The Yankees are entering this offseason without a lot of fanfare. There is no C.C. Sabathia (well, not since the Yankees re-signed him anyway), no Cliff Lee, and no Mark Teixeira. There is an Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder but the Yankees are not going to go after those two because they are set at first base. The general consensus is that Texas Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson is the best starter on the market. However, his October struggles this year might have scared a couple of teams away from offering him a big contract, including the Yankees. However, Wilson did go 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 223.1 regular season innings. that stands in stark contrast to his postseason numbers of 0-3, 5.79 ERA, and 26 K's in 28 innings. He walked 19 batters in the postseason and gave up 6 homers after walking 74 and giving up 16 homers during the regular season. Which pitcher is Wilson? That is the question Yankees GM Brian Cashman needs to ask himself and find out an answer to. Is Wilson worth an offer similar to the one the Yankees offered Cliff Lee? No. Is he worth an offer similar to A.J. Burnett? Yes, I would say so. Surely Wilson is better than A.J. and better than John Lackey so he will get a bigger contract than those two. The question is, can Cashman afford to have Wilson, Sabathia, and Burnett on the same payroll? Not many teams would be able to. The Yankees can afford it but it hampers their long-term flexibility.
The Yankees need a number two starter. Ivan Nova certainly gave the Yankees a lot of hope down the stretch last season and they have to hope he continues to develop along those lines. However, young pitching can be very finicky as evidenced by Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Counting on young pitching is not something the Yankees can afford but will gladly take contributions from if available. Will Phil Hughes bounce back and resemble the guy who won 18 games only two seasons ago? Will Ivan Nova fall back to earth or will he continue to exceed expectations? Will A.J. Burnett contribute anything of value going forward or will he just be a newer version of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers, or Javier Vazquez? Will the Yankees roll the dice on guys like Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon again and hope they can contribute as they did last season? Surely Freddy Garcia deserves a new deal, nothing long term but something. There are so many questions surrounding the Yankees rotation for the second straight year. Cashman needs to find a solution. Wilson is the biggest name but is he the best solution?
Cashman has a couple of options entering the free agency period. He can avoid giving up a draft pick for someone like Wilson and bid to receive the services of Japanese ace Yu Darvish. There is a lot of talk about the Yankees past experiences with Japanese pitchers but Darvish is not Hideki Irabu or Kei Igawa. The Yankees admitted they didn't scout Igawa enough and reacted to the Red Sox signing of Daiske Matsuzaka. Darvish is only 25 years old and has pitched well in world tournaments like the World Baseball Classic. Sure, the history of Japanese pitchers having great success in the Major Leagues is not the best but it isn't devoid of success. Can Darvish buck the trend? Darvish is a high risk-high reward prospect, someone who can either be that top starter or someone who will remind the Yankees never to dabble in Japanese pitching ever again. Then again, nobody thought Japanese hitters could survive in the Majors and yet Ichiro is one his way to a Hall of Fame career and Hideki Matsui was the Yankees World Series MVP in 2009 so you can't judge one person based on the experiences of others. I would like to see the Yankees go after Darvish who I am willing to bet will be better than Igawa and Irabu. Most importantly, signing Darvish won't require the surrender of a draft pick. No matter what the Yankees do, if Darvish is posted they should make every attempt to get him. He might not be an ace but he might be good enough to hold down the fort while prospects like Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos get more seasoning at AAA. Darvish also represents a safer option to C.J. Wilson because he is five years younger and has, at this stage, a more lively fastball.
Cashman has gone into this offseason preaching about being conservative. What this means exactly is anybody's guess. It could mean he will chase someone like Mark Buehrle, who has pitched his entire career in the American League and has shown he can shut down an opposing offense on any given day as evidenced by his perfect game. Buehrle has not pitched less than 200 innings since his rookie campaign in 2001 so health is not a huge concern. He is 32 years old so age and mileage might come into question if he is asking for a long term deal. However, he is a known commodity, one that will give your team a chance to win every time out. His career ERA sits at 3.83, not bad considering he played a majority of his career in the steroids era of the longball and big offense. He won 13 games last year for a horrible White Sox club and posted a 3.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while owning a 4.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and .92 HR/9 and getting hitters to hit groundballs 44.9% of the time. Not terrible. On the surface Buehrle reminds me a lot of Andy Pettitte and, if he doesn't require a long term deal, could be just what the Yankees are looking for. He is no stranger to postseason play, having won a World Series with the White sox. His groundball numbers will not be a problem with the Yankees defense playing behind him so Buehrle could thrive in Yankee Stadium.
Right now the Yankees don't have much in the way of top prospects ready to contribute at the Major League level. Sure, Betances and Banuelos will be at AAA but they haven't exactly had much experience beyond a few starts at that level. Betaces got his feet wet this year and showed real promise but that is such a limited sample size you can't take anything away from that. Adam Warren and David Phelps are the two starters most ready for the majors but neither is projected as a top of the rotation starter. Granted, neither was Ivan Nova and look at what he gave the Yankees this year. However, do the Yankees want to enter the 2012 season with a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, Garcia, Nova, and Burnett and Warren/Phelps battling amongst Garcia, Hughes, and Nova for a spot? Would the Yankees be better off with Sabathia, Buehrle, Nova, Hughes, and Burnett with Darvish/Warren/Phelps waiting in the minors to take over? Maybe Hughes goes to the bullpen and if he does that further complicates matters. Maybe the Yankees aren't planning on bringing A.J. along for the ride anymore. Maybe Cashman is comfortable using Warren and Phelps until Betances and Banuelos are ready. If I know the Yankees I think they will bring back Garcia, sign a pitcher or two amongst the Wilson, Darvish, and Buehrle group, maybe add another starter from among the second tier pitchers like Edwin Jackson for good measure, and hope that they have a surplus of pitching so that they can trade for any spare parts that pop up along the way while being able to retain top prospects like Jesus Montero, Banuelos, Betances, and Gary Sanchez. One thing is certain, the Yankees do not need much, if any help on the offensive side of the ball. This offseason should be all about stockpiling pitching because we have seen it is pitching that wins championships and having too much doesn't exist.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
First and Goal
- I think Eli went a long way in quieting his critics with his come from behind win over Tom Brady and the Patriots this past Sunday. Eli now has the best 4th quarter quarterback rating in all of football. Not too bad for a guy who many Giants fans wanted to run out of town only a month ago.
- I don't think I have ever seen an implosion like the one that has been occurring in Boston since the beginning of September. Not only did they blow a huge lead but they blew up their team afterwards with GM Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona bolting from the franchise. Epstein is now in Chicago with the Cubs to tackle a bigger curse and Francona is free to take another managerial job elsewhere (Chicago?) or to get into broadcasting which he did pretty well in his limited use during the American League Playoffs. Boston now will be without John Lackey next season and is facing big free agent decisions on closer Jonathan Papelbon and DH David Ortiz. With all the tumult that is surrounding this team I can't envision big free agents rushing to Boston. Just ask Carl Crawford how that worked out last season.
- The New York Giants are facing the toughest schedule in all of football over the rest of the season. However, they currently hold a two game lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East and bolstered their confidence by going into New England and beating the Patriots on their home turf, something no team has done since 2008 when Matt Cassell was the starting quarterback while Brady recovered from injury. Nobody expected the Giants to be where they are now at this point in the season, not after losing their best cornerback in Terrell Thomas and losing key players like Kevin Boss and Steve Smith and overhauling their offensive line over the condensed offseason. If the Giants can continue to play good football and force more turnovers than they give up they can be a Super Bowl contender. There are a lot of ifs and the Giants have been getting hit hard by the injury bug all season long but the chance is there and thats all a fan of any team ever asks for.
- The San Francisco Giants traded once top prospect to the Royals for Melky Cabrera.Sanchez struggled with his control this year but has very good stuff. IF the Royals can keep him healthy and Sanchez can find the strike zone the Royals might have a very good number two or three starter as they continue to introduce their young prospects to the Majors. The fact that Sanchez is still just 28 years old and helped carry the Giants to the 2010 World Series Championship represents a huge win for the Royals. Cabrera, although coming off of a career year, was made expendable by Lorenzo Cain who hit .312 at AAA this year and is a cheaper option for the Royals. Great job by the Royals. I have one mantra in baseball and that is never trade a possible impact arm for a fill-in bat.
- I don't understand how caddie Steve Williams' comments about Tiger Woods made global news. I don't believe there should be room for racism in sports but I also don't see how Williams' comment of wanting to "shove it up his [Wodds'] black arsehole" after winning a tournament with his new golfer was overtly racist. OK, so he mentioned the part-color of Woods' skin. Racially insensitive? Absolutely. Racist? No. I am sure Williams regrets those comments, something said in the heat of the moment in a relaxed atmosphere but I don't think the man is racist. I know he was a friend of Woods' through the many years he caddied for him and the two had a falling out after Williams left Woods following Tiger's sexual escapades and fall from the top in golf. One comment does not make a man racist. Silly, yes. I think the media is making way to much of this and should relax. Society has become so sensitive these days. Would there be any uproar if a black caddie had mentioned a white arsehole? Nope, probably not and rightfully so. Had Williams mentioned another golfer and said "white" in front of his statement people would have laughed and moved on.
- The New York Rangers look they are finding their stride. After a long and difficult road trip that saw them playing in Europe, then on Long Island, then on the West Coast, the Rangers returned home to the Garden and won 4 of 6 during that homestand giving them a 7-3-3 record in the teams first 13 games. Marian Gaborik seems to have found new life, Ryan Callahan continues to progress, Brad Richards is showing why he was the #1 free agent target of the off-season, and the Rangers have shown an ability to score on the power play as well, something that haunted them all of last season. And, they are still playing without Marc Staal, arguably their best defenseman. This team should only get better.
- It is looking like the Colts will be winners of the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. I can't see them discarding Peyton Manning and pinning their hopes on a rookie QB but I can see Andrew Luck sitting behind Peyton for a couple of years, like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre, and then taking the starting job. I can also see some team willing to give up three #1 picks to obtain the rights to Luck. Either way the Colts are sitting pretty.
- Does anyone really notice there is no NBA right now? I mean seriously? Football, on both the collegiate and pro levels has been phenomenal and even the NHL has been enjoying a slight resurgence. Personally, I'll wait for college basketball as the pro game has lost all credibility with me. First its refs fixing games, then its stars getting calls despite the lack of fouls, now its a lack of agreement on financials between owners and players. The NBA didn't learn a thing from the NFL lockout and probably won't. So long, NBA, who cared to begin with?
- I don't think I have ever seen an implosion like the one that has been occurring in Boston since the beginning of September. Not only did they blow a huge lead but they blew up their team afterwards with GM Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona bolting from the franchise. Epstein is now in Chicago with the Cubs to tackle a bigger curse and Francona is free to take another managerial job elsewhere (Chicago?) or to get into broadcasting which he did pretty well in his limited use during the American League Playoffs. Boston now will be without John Lackey next season and is facing big free agent decisions on closer Jonathan Papelbon and DH David Ortiz. With all the tumult that is surrounding this team I can't envision big free agents rushing to Boston. Just ask Carl Crawford how that worked out last season.
- The New York Giants are facing the toughest schedule in all of football over the rest of the season. However, they currently hold a two game lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East and bolstered their confidence by going into New England and beating the Patriots on their home turf, something no team has done since 2008 when Matt Cassell was the starting quarterback while Brady recovered from injury. Nobody expected the Giants to be where they are now at this point in the season, not after losing their best cornerback in Terrell Thomas and losing key players like Kevin Boss and Steve Smith and overhauling their offensive line over the condensed offseason. If the Giants can continue to play good football and force more turnovers than they give up they can be a Super Bowl contender. There are a lot of ifs and the Giants have been getting hit hard by the injury bug all season long but the chance is there and thats all a fan of any team ever asks for.
- The San Francisco Giants traded once top prospect to the Royals for Melky Cabrera.Sanchez struggled with his control this year but has very good stuff. IF the Royals can keep him healthy and Sanchez can find the strike zone the Royals might have a very good number two or three starter as they continue to introduce their young prospects to the Majors. The fact that Sanchez is still just 28 years old and helped carry the Giants to the 2010 World Series Championship represents a huge win for the Royals. Cabrera, although coming off of a career year, was made expendable by Lorenzo Cain who hit .312 at AAA this year and is a cheaper option for the Royals. Great job by the Royals. I have one mantra in baseball and that is never trade a possible impact arm for a fill-in bat.
- I don't understand how caddie Steve Williams' comments about Tiger Woods made global news. I don't believe there should be room for racism in sports but I also don't see how Williams' comment of wanting to "shove it up his [Wodds'] black arsehole" after winning a tournament with his new golfer was overtly racist. OK, so he mentioned the part-color of Woods' skin. Racially insensitive? Absolutely. Racist? No. I am sure Williams regrets those comments, something said in the heat of the moment in a relaxed atmosphere but I don't think the man is racist. I know he was a friend of Woods' through the many years he caddied for him and the two had a falling out after Williams left Woods following Tiger's sexual escapades and fall from the top in golf. One comment does not make a man racist. Silly, yes. I think the media is making way to much of this and should relax. Society has become so sensitive these days. Would there be any uproar if a black caddie had mentioned a white arsehole? Nope, probably not and rightfully so. Had Williams mentioned another golfer and said "white" in front of his statement people would have laughed and moved on.
- The New York Rangers look they are finding their stride. After a long and difficult road trip that saw them playing in Europe, then on Long Island, then on the West Coast, the Rangers returned home to the Garden and won 4 of 6 during that homestand giving them a 7-3-3 record in the teams first 13 games. Marian Gaborik seems to have found new life, Ryan Callahan continues to progress, Brad Richards is showing why he was the #1 free agent target of the off-season, and the Rangers have shown an ability to score on the power play as well, something that haunted them all of last season. And, they are still playing without Marc Staal, arguably their best defenseman. This team should only get better.
- It is looking like the Colts will be winners of the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. I can't see them discarding Peyton Manning and pinning their hopes on a rookie QB but I can see Andrew Luck sitting behind Peyton for a couple of years, like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre, and then taking the starting job. I can also see some team willing to give up three #1 picks to obtain the rights to Luck. Either way the Colts are sitting pretty.
- Does anyone really notice there is no NBA right now? I mean seriously? Football, on both the collegiate and pro levels has been phenomenal and even the NHL has been enjoying a slight resurgence. Personally, I'll wait for college basketball as the pro game has lost all credibility with me. First its refs fixing games, then its stars getting calls despite the lack of fouls, now its a lack of agreement on financials between owners and players. The NBA didn't learn a thing from the NFL lockout and probably won't. So long, NBA, who cared to begin with?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Bring on the Offseason
The Yankees season is officially over. It still hurts a little to say that but that's what happens when you load the bases twice in a game with one out and fail to score one run. Now, it is time to look forward to next year, if we can do that already. The free agency picture isn't completely clear right now because there are a lot of guys with options and a few with opt out clauses. However, we know the Yankees will have to be busy this winter because some of those options and opt-outs are currently on the roster.
Right now, the Yankees hold options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher. Cano is a no-brainer but I'm not so sure about Swisher. Sure, Swisher hits well enough in the regular season but his post-season numbers are atrocious. He has hit .169 in 5 ALDS series, 3 ALCS, and 1 World Series. .169! This past ALDS he hit .211 for the Yankees with 1 homer and 1 RBI. He doesn't do anything particularly well, hitting between 20-30 homers but has hit over 30 (35) only once and that was in 2006. He isn't worth the $10 million that the Yankees will have to pay him if they pick up his option. Sorry, Swisher, but your days of saluting in right field at Yankee Stadium are over.
C.C. Sabathia can opt out of his contract and elect for free agency. I see him opting out but I don't know if the Yankees will let him walk away. Yes, his conditioning is a major issue. I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher add weight during the season since David Wells and it looks like Sabathia ate all of Wells' portions on top of his own. Sabathia made three appearances in this ALDS and gave up at least one run in every single appearance. Not good. Sabathia needs to learn about how to get fit. Imagine what he could do if he stayed in shape?
Jorge Posada's Yankee career is over. There is no reason to get nostalgic over a 40-year old DH who had a great ALDS this year. It seemed as if Posada was always starting or always in the middle of a rally. He will be missed, as all Yankee legends are, but it is time for the Yankees to bring Jesus Montero up and give him a shot. Montero is younger and is probably a much bigger offensive threat at this point. The time has come to let the next generation of Yankee stars show what they can do.
As for the Yankee rotation, well let's just say there is no sure thing in this rotation at all. Sabathia can opt out. Burnett is a disaster, ALDS start included. Nova had a great year but he hasn't shown he can do this year and year out. Phil Hughes was a complete mystery this year. Bartolo Colon is probably done, his fighting with C.C. over post-game spreads won't be tolerated and the Yankees really don't want to bring back a 40-year old pitcher with health issues. They were lucky this season and shouldn't roll the dice on him again. Freddy Garcia pitched very well and was probably the Yankees most consistent starter all year long. The Yankees wouldn't be going out on a limb to give him a one or two-year deal and see what he can do.
I would expect the Yankees to target at least one starting pitcher this offseason even if Sabathia opts out and re-signs. C.J. Wilson, a lefty who has done nothing but win the last two years is probably going to get the phone call from GM Brian Cashman, who the Yankees also need to re-sign. After Wilson the talent level drops off, depending on options and opt-outs. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox has hinted at retirement but is still 33 years-old and has the ability to shut down opponents. He might get a courtesy call this winter from the Yankees as well.
Right now, none of the Yankees top pitching prospects are ready for the Majors. Adam Warren and David Phelps might be the closest but they are middle of the road prospects, not like Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances who projects as top two starters. Maybe the Yankees see what Warren can do, Nova, after all wasn't a top prospect either but he learned how to pitch. Either way I expect the Yankees to give one of Warren and Phelps a shot and for them to sign at least one other starter (Wilson) to go with Sabathia and Burnett and Nova. Phil Hughes will remain a question mark for the time being because of whatever arm issues he was dealing with. He pitched very well out of the pen and the Yankees could use him there. Having a bullpen that has Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Luis Ayala, Cory Wade, and Mariano Rivera in the mix is something to hang your hat on. Whomever doesn't make the team in Spring Training out of the Hughes, Wade, Ayala group could be used in a trade.
As for the offense, well there are a lot of question marks here even with Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez being penciled in. A-Rod was not the same player he was before all of the injuries sapped him of his ability to hit. The Yankees might consider using him at DH more next year to keep him fresh. Eduardo Nunez was terrible in the field but was pretty good offensively and on the base paths. He could continue to spell A-Rod at third while he DH's. Another option might be to have A-Rod see what right field is like. Certainly he has the speed to cover ground out there and the wear and tear is nothing like it is at third. If A-Rod wants to show he is all about the team he should volunteer to take some fly balls out there. You never know, he could save his career out there. Jesus Montero showed what he was capable of and the Yankees will have to find a way to get his young, explosive bat into the lineup. He could be the backup catcher when he isn't DHing and should show the world why it was smart for the Yankees not to trade him. He is certainly better than Francisco Cervelli on both ends of the plate and it only makes sense for the Yankees to do this. If A-Rod DH's more than Montero can spell Martin behind the plate more often. The fact is the Yankees need to get his bat into this lineup. As for Swisher, he should not be brought back, as mentioned before. The Yankees would save themselves a lot of money and heartache in the postseason. Replacements for him aren't clear yet. I think the Yankees might kick the tires on Grady Sizemore or Jason Kubel. Sizemore has an injury history longer than Carl Pavano's, ok maybe not that bad, but this once promising player has seen his career go awry because he can't stay healthy. He is still only 29 or so and can be an upgrade over Swisher in right field if healthy. If the Yankees were willing to gamble on Colon, why not Sizemore who is younger? As for a utility guy I am a fan of bringing in Mark DeRosa who is a free agent. He can play anywhere on the field and has a .358 career postseason average. He is up there in age (37 next year) but can still hit, he hit .279 this season for San Francisco in a limited role and has shown his bat has some pop. He is also a Yankee fan who attended Bergen Catholic and he might be so excited to be a Yankee he surprises people. at worst you get a guy who plays solid defense everywhere he plays and will slap singles all over the field. He won't be expensive at all and has dreamed of being a Yankee since he was young. The Yankees need a guy like this who understands his role, has won a World Series and has performed in the postseason on a consistently great level.
The Yankees are in for a busy off-season. The first step is getting a GM in place, whether it is Cashman or a replacement. Then, bring in a starting pitcher, re-sign C.C., exercise option on Cano, hope Soriano opts out of his contract, stay away from ANY relievers in free agency, and find a new right fielder. It should be interesting to say the least.
Right now, the Yankees hold options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher. Cano is a no-brainer but I'm not so sure about Swisher. Sure, Swisher hits well enough in the regular season but his post-season numbers are atrocious. He has hit .169 in 5 ALDS series, 3 ALCS, and 1 World Series. .169! This past ALDS he hit .211 for the Yankees with 1 homer and 1 RBI. He doesn't do anything particularly well, hitting between 20-30 homers but has hit over 30 (35) only once and that was in 2006. He isn't worth the $10 million that the Yankees will have to pay him if they pick up his option. Sorry, Swisher, but your days of saluting in right field at Yankee Stadium are over.
C.C. Sabathia can opt out of his contract and elect for free agency. I see him opting out but I don't know if the Yankees will let him walk away. Yes, his conditioning is a major issue. I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher add weight during the season since David Wells and it looks like Sabathia ate all of Wells' portions on top of his own. Sabathia made three appearances in this ALDS and gave up at least one run in every single appearance. Not good. Sabathia needs to learn about how to get fit. Imagine what he could do if he stayed in shape?
Jorge Posada's Yankee career is over. There is no reason to get nostalgic over a 40-year old DH who had a great ALDS this year. It seemed as if Posada was always starting or always in the middle of a rally. He will be missed, as all Yankee legends are, but it is time for the Yankees to bring Jesus Montero up and give him a shot. Montero is younger and is probably a much bigger offensive threat at this point. The time has come to let the next generation of Yankee stars show what they can do.
As for the Yankee rotation, well let's just say there is no sure thing in this rotation at all. Sabathia can opt out. Burnett is a disaster, ALDS start included. Nova had a great year but he hasn't shown he can do this year and year out. Phil Hughes was a complete mystery this year. Bartolo Colon is probably done, his fighting with C.C. over post-game spreads won't be tolerated and the Yankees really don't want to bring back a 40-year old pitcher with health issues. They were lucky this season and shouldn't roll the dice on him again. Freddy Garcia pitched very well and was probably the Yankees most consistent starter all year long. The Yankees wouldn't be going out on a limb to give him a one or two-year deal and see what he can do.
I would expect the Yankees to target at least one starting pitcher this offseason even if Sabathia opts out and re-signs. C.J. Wilson, a lefty who has done nothing but win the last two years is probably going to get the phone call from GM Brian Cashman, who the Yankees also need to re-sign. After Wilson the talent level drops off, depending on options and opt-outs. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox has hinted at retirement but is still 33 years-old and has the ability to shut down opponents. He might get a courtesy call this winter from the Yankees as well.
Right now, none of the Yankees top pitching prospects are ready for the Majors. Adam Warren and David Phelps might be the closest but they are middle of the road prospects, not like Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances who projects as top two starters. Maybe the Yankees see what Warren can do, Nova, after all wasn't a top prospect either but he learned how to pitch. Either way I expect the Yankees to give one of Warren and Phelps a shot and for them to sign at least one other starter (Wilson) to go with Sabathia and Burnett and Nova. Phil Hughes will remain a question mark for the time being because of whatever arm issues he was dealing with. He pitched very well out of the pen and the Yankees could use him there. Having a bullpen that has Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Luis Ayala, Cory Wade, and Mariano Rivera in the mix is something to hang your hat on. Whomever doesn't make the team in Spring Training out of the Hughes, Wade, Ayala group could be used in a trade.
As for the offense, well there are a lot of question marks here even with Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez being penciled in. A-Rod was not the same player he was before all of the injuries sapped him of his ability to hit. The Yankees might consider using him at DH more next year to keep him fresh. Eduardo Nunez was terrible in the field but was pretty good offensively and on the base paths. He could continue to spell A-Rod at third while he DH's. Another option might be to have A-Rod see what right field is like. Certainly he has the speed to cover ground out there and the wear and tear is nothing like it is at third. If A-Rod wants to show he is all about the team he should volunteer to take some fly balls out there. You never know, he could save his career out there. Jesus Montero showed what he was capable of and the Yankees will have to find a way to get his young, explosive bat into the lineup. He could be the backup catcher when he isn't DHing and should show the world why it was smart for the Yankees not to trade him. He is certainly better than Francisco Cervelli on both ends of the plate and it only makes sense for the Yankees to do this. If A-Rod DH's more than Montero can spell Martin behind the plate more often. The fact is the Yankees need to get his bat into this lineup. As for Swisher, he should not be brought back, as mentioned before. The Yankees would save themselves a lot of money and heartache in the postseason. Replacements for him aren't clear yet. I think the Yankees might kick the tires on Grady Sizemore or Jason Kubel. Sizemore has an injury history longer than Carl Pavano's, ok maybe not that bad, but this once promising player has seen his career go awry because he can't stay healthy. He is still only 29 or so and can be an upgrade over Swisher in right field if healthy. If the Yankees were willing to gamble on Colon, why not Sizemore who is younger? As for a utility guy I am a fan of bringing in Mark DeRosa who is a free agent. He can play anywhere on the field and has a .358 career postseason average. He is up there in age (37 next year) but can still hit, he hit .279 this season for San Francisco in a limited role and has shown his bat has some pop. He is also a Yankee fan who attended Bergen Catholic and he might be so excited to be a Yankee he surprises people. at worst you get a guy who plays solid defense everywhere he plays and will slap singles all over the field. He won't be expensive at all and has dreamed of being a Yankee since he was young. The Yankees need a guy like this who understands his role, has won a World Series and has performed in the postseason on a consistently great level.
The Yankees are in for a busy off-season. The first step is getting a GM in place, whether it is Cashman or a replacement. Then, bring in a starting pitcher, re-sign C.C., exercise option on Cano, hope Soriano opts out of his contract, stay away from ANY relievers in free agency, and find a new right fielder. It should be interesting to say the least.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Looking Back...Swami I am Not
OK, the baseball season is now officially over, and what a finish it was. Who would have thought that the Red Sox would lose after taking a 3-2 lead into the ninth with two outs and two strikes on Nolan Reimold? Who would have figured the Rays would come back from being down 7-0 to the Yankees and win in the 12th inning on an Evan Longoria home run? Who would have figured the Braves would lose out on the playoffs in a similar fashion to the Red Sox and the Cardinals would come back from the dead to sneak in as a Wild Card? Well, let's see if any of my predictions came true:
1. The Braves will win the NL East: Ummm, no they didn't. 0 for 1
2. Curtis Granderson will flirt with 40-40 and have a breakout year: Hell yeah he did! He hit 41 homers but stole only 25 bases and got caught stealing 10 times. Well, he did something he never did before, he hit 40+ homers, that's gotta count for something, right?1 for 2!
3. Adrian Gonzalez will hit 45-50 homers: Nope, he didn't. 1 for 3.
4. The White Sox will beat out the Twins in the Central: Guess I forgot about the Tigers and all. 1 for 4.
5. The Mets will lose 95 games: Nope, they lost 85. 1 for 5.
6. Mark Prior will make an impact on the Yankees. Wow, I must have been drinking. 1 for 6.
7. The Giants will miss the playoffs. Yes, they did. Woohooo 2 for 7.
8. Austin Jackson will hit .300 and strike out 180 times. Well, he hit .249 and struck out 181 times. 2.5 for 8.
9. Jesus Montero will be traded. No he wasn't and thankfully I'm wrong. 2.5 for 9
10. The Red Sox will beat the Reds in World Series. Neither team made the playoffs. Oops. 2.5 for 10.
11. Derek Jeter will bat .309 and Ichiro will fail to reach 200 hits for first time. Jeter hit .297 and Ichiro only had 184 hits. Another half point, 3 for 11.
1. The Braves will win the NL East: Ummm, no they didn't. 0 for 1
2. Curtis Granderson will flirt with 40-40 and have a breakout year: Hell yeah he did! He hit 41 homers but stole only 25 bases and got caught stealing 10 times. Well, he did something he never did before, he hit 40+ homers, that's gotta count for something, right?1 for 2!
3. Adrian Gonzalez will hit 45-50 homers: Nope, he didn't. 1 for 3.
4. The White Sox will beat out the Twins in the Central: Guess I forgot about the Tigers and all. 1 for 4.
5. The Mets will lose 95 games: Nope, they lost 85. 1 for 5.
6. Mark Prior will make an impact on the Yankees. Wow, I must have been drinking. 1 for 6.
7. The Giants will miss the playoffs. Yes, they did. Woohooo 2 for 7.
8. Austin Jackson will hit .300 and strike out 180 times. Well, he hit .249 and struck out 181 times. 2.5 for 8.
9. Jesus Montero will be traded. No he wasn't and thankfully I'm wrong. 2.5 for 9
10. The Red Sox will beat the Reds in World Series. Neither team made the playoffs. Oops. 2.5 for 10.
11. Derek Jeter will bat .309 and Ichiro will fail to reach 200 hits for first time. Jeter hit .297 and Ichiro only had 184 hits. Another half point, 3 for 11.
Monday, September 12, 2011
2 Minute Drill
-The NFL Season is now truly under way and one thing is evident: Players are paying the price of the lockout. Injuries to key players through the preseason and the first week are really adding up. Chiefs safety Eric Berry joins Carolina LB Jon Beason, Giants LB Jon Goff, CB Terrell Thomas, and a slew of others on injured reserve, their season already over. Conditioning was a major concern among coaching staffs around the NFL and their fears are being realized. This is a violent game and injuries happen but teams will suffer because of the shortened camp and complete lack of mini-camps over the summer.
-The Giants will be terrible this year. Sure, they have the talent to turn it around but the amount of injuries to key personnel have really added up and seems to have devastated this team. It showed in Week 1 against the Redkins. The Giants receivers were not holding onto the football, Eli Manning was still making mistakes, Ahmad Bradshaw is not the answer in short-yardage situations, and the Giants secondary looked lost at times. Throw on top of that, the Giants offensive line is still adjusting to new roles and new faces and it has the makings of a loooong season. I did pick the Giants to make the playoffs and they still could. However, right now, they have a lot of work that needs to get done and it doesn't look like its gonna happen this year.
-The Jets-Cowboys game was a wild one. The Jets didn't do anything great until the second half when the blocked punt was returned for a TD and Darrelle Revis intercepted Tony Romo at a key time. The Jets defense stepped up when it needed to to, forcing turnovers and never giving up despite being down 14 points in the 4th quarter. This is a great win for the Jets and horrible loss for the Cowboys. Tony Romo is less trustworthy in key spots than Eli Manning in any spot. If Romo throws for only 9 interceptions in a season the chances are that all 9 will be significant because they will come at crucial points. The Cowboys are a QB away from being a damned good football team.
-As bad as the Giants looked yesterday there is a lot of talent on that football team. What is even scarier is how good they can be if they are healthy. Think about a secondary with Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, Antrell Rolle, Kenny Phillips, and Deon Grant backing up a defensive line of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyioura, Marvin Austin, Chris Canty, and Linval Joseph. Think about how good the Giants will be if Mark Herzlich becomes the player many thought he could become before cancer. Think about Greg Jones getting invaluable on-the-job training at middle linebacker and how much potential he has. Mathias Kiwanuka is a pass-rushing nightmare on QB's and O-linemen. This defense can be great. It just needs to be healthy and happy. Next year the Giants will be a playoff team, regardless of who coaches them, and will be back in a Super Bowl within three years. This was a freak offseason for the Giants and if it is Tom Coughlin's last year, the Giants will find a suitable coach who will be able to get the best out of this team. Take it to the bank.
-Cam Newton sure shut his critics up with one of the best week 1 performances I have ever seen out of a rookie QB. I certainly didn't think he was capable. Good job, Cam. Who knows, maybe you are that good.
-Do you think the Colts miss Peyton Manning yet? Do you think Kerry Collins wishes he stayed retired or is just thankful his name is not Donovan McNabb?
-Speaking of McNabb, I don't think he is THAT bad. I still don't think he has much left to offer but he could still be a playoff caliber QB for the Vikings.
-So Tedd Ginn, Jr. still plays football. Great game for him against the Seahawks. He always had the ability but he never allowed to translate. Fantasy owners everywhere are rushing to pick him up.
-George W. Bush performed the coin toss at the Jets-Cowboys game. In a predominantly democratic area the formerly unpopular Bush got a smattered of boos but they were hushed out by thunderous appaluse and chants of "U-S-A!"
-When did Ryan Fitzpatrick learn how to play QB? The Bills QB tossed 4 TD's against the Chiefs on Sunday as Buffalo romped and stomped Kansas City 41-7.
-Enjoy the double-header tonight on Monday Night Football. If the weekend has taught us anything it is to expect anything at anytime. What a crazy beginning to the football season.
-The Giants will be terrible this year. Sure, they have the talent to turn it around but the amount of injuries to key personnel have really added up and seems to have devastated this team. It showed in Week 1 against the Redkins. The Giants receivers were not holding onto the football, Eli Manning was still making mistakes, Ahmad Bradshaw is not the answer in short-yardage situations, and the Giants secondary looked lost at times. Throw on top of that, the Giants offensive line is still adjusting to new roles and new faces and it has the makings of a loooong season. I did pick the Giants to make the playoffs and they still could. However, right now, they have a lot of work that needs to get done and it doesn't look like its gonna happen this year.
-The Jets-Cowboys game was a wild one. The Jets didn't do anything great until the second half when the blocked punt was returned for a TD and Darrelle Revis intercepted Tony Romo at a key time. The Jets defense stepped up when it needed to to, forcing turnovers and never giving up despite being down 14 points in the 4th quarter. This is a great win for the Jets and horrible loss for the Cowboys. Tony Romo is less trustworthy in key spots than Eli Manning in any spot. If Romo throws for only 9 interceptions in a season the chances are that all 9 will be significant because they will come at crucial points. The Cowboys are a QB away from being a damned good football team.
-As bad as the Giants looked yesterday there is a lot of talent on that football team. What is even scarier is how good they can be if they are healthy. Think about a secondary with Terrell Thomas, Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, Antrell Rolle, Kenny Phillips, and Deon Grant backing up a defensive line of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyioura, Marvin Austin, Chris Canty, and Linval Joseph. Think about how good the Giants will be if Mark Herzlich becomes the player many thought he could become before cancer. Think about Greg Jones getting invaluable on-the-job training at middle linebacker and how much potential he has. Mathias Kiwanuka is a pass-rushing nightmare on QB's and O-linemen. This defense can be great. It just needs to be healthy and happy. Next year the Giants will be a playoff team, regardless of who coaches them, and will be back in a Super Bowl within three years. This was a freak offseason for the Giants and if it is Tom Coughlin's last year, the Giants will find a suitable coach who will be able to get the best out of this team. Take it to the bank.
-Cam Newton sure shut his critics up with one of the best week 1 performances I have ever seen out of a rookie QB. I certainly didn't think he was capable. Good job, Cam. Who knows, maybe you are that good.
-Do you think the Colts miss Peyton Manning yet? Do you think Kerry Collins wishes he stayed retired or is just thankful his name is not Donovan McNabb?
-Speaking of McNabb, I don't think he is THAT bad. I still don't think he has much left to offer but he could still be a playoff caliber QB for the Vikings.
-So Tedd Ginn, Jr. still plays football. Great game for him against the Seahawks. He always had the ability but he never allowed to translate. Fantasy owners everywhere are rushing to pick him up.
-George W. Bush performed the coin toss at the Jets-Cowboys game. In a predominantly democratic area the formerly unpopular Bush got a smattered of boos but they were hushed out by thunderous appaluse and chants of "U-S-A!"
-When did Ryan Fitzpatrick learn how to play QB? The Bills QB tossed 4 TD's against the Chiefs on Sunday as Buffalo romped and stomped Kansas City 41-7.
-Enjoy the double-header tonight on Monday Night Football. If the weekend has taught us anything it is to expect anything at anytime. What a crazy beginning to the football season.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Eli(te)?
Recently Eli Manning came under fire from various circles because he considered himself an elite quarterback. Many of those taking fire at Eli were Giants fans. In fact, during the Giants preseason home opener against the Bears on August 22nd, there was a sign scrawled on a bedsheet that read "Eli-te? Show us!" As many of you know I am a Giants fan and I just don't understand the hatred some Giants fans show towards Eli. So, as any history major would do I did some research.
Many Giants fans consider Phil Simms to be the greatest Giants QB in the modern era. Also in this category are Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Charlie Conerly and even Kerry Collins. Eli Manning has a better career (during their time with the Giants) completion percentage than any of those except Kerry Collins who beats Manning by .5%. Manning has a higher completion percentage with the Giants than Hall of Famers Tittle, Tarkenton, and Conerly. Manning ranks second all-time in passing yardage with 22,646. Phil Simms leads all Giants QB's with an all-time mark of 33,462. The major difference is Simms, who was my favorite Giant growing up, had from 1979 to 1993 to amass that yardage. Eli has amassed his numbers since 2004 when he took over the reigns from Kurt Warner. Manning ranks third all-time in touchdowns behind Simms (199) and Conerly (173) with 156. Simms needed 14 years and Conerly 13 years to amass those numbers. Eli is on pace to break Simms' record in about 2 years. So by the end of 2012, Eli's 8th year in the league, he will have set the all-time mark for touchdowns by a Giants QB.
Eli's detractors will point out that he throws too many interceptions. Yes, Eli has thrown 113 INT's and is thrid all-time in that category as a Giant. However, Eli has the same interception rate as Phil Simms, 3.4%. That puts him ahead of Norm Snead, Charlie Conerly, Y.A. Tittle, and Fran Tarkenton to name a few. What makes that even more remarkable is Eli is second all-time in completions for a Giants QB and should surpass Simms in another 2 years. He is also second in career attempts so Eli has thrown a helluva lot more balls than some Hall of Famers and still has a lower interception percentage.
Eli's detractors will point out Eli doesn't win football games. Well, Eli owns a 60-43 mark as a QB. Only Phil Simms has more wins (95-64) than Eli. However, Eli bests Phil in career QB rating, 80.2 to 78.5. Quarterback rating is the only place Eli doesn't shine when compared with his Giants contemporaries.
Is Eli Manning an elite quarterback? Well, maybe he is. He is certainly the best quarterback the Giants have ever had and is on pace to set every single record for Giants QB's. There have only been four seasons in which a Giants quarterback has thrown for over 4,000 yards. Eli is the only one to do it twice. Eli is also only the second Giants QB to ever throw for 30 TD's in a season. Y.A. Tittle did it twice. Of the top ten all-time single season touchdown leaders, Eli makes the list five times. Tarkenton and Tittle make the list twice and Simms just once. Oh, and his 62.9 completion percentage from last season ranks tops all-time for a Giants QB.
Say what you want about Eli Manning. The facts are he is arguably the best quarterback the Giants have ever had. A case can be made for Tittle but he only played a few years for the Giants. Sure, a case can be made for Simms but the numbers show Manning is better. Is he elite? Well, Giants fans shouldn't be complaining about Eli to say the least.
Many Giants fans consider Phil Simms to be the greatest Giants QB in the modern era. Also in this category are Y.A. Tittle, Fran Tarkenton, Charlie Conerly and even Kerry Collins. Eli Manning has a better career (during their time with the Giants) completion percentage than any of those except Kerry Collins who beats Manning by .5%. Manning has a higher completion percentage with the Giants than Hall of Famers Tittle, Tarkenton, and Conerly. Manning ranks second all-time in passing yardage with 22,646. Phil Simms leads all Giants QB's with an all-time mark of 33,462. The major difference is Simms, who was my favorite Giant growing up, had from 1979 to 1993 to amass that yardage. Eli has amassed his numbers since 2004 when he took over the reigns from Kurt Warner. Manning ranks third all-time in touchdowns behind Simms (199) and Conerly (173) with 156. Simms needed 14 years and Conerly 13 years to amass those numbers. Eli is on pace to break Simms' record in about 2 years. So by the end of 2012, Eli's 8th year in the league, he will have set the all-time mark for touchdowns by a Giants QB.
Eli's detractors will point out that he throws too many interceptions. Yes, Eli has thrown 113 INT's and is thrid all-time in that category as a Giant. However, Eli has the same interception rate as Phil Simms, 3.4%. That puts him ahead of Norm Snead, Charlie Conerly, Y.A. Tittle, and Fran Tarkenton to name a few. What makes that even more remarkable is Eli is second all-time in completions for a Giants QB and should surpass Simms in another 2 years. He is also second in career attempts so Eli has thrown a helluva lot more balls than some Hall of Famers and still has a lower interception percentage.
Eli's detractors will point out Eli doesn't win football games. Well, Eli owns a 60-43 mark as a QB. Only Phil Simms has more wins (95-64) than Eli. However, Eli bests Phil in career QB rating, 80.2 to 78.5. Quarterback rating is the only place Eli doesn't shine when compared with his Giants contemporaries.
Is Eli Manning an elite quarterback? Well, maybe he is. He is certainly the best quarterback the Giants have ever had and is on pace to set every single record for Giants QB's. There have only been four seasons in which a Giants quarterback has thrown for over 4,000 yards. Eli is the only one to do it twice. Eli is also only the second Giants QB to ever throw for 30 TD's in a season. Y.A. Tittle did it twice. Of the top ten all-time single season touchdown leaders, Eli makes the list five times. Tarkenton and Tittle make the list twice and Simms just once. Oh, and his 62.9 completion percentage from last season ranks tops all-time for a Giants QB.
Say what you want about Eli Manning. The facts are he is arguably the best quarterback the Giants have ever had. A case can be made for Tittle but he only played a few years for the Giants. Sure, a case can be made for Simms but the numbers show Manning is better. Is he elite? Well, Giants fans shouldn't be complaining about Eli to say the least.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Some NFL Predictions
I figured I would throw out some predictions for this upcoming football season. Why not? The "experts" have a similar batting average as I do.
-The New York Giants, despite all of the tumult this offseason and the injuries this preseason will make the playoffs.
-Mike Vick will throw 14 or more INT's this year. He also won't play in all 16 Eagles games.
-The returns of kickoffs will drastically go down. Currently kicks are being run back from the halfway point of the endzone. Much of this can be attributed to guys trying to make NFL rosters and the only way they can do that is if they return the kicks for big yardage. Expect more touchbacks once the season starts. Currently, this preseason has seen 37% of kickoffs end up as touchbacks, up from 10% last year. That rate will only increase, probably somewhere close to 50% once the regular season starts.
-The Eagles will win the NFC East but won't get very far in the playoffs and certainly won't win the Super Bowl.
-The Raiders will not continue to improve and instead will regress this year. An 8-8 record is not gonna happen. 4-12 maybe, not 8-8 or 7-9.
-The Lions will make the playoffs IF Matthew Stafford stays healthy. Since he probably won't the Lions will once again miss the playoffs. But they are on the rise.
-Plaxico Burress will have more TD catches than Santonio Holmes.
-Eli Manning will throw less than 20 INT's this year. Hakeem Nicks will be a Pro Bowl WR and Mario Manningham will have over 1,000 yards receiving. And, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will each have 1,000 yards rushing.
-The Chicago Bears will not make the playoffs.
-The Green Bay Packers will not repeat as Super Bowl Champions but will win the North handily.
-Colt McCoy will show people he can be a QB in this league and will have better numbers than Joe Flacco.
-The Dallas Cowboys will finish the year 8-8.
-The Cleveland Browns will make the playoffs. Their toughest games are against division opponents (except the Bengals) and if the Browns can go .500 in their division they could sneak into a Wild Card spot.
-The Denver Broncos will improve, by 2 games on last years 4-12 record and finish ahead of Oakland.
-The San Diego Chargers will win the AFC West.
-Nobody will care who wins the NFC West.
-The NFC South will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
-The Redskins will win less than 5 games.
-Ray Rice will lead the league in rushing.
-Larry Fitzgerald will lead the league in receptions.
-There won't be any arrests of New York Jets players during the regular season.
-Kansas City will go 8-0 at home.
-The loss of Terrell Thomas will hurt the Giants but it won't kill them. Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, and Corey Webster will be able to fill the void well enough making this unit a huge strength going into 2012.
-Jason Pierre-Paul will have 13 sacks. Justin Tuck will have 12. And Osi Umenyiora will rack up 10 as the Giants lead the NFL in sacks.
Well, that's all for now. Got your own predictions? Click on the comments link and share 'em.
-The New York Giants, despite all of the tumult this offseason and the injuries this preseason will make the playoffs.
-Mike Vick will throw 14 or more INT's this year. He also won't play in all 16 Eagles games.
-The returns of kickoffs will drastically go down. Currently kicks are being run back from the halfway point of the endzone. Much of this can be attributed to guys trying to make NFL rosters and the only way they can do that is if they return the kicks for big yardage. Expect more touchbacks once the season starts. Currently, this preseason has seen 37% of kickoffs end up as touchbacks, up from 10% last year. That rate will only increase, probably somewhere close to 50% once the regular season starts.
-The Eagles will win the NFC East but won't get very far in the playoffs and certainly won't win the Super Bowl.
-The Raiders will not continue to improve and instead will regress this year. An 8-8 record is not gonna happen. 4-12 maybe, not 8-8 or 7-9.
-The Lions will make the playoffs IF Matthew Stafford stays healthy. Since he probably won't the Lions will once again miss the playoffs. But they are on the rise.
-Plaxico Burress will have more TD catches than Santonio Holmes.
-Eli Manning will throw less than 20 INT's this year. Hakeem Nicks will be a Pro Bowl WR and Mario Manningham will have over 1,000 yards receiving. And, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will each have 1,000 yards rushing.
-The Chicago Bears will not make the playoffs.
-The Green Bay Packers will not repeat as Super Bowl Champions but will win the North handily.
-Colt McCoy will show people he can be a QB in this league and will have better numbers than Joe Flacco.
-The Dallas Cowboys will finish the year 8-8.
-The Cleveland Browns will make the playoffs. Their toughest games are against division opponents (except the Bengals) and if the Browns can go .500 in their division they could sneak into a Wild Card spot.
-The Denver Broncos will improve, by 2 games on last years 4-12 record and finish ahead of Oakland.
-The San Diego Chargers will win the AFC West.
-Nobody will care who wins the NFC West.
-The NFC South will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
-The Redskins will win less than 5 games.
-Ray Rice will lead the league in rushing.
-Larry Fitzgerald will lead the league in receptions.
-There won't be any arrests of New York Jets players during the regular season.
-Kansas City will go 8-0 at home.
-The loss of Terrell Thomas will hurt the Giants but it won't kill them. Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, and Corey Webster will be able to fill the void well enough making this unit a huge strength going into 2012.
-Jason Pierre-Paul will have 13 sacks. Justin Tuck will have 12. And Osi Umenyiora will rack up 10 as the Giants lead the NFL in sacks.
Well, that's all for now. Got your own predictions? Click on the comments link and share 'em.
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