Replacement Level Yankees Weblog Comments
Nice, the first B-.
And just think, because he signed a 4-yr major league contract, Hansen is only 2 years away from free agency.
(it doesn't work like, but it sure would be funny if it was true).
And you've miscounted Fabian, it's actually 74 RHPs the Yanks added this offseason.
Wha . . . ? HOF trail that . . . ?
Oh, I get it.
Funny.
Anyone know if Ch9 is going to carry the Yankees this year?
If the best qualities for a pitcher are not allowing home runs, inducing ground balls, not walking people, and getting frequent strikeouts, how does Cox fare?
In 104 professional innings, Cox has allowed exactly three home runs. He has struck out 87 and walked just 29. He has posted G/A ratios of 3.38 and 2.51.
We'll see how much of those abilities he transfers to the majors, but they really excite me. He's probably major league ready, but it can't hurt to give him some AAA time. Maybe Scranton will see some playoff time this year.
Hansen has a bright future as the next Braden Looper.
Anyone know if Ch9 is going to carry the Yankees this year?
On the same lines as that question, I wanted to ask what you out-of-market guys do. I :
(1) Have MLB extra innings, where they have like 80-85% of the games, but none of the games that are carried on channel 9
(2) Have MLB.com, for when channel 9 has the games
(3) Have one of those stress balls for the national black out, while I'm pacing around my apartment and cursing at the people who devises this evil plot to get me to watch Redskins games
I'm out of the market, here in Indiana, I just MLB.tv the games or if I'm away from the computer, I XM radio them.
MLB.tv and MLB radio have every single game that is not being nationally broadcast. Which obviously, I can watch on the national broadcast.
I saw or listened to all 162 regular season games last year for a low low price of 20ish a month.
Deryck, I've definitely been blocked out of MLB.tv on Saturday afternoon games in the DC area. I wonder if it was because we have a team here and you guys dont have one in Indiana?
Have one of those stress balls for the national black out
And what's nice about this re: not being in the tri-state area, is I'm never blacked out of a game. I'm far enough away that any time they aren't playing a team that won the world series two seasons ago, I can watch online. If they are playing the White Sox, I just watch it on local TV.
Fabian,
Do you think there was a particular point - perhaps when Cashman was able to get more authoority in within the organization after the 05 season - at which the Yankees made a concerted decision to handle their pitching prospects like Cox and Hughes relatively deliberately?
Deryck, I've definitely been blocked out of MLB.tv on Saturday afternoon games in the DC area. I wonder if it was because we have a team here and you guys dont have one in Indiana?
You know, I am not sure. That could be it. We are surrounded by teams here. (I'm 3hrs from Chicago, 4hrs from St. Louis and 1.5hrs from Cincy).
The only time I can remember being locked out online is if the game is on ESPN or NBC, but I just watch that on the tube. (Man I'm repeating myself, sorry.)
Given Mariano's unparalleled success, I think it's best that the Yankees, at least initially, attempt to fill the role of his successor with more than one reliever. Cox, along with several other possible candidates, can apprentice under Rivera in the interim.
Do you think there was a particular point - perhaps when Cashman was able to get more authoority in within the organization after the 05 season - at which the Yankees made a concerted decision to handle their pitching prospects like Cox and Hughes relatively deliberately?
Sorry to butt in here. I think that happened at the end of 2006. Those meetings that happened after the season with Mr. Torre.
It seemed like Cashman had a lot of say over the Tampa office in keeping the manager. That's what I felt when I was reading the articles online anyway.
I read a Baseball Prospectus article last year that was an interview with Farm Director Mark Newman.
http://www.baseballprospectus.co...?
articleid=4735
He says:
"[General Manager Brian Cashman] and I have worked together for a long time..."
Then BP.com asked "do you have an overarching principle of team building that you like to follow? For instance, Branch Rickey used to favor aiming for quality out of quantity."
Newman: "It’s interesting you raise the Branch Rickey principle. In 1949, there were four times as many pro players, and half as many major leaguers. Now it’s no longer possible to find quality in quantity, so that puts a greater pressure on our scouting people to be right. The benchmark is that we must do everything we can to help us be right. One, we have to help athletes improve physically, to get bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, more agile. Two, fundamentally, they need to learn how to catch, pitch, throw, run the bases. Three, they have to develop emotionally, in terms of how they understand the game, as well as emotional intelligence. Overall, we use broad structural programs that touch athletes in all three aspects. We spend an awful lot of time designing individual programs to account for the idiosyncrasies of each player, whether it’s a 16-year-old Dominican player we sign to young major league players who are still developing."
Is everyone convinced Cash is done until camp opens? Is the Melkman coming to Tampa come February?
Is everyone convinced Cash is done until camp opens? Is the Melkman coming to Tampa come February?
I'm not sure about this. On XM today they said Pittsburgh is having trouble moving Gonzalez and Melky's name came back up.
I'm undecided on this. I think Melky's stock is pretty high right now, and shipping him while the value is up wouldn't be a bad thing. But, if he was shipped out our backup OF would be some combination of Kevin Thompson and something.
I'm really torn there.
I think there is a good possibility Pavano gets shipped right before camp or immediately after. If he proves he is healthy, I could see a team like Pittsburgh or Seattle or something going after him.
Good find on the Newman quote, Deryck. This was particularly interesting:
Three, they have to develop emotionally, in terms of how they understand the game, as well as emotional intelligence.
I think it sort of explained why a 20 year old Hughes wasn't promoted to the majors at the end of 2006. His stuff was probably ready, and he may be plenty mature, but he was still just 20. Also partially explains why Cox wasn't put on a fast track like Hansen - aside from the ML contract.
But I do disagree on the Sultan of Sit:
I think there is a good possibility Pavano gets shipped right before camp or immediately after. If he proves he is healthy...
Maybe if RJ was still on the team, or if Clemens were signed and on target to be ready for opening day. But as things stand, Pavano is one of only 5 starting pitchers the Yankees have - as crazy as that seems given the recent past. And another is Kei Igawa, who has never thrown a pitch in the majors. With all the questions in the rotation, rather than deal Pavano for another bullpen arm and/or prospects, I think he'll be ridden as long as he proves/stays healthy. A healthy Pavano is better than Karstens or Rasner.
I guess I just don't see Cashman creating a situation where the team opens the season with three established veterans + Kei Igawa + Karstens/Rasner.
Anyone know if Ch9 is going to carry the Yankees this year?
I haven't seen anything that says they aren't, so I'd assume so.
Regarding Cox, I still think he's more setup man than closer, not that it's a bad thing.
Rich is right though, replacing Mo is going to be impossible. In some ways it may be better to bring in an established free agent closer for a year or two. It's always easier to replace the person who replaced The Man, than replace The Man.
I read an article recently - don't have time to find it right now - that indicates Cashman has had opportunities to trade Pavano and passed them. He seems to feel the only way to get value for Pavano at this point, is for him to pitch. I don't think Pavano will be traded this year, unless Cashman is bowled over.
Pavano is one of only 5 starting pitchers the Yankees have
They could always use some of those 73 right-handed middle relievers to pitch two or three innings each.
On XM today they said Pittsburgh is having trouble moving Gonzalez and Melky's name came back up.
Well, we are talking about Dave Littlefield here. After months of hearing that all sorts of players weren't enough to get Gonzalez, I fully expect that he'll be traded along with a couple of prospects for less than a Melky by opening day.
Well, we are talking about Dave Littlefield here. After months of hearing that all sorts of players weren't enough to get Gonzalez, I fully expect that he'll be traded along with a couple of prospects for less than a Melky by opening day.
I'm not a huge fan of moving an everyday player (Melky for Pitt not NYY) for a bullpen guy. To me it makes very little sense unless that bullpen guy is a closer who's going to be counted on 2 out of every 3 days.
Instead, to trade Melky I would need a backup catcher and a bullpen guy probably. I'm not sure that's going to happen, and I don't mind having a player like Melky as a 4th OF and making league minimum (?) I think.
I tend to agree that Cashman is reluctant to completely write Pavano off. That makes me believe firmly that Pavano's acquisition had his approval and perhaps urging. Cashman may be proven right, but I don't like the odds. I would be very surprised myself if Pavano ever resembles the pitcher he was in his 04 season. I disagree that he is more likely to do a better job now than Karstens, Rasner or the combination of the two. Cashman, like the rest of us, is entitled to blow one now and again. Overall, he's been doing great IMO.
In hindsight, dumping Pavano for 50 cents on the dollar before last season would have been a great move. But that doesn't mean that dumping him for 25 cents on the dollar would be a good move now.
Deryck, I'm not sure what your post has to do with my snarky prediction that in the end, Littlefield will give up more than Gonzalez to get less than Melky.
Hey, I just had an inspiration -- they should turn Melky into a catcher!
He's got the build Mike, but isn't he left handed. Not many of them around. Seems like back in the 70's the White Sox or somebody actually had one.
Cashman may be proven right, but I don't like the odds.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't like the odds either. I just think the odds of Pavano being a very solid #4 are significantly better than the odds of Karstens being a very solid #4 next year. I know a lot of people disagree with that though, and I fully understand why.
Yeah, I agree with what you guys said about Melky and Pavano. Except for Deryck, Gonzalez isn't just another bullpen guy, he is already a good closer.
About Pavano, at this point, trading him is a lose-lose. If he succeeds, you look like an idiot. If he fails, well, you only got a marginal utility prospect in return. And that was before we traded away the Big Useless. Now that they only have 5 starters (Proctor still being groomed to maybe start...we do have a bloated bullpen right now, but I liked him there, reminded me of a younger Scot Shields), trading any of them isn't an option.
oh, and I agree with you George, I think Karstens and Rasner are doomed for Quadruple-A infamy
I really think the key with Pavano is his health. If healthy, I think he'll be at least a #4. Remember that some recent studies have shown that a #4 is really anyone with an ERA under 5. Not sure if Pavano will ever put up an ERA under 4, but under 5? Sure. If he's healthy.
Johnson must have finished as a No. 5 then with a 5.00 era. 200 plus wasn't bad for a number five. I agree that it may not hurt to let Pavano stay and pitch at least through ST, but if he was throwing well at that point, contrary to what Cash would likely do, I'd trade him. Do you remember how well Jaret W. threw in his first ST? Often, it doesn't carry through to the regular season and given Pavano's Yankee record-to-date, I wouldn't give him the benefit of two or three more months to find out and especially if a team was willing to cough up a decent payback (Prospect/s & salary.)
Deryck, I'm not sure what your post has to do with my snarky prediction that in the end, Littlefield will give up more than Gonzalez to get less than Melky.
Because I read it wrong.
Johnson must have finished as a No. 5 then with a 5.00 era. 200 plus wasn't bad for a number five.
Indeed those numbers aren't bad for a number 5 at all! But what is bad is the number that was stamped onto his weekly pay check.
Speaking of paychecks, I almost called NYPD last year to report a theft. The perp was Pavano and the theft was him walking to the payroll department.
JB Cox not on the list of players invited to spring training.
shocking.
that "closer stuff" is a load of BS. while it may a little more difficult to pitch the 9th inning of a tight game, there is no intangible super-power that allows one to succeed as a closer.
in reality: it's 3 outs four times a week. i bet 90% of major league starters could pull that off. they won't strike out the side every time, but they'll get the job done.
Does Cox's failure to receive a Spring Training invitation indicate that the "elbow fatigue" he experienced at the end of the summer is something of a longer lasting and more severe nature than we were led to understand previously?
Seems like it must be injury related. The guy is so close to ready I can't understand otherwise why he wouldn't be invited to ST. Wierd.
I believe Cox is on the 40 man roster so he doesn't need an official "invitation" to ST.
Perhaps it will change before Spring Training starts, but these are the pitchers on the 40-man.
Pitchers (22): T.J. Beam, Colter Bean, Chris Britton, Brian Bruney, Matt DeSalvo, Kyle Farnsworth, Sean Henn, Kei Igawa, Jeff Karstens, Jeff Kennard, Mike Mussina, Mike Myers, Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte, Scott Proctor, Darrell Rasner, Mariano Rivera, Humberto Sanchez, Jose Veras, Luis Vizcaino, Chien-Ming Wang, Chase Wright.
No JB Cox among them.
JB Cox is not listed on the 40-man Roster posted on the Yankees' website. Neither is Miguel Cairo who was recently signed, meaning some adjustments will be made.
I found it curious that "Colter Bean" was listed. Ya gotta be joking! Is he a relative of Brian Cashman?
Who the heck is Chase Wright? He's on the 40-man roster over JB Cox?
Wright is one of the few LHP we have.
I believe he needed to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.
There doesn't seem to be much to lose with Pavano at this point, whether he stays or is traded.
As for Melky, I really think it would be a mistake to trade him. The Yankees are not exactly overflowing with young position prospects, and here comes Melky who hits .280/.360/.391 as a 21 year-old, in the majors, in New York, while making big plays and getting big hits for a division winner. Isn't Melky the kind of guy the Yankees should hold onto? He's so young, he's got plenty of upside. Maybe he doesn't develop and turns out to be a fourth outfielder, but that seems like the absolute WORST case scenario at this point. He could very well become a star. Let's keep him.
I'll see if I can find anything out re: Cox.
Thanks, Jeter, I hadn't looked him up yet. Sounds decent.
btw, I lived on the Ohio/Indiana border for about two years, and could often pick up Yankee games on the "flagship station," 880 AM. Loved hearing those local NYC commercials 
A little late in joining in here - but a couple things. Cox, like Hughes, not on 40 man 'cause not eligible for Rule V draft yet.
Colter Bean (and Kevin Reese?) on so Cox, Hughes, or Cairo can replace them when needed, or in case of meteor strike hitting Yankee Stadium in April, since they won't be there.
Has anybody noticed how many current closers - including Mo - can/will be free agents in '08? Including Joel Pineiro - had to say that it makes me laugh so hard. More interesting, both Nathan and Santana FA's after '08. Can Minny sign both? Extend Mo through '08 now! Get Nathan for '09 (unless 1 of ours steps up).
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