Yanks reaching out to Taiwan

From our boy, Bryan Hoch (MLB):

Five members of the Yankees’ player development staff are set to visit Taiwan next week, conducting a clinic with high school pitchers, catchers and coaches.

The Yankees announced plans on Friday to join the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association in attending the National Taiwan Sport University’s Taoyuan Campus in Taipei, Taiwan, from Jan. 7-11.

This venture marks the Yankees’ first large-scale outreach in Taiwan. The club aims to help cultivate baseball talent as well as increase its brand recognition in Asia and internationally.

“This clinic serves as another step in the outreach and integration of baseball throughout the international community,” Yankees president Randy Levine said in a statement. “The Yankees organization is recognized around the world, and we are confident this important event will leave a positive imprint on our countless fans in Taiwan.”

The Yankees’ representatives will include special assistant Pat McMahon, extended Spring Training pitching coach Carlos Chantres, assistant director of baseball operations Eric Schmitt, catching coordinator Julio Mosquera and strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Wickland.

Running for five days, the clinic is expected to focus on pitching and catching fundamentals and baseball philosophy. Taiwanese participants will include 40 pitchers, 10 catchers and 20 coaches, all from the high school level.

“Taiwan has given the Yankees one of its brightest stars in Chien-Ming Wang,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. “We hope that this clinic demonstrates our deep respect and appreciation for a place that has given us such a talented player.”

The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association oversees all amateur baseball in Taiwan and organizes its Olympic and World Baseball Classic teams.

The Yankees receive a huge following in Taiwan due to high interest in Wang, a 27-year-old right-hander who has completed four Major League seasons with New York and holds a career record of 54-20.

Whenever a team makes inroads in another country its great for baseball. Chien-Ming Wang has been a godsend for the Yankees and he has certainly shown them that there is capable talent in all areas of the globe (you just have to find it and nurse it along).

Construction worker injured at new Stadium

It appears to be a minor accident, actually. The worker fell 4 feet from some scaffolding and is currently under observation. He/She (no ID was provided) initially rejected medical attention (yup, definitely a Yankee fan).

You know the market is bad when…

Tim Redding has more suitors than Manny Ramirez. Speaking of the market, Jon Heyman lists who he thinks are the top 20 remaining free agents. Guess who’s sitting on the top of his list?

(hint: his name rhymes with Slobby Atreyu)

Jeter will remain…

The following article by Bob Klapisch has brought in the New Year with another Derek Jeter’s future debate. With the Mark Teixeira signing, Klapisch wonders if the Yankees will retain Jeter after his contract expires after 2010. Klapisch thought that the Yankees would ultimately resign Jeter with the intention of having him play first base. However, now that first is locked up for the next 8 years or so, Klapisch thinks that Jeter’s time with the team may be dwindling. That’s the gist of the article.

Now, my “analysis” of its premise is simple—Klapisch is wrong. If there has been anything that we’ve learned since Hal and Hank Steinbrenner took over the team’s day-to-day operations, it’s that the Yankees are willing to dish out expensive, loyalty-driven contracts. One only needs to look at the end of 2007, when Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, two elder statesmen of the Yankee franchise, were awarded a total of $97.4 million in multi-year deals. At the same time, when asked about Jeter, Hank Steinbrenner said, “Derek will be taken care of.” The Yankees are an organization built upon nostalgia and its own internalized sense of history. Derek Jeter is a big part of that and will be resigned barring an injury or truly significant decline in his offensive production.

His defense will be bad, however he’ll play SS until it becomes a glaring detriment (one that is noticeable by even the most cursory fan). He’ll likely move into the DH role if the Yankees decide to move him. The DH slot is typically a power position, but you can make that argument for 1B too, which is where many fans and writers thought Jeter would end up before the Tex signing. Also, I’ve seen some folks saying that Jeter should play the OF, but I don’t know if you want to throw a 37-year old (2010) SS with bad defense into Death Valley at Yankee Stadium.

Arby’s

On Monday, players can begin to file for salary arbitration. The Yankees have 3 players that are arbitration eligible (Chien-Ming Wang avoided arbitration with his $5 million deal) yet I doubt that those players (Melky, Nady, Bruney) will test their luck at a hearing. The guy to watch, this year (last year it was Wang), is Xavier Nady. He made $3.35 million in 2008 and has earned himself a significant raise. His 2009 salary will likely be in the $6-7 million range. Bill James projects Nady to hit .284/.337/.473 with 23 homers and 86 RBI. If he produces a line similar to that, then $6-7 million would certainly be worth it.

Quick Bits: Stadium Pics

Got 2 very quick bits for you…

1. Sliding Into Home was able to post up some great shots of the new Stadium (inside and out). These pics really showcase the truly vibrant colors (Yankee blue, in particular) we’ll see once the season gets underway.

2. Next up, the Yankees are always characterized as the Evil Empire. However, sometimes the moniker just doesn’t fit.

More later…