The 'Legitimate' Home Run King

by Travis G on Feb 4, 2010 7:00 PM EST in New York Yankees News

So says an advertising company in Roger Maris' hometown of Fargo, North Dakota. (If nothing else, they're damn good at drawing attention.)

If you live in the New York area, you can see and take photos of yourself with the World Series trophy in White Plains on Saturday. If you do, be sure to post them here.

It's a good thing the Yankees signed Sabathia and Burnett when they did because almost every young ace out there has recently signed a long-term contract: Felix and Verlander were the latest. Cliff Lee's got to be ecstatic - he'll be the premier pitcher on next year's free-agent market.

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They should really put that sign in SF if they really want to attract attention.

I agree… Cliff Lee did a couple of backflips when both King Felix and Verlander resigned.

Fangraphs make a good argument that Hernandez would’ve probably made a few million more he had waited until after Verlander inked.

by Scooby Snacks on Feb 4, 2010 7:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Not just SF

St. Louis and Chicago as well.

Not that it’s the same, but I remember a lot of folks insisting that the Babe was still King in after 1961 because he did it in 154 games (540 at bats) vs. Maris’ 162 (590 at bats)..

by django48 on Feb 5, 2010 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Which is why...

Joba and Hughes should be starters. Thank God Cashman has intelligence unlike a lot of fans out there.

JOBA TO TEH BULLPEN! HUGHES TO TEH BULLPEN!!!!

Leave me, leave me, I can't effin stand you.

by Swishawk on Feb 4, 2010 9:26 PM EST reply actions

Neither Felix nor Verlander were going to be free agents after 2010 so I don’t see how their signings would affect Cliff Lee. I guess teams might have passed on Lee to wait for Felix and/or Verlander?

Anyway besides Lee, Josh Beckett and Brandon Webb are also free agents. If none of them sign extensons that’s the best free agent pitching class since in a long time.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Feb 4, 2010 10:39 PM EST reply actions

Cash didn't put up a huge fight for Santana because he know CC would likely be a FA the year after.

Felix would have been a FA at the end of 2011. Cash conceivably could have let Lee sign somewhere else and make a gigantic offer to Felix.

I do think if Lee has a good year he could very likely re-up with Seattle. That’s a big stadium, Jack Z has put a stellar defense behind him and the division is up for the taking.. It might behoove his career to stay in Seattle.

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

by CasanovaWong on Feb 4, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

Man I don't know about that

Lee is super competetive and wants a long term big money contract.He is the type of guy who wants everyone tripping over themselves for his services.It does not take much to see that Seattle will be handcuffed with Felix and him eating up most the budget and that Seattle will not consistently put out a playoff contender.He will weigh that heavily.Seattle is close with Bedard for a 1 yr deal and my bet is there hoping Bedard can get it together and they can sign him long term for less money and that takes the sting out of the trade with Baltimore.Alot can happen between now and then though and maybe he really likes Seattle.I’ve been known to be wrong though and I see your point.

I feel like a clown without my funny nose.They say that dead men don't pull triggers,I will prove em wrong.

by cashman bashman on Feb 4, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

my bad

by Scooby Snacks on Feb 4, 2010 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

thought Verlander was going to be FA.

by Scooby Snacks on Feb 4, 2010 11:14 PM EST up reply actions

yes, but Webb is coming off a major injury

while all will be over 30.

by Travis G on Feb 4, 2010 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

I thought it was a minor injury and thats why he tried just healing it naturally?

I know he went to see Andrews after that rehab failed.I’m not arguing with you just want to know. Webb is the pitcher I hope the Yanks get.His sinker is next to none and sinker ballers in the stadium should fare better and hold down the homeruns.I’m biased though because I watch every game he pitches and love to watch guys pound it into the ground.Kinda like how Mariano busts em in and breaks bats,for some reason I really like that.Webb has many innings where guys put the ball in play and do it quickly so his pitch count stays down.

I feel like a clown without my funny nose.They say that dead men don't pull triggers,I will prove em wrong.

by cashman bashman on Feb 4, 2010 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

i know it was a shoulder injury and surgery

which is about the worst place for a pitcher to get hurt.

by Travis G on Feb 4, 2010 11:59 PM EST up reply actions

damn right, the M & M boys, Mantle n Maris,

by cmypath78 on Feb 5, 2010 1:06 AM EST reply actions

I still don't think we should sign more than one pitcher next year

Definitely not Webb, so one of Lee or Beckett. But go pay up for Crawford and/or Werth. We don’t really need to make those moves, but they’d be nice if we did.

I think the trend we’re seeing is that GM’s are seeing the cost of FA pitchers on the market and are inking their own homegrown stars before anybody else can drive their price higher. It’s what the Giants are trying to do with Lincecum…and failing miserably.

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 Feb 5, 2010 2:08 PM EST reply actions