Taking Yankee Fans for Granted

If you build it they will come."--(Field of Dreams)

The New York Yankees' field of dreams is set to make its opulent debut. A regal palace befitting baseball royalty beckons in the Bronx. Let the exalted revenue enhancement begin. Not so fast.

A funny thing happened on the way to the bank. A pesky depression has interfered with ownership's plan to extort every last shackle from their loyal fan base. Outrageously priced tickets are still available--boy are they available.

Opening day is knocking on the door while full page ads beseech fans to purchase choice seats. "The voice of the Yankees , John Sterling, is making a similar sales pitch (he calls it a once in a lifetime opportunity) on radio commercials."--(Bob Raissman/NY Daily News)

It wasn't supposed to be like this. A sea of sellouts was a formality. Sometimes, fate brings justice along for the ride. Loyal season ticket holders were tossed from their traditional locations in the quest for more lucre. Yankee ownership bit the hands that fed them. Now, they get the "once in a lifetime opportunity," to learn a lesson.

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Yankees Scouting Reports

"Two men enter, one man leaves."--(Mad Max, Beyond Thunder Dome)

Joe Girardi's center field competition wasn't exactly must see TV as the clear cut favorite Brett Gardner beat out Melky Cabrera for the honor of filling the prestigious position. Gardner's over-the-top speed makes him an option worth exploring, despite documented flaws. Cabrera assumes the position of fourth outfielder which is a good fit for his skill set. I consulted scouting reports from Baseball Prospectus to glean some insight into the Yanks newest face:

2008 Guide: "Gardner has some things going for him--excellent speed, good range in the outfield, some patience, and the ability to hit for a respectable average. The thing that will keep him on a major league bench as opposed to the starting lineup is a complete, total,absolute lack of power....If Gardner suddenly shows the ability to hit .330, it might change things, but his best hope right now is to have a general manager fall in love with him..." (Editors note: When the Yanks broke camp last year Brian Cashman was asked who would be the Yanks next young impact player, Cash responded: "Brett Gardner.") BP's 2009 Guide: "(Gardner's) chances of getting and holding on to it (CF) depend on a high enough OBP to overcome his powerlessness..."

The next decision on the Yanks plate is to name a utility infielder. The Yankee Universe documents the battle between Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena, they link to a NY Daily News scouting report on Pena that sounds eerily familiar: "When I first saw him three years ago, you could knock the bat out of his hands,” said one veteran scout whose primary assignment is in the minor leagues. “But he was a magician with the glove and that made him someone to keep an eye on." This time last year we were hearing similar stuff about Alberto Gonzalez (AKA "The Attorney General") :"His glove will inspire someone to give him a shot at some point. His bat is off the Ray Sanchez shelf..." Gonzalez was shipped to Washington and Pena is next. The Yanks could use some leather off the bench. It would provide an interesting late inning option to compensate for the captain's well documented flaw. Problem is someone has to tell Derek he's on the pine in the late innings with a lead. Good luck with that.

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Yankees Questions & Rumors

The sun sets on spring training for the New York Yankees. It's decision time for the Bombers' Brass. The auditions are over. Time to name names and finalize the 2009 roster. Questions, speculation and rumors swirl over a chosen few:

• "There are some boys that have pitched very well in camp,” Girardi said. “We have to make decisions, and we’re not going to rush into it.” The decider was refering to the comptetion between Tomko, Aceves and Geise for a possible long man role in a stocked bullpen. Spring training stats are getting the ink, but lets look at the big picture. Do the Yanks want to reward Tomko, a 12-year journeyman with a proven track record of failure? Do they squander Aceves' upside by having him sit for long stretches? Or do they go with Geise and his dubious track record. The Yanks have an army of arms and don't need relief from these three.


• The alleged competition between Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera could be moot: "Naming a "starter" is pretty pointless because it seems possible, even likely, that both Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera can make the opening day roster and see fairly regular playing time."--(Chad Jennings/The Times Tribune) Logic suggests that Gardner gets his shot and Cabrera assumes the position of fourth outfielder, where his glove and arm would be an asset. The fly in the ointment is Nick Swisher who's contract and lack of a viable position forces Girardi to find him at bats. Is there a solution in the trade market?


• "FOX.com's Ken Rosenthal reported that the Yankees are open to moving Cabrera. The White Sox could be in the mix if in-house center-field contenders Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson and Dewayne Wise don't impress. Trading Cabrera would open at-bats for Nick Swisher, beaten out for the right-field job by Xavier Nady. Swisher, however, could be dealt instead." Swisher was a failure for the White Sox in center field in 2008. There is no history to suggest he would be a productive role player. Trading him won't be easy as the Yanks would have to eat a portion of the $24 million he is quaranteed and acknowledge another front office error.


• "Jeter's decreased range at shortstop, especially to his left, has been an increasingly hot topic around baseball - which the Yankee high command has pointedly chosen to ignore, because there didn't appear to be any bona fide prospects in the system. That, however, all changed this spring with the emergence of 23-year-old Ramiro Pena, whose dazzling glovework has made him the frontrunner to win the utility infielder's job..."--(NY Daily News) Brings back memories of Alberto Gonzalez.

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Yankees Notes & Links

Opening day is coming into view. The Yankees dominated off season headlines with gaudy free agent acquisitions and previews of an opulent new crib. Soon, the focus will be back on the diamond, where it belongs. Let's go around the horn for some Yankees related material:

• Legendary writer William Zinsser, notes: "The Yankees’ new stadium comes wrapped in a vocabulary that has no connection to baseball: luxury boxes, bond issues, cost overruns. My fellow taxpayers and I are also footing that bill, though the announced prices will dissuade many of us from going there to enjoy the fruits of our charity."
• The New York Times, continues to go deep with, "A Game of Inches": "a business whose fate has always been intertwined with that of a baseball team."
• For many of us, baseball started with the sounds of the street and joy of stickball. New Yankee, Mark Teixeira gets a late start: "Teixeira said he never played stickball. He said he played whiffle ball growing up in the Baltimore suburbs.
  "I have to learn as I go," Teixeira said. "It will be on-the-job training."--(Tampa Bay Online)
• The San Francisco Chronicle, offers some quality choices for your baseball library: " baseball touches more literary bases - memoirs, folklore, oral history, statistics - than any other sport."

Photo/TBO.com

New Yankee Stadium Photography & Issues

The new Yankee Stadium sparks conflicted feelings. On the one hand, quality photos provide a glimpse of over-the-top grandeur. Kevin from The Voice of the Yankee Universe, provides some choice clicks to wet your appetite.

On the other hand, the New Stadium Insider, provides some disturbing news: "This also means that the middle-class family coming to Yankee Stadium to see their heroes suit up in the pinstripes will not be able to watch batting practice from the Field Level or try to procure autographs from their favorite players."

Personally, I'll be in the bleachers watching baseball and hoping that the upper crust section is half empty.

Yankees Preseason Observations

Digging through The Sporting News' spring training primer, for Yankees related gold, turned up a few nuggets:

• "No one can match what the Yankees have done this (offseason). The only chance the rest of the league (has) is to stand by and hope all that talent doesn't jell."--(Sam McDowell) Yankee fans know, it's never that easy.
• "The move that is going to affect the Sox the most is the non-signing of Mark Teixeira."--(Fred Lynn)
• You can say that again: "They lost Teixeira, which is huge."--(Rex Hudler)
• "Swisher was essentially benched down the stretch with the White Sox last season, and the Yankee have no shortage of 1B/OF/DH types." Deja Vu all over again.
• "Giambi was easy to overlook during the Yankees' disappointing 2008, but the mustachioed wonder was a legitimate threat at the plate again..." Jason comes alive, just in time for a new contract.
• Rumors swirl around Yankee voids at the hot corner and center field. How about a guy who can do both and may be available: "Figgins is versatile enough that he could find a new position..."

Derek Jeter's Frustration

The World Baseball Classic featured a frustrating finish for Team USA. The revamped American squad, led by Yankees captain Derek Jeter, fell short of redemption. "To get so close, the final four teams, yeah there's a lot of disappointment," said the U.S captain."--(NY Daily News)

There was a time when rings were routine for Jeter. Arriving at the birth of a dynasty will skew expectations. Success is measured by championships. The bar is so high that frustration must follow. Jeter's resume speaks for itself. Perfection isn't in anyone's mix.

Filip Bondy, of the NY Daily News, presents some interesting observations on Team USA's demise: "Sometimes it's hard to face the facts,...We're not that good anymore.'I don't know how you emulate swinging and hitting while you're already halfway down to first," said Derek Jeter, properly impressed by the Japanese speed and tactics... By comparison, the Americans appeared fat, slow and practically Paleolithic...How did such a thing happen?
For starters, one glance at the Americans as they lined up along the first-base line before the game demonstrated this WBC roster was not exactly a rainbow coalition. Elite baseball players of color are no longer easy to find in the States. They are instead imported from Latin America...There may be a work ethic divide as well. ..Finally, there is the vital question of strategy. The U.S. team, along with many of the Latin sides at the WBC, were still playing Big Ball against pitchers who were simply too good for such grand aspirations. Their heads remain stuck in the steroid era."

Derek Jeter moves from the disappointment of the World Baseball Classic to the quest for Yankees championship #27. Another commendable attempt to return to the elusive promised land.

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Yankees Rumors and Speculation

Spring training wanes as the regular season comes into focus. Rumors and ruminations rumble:

• Little big man? The wacky headline reads: "Brett Gardner could grow into Yankees' version of Dustin Pedroia" No pressure kid, welcome to the Big Apple. What do they have in common other than diminutive stature? Good question: "The kid who fights to be the Yankees' starter in center field on Opening Day, Brett Gardner, is not the kind of hitter that Pedroia is, will never have that kind of power." Good point.
• Dose of reality: "New York Yankees rookie centre-fielder Brett Gardner has been one of the surprises of the spring, but even if he beats out Melky Cabrera, the Yankees could still make a trade. They have been reportedly interested in Milwaukee's Mike Cameron. "[Gardner] is a very streaky kid," one major-league scout told The Boston Globe. "He'll have a couple of weeks where he'll get big hits and really be an effective leadoff hitter and another two weeks where you need to hide him as the No. 9 hitter."--(National Post)
• Two men enter, one man leaves? The Xman wins by decision in right. Let's hear from the decider: "Nady did a lot of good things last year, so obviously he had somewhat of an upper hand coming in," Girardi said. "Swish gives us a lot of flexibility."
• Now let's hear from the $24 million insurance policy:"“I’ve been thinking all day about what I wanted to say,” Swisher told reporters ... “I’m the type of guy, I want to play every day, there’s no doubt about that. I guess we’re just going to see how it plays out." Nick is the remnant of another convoluted front office plan. When Teixeira unexpectedly fell in the Yanks' lap Swish was the odd man out. Now he's supposed to be the next Wilson Betemit? Let the trade rumors commence.
• "Baker would make sense for the Astros or Yankees. However, the Yankees,a source close to their situation said tonight, are committed to giving Cody Ransom a shot while Alex Rodriguez is out. They liked him as a utility player before A-Rod’s surgery and he has enjoyed a strong spring. Remember, when Derek Jeter was hurt a few years ago, they went with a no-name for a few weeks.Circumstances could change, but they don’t want to be held hostage in a trade for a player they might only need for 75 at-bats or so."--(Denver Post)
• "Mark Teahen has made some progress in his second-base experiment, and the Royals have held on to him despite interest from several teams, including the Astros, Red Sox and Yankees."--(Peter Gammons Blog/Hat tip Pinstripes PA.) Who is this guy? "Both his power and speed are on the decline, and that's a scary thing to see in a 27-year old who should be on the upswing."--(ESPN) Sounds familiar, wonder if he is versatile or has a cheery clubhouse countenance.

Yankees Chemistry Question

The 2009 New York Yankees have an abundance of talent. The Steinbrenner checkbook has produced an array of star caliber names with gaudy resumes. Will it be enough to put the Bombers back on top?

Hurdles to the promised land persist. Injury issues never sleep. Cogently managed competition is locked and loaded with young, homegrown talent looking to make their mark. The pennant race may be determined by intangibles. The concept of team chemistry can't be measured but can be significant. The remnants of the last Yankee dynasty can speak of the power of a cohesive clubhouse focused on a single goal.

"It used to be about winning. It was let's win this game.' 'Let's go to the World Series.' That was the motivation at the time. Now it's more a case of the motivation being,'My numbers.'--(Torre/The Yankee Years)

A clear cut example of a pending chemistry issue resides in right field where Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady vie to fill Bobby Abreu's solid shoes. Two men enter,who leaves and how has potential problem written all over it.

Xavier Nady is in the final year of his contract. With free agency on the horizon, numbers count. Here's a scouting report from Baseball Prospectus:" Nady's combination of pop, impatience and fielding in a corner make him a highly qualified bench player and an upgrade over a failed starter, but only that."

Nick Swisher enters the fray fresh off a failed season. Nick has the reputation as a good humor man in the clubhouse. Last season he produced .189/.301/.294 in road games. What's so funny? When paltry production earned Swisher a seat on the pine, alleged attitude issues arose.

Here's some analysis from former Yankee catcher John Flaherty: "Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady are being talked about in trades. The Yankees like the fact that Swisher is versatile and his contract status is favorable, so it looks like they might move Nady, which would be a mistake. Nady's a righthanded bat who hits for average and some power. He does strike out a lot, but he brings qualities to that clubhouse that have been lacking for some time. Nady plays hard and does not crave the spotlight."--(The Sporting News)

The Yankee clubhouse used to be filled with guys who, "played hard and didn't crave the spotlight." Rings resulted. The key to the '09 Yankees ability to optimize results may reside in the shadows of Gotham's glare.

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Yankees Spring Training Spin

Optimism in Yankee camp isn't raining it's pouring. The glass isn't half full it's gushing. Websters defines optimism: "A doctrine that this world is the best positive world." Welcome to Yankeeland.

To measure the depths of delusion let's check in with the usual suspects:

• Angel Berroa: Scouting--"Predictably, Joe Torre pounced on an aging alternative that freed him from pondering the matter, and Berroa held down the job for most of the final four months with all the panache of an 'Occupied' sign on an airplane lavatory."--(Baseball Prospectus on Berroa's 2008 campaign.) Stats-- .230/.304/.310, defensive rating 0. Spin--"General manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees had an eye on Berroa last season after trading shortstop Alberto Gonzalez to the Washington Nationals...We stayed on it, and Berroa was the one who agreed to come to us," Cashman said." "He has done a great job," Pena said. "He continues to work. I felt that Berroa stopped working after I left Kansas City. But now I feel he's getting back to the way he was playing." Tony Pena, the Yanks new bench coach, is referring to 2003. Let's go to the way back machine:"Berroa's precipitous drop in production after his 2003 Rookie of the Year campaign eventually led the Royals to maroon him to the obscurity of Triple-A Omaha. He would have likely played out what was left of an ill-advised four-year, $11 million contract had the Los Angeles Dodgers not traded for him."--(Quotes taken from NJ.com)
• Brett Tomko: Scouting:"Tomko, a 35-year-old right-hander, had a brutal 2008 season that began in a failed attempt to stick in Kansas City's rotation and ended on an operating table... Tomko's season ended with a right elbow strain. So much fluid had accumulated in his elbow that Tomko had trouble buttoning his shirts."--(NJ.com) Spin: "Cashman said Tomko has been on the Yankees' radar for even longer, though he wanted the pitcher as a starter, not a reliever." Pondering the possibilities of Cash's shrewd talent acquisition skills without the safety net of Bombers' bucks brings back a quote from Apocalypse Now: "The horror." Which seamlessly segues to the eternal usual suspect--
• Kei Igawa--Scouting:"Kei Igawa is a $20 million lemon whose fresh citrus smell the Yankees will enjoy until 2011, because there's no trade market for the import..."--(BP) Spin: The Yanks work hard to turn a lemon into refreshing lemon aide. 12 shutout innings in the Grapefruit league has the infamous suspect back in the mix.

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Yankees Relentless Expectations

Spring training is going by fast. The real games are knocking on the door. The prognosticators are primed with predictions.

Baseball America leads off with a "Fearless Forecast": American League

• Division Series: Red Sox over Twins/Yankees over Angels
• League Championship Series: Red Sox over Yankees
• Award Winners: Cy Young--CC Sabathia MVP--#3 Mark Teixeira.

My initial reaction is, "I'll take that." CC and Teix. make a successful splash and the Yanks are back battling Boston for the biggest prize. Upon further review, I wonder if losing to the Sox in the playoffs would be filed under failure considering the over-the-top financial advantages the Bombers have flaunted.

The Yankees don't have a young, evolving team that is built for the long term. That description would apply to Tampa and Boston. While the Yankees made a desperate attempt to buy their way back to the top, their division rivals chose the patient rout. Austerity and cogent planning have the advantage of lowering hype. The Bombers bought the headlines, coping with distorted expectations comes with the package. The '09 New York Yankees look to make their mark, history suggests the only successful option is snatching ring #27. The bar of expectations has been set ominously high. You get what you pay for.

PHOTO/NY TIMES BATS BLOG

New York Yankees Book Review

"The New York Yankees and the Meaning of Life" combines classic photos and vintage quotes from the storied history of the Bronx Bombers. The Highlanders, Babe, M&M boys, Bronx Zoo, Evil Empire and much more are chronicled in an enjoyable package.

"Gathered here are the secrets of success, entertaining insights and head scratching observation from the best and brightest..."

A sampling of notable quotes:

• "Honestly, at one time I thought Babe Ruth was a cartoon character. I mean, I wasn't born until 1961, and I grew up in Indiana--(Don Mattingly)
• "Baseball isn't statistics. It's Joe DiMaggio rounding second base."--(Jimmy Breslin)
• "Mantle's success was built on power and pain. He exuded the first and endured the second."--(Ray Fitzgerald, Boston Globe.)
• "I am dead set against free agency. It can ruin baseball."--(George Steinbrenner)
• "If you're a Yankee fan or not a Yankee fan, you'll have to admit, we're winners."--(Paul O'Neill)

The quotes are warm and familiar but it's the photography that resonates. 200 images of a colorful, glorious history provide an enjoyable trip down memory lane.

Bernie Williams "Moving Forward"

Bernie Williams played center field for the New York Yankees with a distinctive, elegant style. The twilight of Bernie's accomplished baseball career transitioned to the beginning of a musical journey.

"I've got news for Bernie. He may be too old for baseball but he's a spring chicken for rock and roll."--(Bruce Springsteen)

The album "Moving Forward" gets released April 14TH and marks another impressive step on a promising path. " I've always been a fan of fusion so I mixed a little salsa with some jazz and rock."--(Bernie Williams) 14 tracks featuring superb instrumentals highlighted by Santana style riffs provide a seamless mix of listening pleasure.

The joy ride comes to a rousing conclusion:"At the Safe at Home Foundation dinner of my long time manager and friend Joe Torre, I had the honor of joining Bruce on stage and the chance to jam with this legend made a night I'll never forget."

Bernie Williams goes from garnering championships in pinstripes to jamming with legends. These truly are "Glory Days."

Girardi Prepares for Pressure

Spring training's sunshine falls on baseball players. The boys of summer limber up in paradise preparing for the show. In the shadows of the Yankee dugout, Joe Girardi is hard at work preparing himself for the daunting rigors of managing the '09 Yankees.

Navigating a rickety roster of star caliber names through the Gotham hype while surviving the elite AL East is challenging. Having the prospects of expected success cling to the odds of the prolonged health of gimpy, high-mileage veterans borders on overwhelming.

Girardi will have to juggle a lineup fraught with peril. Questions never sleep. Does the skipper go to Posada, Rivera, Jeter, Damon, Matsui and A-Rod early and often or does he rely on a barren bench? If the critical pieces insist on playing at less than 100% does pride come before the fall?

For now, the blissful breezes of spring provide a brief respite from the oncoming hot air mass. "All in all everything is going in the right direction, each day without pain is progress."--(Girardi) Enjoy it while you can.

PHOTO/DayLife

NY Yankees Photos,Notes&Quotes

The sun shines in the Bronx as the Yankees prepare their new digs. Here is an array of Yankee related good stuff:

• "Every picture tells a story don't it?" The Voice of the Yankees Universe clicks a montage of the Yanks new home.
• The New Stadium Insider gives us a glimpse of the Yankees money machine at work.
• The Yankee Universe presents interesting perspectives on the question: "Is Yankee Spending Inefficient?"
• It's good to have goals: "Ransom would like to become more than trivia."--(NY Times) Cody attempts to follow the illustrious footsteps of Brian Doyle.
• Quote of the day:" I hope I don't get any bad news...Until I get the clearance I can't tell you 'don't worry be happy.' It's a yellow flag," Cashman said. "A yellow flag can go green or red, so we're hoping it goes to the green side and we can go ahead without worries. If it goes red, it will feel like its def-con levels."--(NY Daily News) Brian Cashman gives a scary preview of how he thinks. Years of answering to a tyrant will leave its mark.

PHOTO/The Voice of the Yankee Universe

The Key to Yankees Success

The New York Yankees' 2009 season is on the horizon. Prognosticators sharpen their pencils in preparation of all knowing forecasts. Stat sheets, computer programs and complex formulas will runneth over in an attempt to predict the future. I'm not a stat wizard, don't have a crystal ball. No matter, the key to the Yankees 2009 success is painfully obvious.

Any forecast of the Yankees future will be predicated on the avoidance of the traditional injury epidemic. It's that simple. The odds are against it. Reality bites.

Let's go around the horn, a vital 37 year-old catcher returning from extensive surgery to his throwing shoulder is as good as it gets. Yesterday, it was reported that the team MVP put down his crutches and began rehab on a balky hip. Dr's say A-Rod has an 80% chance of surviving the season. Here's a scouting report on the Yankees' captain from Baseball Prospectus: "Slowed by age and nagging injuries Jeter had his least productive offensive season in a decade...Jeter selfishly played through (a hand injury) and his production cratered." BP on leadoff hitter Johnny Damon: "Increasingly vulnerable to minor aches and pains..." It is suggested that Damon could benefit from DH duty, unfortunately Matsui and his ancient knees have that job locked up.

Hold on, the revamped pitching will save the day. The high-mileage, bloated big man is a shot in the arm. CC will be asked to carry a major load to the promised land. A.J.? "the only three 200-inning seasons of Burnett's career have been followed by free agency or Tommy John surgery."--(BP) 37 year-old Andy Pettitte crumpled in the second half of '08. Joba "The future" Chamberlain features a fragile medical history beneath his dominating exterior. Can we get some relief? Baseball Prospectus on The Great Rivera: "The closest thing baseball has to Fred Astaire...We don't know how many more years of this Rivera has in him."

It will take more than gaudy free agent acquisitions, venerable names and exhaustive hype for the New York Yankees to meet distorted expectations. It will take an extended appearance by Lady Luck. "Can I get lucky one time?"--(Anonymous poker player.) Let's hope so.

Joba Chamberlain's Lingering Question

One thing Yankee bloggers have in common is Peter Abraham's LoHud Blog. Pete's musings serve as a water trough for our thirsty, bedraggled mob. Yesterday, while slurping up the good stuff, I read this ominous warning: "· The “Joba to the pen” crew is at it again. Here is all I ask of them: Prove to me that 200 innings is less than 70 and we can talk. I want my best pitchers trying to get 600 outs, not 210. It is not really complicated."

Uh Oh, the dreaded Joba debate rears its ugly head. The never ending query pops up, "Is Chamberlain the next Clemens or Gossage? Check your opinions at the door. For the record, I think Joba should get a legit shot at the rotation. If results meet hype, the Yanks garner a rare asset--a top of the rotation, go to guy. Should the golden child fall short, the pen provides a significant safety net.

I would sort of, humbly suggest that Pete's suggestion, "It is not really complicated" is a tad askew. 200 innings or less than 70? Joba's history tells a story: 2008--100.4 IP, transition to starter derailed with collision with DL. 2007--112 IP (minors and majors) 2006--89 IP, scratched from Nebraska's starting rotation because of tricep tendinitis. (The Yanks are able to snatch the talented hurler at the #41 slot in the draft because other teams are leery of physical issue.) Joba is a kid and endurance should enter the maturing mix. Let's point to optimism and suggest that Joba will stay healthy and put up a robust 130-150 IP in 2009.

Now, let's evaluate Chamberlain's role in the context of the 2009 Yankees. He's auditioning for the #5 slot. Vast fortunes were lavished on CC and A.J. to fill the pressure packed top spots for years to come. The Yankees have stockpiled pitching prospects, any semblance of player development would produce a viable candidate for the meager bottom of the rotation slot.

Let's move to the bullpen. Can we learn from history? "For the better part of the last decade, the Yankees have signed one expensive free agent reliever after another, turning out pitchers such as Steve Karsay, Tom Gordon, Kyle Farnsworth, and LaTroy Hawkins in an attempt to get the ball to Mariano Rivera."--(NY Daily News). Another year, another list: Marte, Bruney, Coke, Ramirez form a line to provide a link to the venerable, surgically repaired, Great Rivera. Let's hear from the plan master: "The more, the merrier. The more choices we have, if we have to shuffle the deck, hopefully we'll find the right mix."--(Brian Cashman/NY Daily News) Cash's song remains the same.

Enough speculation, let's consult some experts. Joe Torre: "Would you put a young Clemens in the bullpen? Jorge Posada and Goose Gossage are on record as saying that Joba belongs in the pen. Remember this guy? Jim Kaat: "So many games are decided by the bullpen now that I think you'd be crazy not to put Joba back there with Mariano (Rivera). He's proven how dominating he can be in that role so why wouldn't you take advantage of that?"

Blogging's fire is stoked by opinions. We all want to be experts. The list of those actually qualified shrinks fast. The debate over Joba's optimum role will persist until the golden child demonstrates he's capable of answering the gaping endurance question. Until then, the answer is anything but easy.

PHOTO/Knuckle Curve

Yankees Spring Training Solace

When the Yankees regular season starts, I follow the facts. Hype and faith-based fluff go out the window. When the good times roll, it's all good. Torre's kid-based comeback in 2007 was a joy to scribble. On the other hand, a relentless, sordid path paved with injury epidemics, lackluster performances and image-enhancing front office blather can make blogging the Bombers an arduous task.

Spring training is a time for solace. Optimism makes an appearance. Pessimism rides the bench. I don't want to analyze why Joba needs a "kick in the pants" after landing his dream job or that beneath the hulking body lies a fragile figure. The never ending injury reports aren't going anywhere. Stories of starters getting shelled are for summer. The tale of the rise and fall of A-Rod can wait. Let's focus on the fun, lights, camera, action let the Cody Ransom video roll. Gardner, Ransom, Teixeira and this years cast of the usual bullpen suspects provide relief from the Yankees ever-present storm. Soak in the sunshine.

Photo/NY Post

A-Rod's Wake

The fallout from A-Rod's hip-check continues, reverberations will last until May:

• Music to my ears: "I'm not optimistic about doing anything," Cashman said. "I'm not going to be proactive in trying to do something. If something presents itself that makes sense, which is not realistic, then maybe it will be somebody different. I think our answer is here in camp."--(MLB) Good news, minor league vet Cody Ransom gets a shot and we don't have to deal with another Ensberg-esque move.
• Hindsight: "Would you have done an MRI on that hip before he skipped town in October? You know, the way Philly did with Chase Utley, ensuring their star will at least be close to ready for Opening Day?
  "Just because they have (an irregularity) doesn't mean it's a problem," Cashman said last week in Tampa. "It was not an issue that needed to be addressed."
  It's been addressed now, to the tune of the next two seasons of A-Rod's career being compromised. First the white-knuckle ride to see if he can last through 2009, then another procedure that will make him the same sort of question mark for 2010 that Lowell is now.
  Wrong move by the Yankees? Easy to say in hindsight, but really "¦ they didn't even check. It's hard to even fathom."--(South Coast Today)
• Coming attractions: "Lowell had surgery Oct. 20 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, the same injury that sidelined Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez this spring. Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday and will need another, more extensive operation after the season.
  Lowell said last week that running was the final part of his game to come around after the surgery. After the game he said he had no problem running or getting out of the batter's box."--(SI)
  

Gardner Scorches Spring Training

"Spring training don't mean s--t."--LaTroy Hawkins, 2008 New York Yankees.

Hawkins uttered his sage commentary at the conclusion of the Yanks' 2008 camp. Apparently, the timeless pearls of wisdom haven't sunk in. The back page of Tuesday's New York Daily News features over-the-top coverage of spring phenom Brett Gardner: "Gardner plants himself in position to take over center for the Yanks"

Brett Gardner is easy to root for. Scorching speed combined with effusive hustle is a winning combination. Gardner has taken Tampa by storm with a searing start that features a head-scratching three home runs. Scouting reports document Brett's complete lack of power and last season's over-matched debut suggests that his only show-worthy skill is speed. But forget all that, the Yanks' next big thing is hitting .381 in a handful of Grapefruit League games.

Let the show begin, a graphic in the New York Daily News titled "Center Pieces" charts the noble footsteps Brett is set to follow, notable names: Combs, DiMaggio, Mantle, Pepitone(?), Rivers, Mumphrey (Ugh) Henderson,Williams and even Cabrera are highlighted. The paper reports that Gardner has "taken control" of the coveted position.

Spring training is a time when optimism blooms. Nobody wants to hear what LaTroy Hawkins has to say.

Photo/New Stadium Insider

Yankees Shaky Defense

Baseball's power-laden performance-enhancing drug era diverted attention from the games fundamentals. The long ball was king;glove work an after thought. When MLB was forced to come clean, progress happened.

Peter Gammons documents the shift in an article titled, "Teams shift focus to defense in new, clean world of baseball."--(Baseball America/March 9th print edition): "baseball was nudged back towards the baseball that Whitey Herzog cherished, where athleticism and defense and baserunning really mattered...There is a great deal more appreciation for defense than there was a decade ago."

For Yankee fans, irony makes an appearance. A decade ago the great 1998 Yankees led the league in defensive efficiency. The last Yankee dynasty was noted for pitching, defense and patient hitting.

That was then, this is now. Recently, team architect Brian Cashman was quoted as saying, "We are a bad defensive team." The 2008 Yanks were the third worst AL team in defensive efficiency. --(B.P.) The Bombers will compete with the progressive Rays of Tampa. Gammons writes, " Everyone saw what happened to the Rays when they concentrated on run prevention. They improved almost every defensive position in 2008 and went from the bottom to close to the top in defensive efficiency."

Will the 2009 Yankees improve in this vital area? After years of bumbling and stumbling the Bombers Brass finally found a first baseman who can pick it. Teixeira is a major upgrade over the infamous Giambino who Baseball Prospectus notes, "had less range than a fire hydrant." The rest of the picture is shaky. Posada's bat is warmly welcomed back but his glove pales in comparison to Molina. Cabrera scores well in BP's ratings but Gardner appears to have the inside track in center. The captain and his well documented flaw isn't going anywhere. The game is changing. The Yankees veteran laden roster will have trouble keeping pace.

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Yankees Links

Trying to avoid the A-Rod frenzy? Here's a few interesting stops on the information highway:

• Baseball Musings projects that the Bomber's offense will produce a robust rebound from 2008 but warns: "The real danger to the Yankees, however, is that Rodriguez is the start of the injuries, not the end."
• Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf , previews several books that will keep Yankees fans busy, including Marty Appel's, Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain.
• It was assumed that the debut season of the new Stadium would be SRO. Not so fast.
• The New Stadium Insider, presents a Yankees perspective on the World Baseball Classic.
• OK, I couldn't get through a post without an A-Rod reference, Ken Davidoff echoes my sentiments about being careful what you wish for: "You'll view the mighty, regal Yankees, rid of their "albatross."

Yankee Questions

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The New York Yankees and their best player did the right thing by opting for surgery sooner rather than later. The mind-numbing prospect of a day-to-day medical drama with attendant media hysteria didn't have a silver lining. A-Rod, Girardi and the team can breathe a sigh of relief.

By opting for a quickie arthroscopic procedure, Alex will be back in May with a "85-90 percent" chance of making it through the season. Alex's absence produces some intriguing questions:

• How will the remade roster react to the gaping hole in the lineup? Will they band together to meet a daunting challenge or will they buckle under the intensified pressure? (For those who may not believe there's pressure in April, check out the competition.)
• Will surgically repaired veterans Posada and Matsui push the envelope early? The revamped lineup can't afford to carry Molina's anemic bat. What are the odds Posada can catch every day? Does Girardi start Jorge and use Jose as a defensive caddie?
• Can the Yanks tread water in the treacherous AL East by playing small ball? A lineup featuring Gardner, Ransom and Damon leaves them little choice.
• The honeymoon is over for CC, A.J. and Teixeira can they walk the walk in the Gotham glare?
• Can Cody Ransom follow in the footsteps of Brian Doyle and Aaron Boone by carving his distinctive name in Yankees' lore?
• Will jaded Yankee fans embrace the new-found role of underdog?

The calendar documents that May is two months away. The answers that the 2009 Yankees provide in A-Rod's brief hiatus will tell an interesting story. Say what you want about the New York Yankees, but boring is never in the mix.

Photo/USA Today

Can WBC Ease Yankees Pain?

Yankee fans looking to divert their attention from the ever-present A-Rod drama can turn their weary eyes to the World Baseball Classic. The Yankee captain leads a revenge-minded roster of embarrassed Americans against the world. Reactions range from apathy to fervor:

• "Most Americans are approaching the World Baseball Classic with an enthusiasm normally reserved for putting on their socks in the morning."--(Chicago Tribune)
• ""To me, it is something special," Rivera said. "It is an honor to me."--(The Great Rivera/Newsday)
• "Cordemans uses a 62-mile-an-hour changeup to fool batters and to make $40,000 a year as a pitcher in the Netherlands. In terms of stature and salary, he is the Dutch version of Alex Rodriguez."--(NY Times)
• " Alou said. “Still, the day before the Classic, I was asked a question of how we were going to substitute Alex Rodriguez."--(NY Times) Alex is everywhere.
• " the event is a tremendous source of pride for all the participating nationalities. It is a centerpiece for baseball's new international presence, too."--(Mass live.com)
• "In Mexico City, people dress like gringos, they listen to gringo music and they drive gringo cars,” said Gonzalo Camarillo, a sports journalist. “The only part of gringo culture they don’t like is baseball.”--(NY Times)

PHOTO Gallery/Chicago Tribune

A-Rod's Rumored Replacements

The shock waves of A-Rod's hip-check are at high tide. Visions of Alex producing pennant-caliber production while enduring the pain and risk of a grueling baseball season are soaked with wishful thinking. Reality is at the door. Logic suggests that immediate surgery is prudent and practical. A realistic four month rehab puts Rodriquez back at the hot corner in the Bronx by July.

Rumors rumble. Who will fill the big man's shoes? "Cody Ransom would get the first shot, he can flat-out defend and has some pop in his bat."--(Girardi/YES/paraphrased) "Minor league vet Cody Ransom has always had power for a middle infielder and will compete for a bench spot."--(Baseball Prospectus 2009 Guide)

What about the trade market? A lineup of the usual suspects courtesy of Baseball Prospectus

• Melvin Mora: 37 years old/.285/.342/.483 Mora had a poor, injury hampered, first half but was highly productive after the All-Star break. 2009 is his free agent year and Baltimore has no replacement. Safe to say the O's will want quality prospects in return.
• Scott Rolen: 34 years old/.262/.349/.431 "Rolen was doing his usual dance with the DL."
• Bobby Crosby: 29 years old/.237/.296/.349 "he's downright valueless."
• Chone Figgins: 31 years old/.276/.367/.318 "As an everyday third baseman...he's become something less than an asset."

The prospects aren't pretty. The Yankees are 20-23 without A-Rod in the lineup. Mediocrity won't cut it against the elite competition in the AL EAST. Optimism would suggest that dire straits will bring the Bombers together and could be a blessing in disguise. Pessimism can't wait for July.

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Yankees Constant Controversy

Websters defines controversy as: "strife through expression of opposing views or claims." Yankee fans don't need to look it up. We know the drill. The A-Rod hip check presents us with a familiar path. Follow the links:

• The New York Times: "Ten months. That is how long the Yankees have known that Alex Rodriguez had an irregularity in his right hip...it is reasonable to ask why they were not more aggressive about monitoring Rodriguez...Yankees were seemingly lax about examining Rodriguez’s hip again...Just because they have it doesn’t mean it’s a problem,” Cashman said...We followed it,” Cashman said. “And now we’re in a situation where he had a complaint and, boom, there’s been a change.”
• The Yankee Universe, presents an array of opinions: iYankees: "Either the Yankees have the wrong doctors in the clubhouse or they have the wrong GM, I don’t know. I’ve always been a Brian Cashman fan, but you would think he would be smart enough to encourage A-Rod to get checked out again after the season was over." River Ave. Blues: "Someone has to protect the investment, and Brian Cashman and the Yankee coaches dropped the ball." Another perspective is presented by Moshe Mandell: "It may be that the team’s doctors made the wrong call, or that Alex was in pain all winter and stupidly hoped it would fade in time. If you want to point fingers, that is where you should look. Brian Cashman, on the other hand, is being made into a fall guy for something that he rightfully had little to do with."
• While the angst percolates, another angle is written: "Back in 2007 when New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez exercised his opt-out clause, GM Brian Cashman and the team's baseball operations department recommended the team let the slugger go, according to a New York Post report." --(NBC Sports)

Brian Cashman has been the Yankees GM for eleven years. No one has more experience at navigating controversy and giving it a spin than the durable, Teflon coated Cash. After signing his latest contract extension Brian vowed to "change the story." Another day, another tall tale.

Yankees Missing A-Rod

Someone once said, "You can't live with him and you can't live without him." These words come to mind while the dour news of A-Rod's medical condition sinks in. We are all weary of the never-ending carnival that surrounds the Yankees' MVP but his booming bat made the tripe tolerable. Those who have suggested that the Yanks would be better off without their most productive player may get a sobering dose of reality.

Searching for a silver lining among players with similar medical issues leads to Mike Lowell, "Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell played through a similar injury last season and by October was limping so badly that he was pulled out of the lineup in the playoffs."--(NY Daily News)

What fall-back options does the most expensive team in baseball have? Leading off, Cody Ransom a 33 year-old journeyman who has played third base seven times in big league games. Who is this guy? "On Wednesday, Johnny Damon called Ransom the finest athlete on the team."--(NY Daily News) (It's hard to type and laugh at the same time.)

Back to reality, let's hear from the master of understatement Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, "You think about your club without Alex that's somewhat worrisome." And his boss, "He going to out for a while," Cashman said. "I can't define a while...We don't want to rush into it."

"And so it goes." --(Kurt Vonnegut)

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A-Rod's Reality

Yankee fans are swimming in a sea of A-Rod related news, gossip and tripe (sorry Madonna.) For those scoring at home here's some of the fall out:

• Slate presents two columns with interesting perspectives: Tim Marchman, in an article titled, "Alex Rodriguez, Fallen Hero?" writes: "There isn't much anyone can do to stop determined ballplayers from doing drugs, and there may not be much reason for anyone to want to stop them...That's the reality to which we have to adjust...But these scandals boil down to players wanting to be good at what they do, something no amount of bad press and no drug-testing program can eliminate...In the end, no matter how much the shrieking moralists might like to pretend otherwise, drug use hasn't done much to harm baseball at all."
• Mike Shropshire, presents some down home Texas flavor in his article, " Deep in the Glute of Texas": "You know the Rangers slogan: If God hadn't wanted man to shoot the juice, He wouldn't have given him a butt."
• I hate to bring this up, it being spring training and all, but one of the bits of baggage that come with an artificial performance enhancer is a deteriorating bod. (See Juan Gonzalez, Mark McGwire etc.) Alex is 33, with a paltry 9 guaranteed years to go, good luck with that.
• Is there evidence that steroids effect thinking capacity? Exhibit A.

Yankees Player Development Progress

The Yankees vast financial resources provide a perpetual security blanket. Yankee fans take the organization's ability and willingness to spend outlandish coin for granted. The 2009 team is back in the championship hunt because of ownership's traditional largess.

Dylan once rasped, "The times they are a changin." Rumors swirl that the country's economic meltdown has finally hit MLB's pocket. Season ticket holders are cancelling, two franchises--A's and Marlins--may be forced to fold their tents and horror of horrors the Yanks may not make as much money as planned. The new stadium is set for its garish debut while full page ads for available tickets persist.

Sooner or later, the Yankees will have to turn to their farm system for long-term life support. In 2005, long-time GM Brian Cashman demanded full control of the baseball operation and appropriately set his sights on rebuilding the decimated farm. Brian's autonomous reign didn't last long as the Brothers Stein showed up to run Daddy's show. Cashman's latest plan was given full support by the new bosses. Santana passed, draft picks stockpiled. The most powerful organization in sports history would use its over-the-top competitive advantages to build an elite player development system . Cash would lead the resurgence. Glory would beckon.

Two years passed and significant progress was reported. Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy vaulted the Yanks toward the top of the leader board. When the dust settled and hysterical-hype waned, reality showed up. Generation trey took the express to the show. Hughes and Kennedy wilted. Chamberlain dominated, transitioned, followed the "Joba Rules" and crashed on the DL after 100 grueling innings. There wasn't a position player in sight. The best starter at Triple-A was named Igawa. The 2008 draft was a bust. By sheer coincidence,the youth movement is now on the back burner.

Baseball America, provides an update with the release of its top 100 prospects. For those keeping score at home:

• #36-Austin Jackson: ETA 2009; #38 Jesus Montero: ETA 2011; #92 Andrew Brackman: 0= number of professional innings he has pitched since signing with the Yankees in 2007. ETA 2010.
• The Yanks are in an 8 way tie for 14TH place for number of top 100 prospects.

Is that all there is? Not quite, Bill Madden (NY Daily News) profiles Austine Romine a 21-year old catching prospect: "For the record, Romine...is one of the few bona fide blue chip prospects in an other wise barren Yankee farm system." Sooner or later, the Yanks will have to rely on their player development system to provide long-term stability. Let's hope it's later.

PHOTO/Day Life

Yankees Pitching Depth

It's no secret that championship-caliber baseball is rooted in potent pitching. The Torre era dynasty flashed a flood of quality hurlers: Cone, Clemens, Wells, Pettitte, Key, El Duque, Mendoza, Stanton, Nelson and of course The Great Rivera. It was as good as it gets.

Recent seasons demonstrate the folly of floating inept suspects wrapped in distorted hype: the Old Unit, Pavano,Weaver, Vasquez, Igawa, Ponson; the list drones on. Failure led to change and a new tact was taken. The farm doled out multi-million dollar bonuses to babies who were rushed to frustration. The not ready for prime-time players were brushed aside in favor of gaudy, headline-snatching big tickets. If you can't build it, buy it, is plan C. The Bombers' bucks have rebuilt a rotation that rekindles memories of the golden years.

In the shadow of the star drenched marquee reside an intriguing crew of potentially valuable arms capable of fortifying a staff that must survive the rigors of a marathon season. The Baseball Prospectus 2009 Guide provides an answer to the question, who are these guys?

• Alfredo Aceves: "Aceves doesn't throw hard, but he throws smart...kudos to Yankees scouts for the free-talent pickup."
• Brian Bruney: " Sometimes, you do all the right things and the universe still bites you on the buttocks...He should be one of Rivera's primary setup men this season."
• Phil Coke: "Coke wasn't on anyone's prospect radar at the season's outset, but when he reached the majors in September, he proved to be the pause that refreshes."
• Dan Giese: "Minor league vet Giese followed up his 2007 breakthrough to the bigs with solid swing work for the Yanks."

Years of wobbly pitching acquisitions led the richest team in sports to an all-out assault on their biggest flaw. The residue of mangled design produced pitching depth that has the Yankees on the radar for a ring.

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New York Yankees Links

The swamps of Jersey are covered in snow while the boys of summer get ready for the show. The Yankees related links are in mid-season form:

• Full Count Pitch, brings us "Pitching Perspectives with Rick Peterson: Inside Spring Training": "Some teams have the luxury of having just one opening for a rotation spot or, as is the case with Yankees, Red Sox, Braves, and Twins, have no openings. This, obviously, is the ideal situation for a team as the rotation can simply prepare for the season. With a complete staff, there is still much to do...We’ll take a look at the three year track record of each pitcher. We look at how a pitcher performs with four days rest (the typical amount of rest), three days rest, and five days rest. We’ll also look at how the pitcher performs with back to back starts after three, four, and five days rest. Once we get that data, the pitching coach, manager, and front office people will sit and map out the ‘best case’ scenario to get to the All-Star break.” For instance, the Yankees will want to keep AJ Burnett on his regular four day rest as much as possible. For his career, Burnett has made 121 starts on four days rest and compiled an ERA of 3.47."
• I'm spending my spring training reading Joe Torre's, "The Yankee Years" in preparation for a book review. The New Yorker publishes a review written by the master Roger Angell: "Torre’s calm and presence aren’t perfect throughout “The Yankee Years” (Doubleday; $26.95), a capacious fresh account of his great run in the Bronx, which he co-wrote with the Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci—there’s a nice moment when he tells a Yankee president to shut the fuck up, on the phone—but trust or its poisonous absence are recurrent chords in this narrative of the Steinbrenner empire during the Yankees’ four World Championships between 1996 and 2000, and their ensuing misses or near-misses from 2001 to 2007, when Torre was cut loose in humiliating fashion." Torre's name snatches the headlines, but Angell points to the author, Tom Verducci, "Verducci has range and ease; he’s a shortstop on the page..."
• Baseball's other scandal rolls on as National's GM Jim Bowden resigns: "But the Nationals are hardly the first club to fall under the microscope for their dealings with the Dominican Republic, an impoverished nation with one of the largest pools of young talent for major league teams.
  Baseball investigators have looked closely at six to eight teams, including the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox."

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Yankees "Secret Weapon"

Pitchers get the glory while catchers toil in virtual annonymity. The man behind the mask has the toughest job on the diamond. Jorge Posada spoiled Yankee fans for a decade with his underrated leadership skills, potent bat and dependable defense.

Flashback to 1998: "Posada who turned 27 that year, was emerging as the team's most vocal everyday player and yet another fierce competitor as he gained more playing time over Girardi."--(The Yankee Years/ Torre, Verducci)

A decade passes: " The Yankees cracked under a similiar strain in 2008, going from Posada's best season to the frigidity of Molina's replacement-level production."--(Baseball Prospectus 2009 Guide)

That was then, this is now: "Posada is expected to be ready for spring training, but what lingering effects the injury will have, now and in the three years remaining on his contract, are unknown. Posada will probably never get much respect from the Hall of Fame but those who failed to notice he was the Yankees' secret weapon all those years should heed what happened when his career .299 EqA was removed from the lineup."--(BP)

Todays paper provides a glimpse of the "lingering effects": Yankees catcher Jorge Posada was scratched from the starting lineup...because of minor soreness and weakness in his surgically repaired right shoulder."--(AP)

The Yankees front office had a decade to prepare for Jorge's march towards retirement. What was the plan? With Brian Cahman at the helm the decision was made to allow Posada to play out his option year in 2007, without an extension offer. Jorge responded by putting up a career year--.338/.426/.543. Posada had earned free agent status and the opportunity to retain his services for a reasonable price vanished. Surely, Cash had contingency plans. The Yanks started 2007 with Wil Nieves as their backup--.164/.190/.230.

It was time for Cashman to spring into action: "The wealthiest franchise in sports could have had anyone as their reserve catcher, but in December 2007 Cashman decided the Yankees would have Molina for two years...The moral of the story is that hubris sucks."--BP 2009 Guide) "And so it goes."--(Kurt Vonnegut)

Where do they go from here? Baseball Prospectus scans the prospects: 1) Francisco Cervelli: "future backup." 2) Jesus Montero: "The anti-Molina." 3) Austin Romine: "Though still far away, Romine's combination of defensive tools and power give him the inside track."

A decade after Jorge Posada emerged as the Yankees "secret weapon" the Yanks front office is still searching for the next big thing. The more things change; the more they stay the same.