Archive for Asides
Coaching staff remains unsettled for 2010
Posted by: | CommentsJohnny Damon, Andy Pettitte, and Hideki Matsui have dominated headlines over the past two weeks, but they’re not the only Yankee free agents. The Yankees face decisions on most of their 2009 coaching staff, and according to Brian Cashman, the team is “nowhere” in those talks. Manager Joe Girardi and hitting coach Kevin Long are under contract for 2010, but the contracts of all other coaches have expired.
Cashman did add that the team “would love to have all of them back under the proper circumstances,” which likely mean one-year contracts with a salaries similar their 2009 figures. The coaches include pitching coach Dave Eiland, bench coach Tony Pena, third base coach Rob Thomson, first base coach Mick Kelleher, and bullpen coach Mike Harkey.
Yanks decline option on Mitre
Posted by: | CommentsVia Marc Carig on Twitter, the Yankees have declined the $1.25 million option the team held on Sergio Mitre. This move, however, does not portend the end of Mitre’s pinstriped career. Since he is arbitration-eligible, he remains, as Carig notes, under team control. The Yanks could still opt to non-tender him, but for the amount it will cost to resign him, Brian Cashman will look to retain him on an incentive-laden deal. Just a few days ago, I predicted that the Yanks would pick up his option. So much for that.
Greinke takes home the Cy Young
Posted by: | CommentsBoth the AL MVP and AL Cy Young are pretty obvious picks this year, and half of those awards were made official today. Royals’ righthander Zack Greinke was named the AL Cy Young Award winner, beating out Felix Hernandez in a landslide. Greinke’s season was simply off the charts: 242 K in 229.1 IP, 2.16 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 2.81 tRA. His 9.4 WAR was by the far the most in baseball this year (Ben Zobrist was second with 8.6), and it was the best mark put up by a pitcher since Randy Johnson went for 9.9 WAR back in 2004. Congrats to Zack, there really wasn’t much of a debate here.
In a normal year, CC Sabathia might have gotten more consideration, but thanks to the phenomenal seasons put forth by Greinke, Justin Verlander, and Felix Hernandez, he finished fourth (two second place votes, seven third place votes). It’s all cool though, Sabathia added something to his resume this season that none of those guys have.
The case for CC Sabathia as SI’s Sportsman of the Year
Posted by: | CommentsEvery December, Sports Illustrated announces its Sportsman of the Year. Among the nominees this year is New York’s own Carsten Charles Sabathia, a good choice for the award for many reasons. Ben Reiter takes up CC’s case, writing about why our favorite big man should be the choice. It’s a great read on a great guy, both on and off the field. Takeaway quote on Reiter’s advocacy of Sabathia: “But Sabathia is also my Sportsman of the Year because he showed us, in this money-fueled era of pro sports, that cash doesn’t always change athletes, or corrupt them, and that the idea of a ‘contract year’ can sometimes represent nothing more than a matter of timing.” We’ll find out soon that Sabathia didn’t win the Cy Young, but I think he’d be happy to take home SI’s Sportsman of the Year.
An overview of the offseason
Posted by: | CommentsThe offseason is technically underway, but the fun really won’t start until free agents are actually able to sign with new teams, which will happen later this week. Tyler Hissey at Around The Majors looked over the Yanks’ situation heading into winter, noting that they really don’t have many holes to fill. I’m quoted in there as a “Yankees’ prospect expert” by Tyler, which is great for my ego.
Anyway, it’s a lengthy 2,400+ word piece, but it’s worth your time. Check it out.
Mayweather, Yankee Stadium loom for Pacquiao
Posted by: | CommentsAfter his Saturday night victory over Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao basked in the glow of his seventh title in seven weight classes. Behind the scenes, the wheels began to turn for a Pacquiao fight against Floyd Mayweather, and if all goes according to plan, the venue for the fight could be none other than Yankee Stadium, reports Greg Bishop. According to The Times, the Yankees are “interested in hosting a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight next spring.” Nothing can be formalized until the two boxers agree to fight each other, and even then, the Yankees would have to make a compelling case for hosting the fight in the new house.
In September, the team first expressed interest in hosting a bout in the Bronx. When Pacquiao and Cotto gathered there for a press conference, we used the opportunity to explore the history of boxing in Yankee Stadium. A Pacquiao/Mayweather headliner would pack the new joint, and Fack Youk would love to see the fight in the stadium as well.
Bailey, Coghlan named Rookies of the Year
Posted by: | CommentsNew Jersey product and Oakland Athletic Andrew Bailey was named the AL Rookie of the Year this afternoon, while Chris Coghlan of the Marlins took home NL honors. Bailey took over the closer’s job after Huston Street was dealt and posted a ridiculous 238 ERA+ with a 0.88 WHIP. Coghlan hit .321 and led the majors with 113 hits in the second half.
Elvis Andrus and Rick Porcello came in second and third, respectively, in the Junior Circuit while J.A. Happ trailed behind Coghlan in the NL voting. None of the Yanks’ rooks – Brett Gardner, Al Aceves, etc – took home any votes.
Does Granderson make sense for the Yankees?
Posted by: | CommentsSteve at TYU takes a look at Curtis Granderson to see if he’s really a fit for the Yanks. Granderson’s lefty pop would fit nicely in the Stadium, but as Steve notes, he should start taking the ball back up the middle to get back to his offensive levels of a few years ago. Remember, Jason Giambi had a similar problem: he had to go to all fields in Oakland because of the park, but once he got to NY he started trying to pull everything, which dropped his overall production.
Anyway, Steve says there’s a fit for the Yanks if the price is right, which pretty much holds true for every player in the game. It’s good stuff, so make sure you head over and give it a read.
Football Open Thread
Posted by: | CommentsThe Giants are on bye this week, but the Jets take on the Jacksonville Jones-Drews at home at 1pm ET. Talk about any game you want, just keep your football comments in this post.
U.S. economic growth and the Yankees’ World Series wins
Posted by: | CommentsUnfortunately, during the crush of the World Series, I missed this tidbit the first time around, but it’s never too late for some rosy economic news. In the waning days of the World Series, Andrew Leonard at Salon explored the reality that a Yankee World Series win brings with it an average GDP growth of five percent. So not only is our horrible endless nine-year ring drought over, but that the recent economic recession should be over too, right? After all correlation always implies causation no matter how tenuous the connection between the two events may be.
