From Pete Caldera we learn that A-Rod’s hip injury was an issue last year. According to Joe Girardi, he had “some minor issues with it” in 2008. The cyst-injury isn’t considered a serious problem in relation to Alex’s overall performance, though you wonder if the constant “stiffness” bothered him over the course of the season.
To continue with my gambling problem, the 2009 WBC betting lines:
AUSTRALIA +25000
CANADA +10000
CHINA +18000
CHINESE TAIPEI +5000
CUBA +800
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC +200
ITALY +7500
JAPAN +400
KOREA +2000
MEXICO +2000
NETHERLANDS +17500
PANAMA +3000
PUERTO RICO +1500
SOUTH AFRICA +25000
USA +200
VENEZUELA +1200
I’m pretty sure that the +10,000 odds for Canada are a typo, but if not, I’d take that bet in a heartbeat. Canada isn’t a powerhouse, but they do have Justin Morneau, Russell Martin, Joey Votto, and Matt Stairs to hit. Their pitching is weak, although Phillip Aumont could surprise a lot of people. Korea seems undervalued too. Who would you guys bet on?
Driveline Mechanics used a compilation of projections to compare possible 2009 seasons for the Yankees current group of outfielders and Manny Ramirez. They come to the conclusion that Nick Swisher is a much better bet than Xavier Nady to have a productive season in right field. More surprisingly, however, is the comparison between Swisher and Manny:
While the Manny boat has probably sailed by now, it’s worth discussing him because if the Yankees had signed him, all the pundits would call the Yankees therunaway favorites. But assuming that dumping Swisher (or putting him on the bench) would be part of that (and leaving aside the issue of who would play in right field), would it make the Yankees that much better. Manny, even at his age, is still projected to be an incredible hitter by all three systems. But his defense gives almost his entire advantage against Swisher away. He only projects as 2.3 runs better — for all practical purposes, they are equal. And keep in mind that playing time hasn’t been considered. Swisher hasn’t had major injury problems that I know of, and is still a bit of a way from 30. Manny barely played 130 games in 2006 and 2007 and will be 37 in May. And Swisher clearly has positional versatility Manny doesn’t.
The Nady issue is clear, as my Driveline colleague David Golebiewski points out elsewhere (although in much less wordy fashion). My point here, however, is that not only is he better than Nady, but that he’s projected to be at least as good Manny Ramirez, player whose acquisition by the Bronx Bombers would make every talking head call them a lock for the division title in 2009.
Do the Yankees (or at least some of those who write about them) really think a guy in Manny’s league (but costing about $20M less) is expendable? Let’s put is this way: Would any team put Manny in competition with Xaiver Nady for a starting spot? What would we say about a team that traded Manny Ramirez if he was slated to earn $5.3 million this season?
I happen to want Nady to win the job, but may be coming around on that, as all of the statistical projections seem to favor Swisher. In regard to Manny, I highly doubt that Swisher out-produces Manny this season, but I am encouraged that their names can be grouped together in a serious conversation. Whoever ends up on the bench, the Yankees are likely to be much better equipped to deal with injuries than they have been in the past.
According to Johnny Damon, the most athletic player on the New York Yankees is none other than Cody Ransom. The 32 year-old infielder boasts a 60 inch vertical.
Hat tip to T-Kepner over at his NY Times blog for providing the video evidence.
Rob over at Bronx Baseball Daily makes an interesting point. Mike Dunn and Phil Coke have looked good in spring training, and could theoretically make Damaso Marte obsolete very quickly. The Yankees could have not resigned him to a 3-year deal, and instead allowed Marte to become a free agent after offering him arbitration, thus acrueing draft picks while saving money. I have to respectfully disagree.
At best, Mike Dunn and Phil Coke may be able to be as good as Damso Marte. They are strong lefty relief prospects, but they have their flaws. Coke has only really been good for one year, and Dunn has only really been good for 18 innings. Dunn posted a 4.23 FIP for High-A Tampa this year, with a K/9 of 7.37 before being moved to the bullpen late in the season. He flourished there, striking out 14/9, but still walked a considerable number of people. Dunn is at best a year away from the major leagues, and possibly two years from being a productive major league player. Coke has a slightly longer pedigree and a history of major league success, but still has sample-size related concerns attached to him.
Damaso Marte is a very good relief pitcher. Aside from his short time in New York last season, Marte has posted consistent in the 2s and mid-3s. He has never posted a K/9 south of 9.0. He has held lefties to .200/.297/.287. While a pair of draft picks may net the Yankees more value in the long term, the Yankees are loading up for a playoff run that can’t wait. Marte provides them a very strong bullpen option that would be lacking had they otherwise waited for Dunn and Coke. He makes the staff that much deeper.
From the Hartford Courant:
A.J. Burnett pitched two innings in a simulated game. He threw 28 pitches in preparation for his first start Sunday against the Tigers in Lakeland. Jorge Posada, who had been resting his surgically repaired right shoulder because of soreness, caught Burnett. Posada took a foul tip off the shoulder. He iced it and said it is fine.
Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers have finally reportedly reached an agreement on a 2-year deal worth $45 million. Essentially, the first year provides Manny with $25 million while the second year — which Manny can opt-out of — would allow him to earn $20 million (I must note that some of the money is, in fact, deferred over a period of time).
Now, an opt-out clause could make things interesting next year, when the Yankees are looking for a full-time DH (assuming that they let go of Hideki Matsui). Manny would be a good fit. However, I also think that the team’s existing contracts (CC, A-Rod, Tex, etc.) sort of hamstring them from taking on other large commitments, especially if the economy continues to be a problem. Also, the Yankees will need to rebuild their OF in 2010, therefore, throwing money at one player (a DH-type) may not be the smartest move.
Still, despite issues pertaining to reason and fiscal practicality, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manny end his career in the Bronx.
Lane Meyer of NoMaas recently interviewed Yankees draft guru Damon Oppenheimer, and there were a few interesting nuggets I wanted to bring up.
On Gerrit Cole:
I’m really trying to move forward out of the Gerrit Cole situation. I’m not quite sure how much longer we’re going to have to beat this one into the ground. Gerrit Cole decided he was going to go to college, that that was in his best interest. At the time we took him, he and his family led us to believe that he wanted to sign and he wanted to be a New York Yankee. He didn’t lead us down the road that he wanted to be a Milwaukee Brewer, or be with somebody else – he led us down the road that he wanted to be a New York Yankee. And, between the time we took him and the time the signing deadline came, they had a change of heart, they changed their mind, and they were basing it, I think, on the maturity level. They had that option, and that’s the decision that they made. As much as I tried to talk to him and convince him that we thought the best spot for him was the Yankees, that’s not what they decided, and in the long run the player has the leverage.
This should put an end to the Gerrit Cole saga. The Yankees picked him with the understanding that he wanted to be a Yankee, and he changed his mind. They made the right pick, and hopefully they get a chance at a similar talent with the compensation pick in this year’s draft. Oppenheimer does say later in the article that this year’s draft looks strong.
Lane Meyer: So the money spent on Burnett, CC, and Tex doesn’t affect the budget you get?
Damon Oppenheimer: Not to this point, no.
That is good to hear, and brings home a point that many in the media have missed. The Yankees have not abandoned the youth movement, they just supplemented it by giving their younger players more of a cushion. Phil Hughes can focus on developing his pitches rather than winning ballgames. The Yankees remain committed to building their farm system, and the events of this offseason have done nothing to alter that stance.
On drafting injured players:
I think we’re looking for any way to gain an advantage and if that’s one of the things we see when we’re out there scouring to find talent, then we do it. What we try to do is, as we say, increase the applicant pool towards the draft, and that’s opening yourself up to different avenues to try and find talent. We’re going to be as efficient as we can be on the players everyone knows about, but then we’re going to try and find some other way to beat people, and whether it’s the injury guy, whether it’s the dual sport guy, whether it’s a conversion, you’re always trying to find that avenue.
Management’s job over the last few seasons has shifted to a role of discovering market inefficiencies and exploiting them. It is good to see the Yankees use their financial advantages to take risks that could have huge rewards. Joba Chamberlain and Andrew Brackman are two players that represent the fruits that this labor can bear.
At some point yesterday, Alex Rodriguez made comments about the excitement that Jose Reyes brings to the playing field. Depending on which blog or newspaper you get your news from, you might have been treated to one of two fairly different stories.
Peter Abraham, Lohud Yankees Blog:
Alex Rodriguez told reporters in Jupiter today that he wished Jose Reyes played for the Yankees. Uh-oh.
He later then sent word through a team PR man that his comments shouldn’t be taken as a shot at Derek Jeter. But of course it’ll still be seen that way.
It’s truly amazing the fixes this guys gets himself into. It really is.
UPDATE, 5:31 p.m: Here is what A-Rod said: “I wish (Reyes) was leading off on our team or playing on our team. That’s fun to watch.”
Jose Reyes is a terrific player and it may have been an innocent comment. But given Alex’s history with Jeter, he should have found a different way to say something nice about Reyes. It just doesn’t make sense.
Whoa, seems like a controversy. Well, not so fast, says Jack Curry of the NY Times:
After Alex Rodriguez watched his Dominican Republic teammate José Reyes make two smart base-running plays in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Marlins, he gushed: “I wish he was leading off on our team or playing on our team. That’s fun to watch.”
The remark seemed harmless, a throwaway line, the third baseman for the Yankees complimenting the shortstop for the Mets. But apparently fearing a headline like, “A-Rod Tells Yankees to Acquire Reyes,” Rodriguez later said, through a spokesman, that his remarks were not intended as criticism of Derek Jeter, the Yankees’ shortstop and captain.
Rodriguez and Jeter have played alongside each other in the Yankees’ infield for the last five seasons. The two players were close friends early in their careers, but that relationship has cooled.
Still, on Tuesday, Rodriguez seemed guilty of nothing more than trying to be gracious toward Reyes.
These are similar reports that have entirely different tones. One is reporting what happened and dismissing it as a non issue, while the other looks at it as another example of “that stupid A-Rod.” I guarantee that people who got the story from Pete first have an entirely different perception of Alex’s comments than those who read about it elsewhere. Reporters help shape our perceptions of players and the sport, and they should try to be a bit more responsible in conveying information to their readers. Otherwise, total throwaway lines that hold absolutely no meaning can be turned into hours and hours of debate and mindless talk radio drivel.
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