2008 New York Yankees Thread

[Merk]

Another year another season


Reports: Cano's deal could be worth $56 million over six years

The New York Yankees and second baseman Robinson Cano have reached a preliminary agreement on a deal that could be worth as much as $56 million over six years, according to reports in the New York Times and the Newark Star-Ledger.

The deal will be finalized when Cano, 25, passes his physical. The contract specifics vary slightly in the reports. According to The Times, Cano will earn $28 million for the 2008 through 2011 seasons, and he will get $2 million more should the Yankees decline the 2012 option.....


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3215631

[Callaway]

I still find it amazing the Yankees had the balls to hang onto all three of there young pitchers

[bigdog72ny]

I still find it amazing the Yankees had the balls to hang onto all three of there young pitchers

its not opening day yet so i wouldnt say there out the woods just yet.i hope they are though

[phishhead220]

so if the season started today...what's the rotation (this is in no order)

Wang
Pettite
Hughes
Kennedy
Mussina
Igawa

Pavano once he's healthy?

I'll let one of you Yankee fans tell me how the rotation might shake out.

[BillsYankees]

so if the season started today...what's the rotation (this is in no order)

Wang
Pettite
Hughes
Kennedy
Mussina
Igawa

Pavano once he's healthy?

I'll let one of you Yankee fans tell me how the rotation might shake out.
I think the ones just listed besides Igawa and Pavano will be the starting rotation. Joba might be in the bullpen to start in the season. Igawa and Pavano suck. Pavano probably won't even pitch till July anyway, but Igawa though is just terrible.

[slowpokemcgee]

It's ok, Mussina will be decent until the allstar break and fatigue will catch him. Wang, Pettitte and Hughes will be fine. Kennedy my mind isn't made up yet, I have high hopes, but would like to see a long stretch from him first. Igawa will be a nice long reliever and Pavano will probably die in his first start back.

[Merk]

The rotation really depends on what they want Joba to do. Personally I'd just ask him. If he wants to be a future closer than fine stick him in the 8th and away we go if not i dont see how he doesnt win the 5 spot

This is how I see it shaking out

1.Andy
2.Wang
3.Hughes
4.Moose (dont get me started)
5.Ian/Joba (will battle it out in TC for the job, they will stay in the 5 hole though to control there innings)

Pavano: Wont see the light of day. Hes coming off TJ and wont be ready till July
Igawa: Start the Year in the minors maybe works his way up to a lefty reliever status
Horne: The next big arm on deck could see BP action come Aug maybe a spot start here or there

[Merk]

Heres Baseball Americas ranking of our top 30 prospects

On a side note dont get excited about Montero and the catchers posistion. Hes going to be moved to first base


1. Joba Chamberlain, RHP
2. Austin Jackson, OF
3. Jose Tabata, OF
4. Ian Kennedy, RHP
5. Alan Horne, RHP
6. Jesus Montero, C
7. Jeff Marquez, RHP
8. Brett Gardner, OF
9. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP
10. Andrew Brackman, RHP
11. Mark Melancon, RHP
12. Humberto Sanchez, RHP
13. Dellin Betances, RHP
14. Dan McCutchen, RHP
15. Kevin Whelan, RHP
16. Carmen Angelini, SS
17. George Kontos, RHP
18. Ivan Nova, RHP
19. Collin Curtis, OF
20. Jairo Heredia, RHP
21. Juan Miranda, 1B
22. Austin Romine, C
23. Francisco Cervelli, C
24. Dave Robertson, RHP
25. Mike Dunn, LHP
26. J.B. Cox, RHP
27. Mitch Hilligoss, INF
28. Scott Patterson, RHP
29. Edwar Ramirez, RHP
30. Zach McAllister, RHP

[bigdog72ny]

glad we are keeping the youngsters but that rotation of(wang,pettite,moose,hughes,kennedy/joba) kind of worries me.are there any decant f.a. veteran pitchers left to try out?

[Merk]

glad we are keeping the youngsters but that rotation of(wang,pettite,moose,hughes,kennedy/joba) kind of worries me.are there any decant f.a. veteran pitchers left to try out?


Not really anyone worth signing


At this point the Yankees are locked in w/ these young kids b/c you cant say all winter how good they are, not trade them for a J.Santana, and then not start them.


Personally I'm ready to roll w/ the young guys. The FA pitchers we have brought in really havent worked lately and this is what we have been building for the past three years. We have gone out of our way to draft pitchers at every oppurtunity we can and its worked so far in that we are loaded w/ pitching talent in the minors. Now its time to see if any of these guys are going to pay off at the big league level. There will def be some rocky times but in the long run I think the Yankees have set themselves up nicely

[buffjills]

Not really anyone worth signing


At this point the Yankees are locked in w/ these young kids b/c you cant say all winter how good they are, not trade them for a J.Santana, and then not start them.


Personally I'm ready to roll w/ the young guys. The FA pitchers we have brought in really havent worked lately and this is what we have been building for the past three years. We have gone out of our way to draft pitchers at every oppurtunity we can and its worked so far in that we are loaded w/ pitching talent in the minors. Now its time to see if any of these guys are going to pay off at the big league level. There will def be some rocky times but in the long run I think the Yankees have set themselves up nicely

I couldn't agree more but I do think they will have to pick up some kind of veteran pitching help at some point in the season if not before. Even if it's just a journeyman pitcher with some big league experience that'll take a minor league deal.

I just don't see how they'll be able to get by with the inning limits on the young guys without an additional arm or two.

[phishhead220]

glad we are keeping the youngsters but that rotation of(wang,pettite,moose,hughes,kennedy/joba) kind of worries me.are there any decant f.a. veteran pitchers left to try out?

Carlos Silva was one of the best FA pitchers this year, so not really. I think Josh the Dragon Slayer Fogg is still unsigned haha.

[Merk]

I couldn't agree more but I do think they will have to pick up some kind of veteran pitching help at some point in the season if not before. Even if it's just a journeyman pitcher with some big league experience that'll take a minor league deal.

I just don't see how they'll be able to get by with the inning limits on the young guys without an additional arm or two.



Hughes really isnt on an inning limit anymore so I think he will be fine

Kennedy is on a semi inning limit but he pitched college ball so his arm has more endurance

Joba still is on an inning limit at this point

That said whoever wins out between Joba anf Ian will be in the 5th spot which means they will only pitch about 2 or 3 times in the month of April and that will in a way keep there innings down. I also expect them to have somewhat of a quick hook w/ Joba

[Merk]

Keith Laws top 100

Joba Chamberlain

3) You may have heard of this fellow. Best known to big league fans as a dominant setup guy, Chamberlain is best cast as a four-pitch starter who projects as a true No. 1 starter. He has a four-pitch repertoire where all pitches project as average or better: a plus 94-98 mph four-seamer, a toxic 83-87 mph slider with good tilt and variable break, an 11/5 curveball with good depth, and a straight 81-84 mph changeup with good arm speed. The fastball and slider are already big league out pitches and in relief, he can probably get away without the other two pitches. Chamberlain has a great pitcher's build with broad shoulders and the height to get good downhill plane on his pitches, and his arm is quick. He's battled his weight in the past, leading to knee trouble, and he had bicep tendinitis in college that allowed him to fall to the Yankees in the supplemental round.




Jose Tabata

21)Tabata was in the top 10 last year, but a nagging hamate injury ended his 2007 season early, requiring surgery in August. Tabata has a quick bat and great hand-eye coordination, and he squares up balls as well as anyone on this list. He also has good pitch recognition, although that can manifest itself in working the count to get to a fastball he can drive. His raw power hasn't shown up in games, which could be explained by the hamate injury; hand and wrist injuries sap power, and full recovery from a broken hamate bone can take up to a year. Tabata can play center but has been bumped to right field by fellow Yankee prospect Austin Jackson (No. 24), and Tabata should be plus there with an above-average arm. He'd rank higher if the hamate problem was fully behind him, but until that becomes clear, there's still some risk here.




#24) Austin Jackson
Jackson is my favorite kind of hitting prospect -- the athlete with a clue. Jackson was a top basketball prospect in high school, but the Yankees flexed their financial muscles and gave him first-round money in the eighth round, a move that looks brilliant in hindsight because of how advanced Jackson is for a multi-sport prospect. Jackson has good speed, a solid-average arm in center and good instincts on fly balls, but still has some work to do at the plate. His setup is excellent and his path to the ball is short, but he needs to continue working on keeping his weight back to get more power from the contact he makes, and he's too eager to chase the ball up. He's a potential middle-of-the-order bat because of his power and improving plate discipline.



#45) Ian Kennedy

Kennedy's stuff alone would put him in the lower reaches of this list. He is here because he has superb command of average or fringe-average stuff, so superb that he is going to succeed in the majors where many guys with superior stuff will fail. He works with a fringe-average fastball that touches 90 mph on occasion but mostly falls in the 87-88 mph range, and he commands it to all four edges of the zone. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, slightly above average with some tailing action, but it works extremely well because he keeps his arm speed consistent. His curve is solidly average as well. Kennedy repeats his delivery as well as any prospect on this list, commands all of his pitches and has a great feel for pitching. With plus stuff, he would be in the top 10 overall, but with his stuff, he will have to settle for an upside as a borderline No. 3 starter or a great No. 4 starter.



100) Andrew Brackman

Brackman is out for 2008 after elbow surgery, but he was one of the best amateur prospects in the country heading into last spring. He gets great downhill plane on a 91-97 mph fastball and shows signs of a plus breaking ball, with clean mechanics for someone so tall. His major league contract works against him


http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=3221365&univLogin02=stateChanged

[Carl J. Ironsides]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Yankees were to miss the playoffs this year, but at the same time, I'm willing to be patient. In the long run, we'll be happy the organization kept its young arms rather than dealt them away -- as good as Santana is.

[Merk]

Yankees Sign M.Ensberg to a minor league contract today to play 1st base


...Whatever is about the only thing I have to say on that

[buffjills]

Hughes really isnt on an inning limit anymore so I think he will be fine

Kennedy is on a semi inning limit but he pitched college ball so his arm has more endurance

Joba still is on an inning limit at this point

That said whoever wins out between Joba anf Ian will be in the 5th spot which means they will only pitch about 2 or 3 times in the month of April and that will in a way keep there innings down. I also expect them to have somewhat of a quick hook w/ Joba

In a perfect world you're probably right but I'm thinking of the inevitable injury that will come along. I guess it depends if you believe that the old guys can hold up. Moose and Pettite aren't exactly spring chickens. There is also a pretty good possibility that at least one of the youngsters struggles over the course of their 1st full big league season.

Maybe it's wishful thinking but I really think they'll end up adding an arm at some point. I do know that if I never see Igawa pitch another inning in a Yankee uniform I won't lose any sleep over it.

[buffjills]

Yankees Sign M.Ensberg to a minor league contract today to play 1st base


...Whatever is about the only thing I have to say on that


Ensberg, 32, has played one career game at first base and in it, he committed an error.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02012008/sports/yankees/yanks_sign_ensberg_545632.htm


yeah, I can hardly contain my excitement.

[Merk]

In a perfect world you're probably right but I'm thinking of the inevitable injury that will come along. I guess it depends if you believe that the old guys can hold up. Moose and Pettite aren't exactly spring chickens. There is also a pretty good possibility that at least one of the youngsters struggles over the course of their 1st full big league season.

Maybe it's wishful thinking but I really think they'll end up adding an arm at some point. I do know that if I never see Igawa pitch another inning in a Yankee uniform I won't lose any sleep over it.


If an injury does happen I think we will just reach into the minors again.


Horne, Marquez, and Ohlendorf should be next up if an injury does happen. There unproven but I think its the same risk but w/ the possibility of a better outcome than signing a guy of the street that we already know isnt good. At least w/ the kids you generate some excitement and get them some experiance

[buffjills]

If an injury does happen I think we will just reach into the minors again.


Horne, Marquez, and Ohlendorf should be next up if an injury does happen. There unproven but I think its the same risk but w/ the possibility of a better outcome than signing a guy of the street that we already know isnt good. At least w/ the kids you generate some excitement and get them some experiance

I think it would depend on the teams record when the injury occurs (or maybe Boston's). If they're down a few games in the standings, I doubt Hank votes to stay the course with more young guys.

[Merk]

Right-hander Hughes ready for big time

TAMPA, Fla. - Age is one of those attributes that is almost always presented under heavy disguise. Look older. Act younger. Carry yourself like a gentleman. Sleep like a baby.

This has been a particularly noticeable phenomenon in the Yankees' clubhouse in recent years, particularly Now there is Philip Joseph Hughes, 21 years old and the latest pitcher to take the weight of the Yankees' world upon his substantial rotator cuffs. Hughes is different, in that he has never been accused of using steroids (Clemens), isn't balding/overweight/perpetually obnoxious (Wells) and hasn't ever intentionally engaged a cinder-block wall in a fistfight (amazingly, Brown). Hughes is also semi-remarkable, contextually speaking, in that he hasn't run afoul of the law, hasn't thrown a temper tantrum and hasn't yet offended any particular demographic with a comment in the media.

In other words, he's a rarity in baseball: a player who acts more mature, not less, than his actual age. Understand, it is this attribute, more than any other, that ultimately will determine whether Hughes can meet the insane expectations that await him this season in the Bronx. pitchers. Think about it: Roger Clemens was 44, looked 30 and frequently acted like a 19-year-old hopped up on Red Bull; David Wells was 40, looked 6 - in whale years - and acted like a bratty 9-year-old who dropped his ice cream cone in the sandpit; Kevin Brown was 39, looked (or at least walked) like he was 82 and acted … well, homicidal, mostly.......

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/SPORTS01/802080410/-1/SPORTS&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

[Merk]

So heres the deal w/ Joba

They want him to be a starter but will start him in the BP to start the season and transistion him to a starter around June to keep him under his 140 inning limit

Translation: Joba will be in the Pen all year

I really dont see how they plan on streching him out after he spends the first two months of the year pitching 1 inning every other day (though they might mix in a couple back to backs)

[nyjunc]

So heres the deal w/ Joba

They want him to be a starter but will start him in the BP to start the season and transistion him to a starter around June to keep him under his 140 inning limit

Translation: Joba will be in the Pen all year

I really dont see how they plan on streching him out after he spends the first two months of the year pitching 1 inning every other day (though they might mix in a couple back to backs)


I agree, barring significant injuries in the rotation I cannot see them moving him into the rotation halfway through. it just doesn't make sense. He'll be in the pen all year and we'll be much stronger b/c of it.

[Merk]

Some Yankee Notes

-We are still interested in Lefty reliever D.Marte from the Pirates
-We have had contact w/ F.Garcia's agent who will likely be ready by June or July


Man I can not wait for the season to start

I'm even excited that there showing the preseason game against the Phillies this Sunday

[Merk]

Yankees buying into new way of doing things under Girard

TAMPA, Fla. -- From the day he walked into his new office at Legends Field, Joe Girardi has strived to put his own imprint on the Yankees -- distancing himself from Joe Torre, without diminishing the legacy of the most successful Yankees manager of the past 50 years. Talk about the need for political finesse: Girardi knew the clubhouse was full of Torre loyalists, all the way down to the equipment staff.

Yet in the first month of camp, the Bombers are buying what Girardi's been selling, including the blistering conditioning program, the emphasis on fundamentals and increased face time with the players. It's a stark change from the Torre reign, which operated loosely and on the honor system. The old Joe trusted his players; in turn they treated him with reverence. But that doesn't mean the Yankees weren't ready for change, especially in the midst of a seven-year championship drought.......

http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=130158

[nyjunc]

http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=130158

I hate seeing articles like that, what do people expect the players to say? Players always say great things about the new coach/Manager about how things are better and how they needed a change, blah, blah, blah. I think Girradi is going to be an excellent Manager but let's see what the players have to say in August.

[buffjills]

I hate seeing articles like that, what do people expect the players to say? Players always say great things about the new coach/Manager about how things are better and how they needed a change, blah, blah, blah. I think Girradi is going to be an excellent Manager but let's see what the players have to say in August.

Like everything else in the sports world, it will be driven by results.

If they're winning in August the quotes will sound about the same. If not, everyone will be bitching about Steinbrenner running Torre out of town.

Personally, win or lose, I'm still pissed that he managed to alienate Donnie Baseball.

[Merk]

By John Harper (NY Daily News)

TAMPA - If Joba Chamberlain is the box-office phenom, and Phil Hughes is the can't-miss kid, what does that make Ian Kennedy, the least heralded of the three young guns the Yankees are banking on this season?

Call him the thinking man's pitcher.

Expectations may not be nearly as high for Kennedy, but that's only because he doesn't make the radar gun crackle like the other two. Yet maybe he should be getting just as much hype because the more you watch him, the more you see how he can dominate even without the blazing fastball.

Last night, for example, he threw four scoreless innings against the Reds that had one scout in attendance likening at least one impressive sequence to the way Greg Maddux made pitching look easy in his prime.

Yes, Kennedy is the artist of the Yankee trio, dazzling hitters more with his ability to hit corners and change speeds than with high heat. Not that he's a soft-tosser - at 91-92 mph, his fastball has some pop - but he zoomed through the minors in his first professional season in 2007 because of his command of the fastball and a changeup that has Johan Santana-like qualities.

As such, Kennedy loves the cat-and-mouse game every hitter must play with someone like him - a pitcher who seemingly can throw any of four pitches for a strike whenever necessary.

"I don't know if I overthink some things at times," Kennedy said. "But I like that part of the game. I think it's a big part of pitching. It's like playing chess - you have to think a couple of moves ahead, a couple of pitches ahead, sometimes even a couple of at-bats ahead."

Kennedy thinks about such things, probably more than most pitchers. In his previous start, for example, he faced a 3-1 count against Twins slugger Delmon Young, and promptly challenged him with a fastball down the middle, which Young hammered for a home run. But there was more to the pitch than met the eye.

Afterward, Kennedy laughed and said he would text message "You're Welcome" to Young, with whom he once played on Team USA, but in truth he was setting him up for a big at-bat down the road, admitting later that he didn't want Young to see how he might pitch him in a similar situation during the season.

"It's rare and it's impressive for somebody in his second year in professional baseball," pitching coach Dave Eiland said of the Young example. "But it's part of why Ian is here so quick.

"It's always fun to watch a guy like that pitch. He can change speeds behind in the count, but he's not afraid to challenge hitters with his fastball behind in the count either. He's really unpredictable."

That unpredictability was on display last night in his four impressive innings, one in particular when he handcuffed the heart of the Reds' order with his full repertoire.

Facing Ken Griffey Jr., Kennedy got ahead with two called-strike fastballs on the outside corner, then jammed the legend with an inside fastball, producing a high bouncer down the first base line that Morgan Ensberg misplayed into a single - the only hit Kennedy allowed.

Kennedy then struck out both Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn swinging at 2-2 changeups, fooling both of them badly. Finally, he retired Edwin Encarnacion on three pitches, a first-pitch curveball for a called strike, a fastball away that was fouled off, and an inside fastball that broke Encarnacion's bat as he lined softly to third.

It was an inning that made one American League scout at the game last night nod in admiration and say: "That was a Greg Maddux inning."

It was the type of inning that has baseball people debating Kennedy's potential.

"A lot of people who have seen him think he's a No.3 starter at best in the American League because he doesn't have the big fastball," one AL executive said yesterday. "But I've heard a couple of scouts say they think he can be more than that because he has such great location with his fastball and he's got a great changeup."

Because he can hit the corners, Kennedy himself takes pride in being able to throw the fastball on any count, taking exception to the idea that he is strictly a finesse pitcher.

"I still strike people out with my fastball," he said emphatically. "You can't pitch backwards all the time. Sometimes you want to give the hitter what he wants, you just have to hit your location.

"And sometimes you know what they're looking for, and you give them something that looks like it ... only it's different."

Spoken like a thinking man's pitcher, all right. And perhaps more than No.3 in the young-gun pecking order when all is said and done.

[Merk]

Seriously D.Rasner and J.Karstens suck. I would just rather we drop them or trade them for anything then ever give them an opportunity to take a start or come out of the BP.

We keep giving the two endless opportunities and they continue to blow. Ohlendorf has looked way better than both and either he, Horne or Marquez better be the names I see on the starting sheet if we need to fill in a starter because of injury

Had to throw that in because I hear one of the two might make the major league roster

[Merk]

It was not the best way to pave a path to the major leagues. It was painful, and purely accidental. But when Scott Patterson jammed his right middle finger in a door three years ago, it turned his career around.

Patterson, a 6-foot-6 right-hander with a herky-jerky motion, said he did not have enough polished pitches to thrive as a starter. But when his swollen finger forced him to the bullpen, he concentrated on his fastball and his slow curveball, which he says he has always thrown for strikes.

After posting a 1.09 E.R.A. in 43 games at Trenton, Patterson was promoted to Class AAA and pitched once in the playoffs. In the Venezuelan winter league, he did not allow a run or a walk in his first 13 appearances.

“He’s made enough of an impression that we think he’ll help us at some point this season,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “We don’t know where he’ll start, but he’s still here.”

Patterson has been summoned four times this spring training, usually in the middle of an early inning, before the regulars had been taken from the opposing lineup. In six games, he has allowed no runs or walks in six innings, and opposing hitters are 1 for 18.

In the Yankees’ 7-6 victory against Cleveland on Sunday, Patterson took over for Chien-Ming Wang with one out in the fifth. He got Victor Martínez to bounce into an inning-ending double play, then worked a 1-2-3 sixth.

“All he’s done is get everybody out,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s been pretty unbelievable. He’s gotten us out of jam after jam. He has a chance.”

Ian Kennedy even calls Patterson's fastball "the InvisiBall" because "nobody can hit it".

Mediocre as a starter, Patterson has been remarkable in relief. In 70 minor league games in the Yankees organization, all but one at Class AA Trenton, he was 4-3 with a 1.47 earned run average and 136 strikeouts in 116 innings.

When it comes to where Patterson will start the season he replies, “People ask me all the time, ‘Do you think you’re going to make it?"

“I tell them I’ll get the guys out. And if the Yankees want me, they want me.”

For years, no major league team wanted Scott Patterson. Two weeks before opening day, will the New York Yankees?


http://bronxstop.blogspot.com/2008/03/hawkins-farnsworth-riverapatterson.html

[Merk]

1 more day!

[Papaduke]

I need a good Yankee season to make me forget this crappy Sabre season

[Merk]

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte allowed one hit over six scoreless innings in a minor league game Sunday.
Pettitte struck out six and walked one.

"I threw 77 pitches, and that's what I needed," Pettitte said. "It's exactly what I wanted to do."

Originally slated to start the Yankees' second game of the regular season, Pettitte has been slowed by back spasms and is scheduled to make his first start Saturday against Tampa Bay. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, retroactive to March 21.

"I feel great," Pettitte said. "Everything felt good today. Got a lot of work in. Did I have to get to 77 pitches today because I'm a little short and behind everybody? Yeah. I'm ready for my start and just looking forward to continuing to build my strength up.".....


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3320956

[Blofan4life]

I know this was brought up earlier in the thread but now that the season is within 24 hours, whats the rotation for the pitchers for the season if everyone is healthy, anyone know. This is what I think!
Wang
Mussina
Pettite
Hughes
Kennedy

[Merk]

I know this was brought up earlier in the thread but now that the season is within 24 hours, whats the rotation for the pitchers for the season if everyone is healthy, anyone know. This is what I think!
Wang
Mussina
Pettite
Hughes
Kennedy

If everyone was healthy this is the way the rotation would have come out

Wang
Andy
Hughes
Mussina
Kennedy

W/ Andys injury though his start got pushed back til Sat

[Bills-RHRN]

Pavano once he's healthy?


Pavano on 60 Day DL as of last week.

What a faulking joke man... this guy is such a scrub.

Anyway, :rockon: here's to opening day today vs the Jays!!!

[Blofan4life]

Anyway, here's to opening day today vs the Jays!!!
God Damn rain, took a half day so I could be home at one to watch the first pitch and it is now 2:30 and it still hasn't started. I hate the mother nature!!

[LaxBandit]

Damn, Yankees-Blue Jays game has been postponed due to rain - will be now played on Tuesday starting at 7:05 pm ET. Great, all that switching days at work with people so I could get today off went for nothing.

LB...

[FamousAmos]

Wang for the win!

[bozman949]

"Rooting for the Yankees is like going to a casino and rooting for the house." -Doug Stanhope

Go Jays!

[Sabres244]

"Rooting for the Yankees is like going to a casino and rooting for the house." -Doug Stanhope

Go Jays!

Rooting against the Yankees is like rooting against America.

Scumbag.

[bozman949]

Rooting against the Yankees is like rooting against America.

Scumbag.

It's American to root for the underdog!

Deutchbag!

[Callaway]

I'm in the area its great weather outside right now. I'll be watching the game till the Angels come on

[CoachC.]

I'm going to try and be a little more active in the Yanks thread this year. With the disappointment of the Bills, Sabres, and Syracuse basketball seasons I've gone through, it will be a good way to keep me from going insane.

See you guys here.

GO YANKS!

[CoachC.]

I love Joe, but I'm so glad they made the move they made to bring in Girardi. It was basically a choice: keep Torre for another year and lose Girardi to another team....or lose Torre now and have Girardi for the next (hopefully) decade. Easy choice in my opinion, although tough to do emotionally.

Watching tonight's game, this team will play different this year, and in a good way. I love the aggressiveness on the bases. They also seem to have a bit of an edge to them. I think that will only continue and even grow as Girardi's fire rubs off on them.

I also like the fact that Girardi himself came out to talk to Wang without relieving him. Managers typically don't do that (especially early in the season), but it shows that Girardi is in charge and will take accountability for this team and the decisions made.

Great defense by Giambi and A-Rod in the 7th.

[smashingt2312]

Very good game to watch tonight, props to the pitching staff.

[nyjunc]

Nice opener, Wang wasn't at his best but it's important Pettitte, Wang and Mussina give us as many innings as possible as the 2 young guys will not be able to go deep into games too often so Wang going 7 is a perfect outing and it was nice to win the last home opener at the current Stadium.

It just didn't sound the same w/o Bob Sheppard. Bob has missed games over the past decade but Opening Day/Night is different. It didn't sound like Yankee Stadium w/ the backup PA announcer introducing the lineups. Hopefully Bob can get healthy but he's pushing 100 so I don't know if we will ever hear him again.

[Merk]

Excellent game last night. I feel lucky to have been in attendance

Like Junc said Wang didnt have his best stuff but he was able to adjust. I havent watched the game on TV yet but I looked liked he mixed his pitches well tonight not just relying on the sinker and fastball

Joba has def hit folk hero status. The stadium shook when he came out and then when he struck out Thomas to end the 8th it went nuts again

[nyjunc]

I love Joba, we all do, but I can live w/o the crazy celebration after every inning ending out.

[Bills-RHRN]

I love Joba, we all do, but I can live w/o the crazy celebration after every inning ending out.

no way man, don't try to drown that fire. I love his intensity, i love that he gets that into geting 3 outs....

right now that is his job, get 3 outs every game, give up no runs. when he does it, IMO, he has every right to celebrate...

it pumps him and his confidence up, it pumps up the stadium, and it probably pumps up his teammates.

I love the intensity he brings, its something to be commended not frowned on.

[CoachC.]

Nice to see A-Rod hit his first bomb of '08, but a win would have been even better.

Defense wasn't very good tonight.

I have a feeling Abreu is going to have a monster year. He's in his contract year, so I'm sure he'd love to, as well.

[slowpokemcgee]

How'd Mussina look? These next 5 starts will be some of the most important of his career. If Mussina's lost his touch and someone in AAA starts off hot, say Kei Igawa possibly, could we see Mussina sent to the bullpen? Would Girardi do it? Would Mike retire?

[nyjunc]

no way man, don't try to drown that fire. I love his intensity, i love that he gets that into geting 3 outs....

right now that is his job, get 3 outs every game, give up no runs. when he does it, IMO, he has every right to celebrate...

it pumps him and his confidence up, it pumps up the stadium, and it probably pumps up his teammates.

I love the intensity he brings, its something to be commended not frowned on.

I think he goes overboard, it was the first game of the year. Save that for a truly big situation. I love the way Mariano is always so in control, I wish all players were like that but this generation is all about the fist pumps and yelling and screaming after an inning ending out.

[Merk]

Joe G better have a shorter leash w/ Mussina than Torre did.

I'm willing to give him till about mid may to get his head out of his ass then its time to start looking to the minors, namely Alan Horne

The only hope I have for Mussina is that its a contract year and that he wants to prove he's not as crappy as he showed last year

[buffjills]

I think he goes overboard, it was the first game of the year. Save that for a truly big situation. I love the way Mariano is always so in control, I wish all players were like that but this generation is all about the fist pumps and yelling and screaming after an inning ending out.


It was his first opening day in the majors and the last opener in Yankee Stadium. I think it's reasonable for the kid to be pumped up.

[Merk]

Excellent match up of young pitchers tonight


Looking fwd to Hughes tonight, hopefully he comes through

[Merk]

Excellent duel through 3

[Merk]

Pretty good start for Hughes and a nice save for Mo

[Merk]

On a side note Igawa pitched six perfect innings tonight in AAA

[Sabres244]

Wonderful game. Bullpen looks steady. Bats need to be better, that will come though.

[nyjunc]

It was his first opening day in the majors and the last opener in Yankee Stadium. I think it's reasonable for the kid to be pumped up.

He wasn't thinking about that being the last home opener in the current Yankee Stadium. he's emotional which I have no problem w/ I just prefer the mariano approach.


Great opening series for the Yanks, the bats are a little cold(and ARod is looking like October ARod) but they faced good pitching and it was cold. The pitching was very good for the most part and taking 2 of 3 against the SPs the Yanks faced the last 3 games is a good sign.

[Wing Eater]

OK, I've got to get something off my chest. I HATE Mussina! I hated the trade with Baltimore to get him, I hated him resigning, and I hate that they didn't trade this overpaid, overrated, waste of a pitcher. The only time I can remember being happy with him is when he relieved Clemens in game 7 against the Red Sox with the bases loaded and no outs and got out of the inning without letting any runners score. I love the youth movement that Yanks are going with, I just wish Moose was one of the guys they showed the door.


Go Yanks!

[Bills-RHRN]

I think he goes overboard, it was the first game of the year. Save that for a truly big situation. I love the way Mariano is always so in control, I wish all players were like that but this generation is all about the fist pumps and yelling and screaming after an inning ending out.

Right, I see your logic here, it makes sense...

I guess what you have to wonder is, if he gets that worked up when things go well, will get as worked up (in a negative way) when things don't go well??

Personally I like the fire, and you have to figure too that it was his first appearance of the year, so he had to have a lot of butterflies in the stomach...it had to feel good to get the inning ending strike-out, get out of the inning, and start the year off right...

[Merk]

OK, I've got to get something off my chest. I HATE Mussina! I hated the trade with Baltimore to get him, I hated him resigning, and I hate that they didn't trade this overpaid, overrated, waste of a pitcher. The only time I can remember being happy with him is when he relieved Clemens in game 7 against the Red Sox with the bases loaded and no outs and got out of the inning without letting any runners score. I love the youth movement that Yanks are going with, I just wish Moose was one of the guys they showed the door.


Go Yanks!

We didnt trade to get him


The other highlight is the reason why we could never trade him


This is def his last year in the bronx and it's about 4 years overdue. If he's smart he'll end his career in the NL

[Merk]

Couple tough losses

The good news is we are finding out a lot about our BP and who we can count on and who we cant and thats really what you want to do over these first 25 games.

That said the Yankees should stop kidding themselves and just do away w/ L.Hawkins now. It was a stupid signing we all know it was stupid just dump him anyway you can and be done w/ it. I'd rather have Ohlendorf pitch any innings that Hawkins would have

[voicekiller]

Nice game tonight for Bobby and Moose...i hope Jeets is ok and not out too long...I am looking forward to seeing Ian pitch again...hopefully he has a good outing to get rid of the memory of his first.

[Merk]

After the way those first two games went I'm happy w/ the Split

[Merk]

The strike zone is ridicules today

Hughes is losing some calls but Bannister has had two belt high pitches get called high.

[voicekiller]

The strike zone is ridicules today

Hughes is losing some calls but Bannister has had two belt high pitches get called high.
Ya the Umps seem to be on the side of the Royals today...I feel bad for Hughes...i hate blaming umps but this ump has 2 different strike zones its ridiculous...

[Gibby]

Great Day for Baseball today

[Merk]

Got to admit interesting move scratching Ian because Joe G is expecting a rain out and didnt want to waste Ian's start

[Merk]

Great Day for Baseball today


Elaborate

[voicekiller]

Looks like Ian will pitch this inning

[voicekiller]

looks like he isn't doing very well either

[LaxBandit]

Elaborate

Gibby is a Kansas City Royals fan so the Yankees losing to his team would be a great day for baseball IHO.

LB...

[Gibby]

Gibby is a Kansas City Royals fan so the Yankees losing to his team would be a great day for baseball IHO.

LB...

Correct LB, and yes it was another outstanding night for Royals baseball. Come on Yankees you are making it look easy for us.

[Merk]

Excellent Win last night

Wang threw a gem

[voicekiller]

Yes can we please put to bed the notion that Wang is not an ace

[Merk]

The Randy Johnson trade is starting to look excellent

Ohlendorf is looking like he's got a good future

Alberto Gonzalez is looking like he is much more of a player than the scouting reports gave him credit for.

Persoinally I like to keep AG up here as the utility IF'er and try and move/trade Betemit who I've never really liked

Plus I'm not saying it should happen this year but some convos should start about moving Jeter to 1B. W/ Giambi not coming back next year we are going to have a hole there and if AG can prove that he can hold down the SS position from the plate, his D is already there, we should consider it because I think Jeter would make a good 1B. I'm sure the Yankees first option is to replace Giambi's contract w/ a Mark Teixeira one but lets face it if he hits the market there will be a lot of teams in on him

[phishhead220]

Yes can we please put to bed the notion that Wang is not an ace

I agree. Even when he didn't get his usual ground ball outs, he was dominant.

[BigPapi]

Yes can we please put to bed the notion that Wang is not an ace


He has been a rock in that rotation but I think the NY thinking would be aces are made in October. Although you can't really argue with 19 wins each of the last 2 seasons.

[BigPapi]

The Randy Johnson trade is starting to look excellent

Ohlendorf is looking like he's got a good future

Alberto Gonzalez is looking like he is much more of a player than the scouting reports gave him credit for.

Persoinally I like to keep AG up here as the utility IF'er and try and move/trade Betemit who I've never really liked

Plus I'm not saying it should happen this year but some convos should start about moving Jeter to 1B. W/ Giambi not coming back next year we are going to have a hole there and if AG can prove that he can hold down the SS position from the plate, his D is already there, we should consider it because I think Jeter would make a good 1B. I'm sure the Yankees first option is to replace Giambi's contract w/ a Mark Teixeira one but lets face it if he hits the market there will be a lot of teams in on him

I think the Yanks could have got a loaf of bread and a bottle of cheap wine and the trade would still have been a good deal but the D-Backs love them some Old Red Ass!!

[Merk]

Joba heads home with father in critical condition, will miss at least three games

NEW YORK -- Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain has left the team after his father collapsed at his home in Lincoln, Neb.

Harlan Chamberlain was hospitalized Monday at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. Hospital spokeswoman Jo Miller said the family requested that no further information be released. He was in critical condition, according to a nursing supervisor.

The New York Daily News first reported the story Monday on its Web site.

Joba Chamberlain will miss at least the next three games since the Yankees put him on the major league bereavement list.

New York plays Monday and Tuesday in Tampa against the Rays and then hosts the Red Sox on Wednesday and Thursday in the Bronx.

Pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take Joba Chamberlain's place on the Yankees roster.


Joba Chamberlain's sister called the Yankees during the eighth inning of New York's 8-5 loss at Boston on Sunday night. The newspaper said the reliever spoke with his sister after the game and broke into tears, and manager Joe Girardi tried to console him.

Harlan Chamberlain had polio when he was 9 months old and uses a motorized scooter. He is deaf in one ear and without full use of his left arm.

Harlan Chamberlain raised Joba as a single dad. He attended New York's season opener earlier this month, and was at last week's series in Kansas City.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3346151

[Orange Nation]

My prayers are with Joba and his family.

[Merk]

Solid outing by Ian

Our Middle relief really needs to be figured out

The Big Show Cano comes up big

[Merk]

Good win tonight

The bats came alive and Hawkins and Bruney pitched well

[voicekiller]

Crazy night last night...

[chickie]

Great win last night! It is just the beginning but I am praying for a good year. The Yanks need it, and so do we. :)

[Merk]

New Yankee rule: Mussina is not allowed to pitch to the Red Sox

[Wing Eater]

I will offer a sacrifice to the baseball gods once Mussina is off the Yanks roster...I ****ing hate that mother ****er...he is terrible!!!

[voicekiller]

I wish Cash and co. would see that Moose is not the answer, every time he pitches it makes me cringe...do i always need to feel like every time he pitches we are going to lose?...we need to move him to the pen for long relief and get another starting pitcher, and do not...i repeat do not move Joba out of the pen

[Bay Side]

Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner made it clear Sunday that he'd like to see Joba Chamberlain in the rotation as soon as possible.

"I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," Steinbrenner told the New York Times. "There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that." Steinbrenner didn't get his way when it came to Johan Santana. It remains to be seen whether things will turn out any differently now. The supposed plan is for Chamberlain to go into the rotation around midseason, but many think he'll simply be left in the pen all year.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&hl=234950&id=4518

[Wing Eater]

"I think once Hughes and Kennedy get plenty of starts and we get Joba back, and with [Chien-Ming] Wang and [Andy] Pettitte, we will be fine," Steinbrenner told The Times.


I see Steinbrenner and I are on the same page...dump Mussina

[Orange Nation]

Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner made it clear Sunday that he'd like to see Joba Chamberlain in the rotation as soon as possible.

"I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now," Steinbrenner told the New York Times. "There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy. You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that." Steinbrenner didn't get his way when it came to Johan Santana. It remains to be seen whether things will turn out any differently now. The supposed plan is for Chamberlain to go into the rotation around midseason, but many think he'll simply be left in the pen all year.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&hl=234950&id=4518

Does Hank know that he won't be throwing 100 mph as a starter for 7 innings? Not to mention he won't pitch over 150 inning this year...

Let's keep in mind we're only 20 games in, Hank.

But basically, from what Hank's saying, anybody who can throw in the high 90s should be a starter? That's news to me. Joba's very good, but there is exactly zero guarantee that he will come in and stabilize the rotation, whereas it's known that he is dominant in his bullpen role. Say Chamberlain struggles or has stamina issues, while the bullpen is imploding and losing games for them, does he backtrack? Does he realize that without Joba, his setup arms behind Rivera will be Brian Bruney, followed by Farnsworth, LaTroy Hawkins and Billy Traber?

I love how Hank is not so subtly already throwing Cashman under the bus in this interview. Basically he's saying that the current problems aren't of his own making and that Cashman has made mistakes that you would have to be an idiot to make.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3356490

[Bay Side]

So basically He wants Joba to start and that solves the rest of the rotation problems??

[Orange Nation]

I can't begin to tell you how much I love this guy. They need to start a reality show based on the daily comings and goings of Hank. Hanktv........this needs to happen.

And now Hanks tries to soften his rant.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/yankees_hank_steinbrenner_misu.html

The man is simply incapable of talking to the press without saying something to piss someone off. In his "retracting" interview he dropped this in the middle of a bunch of quotes reassuring everyone that he's going to listen to his best baseball people:

"It's definitely what I want, and in the end that's what matters.

So, while there are statements on either side of this saying he's on board with the plan, apparently what he wants is all that matters, i love it.

[Merk]

Does Hank know that he won't be throwing 100 mph as a starter for 7 innings? Not to mention he won't pitch over 150 inning this year...

Let's keep in mind we're only 20 games in, Hank.

But basically, from what Hank's saying, anybody who can throw in the high 90s should be a starter? That's news to me. Joba's very good, but there is exactly zero guarantee that he will come in and stabilize the rotation, whereas it's known that he is dominant in his bullpen role. Say Chamberlain struggles or has stamina issues, while the bullpen is imploding and losing games for them, does he backtrack? Does he realize that without Joba, his setup arms behind Rivera will be Brian Bruney, followed by Farnsworth, LaTroy Hawkins and Billy Traber?

I love how Hank is not so subtly already throwing Cashman under the bus in this interview. Basically he's saying that the current problems aren't of his own making and that Cashman has made mistakes that you would have to be an idiot to make.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3356490


The idea is to move Joba to a starter and then bring up Horne and Marquez to man the 7th and 8th

[nyjunc]

Joba will be in the pen all year and should be. I am concerned about Hughes and kennedy but I am not worried yet. I think both will be fine and we are right there even w/ the struggles of those guys. It's way too early to start making drastic moves.

[Bay Side]

Yanks will be fine.....They always are!

[Merk]

Joba will be in the pen all year and should be. I am concerned about Hughes and kennedy but I am not worried yet. I think both will be fine and we are right there even w/ the struggles of those guys. It's way too early to start making drastic moves.


I agree, right now they are just going through what every young pitchers goes through and thats learning to trust there stuff

I can live w/ the HR's there going to give up but the walks have to come down along w/ the 3-2 and 3-1 counts. They need to know there stuff is good enough to throw more strikes and in your first year your bound to give up some hr's but at least give yourself a chance by getting to 1-2 counts or at least 2-2

[Merk]

You know your swinging the bats well when both Giambi and Abreu hit HR's to LF

[Merk]

I'd love to get a good start out of Hughes tonight and i'm not gonna lie a series sweep would be nice heading into a tough 4 game series w/ the Tribe

[nyjunc]

Tough loss w/ Joba getting his first L in the Majors. Hughes was pitching well through 2 before a rain delay forced him out. Hopefully he can build on his good, short outing.

[Merk]

Tough loss w/ Joba getting his first L in the Majors. Hughes was pitching well through 2 before a rain delay forced him out. Hopefully he can build on his good, short outing.


Yea he was looking sharp, that rain delay really f' ed us

[phishhead220]

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[Bay Side]

Thats shit was too funny!!

[Merk]

NEW YORK -- Phil Hughes has a stress fracture in one of his ribs, and the New York Yankees' pitcher is expected to be sidelined until at least July.


Hughes
Hughes, placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, had an MRI exam that revealed the stress fracture in the ninth rib on his right side. He will be shut down for four weeks and then re-evaluated. General manager Brian Cashman said the team probably can't expect the 21-year-old right-hander to return before July.

Hughes is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3377441

[nyjunc]

That at least helps explain some of Hughes' problems. Hopefully he can get healthy and be ready to contribute for the 2nd half. It's still way too early to panic about this season but I can live w/ not making the playoffs as long as the young pitchers develop this season and he'll have the 2nd half to do so and hopefully Kennedy gets it going as well.

[Merk]

Good sweep this past weekend

We need a solid series against the tribe over the next 3 days

On a side note if you were to tell me back in March that Melky would be leading the Yankees in HR's on Cinco De Mayo I would have laughed

[nyjunc]

Outside of that Tiger series the Yankees have ben playing pretty well for a couple of weeks now. They need to keep it up, win each series. Andy needs to get back on track tonight and we have our best 3 pitchers pitching in this series so there isn't an excuse why we shouldn't take 2 of 3.

[Merk]

Well I'm back from my post draft hiatus, couple things

Good game by Ian last night. He looks like he trusted his stuff more and I hope it finally clicks for him that thats what he has to do

Joba to the rotation is fine w/ me. There are reports he wants to be a starter. I dont agree however w/ how there stretching him out. I really question how effective stretching him out is going to work in the majors. I mean are they going to do a lot of BP sessions for the next month?

Are age is finally catching up to us on offense and I already said it before but I think some serious consideration needs to be put into moving Jeter to 1st next year. He's lost a little range a SS but for first he would still have great range

[nyjunc]

I'd rather Joba stay in the pen for this year BUT he wants to start and they want him to start so hopefully it works out.

Hopefully last night gets Kennedy some confidence and he starts pitching well on a regular basis.

[Merk]

Nice offensive explosion last night

[Merk]

Nice comeback yesterday

Joba is scheduled to pitch 55 next Wed

[Bay Side]

Yankees players second-guess Joba
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/52850

Don't think Joba Chamberlain's move to the rotation isn't being second-guessed in the Yankee clubhouse. Not that anyone doubts he has the goods to be a No. 1 starter. The argument is where he helps the Yankees most right now, and I get the impression that if players voted by secret ballot, there would be a strong majority to send him back to the bullpen. Johnny Damon didn't come right out and say he opposed the move, as he spoke before Wednesday night's 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays. But he made it clear that he feels the Yankees had a better chance to succeed with Joba and Mariano Rivera teaming to lock down games in the late innings.

[nyjunc]

They aren't second guessing Joba, they know Joba is a great reliever and will be a big time starter. They are second guessing the move to the rotation since they are weakening another position w/ this move.

[buffjills]

They aren't second guessing Joba, they know Joba is a great reliever and will be a big time starter. They are second guessing the move to the rotation since they are weakening another position w/ this move.


Actually, I'm pretty sure they're second guessing Farnsworth and who could blame them.

[Merk]

Heres the scouting report on the Yankees first rounder

Gerrit Cole

Summary: (Watch scouting video) Cole is a strongly built right-handed pitcher with the best arm among prep players in this draft. His fastball is electric, with a four-seamer at 96-97 mph and a two-seamer with good tail at 93-95 mph. His arm is loose and unbelievably quick. His delivery isn't smooth, however: His arm action is long and he gets his elbow up a little too high in the back. His breaking ball is a sharp curve with slider-like tilt, but it's inconsistent and he doesn't use it that often in games, pitching mostly off his fastball. Cole also has a changeup with good fading action that he tries to guide out of his hand. Makeup concerns surfaced after he chose Scott Boras as his advisor, but weren't a factor prior to last autumn. Stuff this good wouldn't get out of the top 10 picks if Cole was signable for slot, but the Boras connection and Cole's commitment to UCLA will see him fall to a team willing to pay top dollar for a top arm.


http://insider.espn.go.com/mlbdraft/player?id=18739&draftyear=2008

[Merk]

Our 2nd rounder is Joe Bittle from Ole Miss

I really dont know much about him but I went to an Ole Miss sports board and found some interesting stuff

-He's a reliever
-Fastball tops out at about 92
-He had 130 K's in 70 innings which is pretty impressive
-His best pitch is his cutter
-The most interesting thing about him though is he has this pitch that they call "The Thing" I saw some video of him pitching and it looks like a cross between a change up and a slider. I'll try and find the link later but he gets a lot of swing for misses on it

[Merk]

Big Blow today

I really dont expect to see Wang till the end of Sept or at all for the rest of the year

I think in the short term Dan Giese will take Wang's starts until the FO can figure out what they want to do

[nyjunc]

Just as Wang, Pettitte and Joba were starting to get it going. It is an awful break but one they can overcome if Mussina keeps pitching well, if Andy pitches like he did his last start and if Joba keeps progressing. The lineup is healthy so it should be able to carry the pitching on some bad nights and I still expect Hughes to be a factor when he comes back.

[Merk]

Well that didnt take long

According to an interview I heard today w/ J.Heyman the Yanks have already begun sniffing around CC Sabathia

Not a real big fan of his. If we are going the trade route I'd rather look around Bedard who is said to might be available

[nyjunc]

Well that didnt take long

According to an interview I heard today w/ J.Heyman the Yanks have already begun sniffing around CC Sabathia

Not a real big fan of his. If we are going the trade route I'd rather look around Bedard who is said to might be available

They can sniff all they want, Cashman is just doing his job looking into it BUT if they deal major prospects for Sabathia I'll be upset. There is no need to panic, I'd rather take a playoff-less '08 than give away the future for a guy who isn't a big game pitcher.

[Merk]

I think I've seen this movie before

Yankees sign former Rangers right-hander Ponson

NEW YORK -- Adding depth to their injury-riddled pitching staff, the New York Yankees re-signed troubled right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract Wednesday.


Ponson
With a history of off-the-field problems, Ponson was released Monday by the pitching-starved Texas Rangers for being a disruption to the team. He performed well on the mound, however, going 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA.

In other news, Hideki Matsui was out of the Yankees' starting lineup Wednesday night against San Diego because of a swollen left knee.

Matsui was to be examined by a doctor and have fluid drained from the knee, general manager Brian Cashman said before the game. The designated hitter and part-time left fielder had surgery on his other knee last offseason.

"Last year was much more painful," Matsui said through a translator.

Texas designated Ponson for assignment June 6, cutting him loose "for disrespecting teammates and club personnel," general manager Jon Daniels said.

Ponson, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2006, will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and could be called up to the majors to start one game of New York's two-ballpark doubleheader against the Mets next Friday, Cashman said.

"He's coming into Scranton not to help us in the International League, he's coming in to try to pitch his way into the big leagues," Cashman said. "I think it's just an obvious move."

The Yankees are missing ace Chien-Ming Wang as well as young starters Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy due to injuries.

"If I can continue to build up some inventory on an incremental basis, that's what I need to do, I think," Cashman said.

Ponson started June 4 for Texas against Cleveland on three days' rest for the first time in his 11-year career, and reacted angrily when he was removed from the game after four innings.

Ponson allowed six runs, four of them unearned because of three errors by his teammates, further fueling his anger. The Indians went on to a 15-9 victory.

He was scheduled to sit for six days before his next start, which also upset him, and Rangers manager Ron Washington said Ponson came to his office to "let me know about his displeasure."

One report said Ponson had been put on notice by Texas officials after creating a disturbance at a hotel bar in Florida during a road trip. He had been informed that no other problems would be tolerated.

Ponson has had several other problems as well, including two DUI arrests from 2004-05.

Cashman said he spoke with Ponson and others about the pitcher's behavior with the Rangers.

"Hopefully, whatever happened in Texas stays in Texas," Cashman said. "When Sidney was here for a short period of time, he was fine."

The Yankees also claimed right-hander Oneli Perez off waivers from the Indians and optioned him to Double-A Trenton. The 24-year-old Perez had been pitching in Triple-A this season for Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox.

To make room for Perez on the 40-man roster, the Yankees transferred right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo (elbow) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.

Cashman joked about the acquisition of Perez because many expect the Yankees to pursue a trade for Indians ace C.C. Sabathia, last year's AL Cy Young Award winner.

"I got a pitcher from Cleveland, like you guys have all been expecting, and we've optioned him to Trenton," Cashman said. "Now we can put the Cleveland rumors to bed."

http://www.buffalorange.com/showthread.php?t=130158&page=5

[keyron79]

Ponson is not going to help.The guys a bum.

Joba pitched good today we need more of that! Would of been nice to see him get more run support but a win is a win and the Yankees can take a win anyway they can right now!

[nyjunc]

Ponson is only here to make a start or 2 if that.

[Merk]

Dropping Carl Pavano into the Yankees clubhouse might prove to be too much of a challenge, but there is a chance the "American Idle" could be ready to pitch before Phil Hughes.
"I haven't asked, but it's possible," GM Brian Cashman said last night. "Pavano should be ready by August and Hughes in August."
Considering Pavano, who is trying to rebound from last year's Tommy John surgery, is throwing curveballs off a mound and Hughes (fractured rib) isn't even on a mound, Pavano would be considered ahead of Hughes.
"The rehabs are different," Cashman said. "Phil Hughes will start throwing from flat ground, but it won't be as long (as Pavano's)."
Pavano is in the fourth and final year of a $40 million contract that has been dominated by injuries that have limited him to 19 games and teammates not believing he was as hurt as he said he was at times. Pavano appeared in two games at the start of last year and hasn't pitched since.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06242008/sports/yankees/pavano_may_return_before_phil_116865.htm

I cant even imagine the reaction at the stadium if Pavano takes the mound.

Now that its his final year watch him pitch lights out and fuel us to the playoffs :rolleyes:

[nyjunc]

The Yanks have paid him for 3+ years to do virtually nothing, if they can get anything out of him to help the team down the stretch that would be great. He had some success out of the pen for the '03 Marlins in postseason, maybe he can contribute for us out of the pen?

[Merk]

-Joba was excellent last night

-Theres a rumor gaining steam that the Yankees are after Roy Oswalt. The Astros asked for Cano back. Now I like Oswalt more than most and think he would be a great addition even though he is having a down year. That said I'm not willing to give up Cano for him

[Bay Side]

-Joba was excellent last night

-Theres a rumor gaining steam that the Yankees are after Roy Oswalt. The Astros asked for Cano back. Now I like Oswalt more than most and think he would be a great addition even though he is having a down year. That said I'm not willing to give up Cano for him

Is there ever a rumor that the Yankee's are not involved in??

[nyjunc]

I hate Sunday Night games, for the first time in forvere I am completely free on a Sunday afternoon and the damn game is at 8PM so I can fall asleep in the middle of it.