Jeter's Future

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Rivera's Legend

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

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

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

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

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Yankees Exploit Mets

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

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

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

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Yankees Exhale

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

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

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

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

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Yankees Go All In

Professional baseball and high stakes poker have a lot in common. Both require skill, aggression, discipline, patience, nerve and preparation. Money matters while luck factors in.

The Yankees are the big players at MLB's table. Every season New York starts with the most chips in a stacked game. Winning is expected. Excuses are on the rail.

The 2008 New York Yankees never made it to the final table. What are the odds? Back to the drawing board, a new deck was stacked with mountains of chips. Pitching was plundered. The road to redemption was paved with gaudy, high-profile stars. Let the game begin.

The '09 season brings to mind the saying, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." The Yanks start with the biggest stack while shrewd opponents exploit flaws. Frustration, bordering on desperation enters the fray: "These guys know that we are all in, Cashman said. "I'm all in, they're all in, our managers, coaches, ownership--we're all in..."--(Yankees' long-time GM, decider and fixer Brian Cashman.)

The Yankees play for the highest stakes in baseball's biggest game. The big player isn't supposed to watch from the rail. There is an old expression in poker, "If you can't spot the fish at the table it's you." The Yanks are still looking.

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Baseball's Wise Guys

Baseball aficionados come from a variety of places. Some grew up on the diamond and look to rekindle their glory days. (As Springsteen would say.). Others focus on the reams of statistical data gleaned from the game and dwell in Fantasy Land. Many use the sport to divert their attention from the day-to-day grind of real life. Another intriguing segment is the sports bettor.

I lived in Las Vegas for eleven years. An army of sports betting wise guys would trek from sports book to sports book in the eternal quest for favorable odds.

Gamblers shrewd enough to find favorable angles on the national pastime's obtuse trends would bet on baseball. Relentless statistical analysis combined with favorable odds paid off for a select few. The majority found that it added an entertaining dimension to a great sport.

Conventional fans root, root, root for the home team. The baseball bettor's cheering section begins and ends at the pay window. The perspective is different but entertainment is the name of the game.

Yankee Bats Wilt

The New York Yankees traveled from the searing heat of Florida's Land Shark Stadium to the aptly named Hot 'Lanta. The grueling road trip continues while the Bombers' bats droop. Yankee Stadium's cozy confines are replaced by unforgiving, cavernous outfields. Boisterous bombs sag to routine outs. Eleven base runners were stranded, leading to a goose egg on the board.

Chien-Ming Wang flashed credible form for five innings. Phil Hughes blossoms from the bullpen. It didn't matter. The bottom line is a banged-up Bombers team fades to five back of the Red Sox. Expectations shift to a wild-card berth. The calendar says June; it's getting late early.

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Yankees' Dilemma

Baseball's season is a series of peaks and valleys for each team. The New York Yankees stumbled from the gate in April, rode high in May and stagger into July. A 4-12 stretch (including a gift from the Mets' Castillo) has left them four games behind arch-nemesis Boston in the AL East. The numbers don't tell the story. Injury issues to key cogs point to an ominous future. Let's hit the links to glean some insight:

• " no further tests were scheduled for Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, who left his start against the Marlins with what he later termed as left biceps tendinitis. But as manager Joe Girardi points out, tests could be put on the slate on Monday."
  And so begins the waiting game--(NJ.Com) Why would the Yankees not test immediately?
• "Sabathia said he didn't believe a heavy workload last year (a major-league-high 253 regular-season innings and making his last four starts — including an NLDS outing — on three days' rest) with the Brewers late in the season caused what Dr. Dan Kanell diagnosed Sunday as tendinitis.
  "No, that's not it," Sabathia said of the Brewers, who knew their chances to retain the free agent hurler were slim, riding him hard down the stretch, something Sabathia volunteered for. "It could be the 120 pitches this year."
  In three of Sabathia's 15 starts he has thrown 122 (April 16), 119 (May 2) and 123 (June 11) pitches. His staff-leading 1,568 pitches are sixth among MLB hurlers and his 102 innings are fifth.--(Fox Sports) Three months into a seven-year deal, questions no Yankee follower wants to think about hit the fan.
• "Ultimately, it’s not his call,” Cashman said in a telephone interview. “It’s the manager’s call in consultation with the medical staff. If there’s any concern, then he won’t start.”--(Sun Herald.com) Cash's comments are interesting in the context of the following report regarding A-Rod's delicate condition:
• "the decision came Friday during a conference call between Rodriguez; general manager Brian Cashman, team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner and club medical personnel. The report said manager Joe Girardi apparently did not take part in the call.--(Sporting News) Be very afraid Yankee fans.
• "“I think we have everything we need in front of us here,” Cashman said Monday. “If I can get Wang fixed and Bruney and Nady and Ransom come back, we have a very good team that’s hard to improve on. It doesn’t mean we won’t try. But I’m focused more on getting what we have fixed. That might be good enough.”--(NY Times) So the Yankees' "fixer" will get to work on CC, A-Rod, Damon, Matsui, Wang, Bruney, Nady, etc. The Yankee universe is brimming with confidence.

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Yankees Battle Injuries

Baseball's season is a marathon not a sprint, only the strong survive. Ominous words for the New York Yankees. The one constant in the Yankee Universe is a relentless onslaught of injuries. The beat goes on...

Imported iron-man, CC Sabathia, was yanked from the second inning of Sunday's start against the Florida Marlins. The big man has pitching arm issues three months into a seven-year contract. As John McEnroe once bleated, "You can't be serious."

The MVP returned to the hot corner of Land Shark Stadium Sunday. File A-Rod's hip saga under fiasco (You can find it in the what else is new section.)

Damon pinch hit Sunday, delivered a hit and required a pinch-runner. Brittle Johnny is an accident waiting to happen. Wang misses most of 2008 with a foot problem. A wobbly return prompts the organization to delve deeper. The alleged results are hip weakness which requires more rehab. The venerable captain hobbles at short. Matsui's knees retired two years ago. This years bridge to the Great Rivera, Damaso Marte, inks a mind-blowing $12 million extension and promptly returns to rehab mountain. Posada and Pettitte use guile and guts to stall the inevitable.

How did this happen? Let's count the ways: 1) The championship core--Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera--grew old while rust never slept. The new models are somewhere in the bushes.
2) The former founder of the alleged youth movement, Brian Cashman, paves the road to the future with a risky philosophy: high ceiling talent, regardless of injury history, is recruited. The results: Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain, Brackman, Sanchez (RIP), Melancon and company promise a bright future, featuring a bottomless pit of MRI's and the best surgeons money can buy. 3) Neophyte ownership with deep pockets and not much else, look to buy their way out. Patience isn't part of the plan.

Joe Girardi inherited a toxic mix that has him squirming in a no-win situation. The bloated payroll distorts expectations. Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Matsui and A-Rod show a propensity to play hurt, an admirable quality that can do more harm than good. If the skipper sits the ailing stars, Berroa and company are in the high-expectancy mix. Good luck with that.

There are no miracle cures for what ails the New York Yankees. The antidote requires astute long-term planning and development, tempered with patience and a grasp of reality.The present mix of front-office personnel are part of the problem, not the solution.

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Marlins Edge Yankees

The Florida Marlins aren't used to much attention. The New York Yankees changed all that Saturday night. Land Shark Stadium's perpetually empty seats hosted a crowd of 46,427 raucous partisans. "Let's go Yankees" chants provided the soundtrack. "You really feel like you're in the Bronx, except it's hotter."--(Kay/YES.)

An epic mound match up provided quality entertainment. A.J. Burnett strutted his stellar stuff, whiffing 8 Marlins in 6 1/3 innings, while reminding us why management spent $85 million on an intriguing wild card.

Florida's featured phenom, Josh Johnson, flourishes in the anonymity of Marlin's baseball. Hysterical hype is a distraction left for the big-market teams. The focus is on the field in South Florida and Johnson delivers.

The Yankees take the short end of the stick in a 2-1 loss. Johnny Damon's latest defensive gaffe is the difference. Josh Johnson runs his record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.66. (Hopefully, Joba Chamberlain was watching.)

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Yanks' Home Away From Home

The Yankees moved from the bleak, rain drenched Bronx to the rejuvenating warmth of South Florida. Land Shark Stadium, allegedly the home of the Florida Marlins, echoed comforting "Lets Go Yankees" chants. The pinstriped, over-the-hill-gang flashes back to Glory Days:

• Jeter hobbles on a gimpy ankle to produce two hits and a run.
• Pettitte wheezes to second after whacking an unlikely double. The trainer twitches every time Andy navigates a balky back through an impressive seven inning stint.
• Posada's bat overcomes shoulder issues to contribute two more hits.
• A-Rod shuts down his surgically repaired hip while watching Angel Berroa revive his teetering career. (Note: The fact that the MVP needs two days to re-charge his batteries, six weeks after an extensive stay on rehab mountain is ominous.)

The Yankees beat the Marlins 5-1 Friday night in Florida. A timely victory provides relief for a rickety roster struggling to survive a gruelling schedule. It won't get any easier for a veteran-laden crew looking to turn back the hands of time and recapture the rapture.

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Yankees Scrape Bottom

Yankee fans were held hostage at the Stadium Thursday. Relentless rain pounded the Bronx, delaying the start of the 1PM marque match up with the Washington Nationals. The greed machine kicked in and five hours crawled by. When it comes to contemptible exploitation of their loyal fan base, the Yankee organization knows no limit. Just when you thought it couldn't sink any lower, the game started.

The worst team, with the worst pitching kept the Bronx Bombers off their home board. Flat doesn't begin to explain it. (In fairness to the Nationals, they made an assortment of defensive plays that would make Ron Swoboda proud.)

Joba Chamberlain was in mediocre mode-- 6IP, 7 hits, 4 walks, 3 runs. July knocks on the door and the next big thing is a bullpen-draining work in progress. Speaking of the pen, they did the job with four shutout innings. Quality relief was wasted.

It was a bleak, forgettable night in the So. Bronx. The Yankee team will bounce back. Management, on the other hand, is wallowing in a bottomless pit of greed. Redemption will take a miracle.

Photo/NY Daily News

Book Review: The Greatest Comeback Ever

The 1978 New York Yankees hold a special place in Bronx Bomber history. The book, The Greatest Comeback Ever chronicles a special season from the perspective of an avid, 16 year old fan. Author Paul Keck presents his diary which details the day to day circumstances surrounding a legendary comeback.

The Greatest Comeback Ever is an enjoyable trip down memory lane for long-time Yankee fans looking to rekindle the good old days. The joy of the game is palpable as the magical season unfolds in front of a genuine fan. It reminds us that baseball should be fun.

Yankees Swat Nationals

The Yankees swatted the pesky Nats. of Washington at the Stadium Tuesday night. Baseball's foil to parity, featuring a crew of familiar faces, dragged a .268 win percentage to the Bronx. Former Yankees Nick Johnson, Wil Nieves, Alberto Gonzalez and Ron Villone brought back mixed memories.

CC Sabathia took the hill and led the charge against overconfidence. Could the Bombers keep mediocrity (I'm being generous) at bay? Good luck with that. Someone named Anderson Hernandz lofted a meek fly ball to left that morphed to a three-run bomb in the cozy confines. Fifth inning, Nats 3 Yanks 2 (Gulp.) Do you believe in miracles? Nope.

Ron Villone's revival tour from the scrap heap hit the mound in the 7TH. The scoreboard flashed an ERA south of 1.00. Yankee fans who were unable to blot out the memory of Villone's pinstriped days were busy shaking heads and suppressing grins. The lackluster lefty followed the script. Yankees 4 Nats 3.

Brian Bruney returns from rehab mountain to face the formidable Zimmerman in the 8TH. 96 mph heat gets the ball to The Great Rivera. Game over.

Tonight, Chien-Ming Wang's road to redemption is paved with the opponent's incompetence. Wang, in dire need of a confidence boost, is in the right place at the right time.

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New York Yankees' Notes

The Yankees find a soft spot in the schedule as the Washington Nationals drag their .262 win percentage into the Stadium. CC takes the mound in game one, let the stat. padding commence.

Notes:

Reunion time: "Nick Johnson always gets broken...It's appropriate that Johnson came up as a Yankee--he's the Ron Bloomberg of goyim."--(Baseball Prospectus 2009 Guide)

Remember him? Will Nieves is a National. "Spotted against lefties he has a semi-credible bat, albeit one driven entirely by an empty batting average."--(BP 2009 Guide.)

Shrewd Investment? Yankees' ownership invested a cool quarter of a billion in the free-agent frenzy trying to plug holes in the porous pitching staff. Let's hear from pitching coach Dave Eiland, 63 games into the wild '09 campaign: " When you're on the mound and every time the ball goes up in the air you hold your breath, you try to make the perfect pitch, instead of just trusting your stuff and not worrying about what's going to happen if you don't...You have to be mentally stronger than that, that's all it is."--(Josh Thomson, Gannett.) Perhaps, someone can develop a stat. that measures mental strength. The scale could start at zero--call it the Pavano line--and work its way up.

The next big thing? Baseball's amateur draft is done. The Yanks first pick was Slade Heathcott, was taken at #29. A selection the Yankees earned by not signing last year's first round pick. Baseball America's preview issue rated Heathcott the 72ND best position player : "Poor makeup obscures plus tools both as a hitter and as a pitcher; only takes one team though." Could he be the next Tabata?

Bye, Bye Betemit: It seems like only yesterday that the Yanks acquired Wilson Betemit: "Cashman and his number crunchers zeroed in on trading for Wilson Betemit, a switch-hitting infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The word excitedly circulating around the hallways of Yankee Stadium was that the Yankees had found the next David Ortiz--not that Betemit fit Ortiz's profile as a slugger, but that his numbers suggested he was an undervalued gem who was on the cusp of a huge breakout...The Yankees were dead wrong. Betemit, plagued by extremely poor plate discipline and conditioning issues was dreadful."--(The Yankee Years, Verducci, Torre.) That was then, this is now: "Talk about addition by subtraction: The White Sox released ex-Yankee Wilson Betemit--one scout said he "might be the worst player in baseball."--(NY Daily News) "And so it goes."--(Vonnegut)

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Yankees Crap Shoot

The Bombers' bats exploded at the Stadium Sunday, on a day when the good A.J. showed up. The lopsided 15-0 game was a welcome respite from a grueling Yankee week. In a simple twist of fate, Johan Santana started for the Mets and produced the worst game of his illustrious career. Nine runs in three brutal innings dropped the Mets ace's record to 8-4 and bloated his ERA to 3.29. Ironically, Phil Hughes finished for the Yanks, pitching a scoreless ninth and dropping his ERA to 5.13.

The names Santana and Hughes spark memories for Yankees' fans. In 2008 the Bombers' brain trust had the opportunity to acquire Santana for a package including Hughes, Kennedy and Cabrera. Trades take time to evaluate. Santana has earned his ace credential with the Mets. Hughes is an erratic, intriguing work in progress. Kennedy is gone but not forgotten. Cabrera bounces back to defy critics with versatile play and imagination-stretching game winning heroics.

Decision making skills are a key component in the skill set of a baseball front office. Pitching is the heartbeat of baseball. A team's fortunes will be determined by the acquisition and development of pitching talent. Yankee history is a case in point.

Recently, in an article titled, "Yankees Solve Puzzle" I wrote: "There is one familiar unanswered question, who will form the vital bridge to The Great Rivera? The front office's annual plan failed--again."

David Pinto, of the esteemed Baseball Musings, commented: "No. Pitching is a crap shoot, and relief pitchers are the ultimate small sample size, making them the ultimate crap shoot. If you judge a GM on relief pitching, you're going to fire every one of them every other year."

Sunday, Bill Madden of The New York Daily News wrote:"If it turns out that Bruney can't go, then Brian Cashman will need to get busy trolling for a dependable, pressure proven short reliever--and try to forget about the ill-advised $12 million he spent to retain Damaso Marte in the winter. An even worse mistake now would be pitching Marte to justify the investment--which ranks up there with Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Kyle Farnsworth, Steve Karsay, Jeff Weaver et al in Cashman's dubious judgement on pitchers."

In an effort to glean a better understanding of Cash's "trolling" technique, I consulted The Yankee Years, Tom Verducci writes: "Cashman had surrounded himself with up-and-coming assistants who were raised more on statistical analysis than heavy, old-school scouting beliefs. They were young, smart and diligent...They brought a new perspective to talent evaluation that, of course, no more solved the eternal mysteries of baseball than the old-school scouting methods had...the new Yankee philosophy hit on such minor-league free agent finds as Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Darrell Rasner, and Edwar Ramirez." Later, Verducci documents another illustrious trail:" ...Ted Lily was hoping the Yankees would sign him. ...Lily fit the profile of a classic Yankee contributor: a left-handed pitcher who thrived in the pressure of New York and the AL East. He wanted to be a Yankee. Lilly had just won 15 games for the Toronto Blue Jays. He had no major arm issues. Cashman didn't want Lilly. He preferred Igawa.."As soon as Cash said that--Igawa was as good as Lilly--that was good enough for me," Torre said. The book goes on to chronicle Igawa's first throwing session, bullpen catcher Mike Borzello, reports: " It was awful...The changeup was horrible...His slider is not a big league pitch. His command was terrible...I hope he's hurt, so there's an explanation for throwing like that...He was terrible." More from the understated Borzello: " And after investing $200 million in payroll, why are you putting the ball in the hands of this kind of pitcher? It made no sense. But the Yankees kept making the same mistake..."

Talent evaluation in baseball is not an exact science. Mistakes happen. Cogent measure is taken over time. History speaks. If it actually is a "crap shoot" the Yankees are due for a hot roll.

Bruney's Legend

The '09 New York Yankees are in a familiar place. A star-studded roster, featuring a legendary closer is gasping for late-inning relief. The list of suspects mushrooms as runs pile up on the board. An old theme develops: "If what's his name wasn't hurt, they'd be really good."--(Media choir.)

This season's savior in waiting is Brian Bruney, whose legend grows with each passing day on the disabled list. Rumors of Brian's potent prowess spread from the YES booth, to the reporter's beat, to FOX Sports' Game of the week. The talking points are intact: "Bruney is the man, if only he wasn't hurt, things would be different. Yada Yada Yada.

Time for a history lesson: 2005--46 IP for AZ, WHIP 1.98, ERA 7.43. 2006--The Yanks pick him up from the Diamondbacks' discard rack. Brian's live arm produces: 20 IP, WHIP 1.40, ERA 0.87. What was Arizona thinking? 2007 delivers 50 IP, WHIP 1.60, ERA 4.68.

What's the story? "Bruney did the Yankeees a major service last year (2007) by pitching so badly in July that the team was forced to rush Joba Chamberlain up in his place...wildness made the Yankees reluctant to trust him with a lead."--(Baseball Prospectus/2008 Guide.)

2008 arrived and a svelte Bruney was primed for redemption: "Sometimes, you do all the right things and the universe still bites you in the buttocks. Bruney came to camp determined to conquer weight and control problems, and he made major progress in both but a Lisfranc fracture knocked him out in late April."--(BP 2009 Guide.) Bruney pitched a potent 34 innings in an injury plagued year: WHIP 0.99, ERA 1.84.

That was then, this is now: "Bruney has appeared in one game since April 21 because of a strained flexor muscle in his elbow."--(Peter Abraham/Gannett.) Bruney is about to return from his second stint on the DL in the young '09 season.

Legend collides with reality. "I don't even know who that guy is."--(Mets' elite closer Francisco Rodriquez on Bruney's identity.)

Photo/MLB.com

Yankees Take Gift

The '09 Subway series kicked off at the new Stadium Friday night. A jolt of hometown energy created a buzz that almost drowned out the anguish caused by the Fenway fiasco.

Revival was in the Bronx air. Then, Joba Chamberlain took the mound. The Golden Child's learning curve veered off course in a frustrating four inning meltdown. The 23 year old phenom routinely shook off the 38 year old venerable catcher's signals through 100 erratic pitches. Joba's confident body language was replaced by a spastic dance of confusion. "The wiring is all fouled up right now."--(Kay/YES)

Four ugly innings were salvaged by two Bomber long balls. Cano and Teixeira staked the Yanks to an improbable 3-2 lead. Enter the beleaguered bullpen. (Gulp.) Tomko did what journeyman retreads do: 2/3 IP, three hits, two walks, four runs--next. The pitching on both sides was "mind-numbingly bad."--(Kay/YES/out of context.)

Girardi calls on Sandman early, in an effort to put this dog to sleep. Mo joins the walk-a-thon, 8-7 Mets. K-Rod in the ninth, two outs, two on, A-Rod lofts a harmless pop-up towards Castillo at second. Ball hits him in the glove, flops to the turf. Yankees win. The scoreboard doesn't begin to tell the story.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Fail Test

The rejuvenated, confident New York Yankees started a three game set in Fenway Park, ready to take the next step. Championship caliber pieces were primed. Lights, cameras, action...

Girardi shuffles the rotation, putting hired gun and designated Sox killer A.J. Burnett on the front line. The Yankees' mercenary gets mangled--again. Bomber momentum slams to a 7-0 stop.

Wang holds the key to game two. Will the former ace regain vintage form? Long stints on rehab mountain leave a key cog in the lurch. Control and command never make it to the mound. Another game. Another early hole. Melky and the miracles come up short. A broom casts a shadow over a recurring nightmare.

The best ace money can buy takes the hill in a statement game. The big man carries the load to the 8TH. A-Rod and Melky deliver. Time to close it out.(Uh-Oh.) CC hits a 123 pitch wall and hands a perilous lead wrought with RISP to Alfredo Aceves. The refugee from the Mexican League morphs from useful long-man to go-to-guy in crunch time. Girardi goes with who he's got. Boston battles back. Fenway rocks. The broom is back.

In the good old days, a contrite Pedro Martinez had the trademark smirk wiped off his face by Torre's team. The heart-warming words, "The Yankees are my Daddys." followed. Boston has won nine straight from New York. Words don't do it justice.

Editor's note: a computer glitch caused an early, partial draft to be published prematurely. Oops.

Photo/ Ny Daily News

Yankees' Draft

Baseball's amateur draft is underway. A long list of projected luminaries will garner exaggerated attention. Hype is in the air. Who will be the next big thing? Time will tell.

Tom Verducci, gives excited Yankee fans a sobering history lesson in The Yankee Years: "For the next decade after bringing Andy Pettitte to the big leagues in 1995, the Yankees did not use even one homegrown pitcher of any consequence with the exception of Ramiro Mendoza, and although he had value as a middle reliever, Mendoza was not a starter or a closer,the premium slots for a pitcher."

A decade of failure led to a change in direction, in 2006 the Bombers' brass prioritized the signing and development of young pitchers. 2006 produced a windfall of talent: Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy brought life to the farm. Early success prompted management to rush them to the show. Erratic results and a slew of injuries followed. When the dust settled, Joba provides hope every fifth day, Hughes sits in the pen and Kennedy remains on Rehab Mountain. 2007 brought Brackman and surgically repaired talent under the tent. 2008 was a complete disaster as the system whiffed on new blood. Patience waned. Ownership whipped out the checkbook. Draft selections were sacrificed for big tickets. Once again, the direction changed.

The 2009 Yankees' draft starts with the #29 pick of the first round. Center fielder Slade Heathcott is the selection. Peter Abraham provides the scoop: "Heathcott is a five-tool player with above-average speed, arm strength and defensive skills. He has not pitched this season because of surgery to repair a torn knee ligament in November but did have a 95-mph fastball as a junior...character issues were outweighed by Heathcott's many physical skills."

Someone said, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Relax Yankee fans, tune out the hysterical hype, the MLB draft is nothing to get excited over.

Photo/Minor League Dugout

Burnett Doesn't Deliver

It was a bleak Tuesday night in Boston for the New York Yankees. The euphoric bubble of routine winning burst in a 7-0 blowout. The lopsided score doesn't tell the sordid story. The Red Sox combined potent pitching with patient hitting to bury the Bombers.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. The Yankees shuffled their rotation so hired gun A.J. Burnett would take the hill. The big righty was signed to a controversial $85 million deal. Burnett's brittle backround suggests long-term lunacy. His dominant stuff and stellar record against the Sox put the Bombers' brass in money doesn't matter mode. Short term success would cover up long-term folly (sounds familiar.) So far, not so good. The box score reads: 2 2/3 IP/ 5 runs/ 5 hits/ 5 walks. The erratic season: 4-3 ERA 4.89, isn't good enough.

It didn't take baseball genius to sign the best pitcher (Sabathia) and the best hitter (Teixeira) available for the most money. It did test decision making skills to make an expensive gamble on an erratic, injury prone wild card. So far, not so good.

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Yankees Solve Puzzle

The pieces of the '09 Yankees puzzle fall into place. A power-laden lineup routinely puts crooked numbers on the board. A star-studded rotation flashes imposing form. Competent glove work becomes fashionable. The over the hill gang produces, while the clock ticks. Center field transforms from quagmire to field of dreams. Girardi has groomed a team from a collection of diverse parts. First place is not a fluke.

There is one familiar unanswered question, who will form the vital bridge to The Great Rivera? The front office's annual plan failed--again. Marte took his $12 million to rehab mountain. Bruney's perpetual injuries don't stop his unfounded legend from growing. Ramirez and Veras are infamous history. Now What?

Joe Girardi doesn't have the luxury of waiting for the Bombers' brain trust to hatch and hype another skewed plan. The only thing that matters is the win column. Rather than go with the never ending conga line of one inning suspects, Girardi switches gears to second line starters. Coke and Aceves provide flexibility and length. Monday night at the Stadium Girardi took the next step, Phil Hughes produced from the pen. The Golden Child provided relief. An overpowering seventh inning drew attention, "You can use him to help the team right now."--(Cone/YES)

The future is now for the '09 Yankees. The folly of the front office's track record is a matter of fact. There is no miracle trade in the works or groomed phenom ready to provide rescue. Quality relief is required. Girardi reaches for results today. Tomorrow can wait.

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Yankees Get Relief

The defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays handed the Yankees their 20TH come-from-behind victory of the season. What a difference a year makes as the Bombers were the beneficiary (rather than the victim) of shoddy defense and a porous pen.

Joba Chamberlain pitched a strong six innings, leaving with his team in a 3-1 hole. Chamberlain's evolution into top tier starter has featured a glossy 3.79 ERA and a modest five innings per start. The irony is that Joba's development as a starter requires the support of a strong bullpen. Enter Alfredo Aceves. The Mexican league veteran (126 games, 4.06 ERA.) followed Chamberlain with two shutout innings, lowering his ERA to 2.70. The endless conga line of possible Yankee relief pitchers may, finally, have bumped into someone who can pitch. The ninth was handled by The Great Rivera, game over.

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Yankees' Unlikely Loss

"Anyone who thinks they can figure this game out is crazy."--(Reggie Jackson/Paraphrased.)

Mr. October's sage commentary, uttered a few decades ago, remains true today. Doubters can consult the scorecard from Saturday's New York Yankees/Tampa Bay Rays game.

Yankees' ace CC Sabathia took the hometown hill with flail inducing 97 MPH heat. He was backed by a confident, power-laden Bombers lineup playing with home launching pad advantage. The greatest closer in history was rested and ready to provide elite relief.

In the visitor's dugout, a ravaged Rays team featured a long list of notable voids: 1) Evan Longoria--All-Star third baseman, MVP candidate, Yankee killer. 2) Jason Bartlett--SS hitting a league leading .370 3) Akinori Iwamura--2B featuring gold caliber glove. 3) World Champion import Pat Burrell--DH 4) Closer-Troy Percival. (News that Yankee castoff Randy Choate was actually Tampa's surrogate closer produces belly-laughs in the Bronx.) As Ernie Banks said, "Let's play two."

Then, the game started. The AL's defending champs relied on stellar defense in '08. Yesterday Tampa officially committed five errors, factor in the unofficial botched center field play, the D was dreadful. The Yankees' biggest issue would appear to be overconfidence. So much for that.

The depleted, inept Rays tore a page from the Bombers' book, launching a couple of long-balls into the unfriendly confines. Ninth inning, game tied 5-5, The Great Rivera emerges from the Yanks' pen to extinguish Tampa's unlikely quest for hope. Not so fast. Mo gets whacked with four runs. ("Who are these guys?--Butch Cassidy.) In a simple twist of fate, Randy Choate notches his third consecutive save. The bewildered Bombers don't know what hit them.

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Cabrera Silences Critics

Melky Cabrera did it again Thursday, another game, another game-winning hit. Clutch production silences carping critics. While some members of the Yankees' youth movement ride an endless wave of hype, Cabrera is thrown into the deep end of the pool . Sink or swim kid.

In 2006, an unknown Spanish speaking kid is called upon to fill the shoes of a hobbled, big-ticket free agent. Fresh legs, laser throws and a competent bat (.280/.360/.391) make the unceremonious debut a hit. Intangibles are icing on the cake, "Melky gives us energy."--(Torre)

In 2007, production settles closer to scouting reports, "Cabrera is a fourth outfielder."--(Infamous, anonymous scout.) 2008 starts with a new skipper whose stern demeanor is accentuated with a clenched jaw. Melky who, "Plays like he's in the park."--(Torre) whiffs. The Scranton shuttle delivers Cabrera back to the bushes.

2009 starts with the next big thing in center while Cabrera grabs some pine. Opportunity arrives, Melky delivers. Walk-off-wins pump up the team. First place fits.

Melky Cabrera isn't a star. The media doesn't fawn all over him. The organization doesn't invent mystery ailments to cover up lack of production. He is the best outfielder on a $200 million team. Not bad for a 24 year old who learned to swim in the deep end of the pool.

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Yankees' Infamous Legends

The New York Yankees have a heralded archive of lustrous legends. From Monument Park in the Bronx, to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Yankees' history doesn't speak it shouts.

The road to pinstriped prominence is replete with potholes. For every Ruth, Mantle and Rivera there is a plethora of Whitsons, Smalleys or Igawas. Recently, two prominent Bronx busts, Carl Pavano and Randy Johnson, have garnered attention.

Carl "American Idle" Pavano was purchased in 2005. Four injury plagued, frustrating years followed. Here is an excerpt from Joe Torre's book the Yankee Years that references Mike Mussina: 'He just didn't like being under the microscope. He couldn't play being under the microscope everyday.' "So Pavano's choice was not to play at all?" 'That's what it turned out to be,' Mussina said. The book then adds the opinion of Tim Raines to the mix: "Pavano? He's never going to pitch for you. Forget it...The guy didn't want to pitch in Montreal. There was always something wrong with him. In Florida, same thing. He didn't want to pitch except for the year he was pitching for a contract." Yankee GM Brian Cashman signed Pavano to a four year guaranteed contract. Pavano moved from "Rehab Mountain" to the "Mistake by the Lake." Guaranteed money evaporated, replaced by work induced incentives. Eighteen starts and Carl hits a five million dollar jackpot. A gamer emerges. Money can buy most things, credibility isn't on the list.

Randy Johnson is also in the news. The legendary lefty is knocking on the door of 300 wins. Baseball America, profiles "The Big Unit": There, however is a level of excellence that a Hall of Fame-bound pitcher comes to expect from himself."--(Ringolsby/Baseball America/print edition.) Johnson never delivered on his credentials in the Bronx.

"What the 2005 Yankees needed most of all to establish stability and presence was an ace...The Yankees were so sure they had that guy in Randy Johnson that their entire front office voted unanimously to pursue Johnson, who was 41 years old rather than Beltran, a fleet athletic everyday player in his prime. They were dead wrong...He fit the profile of the stopper the Yankees so desperately needed--the statistical profile anyway. He was, in fact, a sensitive, hyperaware person who in the growing tradition of Weaver, Contreras, Vasquez and Pavano was uncomfortable with the constant criticism that came with playing in New York."--(The Yankee Years/Torre/ Verducci)

Yankee fan's frustration with Pavano and Johnson should enhance their appreciation of the players that survived the arduous journey in the Big Apple. Jeter, Posada, Rivera and Pettitte are in our midst. The clock is ticking. Savor the success. Forget the failure.

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Teixeira Ignites Yankees

The Yankees' surge continued at the Stadium Tuesday night. A 12-3 battering of the Texas Rangers was ignited by a revenge inspired slide by Mark Teixeira. Teix. got plunked, for the second time, by Ranger's hurler Vicente Padilla in the fourth inning. Enough was enough. Tempers flared. The bases were full. A-Rod hits a room service double play ball to second. A fuming Teixeira upends shortstop Andrus, the rally lives. Big hits by Cano, Posada and Matsui follow, a blowout is on the board.

Teixeira's base running doesn't show in the box score. Baseball is more than stats. There are many reasons why the Yanks have the best record in the American League. The acquisition of Mark Teixeira tops the list. Years of front office-folly couldn't fill Tino's shoes. When Giambi finally left, Swisher was the response.Then, fate intervened. Teix. privately targeted New York while the Red Sox publicly pined for his elite services. Agent Scott Boras did what he does. He manipulated the market, putting Yankee ownership in the position of snatching the apple of Boston's eye for a mere $180 million. The Red Sox were left at the altar. The rest is history.

PHOTO/NY DAILY NEWS

Chamberlain Shows Skills

Joba Chamberlain matched production with potential in Cleveland Monday night. The Yankees' phenom bounced back from two disappointing performances to shut down the injury depleted Indians. Chamberlain showed off his dazzling stuff while adding a new weapon to his impressive arsenal--defensive skills. The burly hurler snared a popped up bunt in the 5TH, using a unique belly-flop technique, that resulted in a rally snuffing double play. Chamberlain punctuated his potent play with a fist-pumping exclamation point while teammates cackled with glee. Joba is a talented piece of work.

Chamberlain's brilliance combined with The Great Rivera's 11TH save kept the Yankees' fatal flaw in the bullpen--mission accomplished. First place is a fit 51 games into a turbulent season.Girardi has melded a flawed, unbalanced roster into a cohesive team. Production meets potential, onward and upward.

PHOTO/NEWSDAY

Yankees' Familiar Flaw

Phil Hughes' sparkling stuff fell flat in Cleveland Sunday. The Yankees' phenom featured a hard-biting hook, a plus fastball and a competent cutter. It wasn't enough. Five lackluster innings left the team in a four-run hole. Chien-Ming Wang relieved Hughes, featured a vintage hard sinker and produced three shutout innings. Hughes' next start should be in Scranton. Phil has found progress but there is work to be done, a 5.45 ERA tempers the hype with reality.

Mark Teixeira finished a great month with a flourish. Four R.B.I. pushed the Bombers to an eight inning tie. The game was in the hands of the bullpen. (Gulp.) Girardi has a glut of starters and a dearth of relievers. Sunday, it was Coke and Robertson's turn to cough up a game. The bubble of euphoria surrounding the Yanks' recent stellar play was burst by a traditional problem. The familiar flaw of porous late inning relief continues to haunt. There are no viable solutions in sight as the "conga line" of feeble auditions drones on.

PHOTO/NEWSDAY