Now they can get Scherzer next season blowing way past the 189 mil threshold.
I wonder if this will be Jeter's last season? If they could have a contending team and go out is style, that would be great. I couldn't see Jeter retiring on a team like last years. If Mo hadn't announced his retirement and done the "tour" he might have pitched 1 more season too.
Tanaka's the type of guy to throw the ball until the last out and they could use that with CC hopefully rebounding and getting more of the 1st half of last season of Kuroda and less of the 2nd half. I think Kuroda will also help him get used to the bigs.
But the 1B and SS situations are far from certain. Without contributions there, this infield has got be among the worst in all of baseball. And the bullpen is currently that of a non-contender.
[18] The off-season's not over though; now that they have Tanaka and have laid the $189 million threshold to ruin, the bullpen is likely the next and last order of business before Spring.
[18] I'm ever the pessimist, and I think they'll be pretty bad...or at least pretty not good. I love me some Jeter as much as the next guy, but he is probably cooked and if not, at best he may give slightly above replacement level at SS (maybe some BA with no power, bad defense). Teixeira is already in decline and coming off a wrist injury. They lose Cano at 2B and have basically no one to play 3B. I think CC is cooked. I think Pineda is unlikely to contribute anything ever. I think Tanaka will not be as good as hoped (but he will probably be good...just not crazy good).
That's a lot of holes all over the place. Plus, they are relying on everything else going really right (Kuroda, whom I love, coming back and being effective at his age, Beltran continuing to be very good at his age, Gardner continuing to be very good and not getting hurt).
To all of those pessimists above (and you know who you are): it's freezing cold, there's ice and snow all over, but the sun came out. And it's less than a month until pitchers and catchers report. Can we have 24 hours of hope?
(and did you see that photo of CC in the tux yesterday? He looks in unbelievable shape. And Jete's taking ground balls. And A*rod is gone for the year. Cheer up!)
21) werd, man! The Yankees just landed a 25 year old stud pitcher from Japan. That should be good for at least 24 hours of good vibes around here. I think Cashman and the Steinbrothers did a great job this winter. This team could turn out to be very very good, even without Robbie Cano.
24) there was reason to be leary of Pineda when he arrived here. Just based on the fact that the Mariners traded him for the unproven, and physically questionable (for his position) Montero made me, and others suspicious. But still, most fans were very excited about his arrival. As they should be about Tanaka.
I think we can feel more secure about Tanaka at this point. He's older, and therefore more proven than Pineda.
The Yankees scouted him thoroughly. Having been burned by Igawa, and Irabu, they went to school on Tanaka. Of course there's no guarantee he won't get hurt at some point, but if he immediately breaks down it will be shocking. I don't recall being surprised at all when Pineda broke down. At the time of that trade, there was more reason to suspect the Yanks might have acquired damaged goods.
[26] I'm actually confident he'll be good, not a disaster. But I am not at all confident he will be very good or great (i.e., that he will come close to living up to his contract). He might be Darvish, or even Kuroda...or he might Dice-K. We'll have to see how he translates to MLB.
How much did the other teams offer him? It's not like the Yanks were the only team willing to overpay for him. LA just paid twice as much for their ace and would have paid him $300 mil if he felt comfortable enough to take it. The market is not set by the Yankees anymore, but they can still afford to play in it and always get killed for doing so.
I wish somoene would open up YES to make it a true all around sports network and not just a repository for team details. ESPN needs a real run for their money.
The Daily News was reporting earlier: "The Cubs apparently offered an eight-year contract worth $24-25 million, the source said."
But that line is no longer in their updated online story, so I wouldn't bank on it.
[35] I wish he threw a Gyroball but sadly he's pretty straightforward pitcher. Don't expect the heights of Darvish and all will be well. He's solid and a workhorse.
Let's just hope he's closer to Kuroda than Igawa or Irabu.
excellent! can't wait for the season to start
This...all day...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuxVExpBXu4
Given the hype, the parallel I'm worried about is Dice-K. I'll take a long-burning, workmanlike Kuroda scenario over any of those flameouts.
Anyhow, spring feels a lot closer!
If they can get something out of Pineda that would be fantastic.
Hot damn
I hope we see a headline like: Tanaka Rockas da Sockas.
(and not the other way around)
Thank goodness for the opt-out after four.
[7] Please don't feed the bears >;)
Waka Waka. Welcome aboard Tanaka. Here's to not sucking. ; )
[1] Would asking for Darvish-like be too much? Very happy, and it takes some of the sting of Robinson-less away.
can we all agree that the team should at least be GOOD now??
Now they can get Scherzer next season blowing way past the 189 mil threshold.
I wonder if this will be Jeter's last season? If they could have a contending team and go out is style, that would be great. I couldn't see Jeter retiring on a team like last years. If Mo hadn't announced his retirement and done the "tour" he might have pitched 1 more season too.
Tanaka's the type of guy to throw the ball until the last out and they could use that with CC hopefully rebounding and getting more of the 1st half of last season of Kuroda and less of the 2nd half. I think Kuroda will also help him get used to the bigs.
Great news!
11) still a few question marks especially around the infield but overall I think they've improved this winter. they should be back in the hunt.
[11] They should be a lot better than last year. at least on paper.
Interesting. I'm a bit surprised. And of course, I am always pessimistic. But interesting.
Never in doubt. In Japan the brand matters.
(I can't believe Branden Arroyo is still pitching.)
[11] I think they could be good.
But the 1B and SS situations are far from certain. Without contributions there, this infield has got be among the worst in all of baseball. And the bullpen is currently that of a non-contender.
So I am not that confident they will be good.
[18] The off-season's not over though; now that they have Tanaka and have laid the $189 million threshold to ruin, the bullpen is likely the next and last order of business before Spring.
[18] I'm ever the pessimist, and I think they'll be pretty bad...or at least pretty not good. I love me some Jeter as much as the next guy, but he is probably cooked and if not, at best he may give slightly above replacement level at SS (maybe some BA with no power, bad defense). Teixeira is already in decline and coming off a wrist injury. They lose Cano at 2B and have basically no one to play 3B. I think CC is cooked. I think Pineda is unlikely to contribute anything ever. I think Tanaka will not be as good as hoped (but he will probably be good...just not crazy good).
That's a lot of holes all over the place. Plus, they are relying on everything else going really right (Kuroda, whom I love, coming back and being effective at his age, Beltran continuing to be very good at his age, Gardner continuing to be very good and not getting hurt).
To all of those pessimists above (and you know who you are): it's freezing cold, there's ice and snow all over, but the sun came out. And it's less than a month until pitchers and catchers report. Can we have 24 hours of hope?
(and did you see that photo of CC in the tux yesterday? He looks in unbelievable shape. And Jete's taking ground balls. And A*rod is gone for the year. Cheer up!)
21) werd, man! The Yankees just landed a 25 year old stud pitcher from Japan. That should be good for at least 24 hours of good vibes around here. I think Cashman and the Steinbrothers did a great job this winter. This team could turn out to be very very good, even without Robbie Cano.
[21] CC in the BSOHC, huh? I'm brimming with confidence!
; )
[22] Well, two years ago they landed a 21 y.o. stud pitcher from Seattle and that got them...
24) there was reason to be leary of Pineda when he arrived here. Just based on the fact that the Mariners traded him for the unproven, and physically questionable (for his position) Montero made me, and others suspicious. But still, most fans were very excited about his arrival. As they should be about Tanaka.
I think we can feel more secure about Tanaka at this point. He's older, and therefore more proven than Pineda.
The Yankees scouted him thoroughly. Having been burned by Igawa, and Irabu, they went to school on Tanaka. Of course there's no guarantee he won't get hurt at some point, but if he immediately breaks down it will be shocking. I don't recall being surprised at all when Pineda broke down. At the time of that trade, there was more reason to suspect the Yanks might have acquired damaged goods.
basically, the Pineda-Montero deal was a prospect swap. Tanaka is a much safer bet, though far more risky financially.
[26] I'm actually confident he'll be good, not a disaster. But I am not at all confident he will be very good or great (i.e., that he will come close to living up to his contract). He might be Darvish, or even Kuroda...or he might Dice-K. We'll have to see how he translates to MLB.
Hoping for Kurodarvish instead of Daisukeigawa.
Of course, when he hits a home run in inter league play, John will be be yelling "what a knocka by Tanaka"
How much did the other teams offer him? It's not like the Yanks were the only team willing to overpay for him. LA just paid twice as much for their ace and would have paid him $300 mil if he felt comfortable enough to take it. The market is not set by the Yankees anymore, but they can still afford to play in it and always get killed for doing so.
I wish somoene would open up YES to make it a true all around sports network and not just a repository for team details. ESPN needs a real run for their money.
I hope this guy is good.
30) I read in a couple places (mlb.com, and NY Daily News) that another team (the Cubs?) offered more than the Yanks.
The Daily News was reporting earlier: "The Cubs apparently offered an eight-year contract worth $24-25 million, the source said."
But that line is no longer in their updated online story, so I wouldn't bank on it.
Wow, this is great!
I just got back into the country and hadn't heard anything about it. What good news.
Tooptimistic!
I understand that Tanaka throws a mysterious gyro-ball. We should start a Haiku contest in his honor.
[35] GYROBALL!!!
[35] I wish he threw a Gyroball but sadly he's pretty straightforward pitcher. Don't expect the heights of Darvish and all will be well. He's solid and a workhorse.
[37] There could only ever be one GYROBALL!!!
[38] At most!
[30] I wouldn't compare Kershaw and Tanaka though, for obvious reasons.