Don't Pencil the Yanks in just yet....

by fishfarmr on Jan 8, 2009 5:49 PM EST Comment 19 comments

Spend some money and create a buzz. That is what the yankees do and in fact needed to do( season tickets and luxury suites). But as for on the field, did they really improve over 2008? I say the got better defensively and that's it. All you stat guys can respond with the details, I am a macro guy. The bottom line is Tex replaces Abreu and Giambi and in my head those 2 guys killed us. Also Giambi always got big, clutch hits. His HR's always counted unlike A-rods 9-1 game solo shots. CC and AJ replace Moose and Pettite. Again, for 2009 are the newbies going to put up more wins? Long term it may work for the yanks, but they did not get better than 2008. They have as many questions as we do with health and age, and they are in no way as deep as we are. Furthermore, What is their bullpen consist of? With this being said, I really don't think the Yanks are the team to beat. If I know this, so does Cash, so I am predicting they will slide in at the end (ala Tex) and sign Manny. And with that they will slug their way to the WS. Although Chemistry may be the X factor. Am i wrong here?

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You ain't wrong

Everyone’s talking about how much the Yankees have improved. They’re missing the fact that they’re an improved third-place team. I only worry about teams that actually had an at-bat in the playoffs. And they’re brought in CC, a guy whose pulse never get above 60, and the winner of Most Likely to Spend 120 Days on the DL with “Non-Contract Year-itis.*”

Yawn. Wake me when Hankenstein starts making excuses…

————
* – Non-Ben Sheets Division

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Jan 8, 2009 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The asterisk isn't necessary. He got injured last year in a contract year.

Clutch: A measurement of how much better or worse a player does in high leverage situations than he would have done in a context neutral environment. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/glossary/

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 8, 2009 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Your right offensively.

They go from Abreu + Giambi to Tex + (Swisher/Nady) So not much of an upgrade there. Big one defensively though. And a big upgrade in the pitching.

by BTLove on Jan 9, 2009 12:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

They're also "adding" Posada's bat

Though presumably he’ll primarily be a DH (else why sign Cash?), in which cae they’ll lose a couple hundred ABs out of Matsui/Damon.

Then again, we’re “adding” healthy Papi’s and Lowell. Hopefully.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jan 9, 2009 12:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What are they doing in CF?

I’ve heard Gardner or Melky. Swisher maybe? Damon still an option? If they go with Melky or Gardner in CF and when they DH Posada, they will be worse offensively than last year. I do not expect much from Posada.

by BTLove on Jan 9, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher, I thought.

But then I read today that they’re trying to trade Nady, with Swisher in RF, which would leave Gardner/Milky in CF. WTF?

But still, even if they keep Nady, he, Swisher, and Damon/Matsui is a pretty poor outfield. Reminds me of something that the Pirates would throw out there, without the upside.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jan 9, 2009 1:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm... Nady could be interesting.

Could we get a team to swing him to us? If we gave up an upper level prospect, a few lower and maybe Lugo?

I can hear the clock ticking and my heart beating. I can see individual pixels of the TV picture. I can hear the caution in the opponent's voice. I can smell the fear in the sweat of the opponent's fans. I can taste... THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I AM IN CHAMPIONSHIP MODE.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 9, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What would we do with Nady?

We have 5 OF who are anywhere from great to decent.

by Schulz on Jan 10, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, no use for Nady

by BTLove on Jan 10, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IDK.

Just wondering. Never hurts to look at all the options.

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 10, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If they go with Damon, Nady, Swisher in the OF,

they will be pretty terrible defensively. I also think they would play Damon in CF over Swisher just because it seems like one of those stupid old-school baseball things.

by BTLove on Jan 10, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right

but I’ve got to think they realize that Damon is no longer a viable CF. Else he would’ve played center last year.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jan 10, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher in CF is right around a -11 UZR/150, which is not good.

Damon, though, is still a plus defender in LF, so maybe that will balance out. Nady is right around average, if not a little negative throughout his career in the LF/RF, so the alignment of Damon, Swisher, Nady would probably net them around a league average OF. This would be a big upgrade from any OF that involves Bobby Abreu.

by BTLove on Jan 10, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Kenny Williams

It’s easier on the body to play CF……Of course, I think Kenny Williams was drunk when he said that.

by DirtySouthSox on Jan 10, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pitching.

Yes they upgraded the pitching, but not by that much, seeing as they lost Pettitte and Moose. 2008:
Mussina: 200.1 IP, 20-9, 3.37 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 150 K.
Pettitte: 204 IP, 14-14, 4.54 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 158 K.

I would argue that CC and AJ will combine for better numbers than these two combined, but Mussina had a very good season last year, and they loose that production. Pettitte’s numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he threw over 200 decent innings- and it remains to be seen if Burnett can do this.

by Schulz on Jan 10, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus Wang too.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jan 10, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't care about 3rd place teams?

The Rays didn’t make the playoffs in 2007, or ever! But, they were a much improved, very good team.
The Yankees had some injuries last year, and the guys who left are quite abit older and more worn out than the guys coming in.
I won’t hand them the division, but it will be a 3 way battle to be sure.

"simul justus et peccator"

by cavman on Jan 9, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs