Cashman Kills Trade Talk

in the NL no less.

As for the once-every-five-days argument, I think that, at least this season, reasonable people agree that the Yankees are certainly a good enough team to make it to the postseason without Halladay. The real argument for bringing him to the Bronx is that it’s much easier to have faith in a Halladay-Sabathia-Burnett postseason trio than a Sabathia-Burnett-Pettitte trio (at least this season).

But here’s where I have a problem with your post: the idea that we should recruit “good, solid players who have heart” over superstars. The problem here is that superstars by definition have to be good, solid players, otherwise they don’t reach superstar status. In fact, they have to be better than just good and solid. I for one would rather have the player who’s better than good and solid than the player who’s just good and solid.

Which brings us to the “heart” issue. Aside from being an unquantifiable, mystical property, “heart” is something that apparently superstars cannot have. Why not? Does Mark Teixeira not have heart? Johnny Damon was described as having loads of heart while he was in Boston, but that somehow goes away now that he’s in New York? Do Melky, Brett, and Robbie not have heart? Do Cervelli and Pena not have heart? What about Nick Swisher and Eric Hinske? Xavier Nady? Do Jorge and Jeter not have heart? How about Sabathia, Burnett, Andy, Mariano, Hughes, Pettitte, and Joba?

Saying that they don’t have heart is BS. This is a group of guys that competes hard, gets along great together, and is intent on bringing back a championship to New York. All of these guys have heart. All of these guys are competitors. And what’s more, most of those guys aren’t superstars.

So there’s really only one elephant in the room who’s said to not have heart, and that’s Alex Rodriguez, whose persona can be both uncharismatic and off-putting. This would certainly not be an issue at all if he weren’t (a) so highly paid and (b) hitting cleanup for the New York Yankees. But as it is, listen to what guys like Cone and O’Neill and other guys who are in the clubhouse say about A-Rod; it seems like once every season somebody comes out and says that A-Rod is trying too hard, putting too much pressure on himself to come up big for his team. He’s trying to prove himself to this city.

Now let’s look at some comparisons: out of all of the third basemen in the league, which would you rather have? Which has more “heart” and thus would “want it more” than A-Rod? Mike Lowell? Perhaps; he has consistently good numbers and defense at third, but remember that the Red Sox were willing to trade him away in a heartbeat to sign Mark Teixeira. Evan Longoria? Sure, but be was still a minor-leaguer back when the Yankees traded for A-Rod.

The “heart” issue is silly at best and intentionally malicious at worst. It’s a ploy used by those who can’t find another reason why their team is better than the Yankees, and it’s closely related to and almost as intellectually bankrupt as the notion that the Yankees can somehow “buy” a championship.

for no reason.

If the Yankees did spend $300 mill total on 2 pitchers, you think they get Tex? We’d have Swisher at 1st right now.

And the point is NOT taking your pick right now, that’s just the simple minded approach that leads to the Yankees spending $200 million on a ballclub.

Its about the future. Hughes may have another 10+ yeards of starting, while Santana may have another 5 (MAYBE). Does Hughes become as good as Santana? WHo knows, maybe. But that is really not the point. I’ll take 10+ more years of an effective starter with the potential to be great over an elite pitcher who costs $150 million who may or may not have arm trouble, although he’s still pitching at an elite level.

And paragraphs and spaces after your periods are good things.