Links for Wednesday, after a walk-off win for Brandon Inge and the Tigers…
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Pedro Feliciano has a "damaged shoulder" according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times (on Twitter). It sounds like surgery is a possibility for the Yankees' $8MM investment.
- Tsuyoshi Nishioka’s leg injury weakened the Twins' middle infield, which means they may look for infield help, rather than relievers in potential deals, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Trade candidate Kevin Slowey hasn’t pitched in a game since April 4th because of bursitis in his right shoulder, but he could become available again this season.
- Anthony Rendon nudged out Gerrit Cole for top spot on Baseball America’s updated list of top draft eligible players.
- The Yankees were frustrated that the Astros never made them fully aware that Roy Oswalt was available last summer, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Credit Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. for acquiring Oswalt quietly and later denying the Yankees their primary offseason target, Cliff Lee.
Ahhh! Poor wittle Wankees!
Poor Astros fans is more like it. A GM refusing to get into a bidding war = stupid.
Joel Sherman……surgically attached to Brian Cashman’s scrot…..
I mean, c’mon…this is getting to the point of ridiculous……First it was frustration with the Mariners for not completing the Cliff Lee deal. Then it has been daily Felix trade rumors. Now they evidently were the only team in the world who didn’t know Roy Oswalt was available.
Hey Wankee fans, wake up, get a clue. You didn’t get Lee because one of your prospects failed his physical and the Mariners got a better offer. You aren’t getting Felix because there is no reason to trade a 24 yr old stud under contract for three more years….and you didn’t get Roy Oswalt because someone else matched up better. Don’t try to tell me the Yankees didn’t know Oswalt was on the block when they have been kicking the tires on every pitcher in baseball for the last couple of years.
lol scrot
Are you 12?
“Wankee” does not make you appear witty. Sorry to break it to ya.
Hey dude.Maybe you should wake up and realize that Yankee fans aren’t the ones writing these articles and aren’t the ones complaining about anything. How you take what a reporter says and attribute it to the feelings of an entire fan base boggles my mind. Grow up and stop with the dumb “Wankees this and Wankees that”. Matter of fact you seem so preoccupied with Wanking so why don’t you do more of that and stop with the silly posts.
Good lord, take a breath dude. If you dont like it, dont read it. Or take your toys and, go home… Poor wittle wankee fan got his feelings hurt!
Ok, let me add this….then lets move on for everyones sake.
1. The Mariners are NOT trading Felix to the Yankees.
2. The Cliff Lee deal was no ones fault. A player failed his physical, the Yankees did not want to rework the deal, so the Mariners moved on to another deal.
3. Brett Gardner is not better than Carl Crawford.
4. Brett Gardner is not awesome.
5. The Mariners suck
Dude, I have no problems with you voicing your opinion.But YOU are making the statement that “Wankee fans”are crying over deals that didn’t happen based on what a NEWS REPORTER is saying. That’s absolutely stupid.That’s like Gammons saying that Theo was flippin’ pissed off because Tex signed with the Yanks and then me replying that all Red Sox fans need to stop whining about not getting Tex and they need to get over it. It’s simply stupid.
No dude….. thats just factually incorrect. Its not something a “News Reprter” said. Its the incessant whining from Yankee fans/poster here (You guys know who you are). Judging by the comments, I’m far from the only one who has noticed this. If its not the majority of Yankee fans, then its a very vocal minority that needs to quit whining and get back in touch with reality.
Poor wittle Wankees? Wow that was very creative.
But Perhaps only slightly less creative than the liberties Joel Sherman had to take with the truth to write a story suggesting the Yankees did not know Oswalt was available. That Cash didn’t know they could offer for Oswalt is LOL stupid.
So maybe you should point your anger or feelings towards the writer?
Or should be bash every Sox fan or whomever for the dumb things a beat writer might write about?
Was the Twins’ middle infield that great even before he was injured?
If you count before we traded Hardy, sure. After….nope.
Drew why do you overrate JJ Hardy so much?? He was barely scratching .200 before he went down to….wait for it….INJURY. The orioles aren’t better because of JJ Hardy, that’s for sure.
Barely scratching .200 after a handful of games? That’s your argument?
FYI, Hardy batted .268 last season, which is pretty damn good for a shortstop. Oh, and the Twins have Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Jim Thome all batting .235 or less. I suppose they’re overrated as well.
let this be the last time you use batting average in an argument about offensive production
Because he’s right. The average major league shortstop hit .266/.322/.391 in 2010. JJ Hardy hit .268/.320/.394 for the year. He had a bad first half in which he was trying to fix his swing with Vavra. The swing he spent all of 2009 messing with to try and get anything to work. He then got injured in an odd way. In the second half, he hit .304/.363/.442 which is way above what is normal for a shortstop. His hitting became a bonus in the second half.
Hitting is extra for a shortstop. You want an elite defender. JJ Hardy is an elite defender. There are very few elite defenders at shortstop who also have elite bats. Only Stephen Drew, Cliff Pennington, Alexei Ramirez, Brendan Ryan were better defenders than JJ Hardy last year. Only Drew and Ramirez out of that list were better hitters. Isn’t that sign enough how good he was? Defense is first and then hitting is a bonus.
Based on last year alone I’d say that Tulowitzki was the best SS in baseball. He wasn’t too far behind Hardy in fielding and his bat was great. He’s the exception. That’s not normal for a shortstop. The only guys I would have taken over Hardy would have been Ramirez, Drew or Tulo. You might look at that list and wonder where Hanley and Reyes are…well they are near the bottom for me. Hanley was the second worst defender last year, right above Jason Bartlett. Reyes was in the bottom 10 of shortstops. Slightly worse than the “amazing defensive wiz” Derek Jeter. Reyes and Hanley are great with the bats, but their defense last year…not so good.
I’m guessing you expect every catcher to hit like Joe Mauer. Remember, Joe Mauer is the exception, not the rule at the catcher position.
I’ll give you the injury part. The dude is very unlucky, but as a shortstop…he’s exactly what you look for. If you can get elite defense plus an elite bat then you have something very rare (Tulowitzki). Then you have “the Joe Mauer” of the shortstop position.
I’m surprised how many Twins fans don’t realize how good Hardy was, especially with the shortstop merry-go-round of crap that they’ve had in the past. Even the present as Casilla is showing he still can’t mentally handle a starting spot. Hardy was the best SS this team has had since Gagne and Hardy is a better hitter than he was. So if you think Hardy sucks then Gagne was awful.
This may be the best post about the value of JJ Hardy and the Twins I have EVER read. Amazing breakdown. I’m not as down on Reyes and Hanley as you are, but the Hardy commentary is perfect. He was the best SS the Twins had in nearly 20 years and they traded him (I understand the salary dump) for a couple of minor league pitchers that likely will never pitch more than 50 innings of major league ball combined.
The only knock on Hardy can be his injury history…but if that is your criticism, then you can’t like Nishioka. Yoshi has every bit of the same injury history from his days in Japan, but is likely an inferior player when healthy.
Thanks. And I didn’t mean to sound so down on Hanley and Reyes. I do like both players. I think they’re great, but based on last year alone…I wouldn’t pick them to be the SS for my team. I want a guy who is great defensively and at least hits as well as the average shortstop does. Last year, I didn’t feel like they were those guys defensively. I don’t know if that’s the norm for them or not because I didn’t look deep into their pasts and I don’t watch every one of their games.
As far as shortstop bats, I love both of theirs, but I’d pick the other guys I mentioned (Drew, Ramirez, Hardy, Tulo) if I were choosing a SS (based on last year alone, as I said…I didn’t go deep into it). I want defense to be a priority at the most important infield position. Anything more is awesome.
And I agree, the only knock on Hardy should be his injury history. I don’t think anyone can argue against that. I know I never will. He’s injury prone and I think it’s more about being unlucky. I mean he hits his wrist on the ground sliding, gets a bone bruise and he’s down for that long? That sucks and is very unlucky.
Bone bruises take a long time to heal, so I wasn’t surprised about the time that he was out. I thought they rushed him back too, which proved to be right because for a week or two he hit extremely poorly and still said his wrist hurt, otherwise his batting line would have been better.
It’s the ones who argue that he sucked…that I will never agree with. It just isn’t true or they have extremely high standards or don’t care about defense.
Cashman didn’t think to inquire on Oswalt? The Astros were obviously sellers at that point.
Yeah, that bit doesn’t make much sense. In any case, the anti-Yankees crowd are going to eat it up. I’m a Braves fan, but I’m kind of hoping the Yankees win the East this year because the ‘haters’ are becoming much more annoying than their fans.
Im hoping the Yankees win the east, because as much as I hate the Yankees, I probably hate the Red Sox more. Especially with everyone ready to hand them the World Series trophy before the games even started, its gonna be awesome if they don’t make the playoffs. I am such a hater
You guys should just be cool like me and hope the Orioles win the AL East.
You could be cooler like me, and hope all 5 teams finish tied and watch MLB freak out organizing the tie breaker format to determine who goes to the playoffs and then watch all the ensuing sudden-death tie breaker games.
Oh, it occurred to him, but he wanted Oswalt served up on a silver platter with some garnish, a bouquet of flowers, and a “Thank You” note.
The Astros’ conduct in this matter was highly unprofessional.
Well, they got a pretty meh package in any case.
The package we decent. Their mistake was trading Gose…the Phils absolutely refused to include him in a Halladay deal for a reason. The kid’s got ridiculous ability
Happ may not be a star ever, but he’s quietly been a pretty good MOR starter.
I agree about Gose he is a special player, and we ultimately got him for Halladay in a round about way. Michael Taylor (Part of Halladay deal) from Phillies –> Taylor for Wallace from Cardinals –> Wallace for Gose from Astros. So in a way the Jays got Drabek, Gose, and d’Arnaud for Halladay. Drabek has the makings of an Ace, Gose has great speed, arm strength, fielding, and his bat is coming along, I have seen multiple reports projecting him as an all-star, d’Arnaud is a good defender behind the plate and his bat is still developing but should also make it to the big league team.
So frustrating…
I am not sure I buy the statement that the Astros never made the Yankees fully aware that Oswalt was available. Not saying it might not be true just goes against my own gut instinct. What would the Astros have to gain by not making sure every team was fully aware that Oswalt was available? Or at least the big market and/or playoff contenders at that time. If I am going to make any player available I am going to make sure that all the big spenders know if for no other reason then to drive the price up.
What’s not to love about Rendon?!
His two serious ankle injuries.
Though Mr. Dierkes said in his chat the Pirates should take Cole, I am one Pittsburgher who will not be happy if we pass on Rendon. Good problem to have though picking one of these two. much nicer problem to have than when we chose between Bryan Bullington and BJ Upton.
as a Pirates fan, I’m really hoping the Pirates take Cole. Our pitching staff is really inconsistent and we could use him as leverage in this competitiive division.
Free me. I’ll come to the Twins.
You are more than welcome in Pittsburgh Jed Lowrie
Sounds great, what would your employer like for your rights?
got any good catchers?
Drew Butera it is! Deal.
drew butera for ted lowrie. done
pleasure doing business with you
Whoa whoa…now you’re changing the deal. This is an outrage.
You said good catchers. He’s a good catcher. He couldn’t hit a beach ball, but he’s a good catcher!
How about Tony Sanchez?
the Yankees had to know they acquired Lance Berkman. So I mean someone is lying. The yankees prolly didnt want to give up much or the Astros thought it was a waste of time when they saw the Yanks pass on Haren?
The thought had never even crossed my mind. The Yankees did acquire Fat Elvis, Oswalt HAD to have come up in conversation
I must confess…I also did not inform the Yankees that Oswalt was available. Just had to get that off of my chest…
More Yankee crying….
It wouldn’t be surprising to me if the Astros tried to hurt the Yankees since there was bad blood between the Houston owner at the time and the Yankees surrounding them taking back Petttite. I read somewhere that Berkman had to force his way to the Yankees by rejecting everything else.
That said, if the Yankees actually said that they weren’t fully informed about Oswalt being available, then it seems to me that they’re either very lazy or terminally stupid. I say that because it was common knowledge that he was being shopped. And if it was the Stros intentionally hurting the Yankees, then it seems to me that the Yankee brass is being extremely stupid not to let Astros fans know that their ownership/front office didn’t get the best deal — that they would have done better.
For whatever it’s worth, I doubt that the Yankees would have topped the Phillies offer. I think the Astros made out just fine. I’ve always been very impressed with Happ from afar — based on his stats.
But it does frequently seem that Cashman gets outmaneuvered again and again by other GMs — especially the Phillies and Texas GMs (although it seems like those two have been nothing less than awesome in the last year or two).
P.S. I wonder if it’s true what Sherman says about Pettitte having been willing to come back if the Yankees had signed Cliff Lee. If so, when you combine that with the fact that Lee thought the Rangers, the Phillies and the Red Sox had a much better chance to get to the World Series or win it than the Yankees did, what does it say about the Yankees? I guess $200 million doesn’t buy as much as it used to. Either that or Lee and Pettitte are under estimating the Yankees. Or maybe both.
No one actually believes what Cliff said. The lights were too bright and at the end of the day he couldn’t take the pressure. What pressure is there with phillies rotation or Texas where he was successful? Get great money from the phils, no pressure, dominate staff, pitching in the NL. Its just an easier situation than pithing in NY. Makes a lot if sense to me. Yanks will be fine trust me. This comment contains no hate towards cliff lee, his choice to sign with the phillies or any slander.
Or he just plain might have not wanted to play for the Yankees, it’s not everyone’s dream to play for them, despite what some people believe.
“It wouldn’t be surprising to me if the Astros tried to hurt the Yankees since there was bad blood between the Houston owner at the time and the Yankees surrounding them taking back Petttite. I read somewhere that Berkman had to force his way to the Yankees by rejecting everything else.”
I dont understand people posting things like this. While fans get upset when their team makes a bad deal, or when they lose a favorite player…..A team wanting to be competitive cannot afford to hold grudges…its a business. Trust me, a GM might hate a counterpart, but there is zero chance he would let personal feelings keep him from making a deal.
The Yankees almost re-signed Carl Pavano, and I guarantee that if anyone on the Mariners becomes available, Cashman and Jack Z are gonna be buddy buddy again. You’re right, you can’t hold grudges in baseball
Sucks about Feliciano, they could have used him, and are now stuck with Logan, who thus far has been ineffective against lefties.
It would be curious to see how long Cashman would survive as the GM of a team with a budget of 75-110 Million. My guess is 1 season max then to the un-employment line. It is pretty easy to claim you “built” a great team when all you have to do is offer big money.
I wasn’t aware the Yankees were the only team in the league that had free agents on their roster
he just is on the I hate yankees because it’s cool, and/or have inferiority complex. He’s already ignored things other teams do, and criticize the yankees for the same thing he dismisses. He doesn’t use logic, just blind hate.
Were you aware the 4 highest paid players in MLB last year were Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, and Mark Teixeira?
What’s that got to do with the price of tea in China? Nobody argued they don’t pay big bucks.
I guess I didn’t read what you were trying to say. I was looking at OKGOJAY’s post, implying Cashman is only successful because he offers the big bucks. You then seemed to refute his post (which fooled me, I’m sorry), but all you did was sarcastically claim that other teams sign free agents too. I aimed to counter your refusal, but that looked silly because you didn’t disagree with the original post in the first place. So, it appears we are both right. The Yankees are successful because they spend more money than anyone else, and other teams do sign free agents.
It’s fair to say, but the games aren’t won on paper and we all know that. The Mets and Cubs i think have spent more money in the National League than any team the last 10 years, yet neither have made a WS appearance, and they only have a total of 2 NLCS appearances (1 each). The Tigers have been spending big bucks since they went to the WS in 06, and they haven’t made the playoffs since. The Mariners I think actually have spent more than (if not close to the same) amount as money as the Angels in the AL West and they are a laughing stock almost every year. Let’s see how it goes in 2011. No team with the highest payroll in a division won their division last year except for the Phillies. Had the Padres not blown the lead in the AL West, then 2 of the 3 of the 6 division winners would have been teams with the lowest payroll in the division (Rangers, Rays and possibly the Padres)
Does money help? Absolutely. Is is the main factor? Absolutely not.
Your right it was merely an observation that Cashman does not seem to be a very crafty GM, he has very deep pockets and amasses talent by overpaying for it. Take for instance the Jays this year (or a few other teams) our starting pitchings’ combined salary is roughly 5 Million and so far is producting better than the Yankees starting pitching with a combined salary of over 40 Million, and 3 of our starters were obtained through trades and the rest were home grown. I have never liked the Yankees, I am not a Yankee hater bandwagon jumper. Just saying that on many other teams he would have been run out of town by now. To say he did not know these guys were available is just sad.
see Swisher, Nick
It never ceases to amaze me how comments thatmight make the Yankees look shrewd are dismissed as false and how anything negative is gobbled up and repeated. Cashman has made it clear that he has searched long and hard for pitching. Either Houston said he wasn’t available or they simply lied because they didn’t want to trade him to NY for whatever reason. How does any of that make Cashman a bad GM? He can’t FORCE teams to cough up pitching.
Cash definitely benefits from the money, no doubt about it. Any GM would. But, that said, there are other teams that throw around very big money but don’t come close to the Yankees track record. Look at the Cubs or the Mets. I don’t think Cash is the best GM out there, but I think he’d do much better with the Cubs or Mets than their GMs have over the past 10 years. The Yankees still dwarf other payrolls, but their biggest money investments have generally been pretty smart ones. If Cash had a smaller payroll, he just wouldn’t be able to sign the guys like Feliciano who you give a decent contract to and hope he pans out because you can afford it. Jeter, ARod, CC, Mo, Posada, Tex, Moose, Pettitte, all those guys earned every penny of their salary. Put that track record of big time contracts against any other team’s and NY comes out looking not too shabby. Yankees didn’t give big money to guys like Carlos Lee, Barry Zito, Zambrano, Beltran, Hampton, Vernon Wells, Gary Matthews Jr., etc., the real poster boys of the dangers of these big deals.
oswalt didn’t want to go to the yankees. end of story.
Source?
no trade clause. he had a list of teams he was willing to go to. wasn’t a secret.
Jeez with is with all these Mets fans (who have the 2nd highest payroll in the NL, yet if they finish .500, it’s basically can accomplishment) saying the Yankees buy their team.
Mets homegrown players
Thorne, Wright, Reyes, Davis, Murphy, Duda, Niese, Pelfrey, Parnell
Yankees
Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Cano, Hughes, Robertson, Chamberlain, Gardner, Nunez, Nova
Hey, AROD is doing great. They don’t call him “Mr. April” for nothing.
There sure are a lot of sour grapes coming from NY fans lately. Ever since the Yankees claimed Cliff Lee as there number one priority in last years free agency. The funny thing about the arrogant NYY Hyped up Media I remember reading a story on MLB.com. back in 10/10/2010 The headline read(Cashman meets with Lee in Arkansas) After reading this story I was curtain the Yankee were a shoe in to get Cliff Lee. Then Phillies fans got an early Christmas Present and how sweet it was. Cliff Lee signs with the Phillies for 5 years and $120M with a vesting option for a six season. By the way Yankees fans Cliff Lee was almost unhittable in last nights game against the Nats he gave up 3 hits no runs with 12 Ks. With that said This morning I did the math the Phillies are now 9-3 and if this small sample size continues the Phillies are on track to win 108 games. Yep its good to be a Phillies fan.