Off Topic · Yankees Talk thread (page 408)
Rookie wrote:OK, then I won't mention that we still have to deal with Jeter and Rivera's contract extensions
those 2 are immaterial, they're not gonna get raises from their current salaries
The 2009 New York Yankees: Sorry, Kids, but They Didn't Buy This One
by Trish Bennett
Written on December 24, 2009
In the weeks since the New York Yankees won their 27th World Series championship, the haters have been out in full force with the usual and increasingly tiresome cries of "They bought another championship!"
These cries almost overwhelmingly come from those under the age of thirty, whose memories don't stretch back before 1996. The conceit and arrogance of youth, however, don't overcome the truth.
I've been a Yankees fan for so long that the first game I ever saw was at Shea Stadium (look up the years and do the math). I suffered through the horrid teams of the '80s and early '90s. No one was jeering that the Yankees bought championships then. That idea is a recent one, born in the anonymous chat rooms on the Internet.
No major league baseball team is a charity. Every team's goal is to win the World Series, and they all do their best to "buy championships." The Washington Nationals recently paid a kid who hadn't played one inning of pro ball $15 million in the hopes that one day he will hoist the Commissioner's Trophy over his head as he's sprayed with champagne.
It's the chance every team takes, that the high-priced free agent does what he's supposed to do when the money's thrown at him and won't implode under the pressure.
I find it hilarious that the "buying championships" line comes most often from Boston Red Sox fans. You know—fans of a team owned by a billionaire, who throws money just as hard at free agents du jour, but have the audacity to claim their players are just in it for "the love of the game." Yeah, I'm sure that $85 million the Sox just paid John Lackey makes him heart baseball very much.
Winning a World Series isn't about money. It's about getting hot at the right time. It's about team chemistry, an intangible that has no price tag.
Almost from the start of the season, long-time Yankees fans knew there was something different about the 2009 team. They were looser and more supportive of each other.
The staid corporate atmosphere that permeated the Yankees locker room for decades was replaced by loud music, whipped cream pies in the face, a toy wrestling belt given to the player of the game each night. TV cameras would show normally buttoned-down Derek Jeter giggling like a kid at Johnny Damon's antics and standoffish Alex Rodriguez messing up Nick Swisher's Mohawk after a hit.
They had fun together. And teams that have fun together win.
It's hard to be a New York Yankee. Yes, the Yankees pay guys a lot of money, and yes, in some cases probably way more than is deserved. However, with that money comes pressure, the pressure to perform at the highest level on one of the biggest stages in sports.
Randy Johnson couldn't handle it. A-Rod nearly imploded under the scrutiny. The New York media can savage an under-performing Bomber far more effectively than some poster at Sons of Sam Horn.
The $400 Million Trio—CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira—were brought in not only for their arms and bats, but for their personalities. No one sat by themselves on the bench.
Instead, each player hung over the railing, hollering encouragement, making inside jokes. Multimillionaires all, they seemed to remember that baseball is a game and acted accordingly.
And, as the cliche goes, that's something money can't buy.
One thing is for sure though- CC Sabathia is diesel. I think one of the many reasons this postseason went so well- especially as we got deeper- was the confidence that having him on the mound brought to the team. He truly had a fearless mentality all throughout the playoffs. That said his playoff performance prior to last year also brought up question marks.
In the end the difference is that they actually built the best team top to bottom and played like it- rather than shrink under those expectations. To me thats the team leadership from the top down coming through and that was lacking over the last few Torre years after the Yankees had actually lost a couple of world series.
Or maybe it was just ARod and Matsui constantly coming up with clutch hits.
Yankees' 2010 Outfield Appears Very Weak(bleacherreport.com)
If tomorrow were April 4 and the Yankees were opening their season in Fenway Park, their outfield would be very suspect.
The projected fly shaggers right now are Brett Gardner in left, Curtis Granderson in center, and Nick Swisher in right.
Brian Cashman has said in as many ways as he possibly can that he is not going after a big name to fill in at left field, so you can forget Matt Holiday.
The Giants just signed Mark DeRosa which took away one possibility that many thought would be a viable upgrade to the Yankees' outfield.
Jermaine Dye has been suggested and I suppose Johnny Damon is still a possibility even though Cashman seems to think Damon's asking price through mouthpiece Scott Boras is just too high.
So Yankees fans may be left with Gardner, Granderson and Swisher.
Granderson has a career average of .272, but hit only .249 last year. He has a career on base percentage of only .344 and has a 162 game average of 149 strikeouts.
Nick Swisher has a career average of .245, a career on-base percentage of .357 and has averaged 142 strikeouts for an average season of 162 games.
Gardner has only played part of two years. His average is .256, although he did raise that to .270 in that part of the 2009 season in which he played. Gardner's career on-base percentage is .345 and he has averaged 76 strikeouts over 162 games.
So the Yankees could feature an outfield that has a combined batting average of about .250 with an on-base percentage of .350 or so. And they figure to combine for about 365 strikeouts.
With the signing of Nick Johnson, he figures to take Johnny Damon's place in the two hole behind Derek Jeter. Mark Teixeira will bat third, Alex Rodriguez fourth, Jorge Posada fifth and Robinson Cano may move up to the six slot.
That will leave the last three hitters as Swisher, Granderson and Gardner. Not much to put fear in the pitching staffs of American League teams.
On defense, Gardner has been somewhat erratic and has not played left field consistently, which is a hard place to play in Yankee Stadium.
Granderson is thought by many, including former coach Andy Van Slyke, as not a pure centerfielder and might be better positioned in a corner.
Nick Swisher is always an adventure on defense. Swisher was not acquired following the '08 season to play as a regular outfielder, but that is where he is now and he is the worst the team has had at that position in many, many years.
If some rabbit is not pulled out of the trade hat or Cashman does not get permission to spend some more of George's money on Holiday, the Yankees will have one of the least productive outfields in the major leagues as they open the season in Boston.
jusnice wrote:Bay to the Mets, DeRosa to the Giants. The pickings are getting slim and I'm thinking we are bringing Damon back.
i don't think so anymore but i hope ur right... Cashman is intent on getting the payroll under last year's $201M & we're already at $198M according to an article i just read... that means we're probably looking at a low cost utility veteran as an insurance policy to battle it out w/Brett Gardner in ST like Hairston Jr. cuz we're looking ahead to Carl Crawford in 2011 so i doubt we sign anyone to over a 1 year deal.
VDesai wrote:I would bring back Damon if he could agree to a 1 year deal. Nick Johnson is gonna get hurt anyway- so Damon would probably end up playing a lot of DH. I think the guy we traded Bruney for will end up playing more than you think. He has to stay in the majors because he was a rule 5 pick- I think they have plans to play him a lot more than you would imagine right now.
I think that Boras will come back with a demand for 1 year and more cash. the baseball market is dwindling for Damon and the best match for him this year is the yanks. He is smart if he takes this and has a productive year. The baseball market should be better next year and Damon can try his luck then. In my mind, that is a win win scenario, although it doesn't keep the yanks under 200 mil payroll. In reality, I can't imagine they would let that stand in their way, despite it being a stated goal. I really think we both need each other at this point.
http://It's the chance every team takes,...
really? no ish.
i don't get it with many of us yankee fans. i've been one before the team won a title in '96 (I was a crazed fan back then...waited 25 hours in line to get tix, for which i was fortunate enough to get two upper deck seats ($45 a piece, was the price) to game 6, which they won the whole thing.
why are we so insistent on not facing the facts and acting like money isn't a factor. that's like those who argue money doesn't buy elections.
of course spending never guarantees titles, but it sure gives those teams that do a HUGE advantage over those that don't, and the teams that spend more are overwhelmingly made up of the top teams in the league.
go ask a kansas city royals fan, indians fan if they would like to see their team have the kind of money the yankees do.
sorry, baseball's economic system is basically the same as many soccer leagues around the world. it means teams like man united and the yankees win very much because they have the money. trying to deny this is beyond silly.
yankee fans who support the current team's titles have to come to grips with this reality one way or the other.
PresIke wrote:jimimou, that article doesn't prove much other than the Yankees are amongst the few teams in the league that basically buy playoff spots, and with more money a better chance at a title.http://It's the chance every team takes,...
really? no ish.
i don't get it with many of us yankee fans. i've been one before the team won a title in '96 (I was a crazed fan back then...waited 25 hours in line to get tix, for which i was fortunate enough to get two upper deck seats ($45 a piece, was the price) to game 6, which they won the whole thing.
why are we so insistent on not facing the facts and acting like money isn't a factor. that's like those who argue money doesn't buy elections.
of course spending never guarantees titles, but it sure gives those teams that do a HUGE advantage over those that don't, and the teams that spend more are overwhelmingly made up of the top teams in the league.
go ask a kansas city royals fan, indians fan if they would like to see their team have the kind of money the yankees do.
sorry, baseball's economic system is basically the same as many soccer leagues around the world. it means teams like man united and the yankees win very much because they have the money. trying to deny this is beyond silly.
yankee fans who support the current team's titles have to come to grips with this reality one way or the other.
I don't think that article or jimimou are implying that money doesn't matter. Any self respecting yankee fan will admit that we spend a lot of money and it helps us compete. The article was referring to chemistry and the other intangibles a team must have to win a championship. This team had a different feel, a loosenes, a youthful congeniality that helped them stay close and win games. It also helped Arod cope and relax (not to mention the hummers from kate hudson, who will replace her this year?). Yes, we make the most money in the MLB, play by the rules and spend the most money. But, that rarely guarantees a championship. Other things must be in place, guys must want to play for each other, and that's what the article was referring to.
jusnice wrote:PresIke wrote:jimimou, that article doesn't prove much other than the Yankees are amongst the few teams in the league that basically buy playoff spots, and with more money a better chance at a title.http://It's the chance every team takes,...
really? no ish.
i don't get it with many of us yankee fans. i've been one before the team won a title in '96 (I was a crazed fan back then...waited 25 hours in line to get tix, for which i was fortunate enough to get two upper deck seats ($45 a piece, was the price) to game 6, which they won the whole thing.
why are we so insistent on not facing the facts and acting like money isn't a factor. that's like those who argue money doesn't buy elections.
of course spending never guarantees titles, but it sure gives those teams that do a HUGE advantage over those that don't, and the teams that spend more are overwhelmingly made up of the top teams in the league.
go ask a kansas city royals fan, indians fan if they would like to see their team have the kind of money the yankees do.
sorry, baseball's economic system is basically the same as many soccer leagues around the world. it means teams like man united and the yankees win very much because they have the money. trying to deny this is beyond silly.
yankee fans who support the current team's titles have to come to grips with this reality one way or the other.
I don't think that article or jimimou are implying that money doesn't matter. Any self respecting yankee fan will admit that we spend a lot of money and it helps us compete. The article was referring to chemistry and the other intangibles a team must have to win a championship. This team had a different feel, a loosenes, a youthful congeniality that helped them stay close and win games. It also helped Arod cope and relax (not to mention the hummers from kate hudson, who will replace her this year?). Yes, we make the most money in the MLB, play by the rules and spend the most money. But, that rarely guarantees a championship. Other things must be in place, guys must want to play for each other, and that's what the article was referring to.
correct - i wasnt making any judgements just posting an article. i think teams like kansas city should be thanking teams like the yankees, mets redsox, etc b/c all money spent over the salary threshold is taxed and divvied out to lesser clubs in revenue sharing....
i think Johnny Damon might still be in the cards, but that depends if he's willing to accept a 1 year deal.
Ex-Yankees reliever Stanton pumped to start coaching New Jersey prep team
By KEVIN KERNANLast Updated: 7:59 PM, January 9, 2010
Posted: 3:18 AM, January 9, 2010
Mike Stanton has yet to retire from baseball officially, but he has found himself a pretty good job in the game he loves.
The lefty reliever, who earned three championship rings during his time with the Yankees, now is the head coach at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J.
The school has a tremendous winning tradition, just like the Yankees. The Ironmen football team was No. 1 in the nation this past season, and over the last two years the baseball team put up a 59-5 record, including a majestic 33-0 mark in 2008 under Greg Butler, who is now an athletic director at another school. Stanton helped with the team last year on the freshman, JV and varsity level.
Teaching all aspects of the game, and not just pitching, is fun.
“I was a position player a lot longer than I was a pitcher,” said Stanton, who graduated from Midland High School in Texas in 1985. Drafted out of Alvin Community College in 1987 by the Braves, Stanton pitched 19 years in the majors, finishing with a 68-63 mark, 84 saves and a 3.92 ERA. At his best he was the perfect setup man for the likes of Mariano Rivera. He pitched in six World Series with the Braves and Yankees.
Stanton, 42, looks at this as a great opportunity, plus he gets to coach his son, Cameron, who is a right-handed pitcher and outfielder. Stanton spent his high school days as a southpaw hurler
and outfielder before being signed by scouting legend Red Murff, who signed Nolan Ryan.
Murff was there that day long ago at Alvin Community to see another pitcher. Stanton started the first game of a doubleheader
and came on in relief in the second game. Stanton, who was also a high school basketball referee when he was in the minor leagues, said he appreciates the high school game.
“One of the things we’re really
going to preach is teamwork, and being for the team,” Stanton said. “That’s always been my approach to put the team first, especially being the offensive linemen of baseball. While I was in New York, my job was to protect Mariano.”
His assistant coach is Jim Wladyka, who pitched in the minors for the Mets and Royals before retiring last year and is the son of former Ramapo College coach Joe Wladyka.
“It’s already been a learning experience,” Stanton said. “Right now we’re trying to take care of fundraisers and stuff like that. Come March, we’ll start the real fun.”
Why did Stanton want to coach at this level?
“I’ve been on the road so much,” he said. “Then I started
going to see my son play. It kind of turned into me hanging around every day and they ended up giving me a uniform. But I’ve always had a passion of working with kids.
“I expect a lot out of the kids. To me, the way I look at it, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t. I’m going to be firm, I’m going to be fair and we’re going to have fun. But we want to make sure we teach all aspects of the game, bunting, hitting and running, I don’t think that’s taught that much in the amateur ranks anymore. I want to develop baseball players, not just hitters. A baseball player has to be well-rounded.”
Stanton said he does not want to coach on the pro level any time soon.
“I want to stay local, I want to see my [three] kids,” he said. “I get to be a dad and do that kind of stuff.”
The biggest challenge, Stanton said, is that “I have to remind myself these are not grown men. Jim and I are going to concentrate on making sure the kids are fundamentally sound, having fun, and, with the idea of player development, help these kids get to the next level.”
One day, one swing, one pitch at a time.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/stanton_pumped_to_start_coaching_1r14I3pka9t3yhfTqoIyyM
Report: Derek Jeter to be married in November
NEW YORK (AP) - Admirers of Yankees most eligible bachelor Derek Jeter could be cheering a World Series victory in November - then mourning his marriage a few days later.
The New York Post reports Sunday that the star shortstop and girlfriend Minka Kelly will be married Nov. 5 on Long Island. Acting on a tip, a reporter posing as a bride-to-be spotted an entry reading "JETER wedding" on the calendar for the Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y. Sales manager Rick Bellando insisted that a celebrity wouldn't be listed under his real name when the reporter pointed it out.
The Oheka Castle is the second-largest private residence in the United States and recently hosted the wedding of one of the Jonas Brothers.
2) There are lots of other Jeters out there ya know, that could also be rich. Just b/c one celebrity got married there, doesn't mean it's Jeter. Who knows though.