Open Thread: You can’t strike out everyone
ByEarlier this morning, Ben discussed the Granderson left field question that made its rounds yesterday. It’s really no big deal. If the Yankees name Brett Gardner the starter and feel he’ll play better defense in center field, then perhaps Granderson will slide over to left. That seems to be the only scenario under which they’d even consider a move.
Rob Neyer often weighs in on stories like this, and he did so yesterday. I do take issue with one thing he said, though:
It’s pretty obvious that the organization doesn’t care about defense. That’s why they’ve got all those high-strikeout pitchers.
To start with the second sentence: Yes, they did pick up a number of high strikeout pitchers. Strikeouts help because it means fewer balls in play, which means less pressure on the defense. But those pitchers still allow plenty of balls in play, including a good number of fly balls and line drives. Thankfully, this crew of starters typically does a good job of keeping the ball out of the air. So it might be more accurate for Neyer to append that to his second sentence.
But that still leaves the issue of Sentence No. 1. Pretty obvious that they don’t care about defense? I just don’t see that. In fact, this off-season they brought in two good defensive outfielders in Curtis Granderson and Randy Winn, leaving Johnny Damon, a poor defender in 2009, to find work elsewhere. Hell, they even brought in a good defensive first baseman, even though he figures to play fewer than 10 games there this year. I think the organization does care about defense, but not at the expense of significant offense. Which is completely different than them not caring about defense.
/rant
And so begins another open thread. For the basketball fans, the Nets are in Charlotte and the Knicks are in Chicago. More interesting than the Knicks game, really, is their pursuit of Tracy McGrady. Not that McGrady is exciting in himself. Rather, trading for him would mean shedding Jared Jeffries’s contract. Joe Treutlein at Hoopdata explains what that means for the Knicks this off-season (with a tip o’ the hat to Ross, who has some new digs). Unfortunately, it looks like Houston has better offers. Or maybe they’re just posturing.
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The Tyler Austin Watch
Guess who has a job interview.
Johnny Damon?
JP Ricciardi?
Steve Phillips?
congrats Rebecca, good luck !!
Bah you guys are no fun.
So it’s…you?
Dayton Moore?
Wait a minute, he still has a job???
Congrats, Rebecca.
Here’s some advice:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.....=469043330 (safe)
Listening to: “Come As You Are” by Nirvana. hahaha
Safe? Really? Your work sure doesn´t look like mine.
Meh, it’s just words.
There’s an opening for a medieval historian?
With swords?
Good luck.
I hope that this plan doesnt blow up in the Knicks faces. I mean they are trading alot picks basically thinking they are gauranteed 2 FA pick ups. Look its never a bad trade to get more cap room, but its always risky to put to all your eggs in one basket.
reply below was meant for you here.
I don’t pay too much attention to the Knicks or NBA for that matter, but what has Jordan Hill done in his rookie year? He is a potential piece to the McGrady deal, as well as a possible 2012 draft pick.
The Knicks also traded their 2010 first to Utah, so they’re going to take a big hit for not being able to draft any talent. They better know what their doing with Lebron, Bosh, etc.
I hope that this plan doesnt blow up in the Knicks faces. I mean they are trading alot picks basically thinking they are gauranteed 2 FA pick ups. Look its never a bad trade to get more cap room, but its always risky to put to all your eggs in one basket.
This concept, pimped endlessly by Michael Kay (amongst others) really grinds my gears.
If every single marquee free agent (LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Johnson, Amare, etc.) spurns the Knicks money and doesn’t come here this winter, it’s irrelevant. The Knicks and Donnie Walsh did the right thing.
What else were we going to do? Keep Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury? Not trade Malik Rose or Jamal Crawford? Double down on our fucked the hell up roster by trading expiring deals for the Ben Gordons or Michael Redds that would be available every February and make a push for the 7th seed and a first-round exit?
There are only 10 men on the court at a time in an NBA game. The team that has the best player on the court almost invariably wins the game. There are thus only three things that matter in the NBA:
1) Having a superstar elite talent capable of winning games singlehandedly.
2) Having cap room or trade assets necessary to acquire said superstar elite talents.
3) Being shitty enough at the right time to hit the lottery during a fortuitous season where a superstar elite talent is available to you with a top-3 pick in the draft.
The Knicks of the past decade have had none of the three. The only logical solution for the Knicks is to burn the team to the ground and empty out the cap for a free agent bonanza OR make the team shitty enough to hit the lottery. Those two strategies dovetail perfectly.
If we sign nobody this offseason, we roll the money over to next offseason when Carmelo and Deron Williams and Chris Paul and Brandon Roy and others are available. If nobody signs then, we roll over again and wait for Kevin Durant or someone. Rinse and repeat.
Being a perpetual 6-7 seed with good but not great players is shitsville. Either be great or be shitty which enables you to be great. There is no in between.
We’re putting all our eggs in one basket because there’s no other alternative.
Very well put. Go big or go home.
THAT IS HOW YOU DEBATE!!!!
Or we could force Dolan to sell the team
Even if Dolan did sell the team to a non-moron, the strategy would remain the same. There’s only one way out of the Layden/Isiah mess:
http://rlv.zcache.com/if_you_f.....l0_400.jpg (safe)
I understand what your saying and made some valid points but cant ignore that this is very risky albeit a risk they have to take but arisk nevertheless that can blow up. I agree yes in sports you never want to be in the middle. Im just saying that if they K in 2010 and then have no picks to even get a top line prospect, it will hurt…badly. Now I have no problem with Walsh is doing and I think the Knicks will get some FA, but in anything, u gotta have a plan B. IDK if the Knicks have a plan B.
Im just saying that if they K in 2010 and then have no picks to even get a top line prospect, it will hurt…badly.
We already have no 2010 pick. That ship has sailed. Thus, the lack of a 2010 pick shouldn’t alter or affect our plans.
And we have a Plan B. It just may not be appealing, but it’s a Plan B and it’s a good one. Plan B is:
Keep waiting.
If that sounds shitty, keep in mind that the alternative to both Plan A (Summer of 2010) and Plan B (Summers of 2011, 2012, 2013) was the old plan:
Keep sucking.
Glad you wrote about this, Joe. I was just looking at a similar Neyer criticism over at THT and I couldn’t agree more. Everything the Yankees have done this winter seems to take defense into account. To say that they “don’t care” about it is absurd.
Updated Yankee Numbers:
Boone Logan – 48
Romulo Sanchez – 67
Juan Miranda – 53
Greg Golson – 61
Jamie Hoffmann – 73
…some prospects such as Russo and NRIs still havent been assigned ones.
At Spring Training I’m gonna boo Miranda for wearing Melky’s number. The nerve.
It’s not Melky’s number or Abreu’s number.
It’s Joba’s.
http://www.chrisoleary.com/Pro.....07_007.jpg (safe)
And what does 5+3 equal?
Cy. Young.
From teh 8th!!11!!1!!
Seriously though, it’s clear that by wearing 53, Joba is making a silent protest to being in the rotation. 5+3=8, it’s that simple. Seriously, dude is a bull in a china shop, a linebacker on the mound, he’s got to be in teh 8th!!11!!!1!
ietc
Joba’s number as an amateur: 44
Joba’s numbers in professional stops where 44 isn’t available: 53, 62
4+4 = 8
5+3 = 8
6+2 = 8
It’s science.
http://thebirdnest.files.wordp.....-brain.jpg (safe)
Really not happy about Boone Logan being here. I’d rather have Mike Dunn.
If you close your eyes and squint, I bet you can’t even tell the difference between the two.
Yeah no shit. About the only thing the Yanks loose in that swap is three pre-arb years. Dunn’s not even a full year younger than him either.
All we’re doing is trading some Ouver/Unger/Dunn quotes from Airplane for some Logan’s Run jokes.
Bonus: We also get some Boone and Shannon Lost references.
It’s a solid swap.
Maybe I was easily seduced by Dunn’s awesome K-rates. I just see him as having more upside than Logan, who is your generic LOOGY.
Go take a look at some of Logan’s minor league K rates.
Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Already did. Not quite as good, and in less innings.
It’s just I see there’s a small (ok, very small) chance that Dunn turns into Billy Wagner, whereas Logan seems like his upside is lower. Regardless, Logan or Dunn shouldn’t make much of a difference for the 2010 Yankees, and in the long run it’s probably even less significant than that.
Yea, but if it is the only basket you have, it is best to put all your eggs in it.
In the past few years, the Yankees:
- Signed Tino Martinez, Andy Phillips, Doug Mientkiewicz, Josh Phelps, Craig Wilson, and numerous other defense-first first basemen in an effort to move Giambi permanently to DH and improve the 1B defense
- Signed 32 year old quasi-elite CF Johnny Damon to replace declining 37 year old Bernie Williams to upgrade the CF defense
- Declined to bring back first Bobby Abreu and then Johnny Damon, predicated primarily on doubts that they could continue to be cost/production-effective based on declining OF defense; both veterans were replaced by younger above average defenders with less-heralded offensive track records acquired by trade (Swisher, Granderson)
- Given roster spots and large amounts of playing time to young players like Alberto Gonzalez, Bubba Crosby, Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, Frankie Cervelli, Ramiro Peña, etc. who gain the lion’s share of their value from defense
——
As for C, 2B, SS, and 3B… they’re locked into Posada, Cano, Jeter, and ARod. Any defensive shortcomings they may individually have are shortcomings that every single big league team would gladly live with, given their elite bats.
Neyer’s statement is full of FAIL.
I seriously read it 3 or 4 times to make sure I wasn’t missing the sarcasm, it was that ridiculously stupid.
And Cano isn’t even bad defensively. He’s just average to maybe a tad below average, AND he has a great bat.
The more I think of it,the more I realize that Cano is REALLY good. We have ourselves a core-type player on our hands in young Robbie, which is all sorts of awesome.
Cano is easily one of the Top 5 2B in the game along with Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia, and Dan Uggla…
Ok, maybe not Dan Uggla, but you get my point.
By WAR, I believe he’s number 6, but when you factor in that Pedroia hits much, much better in Fenway Park, they’re pretty much even.
Wow…
Zobrist is understandable, but Roberts? Really?
Huh? Cano had a 4.2 WAR in ’09; Roberts was 3.3 in ’09.
I was looking at projections.
I’d put Cano #3 behind Utley and Pedroia:
1. Utley
(big gap)
2. Pedroia
(small gap)
3. Cano
Off the top of my head I agree. Kinsler can’t hit outside of Arlington, Roberts is solid, but not Cano. Zobrist has had one great year, but let’s see him do it long term, and he only started 81 games at 2B.
I’m cool with that.
Oh, and Ian Kinsler is teh fraud.
Splitsville:
Home bandbox – .311/.382/.542 (.925)
Away normalcy – .248/.318/.412 (.730)
Is that career or ’09?
Career.
Remove him from Arlington and he’s utterly pedestrian.
Holy crap, I know everyone in Texas gets their numbers inflated, but I didn’t know it was THAT bad for Kinsler.
Ian Kinsler is the modern day infield version of Dante Bichette.
Tex and A-Rod didn’t have home/away numbers that stark when they were with Texas though, right?
A-rod, 2002:
Texas: .323/.403/.700/1.102
Away: .277/.381/.547/.927
He did, but instead of really good vs. eh, he was ridiculous video game good vs. just plain awesome
And, while we’re on the topic, almost EVERYONE hits better at home than on the road, even if they don’t play in true bandboxes like Fenway/Arlington/Coors.
The point isn’t that Kinsler is better at Arlington than elsewhere, the point is that he’s not good elsewhere, he’s rather shitty. Melkyesque, if you will.
Alex Rodriguez is good at baseball.
Tex in 2005, probably his best year with the Rangers:
home .334/.411/.698/1.109
away .270/.349/.459/.809
It’s not like he was bad away from Texas, but that’s still pretty stark.
and good point, TSJC. ICWUDT.
but then so is Little Dustin
Home: .332/.391/.505/.896
Away: .283/.350/.406/.756
It’s not quite as bad as Kinsler’s split, but he is still very pedestrian on the road
Still, though:
.350 OBP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .318 OBP
Bottom line, If I were starting up a team playing in a random stadium and I had to pick someone not Chase Utley to play second for me, I go with Cano. I think he is intrinsically a better baseball player than Dustin Pedroia
If I’m in a fantasy draft and want a second baseman, I go with Pedroia, because given his surroundings, he is likely to put up as good or a better year than Cano
I think if you pick either name out of a hat for either excercise you’ll come up with a terrific 2b either way that’s going to put up similar years.
By WAR, 2009:
1. Zobrist
2. Utley
3. Pedroia
4. Kinsler
5. Felipe Lopez
6. Robbie Cano
But Cano was only .2 off of Lopez, and when you consider that Lopoez played in the NL, they’re about even. Cano probably had a slightly better year.
And Kinsler Pedroia & Cano play in parks that help their offense
Knicks fans: Thoughts on the deal if it goes through? I’ve been going back and forth in my head, and as much as losng the picks and Hill hurts, I think I go big and make the move. The thought of throwing 2 maxes at Lebron and Wade or Bosh is too much for me to pass up.
That.
The only real asset we’re losing in the deal is the 2012 first rounder, which will in all likelihood not be a good pick by July 2012 since we’ll have a much better team by then.
Do it. Getting rid of Jeffries’s 7M salary is more than worth the cost of a first round pick that won’t be a top-6 pick anyway.
THIS. I like the risk of them saying, “Fuck it, we’re all in,” than middling, struggling to make an 8 seed.
Besides, the picks won’t matter if you have Wade, Bron, Johnson, Bosh, etc.
Or you don’t get either and you wait to reload the next year or year after that. You’ll just have to do it without high picks, which sucks, but after 1-5 the drop-off is huge. Picks 14-31 are crapshoots anyway.
/a bit drunk and unsure if that made sense
Papelbon’s Mo obsession is sort of creepy but also sort of the most endearing thing about him:
http://sports.espn.go.com/bost.....id=4919488 (safe)
It also used to say that Papelbon had two rings, but they changed it.
Also, why was Sandy Koufax meeting with the Mets? To tell them, “Learn how to pitch, dumbasses”?
They mentioned his consecutive playoff scoreless streak twice. Right, we get it, he has the record for consecutive scoreless innings in the playoffs. Mo’s still better.
Right, we get it, he has the record for consecutive scoreless innings in the playoffs
He actually doesn’t, that’s still Mo’s (Whitey Ford in the WS). I think he has the record for consecutive innings to start a postseason career.
Geez, how biased could this article get? Twice they mention that his “record postseason scoreless streak” comes to an end. Now technically he’s not giving the details as to exactly which “record” it is, but come on. This might have well been written by Papelbon’s agent.
This is my other favorite part:
And unlike the Yankees, the Red Sox have a prospective closer-in-waiting in Daniel Bard.
If Daniel Bard is a prospective closer in waiting then what is David Robertson who was actually slightly better than Bard last season. I cannot wait for the Red Sox to cheap out and let Papelbon walk because I am not that impressed with Bard. Papelbon was flat out dominant the second he went to the bullpen and Bard was nowhere close to that last year with his straight as an arrow fastball.
Wait what? They do not acknowledge Joba and/or Hughes to be the future closer?
This is bittersweet. Bitter because the article is boshit insane but sweet because for once, ONCE the media does not peg them as future closers.
but he throws 100 MPH!!!!!!!
Bard = Kyle Fransworth re-incarnated!
Right, we get it, he has the record for consecutive scoreless innings in the playoffs.
He also has this:
http://www.sawxblog.com/photos.....pelbon.jpg
http://www.baseball-reference......0110.shtml
Seeing Papelbon blow that save made me feel all fuzzy inside.
It was the best non-Yankee related baseball thing that I think I’ve seen in years.
I think we all know it made you feel a little more than fuzzy inside.
Sigh. Was that really necessary?
:: fart joke ::
I also loved this.
This will NEVER get old. It’s the 2009 Mets!!!
Also, wow, there are a lot of Met fans in that crowd.
Even though I’ve seen that top of the ninth with my own eyes, it looks just as amazing spreadsheet-style.
NERD!!!
Whoa, that game — everyone tried to blow it. First Wagner continues his playoff woes, Papelbon lets the runners score to make the game close, Jepsen gives up a run, then Papelbon screws it up.
Then, the Sox go quietly against Fuentes. Oof.
Also, Reggie Willits gets picked off first for the third out of the 8th. What an amateur.
Didn’t Papelbon pick Matt Holliday off first for the last out of an actual game when the Red Sox and Rockies were playing in the World Series? Poor 2007 Rockies. You know if they were playing the Yankees in the 2007 World Series and got crushed and looked pretty much terrible in every way, there would be a ton of whiny articles about how unfair it was. But because they were playing the Red Sox, the media made it debatable as to whether they were even the underdogs.
My bad, it was for the last out of the eighth.
http://www.baseball-reference......0250.shtml
Yeesh, Tacoby had a 1.188 OPS in that series?
What really messes with my head is that closers ordinarily have such lousy pickoff moves. I wonder if Papelbon is an exception?
From what I’ve seen, which is an extremely small sample size, he does actually have a pretty decent pickoff move, especially for a closer. IIRC, that Holliday pickoff was the first pickoff of his career, though. Matty probably wasn’t expecting it.
Koufax, who’s career ended at 30 due to injuries, he’s the perfect guy to speak with the Mets.
This comment is amazing.
Maybe the Wilpons’ desire to rebrand their team as the modern day Brooklyn Dodgers includes the old Brooklyn tradition of not winning the World Series until their 8th try in their 50th year.
I look forward to many Subway Series Yankee championships.
I wonder what the media will think of Paps when Boston (likely) lets him go.
Malcontent. Cancer in the clubhouse. Injury waiting to happen. Stubborn. Diva. Out of control. Unfocused. Celebrates too much.
Does that cover it?
You forgot “baby raper”.
and crack whore.
Hm, just about.
Baseball history murderer?
To be fair, the Boston media actually seems to dislike him already. I mean, the smearing picked up when he blew that save against the Angels and there were a couple of rumors they’d trade him and put Bard in as the closer, but it’s not like, I dunno, everyone else who ever left Boston, who was TEH AWESOME when they were still with the team and then a terribly overrated, bad-in-the-clubhouse guy when they left, usually in an ugly fashion.
To be fair, the Boston media actually seems to dislike him already.
You kinda have to.
To like Jon Papelbon is to dislike humanity, decency, and class.
I lol’ed
though, according to the Boston/national media, Joba’s fistpumps are destroying humanity; Papelbon’s… whatever he does… are totally okay because it’s at the end of the game
Booing him at the 08 ASG was quite possibly the most fun non-playoff moment I ever experienced at the stadium
I couldn’t get to the game but I went to the parade and I booed him. It ruled.
I almost sort of like K-Rod because there was some article from the 2008 ASG when the “Papelbon says he should close” controversy was at a high, and Papelbon was in the locker room and he was whining to the reporter about it, and he pointed to K-Rod who was also in the locker room, and he said, “Don’t you think he wants to close too?!” K-Rod responded with something like, “You really need to shut up about this whole thing.” Awesome.
This is obviously much classier than a fist pump.
http://thebuffetisclosed.com/w.....85fb42.jpg
He just couldn’t hold the grit in any longer. It’s biology. You can’t blame him. Unlike Joba’s pampered, conceited, pansy, money-hungry fist pumps.
But he (Papelbon) doesn’t even have a beard!!!
Yes, he does. You just haven’t seen it yet.
Papsmear is just about the most obnoxious, classless, self-impressed, wet-behind-the ears, insufferable, selfish, over-rated player I have ever seen.
He had the gaul to compare himself to Mariano Rivera? Try again in FIFTEEN years Paps!
Sean Casey on Hot Stove just said Mike Jacobs could be a huge addition for the Mets. Sigh. Well at least he isnt Harold Reynolds….
This is going to sound like a bizarre complaint, but a lot of MLB Network’s weird analysis comes from the fact that they’re so positive about every move ever made. I think they’re afraid to say something is a bad move or someone is going nowhere.
You disagree? At this point, signing Sean Casey would be a huge signing for the Mets. They need all the help they can get.
That.
Do I think Mike Jacobs sucks balls? Yes. Is balls-sucking Mike Jacobs still a decent bet to outproduce Mets 2009 HR champ Daniel Murphy? Yeah, he is.
The Mets are like a homeless bum. The half-eaten Jr. Whopper with spoiled mayonnaise that someone else threw in the dumpster is like a four course meal at Le Cirque to them.
I have an issue with the title of this post. Melvin Croussett can strike out everyone, he’s just too modest to actually do it.
The post title is “YOU can’t strike everyone.”
Melvin Croussett is not a you, sir.
Touche.
Nice job destroying the dreams of a friend.
It’s tough love.
he gives because he loves
/tommiesmith……’d
Handle change from Mo’s Savant to Hangoverologist.
Anyway, I was talking to a friend at school and he was wearing a Reds hat. I asked why he was wearing one and he said because the Reds were his number 2 team in baseball, second to the Yanks. Then I realized I shouldn’t be criticizing because I’m a secret Dbacks fan.
Is your friend mryankee, who is now a Reds fan due to the Aroldis signing?
And, as a Reds fan, when is his Tommy John scheduled?
Speaking of the Reds, I briefly heard Bronson Arroyo on WFAN today; Francesa must’ve been crazy jealous.
uhhhh dah guy wins double digits year-ah after year-ah. Ah saw him come in tah Yankee stadium and pitch some big games against dah Yanks. He gots bawls.
Then I realized I shouldn’t be criticizing because I’m a secret Dbacks fan.
HOW COULD YOU?!?!?!?!! (unless you’re from Arizona or something, then it’s fine.) Then again, my NL team is the Phillies, so…
My NL team was the Phillies until the WS. Now I don’t have one. Colorado maybe?
Yeah, I like Colorado too. Phils still rule, though.
Catch some Nationals Fever with me.
It’s now only likely to maim you, as opposed to kill you.
if Wang is even sort of what he was in 2006 and 2007 and Strasburg lives up to the hype, I think they have a better rotation than the Mets. That’s scary.
That’s one enormous if.
If you don’t mind my saying so.
That’s one enormous if. If you don’t mind my saying so.
Nah, I’m used to it.
I admit it: I’m impressed.
yeah, good point.
Ryan Zimmerman may be the best 3B in the league, non ARod division. He’s only a year older than Longoria. They’re neck and neck.
I was going to add a caveat about Zimmermann being out for the year with TJ surgery, but:
Lannan/Wang/Marquis/Strasburg (with the hype) is not bad, and probably better than the Mets. Wow.
Don’t forget Scott Olsen, Ross Detwiler, and Shairon Martis.
@Bex: My dad went to work in Arizona one time in the late 90s before my sister was born and he immediately became a huge Dbacks fan and brought home some stuff and it sort of became an acquired fanship.
Ah, that makes sense. Well then I won’t hold it against you
My NL team is the Mets.
Yeah I said it…
You poor bastard, you.
1 foot in Heaven, one in Hell…
Enough to drive a person mad…
Case in point: I consider it lucky that my “b” team is the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jason Marquis picked my “B” team rather than take an equitable offer from the Mets.
Because he liked their upside better.
Sorry, man. They pretty much were my NL team until I went to college right near Philly. I watched most of their games last year.
Did Al Davis really give Janikowski 4yrs/16m (9m guranteed)?
Unreal. Apparently Vince Wilfork’s wife tweeted about the contract, I’m sure her eyes were rolling like a cash register.
Yeah but cant see the Patriots giving him the money he wants, if they were going to they would have resigned him instead of having him play out all 6 years of his rookie contract.
He’ll get franchised and then they’ll agree not to do it next year a la Asante.
Yup. Apparently they offered him something with around $20-$25 million guaranteed and he didn’t take. I love Wilfork, but I see where the team is coming from He’s 375 pounds. They can franchise him in 2010, 2011 there might not even be football. Remember how fat the NBA players got during their lockout? I would not want to have a bunch of money tied up long term to a 375 pounder during a lockout. He could be the next Ted Washington, a huge guy who remained productive throughout his career, but there are a lot more Gilbert Brown’s who grew out of the league.
Both Washington and Wilfork are way more technically skilled NTs than Gilbert Brown ever was. Brown’s a poor comp, IMO.
Wilfork is a stud.
Yeah, the Gilbert Brown (and Washington) comps were more body type, less actual ability to play. I still hope they sign him, but it’s certainly a risk.
They’ll franchise him this year (uncapped) and then let him walk next year, I bet.
He’s going to the Dolphins in 2011. He’s got Parcells Vet written all over him, and he’s a Miami native.
I’m not sure if he’s 375, but I see your point. Vince should have definately held out 3-4 years ago to get his raise like everyone else. Instead he never missed an OTA, practice, etc and now he’ll get 7m then will have to wait for his payday.
Then again, NT is a huge part to a good 3-4.
HE CAN KICK FROM TEH 60 YARD LINE!!!11!
I wonder if making him the highest paid kicker in the history of the NFL makes Al think that he was justified in taking him in the 1st round.
I wonder if Al Davis agreed to the contract on an empty stomach, or if he found someone’s blood to drink first to revitalize his immortal essence.
Al Davis = Montgomery C. Burns
5th Starter = Jobahughes = alternate who starts the game, first guy “starter” never more than 4 2/3 innings & if someone goes down they’re ready to be stretched furthur & maybe joba gets an extra inning each time
Not after a year of starting should Joba get an innings reduction unless he gets hurt or just bombs 100000%.
5th Starter = Jobahughes = alternate who starts the game, first guy “starter” never more than 4 2/3 innings & if someone goes down they’re ready to be stretched furthur & maybe joba gets an extra inning each time
(thinks)
No.
oooooooh that’s what they’re gonna do gotcha. thanks
Sweeney Murti made a good point about Joba being moved to the bullpen. Do you think the Yanks would have went through all the stuff with the Joba Rules for the past few years to make him a middle reliever? Especially NOW, when those restrictions are finally lifted?
The only way I see Joba moving back to the bullpen is if he bombs out as a starter this year. And I still have my doubts about this ST competition. Joba’s ERA as a starter is a full run lower than Hughes, and he has a deeper and better repertiore. I have to think he has an edge, despite what Eiland said recently.
I have to think he has an edge,
No, that’s Derek Jeter.
(I agree with everything you said here, I just wanted to make the lame joke.)
Whatever you say, Bexy.
In blazing copper.
With a huge moon roof.
Speaking of the NFL:
If there are any Kansas City Chiefs fans here, I suggest you learn to start hating the Colts, Texans, and Titans. Because you’re gonna get moved to the AFC South. The writing is on the wall.
Goodell’s gonna pin his reputation on two things: 1) negotiating a new round of labor peace without a work stoppage and 2) moving a team to LA.
That team will be the Jacksonville Jaguars. Nobody else makes sense, and no other market will complain less. The Vikings/Saints/Bills communities would raise hell; the Rams are being sold to midwestern investors; the Raiders are owned by a crazy fucker and Goodell will never pin his LA hopes on him.
The Jags have no roots or history. Nobody in north Florida cares about pro football. They can’t even crack 50 percent attendance.
Ladies and Gentlemen, your Los Angeles Jaguars.
If the Jags move to the AFC West (and no NFC team would flip conferences with them, so forget about that), they’re going to have to kick out one of the two non-west coast members of that foursome. That means either the Broncos or the Cheifs move to the AFC South, and it’s not gonna be the Mountain Standard Time Denver Broncos.
Flipping the Chiefs and Jags makes geographic sense, and the Chiefs intradivision rivalries are weaker than the Broncos/Raiders/Chargers triumvirate. Slam dunk.
AFC East:
New York
New England
Buffalo
Miami
AFC North:
Cleveland
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
AFC South:
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Houston
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
AFC West:
Denver
San Diego
Oakland
LOS ANGELES JAGUARS
——–
You’re welcome.
I don’t see much chance of the Chiefs being moved away from Denver and Oakland. The Hunts are on the Maras/Rooneys level of running shit in the NFL.
Of course, the Maras/Rooneys/Hunts have a reputation for putting the good of the league over their own personal well being, and $$$$$$$$ might help.
HOWEVA, what if…
AFC South:
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Houston
St. Louis
NFC West
Seattle
Arizona
Los Angeles
San Francisco
I can’t see the Rams agreeing to switch conferences.
The 13th most populous US city will not lose an NFL team.
I still see Buffalo losing their team. When Ralph Wilson dies you will see the beginning of it, trust me.
Jacksonville being the 13th most populous city is misleading, because Jacksonville has virtually no suburbs. It’s a large, spread out city with no surrounding metropolitan area. It’s like the opposite of Boston.
Jacksonville, FL is the 13th biggest city, but it’s like the 25th or 30th biggest NFL market.
I understated it:
Jacksonville, FL is the FORTIETH largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States according to the 2008 tabulation cited by Wikipedia.
There’s more living breathing human bodies in the Providence-New Bedford-Fall River MSA than in the Jacksonville one. The only NFL teams in smaller markets than the Jags (#40) are the Titans (#41), Saints (#46), Bills (#47), and Packers (#147).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.....ical_Areas
Did not know that about the layout. Do you think the fact that television ratings have still been good show a chance for growth?
What are your thoughts on a Buffalo relocation? I know the communities would cause problems, but it is shrinking, Buffalo is smaller than it was in 1900 (in terms of the city).
Buffalo would be an equally good candidate in a vacuum.
But the fact that their legacy in northern New York dates from 1960 and the Jags began in 1995 makes this an open and shut case. They’re both crappy, shrinking markets, but the Bills still regularly sell out their old, cold, shitty stadium but the Jags can’t sell out their newer more state of the art facility.
Also, the Jets/Dolphins/Pats don’t want to see the Bills leave (and get replaced by the Ravens). Jacksonville has no ties to anything.
If the Jags were a healthy, functioning franchise with a vibrant, committed fanbase, perhaps. But they’re not.
I think the Bills are the #1 team to go to LA. Remember one of the reasons why the Bills have not relocated is the owner. As soon as that team is sold, its “I Love LA”. Plus, LA would dis own the Jaguaurs. At least the Bills have some fuckin history where LA would gravitate too.
Their history makes them HARDER to move.
Also, if the Bills are sold, they’re likely to be sold to a Bills fan who would keep them in Buffalo.
But, Tommie, I like the Jags right where they are.
I’m trying to break it to you easy, baby. I don’t want to see you get hurt because you didn’t see it coming.
That’s actually…very thoughtful of you. I’ll make my peace with the AFC South now.
That’s actually…very thoughtful of you.
It is. I’m sensitive, but still ruggedly masculine. I think about your feelings and needs, but I’m not a whiny pussy either.
Look, what’s that in your hand? Now I have it! It’s an oyster with two tickets to that thing you love. Look again! THE TICKETS ARE NOW DIAMONDS.
So..that was the magic trick?
Why is nobody talking about how A-Rod desperately needed those days off last year to help his performance? We’ve been getting numerous backup outfielders, but why aren’t we addressing a backup infielder to give A-Rod his needed blows?
– Bennett W., Washington, D.C.
This is a good point. As of right now, the best guess for the utility-infield spot would probably be Ramiro Pena, who is as well-liked as anyone in the clubhouse — but let’s face it, he’s in the big leagues for his glove. Kevin Russo could challenge for a spot, too, but it’s interesting that the Yankees don’t have a veteran of the Cody Ransom or Angel Berroa ilk in camp this year for third base. Anyone heard from Morgan Ensberg lately?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....Id=rss_nyy
It’s not huge deal, but we all saw how badly Alex needed those days off last year. Figure somebody else plays some 3rd once or twice a month.
It’s also good to remember that A-Rod was coming off major surgery last year as well.
This is a good point. As of right now, the best guess for the utility-infield spot would probably be Ramiro Pena, who is as well-liked as anyone in the clubhouse — but let’s face it, he’s in the big leagues for his glove.
And, this is bad… how?
If what we’re talking about is someone to make 10-15 starts a year for ARod at 3B, Ramiro Peña can do that. Sure, he won’t hit a lick, but… it’s 15 games. We’ll live.
Pena might have the glove but where will the Yankees turn this year for jumps?
FACT: Randy Winn has a 60-inch vertical. FACT.
[Ed. note: That's probably not true.]
FACT: Winn doesn’t need to jump since he can fly, hence the sick defense. FACT.
[Ed. note: This has been confirmed by a reliable source known only as "The Internet".]
I actually find it comforting that the Yankees don’t have a Random or Berroa type around camp this year.
Yeah, Ransom was there as insurance and to play for a month while they waited for Alex. But someone in AAA who could fill in occasionally would be nice. I just see Pena as a middle infielder. But for 1-2 times a month, who cares.
Well, will A-Rod need those days off if he’s not coming off surgery? I believe he’s done with his rehab as well, so maybe he won’t need the days off to rest and perform.
I hate the term “blow” for a day off. It’s crude, rude and unnecessary.
I don’t think it’s rude or crude. It means a day off to catch your breath. It’s nothing sexual.
2010 has already reaffirmed that my beserker rage sparked by criticism of phenomenal athletes based on small playoff sample sizes will live on past A-Rod’s renaissance. Hurrah!
On another note: what baseball tomes are you folks purchasing this season? There’s so many I want. I need to limit myself. I need guidance.
I’m sooooooo excited for the “he’s overpaid” and “we won the World Series despite him, not because of him” comments to come out of the woodwork when Texy gets off to his usual slow start.
I read Birth of a Dynasty recently, it’s excellent.
I got the lovely offical 2009 Yankees championship book. Very nice recap of the season.
On another note: what baseball tomes are you folks purchasing this season? There’s so many I want. I need to limit myself. I need guidance.
I hope Matt Taibbi comes out with a baseball book.
I love to laugh.
I don’t think there are enough smug phrases in the English language for Taibbi to compose a book on baseball.
It’s going to be a Russian-French-English work.
Has anyone else seen this yet? http://nomaas.org/2010/02/the-.....n-cashman/
Not to actually get this open thread back to full Yankee talk, by any means
Holy shit that was a very good interview.
They asked Cashman about being a ninja. Sick. But the other questions were really good. Like these.
Yeah, it’s Joba’s spot to lose. Cash doesn’t want either one to go in complacent, thinking their spots are set, so naturally he says it’s an open competition.
They said the same thing last year as well. There has always been an issue with Joba not being in the best condition, going back to his days in High School when he weighed 300 pounds. I think they want to push Joba so that he doesn’t get complacent.
OH SHIT, I HOPE NOBODY ACCUSES ME OF RACISM . . . oh, wait. Joba’s White. Never mind.
WHITE BOYS CAN TOO JUMP!!!!!1111!!!!!!11!
NOT THE FAT ONES!!!!
OH SHIT, I HOPE NOBODY ACCUSES ME OF RACISM . . . oh, wait. Joba’s White. Never mind.
A: Joba can jump. http://www.totalprosports.com/.....ndians.jpg
B: Joba’s not white. He’s Native American.
The only thing here that I registered is, “Joba can jump.”
SUCK IT, NOSTRA-ARTIST!!!!!111!!!!!1111!!1!
That’s a dive, not a jump, you silly boy.
half white?
/Sheff’d
Heh.
Also secretly Native American: Oklahoma draft prospect Sam Bradford.
Usually I’m not one to rip on grammatical errors or misspellings but.. “I felt like we were the Roman Empire where are operations were stretched far and wide. We’re weren’t king of the hill in player development.” Come on man, you’re quoting CashMeezy, get it right.
This interview is really tremendous. Must read stuff.
That was a great interview. Cash’s responses to the NoMaas people’s jokes just prove he is ruthless in interviews as he is on the free agent and trade markets.
I like how he still plays along instead of just completely blowing the not-so serious questions away, like “yeah everyone know what I listen to when I’m making a deal”
Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this… and totally redeem yourself!
Outstanding interview questions and Cashmoney was very forthright in his answers.
SJK: Among some pockets of Yankee fans, you’ve developed a reputation as a ninja, silently stalking your victim and then out of nowhere slaying him with a flying star. In other words, you have a reputation of making acquisitions without them receiving much publicity before they happen, i.e Mark Teixeira. Do you make it a point that your front office keeps negotiations private? Do you feel that gives you an advantage?
CASH: One of the things that has taken place is that we’ve streamlined our process. When it comes to major league acquisitions, I work with our pro scouting department and only include others when the circumstances warrant. By doing that, I limit leaks. I control what I’m working on and it’s less likely to get out. And it works to our advantage. Because if people read or hear the Yankees are looking at someone, they’ll take a look too. That’s what I do. If a club is in on a guy, you take a second or third look. I don’t want to get anyone else’s attention when I’m working on something.
http://nomaas.org/2010/02/the-.....n-cashman/
Can the RAB interview be far behind?
If RAB could wangle that, the blog might explode.
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....ent-776179
So I guess that’s a yes?
I think a RAB interview would be good but they’d have to get it done soon or wait until next season probably. Now’s the perfect timing to interview baseball people.
I wonder how they even got him to do the interview. Anyway, that’s awesome. I could only imagine the guys at RAB picking Cash’s brain. It would be epic.
He’s mentioned their blog before as one he reads occasionally. I think he likes their goofy pix of him.
He mentioned that like 5-6 years ago. I dont think there’s much there outside of the pics, so I hope that is it.
CASH: One of the things that has taken place is that we’ve streamlined our process.
[Jean Afterman enters with package, which she places on Hank's lap]
HANK STEINBRENNER [unwrapping the package of a bulletproof vest-wrapped fish]
What the hell is this?
GENE MICHAEL
It’s a Sicilian message. It means Billy Connors and Bill Ernslie sleep with the fishes.
Someone’s gotta ask Cash if he’s the stat-nerd basement guy.
I had an interview lined up with a prominent player a few years ago, but the team squashed it because if they gave us the interview, they’d have to give it to everyone.
Enough, Mike. Tell us who it was!
Jeez this one Olympic hockey announcer is just sucking Crosby’s dick so much. He was saying how Crosby is better than Ovechkin because Crosby won a cup. Then Crosby makes a basic pass for an assist but its an “AMAZING PASS!!!1!11!”…
What channel is the hockey on?
It was on CNBC earlier.
Canada – Norway is on right now.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, and it came up yesterday at TYU, but do we think that wOBA could finally break into the MSM any time soon? I say it all the time: if they accept the hard to calculate QB-Rating, why not wOBA?
Considering OPS just really gained “mainstream” recognition last year, I’d say that wOBA and wRC+ are a few years away
Yeah…sigh…
Anyway, I think the problem the MSM has with incorporating stats is that they (generally) lack context (though ESPN did a good job of putting the lg. avg. OPS when they displayed it). Most of the time, especially during football games, the announcer throws out a stat that has absolutely no context attached to it, so it comes across as white noise. Whatever, I’m rambling. I should give this fight up. But I won’t.
(on Montero)
SJK: Do you think his future is behind the plate?
CASH: We hope so. His value is highest as a catcher. His bat will find a way into the middle of the lineup, that’s without a doubt. Whether he stays behind the plate, is a first baseman, a rightfielder, a DH – that remains to be seen. But he’s got one of the best throwing arms in the minors, he’s got some of the best blocking…he’s just so big, mechanically he takes a lot longer in his release. That’s an area he needs to shorten up.
This NoMaas interview is the motherload of good shit. A RF? Damn.
With Cash reading between the lines is like finding hidden gems such as this.
Hmmm-oddly worded.
You know what I mean.
Really? Besides for this one little tidbit (RF for Montero? Why didnt we think of that sooner), I’m pretty sure you have written columns on everything Cash said.
Just a note: it was still a very good interview. It’s just that Cash has been a little overexposed recently, so we have his opinion on almost everything.
What I really liked about it was the questions they asked. Not the usual, dumbed-down questions you get from most outlets. Check this out:
SJK: Over the last few years, it seems like the Yankees are becoming less inclined to pay players based on nostalgia and public opinion. For example, early in this offseason you said Hideki Matsui’s World Series MVP wouldn’t be a factor in your valuation of him. How has the decision-making process changed?
CASH: I will say that I’ve been educated about sample sizes and the true value of a player’s abilities. If a player has a hot week in October, I don’t think that necessarily gives you an idea of his abilities.
SJK: On to the 5th starter competition — Joba Chamberlain lost significant juice on his fastball last year, in some estimates over 2 mph. How concerned are you about that and is that something which will weigh into your decision about who becomes the 5th starter?
CASH: Performance will dictate. He was inconsistent last year. He has completed his development program. May the best man win.
SJK: But, speaking of what you just said about sample sizes, how can you make a decision based on Spring Training?
CASH: You are forced to make those types of decisions. You take into account their prior history, but really no one is coming in with an edge. We’ll see what we see. Maybe someone shows up out of shape or pulls a hamstring, that helps make a decision. Maybe someone is throwing ball better than someone else.
A FOLLOW UP?!? NO!! WHO’S EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING?
Agreed. I’m just saying that Cash said the same thing at the time, that they wouldnt allow small samples to govern their moves. As I noted and you just illustrated, the interview itself was very well done.
Yeah, but I always thought the OF was a stretch, and then Brian Hoch recently shot it down completely. Now here’s Cash injecting RF as a possibility. That was an eye opener.
I thought the Hoch thing was overblown- he was quoting a scout. We know that unnamed scouts are not the most trustworthy sources.
Moshe, you’re commenting like an arthritic out there.
/Olney’s scout’d
I laughed.
I don’t think he meant anything by that RF comment. I’m pretty sure he was just winging it.
Even if he was, it actually makes a ton of sense. In Yankee Stadium, right makes more sense than left for him, and his arm is good enough for right. If catching full time doesnt work out, he can be Dh/backup C/backup 1B in 2011, then take over in RF in 2012.
But the way they talk about his range, Jesus Montero could make Adam Dunn look like Ichiro in RF.
RF range >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> RF arm
To be honest, no one has seen him in the OF to know his range. Also, range in Yankee Stadium RF is not THAT vital. I know other stadiums would be involved as well, but RF makes more sense than LF.
Also, range in Yankee Stadium RF is not THAT vital.
I’ll agree that range is less important in YS3 RF than in YS3 LF. However, having lived through the Gary Sheffield and Bobby Abreu administrations, I’m not willing to go and say that range isn’t vital in RF.
“Less vital than LF” and “not that vital” are not identical statements. Bobby Abreu was a traveshamockery even in the rather easy to play rightfield. I’m not keen on repeating that.
Evenwith Abreu level offense? What about with Miggy Cabrera level offense?
Bingo. RF is actually less ground to cover in Yankee Stadium. That’s why it jumped out at me, it does make some sense.
I still say they have to find a position for him, or he makes more sense for a team that has 1B open.
Cashman never wings anything.
He sleeps at a Holiday Inn Express every night.
Not only that, but when I transcribed that YES Hot Stove interview, I noticed that he listed the pitchers in order when discussing 5th starter candidates. Joba, Hughes, Gaudin, Mitre, Nova and Z-Mac.
Brian Cashman made a mistake once, just to see how it feels.
Stay thirsty, Brian. Stay thirsty.
Did it feel like the winningest pitcher in Scranton history?
Seems as good a time as any to bring up this:
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....ent-768887
Someone from lohud was actually arguing that the Yankees never, ever make a mistake. Unlike you, this person was 100% serious.
I no longer use lohud.
To sort of change the topic, does anybody play the Show? I do and I made a pitcher. He is in AAA (PCL) and has a 2.64 ERA, 1.158 WHIP, and a 2.38 FIP. I’m building stats in NL West farm clubs then I’m going to transition over to the Yankees.
I’m up to 2011 in my franchise. I lost Mo to retirement after ’09 and Jeter to retirement after ’10 (40 HITS SHORT OF 3K, WTF?). My starting lineup:
1. Heathcott, CF
2. Posada, DH
3. Tex, 1B
4. Rodriguez, 3B
5. Montero, C
6. Swisher LF
7. Mike Stanton, RF (traded Wang and Nady for him in ’09)
8. Cano, 2B
9. Tim Beckham, SS (traded for him mid ’10)
Rotation:
1. CC
2. A.J.
3. Joba
4. Hughes
5. Tommy Hanson (just traded Yu Darvish and others for him)
Posada playing, Jeter isn’t?
I know, right? But for ’10 and ’11 (20 games thus far), Jesus has been doing the catching.
If that were a real life lineup, it would give me boners. Also it sucks that you lost Jeter and Mo. Maybe you should have extended them offers past 09 and 10 and Jeter would reach 3K and then he could go to the HOF.
What really pisses me off about the Show sometimes is that every time I start my team gets shutout or no-hit and after I get pulled in the eighth they go and pull off a rally. Oy vey.
Yeah, that happened to me in ’09 constantly.
Anyway, you annoyingly can’t extend contracts in mid-season and retirement comes before contract management. Frustrating.
What I do when I want to extend someone’s expiring contract is release them and then sign them to a bigger deal. I did that with Jeter in one file. I released him and signed him to a 5/110 deal.
Oh good idea.
He tweeted; http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenth.....9212195015
…
Then he detweeted; http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenth.....9212975189
He’s a detweeter.
/seinfeld’d
SGNJ
I admitted above that my NL team is the Mets, to not a very good reaction. However, I am going to list a few reasons why you guys should root for the Mets (although it is as close to definite as you can get that I will not get any converts)
1. Having 2 good baseball teams is good for NY
2. If the Mets are good FA will actually want to go there and provide competition against the Red Sox who have a much stricter budget than the Yankees (admittedly a pretty weak reason and I am stretching it here)
3. The Subway Series was fucking awesome
4. We all love baseball and watching baseball is much more fun when you are actually rooting for a team. In the NY area we get every Mets game so much more opportunity to watch a team you are pulling for.
5. It is not the worst thing in the world to see your friends and family who are Mets fans happy.
I don’t hate the Mets. Most of my friends who are baseball fans are Met fans. I just feel bad for them.
1. I don’t care.
2. Stretching it.
3. Yes. You know what else was awesome? Every other WS the Yanks won. And the Subways Series was only awesome because we won.
4. I only get emotionally invested in the Yankees games. I couldn’t root for the Mets. My soul rebels against it.
5. Yes, it is.
And lastly, reason # 6:
6. I fucking HATE the Mets. I despise them. I hate them almost as much as I hate the Red Sox. It’s that bad.
6. I fucking HATE the Mets. I despise them. I hate them almost as much as I hate the Red Sox. It’s that bad.
Why, though? The Mets have no bearing on the Yankees at all–save for six games a year–and are generally harmless. Though their fans may be annoying at times, and the team is generally frustrating, they are, at the end of the day, quite harmless. My thoughts on them:
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-310882
Raised that way. Besides, I love rivalries.
The same reason I love the Yankees, actually.
Fair enough. IMO, though, the Mets are farther down on the rivalry list.
I personally don’t see the Mets as Yankee rivals. When they play in June, it’s not much passionate rivalry as when the Sox come down or we go up. It’s more like the big brother going to the little brother’s room and start wrestling and ultimately beating them mercilessly.
Yeah, I agree. I put the Mets behind all the A.L. teams in terms of rivalry.
I really don’t understand that point of view, even though it is commonplace in New York. The Mets are another New York team. I am old enough to have seen the Dodgers play in Brooklyn and the Giants in Manhattan. It was the same then. Each team’s fans hated each other’s team.
I never hated any of those teams. I don’t hate the Mets now.
If the Mets get to the play-offs, I root for them. Were you really rooting for the Red Sox to beat the Mets in 1986?
I root for the Mets against everyone except the Yankees. This Mets-hating-venom from Yankee fans is just so parochial, idiotic and ignorant.
I like the Mets… because they’re funny.
I mean funny like they’re a clown, they amuse me. They make me laugh, they’re here to f#$%&in’ amuse me.
/Tommy’d
Fuck you. Pay me.
/Paulie’d
Seriously, though: I don’t like or dislike the Mets. But I do enjoy them.
Because, if we didn’t have gruesome, bloody, multiple-fatality one-car accidents on the highway, we wouldn’t have any sweet, sweet morbid-curiosity rubbernecking that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy that it’s someone else and not you impaled on a fencepost because they were drunk and high on meth.
Meet the Mets! Greet the Mets!
Last-place teams defeat the Mets!
Terrible pitching, second-rate speed
Guaranteed to blow a seven-game lead!
(stolen from a Mets board c. 2007.)
I’m waiting for someone to create a Sporcle quiz where you have to name all the injured Mets of 2009.
Is there a Sporcle quiz that asks you to name the Mets of 2009? Because that’s pretty much it.
I have a Mets intern internet buddy now. I can’t wait for this season.
I hope it’s Tony Bernazard.
Please, Tony and I go way back.
Oh and it looks like Granderson will likely be the opening day CF.
Shit, hopefully Gardy comes out smoking again and is able to carry it into the regular season this time.
But yeah, sounds like he’ll have to be pretty damn good to be an everyday player. Also, I don’t get the feeling Cash/Joe will flip-flop C-Grand’s position every other game to accommodate Gardy/Winn/Hoff or whoever else is getting starts as the 3rd OFer.
I don’t think he’ll have to be pretty damn good; he’ll just have to be better than Winn and/or Hoffmann.
Yeah, I misspoke a bit. I meant in terms of the player at hand, Gardy. By pretty damn good; I meant about league average — Melk style.
Gardner as a league average hitter > Melky as a league average hitter. Defense, FTW!
Yeah, that was as clear and definitive as I’ve seen Cash on the subject. I thought that since they approached Granderson already about playing LF they were signaling a move, especially since they’re so high on Gardner’s defensive abilities. It’s not like it makes a huge difference either way, but you get the more value of Gardner in CF (premium defensive position) since most of his value is tied up in his defense.
I got 53/94 on this:
http://www.sporcle.com/games/d...../Studyhelp
I can’t tell if that’s good or bad.
69/94, and that’s not counting the authors I couldn’t spell (Aleksander Solzhenitsyn and Chinua Achebe)
Follow up: how many works listed there have you read, and are not just aware of?
70. You?
56, but that’s counting stuff every work listed on the page, and stuff I hardly remember reading (like Jack London and Stephen Crane)
I got Achebe.
I consider myself to be someone who reads a lot and I could only get 48. Well, I’m going to say 49 because I reject the spelling “Dostoevsky”.
I saw “O Pioneers!” on the list and typed Whitman. I saw my score go up and was confused when the answer didn’t fill in. Then “Cather” magically popped into my head.
Is AJ rocking the high socks this year?
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100.....lkw110.jpg
(safe)
I approve if so.
He wore them in Florida for a while.
http://cache4.asset-cache.net/.....8802ECBDAE
I’d like to introduce a new acronym to RAB. It’s a topic that comes up often, and it’s about time we have shorthand code for referring to it.
OPSDT-’Old People Saying Dumb Things’
My first entry.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t.....029058.ece
It’s funny how certain meats are no longer culturally acceptable. I mean, in English, there isn’t even a word for horseflesh as a dish, as opposed to beef, pork, etc.
(Although, I see cat as a starvation-type meat. . . in Europe, anyway)
Yeah, and someone his age would have lived through WW2 and the early post-war years where much of Europe was devastated and people were starving. So he may have been raised on some unusual stuff. But that was forever ago, and he really should know better. Especially as a media personality.
About your point on meats, there’s no real argument I can make against it, other than (as you said) it’s what is socially acceptable at a given time. I can’t tell you killing a Cow is any more/less moral than killing any other animal.
I take offense at that comment as a person approaching age 60. Young people say at least as many dumb things as old people. For evidence, I give you Lindsey Lohan, John Papelbon, Alex Rodriguez, Ozzie Guillen, Tony Bernazard, Sarah Palin, John Rocker . . . . need I go on?
That is a totally inane, discriminatory and baseless statement. To suggest that RAB adopt an acronym for it is beyond belief.
You have a lot to learn. You can start with some respect for elders.
Then again . . . you could be kidding!
Instant username poll:
Rags to Richard
Yes/No?
Nah. It sounds too punnish IMO.
I agree.
NBC sucks. This is the WORST Olympics TV coverage I have ever seen.
SJK: Will Phil Hughes’ reported innings limits factor into the 5th starter competition?
CASH: No, it will not be a factor on his chances of becoming 5th starter. We will mandate what his innings limits will be and Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland will have full authority on how they would manage those innings – just like last year with Joba. They could truncate it at the beginning, it doesn’t matter me. It only matters to me if they exceed their limits.
(TSJC jizzes in his pants.)
Obviously we can’t read too much into a statement like that, but I found that interesting, in light of all the discussions we’ve had about that idea around here. I’m glad to know it’s an option that, at the very least, is being considered.
Given the players involved and general expectations for they’re growth and hopefully ultimate stardom, how could he say anything else?
oops – make that “their” not “they’re”
I’m not sure what you mean… He didn’t have to point out, specifically, that they could rest a guy early in the season so that he wouldn’t push up against his innings limit prior to the end of the season. He literally could have said anything else, or just not said the specific thing he said, but he chose to say that one specific thing, and that’s what I found interesting. You don’t think he could have answered that question without saying the words I emphasized in bolded text?
I understand your point. Cash could have said nothing, anything or something else. My point is that he has two budding stars and wants them to both come out fighting for a starting spot, so his words were designed to keep them both motivated. I think it was a very smart comment. I don’t read anything into it though.
I still think you missed what I was referring to, though. I wasn’t referring to the overall comment about innings limits, I was referring to the bolded text regarding restricting Hughes’s innings early in the season so that he wouldn’t hit his innings limit too early in the second half of the season, a la Joba ’09.
Cashman keeps Hughes motivated by saying it’s an open competition for the 5th spot in the rotation and by telling Hughes his innings limit won’t hold him back from gaining that spot, the same way they rolled with Joba in the 5th spot last season even though he was under an innings limit. Specifically saying they can restrict Hughes early in the season so that he doesn’t hit his innings limit before the end of the season is a different animal, though.
And… Just to reiterate my original point… Like I said above, “obviously we can’t read too much into a statement like that.” I think it was an interesting thing to say, and I like that it’s an option that’s on the table and is apparently being discussed enough that it’s on Cashman’s mind. He didn’t have to say it, it was information he voluntarily offered of his own volition, and I find it an interesting way to respond to the question.
Whatever, I don’t expect total resolution of this disagreement. I don’t think this comment or your further response were really relevant or valid responses to my original comment, I think you’re just kinda being contrarian… But whatever, not like it matters either way.
Honorable Congressman . . . I believe we really agree.
Cashman has been very available to the press this year and his comments seem to be unusually revealing and frank. I see a huge difference in his approach, demeanor and attitude from the man who seemed so down on his luck in the interview where he said that he wasn’t going to leave wihtout building a winning program.
I have really enjoyed his comments this year. I agree that he has been leaving little morsels, like the one you point out in the original post that I commented on. He has been gaining incredible skill in using (and NOT using the press).
He is acting like a man who really is in charge. I like that too. He has a new confidence and aura about him that is both clever and refreshingly open at the same time.
You ae a regular and very skilled poster here at RAB. I was just surprised that you found that little innuendo interesting. You said “obviously we can’t read too much into a statement like that.”
I was in essence agreeing with that portion of your comment while doing it as you said in a “kinda contrarian” (actually you were being very kind – I would have said “challenging”)way.
An idiot manager would say something like “we’ll see who earns the spot”. The interview questions were extremely well constructed and Cashman was up to the task with his responses.
I, for one, am pleased that Cashman still considers Hughes an option for the 5th starter. But, in my heart of hearts, I don’t think it will happen. It is, only in my opinion, Joba’s job to lose.
I agree to agree with you for the most part.
“An idiot manager would say something like ‘we’ll see who earns the spot’. The interview questions were extremely well constructed and Cashman was up to the task with his responses.
I, for one, am pleased that Cashman still considers Hughes an option for the 5th starter. But, in my heart of hearts, I don’t think it will happen. It is, only in my opinion, Joba’s job to lose.
I agree to agree with you for the most part.”
Sorry to go back to this yet again, but I really think you’re still missing my point. What I’m saying, and what I found interesting, about Cashman’s quote, has nothing to do with him being smart by saying this is an open competition and that Hughes has a chance to win the spot or any of that stuff. It’s about a very simple and discrete point – holding a pitcher back early in the season so that he doesn’t hit his innings limits later in the season instead of letting him pitch all season and then restricting him towards the end of the season.
We’ve had numerous conversations around here about that very idea, and the bolded text that I referred to was interesting only because it showed that this idea is something that has been discussed and is, at the very least, on Cashman’s mind. Now, whether it’s being seriously considered and/or whether Cashman brought it up, voluntarily, for any reason, is certainly unclear, and that’s why I said obviously we can’t read too much into it.
That’s all.
All this other stuff, about agreeing about Cashman being smart and about the fifth starter competition… I don’t think it has much to do with what I said. Yeah, I mean, I’m pleased Cashman is smart and considers Hughes an option for the 5th spot, but that’s really kind of tangential to the point I was making.
I understand your point. It is much better to hold the pitcher back early instead of late (I like that idea a lot). It is interesting that Cashman is thinking that way. I totally agree with that. I think it is a strategy that is far superior to the one employed with Joba last year.
Am I the only one that thinks that the Nats could have a much improved season with a rotation of Marquis, Zimmerman, Lannan,Wang and possible Strasburg? I like the Adam Kennedy pick up, Ryan Zimmerman looks like an all star in the making, Nyger Morgan for Milledge was a great trade and Matt Capps prior to 2009 was a very solid closer. Looks like they’re finally building something there.
Can someone explain to me why the likes of Chris Collinsworth is covering snowboarding at the Olympics?