Friday: Wrapping Up

Two things to report before I call it quits for the day:

1. Derek Jeter, seemingly like every other Yankee at Spring Training, changed his off-season regimen to strengthen his legs, citing the problems he had last year. Jeter says that he’s finally learned to embrace his innate capabilities (e.g. speed, agility, being quick, etc.) and he didn’t try to just gain weight (for power) over the winter. With Damon, Jeter and Abreu being a bit lighter or in better shape (leg-wise) this season, you can expect Girardi to make all the running in ST count (steals).
2. Next up, Ken Davidoff has the usual Joba Chamberlain piece, although he does explicitly state that he believes the Yankees should employ a six-man rotation in order to milk innings from Joba (while helping Hughes and Kennedy). Honestly, I don’t know if a six-man rotation is necessary, especially since the Yankees have so many talented arms. I mean, you want Wang and Pettitte to win around 35 games for you, so why limit their attempts? Just plug in Igawa on some days against lesser teams or bring up the other prospects for some big league experience.

That’s it for the day (barring something big). Check in later though, because you never know.

Would You Sign Manny Ramirez?

Manny Ramirez has dropped his management team and has decided to sign with Satan himself super-agent, Scott Boras. The Red Sox have more than a handful of players represented by Boras (including the mythical Jacoby Ellsbury) and this could maybe help him in getting that $20 million option picked up after the 2008 season. Of course, it’s Scott Boras, so I’m sure he wouldn’t be too upset if Manny hit the market.

Yankee fans are very happy with the way their guys are looking as they enter into Spring Training. From the picture above, you can tell that Manny is in great shape (he had been working out in Arizona during the off-season) and looks to reestablish himself as one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Manny had a so-so year after some injuries caught up with him (and Boston still won) and will likely bounce back now that he’s playing to prove himself (either to the Red Sox or potential suitors like… the Yankees?).

Hypothetical. If Bobby Abreu doesn’t return next year and if the Red Sox decline Manny’s option (to pursue someone like Adam Dunn), would you offer Manny Ramirez a deal? You could always move Matsui to LF and have Damon in RF and slot Manny is as the DH (where he has a career line of .314/479/.508). This is, of course, dependent upon another hypothetical: Mark Teixeira. How dominant would that be though? Even if Manny’s numbers slide, a Manny-A-Rod-Teixeira combo would make pitchers cry.

Tremendously improbable, I know. So many factors are at play (and both Tex and Manny are Boras clients). But, don’t get mad at me, it’s just a hypothetical.

Blog Bounce: Pending Pinstripes

EJ Fagan of Pending Pinstripes has a great prospect list up. Check it out. I must say that the Ian Kennedy profile could get you pretty excited about the kid. Nice stuff.

(Thanks to MYBB).

Hughes Drawing Praise

Phil Hughes is in camp and he’s reportedly looking good. His pitches are strong and are hitting the glove with a lot of “pop,” as described by the articulate Jose Molina. When asked about this (Bryan Hoch), Hughes had the following to say:

“It’s not so much the velocity,” Hughes said. “It’s really the fact that I’ve felt more comfortable and I’ve been able to trust my body. I don’t have any inklings or thoughts in the back of my head that something will flare up again. I think that’s the key, to trust all my pitches and finish everything.”

A healthy Hughes is a happy Hughes. He’s an integral part of, not only the rotation, but the future of the organization. Here’s to making that non-Santana transaction worth it. There was another pitcher that actually impressed Joe Girardi today, as well. You might actually know him. His name is Sean Henn (good GOD…).

Weight Watchers

Here are a couple of Spring Training pics featuring Yankee players that have recently shed some poundage for the 2008 season.

First we’ve got Bobby Abreu, he’s coming into camp 10 lbs lighter. Eh, he kind of looks the same and I don’t see much of a difference. Hopefully his loss will be noticed in his play.

Next we’ve got Johnny Damon who toned up for camp this year. With Damon in shape, he’ll be able to wear out opposing pitchers, get on base and get to second.

Third, we’ve got Krazy Kyle Farnsworth. Farnsworth actually dropped a lot of weight after having a serious off-season staph infection in his leg. I don’t know how the weight loss will effect his pitching, but his pitching was poor to begin with, so who cares.

Finally, we’ve got Jason Giambi. Giambi looks like he’s lost a noticeable amount of weight, but he also looks like he toned up and got extremely lean in the off-season. If his bat is quicker and if he can stand in the field without getting hurt, then he could definitely hit 30 HR and drive in 100+ RBI.

I heard Bruney lost some weight too, but I couldn’t find a pic. Apparently, people don’t find him to be important enough, I guess (could you really blame them?). Either way, it’s nice to see the team react this way and demonstrate that they really want to do everything in their power to win (even if it’s running, running, running). General Joe indeed.

Shelley and Giambi at First Base

Here’s a nice article by Bill Madden about Shelley Duncan, who’s been working tremendously hard (with Tino Martinez) to win the first base job. Grounders, running, Duncan is doing it all, and Girardi likes his positional flexibility (OF, 1B).

However, Duncan also knows that his playing time will probably be split with Giambi. He sounds eager to play full-time, and I feel sort of bad for him, especially since he may not even win a spot on the bench this year if Morgan Ensberg starts hitting. Hey, why not just trade the guy outright (sell high)? Well, I guess his best bet is for Giambi to go down with another injury, which is actually a pretty safe bet.

And if you were rooting for Duncan to actually win the job at first, full-time, here’s a troubling quote for you, directly from the drill sergeant/manager, Joe Girardi:

“I don’t rule out Jason (Giambi) playing first base every day.”

Everyone Loves Derek

A-Rod had the following to say, yesterday, about the captain:

“I think Jeter is going to have an MVP season. That’s my prediction of the year,” Rodriguez said. “I think he’s going to have an explosive, monster season. He’s in great shape, he did some great things this winter with his workouts. I’m very excited for his year.”

Jeter’s numbers are always great, but unless he hits 20 homers while maintaining his figures, I doubt he has a chance to be the league’s MVP. 2006 was his chance.

Whether or not A-Rod’s prediction is right or wrong, it really doesn’t matter. Hank Steinbrenner says that Jeter is “special” and will be taken care of anyway.

Hard to believe, but Jeter is entering the eighth season of a US$189-million, 10-year contract and is eligible for free agency after the 2010 season. Jeter and the Yankees aren’t making an issue of whether he should get an extension.

“Obviously, Derek will always be special to us and will be taken care of,” Steinbrenner said.

Jeter is pretty much set for life as a Yankee and therefore, as a ballplayer. In fact, if he packed it all up and called it quits tomorrow, he’d still be a HOF player and will ultimately be rewarded for his service and loyalty by the Steinbrenner family.

Howard Changes Everything

Here’s an ESPN excerpt about Ryan Howard’s $10 million payday:

Because, in the words of one agent, Howard’s award just “blew up the entire system.”

“This award could affect the market by 10s of millions of dollars,” the same agent said. “That’s $3 million more a year for Prince Fielder, times all his arbitration years. That’s $3 million more a year for Hanley Ramirez, times all his arbitration years. Add up all those dollars for all those players, and it becomes an exponential thing that could have a huge impact.”

Good thing the Yanks locked up Cano with that long-term deal.