Tagged: Alex Rodriguez

“Cashman Three” Not Paying Dividends

There’s not a lot to take issue with when you’re 20-8 and coming off a 10-3 drubbing of Josh Beckett and your archrivals, but there is one major cause for concern: all three of Cashman’s off-season acquisitions have conspicuously come up snake eyes so far.  Curtis Granderson struggled mightily at the plate (.225, 2 HR, 7 RBI), then proceeded to strain his groin last weekend and is expected to spend a month on the disabled list.  Nick Johnson has been downright awful when he’s actually been on the field (.167, 2 HR, 8 RBI) and, after missing a few games in April with back stiffness, is now–SURPRISE–headed to the DL with an undisclosed right wrist injury.  Then, of course, there’s the enigmatic Javier Vazquez, who has been so dreadful that the fact he has been the only one of the three to stay healthy could actually be considered unfortunate.

Yankee fans need no reminder, but for these three the front office jettisoned the popular Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, and Melky Cabrera, and traded away one of their top positional prospects in Austin Jackson.  Time will tell whether these were wise moves.  Right now, though, the Yankees have gotten no return, and that’s obviously not a positive development for a team that’s built and expected to win now.
In spite of the disappointing performances of Granderson, Johnson, and Vazquez, the Yankees are off to a fantastic start, largely on the strength of their starting pitching.  As good as guys like Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, and Hughes are, it’s unrealistic to expect them all to continue to pitch as consistently dominantly as they have, so in addition to needing A-Rod and Teixeira to come around, the Yanks will also need the Cashman Three to get healthy and start bearing fruit if 2010 is to end like 2009.

Random Thoughts on Home Opener

  • The highlight video shown before the start of the ring ceremony was a bit of a disappointment–too short and not enough of a narrative.  I thought the Yankees could have put together something a little more dramatic and comprehensive to commemorate the 2009 championship.
  • The diamond-encrusted white gold ring is absolutely beautiful.  Elegant.  First-class.  It’s probably the nicest championship ring design in sometime.  Oftentimes teams get carried away and design a gaudy monstrosity, losing sight of aesthetics in pursuit of excess.  Not the Yankees.  This is a ring that manages to do majesty to Yankee dominance while simultaneously remaining stylish and tasteful enough to wear without shame.
  • The standing-ovations for Matsui were well-deserved and all class, and I expect Johnny Damon to receive the same kind of treatment when Detroit visits the Bronx in August.  Unlike the rabble in Boston, we don’t deride and torment our former heroes, we honor them.
  • Flying all 27 championship pennants along the roof of the Stadium was a great way to honor Yankee tradition.  My only minor criticism is that the pennants themselves were kind of bland–simple blue lettering on a plain white background.  It would have been nice if each pennant included the World Series logo from its particular year.
  • I also thought they should have made the raising of the 2009 champions flag a highlight of the ceremony, as it has been in years past when dignitaries like Yogi, Reggie Jackson, or Rudy Giuliani would do the honors at the flagpole in Monument Park to culminate the festivities.  This year, however, YES did not even televise the flag raising, and the championship pennant was already flying at the start of the ring ceremony.  Very disappointing.
  • YES dropped the ball with the first pitch.  They were late coming out of commercial and viewers missed Bernie’s introduction and the crowd’s reaction to it.
  • Speaking of Bernie–what an embarrassing first pitch for such a great player!  He’s only been (unofficially) retired since the end of the 2006 season, he played during last year’s WBC for Puerto Rico, and yet he unleashed a shocking 50-footer to home plate.  Everyone knows Bernie’s arm was never one of his strengths, but still, this was downright Obama-like.
  • As for the game itself, the Yanks couldn’t have drawn it up much better.  Pettitte was terrific, Jeter and Johnson treated the crowd to a couple of long home runs, A-Rod knocked in a couple, and Signor Magnifico wrapped it up with a nice little bow.  The only cause for concern is the continuing struggles of Dave Robertson, marked yesterday by a grand slam home run from Bobby Abreu that made the final score closer than the game actually was.  Robertson emerged as an integral part of the bullpen last year with nasty strikeout stuff, but has been getting pounded to the tune of a 15.43 ERA in 2 1/3 IP in 2010.  The Yankees need him to get on track if the relief corps is to be as big of a strength this year as it was last.

C.C. Dominates

It seemed destined, didn’t it?  After spectacular defensive plays by Tex, A-Rod, and Cano in the sixth, seventh, and eighth, it sure had that no-hitter “feel.”  But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.  Kelly Shoppach broke-up C.C.’s no-hit bid with two out in the eighth and Yankees Universe had to settle for a mere stellar pitching performance, not a historic one, and a 10-0 drubbing of a division rival.  What better way for the Yanks to respond after the Rays rubbed their noses in it last night?

Sabathia was obviously the star of the game, but what shouldn’t go overlooked is that the middle of the order is showing signs of coming around.  Teixeira, besides flashing some serious leather, broke out of his miserable 0-17 season-opening slump with three hits and an RBI, and A-Rod added two hits of his own.  Now all they need is for Nick Johnson to get going: outside of Johnson, Teixeira, and Rodriguez, every Yankee starter is batting over .300.
Could it be, for the first time in a long while, that the Yanks are primed for a fast start?  A 4-2 season-opening road trip through Boston and Tampa would certainly be a strong statement.

An Early Look at the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 Free Agent Pitching Markets

With the Red Sox locking up Josh Beckett this week with a contract extension and the Phillies and Royals having done the same recently with Roy Halladay and Zack Greinke, respectively, it’s looking like slim pickings in next year’s crop of free agent pitchers.  Jason Stark lists the top pitchers on the 2010-2011 market, in order, as Cliff Lee, Javier Vazquez, Jorge De La Rosa, Aaron Harang, and Ted Lilly.  And things look even worse for 2011-2012, with Tom Verducci projecting Mark Buehrle as the best of a very weak class.

What does this mean for the Yankees?
With 37-going-on-38-year old Andy Pettitte and free agent-to-be Javy Vazquez in the 2009 rotation, the Bombers will probably need at least one starter and possibly two next off-season.  The worst case scenario is that Vazquez struggles in 2009 and Pettitte decides to retire.  The Yankees would probably then allow Vazquez to walk and go hard after Cliff Lee to fill one spot, either pursuing a trade or moving Joba back into the rotation to fill the other.
If the Yanks only lose one of Pettitte and Vazquez, all bets are off.  They could decide that Lee is by far the best free agent pitching option for the next two off-seasons and give him a big contract to join a rotation with Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte/Vazquez, and Hughes.  Or they could decide that a single opening in the rotation combined with a thin free agent market makes for an opportune time to try Joba as a full-fledged starter without innings limits.  Or they could seek a trade.  Or they could decide a big-time fifth starter is a luxury and elect to go with a retread like Sergio Mitre.  The one thing I don’t see them doing is giving a sizable to contract to any of the other relatively middling pitchers on the market (with the possible exception of Lilly, whom the front office has always liked and who would be a viable replacement); the Yanks will either go big or stay home – they won’t be giving out any bloated Oliver Perez-like contracts for back-end starters.
The best case scenario, I suppose, would be that Pettitte and Vazquez both pitch well and both return for 2011.  That, however, I don’t find particularly likely, if only because the Yankees would be fielding a fairly old rotation – Pettitte would be 39, Vazquez 35, Burnett 34, and Sabathia 31 – at the same time cornerstones like Jeter, Mariano, Posada, and A-Rod would all be entering their late-30s or early-40s.  Does that sound like it fits into Cashman’s highly-publicized youth initiative?  He knows a situation like that is untenable.  He might re-sign Pettitte or Vazquez, but not both.
One thing is for certain: if anybody was under the illusion that the Great Joba Debate had been resolved once and for all this spring, the rapid thinning out of the upcoming free agent pitching markets has rendered them sorely mistaken.  Quality starting pitching will be in even shorter supply than usual over the next two off-seasons and there will be a sizable chorus arguing that Joba is more valuable as a starter.

A New Generation of Retired Numbers

In the wake of this whole controversy over LaTroy Hawkins’ selection of Paul O’Neill’s old number, the timing is apropos for a look at which of the key figures from the more recent Yankee teams deserve to have their numbers retired.

Currently, the Yankees have 16 retired numbers, by far the most in Major League Baseball, and that number will undoubtedly increase in the coming years as players from the ’96-’00 dynasty are recognized.  Honoring a former great with a retired number is a proud and glorious Yankee tradition, but care must also be taken to ensure that it is reserved for the truly deserving, lest the honor be divested of its exceptionality (as a small part of it was when Mr. May Dave Winfield’s No. 31 improbably joined the numbers of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Ford, et al in the ranks of the uncirculated).  Unfortunately, not every fan favorite can make the cut.  Tough decisions have to be made.
Locks
  • #2 Derek Jeter – Duh.
  • #6 Joe Torre – Despite managing chronically underachieving teams during the latter half of his Yankee career and the acrimonious way his tenure ended, 4 World Series championships, 6 American League pennants, 10 American League East crowns, and 12 straight post-season appearances speak for themselves.
  • #13 Alex Rodriguez – Likely all-time home run king is arguably one of the five best to ever play the game and will have spent 14 years in pinstripes by the end of his current 10-year contract.
  • #42 Mariano Rivera – Greatest closer in baseball history.  Plus, #42 has already been retired league-wide by MLB because of Jackie Robinson, so the Yanks don’t even lose a number here.
Borderline
  • #21 Paul O’Neill – Heart and soul of the World Series winning teams from ’96-’00.  Beloved by both the fans and teammates.  Earned the highest praise from Big Stein when he designated O’Neill “a warrior.”  Batting champion.  Five-time All-Star.  Terrific fielder.  Career .303 batting average as a Yankee is 11th in franchise history.  Verdict: No. 21 should be retired and it will be eventually.
  • #22 Roger Clemens – Possibly the greatest pitcher in baseball history is also possibly a cheat.  Won 2 World Series, a Cy Young, and his 300th game as a Yankee.  A Big Stein favorite.  Whether his number adorns Monument Park depends on two factors: (1) the outcome of the steroid and perjury accusations, and (2) which cap he wears into the Hall of Fame.  Verdict: Inconclusive.
  • #51 Bernie Williams – Another beloved Yankee.  Batting champion.  Five-time All-Star.  Four-time Gold Glove winner.  Hit over .300 in 8 consecutive seasons.  Career .297 hitter would have finished well-above .300 had he retired a few years earlier.  All-time postseason leader in RBI and extra-base hits, second in home runs, runs, and hits.  He certainly accomplished more as a Yankee than Winfield.  I don’t think some of the younger and newer fans really appreciate what a great player Bernie was because they only saw him at the very end of his career when he was a shell of his former self.  This was a guy who would hit .320-.340 with 25-30 HR and 100-120 RBI every year, all the while playing a Gold Glove centerfield.  He was clearly the best offensive player on the four championship teams.  Verdict: A worthy successor to DiMaggio and Mantle, the Yankees will rightfully retire his number.
  • #46 Andy Pettitte – Yet another fan favorite.  200+ wins.  2-time All-Star.  Led AL in Wins in ’96.  Screwed out of ’96 Cy Young Award.  164 wins as a Yankee are 6th in franchise history.  1996 World Series Game 5.  Reputation as a big game pitcher is slightly exaggerated (14-9, 3.96 career in postseason).  Pettitte has had an excellent career, but he probably falls into the same “good-but-not-quite-good-enough” category as guys like Ron Guidry, Lefty Gomez, and Mel Stottlemyre.  The HGH controversy doesn’t help, either.  Verdict: No. 46 remains in circulation.

No Chance
  • #18 Scott Brosius
  • #20 Jorge Posada
  • #33 David Wells
  • #36 David Cone

There Goes the Perfect Season…

Not too much to dissect about last night’s game.  The Jays got strong starting pitching.  The Yankees didn’t.  Simple as that.

Mussina was, well, mediocre.  He didn’t get pounded, as he did last August against Detroit and Anaheim, so much as he died a death of 1,000 paper cuts.  With the exception of Vernon Wells’ home run, there weren’t that many hard hit balls.  By the same token, he wasn’t keeping anyone off-balance with an 84-85 mph fastball and breaking pitches that lacked bite.  The result was that the ball was constantly put in play and the Jays were able to pile up seeing-eye and bloop singles.  Luckily, though, the defense turned three important double plays behind Moose or things could have been worse.  Hopefully as the season progresses Mussina can regain the feel for his off-speed pitches and build up enough arm strength to get his fastball up in the 87-89 mph range.  Otherwise, it’s hard to see how he wins the 13-15 games the Yankees will most likely need out of him if they are to make the playoffs.
On the other side, A.J. Burnett was as good as he usually is when facing the Yanks.  Although he didn’t have his most electric stuff, his ball was moving just enough to prevent the Yankee hitters from making solid contact.  That is, with the exception of his final pitch — a misplaced fastball Burnett served up to A-Rod in the seventh and which Alex promptly deposited over the centerfield fence, roughly 420 feet away.  For Alex, it was career home run No. 519, meaning he’s just two shy from tying and three from passing Ted Williams (and Willie McCovey) for fifteenth place on the career home run list.
With the way A-Rod has been swinging the bat from the spring and on into the regular season, it’s not inconceivable that he could reach that milestone next weekend when the Yanks play Boston at Fenway.  How sweet it would be for the most despised man in Beantown to displace a Boston icon like Ted Williams in front of all of Fenway’s odious Red Sox fans!  All it will take to set the stage is two home runs in eight games against Toronto (1), Tampa Bay (4), and Kansas City (3).
Entering this series, this game looked the most likely to be a Yankee loss because of the favorable pitching matchup for the Blue Jays, so it’s par for the course.  Now it falls to Phil Hughes later today to get the Yanks the 2-1 split.