Bonus Yankees mailbag
Every Monday for the remainder of the offseason, we’ll be putting a new Yankees mailbag on the yankees.com site — today’s will be posted later in the day. But there’s always questions we can’t get to in the bins of thousands, so here are a few that will run only as blog content. Have at it and discuss amongst yourselves:
Hopefully a relatively simple question that most if not all fans would like an answer to! With so many names being thrown around as potential new Yankees for next spring, who do you think are the realistic targets? For the record, I’d like Mark Teixiera, Ben Sheets & either C.C. Sabathia or A.J. Burnett, both would be a bonus! – Lee J., Liverpool, England
If you’re going to shoot, why not shoot high, right? Brian Cashman said last week that upgrading the starting rotation will be the No. 1 priority this offseason, and it doesn’t take a Ouija board to put together that the Yankees are going to make a very serious push for Sabathia. He may love California and wearing spikes every day in the National League, but Sabathia isn’t ruling out the American League by any stretch and the Yankees have the kind of bank muscle that could make it happen.
You figure that no matter what happens, Sabathia is going to come away from this without needing to clip coupons from the Sunday paper. His deal could trump the six-year, $137.5 million deal the Mets gave Johan Santana. Here’s what he told reporters in Milwaukee on Sunday, when the Phillies knocked the Brewers out: “I haven’t even gotten that far yet and thought about that. It’s still stinging a little bit, losing the series. I’ll go home this winter and make my decision.”
So buckle up. If Sabathia doesn’t pick New York, the next tier of free agent pitchers would be Burnett, Sheets and perhaps Derek Lowe, and then there’s the trade market to help out as well. As of right now, the only guaranteed member of the rotation should be Chien-Ming Wang — Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina may very well return, but it’s not certain, and nothing is being assured to Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy.
Joe Torre and the Dodgers made the playoffs. How come we fired him? And also how come Joe Girardi is automatically coming back next year? He definitely didn’t get it done this year. – Jon F., Great Neck, N.Y.
Just to get the particulars correct, Torre was offered a one-year contract which he rejected because he found the incentive-based structure insulting. I was sent out on assignment last week to talk to fans at Yankee Stadium about the Dodgers making the playoffs and, in the upset of the year, Yankees fans still like Joe Torre. But Torre has said repeatedly that his last three years in New York weren’t fun, and maybe it was time to part ways.
For the record, I do not believe that the Yankees would have made the playoffs in ’08 if Torre had remained as manager – not unless he had magical healing powers that we never saw and used them on Chien-Ming Wang or Jorge Posada. Girardi acknowledged that there were areas he needed to improve upon, most notably dealing with the media on the topics of injuries.
That said, Girardi’s relationship with the veterans improved over the course of the year and managing the bullpen was one of his strengths. There was no chance the Yankees were going to end the relationship of a three-year contract after one injury-marred season.
For next year, is there going to be an open tryout between Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner for the starting centerfield spot, or do you see Melky not starting next year? I feel the Yankees need to be more patient with their young talent. Melky is one of those prospects who I think should be the Yankees starting centerfielder for years to come. He was not the problem this year. – Matt O., North Stonington, CT
I would agree that Melky was not reason the Yankees did not make the playoffs, but there seems to be a sentiment that he has fallen out of favor with some. Cabrera is actually a year younger than Gardner and Gardner has a lot of tools that some, particularly Girardi, enjoy, like being a disruptive “pest” on the bases and using his plus-speed in the outfield.
Cabrera’s defense was above-average as well, and there was a sense the Yankees sent him to Triple-A in part to work on his stealing because of how Gardner can impact a game. The Yankees need to figure out what Johnny Damon is to them. If he’s not capable of starting 80 to 100 games in center field, as he insists he can, then it’s between Cabrera and Gardner, barring new additions.
Bryan Hoch
Top 10 things I don’t want to see from Yankees, some have already happened or going to happen for some reason.
10. Brian Cashman return (I’m sick of hearing the farm what about the bigs?)
9. Posada behind the plate( coming off surgery better have good insurance)
8. Joba in rotation( he may have to close games with Rivera having surgery)
7.Kennedy/Hughes in the rotation(only in case of injury should they be top 5 starter in 09)
6.Not willing to move young potential for proven winners(ie Hughes/Cabrera for Santana…dumb)
5.Keep Abreau instead of Nady
4. Giambi at First base(just hasn’t worked in New York)
3. Cabrera/Gardner everyday Centerfield(just not good enough) out of two Gardner
2.Carl Pavano or Darrel Rasner, PERIOD
1.No less than 3 new starting pitchers in the Rotation.
Sabathia open to NY:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/sabathia-open-t.html
Braves are kicking tires with Nady and will possible include Kochman.
I didn’t know Cocoa Crisp was that good in the outfield, he covers ground smoothly.
I’m not coocoo for cocoa crisp in NY. Nady-LF, Gardner-CF, & Melky-RF. Let Damon & Godzilla thumb wrestle over DH. Abreu is 34 & wants a 3-4 yr deal. Please do not sign this guy past his 36th b-day. That’s when the wheels fall off. Ask Jorge & Mo. Jeter is creeping up. I don’t care how much Stat-Rod raves about hitting after him. Cashman better get something done this off-season. My season ended when the Yankees’ did. If this team doesn’t get to the playoffs next season, I’ll find a different past-time.
Lineup I want to see
LF Damon/ Gardner Starting Pitching
SS Jeter Wang
1B Mark Texeira( at all costs) AJ Burnett( pay him)
3B ARod Sabathia/Zac Greinke(T)
DH Matsui Joba( only b/c it will happen
RF Nady Jon Garland(great Rotation)
2B Brian Robers (T) Bull pen I like need to Add
CF McLouth (T) Brian Fuentes or Gagne
C Molina/Posada?/ IRod ( insurance)
I told you guys this whole ” California ” thing was way overblown by the media. Sabathia seemed pretty honest in his quotes and left no rocks unturnes. It’s pretty clear that he: A. Wants to come to a playoff caliber team. and B. Is looking for a really good paycheck, and a family-friendly organization, which the Yankees are.
They’ll make it happen foremost because they need to make it happen. And for those of you who want an All-Star at every position, consider this:
Defense cancels run production because better defense equals less baserunners.
Pitching, which we will have a whole bunch of once we sign the likes of Sabathia ir Burnett or whatever, also cancels out run production.
Athletic players have a ton of upside, older players can only go down.
It’s obvious I’ talking about Gardner and Melky, both of which will be competing for the starting CF job. You won’t see McLouth or Kemp or anybody else in there, simply because we don’t need to go out and get a CF. We need to go out and get a firstbaseman and some Starting Pitching, which will rival those of the Red Sox and Rays. With and Sabathia and Wang at the top of the rotation, along with Joba, Pettitte and Hughes to round it out, we would easily compete or beat those other AL East teams.
We’ve never had a one-two punch like a potential CC-Wang punch would be, and we clearly have a chance to acquire that in the coming weeks.
Next year we will be a completely different team, on the younger side with shut down pitching and revamped defense. We’ve always had the offense, it’s just that can’t score seven runs everyday, no matter what the salary of the player in the lineup.
How could I forget sticking Teixeira in between Jeter and A-Rod? We’d have those other teams crapping their pants.
Old Yankee Stadium…… I’ve heard stories about it turning into a target or tarring it down, come on. I know some people think they should keep it up… but i think they should have the high school and college world series there. It would be like a field of dreams to them. Comment to that.
Matt, Sabathia has personally said that all that calfiornia… west side hoopla was all crap. He’s going to the highest bidder with a championship caliber team. Think Yankees, Angels, Mets, Red Sox. Don’t count on seeing him in a Dodger uniform simply because they’re on the west side. That’s like saying he’d rather play close to home than play towards winning a championship. That would seriously be pathetic. I still do not bank on having him in the rotation next year, but now that he’s personally stated his thoughts, what once seemed like a “maybe” is more like ” make it happen “. Of course, the Yanks can give him the bank and sell all the championship crap all they want; It’s in his hands and in his family’s hands ( though I think his family will back him, no matter what decision he makes. That’s what a family does. ) So those matters are secondary to the money and the direction being taken by the organization.
Matt
In my opinion you habve ridden Gardner badly from the outset. He was yes a novice/rookie first but it is apparent he is a quick and avid learner soaking up like a sponge so to speak. His last 15 games were an enormous upside on his first fiftee, he can run both in the outfield, has a great arm , he can bunt and his hitting with runners on base was exceptional especially late in the season. To me he has all the tools required and his hitting has improved and I believe will improve even further. Sabbathia has been quoted that he will consider all offers he has not signalled a preference anywhere, if he was anti New York he would have said so. Matt the side does not need a complete overhaul. It does require starting pitching which it will get. It requires a solid first base. Lighten up and be positive. Management will get the job done show some faith. Management was not the cause of injuries sustained and they did a great job with trades in acquiring Nady and Alceves and they will get the job done in the off season no doubt. They will and should pursue Sabbathia and Burnett. I believe Coke is a good option as well a solid and young lefty with a huge upside to go along with Pettite that leaves Sabbathia Wang Burnett Mussina Hughes along with Pettite Alceves Coke as well as Chamberlain. That provides depth which the team has not had.
Gardner as we all do has to start somewhere ” From little things big things grow ” Song by grat Aussie artist Paul Kelly have a listen if you can.
Keep up the vibrant posts Aussie Bryan
I won’t fight this ” Gardner and Melky versus the Superstars ” fight anymore. They’re young, both working hard, very athletic wiht huge upside and both play solid CF defense. I personally wish they would tear the league a new hole to silence all this crap about how impotent they are as hitters. If they are so impotent and have no upside what-so-ever, then why is the organiation wasting their time with them? Please people, we saw what Melky can do when he’s right, and we saw what Gardner can do when he’s right: absolutely spark the offense.
Let’s end this nonsense.
SOS
SOS
If Sabbatiha wants to come here, he will. We have a way of making it about the money but I don’t want it to be JUST about the money. I don’t want players to come here just for the big payday. I’m sick of the mercenaries.
Remember the guy who this board trashed last year as a free agent? Torrii Hunter, well he was the only clutch hitter the Angels had in their series. It is impossible to project these guys, so I’d rather stick Damon in center for the final year of his deal than trade for anyone. Ride or Die with Damon. Damon can ignite the offense when he’s on.
Some more famous Cashman moments:
2001 Paul O’Neill is working out saying if the Yankees need him, he will come back for the 2nd half/playoffs. Yankees acquire OF Raul Modesi….
Yankees terminate contract of Bubba Trammell after a death in the family.
Yankees let Andy Pettitte go to Houston after signing David Wells to a minor league deal. Clemens follows Pettitte to Houston. Wells subsequently gets a major league deal with another team.
Yankees sign Otavia Dotel to rehab for 2 years and go somewhere else.
Yeah, I’m not sure we lost much in Trammel. And he didn’t play again after that.
Golf, I guess what I was getting at was the fact the he was on the roster to begin with.
The main consequence of this year´s third place, is that the Yankees have increasingly become less independent at the moment of making the necessary decisions to rebuild the present dysfunctional team.
Why? Because now, more than ever, they have to take into account every possible decision its rivals are going to make; they simply need improvements, the Yankees need a complete overhaul. Imagine only this: Teixeira reinforcing Boston; Sabathia, completing a duo with Santana, or maybe worse, Sabathia with the Angels.
You don´t build up a new team during a single winter. Boston became what it is now after years of sticking to a certain philosophy, making wrong decisions, but also enjoying the great ones. The evaluation of Cashman´s performance cannot be done just analyzing last year´s decisions. On the contrary, a real evaluation would look at acquisitions like Brown, Igawa, Farnsworth, Giambi, Karsay, Pavano, etc. Meanwhile, Boston acquired Ortiz, Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Okajima, Bay, Lowell. And signed Lester, Ellsbury, and Pedroia. (Other Cashman mistakes: the last two could have been drafted by the Yankees, instead of CJ Henry and Matt Smith –who and where are they?)
The starting pitching has suffered because of many years of bad decisions: the last one, not taking the best pitcher of his generation, Johan Santana, a proven fighter after July, especially in September. Meanwhile, we have Wang, who needs to prove he can pitch in the playoffs. What about this insane notion of going with two young and unproven pitchers –Kennedy and Hughes- indicating at the same time they would not pitch more than 150 innings, while you had to carry a suspicious –at best- bullpen? I am afraid Burnett will receive an amount close to the money Cashman didn´t want to give Santana.
For years, defensive skills, and DH and/or first base needs have been neglected. And yet, Cashman has not ruled out the return of Giambi! (Tampa has Carlos Peña, who not only is a proven batter, this year he had the best defensive percentage of MLB). Well, some say we could have Matsui, or Damon, or Posada, playing first base. Meanwhile, Boston has Ortiz as DH and Youkilis at first –no comments.
Last but not least: attitudes. Cabrera and Cano, among others, have not shown a Yankee attitude. Kevin Long may teach Cano everything he knows on batting next winter, but who will teach him how to become a true Yankee in the field? Can it even be taught?
I am sick of logging in 12 times a day.
Maybe the Mets want Sabathia more than Santana. We should see if the Mets want to trade Santana now that he had knee surgery. Kick the tire on Santana? I would do due dilengence here. How the heck will they afford both of them?
Santana didn’t lose since July but he is hurt and clearly overused.
Why are the Mets trying to sign Sabathia? Do they love luxury tax? Pitching wins championships. Bad coaches do not.
I know the Mets won’t trade him but if they really are interested in Sabathia, we should atleast call them and ask them what they would want for Santana. I’d rather have Santana than Sabathia and I would trade Kennadia with Gardner or Cabrera. Santana is in another league and the Mets don’t know what to do with him. Pitching him 9 innings might win games or have games stay tied but it only results in fatigue and injury.