Hurricane Irene washed out Saturday's contests for both New York clubs, and today's Braves/Mets game has been postponed as well. Weather permitting though, the Yankees and Orioles will play two, with Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova looking to help the Yanks make up ground on the Red Sox in the AL East. Before they get underway, let's check out the latest from Queens and the Bronx….
- Eric Chavez explains to the Star-Ledger's Jeff Bradley why coming to New York actually helped relieve the pressure he'd felt in Oakland.
- When the Mets negotiate with Jose Reyes this offseason, part of the conversation will revolve around playing time, days off, and medical history, writes Dan Martin of the New York Post.
- Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News discusses Brian Cashman's starting rotation hits and misses over the years, while Mark Feinsand of the Daily News notes that the Yankees GM didn't exactly rush to A.J. Burnett's defense this weekend.
Eric Chavez: “I’m not sure if I created it in my own mind, but I always felt like I
had to justify those expectations. When I didn’t, it was rough.”
There will be no mistaking when you aren’t meeting expectations in NY, Eric. And it will be rougher if you don’t.
The difference is, there really weren’t any expectations for him coming into NY. He’s been a pleasant surprise and aside from the time spent on the dl(which was expected) I can’t think of anything bad to say about his time in NY thus far.
There are always expectations, even if they are lessened because I guy is going to be a back-up player. And as far as “I can’t think of anything bad to say about his time in NY thus far” I say kudos to you, and also that you are not the typical fan.
I think you miss the point completely. Yanks aren’t asking him to be the Chavez of 7 years ago. They need him to be a sub fill in and contribute off the bench. If he went to Oakland then he will be looked at as a shell of his former self. When you’re on a team where every single starter has an all-star appearance to his credit then you’re not being asked to carry the weight of the whole team and instead just be a contributor.
Incorrect, I did not miss point. Maybe you missed mine, though.
That article about Chavez is so poorly written. I wish FJM was still around to call out bad writing.
This. Seriously, FJM is missed. “Chavez not expected to do things anyone with competent brain cells knows he can’t do.”
Also- Chavez wasn’t counted on to contribute in any capacity in Oakland his last year of the contract. Sure, he got an Opening Day job that year (when a player is your highest paid and longest tenured player, you do that), but the A’s had Jack Cust in AAA and Kouzmanoff manning 3B.
The poll about who was the worst Yankees pick-up is funny… like there’s any way Carl Pavano doesn’t run away with that (whether it’s true or not). That bad blood runs deep.
Seriously. With Burnett they’re at least getting pitching, although inconsistent usually more on the bad side. With Pavano they basically paid for no pitching.
With Burnett they’re at least getting pitching, although inconsistent usually more on the bad side.
With Burnett they’re at least getting pitching, although consistently on the bad side.
Fixed that for you.
Well, insurance probably paid for part of Pavano’s contract, while insurance doesn’t help with pitchers who are healthy, but are just not pitching well, e.g. Burnett.
kei igawa? have we forgotton?
When the Mets negotiate with Jose Reyes this offseason, playing time, days off, and medical history will be a part of the conversation…
Now that is truly enlightening. No baseball fan would ever have guessed it, Mr. Martin.
so glad burnett chose NYY. i am thankful every day he blows up.
Red sox fan huh?
tommy hanson is an atlanta braves pitcher .
I can tell but I like Troy Tulowitzki but I don’t like the Rockies so he could like the red sox ad plus why would he comment that if he liked the braves and the braves don’t have anything to do with the Yankees
Yeah, I like the Red Sox ad. That “We Won’t Rest” thing was marketing gold, I tells ya.
And Burnett was allegedly almost a Brave when the Yanks swooped in and “stole” him, so tommyhanson fan is grateful, what with the benefit of hindsight.
The Braves offered the most competitive offer other than the Yanks. $500k extra per year, 1 additional year and the ability to hide behind CC’s shadow were the reasons he came to NY.
Yep, I remember it well. I was explaining to Isaac how the Braves and the Yankees did have something to do with each other in this instance.
He’s a Tommy Hanson fan.
tommyhansonfan… Braves. Burnett looked like he was going to sign with the Braves and then at the last minute picked the Yanks. I’m not sure he’s been much worse than D-Lowe (with the AL East adjustment factored in), but at least Lowe was only 4 years and not 5.
It’s funny to me how the media continues to write story after story on AJ Burnett’s struggles but yet they conveniently ignore John Lackey’s struggles ( same pay as Burnett, but is actually doing worse)
“same pay as Burnett, but is actually doing worse”
Burnett has put up 5.7 WAR in three years in NY (Peaking at 3.4 in 2009).Lackey has put up 5.0 WAR in two years in Boston (Peaking at 4.0 last season).
Lackey’s been nowhere near to living up to his contract, but Burnett has most certainly been worse.
“Burnett has put up 5.7 WAR in three years in NY (Peaking at 3.4 in
2009).Lackey has put up 5.0 WAR in two years in Boston (Peaking at 4.0
last season).”
Whatever you are smoking, please give me some. In the real world, Burnett has put up a 2.2 WAR in 3 years as a Yank (peaking at 2.8 in ’09…he has had a negative WAR in ’10 & ’11). Lackey has put up a 1.0 WAR (pitching + batting) in two years in Boston (peaking at a 1.9 WAR last season).
Therefore, Burnett has done slightly better, however, they both have been pretty horrible the last 2 seasons. Remember, reading is fundamental; the stats are right there in front of your eyes, bro! And, even without looking at the stats…you really thought Lackey had pitched well enough for a 4 WAR last year??
The stats that were right in front of his eyes were from FanGraphs.
I really have no idea how to calculate WAR and I really don’t want to look up how. But before you get all uppity and superior I’d suggest you mosey over to fangraphs. That’s where Obsessions is getting his numbers from. Wild guess is you’re getting them from baseball-reference.
No clue which one is correct and I really don’t care to getting into measuring contest where the topic is who sucks more.
I have to give you some props in using the words uppity & mosey in the same sentence. You are a wordsmith, my friend. I did not want to get into a contest of who sucks more either…but if I did…it would have to be you…or at least that’s what I heard!
And, before you have a conniption…I was just joking, Spunky.
As noted, before spouting off on a rant like that, you might want to consider the widely known fact that there are different versions of WAR available. I was operating off of Fangraphs.
That aside, where are you pulling your figures? B-R has him sitting at a 0.8 over two seasons, with last year being 1.8, not 1.9.
I was not ranting just being a little sarcastic…that’s my way. Again, bro, reading is fundamental: “Lackey has put up a 1.0 WAR (pitching + batting) in two years in Boston (peaking at a 1.9 WAR last season).”
b-r WAR will also tell you cliff lee was a 4.3 WAR player last year and bronson arroyo was the most valuable NL pitcher in 2006
dismissed
And Fangraphs will tell you Zach Greinkie was the MVP in the AL in 2009.
dismissed somewhat
Lackey has the benefit of having 1 less year to go by.
AJ’s 1st year = a 3.4 WAR (4.33 FIP) vs Lackey’s first year was a 4 WAR (3.85 FIP)
AJ’s 2nd year = a 1.4 WAR (4.83 FIP) vs Lackey’s second year was a 1 WAR (so far) and a 4.70 FIP.
AJ’s 3rd year (2011) is 1 WAR (so far) and 4.80 FIP. Lackey’s 3rd year (2012) TBD
To say Burnett has been worse w/o taking into consideration the years into each contract and how Lackey is trending is sort of pointless. I’m not saying he will be as bad but there’s nothing to convince me that he will be any better either.
Somebody didn’t actually read the article…
^ From the article about Burnett: “The Red Sox have issues of their own, you bet. John Lackey,
who has come on lately, just got his own earned run average under SIX runs a game in Boston.”
Are the Yankees waving the white flag? They’re pitching Hughes, Burnett, and Colon against the Red Sox this week.
Well 2 of the Red Sox pitchers are Lackey and Miller, not a whole lot better. Although Beckett is the 3rd and he’s been lights out this year against the Yankees.
As opposed to…..???? They are just sticking to the rotation. No need in having CC, Nova or Garcia pitch on fewer days rest.
They should totally do it if they’re going to go after the division crown! Because home field is totally going to matter to a pair of teams who have a combined 79-51 road record this season.
(Seriously, I agree, this is no flag waving, it’d be stupid to start their guys on short rest with a playoff spot all but guaranteed)