On the Yankees beat

How the heck can A-Rod not realize how many games are left in the season? Where is the sense of urgency? Joe G. should have stopped coddling these guys about two months ago and started kicking some butt like we were told he would. For all of those who wanted Joe G. to come in and be the opposite of Joe T., I have to imagine you are a little disappointed. The only difference I see between them right now is that Joe T. got the team to the playoffs.

There's no way that this team is going to the post season. I was optimistic about it a few weeks back, but they just dug too deep a hole to get out of. When they have to throw out Ponson and Rasner on a regular basis along with Pettitte not doing the job either, they can't string any wins together.

I gave up last night at 6-0 and a man at 3rd and decided to watch the Giants game, so I missed the 5 run ninth. Too little too late, but better than 7-0. Not a bad showing against the first place team - after winning the first 2, and going with a totally depleted pitching staff.

High hopes for next year!

I see I was posting during last night's live blog. Very impressive considering I was in section 209 at Giants Stadium last night during the Yankee game.

Didn't see the game so I can't really comment on it. My brother and I were discussing though, what the rotation should look like for next year. We agree that if CC doesn't sign with the Yankees that there's going to be big trouble in NY. Cashman can't just bring back Andy and Moose and say mission accomplished. Especially if innings limits will prevent Hughes and Joba from starting in the rotation. Brian has to be creative in how he approaches this winter.

So let me ask this to the group - if CC doesn't come to NY - how do you want Cashman to address the rotation?

My "Plan B" go after Yu Darvish (if he's posted) and AJ Burnett. And then explore the trade market. See if you can get Billingsly or Kershaw from the Dodgers, or Grienke from KC, maybe even King Felix for Cano...

I thnk the Yankees have to go HARD after both CC and AJ. A top 3 of CC, AJ and CM would most likely be awesome. I say this assuming Joba will be in the pen next year.

The Yanks have proven over the past few years that they can't have enough pitching. At the beginning of every season they think they have enough and then we end up watching guys like Ponson, Rasner and Shawn Chacon become vital to the team's success. I agree with going as hard as you can after CC, pretty darn hard at Burnett or Sheets (I don't really like him all that much to be honest) and if Darvish is posted, bring him on too. Sign Moose to a one year deal (I can't believe I said that) and go into next season with no less than 7 above average starters. We all know Burnett, Sheets and maybe Hughes would all miss starts with injuries anyway so why not? Run them in and out of the rotation and lock it down in October when you can go into a playoff game with a very short leash on your starter if he gets in trouble.

CC's success in the NL is really hurting the Yanks chances of getting him. If someone will pay him close to what the Yankees will (Dodgers?), then he will probably stay in a league that he is dominating and be closer to his home.
As I said about Santana last season, adding someone at the top of the rotation like CC, would slot everyone else where they belong as Wang could be a good number 3 (If Joba takes over the 2 spot), man that top 3 would be great. Burnett at # 4? Nice! Trade Kennedy in a package for an OF and let Sanchez and Brackman work out of the pen for a while.

Mike Francessa just made a few points on the Yanks' off season:
1 They have to make a decision on whether Joba is a starter or a reliever. To have him start the year in the pen and then transition him over to the rotation like they did this year is not good. Either he's in the rotation or the pen, not both. To me, that's just not making progress with this kid and it's not fair to him. I waffle on this, but I'm now in agreement with Sully in that this kid belongs in the pen. The Yanks will have the best pen in baseball with Veras, Marte, Joba and then Mo which could help in attracting starting pitching knowing that starters have those guys in the pen day in and day out. (Sorry Viper).
2. They need a young athletic CF and it ain't Melky Cabrera!!!
3. Goodbye Jason Giambi.
4. What do you do with Pettitte and Mussina? I'm leaning towards giving Mussina a 1 year deal and bringing him back. I think that the reason that he's been successful this season (and I heard this on some sports talk show so it's not my great revelation) is that he's pitching inside (FINALLY!!!!!). If he continues to do that there's no reason that he can't keep being an effective 4 or 5 guy for the Yanks. Not sure that Pettitte wants to come back.
5. Let Bobby "There's no wall that I can conquer!) Abreu walk. I hate his defense.
6. They need some grinder-type players again. They had that in the championship run and now the Red Sox have them (Youkilis, Pedroia, Lowrie, Ellsbury) to go along with a good rotation and a solid pen.

Joba is going to be a Number 1 starter next year. Let him start right away, but keep his innings/pitch count down each game. Hughes can be a #3 if treated the same way. Yes to Mussina, Peteite for 1 year each.

I honestly think getting top flight first basemen and center-fielders is more imporatant than pitching right now.

Jon K... if you keep Joba's innings and pitches down then how is he a #1 pitcher.

And if Joba only throws 5 or 6 innings, who is pitching the 7th and 8th.

I love how people count the starting pitchers innings but give nary a thought to blowing out the relievers who pitch every day because they coddle the starting pitchers.

This strategy of coddling starters doesn't come within 593,122 miles of making sense.

Jon Lester had f---ing cancer in 2006.
In 2008 he has a pair of complete games and is averaging more than 6 1/3 innings a start.

If Lester was a Yankee, they'd use him as a middle reliever throwing 4 pitches a week.

Instead we've got a guy who will probably win 15-16 games with a 3.50 ERA.

Nothing about this Joba situation makes sense.
He made his debut in 2007.
At the end of 2009, nobody will know what the hell he is.

Make a decision and put him in that role!

Like I said, Lester and Papelbon were shut down at the end of 2006.

Midway through 2008 they have rings on their fingers and clearly defined roles.

Seems pretty logical to me.
And last time I checked, Joba didn't have cancer

Wait a second Jon K...

you want to put Joba AND Hughes on pitch limits and pitch counts?

You want 40% of your games started by pitchers you use kid gloves with?

And you expect them to become bonafide starters how exactly?

Sully,
Lester is about the only success story Boston can offer when it comes to their young pitching. They touted the fact that they had a lot of great young pitching coming up with Lester, Buccholz, Hansen, A. Sanchez etc. but look how they've all turned out: Some have been hurt, some have been traded, some have been both and one is back in the minors.

I'd hardly call Boston the beacon of pitching success stories.

John's G and K: If the Yanks don't get CC, to me Joba has to be a starter- has to! What good is a great bullpen when you're losing 7-0 in the third inning.

Yesterday John Heyman on WFAN/Francesa said Cano was hanging out with some shady characters in Toronto. Gotta move him in the offseason.

Jim A...
Is Papelbon an old pitcher?
Is he not a product of the farm system?

Is Masterson an old pitcher?
Is he not a product of the farm system?

Is Delcarmen an old pitcher?
Is he not a product of the farm system

So that's four this year.

four young pitchers playing key roles (closer, 2 set up men, #2 starter) down the stretch... with three of them going for their second ring....

Those aren't bad success stories.
Sorry to let the facts get in the way of your jab

Jim A,

That's fine.

As long as they build up his arm strength and pitch count (Man, I HATE that!) in Spring Training and he starts the season in the rotation, and not by starting him in the pen and building him up during the season for a return to the rotation. I would hope that they don't do the same thing in 09 that they did in 08. That's not progress.

One or the other, Bro.

finally red sox fans can talk about players from the farm contributing to their success. wasn't like that for decades, and certainly not 2004, majority of that team NOT from the farm. Now they have something to talk about however

I gotta chime in here...

Sorry Jim A., but Sully is absolutely correct. The Sox have oodles of young talented arms that ARE making an impact, and more waiting in the wings. Not only is Lester, Papelbon, Masterson,and DelCarmen products of the Sox farm system and now quite productive, but guys like Michael Bowden (did just fine in his ML debut, by the way)Daniel Bard, Kris Johnson are turning heads....and there is just no questioning the talent that Bucholz has...I know that he struggled this year, and the other "prospects" are not locks...but my money is on Bucholz being a #1 someday, and this kid Bard will be a "lights out" type of reliever.

I watch/have watched these kids quite alot because the AA team is very close to where I live.

Igone it...and it might go away, some folks simply need to be right.