Fan Confidence Poll: January 23rd, 2011

January 24, 2011 by Mike Axisa 101 Comments

Season Record: 95-67 (859 RS, 693 RA, 98-64 Pythag. record), finished one game back in AL East, won Wild Card, lost in ALCS

Top stories from last week:

We heard that the Yankees were close to a deal with Andruw Jones early in the week, and we finally got word of the agreement on Thursday. It’s a one-year contract worth $2M, and it includes a bunch of incentives as well.
Rafael Soriano was officially introduced as a Yankee, but during his press conference we found out that the team had some discussions with then-free agent pitcher Carl Pavano. If it wasn’t for his disastrous first stint in New York, he’d probably be a Yankee right now.
Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Boone Logan all avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year contracts worth $2.7M, $1.4M, and $1.2M, respectively. All of the team’s arbitration-eligible players are now under contract.
Kevin Millwood was mentioned as a rotation option, and the Yanks maintain interest in Freddy Garcia.
Luis Vizcaino will be out for the next three-to-four months with a broken ankle. Russell Martin blamed his recent struggles on off-the-field “distractions.”
Two division rivals made some notables move last week. The Rays signed both Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, while the Blue Jays managed to unload Vernon Wells’ entire contract on the Angels.

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.

{democracy:135}

http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi

I’ve been an 8 since the start of the ’10 season (I think, with maybe a tick up to 9 after they dispatched MIN), but I went down to a 7 this week for one reason: I’m nervous about what happens to the organization if Cashman leaves after ’11. I’ve been consistent over the years in wanting Cashman to stay but it’s never really been about Cashman’s ability/effectiveness as much as it was about craving and appreciating stability and organizational discipline. I have serious concerns about what will happen if/when Cashman leaves the org, and I’m more concerned that he will leave after ’11 after what we’ve seen from the front office recently.

I’ll go back to 8 next week I think, just registering my concern regarding Cashman’s status for one week.
- Jorge
  
  If the sign of good management is that you train your eventual replacement well, then you have to hope that Cashman has done just that and that the franchise has a plan for his inevitable departure, whenever that may be, Bill Madden be damned.
  - http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
    
    Yeah, but at the same time, if that replacement walks into a situation in which there isn’t a clear decision-making hierarchy, then that’s less than ideal. I’m not concerned with the quality of Cashman’s replacement, I’m concerned with the situation in which he or she would be operating.
    - Jorge
      
      You’ve got do be careful not to blow things out of proportion, though. The actual fallout of the Soriano signing is likely to be several decibels, and then some, less than what the media wants to stir up. Is that really going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for Cashman? Is it really a signal that the organization is going back to the days of signing Dave Collins for no reason? It still feels like a stretch.
      
      I don’t like the signing either, but it’s not like this is going to handcuff the franchise from doing what it actually should be doing.
      - http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        Point out where I blew things out of proportion. I said I’m “nervous” and “concerned” about what might happen if Cashman were to leave after ’11. I’m not exactly screaming about the sky falling. You’re misrepresenting my position.
        
        Jorge
        
        It was a general statement – nothing directed at anything you said.
        
        http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        What? This is no biggie, but come on. You responded to my comment(s) and said things like “you’ve got do be careful not to blow things out of proportion, though” in direct response to something I said. Your comments were clearly directed at me, we were the only two people in the conversation and you never said anything about responding to other people or making general statements. You were responding to me, not some made up group of people saying something different than what I said.
        
        It’s fine if you’d like to retract or modify your earlier comments to note that you made a mistake, but don’t try to pass it off as something it wasn’t.
        
        (Sorry, pet-peeve.)
        
        jsbrendog (returns)
        
        have a donut. you know you want 6.
        
        i couldn’t resist.
        
        but i agree. regardless of whether the next in line is op, or whoever, it makes no difference if cashman leaves because his autonomy has been crapped on.
        
        sigh me up for your nervous newsletter
        
        jsbrendog (returns)
        
        sigh was a typo but it totally works in this context
        
        http://twitter.com/joero23 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi
        
        “have a donut. you know you want 6.”
        
        (burps)
- steve s
  
  I share your concern about stability and org discipline but, based on his public behavior, the “unstable” one has been Cashman. He’s been leading with his chin based on his public statements about Jeter, Soriano/ownership, Andy, Jones and seemingly has been taunting ownership. I think keeping Cashman out of the loop on the Soriano transaction is a sign that the wheels are in place to get rid of him which I take as a sign of a rational organization dealing with a disgruntled and perhaps burnt-out employee.
  - Chris
    
    Keeping Cashman out of the loop on Soriano is a sign of a micromanging ownership that does not know how to properly value relievers.
    - steve s
      
      You’d have to at least admit that it was not a vote of confidence in Cashman. If it was the only issue this post-season then maybe it could be seen as a blip but Cashman has had a bunch of strange public moments this off-season. It isn’t micromanaging when management decides to act because they’ve lost confidence in a key employee to do his job.
      - Chris
        
        So when ownership constantly overrode Cashman from 1998-2005, did that mean that they had no confidence in him? What about when they pushed for the A-Rod deal?
        
        This has been happening all of the time, and it’s never signaled a lack of confidence in Cashman, and it’s rarely led to a better team.
        
        steve s
        
        The A-rod deal wasn’t accompanied by Cashman making public comments on other matters the way he’s done this off-season. Also I don’t recall another case where Cashman was left out of the contract negotiation altogther and/or when he was overrode and publically commented on it. If you have specific examples to cite please do.
- Bob Stone
  
  I just don’t see Cashman leaving. I also just don’t see the Yankees wanting to hire someone else to be GM.
Jorge

8. Unless you own a time machine back to pre-1995 times, there’s very little reason to go below a 7 for several years. There will be 25 men in that dugout on Opening Day with as good a chance as any of winning a World Series, and the farm system is strong enough to withstand a small hit, if it comes to that. Besides, Cashman does have a time machine and actually signed the 2000 version of Andruw Jones. :)
- Thomas
  
  But unless Andruw Jones leads the Yankees to a WS and plays Johnny B. Goode in the parade, I’ll never have been born.
Rey22

I went down one from last week. The Soriano mess has me shaking my head at the organization as a whole right now.
bonestock94

6. Nova and Mitre.
choo choo

I would love it if Cashman left. He’s turned into a know-it-all punk. Javy Vazquez, A.J. Burnett, Kei Igawa, Nick Johnson, and .247 Curtis Granderson ( and trending downward) will forever be his legacy.
There’s no reason to get nervous if Cashman leaves. Get drunk and celebrate instead.
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  He had made his fair share of mistakes that’s for sure but he’s not a complete disaster.
- pat
  
  You’re a know it all punk.
  - Jorge
    
    +1
- http://twitter.com/cephster Ross in Jersey
  
  Only pointing out Cashman’s bad contracts is bad enough (why should we ignore his good recent moves, like Swisher, CC, Thames, the depth of the farm system, or the fact they won the world fucking series in 2009?) but judging Granderson by his batting average of all things, and saying he’s trending downwards after the 2nd half he had?
  
  And you called Cashman a know-it-all punk. Bravo, sir, it takes a special kind of ignorance to put together a statement like that.
  - BaltimoreYankee
    
    The world fucking series. Was that on Cinemax?
- The Real JobaWockeeZ
  
  A wrong Cashman >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hal + Hank + Levine
- theyankeewarrior
  
  Did AJ help us win a ring in ’09 or not? And isn’t the Yankees farm system in the top 5 even though they pick in the 30’s every season?
  
  Btw, the reason they pick in the 30’s is because they finish with one of the best record in MLB every season.
- jsbrendog (returns)
  
  yeah, world series wins have nothing to do with a legacy. or division titles. people in kc and pitt could give a shit about either one of those cause they’re run the right way!
- Bob Stone
  
  I totally disagree.
choo choo

No reason whatsoever to personally insult me because we disagree. I feel sorry for you
- pat
  
  So it’s OK to personally insult other people? As long as they aren’t you?
  - choo choo
    
    Apples and oranges, Pat. I guess I should have been more accurate. He is a weasel.
    - pat
      
      I don’t follow your logic.
      - jsbrendog (returns)
        
        that’s cause there isn’t any
  - choo choo
    
    The logis is that Cashman is a public figure and the subject of daily articles regarding his job performance, including multiple mistakes and horseshit, insulting and demeaning attitude. He is fair game, as are all others in this fish barrel.
    You and I are private citizens, commenting on a blog. Apples and Oranges.
    - pat
      
      Lol ok. So you can talk shit but you should also be exempt from being on the receiving end. What a wonderful world you must live in. I’m sure you have never butted heads with your boss or made a mistake in your line of work. Must be nice.
Reggie C.

6.

Nova and Mitre. ‘Nuff said on the ML end. Anthopolous’s manuevering was a cannon blast of fresh air into a boring off-season. Anthopolous is showing up his elders. The Steinbrenners should make note and make ready Cashman’s departure in favor of the Greek (wire reference).
choo choo

Granderson has trended downward his last two seasons. He still can’t hit lefties, can’t hit with men on base, and has an anemic on base percentage.
His aberrant few good weeks in the second half of the season last year (where he still didn’t hit for a noteworthy average) is likely to be morphed by a 2011 reversion to his established pattern of striking out to excess, not driving in runs, batting less than .200 against lefties, and “talking” a good game. He is a run of the mill centerfielder who is easily replaceable. Bad Trade and ridiculous salary. Especially in time to come.
- theyankeewarrior
  
  Didn’t you mean his few good months? After he came back from injury, and revamped his swing, he was a beast.
  
  Oh and did you know that most pitchers are right handed?
  
  You obviously don’t understand what slugging, defense, and Kevin long can do for a player. And you don’t realize that the other option was Austin Jackson, who led the AL in K’s and had a worse season at the dish (with a .400+ BABIP) than Grandy did on a bit of a down year.
  - choo choo
    
    Jackson makes approximately one-sixteenth of what Granderson The Flop makes. Jackson is also 23 years old and was a runner-up for AL rookie of the Year. Regarding strikeouts–Granderson is routinely in the top ten every year, and has led the league previously. My Little League Nephew who is a lefty could K him. He was also ONE THIRD of the trade for Granderson, where young home grown talent was relinquished.
    A bit of a down year? Stay tuned. He’ll be out of here in 2 years especially after this year’s continued slide. Who would pick up the ridiculous option he has coming?
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Granderson led the league in strikeouts once, his rookie season five years ago. Aside from that season, he’s never once been in the top ten in strikeouts. It literally took me less than a minute to look it up.
      - choo choo
        
        Granderson—
        2006 174K’s–ranked first in the league
        2007 141K’s–ranked 7th in the league
        2009 141K’s–ranked 9th in the league
        It took me two minutes to find it.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        You obviously looked wrong.
        
        2007, 11th: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/year/2007/sort/strikeouts
        
        2008, 57th: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/year/2008/sort/strikeouts/count/41/qualified/false
        
        2009, 17th: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/year/2009/sort/strikeouts/qualified/false
        
        2010, 53rd: http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/sort/strikeouts/count/41/qualified/false
        
        And besides, you said every year and now you’re cherry picking? Wonderful.
        
        You’re also contradicting yourself by pining for Jackson, who was a whiff machine. At least Granderson hits for power, Jackson had 4 HR all season.
        
        The difference between a .250 hitter and a .300 hitter is 30 hits, more or less one a week during the season. I’d rather have the 20 extra homers Granderson will give you instead of some shitty bloop singles.
        
        choo choo
        
        I said the “League” and your post referenced the League. I also said “routinely” and not “every”
        Three years since ’06 would classify as routinely.
        Don’t testify in court. You’ll go to jail.
        
        http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        If you’re referring to the AL, then say AL. League makes me think MLB in general. And again, who gives a shit about strikeouts. I’d rather have strikeouts with power than strikeouts with a bunch of shitty singles like Jackson will give you.
        
        jsbrendog (returns)
        
        strikeouts are teh worstest!! id rather have 8 david ecksteins then one adam dunn. baseclogging k machine!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  ridiculous salary
  
  He made $5.5M last year. I’d hate to hear what you have to say about the rest of the team if you consider that ridiculous.
  - choo choo
    
    I said “ridiculous” option. Didn’t I?
    Granderson—in 2013–a team option of 13 Million.
    Man, you’re having a bad day.
    - Rick in Boston
      
      No, you did say “ridiculous salary”.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Nope, you said ridiculous salary, copied and pasted it from your comment. The fact that you have to bring up the non-guaranteed portion of the contract to prove your point is laughable.
      
      “Oh noes, what will we ever do about this $13M option? Oh wait, we’ll just not pick it up.”
      
      And you no what? You’re still wrong about Jeter and Burnett. At no point during the next three years will Jeter earn as much as A.J., so clearly it wasn’t a big factor for him, as claimed it would be in your countless emails.
      
      Have a good one.
      - Bob Stone
        
        Geez Mike – Don’t confuse the poor guy with facts! LOL.
Monteroisdinero

7.5

6 for Nova/Mitre
9 for Montero
- http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
  
  Three days ago you compared Montero to Pujols, and you’re only a 9 about him?
  - Monteroisdinero
    
    For a career, my friend. Not for 2011. Although Pujols had a great first year at age 21.
Jimmy McNulty

Three. The Soriano signing was dumb, especially since they could have spent 40M less, kept their draft pick, and gotten Damon and Manny. The rotation is in a pretty poor state, the guy who should be in charge seems to have a weaker voice than he should have, not to mention that this offseason the BJs managed to unload Vernon Wells’ contract and the Red Sox got quite a bit better. Sure fans of most teams would be happy to have these problems, but the Yankees are, and should be, held to a higher standard.
- pat
  
  Did the Yankees want/need Manny and Damon?
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    It’s not a straight comparison, admittedly, but it illustrates how shitty of a usage of resources that contract was. Damon could have had a use, I’ll agree that I like Jones better, same thing with Manny in a platoon role at DH possibly. More importantly it shows how the Rays use their resources effectively, and the Yankees don’t.
    
    Side note: if Joba moves to the rotation I go to a six. Not because I think he’ll be a good starter, but because it will show that the team at least does the blatantly obvious things, and recognizes his limited value in the bullpen.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      So I guess you’re not one of the ppl that want to get 8th inning production in the 6th
- Colombo
  
  Those two signings have no impact on the other. Why would the Yanks sign Damon/Manny to fill a spot the bullpen?
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Why would they spend 35 million dollars to fill a the set up role?
    - Colombo
      
      I’m not saying I agree with the signing/terms of the contract. What I am saying is that by signing a RP, the team obviously felt they had to bolster the bullpen. Manny and Damon would not have done this. We have a LFer, a DH and a backup OFer. There is no room/need for Manny or Damon.
      
      Signing Soriano did not mean we couldn’t sign Manny/Damon. We were never going to in the first place.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        It’s not an “either/or” as I incorrectly phrased it, it’s an illustration of how stupid of a usage of resources that the Soriano signing was, and how smart teams use their resources.
        
        Positive note: signing Martin and Jones were smart moves on the margins and good ways to spend money.
        
        Colombo
        
        Ok. You were presenting it as an either/or, Soriano or Manny/Damon. All clear now.
        
        I agree that resources could have been used better this offseason, a lot of things just didn’t fall our way. I would have loved a Jeff Francis signing for the back end of the rotation. I still feel the team will get another starter for the 5 spot so we don’t have to see Sergio make a turn every five days. But while this offseason didn’t go as we Yankee fans wanted it to, the Jones/Martin signings were good, and the Soraino signing could turn out to be pretty good as well.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Hearing a reasonable fan saying “I would have loved a Jeff Francis signing” is reason enough not to vote above a six.
    - pat
      
      Because a setup man is more useful than two spare “outfielders”? An exorbitant price nonetheless, but more of a necessity than Manny and/or Damon.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        And a stupider way to spend money.
        
        http://twitter.com/steveh_MandAura Steve H
        
        At least you’re getting a return on the Soriano contract, he’s going to actually play. Should the Patriots make a run at Peyton Manning because he’s awesome and then sit him on the bench?
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Apples/Oranges. Do the Yankees have a Tom Brady in the OF? Is the bullpen that big of a need? If they do something like trade Joba straight up for Johan, move him to the rotation, or something like that I can see the purpose of the contract, but as of now it looks like another stupid move from the Tampa office.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Furthermore could the Patriots sign Peyton Manning for basically pocket change?
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      Because they didn’t trust Joba lol
- Bob Stone
  
  Crawford and Gonzalez as an improvement over Beltre and Martinez is greatly exaggerated.
Tank Foster

If we’re comparing the Yankees to MLB in general, then it takes an awful lot for anyone to go below 7. But I end up ranking the Yankees on a scale comparing them to what I think their “real” competition is….the teams that spend, like Boston, LA, Texas, etc.

I think it’s a stretch to put the Yankees over 7 now. I have them at 6. The near-future, meaning the next 5 years, they are looking at seriously declining offense with only one, yet unproven, good offensive prospect in the minors. The pitching situation is better, but if they end up with 1 good middle-rotation-or-better pitcher out of the 3 killer B’s, they will be doing well.

I don’t have a problem with this, by the way. I think there are only so many things you can control, and right now the Yankees are just entering into a little low/rebuilding period.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  I agree with your standards. The Yankees are held to higher standards than the rest of baseball. They have the best brand, the most resources, the most (and best) fans, they should be the best.
Matt

I can’t believe people are still complaining about the Soriano signing when our 3-5 starters are Burnett, Nova and Mitre. Even Hughes doesn’t have a long track record of success starting so in essence CC is the only sure thing in the rotation. If your gonna bitch, do it about something valid and having 2 closers in 2011 is a “problem” most teams would like to have.
- http://dontbringinthelefty.blogspot.com Lucas Apostoleris
  
  Not to speak for others, but I think the problem is that signing Soriano *didn’t* address the need for starting pitching.
  - The Big City of Dreams
    
    According to everyone the rotation isn’t an issue because he Yanks will turn games into 5-6 inning affairs
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      the Yankees*
Jimmy McNulty

Question (this seems to be a semi appropriate place to ask this question) am I the only “pessimist” fan that likes Granderson? A lot of guys who are down on the org and Cashman seem to hate Granderson. I like him. I wasn’t all that high on Austin Jackson after his FSL breakout, and I throughly loathe Ian Kennedy and feel that he’s an awful fit for the team and the park. Granderson is a LHH power bat who had a couple good moments and over all a pretty good year for the team. He has is issues sure, but he’s not without his benefits.
- jsbrendog (returns)
  
  the people who don’t like granderson base their analysis on such lofty and irrefutable stats like batting average and rbis
- choo choo
  
  Ian Kennedy throws 190 innings plus and pitches to a 3.80 ERA and a 9-10 record to a team finishing approximately 30 games under .500. AJ Burnett pitches two years for a team with a combined record of more than 70 games over .500. Burnett is under .500 and his ERA is well into the 4’s, including 2010 when he was near the worst in the league.
  Loathing, anyone?
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Well this was quite the cornucopia of stupid.
    
    Side note: I also hate AJ Burnett.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    If you’re going to argue here, you need to do better than ERA and W-L and batting average and RBI. Those stats are highly flawed.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Note: I wouldn’t lump ERA into that group. Over a long enough sample size (I’d say about three years or so) I think ERA can be a very useful stat that can show you the type of value that a player provides for his team. Sure it needs to be taken into context but so does FIP, xFIP, and any other rate stat for pitching. Some pitchers have the ability to consistently out pitch their peripherals like Tim Wakefield, Tom Glavine, etc. whereas others consistently underperform their FIP like Javier Vazquez.
    - choo choo
      
      Yup, you’re right again. I went to the Hall of Fame last summer. Not once did they ever throw those kind of important numbers around on all the plaques I read.
      Bill James has his own room.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        Over a 15+ year career those stats have lots of weight, but over a season there’s a lot of things that can happen to influence those stats outside of a player’s ability. Sidenote regarding the HoF: Jim Rice, Catfish Hunter, Bill Mazeroski In, Ron Santo Out.
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        What does the Hall of Fame have to do with anything?
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Joe Pawlikowski
        
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority
        
        Bob Stone
        
        ietcvm
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  I like Granderson. I’m expecting a big season this yr
choo choo

Where are you, Mike? Come on–everyone knows how brilliant you are and how it literally takes you less than a minute to demonstrate that.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  You’re barking up the wrong tree if you’re going to start calling people out to argue your logic.
- rbizzler
  
  Also, I think he would be able to find the WFAN-style nonsense you are spouting easier if you used the ‘reply’ button. I mean, for someone as brilliant as you are, it shouldn’t be all that hard.
Bob Stone

I am still a 9.

I like the direction of the franchise for the short and long term.

The farm system has been strengthened. The major league team contends every year. The front office isn’t afraid to spend money or take a chance.

The baseball brains of the organization have come up with some GREAT acquisitions like Swisher. The GM and his staff seem to have market prices about right (ie offering Damon Two years $14MM – He has singed for $13.5MM since that time).

The business side looks very strong (despite the fact that most here hate Levine) and is expanding revenue and the value of the brand.

What more can you want?
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  What more can you want?
  
  A starting rotation that doesn’t feature Sergio Mitre.
  - Bob Stone
    
    The team made its run for Cliff Lee. Most people expected them to get him. Even the Yankees don’t sign every player they want.
    
    I stand by my statement – What more can you want? The short and long term direction of the club is terrific. When there is a dearth of great pitching availble in a given year, the club does the best it can.
    
    I stand by “What more can you want”. Instead of just attacking . . . tell me exactly what (ie who) you want the Yankees to sign and the other moves that you feel they missed.
    - dalelama
      
      Another WS title…………
  - Bob Stone
    
    PS – I like the Granderson signing and the Soriano signing.
    - David
      
      I agree. I like both the Granderson trade and the Soriano signing. I see an improved lineup, with Jeter, Tex and ARod very likely to improve on off years in 2010, when we still won 95 games and went to six in the ALCS.
      
      We have the best farm system that we have had for many years.
      
      Bottom line is a 9.
      - dalelama
        
        6—One shut down starter, 3 shaky starters, declining production at catcher, DH, SS, 3rd, post season no shows at 1st, RF, and LF, and one probable positional starter in the minors who may not even be able to play the field. Plus two major competitors have gotten much better over post season. Will be thankful if we sneak into the playoffs.
  - Yank the Frank
    
    That