Yanks & Tigers move in different directions

The New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers have much in common. Star studded lineups and dubious pitching staffs top the list. The Baseball Prospectus 2008 guide provides some detail, "Offense wasn't the problem for the 2007 Tigers. Rather, Detroit missed the playoffs because its pitching staff leaked runs faster than the offense could pour them in....Part of the problem was that the Tigers staff was highly polarized in age with the hoary Rogers (42) and Jones (39) on one end and the fuzzy cheeked Verlander and Bonderman (both 24)on the other....old hitters are generally good hitters, they're also hitters on the decline." Sound familiar?

Well, there are differences, " The Tigers thus entered the offseason in a very dangerous position. The offense's window of excellence is quickly closing, and their pitching staff relies on young pitchers who might still be two or three years away from their peak. Many general managers would be tempted to rely on hope as a strategy in such a situation, trusting that the starting pitchers would improve enough to paper over any decline by the offense and thus keep the team in the playoff chase for the foreseeable future. The Tiger's Dave Dombrowski is not one of those GMs." The report details how Dombrowski aggressively made significant deals using his young, talented, unproven prospects to acquire immediate fortification. Time will tell which is a more effective strategy--aggressive risk taking or keeping your fingers crossed.

Here are some notes from last nights loss:

• Girardi had his squad running with abandon in spring training, it has not carried over to the regular season. Last night Abreu took an early risk by taking an extra base. The good news is the aggression paid off as the Yanks had second and third, two out and a chance to tie the game. The bad news is that Giambi was up and a Bomber failure--hitting with runners in scoring position--reared it's ugly head.
• Cano lines a two run dinger into the right field stands. The dour body language of a prolonged slump is replaced by an effusive smile. Welcome back.
• New catcher, Chris Stewart's debut was ugly. Cross ups, bounced throws, signal confusion, and ineffective at bats won't help. The team is in position of hoping journeyman Chad Moeller will clear waivers and provide Molina with some relief.
• The most disturbing thing about Phil Hughes' awful start is that opponents are consistently getting quality hacks. He isn't fooling or overpowering anyone. "88 MPH fastball is what it is. His control will have to be very sharp."(paraphrased)--Al Leiter. Sounds like he's describing Ian Kennedy. What happened to the devastating stuff?
• A discussion in the YES booth regarding the question "When do you admit it's more than growing pains and consider sending him down?"--Michael Kay (paraphrased) Leiter says, "you look for signs of mental breakdown." I suggest that you don't wait that long. Keep hope alive.

Photo/ Newsday.com

Yanks' prospects hurt by hype

The last Yankees dynasty was built on a young nucleus that was nurtured without overt hype. Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada were given the opportunity to come to the show and focus on playing the game. GM Gene Michael and manager Buck Showalter had a handle on developing prospects and the organization has reaped the benefits since.

The current group of young players has a lot more on their plate. Expectations get so high, so fast that it does a disservice to the future.Gotham is tough turf. The media circus is no bargain. The transition on the field from minor leaguer with impressive stats to proven MLB producer is a major undertaking, distractions hurt the process.

I suggest that the organization has a responsibility to turn down the noise. The low-key approach worked with Wang, Cano and Cabrera. Chamberlain's dominant entrance started an avalanche of hype that has buried Hughes and Kennedy. "He's a number one starter, I see him as the next Justin Verlander."(paraphrased)--organization pitching guru Nardi Contreras on Joba Chamberlain. Got that kid? After you get done rescuing the bullpen, move into the rotation, and dominate the league. It's not fair. Young players need time to grow. The Yankees' organization should know that.

Yankees' issues

The Yanks' 2008 season moves on and the issues just keep on coming. The latest, in a never ending list, is iron man Jorge Posada going on the DL for the first time in his career. Can't say we weren't warned, "it would be a mistake to assume that Posada can play forever."--BP. The good news is that Jose Molina is an excellent defensive catcher; the bad news is that he's a career backup and the organization will be back to grasping at straws to provide support. (Just had a Will Nieves flashback.) "It could be time for the Yankees to start moving catching prospects along a bit faster."--Baseball Musings

As problems surface, the organization's ability to cope and deploy a coherent plan is crucial. The scary part is that the track record is abysmal. "I'm not playing first base...We've got seven first baseman."--Posada. First base has been a perpetual revolving door, when all the auditions were complete, Carlos Pena shines in Tampa while nothing has been solved in the Bronx. The bullpen, which makes first base look stable, was rescued by a Double A kid last season. The inability to shore it up has led to Phenom Joba Chamberlain watching the beleaguered starting staff from the sidelines. The noteworthy young talent in the rotation are being asked to step up immediately because there was no sensible transition planned.

Here's a clip from Dugout Central, "Given the question marks and innings limits on several Yankee starters, Joe Girardi’s plan was to have a long man as part of that bullpen, but the events of the spring changed that plan. Jeff Karstens suffered yet another unfortunate injury, Kei Igawa was characteristically and disastrously ineffective, and Darrell Rasner, though fairly effective, was not on the 40 man roster and was victimized by a numbers crunch. As a result, the Yankees broke camp without a designated long man." The article suggests that promising prospect Ross Ohlendorf's progress is being impeded.

The Yankees roster is a mix of faded veterans and green kids. Issues aren't going away. Problems must be addressed and solved. The responsibility falls on team architect Brian Cashman, who insisted on complete control and got his wish. Despite Hank Steinbrenner's ominous outbursts Cashman has received complete support on his plan--whatever that is.

Yankees notes & quotes

The Yankees lost an ugly game to the Indians yesterday. Losing happens, but when you go 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position supporting a pitching staff that is hanging by a thread, you deserve to lose. Here's some notes from a disturbing day:

• "If he had some success in his pocket, he would understand."--Tim McCarver on Ian Kennedy. MLB quotes Girardi, "You guys ask me these questions before we have a chance to talk as a group and to my general manager," he said. "You guys are asking me to make decisions without talking to anyone.
  "He's in our rotation. I don't mean to get irritated, but we talk as a group, as an organization, we talk about what's best for all of our pieces. We've been in here two minutes. I'm not getting angry, I'm just saying he's in our rotation today. He's in our rotation. He's in our rotation."
  And in the larger sense, will the Yankees have the organizational patience to stay the course with the development of the young talent, even if it means the unthinkable, such as missing the postseason for the first time in forever?
  Stay tuned on that one. In the case of Kennedy, asking someone with 26 Minor League starts in his life to fill a spot in this rotation and succeed immediately might be asking a lot. Kennedy pitched well in three September starts for the Yankees last season, but being placed in the rotation this spring puts the pressure squarely upon him. And the pressure doesn't relent." The answer to the question should be based completely on what's best for the prospect. If Kennedy or Hughes have a better chance of developing in the minors, the front office has to have the ability to acknowledge rushing the future and do what is right. Keeping them as cannon fodder in the majors and searching hard for silver linings in games where the bullpen is up in the 2ND inning is hurting the team and the prospect.
• Speaking of the minors, Melky Cabrera's feeble at bat when asked to bunt was followed by this commentary from McCarver, "When young players come to the big leagues, they don't have a clue how to sacrifice bunt...awful at bat." It's hard to understand why a player with Cabrera's skill set wouldn't be trained extensively in this area.
• 3-3 tie, 7TH inning, go-ahead run at first, Hawkins on the mound and Joe Buck starts rattling off NFL draft selections--Can you say shill?
• News flash: Yankees have Farnsworth issues. "Farnsworth hasn't experienced a ton of success with the Yankees... There's a hole out there and they need Farnsworth to fill the hole."--Joe Buck (makes me yearn for more NFL draft news.) "There is no bigger enigma than Kyle Farnsworth."--McCarver. More on this startling development from our home town radio guy, "It will be important for Farnsworth to pitch as good as his stuff."--John Sterling. Makes me yearn for the Scooter.

Photo/AP

Yankees pitching parade

The Yankees added two pitchers--Albaladejo and Britton--to the roster in an attempt to bolster the sagging staff. The more things change; the more they stay the same.

It was supposed to be different this season. The new guys would show the old guard how to optimize pitching production. There were a long list of vocal Torre critics who found their voices after Joe was "insulted" out of the dugout. The allegations were that Torre mangled a pitching staff and his accomplice, Ron Guidry was over matched. Gator was unable to reinvent the prime talent awarded him, which was reminiscent of implications directed at his predecessor Mel Stottlemyre.

Joe Girardi took the helm with a reputation of handling pitchers from his playing days. Dave Eiland had press clippings indicating he was a savant and helped cultivate this seasons crop of young pitchers with impressive minor league credentials. There was excitement in the air, as we were bombarded with media hype that perpetually mentioned a revamped farm system that was bursting at the seams with prime talent. This was going to be fun.

Hype collided with reality, the result is a familiar. The 2007 Yankees team ERA of 4.49 is a mirror image of the 2008 squad's 4.72. Last season, Torre and Gator were provided with 28 pitchers including: Igawa, Clippard, DeSalvo, Rasner, Henn, Ramirez, Wright, Veras, Brower, Bean, and Chamberlain. The Joba hit erased the memory of the perpetual misses.

The Yanks' spring training roster had a list of 18 pitchers, who once properly coached would step up and free Chamberlain to assume his position at the top of the rotation. The calendar will move to May this week and there are more questions than answers.

It was never about coaches; it was about players. Joe Torre did OK--4 rings--when the names were Clemens, Pettitte, Wells, supported by Mendoza, Stanton, Nelson and Rivera. As the proven performers were replaced by hyped suspects, his baseball IQ took a beating. Now, it's Girardi's turn, there is a new list of names. Let's hope some of them can play.

Yanks' Girardi--Mission Impossible

Joe Girardi's mission: nurture, develop and protect young pitchers, in the Big Apple, while producing pennant worthy results is the type of script that Hollywood specializes in. We all want to believe it's possible.Last night's frustrating loss, is the latest example that this mission may be impossible.

Phil Hughes took the mound against the White Sox looking to rebound from an awful spring. The expectations are that the 21 year old, youngest pitcher in baseball, is ready to be a sturdy #3 starter. Why would we believe that? Last spring, the organization was committed to giving Hughes extended time in Scranton to develop his craft. The plan lasted three weeks. Thrust into the rotation, Hughes showed flashes of brilliance in a brief debut. Injuries led to a three month rehab which delayed his encore until August. The results were lackluster--1 quality start out of 6 attempts. Hughes entered last night's game with an unsightly ERA and a bullpen draining 20 pitches thrown per inning pitched (worst in baseball.) It's important to emphasize--it's not his fault, he is trying to fill his role in the latest plan.

Girardi's role is more complex than winning and developing Hughes and Kennedy simultaneously. He has to protect them, at the same time. Last night, as rain pelted the Windy City, Hughes was sharp for two innings. The game was delayed and Girardi decided to protect his prodigy. The bullpen would take over in the third with the Yanks up 3-0 and squander the game. It was the second time this season that Girardi made a long term decision that potentially cost the team in the win column (Bruney's impromptu start for Kennedy was the other.) It's important to emphasize--it's not his fault, he's following the script.

There is no relief in sight as the plot thickens. The next twist, is to have bullpen savior, Joba Chamberlain, leave the team, stretch out his arm in Scranton and return as a top of the rotation starter, leaving the bullpen to the usual suspects.

Joe Girardi was presented with a mission that he chose to accept. Unfortunately, Hollywood endings are hard to come by in real life.

Yankees Deja Vu

The Yanks beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4 last night to notch their second consecutive victory since Hank Steinbrenner's inspirational tirade. It was back to the future night in the Windy City as the Bombers performance was eerily reminiscent of seasons past.

Mike Mussina took the mound and fired an assortment of junk that would make Jamie Moyer proud. The Moose followed instructions, throwing luke warm (I mean heat) on the inside portion of the plate and balancing it with slow motion hooks. The befuddled White Sox, managed 4 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings, and Girardi smiled (really.)

Jorge Posada put down Tino's glove, assumed the position behind the plate and notched 4 hits. The Bombers put 6 runs on the board and even Giambi got a hit. A glimpse of the good old days.

Mussina turned a 6-2 lead over to the bullpen. Joba Chamberlain, who had rescued the usual suspects the night before, was unavailable. It was an opportunity for the revamped pen to strut their stuff. #22 LaTroy Hawkins took over and did what he does best: 1/3IP/1 hit/1BB/2 runs/exit with an ERA of 11.17. Yankees followers had flashbacks to all the other shrewd pitching acquisitions that have littered Cashman's past. Hawkins was replaced by lefty specialist Billy Traber who has filled Mike Myers' shoes: 1 batter/1 hit/walk off field. New skipper Girardi countered with his Joe Torre tribute by turning to the Great Rivera for 5 outs. "Every picture tells a story don't it?" Where was the reinvented Farnsworth? Apparently, exhausted from one inning of mop-up duty the night before. Torre would be proud.

Last night's victory, displayed the good, the bad and the ugly from seasons past. It was "Deja Vu all over again" as Yogi would say.

Yankees debate sparks name calling

The debate over Joba Chamberlain's job description has deteriorated to name calling. Hank Steinbrenner, blessed with the same compulsive charm of his Dad, says, "There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with a 100 mile-per hour fastball and keep him as a set up guy. You don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that." Someone once said,"Baseball is not black and white, but shades of gray."

Hank's side of the discussion believes the answer is simple math. Starting pitchers throw more innings, increased work by a good pitcher enhances the value to the team. Case closed.

Well, not so fast. There's another side to the coin, a starter pitches once every fifth day, many of those innings will be against inferior opposition, after the Bomber's vaunted offense has put a crooked number on the board. The value of many of those innings is marginal. A relief pitcher is available to help the team several times a week. He pitches with the game on the line. In other words, all innings are not created equal. Joba in relief allows the team to pick and choose when their best arm is deployed, if the Yanks had other quality options the decision would be easier.

Intangibles also play a role in the decision. Sean Deveney, of The Sporting News, wrote "It's tough to measure the kind of security that a guy like Chamberlain gives a team." Johnny Damon is quoted, "It's nice to know that if things don't go well, we have a guy like him to call on." More from Deveney, "In fact, I can't help but wonder: What kind of idiot would not recognize Chamberlain's current role suites the team perfectly? Oh, right. That kind of idiot." Enough with the name calling.

One thing both sides can agree on is that Joba Chamberlain is a big piece of the Yankees future. Handling his development in a comprehensive fashion is crucial. He is currently a proven, dominant entity playing a vital role. His career path will take him to the starting rotation, where he gets the opportunity to rise to the top. It's a journey that will take time and patience. Name calling won't help.

Steinbrenner stokes Media frenzy

Hank Steinbrenner's distracting rants are a headline writers dream and a team in transitions nightmare. The Gotham tabloid industry is hitting on all cylinders since the new Boss added fuel to their fire.

In the meantime, there are baseball games to be played. The young players, trying to establish themselves, now have more to deal with. A tough job just got tougher. Joba Chamberlain, who flew through the minors last season and arrived in the Bronx in time rescue the bullpen, has a new goal. "We need a Beckett, we don't have one, and he's the one that can do it."--The new Boss one day after having a chance to calm down. Got that kid? The #1 starter, down the stretch, but take your time, we want to be patient with you.

Buck Showalter, now an ESPN analyst, formerly a key component in rebuilding the Yanks into a dynasty, says "People are assuming he will step into a starter's role and dominate. If he goes to the rotation and doesn't live up to expectations it could hurt him."--(Paraphrased) Thanks to Hank the expectations are now sky high. Chamberlain should get an audition in the rotation, at the appropriate time. If he is a top of the rotation guy, the job is his. If it turns out that he needs time--a virtual guarantee--to develop, and is the next 5 inning wonder he will be viewed as less than successful. Welcome to the Big Apple kid.

Yankees on edge

The Bronx Bombers' brain trust is a tad testy these days. Prodigies Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy don't resemble major league-ready pitchers. Mike Mussina is following last season's abysmal performance with more of the same. When 60% of your starting rotation has more questions than answers, the pennant race expectation is put in perspective. The result isn't pretty.

Here's an array of quotes that paint a stress-filled picture:
" It's game 19 but he's probably getting tired of this. He's seen some bad starting pitching."
"Girardi is steaming after every loss, he even looks different. What's the remedy, that's the question."--Michael Kay, YES (paraphrased)
"When you're getting out of the gates, you expect to have growing pains."--team architect Brian Cashman. (Apparently, growing pains are defined as 0-5/ERA 9.20/opponents batting .344--combined stats of Hughes/Kennedy)
Today, the new boss Hank Steinbrenner offered some subtle input regarding Joba and the Moose, "I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him...we need him there now...There is no question about it, you don't have a guy with a 100 mile-per hour fastball and keep him as a set up guy. You don't do that. You have to be an idiot to do that. The mistake was already made last year, switching him to the bullpen out of panic or whatever. I had no say in it last year and I wouldn't allow it." Whew, wait there's more, here's what Moose should do, "He needs to pitch like Jamie Moyer." Last but not least, "The starting rotation is not what I would have chosen, at the beginning of the year but that's not a news flash to anyone."

When Hank Steinbrenner arrived on the scene with bluster, I took the optimistic route (completely out of character) and suggested we judge him by his actions not his words. Today's ominous outburst, reminiscent of the Bronx is Burning, is cause for alarm. The last thing an organization in transition needs is for more pressure to be thrown at the prospects. Combining an ego driven, novice owner with a GM who is perpetually looking to cover his tracks and a tightly wrapped manager is a recipe for disaster.

Girardi's Yankees test

Joe Girardi accepted the plum assignment of filling Joe Torre's shoes. On the surface, Manager of the New York Yankees is as good as it gets: bountiful payroll, star-studded lineup, revamped farm bursting at the seams with prime prospects, generous salary and all-you-can-eat attention. A dream job--well, not exactly.

There are issues, let's start with team architect Brian Cashman's latest plan, "The Yankees placed considerable faith in Hughes and Kennedy, rejecting all trade overtures--most notably Johan Santana--and insisting that they could develop in the majors and still help the team make the playoffs."--NY Times

Converting the roster from faded, over-paid mercenaries to exuberant, cost-effective youth is a viable idea that has become the mantra in MLB. Putting your prime talent on the front line, in crucial positions, playing in the Big Apple and placing pennant worthy performance expectations on them is not realistic or fair to the prospects. The fact is Cashman had little choice. Years of failed pitching acquisitions forced him to play the youth card. He has no experience rebuilding a team. His expertise is throwing money at a problem and appeasing a tyrant. The result is a one dimensional roster featuring a blend of too old and not ready for prime time players.

The job of winning with this group falls on Girardi. His ability to deal with a complex situation will have a significant impact on the future of the organization. It's more complicated than winning a few games. He must win and nurture simultaneously. If Hughes/Kennedy continue to fail, does he go the tough love route? (Note: I watched a game when Girardi was managing the Marlins when he grabbed a struggling young pitcher by the shirt, led him to the tunnel and got in his face to make a point. Can you imagine this scenario in NY?) or do you let the prodigies continue to hurt the team, in the name of experience? Do the Yanks acknowledge issues by demoting their future to salvage their psyches and bring up Igawa to save the day? There are other issues--Mussina, Giambi, Joba's job description--but the Hughes/Kennedy test must be passed first. The impact of the result will be felt for years to come.

Yankees worst case scenario

The Yanks' young season is 18 games old. The .500 record doesn't tell the story. Let's hear from the new Joe, "I'm not going to panic. He wants to throw well, we want him to throw well and everyone believes he's going to throw well. Now would be a good time to start."(NY Times)

Girardi was talking about Phil Hughes, but it also applies to Ian Kennedy. The off season hype, that the organization basked in , is over. Time to keep it real. There's a plausible possibility that Hughes and Kennedy aren't ready to contribute, Moose is done and Igawa ("The arm that launced a 1000 baseballs."--BP) is on the way back. A worst case scenario, that wasn't on the radar, since getting caught up in Joba's dominant emergence, but is now , "in the mix." In the words of Brian McNamee, "It is what it is."

Yankees comic relief

Yankees fans looking for some comic relief from last night's debacle, can find some here:

• The Onion answers the question, "Whatever happened to Bernie Williams?"


• LaTroy Hawkins having an Igawaesque impact on the pitching staff gets a new number.

Yanks/Orioles--Game day

The Yankees play the Baltimore Orioles tonight in Camden Yards. Phil Hughes tries to fill a growing void in the pitching staff. Hughes, Kennedy and Mussina have consistently drained the bullpen. Three inning starts are becoming routine and something has to give. Moose can't be expected to do much more, as it's obvious he's running on fumes. Hughes and Kennedy need to go at least six or the surprising relief corps could start to resemble Sturtz/Proctor.

Hughes is opposed by Daniel Cabrera. Here's a subtle scouting report from the Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide," He stunk last year. Cabrera led the majors in earned runs and walks, was second-worst in runs and hit batsmen, and earned serious punk points for hitting Dustin Pedroia and inciting a brawl. There's talent there, but mostly there's slack." Well, it appears the game plan is to put crooked numbers on the board and let Hughes pitch deep. Sound simple enough.

The once proud Baltimore Orioles are trying to rebuild from years of ineptness by owner Peter Angelos. Andy MacPhail has taken on the massive project and allegedly has autonomy. Baseball Prospectus has an interesting analysis that should ring a bell with Yankees followers, " MacPhail has the added advantage of being a new arrival on the team. He doesn't have to worry about past perceptions created by the team's misguided contracts or by the players they let get away. He can easily identify, admit and go about rectifying past mistakes because they weren't his. Similarly, he can operate without the ego-driven attachment to players he signed himself, a phenomenon that frequently develops in front offices in major leagues." Remember this "phenomenon," the next time you read "Igawa is in the mix."

Paul O'Neill's legacy

Paul O'Neill left a Yankees legacy that can't be measured with mere numbers. He played with a competitive intensity that resonates with many ardent fans. When Gene Michael pilfered O'Neill from the Reds it sparked a dynasty. Paul earned a ring with Cincinnati and added four more as a centerpiece of the Bombers.

During O'Neill's tenure you knew what you were getting--strong production, highlighted by demonstrative adverse reaction to failure. He reacted the way many fans felt when things didn't go right. #21 played the game the right way. He didn't cheat, didn't blame the manager when he didn't produce or wonder why the coaching staff didn't reinvent him out of slumps. He just played hard, what we witnessed was real and the resulting "Paul O'Neill" chant was from the heart and part of Bronx Bomber's history.

When O'Neill retired, the organization didn't reissue #21. This wasn't a mandate from the fans it came from the top, without hype. As time moved on, the assumption grew that George Steinbrenner's "Warrior" would eventually have his number retired.

This spring the noteworthy number was reinstated. Morgan Ensberg took the digits but quickly put them aside when the regular season commenced. Newcomer LaTroy Hawkins chose to wear #21 as a tribute to Roberto Clemente. He wasn't aware of it's significance to many Yankees fans.

Predictably, the uniform put a target on Hawkins back. I'm not defending the unruly behavior, by a small percentage, of Bomber faithful but here's what we knew about LaTroy Hawkins:"Hawkins wasn’t able to hold down the closers spot for the Twins or Cubs. He’s been traded straight up for Steve Kline. His WHIP the past three years has been 1.456, 1.459 and 1.229. His strikeout rate has decline to 0.5 per inning. He’s only pitched 56, 60 and 55 innings over the past three years.Hawkins is not what the richest franchise in baseball needs in critical innings. And he’s not what they should be forced to acquire for middle relief"--Dugout Central. On opening day, Michael Kay reported that Hawkins had the highest Yankee Stadium ERA 9+ of any pitcher with 50+ IP in the modern era. Can you say recipe for disaster? Hawkins lived up to his previews as he produced an ERA of 9.00, going into last night's game. Yankees fans are thin-skinned when it come to dubious pitching acquisitions, if this guy was going to be added to Cashman's list, wearing O'Neill's number was inappropriate.

Last night,Michael Kay reported that Jeter and Posada had consulted with Hawkins and suggested a change. LaTroy took the mound wearing #22 and pitched two shutout innings, he was cheered."How about that," as Mel Allen would say. Ironically, #22 was Roger Clemen's number from last season. The Rocket has the stats to get a number retired but a hollow legacy, you won't hear a peep from the stands on this one.

Yesterday, highly respected beat reporter Peter Abraham, of Lo Hud fame, wrote,"Paul O'Neill was a good player but not one worthy of having his number retired. At some point, the Yankees have to have standards... Nice legacy for #21 now." I don't know, or care if O'Neill's number will be retired. My guess is, if a key player who produces and does the Pinstripes proud wants to wear it--Joba can you hear me?--everything will be cool. The controversy doesn't diminish Paul O'Neill's legacy one iota, lets hope that whoever gets the noteworthy number can live up to his impeccable "standards."

Yanks/Red Sox battle for bucks

Baseball is in an unprecedented era of wealth. The owners' mandate to their boy Bud Selig has been show us the money. Scandals, rampant cheating, collusion and tainted records are irrelevant because, "Greed is good."

The new Yankee Stadium is on the horizon. Previews suggest that it will be an incredible edifice, built along the lines of a 5-star hotel. A place designed for royalty, with a touch of rabble thrown in for appearance sake. (We will be found in the bleachers.) Want to go to a game? It will only cost $29 to park your car. Need a ticket? Seats behind home plate will cost $2500. Concerned about security? Giuliani and associates were awarded the contract. You remember the good Mayor and those mug shots, in those free seats--a perk for the Bombers' landlord. Recently, YES broadcast a game from 10 years ago, Mayor Rudy in the booth, "The Yankees need a new stadium...we are negotiating right now." The Yanks needed a new stadium because there's even more money to be made.

The Red Sox are doing their part to compete with the "Evil Empire." George Vecsey of the New York Times writes, "The Fenway experience has been extremely yuppied-up in recent years, a uniquely American blend of the sacred and the profane. Fans turn over handfuls of cash to keep the Red Sox competitive with the dreaded Yankees..." Larry Lucchino, Boston's president is quoted,' So, we've got to do everyting we can to make the little engine that could keep up with the bullet train from the Bronx.' Larry has a way with words. The humble Sox lead MLB in overcharging customers. Vecsey concludes, "The Red Sox will be under scrutiny for continued signs of greed, as they walk a fine line between quaint and obscene, quaint still prevailing in a tight race."

There is no line--fine or other wise--in the Bronx. The New Stadium, a temple of greed, opens in 2009. You want quaint? Go to a museum.

Yanks can accelerate transition

Converting a major league roster from faded veterans to inconsistent youth while competing for a pennant is a tough job. The Yankees don't have the luxury of shifting to full rebuild mode and building from the ground up. TV ratings, merchandising and attendance considerations demand marquee names and headline splashing transactions.

As the 2008 season evolves, prudent decision making and decisive action by the Bomber's brass becomes vital. Picking the right prospect for a roster spot and showing the exit to an underachieving veteran takes skill and strength. The older players have the big contracts, cutting them loose early will acknowledge judgement issues from seasons past. A tough job but somebody has to do it.

So, lets get started: 1) Cut Kyle Farnsworth or find some deluded GM to take a chance. The recent charade of reincarnation was a bad April Fools joke. The Farns is finished and it's not Torre's fault. Girardi and Eiland have their hands full without this time wasting distraction. Give the job to a young, live arm that is producing now. Potential takes a back seat to production in a pennant race. Albadejo gets 1ST shot based on a strong debut and the ability to pitch multiple innings. The boys on the farm will know if they produce their time will be sooner rather than later. 2) Giambi gets 60 days to produce, if the anemic production continues, cut the chord. Shelly Duncan, marginal scouting report and all, gets the nod based on eye of the tiger demeanor and the fact that he has done the job whenever given a shot. When is the last time anyone could say that about Giambi? 3) Say bye-bye to Betemit. Action speaks louder than words; the Yanks recent promotion of Gonzalez to take the Captain's place spoke volumes. Let the Attorney General flash his leather supporting Jeter and Cano, they will be grateful in September. 4) Continue to work hard developing Hughes and Kennedy, but suggest in a supportive way that hyped headlines aren't a season-long pass to a roster spot. If they perpetually drain the bullpen while maturing, let them do it in Scranton and bring up the strongest current producer (unless his name is Igawa.)

Rebuilding a dynasty, on the fly, is a monumental undertaking. Prioritizing production rather than seniority and taking decisive action will expedite the process.

Yanks' Hughes fails test

Yankees' prospect Phil Hughes took the prime time stage last night in Fenway. It was a test for the youngest pitcher in baseball. How would he compete in a hostile environment against the arch-nemesis Red Sox? Final line: 7 runs/6 hits/3 BB/2 mental errors/failed to get an out in the 3RD inning= Grade F. It's early in the semester, but when you take 3 tests and fail two, there are issues.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Last season Joba Chamberlain rode in from nowhere (actually Scranton) and saved the beleaguered bullpen. His dominance is the foundation of the Bomber's vaunted youth movement. Yankees zealots wanted to believe this was the tip of the ice berg, just bring the kids up, add pinstripes and impressive results would follow. Seasoned followers (those of us old enough to experience the infamous Horace Clarke era) knew better. Time and patience are required to develop prospects, who are generally suspects until they prove something.

Amid the erratic command, excessive pitch counts and mental errors, Phil Hughes has flashed brilliant potential. Last season an early dominant start in Texas showed what could happen. Last night, he dropped a devastating hook on a ducking Pedroia for strike three and we are reminded that this is a diamond in the rough.

It's early, the weather is cold, two starts could be an aberration, a blip on the radar (yeah, that's the ticket.) Hype has collided with reality and the results aren't pretty. Phil Hughes doesn't need to be an honor student this season, but he does need to start passing tests.

Yankees notes & quotes

The 2008 baseball season turned serious yesterday as David Ortiz and Johan Santana were booed by the hometown fans and Joe Girardi gets a brush back from the second guessers. Here are some notes and quotes from an eventful day:

• Papelbon on the mound, 9Th inning, 2 outs, Cano the tying run at the plate works the count, 12 pitches into an epic duel Boston's elite closer toes the rubber, rabid baseball fans anticipating the next delivery are greeted with the sight of a bunch of NASCAR vehicles driving in circles. A feeble voice says if you want to see the end of the Yanks/Sox tune in to FX--I have 800 channels on my cable system--thanks FOX Sports.
• Tim McCarver had some interesting things to say, " Few pitchers in baseball can get you out by challenging you or finessing you, Papelbon can do both." He brought heat yesterday and over matched A-Rod. The Red Sox made the decision to keep Papelbon in the bullpen rather than the rotation, how's that decision worked out?
• Joe Girardi had a decision to make--2ND and 3RD, Moose on the mound clinging to a 1 run lead, Ramirez at the plate, 2 outs in the 6TH. Girardi defers to his veteran hurler, they pitch to Manny. Moose tells the story,"I made the first pitch too good and it was over before it started." I'll throw out my first second guess of the young season--where's Joba? Mussina in the 6Th against a great hitter who had homered earlier is on borrowed time. Chamberlain is rested and ready to bring 100MPH heat, you've got the gun fire it.

Photo/Sports Illustrated

Role players boost Bombers

A group of anonymous reinforcements has bolstered the Yankees' star-studded roster, providing quality relief at key positions. Jose Molina, Alberto Gonzalez, Billy Traber-- who are these guys?

Last season, it took the organization three months to provide support for iron man Jorge Posada. Will Nieves wasn't qualified, fortunately Posada stayed healthy. Molina arrived from California in July, "The Yankees found that one team's trash is another's treasure given the lack of even a replacement level backup for Jorge Posada. In other words, Mike Napoli is to Jose Molina as Jose Molina is to Will Nieves."--Baseball Prospectus. "Treasure," is an appropriate description. As Posada deals with Father time, it is reassuring to know that Molina's gold-glove caliber defense, excellent game-calling skills and torrid bat (the bubble will burst, just enjoy the ride) will be available.

Alberto Gonzalez is a young shortstop with a reputation as good field, no hit, "His glove will inspire someone to give him a shot at some point. His bat is off the Rey Sanchez shelf."--BP. "Gonzalez can handle the bat."--Joe Girardi. The Yankees captain is limping and the "Attorney General" is getting his shot. If Girardi is right, the Yanks have a valuable piece of the future, if not, I have a feeling they can find a place for a slick-fielding shortstop.

Billy Traber is the latest lefty to audition for the role of Mike Stanton. It's been six years since the effective Stanton (the original, not the sequel) departed. He left big, important, shoes to fill, so far Traber has provide a three inning glimpse of what could be. The odds aren't good, "His days as a prospect are long gone..."--BP, but hope springs eternal.

It takes more than an all star-laden roster to survive a gruelling baseball season. Productive role players are valuable and hard to find. The emergence of Molina, Gonzalez and Traber is a big step in the right direction.

Cabrera sparks Yanks

The Yankees avoided a sweep to the aggressive Kansas City Royals last night by making the game easy. Put six runs on the board, let Pettitte, Chamberlain and The Great Rivera do their jobs, game over. There's more to the story than that, Girardi shook up his lethargic lineup by benching Giambi and Abreu and moving Cabrera to Jeter's vacated slot.

"Melky Cabrera gives us energy."--Joe Torre. It didn't take long for Cabrera to provide a lift. Down 1-0 early Melky went deep to tie the score and jubilantly fired high-fives at teammates. It seemed out of place on a dreary Kansas City night, but that's a good thing. Later, he was in the middle of the action again as he drove in a second run in the 5TH.

Melky Cabrera is underrated. "He's a number four outfielder."--Baseball America.

"Baseball people love numbers, but there are limits on what can be quantified, even in baseball."--George Will, Men at Work.

How do you measure energy? When Cabrera makes a great catch, guns out a runner or gets a big hit it can be measured. When he bounds into the dugout with an effusive grin and gives his teammates a lift, it won't be in the box score, but will contribute to wins. Melky Cabrera is underrated.

Photo/NY Daily News

Torre revisited

Joe Torre's long and successful tenure as Yankees manager ended with an "Insulting" offer and his legacy was the subject of a chorus of second-guessers. A common refrain this off season was that Torre mismanaged the roster and mangled his pitching staff. We read testimonials from a victims list that included: Kyle Farnsworth, Brian Bruney, Scott Patterson and poor Jason Giambi. New Boss Hank Steinbrenner asked "Where was Joe Torre's career before my Father hired him?"

Well, here's a hint--The Sporting News has published an article written by David Pinto (Baseball Musings) titled, "The 'Torre Effect' more running, more winning." The article documents Torre's positive effect on teams he manages and it's corresponding improvement in winning percentage. "Torre increases offense, usually by playing small ball...Torre puts the game in motion. Torre's offensive style keeps the players involved and keeps them thinking. Maybe that's a good thing."

Torre isn't the only manager with Hall of Fame credentials whose style is earmarked by aggression. Tony LaRussa's methods are detailed in the book, "Men at Work" by George Will. "Playing 'little ball,' scrambling to manufacture runs...energizes a team. It puts a team on the balls of its feet,ready to run. And the intensity carries over to the defense."

The 2008 New York Yankees are off to a lethargic start and the offense has been anemic. Joe Girardi who mentored under Torre would be well served to dust off his note book and get to the chapter, "more running, more winning."

Yankees face reality

The Yankees annual stumbling start is under way. The record after a measly eight games is trivial. The quality of play is significant. Errors in seven straight games, starting pitchers who need the bullpen too much, mental errors, and injuries have become annual rites of spring. The hype has waned, it's time to cope with reality:

• Hughes and Kennedy are works in progress. It may take years for them to live up to exorbitant expectations. That's not their fault, it's what young pitchers do. It would be helpful, if those members of the organization who use the local media to perpetually build-up minor-league kids tone it down.
• Jeter and Posada, iron men of a dynasty can no longer be taken for granted. The Yanks rolled the dice last season by providing no support for Posada until Molina arrived. There's a reason history tells us 36 year-old catchers are a novelty.
• Alberto Gonzalez and his glove were just called up from Scranton to relieve the ailing captain. We have been spoiled for a long time with Jeter's injury-defying performance but those days are waning.
• Farnsworth hasn't been reinvented and Hawkins didn't take long to be penciled in on the list of dubious pitching acquisitions.
• Girardi is a good, young manager, but at the end of the day, the players are responsible for their production. They can't blame Torre anymore, accountability should be prioritized.

The season is young. The bubble has burst on the fairy tale. It's time to deal with reality.

Yanks' game day--K.C. Royals

The Yankees help the Kansas City Royals with their home opener, here's a few notes:

• Posada bounces a throw into 2ND base, "One of his issues is his throwing arm, which has been bothering him."--Ken Singleton. Molina will get a lot of work this season, Posada played 144 games last season, it won't happen again. Look for him to be in the traditional "Mix" at first sooner rather than later.
• Posada scores on a close play with no slide and a hesitant gate. Cabrera, the on-deck hitter didn't do his job by giving Jorge the slide signal. Fortunately, the mental error didn't cost the team a run.
• Cano takes a called strike, with the bases loaded, Bannister has walked 4 hitters in two innings and Girardi is squawking from the dugout. The home-plate umpire yells, "Relax!"--that's not going to happen.
• Bad defense--Posada, Abreu, Betemit-- and shaky control by Hughes is a recipe for failure. Cone notes that "The youngest pitcher in baseball" is overthrowing. It catches up with him as Hughes doesn't get an out in the 4Th--4 walks, 1 HPB, 3 runs, 80 pitches=not good.
• Ohlendorf enters, with the Yanks behind 3-2, he is becoming an important piece of the bullpen as it's becoming obvious that both Hughes and Kennedy are works in progress.
• Updates as the game continues.
• Final score: K.C.--5 Yanks--2
• The Yanks were out-played by a young Royals team. Baseball Prospectus, on K.C.'s rookie manager Trey Hillman, who came over from Japan, "...Hillman might have smuggled back a super-aggressive speed and defense brand of baseball." That about says it, as the Royals ran the bases with abandon--5 steals in 6 attempts. The Yanks got into their hotel around 4 AM and played like it.
  

Yankees bridge to the future

For those of you scoring at home: 6 Yankees games played, 3 impressive Joba Chamberlain appearances on same dates as team's 3 wins--coincidence? The transition to the future continues and Chamberlain carries the load. His inevitable move to the rotation is delayed, while he salvages the present. Yesterday, the Yanks "8TH inning specialist" fired bullets for two decisive innings and got the ball to the Great Rivera, game over. Eventually, the organization will build a competent bullpen and Joba will move on to bigger and better things, in the meantime, it's nice to have options.

Speaking of options, it's interesting to see what happens when the hype subsides and reality rears its ugly head. Yankees fans have been deluged for months about the farm system that is bursting at the seams, well that was then and this is now. Here's a note from LoHud, "The K-Man is the No. 1 starter for Scranton and is probably first in line when the Yankees need a starter." Now, sit down and take a deep breath, the "K-Man" is the infamous Igawa. Yes, he's still prominently in the mix.

Yanks' turbulent rotation

The Yankees turbulent first trip through their starting rotation isn't surprising. Inconsistent young pitching will fluctuate from bad (Kennedy) to good, but limited by a short leash (Hughes.) Veterans, feature a faded Moose and a popular but declining Pettitte. Here's a perspective on Pettitte that you won't find in the local media, "... it is worth wondering how much more the southpaw has in the tank. Pettitte has thrown 200+ innings in three straight seasons as a member of the Astros and the Yankees, and his 4.05 ERA last year shows that he still is very valuable to a Yankee rotation that could be very volatile this year. Of concern for New York should be Pettitte's plummeting strikeout rate: his K/9 dropped by over 1.5 in-between 2006 and 2007, and the soon-to-be 36 year old lefty can't afford to see it drop much further if he is to remain an effective pitcher."--DRaysBay. Having recurrent health issues--back, elbow--and PED scandal distractions won't help. That leaves today's starter, Chien-Ming Wang as the vital cog. He must produce a high quantity of quality innings in order to provide a brief, calm before the storm, respite for the bullpen. Otherwise, they may revert to the Proctor/Sturtze model of the Torre era.

Tampa Bay counters Wang with James Shields: "Shields is the exception among all of the young pitchers who have made it to Tampa Bay only to fail. His approach illustrates the difference between command and control; he throws all three of his solid pitches for strikes (control), but he also works all four quadrants of the zone (command) and seems to put every pitch exactly where he wants it and exactly where the hitter doesn't."--Baseball Prospectus. Ian Kennedy take note.

The first week of the 2008 season was an inconsistent one for the Yankees. The forecast is for more of the same, get used to it.

Baseball Links

Here are the links to the Igawa Video (computer glitch.)



Saber-Scouting, Baseball Musings, Baseball Think Factory

Igawa's mechanics

Saber Scouting breaks down Kei Igawa's mechanics. Wonder if the Yanks did this thorough an analysis before investing 40 million.

Hat tip--Baseball Musings/Baseball Think Factory

Yanks/Rays--Game 2

The Yankees try to bounce back from last nights blowout by sending Andy Pettitte to the mound. Pettitte, coming back from a back injury that limited his work in the spring, will try to give the Bombers some innings, to relieve the erratic bullpen. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see when Girardi starts to move the young pitchers with potential, ahead of the retreads. Torre was criticized for favoring the veterans, but they are the ones with guaranteed contracts, Farnsworth and Hawkins don't have security beyond this season so it may be easier to push them aside. Sooner or later, decisions should be based on performance.

The Rays' starter Edwin Jackson has an interesting scouting report, "It's been more than four years since Jackson was one of the top pitching prospects in the game...He's done little since and remains one of the games mysteries. He still flashes mid-90's heat and a hard slider with two plane break, and still has flashes of greatness...but their rotation is going to get crowded fast, so his time to make good is running out."--Baseball Prospectus

Jackson illustrates why getting carried away with hyped potential is a mistake. Performance on the field is what counts and that takes time. Patient Yankees fans (both of them) understand that.

Yanks/Rays game day

The Yankees opening series against Toronto was noteworthy, they beat quality pitching, in close games, by playing small-ball and defense, those are vital skills in October. Now they welcome the Tampa Bay Rays, with Ian Kennedy on the hill. He will be opposed by Andy Sonnanstine: "He knows he's going to get hit because he doesn't have the stuff to miss enough bats."--Baseball Prospectus. Sounds like the kind of pitcher who should warm up the Bomber's bats.

Lo Hud, reports that Melky Cabrera will serve his reduced suspension tonight and tomorrow. Damon shifts to center and Betemit will DH as Girardi sticks with Giambi at first.

Updates will be provided as the action unfolds.
Update: Rays--6, Yanks--4, end of three

• Ian Kennedy turns in a poor performance, featuring bad control: 2 1/3 IP/5 hits/6 runs. He missed with several pitches that were close, "when your'e 23 you don't get those calls."--Michael Kay. Yet another issue, the young guns will have to deal with. Kennedy's short outing illustrates the necessity of bullpen depth.
• Matsui hoists a fly ball that brushes the right field pole. His dinger sparks a comeback as the Bombers bounce back with 4 runs. This game has all the ear-marks of a 9-8 type slugfest.
• Cano flashes the leather as he ranges far to his left, jumps, spins and guns out the speedy Crawford. His bat overshadows his underated defense.
• Update:Rays--13, Yanks--4
• Albaladejo, Ohlendorf and Traber provide serious relief--4 1/3 scoreless IP/ 6 strikeouts/0 walks.
• The bubble bursts as #21 LaTroy Hawkins gets torched. Hawkins lifetime ERA is 9+ in Yankee stadium, after 2 outings (2 IP/6 runs) he's well on his way to double digits. I predicted, after his first appearance, that the boo-birds would target him (O'Neill's#) it didn't take long as fans were chanting "Paul O'Neill"
• Farnsworth enters and gives up a 3 run dinger. The more things change;the more they stay the same.

Yankees preview future

Two games, both sides of the coin. The opener displayed the 2008 New York Yankees at their best--potent pitching supported by stellar defense and ample run production. Game 2, Moose on the mound, hanging by a thread, with the "Old" Giambi playing first. Giambi plays first base with the dexterity of a bull in a china shop. Last night, the whole arsenal was on display, from butchering the first play of the game, to barrelling into an ESPN camera, to sprawling out to save a throwing error by Jeter. Every play is an adventure. It has been reported that the Yanks are showing great confidence by allowing Giambi to play defense in the late innings. The grim reality is that the roster doesn't provide any viable options.

"You can't have it the way it was (Tuesday) every night," Mussina said. "There will be games like that in big series, but every single night, it's not possible." (NY Daily News) Two games provide a preview of what promises to be an erratic season.

Tonight, youth will be served as Phil Hughes deals with the reality of living up to the hype. His mound opponent Dustin McGowan, "The Jays spent two years trying to ruin McGowan, and nearly succeeded. After the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2004, the organization rushed him back to the majors, then proceeded to bounce him from level to level and role to role for two years (a cogent warning to the Yankees organization)...Last year, however, the Jays got out of his way and were rewarded, as McGowan used his fastball and slider to establish himself."--Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide

The Yankees' transformation is under way, the only thing consistent will be inconsistency.

Photo/ Cataffo/NY Daily News

Yanks/Blue Jays--Game day

The Yankees showed off the cream of the pitching staff last night as Wang, Chamberlain and Rivera did the job. That was then this is now, Mike Mussina takes the hill. Here's a scouting report from Baseball Prospectus, "Mussina saw his velocity drop and his strikeout rate (91/152 innings) go with it. Joe Girardi is obligated to give him a chance to turn back the clock, but success is unlikely." The bats and the bullpen better show up on days Moose pitches.

Toronto counters with A.J. Burnett a talented but injury-prone pitcher. "A full-season version of Burnett might be a star, but that animal has only been seen two times in nine years." Here's a local perspective from the Toronto Sun, "After a shaky spring hampered by a cracked nail, starting pitcher A.J. Burnett will begin his search for a breakout season tonight. "He's the key guy, said manager John Gibbons." (Note BP says " Burnett was badly mismanaged by Gibbons throughout 2007."

Game time is 7:05 PM, updates will be posted as the action unfolds.

• Update: Toronto-3, Yanks-0 end of three.
• Posada scratched from the lineup with a sore shoulder--the same one that bothered him in spring training.
• The "Old" Giambi butchers the first play of the game--E3
• "Mussina needs to win 15 games for the Yanks to be in good shape."--Paul O'Neill (UhOh)
• Vernon Wells hits a 2-run bomb to left giving Jays 3 run lead.
• Burnett throws heat on a cold night and stifles the Bombers the first time through the lineup.
• Update: Mussina goes 5 2/3 innings--4 runs/8 hits/survives with the help of three around the horn double plays.
• LaTroy Hawkins makes his Yankees debut wearing O'Neill's #21--prediction, if he doesn't pitch well, look for Farnsworth type crowd reactions.
• Toronto-4, New York-0 end of six.
• Update: Final score Toronto-5, New York-2. A-Rod's bomb off Burnett accounted for all of the Bomber's offense as Blue jays pitching controlled the game.

Yanks' opening day

The beginning of the end for The House that Ruth Built--opening day for the 2008 New York Yankees:

• 6:51PM--The Girardi era begins as the new Joe is introduced to a warm reception.
• 7:03PM--Mr. October throws out the ceremonial 1ST pitch to Yogi.
• 7:10 PM--Wang throws 1ST pitch strike, let the games begin.
• 7:24 PM--A-Rod rifles a double to right-center off Doc Halladay ("One of the best 10 pitchers in the AL...an extreme ground ball pitcher whose strikeout rate, 139/215IP, doesn't reflect how dominant he can be."--BP)
• The "New" Giambi flashes some leather on two key plays and survives 3RD inning without injury.
• Game tied 1-1, after 3 innings, updates as game progresses.
• Update--Melky Cabrera snares two drives in the 4TH, converting extra-base hits to outs, then goes deep--314 1/2 feet--to tie the score 2-2 after 6 innings. The Yankees have produced strong defense all night (Jeter,Giambi, Cabrera and A-Rod) keeping the solid Wang even with the elite Halladay. As this pitchers duel progresses, it will be interesting to see how Girardi uses his bullpen, should the game remain tied.
• Update--Defense is the difference as the Jays boot a double play ball and allow the lead run to score.
• Joba closes a scoreless 8Th with a fist pump, setting the stage for the Great Rivera.
• Mo slams the door as the Yankees win their 11TH consecutive home opener, yet another major league record.
• Girardi notches his first win managing in Pinstripes as Sinatra sings the song.