Today’s update is powered by The Charlatans UK:
- Johnny Damon is running out of options.
- Would Rocco Baldelli be a viable OF option? MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch responds:
. . . Baldelli would make a nice choice for a platoon situation and fits the bill as a right-handed bat that the Yankees could add without breaking the bank. Despite the medical limitations that interfered after he was once a first-round Draft pick, Baldelli can hit — especially against left-handers — and for what it’s worth, he was also well liked in the clubhouse with the Rays and Red Sox.
- FanGraphs crunched the numbers, and values Derek Jeter’s 2009 season quite highly:
Back in late July, R.J. noted that Derek Jeter was having a resurgent offensive season and on his way to an excellent year. Jeter did not let up after that, either. He finished the season with a wRC+ of 142, his best since 2006 and second best since 1999. Combine that with excellent defense at short and Jeter had a 7.5-win season, his best year in the Fangraphs-WAR era and fifth-best among position players in 2009.
- Yogi Berra on McGwire’s admission of steroid use:
“I think he waited a little too long to announce it,” Berra said. “If he’d done it at the beginning, he might have a chance to get in.”
Berra pointed to the Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte and the former Yankee Jason Giambi, who were forgiven after timely admissions of drug use.
“Say, like Pettitte did,” Berra said. “He admitted it. If you admit it, it would be all right. Like Giambi, the same way. You admit it right away.”
- Andy Hawkins, of the eight-inning no-hitter loss, turns 50 today.
Back on Monday.
...And the Mets strike out on Joel Piniero, although I don't think that's a bad thing necessarily. He strikes me as the kind of guy who becomes a Met and turns back into a pumpkin.
I love Yogi, but "right away" is kinda a relative term here. I mean Pettitte admitted to 2002 PED use in 2008, thats not exactly "right away".
But whatever, its Yogi...he can say/do whatever he wants.
I want Johnny Damon. I really, really don't want any platoon with the perpetually injured and hilariously overrated "next Joe DiMaggio."
The Yankees had just as big an impact on Damon's performance as his performance had on the Yankees. Without Girardi's careful management of his various strains and pains, without the stadium dimensions, without Jeter ahead and A-Rod and Teixeira behind, I don't think he would have put up his great numbers. In a way this supports Mattpat's view that he's a useful piece for the yankees, but it also suggests that Damon could have brought a little more pragmatism to his negotiations.
[4] And I don't think that even with all those advantages, the collection of fringe players we plan to replace him with will come close to that production. And as I've noted, I just can't watch Brett Gardner get 500 AB.
"I just can’t watch Brett Gardner get 500 AB."
I don't think you have to worry about that.
[5] i can't watch damon pretend to play left field.
[7] Life is too good as a Yankee fan for me to get bent out of shape over who will be in LF, but Damon did play LF pretty well in 2007-2008, so it is possible that last year was more of a fluke (perhaps an adjustment period to the new stadium, or the result of those early season eye problems).
[6] I do. If we're going to continue to troll the bottom of the barrel for a "left field complement" loyalty wins out and Gardner gets playing time similar to Melky's numbers last year.
The Yankees have already replaced Damon's production -- with Curtis Granderson. The only reason to find a replacement or platoon partner for Gardner would be a fear that Gardner could not replace Melky's production. If you can live with Gardner, then you are looking at a 4th outfielder who is more reliable than Jamie Hoffman or Colin Curtis. For that, you shouldn't have to spend more than 2 million.
Of course, you can still ask whether some of the 11 million being spent on a #4 starter would have been better spent on an outfield upgrade.
[10] Considering Pettitte's age and Burnett's injury history, along with the uncertainty surrounding Joba/Hughes in the 5th slot, I think it made much more sense to spend $11mn on Vazquez, who may be slotted as the #4 starter, but has the potential to provide even more value.
random question: has anyone here ever made a trip down to spring training?
[12] Yes - its wonderful. If you can go, do it.
I went a long time ago now - 2001 - but I'd go back again in a heartbeat if I could.
I've never been to spring training. It sounds like it could be fun but I don't know if following the Yankees sounds like much fun for me--too many crowds. But the idea of hanging around parks with old peoples and just watching BS exhibition games sounds grand.
I've been toying with the idea for a couple of years. I think part of the appeal is that Tampa, while not exactly Paris in the Springtime, isn't some sort of desolate outpost ala Port St. Lucie.
I'm with you Alex, just the idea of hanging around the ballpark and enjoying the atmosphere knowing that its most likely 35 and sleeting in NYC sounds like fun.
[14] [15] And its not far from Tampa to a lot of the places where the Yanks play road games.
Inexpensive tickets, usually very good seats, reasonable food prices - and the weather. Spring training is wonderful.
[14] And you're right on about the old peoples, AB - the Pirates/Reds game I went to was almost a sellout, and 85% of the crowd were 65+. And they know their baseball!
16) That sounds so great. Just to be able to talk with the old timers in the sun sounds special.