Open Thread: In which we harp on Swisher vs. Nady one more time

by 184 Comments

Melky on the block
Sheppard set for April 3 return

Joe Girardi‘s proclamation of Xavier Nady as starting right fielder earlier this week was a bit of a disappointment. Yet at the same time, as we’ve all noted over the past month, this “competition” will continue throughout the season. Once one hits a slump, chances are the other will start to get the majority of the at bats. While the RAB Triumvirate advocated Swisher, it’s not worth crying over.

You might remember an article from earlier this month, via Beyond the Boxscore, in which we presented Sky Kalkman’s analysis showing that Nick Swisher is the clear choice for right fielder. The analysis wasn’t without flaw; it was based mostly on CHONE projections, which are weighted in Swisher’s favor (not all projection systems rate him equally). Today he’s back up to it again, breaking down the players by offense and defense. It’s pretty tame compared to the last analysis, though it comes to the same conclusion.

Also interesting is how out of line 2008 was for each player. Sky uses wRAA, but we’ll just go with wOBA. After wOBAs of .336 and .346 in 2006 and 2007, Nady skyrocketed to .374 last year. Thankfully, that’s part of a consistently upward trend. Even if he regresses a bit, to say .365, it would be high-quality season. For Swisher it was a dip from .368 and .361 to .325. Yes, that’s a consistently downward trend, but .368 to .361 is hardly significant.

On the defensive end we’re learning nothing really new. Swisher has been fairly average, leaning towards slightly above, over the past three years. Nady’s UZR has been consistently negative throughout his career, but it doesn’t appear cripplingly so. Swisher also gets bonus points for logging over 1,000 career innings in CF, while Nady has just 45 at the most demanding outfield position.

This is just some information to chew on as we kick off the open thread. Yes, I still think Swisher should start, but I’m not worried because he’ll have the chance to prove his case once the games count. If Nady doesn’t get off to a hot start, you can figure to start seeing Swisher in right field five days a week by mid-April. If Nady gets off to a hot start, all the better for the team.

Before you guys have at it, we’d like to take just a second to mention the passing of former Yankee Johnny Blanchard. He was the backup backstop for the Yanks from 1959 to 1965, and hit quite well in the postseason. He was 76.

email
Melky on the block
Sheppard set for April 3 return
  • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

    I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!

    • Thomas

      LOUD NOISES!!!!!

      • Steve H

        Damn, you beat me to it, but we even used the same # of exclamation points. Impressive.

        • Thomas

          Second person I beat today, both in response to TSJC.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

            That sounds dirtier than it really is.

    • Steve H

      LOUD NOISES!!!!!

  • andrew

    Can somebody explain to me why certain pitchers, like Pettitte today, pitch in minor league games instead of the ST games? Is it just simply because they need to get regular work in and there aren’t enough ST games to do that in?

    • Andy In Sunny Daytona

      You answered your own question. Simple.

      • andrew

        I guess my follow up question would be, which is what really got me wondering, was a few days about when there was a spring training game and a minor league game on the same day, and Sabathia pitching in the MiL game.

        • random

          To avoid traveling.

          • andrew

            Lazy dominicans…

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

              You, sir, have besmirched Andy Pettitte’s reputation. I will not stand idly by and watch you spit on the legacy of a member of the Four Rings Club®©™.

              Take that back.

            • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

              His real name is Andruw Petito and he’s actually 48 years old.

              • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                That would make sense.

                There’s no way a good, clean, Texas boy would ever do HgH.

                (Now, if I can just find a way to prove that Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire are actually black guys, we’ll be set.)

                • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

                  You mean they’re NOT?

                • Jack

                  (Garry Sheffield)

                  Not all the way.

                  (/Gary Sheffield)

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Aaaaaaaahhhhh… They don’t have to be black, just HALF black. That makes it so much easier.

                  Thank you, Jack and Gary Sheffield!

                • Jack

                  We give because we love.

                • http://www.supertangas.com The man with 33 fingers

                  Roger is from Ohio….does that make it cool?

    • whozat

      It is also the case that teams often try to keep their MLB starting pitchers from facing in-division opponents late in spring training. Not always, but sometimes.

      And, also, established big-leaguers try to avoid the long-ass bus trips if at all possible.

  • Thomas

    Fantasy, 12 teams, 5×5 scoring

    I was offered

    Giambi and Hamels

    For

    Nelson Cruz and Brandon Webb

    Right now my utility/bench is Cruz, Chris Young, and Beltre.

    Should I do it?

    • http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.

      Keep Webb and Cruz. Giambi and Hamels are both injury risks.

      • Thomas

        That’s what I was thinking.
        Also, what exactly is going on with the RAB fantasy league?
        Thanks

        • andrew

          The RABAL is up and running, i dont know about the other.

  • random

    Lets say Damon is rested once a week, Nady rested once a week and Damon plays center once a week (Swish in LF).

    None of those are unreasonable but this gives Swisher a decent chunk of playing time at least. If he DH’s once every two weeks he is playing half the games (also more than reasonable, Posada can’t DH everytime Matsui rests because that severely impacts the lineup).

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      Sounds good to me.

      That’s:
      2 games in LF, 1 game in RF, and half a game at DH every week = 3.5 games per week
      4.7 plate appearances per game x 3.5 games per week = 16.45 plate appearances per week
      23.1 weeks in the season (162/7) * 16.45 plate appearances per week = 379.9 plate appearances

      And yes, Swisher with 379.9 plate appearances makes him more critical to our 2009 success than the 300 or so total batters faced by Mariano Rivera.

      BAM! THAT JUST HAPPENED.

      • random

        380 plate appearences + 30 or so when Tex rests his 6-7 games + HUGE insurance for injury/Nady ineffectiveness.

        Everyones going to get their ABs.

        • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

          Throw in another 20-30 PAs as a switch hitter with some pop coming off the bench.

          Swish will play plenty. If he does well, he could earn a starting role later this year or next year.

          • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

            Actually, make the 30-40 PAs. You could see him coming off the bench any game where they’re trailing after 7 innings and Molina started as catcher. Girardi PHs Swisher for Molina and plays him in RF for defensive purposes, where he gets another AB here and there late in games. 3rd string C replaces Molina.

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

              3rd string C replaces Molina.

              Wait, what? We’re carrying 3 catchers?

              That 3rd string catcher better be Melky Cabrera or I’m bailing on this plan.

              • Mike Pop

                Steve, are you high again?

              • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

                With the question marks surrounding Posada, I’m assuming we carry a 3rd catcher. And the fact you are hearing about Melky being moved tells me the Yanks are thinking along the same lines.

                And no, I don’t believe all the stuff about how great Posada feels. What do you expect the Yanks to say?

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Even with the questionmarks surrounding Posada, I would be absolutely shocked if we break camp with 3 catchers on the 25-man.

                  We won’t start carrying 3 catchers until Posada actually starts complaining of soreness.

                  The fact that the Yankees are thinking about moving Melky doesn’t necessarily mean they intend to carry 3 catchers, it could easily mean they intend to carry a second utility infielder, since right now we only have one.

                • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

                  Do any of our infielders ever take days off? Jeter, Cano and Tex never do. Ransom is a placeholder. Alex never does when healthy. Swisher can back up at 1B. I don’t think 2nd utility IF is where the Yanks are leaning.

                  You need the 3rd Catcher for the late inning switches I mentioned, and in case of injury. They’re talking 120 games for Posada as the BEST case scenario, I think they’ll carry an extra C. Melky would be the 6th OF on this team, that makes little sense. They need to either deal him or expose him to waivers.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Melky would be the 6th OF on this team, that makes little sense.

                  FIFTH outfielder. FIFTH.

                  Don’t start with that Hideki Matsui bullshit.

                  I do see your point, though. Once we’re back to full-strength (i.e. Nails), there is SOME value in having a 3rd catcher. (Provided that that catcher can actually either hit or throw.)

                  Just not all season long. I’d say we carry 3 catchers for 40-60 games, tops.

                • Mike Pop

                  I bet Berroa could catch.

                • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

                  That sounds about right. When they feel 100% sure about Posada and have seen him hold his own back there in real game situations. Figure June-ish.

      • http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com Sky

        Except Mariano’s plate appearances come in situations that average about twice as important as the average plate appearance. It’s why he pitches at the end of games versus the beginning of games.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          No, the reason he pitches at the end of games rather than the beginning of games is because he’s not good enough to be a starter.

          Let’s nip that false narrative right in the bud before it takes root. Mariano is a closer because he’s a failed starter. He’s an amazingly good closer because he has mastered a repeatable delivery of a pitch practically impossible to square, but he’s a closer first and foremost because he is a failed starter.

          • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

            Sort of. Yes, Mo wasn’t very good as a starter but he also wasn’t given much of a chance, either. And he was still recuperating from elbow surgery when he was first called up in 95. After being sent back down, his velocity shot up in AAA and he was called back up and put in the bullpen in late 1995. He never got another chance to start, since he was so effective out of the pen.

            Starters and relievers have different skill sets. They’ve evolved into two distinct positions in the game. Guys are going all the way from College to the pros as relievers. Even the stodgy Baseball HOF has recognized this, and started inducting relievers.

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

              Perhaps.

              But, the reason why the decision to bail on the starter plan made sense for Mariano (and similarly, doesn’t make sense for Joba) is that Mo was basically a one-pitch pitcher.

              I doubt he would have had the diversity to go through a lineup 4 times.

              • Artist formerly known as ‘The’ Steve

                Actually, when he was called up his best pitch was the changeup, which is typically the last pitch most starters master. He had a sub par slider, GREAT 4 seamer and a 2 seamer. His first full season in 96, he would just go up the ladder with the 4 seamer, and hitters couldn’t hit it or lay off it. He added the cutter later on.

                Also, MO throwing one pitch is a misnomer. Technically, he throws all fastballs. But he throws 4 seamer, 2 seamer and cutter. He also has variations on the cutter, which is a big reason why he’s so good with it.

          • http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com Sky

            I somewhat disagree about “not good enough to start”, but that’s not the issue. Given that Mo is a reliever, and a really good one at that, he’s going to pitch about 70 times for an inning a piece. Why not use those innings up front, leading off almost every other Yankee game with a scoreless inning? Because he might end up pitching in games where he wasn’t needed. When you save him for late in the game, you know he’s necessary when you use him — you can leverage his innings. So his innings tend to be more important than the average inning. So the batters he faces are more important matchups than the average matchup.

            • Am I the only Kevin?

              Ugh, really?

              All those 9th innings with 3 run leads against the bottom half of the order are more important than a tie game in the fifth with runners on?

  • tshades

    .336 to .346 is

    part of a consistently upward trend…but .368 to .361 is hardly significant

    really?

    • random

      Its actually funny you should say something like that. As someone who has taken some graduate level statistics, its cringe-worthy sometimes when baseball fans get into saber without a good grounding in statistics. The worst part about it is that a lot of stastical properties are extremely counter intuitive. I’m not saying everyone should be a statictician if they want to understand sabermetrics, but there is a lot of people misinterpreting things and drawing false conclusions out there.

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

        I just read that paragraph with my own eyes.

        • random

          I know you’re joking, but there is really no difference between drawing false conclusions from stats than drawing false conclusions from “seeing it with your own eyes”.

          Neither group has any idea they are doing it, and they both look down on the other, convinced they are right. Its quite silly, really.

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

            I know you’re joking, but there is really no difference between drawing false conclusions from stats than drawing false conclusions from “seeing it with your own eyes”.

            This is true. I would counter, however, that most people who rely heavily on statistical analysis recognize the inherent inability of their methods to capture EVERYTHING and the acknowledge the exceptions to their rules/formulas than the opposite camp that adheres to visual scouting and pooh-poohs any sabermetric statistical analysis.

            Just my observation.

            • random

              Yes, the saber community is a bit more pragmatic than their traditional counterparts, but like any idea that gains popularity; the more new followers it gets the less a lot of them understand the ideas behind it and the more they become like the opposite camp.

              I was refering specifically though to breakdowns in statistical understanding however, which no one realises they are doing because they don’t intend to do it.(duh)

              I don’t blame anyone for this though, its some pretty complex stuff.
              Nate Silver’s PETCOTA doesn’t predict worth a damn how MLB teams will finish during a season but he can predict election results with astounding accuracy. Baseball is tough to model.

              • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                True.

                I think we can all agree about the value of the sabermetric revolution away from the BA/HR/RBI model of evaluation.

                Things like PECOTA and CHONE are walking a little further out there on the plank, and I totally understand why people could quibble about their value.

                • random

                  I wasn’t quibbling about their value either, I must have come across wrong but that is not what I meant.

  • Corey

    You guys hear that Tabata’s wife abducted some girl.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4015902

    • Cor Shep

      she’s a cougar!

    • random

      hahaha what the shit

      • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
        • Steve H

          In more ways than one!

          • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

            I am a master of double entendres.

            Yankeegirl49, if I told you you had a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?

  • Abuchawo

    WRITE AN POST ABOUT TABATA PLEASE!

  • Rich

    Nady skyrocketed to .374 last year. Thankfully, that’s part of a consistently upward trend. Even if he regresses a bit, to say .365, it would be high-quality season

    I view most of last year’s production as a function of the out of context partial season he had with the Pirates that wasn’t replicated with the Yankee last season, and won’t be this season.

    I think it’s in the Yankees’ best interests to trade him when and if his value peaks.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      Just be patient.

      Come mid June, the Braves will be 4.5 games back of the slumping and hobbling Phillies and their outfield corps of Josh Anderson, Garrett Anderson, Jeff Francouer, Matt Diaz, and Gregor Blanco will be wOBAing a collective .313.

      They’ll come calling for some X-Man. And we’ll get either Schafer or Gorkys.

      • random

        I really hope so, just for the reaction of Braves fans when that happens. Seriously, I have nothing against the Braves, but their fans have gotten so obnoxious about overrating their prospects its ridiculous.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          To be fair, they’ve had some pretty damn good prospects, though.

          Hanson, Escobar, Lillibridge, Heyward Andrus, Saltalamacchia, etc… those guys are legit prospects.

          • random

            No doubt. They’ve just totally fallen in love with all of them to the point of letting emotions override logic.

            I’m just refering to everytime a trade proposal comes up, they don’t want to give up ANYONE. You don’t trade for Peavy by not giving up any of your blue chip prospects.

      • Mike Pop

        We would have to include IPK.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          Fine.

          I’ll throw in Mitch Hilligoss too.

          • A.D.

            and the Melk Man

            • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

              Whoa, slow down there, buddy.

              • Mike Pop

                Nady ends up where in 2010?

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Without giving it much of any thought at all, I’ll say…

                  Mets. Their corner OF’s all suck.

                • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

                  They really should’ve gone for Abreu. He would’ve fit very well in that lineup. If Mets fans think Daniel Murphy is gonna hit what he did last year with ease, they’re gonna be disappointed.

                • Jack

                  Why they didn’t go hard after Manny is just beyond me.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  They really should’ve gone for Abreu. He would’ve fit very well in that lineup. If Mets fans think Daniel Murphy is gonna hit what he did last year with ease, they’re gonna be disappointed.

                  Any value that Bobby gives you at the plate, he probably gives back in the field.

                  Any team that wasn’t signing Bobby to be a DH was probably making a dumb move. The Mets should NOT have signed Bobby; no NL team should have.

                  I’ll agree with you that Murphy won’t hit well enough to be productive, but I’d still take him over Bobby if I was Minaya. He’s far better defensively and younger and cheaper.

                • Joey

                  BUT BOBBY IS A LATINO!!1!!!!!!!11!!1!!!!!!!!1!!111!

                • Mike Pop

                  Disagree with ya here. Bobby for 5 million is a great, great deal. For the production he gives you at the plate, he is a better option then Murphy. He might give back some runs that Murphy doesn’t but he gives you runs that Murphy doesn’t, a much better bat as of right now. Let’s say:

                  Abreu
                  Wright
                  Beltran

                  or

                  Murphy
                  Wright
                  Beltran

                  Which 2, 3, 4 is better? Ya, Murphy is cheaper, but Abreu for 5 million is a steal. Probably going to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Murphy, 2008 (age 23):
                  wRAA: +5.6
                  LF UZR/150: +7.5

                  Abreu, 2008 (age 34):
                  wRAA: +22.4
                  RF UZR/150: -23.1

                  Again, all the offensive value Bobby added at the plate he utterly negated in the field, and he was playing one of the smaller RF’s in the league in Yankee Stadium. And, he’s a year older and slower now.

                  Even given Murphy’s inability to post his 2008 numbers across a full season, I’ll take the gamble that he’ll offer either equal or better total production than 35 year old Bobby Abreu, especially if that gamble also happens to save me 4.5M in salary.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Anybody not signing Bobby to be a DH will regret it.

                • Mike Pop

                  You and your spreadsheets.

                  You’ll rue the day Trebek!

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  THAT IS HOW YOU DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                • Mike Pop

                  The thing is, I like, ya know, watch it with my eyes. Bobby isn’t the best out there but he can catch a ball or two. I just watch him hit the balll and I’m like whoa dude, you see that?

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  ICWUDT

                • Jack

                  Bobby Abreu only made 2 errors last year, therefore he can’t be bad defensively.

                  Q.E.D.

                • Mike Pop

                  That’s how gold gloves work right?

                • Jack

                  Naturally.

    • steve (different one)

      I view most of last year’s production as a function of the out of context partial season he had with the Pirates that wasn’t replicated with the Yankee last season, and won’t be this season.

      i choose to ignore 350 major league PA’s because it doesn’t support my conclusion.

      • http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com Sky

        I choose to only look at 350 PAs, because they’re the best.

  • pat

    Anybody know any good anti-virus software? My girlfriends laptop somehow contracted some nasty mother of a virus the “Spyware Protect 2009″ virus. It’s a sneaky mofo, it disabled the current anti-virus software and when I googled ways to kill it the goddamn thing changed the addressed I clicked on to some other fake websites. It’s ridiculous.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      Tell us the truth, Pat:

      You’re not really talking about “computers” and “software”, are you?

      • pat

        Anybody know how to kill public lice?

        • Mike Pop

          Doing the happy dance a little too much? Ya, ya, ya, sure, your “girlfriend”.

          • pat

            Anybody know how to kill pubic lice and cure first degree chafing burns?

            • Jack

              Slap some rubbing alcohol on it. It’ll clear right up.

              • pat

                Coincidentally both rubbing and alcohol led to this problem in the first place.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  That, and Esther Baxter.

                • Arman Tamzarian

                  Good, low brow, but good

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  Hey Arman, can I borrow your copy of Swank?

                • Jack
                • pat

                  haha

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside
    • Joey

      Kaspersky, good AV thats not loaded with other software to sell you Kaspersky’s other products like Norton and McAfee are (aka its not a memory hog) and its simple to use, consistently rated the best AV out there. If you’re looking for free AV, try AVG, avira, and avast! 4. Just google them.

      • Jack

        I’ll second the Kaspersky recommendation.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          Yeah, all my old BBY Geek Squad guys swear by Kaspersky. I’ll third the recommendation.

        • Joey

          then I’ll second the rubbing alcohol recommendation

      • pat

        Alright cool, I’ll try kapersky next. Thanks guys.

    • Josh

      I don’t post very much but I read this blog a lot. I also got this very same virus once. Win32.zafi.b virus. Don’t expect any anti-virus software to get rid of it. Go into safe mode, and go to my documents, (go under options and click show hidden files) program applications I believe, then Google Applications. Once in the normally hidden google folder, you can manually delete the file. Also run msconfig (enter in “run”) and go to startup and unclick anything you don’t recocgnize. If it looks suspicious, google the file name and it might tell you if it’s dangerous, and if it is disable it. I did all of this and my computer is perfectly fine now. I spent about 20 hours trying to get rid of the damn thing.Don’t buy spyware protect 2009! I don’t know how to get rid of the actual product.

      • pat

        I fear this is going to have to be my course of action, the manual deletion of shit. Thanks for the walkthrough I’m not so good at technical computer stuff. I appreciate it. Luckily I haven’t actually clicked on anything and it keeps asking me if I want to download stuff and blah blah.
        I really wanna find the people that write these programs and beat them to death with a lead pipe.

        • Joey

          put your dolphin flogging abilities to better use, huh?

  • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

    I obviously hope that Nady does well but I really don’t think it’s going to happen. I’m not gonna say it’ll be funny when Nady falls back to his career norms ’cause it would hurt the team, but it will most likely be a big “I told you so” moment for us Swisher fans.

    Stand strong, Nick!

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      I constantly hope that I’m proven wrong on literally hundreds of topics and positions.

      • Mike Pop

        *cough* Ben Sheets *cough*

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          Yup.

          (although, I stand by my premise that Sheets on a 3 makes more sense than Burnett on a 5. The fact that Sheets is already injured does not mean that Burnett won’t get injured or that the length of the Burnett deal was wise. I argued for Sheets over Burnett, but I also argued for nothing over Burnett. What Sheets does or does not do is somewhat immaterial to my anti-Burnett stance, it’s all based on how much the older and non-ace-like Burnett actually does in pinstripes. So, your response should be *cough*Burnett*cough* rather than *cough*Sheets*cough*.)

          • Mike Pop

            Heh. pwnd

          • Tom Zig

            If Burnett goes down and Hughes/Kennedy/Aceves/Coke fail as starters and Sheets is starting to pitch again….do we take a flier?

            • Mike Pop

              Shhhhhhhhh, none of that will ever happen.

              • whozat

                It’s not THAT…it’s that ALL of that PROBABLY won’t happen.

                • Tom Zig

                  Well it is an absolute worst case scenario.

                • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

                  The worst case scenario would have also had Joba in the bullpen and Wang losing his arm in a tragic blimp accident.

                • Mike Pop

                  And…A-Rod would of been raped and pillaged by a group of Hell’s Angels, but check this. The fucked up thing, he would like it.

    • A.D.

      My guess is they put up similar production, however Swisher is the guy who’s under contract for the future

  • andrew

    another random rant about the new show. i finally get used to the hitting and i sim the season to the world series v the mets and we sweep them. i get to the offseason and what happens? both arod and posada retire. i cant help it. ive re-simmed the thing a million times. this game is succeeding in killing my soul.

    • A.D.

      thats a major ouch

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      Posada and ARod retire after the season to fulfill their childhood dreams of having a TV show where they both solicit tranny prostitutes and then pee on the prostitutes and then have the prostitutes inject them with steroids.

    • pat

      Dude same thing happened to me, Arod retired because of a poor FA market. Odd because of the whole 10 year contract thing.

      • A.D.

        Basically The Show hates A-Rod

        • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

          Basically The Show hates A-Rod Andrew.

          Fixed.

    • andrew©

      Uh oh, we’ve now got two andrew’s on here…

  • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

    So to anyone who was in on the mini-literary/Frankenstein discussion last night, I’m about to start a paper comparing the relationship between Victor and the creature to the relationship between Batman and the Joker in The Dark Knight.

    • Mike Pop

      Sounds like you have mental problems, man.

    • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

      No one else finds this remotely interesting? :(

      • andrew©

        Don’t let them bring you down, any paper where you get to discuss Batman is a pretty solid topic for me. I recently did a paper on comparing Batman Begins, Fight Club and The Metamorphosis by Kafka.

        • Jack

          I don’t know, man. Any Batman not played by Adam West sound pretty boring to me.

  • GG

    As I read about Tabata, I’m still sour about that deal, I’ve never liked Xman that much. If they really wanted to deal, they shoulda gone all out for Holliday.

    • Jack

      Yeah, but then we wouldn’t have Marte.

      • Mike Pop

        Fuentes though.

        • Thomas

          Fuentes wanted to close, so the Yankees probably weren’t his first choice and would be costly.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      We got Nady AND Marte for one legit prospect and some filler.

      Holliday would have required multiple legit prospects, and we still would have only had him under contract through 2009.

      • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

        and we still would have only had him under contract through 2009.

        Nope. He would’ve been so in love with playing for the Yankees that he would’ve signed a way below market deal for the rest of his career. Trust me. It’s the lure of the True Yankee. Matt Holliday would not be able to resist it.

        • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

          We trade Melky and IPK for Holliday. He fires Boras and hires the Hendricks Brothers. He subsequently signs an incentive laden contract with a base salary of 7yr/60M.

    • http://evilempire20.com Ryan S.

      Just think, if The Yankees had kept Tabata, they would have gotten a 2 year old clubhouse baby for free.

  • GG

    Also, Tabata’s wife isnt hot:
    http://www2.tbo.com/content/20.....-breaking/

  • pat

    Dwight Howard is destroying the celtics right now.

    • http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside

      Kevin Garnett is not on a boat.

      • pat

        No, and he is most definitely not climbing any buoys.

        • http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal

          or riding any dolphins

          • Thomas

            Kevin Garnett = mermaid virgin

          • Jack

            But is he straight flippin’ copies?

  • http://nyfaninboston.blogspot.com/ Manimal

    Would you not do the swisher trade if you had the chance to go back in time and tell cashman? We now have a cramped outfield and no one at thirdbase. No matter how much I despise Wilson Betemit, I would want him back.

    • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

      Seriously…? Nick Swisher is much better than Wilson Betemit and the OF depth that he (or Nady in the future?) will provide off the bench is much better than anything Wilson Betemit could provide, which is probably exactly what Cody Ransom/Angel Berroa will provide.

      • http://evilempire20.com Ryan S.

        Yeah he CAN’T be serious…can he?

    • Steve H

      We’re going to be w/out a 3b for a month. Ransom will be able to replicate close to what Betemit would have done. I would do that trade a million times, even if A-Rod were going to be out until the break.

    • A.D.

      Yeah, I don’t

      • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

        You don’t do the trade or you don’t want Betemit back?

        • A.D.

          Take Betemit back, I make that trade every time

  • LiveFromNY

    why did the Yankees give out tickets to a “workout”? How long will that last? I can’t go (it’s the afternoon before the Cubbies exhibition game) but don’t know how to describe it to ask others if they want the tickets.

  • Matt B

    Hey Im from Syracuse and we have the Washington Nationals AAA team here and I was wondering if there was anyone good to watch from their organization. If you cant list any of the top of your head is their a blog that i can look into to get more information about their prospects. I am excited because they do have Jordan Zimmerman but I still have to wait and see if he gets sent down. Thanks for the help

    • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

      Hey Im from Syracuse and we have the Washington Nationals AAA team here and I was wondering if there was anyone good to watch from their organization. If you cant list any of the top of your head is their a blog that i can look into to get more information about their prospects. I am excited because they do have Jordan Zimmerman but I still have to wait and see if he gets sent down. Thanks for the help

      Now I’m definitely not going to help you.

      But, seriously, I don’t know anything about the Nats farm system. On a similar note, I’m a relatively short drive from the CT Defenders–Giants AA squad–who’s gonna be there this year?

      • Mike Pop

        You can’t speak. Uconn—Cheats!

        • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

          Dude got expelled before the season even started.

          • Mike Pop

            Cheats!

          • Steve H

            Speaks to a pattern.

          • Mike Pop

            Dude got expelled before the season even started.

            Does it excuse the act?

            • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

              No, but there shouldn’t be any penalties that involve anything more than recruiting restrictions.

              I’m preparing myself for a season that’s not nearly as good next year. Edwards is a solid back up, but I don’t think he can be a good starter. Dyson will be fine, as will Walker. Robinson is the real wild-card for the Huskies’ success next year.

              • Thomas

                They’ll also have PF Ater Majok, SG Jamal Trice, SF Jamal Coombs, and C Alex Oriakhi joining the team. The biggest problem for UConn will be backup point guard, where Beverly is second on the depth chart after Walker.

                • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

                  What happened to Okwandu (sp)? He got some legit minutes at the beginning of the year,then got nothing once conference play started.

                • Thomas

                  I think he got sick. I know for a while he and Haralson weren’t traveling with the team. I believe they both got the flu and then fell behind with academics, since they were sick, so they stayed at UConn for a few weeks. Now, he doesn’t play since Calhoun has shortened the bench.

      • Matt B

        To bad we can beat you if probably the best game I have ever seen…but then again dont be so hard on yourself

        • http://actyankee.blogspot.com Matt

          I stayed up for that whole damn thing; went to bed very angry.

          But seriously, it took 6 overtimes and 2 foul outs. They play 10 times, UConn probably wins 6/10 times.

          • Drew

            It wasn’t on that late bro

  • Mike Pop
    • http://evilempire20.com Ryan S.

      My first question: how the hell do you manage an aura?

      • Jack

        Ask pat. He’ll know.

    • GG

      I like the picture in the Boston Herald link in the article where Gardner is doing sprints, and hes one step behind Jeter. You know Jeter was like “Brett, I’m the captain, I know your not used to being on the big league club, but everyone sprints behind the captain”

  • John

    nady is a notorious hot starter… i say his righty bat helps the yankees through arods return when he starts tiring a bit… swisher comes in relatively fresh and hungry and starts hitting bombs over the right field wall… 400 abs between the two of them is definitely possible, and the best way to go

  • http://statspeak.net dan

    Tabat’s wife is 43 years old.

    Just throwing that out there

    • Darth Stein

      I said your alright Jose, but your not alright . . . you got a lot of f*cking problems.