Around the Yankee Universe: It's all about the pitching

by Ed Valentine on Jul 29, 2009 8:53 AM EDT in News Comment 25 comments

Let's take a quick look around the Yankee Universe this morning.

We know that Chien-Ming Wang's season is over. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News looks at his contract and wonders if his Yankee career is, too.

Chien-Ming Wang’s worst fears were realized when Dr. James Andrews decided he would need surgery to repair the capsule in his right shoulder, officially ending his season. It’s unclear how much of next season Wang will miss, though the Yankees hope to have a better idea of that after the surgery is done.

Wang is arbitration-eligible for the final time this winter, and after making $5 million this season, he’ll be due to make at least that much in 2010. If he’s going to miss a chunk of the season, look for the Yankees to non-tender him and try to sign him back for less, though Wang is still ticked off that they took him to arbitration in 2008 over $600,000.

This could very well be the end of Wang’s Yankees career, which would be a very sad thing. He’s done nothing but pitch his heart out for this team, even during his struggles this year.

Feinsand is right. To see Wang's Yankee career end like this would, indeed, be a sad thing.

Aceves admits to sore shoulder

Pete Abe has the scoop on Alfredo Aceves' condition.

Remember before the game when Joe Girardi said that Alfredo Aceves was being rested because he was tired? As expected, there is more to it than that.

Aceves said his shoulder has been bothering him for several days. "It’s fatigued," he said.

This is definitely not good news for the Yankees. They can't afford another pitching injury. Especially one to a key guy like Aceves.

Trade Stuff

Of course, the injuries to Wang and, to a lesser extent, Aceves, increase the likelihood the Yankees will need to add pitching via the trade market. Manager Joe Girardi is trying to play down the possibility, though.

"I'm not sure if we'll do anything," Girardi said before last night's game against the Rays. "As of right now we're playing very well and . . . there's always ways that you're trying to better your club, but sometimes things don't work out or you just sit tight. I really believe that there will be moves to be made in August, too, because of the way the economy is and I think teams might be a little more willing to move a guy in August. But right now, I'm not planning on any [moves]."

Here is a good breakdown of the the starting pitchers the Yankees might be pushing for. The New York Post throws the names of a couple of relievers into the mix.

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Comments

Uh OH,

Sound the horns….Aceves is dinged up now?

…I don’t know what to do….FIRE GIRARDI!..

No that aint it.

Oh wait, Cliff Lee anyone? Yanks are mysteriously left out of everyone’s mouth when dude is mentioned (all I hear is Red Sox this, Rays that, Dodgers maybe, Phillies fall back option).

I don’t think Lee would even cost Joba, Hughes or Montero. Id trade AJAX as a headliner of the team (AJAX, McAllister, + pick 2 of the following C prospects….). I think Gardner makes AJAX expendable and to get a pitcher like Lee who is very cheap considering he was a CY Young dude a year ago.

Then again, I also head that in reality the Indians may just want one of those top 3 guys, so no to Lee on that tip.

Doug Davis lulls you to sleep and considering he’s like Jamie Moyer, I don’t think that will play in the AL.

Best option always was Washburn. If the Mariners don’t ask for the world (i.e. AJAX), the I think it could happen.

In any event, I think a Jon Garland and/or Matt Capps is more likely (Capps would be a nice.)

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 29, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gardner makes AJAX expendable?

Are you nuts? Gardner is a nice little player and I know the knock on Jackson is that he strikes out too much, but at least he has a LITTLE power to go along with it.

Gardner struck out a bunch in the minors with zero power. He’s also 4 years older than Jackson.

That’s one of the most insane statements ever. If you want to trade Jackson for Cliff Lee, I can get behind that idea, but Jackson is already better than Gardner ever was or will be.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 29, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have the nuts to say it....

but I think I know what sort of player Gardner is. Melky too. I know they don’t have AJAX’s potential. All I meant was that since Gardner (and Melky for that matter) have shown that they can play CF at the big league level, there’s no reason to consider AJAX as untouchable when it comes to a guy like Lee.

So that’s why he makes AJAX ""expendable""". I know he has no where near that sort of potential. But who the hell knows what he will do? He could be Gerald Williams part 2 couldn’t he, Jerk?

We know what we got with Gardner. I don’t give a rats ass how much older he is, that’s a crock of shit cuz guys figure it out when they are even older than Gardner (see Cruz, Nelson…no way implying Gardner will be that caliber of player either)

If I said Gardner > Jackson, that’s insane. In no way, shape or form did I say that.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 29, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When Gerald Williams was 22...

..he was hitting .229 in the Carolina League.

At 22, AJAX is putting up better numbers at AAA than “Ice” did at 26. That’s a totally unfair comparison.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 29, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Jeez

analyze every word why don’t you..

Im saying the guy could turn out like Gerald Williams. He could be a B-U-S-T if you want me to spell it out.

He could be Bernie Williams. He could be Frank Williams if you care to look at Knicks history…

Im saying…Garnder, and Melky, can hold down the CF fort for the foresable future as in this season and next. That’s a lot of time. Who knows what the Yanks do in that time, but its not like Johnny Damon or an at the end of his career Bernie is out there.

When Melky was ass last season, and Gardner did squat, I though Jackson was completely untouchable cuz there was no future at the position.

Gardner can develop into a leadoff hitter with more AB’s. Jackson has more trade value Id think to get a guy like Lee, hence Gardner makes Jackson expendable.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 29, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This coming from Mr. Literal

Gardner and Melky are spare parts … Jackson’s ceiling is so far above theirs it’s ridiculous.

I know you love Gardner because he’s so gritty, but I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with him as an everyday player.

Could I live with him playing 90-100 games and being a very valuable defensive replacement and late-game pinch-runner in the other 60-70? Absolutely. But Jackson has the potential to be so much more than that.

And it seems like a moot point because Lee is going to end up on the Phillies.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 29, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indians demand Joba or Hughes

for Lee, so they can just forget about that – Yankees won’t go for it.

Agree with NYSJ below, much as I like GGBG, Ajax has much more potential upside. The power will come, he’ll end up being a 20HR guy at least, but he needs to learn patience at the plate. I just don’t see Brett improving by leaps and bounds. If we could get Lee for Ajax, fine, but let’s not sell him too cheaply.

As for CMW, it really sucks that we might get nothing out of him AND nothing for him. I never felt comfortable with him as an “ace”, but as a #3 or #4 pitcher, you could do a whole lot worse.

by waw on Jul 29, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

question

What does “GGBG” stand for?

by long time listener on Jul 29, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner

I don’t remember who started that, but it still cracks me up. Sorry!

by waw on Jul 29, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

I’ve seen it a few of times over the last couple of days. I knew BG stood for Brett Gardner, but couldn’t figure out the GG.

by long time listener on Jul 29, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That "GGBG" dazzled me also BTW

I too,believe that AJax IS NOT untouchable when it comes to a big boy arm like Lee.
Those Ks he has in Scranton reeeeeally bother me. If he doesn’t develop discipline now, and he comes up…..look at the possible K threats in dare I say a 2010 or 2011 lineup. More so 2010.

Jeter: he’s gotta slow down one day….doesn’t he?

ARod:34 and starting to show it. I almost think its mandatory for him to strikeout every game. (hip maybe)

Damon: same age as Jeet, there are whispers he could come back as the DH next year.

Swisher: Think about it. If the Yankees pull it off in 09, do they really let him go?(chalk that up to clubhouse charm) He’s as much a K threat as he is to get on with a BB it seems.

Jorge: Fill in your own.

Cano: Same thing

Point is, the bats ain’t gettin younger……..now throw a youngin who Ks too much….HMMMMMM just something to think about. Completely hypothetical sports fans.

by ReggieARodJeter on Jul 29, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

see Granderson, Curtis

Think about that. Ton of K’s early on, but this is the type of player AJAX compares too. Not bad right?

Still say he’s ‘expendable’ cuz the Yanks have a CF or 2 that can be decent until they find an upgrade if the Yanks have to. And by Have to I meant Cliff Lee or I mean Halladay.

AJAX is untouchable when it comes to most anyone else. Probably Jake Peavey too (NL West + Petco = overrated).

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 29, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that it would be sad to see Wang's Career here to end like this

After 2 great years, injuries has left him with 2 crap ones. I hope we bring him back next season and he prolly will take less money knowing how bad this year was. And then i hope he can somehow redeem himself cuz 2 years ago the guy looked like an ace on the field.

by lololol on Jul 29, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Aceves admits to sore shoulder...

… now things are getting pretty scarey!

It’s sad about CMW. In May 2009, we were having arguments on Bugs and Cranks on whether CMW was an ace. (Remember those Ed?)

Now with his being eligible for free agency at the end of 2010, this really hits him financially. Good article in NYT on CMW and how a forceout by Oswalt and an error by Tejada led us to this point:
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/chien-ming-wang-and-the-perils-of-one-false-step/

One comment is that he was 1-3 in the post season w/7.58 ERA and and 1.74 WHIP, albeit aiding by two blowout against Cleveland. That made me a bit nervous on what we could expect from using him in October

by coops2001 on Jul 29, 2009 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I remember

Seems like a loooooong time ago.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 29, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to blame the NL rules for it...

…but Wang hurt himself RUNNING. He didn’t get beaned in the head, he didn’t break his hand squaring to bunt … he was running.

It could have happened shagging flies during BP or doing sprints in the outfield.

It is sad though, because for all my negativity about Wang, they could have definitely used him returning to (regular season) form.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 29, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but he did it running over a base.

If he stepped on a rake or ran into a golf-cart, then that could happen in BP or shagging flys or whatever the hell he does before the game.

You don’t run the bases before the game and that’s where it happened. NL rules are to blame for the injury cuz it couldn’t have happened anytime else (unlesss CM Wang pinch ran…)

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 29, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The point is...

..it was a freak injury that could have happened in any situation. The base didn’t jump up and grab his foot, he took an awkward step and hurt himself.

It’s overly-simplistic to blame the fact that he was running the bases, because lisfranc injuries happen in all sorts of circumstances.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 29, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ed, Yanks just won 2 out of 3 aganst Rays with Joba pitching 8 shutout innings

so go ahead and post a response on one of Chalk’s posts. Mention Davd Price’s 5+ ERA for good measure. You owe it to yourself.

by coops2001 on Jul 29, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AJAX

yea def not a good idea to trade ajax..we gotta stop trading our top prospects cause look at wut happens when we keep them(i.e. gardner,carbrea, hughes, joba, they actually do great for us…melky has been the man when hes in a clutch at bat. who knows ajax may actually pan out and b a really good cf for years for us

by nycdogg89 on Jul 29, 2009 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hope not

I love Wang (Chien Ming variety only), and would hate to see his career end so soon. If so, he’ll be one of the great “what could have beens…”

by misterd on Jul 29, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pitching

the yanks need to add a pitch. like washburn or cliff lee.

by JEETS on Jul 29, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m thinking washbun might be stayin put after the deal the mariners just made.. seems like our options are arroyo.. lee and halladay

by Yankz09 on Jul 29, 2009 12:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Washburn or Halladay

The both are premier pitchers however I am not sure at what price. With either of them you know that they will give you 6-7 good innings keeping you in the game, and the Yanks have some offense to get enough runs to win.

by bcw420 on Jul 29, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Musings

I like Gardner a lot ..not sure what the knock is about him is ??. I ve heard about Action Jackson too … and hopefully he will live up to the hype.. I agree that we NEED pitching .. TO give up Pitching to get Pitching is counter productive.. Ie including Joba or Hughes in any deal for an arm.. However if you can get Halladay or Lee without including either one and you give up a guy like Jackson or Montero .. again I do it in a heartbeat … Arms are a lot harder to cultivate than young bats and the Yanks always have the money to go after bats while arms are much tougher.. as evidenced as Jarod Washburn being a hot commodity ..

by MUSKRAT on Jul 29, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs