The outfield positions will be for the most part up for competition this spring if you believe Joe Girardi. Left field seems to be slotted for Johnny Damon especially with Hideki Matsui pretty much relagated to being a full-time DH. However, center field and right field are up for grabs. Well, I disagree about right field. It's not that Nick Swisher couldn't be the starter there; it's just that I don't think that will happen. Why? Two reasons:
1) Nady is a Scott Boras free agent after this season. No way another team will be able to give the Yanks fair value for a guy who will be testing free agency in the off-season.
2) Nady gives the Yankee lineup a good power righty bat in their order to help balance the other lefty bats.
So what will become of Swisher? Well, when he was acquired he was going to be the first baseman, but that all changed when they acquired Mark Texeira. So because of his versatility in the field and his switch-hitting ability he will be used as a super-subbing role player. This may not be what he wants, but it will be what they need. It will enable him to get plenty of playing time and at-bats by being able to play 1B, LF, CF, RF, and DH at times. Plus, he'll be ready to take over one of those positions or spots if someone gets hurt. Or he could be trade bait? Three reasons:
1) Swisher is signed for 3 more years at "reasonable" money.
2) Swsiher, as we said, is versatile and a switch-hitter.
3) Swisher, in a package deal of some sort, could help bring the Yankees either a center fielder, another bullpen arm, or a couple of good prospects.
Then there's center field. Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner battling to show the team that they can handle the position on a regular basis and provide some type of offensive production. Maybe. Melky had the position and looked like he might be there for awhile, but he regressed last year to the point that he was demoted to Scranton. He's still young, a switch-hitter, and a good defender, but doesn't hit for power or drive in runs, his batting average dropped last year, he doesn't steal bases, and he isn't a very good on-base guy. Gardner can run and steal bases, and is also good defensively. However, he doesn't hit for power or knock in runs, and may be more hitting-challenged than Melky. So will either of them show that they are ready to take their games to the next level and warrant a starting job in Yankee center field? We'll see. If not, then my guess is that they both could be candidates for a trade, or in Gardner's case another trip back to Scranton. Then, the Yanks will have to put that package together for a full-time center fielder, or at least a stop-gap one as they wait and hope that Austin Jackson is the heir-apparent to the position.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
The other shoe will fall
Alex Rodriguez's confidential 2003 drug test results were revealed and then Alex admitted they were true. He should have stopped right there, and stopped saying anything else. However, Alex decided to try to explain what happened. That was his mistake; he may know what happened but he sure can't explain it honestly. Let's focus on his Yankee years without getting into all the stuff Alex has said since this news first came out. We know he admits to using "something (Bole, not Tic Tacs)" when he was with Texas from 2001-2003. You know when he was young, naive and stupid. But beginning in 2004, Alex joined the New York Yankees and I guess grew up, matured, and suddenly "got a clue". At least, that's what I think he's saying because he supposedly stopped using "whatever" at that time. The problem is there is other information that may point to the contrary.
Let's take a look:
1) Gene Orza reportedly warned Arod of a drug test in September, 2004.
2) Yuri Sucart, Alex's cousin and steriod partner, has continued to travel with Alex. By the way, looking at Yuri's body it's hard to believe this guy ever did any roids.
3) Angel Presinol, the steriods-linked trainer, has had a long relationship with Arod even though he has been banned from major league clubhouses. He accompanied Arod for the entire 2007 season and roomed with Alex's cousin. They always met in hotels and not in public.
Unfortunately, what this is leading to is that Arod may still have been using "something illegal" during his Yankee years. The press is digging and coming out with more details by the day. Alex may survive this for now unless some evidence comes out that can prove he continued to abuse these "drugs", or until one of this trusted cousins and associates decides to talk. Anyone want to say, "Hello John McNamee or Jay McGwire". Remember today's trusted trainer or family member is tomorrow's talking enemy.
Let's take a look:
1) Gene Orza reportedly warned Arod of a drug test in September, 2004.
2) Yuri Sucart, Alex's cousin and steriod partner, has continued to travel with Alex. By the way, looking at Yuri's body it's hard to believe this guy ever did any roids.
3) Angel Presinol, the steriods-linked trainer, has had a long relationship with Arod even though he has been banned from major league clubhouses. He accompanied Arod for the entire 2007 season and roomed with Alex's cousin. They always met in hotels and not in public.
Unfortunately, what this is leading to is that Arod may still have been using "something illegal" during his Yankee years. The press is digging and coming out with more details by the day. Alex may survive this for now unless some evidence comes out that can prove he continued to abuse these "drugs", or until one of this trusted cousins and associates decides to talk. Anyone want to say, "Hello John McNamee or Jay McGwire". Remember today's trusted trainer or family member is tomorrow's talking enemy.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Pen Pals
Depending on who you ask the Yankee bullpen is either a strength or a weakness. You can say that about most major league bullpens if you ask me. Isn't it the nature of the relief pitcher to put up good numbers one year and then not so good another year? I mean how many Mariano Riveras are there in this world. Just one!
The Yankees, if nothing else, have a lot of depth in their pen that goes all the way from NY to Scranton. Sometimes that kind of depth can be good if you have injuries or guys don't pitch as expected. Then they can be replaced. However, that depth doesn't mean much unless some of them actually perform well. So let's look at two levels of potential Yankee bullpen participants. We'll leave Mo out of this discussion and just say he's the definite closer even if he is coming off of "minor" shoulder surgery.
Level 1- The Incumbents
Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, Dan Giese
Marte has a new contract, and hopefully will be, at least, the lefty specialist the Yanks thought they were getting when they acquried him.
Bruney, healthy again, will possibly be the 8th ining guy if he continues putting up the same numbers he did when he wasn't hurt.
Veras and Ramirez both finally started putting it all together last year after struggling in their previous NY stints.
Giese surprised and showed he could be a spot starter or long reliever they could rely on.
Level 2- Knocking on the bullpen door
Jonathan Albaladejo, Phil Coke, David Robertson, Mark Melancon, Anthony Claggett, Humberto Sanchez, Steven Jackson, Michael Dunn, J. B. Cox, Alfredo Aceves
Others could be added to this list but I'll stop here.
Albaladejo made the team last year but got hurt. He's healthy now, and ready to compete for a bullpen slot again.
Coke, if he doesn't end up starting at Scranton, showed he could be a power lefty in the pen with his late season call-up to NY.
Robertson excelled in the minors, and showed some flashes of excellence when called up.
Melancon proved he was recovered from surgery by blazing through the farm system.
Claggett did well at Trenton and most likely is ticketed for the Scranton pen.
Sanchez made it back to the Bronx for a cup of coffee after also recovering from surgery.
Jackson finally found himself last year in Scranton after switching to the pen.
Dunn may surprise as another potential power lefty.
Cox struggled last year after coming back from surgery.
Aceves has been a starter but could make the team as a long reliever/spot starter if he has a good spring.
So there you have it. Let the games begin, and may the best men win!
The Yankees, if nothing else, have a lot of depth in their pen that goes all the way from NY to Scranton. Sometimes that kind of depth can be good if you have injuries or guys don't pitch as expected. Then they can be replaced. However, that depth doesn't mean much unless some of them actually perform well. So let's look at two levels of potential Yankee bullpen participants. We'll leave Mo out of this discussion and just say he's the definite closer even if he is coming off of "minor" shoulder surgery.
Level 1- The Incumbents
Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, Dan Giese
Marte has a new contract, and hopefully will be, at least, the lefty specialist the Yanks thought they were getting when they acquried him.
Bruney, healthy again, will possibly be the 8th ining guy if he continues putting up the same numbers he did when he wasn't hurt.
Veras and Ramirez both finally started putting it all together last year after struggling in their previous NY stints.
Giese surprised and showed he could be a spot starter or long reliever they could rely on.
Level 2- Knocking on the bullpen door
Jonathan Albaladejo, Phil Coke, David Robertson, Mark Melancon, Anthony Claggett, Humberto Sanchez, Steven Jackson, Michael Dunn, J. B. Cox, Alfredo Aceves
Others could be added to this list but I'll stop here.
Albaladejo made the team last year but got hurt. He's healthy now, and ready to compete for a bullpen slot again.
Coke, if he doesn't end up starting at Scranton, showed he could be a power lefty in the pen with his late season call-up to NY.
Robertson excelled in the minors, and showed some flashes of excellence when called up.
Melancon proved he was recovered from surgery by blazing through the farm system.
Claggett did well at Trenton and most likely is ticketed for the Scranton pen.
Sanchez made it back to the Bronx for a cup of coffee after also recovering from surgery.
Jackson finally found himself last year in Scranton after switching to the pen.
Dunn may surprise as another potential power lefty.
Cox struggled last year after coming back from surgery.
Aceves has been a starter but could make the team as a long reliever/spot starter if he has a good spring.
So there you have it. Let the games begin, and may the best men win!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Steriods and the Truth
I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, some of the truth, part of it or none of it. Steriods and the truth; two concepts that just don't go together. Let's examine:
Exhibit A: Jose Canseco- admitted it, told about it, and everyone else he knew about in his 2 books.
Exhibit B: Roger Clemens- exposed by the Mitchell Report. Has denied everything.
Exhibit C: Barry Bonds- admitted to unknowingly using "the cream" and "the clear", but not ingesting/injecting steriods or HGH.
Exhibit D: Jason Giambi- admits to wrongdoing but never exactly says what it was he did wrong.
Exhibit E: Mark McGwire- refuses to talk about the past under oath at Congressional Steroid Hearing.
Exhibit F: Sammy Sosa- claims he can't speak English at same Congressional Hearing
Exhibit G: Rafael Palmiero- proclaims he never used steriods at same Congressional Hearing and 5 months later is suspended for using steriods.
Exhibit H: Andy Pettitte- exposed by the Mitchell Report, and admits he used HGH.
Exhibit I: Alex Rodriguez- it's revealed that he tested positive for steriods, and he admits that it happened when he was young, naive, and stupid because he didn't go to college.
In summary, some admit something but not everything, and some admit nothing even under oath. None will admit anything unless there is first some type of evidence or witness to the fact that can prove their wrongdoing. So what's worse: Using steriods and lying about it, or using steriods and admitting you did something wrong but not completely being honest about it?
I guess I'll just wait for the day when a player comes out on his own without any prior evidence or any witnesses to the fact and says: Yes, I did steriods. This is where I got them, this is how I bought them, this is who I bought them from, this is how I used them, etc. I knew it was wrong. I knew it was cheating. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get an edge any way I could.
Exhibit A: Jose Canseco- admitted it, told about it, and everyone else he knew about in his 2 books.
Exhibit B: Roger Clemens- exposed by the Mitchell Report. Has denied everything.
Exhibit C: Barry Bonds- admitted to unknowingly using "the cream" and "the clear", but not ingesting/injecting steriods or HGH.
Exhibit D: Jason Giambi- admits to wrongdoing but never exactly says what it was he did wrong.
Exhibit E: Mark McGwire- refuses to talk about the past under oath at Congressional Steroid Hearing.
Exhibit F: Sammy Sosa- claims he can't speak English at same Congressional Hearing
Exhibit G: Rafael Palmiero- proclaims he never used steriods at same Congressional Hearing and 5 months later is suspended for using steriods.
Exhibit H: Andy Pettitte- exposed by the Mitchell Report, and admits he used HGH.
Exhibit I: Alex Rodriguez- it's revealed that he tested positive for steriods, and he admits that it happened when he was young, naive, and stupid because he didn't go to college.
In summary, some admit something but not everything, and some admit nothing even under oath. None will admit anything unless there is first some type of evidence or witness to the fact that can prove their wrongdoing. So what's worse: Using steriods and lying about it, or using steriods and admitting you did something wrong but not completely being honest about it?
I guess I'll just wait for the day when a player comes out on his own without any prior evidence or any witnesses to the fact and says: Yes, I did steriods. This is where I got them, this is how I bought them, this is who I bought them from, this is how I used them, etc. I knew it was wrong. I knew it was cheating. But I didn't care. I just wanted to get an edge any way I could.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Young and the Restless
All teams hype their farm system and their prospects. It gives the players hope, the fans hope, and makes their trade value higher. No one does this as well as the Yankees who for years used their farm system to acquire major league players from other teams. Now Brian Cashman has prioritized the farm system and has been trying to build it in order to supply his own major league team with players. Last year it backfired as the likes of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy fell flat on their faces. So Cashman returned to the old formula of spending big on free agency to acquire the big three of CC, AJ and Tex. However, Cashman hasn't abandoned his farm system concept just yet. He still believes in it, but has become more careful and realistic with it. Keeping that in mind let's take a look at some of the Yankee prospects beginning with:
Most Likely to Succeed or Over-hyped?
Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Brett Gardner
Hughes had a rotation slot handed to him last year, but was ineffective and hurt again. He has spent more time on the DL lately than on the mound. Has he been over-hyped? If he has then the Yanks could have acquired some pretty good talent for him by now. So we have to assume he's the real deal. However, the rotation spot is no longer there, and he'll have to be lights out this spring or he'll be the Scranton opening day pitcher.
Kennedy was similar to Hughes in that he also had a rotation spot last year and then was ineffective and hurt. Unlike Hughes, his stock is not as high as it once was. He will be at Scranton trying to reestablish himself as a prime prospect. Then he will either be back in NY if there's an opportunity or traded.
Aceves came out of Mexican League and worked his way through the organization until he finally made it to NY where he performed well. He's skipping the WBC to try to make the team in spring training as a long reliever/spot starter. He has a good shot if he continues his progress.
Gardner made it to NY and had trouble hitting. The Yanks would love to see him succeed because they need a center fielder, and he has some of the tools they need out there. He is very fast and can play defense. If he could somehow find a way to get on base he'd give them a legitimate stolen base presence in their lineup. He's competing against Melky Cabrera for the CF job this spring. Neither are locks to get the job or even make the team out of spring training. A trade will be necessary if both don't show the promise required for the position.
Most Likely to Succeed or Over-hyped?
Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Brett Gardner
Hughes had a rotation slot handed to him last year, but was ineffective and hurt again. He has spent more time on the DL lately than on the mound. Has he been over-hyped? If he has then the Yanks could have acquired some pretty good talent for him by now. So we have to assume he's the real deal. However, the rotation spot is no longer there, and he'll have to be lights out this spring or he'll be the Scranton opening day pitcher.
Kennedy was similar to Hughes in that he also had a rotation spot last year and then was ineffective and hurt. Unlike Hughes, his stock is not as high as it once was. He will be at Scranton trying to reestablish himself as a prime prospect. Then he will either be back in NY if there's an opportunity or traded.
Aceves came out of Mexican League and worked his way through the organization until he finally made it to NY where he performed well. He's skipping the WBC to try to make the team in spring training as a long reliever/spot starter. He has a good shot if he continues his progress.
Gardner made it to NY and had trouble hitting. The Yanks would love to see him succeed because they need a center fielder, and he has some of the tools they need out there. He is very fast and can play defense. If he could somehow find a way to get on base he'd give them a legitimate stolen base presence in their lineup. He's competing against Melky Cabrera for the CF job this spring. Neither are locks to get the job or even make the team out of spring training. A trade will be necessary if both don't show the promise required for the position.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Let's Talk Baseball
Enough Roid talk for now. Let's talk baseball! Yankee baseball. Spring isn't here, but spring training is. It's February and they're in Florida. Joe Girardi is still the manager unless they get off to a terrible start. Then look out, Joe!
New Guys on the Block: CC, AJ, Tex, and Swisher
The Yanks signed CC and AJ to give the top of their rotation a dynamic Left/Right 1-2 punch. Tex provides the all-around switch-hitting, power, on-base and defensive guy the Yanks haven't had at 1b for a long time. Swisher (if he remains) gives the Yanks a switch-hitting, versatile role-player in the OF and 1B.
Return of the wounded:4 key guys: Jorge Posada, Chien Ming Wang, Hediki Matsui, Mariano Rivera
They need Jorge back to be able to catch at least 100 games if not more, and they really need his switch-hitting bat back in the middle of that lineup. Wang doesn't need to be their ace anymore but they definitely need him as the middle of the rotation bridge between CC/AJ and Joba/Andy. Hediki gives them that reliable, exta-protection and run producer in the middle of the order. And Mo coming off shoulder surgery has always been the Most Valuable Yankee who they can't live without.
So let's take a quick look at the current roster. Barring injuries or trades (and there's a chance both may happen),then this is how it looks right now:
Position Players: The Definites
Catchers: Posada and Molina
Infield: Tex, Cano, Jeter, Arod
Outfield: Damon, Matsui, Nady, Swisher
On the Bubble
Infield: Ransom, Berroa
Outfield: Cabrera, Gardner
Pitching:The Definites
Starters: CC, AJ, Wang, Pettitte, Joba
Bullpen: Mo, Marte, Bruney, Veras, Ramirez
On the Bubble
Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Giese, Albaladejo, Robertson, Coke, Melancon,
Igawa, Johnson, Tomko
New Guys on the Block: CC, AJ, Tex, and Swisher
The Yanks signed CC and AJ to give the top of their rotation a dynamic Left/Right 1-2 punch. Tex provides the all-around switch-hitting, power, on-base and defensive guy the Yanks haven't had at 1b for a long time. Swisher (if he remains) gives the Yanks a switch-hitting, versatile role-player in the OF and 1B.
Return of the wounded:4 key guys: Jorge Posada, Chien Ming Wang, Hediki Matsui, Mariano Rivera
They need Jorge back to be able to catch at least 100 games if not more, and they really need his switch-hitting bat back in the middle of that lineup. Wang doesn't need to be their ace anymore but they definitely need him as the middle of the rotation bridge between CC/AJ and Joba/Andy. Hediki gives them that reliable, exta-protection and run producer in the middle of the order. And Mo coming off shoulder surgery has always been the Most Valuable Yankee who they can't live without.
So let's take a quick look at the current roster. Barring injuries or trades (and there's a chance both may happen),then this is how it looks right now:
Position Players: The Definites
Catchers: Posada and Molina
Infield: Tex, Cano, Jeter, Arod
Outfield: Damon, Matsui, Nady, Swisher
On the Bubble
Infield: Ransom, Berroa
Outfield: Cabrera, Gardner
Pitching:The Definites
Starters: CC, AJ, Wang, Pettitte, Joba
Bullpen: Mo, Marte, Bruney, Veras, Ramirez
On the Bubble
Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Giese, Albaladejo, Robertson, Coke, Melancon,
Igawa, Johnson, Tomko
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