Open Thread: February 21st Camp Notes

February 21, 2011 by Mike Axisa 168 Comments

Mark Teixeira — (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The latest from camp on a rather busy day…

Hank Steinbrenner stole the show by mouthing off about a number of topics. “Some of the players [were] too busy building mansions and doing other things, not concentrating on winning. I have no problem saying that.” Gee, I wonder who he was referring too. Hank also questioned the focus of the 2010 team, saying they celebrated too much after the 2009 World Series. This is the same team that won 95 games and was two wins away from the World Series. Although I suppose it’s easy to think the team isn’t focused when you go to two games a year. (Mark Feinsand)
Alex Rodriguez conducted a much more civilized press conference, saying that his hip is healthy enough that he can return to the same workout routine he adhered to prior to the surgery. That’s what led to the weight and body fat loss this offseason. (Joel Sherman)
Dellin Betances threw an early morning batting practice session in front of some serious heat: Joe Girardi, Tony Pena, Larry Rothschild, pro scouting director Billy Eppler, pro scout Rick Williams, guest instructor David Wells, and a handful of minor league pitching coordinators were all there to watch him. (Chad Jennings & George King)
The list of non-Betances pitchers that threw live BP today: Andy Sisco, Andrew Brackman, Steve Garrison, Daniel Turpen, David Phelps, Adam Warren, D.J. Mitchell, and Eric Wordekemper. Joe Girardi raved about Brackman and his cleaned up mechanics, but cautioned not to read too much into a BP session. (Marc Carig, Carig & Carig)
Jorge Posada was in full catcher’s gear, participating in fielding drills. There’s no reason not to have him in catching shape when the season begins. Ronnie Belliard also took reps at first base, Eric Chavez third base. The Yankees will play both guys at the corner infield spots this spring. Outfielders took turns trying to rob homers at the wall. (Carig, Carig & Jennings)
Boone Logan airmailed a throw and hit a little girl in the stands in her arm. He ran to the dugout, got some ice, and she was ultimately fine. I’m guessing she got at least a ball and an autograph out of it, hopefully from someone better than Boone Logan. (Carig & Erik Boland)
A-Rod made a nice little play over a diving Joba Chamberlain during the fielding drills, then called the right-hander a “good husky.” He meant Husker, as in Nebraska Corn Husker. I laughed. (Bryan Hoch & Ben Shpigel)
After working out with Robbie Cano during the offseason, Eduardo Nunez was crushing the ball in batting practice. (Boland & Hoch)
The Yankees had their annual umpires meeting this morning. (Mark Feinsand)
And finally, the Yankees are converting minor leaguer Addison Maruszak into a catcher. An infielder so far in his career, the Yankees are trying to turn him into some sort of eight-position super-sub. Injuries have slowed him a bit in the last two years, but Maruszak is a good athlete and can hit a little (career .324 wOBA in 808 PA), so there’s a non-zero chance it’ll will work. (Jennings)

Here’s the open thread for the night. The Islanders are the only local team in action, so yeah. You all know what to do, so go nuts.

http://www.twitter.com/ngoral Jake LaMotta’s Left Hook

If you type “Jesus” on Google, the list of recommended/popular searches/whatever has Jesus Montero second only to the other Jesus!
- vin
  
  It’s only a matter of time before he’s #1…
  - Ryan
    
    he’s 6th when i try
  - OldYanksFan
    
    Wow… would have thought it would be an Alou.
- Chops
  
  I was hoping #1 would be the Big Lebowski Jesus
  - Nedro
    
    You don’ f–k wid de Jesus.
squishy jello person

The Islanders already played =P

I feel bad for the girl, but better being hit in the arm than in the head.
http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama

A-Rod was hilaaaarious today. This is also highly recommended reading, even if it is on ESPN NY:
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-yo.....-two-of-us

Also, say what you will about Jeter, but implying he wasn’t concentrating on the season is… silly. Then again, it’s Hank.
- pat
  
  I’m pretty sure I saw Jeter accidentally wear one of these in the on deck circle- http://tinyurl.com/4d26fp3
  - pat
    
    So maybe his head wasn’t really in the game. Also, why does Arod have a picture of himself sprinting on his phone?
    - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama
      
      Also, why does Arod have a picture of himself sprinting on his phone?
      
      mte. but it’s entertaining
    - Kit
      
      Because sometimes you’re just that attractive.
      
      (Honestly, I was wondering the same thing)
    - OldYanksFan
      
      The real question is:
      Did he have his shirt on?
- http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
  
  I thought the funniest thing Alex did to today was when he said he’s entering this season with “el ojo del tigre” to a Spanish reporter.
  - http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
    
    For those of you wondering, he didn’t follow that up with “e el cuerpo de un centauro “
    - Accent Shallow
      
      Wow, “centauro” really is the Spanish word for “centaur”.
      
      So it goes.
The Real JobaWockeeZ

Hank do everyone a favor and stop interfering with any matter related to the Yankees.
pat

I think Betances’ bp was such a big deal because not only was it Dellin on the hill, it was big baby Jesus behind the plate.
Sweet Dick Willie

I know Hank is his big brother, but can’t Hal tell him to STFU?
- Kit
  
  I hope he does. Hank has been seriously ridiculous with his comments.
  - http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
    
    To quote the ever awesome Craig Calcaterra:
    
    But I gotta tell ya, I’m 100% on board with Hank when he goes after the communism that is Major League Baseball’s revenue sharing system. Those other owners can’t accept handouts! They ought to make their way in the world and pull themselves up by their bootstraps!
    
    You know, like Hank Steinbrenner did.
    
    http://hardballtalk.nbcsports......rs-attack/
vin

20 questions anyone?

I ran into this link today from B-R…

http://www.baseball-reference......ives/10017

Anyone here want to participate in a RAB version?

I’ve got a player in mind… here are the ground rules (~~stolen~~ borrowed directly from Andy’s B-R post)

•Valid questions must be answerable by a simple yes or no answer.
•I will answer the first valid question posted in the comments after each answer I give.
•You (the readers) have 20 questions to get to the right answer.
•I will ignore any questions that are either invalid or come after valid questions that I haven’t answered yet.

Fire away if you’re interested…
- Ryan
  
  does it have a penis?
  - vin
    
    I’ve never seen him in the shower, so I can’t validate that question.
  - Mike HC
    
    definitely a valid question
- Mike HC
  
  Does he play in the American league?
  - vin
    
    I presume you mean, “does he currently play in the AL?”
    
    #1 No.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
      
      #2: Is he a position player?
      - vin
        
        Let me get this out of the way… the player is retired.
        
        #2 He was a position player.
        
        Mike HC
        
        Has the player ever won a WS?
        
        vin
        
        #3 yes.
        
        Ryan
        
        does he have green eyes?
        
        vin
        
        Sorry, eye color isn’t listed on B-R.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
        
        Did he play in the AL when he played? (you never answered question 1)
    - vin
      
      “Did he play in the AL when he played? (you never answered question 1)”
      
      #4 Yes.
      
      I answered question 1. It just wasn’t a well-phrased question.
      - vin
        
        #1 doesn’t currently play in the AL (ie he’s retired)
        #2 was a position player
        #3 won a WS
        #4 did play in the AL
      - Mike HC
        
        Don’t hate on my phrasing, ha. The answer to the question was no. You just decided to ask and answer your own question, ha.
      - Mike HC
        
        Did he play before 1960
        
        vin
        
        #5 No.
        
        vin
        
        #1 doesn’t currently play in the AL (ie he’s retired)
        #2 was a position player
        #3 won a WS
        #4 did play in the AL
        #5 did not play before 1960
        
        Come one people… I’ve got to leave work soon, and you’ll never get the chance to figure out who this super-secret mystery player is.
        
        pat
        
        Mookie Wilson!
        
        vin
        
        This is not you…
        http://www.esquire.com/blogs/c.....one-letter
        
        felixbanuelos
        
        what is his ethnicity ?
Andy

I’d love to see the complete tape of Alex’s news conference–anyone think that will surface? Sounds like he covered a lot of topics. YES or Yankees.com usually posts at least clips of the press conferences but I haven’t seen anything yet except a short clip on ESPN.
- ThatKidLulu
  
  http://yankees.lhblogs.com/201.....z-edition/
  - Andy
    
    Thanks!
Bart

What takes place at the annual umpires meeting? Telling Joe West that if he ever complains about the length of a game Mo will descend from above and smite him?
- http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
  
  Paper bags stuffed with cash are passed around the room.
  - Poopy Pants
    
    Worked for 2009 playoffs.
    - http://www.twitter.com/tomzig Tom Zig
      
      /Halos Heaven
S

Can someone place that muzzle back on Hanks mouth and staple it there so he can’t talk anymore (or better yet throw him back in that dungeon he was in during the 2009 season, pour concrete over it).
Tank the Frank

Shut the fuck up Hank. My God, the guy is the MSMs wet dream. What in the world would prompt him to call out Jeter like that, espially after this offseason? I have no idea what’s going through that guy’s head.

Also, if they don’t end up being traded, the Killer Bs + Montero are going going to be under a huge amount of pressure. I have a feeling the hype surrounding these kids over the next year or two is going to surpass that of “The Big Three.”
- Mike HC
  
  Does anybody even take him seriously? He seems to be more of a caricature of the the Boss than Larry David’s impersonation on Seinfeld.
  - JerseyDutch
    
    Maybe we can get Larry David to run the team…
- OldYanksFan
  
  Think a minute. What’s the best way to get Jeter fired up? Hank should have said “Going forward, I can only hope that Jeter is worth 1/2 of what we overpaid him. Jeez… what was Cashman thinking?”
  
  George always did this. It’s not out of stupidity. It gets headlines, and pisses a player off in a good way. Now, every time there is an inside fastball, Jeter will imagine Hank’s face on it.
- Ted Nelson
  
  I don’t think the pressure on Jesus or the Bs will be any greater than on other top prospects. And the Big Three have done pretty well: 3 1st rounders into 3 ML pitchers… That’s a ridiculous success rate. When you’re playing MiLB or MLB there’s a whole lot of pressure on everyone: millions of dollars are at stake and you’re competing against the best in the world.
- vin
  
  No way.
  
  Joba dominated big leaguers in his first season of pro ball, and was the #1 prospect in the game heading into 2008.
  
  Hughes was the Yanks first great 1st round prospect since Jeter. He was a household name (for baseball fans at least) a year before he made his big league debut.
  
  Kennedy… a college pitcher who was capable of overmatching minor leaguers. Clearly didn’t have the same upside as Phil and Joba though.
  
  Also, they all came up at a time when:
  a) the Yanks were in an ALCs drought
  b) the team was desperate for quality starters
  c) Mussina was on his way out, and Pettitte was talking about retirement.
  
  This team is in a lot better shape than the ’07 and ’08 clubs. The outfield, plus CC, Cano, Hughes, the bullpen, etc will all take a load off from Montero and the B’s.
Betty Lizard

As a Corn Husker (it pisses me off when they forget about the Corn part and just call us the Huskers) I LOL’d at Alex’s calling Joba a good husky . . . .

Ah, good times, this Spring Training.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  I have always thought that Huskers sound better than Cornhuskers and I am a Husker fan and always use the term Huskers.
- JerseyDutch
  
  That could be Nebraska’s new motto: “Don’t leave out the Corn!”
  - Betty Lizard
    
    That could be Nebraska’s new motto: “Don’t leave out the Corn!”
    
    Hee! I’m not a Huskers fan (ducks) but I do maintain that Cornhusker is both more dork-ily appropriate and pays proper homage to our roots. (And cobs. And stalks.)
    - MannyGee
      
      and dont forget…paying homage to eating it the long way.
bonestock94

Wow wtf, Hank is being disrespectful.
YankeesJunkie

What they did not mention is that after Wells watched the pitching session of Betances he and Manny Banuelos went to the bar and had a drinking contest. Wells will divulge on his knowledge at ST and by the end of it half of the pitchers will be in AA.
- http://www.twitter.com/jordansmed JGS
  
  That would be pretty bad. Banuelos is 19.
  - YankeesJunkie
    
    I know!
    
    Whatever though he is old enough to smoke and get sentenced to death so go show them Manny!
Jim

I’m plugging this as the best fantasy baseball tool available on the internet (it’s free). I have no interest in this other than I use this every year to draft. The guy who does it offers it up for free and just asks that you spread the word.

http://www.fantasygameday.net/.....t-position
28 this year

It’s been a week. Anyone with any info whether the RAB Lite league was renewed?
YankeesJunkie

So who you do guys/gals think will come out on top for the #5 spot or the rotation. I think most people would Garcia just because he has pitched in the majors and can provide value, but if Colon can actually throw it 94 during ST that changes everything and you then have to weight their performance and chances they stay healthy for at least a couple months. Hell, maybe the Yankees get lucky and both show good stuff and Nova becomes the long man, I would not be opposed to that at all either.
- Ted Nelson
  
  I like Garcia’s chances better than anyone outside the top 3. I think he’s performed better than his averages because of a few awful outings… From a team perspective a loss is a loss. He gave up 3 or less in 75 perc of his starts, whereas for a similarly mediocre pitcher like Millwood that’s only true in about 1/2 his starts.
  
  I like the logic that if Colon is good in ST you see what you can get from him and send Nova to Scranton to start the season. Calling up Nova or whatever AAA pitcher is most impressive if you need a replacement for whatever reason. However, since Colon didn’t pitch last season and he’s “going to” lose 25 lbs… Colon might be best off and open to a stint in extended spring training and a AAA start or more before going against MLB hitters. Guess we’ll see how ready he is in ST.
OldYanksFan

Must read post on ARod, and audio of the press conference, over at Lohud.

“It’s interesting that today Rodriguez seemed perfectly at ease in the press conference tent behind Steinbrenner Field. He opened with a joke, made fun of the press for asking him about “popcorn and losing five pounds” and had no problem heaping expectations on himself after two season that were “not acceptable” according to his standards.”

Hard to believe. ARod is turning into a cool dude.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Having a WS ring, feeling better, and have the attention shift from him to other aspects of the team, especially Jeter, have probably made his life a lot easier from the living hell of the first few years especially 2006.
- http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama
  
  He still has the most dorky awkward laugh. But I love him for it.
  
  Also, if he hits like he did in 2009 for the rest of his contract – heck, if he’s hitting like he did in 2010 in like 2017 – I won’t complain too much.
Sean C

Hearing Alex say he returned to his pre-hip surgery workout regime makes me a helluva lot more optimistic about this season. A healthy, productive A-Rod makes the Yankees much better (obviously).
http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston.....es-claimed

Did anyone see the caluse in Andrew Miller’s contract? If Sox call him up then place him on waivers and a team claims him, then the $3m club option for 2012 becomes guaranteed. Which means no one is going to claim him.

Similar to the whole “poison pill” thing that went on with the Seahawks/Vikings a few years back.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  There was also an article on fangraphs and it is a pretty interesting deal, but one of the major reasons that it worked is that Miller really likes the Red Sox.
  - Sweet Dick Willie
    
    I believe the PA will challenge that clause.
    
    Who cares that Miller really likes the Sux? Alex wanted to play for the Sux and was willing to take a pay cut to make the trade work, but the union wouldn’t let him.
    
    The PA doesn’t like anything that inhibits player movement, and this certainly does that.
    
    One of the purposes of limiting options is to give the player a chance with another team if things don’t work out with his current team. This clause clearly circumvents that.
    - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
      
      Why didn’t they challenge it when he signed the contract? Its not some hidden clause Theo pulled out of nowhere.
      - Sweet Dick Willie
        
        I’m not privy to such matters and could certainly be wrong, but I don’t think the PA has to approve every contract before it is signed.
        
        And since we have never heard of this type of clause before, it appears that Theo did indeed “pull it out of nowhere.”
      - MannyGee
        
        kinda like the alleged “Anti-Yankee Trade Clause” in Crawford’s deal?
    - Pasqua
      
      It’s a very interesting idea. From a negative standpoint (relative to the player) it’s like the Sox are using money to create a non-existent option; however, they are not preventing him from being traded (technically) and he’s still getting paid the amount that was mutually agreed upon. I don’t think there’s a “crime” being committed here, but it does seem to raise an ethical question.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      It also guarantees him $3 mill… And the PA is also for anything that makes players $…
      
      Take the ARod example you use: the PA stepped in specifically to inhibit player movement in favor of $…
      
      I don’t know what they’ll do in this case, but $ could win over player mopvement. Furthermore, waivers doesn’t give a player an option in where they go. Miller volunteered to sign with the Sox and wants to stay with them. He was able to move and made his choice. I think owners are as likely to be pissed, especially small market owners who can be financially squeezed out of claiming players. Miller is not getting hurt in any way: either he plays for the team he wants to or he gets a buttload of cash. The other owners are getting hurt. Then again, the other owners could see an opportunity… But the small markets won’t see it as favorably as the big.
- pat
  
  Dammit!
http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist

Since Wells is in camp as a special instructor, here’s a fun fact about David.

You know how David was always referred to as a ‘rubber armed’ pitcher? A guy with a bad body who pitched until his mid 40s because of that magic left arm of his?

http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....avid-Wells

Guess what. He threw 157 innings as a 20 year old and pretty much couldn’t stay healthy for the next 3 years. The even converted him to a reliever by the time he was 24, and didn’t go back to starting full time until he was 30.
- Pasqua
  
  “Funner” fact: Joba Chamberlain is now copying and pasting this post into an email addressed to Brian Cashman.
  - MannyGee
    
    …while eating some Cocoa Puffs.
    
    Maybe this was Cashman’s plan all along? Going from the “Joba Rules” to the “Boomer Rules”
pat

Sox are so freaking paranoid. I 100% believe this is to spite the Yankees should they decide to pursue.

The Red Sox included a creative clause in Andrew Miller’s contract that will discourage rival clubs from claiming the left-hander, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. If a team claims Miller, who is out of options, when the Red Sox try to send him from the majors to the minors, his 2012 option becomes guaranteed, according to Speier. Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston says the option is worth $3MM, so a team would really have to want Miller to make a claim.

http://tinyurl.com/6ax2om4

Between that and the bizarre Crawford NTC it’s like they’re the little brat brother who coughs on the food they’re not eating so nobody else will take any.
- OldYanksFan
  
  I think giving Crawford 7/$140m, makes the NTC unnecessary. Somebody gonna want an older Crawford at $20m per?
- bonestock94
  
  That’s a brilliant clause. It makes the lack of an option much less of an issue.
  - Pasqua
    
    I agree with you. It’s smart and creative. It will be interested to see if it a) holds up (I assume it will), and b) becomes a trend in other teams’ player contracts.
http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H

Over/under games A-Rod plays this year:

150 total
and
130 at 3B
- http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
  
  162. He has el ojo del tigre.
- vin
  
  Under
  and
  under
OldYanksFan

Wow… some pretty good info from a poster (LGY) at Lohud.
http://www.joelefkowitz.com/ba.....pid=121347

Blake says: Im sure lefties did try to bust Alex with cutters inside but Id guess they did the same with Jeter and he actually hit lefties very well last year

And from that Link:
LGY: LHP threw A-Rod 54 cutters last year. Compared to 5 in 2009 and 17 in 2008.

LGY: Jetes had a 47.8% GB rate vs LHP on Four Seam Fastballs in 2009.
In 2010, it was 71.2% In 2009, he saw 28 cutters from LHP and had a 33.3% GB rate. 2010 he saw 65 and had a 53.3% GB rate.
Craig Miller

if anyone’s interested and like to bask in the Mets misfortune, here’s my own little twist on their situation.

http://blogginmlbaseball.blogspot.com/

feedback would be appreciated
- NJYankeeFan
  
  Very nice and an improvement over the orignial. Whenever things seem bad in Yankeeland, a quick glance over to that sinking ship in Flushing always cheers me up.
  - Craig
    
    Thanks! Can you believe theyre allowing Perez a chance to start again?
    - NJYankeeFan
      
      Yeah what a joke. Maybe they would be willing to give Igawa a chance to start too.
      - The Real JobaWockeeZ
        
        It’s not that pathetic. They’re giving up 2011 which honestly is what they should do. Let the guy making insane amounts of money actually do something while they lose.
        
        They’ll lose with or without him so meh.
        
        MannyGee
        
        YAY! First team to the fire sale and they have not thrown pitch fking ONE!
        
        I am thinking the first to go will be Beltran… any takers on that one?
Ted Nelson

I for one have no problem with Hank saying whatever he pleases. This is a private for-profit corporation and he’s an owner. He can say what he wants. The Steinbrenner family has shown more dedication to and aptitude at winning than just about any ownership group. I’m not going to get all pissy when they call out a guy who had an awful season. It’s certainly possible that Jeter was distracted, and as an insider Hank would have a much better idea of that than us not only from his observations, but also what the gossip within the org is. It’s pretty ridiculous to claim you know more about what’s going on in these guys personal lives than do people who actually interact with them. I’m not saying he’s right, just saying who are any of us to say he’s wrong.

This seems like a clear motivational technique to me. We’ll see if it works… Or maybe we’ll never know whether is helped but if Jeter bounces back it’s certainly possible that the pressure of being called out by ownership helps a great competitor like Jeter more than it hurts. Even if he wasn’t distracted he probably spent a good amount of time on that house, so maybe these comments provide a way to explain last season’s slump besides declining skill and that gives him the confidence to question his dedication rather than skill. Or if he argued in negotiations that his skills are not declining and he deserves a bagillion dollars… Logically if that true it follows that there would be another explanation for why he had a career worst season…
- http://www.theyankeeu.com/author/steve-s/ Nostra-Artist
  
  I disagree. I don’t think ‘motivation’ is a big factor in baseball. Skill and luck are much bigger factors. Baseball isn’t Football, where you can summon the strength to beat a weaker opponent. It’s a skill game, and if you’ve ever played the game you’d know the harder you try, the worse your results.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
    
    the harder you try, the worse your results.
    
    Be careful with your wording there. I think a better phrase would be the more aggressive you play, the worse your results can be.
    - NJYankeeFan
      
      I don’t think Nostra Arist meant by saying “the harder you try, the worse your results” that you should play with less effort but he rather if you start to press, the results often are negative.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        But what does starting to press or being aggressive have to do with offseason preparation? Hank was talking about not concentrating on preparation and concentrating on other things. You honestly think that at the highest level work ethic and preparation are irrelevant and you should prepare less? That all baseball skill is natural and know of it is developed and maintained through work? That if every player spent their offseason at the bar with Miggy their 2011 stats would all look the same or even like Miggy’s because effort is inversely related to performance?
        
        If Jeter really did spend his offseason differently from the previous 15, not saying that he did, you think it would be irrelevant and only skill and luck matter?
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        I guess I shouldn’t just limit it to the offseason… In-season too.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Right, because you know me and know that I’ve never played baseball. And because you are a MLB veteran HOFer who knows exactly what one size fits all approach to offseason preparation is best for every single player: don’t try and don’t be motivated! That’s the only way to succeed. Everyone should drink with Miggy and shoot-up with Hamilton to become an MVP stud! How silly of me to question your infinite wisdom, oh mighty anonymous blog poster.
    
    I’m not saying skill and luck are irrelevant… I’m just saying that these are still human beings. A change in offseason routine absolutely can carry over into the season whether for better or worse. It’s absolutely true that off-field issues can impact a player for better or worse. It’s also true that some of the players with the most renowned work ethics have the most success and that some players renowned for being lazy flake out over time. There’s no set rule, but for a SS approaching 40 less dedication is probably not better.
    
    And you’re missing my point, which is that Hank can say what he pleases whether he’s right or not. Who cares? Certainly you shouldn’t assume for certain you know more about people you’ve never met or a league you have no affiliation with. He may have a well thought out reason for his comments, even if it’s nothing but spite: he Jeter, you said your skills are there and you deserve to be paid… I guess it wasn’t skill last season so go prove it.
    
    And how do you ascribe seeing more cutters and hitting them for groundrs more, for example, to luck? It could be a skill problem, but also something that can be worked on. You honestly think all baseball players–or ppl who edxcel at anything–are just born with it and don’t work at it? You don’t realize that skills can result from work as easily as natural talent?
- NJYankeeFan
  
  Hank has the right to say what he wants as owner but that doesn’t change the fact that he sounds like a moron. He generally comes off as a far less intelligent version of his father and I think Hal needs to muzzle him once again.
  
  If he had a problem with Jeter, he should have said it to him in person, not through the media. It reflects poorly on the organization to have an owner publicly attack a team icon like Jeter.
  Remember, at one time not too long ago, the Yankees couldn’t attract free agents. If ownerships new modus operandi is to be critical of players through the media, those days could ereturn. If Jeter is on the decline, it’s because at age 36, his skills are eroding. I’ve never once read that Jeter wasn’t one of the hardest workers on the team. It’s a bit simplistic to think that public criticism is going to motivate Jeter more than his own sense of pride and drive to succeed.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    I specifically said it could help more than hurt, not that it could help more than anything else.
    
    And leaders far greater than Hank have long used the media as a tool. His father often publicly motivated the team, with mixed results. His father often said and did ridiculous and irrational things and still was a great owner. As long as he keeps writing his portion of the checks (so to speak) and doesn’t sell to Dolan… and leaves smart managers like Cashman in charge I don’t care what Hank says.
    
    The Yankees couldn’t attract FAs because they stunk. FAs want to win and get paid. As long as the Yankees win and the rules stay the same they’ll continue to get their share of FAs. Hamks not even the full owner, and he’s far from a problem right now. More of a sideshow. If he crosses over to problem we can talk.
    - http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama
      
      His father often said and did ridiculous and irrational things and still was a great owner
      
      That is because he had a shitton of money that he was more than willing to give up, not because of anything he said.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        A. How is Hank (and his siblings) any different?
        
        B. I think that’s a little unfair to assume that someone who owned such a successful organization did nothing positive but write the checks. Obviously I don’t know the innerworkings of the Yanks from when George bought them to when he died… But I have to assume he did something right besides spend more. Whether it was hiring the right people, setting the tone for the org… Whatever. The money helped a lot, but not everyone who spends wins as many titles as George. Not to say he was perfect or anything, just that I doubt all he did right was write checks.
        
        http://youcantpredictbaseball.wordpress.com/ bexarama
        
        It was an oversimplification but money was really the biggest thing that he did. And Hank isn’t any different, no, but you look at the deals he supposedly headed – the A-Rod deal after the opt-out, the Soriano thing – they’re not that good to borderline insane (A-Rod).
        
        You’re right, we don’t know the innermost workings. I do think as George got older, he hired the right people to care for the org. And for the most part, so have Hal and Hank. I think they need to just leave the personnel decisions to the guys they hired, for the most part.
      - MannyGee
        
        +1
        
        George was a pioneer in the sport… but his mouth got himinmore trouble than he knew what to do with…
Ryan

How many players are usually kept in a keeper league?
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
  
  4-5.
bakekrukow412

If you want a good, quick laugh…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtYDyKK0c3A
Poopy Pants

Maybe Hank was privy to info that we ‘slobs who sit behind a computer’ were not privy to?
- Sean C.
  
  I bet he knows all about how Jeter was worrying about what kind of window treatments to go in the 4th bathroom, thus causing his .40 point drop in OBP. That was it. And he knew. Oh, he knew.
  - http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
    
    FACT: Every single time in history a baseball player has built a 30,875 square foot mansion in Tampa he had the worst season of his career.
    
    Hank and Poopy are onto something here.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      There may not be, but there could be something to it. Or it at least could be something believed by others within the org that Hank didn’t just pull out of his own ass. Or it could be totally out of his ass. Or it could be that he was trying to motivate Jeter in his own way.
      
      Ppl here’s responses basically range from Jeter is an infallible goldenboy… To the MSM is an impartial purveyor of perfect information and I’ve never read anything that Jeter wasn’t working hard so clearly he was… To work ethic is irrelevant in baseball and luck and skill are all that matter…
      
      None of those comes close to proving Hank was wrong. He may be a …whatever people want to call him… but that doesn’t mean we can just dismiss what he says. We can say it’s unlikely he’s right, but as people who spend a combined no time around Derek Jeter it’s pretty impossible to say with any certainty he’s wrong.
      - http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
        
        I consider the source. I’m far from a Jeter apologist, but in his 15 years in the majors he’s never been accused of not working hard. Hank, every time he speaks, says things he shouldn’t. If Hal said it, my ears would perk up like hell.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        My guess is that Jeter is a symbol for the 5 highest paid Yankees–I believe–who all had career worst type seasons.
        
        I just don’t like how people are jumping to conclusions and speculating about people they don’t even know personally and often using arguments that are irrational as justification. Jeter had a career worst season and it’s certainly possible that there was more than one factor behind it. Whether it was literally building a house–which I’m not sure was to be taken totally literally as the one and only problem–or not there was a problem. I think the message is more that we’re paying you a buttload and we expect that whatever it is and whatever it takes you’ll get it together… Not just Jeter, but the whole team and highest paid guys who underachieved last season in particular. When you just gave him $45 mill more it’s hard to just say “it’s ok you’re old and shit happens… You’re not physically capable of doing better and that’s a-ok with us”
Vince C

I just read the SI article on Rendon and Cole and Purke as the top 3 picks in the draft. Reading the scouting report made me shed a tear for the first time over losing Cole.
- whozat
  
  Can you really lose something you never had, and could not have gotten?
  
  Should I be upset about losing Scarlett Johansson?
  - http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
    
    If you had a date scheduled with Scarlett Johansson and she never showed up it’d be a little closer to losing Cole.
    - mbonzo
      
      She told you that she’s not interested in dating right now, but now she’s back, even hotter than before, and you’ve got no chance.
      - MannyGee
        
        that bitch
- http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
  
  Wish they gave up that pick for a Type A reliever, we could have let some other fanbase feel the pain
  - Ted Nelson
    
    I realize you’re being a little tongue and cheek, but you get a comp pick for not signing someone. In this case they used it on Slade Heathcott, one of their better position prospects. I would probably take a high quality proven reliever like Soriano over Slade, just saying they didn’t walk away from Cole empty handed.
John

During today’s interview, A-Rod was asked something like: Jeter talked about 3000 yesterday, what numbers are you looking forward to?
His answer: 28.

I loved A-Rod’s presser. He said 30/100 for the past 3 years was “unacceptable.” Wow. What he plans on hitting this year?
- pat
  
  I think Jeter was specifically asked about approaching 3000 hits. When has Jeter ever talked about personal achievements ahead of the team?
  - mbonzo
    
    According to Hank, he’s a changed man.
    - pat
      
      Hahah, well that’s true.
Skip

What? Jeter caring about personal stats and ARod caring about team championships? What type of bizzaro-world am I living in? LOL.
Uke

CARMELO IS A KNICK!
- Tank the Frank
  
  They gave up a ton, but at least got some players back as a stopgap until they can hopefully sign Chris Paul. I like how they got the Warriors to kick in some draft picks. The Knicks keep their first round picks until 2014.
Ted Nelson

One way or another, Hank was right on two points:

A. Jeter played unacceptably poorly last season and needs to bounce back to some extent if he hopes to earn his big new contracts.

B. The Yankees didn’t win the WS last season, and are “expected to” this season… Not to the point where they are the favorite or the season is a failure if they don’t, but to the point where they can potentially and need to do everything they can to win it. That is nothing new, because for George they were expected to win every season and it basically was an inexcusable failure if they didn’t.

Probably wasn’t the way I’d have made those points, but I don’t think calling out the team leader or letting the team know they are expected to win is the worst way either. I think that assertions that an eccentric owner and letting it be known that the Yankees intend to win every single WS is going to hurt the team in signing FAs and stuff like that are overblown.
- Ted Nelson
  
  And I can see why Hank is pissed… Basically all the highest paid Yankees had career worst seasons or close: Jeter, ARod, CC, Burnett, Tex… That’s like $110 mill worth of 2010 underachievers… Jeter is both the leader and there was an easy one-liner about his house.
  - The Real JobaWockeeZ
    
    If you wants to pretend he’s half the man his father was that’s fine but calling out the entire team for barely losing the ALCS is fucking ridiculous.
    
    That’s a bridge jumper comment.
Ivan

It’s official, Melo’s a Knick
- http://www.retire21.org first name only male (formerly Mike R. – Retire 21)
  
  Thanks for the post. I hadn’t seen it yet.
  
  Any thoughts from Knick fans on here? This deal is ridiculous. It reads like something a blogger would dream up.
  - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
    
    IPK & Melky for Melo?
    - http://www.retire21.org first name only male (formerly Mike R. – Retire 21)
      
      IETTP
      
      I enjoyed this trade proposal
  - Ivan
    
    Personally its WAY too much. I think considering the Nuggets have most of the pressure to trade Melo, for the Knicks to give up that much was just plain irresponsible. I blame alot of it on Dolan for showing utter lack of patience and not letting Walsh do his job. Not to mention if your going to trade that much, wouldn’t you do it for a a younger Duncan, or a younger Kobe, a LeBron or even Dwight Howard. Melo isn’t on that level.
    
    Nevertheless, Melo is a legit top 10 player and arguebly the most dynamic scorer in the game. Not to mention a Amare/Melo Combo is lethal. In the end I guess, the Pros out weight the Cons.
    - http://www.retire21.org first name only male (formerly Mike R. – Retire 21)
      
      You mean impatient owners screw things up for competent GM’s in New York. hmmm….
      
      Thanks for your take.
    - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
      
      Personally its WAY too much
      
      What’s the breaking point? Mozgov? Gallo instead of Fields? Felton for Billups?
      - Erica
        
        I’m glad Fields isn’t involved in this trade deal, but pissed that we’re losing Gallo and Felton. I guess we’ll see how it all works out on Wednesday.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
        
        What were you comfortable giving up then? You have to give to receive.
        I hope you don’t judge the trade based on Wednesday.
        
        The Real JobaWockeeZ
        
        4 players and a 1st rounder for a one dimensional player is a damn lot.
        
        Fine you have to give to receive but you don’t have to give up your roster for basically one guy.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
        
        Except one of those players is a RFA after the season, one is having a career-year in a PG-friendly system and who no one wanted in FA and who’s only a 2 year deal and 1 is Movgoz.
      - Ivan
        
        And Draft picks. I mean, you mean to tell me the Knicks could of tried to keep at least one of Gallo or Chandler.
        
        http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
        
        I’m sure they tried, but if you take Gallo out of that package then it’s Chandler (RFA), Felton (1 year after this year), Movgoz and picks.
        And if the Knicks kept Chandler, then they have to pay him and eat the remaining cap space.
        
        Sick Nwisher
        
        I agree with you 100% Zack, this trade is a HUGE win for the Knicks and their future.
pat

Knicks basically gutted the roster for a player who admitted to only wanting to sign an extension with them. F*cking hate Isiah Thomas and Jimmy Dolan for being a stupid enough motherf*cker to even answer his calls. Un-f*cking-believable.
- The Real JobaWockeeZ
  
  So tell us how you feel about the Melo deal. And at least your team is trying to win. The Nets can only talk.
- http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
  
  And how would you feel if Melo signed with Denver or NJ because he wanted his 65m instead of the 40-50 he’ll get in FA?
  - pat
    
    I was never a huge Melo fan to begin with. Knicks are 2nd in the league in scoring and close to last in rebounding. I don’t think they needed another guy who takes 20 shots a game and doesn’t contribute on defense or the glass. And if we did end up acquiring that guy I wanted the trained professional negotiating it, not the fucktard owner and universally despised pariah who ran the team into the ground earlier this decade.
    - http://twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H
      
      That’s a system/coaching issue for the most part though. That’s D’Antoni’s system. I think that Isiah/Dolan getting involved is an issue, but this is a great trade for the Knicks. This is a league that wins on stars and now the Knicks have two legit ones. Now they’ll have an easier time getting the solid role players to come in a play for cheap. They didn’t give up a single superstar caliber player. The Celtics gave up a lot more to get a past his prime KG, as well as giving up a solid amount to get a past his prime Allen. You need stars to win, you can fill in the other guys around stars once you get them. As a Celtics fan I hate this trade. I think the Knicks will need to make a coaching/system change to take the next step (probably by 2012-2013), but the foundation is there.
    - pat
      
      Actually, I guess it was last decade. Time flies.
    - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
      
      How did you want to improve the team?
      - pat
        
        IPK and Melky for Dwight Howard.
        
        OR Not going all in for a guy who I thought made it clear he wanted to play in NY and didn’t have another legitimate landing spot. I could be wrong about that. I honestly don’t think he would have stayed in Denver after how this thing dragged out. If he went to the Nets, oh well, have fun playing second fiddle to a team playing like 2 miles away. I would have preferred a true 5 who can play some D and crash the boards. Maybe that wasn’t feasible, there’s a slim possibility that I do not know everything there is to know about teh NBA.
        
        However that will not help me shake the feeling that we basically threw in Mozgov and the pick for nothing. Should those two things be the reason you don’t land a bonafide superstar? No, but I reeeealy don’t think they were necessary.
    - http://www.twitter.com/deanezag Zack
      
      Hollinger Rebound Rate
      96. Melo (12.5)
      149. Chander (9.7)
      195. Gallinari (7.7)
- FIPster Doofus
  
  They’ll never go anywhere as long as Thomas is involved.
http://jukeofurl.wordpress.com Juke Early

Someday there will be a 100% BS detector, no one can beat. Then we can ask how many fans would turn down inheriting-
• money
• the Yankees
• anything…

I’d rather be Hal, than Hank. But right or wrong, I’m pretty sure Hank knows more inside stuff than we do. Shit he says – doesn’t make the team lose.

BTW – though it is somewhat accurate – saying the Yankees were 2 games away from the WS is stupid. How does that mean anything, once the WS is out of their grasp. It’s just another huge “If only. . ..”
- mbonzo
  
  If they won 2 more ALCS games they would be in the World Series… thats not really bullshit, thats the facts. I’d much rather have that on my resume from 2010 than being in 3rd place and the only thing done was replacing your two best hitters with two equally good hitters. The fact that the Yankees were 2 wins away from being the AL Champions and have improved their team puts things in to perspective, this pessimism about the Yankees because the Red Sox spent more than them this offseason is very overblown.
  - bonestock94
    
    The Red Sox counter-hype is almost as bad as the hype.
Pat D

Only upset about the Knicks giving up Felton. Knew it would take 2 of Gallinari, Chandler and Fields. To me, at this point Felton > Billups, so not sure why that had to be done. Story I saw said only 1 1st round pick, so that’s a win.
- Pat D
  
  Oh, wait, just re-read to see it say “additional picks.” Hmm.