Yanks continue shameless spending spree, land Teixeira

All aboard the Yankee hating express...

"The Yankees do not want to compete, they want to be coronated." That quote by Wallace Mattews of Newsday sums it up nicely. You would think that the Steinbrenners adopted Varuca Salt. I want an Umpaloompa NOW!

This move was predicted in the last entry back on Dec 15th. It just made sense for them to do this. That being said, to spend over $420M in the current economy is simply disgusting. The sad part is that they aren't finished. After grabbing the top 3 available free agents, they will still add another starting pitcher and more. They have more revenue ($100M from new stadium alone) and a payroll that is still less than last year. They obviously have complete disregard for anyone else, so why would they stop now?

Granted they have improved their team significantly, but this in no way guarantees them anything. If nothing else you would think they have learned that in this new century. The huge advantage in payroll has not worked. Cashman has not been able to grow the farm system, so they have gone back to overspending. Ask last years Tigers how that worked out.

The reports about the Sox being surprised are simply nonsense. The Yankees have used this same tactic with Jose Contreras, A-Rod, and Damon. How'd that work out for ya by the way? The Sox did not have to make this move. It would have made them better yes, but they set a price and didn't go past it. If they were really "desperate", you don't think they would have ponied up another $12M over 8 years? They would still be way under their payroll number from last season.

The offseason has a long way to go. The Yanks will add more pieces. But it will be much more entertaining when they come up short again. Just like the A-Rod signing and defeat in the ALCS. Sweet.

Is Cashman a drunken sailor?

It’s official. Money has now become no object in Steinbrennerland.

If AJ Burnett had been a consistent top of the rotation guy, then this would be a reasonable deal. But it’s a matter of when this guy breaks down, not if.

If you hadn’t noticed, this is eerily similar to the Pavano deal, but with two additional seasons attached. Pavano had a great year for the Marlins going 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA, by far his best season ever before coming to NY. He was often injured and only managed to win more than 12 games once in his 9 year career. He only managed to pitch more than 200 innings twice in that span as well.

The good news is that Burnett has been better. But only marginally. He’s taken nine trips to the DL in his 10 seasons. NINE. He’s pitched more than 200 innings in only three seasons, two of which were contract years, which tells you something. He’s also only won more than 12 games once in his career. He had arguably one of his best seasons ever last year, but still managed only an ERA over 4.

But getting to brass tacks, he is a good pitcher (not great) when he’s healthy. However, his health is the x-factor. The Yanks know that they are not going to get full value from this guy. Nor does he have any postseason experience to draw on. And based on his history, he’s not going to get stronger or less injury prone at age 32. They probably think he’ll average between 20-25 starts per season with a 3.75 ERA which is optimistic at best. Fact is, he may not last into years 4 or 5 of the contract anyway.

Because the Yanks have the money, this isn’t much of a gamble. Assuming they sign a Lowe, Pettite, or Sheets, they still have Hughes and Kennedy waiting in the minors to fill in when needed. But they need that depth to further insure Wang and Chamberlain. That gives the Yanks a formidable rotation and makes them a viable contender. If they have enough depth to cover injuries, they’ll be in the mix in Oct.

Up next is the probable trade for Mike Cameron. Once consummated, that brings the Yanks 2009 payroll into the neighborhood of $175M. They’ll add another arm (Lowe/Sheets/Pettite) for let’s say $15M, bringing them up to $190M.

Many baseball executives feel that the Yanks spending is simply irresponsible, especially in light of the current economic conditions. Some writers think that there is nothing wrong with these expenditures because their payroll will be lower than last season. First of all, let’s put things into some perspective…

There is no salary cap in baseball, and the luxury tax is not having the desired affect. Until the rules are changed, the Yankees are allowed to spend whatever they like. If you don’t like it, change the rules. The Yankees are taking full advantage of the economic conditions because they can. They now have $100M more in revenue per season to draw from, due to the new stadium. Smaller market teams have to worry about filling seats while the Yanks are exponentially increasing the gap between the “haves and have nots”. Is it completely unfair? To most of the league, absolutely. But, all the blame goes to MLB for letting it happen.

On the other side of the coin, the Yanks should not be applauded for lowering their payroll. Why would you give credit for having $85M in bad contracts come off the books, but then adding $65M in bad contracts back in? Yup, that’s right, we mismanaged $20M less than last season…

Lastly, what is stopping the Yanks from grabbing Texiera? Nick Swisher is a nice player for $3.6M, but he hit a whopping .219 last season. There have been rumors of Manny in pinstripes, but he’s going to cost over $20M per. I guess you could platoon him with Damon and Matsui in LF / DH. But you’d probably only pay a few million more per season for Texiera. If you’re going to spend $210M with Manny, why not spend $215 with Tex? It’s still less than they spent in 2007, but now with more revenue. You have a place for him at 1B. It’s a no brainer isn’t it?

Let's hope not. Gee, still wonder why no one likes the Yankees?

Yanks land the offseason Whale…

All 290 pounds of him… The desperate Yanks became bidders against only themselves and raised their original bid from $140M to $161M to land their new ace Sabathia.

Let’s not pretend that this was not a good signing for them, it was. It simply makes them a better team. However, if you put value into the argument it’s clearly not. He’s not even the best pitcher in New York but he’s the highest paid. It now makes the Mets signing of Santana a great deal and even more baffling why the Yanks didn’t get involved.

There are some red flags with this deal. Rumblings were that CC was looking for a reason NOT to pitch in NY. He clearly preferred the West coast, but the Yanks made him an offer he couldn’t refuse – an additional $21M on top of the original $140M that no one else had matched. He’s also getting them to include a player option after 3yrs, and also a no trade clause. So, he can bail out of NY after 3 seasons and also block any potential trades. Handing over that much control to a player simply shows how desperate the Yanks were to sign him.

More Starters?
This is only step one in the Yanks buying process. Sabathia will essentially replace the season the now departed Mussina had. They now have their staff ace but still have several question marks throughout the rotation. Wang & Chamberlain have been injury issues, while Hughes and Kennedy have essentially been no shows. They still need to acquire more starters.

The latest rumor is AJ Burnett for 5yrs and $85M. Talk about desperation. He’s 31 and has only thrown 200 innings in three of his ten seasons. And two of them have been in contract years. Since joining the AL, his best ERA was 3.75. What’s his arm going to be like at age 36? He’s a good pitcher (not great) when he does show up. But will he be another Pavano?

They are also in the mix for Derek Lowe. He had a terrific season with a 3.24 Era. But at age 35 and return to the AL you can expect that to jump significantly. For a guy that had “late night” issues I’m guessing Manhattan isn’t the best environment. Issues aside, he’s probably a better option than Burnett. But you’d still expect diminishing returns on a 39yr old arm.

Position Players?
The Yanks are rumored to be going after Mike Cameron (buddy of Sabathia). He’s certainly an upgrade of the fading Melky Cabrera, but he’s 35. He’ll probably give them .250 / 20 / 75 which is only marginal. It will cost them Cabrera AND a minor league arm.

They have been quiet on the Texiera front, but you’d think they would be all out on this one. It wouldn’t be a shock for them to swoop in at the last minute. They overpay for everything else, so why not. Even if they acquire Burnett & Lowe, they can still fit his $20+M in the mix. What’s a $230M payroll with a new revenue driving ballpark? Why wouldn’t they jump at a chance to overpay a player who will be on the decline in the last 2-3yrs of their contract? It’s standard operating procedure.

Haven’t they learned anything?
With all of these top flight signings (Type A free agents), they continue to surrender first round draft picks. Trading for a 35yr old Mike Cameron? AJ Burnett will be 36 when his contract is up, and CC will be 35. They are trying to win in “the now” and bastardizing the future again. The reason they were so successful in the 90’s is because they had a great core of players come up thru their system. All they needed to do was add a few pieces via free agency. You can't rebuild your system without first round picks. Most current players on the team are past their prime. Here are the impact players at 30 or under: Cano, Nady, Swisher (or replace w/Texiera who would be 38 at the end), and Cabrera who is about to be traded for a 35yr old. The clock is ticking and the window is closing, especially with Tampa Bay now as a factor.

Is it irresponsible?
The Marlin’s President seems to think the CC contract alone was inappropriate & irresponsible based on the current economic climate. He has a clear bias as a small market team, but he does bring up an interesting point. Are the Yanks unaffected by the current economic conditions? Reports say that the new ballpark will generate an additional $100M per year. So yes, the Yanks are not affected. Whether it is inappropriate or not depends on your point of view. The Yanks don’t care either way, as they are doing what they feel is best for business. Any small market team will tell you it is irresponsible and always unfair. Is it time for a change? Possibly. The luxury tax seemed to have no affect. But that’s a discussion for another day…

Sox oust bitter Angels...

The Sox closed out the favored Angels in dramatic fashion. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a walkoff win of that magnitude. Let’s hope it just getting started…

You could say the baseball gods were smiling down on the Sox after the botched suicide squeeze, but it was simply poor execution. The replay clearly shows the out call was correct. The inning before, a passed ball allowed the tying run to score on a single. And in the ninth the ball took an Angels bounce into the stands on an all or nothing dive, which could have turned into an inside the park homer. Even the pop up that allowed 3 runs to score in game 3 didn’t blow it for the Angels .

No curses. No controversies. No excuses.

The Angels simply didn’t execute as well as the Sox on either side of the ball. When you are 8 for 40 with runners in scoring position combined with an ERA over 4, you aren’t going to pull off many series wins. And boy were they pissed after game 4. Lackey proclaimed the better team lost, then proceeded to throw teammates under the bus for his shortcomings. Classy guy. Hey Lackey, your only win came in a 12 inning dogfight caused by your team's 3 run gaffe. In what way were you better you mental midget?

The Sox were clearly the better team in every facit. Lester was masterful, yielding only 1 unearned run in 14 innings. The bullpen was very good and the defense was solid. And could you be any happier to say “Manny who”? Jason Bay was simply awesome hitting over .400 with 2 homers and 5 RBI’s, including the huge double to help wrap up the series. The Sox didn't make any major mistakes and the Angels did, bottom line.

You can also thank the Yankees. Yup, I said it. All those wars and grind em out games have given this team a real grit and swagger. They just don’t get rattled and no matter what happens, they keep coming at you. Contributions come from up and down the lineup. Theo also gets a pat on the back for his deadline & waiver pickups.

The amazing thing is that only 5 years ago we were waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially late in games. Now with 2 championships under their belt, we’re waiting to see the other teams fold under the pressure. Don’t believe? Ask the Cubs who were head and shoulders above the NL all season.

Up Next, The Rays...

I think the winner of this next series is going to win it all. It should be a great series and more than likely will go to 7 games. There is going to be much debate about the Sox starters and who goes when – before the game starts on Fri. But when you break it down it actually seems simple.
There is no reason to run any pitcher out there on less than normal rest, which eliminates Lester from game 1. It probably also makes sense to give Beckett additional rest based on his last outing and recent oblique injury. Using that logic you open with Dice-K who will be on 6 days rest already. He was very effective last season with extra rest and holding off until game 3 would be 9 days. Beckett gets an extra 3 days, and Lester goes on normal rest.

Here’s the schedule:

Game 1 – Fri the 10th - Dice K (6 days rest)
Game 2 – Sat the 11th - Lester (normal rest)
Game 3 – Mon the 13th - Beckett (7 days rest)
Game 4 – Tue the 14th - Wake/Byrd
Game 5 – Thur the 16th - Dice K (5 days rest)
Game 6 – Sat the 18th - Lester (6 days rest)
Game 7 – Sun the 19th - Beckett (5 days rest)

If you believe the people who have been around the game for years like Remy or Schilling, home and road records get tossed out the window. So save the “he pitches better at home” mantra.

There is also the issue of flexibility to consider. If the Rays manage to make game 5 an elimination game, Lester can go on normal rest and Beckett can follow in game 6 on normal rest. Dice K then follows with all hands on deck in game 7.

So the only real debate is game 4. Wake has more upside but his poor postseason record is scary. Byrd is the safer option based on last years ALCS at Fenway. But it may come down to the wind. If it’s blowing out you would likely see Wake (similar to conditions of his dominating performance at Yankee Stadium). Otherwise I'd expect to see Byrd with Wake as backup.

Prediction? I like the Sox in seven. What it comes down to is which version of Beckett we’ll see. I think that he will right the ship especially if they give him the extra rest. Lester will continue to dominate, similar to the postseason Beckett enjoyed last year. That leaves Dice-K to win one of his two starts and Beckett to grind it out in game 7.

Expect to see some heated battles during this one. There will be some spill over from the regular season. The only downside is that we will see the replay of Coco charging the mound more times than the mention of the curse before 2004.

Buckle up campers, this will be a good old fashioned grind em out series. Hope you’re prepared to see midnight.

The Big Dirt Nap: Yanks Season & the Stadium...

Well Yankee fans, how long ago did you twist your ankle jumping off the bandwagon?


A) Injury to Joba?
B) When A-Rod started hitting Madonna instead of baseballs?
C) The Hankster tossing in the towel?
D) Being in 4th place in September
E) Next year's DH (Posada) dictating who will be in the pen next year?
F) The 9 games out with 12 to play thing?

Elimination Party! Let's get this party started!

We do miss that compelling Sox / Yanks late September run. But we'd be pulling your leg if we said we didn't find enjoyment in watching a Yankee team just fall apart. And a big thanks goes out to Cano who forced Girardi to bench him. Is it just me, or did Girardi look like a guy trying to keep beach sand from falling out of his hands all season? So trust me, we're fully enjoying it, especially as we ready for the playoffs. Good luck with Girardi next year as well. The players really seem to respond...

Did I mention the enjoyment part?


Injuries, Injuries, Injuries...

And please, no more "we were decimated by injuries" crap. Look, every team in the AL already a lock for the playoffs had significant injuries. The Angels and Sox both lost starters before the season even started. The Rays lost their closer and two other formidable hitters. If we compare lists, you will just embarrass yourself. Your team simply wasn't good or deep enough, not to mention old. So save the silly nasty-grams.

By the way, we have dubbed Carl Pavano "Mr. Glass". Is it more infuriating that he finally comes back when it's too late, or that he's shutting it down now that he showed just enough to get a contract from someone else next year? "Uh, yeah, my hip hurts." Call Guiness Records because he must be gaining on Evel Knievel...

Know what the last championship banner flown at the Stadium will be? Yup, back in 2005 our friends shown here were holding it. Boy, it's been a while hasn't it?

Oh, how many rings you say? 20 of them were before 1962 and almost half of those were before World War II. Raise your cane high if you remember...


Your Yankees have outspent all of their competition every year, by a staggering amount and have nothing to show for it since 2000. They can't even buy a championship anymore, not even for billions of dollars. In 2008 alone they spend $75M more than the Sox. That's higher than 14 teams spent on their entire payroll.


Mailing it in...
We're not alone in calling out your Yankees. Newsday's Kevin Davidoff's recent article is titled "They sure don't look like Yanks or winners". He quoted a scout from another organization as saying "I've never seen a Yankee team play like that." The old man would have thrown Girardi out on his ass followed by the rest of his staff. It's one thing to lose, but it's inexcusable to lay down. If you don't fire the manager or clean house, how does it go away next year?


Hank is the Man...
The great thing is that Hank is going to continue down this path of mediocrity. He's almost guaranteed it. If you're Cashman, how fast do you run away from this? Hank proclaimed "If Brian stays on as GM that doesn't mean he won't be the #1 guy." He goes on to say; "But the fact is, the more opinions the better." Hey Hank, know what opinions are like? We love this guy. It will be great to see how many chiefs he can fit into one Florida boardroom. The more the better!


Goodbye to The Stadium...
While we don't have many fond memories there to be sure, we simply can't ignore the history in that building. Some things are actually sacred. Thankfully the Sox were able to exorcise their demons in 2004. Sorry Jeter, no more ghosts. But in the new stadium there will be the "Ghost of Big Papi". You didn't really think that he only buried 1 shirt, did you?


Good Luck Next Year!
Wow, it's a weird feeling actually saying that this early in the season. But boy it feels good. Enjoy your offseason Yankee fans. We are...

Yanks to miss playoffs - first time since 1993!

“We’re going to win it next year”. That's the latest in verbal diarrhea from Hank Steinbrenner.

Hey Joe Girardi, take the rest of the year off. Your owner just stuck a fork in you.

Hank has adopted the old mantra of “wait till next year”. Only problem is they are still playing. Nothing like giving your team a good push down the bowl before you flush.

If you start a statement with “Don’t be offended”, someone is still going to be offended. Hank’s latest bout with foot in mouth disease is essentially the same.

Hank blames this year on injuries. Boo freakin hoo. The old man never would have made excuses. Every team has injuries.

Here they are for the Yanks:

Wang – only 8 wins, probably would have won 18 - 20
Hughes – 6 starts with 9.00 Era, returns in Sept?
Kennedy – 9 starts with 8.17 Era, back to AAA
Joba – 12 starts, would probably have had 9 more

Matsui – 7 HR 34 RBI in 70 games, not exactly Godzilla like
Posada – big drop from last season, welcome to age 36

Wang going down was the biggest blow but they did get 15 starts out of him. Hughes & Kennedy weren’t exactly lighting the world on fire when they went down. Joba could miss a few starts. Matsui was mediocre at best and Posada is the prime example of why you don’t give a catcher in his mid-30’s a long term deal.

Other teams have had major injuries and survived just fine. The Angels lost Escobar (18 game winner) for the season, and Lackey missed the first 40+ games. The Sox didn’t have Schilling, Dice-K and Beckett both hit the DL, and Papi missed 50 games. Add Wakefield and Lowell to the list now.

Suck it up Hankster. It’s all about the roster and lack of depth. Cashman decided to go with the young arms and it didn’t pay off this season. If Pettite and Mussina didn’t have above average seasons this team would really be in the dumper. Damon has been a nice surprise but still hasn’t earned his money. He typifies the Yankee lineup. Even the $28M man hasn’t cracked the top ten in RBI’s. Cabrera, Cano, and even Jeter have been pedestrian.

You can also point a finger at the trade deadline. Why did they acquire bats and not arms? They also traded away depth in the pen in the process. Girardi has also had a free pass this season. Production is down from virtually everyone. And that no name pen that was pitching so well has started to drift back to earth.

So good luck until next year Yankee fans. Why not take off the rest of the season? Your owner has. We'll get the shovel...

Manny being... GONE!

Anger. Disappointment. Frustration. Exasperation. False Acceptance.

Hop aboard the Manny Ramirez express. It goes round and round. If you want to ride, it’ll cost you only $25M per year for 4 more years. Your ticket that’s paid up until November? It’s no good here anymore, expired. Better jump off now before you’re pushed…

Denial. Anger. Exasperation. Acceptance Maybe…

We deserve a better ending. For all the good times, the cheers, the titles, even some of the harmless antics, all of it. He was a truly beloved figure despite the nonsense that surrounded him. He was always forgiven and cheered time after time. We were very fortunate to watch a first ballot hall of famer as well as one of the game’s most prolific hitters for almost 8 seasons. He was also instrumental in 2 World Series including an MVP. But his unceremonious exit has left a sour taste and it’s entirely his fault.

The most inexcusable thing is that he let his teammates down. He apparently told a teammate he knew he could sit the last two months and still collect his $7M and then just go away. Apparently he forgot the next two seasons were CLUB options and not player options.

WHY?
Money. Manny’s focus is only on his next contract. You can place plenty of blame on Manny’s new agent - the baseball anti-christ, aka Scott Boras. He told Manny that he could get him a $100M contract for the next 4 years. And he doesn’t see dime one if the Sox pick up his option(s). The only way it would work is to make the Sox not want to pick up the option in 2009 and/or 2010. Manny obviously tried to create a rift using a blueprint provided by the anti-christ. Give Jay Payton an assist on this one as he cried and complained every day (as Manny witnessed) until he was traded.

Beginning of the end:
A number of his phantom hammy injuries only seemed to pop up when hard throwing pitchers were on the mound. Management also required an MRI on his “new” knee injury when he told them he couldn't play again. If he actually remembered which knee he said was injured, maybe he could have pulled it off. An MRI on both knees came back negative.

Management then gave him written notice that he needed to play or be suspended without pay. This is what precipitated the commentary to ESPN Deportes including “The Red Sox are lucky to have me”. The fans pretty much knew it was over after that point, but management already knew.

Trade deadline – good or bad?
The 2008 team is not better. Had everyone lived up to their contract, it’s an easy call. If Manny exits at the end of the year, you need to give up more than Moss & Hansen to get Bay. Trading Manny probably prevented the Sox from getting relief help which they would have overpaid for, but could also have helped solidify a ring.

But the Sox knew they had a cancer in the clubhouse who was going to play the injury or suspension card over the last 2 months. A last ditch "I'll be a good boy and play" statement didn't convince management. So they got value for him. Hie replacement in Bay gives them a 30 Hr and 100 RBI guy which is only a slight dropoff in stats. What he can’t replace is the presence and threat of one of the games best ever hitters. He also doesn’t offer the same protection in the lineup for guys like Ortiz.

Bottom line is that they had to trade him. The alternative was to suspend him, hope to get to the playoffs, and then let him walk. Based on his history they couldn't trust him to perform.

Who is the Real Manny?
Manny being Manny apparently only describes a portion of our man-child. The aloof, goofy, charming, loveable, and crazy Manny is only a strange piece of the overall puzzle.

Back in June a new element, aka angry Manny, was introduced (at least to the fans anyway). He backhanded Youkilis in the dugout and later pushed the team’s 64yr old traveling secretary to the ground in a dispute about game day tickets. The bloom was off the rose for most Manny fans by this point, but some yahoos continued to blindly support him.

Manny doesn’t care about his teammates, the integrity of the game, or anything else. He only cares about money. He even has his own clubhouse rules. There are numerous incidents where he refused to pinch hit, insisted on a day off when needed, and even faked an injury like the last 2 months of 06. His best buddy Ortiz pleaded with him to play but he refused. His contract had club options which he had no business disputing. His sense of entitlement overrides any sense of reasonableness.

Some of his teammates say that Manny the person is a good person. Let’s hope so because what we know about the player isn’t a pretty picture.

Will he be the next $100M man? No way. He's essentially a DH the rest of the way and he'd be 40 in year 4. Look between Andruw Jones ($14M) and Beltran ($18M) per season at maybe 3yrs.

The Man can Hit
This is the single reason he is allowed to get away with virtually anything. Ask Shawn Chacon who had an altercation earlier this year and was released immediately. Why? Because he’s a mediocre pitcher.

Management, teammates, and fans have all “looked the other way” to some extent. As fans, we knew he’s been a headache but not to the extent we know now. It’s always been “the headache is worth the production”. While there is some sense of “you should have known” there is also the feeling of being duped.

Think the "master" Joe Torre will straighten him out? Good luck with just getting a haircut Joe. Manny's stay in LA is temporary but he's going to light it up because he's playing for that next contract. There is no formula to "fix" him. He's broken. But he sure can hit.

We need closure
He’s gone. His production and goofy antics will be missed. The annual trade requests, the phantom injuries, quitting on teammates, and lack of hustle will not. We can be happy for the owners, Theo, the manager, and the players. Lastly, be happy for Jason Bay who leaves the hapless Pirates for a chance at the playoffs. The last thing we need? Time. It's going to be a while before we can look back fondly on all the good things...

Good luck Manny. Thanks for everything. But see ya...

Yanks lose their Wang for at least 6 weeks...

Couldn't resist...

Just as the Yanks were making some separation from the land of .500, Wang now joins Phil Hughes & Ian Kennedy on the DL. Torn tendon? See you in September, maybe...

Their biggest innings eater is out of action for a minimum of 6 weeks (which is August by the way). With Joba the Hut in the rotation, an already depleted bullpen is now asked to take on more innings.

More pressure is on the starters to stay in games longer. Have a peek at the average innings pitched:

Mussina - 5.4

Pettite - 6.1

Rasner - 6.0

Joba - too early to tell

Kennedy & Hughes - under 5

Pavano & Igawa - insert punchline here

Are you praying for this years version of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon? It could be a long summer in NY...

You can't count on the young arms to perform consistently. They are going to have bad & short outings. The older boys have Era's near 4 & 5. Think they're going to get stronger as the years goes on?

If the bullpen is strained this early in the season, there will be nothing left in Sept. Close games in the 6th, 7th, and 8th? Panic time.

You also need a 5th starter. Oops. Well it's only 5 weeks until the trade deadline. But based on Cashman's plan to stick with the young arms, who do you get without giving up a young stud? Maybe you can find a closer as a one year rental. How about Gagne?

Should we say it? Kei Igawa. Get used to that one. You'll also hear "Now pitching for the Yankees in the 3rd inning..."

The Yanks do have enormous resources, and it's far too early to count them out. They didn't see .500 until July of last season and still made the playoffs. However, you can't make a run with subpar pitching.

Think Joba's a stud? Maybe he will be, but he's not pitching 200 innings this year. There's a shelf life.

Don't get too comfy above .500 - it could be your home for a while... First year the Yanks don't make the playoffs in a while? Would like to see Vegas odds on that baby...

Clemens: Legend of the Fall or Fall of the Legend?

With apologies to Mr. Pitt, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Quinn, a new figure has taken over this now infamous movie title. A true legend of the sport has now been tainted forever. He has no one to blame but himself.



Let's take a look at the very basics of this debacle...





The government's witness: Brian McNamee

He's one of the key figures behind the Mitchell Report. He was originally linked to the Mets trainer whom investigators found in their preliminary investigations. Sen. Mitchell and other law enforcement officials found him to be credible. Admissions of guilt by Andy Pettite and Chuck Knoblauch add additional credibility. After the hearings were over, the House Committee also released reports showing McNamee contacted Clemens and Pettite's representatives in an attempt to warn them before the Mitchell Report was released. If he were truly attempting to railroad Clemens, why would he warn him? This also feeds into the theory that McNamee has no motive for lying. If he told the truth, he wouldn't go to jail.

The McNamee doubters have a number of issues. First, he lied about his involvement in a date rape case. He also performed a number of dishonest acts including lying about a PHd, using Clemens likeness in advertisements, and even "stealing" Clemens workout regimen as his own. He also kept needles in a beer can and other items for a number of years and kept them from authorities. He's obviously not the most credible witness and you certainly wouldn't want him dating your daughter.

The bottom line is that the feds consider him to be credible. His story was backed up by at least 2 witnesses. Reports confirm that he tried to warn Clemens. Once Clemens taped their last phone conversation and was clearly throwing him under the bus, it upset McNamee. That's when McNamee introduced the needles he kept as evidence. Being a former policeman, he knew having evidence may come in handy for just such an occassion. That's actually smart, not creepy.
His quote that will be played in infamy: "I told the investigators I injected three people -- two of whom I know confirmed my account. The third is sitting at this table."

Despite being what most consider a sleazy person, he did own up to the responsibility of his actions. He stated his was both wrong and sorry for his affect to the integrity of the sport.



The Nail in the Coffin: Andy Pettite

He turned out to be Clemens worst nightmare. Not only did he backup McNamee's claims of injecting HGH, he also recalled multiple instances where Clemens told him he took steroids. Pettite's wife also recalled her husband's recounts of those instances. His 103 page deposition leaves little doubt about his recollections. Further, he recounts that both Clemens and McNamee BOTH told him about Clemens steroid usage. Clemens also admitted under oath that he thought Pettite was credible.




The Clemens Approach:

Clemens seemed to be undaunted during the entire process. But he may have adopted the George Costanza "it isn't a lie if you believe it" approach. There were many troubling actions and statements made by him.

Why 20+ Congressmen agreed to meet with Clemens in the first place is one issue. It's simply inappropriate. Taking photographs with staffers and providing autographs further muddies the waters. It obviously worked on a few members of the committee.

Clemens never took responsibility for anything. Nothing. Is he that dillusional?

He stated on his 60 Minutes interview (with buddy Mike Wallace) that his attorneys told him not to speak with Mitchell and his investigators. During the hearing he blamed his agents for not telling him they were contacted and saying he was easy to find.

He said Pettite misunderstood him taking HGH for his wife back in 1999 or 2000. But Debbie Clemens was injected in 2003, so that wasn't possible.

Inviting his former nanny to his home before she spoke with investigators raises a huge red flag. They hadn't spoken in 7 years, so why all of a sudden?

He blamed his B-12 shots on his mother, and that he was "trusting to a fault" in retaining McNamee after his trangressions. Couldn't be a lapse in judgement. Nah. He knew exactly who McNamee was and what he was all about.

According to the House Committee Report, when Clemens was first warned by McNamee, his lawyers wanted to know if there was any cash, receipt, or other evidence that could link Clemens to steroids. Why would they ask those specific questions if Clemens has never taken anything? There wouldn't be any evidence if he was clean.


Nannygate:

This had lots of play but really had nothing to do with the case. It was really an attempt for Clemens team to discredit McNamee as a witness. It backfired. Not only did McNamee provide details, it also called into question Clemens asking her to his home after a 7 year gap.


It really doesn't matter if Clemens and Canseco discussed steroids specifically there. They were golf buddies and hung around off the diamond. Canseco called himself the "Chemist" in those days. Clemens family and Nanny stayed at his house that night. They were obviously tight at that time. The subject of steroids most certainly came up.



Elected Officials: Welcome to Palookaville

How embarassing was that collection of buffoons? We can give credit to some, but overall that was a scary selection of folks. Not too bright, unprepared, and some too starry eyed to ask a relevant question. It also seemed that there was a division among Democrats (against Clemens)& Republicans (for Clemens). That is a fundamental flaw... Yikes.

While we can certainly debate the need for the hearing in the first place, Clemens team insisted on having it. Waxman clearly stated he would rather not use the Committee's time on this matter.

Most people had their mind made up before the hearing began. It was painfully clear what some had as opinions especially towards McNamee. Dan Burton from Indiana must have just taken his "Grandstanding 101" class at the local junior college. King of the buffoons.


The Fallout:

Will Clemens go to jail for perjury? That's the million dollar question. It may be a while before we find out. It certainly seems like there will be further investigation. Based on some of the contradictions he's made it seems like a sure thing. Will they be able to convict him of perjury? Good chance.

The investigators from BALCO have also gotten their hands on those needles from McNamee. While that evidence may be tainted and unusable in court, positive tests may cause them to dig deeper.

Clemens should have kept his mouth shut. His legacy has been tainted forever & the damage is unrepairable. He didn't keep his story straight in this forum and it may come back to haunt him.

The one time first ballot Hall of Famer may not get in. He had the opportunity to be the first uninamous first ballot candidate. It's a shame. It also extended that black cloud hanging over an entire era of baseball. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. Once opposite ends of the spectrum and now linked forever. Two of the best to ever play the game are the newest entrants to the Hall of Shame...

Schilling's injury a casuality of the business of baseball?

After Schill's performance in last year's playoffs, this injury comes as a big surprise to most of us. But recent reports surfacing about Schill's MRI at season's end indicate that Sox management knew there was wear and tear but willing to take a risk. We're just learning now that the front office was anticipating a trip on the DL with only an 8-10 win season with 100+ innings pitched. He was a great insurance policy if Wake's health didn't hold up. Now you understand the $8m discounted contract vs. the $13M from last season. Unfortunately, no one knew the apparent extent of the damage and/or disease.

It's a nasty Business...

The nature of the disagreement lies within Schill's upper bicept. His own physician, Dr. Phil Morgan, believes there is disease in his bicept that cannot be reversed without surgery. The Sox doctors feel that rest and rehab is the appropriate course of treatment. The Mets doctor was brought in as a 3rd party but agreed with the Sox more cautious approach. After listening to a very convincing interview with Schill's doc, it sure sounds like he may never pitch again - never mind this season.

Now that Schill has taken his first cortizone shot, we'll know in a couple of weeks if he's still in too much pain to rehab. At that point, surgery becomes his only option and potential recovery at age 41 is unlikely before the season ends. Maybe they could have salvaged the month of September if surgery was addressed back in Jan.

The business of baseball ignores the player. From a business standpoint, the Sox want a return on their $8M investment. They only expected minimal return - but a return nonetheless. Their only business option was to push the rest & rehab option with hopes that he could return in Aug or Sep.

From a fans perspective, it makes you sick that they put the investment ahead of the player. Especially a player that has given body & soul to your franchise already. Schill clearly wanted to follow the advice of his physician of 13 years. Why isn't it his choice in the first place? It's his body. Teams shouldn't be able to void a contract based on a reasonable course of treatment.

That being said, there have also been rumblings that Schill hid his injury & discomfort until the new contract was signed. If true, then you could understand the hardball mentality. But based on his past history and the standards he holds himself to, that's a hard one to believe.

Let's hope we haven't seen the last of Schill in a Sox uni...

The Sox certainly aren't the only offenders in this type of scenario. MLB & the Players Union are the ones to blame. They allow teams to be able to take this kind of approach. It's ugly & should be changed. The conflict of what's best for the organzation vs. the player should not be able to be leveraged in either direction.

Impact to the Sox...
Hopefully Schill will remain with the club and help mentor the younger guys. He's an invaluable resource and will probably make an outstanding pitching coach someday. Why not have his first full season as coach pay him $8M?

The loss of Schill doesn't have a huge impact especially if you count on 8-10 wins somewhere else. The only remaining question mark is the health of Wake. But they have backup in Tavares who pitched well out of the 5 spot last year, Kyle Snyder, David Pauley, and potentially upcoming stud Justin Masterson late in the season.

The Sox original plan was to have Clay Bucholz start the season off in AAA. Having only thrown 140 innings in 2007, they were probably going to start him off slow so he didn't run out of gas late in the year. Apparently he's added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and is poised to start in the 4 or 5 hole. Don't be surprised to see them skip a few of his starts during the year to compensate.

Injuries can always bite you but with 4 starters age 27 or under, that is unlikely. Wake may spend some time on the DL, but they have enough depth to cover. Dice-K is now in year 2 and recently confessed last season took a physical toll affecting his 2nd half. He's only getting better. Lester apparently put on more muscle as well, but other clubs already thought he was 2nd to Beckett as the Sox best pitcher at the end of last season.

Sox have a solid 1-2-3 with Wake as your 4 and last season's dominating Bucholz in the 5 spot. They're in great shape. Beckett should be a Cy Young candidate once again. If Dice-K can adjust similar to Beckett's second season, look out. Wow.

Worst case, the Sox still have ample resources to make a deal. But it appears they are more willing to stick with the farm.

A few top shelf 2009 free agent options: CC Sabathia, Kris Benson, Rich Harden, John Lackey, Ben Sheets, Joe Blanton. A lot depends on the standings in July, but the A's may be willing to deal in Spring Training.

Some of the boys have already arrived in Fort Myers. The other good sign? The sun is out when leaving work at 5:00. Spring's almost here...

Santana Claus coming to town?

The latest word out of Minnesota is that a Santana trade is imminent within the next 10 days.

Will Minnesota continue to be Boston's feeding ground like Ortiz & Garnett? Not likely as Lester has apparently been taken off the table. With Clay Bucholtz also as untouchable, that leaves Ellsbury & minor league pitching for Minnesota to choose from. Word is the Mets have become the favorites.

It really seems like Minnesota's new GM Bill Smith really screwed the pooch on this deal. His gamble to wait for a better deal has backfired (so far) with Boston and the Yanks pulling back their top prospects. Santana's request for upwards of $25M per year over 6 years (ending at age 35) may have increased apprehension as well.

If Smith waits until the All Star break, he could get better offers. However, what happens if the Twins are in the hunt? There's no way you trade him then, but then you lose him to free agency at the end of the season. The Twins simply can't afford (or won't pay) $20M+ per season. It's a tricky proposition at best and the situation may be forcing his hand now. But how does he look taking a package below what was offered earlier?

Who needs Santana the most? How good are their offers?

Mets Rotation

Pedro

Maine

El Duque

Pelfrey/Other

Livan Hernandez (not signed yet)

They also have health questions with Pedro & El Duque...

Proposed Package to Twins

OF Carlos Gomez or Fernando Martinez

SP Mike Pelfry

SP Phillip Humber

It's clear the Mets are the most desperate who currently don't have a solid 5 man rotation. Their current package to Minnesota seems weak in comparison to the Sox & Yanks offers, and it doesn't weaken their current roster. However they might be more motivated to sweeten the pot, but at $25M per season it can't get much sweeter.

Yankees Rotation

Wang

Pettite

Phil Hughes

Ian Kennedy

Mussina

Karstens/Igawa

That's a lot of youngsters in there... How will Pettite react to HGH & will Mussina make it a full season? Will Igawa bounce back from an abysmal year?

Proposed Package to Twins

CF Melky Cabrera

SP Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy

SP Jeff Marquez

another prospect

The Yanks would be creating a hole in their lineup and losing control over a good young arm. Money isn't the issue here, so it comes down to Cashman vs. Hank. The Yanks may NEED to do this deal in order to challenge for the AL East & wildcard. Not sure their rotation scares anyone, especially come playoff time. But holding on to their talent will certainly make them stronger in the long run. So it's try and win now vs. rebuilding the franchise. Poor Jeter. Think he would OK a trade to the Sox to win more rings?

Sox Rotation

Beckett

Dice-K

Schilling

Wake

Lester

Bucholtz

That's six solid starters...

Proposed Package to Twins

SP Lester (now off the table)

CF Coco Crisp or Jacoby Ellsbury

SP Justin Masterson

SS Jed Lowrie

The Sox do not need to do this deal. In fact they may be better off standing where they are. In fact, most clubs rated Lester the second best pitcher on the Sox staff at the end of the season. Ellsbury is a star in the making and Gammons thinks Lowrie could be the anchor at SS and be even better than Pedroia. That's not faint praise. Bucholtz is projected to be a #1 stud with just a little more seasoning in the minors (despite his no hitter). So a rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, and Bucholtz (all 27 and under) will anchor the franchise for years at quite the price. The emergence of starters Masterson (projected late 2008) & Bowden (projected 2009) will be ready to step in once Schill and/or Wake hang em up...

Regardless of what happens, it will be a good season again in Boston. In fact most Sox fans would rather see them do it again without a Santana. The kids are alright!

Only 18 more days until Spring Training!!!