Did Adeinis Hechavarria Make A Mistake Going To Toronto?

The saddest news yesterday was the story that prized Cuban SS prospect Adeinis Hechavarria decided to go to Toronto over the Yanks because of concerns about PT due to Jeter's looming contract extension.  Clearly this means that the Yankees should cut ties with Jeter now since he is a black cloud hanging over the future of the organization, but does it also mean that Adeinis Hechavarria is a moron?

I mean, think about it.  However long Jeter signs for, logic would dictate he isn't going to spend all that time at shortstop.  Shit, it's still a miracle the guy is playing the position as well as he is at this age.  I was as happy as anybody to see him rebound defensively last season and finally earn a Gold Glove, but I certainly don't expect him to repeat or improve upon this numbers this year and in the next few.  The Yankees know this and Jeter knows this, so it's sure to be discussed this offseason when his contract negotiations start and a plan will begin to be put in place for Jeter to transition to another spot in the field as his ability to play shortstop well finally dwindles.

And as good as this kid may be, I find it hard to believe Hechavarria is going to come in and play out of this world right off the bat at shortstop.  As good as Cuban baseball is, it still isn't the Major Leagues; the kid is going to have to get used to the Major League game and to Major League pitching.  Shortstop isn't exactly a position where you just slide in seemlessly and light the world on fire, and not for nothing, but I don't hear anybody comparing Hechavarria to Hanley Ramirez or even Jeter himself.  Those 2 are arguably the top 2 shortstops in the game and even they had to pay their dues and spend time working their way up through the Minors before they were ready to be full-time Major League shortstops. So you have to expect there will be a learning curve associated with Hechavarria becoming a quality Major League shortstop, even if it is an accelerated one.

Now he could have signed with the Yankees for $8.5 million, by far the most they've ever shelled out for what equates to a rookie player, spent some time in the Minors learning the ins and outs of the game, taken over at age 24 when Jeter gracefully moved to the outfield, and become the NEW JETER!!!  He would have been the most talked about player on the most widely recognized, successful team in the history of American sports in the biggest media market in the world.  After his rookie year he would have made up the extra $1.5 million that the Blue Jays offered him in endorsements!  And then some!!  It's a story so good that Disney would be jumping all over it after he hit his first game-winning home run.

Now I fucking suck at baseball, but if you told me that was my future in 3 years I would walk into my office tomorrow, squat on my boss' desk, and drop a hot one right in his coffee cup.  But little Hech was too worried about playing right away and so he took more money and the earlier guaranteed starting spot.  I applaud the kid's confidence, I really do.  But to give up a shot at playing for the greatest team in the history of baseball at a position that has been manned by one of the 3 greatest members of that team in its history just doesn't make sense to me.

Maybe he likes the Toronto night life, I don't know.  Maybe he's seen the problems that past Cuban defector Jose Contreras had in the Big Apple and doesn't think he can handle the pressure.  But whatever the case may be, I hope Hechavarria does well in the Majors and then comes to his senses by the time his first Blue Jay contract is up.  Because by then the Yankees will definitely need a shortstop.

Yankee Blogosphere Linkapalooza For The Week That Was (March 8-14)

First, the round-up from the crew at The Yankee U:

- Moshe Mandel compares the careers of Nomahhhhh and Jeter to determine who was the better player.  In their primes, Nomar was definitely the better all-around player and his value over replacement shows that.  But the fact that Nomar did spend the last 5 years of his career injured and had to retire while Jeter is still at the top of his game and staring down 3,000 hits ends that argument right there.  Over the long haul, Jeter IS the better player.

- Chris H. breaks down the relationship between Mo's decreased velocity and increased contact rates in 2009.  The numbers are worth noting, as they were significant.  But you have to remember Mo was coming off of shoulder surgery before 2009 so it's expected at his age he would experience a decrease in velocity as a result.  I personally could care less if Mo never strikes a guy out ever again; as long as he's sawing guys off and getting the 1-2-3 in the 9th, that's all that matters.

- Moshe Mandel joins the discussion at TYU about who the 5th starter should be and makes a 5-pointed argument for why it should be Joba.  I can't say I agree with any of the 5 points Mandel makes, but I'm sure some of those thoughts are being discussed internally amongst the Yankee brass and will most likely play a big factor in making Joba the 5th starter (since his on-field performance to date certainly hasn't earned him anything).

- Joe Pawlikowski at River Ave. Blues projects Curtis Granderson's 2010 season.  I, like Joe, expect C-Grand to improve upon his 2009 and his career splits to date.  If he does, it's important to note Joe's point that the Yankees have him for a few more years to come in the prime of his career, something they would not have with Matsui or Damon.

- Joba could probably learn something about pitching by reading this Joe P. post from RAB about Tim Lincecum adjusting his approach after losing some velocity.  So far Joba still hasn't figured out how to harness his secondary pitches when he can't throw 96-97 all the time.  If he wants to stay in the discussion for the 5th spot, he better damn well start harnessing.

- Roberto at Respect Jeter's Gangster is already bored with Spring Training.  Can't say I blame the guy, but there's only 21 games until the season starts so hang in there, bud.

- Jason Kozlowski at Bronx Baseball Daily profiles Spring Training bright spot Zach McAllister.  Something tells me this kid is going to be the early favorite for the 5th spot in the rotation in 2011, especially if Pettitte and Vazquez retire.

- My main man Lenny Neslin reviews the Yankees 2009 World Series DVD, something I am still kicking myself for not buying for 45 bucks after Christmas.  IT'S GOT SPANISH COMMENTARY!!!!

- Scott Ham at The Bronx View pokes a little fun at the Joba-Hughes debate and then proceeds to write a well thought out piece that ends with Joba in the rotation and Hughes in the 'pen.

- iYankees explains how Dave Robertson is pretty much the 2nd lefty out of the bullpen.  I'm a huge Robertson fan and love anything that sings his praises.  Boone Logan, however, might want to skip this article.

- Dan LaTorraca at Was Watching previews the 2010 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.  Always good to know what the future holds, especially when it comes to the Almighty Jesus.

- And even though I hate to end on a sour note, it appears Cuban SS prospect Adeinis Hechavarria has decided to sign with Toronto instead of the Bombers because he is concerned Jeter's new contract will block him from playing sooner.  Rob from BBD has his two cents on the situation here.  It's tough to lose a guy who could have been the perfect replacement for Jeter whenever he did have to move away from the hole, but since he hasn't completely broken down yet, why fix what isn't broken?

Enjoy the rest of your evening, Yankee fans.  Check out the Reggie Miller-NY Knicks doc on ESPN and then fill out your NCAA brackets.  Mine already has the Yankees winning it all.  Beat that.

Snap Judgements From The First 2 Weeks Of Spring Training

- Joba, flu or no flu, still doesn't seem like he approaches the game as a starter the same way he does as a reliever.  The velocity being down is understandable, you want to keep something in the tank.  But the aggression, the intensity, and the attitude just isn't there.  I know starters are always more valuable than relievers, but if this is how Joba is going to pitch this year then he definitely has more value in the 'pen.

- After recovering from his brain fart in the batting cage, Nick Johnson has looked solid at the plate and should be the favorite to bat 2nd behind Jeter.  He isn't fast, but you can't ignore the high OBP and the number of extra chances it gives Teix and The Horse to drive in runs.

- That being said, C-Grand's performance so far should earn him a spot somewhere between 5-7 in the lineup.  And with the way he's played in the outfield so far (see: great catch in deep center for Phil Hughes on Thursday), expect Granderson to at least start the season as the everyday centerfielder.

- Regardless of who ends up winning the competition for the 5th spot in the rotation, the bullpen is going to be STACKED this year, and Park and Mo haven't even pitched to live batters yet.

- You always have to take Spring Training results, good or bad, with a grain of salt, but Robinson Cano has looked great so far.  He's as locked in at the plate as he has ever been, and that should bode well for him as he is usually a very slow starter.

- Why does everybody think they're CC this spring?  Burnett, Vazquez, Hughes, and more are all working on adding a changeup to their repertoire. 

- Is Randy Winn even in camp?  I haven't heard his name mentioned once so that definitely bodes well for Brett Gardner, who's continued solid defense and improved bunting has been on display all spring so far.

- It almost seems like Winn, Thames, and Hoffman are trying to see who can play bad enough to NOT make the team.  Seriously, guys.  You're playing for a spot on the team that's going to win the World Series!!!  Wake up!!

- I think it's safe to say the days of the Chase Wrights and Matt DeSalvos pitching meaningful innings in the big leagues are over.  With Mark Melancon, Zach McAllister, Ivan Nova, Grant Duff, Royce Ring, Dustin Moseley all pitching relatively well this spring, the Yankees shouldn't have to scramble and pray if they experience a freak rash of injuries to their pitching staff.

- I still say we're going to see Jesus on the Major League roster at some point this year.  When you add up Johnson's injury proneness (probably not a real word), Cervelli turning into a walking concussion, and the anticipated lack of pop off the bench, it's the perfect situation for Jesus to step in and provide a spark.

- Not hearing about how Jeter, A-Rod, Jorge, and Teix are doing is a good thing.  These guys are the ultimate professionals; I could care less if they don't get a hit between them all spring.

- Can we clone Aceves?  That guy is just a beast.

- He might not hit much, but Ramiro Pena's defensive wizardry has already ended the competition for utility infielder off the bench.

- Regardless of how well he continues to pitch, there won't be a spot for Mitre on the Opening Day roster.  Those 12 pitchers are going to be: CC, A.J., Andy, Javy, Hughes, Mo, Joba, Marte, Ace, Robertson, Park, and Gaudin.

How It Feels To Be A Mets Fan Right Now

Your starting center fielder is out until at least May with a knee injury, possibly due to another misdiagnosis by your training staff.

Your starting shortstop, who missed pretty much all of last season, is giong to miss 2-8 weeks with a hyperactive thyroid, and has no solid Major League-level backup.

Your starting rotation has no solid 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-starter to speak of, and the great Oliver Perez has started his annual meltdown extra early this season.

Your bullpen is such a question mark that everybody and their mother is tweaking their nipples over some 20-year-old kid who has never thrown a Major League inning.

And your management and executive staff, from the owner down to the GM down to the manager, might just be the worst in baseball.

Goddamn, you bastards have it easy! Us Yankee fans are sitting here fretting about who's going to fill the last spot in a rotation full of top-tier talent in the 1-4 spots, which unlucky guys aren't going to get a spot in the crowded and insanely deep bullpen and have to go down to Triple-A, and who is going to play left field and bat 9th on a regular basis to round out one of, if not the most, deep and dangerous lineups in the game.

You just have no idea how much stress that puts on us as fans. You guys are living the life.

Catching Up With Fraud Sox Nation

2 big stories out of Bahhhhhhhhhhhston this week that should interest Yankee fans.

1, Nomahhhhhhh retired yesterday.  Out of the trio of Nomar, Jeter, and A-Rod, Nomar might have been the best all-around player at his peak.  Unfortunately his body couldn't hold up (maybe due to steroid use) and he fell off the face of the baseball earth before retiring as a Red Sock yesterday.

Not surprisingly, ESPN gobbled Nomar up to be their newest baseball analyst.  Now on paper this looks like a good move for ESPN as their stable of Red Sox Nut Huggers has been ravaged over the last year with the loss of sex maniac Steve Phillips and mushy brain Peter Gammons.  But with the ugly ending to his playing career in Boston and the obvious tension that still exists between Nomar, Theo, and Lucchino, it's not a given that Nomar will play ball with ESPN and fall in line with the rest of the mindless ex-players/Boston mouthpieces that take up space on the Baseball Tonight set.

I mean, does that look like a guy who was legitimately happy to be there yesterday? 

(Photo courtesy of Barstool Boston)

If anything, I would be willing to bet Nomar spends more time slurping the Yankees since the 2 players with whom he is most closely associated are manning the left side of the Pinstripe infield.  At any rate, it should be interesting TV so keep an eye out for that.

Secondly, and much funnier, is this ridiculous video that Nike did on Jacoby Ellsbury and his FREAKISH!!!! athleticism.  Now I can't get on NESN for featuring this, but the fact that it's being presented in a way that makes Ellsbury look like a good baseball player is absolutely hilarious.

38.5-inch vertical jump?  Wow, that is high!  Too bad it doesn't help Ellsbury when he takes shitty routes to balls hit to the wall or in the gaps (thank you, homefield scoring).  But it's the same height that Tim Tebow jumped, SO IT MUST BE A BIG DEAL!!!!!!!!

And I'm sure that blazing "5-10-5" shuttle speed is going to come in handy helping to improve Ellsbury's below-average OBP, OPS, and OPS+, which make him overvalued as a leadoff hitter because he doesn't walk enough and has never managed to score 100+ runs in a season despite being a career .297 hitter and leading the league in stolen bases 2 years in a row.  But hey, any time you can overinflate a player's value based on his "Freakish Athleticism" (citing Jay Bilas) you have to do it.

The one thing I will admit is that the 65-foot powerball throw is pretty fucking impressive.  In fact, we'll probably all marvel at how far he can throw his bat in disgust after CC strikes his fucking ass out to end the 7th inning.  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! 

Joba-Phil Round 2 Review

Yesterday should have been the day that Joba and Phil stepped up and took charge of the race for the 5 spot. But Joba's putrid performance combined with the previously-mentioned success of Sergio Mitre and Ace makes talking about the Joba-Phil competition useless, so I'll just keep it quick.

Joba looked solid through his first 2 innings and then the wheels completely came off in the 3rd. A barrage of singles and walks culminated in a Gerald Laird grand slam that chased Joba from the game with a final line of 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, 1 K. After the game the excuses started flying, with mention of everything from Joba getting tired to Joba still not being fully recovered from the flu to Joba having small mechanical problems. Whether or not any of that influenced his 3rd inning meltdown, the fact is Joba once again lost his touch in an inning and showed no ability to battle his way out of trouble by being aggressive with hitters and making good pitches, something that has plagued him since his first Major League start.

Hughes relieved Joba in the 3rd and after giving up a rocket home run to Ryan Raburn and a shot to deep center that was erased by a fantastic Curtis Granderson catch, he settled down to pitch 2 2/3 decent innings. His fastball command wasn't perfect but it was better than his first outing and Hughes showed continued improvement on his off-speed stuff, particularly the new changeup (which he tried to throw twice in a row for strikes and missed, causing him to fall behind 3-1 in the at-bat against Raburn).

It was another decisive 10-9 round for Hughes in the fight against Joba and the grand slam to Laird was the equivalent of Joba getting staggered with a 1-2 combo, but with the continuing solid performances of the other 5-spot candidates, this mano-y-mano battle now has to be considered a no-holds-barred battle royale. And don't be shocked to see Chad Gaudin cracking dudes with a steel chair to keep himself in the mix.

Woosa, Woosa, Woosa

Why does anybody care that CC pitched like shit yesterday? Kevin Kernan was practically inching himself towards the ledge in his article this morning, bringing up questions about CC's career innings total coming back to haunt him this year and saying the Yankees "need" CC to replicate his 2009 season this year, all while attempting to wrap those boneheaded theories up in an "It's All Good" coating that was obvious even he didn't believe.

Newsflash, kids. CC is just fine. He had a terrible outing in his second ST start last year and look what it got him? 19 wins, some Cy Young votes, an ALCS MVP, and a bunch of beer-soaked World Series Championship memorabilia. If anything, people should be writing articles about the genius approach CC is taking to repeating last year's success, right down to his meticulous re-enactment of last year's Spring Training. CC doesn't need Spring Training any more than he needs a pair of Lycra bike shorts. It's old hat to him and it serves no other purpose than to let him iron out any problems in his mechanics (which he was fully aware of after yesterday) and build up just enough arm strength to be ready to go 6-7 innings without issue once the real season starts.

And this theory that the Yankees need CC to be a work horse again this year is completely asinine. They are going into this season with a deeper rotation and what will eventually be a deeper, better bullpen than last year's model. The plan should be to try to limit CC's innings as much as possible in the regular season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. I like complete games as much as the next cat, but if you can get CC out after 90 pitches and 7 great innings in May and June and July knowing you've got some combination of Mo, Joba/Hughes, Marte, etc. in the 'pen to lock down the last 2 innings to save that little bit of extra wear and tear on him instead of sending him out for the 8th, you do it. Period. That's why the Yankees brought in Javy Vazquez and why Cash signed Chan Ho Park; so that we don't have to watch a repeat of 2009 where guys like CC and Andy Pettitte are being worked to the bone. If the Yankees end up NEEDING CC to throw another 230 innings in the regular season this year, that means other guys in the rotation/bullpen aren't holding up their end of the bargain and that's not good for CC or the team.

So everybody calm the fuck down about his crappy outing yesterday. He knows what he did wrong and he knows how to fix it. Don't bring up the $161 million contract; don't mention anything about what he did last year, and don't even try to argue that the Yankees are counting him on for a monster year this year. Let CC do his thing and just keep counting down the days until he knocks Boston's dick in the dirt on Opening Night.

And Now For A Little Musical Number...

It's not like I need a reason to post the video for the new Deftones song on this blog. After all, it is my fucking blog. But just to keep with the Yankee theme, it is worth mentioning that Sergio Vega is wearing a Yankee hat in this video.  Enjoy.

Does Somebody Else Actually Have A Shot At The 5th Spot In The Rotation?

It's still early in Spring Training, but so far the Joba-Hughes battle for the last spot in the rotation has been greatly overshadowed by the performances of Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves. In their first 2 outings they have both looked impressive, and it raises the question of how serious are the Yankees about the race for the 5th rotation spot actually being an "open competition?"

Everybody from Joe Girardi to Brian Cashman has sworn up and down that this is a legit 5-man race between Joba, Phil, Mitre, Ace, and Chad Gaudin for the 5-spot in the rotation, but everybody with half a clue assumes it is going to come down to Joba and Hughes and everybody else will be herded into the bullpen or the minors.  The question that needs to be asked is, if Joba and Hughes don't perform well enough to prove they should win the spot, or if Mitre or Aceves continue to pitch lights out, will the Yankees keep true to their word and give the guy who pitched the best his shot?

I personally don't see it happening.  The organization has spent so much time over the last couple seasons grooming Joba and Phil to be starters that it would be seen as a waste internally if one of these guys isn't in the rotation this year.  At that point you can pretty much say the Joba Rules and Joba's entire 2009 season were a waste of time, and nobody in the higher branches of the Yankee tree likes to admit they were wrong.  Even if Joba or Hughes don't pitch that well for the rest of the spring, whoever does pitch better will be given the spot and it will be their spot to lose.

On the other hand, as blog after blog has pointed out, you don't need a world beater as your 5th starter, and nobody is accusing Mitre or Ace of being world beaters.  If they continue to pitch well and earn the 5th spot, I would feel just as comfortable with Mitre or Ace in the 5-spot and a bullpen of Gaudin, Park, Robertson, Marte, Hughes, Joba, and Mo.  It would be like a modern day version of the Cincinnati Reds' Nasty Boys 'pens of 1990 and would allow Joe the depth to cover for weak performances from the 5th starter or anybody in the rotation and keep Mo fresh for the stretch run of the playoffs.  Any way you look at it, it's a win-win and something to consider.

It's still way too early to speculate, and if Hughes or Joba shows even a hint of being able to nail down the last spot, it's going to go to them no questions asked.  But you have to admit that with the way things have started out with Joba and Phil not being overly sharp and Mitre and Aceves looking dynamic, this "battle" for the last rotation spot is certainly more interesting than it initially looked like it was going to be.

People Let Me Tell You 'Bout My Best Friend

In today's Post, Kevin Kernan delivers a heart-warming tale of two long lost friends, reunited after years of a chilly stalemate between them. An excerpt from what will inevitably become an Academy Award-nominated screenplay:

"The bond of winning a championship together has created a tighter bond between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.

They drove here together yesterday from Tampa for the Yankees' split-squad 6-0 win over the Pirates. And they left together. Before the game they played catch and long toss together, ran together in the outfield and even walked into the clubhouse together along the right-field line at 12:01 after they were done with their early work while a group of Yankees were still taking batting practice.

"They've definitely grown closer," one Yankee official told me.

They are laughing and joking together more, and during Sunday's workout in Tampa they spent a lot of time talking in short leftfield on a back field. They are enjoying being teammates." (courtesy of the NY Post)

Kernan thankfully left out the part where Jeter and A-Rod trade Lunchables lunches in the locker room after games, stay up late and watch scary movies together in a pillow fort they made together, and put Carl Pavano cards in their bike spokes to make them sound cooler when they ride around the Spring Training complex.

In all seriousness, this is good news for the Yankees and their fans. The Jeter-A-Rod rift was always news from the time A-Rod arrived in New York all the way through last year. It was a constant running subplot that everybody in the media knew about and everybody in the locker room had to be prepared to be asked about if anything regarding their relationship came up, like a lingering black rain cloud always hanging over the team and threatening to downpour on any good clubhouse vibes.

Jeter and The Horse are both professionals and their situation obviously didn't affect the way they performed on the field, but off the field one would imagine it still wasn't something they wanted to talk about. The fact that they seem to be back on good terms is good news for them and the team. It lifts that ominous cloud and allows for that little extra bit of comfort and calmness in the locker room now that everybody knows they don't have to worry about being asked "What's the deal with Jeet and A-Rod?" Jeter and A-Rod both can now focus even more on playing well and winning games and not have to listen to discussions about who is better, who is the leader, whose feelings are hurt, etc.

While it is a little hokey that something like this warrants major coverage in The Post, the fact is it's still good news for the team as they move into 2010. Having 2 of your best players and clubhouse leaders on the same page and getting along sets the tone for the relaxed, fun clubhouse vibe that was so important to last year's success and ensures that those vibes continue this season.

Goose Gossage Better Than Mo? Not So Much.

Nobody ever accuses Goose Gossage of not speaking his mind, and 99 times out of 100 I love his openness and honesty. But when it comes to calling himself the best closer of all time over Mo, I gotta call a timeout on that one. Gossage's comments to Players Press:

"I think that he is a tremendous relief pitcher. He's the best, current-day, modern reliever. When I was inducted into the Hall of Fame, I was told that I had 53 saves with seven-plus outs. I was told that Mariano had one and Trevor Hoffman had two. So I think that says it in a nutshell." (courtesy of Players Press)

Goosey, baby.  I love ya but allow me to take that nutshell and crack the shit out of it.  The stats, both basic and standardized just don't support your claim (all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com).

For starters, Mo has far more saves (525-310) than Gossage, he has won more World Series' (5-1) than Gossage, and has been named the league's best closer, AKA The Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, more times (4-1) than Gossage.  Goose's career ERA and WHIP, while both solid at 3.10 and 1.232, are bested by Mo's 2.25 and 1.015, which, coincidentally, are the best ERA and WHIP of the live ball era.  Quite simply, when you break it down and compare the most basic measurements of individual and team success it's not even a contest. Game, Rivera.

Goose's argument is based on the logic that he pitched in more games for more innings and had more multi-inning saves, which is all true.  But the game was different at the time Goose was in his prime, and teams were still learning to specialize their bullpens.  The plan of most teams was to use your best reliever or relievers for as long as possible to give yourself the best chance to win, and as a fireballer with a rubber arm, Goose thrived in that environment.  But the invention of sabermetrics and the growing attention to standardized stats over the last few decades since Goose's heyday now allow us to compare 2 guys from different eras and eliminate the apparent advantages that come from pitching more innings based solely on the era in which one played.  When you compare some of these stats for Goose and Mo, Mo still takes the cake, ices it, and eats it right in Gossage's face. 

Mo's ERA+, a much better way to show how good a pitcher is than just ERA, is 202, once again the highest of all-time.  Goose's is 126.  While Goose has pitched far more regular season innings than Mo (1,809.1-1,090), his overall effectiveness in those innings is not as good as Mo's.  Goose's career H/9 and BB/9 are 7.4 and 3.6 respectively.  By comparison, Mo's are 7.0 and 2.1 respectively.  And while Goose has 1,502 career Ks to Mo's 1006, Mo has averaged 8.3 K/9 over his career as opposed to Goose's 7.5.  Set, Rivera.

And when you factor in postseason success it really gets unfair.  By all accounts, Mo is the greatest postseason relief pitcher of all-time and his 0.74 ERA, 0.773 WHIP, 39 saves, and 5-to-1 K to BB ratio speak to that.  Granted he has spent far more time in the playoffs than Gossage, but that also means Mo had far more chances to make mistakes and hurt his career numbers in short series' and instead he has thrived time and time again in the highest of pressure situations.  There's something to be said for a relief pitcher who has won a World Series MVP and ALCS MVP for his team in 2 separate postseasons and that pitcher isn't Goose Gossage, it's Mariano Rivera.

And just in case there is still a shadow of a doubt, consider longevity.  Sure Gossage pitched for 22 seasons, but by his 15th year in baseball he was fast approaching the downside of his career.  After his 15th season, Gossage only recorded 32 saves for the remainder of his career as his IP and K/9 went down and his WHIP and ERA went up.  Mo's 15th season was last year and he recorded 44 saves, had an ERA under 2.00, a WHIP under 1.00, and recorded his highest K/9 average since 1996.  Mo has showed no signs of slowing down and barring injury, he should eclipse Gossage's final 7-year save total in one season this year.  Game, Set, Match, Rivera.

Everybody is entitled to their opinions but the numbers don't lie.  Mariano Rivera has been more dominant, more efficient, and more consistent than Goose Gossage over a long period of time, and at an age where Gossage began to significantly decline, Mo has been able to maintain, if not improve, his high level of performance.  Gossage's argument, while logical, is severely misguided as standardized statistics show that Mo's per-inning and per- 9 inning numbers are better than those of Goose, thereby negating the higher totals that Gossage accumulated as a result of pitching more innings.  Rather than attempt to use that to prove his superiority over Rivera, Gossage would be wiser to show how his incredible stats could have been even better had he been used in today's system.  Less wear and tear on his arm could have extended the life of Goose's prime and given him a shot at 400-450 saves, as well improved his per-inning and per-9 inning stats.

I will never try to argue that Goose wasn't a great player because he was.  He was the inspiration for today's closers and still ranks as one of the 5 greatest closers of all time in my book.  But he never has been and never will be better than Mariano Rivera.  One inning or multiple innings, Mariano Rivera is the Bret Hart of relief pitchers/closers: the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.

Will A-Rod Be The Next To Fall To The Galea Curse?

After his meeting with the Feds last week regarding his connections to sketchball doctor Tony Galea, the A-Horse might want to start thinking about being a little more careful at Spring Training. Not because the Yankees, who were reportedly upset at the news of the Rodriguez-Galea connection and made a public statement distancing themselves from the situation, are more than likely upset that Rodriguez brought more unneeded attention on himself. Not because the league could possibly monitor the situation and hand down punishments if any wrongdoings are uncovered. Not even because it brings back all the mentions of A-Rod's steroids scandal from last year.

No, A-Rod needs to be careful for the sole reason that so far, every other athlete connected to this guy has gone down in flames. From Tiger Woods' personal downfall right in front of our eyes to Carlos Beltran's sudden knee injury/surgery before Spring Training to Jose Reyes' new thyroid condition that was discovered last week, everything this Galea character touches turns to shit.

Rodriguez got clearance from his doctor in the off-season that he would not need additional surgery and his hip was good to go, and if the stories in Page Six are true he's been getting in plenty of work both on and off the field to keep the hip strengthened, but with the latest news about Reyes' condition, The Horse might want to think twice before taking extra BP or running a few late-practice wind sprints. The last thing the Yankees or their fans need is to open the paper in a week or two and find out A-Rod has torn his quad and been diagnosed with male breast cancer, and have it traced back to his participation in Galea's alien blood cycling program.

So be careful, A-Rod. Make sure you have your batting helmet on when you're in the cage. Drink your milk, take your vitamins, stretch before everything, and don't wear your fucking spikes in the batting cage. Help break the Galea Curse and don't, for the love of God, become its latest victim.

Yankee Blogosphere Linkapalooza For The Week That Was

Matt Imbrogno at TYU projects Robinson Cano's 2010 season, and while I agree with him that those numbers would certainly solidify him as one of the best 2B in the game, I'm certainly expecting more than .828, 20 HR, and 86 RBI from the guy who Joe announced will bat 5th to start the season.

The addition of Chan Ho Park to the bullpen has created a bit of a stir, and now it looks like somebody who was looking like a sure bet to start the season in the 'pen might now be on the outside looking in.  Matt Axisa of River Ave. Blues discussed why sending Phil Hughes to the minors is a bad idea.  Not to be outdone, Joe P argued the same for Alfredo Aceves.  I can't say I disagree with either of these guys; the bottom line is you want your best 12 pitchers on your 25-man roster and Hughes and Ace definitely fall into that category.

Fernando from Respect Jeter's Gangster dishes a hilarious take on A-Rod's discussion with the Feds about Tony Galea.

Rob at Bronx Baseball Daily examines a Mark Feinsand column and weighs in on Bernie Williams' HOF potential as a result of the Steroids Era.  Personally I don't think Bernie has any better or worse of a shot than he did before all these other guys were outed as cheaters.  He was never discussed as a HOFer while he was playing, and as much as I love him, his career numbers don't stand up enough to launch him over the big time juicers, even if they don't make it.

Steve S. at TYU agrees with me on Bernie.  I guess great minds really do think alike, huh?  And then he comes in HOT on Saturday morning with a well thought out and statistically-supported argument for why Aceves should be the 5th starter.  I can't argue with the logic there, I just don't see any way it happens.

Matt at Fack Youk looks at Ken Rosenthal's proposal for divisional realignment and rather than waste time and energy talking about how idiotic and useless Rosenthal is, he instead discusses better, more logical changes that should be made to create more value for teams who win the most games and eliminate the goofy situations that the Wild Card creates.

Tim Marchman at SI ranks the GMs in baseball and has Cash at 3.  I won't try to argue that pick but I will argue Theo at 2 and Andrew Friedman of Tampa Bay at 1.  Theo has done a great job managing the draft and Minors but his free agency history is spotty, and giving Friedman credit for the Rays' recent success when they've have the Number 1 or Number 2 pick in the draft since the beginning of time is just laughable.

Cuban defector, and future Yankee shortstop, Adeinis Hechavarria has been given the OK by MLB to negotiate with teams.  Yay!

And lastly, I'm just going to link the home page to LoHud because it is an absolute bevy of information on the goings on at Spring Training, including hourly updates of all the Spring Training games (a huge help when your internet filter at work blocks any live streaming media), and interesting interviews with some of the younger, lesser known guys in camp.

Joba-Phil Round 1 Review

So the great 5-Spot Race kicked off yesterday, and in keeping with the race comparison it was the equivalent to one horse stumbling out of the gate and getting shuffled to the back of the pack going into the first turn and the other completely wiping out, throwing its rider, and having to be put down after the race by on-track doctors.

First Phil Hughes.  He started the game and pitched 2 innings.  In those 2 innings he allowed only one hit and walked a batter, but that hit was a home run off the bat of the immortal Sean Rodriguez on a horribly-placed 3-2 fastball.  Hughes' fastball command was his biggest issue, mainly because it didn't exist.  In his 2 innings he threw 33 pitches, 18 of them for strikes, hardly economical and a direct result of his inability to locate his fastball, which topped out in the low 90s.  On the positive side, Hughes threw about 8 or 9 changeups, the pitch he has been working on early this spring, and threw those relatively well.  All in all, not a great outing by any means for Hughes, but considering how off his fastball command was it certainly could have been much worse.

Now on to Joba.  In a word, he was brutal yesterday.  1 1/3 innings, 3 hits allowed (all extra-base hits), 3 walks, and 5 earned runs.  He also threw 33 pitches and only 14 for strikes.  His velocity was also in the low 90s and he didn't seem to have any bite or sharpness to any of his pitches.  But Joba does get a pass from me for this bad outing because he has been sick with flu-like symptoms all week, reportedly losing 7 1/2 pounds due to his sickness, and hadn't thrown since Tuesday.  I know when I get a bad head cold I can barely move and I sit at a fucking desk all day, so I'm not going to rag on Joba for not being at his best at a job that requires much more physical strength and mental sharpness than mine does when he's spent most of the week with his head either on the couch or in the toilet.

However, this is a competition and Joba's numbers certainly don't bode well for him early.  Hughes did pitch better than Joba yesterday, which has to give him the early advantage.  I'm sure once Joba gets his body back to homeostasis and gets back to his regular work routine he will be much better his next outing.  But for the first test of the spring, yesterday has to be considered a 10-9 round for Hughes.

Plan B For DH If Nick Johnson Gets Hurt

So with Nick Johnson getting an early start to reaching his injury quota for the year, it bears bringing up how his absence from the lineup would best be filled if it were to happen during the regular season. Granted the Yankees have plenty of bodies to fill a spot on the roster between their platoon of 4th outfielders and small army of light-hitting utility infielders in the Minors, but none of those guys can be considered ideal replacements in terms of production. If the Yankees are smart, they will consider one man and man alone as Johnson's replacement in the lineup: The Savior himself, Jesus Montero.

This is really a no-brainer as far as I see it. Montero has been deemed Major League ready as a hitter by Jorge and Girardi already, so what better way to see how true that is and get him prepared to become a full-time contributor next season than to give him as many at-bats as possible this season?

And don't even try to give me the "but he still needs more work as a catcher and he can't get that experience if he's DH'ing in the Majors...blah, blah, blah" argument. When you have a guy this highly touted in your system, you find a way to get him at-bats. The Cardinals did it with Albert Pujols, working him around the outfield and infield before finally settling him in as their first baseman, and the Marlins did something similar when they first brought Miguel Cabrera up. It would be foolish to let Montero's one weakness (which he is already working hard to improve) overshadow his greatest strength, especially in a situation where that strength can help the team.

And what's to say Montero's defense couldn't be helped just by being on the 25-man roster and being able to talk to, work with, and learn from Jorge and Cervelli? I don't think Montero would just be sitting around on his ass all day before games and on off-days. The dude can still throw his catching gear on and get some work in if he wants to; he knows that and the Yankees know that so I'm sure they would find ways to help him work on his catching during his downtime, knowing that they could be going into 2011 with him as the new Number 1 catcher.

The bottom line is the Yankees don't have anybody else who can realistically be expected to step in and attempt to replace Johnson's production as a full-time hitter. The Marcus Thames', Jamie Hoffmans, and Randy Winns of the world were not brought in to be full-time players. They are just Band-Aids for Brett Gardner if he doesn't perform up to snuff, and I'm still not sold on Juan Miranda since his Major League success has been in such a limited number of at-bats.

With Montero, the Yankees can run out a lineup 1-9 that is just as dangerous, if not potentially more dangerous, than it is with Johnson. C-Grand can move up to the 2-spot, and Montero can be put either 7th or 8th and keep the balance of righties and lefties that Joe said he wanted to have with the lineup this year. The only downside would be losing the 2-3 days of first base rest for Mark Teixeira that Joe said he wanted to give him, but he probably wouldn't need that much anyway and even if Joe stuck with that plan I think everybody can live with a couple games of Nick Swisher at first and Winn in right.

Of course, this is all hypothetical and none of it matters if Johnson stays healthy throughout the year. But if not, then replacing him is an issue the Yankees will have to address and the best way to address it, as it will mostly affect the team's offense, is with your next best offensive option. With all the hype and positive comments surrounding him, Montero should be given his shot to prove that he is that option.

Seriously, Philadelphia?

(Photo used courtesy of Deadspin)

Ahh yes. Nothing says "exacting revenge" like beating a half-squad of the team that trashed you in the World Series last year in the second Spring Training game of the season on a single by somebody who probably won't even make your 25-man Opening Day roster.

I can't say I'm surprised. I mean what else would you expect from a team that blew its best chance to really exact revenge by trading away Cliff Lee to get Roy Halladay. Just typical sour grapes when it comes to vanquished Yankee opponents; they know they aren't going to get the job done when it really counts so they have to treat every victory like a Game 7.

Clash Of The Titans

It has all come down to this. Everything over the last few months leading up to this day and now that day is upon us. Joba and Phil. On the mound. In the same game. Mano y mano. In Round 1 of what will surely be an epic battle that will rival The Thrilla in Manila for the 5th spot in the rotation.

How will it go down today? Who will pitch better? Will Joba show better command of his off-speed stuff? How much pop will he have on his fastball? Will Phil throw any of the changeups he has been working on? Has Joba recovered from the flu? Will he look slimmer without the 7 1/2 pounds he's lost? Will anybody fist pump after a strikeout? Whose sideburns will look better?

Tune in today to find out!!!

Is Nick Johnson Actually Mr. Glass?

Well everybody said Nick Johnson was a question mark because of his checkered health history.  And today Nick didn't waste any time in taking the question mark, bolding it, and increasing it to size 72 font.

"Johnson felt something in his back during batting practice. He wore his spikes on the turf in the cage - he usually wears turf shoes - and a spike got caught during one of his swings. He said it's not a big deal and he would have played if this were the regular season. (courtesy of The LoHud Yankee Blog)"

Really, dude?  Spikes in the batting cage?  What kind of amateur hour crap is that?  And not only that, how the hell does something so small and insignificant end up causing you to hurt yourself?  And don't try to tell me that this was no big deal and a precautionary thing; when you have an injury history as extensive as Nick Johnson's, every hangnail and back tweak is a big deal.

Johnson is being counted on to produce this year; his high OBP makes him an ideal guy to hit in the 2-spot, even if he isn't the fleetest of foot, because it creates that many more opportunities for Teix and the A-Horse to drive in runs.  But if Johnson is going to have a year of strained backs, twisted ankles, and hurt wrists (something that was examined by Chris H at The Yankee U today), it creates a significant gap at the bottom of the Yankee lineup when C-Grand has to fill his spot in the 2-hole.  And even if Johnson toughs it out and plays through injuries like he said he would have today were it the regular season, history has shown he's not nearly as productive banged up as he is when he's healthy. 

I sincerely hope this is exactly what Johnson said it was and that he's going to be back out there soon.  But don't think I'm not going to be spending the remainder of Spring Training cringing when I scan my blogroll or check texts from my uncle in Jersey, worrying that I'm getting the latest in Nick Johnson injury news.

A Walk-Off Already? Why The F Not?

Well how do you like that? First game of Spring Training and already the magic is oozing out of the Yankees' pores.

The 3 dark horses combine for 6 innings of 1-hit, no-run ball, Brett Gardner makes a highlight-reel catch in the outfield, and just for shits and giggles the Yanks decide to add a little drama with a walk-off 3-run homer to win the game. Suffice it to say Colin Curtis was on Cloud 9 yesterday after that homer, even if he doesn't stand a chance of making the 25-man roster this season.

We'll spare the Frankie video for now, it being the first game of a long year and all. But everyone should still load up on whipped cream and start spreading the news...

Yankee Game Day: UPDATE!!!

So apparently it wasn't a video game tournament, but rather a 3-stage arcade game tourney as described by Chad at LoHud.

I'll still stick with Mo at 3:1 in skee ball because of his inhuman accuracy, Jeter at 5:1 in Pop-A-Shot because that requires both excellent hands and a good rhythm, and Jamie Hoffman at 7:1 to win the Indy racing game if for no other reason than it's probably the only time I will ever mention Jamie Hoffman on this blog.

Yankees Team Billiards & Video Game Tournament Today: Who Ya Got??

While everybody else is looking ahead to tomorrow's first Spring Training game, I'm focused on what's really important. And that, of course, is today's team billiards and video game tournament. Last year's team billiards outing was a huge hit with the players and more than likely set the tone for the loose, laid back atmosphere that the team played in last season. This year it should be even bigger and better, and with video games thrown in to boot, the competition should be fierce. Here's how I see each tournament breaking down.

Everybody knows billiards is a gentlemen's game. It's a game that requires deep concentration, thinking, and the ability to play angles and pick spots. The overly mental tone to the game favors those who have to spend the whole game thinking one step ahead, namely pitchers and catchers. It's also a game that requires focus and a cool, calm demeanor, something that veterans will most likely possess to a greater degree over the young guys.

Factoring in those aspects, I would expect guys like Mo and Andy Pettitte to be the odds-on favorites in the pool tournament. These guys carry themselves like pool sharks on the mound to begin with and have years of pressure situations to fall back on to prepare themselves for the tourney. But don't sleep on positional veterans like Jorge or Jeter. Jorge's place as on-field leader and Jeter's knack for always being a step ahead of the competition (see: The Flip) make them very dangerous. If I were a betting man, I would take Mo at 3:1 odds to win.

Now as for the video game tournament, that's a whole different story. Video games favor the young guys because they have been a bigger part of their generation. Guys like Joba and Dave Robertson and Brett Gardner have grown up with Madden and Mario Kart and are almost assuredly more up on the latest video game technology than Pettitte or A-Rod (can't picture Andy playing too much online Modern Warfare 2 at night). So as badly as they might get torched on the pool table, expect the young'ns to dominate the video game tournament.

But even that is not as simple a pick as it seems. The winner will be decided by what game is being played. Sports games like Madden or NBA Live would seem to favor the Jobas of the world: high-energy dudes who like to take risks and talk shit. I could see Joba fist pumping his way around his apartment at night after a big Madden victory. Tactical games such as Call of Duty or Halo will favor the calmer, more cerebral players like Gardner or Frankie Cervelli. My pick to win is Phil Hughes at 4:1 because of his good balance of calmness and sneaky bulldog toughness on the mound that should translate well to success at any game. But don't forget about younger players like Andrew Brackman, Mark Melancon, or Kevin Russo. With not as much money to spend as guys in the Majors, Double- and Triple-A guys have to get more than their fair share of video games in.

The picks, to review:

Billiards- Mariano Rivera at 3:1

Video Games- Phil Hughes at 4:1

Kevin Long Is God!!!

Once again Kevin Long has made the impossible possible; he has turned water into wine; he has made the blind man see.  Evidence this quote from George Kernan's article in today's NY Post.

"Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson took live batting practice off a left-hander on Field 2 yesterday and early in the second round lined a pitch up the middle. That's progress.

Granted the left-handed pitcher was Kei Igawa, but Granderson is in the process of attacking left-handers in a much different way than he has in the past."

Oh.... My.... God!  Did he say he lined a pitch UP THE MIDDLE?!?!  Off of THE Kei Igawa?!?!  Well then pigs must be flying and you can pencil Granderson in for a season hitting .750 off lefties.  Kevin Long has done it again!

To quote Lee Corso: "Not so fast my friend!"  And to quote Winston Wolf from "Pulp Fiction": "Let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet."  It was one hit off of one batting practice pitch against a pitcher who is so bad that anything not hit into the gap or over the fence off him is considered a failure by most players' standards.  Christ, even I could hit a ball up the middle off Kei Igawa and even I would consider that a disappointment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to read about how Granderson is changing his approach and what the differences are in his stance that Long has noticed and is working with him to correct.  But until I see him consistenty using that approach in a game situation, I'm going to hold off on calling whatever C-Grand does in practice "progress" or "improvement."

Sure players across the Yankee roster have praised Long for the time and effort he puts in and for the keen eye he possesses in helping fix flaws in a player's stance, swing, etc.  But when it comes to the biggest question mark at the plate heading into the season, let's calm down and see how C-Grand takes Long's teachings and executes them when it matters before we start declaring his lefty ails cured and praising Long as the hitting coach equivalent to Dr. House.

Joe Sets Rotation (For Spring Training)

Here's Joe's breakdown of the rotation through the first 11 ST games, courtesy of Mark Feinsand of the Daily News:

March 3 vs. Pirates: Gaudin/Mitre/Aceves

March 4 at Phillies: Sabathia

March 5 vs. Rays: Hughes/Chamberlain

March 6 vs. Blue Jays: Burnett

March 7 at Twins: Mitre/Gaudin (Pettitte will throw simulated game in Tampa)

March 8 vs. Phillies (split-squad): Vazquez

March 8 at Pirates (split-squad): Aceves

March 9 vs. Pirates: Sabathia

March 10 at Tigers: Chamberlain/Hughes

March 11 vs. Braves: Burnett

March 12 at Nationals: Pettitte

March 13 vs. Orioles (split-squad): Vazquez

March 13 at Tigers (split-squad): TBA

3 points:
 
1) It makes sense that Joe would put Joba and Hughes together for their outings, but I don't see how pitching them in the same game will help determine who wins the 5th spot in the rotation.  In each of their games, the lineup one guy faces will probably not look like the one the other guy will face, so there's really no accurate way to gauge who pitched better against completely different competition.  But the same thing would apply if you split their starts up so maybe this is the best way to judge the competition.
 
2) Joe isn't taking anything for granted with Joba and Hughes, evidenced by his focus on the under-the-radar Chad Gaudin vs. Sergio Mitre battle for the 6th (7th?) spot in the rotation.  These 2 are paired up twice as well and Gaudin's performance could be the difference between getting a spot as the long man in the 'pen or being released to help cover Chan Ho Park's expenses.
 
3) An already smart plan to keep Andy's workload low looks even smarter when his only "real" competition will be against the Nationals.  I bet Pettitte will have a harder time in the simulated game on March 7 than he will pitching against the Nats on the 12th.

Leaders Of Fraud Sox Nation Already Feeding Coal Into The Excuse Engine

John Henry on Wednesday:

"I don't think we can comment on what their ceiling may or may not be," Henry said. "We just have to do what we've done since we arrived here and that is try and build revenues, maximize revenues and try as best we can to compete with them financially. But we'll never be able to do that."

"People tend to clump us together, but there's a wide gulf financially between the two teams, and that's going to continue." (courtesy of SI.com)

Theo yesterday morning:

"I think that he (Ellsbury) is an above-average center fielder now, who is going to be a great center fielder. I know there is a certain number we don’t use that is accessible to people online that had him as one of the worst defensive center fielders in baseball last year. I don’t think it’s worth anything. I don’t think that number is legitimate. We do our own stuff and it showed that he is above average." (used courtesy of The Yankee U)

I would laugh harder at this stuff if it wasn't obvious that these two are serious with this shit.

Henry has been playing the "little engine that could" card with his team since the day he became owner, and yeah the Yankees do still have a higher payroll this season, but when your team is coming in hot at $170 million for 2010, that can hardly be considered a "wide gulf," especially when that gulf has shrunk considerably from 2009 to 2010 (over $80 million differential last year, just over $40 mil this year).

And as for the Boy Blunder, I can't blame him for trying to protect his precious Jacoby, who is finally being recognized and called out for his below-average defensive and leadoff hitter skills by the mainstream sports media. Ellsbury was one of Theo's first blue-chippers to be rolled out of the farm system, but facts are facts and the numbers don't lie. Theo can polish the turd that is Ellsbury's defensive numbers as much as he likes, but it's still going to be a turd and it's still going to stink.

I guess we all should have expected this kind of spin doctoring by Theo. Remember, this is the same guy who essentially said that RBIs don't matter in an interview last year in an attempt to justify J.D. Drew's horrible performance. But hey, just like bitching about the Yankee payroll, that's just part of the Fraud Sock Way. Instead of owning up to their mistakes and admitting that they made some bad decisions, they will fight to the end to support their own misguided opinions, even in the face of overwhelming evidence supporting the contrary.

The Yankees don't have that problem. They sign somebody and that guy sucks (see: Carl Pavano) they don't make excuses; they ride it out and let the guy go or attempt to trade him for somebody better. They look at stats supporting a claim (see: Jeter's weak defense) they tell that guy to get better. No whining to the media, no excuses, no claims of special top-secret internal stats that claim otherwise, just get better.

The Yankees are committed to success and winning; the Red Sox are committed to hoping for success, wanting to win, and coming up with reasons for why they weren't successful or didn't win in the event that happens.
 
P.S.- I wonder if that "We don't care about RBIs" mentality was the basis for the Red Sox off-season acquisitions of Beltre, Scutaro, and Mike Cameron.

Cash Shits On Damon's World

Cash on Monday:

"When we signed him (for four years, $52 million), he was playing center field, a premium position, and the market was high. Now he's a left fielder, he's 36, in a collapsed market. Why would he not expect to take a pay cut?" (courtesy of the Daily News)

POW!!!!  Major cock punch to both Damon and Scott Boras.  Cash certainly handled his business professionally throughout the Damon off-season drama, but now that he's officially gone the gloves have apparently come off and Cash is playing for keeps.  I like it.

Hey Johnny,