The Bombers introduce their Winter Meetings booty this afternoon at a 1 p.m. news conference. We welcome your comments on the proceedings during and afterwards.
[24] Ohhhh cry! Ohhhh sob! Ohhhh woe! (guilty >;) I wish the background wasn't gunship gray here. I liked the bright tan we had before, but maybe because I was so used to it. But then, I remember growing up, when we moved to a house where I finally had my own room, Mom asked me what color I wanted the room to be painted and I said "tan" because I just liked it and it seemed like a warm color. Mom shrugged and got tan (which when dried, looked more like mauve) with dark chocolate brown for the trim (which the previous owners had painted multi-colored, likely explained by the ganja found growing in the basement). I dunno, right now it's kinda cold in here...
i was able to find a few photos of amber sabathia and a possible one of burnett's. apparently, karen is elusive (as is jamie kotsay, unfortunately), and an ex stripper...
i watched all the cc/aj videos at YES. aj kinda has a randy johnson look about him. they both pretty much said all the right things. hey, we got two big talented power arms and saved prospects. let's hope they stay healthy and productive!
yeah, both wives were super attractive, but nowhere close to jamie kotsay level...
So I'm watching the interviews, which is cool. But man, where is the love for my man Wang. Like others have said, just how the hell is AJ the #2 starter - has he really ever been as good as Wang? I'm not even down on AJ - I may think it's too many dollars for too many years, but I sure as shit ain't going to complain about his mere presence. But damn, Wang busts his foot and everyone forgets about him. If those who wanted to judge him on the 19-win seasons tended to overrate him, I sense a significant under rating of our man lately.
I'm glad they show love for Joba and Mo, but man... And oh by the way, there is never enough Po love either.
i hear ya. i definitely think wang should be slotted 2nd in the rotation. flame throwing lefty, heavy sinking righty, full arsenal power righty, andrew eugene pettitte (???), joba/phil/ipk/acevedo...
btw, looks like boston is quickly closing in on tex. word is 8/$22per... if manny is to stay in LA, we should pick up adam dunn...
[32] Which just underscores how great Bernie was, considering he put those numbers up at CF , not in the corner.
[20][23] In the grand scheme, who cares? After the first week it won't matter who is number 1 or 2 or whatever. Over the whole season the difference will mean maybe one start. And in any case, we al know that Burnett will probably end up on the DL. By the end of the year, things will work themselves out.
[36] It will really piss me off if Boston ends up "winning" this offseason, when Tex turns into some great slugger until he's 37, and CC blows out his arm in the second year of his contract...
On the subject of Wang - and beyond - is it inconceivable that Wang and Chamberlain outperform Sabathia and Burnett. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants? Chamberlain is a bit of an X factor, and the innings cap is an issue, but I think it's quite possible. If Chamberlain pitches consistently like he did last year, he could give Sabathia a run for his money. And Wang is already better than Burnett.
[40] Wang much better than Burnett based on performance!! The obsession with "stuff" pitchers really irritates me...like the old scouts obsession with "raw tools" over performance...
[41] But Wang has great "stuff": a 94 mph sinker!!!
However, was Wang "much better" than Burnett on performance last year? Wang was hurt, and put up a partial season of 4.07 ERA, 109 EAR+, 1.34 WHIP. Burnett pitched a whole season, 4.07 ERA, 105 ERA+, 1.32 WHIP.
That looks just about the same to me.
As for their careers, wang has been better, but not really by that much. We all love Wang, but Burnett i is basically just about as good...when he's on the mound. The question with Burnett is not whether he can pitch, but whether he can stay healthy. (And Wang, BTW, is no stranger to injury.)
[42] oohh..unclear post by me! of course, Wang has good "stuff" too..just meant looking at performance & age, rather than projecting based on stuff....really not sold on Burnettt, but now he's here so got to get on board the rah-rah train when he starts..
so can we start a signthebigdonkeyadamdunn.com thing now?? am off Manny now after thinking about it..
Boston news reporting that according to the Red Sox, who met with Tex today, the Sox are not a factor in the Tex negotiations, and the Sox have been outbid "by a ton"
Sounds like the Yanks, but I guess we won't know for a few more days
[42] Comparing Wang's MOST injured year vs Burnett's least isn't a fair comparison, is it? Unless you're trying to knock Burnett. And speaking of Wang's injury, it was a freak-ish base-running injury; he's not injury-prone, as Burnett is. And anyway even if one were to agree the two are about equal, the tie in terms of rotation status should go to the incumbent.
I know Wang's not a swing-and-miss guy, but I'm not going to hold the Yankees' infield against him (though I don't think it's as bad as some claim, either).
[45] I 'm guessing it's the Angels ... Hoping anyway - though I'm not convinced Teixeira is such a force that him coming to the Sox really frightens me. Manny is far more intimidating. If by some miracle he wound up back with Boston, that would worry me more.
A cursory Google search reveals a bunch of very recent articles suggesting Teixeira is going to the Red Sox. Ah, well. I still prefer the Yankees' moves, but kudos to the Red Sox. They need him - with Manny gone and Big Papi questionably effective under those circumstances, I can see why they'd go whole hog, especially after the Yankee signings.
[46] My contention was only that the statement at [41] that Wang is "much better" than Burnett is not supported by the numbers, either last year or for their career. You can look up the stats--Wang has been better, but not by a huge amount. The major difference is that Wang has been less injured over the few years he has been in MLB.
And if you think that I am cherry picking stats, consider:
As for injuries, Wang missed most of 2008 with a freak injury running the bases. He was on the DL at the start of 2007 (hamstring) and missed a bunch of 2005. He also had injuries in MiL, if I recall correctly (but I could be wrong).
Again, I am not saying Wang is bad, nor am I justifying Burnett's silly contract. But when they are both on the mound, Wang has not been that much better than Burnett over the course of their careers. When they are both on the mound...that is the big difference.
[46] One last point--"rotation status" is, as I suggested above, largely irrelevant from #1 to #4. The difference is only honorific, but in practical terms it makes little difference.
[48] No one. But this is Scott Boras we're talking about here. This is what he does. The Yanks (and the Mets) have clearly not been involved in the Tex sweepstakes, so how does he drive the price up on the Angels (and the Nationals?)? Spread rumors that the other team with lots and lots of cash (Boston) is involved.
I would still like to see the Yanks slip in with a Sabathia contract to Tex . . .
Wang, 2005-2008:
2.1 (116.3 IP)
5.5 (218 IP)* (7th in AL)
6.0 (199.3 IP)* (10th in AL)
2.3 (95 IP) *led team
Total: 14.9 in 628.7 IP (2.37 SNLVAR per 100 IP)
Burnett, 2005-2008:
4.6 (209 IP) (22nd in NL)
3.0 (135.7 IP)
4.3 (165.7 IP) (25th in AL)
4.6 (221.3 IP) (14th in AL)
Total: 16.5 in 731.7 IP (2.26 SNLVAR per 100 IP)
So SNLVAR essentially agrees with you, monkeypants. When they are on the mound, Wang and Burnett are close in value, with Wang just a little bit better.
[49] Until Burnett proves he's truly changed his stripes, I'll factor health into the equation. Hopefully he'll change 'em. But in the meantime, [50] I'm only talking about the honorific quality of rotation status. I don't know what else there would be to talk about in that regard, really, and Wang deserves it for already stated reasons: He's a Yankee, he's better.
[49] Until Burnett proves he's truly changed his stripes, I'll factor health into the equation. Hopefully he'll change 'em. But in the meantime, [50] I'm only talking about the honorific quality of rotation status. I don't know what else there would be to talk about in that regard, really, and Wang deserves it for already stated reasons: He's a Yankee, he's better.
hey, what's been going on w/ the comments here today? i've had trouble all day logging in and word press remembering my password. now, it says my "comment is awaiting moderation." is it 'coz it's a link? is it 'coz they somewhow know the links are going to an insanely HOT jamie kotsay? anybody else having issues today???
anyway, i hope comment #54 goes thru w/ 2 tinyurl links for Mr. Jazz Tokyo!!!
I've always liked the Wanger, and he's a nice change of pace amongst the power arms of C.C., A.J. and Joba. But I have to say, I haven't quite forgotten that horrific playoff performance in the 2 games Wang started against the Indians in the 2007 ALDS. He was our..ahem...#1 ace at that point in time. That may have been a main reason why the Yank's management was cool to the idea of a long term contract when Wang's agent floated that idea back in the 2007-08 offseason. Anyway, Wang pitched pretty well in the '05 and '06 playoffs so maybe next time he'll do better, and needless to say, I hope that next time will be in 2009.
Meanwhile, a lot of the comments on A.J. make me think of a flock of vultures, perched in a tree, ready to take flight and begin circling after a couple of bad starts. I certainly have some trepidation concerning Burnett, but I'm sure as hell not going to make sport of him on the day of his press conference welcoming him to NY. I can get royally pissed at any and every Yankee player when they continually suck, ( Jeter whacking into double plays last year drove me nuts ), but until it happens, I'm stressing the positive. There's a dozen or so videos of some of Burnett's big strikeout games at Yankees.com that are fun to watch. Hope to see a lot of that in '09.
As for Manny, watching him closely over the years, especially after he signed with Boston in 2000, there was nobody I feared more than him, coming up at a crucial time in the game,against the Yankees. He used to scare the crap out of me in those NY-Boston battles. Every year I hoped they'd trade Manny, because I knew they wouldn't be the same without him, and sure enough, with no Manny and a weak Ortiz Boston ran out of gas in the ALCS, much to my delight.
The thought of Manny playing for the Yanks, going back to Fenway, it would be something to see. If Manny was still hitting like he has, and he showed no sign of slowing down with LA last year, I'd suck it up big time. The Yanks need somebody to bat behind Alex, and who better? Teixiera? Maybe, but Cashman seems to have almost zero interest in him, and I can't figure out why. Who's the 1st baseman of the future or near future? Swisher? Posada? Jeter? Montero? Who knows.
'Course, the thing with Manny is, are you always gonna get the hustling, motivated good Manny? If not, how often is the lackadaisical, pouting goofball bad Manny gonna show up? God only knows. You would think that Manny, who IMO is the greatest right handed hitter ever, would want to end his career on a good, positive note. Coming back to his hometown, Manny, if he chose to do so, could really solidify and enhance his legacy in the game with 2 or 3 years of hard, focused play especially if he kept himself squared away, with no disruptive distractions. The Yanks are once again in a win-now mode, and Manny could help, a lot. That is, if the good Manny is the guy who'd show up, on a consistent basis.
[54] hey man, no links as of yet but will keep an eye out! but only the work computer lest the Missus finds out the Banter was about more than baseball!
got Eddie Henderson's first two space-funk albums on the iPod today, along with Donny Hathaway for the way home.
so Boston says no to Tex..looks like the Angels then..so when do we sign Dunn?!?!?
[59] so...wait -- you can't see the tinyurl links? i can see them on my computer. they're red and they work. strange things are definitely afoot at the circle k! is it always gonna be like this for links? who's checking on it? i sure hope i'm not gonna get in trouble!!! i've done nothing wrong...
anyway, i'm gonna hit the watering hole for a bit. i'll check on it in a coupla hours. i sure hope everything is okay and you'll be able to check the links. if not, i just hope i'm safe here! should i send the links to your personal email, if they don't go thru here???
i'm fine w/ AJ now that he's here. he sounds glad to be here. hopefully his "stuff" shows up on the mound every 5 days and he proves some worth.
For the record, I'm not knocking Burnett, just looking out for the homegrown boy. There isn't enough basis to justify dropping Wang to 3rd, so I feel it's a little insulting. A little.
Bonds at age 42 .276/.480/.565 even with decline he will still OBP near 400 and hit at least 20 dingers.. Bonds being blacklisted from MLB is the great un-reported scandal from the game in recent years..such hypocracy...
crazy my links are still "awaiting moderation". i feel like i'm in trouble, and i'm NEVER in trouble! yikes.
i dunno, i think Bonds would probably kick ass as a DH at 45 years in the new Yankee Stadium... i miss giambi, too. i miss abreu more... i think we're gonna be okay w/ the arms, just like we were last year. i just hope Cano bounces back and Jorgie will be alright...
yeah man, CC's gonna kick ass and AJ really seems pumped up to be on the Yanks. Manny would rake for us. his old line was reaching 600 homers. his new line has been 700. i think he wants to pass Mays. i think Griffey does, too. i'm cool w/ Dunn and the short left porch.
i hope Tex does NOT sign w/ Boston...
and i really hope the powers that be at the new bronx banter allow my tinyurl links to go thru so mr. ok jazz tokyo can see jamie kotsay in all her gorgeous glory!!!
eddie henderson is great. i'm not very familiar w/ his solo stuff. donnie hathaway is most excellent!!! awesome version of "in the ghetto"!!!
John Henry doesn't bluff, but I guess he might be calling Boras' bluff. But I'm taking it at face value.
So, this is good. Even if the Yankees don't get Teixeira, I'll be okay with it as long as the Sox don't land him and we can pick up another bat.
And Manny would be fine, as far as I'm concerned.
The more I think about it, the more I think Henry is calling Boras's bluff. Boras is saying he's got someone on the line for 10 years/ $250, I bet. Henry's like - "OH WELL!" with a theatrical eye roll.
AJ blows out his shoulder putting the jersey on
The wives are hot.
[2]
LOL ... sigh
Sabathia gets #52
Burnett lacks the ability to smile, it would appear ....
Burnett gets #34
Well,
They are.
AJ gets the uniform on. One obstacle cleared.
Diane,
I assume he's in blinding pain.
[7] Part me of dreads five years of your posts that wait for Burnett to get injured in some freak, Pavano-ish way.
Part of me looks very much forward to it. =)
(Sorry Diane, but Mattpat - are we talking regular hot or "Jamie Kotsay hot"?)
CC is boring,
My goodness ... Warner Wolf outside of a studio .... at a press conference .... !
[10]
... but he seems to be sincere ...
Gene Monahan .... line 1
Amber Sabathia is gorgeous. I can justify his being whipped.
Karen Burnett has a real MILFy quality to her. Definitely you best friend's hot mom.
Holy christ, AJ Burnett is Boomhauer.
[14]
Oh my goodness ... Matt .... you are dead-on right .... its Boomhauer.
I wonder if A.J. can be "King of the Hill"
I've heard Michael Kay say "last year" 14 thousand times in regards to Burnett.
This is going to suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
Yeahmanilltellyouwhatthedangolyankeesandthedangolyankeesilltelleyouwhatdangoldhank
AJ Burnett is a "horse."
So was Barbaro, I guess.
[17] at least i don't get super wide screen from that.
How is it that AJ Burnett leapfrogs Wang for the number 2 spot? Wang is demonstrably better.
Something about horses.
[19] The text runs right under the right-hand column of links and then off the screen. Hooray?
[15] Boomhauer it is!
[20] is that official? I mean I know folks are putting him there but will Girardi automatically make burnett the #2?
[22] just thinking of the old banter where you get perma wide screen.
[24] Ohhhh cry! Ohhhh sob! Ohhhh woe! (guilty >;) I wish the background wasn't gunship gray here. I liked the bright tan we had before, but maybe because I was so used to it. But then, I remember growing up, when we moved to a house where I finally had my own room, Mom asked me what color I wanted the room to be painted and I said "tan" because I just liked it and it seemed like a warm color. Mom shrugged and got tan (which when dried, looked more like mauve) with dark chocolate brown for the trim (which the previous owners had painted multi-colored, likely explained by the ganja found growing in the basement). I dunno, right now it's kinda cold in here...
I agreed. Change please.
[6] Burnett got Phil Hughes' number? I wonder if there's any more to read into that...
[2] are there pictures somewhere?
[9] VERY few women are "Jamie Kotsay hot". she is unreal!!!
[17] yeah, i'm glad we didn't get the wide screen!
[28]
[28] Is that Mark Kotsay's wife?
[30] YES!!! she is soooo amazing!!!
i was able to find a few photos of amber sabathia and a possible one of burnett's. apparently, karen is elusive (as is jamie kotsay, unfortunately), and an ex stripper...
neither of them hold a candle to jamie kotsay...
interesting:
In their first 13 years …
Abreu Bernie Williams
BA .300 .305
HR 241 241
OBP .405 .390
SLG .498 .492
C.C. was very sweet. I love that he got a chill saying that he plays for the Yankees.
Burnett sounds like he wants to win. Now he as to stay off the DL.
i watched all the cc/aj videos at YES. aj kinda has a randy johnson look about him. they both pretty much said all the right things. hey, we got two big talented power arms and saved prospects. let's hope they stay healthy and productive!
yeah, both wives were super attractive, but nowhere close to jamie kotsay level...
So I'm watching the interviews, which is cool. But man, where is the love for my man Wang. Like others have said, just how the hell is AJ the #2 starter - has he really ever been as good as Wang? I'm not even down on AJ - I may think it's too many dollars for too many years, but I sure as shit ain't going to complain about his mere presence. But damn, Wang busts his foot and everyone forgets about him. If those who wanted to judge him on the 19-win seasons tended to overrate him, I sense a significant under rating of our man lately.
I'm glad they show love for Joba and Mo, but man... And oh by the way, there is never enough Po love either.
i hear ya. i definitely think wang should be slotted 2nd in the rotation. flame throwing lefty, heavy sinking righty, full arsenal power righty, andrew eugene pettitte (???), joba/phil/ipk/acevedo...
btw, looks like boston is quickly closing in on tex. word is 8/$22per... if manny is to stay in LA, we should pick up adam dunn...
[32] Which just underscores how great Bernie was, considering he put those numbers up at CF , not in the corner.
[20][23] In the grand scheme, who cares? After the first week it won't matter who is number 1 or 2 or whatever. Over the whole season the difference will mean maybe one start. And in any case, we al know that Burnett will probably end up on the DL. By the end of the year, things will work themselves out.
[36] It will really piss me off if Boston ends up "winning" this offseason, when Tex turns into some great slugger until he's 37, and CC blows out his arm in the second year of his contract...
just read the Tex rumors...not a good way to start my Friday!
who on earth is Jamie Kotsay?? i'll stick to Fujiwara Norika please...
so is Adam Dunn next up or what?? What exactly is Cashman doing?!?!
On the subject of Wang - and beyond - is it inconceivable that Wang and Chamberlain outperform Sabathia and Burnett. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants? Chamberlain is a bit of an X factor, and the innings cap is an issue, but I think it's quite possible. If Chamberlain pitches consistently like he did last year, he could give Sabathia a run for his money. And Wang is already better than Burnett.
[40] Wang much better than Burnett based on performance!! The obsession with "stuff" pitchers really irritates me...like the old scouts obsession with "raw tools" over performance...
[41] But Wang has great "stuff": a 94 mph sinker!!!
However, was Wang "much better" than Burnett on performance last year? Wang was hurt, and put up a partial season of 4.07 ERA, 109 EAR+, 1.34 WHIP. Burnett pitched a whole season, 4.07 ERA, 105 ERA+, 1.32 WHIP.
That looks just about the same to me.
As for their careers, wang has been better, but not really by that much. We all love Wang, but Burnett i is basically just about as good...when he's on the mound. The question with Burnett is not whether he can pitch, but whether he can stay healthy. (And Wang, BTW, is no stranger to injury.)
[42] oohh..unclear post by me! of course, Wang has good "stuff" too..just meant looking at performance & age, rather than projecting based on stuff....really not sold on Burnettt, but now he's here so got to get on board the rah-rah train when he starts..
so can we start a signthebigdonkeyadamdunn.com thing now?? am off Manny now after thinking about it..
[27] Yeah, Hughes switched back to 65.
Boston news reporting that according to the Red Sox, who met with Tex today, the Sox are not a factor in the Tex negotiations, and the Sox have been outbid "by a ton"
Sounds like the Yanks, but I guess we won't know for a few more days
[42] Comparing Wang's MOST injured year vs Burnett's least isn't a fair comparison, is it? Unless you're trying to knock Burnett. And speaking of Wang's injury, it was a freak-ish base-running injury; he's not injury-prone, as Burnett is. And anyway even if one were to agree the two are about equal, the tie in terms of rotation status should go to the incumbent.
I know Wang's not a swing-and-miss guy, but I'm not going to hold the Yankees' infield against him (though I don't think it's as bad as some claim, either).
[45] I 'm guessing it's the Angels ... Hoping anyway - though I'm not convinced Teixeira is such a force that him coming to the Sox really frightens me. Manny is far more intimidating. If by some miracle he wound up back with Boston, that would worry me more.
A cursory Google search reveals a bunch of very recent articles suggesting Teixeira is going to the Red Sox. Ah, well. I still prefer the Yankees' moves, but kudos to the Red Sox. They need him - with Manny gone and Big Papi questionably effective under those circumstances, I can see why they'd go whole hog, especially after the Yankee signings.
Now John Henry says no. Who the hell knows whats going on.
[46] My contention was only that the statement at [41] that Wang is "much better" than Burnett is not supported by the numbers, either last year or for their career. You can look up the stats--Wang has been better, but not by a huge amount. The major difference is that Wang has been less injured over the few years he has been in MLB.
And if you think that I am cherry picking stats, consider:
Year, name, ERA, ERA+, WHIP
2005, Wang, 4.02, 105, 1.25
2005, Burnett, 3.44, 115, 1.26
2006, Wang, 3.63, 124, 1.31
2006, Burnett, 3.98, 115, 1.31
2007, Wang, 3.70, 121, 1.29
2007, Burnett, 3.75, 119, 1.19
2008, Wang, 4.07, 109, 1.32
2008, Burnett, 4.07, 105, 1.34
As for injuries, Wang missed most of 2008 with a freak injury running the bases. He was on the DL at the start of 2007 (hamstring) and missed a bunch of 2005. He also had injuries in MiL, if I recall correctly (but I could be wrong).
Again, I am not saying Wang is bad, nor am I justifying Burnett's silly contract. But when they are both on the mound, Wang has not been that much better than Burnett over the course of their careers. When they are both on the mound...that is the big difference.
[46] One last point--"rotation status" is, as I suggested above, largely irrelevant from #1 to #4. The difference is only honorific, but in practical terms it makes little difference.
[48] No one. But this is Scott Boras we're talking about here. This is what he does. The Yanks (and the Mets) have clearly not been involved in the Tex sweepstakes, so how does he drive the price up on the Angels (and the Nationals?)? Spread rumors that the other team with lots and lots of cash (Boston) is involved.
I would still like to see the Yanks slip in with a Sabathia contract to Tex . . .
[49] BP's SNLVAR says:
Wang, 2005-2008:
2.1 (116.3 IP)
5.5 (218 IP)* (7th in AL)
6.0 (199.3 IP)* (10th in AL)
2.3 (95 IP)
*led team
Total: 14.9 in 628.7 IP (2.37 SNLVAR per 100 IP)
Burnett, 2005-2008:
4.6 (209 IP) (22nd in NL)
3.0 (135.7 IP)
4.3 (165.7 IP) (25th in AL)
4.6 (221.3 IP) (14th in AL)
Total: 16.5 in 731.7 IP (2.26 SNLVAR per 100 IP)
So SNLVAR essentially agrees with you, monkeypants. When they are on the mound, Wang and Burnett are close in value, with Wang just a little bit better.
[49] Until Burnett proves he's truly changed his stripes, I'll factor health into the equation. Hopefully he'll change 'em. But in the meantime, [50] I'm only talking about the honorific quality of rotation status. I don't know what else there would be to talk about in that regard, really, and Wang deserves it for already stated reasons: He's a Yankee, he's better.
[49] Until Burnett proves he's truly changed his stripes, I'll factor health into the equation. Hopefully he'll change 'em. But in the meantime, [50] I'm only talking about the honorific quality of rotation status. I don't know what else there would be to talk about in that regard, really, and Wang deserves it for already stated reasons: He's a Yankee, he's better.
[39] hey bud! see if these links help...
http://tinyurl.com/4c886p
http://tinyurl.com/4zutwe
enjoy!!! : )
hey, what's been going on w/ the comments here today? i've had trouble all day logging in and word press remembering my password. now, it says my "comment is awaiting moderation." is it 'coz it's a link? is it 'coz they somewhow know the links are going to an insanely HOT jamie kotsay? anybody else having issues today???
anyway, i hope comment #54 goes thru w/ 2 tinyurl links for Mr. Jazz Tokyo!!!
Another Wang/Burnett comparison
Year, name, FIP
2005 Wang, 4.20
2005 Burnett, 3.11
2006 Wang, 3.91
2006 Burnett, 3.79
2007 Wang, 3.79
2007 Burnett, 4.33
2008 Wang, 3.74
2008 Burnett, 3.45
jazz tokyo - here's another! ooh, i REALLY hope i'm not getting in trouble for this here!!! : o
http://tinyurl.com/5y2bpj
I've always liked the Wanger, and he's a nice change of pace amongst the power arms of C.C., A.J. and Joba. But I have to say, I haven't quite forgotten that horrific playoff performance in the 2 games Wang started against the Indians in the 2007 ALDS. He was our..ahem...#1 ace at that point in time. That may have been a main reason why the Yank's management was cool to the idea of a long term contract when Wang's agent floated that idea back in the 2007-08 offseason. Anyway, Wang pitched pretty well in the '05 and '06 playoffs so maybe next time he'll do better, and needless to say, I hope that next time will be in 2009.
Meanwhile, a lot of the comments on A.J. make me think of a flock of vultures, perched in a tree, ready to take flight and begin circling after a couple of bad starts. I certainly have some trepidation concerning Burnett, but I'm sure as hell not going to make sport of him on the day of his press conference welcoming him to NY. I can get royally pissed at any and every Yankee player when they continually suck, ( Jeter whacking into double plays last year drove me nuts ), but until it happens, I'm stressing the positive. There's a dozen or so videos of some of Burnett's big strikeout games at Yankees.com that are fun to watch. Hope to see a lot of that in '09.
As for Manny, watching him closely over the years, especially after he signed with Boston in 2000, there was nobody I feared more than him, coming up at a crucial time in the game,against the Yankees. He used to scare the crap out of me in those NY-Boston battles. Every year I hoped they'd trade Manny, because I knew they wouldn't be the same without him, and sure enough, with no Manny and a weak Ortiz Boston ran out of gas in the ALCS, much to my delight.
The thought of Manny playing for the Yanks, going back to Fenway, it would be something to see. If Manny was still hitting like he has, and he showed no sign of slowing down with LA last year, I'd suck it up big time. The Yanks need somebody to bat behind Alex, and who better? Teixiera? Maybe, but Cashman seems to have almost zero interest in him, and I can't figure out why. Who's the 1st baseman of the future or near future? Swisher? Posada? Jeter? Montero? Who knows.
'Course, the thing with Manny is, are you always gonna get the hustling, motivated good Manny? If not, how often is the lackadaisical, pouting goofball bad Manny gonna show up? God only knows. You would think that Manny, who IMO is the greatest right handed hitter ever, would want to end his career on a good, positive note. Coming back to his hometown, Manny, if he chose to do so, could really solidify and enhance his legacy in the game with 2 or 3 years of hard, focused play especially if he kept himself squared away, with no disruptive distractions. The Yanks are once again in a win-now mode, and Manny could help, a lot. That is, if the good Manny is the guy who'd show up, on a consistent basis.
[54] hey man, no links as of yet but will keep an eye out! but only the work computer lest the Missus finds out the Banter was about more than baseball!
got Eddie Henderson's first two space-funk albums on the iPod today, along with Donny Hathaway for the way home.
so Boston says no to Tex..looks like the Angels then..so when do we sign Dunn?!?!?
[59] so...wait -- you can't see the tinyurl links? i can see them on my computer. they're red and they work. strange things are definitely afoot at the circle k! is it always gonna be like this for links? who's checking on it? i sure hope i'm not gonna get in trouble!!! i've done nothing wrong...
anyway, i'm gonna hit the watering hole for a bit. i'll check on it in a coupla hours. i sure hope everything is okay and you'll be able to check the links. if not, i just hope i'm safe here! should i send the links to your personal email, if they don't go thru here???
i'm fine w/ AJ now that he's here. he sounds glad to be here. hopefully his "stuff" shows up on the mound every 5 days and he proves some worth.
GO YANKS!!!
For the record, I'm not knocking Burnett, just looking out for the homegrown boy. There isn't enough basis to justify dropping Wang to 3rd, so I feel it's a little insulting. A little.
Actually,
I thought I was being guardedly optimistic.
And ultimately, I think Wang opens the new Stadium, so his rotation spot may fall to whatever allows him to do that.
Good news, Sox are out of the Tex Sweepstakes. The concern over rotation slot is silly, only matters for like the first or second week of the season.
C.C. seems like a good dude. Very likable. AJ just seems like a baseball player. I miss Giambi already.
Also, we still need a bat. Dunn, Burrell, Milton Brads, but someone, we need a bat. I repeat we need another bat.
'Nother bat.
Needed by us.
Us as in Yankees.
Bat.
Do it.
Get er done.
Do it.
Get someone, tell Andy Pettitte his five minutes are up, and we're gonna go spend his money on a bat.
Do it.
[63] Dunn for 4 yrs, Bonds for incentive-heavy 1yr deal. Going for 800hrs will make him motivated, and he can split time with Matsui at DH
I don't want Bonds at 45 years old.
Bonds at age 42 .276/.480/.565 even with decline he will still OBP near 400 and hit at least 20 dingers.. Bonds being blacklisted from MLB is the great un-reported scandal from the game in recent years..such hypocracy...
I don't believe that Barry Bonds will hit anywhere near that well in his mid 40s after missing a year.
crazy my links are still "awaiting moderation". i feel like i'm in trouble, and i'm NEVER in trouble! yikes.
i dunno, i think Bonds would probably kick ass as a DH at 45 years in the new Yankee Stadium... i miss giambi, too. i miss abreu more... i think we're gonna be okay w/ the arms, just like we were last year. i just hope Cano bounces back and Jorgie will be alright...
yeah man, CC's gonna kick ass and AJ really seems pumped up to be on the Yanks. Manny would rake for us. his old line was reaching 600 homers. his new line has been 700. i think he wants to pass Mays. i think Griffey does, too. i'm cool w/ Dunn and the short left porch.
i hope Tex does NOT sign w/ Boston...
and i really hope the powers that be at the new bronx banter allow my tinyurl links to go thru so mr. ok jazz tokyo can see jamie kotsay in all her gorgeous glory!!!
eddie henderson is great. i'm not very familiar w/ his solo stuff. donnie hathaway is most excellent!!! awesome version of "in the ghetto"!!!
GO MUSIC!!! : )
John Henry doesn't bluff, but I guess he might be calling Boras' bluff. But I'm taking it at face value.
So, this is good. Even if the Yankees don't get Teixeira, I'll be okay with it as long as the Sox don't land him and we can pick up another bat.
And Manny would be fine, as far as I'm concerned.
The more I think about it, the more I think Henry is calling Boras's bluff. Boras is saying he's got someone on the line for 10 years/ $250, I bet. Henry's like - "OH WELL!" with a theatrical eye roll.
btw ]62] See the answer to [50] on [52].