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Cashin' Checks
2008-09-29 10:13
by Alex Belth

The status of Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman will reportedly be determined shortly.  So?  You think he stays or goes?  And, do you think he should stay or go?  I think he'll stay and I'd be happy if he does.

Comments (68)
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2008-09-29 10:24:41
1.   pistolpete
Yeah, I'm in that camp as well.

There's been enough calamity the last few offseasons without losing the GM too.

2008-09-29 10:31:04
2.   Sliced Bread
If there's a better gig than being paid a million bucks a year, and then some, to spend Steinbrenner's money I can't think of it. Of course he stays.

Cashman's fine by me, but it's not like the organization would crumble if he bolted. It's a baseball executive's mantra: Everyone's replaceable.

2008-09-29 10:31:41
3.   thelarmis
yeah, i hope he stays and i'll be happy if he does.

i think Mo will announce whether he's having surgery later also...

2008-09-29 10:46:36
4.   Bronxer
I'll be curious to see how much money he's offered - will they top the money given to Theo in Boston?
2008-09-29 10:47:26
5.   Mattpat11
If the Steinbrenners have reason to believe (BABYSITTER) that Brian Cashman won't sign every mediocre pitcher that comes across his desk, they should take him back.

If they think they are going to get the same Brian Cashman that has proven that he can't evaluate pitching, they should seriously consider their options. I don't want to see Brad Penny or Oliver Perez or AJ Burnett on this team.

2008-09-29 10:50:25
6.   Shaun P
5 And you won't.

Though, at a very low price, for a one year deal, Oliver Perez as a fifth starter option would be a good move - the upside is there - but Perez will never settle for a one year deal at a low price.

I think Cash returns - he's not going to uproot his family - and I'll be happy when he announces it.

2008-09-29 10:55:25
7.   Mattpat11
6 I actually expect Burnett. The Yankee front office's long history of slobbering over last year and ignoring a player's history almost guarantees that.

NNo Oliver Perez. No signing pitchers to be "fourth or fifth starters" When you sign a player for the express intent of being mediocre, you run the very real possibility of not even reaching those lofty standards. See Jaret Wright.

If you decide that you're willing to let the fifth starter be a bad, find someone in the organization. Don't acquire someone just to be bad. Its not worth the paperwork.

2008-09-29 11:03:13
8.   Sliced Bread
Ollie and AJ are exactly the type of guys Steinbrenner had to have at all costs (and years) because they've been good to dominant against the Yanks.
No, I don't think they're on Cash's shopping list. Right now, I think the only name on Cash's list is CC. He's just waiting to lease an aircraft carrier to ship the required currency to Sabathia, and trying to find enough pinstriped fabric to make him a uniform.
2008-09-29 11:16:49
9.   liam
i think he goes, and we get pat gillick

alright, replace "i think", with that would be kinda cool if that jerk wanted out.

2008-09-29 11:23:44
10.   ny2ca2dc
I hope Cash returns, but mostly because I fear the alternative and don't think the upside of a change is worth the risk of losing a proven good-not-great GM. Especially with the, uh, non-typical operating environment.

7 No Oliver Perez. No signing pitchers to be "fourth or fifth starters" When you sign a player for the express intent of being mediocre, you run the very real possibility of not even reaching those lofty standards. See Jaret Wright.

Roger that. I'm OK gambling if the upside is great and there are sound contingencies (exceedingly rare as that is), but like you say, "Even when he's healthy, he's still frigin Carl Pavano". The corollary is that you should never put yourself in the position where you have so little depth as to make signing Carlos Silva anything more than a quick and easy way to dispose of excess currency. Or: if Sidney Ponson is amongst your top 6 or 7 starters, think about building for the future. (I would argue this year that Ponson was like our #10 starter, but the principle remains.)

2008-09-29 11:24:15
11.   Mattpat11
I'd say AJ Burnett fits the model of the player Brian Cashman tends to sign. Brian loves him some corner turners.

I agree that CC Sabathia should be the only name on the list.

2008-09-29 11:40:17
12.   Biscuit Pants
I'm a little worried about Sabathia too . . . 253 innings and counting . . . to quote Rita Coolidge, that's an All Time High . .
2008-09-29 11:56:57
13.   Raf
I dunno why people keep harping on Cashman's supposed inability to build a pitching staff, when the problem with the team has been the offense.

Hughes, Chamberlain & Kennedy blow through the minors in 07, and they get a chance to start in 08, the 3 of them suffer injury or ineffectiveness.

Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Jeff Weaver, Javy Vazquez, among others string together several seasons where they've shown they can pitch successfully at the ML level at the time of their acquisitions. Injury and ineffectiveness hamper their campaigns.

Durable Mike Mussina suffers several injuries during the 2004-2005 campaigns that limit his effectiveness.

Bargain basement finds such as Chacon, Aaron Small, Rasner, Bruney, Veras, Edwar Ramirez, etc, etc, have made contributions at the ML level.

AFAICT, it looks like Cashman has been burned with veterans, with rookies, with journeymen.

Looks to me he's middle of the pack when it comes to evaluating pitchers. Dave Dombowski was a genius in 2006 when the Tigers led the AL in pitching. With practically the same cast, the Tigers finished 12th in the league in 2008. So, what happened? Did Dowmboski forget how to evaluate pitching?

Whether Cashman stays or goes it doesn't matter, life goes on. But, like with Torre & Showalter, if he's let go I'd like to hear a good reason for letting him go.

2008-09-29 11:59:05
14.   thelarmis
from pete abe:

Mo is having surgery on Oct. 6th

girardi doesn't sound hopeful about Moose coming back. damnit, i really want him to : (

sounds like pettitte will be in uni at the new stadium...

2008-09-29 12:01:07
15.   Mattpat11
I'm not all that worried. I'd be more concerned with him being 300 pounds.
2008-09-29 12:07:59
16.   williamnyy23
14 Mussina loves pitching...I am not so sure he wants to retire.

I also hope Cashman returns. If he doesn't, it will mean the Yankees manager and GM both left, as opposed to being fired. It aint easy doing those jobs in NY, so the Yankees had better due a careful and thorough search for a new GM...and oh yeah, they better do it quickly.

2008-09-29 12:09:53
17.   williamnyy23
15 People worried about RJ's durability because of his height. I would pay more attention to his performance and his make-up more than anything else. If you only will sign risk-free players, you are going to come away empty handed. Sabathia is not Pavano or Wright...you have to break the bank. Otherwise, you can really start lament the decision to not get Johan.
2008-09-29 12:13:46
18.   Schteeve
What do you call it when you hate all the options?

1) Sabathia's workload scares me because we're gonna offer him a LOOOOONG deal.
2) A.J. Burnett - When he's good...he's not even that good.
3) Ben Sheets is an insurance companies second worst nightmare. (Pavano is first.)
4) Perez? Get real.

I also think that the pitching is the second thing on this team that needs fixing.

Assume Abreu and Giambi are gone.

Posada - TWO years removed from his monster 2007 and who knows how well he bounces back from surgery?
1B - Your options are Tex, or Matsui, Damon, Jeter or any other Yankee over 30.
2B - Who the hell knows what you get from Cano, let's just say I'm not counting on much.
3B - Even year A-Rod, no worries there.
SS - Another year older Jeter. Which is ok, but you know...it's ok.
CF - Melky? Gardner? Christian? Damon? Cripes.
LF - Matsui another creaky ass 3o something, and who knows how he bounces back from surgery?
RF - Nady. Let's start praying now that this season was more than a fluke.
DH - Matsui or Damon?

If that doesn't make your blood run cold for next season, I don't know what will.

They HAVE to get Tex, and they HAVE to get another .850 OPSer.

If not, I don't think Sabathia matters at all.

2008-09-29 12:19:58
19.   pistolpete
18 Well, I was looking forward to the offseason... yeesh.
2008-09-29 12:20:00
20.   Mattpat11
13 The Pavano, Farnsworth, Igawa and Hawkins signings which were all varying levels of horrendous, are all fresh in people's minds. Sidney Ponson keeps coming back. We paid Steve Karsay out the ass. At times it seems like we build the bullpen around walking people.

Also, if Cashman is a middle of the pack GM who makes all the same mistakes as the other GMs, why do we care if he goes?

2008-09-29 12:21:43
21.   JL25and3
14 Yeah, I've criticized Cashman mostly for the lack of position players who could help out.

8 I think CC will definitely be the one Cashman goes after. If he doesn't sign CC, though, I think Burnett's almost a sure thing. For that matter, if they get Sbathia but not Teixeira, the same might happen.

2008-09-29 12:22:43
22.   dianagramr
Kim Ng for the next GM of the Yankees

(not that I would wish that on her per se, but it WOULD be kinda cool)

2008-09-29 12:22:53
23.   Mattpat11
17 I really, really, really really want CC Sabathia. I'm just saying his IP this year don't really scare me. If anything gives me pause, its 300 pounds coming down on those knees 100 times a game 30-something times a year.

Its not enough to scare me off him. If that were to happen, we'd cross that bridge when we come to it.

2008-09-29 12:24:37
24.   Mattpat11
21 If we sign AJ, you might want to ban me presmptively.

If you thought I was annoying ranting about how stupid the management of this team was for trying to count on Pavano, just wait until AJ pitches in 19 games next year.

2008-09-29 12:27:11
25.   Sliced Bread
18 Don't give up on Cano. He had a good 2nd half. .815 OPS since the break. I'm ok with his slow starts because they're predictable, and maybe one of these years he breaks that trend and rakes year round. I'm still high on Robbie.
2008-09-29 12:28:03
26.   mehmattski
Yeah just say no to AJ Burnett. Dude struggled despite the most efficient defense in baseball playing behind him. Also he had the highest FB% and LD% of his career this season. I was on the (ultimately correct) Just Say No to Zito wagon last offseason, and I get the same feeling here.

I don't know what to think about Sabathia. I know that Yankees fans are gun shy about long term deals because of the burn felt from Wright, Pavano, and Igawa. But these starters were never expected to be more than mediocre. Sabathia is an elite starter, and one who can eat a ton of innings on an otherwise young staff next year; the risk of injury is an acceptable one in this case, IMO.

In short, I agree with 18 . I expect Sabathia and his giant... salary. This pretty much fills the rotation nicely: Sabathia/Wang/Joba/Hughes/#5. It's the offense I'm really worried about. There's the potential for having weak hitters at multiple key offensive positions (LF, RF, 1B), and that's a problem. Plus, what about Posada?

2008-09-29 12:37:48
27.   Raf
20 Pavano was a stupid signing, Igawa was a risk, Hawkins was signed to a cheap, puntable contract to replace Vizcaino, who wanted a 2-year deal.

Steve Karsay was signed to a 4 year deal; leading up to signing that contract he posted the following ERA+ (G,IP)

1999: 169 (50,78)
2000: 131 (72,76)
2001: 190 (74,88)
~~~
2002: 136 (78,88)

Don't think anyone saw him going on the shelf in 2003, and then lasting as long as he did.

2008-09-29 12:39:03
28.   Rob Middletown CT
18 They HAVE to score more runs and/or allow fewer. Whether they do it by adding offense, pitching/defense, or a mixture doesn't really matter (in fact, one could argue that a balanced approach is best).

My plan:

1) Sign Tex, waive goodbye to Giambi.
2) Sign CC. Risk? Yes. So be it.
3) Offer Abreu arbitration. If he accepts, fine. Platoon him with Nady in RF. If he bails, fine, take the picks and start looking around for a platoon parter for Nady.
4) Resign Moose and/or Pettitte. This one's hard to figure, because both will toy with retirement. I'm currently leaning toward trying to bring them both back for short term deals.
5) Pick up Marte's option.
6) Look around for a CF who can hit lefties a bit. If you find one, grab him and platoon him with Melky or Gardner. And hope like hell Austin Jackson continues to develop nicely.
7) Call Tony Soprano and have Pavano whacked.
8) Plan on using Chamberlain and Hughes as tandem starters to limit their innings. JobaPhil!

2008-09-29 12:43:16
29.   Sliced Bread
Has Tex said anything either way about playing in NY? Has he expressed any interest in playing here? Also, why are some (not so much here) concerned about how he'd perform in the Bronx boiler room? I honestly don't know much about him aside from his numbers, and what little I've seen.
2008-09-29 12:45:19
30.   williamnyy23
23 That's a fair point, but I wonder if those massive legs don't distribute the impact away from the knees and also prtoect his arm? To be honest, smaller pitchers concern me more, but I guess that's because CC's size is really unique.
2008-09-29 12:46:03
31.   Yankee Fan In Boston
29 i was under the impression that his idol growing up was don mattingly. i don't remember where i might have heard that, though.

i am pretty sure that he is a fan of money, though.

2008-09-29 12:46:24
32.   Biscuit Pants
18 Wow, take a Xanax dude! This team DID win 89 games this season with three starters and Posad having major DL time. We had a horrible August (actually starting 7/27) 14-19 over a 33 game stretch.

There are deals to be made, but for crying out loud, the season ended yesterday!

2008-09-29 12:46:57
33.   Raf
29 Right or wrong, you're always going to have concerns about a player's "makeup" when playing in NY. Personally, I think if a player has game, he can play anywhere. I've seen all types of people succeed and fail in NY, as a Met or a Yank.
2008-09-29 12:47:50
34.   williamnyy23
28 There are so many solid CF'ers who might be available. A few weeks back, I put together a list of 6 or 7 who would either make very good starters or at worst platoon partners. The key here is there aren't any stars available, so don't try to get a pretender. A few good solid 105-110 OPS+ guys who can play defense are just fine.
2008-09-29 12:48:20
35.   JL25and3
24 Hey, what would this place be without your rants?

Look at me. I've never been the same since Gary Sheffield left.

2008-09-29 12:48:50
36.   williamnyy23
29 Yes...he has expressed an interest, but that was when his idol, Don Mattingly (why he wears #23) was on staff.
2008-09-29 12:49:43
37.   JL25and3
34 I like DeJesus a lot for just that reason. Unfortunately, his contract is so good that he'll probably be very tough to get.
2008-09-29 12:51:58
38.   Raf
Is Sox-Tiggers going to happen today? Seems to still be in rain delay.
2008-09-29 12:54:04
39.   williamnyy23
37 DeJesus would take more of an effort, but guys like Cameron, Werth, Ross, Gerut and Byrd should all be easily available. None of that group is great, but all are at least average offensive and defensive centerfielders.
2008-09-29 12:54:43
40.   Shaun P
Cashman is going to avoid Sheets and Burnett because they are both too injury-prone. And if he doesn't get CC, then he'll bring Moose back and Pettitte back, and go from there.

But pitching is irrelevant. With a patchwork staff, the Yanks allowed 727 runs. I could easily see that number falling to 700, without adding any free agent pitchers (except Moose/Andy). There is upside in the staff.

The problem is the offense. Too many guys are too old and trending down; there is little to no upside there. Tex has GOT to be free agent priority # 1. Then try for CC. If he signs elsewhere, oh well, but don't let Tex get away.

2008-09-29 12:56:13
41.   Mattpat11
27 Farnsworth?

As for Igawa, I remember scouting reports that projected him as a long man. We then went and paid 45 mil for that honor. That's not a risk, that's stupid.

And you'll never convince me that signing Hawkins was a good idea because we "only" paid 3.5 mil. Just going through a cursory look at his gamelog, I found four games where this "low risk" signing pitched poorly in a loss in April. We signed a mediocre pitcher because he was coming off a good year and we decided this was the real deal, and it played a huge part in bringing this team where it is right now.

2008-09-29 12:59:36
42.   williamnyy23
40 This needs to be a two front offseason: Tex and Sabathia need to be priority 1 and 1A. You can't have a Randy or Beltran type debate. Also, I wouldn't lose track of Manny.
2008-09-29 13:01:10
43.   Biscuit Pants
Personally, I'd be happy to start the year with Gardner in CF and Miranda at 1B. But patience has always been one of my best virtues.
2008-09-29 13:01:23
44.   williamnyy23
41 The thing that gets me about Igawa is Cashman himself talked about him as being a back-end or even middle relief guy. So, why would they take such a plunge? I think it was simply a case of organization chaos due to the Red Sox' bid for Dice-K. I don't think Cashman was a driving force behind the move.
2008-09-29 13:02:39
45.   williamnyy23
43 I don't think you can make a compelling case for either being productive major leaguers. Patience is one thing, but counting on both strikes me as being reckless.
2008-09-29 13:12:55
46.   Mattpat11
28 No Marte please. I can just see Joba Chamberlain going 7.3 IP of a 1-0 game and Girardi pulling him because Eric Hinske is coming up.

30 Its not enough to stop us from signing him, if it even exists at all.

40 Injury history scares away the man that signed and kept Carl Pavano?

2008-09-29 13:19:55
47.   Raf
41 Blocked Farnsy out... I think that was a dumb signing too. IIRC, he came here because he wanted to pitch here; I think the Braves offered him more $$ to close, though my memory could be faulty. Anyway, one good year, one bad year, and was having a decent season when he was traded to the Tigers.

As for Igawa
http://tinyurl.com/4o47v3
"Igawa, 27, figures to fit at the back end of a rotation that includes Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte."

Given Igawa's accomplishments in Japan, I doubt the Yanks were looking to have him as a long man. IIRC, I've seen reports say he's anywhere from a 3-5.

Some stuff from WasWatching
http://tinyurl.com/3pkhrd
http://tinyurl.com/3z68kz
http://tinyurl.com/526lgn

And a saberscouting entry
http://tinyurl.com/4sl34d

Hawkins was signed to replace Vizcaino. Viz wanted two years, Hawkins took one.

2008-09-29 13:20:08
48.   Mattpat11
44 Someone in the organization was confident enough to be cutsie with the bid, ending it with 197. I've never been given any reason to think it wasn't Cashman.
2008-09-29 13:24:01
49.   David
I'd like to see Cashman stay, not because he's so great, but because I don't see better alternatives.
2008-09-29 13:24:03
50.   Raf
44 I don't think Cashman was a driving force behind the move.

I don't know, it seems that if that were the case, Cashman would've traded him already. Of course, I have nothing to go on other than a gut feeling from the trades of RJ, Wright & Womack, 3 players that the Tampa faction have been accused of signing.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-09-29 13:24:42
51.   mehmattski
32 Last year, the Yankees scored 968 runs. This season, with essentially the same lineup, they scored 200 fewer runs. Sure, the injury to Posada hurts, but not to that degree. What will the effect of a third year with the same lineup have?

43 In a vacuum, starting Gardner in CF and forgetting about it probably makes sense. But you're giving up a lot of offense by committing to a speed-only player like Gardner. Where are those extra 200 runs coming from that separate the 2007 and 2008 Yankees? An aging Matsui/Damon/Abreu?

46 Yeah I didn't see enough good things from Marte to warrant even an arbitration offer. The risk that he accepts is too great. I'm fine with a rotating bullpen full of kids. Of course, if Mo's surgery/recovery goes badly, watch out...

2008-09-29 13:25:25
52.   Shaun P
46 Re 40 : And the Yankees other options at the time were . . . who? Keep Loaiza or Brown? Start Proctor or Sturtze? Try DePaula or Alex Graman?

That offseason, the Yankees needed starting pitching badly, and the options were not great. I thought it was a bad move at the time, but they needed someone.

2008-09-29 13:27:28
53.   Shaun P
51 Marte will be a type A free agent. Some team desperate for bullpen help (Milwaukee? the Mets? the White Sox) will sign him to a multi-year deal. IMO, it'd be foolish to not offer Marte arbitration. He'll never take it.
2008-09-29 13:31:52
54.   Yankee Fan In Boston
51 i didn't get to watch a ton of the games towards the end of the season, but i did see gardner make a handful of catches in CF that looked like they'd have fallen in otherwise.

am i making this up? would his defense + speed account for (some/most of) the dip at the plate?

just curious.

2008-09-29 13:33:32
55.   Raf
52 I would've retained Loaiza instead of going after Wright. I don't remember the circumstances around Lieber leaving, I thought the Yanks had an option year on him.

Pedro, Matt Clement & Derek Lowe among others were available. Duque was still having shoulder trouble, I think.

Had the Yanks not made any moves, they would've gone into 2005 with at minumum a rotation of Vazquez, Mussina, Brown & Halsey.

2008-09-29 13:37:28
56.   Raf
2004, 2005 FA tracker;
http://tinyurl.com/4gszy6
2008-09-29 13:48:38
57.   JL25and3
54 Haven't I been here before? A young center fielder who looks limited offensively, but maybe his fielding will make up for his bat?
2008-09-29 13:50:47
58.   Mattpat11
47 Kyle wanted to pitch here? Say no. And I have no recollection of the good year you speak of.

You can keeping repeating that Vizcaino wanted two years all you want. A good GM says no to Hawkins and Vizcaino. We needed a mediocre short relief pitcher that allows an assload of baserunners?

Did you give me a link comparing Kei Igawa to Kaz Ishii? In that Ishii post, BTW is a link saying the Yankees were cool to Igawa because they saw him as a back end guy.

2008-09-29 13:55:56
59.   pistolpete
28 I'd be okay with the idea of picking up the option on Abreu, but then I'd love it if the Yanks could find a way to deal either Damon or Matsui, preferably Matsui.

I know it's not going to happen, just throwing it out there.

2008-09-29 14:12:31
60.   Raf
58 http://tinyurl.com/4m26fo

"In his conference call with reporters yesterday, Farnsworth was asked how he knew he would be able to adapt to the intense environment of New York. He answered candidly.

"I really don't know," Farnsworth said. "That's another reason why I wanted to come to New York and really test how good I really am. I think I did good enough last year to be able to pitch anywhere.""

http://tinyurl.com/dba8b
"In making the move to the Yankees, Farnsworth, who played at Milton High School in Atlanta, rejected the Braves' offer to remain as their closer, the role in which he finished the 2005 season. Instead, he will serve as setup man to Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera, and replace Tom Gordon in that role."

Farnsworth's FanGraphs page, for WPA stats;
http://tinyurl.com/3updw2

Viz did a competent job in 2007, Hawkins was signed to do the same in 2008. Neither player was signed to be a game changer. Neither pitcher is the kind to build a bullpen around. Cheap innings eaters, nothing more, nothing less. By definition, a middle reliever is mediocre; not good enough to start, not good enough to close a game.

As for Igawa, like I said, he was signed to fill out the rotation. Given the numbers he posted in Japan and the adjustment, he could've been anywhere from a 3-5. He definitely wasn't counted on to be an ace.

2008-09-29 14:16:05
61.   Biscuit Pants
51 I'm not convinced that Gardner is a speed-only player based on the small sample size. But the real issue is, how many moves do you want to make? On paper the Yanks need two OFers, a 1B, at least 2 SPers based on who's under contract.

I'm just not in the mood to the Yanks get in a bidding war over a couple of players that don't appear to be all that interested in coming here. I may be liberal, but I'm preaching convservative here.

2008-09-29 14:21:58
62.   Biscuit Pants
57 No, we haven't.
2008-09-29 14:28:54
63.   Shaun P
62 But we have. I think JL is talking about Melky.
2008-09-29 15:43:51
64.   ChrisS
61 "I'm not convinced that Gardner is a speed-only player based on the small sample size."

College hitter with no power in the minors, lotsa SBs and a fair amount of walks? Gardner's not much more than that, if anything. And if he surprises me and turns out a .750 OPS with 50 SBs, I wouldn't complain, but I'd never put money on that happening. Not even a dollar.

18 "... Nady - Let's start praying now that this season was more than a fluke."

And my season-ending Nady post. His first half was the fluke. His half season with Yankees almost perfectly replicated his career numbers: 14BB/48K, .268/.320/.474, 108 OPS+ as a Yankee; 143BB/443K, .280/.335/.458, 108 OPS+ for his career.

He's an average defender at best that strikes out 4 times as many times as he walks and doesn't hit for the kind of power that makes up for a middling OBP. I don't see him solving any problems with a weak offense next season.

Frankly, I'm not sure what to do with this team. I'd like to hold onto Phil, Joba, and leave the 'pen be, but after that, I'll need a million dollars a year to come up with a plan.

2008-09-29 16:23:09
65.   Biscuit Pants
64 And those stats show improvement, especially his second time through a league. I don't think a .750 OPS is that outrageous and I'm less concerned with his lack of power than his speed and ability to get on base. Regardless, he's the best option we have until AJax is ready.
2008-09-29 16:23:49
66.   Biscuit Pants
61 I'm not sold on Nady. I wonder if he can be packaged in a deal for Matt Holiday.
2008-09-29 19:00:19
67.   OldYanksFan
Someone at Lohud actually had a reasonable idea for 1B. Hank Blalock, career: .274 .337 .465 .802. He's been injured the last 2 years, but averaged over an .860 OPS in that time. Shouldn't be too expensive, but is a solid to above average bit player type. Don't know how he rates on defense.
2008-09-29 22:18:55
68.   nick
seems to me that the history of free agency is pretty clear: identify the best free agent, regardless of perceived need, and sign him. repeat with second best free agent if possible and if need exists. so is it CC or Tex? I'd lean toward the former....yeah, he's overworked, but he's not a gross fatty like Sid Fernandez. I'd say he's closer to somebody like Roger. huge man, huge thighs, huge ass (sorry if this gets too graphic). that's the body type that long-career pitchers often have...and he's a lefty--the new Stadium is also gonna be advantageous for lefty pitching, right?.

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