Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: NFL Goes Hollywood With Awards Ceremony

News Round-Up: The Tools of Ignorance

Tyler Kepner has the shake down on the Johnson-Damon drama:

Johnson is not precisely taking over for Damon. In the big picture, the Yankees are swapping two older left-handed hitters who made $26 million in 2009 (Damon and Hideki Matsui) for two younger left-handed hitters whose contracts average about $14 million in 2010 (Curtis Granderson and Johnson). They are replacing a speed guy and a slow guy with another speed guy and another slow guy.

I know some folks wanted Damon back; some think Cash made a wrong choice, and the Yanks' will regret it when they have a sore Johnson in June.

These are negotiations.  I pretend that I'm not budging, you pretend that your not budging.  Sometimes, one of us thinks we're not serious when we really are.  The difference in real value of Damon/Matsui vs Granderson/Johnson is marginal, and this gives Cashman a little more leverage in future negotiations with Scott Boras.  Next time Boras makes an outrageous demand to Brian Cashman, and Cash replies "That's unreasonable, so I'll go to my other options," Boras will be quicker to buckle.

Star-divide

Greg Fertel of Pending Pinstripes thinks that Brett Gardner could be a better left fielder than Jason Bay next season when we weigh offense, defense and baserunning.

I call malarkey because Joe G. proved in September and the postseason that he doesn't think Gardner gives him the best chance to win.  If Joe G. has someone else, anyone else to run out there, he will use the other guy.  Whether it's an ice-cold Melky or Nick Swisher having a Soriano-esque bout of futility at the plate, Joe G. thinks that GGBG's speed can only be a weapon off the bench.

Gardner has the potential (assuming no regression in the notoriously fickle UZR), but I don't think he'd ever get the opportunity.


Who's the greatest Yankee to ever wear #14?  YankeeNumbers gives you the full run-down.  My short list is down to Lou Piniella, Bill Skowron and Miguel Cairo.  Grand Central has some work to do to put himself in that company.

The most important baseball man to ever wear 14 as a Yankee is easy, though: Bobby Cox.


Donnie Collins replaced Chad Jennings at the SWB Blog, and he's doing a fine job.  He notes that former Yankee farmhand Eric Hacker has signed a minor league deal with the Giants- Hacker was DFA'd and traded to the Pirates for Romulo Sanchez, who is currently on the Yankees' 40-man and has an outside shot at making the bullpen out of Spring Training.

This is something else that Cashman has done well lately: holding on to the right guys, and flipping the marginal guys for other marginal guys he can have an extra season or two to develop.

Pitchers and catchers report in the longest 8 weeks of the year.


I try to always cite my sources.  I think I link to one of Cot's Baseball Contracts, Baseball-Reference, and Fangraphs every single day.  And there's a reason: they're awesome.  The work they do updating and sharing their respective information is as important as anything happening on the internet (from a baseball standpoint).

In the spirit of the season, I want to say a huge thank you to the folks who run each of those sites.  What I do would be impossible without what they do.

Comment 38 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Ha

Brett Gardner better than Jason Bay? I think not Mr.Fertel. I gotta go with Lou on the #14. That play in right with the sun blinding him in ‘78 doesn’t make that Buckey Dent game a winning one!

All this back and forth with Damon is giving the Yanks the upper hand simply because the value only decreases on a player that old whenit goes on too long. I don’t know man. Nick Johnson in the mix definetly complicates the picture for Johnny.

Anybody in the mood for a repeat?

by ReggieARodJeter on Dec 19, 2009 7:13 AM EST reply actions  

number 14

Are you forgetting Gene Woodling? Very underrated player!

by BBBinThailand on Dec 19, 2009 9:09 AM EST reply actions  

Number 14

Don’t forget Gene Woodling, a very underrated player.

by BBBinThailand on Dec 19, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions  

#14 Bill "Moose" Skowron (1954-1962)

6 All-Star Appearances, 5 World Series Championships (4 with NYY)

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 19, 2009 10:01 AM EST reply actions  

Wilson Betemit was pretty important

He played many games with atrocious offense with below average defense.

Oh, and he got us Nick Swisher.

by Leviticus6688 on Dec 19, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions  

You're right, I think it's Skowron too

Oddly enough, not the most important Yankee nicknamed “Moose.”

by PortlandYankee on Dec 19, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions  

Nice 1

And was the forgotten slugger in the 1961 chase. Not with numbers as big, but a good Yankee.

Anybody in the mood for a repeat?

by ReggieARodJeter on Dec 19, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions  

"When they have a sore Johnson in June"

It’s probably my immaturity, but I had to laugh at that.

by Leviticus6688 on Dec 19, 2009 10:01 AM EST reply actions  

Nothing Gene Monahan couldn’t fix with some deep tissue rubdowns.

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 19, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions  

I'd rather have A-Rod's next

girlfriend fix a sore Johnson.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Dec 19, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions  

Haha,

Glad to see I’m not the only one who finds humor in that.

by Leviticus6688 on Dec 19, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions  

I do what I can.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 19, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions  

lol.

" You F@#$ed Up, You Trusted Us!"

by GTWYankee on Dec 20, 2009 7:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Yeah but addind Damon with Johnson

Makes the team extremely deep like last yr.Miranda sounds nice but is unproven off the bench in the show.Now you either have Melky,Gardner,Johnson,or Damon on the bench at any given time depending on lineup.Make no mistake adding Damon makes this team alot better for those reasons and speed in the 2 hole.Would have been nice,but a good pitcher will help.

by cashman bashman on Dec 19, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions  

I just wonder

if Nady isnt back in the fold?

by cashman bashman on Dec 19, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions  

Will miss Damon but

Damon was tough in the clutch and played tough in some big games BUT he couldn’t throw anymore and his legs are starting to go. Let’s not forget spring training a few years ago when he almost quit on the team, had a horrible year and had some of the Yankee vets wanting him on the bench. I wouldn’t want to risk that happening again in the twilight of his career. He basically stole $13 million that year.

The best #14 was probably Skowron but he was a little before my time. I will never forget the clutch hitting and intensity of Sweet Lou Pinella. LOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUU

by dzfromny on Dec 19, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions  

I forgot to mention that I agree 100% that its great that Cashman got the better of Boras on this deal. I’m tired of an agent controlling baseball. It makes the next negotiations a lot more interesting and gives Cashman some negotiating strength going forward.

by dzfromny on Dec 19, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Kepner shouldn't look at the swap

as purely Damon/Matsui for Johnson/Grandy, which resulted in savings. We had to give up our best outfield prospects and a few others to get Grandy.
I’m for the acquisitions (we dont now how good AJax wil be), but its is not a simple swap of two for two.

Einhorn is Finkle. Finkle is Einhorn.

by jmappelbaum on Dec 19, 2009 5:55 PM EST reply actions  

AJAX...

but that’s it.

Coke had false numbers (he was largely..a POS) and Ian Kennedy, while he probably didn;t get enough of a shot, probably would succeed somewhere else anyway.

It was about as close as you can get to a simple two for two.

They saved a ton of money by doing it this way (..enough, that Damon can still come back).

"It ain't over till its over"---

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 19, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Technically you are correct

but for practical purposes Kepner is making a fair assessment. Only Godzilla & Damon figured in the Yankee lineup which is all Kepner is appraising. The big picture that you’re pointing out involves even more guys than the 3 from the trade.

by Peter Lacock on Dec 19, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions  

I understand..

I just don’t like negating the potential of AJax, which wasn’t really factored into Kepner’s analysis. Overall, I really like the moves to strip some salary for consistent younger players. I don’t ever want to trot out a team like 2004-2005, when the team seemed robotic and damn old.

Einhorn is Finkle. Finkle is Einhorn.

by jmappelbaum on Dec 19, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions  

What was wrong with 2004s team

They had a great season and a 3-0 lead in the Alcs,sometimes a team gets hot gets all the breaks and did I forget to mention makes a deal with the DEVIL,because its the only way they could possibly win.

by cashman bashman on Dec 19, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions  

Kevin Youkilis?

"It ain't over till its over"---

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 19, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions  

Good comparison but fack youk

wasnt there,I think it was Millar,then he transitioned into Youklis.Red sox fans worship satan.Would make a good t-shirt?

by cashman bashman on Dec 19, 2009 7:51 PM EST reply actions  

The Gardner-Bay comparison is a good example of what can happen when you go overboard with statistical analysis in baseball. There are a lot of useful new stats emerging every day, but sometimes they come up with results that are just flat out wrong. Bay is a better player than Gardner.

Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com

by John B on Dec 19, 2009 8:31 PM EST reply actions  

On left field

Gardner is a solid defense of player as long as he doesn’t have to throw it. Melky should stay in center and granderson in left. I think what cashman is doing is smart stick with what saves the team money except for that matsui thing(Dont Agree) with getting rid of of him. Cliff Lee is a free agent next yr I’d rather wait for him alone and deal with the outfield we have for a year.

by Strubes on Dec 19, 2009 8:43 PM EST reply actions  

About Roy holliday

So happy we didn’t go after him. First never been in the postseason second hasn’t proven himself as a big game picture in the playoffs cliff lee single handly almost beat us in the world series we should thank the phillies for getting rid of the better pitcher to a no so good team don’t think after this season pettite will be back so lee would fit in perfect we also need to get another right hand starting pitcher

by Strubes on Dec 19, 2009 8:56 PM EST reply actions  

CC Sabathia...

was never good in the playoffs…Cliff Lee I don’t think had a good playoff record..if he was there at all.

I can’t believe anyone would even think that Halladay not being in the playoffs is a reason not to get him.

Its not his fault the other 4 starters get hurt and the offense up there stinks.

"It ain't over till its over"---

3rd down + Steve Smith = 1st Down.

"I just saw Avatar, and Sean Avery was hands down the best character!"

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 19, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions  

Stuff

I agree, but nasty stuff though.

I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun.
-- Alex Rodriguez

by dorsal on Dec 19, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't discount Doc Halladay either.

Up here in Canada, albeit on the west coast, all we hear about baseball is the Blue Jays, and the Doc is a Maestro.

Look at his numbers, it’s comparable to anyone, now adjust that from the AL East to the NL. Outside of the 2nd half of last season, he’s been ultra consistent. He’d be a star anywhere he goes, and I have no doubt, he is capable of doing whatever Cliff Lee did last year, and some.

Don’t blame him for lack of postseason success because he was willing to take less money to sign with his team the last time he had contract negotiations, and his team still ended up sucking.

Look for him to be a top-3 Cy Young candidate over there. He’ll be incredible.

by Vancouverguy on Dec 20, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Miguel Cairo

best yankee ever to wear 14? LMFAO. yeah. please explain how he’s anywhere close to lou or moose

by Frank Campagnola on Dec 20, 2009 6:05 PM EST reply actions  

He’s not. That’s the joke.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Dec 20, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Pinstripe Alley, an SB Nation blog about the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees.

Community Guidelines

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

V5zevr_small
Michael Pineda by the Numbers
Kobe_and_fish_small
Thank You and Good Luck to Jesus Montero
Newjedi_small
The Curious Case of David Adams
Cone_coffeez_small
The 2002 Yankees: Why I Will Never Understand Baseball
T128_small
The 2015 Yankees Outfield

Recent FanPosts

Mickey-mantle-at-yankee-stadium-1963-photographic-print-c10115880_small
Waiting for the other shoe to drop?
Cubanology-don_mattingly_small
What's wrong with the Hall of Fame and how to fix it
Derek_small
Over The Monster Is Calling out Pinstripe Alley For Fantasy Baseballball
Derek_small
Yankees 2012: World Series or Bust?
P3050707_small
Over the Monster is calling you out...for fantasy baseball!
Cone_coffeez_small
Mythbusters, Yankees edition: "The Core Four"
Model_shot_small
Donnie Baseball Still Has It in Viral Video

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Mo_rivera_small Travis G

Nsapcs7_extr_small Brandon C.

Writers

Moar_bacon_small Lord Duggan

V5zevr_small WhatwouldJeterdo

Costanza_small I'mGivingYouARaise

Picture_2_small Frank Campagnola

Cone_coffeez_small greatscott723

Derek-jeter-1_small Chris McKeown

T128_small Rob Steingall

Don-mattingly_small williamnyy