Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yanks are in Baltimore for a four-game series this weekend and well, it's just hard to get juiced about this one, isn't it? Four-hour games, a boring Orioles team, makes for precious little to say this morning. However, here are some links from around the 'Net which may be of some interest:
Yankee GM, Brian Cashman talks to Roger Rubin about what we can expect from Hideki Matsui.
Don Amore examines the Yankees starting pitching.
Ed Price tackles the Yankees bullpen, while Jim Baumbach wonders how Kyle Farnsworth will do come October, Peter Abraham covers Brian Bruney, and George King updates Mariano Rivera's situation.
Earlier this week, Joe Sheehan chimed-in on Alex Rodriguez's season over at Baseball Prospectus:
Hey, is Alex Rodriguez still a choking scrub unfit to occupy the same infield as Derek Jeter? It's kind of hard to keep up. I just happened to look today and saw that Rodriguez is 17th in the AL in EqA, 15th in RARP and 17th in VORP among position players. He leads AL third basemen in VORP and will likely hold that ranking until the end of the year. Defense could push Mark Teahen and/or Joe Crede ahead of Rodriguez in overall value, so you can figure he's one of the two of three best third basemen in the league.
All of this in the worst year of his career.The level of attention paid to Rodriguez's slump went beyond all bounds of sanity. Yes, he was probably pressing, but there hasn't been a player in history who had as much made of an 0-for-22 slump. I can guarantee you that the guy who bats two spots ahead of him in the lineup has never been subjected to the kind of small-minded, gleeful, jealous treatment that Alex Rodriguez endured in August.
Would that he never is, because it was shameful. I can hold this gig for a million years and I will never embarrass myself the way the press did over this issue. It's the difference between writing about performance and writing about people, and it's why I can stand behind every critical thing about a baseball player that I've ever put down on paper or onto your monitor, because I was never attacking their character or their person, but rather their work product. I have been wrong, but I have always stuck to the performance.
I have to admit that I underestimated the kind of impact that Johnny Damon would have on the Yankees this year. But as the season draws to a conclusion, and Derek Jeter is the thick of the MVP mix, I've come to believe that Damon has been almost as important for the Bombers, both in the locker room and on the field. Jeter smiles plenty during the games--he's always enjoyed himself playing the game--but Damon is downright goofy. His smile is infectious, and along with the broad, carefree grins we see nightly from Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera (and across town from Jose Reyes), I don't recall the last time a Yankee team seemed this loose, while being completely focused at the same time. As Pete Abraham recently noted, "I'm not sure there are 10 people in the world who enjoy life more than Damon."
And yet, even if Damon is a flake, he's also a gamer too. He's played hurt all year, and you know that his teammates must appreciate that. Earlier this season I was in the Yankee locker room for a Sunday matinee against the Royals. It was get-away day, which means that the players arrive wearing suits. Damon was in the clubhouse early, before most of his teammates had arrived, wearing a stylish tan suit. Before he undressed, I saw him kneeling down in the the corner of the room, picking through a case of cds. After a few minutes, he stood up and groaned in pain--his foot has been killing him all year. He winced and hobbled for a minute as he balanced himself. Nobody was around, none of the reporters were paying attention to him at that moment, and there was no sense that he trying to attract attention to himself. It was just a small moment, but one that indicated that this was one tough dude.
The press absolutely love him. Damon might be the best daily talker the team has had since David Cone. In all, he's been the perfect tonic for the traditionally tight-assed Yankees. Aditi Kinkhabwala has a piece on Damon today over at SI.com.
Who knew he was such an arm wrestling freak!
"...he's up on the roof with his boids. He keeps boids. Dirty... disgusting... filthy... lice-ridden boids. You used to be able to sit out on the stoop like a person. Not anymore! No, sir! Boids!"
I won't even try to transliterate the proper pronunciations of "concierge."
The Banter had something though.....albeit a good piece.
That was a hilarious reference, Alex. I couldn't remember where it was from. wsporter was all over it.
And you're right, Alex, about it being hard to get up for this series against the lackluster O's, but the Yanks still have a lot of business to take care of. My wife told me last night there's no reason for me to watch every Yankees game at this point, shocking me with her knowledge that they're 9 games ahead of Boston. It's going to be hard to justify sacking out in front of the tube for these O's and D-Rays series. She's on to me.
You're also right about Damon, Alex. I didn't want the guy, and now I have to admit he's a big part of what makes these '06 Yanks so likeable. I love his game, and dig his happy-go-lucky style.
2 Great stuff, as always, Mr. Canyon of Heroes. I read you every day.
Great links above. I found Ed Price's bullpen piece the most compelling, mostly because of this:
"Over the past four postseasons, Yankees relievers other than closer Mariano Rivera have combined for a 6.09 ERA."
Aside from resting our big guns, Joe's most important business this month is figuring out who he can trust out of the bullpen next month.
I still have unjustified confidence in Farnswacker. Something tells me he's going to come up big this Oct. and reverse his postseason misfortune. Just do it, Farnswacker!
I like Bruney a lot, and hope to see a lot more of Dotel this month.
Villone, and Proctor have been horses, but you know what? They're becoming Quantril-Sturtze triggers to my central nervous system (emphasis there on nervous). They need rest.
Stupid quesion: Is he referring to Jeter?
(The piece is subsription only so I've only read Alex's snippet here).
Here's what I found via google - "Iron Cross symbolism" search:
http://www.choppers.com/iron_cross.asp
9 If Sheehan was referring to Jeter, Sheehan either has a short term memory or he needs to read more. I clearly remember Jeter getting similar treatment during his slump a couple years ago. There was quite a few vicious articles by several writers and some Yankee fans saying that the Yankees would have to find a way to trade Derek since his slump was evidence that he couldn't cope/coexist with Rodriguez. Also, don't forget the booing of Jeter. The media and some fans are just turds.
Just another example of why the Banter is the best.
14 Let's hope none of us, married or not, has to endure another Yankees '91.
But my wife's generally very cool with me watching the games, even the ones she considers "meaningless." She busts my chops occasionally, and I compromise. Weekend day games I usually catch only parts of on the radio while we do family things, or work around the house. In other words, my Yanks obsession is not an issue in the Sliced Bread household.
17 Try this: "Baby, the Yanks are in town. Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go!" Works like a charm, as in, not all the time.
I was once watching an early episode of "Homicide: Life on the Street" where from Andre Braugher asked a lady at the desk of an SRO who she was. And she responded:
"I'm the concierge. My husband used to be the concierge, but he's dead. Now I'm the concierge."
I felt like that line was a gift specially delivered to me.
The "everyone gets booed" argument really doesn't cover what ARod got this year.
It's my favorite, but it doesn't beat out Young Frankenstein by much. YF is better if you've seen the originals, not only Frankenstein but Son of and Bride of. The scene with Gene Hackman, for example, is a riotously dead-on parody of a scene in Son of Frankenstein.
I tend to agree it's his best script, but "Young Frankenstein" is perfect, cinematically gorgeous. That one might be his masterpiece. But I could easily be swayed by a one sentence case for "Blazing Saddles." Mel is my comedic hero. Him and Bugs.
18 Tonight's the scouting mission as I have the same seats just one section over. But I'll talk to the users and make sure there's no problem. It will give me something to do as we defeather those filthy boids.
"Producers" Mel's best story/script.
"Frankenstein" Mel's best picture
"Saddles" Mel's best jokes
That Jeter thing was flat out embarrassing. I kept wondering among other things, "... how could they, are they nuts, what are they thinking, haven't they been paying attention ...?"
The Rivera boos were hideously stupid.
Yanks fans, like all sports fans, can be complete idiots.
Their idea of a perfect game is for the Yankees to win 12-0 while ARod goes 0-for-5 with 2 errors. They can cheer the win and also boo ARod.
Thanks.
Sorry, but this "poor Alex Rodriguez" spiel is just hard for me to accept. Sure he has been treated badly, but it isn't like he is getting Maris or worse Hank Aaron treatment from the fans, media and MLB. I've see all along Rodriguez needs to just suck it up and perform. Look how everyone has shut the hell up now that he is hitting.
I remember when Tino and then Giambi was booed. I thought there was a lot of hate towards Giambi in paricular. The Jeter and Mariano booing just proves that some Yankee fans are buffoons.
That's jealousy, plain and simple. People hate A-Rod because he is the embodiment of the "greedy overpaid celebrity/athlete."
The problem with that though, is that there are a lot of 'overpaid' celebrities and athletes but A-Rod is singled out because he has an obvious or apparent sensitivity to criticism, and when attacks on a person are amplified BECAUSE that person seems to be affected by them, well, that's just cruel.
37 I disagree to a certain point. A-Rod was certainly getting The Works in the media, though he hasn't to our knowledge endured constant death threats. That it effected him enough to be visible in either his game or his statements only encouraged the idiots to boo him even harder.
What ticks me off is that there wasn't enough people booing back for him. And you know what? No one loud enough is going to take those idiots to task for their embarressing behavior; fans, media or otherwise.
I have a right to be hostile, man, my Yanks've been persecuted!
At first, looking at his season stats, I wansn't too worried, but looking more at his scouting and projections, and the fact that he was rushed to AAA, well then I just got annoyed...Why the heck can't we get a catcher that easily?
This A-rod booing is as bad as anything I've ever seen. I remember being aware of the rough treatment Marris got or was getting but I don't recall it being anything like the job they did on A-Rod. The Hank Aaron booing was plainly and simply racism. To compare it to A-Rod is I think a mistake in that they are simply not analogous situations; one (A-Rod) is merely bad taste while the other is inhumane and I think a topic for a different discussion.
The Sox learned with Varitek this year what happens when your catcher goes down. If Cashman didn't see the result, and learn the same lesson, he deserves the hell he'll get if they lose Jorge for any length of time.
I'm not saying "poor ARod." Nevertheless, the treatment he received was completely ridiculous and bore no relation to reality.
When you've got a 35-year-old catcher, you should really be thinking about what your plan B is. I don't know why the Yankees have been so cavalier about it.
Catching also may be the toughest position to fill via free agency.
This off-season the free agents at C are pretty slim too. But I'd say Greg Zaun. He's capable. It won't help muchin the age department, but at least they have something if Jorge drops off the cliff, which really could happen anytime now.
I'd still prefer a trade of something like Eric Duncan for a guy like Clement. They both disappointed at AAA this year but the talent is still there.
Don't forget, Theo traded Josh Bard & Cla Meredith, both performing VERY well right now, for Doug Mirabelli (remember the whole police escort to Fenway to face the Yanks?)
THEN, Theo traded a good (albeit 40+ year old pitcher) for yet ANOTHER backup catcher - he couldn't get Bard back because Bard is doing too well.
In Boston, they're touting those trades (among the Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez for Beckett/Lowell, and the Arroyo & Shoppach trades) as a very bad year for Theo. In fact, WEEI in Boston has been wondering out loud if Theo has done anything right since he's been the GM, besides getting rid of Nomar and signing Papelbon. Most of the good young performers (and even a few of the good older performers) they have were Dan Duquette signings, and Duquette is universally lambasted around here.
Seems like Theo has been dumping Duquette signees and retaining Theo signees, and the Theo crew hasn't been working out that well.
54 MFD, the real problem is that the Boston media (as always) needs a scapegoat. Certainly the Yanks can't be the source of their failure this time, so where else does the ire of the insane RSN media machine turn? Why of course, the young, talented GM - the hometown hero. Couldn't possibly be any jealousy in there, now could there be? Not from the upstanding media types in Boston!
Hindsight is 20-20. Taking into account what Theo knew when he knew it, I don't think you can fault the moves he made - EXCEPT trading Marte for Crisp and signing Tavarez and Seanez. But then again, Marte hasn't exactly turned into all that.
Bard is, as Cliff has said, a 28 year old having his shining moment. Look at his performance record - he isn't going to do this again.
Anyone else think Hanley R. in Fenway at 22 might not have performed as well as he has in relative obscurity in Florida? Especially with all the hype he had in RSN?
Beckett is 26, and for that kind of arm at age 26, I say the team's 4th best pitching prospect and a 22-year-old SS who hit poorly at AA is more than a fair price to pay, no hitters be damned.
I wouldn't have let Damon or Pedro go over $$$ - but something tells me Theo doesn't set the budget.
As for Meredith - dude has a sub-1.00 ERA in 30 odd innings. In a fantastic pitchers' park. How valuable is that again? Didn't Chris Hammond do the same thing a few years ago?
I didn't mean for this to turn into a defense of Theo, but I guess it has. I just hate to see the $%#)$#) in the Boston media destroy the guy out of jealousy - even if that benefits the Yanks, which it would.
I'll gladly concede that the Maris and Aaron treatments were worse. I'd like to believe I'd have been one of the Yankee fans who supported the back-to-back MVP when he took the field in 1962.
http://www.bostondirtdogs.com
where else . . .
Even though Abreu is the type of OBP machine that prevents crime, creates jobs, and even babies in Boston, Theo didn't have enough in his allowance to afford him. Did he ask Daddy for more money? Certainly, Theo could have showed enough interest in Abreu to drive up the price (in terms of prospects) the Yanks paid for him. But he didn't do that either. Silly boy.
All else could probably be forgiven by Boston fans, but not this:
Cashman housed Theo this summer -- and Kid Kong is going to pay for that (perhaps literally) all winter.
F Theo. All hail King George and his Cashman!
That trade might look better for the Sox if Wakefield hadn't been injured.
And please, don't forget that a couple of months earlier, SD gave up Mark Loretta no get Mirabelli. Now that's a steal. Put the two deals together - Bard and Meredith for Loretta - and it's still one the Sox should make every time.
I think Doug Mirabelli has to have been the most overvalued player of the year, even more than those relievers the Reds got.
They trade Mirribilli for Loretta, which, even though San Diego wanted to dump him, they still could have done oh so much better. Steal
They trade Bard and Merideth, two guys who stunk up the joint in the Fens, for Mirabilli again, basically meaning that they traded those two guys for Loretta, which is a better total trade. Bard and Merideth, as Shaun said, are probably more the result of a career season and the powers of Petco park.
And then the Wells trade, which, again, seems like a steal for the Sox, who had no more use for Wells but really needed a young future C.
As for the other moves, well, the jury is still out on Theo. I would say he is overrated due to his winning the Series with that team, and he got lucky the Nomar trade worked out. Had they lost in 4 to the Yanks, well, he'd be gone by now. He has worked to build up the system, but then he has traded a lot of it away, but for pretty young, seemingly solid guys: Coco and Beckett.
I think the biggest difference is how Cashman and Theo are percieved in a lot of circles, aka the media and the "nation," and even in some Yankee fan circles. Cashman only has been successful because he has the money, whereas Theo is the boy genius. But, other than the fact that they ran into an 8 game hot streak that defied logic at the right time, the Sox haven't been all that better than in the DD years...
a) more money, maybe twice as much
b) better chance for his first ring
Who knows though. This off-season he's going to command more than 1.5, that's for sure.
The current backlash against Theo is a natural reaction, given that all this blindfolded foraging has been hailed as canny genius for two years now.
In the period when Camden Yards was being built and Lucchino then took over the Orioles, my brother worked for the same law firm he did. So one day my brother was able to get tickets in the owner's box, and of course he rooted for the Yankees. Lucchino apparently got miffed, and that was the last time my brother got those tickets.
Lucchino then went on to run the Padres, and then suddenly resurfaced as Mr. Red Sox Nation; I think he's just full of crap. My brother, of course, still roots for the Yankees.
I agree - bad move. He could have been their DH, and backup to Giambi and Jorge. It made too much sense.
I have to admit I might be somewhat miffed if it happened in my box. I might be even more miffed if one of my employees did it in a box owned by a client. Especially if my firm was billing that client 6 or 7 figures annually. If one of my partners did it I might even be tempted to have a word or two with him or her. I might have to ask Yankees fans to root in silence or stay out of the box; Especially with a supercilious little prick like Little Petey Angelos floating around.
Don't get me wrong Lucky Larry is the devil incarnate as far as I'm concerned. Every time I hear that Evil Empire reference I find myself praying that he is humiliated in some horrible fashion but on that one I'm not so sure he would have been way out of line if he withheld future access ...... No offense intended and I don't mean to rag your brother.
As much as Cashman is in charge (and has been since last fall) I think when it comes to big name acquistions it's still George's call. He loved Damon. Expressed his fondness for Abreu.
If Steinbrenner wanted Pedro, Petey's age, length of contract, and "who's my daddy" /Zim slam - baggage would have meant nothing,and he'd be working in the Bronx.
Ditto for Mikey P.
If Steinbrenner liked or wanted Piazza we never would have seen Kelly Stinnett. Piazza's problems with Clemens, whom Steinbrenner was also yearning for last winter, may have also fueled the Yanks (read George's) disinterest in him.
But that's not the part that offends me, at least not deeply; I think it's silly but not incomprehensible. It's the way Lucchino - a mercenary, hired gun - now presents hmself as the heart and soul of RSN that really pisses me off. (Remember, he was the one who coined the term "Evil Empire.")
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Craig Wilson 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Cory Lidle RHP
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