Pinstripe Alley: FanPosts

Another Way to Put Down the "Buy a Championship Argument"

2009-11-20T19:15:23Z

If you are a Twins, Marlins, Nationals, Rays or Orioles (insert other small-market team here) fan it may not be that your team does not have enough money, it is that they are not spending it. All of the aforementioned teams are in the top six for operational income. In fact the Marlins and Nationals had almost $45 million of revenue respectively! If the Marlins spent about $37 million of that money their payroll would have been approximately the same size as the playoff-making Rockies, while making only $9 less. That is approximately the same amount as Nick Johnson's contract over two years, and he played a whopping 25 games for them this year. So next time you hear someone say that the Yankees bought their championship, tell them that their team had the money to do it too.

Poll

How much revenue should owners make from their teams?

The Ultimate Free-Agent Tracker

2009-11-20T13:38:08Z

Courtesy of that uber-yankee fan (note that statement is heaped with sarcasm), Jeff Passan

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ato9LXexohOvgY_Ov7efRNgRvLYF?slug=jp-freeagenttracker111909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Top 10:

Here is the free-agent class of 2009-10, ranked from Nos. 1 to 131. The rankings are based on a number of variables, including each player’s history, age and potential, and are as much about predicted performance as market value, providing a general outline as free agency unfolds between now and spring training.

1. Matt Holliday (notes), LF: So, which player is he: The Oakland disappointment or the St. Louis marvel? Here’s betting on the latter.

2. John Lackey (notes), SP: The next time he yells "This is mine!" at someone, it’s going to be with a big smile and a contract approaching nine figures in his hands.

3. Jason Bay (notes), LF: Tall order for agent Joe Urbon: procure a five-year contract for a defensively limited corner outfielder who turns 32 this year. Of course, the guy can hit, and not many in this class can say that.

4. Aroldis Chapman, SP: Based on potential for greatness, he’s No. 1. Based on potential for calamity, he’s No. 131. Lefties who throw 100 mph don’t grow on trees. In fact, they don’t grow but every 25 years or so, and here is this generation’s.

5. Chone Figgins (notes), 3B: A Gold Glove-caliber third baseman with positional versatility, on-base acuity and true leadoff skills. Yes, please, say a dozen suitors.

6. Randy Wolf (notes), SP: Not as talented as other starters in the class, Wolf has one advantage on them: He’s healthy.

7. Rich Harden (notes), SP: The most dominant pitcher in the class, in terms of stuff and disabled list stays. As formidable as the former is, the latter weighs heavier on his standing among teams.

8. Erik Bedard (notes), SP: So, remember when Seattle gave up Adam Jones (notes), Chris Tillman (notes), George Sherrill (notes) and two others for him? There’s a word for that. Hahahahaha. And that is your No. 8-ranked free agent.

9. Andy Pettitte (notes), SP: Can sail off into the sunset a champion or wait out the market to see if the Yankees whiff on other pitching possibilities and need him to stabilize their rotation again.

10. Adrian Beltre (notes), 3B: He’ll be lucky to get half of the $64 million he pulled down the last time he hit free agency.

I think much of our trades/buys this offseason hinge on Pettitte's decision to return, if he does, then we can afford to get a low cost 5th starter (Justin Duchscherer???) to help protect Joba and Hughes. Im not a big fan of trading for Halladay because i think yankees are in a good position with the depth of their farm system right now and id hate to see all our best prospects get cleaned out for him.

If we are going to dump money anywhere, it should be on Aroldis. Hes young, he has a lot of potential, hes a lefty, and he has the stuff where a few years in the system to get his mental game right could make him a great addition to our rotation for years to come.

Poll

Who are you most interested in the Yankees getting this offseason?

Pitching Thoughts

2009-11-20T00:47:31Z

I thought I would throw this out there. How about Ben Sheets and Rich Harden? Sheets when healthy is a dominant pitcher as is Harden. If we could get them for Say 3 years for Harden and 2 years for Sheets with heavily incentive laden contracts we have protection for the back of the rotation, we have the ability to let the young kids develop even if they have to go down to AAA (Joba) and when one of them is injured the other will probably be healthy. This gives us rotation depth to once again not have to overuse CC and AJ and Andy during the regular season and makes sense financially. This also allows us to make a move at the deadline if we want to and have the flexibility to go after Halladay next off season when he is a free agent.

Is Swish really on the trading block?

2009-11-20T00:06:28Z

If you haven't heard the rumor, the Yankees are "quietly" making Nick Swisher available for trade. I have no idea if there is any truth to this, nor do I know how available Brian Cashman has made him. However, if this rumor is correct, I think I may know why.

Compare Nick Swisher over the last three seasons to a certain Mystery player X:

Want to guess who this mystery player is? I'll give you a hint: he just reportedly turned down a 4-year, $60 million dollar offer.

Jason Bay is the second-most coveted, and likely to be the second-highest paid, outfielder/hitter on the free agent market this offseason. And while he's a fine player, I'm just not that convinced he's that much better than Swisher when you factor in defense and age. And that's where it gets interesting.

Bay is 31 years old, and at this point it seems unlikely that he'll sign for anything less than 5 years/$75 million. Swisher, on the other hand, is only 29, and is signed for a total of $25.5 million (including a team option) for the next three years.

Given the choice between two good (but not elite) outfielders, most GMs would probably choose the younger, cheaper one. Brian Cashman is no doubt aware of this. Swisher is a great value, based on his production and his salary (and who the Yankees gave up for him), and I have a feeling that his availability hinges on the number of teams who have pitching, need hitting, and don't want to spend eight figures in the free agent market.

This is pure speculation, but the Atlanta Braves fit that description perfectly. They have holes in at least one outfield corner and first base, in fact, the lack of offense probably kept them out of the playoffs in 2009. They also have six good starting pitchers signed for 2010. Tommy Hanson is untouchable and Tim Hudson just signed a three-year extension. While they'd love to move Derek Lowe, his salary is probably too high, and nobody seems that interesting in Kenshin Kawakami. That leaves Javier Vazquez (pass) and Jair Jurrjens.

One would think that any team would be reluctant to part with a 24 year old pitcher who's posted stellar ERAs the past two seasons. I'm not suggesting this is probable or likely. However, when a team is dealing from a position of strength to fill a glaring need, strange things can happen. And I think Cashman may be dangling Swisher in hopes of a deal like this falling into his lap.

Nick Swisher

2009-11-19T20:20:05Z

This just in from Bob Nightendale of USA Today... The Yankees are hearing offers for Nick Swisher. I'm not really sure who they'll have play right field. They could put Melky there and have Gardner play center. But then that puts big pressure on them to resign Damon and Boras knows exactly how to handle that situation. Do you guys have any thought? Should the Yanks trade Nick Swisher. I don't really think the Yanks should trade Swisher unless he is part of a package to get someone good (like Crawford or Doc Halliday) into NY.

Poll

Should the Yankees trade Nick Swisher if they can get...

Center Field

2009-11-19T05:07:19Z

We've been thinking about Holiday and Bay.

Well Cleveland is rebuilding. What would you give for Grady Sizemore? I'm sure the trade would take quite a bit of talent but he's a great player. He's a class act. I was surprised how young he is (27).

By the way wasn't the trade when Cleveland got him one of the great trades of all time?

Should we tell Cash to get on the horn?

Endicott College (Just North of Boston) To Host Yankees Celebration

2009-11-18T21:25:47Z

My friend who goes to Endicott College in Beverly Mass (right next to Glouster or however the hell you spell it) just texted me about this. Apparently there is a huge uproar in the Boston area (I wonder why?). She said news cameras are all over her campus which is about the size of a Brooklyn back yard. There are about 1,000 kids at this school and from what I can tell, a lot of CT and NY transplants.

The e-mail:

TO students@endicott.edu <students@endicott.edu>

Please join us next Monday, November 23rd 4pm outside the Post Center. We will be celebrating the Yankees winning
the World Series. There will be a fire hydrant painted in their honor….

Regards,

Kim Peckham
Director of Student Activities
Endicott College

Personally, I think the Yankees winning is a cause for global celebration. Its good for NY, the North East, for baseball, rap stars and famous basketball players who like the wear Yankees gear even though they are from other cities.... etc. Painting a fire hydrant not only honors the Yankees, but firefighters as well so its a doubly fitting tribute.

"Bar stool sports" has the consensus Boston reaction:

This is in the heart of the North Shore. Like what’s the week after that? Painting a fire hydrant to celebrate when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and killed a shitload of Americans? The only possible explanation for this is that this is just a ruse to round up all the Yankee fans in one spot and then exterminate them. That has to be it.

Does that make anyone else smile?

Bottomline is the students need to riot or something to make this right.

Sorry Boston. We had enough of your riots when you won the world series. You dont get to riot when youre KNOCKED OUT IN THE FIRST ROUND. What is it with Mass holes and rioting?

The balace is once again right in the Universe.

New York Yankees

Favorite and Least Favorite Non-Yankees

2009-11-18T01:55:44Z

Everyone on Pinstripe Alley loves the Yankees (well, maybe not trolls). And for the most part, we love the players that are ON the Yankees. However, there are many more players around baseball. 29 other teams. We have to like some of them. And I'm sure that we hate some of them too. So, I want to ask, who is your favorite, and least favorite, non-Yankee around baseball?

For me, my favorite is Joe Mauer. For my least favorite, I'm torn between David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez (I'm sure you know why).

I can has Left Fielder?

2009-11-17T18:15:44Z

So, we need a Left Fielder. So many choices, so little time, so much money (thanks popa George!). Let's take a statistical and financial look at our choices.

1. Put Gardner in center, and Melky in left. I have a feeling Gardner is going to win the CF job anyway, so the debate is Melky in Left, or as our 4th OF if we sign someone else.

cost: $1.4M (what we payed him last year. This isn't extra salary, though, since he'll be on the team either way)

production: 4 year averages: wOBA: .316, UZR/150: -.9, WAR: .975.

This is obviously the cheap option. We would only win 1 more game over a replacement-level player. Pros: Melky is young and durable, and could get better. He also wouldn't cost us anything extra. Cons: This would make our outfield offense pretty weak. We need more production from the corner outfielders. Melky's 1 WAR is worth 2.2M, so we would actually be underpaying him by .8M.

2. Resign Damon.

cost: 9-12M (based on rumors of what they will ask for)

production: wOBA: .363, UZR/150: -4.8, WAR: 2.925

Option 2 is an offense upgrade over option 1, but a defensive downgrade. Overall, Damon in left nets us 2 more wins on the season, which with the conversion of 1 WAR = 2.2M, puts his suggested salary at 4.4M above Melky. Since Melky is still under team control, he doesn't make what he's worth, which means we would overpay for those 2 wins by 4-6M.

3. Sign Jason Bay.

cost: 16-18M (also based on rumors)

production: wOBA: .398, UZR/150: -7.7, WAR: 4.575

For Bay, I omitted his 2007 season because he was injured, which clearly effected his play that year. His career suggests those numbers were a fluke. So, Bay is an upgrade over Damon offensively, but a big downgrade defensively. Overall, he is worth about 1.5 wins more than Damon, which is worth 3.3M in salary, putting his worth at 7.7M more than Melky. His worth is about 10.5M, so we would overpay for his 3.5 wins over Melky by 5.5-7.5M.

4. Sign Matt Holliday.

cost: 18-22M (based on the fact that he turned down 16M from the Cards, and would probably have a similar contract to Teixeira if we were to sign him)

production: wOBA: .411, UZR/150: 6.5, WAR: 6.05.

Holliday is a good offensive upgrade over Bay, and a HUGE defensive upgrade. While Bay has been one of the worst outfielders in the game the past 4 years, Holliday has been one of the better ones. Holliday would cost 2-4M more than Bay, and his 1.5 more wins puts his value at 3.3M more, which is within that range. Overall, Holliday's worth is about 14M, so we would overpay for his 6 wins by about 4-8M.

Economical values:

Melky: 1.4M / win

Damon: 3.07 - 4.1M / win

Bay: 3.5 - 3.9M / win

Holliday: 3 - 3.6M / win

Conclusions:

I think it's a foregone conclusion that Melky will not be the starting Left Fielder, the Yankees are going to get someone. Of the top 3 candidates, Damon is the cheapest, but also the least effective. Along with that, he's 37 years old, so he will most likely perform worse than his 4 year averages. Holliday and Bay, on the other hand, are 29 and 31, respectively, so we could sign either to a longer deal without much fear of decline soon. Holliday would be the most expensive, but would provide us 3 more wins for the season over Damon, which in the AL East can be the difference between winning the division and not making the playoffs. I think it's pretty evident that Bay is not the best choice. We would pay him almost as much as Holliday, but he's not as good of a player. In terms of what we're getting for what we're paying for, Holliday is actually the best value. So my suggestion, save the 18 - 24M it would cost to resign both Damon and Matsui, and use that money for Holliday. That frees up the DH spot for Posada and the other starters when they need a little rest, and gives us Teixeira, A-Rod, and Holliday for our 3-4-5 spots. That would be the most devastating 3-4-5 combo in baseball by far.

Why the Yankees should NOT trade for Roy Halladay.

2009-11-16T03:02:06Z

I know there are a lot of opinions going back and forth on this, but I want to specify some reasons why I think this would be a bad idea for the Yankees.

1. We don't absolutely need him to win the World Series. We proved that this year. We can assume that Pettitte will be resigned, which I think is a good bet, and we'll get Wang back about halfway through the year. If we assume that neither Hughes nor Joba have a breakout year this year, and that Wang never returns to his pre-foot injury form, we still know that we can win it all with our top 3 starters.

2. He would cost a butt-load of prospects in a trade. We would definitely lose either Hughes or Joba, maybe both, and we would most likely lose 2 out of AJAX, Montero, and Romine. We're talking about one or two potential quality starting pitchers, our center fielder of the future, and two great catching prospects, one of whom is being compared at the plate to Miguel Cabrera and Manny Ramirez when they came up in the minors (Montero).

3. We would be paying for what Halladay was, and not necessarily what he will be. This, of course, is always a concern when signing a free agent or making a trade. Halladay has been great over his career, so as I specified in point #2, he will cost a lot. The problem is that he will be 33 next year. Halladay has been very consistent over his career, but the law of averages suggests he will begin to decline sometime soon. This starts happening to pitchers, on average, at around 30-33 years of age. Halladay is hitting the end of that average, which suggests there's a good chance he will begin to decline. Sure, he might still be a very good pitcher until he's 40, but he's not going to maintain his dominance forever, he will slowly decline. Thus, my point: we will end up paying for how great he's been the past 6 or 7 years, but get someone less than that. If you want to know exactly what I'm afraid of, see the Randy Johnson trade.

4. We might have better options. Next year, there will be a slew of good free agent pitchers. First of all, Halladay himself will be a free agent, unless he gets traded and signed to an extension. If we wait until next year, we might be able to get him without having to give up our prospects. I personally feel more confident about going for younger pitchers of similar quality, like Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, or Brandon Webb. I feel we would get more years out of one of those guys.

Reality Check

2009-11-15T11:49:52Z

With all the talk of the "untouchables" in our farm system, I thought this cautionary tale was worth a read. Remember Todd Van Poppel? As sure thing pitchers go, he was about as big a disappointment as you can get. For position players, I'd rank Steve Balboni at the top of the list of major league busts.

Two years ago, all the hot stove talk here was about the Trinity: Joba, Hughes and IPK. It's still possible that they could all put it together and anchor a dreadnought rotation for the next decade. Joba and Hughes have demonstrated that they can play a role at the major league level, but so far, neither has proven they're anything more than a # 4 starter or an 8th inning guy. And Kennedy got shellacked in his last winter league outing.

It's a big jump from AAA to MLB. You hate to trade away a prospect that turns into Mike Lowell. But the chances of that happening are less than trading away a sure thing that becomes a journeyman.

To create a little reality check, I thought I'd see who everybody thought was the biggest bust as a prospect, as well as who you think turned into the one who got away. For the one who got away nominees, consistency is key. (Last year, I would have put Dioner Navarro in the one who got away category. This year, not so much.)

Return on Investment: CC and AJ

2009-11-15T03:04:32Z

First, a quick introduction. I've been conscious of being a fan of the Yankees since I was a six-year-old boy standing in the front of Angee's Restaurant in Olean, NY with my Dad and a bunch of strangers watching a shortstop with a funny name hit a lazy fly ball over a ridiculously tall left field wall. (My favorite memory of Bucky Dent is not that, however. That would be the home run I watched him hit on Thurmon Munson day several months later, while I was recuperating in a hospital bed from a tonsilectomy.) I don't remember a whole lot of the next couple weeks; I remember far too much of the next 18 years.

I mention all this merely to indicate the purity of my motives in asking the following question. As with any Hot Stove seas, there's a lot of talk about what sort of contracts various free agents deserve. What I'd like to know, though, is what y'all think about the status of the contracts given to the pitchers acquired by the Yankees last offseason. Sabathia and Burnett certainly lived up to their contracts this year, but have they done enough to satisfy you for the next four and six years respectively? In other words, if neither one were to put up another winning season for the remainder of their contracts, would you still consider their signings a success? I suspect fans of a number of other teams would (though I wonder what Red Sox fans have given Dice-K a full pass for 2007.) If not, how much more do you need to see from them before you're satisfied?

Yankees- Curtis Granderson and Vladimir Guerrero ?

2009-11-14T15:51:40Z

What's your opionion?

With the Yankees supposingly being interested in Curtis Granderson should they try to trade for him? Also, with Vladimir Guerrero being a Free Agent and Matsui's contract up shall the Yankees be interested?

First on Granderson, I think the Yankees should trade for Curtis and move Melky to either Right or Left field depending on Damon. Granderson has great speed, plays the outfield fantastic, has some pop, steals bases, and is an AL All Star. What the Tigers want I don't know. But if Cash or the Tigers can make the deal right I think it will go through. Should the Yankees trade for Curtis Granderson? My answer YES.

Now on Vladimir Guerrero, With Matsui's contract up it opens a spot up for a DH or maybe an OF. Yes it takes the DH spot away but Vlad brings power to the lineup adding Tex and A-Rod. He can run the bases still unlike Hideki. Or the Yanks can go for Matt Holliday. Which probably won't happen. So if Vlad's agent doesn't demand a lot of money (remember were the Yankees) the Yanks can maybe play ball. But I think only one player wil end up here either Granderson or another player. My answer is they should bring in Granderson.

So what do you think? Should the Yankees trade for Curtis Granderson or sign a FA OF like Vlad Guerrero? My opionion bring in Granderson. What do you think?

Poll

Shoud the Yankees trade for Curtis Granderson?

Yankees on Film and TV

2009-11-14T03:52:26Z

After seeing that wickedly awesome Derek Jeter plays a bum in a movie photo, I thought of the many times the Yankees have been shown on various movies and tv shows.

So in this post, feel free to discuss your favorite TV and movies moments that are about the Yankees or those that star former or current players.

As for me, may favorites are (in no specific order):

1) Roger Clemens pitching to Ty Cobb in "Cobb".

2) George Costanza teaching Jeter and Bernie how to swing. (Jeter: "Hey, we won the World Series"... George(unimpressed):"in six games")

3) Kramer asking Paul O'Neill to hit two homers.

4) Jeter and other Yankees playing drag on SNL.

And my favorite...

5) '97 Joe Girardi putting the moves on Biff at the movies while watching Titanic.

I'm sure I forgot a lot, there are just the ones that are popping up in my head right now. If you can remember anything else or if you got good ones you can recommend. Feel free to post. I could certainly use the movie or TV suggestions as I'm propped up on my couch with a sore back.

Just to Show How Bad Every Other NY Sports Team Is

2009-11-13T23:48:35Z

From what it seems like, many more people are blogging about the Yanks in the offseason this year. You can contribute this to their World Series win. However, you must remember that this free agent year is not to sharp, so no major moves for the Yanks are expected to be made, which would normally counter that WS push. I have a different theory on why this is happening. All the other NY sports suck. Between the Knicks, Nets, Giants, Jets, Rangers and Islanders, New York winter sports are pretty awful. With so little else to be excited about, many New Yorkers (well maybe not Mets fans) are turning to baseball, in its offseason. Here is some stats on New York sports teams that play in the winter. The combined record for all the previously mentioned teams this year is 26-38. That's a not too stellar .406 winning percentage. In the past two seasons they are 182-224 (ouch). On the note of ownership, a Russian tycoon is taking over the Nets, the Islanders owner is trying to get them out of Long Island, and the Dolan family, the owners of the Knicks and Rangers who hired Isaah Thomas, are trying to sell Cablevision to focus just on their sports teams (not a good thing). Even New York talk radio is giving spots to the Yankees offseason moves normally devoted to football or hockey. So in conclusion, lets hope the Yanks bring home number 28 next year because it doesn't look like the Rangers or Islanders will bring home number 5, the Giants number 4, the Jets number 2, the Knicks number 3, or the Nets number 1.

Poll

What NY sports team that has a winter season is most likely to win a championship?

Why the Yankees should trade for Roy Halladay

2009-11-13T22:31:33Z

We all know that Roy Halladay is an excellent pitcher. One of the best actually. Possibly even THE best right now. Who can forget the time where he made the Yankees look like a Little League team (only saved by Ramiro Pena's double)? In the past three years, he has thrown 25 complete games, and pitched to a 3.09 ERA in 710 innings. In the AL East. This guy is a BEAST. And for those who say giving up prospects isn't worth it- we're getting a proven guy here who is durable, a competitor, and only wants to win, and excels at it- no use in speculating how good a prospect MIGHT be...when the guy you get for them would give the team a great chance of forging a dynasty for the next 4 years. The Yankees might as well get him now rather than waiting until 2011, especially since the Red Sox are in the hunt too. I would love hear the Sux fans complain and whine about it...that would make it all the more sweet when we are hoisting #28...so let's get Doc. 'nuff said.

Poll

Should the Yankees trade for Roy Halladay?

How to anger a Mets fan...

2009-11-13T16:04:52Z

I don't hate the Mets. I don't dislike Mets fans. In fact, I really like their new Stadium, especially since it has a Shake Shack.

What I don't like is all the crap I've been getting from my friends who are Mets fans.

"Way to buy another championship!"

"A-ROIDS!"

I can see why they're bitter. They had a terrible season. Abysmal. Injury bug worse than the swine flu. Terrible plays and errors and incidents that made 2009 a cursed season. Look back at how their previous three seasons ended:

2008 - Blew a late season lead and missed the playoffs.

2007 - Blew a late season lead and missed the playoffs.

2006 - Carlos Beltran freezes and watches a called strike three end their season.

So without further ado, "How to Anger a Mets Fan"

1) (Refer to any of the three incidents mentioned above.)

2) "Luis Castillo" and "Pop-ups"

3) David Wright's new helmet and Lord Helmet from "Spaceballs"

4) Omar Minaya

5) Bobby Bonilla and Mo Vaughn

6) Cocaine + Daryll Strawberry + Doc Gooden

7) Oliver Perez

8) Braden Looper/Armando Benitez

9) Chipper Jones and/or John Rocker

10) and Finally, Scott Kazmir and Victor Zambrano.

---

Nothing gets them more riled up than the Zambrano trade. I almost got into a fistfight over it last night at a bar. SO if you want to press the buttons of those occasionally annoying Mets fans, choose any of the above.

Or, send them to the following article: http://www.writingthepine.com/2009/11/13/victor_zambrano_trade/

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Life after Jeter

2009-11-13T14:33:50Z

The NY daily news ran this article yesterday about the contract negotiations next year for Derek Jeter. And I think they are making a big fuss about nothing. The Yankees have practically no choice in the matter. Resign Jeter or alienate their fan base a lot.

What I am really worried about is the fact that Jeter is already 35 and not getting any younger. He plays a tough position that requires a lot of athleticism, and a position that traditonally has not been used by older players.

How long can he play? 38?40? All I know is that when he finally retires that I will be really depressed for a year of baseball. No more announcing Derek 'Jeet-ah' by Shep on the PA. And no more Yankee Captain. Almost as long as I have followed baseball Derek Jeter has been a Yankee. When this era ends who will play the SS spot? Who will take the mantle of the captainship? Time will tell.

Poll

What Should the Yankees do with Derek Jeter?

That 5th SPot

2009-11-13T13:52:16Z

That 5th spot in the rotation has been cause for debate as far as the Yankees are concerned.

Some say Hughes should start. Others root for Joba. Some clamor for Halladay or Lackey. It seems that Chien-Ming Wang, a 19-game winner in seasons past, has been left out of the mix.

Halladay Shopping:I like Halladay. I think, as far as SPs are concerned, he's the best out there. He can finish games, keep the team in the ball game, strikes out people. The man is one of the best. But, to get Halladay, the Yankees must sacrifice one of their young arms in Hughes or Chamberlain. Losing Phil Hughes would spell doom for the bullpen. Fine, he wasn't that good in the postseason. He blew leads here and there. But, through most of the season, he kept the Yankees in the game. He gave the chance for a late-inning Yankee rally. He handed the key to Rivera to close the door. He is one of the keys to those 103 wins and, therefore,must be kept.

Longing for Lackey?: Lackey wants more than Burnett's 82M/5 deal. Do you think he should get a better pay? :D He would make quite a good 2-starter, though. I'd much prefer Lackey over Halladay. Although Lackey's a notch lower than Halladay pitching-wise (who isn't?), playing for Lackey, a free agent, would spare Hughes and Joba from the trade mill.

The Joba Sitch: Enough with the experiment. Joba either gets regular starts or he goes to the bullpen. Either way the wind blows, I say enough with the Joba Rules. He's an athlete with a lot of potential. I think the Joba rules are holding him back. If they don't push him to the limit, how else would he realize his true potential? Athletes should be tested, not cradled or fenced in. My say on the Youngsters Sitch: Hughes should be a starter, Joba should rein his temper in and succeed Mariano or at least be a dominating SU.

Can Wang Revive His Career?: Many are counting this guy out. And with good reason. He's had foot and shoulder injuries, and he seems to have lost command of his sinker. His lack of a back-up pitch when his sinker's not going well also poses a problem. But, prior to the injury, he's been a good,reliable pitcher. Question is: Will he be the same? If he proves that he can hold the fort behind the CC-AJ-Andy triumvirate, then the Yankees can afford to leave Halladay and Lackey alone. Maybe call up somebody from the Minors? Or play for a good (but not great), reliable pitcher who can be relied to hold the fort at the end of the rotation.

I can't wait for the headlines. Predictions say that Lackey will most probably be a Yankee, though.

But, we'll see. We'll see. ^_^

Adam Dunn for DH

2009-11-13T07:37:49Z

A dream situation, if you will. Call me irrational, but that's because I don't have to balance the Yankee checkbook at the end of the day. I have always been biased when it comes to the Big Donkey, and it pains me to see him in dead-end Washington. Over the offseason, when Teixeira was a "what if..." free agent, I was rooting for Dunn to come play first for New York. His glove leaves a lot to be desired, sure, but boy can he hit. I could visualize the 6-foot-6 275 pound hefty lefty bombing moonshots in the upper decks of the stands. I wasn't satisfied with Swisher being our first basemen, and I think secretly everybody else was too (don't get me wrong, I love Swish but throwing a 1B mitt on him seemed makeshift to me). I was sad to see him get picked up by the Nats, but of course I was ecstatic when I found out that we picked up Tex at a time when I was sure he was going to be a dastardly Red Sock. Now, one year later, We see a possibility of losing our beloved Godzilla. But with loss comes opportunity... Trade opportunities.

Am I aware of the downsides of Adam Dunn? Absolutely, I am not blind. He whiffs as hard as he swings. He's criticized for his lack of clutch hitting - this past year he was rated -1.12 for clutch by Fangraphs. His glove is atrocious, posting a -35 UZR at first base (which is really really bad). Also, he has a bit of a weight problem, apparently weighing in at around 300 lbs (http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/9/29/1060869/the-two-sides-of-adam-dunn-graph?ref=CBS).

Do those attributes frighten you? Yes, upon first glance it appears we're talking about Adam Dud here. However, not all is as it seems. Dunn has an excellent eye, seeing a lot of pitches and drawing a lot of walks. Last year his swing rate at pitches outside the zone was about 5 points below average (that's good). He consistently draws over 100 walks per year. He walked 17.5% of the time he stepped to the plate as a Nat, which blows away the 9.5% average. His walk-to-strikeout ratio was a 0.66, and his OPS was a .928. I can throw more stats in there, but is that really necessary? Adam Dunn is a superb batter.

Now imagine Adam Dunn minus one glove. He brought in 35.5 runs with his bat. Unfortunately, he sacrificed much more than that with his glove (-36.3). That stooped his WAR down to a 1.2. Adam Dunn has never played in the American League, yet the DH role seems to be tailor-made for him. Adam Dunn has one year left in his contract with Washington. Perhaps it would be unwise to trade for him when we could risk bidding for him if he chooses not to resign. Matsui raked in 13 million bucks DHing in pinstripes last year... Adam Dunn made 8 million out of his 20 million, 2 year contract. Even for a year he'd cost less than Matsui, and clearly has a better bat. I don't know what the Nats would want for him... Probably some of our top prospects and a wheelbarrow of money. Is it worth it? Who is worth it? That is what I ask you SB Nation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Hjo--wFX0