I found a great article by Aaron Gleeman comparing the two packages(Red Sox & Yankees) on the table for Santana.;
Those packages are relatively similar in terms of overall value, so unless other teams get heavily involved the Twins' choice may ultimately come down to picking between Hughes, Ellsbury, or Lester as the deal's centerpiece.
He continues
Toss in immediate success as a big leaguer and that's about as good as it gets for a pitcher who won't turn 22 years old until a couple weeks before the 2008 All-Star game. As I wrote two months ago when discussing Hughes' inclusion in various early Santana rumors, short of cloning Francisco Liriano or convincing the Mariners to part with Felix Hernandez, Hughes represents the best chance the Twins have of replacing Santana with an early-20s pitcher capable of being a true No. 1 starter.....
On to Ellsbury
Ellsbury fills an immediate need for the Twins and looks like a relatively sure thing to become at least a good player, but his ceiling is seemingly along the lines of Lofton or Johnny Damon. Hughes' ceiling is that of a true ace who could literally replace Santana at the top of the rotation in time, but he'd add to what's already an area of strength for the Twins and there's more risk that he'll flop completely whether because of injuries or performance.
So it basically comes down to higher risk higher reward for Hughes or low risk low reward for Ellsbury. Gleeman wraps it up by saying;
..they'd be smart to go after the one player who clearly gives them the best chance to come away from the Santana deal with a superstar. In other words, Phil Hughes.
Exactly my sentiments, the twins need to get an impact player for Santana and Ellsbury projects at best to be a complimentary player, not a superstar. I still believe that Johan will be a Yankee I just hope it happens soon so we can move on with our lives.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
2008 - The Cashman Swan Song?
Brian Cashman made some interesting comments at Theo Epstein's charity round table;
On Hank and Hal
"So I’m focused fully on doing everything I possibly can to assist them in their emergence now as decision makers.”
On His future with the Yankees;
"Because of all the work that gets involved with doing the job, it kind of prevents me from really looking ahead past this year,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I possibly can to assist the transition with the new manager, the new owners, with the involvement now with the Steinbrenner sons. And then the rest will take care of itself at another time.”
Now Cashman fought hard to have the final say on all baseball decisions and that power has clearly been transferred to the Brothers. I would expect that at the end of this year we might be looking at another power struggle by Cashman and this one I think he will loose. George was aging in 2005 and clearly needed to get out of the day to day operations of the Yankees Hank and Hal are just getting their feet wet and Hank clearly loves the spotlight.
So the question is will Cashman except less control and if he doesn't do we as Yankee fans have reason to feel concerned?
I can see Cashman walking. He has spent 10 years with the Yankees and is well respected in the game. He probably will have no trouble finding another job.
So do we care? You have to give Cashman some credit for the recent success of the player development program but really the man who deserves the bulk of the credit is Damon Oppenheimer. With Hank at least publicly stating interest in the youth movement and Hal's tight purse strings you can expect Damon to continue to make a large impact without Cashman and for the Yankees to give some of these guys a shot. Cashman has not had a lot of success with his veteran player moves especially pitchers in recent years (Wright, Pavano, Randy, Vasquez, Weaver) and continues to make questionable decisions(1 year of Hawkins instead of 2 with Vizcaino) so in the end I am not sure if this would really be a lose at all.
My take - thanks for time serve Cashman turn off the lights on your way out.
On Hank and Hal
"So I’m focused fully on doing everything I possibly can to assist them in their emergence now as decision makers.”
On His future with the Yankees;
"Because of all the work that gets involved with doing the job, it kind of prevents me from really looking ahead past this year,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I possibly can to assist the transition with the new manager, the new owners, with the involvement now with the Steinbrenner sons. And then the rest will take care of itself at another time.”
Now Cashman fought hard to have the final say on all baseball decisions and that power has clearly been transferred to the Brothers. I would expect that at the end of this year we might be looking at another power struggle by Cashman and this one I think he will loose. George was aging in 2005 and clearly needed to get out of the day to day operations of the Yankees Hank and Hal are just getting their feet wet and Hank clearly loves the spotlight.
So the question is will Cashman except less control and if he doesn't do we as Yankee fans have reason to feel concerned?
I can see Cashman walking. He has spent 10 years with the Yankees and is well respected in the game. He probably will have no trouble finding another job.
So do we care? You have to give Cashman some credit for the recent success of the player development program but really the man who deserves the bulk of the credit is Damon Oppenheimer. With Hank at least publicly stating interest in the youth movement and Hal's tight purse strings you can expect Damon to continue to make a large impact without Cashman and for the Yankees to give some of these guys a shot. Cashman has not had a lot of success with his veteran player moves especially pitchers in recent years (Wright, Pavano, Randy, Vasquez, Weaver) and continues to make questionable decisions(1 year of Hawkins instead of 2 with Vizcaino) so in the end I am not sure if this would really be a lose at all.
My take - thanks for time serve Cashman turn off the lights on your way out.
Friday, January 4, 2008
HOF
With the votes in but not yet counted, I thought I'd chime in on my opinion of the current bunch of HOF candidates. I don't have a vote, but if I did...
The 2 most discussed candidates this year are holdovers Jim Rice and Goose Gossage. WW has a perfect SOTD on Rice. I was against a no-defense, slugger who didn't reach 385 home runs making the HOF to begin with; when you factor in the effects of Fenway Park on his numbers the case becomes almost moot - Rice is NOT a Hall of Famer. The only case I can make for Rice is that if he gets in, Bernie (one of my all-time favorite Yankees) should be a shoo-in.
My vote on Rice - NO
Goose is a different story. While I think the fact that he held on too long actually hurt his numbers, Goose was the most dominant, nasty, scary relief pitcher of his time. Fingers and Lyle and Eck and Reardon and Sutter were all very good, but Goose was awesome and scary!
My vote on Goose - YES
Other holdovers on the ballot are Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Tommy John, Dave Concepcion, Alan Trammell, Dave Parker, Donnie BBall, Dale Murphy and Harold Baines.
Both Dawson and Parker were very good players with very good numbers; very good, but not great - not HOF'ers. They both have a case if Rice gets in, though.
Smith was the all-time saves leader for a while, but with a 1.256 career WHIP he was far more a compiler than a dominant closer.
Alan Trammell was the kind of player you want on your team; clutch, consistent, solid D, and a really good guy - just not a HOF player.
TJ, Concepcion, Murphy and Baines simply do not stack up.
My vote on Dawson/Parker/Smith/Trammell/John/Concepcion/Murphy and Baines - NO
I love(d) Donnie, and if the back hadn't gone...
My vote on Mattingly - No
I believe Blyleven should get in. Not only does he have 280 wins, 15 years with an ERA+ of 123 or better and a sub 1.20 career WHIP over 22 seasons, he had, without a doubt, the best curve ball of all time.
My vote on Blyleven - Yes
The only first-time candidate I believe is worthy of the Hall is Tim Raines. The only reason Rock won't be a sure-fire first-ballot is because as a speed-based lead-off hitter he will inevitably (and unfairly) be compared to Rickey Henderson. No one's stats match up to Rickey's. That being said, Rock had 808 stolen bases, an OPS+ for his 23 year career of 123, 12 years of .390 or better OBP, and was one of the most dynamic and exciting players of his time. Having played his prime years in Montreal also tends to diminish people's recollection of how good Rock really was.
My vote on Tim Raines - Yes
The 2 most discussed candidates this year are holdovers Jim Rice and Goose Gossage. WW has a perfect SOTD on Rice. I was against a no-defense, slugger who didn't reach 385 home runs making the HOF to begin with; when you factor in the effects of Fenway Park on his numbers the case becomes almost moot - Rice is NOT a Hall of Famer. The only case I can make for Rice is that if he gets in, Bernie (one of my all-time favorite Yankees) should be a shoo-in.
My vote on Rice - NO
Goose is a different story. While I think the fact that he held on too long actually hurt his numbers, Goose was the most dominant, nasty, scary relief pitcher of his time. Fingers and Lyle and Eck and Reardon and Sutter were all very good, but Goose was awesome and scary!
My vote on Goose - YES
Other holdovers on the ballot are Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Tommy John, Dave Concepcion, Alan Trammell, Dave Parker, Donnie BBall, Dale Murphy and Harold Baines.
Both Dawson and Parker were very good players with very good numbers; very good, but not great - not HOF'ers. They both have a case if Rice gets in, though.
Smith was the all-time saves leader for a while, but with a 1.256 career WHIP he was far more a compiler than a dominant closer.
Alan Trammell was the kind of player you want on your team; clutch, consistent, solid D, and a really good guy - just not a HOF player.
TJ, Concepcion, Murphy and Baines simply do not stack up.
My vote on Dawson/Parker/Smith/Trammell/John/Concepcion/Murphy and Baines - NO
I love(d) Donnie, and if the back hadn't gone...
My vote on Mattingly - No
I believe Blyleven should get in. Not only does he have 280 wins, 15 years with an ERA+ of 123 or better and a sub 1.20 career WHIP over 22 seasons, he had, without a doubt, the best curve ball of all time.
My vote on Blyleven - Yes
The only first-time candidate I believe is worthy of the Hall is Tim Raines. The only reason Rock won't be a sure-fire first-ballot is because as a speed-based lead-off hitter he will inevitably (and unfairly) be compared to Rickey Henderson. No one's stats match up to Rickey's. That being said, Rock had 808 stolen bases, an OPS+ for his 23 year career of 123, 12 years of .390 or better OBP, and was one of the most dynamic and exciting players of his time. Having played his prime years in Montreal also tends to diminish people's recollection of how good Rock really was.
My vote on Tim Raines - Yes
Red Light likes the Juice?
Was Watching references an artilcle in the Rocky Mountain news that asks our dear friend Curt 'Red Light' Schilling to explain his late career surge in light of Curt's own condemnation of late career turn arounds. I did some digging and consider this - prior to the age of 30 his k's/9 were 7.3; after the age of 30 they are 9.2.
General Joe's Staff is Seriously Lacking
The Yankee coaching staff for the 2008 season is slated to be:
Manager - Joe Girardi (1 year managing and 2 years coaching experience)
Bench Coach - Rob Thompson (0 years major league coaching experience)
1st Base coach - Tony Pena (4 years managing experience, including Manager of the Year 2003)
3rd Base coach - Bobby Meacham (0 years major league coaching experience)
Batting Coach - Kevin Long (1 year major league coaching experience)
Pitching Coach - Dave Eiland (0 years major league coaching experience)
I was (and remain) 100% behind both letting Torre go, and bringing JG in as manager; I believe General Joe will add some much needed energy to the Yanks' clubhouse and also some way overdue sanity to the Yanks' bullpen.
Where I have a problem is with the wholesale lack of experience throughout the rest of the Yanks' coaching staff. I completely understand wanting to give JG the utmost comfort in his first year. Couldn't we find a Zimmer-type, though, who has no real designs on managing but has 'seen it all?'
99% of all of the big league experience will be shaking Derek Jeter's hand at first base when strategy decisions need to be made in the dugout. Rob Thompson may be a baseball genius; Dave Eiland might be the next coming of Leo Mazzone (don't get me started on why Leo should be pitching coach!), and Bobby Meacham may be channelling Windmill Willie over at third, but why take the chance?
While I am glad General Joe got his choice of lieutenants, for a team expecting to win the World Series every year a little experience would have been nice.
Manager - Joe Girardi (1 year managing and 2 years coaching experience)
Bench Coach - Rob Thompson (0 years major league coaching experience)
1st Base coach - Tony Pena (4 years managing experience, including Manager of the Year 2003)
3rd Base coach - Bobby Meacham (0 years major league coaching experience)
Batting Coach - Kevin Long (1 year major league coaching experience)
Pitching Coach - Dave Eiland (0 years major league coaching experience)
I was (and remain) 100% behind both letting Torre go, and bringing JG in as manager; I believe General Joe will add some much needed energy to the Yanks' clubhouse and also some way overdue sanity to the Yanks' bullpen.
Where I have a problem is with the wholesale lack of experience throughout the rest of the Yanks' coaching staff. I completely understand wanting to give JG the utmost comfort in his first year. Couldn't we find a Zimmer-type, though, who has no real designs on managing but has 'seen it all?'
99% of all of the big league experience will be shaking Derek Jeter's hand at first base when strategy decisions need to be made in the dugout. Rob Thompson may be a baseball genius; Dave Eiland might be the next coming of Leo Mazzone (don't get me started on why Leo should be pitching coach!), and Bobby Meacham may be channelling Windmill Willie over at third, but why take the chance?
While I am glad General Joe got his choice of lieutenants, for a team expecting to win the World Series every year a little experience would have been nice.
The Santana Watch Day 74
Tyler Kepner has a piece in the times today echoing a line we have heard before;
Hal Steinbrenner would try to do it with the existing payroll of roughly $200 million. Hank is more inclined to add Santana, largely to keep him away from the rival Boston Red Sox.
On the surface this seems reasonable, 200 million is already a ton of money. But Johan is signed for 13 million for next year and the year after Pettitte, Abreu, Giambi and Farnsworth come off the books which will reduce the payroll by over 60 million dollars. Also, the new stadium revenue could boost already sky high revenues significantly. So the financial question really only applies to 2008 and are the Yankees really going to nix trade for baseball's best pitcher over 13 million?
Hal Steinbrenner would try to do it with the existing payroll of roughly $200 million. Hank is more inclined to add Santana, largely to keep him away from the rival Boston Red Sox.
On the surface this seems reasonable, 200 million is already a ton of money. But Johan is signed for 13 million for next year and the year after Pettitte, Abreu, Giambi and Farnsworth come off the books which will reduce the payroll by over 60 million dollars. Also, the new stadium revenue could boost already sky high revenues significantly. So the financial question really only applies to 2008 and are the Yankees really going to nix trade for baseball's best pitcher over 13 million?
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Strategy Playing Out?
In this NY Times piece, Brian McNamee's lawyer, Richard Emery, pretty much guarantees that they will sue Rocket if he calls his former trainer a liar on 60 Minutes.
Emery said if Clemens says on “60 Minutes,” before an audience that will probably exceed 10 million people, that McNamee was not truthful, it would lead to a lawsuit, which would allow him to put Clemens under oath. “He’s got a chance to protect himself,” said Emery, who is based in New York and specializes in libel and defamation actions. “We’re not going to sue him if he doesn’t do it. But if he does it, we’re going to sue him.”
I am becoming convinced that our previous take on Clemens' strategy is playing out.
Stay tuned!
Emery said if Clemens says on “60 Minutes,” before an audience that will probably exceed 10 million people, that McNamee was not truthful, it would lead to a lawsuit, which would allow him to put Clemens under oath. “He’s got a chance to protect himself,” said Emery, who is based in New York and specializes in libel and defamation actions. “We’re not going to sue him if he doesn’t do it. But if he does it, we’re going to sue him.”
I am becoming convinced that our previous take on Clemens' strategy is playing out.
Stay tuned!
Monday, December 31, 2007
A Brilliant Strategy?
As has been posted here before, the incredibly difficult burden of proof in slander/defamation suits makes it highly unlikely that Roger Clemens would bother to sue MLB as a result of the Mitchell Report. Roger has, however, been extremely vehement in his denials of PED use. It has gotten to the point where Brian McNamee has hired an attorney to explore a defamation suit against Rocket (well, I use the term 'hire' loosely as all of McNamee's lawyers have taken his case pro bono (for free).
What if it is Rocket's plan to force McNamee to go forward with a defamation case by screaming on 60 Minutes and in every newspaper in the country that McNamee is a liar? If McNamee were to sue Rocket for slander/defamation he would have the same burden of proof in his case against Roger as Roger would have if he had sued MLB. McNamee would have to not only prove that Roger did, in fact, use PEDs (almost impossible), he would also have to prove that Clemens made the statements to 60 Minutes and the other media in an express effort to harm McNamee. HA! There is truly no way that he can do that; unless, of course, McNamee video taped himself shoving a syringe in Rocket's backside, and also taped Roger confessing that his evil master plan was to ruin McNamee's reputation, NOT to defend his own!
As McNamee's attorneys are not getting paid, they will want as much press and exposure out of their McNamee time as possible. To get max airtime there is little doubt his lawyers will convince McNamee to initiate an unwinnable slander/defamation suit against Roger.
What then? Well, as it is practically impossible to win any defamation suit (let alone one that is purely 'he said, he said'), and as Roger will be paying his attorneys (quite handsomely, I'm sure), Roger would no doubt win that lawsuit.
All Roger has to do is push McNamee into suing him and then the burden of proving an impossible thing would shift to McNamee's lawyers instead of his own.
After inevitably beating McNamee in court (it may take perjury, but that's a topic for another time), Roger could then look into the cameras and say "See! I told you I was clean!"
I have no idea if this is Roger's plan, but Wow! wouldn't it be brilliant if it were!
What if it is Rocket's plan to force McNamee to go forward with a defamation case by screaming on 60 Minutes and in every newspaper in the country that McNamee is a liar? If McNamee were to sue Rocket for slander/defamation he would have the same burden of proof in his case against Roger as Roger would have if he had sued MLB. McNamee would have to not only prove that Roger did, in fact, use PEDs (almost impossible), he would also have to prove that Clemens made the statements to 60 Minutes and the other media in an express effort to harm McNamee. HA! There is truly no way that he can do that; unless, of course, McNamee video taped himself shoving a syringe in Rocket's backside, and also taped Roger confessing that his evil master plan was to ruin McNamee's reputation, NOT to defend his own!
As McNamee's attorneys are not getting paid, they will want as much press and exposure out of their McNamee time as possible. To get max airtime there is little doubt his lawyers will convince McNamee to initiate an unwinnable slander/defamation suit against Roger.
What then? Well, as it is practically impossible to win any defamation suit (let alone one that is purely 'he said, he said'), and as Roger will be paying his attorneys (quite handsomely, I'm sure), Roger would no doubt win that lawsuit.
All Roger has to do is push McNamee into suing him and then the burden of proving an impossible thing would shift to McNamee's lawyers instead of his own.
After inevitably beating McNamee in court (it may take perjury, but that's a topic for another time), Roger could then look into the cameras and say "See! I told you I was clean!"
I have no idea if this is Roger's plan, but Wow! wouldn't it be brilliant if it were!
SI Covers
Over the holidays I received the year-end Sports Illustrated magazine. My life being Yankee-centric, I looked over the covers for the year and there was not one Yankee cover this year. I decided to look back and find the last year that the Yankees were shut out from SI cover. I had to go back all the way to 1995. We all know what happened next.....
Here's to another 4 in 5 years..
Here's to another 4 in 5 years..
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Red Sox Perception
Tyler Kepner has a short piece in the times on Theo Eptein. Theo is quoted as saying;
"If someone wants to compare us to the Yankees based on winning and results, that’s an incredible standard,” said Epstein, the general manager of the Boston Red Sox. “If they want to compare us to the Yankees in how we do things, that’s a little off base.”
Tyler goes on to give credit to the boy genius for all his shrewed moves and his continues investment in developing players.
"Homegrown players contributed directly to the title, including closer Jonathan Papelbon, second baseman Dustin Pedroia and pitcher Jon Lester, who won the clinching game."
I decided to take a look at the Boston team and compare the postseason(ALDS) 25 man roster to that of the Yankees and see where each player was originally acquire; drafter/signed to minor league deal, Trade or Free Agency. Here are the results;
Boston - 10 Free Agency, 9 through Trade, 6 Drafted/Signed
Yankees - 12 Drafted/Signed, 7 Free Agency, 6 through Trade.
So here is where some recent contributions from some young players creates a little bit of false perception. The truth of the matter is the 2004 Red Sox team was built almost completely on imported players and just recently have they begun to produce anything of substance. However, for Theo to imply that the Red Sox do things differently because they give young players more of a chance is just plain wrong. Also, the Yankees might have a starting rotation next year built completely with homegrown players (Wang, Pettitte, Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy) so who relies more on homegrown players again?
"If someone wants to compare us to the Yankees based on winning and results, that’s an incredible standard,” said Epstein, the general manager of the Boston Red Sox. “If they want to compare us to the Yankees in how we do things, that’s a little off base.”
Tyler goes on to give credit to the boy genius for all his shrewed moves and his continues investment in developing players.
"Homegrown players contributed directly to the title, including closer Jonathan Papelbon, second baseman Dustin Pedroia and pitcher Jon Lester, who won the clinching game."
I decided to take a look at the Boston team and compare the postseason(ALDS) 25 man roster to that of the Yankees and see where each player was originally acquire; drafter/signed to minor league deal, Trade or Free Agency. Here are the results;
Boston - 10 Free Agency, 9 through Trade, 6 Drafted/Signed
Yankees - 12 Drafted/Signed, 7 Free Agency, 6 through Trade.
So here is where some recent contributions from some young players creates a little bit of false perception. The truth of the matter is the 2004 Red Sox team was built almost completely on imported players and just recently have they begun to produce anything of substance. However, for Theo to imply that the Red Sox do things differently because they give young players more of a chance is just plain wrong. Also, the Yankees might have a starting rotation next year built completely with homegrown players (Wang, Pettitte, Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy) so who relies more on homegrown players again?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Santana is going to be a Yankee
According to Murray Chass, the Twins have reduced their demand from the Yanks for Johan Santana. WHAT A SHOCK!!! You mean to tell me that the awesome, stupendous offer that the Red Sox made is really not good enough after all? What a joke!
As we have said many many times here at YankeeGM, the Twins have no interest in Santana for the Lester/Ellsbury, Lowrie, Materson etc. package.
I have no doubt that Johan will be a Yankee. Continued patience by the Yankee brass will result in our getting Santana and keeping Hughes. Our proposed package of Kennedy, AJax, Melky and Horne plus one blows the Sox' offer out of the water. The only question is, can Hank keep his finger off of the trigger long enough for that to happen?
As we have said many many times here at YankeeGM, the Twins have no interest in Santana for the Lester/Ellsbury, Lowrie, Materson etc. package.
I have no doubt that Johan will be a Yankee. Continued patience by the Yankee brass will result in our getting Santana and keeping Hughes. Our proposed package of Kennedy, AJax, Melky and Horne plus one blows the Sox' offer out of the water. The only question is, can Hank keep his finger off of the trigger long enough for that to happen?
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Johan Watch- Day 63
The latest bit of Red Sox propaganda comes from Nick Cafardo;
"Since the winter meetings, nothing has changed with Boston's offer, but after the New Year things are expected to get down to the nitty-gritty, when Minnesota will expect the Yankees and Red Sox to give their final "best offer." ..... If the Yankees don't include Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox will land him. "
If the Red Sox have not improved their offer why would Minnesota suddenly feel it is good enough? He cites no sources, even anonymous ones. This is a gut feeling Boston-centric statement, ignore it.
"Since the winter meetings, nothing has changed with Boston's offer, but after the New Year things are expected to get down to the nitty-gritty, when Minnesota will expect the Yankees and Red Sox to give their final "best offer." ..... If the Yankees don't include Ian Kennedy, the Red Sox will land him. "
If the Red Sox have not improved their offer why would Minnesota suddenly feel it is good enough? He cites no sources, even anonymous ones. This is a gut feeling Boston-centric statement, ignore it.
Looking Back - The Sheffield Trade
It has been a little over a year since the Yankees unloaded Gary Sheffield for Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggert, I thought it was time to take a look back and see how the Yankees have done so far. Lets look at the key pieces of the deal;
Gary Sheffield
First, lets look at what Sheffield did in Detroit;
2007 Recap
.265/.378/.462 with 25 Hrs and 75 Rbi in 133 games.
Gary got off to a very slow and finished with .172 avgerge in September. He also missed some time due to injury and all this after signing an extension that runs through 2009.
Going Forward
The tigers can't be happy with their return and at the age of 38 his decline might be getting worse not better.
Humberto Sanchez
2007 Recap
Humberto was the key to the deal with a mid 90's fastball and polish. However, he never threw an inning last year and underwent tommy john surgery.
Going Forward
This trade will most likely hinge on how he bounces back this year from TJ surgery. The Yankees apparently knew he was going to need surgery and made the deal anyway, another high risk high reward move with a young pitcher.
Kevin Whelan
2007 Recap
Whelan started the year in high A and dominated (3.54 h/9 sub 1 whip). He was then promoted to AA and his wildness returned (6.96 BB/9) to go with a low hit rate and high strikeouts.
Going Forward
He has the stuff to be a lights-out closer but must do a better job of controlling the strike zone. 2008 will be a huge year for him, if he can't improve his control he will never be back of the bullpen force.
Anthony Claggert
2007 Recap
The Yankees reworked his mechanics and switched him to starting to try and extend his innings. He still profiles as a middle reliever/setup man but the change made him pitch more towards contact and he had success (3.69 era and a promotion to Trenton to close the year).
Going Forward
Will most likely start the year in Trenton and still profiles well as a sixth inning guy.
Gary Sheffield
First, lets look at what Sheffield did in Detroit;
2007 Recap
.265/.378/.462 with 25 Hrs and 75 Rbi in 133 games.
Gary got off to a very slow and finished with .172 avgerge in September. He also missed some time due to injury and all this after signing an extension that runs through 2009.
Going Forward
The tigers can't be happy with their return and at the age of 38 his decline might be getting worse not better.
Humberto Sanchez
2007 Recap
Humberto was the key to the deal with a mid 90's fastball and polish. However, he never threw an inning last year and underwent tommy john surgery.
Going Forward
This trade will most likely hinge on how he bounces back this year from TJ surgery. The Yankees apparently knew he was going to need surgery and made the deal anyway, another high risk high reward move with a young pitcher.
Kevin Whelan
2007 Recap
Whelan started the year in high A and dominated (3.54 h/9 sub 1 whip). He was then promoted to AA and his wildness returned (6.96 BB/9) to go with a low hit rate and high strikeouts.
Going Forward
He has the stuff to be a lights-out closer but must do a better job of controlling the strike zone. 2008 will be a huge year for him, if he can't improve his control he will never be back of the bullpen force.
Anthony Claggert
2007 Recap
The Yankees reworked his mechanics and switched him to starting to try and extend his innings. He still profiles as a middle reliever/setup man but the change made him pitch more towards contact and he had success (3.69 era and a promotion to Trenton to close the year).
Going Forward
Will most likely start the year in Trenton and still profiles well as a sixth inning guy.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The Johan Trade
As has been blogged here before, I believe the Yanks are truly in a position of power in the Johan Santana sweepstakes. If the Twinkies were enamored with the Boston package of Lester/Materson/Lowrie/Crisp they would have pulled the trigger already. If the Red Sox were willing to give up more they would have likewise done so already.
What Cash and Co needs to do is put together a package that is clearly better than what Boston is offering and sit tight. That package should be:
Kennedy
Melky
A-Jax
One from the following list: Melancon/Ohlendorf/Horne/Tabata/Betances
And one from the following list: Wright/Marquez/Laird/Cox/Gardener
This trade would very much be in line with what the Tigers gave up for Cabrera/Willis, and what the DBacks gave up for Haren. It also serves to preserve the biggest of the big 3 (Hughes) and give us the best rotation in baseball.
What Cash and Co needs to do is put together a package that is clearly better than what Boston is offering and sit tight. That package should be:
Kennedy
Melky
A-Jax
One from the following list: Melancon/Ohlendorf/Horne/Tabata/Betances
And one from the following list: Wright/Marquez/Laird/Cox/Gardener
This trade would very much be in line with what the Tigers gave up for Cabrera/Willis, and what the DBacks gave up for Haren. It also serves to preserve the biggest of the big 3 (Hughes) and give us the best rotation in baseball.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Joba to the 'Pen? HUGE Mistake!
Buster Olney wrote today:
Heard this: If all goes well in spring training for the Yankees, Joba Chamberlain is likely to start next season in the Yankees' bullpen, as part of the team's effort to limit his innings. Chamberlain will go to spring training and, at the outset, prepare to pitch out of the rotation, along with five other rotation candidates: Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy. Assuming that none of the other five has a physical or performance breakdown, Chamberlain would then open 2008 in the bullpen, as a set-up man, for at least the start of the season -- under the Joba Rules.
The Yankees want to restrict the number of innings Chamberlain throws, and working him out of the bullpen for at least a couple of months will allow them to do that. Chamberlain may return to the rotation sometime in the middle of the season, depending on the Yankees' needs.
If Joba goes back to the 'pen he will never come out. Once given another taste of that 8th inning dominance General Joe and Hank will leave him there to have an amazing career as late-inning set up guy and then closer after '09.
The problem with that is that Joba is far more valuable to the Yanks as a dominant starter than as even the best reliever in the game. Just because a guy has domianant stuff, huge k numbers and can be successful in the role does not mean he should be moved to the bullpen.
Put differently, who would you rather on your team - Johan Santana or Krod? Roy Halliday or Billy Wagner? King Felix or Joe Nathan? There have been plenty of teams in history that have a dominant closer and placed in the bottom of their division. An Ace, though, will almost insure a team is at least competitive.
Heard this: If all goes well in spring training for the Yankees, Joba Chamberlain is likely to start next season in the Yankees' bullpen, as part of the team's effort to limit his innings. Chamberlain will go to spring training and, at the outset, prepare to pitch out of the rotation, along with five other rotation candidates: Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy. Assuming that none of the other five has a physical or performance breakdown, Chamberlain would then open 2008 in the bullpen, as a set-up man, for at least the start of the season -- under the Joba Rules.
The Yankees want to restrict the number of innings Chamberlain throws, and working him out of the bullpen for at least a couple of months will allow them to do that. Chamberlain may return to the rotation sometime in the middle of the season, depending on the Yankees' needs.
If Joba goes back to the 'pen he will never come out. Once given another taste of that 8th inning dominance General Joe and Hank will leave him there to have an amazing career as late-inning set up guy and then closer after '09.
The problem with that is that Joba is far more valuable to the Yanks as a dominant starter than as even the best reliever in the game. Just because a guy has domianant stuff, huge k numbers and can be successful in the role does not mean he should be moved to the bullpen.
Put differently, who would you rather on your team - Johan Santana or Krod? Roy Halliday or Billy Wagner? King Felix or Joe Nathan? There have been plenty of teams in history that have a dominant closer and placed in the bottom of their division. An Ace, though, will almost insure a team is at least competitive.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Curse of Papelbon's Dog
Today a new curse of the Boston Red Sox has officially begun. This curse is not caused by the selling of the world's greatest athlete to fund a marginal musical; this curse is caused by a grossly overinflated sense of entitlement. Those same lovable idiots(ok I puked in my mouth a little) of three years ago now value the World Series ball from their latest championship so little they let their pets use it as a chew toy. The bet here is that the baseball gods won't look too kindly on this.
With the Red Sox, the Celtics and the unbeaten Patriots, the city of Boston has clearly made a deal with the devil. This deal will come due soon enough when the curse of Shithead begins.
With the Red Sox, the Celtics and the unbeaten Patriots, the city of Boston has clearly made a deal with the devil. This deal will come due soon enough when the curse of Shithead begins.
Hank Not Into Prior, Yet
Unfortunately, it looks like the Yanks won't be involved in the Mark Prior sweeps. Newsday.com reports:
In another personnel matter, Steinbrenner said he did not expect the Yankees to go after free-agent righthander Mark Prior. The 27-year-old was once one of the top up-and-comers in baseball but has been oft-injured. This season, he was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts for the Cubs before shoulder surgery.
"We kind of looked into it, but at this point, no," Steinbrenner said of the Yankees' interest in Prior.
I have advocated signing Prior all offseason, but I may actually have been wrong. Prior's agent has said that Prior is not going to sign anything longer than a 1 year deal. This would allow the Yanks to sit back and make sure he has a successful return from shoulder surgery before stepping up to the plate and offering him the farm next offseason.
In another personnel matter, Steinbrenner said he did not expect the Yankees to go after free-agent righthander Mark Prior. The 27-year-old was once one of the top up-and-comers in baseball but has been oft-injured. This season, he was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts for the Cubs before shoulder surgery.
"We kind of looked into it, but at this point, no," Steinbrenner said of the Yankees' interest in Prior.
I have advocated signing Prior all offseason, but I may actually have been wrong. Prior's agent has said that Prior is not going to sign anything longer than a 1 year deal. This would allow the Yanks to sit back and make sure he has a successful return from shoulder surgery before stepping up to the plate and offering him the farm next offseason.
Your Johan Fact of the Day
Johan Santana had a 3.33 era last year, his worse performance since 2001. The last Yankee to start 30+ games and have a better era was Mike Mussina in 2001. As the Hank says today in Newsday about the Cashman;
"He'll [Cashman] tell me that one day he wakes up and wants to do one thing, and the next he wakes up and wants to do the other thing," Steinbrenner said, "and I'm kind of the same way. I think that we're not exactly panicking thinking that we have to have anything at this point, but it's still a possibility. He's a great pitcher, and it has to be seriously considered."
I feel the same when I see statistics like this I want to make the deal but the thought of the holy trinity dominating for 10 years makes me hesitate.
"He'll [Cashman] tell me that one day he wakes up and wants to do one thing, and the next he wakes up and wants to do the other thing," Steinbrenner said, "and I'm kind of the same way. I think that we're not exactly panicking thinking that we have to have anything at this point, but it's still a possibility. He's a great pitcher, and it has to be seriously considered."
I feel the same when I see statistics like this I want to make the deal but the thought of the holy trinity dominating for 10 years makes me hesitate.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Santana Saga Nearing an End?
The Pioneer Press is reporting there might finally be a resolution to the Johan sweepstakes;
"Boston remains firm, though, as initially reported by the Pioneer Press, in offering just Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson. The Red Sox are adamantly opposed to substituting Jacoby Ellsbury for Crisp, and that's the current holdup.
Regardless, there's buzz that the Santana trade could be made within days.
Boston has a larger pool of players who interest Minnesota and can contribute to the Twins immediately, whereas many of the New York Yankees' top prospects are at least a season or two away from succeeding in the major leagues. The Yankees remain firmly opposed to trading pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy together for Santana, and they certainly won't trade Joba Chamberlain."
I have said all along and I still think it, the Yankees will get Sanatana and Hughes, Kennedy plus 2 players will be on their way to Minnesota.
"Boston remains firm, though, as initially reported by the Pioneer Press, in offering just Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson. The Red Sox are adamantly opposed to substituting Jacoby Ellsbury for Crisp, and that's the current holdup.
Regardless, there's buzz that the Santana trade could be made within days.
Boston has a larger pool of players who interest Minnesota and can contribute to the Twins immediately, whereas many of the New York Yankees' top prospects are at least a season or two away from succeeding in the major leagues. The Yankees remain firmly opposed to trading pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy together for Santana, and they certainly won't trade Joba Chamberlain."
I have said all along and I still think it, the Yankees will get Sanatana and Hughes, Kennedy plus 2 players will be on their way to Minnesota.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)