Yankees Rumors + News + Blog Talk + NY Yankees Trade Rumors 2012

Much Ado About the Yankees

noreply@blogger.com (Colleen718) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:46:00 +0000

If we know anything about baseball we know things can change very quickly. We also know the baseball season is very long and what happens in the middle of the season has very little to do with where a team will be at the end.

We are not even at the All-Star Break, the unoffical halfway mark of the season, and I got the feeling critics, fans and media alike will be freaking out about the Yankees getting swept by the Red Sox. How long does someone have to watch baseball to know its a marathon, not a sprint?

If you say that the problems the Yankees exhibited in this past Boston series will show up in the playoffs, then obviously you dont know the Yankees and how they operate. Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi and the powers that be will not sit on their hands for the rest of the regular season. If there is a problem, the Yankees management will try their hardest to resolve it. Joba Chamberlain being out for the rest of the season will not destroy the Yankees' playoff chances. They will simply find someone to fill his spot.

My guess is the sports pundits know all this but freak out anyway because, let's face it, freaking out nowadays is more popular. Radio and television talk show hosts as well as reporters need to freak out to garner attention. There's alot of competition out there and the winning sentiment is "he who makes a bigger fuss gets the most attention."

It's just irksome to long time baseball fanatics to listen or read or watch the so-called experts get it wrong again and again. There is no need to freak out this early in the season. Anyway what's so interesting about someone hemming and hawing over something that's clearly no big deal? It's just annoying and insults the baseball viewers' intelligence. People in the media know they are appealing to sports fans who know what's up and yet they create stories where there are none.

Let's take the high road for once and stick to what happens on the field. It would be more helpful if the sports media would point out the mistakes a team makes and how a team can improve. Sounds boring, huh? That's why during games, announcers have the propensity to put you to sleep. That explains why, on the other hand, we get screaming lunatics who claim they can see into a team's future based on past performance and who rant and rave in a desperate attempt to get our attention.

The truth is, a team's past performance has very little to do with how it performs in the future, even if the future is only a few months away. Yankee fans have no need to worry and the media doesn't need to scare us into paying attention to them.

Is Andy Pettitte a Hall of Famer?

noreply@blogger.com (NYsportsblogger) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Andy Pettitte is one of my favorite athletes of all time.

I was truly saddened to hear that he was retiring - saddened by the fact that I will never get a chance to see him pitch again, and saddened by the fact that a 350-pound Hispanic gorilla now has a significant chance at gaining a spot in the Yankees rotation.

A question that I keep hearing is, “Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?”

To me, this one really is a no-brainer.

Pettitte does NOT deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, and it really shouldn’t be that much of a discussion. Pettitte had a very nice, long career. He was a good pitcher for a very long time on some great teams.

I don’t have a vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Shocking, I know.

But to me, the two main criteria that a Hall of Famer should meet:

1. A dominant player for an extended period of time (at least six years).

2. At one point or another, was in the discussion for “best player at his position”(although there are exceptions to this one).

Notice that I didn’t include something along the lines of “won a championship”. Here’s why (this might shock and offend some); championships are won by TEAMS. Let that soak in for a minute.

Winning championships is always the ultimate goal in sports. Every team is ultimately evaluated by the amount of championships they win, and that’s the way it should be. But how is it fair to judge a player based on the performance of 24 other guys?

Postseason performance should absolutely be a factor, and Andy Pettitte certainly was a great postseason performer. But I really am sick of hearing “five-time champion” as part of his “Hall of Fame credentials”.

Andy Pettitte is not a heavy weight boxer, he did not go out and knock somebody out in a pay-per-view classic. Was he an integral part of the championship teams? Absolutely.

But the key words there are “part” and “team”. The Hall of Fame inducts players as individuals, and Pettitte should not be rewarded for being on a great team when being evaluated as a candidate.

As far as the criteria I do have listed, does Pettitte meet either of them?

“A dominant player for an extended period of time.” Pettitte had a couple of great seasons, but he finished in the top three of Cy Young voting just once. For the most part, Pettitte’s ERA hovered in the high three to low four range, hardly what I’d call dominant.

“At one point or another, was in the discussion for ‘best player at his position’”. At no point in his career was Pettitte anywhere near this discussion, and if you think otherwise you are sadly mistaken.

As for there being an exception to this rule - if there is a truly dominant player that will always be the best at his position, then the other players at that position obviously won’t be in the discussion for “best at his position” because there simply is no discussion, i.e – Ken Griffey Jr. in the 90’s and Albert Pujols right now.

For the record, saying a player doesn’t deserve to make the Hall of Fame is not a criticism. Andy Pettitte had a great career as a durable and very reliable pitcher. He pitched 200 innings in 10 out of 16 seasons, a truly impressive feat in the age of the glass-armed pitcher.

But when I think Hall of Famer, I think Albert Pujols. I think Randy Johnson. I think Ken Griffey Jr. I think Kaz Matsui.

If someone were to ask you if one of these guys deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, would you even hesitate to say yes?

Another thing I’ve heard and read is “Well, if Bert Blyleven got in, Pettitte should definitely get in!” There are so many things that are wrong with that statement that I don’t even know where to begin, but I have to begin somewhere so here it is.

I hate that players such as Bert Blyleven and Andre Dawson are in the Hall of Fame.

Nothing against them personally, they were both very good players at one point or another. But a player should not be inducted just because he stuck around for long enough to compile big career numbers.

Next, can I just point out how insanely idiotic the philosophy of “Well, we made a mistake with this guy, so let’s reward somebody else for making that mistake and giving him something he clearly doesn’t deserve!” Bert Blyleven has no business being in the Hall of Fame. The voters royally screwed that one up. Andy Pettitte is certainly less unqualified (wow that sounds dumb) than Bert Blyleven. But this simply does not equate to Andy Pettitte being a Hall of Famer.

If Pettitte were to be elected on this premise, I guess you’d simply have to make a “Law of Bert” for the Hall of Fame. “Is he better than Bert? He is? He’s got my vote.”

Just to beat a dead horse even more, and God knows how much fun it is to beat a dead horse, lets relate this to something outside of sports (and if you’ve ever read any of my other dry-humor laced (the type of dry-humor that makes you ask yourself, “is he kidding or does he have some form of aspergers?”) articles, you know I love doing that). And yes, I just used parenthesis inside of a parenthesized statement, piss off.

Let’s say a guy kills his wife. It’s blatantly obvious to everyone that he did it. However, when he gets to court, there is slightly less evidence against him than there was against O.J Simpson when he (allegedly) murdered his wife. Would it be okay to rule this guy innocent?

Now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “How long before this jackass acknowledges that he was kidding about Kaz Matsui?” Well, there ya go.

But more importantly, you’re probably thinking, “Did you really just compare the Hall of Fame induction process to a hypothetical homicide trial?”

Trust me, it made sense when I first thought of it.

A True Gentleman, Yankee and Family Man

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:25:00 +0000

It has bee a while since I last posted on the Yankees, actually there is not much to discuss, the passing of GMS 3rd, has left the Yankees, somewhat boring to a degree, at least for me a life long devotee.

The Jeter thing leaves me cold, there have not been any exciting signings, keeping Joba is, at least to me foolish, hell send him to Milwaukee,, then watch him flourish and them win HUGE, which would be GREAT for the game and that wonderful town/city Milwaukee. Signing Soriano is good, he the potential to be the closer of the future,, if he can handle the allure of the Greatest City on the Planet. Brian Cashman is being silly with his now open minded opinions, and Mr. Steinbrenners boy's, are proving to be just that, although one seems more in control and sane than the other..

Putting your eggs in one Cliff Lee basket was a fools pla, especially not truly knowing what Andy was going to do. But True to his Faith, Family and himself, he choose Family. Sad for Yankee fans, but a MAN'S CHOICE..He like Cliff Lee proved it was not about the money or the fame, it was about comfort and happiness, and as a Father of a Most Wonderful Young Man would make the same choice.

Friday Andy will retire from Major League Baseball,,for now, his concentration will be that of being Husband, Father and a man at Peace with his life, career and accomplishments...They are truly amazing if you just take a moment and look.

A purely faith based man with enormous integrity and devotion, Andy leaves a hole yes, but a legacy of Truth, Sincerity, Honesty and Dignity, outstanding craftsmanship and a Hall of Fame Career as both a Player, but most importantly as a Human Being.

Today's kids can look upon Andy with joy, pride and a STRONG VALUE, to them as a role model, athlete and Human Being. His love of God and Family is not for sale, for show, or anything commercial. It is just that Truth and Integrity, discipline, accomplishment, loyalty, love and the essence of the word TEAM MATE.

His legendary arm will surely be missed, his smile and humility as well, but Andy leaves the game ON TOP with a resume that one can only dream of:)

#46 will hang in Monument Park for future generations to see, and talk about, but for those of us who had the privilege of "seeing him in person", well that is in itself a lasting ongoing gift.

I/We will miss Andy and all he has brought, given and dedicated himself too. We have been blessed by his sharing himself with us to cheer for, occasionally boo, but always hoping and praying that he would again, pull us out of the woods.

Andy, stay home,just be Dad and a Husband, but first: thank you for the joy, the pleasure and the gifts that you have bestowed on the name New York Yankees, your fans and especially our Children.

You will miss the guys, as they will miss you, you will miss the moments, the Championships, even the heartaches. But now you have the greatest gift of ALL, that of Family with a love that is a never ending series of Championships, and yes some heartaches, along with that never ending wonderment and joy that goes with being pure honest and sincere.....A FAMILY:).

May God bless you, stand by and with you and your family ALWAYS, and Thank you for the sacrifices you made for us, the gifts of Championships, Lessons in Integrity and Truth. Now it is your Family's turn to have you there always as did we and for them and yourself to have what you gave to use so freely and lovingly. I will miss you, but a joyful at your decision for you, you wife but especially your children... Be at Peace, Stay safe, but stay in touch:)

Soriano Securing Bridge to Mariano By: Lauren Pogulis

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Pogulis) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:49:00 +0000

The Yankees officially introduced Rafael Soriano to pinstripes on Wednesday in hopes of providing their bullpen a much-needed boost. The Yanks have been the odd-man out this offseason, losing a couple key free agents to other teams, most notably Cliff Lee to the Phillies, and Carl Crawford to the Red Sox. By signing Soriano, the Yankees have likely secured a lights-out combination of Soriano in the 8^th inning, and Mariano Rivera in the 9^th inning.

Soriano signed a three year contract worth $35 million; however, he does have an opt-out clause after the 2011 and 2012 season, which gives him the opportunity to test the free agent market again if he is unhappy in New York. He will earn $10 million for the 2011 season, with an additional $1.5 million if he opts out; $11 million in the second year, with an opt-out payment of $1.5 million; and $14 million for the 2013 season.

Soriano has been great throughout his career, and had a stellar year in 2010 with the Tampa Bay Rays as their closer. He converted 45 out of 48 save opportunities, good for a 94% success rate. He also posted a 1.73 ERA, while striking out 57 batters in 62 1/3 innings last year. It seems evident that he will be a terrific addition to the Yankee bullpen.

Many reporters and fans wondered if the Yankees would be able to acquire Soriano because of the fact that he would not be a closer with the Yankees. However, Soriano answered these questions in his press conference, by saying, through a translator, “I know people will find this strange, but I'm very happy to be close to one of the greatest closers in Mariano Rivera. Hopefully in the future I will, after being a setup man, be the closer, too.” He brings up a valid point, in that he could be Rivera’s successor as closer of the New York Yankees. Mariano signed a two year contract earlier this offseason, whereas Soriano, if he decides to not opt-out of his contract, signed a three year deal with the Yanks, leaving Soriano as the likely potential recipient of the closer role when Rivera’s contract expires after the 2012 season.

This particular signing by the Yankees is probably their best one thus far this winter. The Red Sox have an extremely formidable lineup and starting rotation, and by the Yankees signing Soriano, it seems as though opponents will be facing a 6-7 inning game with Soriano and Rivera closing out games.

The Yankees, although they didn’t make their usual splash in the free agent pool, look to be putting together an impressive team anyway. Look for the Yanks to continue putting the pieces together, as they are extremely optimistic about the upcoming season.

Follow me on twitter @Laurpogulis

Is a Comeback in the Cards for AJ Burnett?

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren Pogulis) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:50:00 +0000

All Yankees fans may cringe when they hear AJ Burnett’s name being mentioned as a major part of the 2011 starting rotation. This is because of his dreadful 2010 campaign, in which he set a Yankees franchise-record for highest ERA from any Yankees starter in history with more than 180 innings (5.26). Moreover, Burnett frustrates coaches and fans because of his inability to be consistent. He possesses one of the best curveballs in baseball, and an equally good fastball when he is on. AJ also has developed a changeup, which when he uses, has brought him some success as well. However, his failure to be reliable is what drives coaches and fans insane, because he has such tremendous talent and potential, and throughout his career AJ has not been able to find any consistency.

The big question going into the 2011 season for the Yanks is going to be the starting rotation. Yankee fans watched and listened to all the Cliff Lee hype, only to watch him head to Philly. With Lee not in pinstripes next season, the Yankees do have a lot of question marks in regards to their rotation, and AJ Burnett is one of the main ones.

With this in mind, fans have to remember that AJ started the 2010 season lights-out. Through the middle of May, his ERA was under 3. Also, Burnett has been known to exhibit a lack of concentration, which may in part have contributed to his ugly numbers this past season.

Furthermore, the Yankees hired new pitching coach Larry Rothschild in the offseason, and one must wonder if maybe he can be the answer to AJ Burnett. Rothschild is a very accomplished and well-respected coach so it is not crazy to think that he could possibly resolve AJ’s issues both mentally and physically.

Going into the 2011 season, it looks like Burnett is doing all he can to avoid what he did last season. Burnett, who resides in Maryland in the offseason, recently converted a barn on his property to an indoor pitching area. He will also begin working with Larry Rothschild in January before reporting to Spring Training in February.

Yankees fans can only hope that AJ Burnett shows up and ready to play for the 2011 season, because truth be told the Yanks need him to be the top-of-the-rotation pitcher he is being paid to be if they are going to be successful this season.

Yankees Offseason Review

noreply@blogger.com (Luke) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:48:00 +0000

As the offseason baseball moves go on, Yankee fans have been mostly let down. Brian Cashman tried to get Cliff Lee, but he said no as he will help Philadelphia's rotation. Along with most Yankee fans, it was very disappointing to get so excited for the possible signing of Cliff Lee, then to get upset about only having three starters so far. If Andy Pettitte comes back for another year, then that will help, but it still puts us in the same predicament we were in last year, which was putting all the pressure on CC Sabathia to win 20 games.

Meanwhile, with Boston loading up on big name players like Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, the Yanks need to watch out as 1st place only becomes less and less of a safe bet. Although they signed Russell Martin and Mark Prior, the Yankees really were not themselves in the free agency period and didn't make any big moves. It will be a good season, though, as always. Only 91 days until Opening Day!!!

Going with 'Plan B'

noreply@blogger.com (Brian Starkman) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 21:40:00 +0000

After losing out on prized free agent Cliff Lee the New York Yankees have had to resort to a different form not seen since Roger Clemens decided to pitch for Toronto in 1997.

This form called for a different course of action; patience. Instead of blindly throwing money at the next best option (there aren’t any) or trading away the farm for a pitcher, general manager Brian Cashman has been quite idle.

Sure, he signed Russell Martin to be the everyday catcher, a significant upgrade from Francisco Cervelli and a security blanket for Jesus Montero. But Martin suffered his worst season in the majors last year posting a .248 batting average in only 97 games. His bat won’t be relied on as much as it was in Los Angeles but he will be needed to catch as much as possible. However there is tremendous upside, Martin was an All-Star in 2007 and could provide a similar offense to what Posada has done over the past 10 years.

The signing of Pedro Feliciano is two-sided, while another lefty arm is needed to stabilize the bullpen Feliciano has been under an extreme workload appearing in 86, 88, and 92 games with the Mets in the past three seasons. There is no telling the condition of his arm, shoulder or elbow especially with his unusual delivery. He did keep left-handed hitters to a .211 batting average, a stark contrast to his .346 batting average against right-handers.

This wasn’t the only splash made by the Yankees and Cashman, they’ve decided to take a flier on Mark Prior agreeing to a minor league deal but it isn’t smart to rely on him to stabilize the rotation. In fact only one person can do that and he apparently is on the verge of retirement. That’s right, Andy Pettitte, longtime Yankee and a vital part to the 2011 season, if he plays. If Pettitte decides to return that leaves only one hole to fill in the rotation with a lot of in-house options for a fifth starter, which Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre seem to top the list.

This leads us to perhaps the most interesting storyline from this offseason heading into next year. It won’t be the team being spurned by Lee or the mid-level free agent signings; it will be the loss of pitching coach Dave Eiland and the addition of the new pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Rothschild, who came over from the Chicago Cubs, will have a lot of work to do with A.J. Burnett, trying to get him back on track while also monitoring Phil Hughes in his second full season as a starter. Not to mention the battle that will take place for the possible fourth and fifth starting job depending on Pettitte’s decision.

It’s not every off-season the Yankees don’t get the present they covet the most and since the winter meetings have ended clearly lost an edge in the division. The Red Sox, coming off of an injury-plagued season, have bolstered their lineup and bullpen by trading for Adrian Gonzalez and signing Carl Crawford and Bobby Jenks. The Yankees also lost something else, sole right of the highest payroll in the league, which is actually nice to see especially since Red Sox owner John Henry dubbed the Yankees the ‘Evil Empire’ and it is now he who is spending the most. Maybe Cashman was right, patience can pay off…or not pay at all.

Jeter's Icon Precedent

noreply@blogger.com (AlexArthur) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:21:00 +0000

Derek Jeter’s reputation may have changed a bit this offseason. He is a Yankee, and always should be. But it’s a bit off-putting to have seen him stubborn over a few million dollars, when the contract will take him into his late 30’s right after a decline in production this past season. The Yankees, for their part, probably take in an incalculable amount of revenue from Jeter’s name, image and popularity, and this is all aside from his play, so long as he isn’t having a completely horrendous year.

It’s probably this which prompts the Yankees to pay Jeter above what his numbers would command, and this was part of what Casey Close, Jeter’s agent, argued. Close wanted Jeter to be paid as a player, but also as a Yankee icon. But we don’t keep politicians in the Senate if they become senile, or in another way aren’t able to perform the functions of the office, at least in theory. Likewise, a player on a team expected by its fans to win championship after championship should not continue to be paid an exorbitant salary on account of his past reputation, if his numbers are faltering.

As a 20-something Yankee fan, I associate Jeter along with Posada, Riviera, Girardi and Andy Pettitte with the reason that I’m a fan, that being that when I watch the Yankees now, I’m still connected by these guys to my experience watching the Yankees growing up, and you can’t say that about a lot of teams today. I fully expect Jeter to have a great year, and I wouldn’t want to see anyone else in the world at shortstop this season. I’m just hoping that we’re not beginning to pay players and keep them on the field for their marketing value, rather than giving the paying fans what we’re all in it for, that being to watch the best team possible have a great, exciting season and end up winning it all.

Yankees Future?

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Well as Christmas Day approaches, it is nice to see that finally the Yankees have come up a little short of the TRADEMARK BLOCKBUSTER SIGNING!

It will be a shame if Andy chooses to retire, not for him or his beautiful family, but for the name Steinbrenner. Although George had an interesting way of doing things, that were, well different, he was a compassionate and understanding Owner, who when given hard choices, tended to side with mindfulness.
However his eldest Son Hank, is more along the lines of Idi Amin or other Great Monster Dictators. He has no sense of sport, baseball, players or life, just money,,,Hell even Ho Chi Min had more savvy.

Hal seems to be on the quiet side, hedging on reflective and allowing Hank the leaway he needs to blow up the ship, yet strong enough to right the ship, just prior to sinking.

If Andy does stay retired it will be WONDERFUL FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY, but for the fans, a little sad, as the last of the True Yankees will be down to three, and the way Hank seems to be going, welcome to the late 80's and early 90's AGAIN,,,OMG!

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Could it be possible AGAIN???

Well here they go again,,,let's see 74 hits shy of becoming the ony PURE YANKEE to amass 3,000 hits in a career all in PINSTRIPES, with a over three hundred lifetime batting average. Playoff and World Series Records NEVER to be broken or equalled, not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars generated by his name, play and the dignity given to the PINSTRIPES and the pay back??? Let's go to the dollar menu at McDonald's for lunch Derek!

How about taking him to the Oak Room at the Plaza, because that is truly what Derek Sanderson Jeter is/has and always will be: TOTAL CLASS. HE IS THE YANKEES PRESENT, along with Mo, Jorgie, and Andy, as was Mattingly, Torre, DiMaggio, Mantle, Yogi, Gehrig. If Arod was the face of the Yankees, it would be a chinese buffet; all you can eat but what a belly ache it causes. But NEVER WOULD they have won as much, become so revered, set so many TEAM RECORDS and been so closely knit as they have with Jete at the Forefront.

Derek has brought the PINSTRIPE work ethic, professionalism, SELFLESSNESS and winning to what the YANKEES are supposed to be,,,not to mention being a truly amazing player under ALL circumstances. In essence Jete played with the Verve of Pete Rose and the panache of Joe D, without fanfare or self agrondisement,,,,He was Jete through and through ALL NEW YORK YANKEE>

So Cashman how many more STUPID mistakes can you make by insulting the YANKEES, THE FANS, THE PINSTRIPES and Derek Jeter? A brief count of idiocy, Giambi, Burnett, Contreras, Weaver, Vasquez, TWICE, Nick Johnson or yea and the Cornhusker,,,JOBA.....good lord without the likes of Jete and, O'Neill Andy, Mo and Jorgie, who over a decade branded the PINSTRIPES as a close to Trillion dollar sales enterprise, along with countless titles and rings let you just ignore the obvious and say, here are a few bucks take it or leave it.

Perhaps a more Professional/consiliatory offer, not a pure business machine offer, would have been 4 years at 20 million each and a lifetime services contract and allow Derek to move at his own pace,,,as only an intelligent athlete knows when it is time to say "hey, maybe it is time". His Pride is his contribution to the TEAM and THE PINSTRIPES, not his bank account...Yea enjoy eating the 100 million for chasing down Arod, who almost destroyed the fibre of the team with his AHOLE BS and arrogance...how does that taste Mr. Cashman, I will bet that Theo Epstein is laughing now about not getting Arod...who won????? let's see in the new 2000's I believe the Sox have two rings and totally creamed the Bombers from behind,,and guess what the did not have,,,,Arod. Just a bunch of Ballplayers who were, "IDIOTS",,,,kind like the 96 and 98 Team's. TOGETHERNESS.

But you go ahead and forget all he has done and give him a dollar menu burger,,"what fools these higher ups be". PT Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute,,,sould it be possible that the "new Steinbrenner regime" was born just minutes apart???

If I were Jeter I would counter the offer like this give me one guaranteed year at 20 million with a personal option for a second at say 10-15..Collect the needed hits to achieve the 3000 plus mark in year one, that give you 20 years of Service, plus all the records, joy and dignity brought to the team and walk away.

Mr. Jeter you are a first ballot Role Model, Gentlemen and oh yes Baseball Icon..No longer do the Yankees deserve you and your wonderful contributions, the TRUE FAN's know this..With your absence the revenue will go down as less people will want to see the side show, or buy the merchandise,,and the pathetic thing is that Cashman et al only cares about revenue...

I have seen a couple of WS Championships in person at the original, 70's remodeled and House that George Built, # 27 with my 13 year old Son...I have run the gamut. As a lifelong Yankees fan, I miss the Yogi's, and Roger's and DonnieBaseball's Whitey, Paulie and will miss Jete, Mo, Andy and Jorgie...They screwed Mr. Torre, and Donnie, hell Yogi left for 14 years and now you Mr. Jeter...I am done with them...maybe the Dodgers or Oakland will fill my ticket now, my son and I have been to many mnay games since he was three, including #27...What a way to leave,,fond memories,,all good,,but a TRULY BAD TASTE ON THIS ONE.. DEREK SANDERSON JETER, FROM MY HEART I WISH TO THANK YOU FOR THE MANY MANY MOMENTS IN DIGNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN THE YANKEES AND THE GAME, AND MY BELOVED SON,,I will always love the Yankees,,,ALWAYS but this is it....not another penny to be spent.. That is painful....but honest!

How to address the Core Four going Into 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:49:00 +0000

THE CAPTAIN:
Jete has been a part of every Yankee memory since his arrival in 1996.
As hard as it is to fathom, Jeter is 36 and will be 37 in June. He enters free agency coming off what might be his most challenging all-around season in the big leagues. But it is more than likely that Jete played with day to day aches and pains which typically went undetected. Like Lou Gehrig Jete would do what is best for the Yankees and play through discomfort,,unless of course it would hurt the TEAM.
Despite an off year, batting average (.270), slugging (.370) and on-base percentage (.340), Derek’s presence on the field is what Yankee Legendry is about. While it is idiotic to think that the Yankee brass would cast him aside, (the Steinbrenner Family would be dismissed first in New York City) there are two issues with resigning him. The first is how much do you pay an 11 time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, who has meant more to your team than any other player over the past fifty years? – Second, how long do you pay him?
Simple you give him a stated period of play contract with lifelong continuum clauses for whatever money is appropriate. My thought 25 Million for 4 as Player, then adjusted scale for life.
The other question is, and if so how would the Yankees approach asking the FRANCHISE to give shortstop up and where/when would they move him.

Jeter @ third Alex too short? nah....

Most likely Jeter remains at Short through 2011.

And anything HE so chooses in the Organization for LIFE!

Mariano Rivera:

What do you do with a 40+ year old former failed starting pitcher in the Major League’s? Who now DEFINES CLOSER? The implication, artform and surely it's history?

NOTHING LEAVE HIM BE AND PAY HIM WELL!

Mo with thelongest running tenure of the CORE FOUR, as most fans forget Mo came up in 1995 as a string bean skinny starting pitcher with a adequate fastball, but not much else. And he got hit hard, posting a 5.51 ERA that year.

Mo was sent down, only to emerge as:

John Wetteland‘s set-up man, proving to be unhittable and has remained so through today!

Mariano has redefined the role of CLOSER, forever, PERIOD.

Unlike Jeter or Posada, Mo shows few signs of slowing down or letting age affect him – other than the slightly more frequent muscle strains.

He remains baseball’s and the YANKEE'S ultimate weapon;

Since every team realizes if you let the Yankees get to the ninth with a lead;

ENTER SANDMAN!

The big questions with Mo remain, how long can he continue defy Father Time, and how much longer will he want to?

Mariano reminds me of the Great Satchel Paige’s line:

” Don’t look back, they might be gaining on you”;

but no one has really gained much on Mo.

NOR WILL THEY!

By the way Mo’s is an AMAZING Restaurant in New Rochelle New York,
Truly a destination for any travelling Yankee Fan!

Andy Pettite:

The Greatest Post-Season Pitcher in BASEBALL HISTORY;

Need I say more?

This is the one member of the Core Four with the most uncertainty about his status for 2011. Simply by personal choice!

Will he retire or will he come back for another hurrah?

Andy is taking some time to mull over his decision and has often said that it ultimately rests with his family.

A GREAT ATHLETE, BUT MORE, A GREAT FATHER, HUSBAND and TEAMMATE!

Why not carefully weigh his decision?,

He is only:

A three-time All-Star, borderline Hall of Famer, with 240 career wins,2251 SO’s.

and:

BASEBALL'S all-time leader in post-season wins, starts, AND innings.

ANDY has pitched some of the MOST MEMORABLE games in YANKEE History:

Included in Andy’s Proud History;

Pitching the deciding games, in all three series in 2009.

Importantly for 2011, the Yankees need to know if Andy is coming back before they can finalize the 2011 starting banking situation.

Just Honor his time, his process and Family, have patience, then pay him, giving the acknowledgement:

True YANKEE TREMENDOUS HUMAN BEING;

Andrew Eugene Pettitte (born June 15, 1972), Baton Rouge, Louisiana,

HE DESERVES IT!

There is NO doubt the Yankees are a better team with him in 2011 than without.

Jorge Posada:

At 39, Jorgie is the only member of the Core Four signed for next season. Remember Jorgie and Andy in Double A together? Try that when you pick out a catcher AJ, care to match You v Andy n Jorgie?

He too is borderline Hall of Famer.

My take is that to be elected to the Hall, you have to be the dominate player at your position, during your Era,,,Who has done or Won more than Jorgie?

Okay, he suffered through one his more frustrating seasons in 2010.

Still he produced 57 runs, hit 18 dingers, scored 49 runs in only 120 games. Age is a concern with Jorgie, however what he begins to loose in physicality, he more than makes up for in COMPLETE knowledge and Professionalism. Historically catchers do not age gracefully, and when they decline, it tends to be a rapid descent.

Defensively, the injuries of the past few seasons have taken their toll, Jorgie no longer moves with mercurial grace behind the plate, but he does move more intelligently.

So riddle me this Batman:

How to begin easing him out of the regular catcher role?

Trying to insert

Cervelli into more starts this year, NO that just confirmed that Cervelli is nothing more than a career backup.

So 2011 promises the long-awaited arrival of Jesus Montero, but all of the reports regarding his defensive prowess hardly make him out to be the next Thurman Munson.

Jorgie will accept more DH time and less catching time for younger version of himself only because he is a consummate TEAMMATE, TRUE YANKEE and Ultimate Sportsman?

Jorgie has long taken pride in his defensive game, has worked very hard and deserves the credit and recognition, even if he has been known to be feisty at times.

It’s served him, the Fans and the YANKEES well in the past –

IT WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE SAME GROUP AS LONG AS HE REMAINS!

THE CORE FOUR FOREVERMORE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Alex Rodriguez is like Splenda – Sweet but………

This might surely be an unpopular topic with a lot of Yankee fans.

If you are true and believe the Traditions of the Pinstripes, NO WAY.

Throughout the history of the game of Baseball, always and forever it has been about the Yankees, the Pride, the Prejudice by others, but ultimately being a Yankee a Professional, a Teammate:

The “Bambino” had a theory.

"The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime." – Babe Ruth

Now George Herman “Babe” Ruth truly redefined the game and what Baseball, it’s future and what stardom was and forever will be all about. Yes Babe had some, behavioral issues. But was, as was Mick designated:

“Great Teammates”

A teammate is linked in a common purpose, without selfish intentions.
Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.

BUT NOT ONE MEMBER IS BIGGER THAN THE TEAM…

I grant that when his career is over, no doubt Alex will perhaps hold every major hitting record that the fans so enjoy.

But does this warrant him SPECIAL ATTENTION, for example:

Each Club has there “Clubbies”, kids who are effectively gophers for the Players, more kids at home than on the road. (they do not travel with the Team) Alex likes to keep a road clubby for everything,,,I refer to Joe Torre’s Book, the Chapter on Alex. To ask for coffee when every other player gets there own is ridiculous. But to just not realize the idiocy of the action is completely “mentally irregular” as Rocky Balboa so eloquently phrased it.
Actions as these lead me to a question motivation as a Teammate, other than the mentality to be treated as a deity and the GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER EVER. He might well be someday. But at what expense to the concept of Team???

In Seattle, as accomplished as he was, he played with other Super Stars who just let it ride. Then agent Scott Boras so inflated his market value, that one player was in essence atomic fusion, a chain reaction. Sadly Alex actually believed his own press and negated to remember that:

NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME!
Tiger Woods you listening

Off to Texas he put up monster numbers for MONSTER dollars and three last place finishes…..but Alex is again too consumed with how it looks as opposed to how it WORKS, how THE TEAM WORKS:

Except for last year:

ALDS - .455 BA .500 OnBase%, 1.000 Slugging

ALCS - .429 BA .567 OnBase%, .952 Slugging

WS - .250 BA: .423 OnBase%, .550 Slugging

Notable is Alex’s state of mind or lack thereof.

He thought he had answered the questions about his postseason performance after the World Series last year, and for the most part, he has been correct.

ALCS 2010 Mark Teixeira out, another wave of mediocre performance made its way to Alex, who was 3-for-17 (.176) with a double and two RBIs in the ALCS. Sadly, he really only has to get on base and run,,,not mash every pitch.

There are 8 count them EIGHT additional Batsmen available to push runs across the plate.

This is his spoken perception:

"Overall this year, I feel really good,"I know sometimes the numbers don't say how you feel, but I [want] to do exactly what I've done the last two or three games - which is come in, swing at strikes and hit the ball hard, and if not, walk, pass the baton and use your legs."

UMMMM .176 Average, Hit the starch out of it AROD???

It is insanity, how about play within your ability not your EGO, or as Sam Snead so beautifully said:

“Dance with the one your brung”

It is all there, but not the six inch fairway, if it about not feeling loved, Alex has 2 beautiful Children who could care less what he hits or does,,,he is their Da,

not AROD…

THEY LOVE HIM REGARDLESS AND WILL ALWAYS,

Oh yea if you need more than that:

“YOU NEED TO GET YOUR NUT CHECKED MISTER!”
Coach Lombardi

Proper Re Tooling is not Firing the Pitching Coach!

noreply@blogger.com (Coach Chipper) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:54:00 +0000

Re - Vamp Should start at the top!
Dave Eiland is not at fault for the complacency and lack of proper off field training that highly recruited and paid pitchers have seemingly failed to do. AJ Burnett is by his own admission a .500 pitcher, and Joba nothing more than a out of shape out of sink buffoon, but sadly a member of the most dominate and exclusive franchise in the history of Sports.
Do not get me wrong, AJ brought joy and playfullness to the Team in 2009, coupled with the dynamic personalities of Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher. It seemed that the Yankees had not just a Core Four, but a repeatable work ethic with a window of 4 years to continue to perform at the highest level.

What happened to the PIE in 2010?

o AJ, well he struggled and Joba,,nuff said. BUT WHY,,,,,Not the fault of Dave Eiland,,,

o COMPLACENCY certainly comes to mind.

o Damon released,and oh yea, what ever happened to:

o WS MVP and Pure Yankee Hideki Matsui?
Matsui only provided the Angels with: 145 games, .274 BA, 21 HR’s 84 RBI’s and 55 Runs. While, Nick, “how can I stay hurt” Johnson did nothing after May 7th or before for that matter.

And the mind boggling judgment of Brian Cashman, to replace a Professional in Matsui. So lets escape and blame Dave Eiland,,,
But getting back to my point, Dave Eiland is a Great Pitching Coach, his work ethic and training techniques are to be valued not overlooked. Did the Large Kid from Nebraska look plausibly fit to pitch this year,,no he sulked because a 23 year old Hughes reported ready to COMPETE and thereby WON the job.

Did AJ look remotely similar to the Pitcher that Cashman so coveted,,,I THINK ,,,,,NOT.
I do not begrudge the players for being paid silly sums of money to play a kids game, I applaud it. But with that comes the responsibility of being PREPARED…
In the off season did the pitching staff throw long toss on their own, doubtful, except for perhaps CC, Andy and Hughes.
Long toss has been the foundational structure for an arm to strengthen and thus be able to perform deep into a 162 game schedule… It just did not happen. Lets blame Eiland,,,,how about Pitchers return the money or donate it to Children’s Charity?????

BLAME ,,, in my view Brian Cashman, Joba was, is and will be his HUGE mistake, but the Team will have to live with, as is Burnett.

There is a young kid named NOVA,,,remember him, never was allowed to find out if he could win or lose a game as Manager Joe “Gag” Girardi pulled him.

Baseball Men :
Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemeyer would never allow that, but would let him to feel his oats. I can just hear it: “Don’t worry kid; we got your back, just make your pitches”. And We know there are more than just these two in the Game.

I am not sure there is a pitcher today that can go out and feel secure and safe as he approaches 90 pitches.Typically Yankee Management, will assign blame this time to anyone, the Pitching Coach,as opposed to the players for not taking responsibility.

Yankee Management continues their egomaniacal attempts to put non matching personnel together, while removing the glue that kept it together.

But fear not, Cashman will urinate away a gazillion dollars to get Cliff Lee,,,and whoever else can fill in the blanks, as in checks.

Glad you are not here to see this Mr. Steinbrenner, even You would be appalled at this.

Fire Cashman. Hire Billy Beane and build on Statistics! If you need a Compatible Pitching Coach How about Rick Petersen?

The Yankees of 2010 remind me of the Democrats Tax and Spend.

To Jete, Mo, Andy and Jorgie, your loyalty and Professionalism is well appreciated as are the skills and dignity you have brought to the New York Yankees.
Let us pray that the New Steinbrenner Group and the Psuedo GM can perform at a level comparable to what you have.!

The Value of Derek Jeter

noreply@blogger.com (NYsportsblogger) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:13:00 +0000

By: Justin Diaz

How much money is a 36-year-old shortstop hitting .264 worth?

The answer is quite simple under normal circumstances, not a whole lot. However, when that shortstop happens to be Derek Jeter, the circumstances are far from normal.

The Yankees do not negotiate extensions with any player still under contract.
This past offseason, with Jeter heading into the final year of his 10-year, $189 million deal, they
did not budge from that policy.

Coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2009, contract negotiations weren’t expected to be difficult. A ten-time all star, career .314 hitter, team captain; couldn’t be too complicated to figure out how much to pay the guy, right?

After a hot start to the season, Jeter has in fact made things complicated with the way he’s been playing. Since June 1st, he is hitting .239, with a .320 on-base percentage and a .336 slugging percentage.

The numbers are shocking to look at, as Jeter has been one of the most consistent players in the league throughout his entire career.

Before this season, Jeter’s lowest average in a season was .291 and his lowest OPS was .771. His average for the season is .264 with a .702 OPS, a significant drop-off in production that is certainly cause for concern.

Is it fair to say that he is officially done and will never bounce back? No, 14 all-star caliber seasons gives him some benefit of the doubt. However, it is also far from certain that Jeter will have a bounce back year and return to his old form.

Which brings us to that same question, how much is Derek Jeter worth?

I’ve heard many fans say that the Yankees “have” to pay him more than market value because he’s accomplished so much with the organization. My question to those people is, so what?

There is no denying how much Jeter has meant to the Yankees throughout his career. He has been a great player on the field and a true class act off of it. As a Yankee fan, I truly appreciate all that he has done for the organization.

However, one thing many fans seemingly fail to recognize, it is his job to perform on the field. He gets paid to play baseball just like any other person gets paid to do their job. The only difference between Jeter and the average Joe is that over a 10-year period, his average salary was $18.9 million per year. As likeable as Jeter is, he has not been playing for the Yankees out of the kindness in his heart. Which brings me to my next point.

Everybody seems to love to mention all that Jeter has done for the Yankees, what about all that the Yankees have done for Jeter? They gave him a 10-year deal worth $189 million, making him the second highest paid athlete ever. As great as Jeter was at the time, would another team have come anywhere near that offer? That is a question that nobody can be sure about, but keep in mind that the big money in baseball normally goes to power hitters and starting pitchers, and Jeter doesn’t fit either of those categories.

I am not saying that Jeter did not live up to his contract, but the idea that the Yankees owe it to him to pay him more than market value is ludicrous.

Think of it this way; lets say John Doe is a top salesman for Company X for a long period of time. He has been a great employee throughout his entire career until the final year of his contract, when his sales numbers drop well below the performance of the company’s other salesmen. Would Company X overpay John Doe, despite the poor performance, because he’s been good to them in the past?

Many people will laugh at the comparison, but the Yankees are just like every other business in America in one aspect; their number one goal is making money. Of course, that goal is best attained through winning.

Nobody knows what the Yankees budget is, but despite what some people may believe, it does exist. There are going to be some holes to fill next season, most importantly the two open spots in the starting rotation (if Andy Pettitte retires). No matter who they sign, especially if it’s Cliff Lee (and it’s no secret they want him), those two pitchers will be very expensive. The Yankees cannot afford to drastically overpay Jeter and jeopardize their chances at signing Lee or any other free agent they choose to pursue in the upcoming offseason.

Which brings us to the answer to the question, how much money is Derek Jeter worth? The answer is quite simple; he is worth what the market dictates. If I had to guess, that would probably mean something like a 3-year deal somewhere in the $35-40 million range.

If the Yankees truly believe he is worth more than that, so be it. Just don’t say the Yankees owe Jeter more than he deserves. Baseball is, after all, a business.

The X-Factors

noreply@blogger.com (Brew) — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:38:00 +0000

When the 2010 season started, the Yankees roster seemed good enough to challenge for another World Series ring. I mean come on the pitching is filthy, the line-up is stacked with weapons of all shapes and sizes and gaining post-season and World Series experience is always precious. What was expected from the outfield though? Curtis Granderson was supposed to bolster that group, but could fan favorites Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner play at a high enough level to keep this machine running smoothly? The doubters were definitely out there, but Gardner and Swisher have done nothing but prove them wrong as they’ve been centerpieces of this Yankee offense thus far.

When Brett emerged with the Yankees, I instantly loved the guy. He hustled, stole bases, and added a dimension to the team that we hadn’t seen in a while. However, one Yankee fan I know, a Miami (Ohio) alum, had doubts and told me when Bretty G came up that he would never make it as a starter. “He can’t hit for squat, and his arm is weaker than my Mother’s” was along the lines of what he said, and I couldn’t really argue. He made progress last year, appearing in 108 games while hitting .270 with 26 stolen bases, but coming off the bench as a speed guy seemed like it would be Gardner’s role forever. I’m not sure if A-Rod slipped a little HGH in the kid’s Gatorade, but Brett has come back this season looking jacked and ready to swing a big stick. He’s hitting .333 with 14 stolen bases in 15 tries, and just seems way more comfortable at the plate. His hit streak of 11 games was just snapped last night in Detroit, but that’s the type of consistency we hope to see more of as the season rolls on. Good start Brett, now keep it goin’.

We all knew Swish would be good for hitting 25 homers with high energy play while keeping the clubhouse loose, but questions regarding his defense and low average loomed entering this season. However, he too has answered the bell. Nick has been “Swishing and Dishing” as my man Walt Clyde would say, hitting .306 with 7 homers and 24 RBIs in 30 games. That’s been key as his solid hitting has allowed Girardi to be flexible with Nick’s spot in the order. I actually like him a lot hitting in the two hole while Nick Johnson is rehabbing at the buffet. Swisher is a switch-hitter who has been getting on base, hitting for power AND average, and he packs MONSTER lips which is great to see. As for his defense, he isn’t Ichiro out there in right, but he hustles after every ball, plays hard, and loves getting the fans into it. Swish aint winning any batting titles anytime soon, but we don’t need him to. A steady offensive output and OK defense from Swish is all the Yankees need. Let’s face it, we don’t want to see Randy Winn or Marcus Thames playing any more then they are now so keep crushin it Nick.

The Yanks continue their series with Detroit tonight when Javier Vazquez returns to face Rick Porcello, so keep an eye on Brett bouncing back from his first hitless game in a while. As for Swish, he looks to keep a 5 game hitting streak of his own alive tonight.

Shout out to my man Nick for his birthday today

Brew

3 Negatives for the Yanks

noreply@blogger.com (CBAB) — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:26:00 +0000

1) Granderson to the DL

Granderson hitting the 15-day DL is a HUGE concern for the Yanks. Last week I had absurd amounts of schoolwork so I didn’t get the chance to write the blog, but one of my 3 positives was going to be Granderson’s play in the outfield. Curtis Granderson is simply perfect for the Yankees. His swing is ideal for the short porch in right. He hit the most homeruns to right field in baseball last year (or something like that). Adding the ridiculous porch at the Stadium into the mix, Granderson looks like he could really emerge as a dominant centerfielder for the Yanks. Grandy got off to an okay start by hitting .225 in the first month, but his speed and athleticism are what make him a perfect fit for the Yanks. He is second on the team with 4 steals and is exactly what we need from the 7 hole. His speed is crucial for the Yanks this year. We are used to having freakin’ Jorge grounding into a million double plays a year in the 7 spot, but now we have a speedy hitter with some pop in his bat beating out double plays like it is his job. He has hit into 1 in the last 100 and some odd games, which is simply awesome, but lets not forget he strikes out a lot. In the field, Granderson has 3 assists already, which is more than Bretty G and Swish combined. Having Grandy and Bretty G, “the Yankee’s Ichiro,” (Thanks to Ronny Washington) deep in the lineup allows Girardi to be creative and play a little small-ball, (Steals, Hit and Runs, Bunts, ect.). Grandy looks to be a defensive upgrade in center over Damon. His mixture of awareness and speed make him dangerous in the outfield. All these positives aside, Bretty G and Swish are going to need to step up with the absence of Grandy. We have a tough stretch coming up with series with the Sox, Twins, and Rays and the absence of Grandy is going to hurt us no doubt, but lets hope Bretty G and Swish step it up enough where we get by without Grandy.

2) Bullpen Pitching

Robertson, Marte, and Park all have ERAs over 4, which is simply unacceptable for pitchers in the Yankee’s bullpen. Robertson is holding onto his major league spot by a hair. He has two blown saves, 11 hits, and 8 ER in 5 2/3 innings. I would rather pull Mike Stanton out of retirement and let him lace them up because it is pretty hard to do worse than Robertson. I don’t want to give up on Robertson because last year he was a hidden gem out of the bullpen for us while posting a 3.30 ERA. He is still posting the strikeouts, (8 in 5 2/3 IP) but is way too hittable to be appearing in the late innings for the Yanks. Chan Ho Park has been up and down this year. His peak, the 3 innings of work en route to a win against Boston early in the year. His other two appearances were tough making his ERA 4.76 for the year. I don’t see Park’s struggles really having a huge impact on the Yanks simply because Girardi has started to, and I think will continue to, shy away from him. Marte has pitched well for most of the first month, but had one tough outing en route to a 8-4 loss against the Angels, which is the reason for his 5.40 ERA.

Robertson, in my mind, needs to head up to Scranton and figure out his location issues. He will be (or more like I hope he will be) reliable again as he was last year. Park’s issues are concerning me as much because we have proved we can win without him this year. Marte will get over his one tough outing and be another solid 1 inning guy out of the pen.

3) Tough stretch coming up

So far, I am loving how the Yanks are playing. This next 2-3 weeks are really going to show how good the Yanks really are. We have a three game series at Fenway, which we know will be great. Then we have Detroit, who is 16-11, the Twins, another two game set with Boston at the Stadium, and then Tampa and the Mets. If the Yanks can get through this stretch impressively, we are golden.

PS: This whole Jorge to the DL thing is troubling as well. Cervelli is hitting the crap out of the ball though, maybe a good thing? Wel’ll see.

CBAB

The Angry Ones

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:14:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau

May 7, 2010

I was recently involved in a friendly debate about the "unwritten rules" of baseball (and subsequently the DH rule) with the Angry Ones over on giantsmix.com. I kept trying to state my point, but they all quickly came out of the woodwork to raise irrational, immature arguments. They told me that the American League version of the game is wrong, and that it's 'fake baseball.' They all assume to know much more about the game than I do, because I didn't play past little league. (Evidently the writers/readers at giantsmix.com are all ex-professional baseball players.) They trashed ARod, and called the Yankees 'cheaters' for a reason I still can't figure out, because it was never properly explained to me. To see their inane arguments in the comments field, click here.

It occurred to me then, that non-Yankee fans really do hate the Yankees and their players with a passion. I have trouble relating to this, because I like all baseball teams. Ok, maybe not the Red Sox. But I respect them as a worthy adversary. Unfortunately, fans of other teams do not view the Yankees in the same light. And so, I dub them 'the Angry Ones,' because they are in fact, quite angry.

I have an explanation for their intense negativity: the Yankees are the most popular team in baseball. They are one of the best teams, competing in the best division in baseball: the AL East. These facts have a polarizing effect on fans of the game. Fans of other teams are jealous that the Yankee faithful have a team that competes every single year. And I honestly sypmathize with them, because I couldn't imagine not being in contention each season. Can you imagine what it must be like to be a Pirates fan? Forgetaboutit.

One thing I find astounding is the animosity the Angry Ones exhibit towards the DH rule and the American League. It's as if they believe themselves to be baseball purists, and our DH rule is blasphemous. The ironic part, is that most of the writers/readers at giantsmix.com have grown up with the DH rule as part of their lives. It was adopted by the league in 1973. It is as much a part of the game as sunflower seeds. I can understand if someone doesn't like the DH rule. It's a free country, we all have choices. But to over-react and start calling AL baseball fake, or cheating, is simply ridiculous.

If they want to be angry at us, then so be it. It just gives us more reason to root for the American League in interleague play, as well as in the All-Star game. (Which, we continue to dominate by the way.)

I know it was weeks ago that ARod infamously stepped on the mound during a game against Oakland, but Dallas Braden is running his mouth once again. To read his recent comments, here is a link from the USA Today article. It should make a routine set against the A's a bit more exciting, no? But we'll have to wait until July for that showdown. Tonight we open up a 3 game series in Boston. (Those fake, cheating bums!) Lol.

Hey Angry Ones... the big shiny photo of Arod at the top... that one's for you.

State of the Yankees

noreply@blogger.com (erush520) — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:40:00 +0000

As I take stock in what I have seen from our beloved Yankees over the first month plus of the season I can't help but be incredibly excited about this season as well as the future of the Bombers. Sure there are injuries (Granderson, Posada and Mo) but look at how we have been able to fill these holes with young talent, young Yankee talent. Gardner is becoming a solid player all around, his presence on the bases is enough to disrupt any pitcher. Cervelli seems to be in line to take the plate from Jorge Posada next year (at the latest) and his energy seems to be providing the same spark that Shelly Duncan did a few years back. Finally we get to Joba Chamberlin and what seems to be where he will be spending the rest of his career, and rightfully so I believe, closing out games for the New York Yankees. We seemed to get lost in the romanticism of having him pump his fist for 7 ok innings of pitching and had forgotten how great he was (minus a swarm of bugs) a few years back coming out of the bull pen and halting a team dead in its tracks before handing the ball off to Mo. We now have what we were looking for, answers to some of our aging players that don't involve signing other aging players at over inflated prices.

That's More Like It

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:50:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau
April 29, 2010

The Yankee bats came alive last night to help out a less than dominant C.C. Sabathia. I considered that game a must win because, well, let's face it: anything less than a series win in Baltimore would be a severe disappointment. That means we also must win tonight to take 2 of 3 from the worst team in the league. I hope A.J. brings his Dr. Jekyll, if you know what I mean.

The back end of the batting order continues to get the job done. Gardner, Swisher, Granderson and Cervelli went a combined 9 for 18. Speaking of Cervelli... I just love this guy. This season he's 8 for 18 (.444) with a .524 OBP. The fact that he can hit is just a bonus, because he's stellar in the field. He has a cannon for an arm and a great ability to frame pitches. He's smooth and patient behind the plate. He brings youth and enthusiasm to the roster. I'd really like to see Girardi put him in the lineup more often. Posada is getting up there in age, and even though he can still swing the bat, he is a liability on defense and on the basepath. Whenever I mention giving the kid more playing time, my fellow Yankee fans simply think I have a man-crush on Cervelli. They consider it blasphemy to move Posada out of the lineup. And that's fine... I don't see what the problem would be moving Jorge into the DH role. We need to compete against a fast, young Rays team this year. Cervelli can only have a positive impact. Am I the only one who feels this way?

The road trip comes to an end tonight in Baltimore. A win would make for a modest 5-4 record on the 9 game trip, and send the Yankees home on a positive note.

For the Birds

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau
April 28, 2010

One of the defining qualities of a veteran pitcher is being able to control the game on any given night when they don't have their best stuff. Last night against the Orioles, journeyman Phil Hughes showed veteran poise and proved that he could manage a game despite a lack of pitch control. To me, it was his most impressive start of the year.

Unfortunately, the bullpen did not exhibit the same resolve. Robertson blew yet another lead for the Yankees during a 3-run 6th inning for the Orioles. After a Posada throwing error in the 8th allowed the O's to take a 3 run lead, the Yankees 9th inning rally came up one run short. It was the second straight loss for the Yanks, and the first win at home for the worst team in the league.

On a positive note, Robinson Cano went 3 for 4 and is on an absolute tear. He's 12 for his last 23, and is now batting .389 for the season. Nicky Swish went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored.

Yankee managers have a lot of faith in Robertson because his stuff is really quite strong. He has a reliable fastball and great off-speed pitches (curveball, change) as well. But handing the ball over to him is by no means a sure thing this year. The rest of the pen hasn't been much better. Not counting Rivera, they're currently posting a 5.26 era. All I can say from a fan's perspective is that I am beginning to question the ability of the bullpen to lock it down in the late innings.

3 Negatives of Last Week

noreply@blogger.com (Brew) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:08:00 +0000

The Yankees have been tearin’ it up with a 12-6 record and look poised to make another good run this year. After sweeping the Rangers led by my favorite ML manager, the corrupt Ron Washington, the Yanks hit the west coast for a week. First, they had to deal with Athletics in their annoying white cleats before they headed to play the always-tough Angels. Splitting those six games is nothing to be ashamed of, but the Yanks definitely have a few things they need to keep their eye on as the season continues:

1) 2-3 SPOTS IN LINEUP – The Yankees need these spots to be productive in order to maintain World Series caliber baseball in New York, and I think Brian Cashman acquired Nick Johnson to do more then just walk while hitting in the two hole. Johnson went just 1-14 in on the west coast and didn’t even suit up for the last two games because of a “bad back”. I think he needs to cut back on the brews and start hitting the cages to be honest, cause he seems lost at the plate. Mark Teixeira also had a tough time in Cali as his career stats in April continue to disappoint. Mark went 3-22 over the six games but did have some nice swings and managed to park one despite his struggles. I think all Yankee fans really have a lot of faith in Tex to break out and when he does, great things will be coming our way…

2) JAVIER VAZQUEZ – Javy, if we knew you were going to come back to New York and post up a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 9.00, we never would have brought you back. You’re contract is sucking up $11.5 million to put up below average fourth starter stats. Sure, the Yanks spend a ton of cash and love showing off their free agent acquisitions, but dumping Melky and prospects for this guy is looking more and more questionable. Granted, it is early and he did finish 4^th in NL Cy Young voting last year, so we won’t run him out of town just yet. Let’s step it up Jav.

3) TAMPA BAY IS BALLIN’ – One scary scenario that could repeat itself in the AL East is another three-team race, similar to when the Rays reached the World Series in 2008. We all know that Boston and New York will bring it, but if Tampa can keep up this level of ball this division may turn into a blood bath. Tampa is boasting the best record in the league at 14-5 and are absolutely killing teams on the road, which is usually the sign of a good team. The Yanks will not face them until the Rays come to town on May 19^th, but let’s keep an eye on their hot start.

After 18 games if you were to tell me that the Yankees would be 12-6, I think we would all be satisfied. They head to Baltimore for three games starting Tuesday, and then come home for a weekend series with White Sox. Beating scrub teams like the Orioles is crucial early on so lets flood Baltimore with loud Yankee fans as usual and sweep them. For this week, those are three things we should keep watch out for. Let's go Yanks.

Brew

Teixeira Gets a Hit

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:22:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau
April 24, 2010

Mark Teixeira got a big hit last night, but it didn't raise his batting average. In the third inning he was beaned by an Ervin Santana fastball. Two subsequent singles by Rodriguez and Cano sent Teixeira rounding third for the imminent collision that defined last night's opening game against the Angels.

It was clearly a cathartic moment for Teixeira. His struggles at the plate this April are well documented, and continue to be a source of frustration for him. Getting hit in the arm by a mid-nineties fast ball didn't help matters either. So when he saw an opportunity for legal retaliation, his instincts took over. The result was a violent impact that rose the crowd to their feet, and sent Bobby Wilson to the hospital with a concussion and a right ankle sprain.

It's an unfortunate result for the Angels, who now must rely on their third string catcher after starter Jeff Mathis broke his wrist last Tuesday. Both sides agree that the hit was a clean play, albeit it an unnecessary one. Despite what players/managers say about it, the next two games will reveal if there is any residual ill-will after Friday night's encounter.

The 6-4 loss was a well fought contest on both sides. I expect we'll see more of the same today in the second game of the series. Two of the American League's hottest pitchers will be on display as Pettitte (2-0, 1.35) takes on Pineiro (2-1, 1.77).

Come On Javier... Prove Me Wrong

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau

Girardi and Cashman have a lot of faith in the newly acquired Javier Vasquez. If they didn't, they would never have brought him on board. Yankee fans however, need a bit more convincing. We find it hard to grant acceptance solely based on his 'projected' performances. We need the cold hard facts before we welcome anyone with open arms.

And what facts do we have? Fact: The last time Javier was on the Yankees, he gave up a grand slam to Johnny Damon in the final game of the 2004 ALCS. Yankee fans find this very difficult to forget (myself included). I apologize for bringing that up. Fact: Vasquez is currently posting a 9.82 era after two starts. That's the highest on the entire pitching staff. Fact: He has yet to give the Yankees 6 innings of work in either of those starts. His pattern of early exits only puts unneeded stress on the bullpen.

I am never one to panic early in the baseball season. I'm not proposing any changes to the rotation, or anything else equally as drastic. But certain warning flags have been raised, so I'm keeping a close eye on his performances during this 9 game road trip. Even Joe Girardi acknowledges that his next start is an important one.

“You want to see him get a win under his belt and start pitching like he’s accustomed to doing,” Girardi said. “So, yes, it is somewhat of a big start.”

You know, I can't seem to shed this nagging opinion I have in the back of my mind. It's a negative sort of feeling, that the National League is somewhat inferior to the American, and that maybe Javier's success last year will not translate. I know I shouldn't feel this way, because baseball is baseball, right? It's way too early to be making such proclamations, so that fear is probably unwarranted. But if Vasquez happens to go 0-2 on this road trip, I might start to freak out a little. That feeling in the back of my mind might turn into a full fledged tyrade about why the National League should be abolished, and the DH rule implemented world-wide.

Come on Javy, prove me wrong.

What Kind of Man Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Richard Gonyeau) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:59:00 +0000

by Richard Gonyeau

In the final game against the Angels last night, Matsui hit a monstrous blast over the right-center wall during his first at-bat. He had previously been hitless in his return to Yankee Stadium, so I was happy to see him finally get on the board. As he was trotting the bases, I noticed some people stood up and clapped for him. I'll admit, I rose up from the couch and clapped in appreciation as well. But I was shocked when I heard Michael Kay say that there were others in the crowd who booed him.

Really? You're going to boo Godzilla? He hits a solo shot in the top of the 2nd to take a meager 1-0 lead, and you're going to boo him? I wanted to see Phil Hughes pitch a clean sheet as much as the next guy, but come on folks.

I think you can tell a lot about someone solely based off their reaction to Matsui's home run. If you stood up as well, or at least felt good for Matsui when he hit the ball out of the park, then it's pretty safe to say I'd call you a friend. You have a good sense of appreciation, and know that sometimes, respect for an individual and his accomplishments can take precedence over team loyalty. But if you're one of the people who booed him, I think it's fairly likely that you're a class-A douche bag. Did you suddenly forget about the seven years he spent in the Bronx? Or even more recently, that he was 2009 World Series MVP?

So, to get a better idea of who might be reading this blog, I guess my question is: What kind of man are you? Are you the kind of guy who booes Godzilla? Or did you feel good for him after that home run? Am I wrong to judge people based on this one incident?

Athletes as Role Models?

noreply@blogger.com (Mikey C) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:04:00 +0000

I recently got into a verbal fight over this topic and I'd like to voice my opinion and see how it varies from others.

I guess what brought this topic about was thinking about recent (over the past few years) such as Michael Vick (dog fights), Tiger Woods (cheating on his wife multiple times), Barry Bonds (steroids), AROD (steroids), and Ben Roethlisberger (assault and sexual misconduct multiple times).

It is not hard to see that most children look up to athletes as role models. I myself looked up Don Mattinglly and Paul O'Neill as a child but, if they would have done something to blemish their reputations I would not have thought ...wow Donny does this so I should too.

The question is " Should athletes be accountable for being role models?"

My opinion is that a child is going to look up to the athlete regardless but, the athlete did not ask for that. It is the athlete's job to produce on the field, or the ice, or the court, ect. but, once they are off the clock they should be considered normal people and allowed to live their lives. They should be treated as normal people; good or bad.

The perfect example of this is Michael Jordan. Everybody wanted to " Be Like Mike"...on the court. Kids don't say I love Michael Jordan so I want to cheat on my wife and lose thousands and thousands of dollars gambling; they say I want to be like Mike and dunk from the foul line.

Athletes are good people when they are playing their game for the most part but, when they are off the clock they should not be judged differently than anybody else; they are only human.