Hi everybody, I (Kat) am back from vacation, with a big thanks to Jim and Ken for covering all the Yankees news in what turned out to be a very eventful 11 days or so. It's funny, but after A-Rod opted out and Andy Pettitte announced he wouldn't be making a decision on 2008 in the immediate future, Jim and I thought things might be kind of quiet by Yankees standards, with the big news to be negotiations with Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera. Silly us!!
I was out of the country, somewhere (Spain) where my cell phone doesn't work and baseball is not popular in the least. So I was pretty surprised to log onto the internet late last week and see that the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez were not only negotiating, but already close to agreement on a contract. Wow!
Right after that I was headed to eat with some Spanish friends, and was trying to explain what the equivalent would be with Rodriguez. The closest I got was David Beckham, who had played for the futbol (soccer) team Real Madrid until earlier this year. Like Rodriguez, he's not only a top player but also someone who's always in the headlines -- in his case for his famous wife, glamorous lifestyle and also disagreements with the Real Madrid coach. But Beckham's not the top player in his sport as Rodriguez arguably is, so a better comparison might be Ronaldinho, who plays for Barcelona's team, Barca. Anyway, it was interesting trying to explain the news over there.
Either way, Rodriguez is set to be announced this afternoon as the American League MVP. There's no real mystery about that. Later in the week, his blockbuster countract with the Yankees should be finalized.
Also likely to be finalized this week is a contract with Mariano Rivera. Jorge Posada's deal got done while I was gone. So it appears things will not change quite as much as feared next year for the Yankees. They just have to convince Andy Pettitte to come back now. My guess is that will happen sometime after Thanksgiving but before Christmas.
Comments (68)
a-rod, santana, mo...
(sorry if it's a double-post, i've been having a difficult time posting)
1) a-rod
in an earlier post, AJ went balistic against this re-signing. regardless of anyone's feelings re a-rod, this makes perfect sense financially. if the yanks had lost his super-power production there was no way they could also stomach low production at 1b, thus needing to splurge very big bucks on that position. having a power hitting 3b gives the club a lot of flexibility in other positions, so i definitely disagree that hal & hank fumbled anything there.
2) santana
the question with him, stipulating that he's available, is how many years of top performance he's got left? i would like to draw a comparison to the beckett trade. the sox gave up a future all star and superstar (ramirez) + some good pitching, a pretty steep price - but for a YOUNG potential ace (i think he was 23 at the time)
santana has to be viewed as a risk. his last year was a decline in all stats. would i sign him as a FA? sure, would i trade wang straight up for him? hell yeah, but the price we hear floating around, a young stud + a young position player for a pitcher who may have 2-3 years left as an ace? i don't know... sounds like a lot.
3) mo
enough enough enough! he's "mad"... i can relate really, the last time someone offered me 45 million dollars, i got furious...
come on... you're getting paid mostly for what you've done, less for what you're going to do. stop all the posturing (a-rod does that so much better...) and just sign the dotted line...
Kat,
This team is now pretty much status quo from last year's team, that's if Pettitte comes back, but they obviously need to improve and I am still skeptical that throwing 3 rookies into the starting rotation can be considered an improvement so what do you think they ought to do? You've probably seen all our rants and posts about what the team needs to do to improve but it would be interesting to hear your opinion on what moves the Yanks should/could make and what the odds are of those moves happening.
I hope you enjoyed Spain....I was in Madrid about two weeks ago but I had internet service and was able to keep checking in :)
Now we just need to get Andy on board. Only problem if that does happen is this ... THAT's the same team we went to war with last year that couldn't get the job done! Sure, we're talking a full year of Hughes and Joba (and possibly Kennedy) but they're still unproven. Another year of an up and down Moose, strong years from Wang and Andy, and who knows from Hughes and Joba. If they perform "top notch" then we're solid ... if they perform like rookies tend to perform then it's gonna be an up and down year. Right now, Yanks are dealing from strength ... youthful starting pitching. We need to trade some of that for a known commodity (Santana, Peavy, Oswalt?, Sheets?) ... mix and match. Karstens stock is high coming off the World Cup. Maybe best thing to do is trade some of these guys on their "potential" w/out emptying the cubbard.
As far as Santana goes, he is 28 and I think he has at least a solid 4 years left as an Ace. He does not need to overpower in order to be successful, his change-up is gross and even if he loses some MPH's on his fastball he will still be deadly.
But here is as far as I would go when it comes to offers:
Melky + (Hughes or Kennedy) + mid level prospects
Cano + mid level prospects
Joba + mid level prospects
Even these may be a stretch as to what I would want to get rid of but I think they would be fair. If the twins want more they can talk to someone else.
Seems everybody is "hot to trot" on Santana, but unless he is willing to sign a long term deal "prior" to a trade, no way the Yanks should even discuss a Kennedy or Hughes "package". MO's age, and Chamberlain's ability to either start or fill the "closer" spot, makes him absolutely "untouchable". Garland is who the Yanks should zero in on. Good, has pitched in Oct, and the price tag will be much cheaper.
This new Blog setup is the worst.
Santana is 28 - that is not old. I'd trade any of our young pitchers, with the exception of maybe Joba, for the guy.
Santana might not even be available after all. Over at mlb trade rumors they are reporting that the Twins have and unoffial proposal for Santana.
"Sid Hartman has a tidbit towards the end of his column today: The Twins have made a five-year, $93 million offer for Johan Santana. The source of this is not the Twins, but rather Hartman hearing "word in baseball circles." The $18.6 million average annual value would surpass that of Barry Zito, though Zito's deal was for seven years."
But it's unofficial... so who knows about this being true or not.
Kat
Hoped you like the paella over in Spain!
No other pitcher can even compare to Santana's ability and potential. I do not care what he did this year because his team was not in contention the 2nd half of the season.
If he is on the Yanks he will have the best offense in baseball supporting him and he will have a chance to pitch beyond September.
He gets at least 20 wins with the Yanks and becomes the Ace we need.
Santana
Pettitte (I expect back another year now that posada and Mo are onboard)
Wang
Kenned or Hughes (One gets traded)
Mussina
Joba can then be evaluated based on where we need him more starting in spring training. He may be more valuable in the bullpen if this is the rotation we have.
Like I said before expect the brothers to sell the farm system as long as they can bring in a star attraction,even if they tell us that will not be the case. I don't understand why "we need" A-Rod's production so bad? Seems like we didn't miss his bat in 96.98,99,2000 correct? Or how about in 2003 when we had Boone there? Still made it to the series didn't we? Ever since this loser has been here he has done nothing but brought negative energy to this team. Did any Yankee stick up for him after he opted out? NOT ONE! Let's all be blinded by his numbers. This guy is a loser and will always be a loser. When the situation gets bigger he gets smaller. As far as what Viper said about the "Yankees losing in the playoffs because of poor pitching" I partly agree. Pettitte didn't give us a chance to win Game 2?
The Yankees have stopped hitting and that cost us more. Boy wonder at third can't seem to squeeze a hit when needed. Oh yeah I forgot his solo homer came late in the game when we were already pretty much dead. I guess that is what we will be paying him $275 million to see for the next 10 years. I forgot spoiled Yankees fans need 70 homers out of every position. At least if we had Lowell he can hit when the situation counts. Who knows maybe he won't drop a fly ball and actually play like a third baseman. Pitching and defense win series and A-Rod does not provide us with that formula. So I expect early exits every year now that the brothers are at the helm. Can't wait to see em trade away Hughes or Joba. That will come over time when we get desperate to draw more fans.
AJ,
Now I have not always been one of Arod's biggest supporters but this past year he looked like he fit in and felt more comfortable. We did not have any issues with him as far as hitting in the clutch or saying things to the media.
Without Arod we would not have been in the playoffs last year. He hit better in the 9th inning of games better than any single major league baseball player.
He was not amazing in the playoffs but we did not lose the playoffs because of him. Having our "Ace", Wang go 0-2 with a 12 ERA lost the playoffs for us.
Get your head of your A$$ and watch the games. Arod was fitting in just fine this season.
Garland is out just traded to the Angels
Anyone who thinks A-Rod is a great player doesn't watch every inning of every game. He fails in 90% of clutch situations. His 0 for 27 in the playoffs the last few years with runners on shows that there is something mentally wrong with him. You can't have that much talent and fail so dramatically. Maybe you can understand 5 for 27 against tough pitching but ZERO hits? Even a pitcher can top that! Anyone who says there are 8 other hitters on the team doesn't realize that A-Rod is the cleanup hitter and "MVP" so he should be the best on the team in the clutch not the worst! During the season he also fails but it's less evident unless you watch every at bat. A-Rod is great at tacking on runs against mop up relievers or hitting a home run to make it a 6-3 loss instead of a 6-1 loss. This is how he accumulates the huge numbers. I'm sure the Yankees can win at least the same amount of games with Betamit at 3rd and maybe more since the chemistry on the team would be better. A-Rod has very few friends on the team and there is a reason for that. I'm a true blue Yankees fan of 37 seasons and I can't stand to watch A-Rod play for my team. Have I been missing something positive about him? And what about the Red Sox. The Yankees beat them out for A-Rods services and they have gone on to win 2 World Series without him!! I rest my case.
Whoops, looks like I posted this on the wrong thread. Be interested in everyone's comments, especially about the last paragraph.
Jim B. thanks for providing us with some great stories in Kat's absence. Kat, welcome back!
Gil L, I agree with everything that you said - all three times!
I'm one those who doesn't feel comfortable about Santana except as a free agent, as you've pointed out. Pitchers are just such a special case in that concerns about injury are so much greater for them than position players. So giving up a Cano, which seems to be the starting price, just doesn't resonate with me, you know!
I wonder if anybody here can do a quick study in major trades that involved top position players for top pitchers. I'd be curious to know what the results tend to be. The ones that always spring to mind for me are the infamous Frank Robinson/Milt Pappas (and pieces) and Lou Brock/Broglio (and pieces) trades. In both caes, we know that the teams that got the position players certainly got the better deal. Of course, Mr Santana is head and shoulders over Broglio/Pappas, and circumstances of both those trades were different that any Santana deal. Still, would anyone else have some other top pitcher for top player deals that they can suggest?
Twins have offered Santana 5 years, just under $100 mil
Angels and White Sox made a trade that makes no sense to me:
Garland to the Angels for Orlando Cabrera. The Angels already have plenty of pitching and the White Sox just brought Juan Uribe back for 7 mil.
I think, ironically, these teams made this trade in hopes of sweetening a deal for another player that they both want - Miguel Cabrera. The Angels might have added Garland so that they could trade Jared Weaver and/or Ervin Santana in a Cabrera trade and the White Sox might have added Orlando so that they could deal him, Josh Fields, and a couple of prospects to the Marlins for Cabrera and Willis.
Whoops, looks like I posted on the wrong thread! I'd be interested in everyone's comments, especially as regards the last paragraph.
Jim B. thanks for providing us with some great stories in Kat's absence. Kat, welcome back!
Gil L, I agree with everything that you said - all three times!
I'm one those who doesn't feel comfortable about Santana except as a free agent, as you've pointed out. Pitchers are just such a special case in that concerns about injury are so much greater for them than position players. So giving up a Cano, which seems to be the starting price, just doesn't resonate with me, you know!
I wonder if anybody here can do a quick study in major trades that involved top position players for top pitchers. I'd be curious to know what the results tend to be. The ones that always spring to mind for me are the infamous Frank Robinson/Milt Pappas (and pieces) and Lou Brock/Broglio (and pieces) trades. In both caes, we know that the teams that got the position players certainly got the better deal. Of course, Mr Santana is head and shoulders over Broglio/Pappas, and circumstances of both those trades were different that any Santana deal. Still, would anyone else have some other top pitcher for top player deals that they can suggest?
Yanks61:
If the report is true and the Twins have offered Santana just under $20 mil a year and he turns it down - then there is no chance I trade for him. At least not anything terribly valuable. If he turns down that contract that is a clear sign he intends to test the free agent market, no matter what he's offered. If that's the case, the Yankees can sign him next winter. Or at least attempt to. But in the end there is no way that 1 year of Johan Santana is worth 5 years of Robinson Cano or Phil Hughes.
Chip,
I have to agree with you on the Garland/Cabrera trade, it made no sense whatsoever to me so I figured another deal had to be in the works. O. Cabrera was fantastic for the Angels last season and I was shocked they let him go. Even if they wanted to trade him while his value was high, I'd think they could've gotten more than Garland.
Roy: Everyone who has posted any comment about a Santana trade has pretty much stated that all bets are off unless he signs an extension. The Yanks can and would ask for a negotiating window, much like they did w/ Randy Johnson, to ensure they can sign him before trading anything for him. If he refused to sign an extension, I wouldn't give up a darn thing for him.
Juan Gonzalez: Each year a player is given an award for being the "most clutch performer" and guess who got it this year?
CHIP-
If your right about the "possible" offers to the Marlins, it's the same old story. Every team wants "more" from the Yanks, and eventually gets "less" from another team when they finally deal the player in question. I wouldn't have traded Orlando Cabrera for Garland if it's a "straight up" deal . Garland did give up more hits than innings pitched. Again if it's "straight up", the Angels have been "ripped off".
Chip,
Maybe it's just an indication that he doesn't want to play for the Twins, which he has said before.
Well Juan,
Don't tell me you watched all the innings of Arod's games this year and then tell me he failed at being a clutch player.
A-Rod was named "Baseballs most Clutch Player" this year....
No batter in the Major Leagues hit more home runs to tie the game or put his team ahead, situations in which Rodriguez went deep 22 times. Rodriguez batted .463 (19-for-41) with eight home runs and 21 RBIs in the ninth innings of games this year.
JIM A-
No point in even discussing "names" with the Twins unless the Yanks know Santana is "open" to an extension. All the Yanks are gonna do is "tick" some players for nothing if Santana ends up hell bent on free agency. First things first. The Yanks have gotta know Santana is open to an extension.
Welcome back, Kat! Congratulations on the new format, which has brought me back into the fold because it makes it so easy to be selective and just skip past known hate-mongerers, politico-religious ranters, and people who won't identify their posts (all anonymice).
Access has been interruped due to bandwidth problems with your server but I'm sure you can get your techies to take care of that.
I was interested to observe that in spite of the fact that some oldtimers bemoan 'the good old days' before your time, blog traffic dropped during your absence.
McCarthy,
Name me one time he came through when it really mattered in the playoffs? If A-Rod was not on this team we would be in better shape. I am coming to the realization that certain Yankee fans just want to see the Yanks make the playoffs and that would be content. Who cares if we get knocked out first round for the next 10 years right as long as A-Rod carries us to the playoffs that's our series?
As far as pitching goes again I agree that it has been bad but we can't even plate 2 runs to support our pitchers come playoff time. "Good pitching stops good hitting" but that is something I guess you will never realize. More more more superstars lets bring them all here. Trade Melky we need a star in center.
Roy,
I agree with your 13:07 post. Santana, to me, would have to sign on the dotted line before any trade was consummated. If he doesn't want to sign or even negotiate, no deal.
Kat:
Welcome back...I think the nearest Spain has to A-Rod is a bull that kills bullfighters (except during the championship round.)
McCarthy: I wouldn't trade Melky, Cano or Joba for anyone. Anyone. Fans have to be given a chance to root for players over a period of years, otherwise...hey...it's the Mets.
Now I understand why we can get double and triple postings! You think you've posted and go back five minutes later and nothing is there. So you try again and lo and behold you see two postings almost simultaneously!
Mea culpa!
By the way, I meant, obviously, that I have concerns about getting Santana in a deal that costs far too much, as opposed to signing him as a FA. It looks like it may very well be a mute point if he decides to accept the Twin's reported offer. Of course, he might just refuse and go to FA, both because of the potentially greater rewards and because he's just fed up with the Twins way of doing things.
Roy,
I can't speak in depth about the farm systems of the Angels and White Sox, but from what I've read I would say that asking for:
Jared Weaver, Brandon Wood (angels) or Josh Fields and Gio Gonzalez (White Sox) would be similar to asking for Ian Kennedy and Jose Tabata as starting points with the Yankees. Again, I'm only speculating on why this Garland for Cabrera trade happened. Maybe the Angels wanted to move Cabrera to open up SS for Brandon Wood and plan to hold Garland. Just seems to me that even with Colon as a free agent they would still have Lackey, Escobar, Weaver, Saunders, Santana, Adenhardt
More confusing to me is how the Mets can give Castillo 4 years. I mean sure, the guy is a pesky hitter at the top of the lineup, but his only asset is speed, and he's already lost a step - can't imagine him getting faster as this contract progresses.
AJ,
A-Rod is a different player this past year then he was the previous years.
If that isn't clear to you then maybe you should give up commenting on this blog.
AJ,
I think we just have to accept that no player is perfect and without flaws. Usually we can enjoy what our players bring without being overly bitter about what they lack, and expect NYY FO to put together a team that is well balanced enough to pick each other up.
Rodriguez brings an incredible bat to the regular season without which we very likely don't get to the post-season at all. He's not a great fielder and his bat folds in October. To make full use of his strengths and not be undone by his flaws, we need a better balanced team. That is the answer, not getting rid of the best regular-season bat in the game.
We want perfection from this one player because of his fame and salary, but it's unrealistic both because he's human and because even if he were perfect no one player can make a team great. Baseball is a team game and to get closer to perfection we need to elevate the team as a whole by filling in our weak spots. Rodriguez is not one of them.
I would trade Melky in a nano second, depending on the ROI. He's a decent centerfielder with a good arm, but offensively mediocre at best. Besides, I have A-Rod to root for for the next 10 years.
Lowell re-signed with Boston for 3 years. Smart thing on his part I think.
I agree about Lowell.
And I think Boston was smart to hold the line at three years, as was NYY FO for holding the line at three on The Great Mariano Rivera (formerly The Sublime Mariano Rivera).
McCarthy,
You give me more stats to support A-Rod being a clutch player. Yes I watched almost every inning (I'm nuts) and I saw what he did. He had his best year but I'm talking about all 4 years, and especially the playoffs. He is Mr. April, I'll give you that, but HE IS NOT A CLUTCH PLAYER! I don't care how many stats you give me. 0 for 27 in the playoffs with runners on is all anyone needs to know to realize the poor guy has a mental problem like Knoblauch did when he couldn't throw to first. For the most part the guy does well during the regular season against bad teams with bad pitchers. A lot of his 22 HRs to either tie or go ahead were in games that wound up very one sided. If he hits a HR to go ahead in the first inning and the Yankees wind up winning 10-1 does that mean he was clutch? What about when he was looking for HR number 500? There was a game in which the Yankees got 8 HRs but he didn't get one because he was so mentally challenged thinking about number 500! The great players don't think that much they just HIT and they hit even better when the games are on the line! I wouldn't even mind if he stuck out in the clutch if he gave us a good at bat but the guy either pops up or strikes out on bad pitches. Reggie Jackson struck out a lot but made the pitchers at least work at it! Jackson had a lot less talent than A-Rod, the least we can expect from A-Rod is to hit 250 in clutch situations but he doesn't have enough mental fortitude to do that and never will. He is a selfish player who cares only about his personal accomplishments. Most true Yankees fans would rather lose without A-Rod than win with him. I'm sure some season they will win despite him but it's hard to root for a team with this guy on it. Watch the games not the scoreboard!
Smart move by Boston too Jim. He's a perfect fit for that team and they would have had a heck of a time trying to replace him.
Sure, if they had traded for Cabrera they would have been better offensively, but with Cabrera and Lugo on the left side their defense would have been terrible.
A-Rod has won the MVP award, getting 28 of 30 first place votes.
Congrats to A-Rod!
Congrats, A-Rod, on your much deserved MVP award!
If I was surprised about ARod and we hadn't gone through this soap opera with him in the off season, I'd be more excited. I find it laughable that the only two votes he didnt get for first place were from a couple of beat writers for the Tigers who voted for Maglio.I'm more concerned with the pitching. Of the three kids, the only one I would give up in a trade for Sanatana is Kennedy. I'd be willing to give them Cano instead of Melky because 2nd baseman are easier to find. If the Yanks can somehow entice Pettitte back and pull this Santana deal off, having two dominant lefties at the top of the rotation would send shivers through the stands at Fenway.
This statement by AJ is not only untrue but utter nonsense:
"Most true Yankees fans would rather lose without A-Rod than win with him."
Francisco Cordero was an emergency option if Mo talks failed it was reported , his agent is the same as Louis Viz,
In fact I think it could safely be called hogwash.
Four million butts in the seats and someone wants me to believe that more than two million of them would rather watch a loss than a win with AR on the field?
I'm curious, if the Yankees win a WS with Alex will all this nonsense about him not being a great player stop? Or will it just become, "the Yankees won in spite of Alex."
A-Rod deserved the MVP.
As far as the post-season, he'll probably wind up like Dave Winfield and finally find a way to contribute in the post season toward the end of his career. Hopefully, it'll be with the Yankees when that happens.
Also: maybe it's time for the Yankees to think about an extension to Jeter's contract with a few more bucks. Jeter will very likely become the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits -- all in pinstripes -- and he really is the rightful heir to the Ruth-Gehrig-DiMaggio-Mantle-Munson legacy.
Melky is a .300 hitter, the best fielding centerfielder in the AL, and he's not eligible for arbitration or free agency for about five more years.
He's a switch-hitter and he plays his heart out.
Why the rush to deal him?
Because of his weak offense?
Ya think?
CHIP-
Latest "rumors" had the Twins wanting Cano and 1 of the "Big 3" in a package for Santana. No way this is anything close to what the Angels "would", or "will" part with. Whether used in a possible Santana deal or not, the Angels did not get equal value for Cabrera and cash.. A bad deal any way you look at it.
The Mets signing Castillo for 4 years is pure frustration on their part. They are on the "rebound" from Torrealba, and know the PR hit from losing Glavine is "coming soon". Tack on all the Yanks have done already,(and the "chatter" that follows), and Minaya was desperate to get "something" accomplished before Turkey Day.
Steve O- I'd have to disagree with you on Cano/Melkey. Cano has something special, he has a beautiful swing and the potential for a lot more power. Melkey is a good defender with an arm like the Yanks haven't had in CF in a long time, but consider that the Yanks have had Bernie Williams and Johnny Damon in CF and Melkey's momma's arm would look good.
OF's are always in more abundance than second basemen, especially those with the future of Cano.
I don't know that there are more than 10 players in baseball that I would trade Cano for.
Melkey could be traded today and the Yankees could easily sign 3 immediate upgrades right off the bat: A. Jones, A. Rowand and T. Hunter...not to mention Mike Cameron as well. All are superior offensively and defensively to Melk.
I love the kid's attitude, but to get a starting pitcher...I'd trade him.
Welcome back, Kat! Send all of us a bottle of Spanish wine for Christmas.
Roy,
You are crazy, but you are fun. The PR hit from losing Glavine? Mets fans are probably thrilled that he is gone, the guy is toast!
The Yankees have done NOTHING this offseason except sign their own players, there is really nothing to be excited about beyond the fact that we now know our team will at least be the same as the one that has gotten knocked out of the playoffs early the past few years.
Sure, Girardi is in, but Pettitte may be out, and that is a huge loss.
As far as I'm concerned, the team has done nothing to address it's shortcomings in the bullpen or in the rotation.
Melky MIGHT be a .300 hitter. I think he is right about where he will be for the rest of his career, .275 - .290 hitter, with 15 HR and around 70-80 rbi - 20 SB and above average defense. Since Cano will be a potential batting crown contender every year, we need to hang on to him.
Melky can be replaced, but Cano can not. Combine Hughes in a package with Melky and 2 "2nd Tier" pitchers, the Twins might deal Santana (we would be given a window to negotiate an extension). I personally think we should KEEP Hughes and take our chances with 3 kids in the rotation, but Santana is definitely enticing.
JIM A
Compare what the Yanks have done, vs what the Mets have both done and failed to do. Also, look at the back page of this "fish wrap" the last 3 weeks. The Yanks have been on it many many more times than the Mets. As for Glavine, the Mets would love to have him, as would a lot of teams.
So now that the Yanks have locked up their major needs this off season is there anything else you guys think the Yanks could do to further improve the club?
I still feel we need Pettitte next year so we at least have the option to put Joba back into the bullpen.
Dougie M would be a great signing in my eyes if he were to accept a 2 or 3 year deal. This would add lights out defense at 1st base for late in games and when Wang is on the mound.
Any free agent signings to boost our bullpen would also be a help but not there is much out there for help.
Roy,
Most articles I've read about Glavine say they don't even think he will finish out the year. The man's fast ball was topping out at 82 MPH! He's done. Minaya can get caught up in the back page nonsense if he wants but he should worry more about improving his team, just as Cashman should.
I frankly don't care what the Mets do, I love seeing their plans go awry, but I think it's way too early in the winter to think team's haven't been doing anything. The winter meetings in December should start some activity.
I've said it before, I like Melky and he's fun to watch. I've liked Andy Phillips for more years than most people even knew he existed because I saw him play as a minor leaguer. But the notion that we HAVE to keep these guys (meanwhile getting rid of Rodriguez because we'd rather see the team lose than see them win with someone not very likable) is beyond rational comprehension to me.
For those who are serious about preferring to watch a bunch of nice kids, I have a recommendation for you for next season and it is a friendly one, an option that I have taken with great pleasure myself: go to the minor league games. You will have a fantastic time, you'll see all the future stars before anybody else (other than Chip?) knows they exist, you'll get in cheap and be surrounded by a nice crowd. Jump on the Staten Island Ferry and walk about three blocks down the street and you'll find the most beautiful little gem of a stadium in the minors, nestled in an incredible harbor view, housing a team that almost always wins its division and league. If you live in Jersey, drive to Trenton where you can see Yankee babies a bit higher up on the ladder though in less beautiful surroundings.
Seriously. A great baseball experience, family-friendly, future-oriented. And no obnoxious superstars.
JIM A-
When a team collapses the way the Mets did, their fans are looking for "immediate" action. When they see and hear the media attention the Yanks are getting both in NY and nationally, there is mounting frustration and desperation. Hence Castillo.
Did you read Reiber's article today concerning A-OPT. Rieber is showing he has "got a pair".
Melky is not a .300 hitter...by any stretch. He's barely got a .300 OBP.
No rush to deal him, but if the right offer came along, he's the only one of the kids I would have no problem dealing.
There's enough power on the team. Melky hits about .300, and from both sides of the plate.
He's consistent. That's enough.
Yes, he's consistent - consistently mediocre and easily replaceable.
Melky is a very likeable\energetic player, but I have to side with those that say he is easily replaceable. If he is a "deal breaker" for Santana, you gotta wish him luck in Minn.
Roy,
I assume you mean a pair of braincells, which is about what it takes to write the shallow contrarian nonsense emanating from Rieber about the AR signing.
He completely ignores two crucial factors (the lack of more acceptable alternatives at third and the huge cost in good young farmhands to pick one of them up), to go for the cheap option of just trying to say something different.
For those who haven't read it, don't waste your time.
Deep apologies, my bad to fail to get my name on the above post addressed to Roy at 15:31.
Roy,
I read Rieber's article and you're right, he does have a pair. A pair of marbles rolling around in his head.
He's worried about Jeter having to play with a guy he doesn't get along with? Wahhhhhhh!
Like the Yankees have never won in a season where they had distractions....can anyone say 1977 and 1978?
As usual I agree with Jim A (and bosstrots2219) The only drawback to dealing Melky is the effect it might have on Cano. The perception of his actual defense in CF is altered by a few tremendous throws. He's still a work in progress out there. His routes are shaky, but it's his impatience at the plate that drives me crazy. Cano you can forgive because he gets real results, but I'd trade Melky in a heartbeat while his stock is higher than it probably ever will be. I'm not saying give him away, but I'd love to deal him for a young pitcher with a few years experience and insert a guy like Torii Hunter. Now that's a CF. He makes it look easy. I got a chuckle out of the poster who claimed Melky is the best CF in the AL or whatever. Brother. I'd trade him for Jacob Ellsbury without reservation too. Believe me, I'm not anti Melky as a rule; I'd love him to prove me wrong, but Diane is right; he's got 4th OF written all over him. He is our best chip to sacrifice for the right pitcher. Enthusiasm and a better throwing arm than Bernie or Johnny is no substitue for the outs we can never seem to get when we need them since the turn of the century. We still have done nothing to improve the club since the end of the season. We are still stuck with the LF/1B/DH log jam. Matsui and Giambi are heavy legged iron glove types and apparently both are unmoveable either via no trade clause or no market whatsoever. Somebody has to go between Matsui, Damon, Giambi, and Melky or we sit on a eight figure salary for a year. Even for the Yankees that is absurd. Melky is the most marketable commodity and will bring the highest return. The end result has got to be relatively young (but experienced) pitching. Do it now I say. Maybe we can steal Francisco Liriano now that he's coming off TJ surgery. The Twins are looking for a cheap CF and apparently we are sitting on the league's best right? We've got to be creative because as another poster said teams always ask for more from the Yankees than other teams. How else to explain Pedro to the Sox for Carl Pavano or Schilling to the Sox for Casey Fossum and Brandon Lyon? Anyway, just my two cents. I can see that I'm in the minority. Melky does have his following.
Diane,
We're thinking a lot alike today. I had written my post about the same time you did but someone dared to interrupt me with work so I couldn't finish up...well done on your part though!
Jim A.,
I hate it when duty gets in the way of a good argument!
By the way... WELCOME BACK KAT!
Now change this God Awful format
Sully,
Change is good....roll with it bro.
All the sports mavens pushing for a Santana trade should be aware that since 2004 his batting avg,OBP and SLG has risen every year. Also,he gave up a career high 33 HR. last year.
Nathan would be a better fit because MO has very little left in the tank.