Back in November 2006, Barry Zito was the hot free-agent pitcher, and people wondered, naturally, how seriously the Yankees would pursue him.
I just didn't see it happening. Brian Cashman was fully in charge of the Yankees, and through painful experiences, he had grown weary of long-term commitments, particularly to pitchers.
Throw in that Zito's numbers had been on the decline for a few years, and that pitching for the Yankees would be more difficult in terms of competition, ballpark and external pressure, and it just didn't click for me.
But I did think that the Mets would go hard after Zito. They badly needed starting pitching _ they didn't know whether they would have Pedro Martinez for any of the 2007 season _ and they played in the inferior league and a pitcher's ballpark. They also employed Rick Peterson, under whom Zito enjoyed his best years in Oakland.
Cashman did little more than monitor the Zito negotiations; at one point, Zito's agent Scott Boras expressed his exasperation directly to the Yankees, something to the effect of, "Why aren't you more interested in him!?" Minaya, meanwhile, met with Zito out in California, along with Jeff Wilpon, Tony Bernazard and John Ricco, but they made it clear to him they wouldn't go beyond five years.
So both of our teams sat and watched as the Giants committed to what is looking like one of the worst contracts in the history of free agency.
In covering baseball, part of my job is to try and get inside the brains of general managers, particularly our local GMs, and try to anticipate their thought processes as they navigate the highs and lows of a baseball season. As with Zito, sometimes, you get it right, and sometimes not.
Right now, once again, we're trying to read the minds of Minaya and Cashman.
With Omar, it's, "What the $%*&# are you doing with Willie Randolph?!" The Mets players are exhausted by the "Will Willie stay or go?" plotline, and Omar appears to be in no hurry to resolve it. Yesterday's doubleheader split seems to have bough Willie this Anahaim series _ but who knows? A bad couple of losses could put the onus right back on the manager, with coaches Peterson and Tom Nieto in clear trouble, as well.
Keep in mind, this is Minaya's seventh season as a GM, and he has never fired a manager. Yes, he has to know that, once he fires Randolph, the attention turns to him and the mediocre job he has done in rebuilding the Mets organization. But he's already getting hammered plenty, both outside and inside the team. The bigger issue, to me, seems to be a simple sense on Minaya's part that Randolph can and should turn this team around.
Yes, the Wilpons are prepared to move onto Jerry Manuel. But it's not just them. Virtually everyone from this list who is involved in baseball operations, wants Randolph gone. Only Omar seems to think that Willie has a chance of survival. But that optimism lasts only one game at a time.
Cashman, as you know, has attempted to change the culture of the Yankees, since he gained full power in October 2005. During Cashman's first eight years, my job was really to think along with George Steinbrenner, which meant that every loss _ every close victory, too _ was a crisis, and that they would try to acquire every player in the game.
Cashman has made his intentions apparent: No one player, not even one season, is bigger than The Plan, which is to replicate Theo Epstein's "player development machine" up in Boston. Prior to yesterday, I thought there was no way that Cashman would trade for C.C. Sabathia, should the Indians fully commit to making him available.
But yesterday's game threw an interesting twist to the Yankees' season: Chien-Ming Wang suffered what looks to be a serious injury. The Yankees will be without their ace for an indeterminate period, possibly the duration of the season.
So now what does Cashman do? Does he honor his surging team by dipping into the stock of young talent he has compiled and trade someone _ Jose Tabata? Ian Kennedy? _ to bring Sabathia here for the rest of the season? I'd be shocked if Cashman even wanted to commit to Sabatha for a long-term deal, so this would be a half-season rental. Cashman also would get a couple of quality draft picks for next year once he let Sabathia go after the year.
My best bet is that Cashman will give this a couple of more weeks, see how Dan Giese or Daniel McCutchen does in Wang's place and makes a decision from there. The Indians can't be ready to trade Sabathia, anyway, not as they sit six games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox in the loss column.
But if Sabatha does get dealt, my bet, for now, is that another team _ the Cubs are the obvious favorite _ offers a more intriguing package than Cashman is willing to offer.
So we'll continue to watch our two local clubs, and try to guess Omar's and Cash's next moves.
Comments (36)
Ken, Cashman better hope Wang is not out for the season. As I Said yesterday I hate the National League just because the pitchers are hitting. I don't hate NL style of play, I just hate the pitcher hitting. There is a fear factor with pitchers getting hurt when they are hitting. I'll give you an example. Andy Pettitte in his first start with the Astros hurts his elbow swinning a bat. And then yesterday Chein-Ming Wang hurts his foot running the bases. If Wang is out for the season, I blame it on being force to play in the NL park with AL pitchers being expose to hitting and running the base paths. And its not like Wang hurt his arm, he hurts his foot running the base paths.
Hey Dennis, how about if the pitchers take some swings, practice bunting, run around the bases a few times? Why aren't they already doing these things? Are these pro athletes so pampered they can't swing a bat? When they were younger they all played the field, too, and were probably among the best hitters and runners on their teams. What's next? A pitcher gets hurt getting out of bed?
Billy Crystal's career has approximated Barry Zito's failure. When Randolph is fired next weekend, I expect the Boomtown Rats and "I Don't Like Mondays" in the upper left corner. ("Free Willy" will not be accepted as a substitute)
The Mets management is handling this situation in the absolute worst way. They refuse to make anyone accountable for their mediocre play. Either challenge the players in the press (not with some stupid locker room game chart) to win - tell the players if they don't take 7 out of 10 that Willie is gone (and the blood is on their hands) or a Wilpon sows leadership and pulls the plug to remove the distraction now - Willie goes now (along with the coaches) and Omar next if the Mets do not advance in the playoffs. It makes me wish Steinbrenner in his prime was the Mets' boss right now!
Ken, I know and wouldn't want you to divulge media sources...but whoever leaked this to you guys should be fired!!! (If his name isn't Wilpon) Besides being inhumane to Randolph, it hurts the club. It wouldn't hurt every club (like the Texas Rangers) but it hurts a club that is so obviously SOFT!!
Dennis, pitchers get hurt pitching too. Maybe they should play strat-o-matic to determine who wins and loses. That way everyone will play to their expected value, no managers will be in danger unless they roll the dice really crappy, and the only injuries will be minor hand wrenching!!
It's a shame Wang got hurt yesterday, the starting pitching looked like it was beginning to settle into a fairly consistent rotation. They may still have enough for a wild card berth with Pettitte, Mussina, Joba and Rasner and someone else.
Typically the old Yankees would trade Tabata and Kennedy or Hughes for a decent starting pitcher in about 4 weeks. I don't see anyone wanting Kennedy, maybe a few teams would want Hughes? And what could they get anyway? Most teams are still in the hunt, even the Giants aren't so far behind. The teams that look to be completely out of the races: Seattle, KC, Colorado, Washington, Pittsburgh, Houston and Cincinnati have one one worthy pitcher to offer: Roy Oswalt and I doubt the Yankees could get him for Hughes/Kennedy and Tabata. Maybe Hughes, Kennedy and Tabata could get him, but that's a stupid deal to make.
If Wang is hurt, Cashman absolutely has to get Sabathia. If he doesn't, and Wang is gone for the year, then this team is done, and Ken will be right about the 3rd place finish. Period.
Something tells me that Jeff Wilpon is loving leaving Willie twisting in the wind as revenge for the racism comment. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that Jeff Wilpon, like James Dolan, is a genetic lottery winning, silver spoon sucking, pathetic, lame know-nothing who would be nowhere without the achievements and financial success of his father.
The Rock
If you read his subtle comments, Rock has a good point. Are the Yanks and Mets heading "downhill" because the siblings of the stronger owner are more involved and have little idea as to what they are doing?
The kids were givewn rookie league teams (and stadia built with public funds) as a playground toy to get ready for the big time in the big city. None of them are prime time as of yet.
Ken, shouldn't that be to "replicate *Gene Micheal's* 'player development machine'"? Gene put together a dynasty that had a homegrown shortstop, centerfielder, catcher, closer and starting pitcher. That's a lot more than Mr. Epstein can say, and if Cashman saw the way to do things, it should have been right before his eyes with the team Stick gave him in the '90s.
Sandy, this may be shocking to some, but yes, there are teams that want Kennedy, and yes, just about every team would want Hughes -- he was the number-one pitching prospect in baseball just a year ago and he's 21. I think GMs are less hysterical than fans and realize that his struggles this year do not mean he's worthless.
I think if I read one more person say "if Wang is out for the year, the Yankees *have* to acquire Sabathia" I'm going to punch a wall. They don't have to do anything. They don't have a Sabathia sitting in AAA, but they have options in McCutch and Alan Horne. They also have Kennedy and Hughes -- and it's funny that people almost dismiss them now when they were the only thing anyone wanted to talk about earlier in the year. They've gone from potential rotation staples to afterthoughts.
First, let's see how badly Wang is hurt.
And if he is out for the year (how did we get to THAT?), then Cashman will figure something out -- probably using someone from AAA until Kennedy and Hughes are ready to go again. If the Indians are trading Sabathia, a contending team will unload its farm system to have him for half a year. The Yankees will not be able to match that offer unless they want to undo everything they've built in the last four years. Just say no to midseason panic trades.
The Yankees aren't trading away players like Hughes, Kennedy or Tabata for Sabathia. They wouldn't even trade for Sabathia unless the Indians gave them a window to sign him long term. I like what Sabathia has done recently, but also recall how poorly he looked earlier this season. He is young, but I don't like his level of fitness. Yes, the same could be said about Babe Ruth, but I would like a player who is going to earn $100 million over 5 years to look more like an athlete and not have to worry about the guy falling over.
balieywalk is correct in that every team would love to have Hughes and Kennedy. I believe these guys are going to be good and be around for a long time. I hope Cashman sits tight. If Want is out, sing Freddy Garcia. We haven't talked about him for some time. Let's see how bad Wang's injury is and then take a look at internal options. Maybe we can get by until Garcia is ready later in the summer. He would only cost money and a low level pick (if that).
Consider me a NO vote on Sabathia.
Hey Ken.
Great job last night with Bruce Beck. Why does Miked-Up always trot out goofy props (ie. Mets & Yankee Jerseys and last night, looked like some very vintage clubs - -wooden drivers?).
Willie has made some terrible moves but he's not the reason the bullpen failed miserably the past week. I would like to see a 'jolt' to the team. Start by cutting Delgado and then the others will see ownership is not taking their inferior play lightly.
Note to Bob Tufts: next Monday morning after this weekend's firing Bob Geldoff's only hit (not counting BandAid) would be appropriate or the Bangles Manic Monday?
~Howard
Stick did great work, baileywalk. I was just thinking of a more modern comparison, in citing Theo's work. The industry has changed so dramatically even since the early '90s.
Jim, as we discssed previously, Freddy Garcia probably won't be ready until late August. Buster Olney mentions Randy Wolf and Paul Byrd in his blog today. Both make some sense, if Cashman decides to trade for a starting pitcher.
Yeah Garcia would be a cheap replacement for the Yankees. Look how Colon has worked out for the Red Sox. The Indians are only 5 1/2 games out of first place, they, like Ken said, aren't trading away C.C.
OK, the Daily News is reporting that Omar is going to fire Tom Nieto and Peterson in the next few days, that is why he went on this road trip at the last minute. I know Ken doesn't think Peterson should be fired. And the replacements are coming from New Orleans. And, Omar is doing everything he can to keep Willie but Jeff Wilpon really, really wants Omar to fire him. I know ken can't comment on that here.
I can comment. I've written previously that Jeff Wilpon and Willie have a poor relationship. Jeff is ready to fire Willie, as is his dad and pretty much all of Omar's lieutenants.
Ken, I'm aware of the time frame surrounding Garcia. What I meant was that perhaps they can go with an internal replacement or less expensive alternative and stay close until Freddy is ready. I just can't see shipping out the future. I doubt the Yankee brass can either. If they wanted to do so, they would have signed Santana.
Ken, I had no idea Omar was such a good friend/ally to Willie. Coming into this season I thought Omar undermined Willie. I've also heard that when Willie has yelled at Reyes/Endy Chavez they've told Willie, "Talk to Omar."
Ken, the Mets have botch this situation very badly. They should make a decsion now and make it final because the longer this last the more it is a distraction for the team and it will affect their preformance.
I just heard Mike and Chris said that Wang is out at least 6 weeks with a lisfrank injury.Once again I have stated this before, AL pitchers are not used to hitting or running the bases. Wang got hurt running the bases.
Ken, I meant the commenting about the coaches (since it's still unconfirmed and a rumor. although certain WFAN hosts are treating it as fact), you've been pretty clear about Jeff and Fred Wilpon's relationship with Willie.
Bob Tufts: I agree with you about the siblings. Jeff Wilpon has been pretty much clueless since he started to inject himself into the business. I think Fred Wilpon understands this and that is the reason he hasn't stepped too far away. I may be completely wrong about this, but the Wilpon regime without the partnership of Nelson Doubleday has been pretty unremarkable and full of fiascos of this type. I'd think the Steinbrenners show more promise for the future than Jeff Wilpon does. I wouldn't go so far as to say he is the new Lorinda deRoulet, but M. Donald Grant is within his reach.
OK. Now we know that Wang is in bad shape. On crutches for at least six weeks and probably done for the year. Hopefull Kennedy returns and starts winning. I am convinced that Cashman won't trade to Sabathia. It would go against everything he has been preaching.
I think your instincts are correct, Jim. I will have an analysis of the Sabathia situation in tomorrow's Newsday; it'll probably be on the Web tonight.
Tough break for the Yanks -- especially considering it's such a fluke injury -- but it's not time to panic. This is why you have pitching depth. We're going to see just how good the pitching depth is right now. They have Kennedy ready, Hughes in the wings, two decent prospects at AAA, and lesser ones in AA. (No, Igawa is not a part of that group.) I think a trade for Sabathia is unnecessary, and a trade for Paul Bryd a disaster. Randy Wolf isn't a terrible idea, but I wonder how he would react having to go to the east coast -- he's a diehard west-coaster who twice took less money to play there.
By the way, Ken, who else is out there as far as pitching? We've heard Sabathia (obviously), Bryd and Wolf. I know Burnett is available. What about Sheets? His team is 8.5 games out -- would they trade him for prospects since they probably won't re-sign him next year? The problem for the Mets is that they have NO farm system right now. So swinging a trade would be really hard. But if I was them, I'd target Burnett -- he's just the type of guy you can ride for half a season and then discard. The problem with him is that he has a player's opt-out in his contract -- so he can stick around next year even if you don't want him. If he pitches poorly for the team and doesn't think he can get a bigger contract, you're stuck with him. But on any given night, he's as good as it gets. I'm sure he wouldn't mind going back to the NL, either.
Monday Prediction:
Ken is going to say the Yankees weren't going to make the playoffs anyway this season, so Cashman is going to stay the course.
But this will be the true test of total Cashman Authority. If CC all of the sudden becomes a Yank, we know that Hank has more power than Ken thinks.
I have a great idea though...and as much as I'm joking, he would help on the mound. I wont say his name, but all it would cost is money, and Oh my Gosh Oh My Goodness I know it would make one broadcaster very happy.
The American League Wild Card is so wide open. The Yanks lose their best starting pitcher becasue of running the bases. Its one thing for a pitcher to get hurt on the mound. But its another thing to get hurt when your hitting like Pettitte did with the Astros, and running the bases like Wang did yesterday. So if the Yanks don't make the playoffs, Wang getting hurt on the base paths will be one of the reasons.
Hey, Richie G. do you mean David Wells? Wells is closer to eligibility for Social Security than he is to the last time he was really in shape. Unfortunately, as we all know, the older you get, the harder it is to perform when your level of fitness stinks. The Yankees would get stuck paying Wells' disability retirement the rest of his life.
Do you mean Clemens? That actually isn't that bad of an idea.
Jim, I did mean Clemens. He would be a HUGE help on the mound for the Yanks. I really think they could use an above average innings eater for this year. But obviously with all the excess baggage, there's 0% of that happening.
Though from what I've heard, all his teammates love him.
Riche G - that "talk to Omar" comment is wild.
If the players are going over Willie's head and Omar is part of it, Omar should be the first one out the door for undermining his manager.
Bob, I have a pretty good source that told me it happened. That same source told me Billy Wagner and Aaron Heillman are besides themselves that they are pitching poorly, while Delgado and Beltran act like they dont care.
This is why I will never boo Wagner or Heillman, because at least they care. And its also the reason I would never cheer Beltran or Delgado.
I remember hearing something about that "talk to Omar" deal myself last summer.
Ken just to switch the subject just a bit, since this involves an incident at a nationally televised Mets game: Do you think changing the rules to allow instant replay, but solely for home runs calls, which will probably start in August is a good idea? Can you recall any other rules changes that have taken effect during a season before?
Cohen and Darling chucking about Wang's injury was bad, but Chris Russo's absolute glee over Wang's injury is disgusting. Russo is the luckiest guy in the world -- he abhors almost every NY team and gets paid millions of dollars to express this hate to a large audience of people who root for those teams.
1. I like the Clemens idea. The problem isn't the lawsuit, per se or the Justice Dept. investigation. It's Pettitte. How do they work near each other considering what has transpired? Is there a way of making peace? I would think Clemens would have to drop the lawsuit, say he's doing it because he wants to put the past behind him and help a club he loves when it needs him.
2. I don't like the idea of instant replay because the camera angles can also get it wrong. I would favor getting rid of bad umpires more frequently. I've seen some terrible calls this year, especially on balls and strikes. Usually it is a pitch way outside of the strike zone being called a strike. The player goes nuts and a confrontation ensues. Some umps are pretty bad. It's a sad day when we need instant replay because the umpiring is so bad.
3. I think Omar fell into some bad habits when he was the Expos GM. He wasn't worried about the farm system because there was no future for the team there. He was an emperor and it seems like he might want to be one in NY, too, if he is letting players go behind the manager's back. Sounds like Omar might have to go, too.
Sandy, the NHL made a rule change this playoffs! The Sean Avery rule where a player cant wave his stick in front of the goalie. And I think they supposedly made a rule involving instant replay that affected the GW goal in OT of the Sabres Stars series. (The Brett Hull No-Goal) The rule was originally that anyone with any part of their body in the crease before the puck would result in a no goal.
The supposed new rule was that if they had control of the puck then it was allowed. But Hull had obviously lost control so that was a horrid no call anyways.
Definitely no to Roger Clemens and his hideously ugly no-talent mistress Mindy McCready. Probably no to David Wells, who as a fat guy lasted a lot longer than David Cone, Jack McDowell, Dwight Gooden, Andy Benes and lots of other pitchers that are in shape. Either do it internally or go hunting through scrapheaps hoping you find another Aaron Small or Shawn Chacon. I am not crazy about Sabathia because he has pitched a lot of innings while young. Stick to the plan to build with youth and if the Yankees miss the playoffs, so be it. Right now they trail only Tampa and Oakland.
baileywalk, other possibilities would be the Oakland duo (Blanton and Harden), but the prices will probably too high. Livan Hernandez is an interesting possibility, IMHO, because he's a gamer who isn't going to be fazed by NY. And because the Twins can't expect much in return, reasonably. I'm pretty sure Maddux has no-trade protection, and he wouldn't come to NY. Kevin Millwood could be had, but he's got too much $ coming to him. And with Bavasi fired, maybe Seattle will shop Bedard - but again, the asking price will be high.
Richie G., I'll ask around about your "Ask Omar" info. It's definitely not within the personality of Endy Chavez to do something like that. And I think Reyes is more likely to sulk than attempt such a power play. I also find it unfortunate that you dislike Beltran based on someone's opinion that he "acts like he doesn't care." Does he act like he doesn't care when he's sprinting across the outfield to make run-saving catches?
I'm pro-instant replay for home run calls.
Dennis, Chien-Ming Wang got injured playing baseball. Would you be complaining this much if he got hurt mowing his lawn? Pitchers occasionally have to run the bases just like everyone else.
Ken, Bronson Arroyo is a guy I would zero in on if I were the Yanks. When he was with the Red Sox, he pitch very well against the Yanks. I don't know what it will take to get him, but Arroyo is guy that can help a team, not just the Yanks, but any team that is contending.
Hey Jim, the Strike zone is so inconsistant in every game that umpires have their own strike zone. I agree we need to get rid of some of the bad umps. But we also need to have all the umps to call the strike zone according to the rules. Basically all the umps have their own strike zone. We need the umps to all have the same strike zone. I'm in favor of instant replay because home runs can make or break a game.
Ken, I just found out yesterday from my source. I actually thought he was one of the players who normally tried. I just thought and still think he was a horrible signing since Vlad got $12 mil the year before and was better than Beltran and then Beltran gets $17 mil. Also, he was willing to take $30 million less to be a Yank so I never thought he was one of "us."
I was shocked to hear about Endy.
Lastly, Kevin Millwood is great to eat innings and add to the Yankees earned runs total. He needs to go to St.Louis now to save his career.
Ken and Dennis: Instant replay isn't going to stop at just home runs. You'll see. That's how it is being introduced. It will move on to catches (was the ball trapped/short hopped) and then safe-out. If it ever gets to balls/strikes, the sport has had it. I don't trust Selig or any of the owners. It is a miracle the game has survived this long with only the DH, interleague play, three divisions, etc. The game makes money because people love the game. Not because of anything the owners have ever done.