Baseball is underway
Even though Roger Clemens' situation and the fallout continues to dominate the headlines, there was plenty of baseball being discussed on Thursday at the facility soon to be labeled officially as George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Can we call it The Boss now?)
There was also work being done, though most of it was on a new elevator shaft being installed and not so much by the players on the field. That'll come soon enough.
Youth is in with the Yankees, as Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy all said hello on the reporting day for pitchers and catchers. Mike Mussina also dropped by and spoke at length, accepting the fact that he has a lot to prove in 2008 after so much went wrong in '07. If he doesn't pitch well, Mussina said, he doesn't belong to be in the rotation -- a nod to last August, when Joe Torre lifted him from regular duty and began keeping him out in the bullpen.
Miles away in St. Petersburg, the Yankees and Chien-Ming Wang went to arbitration to settle their $600,000 gap on a contract for '08 -- the first time the Yankees have used that process since 2000. The Yankees will hold their first official workout this morning, with players required to be dressed at 9:45 a.m. ET. We'll check back in soon after.
I'm surprised Wang actually went to arbitration. With the state of baseball salaries, 600K it's a heck of a lot of money, you'd think something could be worked out.
If there's a player to win his case, it's Wang. He's not looking for a lot of money, and he's had 38 wins the past two years (tops in AL).
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Is Pettitte coming for 100% certain or could he elect to retire?
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I'm just excited and happy that baseball is under way again. I really miss it during the off-season!! Glad that the majority of our team is back and ready to go! There is one thing I really don't understand and I hope that maybe someone can explain. Of course steroids are bad and illegal -- we all know that -- ugh. But HGH was, by all accounts, NOT even against baseball rules at the time Andy took them. If they were not illegal, and not even banned in baseball, why are they being lumped together with steroids in this whole mess? Please somebody explain?
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VV,
Segregation and slavery were legal at one point or another in history. It doesn't mean that the people involved were not doing anything wrong when they were enslaving another ethnic group. Same rule could apply here. Andy and others were using a substance to gain an unnatural advantage over others.
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I am pumped about the season. I can't wait to see these young guys on the mound, win or lose.
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Congratulations...
To George Steinbrenner, regarding the re-naming of "Legends Field" to...
"George M. Steinbrenner Field" !!!
The next great honor that Mr. Steinbrenner should receive is, to be voted into Baseball's "Hall of Fame"...
Since he has officially given over "the reign of power" of running the Yankees to his two sons, Hank and Hal...the Hall of Fame committee should start the process of voting Mr. Steinbrenner into the "Hall", while he is still healthy enough to enjoy this great honor!
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE BASEBALL BACK AGAIN !!!
Go Yankees ! .....Number 27 in 2008 !!!
Jimmy27NYY
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
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Answer to wholohan@uvm.edu | February 15, 2008 12:31 AM
We all realize Igawa a bad time of it last year. Nothing can be done to change that, but there are many others that had bad starts and came back stronger and better. Right now I am willing to give him the benefit if doubt and hope this season he will be closer to what was expected of him. He had a big life change last year, and some take longer to adapt to an entirely new culture. I wish him luck. And personally i'd like to see your grandmother pitch first before I make my final decision.
I too will be pulling for Andy & Moose to have good seasons. We need them to help our younguns and make them better, By taking some of the pressure off them.
"GO YANKEES"
Posted by: fjr69@go.com | February 15, 2008 11:32 AM
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Now that ST has started let's for the time being put all this HGH C*** behind us and talk Baseball and the Yankees.
Wang is a shoe in to get his asking price, I can't really understand the Yanks quibbling over $600,000. It makes no sense, They can't and won't win in this arbitration.
"GO YANKEES"
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Look at Johan Santana's numbers when he first came into the league. He stunk up the place. I think Igawa deserves a second chance to get in. We paid him too much **** money to get him to just throw him away.
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The Yankees' contract issues also send a fantastic message to Wang. That 19.20 era in the ALDS will cost you 600 grand.
Good thing Torre knew how to use a sinker ball pitcher. You know, starting him on 8 days rest (too much), and then 2 days rest (too little). He'll do well in the next playoff start he has, rest assured. He'll also win his arbitration.
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Anyone else notice on the MLB.com poll that not one GM chose the Yankees as the '08 World Series winners?
17 votes for the Bosox?? Come on, Shilling and Wakefield are done for, Papelbon *** against the Yanks, and Dice-K is a 4.5+ era....these guys are toast against our boys in blue.
GO YANKEES!
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Yanksrox,
That is the beautiful thing about this season. For once, we get to be the underdogs! It will make any success we have that much sweeter.
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fjr69,
I also agree regarding Pettitte and Mussina. I think both will have good years...
Also, I think, Kei Igawa [as both you and chaz have stated] should be given a full chance to be on the pitching staff when the season begins...I think he will pitch better this year than he did in 2007, and certainly, I hope he does because the Yankees do not have many lefthanded pitchers on the roster, or for that matter, also, among all the non-roster pitcher invitees that are in the Yankees spring camp...
A final note: It's a shame that the Yankees are taking such a hard-line stance in the Chien-Ming Wang salary and contract talks. They have "wasted" $40 Million on a "waste of a pitcher" - Carl Pavano, who is a "has been", and has been a "has been" over his past three disastrous years with the Yankees!...
Pavano is getting $11 Million to "play catch" this spring. He's not going to pitch this year, and will never pitch another game for the Yankees!...
Bottom line: The Yankees should give Wang the $600,000.00 he wants...
WANG HAS EARNED THE INCREASE !!!
And, I do agree, Wang will win in arbitration!
Baseball, finally! It's a great feeling!
Go Yankees!
Jimmy27NYY
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mblogs.com/
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yanksrox, Do you really believe in that scientific MLB poll, You've got to be kidding. I do agree the Sox are favorites, They are after all World Champs, But that my friend is also subject to change. It's a new season and anything can and possibly will happen. Shil & Wake are probable problems for the Sox, age and arms.
"GO YANKEES"
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yanksrox,
Regarding the GM list, projecting: who will win the WS in 2008?...
Red Sox fans are going to be disappointed at the end of this year, when the Yankees win the AL EAST...
I think the "wild card" team will come from the AL CENTRAL [either, Detroit or Cleveland]...so, if this happens, Boston will not be in the Playoffs!
Go Yankees! Number 27 in 2008!
Jimmy27NYY
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
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Detroit is the odds on team to beat......on paper. Remember what happened to us when we were the best team.....on paper?
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Thats really cool that the stadium in Tampa, is now named after George, he deserves it.
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Comments on Detroit:
Of the 'elite' baseball teams in the AL, they have the most beatable starting rotation.
Tigers starting 5 '07 eras:
Rogers: 4.75 (old as ****)
Dontrlle: 5.17 (hasbeen)
Robertson: 4.76 (who?)
Bonderman: 5.01 (you're fat)
Verlander: 3.66 (he's a beast)
Exclude Verlander (who is the most underappreciated pitcher in baseball) and you're looking at hitting against 4 Kei Igawa's.
Besides all of the aforementioned, Zumaya is out for half the season.
These guys are toast, BYE BYE.
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I said I was not going to comment again, I mis-spoke. It was a mistake not to get Santana, but CC is now available, he will not stay in Cleveland. I have seen the baby boomers before, that is name they gave to 4 young pitchers with Baltimore and the Mets a few years back. If one due well, good, if two very good, but the odds are againist you. Proven winner, not hurt 29 years old. You have to make deal if you plan on winning soon.
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Duncan,
CC Sabthia is your "ace" in the hole.
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Not going after Santan was absolutley the right move, especially since his career numbers **** against AL East teams, having him doesn't guarantee anything. It is a mistake to trade away the future.
No reason to think trash like Igawa will get any better over night, now going after him was truly a mistake.
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mduncan,
You're a fool if you think the Yanks need Santana. Going after him would be the bigger mistake just like your Mom made when she decided to keep you rather than have an abortion.
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