So what's Plan B, anyway?
Hope you all enjoyed the weekend. There's a new Yankees mailbag up this week in which a fan wonders what the Plan B would be if the organization strikes out with C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
To me, the odds of that are so slim, it's not even worth worrying about. The new stadium and the city of New York sell itself, as do the Steinbrenners' open wallets, and it's difficult to imagine the scenario in which all three major starting pitching free agents say, thanks but no thanks. Maybe I'm wrong, but I see the Yankees getting at least one and possibly two of the pitchers on that short list.
But in the event it does happen, there's a dropoff, and it's steep. You'd start to hear about guys like Ben Sheets and Oliver Perez, while the Yankees would have to push options like Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Alfredo Aceves to the forefront, while maybe ponying up cash to add a big bat instead. Andy Pettitte's expected return would help, but needless to say, there's a reason why everybody has been banging the starting pitching drum so loudly.
To me, the odds of that are so slim, it's not even worth worrying about. The new stadium and the city of New York sell itself, as do the Steinbrenners' open wallets, and it's difficult to imagine the scenario in which all three major starting pitching free agents say, thanks but no thanks. Maybe I'm wrong, but I see the Yankees getting at least one and possibly two of the pitchers on that short list.
But in the event it does happen, there's a dropoff, and it's steep. You'd start to hear about guys like Ben Sheets and Oliver Perez, while the Yankees would have to push options like Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Alfredo Aceves to the forefront, while maybe ponying up cash to add a big bat instead. Andy Pettitte's expected return would help, but needless to say, there's a reason why everybody has been banging the starting pitching drum so loudly.
i think sheets would be a huge pick up. since he hurt his arm at the end of the season his value dropped. which means the yanks can sign him at a cheaper price. he's still a great pitcher and worth the risk.
and dont go near perez , the guy is a bust.
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I'd much rather get Sheets and Penny at a massive discount to Burnett and Lowe. That latter are just as likely to bust. Getting CC for me should make it him plus 1 or 2 of the cheapest of those four. Or how about all 5 of them!! Trade Joba & Hughes to the Brewers for Fielder and Hardy, drop Jeter to the bench...Hah erm no, begs a question though: has there ever been a starting rotation with say 3/4/5 free agents that were signed in the previous offseason?
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The Sox next blunder?
With mediocre scouting reports, Sox offer Tazawa a deal:
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/11/with-mediocre-scouting-reports-sox-offer-tazawa-a-deal-6045/
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I agree, I'd sign the much cheaper and very similar Ben Sheets. He's an ace when he's on, and carries the same health risk. Same with Brad Penny, it seems that nobody thought of these guys and that it was CC or bust. I'd much rather spend about 30-35 million on those two and the get Teixeira at another twenty million a year, overpaid and all. That would bring us balance, which is what every team needs. Balance.
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I'm tired of hearing this I want to hit in the NL bull crap as an excuse not to sign in NY. Either sign in NY because you want to or don't. There are interleague games in case CC has forgotten. He might be looking out of his ear hole if he does sign in the NL. Plan B is to rebuild this team.
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The problem with saying you'd rather go the Sheets/Penny route over CC that if (but more likely when) they get injured you have the same problems we have now, mediocre fill ins. Sheets has filthy stuff, possibly the best outside of CC but is a walking injury, if Burnett is Pavano 2.0 Sheets is Pavano 2.1. CC is durable and is the best bet because he costs only money and is a low risk for injury despite his massive frame. Will he get injured 4 years down the line, possibly but so could Wang, Johan, or any other player in the MLB, but CC has a proven track record of durability. I'd love to have Teix on the Yankees, but I'd rather a stereotypical ace and allow Wang to fall into the #2 slot and continue to be a win machine. Pitching wins championships, we've proven over the years that it's very difficult to bash your way to a ring with a high octane offense and sub[par pitching. If CC falls into the hands of any team not named the Yankees than yeah Plan B should be Sheets over AJ because as noted Sheets is better with the same injury risk. But the fact is with a rotation of Wang, Sheets, Penny, Pettite, Joba and Teix at 1B and Swisher in the OF probably CF we'd loose the balance that the opening day roster would have as soon as Sheets gets injured, and the same is to say about Burnett. Could I be wrong and we aquire one and they stay healthy all season, yes I'm wrong a lot but those two have been proven injury risks and going by the numbers our balance would be lost in what I think is the most important half of the team: pitching.
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Though it's not likely, there is a slim chance that Sabathia could still bat in the AL. The rules do not force the use of a DH and there may be times, besides games he pitches in, when he may be an attractive pinch hitter or even DH. If he rocks in BP, he'll get some consideration.
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Yankees not looking to pull C.C.'s offer-Bryan Hoch
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/11/yankees_not_looking_to_pull_cc.html
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I really got to wonder if Sabathia, or anyone is really worth $140 million. Yeah Sabathia had a great season last season with the Brewers, but he did what he did in a much weaker NL ( a big reason why he doesn't want to leave the NL?) against teams who have never seen him before. Also, his career playoff stats are horrendous ( not good while with Milwaukee either) 1-3 7.92. Also, don't know how he will respond to the pressures of pitching in NY, and all that goes with that, many of pitchers have tried and failed. Heck the Yanks signed A-Rod to a huge contract after he signed a huge one with the Rangers and how many championships have either team won with him. Don't get me wrong I would love to get Sabathia, but for such a huge contract?
I have to agree with Matt as well, Sabathia isn't going to be foolish enough to put money or baseball ahead of his family, that's ridiculous. He has said that he will go wherever is family is most comfortable, just because the Yanks offer the biggest contract doesn't automatically mean he will sign with them. He will make his family a priority in his decision even if it means taking a lesser contract and losing out on millions, but he will most like make a very high eight-figure salary or nine-figure salary at the very least so it's not like he will be "hurting" if he takes a lesser deal.
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You guys got me all wrong. I' not saying he shoudln't take his family into consideration, all I'm saying is why should his family stop him from becoming the richest pitcher in baseball history? Because they feel mroe comfortable in California? Alright, no problem. But what if no West Coast teams even offer something close? That's my point. Ofcourse, you've got to put your family first, but then your family has to understand that baseball is also a business and that they'll have to make sacrifices. Just my opinion guys, put yourself in CC's shoes, all yankee fandom aside... what would you do with a 140 million dollar offer on the table? Leave it because your fam may not be comfortable in NY? I doubt it. This would make you rich out of your mind and secure your family for generations.
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So what it would come down to is $140 million and the comfort and happiness of my family? That's easy, I'll take my family no matter what and go with a team even though they may be offering a smaller contract like San Francisco, I'm not greedy. If I had Sabathia's talent I would be rich out of my mind no matter where I go. It's not like I would miss a few extra million. It's not about his family stopping him from making money, it's about HIS responsibility to his family. Yes, baseball is a business, and being in the family of a pro athlete everyone has to make sacrifices, but who should be making the sacrifice? As a father, I would think about what sacrifices I would have to make before thinking about what sacrifices my family would have to make just so I can make as much as possible. Leaving a few million on the table would be a sacrifice I would be glad to make if it meant my family was comfortable. Beside you don't know what sort of family problems would come up if your family can't get adjusted to a new setting.
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A father shouldn't have to ask his family to sacrifice at all, unless the family is desperately in need of something. Money can be one of those things, but we aren't talking about your ordinary Joe who works paycheck to paycheck. We are talking about Sabathia who will most likely be paid in the 9 figures regardless of where he plays. For him to have his family sacrifice just so that he can get as much as he can isn't just ridiculous, it just becomes a matter of greed, period. For all we know Sabathia could go to the Giants for considerably less and his family still won't miss the extra millions he could have made with the Yanks and his family would be far more comfortable there as well.
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"He has good command of his fastball and slurve, but he lacks velocity, stamina and the ability to keep the ball down. At 22, Tazawa is unlikely to throw much harder than he does now; his fastball barely tops 90 mph when he is rested, and he struggled to hit 88 mph at the end of last season."
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ooops.... Hit submit too soon.
Well let's see... A mediocre fastball that wont stay down? Maybe we'll get lucky and they sign themselves another IPKei...
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What should the Yankees main priorities be this winter ??? ...
Well, it has been my opinion right from the start of the "free-agent market" that the Yankees should pay whatever it takes to sign ..... Mark Teixeira ..... CC Sabathia ..... Bobby Abreu ... Andy Pettitte !!! ..... Tex would solidify the Yankees first base situation, and be our starting first baseman for the next 7-10 years [Nick Swisher is a good bench player; but, should not be our starting first baseman] ... CC will be a solid "ace" of our starting rotation for the next 4-6 years .... Bobby Abreu will only hit about .300; with 15-20 HR's; 80-90 walks; 100+ Runs; and 100+ RBI's in each of the next three years in rightfield for the Yanks [How are the Yanks going to replace Abreu's stats? ... Why would the Yanks just let Abreu walk away, and get really nothing in return (only a couple of draft picks) ?] ... And, with all the question marks that we have with our starting rotation, bringing Pettitte back for at least one more year would make sense because Andy can give the Yanks a solid 175 -200 innings [if he is healthy] ... As far as signing A.J. Burnett -- well, I think, it's very risky to sign A.J. for 5 years because of his injury history ... I would offer Burnett only a three (mabe four) year deal, but not "five" years !!! ... At any rate, I think, A.J. Burnett should only be a "secondary priority" for the Yankees ... The signings of: Tex, CC, Abreu, and Pettitte, would be much more valuable to the Yankees, as their major priorities; and, then, they could focus on signing Burnett, and, or, another starting pitcher !!! ... Go Yankees ... Jimmy [27NYY]
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
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Well, call me greedy, but I would've signed on the dotted line the first day; Case closed. Any hoot, reports say the Angels are planning to match our offer so he'll be an Angel in a couple days or so. It looks like we'll go hard for Teixeira, should that happen. I hope the organization doesn't go crazy and sign every health risk out there. It'd be guys like Lowe, O Perez and Sheets. Maybe Manny, regardless, if Sab does really go away, we're talking about guys like Hughes and Kennedy for the back of the rotation. I like Hughes but I really get the impression that Kennedy just loses it up there in the majors. FA sucks. I'd much rather we build from within than ahve to be at the heels of the athletes and their agents. Look at the Rays, they're a contender and don't have to go through all this nonsense.
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I am very disappointed that the Yankees elected to pursue CC & the like first. They should have re-signed Pettitte first. But that's Cashman. He hates Pettitte. Now the Dodgers are courting Andy. You know what will happen? CC, Lowe, & Burnett are not coming. So, Yankees will have Wang, Joba, Hughes, Kennedy, & Aceves. For 2009, Yankees will be 5th in the East and last in the AL. This proves my point that Cashman's main goal is to bring down the Yankees. He is a RED SOX fan. Get rid of Cashman now.
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I agree with Jimmy a 100%. Re-sign Pettitte now. And to Cashman, you did it in 2004, when you let Andy go. You are doing it again. Andy will sign with the Dodgers and you are left with your injury proned rotation of Wang, Joba, Hughes & Kennedy. Are you also thinking of re-signing PONSON? And why are you not going to make an offer to Burnett for 5 yrs? You have done it before. Remember Pavano and the mediocres Wright, Brown, Lieber, and the aging Johnson. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN! CC, Lowe, Burnett, are not coming. Might as well go for Garland, Perez, Manny, and Teixeira. AND make ANDY YOUR PRIORITY!!!!! As of now Cash ... you SUCK!!!!!!!
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whatever happens with the pitching...the yanks should get Teixeira and Manny...they will be more dependable than any of the pitchers...not to say that i believe CC would be hurt all the time...but most pitchers usually miss at one season because of injury...plus there could be a few minor injuries...and we all know what it be like if the Yanks get A.J.
or Penny...and Lowe is just old and bound to brake...
and the Yanks better TRADE AROD NEXT YEAR BEFORE HE LOSES ALL VAULE...HE WAY OVERPAID...AND HIS DECLINE WILL START WITHIN THE NEXT THREE SEASON...
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