Around the Yankees Galaxy 3/22/10

by 3460kuri on Mar 22, 2010 4:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

-Perhaps by this time next week (or even sooner) we'll know who will break camp as the 5th starter. I've already rendered my opinion on the subject, and so has everybody else. But what happens this week could have a huge impact on what happens next season. If neither Joba nor Hughes establishes themselves as a starter, and if Andy Pettitte and/or Javier Vazquez do not return....well, now, who really wants to think about that?

It's in the Yankees best interests to have both guys get work as starters this year. A good 8th inning guy becomes a whole lot less valuable when you're 1st-6th inning guy is somebody like Sidney Ponson or Darrel Rasner.

-Yankees pitchers did a pretty good job of sending a message and protecting their teammates at the plate last season. I can't help but wonder if this is a little overblown, though. I've heard stories about guys like Bob Gibson knocking down opposing hitters back in the day after they hit a home run, or if he felt like they were showboating, but if you want to send a message to the hitter, wouldn't the best one be getting him out? Especially in today's game, when umpires routinely warn teams and eject players over pitches that are often seemingly un-intentional.

-It's official: Jesus Montero will start the season in AAA. He needs to work on his catching skills, and I'm not sure what else. I'm not sure what his best path to the majors is, but it's going to be awfully hard to keep him down at Scranton come June or July if he hits like he has at every other stop in the minors.

-Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre are really competing for the 5th spot in the rotation? No, actually. I do think some of us were fooled, but the Yankees are unlikely to keep eight starters on their major league roster (and that's not counting Chan Ho Park). I think either could actually do a half decent job at the back of a National League rotation, and frankly, getting anything for either of them probably makes the deal worth doing.

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Vasquez isn't signed beyond this yr?

Can someone remind me what we gave up for him (Was it Melky+? And what team? I can’t remember), and what his contract is? I thought he had more than a year or 2 on his deal.

by PinstripedHippie on Mar 22, 2010 7:45 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Javy is just signed for this year at $11.5 million.

The Yankees traded Melky, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino to the Braves for him.

by 3460kuri on Mar 22, 2010 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions

OK - i was thinking it was the Nats for some reason.

I have family in D.C. and was thinking they would like what they get in Melky. He’s a good player and a great guy. Not sure the Braves are as good a fit. I don’t know what it is about that org. but I think they just don’t know what they’re doing. Not that the Nats are ever expected to do well but at least everyone knows that and with that in mind they run things in a way that makes sense and still somehow pleases their (few?) fans.
It’s still a good moving trading him for Javy – a chance at a long-term deal with a solid starter. I.e., if he does well this second time around I would think both sides would want to do a longer deal. Just hope he doesn’t get too greedy which could happen.

by PinstripedHippie on Mar 22, 2010 8:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not sure the Braves are as good a fit. I don’t know what it is about that org. but I think they just don’t know what they’re doing.

Wow, Now that is a bold statement. The Braves Organization always finds a way to win.

by BigDanz2000 on Mar 22, 2010 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Right...

Because the Braves only won their division for 14 years in a row and currently have one of the best (and youngest) rotations in the NL.

by Random_Task on Mar 22, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m aware of the history and there’s no denying they were run great through the 90’s and won their division up through 2005. I’m talking more about recently. The feeling I’ve gotten from them is stagnation and moves that haven’t panned out. I don’t follow them extremely closely so I won’t have all the examples but they couldn’t retain Texeira i.e.

I just looked through their roster the past few years and it actually looks very solid so I’m not sure what’s causing the big drop-off lately. I was thinking Chipper was really slowing down and passing his prime but last year is the only year that seems to display that.

I always liked Bobby Cox while Leo Mazzone always ticked me off with his nervous tick, but maybe Mazzone was the best piece of the puzzle as coinciding with his being replaced look what’s happened:

2006: 79W, 83L, 3rd in NL East
2007: 84W, 77L, 3rd in NL East
2008: 72W, 90L, 4th in NL East
2009: 86W, 76L, 3rd in NL East

I have gotten no sense of excitement from them lately and feel they needs to change these up but that’s just my opinion.

by PinstripedHippie on Mar 22, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

As far as an "organization"

the Braves may be the best in baseball. They will surprise a lot of folks in the NL East this year.

by david d on Mar 22, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

5th spot

if we want the best for beyond this year, we should start joba at the 5th spot…and for the people who claim hes better in the pen…give a yr with out the leash ie the 3 great starts after the break last yr, remember he rely didnt have seasoning in the minors. Huges even though he owns the bullpen, and he has a swagger coming out of the pen i think we should send him down to AAA for most of the season to build up his innings for next yr either hes taking andy spot if he retires or javy spot, we cant have the joba rules on huges, so let him get innings in the minors and bring him up later to work the bullpen for playoffs. we have the arms in the pen to let this happen. we shouldnt stop his growth b/c next yr hes only gonna be able to go 150 tops and we wont see what hes realy is into 2012 when his limits are fully off.

by Justin Dudley on Mar 22, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions