Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Bronx is covered in snow this morning. As I trooped my way to the subway, a heavy snow was falling and everything was white. But the subways were still running on time (word to the MTA). When I arrived at 50th street and Broadway, things had gotten wetter. Maybe the streets are just hotter in midtown. Regardless, the slush-a-thon was in full-effect. But the snow was still falling--big, fat, raggeded flakes, as if someone up there tore open a pillow and all the feathers were falling out on our heads. Traffic is moving slightly more cautiously than usual, but only slightly. The snow is lining the trees and it all looks lovely.
The winter meetings came to a conlusion in Dallas yesterday. After trading Tony Womack (and $900,000) to the Reds yesterday, the Yankees signed southpaw reliever Mike Myers to a two-year deal believed to be worth $2.4 million (SG, over at the Replacement Level Yankees Blog considers how effective Myers will be). Tyler Kepner suggests the Womack trade demonstrates Brain Cashman's newfound control over things:
The deal symbolized the changes in the Yankees' front-office hierarchy.Discuss the Postseason General Manager Brian Cashman did not want to sign Womack last December, but the move was forced on him by the Tampa, Fla., headquarters of George Steinbrenner, the principal owner. This December, Cashman, asserting himself in the first winter of his new three-year contract, essentially dispatched with a spare part to add a veteran left-handed reliever.
..."Talking to Brian, it's noticeable that when you ask him, 'What about this, what about that?' you get a much quicker response," said Kevin Towers, the San Diego Padres' general manager. "It doesn't seem like you have to run it up two or three different flagpoles."
Robinson Cano, who visited with cancer patients yesterday at Sloane-Kettering, said he's happy that he's still a Yankee:
"I don't care, I just want to play every day...If it has to be center field, that's OK," Cano said with a smile at a midtown press conference to announce his endorsement deal [with Spalding]. "If they ask me, I'll do it."
Brain MacMillian links to a rumor that would send Sean Henn and Taynon Sturtze to the Phillies for center fielder Jason Michaels, while Steve Lombardi looks at what Bernie Williams' 2006 could be like.
As expected, the Rocket rumors are keeping writers warm as they return east. In his latest column, Bob Klapisch writes:
A.J. Burnett said this week that Pavano is "miserable" pitching in New York, and has told a number of friends - including Burnett, his former teammate in Florida - he wants to be traded. Clemens' presence would make Pavano expendable, assuming someone would actually pay $10 million for an injured sinkerballer with diminished velocity.If Cashman can pull off a deal for Pavano, he deserves early consideration for Executive of the Year. But the Yankees clearly need a pitching response to the Red Sox and Blue Jays, both of whom are now stronger at the front of the rotation.
Clemens and Randy Johnson are obviously fragile fortysomethings, but The Rocket was arguably the National League's best pitcher in 2005. If healthy, he would create a match for Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett, as well as Roy Halladay and Burnett.
Clemens would give the Yankees a boost in the clubhouse, where he's still popular two years since his departure. The Rocket stays in touch with Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, who e-mailed him advice about pitching to the White Sox during the World Series.
My hunch is that Clemens is done, and even if he isn't, he won't return to New York. But what do I know? Hope everyone in the tri-state area stays safe and enjoys the snow today.
Thanks, Phil. Is it hot in here? Now, how do you gracefully segue out of that one?
Re: Pavano's unhappiness. According to an article I read last week, Cashman spoke to him about his rumored desire to leave the Bronx and he denied it. Maybe Cash is trying to leverage more power in a trade? Or maybe Burnett has old info, or new info?
I like that Michaels rumor a lot.
Snowed in from work! I'll be here all day.
Arg. I really liked him & am sad to see him (a) leave the Sox and (b) join the Yanks. (Ortiz coming up late in the game? Here comes Myers...) I like how the Daily News went back & dug up a picture of Myers when he was on the Mariners rather than use a recent Sox pic...
He strikes me as a self-absorbed, petty jerk. Apparently, he fired his agent because he didn't get $40 million and instead got $39.5 million.
BP
I actually like the Myers signing. It just adds to the pen. That's one of the first things I noticed about the CWS pre-2005 season. You can never have too many arms in late August.
I'm sick of hearing about Pavano. When he gives us a solid month of starts then he can open his trap. Until then you're the equivalent of Anna Benson sans-rack.
Apparently Cash was on XM yesterday. I didn't hear it live, but the gist is that Pavano isn't going anywhere. I don't see anybody wow-ing the Yanks enough to take him off our hands.
I'm convinced Cash and Towers are buddies. KT has sent us some sweet deals in the past and I'm sure he gets more than a fruit basket from the Yanks every Christmas.
This might come out the wrong way, but since Rocket's mom is no longer around I see it more likely that he'd make a return to the Bronx. I've had the feeling that he said he was retiring so he could pitch for USA in the Olympics. Whoops. Team USA *&#% the bed. Now he gets his chance to fullfill his patriotic dreams (admirably IMO) and can then display his talents against the best of the best. Sorry, I'm a little long-winded today.
Nice to know where my family's priorities are, eh? :)
If the Sox work something out for the recently disgruntled Tejada - that would be unfortunate, unless Manny went in exchange. It's unlikely, sure, but Tejada/Ortiz/Manny Red Sox team would be a nightmare.
http://tinyurl.com/dfopx
Interesting timing. The Braves are desparate for a new SS, resorting to trading their positional prospect for Edgar Renteria (!?!?!?), and they have a long track record of winning. But Tejada waits until the day after that Renteria trade is made to announce his desire to leave. What team needs a new SS now?
Now, obviously it would be crazy for Baltimore to trade their franchise player to a team in their division, but if they got a certain slugging LFer in return, plus maybe some cash or prospects, maybe they'd be stupid enough to do it.
"A source told the Boston Herald another team that was interested in Andy Marte turned away after the Braves acknowledged the player had a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of an elbow."
This offseason could be a huge success for the Red Sox (if Beckett, Mota and Arte are actually healthy) or a catastrophy.
Makes me appreciate Cashman more and more each day.
BTW, Red Sox Nation may be going crazy over a Miggy-Manny trade...but it AIN'T HAPPENING! No way the Sox trade Manny to another AL East team so that he faces/burns them 16 times in 2006. If Manny is moving, it'll either be to the NL or the AL West.
Lastly, so Tejada is whining about staying in Baltimore, Soriano is whining about moving to the outfield, and Manny simply whines, whines, whines. Makes me REALLY appreciate the guys on the Yanks. Even Shef, the supposed clubhouse cancer, hasn't said a peep since opening day 2004.
But, and a big BUT, you can only explain away Pavano's season as "hurt/switch to AL" NOW. If we're in June, and he's at 8-7 with a 4.50 ERA, that starts to look a lot like the pitcher he is.
The time is NOW. Pavano has as much trade value as Rentaria. And the Sox didn't do half bad there. In fact, they did great (which explains the puke that is consistently bubbling into my mouth). Ship CP out and bring daddy a CF, preferably one that's going to do a Latrell Sprewell impression for two or three years - crazy and talented that fans will love. Unfortunately, they missed the Tiger (and Granderson) boat.
Here's what I'd do in order of preference:
to Philly for Michaels or Rowand and Cole Hamels (assuming the Phils would do that).
to Detroit for Granderson and that pitching prospect whose name starts with a "Z" (hey, forgive me. I don't run the team)
to Seattle for Jeremy Reed and a pitcher (maybe Meche)
I also think it's doubtful that Loretta will approach his All Star numbers again. I think his numbers will certainly improve by virtue of moving to Fenway from Petco, but not in a way that's going to substantially change the offensive production of the team.
And I think Mirabelli was more valuble to the Sox as Wakefield's catcher than he was as a bat. The Red Sox fans in the audience can correct me if I am wrong, but I think Varitek can't catch Wakefield to save his life.
So did the Sox definitvely improve with that unfair trade? Eh, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, the Tigers (and Granderson) are out. They just dropped 27mil for two years of Kenny the Gambler and T. Jones. Exhibit A for why paitience is NOT a virtue.
The other options seem reasonable but, as mentioned by Alex, I think Michaels can be had for something lesser (Henn and Sturtze), and I'm not convinced that either him or Reed is a significant upgrade over Bubba - but maybe for a passable platoon/flexibility.
Crazy Uncle Milton (Sprewell part deux including intial media backlash then fan love) is still available and, according to rumors, at the price of Todd Walker. Call me crazy but Pavano, right NOW, is much more valuable than Todd Walker.
What could we get back for CP right now? Any ideas?
If he looks good in the spring could we get a really big fish for him? I'm thinking maybe a freaky athletic guy who's apparently suffering the agonies of cultural displacement in Seattle? A health CP plus top end prospects? Spring time? Maybe?
Maybe there's another Wakefield catcher in the wings or maybe I've completely invented that Varitek can't catch him. But a google search for "Wakefield Varitek passed ball" is confirming my suspicions. Not the most reliable source for information about that combination, but if anyone's got any insight, I'd like to read it.
Could Pavano bring a legit CF? Absolutely!
Have I mentioned Milton Bradley? We probably would even have to give too much cash there.
Granderson WOULD have worked nicely.
What about Brady Clark in MIL? Old but serviceble. Obviously we'd want more back.
Mark Kotsay?
Preston Wilson?
Dave Roberts?
Ryan Church?
Chris Duffy?
As you can see the list gets thin and more uncertain after MIL-ton.
The time is NOW. Springtime means rosters and budgets are set. Pull the f'in trigger Cash.
Player A:
.329 BA; .372 OBP; .442 SLG
Player B:
.293 BA; 0.378 OBP; .470 SLG
Different positions, but both well above-average for respective.
A = Ichiro, 32yo, 13mil/year
B = Milton, 28yo, 3mil/year
That is value friends.
Uh, oh, I feel the tonic working its effects again.
We will need to send a real chip. Pavano has an upside, just like Rentaria, I just don't think it makes as much difference to our team as a full-time legit CF. I suppose you could try to get a Wright and Henn by them, but I don't see them biting. Bradley is a valuable commodity in this market because there are so few players like him - young, cheap, and talented.
Not sure of the stories with Chris Duffy and Ryan Church, but the numbers look good from afar.
You keep leaving out the part of the quation where you mention that Bradley is insane. There is a reason he comes cheap...
Do I really need to mention that? Of course he's insane, so is Sprewell. I think Spree's a very apt comparison and forshadows both the media backlash and the eventual fan love.
You do all remember that, right? And it didn't end great, but it was fun while it lasted.
And we don't have as crazy a clubhouse as those Knicks.
And worst case, he's on a one-year contract.
For historical reminders, see:
http://tinyurl.com/9ob8p
or
http://tinyurl.com/ajrj2
or
http://tinyurl.com/du8ce
And of course, Loopy had his say:
hhttp://tinyurl.com/7ox77
While broadcasting a Yankee game one day, Phil Rizzuto was informed that Pope Paul VI had just died. "Well," he commented on the air, "that kind of puts the damper on even a Yankee win."
Found this at some stupid net site. I think I remember a long interval of dead air while Fran Healy gave Bill White mouth to mouth.
Yup, you've got me...with Unit and Farns has the rep.
But -
Sheff is a a big PUSSYcat these days.
Moose, I've never heard trouble about.
And hopefully this deal will send CP on his way.
The moniker you cite I've never heard applied to the recent clubhouse. Crazy Uncle Milton won't change that.
If we're making up stuff to keep away a legit CF, then it's even more reason for Cash to: Pull the f'in trigger!
Also, how trippy were those money store adds? It was like something out of a Cronenberg movie.
Ya gotta love Phil!
I remember those days well. It may be encroaching old age along with LSD flashbacks, but I seem to remember a pretty good teams of Rizzuto, Coleman and J. Garagiola. Let me tell ya, when Rizzuto is the SECOND funniest guy, you got some team. Anyone else remember those 3?
Those were the late 60's around 66 or 67 I think maybe 68. I used to have a little radio I'd listen to. My Grandfather would call and we'd listen to the game together over the phone. Half the time when something funny would happen I'd be laughing at him laughing. I thought Jerry Coleman's real name was "Huckleberry" like Huckleberry Hound. We sucked and I didn't even know it. It was just great.
Yankees (Big Apple Division): Brian Cashman's biggest acquisition at these meetings was a cranberry muffin. No truth to the rumor he balked at adding a croissant when the cash-register attendant asked for Chien-Ming Wang in return. Nevertheless, the Yankees have big holes in center field and their bullpen, and their rotation is as shaky as it's been in years. But the big news, if you've read the New York papers over the last two weeks, is that you might have thought the Mets were the only team in town. We actually admire their restraint in many ways. But what's going on here? It feels like the Mets are the Yankees, and the Yankees are the Mets. And that's a feeling that doesn't compute.
Cashman is rightly being patient rather than allowing himself to be fleeced. It's the right thing to do.
Boy it can be frustrating. I think its been like this since 1977. Many scribes have found a formula that works for them. If they have no reason to think its broken why would they bother to fix it? Not all these folks are practitioners of formulaic damnation though. Guys like Tim Kurkjian for example are terrific, they work hard, follow stories and think for themselves. They don't write like their going to miss a meal if they say the wrong thing. Remember the 95 to 2001 era? Both Gammons and Stark were the first ones to stand up and say the Yankees were doing things the right way in combining financial muscle and smarts to build a dynasty. We've received a lot of criticism over the last couple of years, some of it intelligent, constructive and deserved. Much of it has been of the cut and paste formulaic variety. The great thing about the internet is we have the ability to avoid that crap at the click of a button.
I thought Stark's comment about the Yankees was weakened by his comment that "(w)e actually admire their restraint in many ways." What ways? If you do why are they losers? I think its just poor writing from a good writer. His point was they made no important moves. Ok so they didn't. Don't confuse the issue by including a stupid throw away line. Given the volume Mr. Stark puts out I can give him a pass. I know I couldn't do a better job and I doubt I could do as well.
After years of naivete, I now totally believe in conspiracies where corporate money and personal relationships intersect.
And then if they pull off the Michaels trade...a solid defensive outfield. OK, I'll quit dreaming.
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