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The Messiah 2008-03-05 09:01:00 A nice quick read on Phil Phranchise by Kevin Kernan in today's NY Post.The Yankees have their version of the Three Amigos in Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, but read what Johnny Damon said about Hughes after yesterday's performance. "Phil is definitely the cream of the crop," Damon said. "I see ace material written all over him. He's got two plus pitches. I think he's going to have a big year."With all of the (deserved) hype surrounding the larger than life Joba (The Beast), it sometimes gets lost that Hughes has been the Yanks' top prospect, and a top 10 prospect in all of baseball for 3 years.I know I'm repeating myself from earlier posts, but of our troika I believe that Phil is by far the most likely to live up to 'Ace' billing.Consider his minor league numbers:From 2004 thr Read more:Messiah
Last Laugh 2008-03-04 12:10:00 via boston.com(Hank) Steinbrenner was asked whether he would send Yankees stuff to Henry in response to the Red Sox Nation invitation."He's already got Yankees stuff," Steinbrenner said. "He was a limited partner. He's got the rings."Hat tip to YankeeBlography
Funny A-Rod Video 2008-03-03 13:48:00 Hello, I came across the Yankee GM Blog and I figured you and other Yankee fans would get a kick out of this: It's a sketch produced by performers from the Upright Citizens Brigade- we're a comedy theatre based in New York. I'm a big baseball fan and thought I would share this with others. The theme may be a little adult-ish, but for the most part it's family-friendly (and very funny, especially for fans of A-Rod). Let me know what you think!Thanks,MattyYankeeGM: Thanks, Matty...it's great! Read more:Funny
Spring Training TV Game 1 2008-03-03 08:53:00 Some important take aways from the first televised spring training game of the yearAndy Pettitte apparently personally apologized to every team member, front office, person and media member for his involvement with steroids. I was not able to confirm if he apologized to the towel boy but my guess is he did. This is why we love Andy, he is a stand-up guy both with his actions and on the field. Jason Giambi looks good. He actually hit a ball to the left of CF. Giuseppie Franco is back. No sign of Gary Bussey but this man can't be stopped. I don't know if I can handle viewing this guy another 5,000 times. I have a full head of hair but am willing to buy a lifetime supply if they will just stop playing these damn commercials!Bruney struggled despite a new physique and a new attitude. Read more:Spring
, Training
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Bernie's Last AB 2008-03-03 08:18:00 It's not a great video, but with Hank alluding to a Bernie
Williams Day here is Bernie's last AB:
Where does the Yankee Revenue go? 2008-03-02 09:15:00 If you wondered where all the Yankee
revenue goes (other then the obvious) the answer is Jeffery Loria's pocket. Via the Biz of Baseball;"The Marlins’ payroll for 2008 is projected to be around $20 million, the lowest in the league and $10 million lower than last season. “It’s a function of revenues, and we were not really able to derive any revenues out of this facility,” Loria said of the team’s current home, Dolphin Stadium. “As we get closer to the (new) stadium, those things will change. We need to be in that facility.”On the player payroll at $20 million, that would be $5 million less than what the club will receive in revenue-sharing, which is projected to be $25 million. Apparently, a “function of the revenues” is to make a mockery of the revenue-sharing system, a Read more:Revenue
Girardi Credits Zimmer not Torre 2008-03-02 06:29:00 Joe Girardi was asked about how his managing strategy developed and he credited his time with Don Zimmer
;Fortunately for the new Yankee skipper, he'd spent plenty of time with a manager who had run his team the same way: Don Zimmer.Zimmer is one of the managers Girardi recognizes as his greatest influences, especially when it came to his penchant for taking risks. How many other managers put the hit-and-run on with the bases loaded? How about a squeeze play in that same situation?"There was a risk in Zim's game," Girardi says of the man who managed him with the Cubs from 1989-1991. "He didn't always manage from a piece of paper; he would manage from his guts and his heart. He was a gambler."So now even a guy who served under Joe is crediting Zimmer not Joe for helping him grow. Girardi doe Read more:Credits
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Kei Igawa Sucks, The End 2008-03-01 07:54:00 This says it all;" Kei Igawa's second year got off to a horrid start Friday when he loaded the bases against the University of South Florida on two walks - including one to the Bulls' No. 9 hitter - and a hit batsman and then gave up a grand slam to a sub who hadn't played college baseball since 2005"
What Is Melky Cabera? 2008-03-01 07:35:00 Brian Cashman came out with the following comments;“Melky has to fight for what he has,” Cashman said. “I can’t stand here and tell you he’s going to be our center fielder moving forward. That’s up to him.”He also added about Brett Gardner;Brett Gardner is not your typical Yankee-profile type of player,” he said.“We’re trying to break that profile to some degree because there’s more to this game than hitting for power.“We think he could be a Juan Pierre who takes a walk. Here’s a guy who can steal bases; he can get on base; he plays the short game. We need athleticism like that, especially when you have a bunch of these old farts filling the roster out. Those young burst-of-energy, athletic guys really stand out on a team like ours.”Brain is clearly trying to li
Joba vs. Buchholz 2008-02-27 09:32:00 The experts over at BA discuss Joba vs. Buchholz:Jim Callis: In terms of pure stuff, I think Buchholz' curveball and changeup are right up there with Chamberlain's fastball and slider. I'd love to have either of those guys, but I'd take Buchholz for two reasons. One, his plus fastball and occasional plus slider give him a deeper repertoire. And two, given their pasts and their builds, I think Buchholz is a better bet to stay healthy over the long haul.Chris Kline: They're both fearless, but Chamberlain pitches off his fastball more consistently. And not that Buchholz is some soft-tosser, but I when I think of an elite pitcher who will come right after hitters with pure power, it's Chamberlain. And for as good as Buchholz' secondary stuff is, Chamberlain's arsenal of secondary pitches seems
Happy Birthday to a True 'Warrior' 2008-02-27 09:20:00 Moshe over at Bronx Block recounts some of the more memorable Paul O'Neill moments on this Paulie's 45th birthday:1) The Catch- O’Neill caught the last out of Game 5 of the 1996 World Series. Off the bat, Luis Polonia’s drive looked like it may tie the game. A gimpy O’Neill was perfectly positioned and caught the ball in the gap at a full run. His punch to the wall after the catch is one of the enduring images of that series.2) The Chant- The 2001 World Series was tied at 2, and the Yankees were down 2-0 in the ninth inning. Instead of focusing solely on the game, the Yankees’ fans took the time to acknowledge that this was likely Paul’s final game at Yankee Stadium. The chant of “Paul O-Neill” filled the Stadium for minutes, and replays always give me the chills.3) The Slide Read more:Happy
, Birthday
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, Happy Birthday
4 Days to Michael Kay's Sweet Annoying Voice 2008-02-26 19:02:00 I can almost smell baseball, real baseball has almost returned. Yes, it will be meaningless spring training games but I can't wait to see Joba, Phil and Crew. I can't remember a season with more anticipation then this one from the first pitch of spring training, I can't wait. Other years it was ho-hum talk let's play some real games but with all of these kids what happens in Florida will be news and worth watching. 4 days(3/1) to First Sprint Training Game5 days(3/2) to First Sprint Training TelecastSo far the stories of spring training have surrounded the new attitude with Girardi on board. It seems that almost every player was called personally and told to come to camp in shape. That kind of show up ready attitude and the exuberance of youth have changed the tone in Yankee land. Let's Read more:Michael
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Pitch FX Data 2008-02-23 06:46:00 I happened across this blog which provides analysis of pitch fx data for all MLB players last year. If you haven't seen the pitch fx data before I urge you to take a look. It breaks down each pitch a pitcher throws recording speed and break of each pitch. There was some interesting things I noticed while looking through the Yankee player's data:Ian Kennedy's fastball moves a lot(-5.16x and 12.37z) compare it Roy Oswalt (-4x and 9.51z).Joba Chamberlain throws a nasty curve (8.5x and -4.68z) compare to Josh Beckett (6.65x and -3.51z).Mariano's cutter is unreal (1.94x and 8.27z) compare to Tim Hudson's cutter(-1.86x and 3.34z).Also, I noticed that Papelbon throws a real moving fastball but not much else with any movement. Interesting stuff, I urge you to take a look. Read more:Pitch
Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics 2008-02-21 08:04:00 It's the bottom of the 9th at the Stadium in the ALCS. The Yanks lead the Sox 5-4 but through the usual 'dinks and dunks,' the Sox have the bases loaded against Mariano with only 1 out.We need a double play.I ask you, fellow Yankee fans, where do you want that groundball hit?I have no doubt of your answer.Isn't that far more telling than any statistical study? Read more:Statistics
Tabata a "Special Bat" 2008-02-20 08:43:00 John Manuel had this to say at BA about Jose Tabata -"Tabata has a special, special bat. It's the kind of guy where you see the swing and how he approaches things, and you think this is a guy who will hit .300 and hit 25 or 30 home runs a year. But what you guys have in your Prospect Handbook--plus run, plus arm . . . no, I didn't see a plus runner. I didn't see a great arm. Maybe a tick above (average), but he didn't show me a plus arm. But it won't matter with that bat." Read more:Special
Are the Yanks Setting Joba up to Fail? 2008-02-20 07:42:00 Joba The Beast has yet to make a start in the major leagues, but the Yanks
envision him becoming a front of the rotation starter. The plan right now is to start him in the 'pen, send him to SWB at some point during the season to stretch him out, and then bring him back to be a starter.What happens if when Joba returns from AAA he gets hammered as a starter? Usually a young pitcher like The Beast would get sent back to AAA to figure out why he is getting hit and then brought back to give it another try.In Joba's case, however, if he does not succeed almost immediately as a starter, will the Yanks send him down to AAA to work it out, or will they put him back in the 'pen where he has been extremely successful? Having that dominant link to Mariano might be a key to the Yanks winning a World S Read more:Setting
No title 2008-02-18 08:08:00 Let's play the comp game -Pitcher AYear 1- 25 starts, 141 ip, 155h, 4.85 era (92 ERA+), 1.461 whipYear 2 - 30 starts, 192 ip, 182h, 2.86 era (146 ERA+), 1.219 whipPitcher BYear 1 - 29 starts, 178 ip, 194h, 4.55 era (103 ERA+), 1.433 whipYear 2 - 32 starts, 222 ip, 217 h, 3.41 era (144 ERA+), 1.252 whipPitcher CYear 1 - 33 starts, 204 ip, 191h, 5.01 era (95 ERA+), 1.295 whipYear 2 - 30 starts, 200 ip, 189 h, 3.27 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.141 whipIt's tough to tell the 3 pitchers apart, no? Each had a bad year followed by an excellent year. Each had eras league average or worse, followed by dominant eras the next.Pitcher A - Kevin MillwoodPitcher B - Charles NagyPitcher C - Josh BeckettIf I had a penny for everytime I read about Josh Beckett being the standard for an "Ace" this offseason, I could r
Spring Training is Finally Here 2008-02-18 07:54:00 In case you missed it Pitchers and Catchers have reported for duty. We are now free from the Johan talk and soon (I hope) the Roger Clemens saga will quiet down. So we can now concetrate on actual baseball related items.Spring
training is a great time of year when every player is filled with potential and we are reminded that spring is coming. The sight of players doing sprints, playing catch and taking BP fills me with joy. Its time to talk real baseball stories so lets take a look at the top story lines of the spring:Who will fill the Firstbase role?The canidates are Shelley Duncan, Morgan Ensberg, Wilson Betemit, Jason Giambi, Jason Lane, Hideki Matsui and maybe later in the season possibly Nick Johnson or Juan Miranda. Long on canidates, short on answers. I think you pencil Shelley Dun Read more:Training
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What to do With Jeter? 2008-02-17 06:46:00 So we can now add a new Wharton statistcal measure of fielding prowess to the hordes of measures rating Derek Jeter
as a below average fielding short stop. Let's assume for a moment that they are correct - Jeet is among the worst SS in all of MLB; my question is - what then?As our Captain, face of the franchise and clubhouse leader, Jeter is not about to get embarrassed by the Yanks. Additionaly, even if the Yanks wanted to tell him to move, where would we move him to?Second base - taken for the next 10 yearsThird base - we're not gonna swap DJ and Arod for 2 reasons...first, that would be a huge slap to Jeet, and second, Arod has become a very good 3BFirst base - after 2008, Texiera will be there for 5 or 6 yearsLeft field - possibly, but both Damon and Hmat are signed thru 2009I guess Je
Hall of Champions 2008-02-16 07:22:00 With the Yanks having given out Paulie's #21 to a guy on a minor league contract, there has been much discussion about retiring numbers and who deserves it. With as storied a history as the Yankees have, I think they need to create a new honor for players to be recognized as great Yankees, but fall short of inclusion in Monument Park - the Yanks should create a 'Hall of Champions
.'Essentially the HOC would be an honor for players like Paul O'Neill that were great Yankees but would maintain the integrity of Monument Park for the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D and Mantle. A player included in the Hall of Champions would get his day, be immortalized at the Stadium, but his number would not be retired. Every team that wins a World Series would have their leaders included in the HOC, and it would
2008 Free Agents 2008-02-15 08:01:00 The following contracts will be expiring at the end of the 2008 season:Jason Giambi - $21mmBobby Abreau - $16mmAndy Pettitte - $16mmCarl Pavano - $10mmMike Mussina - $11.5mmKyle Farnsworth - $5.5mmTotal - $80 million.(You think CC's agent knew this when he broke off talks with the Indians?)There are some pretty interesting names that are currently headed for the '08 free agent class; some names the Yanks may have interest in:Mark TexieraTex will be 29 at the start of the '09 season and is a perfect fit for the Yanks. A switch hitting, great glove power-hitting first baseman? Sign him up - (anticipated Yankee contract - $18mm AAV x 6yrs)Hank BlalockIn the event we can't sign Tex, Blalock would be a fair backup plan.CC SabathiaUmm...28, lefty, Cy Young winner, 200+ ip per year, no injury his
A Few Good Pitchers 2008-02-15 07:12:00 In case you missed this on It Is High...Clemens: You want answers?Congressman: I think I'm entitled to them.Clemens: You want answers?Congressman: I want the truth!Clemens: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has baseballs. And those balls have to be hit by men with bats. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Congressman? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for steroids and you curse HGH. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that HGH, while illegal, probably sells tickets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, sells tickets...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that mound. You need me on that mound. We use words like fas Read more:Pitchers
Hey CC you Know Pinstripes are Very Sliming, Right? 2008-02-14 21:16:00 CC Sabathia has apparently broken off talks with the indians untill after the season. As long as the Indians stay competitive expect Sabathia to hit the open market after the season. This is very good news for Yankee fans. With significant payroll coming off the books after 08 (Mussina, Giambi, Pettitte, Farnsworth) and the increased revenue of a new stadium, I don’t expect the Yankees to get outbid for Sabathia. Sabathia is currently 26, the reigning AL Cy Young winner and has had an ERA+ of 140 or better the last two years. Add in the fact that no prospects will depart to bring him here, and the Johan non-move could look very good in 12 months. Read more:Right
George M Steinbrenner Day - Sign the Petition! 2008-02-14 10:44:00 We at YankeeGM Blog are sponsoring a petition to have a George
M Steinbrenner
day at the Stadium.The Boss has been the most important and consistent part of Yankee success since buying the team. We need to show George our appreciation for his years of dedication to the Yanks and for his dedication to us, the fans.We would like the Yanks to have a George M Steinbrenner Day this year, and to put a monument in Monument Park in George's honor.Sign the petition here -
DOJ should look at Congress before Filing Charges 2008-02-14 05:57:00 No doubt, Clemens took a hit yesterday. Is he guilty? Probably. The Dept of Justice, however, would be well suited to review tapes of yesterday's cage match before proceeding with charges.While a lot of it looked to come down on party lines, there was definately an obvious split among the members of congress. Half of them looked to back MacNamee and roasted Roger in questions, and the other half backed Rocket and killed MacNamee with questions.If the members of congress are this split, a jury is sure to have a lot more trouble coming to a unanimous decision.Hopefully this is the last we will hear of this and we can now focus on baseball! Read more:Congress
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Arrogant and WRONG! 2008-03-12 07:30:00 If you live in the NY area (or watch YES during the day) you know Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN. Never have 2 people been more arrogant on the airwaves.On Mar 5, Sweeney Murti, Yankee beat reporter for WFAN, got a firsthand look at just how ridiculously stupid the pair can be (listen here).In addition to screaming that the Yanks "have no idea what they are doing," fatso and dummie repeatedly berated Sweeney about Joba and his role on the team. Sweeney did his best to maintain his composure amidst the barrage of inane and arrogant statements such as "Brian Cashman is lost when it comes to pitching."I listened to the interview again while writing this post with an eye toward giving examples of their pure idiocy - there is way too much to write.Listen to the interview...you will no doubt agree Read more:Arrogant
Phil on his way? 2008-03-09 14:36:00 Promising start for Phil. Six innings into spring and not a hit to be found.
Cervelli injured - First Test for General Joe 2008-03-09 09:39:00 When I think of a defining moment for the Joe Torre style of management I think of the Pedro vs. Zimmer. Here was a guy in Pedro who repeatedly went for the heads of the Yankees best players and the tone set former the top was to maintain dignity and focus on the game. Now this strategy might have actually helped add to Pedro's frustration but it also hurt the Yankees quite a bit over the years. How often did the Red Sox hit our best players and pitch inside while we nibbled on the outside corner for fear of creating conflict?With the hiring of General
Joe my first reaction was " Now can we finally back Ortiz off homeplate?!?" Well, Girardi has a chance to send a message with the bush league play by the Rays yesterday that resulted in a broken wrist for Cervelli. A public scorning is no Read more:injured
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Team Health Reports 2008-03-15 06:47:00 Will Caroll over at Baseball Prospectus does a piece each year on teams and the likelihood of their players breaking down. He gives each player a red, yellow or green. Red being likely to get hurt, green unlikely and yellow proceed with caution. His piece on the Yankees listed the following players as red;Jason Giambi - No shock here, if he makes it to May without an injury I will be surprisedPhil Hughes - He worries about HOW Phil got injured last year - Reaching back for a bit extra on a pitch. Joba - He does have an injury history but he doesn't seem as concerned with him as PhilMo- Mo is a freak, I am not worried. Read more:Health
First Row in New Yankee Stadium 2008-03-15 06:25:00 The Ap recently released a report outlining the rising cost of the premium tickets at YankeeStadium
. The top box seat at Yankee Stadium will go for $250 dollars per game per ticket this year. My reaction - its a steal! Just wait till next year where the first row of box seat will go for $2,500 per game per ticket. That's not a typo, it will cost you $202,500 for season tickets in the first row. Apparently there is already a waiting list. This information came directly from Lon Trost on Mike and the Mad Dog this week click here to listen.Just think, in the early 90's we used to tip the usher 20 bucks to let us sit in the empty seats behind the first base dugout. Read more:First
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