Nov
30
Fan Confidence Poll: November 30th, 2009
By2009 Season Record: 103-59 (915 RS, 753 RA), won AL East by 8 games, finished with the best record in MLB by 6 games, won 27th World Series
Top stories from last week:
- It was a predictably slow week because of Thanksgiving, but the Yanks did manage to sign two players to minor league deals. First they landed speedy 20-year-old Dominican outfielder Eladio Moronta for $570,000, then added outfielder Jon Weber for depth later in the week.
- Halladay Zone: Toronto is seeking a young, big league ready bat and arm in return for their ace, and the cost for the Yanks would include either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain. The Red Sox, meanwhile, will aggressively pursue the former Cy Young Award winner.
- The Yankees are going to watch their spending this offseason, and there’s a chance they won’t offer any of their free agents arbitration. They’re still waiting for Andy Pettitte to decide if he wants to return in 2010, though they plan on having both Hughes and Joba in the rotation next year. They’ve have expressed interest in bringing back Nick Johnson as a fallback option at DH. As expected, Johnny Damon doesn’t plan on taking a paycut.
- Former Padres’ GM Kevin Towers will meet with the Yanks (and others) during the winter meetings to discuss an advisory position.
- Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter finished second and third, respectively, behind Joe Mauer in the AL MVP voting. Jeter, meanwhile, will reportedly be named SI’s Sportsman of the Year later today.
- Last, but certainly not least, the great Bob Sheppard has decided to call it a career, officially announcing his retirement. The Voice of God will live on whenever Jeter comes to plate, but he’ll still be missed.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Given the team's current roster construction, farm system, management, etc., how confident are you in the Yankees' overall future?
Jeter’s been confirmed as sportsman of the year.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....?eref=sihp
Well deserved.
Same as last week. Team’s exactly the same.
Former Padres’ GM Kevin Towers will meet with the Yanks (and others) during the winter meetings to discuss an advisory position.
Confidence certainly goes up regarding several moves including this one though…(not that confidence is down by any means…just sort of in limbo until certain signings are made)
Voted a 10.
A long time ago I said I wouldn’t vote higher than 8, but winning the WS was radical enough to bump up my vote. I am aslo extremely confident in Cashman making the right move now that the offseason’s hit.
For the record, I’ve been voting a 10 since the WS, up from 8.
“Rocky Road???”
The name comes from a Kim Jones quote. She was interviewing Nick Swisher, who had just made 1 good catch and 1 bad catch in RF. She asked him what he thought his day in RF is like and he said “Not so good. If I were an ice cream, I’d be a rocky road.” And Kim Jones answered, “Seems like you’ve got some Rocky Road Redemption, then!” (referring to the good catch).
Of course, I heard it and knew: THAT WAS MY SCREENAME.
You’re very easily excitable, aren’t you?
And this is a bad thing WHY?!?!?
Voted a 9.
Last week’s story of Johnny D.’s refusal to take a pay cut in return for a 2 year commitment hopefully expands. The hot stove isn’t exactly burning. Hopefully a couple FA relievers start fielding offers this week to start warming things up. If the Yanks are deciding to bid for a reliever, the org probably wont do so till after wrapping up Pettitte, at the least.
I’d really prefer they didn’t go after any FA relievers, unless it’s a recovery project (Chad Cordero?) on a non-guaranteed deal. The internal bullpen project of the last two seasons has definitely worked and I think the organization should continue the practice thereof.
Not sure if he was advocating the Yankees go after relievers or if he was just saying that hopefully some relievers will get the hot stove season going by beginning to negotiate.
I know; just throwing my two cents in.
I guess my post wasn’t too clear on what road I hope the organization would take in re-arming the ‘pen.
We do have to re-arm the ‘pen. Hughes’s contribution to the ‘pen will be difficult to replace. Can we bank on bruney showing up with his game face? Can we bank on Melancon not stinking it up; can we blame Joe G. for Mel’s lack of work?
I think a Mike G. could easily solve the problem, and form a killer pairing with Marte.
I hear you, but I’m not too fond on bringing in an expensive reliever for many reasons:
1) giving up a draft pick
2) relievers are so volatile
3) replacing Hughes’ production will not be done no matter who could be brought in. As Greg Fertel said over at his site, Hughes was probably the best reliever in the game last year
4) I like Cashman’s current way to build a bullpen(throw against the wall and see what sticks)
and of course, I think Robertson and Marte can handle the late innings to get the ball to the great one.
Plus, there is a possible addition in the farm right now. A Z-Mac, Ivan Nova, or one of the Sanchez brothers could possibly help in the pen next year.
Melancon is legit, hopefully he shows us something next year.
I think Melancon will have to do what Robertson did in ‘08 and the beginning of ‘09: pitch in low-leverage/mop-up/get-some-work-in situations until he proves he can be trusted. The same will go for Bruney.
I think Mike G. becomes a good option if and only if:
a) he’s not offered arbitration
b) he can’t get a closing job elsewhere.
If he gets offered arbitration, leave him be. I don’t think Bruney will play a prominent role this season unless he proves he can handle any job of relative importance. Maybe I’m being too bullish on Robertson, but I think he and Marte could form a very good set-up combination. Depending on how the team feels about Gaudin, Aceves, and Kennedy, one of them (most likely one of the former two) could be turned into a one inning set-up type reliever. I think the Yankees have plenty of internal options and should look there first.
9, I guess. There’s so little going on that it’s hard to gauge anything. Getting Towers would be fantastic, that’s for sure, and it’ll be easier to get a gauge on the future team when the Hot Stove heats up a bit.
consider me a 7.
as soon as we officially skip on lackey and holliday (and bay), i’ll shoot up to a 9.
But what indications do you have that they aren’t going to skip on those guys? The only speculation regarding those guys has been from writers w/o real tight sources.
none, just will be a bit uneasy until they sign elsewhere
Fair enough.
9.
10. I’m not sure how any Yankee fan can’t be the same. Especially now that we are in the Yankee High Holy Days. Ask me again where I’m at after the conclusion of Melmas. (That’s somewhere between the 7th through the 12th of Jan. Depends on the position of the moon.)
Have to ask: Melmas?
The season celebrating the birth of Melvin, of course
…Melvin?
Seriously?
What a n00b!
JobaWockeeZ is 100% correct. It’s a time of year, where young children learn to throw curveballs, become diehard Yankee fans and worship at the alter of the Holy Yankee Trinity: Mo, Jesus and Melvin.
All will be revealed at a later date.
As the Mayans predicted.
The holiday where we celebrate the birth of Melvin. That’s just a guess.
Reply fail…
I voted 9 again after voting 10 the weeks before, during and after the World Series Victory.
The Yankees have some key positions up in the air and I am confident that Cashman will make the right moves.
I hope the right moves include signing Pettitte, Damon and Matsui with reasonable deals. An extra starter would be a plus as long it is a favorable deal with someone like Sheets.
I don’t see any need to go after Lackey, Halladay, Bay or Holliday.
8 because of the DH sitch and the fact that we really only have 2 for sure starters right now.
Hey Halladay stated that he would approve a deal to the Yankees. Anyone else feel like this might happen?
No.
i voted 8, only because a lot of stuff went right in 09 (healthy aj/jorge/andy/matsui, big years from jeter/damon/swisher). i don’t think cashman needs to do anything go after chapman, resign 1 of damon/matsui, kick the tires on mike cameron.
melancon, aceves, robertson, kennedy, marte, mo could be a great bullpen. i don’t see the need for anyone except maybe buying low on cordero
don’t want to give up hughes or joba for halladay. i’ve grown (irrationally) fond of those two, and i like big cc as our ace