Yankees Rampant Rumors

The games move from the diamond to the front office. The Bombers Brass have their hands full as the quest for redemption resumes. They have talked the talk, time to walk the walk. Rumors rain on the path to recovery. Follow the yellow brick road:

• Yesterday's news: "The Sox-Yankees rivalry has gotten stale since 2004, and now the Rays, the new beasts of the East, have put it on ice for the foreseeable future."
• The mission: "The Rays aren’t going away any time soon. The Yankees need some guys who can keep up with them.
• The drawing board: "The Yankees have a plan. You don’t go into the off-season without having a few plans, really. Your primary plan, then a few backups..."
• Words to the wise: "So enjoy the hot stove, but read with a skeptical eye because most everybody out there has an agenda and the truth is often not part of it" I just had a flashback to: "Igawa is in the mix" and "When Pavano is healthy he can do what few can do."
• IQ test: "If Ramirez did end up replacing Bobby Abreu in right field for New York, he would be part of an outfield that includes former Red Sox star Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady, Melky Cabrera, and Brett Gardner." Let's stay on fantasy island for a moment, Manny in right, Johnny in center and X in left would have to be the worst defensive outfield in history.
• Don't even think about it: "But Ponson fit in well and was well-liked by his Yankees teammates, providing additional depth to the rotation. He was 4-4 with a 5.85 ERA in 16 games (15 starts), allowing 99 hits while walking 32 and striking out 33 in 80 innings."
• Who's on first?: "The Yankees could also bring back Giambi on a one-year deal, though that seems like an unlikely option.
  Another possibility would be to move Johnny Damon to first base." Is it possible, Lane , Ensberg or Sexson are available? Don't forget Betemit, he could be in the mix.
• Send in the clowns: "Willy Taveras is clown shoes." I love this line, hopefully another flawed center fielder isn't part of one of this years plans.
• Pronounced I Rob U?: "Tazawa reportedly throws 97 and was scouted by many teams while playing in Japan’s Corporate League. Scouts and those knowledgeable about Japanese baseball have said he’s overhyped."

Photo/USAToday

World Series Finishes With a Flourish

The 2008 World Series survived the storm. Rain couldn't wash away the game's glow. The World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the Raw Rays of Tampa competed on baseball's biggest stage, it wasn't glamorous or pretty but it finished with a flourish as the Phils hit pay dirt and delivered their starved fans a ring. The City of Brotherly Love is on top and happy. (What are the odds?) Baseball cures all ills.

Yankees fans yawn from the shadows, the limelight has passed, there is no joy in Mudville. Enough with the celebration, there are free agents to drool over, and holes to fill. We want to believe that it could be a pinstriped party pile in 2009. Hope springs eternal, don't forget the checkbook. Can money buy joy? It won't take long to find out.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Journey Back

The World Series wanes and the New York Yankees prepare for the journey back to championship viability. The ability of the Bombers Brass to navigate the free agent frenzy and purchase producers while avoiding pretenders will determine if it's possible to get back in the express lane to the promised land. The car is packed with money, let's check in with the man behind the wheel, team architect Brian Cashman.

• Cash took time out from his relentless quest to "Change the story" and shilled for a video game, based on the trials and tribulations of a real life baseball GM: "It's got it all covered," Cashman said. "There's no doubt about that. You have a chance to keep your job. You have a chance to get fired from your job. It's neat." Wonder if the life-like game gives you the opportunity to reinvent yourself at will. This time last year we were inundated with stories about Brian being the bold pioneer of the Yankees heralded youth movement. It was a nice diversion from a decade of throwing money at problems. Time marched, the farm floundered and now we are back to the future, looking to buy back credibility. Would anyone believe a game like that?
• A letter to YES, makes a point: "Your defense of Brian Cashman might hold water if Hughes was his only screw-up evaluating pitchers rather than just the latest in a long, seemingly never-ending list. No need to rehash the "legendary" roster! Cashman is like the son of a wealthy, successful businessman who turns over the business himself, and within five years the hugely successful business is on a downward spiral because of the son's many bad decisions" There are at least two sides to every story: "He has had to operate under some fairly Byzantine conditions — one with multiple competing power centers in New York and Tampa, some of which felt free to assume Cashman's prerogatives. Someday, perhaps, Cashman will write a book and take credit for some deals and disavow others, and assuming his memory is accurate and his telling fair, maybe we will have a better idea of who to blame for Raul Mondesi or choosing Scott Brosius over Mike Lowell or any the general neglect of the bench and the farm system. Until then, you have to give the guy credit for having more 95-100-win seasons...than most GM's see in a professional lifetime." This response features the same fair and balanced coverage that made FOX News infamous.
• Follow the yellow brick road:"Some estimates suggest that Sabathia could receive $160 million as a Yankee but maybe $120 million or so if he insisted on going home (or close to home)...As is typical, the choice may come to the usual: love or money. In that skirmish the loot usually wins out." I can see the press conference now, "My boyhood dream was to wear pinstripes, yada, yada, yada."

Yankees lucre promises to have the 2008 car towed from the ditch. The driver is dusted off with a new story and a mind-boggling 3 year contract. Fasten your seat belts Yankees fans, the "Long strange trip" continues.

Photo/Daylife

World Series Encore

Rain pelted baseball's biggest stage, but the show must go on. The Phillies, looking to reward their starving fan base with a ring, clung to a 2-1 lead and then Mother Nature entered the fray, forcing the players to survive unplayable conditions. The umpires were in a quandary, call for the tarp and it may never come off, continue play and embarrassment ensues.

Carlos Pena's bat bailed out baseball as his game tying knock allowed the soaked umpires to call for the tarp. A relieved Commissioner speaks, ""It will be resumed when I believe the weather conditions are appropriate," Selig said. "While we're at a time of the year that ideal conditions don't always exist, I'm going to be sensitive that we don't have a situation like we had tonight." With a leader like Bud at the helm, it helps to be lucky.

Today, there is a Ray of hope in Tampa, and a gnashing of teeth in the City of Brotherly Love, it's all good.

Yankees Rumors, Prospects and Suspects

Yankees fans hear rumors of a World Series, but it doesn't really register. There are bigger fish to fry: "the sooner the Series ends, the sooner CC Sabathia can file for free agency." The chum is in the water, the free-agent-feeding-frenzy can't come soon enough. As always, Yankees news never sleeps:

• The one that got away: 2008 all star catcher Dionner Navarro showcases his skills on the World Series stage while the Yanks have another giant hole to fill. Why would the Bombers brain trust trade away a key cog when viable replacements are so rare? Here's an interesting theory: " He had been traded from the Yankees to the Dodgers on Jan. 11, 2005, as part of a three-way trade involving the Diamondbacks in which Randy Johnson, Javier Vazquez and Shawn Green also switched uniforms. The Dodgers, like the Yankees, questioned Navarro's fitness and, by extension, his work ethic. Trying to follow the pretzel logic that would deal a 21 year-old catcher, with a gut, and transition to Ponson and Molina while drooling over CC.


• Another fitness issue? "New York Post reported that an "industry source" indicated that the Brewers would listen to offers for first baseman Prince Fielder in a "substantial package."
  That source probably came from the New York Yankees because the Post report went on to say that club probably wouldn't be interested in Fielder for various reasons. The portly Prince would not fit in pinstripes.


• Pass the sugar:" New York doesn't appear to be Sabathia's cup of tea, what type of sweetener would it take? The Yankees could do it." If fitness is part of the criteria, Santana was clearly a better option, that decision gets uglier by the day.


• From prodigy to project:"Hughes made that decision look horrendous during the season, and isn't stopping now."


• Next:"Oh... did we mention that the scouts often skim money from the bonuses given to the little tykes' families?Our six-figure signings: SS Gian Carlos Arias, Dominican Republic, 16; OF Ramon Flores, Venezuela, 16; 3B Jackson Valera, Venezuela, 16; OF Yeicok Calderon, Dominican Republic, 16; SS Anderson Felix, Dominican Republic, 16; CF Ericson Leonora, Venezuela, 16.Remember those names.
  No, on second thought, forget the names.Remember the ages. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen. Sixteen..." --(It is High, It is Far..) A new wave of fresh talent hits the shore.


• Igawaesque frenzy? Video of the next big thing.

Photo/ The Onion

World Series Notes and Quotes

The 2008 World Series moves from Tampa's Thunder Dome to the stark surroundings of the City of Brotherly Love. (Note: Whoever is responsible for that moniker had a twisted sense of humor.) The raucous Phillies fans have waited 15 years to be on baseball's biggest stage and relentless rain wouldn't dampen their enthusiasm.

Notes and Quotes:

• "People have been out tailgating here since 3 o'clock this afternoon...people are used to it..."--(AP.) The peoples champion Bud Selig is always looking out for the little guy, as long as it doesn't interfere with the greed machine.
• "The fans are in for a long night."--(Fox.) Let's check the itinerary: 1) Tailgate- 3PM 2) Enter stadium -6PM 3) Scheduled 1st pitch- 8:30 PM 4) Actual 1st pitch- 10:07 Pm 5) Last pitch 1:37 AM. Commissioner Bud would call this getting your moneys worth.
• The Rays and Phillies provide shelter from the storm, another taught contest, between two evenly matched teams salvages Selig's soggy show.
• Tampa and Philly remind New York that the foundation of a cogent plan is pitching and defense. The 2008 Yankees flaws are accentuated while witnessing well built rosters competing for the ultimate prize.
• Hank blustered and Hal counted the cash, while Phillies team architect Pat Gillick moved towards retirement. Yankees ownership blew a huge opportunity to coax the front office legend into another challenge. Instead, the familiar route was followed and Cashman gets three more years to, "Change the story." Again.

The Phillies reward their stout fans with a 5-4 win in game three. Two deserving teams continue to do MLB proud, despite the conditions.

Photo/New York Daily News

Yankees Money Matters

In simpler times, a baseball fan could focus on the field and bask in the glow of the game. We could relate to our favorite players and ride the roller coaster of the current score. The day started with sifting through the sports section and landing in the box scores. It ended with the "Joy of victory or the agony of defeat." It was all good.

That was then, this is now. Money now smothers the game. The sports page is fixated on fiscal policy. A fan has a choice, follow the money trail or remain deliberately obtuse. It's a no win situation.

Yankees followers are in a quandary, want to "Root, root, root for the home team?" Check Congress, where an embarrassing investigation on cheating scandals has transitioned into hearings on the never ending greed machine. In between, we were treated to an FBI investigation that resulted in members of the Yankees scouting department being terminated after financial improprieties were discovered in relation to signing bonuses of poor Dominican kids. Is loyalty important to you? Good luck with that.

OK, lets go the obtuse rout and focus on the field. The free-agent-frenzy, featuring the best mercenaries, tax payer money can buy has replaced the alleged youth movement as this years feel good story. We read that CC doesn't want to play in the Big Apple but, " the consensus seems to be that the Yankees will blow him away with an offer he can't refuse." Be still my heart. Let's check in with the team architect, "Yankees GM Brian Cashman has done a nice job of selling New York in the past, and this year the economic advantage may be greater than ever. "It's a special place for those who have an opportunity to come and say they were a Yankee,'' Cashman said. "For players interested in playing in the playoffs, it's a good place to be."
Perhaps even more important, with $80-plus million potentially coming off the Yankees' books, revenues sure to skyrocket in their new Yankee Stadium and a glaring need for starting pitchers, one competing GM said, "It's going to be impossible to outbid the Yankees.'' Cash is dealing from an obsolete playbook, but money may buy competence.

In simpler times, a fan's loyalty was tested by the endurance test of losing. These days it's not that easy.

NY Yankees Fan Forum

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Sobering Yankees' News

The World Series is as good as it gets for baseball fans. The game struts its stuff, elite competition is the order of the day. Tampa and Philly do MLB proud by providing highlight reel action. Away from the diamond, Yankees' news simmers and the word "proud" is nowhere to be found:

• Joba Chamberlain, the beacon of light in the Yankees youth movement, is going through some dark days. Mistakes under the glare of Gotham's spotlight take time to fade away. Spring training can't come soon enough.
• Money smothers the game: " The New York Yankees' new Bronx ballpark is about 30 percent over budget, a credit agency said on Thursday, underscoring the importance of new tax rules that could allow the baseball team to benefit from more municipal bonds." Who says greed isn't good? "The Yankees and Cowboys have founded a company to manage concessions, in an attempt to make their new stadiums as luxurious as possible."
• Can they sink any lower? "WITH the re-signing this week of Bill O’Reilly, the most successful host in cable news, to a four-year deal worth more than $10 million a year, the Fox News Channel is starting to resemble the New York Yankees." Welcome to the bottom of the barrel.
• In an article titled, "It's not as bad as some people think" LoHud offers shelter from the storm, "To be sure, the Yankees have issues. They need at least two starters and a first baseman and maybe a center fielder. They need Joe Girardi to relax a bit. They need far more attention paid to defense." Please, Pete, stop cheering us up.
• Is help on the way? The AP reports and Was Watching, comments: "Bill Livesey was hired by the New York Yankees as a pro scout on Thursday, 13 years after he was fired as vice president for player development and scouting."
• Back to the future? "rumors out of the New York Post suggest the Yankees may have an interest in 35-(soon to be 36)-year-old outfielder Mike Cameron." Well, he is younger than Bernie.

The only way to escape this mess is to focus on the field, 168 days until spring training, it can't come soon enough.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees World Series Threads

The 2008 World Series kicks off with a taught Phillies victory. Two unheralded teams match up under the spotlight while the big market teams watch from the rail. The never ending search for Yankees related threads continues:

• Tampa's normally comatose dome comes alive with the surreal roar of an unprecedented sell out crowd. Winning matters, "The Rays averaged just 22,370 fans during the regular season, 12th among the 14 AL teams but up from their 2007 average of 17,131.
  "I don't blame them. You watch the team lose for 10 straight years, as a fan, I wouldn't want to come to every single game, either," said James Shields," It doesn't take long for MLB's greed machine to go into overdrive,""I think they need a new ballpark here. Absolutely," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer." Perhaps, the Yanks and Rays can help each other. Tampa provides insight on how to build a young championship caliber team on a shoestring and the Bombers can share their expertise on milking a community for new digs.
• The Rays and Phillies reinforce the notion that the road to success is paved with pitching and up the middle defense. It puts the flaws of the Yankees 2008 plan into context and accentuates the errors.
• Phillies team architect Pat Gillick plans to retire on top. Logic would suggest that the Brothers Steinbrenner make Gillick an offer he can't refuse to rescue the Bomber's brass. Unfortunately, when the Boss's kids gave Cash a new three-year-deal, logic left the building.
• B.J. Upton routinely makes plays that Johnny Damon couldn't touch. The decision to spurn Carlos Beltran and enlist Damon for four years continues to haunt the Yanks.

Photo/New York Daily News

World Series Yankees Notes

The Fall Classic kicks off tonight, Tampa and Philly snatch the spotlight, while Yankees fans have plenty to think about:

• It seems like yesterday that a brash, no name Rays player was burying a Bomber at the plate, "Who knew that back in spring training that when a Rays fringe player named Eliot Johnson crashed into a Yankee minor league catcher named Francisco Cervelli, infuriating Joe Girardi in the process, the AL East's perennial losers were sending a message that would resonate all the way to October?" The transition from doormat to contender was fueled by aggression. "Since I've been here that organization has been taking our lunch money," Gomes said of the Yankees, "on the field, off the field, spring training, everything. It took a little push to change things." The push sent tremors to the Bronx.
• Who's on first?:"How did the Yankees and Red Sox let a guy who has become one of the best all-around first basemen in the league get away?
  "Ultimately, the player he is now and the player he was with us are different players," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. "I'm happy for him because he's a quality guy, but he's two organizations removed from us. There's no looking back." Can you blame Cash for not wanting to look back? Perhaps, that was the opening line from his contract negotiations.
• Apparently, LoHud didn't get Cash's memo: "Dionner Navarro was one of the prospects traded for Randy Johnson. Good thing the Yankees don’t have an aging, injured catcher who will need to be replaced soon. Carlos Pena played for Columbus in 2006 and credits Kevin Long for helping him get his swing back. Good thing the Yankees don’t need a first baseman." These two transactions will sting for a long time.
• Baseball's next chapter: "The World Series will never be the same now that the Rays are in it, and it's not just because the Faux Classic opens at Tropicana Field, the team's ersatz ballpark, which has all the solemnity of a juke joint, with its catwalks, cowbells, aquarium, tank tops, flip-flops, fake grass, B-list celebrities (Rob Schneider? Dick Vitale?), leather recliner box seats and Taser-wielding security officers. No, the World Series is different because dues are no longer required. Anybody is welcome."
• Speaking of "Anybody": "The fans in Philly are a boorish bunch. They deserve to continue their long streak of not having any championships." Cold but accurate.

Fans of Philly and Tampa have coped with failure for a long time. The joy of success is magnified by escaping the dour doldrums of losing. The stands in both parks will be rocking with the rapture of World Series baseball. Remember Yankees fans, "There's no looking back."

Photo/Devil Rays News.com

Yankees News

The World Series starts tomorrow, the Yankees are in the news today, for all the wrong reasons. I pride myself on being a fact-based analyst but there are times when reality bites. So I'm not going to deal with the A-Rod/Madonna thing or the Hank supports Joba revelation, I'll leave it to the tabloids. Here are a few relevant Yankees links from today's news:

• Dirt on the grave: "Get used to this idea, Yankee fans: your team has been replaced...Go ahead, Hank. Sign C.C. Sabathia. Sign A.J. Burnett. Trade for Jake Peavy. Bring Joba into the rotation. Grab Mark Teixeira. Sign the Red Sox castoffs. It won't matter.
  Not when the Red Sox and Rays continue to out-draft you and out-develop youngsters. Not when you award your GM a three-year extension based on what happened between 1998-2000, after you let your previous manager walk after 12 straight postseasons, ten division titles, six pennants, and four titles before taking the LA Dodgers to the NLCS for the first time in two decades. Not when your players hate his replacement. Not when you embarrass your father's organization everytime you see a microphone.
  The Yankees are playing in a brave new baseball world, and those old tricks don't work like they did in your father's century." Like I said, reality bites.
• Don't they know Ensberg is available?: " the Red Sox already have had some internal discussion about free-agent-to-be Mark Teixeira, the most desirable hitter available on the open market and a player for which the bidding will be fierce. Coupled with the strength of Boston’s player development system, the real benefit of Ramirez departure is that the Red Sox will have a truckload of money to spend this winter."
• Selig's legacy:"The national TV landscaped for baseball has become so attuned to the weekly ratings that they sacrifice the popularity of the game. Constant attention on the Yankees or Mets, on the Cubs and White Sox, on the Angels, Red Sox and Dodgers isn’t something promoting the best interests of the game.
  Rather, the national TV coverage promotes the best interests of ESPN, FOX and TBS"
• A plan that worked: "The moves were all part of an organizational blueprint, conceived as the 2007 season sputtered to the finish line and the focus turned to 2008, to improve the team's bullpen and defense, its two greatest deficiencies.
  Did it work? The Rays' bullpen merely shaved about 3 1/2 runs off its collective ERA from 2007 (6.16) to 2008 (3.55), the largest improvement from one year to the next in history.
  And their team defense has seen an almost equally staggering improvement. In 2007, the Rays had a .656 team defensive efficiency rating -- a stat created by Baseball Prospectus that measures the rate at which balls in play are converted into outs -- which was not only the lowest in baseball that year, but the lowest of any team since 1959. This year, their defensive efficiency rating of .710 ranked first in the majors." Put this in the context of all the Yankees' plans and resources squandered the last few years, it starts at the top.
• Be careful what you wish for:"Can our American League championship-winning Tampa Bay Rays get any respect from the national media?" There is something to be said for anonymity, just enjoy the game.

Photo/Baseball Almanac

Rays Rock Baseball

The raw Rays of Tampa go to the World Series. The big market, high profile,deep pocketed, defending champs go home. "How about that?" Tampa's rapture provides a ray of light to baseball. The exuberance of a young team, with a starved fan base, proves anything is possible.

Small market teams looking to escape anonymity and taste credibility have a role model. There is a plan: astute, insightful management nurtures a productive farm system and rules. The road to the future is paved. Excuses fall by the wayside.

The Yankees take a painful lesson from Tampa's emergence--what the Rays have, the Yanks can't buy. A young balanced roster and a thriving farm system aren't for sale. Shrewd management capable of cogent long-term planning is a required ingredient. Tampa goes deep while the Bombers whiff. The future is now.

Photo/New York Daily News

Yankees' Distractions

Who ever said, "No news is good news," had a point. Watching the new powers of the AL East go toe to toe is disturbing enough, having to deal with the mind-numbing Yankees' distractions is overkill.

• "Now we have something new.
  The ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays heralds the new order of things in the AL East. Both teams are built to last. Barring unforeseen personnel disasters of a very large magnitude, these teams should be the titans of the division for the next few years, at least" Yeah, we get it.
• Million dollar arm, ten cent head? "Chamberlain was taken to the Cornhusker Place Detox in Lincoln...
  Chamberlain was lodged at the center on charges of driving under the influence, having an open container of alcohol and speeding." Say it ain't so Joba.
• Baseball Musings, asks a question, "Was Sidney Ponson a bad influence?" File this under salt in the wound.
• Sifting through a mountain of A-Rod/Madonna Google alerts (Category: Yankees Baseball) leads me to some welcome comic relief from Was Watching.

Yankees reality is tough to cope with these days. The free-agent-frenzy can't come soon enough. How many days until spring training?

PHOTO/NY SuperBlog.com

Yankees Reluctant Targets

The New York Yankees concluded their heralded meeting of the minds in Tampa yesterday. A list of luminaries: " Hank, Hal, Randy Levine, Lonn Trost, Brian Cashman, Jean Afterman, Mark Newman, Stick Michael, Felix Lopez, Reggie Jackson and Tino Martinez" are rumored to be on the same page. LoHud reports: " The Journal News has learned from sources who asked to remain unidentified because they were not permitted to reveal the secret plans that the Yankees intend to be better next season and talked a lot about that."

The talk has been talked, time to walk the walk. Money is no object, let the face saving begin, the quest for renewed credibility is on. The bait is on the hook: bountiful riches, pinstriped luster, new stadium, noble history and the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage, it's all good, or is it? Let's journey to the dark side: deluded expectations, tabloid mania and Gotham's glare are all traditional issues, only the strong survive. Recently, a new unwelcome item has been added, Hank Steinbrenner referring to his "Piss-ant employees" sets an ominous tone. Why would a wealthy athlete with a plethora of options want to work for someone like that? If respect and comfort are criteria, the Yankees come up short.

Jake Peavy spurned the Bombers in a hurry:"Barry Axelrod, Peavy’s agent, made it clear this afternoon that his client wants to stay in the National League. “It’s where he’s comfortable,” Axelrod said." He won't be alone. Not long ago, if a player wanted a ring, the odds dictated he head to the Bronx. Habitual winning made the Bombers attractive. Unfortunately, MLB's parity, obsolescence and front office failures have leveled the playing field.

Intangibles? George Steinbrenner was noted for coaxing prospective big tickets into his web. Reggie Jackson noted how the Boss won him over and convinced him to sign. Joe Torre was a respected ambassador of Yankees lore and effectively lobbied for the Bombers. That was then, this is now. Can you imagine Hank downplaying his ignorance: "We have a high regard for our piss-ant employees and a stable leadership group." Yeah, that's the ticket.

The bottom line is the Yankees hope money is all that matters because it's the only advantage left standing.

PHOTO

More Yankee Rumors

While other teams get caught up in historic comebacks and championship runs, the New York Yankees map out the future. Let's hear from the Boss, "This year, we definitely are all pretty much on the same page. We know what we have to do, and it's going to take a lot of work and a lot of effort. Hopefully we can get as much done as we hope." --(Hank Steinbrenner gathers his "Piss-ant employees" in Tampa.)

Hopefully, the meetings result in decisive action based on cogent baseball analysis, rather than headline splashing face saving maneuvers. Maximizing return given the list of options will require astute decision making skills, something sorely missed in recent years. Well, perhaps its time for the Bombers Brass to make an historic comeback.

Options of interest:

• "The Yankees would be interested in having Pettitte back, though not necessarily as a top-of-the-rotation starter, and without the salary that goes with it.
  Pettitte, who made $16 million last season, went 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA, but in his last 11 starts was 2-7 with a 6.23 ERA." Sentimentality shouldn't be part of the equation, is it prudent to invest approximately $10 million and a spot in the rotation on a high-mileage pitcher running on fumes?
• The San Diego Padres are shopping Jake Peavy. Here's a scouting report, written prior to the 2008 season, " Peavy was obnoxiously consistent in the best year of his career...With his talent and home park he could win a few more Cy Young awards."--(Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide.) The Yanks revert to a successful formula--use their financial advantage to relieve a small market team of a talented player with a big contract. The trick is dealing a list of suspects rather than bona fide prospects. "We have been told that Cashman’s mentor, Padres GM Kevin Towers would almost surely want a package of young pitchers. Some names being bandied about include Jeffrey Marquez, Ian Kennedy and Andrew Brackman and possibly someone off the major league roster. Towers will want full value for Peavy, and one wonders if Cashman would pull off a trade like this, especially since he steadfastly refused to do the same for Santana.--(NY Baseball Digest) Hopefully, the organization figured out this season that most prospects are suspects and Ace pitchers, in their prime, with CY Young pedigrees aren't plentiful. As always, buyer beware, "The one thing that scares some scouts is the sore elbow issue that landed him on the DL in May and June. Is this a preview of things to come?" Peavy's production in 2008: "... 10-11 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts for the Padres in 2008, his seventh season in the big leagues." "The price..is low enough to make the risk tolerable."--(BP)(Taken out of context.)
• File this one under grasping at straws: " Here is something to think about: Bowa is probably the leading candidate to replace Bobby Meacham as the YankeesNew York Yankees ' third base coach." The article suggests that since Bowa spoke highly of Manny Ramirez, he would lobby the Yanks to sign the formerly dread-locked pariah. This requires a pretzel-logic-leap of epic proportions. Let's see, Bowa would leave the comfort and success of Torre's emerging young team and go back to work for Hank and his "Piss ant employees." He could then reincarnate Cano, lobby to have Manny added to the mix for many years and untold millions and cope with the tabloids casting the obligatory Girardi needs to be fired innuendo his way. Don't hold your breath.

Photo/Baseball Musings

Yankees Rumors

The view from the rail gets old, Yankees fans clamor for action, the rumor mill shifts to overdrive:

• "The Yankees will start their vaunted organizational meetings tomorrow at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Hal and Hank Steinbrenner will preside over a crew that will include Randy Levine, Lonn Trost and Brian Cashman along with the top people in the baseball operations department.--(LoHud)-- Hank gets to greet his "Piss-ant employees" and the boys continue to cash their checks. I'm reminded of the infamous Cashman quote to Hank's Dad after another playoff debacle, "I'm so sorry boss." Hank, is still living a dream, "This year was a little strange because the American League East was so powerful. We finished third because of the division we’re in." Yeah, that's the ticket.
• "And now with their longest winter since 1994, the New York Yankees have time and loads of money on their hands, willing to dole it out to whoever will help them return to October.
  So many questions and so few marquee free agents." The rumored $90 million available sounds good until you get the pencil out. Hank claims "everyone is on the same page" but deciding between big ticket, headline splashing fresh faces and faded pinstripes won't be easy.
• Stanford Grad, Mike Mussina is the analytical type: ": Mussina fears that the Yankees will not be good enough next season for him to sufficiently chip away at the 30 victories he needs for 300." Wipe away the hype and reality bites.
• Let's make a deal: "The Dodgers' interest in Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is sincere, but at what price? Outfielder Matt Kemp would be an obvious fit for the Yankees," File this under pie in the sky.
• "The Yankees need a third-base coach, and Willie Randolph needs a job. So there is a chance the former Mets New York Mets manager might return to The Bronx." [NY Post The notion that Randolph would take a coaching position and step right into a season of innuendo and press fatigue doesn't fit. Girardi will know he's in trouble when Willie is sitting in the YES booth. Joe has been there and done that.

Fasten your seat belts, the off season ride on the rumor roller coaster is just starting.

PHOTO/ Skeptisys files

Yankees Ease Pain

Jilted Yankees fans, looking to ease their pain can find solace in the muted, evacuated Fenway Faithless. A funny thing happened on the way to baseball's next, "Quote, unquote dynasty."-(Schilling.) Boston's bubble has been burst by a young, fearless Rays team who isn't following the script. The Red Sox have managed to transition from a World Series Champion, symbolized by a dread-locked pariah, to a young, talented team with long-term upside. The front office deserves kudos, but what about the famous fans? A raucous mob morphs to silent impotency--How sweet it is.

Notes:

Who says there's no accountability in the Bronx? Third base coach Bobby Meachem was fired yesterday. The Yankees Decider is on the job: "Ultimately, I’ve got to make some tough decisions and say goodbye to some good, quality baseball people,” Cashman said. "Meacham was one of Girardi's closest confidants, so his ouster can be seen as a sign that the manager's power has taken a hit." “I believe in the manager having input in the staff.."--Cashman.

It's not surprising that Meachamwas let go, Bowa was a tough act to follow, it is interesting to note who stayed. Hitting coach Kevin Long presided over the transition from offensive juggernaut to underachieving puzzle. ( Run production--2007-968/ 2008-789 an 18% reduction.) Cashman said during the season that 2008's failure can be attributed to the baffling lack of scoring. Long was signed to a multi-year deal by the Yanks' GM prior to the 2008 season. Pitching coach Dave Eiland was put in place by Cashman to augment the development of the organizations young budding pitching crop. Hughes and Kennedy morphed from prodigies to suspects during Eiland's inaugural campaign. It has been reported that Cashman has been polling the players as to the viability of the coaching staff. The anonymous results were tallied and by sheer coincidence Brian's guys stay while Joe's goes. As the late, great Mel Allen would say, "How about that."

Photo/DayLife.com

Yankees Influence Playoffs

The Rays click the mute button on the raucous Fenway Faithful. Torre waddles to the mound as his bullpen comes up short. The search for Yankees related threads continues:

• Carlos Pena and Dioner Navarro prosper for the evolving Tampa Bay Rays courtesy of the Bombers Brass. Navarro a 24 year-old All Star catcher is a Yankees farm product who was sent away in 2005 as part of the Randy Johnson package. Pena was signed to a minor league contract and was cut in 2007. My unofficial count shows that the Bombers have auditioned 3,412 first baseman in recent years, the Decider concluded that Pena wasn't worthy of a shot in prime time. Apparently, Cash knew that Jason Lane, Morgan Ensberg, Richie Sexson etc. would be available.
• Curt Schilling, derisively referred to the "Yankees quote unquote dynasty." As time goes on and the expectations to win every year engulf the Sox the Yankees recent accomplishments will grow in stature, even to the deliberately obtuse.
• Torre manages the 2ND best bullpen in baseball to playoff paydirt. (Go figure.) Yesterday, he gives Scott Proctor the OK to have his worn out body surgically repaired. Last night, the bullpen gives away a late inning lead. Not sure what this means but there's something appropriate here somewhere.
• Phillies GM Pat Gillick gave Bobby Abreu to the Yanks in 2006. The transaction provided playing time for the fiery Victorino which was a welcome relief to Phillies fans weary of Abreu's laconic ways. The savvy GM then did something smart, he lowered expectations, saying it would be years until the Phils could compete. (Tell that to the Mets.) A young, talented Philadelphia roster prospered. Gillick is a mentor to Brian Cashman, hopefully the student is taking notes.

Photo/AP

Yankees Catching Plan

Jorge Posada is in the twilight of a stellar Yankees career. A consistent producer, at a vital position, Posada peaked in 2007 (.338/.380/.479) and crashed in 2008 as his 36 year old catcher's body gave out and required extensive surgery to his throwing shoulder. The Bombers Brass wants to believe that Jorge can defy Father time and return behind the plate in 2009: "He looked me right in the eye and said he could do it."-(Cashman.) It won't be easy, "An athletic catcher who moves well behind the plate but has a 40 arm on the 20-80 scouting scale would give away enough runs on the basepaths that it would negate his positional value."--(Baseball America.) The organization has its fingers crossed, there are no replacements in sight.

"Perhaps more so than any place on the diamond, catcher is the one position that requires the greatest work from both scouting and player development staffs."(B.A.) Posada was developed in the Yankees system and made his debut 14 years ago. The AL's 2008 All-Star catcher, 24 year old, Dioner Navarro is also a Yankee farm product. Brian Cashman traded him as part of the Randy Johnson deal in 2005. In 2007, with pending free agency on Posada's plate, the front office chose to start the season with another farm product, Wil Nieves, as the #2 catcher. "It took some spectacularly pollyannaish, panglossian thinking to conclude that Wil Nieves could hit well enough to be of any service to a major league team. He can't." (Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide.) And so it goes. When Nieves failed, leaving a team with a 200+ million dollar payroll without a viable backup catcher, Jose Molina was acquired. "The Yankees found that one team's trash is another's treasure given their lack of even a replacement-level backup for Jorge Posada...Molina is an acceptable level backup given the very limited population of quality reserves at the position."-(B.P.)

Who's on deck? 18 year-old Jesus Montero hit .326/.376/.491 for the Charleston River Dogs and is being touted as the next big thing. "The hulking teenager has spectacular Roy Hobbs, shattering-the-clock power. He's also a miserable catcher."-(B.P.) On a positive note, scouts have noted improvement in the 2008 season, but he is defying the odds: "Of the 297 catchers since 1901 with at least 500 games caught in the big leagues, just 13-or four percent-have been 6-foot-4 or taller...Yankees catcher Jesus Montero(6-foot-4, 225 pounds) is trying to break that mold.-(B.A) Catchers develop at a slow pace, Montero won't be in pinstripes anytime soon.

37 year-old Jorge Posada is the Yankees best option behind the plate for the 2009 season. 14 years after Posada's debut, the organization is still working on finding a suitable replacement. And so it goes.

Photo/All Around Philly

Yankees Brain Drain

The Yankees' AL East rivals go toe to toe in prime time. Frustrated followers, "quietly wait" for the storm to pass. Questions loom:

• Where do we stand? "That Boston and Tampa Bay are playing in the American League Championship Series while the Yankees sit home is no fluke. The Red Sox and Rays have better rosters, management, managers, prospects and owners than the Yankees do right now. Sobering facts from the man on the Bombers' beat.
• Who's in charge? ""The most important thing to remember is this: If you didn't get it from me or my brother [Hal], it doesn't mean [anything]. I don't care about some piss-ant employee. If you don't get it from me or Hal, it's meaningless." This statement tells you all you need to know about the new Boss. We would like to believe that Hank's bellicose bluster can be controlled, behind closed doors, by quiet brother Hal. A notion persists that Hal is the reasonable one. (Still waiting for a shred of evidence.) What if Hank is the brains of the outfit? It gets really scary when you consider the fact that these guys aren't going anywhere. Ever.
• Brian Cashman returns for three more years and a few more million. Cash likes to believe he's the Decider, turns out the title has been "piss-ant employee". Well, apparently that won't stop him from getting his hands dirty: "Brian Cashman has been asking some players to give evaluations of the coaching staff, giving the general manager information to use as he figures out what moves need to be made."--(Hat tip, Sliding into Home) Cash conducts a popularity contest among the players, that undercuts Girardi's authority, anyone passing Management 101 at a community college would know this is bad business.

Optimists in the crowd will say, "89 wins isn't the end of the world." Fact-based analysts, who are a tad pessimistic, evaluate who's steering the ship and see an iceberg on the horizon.

Photo/Tirico Suave/ via Yardbarker

Yankees New Role

The legendary Yankees/Red Sox rivalry occupies a significant chapter in baseball history. From Bucky Dent to Aaron Boone, the Bombers enjoyed the view from the top. That was then, this is now, the pendulum has swung. Boston reversed the curse with a galling four game sweep, two rings later, they show no signs of slowing down.

It is a matter of fact that great teams grow old, decline and require rebuilding. The Yanks are currently mired in this reality while the Sox defy tradition. Boston's ALCS lineup featured an array of fresh faces: Ellsbury, Pedroia, Bay, Youkilis and Lowrie, who are blossoming on the big stage while competing for a ring. Boston's brass has shrewdly managed to win and reload simultaneously. Boston's plan went deep while New York's whiffed.

If Boston's new found success was a simple twist of fate, it could be reluctantly swallowed, after all, they were due. Unfortunately, the Red Sox position, looking down at the Yanks, can't be described as a fluke or aberration. The Yankees have assumed the unaccustomed role of runner up. Yankees fans, who grew up basking in the glow of a dynasty, are in for a rude awakening.

Photo/Eureka Puzzzles

Yankees Center Field Plan

Bernie Williams upheld the tradition of excellence in center field for the New York Yankees. Williams produced: .297/.381/.477 over a 16 year career and was a key component in a dynasty. When Bernie's light flickered, it was time for the organization to find the next big thing. The farm was barren and Carlos Beltran was for sale, "An impact player capable of carrying a team."(Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide.) Beltran wanted to play in pinstripes and offered a discount rate for his elite services. The front office passed.

In 2006 the Bombers' Brass chose Johnny Damon as the heir apparent: "Damon represents the hazard of relying on players who are only moderately powerful and moderately patient but goose their numbers by hitting for a good average: batting averages fluctuate. We've seen this kind of off-year from Damon before in 2001 and 2003, but the temptation is to interpret 2007's malaise as the manifestation of transient injuries rather than age or the player's historic inconsistency...he's signed through 2009, which puts the organization in a bind. Melky Cabrera is the future in center..."--(BP) Not so fast.

Melky entered the mix with the scouting report of a 4th outfielder and the support of a manager familiar with intangibles: "Melky gives us energy...he plays like he's in the park."--(Torre) The pitching staff, accustomed to wincing when Johnny be not so good lobbed in another anemic throw, was relieved. Torre and Cabrera's confidence left about the same time, leaving a flailing bat and a scornful fan base behind. Next.

Time for a fresh face, Brett Gardner enters with a flash. Gardner arrives with the scouting report of a 4Th outfielder. An anemic bat is overshadowed by blazing speed. Yankees fans hungry for good news herald his arrival, their enthusiasm deludes reality: "The thing that will keep him on a major league bench as opposed to a starting lineup is a complete, total, absolute lack of power."--(BP)

Should Gardner assume the Dave Roberts position on the 2009 Yankees, the next big thing is in the wings. Austin Jackson, come on down: "General manager Brian Cashman singled out Austin Jackson as the best and the most advanced prospect in a pitching-heavy system."--(Baseball America.) Some good news: " Several managers cited him as one of the league's (AA) most feared clutch hitters, while also acknowledging his tools, which grade out as average across the board."--(BA) Here's BP's report prior to the season:"Jackson was just plodding along last year (2007) in his third professional season when Charleston hitting coach Greg Colbrunn completely overhauled his swing...If he can keep this up at higher levels, questions about whether his bat will play in a corner should he fail to master center field will become moot." Jackson's production in 2008: .285/.354/.419. It appears that Jackson is a promising talent who is being burdened with distorted expectations. Been there and done that.

The homegrown options are dubious, what's on the trade market? Matt Kemp of the Dodgers was introduced by Larry Bowa last night as, "The most athletic player on the field." Baseball Prospectus, offers more: "Kemp has significantly more upside than any under-25 center fielder besides Grady Sizemore and Chris Young." Wishful thinking has fostered the notion that Kemp can be acquired for Cano. Robbie morphed from the next Carew on Torre's watch to a question mark with a multi-year deal under Girardi. File this alleged transaction under pipe dream.

The list of candidates to fill Bernie Williams' shoes is long and figures to grow. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Photo/NY Daily News

Yankees Notes and Quotes

The MLB playoffs are in prime time, while the Yankees lurk in the background. Bombers' fans used to bait the haters with their rings, the shoe is now on the other foot and it's not pretty:

• "For the New York Yankees, this is the worst October since 1986"
• "You’re not thinking about the Yankees at this point, just about our club and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Longoria said." The audacity of youth.
• "So forget the Cubs and the dead-dynasty Yankees. Rejoice that the sport’s top three teams in payroll, including the Tigers and Mets, didn’t even make the playoffs. In the division series, the Nos. 5-6-7 teams in payroll were eliminated, too. The result: The ludicrously low-budget Rays, next-to-last in salary, are in the final four with the Phils (13th) and the young Dodgers (eighth), who may be almost as stage-struck if they make the Series as Tampa Bay.” I miss the good old days.
• Now they tell us: "it's an exciting time for the Red Sox...Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein believes in developing a stable of reliable youngsters who can serve as a talent pipeline to the major leagues. Since young players usually remain healthier, have more room to improve and do not earn as much money, they are vital assets." This time last year the Gotham media were bombarding us with the notion that Brain Cashman was to youth movements as Al Gore was to the Internet. Fair to say Cash saw the writing on the wall and morphed to a new story?
• The good news file: " there will be more forces in play than just geography or even the actual dollars. Keep in mind that, in high-profile free agency cases like this, the Players Association also plays a role. And that potential impact should only help the Yankees.' The CC sweepstakes starts to resemble election time in Florida.
• So much for a glimmer of hope: "The Yankees of 2008 weren't going anyplace special, whether they were managed by Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Casey Stengel or Miller Huggins. They were too flawed and too injured and in certain ways too old to put up a fight against the Red Sox or Devil Rays, the two division heavyweights who'll have it out for the American League title. The slow disintegration of the Yankees was bound to happen sooner or later" Actually, the Yanks had the resources to stave off "disintegration" unfortunately, Theo is a tad better at implementing plans than Brian.
• Speaking of Cash: "If anything, Cashman has been treated with kid gloves by the press...Now that times are tough in Yankeeland, Cashman is wanting more credit for everything he did over the past twenty years in the organization. Forget Gene Michael and Buck Showalter - apparently, the good things were all Brian’s doing. Of course, this all flies in the face with him insisting that he didn’t have any real power until 2005.
  Cash got his power, he got his full autonomy, and by any objective standard, it has been a complete and utter failure, even if he did say that “I don’t necessarily see this has gone awry.” --NY Daily News/Subway Squakers (Technical problem setting up link.) Cash needs to get his stories straight--good luck with that--in the meantime it appears, it's time for a new plan.

Photo/NJ.com

Yankees Dealing From Flawed Foundation

Baseball fans in Tampa, Boston, LA and even Philly revel on the road to a ring. The Bronx is focused on a feeding frenzy of potential free agent signings and an endless array of trade rumors. The notion that the all-powerful Yankees can flip a switch and regain their traditional perch wanes as a rickety, flawed roster featuring excessive contracts anchors expectations to reality. "the Yankees have miles to go this offseason just to keep up in the AL East. It means this one-year playoff absence could easily turn into a significant drought, no matter how many millions the Yanks spend this winter.
For the moment, the Sox and Rays have combined to create this nightmare for Yankee fans, as well the organization."--(NY Daily News)

There are no magic pills to cure long-term problems. The tough decisions just keep on coming:

• Who's on first? Since Tino left the first time, this spot is a perpetual riddle: "After Jason Giambi's walrus-on-skates act, the Yanks crave a first baseman who is more than a non-throwing statue." A 28-year-old, switch hitter, noted for consistency at the plate and elite leather would be a perfect fit. Unfortunately, it's never that easy, "It is hard to find Yankees officials juiced up to chase Teixeira...Cashman is hesitant to tie up the money again on a corner player, when he must find a center fielder and starting pitching, too. Cashman can imagine a near future in which Teixeira, A-Rod, Derek Jeter and Posada may all need first base/DH at-bats while exhausting about 40 percent of even a $200 million payroll. " Lack of young options perpetually paint the Yanks into a corner. The decision to let Posada play out his career year and then negotiate without viable alternatives will haunt the organization for a long time.
• Pitching issues? 39-year-old Mike Mussina is the king of the Yanks' transitioned hill. Moose garnered 20 wins and the pendulum of leverage has swung. Mike looks to parlay the circumstances into a three-year-deal. Moose didn't earn an economics degree from Stanford by accident.
• Strength up the middle? Center field is another boondoggle: Bernie fades, Beltran is snubbed, the knee-jerks to Damon, who can't do the job, throw Melky in the mix, never mind Brett sure can run and Jackson is on the express.

There is no magic wand, time to whip out the shopping list--back where it all began. "The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles."--(Dylan)

Yankees Dwindling Expectations

A brash, talented, adroitly managed Tampa team earns its way to the ALCS. The defending World Champion Boston Red Sox take on the Rays with expectations of back-to-back titles. An intriguing match up, now and for the foreseeable future. Both teams have flourishing farm systems and are built to last, luck isn't part of the equation.

The New York Yankees watch from the rail. The spotlight of glory extinguished. Time for some leadership: "We have to win and we will."--(Team architect Brian Cashman.) "He looked me right in the eye and swears he's going to be back as good as ever. It's up to us to buy into that."--(Cash referring to a conversation with Posada.) Cash wants to believe that the 37 year old surgically repaired catcher, with 3 years left on his contract, will pull off a miracle. Can you blame him? There are no viable replacements in sight.

The Yankees traditional lofty expectations have been replaced by dour prognostications: "But there are some signs of a sports reckoning, especially for those accustomed to living in a manner that some would call grotesquely and dangerously large.
“This is a critical off-season for a team like the Yankees, in particular,” Marc Ganis, a well-connected sports industry consultant, said in a telephone interview. “They are opening a new stadium but at a time their fan base is going to have to be more prudent in how they spend. Meanwhile, the Yankees are in a position where they have to keep spending to improve their team because that’s the deal they’ve made with their fans," Somehow, I get the feeling that the man behind the curtain, Hal Steinbrenner, believes deals are made to be broken.

Oh well, the future figures to be daunting, but there are always fighting words to rally around, " he did not want people to say he had nothing to do with the winning and they went downhill under him...I’d be nothing without what the Steinbrenners have done for this person at this table right now. But at the same time, I’m not going to let an inaccurate story stick, and the only way for me to change that is to change the story. So I’m staying to change the story.” Cashman's tenure with the Yankees has been marked by some incredible stories. Should Brian's latest tale conclude with a happy ending, it will be filed under stranger than fiction.

Yankees Trade Record

It will take more than free agent acquisitions to make the Yankees viable championship contenders. Adding a couple of big ticket purchases will make headlines and theoretically help the talent pool, but it won't be enough. The alleged youth movement is a long-term solution, it's going to take time for the crop to bloom and sustain success. The Yankees short-term fortunes will be dependent on their ability to prosper in the trade market.

What are the chances? Let's look at the record. Brian Cashman has orchestrated the deals since 1998, from 2/1998 to 12/2007, 87 trades were completed. To put Brian's resume in context, he inherited a championship caliber nucleus and was dealing from the perspective of a perpetual contender. Acquiring a missing piece at the price of the future was the order of the day. Another significant parameter, was the Yankees potent resources allowed them the advantage of dealing for bloated contracts that other teams couldn't afford.

• Significant Acquisitions: Knoblauch for Guzman, Milton and Buchanan/ Clemens for Wells, Bush and Graeme/ A-Rod for Soriano and PTBNL/ Abreu and Liddle for Henry, Sanchez and Smith. Each of these transactions benefited the Bombers and wouldn't have been possible without money being a factor.
• Shrewd Steals: Westbrook and Lily for Irabu (Pronounced I Rob U.) This category begins and ends with this transaction.
• Dubious Deals: Wilson for Marte/ Weaver for Lily/ Vazquez for Johnson, Rivera and Choate./Loaiza for Contreras.
• Disasters: Johnson, Noel, and Yarnall for Lowell.

Evaluating trade history is a slippery slope. Priorities and circumstances change. The 2009 Yankees will shift gears from instant gratification to long term return. It figures to be a tough challenge because the players that can provide long term dividends don't have bloated contracts. The record clearly states this is the Yanks' forte. What are the chances the Yankees will be bolstered by a series of shrewd trades? The record speaks.

Photo/NY Sun

Torre's Ironic Encore

The Joe Torre era in Pinstripes featured professionalism and habitual winning. Championships were routine. The fan base, spoiled. The bubble of perpetual success burst when the Bombers flopped to a 4-13 postseason pratfall in recent seasons. Critics noted the bloated payroll and erroneously concluded that the talent must be there. The spotlight of blame was cast in Torre's direction. What have you done for me lately? Joe had to go.

The Brothers Steinbrenner took the reigns of Daddy's kingdom. The team architect worked the crowd and Torre was insulted out of the dugout. The implication was that Joe had lost touch and wasn't the right man to manage a burgeoning youth movement. The fact that Cano, Cabrera, and Chamberlain blossomed on his watch while Kennedy and Duncan made successful splashes was swept aside. The Bombers' Brass had a plan, Torre's skills were taken for granted.

That was then, this is now. The 2008 Yankees transitioned to nowhere as Cano flopped, Cabrera, Kennedy and Duncan evaporated and Joba followed a confusing set of new rules to the DL. The postseason express crashed and no one was accountable.(Note: Hal and Cash did save 130+ million on Santana, an alliance was formed.)

Meantime, Torre and a cast of familiar faces: Bowa, Mattingly and Duncan (Mariano) landed on their feet in Dodger Blue. Here's a preseason scouting report on what Torre inherited: "Once the model of stability, the Los Angeles Dodgers have become a daily soap opera..2007 (GM) Colletti buries the kids...2008 the more things change, the more they stay the same."--(Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide) Not so fast.

Last night LA swept the best team in the NL in impressive fashion. Piniella's Cubs were no match for Torre's young crew. A pregame camera pan told a story. Veterans: Kent, Nomar, Maddux, Pierre, and Jones sat while neophytes Loney Ethier, Kemp, Martin and Broxton ruled. Joe Torre rode a wave of youth to postseason pay dirt. Surfs up.

Somewhere, Hank is blustering, Hal is counting the money and Cashman is reinventing another story. "I don't need to say anything, I'm in LA."--(Manny Ramirez) He took the words out of Joe Torre's mouth. They say nice guys finish last, don't believe it.

Photo/LA Times

Can Yankees Learn Lessons?

MLB's playoffs prosper while the Yankees ponder--Where do we go from here? The Yanks fall from grace is not a coincidence. The playoff caliber teams offer a blueprint to success. Is the Bombers' Brass astute enough to learn or will deluded arrogance get in the way?

Hopefully, the front office has used it's extended off season to watch and learn. Here are a few lessons of note:

• Maintaining a contending team while transitioning to youth is possible. The Red Sox are the model, making tough decisions is part of the mix. While the Sox said goodbye to popular names: Damon, Martinez, Lowe and assorted other "Idiots" the Bombers were handing out excessive contracts to veterans facing the twilight that guaranteed obsolescence.
• Young talented players should be put in a position to succeed not fail. Tampa Bay's anonymous roster thrives while the Yanks list of next big things morph from prodigies to projects. The Gene Michael/Buck Showalter model shows a championship caliber nucleus can be nurtured in Gotham. The first step is to stop the self-serving hype. (IE Phil Hughes is not the "Franchise." He is a work in progress suspect until proven otherwise.)
• Acknowledge mistakes and move on. The Angels sign Gary Matthews Jr. to a five-year $50million dollar deal in 2007. A year later Tori Hunter becomes available and they correct their error. The front office is not worried about how it will look. Winning is the priority. Contrast this with the perpetual Igawa/Pavano charades--"When he's healthy he can do what few can do."--(Cashman on Pavano.) Deluded is not an attribute.
• Clubhouse chemistry matters. There is a reason winning follows Piniella, O'Neill and now Youkilis around. Competitive volatility is part of a successful mix. There is no one on the Yankees roster that fits this job description. Is it a coincidence that the Bombers haven't been the same since O'Neill retired? It's safe to say that the Yankees roster has been built by analyzing reams of stats, there is more to the game than numbers.
• The game evolves and speed and versatility are part of a winning formula. An endless supply of DH's will guarantee a return to mediocrity. Brett Gardner is intriguing not because he is a bonafide high-ceiling prospect, but because he brings a new dimension. The Wilson Betemits of the world need to go elsewhere.

The Bombers' Brass find themselves in the middle of an improving pack. The view from here isn't pretty. The never-ending competitive advantages the Yankees possess will only be optimized by shrewd implementation of progressive strategies. There is a lot to be learned.

Yankees Start Another Story

The excitement and tension of baseball's postseason moves on. The Yankees are in the rear view mirror. GM Brian Cashman was behind the wheel when the most expensive car on earth went into the ditch. Cash wants a do over:

"If I left, I was not going to like the story that was going to be written...The only way for me to change that is to change the story. So I'm staying to change the story."--(AP.) No one has ever doubted Brian's ability to spin a yarn.

The New York Yankees have the wealth and power to reinvent themselves. Money can restore credibility provided cogent decisions are made--there's always a catch. The richest franchise in history can't afford another string of Igawaesque boondagles. Cash must get it right this time. We know he can talk the talk, can he walk the walk? It won't be easy.

Watching the next really big thing, CC Sabathia, get rattled in prime time by a raucous mob from Philly, raises concerns. 140 million for a regular season workhorse who colapses in the last lap isn't a bargain. Is he the next Mickey Lolich or Javy Vasquez? There's only one way to find out.

The Yankees could potentially lose five productive players--Giambi, Abreu, Mussina, Pettitte, I-Rod plus Pavano. Market conditions suggest three replacements, hypothetically, their wish list leads off with: Sabathia, Teixiera and Lowe. If all three bring their A game and stay healthy the Bombers improve provided that a few choice questions receive positive responses: A) Joba's job description? B) The Great Rivera's post surgery durability? C) Posada's role? D) Center field? E) Cano--next Carew or bust? F) Girardi--intense leader or staightjacket candidate?

The Yankees next story will be a long one. "I care about my name and I care about how I'm perceived and I care about this franchise...There's a story I want to have written here and the only way to make sure it's written is to suck it up and win." Time for Brian Cashman to walk the walk.

Photo/Daylife.com

Yankees Playoff Notables

Watching playoff baseball with nothing at stake offers a different perspective. Yankees' fans, accustomed to sweating results and riding a roller coaster of emotions, ranging from sheer joy, to debilitating dejection, are now dealing with placid. (Yawn.) Fortunately, there are things to root for:

• Joe Torre, a rejected favorite son, manages a young, transitioning Dodger team to the promised land. The old Joe inherits a divided clubhouse where the swagger of youth collided with the veteran establishment. A meager first half is turned around when Donnie Baseball returns to the dugout and a familiar, dreadlocked pariah from Boston uses his bat to bash back the critics. Manny Ramirez has gone from indispensable cog of a World Champion to distracting goofball to team leader in a matter of months. Imagine what the Big Apple tabloids would do with this story line. Torre's team collects an impressive win against the Cubs in game one and Joe offers a familiar quote: "We're making Dempster work." Aahh the good old days. Torre's team works and the Brothers Steinbrenner sweat. The Bombers' Brass believed Torre had outlived his usefulness and was incapable of nurturing the next wave of Yankees prospects. Can you say irony?
• Lou Piniella has a long Yankee lineage. Sweet Lou played the role of Paul O'Neill for the 70's era championship teams. A competitive lightning rod who wore his emotions on his sleeve and gave the fans someone to relate to, Piniella has a cherished spot on memory lane. Turning the Cubs from lovable losers to viable champions is the ultimate challenge, it's appropriate that a Yankee lead them.
• Milwaukee rides CC Sabathia to the promised land. The big lefty has thrown 271 pitches and counting after carrying Cleveland in 2007. Dennis Eckersley compares him to Mickey Lolich, a paunchy, durable, championship caliber lefty of a different era. If the Yanks are looking to make a splash with a big ticket CC can write his own check.
• Derek Lowe starts game one for the Dodgers on his path to free agency. He would add proven stability to a wobbly Yanks rotation. "The comfort level of someone who keeps the game at a pace you can manage...Derek Lowe is that kind of guy."--Torre.

"You may not always get what you want, but if you try sometime you'll get what you need."--(Rolling Stones.) Yankees' fans trying to cope with placid would be well served to heed Mick Jagger's advice.

Photo/Fansedge.com

Yankees Stick with the "Decider"

The playoffs commence as the Yankees watch from the sideline. An old roster, soon to be depleted by expired contracts is in dire need of fortification. How did the wealthiest team in sports history get mired in this quagmire? Follow the dubious plans.

Plan A--buy your way out--kept hope alive for a long time, but finally a never ending string of poor decisions cost the franchise in the win column. Plan B--youth movement-- got off to a rousing start. A fan base starved for fresh faces was rewarded with the over-the-top production of Joba Chamberlain, the Carewesque grace of Cano and a crew of talented neophytes who hinted at a bright future.

The captain of the transition--Brian Cashman--called the shots. Cash, a smooth operator,managed to navigate from the high profile debacle of poor acquisitions to the warm and fuzzy turf of youth movement without a hitch. After riding a wave of self-serving hype it was time to produce.

As usual, Brian had a plan. He would place the burden of 2008's expectations on a group of unproven prospects. Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain would shine on the Big Apple Stage. History suggested the plan was wacky but the show must go on. The season started, Hughes and Kennedy weren't ready for prime time, prodigies morphed to suspects.

The linchpin of the Yankees future--Joba Chamberlain--would get special handling. The golden child would start the spring as a starter, as the season dawned he would go back to the bullpen for half-a-season and then go to the minors to stretch out. The second half would start and Joba would bolster the perpetually rickety rotation. When it came time to implement this infamous plan, they scratched the minor league stretching part. Sink or swim kid. Joba delivered with a flourish, cranking up the heat and riding the adrenaline, until his body broke down. Oops, time for a new plan--Cash was back at the drawing board.

While the Yankees' traditional place in the standings burned, Cashman fiddled. No one throws names at the wall like Brian. Should the stuff stick he's a genius, when failure ensues the glare of blame inevitably goes elsewhere. Ensberg, Lane, Sexson, Hawkins, Ponson carried on the Betemit tradition. The usual suspects assumed the position.

The plans failed but Brian Cashman did what he does best--navigate turbulence and land on his feet. Somehow he escaped blame for a teetering franchise with a bottomless pit of competitive advantages. The Yankees bailed Cashman out with a new 3 year multi-million dollar deal that would make a Wall Street executive proud. Accountability struck out, Cash is king. And so it goes.

The Brothers Steinbrenner were handed the keys to Dad's kingdom 18 months ago. A duo reminiscent of Abbot and Costello made a quick splash. A blustering, embarrassing Hank garnered the headlines while Hal counted the money. Cash saved the organization 130+ million on the Santana sweepstakes. Brian believed that Kennedy and Cabrera were too valuable to swap for a proven left-handed ace. We want to believe that Hal is smarter to Hank, it is safe to assume that he can figure out 130 million is a lot of money. Hal now had a working alliance with Cash and the results speak for themselves.

For those scoring at home, Torre and Santana whiff, Cashman is a big hit. The Yankees are in a quagmire that resulted from failed plans. The organization stays the course and sticks with the Decider. Sounds familiar.

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