Good Yankee Post

Before I get to all the goodies I have for today, wanted to post this blog article from Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.

It brings up a few really good points:

1) Around midseason last year everyone in the world predicted that the Yankees would end up with CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. But someplace in between then and now, Brian Cashman made everyone think that the Yankees were done going after Tex, especially after getting the initials: CC and AJ. But, alas, we were all duped again like when Cash stated Bubba Crosby was playing CF (and Damon came along) or Mike Lamb was playing 3B (and A-rod came along). Between Hank Steinbrenner's "deadlines" and "ultimatums" and Brian Cashman's free agent "lies", you really can't believe anything that comes from the Yankees anymore...and I sort of like the surprise a little better.

2) Joba should be a starter. My co-worker, Paul, and I debate this all the time. But I will never deny I am right. Ever. I really can't believe this is even a debate. And Kepner points out a great comeback line for those who think they need Joba in the bullpen so they have a lights-out setup man: "Look, the Yankees already have a lights-out setup man: Brian Bruney." Well I would debate the fact he's lights-out. But he makes a great point. And Rob Neyer, in his blog on ESPN.com, picks this up as well: "Over the weekend, Al Leiter was debating this subject, and in response to a silly argument he asked a particularly penetrating question (that I will paraphrase here): 'If a lights-out set-up man is so valuable, does that mean we should take every hot prospect and turn him into a reliever?' Everyone in baseball knows the answer to that one."

3) The fact is the number of prominent free agents is staggering. I understand the Yankees jumping the gun and going over market for the big 3 they signed (well, maybe...but that's for another post). But this is further proof that there's NO reason to go over market for Andy Pettitte. And, according to Tyler Kepner, supposedly Andy rejected their "insulting" 1 year, $10 million offer. I'm not sure if this AOL Fanhouse article is "tongue-in-cheek" when it says this, but the headline of the article says that "Andy Pettitte Gets No Love From the Yankees..". Listen, he was a great pitcher once upon a time and he ate innings last year. But they weren't good innings, especially not after the All Star Break. And even though some (including Bill James and Marcel as shown on FanGraphs) think that he'll have a little better numbers, he's just not worth the money. I'll break this down at another time, but I think the Yankees are best off moving past and signing a pitcher from the "scrap heap" for a year. I think the Yankees have already two #5 starters in Phil Hughes and Aceves. Don't forget about Hughes. He's a young pitcher who struggled a bit last year but he was rushed to the majors. Before you give up on him, Yankees fans, remember: Jon Lester, Mike Pelfry and Cole Hamels. And the Yankees need to get younger. And more banned-substance-free, it seems, as well.

More to come later including Ggggggg-men.