Or So???

According to Heyman's Twitter, the Yanks are willing to give Andy $12-13 mil to come back for 2011.

And Heyman has the audacity to compare Andy to Favre in that tweet??  Are you shitting me?  Am I living in bizarro world?  What the fuck is going on here?

The Yankees are staring down the barrel of Sergio Mitre or the previously-mentioned pile of free agent shit as their 5th starter heading into the 2011 season and they are really trying to lowball Andy on a 1-year deal??

If it were me, I would be offering him exclusive naming rights to the ad space on the right field wall, an iPad 5 and iPhone 6 (even though they haven't been invented yet), and a portion of the concession profits from each home game to get him to come back this season.  Let's not forget that in addition to Mitre, the Yanks are right now counting on A.J. Burnett for major contributions in 2011.  If Andy Pettitte tells you he wants Hank and Hal to personally inject him in the ass with HGH next season every Wednesday morning during every week of the regular season in addition to his salary, you fucking make that deal.  I don't give a fuck if the dude is only good for 15 starts next season, those 15 will still be better than any 15 the Yanks will get from any of their other current options.

Of course this could just be the beer talking.  But it makes perfect sense to me.

Andy Pettitte > Francis, Garcia, Bonderman, and Millwood on their combined best day.

Another Crummy Pitching Option Surfaces

Thanks, Jon Heyman.  Thanks for bringing my lunch back up to the back of my throat.

So this is what it's come to, huh?  Freddy Garcia, Jeff Francis, Jeremy Bonderman, and now Kevin Fucking Millwood?  Jesus Christ.

Jeff Goldblum, your thoughts?

A Quick HOF Post

You know it's Yankees, the whole Yankees, and nothing but the Yankees here at AB4AR (with a little Sawx and Mets bashing mixed in for flavor), but I have to take a quick minute to congratulate Bert Blyleven on finally making it to the Hall of Fame today, an accomplishment that should have taken place years ago.  He wasn't a Yankee, but any guy that can rock this t-shirt in the clubhouse...

..  and rocks multiple "fucks" live on the air is A-OK in my book.

P.S.- Donnie Baseball got 79 votes today and Tino got 6.  There we go, back to the Yankees.

Define "Interest"

"The New York Yankees have shown interest in free-agent starter Jeremy Bonderman, a major-league source told FOXSports.com." (via John Morosi)

I think I just died a little inside.

Offseason Space Filler Post: Hey, Remember When... ?

Hey, remember when Charlie Hayes caught the pop up to win the '96 World Series?  That was sweet.

Hey, remember when the Yanks and Orioles had that huge brawl in '98 after Benitez hit Tino with that fastball and Graeme Lloyd and Straw were completely losing their shit trying to go after Benitez?  That was fucking awesome.

Hey, remember when Tino yanked that 2-run homer off Byung-Hyun Kim in the 9th inning of Game 4 in the 2001 World Series?  That was incredible.

Hey, remember Jeter's homer the next inning?  Even more incredible.

Hey, remember the look on Kim's face when he gave up the game-tying homer to Brosius the next night?  That was funny.

Hey, remember some of the bombs Soriano used to hit back when he was a Yankee and didn't suck?  They were amazing.

Hey, remember The Flip?  That was nuts.

Hey, remember when Jeter dove into the stands?  That was insane!

Hey, remember when Boone smashed that home run off of Wakefield?  That was the shit.

Hey, remember A-Rod's 2-run homer off Joe Nathan in the 9th inning of Game 2?  That was clutch.

Hey, remember when Damon stole 2nd in the '09 World Series?  That was smart.

Hey, remember the goosebumps you get every time you're at The Stadium and the opening chords to "Enter Sandman" kick in?  Those are great.

Hey, remember all the great memories you have from watching the Yankees over the years.  Those are unforgettable.  And they're something that not a lot of other baseball fans have.

Funniest Thing I've Read So Far In 2011

Eric Ortiz of NESN is excited about the 2011 season.  I'm talking real excited.  So excited, in fact, that he has completely gone so far off the deep of the pool of blatant, ignorant, illogical homerism that he might not even be savable with a life raft.  Put on some adult diapers, because you're going to need them from all the bladder-releasing laughter you'll be guffawing, and check out this beast of a literary blowjob that somehow comes off as journalism.  Or if you don't have time for all that illogical Red Sox love, I've taken the time to sift through this mess and just hit the highlowlights for you.  Let the FJM'ing begin! 

"The Red Sox have won 100 or more games three times in their 110-year existence. They will make it four in 2011."

They will?  Oh, OK.  Good to know.  So we can just skip the regular season and get right to the playoffs where they can all forget their bats and have Jonathan Papelbon blow another series for them then, can't we? 

"But this team has the potential to accomplish something even bigger than winning 100 games."

Becoming the first team to win more than 100 games with the most insufferable douchebags on its roster?

"Bookmakers like the Red Sox’ chances. Current odds put them at 9-2 to win the 2011 World Series. Only the Phillies, at 7-2, are bigger favorites, with the Yankees not far behind at 5-1 shots."

So the bookmakers don't really like their chances that much, since they gave another team better odds than Boston and have the Yankees slated only slightly behind the Red Sox despite the fact that they've only added Pedro Feliciano this offseason.  But hey, whatever helps prove your pointless point, Eric. 

"Championships, of course, aren’t won in January."

No, they aren't.  They're just talked about incessantly by half-assed writers who are so blinded by the supposed star power of their favorite team that they can't even be bothered to check stats to support what they're saying.

"Look at the starting lineup.

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Carl Crawford, LF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Marco Scutaro/Jed Lowrie, SS"

First of all, anybody that honestly thinks Jacoby Ellsbury should continue to lead off for the Red Sox is a moron.  So right off the bat, Ortiz has fucked himself on making this "invincible" lineup and shown that he has no basic understanding of what makes a good leadoff hitter.  But I'll let him go...

"Speed. Power. Plate discipline. This lineup has it all. Good luck finding a hole from 1 to 7."

I think I just did that, no?  But if you want to keep going, I can point out that J.D. Drew fucking sucks and bats 7th and Big Sloppi will be another year older and more than likely will regress back to something similar to what he was in 2009.  Not to mention that this lineup has lefties paired together everywhere you turn.  And they do play in the same division as CC Sabathia, David Price, Ricky Romero, and Brian Matusz.

"Saltalamacchia is a bit of a wild card... "



If by "wild card," you mean that he is complete bust of a catcher who has passed through 3 organizations over the last 4 seasons with a tripleslash of .248/.315/.386 combined with some of the worst defense this side of Jorge Posada, then yes, you would be correct. 

"... but the 25-year-old could be ready for a breakout season."

Yeah.  And I might get to fuck Eva Mendes this year.

"Besides a potent offensive attack, the Red Sox will boast airtight defense, perhaps the best of any team in baseball."

A pretty big task considering they finished 23rd in all of baseball in fielding percentage last year and committed the 8th most errors, but they have Carl Crawford, damnit!!  He cures all ills created by Jacoby Ellsbury's shitty angles to balls in the gap and J.D. Drew's general lack of effort.  Also consider the previously-mentioned Salty behind the plate and Scutaro at short and then disregard Ortiz's previous statement.

"Youth, experience and versatility will ride the pine like lions waiting to hunt."

I don't even know what this means.  First of all, lions don't hunt, lionesses do.  Second of all, no.  You know what?  I'm just going to let the stupidity of that statement stand on its own as Ortiz dives into the Boston rotation.

"Beckett will notch more than six victories."

He will?  I think his increasing age, decreasing velocity, and general lack of interest in conditioning that keeps leading to his injuries argues against that.  But then again, he would win 8 games and prove the point right.  8 wins from your former ace?  Yeah, that's what you're looking for if you're Terry Francona.

"Lackey should be better equipped to avoid the one-bad-inning syndrome."

Because nothing cures "one-bad-inning syndrome" like being another year older, another year fatter, and having diminishing stuff.  Well that and some Vitamin C.

"And Dice-K might be the best No. 5 starter ever."

Which is like being the best looking ugly chick ever.  It doesn't mean shit.  Especially when he was signed for over $103 million and expected to team with Beckett to form a top tandem.  Dice-Gay's failures to be league average were part of the reason the Sox promoted Lester and Buchholz earlier and went out and signed Lackey.

"When Red Sox starters have to hand the ball to the bullpen this season, Boston fans won’t have to have to cover their eyes and pray."

The people sitting next to them can do it for them!

"The weak link in 2010 could be one of the best relief corps in the business."

Tim Wakefield, RHP- Sucks.  Completely washed up.
Scott Atchison/Matt Albers, RHP- Sucks/Sucks.
Hideki Okajima, LHP- Really sucks.  Couldn't get me out swinging lefty at this point.
Dan Wheeler, RHP- Decent, but getting older.
Bobby Jenks, RHP- Diminishing and stealing innings from a better pitcher.
Daniel Bard, RHP- Best reliever in the 'pen possibly being reduced to the 7th-inning role.
Jonathan Papelbon, RHP- Sucks.  Has seen all his numbers dip across the board over the last couple years.

So yeah, don't worry about covering your eyes, folks.  After some of the horrible outings that Beckett, Lackey, and Dice-Gay have, it might not even matter which of these slobs Tito decides to bring out of the 'pen!  YAY!!!! 

"Every day should feel like Christmas for Curt Young, the new Red Sox pitching coach."

If he spent Christmas in a broken home with abusive parents or a poorly-run orphanage.

"The former A’s pitching coach didn’t have anything close to the horses he has now, and Oakland’s staff posted a 3.56 ERA last season, the best in the American League and fourth-best in the majors."

Gee, maybe that was because they were actually GOOD PITCHERS!!!  Unless you, like Ortiz, are completely willing to ignore anything other than players' names and assume that name recognition and coaching are the 2 factors of determining success in baseball and not any actual talent.

"Imagine what he can do with a Grade A collection of arms."

Probably the exact same thing he did last season.  With a collection of Grade-A arms.

"The 2001 Mariners won 116 regular-season games to set the American League record for most wins in a single season and tie the 1906 Cubs for the major league record (though the North Siders accomplished the feat in 152 games). Both those teams failed to win the World Series."

Thus proving that it doesn't matter how many games you win during the regular season.  

"The Red Sox have no intention of suffering a similar fate."

Unlike all those other teams who come into each and every baseball season intending to lose.  Becawse the fahckin' Sawx have so much fahckin' hahht!!  They cannawt be stawpped!!

"The 2011 Red Sox possess all the pieces to have a season for the ages. If everything falls into place and the breaks go their way, they could do more than set records and become champions....."

Oh, I'm sorry.  You're finally going to get to the point that you so glaringly glossed over in the introduction to this disaster?

"They could unseat the 1927 Yankees as the greatest major league team of all time."

Of course!!!  The goal of any Red Sox player, coach, fan, commentator, and writer.  To do something better than the Yankees.  And here we have it, folks.  This piece of journalistic shit is just another attempt by somebody associated with the Red Sox to be better than the Yankees.  All the bitching, moaning, cursing, losing, steroid using, finally winning, and then winning again can't change the fact that the Red Sox are still the Yankees' little brother when it comes to sustained success and they are still treated as such by people in their OWN MEDIA.

It doesn't matter if the Red Sox win 10 games this year, 100 games this year, or 160 games this year.  It doesn't matter if they sweep the playoffs all the way or get swept in the divisional round by the Twins.  At the end of the day, their organization still won't hold a candle to the Yankee organization.  They won't have as many wins, as many championships, as many Hall of Famers, as much national and worldwide recognition, or as much prestige.  And that is what still eats at so many people in and around the Sox organization and that is precisely why something this idiotic was still written.

People can't just be happy that the Sox are favored this year and could win a title.  They HAVE to be better than the Yankees with this year's team or it won't be good enough.  The Yankees could give a fuck.  They just want to win to put another ring on their fingers and another pennant on the facade.

So good luck this year, Eric.  For your idiotic sake I hope the Red Sox DO win 119 games and the World Series this year.  Because I bet if that doesn't happen then you won't be satisfied.  And that is just sad.

By the way, Eva, if you're reading this, give me a call.  If Ortiz actually believes some of the shit he's writing is going to happen then maybe I do have a shot with you.

Available Options And How Much I Actually Want Them

While there hasn't been any signing activity since Pedro Feliciano was added to the 'pen, there still hasn't been a shortage of activity around the rumor mill involving players either on the Yankee radar or players discussed as possible options to fill holes.  Please note that this list is not done in any sense of order of which guys I want or which guys I think fit.  It's just a collection of the names I've seen thrown out there around the blogosphere.

* Jeff Keppinger- the Yanks had shown interest, far more interest than I had shown, but talks have reportedly fell apart recently.  The guy puts up numbers slightly better than Pena and Nunez and can play multiple infield positions, but to me he isn't that much better that he's worth giving up a prospect for.  If talks have broken down about acquiring J-Kep then I'm A-OK with that.

* Johnny Damon- another guy the Yanks were reportedly having talks with, but I don't see the point.  His defense isn't better than any of the Yankee starters or what they would get from Greg Golson, his arm isn't better than those of some limbless people on the planet, and Damon doesn't really fill the need of a bat who can mash lefty pitching.  His time in pinstripes came to and end for a reason.  No sense in bringing back a guy who doesn't fill holes and would be potentially stealing at-bats from Jorge and Jesus in the DH role.

* Scott Hairston- If Scott Hairston were a flavor choice at Cold Stone Creamery, I'd be going for the "Gotta Have It" on him.  He's everything the Yankees need: versatile outfielder who plays solid D, hits lefty pitching well, and has some pop in his bat.  He is a bit of an injury risk, but as a backup player, that isn't that important.  The dude can probably get a starting role somewhere, but if he wants a chance at a ring, something that worked out well for his brother, I would throw more money at him to be the 4th OF.

* Jerry Hairston- The Hairston who has already played for the Yankees also wouldn't be a bad addition to upgrade the utility IF role.  Like Keppinger, he hits better than Nunez or Pena and also has the versatility to play every IF position and some corner OF if needed.  Add in the fact that he's a free agent and wouldn't cost any prospects in a trade and I would be fully on board with bringing back JerHair.

* Rafael Soriano- Definitely the best reliever still available on the FA market and a guy that could fill the Kerry Wood 8th-inning role very nicely in 2011 if the Yanks are still skeptical about Joba and D-Rob finally stepping up.  He won't come cheap and the Yanks would give up a draft pick in the process, so it really comes down to how confident they are in what they have.  Personally, I would give D-Rob another shot at being the setup guy, and save the money and the draft pick that Soriano would cost.

* Joakim Soria- A name that was kicked around at the trade deadline in 2010, Soria has hit the rumor wire hard again recently after saying he would not block a trade to the Bronx.  Like Keppinger, he isn't as attractive to me as other options because he would have to come via trade and that trade would almost certainly involve at least 1 of the Yankees' Top 10 prospects.  On the positive side, he could slide in nicely as Mo's heir to the closer role.  If there's a way to get him without giving up the Killer B's or Jesus (highly unlikely), I would be all for a trade for Soria.  Otherwise, I say cut bait and go into battle with the 'pen as is. 

* Jeff Francis- A guy coming off a serious arm injury who has never exactly "WOW"'d anybody pitching in the National League?  No thanks, I'll pass.  I mean, why pay the extra money for a dude who will more than likely give you below-league average numbers from the 5th rotation spot when you can get the same for cheaper from your stockpile of Triple-A arms?

* Bartolo Colon- BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!  You're kidding right?  Only if he's hired to be the new hot dog vendor in the upper deck.

* Jon Rauch- His peripherals don't translate well to Yankee Stadium (see: high fly ball rate) and he really isn;t much of an innings eater, which would help the Yankees more than another "1-inning or less" guy (Joba, D-Rob, Logan, Feliciano).  His big frame and badass neck tat would look pretty cool in the uniform, but when that's the best thing I can say about you, it doesn't exactly tickle my fancy.  I'll pass.

* Todd Coffey- He's a guy that RAB profiled a few days ago and his peripherals (decent K rate, low BB rate, good GB rate) are much better than those of Rauch.  He has a proven track record of success and would likely be a better option in the middle of the 'pen than some of the Yanks' untested Triple-A righty arms.  I would be concerned about his jump to the AL, but as a low-leverage righty guy, you could do worse.

* Yu Darvish- Not available until after the 2011 season, but he will most likely be the #1 pitcher available in the FA market.  He has absolutely demolished the Japanese leagues, is still young (younger than Phil Hughes), and his stuff that translates to the top of a Major League rotation.  On the other side, the Yanks are still living the nightmare of getting burned by Kei Igawa and Dice-Gay hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in Bahhhhhston.  It's likely going to cost between $100-120 mil to get Darvish between the posting fee and what will be a hefty contract, but with the Yanks possibly looking at more pitching holes at the back end of the rotation after this coming season, he makes as much sense as anybody else.

* Andy Pettitte- Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!!!  Come on, Andy.  You can buy your family a lot of cool shit with another $16 million.  I think your kids can live for another year without you if you get them that awesome new XBox Kinect thing.  And then throw in a new 3D TV and bang!  The fam is taken care of and you can come back and be the #3 starter to try and get one last ring.  What I'm trying to say is, I want Andy Pettitte on the 2011 Yankees more than any of these other dudes and it's not even fucking close.

Taking Stock Of The 2011 Yankee Roster

Roster

1) Russell Martin- C
2) Mark Teixeira- 1B
3) Robinson Cano- 2B
4) Alex Rodriguez- 3B
5) Derek Jeter- SS
6) Brett Gardner- LF
7) Curtis Granderson- CF
8) Nick Swisher- RF
9- Jorge Posada- DH 

Rotation 

10) CC Sabathia- LHP
11) Phil Hughes- RHP
12) A.J. Burnett- RHP
13) Ivan Nova- RHP 

Bench 

14) Eduardo Nunez- IF
15) Ramiro Pena- IF
16) Francisco Cervelli- C 

Bullpen 

17) Mariano Rivera- RHP
18) Joba Chamberlain- RHP
19) Dave Robertson- RHP
20) Boone Logan- LHP
21) Pedro Feliciano- LHP
22) Sergio Mitre

23) ?
24) ??
25) ???

As you can see, the cupboard is still a little bare as we head into 2011 in Yankeeland.  There are 3 holes to be filled in the 25-man roster, one in the rotation, one on the bench, and the last either as another bench or another bullpen option.  Everyone has been assuming Sergio Mitre would be the 5th starter if the Yankees are unable to come up with somebody else, but let's be honest, Sergio Mitre is not going to be in the rotation by choice at any point this season so he gets bumped back to the bullpen where he belongs.

The most attractive option at filling the rotation spot is still Andy Pettitte, but with each passing day the indication is that he is going to choose retirement and stay home with his family rather than give it one last go.  There are a multitude of Triple-A options who can fill in, but none of whom can be considered "ready" to handle that role.  The trade and free agent market is also drying up quickly in terms of pitchers.

The bench is short outfielders and if the season started today we would most likely see Greg Golson and Kevin Russo there to fill out the roster, but once again the ideal situation would be to bring in some Major-League level guys who have the experience (and bat) to hold their own as bench players.  Also, don't forget about The Almighty, who will start the year lurking in 2011, waiting for his time to take over the catching duties from Martin.

So there ya go, people.  The same situation the Yankees were in in early December, mid-December, and late December has carried over to 2011.  You've got some work to do, Cash.  Let's put the fun Christmas gifts away, bottle up the rest of the leftover New Year's champagne, and add some bodies to this fucking roster.

Happy New Year, People

I could have sat here over the last couple days and written a bunch of stuff about how I resolve to swear less in the blog in 2011 and resolve to be a little less harsh on A.J. Burnett, but you and I both know that's not going to happen.  Shit, it probably wouldn't even take a week for me to break both of those resolutions.  So instead, I'm just going to go to a party and get hammered drunk and have a good time tonight and then sit on my ass hungover all day on Saturday watching college football.

2010 wasn't the season the Yankees and their fans wanted, but it also wasn't a complete failure.  And despite the current state of the rotation, I'm still very much looking forward to what 2011 has in store.  Happy New Year, everybody!  Have a good time tonight and I'll see you on the other side.

Take it away, Frankie...

Texting With Teix And Andy

Teix: "Hey man, wuts up?"

Andy: "n2m, u?"

Teix: "Same.  Just hangin out.  how was ur xmas?"

Andy: "real good.  got the kids the new xbox kinect.  we've been playin w that a lot."

Teix: "haha nice!  i gotta wait til mine are a lil older.  wut else u been up to?"

Andy: "Nm.  Been spending time w the fam.  hangin out w the kids.  it's been nice."

Teix: "Cool, cool.  How's the back feeling?"

Andy: "Pretty good.  It's gotten a lot better w all the rest but I can still feel it sumtimes when i'm playing w the kids.  Gettin old, u kno, lol!"

Teix: "Haha, yea.  I hear that.  My hammy is almost all the way back to 100%"

Andy: "That's good, man."

Teix: "Yea.  So u talk to Mo or Jeet or Cash or anybody lately?"

Andy: "Yea, kinda.  Mo's been talking to be a little bit about next year and Cash has called me a couple times and sent me this big fake blank check, like they give out at golf tournaments."

Teix: "OMFG HAHAHAHA!!  That is hilarious.  Guess he's been a little broken up about the whole Cliff Lee thing."

Andy: "Yea, i guess so too."

Teix: "So u thinkin about coming back for 1 more year or..."

Andy: "idk, man.  not sure if my body will hold up for another season and its taken me 4ever to get healthy after last season."

Teix: "I understand, believe me.  But u kno we got Serg in the rotation right now lol!"

Andy: "Haha yea!  I read that.  Not exactly the same as Lee right?"

Teix: "No shit.  and we could really use u back this year.  The guys are all askin about u."

Andy: "Yea?  Well it would be good to see some of the guys again."

Teix: "So... u in?"

Andy: "Idk man.  I still gotta think about it.  i'll let u kno tho.  gotta run now.  takin the kids to the movies.  ttyl."

Teix: "K.  later, man."

Looking (Way) Forward

Another slow day on the free agent front, which means Sergio Mitre is still in the rotation at this moment, so why not focus on what the Yankees already have instead of what they don't.  Here's one of Mike Ashmore's videos of Manny Banuelos fanning some schmuck in the Minors last season:



I'm just going to sit back and watch this video a few dozen times before I catch my flight back to Milwaukee today and dream about ManBan starting the All-Star Game and winning the Cy Young in 2016.  I suggest you do the same.

After Christmas Sale (Sort Of)

With Brandon Webb coming off the board, the pitching options continue to thin out for the Bombers.  To put it in perspective, Freddy Garcia and Jeff Francis are the equivalent of getting pairs of socks and underwear for Christmas that you know you need but definitely don't want for Christmas and certainly didn't ask for.  And trading for Joe Blanton is like getting a Playstation 2 game that you already have from a crazy uncle who doesn't realize that XBox 360 and PS3 even exist yet.

There still is Andy Pettitte out there, who's basically like getting a first generation iPod.  But at least an iPod is useful and still with the times.  The technology might be a bit behind, but it still serves a purpose.  Compared to the other options, I'd be paying top dollar for the old iPod right now.

An AB4AR Christmas

We don't take too much seriously here at AB4AR, so why should Christmas be any different?  With that, I give you Mr. Garrison's Christmas classic, "Merry F*cking Christmas."  Enjoy.



In all seriousness (or at least as much as I can muster with this much beer in me), Merry Christmas, everybody.  May you get everything on your list and enjoy the time spent tomorrow with your family and friends.  Tomorrow is one of the few days where being a Yankee fan can take a backseat to other things and I truly hope everybody's Christmas turns out to be as good as I know mine will be.

I'll catch you back here the day after, when the stomach aches and hangovers have worn off and we can all get back to Yankee business.

Not A Creature Was Stirring, Except For Cash?

In about 10-12 hours it will officially be the night before Christmas and I don't know about you people, but I will be tucked away in my bed waiting for Santa to land on the roof and illegally enter my house to leave some presents and hopefully smiling at whatever last-minute deal Cashman pulled off to boost the rotation.

Last year he had the Javy Vazquez trade on the 22nd, 2008 we had the Teix signing on the 23rd, so what does Cash have up his sleeve for 2010?  I have to be honest, adding Johnny Damon or Jeff Francis would not be the gift I would want, and if that's the move he's planning to make then I hope Cash has a gift receipt with it.

But I'll leave some cookies and milk out for him just in case he decides to stop by and leave me a #2 or #3 pitcher and a brand new Scott Hairston.

A New 4th Outfielder Option Comes Into Play

From Newsday:

"While the Yankees' primary focus remains pitching, they have been communicating with free agent Johnny Damon about a possible return to the Yankees for 2011, Newsday has learned.

Four sources said that Damon and the Yankees were talking about a role in which Damon, 37, would get occasional at-bats as a designated hitter and fill in at leftfield, allowing starting leftfielder Brett Gardner to either rest or shift to fill in for centerfielder Curtis Granderson or rightfielder Nick Swisher."

Would this be a good move for the Yankees to make?  On the one hand, Damon has played in the Stadium before and been successful, and does give the Yanks a little flexibility in the outfield by allowing them to move Brett Gardner around.

On the other hand, Damon is another 2 years older than he was when he left, can ONLY play left field, isn't the lefty masher that the Yankees really need as a 4th outfielder, is still an abysmal defensive outfielder with the arm of a 7-year-old girl, and while he may be talking to the Yanks about playing a bench role, his track record of following money and playing time suggests he could become a problem in the clubhouse if he doesn't feel he's getting enough at-bats.

In looking at what the Yankees already have and still need, I don't see how Damon fits in.  Jorge is going to get the lion's share of ABs at DH and they will need that spot to rotate the A-Rods, Teixs, and Jeters of the world through when they need off days, not to mention using that spot to get Jesus' bat into the lineup whenever he gets called up and needs a day off behind the plate.  This story also makes me worry that the Yankees might be looking to bring Damon in so they can use Gardner as a trade chip for a pitcher.  Unless that pitcher is Josh Johnson or Adam Wainwright (neither of whom are going to be available), that would just be a dumb move by Cash. 

If these rumors are true, then I'm glad Johnny has seen the light and realized that things aren't always as pretty on the other side.  But his time as a Yankee has come and gone and I'm not seeing how the positives outweigh the negatives if he comes back.  As a backup option, right fit or not, Damon has some value to the Yankees.  As a full-time starter and replacement for Gardy, he does not.  Is it really worth paying a guy the money he'll command when he really doesn't improve any of the weaknesses the Yankees still have on their team?

5 Reasons TO Be Worried About The 2011 Rotation

1) CC, ace or not, is coming off knee surgery and the heaviest workload for any pitcher over a 4-year period, and will probably need his innings monitored accordingly.

2) Phil Hughes most likely won't, and isn't ready to, make the jump to become a legitimate #2 pitcher, regardless of how much he improves his secondary pitches.

3) Andy Pettitte seems to be leaning more towards retirement rather than returning, and even if he does, you can pretty much pencil him in for 2 DL stints in 2011.

4) A.J. Burnett is still A.J. Burnett, which means he's the maddeningly inconsistent pitcher he's been his entire career, even before he came to New York, and flat out isn't worth the money he's being paid.

5) No matter how good Larry Rothschild is, he can't be good enough to get 60 league average starts out of Nova, Sergio Mitre, or any of the other options in Triple-A.  And replacement options for those guys in the free agent and trade markets are dwindling at breakneck speed.

5 Reasons To NOT Be Worried About The 2011 Rotation

1) CC, and his 40 wins over the last 2 seasons, is still the ace.

2) Phil Hughes will have a full year of experience under his belt, no innings limitation, an offseason and Spring Training to work on improving his secondary pitches, and is still only 24.

3) Andy Pettitte hasn't officially retired yet.

4) A.J. will have his rumored divorce finalized so he won't be getting beaten by his wife anymore, and he really can't be any worse than he was in 2010.

5) If anybody can improve Phil's cutter and change, fix what plagues A.J.'s location, and maximize Nova's stuff to make him a competent 5th starter, it's Larry Rothschild and his track record of success.

What Would It Have Taken For The Yanks To Get Greinke?

Zack Greinke is no longer on the Yankees' radar after being traded to Milwaukee (where I can now use my company's season ticket connection to try to see him pitch a few times next year.  SCORE!!)  But in looking at what the Brew Crew gave up to get Greinke, it raises questions in my mind as to what kind of package the Yankees would have had to put together to bring Greinke into the Bronx.  It was believed that any package would have had to start with Jesus Montero, but with the Royals having their own top hitting-heavy catching prospect in the Minors and the fact that they took on less than top-level talent from Milwaukee, it's not outside the realm of possibility to think that a comparable or better package could have been built by the Yankees without including The Chosen One.

Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar are decent prospects, but nothing that lights the world on fire.  Escobar can field pretty well but his tripleslash was .235/.288/.326 in a full season of at-bats.  And Cain showed some flashes after a late season call up, but he doesn't do anything well enough to be reasonably be considered a future All-Star or even an impact player.  If the Yankees started their package around Brett Gardner and Eduardo Nunez, you're talking about a SS prospect who probably already is a better hitter than Escobar and an everyday outfielder who gets on base, covers tons of ground, and could steal 50+ bases and score 100+ runs at the top of a lineup.  That should have gotten the discussion started. 

Now onto the pitching prospects.  Jeremy Jeffress is a former first rounder who pitched 10 innings for the Crew after a September call up last season.  He has a big time power arm and could translate to a lights out closer, but the dude also likes to puff a little ganj every now and then and he isn't exactly good at hiding it, as evidenced by his 2 marijuana-related suspensions in the Minors.  Jake Odorizzi, on the other hand, hasn't thrown up any red flags with his off-the-field activities and his on-the-field activities make him arguably one of the top 10 pitching prospects in baseball.  But he also finished last season in Class-A and so probably wouldn't end 2011 any higher than Triple-A if he's really good.  By comparison from a Yankee prospective, you put Dellin Betances (power arm with question marks, albeit not weed ones) and Graham Stoneburner (high-ceiling Class-A pitcher looking to take the next step) together with Gardy and Nunez and that's pretty much the same package as what Milwaukee offered, maybe even a little better.  And the Yankees probably wouldn't have asked for or wanted Betancourt and $2 mil back in return.

Now I'm on record as being high on Betances and Stoneburner and I'm as big a Brett Gardner fan as anybody, but the 2 guys the Yankees really weren't looking to give up were Jesus and ManBan and this hypothetical trade offer keeps both those guys off the table.  Would that would have been worth offering if it brings back a former Cy Young winner to plug the hole in the 2nd spot in your rotation at a reasonable contract for the next 2 years?  I think it would have been worth a shot.  I mean, what's the worst that could happen?  Dayton Moore says "no" and hangs up the phone and you're right back where you started.

Breaking Down The Current Yankee Catching Situation

Now that the Russell Martin signing has been made official, the Yankee catching picture has become much clearer for 2011.  To start off the year, Martin will be the starting full-time catcher with Cervelli backing him up.  Jesus, previously promised a chance to compete for the job out of Spring Training, will start the season in Triple-A and most likely be a call up some time early in the summer.  With this new plan comes both good and bad and here's a quick breakdown of where the Yankee stand right now with their catching contingent.

Pros:

- Martin Adds Experience

He may  not be completely healthy and he may not be capable of producing at his All-Star levels of years past, but Russell Martin is a professional catcher with years of experience that should make him more than capable of playing in New York and handling this pitching staff.  We've already seen what Cervelli can do and we don't know anything about what Jesus can do, so to have a veteran on hand to help bridge the gap and maybe teach a thing or 2 to The Savior is a plus.

- Improved Defense

The argument for Cervelli getting playing time has always been that he's a better defensive catcher than Jorge.  2010 all but disproved that argument as Cervelli struggled at times to keep the ball in front of him and had a caught stealing rate right in line with Jorge's, which put them both firmly at the bottom of baseball in that category.  Martin has consistently been able to throw out guys at a 30% clip, give or take a few percentage points depending on the year and has always been considered a solid all-around defensive catcher.  With defense being the biggest question mark about Jesus, this is another area where Martin has the advantage.

- Increased Depth/Flexibility

While they didn't come into the season armed to the teeth at catcher, at least not at the Major League level, the Yankees have plenty of prospects.  The addition of Martin, while strengthening their 25-man roster, also allows them the option of starting Jesus in Triple-A again and starting Austin Romine in Double-A, thus giving them both more time to work on the holes in their game before moving up to the next level.  Also, with word going around that Jesus' slow start last year could have been attributed to the colder April temperatures that he wasn't used to, why not give him another year in the Minors to adjust his play to that and then call him up in the summer when the weather, and his bat, are both heating up?  Lastly, pushing Jesus back down provides him a chance to play everyday and better prepare him for the call up whenever it comes, which could be soon based on Martin's recent injury history.  For any situation that could come up, the Yankees are covered 2-deep at the dish now and that's certainly not a bad thing.

Cons:

- Cervelli Still Tapped For Playing Time

Let's be honest, Frankie Cervelli is not that good a baseball player.  God bless his heart, because I like the guy, but the more time he spends behind the plate and in the lineup, the worse off the Yankees are going to be.  If Martin goes down early and the Yankees decide Jesus isn't ready, that means Cervelli becomes the starter by default.  I think we can all agree that a combination of Martin and Jesus is more talented than a combination of Martin and Frankie, so to have Frankie still in the fold does weaken the overall 25-man roster a bit.

- Injury Risks

Going back to the point I just made about Frankie having to step in, the Yankees are at greater risk for injury at the catcher position with Russell Martin on the team than they would have been if he wasn't.  They just finally got done with having to deal with all of Jorge's bumps and bruises and sprains and strains over the last few years that led to more Cervelli time and now the Yanks could be heading down the same path with Martin.  He may not be completely ready to handle a full-time catching role in the Majors, but there's something to be said for having Jesus and Cervelli, 2 healthy guys, on call instead of one who could be constantly hurt.  Not to mention that every injury suffered by Martin or any of the others leads to the greater chance that Jorge has to strap on the gear again.  And that's just not something I want to see.

- Montero Still Possible Trade Bait

My biggest beef with the Martin signing is that I still see it as a possible sign that the Yankees are willing to include Jesus in a trade to bring in a top-flight pitcher to cope with losing out on Cliff Lee.  The good news is that those types of pitchers are quickly fading from the free agent and trade markets, especially today after Zack Greinke was traded to Milwaukee.  The bad news is that the longer Montero is not up with the big league club, raking and showing the Yankees why they were smart to not give him up for anybody, the longer he stands to be viewed as a "can't miss prospect" on everybody else's trade radar.  Part of me wishes Martin didn't sign just so the Yankees had to put Montero on the Major League roster and protect him from being traded for Adam Wainwright or Dan Haren.

So there's my take on the whole situation.  Overall I think the Martin signing was good for the Yankees because of the immediate depth and production improvements it gives them and the option to keep Montero and Romine down to hone their skills for a while longer it allows them.  But, if Montero does end up in another uniform before the 2011 season starts, you can forget everything I just wrote here.

Feliciano Joins Bullpen

It wasn't who I wanted (Randy Choate), and it was for more years and more money than I would have liked to see them spend (2/$8 mil w/ a club option for a 3rd), but the Yankees have their 2nd lefty in the bullpen and his name is Pedro Feliciano.

Dude has been a workhorse in terms of appearances, leading the NL in that category in each of the last 3 seasons, so the Yanks should get their money's worth assuming he doesn't get hurt.  And as a lefty specialist, Feliciano gets the job done (.214/.282/.297 tripleslash career vs. lefties) with a solid groundball rate.

At the very least he gives the Yankees another option to turn to in late game situations against Ortiz, Gonzalez, and Carl Crawford, and that isn't a bad thing.  At the most he could team with Boone Logan to become a pair of absolute lefty stoppers, which would allow Joe to play the matchup game that he loves so much.

(** Site note: back at home in CT for the holidays, which means working on the computer that time forgot again.  So no links until the 27th.  But trust that my posts are still legit.  I mean, it's not like I work for the NYT or anything **)

A Little Holiday Yankee Prospect-y Goodness

Anybody that reads this blog knows I get all wet in the pants over reports and rankings of the Yankee Minor League prospects.  With that in mind, here's John Sickel's list of the Top 20 Yankee Prospects for 2011 and my take on the list:

1) Jesus Montero
2) Gary Sanchez
3) Dellin Betances
4) Manny Banuelos
5) Hector Noesi
6) Andrew Brackman
7) Ivan Nova
8) Austin Romine
9) Slade Heathcott
10) Adam Warren
11) Graham Stoneburner
12) David Phelps
13) Eduardo Nunez
14) Brandon Laird
15) David Adams
16) J.R. Murphy
17) Corban Joseph
18) Cito Culver
19) Brett Marshall
20) Jose Ramirez

- No surprise that the list is pitcher-heavy.  The Yankees are stocked with high quality arms.  But I was a little surprised that guys like Nunez and Laird were still sitting that high when everybody seems to think that they are what they're going to be at this point.  I would have expected higher-ceiling guys like Mason Williams and Rob Segedin to sneak into the end of the list, but maybe some more playing time will give better insight into just what kind of prospects they are.

- I was a little surprised that Gary Sanchez has shot up to Number 2.  Sure, he looks to be another monster bat, but shouldn't we see what he can do for a full season at higher levels before we jump him over the likes of Noesi, ManBan, and Nova?

- Gotta swap ManBan and Betances on that list.  Scouts rave about ManBan and Betances hasn't been able to stay healthy for a full year yet.

- Given his upside, I would have swapped Stoneburner and Nova on the list.  Nova's ceiling seems to top out at back end of the rotation-type.  Stoneburner could be a stud.

- No love for Brett Marshall??  What gives?

- Don't know if I would have put Slade in the Top 10 yet.  Dude needs to start putting some of the tools together.

Just my take on the list, but it still didn't change the fact that I'm sitting here at full mast reading this stuff again.  The Yankee farm system is stocked.  Period.  And it's a safe bet that anywhere from 5-10 of the guys on this list are going to turn into big time players.  High five!!

Well What Do Ya Know?

Look at that.  Highest payroll in baseball, eh?  I tell you what, it's just amazing what that scrappy little underdog team in Boston can do on a limited budget, isn't it? 

Barely able to get by trying to keep up with the Yankees and their gargantuan payroll.  They're like the Tiny Tim of baseball, just struggling to stay afloat and trying to stay positive and now it's all paid off because the tiny little small-market Boston Red Sox have managed to beat the odds and become one of the big boys.

IT'S A FESTIVUS MIRACLE!!!

Another Free Agent Target Bites The Dust: Red Sawx Sign Jenks

"Bobby Jenks is changing his Sox from white to red.

The former Chicago White Sox closer agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, pending a physical, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

Jenks has been told he'll be a set-up man in 2011 and will have a chance to be the closer if Jonathan Papelbon is replaced, the source said." (via ESPN.com)

Man, it really sucks to be Daniel Bard right now, huh?  Poor guy gets tossed under the boss like a bag of garbage when the Sox go hunting for The Sandman and now he's going to lose his setup man role to Bobby Jenks?

I hate to dine with the enemy, but has Cash contacted Boston about Bard's availability?  Dude will come a hell of a lot cheaper than Rafael Soriano and is more reliable than Joba.  And since the Sawx clearly don't want the guy, Cash could probably get him for Craig Heyer and Abraham Almonte.  Shit, Bard might welcome a change of scenery.  At the very least, it would be nice for him to hear his last name pronounced correctly by the fans and radio guys (not including Mike Francesa).

Just a thought...

Ummm, Pass

As the potential Yankee free agent targets continue to drop like flies, a story this morning by Bill Madden suggests that the Yanks might target Carlos Zambrano in a trade to fill the rotation.

No.  Please God no.  A thousand times no!!  I don't want Carlos Zambrano anywhere near Yankee Stadium unless he's hocking fake NYY merchandise outside on the sidewalk after his Major League career ends.  Dude is a fucking nutcase.  And not in the Zack Greinke "Oh he has SAD so he might not be a good fit for the pressure of New York"-style nutcase.  I mean a legit nutcase.  Like he would probably kill you if you pissed him off enough.

The Yankees have already lost out on guys who they either targeted or who were good fits for the team in Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Matt Diaz, Scott Downs, and now it sounds like Kerry Wood and Randy Choate  also.  The next step needs to be bringing back a proven commodity who already fits in in Andy Pettitte and then focusing on shoring up the 'pen with Rafael Soriano or Bobby Jenks and then adding someone to the bench like either of the Hairston brothers.  With what's left available in terms of lefties, I wouldn't waste my time or money.  Just go to battle with Logan and see if something else develops from the arms currently in the bullpen and in the Minors.

The next step does not need to be trading away some of the top-flight prospect arms in the Minors for a guy who has essentially become a mid-level starter over the last couple years and, as previously mentioned, is a known and well-documented whack job.  Come on, Cash.  You preached patience the other day in your response to the Lee signing earlier in the week.  Trading someone like Manny Banuelos for Carlos Zambrano, even straight up, does not signify patience.

Yanks Skip Plans B-E, Go Straight To Plan F By Signing Mark Prior

How's that for a free agent, motherf'ers??  Mark F'ing Prior, baby!!  I just high fived myself 8 times in a row after hearing the news.

Cliff Lee, Schmiff Lee.  Who needs that boring, rosin-hatted d-bag now?  Look at Prior's numbers.  18-6 record, 211.1 innings pitched with 10.4 K/9, 2.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 179 ERA+, 6.2 WAR.  That'll get it done for sure!

I mean, yeah, those numbers are from 2003, but still.  It's reasonable to expect Prior to come close to that this year after having not pitched since 2006, right?