New York Yankees notes: Yes, there are a few

by Ed Valentine on Jan 15, 2010 7:48 AM EST in New York Yankees News

For baseball fans, January is dragging on. Spring Training can't start soon enough. There isn't much news in Yankee-land, but there are a few stories worth mentioning. So, here goes.

TheYankeeU has a breakdown comparing the defenses of the Yankees and Red Sox. On paper, Boston is clearly better in this area.
River Avenue Blues found an ESPN story showing that Derek Jeter might be the second-best shortstop of all time.
Aroldis Chapman ending up in Cincinnati has to be described as a surprise. A big reason for it? Both the Yankees and Red Sox viewed Chapman as a luxury who would not get an immediate big-league opportunity.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX tweeted speculation that Jerry Hairston Jr. might be on the Mets radar as a short-term replacement for Carlos Beltran.

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From sportspickle.com

I hear Dusty Baker will “blow out my arm”. In English, this means: “Make my arm explosive”, yes? – Aroldis Chapman

by LivinginthePosada on Jan 15, 2010 9:31 AM EST reply actions

I hope Chapman does well. He could be exciting to watch.

by Wraithpk on Jan 15, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions

Ripken v. Jeter

Ripken career WAR at SS: 83.5, 1 Ring

Jeter career WAR at SS: 68.7, 5 Rings

I’d like to see Jeter accumulate 3-4 more years of above average WAR at SS (8-10 total) before I’d call him the 2nd greatest, but I think there’s definitely an argument to be made.

by PortlandYankee on Jan 15, 2010 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Also, there's a big counterfactual here:

Where would A-Rod sit if he stayed in Texas or went to Boston in 04’, and got to play SS for another 2 or 3 years?

A-Rod career WAR at SS (through 2003): 59.4.

And how much do you take off for steroids? 20% 25%?

by PortlandYankee on Jan 15, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

I consider them about even with maybe a slight edge to Jeter due to his ability to come thru in the clutch and his fantastic post season numbers. I think Jeter has been more valuable to the Yankees than Rip was to the O’s. A-Rod shouldn’t even be mentioned. The “what ifs” about A-Rod as SS are getting old.

by david d on Jan 15, 2010 1:45 PM EST reply actions

Boston has average to above average defenders

all over the diamond.

I’d hope they are better than the Yankees, in that regard. All I care is that the Yankee defense is good enough to not be a liability, which I don’t think it is.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 15, 2010 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Who is a defensive liability?

You could make a case for Posada, that’s about it. Everybody else is average or better. Jeter is probably not going to be a 8.6 uzr SS again but I really doubt he falls off a cliff. And now that Arod’s hip is fully healed he should have a nice little bounceback season at 3b too. All in all I’d say our D is solid but not spectacular.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Jan 15, 2010 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

I realize I probably misphrased that

I was trying to say I don’t think the Yankee defense is a liability (it’s probably better coming into 2010 than it was in 2009, and they only won the World Series), but I can see how what I said can be misinterpreted.

My apologies.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 15, 2010 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

Ahh right, I gotcha.

No need to apologize.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Jan 15, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

Ah Beltran...

Man, that whole situation in Queens is just so bizarre and headshakingly hilarious.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 15, 2010 3:03 PM EST reply actions

Don't do it Jerry

as soon as you sign with the Mets you also have to sign with the 60 day DL.

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.

by Lord Duggan on Jan 15, 2010 3:13 PM EST reply actions

Strangely enough

if the Mets sign JHJ, their 4th outfielder will be better than their savior, Bengie Molina.

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

by moose35 on Jan 15, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions