How to Win the Serious
Posted on Nov 3, 2009 3:31 pm
By Alex Belth
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Key Offseason Moves
- B. Bruney traded to WAS for 1st Rule 5 pick
- C. Granderson acquired for A. Jackson, I. Kennedy, P. Coke
- A. Pettitte re-signed $11.75M/1yr
- J. Hoffmann picked in Rule 5 draft
- C. Wang non-tendered
- N. Johnson signed $5.5M/1yr + option, incentives
- J. Vazquez, B. Logan acquired for M. Cabrera, M. Dunn, A. Vizcaino
- R. Winn signed $1.1M/1yr + bonuses
Players
The Recently Departed
Vazquez trade
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB
M. Dunn (L) BR BP E mi
A. Vizcaino BR mi
Granderson trade
A. Jackson BR mi DET
I. Kennedy BR BP E mi AZD
P. Coke (L) BR BP E DETRule 5 draft
Z. Kroenke BR mi AZD
K. Texeira BR mi SEA2009 Yankees
J. Damon BR BP E MLB DET $8m/1yr
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB LAA $6M/1yr
X. Nady BR BP E MLB CHC $3.3+/1yr
J. Hairston Jr. BR BP E MLB SD $2.125M/1yr
E. Hinske BR BP E MLB ATL $1M/1yr
F. Guzman BR BP E MLB mi PHI mL
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi CLE mL
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi PHI mL
A. Berroa BR BP E MLB mi NYM
J. Molina BR BP E MLB TOR mL
K. Cash BR BP E MLB mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi SD mL
C. Wang BR BP E mi WAS $2M/1yr +bonuses
B. Bruney BR BP E mi WAS
E. Ramirez BR BP E mi TEX
J. Veras BR BP E CLE
B. Tomko BR BP E mi OAK
J. Towers BR BP E mi LAD
S. Jackson BR mi PIT
A. Claggett BR BP E mi PIT
2009 mLers/campers
D. Bernier BR BP E MLB mi PIT mL
E. Duncan BR mi ATL mL
J. Leone BR BP mi mL TEX
J. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB mi
T. Linden BR BP mi
T. Battle BC mi
E. Hacker BR mi PIT
H. Sanchez BR BP E mi
J. Johnson BR BP E mi
40-man Roster:
Infielders:
M. Teixeira BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
N. Johnson BR BP E MLB
R. Peña BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BP E MLB mi
K. Russo BR mi
R. Corona BR mi
E. Nuñez BR mi
Outfielders:
C. Granderson BR BP E MLB
N. Swisher BR BP E MLB
B. Gardner BR BP E MLB mi
R. Winn BR BP E MLB
J. Hoffmann BR BP E MLB mi
G. Golson BR BP E MLB mi
Catchers:
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
F. Cervelli BR BP E MLB mi
Starting Pitchers:
C. Sabathia (L) BR BP E
A. Burnett BR BP E
J. Vazquez BR BP E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP E
J. Chamberlain BR BP E
P. Hughes BR BP E mi
C. Gaudin BR BP E mi
S. Mitre BR BP E mi
R. Sanchez BR BP E mi
I. Nova BR mi
H. Noesi BR mi
Relief Pitchers:
M. Rivera BR BP E
D. Robertson BR BP E mi
D. Marte (L) BR BP E mi
C. Park BR BP E
A. Aceves BR BP E mi
M. Melancon BR BP E mi
J. Albaladejo BR BP E mi
B. Logan (L) BR BP E miCoaches:
J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP
T. Peña (Bench) BR BP
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP
M. Kelleher (1B) BR BP
R. Thomson (3B) BR
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BPNon-Roster Invitees:
Jorge Vazquez BR mi
B. Laird BR mi
M. Thames BR BP E MLB
R. Gorecki BR BP E MLB mi
D. Winfree BR mi
J. Weber BR mi
C. Curtis BR mi
Mike Rivera BR BP E MLB mi
J. Montero BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
P.J. Pilittere BR mi
J. Gil BR mi
Z. McAllister BC mi
D. Moseley BR BP E mi
J. Hirsh BR BP E mi
R. Pope BR mi
Z. Segovia BR BP E mi
R. Ring BR BP E mi
A. Sanit BR mi
G. Duff BR mi40-man Roster:
AAA:
W. De La Rosa (L) BR mi
AA:
C. Garcia BR mi
High-A:
A. Brackman BR miSelect Minor Leaguers:
AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
C. Malec BR mi
K. Igawa (L) BR BP E JB mi
K. Whelan BR mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi
G. Kontos BR miAA Trenton Thunder:
M. Vechionacci BR mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
J. Snyder BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Bleich (L) BR mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
J.B. Cox BC mi DLA Tampa Yankees:
C. Joseph BR mi
M. Cusick BC mi
M. Banuelos BR mi
D. Mitchell BR mi
D. Betances BC mi DL
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi
C. Nolte BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DLLow-A Charleston RiverDogs:
D. Adams mi
B. Suttle BC mi
S. Heathcott BR mi
K. De Leon BR mi
J. Murphy BR mi
K. Higashioka BR mi
P. Venditte mi
J. Heredia BC mi DLLow-A Staten Island Yankees:
Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Smith BR mi
G. SanchezKey:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube
E = ESPN
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
mi = MiLB.com
JB = Japanese Baseball.com
surely this isn’t a reference to utley’s heroics, is it?
What’choo talkin bout Mr. October?
Utley, what’s an Utley?
[3] Wasn’t that the dorky red hair friend with glasses? : )
Reggie and Utley have very Diff’rent Strokes (see what I did there?) and I’ll take Jackson’s more violent and powerful upper-cut everytime.
utley’s hair will be like mr. drummond’s soon
Can I just add that whilst the Yankees continued pitching to said Utley, the homeruns he hit were from pitches in middle of the plate. It’s not like he reached out and drove one.
Suffice it to say, he doesn’t seem to problems with lefties.
[7] yeah he has hit mistakes (unlike werth who has smashed some pitches he shouldn’t have been able to get) – just remember though that andy is the one starter he hasn’t hit – we just need the battlecat to keep chutley in check again tomorrow
[8] True. Werth can put all sorts of pitches in play. Like Guerrero. Chasers.
And true, Andy’s cutter should…..cut.
As for Utley’s hair, it reminds me of an antagonist in an episode of Mannix. Remember Joe? Or am I aging myself?
[8] good name for a cheesy sitcom: “Chutley In Check”
The pitch: can a dashingly handsome guy from Philadelpha balance his ridiculously successful professional baseball career with his heartfelt desire to rescue every stray animal in North America? And how much good-natured ribbing can he possibly take from his macho buddies Shane (as himself), Jimmy (as himself) and Ryan (as himself)? Chase Utley IS “Chutley In Check”.
The pilot episode: Chutley scores a multi-million dollar endorsement deal promoting a line of men’s hair care products, but problem is: the corporation tests its products on animals. Will Chutley sell-out? or can he and his buddies convince the corporation to change its evil ways? One thing’s for sure, hilarity always ensues on “Chutley In Check.”
promotional consideration for “Chutley In Check” provided by:
the all-new 2010 Ford Centaur: “Drive one like ARod!”
[9] I remember Mannix. Great show. But I only remember the last couple of seasons since I was just a little kid back then… ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeKUWIu1NGE
[10] Nice. Join us Wednesday night to see if Chutley is held in Check by the four headed monster they call “Andy/Joba/Phil/Mo”
[11] I’d love to see Jeter do a commercial for the Ford Centaur.
Utley doesn’t have problems with lefties, he crushed them this year (.288/.417/.545).
When Posada and Pettite discuss who they can challenge in the zone tomorrow night, they should leave Utley to suck hind tit. I’ll be shocked if Pettite gives Utley anything to hit with Howard completely sucking ass against lefties hitting behind him. Gonna be worse for him if Country Joe West gives pitchers his patented Tom Glavine strike zone. If I’m Manuel, I’d be tempted to move Werth up to cleanup just to avoid that scenario but, then, Werth wouldn’t see much in the way of strikes either.
[10] hahahahahha
definitely not a dime a dozen
How about we start by moving Utley off the plate and getting him to move his feet. He is way too comfortable up there.
[16] I’ve been waiting for somebody to go up and in on Utley (or somebody last night after A-Rod got drilled). Utley doesn’t get rattled when you throw at him, though. He generally takes his lumps and takes his base.
[16] It would probably be better to throw him something he couldn’t hit. The reason he looks comfortable up there is because Yankee pitchers keep grooving pitches to him.
[8] Chutley in Check, starring Scott Baio, err Andy Pettite. That would be nicely diff’rent from most of these Serious games.
Oh Christ, Joe West is the homeplate umpire tomorrow?
[19] Seems I was late on the draw–[10,11,12]
I vote for coming up and in to the slicked-back one, and I’m fine with an HBP (or 2) if Manual’s not going to flip-flop Werth & Howard. Utley’s hands are practically in the strike zone, so pitchers should be throwing at him. It’s possible pitchers have been leaving the ball over the middle because they lose track of where the plate is with Chut’s unusual proximity playing tricks on their vision.
Mo for 3 innings tomorrow night? Francesa thinks so.
[21] Utley led the NL in HBP 3 years running. He ain’t Ron Hunt but, he does a mean Craig Biggio without all hte padding. Only one major injury so far (broken hand in ‘07). If the Phils get a runner in scoring position with less than 2 outs, I would expect the HBP to Utley in lieu of an intentional pass ala Blanton to Rodriguez in the first inning of Game 4.
You guys have me in stiches, as per usual.
[12] Never hoid of it, Bama.
[17] Yeah, that’s not how we roll. Many of us have lamented for years that our pitchers are so loath to throw inside with conviction, especially with Ortiz.
[22] Yeah, I caught some of that. Sounds like utter crazytalk to me. He shut down Boston for three six years ago and he’s not been lights out quite consistently enough this PS for me to believe that’s a good idea.
Game 7, sure, if it comes to it, but that’s not a risk I’d take tomorrow with Sabathia starting the next day.
[25] I also think Joe will let Joba and Marte get him through the 7th (and maybe even the 6th) until bringing Mo in for the 8th and 9th.
Jon Heyman
The Yankees have interest in bringing back Johnny Damon — “We need him,” A-Rod said — but could well get competition from at least the White Sox and Giants. The Cardinals, Braves and Red Sox are among other teams looking for a corner outfielder, though it’s hard to imagine him going back to Boston. Before these playoffs, the Yankees were believed willing to go for two years and $16 million for Damon. But that was before his solo double steal in Game 4
This has been an awesome thread, thank you all!
Reggie will always be #1 for me.
Imagine though, how would you explain the show “Different Strokes” to people today? Or shows today as contrived as those from the 70s?
[27] Being that he’s a Boras boy, my guess is that there will be machinations afoot before any deal is made. I can’t honestly see the Yankees offering him more than 2 years (with option) even if 36 is the new 26. This team is getting awfully old.
Oh Nooooooo Mr. Bill!
Five reasons why the Phillies could pull off a shocking comeback
by Jon (thank God I still have a job) Heyman
1) The Phillies aren’t called the Fightin’ Phils for no reason
Oh Nooooooo
2) They are road warriors
Oh Nooooooo
3) Chase Utley is currently unstoppable.
What about the other 8 guys?
4) The Yankees lineup isn’t all that balanced right now.They’ll get the benefit of a hot Hideki Matsui (.556, two homers) in the lineup, and Jose Molina is through hitting, so that’s another plus. Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez are at the top of their game now, but two Yankee stars — Mark Teixeira (2 for 19) and Robinson Cano (3 for 18) (are slumping).
We have 2 guys slumping??
Howard:: .158 .238 .263 .501
Victorino: .167 .273 .222 .495
5) Cliff Lee may not quite be through.
Just on 2 days rest?
Is this meant to make Phillies fans feel better? The Fightin’ Phils? Wait… What’s that you say Jon?
“The odds are against them, but this resilient bunch can never be counted out.”
Well…. not until around midnight on Wednesday!
[29] I can’t see 2 years. In 2011, with ARod, Jeter, JD and Posada? We will need 2 DH spots. I love JD, but we have to think of the future, not just 2010. We should be thankful we got 4 good years out of him. Matsui has to go too.
JD and Matsui both make $13m. Imagine how much they will get if we offer arb… probably around $15-$16m.
JD with be 36 on Thursday.
Holliday with be 30 in January.
It’s really a no-brainer.
[30] Hah-hah, Heyman is terrible. And yes, all these “Phils have got the momentum” articles are so lame. Up 3-2 and heading back to NY, yeah, I think we are in good shape!
[31] Say NO to Matt Holiday please.
Anyone see the “report” about Brett Myers confronting Cole Hamels in the clubhouse? I’m not a Hamels fan but the guy DID win Series MVP last year..Hamels should have told him to get f#cked..
Wow..they have re-made “V”?? How could they mess with such a classic? And who could possibly be sexier than the woman who played Diana in the original??
I hate off-days, can’t they move up the game???
I listened to Francesa talking to Sweeny Murti and it was so annoying. Why have the guy on if you’re going to talk over him the entire time? He literally at one point said “Here’s what you think” to Murti. It was unbearable, because I’d listened to Francesa earlier and I already was well aware of everything he thought on the subject of Mariano, because he repeats himself so much. But also because he was being so obnoxious and not letting the guy talk.
Anyway, Rivera for three is not something any sane person would insist on.
The thing about when Mariano went 3 in 2003 is that it assuredly wasn’t the plan for him to go three, but as I recall he was able to get through innings without exerting a ton of effort. They didn’t bring him in during the 7th inning and say ‘it’s yours’. If you depend on him to go three, what happens when he throws 20 pitches in the 7th? I can’t believe that idiot would even think that was an option.
[31] Actually, there was a rumor that the Yankees were willing to give Damon one year, but of course, he’d want more years assuming he has one good contract left in him.
The Yankees need to get younger, but from what I hear, the talent pool isn’t that great in the upcoming free agent market. Holliday and Bay are the biggest marquis names.
I’m not sure Holliday figures into Cashman’s plans. He didn’t fare well in the big boy league.
While I’m not advocating re-signing Damon, he might be a stop gap until someone else comes around. Players like him. His at-bats give our guys an opportunity to view a lot of pitches. He can be a spark plug.
I personally would keep Damon and let Matsui go, but I have no idea as to who I would go after. I’m not sold on Holliday though.
[36] Right. Although if Girardi did get it into his head that maybe Mo could pitch three innings, it might encourage him to go to his superstar in some extremely high leverage situation that isn’t a classic closer spot.
Still, it’s just not what Mariano does. He’s really really really good at one thing, and pitching for three innings is not that one thing. Hey, that Albert Pujols is good, maybe he can pitch three innings.
I’m not sold on Holliday either.
Making a run at Jason Bay would be amusing, but he’ll want five years.
[36] Well said.
[40] I really don’t want to see any part of Jason Bay or Matt Holliday..very very over-rated players. Money is better spent on another starter and/or A-Chap, the Cuban Hurricane!
[42] Really? He consistently has an OPS+ of 130. If he’s overrated, he must be very highly rated indeed.
[43] You mean Holliday? I am still suspicious of anyone playing in Colorado..I know the stats can be adjusted, but just don’t think 5-years for him (at age 30) is a good investment..the O will be fine with A-Rod & Tex in the 3-4 next year..invest in more pitching, please.
[44] No, Bay. Sorry.
And I already said, “… but he’ll want five years,” by which I meant, too risky, don’t want him at the end of his career, we did well with Damon but shouldn’t push our luck, etc.
[45] You think Boston will offer Bay the contract he’s looking for?
[45] It’s not the Theo Epstein way. He doesn’t fall in love with his product nor does he give long contracts.
I mean [46]
“Anyway, Rivera for three is not something any sane person would insist on.”
The real nightmare scenerio is Mo, who has already pitched a lot of innings, goes 3, but unfortunately we still lose. Then, what do we do in Game #7 when Mo is cooked? Actually, if I wanted to design a doomsday scenerio where we blow this series, it would be to use Mo for 3 in Game #6.
[42] Our infield is set for 2 or more years, and hopefully AJax offers an upgrade in CF for 2011 and beyond. EVERY team can always use more good pitching, but we ain’t hurting there. We will need to replace Jeter sometime, but I don’t think it will be an offensive upgrade. The ONLY place to upgrade our offense (and defense) is a corner OFer.
Both Bay and Holliday will be overpriced, but that is ALWAYS the nature of top tier FAs. It would be worse in a better economy. Unless there is a OFer in the 2011 FA class, I don’t see how we can pass on Holliday.
And FTR, Holliday is a much better defender then Bay. We’ve seen the difference Teix’s glove makes. It time to stop ignoring defense when adding players.
Are we set with pitching? We couldn’t even secure a 4th starter for the WS. Joba is an uncertainty. Wang, who knows? Hughes an uncertainty. We need to properly fill a rotation. Who else is in the wings ready to come up and start?