There are few things that could get me more excited about baseball season than Andy coming out of retirement. The first Yankees jersey tee I had was #46. I teared up when he announced his retirement…ok fine, I cried. I used to make jokes all of last season that Andy was going to come back to save the day, secretly hoping it would happen. Well my friends, dreams do come true - Andy will be back in early May. It’s really hard to argue that Andy will have anything but a positive impact on the team (unless you are a bitter Freddy Garcia). Here are just a few of the many reasons why...
He’s an Established Veteran: Andy has played 16 seasons of major league baseball, won five World Series, and is a three-time All-Star. Before signing him, the Yankees had three youngsters in the rotation with Nova, Pineda, and Hughes. With Andy most likely taking the third spot, it takes some of the pressure off the younger pitchers, especially Pineda. This gives them more time to develop while allowing for the inevitable growing pains. Moving Pineda to the fourth spot also means he will be facing the bottom half of opponents’ rotation, increasing his likelihood of success while he adjusts to the competitive AL East. At the same time, Pettitte may also motivate the remaining starters, as they will most likely have to battle for a starting role.
He’s a welcome addition to the clubhouse: When Andy announced his return; he was met with nearly universal excitement from his teammates. He has been publicly praised for both his performance on the field and his personal accomplishments off the field by Jeter, ARod, and Swisher just to name a few. It is no secret teams that get along in the clubhouse have a better chance at success and the addition of Andy will certainly go a long way to creating a positive team atmosphere.
Playoff experience: Andy has pitched in 42 post-season starts and currently ranks as MLB’s all time postseason wins leader with a total of 19 wins. The last time he pitched in the playoffs, he held batters to a .200 average over his two starts. The numbers don’t lie.
The critics say he’s too old and hasn’t pitched in a year. A lot of pitchers have missed a season for a variety of reasons and have come back strong. I for one highly doubt Andy would come back if he didn’t think he could perform. In his last season with the Yankees, he also posted a 3.28 ERA, which was his best in years. As for his age, over the past 25 years 19 40 year old pitchers pitched 150+ innings and 15 of those ended the season with an ERA either better or on par with the league average. A certain pitcher who goes by the name of Mariano Rivera is also over 40.
Welcome back Andy, can’t wait to see you back in the Bronx.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
SHE SAYS: ENJOY SEATTLE JESUS, WELCOME TO NEW YORK PINEDA
So Brian Cashman finally made a move this winter (or several, but we will leave his personal life out of this one). While this trade caused several New York fans to freak out – I actually think it puts both teams in a better position. And since the Yankees don’t exactly have to worry about Seattle winning the ALCS, ultimately this was a smart move for the Yankees.
Why Seattle Wins
It has been well established Montero is not a good catcher in any way, shape, or form. What he can do is hit – something Seattle desperately needs. Montero has great potential behind the plate – during the 18 games he played in September with the Yankees, he hit .328, 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs.
Let’s be honest – despite being named the Yankees 7th best prospect in 2011 by Baseball America, no one really cares about Hector Noesi (myself included). But for argument’s sake, he was part of this trade too and he gives the Mariners some versatility. Noesi was a starter for his entire minor league career and pitched long relief for the Yankees last season, giving the Mariners some options on how to slot him into the rotation.
And most importantly, Why New York Wins
I have tried really hard over the years to defend AJ – I can’t help it, I am sucker for his game face and tattoos. But my friends, the time has come where I hope to never see AJ pitch for the Yankees again. The Yankees desperately needed a number 2 starter behind Sabathia. In comes Pineda - primed and ready to take the reins. Before the All Star break, Pineda looked like the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year. Sure - he struggled during the 2nd half of the season – but nobody is perfect. We’ll chalk it up to growing pains. He still managed to end the season 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA compared to Burnett’s 5.15 ERA….and numbers don’t lie. Placing Pineda in the number 2 spot, followed with Nova at number 3 also gives the Yankees more time to let prospects Manny Banuelos and Delin Betances develop in Triple A.
Jose Campos to the Yankees…..wait, what, who is Jose Campos? Campos is only 19 – meaning he won’t be making an impact in the Bronx anytime soon. He spent last year playing single A with a record of 5-5 and an ERA of 2.32. Right now he is still a Wild Card - but so is Noesi. If he can develop his curveball, he is primed and ready to become a starter eventually.
Final Thoughts
The Yankees don’t need a catcher in the immediate future – Russell Martin had an All-Star season last year and proved his toughness and dedication to the team. Furthermore, Austin Romaine is waiting in the wings. Additionally, like it or not, ARod is getting older – meaning that he will eventually fill the DH spot – which would have taken it away from Jesus anyways.
Why Seattle Wins
It has been well established Montero is not a good catcher in any way, shape, or form. What he can do is hit – something Seattle desperately needs. Montero has great potential behind the plate – during the 18 games he played in September with the Yankees, he hit .328, 4 home runs, and 12 RBIs.
Let’s be honest – despite being named the Yankees 7th best prospect in 2011 by Baseball America, no one really cares about Hector Noesi (myself included). But for argument’s sake, he was part of this trade too and he gives the Mariners some versatility. Noesi was a starter for his entire minor league career and pitched long relief for the Yankees last season, giving the Mariners some options on how to slot him into the rotation.
And most importantly, Why New York Wins
I have tried really hard over the years to defend AJ – I can’t help it, I am sucker for his game face and tattoos. But my friends, the time has come where I hope to never see AJ pitch for the Yankees again. The Yankees desperately needed a number 2 starter behind Sabathia. In comes Pineda - primed and ready to take the reins. Before the All Star break, Pineda looked like the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year. Sure - he struggled during the 2nd half of the season – but nobody is perfect. We’ll chalk it up to growing pains. He still managed to end the season 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA compared to Burnett’s 5.15 ERA….and numbers don’t lie. Placing Pineda in the number 2 spot, followed with Nova at number 3 also gives the Yankees more time to let prospects Manny Banuelos and Delin Betances develop in Triple A.
Jose Campos to the Yankees…..wait, what, who is Jose Campos? Campos is only 19 – meaning he won’t be making an impact in the Bronx anytime soon. He spent last year playing single A with a record of 5-5 and an ERA of 2.32. Right now he is still a Wild Card - but so is Noesi. If he can develop his curveball, he is primed and ready to become a starter eventually.
Final Thoughts
The Yankees don’t need a catcher in the immediate future – Russell Martin had an All-Star season last year and proved his toughness and dedication to the team. Furthermore, Austin Romaine is waiting in the wings. Additionally, like it or not, ARod is getting older – meaning that he will eventually fill the DH spot – which would have taken it away from Jesus anyways.
Monday, January 30, 2012
HE SAID: Goodbye Montero, Not so Sad to See You Go
The big story of the Yankees offseason has clearly been the big Friday the 13th (oooo, spooky) trade of uber-prospect Jesus Montero to the pathetically named (and even more pathetic on the field) Seattle Mariners for right-handed starting pitcher Michael Pineda. *Note: The Yankees did receive an additional prospect in this deal, and parted with part-time starter/long reliever Hector Noesi (who in my opinion will never be a good Major League player)... so, for the purposes of this assessment, I have chosen to ignore these auxilliary pieces and focus on the studs and/or potential studs who have been sent across the continent*
While Yankees GM Brian Cashman continues to wax poetic about how difficult it was to part with Montero, this trade was a no-brainer for the Pinstripes (as I will explain). I don't fault Cashman for his posturing in the media, as he has every reason to play the tragic victim in this January swap. First off, by lauding the virtues of the Yankees top prospects (as he, and the rest of the organization are infamous for doing), the Yankees maintain their stance that the organization is stacked with can't-miss prospects, and they will inevitably leverage this perception to use these "invaluable" assets (although their value is consistently quantified in these trades) as chips in future trades. Additionally, if this trade does prove a steal for the AL West cellar dwellers from Seattle, Cashman can point to his tentativeness to complete the swap as an affirmation of his talent-evaluation abilities. And lastly, for the purposes of future dealings, it is never wise for a GM to describe their trades with the dreaded term for what this really is: an indisputable steal for the New York Yankees.
Here's why:
1. Montero's Ceiling
Yankee talent evaluators who have lauded Montero's hitting abilities since they signed him as a 16-year old "catcher" out of Venezuela have continually used the Manny Ramirez comparison when trying to explain how talented a hitter Jesus has the ability to become. While Montero has shown Ramirez-like flashes (hitting for average, opposite field power, rising to the Major Leagues before his 22nd birthday), there are some serious flaws in this comparison. Firstly, I am always skeptical when a prospect is compared to a top-5 all time hitter or pitcher. While their skillset may profile similarly, what are the odds exactly that they will even come close to matching their "clones" Major League production? Practically zero. Also, Ramirez came to the Bigs as a talented all-around athlete, who could play the outfield, throw, along with showing skills at the plate. Montero has shown himself to be more Bob Hamelin than Mickey Mantle when it comes to how diverse his game is. Lastly, just look at Montero's numbers in the Minors. He has continually disappointed statistically, mixing torrid offensive stretches with comparative periods of ineptitude at the plate.
2. Pineda's Ceiling
I won't pretend to have followed Pineda's young career to the extent that I have Montero's, but there are some facts that cannot be questioned by Sabrmetric numbers and scout's speculations:
a) Pineda is a 22-year old starting pitcher who's had success in the Major Leagues
b) Pineda throws a 97 MPH fastball and a knee-buckling breaking ball
c) Starting pitchers like Pineda are not available on the market
i. And if they are, they are 27+ years old
ii. And if they are, they will cost you $15-20M a year
iii. And if they are, they will cost you a trade haul MUCH larger than Montero, plus an enormous contract
It's no secret that strikeout pitchers with nasty stuff don't come around every day. And when they do, you run the risk that they are a headcase (AJ Burnett, Carl Pavano), that they can't handle the stage of New York (AJ Burnett, Javier Vazquez, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano), that they'll cost $100M (Kevin Brown, CC Sabathia), or they'll get injured (Carl Pavano). Some of these factors are yet to be determined when it comes to Pineda. However, in his short time in the majors he has shown himself to be healthy (full MLB season as a 22-year old), as well as confident and effective (All-Star rookie campaign). These are qualities that even the Yankees have found difficult to buy and when they've tried, disaster has ensued.
3. The Yankees Position in the Free Agent Market
While I've been hinting at Montero's defensive limitations, it's seemingly time to put them on the table.... Jesus Montero is a Designated Hitter. At best, he is a horrendous defensive Catcher. Somewhere in the middle, he is an overweight, statuesque First Baseman, a la Carlos Delgado and Pablo Sandoval (both of which once fancied themselves at catchers early in their respective careers). While Montero can have a spectacular offensive Major League career at DH or 1B, in Yankee terms, his value is seriously limited by his defensive limitations. Any given offseason, the Yankees can sign a talented hitting veteran to play a position that requires very limited defense. It happens almost yearly in the Bronx (Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Abreau). Players like Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano are the rare invaluable players to the Yankees organization; they can put up spectacular offensive numbers while playing solid defense at a crucial defensive position. The Jesus Montero's of the world are tragically replaceable.
4. Playing to Win THIS Year
To steal a line from New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle, "at the end of the day", the New York Yankees are about putting the best team on the field to win a World Series: EVERY single year. Yes, the organization tries to develop young players to both save money and find contributors to the Major League club. Nonetheless, the Yankees constantly strive to find the 25 best guys to win now. And if it isn't working, they will adjust accordingly. There is no denying that the addition of Pineda to the rotation is a huge upgrade that overshadows any lost production (which I highly doubt there will be) from the absense of Montero in the DH role. The Yankees have plenty of players that can rotate into the DH role, most of which have accomplished and will accomplish in the Big Leauges much more than Montero will, whether this season or beyond.
So Jesus. I have been drooling over your potential since they signed you 6 years ago. But potential is exciting only because it is limitless and it is unknown. What truly wins games is proven Major League production. And it is no slight to say that, at this point, the asset aquired trumps the asset lost. And that should make all of Yankee Nation excited about this trade. And we know how "difficult" this was for you Cash, but.... if you look at the facts, it's kind of a no-brainer. And the fact that you were able to pull it off... I say well done!
While Yankees GM Brian Cashman continues to wax poetic about how difficult it was to part with Montero, this trade was a no-brainer for the Pinstripes (as I will explain). I don't fault Cashman for his posturing in the media, as he has every reason to play the tragic victim in this January swap. First off, by lauding the virtues of the Yankees top prospects (as he, and the rest of the organization are infamous for doing), the Yankees maintain their stance that the organization is stacked with can't-miss prospects, and they will inevitably leverage this perception to use these "invaluable" assets (although their value is consistently quantified in these trades) as chips in future trades. Additionally, if this trade does prove a steal for the AL West cellar dwellers from Seattle, Cashman can point to his tentativeness to complete the swap as an affirmation of his talent-evaluation abilities. And lastly, for the purposes of future dealings, it is never wise for a GM to describe their trades with the dreaded term for what this really is: an indisputable steal for the New York Yankees.
Here's why:
1. Montero's Ceiling
Yankee talent evaluators who have lauded Montero's hitting abilities since they signed him as a 16-year old "catcher" out of Venezuela have continually used the Manny Ramirez comparison when trying to explain how talented a hitter Jesus has the ability to become. While Montero has shown Ramirez-like flashes (hitting for average, opposite field power, rising to the Major Leagues before his 22nd birthday), there are some serious flaws in this comparison. Firstly, I am always skeptical when a prospect is compared to a top-5 all time hitter or pitcher. While their skillset may profile similarly, what are the odds exactly that they will even come close to matching their "clones" Major League production? Practically zero. Also, Ramirez came to the Bigs as a talented all-around athlete, who could play the outfield, throw, along with showing skills at the plate. Montero has shown himself to be more Bob Hamelin than Mickey Mantle when it comes to how diverse his game is. Lastly, just look at Montero's numbers in the Minors. He has continually disappointed statistically, mixing torrid offensive stretches with comparative periods of ineptitude at the plate.
2. Pineda's Ceiling
I won't pretend to have followed Pineda's young career to the extent that I have Montero's, but there are some facts that cannot be questioned by Sabrmetric numbers and scout's speculations:
a) Pineda is a 22-year old starting pitcher who's had success in the Major Leagues
b) Pineda throws a 97 MPH fastball and a knee-buckling breaking ball
c) Starting pitchers like Pineda are not available on the market
i. And if they are, they are 27+ years old
ii. And if they are, they will cost you $15-20M a year
iii. And if they are, they will cost you a trade haul MUCH larger than Montero, plus an enormous contract
It's no secret that strikeout pitchers with nasty stuff don't come around every day. And when they do, you run the risk that they are a headcase (AJ Burnett, Carl Pavano), that they can't handle the stage of New York (AJ Burnett, Javier Vazquez, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano), that they'll cost $100M (Kevin Brown, CC Sabathia), or they'll get injured (Carl Pavano). Some of these factors are yet to be determined when it comes to Pineda. However, in his short time in the majors he has shown himself to be healthy (full MLB season as a 22-year old), as well as confident and effective (All-Star rookie campaign). These are qualities that even the Yankees have found difficult to buy and when they've tried, disaster has ensued.
3. The Yankees Position in the Free Agent Market
While I've been hinting at Montero's defensive limitations, it's seemingly time to put them on the table.... Jesus Montero is a Designated Hitter. At best, he is a horrendous defensive Catcher. Somewhere in the middle, he is an overweight, statuesque First Baseman, a la Carlos Delgado and Pablo Sandoval (both of which once fancied themselves at catchers early in their respective careers). While Montero can have a spectacular offensive Major League career at DH or 1B, in Yankee terms, his value is seriously limited by his defensive limitations. Any given offseason, the Yankees can sign a talented hitting veteran to play a position that requires very limited defense. It happens almost yearly in the Bronx (Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Abreau). Players like Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano are the rare invaluable players to the Yankees organization; they can put up spectacular offensive numbers while playing solid defense at a crucial defensive position. The Jesus Montero's of the world are tragically replaceable.
4. Playing to Win THIS Year
To steal a line from New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle, "at the end of the day", the New York Yankees are about putting the best team on the field to win a World Series: EVERY single year. Yes, the organization tries to develop young players to both save money and find contributors to the Major League club. Nonetheless, the Yankees constantly strive to find the 25 best guys to win now. And if it isn't working, they will adjust accordingly. There is no denying that the addition of Pineda to the rotation is a huge upgrade that overshadows any lost production (which I highly doubt there will be) from the absense of Montero in the DH role. The Yankees have plenty of players that can rotate into the DH role, most of which have accomplished and will accomplish in the Big Leauges much more than Montero will, whether this season or beyond.
So Jesus. I have been drooling over your potential since they signed you 6 years ago. But potential is exciting only because it is limitless and it is unknown. What truly wins games is proven Major League production. And it is no slight to say that, at this point, the asset aquired trumps the asset lost. And that should make all of Yankee Nation excited about this trade. And we know how "difficult" this was for you Cash, but.... if you look at the facts, it's kind of a no-brainer. And the fact that you were able to pull it off... I say well done!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
SHE SAID: Jeter deserves some respect
At the top of my Christmas list this year – the Yankees re-signing Derek Jeter. No one is denying that Jeter is getting older or that he probably won’t be the Yankees number 1 short stop in three years. And yes, a baseball team’s sole objective is to win games. But that doesn’t change the fact the Yankees need Derek Jeter as much as Derek Jeter needs the Yankees – even if that means giving him an extra year or more money.
Money
Ok friends – lets be serious, the Yankees are not fiscally responsible and they most likely never will be. The Yankees business plan has always involved reckless spending. Clearly, this is one of the reasons people hate the Yankees, but fortunately for the fans, the Yankees have a lot of money to spend. I am not saying it is a good idea to pay players more than they are worth (for the record, I agree this is a really bad idea) – but the Yankees do it all the time. Who could forget Kei Igawa? If the Yankees wanted to err on the side of caution, they should have done it with players like Carl Pavano and Jason Giambi. To decide they want to do it now with their captain is a joke.
And if you are going to talk about money – what about all the money Jeter has made the Yankees over the past 15 years? Derek Jeter has become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, celebrity in major league baseball. He has had endorsements with everyone from Nike to Gatorade, not to mention appeared in movies and TV shows and sold an unimaginable amount of Yankees merchandise. People come to Yankee Stadium for many reasons – but a lot of them come to see Derek Jeter. Another reason fans will come to see Jeter this season – Jeter only needs 74 more hits to become the first Yankee to hit 3,000. They money the Yankees can earn on marketing for this milestone, as well as increased attendance, will go a long way towards making up for the extra money they don’t want to pay Jeter.
Franchise
We all get that the Yankees want to base this contract on performance alone, but like it or not – this deal isn’t just about baseball. There is a reason Jeter was chosen to be the 14th captain of the Yankees. The Yankee franchise is built on professionalism and excellence, something Jeter represents better than any other active Yankee. No player is considered more of a Yankee than Jeter right now – so what message does this send to the rest of the team? If the management proves it can’t be loyal to Jeter – this shows the franchise isn’t really loyal to anyone. Sure it’s a stretch, but this lack of loyalty could impact both current and potential players interested in signing with the team. Sadly, Jeter won’t be a Yankee forever – the time will come for his era to end – but does the Yankee management want to be responsible for ending it now while alienating the fans at the same time? I hope not…
In case you’re wondering, Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte are also included in my Christmas list.
Money
Ok friends – lets be serious, the Yankees are not fiscally responsible and they most likely never will be. The Yankees business plan has always involved reckless spending. Clearly, this is one of the reasons people hate the Yankees, but fortunately for the fans, the Yankees have a lot of money to spend. I am not saying it is a good idea to pay players more than they are worth (for the record, I agree this is a really bad idea) – but the Yankees do it all the time. Who could forget Kei Igawa? If the Yankees wanted to err on the side of caution, they should have done it with players like Carl Pavano and Jason Giambi. To decide they want to do it now with their captain is a joke.
And if you are going to talk about money – what about all the money Jeter has made the Yankees over the past 15 years? Derek Jeter has become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, celebrity in major league baseball. He has had endorsements with everyone from Nike to Gatorade, not to mention appeared in movies and TV shows and sold an unimaginable amount of Yankees merchandise. People come to Yankee Stadium for many reasons – but a lot of them come to see Derek Jeter. Another reason fans will come to see Jeter this season – Jeter only needs 74 more hits to become the first Yankee to hit 3,000. They money the Yankees can earn on marketing for this milestone, as well as increased attendance, will go a long way towards making up for the extra money they don’t want to pay Jeter.
Franchise
We all get that the Yankees want to base this contract on performance alone, but like it or not – this deal isn’t just about baseball. There is a reason Jeter was chosen to be the 14th captain of the Yankees. The Yankee franchise is built on professionalism and excellence, something Jeter represents better than any other active Yankee. No player is considered more of a Yankee than Jeter right now – so what message does this send to the rest of the team? If the management proves it can’t be loyal to Jeter – this shows the franchise isn’t really loyal to anyone. Sure it’s a stretch, but this lack of loyalty could impact both current and potential players interested in signing with the team. Sadly, Jeter won’t be a Yankee forever – the time will come for his era to end – but does the Yankee management want to be responsible for ending it now while alienating the fans at the same time? I hope not…
In case you’re wondering, Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte are also included in my Christmas list.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
SHE SAID: Twins or Rangers?
Even though the Yankees have yet to win the division (maybe because someone is still letting Javy pitch), they are headed to the playoffs. And so the question remains: would you rather face the Twins or the Rangers? I feel like this is asking me to pick between marrying Derek Jeter and winning the lottery….actually, never mind, clearly I would pick Derek. But you get the point; both teams are going to be tough to beat. That being said….I guess I’ll take my chances with the Twins.
History: The Yankees have a better record against the Twins (4-2) than the Rangers (4-4) and have had an easier time winning on the road against Twins than they have in Texas. After all, the Yankees lost all 4 games they played against the Rangers in Texas and won 2 out of 3 at Target Field. The Yankees have also beaten the Twins more recently in the post season and swept them in last season’s ALDS. I know, I know – the 2010 Twins are not the same as the 2009 Twins, but it seems the Yankees have historically had a psychological edge over the Twins in the post season.
Pitching: I am still trying to forget that it seemed like the right move to pass on Lee until the offseason – I mean, it seemed reasonable to assume that Burnett would not fall apart and Andy wouldn’t get injured. Since the Yankees didn’t sign Cliff Lee, they may have to face him in the postseason. If the Yankees face the Rangers and the series goes 5 games that means facing Lee twice, something which terrifies me. The Yankees faced Lee 3 times this season, and lost 2 of those games. And we all remember who pitched the 2 games the Yankees lost in last year’s World Series….The Rangers will then turn to C.J. Wilson, another lefty. And no one needs to be reminded that the Yankees now have a 9 game losing streak against lefties. I’m not trying to underestimate the Twins rotation, even if it is hard for me to take Carl Pavano seriously – but the Twins first 3 starters all have zero career wins against the Yankees.
Yes, the Yankees would have home field advantage if they played Texas and I would like to win the division, but at this point, I don’t think home field advantage would be better than potentially facing Cliff Lee twice. Twins or Rangers – we should all just focus on what’s really important: winning the ALDS no matter who we face.
History: The Yankees have a better record against the Twins (4-2) than the Rangers (4-4) and have had an easier time winning on the road against Twins than they have in Texas. After all, the Yankees lost all 4 games they played against the Rangers in Texas and won 2 out of 3 at Target Field. The Yankees have also beaten the Twins more recently in the post season and swept them in last season’s ALDS. I know, I know – the 2010 Twins are not the same as the 2009 Twins, but it seems the Yankees have historically had a psychological edge over the Twins in the post season.
Pitching: I am still trying to forget that it seemed like the right move to pass on Lee until the offseason – I mean, it seemed reasonable to assume that Burnett would not fall apart and Andy wouldn’t get injured. Since the Yankees didn’t sign Cliff Lee, they may have to face him in the postseason. If the Yankees face the Rangers and the series goes 5 games that means facing Lee twice, something which terrifies me. The Yankees faced Lee 3 times this season, and lost 2 of those games. And we all remember who pitched the 2 games the Yankees lost in last year’s World Series….The Rangers will then turn to C.J. Wilson, another lefty. And no one needs to be reminded that the Yankees now have a 9 game losing streak against lefties. I’m not trying to underestimate the Twins rotation, even if it is hard for me to take Carl Pavano seriously – but the Twins first 3 starters all have zero career wins against the Yankees.
Yes, the Yankees would have home field advantage if they played Texas and I would like to win the division, but at this point, I don’t think home field advantage would be better than potentially facing Cliff Lee twice. Twins or Rangers – we should all just focus on what’s really important: winning the ALDS no matter who we face.
Monday, June 21, 2010
SHE SAID: Cliff Lee in Pinstripes?
Many people thought that the Mariners would be a contender this season, especially after they picked up Cliff Lee. It looks like those people were wrong – the Mariners are currently in last place in the AL West and stand 13 games out of first. Since Seattle is doing so poorly, the speculation that they will begin to entertain offers for Lee has begun.
Cliff Lee will end up in pinstripes. The question really isn’t if, but when Lee comes to New York: as part of a trade this summer or as a free agent this winter. If you ask me, do I want Cliff Lee on the Yankees; the answer is absolutely and as soon as possible; I want what I want and I want it now. Unfortunately, what I want and what is the best strategic move for the Yankees is not always the same thing (don’t worry; I have learned to come to terms with this). Based on my strong affinity for lefties and strong dislike for Javy, in my ideal world, the Yankees pick up Lee now and say bye bye to Vazquez. I know this is not going to happen, but we can all have dreams can’t we? It is far more likely that the Yankees wait to make an offer on Lee after he becomes a free agent.......
The Yankees already have 5 starters, all of whom are healthy and (arguably) effective. I say arguably since I am still consider Javy my nemesis, but clearly the Yankee starting rotation is getting the job done, as evidenced by the fact that the Yankees are finally alone in first place. Trading for Lee now would almost undoubtedly mean that the Yankees would have to give up a top prospect, such as Jesus Montero or Austin Romine, something Cashman and the Yankees are highly unlikely to do during the season with the team in first place. However, if the Yankees wait until Lee becomes a free agent, it is less likely they will need to trade away prospects to make a deal. And yes, waiting does mean that another team could snatch up Lee before he becomes a free agent. However, even if a team does get Lee this season, it doesn’t mean he will re-sign with that team for the 2011 season. Therefore, they can just “rent” Lee until he is ready to sign with the Yankees this winter.
The Yankees are also far more likely to need to add a starter after this season is over. While I refuse to even entertain the thought, Andy Pettitte may decide to retire after this season, and if he should decide to do so, the Yankees will need to replace him with a solid starter. Another, much much happier scenario is that Vazquez will not re-sign with the Yankees and will return to National League land where he has proven much more successful. (Andy, please come back.)
Lee also has another reason to want to sign with the Yankees in the winter (aside from wanting to play for a team that has won 27 World Championships): friends. We all like to play with our friends don’t we? Lee is good friends with Sabathia from their days on the Indians and Sabathia has told Lee how great it is to play in New York. Lee is also good friends with Burnett – both are from Arkansas and have the same manager. For the record, I also plan to be Lee’s good friend when he comes to New York – after all, we are both lefties so we already have a lot in common.
Bottom line: when Christmas and Hanukkah roll around, go ahead and buy your favorite Yankee fan a new Cliff Lee jersey.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
HE SAID: Booing Javy's Boo-ers
Javy Vasquez got booed at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday for two reasons:
1) He allowed a grand slam in Game 7 of the ill-fated 2004 ALCS
2) Yankee fans have nothing else to boo about
Look, I understand the knee-jerk reaction when it comes to the name Javier Vasquez. I was at that game in 2004, and Johnny Damon's (essentially) game-winning salami for the Red Sox practically landed in my lap. But to make him the face of the Reverse of the Curse is simply unfair, revisionist history. How about Kevin Brown, the $100M man that loaded the bases in the first place, causing Joe Torre to have to take him out before he'd completed 2 innings? How about the legendary Mr. Torre himself, who elected to start the hapless Brown instead of Vasquez, prompting him to summon Javy to make his first relief appearance in 6 years, with the bases loaded, in a pennant elimination game? Not exactly the fairest of circumstances.
Vasquez' Yankee years are certainly an albatross on his otherwise impressive career. I was shocked to read this week that he had the third worst ERA in Yankees history among pitchers with at least 200 innings (5.17). I definitely wasn't shocked to read that Jeff Weaver was the worst of the bunch. His numbers are a bit misleading in a lot of ways. I'm sure many shortsighted Yankees fans forget that Vasquez made the AL All-Star team in his only season as a Yankee, and pitched brilliantly before a second-half injury hampered his effectiveness. Vasquez entered that playoff series with little left in the tank, but took the ball out of sheer competitive spirit. It was Torre's mismanagement that led the Yankees to have to rely on damaged goods in the most important game of the year, but I digress. So despite what the number says, what Vasquez is right now, what he was on Wednesday, and what he will be for the rest of the season, is absolutely unworthy of the boo birds at Yankee Stadium.
This is a pitcher that finished 4th in the National League Cy Young voting last season. While the NL is a joke in many ways (I think Jim Abbott won the batting title one year), Javy put up grown man numbers: 15 wins, 2.87 ERA, 238 K's. That is beastly regardless of the league. While his ERA will certainly rise, and his K's will certainly drop, Vasquez is going to be a key contributor to the 2010 Yankees, and I believe that starts tonight in Oakland.
While Javy committed the mortal sin of informing the media that the booing got to him, he was 100% right in calling the booing "unfair". At the point Yankee fans started booing, Vasquez had allowed 3 runs in 5 or so innings. Check the numbers. This kind of production is about standard over the past decade for beloved Yankee Andy Pettitte. Would he have gotten booed if he was pitching Wednesday? Unequivocally NOT. Which brings me to my original point: Vasquez is being booed for the events of 6 seasons ago. Which, as Javy put it, is unfair.
Where Javy made his mistake was failing to recognize that sports and sports fans are inherently unfair. While I think the booing was stupid and counterproductive (clearly, he is sensitive about it), I think the fan can do whatever they want at the park. And Yankee fans have shown a remarkable proclivity to embarrassing displays of booing. In the past decade we've seen one of the most beloved Yankees of All-Time (Jeter), and one of the best players of all time (Rodriguez) get booed in Yankee Stadium. Any fan with a brain knows that their immense talent, work ethics, and levels of production over a fair sample size suggest that these players should never ever be booed. The mere fact that they were shows that a) no one is immune to booing, b) sometimes Yankee fans leave their brains at home. Hopefully this is a temporary phenomena in the case of Vasquez, but I fear it wont be. With Rodriguez, it got to a point where fans would boo every time he made and out, and reluctantly cheer when he didn't. Rodriguez and Vasquez seem to both take the fans' reactions to heart. I am hopeful and confident that like A-Rod, Javy will prove his mettle with the fans and rise above all the ignorant negativity.
Again people, if you buy a ticket, you have free reign to boo whoever you want. Just please, choose your targets a bit wisely. There are plenty of Kevin Browns in this world that deserve your scorn for being bad people and not doing their job in the right way. Mark my words, Vasquez is not this person, and will prove to be an asset to the 2010 Yankees. And one more thing: If you ever boo Mariano, turn in your pinstripes and go root for the Mets.
1) He allowed a grand slam in Game 7 of the ill-fated 2004 ALCS
2) Yankee fans have nothing else to boo about
Look, I understand the knee-jerk reaction when it comes to the name Javier Vasquez. I was at that game in 2004, and Johnny Damon's (essentially) game-winning salami for the Red Sox practically landed in my lap. But to make him the face of the Reverse of the Curse is simply unfair, revisionist history. How about Kevin Brown, the $100M man that loaded the bases in the first place, causing Joe Torre to have to take him out before he'd completed 2 innings? How about the legendary Mr. Torre himself, who elected to start the hapless Brown instead of Vasquez, prompting him to summon Javy to make his first relief appearance in 6 years, with the bases loaded, in a pennant elimination game? Not exactly the fairest of circumstances.
Vasquez' Yankee years are certainly an albatross on his otherwise impressive career. I was shocked to read this week that he had the third worst ERA in Yankees history among pitchers with at least 200 innings (5.17). I definitely wasn't shocked to read that Jeff Weaver was the worst of the bunch. His numbers are a bit misleading in a lot of ways. I'm sure many shortsighted Yankees fans forget that Vasquez made the AL All-Star team in his only season as a Yankee, and pitched brilliantly before a second-half injury hampered his effectiveness. Vasquez entered that playoff series with little left in the tank, but took the ball out of sheer competitive spirit. It was Torre's mismanagement that led the Yankees to have to rely on damaged goods in the most important game of the year, but I digress. So despite what the number says, what Vasquez is right now, what he was on Wednesday, and what he will be for the rest of the season, is absolutely unworthy of the boo birds at Yankee Stadium.
This is a pitcher that finished 4th in the National League Cy Young voting last season. While the NL is a joke in many ways (I think Jim Abbott won the batting title one year), Javy put up grown man numbers: 15 wins, 2.87 ERA, 238 K's. That is beastly regardless of the league. While his ERA will certainly rise, and his K's will certainly drop, Vasquez is going to be a key contributor to the 2010 Yankees, and I believe that starts tonight in Oakland.
While Javy committed the mortal sin of informing the media that the booing got to him, he was 100% right in calling the booing "unfair". At the point Yankee fans started booing, Vasquez had allowed 3 runs in 5 or so innings. Check the numbers. This kind of production is about standard over the past decade for beloved Yankee Andy Pettitte. Would he have gotten booed if he was pitching Wednesday? Unequivocally NOT. Which brings me to my original point: Vasquez is being booed for the events of 6 seasons ago. Which, as Javy put it, is unfair.
Where Javy made his mistake was failing to recognize that sports and sports fans are inherently unfair. While I think the booing was stupid and counterproductive (clearly, he is sensitive about it), I think the fan can do whatever they want at the park. And Yankee fans have shown a remarkable proclivity to embarrassing displays of booing. In the past decade we've seen one of the most beloved Yankees of All-Time (Jeter), and one of the best players of all time (Rodriguez) get booed in Yankee Stadium. Any fan with a brain knows that their immense talent, work ethics, and levels of production over a fair sample size suggest that these players should never ever be booed. The mere fact that they were shows that a) no one is immune to booing, b) sometimes Yankee fans leave their brains at home. Hopefully this is a temporary phenomena in the case of Vasquez, but I fear it wont be. With Rodriguez, it got to a point where fans would boo every time he made and out, and reluctantly cheer when he didn't. Rodriguez and Vasquez seem to both take the fans' reactions to heart. I am hopeful and confident that like A-Rod, Javy will prove his mettle with the fans and rise above all the ignorant negativity.
Again people, if you buy a ticket, you have free reign to boo whoever you want. Just please, choose your targets a bit wisely. There are plenty of Kevin Browns in this world that deserve your scorn for being bad people and not doing their job in the right way. Mark my words, Vasquez is not this person, and will prove to be an asset to the 2010 Yankees. And one more thing: If you ever boo Mariano, turn in your pinstripes and go root for the Mets.
SHE SAID: BOOING JAVY
When the Yankees acquired Javier Vazquez in the off-season, the most common reactions were terrible flashbacks to 2004 or optimism that Vazquez could be a good fit in the rotation. Of course I did what I always try to do: I was optimistic and decided why not give him another chance? I even defended him to my fellow fans who thought bringing Javy back was a terrible mistake. I hate to say it, but my optimism on Javy is already fading. True, he has only pitched 2 games this season and I agree it is too soon to jump to any rash conclusions. However, that being said, the Yankees have lost only 3 games this season, 2 of which Javy started. On top of that, among Yankee pitchers who have pitched at least 200 innings, Vazquez has the third-worst ERA in franchise history (5.17). During his second start (which was much, much more promising than his terrible performance against the Rays) he was booed by unhappy fans at the stadium, raising many questions, including: Is it fair to boo Vazquez? Do the fans have the right to boo their own team or is that just low class? Here is what I think….
Was it fair? To me, this question is really just silly. Unfortunately, one of the life lessons we all learn is life is not fair; life is hard. The press hit hard on this word “unfair” and Vazquez did one of the worst things you can do as a Yankee: he followed their lead. After being force-fed the word at least twice, Vazquez was quoted: “I feel like it’s unfair because that’s so long ago...” The reason many, including apparently Vazquez, are calling this unfair is because they feel fans were booing Vazquez based on 2004. All Yankee fans have tried really hard to forget that game in 2004, but the reality is, most never will. Even if some fans were booing Javy based on this game, his first two starts were not pretty, nor were they worth $11.5 million. No one is going to argue that 2004 wasn’t a long time ago and I honestly think most Yankee fans are willing to give Javy a second chance. A-Rod came to bat to the loudest cheers I heard the entire game on Sunday, proving that fans are willing to embrace almost any player as long as they perform and do the job they are paid to do.
Do the fans have the right to boo their own players? This is also sort of a silly question. This isn’t slander or defamation of character – it is simply fans exercising their freedom of speech. It is ridiculous to over generalize that all Yankee fans are “classless” and an “embarrassment.” Sure, it wasn’t nice, but sadly not everyone is nice. Let’s be serious, Yankee fans are certainly not the only group to boo their own players. Vazquez was hired to be a starting pitcher that would help the Yankees win games and defend their World Series title, something he has yet shown fans he can do. If you think about it, fans are sort of like clients, they are paying (sometimes ridiculous amounts) to watch the team play and if they don’t like what they are seeing, they have a right to say so. After all, if you aren’t doing your job, wouldn’t you expect to hear some displeasure from your boss, co-workers, and clients? New York is known for being an extremely tough city to play in and getting booed is simply part of being a Yankee, like it or not. This is something Javy knew before coming back to New York. As history shows, many beloved Yankees, including Mickey Mantle, Don Mattingly, and the captain Derek Jeter, have all been booed by Yankee fans at one time or another. Jeter even admitted that his own parents booed him. What did these great players do about it? They took it as just another part of the job and didn’t complain. They also silenced the boos by playing good baseball and winning games.
Moral of the story: it doesn’t matter if you think it is fair or the right thing to do, some Yankee fans are going to boo players they feel are underperforming. In the words of Donnie Baseball, “It’s their right. If they don’t like what they see, I won’t be the first guy they booed, and I won’t be the last.” So what does Javy need to do? The answer is simple: he needs to start throwing better pitches and winning games. Oh, and he should also be a little more careful what he says to the media. Luckily, we don’t have to wait very long to see what he will do in his next start. Good luck Javy, this fan really wants to be able to like you.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
HE SAID: Pettitte is Yanks Playoff Advantage
So, the biggest question heading into the postseason will be how the starting rotation is going to stack up against the opponents'. With the inconsistency of AJ Burnett and the outright ineffectiveness of Joba Chamberlain, many pundits believe that this achilles heel will eventually undercut the team with the best record in MLB. Despite these alleged struggles, the Yankees easily have the best record in the majors over the last two months. When prognosticating the playoffs, you must analyze the game-to-game matchups. Let's assume Detroit holds on to the Central and face the Yanks in the ALDS. Next, we'll assume Boston takes the Wild Card and subsequently ousts the Angels, which happens in October about as frequently as the leaves changing. Looking at the potential head to head matchups, the Yankees rotation may not be in as bad shape as many think.
Game 1, CC Sabathia
CC's playoff struggles are well documented, although quite overblown. Sabathia has made only two playoff appearances, and they were six seasons apart. The small sample size leads me to believe he is better analyzed by the way he is pitching now, rather than as a 21 year old for the 2001 Indians. CC has been one of the best starters in the AL in the second half, leading the league with 17 wins on the season. The most encouraging part of his season is the way he's pitched against the better teams. Along with his memorable near perfect game against Boston, his two worst starts of the season have been against Seattle, a team that will be as far from the playoffs as their home city is from any other MLB team. If CC can take Game 1 of the ALDS against the Tigers, that series is essentially over. With the Kittie's light hitting lineup and porous bullpen, their only hope is for fireballing ace Justin Verlander to steal Game 1 in the Bronx and give his team a lead. After Verlander, this team is a joke (as you will see with their #2 and #3 starters). The ALCS against Boston is a horse of a different color. Depending on how long each of the ALDS series go, the second round may not begin with reset rotations. Assuming it falls in line, Boston will likely make the tragic mistake of annointing Josh Beckett as their Game 1 starter. Despite his past playoff success (save last season), Beckett is NOT Boston's best starter. That man is strikeout lefty John Lester. Beckett has been auditioning to pitch next season's Home Run Derby in the second half, and that does not bode well amidst the right field jetstream in the Bronx. If CC is on, again advantage New York.
Game 2, AJ Burnett
Burnett is the Yankees wild card in this rotation. I slot him in at #2 for a few reasons. As a righty, he can split up the lefties between Sabathia and Pettitte, and give the opposition a different look. The real question will be, which AJ will show up. On any given night, he can be lights out or balls out (of the ballpark that is). In Game 2 of the ALDS against Detroit, I think this game is advantage Yankees. The aforementioned light hitting Tigers will hopefully be shell shocked from a Game 1 loss, and not put up much of a fight against AJ while looking to head home to Detroit. Even more encouraging is that Detroit's #2 starter Edwin Jackson has gone from revelation to revulsion in the second half, getting absolutely rocked for the past month. Even with an inconsistent AJ, the Yankees vastly superior lineup gives them the edge in Game 2. The ALCS is a far different story. Matching up against John Lester is not easy. He has pitched really well all season, especially against the Yankees. Encouraging about this matchup, however, is that it will take place in the Bronx rather than Fenway. After getting knocked around in Boston, Burnett pitched a 1-hit gem against the Red Sox in the Bronx last time around. Depending on which AJ shows up, this game is likely a toss up.
It seems that in both series the Yankees will be favored in the first two games at home. Unless Verlander comes up with a masterpiece and the Yankees can't find the bats, the Tigers don't seem to be much of a threat to come to NY with any wins. As for Boston, the Yankees seem to be safe for a split, even with the tough matchups. If they were very unlucky, like any team, they could be looking at 0-2. The problems for the Yankees seem to arise at the back of the rotation, when the series shift to the road. But upon further inspection, the rotation problems may be even more glaring for the Yankees competition.
Game 3, Andy Pettitte
This is where the Yankees gain an advantage in any series; veteran stopper Andy Pettitte throwing Game 3 on the road. Pettitte has been a breath of fresh air in the second half of the season, including his trademark ace-like August. None of the playoff teams that the Yanks are going to face will have a counterpart as capable, or with the experience of Pettitte. It's looking like Detroit will turn to trade deadline acquisition Jarrod Washburn. To say Washburn has been bad since coming to the Tigers is like saying Detroit is not an ideal vacation destination. Unfortunately for the Tigers, this matchup will likely initiate their Winter vacation since an average to below average Pettitte performance should be enough to top Washburn. Not only is Washburn a poor pitcher facing the best lineup in baseball, but he also has a history of stinking up the joint against the Yankees. As for the ALCS, again, advantage Yankees. You think the Yankees have question marks after their top two, the Red Sox have more question marks than the Riddler's pajamas. Who's pitching game 3 for Boston? Young enigma Clay Buchholz? WBC burnout Daisuke Matsuzaka? Walking corpse Tim Wakefield? Kelsey Grammar look-alike Paul Byrd? Any of these options is a crap shoot (more like a crap sandwich) for Boston. At the worst, Pettitte keeps the Yankees in the game and lets the rejuvinized bullpen take over. At the best, Pettitte outpitches his inferior counterpart, and the series' momentum swings to New York. Pitching Game 3 also allows Pettitte to be in line to start a potential Game 7 at home. Another huge advantage for the Yankees.
Game 4, ??????
The potential fourth starter for the Yankees has been the main reason "experts" have been doubting their potential for a championship run. This is possibly the most overhyped storyline entering the playoffs in a long time. Regardless of how long either of the first two series go, this mystery starter will get one, yes one, start for the Yankees before the World Series. And this is supposed to end the Yankees season? HA! The Detroit series, if it even gets to a fourth game, will never see the Yankees fourth starter. Joe Girardi recognizes this potential achilles heel, and will undoubtively choose the ALDS with multiple off days, allowing the Yankees to skip their fourth starter. This means this player will likely pitch 1 game at Fenway park. Although it's not an ideal matchup, to concede this game to the Red Sox so early is a grave mistake. How many times in the past five years have we seen teams with no other options turn to inconsistent starters who come up big in the playoffs. Jeff Weaver. Oliver Perez. Anthony Reyes. Any of these names ring a bell? The Yankees will either turn to the high talent, low production kid Joba Chamberlain, or the virtually unknown Chad Gaudin. They will match up with one of the grab bag of back-of-the-rotation starters the Red Sox have been shuffling over the past month. The good news for Yankee fans is that both Chamberlain and Gaudin are strikeout pitchers that can power their way out of jams despite their erratic control. Even better news is that the Yankees long relief may be the best in the biz, and if Joe Girardi is smart (yes, he is), either Game 4 pitcher will be on a very short leash. Bullpen caddys Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes will be waiting to clean up the starters' potential messes. The Red Sox' middle men of Manny Delcarmen and Michael Bowden simply do not compare, should the Red Sox fourth starter similarly struggle.
Although I find my analysis disturbingly optimistic, I just can't be as skeptical about the Yankees rotation as many are. This team is playing .700 ball since April with all these "question marks" throwing everyday. With Pettitte serving as the Yankees stopper, the Bombers will have an advantage in the swing game, Game 3. And even if the fourth starter tanks in their one appearance prior to the World Series, that is not nearly enough to sabotage the Yankees season. Third and fourth starters routinely get pounded in the merciless American League, and the Yankees potential opponents share this problem. The reality is that teams around the league would love to have the rotation questions the Yankees allegedly have. They would also love to have the Yankees deep and powerful offense; a lineup that the Tigers and Red Sox pitchers have to deal with... not the Yankees starters.
Game 1, CC Sabathia
CC's playoff struggles are well documented, although quite overblown. Sabathia has made only two playoff appearances, and they were six seasons apart. The small sample size leads me to believe he is better analyzed by the way he is pitching now, rather than as a 21 year old for the 2001 Indians. CC has been one of the best starters in the AL in the second half, leading the league with 17 wins on the season. The most encouraging part of his season is the way he's pitched against the better teams. Along with his memorable near perfect game against Boston, his two worst starts of the season have been against Seattle, a team that will be as far from the playoffs as their home city is from any other MLB team. If CC can take Game 1 of the ALDS against the Tigers, that series is essentially over. With the Kittie's light hitting lineup and porous bullpen, their only hope is for fireballing ace Justin Verlander to steal Game 1 in the Bronx and give his team a lead. After Verlander, this team is a joke (as you will see with their #2 and #3 starters). The ALCS against Boston is a horse of a different color. Depending on how long each of the ALDS series go, the second round may not begin with reset rotations. Assuming it falls in line, Boston will likely make the tragic mistake of annointing Josh Beckett as their Game 1 starter. Despite his past playoff success (save last season), Beckett is NOT Boston's best starter. That man is strikeout lefty John Lester. Beckett has been auditioning to pitch next season's Home Run Derby in the second half, and that does not bode well amidst the right field jetstream in the Bronx. If CC is on, again advantage New York.
Game 2, AJ Burnett
Burnett is the Yankees wild card in this rotation. I slot him in at #2 for a few reasons. As a righty, he can split up the lefties between Sabathia and Pettitte, and give the opposition a different look. The real question will be, which AJ will show up. On any given night, he can be lights out or balls out (of the ballpark that is). In Game 2 of the ALDS against Detroit, I think this game is advantage Yankees. The aforementioned light hitting Tigers will hopefully be shell shocked from a Game 1 loss, and not put up much of a fight against AJ while looking to head home to Detroit. Even more encouraging is that Detroit's #2 starter Edwin Jackson has gone from revelation to revulsion in the second half, getting absolutely rocked for the past month. Even with an inconsistent AJ, the Yankees vastly superior lineup gives them the edge in Game 2. The ALCS is a far different story. Matching up against John Lester is not easy. He has pitched really well all season, especially against the Yankees. Encouraging about this matchup, however, is that it will take place in the Bronx rather than Fenway. After getting knocked around in Boston, Burnett pitched a 1-hit gem against the Red Sox in the Bronx last time around. Depending on which AJ shows up, this game is likely a toss up.
It seems that in both series the Yankees will be favored in the first two games at home. Unless Verlander comes up with a masterpiece and the Yankees can't find the bats, the Tigers don't seem to be much of a threat to come to NY with any wins. As for Boston, the Yankees seem to be safe for a split, even with the tough matchups. If they were very unlucky, like any team, they could be looking at 0-2. The problems for the Yankees seem to arise at the back of the rotation, when the series shift to the road. But upon further inspection, the rotation problems may be even more glaring for the Yankees competition.
Game 3, Andy Pettitte
This is where the Yankees gain an advantage in any series; veteran stopper Andy Pettitte throwing Game 3 on the road. Pettitte has been a breath of fresh air in the second half of the season, including his trademark ace-like August. None of the playoff teams that the Yanks are going to face will have a counterpart as capable, or with the experience of Pettitte. It's looking like Detroit will turn to trade deadline acquisition Jarrod Washburn. To say Washburn has been bad since coming to the Tigers is like saying Detroit is not an ideal vacation destination. Unfortunately for the Tigers, this matchup will likely initiate their Winter vacation since an average to below average Pettitte performance should be enough to top Washburn. Not only is Washburn a poor pitcher facing the best lineup in baseball, but he also has a history of stinking up the joint against the Yankees. As for the ALCS, again, advantage Yankees. You think the Yankees have question marks after their top two, the Red Sox have more question marks than the Riddler's pajamas. Who's pitching game 3 for Boston? Young enigma Clay Buchholz? WBC burnout Daisuke Matsuzaka? Walking corpse Tim Wakefield? Kelsey Grammar look-alike Paul Byrd? Any of these options is a crap shoot (more like a crap sandwich) for Boston. At the worst, Pettitte keeps the Yankees in the game and lets the rejuvinized bullpen take over. At the best, Pettitte outpitches his inferior counterpart, and the series' momentum swings to New York. Pitching Game 3 also allows Pettitte to be in line to start a potential Game 7 at home. Another huge advantage for the Yankees.
Game 4, ??????
The potential fourth starter for the Yankees has been the main reason "experts" have been doubting their potential for a championship run. This is possibly the most overhyped storyline entering the playoffs in a long time. Regardless of how long either of the first two series go, this mystery starter will get one, yes one, start for the Yankees before the World Series. And this is supposed to end the Yankees season? HA! The Detroit series, if it even gets to a fourth game, will never see the Yankees fourth starter. Joe Girardi recognizes this potential achilles heel, and will undoubtively choose the ALDS with multiple off days, allowing the Yankees to skip their fourth starter. This means this player will likely pitch 1 game at Fenway park. Although it's not an ideal matchup, to concede this game to the Red Sox so early is a grave mistake. How many times in the past five years have we seen teams with no other options turn to inconsistent starters who come up big in the playoffs. Jeff Weaver. Oliver Perez. Anthony Reyes. Any of these names ring a bell? The Yankees will either turn to the high talent, low production kid Joba Chamberlain, or the virtually unknown Chad Gaudin. They will match up with one of the grab bag of back-of-the-rotation starters the Red Sox have been shuffling over the past month. The good news for Yankee fans is that both Chamberlain and Gaudin are strikeout pitchers that can power their way out of jams despite their erratic control. Even better news is that the Yankees long relief may be the best in the biz, and if Joe Girardi is smart (yes, he is), either Game 4 pitcher will be on a very short leash. Bullpen caddys Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes will be waiting to clean up the starters' potential messes. The Red Sox' middle men of Manny Delcarmen and Michael Bowden simply do not compare, should the Red Sox fourth starter similarly struggle.
Although I find my analysis disturbingly optimistic, I just can't be as skeptical about the Yankees rotation as many are. This team is playing .700 ball since April with all these "question marks" throwing everyday. With Pettitte serving as the Yankees stopper, the Bombers will have an advantage in the swing game, Game 3. And even if the fourth starter tanks in their one appearance prior to the World Series, that is not nearly enough to sabotage the Yankees season. Third and fourth starters routinely get pounded in the merciless American League, and the Yankees potential opponents share this problem. The reality is that teams around the league would love to have the rotation questions the Yankees allegedly have. They would also love to have the Yankees deep and powerful offense; a lineup that the Tigers and Red Sox pitchers have to deal with... not the Yankees starters.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
SHE SAID: (Nearly) Perfect Pettitte
At the beginning of the season, the majority of Yankee pitching buzz surrounded much needed acquisitions CC and Burnett. Comments were heard here and there over what role Joba would fill and how the Yankees refused to get rid of either Joba or Hughes. While most Yankee fans were excited to have veteran Pettitte resign, I don’t think he got the recognition, or the contract, he deserved. This season Pettitte has proven once again why the Yankees are lucky to have him, even if he isn’t the number 1 starter.
We all remember Pettitte’s bid for perfection a few weeks ago when he pitched 6 innings of perfect baseball, retiring the first 20 batters. I personally am still mad at Jerry. Sure, Pettitte hasn’t been perfect all season, but he has provided some consistency to the Yankee’s pitching rotation and given the Yankees 13 wins. He is also the most experienced starter in the rotation, having pitched more innings than any other lefty since 2005. While Burnett has never pitched in the post season and CC has struggled with other teams in the playoffs, Andy has also already proven effective in the post season, winning 14 post season games with an ERA of just under 4.00.
Most recently the buzz surrounding Andy has been about his shoulder pain and fatigue. With the playoffs just 3 weeks away, this has caused concern for some Yankee fans. On the other hand, I have also heard some say “Pettitte is fine and the Yankees are just trying to get other teams to doubt them,” while others say Pettitte is begging to pitch just to reach all his incentives. I certainly don’t think Pettitte is willing to hurt the team for a little extra money and I could care less about conspiracy theories. I do think Pettitte will be fine when he starts tomorrow and will wind up once again play a key role in the Yankees post season success. We love you Andy.
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