One New York team, the Mets, rested today while the other, the Yankees, opened their season with a win over the Tigers. Here are some items of note for each of Gotham's big league ballclubs …
- Luis Hernandez has decided to remain with the Mets organization after clearing waivers, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The second baseman, rumored at one point during Spring Training to be the favorite to win the starting job at second base, will report to Triple-A Buffalo rather than testing free agency.
- Similarly, left-hander Pat Misch has opted to stay with the organization after clearing waivers, writes Rubin. Misch, too, will report to Triple-A Buffalo.
- All the conjecture over the state of the Yankees' rotation came to an end today, at the outset of the regular season, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Despite the attention paid to the state of the Bombers' rotation this offseason and spring, Sherman writes, their starting five was hardly a sure thing in 2010, when they managed to win 95 games and reach the ALCS. As with last season, the lineup and bullpen are very strong, but it will be interesting to see how the spotty rotation plays out and whether GM Brian Cashman makes any in-season moves in the event that things don't work out between A.J. Burnett, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia. No team's Nos. 1-5 starters are perfect, of course, but as Sherman notes, the Red Sox and Rays appear to have the better rotations in the AL East on paper as of now.
The Yankees rotation has always been a complete non-issue, especially when you look at their offense.
Their line up isn’t getting any younger though. Alot is being considered as a “given” with that line up when the guys who had “down years” in 2010 are on the back side of their careers.
Like Posada & Jeter. If they’re on the decline instead that line up in alot less imposing.
Guys in their late 30’s can’t be be seriously looked at like bounce back types.
Posada and Jeter are not considered main parts of the offense. That would fall on Arod,Tex and Cano. Most of the hitters are in their prime
replace jeter’s and posada’s numbers with the league averages for their positions. now how do the yankees look
not quite bad, but not nearly as good. whatever “main” parts of the offense means, those two are very important to it
It means that they don’t have to “carry” the offense. They are not integral cogs, more like side pieces. The bulk of the responsibility falls on Cano, Tex, and A-Rod.
And?
Since both Cano & Tex are notorious slow starters I guess you’re saying it all falls on 35 year old A-rod?
And what? I was just telling him what he meant by “main” pieces, which srs was not sure about.
But it’s hard to take your point serious after watching Tex homer today lol. Also, Cano didn’t have a slow start last year. So… I guess you’re not 100% right? Even if so, 35 is not 40, dude. A-Rod will have a legit season. For the first time since the surgery, he is not rehabbing, and just getting ready for a season doing baseball activities.
“srs was not sure”
+10
the first trio are definitely better offensive players, but i don’t see how jeter and posada’s contributions can be considered less important. particularly with posada was catching, the production from those two is enormously valuable
plenty of lineups have great 3-4-5 combinations. the whole reason the yankees lineup is so fearsome is because it never slows down
Exactly also everyone hear is not mentioning the Yankee outfield which isn’t young young but for the Yankees is young. Swisher is only 30 who gives you around 30 hr and 85-90 rbis and last year improved his average and defense, Granderson is 30 and if he can stay healthy should give you 30 hr and 85-90 rbi and Gardner is only 27 and doesn’t have great hr or rbi numbers but is a gritty non shelfish player who is a great defensive lf with a pretty good arm. As good as Abreu, Damon and Matsui were I really like this outfield and if todays bullpen is a sign of things to come thats gonna be exciting. Soriano and Mariano both have great control and don’t give up many hits which is gonna be great for the 8th and 9th innings when there’s a lead or close game. The only big question mark is in the rotation after CC but the rotation may also turn out to be pretty good it depends on how Hughes progresses and if Burnett can have a year like 2008 or 2009. In the end every team has question marks even the Red Sox and Phillies just not really big ones. Good though to finally get the season underway. Let the grey hairs begin! I’ve been more worried about yankee teams from 5 or 6 years ago then this one.
I understand that the Yankees have face criticism for their rotation, but come on… Tampa’s offense and bullpen has many question marks, having no steady closer, many experiments, a 1B man that can’t hit for a passable average and with Desmond Jennings losing his starting job with an awful spring training.
Similarly, the Red Sox have a very strong offense, but there’re still fears of possible health issues (including in one of their major acquisitions: Adrian Gonzalez), a rotation that behind Lester and Buchholz scares no one, a bullpen that will probably be a work in progress for most of the season and a declining closer in a negative contractual situation.
Even though I must admit that the Red Sox are probably the overall better of the three teams, I still think that the difference between them is not great enough to say that there’s a clear favorite to win the division. If anything, there’s more hype surrounding the Red Sox only because they were one of the biggest spenders and have shiny new pieces.
The RED SOX have no real health concerns…even with Gonzalez. His surgery was about a routine as they come and played almost the entire season with the injury last year. The RED SOX are simply being cautious, as has been reported by just about every news outlet under the sun. Everyone has shown they’re healthy throughout ST.
I’d disagree with you about their rotation too. Both Lackey & Dice-K are fromidable pitchers and even if you get what you got last year from them that’s still pretty decent. Beckett is the only “REAL” qurestion mark and his start last night in Houston should go a long way to show he’s ready for the season.
Garcia and Nova had similar numbers to Lackey and Dice-K yet for the Boston pair those are solid numbers but for the Yankee pair they are suspect. Give me a break. Boston’s rotation after the first two is as questionable as the Yankees. There catcher has been given multiple opportunities to prove he is the real deal and couldn’t do it. J. D. (Just Disabled as they call him in LA) Drew is always an injury waiting to happen and Ellsbury is coming off a major injury so there has to be questions about him. You also don’t know for sure if there will be lingering effects form Youkilis’ and Pedroia’s injuries (although I doubt it)
I agree with Rafael. I don’t think there is a clear favorite in this division. I also think Baltimore and Toronto are likely to hang with the big boys much of the season making this division a dog fight.
People look at what Boston added but conveniently forget what they gave up. Beltre and Martinez did very well for them last year. (I don’t think Beltre will repeat his numbers now that he has a long term deal, but he was a monster last year).
Boston added about 2 WAR this offseason when you total it all up, sort of funny that everyone thinks this makes up the 6 game gap and much more.
As for the pitching, it’s downright laughable that anyone considers Boston’s rotation anywhere close to good. You have 3 pitchers who are more likely than not to put up an ERA near 5. Lackey, for example, has seen his peripherals decline sharply for several consecutive years. There is basically no precedent for a guy like him improving at age 32. Being John Lackey doesn’t make him good.
“Garcia and Nova had similar numbers to Lackey and Dice-K”
I’ll give you a mulligan this time. Wanna try again?
Lackey 4.40 era average against .277 WHIP 1.42
Dice-K 4.69 era average against .240 WHIP 1.37
Garcia 4.64 era average against .279 WHIP 1.38
Nova 4.50 era average against ..268 WHIP 1.45
Yes I would say those are similar numbers
you should compare their heights too, that would tell us important stuffs
Your first hint should have been that Nova and Garcia together were worth 1.8 WAR last year; Dice-K alone was worth 2.5 and Lackey put up 4.0.
Lackey: 3.85 FIP ~ K/9 6.53 ~ HR/9 0.75 ~ FIP- 89
Garcia: 4.77 FIP ~ K/9 5.10 ~ HR/9 1.32 ~ FIP- 110
Garcia also put those numbers up in the central and now is moving to the east.
Dice: 4.05 FIP ~ K/9 7.79 ~ HR/9 0.76 ~ FIP- 94
Nova:4.36 FIP ~ K/9 5.57 ~ HR/9 0.86 ~ FIP- 103
I stopped reading after you considered Dice K a formidable pitcher
I really can’t tell if you are being sarcastic or just an extreme Red Sox homer.
Sorry, I’m as big of a Red Sox fan as anybody, but saying that the Sox don’t have any health concerns isn’t being realistic. Every player who was injured last year is a health concern until we know how they are going to hold up to regular playing time. Does Pedroia’s surgically repaired foot hold up? Does Youk’s hand hold together? Can Gonzalez’s shoulder handle swinging a bat every day? Is Beckett’s back going to hold up? Ellsbury’s ribs? Cameron’s stomach? The answer to all of those is ‘probably’ but until we know for sure they are concerns.
Based on spring training performance (And no, I don’t mean stats, I mean actual movement), the only two I’m worried about are Youk and Beckett’s shoulder (Not his back, it came out recently he had a shoulder problem that never made the press). Ellsbury’s been laying out and his speed doesn’t seem to be suffering, same with Pedroia. Gonzalez, his surgery was relatively routine and he dealt with the shoulder all last year and still had a great season.
I agree that they look fine right now, the question really is will they continue to be fine for 162, or will they start to wear down or have issues from the stress that playing baseball every day puts on their bodies?
I don’t think that they will have any issues with that stuff either but to say, as qbass did, that there aren’t any questions about whether they will or not is silly.
As it stands, these guys appear (For the most part) to have recovered fine. The question going forward about health is the same as anyone else in the MLB not named Mariano Rivera, Roy Halladay or Albert Pujols.
There is 1 ace in the hole for infield (2b.SS,3B) injuries at a prolonged clip that most teams don’t have the luxury of with Jed Lowrie. Many teams don’t have as capable a backup if he can produce close to what he did last season. 1.8 WAR (for you stat freaks)
was not too bad in a little over 200PA.
I think alot of people underestimate Ivan Nova’s potential. Good luck in 2011. Plus, the bullpen is gonna be great!
not a lot of people, mainly just baseball scouts and professional talent evaluators. most of new york actually thinks he’s way better than he is
All i hope is that he keeps us in games really, and I am thinking he’ll be a #4 at his very best, but realistically a #5
that’s the best perspective. all nova needs to do is pitch six innings regularly. it won’t be tough to keep that lineup in the game
but that’s totally different from saying MAN NOVA IS SO GOOD GUYS
I would say that he can be as good as a 4 ERA over 150+ innings or as bad as a 4.5 ERA for 100 innings. so basically he can a serviceable-to-good #4 or a forgettable (not terrible, because you would remember that) member of the #5 rotating door. basically, he won’t blow anyone away, but he should be able to have success relative to his position in the rotation in the same way that blanton is the best #5 pitcher in baseball, but he is a pretty “meh whatever” talent: it’s all about the role you give them and the expectations surrounding that position.
If he can just not let those runners on base excalate into a big inning like Burnett did last year he would be pretty good. There were some starts and flashes of a real good pitcher that Nova showed last year.
AL Cy Young. Put it on the board. Championship!
more like MVP, screw it he already has next year’s awards locked up as well
haha I’m thinking next year he can win AL AND NL Cy Youngs awards!