Fan Confidence Poll: February 3rd, 2014

February 3, 2014 by Mike Axisa 151 Comments

2013 Season: 85-77 (637 RS, 671 RA, 77-85 pythag. record), didn’t qualify for playoffs

Top stories from last week:

Pitchers and catchers are fewer than two weeks away, so the Yankees announced their list of 26 non-roster invitees to Spring Training. The most notable omission is utility man Ronnie Mustelier.
The Yankees have not had recent contact with Fernando Rodney. A third base option came off the board when Michael Young retired. New York signed right-hander Chris Leroux to a minor league deal and inked J.R. Murphy to a contract for 2014.
Keith Law ranked the Yankees 20th in his organizational rankings. Gary Sanchez made Baseball Prospectus’ top 101 prospects list while Sanchez, Tyler Austin, and Mason Williams made Law’s top 100 list. The Yankees signed 17-year-old Australian right-hander Brandon Stenhouse to a six-figure deal.
The Yankees added five to their pro scouting staff, including Masahiro Tanaka‘s former teammate Brandon Duckworth.
MLB’s lawyers are trying to get Alex Rodriguez‘s lawsuit tossed.

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 interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.

The Great Gonzo

With the giant gaping hole at 3B, I am most surprised that Mustelier doesn’t at least get a look in Tampa. Seemed like this would be the ideal time to take all the infielders to camp to see what sticks. But, in fairness to the club, he sucked it up in grand fashion in 2013.

Regardless, the Tanaka haze has not worn off yet, and guys like Drew still being unemployed offer the chance of him being signed under market value…

So we go 8 today.
- Andy in Sunny Daytona
  
  I would bet that Musty got hurt in Winter Ball and that’s why he’s not going to MLB Spring Training.
  - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
    
    I really wanted him to be a successful major leaguer simply because I loved the nickname Musty.
- RetroRob
  
  Surprised, too, yet they know their needs and they know what he can offer and they are seemingly passing. Says a lot.
BrianMcCannon

I’ll go with 7 given the addition of Tanaka and relative inactivity within the division.
Jorge Steinbrenner

7.5 rounded up is an 8. Not a finished product, by any stretch, but I do believe that both patience could wind up being a virtue here with strenghtening the team before Opening Day and that the team has done a good job overall with the cards presented to them.

I’d have concerns about this team, but I’d go to the battle with them feeling good about things if I had to right now.
Peyton Manning

Sign Drew and Jimenez
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  O:S
  - CS Yankee
    
    Are you referring to his game last night or that is a troll comment?
    
    He has a decent point on those players…i don’t see either happening. I don’t want Drew and Jimenez is a wildcard, which we have one of those with Pineda…hard to drop 40M$ on a wildcard when they just dropped 175M$ on a foreign wild card.
    - The Great Gonzo
      
      You seriously cannot compare Ubaldo and Tanaka, can you? Even if you take the bodies of work out of it, just in terms of sheer upside…
      
      Someone can go ahead and bookmark this, I don’t want to be reminded of this in 3 years, but its not out of the question. CS is right, wildcards and all.
      - CS Yankee
        
        I was just having fun comparing O:S to the SB, but boy did the threads below go crazy.
        
        I’m not a Drew fan, him or his bro, he didn’t want to be a NYY…fine. He might be the best available, but it isn’t what i would like to add.
        
        Jimenez is a WC as he can be great, average or Hughes-like. To me, a clear WC which I would be fine with if we didn’t sign a bigger WC (which I’m fine with). I do believe that Jimenez was the best bet to have a big year out of the domestic choices (Santana, Garza, Arroyo, etc), but Tanaka is the better, but far more costly, bet.
        
        RetroRob
        
        Right. Ubaldo has great ability, but he’s never had command. He did have a nice finish to 2013, just like he had a nice first half in 2011 (or was it 2010?). So he has shown he can pull it together for a few starts at a time, but never for a season.
        
        Wild card. Intriguing wild card, but a wild card nonetheless.
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      It’s probably the same commenter, under a different screen name, trying to shove this down our throat again.
      
      There’s a valid argument to be made for both. I’m ambivalent on Drew and lean no on Jimenez, but I wouldn’t necessarily argue too strongly against either.
      - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        You should have gone with “It was a joke”, because Operation Shutdown is exactly what happened last night.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Seriously.
        
        Amelia
        
        Oooooooohhhhhhhhh people who nobody cares about might not respond to people who nobody cares about. You and your buddies are such TOUGH GUYS! Hmmmmphh!!
        
        Spare me this shit man. You and your idiot make believe buddy Jorge along with several others take this blog way to damn seriously. Get out of mom’s basement and enjoy life.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Ten internet dollars this is the original commenter.
        
        My mother lives in South Florida. Sea level. No basements. I moved out when I was 20 and currently have a better job than you’ve ever had in your life, live in a better neighborhood you’ll ever live in, and built a happier family than you’ll ever have.
        
        I can multitask very well. One hand’s on RAB. One’s evaluating paperwork. You don’t even want to know what the third hand is doing.
        
        #comeatmebro
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        And, believe it or not, I’ve met Jim. Like actually shaken hands with him.
        
        Macho Man “Randy Levine”
        
        It was a case of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
        
        Chuck Norris won.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Hahahaha at least give me credit where credit is due.
        
        You should have said “Stop commenting on RAB and get back to work”.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Or “just work faster.”
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Did you miss that I was making a Super Bowl joke and not even remotely talking about the Yankees, RAB, or anything even remotely pertinent to anything?
        
        jjyank
        
        Question: How many handles have you used to say the same things to the same people?
        
        And which one here lives in his mom’s basement again? Right. You.
        
        jjyank
        
        “You and your idiot make believe buddy Jorge along with several others take this blog way to damn seriously.”
        
        …says the guy getting all hot and bothered over nothing. Maybe take your own advice there buddy.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        I give you a dollar if we don’t hear from Steve now.
        
        Macho Man “Randy Levine”
        
        Are you having life issues we should know about? We are a group that is interested in helping others out, believe it or not.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Some of us are even licensed to do it in two of the three states in the Tri-state area!
Frank

5. Still alot of ?s (BP, infield) despite spending nearly a 1/2 billion dollars. Minor league system is not very good with no position player(s)who can contribute now if needed (maybe Zoilo).
Farewell Mo

6. Definite holes in BP and infield but they did as well as could have possibly been expected this offseason

I’d be a 7 though if they invited Mustelier to ST.
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  I’d be at a 12 if Mustelier came over to my house for some vaca frita and tostones.
  - I’m One
    
    Making me hungry ….
- CS Yankee
  
  Musty reminds me of the all-or-nothing 1B a few people screamed for that had no- D and more K’s than Nolan Ryan.
  
  Musty can’t field worth a darn and his bat is subject in AAA, add the inability on health and he couldn’t hit in the hitting only Mexican league this winter and…next!
- Preston
  
  I’m a seven, would be a five if Mustelier made the roster.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    This wins the internet.
  - The Great Gonzo
    
    SO. MUCH. TRUTH.
Algernon Blackwood

Nice to see the site back online. This weekend was like a bad flashback to the internet of 1998.
I’m One

7. Looking forward to Spring Training, a reasonably healthy team, good production from Teix, Jeter, CC and the new aquisitions and a bounce back from the prospects. Then I’ll be much closer to a 10.
BamBamMusings

Wanna know why the Yankees have no youngsters? Cause we the fans, aren’t happy unless we give out exorbitant contracts to replacement level or over-the-hill free agents at every spot on the roster.
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  The funny thing about that is that, again, this is the same exact complaint fans had about the team in the 80’s and in the previous decade.
  
  It also, seemingly, goes hand in hand with fan expectation that “championship or bust” be taken as literally as can be.
  
  It’s why such a big section of casual Yankee fans are completely insufferable.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    (Not describing you directly. More of a general comment.)
  - BamBamMusings
    
    But really, how much difference will there be between a major question mark in Ubaldo (who had 6 good starts down the stretch against the worst AL teams VS 3 declining seasons) and a Phelps or Pineda?
    
    How large a gap is there from an average fielder average bat Drew to a Roberts + Ryan + Johnson combo?
    
    Are these type of players really impacting fan confidence?
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      Agree wholeheartedly.
      
      I’d like to increase depth here. Drew passes for name recognition right now because…..by God, I have no clue why he’s suddenly seen as a household name.
      - Farewell Mo
        
        In all fairness, if you look up Drew’s numbers you’d see he can easily and reasonably be expected to be somewhere between a 3-4 WAR player which is more than the entire 4 man infield is projected to be worth at this point
        
        He’s really not just some name of the month or shiny new toy. He’s likely add 2-3 wins to this team which could be crucial.
        
        I’m not in the camp of “we must have him or Cashman Sux” but as Mike has stated many times, his signing would make perfect sense.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Yes, and I think you’re still representing the bullish view on Drew.
        
        Like I said, I wouldn’t be upset to see him walk through the door. I just think he’s being quite overvalued here. We hear just as many comments thinking Kelly Johnson will hit .240 with 18 HR’s this season.
        
        Farewell Mo
        
        Possibly but Look at Drew’s stats
        
        2010: 4.7 WAR
        2011: 1.7 WAR in half a season
        2012-recovering from a major ankle injury
        2013: 3.4 WAR
        
        I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect him to have a 3-4 WAR season in 2014.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Shhhh. Drew is borderline replacement level…
        
        Farewell Mo
        
        Plus he’s still only 30 years old and another year removed from a devastating ankle injury. As a lefty batter in YS3, he could be a steal at the 3/$40-45 range
        
        Why does everyone think he’s so much worse than he really is?
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        There are plenty of actual reasons not to want to sign him.
        
        He’s replacement level isn’t one of them!
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        They’re having a much better discussion on him than I’m going to invest in having right now below. :)
        
        BamBamMusings
        
        I disagree. Not only did he fade down he stretch. He became a platoon player who couldn’t get a base hit in the playoffs if he were getting pitched underhand. But that’s not it, we are interested in bringing him in to switch his position (the biggest strength he has) and assume he’ll be just as good at a completely new position @ 3B or 2B. You’re kidding yourself if you think there’s a 4 WAR in that experiment…
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Yeah, a 132 wrc+ in august and september is really fading down the stretch.
        
        If we’re going to start judging people on single playoff appearances, then how about 2007 when he was amazing? I can’t believe we’re still obsessed with small sample sizes.
        
        BamBamMusings
        
        3 year average is a small sample size? And again, he is not being evaluated as a SS option. We are looking at him from a position switch. So any increased value you placed on him due to defense, needs to be retracted.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        80 at bats.
        
        Dude, tell me where you see that he’d be switching positions permanently. At MOST it’s a 1 year switch, and he’ll inherit SS next year.
        
        You said he faded down the stretch, funny how you have no response to that and chose to ignore it.
        
        BamBamMusings
        
        So you have insider info that DJ is retiring? Whatever your plans may be for him, he is not supplanting Jeter, nor is he better defensively than Ryan! Therefore, he is not coming here to play SS.
        
        The playoffs were the stretch. He looked like the worst player on the field easily!
- Lets go Yankees
  
  the grades should be a bit higher. we did land 4 of the top 6 FA this year.
  - JGYank
    
    But we also lost the best FA/best 2b in the game, a #3 starter, the greatest closer of all time, and a LOOGY. Hopefully Tanaka replaces Pettitte and Robertson can replace Mo but our pen and infield still has questions from the losses. But overall I think we improved especially in the outfield.
    - Lets go Yankees
      
      yeah but almost 50% of the grades are at 6 or lower. thats crazy when a team signs 4 of the top 5 or 6 free agents! retirements happen. nothing we can do about that. cano is the only knock on the offseason. and you can even make a case that letting him walk i/o matching the crazy 10 year contract he got was the right thing to do. so i dont see why the confidence level should be 6 or lower for half of the fans?
      - JGYank
        
        It’s not half the fans, it’s about 20-25% who are probably disappointed after last year and are concerned about the holes, inury history, and age of the roster.
        
        Lets go Yankees
        
        23 + 13 + 5 + 3 + 2 = 46%
        
        6
        23%
        5
        13%
        4
        5%
        3
        3%
        2
        0%
        1 (no confidence)
        2%
        
        JGYank
        
        There’s nothing wrong with being a 5 or 6. 4 or 3 is low, and 1 or 2 is just ridiculous. I just threw a percentage range out there.
        
        If you’re in the 5-8 range IMO it’s reasonable.
  - Ethan
    
    I don’t think the grades are too low. I think they’re reasonable accurate. The Infield has just too many question marks. The rotation is average. I think anyone voting over 8 is insane, especially if you consider beyond next year.
    
    Yes they brought in a lot of players but they performed so poorly last year I’m still not convinced they are a playoff team.
    - BamBamMusings
      
      ** The Infield has just too many question marks. ** –> Sign 3 players to IF depth and there are too many Q?
      
      ** The rotation is average. ** Have 3 possible # 1 or 2 SPs and the rotation is average?
      
      ** they performed so poorly last year** –> 87 win team
      
      Perfect example of a spoiled fanbase! Every team has question marks. You cant just throw big money at whatever is sitting out there to address question marks.
      - Ethan
        
        Just because you have a lot of INF depth does not mean there aren’t question marks. Who knows what Jeter can do? Roberts is almost a lock for an injury by May, Johnson will be helpful but nothing amazing. Mike said Cano alone could like out-WAR the entire Yankee infield this season. That’s problematic.
        
        CC, Tanaka and Nova have a lot to prove. If they all pan out, amazing! But I’m skeptical. Tanaka will likely be a 4 ERA guy this year. Nova is a total question mark, same with CC. Again, many question marks there.
        
        85 win team. But their Pythag record was much worse. They definitely played above their heads last year. If they can do it again, that would be awesome but not likely.
        
        Bullpen will probably be significantly worse unless a few signings are made before opening day which is looking less and less likely.
        
        For me there are just too many Ifs to give this team an 8. I’m sitting at a 6. If they all work out (highly unlikely) that would be awesome but you just can’t count on that.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        “Just because you have a lot of INF depth does not mean there aren’t question marks.”
        
        Of course this is true, but depth is going to help mitigate that a bit. More depth means more competition and more options for the team. I actually do think we stand a better chance of not having an Alberto Gonzalez at third base by May, even if the starting options aren’t thrilling.
        
        Don’t get caught up on numbers. Two different people will vote a 5 and an 8 for the same reasons. This isn’t scientific.
- The Great Gonzo
  
  Because we, the fans, don’t realize that for every team that makes a successful rebuild look so easy, there are 10 teams who don’t get it right and miss the playoffs in significantly weaker divisions. Of course, when I say “we”…
  
  Also, “Yankees have no youngsters” =/= “give out exorbitant contracts to replacement level or over-the-hill free agents”… Those two things are so incredibly mutually exclusive, its not even funny. If you trade a youngster for over the hill players, which only applies to ICHIRO on our 25 man roster, then you have an argument. But there are no successful teams out there, save for the Cardinals, who churn out quality minor leaguers year over year and still compete year over year.
  
  And the Cards do it in a markedly weaker division. They might be Orioles caliber in the AL East. Who’s to say.
  
  Go cheer for the Mets if you want to see Youngsters at every position. Enjoy the Lucas Duda era. We’ll be here…
  - BamBamMusings
    
    Its not even about churning out youngsters as much as it is chasing borderline replacement level FAs!
    - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
      
      This year? Who’s a borderline replacement level FA?
      
      If you’re still harping on last year, fine, but man, that is NOT a trend. That was a pretty unique offseason with unique circumstances surrounding age and injury. Did we handle it well? Nope, definitely not, but it’s not like signing Vernon Wells is an annual custom.
      - BamBamMusings
        
        Borderline are the Drews and Ubaldos of the world.
        
        The only impact player left on FA is Cruz and we have no room for him. I dont see why we are even talking about signing all of these other guys?
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Drew is not borderline replacement level. Not when healthy.
        
        I hate that I have to keep defending a guy who I don’t want to sign.
        
        The Great Gonzo
        
        THIS. I still think its inevitable, but man…
        
        BamBamMusings
        
        OK lets take a look at his numbers over the last 3 seasons shall we?
        
        He averages:
        244 BA
        315 OBP
        10 HR or 400 SLG
        
        Post season averages last 2 years w Oak + Bos
        150 BA
        230 OBP
        290 SLG
        
        http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/drewst01.shtml
        
        Any defensive grades you want to apply will be a complete guess since he’s only played SS and he will not supplant Ryan defensively there.
        
        So how exactly is he such a good player?
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        I’m excited that you shifted your argument away from “Borderline Replacement Level”, because that’s what I was responding to.
        
        You, not me, are the one who used the “Replacement Level” term.
        
        So here.
        
        Last 3 non-injury shortened seasons:
        
        4.7 WAR: defense: 15.4 RAR
        1.7 WAR: defense: 8 RAR
        3.4 WAR: defense: 10.9 RAR
        
        If you want to argue the injury thing, be my guest. That’s partially why I don’t want to sign him.
        
        But if you’re going to go into the SABR world, you should probably look things up before you comment.
        
        lou
        
        You guys do know the just about the entire Yankees infield is “replacements”
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        OK if you’re not going to read any of the conversation and jump in late, I guess it makes sense that your comment would have nothing to do with what we’re talking about.
        
        RetroRob
        
        People confuse replacement level players with league average players, but there is a huge difference. A team of replacement level players wins maybe 46?, 47?, 48 games over the course of full season. They’re pretty bad. Drew is most certainly not replacement level.
        
        As a hitter, Drew’s bat has played at league average, but that’s not a bad thing since he is a SS. A league average hitter at SS is not a bad things at all.
        
        I am not on board with saying he’s a 3-4 WAR player, though. He once did have a 4.7 WAR season, but that was back in 2010 and is a bit of a UFO season and we pre injury. Looking at his entire career since 2006, there is nothing there that would guarantee he’ll be a 3-4 WAR player. I think that’s his ceiling. That WAR is also driven off some kind defensive metrics that many evaluators do not believe.
        
        He’d be nice to have at a nice price. Don’t love him, especially with those home/road Fenway splits. Still have questions about him.
        
        I’m with you. I don’t really want them to sign him unless it is at a good price and especially contract length. Yet those calling him replacement level are off base.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        This.
        
        LK
        
        I can’t imagine how a baseball fan could think Nelson Cruz is better than Stephen Drew in the year 2014.
        
        And I don’t even think Drew’s *that* good, he’s just much better than the dumpster fire that’s currently passing as the Yankee infield. Cruz, though? He hasn’t topped 2 WAR since 2010, which is also the year he turned 30. He’ll hit you 25 bombs and do literally nothing else.
  - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
    
    I kinda doubt the Cardinals would be Orioles caliber in the AL East.
    - The Great Gonzo
      
      OK, bad example. But would they be, as they are constructed now, a top level AL East team? I highly doubt it. They win 85 playing year in and year out in the AL East, which would lead most teams (including the Holy Grail of Player Development Cardinals) to spend some money and prospects to shore up those last 3-5 wins.
      
      I hypothesize that the Cardinals are what they are because they can compete in that Division year in and year out without having to spend a ton of money to get pushed over the edge. They become dirty pillars of the FA & Trade business in baseball if they have to deal with the pressures of a tighter division.
      - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        I mean the NL central as presently constructed isn’t shitty, though. 2000-2011 or so, yeah. Even so, the just seem to have really good ownership, and those arms they keep churning out would be good whether they’re in the NL Central, AL East, or the All-Universe division.
        
        The Great Gonzo
        
        Its nwhere near the strongest division over the past decade though. 2013 there were legit teams there, but historically, they are not even the strongest division in the NL.
        
        Valid point about their pitching though, can’t touch it. Can’t knock it.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        Agreed. The biggest improvement they’ve made is shipping Houston somewhere else.
  - Lets go Yankees
    
    what does it have to do with cheering for the mets? you’re saying since they dont have a good minor league system, they have’to run out the check book and outbid themselves in a weak market for below average players?
    
    if you want to spend your money, spend it on the top talent. not on the crap that no other team in the league wants. just because we still have question marks, doesnt mean we have holes!
    - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
      
      Dafuk? A weak market? What the fuck have you been watching?
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      For every commenter saying what you’re saying, there’s people advocating multiple years and double-digit AAV for guys like Omar Infante and Stephen Drew. Hell, I’ll raise my hand and say guilty as charged on Infante for a couple of days there.
      
      No one can deny there are holes. The issue is whether we should be so hard pressed to fill those holes with future problems.
      
      I understand the issue as to lack of young players ready to go right now. I also think we sometimes expect a candy store in which we go in and say “hey, we need a third baseman,” and a surefire 22 year-old All-Star appears in front of us. No one has that.
      
      I’m not even sure if I’m agreeing or disagreeing with you here.
      - The Great Gonzo
        
        And also, the Yankees spent the money on the TOP CATCHER, 2 of the 3 TOP OUTFIELDERS, and the TOP STARTING PITCHER. OK, they didn’t signed Drew, Balfour, or Cano, but those were the TOP GUYS in their respective positions.
        
        Actually, I agree with Jorge, I am not sure what side you’re on right now.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        It’s a good conversation, though, even if we don’t know if we agree with him.
        
        The Great Gonzo
        
        #confused. Not even sure I know who the real enemy is. BamBam trolled us into this.
        
        Damn you BamBam!
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Bam Bam trolled us all in the early 90’s.
        
        BamBamMusings
        
        Much obliged!
        
        LK
        
        I think it’s a bit disingenuous to portray the Beltran signing as being that big of a deal. Granderson got the same AAV for an additional year, so it’s not clear to me that the Yanks actually did get 2 of the 3 best OFs.
    - The Great Gonzo
      
      Could you kindly define ‘weak market’ and ‘below average’?
- The Big City of Dreams
  
  Wanna know why the Yankees have no youngsters?
  
  —————
  
  The have youngsters but turning them into even solid major league players seems to be harder than they thought it would be.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    It’s hard for everyone. We remember the successes but always forget that 26 year-old bouncing around the waiver wire who was once someone else’s first-rounder. There’s plenty of them. Hey look, there goes Lars Anderson.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      True the success are remembered more but that goes for everything. I think when it comes to ppl being down on the farm it always goes back to The Big 3. If those guys don’t struggle as much as they did it’s a completely different story.
      - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        ManBan is NOT DEAD, PEOPLE.
        
        The Great Gonzo
        
        Cashman failed by not wrapping his elbow in Tommy John proof bubble-wrap
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        True he’s not dead and I’m still a believer in him but I think the concern is the missing a couple of seasons due to injury and his size is something ppl have always commented on. TJS is not the end but I think some ppl wonder if it’s just a sign of things to come.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        I’m more concerned about two years away, but I know the talent is there.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        Hopefully they can reap the reward of having that talent develop. They need a couple of these guys to make an impact.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        I think we all know why people are concerned.
        
        If you want to assume the worst, you’re free to.
        
        And I’m free to call you short-sighted and pessimistic.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        That’s fine. I’d rather them show me first then just blindly believe that it’ll work out. The Yankees have been down this road before.
      - Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        I think we read too much into single-A numbers as well.
        
        This is why I love Chad Jennings’s “talk to me when they’re doing it in AA” take on things.
        
        RetroRob
        
        Yup. That’s why I am not getting excited about Gosuke Katoh. He his well in rookie ball, the same league another teenager — DBJ — destroyed after signing, and since has been eaten alive by low A ball pitchers.
        
        Carry it up into A ball and I’ll start to be intrigued. AA ball, then I’m excited!
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        I don’t even think about Katoh other than being glad he’s there.
        
        I pay slight attention to Jagelio because he’s supposed to be the fast riser.
        
        The road is just too long.
Masahiro Dinero

6

I’ll trend higher once I see Jeter and Tex on the field, lower if they can’t hack it.
CS Yankee

A big fat eight!

SP, C & OF looks beast mode
RP looks meh
IF looks dicey

Prospects, to me, seem real good, maybe great if you look at/below AA.
Payroll is in a decent spot…not 189-BS, not 250-sick either.
Tanuki Tanaka (Formerly Bob Buttons)

8 because I’ve had a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast so I’m pretty optimistic right now.

Probably will be a 7 if I voted after waiting around at the bus stop for what feels like two eternities.
Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead

1, as in the number of inches of wet, slushy snow we’re getting after the prognosticators spent all weekend predicting 5-8 and an excuse to leave work early.

Weather men and the people predicting an interesting super bowl had a bad weekend.
- CS Yankee
  
  Funny how more people voted a 1 than a 2.
  
  Poll should shake out something like;
  
  1) Should mean that you have given up on baseball and maybe even life
  2) Means that you think they are the same as the Cubs who can’t even put in a new scoreboard.
  3) Astros level of payroll, play for the first choice in next years draft. Business ROE is king.
  4) Marlins, K-mart menality…everything must go.
  5) Mets, poor billionaires who if it wasn’t for the commish they would have been Ebay-ed.
  6) KC, Milwaukee or another dozen or so of good, but great is the real enemy.
  7) A legit contender every year.
  8+) A very well run team that’ll overcome most challenges.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    If you’re truly a 1, you need to find a new team to root for.
    
    You have to have some level of confidence in the team you’re rooting for, even if you’re a Houston Astros fans.
  - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
    
    I think 1,2 and 10 are generally numbers that shouldn’t be seen by anyone voting seriously.
    
    My honest confidence is somewhere in the 7 range. As it usually is, with this team.
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      I was a 10 once. It was 2004 and we were one game away from the World Series.
      - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        YOU! IT WAS YOUR FAULT
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        IM SORRY JIM
  - Tanuki Tanaka (Formerly Bob Buttons)
    
    Hahaha fun little list before noon =)
adeelmd

Agree with Jimenez & Drew, possible add Koon (if he were ok with a relief role). I consider these “luxury” signings, meaning only do them if Yankees can get them on below market deals. Doubt that will happen with Boris clients, but its getting late and I wouldn’t be surprised if people would be more willing to take a short term contract on a playoff caliber team to improve their market.

IE, Jimenez is not going to get 100 million or even a 75 million contract (50 is a BEST case scenario); but two good years on a team can change that.
- The Great Gonzo
  
  Do you mean Suk-min Yoon? Because I am a little uncomfortable with John & Suzyn saying ‘Koon’ 98 times every 5th day.
  
  Also, I would not be opposed to a Yoon signing, so long as its pretty low risk deal.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    There’d be a reference to some 1930’s showtune, and then it’s really all downhill from there.
    - The Great Gonzo
      
      Counterpoint, this might be just what the doctor ordered to get them off the air finally. I might be in support of signing this ‘Koon’ fellow.
      - The Great Gonzo
        
        Also of note, I am showing restraint by not adding the remaining list of possible free agents that could get Ma & Pa off the air…
YankeeFan91

If we sign ubaldo and add another reliever I’m at a 9.
JGYank

6.5. The Yanks improved, but are still old and injury prone and have a couple holes to fill. They have to rely on comeback years from CC Tex and Jeter and still have huge contracts limiting our payroll flexibility, but they’re clearly willing to spend and might not be done adding. The farm needs a bounce back year and it would help if it can produce a ML ready RP. A lot could go wrong, but the talent is there and I like the additions they’ve made. This team has a ton of potential and the outfield and probably the rotation should be solid. They are definitely going to be competitive this year and I think they have a good shot at a WC and possibly even the east if things break right. I can’t wait for ST to start and am craving to watch Tanaka on the mound.
- I’m a looser and a trader baby so why don’t you kill me?
  
  It’s funny as I agree completely with everything you said but land at a 5 nonetheless. Of the laundry list of issues you mentioned a handful will have to go right before I notch up to 6-7.
AllyinCt

7, but I’d be 8 if we ever sign Jeff Baker…lol.
Paddy’s Pub

4

Shit ton of money spent to make this a 3rd place team. No farm system to speak of. Infield has the potential to be a complete disaster.
- Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
  
  Bahahahahahahahahaha
  
  HAHA
  HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
  - jjyank
    
    My thoughts exactly.
- The Great Gonzo
  
  The troll is strong in this one
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    It is a perfecly non-offensive, but just Negative Nancy, four. I don’t know…..not feeling the troll here…..yet.
    - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
      
      The troll was the second paragraph.
      - Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        Still somewhere between “same ol’ negative shit” and “troll.” I reserve judgment until one of us is called something mean.
        
        Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
        
        To me, same ol negative shit and only being negative might as well be a troll.
        
        Even the negative leaners who are regulars on RAB have something nice to say once in a while.
        
        Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        You’re just a make believe buddy anyway.
        
        I’m a looser and a trader baby so why don’t you kill me?
        
        Thanks for noticing.
- TWTR
  
  To prove your not a troll, make the positive case, because there is one.
  - The Great Gonzo
    
    Damn dude. Alot to ask from some people.
    
    I am gonna guess he doesn’t have one.
- jjyank
  
  Life must be so much fun when only the negative side of things is taken into account.
- Paddy’s Pub
  
  Sorry I hurt your feelings, guys.
  
  I should’ve known better than to express an opinion. That’s totally on me and I accept the consequences.
  
  What I should’ve done is talked about ALL the positive things that went into my confidence number being a 4… because that’s obviously such a great score. Allow me to redact and do over:
  
  4
  
  Loved the Ellsbury signing. Elite money for an elite player. That’s how it’s done. Farm system in for a HUGE rebound year with all two of their top 100 prospects. Not just one of them. Both should have big years. This team is filled with recent homegrown players like Gardner, Nova, Robertson and… and… other guys too. And if the entire infield stays healthy for the entire season, and Derek Jeter can produce offensively like he’s in his early 30s, and something tells me Jeter might be a little rusty defensively, but if he can go back to the Gold Glove level defender he was before his ankle injury, and if wrist surgery didn’t rob the power from an already declining player in Teixeira, and if Brian Roberts and Kelly Johnson have monster career years, WATCH OUT. This could be one of the greatest Yankee infields in history.
  - Jim Is A (Bored) Peckerhead
    
    See RT? Troll.
    - jjyank
      
      Yep.
      - Paddy’s Pub
        
        TROLL!!! OMG pleaz noooo! Anything but a troll! Commenting on the internet is my life. I can’t handle being shunned by a group like this.
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    Oh shut the front door.
    - Paddy’s Pub
      
      You love it.
      - Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        The paragraph in italics shows that you have a pretty good grasp on what people think I say all the time. Sure, I was a fan.
  - The Great Gonzo
    
    Never doubt me on these things, guys. Told you, the troll is strong in this one.
lou

Before the Tanaka signing I was at a 4 givin holes in the rotation and the infield seems to be a mess. I moved it up to a 6 after the Tanaka signing but the Yankees still lack an infield. If the Yankees could go out and get two every day players to punch in at 2b and 3b I’d prob move it up to an 8 and that’s where I would stand until I would see something come outta Yankee camp.
- lou
  
  I feel that if the Yankees go out an sign another FA pitcher it makes them a better them. As Phelps, Warren could go to the pen and it actually might open a door for a trade for infield help during the season. Yankees spent a boat load of money so far so why stop at a terrible infield and it’s not like there is complete junk to sign there are still a few very good FA’s.
jarak

Get Baily or Hanrahan, Rodney too Benitez like. Jeff Baker would make me happier. Still a 7.
Chip Rodriguez

8. I’d be a 7, but Jayson Nix is now with the Rays, so yay!
qwerty

Just buy a couple of aging and overpriced free agents and all of a sudden fan confidence in the future is up. LOL. Yankee fans are sooo easy to please.