Royals - Yankees Series Recap

Seeing as Tampa's in the process of smashing us right now, I figure there's no better time to update the ol' blog with a series recap. We just left Kansas City, missing the 3-game sweep by a few horrid Phil Coke offerings. But more on that later.

Game 1 saw a vintage Andy Pettite performance. He was just brilliant going 7 innings, striking out 6, and allowing a lone run. He did a tremendous job mixing his pitches and utilizing the long shadows Kaufman Stadium provides the pitchers in the late afternoon sun.

In fact, both teams struck out 10 batters a piece and at one point, ex-Yank and new Royal Kyle Farnsworth came in and looked devestating by striking out the side. This was also a vintage Kyle Farnsworth performance. He looked very good while his team was down 3 runs. I don't know why he can't hold a lead, but he sure can hold a loss. Whatever, Yanks win 4-1.

Game 2 trumpeted the arrival of CC Sabathia. His fastball was on and he was lights out. The big man logged nearly 8 big innings, fanning a 6 big batters, and lowering his ERA to a big (but much smaller) 4.50 - sorry, he's a big dude.

This was also a big day for both Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada as both accounted for all 6 Yankee runs. Royals pitcher Horatio Ramirez had little to offer and was sent out after little over 4 innings. Yanks cruise to a 6-1 victory.

Which brings me to game 3. Really, everybody needs to get the kinks out early on and in the 8th inning, holding a 1 run lead, Joe Girardi completely overmanaged the situation and sent us to a heartbreaking loss when a big victory and 3 game sweep were all well within reach. It's April for managers too, I guess.

I really don't know what he was thinking. I mean it's the Kansas City Royals. It's not the Boston Red Sox circa 2003. There's no need to empty the bullpen and play the match-up game that way. There's one guy for the 8th and Brain Bruney's it. He deserves the ball. He's lost 40 pounds over the last two years and is ready for the mantle. Nah, it's Damaso Marte. Really, outside of Mo, Marte is making a ton of money. With that money comes expectation. The 8th should be his regardless of the situation. No, nix that, Jose Veras is the man. He's the longest tenured player and has the nasty stuff to do the job. I vote Veras.

The point I'm trying to make is any of the 3 is adequate. Hell, where's Edwar? Sending Phil Coke in, with the tying run at the plate made as little sense to me now as it does then. It was one of those, "Oh shit, he just lost us the game" moments I'm so very used to seeing. You know, whenever the manager takes one too many trips to the 'pen, and you can almost sense the disappointment coming around the corner. Apparently somebody else read Joe Torre's book. I just didn't think he had a chapter called "How to Misuse Your Bullpen".

The worst thing is that the press vultures seem to think they have enough evidence to thrust Joba back to the pen because we got "nobody" for the 8th. What they fail to realize is that Joba got us to the 7th and probably could have pitched into the 7th and beyond -- he looked that good. The 8th inning would be pretty much moot at that point. Stupid innings restrictions.

I still fail to realize why some people think a guy who can pitch until the 8th isn't nearly as good as a situational 8th inning pitcher. Yanks lose 6-4 and I'm pissed off.

Screw you Meatloaf, 2 out of 3 sucks!

Nick Swisher: Legit!

Nick Swisher is hotter than a female teenage pop singer right now. He's hitting at a downright absurd pace. And he's having more fun on the baseball diamond than he's ever had in his entire life. And all he's really doing is making the most of his opportunities. He's doing so well that more opportunities keep presenting themselves and more days are being spent on the field than on the bench.

I know it's early, but Nick's stats need mention. Since coming off the bench, Swish has recorded 7 hits in 13 at-bats with 9 RBI. He's hitting .538 with an OPS of 2.010 -- that's pretty insane. But he's taking it all in stride. “I’m absolutely loving it,” Swisher was quoted as saying. “It’s like I almost don’t want to wake up, I don’t want to soak it in. I want to keep that fire and keep that passion and keep that attitude going. When I go to the ballpark right now, I feel confident.”

So do we Nick, so do we.

The whole thing has me thinking though. After all, I was very much in support of just going forward with Nick Swisher at 1st when we acquired him over the winter and not pursuing Teixeira at all. In fact it appears I was not alone. Kat O'Brien, over at Newsday had a great piece a few days ago that told a very interesting story in regard to the Teixeira deal. Simply put, Teixiera was never really an option. It was only after meeting with him in December, a move Cash admitted was more to leverage CC than land Tex, where the dream signing became a reality.

"Teixeira never was really an option," Cashman said. (see) "It was something I kept pushing, but it was not really being accepted by above me . . . I guess persistence paid off. I knocked on that door, I guess, just enough that someone finally answered. Hal really gave me the OK to pursue it over a few-day period. And at that point, I still thought the Red Sox were getting him."

After the mess the Sox ownership and brain trust made with Teixeira -- by way of their ridiculous obsession with trying to outsmart Scott Boras -- Cash was obviously more than ready to pick up the pieces and provide the team with tremendous depth at the same time. So thanks for being blowhards Sox brass, it's really paying off so far.

And for those interested, the wrist injury that sidelined Teixeira last night is apparently little more than tendinitis and only prevents him from swinging the bat right-handed. He should play this afternoon and hit lefty. It's nice to have switch-hitters.

Orioles - Yanks Game 3 Shots

I took my camera with me up to Baltimore last Thursday and got some shots of batting practice and some in-game shots. I was way out in the centerfield bleachers, so they're not the most exciting or crystal clear shots. I figured some might want to take a look though, so here you go:

Pettite and Wang spent a long time in Center, shagging fly balls and talking pitching. Let's hope whatever Andy told him sticks and the Wanger proves a bit more effective against the Rays.

You have to love Joba. Kids were hollering his name, he was yelling "what?" right back at 'em and then would bust his ass to shag a fly ball or two to give to some lucky young fans. Joba really rules.


Everybody's new favorite Yankee and Mr. 5 RBI himself (stupid Pujols and his 7 RBI a day later) Nick Swisher! This guy keeps hitting, he's gonna keep finding himself in the lineup.


I'm pretty sure this was one of A.J.'s K victims. Take a seat you blurry bastard!

Orioles - Yanks Series Re-Cap

I'm giving you guys a different look. Instead of going game-by-game and covering each and every pitch, I've decided to simply take a look at the season as a number of 3 to 4 game series and spend time discussing the match-ups and the overall performance of the club during those stretches. Besides, as most of you who do read me know, I am very sporadic in my posting and updating. Covering the games this way will, hopefully, give me enough time to give you guys something tangible every few days.

Game 1
Not a great game pitching-wise. C.C. looked tentative and was missing consistently with his fastball. Overall, it was a very frustrating first impression that had all the usual suspects in the press running for the hills, more than ready to denounce the signing, his impact, and the entire season.

Revolting and typical. This type of coverage is only going to get worse with every poor performance and may get out of control when You-Know-Who come off the DL at the end of the month. Just be ready...

Anyway, C.C. is traditionally a slow starter. In fact, he was God awful last April in Cleveland going 1-4 with a 7.88 ERA. Obviously he got better throughout the season and was 9-0 in July and August. You know, when it means just a little bit more. All things considered, I can't be worried with what he does Game 1 in April and on the road.

The bullpen looked solid until Coke's leash got a bit too long. It was a garbage HR though and will probably be the only one Caesar Iszturis hits all year. That was the back-breaker though and was so late in the game that the Yanks couldn't mount another scoring spree.

Really, this game was very winnable despite Sabathia's performance. We were down 1 run late and there was a nice little small ball scoring opportunity Girardi constructed with Ramiro Pena at 3rd, having been bunted over by Brett Gardner after Pena pinch ran for the pinch hitting Nick Swisher -- who doubled. Wow. Nice use of the bench, Joe. Keep it coming.

Anyway, 3rd base is still the same Bermuda Triangle for Yankee baserunners as it ever was. Jeter couldn't knock him in after a soft grounder and Damon lifted an easy fly ball to end the inning. This situations are always unfortunate, mostly because people usually second-guess the manager for sacrificing the out to get the guy on second over to third while failing to realize that a simple, moderately deep fly ball brings the runner home from 3rd with 1 out, but I digress. Yanks lose 10-5.

Game 2
My Dad and I joked that afternoon that after C.C.'s loss Wang was sure to have no sinker and sport a flat slider. Guess what happened? Yep.

I hate to just let the excuses fly after two consecutive games, but this was an excusable performance. Wang was just off. Several times Jorge had to come out and remind Wang about release points and staying on top off the ball. And to their credit, the Baltimore hitters were taking advantage of the situation just as they did on Monday against C.C.

The Baltimore Orioles are something that's been severely missing from the coverage thus far. This is a good little team filled with emerging young players who can really play the game. Defensively, they look great in the infiled and untouchable in the outfield. And they proved that in this game. In fact, I'll put Markasis, Jones, and Pie up against any 3 outfielders playing today. I may not come out on top, but I'll be near it. They look to remain that same pesky team from Baltimore we can't put away and screws up our record.

I was proud to see the Yanks fight out of the hole again, but boys from the Bronx couldn't ultimately take this game as they fell 7-5 to the Orioles. In reality, it was another winnable contest that we failed to capitalize on. Wang's offerings were not staying on the ground off of Baltimore bats and those that were, proved just out of reach -- looking at you Cody Ransom.

It was a nice run in the 9th, but it all proved to be too little too late though.

Game 3
For some reason it was a big deal that the Yankees starters failed to strike out a single batter for the first 2 games. Sure, I expected C.C. to fan a few as that's why we got him, but he was just out of the zone for most of the game and the Baltimore hitters were very patient. Wang's another story in entirety. He doesn't strike guys out as that's usually the one bad thing his critics are quick to point out. Whatever though, A.J. soon made quick work of the K drought that plagued the Yankee rotation.

I was lucky enough to attend this game (I'll try to post some of my pics later) and was pretty impressed with Mr. Burnett. Sure the pitch count was high and he left the game a little early, but he was getting outs when he needed them and worked in and out of the zone very nicely. Stopper, I dub thee A.J Burnett.

Joe went with a different look on the field and it payed of tremendous dividends. Molina was behind the dish and saved at least one run by gunning down a runner trying to swipe a bag. I tend to believe he handles the pitchers a bit better than Jorge, based on nothing really, but this mini-theory based on nothing was proven true with a few K's and a dominant performance by the bullpen.

In other genius Giradi moves, anybody see what Swish did? Wow. He looks a bit better than a .219 hitter, huh? Again, it's early, but a 5 RBI is still a 5 RBI game, I don't care what month it is. Yanks roll 11-2 and I finally get to see a Yankee victory in 2009.

Outside of the starting pitching issues, this was a pretty good start to the season. We saw HRs from old favorites like Jeter and Cano, the DL boys in Posada and Matsui, and even the new guys in Swisher and Teixiera chipped in. We outscored the O's 21 - 19 and got a glimpse of a few very important key details necessary for success. First, the bullpen looks great. Second, Cano's hitting in April. Third, injuries don't seem to have slowed Matsui or Posada in any meaningful way. Fourth, Girardi has a plan. He's swiping bags, subbing players (I know someone saw Derek on the bench n the 9th and Pena at short yesterday) and creating runs. And finally, the offense is clicking. Different guys are getting it done up and down the lineup.

We're 1-2, yet I really like what I've seen thus far. And the season marches on...

Ramiro Pena Makes Me Look Smart

When I previewed Spring Training, I gave my readers a list of names to watch while Jeets, Cano, and Alex were fighting it out in the WBC. Those names were Ramiro Pena, Eduardo Nunez, and Kevin Russo. Lo and behold, Ramiro Pena flashed the leather, put together a good Spring and won the utlity infielder's job over the much better hitter in Angel Berrora.

This is telling. History has taught me that 9 times out of 10 the Yankes go with the hitter over the fielder. The fact that Pena is considered one of the best young defensive shortstops in the game is also very important. For while Pena was turning heads and impressing the right people, Jeter was flailing, diving, and and desperately reaching for (and misssing) anything and everything to his left --- when Jimmy Rollins wasn't showing him how an elite SS plays the game that is. Finally, the "Derek Jeter is a shitty fielder" discussion has reached a national level. If the WBC has done nothing else, this should suffice.

The next two years with DJ may very well be our final. As good as he is, and he is good, there's just no spot left for a 37 year old SS. People point to the outfield, but the vastness of left would eat him alive. I mean if he's got no range or arm at short, why move him to the outfield? DH is also pretty much out of the question as Derek's SLG % and extra-base hits have been down year to year. No one really wants a singles-only DH. First is bloked by Teixiera til 2016. Cano's got 2nd and you-know-who's at 3rd until I'm 40.

Really, injury is Derek's best way out. That or the retirement of Alex Rodriguez. And while it is true that Image-wise the Yankees need Jeter's Ying to discount Alex's Yang. Or in a more Freudian way, Alex is the id and Derek is the ego -- too much, sorry. I point to guys like Teixiera, Robinson Cano, and even Brett Gardner to fill that "Aww shucks, I just play baseball, folks" pollyanna mentality that the media shines on Derek Jeter.

Clocks a' tickin' DJ and there's actually a guy behind you who can hold his own at the position.

Gardner Tending The Field

An exciting race ends with a fairly lackluster finish as Brett Gardner beats out Melky Cabrera for the CF spot. At the very least, it was a good race that saw the speedy Gardner win the spot away from the younger and more experienced Cabrera.

Personally, I like either in this spot. With that in mind, I hope to never see Johnny Damon or Nick Swisher out in Center. In case you forgot, I need defense in that outfield. While I'm at it, I also never want to see the name Mike Cameron anywhere near the words "trade talks heat up".

The one thing that does surprise me about this move is the fact that we start Cody Ransom instead of the rehabbing Alex Rodriguez at 3rd base. I just think that Melky's experience kind of wins out in this situation. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but an 8-9 of Cabrera, Ransom seems like it would turn over the lineup a bit better than Gardner, Ransom or Ransom, Gardner at the bottom.

I do expect to see a lot more running from this team this year though, and that seems to be the way Girardi's leaning. Melky's poor baserunning and nonexistant basestealing plus his lackluster and fading numbers are, after all, what sent him to Scranton last year. Anyone who's seen Gardner play knows that his speed is his game. And just to hammer his point on speed home, Girardi had this to say on the subject, “Speed is an interesting dimension to a club, and I like it, because it puts a lot of pressure on the defense”.

There you have it. With the Jeter-Damon flip-flop, the addition a Teixeira, a healthy Jorge and Matsui, Nady for a season with a touch of Swish, and Brett Gardner looking to swipe a few bags we've got a very new, new-look New York Yankees on our hands. This looks to be a very proactive and clever club equally adept at manufacturing runs as well as knocking them in.

Only one more week...

Johnny's Last Stand

It's plain to see now. In fact it's fairly obvious. Johnny Damon's tenure as a New York Yankee is officially coming to an end. I couldn't be happier.

When I first heard that Joe Girardi made an adjustment to the top of the lineup by pulling the ol' switcheroo with Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon I assumed it was more due to Jeter's new habit of grounding into double plays in key situations. The more I thought about it, the more Johnny Damon's new role started to sink in. After all, Damon was seen as a much needed savior and crucial cog in the machine when he was acquired as a free agent 3 years ago. Keep in mind, back then he was a lead-off hitting centerfielder. He begins his final tour of duty in Yankee pinstripes as a leftfielder hitting out of the 2-hole. Frankly, he's outplayed his usefulness. Good riddance.

In typical fashion Johnny Damon had something to say and didn't disappoint. He said this of the move, "I'm definitely bigger than most leadoff hitters, so it's time for me to move down, and I hit the ball on the right side a lot." Damon added, "I’m O.K. with it. It makes the team better. We know Derek’s on-base percentage is a lot higher than mine. Hopefully, we can tinker with this thing, and my production in the two-hole will increase with Derek on base quite a bit [...] He'll be on first and I can jack home runs." Curiously, he then added "Whatever Joe wants, I think how this camp has been going, you know, everyone's got to do what Joe wants."

That last line I feel is th most telling. Joe Girardi may say he's "toying" with it, but I fairly certain his mind is made up in this regard. When we open in Baltimore, Jeter will lead-off and Damon will bat second. This will be the 1-2 punch all season. Get used to it.

The CF battle between Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera has been one of the more interesting stories to keep an eye on down in Tampa. Gardner seems like he's gonna get the nod. He's often cited as Girardi favorite and looks like a Giradi disciple. Plus he's batted at a .343 clip this spring with 3Hrs. Melky isn't going quietly though. He's hit at a .313 clip and boasts 9 RBIs. Personally, I'd go with Melky in Center, shift him to left in the 7th, bench Damon, and let Gardner patrol CF during the last 3 innings. Did I mention I hate Johnny Damon? Regardless, look for the decision to be made by Monday.

Speaking of decisions, the long-man spot out of the pen is up for grabs today. Dan Geise, Brett Tomko, and Alfredo Aceves take the hill vs. The Atlanta Braves toaday a 1:15 PM ET. This may seem like a throw away position to the uninformed and nothing more than a dull battle between garbage arms, but if you remember anything about recent Yankee history, you'd know pitching is the most important thing. This is no different. We have 5 starting pitchers, yes, but none of them are without their nagging questions. The long man can either save the day like Ramiro Mendoza or compound your troubles like Ramiro Mendoza. --Sorry, I can't think of another long man besides Ramiro Mendoza.

This battle is also important because if Brett Tomko wins it out, someone will have to be sacrificed off the roster to make room as Tomko came to camp as a non-roster invitee. For the record, Tomko looks far superior to the other two this Spring posting a 1.46 ERA through 12 and 1/3 innings. Aceves has pitched to a 4.97 ERA and Geise carries an ERA of 7.43 -- pretty ugly fellas. Uglier still when I mention the 9 combined HRs the opposition has hit off you both. Today may be the last to make an impression.

What The WBC Has Taught Me

I've watched a lot of these games. A lot more than any sane person should, that's for sure, and I have gleamed a few bits of information from this event that I'd like to share. Let it be known before we start this that I am a fan of the World Baseball Classic. Here goes:

• First, MLB sucks at marketing. They're pathetic. You've got to really want to watch these games to even find them. I've had a helluva time catching the gams that I've wanted to watch. I get the fact that they're launching the MLB network while this event is going on and are using the event to showcase said network, but if you want viewers, you put it on broadcast TV. Plus, do your due dilligence to get the common baseball fan interested in watching Japan play Korea - showcase Yu Darvish, juxtapose the Eastern and Western style of baseball, just sell the f'n thing!
  
• Lose the fringe teams. Watching the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic twice was neat, really, it was -- but the Netherlands have little to no business being associated with this event. Same with Italy, South Africa, and any of the other teams that can't field a Major Leaguer without looking at the registry in Ellis Island.
  
• If you're not willing to lose the fringe teams, then change the format. Double Elimination is a really dull way to solve anything. It's not something the typical American sports fan can relate to. Just play a round of single elimination games, then a few 3-game series culminating to a big 5 game series for the title, we get that, plus, it cuts out a lot of the down time most of the MLB players were complaining about. In Spring Training, there are games everyday, if you're going to run this event during Spring Training, you've got to do better to accommodate the guys who are supposed to be getting ready to do their jobs.
• Pitching and Defense, dummy! That's what this game is. All those ridiculous new offensive stats with their silly abbreviations and nonsensical values are only applicable to rotary/fantasy baseball owners. They don't amount to a hill of beans between those two white lines and if the WBC has done nothing else, it's further reinforced my understanding of what it takes to win. The Domincan team played shit defense and were chewed up by quality pitching. Go home, gentlemen. Just last night, Venezula demonstrated why Bobby Abreu is out of New York and why Miguel Cabrerra is terribly overrated. They both have no use for that hunk of leather they carry on their non-dominant hand. Add to that, Carlos f'n Silva and his high sinkers. Tell Hugo Chavez I said hi.
  
• With that in mind, Team USA, you're on borrowed time. Derek Jeter can't cover any real estate between himself and the 2nd base bag and that fact almost put Puerto Rico in instead. David Wright bailed us out though (unlike that other 3rd baseman from NY) and we snuck in. Japan sends the boys back home tonight on ESPN courtesy of Dice-K himself, (who cares though, let's just hope for a high pitch count).
  

Finally, Some Good News

• Cano and Marte both received a seemingly clean bill of health after spending some time in the ol' MRI tube. Test revealed shoulder bursitis for Cano and some inflammation for Marte, confirming what Yankee trainers and officials suspected.

It might just be me, but it seems like a pretty rare day when a Yankee injury in camp isn't season-threatening. Let's hope it stays that way.

• The new look Brian Bruney not only reported to camp 40 pounds lighter than his '06 form, and 20 pounds lighter than last year. He also sports a new attitude, confidence, and overall level of determination. Bruney wants the 8th (despite what most Joba-to-the-pen morons think) and is prepared to take it.

"I look at it like it's mine," Bruney said. "I've got to prepare for the eighth inning. Until somebody tells me what I'm throwing, my goal is the eighth inning. That's what I'm mentally preparing for [...] I like people that doubt me," Bruney said. "I would rather somebody doubt me than call me the best. Tell me I can't do something, and I'll do it. That's how I look at it. Now it's my goal to prove all the doubters wrong."

I love this and think Bruney's more than capable of being the man in that situation. He was very impressive before that crazy foot injury (same one that shelved Wang and killed our season) last year and returned late in the season to finish up with some sick to fairly sick numbers. Check it:
In 34.3 innings he surrendered only 18 hits, posted 33K's, and allowed just 16 walks. That's a WHIP of 0.990 - add to that an ERA of 1.83; pretty nasty.

Sure it's an injury shortened season, but his new commitment to himself, his teammates, and the game has me thinking that 2009 will be the breakout year for Brian Bruney and will, hopefully, quiet most of the asinine waterheads who still think Joba is best suited in the 'pen. I'm looking squarely at you ESPN and MLB Network.

• Jorge Posada took his rightful spot behind the plate and caught his first game in nearly a year. He reported no difficulty after catching three innings for Andy Pettite on Sunday. The next step will be catching in consecutive games and testing out that arm during steal attempts.
  

This is good news. Posada's health and ability to rebound from shoulder surgery is without a doubt the single most important part of our team's success going forward. We need him to catch and we need him to catch often. For those of you hoping for a return to the '06 form, he's also hitting a .360 clip this spring.

• Stay tuned because Mo goes tonight.
  

Obviously, this is tremendous. Little else needs to be said about the importance of Mariano Rivera.

• And on the lighter side, Manny Ramirez's triumphant return is being halted by, you guessed it Red Sox fans, a bad hamstring. Go figure, the guy hamstrings the organization all winter long by rejecting every offer laid in front of him, then he hurts his hamstring when running down a ball (at around half-speed mind you) during his first in-game action out in left.

Those morbid Yankee fans who are still holding out hope that we get Manny if he opts out in 2010 can officially get off the bandwagon and return any and all Yankee memorabilia they own. This is why you do not want anyone over 35 who only brings offense to the table in your outfield. While I truly hope Manny's injury isn't serious, as he's a fascinating personality and tremendous hitter, I do hope most fans will pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and let Manny be Manny someplace far, far away.

And in reality it's never good news if a player gets hurt (unless of course they play for Boston, get well soon Dustin, you too Julio.)

Since We Last Spoke...

It's been a hot minute since my last post. For that I apologize, but the stinking, festering A-Rod situation is too much to bear on a daily basis. I don't hate Alex Rodriguez for this. I hate A-Rod. I hate the public persona of the Yankees 3rd baseman. I hate the omnipresent media eye and media mouth that feeds off of and into this larger-than-life figure. It overshadows everything and is mostly meaningless, trite, and exploitative.

With that in mind, I am putting a moratorium on the nickname "A-Rod". After all, if Sean Combs can go by "Diddy" when the names "Puffy" and "Puff Daddy" held too much negative connotation and association with violence and murder, Alex can do it too when the name "A-Rod" is more a harbinger of doom, disaster, and PEDs.

It's incredibly hard to ignore the Alex Rodriguez story as it will venture on for the next nine years of all of our Yankee lives. Alex and his glove-slapping, steroid-injecting, She-Hulk loving ways will continue to weigh on and nag the most staunch of his supporters and admirers. Those who despise him will remain unaffected as every story that comes out serves only to reinforce the negative disposition and disdain they already hold towardds him.

With that in mind, the prevailing debate that rages on is whether or not the Yankees are better off without him as he rehabs the bum hip. It's an interesting debate to be sure as logic tells you no, but emotion tells you yes. Clearly, it's tough to reproduce what Alex's bat gives you on a daily basis. Then again, he's such a media magnet and lightning rod for controversy that his absence has got to be a relaxing and soothing change of pace in the already dangerous media jungle that is the Yankee Universe.

Personally, I really think we're better off without him, but for the short-term only. I don't care about missing him for a month, especially when it's the first month of the season. Those predicting doom and gloom for the Yankees because of no A-Rod in April won't even remember he was on the DL when August rolls around.

The game is still based on two things pitching and defense and Alex's presence has little to no bearing on either. In fact, after watching Cody Ransom flash the leather in a few Spring Training games, I'm fairly convinced that we're getting a bit of defensive upgrade over at the hot corner.

Yes, I expect less homeruns in April and less overall scoring for the month. It's all irrelevant though if we're able to prevent the other team for scoring any and with that rotation heathy and productive (knock on wood), we're sure to keep the crooked numbers off of the scoreboard. People still forget that during the most important stretch of the season last year we were going with Mussina, Pettite, Ponson, Pavano, and a prayer (the prayer being enough strength for Mussina to pitch everyday as he was the only effective starter from August to September). C.C., Wang, Burnett, Pettite, and Joba represent the best single-season upgrade in all of baseball and probably the best rotation in all of baseball as well. This fact is obviously being lost in the wash in the face of the Alex Rodriguez mellowdrama(s). Alas, such is life though.

Turning the page, I have been obsessed with the WBC thus far. I know, I know, Robby and Marte are hurting from their participation, but they were hurting before it started and played anyway like true Yankee A-holes. Watching the Domincan team get eliminated was both bittersweet and familiar. As a Yankee fan I can relate when an obviously more dominant team on paper loses to a team of seemingly lesser players. It was a textbook Yankee failure. A couple of poor defensive plays and an inability to hit offspeed stuff led to team DR's downfall, plus just piss poor management.

Team USA goes tonight, I think, on ESPN so check it out if you get the chance. Andy Pettite takes the hill for the Yanks against the Twins. The Gardner/Melky battle leans more toward Garnder by the day as does the Nady/Swisher battle lean toward Nady. It's definately going to be interesting to see how this shakes out as we progress towards opening day. Alex's injury also helps us out in this aspect too as we pretty much have an extra month to decide on how the outfield should look.

T-Minus: 1 Day

Ka-boom.

The proverbial shit hits the fan tomorrow. Alex Rodriguez descends on Tampa and will no doubt spend the day throwing more dirt on his own unmarked grave. The reporters, journalists, and media folk will revel in the moment as they pick apart his already eviscerated remains. Get ready. It should be nothing less than horrific.

The last week or so of baseball news has been dominated by one thing and one thing only. Mr. Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez took steroids from 2001-2003. Gone in an instant was any remaining credibility A-Rod ever had. The prevailing thought has been more of a collection of emotions in all forms of media. Those emotions are little more than shock, outrage, and sanctimony.

I've been on mini-hiatus due to the frustration and contempt I have in regards to all forms of media and the way this story has been handled. The prevailing thought I'm left with is that it's nothing more than a sad commentary on the human condition and the modern world. That's a touch too deep for a baseball blog however, so I'll just leave you with my final thoughts in regard to the matter. There may or may not be one more post tomorrow, but after tomorrow, I will be on an A-Rod news blackout.

With that in mind here's my final say on the matter:

• Bud Selig is garbage. He's done more damage to the game than any other single entity. Why is a list of players who took illegal substances in 2003 still around in 2009? How long do you think it took Roger Goodell to destroy whatever he saw on those Spygate tapes? Why is something of that importance, something that's supposed to be a secret, just sitting in some lab in Arizona?
• And what does this say about court orders and the power of the press? I mean, if a court ordered a document sealed, how can someone publish second-hand information divulging the contents of said sealed document? How can they not reveal their sources to boot? I'm all for a free press, but what about privacy rights?
  
• Despite the fact that I pretty much expected this mess with A-Rod (he played with Pudge Rodriguez, Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmerio, and Juan Gonzalez in Texas and averaged 40 HRs a season as a SS), I'm still very naive. For some reason, I thought that 103 other players would hold press conferences and make announcements of their own. Their silence speaks so much louder than any single admission.
• The media's inability to uncover any of those other names is more pathetic and twice as sad. My thoughts above notwithstanding, it's their job to get the story. It's their job to get those names -- especially now that one is already out there. I give Selina Roberts as much credit as I can because she broke a big-time story and got it right the first time. In fact, she got A-Rod so good, he fabricated some bullshit to try and spin her as a stalker and a psycho (just more evidence to the fact that A-Rod is a tremendous baseball player and a tremendous douchebag), and has publically apologized for it. But where are the other guys? Buster Olney has no problem with taking A-Rod's shot at the Hall of Fame away from him, that's great, Buster, but there's 103 other guys who you need to scowl and look down your nose at. So save up some of that self-righteous indignation, you might need it.
• Everyone's complicit. Guys in the lockeroom either participated or turned it down. The manager's had to know what was going on in their clubhouses and what was going on with their players. GM's had to know what and who they were offering contracts to. Fans chanted at Canseco in the late 80's and Ken Caminiti dies in 2004. Why did it take 20 years for someone to notice and some names to come out?
  
• Why do we care? Seriously. Is it the numbers? Does 61 and 755 mean that much? They're just numbers. I don't get it. Shawne Merriman could break the single season sack record or the all-time sack record at any point of his career. Will anyone moan over the fact that he's been suspended for HGH?
  
• Why is disillusioning children still one of the worst things you can do? In the big morality play that is American life, for some reason, when you let some snot-nosed kid down you're worse than Hitler. I never got that.

I dunno. It's a sick, sad world out there. Let's hope A-Rod gets knocked down another peg or two before we solve any of the big problems.

Well That Was Fun

Any hope of just getting through Spring Training without much distraction or hoop-la just left town. A-Rod tested positive for steroids in 2003. That's great. The one thing I've been looking forward to since September has just been tainted with the stench of scandal, sensationalism, and all the other fat, juicy, gossip-laced mass media-driven entertainment horseshit that sells papers, leads broadcasts, and stays in the public consciousness for eons.

Thanks, Alex. Thanks, Sports Illustrated. Thanks, MLB. Thanks, Players Union. Thanks, Federal Government.

What I want to know now is who else is on that list? There should be 103 more names to follow now that Alex Roidriguez (yeah, expect that and a ton of "A-Roid" chants this year) has been shoved into the spotlight. When are those 103 other shoes gonna fall?

Am I surprised? No. Once the Federal Government got involved I knew the sealed list of names would be opened. The Feds can't keep important military secrets concealed, keeping this collection of baseball cards out of the news would be impossible. Sports Illustrated is fighting for any sort of credibility in the world of new media and has no qualms with reporting a sensational story such as this despite any agreements in place between MLB and the Union. Major League Baseball knowingly allowed or blindly looked the other way for years as its players and marketable commodities bulked up and broke records. The Union made sure of it. And A-Rod averages like 120 and 40 hrs a season for his career as a SS, notoriously the least productive position the game has seen. This really shouldn't surprise anyone.

So what does this all amount to? More headaches for Yankee fans and more ammo for Yankee haters and little else. The players in the Yankee clubhouse have had to deal with such distractions before. They stood by Giambi's vague apology. They backed Pettite's admission. They're gonna have to embrace whatever A-Rod does too.

Third time's the charm?

Taking Aim at the Captain

I've wanted to write this one for a while now, but how do you even do it? I mean where do you start? He's all we've known for so long and he's done nothing but earn and deserve every NY Yankees fan's undying adoration, respect, and gratitude. Big plays? There' a library of them. I can close my eyes and see them. Key hits? Yeah, he's got 'em in spades. So many hits, really. More than any other Yankee -- at the old Stadium, to be sure.

Can you even imagine the New York Yankees without Derek Jeter?

I can. And I do. It's not that bad either.

The simplest way to state it is also the most obvious. In 2 short seasons, Derek Jeter's contract is up. One of the highest paid players in the league will run out of his multi-years and the Yankees' multi-millions. He will also be 37 years old in June that year. There is no plan, outside of silly daydream scenarios, in existence that actually addresses moving him from SS to any other position on the field. He's already, statistically speaking, the worst defensive shortstop in the game, and has been for a long, long time. See this, this, this, and this if you don't believe me. Something's got to give.

Forget for one second about who he is and what he's done. Instead, try to picture what he will be and will do, 2 years older and 2 years slower in all aspects of the game. Realize that over the past 4 years long-time Yankee mainstays we all thought we couldn't live without, Bernie, Torre, and Giambi, were all shown the door with little fanfare or remorse. Next year Damon, Matsui, and Pettite get little more than a pat on the butt for their service as their contracts run out.


Why should it be any different for Derek?

It shouldn't. Sentimentality has it's place. I want 90's grunge rock to come back, but it's not happening. Sooner or later you have to come to realize your heroes are human and the game has passed them by. No one wants to see Derek fall down rounding third a la Willie Mays in a Mets uniform, do they? I mean it's not even like Jeter provides pop or power to our lineup. His bat will be missed, no doubt, but how much? Last year he led the team in hitting into double plays and he hit second all year long. How many rallies did he kill? How many runs did that type of performance prevent?

Rob Neyer offers his perspective on the Jeter issue and comes to the conclusion that the Yankess would be wise to live through 2 more years of Jeter's ridiculous jump-turn-throw things and then let him walk in 2010. I have to agree across the board and on all accounts. I even think Jeter's performance last year was a major contribution to the team's overall failure and have given my reasons, see #6.

It's a tough decision to have to make and my dismissive attitude belies my overall appreciation of Mr. November. But you cannot hamstring the organization to avoid hurt feelings or uncomfortable conversations. My real hope is that Derek starts talking about calling it a career in 2010 by the All Star break this year. I hope he has enough of the "intangibles" we shower on him to understand that it's best to leave the stage before the curtain falls on your head.

Moving forward, replacement is obviously an issue. In hindsight, dealing Gonzalez for an arm last year was probably short-sighted as Angel Berrora is now the best in-house option in the event of Posada-esque injury. In the event of a Nady or Swisher trade, I fully expect a SS prospect or player to be in the deal. Unless of course Ramiro Pena advances his game in the next 2 seasons and lives up to his presence in last year's Futures Game.

Stay tuned to this situation though. More and more opinions, scenarios, and thoughts on Derek Jeter and his future with the New York Yankees will come out as the his contract comes to a close. You might even have the opportunity to take a peek into a crystal ball this Spring when Derek lines up in the opposite dugout when Team USA takes on the Yankees.

If I'm Davey Johnson though, I'm definitely going with Jimmy Rollins.

Payroll, Manny, and Future Considerations

The guys at River Avenue Blues went ahead and did my job for me again today and broke down the 2009 payroll and beyond. It's a nice and neat look at what the Yankees have commitment-wise well into the future. I definitely recommend taking a look at it if you have any interest whatsoever in figuring out what we've spent and what we can still get.

With that in mind, The New York Times has a key quote from Brian Cashman 1 day removed from Manny being Greedy and turning down, what?!, 25 million dollars from the LA Dodgers. (Doesn't he know Dunn and Hudson will basically give LA the same production at a fraction of the cost?)

Cashman had this to say in regards to the Yankees signing Manny:

“I fully expect to go to spring training with what we’ve got. And that’s a good thing. People expect us to get in on Manny, but it’s not going to happen. We’re in the nonroster invitee mode.”

So unless you expect Manny to go to Tampa as a non-roster invitee of the New York Yankees, competing for a spot on the team with no guarantees and playing purely out of his love for the game and the City of New York.... ah, I'll leave it at that, you get the point -- he's not coming.

Interestingly enough, or not interestingly enough at all, the author of that RAB article referenced above goes way out on a limb and just assumes the Yankees will target Matt Holiday at 5 years $85 mill going into 2010.

Why? I mean Matt Holiday in left just strikes me as another offense-first outfielder who is shuffled to a corner spot because of his bat and the fact that the DH spot will be used by our older players. The author even makes a few key points against his own Holiday projections when he says the Yanks 2010 payroll would be $177.35 for just 11 players and $146 million for nine players in 2011. He then says that things could clear up in 2012, but CC would have to opt out and the Yankees would have to hold options on Cano, Marte, and Swisher, but that’s still $85 million on four players.

Here's what I don't get. You're trying to write an article about payroll flexibility and you muck it all up by adding a guy who inflates the payroll to the same lofty heights we've all come to realize was our downfall circa 2001-2007. Why? Because he's got some neat offensive statistic that no one, outside of roto-geeks and stat nerds, has ever heard of? Why not project a homegrown product like Austin Jackson for 2010? He may not play left, but he helps you prove a point Cash has been trying to make for a year now. Younger, more athletic, payroll flexibility, have you guys even been paying attention?

Pettite Falls in Line

What did you want again? 16 mill? Umm, let's take the square root of your figure and add a million and a half, mmm'kay?

In a winter of low risk / high reward deals, Brian Cashman just trumped about every GM in baseball, after he already broke the bank of course, and got Andy Pettite, an experienced veteran with gobs of playoff experience, on the super-cheap.

One year, $5.5 million. That's a pretty impressive deal considering the last figure I heard floating around was one year at $10.5 million. Guess somebody wants to be a Yankee after all...

The amazing thing is that Andy was essentially our #2 starter last year considering how well Mussina did and the injury to Wang. Now he's our 4 or 5? That's pretty sick. C.C., A.J., Wang, Pettite, and Joba? Yeah, let's play ball. (I'm sure the Joba to the Bullpen crap will regurgitate itself again at this point, but let's just ignore it. Sound good?)

This rotation and the depth behind it is very reminiscent of a LoHud piece that came out right after the Yanks faced playoff exile for the first time in 13 years. Pete Abraham elaborated on a concept of a shadow rotation getting innings in and there in case of emergency. With Hughes, Kennedy, Coke, Wright, and Aceves possibly starting the season in Scranton, we have just that. A bunch of kids working to make a name for themselves only if they get the opportunity.

Depth is crucial. Looks like we finally got some.

Torre's Out Whoring

*I wanted to use "Say it ain't so, Joe", but that's pretty lame. I like this title best.*

"Classy" Joe Torre went all Jose Canseco on us and wrote a tell-all titled "The Yankee Years". The book, written with help from Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, contains a few juicy bits of gossip in regard to Brian Cashman and Alex Rodriguez. Apparently Joe felt Brian shortchanged him on the way and didn't fight hard to retain his services. Also, some players on the Yankees have called A-Rod A-Fraud. Ooooooh! Scandalous.

Whatever, Joe. Maybe if you stopped using Mo in the 7th and 8th inning you'd still be here. Maybe if you didn't wear out guys like Scott Proctor with daily appearances in game-changing situations you'd of won more regular season games. If Scott Proctor was a dog, Torre would be serving time with Mike Vick for animal abuse.

I respect the Joe Torre era. Don't get me wrong. But the success of the bullpen in 2008 was the forgotten story last year, especially after many years of late-season breakdowns under Torre's watch. Parts of Joe's book are pretty much in line with my thinking though. For example, Torre calls out “big boppers” like Jason Giambi, who the manager felt “wasn’t part of what we prided ourselves on: playing well defensively.” And the decision to get Giambi "made for a whole different dynamic in the Yankees’ clubhouse."

You'll never see me defend Giambi and it's both surprising and refreshing to see Joe take the dancing gold thong bear thing that was Giambi to task. But, at the end of the day, Joe really should've done his job as a manager and taken control of his clubhouse. There were many instances in which Jason, recovering from injury, could've been the DH exclusively and the defensive issue would've been alleviated. I was pretty much clamoring for it during and after the 2003 season. And if you want to talk about defensive pride, what the hell was Chuck "I can't throw the ball from second" Knoblauch doing out there everyday?

A-Rod does get a lot of abuse. From the book: “Whether hitting 450-foot home runs or sunbathing shirtless in Central Park or squiring strippers, Rodriguez was like nothing ever seen before on the championship teams of the Torre Era: an ambitious superstar impressed and motivated by stature and status, particularly when those qualities pertained to himself.” Fair enough. A-Rod's a primadonna, but he's our primadonna, nothing really surprises me about him anymore.

Surprisingly absent form the book is the number of Yankees form the successful Torre years who took steroids, HGH, and other PEDs. The Mitchell report was a who's who of some of my old Yankee heroes from the '96 - '00 run. I guess it's easier to slam the guys you couldn't win with than the guys who injected ability into their asses and won you some notoriety.

Let's remember, before the Yankees, Joe was nothing more than a .500 manager. 14 years later he's a legend. Now he's just an old guy in a LA Dodgers Halloween costume. Read the articles about the book. They have all the interesting stuff anyway.

Front and Center

Just because there isn't a whole lot of news out there it doesn't mean there isn't something to gripe about. Today's New York Daily News turns it's discerning eye towards Centerfield and knocks Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera for not being more like Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle.

Wow. Really swinging for the fences on this one. Way to take on the only two position players you have under 25 and knocking them for their career numbers. What kind of research did this one take? Why do you need Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle in center anyway when you got Babe Ruth at third and Lou Gehrig at first? I mean, isn't there already enough production on the Yankees for people to allow two kids to play center and earn the spot outright? Isn't that something to appreciate? What's the point of watching baseball if you're not willing to allow young players from your farm system to develop? And didn't we win several World Championships with the likes of Shane Spencer, Rickey Ledee, and Chad Curtis in Left?

How many other guys on this team could you knock instead? And how many are more deserving as well? You got the newly, perennially injured Matsui playing out the last year of his contract. He's done well for himself financially during his tenure in the Bronx but is severely lacking rings. Derek Jeter is an icy persona of a New York sports hero who really can't play his position any longer. When does this soap opera get played out? Jorge Posada is diluted enough to think he can, should, and will play in the World Baseball Classic after a major season-ending injury. A-Rod is, well he's A-Rod, there's always something there. Johnny Damon is a wildly overrated player who may or may not hit, and is a shocking liability defensively. Xavier Nady played with us for only a few months. Nick Swisher hit .219 last year. Mark Texiera went for the most money. Robinson Cano needs to shape up or ship out.

The point is, everybody's got their baggage. Why target the two guys who will no doubt hit 9th everyday. What does that prove?

The worst thing about it is the poll the Daily News added to get a feel for what we, the fans, think.

And you f'n fans make me sick. When asked who the Yankee Fans think should patrol Yankee Stadium between Damon, Swisher, Melky, and Gardner, the overwhelming majority chose Bernie "I can't even hack it for the Puerto Rican National Team" Williams. Look, I love Bernie. I'll be the first to start the "Retire #51 Petition". But I love 1994-2002 Bernie. That old guy he turned into sucks. It's just the harsh reality of it all and the fact that most fans still pine for him is depressingly pathetic. Let it go. And let Melky and Bret play the game, ya bunch of know-nothing dicks.

Are they All Stars? No. Will they ever be All-Stars? Probably not. Neither will ever get a single vote for MVP in their careers as well. They do possess the ability to play the game though and both have the potential to be effective at the major league level. What more is there? All we're doing is considering a 24 year-old switch-hitter and a 23 year-old with game changing speed. Both are the best you have defensively and neither will get half as embarrassed as Johnny Damon, let alone Bernie f'n WIlliams, would on a daily basis out on that island in center.

What's the big deal?

Outfield Blues

Sorry I've been more sporadic than usual in regards to this place. I'm taking classes this semester and working, so finding the time to even read a sports section let alone update this blog is difficult. In all fairness though, nothing really is going on.

Sure Nady re-upped and avoided arbitration. And yeah, Melky did the same -- but giving 2 guys a combined raise of $4 MM isn't really that big a deal in a Winter where you signed 3 guys for almost a half a billion dollars. Looking at those numbers, man, I shoulda tried harder in Little League. Every fat, quasi-athletic kid from the Dominican needs a Melky Cabrera poster on his wall. Anything's possible.

Switching gears a little, the Hardball Times, via RAB, has an interesting take on the 2008 outfielders. With a bunch of math and even more free time, John Walsh of THT has produced a number that is representative of the amount of runs that a player would save in a given season playing half the season in his home ballpark. Yeah, I don't get it either so check out Mr. Walsh's site for a better explanation.

Anyway, I've been searching for the right numbers to prove how piss poor Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon were in the outfield last year. I finally found them. Thank you, Hardball Times! Both Damon and Abreu cost the Yanks -9.7 runs below the league average.

This makes perfect sense. Abreu has no range in right, it's nonexistent, and he's afraid of the padded OF walls. He's also one of the slower guys to get the ball back in too once it's past him. He never stretches out and is happy to field the ball on a hop as opposed to actually try and make the out. Wonder why he's still looking for a job?

Damon is a lousy outfielder as well. See. Line drives and fly balls he easily caught with a B on his cap were incredibly elusive once he donned the interlocking NY. Plus simple choppers that bleed through Jeter's glove side are doubles in a Johnny Damon manned CF due to how deep he needs to play and his shocking lack of arm strength. Hopefully he gets the same deal as Giambi next year, DH in Oakland.


How do I know all this? I watch the games. I have no numbers to justify this. Until now. It's great!

Oh and Melky saved 3.0 runs above average and Nady put up a positive 4.4 between Pittsburgh and New York. I tried to find Swisher's numbers, but they're not listed. Whatever. I'm just glad that slowly but surely the truth about Damon's ability is slowly leaking out in his walk year.

Hey Harball Times, next year can you rank the shortstops?

Looking at Tax Free Bonds

A lot has come out in regard to the new stadium deals for both the Yankees and the Mets. Lupica is in full weasel mode in regard to both deals and some minor political NY figures are taking on the Yankees, looking for political gain and press.

To me, the deals are already made. They're done. Votes were cast and the teams got the money. Both parks are built and season ticket sales are filling them. Some fines and penalties may or may not be levied, but what purpose, outside of proving to us all how corrupt everything is, does all this spilled ink for two baseball teams prove? Especially when former New York Senator and new Secretary of State of State Hilary Clinton did the same thing but with much less fanfare. (First and last politics related post, I promise)

An upstate New York developer donated $100,000 to former President Bill Clinton's foundation in November 2004, around the same time that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton helped secure millions of dollars in federal assistance for the businessman's mall project. Mrs. Clinton helped enact legislation allowing the developer, Robert J. Congel, to use tax-exempt bonds to help finance the construction of the Destiny USA entertainment and shopping complex, an expansion of the Carousel Center in Syracuse. Mrs. Clinton also helped secure a provision in a highway bill that set aside $5 million for Destiny USA roadway construction. The bill with the tax-free bonds provision became law in October 2004, weeks before the donation, and the highway bill with the set-aside became law in August 2005, about nine months after the donation.

This whole issue seems to be something much bigger than two baseball teams.

News Droppings

On the Swisher and Nady front:

Tyler Kepner of The New York Times checks in today with some good stuff on the possible trades involving either corner OF, citing interest by the Reds, Nats, Braves, and Giants. From the tone of the piece, it looks like the Yankees aren't going to make a trade for the sake of clearing payroll or opening a spot on the roster. It makes sense. Nady and Swisher are two key guys who can play a meaningful factor in all 162.

Brain Cashman was quoted as well, saying:
“It depends on the trade talk, If we feel there’s a benefit, we’ll make a move. That’s basically it. We’re in a position where we don’t have to make a move, so that’s a strong position to be in. We could have them all year. We’re not going to do anything unless there’s a reason to do it.”

I wouldn't force the issue either. I think that this year will be the year of the mid-season acquisition. The free agent class next year is pretty weak and there's a lot of parity in the divisions these days. A lot of teams will be looking to pick up a key piece at the trading deadline and thinking they have enough to make a run.

The Yankees may find a better market for either player in late June than in January.

On the Spring Training front:

From mlb.com and the boys at RAB the Yankees have offered 20 players non-roster invites to Spring Training. The list is as follows:

Pitchers: Kei Igawa, Jason Johnson, Mark Melancon, Sergio Mitre
Catchers: Kyle Anson, Kevin Cash, Jesus Montero, PJ Pilittere, Austin Romine
Infielders: Doug Bernier, Angel Berroa, Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo
Outfielders: Colin Curtis, Shelley Duncan, Austin Jackson, Justin Leone, Todd Linden, John Rodriguez

Notables are of course Austin Jackson, Austin Romine, Jesus Montero, and Mark Melancon as they represent the best and the best known names of our homegrown talent. Keep your eyes on Ramiro Pena, Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Russo though. They will get more opportunities in camp than they normally would due to Derek and Alex's commitments to the WBC.

Jason Johnson, Angel Berroa, Kevin Cash, Todd Linden and John Rodriguez all have MLB experience and all more notable than Kei Igawa's, Justin Leone's, Shelley Duncan's, Doug Bernier's. Berroa was in fact the rookie of the year back in 2003 when he beat out Hideki Matsui for the title.

On the Jorge Posada front:

It's not looking like the Jorge will DH for Puerto Rico in the WBC. The Yankees are telling anyone within earshot that Jorge's just not ready for that kind of commitment.

I think we may get a pissing match yet though.

Cash has decreed:
"I am sure he would love to play [in the World Baseball Classic], but he is currently rehabbing from surgery and would not be ready."
"He wouldn't be able to perform. He won't start on time as a catcher in spring training. It's just a fact. There's nothing I can do about it or the player can do about it. We're hoping to have Jorge by Opening Day, but he will not be the opening spring training catcher, I can tell you that."

Jorge's retort:
"This will be my last chance to play for Puerto Rico, and I'm very clear on that. For that reason, I'll do anything possible to be 100 percent, because it is a dream of mine to wear that uniform."

Jorge's Dad even had this to say:
"He feels fine and wants to play for Puerto Rico."

Team Puerto Rico's GM, Lou Mendez mused:
"I would love to have Posada on Team PR. I am waiting to learn his status because of insurance issues."

And finally, Joe Giradi chimed in with:
"Obviously, he's very important to this club," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said recently. "We need him. I'm encouraged right now. ... You can talk about playing three out of four [games] or four out of five, but I think early on the important thing is that we don't abuse him, and allow him to continue to gain strength in that shoulder. I plan on him being our everyday catcher."

I hope this thing dies down and Jorge realizes that he's got to learn 2 new pitchers and needs to have much more of a commitment to the team that signs his paychecks than the country where his dad knocked up his mom.

Inmates vs. The Asylum

I alluded to this very recently in my Top Ten Reasons the Yankees Lost in 2008 post. This kind of primadonna crap gets on my nerves. Apparently Jorge Posada is gearing up to DH for Puerto Rico in the WBC. This report is coming from ESPN Deportes, but I'll give the hat tip to RAB for breaking it and the report can be reached here.

While this report is in no way confirmed, we can assume fairly easily that this is something Jorge wants to do. We can also assume, just as easily, that is certainly something that the Yankees do not want him to do. It's a tough call. I'm sure he's dying to play. He never wanted to go on the DL or even get the surgery in the first place last year, so I'm pretty sure he's itching to see some live pitches. I get it and normally I wouldn't have a problem.

The thing is, Jorge is 37 and coming off of reconstruction surgery in his shoulder. Naturally the Yankees want to keep him in-house so they can get their own readings on Jorge's recovery and rehabilitation. Also, they want to ensure that Jorge breaks camp healthy and with all his throwing strength. Any sort of head-first slide, collision at the plate, or what-have you could erase all the hard work he put in over the Winter. It's just a better way to keep tabs on a key player coming off of a serious injury. After all, the Yankees committed 4 more years to him and a bunch more millions before the injury-shortened '08 season. The least Jorge could do is obey the wishes of the team. We'll see about that.

In the interest of fairness though, if I was Jorge I'd stay as far away from any Yankee Spring Training. All the strength and conditioning work that gets done there leads to some horrific season ending injury for a hefty percentage of the team. Obviously I'd prefer Jorge to stay in Florida this Spring and root for Puerto Rico on TV, but all he's really doing is giving the Romaine's, Montero's, Molina's, Cervelli's, Cash's, and maybe even the Nutt's of the world to get some more time in behind the dish they wouldn't normally with Jorge in camp. If he does go to the WBC though, I'd just tell Jorge to get used to DH'ing. Once Matsui's gone he's got 2 more years where he'll be doing it exclusively.

Honoring A Legend

You know you're getting old when your favorite baseball player gets elected to the Hall of Fame. Rickey Henderson was the first thing I ever noticed about baseball or the New York Yankees for that matter. It was pretty much over from that point on.

My Father used to go to baseball games with a guy named Red. Red knew an MLB umpire and once asked him who was the best baseball player he's ever seen. The umpire, without pause or hesitation said, "Rickey Henderson." Then the umpire did hesitate, but only before admitting "And he'd be even better if we gave him more calls."

That was Rickey Henderson. A brash, arrogant superstar of an athlete of a baseball player. Ridiculously gifted. A freak. Electrifying. A terror on the base paths and absolutely fearless. And the best damn lead-off hitter the game has ever seen.

He knew it too.

In Little League I was happy to patrol left field like Rickey used to in Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately I never got the opportunity to show off my range or wheels. I was happy to dig holes in the outfield with my cleats though and I did that often.

I was also not much of a hitter. At the end of each season the coaches would give me my fielding average instead of my batting average -- surprisingly enough, it wasn't that impressive. But I could always draw walks. I went up there looking to for walks, actually.

Whatever. That ball was scary.

Anyway, whenever I was lucky enough to draw a walk, I'd be on my toes for any opportunity to swipe a bag. Second? Yeah I'm taking second. I'm taking second, then I'm taking third. I'd take home too if it wasn't against the rules in Little League.

In all my baseball fantasies I've ever had, I was to be Rickey Henderson. Too bad for us, there is only one.

Congratulations Rickey! You deserve it. And indeed you were, much like you told us all back when you broke Lou Brock's All Time Steals Record, the greatest of all time.

Mushmouth's Revenge

I usually never read articles that deal with unsubstantiated clubhouse stuff, but I was bored and bit on an article about a supposed rift between Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.

It seems that ol' Dribble glass himself, Peter Gammons went on WEEI in Boston, the nation's most obnoxious sports radio station and took some not-so-surprising shots at Teixeira and A-Rod. It seems the guy who used to write Diamond Notes is now just an old, cantankerous Red Sox mouthpiece with a megaphone. He's already in the Hall of Fame for sportswriters so why even try anymore?

Gammo on A-Rod and Tex:
As you probably remember, there was a lot of testiness between Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira when they played in Texas together [...] And I don't think Alex really cares about communicating with other players, we know [that] from Derek Jeter.

You're right Peter. They hate each other. A-Rod hates Tex and Jeter. Jeter hates A-Rod and Tex hates A-Rod. Jeter and Tex are just OK. They don't hang out, but you know how it is. They're all catty little 13 year-old girls.

Gammo on Teixeira:
Also, we haven't really seen Teixeira in a situation where the expectations are really that high, and he's going to have to deal with them in New York. It will be very interesting to see how it goes with the Yankees."

Yeah, Anaheim never expected to win anything last year. They were just satisfied with dominating the AL West. Right again, Pete.

Gammo on Teixera's deal with NY:
The Red Sox didn't know it, and in the end there was nothing they could do about it. He wanted to go to the Yankees, his wife doesn't like Boston -- apparently she doesn't like the stores on Newbury Street or something -- and in the end that's the way it goes.

What a ridiculous homer.

Nady or Swisher

As we inch closer and closer towards the beginning of Spring Training, more and more reports are surfacing in regards to the futures of Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. It seems that because of the Mark Teixeira signing, the Yankees now have a glut of corner outfielders and DH types -- an issue I alluded to when I incorrectly predicted why Teixeira wouldn't be a Yankee. Ideally I'd love to carry both and trade Damon instead and have listed my reasons why. That doesn't seem to be the case though as the Yankees are mysteriously satisfied with Johnny Leather. Whatever, just make sure you show him the door at the end of this season.

The Washington Nationals have most recently expressed interest in both players via MLB.com. Because they are the Washington Nationals, I haven't a clue what kind of prospects we could acquire via trade, but on first inspection the most likely candidates would be one of either Elijah Dukes or Lastings Milledge.

I really wouldn't mind acquiring either, as they are both very special players with that unfortunate combination of raw talent and personal issues that may prevent them from reaching their full potentials. I figure the leadership in our clubhouse would hopefully alleviate some of those pressures and issues though. Personally, I would value Dukes more, but not by much. I just remember him crushing, what was I think, his first professional HR at the old Yankee Stadium (that feels weird to type) and I've had my eye on him since. It's pretty much a wash though as either would represent an upgrade CF. I know, I know, I've lobbied against a CF upgrade, but these 2 represent the real type of upgrade I'd gladly accept. Besides, we need some brothas on the team.

There is also interest on behalf of the Cincinnati Reds. I am less inclined to consider this one as the rumored trade chips, on the internet at least, are starting pitchers Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang. I am fine with solving the 5th starter spot internally from either Alfredo Aceves, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, or Phil Coke. I am also fine with not ever considering Bronson Arroyo for anything. Aaron Harang is certainly more intriguing, but I want to leave that 5th spot for a homegrown pitcher.

So who goes?

The most attractive trade piece is Nady as it would just be a one year commitment that would no doubt net 2 prospects when the player and his agent, the lovable Scott Boras, enter free agency at the end of the year. Swisher has 3 years and $22 million left on his deal. That plus his .219 average last year would prevent most teams from taking that entire deal on. Plus, Swisher's versatility makes him a necessary component on the 2009 Yankees.

Xavier Nady, we hardly knew ye.

2008: Why We Lost

It's over. Finally. 2008 is nothing more than a fading memory.

2009 looks much more promising

We're set. The 2009 Yankees - barring a minor move here and there - are done throwing their weight and money around. The dust is settling and on first inspection we look much improved and much more of a complete team.

The bats we lost with the departures of Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi will be more than adequately replaced with the productions of Mark Teixiera, healthy contributions from Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, and a full season (possibly) from Xavier Nady.

Pitchers like Sidney Ponson, Darrell Rasner, Carl Pavano, Dan Geise, and Kei Igawa will not be needed to start 51 games due to the ineffectiveness and growing pains of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. The C.C. and A.J. signings more than bridge that gap. Full, healthy seasons from Wang and Joba could potentially provide a cushion for Alfredo Aceves, Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, or even Phil Coke to emerge as the 5th starter. Not to mention, Andy Pettite may or may not exist as an option to add more experience and guaranteed innings to an already strong rotation.

The team defense is marginally improved with Teixeira now responsible for digging rushed and errant Jeterian and A-Roddian throws from the dirt. Anyone's better than Giambi in that respect. I do like our chances of pulling off a 3-6-3 double play though and runners on third won't automatically score on slow rollers hit to the right side anymore. So that's a plus. I also think the OF defense will be a tad better with Nady in RF, any combination of Gardner and Melky in CF, and Damon in LF.

But screw 2009. I need to know what the hell went so wrong in 2008 just so I have any chance of avoiding it this time around. Yeah, that's right, it's a top 10 list. I hope you like reading, cuz this one is going to be long, verbose, and cumbersome. Deal with it.

Top 10 Reasons the Yankees Lost in 2008

10. The Transition of Power - Although I hate to think about it, a lot of what the Yankees do is done for pure business reasons as opposed to pure baseball reasons. Take the free agent signing class of 2008 as an example. We locked up Jorge, Mo, and A-Rod -- 3 players past 30 -- for an incredibly large fee. Not many teams were interested in those players and few, if any, were interested in them at the prices we gave them.

Look, I'm not gonna say these were bad deals, but 4 years for a 36 year-old catcher just might be pushing it a tad. And in the 10 years A-Rod's in pinstripes, the brothers Steinbrenner will certainly make a good return on the investment, especially if he takes on Bonds HR crown, but 10 years is still a really, really long time to put up with Page 6 reports about A-Rod and an old lady who used to be Madonna.

When it was time for Big George to be put out to pasture, Hal and Hank, Hank for certain, needed some time to find their own voices and direction and in the meantime both needed to ensure it would be business as usual in the Bronx. So they pushed the envelope by hoping against hope that the big, bad 30+ Yankee offense would carry the young and inexperienced pitching staff over the hump. It didn't, obviously but there's 9 more reasons for that.

9. The F'n Attitude - Every year since 2003, they seem to get a worse and worse start out of the gate. It's a typical season when the Yankees are expected to make a big 2nd half push after the break. By and large they have -- except for 2008. As August came to a close the writing was pretty much on the wall that the playoffs were more of a crapshoot than reality. Which takes me back to the comments and quotes you hear from the high profile players as they languish in April, May, and June. I swear to God, if Jeter, A-Rod, or Damon even once says "it's early" in May when the team has a sub .500 record I'm going to lose it. These guys can't just turn it on anymore. There's no switch. The days of green pep pills and mysterious creams and clears you rub on your body to remove aches and pains are over. If you're over 35, you need to take a day off here and there. Hence the refrain of younger and more athletic you heard Cash chant this off-season. It's a young man's game again. And it's a beautiful thing if you live in Tampa, and pretty f'n ugly if you live in any of the 5 Burroughs.

8. Andy Pettite's 2nd Half - This was a killer. Especially when you take into consideration the fact that Andy Pettite is, historically, the most dominant 2nd half pitcher the game has ever seen. Add to that, the HGH mess he found himself in at the beginning of the season. It begs the question of "Just how good was this guy, anyway"?

For the record Andy delivered a piss poor 2nd half in 2008 going 4-7 with a 5.35 ERA. He also helped opposing batters reach lofty career highs with a .302 batting average against. For his career Andy is 112-51 with a .364 ERA. He used to shut teams down in the second half, holding opponents to a .265 avg. Not last year and because of that there may be no this year for Andy in NY.

Have fun in Houston, dick.

7. The Kids - Please believe me when I say that not getting Johan Santana was the best non-decision the Yankees front office never made. That being said, would've one f'n win been too much to ask? Seriously Ian. You too Phil.

As bad as Andy was in the second half, these 2 were certainly not world beaters by any stretch. I have all the faith in the world in both of them to be quality MLB arms. I just would've just much preferred going with Ponson and Rasner from day one. The simple truth is they weren't ready. It is evidenced in the fact that as bad as Ponson and Rasner were, and they were very, very bad, they were light years ahead of the gruesome twosome of Kennedy and Hughes.

Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano are in no way excused from this conversation. Both have come virtually out of nowhere to carve out spots with the club, yet neither is established enough to go through the motions and not play the game intelligently and correctly. Robby's slow starts need to end. Melky's got to grow within the game. Both are very young and have all the potential in the world. Cano is obviously the better of the two, but Melky has the ability to change a lot of minds as well.

Melky's bat was the only effective bat early in the season and he clearly got power happy when he hit .299 with 5 HRs in April. Joe had him batting all throughout the lineup early on and I don't think he kept his head. It's obvious when you look at the dwindling production from that point on. 5 HRs in April led to 3 HRs the rest of the way. 24 RBIs in April and May led to 13 RBIs the rest of the way.

It's all pretty much unfounded, hence the lack of links, but rumors circulated midseason in regard to both Melky and Cano's late nights. Bobbby Abreu was also recently cited in some places as a negative influence on the two young Latino players. We'll see....

6. Derek Jeter and his Mystery Wrist - On May 20th, 2008 Derek was hit on the wrist with a pitch. In true Jeterian form, he refused to sit over an extended period of time in favor of a better SS in Gonzalez. Was he hurt? Or is he a "gamer"? Numbers don't lie. Let's ask them.

Granted the numbers are slightly skewed to justify my point, but that's what I do sometimes. In May, June and July, Jeter hit a low, for him, .280 BA -- it dipped as low as .269 over that stretch as well. In August and September, a long enough time for any nagging wrist injury to heal, Jeter sweetly cherry-picked his way to a .343 avg. Just high enough to finish with a .300 batting average, in time to erase any lingering doubts over his contributions.

These facts are further compounded when you take into account what the guys between him were batting over that period. Damon hit .328 in May, June, and July and Abreu hit .294 over that 3 month period. Derek's team record of 20+ instances in which he hit into a double play looks all the more damning in this light if you ask me. Add to that the false "Captain" moniker he proudly cashes in on yet never seems to wear proudly or publically for that matter. Damon talks to the press. Posada makes the guys "Grind It" T-shirts. A-Rod takes all the heat. What the fuck does Derek do?

Lead by example? No thanks, we don't need that example much longer.

5. Jason Giambi and the 5 Hole - Each day Joe Girardi would release the lineup card, I'd cringe whenever I saw "Jason Giambi" listed after A-Rod.

Say what you want about the man's personality. He was generous, fun, silly, jovial, whatever -- he sucked for 7 long years in the Bronx and failed at the doing what we got him for: Continue the dominance from '96-'00, hit like an MVP, and deliver world championships. 20 mill plus a year for a player who injected his ass with steriods never fully came clean and forgot how to hit to the left side. Thanks, Jason. You'll never see me miss or cheer you.

In 2008, with runners in scoring position Jason Giambi delivered a .213 batting average with a .339 OBP. Rally Killer, thy name is Giambi. None of this guy's clutch stats were impressive last year. With 2 out and men in scoring position he hit .216 with a .356 OBP. After the 7th inning in close games Giambi stepped up and delivered a .155 avg with a .286 OBP.

Almost everyone blamed Melky's production last year but in those same clutch situations, the Melk-Man hit .22o with RISP and 2 out with a .328 OBP and he hit .298 with a .339 OBP in late inning, close game situations. At the very least, Melky delivered on his league minimum salary. The Giambino did not.

I will not miss John Sterling call him that either. Douche-chills.

4. Strategy, the Bench, Prima Donnas, and Pinch Running - Seriously. We mismanaged our way to several early losses last year. It took Jorge a month to realize he needed to go on the DL. Becasue of that we carried 3 catchers and were forced to pinch run guys like Shelley Duncan, Chad Moeller, and Jose Molina. Thinking about such instances still angers me.

I mentioned Jeter's wrist earlier, but his desire to play through obvious discomfort doesn't impress me. A hurt player needs to sit. It's that simple. It smacks of pure selfishness. I don't see a guy playing through pain as noble, I see it as a guy just trying to get his at-bats.

In another post I brought up the fact that the Yankees beat the Rays in head-to head games 11-7. We split our series with the Sox at 9 games apiece. You can't ask for too much more against those franchises with the 2008 team we put on the field day in and out. It's kind of miraculous really. But we didn't put the hammer down against Baltimore and Toronto and split against those teams in the exact same fashion going 9-9 with Toronto and 11-7 vs. Baltimore. It was no different in interleague games as we finished with a 10-8 record against teams in the NL. We split the season series against KC, got beat down against Anaheim (again) and lost the season series against Detroit, Texas, and Cleveland.

A mere 2 games separated New York and Boston when it was all said and done. A lot more than two wins can easily be mined from some of these performances and match-ups. Sometimes you need to push the envelope and ensure you win the gimme games against Kansas City, Texas, Baltimore, and Cleveland, not just assume the victory.

3. A Hot, Stinky August -Words fail me when I try to talk about August 2008. It was a pathetic display to say the least. The month of August saw the Yankees go 13-15. They scored 135 runs and surrendered an overwhelming 148. In fact, on August 31, 2008 the Yankees sat 12.5 games out of first - the farthest back they were all season. Needless to say, you're going to have a hell of a tough road ahead in September if you lose the majority of the games in August making October a fantasy scenario.

Ugh, just thinking about it makes my stomach queasy.

2. Just Dumb Luck? - This one is tough to take still. After the All Star Break, the Yankees looked like they were on the verge of making a run. They were a mere 4 games out and should have been buoyed by the arrivals of Xavier Nady, Damseo Marte, and Ivan Rodriguez. The prevailing thought in pretty much all of baseball was that it's only a matter of time. It's only a matter of time....

Time passed and the Yankees dropped like a stone. A weak bench contributed to the collapse, but its not enough of a reason. And to be honest, I don't really know what the hell happened down the stretch. It was just a tired, old team that played very flat with their backs up against the wall. A fairly inconceivable result when you take into account the players, salaries, and expectation.

It's slightly less puzzling when you look at what some of the hitters did in August. Damon hit .304, Jeter and Abreu both hit in the .330's. But A-Rod and Giambi struggled in the .240's that month. It's more than a lineup's production though, too. Gotta be something else. All I got left is luck and....

1. Injuries, Duh - The team was wrecked and ravaged by injury in '08. A-Rod went on the 15 day DL. Posada missed a significant portion of the season with the shoulder injury and subsequent surgery. Wang only pitched in 15 games due to a foot ligament. Brain Brueney missed over half the season with a similar foot injury. Joba Chamberlain missed a month, making both bullpen and rotation that much worse considering what side of the stupid debate you were on. Hideki Matsui's knees acted up and he wound up on the DL. The same can be said for Johnny Damon's shoulder. Derek Jeter missed a handful of games due to the wrist thing. Wilson Betemit was on and off the DL twice. Phil Hughes cracked a rib. Ian Kennedy went on the 15 day. Andy Pettite was hampered both early and late in the season with a bad back and a sore throwing shoulder, the worst part is he couldn't inject the pain away. Our opening day starting rotation made just 99 combined starts. The list goes on.

I know injury is a factor that all clubs deal with, but the mini list I just generated - I'm sure there was more, I just don't know where to go to get DL info - is a very significant cross section of the 2008 club. No team can lose production like that over that period of time and expect to go anywhere in October.

So take note. If you see any semblance of these 10 things in 2009 just know what to expect and how to temper said expectation. That being said I look forward to 2009 with baited anticipation. I expect a big turn-around and another run at a World Title.

And away we go.