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Category: News of the Day

News Update – 12/21/09

Today’s update is powered by some classic LL Cool J:

Damon has only himself to blame. Here’s a guy who has made $97.2 million in his career and for an extra $6 million he sacrificed happiness and contentment and all the other perks associated with playing for a world champion team in New York. If he really wanted to stay a Yankee, he should’ve told Boras: “Go shop around for a three-year offer, but at the end of the day just make sure I’m still wearing pinstripes.” Instead, he drank the Boras Kool-Aid and came out looking like just another baseball mercenary. Happy trails, Johnny.

News Update – 12/17/09

Today’s update is powered by a classic holiday novelty song:

This isn’t a lifetime achievement award; Rivera’s cutter is about as consistently good and destructive as any pitch anyone has seen. Somehow, the pitch has showed zero signs of age. The 92-to-94 mph cutter still treats lefties’ bats like dry twigs with right-to-left movement suitable for a slider and velocity more appropriate for a fastball. It’s not “see ball, hit ball” as much as it is “see ball, pretend ball exists four inches away, swing at air, hopefully hit ball.” Simply put, the human brain cannot react quickly enough to adjust for the lateral movement. The pitch’s most dominant stretch of the Pitch f/x era came in July of this past season, when Rivera threw the patented cutter 141 times and didn’t give up a single hit, with only two balls leaving the infield.

See you Monday!

News Update – 12/14/09

This update is powered by some legendary prog rock from Yes:

Ditching Wang to avoid an uncomplicated payout via arbitration, and keeping the chance to work out an incentive-laden deal, makes good sense—canny financial management’s worthwhile, even in the mega-market, big-money behemoth category of franchises. The real question’s over why the Yankees would tender Sergio Mitre a contract, because as long as you’re being pound-wise, why keep that roster bon-bon on the plate? The only team that finds that suggestion sweet is the team the Yankees face on the days they employ him. Perhaps we can consider this a Joltless Joe Girardi roster tax, as he gets to keep a designated Marlin, no differently than Joe Torre was permitted his Bellingers and his Grimsleys as a matter of convenience.

Poll time!

[poll id=”43″]

See you Thursday!

News Update – 12/7/09

Today’s update is powered by a short film about the changing labor market:

The defending World Series champions say they are going to be quiet this winter, but their biggest needs are a left fielder and starting pitcher, and they have the resources to sign Holliday and Lackey if they really want. Lackey seems a more likely signing with the Yankees bringing back left fielder Johnny Damon on a two-year, $20-million contract.

No Update this Thursday, so I’ll see you again next Monday.

News Update – 12/3/09

Today’s update is powered by one of PIXAR’s early efforts:

He still keeps an eye on the current Bombers, including a certain second baseman who reminds Alomar of himself – the flashy, gifted (and often nonchalant) Robinson Cano.

“When you have too much talent, you can end up playing that way,” Alomar said of Cano. “But I do think Robinson is going to be an MVP and Gold Glover. That’s how good he is. The rest is up to him.”

News Update – 11/30/09

Today’s update is powered by The Allman Brothers:

News Update – 11/26/09

Today’s update features the Muppets tackling Queen:

  • John Perrotto writes about the Yank’s gameplan for the off-season:

General manager Brian Cashman still hasn’t mapped out his winter strategy, waiting until he meets with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and his brother Hank next week. “Once I get some firm numbers then I can go ahead and start putting together some ideas,” Cashman said.

The Yankees actually lowered their payroll from $209 million in 2008 to $201 million in 2009. The general feeling is Steinbrenners will tell Cashman to hold the line for 2010. “I think the big picture is to be real efficient with how we allocate our resources,” Cashman said. “Obviously, last year showed examples of, depending who it is, we can step up in a big way. I think we’re going to try to be careful. Careful doesn’t mean slow. We’re trying to spend it wisely, make the right commitments to use for the present and the future.”

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!  See you Monday.

News Update – 11/23/09

This update is powered by a wonderful lyricist and performer, Ray Davies:

  • Tyler Kepner examines the “is it about the money” angle of free agency for the Yankee FAs.
  • Jonah Keri warns the Yanks not to get complacent in the off-season.
  • For what its worth, Jon Miller is the only ESPN “expert” to NOT pick Mauer for the AL MVP.
  • Is Bobby Abreu’s contract ($19M over two years) with the Halos a baseline for Johnny Damon?
  • Aaron Small turns 38 today.
  • Frank Tepedino turns 62 today.
  • Luis Tiant is 69 today.

News Update – 11/19/09

This update is powered by a walk on the wild side:

  • Joe Girardi finished 3rd in the AL Manager of the Year vote.
  • CC Sabathia finished 4th in the AL Cy Young vote.
  • Ian Kennedy is working on his two-seam fastball out in the Arizona Fall League.
  • The Yanks declined their 2010 option on Sergio Mitre.
  • Tyler Kepner details the Yankee bigwig brainstorming for the off-season.
  • MLB.com Yankee beat writer checks in from the team’s fantasy camp.

News Update – 11/12/09

This update is powered by a Happy 40th Anniversary wish to Sesame Street:

  • Matsui contract talks on hold.
  • Freddy Guzman and Josh Towers opt for free agency.
  • Hideki Matsui in the outfield?  Some GMs doubt it.
  • Internet Baseball Award AL results:
    • MVP: Mauer 1st, Jeter 2nd, Teixeira 3rd, Rodriguez 8th
    • Cy Young: Greinke 1st, Sabathia 5th, Rivera 6th
    • Rookie of the Year: Porcello 1st
    • Mgr. of the Year: Scioscia 1st, Girardi 4th
  • Homer Bush turns 37 today.

Back on Monday!

News Update – 11/9/09

Hi folks . . . back from SF (pics up later this week) and good to be back.  I’ll be here on Mondays and Thursdays from here through the opening of Spring Training.

Today’s update is powered by . . . Mr. Tony Bennett

Though the Yankees’ policy is not to address contracts until they expire, things might get interesting this winter. Girardi will also likely ask for an extension since his three-year, $7.5 million deal runs out at the end of next season. If the Yankees don’t extend Girardi, then he will be a rare manager who comes off a World Series victory yet faces lame-duck status. Quoth Cashman, “We have to evaluate everything when we have our organizational meetings—players, coaches, and manager.”

World Series MVP Hideki Matusi will sign with another major league team if he does not re-sign with the Yankees as a free agent, instead of returning to his native Japan. … Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was serious when he said during the World Series trophy presentation that he wants to play five more seasons. Rivera feels so good after having shoulder surgery last winter that he believes he can pitch until he is 45. …

News of the Day – 10/27/09

Today’s news is powered by the one and only George Benson . . .

“This team played like a family all year long,” he said. “They picked each other up when somebody was down. They’ve got hearts of lions. They never give up. They’ve earned this, every bit of it.”

When he was asked about the Phillies, he dipped into George Steinbrenner’s answer bag again. Remember to show respect for the opponent but remember to emphasize that the Yankees, your Yankees, are probably better.

“They’re a tough team,” he said. “They’ve had a couple more days off than us. We’ll see how that plays out. But we’re pretty confident in ourselves. We got a great team. These guys get along. There’s a lot of ability, and we’re going to give them a run for their money.”

The critical question for Girardi is how to make the most use of Sabathia’s apparent indestructibility. Is he more valuable as a classic rotation workhorse, starting Games 1, 4 and 7, if necessary, on three days’ rest, or as a swingman, taking his regular turn in Games 1 and 5 and relieving in any number of other contests?

. . . Given the uncertainty surrounding the choice, Girardi’s best bet is probably to be flexible. If the Yankees are, say, leading by a run or tied in the seventh inning, with two men on base and Utley coming to bat, well, it’s time to bring in the big fella. By contrast, if there is no situation that screams out for Sabathia’s usage — and if the first few games are split, making a Game 7 much more likely — Girardi will be better off keeping his ace in reserve.

Don Mattingly was on the short list of managerial candidates in Cleveland, and wasn’t hired.

But he is speaking with the Los Angeles Dodgers about his future with that organization, and while it would be premature to say he is regarded as the heir apparent to manager Joe Torre, there may come a day when he will emerge as the leading candidate to replace Torre.

Mattingly has been talking with the Dodgers since the team was eliminated from the National League playoffs by the Phillies, according to sources, and will have more conversations later in the week. Mattingly has made it apparent that he wants to manage; he was a finalist with the Yankees two years ago when Joe Girardi was hired, and then emerged as a candidate with the Indians this year.

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News of the Day – 10/26/09

Today’s news is powered by a Waterboys song that always makes me smile . . .

  • Tyler Kepner examines the loooooong season, with a World Series that could end November 5th.
  • Jack Curry writes about the legendary intensity of Andy Pettitte.
  • Mariano Rivera gave Phil Hughes a pep talk.
  • Brian Cashman explains why he went after Sabathia after ’08 rather than Santana after ’07:

Yankees GM Brian Cashman took plenty of criticism following the 2007 season when he stood by while the Mets acquired left-hander Johan Santana from the Twins in a trade for four prospects. Cashman’s reluctance to deal with the Twins looked even worse when the Yankees’ string of 13 consecutive post-season appearances ended in 2008.

However, Cashman had a reason for not pursuing Santana and signing him to the type of lucrative contract—six years and $137.5 million—that the southpaw received from the Mets. That was that Cashman wanted to save money for last winter’s free-agent class. He took his savings and went crazy on the open market, signing left-hander CC Sabathia, right-hander A.J. Burnett, and first baseman Mark Teixeira for a combined $423.5 million. The trio combined for 15.3 WARP1 this season, and the Yankees are one victory away from their first World Series appearance since 2003.

“When we added David Cone from Toronto (during the 1995 season), we were a piece away at the time,” Cashman told the New York Daily News‘ John Harper. “But when Santana became available, in my opinion we weren’t a piece away yet. So I told ownership, ‘Listen, six months really isn’t a long time to wait, though it turned out to be a long time for me, to be honest, and if we can have the patience and discipline, I can’t guarantee you we’ll be able to get Sabathia, but think about what our organization will look like if we can add him and keep these other assets.'”

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News of the Day – 10/23/09

Today’s news is powered by ELO, circa 1975:

Stung by a rash of blown calls in the playoffs, Major League Baseball is breaking tradition and sticking with only experienced umpires for the World Series.

Longtime crew chiefs Joe West, Dana DeMuth and Gerry Davis, along with Brian Gorman, Jeff Nelson and Mike Everitt will handle the games, three people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press this week.

. . . In 24 of the last 25 World Series, the six-man crew has included at least one umpire working the event for the first time — baseball likes to reward newer umpires, plus replenish the supply of umps with Series experience.

In each of the last two years, there were three new umps working the World Series.

CB Bucknor was in line to work the World Series for the first time this year. But he missed two calls in Game 1 of the division series between the Red Sox and Angels, damaging his chance to get picked, one of the three people said.

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News of the Day – 10/22/09

Today’s news is powered by Jethro Tull, circa 1978:

Television cameras caught Jeter coughing numerous times during the Yankees’ 10-1 victory over the Angels in Game 4, when he went 2-for-5 with a walk.

The New York Times reported that Jeter left Angel Stadium clutching a bottle of NyQuil, and manager Joe Girardi confirmed the shortstop’s illness in a news conference on Wednesday.

“I noticed it on Monday, and he was pretty sick,” Girardi said. “He was still pretty sick yesterday. I’m hoping that he feels better, but it didn’t seem to affect him Monday his first at-bat. That’s just the type of player that Derek is. He’s tough.”

Rodriguez said his transformation to a more comfortable and more focused player started in spring training. After acknowledging in February that he had used steroids, then having hip surgery, Rodriguez decided not to have great expectations and to eliminate distractions. That approach has worked.

It has worked so well that Rodriguez would not dare change after getting three hits and driving in two runs in a 10-1 win over the Angels in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night. When Rodriguez was asked if the toughest part of his day was explaining how he was doing what he is doing, he laughed and said it was not.

“I don’t talk much anymore,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t have to explain myself. That’s a good thing.”

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News of the Day – 10/21/09

Today’s news is powered by “Chicago Transit Authority”, circa 1970:

A video clip spreading all over the Web on Tuesday shows Mariano Rivera holding the ball in his hand in the 10th inning of Game 3 on Monday, and — gasp — spitting downward. . . .

As first reported by Joel Sherman, Major League Baseball acted quickly on this one, investigating the incident and exonerating Rivera. They found photos that showed the spit passing his hand well past the ball.

“From the available video and still photography we have, there is no evidence that Rivera spit on the ball,” said Patrick Courtney, M.L.B.’s vice president for public relations.

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News of the Day – 10/19/09

Today’s news is powered by . . . a flutist with his own beatbox

The Yankees announced on Sunday that they will open the Stadium Field Level and Great Hall to the public to watch the Yankees face the Angels in Anaheim as New York tries to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the ALCS.

“We wanted to provide a place for our fans to come together to cheer for our team, even if the game itself is taking place across the country,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a news release. “This is a way of saying ‘Thank you’ for their continued support.”

Turnstiles between Gates 4 and 6 will open at 3:30 p.m. ET for the 4:13 p.m. game — broadcast on FOX — and fans can watch it in the Great Hall or in the open sections of the Field Level. Food and concession stands, as well as NYY Steak and Hard Rock Café, will be open and available to fans.

  • MLB.com has their own preview of game 3.

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News of the Day – 10/16/09

Today’s news is powered by a sterling scene from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”:

Win CS Win WS
NYY       73.3              40.6
LAA        26.7                 8.3
LAD        54.9               28.4
PHI          45.1              22.7

  • Still at Baseball Prospectus, Eric Seidman analyzes the Yanks/Angels match-up, and summarizes thusly:

I have picked the Yankees to win the World Series in each of my last three chats, and while I won’t be terribly surprised if the Angels pull out a series win and advance to the grandest of stages, I fear their starting pitching will not be able to quiet the powerful Yankee bats. This will lead to Scioscia having to alter his intended usage of the bullpen, off of whom the Yankees are more than likely to feast. The Angels aren’t going to go quietly, but I do not see this series lasting longer than five games, with the Yankees advancing to the World Series. Winning four of five games does not imply any sort of dominance as each could be within one run, but the areas in which the Yankees hold advantages outweigh those of the Angels.

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News of the Day – 10/15/09

Today’s news is powered by Cyndi Lauper, and the late “Captain” Lou Albano:

New York moved its Thursday workout at Yankee Stadium from 1 p.m. to 11 a.m., in an effort to combat the impending showers. The Angels worked out Wednesday at Angel Stadium and are scheduled to have a late-afternoon session in the Bronx on Thursday.

Weather.com, the official Web site of the Weather Channel, was forecasting an 80 percent chance of precipitation for Game 1 on Friday, with temperatures in the 40s accompanied by rain and wind. For Saturday night’s Game 2, the forecast was for a 40 percent chance of precipitation, with temperatures in the mid to upper 40s.

The National Weather Service is predicting that Game 1 will see a 60 percent chance of rain under cloudy skies on Friday night, with winds between 16 and 18 mph and possible new rainfall amounts between one-tenth and a quarter of an inch. The forecast is similar for Game 2, with a 70 percent chance of rain under cloudy skies.

The Yankees have invited all fans interested in weather updates concerning future home games to follow their official Twitter account at: @YankeesWeather (http://www.twitter.com/YankeesWeather).

Lost in the Yankees’ sweep of the Twins was the fact that Damon, other than a walk in the sixth inning of Game 2, did little to help. His lone hit was a one-out single in Game 1, after which he was quickly erased on the basepaths. He misplayed a Brendan Harris hit in Game 2, resulting in a triple. And he struck out four times in Game 3, three of them against Carl Pavano.

Certainly, Damon was not the only Yankees player to struggle against Pavano, who struck out nine batters in total and generally kept the Yankees off balance all day. And certainly Damon referenced those collective struggles in his explanation, noting that he “didn’t see the ball well at all” off Pavano. But none of that stopped Damon from coming into Yankee Stadium on his off-day, taking BP and trying to eliminate what he called some excessive movement of his head.

“I just wanted to come in and get some peace of mind,” Damon said, “and make sure that I’ll be ready to go come Friday night.”

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News of the Day – 10/14/09

Today’s news is powered by a baseball “Dirty Job”:

Joe Girardi just did a conference call with the beat writers and said that while the team won’t have its roster/scouting meeting until tomorrow morning, “We are definitely considering going to a three-man rotation in this round.”

Girardi pointed to the lighter workload that CC Sabathia faced in September, as well as the longer layoff he’s getting now since the Yankees swept the first round. Girardi said that the team would like to have plan in place for the rotation going into the series, as opposed to just waiting to see where the team stands when Game 4 rolls around. Remember, too, that because of off-days Sabathia could pitch Games 1, 4 and 7 and only have to pitch on short rest once instead of twice.

. . . it is slightly more advantageous to throw a left-hander against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, where you have to defend the shorter porch in right field, because you force their switch-hitters to bat from the right side. Right-handed starters got pounded by the Yankees in that ballpark. They were 10-19 there, including 3-14 since June 19. (Left-handed starters were 6-10). Including the postseason start by Nick Blackburn of Minnesota, 28 opposing right-handers have started at Yankee Stadium in the past four months and only three came away with a win: Roy Halladay, Chris Tillman and Kevin Millwood, and in each case they were supported by 10 runs.

Honestly, the Yankees are such a dominant offensive team in that ballpark that it doesn’t matter that much. Here are opponents’ records in games at Yankee Stadium, whether the starter gets the decision or not:

With right-handed starter: 14-37 (.275)
With left-handed starter: 10-20 (.333)

But I’d still rather throw a lefty at Yankee Stadium, especially when the right-handed choice, Weaver, is better at home and worse against the Yankees. Remember, Scioscia’s Game 2 starter is also likely to be his starter for Game 6, also to be played at Yankee Stadium — assuming he uses four starters and assuming the Angels can extend the best team in baseball that far.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver