Yankees Afternooon Links: McCarver, Pujols, Darvish, Brackman

by Travis G on Oct 24, 2011 3:41 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

A great article by Joe Poz dissecting what's so horrible about Tim McCarver (and most sports-casters in general nowadays) that should be required reading. I'll entice you with a snippet -

...all postseason I've been hearing Michael Young hosannas. Great player. Classy player. Fantastic player. Leader. Role model. Hero. Even this would be OK if Michael Young was having a great postseason. But at last check he was hitting .207 in the postseason. I don't get it.

Meanwhile, there actually IS an underrated guy on the Texas team that the announcers could be celebrating - Ian Kinsler. He has been an excellent defensive second baseman, and over his career he gets on base more than Young, he hits with more power than Young, he's a much better base-stealer than Young, he's a better base runner than Young. Kinsler too takes big advantage of his home ballpark, but he's a better player than Michael Young and, as is the case for truly underrated players, nobody in the television booth seems to know it.

The reason for this, I regret to admit, is batting average. Michael Young has a career .300 average, Kinsler is way down there at .275. And that is that...

Lance Berkman called Albert Pujols a better hitter than Babe Ruth. C'mon, Lance, you're a smart guy, right?
Not surprising but good to know: the Yankees scouted NPB (Nippon Pro Baseball), and specifically Yu Darvish, all season long.
Seedlings to Stars profiled Yankee prospect and "Killer B" Andrew Brackman.
Check out a neat new Sports Dictionary of New York.

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I don't like comparing this era to Babe Ruth's era.

Better conditioning now.

Some actually think Ruth might be the type of guy who falls through due to drinking and stuff I guess. That’s what I read over the years about comparing Ruth to our era. I can’t judge so I go with his numbers. He’s the best ever.

by DCyanks21 on Oct 24, 2011 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

Phillies decline options on Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt

Think the Yankees go after Roy?

by Branta on Oct 24, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Hope not

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

He actually had a decent year.

3.69 ERA/3.44 FIP. Unfortunately his name is Roy Oswalt so his reputation will probably warrant a multi year contract but I would not mind at all signing him to a one year deal, considering he won’t cost a draft pick and could likely be a nice mid rotation starter next season. I wouldn’t offer him anything long term, which is why I think he will sign elsewhere.

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

He's not a bad pitcher

But I feel he’s overrated and he’s going to demand both a lot of money and a lot of years. He’s older too. I’d rather spend money on somebody younger with more upside (you know who I’m thinking of).

A one year or two year deal? Even if it’s a little on the expensive side? Absolutely, welcome to the team. But I feel like you said that he’ll want at least 4 years and I don’t think it’s worth it.

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't even do two years.

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

It wouldn't be very long anyway

He’s thinking about retirement, so it would most likely be 1 or 2 years.

He’d be a better #2 than AJ

by Branta on Oct 24, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

AJ's not the #2 though

He’d be the #3 if CC is brought back and no other moves are made. Nova is the #2.

Though I suppose in the near impossible scenario that CC isn’t brought back and no moves are made, then AJ would once again be the #2 starter.

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

The starting rotation NEVER ends up going in order the way it starts out when the season starts so putting numbers next to pitchers is pointless.

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea I agree

Just saying that at the beginning of the season, Nova will be considered the #2. But that could very easily change as the year goes on. The only real sure thing is CC will start the year as the #1, and he will end the year as the #1 as well.

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope Nova doesn't start the season as the second pitcher in our rotation next season.

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup- I hope Darvish does

And Nova is third. If he’s second, then that means they did absolutely nothing to improve the rotation in the offseason. I want them to get better.

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d be quite content to go into next season with CC, Nova, AJ, Garcia, and Hughes. Then work Noesi, Betances, or ManBan into the rotation mid-season.

Romine!

by david d on Oct 24, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought you didn't want to sign CC if he opted out?

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Correct

Romine!

by david d on Oct 24, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if they sign Darvish he wouldn't be #2

They’d make him 4 at most

by Branta on Oct 24, 2011 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Why the numbers?

When is the last time a rotation when 1-2-3-4-5 from opening day to the end of the year?

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

With the amount they'd pay to get him

I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the #2. It doesn’t really matter though- numbers don’t matter until the playoffs.

Let us all congratulate the Boston Red Sox for becoming the first World Champions in the history of sports to NOT make the postseason! Thats not easy to do!

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 24, 2011 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I like Roy Oswalt on a short term deal

I’d gladly give him something like 2/30. He’s a small town guy which is a bit worrisome, but he’s also tough and he seemed to enjoy Philadelphia alright. He hasn’t pitched in the AL but he has solid inter-league numbers for his career. He’s also thrown in extreme hitters parks his entire career and has managed to hardly give up any home runs.

Assuming C.C.‘s back, Darvish is my first free agent choice to fill the #2 spot in the rotation next year, but I’d put Oswalt 2nd. I definitely prefer Oswalt for 2 years to C.J. Wilson for 5.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Oct 24, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

2-30 is way too much for Oswalt.

He had some serious back problems earlier this season and his K rates plummeted. He still doesn’t walk anybody and induced enough ground balls to where I think he could be a reliable mid rotation starter but 2-30 is too risky IMO.

Approximately eight warnings, a couple dozen censorships, and one ban in the last month and counting.

by Briceratops on Oct 24, 2011 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

He's probably gonna get 2/23 tops

by Branta on Oct 24, 2011 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Declining Velocity, K/9, and becoming more flyball prone…i’ll take a pass.

by lololol on Oct 24, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Think about it this way

you hear all the time how back in the 90’s it was very rare to find players throwing 95 and up on a regular basis. We get stronger with training regimens and stuff like that so imagine back in the early 1900’s what people were throwing. I do love ruth as much as the next guy but to see pujols doing what he is doing now a days is more amazing than what ruth did.

Now you might say because they throw harder the ball will go further but it is also harder to square up. Im not saying anything , but im just saying.

by SLAUGHTERHOUSE on Oct 24, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

When Pujols starts hitting more homeruns than some TEAMS do

I’ll say he’s better than Ruth was.

by nj23nut on Oct 24, 2011 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

batting average

also regarding Pujols vs. Ruth, its a different era. Lance can say whatever he wants, but you can never compare eras this far apart. Ruth probably wouldn’t be able to exist nowadays…not too many drunk, fat, womanizing superstarts in todays league is there?

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Oct 24, 2011 11:41 PM EDT reply actions