Reality

by jscape2000 on Jul 30, 2008 5:22 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 9 comments

I'm sure Brian Cashman will say that the trade for Pudge was entirely about addressing the Yankees needs. The Yankees certainly need a catcher capable of hitting better than Jose Molina's anemic .229/.279/.307 (Pudge is hitting .295/.338/.417 which is Hobbsian by comparison, and he's another righty).

But I see this trade as a reaction to the Mark Teixeira trade.

Check out the breakdown for the Yanks' final games:

Angels 10
Jays 6
Orioles 6
Red Sox 6
White Sox 4
Rangers 4
Twins 3
Royals 3
Mariners 3
Rays 3

Coming down the stretch every game will be crucial, but Joe G.'s first season will largely be judged by how this team fairs against the Angels- a team that brought perpetual heartburn and heartache to the Joe Torre Yankees.

That said, the Yankees are in a position to control their own destiny. Dominate showings against the Rays and Red Sox could guarantee us a postseason berth. But we play it one game at a time, and a stronger team will be facing those Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Southern California on Planet Earth. And I wish them well in their game against the Red Sox tonight.

*Can I say again that I think Brian Cashman swings some of the best midseason deals of any general manager in baseball? Some of that is the 'gun-at-a-knife-fight' payroll discrepancy, but we watched a string of GMs in the 80's give away every prospects on the farm. Cash has stood his ground long enough for other GMs to know that when he says he's reached his best and final offer he means it. Re-up him.

**Also, with Farnsworth finally gone, does this open up a spot for Mark Melancon, Britton or Bruney (I assume Moeller's 4 month, 75 AB big league career is finally over). Even if Melancon can only throw 10 innings before he hits his season cap, those could be 10 precious innings in the Bronx. He'll hit his cap, go home, and then rosters will expand and we'll have all the pitchers we need. Bruney could use the extra rehab time. And Britton is still fat, so Joe Girardi will have him running suicides up and down the third tier of New Yankee Stadium until he looks like Edwar.

0 recs | Comment 9 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Melancon's innings cap

It’s really tough to judge exactly where Melancon is on his cap for the season. He’s been throwing more innings than your average reliever because he just wasn’t throwing a lot of pitches.

There was a time he would average only 10 pitches per inning so his inning total is skewed. Mike Ashmore has said on his blog in the past that he’s asked the coaches regarding this issue and they’ve told him that his low pitch counts have absolutely been taken into account.

Normally, you would think that 80 IP for the season out of the pen is more than enough – especially a kid who is recovering from TJ.

But, who knows, he may have 20 – 25 IP left in him this season instead of 10-15 IP.

I did notice Chad Jennings reported that Melancon has not been given any specific role for Scranton and will be allowed to pitch on consecutive days – something he didn’t do all season in Trenton.

by anaconda on Jul 30, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah....

And I don’t really have any more confidence in Bruney than I did in Farnsworth. I’m afraid we’re more likely to see the 2007 Bruney than the 2008 Bruney before his injury.

by anaconda on Jul 30, 2008 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree on Bruney

But he’ll be a 6th or 7th inning guy unless he comes up and is lights out.

Marte is as least as good if not better than Farnsworth, and I like Veras better than Farns too. They didn’t need Farnsworth, and in the role they were using him in, they are better off without him. Plus they plugged a huge hole in the everyday lineup.

I’m not sure what to make of Edwar. I’ll continue to say he stinks so I don’t jinx anything.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on Jul 30, 2008 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good trade

The yankee bullpen should be fine without Farnsworth. Marte and Veras have the 7th and 8th, and you can also throw Edwar into the mix too. Robertson and Bruney should remain decent too. Britton was good when he was in Baltimore so I dont know why he never gets a shot to pitch. The Yankee’s strongest asset is their bullpen so overall Horay to getting rid of Farnsuck.

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Jul 30, 2008 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Keeping an open mind on Marte

I was at the game on Tuesday night so I am hoping Marte’s performance was just Yankee Stadium jitters. Clearly the Yankees needed a lefty for the pen. I’ll keep an open mind, but allowing 2 inherited runners to score and giving up two runs of his own was not an auspicious begining.

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on Jul 31, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

also 1 game agasint the Tigers left on 1st of September

by emille2 on Jul 30, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With Farny Gone

who will we boo?

I think the Tigers got ripped as they will most likely soon find out.
Of course I would also rather see another set up man but apparantly they expect Marte to take the brunt of the load. Let’s hope they’re right.

I’m not too worried though. I think the Yankees are in better shape than a lot of others think.

On a side note, I haven’t visited here much during the O’s series so I apologize if this has been mentioned, but does anyone else hate the Oriole’s announcers?

I was condemned to watch MASN and hearing the whole “pitcher, cabrera, ejection” mess they were such homers.

When you're part of a team, you stand up for your teammates. Your loyalty is to them. You protect them through good and bad, because they'd do the same for you.
Yogi Berra

by TarheelHighlander on Jul 30, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We disagree on MASN

In fact, I’d argue that the Thorne, Palmer, and Martinez team is probably the best broadcast team among any Yankee opponent.

by anaconda on Jul 30, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

I don’t listen to them all year. Could be I was just highly annoyed. :)

When you're part of a team, you stand up for your teammates. Your loyalty is to them. You protect them through good and bad, because they'd do the same for you.
Yogi Berra

by TarheelHighlander on Jul 30, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs