Are the Yanks interested in Mahay?

by John Amato on Nov 23, 2007 2:47 AM EST in New York Yankees News

Jon Heyman of SI said on WFAN Wednesday that the Yanks were in the lead on picking up lefty free agent reliever Ron Mahay. I can't seem to remember what type of pitcher he is at all. Here's his stats...

The Yanks need a lefty for sure out of the pen. Anyone remember this guy?

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I would pass

The likelihood of Mahay remaining valuable for the length of the deal is slim to none.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 23, 2007 7:18 AM EST reply actions

Agreed,

But it'd be nice to have a lefty in the pen not named Kei Igawa.

by Leviticus on Nov 23, 2007 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

True

but the luxury of having a lefty specialist is not worth the years/money that Mahay will get.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 23, 2007 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Why the fuck

do you care about the money they pay someone like Ron Mahay when it's not coming out of your pocket. There is a tremendous lack of quality lefty relievers out there and whatever you think of him he's still one of the best available. And as I mentioned in my previous diary they wasted over $140M dollars on the likes of Hitchcock,Wright,Pavano,Karsay,Hammond,Farnsworth and Igawa. Mahay will not cost them that much money at 37 years old. It's amazing how you guys here are so clueless like this organization.

by andyroth on Nov 23, 2007 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

Every village has an idiot

and we have found ours folks!! I really don't even know where to begin, but I will give it a shot nonetheless. The reason I care is two-fold: the Yankees pay for the likes of Mahay, Jeter, etc. with the revenues they get from the fans. I am not sure if you have looked, but those trees in monument park aren't money trees. The reason you should care about payroll is because the Yankees have to pay for it somehow and it comes out of the fans' pockets. Second (and most importantly) signing shitty players to overvalued contracts eliminates roster flexibility. When you sign a shitty reliever like Mahay for too long or too much, you are stuck with him. Judging by your posting history, we don't expect you to understand any of this, but that is the reason us "clueless" folks should give a shit about the Ron Mahays of the world.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 23, 2007 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

2 years

$4M per year. That's what I'd like to get him for. He was good for Texas last year and his BAA for lefties was very good. He's not terrible and has proved to be good in the AL.

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 23, 2007 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

but there is no way he gets that little. Look at what Linebrink and JC Fucking Romero just hauled in.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 23, 2007 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

"Clueless"

is believing that high ticket prices are a result of high salaries.
It is not that simple.

http://www.baseball1.com/faqs/ticket_prices.html

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/14/commentary/column_sportsbiz/column_sportsbiz/index.htm

http://www.uta.edu/depken/ugrad/sports/ticketprices-salaryincreases.pdf

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0715/p16s01-wmcn.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=uxdvwQdXbboC&pg=PA207&lpg=PA207&dq=baseball+salary+tick et+prices&source=web&ots=JzA41j3B78&sig=wHXAxh_dbn3EWS1rDac-VeniI88#PPA210,M1

Want more? Try Google.

by costa on Nov 24, 2007 1:21 AM EST up reply actions

Ticket prices are but one example

MLB revenues come directly out of the pockets of fans. In order for teams to make a profit, which is the goal of any business, they need to generate enough income to cover their expenses including but not limited to player salaries. Honestly, the cost is far and away the second issue here. The main "cost" to Yankee fans of poor contracts is their prevention of roster flexibility. It hurts the team to be stuck with untradeable contracts.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 24, 2007 6:54 AM EST up reply actions

Tickets aren't priced to recoup costs

They are priced to make as much revenue as possible. The price of baseball tickets is designed to meet the demand for those baseball tickets, as that is the point where the most money is made. Whenever a business prices a commodity with a fixed supply (like seats at a ballpark) according to the cost of providing a service and not the demand for that service, the business loses money.

by Willton on Nov 26, 2007 12:31 AM EST up reply actions

Lefty Relievers

I would sign Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt. I think it's good to always have two lefties in the pen and if one of them happens to fail at least you have one quality lefty. These guys will not cost a lot of money. I'd much rather have these two players on the roster instead of garbage like Jose Veras.

by andyroth on Nov 23, 2007 11:59 AM EST reply actions

LRP

Affeldt is garbage, and I don't think it's worth having left handed relievers in the pen just for the sake of having left handed relievers. Should we have gone into the postseason with Henn and Igawa just because they are lefty? I think Mahay at the right number of years could be a good upgrade.

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

by stillmonster on Nov 23, 2007 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Huh?

Now you are worried about money?

by costa on Nov 24, 2007 1:22 AM EST up reply actions

Mahay

Was average in Texas so that might mean he could be above average in Yankee stadium.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Nov 23, 2007 3:43 PM EST reply actions

In Yankee Stadium

Not if he is only brought in to face lefties (who get to swing for the short porch).

I would pass. I want relievers who are able to get out lefties and rights. Having a 'specialist' generally means you have a player who can't do the whole job.
It also paints the manager into a corner from a strategic point of view. If he has no specialists then the media won't bother asking him why he went with this guy over that guy in a certain situation.

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

by jscape2000 on Nov 23, 2007 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

To be fair

He was pretty good against RHB, too. (.242/.377/.379) and he was definitely above-average in Texas; I would assume the higher OBP was because he pitched around RHB often with a base open. He's not dominant against RHB, as he is against LHB, but he could pitch the 7th and face a lefty or two in the 8th if needed. I'd take him in a 2 year deal, but not more than that.

Phil Hughes will own you.

by marcbouch9 on Nov 29, 2007 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather just re-sign Ron Villone n/t

by SenorSwanky on Nov 23, 2007 4:38 PM EST reply actions

i would pass on mahay

at 37.. seems like mike meyers redux. what lefties the yanks have in minors? Just looking at AAA stats, there's Charlie Manning, or Ben Kozlowski for example.. i know nothing about these guys- maybe someone can illuminate- how about giving these guys a shot in spring training? like i said, I know zip about these guys- but their numbers seem good, they're young, and they cost hardly anything. maybe there are other, better options in the minors? seems to me that would make the most sense.. and if no one comes out and takes a job, then scramble to find somebody.. a deal, or an unsigned vet FA.. i know, easier said than done..

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

by NumberSeven on Nov 23, 2007 6:37 PM EST reply actions