Comments on: Observations From Cooperstown: The Hinske File, Rivera, and Roster Reverb

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:12:58 +0000

Sox LOSE to Seattle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:09:57 +0000

Boston – 2 outs

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:08:44 +0000

I out for Boston

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:02:53 +0000

[4] My prediction is that Peña will be traded, that’s why he was sent down to start playing CF and 2B.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:01:04 +0000

[5] I’m reserving my skepticism until the games v. the Twins. Then we will see how Hinske is deployed.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:00:17 +0000

[4] It’s not quite fair to say that Cervelli is being sent down *in favor of* Tomko. Nearly every team in the league carries 12 pitchers, and I am pretty certain that Tomko v. Cervelli will never enter the discussion. Rather, it is going to be a decision strictly between keeping Molina and Cervelli.

As to you second point, that Molina/Posada couldn’t stay healthy. First, the two are independent. Posada’s likelihood of staying healthy is the same regardless of whether Cervelli or Molina catches the other 30 or 40% of the games. So realy it comes down to Molina’s durability. You are right that Molina stands a good chance of getting hurt, but then, so what? If he gets injured, they will simply call Cervelli back up. Head to head, Molina, when healthy, will produce the same as Cervelli. Molina, when not healthy, is replaced by Cervelli.

So in the end, if they were to decide to get rid of Tomko it should NOT be to carry three catchers, as I argued in [1]. Rather, it should be to carry an extra hitter (Duncan, Rodriguez, someone acquired by trade, whatever).

By: Bum Rush

Bum Rush — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:53:58 +0000

I don’t understand why otherwise reasonable people buy the team party line verbatim on a guy like Hinske. I suppose there’s less friction than assuming they have no fucking clue, but still, where’s even a little skepticism?

By: PJ

PJ — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:50:29 +0000

I am equally disgusted that not only was Pena sent down in favor of Ransom and Hinske, but Cervelli may be sent down in favor of Tomko, when the catching duo of Posada and Molina couldn’t make it sharing catching duties for six weeks together, and Po couldn’t even stay healthy enough to avoid missing games until Molina returned…

By: Dimelo

Dimelo — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:30:14 +0000

[0] I think having Cervelli learn another position would be a disaster, while at the major league level. If anything, advocating he learn that position in the minors is a better idea, no? It’s not like he can make up for any errors on the field with his bat.

I do like your idea, but I think it’ll take two years to evolve into Cervelli being the Yankees version of Brandon Inge.

I do like Cervelli’s attitude, he’s fun to watch, especially yesterday when your starting pitcher is as effective as Burnett.

By: Cliff Corcoran

Cliff Corcoran — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:13:22 +0000

Of course, Cervelli has never played another position as a pro (save for one game in the outfield in Rookie ball), and he’s not going to learn at the major league level. I like the idea, but they’d have to send him down to get him to learn other positions.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:35:33 +0000

[0] …far more desirable than the dreaded 12th pitcher.

especially when that twelfth pitcher is Brett Tomko. I normally despise the idea of carrying three catchers, unless the third is a Jim Leyritz type who plays multiple positions. That said, Tomko is so utterly useless that I would consider going with three catchers and 11 pitchers. If they need BP help, Cervelli can always be demoted at a subsequent point and replaced by a MiL reliever.

Of course, my optimal arrangement would be to get rid of Tomko and replace him with someone–anyone–who can slug off the bench, even if he will never play in the field. In other words, a full time PH > 12 pitcher or 3rd cather.