Off Topic · Yankees Talk thread (page 58)

The Yankees can't afford to lose the games Wang pitches.

Was bored so came up w/a few trade ideas w/the Jays (i know they're a division rival, but i think there's some deals that can be at least explored that would make sense for both teams if the Jays decide to rebuild at the trade deadline)

- The BlueJays are in dire need of a SS now that both Eckstein & McDonald have gone down for a spell & are graced w/a plethora of very good arms in the bullpen... Alberto Gonzalez has been having a pretty solid season so far & has an excellent glove... perhaps we could make a deal for 1 of their relievers if we threw in another minor league prospect other than Tabata & Jackson? I would love to nab 1 of their lefties, either Jesse Carlson, Scott Downs or Brian Tallet who've all been having good seasons up to this point.

- another idea might be to make an offer at the deadline for a guy like AJ Burnett, who's been inconsistent this season but still has tremendous stuff & would offer a veteran arm for the middle of the rotation... he pitched great vs. BOS when he faced them this season & he's slated to make big bucks at $13.2 mil, after which he'll be a FA, so it would be a 1 year rental, but he's still relatively young at 31 so re-signing him wouldn't be an issue if he performed well for us this year, especially w/both Andy & Moose likely gone after this year & both Hughes & Kennedy still question marks as of now... the Jays might look to dump his contract if their team doesn't start winning ballgames by the Allstar break.

- a very longshot idea would be to see what it would take to land BJ Ryan if the Jays are out of the race at the trade deadline, since he's slated to make $12 mil this season after which he also becomes a FA, but they would likely demand the moon for him obviously... if u could get him in the fold, u could then move Joba into the starting rotation w/o any reservations about who would fill his shoes setting up for Mo, but it would likely take at least Ian Kennedy to land him in a deal if not more & on a half season rental that's a huge price to pay unless u're guaranteed of resigning him to be the setup man, which isn't likely.

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just on a hypothetical, what if the Jays decide to go full bore w/the rebuilding at the trade deadline & decide to dump salaries for young talent? what if u offer Ian Kennedy, Alberto Gonzalez, Ross Ohlendorff & Jesus Montero for Burnett, Ryan & Downs? Jays would get 4 quality young prospects at rookie level salaries for 3 veterans making big bucks that are all turning free agent next season... Yanks would get 3 quality vets who could vault them back to the WS this season, & help them in seasons to come if the Yankees choose to re-sign all 3 (they'll have plenty of salary coming off the books at season's end to do so)... Yanks would also be able to put Joba into the starting rotation, another big plus considering we don't know when or even if Hughes will be back this season or how effective he'll be

solid starting rotation:
Wang R
Pettitte L
Burnett R
Joba R
Moose R

absolutely SICK bullpen:
Rasner R (long man)
Hawkins R
Veras, Ramirez or Britton R (Bruney when he comes back)
Farnsworth R
Downs L (lefty specialist)
Ryan L (setup man)
Rivera R (closer)

after this season, you could plug Hughes into Moose's slot in the rotation, & target a guy like CC Sabathia to take over for Andy if he decides to retire

what are your thoughts? any possibilities there or pure fantasy? (i was bored, sue me)

19-21

I'm glad Kennedy straightened things out in the minors

i don't know what this team would do w/o LaTroy Hawkins... i especially love the fact that such a worthy player is wearing Paullie's #21 & honoring it with such class & greatness.

The Yankees finally looking like a big league team for once.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseba...

Welcome back ARod... 2 HR's in 2 games back from injury, shoulda been a 3rd if the umps didn't muff yet another call... that ball was clearly gone.

Darrell Rasner has been a God send... please don't let us have to rely on him to be our stopper this season... we need Andy to step up & be the guy he was for us last season.

& the best part is we finally hit a damn lefty for a change... can we please string together some W's now?

May 21 : Posada (15-Day DL, shoulder) was able to throw on Tuesday before the Yankees' game with Baltimore. Manager Joe Girardi told the New York Times that the team could decide sometime during the next week to play Posada in a few rehabilitation games before he returns to the Yankees.

From espn.com

Posted by TMS:

Welcome back ARod... 2 HR's in 2 games back from injury, shoulda been a 3rd if the umps didn't muff yet another call... that ball was clearly gone.

Darrell Rasner has been a God send... please don't let us have to rely on him to be our stopper this season... we need Andy to step up & be the guy he was for us last season.

& the best part is we finally hit a damn lefty for a change... can we please string together some W's now?

This team will' make the playoffs. A-Rod now realizes how valuable he is to this team. Joba-the-hut moving in the starting rotation is sweet and will take a few games to make a difference on the season. Um feeling good about these Yankees. Posada will be home soon to. Cash can go out and find us a few solid relievers, and we should be okay. Yes' Rasner is a nice addition also.

I think the Yankees needed a reality check and got it in the best way. Look out baston. Here we come, just like the Giants!

Posted by 4949:

Posted by TMS:

Welcome back ARod... 2 HR's in 2 games back from injury, shoulda been a 3rd if the umps didn't muff yet another call... that ball was clearly gone.

Darrell Rasner has been a God send... please don't let us have to rely on him to be our stopper this season... we need Andy to step up & be the guy he was for us last season.

& the best part is we finally hit a damn lefty for a change... can we please string together some W's now?

This team will' make the playoffs. A-Rod now realizes how valuable he is to this team. Joba-the-hut moving in the starting rotation is sweet and will take a few games to make a difference on the season. Um feeling good about these Yankees. Posada will be home soon to. Cash can go out and find us a few solid relievers, and we should be okay. Yes' Rasner is a nice addition also.

I think the Yankees needed a reality check and got it in the best way. Look out baston. Here we come, just like the Giants!

They may make the playoffs but that alone is not an accomplishment to be proud of. The real issue is whether they'll go deep in the playoffs. I'm highly skeptical of that but I hope I'm wrong.

This team is finally going into a new direction. What you are seeing a team coming together, finding it's way with the old guard, as well as the new guard and a lot to live up to. I was very encouraged to see A-Rod come back and make his presence felt and now he knows how valuable he is to this team and I believe he is further encouraged to know that he can carry this team if he has to. That could finally pay off when we get into the playoffs.

The only thing that I think A-Rod has lacked is 'no fear'. If he has enough guts to get tough, this guy already has the tools to put this team on top and that' can carry over to the rest of the team. I see it in Joba the hut. He's showing 'take no bull-shit' attitude and I like that. That's exactly what we need. Don Mattingly played that way, O'Neal played with the same attitude and those where some great hitters/players for us. That's what we need is this team to get stink'n mad and fear no one. Not even the boston red sux!

ARod's still got a huge monkey to get off his back & he knows it... he needs to come through for us big in the postseason & have that postseason moment that other guys that are loved on this team have had in the past... he's the best player we're likely to ever be able to play for most of his career, but as long as he's got that monkey he's always gonna press & that's what hurts him more than anything else.

Posted by TMS:

ARod's still got a huge monkey to get off his back & he knows it... he needs to come through for us big in the postseason & have that postseason moment that other guys that are loved on this team have had in the past... he's the best player we're likely to ever be able to play for most of his career, but as long as he's got that monkey he's always gonna press & that's what hurts him more than anything else.

Yeah, but let's not hold it to him either. He needs our support to build his confidence. I have renewed faith in A-Rod and believe he can 'HELP TO' carry this team come playoff time. There are no more choices here.

[Edited by - 4949 on 05-27-2008 2:40 PM]

agreed, everyone needs to get behind him & i think most Yankee fans really want the guy to succeed... only a few left that still hate the guy & everything he represents, but all i see is a guy who desperately wants to be loved in NY & hustles & works his butt off both on & off the field to be the best player he can possibly be.

the next relief outing could be Joba's last one before he gets put into the rotation:

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spynotes275703723may27,0,837190.story

BALTIMORE - Joba Chamberlain's next relief appearance could be his last.

The Yankees are aiming for Chamberlain to throw 50 to 55 pitches tomorrow as they continue to prepare him to join the rotation. He threw a career-high 40 pitches Saturday.

If he hits 55 pitches tomorrow and is on track to throw 65 to 70 the next time out, it might be difficult to count on getting so many pitches in a relief appearance. So instead of trying to bring Chamberlain in as early as the fifth inning, the Yankees might have him make his final relief outing tomorrow.

"It could be, but we'll see," manager Joe Girardi said.

If Chamberlain were to pitch as a starter in his next game after that, the Yankees would need to have someone prepared to piggyback the game with him and pitch at least a few innings. Girardi said the Yankees have decided that Chamberlain will not go to the minor leagues while being stretched out.

Once Chamberlain becomes a starting pitcher, the Yankees could use a six-man rotation temporarily. "That's something that we'll have to think about," Girardi said.

Latroy Hawkins is a steaming pile of dung. It's time for him to be released. It is probably Cashman's worst signing ever.

don't worry, help is on the way... JB Cox is doing very well so far in AAA & Mark Melancon just had a very encouraging extended outing in middle relief at Trenton AA... between Edwar (who's also been pitching tremendously so far) & those 2 kids we should have some options to replace Joba in the setup role... hopefully 1 of those kids has that same closer's mentality & can get the job done in high pressure situations... the only time i wanna see LaTroy Hawkins pitching for the Yankees again is in mopup duty... Farns isn't suited for the 8th inning role either cuz he's way too inconsistent & gives up too many longballs.

i've conducted a few carefully researched scientific studies on this matter & i think i've finally deduced the real reason for Jason Giambi's power resurgence...

the 'stache.

Posted by TMS:

i've conducted a few carefully researched scientific studies on this matter & i think i've finally deduced the real reason for Jason Giambi's power resurgence...

the 'stache.

So it had nothing to do with this:

Posted by TMS:

don't worry, help is on the way... JB Cox is doing very well so far in AAA & Mark Melancon just had a very encouraging extended outing in middle relief at Trenton AA... between Edwar (who's also been pitching tremendously so far) & those 2 kids we should have some options to replace Joba in the setup role... hopefully 1 of those kids has that same closer's mentality & can get the job done in high pressure situations... the only time i wanna see LaTroy Hawkins pitching for the Yankees again is in mopup duty... Farns isn't suited for the 8th inning role either cuz he's way too inconsistent & gives up too many longballs.

I'm really interested in seeing what Cox and Melancon can do at this level. Edwar is pitching great so far. The commentators last night made a good point about how he's throwing a little bit harder this year which makes his devastating changeup even better. Humberto Sanchez is close to pitching again after Tommy John surgery but he's a guy who could make an impact next year. Same with Andrew Brackman.

there's alot of yankee fans that don't recognize this as a transition year and are panicking big time. i don't get it.