Comments on: Cash Money on the Ones and Twos

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:50:26 +0000

[90] No argument…just adding to your point.

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:03:05 +0000

Roberto Alomar had a career OPS+ of 116 to Cano’s 113. However, for the 6 years starting at age 28, Alomar averaged a 129 OPS+… basically his best run. And that makes sense. Maybe we just saw the first year of Robbie’s prime run. If Robbie stays healthy, they is no reason for him not to be as good, or a better hitter then Alomar.

And Robbie is a very poor runner…. although not nearly as poor and slow as Po. Maybe we should have traded Posada.

If guys on the bench only see 3 ABs/month, don’t complain when they stink. Starting Pena 3 or 4 games a month (only against RHP) has 3 advantages. (1) We get to see if he is a decent player and worth holding onto. (2) He should produce a bit better then being little used (both his spirit and timing will be better) and (3) Giving Jeter some off days and some DH days offers him rest that hopefully will keep him fresher, and a bit more productive.

AGAIN, I am NOT (not not not) advocating that Brains and Pena can replace Po and Jeter. I’m just saying that giving them a bit more playing time will hopefully improve their games and well as the guys getting some rest.

Jeter had a great 2009. Maybe 2010 will be equal… maybe not. Maybe 2011 will be equal…. maybe not. The only thing I can guarantee is that he won’t be getting younger, and it would be nice if when Po and Jeter did sit, we didn’t feel like gouging out our eyes with a burning poker because their replacements were so bad.

And yes, Pena’s numbers are a very small SS but hey… it’s better then if that SSS had him batting .220. Pena and Brains are hungry and anxious to prove themselves. If they can NOT SUCK, then they are valuable to this team.

And MP… let;s save the God comparisons for Mo.

And William…. are you arguing with me [41] even when I [36] agree with you?

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:38:38 +0000

[88] I too am skeptical, but your argument here is a bit circular, or something. Usually (always) players who have a career year out hit their career averages. Then again, players who are improving also tend to outhit their career averages. That Cano’s season last year, in which he surpassed his career averages, can thus be used to predict both regression and improvement!

You need to do more than just point out his career numbers are lower than his very fine season last year.

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:59:05 +0000

[85] Padon my spastic-ness…but his career OPS+ is 113. That is why I am generally dubious about Cano keeping this up.

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:56:56 +0000

Excuse me…

[85] 2005 OPS+ 106

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:56:16 +0000

[85]2005 OPS+ 106
2

By: 51cq24

51cq24 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:46:45 +0000

[84] please explain why you’re dubious. you think this was a career year? i think that’s ridiculous. it’s not like he’s a slap hitter who happened to hit a bunch of home runs. he’s a line drive hitter who can drive the ball. and i think we all agree that he has the potential to put up better numbers and to be more consistent defensively. so why would you think that at 27 he can never be this good again?

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:39:46 +0000

I’m dubious about Cano ever giving us a 129 OPS+ ever again. We have a unique opportunity to move him now and bring back a massive star. There is a constituency out there that thinks he’s on his way to high .900 OPS-kind of production. All I’m saying is let’s see what those folks are willing to give up for him.

We all might be very pleasantly surprised.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:37:21 +0000

[73] Nady is not a good option to start, but he would be a very acceptable bench player. I would have no problem resigning him only if it is clear that he starts behind Swisher and LF X.

By: ms october

ms october — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:18:31 +0000

[81] interesting. thanks for the article. if they move to montreal think omar can trade for bartolo colon?

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:13:02 +0000

[79] yeah, all season it was reported that they lost over half a billion, but it was revealed a few weeks ago that they made money

here’s the wall st journal story

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125609397243898233.html

By: ms october

ms october — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:10:12 +0000

[78] you came back swinging a good bat – basically agree – i’d like to get holliday if reasonable, don’t trade cano, and lackey is too ugly

[79] really?? i always thought they lost big money.

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:13 +0000

[77] the Mets MADE money on Madoff. Something like 45 million, which they’ll have to give back. Omar should have a busy and productive winter. If he doesn’t, the Mets should move to Montreal.

on Molina.. we have to upgrade on him this winter. Cervelli is a fine 3rd stringer. We can do better., and mark my words we will.
Get Torrealba, Cashman. That’s my request for today.

By: 51cq24

51cq24 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:54:51 +0000

i had to take a few days off. frankly i’m surprised that people are ready to start talking about next year already. didn’t we just win a world series? i thought quick hot stove talk was the consolation prize.

but if we’re talking, we’re talking.

first of all, i think talk of trading cano is beyond insane. the guy had a 129 ops+ at 2b this year (better than pedroia’s 122 in his “mvp” 2008). he can be streaky and he makes a lot of contact which obviously often results in quick outs, but he’s also a terrific hitter and only just turned 27. the next youngest hitter we have is teixeira, and after that no one is even below 35. cano is one of the top 2b in the majors. he’s had some postseason problems, but so has just about everyone. he’s also had some big postseason hits. it’s funny that the people who want to trade him think he’s not worth keeping around but somehow worth a kemp or a felix. not sure how that works.

second, i think backup catcher is among the least of our concerns. cervelli seems to be a better hitter than molina, can definitely run a lot better, and seems to be about the same defensively (i actually thought he looked better). why not give him a chance? i was all for him staying with the club even when molina came back from injury this year.

third, we should just sign holliday. he’s at least a good hitter, a good fielder, and he’s only 30. i’d go after him and sign matsui back for one year.

but we could probably use another starter too. lackey is too ugly to be a yankee, so who else is available?

By: ms october

ms october — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:49:48 +0000

it will be interesting to see where lackey ends up.
if the mets have crawled out of their madoff hole i could see them trying to make one last play with this group they have and lackey could be a top of the rotation guy with santana for them

[76] me too re pena and cervelli – i like them but they do not need to be taking abs away from any regulars – if you want them over hairston or molina i can get that

By: Horace Clarke Era

Horace Clarke Era — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:42:47 +0000

[71] Shaun, I agree that the west is WIDE open. Every team there can eyeball post-season chances, and think about the one or two players who might do it. None are very GOOD, though. Seattle would be crazy to deal Felix this year or next. Come the last year, they’ll need to think. Or maybe at the deadline year after next. On reflection, I think Lackey may have the Angels where Bay has the Bosox. They are really at risk if they lose him. They may decide, which Boston cannot do, that the division is weak enough that they can figure out starting – as they did this year, actually. I think Lackey may get 90-100 million. If Texas had stable ownership I’d say they would be all over him.

I’m really not hung up on Pena and Cervelli ‘getting a chance’ – they are young, they’ll get some chances, I suspect. I don’t have great expectations of either. I think the young fresh faces thing gets some people overexcited.

By: sepinwall

sepinwall — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:13 +0000

Isn’t Matsui unranked as a free agent because his contract forbids the Yankees from offering him arbitration? I know that was the way his first contract was written, which is why he became a free agent, rather than arbitration-eligible, when that deal ran out.

By: Shaun P.

Shaun P. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:10:18 +0000

His track record with the bat isn’t great and he hasn’t played much LF, but here’s an out of the box thought: Corey Hart of the Brewers. They do need pitching, and I do believe any trades will come from the Yanks’ depth of pitching.

Truth be told, while I think Hermida is probably toast, I think that was a good pickup by the Sox. I’d rather take a flyer on Hermida than anyone outside of Holliday-Bay-Damon and maybe Cameron.

By: Shaun P.

Shaun P. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:07:34 +0000

[69] Free agent. If I was betting on it, he won’t be back. Cervelli can do what Molina did at a fraction of the cost.

[7] Cliff, I know Nady is not a great option, but yeah, the market is poor. Unless one wants another go-around with Damon. I’d be content with Holliday on a five-year deal, but I don’t think Boras will settle for five years. Happy to be proven wrong though!

Over at Cot’s (bless Jeff Euston!), there’s a listing of all the current free agents. Once you are past Holliday-Bay-Damon, the next best guys are, IMHO, Nady and Mike Cameron. This morning I figured Nady is better because he’s cheaper and younger; now I think maybe Cameron is better due to the glove.

Truth be told, I don’t feel very good about any of the free agent options, including Holliday-Bay-Damon.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:01:22 +0000

[69] Free agent. Buh-bye!