Filed under: MLB, MiLB, New York Yankees | Tags: Cano, Cervelli, Giambi, Jeter, Montero, Pettitte, Rays, Wang
Well, we are now a little over halfway through the statistical season, and what a wild one this has been. There is so much I could be talking about, everything from the spectacular (or is it?) season the Rays have been having to the interesting breakouts we have seen so far. But perhaps it would be easier to just talk a bit about the Yankees. (more…)
You may (or may not) recall that last year we pointed out the surprising amount of hitting goodness Jose Molina had produced. Well, with Jorgie out for the time being, Molina has stepped up like last year:
Jose Molina in 2008, as of 4/10/08, 10:20 PM EST: 7-21 (.333 AVG), 4 doubles, 857 OPS.
-Red
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, MLB, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, baseball
The Cubs won a wild one, to say the least: an 12-inning, 4 four and 47 minute 10-8 win. (Boxscore) The Cubs led 7-0 at one point, before a 5-run fourth inning for the Pirates, and 3 more runs to make the game tied 8-8 in the 7th. As the game went into extras (in the moral words of Michael Kay, “FREE BASEBALL!”), four runs of nothing except head banging for Cubs and Pirates fans alike. (The cubs left 34 runners on base in the game – the pirates only 17.) The Cubs finally scored twice in the 12th and held on for the win.
19 total walks were given up in the game, including 5 from Evan Meek in the 12th alone. By my calculations, 466 pitches were thrown in the game. That’s what you call a marathon.
And, after all that, my fourth favorite player in the league didn’t get a hit. (That’s Nyjer Morgan, who went 0-3.)
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Meanwhile: The D-Backs signed Chris Young to a 6 year contract, and it’s believed that it’s close to Troy Tulowitzki’s 30-mill contract in the offseason.
Uh, what? Sure, he hit 36 homers last year, but he also had a .237 AVG, a .295 OBP, and, most telling, an 89 OPS+. Now he’s solid young talent with room to improve and has obviously very impressive power. But unless he gets his average and walks up soon, those 36 homers won’t do much, and it’ll be close to 30 million wasted for below-average production.
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In other news: It’s about 9 PM EST, and the Yanks are winning against the DEVIL Rays in the 7th inning, 4-1. Now – brace yourselves – the Yankees may score more than 4 runs for the first time this season.
As of before tonight’s game, The Yankees are batting .146 with runners in scoring position this year, worst in the league, and are averaging 2.83 runs per game, 3rd worst in the league. Now I know it’s only six games into the season, but… still. The only thing that has saved the Yanks from a Detroit-like embarrassment of a start to the season is their pitching. Perhaps a few years ago the Yanks would be 0-6 or 1-5 if not for their pitching this year.
Oh, and the team that’s second worst in AVG w/ RISP and worst in RPG? Detroit. Only the Yanks have a team ERA of 4.17 (Bloated by that 13-4 rout vs Tampa Bay), while Detroit has a team ERA of 5.30. Thus, Detroit is 0-6.
Sorry Detroit fans, but I’ve got to say it: He, he, he.
Update, 9:20 PM EST: The Yankees have scored 5 runs! And by a 2-out hit with RISP. Rejoice in the streets!
-Red
Filed under: Colorado Rockies, MLB, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Red Sox Suck, Sportswriting | Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Buster Olney, Damaso Marte, Delmon Young, Dustin Pedroia, Freddy Sanchez, JEREMY GUTHRIE, jorge posada, Keith Law, Matt Holliday, Neat little graph, Peter Gammons, Ryan Braun, Steve Phillips, Troy Tulowitzki, Wilson Betemit
Let’s just say there’s been worse years for the MLB awards. Granted, they got approximately… one or zero of the gold glove awards right, but then they never get those right, and this season has been helped by some clear frontrunners in the races. A-Rod was flat-out historically amazing – I would be surprised if he didn’t get a unanimous MVP – and Holliday was probably the thin front runner, as he deserved to be, and that one game playoff probably sealed it up for him. They’ll probably get the Cy Youngs wrong, or at least the AL, but unless there’s a clear, defenite front runner, they usually get those wrong too. But, give them credit — they were completely right on the Rookie of the Year. (more…)
Filed under: Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, MLB, Mindless Twits, New York Yankees, Sportswriting | Tags: Alex Rodriguez, don mattingly, Dusty Baker, George Steinbrenner, Hank Steinbrenner, Peanut Butter, Reeses, Roger Clemens, William Rodhen
Possibly one of the most idiotic articles I’ve ever seen in the New York Times, this dandy was written by William Rodhen, called “Little Piece of Yankees leaves with Legends.” You know by the title it’s going to be bad.
This is from the same man who, after pointing out that absolutely no one wants to see the legend that is Joe Torre go, that those who do are, well, idiots, and explained that the proper way to rate a manager was by the number of world series he won flat-out, he suggested the Yankee hire Dusty Basker. DUSTY BAKER. Then promptly insinuated not only that all loyal Yankee fans are white, but insulted everyone who isn’t African-American and a Yankee fan by saying this:
Would loyal Yankees fans accept a manager of color? Loyal Yankees fans want to get back to the World Series, and that is not going to happen with the team as it is currently configured.
Thankfully, he said that they would accept “a manager of color,” but only because there is no other option with the team “as it is configured.” Seriously, why the hell did he even bring this up?
Now, he’s written this unappetizing column all about that “Little Piece” of the entire Yankee soul that has left, leaving the Yankees a disgusting, disrespectful, classless, ugly, godless organization. Yeah, that’s it. Now let’s break it down:
LITTLE FALLS, N.J. – A line began forming outside the Yogi Berra Museum at 11:30 yesterday morning. By noon, despite the rain and chill, the line had expanded to more than 100. By 2:30, nearly 1,000 fans had lined up and passed through the museum to have Don Mattingly sign copies of his new book, “Hitting Is Simple.” There were toddlers in strollers, teenagers, young adults, and men and women who had been Yankee fans for decades. They wanted to say hello and goodbye to a favorite son, the beloved Donnie Baseball.
OK, I can see that. Like everyone else, it’s amazing to meet a legend like Mattingly, looks like he’s got a good book even if the title is an oxymoron, it all sounds like a good time.
The overcast skies and somber receiving line gave the event the feel of a wake,
Uh-oh. (more…)
In response to my last post, Bernie William has now dismissed the idea that he would come back to play for the Dodgers:
“I’ve been listening to all the things that have been said, and all the news and everything,” Williams said. “I’ve been kind of an outsider looking into the whole situation. It’s kind of bizarre to look at it from outside. But no, I don’t think I have any plans to do anything like that at this point.”
This makes more sense. I didn’t think that Williams would want to do something like that, and now it seems it’s just Torre trying to give Bernie a little nudge and wink, trying to persuade him to join. But by the way Bernie’s talking, I don’t think he’s returning.
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In other news: According to that same article, Joe Torre is writing a memoir with Tom Verducci on his time with the Yankees.
“The book will be as honest and as forthright as Joe Torre has been throughout his career, including his time with the Yankees,” Verducci said in a statement released by the Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group. “It will provide a revealing look at the dynasty with which he will forever be associated, and will bring readers into the dugout and the clubhouse like never before.”
In other words, Torre will respectfully bash the Yankees while praising Jeter, Williams, O’Neill, and (who could forget!11!1!!) Scott Brosius. Seriously, everyone’s talking about how little respect Torre’s gotten and doesn’t realize the surprisingly little amount of respect Torre is giving the Yankees. Both sides are at fault here. Torre has been a great manager for 12 years, but like pretty much everyone over 30 in baseball nowadays, he can’t look ahead, he continues to only look back, and doesn’t realize that maybe it is time for some sort of change. It’s what any right-minded organization would do.
Oddly enough, this reminds me of a passage from the great play Inherit the Wind.
Brady: Why is it, my old friend, that you have moved so far away from me?
Drummond: All motion is relative. Perhaps it is you who have moved away – by standing still.
-Red
Filed under: Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, New York Yankees | Tags: Bernie Williams
Joe Torre is trying to turn the Dodgers into the Yankees. According to the NY Times, he’s trying to persuade poor old veteran Bernie Williams to return to baseball, as a Dodger:
Neither Williams nor Torre would dismiss speculation last night that Williams could return to the major leagues in 2008, perhaps as a member of the Dodgers.
“We haven’t talked about it, but I certainly wouldn’t close the door as far as listening to him and taking a look and seeing,” Torre said.
Now don’t get me wrong – Bernie Williams was one of my favorite players ever, like pretty much every Yankee fan. A very classy guy, great hitter, a great Yankee. I’m more annoyed with Torre, and how it seems he’s trying to transfer everybody and everything from the Yanks over to LA with him. The whole point of moving to a new team is that’s it’ a new team. Torre kept talking about his press conference about the fact that he was “unfamiliar” with most of the players he will meet on the Dodgers, which is understandable. But it’s almost like he can’t stand a new team, and so he’s going to try to bring in as many people he knew from his Yankee days to the Dodgers. Numerous sources say he’s also trying to bring A-Rod in. This offseason is going to be crazy, and it’s going to drastically change the faces of many organizations.
Can’t wait!
-Red
Filed under: Florida Marlins, Joba Chamberlain, MLB, New York Yankees, Phil Hughes | Tags: albert pujols, Brian Cashman, coco crisp, gold glove awards, Ian Kennedy, melky cabrera, Miguel Cabrera, Troy Tulowitzki, Wilson Betemit
The Yankees might be in a deal for Miguel Cabrera, involving either Joba, Hughes, or Ian Kennedy in the deal.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman set out to gauge the market to replace third baseman Alex Rodriguez during this week’s General Managers Meetings in Orlando, Fla., and perhaps the largest development is that the Marlins appear primed to deal the talented 24-year-old Cabrera.
I would quickly send of Kennedy and another prospect (perhaps Melky) for Cabrera, except for the fact that Cabrera will be a free agent after 2009. Is two years worth it? Well, Cabrera is the second best third baseman in the game. No denying that, and that alone is reason enough to trade a #3 starter at most and Melky for him. However, it would be nice to have some sort of way to make sure Cabrera is with the Yanks longer. As I have said before, Wilson Betemit would still contribute above average production, but of course not nearly as much as Cabrera.
Here’s what I say: If we can ship off Kennedy and a prospect or Melky, I’m for it, even if we only get two years out of him. There’s no secret as to why Cabrera is defenitely worth it. However, if we have to give up Joba or Hughes and someone else, I’ll be a little more hesitant. I know that Cabrera is on pace to be one of the greatest hitters of all time, but now that we have all these great prospects, and pitching prospects at that, I don’t want to suddenly see them being traded away like we’ve seen the last half decade or so. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. Cashman usually does the right thing. Usually.
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In other news: Gold Gloves have been announced, (AL, NL) and they are a disgrace. The fact that Coco Crisp, Pujols, or Tulowitzki didn’t win one is incredibly stupid. The writer really suck right now when it comes to awards, just like they have been for the last few millenniums.
Filed under: MLB, New York Yankees, White Sox | Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu, Chone Figgins, Joe Crede, Johnny Damon, Josh Fields, Mike Sciosia, Toledo Mud Hens, Wilson Betemit
I’ve heard from numerous sources of a rumor for a deal of Joe Crede for possibly someone like Johnny Damon or Damon for Figgins. Both these deals don’t make much sense.
It seems likely that Crede will get dealed in the offseason with the White Sox probably trying making room for Josh Fields. However, Damon for Crede doesn’t make much sense. I wouldn’t mind dumping Damon for a pitcher or, even, a third baseman in some cases, but not for Crede. Wilson Betemit: a) Will produce just as good, if not better numbers, than Crede, b) Crede’s on the decline, Betemit’s younger and has more upside, and c) not only is Betemit an all-around better player but we don’t have to give up anybody to get him. I’d like to see what Betemit can do, and especially seeing that this next season might be a rebuilding stage.
I’ve also heard a supposed Figgins for Damon deal, which I think is just some random rumor floating on the internet for no reason. Why would the Angels want to trade Chone Figgins, a rising, extremely talented, “impact” player who fits in with the “Angels offense” (according to Mike Sciocia, anyhow), for a declining, aging, slower, more expensive outfielder who’s never expressed any desire to play with the Angels?
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Also, the Yanks have exercised their 16 million 2008 option on Bobby Abreu. This was a no-brainer. Despite having a less productive year than normal from him last year, he’s still a far above average player, is bound to bounce back anyway (after his dismal first half, he hit .306 in he second half), he takes his walks, and he’s the kind of player that fits into the Yankee offense perfectly. All this talk about how the Yankees are loaded up too much on left-handers is crap. Which would you rather take, a well above average lefty hitter or an average righty just for the sake of having a “balanced” lineup?
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In other news: The minor leagues do everything.
-Red
