Comments on: News of the Day – 10/15/09

By: Andyroo

Andyroo — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:31:50 +0000

Much rather see Carl Crawford signed than Dunn, Bay or Holliday. Hits for average, has some pop, steals bases and is a good fielder.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:15:18 +0000

[14] Except that Holliday hasn’t shown he can hit AL pitching, let alone AL East pitching. And you want to sign him to a Boras-type deal?

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:25:03 +0000

Another great thing about this Yankee offense it is has power, but doesn’t strikeout a lot. Dunn and Bay are both 160-180 K guys, while Holliday is usually around 100. Holliday is also a much better fielder. So, if the Yankees go outside the organization, Holliday has to be the target. If I was Cashman, I would go at him swiftly and aggressively.

By: Shaun P.

Shaun P. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:16:25 +0000

[11] The only problem with Bay, and potentially Dunn, is that both are awful in the field, and even though the Yanks are primarily a strikeout/K and groundout staff, I hesitate to give up as much on defense as either of those would entail. And I’m taking into account that Damon is no great shakes as a fielder either, but I’d hate to see worse and that’s what Bay/Dunn would be.

Of course if Dunn DHs 140 times and plays LF maybe 10, I say hello Adam Dunn!

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:14:07 +0000

[5] With all due respect to the SS you mentioned, I think the better conditioning and nuttition of the modern day make those comparisons irrelevant. Also, while Jorge will be 38, he didn’t start catching until he was in the minors and spent several seasons as an understudy. Fisk, meanwhile, was a starting catcher for his whole career. The mileage at 38 is definitely less for Posada.

Just because the 2008 staff gave up fewer runs doesn’t mean it wasn’t mediocre. The 2007 offense was able to compensate, but the 2008 lineup wasn’t. A huge part of the problem was awful seasons by the two youngest players. As we saw with Jeter, his off season, like Cano’s, was not because of his age.

I also disagree with your assumption that there is a good chance that Posada, Jeter and Matsui will have bad years. While injury concerns are real for Posada and Matsui, if healthy, I would expect them to have good years. The risk is health, not performance with those players. As for Jeter, I don’t think he is a high risk to have a bad year.

Having said that, I am all for signing Holliday. I want no part of Bay, however. I see him as the kind of player who will decline quickly. He already has significant holes in his game.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:40:24 +0000

[5] I agree completely. The 2008 team was old. This 2009 team looks young. Going forward, I think you have to assume 2008.

Still, I’m with [3]. Sign both Matsui and Damon to one-year deals knowing that Jackson and Montero are very close should anything go wrong. Montero also helps cover for Jorge, especially if they get Pena working with him all Spring.

Failing the one-year deals, I say you go get Bay. He’s shown he can hit in the AL East. With his OBP, he could also be a very good #2 hitter. And hitting in front of A-Rod, maybe he gets better pitches to hit.

Dunn would also be a very good fit, especially at home.

By: Yankee Fan in Boston

Yankee Fan in Boston — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:36:48 +0000

[8] The baseball geek in me wouldn’t mind seeing Matsui play for the Giants next year. He wore the same uniform in Japan.

If his knees don’t crumble, he might be able to mash NL pitching. (Again, if his knees don’t crumble.)

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:33:11 +0000

[5] Good call. The pitching seemed uglier–dredging up the likes of Ponson–but the massive loss of offense was the real killer last year. Of course, the missing offense was split between older players (Posada, Jeter) and younger guys (Cano, Melky); on the pitching side, the older guys pitched the best (Moose, Mo).

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:32:01 +0000

ie: Forman’s article.
This years good news might be next years bad news?

Although honestly, ARod should be as good if not better next year. The guy is in great shape and doesn’t appear to be anywhere near decline.

Mo and Jeter, if healthy, don’t look to fall off a cliff.

Posada? Well, he looks pretty good, his shoulder does NOT appear to be an issue, and he got plenty of rest this year.

I don’t see JD signing a short deal. It’s his last chance to get a 3 or 4 year deal, and I think he has to use his excellent 2009 to extend his career. If he signs for 1 year with us, and has a bad year, at 37, he will not be attractive to sign a deal for 2011 and beyond… so he’s gone.

Matsui may be a different story. I thought he was going back to Japan if he isn’t resigned…. but now, he says he wants to play the OF again. To say this seems to mean he is looking for another MLB contract. Again, I would go 1 year with him, but I’m not sure he will go for it. Would the Mariners give him 2 or 3 years? And what is he worth in today’s market as a DH? 2/$16m? More? Less?

In any event, I say don’t resign him and use the money for Crawford/Bay/Holliday. I love JD and Mats, but they are both older and physically breaking down. It’s time for the Yankees to spend their money on yongers players. Hopefully, the ‘Lets-get-an-old-stud-veteran days are over.

By: bp1

bp1 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:21:01 +0000

[4] Yep. Outside of Moose, the starting rotation was a mess last year. Andy had a bum shoulder in the 2nd half, Wang was out with his foot, and Kennedy/Hughes stunk up the joint. Only two starters from Opening Day finished the season in the rotation, and only one of those was healthy (Moose).

When you turn to guys like Syndey Ponson to help, you know things are bad.

Imagine if Moose pitched like his age. Oy.

Amazing the Yankees won as many games as they did.