New York Yankees News: 1/9/2012
by Lord Duggan on Jan 9, 2012 6:01 AM EST
in New York Yankees News
Email
PrintMood Music - No Reply at All by Genesis
Mariano Rivera - Indestructable
All signs from the surgery to remove the polyps that had grown on Rivera's vocal cords (the hell is a polyp?) seem to indicate a full and speedy recovery, with the Yankees closer hoping to be fully cleared for next season after one more trip to the doctor. From what I have read, it seemed possible that such a condition could have included cancer, but everything has been found to be benign and fixable.
Hiroyuki Nakajima - Lowballed
Now that the Yankees have fallen out with Nakajima, a few more of the details of the negotiation have leaked out. Per Jon Heyman in the link above, the Yankees offer to Nakajima was a one year deal worth approximately $1MM. While that is not an unreasonable contract for a back up infielder and Nakajima seemed willing to play for that amount of money, the Yankees also wanted to be able to treat Nakajima as a rookie (six years of team control), and not grant him free agency after the 2012 season. That's driving a pretty hard bargain and again makes it seem as if this pairing was never right for either side.
Bernie Williams - Postseason!
With Bernie now on the Hall of Fame ballot, I thought this was a pretty cool piece over at Fangraphs that leads to some interesting musings. How much weight do you give postseason performance when evaluating a career? None? Some? Lots? Bernie Williams hit .275/.371/.480 in 545 postseason plate appearances, adding up to nearly an entire season of production.
While that has to count for something, Bernie got all of those trips to the plate due to the good fortune of playing on the perennially contending Yankees. Therefore, it's hard to have any kind of fair evaluation of playoff performance when different players have such different opportunities, but it doesn't make any sense to wipe away the most important games of the year either.
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I doubt he'll ever get into the Hall of Fame
But I really think Bernie’s # should be retired, and not just because I can say I own a retire player’s jersey #.
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 9, 2012 9:35 AM EST reply actions
Playoffs ought to count for something
In some cases, they can elevate an above-average player to greatness by providing great moments (mostly in victory, but occasionally in defeat) that can make someone worth remembering to all baseball fans. Caveats on small sample-size and few teams making the playoffs ought to take some sting out of bad performances, but certainly someone should get credit for greatness at the most important moments. In other words, count the good more than the bad
As for Bernie, I doubt he gets in, but certainly he should get some recognition from the Yankees. A plaque out in Monument Park should work, I think, number retirement is a step too far (too many retired numbers already, really)
Retired Number? Yes. Hall of Fame? No.
Bernie’s prime didn’t last long enough for him to get any serious hall of fame consideration, especially given the era he played in.
But he was a lifelong Yankee and he was arguably the best player on one of the best teams of all time. The Yankees have already watered down the retired number honor with Reggie Jackson, Roger Maris, Ron Guidry, Elston Howard, etc., and I’d rank Bernie higher on the all-time Yankee list than any of those guys…so he based on the system the Yankees have created, 51 should definitely be up there.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 9, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
post-season performance should count for something
Bernie (and Pettitte and Mo) have played an entire extra season, against better competition and with more pressure, and did about as well as their regular-season numbers (as in the case of Bernie and Pettitte) or were even better (as in the case of Mo, of course). That should count for something – and in Mo’s case, will likely result in him being a first-ballot, 85% or above, no questions asked HOFer. But it wouldn’t be fair to say Bernie’s a HOFer and Carlos Beltran – to name one random example – isn’t, because Bernie has more post-season HRs and hits. Beltran didn’t get nearly as many chances as Bernie (and if he did, it’s hard to imagine that he would have kept up his .366/.485/.817 line – and if he had maintained that line over more post-seasons, that should be a boost to his candidacy).
by long time listener on Jan 9, 2012 10:27 AM EST reply actions
This is one reason why I think his # should be retired
His postseason stats go more towards his Yankee legacy than his HOF legacy. That and he can jam!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 9, 2012 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
he does know how to lay down some sweet jazz sounds
by long time listener on Jan 9, 2012 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
Which should guarantee #51 being retired
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 9, 2012 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors
Blue Jays Designate Mark Teahen For Assignment bit.ly/zXclZp #mlb
Will the Yankees get a spot of Tea?
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 9, 2012 11:04 AM EST reply actions
only if a bag of balls is included in the deal.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Sold!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 9, 2012 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
Bernie Williams, like Don Mattingly, is a "Hall of the Really Good" player
In his honor, the Yankees should retire his number. If that’s not enough, they could retire all prime numbers.
I don’t understand why they even bothered with Nakajima. Frankly, their treatment of him was insulting. Japanese players rightly do not consider themselves to be minor leaguers, but that’s how Nakajima was treated. Similarly, the bid for Darvish also speaks of a team that is confusing itself with Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City.
What gives?
by designatedquitter on Jan 9, 2012 12:06 PM EST reply actions
Postseason's got to count for something
Sure, Bernie got all those at-bats because the Yankees went to the postseason a lot… but Bernie himself was part of the reason WHY the Yankees went to the postseason so frequently during his career. Thing is, once a player’s in the postseason, he still has to perform… not against doormat teams, but rather, the best teams in the league, which almost inevitably also means against the best pitching in the league. Bernie played the equivalent of a full season against the elite teams of the AL, facing elite pitching for the vast majority of those plate appearances, and he performed very well. That has got to count for something in HoF consideration.
Or put another way: which player would you rather have on your team: one who rakes against weak pitching and disappears against top caliber pitching… or one who plays consistently well regardless of the opposition, and regardless of the magnitude of the game?
I don’t know if Bernie is HoF worthy, but at very least, he has to get a careful look from his postseason numbers. Throwing them away is beyond ridiculous.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pinstripe Alley
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
