Arbitration for Wang?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3242314

Yankees inquiring about Blanton and considering Lohse.

Wang is gonna be expensive but he is under contract for the next 3 years. Lets spend the money on CC.

Just keep Joba in the setup role and let him be an emergency starter if needed. Keep Kennedy in AAA for awhile and sign a cheap veteran until Kennedy is fully ready.

Is Bryan gone? I saw another guy is writing the articles.

Whining from both sides over 600 grand? Why don't they make it 4.3 and call it a day?

I am in the minority here but I don't think Wang should get a long term deal. I am far from sold on him, when he gets nervous, he gets scared. I saw it in his eyes when Torre left him in the game after giving up a no-hitter. $4M is more than fair.

As for adding a free agent pitcher at low cost, I think Colon could fit that bill on a 1 year deal. If he fails, we can cut him lose.

chaz, because wang wants a long term deal

bpark, i think your the majority that wang doesn't deserve a long term deal yet.

Wang will get his $4.6mil and deservingly so, He'll may get a 2 year deal at most. But I agree with the Yanks that since he is tied up until 2011, Why take a chance of him possibly being injured. I think they are being cautiously frugal after the "Pavano" fiasco.
"GO YANKEES"

That's HE not He'll....
It's going to be a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

"GO YANKEES"

Wang will get his $4.6mil and deservingly so, He'll may get a 2 year deal at most. But I agree with the Yanks that since he is tied up until 2011, Why take a chance of him possibly being injured. I think they are being cautiously frugal after the "Pavano" fiasco.
"GO YANKEES"

Posted by: fjr69@go.com | February 12, 2008 05:59 PM

Why would we give him a 2 year deal, he is signed through 2011. we don't want him to leave after 2009 instead.

I agree that Wang doesn't need a long term deal, but I don't see what's wrong with a 2 year contract with club options for the other 2. I don't see why a compromise can't be reached here.

Buster Olney reported on ESPN today that the Yankees may look into Joe Blanton because the A's have asked for Single A player packages. This could be an interesting development especially if things with Pettite don't continue to be a distraction to him. I wouldn't mind seeing Wang, Blanton, Hughes, Pettite, Moose. Kennedy in AAA and Joba in the pen.

yea Wholohan, I linked that article in my first post. Blaton could be a good move. I think Colon should be offered a spring training invite. He may take it and we can use him for cheap or cut him loose.

Until we get a lights out setup man, Joba has to remain in the pen. Mo had the fewest saves of his career because we couldn't get the ball to him. Farnsworth has all the tools but is inconsistent. Viz wasn't great but he ate alot of innings. We need a Brian Fuentes or someone who can be lights out. Is Tom Gordon 03 on the market?

The problem with Blanton and Lohse is they are both RHPs If they were being thought of for taking Petitte's spot we'll have all RHPs, We need to get a good LHP, If we're trying to find a replacement for Andy. I think Andy will make it, He's a warrior, not a worrier, (I hope) I am more concerned about Moose, Can he come back
and pitch like the old Moose?. One more day of waiting!

"GO YANKEES"

I'm in D.C. on Capitol Hill. Tony DiComo has the Yankees well covered until Friday.

Not Pettitte. No concern there. Don't see him struggling, don't see a suspension either. With Joba in the pen, we can let Kennedy develop in AAA and sign someone like Colon CHEAP to be our 5th starter.

Canseco backs Clemens and submits testimony on his behalf.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3243096

"Until we get a lights out setup man, Joba has to remain in the pen"

exactly! bpark23 i think is the only one who agrees that a lights-out setup man is extremely important.. starters can lose a game and Mo might not pitch the ninth unless a solid consistent setup dude can bridge the game

one and two run wins add up, people

If we don't have a bridge to MO. We shouldn't have paid him all that money. Last year he went days between appearance and showed serious flaws when he pitched after long rest. Cash if your listening keep Joba in the pen if you don't want to make a big trade.

The other issue is with Hughes and Kennedy if they only go 4-5 innings. They might leave the game trailing or with a slight lead, then who pitches 5,6,7, and 8 + what happens in those crucial innings. Mo might find himself throwing but not going into the game.

Detroit looks very very good.

Guys I'm buying the 400k package for the months I'm at college. I just have a fews questions before I commit to the money.

So dumb but wanna make sure hah: It's audio along with the video right lol?

Is it the cbs/yes announcers (kay, oniel, singleton, flaherty) and no the radio (sterling)

And lastly, how many times do the games freeze per year, and for how long? And does both the audio and visual freeze or just visual?

Real sorry but this will help so much if you guys can gimme some info!!! And sorry I haven't been able to post for a while I've been back at U of Delaware getting back to the swing of things. Thanks guys hope you can help! Go Yanks!

Hey, corshep!

Great to have you back on "Bombers Beat" !

You'll really enjoy the MLB.TV package. I signed up for the package at the end of last year [August and September], and it made following the pennant race much more fun...watching all the Yankee games [here in NY] on YES and CH. 9, and, also, viewing the Red Sox [and other out-of-town games] on the computer on MLB.TV...

I do suggest that you sign up for the MLB.TV - Premium package...The cost is only $30.00 more for the whole season, and the picture quality is a lot better on the premium package...

When I signed up at the end of last year, I started with the 400K basic package. Then I upgraded to the MLB.TV Premium package in September...The 700K picture was so much more clearer, and this year the Premium will be 800K which is an increase of 14%...so, the picture quality should be even better this year!

I'm in New York, so the Yankee games are backed-out [on MLB.TV], but based on how the coverage of the out of town games work, I think on "all" games the announcers are from the "home team" broadcast...So, on Yankee Home games, the announcers will be Kay, Singleton, etc.; and, on Yankee Road games, the broadcast, and announcers, will be from the team the Yankees are playing that day...

All games [home and away] on audio are from the Yankees CBS radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman...

Finally, the picture does freeze from time-to-time throughout the game, but I would say this is only a minor inconvenience...The audio is just like listening to the game on radio, and from my experience didn't freeze up at all. But, I really didn't listen to too many games on the audio [on the computer]...

Anyway, overall MLB.TV is excellent. I think the Premium package is a lot better deal, but either way you will definitely enjoy having the package...It will make the Baseball Season so much more fun to follow !!!

Take care, corshep!

Jimmy

Jimmy27NYY

http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/

With the numbers so close, it's strange they can't come to an agreement.

corshep - MLB.TV is the way to go. I've used it for a couple years now, and really have had no complaints. There is some minor freezing, but it doesn't happen often, but as each season passes it improves.

I'd also reccommend the premium subscription. It's not much more money, and overall quality is better.

http://fightingphils.mlblogs.com

I'm not worried about Andy. I think he's being truthful (he has no reason to lie, no axe to grind, nothing to benefit), I think he got off his chest what he needed to and will move on. Canseco doesn't exactly have a lot of credibility, speaking of axes to grind.....

Regarding Chien-Ming Wang...

The Yankees should give Wang what he wants!...

They should sign Wang to a similar 4-6 year deal that they gave to Robinson Cano!

It will cost the Yankees less to sign Wang - NOW, then later on, in future years!

Wang has earned the increase and extension of his contract.......

Hopefully, the Yankees will sign him before spring training starts. With only one day to go, the clock is ticking!

Jimmy27NYY

Think Spring!

http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/

The "Big Day" has finally arrived !!!

It's a sad day for Baseball, but the Hearings will be interesting to watch!

Stay Tuned !!!

And, Think Spring!

Only One Day Until The Start Of Spring Training!

Jimmy27NYY

http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/

You guys all know how important I think a strong bullpen is to a ballclub in today's game. That said, Chamberlain as a setup man should be TEMPORARY in the strongest sense of the word. I don't have a problem with easing him into the starting role by throwing him for part of the season as our "Mo Bridge".

That said, the Yankees had better be making moves during the season to bring in someone to replace him if another pitcher does not emerge within our own system. Leaving Joba as a lowly reliever is an UTTER WASTE of his talent. It's really simple math, and frankly, it's not even arguable. Having a pitcher of his skill throw 200 innings will benefit the team far more than having him throw for 80.

Again, it's a good idea (i guess) to start him in the bullpen, and work him into a starting role. Leaving him there permanently just so Cashman can be lazy and not find a true setup man is just stupid. The Yankees are in a great financial position after the end of this season, where money can be invested into finding quality guys to fill the remaining holes on the squad. There are also plenty of lower tier prospects that could make a compelling trade package to an opposing team.

If you ask me, I think we should be looking "in house" to fill as many of these positions as we can. Hopefully, one of the other relievers who earns a roster spot can repeat what Joba did for us late last season. I don't want to see Joba in the bullpen any longer than he has to be there.

Corshep, I'm going the same route, only I think I'm going to shell out the extra bucks for the premium package. I did the basic package last year, and it was great, but I want to try the premium once to see how the quality is. When I had the basic package, it froze once in awhile, but it wasn't anything unbearable most of the time.

-Justin

http://pinstripeperspective.blogspot.com/

Again, I think the Yanks should offer Wang a 2 year deal with club option on 2 more seasons. That way Wang gets his 4 years commensurate on how healthy he stays, and how well he performs. With as much of a horse as he is, I don't see him injuring himself to the point of going "Pavano", but I agree that investing in ANY pitcher long term is a big risk. I don't want to see Wang go. In fact, I look for him to redeem himself in the playoffs on his very next appearance.

I would like to see this rotation for 2009:

CC Sabathia

Wang

Hughes

Chamberlain

Kennedy

Chaz, you hit the nail on the head there. A multi-year deal for Wang is definitely the smart way to go, given that he has the most wins of any pitcher over the past 2 seasons, as long as it isn't too many years. Two years and two more option years is definitely a good move.

And that is the very same rotation I would like to see in 2009. It would be the best rotation in baseball, easily.

-Justin

http://pinstripeperspective.blogspot.com/

Clemens is getting his butt handed to him. Pettite completely threw him under the bus, and Laura is driving it! C'mon, Clemens, you're under oath! Are any of you watching the hearing?

Yeah, I watched it for awhile, and saw it was kind of just the same old stuff. I'm so tired of steroids...

Clemens is dying in there. He's screwed.

McNamee is just as big a liar as Clemens is. Who in the blue **** are we supposed to believe here? LOL

This is a freaking circus. Where are the clowns and the bearded lady?

Watching the first 2 hours of this hearing, it is blindingly apparent that BOTH of these guys are not telling the truth. It would not surprise me at all if it was discovered that Clemens' abuse of PED's was exhaggerated by McNamee, but that Clemens also DID use them. What a completely pointless proceeding.

Hey, at least we know that "Honest Andy" withheld the fact that he ALSO did HGH in 2004. So, how exactly did he come clean when he "admitted" that he did HGH only 2 times in 2002? Seems to me that they are ALL a bunch of liars.

Here's how it breaks down for me:

I'm just going to assume that EVERY MAJOR LEAGUER is on roids or methanphetamines until they can prove otherwise. Thanks for ruining the game, you losers.

Are these guys that are admitting to PED use sorry that they did it? Or, are they sorry that they got caught?

The game's not ruined, we're all here we all will still watch. None of this is a surprise to anybody honestly. We all knew people, the vast majority of people were juicing, just not who exactly. The game isn't ruined, only potentially the people's lives who took them and now are giving false testimony to congress a la Clemens.

**** if Joe Blanton might become available, Cash better go after him. I took a look at his stats for last season, 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA. Not exactly Cy Young numbers but, he could be a great fit to this rotation. He's only 27, I'm sure Girardi would love to get this guy, I know I would. Other option is Colon I guess, didn't he pitch in the Caribbean Series, this offseason? I'm not sure but I rather have Joe Blanton even though he's a RHP.

Colon is a train wreck, stay away from him. Blanton would be a good addition if the A's didn't want us to sell our farm for him.

Blanton is nowhere near worth the asking price. I bet Hughes could put up those same numbers.

-Justin

http://pinstripeperspective.blogspot.com/

I've been watching espn and it appears it's a divided between Dem/Rep. Dems for Mac, Reps for Rog. It is a circus.....
Honest Andy, Forgot to mention he did HGH in 2004. What really bothers me is these folk remember conversations back in 1969. I surely can't. I also remember Hillary had many problems remembering, she either couldn't recall or she was making cookies with her daughter at the time. Heck I have a problem remembering things or talks I had only last week.

Wang 2 yrs + 2 sounds good, Also if we can get a Blanton with a A or AA prospect would be a go, Though a LHP would be better. Joba, short term will work, But his value is as a SP. With all the young pitchers we have available our BP should be OK. Tomorrow is the day we have all been waiting for. We'll know what's to be in a couple of weeks.

"GO YANKEES"

.

Fjr,

One of the few times where I agree 100% with one of your posts.

I'm not sure how Methamphetamines makes you a better athlete. I never thought Dan Naulty was on both. I would think you'd strike out a lot because you're tweaking. I guess you could alway be a Nick Swisher and pound a 4-pack of Red Bulls every game.

Chaz, Glad we finally agree. I know some will agree on part
of a post but not all. That's good, We all have our own ideas and that's what the blog is all about. Voicing ones opinion.

"GO YANKEES"

C'mon, fjr, we've agreed before! Just can't remember when.......

(lol)

Cash Rules: Wang will not get multi-year deal.

Pettitte could be contemplating retirement through spring term with this circus. Just my thoughts.

Waxman: Clemens' Statements 'Not True'
Just moments before that he claimed he had not decided yet! A Dem. for sure..

Typical politician, They lie, and they know they lie, have the opportunity to select who's lying Mac or Rog. It must be an election year.

BUT!! You know what, SPRING TRAINING STARTS TOMORROW!!!

"GO YANKEES"

I am hearing Pettitte could be retiring.

He won;t be reporting this week.

He won't be reporting this week.

Wouldn't surprise me if he calls it quits. Should have thought of that before he withheld information about his involvement with PED's. Repent, and thou shalt be saved. We are a forgiving nation. I just can't understand why these guys can't just come clean, and then say I'm sorry.

If true and Andy retires, that doesn't bode well for the YANKEES, ONE OF THE REASONS THE SANTANA TRADE DIDN'T GO DOWN WAS DUE TO HIS RETURNING FOR 2008. Unless Igawa is ready to become a MLer we're short our lefty, Plus a #1 Starter... What happens now? Do we drop back ten & punt or do we go after a Big LHP? Here we go again! (Chances are, he will retire.) If not the NY media will be on him all year. He won't have a peaceful moment..
"GO YANKEES"

Congress seemed to hold Pettitte in the highest regard. He is however in no shape to pitch. Expect Colon, Lohse and other to be worked out.

Don't expect to see Colon to be working out for Yanks. He is garbage at this time and point, he's less than a mediocre pitcher. He's injury-prone, and is still trying to recover from his previous injuries while trying to keep the weight off. He has only thrown 155 innings the past two seasons, and is still struggling to get his fasball past the mid-80's. He's a disaster waiting to happen, the Yanks are waisting their time on him. Lohse is at best a very average pitcher as his career number s indicate. If this were short a starter, then I would say give him a shot. The Yanks aren't short a starter as Chamberlain will be a starter this season, no way he goes to the pen unless he tires or struggles.

If you don't have quality starters to shut down your opponents then it doesn't matter whether you have a set-up man who can shut someone down, the game would be lost well before it got to the set-p man. The smart thing to do is to keep a pitcher who can shut an opponent down for 6 or 7 innings, and Chamberlain has that ability.

You're absolutely right Matt. It won't matter if the Yanks have a great set up man or not if the Yanks don't have the pitchers who can provide solid starts or hold leads into the 7th or 8th innings. Having Chamberlain start is obviously the smart choice rather than wasting time on mediocre pitchers like Lohse who has done nothing in his career or a fat-*** like Colon who can't throw over 90 m.p.h. Wasting time on those guys makes no sense.