally you’re being generous on HRs and stingy on BA.
I think they could be good enough. It’s not as strong as we’re used to seeing, but even some of the strongest O’s the Yankees have had didn’t get to much less win the WS (2004, 2006, 2007).
yankee21 -
I think this is it, with the exception of catcher – I think it still is a slash: Cervelli/Stewart/Romine/???? .
I am a little annoyed that their biggest need was a RF, and they did not fill it, not really. I liked Martin, and they’ll miss his HR production (some of which came at opportune times), but any of those three catching possibilities can better his BA, no? And Cervelli, while certainly not a great hitter, has proved to be able to be a good situational hitter at times. So there’s that.
I am also really ticked that ARod needs surgery on the other hip. This is the real monkey wrench/fly in the ointment. If ARod was healthy, they wouldn’t have needed to spend so many resources (time and money) on finding a replacement who has to be treated as a permanent replacement but who could be temporary (so you can’t use traditional back-ups). And yet, they let Swisher go, and they seem perfectly fine with a temporary solution out there. I just don’t know what they do if Gardner gets hurt again. They’re stretched pretty thin in the OF.
My outlook on the Yankees sometimes fluctuates depending on the day I’m having. I’m not having a good day already.
So, my natural optimism is waning a little. 
I agree with Doreen.
Barring that much hoped for big trade that’s your OD lineup more or less.
Good morning-
From NY Post this morning:
Despite an offseason in which the Yankees lost more than they have gained, CC Sabathia declared yesterday he believes his team can certainly still contend.
“I do. Obviously we won 95 games and won the division last year. We have a lot of the same guys coming back,” the Yankees ace said.
“Obviously we’re gonna miss [Russell Martin]. But we had so many guys go down last year and had guys step up. … We have the guys in the organization to step up and the guys in the clubhouse to first win the division, then try to win another championship.”
“[The offseason’s] not over yet. But you’ve always got to look out for the Yankees having a move up their sleeve,” Sabathia said. “But if not, we have the guys.”
———————
If Sabathiia says so, I feel better!
As for Cashman having a move up his sleeve I refer to Bullwinkle when telling Rocky-”Hey Rocky watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat [lion comes out]-Oops wrong hat.”
Some of it looks like pretty weak sauce.
And there is a ton of injury risk built in.
And JFTR I didn’t ‘t want Hamilton. He’s an injury risk (well, really, who isn’t?) so it doesn’t make sense in this Yankees environment (they already have a risk in Gardner).
But, maybe I lack imagination, but I also don’t see a target for them via trade, either. Not one that wouldn’t weaken them some other way.
On a good day, I’m able to see clearly that there is time to complete the roster. Today, I just don’t see how this isn’t what they’re going to battle with, and you have to hope guys stay healthy and productive. I don’t think anyone has to over-perform, but they really cannot underperform. There’s very little margin for “error” in this roster construction right now.
I think Cashman will at least get a catcher…..either via trade or by signing AJP…..whether they’ll get the big bat they need in the OF though Im not sure…..
Doreen-
“But, maybe I lack imagination, but I also don’t see a target for them via trade, either. Not one that wouldn’t weaken them some other way.”
No offense but perhaps you do ?
And as far as weakening them some other way I guess it depends on how much you believe the Yankees have spare pieces to trade.
I believe they have more than enough redundancy in certain areas to afford to trade some of their people w/o weakening themselves, or compromising the future.
Others don’t.
I Like what CC has to say – the Yankees certainly have a group of professionals who know how to pull together and win (they overcame a lot of obstacles last season), guys who do know how to step up. Plus it would really stink if your Ace came out and said, well, the season is going to be a big challenge for us.
I’d like to see them give Dickerson a real shot at RF. If they sign AJP (not a move I’m particularly fond of, but I can live with anything for one year), they don’t really need a “big” bat in RF. Hey, at any rate, I’d rather have a guy who can hit doubles and singles with RISP at around a .285 BA than a guy who’ll hit 20 solo HRs a year hitting .240 or so.
If they sign AJP and get a good platoon partner for Ichiro then they’ll be competitive in 2013….they’ll be in the mix for a playoff spot and they’ll stay afloat barring major injuries…..
But the question is after 2013….then what?
No offense taken, MTU.
I’m not good at trades. And I can’t imagine what’s actually available.
Blake-
I’m not comfortable with the way the Yankees appear to see this coming season on the O side of the ball.
There is a ton of injury risk built in, and I think they might be projecting things from certain guys who will not live up to their expectations.
2014 is a real mystery.
MTU,
I agree….a lot of risk…both injury risk and age related decline risk.
Actually, looking on the bright side of life this morning-the Yankees just need to win their division to guarantee a playoff spot, or have a good enough record to get a wild card.
Can the Jays make up 20+ games?
Will the Orioles excel again in winning late in the game or in extra innings
The Rays have lost offense and two very good pitchers
The RS still have question marks.
The Angels even have question marks especially in their starting rotation and their closer.
blake -
Then what? I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.
And another thing to keep in mind is that our competition, especially in the AL East, has not exactly been standing still.
“Doreen says:
December 14, 2012 at 7:43 am
blake -
Then what? I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.”
Yea….but I certainly hope the Yanks have a plan other than wait and see what happens
Yankee Trader-
Thanks for that!
There isn’t any way for 2014 to play out well. Far too many holes to fill and be competitive, particularly without money. Even if they had money, not that many decent players are available.
I like to watch young players, but I foresee ten or more on the 25 player roster.
The 2013 team has to be one of the oldest in MLB history. Wouldn’t you think?
Here is the picture for 2014
Cano is unsigned
Granderson is unsigned
Hughes is unsigned
Kuroda is unsigned
Pettite is unsigned
Rivera is unsigned
Youk is unsigned
Jeter will be 40
Ichiro will be 40
Arod will be who knows what
And they are gonna slash payroll by like 40 million…..
I understand its 2 years away…..but these problems aren’t ones you can just wake up in dec 2013 and fix…..they should already have a plan in place…..hopefully they do
Dickerson earned the right at a shot in the outfield. He’s another lefty, but had a good year facing lefties this past season.
I still think that the Yankees have the possibility to add a good player thru trade. They would need to add another arm to do it I believe,
There are a few teams out there that are looking for a centerfielder-Phillies for example. All teams will want pitching.
One of Hughes, Nova or Phelps plus Gardner maybe lands a catcher or a young corner outfielder?
Could Granderson be of interest to the Phillies for Carlos Ruiz with other pieces thrown in??
Still have hope that the Yankees aren’t done adding something more than a platoon player!
you left off mo, he’ll be 44
sign cano and buy everyone else on the list a nice gold watch and move on…
Wouldn’t make more sense to trade some of our guys now rather than just waiting for them to walk thru FA getting only a draft pick in return ?
Perhaps we should sacrifice this season too for the sake of the future ?
Dickerson won’t make the team as he would be the fourth lefy hander . Too bad as he is a pretty good player.
blake -
Well, I’d think to some extent they have some kind of plan, but I’m sure they also need to see how things play out this season to determine what kind of correction they’ll need to make.
MTU,
I agree they should start working on the future by trading those who won’t return. Grandy, for certain.
so the yankees have like 4 players who are gonna eat up $100M of the 2014 budget, leaving $80M for the rest of the team.
the oakland a’s whole team cost less than $80M and they won their division over the huge spending angels and rangers.
just sayin…
Mac-
But it’s the Yankees and they don’t do that.
Doreen,
What kind of plan can they possibly have with the facts Blake set out?
Many of us suggested Cespedes and the like last year foreseeing this problem. They need good players at reasonable prices for 2014. Do they really have any?
Dickerson might even have to go when Ichiro and Youkilis are added to the 40 man.
Who fills the DH role on most days? Nunez and Ibanez if he’s back?
MTU,
But, it is the Yankees and they don’t act like they are now. Or do they?
Someone touted Abe Almonte the other day. I would like to see him hitting over .225 in the winter league. The winter league Yankee player stats are not particularly encouraging overall.
Mac-
Things are different right now.
blake -
As much as so many here like to deride the Yankees as clueless, I’d bet they are aware of who the are and are not going to have next season and beyond.
Jeter and Cano are the only guys on that list that I think they would care about, but we’ll see. Maybe (maybe) Hughes, depending on the type of year he has this year.
So we’re seeing rebuild mode, like it or not. And this is where that budget thing comes in. It’s forcing some tough decisions about who you are willing to go into the future with. Both from within and from outside (trades, FA signings). Might could work out to be better starting from a clean-ish slate.
Or maybe the team does so poorly in 2013 that the fans would very much embrace a team of unknowns from AAA/AA.
“so the yankees have like 4 players who are gonna eat up $100M of the 2014 budget, leaving $80M for the rest of the team.
the oakland a’s whole team cost less than $80M and they won their division over the huge spending angels and rangers.”
Two issues….1) it’s actually more than 100 if they sign Cano 2) the As have positioned themselves to run on 80 million and be competitive…. Whereas its unclear if the Yanks can
austinmac -
Doesn’t have to be a plan that the fans particularly like.
Doreen-
That argument, that they know who they are, falls a little flat because
of this OS.
They knew, or at least I hope they knew, that their O needed improvement and they have not only not improved some would say they have regressed.
We can blame it on anything we wish but the logic still applies IMO.
Granderson-There are too many question marks for another teams GM to give up much for him. All of his 5 tools were in decline last year, except for the homers, many of which were hit in YS.
He might bring more if he gets off to a good start early in the season.
Doreen–
I hope they fast track some of the offensive players in A and AA and give them a chance for a job.
The Yankess are trying to walk a tightrope between the past and the future.
Trying to remain competitive while at the same time building for the future.
I’m not certain they are succeeding at either.
And I’m not sure there is a net underneath them.
We all hope that they know exactly what they doing.
Time will tell.
“Two issues….1) it’s actually more than 100 if they sign Cano 2) the As have positioned themselves to run on 80 million and be competitive…. Whereas its unclear if the Yanks can”
———————————————
…yes but you’ve already got 1b, dh and your ace covered…
Doreen,
Fair enough . It really is good to have you posting again BTW
There’s no question that the Yankees are in transition. Sadly there aren’t many good free agent answers to really solve future needs, and we can point to the rise of extensions for that. It is a real interesting market adaption.
The only way we build for the future right now is through the farm, and trades. Most of the farm guys are a ways off, and therefore, don’t have much trade value. And the guy who has the most trade value, Robbie Cano, we refuse to trade.
It’ll be a period of transition for a few years, and in that they just need to stay relatively competitive and in the game.
MTU-
So far the team did regress on offense based on homers and RBI’s. If there are no further additions there will have to be improvements from every offensive player except Jeter and even then can he put up another great offensive year.
Doreen,
It should be a plan to field a good team, don’t you think? My question is, how can they if they wait until next off- season to act?
It is not acceptable to me, a fan, for the the wealthiest team to run out a team with no chance simply for more profit. I much preferred the George attitude that he owed the fans to do his best to field a good team.
That same attitude seems to pervade many teams now, but not ours. It is disappointing.
I’m definitely looking forward to 2015 though because I know we can spend again w/o onerous penalties.
And we should know quite a bit more about what our Farm will be able to produce.
The next 2 years. Not so much.
Doreen,
It is good to have you posting again.
MTU, spend on who? is the question. I haven’t seen the 2015 list..but 2014 is far from inspiring.
The only thing that ticks me off is letting Martin walk (and losing that draft pick chance, too), and also not signing David Ross. Hopefully Romine shows he can start, or this is just silly.
MTU,
The jury is very much out on spending in 2015 and 2016 as there is more money to save and revenue share. It likely depends on whether income declines.
It is good to have opposing views presented especially when they are expressed cogently and politely.
Have to go. Doreen, it’s nice to have you posting again.
I’m hoping that one day soon, I turn on the TV, or check MLBTR’s, or see on the LoHud blog, that Brian Cashman has “pulled a rabbit out of his hat,” and added a player that we all can all feel excited about.
Have a great day everone.
Until later.
Mac-
I’m hoping the new owners will be spenders.
Kev-
I believe the 2015 class will be very strong. I’d guess the Yankees are looking ahead.
blake -
Thanks.
MTU -
I meant that I think the Yankees know the players on blake’s list, not that they knew who they (the Yankees) are. I think they are quite possibly redefining that. I like to hold out hope that this could end up good. But honestly, personally, I’m having a tough time balancing a purely academic view of getting the finances to where they are comfortable (not a bad thing), and that actuality making my NY Yankees seem like they want to pack it up and go home (not the players, mind you, but the ownership).
It really is odd that at a time when every other team (or many other teams) are embracing the spending they used to chastise the Yankees for, the Yankees themselves are going “on the cheap.”
I get caught up though, as always, in the “we don’t have ALL the facts” and can only debate based on what’s out there.
And I can’t really decide if they’re actually getting things set up for a sale. How do you sell a team that has one current star (Cano) and one old-timey star (Jeter)? How do you get the best price for a team that might see attendance dropping?
But if they do sell, I hope the new owners change the luxury box situation. It was conceived in a time of extreme “throw money all over the place” attitude (good economy), but is really not good in the current economic atmosphere. They can do better.
For example, unless they lock him up, Cargo will be a FA after 2014.
Can the Rox afford him ?
I have to run – but, austimac, the plan could be to field a “good enough” team – a willingness to tread water while they rebuild/retool/reorganize/re-whatever.
I’m not loving it. But I have always had the attitude that life is a series of cycles and you sometimes have to struggle through the tough ones. I figure this has to be applicable to my baseball team, too.
Everyone would rather win all the time.
2 years from now we should know if the next wave of Yankee prospects are worth anyhting.
At least with some of them.
Some of our other high-cieling arms will be knocking on the door.
And we will have money to spend again.
“…yes but you’ve already got 1b, dh and your ace covered…”
But at the moment only Sabarhia is producing anywhere close to what they should given their salaries…..the 27.5 million for the DH could be totally sunk cost by 2014
There are some interesting free agent for 2015 ….three big time pitchers (who probably will all be extended and not reach free agency)z
…..then the guy they have to get ….andrus
“Then what? I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.”
doreen-
i’m going to do what i did last time the yankees fell off the fiscal cliff.
that would be when the yankees went from 99 wins in 1964 to 77 wins in 1965.
now i was 15 then and the yankees had only missed the world series twice in my life up to that point so yeah i had high expectations.
i was kept busy by high school baseball and football and girls which football was much better for by the way.
but the yankees got even worse with 70 wins in 1966, and 72 wins in 1967.
mantle was literally on his last legs. ( hard to believe but he walked over 100 times in each of his last two decline years ).
so how did i cope?
simple. in 1968 sold my sting ray. bought a VW bus , headed for california to emerge in 1974 back in the east coast just in time to see the yankees regrouping for 1976.
i’m still trying to remember what happened during those years of sunset strip, baja, big sur, haight ashbury,yosemite, etc
they were the lost years
even the fbi was trying to find me to bring me back.
people thought i was a draft dodger. nope, i wasn’t coming back until the yankees did.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1.....hotostream
we’ll see what i do this time
@JonHeymanCBS: #yankees have deal with ichiro. 2 yrs, likely $13M
Randy-
“i was kept busy by high school baseball and football and girls which football was much better for by the way.”
Interesting factoid.
That was a great post by the way.
Really enjoyed it.
Loved the photo.
@JonHeymanCBS: Ichiro turned down 2 offers for more $ before agreeing to #tanks deal for $13.
So I guess we are the Tanks now
Blake-
Looks like Levine has his marketing angle covered for the next 2.
@JonHeymanCBS: #yanks actually get a bargain on ichiro at $13M. Don’t forget, jonny gomes, not a hall of famer, got $10M also over 2.
They should have signed Melky…..
Melky, Gardner, Ichiro would have been a cheap and awesome defensive outfield …..and they could have traded Granderson for other pieces.
The Melky deal is the bargain of the offseason so far
I know the two contracts may not end well…..but boy will Albert and Hammy be fun short term
Randy-
When I headed West I did it in somewhat more style.
Bought me one of the very first Mazda RX 7′s in light turquoise metallic. Complete with sunroof and 150 lb dog, and headed out.
Put NYC in my rear view mirror.
Never have looked back much since.
@JonHeymanCBS: #yanks considered a 1-yr deal at much higher rate than $6.5 bec they’re concerned about 2014 tax threshhold of $189M
blake December 14th, 2012 at 8:51 am
The Melky deal is the bargain of the offseason so far
————————————
Unless it turns out that he is simply not that great without PEDs. Personally I think he will be an above average outfielder, but not the crazy machine he was in SF before getting busted. So I generally agree – look at Braun – if you believe he is now clean, you can see he is still a quality player without the drug-induced achievements.
New one —->
Blake is obsessed with Melky. Boy, if bombs this year Blake won’t know where to hide.
“Bought me one of the very first Mazda RX 7?s in light turquoise metallic. Complete with sunroof and 150 lb dog, and headed out.”
mtu-
what year was that?
was it a down yankee year?
if so we may be on to something
Tackelberry says:
December 14, 2012 at 9:08 am
Blake is obsessed with Melky. Boy, if bombs this year Blake won’t know where to hide.
If he does then so what…..it wasn’t a big investment t….but I think he will be pretty good…,a lot better than folks think
Randy-
1980.
Sorry I took so long to respond. Was on the other thread.