Girardi Builds Yankees Bridge

Piece by piece the New York Yankees build a bridge back to the promised land. The heavy lifting was done by the brute force of the Bronx Bomber financial muscle. It doesn't take a baseball genius to buy CC Sabathia and plug him into the gaping hole at the top of the rotation. Skill wasn't required to figure out that a prime-time, three-hole-hitter who can pick-it would finally fill Tino's shoes. A.J.'s stuff would stick anywhere. The only work required is writing the checks. That, the front office can do, they are experts at warding off writer's cramp.

It would take more than money to set the Yankees straight. Years of bungling by the brass, left its mark. Baseball acumen garnished with people skills are required. That's where the manager steps up. Girardi was handed a baffling outfield mix, that included veteran injury issues, two flawed center field wanna-Be's and for good measure a journeyman flake. Let's check the scorecard: Nady pulls up lame. Damon's repertoire now includes fly ball mangling to go with lobbed tosses. Swisher, who arrived with a versatile defensive tag, makes right field a daunting adventure. Cabrera and Gardner set aside their fourth outfielder scouting reports and transition to solid contributors. Somehow, Giradi makes this mix palpable. Mission accomplished, time to move to the next challenge.

The bullpen bridge has been a perpetual puzzle since the Torre dynasty waned. A never ending conga line of candidates have faded into oblivion. Never short on plans, the front office shoves Marte (yet another skewed acquisition who is handed a bloated contract) and career enigma Bruney into harms way. Another year, another flop. Girardi was left with an assortment of parts and no directions. The skipper went with second-tier starters and is making it work. Phil Coke was a failed minor league starter, a year ago, who nobody claimed when the Yankees' front office tried to give him away. Alfredo Aceves roamed the Mexican League for years. Phil Hughes was a hyped phenom with a frail history. Somehow, this dubious mix conjures up a viable option. Progress is made, piece by piece. The man in the dugout, with #27 on his back, deserves all the credit.

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Yankees Latest Trade

When word arrived that the Yankees had acquired Eric Hinske, confusion made an appearance. The name was familiar but I couldn't place the player. The news reported that he was a veteran of the AL East: Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, still nothing.

Perhaps, the Yankees press release would spark a recollection. Turns out, the new guy is versatile with pop. Visions of Betemit and Swisher began swirling. Be still my heart.

The question lingered: Who be Hinske? Time to whip out the all-powerful Baseball Prospectus Guide. Here's a hint: "Hinske's 2008 season was perceived as a comeback campaign, with his good fortune to be playing for a winner garnering more attention than it merited. In broad strokes, his season was just more of the same that we've seen from him since his distant and promising rookie season, and perhaps understandbly that's why he roams the winter roads looking for work as we go to press."--(B.P. 2009 Guide)

Eric's "roaming" landed him in Pittsburg, the once proud home of the Pirates, where he couldn't crack the lineup. Let the salary dump commence, who you gonna call? Cash is the man. Pittsburg's GM is still smiling over last season's bargain blockbuster: Marte and Nady for Ohlendorf, Tabata and Karstens.

Here's the deal, the Yanks send two low-level, anonymous prospects to the Pirates for a guy who was AL rookie of the year in 2002 (Now, I remember) and is making $1.4 million in 2009. The numbers tell an ominous story.

Where do we go from here? Let's snatch a report from the Yankees' beat: "Said one exec to Joel Sherman for his blog:: “If the Yanks think he can play third base one time a week for A-Rod, they are crazy. He stinks there.”
That’s pretty blunt. Probably pretty accurate, too...All that said, it’s nearly a mortal lock that Hinske starts at third on Tuesday in Minnesota."--(Peter Abraham/LoHud.)

The fruitful search for Hinske's identity sparks an old saying: "Be careful what you wish for."

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Yankees Field of Dreams

Center field holds a special place in Yankees' lore. DiMaggio and Mantle set a legendary standard which guided the excellence of predecessors Murcer and Williams. When Bernie moved to music, an opportunity opened for the next big thing. Problem was there was no home-grown star on the horizon. A ready for prime time free agent, Carlos Beltran, hit the market. The superstar pined for pinstripes and offered a $20 million-dollar discount. The Bombers' Brass dropped the ball when they chose to go the austerity route.

The reverberations from that mangled decision reverberated for years. Damon was signed but couldn't stand up. Cabrera was plucked from a barren farm, provided an unlikely burst of energy and fizzled in '08.

Spring training '09 started with a casting call. Brett Gardner's blazing speed and meek bat would be pitted against Cabrera's accomplished defense and erratic stick. Two men enter, one man leaves. Not so fast.

Competition has fueled optimized performance from both combatants. Each has earned Major League cred. Girardi does what good managers do. He puts players in the position to succeed. In a simple twist of fate, both did.

Cabrera and Gardner both share scouting reports that would make legends blush. Flawed fourth outfielder is the theme. Melky and Brett won't remind anyone of Joltin Joe or The Mick, that's OK. As the old song says, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you'll get what you need."--(Rolling Stones.)

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Jeter's Future

There is always a brewing sub-plot to the Yankees' story. The game on the field is never enough. Hype, speculation and rumors don't sleep they fester in The Big Apple.

The current rumblings concern Derek Jeter. The venerable captain's contract expires after the 2010 season. Let the speculation percolate.

Sam Borden recently wrote an article titled: "Jeter's future could be an issue" that hits the talking points:

• "the future of the Yankees captain is an issue that lingers beneath the surface of the season, particularly if Jeter continues to play well...his performance, so far this year has indicated little, if any regression is imminent. In many ways, he's actually improving. (This is particularly true when it comes to his defense, the area often regarded as Jeter's flaw. Defensive metrics, while admittedly a shaky science, shows that he's been above average as a fielder this year which is a marked rise from his levels in prior years.)--(Borden/Lohud)

This will disappoint the Stat. Wizards who have used Jeter's documented defensive flaws as a cause celeb. Turns out, rumors of Derek's baseball death were exaggerated. Stats. are useful but not absolute. There isn't a column for playing hurt which, for better or worse, is a Jeter's specialty.

• "He is a guy that always has been there and always produced. I hope the Yankees treat him with respect. I really hope they do."--(Mariano Rivera/Borden/Lohud.)

What is The Great Rivera talking referring to? In 2007 the contracts of dynasty stalwarts Rivera and Posada were due to expire.Brian Cashman, who finally got his wish to run the baseball operation, had the opportunity to offer the venerable duo an extension prior to their walk year. Cash chose to let the accomplished champions play out the string. Posada responded with a career year. Rivera maintained his perpetual excellence. The negotiation pendulum swung to the players. Cash had no viable replacements. The players held all the leverage. Bottom line: the organization was forced to dig deep. Once again, Yankee dollars compensated for lack of front office acumen.

Jeter will be 36 years old when his contract is due to expire. Derek doesn't like to talk about it, but a few years ago, he tipped his hand. Asked what he planned to be doing when he was 4o, he immediately responded: "Play shortstop for the New York Yankees."--(ABC interview.)

The Yankees front office continually lavish garish contracts on Big Apple neophytes. Squandering money is their specialty. Resigning Jeter to a respect filled extension, prior to the expiration of his current contract, is a no-brainer. Let's hope the Bombers' Brass is up to the task.

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Rivera's Legend

New York Yankee history is replete with legendary players. 26 rings aren't an accident. Talent matters. Current Yankee followers get the opportunity to witness greatness on a regular basis. Late innings, game on the line, bullpen gate swings open, enter The Great Rivera, the record speaks--game over.

Sunday night in Queens, it happened again. The Yankees were in a position to sweep the feeble Mets while gaining ground on the rival Red Sox. The eighth inning bullpen bridge wobbled, enter Sandman. Rivera puts out another fire while notching his 500TH save.

New York is a city of hyperbole. Somehow, Mariano Rivera gets taken for granted. Mo's latest accomplishment got the presses rolling. Start spreading the news:

• "We’ve played together for 17 years,” Jeter said. “He’s the definition of consistency. You can line up all the players who ever played the game. Mo’s been as consistent as anyone..."--(NY Times)
• "The bullpen door swung open and Mariano Rivera ran into a frenzied situation, summoned for the type of challenging four-out save he has proven capable of handling so many times before."--(MLB.com)

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Yankees Exploit Mets

Saturday night in Queens, the Yankees did what good teams do. The Bombers buried a beleaguered Mets team, taking advantage of a soft spot on the schedule. A.J. Burnett's stuff made the depleted Met lineup look silly. A meager single is all the home team could muster. Citi Field couldn't contain the Yankees' potent power as Swisher and Posada went yard. "The Yankees have five guys with double figure home run totals. The Mets have none."--(SNY.) Enough said.

In an effort to glean a different perspective on the Subway Series, I put down the home cooking of the YES network and watched the Mets' SNY broadcast. Here's an assortment of notes and quotes from the other bunker:

• "I could be the pitching coach for CC Sabathia: throw the 98 mph heat or the razor sharp slider or the parachute change."--(Ron Darling auditions for Dave Eiland's job.)
• "His problem was he cruise controlled it over there. He has been a strange show in the outfield."--(Paraphrased commentary regarding Nick Swisher.) Swisher's novelty act is a series of peaks and valleys. The power and on base percentage go a long way towards covering up the flaws. Shoddy defense is nothing to laugh about. Nick's goofy demeanor gets kudos now, history tells us it will get old.
• "He's had plenty to smile about with his defense and now two hits." Melky Cabrera's versatile play becomes more valuable by the day.
• "They need to get a new cell number so the doctor in Colorado can't call them anymore." A-Rod's weekly day off plan draws a crosstown chuckle.

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Yankees Exhale

New York's Subway Series resumed in Citi Field Friday night. Dark clouds hung over the stadium as Yankee followers held their collective breaths. CC Sabathia took the hill in Queens and quickly calmed frayed Yankee nerves with a dominant performance. Concerns over an injury to the most expensive pitching arm in history were eased. The big man is fine. The Yankees can exhale. Dark clouds lifted, clear skies ahead.

The Bombers have endured searing heat while battling injuries for weeks. Last night, three rookies brought a cool breeze:

• Brett Gardner had a career night. It's feast or famine with the Yanks' electric rookie, Friday night was all you could eat: Five hits, three runs, two RBI, a stolen base and another logic-defying homer.
• Ramiro Pena filled in for the wheezing captain, contributing three hits to go with the stellar defense.
• Francisco Cervelli struggled at the plate, but did the job behind it. A Double-A catcher continues to do a Major League job.

It was an exhilarating night for the revived Yankees. What a relief.

Photo/New Stadium Insider