Ok so I realize we're just hours away from the HR Derby at Yankee Stadium, but here's an interesting thought. Since there are no Yankees competing with A-Rod declining and Jason Giambi not being selected, why not Derek Jeter?
I believe the Stadium crowd would get a kick out of their favorite son taking part in the last HR Derby in The House That Ruth Built. Who cares if he hasn't hit for power this season despite connecting for his 200th career HR on Saturday in Toronto, I believe it would be something really fun to see, especially since Jeter has never done it before.
Contrary to other sluggers like Rodriguez, I can't see how it would mess up Jeter's swing, especially his power stroke. Heck if anything maybe it'll get his bat jumping with some more pop in the 2nd half?
In any event does it sound any more or less insane than NL HR and RBI leader Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies not even making the NL All-Star team? And MLB wonders why it has such problems maketing the sport to the African American community.
It sounds odd to say just days after Friday afternoon's debacle, but when one takes a step back and looks the the 2008 New York Yankees after 81 games (44-37) they are much improved compared to the 2007 version (40-41) at this point. Which not to slight Torre, but makes me wonder with the kind of talent he had if Buck Showalter wouldn't have done as good if not better or if Don Zimmer really was the "man behind the curtain" whom Torre had little post-season success without from 2004-2007. In any event the Joe Girardi Yankees aren't perfect but they are better.
Jorge Posada (A): I know Jorge hasn't had a huge sample given injuries, but he can still flat out hit and his presence alone on this team really shows.
Jason Giambi (B+): Who says the ghosts don't still come alive at Yankee Stadium? This guy was dead in April, but now leads the team in homers and is in the top five in the American League and probably should be an All-Star. Contract year sure, but Girardi really cracked the whip on him in Spring Training and it shows.
Robinson Cano (F): I know that Robbie has picked it up the last two weeks or so, but given his new contract he has just looked lethargic this season. Terrible on base percentage.
Derek Jeter (B-): Ok its a bit of a pass but Jeter is a gamer, coming back quickly from a strained quad and playing regularly after getting hit on the hand. Jeter like Cano has picked it up in the average department the last couple of weeks, but it would be nice to see some more power output.
Alex Rodriguez (A): Sure Mike Lowell would've plugged in nicely, but like with Posada and Kobe and Shaq, the Yankees couldn't do without A-Rod. A-Rod has been blazing a trail since his return and is still near the top of the A.L. with 15 homers and a .327 batting average.
Johnny Damon (A): Another guy who looked almost completely lost but has been burning up the basepaths of late. Damon has been the consumate table setter, leading the team in hits with 93, doubles with 20, steals with 13 and is sporting a .322 batting average.
Melky Cabrera: (C): Melky got off to a hot start which really raised expectations in a hurry. No he's not Bernie Williams yet (if ever) but he does give the Yankees a plethora of contributions either in the field or on the bases even when he's not hitting.
Bobby Abreu (A): Probably the most consistent of all Yankees hitters to date. Abreu leads the team with 53 RBI, is second in hits and third with 10 homers.
Hideki Matsui (A): Was tearing it up, now his knee might be torn up, again. Helped to carry the team in the early going, but with all of these knee injuries I really have to start wondering about steroids with this guy.
Bench (D): The bench pretty much gets a D. Duncan didn't play enough, Betemit was hurt too much and Ensberg was a Josh Phelps-esque bust. Moeller and Molina have provided some stout defense as well as Gonzalez but this group just can't hack it. Bring back Bernie anyone?
Mike Mussina (A): Speaking of those ghosts at Yankee Stadium, Mussina has been flying around New York but instead with a super-hero's cape. Moose was being counted on as a 4th/5th starter to win 10-11 games. In order to keep the Yankees in the race he's had to pitch like a 3rd starter and has already won 10 to lead the staff before the All-Star break. He would've probably tied last year's total had the Yankees game in Pittsburgh not been rained out. Who would've thunk Mussina would be the leader in wins and Giambi the leader in homers at this point?
Andy Pettitte (B+): After a rocky start Andy looked a little tired from all of the off-season circus that was the Mitchell Report. But with 9 wins and a recently concluded 20.2 scoreless innings streak, Pettitte looks primed for another huge 2nd half. Pettitte is the best 2nd half pitcher in baseball and who wouldn't rather have him at $16 million for this year than Johan Santana for $150 million minus your best prospects?
Chien-Ming Wang (B+): Wang looked as if he'd put those doubters to bed with a rapid 6-0 start. He tailed off a tad and was just starting to get back into a groove before his freak injury.
Darrell Rasner (C): Some of his early starts Rasner got no run support. In some of his more recent starts he's gotten knocked around. But Rasner is what he is, an adequate back of the rotation guy who can eat up innings and keep you in the game.
Phil Hughes & Ian Kennedy (F): It should probably be an incomplete because of injuries but a combined record of 0-7 doesn't cut it boys.
Joba Chamberlain (A): Last year contrary to popular belief, he not Roger Clemens spurred this team onto the post-season. Joba was lights out again in the pen and will try to save the Yankees bacon again, this time as a starter. One can tell already just how mentally tough those late inning situations out of the pen have helped in Joba's progression.
Mariano Rivera (A+): You can tell I don't throw around A+'s lightly. Think the Yankees may have wanted to give MO a 4th year on that contract? Rivera an ERA under 1.00 and perfect in saves with 22, enough said.
Kyle Farnsworth (C+): Has been better than most in the Yanks pen which isn't saying a lot, but he does seem a little more confident with Girardi at the helm.
LaTroy Hawkins (F): I'm sorry but did anyone mention to Brian Cashman that this guy has the worst ERA of any pitcher at Yankee Stadium? Forget O'Neill or Clemente, why does this guy have anyone's jersey number?
Ross Ohlendorf (F): Maybe the Yankees should groom his as a starter because his confidence looks shot.
Edwar Ramirez (C+): If this guy could learn a pitch to compliment his change-up he might really turn out to be something good.
Jose Veras (B-): Sometimes he's lights out, sometimes he's lit up. Effectively wild with some great velocity.
Bullpen etc: Bruney and Albaladejo were solid early before getting hurt, Giese was decent in long relief, but Traber and Igawa have looked like flops as lefties out of the pen.
All in all Joe Girardi has navigated this group fairly well in the early going. He's done a much better job of balancing the bullpen and seems to have instilled more aggressiveness into this squad. Given injuries to A-Rod, Posada, Wang, Jeter, Matsui, Hughes, Kennedy, Bruney and Albaladejo, considering the Yankees are only four games back in the loss column to Boston speaks volumes about Girardi. No Girardi hasn't been as "rah-rah" in public as say Billy Martin, and sometimes he does look like a 2nd year manager still learning the ropes, but he does know and uphold the principle of the "Yankee-way" of the late 1990's.
This Yankees squad, somewhat in transition is in almost the same place as another pioneer Yankee team. The 1993 Yankees under 2nd year manager Buck Showlater posted a record of 46-35 after 81 games. That was the last Yankees team in a non-strike year to miss the playoffs, however had there been a Wild Card back then they would've made it. This Yankees squad is better than that one talent wise and this time around there is a Wild Card, but the division is still very much within reach.
So apparently in Spring Training Yankees Manager Joe Girardi asked his players to drop and give him 15. And they did so accordingly, dropping right onto the 15 day DL. So now the Yankees try to figure out just what condition their condition is in. Thus far one really has to wonder what the impact was of all that.
When looking at the Yankees roster from top to bottom there has been a plethora of injuries. Jorge Posada will be put on the 15 day DL for the first time in his career with a potential shoulder tear.
Jason Giambi had groin issues in the early going. Andy Pettitte was pushed back in the rotation at the beginning of the season with back spasms. After losing about 20 pounds in the off-season, reliever Brian Bruney may be done for the season with surgery on his right foot. Kyle Farnsworth felt a twinge in his elbow, throwing off the mound in Chicago. The Yankees are without a lefty in their bullpen because Sean Henn developed shoulder tendonitis this spring.
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have both suffered quad injuries. Pitcher Jeff Karstens is on the DL with a groin injury. The Yankees other catcher Jose Molina was beset by a hamstring injury. Infielder Wilson Betemit is also on the 15 day DL with corneal ulcers. Even Joba Chamberlain tweaked his hamstring while slipping on the mound in Chicago.
And Mike Mussina's renewed commitment to a more rigorous regiment hasn't exactly translated to quality outings or increased velocity on the hill.
So while I applaud Girardi's philosophy of really pushing his players to bust it and get in great shape, I do find it to be a precarious situation to have evolved this far to this point with these injuries.
Are they too old or were they just pushed too hard? Well here's my take, playing in the cold weather is horrible for older clubs and it takes them longer to get loose and comfortable. Discounting the steroid allegations, even an old 46 year old workout freak like Roger Clemens broke down on numerous occasions for the Yankees last season, so it does happen to old guys. I also believe that more than anything else Girardi was simply trying to foster a different, more focused mindset so that his players would know to be ready from day one.
What a suprise, its up to Andy Pettitte fresh off the DL to be the Yankees stopper once again. Though Pettitte couldn't have rounded up enough leeches to place on LaTroy Hawkins right arm to stop the bleeding on Friday night as the Rays spanked the Yanks 13-4.
It all started when Ian Kennedy walked the ballpark, allowing six runs and four walks in just 2/1/3 innings of work.
With the Rays out in front 6-0, the Yankees bats came alive in the bottom half of the 3rd, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Hideki Matsui homered to get the Yanks on the board, then Jose Molina singled, Derek Jeter tripled him in with a booming fly ball off the wall in center, Bobby Abreu grounded to 2nd scoring Jeter, A-Rod then singled up the middle and Jason Giambi smacked a double off the wall in right to score Rodriguez making it 6-4.
While Johnathan Albaladejo, Ross Ohlendorf and Billy Traber were able to hold the game in check, LaTroy Hawkins became gasoline man in the 8th getting torched for six runs including a HR to Cliff Floyd. Not to be outdone Kyle Farnsworth then came on and gave up a solo shot to Carlos Pena.
Bomber Bites: Yes it is early, but if the Yankees have to keep dipping into the bullpen in the 4th or 5th inning, these once valuable relievers not named Hawkins and Farnsworthless are going to become very worn out very quickly.
What was so wrong with Luis Vizciano? If Torre hadn't blown him out he'd have been fine to bring back. Certainly better than LaTroy "I have an 8.64 ERA at Yankee Stadium" Hawkins! Additionally if Joe Girardi was so convinced that he could fix Kyle Fransworthless, then why is a 23 year old kid named Joba Chamberlain setting up Mariano Rivera instead of pitching in the Yanks starting rotation?
And another thing... why with a weak bullpen did the Yankees trade Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit? You know the same Wilson Betemit who hasn't seen the field at all this year? Just wonderful!
Andy Pettitte must be the stopper once again, suprise, suprise!
No not quite a bloop and a blast. But how about two bunts and a bloop? Yes it was ugly, but it sure beats losing pretty as the Yanks improved to 2-1 on the season, beating the Jays 3-2.
Phil Hughes was particularly sharp throwing six strong innings of two run ball while striking out four along the way. Phil's velocity wasn't quite up as much as the Yanks would've liked but his control was marvelous all night in his first appearance in the cold Bronx since he picked up the Yankees only win in Game 3 of the 2007 ALDS.
From there Billy Traber and Brian Bruney looked solid in their respective 2008 debuts, with the lefty Traber striking out the only batter he faced.
Offensively (and some of this could be attributed to being an older team playing in colder weather) the Yankees still have some kinks to work out, though Toronto pitching has to be given a tremendous amount of credit.
A wild pitch and sac fly resulted in the Yankees first two runs to tie it in the 6th. Then in the 8th Melky Cabrera found himself in another rally with a single to right, a Johnny Damon bunt muffed by pitcher Scott Downs gave the Yanks two runners aboard. Derek Jeter then laid down a sacrifice of his own (though wrongly called out at first) and the Yankees had runners in scoring position. Then it was Bobby Abreu dunking one into short left-center to plate Damon and put the Yanks in front for good.
Then it was Joba Chamberlain giving the 'ol "Omaha Haymaker" to the Blue Jay bats for his first victory of the season. That kept the seat warm for Mariano Rivera, who with Vernon Wells on 3rd serving as the tying run with two outs, struck out Aaron Hill looking to pick up his 2nd save on the young season the 445th of his illustrious career.
Bomber Bites: The "kiddy carousel" continues Friday night at Yankee Stadium as Ian Kennedy takes to the mound against the Rays or whatever they're calling themselves these days.
Ok Joe, now that we've seen all the relievers, can we also see some bench guys like Duncan, Betemit and Ensberg?
The mark of a solid manager is one that knows how to play situational baseball and knows how to make adjustments throughout the course of a game. And seeing as how his big boppers weren't booming, Joltin' Joe Girardi-o decided to change it up and play some small-ball rather than waiting on the 3-run homer.
Perhaps Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina don't speak Spanish, but apparently Bobby Abreu certainly must've heard the words uttered... "contract year."
New England Patriots over San Diego Chargers: Wow, now that's a shocker! I said very early on that I wouldn't pick against the Pats until they eventually lost, so thus I shall pick them again this week as they now stand at 17-0. The Chargers are looking to channel the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 2002 who changed coaches and got over the hump. They're probably the 2nd hottest team in the NFL to the team they're facing, having won eight in a row themselves, turning their season around. The Chargers are a bit beat up, yet are a very physical team (+ 24 in turnover ratio) more than capable of keeping up with the Pats aggressive play. Hope the Pats weren't hoping for and anticipating the Colts because the Bolts will have a chip on their shoulders. However the Pats have the Brady magic, much like the Yankees have the Jeter magic, perhaps moreso because Jeter can't bat as many times as Brady can take snaps.
NFC Championship Game: Right here on FOX!
New York Giants over Green Bay Packers: I have ridden my Giants, (not to be confused with that awful Billy Crystal movie My Giant) thus far and have looked good as a result. They are perhaps channeling the road warrior Pittsburgh Steelers of a couple of years ago with an NFL record nine straight road wins or perhaps with the retirement of Tiki Barber like the Indianapolis Colts who last year lost Edgerrin James to the Arizona Cardinals and went on to win the Super Bowl. More impressive than the maturity of QB Eli Manning though may be the grit and determination of their defense. That defense used to talk big like they were the '86 Giants of L.T., Carson, Banks and Pepper Johnson, but came up small in big spots, now they just shut up and play. On the Packers side Brett Favre will have to win it for them, what a suprise. But he can't force it and try to do too much or he'll get into trouble, especially if the Giants take away Ryan Grant. Yes Lambeau Field is a huge homefield advantage, but if the Atlanta Falcons can win a playoff game there I guess nothing is out of the realm of possibilities. Both teams actually lucked out in a sense with the Pack not having to go to Dallas and the Gmen not having to go to Seattle. The Packers also have a far superior and healthier WR corps than Dallas or Tampa at the moment and the Giants thin secondary is beat up. The Green Bay defense doesn't quite pop out at anyone as much but they are solid at basically every spot, whereas the Giants are stronger up front and the Packers especially excel in the secondary. Ultimately I expect the Giants to gut it out, otherwise I'll be rooting for Favre's Packers against the other Bill's Patriots just like I did so many years ago during Super Bowl XXXI.
If the Minnesota Twins want Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain for Johan Santana, the New York Yankees should tell them to go fish. In fact the Yanks may be just as wise to fish somewhere else, namely revisiting trade talks with the Florida Marlins. While the Yanks have been virtually ruled out of the Miguel Cabrera sweepstakes since re-signing A-Rod, they may be better served to make a deal with the Marlins rather than the Twins.
First on the Santana front, for one thing if the Twins are asking for a king's ransom in the neighborhood of a five for one deal involving say either Phil Hughes and or Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano and other prospects, then it's a bad deal. Look I'm not saying the Yankees are entitled to Santana and should get him for Wilson Betemit, Shelley Duncan and Kyle Farnsworth, but to gut your farm system or core young players for one guy as great as he is doesn't make a lot of sense, especially given that the Twins have little to no leverage when it comes to keeping Santana.
If the Yankees made a reasonable package sending one of the big three in 2007 minor league pitcher of the year Ian Kennedy, centerfielder Melky Cabrera and perhaps a pitching prospect like Eastern League Double-A pitcher of the year Alan Horne and or outfield prospects Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata, then I'd say it's a pretty fair deal. Especially considering even without Hughes, Chamberlain or Cano, that's still a better deal than anyone else is throwing out there, so why should the Yankees bid against themselves unless the Mets want to get crazy and throw in Jose Reyes or the Red Sox get in there with a package of Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Bucholz, even though they've said Ellsbury is off limits.
Now onto what the Yankees could actually do to fill in more holes and that involves going back into talks with the Marlins. Think about it, if the Yankees are going to give up a plethora of four to five players to get one in Santana, then why not make a multi-player deal with the Marlins and fill more holes in return?
I'll preface this by saying I don't want to give up Phil Hughes in either deal, however giving Hughes to Florida makes more sense if you can get the Marlins to give you more back in return, rather than giving up Hughes along with other players to Minnesota for "just" Santana.
Originally it had been bantered around that the Marlins would want Kennedy, Cabrera, Horne and one of the two minor league outfielders between Tabata and Jackson for Miguel Cabrera. However, had they wanted Hughes in the deal instead of Kennedy, the Yankees could've easily asked back for not only Cabrera but Dontrelle Willis and a couple of the Marlins young bullpen arms such as Matt Lindstrom, Taylor Tankersley, Henry Owens etc.
Now honestly given everything in the way of the number and value of prospects traded, you tell me what looks better? Trading a bevy of prospects for one guy in Johan Santana who will cost a fortune. Or filling 1st base for the next decade with Miguel Cabrera, adding a still young lefty workhorse starter in Dontrelle Willis and potentially filling a couple of bullpen spots with a possible successor to Mariano Rivera with a guy like Lindstrom, Owens and or Tankersley?
Of course if the Yankees really didn't care at all for their minor league system, they could technically pull both deals off. If they sent Kennedy, Cabrera, Jackson and Horne to Minnesota for Santana and then sent Hughes, Tabata and another couple of pitching prospects to Florida for Cabrera, Willis and either Lindstrom, Owens and or Tankersley, they'd have a pretty sick roster, especially if to replace Melky Cabrera as many are expecting, they sign Aaron Rowand.
The Boston Red Sox are the champions of baseball in 2007 and deservedly so. However I must take issue with those clamoring to call them a "dynasty" or the "gold standard" of baseball. Perhaps winning twice in four years can go to one's head a little after not winning once in 86.
Certainly with this most recent championship Boston has put itself slightly in the lead for team of this decade since 2000 with two championships, two pennants, one division title and four playoff apperances, ahead of New York's one title, three pennants, six division titles and seven playoff apperances.
However all of this hype and hoopla is very comical in what standards have been set in terms of what constitutes a dynasty. I mean come on Boston, as a Celtics fan I know what constitutes a dynasty and two in four years ain't it. After the Yankees won in 1996 and again in 1998, I didn't automatically say "DYNASTY." Unless of course you count teams that won two championships within a seven year timespan a dynasty then congratulations, you're the Minnesota Twins or the Toronto Blue Jays or the Florida Marlins, but NOT the gold standard of baseball.
And while some of the core still remains with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, I understand that these Yankees are not those Yankees of the 1990's. But still it's not like the Yankees haven't won in 40 years, they just took four titles in five years and six pennants in eight. Call me when you do that and we'll talk.
It's still 26 championships to 7, so tell me... who's chasing who?
After another disappointing first round post-season exit if I were New York Yankees Owner George M. Steinbrenner III, I would make some serious changes to this ballclub. In fact I would make a lot of changes to this roster and get back to square one. Though it seems odd a 94 win playoff team with a payroll in excess of around $200 million would need a drastic overhaul, but alas here we are and here are the changes that must be made:
(Moves to be made by The Boss)
First the General Manager Brian Cashman. While I continue to applaud Cashman's willingness and philosophy to develop young talent in the farm system and holding onto prized prospects instead of dumping them for the Eric Gagne's of the world, I wouldn't bring him back. Whether since 2001 you want to blame him or the Tampa contingent for moves like Jason Giambi, Kevin Brown, Steve Karsay, letting Andy Pettitte go etc. is your call. However since supposedly took back the reigns in 2005, he's responsible for Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Kei Igawa, Tony Womack, Kyle Farnsworth, re-signing Mike Mussina and letting Bernie Williams go.
(OUT)
My new General Manager(s): Gene "Stick" Michael and Buck Showalter. These guys layed down the foundation for the turnaround of the Yankees and this most recent dynasty in changing the culture of the way things are done in the Bronx. Both are excellent talent evaluators, know how to run an organization, how to bring in quality people and hard nosed ballplayers and especially how to cultivate, scout and develop a farm system.
(IN)
What to do about the manager Joe Torre? There's two ways to look at this. 1.) Torre always wins and gets the Yankees to the playoffs, despite starting the year with two-fifths of the starting rotation comprised of Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa and followed by the many rookies that would come. Not to mention in the post-season they essentially had about two automatic reliable relievers in Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain. In addition to having 45 year old Roger Clemens not able to pitch more than two innings and Mike Mussina pitching so poorly down the stretch he has to be relegated to long-man status, while Chien-Ming Wang had to get run out there on three days rest. That and Jason Giambi was a total $20 million waste just sitting there on the bench because he's all roided out. 2.) The Yankees have a lot of All-Stars, Hall of Fame guys and have spent hundreds upon millions of dollars to at least do something more than get bumped in the first round for the 3rd straight year.
(OUT)
My new Manager: Joe Girardi. Girardi is just a flat out winner everywhere he goes. As a player Girardi made the playoffs as a catcher with the Cubs, Rockies and Yankees. As a manager Girardi won with the Florida Marlins, with a payroll of $15 millon and a bunch of Double and Triple-A players not named Dontrelle Willis or Miguel Cabrera. Some have compared Girardi's managerial style and makeup to former Yankees skipper Buck Showalter. Girardi knows talent and how to motivate and get the best out of youner players and is a no nonsense type of guy. Which is a positive because he won't be attached to this roster, will be given a clean slate and there are a lot more youngsters on the way. Girardi also knows how to succeed in New York which is very imporant, he learned strategy from Don Zimmer and how to handle a clubhouse from Joe Torre and there are enough of his old teammates still around to back him up and support him, namely Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. Girardi would be the logical fit to replace Torre, much in the way Ralph Houk replaced Casey Stengel.
(IN)
The Thirdbaseman: Did A-Rod light it up in the playoffs this year? No. Was A-Rod the absolute reason the Yankees lost in the playoffs this year? Hell no! Honestly here's my take, if A-Rod wants to stay and sign an extension and end his career with the Yankees then bring him back. However if A-Rod wants to opt-out, get paid $40 million a year and ultimately take up one-third of the payroll they might just want to spend and use their resources elsewhere. A-Rod is very marketable for YES, the new Stadium, the All-Time HR chase and on and on. He's a good guy who seems more relaxed and more comfortable with the city embracing him and he seems to have taken on more of a leadership role in the clubhouse. Either way I don't think the Yankees can lose. If A-Rod is back, they have one of the All-Time greats in the lineup. If he's not, they probably have a solid guy like Mike Lowell holding down the hot corner, who has a great glove, came up with the Yankees, is mostly a doubles hitter and can hit for average and power and the Yankees have won with players like him at 3rd before, like the guy who stood in his way back in 1998, Scott Brosius. That and the Yankees can allocate more money towards pitching and or outfield help.
Speaking of the outfield, nobody is safe. It will be quite interesting to see if the Yankees try to perhaps package Melky Cabrera in a deal for Johan Santana. Or whether they keep Melky in center or move him to one of the corner spots given his arm and bring in a Torii Hunter or Aaron Rowand who are excellent defensively and provide much more pop at the plate. Will Bobby Abreu's 2nd half resurgence and steady post-season be enough to retain his services or will the Yankees do a Gary Sheffield, pick up his option and trade him for some pitching help? Hideki Matsui rebounded well this season, but has been injury plagued the last couple of seasons. Though Matsui has been pretty solid as a Yankee and the organization likes the whole Japan marketing thing, the next GM or skipper might want to consider a different path and deal him for some pitching help before he potentially breaks down. Lastly Johnny Damon may have saved himself with his October heroics, that or he possibly showcased himself for another team should the Yankees look to deal him for some pitching. I say the Yankees have to at least bend off one of those guys for some pitching help and need some serious pop either for the outfield or DH spot.
Catcher: Obviously bringing back Jorge Posada is a no-brainer and retaining Jose Molina would be a wise decision as well.
1st base: Working out something between a platoon of Doug Mientkiewicz, Andy Phillips, Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit should be just fine at the moment for the Yankees.
Up the middle the Yankees are more than set with Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano.
Finally the most important, the starting rotation. Assuming everyone comes back and they don't pull off a blockbuster for a Johan Santana type, here's what my starting rotation would be in no particular order. Andy Pettitte, Chien Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. That's right, no more Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Kei Igawa or Carl Pavano. Go with youth here and you heard me right, Joba starts!
In the bullpen Mariano Rivera must be brought back, even at his age, when it counts he's still better at 80% than most closers in this league at 100%. Plus who else are you going to sign Eric Gagne? Please. Kyle Farnsworth must be shown the door. They have to make some deals as I mentioned earlier to bring in some workhorses. They should probably bring back Luis Vizciano. And there should be a healthy competition between more young guys (if they're not traded) like Ross Ohlendorf, Humberto Sanchez, T.J. Beam, Darrell Rasner, Jose Veras and Chase Wright. Perhaps Mussina is retained as a long-man or a spot starter in the pen or if Girardi is hired as manager they bring in Jon Lieber for help as an innings eater. Another option might be to try and swing a deal for Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan.
Finally the deadweight must be cut. Some how some way the Yankees have to shed the bad karma and equally bad contracts of Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina and Kyle Farnsworth. A big reason the Yankees can't afford to give A-Rod the moon if he opts out is that these guys are taking up a huge chunk of the payroll without actually living up to those salaries or in some cases not contributing at all.
In summary the Yankees have an array of directions they can go. Continue to get younger and more fiscally responsible. Trade some of that youth or those big contracts for some "sure things," i.e. Johan Santana or Joe Nathan. Spread out their resources to create more depth on the roster. Or they could just go all out and spend $300 million.
I'm not expecting them nor do I want them to revert back to the 1980's style of doing things or even what happened after the 2001 season. With potentially more payroll flexibility and more leverage for the owner, this will be the biggest turnover since 1995 and 1997, both year's the Yankees made the playoffs as a Wild Card and got bumped in the ALDS. Oddly enough it may all turn out to be very cyclical for Joe Torre, who like Buck Showalter before him was a successful well like skipper by the fans who brought the team back from extinction to the playoffs only to lose and be let go. Hopefully these changes like those made in '95 and '97 bring about a new dynasty for these Yankees and hopefully they'll remember what those changes made at that time that were, when they're thinking about making them this time around.
They were American league rivals back in the late 1940's and early 1950's. A.L. East rivals until the mid-1990's. Heck they even faced eachother in the movie Major League. From 1995 through 2001 it was always either the Yanks or the Tribe playing for the American League in the World Series.
During that time span the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees met twice, each team splitting, with the Indians winning the ALDS in 1997 and the Yankees winning the ALCS in 1998. However there's about a handful of players left from those teams.
Setting the table: The Indians are the A.L. Central champs while the Yankees took the Wild Card. The Yankees went 6-0 against the Indians this season and have fared well historically at Jacobs Field. Here's the positional breakdown.
Catcher: Jorge Posada vs. Victor Martinez - Given the speed of the Yankees top four and Melky Cabrera, if they don't get aggressive and actively run on Martinez, Joe Torre needs to have his head checked. Martinez at the plate has numbers that make one gush, he's been over .300 most of the year until recently and his 25 HR and 111 RBI lead all catchers. Posada however has been scorching the ball all year, a sparkling .337 batting average not only leads all catchers but is 5th in the league and he has 20 HR and 89 RBI to boot. Posada is hitting over .300 in every possible situation, lefties, righties, day, night, home, away, grass, turf, and Posada isn’t slowing down hitting around .390 this month.
Edge: Yankees
1st base: Doug Mientkiewicz vs. Ryan Garko – If one is merely looking at total stats the edge would clearly go to Garko. Garko strikes me as a clutch hitter who you can’t afford to fall asleep on if you’re a pitcher even though he’s lower in the order. Mientkiewicz has been red hot with the bat since coming back from injury and hit .429 in the month of September. Mientkiewicz is the best I’ve seen at first defensively since Don Mattingly wore the pinstripes, he also has playoff experience.
Edge: Yankees
2nd base: Robinson Cano vs. Asdrubal Cabrera – Cabrera looked overmatched against the Yankees in August but picked it up gaining more confidence down the stretch. Its guys like Cabrera who in October get a hit in a key spot and everyone says who the heck is that guy? However Cano ripped up the league in the second half. Cano goes surging into the playoffs, finishing up with 19 HR’s and 97 RBI, both career highs. Beware C.C. Sabathia, this lefty hits lefties at a .328 clip.
Edge: Yankees
Shortstop: Derek Jeter vs. Jhonny Peralta – Some fools dare to call Jeter overrated in the regular season, but if one doesn’t call him the best playoff performer of his generation if not ever, they just haven’t been paying attention the last decade plus. For Jeter the one-time World Series MVP his ALDS stats read like this, .370, 9 HR, 20 RBI along with 67 hits in 46 games. Peralta has had a bounce back season of sorts with his power numbers, 21 HR and 72 RBI. While he does hit well at home batting .297, he’s not much of a road warrior hitting just .243. Do I even have to ask? Clearly it’s Jeter.
Edge: Yankees
3rd base: Alex Rodriguez vs. Casey Blake – As much as I’ve praised Jeter’s playoff prowess it would only be fair to mention A-Rod’s post-season misfortunes of the last couple of seasons. However in baseball A-Rod is what we call due. He’s clearly the best player in the game and consensus MVP and nothing seems to get to the guy this year. He had 6 of his 54 homers against Cleveland including a walk off grand slam at the Stadium. Blake on the other hand is a solid, gritty player with some pop at 3rd base. He’s essentially Peralta in reverse, hitting .247 at home and .294 on the road. Blake is a pesky player but not in A-Rod’s class, but really who is?
Edge: Yankees
Leftfield: Johnny Damon vs. Kenny Lofton – Two guys winding down solid careers and two guys who’ve been through the playoff wars before. Lofton has given the Tribe a veteran boost as a guy who has been there before the last time the Indians tasted October. His acquisition from Texas allowed the Indians to slot Grady Sizemore into the number three slot in the order. However when it comes to postseason Lofton despite his experience is hitting a paltry .244 overall. Damon on the other hand seems to have gotten his legs back under him and has recaptured his stroke at the right time. Damon is still a threat on the base paths leading the Yanks with 27 and is hitting .390 in his last 41 at bats. In ALDS play Damon is hitting .337.
Edge: Yankees
Centerfield: Melky Cabrera vs. Grady Sizemore – The one position where Cleveland gets a definitive edge. Sizemore has a great glove, can beat a team with power 24 HR or speed 33 SB. Sizemore can create runs in so many different fashions and isn’t afraid to take a walk. Sizemore is hitting .375 in his last 32 at bats. Cabrera gives the Yanks a shot of enthusiasm and has the best centerfield arm this side of Ichiro. Cabrera though may have tired down the stretch as his late season numbers would show, hitting only .154 in his last 39 at bats.
Edge: Indians
Rightfield: Bobby Abreu vs. Franklin Gutierrez – Abreu has really picked up the slack in the second half for the Yanks, hitting 16 HR with 101 RBI. Abreu was one of the few impressive Yankees along with Jeter and Posada in last year’s playoffs against Detroit hitting .333. Gutierrez is a young player with a little pop. Gutierrez socked 13 HR’s but is only hitting .247 in the last month.
Edge: Yankees
DH: Hideki Matsui vs. Travis Hafner – Even if this turns out to be Jason Giambi or Shelley Duncan in game one, even with Hafner having a “down year” for his standards, the man they call “Pronk” gets the edge. Hafner who last year was Mr. Grand-slam, is one of those dangerous players who can carry a team on his back in a short series. Hafner hit 24 HR and drove in an even 100 RBI and is also smashing the ball of late, hitting at a .485 clip in his last 33 at bats. For Matsui, yes the stats are there .285, 25 HR, 103 RBI. However it has been somewhat of a streaky and injury plagued season for the man they call “Godzilla.” Matsui suffered early on from a hamstring injury and really didn’t heat up until July where he won A.L. Player of the Month honors, but a cranky knee stunted his power to an extent in September.
Edge: Indians
Starters: Chien-Ming Wang vs. C.C. Sabathia – Both 19 game winners, both have different styles, but neither are particularly bat shy. Both pitchers won their team’s last postseason game. Both are workhorses who’ve pitched fairly well down the stretch. I’m not saying that either is invincible for a number one starter, but based on the fact that Sabathia going against a lefty laden Yankee lineup is only allowing lefties to hit .203 and Wang has a 4.91 road ERA, I have to give the slight edge to Sabathia.
Edge: Indians
Starters: Andy Pettitte vs. Fausto Carmona – In 2003 Pettitte was also number two, however that year he was anything but, bailing out the Yankees and winning each time they went down 1-0 in a series. Pettitte also has 14 postseason wins to his name. Pettitte was also the ultimate Yankee stopper and carried the team with a brilliant second half going 11-2. While Pettitte has fared well against the Indians this season, Carmona has gotten knocked around by the Yankees. However Carmona was no slouch this season, like Sabathia he also won 19 games and actually pitched to a better ERA 3.06. Carmona also pitched well down the stretch going 9-4 in the second half and has won his last five starts. Though I get the strange feeling that things change when the calendar changes. Pettitte was brought back for this reason and he will rise to the occasion.
Edge: Yankees
Starters: Roger Clemens vs. Jake Westbrook – Contrary to popular belief, Roger Clemens and not A-Rod will be the determining factor as to whether the Yankees advance deep into the 2007 postseason. Unless one has the rare combo of a Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale or Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, having at least three solid starters in the playoffs is pivotal. One only needs to look at Clemens’ last two starts to know what to expect. If he’s healthy he’s usually on and will give an automatic six innings of two-hit shutout ball. If not, Phil Hughes will be pitching in the 3rd inning. Westbrook the former Yankee has had if nothing else an up and down season. Lefties seem to hit him well and the Yankees absolutely drilled him in two starts this year. While Westbrook has pitched better of late, his 4.78 road ERA doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. If nothing else Clemens will gut it out and try to capitalize on an impatient Indians lineup.
Edge: Yankees
Starters: Mike Mussina vs. Paul Byrd – The two squared off on August 11th at Jacobs Field, with Byrd getting smacked for seven hits and seven runs in just two innings of work. Mussina on the other hand picked up the win, pitching into the 8th striking out six along the way. While Mussina has had the roughest season of his solid career, the Yankees have just absolutely eaten up Byrd, including smacking him around when he was a member of the Angles at Yankee Stadium during game three of the 2005 ALDS.
Edge: Yankees
Bullpen: In Mariano Rivera the Yankees have the best postseason closer if not pitcher ever. In the ALDS Mo has a record of 2-0 with a microscopic 0.42 ERA and overall in the playoffs a record of 8-1, 0.80 ERA, 34 saves, a World Series MVP in 1999 and an ALCS MVP in 2003. Finally, unlike the last five years or so the Yankees have someone who can get the ball to Mo without him being overly taxed. That man is none other than Joba Chamberlain. Joba who gives opposing hitters the “Gas-Chamberlain,” is the Yankees Mariano Rivera to Mariano Rivera’s, John Wetteland making them the best 1-2 relief punch in the Bronx since 1996. Did I mention Chamberlain has an ERA of 0.38 in with 34 strikeouts in 24 innings? Joba Rules indeed! The rest of the bullpen is really a tossup depending on the durability of Luis Vizciano’s arm and the stability of Kyle Farnsworth’s head. Personally I’d give Phil Hughes a bigger role in the pen if he’s not going to start. On the Indians side, former Yankee Joe Borowski led the A.L. in saves with 45. Borowski in his lone postseason appearance with the Cubs in 2003 fared well, going 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA and six strikeouts in five games. The Indians bullpen also likes the tunes of Raffy. So much so they have two, lefty Rafael Perez who is sporting a 1.78 ERA with lefties hitting only .145 off him. And righty Rafael Betancourt who has an even more impressive 1.47 ERA and righties are only hitting .147 off him. Jensen Lewis has also been a pleasant surprise.
Edge: Yankees
Bench: Both teams have a solid mix and presence on the bench. For the Yankees it’s Jason Giambi, Jose Molina, Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit. For the Indians, Jason Michaels, Kelly Shoppach, Chris Gomez and Trot Nixon.
Edge: Even
Manager: Joe Torre vs. Eric Wedge – Torre has struggled without Don Zimmer by his side the last few postseasons. For Wedge this is his first go-around in the playoffs.
Starting in 1995 the New York Yankees have made the playoffs 12 years in a row. This season will make 13. With Yankee Stadium II set to end operations after 2008, I felt it fitting to list my top 12 playoff moments at The House George Renovated. With apologies to Reggie Jackson and Chris Chambliss, I'm naming the moments I've seen in my lifetime.
# 12.) 2001 ALCS Game 4, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: After getting blown out in game 3 of the series at home 14-3, the Yankees led the best of seven 2-1. In game 4 the Yankees had been held scoreless for seven innings, while the Mariners got on the board with a run in the top half of the 8th on a Brett Boone solo HR making it 1-0 M's. However in the bottom of the 8th with one out, Bernie Williams took Arthur Rhodes deep to knot it at 1-1.
Then in the bottom of the 9th with one out and one on, Alfonso Soriano homered off of Kaz Sasaki to win the game 3-1, putting the Yanks up 3-1 in the series.
With their 116 win season on the line, the M's were clearly pressing, prompting manager Lou Pinella to boldly state they would be going back to Seattle for game six.
# 11.) 2001 ALCS Game 5, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: After this game the M's would be going back to Seattle, however there would be no game six. New York which had suffered through the horrific attacks of 9/11/2001, seemingly let out all off their emotions and grief and the Yankees took it out big time on the Mariners. The Yankees sent the Mariners packing 12-3 on the back of three homers by Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez. The Yankees won their 4th AL Pennant in a row, the first and only AL team to do so in the modern playoff era. It was the last HR for Paulie, but not for Tino... that's later down the list.
# 10.) 1999 ALCS Game 1, Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees: The first playoff series ever for the two blood rivals. Seemingly tamer than recent years but intense nonetheless. The Red Sox led most of the way, 3-2 going into the 7th until the Yankees tied the score. The two sides then took it to the bottom of the 10th without scoring, until Bernie Williams went boom, leading off the 10th with a walkoff solo shot to dead center for the 4-3 win. Other than a blip on the radar in game 3 at Fenway Park, the Yankees rolled up the competition in 1999 going 11-1, but their walkoff magic wasn't done as you'll see down the list.
# 9.) 2000 World Series Game 1, New York Mets @ New York Yankees: The first Subway Series, World Series game since the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in game seven of that series at Ebbets Field.
This was a game in which the Mets mental errors cost them dearly. In what was the first of two great pitching duels between Andy Pettitte and ex-Yankee Al Leiter, the game was ultimately decided with the team having better concentration. In the top of the 6th the Mets had Pettitte on the ropes, when Todd Zeile doubled off the top of the leftfield wall. With Timo Perez loafing around the bases, David Justice picked up the ball fired it to Derek Jeter who cut across and gunned it to Jorge Posada who tagged out Perez at home plate.
Sparked by this the Yanks notched two in the bottom half of the inning making it 2-0. The Mets however struck right back with 3 in the top of the 7th. In the bottom of the 9th Paul O'Neill worked the biggest walk of this dynasty this side of Wade Boggs, off of Armando Benitez.
Consecutive singles by Luis Polonia and ex-Met Jose Vizcaino set the stage for a bases loaded game tying sac fly by Chuck Knoblauch, making it 3-3. Vizcaino would comeback to haunt the Mets once again in the bottom of the 12th with a bases loaded single to left, driving in Tino Martinez for the 4-3 victory.
# 8.) 1995 ALDS Game 2, Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees: Sure the Yankees eventually lost this series but for Buck Showalter's boys this was the biggest, craziest post-season win Stadium fans had seen in a long time. It was a seesaw affair between the two clubs with the M's leading 2-1 in the 6th. In the bottom half of the 6th Ruben Sierra the homered to tie the game up at two a piece. Then it was bedlam in the Bronx as The Captain Don Mattingly smacked his first post-season HR to put the Yanks in front 3-2, sending the Stadium crowd into a frenzy, showering the field with debris and prompting manager Lou Pinella to pull his team off the field.
After the back to back HR's in the 6th, Seattle struck back with two runs in the 7th to take the lead 4-3. That didn't last for long, when in the bottom of the 7th, Paul O'Neill took Norm Charlton yard making it a 4-4 game. Each team would trade runs in the 12th and played on until the 15th. In the home half of the 15th Jimmy "The King" Leyritz took Tim Belcher deep with a two-run blast in the late night driving rain to cap off a late October win in the Bronx. This of course was only a precursor of clutch October HR's to come in the career of Leyritz.
# 7.) 1999 World Series Game 3, Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees: Upon getting roughed up in first two games down in Atlanta, the Braves were primed to do what the Yankees had done to them in 1996, come back and win the series in four straight after dropping the first two. After knocking around Andy Pettitte early, just as they had in game 1 in 1996, the Braves had jumped out to a 5-1 lead through four innings. The Yankees as they did on numerous occasions in the 1990's started to chip away. Chad Curtis homered off of starter Tom Glavine, cutting the lead to 5-2 in the 5th. In the 7th Tino Martinez added a solo shot of his own off Glavine, slashing the deficit to 5-3. Then Chuck Knoblauch who'd tormented the Braves in the 1991 World Series as a member of the Minnesota Twins, also tagged Glavine with a two-run game tying blast to rightfield.
Finally in the bottom of the 10th, Curtis clocked his 2nd HR of the game for the winner off Mike Remlinger to deep leftfield, circled the bases and on behalf of Pete Rose, promptly told reporter Jim Gray to stuff it.
# 6.) 1998 World Series Game 1, San Diego Padres @ New York Yankees: If they didn't win this World Series they would've accomplished a lot for naught. Having won 114 games in the regular season, anything less than a title to this group would've been an abject failure. Ricky Ledee who ripped Padres pitching in this series, got the ball rolling in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-run double to rightfield off Kevin Brown. Surprisingly though the Yankees ace that year David "Boomer" Wells, allowed five runs through the 5th including HR's to Greg Vaughn and Tony Gwynn putting the Padres out front 5-2. In the bottom of the 7th though it was two moments of atonement which spurred the Yankees on to victory. Chuck Knoblauch hit a game tying three run blast off reliever Donnie Wall making it 5-5. Tino Martinez then took Mark Langston upper-tank for a grand slam, giving the Yanks a 9-5 lead, capping off a seven run seventh. The Yanks went on to win 9-6 and swept the series 4-0.
# 5.) 1996 ALCS Game 1, Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees: After their first playoff series victory in 15 years, the Yanks made their first trip back to the ALCS since 1981. On this day October day at the Stadium there was plenty of magic, mystique and Maier. Setting the stage, Baltimore on the strength of HR's from Brady Anderson and Rafael Palmeiro, led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th. That's when all hell broke loose. A child shall lead them and if that's not enough another one will help him. Now I'll always maintain that if there had been no interference, given the trajectory of the ball it would've gone off the top of the wall for at least a double, because Tony Tarasco didn't leap for it. But Derek Jeter with an assist from 12 year old fan Jeffrey Maier, tied the game on what was ruled a HR to rightfield, off Armando Benitez and as a result we see where both post-season careers of Jeter and Benitez have gone since.
With the game tied at 4-4 Bernie Williams went boom, leading off the bottom of the 11th taking Randy Myers deep to left to give the Yanks and exciting walkoff win.
# 4.) 2001 World Series Game 5, Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees: Between games 4 and 7 this one seemingly gets lost in the shuffle but shouldn't. The Yankees off a comeback victory in game 4 made a sort of deja vu history once again. Unfortunately their offense couldn't muster anything for eight innings against D-Backs pitching. Rod Barajas and Steve Finley had taken Mike Mussina deep, spoiling his brilliant ten strikeout performance. With the D-Backs about to steal back momentum and the series lead heading back to Arizona, the Yankees struck back for the 2nd night in a row in the bottom of the 9th. Jorge Posada doubled to left to start off the inning, then with two outs and the Yanks on their last leg, Mr. Clutch since his arrival in 1998 Scott Brosius clocked a game tying homer to left off of Byung-Hyun Kim tying the game at 2-2.
As the game moved to the bottom of the 12th, Chuck Knoblauch led off with a single, Brosius bunted him into scoring position and Alfonso Soriano continued his 2001 playoff heroics with his single to right off Albie Lopez to plate Knoblauch for the 3-2 win. The Yankees took the series lead 3-2 and this win gave them a record 10 straight World Series home victories. It was also Paul O'Neill's final game at Yankee Stadium.
# 3.) 2001 World Series Game 4, Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees: While game 5 is great on its own, the magnitude just isn't the same without game 4. With the game tied 1-1 the D-Backs took the lead 3-1 in the top of the 8th. Things were looking pretty dire for the Yankee offense, until Tino Martinez made his first hit of the series his best one. After Paul O'Neill had singled to left, Martinez drilled the two-out offering from Kim who as mentioned would be victimized a night later in the same scenario by Scott Brosius, over the wall to tie the game at three a piece.
The very next inning in the bottom of the 10th also with two outs Derek Jeter became forever known as Mr. November hitting one into the short porch in right off Kim for the 4-3 walkoff win.
# 2.) 2003 ALCS Game 7, Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees: Given the scope, intensity, rivalry and nature of the game and its outcome, this may well have been the best baseball game I've ever watched and boy did it live up to the hype. Everything was on the table, bragging rights, "The Curse of the Bambino," and more importantly the AL Pennant and a trip to the World Series. In what was starting to look like Roger Clemens' last start ever, The Rocket got lit up for two homers by Jason Varitek and Kevin Millar that staked Boston out to a 4-0 lead in the 4th.
Of course in game seven as far as pitchers, all hands are on deck. In that 4th inning with two on, Clemens exited and Mike Mussina came on for his first ever career relief appearance. Mussina struck out Varitek and got Johnny Damon to ground into a 6-6-3 inning ending double play, keeping the Yankees in the game.
The Yankees then chipped away off Pedro Martinez when Jason Giambi connected for two solo HR's in the 5th and 7th cutting the lead to 4-2.
When it finally looked as if the Yankees were back in it, the Red Sox came back with a solo shot of their own as David Wells surrendered a HR to David Ortiz making it 5-2 Boston going into the bottom of the 8th. That's when the Yankees caught fire off Martinez. With 1 out Derek Jeter doubled to center.
Bernie Williams followed suit with a single to center of his own, knocking in Jeter and reducing the lead to 5-3.
(Moves to be made by The Boss)
(OUT)
(IN)
(OUT)
(IN)
Then in the bottom of the 9th with one out and one on, Alfonso Soriano homered off of Kaz Sasaki to win the game 3-1, putting the Yanks up 3-1 in the series.
