With all due respect to Matt Lawton and Geoff Blum, it was the most boring trading deadline in a few years. I think that works out better for Yankee despisers; Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon are not carrying this team to the playoffs.
Also, it was a weird weekend. The Junkees took two of three from the Angels, but lost a game in the standings. They probably should have lost Saturday, but were lucky to face K-Rod on a really bad day. And even though they won today, there was plenty of good news. After Johnson's last start against Minny, I got a little scared. Sure, the Twins' offense is terrible, but to give up just 2 hits and fan 12 is damn good no matter what. And when he started today with 5 K's in two innings, I thought it would be another vintage RJ start. Not quite. Johnson has now given up 23 HR on the year, and showed that he's still not consistent. Didn't think Shawn Chacon was gonna do better than he did.
With Moose getting a loss and RJ stinking it up, it was good to see the Yanks' big two do poorly. All we need now is for Small to get back down to earth, and Chacon, too.
-- As for the Embree deal, after the Sox dumped him, I had a hunch that the Yanks were gonna pick the guy up. After all, it would be quite the PR move to get an ex-Red Sox, to get one of the guys that helped bring on the choke last year. But then I thought, Cashman can't be that stupid. Embree had a 7.00 ERA and looked done. But apparently, Cashman was that stupid. Again, the Yanks are lucky that K-Rod had a huge off-night Saturday night. Otherwise, he might've been able to pitch Sunday and perhaps help the Halos to a sweep.
-- Series I'm looking forward to: Yanks-Toronto next weekend. The Jays have quietly pulled ahead of the O's, and swept the Angels last week. All without their ace, Roy Halladay. Sure, they lost a couple to Texas this weekend, but I thought they'd fall apart after Halladay got hurt. Glad I was wrong about that one.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Hideo Nomo - Another Winner
Once again, as I said with Leiter, Ca$hman is putting himself in a win-win situation by signing a guy whose ERA over the last two years is 7.70, which, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark, is the highest ERA for a pitcher who has pitched this much in 75 years.
So if Nomo stinks, he'll say, hey, what did you expect? We were desperate, and he was the best option out there. If he does okay, then Ca$hman will tell you what a genius he is for picking up a guy off the scrap heap.
That they have no one to trade for a decent pitcher is an embarrassment.
So if Nomo stinks, he'll say, hey, what did you expect? We were desperate, and he was the best option out there. If he does okay, then Ca$hman will tell you what a genius he is for picking up a guy off the scrap heap.
That they have no one to trade for a decent pitcher is an embarrassment.
Short Leiter Start Dooms Yankees
So far, looks like Leiter's had two good starts, to go with one bad. After all, one run in 5 innings: not too bad, huh?
But with a Yankees bullpen that doesn't go much further than Sturtze, Gordon, and Rivera, a 5-6 inning pitcher won't cut it. And Mets fans know that, more often than not, Leiter is a 5-6 inning pitcher. And once you factor in the DH (which he didn't have to deal with in the NL), forget it.
And Leiter's short start is exactly what killed the Yanks. It was a close one till Sturtze and Proctor came in. If not for those two, maybe the Junkees would've won it against Rincon.
Leiter's presence might wear out the pen. Sturtze didn't do so well last night, and perhaps it was merely, in the words of Pedro Martinez, "a bad day at the office." Or is the guy tiring out?
With that in mind, Yankee fans can't get too excited about Leiter. At least now they can go crazy about Nomo. Brian Cashman is certainly excited: "He's one of the premier pitchers of probably all time." I guess when half your team is over 35, you can start thinking that it's 1998 all over again. Just remember: if someone sucks too much for Tampa Bay, they're probably not that good.
But with a Yankees bullpen that doesn't go much further than Sturtze, Gordon, and Rivera, a 5-6 inning pitcher won't cut it. And Mets fans know that, more often than not, Leiter is a 5-6 inning pitcher. And once you factor in the DH (which he didn't have to deal with in the NL), forget it.
And Leiter's short start is exactly what killed the Yanks. It was a close one till Sturtze and Proctor came in. If not for those two, maybe the Junkees would've won it against Rincon.
Leiter's presence might wear out the pen. Sturtze didn't do so well last night, and perhaps it was merely, in the words of Pedro Martinez, "a bad day at the office." Or is the guy tiring out?
With that in mind, Yankee fans can't get too excited about Leiter. At least now they can go crazy about Nomo. Brian Cashman is certainly excited: "He's one of the premier pitchers of probably all time." I guess when half your team is over 35, you can start thinking that it's 1998 all over again. Just remember: if someone sucks too much for Tampa Bay, they're probably not that good.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Lack of Money Catching Up to Twins?
For a few years now, Yankee fans have used the Twins as a way of showing that money does not buy championships. After all, the Twins have been able to make the playoffs annually, despite having a small payroll! This year, however, it appears that the lack of money may finally do them in.
Every winter, another few Twins are forced to jump ship. We've seen David Ortiz, Eric Milton, Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Bobby Kielty, A.J. Pierzynski, and others go elsewhere. But amazingly, the Twins have always found a guy to fill in the holes, be it with Joe Nathan, J.C. Romero, or Joe Mauer. This past winter, it was Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman who left. And in terms of replacements, the Twins haven't been as lucky as in the past, and it's hurting the team.
Koskie hit 25 HR last year. This year, with Cuddyer (5 HR) at third, that void of production is not being filled. And at SS, the Jason Bartlett experiment didn't pan out, leaving Juan Castro to play there instead. While Castro broke up Johnson's no-hitter last night, his average is still a miserable .249. And while the Twins probably don't regret giving up Guzman, considering how awful he's been for the Nationals, the guy did put up a pretty good .274 mark in '04. Maybe he would have done better staying in the AL and staying out of RFK.
The pitching has been the same as last year, perhaps a little better. But unless Santana goes on another incredible 2nd half run, the Twins may have trouble making the playoffs again.
And people forget that, after winning the Central so many times, the Twins have only one playoff series victory to show for it: beating the equally-October-inept A's in '02. The Twins have been good enough to beat the garbage teams in the Central (till the White Sox' emergence this year), with the unbalanced schedule giving them more shots at beating the Royals. But when it comes to October, they're simply overmatched.
Their biggest problem: no big bat in the lineup. No A-Rod, no Shemp, no Manny, no Vlad. Does Torii Hunter scare you in a big spot? Does Jacque Jones? Justin Morneau? Didn't think so.
And these guys cannot afford to sign any big names. Aside from Terry Mulholland and Bret Boone, this team is full of home-grown players. They've been able to lock up Santana and Radke, but have never been players in any big-name free agent over the past few years.
So don't tell me the Twins are proof that the system is fair. If Terry Ryan had $200 million at his disposal, he'd probably do a lot better than Cashman.
Every winter, another few Twins are forced to jump ship. We've seen David Ortiz, Eric Milton, Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Bobby Kielty, A.J. Pierzynski, and others go elsewhere. But amazingly, the Twins have always found a guy to fill in the holes, be it with Joe Nathan, J.C. Romero, or Joe Mauer. This past winter, it was Corey Koskie and Cristian Guzman who left. And in terms of replacements, the Twins haven't been as lucky as in the past, and it's hurting the team.
Koskie hit 25 HR last year. This year, with Cuddyer (5 HR) at third, that void of production is not being filled. And at SS, the Jason Bartlett experiment didn't pan out, leaving Juan Castro to play there instead. While Castro broke up Johnson's no-hitter last night, his average is still a miserable .249. And while the Twins probably don't regret giving up Guzman, considering how awful he's been for the Nationals, the guy did put up a pretty good .274 mark in '04. Maybe he would have done better staying in the AL and staying out of RFK.
The pitching has been the same as last year, perhaps a little better. But unless Santana goes on another incredible 2nd half run, the Twins may have trouble making the playoffs again.
And people forget that, after winning the Central so many times, the Twins have only one playoff series victory to show for it: beating the equally-October-inept A's in '02. The Twins have been good enough to beat the garbage teams in the Central (till the White Sox' emergence this year), with the unbalanced schedule giving them more shots at beating the Royals. But when it comes to October, they're simply overmatched.
Their biggest problem: no big bat in the lineup. No A-Rod, no Shemp, no Manny, no Vlad. Does Torii Hunter scare you in a big spot? Does Jacque Jones? Justin Morneau? Didn't think so.
And these guys cannot afford to sign any big names. Aside from Terry Mulholland and Bret Boone, this team is full of home-grown players. They've been able to lock up Santana and Radke, but have never been players in any big-name free agent over the past few years.
So don't tell me the Twins are proof that the system is fair. If Terry Ryan had $200 million at his disposal, he'd probably do a lot better than Cashman.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Angels Send Yankees a Step Backwards
Till Sunday, it was a very good weekend. But even after Sunday, it was still a pretty good weekend.
Simply put, the Angels took advantage of the Yankees' weaknesses. On Thursday night, they took advantage of the Yanks' lack of bullpen depth by loading the bases against Proctor, then having Vlad hit a grand slam off Flush Gordon. And I can't give the Yankees a pass just because Johnson had to leave early. A team with a $200 million payroll should have a rock-solid bullpen, and should be built to deal exactly with situations like these. With all the failures of guys like Proctor and Franklin, nobody has given Cashman a hard time. But the guy has year in and year out screwed up the bullpen. Aside from Tanyon Sturtze (which may have been a stroke of luck, anyway), Cashman has never been able to get the man for the bullpen in mid-season. Seems like it's an issue every year for the Junkees. And while the Red Sox have gotten Bradford and are pursuing J.C. Romero, the Yankees are hoping for another Robby Cano-like prospect to suddenly shine in the bullpen. Surely this $200 million behemoth could do better.
After that, the Halos knocked around Leiter and Brown. Anyone who thought Leiter would pitch like he did against Boston was simply delusional. The guy couldn't do a thing in one of the biggest pitcher's parks in the NL, and you expect him to switch leagues, go to a smaller park, and actually improve? Come on. And Brown was Brown, as always. After starts like that, Junkee fans just hope he doesn't do anything stupid and that his hand stays intact.
Even with all the injuries that have happened to Yankee starters, I can't give Cashman a free pass there, either. Although the Wang thing was unexpected, Wright, Brown, and Pavano came into the Yankee organization with injury-filled histories. While Pavano has been healthy the past few years, anyone who thought Wright and Brown would last the year without a DL trip was simply out of their mind. And if RJ's back or knee acts up, it would be hard to me to give Cashman a pass there, either. Some injuries are freak occurrences; others are simply inevitable.
Shemp came along and ruined Sunday, but 3 out of 4 is still sweet. Give Moose credit for a well-pitched game, and hopefully he'll get knocked around next time out.
--- The Orioles are officially done. Getting swept by the Rays was their way of signing off on the 2005 season. Wait til' next year. And I was satisfied with the Sox splitting their series with Chicago. You can't expect much more than that when you're facing the league's best.
-- As for the origin of "Junkees": I grew up with my big brother Lloyd referring to the Yanks with that name, and my usage of that moniker is a tribute to the guy. Be kind, folks: Lloyd is a long-suffering Mets fan.
Simply put, the Angels took advantage of the Yankees' weaknesses. On Thursday night, they took advantage of the Yanks' lack of bullpen depth by loading the bases against Proctor, then having Vlad hit a grand slam off Flush Gordon. And I can't give the Yankees a pass just because Johnson had to leave early. A team with a $200 million payroll should have a rock-solid bullpen, and should be built to deal exactly with situations like these. With all the failures of guys like Proctor and Franklin, nobody has given Cashman a hard time. But the guy has year in and year out screwed up the bullpen. Aside from Tanyon Sturtze (which may have been a stroke of luck, anyway), Cashman has never been able to get the man for the bullpen in mid-season. Seems like it's an issue every year for the Junkees. And while the Red Sox have gotten Bradford and are pursuing J.C. Romero, the Yankees are hoping for another Robby Cano-like prospect to suddenly shine in the bullpen. Surely this $200 million behemoth could do better.
After that, the Halos knocked around Leiter and Brown. Anyone who thought Leiter would pitch like he did against Boston was simply delusional. The guy couldn't do a thing in one of the biggest pitcher's parks in the NL, and you expect him to switch leagues, go to a smaller park, and actually improve? Come on. And Brown was Brown, as always. After starts like that, Junkee fans just hope he doesn't do anything stupid and that his hand stays intact.
Even with all the injuries that have happened to Yankee starters, I can't give Cashman a free pass there, either. Although the Wang thing was unexpected, Wright, Brown, and Pavano came into the Yankee organization with injury-filled histories. While Pavano has been healthy the past few years, anyone who thought Wright and Brown would last the year without a DL trip was simply out of their mind. And if RJ's back or knee acts up, it would be hard to me to give Cashman a pass there, either. Some injuries are freak occurrences; others are simply inevitable.
Shemp came along and ruined Sunday, but 3 out of 4 is still sweet. Give Moose credit for a well-pitched game, and hopefully he'll get knocked around next time out.
--- The Orioles are officially done. Getting swept by the Rays was their way of signing off on the 2005 season. Wait til' next year. And I was satisfied with the Sox splitting their series with Chicago. You can't expect much more than that when you're facing the league's best.
-- As for the origin of "Junkees": I grew up with my big brother Lloyd referring to the Yanks with that name, and my usage of that moniker is a tribute to the guy. Be kind, folks: Lloyd is a long-suffering Mets fan.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Baseball: Only major sport without salary cap
The NHL just made a deal that includes a salary cap. The NBA has had a salary cap for years. Ditto for the NFL.
That leaves Major League Baseball as the only sport without one.
The other sports realized that you need it in order for things to be fair. Different sized cities bring in different revenues, so in order to not have one team dominating for many years, you level the playing field. In basketball, there's no way San Antonio sniffs the Finals without a salary cap. Otherwise, Tim Duncan is a Knick, and it's the Knicks against the Lakers every year.
But there's no need to beat a dead horse. We all know how the Junkees buy themselves a playoff spot every year. The owners wanted a salary cap in 2002, but did not want a strike after 9/11, so now with the CBA expiring in 2006, let's hope the owners of the Devil Rays, Pirates, Blue Jays, and all the other small-market teams all converge and do what they have to do.
That leaves Major League Baseball as the only sport without one.
The other sports realized that you need it in order for things to be fair. Different sized cities bring in different revenues, so in order to not have one team dominating for many years, you level the playing field. In basketball, there's no way San Antonio sniffs the Finals without a salary cap. Otherwise, Tim Duncan is a Knick, and it's the Knicks against the Lakers every year.
But there's no need to beat a dead horse. We all know how the Junkees buy themselves a playoff spot every year. The owners wanted a salary cap in 2002, but did not want a strike after 9/11, so now with the CBA expiring in 2006, let's hope the owners of the Devil Rays, Pirates, Blue Jays, and all the other small-market teams all converge and do what they have to do.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
That Was Quick
So, we can all breathe easier now. The Junkees are back where they belong. No, not quite. Not till the Orioles run past them in the standings.
Last night was the kind of game I was waiting to see for a while. Lind of like the games we saw in April and June, when the Yankees would get shut down by some bad pitcher. Last night, it was Chan Ho Park doing the honors. But he was matched by Moose for 6 innings. And after Robby Cano got the big hit and Sterling and Waldman couldn't shut up about how great the kid is, I was thinking, "here we go again."
But thanks to Blalock, the Yankees wasted a very good start by Mussina. This is the kind of game that can lead to a slide. Especially when your stopper is Aaron Small. (Speaking of which, if this guy does well, the tabloids will go nuts with awful headlines like "Small Comes up Big" or "Big Game for Small." Sorry for ruining your day. And someone pass me the New York Sun and spare me the agony.)
Last night was the kind of game I was waiting to see for a while. Lind of like the games we saw in April and June, when the Yankees would get shut down by some bad pitcher. Last night, it was Chan Ho Park doing the honors. But he was matched by Moose for 6 innings. And after Robby Cano got the big hit and Sterling and Waldman couldn't shut up about how great the kid is, I was thinking, "here we go again."
But thanks to Blalock, the Yankees wasted a very good start by Mussina. This is the kind of game that can lead to a slide. Especially when your stopper is Aaron Small. (Speaking of which, if this guy does well, the tabloids will go nuts with awful headlines like "Small Comes up Big" or "Big Game for Small." Sorry for ruining your day. And someone pass me the New York Sun and spare me the agony.)
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Junkees in First, Barely
Oh, this is great for baseball. The $200 million behemoth is in first place. So much for parity, Mr. Selig. Just wait till the Nationals fall apart.
That said, the Yankee lead in first is about as tenuous as it gets. You have not one, but two clubs just a half game out. When the lack of pitching starts catching up to the Junkees, that lead will not last, unless both the O's and Red Sox do poorly. So who knows, maybe this is the just the Yankees' moment in the sun.
The only solace I have about the Yankees being in first is that in March, I predicted they would end up there. But I sure hope I end up wrong on that one.
That said, the Yankee lead in first is about as tenuous as it gets. You have not one, but two clubs just a half game out. When the lack of pitching starts catching up to the Junkees, that lead will not last, unless both the O's and Red Sox do poorly. So who knows, maybe this is the just the Yankees' moment in the sun.
The only solace I have about the Yankees being in first is that in March, I predicted they would end up there. But I sure hope I end up wrong on that one.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Lousy Weekend Wrap-up
(a) I have to give the $200 million team their props - they were certainly better than the Red Sox this weekend, as Boston came out flat as a pancake.
(b) The A-Rod homer off Shilling is no big deal - Shilling was just off the DL, had nothing on Thursday, so it's not that big a deal.
(c) Junkee fans are probably calling Ca$hman a genius for picking up Al Leiter when in reality, it was a no-lose move for Old York. If the guy does well - and let's not annoint the guy the next Warren Spahn after one start - then it was a great move. If he stinks the way he did in Florida, oh well, we picked him up off the scrap heap and only put him in there because we were desperate because of all the injuries. We didn't expect much from him anyway, blah blah blah. And of course, injuries are the reason the Yankees are losing, blah blah blah.
(d) Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina were lousy, but give Mariano his props.
(e) Let's see what happens over the next few games with Redding, Small, and all the other idiots. The Rangers are no slouches.
Also, I expect the Orioles to make some moves, based on what Buster Olney said on ESPN, and remember that Boston's farm system will take them farther than Old York's. So I'm not in panic mode - not yet. Get back to me in a couple of days, though....
(b) The A-Rod homer off Shilling is no big deal - Shilling was just off the DL, had nothing on Thursday, so it's not that big a deal.
(c) Junkee fans are probably calling Ca$hman a genius for picking up Al Leiter when in reality, it was a no-lose move for Old York. If the guy does well - and let's not annoint the guy the next Warren Spahn after one start - then it was a great move. If he stinks the way he did in Florida, oh well, we picked him up off the scrap heap and only put him in there because we were desperate because of all the injuries. We didn't expect much from him anyway, blah blah blah. And of course, injuries are the reason the Yankees are losing, blah blah blah.
(d) Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina were lousy, but give Mariano his props.
(e) Let's see what happens over the next few games with Redding, Small, and all the other idiots. The Rangers are no slouches.
Also, I expect the Orioles to make some moves, based on what Buster Olney said on ESPN, and remember that Boston's farm system will take them farther than Old York's. So I'm not in panic mode - not yet. Get back to me in a couple of days, though....
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Sox Lose Game, Junkees Lose Wang
It's here we go again time, folks. Another Junkees win over the Sox. Homers from the juice boys, Sheff and Giambaby. A-Schmuck finally had a big hit, this one off Schilling in a future YES Classic. Rivera gets the save against the Sox this time. Junkees only 1 and 1/2 out of first. Time to get excited about Palmeiro's run for 3,000 hits. I'd rather watch that.
But one other thing to watch will be how the Junkees respond to their most devastating injury yet, to Chieng-Ming Wang. I was reading Klapisch's piece about the guy on ESPN today, and interestingly, the fact he had shoulder surgery a few years ago stuck out at me. Not sure whether it has anything to do with today's injury (maybe the guy's just fragile?), but after calling the Yankees "lucky" the other day, I might have to take that one back. Whatever it is, their rotation is now officially a big mess. And Moose did not do too well tonight. Maybe things will get better before they get worse.
But one other thing to watch will be how the Junkees respond to their most devastating injury yet, to Chieng-Ming Wang. I was reading Klapisch's piece about the guy on ESPN today, and interestingly, the fact he had shoulder surgery a few years ago stuck out at me. Not sure whether it has anything to do with today's injury (maybe the guy's just fragile?), but after calling the Yankees "lucky" the other day, I might have to take that one back. Whatever it is, their rotation is now officially a big mess. And Moose did not do too well tonight. Maybe things will get better before they get worse.
Top First Half Moments
As a Yankee despiser, I must say the current situation isn't great. The Orioles have gone south (although a healthy Bedard may change that), the Red Sox haven't been able to run away with the title yet, and with Halladay hurt, you can write off the Jays from the race. But with all that, it's been a great first half. Let's run through some of the better moments, in no particular order:
- After Giambaby's press conference about nothing, Sheffield tells the guy to "stop crying."
- Deja vu all over again: Mariano blows two in a row to the Red Sox.
- After bashing the Orioles throughout '04, the Yanks get swept in Camden Yards.
- After that, George says, "enough is enough"! Little did he know what was to come.
- Surprise, surprise. Jaret "I miss my Mazzone" Wright gets injured. Junkees waste another $21 million.
- Junkees lose three of four to the D-Rays, falling to 11-19.
- More deja vu: Yankees lose three of four to Tampa Bay again in June.
- Two words: Tony Womack.
- Two more words: Sean Henn.
- Watching Bernie attempt to play center.
- Watching E-Rod attempt to play third base.
-Watching Giambi attempt to play first base.
- Watching Giambi attempt to hit, for the first two months of the season. Then seeing him refuse to go to AAA.
- Randy Johnson stinking it up, then making excuses for his performance (days of rest between starts, Posada, etc.)
- Koo's double off Johnson.
- The bullpen implosion: Junkees waste millions on Karsay, Felix Rodriguez, Stanton, and Quantrill and replace them with no-names.
-Red Sox pummell Pavano and the Yanks, 17-1.
- George telling Cashman to go on the midwest road trip, only to watch the Royals sweep the Yankees, as the Junkees end up 3-9 on the trip.
- On that same road trip, George blasts Mel Stottelmyre.
- Seeing Pavano turn into Javier Vazquez redux.
- Seeing Tino Martinez turn back into a washed-up 37-year old.
- For the first time in years, the thought of a Yankee-free October.
- After Giambaby's press conference about nothing, Sheffield tells the guy to "stop crying."
- Deja vu all over again: Mariano blows two in a row to the Red Sox.
- After bashing the Orioles throughout '04, the Yanks get swept in Camden Yards.
- After that, George says, "enough is enough"! Little did he know what was to come.
- Surprise, surprise. Jaret "I miss my Mazzone" Wright gets injured. Junkees waste another $21 million.
- Junkees lose three of four to the D-Rays, falling to 11-19.
- More deja vu: Yankees lose three of four to Tampa Bay again in June.
- Two words: Tony Womack.
- Two more words: Sean Henn.
- Watching Bernie attempt to play center.
- Watching E-Rod attempt to play third base.
-Watching Giambi attempt to play first base.
- Watching Giambi attempt to hit, for the first two months of the season. Then seeing him refuse to go to AAA.
- Randy Johnson stinking it up, then making excuses for his performance (days of rest between starts, Posada, etc.)
- Koo's double off Johnson.
- The bullpen implosion: Junkees waste millions on Karsay, Felix Rodriguez, Stanton, and Quantrill and replace them with no-names.
-Red Sox pummell Pavano and the Yanks, 17-1.
- George telling Cashman to go on the midwest road trip, only to watch the Royals sweep the Yankees, as the Junkees end up 3-9 on the trip.
- On that same road trip, George blasts Mel Stottelmyre.
- Seeing Pavano turn into Javier Vazquez redux.
- Seeing Tino Martinez turn back into a washed-up 37-year old.
- For the first time in years, the thought of a Yankee-free October.
Cashman's Full of Bull
I'm sorry, Peter Gammons and Manny Ortiz, but I don't believe for a minute that the Junkees are strapped for cash. Just because they didn't get Beltran? Cashman and co. thought that Bernie was still great (they are delusional sometimes), so they let him go elsewhere. Besides, Beltran never killed them in a big spot, as Tony Womack did, so that was also a factor. If the Astros offered Roger Clemens, do you really think the Junkees would turn them down? Come on.
I think this is a ploy. They know the CBA expires nect year, and teams like the Pirates and Brewers may push for a salary cap. That would end Junkee dominance, as they would not be able to buy all the stars, so George told Cashman to tell people that they have no money. This way, when 2006 rolls around, they'll say, there's no problem with disparity - even we have limits!
I hope no team falls for this. Without a salary cap, I pity those poor Devil Rays fans.
I think this is a ploy. They know the CBA expires nect year, and teams like the Pirates and Brewers may push for a salary cap. That would end Junkee dominance, as they would not be able to buy all the stars, so George told Cashman to tell people that they have no money. This way, when 2006 rolls around, they'll say, there's no problem with disparity - even we have limits!
I hope no team falls for this. Without a salary cap, I pity those poor Devil Rays fans.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Strapped Again?
In Peter Gammons' latest piece, he quotes the Ca$hman as saying that part of the reason the Junkees built from within when they were struggling was that they couldn't afford to take on any new contracts. We heard rumblings like this before, when the Junkees didn't go after Carlos Beltran.
If this is the case, it'll be interesting to see if the Junkees will make any moves before the trade deadline. They clearly need help with starting pitching, center field, and can use a lefty in the pen. Plus, none of their high-salary players are movable (thank you Gary Sheffield). But if they struggle after the break, I'd be very surprised to see George just sit back and do nothing come July 31.
In a way, this news may be more of a curse than a blessing for Junkee-haters. After all, instead of depeleting the farm system for washed-up veterans, the Yankees are starting to revert to Stick Michael tactics, by bringing up Cano, Wang, and Cabrera. Although these guys have been good so far, there's still no way to know whether Cano is more Alfonso Soriano or Pat Kelly, or whether Wang is more Andy Pettitte than Scott Kamieniecki. But a young guy like Cabrera is definitely better out there than Tony Womack. If the Junkees can successfully build a team with a mix of veterans and youngsters, they might be able to win it all again.
Hopefully, by the time guys like Cano develop (if they do), we'll have a salary cap in place.
If this is the case, it'll be interesting to see if the Junkees will make any moves before the trade deadline. They clearly need help with starting pitching, center field, and can use a lefty in the pen. Plus, none of their high-salary players are movable (thank you Gary Sheffield). But if they struggle after the break, I'd be very surprised to see George just sit back and do nothing come July 31.
In a way, this news may be more of a curse than a blessing for Junkee-haters. After all, instead of depeleting the farm system for washed-up veterans, the Yankees are starting to revert to Stick Michael tactics, by bringing up Cano, Wang, and Cabrera. Although these guys have been good so far, there's still no way to know whether Cano is more Alfonso Soriano or Pat Kelly, or whether Wang is more Andy Pettitte than Scott Kamieniecki. But a young guy like Cabrera is definitely better out there than Tony Womack. If the Junkees can successfully build a team with a mix of veterans and youngsters, they might be able to win it all again.
Hopefully, by the time guys like Cano develop (if they do), we'll have a salary cap in place.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Finally, an All-Star Game without Snorre and Half his Team!
I don't care much for the All-Star game. With the abolition of the league presidencies, the success of interleague, and MLB.TV, the game has lost its luster. But it would tick me off every time Joe Snorre would bring half his team to the game. Heck, I think the only dynasty Yankee ever not to make the all-star team was Clay Bellinger!
Remember that year when they had five shortstops, just to get Jeter in even though Nomar and Tejada had better numbers? Ridiculous.
At least this year, the only Junkees at the game are the ones who deserved to make it, like Rivera and A-Schmuck. Shemp screwed up his numbers by not sitting down when he was slumping in May, and even the usual plethora of Japanese fan voters couldn't get him in. Jeter's been good, but not on the same level as Tejada.
And Terry Francona will be in the dugout, not Snorre. Hey, maybe I'll actually watch an inning or two this year.
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Lousy weekend, this past one. Lousy. Worst thing for me was Halladay's injury. A year removed from losing 90 games and losing Delgado, the Jays have managed to stay in the race. With their ace out, it'll be a miracle if they hang in there. (Interestingly, the O's (Bedard), Sox (Schilling), and now the Jays have lost their best pitchers for a long period of time. The Yanks are lucky.)
Remember that year when they had five shortstops, just to get Jeter in even though Nomar and Tejada had better numbers? Ridiculous.
At least this year, the only Junkees at the game are the ones who deserved to make it, like Rivera and A-Schmuck. Shemp screwed up his numbers by not sitting down when he was slumping in May, and even the usual plethora of Japanese fan voters couldn't get him in. Jeter's been good, but not on the same level as Tejada.
And Terry Francona will be in the dugout, not Snorre. Hey, maybe I'll actually watch an inning or two this year.
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Lousy weekend, this past one. Lousy. Worst thing for me was Halladay's injury. A year removed from losing 90 games and losing Delgado, the Jays have managed to stay in the race. With their ace out, it'll be a miracle if they hang in there. (Interestingly, the O's (Bedard), Sox (Schilling), and now the Jays have lost their best pitchers for a long period of time. The Yanks are lucky.)
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Usual Trifecta Ends Junkees' Streak
Do I feel relieved to see the Junkees' win streak is over. And I loved the way it ended, in classic '05 Yankees style: bad starting pitching, bad D (by the new centerfielder, no less), and an inability to hit in the clutch (thanks, A-Rod). Maybe after a bizarre week when Jason Giambi was hitting 'em out like crazy, things are headed back to normal.
Which leads to my next point. Back in '98, everyone made a big deal about how Andy Pettitte was 15-0 after a Yankee loss (something like that, I forgot the exact number). Now, I don't know how much you can read into that: after all, maybe he just got more run support than the other pitchers, maybe he was just plain good that year. Or maybe the guy preceding him in the rotation stunk so he had a lot of opportunities to win games after losses.
But there is something to the stopper effect. For one thing, this year the Yanks have no Pettitte, and thus no stopper. Consequently, this has turned into a very streaky team, and oftentimes one loss has snowballed into a malaise of losses. And considering how characteristic yesterday's loss was, perhaps this Yankee team is once again headed for a dive.
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I'm not the biggest Billy Beane fan out there, but it was great to see those guys sign Mark Kotsay long-term. If Cashman doesn't fix that situation by the end of the year, it just might be what costs this team a playoff spot.
Which leads to my next point. Back in '98, everyone made a big deal about how Andy Pettitte was 15-0 after a Yankee loss (something like that, I forgot the exact number). Now, I don't know how much you can read into that: after all, maybe he just got more run support than the other pitchers, maybe he was just plain good that year. Or maybe the guy preceding him in the rotation stunk so he had a lot of opportunities to win games after losses.
But there is something to the stopper effect. For one thing, this year the Yanks have no Pettitte, and thus no stopper. Consequently, this has turned into a very streaky team, and oftentimes one loss has snowballed into a malaise of losses. And considering how characteristic yesterday's loss was, perhaps this Yankee team is once again headed for a dive.
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I'm not the biggest Billy Beane fan out there, but it was great to see those guys sign Mark Kotsay long-term. If Cashman doesn't fix that situation by the end of the year, it just might be what costs this team a playoff spot.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Giambi's Hot Streak: Calm Down, Idiots
Man, you should have heard all the morons calling up Richard Neer on WFAN (he's the laid-back host who sounds like he's doing his show from a hot tub), asking whether they think Jason Giambi will continue his hot hitting throught the rest of the year.
First off, remember Tino? He was sizzling, and since then? Must have gone into the witness protection program, because I haven't seen or heard about him in a long while.
Giambi's been lousy for a long time. A few good games does not a slugger make. Besides, he hasn't done it in a big spot against any really good pitchers. So let's all calm down, all right? (Except for Mr. Neer, who's not just calm, he's serene.)
First off, remember Tino? He was sizzling, and since then? Must have gone into the witness protection program, because I haven't seen or heard about him in a long while.
Giambi's been lousy for a long time. A few good games does not a slugger make. Besides, he hasn't done it in a big spot against any really good pitchers. So let's all calm down, all right? (Except for Mr. Neer, who's not just calm, he's serene.)
Melky: More Trade Bait?
The newest Yankee kid is 20-year old Melky Cabrera. What is the deal with the Junkees bringing him up? Are they really that desperate in CF? Apparently. Especially with Tony Womack looking like the worst Yankees signing since Dave Collins. But I have a feeling they're putting him on display for some other teams out there.
After all, now that Pavano has hit the DL, the Yanks' rotation is really in trouble. After spending millions on the rotation in the offseason, the only Yankee pitcher not to miss a start this year (since Opening Day) has been Mike Mussina. Pavano, who had a history of injuries prior to '03, is on the DL once again. Brown is on the DL as usual. And something always seems to be up with Randy Johnson: his calf, his back, whatever. And I know Yankee fans love Wang, but as the Despiser has said, the guy is not that great. Does any Yankee fan really want Wang on the mound in a big game against Boston in September? Come on.
And now that we're already in July, trade winds are coming. Jason Schmidt is on the block, and the floundering Orioles want him. Then there are the Sox, who are desperate for relief (and by the way, I like the Schilling idea). George is known for getting players not so much because he needs them, but to prevent other teams from getting them. But as it is, the Yanks' pitching situation is bad news.
(One good thing about the Astros' recent hot streak: it probably means there is no chance of Clemens going back to the Junkees.)
Plus, keep in mind that the Yanks face some very good hitting teams after the break in Texas, Boston, and the Angels. If the starters get battered, George will make sure a trade happens. And maybe giving Cabrera the same exposure as Wang and Cano will make him more appealing. If teams see him as a major-league caliber player, then his value goes up.
So is Melky really here to stay? We'll find out.
After all, now that Pavano has hit the DL, the Yanks' rotation is really in trouble. After spending millions on the rotation in the offseason, the only Yankee pitcher not to miss a start this year (since Opening Day) has been Mike Mussina. Pavano, who had a history of injuries prior to '03, is on the DL once again. Brown is on the DL as usual. And something always seems to be up with Randy Johnson: his calf, his back, whatever. And I know Yankee fans love Wang, but as the Despiser has said, the guy is not that great. Does any Yankee fan really want Wang on the mound in a big game against Boston in September? Come on.
And now that we're already in July, trade winds are coming. Jason Schmidt is on the block, and the floundering Orioles want him. Then there are the Sox, who are desperate for relief (and by the way, I like the Schilling idea). George is known for getting players not so much because he needs them, but to prevent other teams from getting them. But as it is, the Yanks' pitching situation is bad news.
(One good thing about the Astros' recent hot streak: it probably means there is no chance of Clemens going back to the Junkees.)
Plus, keep in mind that the Yanks face some very good hitting teams after the break in Texas, Boston, and the Angels. If the starters get battered, George will make sure a trade happens. And maybe giving Cabrera the same exposure as Wang and Cano will make him more appealing. If teams see him as a major-league caliber player, then his value goes up.
So is Melky really here to stay? We'll find out.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Big Tests Ahead for Junkees
So far this year, the Junkees have had a pretty easy schedule, with mixed results. They've beaten the M's, A's, and Tigers, while struggling against Tampa Bay and KC. But for the next few weeks, the Junkees will face nothing but teams over .500.
They start a 4 game set with Cleveland, who look like they'll be a big factor in the AL Wild Card race. After the All-Star break, it's 4 games against first-place Boston, then three against a very good hitting team, the Texas Rangers. Then, they play 4 against another good-hitting club, the LA Angels. Finally, the Junkees come home to face another contender, the Twins. Let's hope Santana gets to face 'em in this one. After that? 3 more against the Halos. And it doesn't get much easier in August, where the Junkees play 6 against the White Sox.
So before Yankee fans get too excited about being only 4.5 games back, they ought to hold their breaths and wait to see how their team does during this stretch. Because it sure won't be easy.
They start a 4 game set with Cleveland, who look like they'll be a big factor in the AL Wild Card race. After the All-Star break, it's 4 games against first-place Boston, then three against a very good hitting team, the Texas Rangers. Then, they play 4 against another good-hitting club, the LA Angels. Finally, the Junkees come home to face another contender, the Twins. Let's hope Santana gets to face 'em in this one. After that? 3 more against the Halos. And it doesn't get much easier in August, where the Junkees play 6 against the White Sox.
So before Yankee fans get too excited about being only 4.5 games back, they ought to hold their breaths and wait to see how their team does during this stretch. Because it sure won't be easy.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Will RJ Demand a 4-Man Rotation?
The way things have been for the Junkees so far this year, I wouldn't be surprised. I guess RJ will do anything to get that ERA under 4.00.
After this awful 2-game set, I feel that hate towards the Yankees that I haven't felt since that first series of the year. The Yankees have been more laughable than hateable since then. And perhaps they're still laughable now. But between their hitting BJ Ryan like he was Jesus Colome, Giambaby looking like his 2001 self, and RJ pitching well, it was a series to forget. Not to mention that it probably sealed the deal that the O's are done. Thank God for Mets-Nationals.
But who knows what will happen next. Maybe the surging Indians can stop the Junkees from gaining momentum. And maybe if the Junkees stay close, George will piss off all the fans by trading Wang and Cano. And even if the Junkees stay hot, perhaps the Sox and Twins can stave them off and make it a Yankee-free October.
And sometimes, the Yankees in October is not a bad thing. 2004 wouldn't have been nearly as sweet had the Yankees not made it. But this is all speculative. All I know is, right know, the Yankees are hateable again. Let's hope the Indians change that back to laughable.
After this awful 2-game set, I feel that hate towards the Yankees that I haven't felt since that first series of the year. The Yankees have been more laughable than hateable since then. And perhaps they're still laughable now. But between their hitting BJ Ryan like he was Jesus Colome, Giambaby looking like his 2001 self, and RJ pitching well, it was a series to forget. Not to mention that it probably sealed the deal that the O's are done. Thank God for Mets-Nationals.
But who knows what will happen next. Maybe the surging Indians can stop the Junkees from gaining momentum. And maybe if the Junkees stay close, George will piss off all the fans by trading Wang and Cano. And even if the Junkees stay hot, perhaps the Sox and Twins can stave them off and make it a Yankee-free October.
And sometimes, the Yankees in October is not a bad thing. 2004 wouldn't have been nearly as sweet had the Yankees not made it. But this is all speculative. All I know is, right know, the Yankees are hateable again. Let's hope the Indians change that back to laughable.
Monday, July 04, 2005
More Sterling Stupidity: Crying Poverty
Hearing Sterling doing today's game reminded me of why I usually stick to the Schmets with Rose and Cohen. Before the Yanks staged a "here we go again" comeback, they were down 8-6 after Sturtze and the pen squandered a 6-0 lead. At that point, Sterling couldn't shut up about how "the Yankees simply didn't have enough pitching today." Like the Schmets' Ed Coleman, Sterling was busy making excuses for the Yankees' awful performance to that point.
But someone tell the guy that the "not enough pitching" excuse doesn't fly for a $200 million team. It doesn't fly for a team with a $10 million closer, while teams like Milwaukee are stuck with the Derrick Turnbows of the world. It doesn't fly for a team that spent millions on Quantrill, Karsay, and Gordon, and it surely doesn't fly for a team that can simply cut two of those guys without worrying about the money.
Anyone logical would've blamed Cashman. The Yankee pens of the past had plenty of arms, including Lloyd, Mendoza, Nelson, and Stanton (all who came up during the Bob Watson era). Nowadays, aside from Gordon and Rivera, it's all potluck. And $200 million should get you a lot better than potluck. But they don't think that way on al-Yankzeera.
But someone tell the guy that the "not enough pitching" excuse doesn't fly for a $200 million team. It doesn't fly for a team with a $10 million closer, while teams like Milwaukee are stuck with the Derrick Turnbows of the world. It doesn't fly for a team that spent millions on Quantrill, Karsay, and Gordon, and it surely doesn't fly for a team that can simply cut two of those guys without worrying about the money.
Anyone logical would've blamed Cashman. The Yankee pens of the past had plenty of arms, including Lloyd, Mendoza, Nelson, and Stanton (all who came up during the Bob Watson era). Nowadays, aside from Gordon and Rivera, it's all potluck. And $200 million should get you a lot better than potluck. But they don't think that way on al-Yankzeera.
Sterling Gives Snorre a Free Pass
I was listening to the game while Sturtze and Proctor were walking everyone, when Sterling started a tirade about how chemistry and managing are all baloney. It's all about pitching, he said.
If that's the case, John, then Joe Snorre doesn't deserve any credit for his championship run. He deserves no credit for leading those veteran teams. After all, he had some damn good pitching over the years, with Cone, Pettitte, Clemens, El Duque, Mussina etc.
It's amazing that when the Yankees win, you always hear about how Torre is a genius of a manager. Suddenly, this year, the Yankees stink up and hardly anyone gives Snorre a hard time. A while back we mentioned an article by Mike Lupica saying that Snorre should be held accountable for the Junkees' struggles. And Joel Sherman awarded Torre as runner-up in the AL anti-manager of the year category. But that's been it.
But then again, what do you expect from al-Yankzeera?
If that's the case, John, then Joe Snorre doesn't deserve any credit for his championship run. He deserves no credit for leading those veteran teams. After all, he had some damn good pitching over the years, with Cone, Pettitte, Clemens, El Duque, Mussina etc.
It's amazing that when the Yankees win, you always hear about how Torre is a genius of a manager. Suddenly, this year, the Yankees stink up and hardly anyone gives Snorre a hard time. A while back we mentioned an article by Mike Lupica saying that Snorre should be held accountable for the Junkees' struggles. And Joel Sherman awarded Torre as runner-up in the AL anti-manager of the year category. But that's been it.
But then again, what do you expect from al-Yankzeera?
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Stanton Cut: See I Told You So / Starters' Woes Continue
How many times did I write that the Junkees were idiots for picking up a washed up reliever who used to be good, but was completely useless now? How many times did I mock George for trying to relive the glory days of '96-'00?
Whoever thought Stanton had anything left has his hat on backwards. So maybe now they finally realize that the dynasty is long over, and it's time to turn the page. Besides, Mariano Duncan has no plans to come out of retirement, although I hear that Gerald Williams may be available for the right package of prospects.... And now with Quantill gone, it's satisfying to see the Junkees flush $7 million down the toilet. Imbeciles.
In other news, Randy got bombed yet again, and Mussina was unimpressive giving up 4 earned runs in 6 innings. How do you not just love it if you're me?
Now Pavano misses a start, so we'll have to listen to Junkee fans and apologists say that injuries have killed the Yankees this year, when Wright and Brown weren't exactly blowing hitters away when they were healthy (neither was Pavano, for that matter), so they actually catch a break by getting Wang to pitch Sunday, but overall, it just gets better and better for Yankee despisers. Granted, I would never count them out until they are officially eliminated from the playoffs, but how do they turn it around when their starters get lit up night after night after night? Delicious!
Whoever thought Stanton had anything left has his hat on backwards. So maybe now they finally realize that the dynasty is long over, and it's time to turn the page. Besides, Mariano Duncan has no plans to come out of retirement, although I hear that Gerald Williams may be available for the right package of prospects.... And now with Quantill gone, it's satisfying to see the Junkees flush $7 million down the toilet. Imbeciles.
In other news, Randy got bombed yet again, and Mussina was unimpressive giving up 4 earned runs in 6 innings. How do you not just love it if you're me?
Now Pavano misses a start, so we'll have to listen to Junkee fans and apologists say that injuries have killed the Yankees this year, when Wright and Brown weren't exactly blowing hitters away when they were healthy (neither was Pavano, for that matter), so they actually catch a break by getting Wang to pitch Sunday, but overall, it just gets better and better for Yankee despisers. Granted, I would never count them out until they are officially eliminated from the playoffs, but how do they turn it around when their starters get lit up night after night after night? Delicious!
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