Don't Mess with Tex

by jscape2000 on Sep 28, 2008 3:29 AM EDT in Analysis Comment 9 comments

Oh, so much more after the jump!

So first things first, I have to apologize to all you regular readers and to my fellow mods for my extended silence. This being a grown-up, teaching high school, full
-time job, real life nonsense has been kicking my butt. I'm getting a handle on it, and promise several posts per week going forward.

Now, the rumor mill is grinding away, suggesting all sorts of craziness, but I suspect Tex will be in line for a 6 or 7 year deal. He hasn't been as good as Giambi was leading up to Jason's 2002 deal, but the market is richer and Tex plays better defense with fewer steroids (we assume).

Switch hitting first basemen are hard to come by, but even at his best (this season) Tex has only been marginally better than Giambi and the other elite 1B in the league.

And while Tex may be the best defensive 1B in the game today, a strong defensive first baseman isn't worth much. Yankee fans know all too well that a player can win a Gold Glove for each day of the week, plus a couple extra to save for holidays and bar mitzvahs, and still not make the Hall.

Finally, the reason for all the pretty charts: first basemen don't hold up well. Tex might be different. He might hold up better than most, but 2 of his 10 comparables didn't play at age 35, and Sexson and Konerko are on their way towards bringing that to 40%. And when I look at the average of the 10 players in OPS+ (which is adjusted for all time) things start to look dicey around age 31. Tex will be 29 in April.

Those ten players played 63 seasons from ages 29-35 (not counting the seasons that Belle and Clark didn't play), those ten managed to play 150+ games on 25 times (in fairness, Will Clark played in 110 of 113 games in 1994- perhaps he was robbed of his only 150+ game season after turning 26 in 1990, but I wouldn't bet on it) (Jeff Bagwell had the healthiest run, making the grade 6 of 7 years while playing in 1109 of 1134 possible games; the Belle situation almost deserves its own paragraph because he played 775 of 781 games before the condition of his hip ended his career).

New Yankee Stadium might include a license to print money, but the Yankees are better off saving 1B for their aging veterans. I'd re-sign Giambi to a one-year deal if he'll take it (he might if there's no multi-year deal from a contender, I have the feeling he still wants that ring).

But under no circumstances should we mess with Tex and the high-dollar + long-years demands he and Scott Boras are going to bring to the table.

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Yea...

I agree… I liked Tex last year, but I don’t want him anymore.

by daneptizl on Sep 28, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nicely done, Jscape

And I agree whole-heartedly that signing Teixeira to a long term deal would be a big mistake. He’s a very good player who wants superstar money and commitment.

No thanks. Let the Angels make that mistake.

by anaconda on Sep 28, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Players who are well above average

are hard to come by. I know Giambi is a good guy and liked. I have an emotional desire to give him another year, or two.

However I think the Yankees should put their toe in the water. Let’s see what developes. Tex might really want to be a Yankee.

If we extend Giambi we’ll face the same problem in a yean or two.

I can go either way on this.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Sep 28, 2008 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

giambi yes, tex no

I 100 percent agree with the aging vets playing 1B ideal. I’ll be the last peron suggesting Jeter move to anywhere other than SS. CF looks like a possiblility yes, but perhaps 2B is more fitting if Cano does not pan out in the next year or two.

Posada or Damon playing first…who knows…. but it’s all together a possible necessary move for the future. I also 100 percent agree with the reality that a highly defensive IB isn’t going to show up in the box score, Giambi does not make that many errors per chance I’d bet. He is average to below average in the field yes….but has above average “fear factor” for opposing pitchers. .250 isn’t a great average, but it’s ok when he hits tons of homers which this was one of his better dinger totals.

I vote for resigning Giambi, he plays well… enough… and he’s a known commodity. Until the next Tino Martinez is avaliable…lets just wait, resign Giambi and let him take his hacks.

Ultimately I’d still love to have A rod hitting 3rd instead of 4th. If we could get a monster to hit 4th which is not Nady or Tex…we should do it. I’m not a Manny fan, but if he would make A-Rod that much better (ie. Ortiz is not really that good) then maybe he’s worth every penny.
1. Damon/Gardner CF
2. Jeter SS
3. Rodriguez 3B
4. Manny DH
5. Giambi IB
6. Nady RF
7. Matsui/Damon/Gardner LF
8. Posada C
9. Cano 2B

CC (he is a must! even Cash would have to agree)
Wang
Chamberlain
Mussina/Hughes
Pettitte/Pavano/IPK

by tozer55 on Sep 28, 2008 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

aight!

another on the Manny bandwagon. rumors are floating that he wants 4 years, $100 mil though. yikes.

by Travis G on Sep 28, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tex no, Giambi no.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Oct 1, 2008 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best player doesn't always mean best fit

I think of the people on this blog who feel the Yanks MUST sign the (arguably) the absolute best player (s) available. I think that they forget about people like David Wells, Jimmy Key, David Cone and Scott Brosious. These people weren’t the best players available by any means (they weren’t the best players on their original teams even), but they were winners and they came to NY and PLAYED. They became what was the best Yankees team in many, many years.

It was the greed of the ownership and lust of the fans to sign the “best” players available to become the “all star” lineup that one would put together while playing some fantasy baseball game. And it was this greed/ lust that signed players who frankly aren’t “winners” and will continue to haunt this storied franchise until we, as fans, stop asking for fantasy lineups and look for players who make the TEAM win.

It is my belief (and it could be a wrong one) that a team is like a good soup recipe. You should only add things which enhance the flavor, not alter it altogether.

by ilBrutto on Sep 28, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nailed It!!!

I couldn’t agree with you more. In the years that they were winning championships(1996-2000), the Yankees had good players that played great in big games. The" All Star at every position",“Home Run mentality” started with the signing of Giambi.Those late 90’s teams had versatile players that could hit as well as catch the ball. They weren’t big names,just good smart players. With the Giambi signing the Yankees started a bad trend of signing one dimensional or aging big name players(Matsui,Sheffield.Damon) Have more faith in your farm system and have the scouts do their homework to make intelligent trades.Stop trying to take short cuts by throwing big contracts to the biggest name available every year (though I have to admit, I love CC). Balance the lineup with more speed and guys who make contact. The Yankees have too many sluggers who strike out much too often.

by celerino73 on Sep 28, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs