Eight years ago today, the Yankees signed Ramon Ramirez to a minor league contract after winning his rights via the posting system with a $350K bid. Ramirez, then 21, had been with the Hiroshima Carp, appearing in just two games with them from 2002-2003.
Here's some links from the Big Apple…
- Bud Selig briefly spoke to SI.com's Jon Heyman (Twitter link) about the Mets' ownership and dire financial situation. "We're in unchartered waters. I talk to Fred (a lot), we just have to hope it works out," said the commissioner. The team is said to be seeking another loan on top of the $100MM it's already been granted by the league.
- Mike Piazza is helping coach Team Italy this spring, and he told ESPN New York's Adam Rubin and Newsday's David Lennon that he would like to own a team someday, but not necessarily the Mets (Twitter links). When asked if he's been contacted by anyone about owning a club, Piazza replied "I can't confirm or deny."
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe that he doesn't believe he'll be able to acquire a starter before the Opening Day, and perhaps not until June. "Normally anything of quality doesn't become available until after the June draft," said Cashman. "That's why you try and get as much as you can get accomplished in the winter. I know New York doesn't handle patience very well. But I'm from Kentucky, so it's a little easier for me to deal with."
- Cashman also spoke to Abraham about why the Yankees non-tendered Alfredo Aceves, who eventually signed with the Red Sox. "I offered him a minor league contract, that was it. I wasn't going to do anything more than that," said the GM. "Because of the back issue, we could not give him [a Major League contract]. He was throwing off the mound for us and he always hit a wall. So we ultimately continued to fail throughout the entire process to get him off the DL and active. He had a lot of success for a period of time, but then ultimately we'd had to take steps back and we'd have to shut him down and re-do the treatment."
I agree with Piazza, I too would like to own a team someday but not necessarily the mets
why the hell can’t he deny?
Because he’s leaving it up to the imagination of anyone reading to add mystique to an otherwise uninteresting story.
Or maybe the bacne made him say it.
was he a juicer ? did i misremember that ?
While I’ve read allegations of Piazza juicing, I don’t believe there’s any evidence.
that could be said for alot of those guys around his time. did Canseco name him in his book
I don’t believe Canseco named him directly, however even some conservative estimates suggest more than 25% of the players were on something that someone would consider unseemly. That said, I doubt we’ll ever know the real truth.
It is a shame we wont ever know , I think the percentage is way higher than 25 tho
Well I did say conservative estimate. I’m not sure knowing or not knowing is better. On one hand, knowing the truth will eliminate the doubt, but personally I’m not sure if I really want to know if my favorite memories from my childhood revolve arounbd juiced players. On the other hand not knowing simply means a taint stays over all of the players.
Then there’s the final question, at what point is it not “cheating?” Seriously. At what percentage of players would juicing not be “cheating” but in essence playing by one of baseball’s many quiet rules.
what was the other end of the spectrum like 99% and if it was that high, i guess it wouldnt be cheating if everybody were doing it because their would be no competitive advantage , I guess? but it does skew the value of certain numbers , like 3000 and 500.
human players are things to cashman.
Cashman. I sure am glad I’m not a Yankees fan.
Oh oh. A number of replies involving the number 27 will fall angrily upon you.
He has made questionable moves, questionable inactivity and what not, but on the plus side he restocked the farm and still has the Yankees competitve. Thats how I look at things and maybe thats why I’m not so vocal criticising him.
but, but but but he’s a BARTENDER!!! And he’s SPIDERMAN!!!!!!!!
If Cashman was willing to issue a minor league contract to Aceves, but not a major league one, the right question would be: Is Seth Garrison, Robert Fish, or Daniel Turpen a better use of a roster spot than Aceves?
Obviously he wasn’t convinced Aceves was healthy.
i would understand that if aceves didn’t have any options left and/or the yankees were pitching-rich, but he does and they aren’t
Obviously he wasn’t convinced Aceves was healthy.
obviously one doesn’t need to be convinced of aceves’ health for it to be wise to sign him to a major league deal when he has an option remaining
Obviously he wasn’t convinced Aceves was healthy.
it’s true, cashman is a real stickler about potential injury risks
– m. prior & e. chavez
both minor league deals kinda like the one he offered aceves.
would be a great point if aceves didn’t have a minor league option left
but since you can read and know that he does have an option left and thus could be sent to the minors with prior and chavez, it’s more of a wasted comment kinda situation
having an options left is irrelevant as i was responding to this “it’s true, cashman is a real stickler about potential injury risks
– m. prior & e. chavez” which was a pointless jab at cashman that made little sense, being that they are completely different situations.
they still aren’t completely different situations and won’t be the next time you say it either. afaik, this was the complete list of the potential issues with signing aceves:
– he’d take a spot on the 25-man roster (irrelevant since he has a minor league option)
– salary (insignificant)
– he’d take a spot on the 40-man roster (as P Messi has pointed out, this means losing a guy like daniel turpen or robert fish. in other words, it too is completely insignificant)
– injury concern (not only is aceves ostensibly healthy, he’s less of an injury risk than m. prior and e. chavez, which is why they were mentioned)
– the yankees already had too many quality starters (lol)
Lol! Love it!
Put it this way:
Aceves’ chances of coming back healthy and effective >>>>>>>>>>>>> Turpen’s chances of sticking in the 25-man roster.
Maybe I didn’t make myself very clear (not a knock on you. a knock on my poor writing).
The only substantial difference between offering a major league contract and a minor league contract is the roster spot (since Aceves has options). Cashman was willing to offer one and not the other, so obviously, the issue was a roster spot. What I’m saying is: Are the two rule V guys a better use of a roster spot when they will most likely be returned to their teams in the next few days anyways?
At some point Selig is going to have to make the call to let the Wilpons drown on their own. Ultimately he needs to force the Wilpons to sell the team as what’s best for baseball.
SWP, you’re the best
Only in a perfect world
Cashman is from Kentucky, thus making him better than New Yorkers. Your argument is now invalid.
kind of funny. Yeah, interesting comment. I’ll give that one to you.
Begin Flame War!
Meanwhile Daniel Turpen has an ERA of what? Like 10.80?
To be fair, what else is he supposed to do? Admit he blew it on this one?
he “blew it” based on the fact that Aceves is still healthy (in early March) and had one good 3-inning start (in Spring Training) against the worst team in the division?
No, he “blew it” based on the fact that he appears to be healthy and pitching despite Cashman’s supposed assessment was he was injured and out for the season.
Look, I’ll agree this entire situation is being overblown and had Aceves been a Royal then there would be a few laughs about Moore and the entire thing would be forgotten. But also if Bard ended up injured and on the yanks ST roster next year I can guarantee yanks fans and Red Sox haters would be making a great deal of noise about Theo.