Comments on: News of the Day – 3/11/09

By: Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO

Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 01:11:24 +0000

[40] Thanks, I forgot all about HR Derby. Mantle and Mays..eternal argument about who was better..my dad is a die-hard Yankee fan but claims Mays wins by a nose because of his D..

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:57:55 +0000

[39]

Google “Home Run Derby Youtube Mantle”

By: Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO

Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:40:34 +0000

[23] awesome..i love “What Would DeJesus Do” and “Too Lidge-it to Quit”

Mickey Mantle..anynoe know where to see some footage of Mantle on the web? Havn’t checked mlb.com yet, but must be some film of him hitting a few bombs..wonder if anyone ever hit them farther..maybe Willie Pops Stargell? Strawberry? Frank Howard?

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:17:08 +0000

[36][37] Rock On!

By: Horace Clarke Era

Horace Clarke Era — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:10:03 +0000

[35] thelarmis, you made my day with that one.

By: zack

zack — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:08:28 +0000

[35] Perfect!

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:59:43 +0000

passed thru a bookstore for a quick minute today. on display, was a “Baseball For Dummies” book. the inset picture was Joe Morgan. perfect!

By: PJ

PJ — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:20:44 +0000

[33] /sarcasm on

Or at least shift him to the eighth inning slot since he is obviously having trouble starting…

/sarcasm off

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:05:17 +0000

welp looks like we’re gonna have to try and unload CC…

/end sarcasm

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:26:53 +0000

[30] I know, but many enlightened writers have written stories about what a key piece he was to the Sox’ championship teams. I am also not sure having Julio Lugo (at the cost of $9mn no less) is enviable…his OPS+ of 65 and 78 in 2007 and 2008 combined with his usual poor defense is very Berroa-like.

By: ms october

ms october — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:26:32 +0000

[30] i basically agree with your overall take and assessment – lowrie is enviable and the yank’s infield depth is poor however, i doubt anyone wants to play lugo $9million to be a uif – which is what he probably is now. he was a failed starting ss for the red sox, so due to lowrie’s performance lugo is now relegated to the bench – not the intended result of a 4yr/36 million contract.

By: ny2ca2dc

ny2ca2dc — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:20:29 +0000

[26] – [28] Cora is with the Mets now, I think. The Sawx IF depth comes from Lowrie/Lugo, and it’s enviable. Mattpat makes a reasonable point that Berroa is the worst of the worst – hell, this guy is probably worse than Cairo. But if he’s really as bad as we all think, they’ll probably pick up an Estaban German off the scrap heap soon enough.

I think the Yanks have good OF depth, with Rodriguez and AJax and Melky/Gardner, and even reasonable C depth with Cervelli (damn broken wrist last year…), but the IF depth is really bad. Not even an Alberto Gonzalez at AAA to play 20 games throughout the year.

Question though, assuming ARod goes on the 15-day, doesn’t that mean we’re in for a 40-man crunch to get another IF on 25-man?

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:13:38 +0000

Hell I still can’t believe the Yankees hung Bernie out to dry when he could have been great off the bench.

I’ve noticed watching the US team that I hate Youklis far, far less without that hideous goatee. I was watching a Yankees Classic on YES this fall and it was when Youklis was both clean-shaven and his batting stance was normal. It was like a different guy.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:05:43 +0000

[26] Exactly…just take a look at Sox super-sub Alex Cora and tell me how he is that much different from Berroa?

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:03:53 +0000

[17] That’s a good point, but MLB.TV is probably more interested in using the WBC to drive its subs, as opposed to using its subs to drive interest in the WBC.

By: zack

zack — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:02:37 +0000

I would also like to add that the argument that the Red Sox have so many replacements is as flawed. The three guys that [13] pointed to are probably the WORST argument for flexibility you could cite. Anderson is a 1b who has never played above AA and is a “decent” fielder, Carter can hit, but is so atrocious in the field he hasn’t been able to find a spot on the Sox, and Kottaras is a “offensive first” C who hasn’t hit over .245 in the minors since 2006 and has barely cracked an .800 ops his whole minor league career.

If you call that depth, than fine, but those are either square pegs or a still developing prospect with no spot to play yet (a la Jackson for the Yankees). As you yourself so nicely said to William, try to find a better argument, “You’re smart. Good luck with your research. We’ll compare lists when you’re done.”

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:01:06 +0000

[13] Your condescension doesn’t answer the question. I forgot that is your debate style, so I’ll leave you alone.

[14] I understand your point, but I don’t think many people are lining up to a back-up infielder on the Yankees. Even if the Yankees overpay, I am sure most candidates look at the chance of limited playing time and decide that never getting to play isn’t the best way to enhance future value. I am not sure who the Yankees could get that is significantly better than Berroa, so I can’t get to upset if he makes the team.

By: Shaun P.

Shaun P. — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:37:06 +0000

I see two good reasons for the Yanks to wait to make a move to get a backup middle IF (or someone to play 3B for a month while Ransom remains the backup middle IF). As spring training draws to a close, guys without options (eg, Scott Moore of the O’s) and who didn’t win a job as an NRI will be set free, and will cost the Yanks nothing. Further, the 40-man roster is full. There isn’t nearly as much chaff on there as there once was, so why be hasty? Unless they put A-Rod on the 60-day DL (can they do that retroactively?), or someone else (Edwar?) comes up long-term lame, they need to cut someone free to make room. (Note that Berroa is not on the 40-man, too, fortunately.)

Though I suppose, since he’s out of options, Melky could be the guy let go to make room . . . but given such a choice (Melky vs Angel Berroa for a month or so), I can’t see Cashman saying “Angel Berroa”. In fact, unless an injury opens a 40-man slot, I can’t see Cashman choosing Berroa over anyone on the 40-man. So I think we’ll be safe from Berroa, at least.

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:24:35 +0000

So I’m glancing at this site, which I take a gander at once in a while when I need a little laugh …
http://www.fantasyteamnames.net/baseball

And I come across this good one …
Dude (Looks Like a Nady)

Its not quite “Honey Nut Ichiros”, but …

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:41:32 +0000

Betemit and Williams, at the very least, had some sort of skill you could point to to justify their presence . (Of course, Betemit was so horrible at everything else that it negated his ability to sort of hit righties)

What is Berroa’s? He can’t hit. He can’t hit for average. He can’t hit for power. He can’t hit righties. He can’t hit lefties. He can’t field. He can’t run. What purpose does he serve that can’t be filled by a broom?