Here's the latest out of Queens and the Bronx on the final Sunday before regular season baseball gets underway….
- The Yankees have no plans to pursue the recently released Carlos Silva tweets Jack Curry of the YES Network. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild was Silva's pitching coach with the Cubs last season.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi told Chad Jennings of The Journal News that Romulo Sanchez was scratched from today's road trip "for reasons I can’t give to you at this point." The right-hander is out of options and a long shot to make the team, and Girardi gave a look that indicated a trade was in the works acording to Jennings.
- Pedro Beato will make the Mets' Opening Day roster, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. The Mets selected Beato from the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft.
- In another tweet, Heyman says the Mets are searching for a second left-handed reliever, in part to match up with some of the lefty sluggers in the NL East.
- In a conversation with Steve Selby of the New York Post, David Wright says he's not concerned about the possibility of a Mets fire sale.
- Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News argues that the Yankees took the "safe, easy" route in giving Freddy Garcia a rotation spot over Bartolo Colon.
- The Yankees hope Colon can occupy the swing-man role previously held by Alfredo Aceves, writes Feinsand.
Chad Jennings indicated that the Yankees may have a trade involving Romulo Sanchez. Have you heard anything or have any ideas as to who the other team is and what they might be offering?
Nothing of value if thats what your wondering.
Of course David Wright’s not concerned about a fire sale…’cause it means he’d get the hell off that team
“The Yankees hope Colon…” has to be in the running for Most Misplaced Hope Award, 2011. Hoping Bartolo Colon can do ANYTHING useful is not something a team with a $200M payroll should be doing. It’s something the Pirates should be doing.
There are two consistent flaws in Brian Cashman’s tenure with the Yankees: the failure to develop prospects into above-average major leaguers (with the exception of Cano and possibly Hughes), and a lack of attention to the last few spots on the roster. Once in a while the Yankees get a hot streak out of an Aaron Small, but more often they get zero production out of those #20-25 men.
That may not seem important compared to the stars in the everyday lineup, but it adds up over the course of a season. Every time you have a Miguel Cairo play first base or a Ramiro Pena subbing for A-Rod at third, or settle for Bartolo Colon as your swingman, you’re diminishing your team’s chances of winning.
Simple rule of thumb: for every 3 “can’t miss” prospects, one turns out to be a keeper. I’m not a huge Brian Cashman fan, but in addition to Hughes and Cano, the Yanks minor leagues have also put David Robertson, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova and Joba Chamberlain on the big team over the last 4 seasons. They also produced the talent that landed Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher. Too bad the Mess can’t lay claim to that kind of minor league success. Do the Yanks go out and buy free agents? Of course. But most GM’s would kill to have 11 guys on the team directly from their minor league system and another 3 coming by trade (trades which didn’t cost any major league talent).
The Yanks seem to have hit the mark with Colon, Garcia, Chavez, Filiciano, Soriano, and Jones not to mention Nunez. These players could be some of the best bench in baseball this year.
Are you really crticizing him on a 6th man? The difference between your Yanks vs Pirates analogy is that Colon would absolutely be in the starting 5 of the Pirates w/ no questions asked. FOr the Yanks, in a very unusual year for them, Colon was fighting for the #5 spot. I think you’re too carried away with the Colon thing. Every roster has a “fringe” 5th starter/long man. Prior to this year, we had a great one in Aceves.
As for Cashman he’s done a great job since being given 100% control in ’05.
YFS78. I remember from back in 2008 that Colon’s problem was his back and it took him a LONG time to even get warmed up. Is his back still an issue at all if they plan on using him in relief? You don’t think it would be best served to try and get what good use possible at the start of the season from him before his back goes all the way out?
Just curious what you think on this.
Not sure. It hasn’t been an issue at all so far. The fact that Pena had him all summer in the Dominican makes me comfortable with the idea that he’s physically ok. I actually heard that it doesn’t take him long to warm and that, plus concerns over his stamina, were reasons why they felt he was best suited for the pen.
The Colon/Garcia deal is hardly over. If Freddy continues to pitch as poorly during the regular season as he has over the last two weeks, do you really think they won’t switch places? And do you really think either will be here come July? Somebody will become available at the deadline – they always do. And the Yanks minor league system is filled with arms that project to being solid #3 guys (Warren, Phelps, etc) who you can send for a competent 5th starter to close out the season.
Most teams would be happy to have that choice! Nova and Colon looked much better than Beckett, Lackey, and Dice-K in spring training, but it is spring training.
Dice-K pitched 3 great games in a row at the end of spring. Beckett however has pitched poorly.
The Yanks will be after a #2 starter at the deadline like Carpenter not a #5. Nova will end up being the #5.
Point taken, but I don’t think anyone of Carpenter’s ability will be available come the deadline. And that includes Carpenter. Even if the Cards are absolutrly horrendous (and in their division, that’s what it would take to be out of contention at the break), no way they trade him, especially since their hopes of re-signing Albert are dying fast. Unless, that is, they’ve taken lessons from the Madoff…er, Wilpons on how to lose friends and fans.
I’m glad that the Mets are searching for another left handed reliever for the bullpen. No way they can go into the season with just Byrdak. Best thing they can do is package Evans, Acosta and an OF prospect to the Padres for Joe Thatcher. Thatcher has been one of my favorite LHP relievers the last few years and he would be a big boost for the Mets pen.
Evans & Acosta have done well in ST but they look like they’ll be on the outside looking in as far as making the team, not to mention both of them are out of options. I always liked Evans, but there’s no way I see him getting a fair shake here with Ike being the starting 1st baseman and now Murphy being the utility man. He’d be a step up from the Cantu/Hawpe platoon they’re (San Diego) trying to run with at 1st base. Acosta would be a suitable addition in the Padres pen since he has a good track record against teams in the NL West (well, except the Rockies).
Why would the Padres want that trash?
Obviously, you probably just skimmed through what I wrote because I already explained why. First of all, Acosta and/or Evans are NOT trash. Compared to what the Padres have now at 1st and in the OF, don’t even TALK about trash. Acosta was one of the best pitchers the Mets had in the pen last season (3-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.210 WHIP) and Evans did very well in AA/AAA with a .300/.371/.536/.907 line. Evans never had a full season here (and never will for the most part), but is a good defender at 1st and a solid hitter. The Padres definitely need a potent outfielder offensively and defensively because Venable and/or Maybin won’t cut it. The Mets have plenty of outfield depth that can fill the Padres need.
Ok perhaps “trash” was a bit harsh, but the Padres are already committed to Hawpe/Cantu as a placeholder for Rizzo. They also have Blanks, so no reason to deal for a guy like Evans. They are also fine in the bullpen, so no need for Acosta, and if he’s so special anyway, seems like the Mets should keep him around. As far as the outfield, I’m pretty sure Evans isn’t an upgrade over what they already have. Maybe as a fourth OF type, but no reason to deal a solid left-handed reliever for that.
Funny how Mets fans always think their retreads and never were’s are better than everyone else’s major leaguers.
I’m not rubber stamping that trade proposal. But it’s not just Mets fans who sometimes overvalue their prospects and “trash.” Yankee fans and fans of other teams do it ALL the time.
it wright really does want to be a met for life then he has to take the heath bell route and accept less money
Wasnt Beato a top prospect at some point?
Ranked 99 in 07
17:1 K/BB ratio for Colon and the Yanks are leaning towards Garcia? He hasn’t had a decent season since 2005, in no way does he seem like a safe choice. Especially being a flyball pitcher in this new Yankees stadium.
Cashman made some great moves picking up Garcia, Colon, and Millwood. They should be able to do well in the #5 spot and long relief spot to start the season. By the all star break the Yanks will pick up another starter and the killer Bs could be ready to contibute!
I’ll agree Garcia was a good move, less so on Millwood since he’s already been slapped around in the AL East, but Colon a “great move?” Yeah, not buying that one.
These players were the best available at the time, and cost efficent which is not like the Yanks.
Spring Training
This is somewhat off topic but I was reading an article over at RAB and they were talking about the possibility of the Yanks signing HanRam once Jeter retires. It caused me to look at his numbers and I realized this…..
HanRam, by UZR standards, has been an even worse defensive SS than Jeter!!
2010-Jeter @ -4.7; HanRam @ -10.2
2009-Jeter @ +6.4; HanRam @ -0.2
2008-Jeter @ -0.3; HanRam @ +0.8
2007-Jeter @ -17.9; HanRam @ -20.5
2006-Jeter @ -7.3; HanRam @ -9.3
From a hitters perspective Jeter compares favorable as well aside from his power production. His 2010 season is the only one that’s way off.
2010-Jeter @ .270/.340/.370 w/ 18 SB; HanRam @ .300/.378/.475 w/ 32 SB
2009-Jeter @ .334/.406/.465 w/ 30 SB; HanRam @ .342/.410/.543 w/ 27 SB
2008-Jeter @ .300/.363/.408 w/ 11 SB; HanRam @ .301/.400/.540 w/ 35 SB
2007-Jeter @ .322/.388/.452 w/ 15 SB/ HanRam @ .332/.386/.562 w/ 51 SB
2006-Jeter @ .343/.417/.483 w/ 34 SB; HanRam @ .292/.353/.480 w/ 51SB
Obviously, if anyone were to ask “Which SS would I take” I would be a homer to say anything other Hanley. That would be as true in 2014 as it would be now. However, I found the numbers interesting.
Most would say that short of Tulo, Hanley is the best SS in the game. Most would also say that Jeter is a good bat but a horrible defensive SS. Well Hanley is in essence the best and the worst of what Jeter is. His glove is as bad if not worse (according to UZR) and his offense is much better. He simply has more power and speed than Hanley and they are equals over the last 6 years in terms of batting average and OBP.
What astonishes me is that his poor defensive value pretty much goes ignored.
Prior to 2010 Jeter was known as a good hitting SS but most trashed him, rightfully to an extent, because of his defense. Well if Hanley is worse and considerably younger, then why are we giving him a pass? It’s simply because of his great offensove abilities. Well, prior to 2010 Jeter wasn’t a power threat but he was a great hitter who many felt was winning GG because of his offense. Am I the only one that sees the double standard here?
As a baseball fan, if Hanley’s defense remains the same and he becomes a FA in the winter of 2014 do you sign him even though he will be a better/worse great bat/bad glove SS?
I thought people have been calling Hanley an awful defensive shortstop for a while. For a while now haven’t people been theorizing that Hanley would be better suited in the outfield or at second.
As someone that watches 3/4 of the marlins games… Ramirez has gotten better than he was, but he still is not a very good SS IMO. he no longer loses the ball in his glove as he did 1-2 years ago, nor has that annoying habit of double clutching with his throws, someone seems to have fixed that issue. His throws are still not accurate and he does not have great range. But after 2014, his bat at the age of 31? I would think the Yankees would be more than interested with what this guy could provide offensively for that team. he really isn’t THAT much worse on the “D” end that jeter the last few years and his bat is top notch and would be if the yanks could get him for “just” 4, maybe 5 years max.
I think one thing you didn’t mention is the crop of SS that Derek headlined in his prime compared to the crop now.. The SS cupboard is pretty bare, there’s essentially Tulo, Hanley and everyone else.
Well they aren’t in the elite class of shortstops but Drew made good strides last year and Alexei Ramirez is probably the top shortstop in the AL right now.
compare that to the 90’s/early 2000’s
jeter, arod, garciaparra, tejada, larkin, ripken, vizquel..
drew and ramirez are definetely good, I’d put Escobar and Andrus in there too
Eh, I wouldn’t call Andrus good yet. He saw a pretty decent drop in his power numbers and UZR last year. He’s still young and could be one of the top shortstops in a few years, but not now.
I’d still take Jeter, if only for this reason: he’s a leader and a good teammate (from what we see publicly). Ramirez’s heart and ability to do anything but post stats has been openly questioned by current and former teammates and even his most recent manager. Talent is great, but you need the intangibles to win.
lol.. so its people like you that the majority of people mock when they bring up intangibles and ‘playing the game the right way’
I like Jeter, he was a super star during his prime. but his career is now coming to an end.
Yeah just tagging onto purple, I don’t know who’s ignoring Hanley’s defensive shortcomings… people talk about it all the time.
You say Hanley “simply has more power and speed” than Jeter (well you said Hanley but I’m assuming that was a mistake), but that’s sort of the point. He has much more power, and is a better basestealer.
Are you arguing that Jeter doesn’t get enough credit? He’s been worshiped for practically his entire career. And Hanley hasn’t won a gold glove, so where exactly is this double standard?
The statement was meant to make a case for Jeter but just to point out how on one hand ppl trash Jeter because of his DEFENSIVE liability but then, in an age where we are suppose to value defense, we praise Hanley who is a worse defensive player and we do so because of his offensive abilities. Either we value defense or we don’t.
We are in an age where defense is starting to be valued more, but Hanley’s bat more than makes up for his defensive liability, just like Jeter’s did earlier in his career, except Hanley is a far superior offensive player so he gets even more slack.
Where exactly is the confusion here?