Odds & Ends: Amaro, Marte, Griffey

This is a mistake. He will not be back now and they will miss this guy. he just needed a year to adjust to a new league (like beckett in '06) and should have a good year next season. Now the Yanks are going to be short a reliever, on top of chancing for Sabathia, Burnet etc.. in the FA market this off season.

It's a mistake with a pitching staff as bad as the Yankees currently have and am not saying that just because am not a Yankee fan either. I understand full well that they plan on offering him arbitration, but this team needs quality arms and they are taking a chance with 1 of the best that they currently have the possibility of controlling for draft picks (which i understand they also really need) and since when has finances really been of such major importance in the past?

it just seems like a huge gamble for a quality relieve, a lefty as well no less.

What's bad about the Yankees pitching staff? Better than average RA and component rates last year and one has to assume they'll be better in 2009 given the predicted offseason moves. Figure the add one, probably two, big starters plus the return of Wang plus (hopefully) full seasons from Chamberlain and Hughes netted against losing Mussina (very good in 2008), possibly Pettitte (who was below league average) and possibly Marte. Doesn't look bad to me on paper/spreadsheet.

I'm ok with moving Tabata when they did; he was showing no power and the Yankees just can't keep playing with moderate at best power in the corners of their OF. It was a good risk at the time, just didn't quite work out. So it goes.

Does Melancon write weird poetry in the bullpen?

Id rather get 2 draft picks than a lefty specialist. What I learned about Marte is that he cant pitch an inning or two. you could only bring him up to face a batter or maybe two. Melancon will do great in the majors. The Yankees got a bullpen packed of young arms which I hope Mo can teach.

Johns: I only used the words possibly/probably because I hate when people speak in definites about things they can't know for sure. However, I think you'd agree with me that there's a 99% chance of the following happening.

1. Either Sabathia, Burnett or Lowe will be in pinstripes next year, likely replacing Mussina's spot, right?

2. Wang back in the Rasner/Ponson slot

So right there, I think we're a better staff than 2008 without any major or outlandish predictions. Add in the other uncertains, the possibility of signing a 2nd major starter, Hughes back and fulfilling expectations, Chamberlain healthy, so on, and we're potentially in really, really good shape.

Regarding Marte; in an offseason of huge predicted spending, I don't blame them for not committing $6MM to him off the bat. He'll still be an option a month from now.