Yankee Trade Deadline Links

Baseball's trade deadline pours gasoline on a baseball fan's fire. Yankee history is replete with headline-snatching transactions. Will the Bombers' brass pull the trigger on another blockbuster? Let's hit the links to gain some insight:

• MLB Trade Rumors asks: Quiet Deadline For Yankees?
• Bombers in the bleachers? "Bombers just observing Halladay chase"
• The next big thing? "The Yankees made a move for a pitcher today. Not Roy Halladay or Jarrod Washburn, but instead the Rockies Jason Hirsh"--(Fangraphs)
• As Dylan once rasped, "Don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." "Yankees cool, but Red Sox desperate for trade"
• Never enough pitching: "After Shoulder Surgery, Wang’s Future Is Unclear"--NY Times

MLB's trade deadline prompts rumor, speculation, innuendo, fact and fiction. Baseball fans wouldn't have it any other way.

Yankees' Big Three

MLB's trade deadline looms while the New York Yankees cruise. A decisive 6-2 road win over the defending A.L. Champion Rays flashed the Yankees formidable form. Joba Chamberlain transitions from bullpen-draining enigma to the next big thing. Eight dominant innings, delivered at a rapid, confident pace has Yankee hearts pounding. The Bronx Bomber bats provide another power surge. The game looks easy.

August arrives as the Yankees peak.If the playoffs started tomorrow, a rotation of A.J. CC and Joba doesn't speak for itself; it shouts. It won't be that easy; it never is. This season's Joba rules will enter the confusing mix. A.J.'s frail history isn't a mirage. CC's playoff meltdowns are a matter of fact.

It doesn't matter. The Yankees will sink or swim with their big three. Other teams wish they had the potential issues the Yanks do. The Bombers' brass won't pull off any blockbuster trades at the deadline. Given their infamous track record, it's for the best. Questions never sleep. One way, or the other, the Yankees' big three will provide the answers.

Photo/Daylife

Yankees Stumble

The New York Yankees' sprint through July's schedule tripped in Tampa Tuesday night. CC Sabathia was sabotaged by a series of errors. The scoreboard noted two, wild throws by Jeter and A-Rod, but doesn't tell the story.

Nick Swisher has received a lot of credit this season for his power, on base percentage and wacky, clubhouse entertaining antics. The list of flaws don't get mentioned. The team is winning while the soft underbelly of Nick's game lurks in the shadows. Swisher's three-ring-circus defense couldn't hide Tuesday night. Three poor plays never made it to the error column but showed up where it counts--the loss column. The hype surrounding Swisher's allegedly versatile defense vaporized a long time ago. The reality is not pretty. (Just ask Ozzie Guillen.) The '09 Yankees have overcome an array of adversity while vaulting to the top of the A.L. East. Nick Swisher's glove is on the list.

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Yankees Bury Rays

The New York Yankee express rolled into the home of the defending A.L. Champion Tampa Bay Rays Monday night. Last year's youth-driven, shrewdly managed juggernaut resides in third place while looking to step up. St. Petersburg's dome was filled with hope. Could the home-grown, small market, parity inspiring franchise defeat baseball's traditional Goliath? Could 08's unlikely glory be rekindled? Not even close.

The Bronx Bombers put eleven runs on the board while hired gun A.J. Burnett fired seven dominant innings. How lopsided was it? Albaladejo and Robertson finished up while Hughes and Rivera watched. A signal was sent: these aren't the '08 Yankees. Rasner, Farnsworth, Pavano, Giambi and company are gone not not forgotten. A new set of stars has meshed with a venerable, dynasty accredited core to produce a power. Hope has left the building.

Photo Gallery/Newsday

Yankee Hall of Fame Notes

The Yankees concluded a pennant enhancing 9-1 homestand on the same day that Ricky Henderson, Jim Rice, Joe Gordon and Tony Kubek burst into baseball's Hall of Fame. It was a good day in the Bronx. Here are a few Yankee related links:

• Bill Madden of The New York Daily News shines the light on Rickey: COOPERSTOWN - The most anticipated Hall of Fame speech ever was worth the wait - and not because Rickey Henderson delivered it in Rickey-esque third-person, disjointed fashion. Leave it to Henderson, baseball's all-time base thief and run man, to give us the unexpected, which, in his case Sunday, was being both eloquent and humble." In the print edition, Madden quotes the real Rickey: "Man, Rickey's still got it, and it would be disrespectful to myself and my family if I entered a situation where I was playing backup to Stan Musial and Ted Williams. What are those guys like 50? Rickey does not ride the pine. Rickey plays. You think Lou Brock can run like me? Please . Goodbye."
• The Chicago Sun Times published an article I wrote titled, "Rickey Henderson's Yankee Legacy": "Ricky's tenure in Pinstripes conjures up conflicted memories."
• The spotlight was on Henderson, but he wasn't alone on the illustrious stage: "Joe Gordon earned the 1942 American League MVP award _ beating out Triple-Crown winner Ted Williams _ and won five World Series titles _ four with the Yankees and one with the Indians. He also owns the AL record for homers as a second baseman, with 246.
  "I never played against Joe Gordon, but he managed teams that I played against," former New York Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek said during his acceptance speech for the Ford C. Frick Award (broadcast excellence). "What a Renaissance man. ... But Joe Gordon was always used as an example by (former Yankees coach) Frank Crosetti when he got the young infielders around second base and said, This is the way Joe Gordon did it."--(The Daily Star)

Photo--Baseball Almanac

Yankees' Trade Deadline

The clock ticks while MLB's trade deadline creeps. The Yankees ride ownership's checkbook and Girardi's acumen to compete for a ring. Is knocking on the door of the postseason enough or do the Bombers flaunt their financial clout again and kick it in? Rumors, innuendo, speculation and fiction fly. What's next? Let's hit the links in an effort to glean some insight:

• "Do not believe this poppycock about the Yankees having sudden pangs of payroll austerity. The fact is, they need another front-line starting pitcher if they're going to achieve their stated goal of getting past the Red Sox to the World Series. If Halladay should somehow fall to them by default..."--(Madden/NY Daily News)
• "Would they deal Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, plus the best talent from their developing farm system? They say no but never count them out."--(NY Times)
• Speaking of "developing farm system": "They do a great job of overhyping and overrating their farm prospects, which if nothing else should serve them well in putting together an attractive package to procure the pitching they need."--(Madden/NY Daily News)
• Speaking of "overhyping" and "poppycock": "With a straight face, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called the idea of trading for a starting pitcher "unrealistic" a few days ago."--(Abraham/LoHud) It was reported from the Yankee beat all winter that Teixeira would never land in pinstripes for reasons including: A) Too much money. B) Can't have a star at every position. C) Even the Yanks have payroll limits. D) Cash said so. When Teixeira landed in the Yanks' laps on a silver platter, ownership pulled an audible and snatched another star. Credit the reporter for learning a lesson.
• River Ave. Blues brings word on "perhaps the most under appreciated reliever in the league."
• Speaking of "kicking the door in."

The '09 New York Yankees have the opportunity and resources to grab ring number 27. The luxury of waiting until next year isn't in the mix. The future is now.

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Yankee Decisions on Deck

The '09 Yankees are making a complex game look easy. Eight straight wins featuring potent pitching, adroit defense and power based offense have pushed the Bombers to an unlikely AL East lead. Overcoming the demise of Chien-Ming Wang, an 0-8 skein against Boston and a collapse of the planned bullpen bridge was a daunting task. The stars shined, Girardi got creative while pushing the right buttons and the job got done. So far, so good but it's far from over.

The re-invented pitching plan comes with consequences. Hughes and Acev es were converted to relief specialists when Marte, Veras, Ramirez and Bruney failed. The floundering pen flourished after years of incompetence. Do they mess with success? Chamberlain's clock ticks past 100 I.P.; The alarm goes off at 140 I.P. do the Yanks hit the snooze button and gamble with the future? Is Joba's projected future more important than today's certain needs?

What's Plan C? Don't ask: "Considering that Kei Igawa, the Cy Young among Four-A pitchers, and a very inexperienced Ivan Nova are the best minor league options, the Yankees will continue to search for a hurler outside the organization."--(NY Post/King)

Given Cashman's trade track record, it's safe to assume that help isn't on the way. Tough decisions are on deck. Girardi has worked some powerful magic so far in the Yanks' resurgent '09 season. Hopefully, Joe has a few more rabbits in his hat.

Photo/Ny Daily News

A Visit to the New Yankee Staium

Made the trek from the swamps of Jersey to the South Bronx yesterday to watch a Yankee game while soaking in the aura of their new digs. Most fans look forward to their inaugural visit. My enthusiasm turned to trepidation when I read Lon Trost's infamous words, "We have built a five-star hotel around a ball field."

With apologies to Clint Eastwood, here's a breakdown of this old-school fan's experience in the belly of the beast:

• The Good: A clean, comfortable environment surrounds the Yankees field of dreams which is an impressive replica of the legendary yard. Patios are conveniently spread out which provide quality vistas for photographers and roaming fans.
• The Bad: A mega-scoreboard with booming sound system is impossible to miss or avoid. Quality baseball footage flashes the potential of the behemoth board. Unfortunately, crass commercialism cranked out at ear-splitting decibel levels rule the pre-game festivities. One memorable pitch says it all: "Fans, garbage cans from the old Stadium are still available."
• The Ugly: I arrived two hours prior to game time without a ticket.The goal was to garner a bleacher or grandstand seat and spend most of the day exploring while taking pictures. A long and winding road of fellow Yankee searchers snaked out from the distant ticket window. A Yankee representative, equipped with a nifty "How may I help" placard, then made an ominous announcement: "The Yankees are completely sold out of all bleacher and grandstand seats for the remainder of the '09 season. Individual tickets are available for today's game starting at $95. Two tickets for adjoining seats start at $150 per ticket." In the background a pre-recorded announcement blared, "Welcome to the new Yankee Stadium." In front of me on line was a Father with four young sons, he said "Come on guys we can't do this" they promptly evacuated the line. Behind me, was a party of three negotiating with a scalper who had miraculously appeared after the official announcement of alleged sell outs. $20 grandstand seats for $50. Sold. My seat was behind first base, three rows up, in the shade. Fair value at $20, tolerable at $50, unconscionable for more. The Yankees have purchased a good product which is being adroitly managed from the dugout. Return on investment is one thing, exploiting fans is another. On the other hand, gullible, binging patrons are part of the problem. Lines for outrageously priced food were routine. Apparently, watching a game is only a small part of the experience for many people.Gorging on $7 hot dogs and washing them down with $9 brew is part of the fun. The organization has the fish on the hook and they're jumping in the boat.

Photo/River Ave. Blues

Yankees Cruise

The New York Yankees cruised into sole possession of first place in the AL East with a 6-4 win over the beleaguered birds of Baltimore. Somewhere, Earl Weaver is rolling his eyes as the once proud franchise has now lost 23 of 25 AL East road games. Parity is a bad joke for the last place Birds. Baltimore's pain is the Yanks gain.

Sergio Mitre made a modest debut while surviving five plus innings. Mitre wasn't much (8 hits, 4 runs) but it was enough. A-Rod and Cano carried the offense, combining for four RBI and two runs. The Yanks have the best record in baseball since the MVP returned from rehab mountain. Coincidence isn't in the mix.

Photo Gallery/Newsday

Yankee Silence is Golden

Long time Yankee fans know that following the biggest baseball show on earth involves more than watching games and studying stats. Incessant press coverage, radio babble, talking TV heads, Blogger blather (not that there's anything wrong with that,) front office agendas and ownership's ego issues are all part of the volatile mix.

The tone originates from the owner's luxury box and trickles down. The infamous, over-the-top reign of George Steinbrenner produced a relentless, hyperbolic, results driven frenzy. It wasn't pretty but it worked.

A few decades flew by, the "Boss" faded away and his sons inherited the throne. Hank snatched the spotlight. Bold, wacky statements spewed, not much got done. The tabloid press rekindled memories of the good old days while Hammerin' Hank personified crass: "My brother and I are running things, don't believe anything you hear from piss ant employees." Fortunately, Hank faded fast, demure brother Hal was on deck.

The Hal Steinbrenner chapter started with grandiose spending, mind-boggling greed, exorbitant expectations and a new, mums the word, method of operation. The organization spent $423 million to plug three holes, staggered from the gate, replaced the bullpen bridge on-the-fly and witnessed large stretches of empty luxury seats while the mute button remained on.

Especially noticeable was the absence of excuse laden, history distorting, self-serving drivel from the GM's chair. Fact based fans could breathe a breath of fresh air and focus on the field. Well, as Michael Corleone lamented in the Godfather, "Every time I think I'm out they drag me back in."

The NY Times, in an article titled, Cashman, Staying Tamper-Free, Talks Up Farm, gives us a glimpse of the dark side, "Cashman drew a parallel to his decision after the 2007 season to back away from a trade for Johan Santana, then the Minnesota Twins’ ace. The results of that deal have steeled Cashman’s resolve to hoard his best young talent. If the Yankees had traded for Santana, Cashman said, they would not have Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera or C. C. Sabathia. They would have also lost Jeffrey Marquez, a pitcher who was traded for Nick Swisher.
“I’m very comfortable with the decision we made back with the Santana situation,” he said. “Right now, we’ve got Sabathia where the Santana money is, I’ve got a center fielder in Melky, I’ve got Phil Hughes performing for us, and I’ve got Swisher in right, which Jeffrey Marquez was in the deal to help me get.
“So right now, I believe the organization is in a better position because of that type of decision-making."

Brian Cashman lauding himself for shrewd decision making skills breaks the gibberish meter. Will Leitch, gives a historical perspective, "Before last season, Cashman--who gets along so well with the beat-reporter media hordes that he might as well be one of them...made a big show of the Yankees' youth movement, eschewing big free-agent payouts (other than A-Rod of course) to trust homegrown talent...This plan worked terribly...Once the Yankees missed the postseason, out came the old checkbook...After last year invalidated his start-the-kids approach, the imperative was clear: Back to the basics, spend the cash."--(NY Magazine, 4/6/09)

More from Brian, (in the context of the pending trade deadline): "It’s not like it was when Steve Phillips and I were going haywire, taking everybody off the wire. Those days are dead and buried, because no one can live with a mistake like they used to. The economy’s changed, and it’s affected everybody.”

The economy is so bad that Cash's Yanks only got a $423 million head start. Now, it's time to dust off the youth movement jargon. Somebody please, push the mute button.

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Yankees Hit Stride

The '09 Yankees started the season with a list of key questions: 1) Would the three big tickets wilt on the Big Apple stage? 2) Would the over-the-hill gang survive a grueling season? 3) Could the usual suspects fortify the bridge to The Great Rivera? 4) Is that really the starting outfield of a $200 million team? 5) Was A-Rod's hip-check the beginning of the end?

The first half erratically led in the right direction. Questions that weren't affirmatively answered were erased. Girardi had the fortitude to improvise in Gotham's glare. Adversity was dealt with. A team specializing in exhilarating walk-off wins was born.

The second half starts and questions morph to exclamation points. Four consecutive taut contests, end up in the Yanks' win column. Potent, balanced pitching combined with dramatic defense augment the Bomber laden lineup. Confidence is always on deck for the '09 Yankees as a quality team emerges from a perplexing list of questions. Joe Girardi aces the test.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Flash to the Future

Yankee legends started at the Stadium Sunday. A parade of venerable, familiar faces waved and beamed while rekindling warm memories. Then an exhibition game started and everyone was reminded that baseball is a young man's game.

On cue, 23 year-old Joba Chamberlain took the hill. The Golden child is a big chunk of the Yankees' bridge to the future. Transition is the talk as the next big thing staggers from dominant bullpen stopper to rotation puzzle. Joba's electric bullpen stint was marked by stalking, glowering, fist pumping heat. His meek starting resume reads erratic, bewildered frustration. A starting pitcher needs more than dominant stuff. Thinking, nuance and pace enter the mix. (Gulp.)

Sunday, at the new Stadium, with the pillars of Yankee history in attendance, Joba Chamberlain flashed what is possible. The Golden Child hooked up with aggression. Detroit whiffed. Six plus sizzling innings concluded with a vintage fist pump. Warm memories made an encore. The next big thing was back.

Photo Gallery/Newsday

Yanks' Impressive Win

The Yankees' new home has earned a reputation for big flies and crooked numbers. The cozy confines in the Bronx produce grins from hitters and grimaces from pitchers. Saturday, CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander forgot all that and went old-school.

The Yankees' big man struggled with his mechanics early while navigating a steady stream of Tiger base runners. CC's pitch count clicked to fifty after two, trouble brewed. Sabathia did what aces do. He shut-down Detroit, anyway. The board flashed a goose-egg after seven.

Detroit's All-Star, Justin Verlander, dominated the Bombers' bats with 98 MPH heat and wicked breaking stuff through six quiet innings. Then, fate intervened. A-Rod bloops a modest fly ball that eeks over the right field wall. Yanks 1 Tigers 0. Seventh inning, two outs, two on, Melky at the plate, looking for another miracle. A meek ground ball to short results in a bang-bang play, safe at first. Yanks 2 Tigers 0. Luck looks good in pinstripes.

Girardi's revamped bullpen provides relief as the Yankees snatch a 2-1 victory. Some wins are more significant than others. Saturday, the Yankees beat a quality team, overcame an All-Star quality pitching performance and made two runs stand up. Encouraging signs for a team with pennant expectations.

Photo Gallery/Newsday

Yankees Feel the Power

A.J. Burnett kicked off the Yankees second-half with erratic command, Friday night at the Stadium. Melky Cabrera's defense kept things under control. A laser throw snuffed out an early Tiger rally, later a lunging catch converted a potential hit into an inning ending D.P. A.J. needed all the help he could get.

The scoreboard flashed: Tigers 3 Yanks 2, bottom of the 6TH. A Yankee comeback was palpable. Two out, Posada at second, Cabrera rifles a clutch single to left, Jorge rambles with the speed of a 38 year old catcher around third. It's not close, inning over.

Phil Hughes brings the heat in the seventh, igniting a Joba-esque flashback, while striking out the side. Rain pelts the diamond while the crowd comes to life. Jeter and Damon whack Zumaya's 99 MPH stuff, second and third no one out; The meat of the order due up. On cue, Teixeira blasts a three run bomb. Feel the power.

Hughes brings it back in the 8TH, 2 IP, 6 K's, a bridge is built. Rain can't delay the inevitable, as The Great Rivera does his job--game over. The Yankees win a pennant race worthy game in impressive fashion. Feel the power.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Speculation

MLB's All-Star break provides the time to play the speculation card. The trade deadline is two weeks away. The rumor mill needs some grist.

Sunday, I wrote an article titled, Yankees Need the Doctor, which put forth the proposition that Roy "Doc" Halladay is the cure for what ails the '09 Yankees. An elite, durable, proven top-of-the-rotation starter will ease the Bomber's pain. A package of hyped, talented, overrated prodigy's, Hughes and Montero, plus a young, useful, flawed spare part, Cabrera or Gardner was suggested.

Yesterday, I read a blog post by Peter Abraham titled, How to get Roy Halladay, that echoes my thinking: "The Yankees can win right now and I’m not so sure they have the pitching to do that. Joba Chamberlain and Andy Pettitte are far more erratic than anticipated and the No. 5 starter looks like rehab case Sergio Mitre. Any Yankee follower who has ever entered the blogosphere is familiar with Pete Abe's LoHud blog. A consistent theme is that the transition of Joba Chamberlain from dominant reliever to potent starting pitcher is a linchpin for the Yankees' future. Those who suggested that the Golden Child's dominance in the pen was a formidable asset were scoffed at. Seventeen starts later, Chamberlain has transitioned from stopper to bullpen-draining head case: "The unexplained loss of velocity is a concern. So is the stubborn unwillingness to listen to others. There is a chance he could be great. But as each day passes, there seems to be more of a chance that he won’t be. He has a great story, but maybe we’ve already seen the best part." A tremor is felt in the Yankee Universe as Joba's bandwagon loses a prominent member.

No one can argue that "Doc" Halladay is a difference maker or that the Yankees' future is now. There is no wait till next year for the creaky remnants of Torre's dynasty. The opportunity to land a go-to-guy is the latest test for the Yankees' front office tribunal. Hal and company spent $423 million on three players in the off season. Pennant race relevance was purchased. It's not enough. Finish the job, call the "Doctor."

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Yankees '09 Photo Gallery

Like the old song says, "Every picture tells a story, don't it?" Here are the links to the clicks:

• Aceves Bails Out Chamberlain
• Yankees Field of Dreams
• Jeter's Future
• Yankees Battle Injuries
• Yankees Solve Puzzle
  
  
  
  

Yankees' Retrospective

The first half of the Yankees '09 season featured an erratic array of stumbles, bursts, lackluster efforts, walk off wins, incompetence, dominance, grit, greed and guile. I dug deep in the archive to cover the bases:

• Yankees Traditional Power Play
• Yankees Issues
• Red Sox Run Past Yankees
• Secrets of Yankees' Success
• Yankees' Dilemma
• Girardi Deserves Credit

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Yankee Questions

The New York Yankee express hit a wall in Cali. Three ugly games point to issues not found in the standings. The Bombers regroup, questions never sleep:

• Who are these guys? Come-from-behind adversity beaters or the exploiters of the meek. Peter Abraham reports that the Yanks are 5-15 against division leading foes, those numbers don't speak, they scream.
• Does the pitching puzzle ever get solved? CC and A.J. are steps in the right direction but calamity never fades. Is there any rational reason to believe that Chamberlain, Pettitte and Wang will come up big down the stretch?
• Who be Hinske? Eric Hinske was rescued from Pittsburgh to provide versatility to a rigid roster. A-Rod's hip-check points to the pesky notion that the MVP needs a weekly respite. Hinske was supposed to assume the position, instead he turns into Swisher's stand-in.
• Who's next? Don't ask.
• Is it trading time? History tells us that making a move for a proven commodity is the only viable option. Otherwise, talent evaluation skills rear their ugly heads. Rumor has it that Wilson Betemit is available. Maybe, he could play the hot corner once a week and give Hinske a breather.

Photo Gallery/Newsday

Yankees Need the Doctor

Yankee ownership's extravagant purchase of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira re-established New York as a pennant contender. A fading foundation needed sturdy reinforcement, the Bombers' bucks did the job. So far, so good but it's not enough.

The rebuilt rotation is reeling. CC and A.J produce as advertised, it's all down hill from there. Andy Pettitte got rocked in Cali. Saturday leaving the venerable lefty with an ERA of 4.85 which is a mirror image of '08's number. At this stage of his career, it's safe to say, reincarnation isn't in the mix. Joba Chamberlain has transitioned from dominant reliever to bullpen-draining head case. The next big thing threw 100 IP in '08 as his '09 total reaches that plateau is there any reason to believe that he'll get stronger down the stretch? Wait till next year. Chien-Ming Wang resides on rehab mountain with the latest in a long list of injuries. Do you believe in miracles?

Now what? Turns out, there is a Doctor available. Roy "Doc" Halladay (the Big Foot of starting pitchers) is for sale. A dominant innings eating machine is the tonic for what ails New York. The rumored price is four elite prospects. Toronto's GM is starting high and holding his breath.

Most organizations will balk at the prospect of gutting their future for instant gratification. The Yankees' future is now. The core is too old to wait till next year. The farm is too green to provide impact.

Halladay bridges a gap between flickering glory and promising future. The Doc is 32, adding him to CC and A.J. keeps the Bombers window open for a few years. Time to recapture the glory and nurture the farm.

What about the price? Here's the deal: A) Phil Hughes: hyped prodigy, frail history, work in progress starter, eye opening relief stint puts icing on the overrated cake. (Editor's note: it's not Phil's fault he's overrated, it comes with the Big Apple territory.) Toronto could pretend he'll be the next Halladay. B) Jesus Montero: big bat, really big body, thin defense, still young enough to labeled as a catcher. The Yanks have organizational depth behind the plate and don't need another DH. C) Cabrera or Gardner: Young, useful role playing pieces. Austin Jackson, come on down.



Will it cost mo' money? Actually, it's a bargain. The Doc's price is a mere seven million shackles for the remainder of '09, (just had a Clemens flashback) $15 million in 2010,offer a two year extension at CC scale with an option. Next season Damon, Matsui and Pettitte come off the bloated books. Can you say austerity?

Yankees' ownership didn't shell out $200 million to compete. The ring is the thing. Doc Halladay is the answer.

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Girardi Deserves Credit

Baseball's All Star Game beckons, time for a review of the Yankees '09 performance. The season started with a stumble. Injury issues knocked out Nady, pushed Wang to a pratfall and rendered the M.V.P. M.I.A. for 28 games. Reality didn't dent the distorted expectations brought by the gaudy purchase of three marquee names. The mission for second year skipper, Joe Girardi, was clear--win or else.

A two-headed question mark in center field, a wobbly bullpen bridge, an '08 flop in right and a rickety roster were on Joe's plate. For dessert, the catching crew pulled up lame and were replaced by a .190 hitting, Double-A rookie and a Red Sox reject.

Girardi, somehow managed this mangled mix and made it work. A .600 winning percentage had the Yanks in a first place tie entering last night's contest. How did that happen?

• Competition spurred combined center field production to: .289/8 HR/ 40 RBI/15 SB. A question mark morphed to an exclamation point.
• The bullpen bridge collapsed so the manager re-invented one on-the-fly. Former starters Coke, Aceves and Hughes bring long awaited relief.
• A veteran, power-laden lineup consistently puts crooked numbers on the board. Massaging egos while dishing out playing time is not an easy job. Girardi has the players trust.

The bottom line is the '09 Yankees are optimizing production. A quality manager puts his players in a position to succeed. Mission accomplished.

Photo/Full Count Pitch

Book Review: Munson

New York Yankees' history is loaded with legends. Monument park stretches from the South Bronx to Cooperstown. The spotlight on greatness, sometimes leaves excellence in the shadows. A prime example is detailed in the new biography, Munson.

Author Mary Appel worked in the Yankees' public relations department from 1968-1977. Readers are treated to an inside view of Thurman Munson's turbulent career. A dormant time in Yankees lore (12 consecutive season without a post-season appearance) is rejuvenated by the emergence of a cocky catcher. Munson's combative nature, grouchy demeanor and elite baseball skills are chronicled with candor and detail. Colorful times come to life. Thurman Munson's intriguing story is a journey from heralded prospect, to salvaging spark, to Yankees' captain, to World Champion, which tragically ends with a fatal plane crash.

Marty Appel's, Munson, brings a pivotal piece of Yankees' history back into focus and reminds us how lucky Yankee fans are to have Thurman Munson's name on a long list of legends.

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Yankees Shopping Season

The temperature climbs while baseball's pennant race heats up. MLB's trade deadline is on the horizon. Let's hit the links for some New York Yankees related trade rumblings and rumors:

• "This race may be decided not by who is on each of these teams now but by who will be in a few weeks. The Yankees have made an annual theatre of making moves at the deadline, and they have the resources to do it..."--(SI.com)
• "What this means is probably there will be little phrenetic trading in these last four weeks before the deadline."--(Peter Gammons/ESPN) Fortunately, not many Yankees rumor mongers have a clue what "phrenetic" means.
• "Who could use Halladay? Well, considering he would be at the top of any rotation, the answer is everybody. And he’s relatively affordable, making $30 million over the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
  Initially, I’d be surprised to see the Yankees jump into the fray."--(NY Times)
• "The uncertainty of Chien-Ming Wang's shoulder could thrust the Yankees into the trade market, with a starting pitcher at the top of Brian Cashman's shopping list."--(NY Daily News)
• Halladay revisited: "In the Yankees’ case, players who would be most attractive in this kind of deal include Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Dellin Betances, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero. In other words, their best young players in the majors and their top prospects in the minors." --(NY Times) A package of high profile, overrated prospects (Montero and Hughes) might work. It would take guts and brains which is why it won't happen.

Photo/NY Daily News

Yankees Rocky Rehab

The second half of the Yankees '09 season started yesterday. A one game deficit in the AL East points to a rousing pennant race. Handicapping the competitors normally starts with pitching, then moves on to offense, defense, depth and management. The traditional list of pennant possibility factors contains one glaring omission--injury issues. No one has to tell Yankee fans about the significance of the walking wounded. The Pavano-esque DL merry-go-round never stops in the Bronx.

Injuries are inevitable. Age and medical history factor in but essentially fate plays a big role in a team's welfare. Getting hurt happens. The organization's responsibility in the process is choosing the best methods available to rehab their assets to an effective recovery. It's not an easy job.

The recent record of the Yankees organization in the vital area of managing recovering players is murky, at best. Two key components of New York' pennant viability, A-Rod and Chien-Ming Wang suffered serious injuries in '08. The rocky rehab road is perplexing.

Tests taken in '08 showed that Alex Rodriguez had hip issues. The Yanks' MVP played on. The off-season came and went, nothing was done. Spring arrived, alarm bells sounded, another hip-check placed surgery in the mix. Panic permeated. Specialists went to work. Alex missed spring training and 28 games of the regular season while recovering from modest hip surgery which would be the precursor to another , more significant, surgical procedure in the off season. Doctors estimated the odds of Alex surviving the '09 season at %70. The MVP reemerged with a booming bat that rippled rejuvenation through the lineup. The Bronx Bombers were back. Time flew, A-Rod assumed the position every day, doctor's orders for regular rest were discarded. Exhaustion followed. The GM sprung into action, after the fact. Scary reports circulated.

Alex Rodriguez has company on the rocky road to rehab. Rotation linchpin, Chien-Ming Wang suffered a serious foot injury in '08. He was pronounced fit for '09. A production pratfall of epic proportions followed. More tests, now the theory was that the foot bone was connected to the hip bone. Back to rehab mountain. Let's catch up with the news:

• "That almost certainly means another trip to the disabled list for Wang, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, the effects of which bled into this season."--(Kepner/NY Times.)
• "An MRI exam showed a shoulder strain and some bursitis, Joe Girardi said, but it is unclear how much time Wang will miss. After the game, subdued Wang, who had a shoulder operation in 2001 and missed nearly two months in 2005 with shoulder problems, said he was very worried...Mostly, I'm afraid it will take surgery to repair it..."--(NY Daily News.)
• Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus, writes: "Wang has had two situations that may have, inadvertently, led to his latest problem. Yes, I think the foot injury and the related "hip imbalance" led to small imperceptible changes in his delivery that ended up causing problems in his shoulder. The problem is, we'll never know. The Yankees, as far as I can tell, have never had a high-speed video analysis or a computerized force analysis done on Wang, or on any of their pitchers for that matter. For a team that spends in excess of $200 million on their payroll, and more still on bonuses, while charging the ticket prices that they do, it's as outrageous as anything in baseball."

The pennant race is on. The winner will have to survive the inevitable gauntlet of injuries. Wish the Yankees luck, they need all they can get.

Aceves Bails Out Chamberlain

Joba Chamberlain's transition from dominant reliever to top-of-the-rotation starter is mired in mediocrity. The golden child took the mound at the Stadium Sunday in an attempt to provide a respite for a weary relief corps. The next big thing was battered by the Blue Jays--nine hits and eight runs. He didn't survive the fourth. The '09 season creeps to the half-way mark, Chamberlain has four wins, a home ERA of 5.17 and a penchant for leaning on the pen early and often. The stuff is there; The head is a question mark. "I did a good job, I felt like."--(Joba summing up his latest performance./Gannett) At some point, hysterical hype will wane. Results matter.

Speaking of results, the Bombers' bats battled back Sunday, putting ten runs on the board while, once again, exploiting home launching pad advantage. Alfredo Aceves shut the door in the sixth. The unheralded hurler learned his craft in the Mexican League. Hype doesn't translate. All he does is effectively pitch.Four scoreless innings provided relief for a tired pen and saved the day. Results matter.

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Yankees Next Move

The Yankees' express ran over "Doc" Halladay at the Stadium Saturday. The Bombers' bats whacked nine hits while scoring five runs in seven innings against the Blue Jays' ace. The Yanks won in the 12TH on Posada's walk off single. Let the good times roll. Not so fast.

Chien-Ming Wang left the game in the 6TH with a shoulder injury. Tyler Kepner reports:"That almost certainly means another trip to the disabled list for Wang, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, the effects of which bled into this season."--(NY Times)

Now what? The bullpen has been rebuilt on the backs of former starters Aceves, Coke and Hughes. Saturday's win is another example of the value of a deep, versatile pen. Six relief pitchers held Toronto to one run in 6 2/3 innings. Girardi has managed to turn a perpetual flaw into a strength. Leave well enough alone.

Who you gonna call? Peter Abraham reports: "The choice could be Sergio Mitre who is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA in seven minor-league starts since returning from elbow surgery and a 50-game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs."--(Gannett)

Let's look beyond the pleasant sounding, short-term minor-league stats. In five NL seasons, Mitre pitched 310 innings, with an ERA of 5.36 and a WHIP of 1.54. If ever anyone needed performance enhancing, it's this guy. The fact that he moved on to elbow surgery makes him a perfect fit for the Yanks' system. Four years after prioritizing the development of young pitching, the richest franchise in sports history is back in the scrap heap. Next.

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Girardi Builds Yankees Bridge

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

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

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

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Yankees Latest Trade

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Yankees Field of Dreams

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

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

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

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

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

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