Blog Note– Fantasy Baseball

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I Cannot Wait For This Matchup

From the Yankees’ website:

There are a lot of reasons as to why I’m excited for this game. Edinson Volquez, who headed up the package from Texas in order to acquire Josh Hamilton from the Reds, is a front runner for the Cy Young Award in the NL this year. His numbers are simply sensational and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Yanks deal with him while they go for their 8th straight victory. They’ll have to lay off that changeup and hope that they can hit his sizzling fastball, but not many players have been able to do that in 2008.

Now, Mike Mussina’s story is well known to Yankee fans. He’s an aging and sometimes stubborn ballplayer and he’s from a totally different era when compared to Edinson Volquez (he’s 24). Moose would probably kill a man (Carl Pavano) for Volquez’s stuff but he has proven throughout his 2008 campaign that his control and innate ability to straight up pitch (differentiating speeds, mixing it up, etc.) is all that he needs to lead the AL in wins. He’s having one of his best years with the Yanks, and it’s coming when he’s 40 and throws an 85-87 mph fastball. Young pitchers like Volquez (Johnny Cueto, Phil Hughes, Andrew Miller, and the list goes on) can learn a thing or two from the crafty right-hander.

It’s a storied matchup and should be an exciting one for fans. It’s the new kid on the block versus the old and grizzled veteran. I think we’ve all heard this type of story before (it’s an old archetype) and usually, thanks to some guile, the old vet comes through to teach the cocky new kid how it’s really done. Whatever the outcome, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the game tomorrow.

Bedard On The Market, Giambi Sticking Around?

From Jayson Stark (ESPN.com) on Erik Bedard:

Bill Bavasi got booted in Seattle as much for what he wouldn’t do (fire his manager, trade his Opening Day starter) as for anything he did do. So the biggest initial impact of his firing is that it means Erik Bedard is now officially on the market.

The first order of business for interim GM Lee Pelekoudas, according to one rival exec, was to “call around, and give instructions to all his scouts, to quietly get the word out that they’re open for business.” So what can the Mariners get for Bedard, who has damaged his reputation significantly by showing no interest in being a true No. 1 starter?

“I’m really not sure anymore,” said one AL assistant GM. “They’re not going to get what they gave up (five players). So realistically, what can they get — 5 cents on the dollar? Maybe 10? They can still get a good package, but they won’t get five players back. … If I were them, I’d shop him hard to the National League. He’s a guy who’d be dominant in that league.”

“He proved he’s not a No. 1,” said another prominent baseball man. “But if you’re in the race, it means you probably already have a starter who’s better than Bedard, which means you’re not counting on him to be your No. 1 guy. And on a team like that, he’s still a valuable piece.”

A guy with number 1 “stuff” whose value has diminished beyond repair because of his detrimental attitude? Hmm, sounds like a job for Brian Cashman. Granted, Bedard is just an eccentric and strange clubhouse persona, but if he can be had for cheap (a contingent of prospects that’s not on pace with a Sabathia package) he could be a good pickup. The Yanks wouldn’t thrust him into the number 1 role (Pettitte could remain there), and if he’s solid but a troublesome player, the organization can try trading him down the road. He’s signed through 2009 and could draw a nice package later on. I also offer up this Bedard idea because Stark also reports that the Indians won’t grant an extension-window for the team that picks up Sabathia via trade (if you trade for him, they get the players no matter what).

Stark also has some news on Giambi:

Two months ago, we would have set the odds of Jason Giambi’s returning to the Bronx next year at approximately, well, zero. But we’re hearing the Yankees have sent signals to Giambi that, assuming he stays healthy and reasonably productive, they would be amenable to bringing him back next year. There’s zilch chance they’ll pick up his $22 million option. But a modest one-year offer, on top of his $5 million buyout, apparently is no longer out of the question. Who’d have thunk it?

I could see the team buying out the option and giving him 10 million or so, but at the same time, I don’t see the need to bring him back. With a great first baseman coming into free agency at the end of the year (Mark Teixeira), why not lock up a right-handed guy who’s solid defensively and offensively (although Tex has had another slow start). Let’s face it, Jason Giambi has done a lot this year, but it’s all too late. He only got himself healthy because he was going into a contract year (essentially). It took him a few years just to work on his legs in the offseason. Do you really want a guy like that to stick around? The only way I could see the Yankees doing this is if they trade Hideki Matsui in the offseason, and with Matsui’s knee barking again, I wouldn’t take that option off the table.

(Thanks to MLBTR).

High School Was Different For Me

The Yanks just won their 7th straight game and swept the Padres, winning a tight finale thanks to some smart hitting and stellar pitching performances from Joba Chamberlain (5 2/3 IP, 9 K’s), Jose Veras (W), Kyle Farnsworth, and Mariano Rivera (S, 1 IP, 3 K’s). Right now, it appears as though the team can do no wrong, even when the bottom half of their lineup barely hits and with Hideki Matsui out. The only problem with winning 7 straight is that the AL East isn’t a cakewalk anymore and the Sox and Rays are still winning so we haven’t really caught up in the standings (the Rays play the Cubs later today).

Anyways, another great win for the club. Now, switching gears, here are some draft updates:

1) PA has a list of recent draft signings and you can see that list, here.

2) Kyle Higashioka, a high school catcher, was drafted in the 7th round by the Yanks and he recently visited the stadium as the team tries to woo him into signing (he has a commitment to the University of California). Here’s a bit of text about his draft experience:

When Kyle Higashioka found out he was drafted by the Yankees, he was in an AP Calculus class at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif.His friend looked over his shoulder as he opened his cell phone to read the text message from Yankees scout Dave Keith.

“My whole class kind of went crazy,” Higashioka said.

How cool is that? In high school, kids go nuts over MySpace photos and Facebook conversations. Getting a text message saying that you’ve just been drafted by the NY Yankees must be an “event” in any high school setting. Then again, when you’re sitting in AP Calculus, I’m sure anything can get the class excited (unless you were drafted by the Red Sox, because we all know that’s not nearly as cool).

Thursday Morning Bits: Yanks Beat Padres, Joba Ready, Waiver Claim

Here’s a quick batch of bits to start off your day:

• Last night, the Yanks won a back and forth battle with the Padres, however it seemed as though the Padres had lost this one from the very first inning. The way the Yankee bats have been hitting (emphasis on A-Rod), you sort of had the feeling that Jake Peavy, who is an amazing pitcher, would somehow feel the heat and he certainly did. Darrell Rasner did just enough to get the win, although the Yankee bullpen turned the later innings into a scary affair. I guess at the end of the day, a win is a win.
• Today Joba Chamberlain will get the start against San Diego, and Joe Girardi is ready to let him loose. Joba has had some strict pitch counts as he has been transitioning into the starter role, but now, he’ll be allowed to do what he has to do and he’ll be treated as if he were a normal starter. Obviously, Girardi won’t let his pitch count climb too high though, as they must be a bit cautious with him since he’s still a developing rookie.
• Finally, the Yanks have claimed Oneli Perez (RHP) off of waivers from the Cleveland Indians. Perez will be assigned to Double-A Trenton. Apparently he has some good strikeout numbers, so we’ll see what he can do. Jonathan Albaldejo has been placed on the 60-day DL in order to make room for Perez on the 40-man roster.

Back with more, later…