Future uncertain for Hughes and Chamberlain
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 15, 2013 
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As always, good stuff in today’s Times from our friend Tyler Kepner. He took a look at two of the very few Yankees first-round draft picks who have made an impact at the big league level in the past decade and a half. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that they got to the big leagues, but their future in pinstripes is uncertain at best.
(Phil) Hughes and a 2006 first-rounder, Joba Chamberlain, are both eligible for free agency after the season.If the Yankees re-sign (Robinson) Cano, who is represented by Scott Boras, his new salary will take a huge chunk from their payroll. How much would be left for Hughes and Chamberlain?
To use Kepner’s term, the Yankees have generally gone “boom-or-bust” in the first round, and they’ve busted quite a few times. In the six years since taking Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy in 2006, the Yankees first-rounders have been Andrew Brackman (derailed by injuries and lack of command), Gerrit Cole (who refused to sign and is now an elite prospect with the Pirates), Slade Heathcott (compensation for Cole, now one of the top prospects in the system), Cito Culver (shortstop who’s shown no bat in the low minors), Dante Bichette Jr. (supplemental rounder coming off a massively disappointing season), and Ty Hensley (talented high school pitcher a long, long way from the big leagues).
Hughes and Chamberlain come with mixed reviews, largely because of massive expectations that one or both would develop into an ace. Both have had injury problems, Chamberlain’s back-and-forth career is well documented, and Hughes has been an all-star but has also lacked consistency. Still in their 20s, both are young enough to play for another decade, but their futures are unclear.
What’s certain is that, for at least one more year, the Yankees need them.
Joe Girardi on Hughes: “I think it’s just to build off what he did. More consistency. Deeper into games. Can you log a few more innings for your club? Have the changeup continue to develop. At times it was really good last year, but try to get it to where it’s really good every day. Sometimes you’re not going to have your second pitch, and you’d like to have your third pitch when you don’t. But that’s the natural progression.”
Joe Girardi on Chamberlain: “You want depth in your bullpen, and I think it’s important. In what I saw last year, that it seemed that each week that went by, it seemed he got more consistent in his stuff. We’re going to need that. A lot of times, we’ve had three guys who can kinda knock down the seventh, eighth, and ninth. And he’s important. He’s an important role for us. Anytime a guy can knock down a whole inning, it gives you more opportunities to set up earlier in the game if you need it.”
Associated Press photos
I think that both Hughes and Chamberlain are going to have very big years this year
Joel Sherman ?@Joelsherman1
Column http://bit.ly/VV355D That 6 pitching coaches from #Yankees org watched Pineda play catch test says more than org’s tempered words
I hope you are right. Hughes can step into Pettitte’s salary range and Joba can get up to the $ 3-4 M range. The big $aving$ in pitching cost will come from the replacements for Kuroda and Pettitte in the rotation and/or @ closer.
If Joba puts it all together he definitely has a shot at closing in 2014.
I’m hoping for a 2014 rotation of CC, Hughes, Pineda, Nova and Banuelos.
johnsickels ?@MinorLeagueBall
Prospect Retro: Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees…did you know he struggled in rookie ball? Made 56 errors in Low-A? http://sbn.to/XSmnF2
“I’m hoping for a 2014 rotation of CC, Hughes, Pineda, Nova and Banuelos.”
R U practicing some new form of extreme optimism ?
I really hope Hughes can stay and become a fixture in the rotation for years…..I’ve followed him forever and he’s finally becoming a quality pitcher IMO….so I’d like to keep him just because I think he’s gonna be pretty good for the next 5 or 6 years and simply because I like him also.
That said…..if I’m Phil Hughes right now I know that there are better ball parks for me…..I know the NL may be better suited for me than the small AL east ballparks and DH offenses…..and I know that there are teams on the west coast with lots of money. The Dodgers and Angels both could use him and if he has a good season I’d expect both of those clubs to make plays for him…..and given he’s from SoCal it may be hard for him to say no……
“I’m hoping for a 2014 rotation of CC, Hughes, Pineda, Nova and Banuelos.”
the Yankees are probably hoping for something like that as well…..but really who knows if they can keep Hughes or if Pineda will make it back all the way.
I wish they’d at least discuss at extension with Hughes…..because if he reaches free agency after a good 2013 then they’ll have to let him go most likely with the budget.
Jayson Stark ?@jaysonst
Jose Reyes says 2 days before he got traded had dinner with Jeffrey Loria & Loria told him to get a nice house in Miami. 2 days later: gone
Blake-
If Phil has a good/great season he won’t come cheaply because of those West coast teams.
And I hate to say it but I gotta believe that, all else equal, Hughes is gonna want to pitch closer to home.
Actually what Loria said to Reyes was “I’ve screwed the people of Miami, and I’ve screwed many others before you, but I won’t screw you. You I can afford to pay.”
I’m hoping for a 2014 rotation of CC, Hughes, Pineda, Nova and Banuelos.”
________________________________________
A little unrealistic to hope for Banuelos in there since he Will just be coming back from TJ Surgery. Brett Marshall might be a more realistic option unless he flops this year in AAA
“And I hate to say it but I gotta believe that, all else equal, Hughes is gonna want to pitch closer to home.”
given the ballparks suit him much better I can’t say that I’d blame him
Ken Rosenthal ?@Ken_Rosenthal
Lucchino’s remark about the $160 million #RedSox being “scrappy underdogs” is an insult to scrappy underdogs everywhere.
I still wish they had given Christian Garcia one more chance. He had actually been working out at the Yanks Tampa facilities all winter before the Nats came calling. Yanks just decided that he was never going to get past the injury bug. Finally made it to big leagues last season and now Davey Johnson describes his stuff as “Strasburg like” Could be a starter for them this season
blake February 15th, 2013 at 8:40 am
Ken Rosenthal ?@Ken_Rosenthal
Lucchino’s remark about the $160 million #RedSox being “scrappy underdogs” is an insult to scrappy underdogs everywhere.
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It’s almost as bad as calling a $189 million budget an austerity budget.
Blake-
My point was that if the Yankees wish to retain him they are going to have to pay handsomely for the priviledge IMO.
I do not see any hometown discounts and as you said those teams are flush with cash.
Tackelberry February 15th, 2013 at 8:40 am
I’m hoping for a 2014 rotation of CC, Hughes, Pineda, Nova and Banuelos.”
________________________________________
A little unrealistic to hope for Banuelos in there since he Will just be coming back from TJ Surgery. Brett Marshall might be a more realistic option unless he flops this year in AAA
———–
I’ve got to think that Phelps is ahead of both those guys.
“It’s almost as bad as calling a $189 million budget an austerity budget.”
the Yanks never paint themselves as little engines that could…..the Sox have for years despite spending nearly as much as the Yankees.
MTU February 15th, 2013 at 8:48 am
Blake-
My point was that if the Yankees wish to retain him they are going to have to pay handsomely for the priviledge IMO.
I do not see any hometown discounts and as you said those teams are flush with cash.
===============
That’s probably true. I hope that the Yanks can retain Hughes, but I don’t want to see them go overboard to keep him. I suspect that Cashman may be personally invested in keeping Hughes.
MTU,
nope….and he shouldn’t take a discount either. If the Yanks wanna keep him then lock him up now.
blake February 15th, 2013 at 8:51 am
“It’s almost as bad as calling a $189 million budget an austerity budget.”
the Yanks never paint themselves as little engines that could…..the Sox have for years despite spending nearly as much as the Yankees.
=======
I absolutely agree. To my knowledge, the Yanks also never called the $189 million budget an austerity budget.
Ghost-
Cashman has been turned into a financial Gelding.
What he gets is what Hal tells him he can have.
Any presumed attachment to Hughes is meaningless in this environment FWIS, and that’s if it even exists.
blake February 15th, 2013 at 8:53 am
MTU,
nope….and he shouldn’t take a discount either. If the Yanks wanna keep him then lock him up now.
——–
How much do you think he is worth?
In Joel Sherman article there was a sentence that said the Yankees are scouting CMW in the WBC. I hadn’t heard anything about. I think that’s pretty interesting.
If Joba puts it all together he definitely has a shot at closing in 2014.
————————–
I’d rather see him go to another team and let Drob close.
Blake-
If I were Hughes and I had a big season I would defintiely make sure I cashed in.
Who the heck knows what’s around the next bend ?
An athlete’s career can come to an end in an instant, and with it a lot of their financial future.
MTU February 15th, 2013 at 8:55 am
Ghost-
“Cashman has been turned into a financial Gelding.”
It isn’t at all clear that is the case.
“What he gets is what Hal tells him he can have.”
This was always pretty much the case. He doesn’t own the club.
“Any presumed attachment to Hughes is meaningless in this environment FWIS, and that’s if it even exists.”
I’m unaware of any instance in which Hal overruled Cashman to spend less money. To the contrary, Hal has overruled him to spend more not less (e.g., Soriano and ARod). Cashman’s opinion will weigh heavily.
“How much do you think he is worth?”
hard to say…..right now his market isn’t nearly as good as it would be if he posted a good 2013 and shows good health in back to back years. I’d do a 3 or 4 year deal at 8-10 million with him right now if he would…..but if he performs this year it’ll take more than that and with the budget they’ll have to let him go most likely.
Doreen February 15th, 2013 at 8:57 am
In Joel Sherman article there was a sentence that said the Yankees are scouting CMW in the WBC. I hadn’t heard anything about. I think that’s pretty interesting.
======
Wang had a pretty successful comeback in 2011, but he regressed in 2012. I would love to take a flyer on him.
blake February 15th, 2013 at 9:01 am
“How much do you think he is worth?”
hard to say…..right now his market isn’t nearly as good as it would be if he posted a good 2013 and shows good health in back to back years. I’d do a 3 or 4 year deal at 8-10 million with him right now if he would…..but if he performs this year it’ll take more than that and with the budget they’ll have to let him go most likely.
=============
That sounds reasonable. I don’t see Hughes as a 15-75 pitcher, but 10-40 sounds good to me.
I’d love to have Wang on a minor league deal as somebody to stash in AAA should injuries arise…..
How old is Wang now?
Tackelberry February 15th, 2013 at 9:04 am
How old is Wang now?
==========
I think he’s 32.
Ghostwriter, Blake -
Agreed.
Ghost-
There were numerous instances of Cashman being overruled both public as well ,as I suspect, not so public.
A few years back Cashman could not even get Cameron, and that was when things were better.
I also believe that the purse strings were much more expansive a few years ago.
Now they are tighter than a Crab’s you-know-what.
189 is a financial straightjacket IMO. It removes a power the Yankees have always had to their advantage.
Some like it. I don’t. I’m perfectly happy to bludgeon my opponents to death.
If Hughes has a good season, he will be a hot commodity. With the Yankees putting pitching first always, I think they will be deep in the mix for a FA pitcher who is 27-28 years old, a solid middle of the rotation guy, with NY experience.
But there are two wild cards – other teams that now have the money AND the willingness to spend it (also on a 27-28 year old pitcher who has been through it all), and second, Hughes himself. It would be a real surprise for any player to take a hometown discount from the NYY. I don’t think it’s ever happened, has it? And you have to wonder if Hughes would be longing to play in SoCal, where there are two viable contending teams who would spend the money to get him.
So, it’s not all in the Yankees’ hands. I will be happy IF Hughes has a big year for the Yankees to be solidly in the mix for him. That is all the Yankees can control.
Finesse is for teams like the Rays and the Twins.
Small market teams without financial muscle.
If only Smellig weren’t a commie pinko.
CMW would be an excellent talent scout for the Yankees Asian operations.
If Pettite retires and Kuroda doesn’t come back, no reason they won’t be able to resign Hughes, even if they resign Cano to huge deal
Doreen-
If Hughes has a convincing season I expect the Yankees to be big players for him.
As you point out the rub is that they will likely have significant competition.
Yanks could let Joba walk if Betances bounces back and harnesses his command
MTU February 15th, 2013 at 9:07 am
Ghost-
“There were numerous instances of Cashman being overruled both public as well ,as I suspect, not so public.”
–I would be surprised if it didn’t happen in private. In public not so much. I had forgotten about the Cameron deal. Still I don’t remember Steinbrenner doing it publicly, even if the information came out. Steinbrenner occasionally exercising his prerogatives hardly amounts to castrating Cashman.
“A few years back Cashman could not even get Cameron, and that was when things were better.”
–In 2009, after signing CC, AJ, and Tex to nearly $500 million in contracts.
“Some like it. I don’t. I’m perfectly happy to bludgeon my opponents to death.”
–I missed the bludgeoning part. How many WS titles did the Yanks win between 2004 and 2008?
And it’s time to walk the Mops.
Catch U later.
Have a good day. Watch out for falling meteor fragments.
Tackelberry –
Good point. Also, Mo’s money could be off the books, as well.
“If Pettite retires and Kuroda doesn’t come back, no reason they won’t be able to resign Hughes, even if they resign Cano to huge deal”
lets add it up and guess what Cano will get and Hughes if he has a good 2013:
Arod: 27.5
Tex: 23
Sabathia: 24
Ichiro: 6.5
Cano: 25
Hughes: 13 (maybe more)
Jeter: 15 (if he picks up his player option)
bonuses: 12
Arod homer bonus space: 6 (they’ll have to leave room for this)
thats 152 million dollars for 7 players…..Gardner, Robertson, Pineda, etc will all be making real money in arbitration by then and they’ll have like a ton of roster spots to fill with around 35 million dollars.
mathematically possible….sure…..realistic……not really if they are serious about getting under the cap.
I think despite the variances in available FA talents on a yearly basis, the signs are the there that teams are more willing and able to lock up premium talents before they reach FA. The writings are the wall in such are if you don’t want to commit long term and in most cases regrettable deals to obtain premium talents in FA, you need strong foundation in scouting and development. That, was not obviously the case under the old CBA and is now a new reality. Yanks financial advantage has been greatly marginalize in terms of other teams having more revenue and in terms talent pool available henceforth in FA market. I assert that in order to obtain premium talents the better routes are to develop your own or via trades. To me, playoff aspiration is in 14 is almost in consequential with regard to the big picture, it remain to been if the Yanks recognize the above and are fully committed in developing within.
it really doesn’t matter who they have coming off because they have to replace those players with somebody…..and if you just add up what they do have then its pretty clear it’ll be extremely tight if they chose to keep both Cano and Hughes.
MTU February 15th, 2013 at 9:11 am
Finesse is for teams like the Rays and the Twins.
Small market teams without financial muscle.
If only Smellig weren’t a commie pinko.
—————
Selig is no commie. He’s a capitalist who is trying very hard to maintain a collusive agreement among the owners to suppress players’ salaries. The luxury tax isn’t about sharing the wealth, as much as it’s about restricting competition and holding down players’ salaries. And it seems to be working quite nicely
Ghost-
All I’m saying is that I like it when the Yankees are able to spend more freely.
It does not guarantee success but I’m not sure it hurts either.
That is what I meant by bludgeoning opponents to death.
I’m not interested in them being on an equal footing with other teams.
I’m glad to have whatever adavantages are available to us by virtue us being the Yankees.
Money used to be one of our weapons. Less so now.
There are more clever teams out there than us. We’re now playing catchup in that regard.
blake February 15th, 2013 at 8:34 am
Jayson Stark ?@jaysonst
Jose Reyes says 2 days before he got traded had dinner with Jeffrey Loria & Loria told him to get a nice house in Miami. 2 days later: gone
——————-
What a total scumbag. Seriously, I don’t know how this guy is going to get any FA’s to play for his team.
And blake, your sentiments on Hughes are exactly how I feel about him.
I caught the YES special last night around 10pm. I was surprised to hear Wang’s name come up. I liked him a lot, it’d be nice insurance if he comes on the cheap.
There are more clever teams out there than us. We’re now playing catchup in that regard.
——
then the idea here might be to get more clever, or have the right personnel to do so and not blindly spending more dough.
Ghost-
He’s a commie to me because he is trying to level the financial playing field.
I don’t care why, or for whom.
The bottom line for me is that he has taken away a signifcant advantage the Yankees have had.
I admit to being greedy when it comes the Yankees winning.
I want them to have the best Farm, The best players, the best FA’s, the best coaches and staff, and the most money to spend.
See it’s simple.
Got to run.
Later.
MTU February 15th, 2013 at 9:25 am
Ghost-
All I’m saying is that I like it when the Yankees are able to spend more freely.
===========
A-Rod’s contract and the salary cap are the constraints impeding the Yanks’ ability to spend more freely. I’m not opposed to having the Yanks fully exploit their advantages–quite the contrary, in fact–I’m all for it. However, I’ve had a bellyful of slow, plodding, and overpaid teams.
loria is scumbag, in this case, I actually wish someone does bodily harm to that greedy mofo.
Did anyone else watch the YES Baseball Tonight interview between Jack and Hal? It was basically designed to address all of the criticism this off season.. Hal seemed to at least be in tuned with the perception that the fans weren’t happy at all. That much I can appreciate, that they’re not completely tone deaf.
Just to be clear: I don’t dislike anyone in the FO personally. I don’t really care if they’re nice or arrogant or selfish or whatever the case may be. All I care about is winning. If they can be jerks and win..? Sweet.
Cashmoney -
Yes. The landscape has seriously changed. Bludgeoning is really not even the issue.
There aren’t many worthy players reaching free agency that one would want to bludgeon for. There are good players reaching FA, but GREAT ones? Not so much. The Yankees financial advantage isn’t as strong as it once was in this arena. Not only that, but it seems like players in other organizations DO take some kind of hometown discount to stay with the team that signed them. Or maybe it just seems that way.
For a few years now, a lot of people on this forum have talked about how the Yankees need to put their financial advantage to use in areas that the CBA doesn’t really address. Perhaps that process is happening – these are things we don’t really know for sure.
But I caution that people need to read the article that Chad wrote about Eric Duncan, and realize that even if a team has the best scouting and developmental program in the world, it STILL comes down to individuals. How they handle the development, their mindset, LUCK (health-wise, especially), and other factors that aren’t so apparent. And the problem is, sometimes you don’t know for sure how a guy is going to handle circumstances until they arise. Setbacks happen. Can a player overcome the setbacks, whether they were health related or more psychological in nature?
You can also have the best facilities in the world with regard to conditioning and injury prevention, and still, you’re going to end up contending with a Dave Robertson tripping on the steps doing an innocent household task. Or a guy playing a pickup game of basketball in the off-season. Or a guy on a trampoline date with his son. Or a guy who just falls the wrong way tearing his ACL. Stuff happens.
Cash-
Never advocated JUST spending money alone. I believe in using wisely as well.
want it all- The money to spend, the great Farm, etc.
Like I said, I’m greedy. Especially when it comes to the Yankees winning championships.
Feeling better and thanks for the good wishes! Anyone into taking supplements should look into something called Moringa. Closest thing to a wonder supplement that there is!
I’m with tomingeorgia. So excited for this season – and hoping that AH from the Sux doesn’t poison the clubhouse. I was listening to an interview with Mike Napoli and he said that clubhouse chemistry is very important to winning. Now we can see the importance of Crawford’s statements about the Sux being “toxic” and also crybaby supreme Adrian Gonzalez trashing the Sux ownership.
I’ve often said that the three stooges – Warner, Henry, and Lucchino – were horrendous owners. I’m looking forward to another season with them at the helm!!! I’m also waiting to see what lurks in the shadows since Henry’s evil triplet – Jeff Loria – has once again ruined a team. (Slimy Selig is the other triplet in that full-grown nursery.)
Here are the predictions to date. If you predicted and I missed it, give it to me again. I am hit or miss with posts so if my name isn’t in it, I might miss it. Predictions can be added/changed up to the first pitch of the first Yankee game of the season.
PREDICTIONS FOR 2013
Tomingeorgia – 94
Blake – 89
Shame Spencer – 92
Trisha – 97
Tackleberry – 91
Munson – 93
4 NYY – 89
Austinmac – 88
RMS -91
Joeman – 90
Bruceb – 86
Nilsson – 94
Great day y’all!
mathematically possible….sure…..realistic……not really if they are serious about getting under the cap.
———————-
The part that is scarier about it, that I completely forgot about until Rich brought it up, is that if you do want to add anyone at the trade deadline you might have your hands tied since the luxury tax is calculated at the end of the year.
Doreen, when it comes to prospects i believe there are strength in numbers. Yanks need to keep on piling on… there will lot more Duncans than those who makes it. I am simply advocating more resources being pour into the area of scouting and develop department. I think it will be the life blood of any organizations going forward.
“The part that is scarier about it, that I completely forgot about until Rich brought it up, is that if you do want to add anyone at the trade deadline you might have your hands tied since the luxury tax is calculated at the end of the year.”
correct…..honestly if Alex is on the team and is healthy enough to hit a few homers then the Yanks really need their actually payroll to be in the 165-170 range to start the 2014 season…..just so they have some wiggle room. Otherwise they may have to dump some money at the deadline.
Mark Feinsand ?@FeinsandNYDN
Youkilis: “I’ll be proud to be a Yankee for life after this year, too.”
spare us this spin…..
Wow, didn’t read the posts before I posted, when I did, I caught Loria’s name being trashed! And Selig’s.
Nice to know that some people are paying attention to the complicit treachery taking place in our beloved sport.
I’d lik to see both Loria and Selig quick victims of karma. I won’t personally wish physical harm – though if I read that some fans or players put them in the hospital, I wouldn’t wish them a speedy recovery – but whatever it takes to get them far far away from the game of baseball is what I am wishing. Long prison terms usually help with something like that!
“The part that is scarier about it, that I completely forgot about until Rich brought it up, is that if you do want to add anyone at the trade deadline you might have your hands tied since the luxury tax is calculated at the end of the year.”
——-
so the worst case scenario is that yanks miss the playoff in one year?
I hope whatever happens with Alex he can come back and get those 13 HRs this season. People will doubt him, but I’ll never forget when he came back from an injury a few years back against the O’s and in his first AB back (on what might have been the first pitch) he knock a HR right out of the park. I hope whatever they did in that surgery helps him get that rotation back so he can generate some power again. This guy is still more productive (when playing) than Tex.
Shame Spencer February 15th, 2013 at 9:36 am
mathematically possible….sure…..realistic……not really if they are serious about getting under the cap.
———————-
The part that is scarier about it, that I completely forgot about until Rich brought it up, is that if you do want to add anyone at the trade deadline you might have your hands tied since the luxury tax is calculated at the end of the year.
=============
I don’t get the impression that Hal is some kind of dogmatic obsessive about getting below the cap. I suspect that the Yanks will take into account the entire increment at adding dollars over the cap, and weigh it against the benefit of doing so. If going to $195 million is the thing that will significantly increase their chances of winning a WS, then I’m sure that the Yanks will do so. However, going to $195 million to add a player that only marginally improves the club, without significantly improving their chances of winning a WS probably won’t happen.
blake February 15th, 2013 at 9:42 am
Mark Feinsand ?@FeinsandNYDN
Youkilis: “I’ll be proud to be a Yankee for life after this year, too.”
spare us this spin…..
——–
I hope that this guy learns to keep his mouth shut. The season hasn’t even started, and he’s starting to work a nerve.
Hey, Kevin: Try letting your bat do the talking!!
it’s about the benjamins blake, you know that. you think the hundreds FA who joined prior to Youk are all that sincere?
Shame Spencer February 15th, 2013 at 9:44 am
I hope whatever happens with Alex he can come back and get those 13 HRs this season. People will doubt him, but I’ll never forget when he came back from an injury a few years back against the O’s and in his first AB back (on what might have been the first pitch) he knock a HR right out of the park. I hope whatever they did in that surgery helps him get that rotation back so he can generate some power again. This guy is still more productive (when playing) than Tex.
===========
I also expect Alex will be a strong contributor when he comes back. I’m glad that they seem to have identified why Alex’s power disappeared, seemingly overnight.
Trisha- please put me down for 89 wins
Trisha,
I’m in for 93 wins. In a very tough AL East, 93 wins might be enough to win the division.
It’s almost as bad as calling a $189 million budget an austerity budget
-
Not really, you can have one of the world’s biggest economies, but if you cut spending, people on both sides of the debate call it austerity. The only disagreement, as with the Yankees, is whether or not it is a good ideas.
Cashmoney -
I actually agree with that sentiment. I think I recall a conversation here from a couple of seasons ago (before 189) that if you don’t spend money on the bones of the house, it won’t matter how nicely you decorate, because the house will be shaky at its core.
Shame
That credit goes to LGY.
“I don’t get the impression that Hal is some kind of dogmatic obsessive about getting below the cap. I suspect that the Yanks will take into account the entire increment at adding dollars over the cap, and weigh it against the benefit of doing so. If going to $195 million is the thing that will significantly increase their chances of winning a WS, then I’m sure that the Yanks will do so. However, going to $195 million to add a player that only marginally improves the club, without significantly improving their chances of winning a WS probably won’t happen.”
****
I agree with this, Ghostwriter.
Rich in NJ February 15th, 2013 at 9:53 am
It’s almost as bad as calling a $189 million budget an austerity budget
-
Not really, you can have one of the world’s biggest economies, but if you cut spending, people on both sides of the debate call it austerity. The only disagreement, as with the Yankees, is whether or not it is a good ideas.
============
I tend to get definitions from dictionaries, as opposed to politicians’ rhetoric.
I tend to get definitions from dictionaries, as opposed to politicians’ rhetoric.
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Too funny.
Youk is quickly learning how easily words can get twisted in the NY media. I’m sure he didn’t mean it in a way to diss NY or the Yanks, but he needs to choose his words more carefully in front of this media market.
Other notes of utter insignificance, I have been having thoughts of signing with red sox to stick it to the Yanks because they traded me whilst i was a fledgling minor league on MLB 12.
This year more than any other is quite some time is a really big year for prospects with the 189M figure floating around so much. Huge year for guys like Betances, Montgomery, Whitley, Adams, Joseph and Almonte as they are closest to the majors.
Youkilis can say anything he wants. The only thing that matters is on the field production.
Ghostwriter, Hal had gone of record as saying that his intention was to put a winning team on the field every season and if that meant going over the $189, he would do it. But when you have a lynch mob mentality taking place, that group is far from willing to hear those words as reality.
The problem is that when individuals have their own definition of a winning team and that definition is not met, then ownership becomes a sitting target.
My definition of a winning team is one with strong pitching. So of course, I’m happy to see what this season brings.
I will remind all that the 2012 Yankees were favored to win it all at the beginning of the season. Now maybe if the crystal ball showed the Yankees would have been without Mo and Gardner and Joba, that CC would struggle, that Arod would be out, and that Andy would be injured in June, maybe they would not have been favored to take it all. But on paper they were the team to take it all. So therefore, people who were distraught about last year’s team were doing it on their individual (or collective in terms of a group of people here) definitions of what a winning team is.
Cashmoney February 15th, 2013 at 9:48 am
it’s about the benjamins blake, you know that. you think the hundreds FA who joined prior to Youk are all that sincere?
of course…..but Yankee fans don’t wanna hear about how he’ll cherish the Red Sox forever
I actually appreciates his honestly blake, I am a Yankee fan.
honesty.
Cash,
ok….whatever….I really don’t care how he feels so long as he hits.
same here blake, i don’t care what any of these guys say… just produce.
trisha – true pinstriped blue February 14th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
“I’ll always be a Red Sock”
Really?
You’ll always be a douche bag too. Just get the job done, gross out.
And that’s what I mean about a clubhouse ca*cer. Hell, he was one in beantown, and that was his love team! Remember when Manny slapped him in the dugout when he called Manny out for what he considered to be a sloppy play? He is a class-A AH!
The only thing I’m counting on is that he quickly sees that the inmates aren’t running the asylum in the Bronx and he’s with a different breed here. Otherwise, this could turn ugly. I wonder if Mr. I’ll Always Be A Red Sock would do anything to sabotage the Yankees in favor of his love team…
I think he has the potential to really help the Yankees out. This will be a very interesting watch, from my perspective.
blake -
Actually, I’m okay with him saying he’ll cherish the Red Sox forever, or rather, his time with the Red Sox.
Why shouldn’t he? He came up with them, he won WS with them. And to say anything else would be disingenuous and patronizing.
As long as he plays as hard for the Yankees as he did for the Red Sox, I couldn’t care less.
That said, I often observe that the less said, the better.
He didn’t say anything about cherishing his time anywhere. He sad “I’ll always be a Red Sock.”
He’s a big-mouth jerk. A leopard does not change its spots.
Trish? What’s going on? Are you not feeling well?
Cashmoney February 15th, 2013 at 10:11 am
“… i don’t care what any of these guys say… just produce.”
======================
Exactly. I really don’t know why some of these guys talk as much as they do: It can’t help them hit, and it might wind up hurting.
“of course…..but Yankee fans don’t wanna hear about how he’ll cherish the Red Sox forever”
youkillis was an outcast on the red sox at times. he’s the kind of guy who works with you that you want to punch in the face, but you don’t because it’s wrong to hit people just because they are ass holes.
he can’t help himself.
the yankees knew this when they signed him. it’s on them for anything stupid he says.
Lol, I actually feel a little badly for Youk. The fans end up taking the hit but the media reports this stuff without a ton of context, the fans buy in, and then the media goes ‘look at these crazy Yankee fans getting all up in arms about a simple quote (that we reported because we have no stories right now!!).’
It’s silly stuff. Youk is a one year band aid and I hope he has a solid season. I hope that Arod comes back and Youk has his time split up between 3B/1B/DH (all depending on how his splits look).
Never believe the promises of a rich guy inna suit. Hal is spewing sheep dip.
Well, I don’t know. He WILL always be a Red Sock. I think most Yankees fans feel the same way. You can put him in pinstripes for a season, and he’ll play for the Yankees, but he’s not a Yankee.
He’s on this team. It’s something to have to get used to for a season. But it’s doable. I didn’t like Randy Johnson, either.
As I said, though, the less he says the better for him. Especially before he plays a regular season game. Especially before he helps the Yankees win a regular season game.
“Why shouldn’t he? He came up with them, he won WS with them. And to say anything else would be disingenuous and patronizing.”
eh….some things are better left unsaid……I don’t want it to sound like I really care that much about this because I really don’t. If Youk hits then he will serve his purpose for this year…..
I think Trish has a secret crush on the handsome Youk, AoA.
“youkillis was an outcast on the red sox at times. he’s the kind of guy who works with you that you want to punch in the face, but you don’t because it’s wrong to hit people just because they are ass holes.
he can’t help himself.
the yankees knew this when they signed him. it’s on them for anything stupid he says.”
Yup. It’s the story of the rattlesnake who bit the kind person who carried him up the mountain after he promised not to hurt him. “Ha ha. You knew what I was when you picked me up.”
You’re right randy. He is who he is. Period.
At least Youk isn’t like Damon who ‘always dreamed’ of playing for every single team he ever signed with. Of course Youk will always be considered a Sox. That’s the only team he’s won with. I’ve always firmly believed the team you have the most success with is the one you’re most closely associated with by the fans/media.
blake -
I was just thinking the same thing. I’ve already devoted far too many keystrokes to something I really don’t care much about!! LOL
“The only thing I’m counting on is that he quickly sees that the inmates aren’t running the asylum in the Bronx and he’s with a different breed here. Otherwise, this could turn ugly. I wonder if Mr. I’ll Always Be A Red Sock would do anything to sabotage the Yankees in favor of his love team…
I think he has the potential to really help the Yankees out. This will be a very interesting watch, from my perspective.”
=====
I suspect that Jeter, et al, will quickly apprise Youkilis of the Yankee way. I’m sure that Youkils will do fine as a Yankee–he won’t be the first asshat to wear pinstripes. I just hope that he shows a little more prudence in his future dealings with the press.
If Youk came in and was like ‘I always wanted to be a Yankee’ I’d hate him more lol.
Shame -
But Damon almost makes you believe it!
And Damon is a sort of baseball vagabond isn’t he? I find it interesting – his dad was a serviceman, right? I wonder if he moved around a lot as a kid. That could tend to make you feel that everywhere you go is home, if you know what I mean, and not attach any particular importance to any one place.
Nice, Shame!
Shame Spencer February 15th, 2013 at 10:20 am
At least Youk isn’t like Damon who ‘always dreamed’ of playing for every single team he ever signed with. Of course Youk will always be considered a Sox. That’s the only team he’s won with. I’ve always firmly believed the team you have the most success with is the one you’re most closely associated with by the fans/media.
========
Damon is a pure merc, which is kind of charming in its way, as long as you don’t get too attached to him. I suspect that Youkilis is a Red Sox to his core; I can live with that as long as he hits.
Damon had/has more charisma, that’s for sure. But it’s still BS. Damon is a Red Sox. I loved having him and I’m glad we won with him but I’ll never consider him a Yankee.. I always picture him with that stupid beard.
I don’t think Youk should be hated on for not having any people skills lol, there are too many other reasons not to like him!!
Doreen February 15th, 2013 at 10:23 am
Shame -
But Damon almost makes you believe it!
And Damon is a sort of baseball vagabond isn’t he? I find it interesting – his dad was a serviceman, right? I wonder if he moved around a lot as a kid. That could tend to make you feel that everywhere you go is home, if you know what I mean, and not attach any particular importance to any one place.
===
That’s a much nicer way of saying what I just said!
“Damon is a pure merc, which is kind of charming in its way, as long as you don’t get too attached to him. I suspect that Youkilis is a Red Sox to his core; I can live with that as long as he hits.”
Agree with every word.
“I don’t think Youk should be hated on for not having any people skills lol, there are too many other reasons not to like him!!”
Youk came to play for the Yanks because we were offering double what he would make with any other team this year. They’re all mercs. If someone was offering me that amount, I’d be one too.
Ghostwriter -
Now here’s a quote:
Andy McCullough ?@McCulloughSL
Joba Chamberlain on his newfound friendship with Kevin Youkilis:”We’ll grow mustaches together, and win together.”
Damon looks good in retrospect because he produced. If Youkilis does no one will give a *insert expletive of choice* what he says now.
i really do like hitters who are patient and can work the count.
when boggs came over to the yankees it seemed to set in motion a contagious patient hitting philosophy that carried on through the championship run. last year the yankees OBP was really low. so hopefully youkillis will help the yankees in some small way in getting back to being a team that wears down opposing team’s pitching staffs with pitch count.
i’m not expecting the yankees to gain much else from youkillis.
Cashmoney February 15th, 2013 at 10:20 am
I think Trish has a secret crush on the handsome Youk, AoA.
——————————
Lol no chance in hell that’s possible. It’s over the net but you can feel the disdain she has for Youk.
But I was referring to the comments she made above receiving well wishes from other members on here
when boggs came over to the yankees it seemed to set in motion a contagious patient hitting philosophy that carried on through the championship run
-
Yup, Boggs helped changed the hitters and Key the pitchers. Adding tons of talent helped too, of course. They really had a plan back then.
Shame Spencer February 15th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Youk came to play for the Yanks because we were offering double what he would make with any other team this year. They’re all mercs. If someone was offering me that amount, I’d be one too.
==========
If the Sox had given him half what the Yanks offered, I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to see Youkilis to go crawling back to the Sox, even after the way they unceremoniously dumped him. He’s now a Yankee, and he’s still seemingly trying to curry favor with the Red Sox faithful!
Youk reminids me a lot of Leyritz. They got the swagger, are Not shy about voicing their opinion, always answer the bell, and deliver more times than not,when the game is on-the-line. The “back story” means nothing to me. Signing Youk was a good move.
There’s a lot of hot air going on about Youkilis. Who cares. If he gets the job done, he gets the job done. Frankly, he doesn’t even deserve this much attention right now.
Daniel Barbarisi ?@DanBarbarisi
Joba promised he’ll give Youk a “good hustle” butt slap tomorrow. Big things afoot in the Yankee clubhouse.
good lord….please start playing games soon.
Yup, Boggs helped changed the hitters and Key the pitchers. Adding tons of talent helped too, of course. They really had a plan back then.
——–
Hey man, Granderson talked to Ichiro this offseason. Look out!
Kev – that’s because Joba is a good person. I’d expect nothing less from him. Youkilis is a scumbag by nature. And I’d expect nothing less than what I heard from him. But it still irritates me. It reminds me of why I was ready to commit hari-kiri when I read he was signed. I’ve been doing a ton of denial and surface-embracing him because he will be wearing the pinstripes. But I guess deep down inside I will cringe and want to vomit every time he’s at bat – I’ll probably also feel ambivalence when he does a good job because of the way I despise him. He was always tied for first in terms of Sux players I absolutely despised. (I didn’t despise all of them, BTW. I thought Wakefield was a good guy and really like Ellsbury, to name two.)
Jay Jaffe ?@jay_jaffe
PREEMPTIVE CANNOT UNSEE RT @YankeeMegs: I’m waiting for the first Joba-Youk hottub pics.
that may burn out retinas
RadioKev February 15th, 2013 at 10:33 am
There’s a lot of hot air going on about Youkilis. Who cares. If he gets the job done, he gets the job done. Frankly, he doesn’t even deserve this much attention right now.
===
I hope for his sake that Youkilis doesn’t get off to a slow start this year.
“If the Sox had given him half what the Yanks offered, I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to see Youkilis to go crawling back to the Sox, even after the way they unceremoniously dumped him. He’s now a Yankee, and he’s still seemingly trying to curry favor with the Red Sox faithful!”
Let Yankee fans try to spin this any way they want to make themselves feel better, Ghost. You’ve got this right on the money. Apparently not everyone knows “Youk” the way some of us do!
trisha – true pinstriped blue February 15th, 2013 at 10:37 am
===========
Trisha,
I view Youkilis in a strictly transactional basis: If he works hard and hits, I will like him, and if he doesn’t I won’t. I do think that he can help the club, and I also think that getting him was a pretty good acquisition, as long as he gets with the program.
@DKnobler
GM Alex Anthopoulos said Blue Jays have no concern that Melky could face additional MLB penalties from Biogenisis investigation.
This Biogenesis story, so far, seems to be much ado about nothing.
Ghostwriter February 15th, 2013 at 10:44 am
This Biogenesis story, so far, seems to be much ado about nothing.
————
Until the investigation is closed and we get some rulings, yeah, it is all speculation.
Hey man, Granderson talked to Ichiro this offseason. Look out
-
I’m hopeful!!!
I don’t care where Youk’s heart is or if he is a jerk or not as long as he produces. He’s a rent-a-player and OK with me if he helps the Yanks win. If he doesn’t then I won’t have any affection for him.
I always did like him as a hitter though and if anything is left in the tank he could help a lot this year.
“I do think that he can help the club”
This is the only part of the “Youkilis story” that is palatable to me. Based strictly on what he can do as a player, there is no question that he’s been a gritty player throughout his career.
RadioKev February 15th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Ghostwriter February 15th, 2013 at 10:44 am
This Biogenesis story, so far, seems to be much ado about nothing.
————
Until the investigation is closed and we get some rulings, yeah, it is all speculation.
=====
None of the things that have been leaking out seem to point to anything terribly substantive.
Youkilis isn’t as painful a signing as the Tebow trade was for me. I’m not sure anything will top Tebow.
@MjordanW9
I did not.. RT @Lukail22: @MjordanW9 Did you get a spring invite?
Kev – why was Tebow painful?
If I was a Jet fan (which I’m not), as silly as the Tebow trade was (in football terms), the Sanchez extension would have bothered me a lot more. That they occurred in tandem, was bizarre.
A couple of things on “the trade” Abe Almonte for Shawn Kelley
I actually agree with Chip in that what bothers me about this trade is this infatuation with middle reliever types that we have a million of in the minors. What is the difference between Whitley or Claiborne and Kelley. That Kelly actually got a chance to pitch in the show already? We trade away Kontos for Stewart last year who is an older version of Cervelli for depth just to trade for a “Kontos” type arm back to add to the 7 or 8 of those type guys to have more depth.
In this case we trade away a switch hitting elite glove/elite baserunner with a real hit tool and leadership intangibles who should have played in AAA @ 23 this year when our major league OF consists of a 40yr old who has 2yrs left in his career, maybe, a35yr old who will not ne on our team next year and a 30yr old elite glove-barely league average bat who will begin to get expensive next season who can never stay healthy.
The depth is needed in cheap OF options for this team over the next 2-3 years not middle inning bullpen arms.
And I’m sorry Jekface your unequivocally wrong Almonte is a much better hitter than Gardner in all areas except taking walks and he has shown great improvement in that over the last season and a half. The same age comparisons are even more telling.
in his age 21-23 seasons at the High A/ AA levels Abe has;
934 ABs/50 2Bs/20 3Bs/8 HRs/70 SBs/ 100 BBs/ 178Ks
Gardy in his age 22-23 seasons at the same levels was;
670 ABs/30 2Bs/13 3Bs/ 0 HRs/76 SBs/103 BBs/ 122ks
Almonte had some developing power and much more drive in his swing than Gardner will ever have and Abe was a notorious slow starter who would usually heat up come May with the weather then spend the rest of the season hitting .320-.340 hot as a pistol. He in fact is potentially a better version of Gardner in that he brings more upside with the bat, equal prowess in the field and on the basepaths with a RF’ers arm and the switchhitting and intangibles that would have made him a great clubhouse guy as well.
This trade is not going to kill the organization obviously but it is in my mind a “bad” trade because it makes no real sense to me when looking at the organizations assets and the “immediate 1-3″ year needs of the team.