Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Same Time, Next Year

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Suggested Reading

Alex:
Ray Negron part 1 2 3 4
Dad, Reggie and Me
Slaughterhouse Five
Way Out in Brooklyn
Heat Fave
Passing
Love, Death and Baseball

Cliff:
First-Half Review
2008 Draft Roundup
July Farm Report
On the Offense
2008 Campers
All-Star Game: 1977, 2008
The Holy "Trinity": 1904 1949
Yankees by the Numbers
SportsIllustrated.com archive

Other Writing

Alex:
Strikes and Gutters: A Year with the Coen Brothers: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
My 20 Favorite Hip Hop Albums
Greatest Singles from Hip Hop's Golden Era (1986-1994)
Ten Neglected Hip Hop Classics

Cliff:
Tin Ear
Pazz & Jop ballots: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 (post), 2002, 2001
Clem Snide
Eminem
Sleater-Kinney

Bronx Banter Interviews

Roger Angell
Allen Barra
Jim Bouton
Howard Bryant: Part 1, Part 2
Ken Burns: Part 1, Part 2
Will Carroll
Ethan Coen
Malcom Gladwell
Bill James
Pat Jordan
Chuck Korr: Part 1 Part 2
Jane Leavy
Michael Lewis
Tim Marchman
Marvin Miller
Rob Neyer: Part 1, Part 2
Buster Olney: April 2003, Sept. 2004
Buck O'Neil
Joe Posnanski
Alan Schwarz
Joel Sherman
Tom Verducci

Excerpts

Juicing the Game by Howard Bryant Part 1 Part 2
Forging Genius by Steven Goldman Part 1 Part 2
How About That! by Stephen Borelli
The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff
The Last Nine Innings by Charles Euchner
Clemente by David Maraniss
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanaski
Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson:
Yankee Century: Part 1 Part 2
Red Sox Century: 1 2 3 4
The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball

Players

25-man Roster:

Infielders:
J. Giambi BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
W. Betemit BR BP E MLB mi
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi

Outfielders:
B. Abreu BR BP E MLB
J. Damon BR BP E MLB
X. Nady BR BP E MLB
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB mi
B. Gardner BR E MLB mi

Catchers:
I. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
J. Molina BR BP E MLB

Starting Pitchers:
M. Mussina BR BP BC E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP BC E
S. Ponson BR BP BC E mi
D. Rasner BR BP BC E mi
C. Pavano BR BP BC E mi

Relief Pitchers:
M. Rivera BR BP BC E
D. Marte BR BP BC E
J. Veras BR BP BC E mi
E. Ramirez BR BP BC E mi
B. Bruney BR BP BC E mi
D. Robertson BR BC E mi
C. Britton BR BP BC E mi

15-day DL:
J. Chamberlain BR BP BC E
D. Giese BR BP BC E mi
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
C. Wang BR BP BC E
60-day DL:
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC
H. Sanchez BC mi

Coaches:
J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP BC
R. Thomson (Bench) BC
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP BC
B. Meacham (3B) BR BP BC
T. Peña (1B) BR BP BC
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BP BC

40-man Roster:
AAA
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BC mi
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB
J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
P. Hughes BR BP BC E mi
I. Kennedy BR BP BC E mi
C. Wright (L) BR BP BC E mi
B. Traber (L) BR BP BC E mi
S. Patterson BR BC mi
AA
F. Cervelli BR BC mi
J. Marquez BR BC mi DL

Select Minor Leaguers:

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
B. Castro BR mi DL
C. Basak BR BP BC E MLB mi
E. Duncan BC mi
N. Green BR mi
B. Broussard BR mi
M. Carson BC mi
C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi
J. Brown BC mi DL
A. Aceves BR mi
K. Igawa (L) BR BP BC E JB mi
P. Coke (L) BC mi
M. Melancon BC mi
J.B. Cox BC mi
S. Strickland BR BC mi
S. Jackson BC mi
E. Milton BR BC mi DL
V. Zambrano BR BC mi DL

AA Trenton Thunder:
K. Russo BR mi
R. Peña BC mi DL
C. Malec BC mi
M. Vechionacci BC mi DL
A. Jackson BC mi
C. Curtis BC mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
P.J. Pilittere BC mi
J. Jones BC mi
G. Kontos BC mi
J. Nuñez BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DL
A. Claggett BC mi
O. Perez BR BC mi
M. Gardner BC mi
K. Whelan BC mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi

A Tampa Yankees:
E. Nuñez BC mi
C.J. Henry BC mi DL
T. Battle BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Gil BC mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
Z. McAllister BC mi
W. De La Rosa (L) BC mi
C. Garcia BC mi

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:
J. Snyder BC mi
M. Cusick BC mi
B. Suttle BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
J. Montero BC mi
D. Betances BC mi
J. Heredia BC mi
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi

Low-A Staten Island Yankees:
D. Adams mi
P. Venditte mi

Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube (past mL stats)
mi = MiLB.com (current mL stats)
E = ESPN (current splits, game logs)
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
JB = Japanese Baseball.com

The Recently Departed

2008 Yankees:
R. Sexson BR BP E MLB
M. Ensberg BR BP E MLB
A. Gonzalez BR BP E MLB mi
K. Farnsworth BR BP BC E
L. Hawkins BR BP BC E

Nady/Marte Trade:
J. Tabata BC mi
R. Ohlendorf BR BP BC E
D. McCutchen BC mi
J. Karstens BR BP BC E mi

2008 Campers/mLers:
C. Woodward BR BP BC E MLB PHI mL
J. Lane BR mi BOS mL
G. Porter BC mi WAS mL
J.D. Closser BR mi SD mL
S. Henn (L) BR BP BC E mi SD
H. Phillips (L) BR BC mi TB mL
S. White BR BC mi

2007 Yankees:
J. Torre (Mgr) BR BP BC LAD
D. Mientkiewicz BR BP BC E MLB PIT mL
A. Phillips BR BP BC E MLB mi CIN mL
J. Phelps BR BP BC E MLB STL mL
M. Cairo BR BP BC E MLB SEA
K. Thompson BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT
B. Sardinha BC mi SEA mL
W. Nieves BR BP BC E MLB WAS mL
R. Clemens BR BP BC E mi
T. Clippard BR BP BC E mi WAS
L. Vizcaino BR BP BC E COL $7.5m/2yrs
M. DeSalvo BR BP BC E mi ATL mL
M. Myers (L) BR BP BC E LAD mL
R. Villone (L) BR BP BC E mi STL mL
S. Proctor BR BP BC E LAD
J. Brower BR BP BC E mi CIN mL
C. Bean BR BP BC E mi ATL mL

2007 Campers and mLers:
E. Durazo BR BP BC E MLB mi
A. Cannizaro BR BP BC E MLB mi TB mL
A. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi LAD mL
K. Reese BR BP BC E MLB mi
R. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT mL
O. Santos BC mi BAL mL
T. Pratt BR BP BC E MLB
T.J. Beam BR BP BC E mi PIT mL
B. Kozlowski (L) BR BP BC E mi Japan

Molina Trade:
J. Kennard BC mi

Abreu Trade
M. Smith (L) BR BP BC E mi PHI
C. Monasterios BC mi PHI
J. Sanchez mi PHI

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Same Time, Next Year

2005-04-26 04:43

by Alex Belth

Tyler Kepner notes today that the Yankees in the same position they were last year: 8-11 with the Angels coming into town. General manager Brian Cashman tells Kepner:

"For some reason, it feels worse this year. But it keeps it in perspective to know that we got off to the exact same start and won 101 games. We're in one of those we're-never-as-bad-as-we-look-right-now schemes. It doesn't mean there aren't problems. But we'll address them."

Kepner goes on to profile Chien Ming Wang. According to a minor league scout:

"Wang is an average major league prospect with a ceiling, a good sinker-slider guy who throws strikes. I think Phillips could start on a second-division club. But the tough thing with the Yankees is there's such a small window of opportunity for a guy to prove himself."

George King reports in the Post:

"The two biggest things are that he throws strikes and isn't afraid of bat contact," Columbus pitching coach Gil Patterson said last night. "And stuff around him doesn't bother him. If a guy makes an error he says it's his job to make a pitch. I don't anticipate him throwing any different there than he has here. I anticipate him throwing very well."

..."His next pitch is a slider, but he has a change-up and split-fingered fastball," Patterson said. "If the slider is on, it can be a big help. He can throw it down and away to right-handers and we have been working on a back-door to lefties. He has four pitches and I would guess all four are major league caliber."

Jon Lieber, we hardly knew youse.

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Comments

2005-04-26 04:53:58

1. Alex Belth

Anyone see the Angels play this year? How do they look? Are they better or worse than they were in 2004?

I find that they are an easy team to disklike, though Vlad G remains one of my very favorite players in the game.

2005-04-26 05:20:31

2. KJC

I never had anything against the Angels. That is, until their stupid name change this year...

2005-04-26 07:11:28

3. seamus

don't mind the name change but greatly dislike the Angels.

2005-04-26 07:18:47

4. Cliff Corcoran

With the exception of the period of time they were owned by Disney, I've always dug the Angels. Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Brian Downing. Good stuff. I even rooted for them in the World Series after they beat the Yankees in 2002. Now with Vlad, Figgins and K-Rod, all of whom I very much dig, plus Colon, who I don't like but am very entertained by, and Kelvim Escobar, whom I had wanted the Yankees to sign, I like them even more. Plus Arte Moreno, with the exception of the name change thing (though I can't blame him for wanting to undo Disney's switch to Anaheim), has done everything the right way over there. Baseball needs more owners like him.

2005-04-26 07:58:05

5. Ken Arneson

I've seen the Angels six times this year. I think their lineup is slightly less imposing this year without Glaus and Kennedy in there. Vlad is still a monster, but I think you can get the other guys out if you pitch well.

Their pitching looked great to me, but that was against the A's lineup, which sucks completely, so that's not a good way to judge.

2005-04-26 08:06:27

6. Dan M

I'm just upset that he didn't change the name back to the California Angels. Sounds way better, and re-establishes ties to Nolan, Downing, Carew, etc.

Is it me, or does Chone Figgins look exactly like Willie Randoplh, circa 1977?

2005-04-26 09:42:23

7. Simone

I'm not surprised that it feels worse to Cashman. It feels worse to me. Plus, last season, they were able to bring up Duque when Brown got injured. Now they have the untested Wang. Oh well, it is still early.

2005-04-26 10:01:50

8. Marcus

What does that scout mean by "second division club"? Does that mean a second place team? Or a second rate team? Or a team playing in a second tier division? Or something else?

I see Phillips as more Shane Spencer than Bubba Crosby. Bubba's no power hitter, but I can't imagine Phillips breaking out and becoming more than a platoon player. I think his best asset is what Paul O'Neill and other mentioned: he brings some youth and enthusiasm into the club. That's what's missing from this club more than anything else, I think. At least from a fan's perspective, I want some excitement. Soriano was the last Yankee who actually seemed giddy about playing for the Yankees, and for all his faults, I like having a guy like that on my favorite team. Phillips hopefully will inject the clubhouse with a little of that excitement.

2005-04-26 10:26:05

9. Cliff Corcoran

Marcus, "second division" is an old term from before the leagues split into east and west divisions in 1969. A "first division" club is one that was in the top half of the league standings. A "second division" club was one that was in the bottom half. For example, the Yankees were consistantly first division, while the Senators and Browns were the definition of second division.

Also, I think Phillips is better than Spencer. Shane mashed lefties, but couldn't hit righties with a truck, though it's worth mentioning that I was always pining for him to get more playing time as well. I still wonder if he could have established himself had he not blown out his ACL the one year he was given a starting job (what was that 2000?)

2005-04-26 11:22:43

10. brockdc

Living in LA, the only times I get to see the Yankees in person are when I schlep to Anaheim (AKA "Assinine"). Angels fans are TERRIBLE - abysmally low baseball I.Q.'s - as opposed to Dodger fans who at least have some working knowledge of the game and understanding of their team's legacy.

To me, the Angels seem to be one of those teams that could either win their division by seven games or finish the season in third place. Their current squad is solid all around but injury-prone.

Something about Colon makes me root for him. There's something enjoyable about a barrel-chested, beer-bellied guy just letting it rip at 98MPH.

2005-04-26 11:48:06

11. Knuckles

A-Rod, Jeter, Bernie, Sheff, and Matsui (listed by decreasing # of AB's against) have all had good success vs. Colon. This current Yankee team has an OPS of over .850 against him in about 150 AB's, so hopefully we can put some runs on the board and give Meat some breathing room.

2005-04-26 12:38:12

12. Alex Belth

I was a big fan of the California Angels during the eighties. It started when Reggie signed with them in 82 and last through 87 I guess. Brian Downing was one of my favorites, but not for the same reasons why Bill James adored him. I just liked the fact that he looked like Clark Kent with those glasses and muscles and I loved his strange batting stance.

But I don't associate the contemporary Angels with those Gene Autry teams. I do like the manager and the owner, but I used to hate G. Anderson, though he's won me over in the past few years. Never liked Tim Salmon (or Edmonds when he was there), or Eckstein, or those bush-league clakers, or whatever you call them. Maybe they are a bit different now. And maybe I'm still bitter from 2002.

2005-04-26 13:37:11

13. Matt B

Alex, I hear ya about Brian Downing. His baseball cards always made me chuckle. Almost a parallel to Kurt Rambis.

One of the first Strat-o-Matic teams I had was the '79 Angels--Don Baylor's big year. I loved playing that team - Carew, Downing, Ryan, Dave LaRoche, Joe Rudi, etc.

Nowadays, I just like Vlad.

2005-04-26 14:04:55

14. KJC

"Now they have the untested Wang."

If I wasn't so damn mature, I'd swear there was a joke there somewhere...

Speaking of players with wacky glasses, how about Kent Tekulve? Not only did he have the specs, but I've always had a soft spot for sidearmers.

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