The Rotation

Now that Wang has been made the opening day starter and Joba has been officially put in the pen Joe Girardi can solidify his rotation. The easy thing to do would be to make the rotation the following;
1-Wang
2-Pettitte
3-Mussina
4-Hughes
5-Kennedy
There is one major problem with this rotation - the three guys who are not going to be work horses are back to back to back( and a belly to belly....sorry couldn't resist). This is going to result in a lot of back to back days for the pen and could really take its toll as the season rolls on. So the Yankees would be wise to do the following;
1-Wang
2-Hughes
3-Pettitte
4-Mussina
5-Kennedy
This puts the pitcher with the most limits on his innings(Hughes) between your two horses, hopefully reducing the back to back long nights for your bullpen. Spreading out your bullpen innings should help protect your pen long term.

Where do I send my resume?

I promise...I do not have a personal vendetta against Jon Daniels.

Consider the following -

Travis Hafner - Traded by the Texas Rangers with Aaron Myette to the Cleveland Indians for Einar Diaz and Ryan Drese.

Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young - Traded by the Texas Rangers with Terrmel Sledge to the San Diego Padres for Adam Eaton, Akinori Otsuka, and Billy Killian (minors).

Alfonso Soriano - Traded by the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals for Brad Wilkerson, Armando Galarraga, and Terrmel Sledge.

Carlos Lee - Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with Nelson Cruz to the Texas Rangers for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero, and Julian Cordero (minors). November 24, 2006: Signed as a Free Agent with the Houston Astros.

Travis Hafner, Adrian Gonzalex, Chris Young, Alfonso Soriano, Kevin Mench, Lance Nix and Francisco Coredro traded away for Einar Diaz, Akinori Otsuka, Brad Wilkerson, and some minor league spare parts in return (Carlos Lee and Adam Eaton left almost immediately as free agents)...wow!

This doesn't take into consideration the myriad of awesome free agent signings as well (Chan Ho Park, anyone?).

How does this guy still have a job?

Projected Standings

For anyone who missed it Basball Prospectus came out with their projections for 2008. Here is how they have the AL East breaking down:

NY Yankees 97 Wins
Boston Red Sox 90
Tampa Rays 89
Toronto Blue Jays 78
Baltimore Orioles 66

The Yankees have exceeded their Pecota projections for the last two years and the Rays have significantly underacheived theirs. However, they probably have the most accurate projection system out there and 7 games is a significant number. You need a subscription to access the Yankees page but the Red Sox' is free . The issue with the Red Sox is PECOTA sees their pitching as extremely average after Beckett, and their hitters don't project to be anything special.

Dance, Papi! Dance!

From Mark Feinsand:

Pettitte didn't deny the pitch to Ortiz was intentionally thrown inside, but he insisted it was for strategic purposes, not in retaliation.

"There's no doubt I backed him off. You can't just lay it over the plate for him to hit it," Pettitte said. "You have to move the ball in and out, hopefully make him feel uncomfortable in the batter's box. He's a great hitter, so you have to pitch him inside to get the guy out, that's for sure."

One of the biggest criticisms of Joe Torre's Yankees over the past few years was their refusal to pitch inside to Ortiz, who has torched the Bombers for a .321 average, 14 homers and 51 RBI in 209 at-bats over the past three seasons. Whether Pettitte's pitch had a purpose or not, it proved to be effective, opening the door for more of the same during the season.

HOORAY!!!

Not only are we protecting our own, but it's about time we moved Ortiz' feet a little!

2008 Predictions

As we are a couple of weeks from 1st pitch of the 2008 season, it's time for our 2008 predictions:

March 31 - The Yankees rotation consists of CMW, Pettitte, Hughes, Moose and IPK
Bullpen - Mo, Farns, Hawkins, Joba, Veres, Ohlendorf and Traber

March 31 - Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima's soul begins serving its sentence of eternity in hell as payment for the 2.22 ERA and 0.97 whip achieved in 2007 with an 86 MPH fastball and mediocre secondary pitches.

April 15 - Alex Rodriguez blasts his 12th HR of the young season.

April 15 - Manny Ramirez mysteriously disappears for 4 days. It is later revealed that while visiting a hospital for the 'Mentally Challenged' Manny was mistaken for a patient and held in a rubber room. The director of the Center apologized but stated "We tested him thoroughly and if he's not a patient here he certainly should be."

May 15 - IPK - 4-2, 4.25; Joba - 1-1, 1.66; Phil - 3-2, 4.31

May 15 - Sox 'Ace' Josh Beckett makes his first start of the year after battling back, shoulder, elbow, blister and ego problems.

June 15 - Robbie Cano - .325/9/44; Jeet - .335/6/48; Arod .310/30/72

June 15 - Sox' 1B Kevin Youkilis is admitted to a Boston Hospital with rabies. Apparently he was bitten by the hedgehog that had attached himself to Youlikis' face.

July 10 - Yankee All-star starters- Cano/Jeet/Arod; pitchers - CMW (10-3, 3.35), Mo (2-3, 1.06), Joba (4-2, 1.86) Yanks lead the AL East by 4 games

July 10 - Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz is arrested driving a truck with 30 stolen computers in the back. After his arraignment Buchholtz promises to check himself into a rehab facility claiming "I have a disease."

July 15 - Yankee bullpen - Mo, Farns, Hawkins, Veras, Ohlendorf, Ramirez, Karstens

July 15 - Sox reliever Jonathan Papplepuss is out for the year after seperating his right shoulder by vehimently pumping his fist after winning a game of 'go-fish' in the clubhouse against a 12 year old ball boy.

Aug 1 - IPK - 8-4, 4.37; Phil - 12-6, 3.83; Joba in 4 starts - 1-2, 4.92 as a starter

Aug 1 - After his first rehab start for the Pawtucket Sox in which he threw 2 shut-out innings, pitcher Curt Schilling is caught putting fake blood on his jersey before trying to send it to the Hall of Fame. Says Schilling - "The blood is real! I am such a gamer, huh? I amaze myself! I just don't know how I do it!"

September 1 - After 8 ineffective starts and an ERA around 5.00, Joba is sent back to the 'pen.

September 1 - Sox 'Ace' Josh Beckett makes his 2nd start of the year

September 15 - Yanks lead Blue Jays by 7 games and Red Sox by 12

Oct 1 - Cano - 330/26/110; Jeet - 342/17/88; Arod - 316/66/162

ALDS - Yanks beat wild card winner Cleveland in 4 games
ALDS - Mariners beat Detroit in 5 games

ALCS - Yanks beat Mariners in 6 games

World Series - Yanks beat Cubs in 5 games

Team Health Reports

Will Caroll over at Baseball Prospectus does a piece each year on teams and the likelihood of their players breaking down. He gives each player a red, yellow or green. Red being likely to get hurt, green unlikely and yellow proceed with caution. His piece on the Yankees listed the following players as red;

1. Jason Giambi - No shock here, if he makes it to May without an injury I will be surprised
2. Phil Hughes - He worries about HOW Phil got injured last year - Reaching back for a bit extra on a pitch.
3. Joba - He does have an injury history but he doesn't seem as concerned with him as Phil
4. Mo- Mo is a freak, I am not worried.

First Row in New Yankee Stadium

The Ap recently released a report outlining the rising cost of the premium tickets at Yankee Stadium. The top box seat at Yankee Stadium will go for $250 dollars per game per ticket this year. My reaction - its a steal! Just wait till next year where the first row of box seat will go for $2,500 per game per ticket. That's not a typo, it will cost you $202,500 for season tickets in the first row. Apparently there is already a waiting list. This information came directly from Lon Trost on Mike and the Mad Dog this week click here to listen.

Just think, in the early 90's we used to tip the usher 20 bucks to let us sit in the empty seats behind the first base dugout.

A Look at the Enemy

Since Spring Training is well under way I thought it would be a good idea to check out arch rival the Boston Red Sox and see what their spring stats reveal;

• Both Jed Lowrie and Jacoby Elssbury are below the Mendoze line(.086 and .194 respectively)
• Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp are both banged up (6abs for Lugo and 4 for Coco)
• Buchholz is getting hit(9.35era)
• Once super prospect Craig Hansen sucks(13.50 era)
• Okajima is still getting lucky(7ip no runs)

New Season, New Manager, New Attitude?

Shelley's slide (see below) was a touch over the top. It was blatant and could have gotten the Rays' second baseman hurt, so I am not really condoning it. What I am hoping it shows, however, is a new attitude for the team this year.

For far too long we have been the buttoned-down, corporate Yankees who have been pushed around far too much. For far too long the Pedro Martinezes and John MacDonalds of the world have gotten in our faces and challenged us with impunity.

In addition to representative performance, I believe that a certain attitude has been something missing from the Yanks and contributed to our lack of post season success.

It's time to actually BE the big bad Yankees again. It's time for us to start not only beating the snot out of the competition, but also doing so with the attitude that represents our position in the sport.

No longer can pitchers buzz Arod knowing we will do nothing about it. No longer can Jeter take a 95 MHP heater on the left elbow without retribution. No longer can 5 foot 7 inch shortstops call one of our own 'bush-league' and challenge him in the press without feeling the pain in return.

We are already the 'Hated Yankees,' the 'Evil Empire'...I really hope yesterday's actions show that we are ready to start living up to those names.

Basebrawl

Add the Rays to the list of teams that the Yanks will have interesting games against this year.

Arrogant and WRONG!

If you live in the NY area (or watch YES during the day) you know Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN. Never have 2 people been more arrogant on the airwaves.

On Mar 5, Sweeney Murti, Yankee beat reporter for WFAN, got a firsthand look at just how ridiculously stupid the pair can be (listen here).

In addition to screaming that the Yanks "have no idea what they are doing," fatso and dummie repeatedly berated Sweeney about Joba and his role on the team. Sweeney did his best to maintain his composure amidst the barrage of inane and arrogant statements such as "Brian Cashman is lost when it comes to pitching."

I listened to the interview again while writing this post with an eye toward giving examples of their pure idiocy - there is way too much to write.

Listen to the interview...you will no doubt agree that these 2 are the most arrogant idiots on the radio.

Phil on his way?

Promising start for Phil. Six innings into spring and not a hit to be found.

Cervelli injured - First Test for General Joe

When I think of a defining moment for the Joe Torre style of management I think of the Pedro vs. Zimmer. Here was a guy in Pedro who repeatedly went for the heads of the Yankees best players and the tone set former the top was to maintain dignity and focus on the game. Now this strategy might have actually helped add to Pedro's frustration but it also hurt the Yankees quite a bit over the years. How often did the Red Sox hit our best players and pitch inside while we nibbled on the outside corner for fear of creating conflict?

With the hiring of General Joe my first reaction was " Now can we finally back Ortiz off homeplate?!?" Well, Girardi has a chance to send a message with the bush league play by the Rays yesterday that resulted in a broken wrist for Cervelli. A public scorning is not enough, Giradi needs to mandate that a Yankee come at a Rays player when they meet next. This will make it known that you can no longer throw inside, slide spikes first or generally push the complacent Yankees around without repercussions.

If nothing happens I fear the time when the only person with the balls to stand up to the opposition is an 80 year-old man with a metal plate in his head hasn't left us.

The Messiah

A nice quick read on Phil Phranchise by Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post.

The Yankees have their version of the Three Amigos in Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, but read what Johnny Damon said about Hughes after yesterday's performance.

"Phil is definitely the cream of the crop," Damon said. "I see ace material written all over him. He's got two plus pitches. I think he's going to have a big year."

With all of the (deserved) hype surrounding the larger than life Joba (The Beast), it sometimes gets lost that Hughes has been the Yanks' top prospect, and a top 10 prospect in all of baseball for 3 years.

I know I'm repeating myself from earlier posts, but of our troika I believe that Phil is by far the most likely to live up to 'Ace' billing.

Consider his minor league numbers:

From 2004 through 2007 Hughes pitched in 54 games throwing 275 minor league innings
He allowed 171 hits - an ungodly 5.59 hits per 9 innings pitched
He struck out 311 batters - 10.18 per 9 innings pitched
He gave up 66 walks - 2.16 BB/9 and 4.71 strikeouts for every walk
He gave up a TOTAL of 6 HR in 275 ip
His career minor league ERA is 2.09, with no year higher than 3.06
His career minor league WHIP is 0.86 with no year above 1.00

Absolutely filthy!

A 4.46 ERA with the Yanks does not tell an accurate story about Phil's 2007. Consider that he allowed only 64 hits in 72 2/3 innings, he allowed only a .235 BAA for the year, and that in September (after fully recovering from hammy/ankle injury) he was the Yanks' best starter going 3-0 in 29 2/3 innings posting a 2.73 ERA .

Joba is nasty. The 100 MPH fastball, 0.38 ERA out of the 'pen and larger than life personality has seemingly put him 1st on the troika depth chart. I happen to believe that Joba is also headed for greatness. But remember - Joba has faced a total of 437 batters in his professional career. He has made exactly zero major league starts. And even though his 13.81 K/9 betters Phil, none of his other minor league numbers are as good as Hughes' (2.45 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 6.34 H/9).

Now please, make no mistake - I think between Phil, Joba and Ikky we have a chance to have a big 3 better than any in history. It may be that Joba passes Phil and ends up having a better career. Right now for the 2007 season, however, there should be little doubt that Phil Phranchise, The Messiah is king among the troika.

Last Laugh

via boston.com

(Hank) Steinbrenner was asked whether he would send Yankees stuff to Henry in response to the Red Sox Nation invitation.

"He's already got Yankees stuff," Steinbrenner said. "He was a limited partner. He's got the rings."

Hat tip to YankeeBlography

Funny A-Rod Video

Hello,
I came across the Yankee GM Blog and I figured you and other Yankee fans would get a kick out of this:
http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/1022
It's a sketch produced by performers from the Upright Citizens Brigade- we're a comedy theatre based in New York.
I'm a big baseball fan and thought I would share this with others. The theme may be a little adult-ish, but for the most part it's family-friendly (and very funny, especially for fans of A-Rod). Let me know what you think!

Thanks,
Matty

YankeeGM: Thanks, Matty...it's great!

Spring Training TV Game 1

Some important take aways from the first televised spring training game of the year

• Andy Pettitte apparently personally apologized to every team member, front office, person and media member for his involvement with steroids. I was not able to confirm if he apologized to the towel boy but my guess is he did. This is why we love Andy, he is a stand-up guy both with his actions and on the field.
• Jason Giambi looks good. He actually hit a ball to the left of CF.
• Giuseppie Franco is back. No sign of Gary Bussey but this man can't be stopped. I don't know if I can handle viewing this guy another 5,000 times. I have a full head of hair but am willing to buy a lifetime supply if they will just stop playing these damn commercials!
• Bruney struggled despite a new physique and a new attitude.

Bernie's Last AB

It's not a great video, but with Hank alluding to a Bernie Williams Day here is Bernie's last AB:

Where does the Yankee Revenue go?

If you wondered where all the Yankee revenue goes (other then the obvious) the answer is Jeffery Loria's pocket. Via the Biz of Baseball;

"The Marlins’ payroll for 2008 is projected to be around $20 million, the lowest in the league and $10 million lower than last season.

“It’s a function of revenues, and we were not really able to derive any revenues out of this facility,” Loria said of the team’s current home, Dolphin Stadium. “As we get closer to the (new) stadium, those things will change. We need to be in that facility.”

On the player payroll at $20 million, that would be $5 million less than what the club will receive in revenue-sharing, which is projected to be $25 million. Apparently, a “function of the revenues” is to make a mockery of the revenue-sharing system, and do a good bit of profit making.

Forbes estimated that the Marlins posted $43.3 million in operating income last year. That operating income included earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. How did the Marlins rate in terms of operating income – a measure of profit – compared to their other 29 counterparts? They were first with the Dodgers in second at $25.5 million, a difference of 41 percent.

If there is one thing that Bud Selig has failed at in his tenure as Commissioner (no, not steroids) it's the abuse of the revenue system by certain clubs - most notably the Marlins. I posted an article awhile back stating that the current system rewards teams that are not successful locally. Basically, pocket the revenue money and your profits grow; invest it in your team and your revenue sharing number and your margins shrink.

As a Yankee fan, I understand our revenues are so enormous that we have to contribute some to level the playing field. When that money is used instead to make owners rich, however, I have a real problem with it. I imagine The Hank must feel even stronger about it. I am glad to see that some of the money will be taken away from the Marlins with their new stadium.

Girardi Credits Zimmer not Torre

Joe Girardi was asked about how his managing strategy developed and he credited his time with Don Zimmer;

Fortunately for the new Yankee skipper, he'd spent plenty of time with a manager who had run his team the same way: Don Zimmer.

Zimmer is one of the managers Girardi recognizes as his greatest influences, especially when it came to his penchant for taking risks. How many other managers put the hit-and-run on with the bases loaded? How about a squeeze play in that same situation?

"There was a risk in Zim's game," Girardi says of the man who managed him with the Cubs from 1989-1991. "He didn't always manage from a piece of paper; he would manage from his guts and his heart. He was a gambler."

So now even a guy who served under Joe is crediting Zimmer not Joe for helping him grow. Girardi does go on to say;

"Joe Torre was great at getting the most out of people and handling people," Girardi says. "There was that calmness there every day in a world that wasn't always so calm."

Not exactly the praise a hall of fame manager would expect from the guy who replaced him. The legend of Joe has continued to take a hit this spring and it will be interesting to see how he will be remembered if the Yankees do very well this year and LA doesn't. Either way a lot has come out this year about the faults of Torre and it seems that everyone was just keeping quiet on them the last couple of years. The energy this spring combined with the almost daily 'bash Torre' news makes it clear a change was long overdue.