Modifying the Lineup August 25, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady.add a comment
The Yankees’ offense is (hopefully) revived, though the Baltimore series should have showed enough not to have Jason Giambi can’t bat fifth anymore. Other than a homer and a sac fly, Giambi did nothing this series. OF Xavier Nady, batting .329/.374/.588 since being acquired, hit a double, a homer, and had a pair of RBI in the series, to go along with five hits. Nady needs to bat fifth to better benefit the offense, and, if he proves he can handle it, DH Hideki Matsui needs to bat sixth. Nady is a high-average player with very good power who is a good RBI man–he’s batting .322/.377/.496 w/RISP, only a shade under his regular numbers (.328/.383/.553). Matsui is starting to get his stroke back on his return, and has homered twice since coming back. He is a clutch player with good power and is hitting .343/.450/.507 w/RISP. Giambi has a good eye, but can’t hit anything but mistakes and average fastballs, and is hitting .205 w/RISP. He doesn’t protect A-Rod the way Nady and Matsui can, and A-Rod’s numbers have suffered from that, and the direct result of trying to do too much. If this team plans on going deep into the postseason, this change needs to be made.
Yankees Sweep Series in Houston June 16, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Chien-Ming Wang, Houston Astros, Injuries, Robinson Cano, Stupid Bud Selig....add a comment
After a close victory in the first game, the Yankees came from behind off Wandy Rodriguez (with a 1.99 ERA coming in) and beat the Astros, 8-3. Mike Mussina excelled after surrendering a 3-run blast to Carlos Lee in the first inning, and in total allowed 6H, 0BB, and 3ER in 6IP while striking out 4. He only needed 89 pitches, and of those he threw 65 for strikes (73%), along with a 8-5 GB-FB ratio. His command of all his pitches was great, and he is continuing his All-Star season.
Offensively, the team was resilient after a big Houston first. A-Rod hit a homer that barely cleared the stands, with back-to-back Jason Giambi and Melky Cabrera doubles. In the third, for some reason Alex Rodriguez is intentionally walked with Johnny Damon on first (it’s only the third!), and back-to-back walks to Giambi and Cabrera score Damon. Fast forwarding to the eighth, Robinson Cano drives in Cabrera on a pinch-hit single to center, and Wilson Betemit hit a rocket double to drive in Damon and Rodriguez in the ninth.
Yesterday, the Yankees won, 13-0, it’s largest road shutout win since 2002. It was a day full of offense, the highlights being A-Rod and Posada homers (12th and 3rd, respectively) and 2-4 days for Cano (3RBI) and Derek Jeter (2RBI). Besides all the hits (15), the Yankees were patient and took advantage of walks galore (7 issued by Houston pitching) and an ineffective Roy Oswalt.
But all this doesn’t matter with the big news of the day. Chien-Ming Wang was injured rounding 3rd on an RBI hit by Jeter in the 6th, knocking him out of the game. It was his foot, which he needed crutches to walk with and had all iced up after the game. (More info in the next post.) Such pitchers’ injuries speaks to the asinine nature of AL pitchers hitting in interleague play. Pitchers coming up in AL organizations don’t hit in the minors, and there’s a DH in every league in the world except the NL and Japan’s Central League. Pitchers who don’t hit or run the bases are susceptible to this because they’re not used to it, and they don’t have to be–they never do it anyway. AL pitchers don’t take batting practice or run bases in practice until the week of games, so they’re not conditioned (in this case meaning “not trained to,” not “not fit”) to be ready. So why would MLB make them do it? What tradition are we preserving? Are the fans or the players more important? Don’t answer to quickly–without good players there are no fans.
Squandered Opportunities June 9, 2008
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Brett Gardner, Game Recaps, Melky Cabrera, Mike Mussina.2 comments
I went to the game today with a friend who has season tickets in the nosebleed seats, even in the probably 100+ heat. It was quite the intense experience, but the stadium prices just sank me a bit.
But what sank me more was the poor play, at times, of the Yankees today. In the first inning, Johnny Damon led off with a single and stole a base. Now, Derek Jeter hit a flyball to fairly deep left-center, with Joey Gathright on the ball. Gathright doesn’t have an arm, as we know, but Damon fails to tag up. Why? Damon has plus speed and Gathright, as mentioned, has no arm. We didn’t know at the time, but the Yankees needed runs, and it never hurts to tack one on in the first inning. Granted, you never want to make the first or last out at third base, but you have to be aggressive. Had he done so he would have likely scored on Abreu’s flyball to left, also to Gathright.
But the eighth inning was more annoying. Jorge Posada leads off on a pinch-hit single with Chad Moeller subsequently pinch-running. Besides the blown call on the bunt by Ed Montague, who, with other umpires recently calling umpires, seems to be working for ESPN as opposed to MLB, Bobby Abreu grounds out weakly to first with Jeter on 1st (on a walk) and Moeller on 2nd. Abreu’s weak and unintersted swings are often at the worst times, and they make me and (I’m sure) other fans irate.
Worst of all was the ninth inning. The cutter to Guillen wasn’t a bad pitch, and I’m not sold that Damon could’ve gotten the homer. But with the bases loaded (even Moeller miraculously gets hit by a pitch!), Melky Cabrera grounds weakly to the pitcher. Soria has a plus 12-6 curve, but it’s not like he’ll blow you away (why you’d take a 90mph fastball in the bullpen and put it in the rotation is beyond me, but that’s for another day….). Beyond that, he looked overmatched at the plate, and he has yet to drive the ball. Maybe the blown call at 1B was in his head, but he has to get over that.
He may be an inspiring player, but Melky has to be benched, at least for a while. Of course, the loss is certainly not solely on his shoulders today. But today’s weak hack for a strikeout and his weak groundout to end the game don’t do much good for me.
On the bright side, Mike Mussina had a great day. Outside of the hanger to Miguel Olivo, Moose was changing speeds like a complete master and just owned some hitters with good pitches. He sat at86-88 with his fastbal, topping out at 90. I love his use of his 2-seamer, and I think he should stick to his current plan. But I’m not sure if we need him back next season–I’d like to wait before I make a judgment. I’d also like to say that I called A-Rod’s home before it happened 
.
Random Ramblings: Joba, A-Rod, Mussina, Matsui December 11, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Joba Chamberlain, Mike Mussina.3 comments
Imagine a world where Jason Frasor didn’t exist. That’s right, Jason Frasor. Now, not many people know who he is, but that’s OK for the purpose of this excersise.
So now picture Joba Chamberlain…
The whole point is, if Jason Frasor didn’t exist, Joba would have qualified for Type B free agency this year. Very impressive for a rookie reliever who only played in August/September. Now, of course, Joba has almost six full years ahead of him for free agency, but that is just a thought on how good this kid really is, how he has a higher score than players who have been around for ages in a ranking that involves the last two years.
A-ROD DEAL NOT YET FINALIZED The A-Rod deal hasn’t been finalized. It will be a month in four days that the
“preliminary agreement” was announced. And how long will it take for Carl Pavano to be released?
MUSSINA INTERESTS THE PHILLIES YES! We found a match here at YLF! Per MLBTR the Phillies have “mild” interest in Mussina. Again, while the Phillies are close to home for the 39-year-old pitcher, the bandbox nature of the park might turn him off. However, he would get to be a #3/#4 in that rotation (that really says something…)
MATSUI TALKS HEATING UP I wonder who the Yankees might get in return. We’ve heard Jonathan Sanchez and Noah Lowry as possibilities, but that’s just not enough for a player like Matsui. I was thinking more of Matsui + prospect for Matt Cain, the sinkerballing righty who gets good strikeouts for a pticher of his type. He has ace stuff, but will never won’t win in San Francisco with that offense without Barry Bonds. Besides, in terms of ceiling/potential/stuff, the Giants may prefer to keep Lincecum, as any deal that they need to improve the team must involve one of these two young righties.
Posada Signs, A-Rod Is Almost Back, Rivera Wants Four November 17, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Opt-out, Scott Boras.add a comment
Late Monday night, just before the free agent deadline, Jorge Posada agreed to a 4yr/$52.4M contract. This deal could go both ways–either Posada can be at least the hitter he was in 2006, or he could bust out into his 2005 season. He better learn how to play 1B or accept the DH role about roughly in the third year of his contract, just as Johnny Damon was expected to learn LF or DH in the third year of his contract (he did so last year, though). In the end, Jesus Montero, a top prospect who figures to start next season in HiA Tampa, and/or Frankie Cervelli, who figures to start 2008 in Trenton, will split time with Posada in his later years.
A-ROD COMING BACK Alex Rodriguez, everyone’s favorite player (ahem…) is back. How did this happen? He gave agent Scott Boras the go-ahead to opt out, but had no idea that Boras would undermine the World Series and and announce the opt-out during the deciding Game 4, and became furious once he found out the Angels wouldn’t offer the contract he hoped for and his merchandise sails dried up seemingly instantly. More importantly to him, though, he became the most vilified athlete around, and his public image took a huge hit. Rodriguez thus contemplated suing him (Source).
On Tuesday, he professed his love for New York and his desire to stay, which was also influenced by his friend, Warren Buffet. Now the Yankees and Rodriguez are on the verge on agreement on a 10 yr/$275M contract with the incentives of sharing the revenues for breaking the all-time home run record (762*) with the Yankees.
RIVERA WANTS FOUR YEARS? According to several published reports, Mariano Rivera has not accepted the Yankees fairly generous 3 yr/$45M contract because he is holding out for a fourth year, citing Jorge Posada and A-Rod’s contracts. If not, he is willing to follow Joe Torre to the LA Dodgers.
Is this man out of his man? He is acting like complete tool right now in his first free agent experience. He had declined somewhat in his age 38 season, and there are several good and even great relief pitching prospects waiting the wings who will be ready long before the end of a three year deal (Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan, Ross Ohlendorf, Mark Melancon, J. Brent Cox) to take over his job. No one his going to offer him $15M except for the Yankees, and no one, period, will offer him a fourth year. He has reportedly relented somewhat and met with new manager Joe Girardi in the D.R., showing that the two sides are coming closer.
Worst Night for Yankees Fans October 30, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Black Sunday, Boston Red Sox, Opt-out, Rockies, World Series 2007.add a comment
BoSox somehow swept the Rockies.
A-Rod opts-out (only bad for the short-term, though).
It’s Black Sunday. More thoughts later.
A-Rod Opts Out…Good for Everyone October 30, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, October 2007, Opt-out, Postseason.add a comment
A-Rod opted out as soon as the last out of the lousy World Series was recorded. Although expectations for this event died down towards the end, we all knew that Brian Cashman unwittingly sabotaged negotiations by not being willing to negotiate, then threaten him, then negotiate. The Yankees high command, in Rodriguez and Boras’s view, was a mess, as there was no manager, key free agents or potential free agents (Mo, Posada, Pettitte) may or may not have been back, and there seemed to be a feeling that Cashman was “playing” for his job security past next year (when his contract expires).
A-Rod saved the Yankees this season, but it is not incidental that the year before A-Rod arrives, the Yankees have 2 straight years of winning at least 101 games, and reached the World Series in ‘03 on a dramatic walk-off HR by their 3rd baseman, Aaron Boone. With Boone lost for the year with knee ligament tears, A-Rod came. He led the Yankees past Minnesota in the 2004 ALDS and was on the verge of facing St. Louis in the World Series if not for one more out by Mariano Rivera in Game 4 (and ****ing David Roberts). Regardless, after that, he didn’t have a postseason homer until the 2007 ALDS Game 4, and had only 2 RBIs in that span. He was pathetic, striking out in seemingly every bat, seemingly popping out with the basis loaded, seemingly always thinking about something else. Until this year, A-Rod was no god in the regular season, and although he won the MVP in ‘05, that should have been David Ortiz’s award. I am no A-Rod basher, I think he did well for anyone’s standards in New York, but not his (until this year of course).
This year everything changed. He had 7 9th inning HR’s, tops in the majors, and led the majors in HR’s, RBI’s, SLG %, R, OBPS, and runs created (a Bill James specialty for you). And even then, while hitting .266 in the postseason, second on the team, he still didn’t lead the team to a championship.
Wherever he goes, he probably is a little old and rusty to be a Gold Glove shortstop again, but that is certainly a possibility. He won’t be paid $30 million, I bet. At least $25.2 M again, but, if this was because of the money, he will realize that this was foolish.
But this isn’t because of the money. This is because of all of his treatment, by the fans and media, as a “choker” in the clutch, because of the outburst over his wife’s shirt, and the picture of him and that good-looking blondie. He can’t handle New York, and not everyone can, or in this case, wants to, handle it.. Good-bye, A-Rod, and while I think it is classless that you don’t even tell a teammate you’re opting out [ahem...Robinson Cano...ahem], I hope you break all the records you can and have a nice career, but losers who can’t and don’t want to carry pinstripes, which weigh a little heavier, don’t belong in New York.
A-Rod Coming Back? Duh, Where else would he go? October 23, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez.add a comment
A-Rod is coming back. This hardball between the media is posturing for the grand discussion. A-Rod will not be able to be surrounded by a winning team (aka every one would have to cut payroll drastically for him) except for the Yankees. He could have a bigger salary than Tampa Bay would have a payroll. He has also expressed his desire to come back to New York, so I expect this to happen. I predict that he will get 7yr/$35M-a-year deal, which I would assume would replace his ‘08-’10 contract.
In the rare case that A-Rod would not opt out and he would come back for the $27M he’s due next year, he has the option to opt out again in ‘08 and ‘09 if his salary is not raised by at least $5M dollars (Cot’s Baseball Contracts). Don’t you love Scott Boras’s wisdom and Tom Hicks’s lack of it?
Anemic Yankees Offense, Leaky Bullpen, Midges Lead to 0-2 Hole October 7, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox, C.C. Sabathia, Chicago Cubs, Chien-Ming Wang, Cleveland Indians, D-Backs, Fausto Carmona, LA Angels, Midges, Phillies, Postseason, Rockies.add a comment
So far this series has been unbelievable. The heavily-favored Yankees are supposed to beat up on Cleveland, make C.C. throw a lot of pitches and actually get to him, and then beat Fausto like they did in August. Apparently that’s not happening. However, all the crap that happened in Cleveland (the anemic offense, A-Rod in particular; the midges; and no sinker from Wang) has to change at the stadium.
I will tell you my picks for the playoff picture, before Game 1 of the NLDS that started on Wednesday.
Rockies v. Phillies
Rockies v. Cubs
D-Backs v. Cubs
Yankees v. Cubs (Yankees win)
Yankees v. Indians
Yankees v. Red Sox
Red Sox v. Angels
I’m afraid that might happen, and I wouldn’t be happy if almost all of my picks are wrong. Besides that, the Yankees are the best and deepest team in the American League, and they should be able to win any series against any current playoff team, except the Angels.
Get focused, and start dropping bombs.
Yankees Eliminated from East, ALPicture Set September 29, 2007
Posted by Pablo Zevallos in Alex Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles, Edwar Ramirez, Jay Payton, Johnny Damon, Jose Veras, Mariano Rivera, Mets, Phillies, Ron Villone, Ross Ohlendorf, Tampa Bay Devil Rays.add a comment
The Yankees won 2 of 3 from Tampa Bay, but lost a very winnable game yesterday to the Baltimore Orioles. Mo Rivera (him?) allowed a triple to Jay Payton (his second of the night) to tie what was once a 9-6 lead. Then Edwar Ramirez all but completed his pitching himself off a playoff roster, as Ross Ohlendorf is picking up on him and Jose Veras, despite Veras getting the save on Wednesday (I called it first, here at YLF!). His spot on the 40-man eligibility for the postseason will substitute Carl Pavano, although Pavano would still get a ring if the Yankees get so far.
In other news:
- Ron Villone has all but made the postseason roster.
- A-Rod homered #54, and Johnny Damon was the first player this season to hit a ball out to Utah Street. Not a bad season for him, eh?
- The Mets lost last night but won today, and, looking at the Phillies right now, probably will tie it again.
- The Yankees are debating whether to take 5 bench players or 7 relievers. The seven would probably include various options of Britton, Veras, and Igawa, while the fifth bench player would likely be Alberto Gonzales (at least this one doesn’t lie!)
To let you faithful readers know in advance, on October 8th (my next off day) I will start a segment of top 10 Yankees prospects.
