Molina Signed!

by Cbeck3 on Nov 16, 2007 4:00 PM EST

The Daily News is reporting Molina is signed for 2 years.

MOLINA AGREES: The Yankees and backup catcher Jose Molina reached an agreement on a two-year, $4million contract. I am pleased with this signing and at his age 2 years is good. I hope Jorge gets more time off than in the past, but Molina does not figure to get too much wear and tear.

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Molina/Jorge

I'm glad we finally (not counting the last few months last year) have a good back-up catcher. Molina is one of the best back-ups in the league, and could easily start for a number of teams (particularly NL). Combined with our shitty 1st base situation, I wonder if this signing at all means we might see Jorge play some firstbase this season. (I wouldn't expect much, but maybe 10 games at 1st?)

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Nov 16, 2007 4:08 PM EST reply actions

i don' t think so..

it just means the yanks can DH him more often in addition to his full days off, and not be afraid of the alternative (see: nieves, wil)

couldn't be happier with this signing.

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Nov 16, 2007 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

I should have thought of that, as well.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Nov 16, 2007 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Sweet

We absolutely need a Flying Molina brother on our roster.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 16, 2007 4:45 PM EST reply actions

He's a good back up

by John Amato on Nov 16, 2007 6:16 PM EST reply actions

I'm happy

I like him and am in favor of resting or DH'ing Jorgie.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Nov 16, 2007 9:06 PM EST reply actions

A car in every garage

and a Molina on every team! A great backup backstop.

Can we focus on the bullpen now?

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 17, 2007 10:06 AM EST reply actions

Fine point

Everyone is a little punch drunk over beating Boras and keeping A-Rod, but the fact remains that nothing has been done to improve this team and close the widening gap between the Yanks and Boston. It is great to maintain the status quo but our bullpen is still in shambles. I am little worried about the "throw a bunch of rookies at the wall and see what sticks" approach, but there isn't much out there worth signing. Hopefully they are going to make a big run at Kerry Wood, but I also have been warming to the idea of trying to convince Bartolo Colon to make a similar transition.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 17, 2007 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Arod

staying definitely changes the approach to how we improve. The offense is pretty much set, though moving a Matsui or upgrading 1B would be gravy.

I think a LaTroy Hawkins or a shot on Wood would be nice. If moving Matsui can get some young pitching and allow for some pieces to make a move for Haren, that would be great. I could live with Colon in any role. Could we give him a Schilling-esque deal with the weight clause? As a set up man, he could be very intriguing.

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 17, 2007 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

i wouldn't mind

a shot at Wood.. but i would say NO WAY to Hawkins.. he's shown that he is not a guy in pressure situations.

You don't realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Nov 17, 2007 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

I don't agree with that

Too small of a sample size to definitively say he can't handle a pressure situation. Hawkins pitched well in Colorado and had a better 2nd half than 1st half. I'd prefer to pay $4M for him than $8M for Wood, knowing Hawkins will be on the field.

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 18, 2007 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

Bullpen

Most good ones happen by accident.

Like finding Rivera in 96, or the Sox finding Okajima last year. Going into Spring Training most people forecasted Boston's bullpen to be horrendous, even after they moved Papelbon back there. The answer to the Yanks problems could very well already be on their 40 man roster.

I don't think Okajima will be nearly as effective this coming season. The Yankees hammered him after they got used to his funky style.

Hopefully someone will be dumb enough to overpay Mike Lowell. If you remove Lowell from the Sox and add Pettitte back to the Yanks, that would just about eliminate the gap.

by matthaggs on Nov 17, 2007 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

Gap

The Yankees scored 191 more runs than they allowed. I've already outlined how the young pitchers are all but guaranteed to outperform the Igawa/Karstens/Rasner/DeSalvo group that made 30+ starts in 2007.
The Red Sox finished at +210.

A 30 run difference isn't much to make up in 162 games. It's worth remembering that every Japanese pitcher to come to MLB has had his best season in his rookie year.

And I agree with haggs; bullpens are found more often than they're planned. Bring all the kids to camp and let talent win out.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 18, 2007 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

Plus

The Yanks kicked the crap out of Boston head to head after May.

No one was immune to a battering: Beckett, Schilling, Dice K, Okajima and Papelbon all got knocked around by the Bombers at one point or another.

by matthaggs on Nov 18, 2007 9:21 PM EST up reply actions

Agree

Yeah, who thought Joba would be lights out like that? Management gave it a shot on a whim.

by SenorSwanky on Nov 19, 2007 12:49 AM EST up reply actions

I honestly thought

he would be comparable to Rivera in 1996, but he was even better! I do think that bullpen guys happen a lot by accident, but I'd like to at least get a lefty. That's all. I do like Sean Henn, but not enough to get Ortiz out in a big spot or Mauer and Morneau back-to-back. I'm willing to take a shot on Ohlendorf and Whelan, but I'd rather have too many guys that too few. I just hope Girardi won't bring in Mo up 5 with two on and two out in the 9th like his predecessor.

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 20, 2007 8:33 PM EST up reply actions