Open Thread: A Darrell Rasner Follow-Up

November 19, 2011 by Mike Axisa 68 Comments

Earlier this week I wrote about former Yankee Darrell Rasner, on the anniversary of the day when his rights were sold to the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. I have two quick follow-up items to post, the first an email from Rasner’s father, Darrell Sr., who was nice enough to clarify what happened to his son this past season…

Mike: Darrell Jr. had a groin pull in early May after a 2-2 start. He returned in mid July as a closer and saved 17 games, 1 hold, 1 win and 1 loss in 22 appearances. He never closed before and considering he had to learn on the fly, not bad. FYI.

Good to hear he’s doing well, minus the groin injury. Secondly, NPB Tracker reports that Rasner and Rakuten have agreed to a new contract for next season, which will pay him $1.5M plus performance bonuses. That’s exactly why guys like D-Ras head to Japan, to land paydays they were unlikely to find here. Good for him, that’s some pretty nice scratch for a year’s work.

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread. There’s a bunch of college football on, plus all three hockey locals are in action. You can talk about anything your heart desires here, it’s all fair game.

http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Ah, the days of depending on Dan Guise, Darrell Rasner, and Sidney Ponson to make the postseason.

I’m glad those days are over…
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Dan Giese was awesome.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    Looking back he actually was, thought he was a lot worse.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    Almost as good as Arron Small. Or Shane Spencer. Or Kevin Maas.
    
    Or Joba in 2007. :wink:
  - FIPster Doofus
    
    I loved Giese. Dude was a baller.
themgmt

Must be a really slow off-season to warrant not 1 but 2 Rasner updates.
http://yankeeanalysts.com Matt Imbrogno

The 2008 Yankees won 89 games despite having thirty of them started by either Rasner or Sidney Ponson.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  ..and losing Posada for much of the year, and having Hughes and IPK go 0-8 with a combined ERA around 7.50 in April. Things were so tough Kei Igawa actually made a start in May.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    On the plus side, Moose had a terrific year and A-Rod was beastly (.965 OPS).
  - Karl Krawfid
    
    Joba got hurt in August.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    And that Chien Ming Wang guy got hurt too.
- Freddy Garcia’s 86 mph Heat
  
  Only one win fewer than the Greatest Team In Baseball History.
MannyGeee

Hate to say it, but I actually miss basketball… Not into hockey, and there truly ain’t dick on the TV tonight.

Damn you, rich guys fighting with other rich guys!
- Slu
  
  Agree 100% – NBA is dearly missed by me.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  richer guys.
- Brian S.
  
  Hockey kicks ass.
- http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
  
  Just hop on Breaking Bad, The Shield or The Wire until Sunday rolls around.
Nightwing

Anyone else find this to be stupid?
Tbh, I like the rule.

http://twitter.com/#!/Buster_ESPN/status/137912964673052672
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  I like the rule too. I’ll enjoy watching Yankees/Red Sox in the ALDS.
  
  (Hoping that happens)
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  I liked the old rule.
Jimmy McNulty

So a lot of people were talking about the Union’s interest in the draft and hard slotting, lets look at the first round of the 2008 draft and see the guys who are already big leaguers:

Eric Hosmer, Buster Posey, Lonnie Chisenhall, Brian Matusz, Gordon Beckham, Ike Davis, Daniel Schlereth, Justin Smoak, Jemile Weeks, Brett Lawrie, Brett Wallace, Pedro Alavarez, and Andrew Cashner.

There’s also Gerrit Cole, Yonder Alonso, Ryan Perry, and Aaron Hicks on the way. Christian Friedrich and others still have time to turn their careers around.

Suffice it to say I’d say the first round bonus issues should be pretty important to the union teams, especially considering that teams are getting better at drafting I’d say there’s a legit chance that 2/3 or so first rounders will make the majors in the near future. Thus, it should be important to the union.
- RetroRob
  
  I really don’t get what you’re saying. Actually, I think I do get what you’re saying, but it doesn’t make any sense. Eventually the MLB union will represent whatever players eventually make it to the major leagues. It doesn’t have to be the guys you mentioned; it could be other players, or most likely those same players. The Union cares about the players they represent NOW, not who they might represent in the future. As long as MLB exists, there will be players the union represents. Those are the ones they care about…as soon as they’re part of the union.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Really hoping USC wins to shake up the BCS.
Yu aint Matsuzaka

Side note that wasn’t mentioned in this thread as of yet:

Final game of the 2011 N.P.B season tonight.
I’d expect a Announcement sometime tomorrow once it’s monday over in Japan regarding whether or not Yu Darvish will be posted.
FachoinaNYY

Montero was signing autographs in Syracuse, NY today. I got two balls and a bat. Can’t say much about him other than he seemed quiet. Cool experience overall, though it was pretty pricey!
Craig

I want John Danks on the Yankees as much as the next guy, but is he really a #2 to slot behind CC?
- http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
  
  Not sure if he’s a “#2″ but at least he’d be a very good “#3″, IMO. Maybe with the help of Larry Rothschild he can take the next step.
  - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
    
    I mean, from 2008-2010 he pitched pretty well:
    
    97 starts, 3.61 ERA, 125 ERA +, 608.1 innings, 1.24 WHIP, 8.2 H/9, 7 K/9, 3 BB/9
    
    I think if he pitches like that as a Yankee he’ll be in good shape.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      He may also be better pitching in YS3. Some of those HRs will be outs.
  - http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
    
    I don’t think he’s a No. 2 either, but he’d be a great No. 3. Truth is, it doesn’t REALLY matter if he’s the No. 2 or 3 guy over the course of a full season as the Yanks would expect each to make a significant number of starts – good starts that is.
    
    I still wouldn’t want to see Betances moved for him though.
    - http://twitter.com/#!/czm93 Craig
      
      Apparently, the WSox view Romine as the centerpiece. You HAVE to pull the trigger if that’s true. Nice first name, btw.
      - http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Yeah I saw that too. Romine and probably another mid level or “B” prospect should do. But I’m not Kenny Williams, so what do I know?
      - http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
        
        Haha, I guess our parents have good taste in names, huh? I just heard about this Romine stuff too. Not to go Ted Nelson on you, but “what’s your source”? I’m just interested in joining the loop.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Haha at the Ted Nelson reference.
        
        http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse
        
        Btw, here’s the source.
        
        http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
        
        Thanks. Gavin Floyd intrigues me, but that may be because I’ve seen him when he was dominating the Yanks. It’s amazing how drastically our perception of a player changes based on what he does against our squad in one or two starts.
      - http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
        
        I agree btw. If Romine is, in fact, the centerpiece for the Sox I’ll warm up considerably to a Danks deal. Double shot of tequila to the face warm.
    - Brian S.
      
      Why assign numbers to these pitchers? What the hell is a “number two guy” anyways?
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        Because it’s their preferred way of describing a pitcher? What, does saying ‘a number two guy’ kill a cat or something?
        
        FIPster Doofus
        
        It seems to be the new thing to get offended about nowadays, as if no one in the history of the world has ever slapped a label on a starting pitcher.
        
        JobaWockeeZ
        
        I mean I get why people think labeling pitchers like “ace” or “number two” is vague but everyone knows what it means.
        
        FIPster Doofus
        
        Exactly.
      - Plank
        
        How very number 5 of you.
      - http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro
        
        Just something that fans like to do. Makes comparing one staff to another more convenient. Everybody has a different opinion/standard for a No. 2 starter. Personally, when I think of a No. 2 guy for the Yankees, I envision a second ace.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Sure. Why not? Burnett was the Yankees’ No. 2 when they won the World Series in 2009. He gave them 200-plus average-ish innings. That’s good enough in my book. The Yankees have an ace; another would be nice, but they can get by with decent complementary pieces behind CC. That’s what Danks is, basically.
  
  The Cardinals certainly didn’t have an all-world No. 2 this past season, but it didn’t preclude them from winning it all.
  - MannyGeee
    
    meh, dont put baby in a corner. you cant decide whos gonna be a #1,#2,#3 until October. you need a stable pitcher to take the ball every 5 games and give you 200+IP of non embarrrasment. label Danks what you want in terms of pole position, hes gonna be what he is.
    
    FWIW I am sorta lukewarm on Danks and I am a big Romine fan, but I make that deal TODAY if hes the centerpiece. a still young, still decent ML starter for a non pitching prospect in a position of strength? all day long kid.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      CC is No. 1. Everyone knows it. Whatever happens after that is a lot harder to predict. Entering last season, nobody expected Nova and Garcia to be taking the ball in the second and third playoff games.
      
      Anyway, Danks for Romine+? Get it done.
  - RetroRob
    
    AJ Burnett was declared the #2, although I always viewed Pettitte as the #2.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Nunez + Swisher for Jurrjens

Who hangs up first?
- FIPster Doofus
  
  The Yankees, because that deal is awful for them.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I’d do it for Teheran.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    And it’s funny how the article says it’ll take a big package while mentioning Swisher and a low tiered prospect.
- Pat D
  
  Definitely Yankees.
  
  Too many injury concerns for Jurrjens and don’t see a decent enough replacement for Swisher out there.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    BJ Upton will be a free agent and if he roams RF then the Yankees have the best outfield defense in baseball. He posts higher WAR’s then Swisher year to year even when he’s not at his peak.
    
    He’s their best option.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      Upton has a year left in Tampa.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        Nothing to see here, move along.
- Grit for Brains
  
  Not a Jurrjens fan….at all
- Plank
  
  That seems pretty even to me, but it would leave a gaping hole in RF (a big deal) and would lose the top backup middle infielder (a small deal at this point in the off-season).
  
  I would probably decline unless I could find a decent alternative in RF for 2012.
Craig

This whole Cespedes thing irks me; teams are apparently gushing over him to the point of a $50 million payroll and he’s never seen MLB or MiLB. All this over a YouTube video? Hell, I’ll get in shape too and post a video f me doing athletic things.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Seeing as he’s being personally scouted by the higher ups of the Yankee scouting department I assume it’s not just because of some youtube video.
  - Craig
    
    Still- seems like a HUGE gamble, and is he really 26?
Soriano is a Liar

So Darrell Rasner Sr. read RAB, and just wanted to check in with some info? Or is it the more likely but less awesome scenario that Mike or another writer just sent him an e-mail inquiring…
- Plank
  
  I’m guessing he had a google alert for his son and saw the post that way.
  
  (No, I don’t have a source for that.)
  - Soriano is a Liar
    
    Hmm plausible. But without a source I feel compelled to insult your suggestion with a can’t-tell-if-serious attack.
bankers hours

I doubt we can get Danks for Romine but if we can do it as long as there are no other top players involved.
Pat D

Wow, the BCS is gonna look f’ed up tomorrow.

Especially if Baylor holds on.
Jose M. Vazquez..

In a 19Nov 11 column in the Daily News I saw a proposed trade of AJ Burnett and Jayson Bay. The reasons: both have 2 years left in their contracts, both make 16mila year, both have worn out their wellcome and finally,they coiuld both use a change of scenery. I would make that trade although I don’t know where I would play Bay except for platooning him wit Gardner or maybe occasional DH when Montero catches. Anybody out there agree this is a good trade for both?
Anthony

http://www.sporcle.com/games/aurrichio/mlb-all-time-war-leaders

Fun quiz I made up on Sporcle. Try it out!