On the Yankees beat

Hi Jim

It's a given that Pavano WILL get injured. If the Yankees win number 27, I think Joe and A-Rod will be back. If they don't win, I don't see either one coming back. The Bernie situation is a real concern to me. I understand the business end and all, but if Bernie wants to be on this team, I feel he deserves to be there. I've got mixed feelings on his situation. Good to have you back!

Their is no way A Rod is not coming back. He would be completely out of his mind to leave that much money on the table. Not to mention playing for a competitor year in and year out.
If he did leave he certainly would not get the kind of money he is making now. I don't care what the market is.

Jim,

I appreciate the warning on your return.

I'm very interested in the Pavano story. Can he turn it around, will he be given the oppt. to turn it around or can he handle NY now or be traded.

kerouac predicts that carl pavano will stay healthy in 2007 and win 18 games. the yankees will win the pennant and the world series, a-rod will stay and so will torre. the media will have nothing to write about except success. let's party like it's 1998!

Nice to have you back Jim.

I can't wait for Spring Training updates!

I agree with Rick, if Alex can shed the boo birds at the stadium and do well he'll be back. It's partially up to the fans. Aside from money no one would want to be somewhere they are not wanted.

The Bernie situation is getting painful too read about. I hate seeing him hang around to see if the Yankees change their mind. The post had an interview with him and he said that the last he spoke with Cash they told him they wouldn’t be able to offer him a contract, so they weren't stringing him along. I guess they wanted to see if he'd retire so they never spoke about it with the press. He's decided to wait and see. Tough situation!

JIM- Your vacation description is exactly what Torre will be doing by the end of Oct., (if not sooner). Win or lose, I don't see the Yankees bringing him back for "08". Torre's contract will expire, the Yanks will add numerous victories, and save $2 to $3 million dollars by hiring either Girardi or Mattingly. Torre is extremely fortunate he wasn't "canned" after our quick exit in last years playoffs.

mark
if arod does opt out of his contract, he will have an oppurtunity to make more money then he would have in his current contract. he will be roughly the same age as soriano who just recieved around 130 million. arod would only have around 80 million left on his current deal. so the possibility to make more money is a reason to opt out

I just don't think ARod would opt out and especially if he has a bad year. I know that sounds strange, but this is my thinking on him- he suffers most because of his fear of failure, I don't think he'll voluntarily leave New York until he wins the world series or wins over the fans. He's not going to want to leave until he feels he's succeeded.

Then again, a player's feelings don't always matter once Scott Boras starts chirping in their ear.

I also wonder if he might wait to make his decision until after he finds out whether Torre stays on another year or not.

All of us wannabee GM'S have different ideas as to how to put a winning team together. I was wondering if any of you were interest in putting your knowledge and pride on the line, and all of us getting into either a Baseball Roto league, or Fantasy Head-To-Head Baseball League. We all seem certain of our ideas and this would be a fun way of settling just who knows what they are talking about. No money involved, just "braggin' rights". JIM B. you are invited also. All GM'S that are interested, please post your interest. Leagues will begin forming in roughly 3 weeks and then drafting whenever we decide to do so. I think we would all have a ball competing against each other for an entire season.

Roy

Fantasy Head-To-Head Baseball League (I like the free Yahoo Fantasy Baseball setup). Count me in.

Roy

I like your idea of a fantasy league. And, it would be another way for us regulars to further develop our "bond" and have some fun too. I used to be in a league that was based on points, not the roto style. If you can pull off the logistics, I'm interested. I can find out the site that ran our league if you want? We can then establish our own categories and point values. Keep me posted.

I would like to compete in the fantasy league also. Another fun game we could play it's try a guess which part Pavano will injure this time. My guess is his lower back, the second week of the season.

Steve- Thanks for the responce. I have played the Yahoo Fantasy Head-To-Head previously, and had a blast. I'm really starting to get "jazzed" about the upcoming season and a league made up uf posters from this blog. Thanks again.

I'll give it a try:

Is Bernie Williams going to show up without a contract?
Yes. A minor league deal.

What will Alex Rodriguez say about the opt-out clause in his contract?
No. Because he will be considered a "quitetr" who coul not make it in the big market. Better yet, he'll privately requesta trade and then stab Jeter in the back on his way.

When will Carl Pavano get injured, and what body part will it be this time?
Right after a great Spring Training in his 1st start in Yankee Stadium. Maybe getting conked on the noggin by that roping line drive early in his Pinstripes career just won't go away!

Might this be the final go-around for Joe Torre?
If they don't win #27, he will walk away.

My question: Why won't Curt Schilling just simply shut-up or go away or both?

Jamie
A Rod has 80 million dollars left on his contract after this year so over the last 3 years of his contract he will be making 26.6 million dollars per year. Soriano got 8 year 136 million dollar deal which is 17 million a year. Alex will not get more than what he is being paid now on the open market per year. He may get more years at a lower salary but won't pull the same 25 plus million a year.

Rick- The Yahoo League is pretty easy to set up I believe. Though I have never established a league, I believe they give you a League number, and when one us us goes to sign up we just use that number and then we will automatically be assigned to that league. We have plenty of time to set up the draft day and time. Personally, I like head-to-head as you are going against one team, player vs. player, every week. The competition is more intense. Straight Roto is just accumulating numbers over the course of the season. Let me know if you have other ideas. Your previous site may be the way we go if the League so decides. Thanks

I can't help but think about A-Rod and Pavano and how trivial all of this is.

In January I visited an EU-Oxfam camp in Guatemala for survivors of the October 2005 mudslide disaster. They live in shacks and they are totally poor, but glad to be alive. Drinking Coca-Cola, playing pickup baseball games and soccer.

Then I went to a major orphanage in Guatemala City. Most of the young girls there had been repeatedly raped prior to arrival. I met a little girl, "Briget" who was about eight. The product of incest between brother and sister. Then she was abandoned and raped for years by an uncle type figure. She seemed normal, but in therapy she cries and remembers.

Maybe A-Rod and Pavano should go to Guatemala on a trip, and realize how easy and good they have it. How much money they dare to accept (I am happy for them, I don't need much and I've had a far, far richer life as a journalist and world traveler than they can ever imagine) how they whine, how they fail to inspire ... while so many, show such courage, with so little.

Roy: can you in an abrigded way explain. How this league works? How much time is involved? And do I get the first 25 picks? I would have interest if its right for me.

Roy

The Yahoo league is fine with me. I've never played it. I just like the points system spread over a week of stats because that is what I know. I don't understand the head to head stuff for just one game a week? It doesn't sound real representative of a team to me.

Yahoo Head-To-Head has 10 scoring categories. 5 offensive (AVG, HR, RBI, SB, AND RUNS) AND 5 pitching categories, (WINS, SAVES, K'S, ERA, AND WHIP\walks+hits divided by innings pitched. Your starting lineup every day is matched against your opponents starting lineup for a week. At the end of the week, the offensive and pitching numbers you have compiled are matched against your opponents numbers. If you have superior numbers in 6 of the 10 categories, your record for that week would be 6-4. You would therefore gain 2 games in the standings against your opponent of that week. Each week you play a different team. In a 12 team league you play every team twice. At the end of the season the top 6 teams qualify for the playoffs, with the top 2 teams getting byes in round 1. That's the short explanation. Shortly after the Super Bowl, Yahoo Fantasy will start signing up teams, and post all their rules for everyone to read at their leisure.. You also have a bench of 5 players that allows you to substitute freely if you so desire. You are really both GM and MGR. It is fun. The time you put in is up to you. All you really "have" to do is "set" your lineup each day. But that minimal amount of effort sounds like Torre "nodding" off on the bench.

Roy

I was reading on their website where custom leagues, which would be us, can pick their own categories and points for each category. So, we could make it a little more realistic by including a few more categories and assigning points to each. I have been working up a list to present to you and the guys. If anyone is interested in hearing it, I will post it shortly?

Roy, how do you pick yopur team?

There is a draft held "on line", the date and time is determined by your league. The order of the draft is determined randomly by the Yahoo computer. The 1st round is 1-12 (if there are 12 teams), the 2nd round is 12-1. This way the unlucky last pick actually gets back to back choices. You fill your roster out position for position as you see fit. Draft day is always the most fun as there is "trash talk" going on between teams as the picks are made. There are always alot of trades proposed, rejected and consumated throughout the season. That too is also very very fun, and makes you really feel like a GM,as you try to fill areas you feel are in need on your team.

Rick- I'm all for hearing your list. This is going to be a lot of fun.

Roy -- Great idea. Count me in. How do we go about getting this league started? Once it's all set up, send me the info and I'll post it on the blog as a separate entry to ensure everyone sees it. Jim B.

Roy

I'm trying to base it on the ALPO (American League Psuedo Organization) league I was in for 11 years. You want to make the pitching and hitting approximately equal in total points for the team even though there will be more offensive players getting points than pitchers.

I now understand a little better the head to head thing. I thought it was just stats used from one game per week, but it's actually for all stats from a whole week. This Yahoo site will let us set up a custom league basically any way we want it. The big question is do we only want to use AL teams for our rosters? That's the way my other league was. If you use all ML players, everyone tends to end up with an allstar team, and that is unrealistic. What do you guys think?

Jim: I may be wrong and Pavano may have a good year, but if I were Cashman, and I saw that Pavano looked good in spring training and other teams showed interest in him, I would immediately trae him before he gets hurt again. A team like Seattle might be willing to trade Sexon for him and that would off-set or even-out the Helton trade to Boston. If Pavano had a history of being a proven winner, then I would think twice about trading him, but he only had one good year and that was on his free agent year. Even if the Yankees had to add a prospect for the Sexon deal, I would do it. Aside from Pavano getting hurt, he doesn't seem to have the makeup to play in N.Y.. He initially got hurt because he was overthrowing because he was pressing and was not having success with the Yankees. He was having a bad year even when he was healthy.

Roy and All Fantasy Wannabes:

This is a BASIC outline for a scoring system that has a few more categories to provide a little more realistic outcome. Any and all of these categories, as well as points, can be altered. Others can be added also. Posters with a better idea should just offer it and give a good rational explanation for the alteration. Once we hash through this for awhile, I'm sure a good concensus will emerge.

OFFENSE:

Total Bases = 1 point each (This takes care of the single = 1, double = 2, etc.)

Walk (equal to a single) = 1 point

Run = 1 point

RBI = 1 point

SB = 1 point
CS = -1 point

Error = -1 point

GDP = -2 points

PITCHING:

Win = 8 points

Loss - -4 points

Save = 4 points

IP = 2 points

ER = -3 points

Strike Out = 2 points

Walk = -1 point

Plug these into a box score for an average game and see how it comes out. Hopefully the pitching and hitting points are close each game. Let me know what you all think. I am getting excited, this should be a blast!

Rick-

Sounds like a great idea. Are we going to do a draft or will it pick the players for us? I played last year and it was fun but the only thing I did not like was that we were only allowed to change our lineups once a week. Is this one different? Please let me know all the details.
Thanks!

Jim B: Pavano will show up to spring training with a festering boil on his neck that will explode as he heads for the trainers table to have his eyebrow examined, you know the one he injured while winking at the Yankees payroll clerk when he picks up his check.

Rick: I'm back! Got a little sidetracked with a home improvemt project the last few days but it's good to be back, just trying to catch up.

AJ

My version is a points based league. I think Roy was talking about a head to head version. The head to head is a week at a time vs another team in the league. My version is total points that accumulate over the season. If you google for yahoo fantasy baseball leagues you should be able to find a site that explains all the different versions and such.

The draft is done on line once a time and date is set for it, usually right before opening day. We need to establish several things before we can get started....type of play (points or head to head), who all is in it, AL only or all ML player pool, someone to be the commissioner, time and date for the draft, etc. I'm going to jot down who all said they wanted in.

Jim A

Good to see you're back! I was just about to get my machete and form a search party.

Looks like Art Fowler passed away. I'm sure some of you remember him as the Yanks pitching coach under Billy Martin. Every time George wanted to get under Billy's skin, he'd go after or fire Art.
RIP Art, you had a great ride!

Roy

I've never done the head to head, but it looks pretty good to me. If that's what we do, just disregard all my points stuff. The only thing I would really want to change on the head to head is the one offensive category. I think it would be better to use Total Bases instead of just HR's. It's a BROADER indicator of a team's power potential. Gives credit for the doubles and triples.

And, now that I think about it, maybe use OBP in place of AVG since it is actually Avg PLUS BB's.

Jim A

I remember Art very well. He was at the bar the night we spent with Clete Boyer, Billy, and him. A great guy. Billy used to send him out to the mound when he wanted to get his point across. The pitcher would say to Art, "What are you doing out here?" And Art would say, "I don't know what you're doing wrong, but Billy's pissed. Now, knock it off." Or something to that effect. Quite a character.

Hey Jim - You getting in our little fantasy league?

I have a suggestion for our fantasy league name - Boys of the Beat. As in the name of this blog. Any thoughts?

Rick-
I am in! I think you should collect our email address so this way it will be easier to contact us rather than wait for a blog posting. As long as all the details time,date,and type of league we are doing I am in it for sure. Look foward to it. Rick I like the name you came up with but I had an idea since this is Jim's blog maybe we can call it "Baumbach's beat boys".It could be the triple b's kinda a tribute to Boone,Buckner and the Babe.

It looks like the Helton to bosox deal is dead

AJ

I like the Baumbach's Beat Boys. Let's see what everybody else thinks. Maybe Roy will be the commissioner, it was his idea. Or, maybe we can get Jim B to do it. I f they don't want the job, I'll give it a try. Let's wait till we hear back from some others first.

Hey guys, If you have an opening for the fantasy league please count me in.

If the Sox get Helton they would be really doing themselves more harm than good. While Helton may look ok in the first couple of years, he is owed a lot of money and is 33 years old with a bad back and steroid accusations. I really can't picture this guy taking to the pressure cooker of Boston. Over the last 3 seasons he has done absolutely nothing on the road.
JD Drew is going to be another bust-I guarantee he will miss 25-40 games this season.
Rather than loading up on offense wouldnt it be wise to find a closer?

I too like Baumbach's Beat Boys, though I'm not sure the League needs a name. I like the head-to-head because every week you are competing against a different owner\GM, and you are matching your players up against his. This is much more personal than just accumulating statistics for the season. It is also easier to make up ground in a head to head league. For instance, you can defeat the 1st place team 8-2 for the week and pick up 6 games in the standings. In stat. leagues, once you fall well behind, you are pretty much dead. I think Rick or Jim B. would be excellent commisioners if we need one. They both have excellent
"people skills", which I don't possess. We do need to exchange E-MAIL addresses. In the Yahoo Leagues, the max. number of teams per league is 12 I believe. Also I'm in favor of drafting our teams from both the AL and NL. Rick's right about everyone having a bunch of All-Stars, but that's fun too, as it gives your team valuable trading chips. It's also nice to look at your team on paper and see "big-time names", and not several Craig Counsell's. We have plenty of time to reach a consensus on these issues, and the exchange of E-MAIL addresses will expedite this process. This is going to be a really fun season.

You media guys are going to harp on this A-rod nonsense all season long,aren't you? this is how you guys perpetuate his name in the press. you guys called him one of the greatest all time players ,thats what lead to the fans unrealistic expectations of him.

Roy,

Put a list together of the "names" of the people that will be in the league. I think Jim B should be the commish if he participates.

Well, I definitely want to participate, but I have no problem bowing to Roy and/or Rick to be the commish (or co-commishes).

So Schilling makes a "grand" announcement that he will play in "08" but "not" for the Yankees. Like the Yanks might be looking for an injury prone, over-the-hill, 40yr old starting pitcher? Cashman just pulled a "Brinks Job", unloading one. Any "Baumbach's Beat Boys" Owner\GM that drafts Schilling, is difinitely gonna hear it draft day and all season.
We haven't heard from ruse,ca and Atticas in a while. Those 2 would definitely be an attribute to "BBB".

I still support both JIM Baumbach and Rick Keyes for "BBB" commissioner. Your idea of Co-Commissioners ia a good one Jim. The Commissioner normally has "veto" power over all trades to ensure they are not wildly one sided. Having 2 Commissioners would act as an excellent "check and balance".

Jim B

Would it be possible for the 11 of us in the fantasy league to send you our email addresses and then you could forward them to me? That way, we all won't have to broadcast them to the general public by listing them on the blog. Once I get them, I can start a group mail list to get a concensus on how/what etc. for the league.

Roy

I think there is a trade veto by having 4 owners vote against or some type of a block mechanism? Yes, it would be great to get atticas, ruse, OYF, and Jim A in on this. Are you guys out there and do you want in on this action? I have a list started and will post it later. Once we get our 12, I say we go for it and get a league formed.

BBB Wannabes

So far I have myself, Jim B, Roy Storing, Larry M, Steve, AJ, and YANKSFANMC. That is 7 of us. Everyone I just mentioned, please confirm ASAP.

I will also hold spots for Jim A, atticas, ruse, OYF, and bronx bomber (5 additional spots) until I hear you guys don't want in. Please confirm yea or nea.

That would give us our 12 members. If anyone doesn't want their spot, then we'll open it up to the next blogger who volunteers.

Sound good to you guys?

damn, I wanted in! lol, we can maybe form more leagues.

sounds good to me.

RICK-
Sounds good Rick!I am in.

alvaro

Sorry about that. I will put you 1st on the standby list.

Rick-

You forgot to put our good old friend Eric on there. Now nobody can draft Andy Phillips because we have to leave it in his honor lol.

Okay, Rick, sounds good. I'll compile everyone's email addresses and will send them off to you. So fantasy participants send your email address to jim.baumbach@newsday.com

Don't worry about it Rick, I now I don't post often enough and the other guys are the true regulars. But thanks for putting me 1st on the stand by.

Thanks Jim!

Yes, i'm in thank you

AJ

I think Eric belongs in a league of his own, if you know what I mean.

BBB Wannabes

The following website will answer questions and explain how the league will work. I think we should use the Head to Head version like Roy said.

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/baseball/rules/brules-01.html

Not sure if symbol after .com/ is a number 1 or the letter l. Try them both and see which works.

RICK-

I sent my email address to Jim B.

mark
i am well aware that Arod will not make the same amount of money annually. but it is not unreasonable to say that arod could ink a contract similar to soriano's, which would allow him to make more money over a longer time period. In this crazy market teams are spending money now. by the time arods current contract ends, the market may have shifted back, and he would not be able to get the money he would be able to get now.

Rick- I have sent my E-MAIL address to Jim.

My prediction is that win, lose, or draw this is the last year for Torre and A-Rod as Yankees. Torre's contract is up, I think he's fed up and honestly I don't think he's the same manager he was a couple of years ago. I believe getting spoiled by the consistency of a rotation that had Clemens, Pettitte, Cone, El Duque and Wells and a bullpen that had guys like Stanton and Nellie in front of Rivera has made him more trigger happy with his pitchers the last couple of years. His lack of trust in pitchers to work out of jams has resulted in him overworking the few pitchers he does trust, the consequences are evident: Gordon, Villone, Quantrill, even Rivera, worn out by the end of the season, arm problems by suffered by guys like Sturtze -- and possibly Proctor this year -- after excessive workloads. For the Yankee fan who blames the first base platoon for why Bernie is not on the team, the reason he's not on the team is because Torre's quick hook is forcing the Yankees to carry 12 pitchers instead of 11.

As for Alex...I also think he has had enough. Enough of third base, enough of Yankee fans who will never forgive him for daring to allow himself to be compared to Jeter, enough of the media here bringing him up in the same breath as Chuck Knoblauch. He'll opt out of his contract and immediately be the best free agent on the market. In a world where Soriano can get an 8 year 136 million dollar deal, there is no reason A-Rod, the best player in the game by the way, and a bona fide Hall of Famer in his prime, will get anything less than 20 mil a year. My guess, in 2008 A-Rod will be the short stop of the Cubs or playing third for the Angels.

Jim A, atticas, ruse

You guys still out there?

Rick,
I'm here and I'm in. I've never participated in a baseball fantasy league but will give this a shot. How are we going to exchange email addresses w/o giving them to every freak on the internet by posting them on this blog. Maybe Jim B. can collect them and email the group. I believe we all have to submit email addresses to post on this blog so hopefully Jim B. has access to that info.
Thanks for holding my spot!
What about Eric, he's been quiet for a while. I can here it now though..."With the first pick of the 2007 BBB draft, Eric selects...(pause for dramatic affect)...ANDY PHILLIPS!!!
This will be fun for sure. I am not drafting any Red Sox though, I just can't.

Easy , create or give out a Yahoo address ask the REQUESTED posters to input their info , Roll Call on here using a user code given(created by the users) on the Yahoo email. this should eliminate any imposters. if you know the regulars there are some questions you can ask to verify it's them.

JIM A-

I as well as some others I believe have submitted our emails to JIM B. I am sure Rick will get in contact with all of us via email when we need to get things started up.

Jim A

Glad to hear your in! This will be fun for sure. Send your email address to Jim B. His address is up above. He will collect them all and then forward them to me. I will then get in touch with everyone with the list. I am already trying to get on the website to get us set up, but I think I have to wait until February 2 or so.

Rick,
Will do, thanks!

Rick- I believe at the time you "sign up", you also have to select a draft date, and time of the day or night. The draft usually takes roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how well prepared everyone is. With each pick, there is a time limit, and you are literally "on the clock" as it counts down. I think we all get 90 seconds or something close to that for every pick. Anyway, we probably need to come up with a draft date and time before you sign the team up. The closer we draft to Opening Day, the tougher it may be for JIM B., as his work schedule probably gets pretty unpredictable.

I'm sorry, I know this is late but, Anthony C. LoBaido WTF?!?!

First off,the story you relate is too true and common: Darfur for one. It is sad, and many can help, even those not earning 20plus million a year.

Next, Alex and Pavano do not belong in the same sentence. Pavano has not even received half the crap yet, he was not there! And when in the world did Alex ever whine and "fail to inspire" Come to think of it, when did Pavano? Whine I mean.

Are you aware of what your typing at all?

What is with you?

Roy

Thanks for the info. Once I get everyone's e-mail addresses, I was going to discuss all our options and choices including draft day/time via the e-mail. That's why I need to get everyone that's in to get their e-mail to Jim B. I think there are only 4 or 5 of us so far.

Roy: Bernie Williams is like an old girlfriend that won't go away. You keep dissing her, but she stays at your front door begging you for one more chance. I say it's time for a change. He can't run, throw and he's certainly not the hitter he used to be. He will only be a hindrance and will take up a precious spot that the Yankees could use for a much younger athletic player. I think Bernie should play for another team or retire. I know some fans won't like that for sentimental reasons, but I want the Yankees to have the best team on the field. To have the best chance to go to the World Series.

Yankees reloaded for '07

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070203&content_id=1793544&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Cashman had done great job rebuilding and restocking the farm system trading Sheff, Rj and Wright for young pitching prospects. I hope this is the year to win #27. Go Yankees. I can't wait so Hughes and Sanchez pitch

New Yankees pitcher Igawa gets married

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070208p2a00m0sp021000c.htmlI
Ihope He pitches well and have a better stats than Dice-K. Go Iron Beaver...

http://waruiyatsu.com/blog/images/ARodPurse.jpg

A photo of Arod trying to knock the ball away from bronson arroyo

TV host Oprah Winfrey gives audience members $1,000 (£526) each to donate to a charitable cause.

Bianca Beauchamp