An Assortment of Treats (and the Inevitable Trick)

Here is a random collection of items for the day:

First, we have some news from New England’s favorite, blood-stained Republican.

Cleveland, Detroit, Anaheim, New York Mets, Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A., S.D., Arizona, Chicago Cubs,  St. Louis, Milwaukee

This is Curt Schilling’s list (from his blog, 38pitches) of teams he would be willing to play for in the upcoming season(s).  Obviously, the Yankees are not on that list, (let’s keep it that way) however, it is an interesting bit of information.  His main choice is to stay with Boston, but the Red Sox do have some viable young starters waiting in the winds (e.g. Lester–a lock & Clay B.).  If the Red Sox do not resign the man that pretty much catapulted them into this “supposed dynasty” that they’re currently experiencing, make no mistake, all of those teams would have a tremendous interest in Schilling.

Yes, he’s older, fatter, wiser (syke).  So what?  The playoffs demonstrated that he is still a proven competitor and a solid number 3 or even 2 starter, barring injuries and a complete physical breakdown.  I think the Mets will make a run at him, despite bearing the brunt of an unimaginably old (therefore, injury-plagued) rotation this past season.  The Phillies will probably go at him again, and can you even fathom a staff that features Peavy, Chris Young, Maddux, and Schilling (insert 5th starter here) in San Diego?  There offensive is shotty, so I wouldn’t be too surprised.  He’d be an extraordinary NL pitcher and probably an above average AL fellow (I doubt Anaheim would take him, they’re stocked).

Anyway, I hate this dude.  Let’s move on.

Andy Petitte has basically stated that he will either activate his $16 million dollar option in the next few weeks, or he will straight-up retire.  This information came out of a Houston-based interview and is no surprise.  I actually hope that Andy does return next year, as his leadership in the rotation will be sorely missed by fans and players alike.  He was great for us in 07 and we cannot fully rely on a young rotation (these guys need an innings cap), so hopefully he’ll rejoin the team.  Had the Yankees provided him better bullpen support, Pettitte could have won over 18 games this season, so keep that in mind.  It doesn’t seem like the managerial switch will effect his decision as much as we previously thought, which is clearly a good thing to hear.

Other tidbits from the day include Ron Villone hitting the free agent market…. To quote Alex Rodriguez, “HA!”  I know, I know, who cares about Villone.  More importantly this article features some general information regarding the contractual negotiations between Posada and Rivera.  Cashman is working hard to resign them both and it doesn’t seem like it will be cheap (both for 3 years at 40 million).

And last but not least, Joe Torre looks to be headed to LA with Don Mattingly and a collection of familiar figures and faces (Larry Bowa maybe?).  He seems like he’d be a great fit for the Dodgers, especially considering the melodrama that took place during their season’s end (Kent & Lowe VS Kemp & Loney).

Scott Proctor is probably out insuring his arm as we speak.

The Psycho Fan

Okay, so maybe I update way too much throughout the day, but I simply cannot help it. There are too many good things to read about regarding the Yankees (and baseball in general). In fact, one of my favorite, Yankee-related blogs is called The Psycho Fan, and can be found in the blogs section on the righthand side of this page.  The guy is hilarious and nails this portrayal of Red Sox fans (congratulations by the way… ummm, yeah).  It’s a dead-on depiction and I can tell you that from experience, as I am a recent UMASS-Amherst graduate.

Check it out, here.

Who The Hell? Oh!

 Peter Abraham writes:

This is not yet official, but it appears the coaching staff will shake out this way:

Pitching: Dave Eiland

Hitting: Kevin Long

Bench: Rob Thomson

Third base: Bobby Meacham

First base/catching: Tony Pena

Bullpen: Mike Harkey

Even with the absence of Larry Bowa (Seattle? LA?) this clearly seems like a strong group of mentors and coaches for both new and young, next year.  Tony Pena will still be around to help out and instill the Yankees with passion and humor.  He really seems like a great guy, accepting the Yankees 1B position again, despite being in the run for the managerial role (and losing out to Joe G.).

There are some new faces, including Thomson who has been a Yankee member for a long time now (scouting, etc.) as well as Eiland, Harkey, and Meacham.  Harkey and Meacham are Girardi’s boys from Florida, so it will be interesting to see how they play out on the bigger stage.  What really interesting is that Meacham was actually a Yankee in the 80’s, where he played a utility role and started at SS in 85 (he was also the Padres 1B coach this season).  Also, Eiland, as most of you know, was the Yankees AAA pitching coach last year, and he obviously did a hell of a job with all our young talent.  You may have seen him towards the end of the big club’s season, in the dugout, with Torre and Guidry whenever Hughes or Joba were on the mound.  He’ll be an excellent replacement over Guidry (an upgrade, definitely).

I was wondering, though… Who will be replacing Eiland at the AAA level?  He did such a tremendous job with everyone that it’ll be a shame he won’t be there anymore.  Obviously, we’re happy to have him with the Yankees, I just hope they replace him with someone similiar who can really help develop some of the talent down there (e.g. Kei Igawa? Okay, stop laughing).

Either way, I’m excited to see how it all pans out.  What do you think about these guys?

M. Cabrera for M. Cabrera?

Well, I spent some time typing up an e-summation of the Yankees 3B situation and their in-house options (see below).  I was going to do a trade scenario post, but EJ Fagan at Off The Facade did a great one already, so why not post it here.

He brings up some great options, although, my favorite choice is definitely Miguel Cabrera. Miggy is on a tear every single season, and if he maintains consistency with his bat for the rest of his baseball career (he hasn’t even reached his prime), the sky really is the limit. He’s just an amazing player (offensively). Defensively, he needs some work. His fielding numbers have gotten progressively worse which is probably due to his weight issues (mobility). In a perfect world, if the Yankees acquired him they’d whip him into shape and let him do what he does (hit, hit, hit).

He’s not even a pipedream. He’s a realistic option for the Yankees. As Miggy’s baseball stats climb, so will his salary and the papers in Miami are claiming the Marlins will not be able to afford his salary. What would it take to get him? Say goodbye to Melky Cabrera, Ian Kennedy, and possibly another great, young Yankee prospect (pitching). Joba and Hughes are off limits, and I do not see the Yankees offerring either of them to anyone in the near future.

If the Yankees don’t get Miguel Cabrera, look for them to pursue Chavez (of the A’s), Miguel Tejada, Garrett Atkins (arbitration eligible) and a few others. BUT, I guarantee you, Cashman sees Miguel Cabrera’s potential and will make a run at him.

Speaking of potential trades… There’s some pitcher the Yankees are attempting to sign… You may Mo, I mean know him.

The offseason has really begun. It’ll be a good one (or at least it’ll be interesting).

What’s Next?

Okay, so Girardi is the manager… What’s next?

With the loss of A-Rod, the best player in baseball (statistically), we now need to move on and explore other possible replacements for that piece of shit (Oops! Hi subjectivity) at third base.  Since I haven’t been able to think about much else since Sunday night, I’ll just skip all the banter and get right down to it.  Remember, I’ll only be engaging in realistic options here.

There are the obvious–in-house–replacements, including:

1) Moving Cano to third base — This is a controversial move, from my opinion.  He’s proven to be an All-Star talent at 2B, and has put up impressive defensive numbers last year (thanks Tony Pena).  He committed 13 errors and had a fielding percentage around .984.  In 2005 he actually committed 9 errors, but we also have to remember that he played in more games this year (about 40 more), which actually helped him further his overall defensive statistics, as seen in these figures.

If we move Cano, we lose defense at 2B.  He’s been great there and he is also THE best (i.e. most complete) offensive 2B in the AL.  Placido Polanco, Brian Roberts, the promising Ian Kinsler, are all inferior offensively and do not provide the 30 HR potential that Cano offers (power is not definitive for offense, yet it is a big part of it).  So, by moving Cano we’re technically not losing his offense/defense, but we are shifting it to 3B and we then lose Cano as the best 2B in the AL.

I wonder exactly… How is this a solution?  Cano will figure to increase his production next year, yet will not likely come close to 30 HR’s until he figures to be 28-30.  We’re essentially masking our hole at third, by displacing our 2B player.  That’s not necessarily a smart option, especially since Cano may react differently to the move.  He is a professional, but you never can tell. 

Although it seems as if I’ve made up my mind–opting not to move Cano–I still do see the benefit in doing so, meaning it would be easier to adequately replace our 2B hole than our 3B hole.  We could potentially acquire the following players to be our 2008 second baseman: Marcus Giles, Tadahito Iguchi, and a few others.  Then again, I’m also not totally sure about the potential offers or contractual situations (options) that they are currently in.  Either way, if someone like Giles can hit like he did in the 2003-05, then maybe he’d be a good fit.  All of this requires bringing in an outside player, so what other in-house options do we have?

2) Wilson Betemit Starts at 3B– Wilson Betemit is an intriguing in-house option.  He’s always been a player that has had tremendous potential with the bat (his glove, eh).  Many scouts have offerred their praises about Betemit in the past, as he was even considered one of the top prospects in the Braves’ organization.  If given proper playing time (more at bats), then he could possibly hit 20 HR’s, and put up a lot of crooked numbers for the Yankees.  Then again, the Braves must have traded him for a reason and the Dodgers didn’t even give him adequate playing time.  Betemit was injured while with the Braves and Ned Colletti is the manager for the Dodgers, so hell, maybe this explains the career for Betemit, thus far.

With that said, I do not see the Yankees going with Betemit as their starter.  They’ve liked him for a while now and tried to acquire him in the past, but we’ve seen Brian Cashman work.  We’ve heard him say, “Bubba Crosby will be our starter” and then go out and get Johnny Damon.  Although this situation is very different (and so are the players involved), in comparison, it seems like a safe assumption to make that Betemit will probably be a bench player for the Yankees in 08 and not an IF starter.

The only way I do see this as an actual possibility is if the Yankees pursue pitching in a trade.  We all know Santana may be featured in a trade this offseason and adding him to bolster our staff may be the move Cashman makes.  Joba and Hughes appear to be safe from trade scenarios (as they should be), but don’t be too surprised if Cashman throws Melky, Ian Kennedy and others at the Twins for Santana… or he may even purue recently rumored trade-bait ace–Erik Bedard (highly speculative).

These are pretty much the only 2 in-house options the Yankees have in order to replace A-Rod… Scratch that, these are the only options the Yankees have to fill our gap at third.  The Yanks will not be able to replace A-Rod’s production unless they use their imagination (this will not happen) and move either Damon or Matsui to 1B.  In this way, they would add production to other parts of their line-up that are inherently weaker at this point.  To be honest, I’d take Damon at 1B over Dougie given an entire spring training of work at that position.  This is just from an offensive standpoint, however.

These are our cheap options (which aren’t all that cheap when you factor in a blockbuster trade for an ace) and they’re simple to make (yet hard to fathom as realistic).  One thing is for certain… Cashman will do something.  I, as a fan and as a baseball enthusiast, think a potential blockbuster trade is waiting in the winds for either an offensive upgrade (assuming we have no 3B at this point) or a defensive upgrade (pitching).

More to come on that tomorrow.

It’s Officially, Official

Joe Girardi will be the new manager for the 2008 Yankees.

I must say, as stated in my previous post, Joe Girardi is the right man for the job and for a variety of reasons.  He has demonstrated his ability to win when he didn’t have too many resources.  Obviously, this is not the only reason or a specific reason as to why he earned the job (e.g. bullpen management, rotation handling, etc.), but, give the man the 180+ payroll and let’s see what he can do.

As always, Don Mattingly has been extremely respectful and classy during this entire process.  I’m not yet sure about his managerial chops, but he was, absolutely, one HELL of a ballplayer and team leader during his time with the organization (both as a player and as a coach).

We wish you luck with the Dodgers Donnie (and say “Hi!” to Joe for me).

Girardi Official (Almost)

Peter Abraham from the always reliable and always resourceful Lohud Blog is reporting that Joe Girardi has accepted a 3 year deal worth 7.5 million from the Yankees.

More to come later…

I… Can’t… Feel… My… Face.

 

Well… Ummm…. So guys…

Okay, okay, everybody… Let’s not panic now.  This is the obvious emotional response to a tremendously emotional few weeks for our collective unity as a team, and we cannot, at this point, give up and pack it in.

Now, for a quick recap…  We…

1. Witnessed the Red Sox win their 2nd World Series Title in the past 4 years.

2. Witnessed Joe Torre leave and it seems likely he’ll be heading to LA (with Donnie).

3. Witnessed an inherently grotesque display of greed from our right handed HOF’er.

All of this means a lot to our team, obviously… BUT, it seems like the A-Rod move, or as I call it–”FEED ME SEYMOUR” syndrome–will develop as the number one storyline over the next couple of weeks.  Many writers that follow the Yanks, as well as the fans, seem to be totally against A-Rod on this one.  I for one am also in that camp.  For weeks, he peppered the papers with an assortment of sacharin-sweet quotes regarding his tenure in New York, all the while seeming a little too sure of his future in the Bronx.

However, we, as feeble folk who still think there is some level of baseball magic in this world (despite cheering for Jason Giambi), and that’s why, we inevitably stuck with him.  We waited to hear from Boras and Cashman, ultimately hoping that all the boos and the rants about his abilities in New York, against the Sox, and in the postseason would fail to faze the man.  I guess, in the end, we finally came around and stuck with him and he came back around to stick it to us. 

Well played my friend.  A part of me is sad to see THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL, leave arguably THE BEST FRANCHISE IN BASEBALL… We had him and he’s gone and it seems wrong to seperate the two.  Nonetheless, the sun will still shine in New York, one way or another (maybe he’ll sign with the Blue Jays!).

So goodbye Alex Rodriguez.  It was amazing to see a player hit so many homeruns with his fingers crossed.  Thanks for the memories.

More to come tomorrow regarding Girardi as the manager, potential A-Rod replacements, and future implications of the A-Rod situation… Stay tuned.

Joe Torre?

Now, it’s hard for me to describe exactly how I feel about this Joe Torre situation.  I’m an 80’s baby, so I have a pretty vivid memory of Joe Torre and his influence on the team throughout the late 90’s and all the way to 2007.  At the end of the day, he’s basically a New York Don (if you will) and has earned the respect of every BASEBALL (not just Yankee) fan everywhere.  What he’s done for the team is beyond great, it’s hall of fame stuff (and that is where he shall reside).

Joe Torre, while maybe not the best bullpen guy… Well, let’s just face it, Scott Proctor’s wrist lives in Manhattan while his elbow resides between Jeff Kent’s pickup truck and Matt Kemp’s running shoes.  Nonetheless, Torre makes up for his tactical tragedies by being the best ”personality guy” that you’ll ever find for the NYY organization.  He manages egos as if they were actual entities (who else can get Johnny Damon and Giambi on the bench without all the drama?).

Many of my fellow blogger brethren (including the always astute Peter Abraham at Lohud) feel that Torre is as good as gone.  Frankly, I agree with them and would also support the decision as a fan of the franchise (no not Phil, but the whole thing).  The bottom line is this… We’re in a different era now and the Yankees, along with baseball, are different.  Torre was great for all those egos (e.g. the Kevin Browns, Sheffields, etc.), but we’re not there anymore and (I hope) we won’t be there again for a long time.  Youth is the keyword and that is what the Yankees are chock full of.  This is a good thing folks.  The Yankees have a crop of new stars (Joba, Hughes, Kennedy, Melky, Cano, etc.) that are still developing and that is what we need from our manager.  We need the nurturant parent (i use this phrase loosely) that’s going to develop these kids with intensity and care as they see the present and understand the future.  These kids aren’t egoless, as that will develop with their talent, but we need someone to keep young wide-eyed players in check (mentally).

Torre’s good with vets, loves his older players and that’s just not a healthy philosophy for right now.  (If it was up to him, Bernie Williams would still be roaming the OF sans Melky Cabrera.)

I know Don Mattingly is the odds on favorite for the job (along with a slew of other dreadful possibilities) but I know another ex-Yankee who should be our go to guy (his last name rhymes with Bacardi).  Joe Girardi has demonstrated a tremendous baseball acumen and has even displayed his mangerial chops while swimming with the fish in Florida (he’s not new like Donnie Baseball).  Did I mention he’s a New Yorker (therefore accepted by “Mosada”)?  Plus, he’s an excellent tactician, and he kept a young group of excellent players (e.g. Miggy, Mike Jacobs, Hanley Ramirez, etc.) under control.

Tired of losing in the first round of the playoffs?  I am too, and Joe Torre isn’t showing that he’s capable of busting his players out of such a terrible funk.  When your team goes into a collective slump in October, you know there’s something going on that’s not necessarily all the players’ fault (e.g. resting more players, better dugout calls, etc.). I like Girardi, plain and simple.

He just knows what he’s doing.  I want that guy.

Here We Go…

Hey everyone!  My name is Chris Harihar and I’d like to welcome you all to the new iYankees Blog…  If all goes well, I’ll be providing you guys the latest and greatest Yankee information (e.g. rumors, trades, hirings, injuries, rosters, etc.) as well as discussing a variety of Yankee topics (who the hell is the new manager?).

For now, I’ll definitely be focusing on the tremendously important offseason (goddamn Paul Byrd) that has begun for the Yankee organization and its fans.   A-Rod watch, Mosada watch, Torre watch, we’ve got it all…

So…

*Takes deep breathe*

*Sprays BUG-OFF on keyboard*

Let’s get this started.