Comments on: The Yanks’ $40-million mistakes

By: Mike O

Mike O — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:37:10 +0000

Igawa’s best years were behind him – even in the Central League in Japan (there is no “Japanese league”) he was showing signs of fatigue. The Yankees shouldn’t have signed him – they missed out on Matsuzaka and essentially thought Igawa would be the consolation prize. Anyone who knew anything about Igawa knew he wasn’t in Matsuzaka’s class.

By: Joseph M

Joseph M — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:52:49 +0000

This is a no-brainer, Pavano was a legitimate major league player with a track record. Igawa, on the other hand was not. Worse than that, there were scouting reports around at the time and they were posted all over the internet that raised serious doubts about his ability to perform at the major league level. Hell, one report I read projected him at very best to be a 5th starter long man type. If an organization doesn’t have someone that fits that bill they’ll turn up on waivers sooner or later and you won’t be out 46 million.

By: NaOH

NaOH — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:31:53 +0000

Fair enough. No harm in disagreeing.

By: mustang

mustang — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:29:13 +0000

I guess we will agree to disagree because i think it was.

By: NaOH

NaOH — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:28:44 +0000

“And even if your right and they would of paid 8 or 6 million and received a player or two wouldn’t that be better then what they have now.”

With hindsight, that does seem to be the case. But I’m not talking about what I know from hindsight, I’m giving a business-based explanation for why the team’s non-move in August 2007 was reasonable.

By: NaOH

NaOH — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:25:25 +0000

Yes, supposedly after trying to make a deal with the Padres. I don’t think any of us on the outside really know what transpired, so I’m reluctant to judge moves (or non-moves) based on what amounts to little more than rumor.

By: mustang

mustang — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:25:08 +0000

And even if your right and they would of paid 8 or 6 million and received a player or two wouldn’t that be better then what they have now.

By: mustang

mustang — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:19:59 +0000

The Yankees pulled him back after the Padres claimed him.

By: NaOH

NaOH — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:18:38 +0000

Certainly, we can both find plenty of people to say Sabathia is likely to do better than Igawa, and I’m thousands of miles from NY. But all of those opinions ensure nothing.

I’m not saying the Igawa-related decisions have worked well for the Yankees, but to have abandoned a $30 million investment after 5 months really seems like a foolish move. Has it panned out it in the team’s favor since? Certainly not yet, and we don’t know if it ever will yield anything (and we have little reason to think it ever will).

My point is, this is an inexact science and the team’s decision to hold on to him in August 2007 (assuming they truly had an opportunity to move him) is understandable from a business perspective.

There’s a difference between criticizing a process and criticizing an outcome with the benefit of hindsight. I think we both agree that outcome has been terrible, but we disagree about the process.

Looking at August 2007, without the information gleaned in the intervening months, and not knowing the details of the time (Were the Padres taking the whole contract? Were the players offered in return anything with potential? What did NY player development personnel say about Igawa), I think the team made a reasonable move that has not, thus far, worked out. In fact, I think it has failed spectacularly, but I don’t think it was the certainty that you make it out to be.

By: mustang

mustang — Sat, 02 May 2009 00:18:16 +0000

If the Padres claim him weren’t they then responsible for the 12 million?