Pinstripe Alley

Boredom in the Bullpen

2009-11-20T16:15:09Z

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Mariano liked his 'penmates.

Confession:

I didn't find this season's bullpen nearly as exciting as the '08 version.

First, CC, AJ, Andy and Joba contributed more than 170IP more than the 2008 top 4 starters of Moose, Pettitte, Rasner and Wang.

Then, Phil Hughes locked down the 8th inning- 51IP, 0.86 WHIP, .228 SLG against, 11.4K/9.

And finally, while the 2008 squad was very good (.235/.310/.373), the 2009 'pen was even better (.231/.308/.393). Plus, the '09 team did it with only 21 pitchers while the '08 team used 24 men. Furthermore, 14 guys relieved in 10+ games in 2008 and only 12 guys did that in 2009.

What should the bullpen look like in 2010?

I see that people are trying to link the Yanks to high profile relievers like Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez. Haven't we learned the Karsay/Farnsworth lesson? Every once in a while it works out right and Tom Gordon shows up, but relievers are the hardest players in the game to predict. Not only would either Soriano or Gonzalez cost most of the Yanks' payroll space, since both are Type A free agents the Yanks would lose their first round draft pick next June.

The Yanks are stacked with pitching prospects, and the simplest way to employ those prospects is to throw them in the fire. Joe Girardi has proven he's the right guy to handle a Cashman style cost control bullpen, shifting roles regularly to put the hot hand in the game.

And even better (or worse if you get excited by leadoff walks, line drives, and blown saves), of the pitchers who relieved for the Yanks in 2009, only Josh Towers (5.1IP), Anthony Claggett (2.2IP), Brett Tomko (20.2IP), and Jose Veras (25.2IP) will not return. Coke and Marte will be back as effective lefties, and Houdini Robertson, Alfredo Aceves and Brian Bruney will be ready as the right-handed bridge.

Shall we sign Soriano to a Farnsworth style deal? Wouldn't that make 2010 more exciting?

The Slow Offseason, the 2010 Free Agent Class, and Collusion

2009-11-20T12:43:12Z

NYPost:

"We have evaluated, now we will organize," Cashman said. "Then we will meet with ownership."

Cash will go talk to Hank and Hal, get authorization for next season's budget, and then dive into the market.

Because the Yanks are moving so methodically, the mood around baseball seems to be that this will be a long free agent season. No one wants to be the team to set the market, and no free agent wants to sign until the Yankees have made their offer.

The consensus that next season holds the free agent gems, may deflate the market even more- if you know there's going to be a party on Saturday, you don't spend all you funds on Thursday night.

Then there is the talk of collusion. Ken Rosenthal reports on the escalating war of words between Scott Boras and MLB Chief of Labor Relations Rob Manfred. Boras thinks the game was worth $6.3 billion dollars, and that there are a dozen clubs with $200M revenues fielding teams for around $70-$90M (what they receive from revenue sharing and MLB's tv and licensing contracts). All of these numbers have allegedly attached to them because baseball doesn't disclose hard numbers, a point sure to come up in the next labor talks.

I've hated Scott Boras for years. His willingness to pick and choose facts to present each client as a baseball immortal, his eagerness to move successful players to dead-end franchises for an extra nickle, and his enthusiasm for non-traditional contract loopholes and incentives are all repugnant to me.

But if Scott Boras becomes one of the central figures in a movement to expose baseball's finances and move more of the revenue from the owners to the workers, he could have a Darth Vader moment.

Bud Selig said there will be a tightening of baseball's postseason schedule in 2010... Regarding...

2009-11-19T23:42:49Z

Bud Selig said there will be a tightening of baseball's postseason schedule in 2010...

Regarding instant replay, Selig said he's taken the matter under advisement after a rash of missed calls in the first two rounds of the postseason.

Though the matter wasn't addressed here last week by the 30 general managers during their two days of meetings, a number of them told the media that they'd like to expand the use of video technology to enhance the sport.

All good news.

Lincecum wins NL Cy Young

2009-11-19T23:23:17Z

Lincecum wins NL Cy Young

He edged out Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. (via BTF)

Around the Yankee Universe: Mark DeRosa, anyone?

2009-11-19T17:15:10Z

Here are a few stories worthy of discussion today Around the Yankee Universe.

Infielder Mark DeRosa's glove could be good fit

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News is suggesting that the Yankees pursue DeRosa, the veteran utility man.

If the Yankees bring back Johnny Damon, DeRosa would be a good fit because he could play left field on days when Damon serves as the designated hitter. DeRosa, who has started 212 games in the outfield, 311 at third base, 304 at second base, 139 at shortstop and 23 at first base, could also spell Alex Rodriguez at third base on his DH days, making him an ideal addition for the aging Yankees.

The Yankees have shown prior interest in DeRosa, who is well-regarded by many inside the organization. At least 10 teams are reportedly in the mix for DeRosa, who hit .250 with 23 home runs, 78 RBI and 78 runs scored in 139games with Cleveland and St. Louis last season.

My take: This is an idea that I like, particularly if HIdeki Matsui and Jerry Hairston Jr. are not part of the 2010 Yankee roster. There have been seasons when GM Brian Cashman has pretty much ignored the bench, and last season we saw how important having quality depth is. Just like Hairston was an upgrade over Cody Ransom, DeRosa would be an upgrade over Hairston.

Speaking of Matsui, IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS... caught. makes an impassioned, somewhat melancholy, case for why the World Series MVP can't be a Yankee next season.

It's no fun, closing the book on a great novel.

Its like watching Peter Pan, when you were a kid: You didn't want it to end. You wished you could stay in that fantasy world, flying with Tinker Bell and always outwitting Captain Hook. Everything was magical. And then... it ended... on a school night, no less.

We have no place next year for Hideki Matsui.

It's not his fault. Great player. Great Yankee. Great man. He just can't play the outfield anymore. And we just can't take a full-time DH anymore.

My take: Unfortunately, I agree with this. The Yankees have too many veteran guys who could benefit from rotating through the DH spot. If the Yankees keep Damon, Matsui, as much as I love the guy and what he has done for the Yankees, would be cluttering up the roster.

Other Stuff

Here is another vote against the Yankees signing free-agent pitcher John Lackey.
Commissioner Bud Selig is promising to tighten baseball's ridiculously stretched out playoff schedule. I say, hooray for that.

Pythag Record and the Future

2009-11-19T16:00:21Z

I'm a big believer in Pythagorean record as a test a team's quality. I like the simplicity: reduce runs allowed or increase runs scored to increase winning. Hitting, pitching and defense are already built into the analysis. (Click here for a down and dirty explanation).

	RS	RA	Diff	Pythag	actual W%
2009	915	753	+162	.586	.636
2008	789	727	+62	.537	.549
2007	968	777	+191	.599	.580
2006	930	767	+163	.586	.599

I was surprised to find that 2009 was not a marked improvement over the previous 3 clubs. The pitching and defense was actually worse than the 2008 squad, and whole team was roughly equal in 2006 and 2009.

Could it be that the big transformation wasn't CC or AJ or Hughes in the pen. Certainly, both players were essential to replacing Mussina, to cover for the loss of Wang, the 5th starter debacle and a slight regression by the bullpen (87 OPS+ against in 2008; 92 in 2009). But those problems at the back of the rotation mask the improvements at the top.. It was the addition of Tex and the return of a healthy Posada and Matsui that really put the team back in the driver's seat.

On the other hand, the Yankees significantly overshot their expectations in 2009, so unless the team improves on one side of the ball or the other, we had better brace for a step back in 2010.

Having Mariano in the pen (and a strong pen in general) seems to skew the Yanks to the top side of the projections (because they lose fewer close games than other teams). While I expect Joba/ Hughes/ mystery pitcher to outperform 2009 Joba/ Wang/ Mitre/ Gaudin, I'm worried that will be balanced by a step back for CC or AJ.

Johnny Damon was a decent offensive left fielder but a terrible defensive one. Offensively he was 24.5 weighted Runs Above Average, and defensively -9.2 runs below average according to UZR, for a net of +15.3 runs. Matt Holliday netted +39.6 runs in 2009. Jason Bay netted +23.0. My preference, Mike Cameron, netted +18.8 as a centerfielder.

Roy Halladay a Yankee? Make this happen, Brian

2009-11-19T12:30:11Z

More photos » by Fred Thornhill - AP

Roy Halladay

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Trade prospects, and maybe Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes to Toronto for Roy Halladay? Hang on to the youngsters, like Jesus Montero and Austin Jackson, and watch the Red Sox get the best pitcher available who is not already in a New York Yankee uniform?

That is the question confronting Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman this winter. Here is Jon Heyman of SI.com discussing the possibility.

Here is the most obvious reason the Yankees (or Red Sox) may now finally have a legit shot to trade for arguably baseball's best pitcher: New Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos is making it clear he is genuinely willing to consider a deal with either the Yankees or Red Sox, a sharp contrast to Anthopoulos' predecessor, J.P. Ricciardi, who had GMs convinced he'd never make a Halladay trade with either the Yankees or Red Sox.

And here's yet another potential reason the Yankees (or Red Sox) might have an edge this time around: While Halladay's latest desires are not yet known (and agent Greg Landry did not return calls), with a year to go before free agency a player in Halladay's position can leverage his no-trade clause to engineer a trade to a team amenable to an extension. The Yankees have not heard that this will be the case. But if that happens here, the field could be limited to the teams who can pay a franchise pitcher. This is often the case when talking about big stars, and it was two years ago when Johan Santana was being shopped by the Twins -- the field was quickly winnowed to the two New York teams plus Boston, the three teams that could most easily work Santana into their budgets.

I have only one thing to say about this. MAKE THIS HAPPEN, CASH! If there is a realistic possibility you can put Halladay in pinstripes YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!!

If it costs you Montero, so be it. The Yankees are flush with catching prospects, and Montero might end up being just a DH, anyway.

If it costs you A-Jax, so be it. He might be a good big-league player some day. He might also be Ricky Ledee or Ruben Rivera. You don't pass on Roy Halladay to keep a guy who MIGHT become a good big-league outfielder.

If it costs you Joba Chamberlain, so be it. We still don't know what Joba is, but I think we know he is unlikely to become a Halladay-caliber starter. Besides, you would still have Phil Hughes, and I will bet you a buck (yeah, I'm a big gambler) that Hughes ends up having a better -- and longer -- career than Chamberlain.

If it costs you Hughes instead of Chamberlain, well, you still have Joba. And Ian Kennedy. And Dellin Betances. And you can always throw gazillions of dollars at Aroldis Chapman.

Want a list of reasons that are probably better, and most definitely funnier, than anything I can offer why the Yankees should do this? Diehard Yankee fan Jane Heller offers such a list over at Confessions of a She Fan. I'm not exactly jumping for joy like Jane at the thought of Halladay in pinstripes, but I do love the idea.

The Intensity of Billy Martin

2009-11-18T22:00:14Z

More photos » by Gary Stewart - AP

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What made Billy Martin so great was also what made him so volatile: his intensity. It allowed him to give a kick start to his teams, yet made it so difficult to keep it going.

From a great article on the managing style of Martin -

Billy Martin was the most fearless manager in baseball history. In 20 years of managing, he never backed down from a challenge. As has been well documented by others, Martin consistently caused dramatic improvements to his squads immediately upon arrival by pushing them hard...

Martin's approach had its downside. He pushed his teams so hard they could not keep up with his pressure. Hiring Martin was like pushing too much voltage through a light bulb: for a brief while it burns brighter than otherwise possible, but it soon shatters unless the excess electricity is removed. Despite his impressive starts, Martin never lasted longer than three years in any managerial stint.

Imagine Mike Scioscia, then triple his aggressiveness -

The ultimate Billyball moment came on May 18 [1969] when both [Cesar] Tovar and [Rod] Carew stole home plate in the same inning - in the same at-bat. Carew stole his way around the bases in that plate appearance. At the plate during this maniacal base running was Harmon Killebrew. Harmon Killebrew! It boggles the mind: With one of the greatest home run hitters of that or any other generation up Martin wanted his men running wild.

We would never see a manager like that today. Too much research has been done to show how reckless stealing bases can be (especially stealing home).

However, Martin knew what he was doing -

Therein lies the rub. Instead of getting worse, his teams got dramatically better despite all these reckless maneuvers.

Once Martin had installed the desired mindset in Minnesota, there was no need to run the risky home plate steals. For the rest of the season opponents played back on their heels, wondering what Minnesota would do next.

Is it worth it to have base-runners play extra-aggressively early in the season if it affects opponents throughout the year? Say an inordinate number of attempted steals happen early on, would that cause defenses to play closer to the bases, opening larger holes for the hitters? And if so, would it make up for the base-runners that got caught?

I don't know the answer, but it's food for thought.

In addition to being aggressive with base-runners, Martin was also one of the hardest managers ever on pitchers -

He would do whatever it took to win that day, and not worry about any possible negative side effects in the future. The best example came when he ran the A's in the early 1980s. They had a great stable of young pitchers whom Martin pushed as hard as he could. In 1980, they completed 94 games, the most by any team since the 1940s.

In 1981, the A's completed "only" 60 games, but a third of the season was lost to a strike. In fact, no other team of the 1980s completed that many games, despite Oakland only playing 109 games.

In the short run, it worked as Oakland produced the AL's best record in 1981. Then the A's pitchers' arms fell off and they lost 94 games in 1982. Martin never considered the long-term repercussions. Then again, it was the only time he lasted three full seasons as manager. Martin was so concerned with seizing the day that he never considered what would happen tomorrow...

Martin handled his relievers similarly. He wanted whom he wanted when he wanted them without concern toward keeping their arms well rested. As a result, his bullpens consistently ranked among the league leaders in most innings pitched by men with zero days rest.

(For all those saying 'take the leashes off' Joba and Hughes, it's been shown time and again that pushing pitchers too hard, especially young ones, is often detrimental to their long-term effectiveness. In other words, the Yankees know what they're doing, and it's better to be cautious than aggressive with potential future All-Stars. There's a reason Andy Pettitte and Mo Rivera are still pitching well in their late-30s: they weren't abused as youngsters.)

Martin was clearly not a perfect manager, but for a 'win-now' team, he may have been the best.

Scioscia and Tracy are Managers of the Year

2009-11-18T20:36:34Z

Scioscia and Tracy are Managers of the Year

The Rox awarded the deserving Jim Tracy with a three-year extension. Scioscia was less deserving; Ron Gardenhire is amazing how he always gets his team, no matter how weak it is, into the playoffs.

One last thing on instant replay

2009-11-18T16:00:16Z

More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP

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I know we discussed it ad nauseum during the playoffs, but I have to mention one last thing about video review (probably the last time before next season).

Instant replay/replay review/video review, whatever you want to call it, it's been a success. It's been around for a little more than a season (beginning in September of 2008), and has only been used for disputed homeruns. Of 65 disputed calls since then, 22 have been overturned (34%)*. 34% may not seem like much, but it is. Homeruns can completely change a game. To think that umpires have been blowing a third of (disputed) homerun calls in the past is disturbing.

Unfortunately, general managers didn't have enough poor umpiring in the playoffs, so video review will remain limited to homeruns next year. If Tim McClelland's atrocious non-call in the ALCS wasn't bad enough, I shudder to think what kind of call will motivate expanded video review.

* source: The 2010 Bill James Handbook

Around the Yankee Universe: It's always about the money

2009-11-18T12:59:33Z

There is always news in Yankee land, so let's take a tour Around the Yankee Universe and see what stories are making the rounds today.

Moneyball: Dead, Alive, or on Life Support?

Gnashing of teeth around baseball about how much money the Yankees spend, and about how they can "buy" World Series titles, has been going on forever.

Well, a group of Harvard students did an exhaustive study of baseball's payrolls since 1990 to see just how much influence payroll has on winning in baseball.

Their conclusion? Money helps, but it's really how you spend and not how much you spend. I think I could have told you that without all the research. Anyway, here is part of the report.

Considering the past 8 seasons, this year was not particularly notable in terms of payroll predicting success. However, the big market clubs are spending smarter, particularly in the draft and on Latin American teenagers, which is not reflected in opening day payrolls. The margin for error for the little guys is razor thin and the window of opportunity can be very short (see: Indians’ downfall after 2007 and Rays’ slide after 2008). However, the data suggest that this year may not have called for the alarmist musings by some members of the media. Competitive balance is probably not what it should be, but this year was hardly different from most other recent seasons.

Credit for Pettitte

A pair of young Yankee pitchers are singing the praises of veteran left-hander Andy Petttitte. Joba Chamberlain is lobbying both the Yankees, and Pettitte, to keep Pettitte with the Yankees in 2010.

"Andy [Pettitte] has been my greatest friend -- not only baseball-wise, but trying to grow up as a man and a human being," Chamberlain said on Tuesday at his "Wrap to Rap" holiday gift-wrapping charity event at Madison Square Garden. "We'd obviously love to have him back, and that's a decision he's going to have to make with his family and himself and go from there."

Ian Kennedy just finished the Arizona Fall League, pitching to a 2-1 record and a 4.25 ERA. Kennedy has refined a two-seam fastball, and gives some of the credit to Pettitte.

"If you watch some of the better guys, some of the best pitchers -- Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina -- they all throw two-seamers," said Kennedy, who pitched alongside both starters in 2008. "You look at the positives and I've been watching those guys do it for a long time."

Free agent notes

Johnny Damon is a free agent for the third time, and says each time the uncertainty gets tougher. Hey, Johnny, at least you have a nice, fat bank account to fall back on. And you know you will be getting paid handsomely by someone. Try being one of the millions of Americans who don't have a job.
Sam Borden is not sure Matt Holliday would be a good fit for the Yankees.

The Coolest Thing You'll See Tonight

2009-11-18T01:59:40Z

The Coolest Thing You'll See Tonight

NYTimes photographer Robert Caplin took a gorgeous time lapse of the Yanks' World Series victory.

Injuries and the Chance for Greatness

2009-11-17T22:00:13Z

July 30, 2008: Jorge Posada had rotator cuff surgery

September 22, 2008: Hideki Matsui had surgery on his left knee

October 7, 2008: Mariano Rivera had surgery on his throwing shoulder

March 10, 2009: Alex Rodriguez has the first of two surgeries to repair his hip- upon review, the injury heals so well that the second surgery is canceled.

It seem routine, doesn't it?

Torn cartilage in the right knee at age 19.
Surgery to remove loose cartilage in left knee at age 21.
Suffers injury to left shoulder during the World Series at age 25.
Suffered from abcesses in his hip at age 29. Missed the end of the regular season, but returned to play in the World Series.
Surgery to remove cartilage from left knee at age 31.
Right shoulder surgery at age 34.

On the other hand, if Mantle's knees had been better he probably would have been drafted to fight in Korea and not have won the Triple Crown.

DiMaggio, Ruth, Red Ruffing, and Ron Guidry all missed time with major injuries. Hard to imagine what the Hall of Fame would look like if all the players had been given the benefit of modern medicine.

The Yankees have officially declined their 2010 option on Sergio Mitre. He still remains under...

2009-11-17T20:36:56Z

The Yankees have officially declined their 2010 option on Sergio Mitre. He still remains under their control and is arbitration-eligible.

LoHud
Makes sense. They must be confident they can win an arbitration case and bring him back for less than $1.5M

Greinke wins Cy Young

2009-11-17T19:29:21Z

Greinke wins Cy Young

Deservedly so. 2-5 were, in order, Felix, Verlander, Sabathia and Halladay

The Value of Mediocrity

2009-11-17T18:00:30Z

I don't want to pick on Let's Talk About Tex Baby, but something he wrote yesterday got me thinking:

We just haven’t had high quality prospects. Who from the Yankee farm system has gone to another organization and become anything more than a mediocre player, other than Soriano who was already a star when we traded him? Nick Johnson? Juan Rivera? These guys are average at best.

The idea that a top flight farm system should be churning out stars is a sentiment I hear quite a bit, but I think it's failing to recognize the value of a role player.

Johnson has always been fragile, and Rivera is mediocre, but mediocre in Major League Baseball is quite valuable. Nick Johnson has put up a 125 OPS+ for his career, Juan Rivera has stayed slightly above average. The players who were significantly better than these guys were when they were with the Yankees and the couple years after are Hall of Fame caliber players.

The arbitration process rewards superstar caliber players. Derek Jeter made $5M in his 4th season, $10M his 5th season, and then signed his current $189M/ 10Y contract. Ryan Howard earned $10M his 3rd season and then signed his $54M/ 3Y deal to avert a $14M v $18M arbitration showdown.

An Arod, a Sabathia, a Teixeira are all sound free agent investments because they are transcendent players.

Free agency is expensive when you are paying premium prices for the mediocre talents.

When a setup man like Kyle Farnsworth costs $5.5M and a backup catcher like Molina costs $2M. These costs compile quickly, so there are no resources to deploy for a transcendent player who addresses an immediate need like Carlos Beltran.

As a bonus:

When I look over the trades Cashman has made, I feel like I need to say that I've agreed with most of them. A trade for starting pitcher is almost always a trade I make. So here are some mediocre players the Yankees haven't had on the team, and how high they rose in the system:

Christian Guzman A
Eric Milton AA
Mike Lowell AAA
Jim Leyritz MLB
Ricky Ledee MLB
Wily Mo Pena A
Damaso Marte (bonus player- started with the Mariners) AA
D'Angelo Jimenez MLB
Randy Flores AAA
Ted Lilly (bonus- started with Montreal) AAA
Marcus Thames MLB
Brandon Claussen MLB
Sterling Hitchcock MLB
Yhency Brazoban AAA
Nick Johnson MLB
Juan Rivera MLB
Randy Choate MLB
Alfonso Soriano MLB
Tyler Clippard MLB
Dan McCutchen AAA
Jeff Karsten MLB
Ross Ohlendorf MLB

Too early to talk about Jeter?

2009-11-17T15:00:14Z

More photos » by Michael Appleton - AP

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2010 is the last year of his current contract. Barring a catastrophe, Derek Jeter will surpass 3000 hits sometime in 2011.

Jeter will be 37 in 2011. Only five 37+ shortstops in history have ever had an above average offensive season, and only two have done it more than once (Honus Wagner and Luke Appling).

The question really comes down to how much the Yankees think Jeter will maintain his abilities as he enters his late-30's.

I'm usually of the mind to let players finish out their contract before re-signing them. If the Yanks re-signed Jeter now, if would be off a phenomenal year where he would command top dollar. If 2010 is a 'lesser' season, it'll cost less to bring him back.

What could be a fairly big reason to extend him now (meaning this off-season) would be to avoid the potential year-long distraction of the MSM talking about it every other day (and obviously the possibility, however slight it may be, that Jeter signs elsewhere).

A lot also depends on how many years Jeter wants. I'm sure the Yanks don't want to go more than 2-3. What if Jeter wants a five-year extension? I'm all for sentimentality, but not if it hinders the overall team.

Another factor is the advancement of shortstops within the farm system. Frankly, there aren't many. Carmen Angelini and Jose Pirela are the only high-ceiling shortstops in the system (and that's not saying much). Sure, Ramiro Pena could play great D, but he won't hit anywhere near Jeter.

Could a trade or FA acquisition happen? Could Hanley Ramirez be acquired?

What's the solution?

Poll

What should the Yankees do regarding Derek Jeter?

Around the Yankee Universe: No interest in Matt Holliday?

2009-11-17T12:52:19Z

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Matt Holliday

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According to Buster Olney, the Yankees have no interest in free-agent outfielder Matt Holliday.

Question is, do we believe that? Or, as they have done in the past, might the Yankees just be laying in the weeds pretending to have no interest and waiting for a chance to swoop in at the last minute?

I think the Yankees would prefer to keep Johnny Damon on a short-term deal. And I know GM Brian Cashman plans to take his time looking at the free-agent market. If the Yanks are, for whatever reason, not able to work something out with Damon I can't believe they would completely shut the door on a player the caliber of Holliday.

Here are a few other stories on interest concerning the Yankees.

New York Baseball Digest wonders if the Yankees can afford to lose Hideki Matsui

Brian Cashman is a smart GM. He knows better than to let sentimentality sway him when it comes to on-field decisions. Just look at how Bernie Williams’ situation was handled. Resigning Matsui goes beyond sentiment however. There are members of the Yankees organization who feel that the team will take a PR hit in the Japanese / Asian markets if they allow Matsui to walk. Finding and maintaining alternative revenue streams is part of the life blood of every pro sports franchise, even for a colossus like the Yankees.

From a purely baseball stand point, letting Matsui go is a no brainer, as it makes no sense to bring back a 35 year old DH with bad knees. From a financial and business standpoint, the Yankees will be taking a bit of a risk if they don’t bring "Matty" back. Only time will tell if It’s a risk that both Brian Cashman and Yankees management are willing to take. My guess is, in the end, they will.

An emotional fan/blogger wonders if it would be wrong for the Yankees to lose Chien-Ming Wang.
River Avenue Blues says the new Yankee Stadium has actually hurt the local businesses that border the stadium.

"Many people who thought that their business would be greatly increased have not experienced that," Ramón J. Jimenez, a South Bronx lawyer and community activist, said to The Times. "I think a lot of people are disappointed."

The reasons for this downturn in sales are numerous. First, the bad economy has led consumers to curtail spending. Second, the Yankees averaged nearly 8000 fewer fans per game this year than last. Even with eight additional home games in the playoffs, attendance totals for 2009 were still lower than they were for 2008.

More important though are the amenities in the new stadium. The old Yankee Stadium was not a shopper’s paradise. It featured a few cramped souvenir stands, few dining options and concourses that made heading straight to the seats an attractive option for all fans. The new stadium features 125 concession stands, 56 souvenir shops and multiple dining options. It was designed, as all new stadiums are, to be a self-contained economy. Get your hat, get your t-shirt, get your beer and your fries and even your Porterhouse steak all right here.

Buster Olney has an intriguing list of inexpensive free agents teams should consider.

CHONE Projections for Hitters

2009-11-16T21:00:13Z

H/t to Beyond the Box Score

Let's check out the Yankees' starting lineup shall we (under contract division)?

Player	Pos	Age	G	AB	R	Hits	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	HBP	PA	AVG	OBP	SLG	R150
Rodriguez, Alex	H	34	130	485	94	136	24	1	34	106	11	3	69	111	10	564	0.280	0.381	0.544	35
Teixeira, Mark	H	30	146	564	92	162	38	2	34	112	1	0	71	107	8	643	0.287	0.375	0.543	33
Swisher, Nick	H	29	150	516	88	128	30	1	27	80	1	1	91	132	6	613	0.248	0.367	0.467	19
Cano, Robinson	H	27	147	570	80	173	43	3	19	83	3	4	28	63	4	602	0.304	0.341	0.489	14
Jeter, Derek	H	36	143	583	91	172	30	2	14	69	16	5	58	89	8	649	0.295	0.367	0.425	10
Posada, Jorge	H	38	111	382	50	97	22	1	16	64	1	0	47	92	4	433	0.254	0.342	0.442	7
Cabrera, Melky	H	26	151	511	70	145	31	3	12	69	11	4	47	63	4	562	0.284	0.349	0.427	6
Gardner, Brett	H	26	116	345	58	92	16	7	3	29	28	7	43	68	3	391	0.267	0.353	0.380	-1

Those numbers look pretty satisfactory to me, with a few caveats:

I have my doubts about Melky putting up a .349 OBP. If he could do that I think he'd win the CF job outright.

For what must be the one thousandth year in a row, CHONE figures Jeter will put up a batting average below .300. Take the over.

I also don't like the game totals for Posada. While he only played 111 games this season, if the Yankees stick with their play (and I think they should) and refuse to sign a DH only player, Jorge should see closer to 150 games, catching 100-120 and DHing the rest.

Bailey and Coghlan are Rookies of the Year

2009-11-16T19:53:56Z

Bailey and Coghlan are Rookies of the Year

I've basically stopped caring about the 'official' MLB awards, but Andrus, Porcello and Niemann were probably more deserving in the AL.