On the Yankees beat

Some moron wrote that David Eckstein was on steroids?

Any proof? I would like to know.

Are such allegations just thrown around against any player you don't like?

And yes, Ted Lilly did beat up his manager after being pulled from a game in which he gave up, or was charged with, 7 ERs in one inning. (What's wrong with people? People ARE monsters!).

But that's nothing like Gooden and D. Boston and V. Coleman and their gang rap__, or Howe or Straw, or Leyritz DWI murder or McName drugging of that poor woman, or A-Rod with the ho and the ensuing tank top, but yes, disturbing.

Can you see Tom Seaver punching Yogi Berra? This is the video game, MTV culture of violence generation X on parade. It's ugly.

These players are so rich and have such fame, but inside they are violent and ultimately empty -- because they have left God out of their hearts.

Resume of a Loser Who Sucks (*)

Name: Theodore Roosevelt Lilly

Wins for Toronto in one year: 15
Wins for the Cubs the next year: 15
Contract: 40 million plus
Pitched in the All Star Game
Struck out Ankiel four times in a row in same game
Beat up Manager

(*) If Ted "sucks" with 15 wins at 10 million per, then how does one describe Igawa (contract/2wins) and the Cashman GM who signed him?

This I really have to hear!

kat, do you speak spanish?
just curious

I get the feeling that this Ant Colony guy (is he really a Yankee fan?) just started learning the game of baseball in the last few weeks because most of his ideas don’t make any sense whatsoever.

Okay, so Ted Lilly struck out Rick Ankiel four times in one game. So what? Is that supposed to be some kind of magnificent feat to determine the greatness of a major league pitcher? Last time I checked, Ankiel is far better known for his epic wildness on the mound than an accomplished contact hitter at the dish.

Ted Lilly is nothing special because he’s always been an average pitcher. I don’t see why you are wetting yourself over this guy. Is he your nephew or something? For a guy who is such a “winner,” he hasn’t done too well in the postseason throughout his career (0-3, 6.61 ERA in 5 games) and threw a fit on the mound in a Cubs’ uniform after getting bombed.

Maybe it’s just me, but you guys may have to explain to me why Ant Colony believes such rubbish.

Guiseppe: None of us understand his logic or his banter. But, it is what it is. Some read what he says, some respond, some see his name (or one of his pseudonames) and pass on by, it's up to you how you deal with him. Simply put, he thinks far differently from the rest of the blog. From time to time, he does state something that is completely relevant to the topic, does not involve politics, religion, or a person's behavior, and can provide some worthwhile comments from time to time. If he'd focus more on that and not dwelling on things he's posted over and over again as well as his political views, I think he'd be a valued contributor on this blog, but unfortunately he often frustrates other bloggers by repeating himself incessantly and bring politics to the blog. Since you seem new to the blog, I thought I'd give you the update. I personally skim his postings to see if they appear relevant. There are certain keywords that I see and know to stop reading, if I don't see them, I can get through the post. As I said initially, it is what it is.

For those that bashed Cash and the Yanks for not getting involved at the last minute in the Santana deal because of the rumored requests of the Twins, here it is from Cash's mouth and I believe him: (the below was written by Eric Schultz on Pending Pinstripes from the Cash interview with Mike and the Mad Dog, http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/)

He also revealed that the final 2 demands for Santana from the Twins were either Hughes, Melky and 2 prospects or Kennedy, Wang, Melky and a prospect.

I didn't want to trade Hughes, so that makes it irrelevant, but without knowing which two prospects, that's a hard call. Considering Wang and Kennedy were in the other option, you have to assume at least one of those 2 prospects was high quality.

A few random thoughts ...

Are there any good players on other teams who might get cut that the Yanks can scoop up?

If so ... then who?

What are the remaining holes on the team and can Cashman make a trade to fill them? (No leadoff hitter since Knoblauch. Small ball players. LHP's. Just a few holes I can think of.)

If so, then who will go ... Horne? Carpenter? Sanchez? There are a lot of trading chips for Cashman to sort through.

Can anyone rank the top 10 pitching prospects on the team?

Joba
Kennedy
Hughes

Then ...

Ohlendorf
Brackman
Horne
Sanchez
Smith
Carpenter
(Your prospect here)

Someone asked if I would want Bard (hits well with RISP) and Molina and Piazza (hits, he is great at calling a game, blocking balls in the dirt) over Posada. No, of course not, but we have to think about the salaries for A Rod, Mo and Jorge as they approach 40.

Also, the global and national economic situation is not good. I've read about a 500 Trillion Dollar derivatives "day of reckoning." Rense.com has a lot of these articles. It's hard to know what to believe exactly, but Central Banks in Europe and the Fed are printing billions out of thin air yet billions keep disappearing.

What's going on?

The Yanks and other teams will adjust as need be I suppose.

Why are you worried about getting another catcher? If Piazza is such a major cog to winning baseball, why doesn’t he have a job yet? Could you answer that simple question?

They already have two catchers in Posada (one of the Top 3 catchers in MLB) and a great backup in Molina. Posada just signed a four-year contract and Molina just signed a two-year contract. These guys are going nowhere and no team in baseball carries three catchers on the active roster once the regular season starts. That’s a waste of a roster spot.

The Yanks already have a leadoff man. His name is Johnny Damon. He’s the everyday left fielder. You may have heard of him.

Who is Carpenter? Who is Smith?

Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?

Senor Franco,

I must say, do you know what YOU are talking about?

Smith was one of the top pitchers on Trenton last year in AA. I think he was an All Star, as were many of the Trenton pitchers. (I don't know where Horne or Carpenter are this spring I must confess.) Carpenter was a draft choice last year. If you knew the team, you would know Carpenter's name, yes?

Again I must ask ever so politely, do you follow the team? If not, some of the other bloggers could tell you about Smith and Carp.

Next ... we spent 400 million on A Rod, Mo and Jorge. We will pay them a ton of money into their 40's. The NY Post sports writers drilled home this point many, many times.

In effect, we have the SAME team that couldn't beat Paul Byrd when it counted most last October, even when he pitched with a tumor. I wanted Eckstein, Josh Hamilton, Ludwick and perhaps Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers. Instead we are saddled with an old, injury prone team. Johnny Damon was horrible last year. I would like a REAL leadoff hitter, someone who would serve as Knoblauch did. You believe in Johnny Damon? Why? Based on what? Last year? 06?

Next, far less expensive players would HELP in the face of the approaching national and global ECONOMIC TSUNAMI. The team with the highest equity value and highest payroll should win. We don't win. Why? Because we don't have the right players. (See Herb Brooks and the 1980 Miracle on Ice). Instead we have Farns, Igawa, Mussina et al who can't help the team win.

I don't know why Piazza can't find work. He was such a stud for so long ... Yes, Molina is a great backup and could start for most teams. We are lucky to have him.

Anyway, those are my thoughts ...

I hope you will start following the team and learning about the players.

Colon boy-
I hope you stop following the team and don't learn about the players.

I’m guessing you probably read a couple of names somewhere and decided to include them on your list of prospects. Write down their first names since you seem to be an expert on these kids. Can you do that?

Oh wait, I get it. You remembered a guy named Chris Carpenter being drafted by the Yanks because he has the same name as the Cardinals’ pitcher. Okay, now I understand why you remembered him. Sorry, that doesn’t count. He’s not even close to being a high-ceiling prospect. Can you name anyone else the Yanks drafted besides Carpenter or Brackman?

If you are referring to Brett Smith, you should read up on the guy because you’d quickly learn that he was demoted to Tampa because he couldn’t find the plate towards the end of 2007. He walked 25 hitters in his last 23.1 IP at Trenton and got the boot. He’s not even a Top 20 Yankees pitching prospect. Try again.

Why are you in love with Chuck Knoblauch? Yeah, he had a couple of decent but unspectacular years with the Yanks. But he was also a major underachiever who couldn’t throw the ball over to first base. He was soooooooo bad defensively at second base that he was shifted to left field and was the DH an awful lot.

I don’t consider him the gold standard for leadoff men during his time with Yankees. His best days were in Minnesota and he never came close to achieving that kind of greatness in pinstripes. Yankee fans couldn’t stand Knoblauch during his final two years in the Bronx and couldn’t wait to see him go. He was easily replaceable because he wasn’t producing. By the way, his career ended with the Royals at the age of 32. Yes, just 32 years old.

Like it or not, Johnny Damon is the Yankees’ leadoff man for another two years. The guy is still a sparkplug at the top of the order when he’s healthy. He came into camp in great shape and he should be better than last season. Not looking for an All-Star in the leadoff role, just a guy who can get on base.

What is your point about the Yanks spending $400M+ on A-Rod, Mo, and Posada? How in the world was this team going to replace these guys?

And what does the current economic situation have to do with the Yanks? Any recession will have zero impact on this club. ZERO. They will sell out every game this season, and the next, and the next. They will not be hurting for money at all.

Piazza was a terrible catcher even in his prime. He’s ALWAYS been a terrible catcher. Yeah, he was a great hitter, but he’s not that kind of player anymore.

How were the Yanks going to replace A-Rod?

Jeremy Sowers? He had a TERRIBLE season in 2007 (1-6, 6.42 ERA). How is he supposed to help the Yanks?

Josh Hamilton? Are we talking about the same guy who made his debut last year after being drafted in 1999? That’s funny!

David Eckstein? He’s a nice little player, but hardly a difference maker with so many gaping holes on the team after you’ve let Posada, Mo, and A-Rod leave town.

The Yanks would struggle mightily to win 80 games with that group.

I hope you have other hobbies because analyzing baseball teams is not your strength.

Yes, I speak Spanish.

I'm going to give a top 12 Yankee pitching prospects for you Ant and Smith and Carpenter won't be anywhere near it. I'm giving 12 because for your sake, I'll include Hughes and Joba, but I don't consider them prospects anymore. The TJ guys will have (TJ) after their name as a way to say there is still some uncertainty. I'll also put in parenthesis where each pitcher will most likely be pitching this year for the Yanks. I'll use first and last names for those less familiar. I'm using three factors in my rankings, duration of time before they should join the MLB team, overall ceiling, and probability of reaching their ceiling.

1. Phil Hughes (Yanks)
2. Joba Chamberlain (Yanks)
3. Ian Kennedy (Yanks)
4. Andrew Brackman (TJ/Rehab)
5. Dellin Betances (Charleston)
6. Alan Horne (SWB)
7. Jeff Marquez (SWB)
8. Mark Melancon (TJ/Rehab/Yanks)
9. Dan McCutchen (Trenton)
10. Jairo Heredia (SI)
11. Humberto Sanchez (TJ/Rehab/Yanks)
12. JB Cox (TJ/Rehab)

Honorable Mention:
Ross Ohlendorf
Kevin Whelan
Dave Robertson
George Kontos
8. Humberto Sanchez

Guiseppe Franco...LOL. That name killed me! Good stuff.