4:14 p.m. Ohlendorf gets it done in the top of the eighth by shutting down the Rays, but the Yankees go 1-2-3 against Troy Percival and fall 6-3, right at their early-season runs-per-game average.
At least there's the Final Four tonight. Thoughts here go in the direction of a UNC/UCLA final Monday night, but my original bracket was decimated two weeks ago. Good night, good luck and we'll be back again, same time and place, tomorrow.
3:55 p.m. The offense finally awoke somewhat, loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth before Al Reyes came out of the bullpen and got Shelley Duncan to hit into a fielder's choice with runners on first and second. Tough overall day for Duncan, who got his first hit of the regular season in the second inning, then saw things go downward from there. 6-3 Rays going to the ninth.
3:32 p.m. Willie Aybar, whose name and "power" rarely find their way into the same sentence, hammers a Ross Ohlendorf pitch into the right field stands for a 6-1 Rays lead. The Yankees look a bit listless, to say the least. Time to look ahead to trying to salvage this series by winning the final two. On another note, Jason Giambi left the game in the fifth inning with a sore left groin, an injury that always leads to awkwardly phrased postgame questions.
3:21 p.m. Still plodding along here at the Stadium with the Rays leading 5-1. Dan Wheeler replacing Edwin Jackson to start the seventh for the Rays. Good job by Brian Bruney in relief yet again for the Yankees.
As another aside, and in a hum-drummer like this one there's plenty of time for those, in response to a reader who was upset with a Hillary Clinton crack I made yesterday: chill. It's not like I mentioned Bosnia or something. Jeez. This blogging gig; talk about having to dodge sniper fire...
2:57 p.m.Yankee Stadium welcomes Joe Pepitone, this afternoon's guest countdown celebrity. Not to be confused with Keith Olbermann of MSNBC's Countdown who is also in the building. 76 regular season games here to go...
2:50 p.m. Pettitte is all but done after 86 pitches. He got out of the fifth inning and almost assuredly will be replaced to start the sixth. Acting manager Rob Thomson said Pettitte would be on a pitch count of 75-80 and had Pettitte been pulled after he hit 75, his afternoon would have looked better than it ended up. His 77th pitch got rocked for a three-run home run to left by Jonny Gomes to give the Rays a 5-1 lead. Until then, the Rays had two unearned runs and only a couple hard-hit balls. Rays starter Edwin Jackson has allowed at least one base runner every inning but hasn't to this point made the big mistake.
2:18 p.m. Is it too early to hand-wring, panic and asphyxiate over the Yankees struggling offense? In game five of the season, of course it is, but the Yankees have left six on base through three innings. They might be done scoring. For the season.
Meanwhile, sitting next to Newsday's Anthony Rieber in the press box is like one continuous loop of the humor dolloped daily on the Final Score blog he shares with Baumbach. It's helping move along a game on pace for about 3 hours 45 minutes. 2-1 Rays with the Yanks coming up in the fourth.
2:03After the Yankees leave ‘em loaded in the bottom of the second, the Rays put two on the board in the top of the third, aided by an ugly throwing error by fan favorite, Shelley Duncan, getting his first start of the season. Akinori Iwamura led off the inning with a single and Carl Crawford followed with a double-play ball swatted right at Duncan. Duncan appeared to hop to get a bit more oomph behind his throw, and oomph it did…straight into the outfield. Eventually two unearned runs scored and it’s 2-1 Rays going to the bottom of three. As an aside, Pettitte beaned, though grazed would be a better description, Carlos Pena for the second time.
1:36 p.m. Solid work by Pettitte to get out of a second-inning two-out jam. Jason Barrett started it with an infield single and went to third on Shawn Riggins shot down the right field line. But Pettitte got out of it by getting Elliot Johnson, in his first major league regular season at-bat, to fly out to center. The back spasms that kept Pettitte from starting the second game of the season don't seem to be having an impact, though acting manager Rob Thomson said before the game he was likely to limit Pettitte to 75-80 pitches regardless.
1:27 p.m. Jonny Gomes, that's just not very heads up base running...or it's head somewhere base running.
1:25 p.m. A-Rod, who has heard some grumbling the last couple nights [not boos, but some definite grumbling] for not coming through with runners in scoring position, rips a two-out double down the left field line to score Johnny Damon from first. Damon led off and drew a walk from Jackson. 1-0 Yanks after one.
1:14 p.m. So will there be a retaliatory strike? With the bitter history of these teams – ok, bitterness that dates to spring training – every hit batsman, every hard slide takes on meaning. So after Andy Pettitte, with the bases empty and two outs, hit Carlos Pena, who tagged Kyle Farnsworth last night with that 800-foot or so third-decker, Rays starter Edwin Jackson bears watching. Shelley Duncan, too, who bats No. 9 today.
1:05 p.m. Boland back to take you through this one at the Stadium. Andy Pettitte got a standing ovation when he took the mound. No surprise there. Nice day. About 60 degrees.
Comments (51)
this team sucks and it is not just the pitching it is the whole set up from the Leadoff hitter to the 1st base situation
Yes we were all so, so offended by the Hillary Comment ...
You forgot to mention their body count, Vince Foster, drugs in Mena, Ark, missiles and nukes to the Peking People, D and X baby termination at nine months, "Father" Aristide and the rest of their never ending evil ... murderers and liars who run around playing the great role. In reality, Marxist and traitors who don't deserve the air they breathe ...
As for the Yanks ... I am starting to worry. It's the same team as last year. And it looks like Cashman's moves and non moves may not have been so terrific.
It seems you don't always get what you pay for ...
Administrator,
Please delete above comment regarding political commentary. Nobody wants to read that crap on a baseball blog.
If the Yanks finish April with a .500 record, they will be in good shape going forward. It's a brutal schedule against tough competition and a lot of road games - not to mention three weeks without a day off.
Be patient. It's not worth hyperventilating after each loss.
Viper/Diaper,
If you can READ ... it was the Administrator ABOVE in HIS BLOG who first, on his own, brought up Hillary Clinton ... Did they teach you how to read at Purdue? You can read yes? In case you have a problem with reading comprehension ...
I quote ...
"As another aside, and in a hum-drummer like this one there's plenty of time for those, in response to a reader who was upset with a Hillary Clinton crack I made yesterday: chill. It's not like I mentioned Bosnia or something. Jeez. This blogging gig; talk about having to dodge sniper fire..."
This comment was posted at 3:21 pm. That means the big hand in on the 21 and the little hand is on the three.
Responding to a comment posted by the main blogger is fair game.
I suppose we've all imagined we are the Fourth Member of the Holy Trinity at one time or another!
Maybe we can deleted your Scott Kazmir will NEVER be traded comments ... they are all in the archives if you care to look them up ...
I agree with Viper - if fans are going to panic after each loss then it is going to be a long season.
Running into power pitchers like Halladay and Burnett off the bat can put any offense in a slump.
Looks like Giambi is hurt so it will be interesting to see what happens there - I think either Ensberg plays everyday or the Yankees would be wise to go straight platoon with Betemit and Duncan and call up another infielder.
On the plus side - I really like what I'm seeing out of Bruney and Traber early on. And Ohlendorf too - despite the homerun to Aybar.
So Ant, what's your excuse for the other 1000 times you nauseated everyone with your insane ranting mindless gibberish?
There is a reason why you are a joke on this blog. Nobody takes you seriously.
People may disagree with me regarding the action on the field or the front office, but at least they respect my opinion on such matters.
Th same cannot be said for you. Instead, people see your name and automatically skip to the next comment.
I hope you wear your dunce cap proud.
Last comment was mine, obviously.
Erik B-
Now you see why Diane admonished you yesterday for posting a political comment. I actually found it quite funny but those of us who have been around this blog a while know that any political or religious comment will set certain people off.
Anyway, tough game today. These Rays have a tough lineup and this E. Jackson seems to love to pitch against the Yankees ever since he came into Yankee Stadium last year sporting a 9+ ERA and he shut the Yanks down.
I'm certiainly not going to worry about offensive problems, it's not like this entire team suddenly forgot how to hit. They will be fine. I am however worried about the back end of the rotation as Kennedy seemed to have poor control this spring and that is supposed to be his bread and butter and well, Mussina is just about ready for tractor duty in PA.
We'll be okay though, things will start to click pretty soon. Me hopes.
Oh Lord, you take everything so seriously.
I was just joking!
It's kind of funny to see everyone get all worked up about Hillary, Rev Wright, Rhodesia, Mugage, our crumbling Dollar, McNamee and his ER gal ... all of it ...
I just don't think you understand my sense of humor ...
Defense at first base doesn't really matter that much. You can put just about anybody at first base and call them a first baseman. After all its the easiest position on the field to play. Just ask Girardi and Cashman
Imagine Chip agreeing with Viper???? WOW!!!! That's a shocker. And Viper, your boy Chip is Mr. Igawa's biggest fan on here. So don't give me crap about nobody on here likes Igawa, etc.. Lots of people wanted him signed last year. And Chip, it seems that ANY pitcher the Yankees run into is Cy Young. Like McGowan and Jackson, etc.
And OH MY GOSH Jim A. - You said Mussina is done and you're worried about Kennedy, etc!!!!! You my friend are not allowed to make such comments on this blog because Viper said so and he was seconded by HYD. Now pipe down and get off this blog immediately.
Rick,
You mean Mussina isn't done? I thought he was cooked Moose.
Hahaha Rick...You know I was pretty vocal about figuring the odds of the the three kids actually being successful major leaguers was pretty slim. I'll worry about that until 2010 most likely. I mean what are the chances of 3 highly touted prospects being not only major leaguers, but above average major leaguers and all of them staying healthy to boot. That's what worries me. The Yanks need to get very, very lucky for this to work out.
Moose is done in my opinion. I do think he'll give the Yanks a good start here and there but for the most part, he'll be gone by the fifth inning of every start and will have given up 4+ runs in each of them.
I've also gone on record as saying I do not think the Yanks will make the playoffs this year. I've considered this sort of a transition year where the Yanks wait for contracts to expire (Giambi, Farnsworth, maybe Abreu) and for kids to get more seasoning (Kennedy, Hughes, Joba, Ajax, BGardner, Marquez, Melancon to name some), some to get healthy (Brackman, Sanchez) and finally to seek available players to fill holes through free agency (Tiexeira, Sabathia?).
But seriously Rick, there are those that refuse to believe the Yanks make any bad personel decisions and defend them all and their players regardless. Unless its a player they don't like then your an idiot for not see it their way again! Its all what make life here so much fun!!
Viper
I don't respect your opinion on baseball matters at all. You haven't got a clue and you are a rude individual to boot. You think you own this site and you are sadly mistaken!
Also, I like Ant. Granted, this site is for baseball talk, but he is giving those of us who are aware some very important information. The problem is that everyone on here except me is ignorant to what is really going on in world affairs because you all have your heads in the sand as you go about your busy little lives.
I will say he should keep it to baseball, but the other stuff he is saying is not "mindless gibberish". Quite the contrary!
Ants Marching!!
Great song!
Nudge - I think you've hit the proverbial nail on the head my friend!!!
Jim A - I am with you 100% my friend. What you are saying is exactly what I've been trying to say for months now. Three prospects all turning out to be studs is just not realistic and anyone that spouts that stuff is quite a dreamer.
I was just having a little fun with you because whenever I make such statements concerning the big 3 prospects or Mussina or Igawa, etc., I get run off the blog by the site owner Mr. Viper and his cronies. Funny how I'm the only one they attack?
Rick's problem is that he was teetering on the ledge after the fourth game last night and he exaggerates and overreacts to the point of lunacy.
Nobody with an IQ above 70 has made the claim that all three members of the Trinity are going to be surefire aces. That label has been put on Joba at times and some have said Hughes could be a great pitcher right behind him. But nobody has made that claim about Kennedy. Nobody.
Now, I've said that these three kids can be a special trio in the rotation and I believe that. Last night’s performance won’t change my mind. Obviously, the Yankees' front office believes that as well or they wouldn't have refused to deal them.
I've said roughly 10,000 times on this very blog that these kids are certainly going to battle through growing pains. It's inevitable. But that doesn't mean this team can't win with them because of the immense run support they are most definitely going to get this season.
Not surprisingly, Rick has blatantly mischaracterized my comments from last night. You want to whine about having the First Amendment right to make as many idiotic comments as you want and that's true.
But you don't seem to understand that I have the very same right to criticize or call you out for said comments. I never told you to leave. I said that if you don't want people to criticize your commentary - then don't post hyperbole that makes you sound like you’ve lost your mind.
As far as Cashman is concerned, I’m ambivalent about him getting a contract extension. As long as the front office continues the shift in philosophy he installed in 2005 (aggressive spending on the draft and player development), I don’t care whether Cashman returns or not.
This team needs to get younger and continue to build from within. That’s the best way to build themselves another dyansty.
In an I told you so moment......I told you all that the Yanks had nothing to gain and everything to lose by trying to retaliate for the Cervelli collision. Most thought it was splendid that Duncan did hid best Dave Schultz impression running to Cervellis defense by spiking the littlest guy on the team who had nothing to do with Cervellis injury. Now the team has two suspensions to serve and Tampa has served notice to the Yanks that they haven't forgotten and are goona get THEIR revenge on the field. And the hero Duncan is costing runs while Gomes is going deep.
Great Job Shelley!
Oh and Viper,
Most people on this site have the trinity in the HOF already so in that regard yes Rick is correct. If you wish I can go into the archives and retrieve the evidence since I have looked back on what people said and he is fairly accurate.
I found at least 20 posts LAST YEAR with starting rotation with Joba Hughes Kennedy in the top 3 slots. So thats the facts Jack!
Apologies to Bill Murray!
Viper,
My feeling has always been the Yanks are well positioned for their next dynasty type run starting in 2009, this year will be important for growth of some, and saying goodbye to others. I think the future is bright, not because I think all of the prospects will work out but some of them will and others can be used to trade to fill in some holes.
My cronies? WTF are you talking about?
I don't tell anyone what to do. If people attack you, it's probably because you've said something they strongly disagree with.
How disconnected from reality could you be to think that I control these people?
I've never exchanged a single email or IM with anyone on this blog, so I don't get how you come up with such conspiratorial nonsense.
I've never exchanged a single email or IM with anyone on this blog, so I don't get how you come up with such conspiratorial nonsense.
???
Who said you did? Sounds like a freudian slip to me! I think your on to something Rickie Baby!
Administrator,
Please delete Vipers comments regarding his stupid commentary. Nobody wants to read that crap on a baseball blog.
"I found at least 20 posts LAST YEAR with starting rotation with Joba Hughes Kennedy in the top 3 slots. So thats the facts Jack!"
------------------------------
Not exactly, Nudge.
Putting Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy in the top three slots in the rotation down the road is a far cry from declaring all three surefire aces as Rick suggested.
And for Rick to shoot down the proposition that Kennedy can be a good major league pitcher after last night's start is rather foolish to put it mildly.
Awww....I guess I upset the village idiot of the blog.
Just wear that dunce cap with pride.
Viper,
No it is exactly! See I read them and not one said
......hows this rotation for 2009
Joba Ian Hughes Wang and Horne.......that should be mediocre.
They ALL stated the tremendous staff that would make. ALL, not one two three ALL.
Thats the facts Jack!!
Viper,
Don't you get tired of getting your tail kicked from one side of this blog to the other. You never have facts about a thing but always have an opinion which someone usually smacks down in like 2 seconds. Dunce Cap.....sound like part of your uniform. Put it on and get to work Dopey.
Administrator,
Please delete Vipers comments regarding his stupid commentary. Nobody wants to read that crap on a baseball blog.
Administrator,
Please also protect poor little Viper from Ants posts. He is a little boy who gets upset easily especially when Ant uses big words that he can't understand. Delete all posts that upset Viper.
BooooooHoooooo
Viper,
Sounds like you made a friend. A new Crony perhaps?
Viper is right.
Anyone that didn't expect problems was kidding themselves. Anyone that didn't prepare themselves for these problems was shortsighted. Prepare yourselves now, it's going to get worse. This is a well thought out process. Cashman & Girardi lead a juggernaut to be. The roles are not yet established. Competition is still being waged throughout the pitching staff and it will remain unsettled until midseason. For a variety of reasons all the everyday positions except RF-2B-3B-SS and the bench are also still being developed. They need time to gel. We do not want them playing lights out right now. They just need to hang around. We want them playing lights out at the end. They could easily be 0-5. I'm content they're hanging around at 2-3. Hughes & Wang were OK, Mussina kept them in the game and a perceived by many weakness, the bullpen, has been mostly very good. Pettitte will be fine. Kennedy will find consistency. He is too young to expect immediate success. He is too inexperienced to yet be the horse he will become. I'm pretty sure they won't score 4 runs or less every game. Hitting is contagious. At the end of the season they will have scored 1000 runs. It will come. By August and thru the 27th title they will be nearly indefectible.
Be patient. It's not worth hyperventilating after each loss.
Um, yeah. Ant Colony, the raving lunatic of OTYB, is going to tell me what's what.
It's funny how you were the guy who got his post deleted the other night for such inappropriate content and everyone on this blog cheered.
Face it, everyone thinks your a joke and nobody takes you seriously.
Viper was Right? Thats not even what Viper said. Viper was wrong as usual. Then he cried to the admin to protect him from others facts. Viper is a cry baby plain and simple. Now I see why Ant has him in a Diaper!
Anonymous/Viper,
Who are you talking to? Ant? I dont think Delancy is Ant if thats what your implying. Read the style of writing. Nothing alike in the least. Now who is sounding conspiracy theories? Or is it Paranoia? Whatever!
You're pathetic Ant.
You sure showed me. Posing as a 13 yr old is a nice touch.
What's left? Are you going to challenge me to a fight now?
You've done it before. Many times. Typical playground stuff when you don't have an ounce of common sense when debating the issues.
Viper,
Your so dumb you think Im Ant? Well that in itself is why you have the job wearing the dunce cap. Boy I love it when the stupid become self evident. Less that I have to say then!
Viper, this Dunce Caps for you!! A-duhhhhhh!
It's sad how so many choose to make personal attacks on others because they voice their opinion. These simple minded, morally corrupt individuals typically resort to childlike degrading insinuations & namecalling. There are certain bloggers here that fall into this category. These unsophisticated, antisocial types are the cause of many of the problems in the world and ultimately the cause of Ants relentless rants. It's too bad more have not evolved enough to be capable of intelligent debate. I have learned to ignore some of the names long ago and I see there are still more to learn.
Petey,
How high is that horse your on anyway?
So I assume your not happy with Viper since he was the only one calling anyone a name. I believe he called Ant an Idiot. Outside that there was no name calling. There was lots of your characterizeing others braodly in negative ways as pompous people do....but no name calling. Hope your nose isn't bleeding up their on that high horse. You should start first by practicing what you preach. Dont crticize others for their opinions as you complain about. Dont engage in childlike insinuations as you complain about. Dont be unsophisticated and childlike as you complain about. Alo you obviously are full of it when as you claim you have learned to ignare some folks. You haven't. You are obsessed with trying to tell some folks what to do because you somehow think you are superior to them. Your Not. Not even within their league. Your a petulant crybaby who is easily frustrated when you don't get your way. You immediately resort to all the things you accuse others of doing when your world view is challanged.
Learn to live with it baby. Theres more coming down the Pike!
Yes, thank you so much Delancy! (Viper has problems at times playing and working well with others. He's touchy! And he hates Ted Lilly. All his posts are archived on that topic, and Scotty the K Kazmir, the untradable one! You can look them up after you're done reorganizing your sock drawer ...)
Viper, it is me, Anthony! I don't know why you get so upset all the time and act so mean like someone peed in your Cheerios. Is it because you feel afraid at night when you go to sleep? We've been through this. God is real, embrace him and find peace in Jesus Christ. As King Solomon said, "Only the fool has said in his heart there is no God." Viper you don't have to be afraid to die. That's not the end ... it's only the beginning!
Now that we've tucked our little Viper into bed after his lil' tantrum ... let's get to the baseball news.
4 games in 2008 = 2 HR's already for Rick Ankiel! What a story! (There better not be anymore HGH stories lurking in the New York Post ... I will have to hide them from Michael PTRS!)
And after a handful of games with the Yanks, I think there are a few kinks to be worked out. Not hitting vs. A.J. Burnett or Halladay is no crime. Two of the best "stuff" pitchers on Earth.
But Mussina, Farnsworth, Giambi, Igawa and others ... they all have to get their acts together and do it fast. It's not the losing, it's how they lose and if the team has chemistry. This team does not. They speak too many languages and considering that, well, it's hard to have an identity and esprit de corps. (See the Balkans as an example). I am sure many of them are very good people, but are they really a team on and off the field? I just don't think so ... can't say I have any answers either ... for US$ 1.2 Billion in franchise equity THEY should have the answers ...
Thanks again Delancy ... watch out for Viper, he bites! He doesn't know how to give love, worth and significance to other people. He does know a lot about baseball. I think deep down he's probably a pretty good guy. I have nothing against him personally ...
PS ... Big and happy news for me! Today my new teaching book is finally up on Amazon.com. (There is a cute blonde girl on the cover, which was not my idea!) Hughes Your Daddy, another erudite critic of mine, had openly wondered if I could pull it together ... and I finally did. I kept thinking ... "You have to pull this together or Bill will say he was right ..." When people challenge you ... you get better or you get bitter ... It's a good feelling. "God exalts the humble and resists the proud ..."
Whoa whoa whoa - I have never said the Yankees don't make bad personell decisions from time to time. Obviously they do, but so does every other team in every other sport. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I'm sure if he could have done it all over again Cashman would not have given Kyle Farnsworth, Kei Igawa, Giambi, or Carl Pavano contracts - but such is life. There's little point crying about them now. The point of being a fan is to root for the team that's out there, not pine away for what they could have/should have done in off-seasons gone by.
I'm sure if he could do it over again the Mets probably wouldn't have traded Brian Bannister for Ambiorix Burgoss, or sent Scott Kazmir to the Rays. I'm sure Theo wishes he kept Orlando Cabrera rather than signing Edgar Renteria and regrets giving Curt Schilling a contract for this year or letting D-Lowe go in favor of Matt Clement or sending Bronson Arroyo to the Reds for Wily Mo Pena. I bet the Dodgers would like to have the Jason Schmidt contract as a do-over as much as the Giants wish they could take back Barry Zito's deal and that the Cards would like to have Dan Haren and Dan Meyer rather than a broken Mark Mulder.
Jim A and Rick - What makes Joba, Kennedy, Hughes any less likely to succeed than Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte when they came up in 95-96?
The problem with Rick's argument that the Yankees should have sent Hughes, Melky, and Kennedy packing for Santana is that Hughes, Kennedy and Melky aren't the problem. If the Yankees had Santana they would still have Mussina in the rotation and he's the one who stinks.
He loves Ted Lilly - we get it - Ted Lilly is a fifth starter in the American League - anyone with a hint of baseball sense knows that. The only player in the rotation who Lilly would be an upgrade over is Mussina and with an $11 million dollar contract, Mussina is going to pitch. There is NO doubt that a rotation of Santana, Wang, Andy, Mussina, Lilly would make some people more comfortable - but of those pitchers only two have more years ahead of them than behind them. And you know what, frankly I'm tired of watching the Yankees ship out all their prospects - lets see what the kids can do here for a change.
I get it, there are questions about this pitching staff - big ones - but there are questions about every pitching staff in baseball. There were questions about the pitching staff of the 96 Yankees too. In fact there were more questions about that pitching staff than there were in 01,02,03.
As for first base - look, anyone with half a brain knows what the plan is: Stop gap this year and go hard for Teixeira this winter. Would it be great to have Adrian Gonzalez's glove and Ryan Howard's bat over there year after year - sure. But who knows, maybe Morgan Ensberg flashes leather over there. And if it all falls apart, I'm sure the Yankees will make inquiries about Doug M. (who they only let go because they wanted a right handed bat)
Jim A.
I agree that this is a year of transition - breaking in the kids while saying goodbye to the likes of Giambi, Mussina, Andy, Farnsworth, and likely Abreu as well.
Nudge:
For what it's worth I believe the Yankee rotation to open the new stadium will be - Sabathia, Wang, Joba, Hughes, Kennedy.
I defintiely agree this is a transition year, kind of appropriate considering this is the last year at YS, and the team might miss the playoffs this season. However, the future looks bright and better things will come, so you have to be patient right now.
We know we have Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Posada, and Melky will be here the next couple seasons at least and that's a very good core. I would imagine/hope one of Matsui and Damon will be traded at the latest after the season, since their contracts expire at season's end. I think I would bring back Abreu- perfect hitter in front of A-Rod. Good news is we have Tabata, Jackson, Curtis, Gardner, maybe Miranda coming soon. Look forward to Giambi's dumb contract finally being gone after the season.
Wang, Hughes, and Pettitte all are good and will give the team a good chance to win every time they're out. Mussina is a 5th tarter at this point and thanfully will also be gone at end of season. Any good he does is extra. Kennedy will have growing pains because he has lesser stuff than Hughes and Joba, but I like him and can tell he knows what he's doing- be pateint with him. It's great we have guys ike Horne, Marquez, McCutchen, Betances, etc. developing.
Bullpen is still a strength with Mo and Joba. Traber, Brueny, and Ohlendorf look good. Farnsworth gone at season's end! Hawkins too! Looking forward to J.B. Cox and Sanchez and Melancon coming back from injuries and replacing those two.
We'll sign at least one of Sabathia and Texeria at the end of the season.
We have one of the best young managers in the game.
We'll be fine, even if we don't make the playoffs this year. The future hasn't looked this good in a while.
Chip, where do you see Horne fitting in? And no, because I merely mentioned one of the kids, I'm not penciling him in the HOF. I hope you are wrong about CC. He looks huge this year, and after another year of 200+ innings with that frame, he's a prime candidate for a physical breakdown.
What if Harden stays healthy to the all-star break, should the Yanks make a run at him? I think we might be debating this in a few months...
How long is Harden signed for? I highly doubt the Yanks would take him for a few reasons:
1. Beane would want a king's ransom for him
2. He is a RHP, and we seem to have cornered the market there.
3. His injury history
I can see them going for some mid-level guy who is in his walk year and may not cost much if they need someone to fill in gaps while the young guys limit their innings, much like the Corey Lidle pickup of a couple of years ago, even though Lidle was a throw-in as part of the Abreu trade.
Chip: I think the odds are stacked against the the three young pitchers having the type of careers envisioned by a lot of people on this blog. I suspect one of them will be very good to great, one will be a serviceable major leaguer and one will be considered a letdown. I have no data whatsoever to back that up, it's just my 35 years of watching baseball prospects that lead me to that opinion. Nobody hopes more than I do that they all end up superstars but I just can't let myself get excited about that. I know the Yanks caught lightning in a bottle w/ Jeter, Rivera and Pettitte (Posada too), so it makes me wonder if it is possible to happen again. I hope.
Chip,
You still keep making Joba a starter. He is a reliever. Hughes and Kennedy still have much to prove that they even deserve to be here. Of course if the Yanks don't get better work from the starters in their system that may well be their rotation. It doesn't mean its one that wins though.
It would be helpful if before people talk for, instance about Joba being that dominant number one that other teams have.....if he can at least win ONE game as a starter. Stop believing your own press. Be like a Missou.....Show Me!
Jeff,
If this is a transition year then what is next year. Considering that next year the team will need 2 new outfielders a first baseman possibly a catcher and closer and 2 new starters. Additionally they need to address what to do with Jeter and of course the always unanswered whos in the bull pen questions.
Hey, Ant changed his name back. I guess his First Grade antics last night were as transparent as a window.
I happen to know that the IP addresses for Delany and Ant are the same. And nobody on this board ever defends his idiotic rants but Ant himself.
That's fine, Ant. Keep up the First Grade antics. At least this little game of yours exposes the childish behavior you participate in when people call you out and speak the truth about how everyone on this board thinks you're a joke.
Nudge- I'm assuming the team will bring back Abreu considering he's a good fit for the team and in front of A-Rod. He should hold down the fort until Tabata replaces him. I would think Matsui is more likely to be traded than Damon and Damon will be the LF.
For 1B, yeah, Giambi thankfully will be gone. Teixiera would be a great fit and hopefully the Yanks sign him. Maybe Miranda will have a big season in AAA this season and step up as well. They have Duncan and Betemit here also.
Posada and Mariano will still be the catcher and closer for at least the next couple seasons based on their extensions.
I can see Melancon, Cox, and Sanchez, with Ramierz and Patterson emerging in the bullpen and feel this is a strength.
I always thought Jeter will end up at 1B at some point but not now.
Nudge,
I'm making Joba a starter because, until the Yankees say otherwise, they are calling him a starter. At the very least I believe that the Yankees will experiment with Joba as a starter, whether or not it becomes a full time thing, I don't think anyone knows for sure. There are a few factors that will dictate Joba's future:
1. Development of Hughes, Kennedy, Sanchez, Brackman, Horne, Marquez et al - If the Yankees think that that group has someone who, THEY BELIEVE, can bring the kind of dominant stuff to the mound that they believe Joba would offer as a front line starter - then they can keep Joba in the pen. If not, a starter is more valuable than a reliever.
2. Joba's development. Nudge keeps bringing up his size as a reason he would not last as a starter - I'm not buying it. I think more important is whether or not they can find a way to get his innings count up to the point that it makes sense to use him in the rotation.
3. Team needs. Just like I said about the starter prospects, if Melancon, Humberto Sanchez, Ross Ohlendorf - whomever - develop to the point that they can fill that 8th inning role then the Yankees will at least TRY Joba in the rotation.
Re: Harden
No way the Yankees trade for him. Jon Heyman was reporting this winter that Billy Beane asked for Phil Hughes AND Joba for Joe Blanton - which I don't necessarily believe he did - but Beane does have a habit of holding out for a top flight deal. If the Yankees wouldn't deal prospects for Santana, they aren't going to cough up the type of prospects Beane will want for Harden, especially considering his injury history.
I think eventually the Yankees will reach out to Freddy Garcia (who is out until June) or if they decide to make a deal I could see a trade deadline pick up of a Matt Morris/Kevin Millwood type. But again, that depends on a few factors - How Mussina and the kids are doing/what they have going in the minors.
As for Horne - depends on a few things, Brackman/Joba/Sabathia - stuff like that. Obviously not all of the kids are going to make it. Some are going to be traded away, some just won't develop.
If it were me, I would take this year, see how Horne does at AAA and essentially decide if I want him or Kennedy going forward and move the other one. Kennedy is obviously further along, but Horne has the more impressive arsenal of pitches.
Chip,
Careful. I haven't mentioned his size since last year!
Nudge,
You have about a dozen posts of what people said last year.