Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite fastballs...
Joba Chamberlain pitched this afternoon against the Orioles' Dennis "Who?" Safarte today, and the Yankees won 13-3, snapping their losing streak at three games. Not that three games amounts to much of a "streak," really, but given the opponents and manner of the losses, it certainly felt like one. And sometime during the seventh inning, as you may have heard, the Yankees traded the intrepid Kyle Farnsworth for some dude named Pudge Rodriguez. Brian Cashman is a mad genius.
I'm sorry for the lateness of the recap; I got delayed at Shea, donating blood in exchange for free Mets tickets. Yes, really. I did it last year because I was writing about it, and I was going to skip it this season, but the New York Blood Center people kept sending me these increasingly desperate letters and emails with headlines like "There's something special about your platelets!" so I finally caved.
Anyway, today's game started off unpromisingly when the Orioles scored an unearned run off Joba in the first, on an Aubrey Huff blooper following a Robinson Cano error. The Yankees struck back right away, though, in the bottom of the inning: Jeter and Abreu walked, and Alex Rodriguez's base hit scored two runners on an errant throw; not long after, Rodriguez scored on a passed ball.
Joba was good, again. He's gotta be due for a real blow-up of a bad start – I mean, you would think – but fortunately it didn't come today, in the middle of a losing streak. Things got sticky for him in the third, with a series of hits plating another run, but even there Chamberlain wasn't getting shelled by any means. "They were aggressive early on the fastball,'' Chamberlain said after the game. ''When Josie recognizes that... and our offense scores runs, it's pretty easy.'' Easy. Right. In the end Chamberlain threw 98 pitches over six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and once again no walks.
In the bottom of the third, Abreu, DHing for the day, knocked a two-run homer into the screen of the right field foul pole, and the Yankees never really looked back. Chamberlain settled down, not that he'd been unsettled really, and a few frames passed quietly – until, in the sixth, the Yanks started tacking on: another Abreu hit, a very bloopy Giambi bloop, a rare and fantastic first-to-third from the 'Stache on a Cano single (watching Giambi run first-to-third is like spotting a really horribly ungainly unicorn), an Xavier Nady double, a bases-loaded walk to Damon, a bases-loaded passed ball… it was a tough day for Orioles relievers.
In the 7th, Edwar Ramirez soared a ball over Kevin Millar's head and was immediately tossed from the game. Didn't seem like a logical spot for retaliation, if any retaliation was even necessary -- but Ramirez's complete and utter lack of reaction to getting thrown out did raise my eyebrows. Usually pitchers at least PRETEND to be surprised in a "whoa how'd that get up there?!?!" kind of way. So who knows? But Dave Robertson and Dan Giese finished up the game with a minimum of fuss and just one additional run allowed. Abreu hit another homer, A-Rod knocked out his 23rd of the year, and even Richie Sexon got a single, scoring on Nady's second double of the day; lucky run #13 scored on a Justin Christian grounder.
There's already been much discussion of the Farnsworth/I-Rod trade. After the game, Farnsworth was visibly choked up, which made him seem like an empathetic, three-dimensional guy for the first time in a while; and not to promulgate outdated gender double standards or anything, but nothing gets to me like watching a tough guy cry (or, as in this case, even almost cry). Listening to Joe Girardi's voice break when discussing Bobby Murcer's death just killed me a few weeks back, and watching ol' Farnsy blinking back tears had me making sympathetic distressed noises at the TV. I mean this is a guy who strides across the clubhouse in camo underwear reading gun magazines, you know?
Meanwhile, though you have to have a ton of respect for his skill, I've never warmed up to Ivan Rodriguez -- even before the steroid allegations, he seemed suited to playing the villain, though he was always fun to watch. Maybe I was just jealous of his shapely eyebrows.
No, it's hard to criticize this trade... except that I'm absolutely indignant that the Yankees never ONCE had a real brawl, not one, during Farnsworth's entire tenure. This is a colossal waste – I mean, that's pretty much the main reason to have Kyle Farnsworth on your team, as far as I'm concerned. A missed opportunity that will haunt the team for years.
"Real men also cry," the Big Lebowski.
That said, I also am not a big fan of Pudge.
There are all the stories about calling only fastballs with men on base, being unprepared for his pitchers, steroids, etc... but bottom line, he just never did it for me.
However, there's no denying he can catch, hit, and help lead a team to the promised land. All that for pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth? I'll take it.
I wouldn't worry too much about I-Rod's I-brows, though -- this is likely to be a Fall 2008 Limited Engagement, wouldn't you think?
I never got the Farnsworth hate thing like the avg. Yankee fan. I think the trade is a very good one, but I am just a little sad to see him go.
That said, I have no doubt that your platelets are special, Emma.
RIYank - continuing our discussion from the last thread:
Sox won't get draft picks unless they offer Manny arbitration. I bet they won't, because he's crazy enough to take it, just to piss them off.
And, getting that huge distraction out of their clubhouse might be the key to a playoff run, far more than his bat - shades of Nomar in '04.
Shaun, I think there's very low risk in offering Manny arbitration. Boras won't let him accept.
Gotta to agree about Farnsworth and the wasted opportunity for the Yankees to actually win a brawl, Emma.
Pudge, another steroid user. Oh well, what can do, but hope that he plays well.
When you consider that list above, and perhaps others I've missed, it really makes you think about Manny's statement:
"The Red Sox don't deserve a player like me. During my years here I've seen how they have mistreated other great players when they didn't want them to try to turn the fans against them."
There is no way the Red Sox even make the playoffs without Manny. Jason Bay is a streak hitter, and he has been on a good streak this year for awhile. A Manny-less Sox team, with this BP construction, is dead in the water.
Actually, it could be more. I could see Bay struggling mightily in the AL, at least for a couple of months.
I see his flaws, but if my team employed him, I'd be on his side....
This means there's cash involved. Sox pay Manny's salary?
The Commissioner's Office has been informed of a deal involving the Pirates, Red Sox, and Marlins. The Commissioner has to sign off on any deal involving cash considerations of more than a million dollars and there was clearly going to be cash involved in any deal. There's also some formality about Manny Ramirez waiving his 10-5 rights and no trade clause and I'll admit not understanding the technicalities.
i do really feel bad for kyle -especially since he got so upset
though i am happy for us and for him that he did string together some nice performances this year
Nolan Ryan
Ray Knight
Darryl Strawberry
Sox part with three minor leaguers, I'm hearing.
Is the Carroll report online somewhere?
Now Nady is going to be in the 7-8th lineup spot and not be counted on to be The guy.
Throwing Bay into Fenway and the pennant race, he is going to be pressing. Are the fans going to give him some slack in his first 50ABs? I doubt it.
I really think this kills the Sox's chances. Let's also see the residual effect it is going to have on Ortiz. will he ever reach his Papi-ness standards again without Manny to protect him?
25 you think there may be some other-side-of-the-story pieces come out after he gets traded? would love to hear more inside scoop from Manny..
Posted by Peter Gammons
The Manny Ramirez trade conversations are expected to continue into Thursday, according to a source. Because it's a very complicated deal, involving a player who has the right to veto the trade and other parts, it is still unlikely to happen. But the negotiations will go on.
It seems like all of this insider info boils down to they may trade him, or they may not.
petey thinks the yanks won't offer pudge arbitration.
surely some team would give at least a 2 yr deal.
You have to be crazy to not see this deal as a HUGE WIN for the Sox. They lose Manny's bat, but gain a big time bat in Jason Bay. Its like trading A-Rod last season and replacing him with David Wright. Yeah, your offense is going to hurt a bit, but is that really hurting? You are getting a younger, cheaper player and getting rid of a player who would be a FA next season anyway and perhaps is a distraction to the team.
The Sox have done fine in the past when Manny pulls his act, and they'll do just fine with Bay in the lineup. They get younger at a key position, and now can spin that money into, say, CC Sabathia.
Sure, on the surface its less scary to see Manny Ramirez hit behind David Ortiz in Yankee Stadium and probably helps Moose, but looking beyond that, the Sox are major winners here...
Right now though, it looks like we made an area of strength (bullpen) a little weaker, and made a weak area (catcher, bottom of the order) a little less weak. I just can't get too excited about Pudge.
Not saying it was a bad deal or anything...just seems more like mild reinforcements at the price of a bullpen chip we could afford to lose. If Nady and Pudge can continue to hit and make our offense that much better, then I'll be more excited. I'll also hope that Marte is the real deal, and that Veras and Robertson don't turn into pumpkins before October.
Though I never knew you at all
You had the fastball to throw yourself
While those around you scored.
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they bashed in your brain
They sat on your meatballs
How I learned to hate your name
And it seems to me, you spent your time
Like a homer in the wind
Never knowing what say
When The runs came in
And I would liked to have seen you
On the DFA List
Your candle burned out long before
Your homers ever did
Obviously, the prospects come into play as well, but I think losing Manny has a bigger impact than gaining Bay. We know what Manny can do, but have never seen what Bay is capable of on a stage larger than Pittsburgh.
With that said, getting rid of Nomar (who was every bit the distraction Manny was before he got traded) and getting Cabrera and Stinky turned out to be very significant pickups, and huge for the mood of the clubhouse. So maybe the Sox can catch lightning in a bottle twice by dumping Manny and his drama...but I doubt it.
I am sure Moose is quite pleased with this trade if it happens
they certainly did it with nomar, lowe, pedro, and schilling. they have quite a few toadys in the media that go along with it.
all kind of stories have been coming out about manny this week on the radio - for example, that he threatened paplebon with an aluminum bat and it goes on and on.
but i would definitely love to get some scoop from manny - though it will be hard for it to get played as anything other than the wonderful sox frachise and that crazy, erratic, loon manny
Molina's OPS+: 58.
Pudge's: 101.
How is that not a huge upgrade?
38 Well, if the question is whether the Sox are better or worse this year, on paper, the answer is they are worse with Bay than with ManRam.
If the question is whether they're better next year, then it's more complicated. Assuming they cannot pick up the Manny option, they're probably better with Bay than they would be with whoever they could replace Manny with from the free agent market.
I think it's a good move by Theo, considering the circumstances, but still something he was forced into by the circumstances.
Cashman getting a legit prospect for Hawkins is a coup, though. Cusick won't ever be Biggio, but he's got a good baseball pedigree, was drafted for his bat, and has met or exceeded expectations in low A and A. And that's not bad for a 35 year old FA with a 5+ era.
He has managed to dupe every chowderhead North of Hartford with his goofy, happy-go-manny, hit-iot savant antics, when the fact of the matter is that he has always been, and will always be, about making Manny happy, regardless of whether it shows up the other team, F's with his own team, etc.
I'm guessing that Po may not be able to throw by early next year. Hit, yes, as that seems to put less stress on the shoulder. And I'm guessing regardless of his condition, he will be rested from catching fairly often in the 1st half of next year.
So maybe this deal isn't just about this year. We can discuss at length whether it's arb, 1 year, 2 years, etc, but my point is we may well new catching help next year also.
Thoughts?
"On June 25, 2008, Wade was engaged in a dispute with Astros reliever Shawn Chacon. After a while, Chacon burst and grabbed Wade by his pencil neck and threw him to the ground. The Astros suspended Chacon indefinitely."
But Jason Bay, while a very solid OF is not on the super star hitting level of Manny.
39 49 50 Points taken. I suspect I'm just reacting emotionally because I'm not a huge Pudge fan, and my biggest itch still hasn't been scratched -- a Ponson replacement. Soon, I hope.
54 how much would Pudge cost for two years though?? carrying two old catchers, HOFers or not, is a little scary..
38 Thank you, Zack, I'm glad someone is with me.
51 Wait, Bay is in his age 29 season now, so Age-30 in 2009, age-31 in 2010.
Knowing Theo, if this goes down, he'll try to sign Bay to a 3 year extension now, or soon. He'll get some certainty, it won't cost him as much as paying for one of the bats on the market this offseason - oh and (presuming Ellsbury lasts, which I think he will), the Sox OF is set for the next 3 seasons.
And he'll have Bay until the end of his peak, without having to pay for his decline phase. Unlike whoever (the Yanks) signs Dunn or Burrell (not sure which one I like better, I think Dunn because he's younger, but he seems like the type to age faster) to a 6 year deal this offseason.
Meanwhile, in 2010, the Yanks will have Melky, and Gardner (presuming they can actually hit MLB pitching), and Austin Jackson (presuming he pans out). And God knows who else, because they have no other impact OF bats on the farm right now, and no one under contract.
Nice. :)
Cash rocks.
His mid-season pick-ups (save Clemens) are usually pretty strong. Justice, Abreu...they tend to make me happy and this one makes me ecstatic.
I'm really just on the verge of screaming out loud. Pudge will be fantastic for us and we're rid of Farns.
Emma, you're so right, Cash is a mad genius.
Think of all those hit-and-runs in our future, as Pudge shoots it through the second base hole. He's just what the doctor ordered.
Here's to Joe Girardi; long may he reign.
I'd take Washburn in a second.
Talk about a shift in the balance of power.
Thanks for that.
4 I never got the Farnsworth hate either, and not to start a "TRUE YANKEE" (TM) war, but my impression always was that the Farns was pretty dedicated to the team. I, like others, am down with the trade, but a bit sad to see Farnsworth go.
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