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!
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