A whiff at the Bucs

Damon is hurt bad and no one wants to admit it. A lead off guy with a sore foot? That's TROUBLE.

Bryan, have you heard anything in regards to Hank and Cashman pursuing Sabathia?

I doubt the Yanks will be able to get Sabathia any time soon, not as long as Cleveland is in contention. The same for most other teams around the league. I don't see any major trade being made any time soon.

New rumor hovering about ( I stress it's just a rumor ):

Robinson Cano for staff Ace Roy Oswalt

Alberto Gonzalez would play second.

Any opinions on that one?

This trade is very possible, but why Cano and not Melky?

"I don't see any major trade being made any time soon."

Sabathia's gonna be a free agent after this season. it would seem likely that Cleveland would try to trade Sabathia by July 31 in order to 'get something' for him

now the question is, what does Cleveland want?

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD June 24, 2008

Columbus (Nationals) 4
Scranton/WB 2
W: C. Balester (9-3, 4.00); L: A. Horne (2-2, 3.86); SV: B. Sanches (8)
HR: COL: Y. De Caster (8), L. Broadway (7).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_24_colaaa_swbaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Erie (Tigers) 2
Trenton 6
W: P. Coke (5-3, 3.21); L: A. Kown (4-9, 4.95)
HR: TRE: E. Gonzalez (4).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_24_eswaax_treaax_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Daytona (Cubs) 1
Tampa 4
W: M. Dunn (3-3, 4.17); L: G. Johnson (0-1, 7.50); SV: J. Hovis (6)
HR: TAM: A. Perez (3).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_24_dbcafa_tbyafa_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Rome (Braves) 2
Charleston 4
W: C. Heyer (4-0, 1.35); L: Y. Castro (0-5, 6.90); SV: C. Vacek (5)
HR: CHA: B. Laird (7).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_23_romafx_crdafx_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Staten Island 4
Aberdeen (Orioles) 3
W: J. Selenes (2-0, 0.00); L: J. Tamba (0-1, 13.50); SV: P. Venditte (2)
HR: None.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_24_staasx_abeasx_1&t=g_box&did=milb
GCLYankees 1
GCL Phillies 5
W: T. Cloyd (1-0, 0.00); L: H. Sanchez (0-1, 13.50); SV: J. Ellis (1)
HR: PHL: S. Valle (2).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_06_24_yanrok_phlrok_1&t=g_box&did=milb
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD June 25, 2008

Columbus (Nationals) 7p
Scranton/WB

----------------------------
Erie (Tigers) 7:05p
Trenton

----------------------------
Daytona (Cubs) 7p
Tampa

---------------------------------
Columbus (Nationals) 7:05p
Charleston

---------------------------------

Staten Island
Aberdeen (Orioles) 7:05p
---------------------------------

GCLYankees
GCL Phillies 12p
---------------------------------
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

From what I read, it sounds like Cleveland will not be inclined to give any trade partner a signing window if they shop Sabathia. This means any trade made would only "rent" Sabathia for two months plus post season, giving the new team whatever the exclusive signing window after the end of the season is, and two high draft picks if someone else signs him for 2009. He will surely be a type A free agent.

I hope that rumor stays that way. That rumor is ridiculous. Cano at 25 years old (granted he's having a god awful season), for a 31 year old Oswalt? Who, by the way is 6-7 with a 4.84 era. THAT would be Kevin Brown v. 2.0.
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Why is everyone so quick to want to deal Melky? Does anyone realize how hard it is to find a capable centerfielder nowadays? Quick, name 3 all-star centerfielders. Guys with his arm, his glove, his speed, and his ability to switch hit don't grow on trees.
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This team needs pitching, but Oswalt's numbers have been horrible this year. It looks like he's starting to decline. Wait a minute........that's exactly when Brian Cashman starts to notice guys! Nevermind, this trade will probably happen.

Since Tabata is struggling at Trenton, Melky has the only right field arm in our system to eventually replace Abreu. The killer Cs will eventually start killing the opponents. For center field, the leading candidates are Gardner and Jackson. And at SWB Gardner has played LF with Christian in CF.

Roy Oswalt also has a no-trade clause firmly planted in his contract.

And to close the Traber discussion, he did have a hot arm in nine apperances between 5/27 and 6/12 allowing only one earned run over 13 innings. This information was previously posted.

Chaz,
If we trade, I would rather get a left hander. We have little on the farm from the left side.

Damn right, Robert. We need at least 2 more (one in the rotation, one or two in the pen) lefties on staff.

I'm not holding my breath for the Yankees to make a run at Sabathia -- at least, not in June. Maybe in a month, but we'll see. The Yankees are going to need to figure this out with the arms that they have.

Since when does a "hot arm" in the minors guaranty a "hot arm" in the big leagues? About 10-20% of the time.....maybe?
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Show me 1 pitcher that spent half of his career bouncing from team to team, AAA to the bigs, and starter to reliever, who magically figured it all out and spent the remainder of his career as a contributing member of a 25 man roster? Show me ONE!
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Some of you mean to say that we can expect success with these types of guys?

Rasner
Karstens
Patterson
Igawa
Rasner
Giese
Traber
Exactly when have any of these losers done anything more than have a few good performances? Some of you actually think that their ships haven't sailed? Hate to break it to you, but not only have their ships sailed, they got lost at sea & f-ing sunk in a typhoon.

Before Wang went down, we were looking for a 5th starter. Now that he's done, we're looking for a 4 AND a 5. This is too much to ask. This squad will be lucky to see the .500 mark by the deadline. Especially since we can only count on decent run support about twice per week. Otherwise, the requisite 2 runs are all we're gonna see. I hope I'm wrong, but the Yankees won't compete unless the bats wake up and help this weak starting rotation. This division is too tough.

Since we have no choice but to use the asshats I have listed above, I say we rotate them in and out of the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation. You win, you stay. You lose, you're back in SWB. We rack up their frequent flyer miles and pitch them to death. Rasner's done for now, send his dumb *** back to SWB and call up another loser. Besides, if they run out of minor league options, who's going to claim these pukes off waivers?

Chaz,
It just got Traber another MLB Audition. If there is more of the same, the call will happen again!

Those seven are stop gap pitchers at best and maybe tradable. The pitching coach at SWB are constantly tweeking the delivery of the Igawas or Trabers looking to turn them into servicable arms while the younger guys develope or rehab.

The names to watch are still Hughes, Kennedy, Horne, Marquez, Aceves, Cox, Melancon, Jones, Kontos, Betances Brackman, Clagget, Garcia, Hacker, Heredia, Olbrychowski, Pendleton, Robertson, Sanchez, Selenes, Venditte.

Be patient!

Another thing, I say if one of them is getting lit up, we should just leave him in and pitch him until his arm falls off.
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Wow, Karstens, that was a tough 250 pitch complete game you just threw. How did it feel giving up 20 earned runs? Did you know that Girardi has you slated to pitch tomorrow too?
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We should just try and set blow-out records with these losers and make them quit the game. I'm sick of having to see a 200 millon dollar bottom line with peices of crap like this on the payroll.

I wouldn't trade the skid mark on my undies for any of those losers. What makes you think that another team wants to waste valuable resources on batting practice pitchers, Robert?
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By the way, I'm aware of the young arms we have coming down the pipeline. I'm excited about them. It doens't help us alleviate the fact that we've basically watched Cashman spend 1/4 of a BILLION dollars on a floater.

From now on, I am not going to back a single pitcher from SWB until they win a Cy Young award. Rasner comes in and looks like he's got it, then goes ahead and shows us the beer league softball pitcher that he was most of last season, and ALL of spring training.

Wow! the more I post, the more pissed I get! If I keep this up I'm sure to have a chernobyl experience here in my office and run my chair through the window! Yee Haaaaaw!

Chaz,
I said maybe! And I see Igawa, Karstens, and Rasner on some team as a #5 starter, or at least there is some hope!

Wait! What's that rumble from the West. Aw shucks! There goes the price of potatoes!

Hello, Bryan

I'm just dropping by and saying hi. I still read the the blog on a daily basis just don't post as frequently as before. Some miscommunication in the clubhouse. Is johnny going to file under "irreconcilable differences"?

Hahah, Chaz I got a good chuckle reading your escalating temperature... not to worry I get the same way with things I'm passionate about.

You're right, but let's step back a minute. We realized this very thing in November and into the December meetings and through the Hot-Stove season, and into Spring Training.

I think the best move yet is the Organization still getting US to believe this ISN'T a year that's a wash.

We basically re-solidified our starting lineup, threw a band-aid on the Staff and called it good or, best we can do right now.

To me that says, we're waiting. We're going to be patient and take our lumps. We're going to then shed a significant amount of payroll and then check the FA market for a good deal or 4. Our Bench needs helped out (ok overhauled); our Staff needs help, but possibly only short-term. Let's say Kennedy is going to disappoint... that gives us when healthy, Wang, Petttitte, Chamberlain, Mussina, Hughes, (Insert 5th Here). Now I think he needs to be a solid because we may lose P and M... aren't both their deals up this year or does Moose have 1 more? IF they both stay, a good 4th is all we need and we let Hughes be the fifth and earn his way back up the rotation. Otherwise, worst case we need 3 and I doubt we're going to fill all three with quality in one offseason or, one trade-deadline and an offseason. It's possible but let's be realistic, not likely.

Meanwhile we're only 5-6 games out, which is really only a week or two worth of baseball, entirely possible... but yes, Tampa and Boston are showing well and covering up their gaps well (Boston mainly) and there's no denying that. So, we're still competitive, just not dominant. That IS what Cash told the Boss he'd do.

Our supposed offense is supposed to be able to keep us competitive but isn't showing any consistency... our pitching is in a world of hurt, but we're still only 5 back... Obviously you look at what is and you realize that it's a big pile of Camel Dung for the price... but you also realize it was that last year too really. We got a break with Chamberlain but our SP was just not in a good spot and it showed in the playoffs. The rest of the Pen was really not in that great a spot unless you say we had mopup men covered well. We have no solid long relief, middle relief and 'now' a setup guy.

Too many holes to fill for this team to be a true contender this year in my view. Maybe the law of averages swings our way and we gain on Tampa and the Sox in the second half... those problems will still be there. It'll still be setup by committee...

So even if we get a SP, do we really have the tools needed for a deep run? Our bench may be able to play D, but can't hit for well... you know anything above .250...

I don't see us doing much and I've flirted with believing we'd overachieve considering the issues we've had, but I'm not believing that anymore.

If that's what it takes to rebuild the farm and retool the staff and bench and replace the guys that are on the decline... then so be it, just do it. But we cannot decide to do that then flip-flop and revert back to buying veterans to make the playoffs... etc.

It's hard to stomach no doubt, but I do believe that the big boys know full well we're not fielding the best possible team we can and they know that the fans know too. Their pride will hopefully make them realize that you've got to stay the course and do what you said you'd do, what you've agreed to as the best plan for continued and consistent success.

We can't afford a nuclear cleanup anyway right now... so you'll have to get that crisis management team to work!

Seems Damon is a little more optimistic today and thinks he might be able to play tomorrow. Let's just say Johnny tends to lean toward the side of dramatic on occasion. The DL no longer seems to be in his thoughts.

And here comes The Mighty Joba du Hut!

The kid should get his first W as a Starter tonight!!

Terrific story here. He was in the Yankees' clubhouse early today as well. Joe Girardi seemed especially taken by the fact that John went to Freedom High School, because - as he said - he does lead his life with freedom.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-pirates-inspirationalvisit&prov=ap&type=lgns

Talk about' turning the tables? Is this the same team from yesterday? Johnny Damon is dramatic? Like Shillings bloddy sock dramatic?

bloody'

Been a while since I saw the ol' Joe Torre "belly full of guts" line.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-dodgers-proctor&prov=ap&type=lgns

I thought Scott to be a Vegas' type of guy guess not.

Do you here that boys? It'e the sound of Jeters rising BA.

prideoftheyankees,

Any team that would trade their staff ace while still in the race for a shot at the division title, and postseason would be nuts. The fans would tear the stadium down and look to hang the front office execs. as that would be a white flag to the fans before 3/4 of the season would be done. No way the Indians would trade Sabathia unless omething disastrous happens to the team and they completely fall out of the playoff picture entirely. The same could be said for any team in the playoff picture.

Actually Traber gave up two more runs on 6/15 so his arm was starting to cool off, but it really doesn't matter since he failed to show he was up to the task.

redsuks,

i agree with what you just said, no team in their right mind would give up their staff ace or any key player on their roster while they have a legit shot at the playoffs. The fanbase would go absolutely nuts if that happened.

I don't see a Cano for Oswalt trade will happen. First lets see what the Yankees get in the trade. First a struggling pitcher would be added to an already inconsistent starting rotation plus you would try to fill a hole at 2B with an inexperienced rookie who really hasn't shown that he can provide nearly enough offense to what has been a very inconsistent offense. He has looked more like a benchplayer rather than a starter at this point. Doesn't look like a trade that could really help this team out a whole lot. I like Oswalt, and I think a trade to the Yanks could turn his whole season around, but what if it doesn't? It's too risky. If this team really wants Oswalt they should try trading someone other than Cano.