Inside Cheez

Yankee Rotation Worries

2011-02-21T20:23:00.013-05:00

Worried about the 2011 New York Yankees starting rotation? If you're like most Yankee fans, the answer is probably "yes". But should you be worried? I say no.

The Yankees won 95 games last season with a VERY suspect starting rotation - of course, no one thought that this time last year, but that's how it turned out. They essentially had 2 1/2 starters - C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte for a half a season. The rest of the starts went to A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez (both with ERAs well over 5.00) and while Pettitte was out, Dustin Moseley. Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova also made a few starts.

Going into this season, the Yankee rotation is also suspect. But will it be worse than the 2010 rotation that contributed to a 95 win season? Not a chance.

Let's compare 2010 with what we'll likely see in 2011. In the #1 rotation slot, CC Sabathia will be CC Sabathia. You can pretty much mark CC down for his usual season. In CC's 35 starts, look for around 18-22 wins.

Phil Hughes won 18 games last year, with an all-star first half and a sub-par second half, most likely because Hughes pitched the most innings of his career. Hughes is still young, and I expect an improvement in 2011 - 17-19 wins is a good bet.

A.J. Burnett had a horrific season in 2010, yet stayed in the staring rotation the entire season. He was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA. Could he possibly be worse in 2011? I doubt it. I look for A.J. to bounce back to his usual 13 win season, with an ERA around 4.50. And if he pitches like he did last year? The Yankees will surely have a shorter leash this time.

Javier Vazquez gave A.J. a run for his money as the worst Yankee starter in 2010. He was 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA. Freddy Garcia, his likely successor in 2011, won't come close to being that bad. Knock a full run off that ERA, and add about 4 wins for this season. He was 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA in homer-friendly Chicago last year - my guess is 14-8 in New York with a 4.30. We will see...

So that's 4 starters, and an estimated 5-7 win improvement in 2011. That brings us to #5, who for the purposes of this argument, will be replacing Andy Pettitte, who went 11-3 with a 3.23 ERA in 2010 (Dustin Moseley added 4 wins while he was on the DL). Enter rookie Ivan Nova (the likely 5th starter), who was brilliant in 4-inning stints in his September 2010 audition. Will he match the 15 wins of Pettitte & Moseley? Probably not. But 10-12 wins certainly isn't out of the question.

What does all this mean? It means Yankee fans are stressing out for no reason at all. The starting pitchers will be BETTER than last year, even if Brian Cashman doesn't add a starter at the trading deadline. The offense will likely be better (with bounce-back years from at least two of these guys: Jeter, A-rod, Teixeira and a DH-rested Posada), and the bullpen will be better with the addition of Rafael Soriano.

My prediction: the Yankees once again win 95-100 games, and at least the American League Wild Card. Whether they win the division will depend on if the Red Sox are as good as advertised. I'll save the Boston arguement for a later post.

Scott Boras: Super Agent?

2011-02-12T12:45:00.003-05:00

Two days 'til pitchers and catchers - so I've decided to try and resurrect the "Inside Cheez" blog! After taking the winter off, I'm going to attempt to post here at least once a week. We'll see how it goes.

To start things off, in light of Yankees stars Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher signing with "Super Agent" Scott Boras this week, I've decided to rerun a post I made back in November 2008 (with a few changes)...

Boras is widely known as one of the best agents for Major League Baseball players. But should he be? The way I see it, looks out for his own bank account (which is quite considerable) first, and in turn his clients suffer. Here are a few examples to prove my point:

In 1997, middle infielder Rey Sanchez was traded to the Yankees mid-season, and went on to hit .312 over the final two-months of the season. The Yankees offered Sanchez a 3-year, 9 million dollar deal to stay, with Boras instructed him to turn down. The Yankees traded for Chuck Knoblauch days later, and Sanchez had to settle for one year and 1.2 million from Kansas City. He didn't make 9 million dollars total over his 7 remaining years in the Major Leagues.

In 2001, Boras made Alex Rodriguez the highest paid player in Major League history, but at what cost? He had Alex sign in Texas, where he clearly did not want to play, and where he was guaranteed never to win (the Rangers had too much money tied down in one player). While Boras succeeded in getting Alex traded to the Yankees in 2004, and has continued to keep Rodriguez at the top salary in baseball, he has also continued to embarrass him, with stunts like the famous World Series "opt-out" in 2007. Rodriguez ended up negotiating his latest 10-year deal himself.

And in early 2008, while middle-of-the-road starters like Carlos Silva of the Mariners were signing 4-year, 48 million dollar deals - Scott Boras advised pitcher Kyle Loshe to wait it out, and by spring training, Loshe was not signed. He had to settle for a one-year, 4.25 million dollar contract with St. Louis, 43.75 million dollars less than Silva received. Luckily for Loshe, he had a career year in 2008, and signed a 4-year, 41 million dollar contract to stay with St. Louis, undoubtedly against the wishes of Boras, who probably wanted him to hold out for more...again.

I could go on, but you get the idea. While I do believe Boras truly thinks he's looking out for the best interests of his clients, the fact that he's a multi-millionaire with an enormous ego makes him way too overconfident. No matter what teams offer his clients, Boras always holds out for more, and more often than not, the players end up suffering.

Will Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher eventually get their money? Absolutely. But whether they stay in New York, or end up in a city they have no interest in playing in is anyone's guess.

One thing's for sure - if I were a marginal free agent, I'd take the first decent offer I got, no matter what Boras says. That first offer just might be the best offer, but Boras will never be convinced of that. He can get you more money for sure. Just ask Rey Sanchez.

Yankee Publicity Stunt

2010-11-25T08:48:00.003-05:00

OK, now this may be a little far-fetched, but the whole New York Yankees-Derek Jeter contract fiasco is so "baffling" (in the words of Jeter's agent Casey Close) that there must be a reasonable explanation.

Derek Jeter, his agent Close, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman and Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner met behind closed doors a few weeks ago, and supposedly the meeting went well. So why have they been battling in the papers ever since? Here's how I think the conversation went:

Stienbrenner: "Derek, you've been a great Yankee. We want to keep you in pinstripes for your entire career. How many years are you looking for?"

Close: "We want 3 years."

Jeter: "Yes, 3 years. I'd like to retire and have a family when I'm 40. 40 is my limit."

Cashman: "Great. Three years it is. Let's see...the highest paid shortstop in baseball, Hanley Ramirez, makes $11 million, and the highest paid middle infielder in baseball, Chase Utley, makes $15 million." What do you say we match that 15 for three years? Say, three years, $45 million?"

Close: "That's exactly what we were thinking. 3 years, $45 million. We just wanted to match Utley. We know Jeter's 5 years older, but we think he brings many more intangibles to the table."

Steinbrenner: "We agree. Derek, you're well worth the extra money. And if you decide to play longer, we'd be glad to extend this deal."

Jeter: "Thank you, Mr. Steinbrenner."

Cashman: "Hold it a second, that was too easy."

Steinbrenner: "Yes. (laughs) I was really hoping this would drag out a bit. We could own the back pages for months if we kept this going."

Close: "So why don't we do it? Let's drag it out. We all know even bad publicity is better than NO publicity. If we announce a contract now, Derek's name won't be in the papers 'til March. If we don't, we have headlines as long as we like."

Cashman: "And with the Mets hiring a new manager, we'll need something to steal the headlines from them, for sure."

Jeter: "But won't I end up looking bad?"

Close: "Perhaps initially, but when it's over, you can just blame me. Say you has nothing to do with the negotiations. Your agent was just doing his job, and you wanted to be a Yankee for life all along."

Steinbrenner: "It's settled then. I'll start by saying the negotiations could get messy".

Cashman: "Then I'll announce our offer, and say that Jeter should take it, or look elsewhere."

Close: "Then I'll say the negotiations are BAFFLING" (laughs)

Jeter: "And I say nothing, right?"

Close: "Right. You're nowhere to be found."

Jeter: "Perfect! Let's do it!"

Did this conversation happen? I'll leave that up to you. But think about this. These four men are SMART people, and they all want the same thing: Derek Jeter back in pinstripes. What I've written here may be hard to believe, but to me, it's MUCH more believable than what we've been seeing in the papers the past few weeks.

Inside Cheez on Twitter

2010-10-03T14:52:00.004-04:00

You may have noticed the windling post here on Inside Cheez lately. When I began this blog in late 2007 and throughout 2008, I was posting about 3 times a week on average. In 2009, I slipped to about 2 a week. This year, it's been more like once week.

Then, I logged on to my blog today (in the heat of a pennant race, I might add), and I noticed I'd only posted ONCE in the last month! Inexcusable.

It's pretty safe to say that I don't have the time that I used to to keep "Inside Cheez" going in its previous form. So, as Lebron James would say, "I've decied to take my talents to South Beach". Or, as they say in the blogging world, "I'm moving my posts to Twitter".

If you've enjoyed my posts here over the past 3 years, I hope you'll follow me on Twitter at @InsideCheez. I do plan to keep this blog going in some form, when I have something I feel needs to be addressed in longer form. So please click the "follow me" button on the home page, and you'll be notified of any posts here as well.

I look forward to interacting with everyone on Twitter. Look for my first real "tweet" today...and on a daily basis as we head into the post-season.

Yankee Double Standard

2010-09-16T19:50:00.006-04:00

In the 7th inning of last night's Yankees-Rays game in Tampa, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was seemingly hit with a pitch. He winced with pain after the ball (or so we thought) hit his elbow. The umpire thought so as well, awarding Jeter with first base.

But the high definition replays we saw immediately afterward revealed the truth. Jeter wasn't hit at all. The ball struck the knob of his bat, and never touched Jeter. It was all an act. Tampa Rays manager Joe Maddon argued and lost, was tossed from the game, and the Yanks Curtis Granderson followed with a home run, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead at the time (they went on to lose to the Rays 4-3).

After the game, Jeter admitted that he indeed was faking, and he went to first because the umpire told him to. The question is: is this cheating? Or just harmless gamesmanship?

Before you answer, think about this: what if it were Alex Rodriguez who pulled this stunt? You got it - EVERYONE - media, managers and opposing players would be calling this act "bush league", much like A-rod's much publicized "slap" in Boston, "Ha!" vs. Toronto, or his walk across Dallas Braden's "mound".

Does the fact that this time it's Derek Jeter make it any less bush league? Apparently so, because even after being ejected from the game, Maddon said he would have "applauded" his players for doing what Jeter did. I wonder how he would have reacted if A-rod was the culprit? My guess is that the "bush league" tag would have been trotted out yet again.

So to answer my original question, I don't think it was cheating (faking injury is not against the rules). And I don't think it was bush league either (any more than I thought A-rod's acts were). Jeter was simply doing what he always does - do anything he can (within the rules) to help the Yankees win. For this, Jeter is always heaped with praise, as he should be.

But shouldn't Alex Rodriguez, who plays EXACTLY the same way, be showered with praise as well?

Ho-hum Home Stretch

2010-08-31T20:30:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is September 1st, the day the Major League Baseball home stretch officially begins. Before 1995, and the advent of the Wild Card, this was the most exciting time of year for the top teams in the league - neck and neck for weeks on end, fighting for a division title.

Now? Sure, there are a few relatively close races - the Atlanta Braves lead the Philadelphia Phillies by 3 games, and the Minnesota Twins lead the Chicago White Sox by 4 games. But the tightest race of all, the American League East, where the New York Yankees and Tampa Rays have been deadlocked for the last 8 days, means absolutely nothing at all.

That's because the Yankees and Rays, are not only tied for the A.L. East lead, they're also tied for the best record in baseball. That means the "loser" of this race, won't really lose at all. The second place team will easily win the A.L. Wild Card, and all they'll lose is one measly home game in each playoff round.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Wild Card. It gives more teams a chance at making the playoffs, and that's good for baseball. But something needs to be done to penalize the Wild Card team in the playoffs, and make winning the division mean something.

How about adding a second Wild Card team in each league, and have them play a one-game "play-in" game to make the playoffs? Perhaps make the Wild Card team play an extra road game each round? Or maybe even give them no home games at all?

The saddest thing of all about this, is that we'll never again see a game quite like the Yankees-Red Sox "Bucky Dent" game in 1978. If the Yankees and Rays finish the season tied, they won't even play a tie-breaker game. The team with the best head-to-head record wins the division, and the other teams grabs the wild card.

Yep, on September 1st, and the A.L. East will be all but over. That may be nice for fans of the Yankees and Rays, but for baseball fans in general? It's boring as heck.

A Yankee for Life

2010-08-26T19:47:00.004-04:00

Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Joe Girardi, Scott Brosius, Johnny Damon - What do these players have in common? They all played for multiple teams in their careers, and for a small portion of that career (4 or 5 years), they played for the New York Yankees.

Hunter and Jackson starred for the Oakland A's in the 70's, and Jackson for the Angels in the 80's. But in the public consciousness, after winning World Series in New York in '77 and '78, they will always be Yankees.

Joe Girardi played for the Cubs, Rockies and Cardinals, but because of one World Series triple, is best remembered as a Yankee.

Scott Brosius was a nobody with the Oakland A's. For the Yankees, he was and always will be a 1998 World Series hero.

Johnny Damon, World Series hero for both the Boston Red Sox (2004) and New York Yankees (2009), and currently of the Detroit Tigers, turned down a waiver claim on Wednesday that would have sent him back to Boston for the 2010 stretch run. Why? Not because he was still upset about the Red Sox not signing him after the 2005 season. Not because he "loves Detroit" (as he keeps saying). And not because he's an "idiot".

It was because he had the chance on Wednesday to choose his legacy. He had the chance to choose whether he'd be best remembered as a Yankee or a Red Sox. He in effect was choosing what cap he'd wear on his Hall of Fame plaque (if he somehow hangs on for 3000 hits and gets in). And was there really any other choice?

As a former member of the Boston Red Sox, he's been booed mercilessly every time he's set foot in Fenway Park since 2005. He was a vital cog in the 2004 World Series winning team, the first in 86 years, yet the Red Sox fans forgot. They wore shirts that said "Looks like Jesus, throws like Mary, acts like Judas". Thanks for the memories, Johnny!

As a former member of the Yankees, Damon was cheered upon his return to Yankees Stadium, as all Yankee World Series heroes are. Even David Cone and David Wells, who pitched for the hated Red Sox in the twilight of their careers, were never booed just for wearing a different shirt.

Along with Jackson, Girardi, Brosius, Paul O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Hideki Matsui and dozens more recent World Series heroes, he will be welcomed back to the Yankee Stadium every year on Old Timer's Day to hear those cheers again and again for the rest of his life.

Would going back to the Red Sox have really tarnished his Yankee legacy that much? Probably not. It certainly didn't hurt Cone or Wells. But unlike Cone or Wells, being a Yankee had gotten into Damon's blood. It's like Andy Pettitte said back when he was a free agent. I'll play for anyone...but NOT the Red Sox.

I think the decision came down to this: Johnny Damon isn't just a former Yankee player. He IS a Yankee. And even if he never puts on the pinstripes again, he always will be.

CC and Pray for Rain?

2010-08-22T18:27:00.008-04:00

The New York Yankees wouldn't admit this at the moment, but they're worried about their post-season starting rotation, big time. After CC Sabathia, who won his American League leading 17th game this afternoon, all of the Yankee starting pitchers are question marks. Let's take a look at the other options, shall we?

A.J. Burnett - Last year's post-season #2 starter has been brilliant some of the time, but downright awful most of the time. The Yankees can't possibly feel comfortable throwing him in a game 2 this year, but they may not have a choice. Burnett is 9-11 with a 4.80 EAR this season, a far cry from what the Yankees had expected, and the kind of pitcher who probably shouldn't even make the post-season roster.

Andy Pettitte - Last year's post-season #3 starter has been terrific this season, posting a 11-2 record with a 2.88 ERA. The problem is, he hasn't pitched in more than a month, and likely won't take the mound for at least another two weeks. Once he does he'll only have a few starts to get ready for the playoffs? Can he be effective after only two rehab starts? Probably. But another setback is always possible too.

Phil Hughes - With a 15-5 record and a 3.90 ERA, Hughes is the best bet to be the Yankees #2 playoff starter this season. But his dreaded "innings limit" looms. Phil is at 140.2 innings at the moment, and rumor has it his limit is 175 (not counting the playoffs). If the Yankees skip a start or two for Hughes to keep him under their limit, if could affect him for the playoffs. Time will tell...

Javier Vazquez - It's been an up and down year for the much maligned Vazquez, and unfortunately, right now he's on the downswing. He didn't make it out of the 4th inning on Saturday, his velocity is way down, and his record stands at 9-9 with a 5.05 ERA. Again, the kind of pitcher you'd like to skip come playoff time.

Dustin Moseley, Chad Guadin, Sergio Mitre - Don't laugh. If things don't fall right for the above 4 pitchers, one or all of the above could be in line for a playoff start. Right now, Moseley (3-2, 4.76 ERA) is the best bet. One could argue that he's pitched better than Burnett or Vazquez anyhow, and should get a playoff start regardless. Yankee manager Joe Girardi isn't afraid to do the unconventional, so don't be surprised if it happens.

Ivan Nova - With Alex Rodriguez going on the DL today, the Yankees recalled the ace of their AAA Scranton staff, Ivan Nova, who will pitch tomorrow in Toronto. Nova is 12-3 with a 2.86 ERA at Scranton. The Yankees are saying this move was made to give their current starters extra rest, and presumably to help them keep Hughes under his innings limit. But I think it's much more than that. The Yankees have seen how the Tampa Rays have caught lightning in a bottle by called up phenom Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.05 ERA), and are hoping Nova can provide their staff with the same lift. More importantly, I think they're looking for a dominant 4th starter to slot in after Sabathia, Hughes and (hopefully) Pettitte. Is Nova a long shot to help now? Of course. But it's certainly worth looking into.

Isn't it funny how everyone thought the Yankees were overstepping their bounds making a run for Mariner's ace Cliff Lee (now with the Texas Rangers) at the trade deadline? "An embarrassment of riches" is what the Yankees would have had, by some accounts. But after thinking about all of the above, Lee sure would be looking pretty good in pinstripes right about now...

Revisiting Damon-Matsui

2010-08-12T20:02:00.003-04:00

Much was said and written in the off-season about the New York Yankees' choice not to retain free agents Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. Yankees GM Brian Cashman decided not to pursue Matsui because he was heading into his age 36 season, and his bad knees made it nearly impossible for him to play the field. Cashman was willing to bring back Damon (also heading into his age 36 season), but only at the Yankees' price. Damon turned down Cashman's 2-year, 14 million dollar offer.

Did the Yankees make the right choice? At the time, I thought so. And now that two-thirds of the 2010 season has passed, I think it's fair to say they absolutely made the right choice.

Damon, who signed with the Detroit Tigers, had 24 home runs and 82 RBI with the Yankees in 2009. For the Tigers thus far, he's got just 7 home runs and 37 RBI. Also, he's been even worse in the field than last year, has been pretty much relegated to DH duty, and is no longer playing every day for the Tigers.

Matsui, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels, batted .274 with 24 home runs and 90 RBI for the Yankees in 2009. This year with the Angels, the numbers are .243, 14 and 57, a far cry from his usual output. Like Damon, Matsui is a DH only, and is no longer playing every day.

Many will point to the fact that the players the Yankees replaced Damon and Matsui with, Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson, have also been disappointments. But that doesn't mean the Yankees made the wrong choice in letting Damon and Matsui go. It just means they picked the wrong players to fill their spots.

Will the Yankees miss Damon and Mastui come playoff time? Perhaps. But in the long run, the Yankees will be much better off sticking with their plan of getting younger and more athletic. Granderson, the poster boy for Cashman's master plan, may never be the player the Yankees thought he would be. But Damon and Matsui certainly will never again be the players they used to be.

Bloody Red Sox

2010-08-05T20:54:00.006-04:00

The 2010 Boston Red Sox are the definition of the walking wounded. They've already lost Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Victor Martinez, Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie for significant portions of the season. While those players have all now returned, they're STILL without Mike Cameron, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek.

And now, worst of all, first baseman Kevin Youkilis has been lost for the season with a torn ligament in his thumb. For most teams, these losses would be devastating. But the Red Sox, at the time of this writing they are a miraculous 6 and a half games out of first place in brutally difficult American League East. If you weren't counting, that's TEN significant injuries, and the Sox are still in the race.

How is this possible? First of all, three of their terrific starting pitchers, Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and John Lackey have remained healthy, and are all pitching great. Closer Jonathan Papelbon, for the most part, has been his usual self. But most importantly, manager Terry Francona has not allowed his team to quit.

Even though he owns two World Series rings, Francona remains vastly underrated. He works in arguably the most difficult media market in baseball, and continually gets more out of his team than could possibly be expected.

If you told me before the season began the Red Sox would have ALL of the above injuries, I'd say they'd be lucky to finish .500. But Francona has them right in the thick of it.

Unfortunately for Francona and the Red Sox, I think the Youkilis injury is the straw that will break Boston's back. Along with Dustin Pedroia, Youkilis is the heart and soul of this team. He was also the most feared bat in the Sox depleted line-up.

If the Red Sox make the playoffs this year, after all this adversity, and with the Tampa Rays and New York Yankees playing as well as they are, Terry Francona will not only get my vote for manager of the year. He'll get my vote for the best managing job in Major League history.

600: Does Anybody Care?

2010-07-29T20:30:00.003-04:00

For the past week, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been on the verge of joining an exclusive club: Major League Baseball's 600 Home Run club. The problem is, other than Rodriguez himself, and maybe Cameron Diaz, does anybody care?

In a word, "no". Before the 2009 season, A-rod admitted to using performance enhancing drugs during the three years (2001-2003) he was with the Texas Rangers. Since then, his home run "total" has been a sham.

How many would he have at this point without the aid of steroids? 550? 500? 400? We will never know. And for that reason, A-rod's 600's home run should be treated like any other. Sure, cheer if the home run is a game-winner, but don't cheer because it's a "milestone".

Now, as is Alex Rodriguez's way, he's putting pressure on himself and taking an inordinate amount of time to reach the 600 home run plateau. At the time of this writing (mid-game on Thursday vs. Cleveland), he's gone a week without a dinger, with no end in sight.

So A-rod, how about it? Just hit the home run already and put us out of our misery. We don't want you to hit it to "see history", and we certainly don't want to see you bank your multi-million dollar bonus for hitting it (the Yankees negotiated the clause pre-steroid admission). Frankly, we're just sick of hearing about it.

The Panic Button

2010-07-21T20:57:00.005-04:00

The New York Yankees are 25 games over .500, 2 and half games in first place in the American League East (over the Tampa Rays), and 7 games in front for a playoff spot (ahead of the reeling Boston Red Sox). And yet, when starting pitcher Andy Pettitte went down on Sunday with a pulled groin, both fans and media alike called for a "major" trade to fill the Yankees pitching void.

All of a sudden, the Yankees should trade for Roy Oswalt, Ted Lilly, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook or Brett Myers. Brett Myers? Am I missing something here?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Yankees won the World Series last season with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Pettitte, a so-so Joba Chamberlain and a post-surgery Sergio Mitre in their rotation the second half of the season.

Now, they have Sabathia, Burnett, Phil Hughes, Javier Vazquez, and the fully healed Mitre. Even if Pettitte doesn't return, that would be at worst equal to last year. But Pettitte will be back in FIVE weeks. That's just 7 starts. He may be back even earlier.

It just goes to show you that the New York tabloids will write just about anything to sell papers, and sports radio shows will say anything for ratings.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman denied yesterday that the Yankees will be looking to replace Pettitte in a trade. As for the 7 starts he'll miss, "That's what Mitre is here for", he said.

Cashman is right. It isn't even close to time to press the panic button. Mortgaging the future to replace Andy Pettitte for 7 starts is simply assinine. As currently constituted, you can make the case that the Yankees still have the best starting rotation in baseball, or at the very least in the top five. That's plenty good enough to get through the next five weeks, don't you think?

Farewell to "The Boss"

2010-07-13T20:41:00.005-04:00

"I will never have a heart attack. I give them."

Those are the words of George Steinbrenner, the volatile owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, who ironically died of a heart attack this morning just days after his 80th birthday.

Those words also sum up how difficult is was to work for the only sports owner in history who put winning above everything, no matter what or who he left in his wake. In his first 23 years as Yankee owner, he changed managers 20 times, and had feuds with numerous Yankee managers, players and coaches, including Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson and Lou Piniella, just to name a few.

Was he a bad boss? Absolutely. But was he a bad guy? Not a chance.

If George was such a bad guy, why would Billy Martin return to manage the Yankees FOUR times? Why would Reggie Jackson continue to work for the Yankee organization to this day? And why would Lou Piniella have referred to Steinbrenner today as a "father figure"?

Steinbrenner was simply obsessed with winning. So much so that it strained the relationships he had with the people he loved. And make no mistake, he loved Billy, Thurman, Reggie, Lou and countless other employees. It's just that when the Yankees lost, George lost it. Even though no team could win the World Series EVERY year, that was George's expectation. And if the goal wasn't met, someone had to pay.

After every one of his firings, Steinbrenner felt bad. So bad he usually offered the fired manager a different job the very next day. And when he ran a player out of town, as he did with Reggie Jackson, he always regretted it and brought the player back in some way, shape or form.

For the employees that worked for him, dealing with Steinbrenner every day must have been a nightmare. But for the fans of the New York Yankees, you couldn't ask for a better owner. You always knew George was going to do whatever it took to win, and as a fan, what more could you ask for?

In the 1990's and 2000's, as George grew older, he softened quite a bit, changing managers less frequently, and berating players much less often. But he never lost that undying will to win.

There will never again be a sports owner quite like George Steinbrenner. His sons Hal and Hank may have the reigns of the franchise now, but they'll never have the "win or else" passion of their late, great father.

Thanks for the 7 World Series titles, George! And thanks for 37 years of winning baseball. You will be missed.

Remembering the "Voice of God"

2010-07-11T20:23:00.002-04:00

Legendary Yankee Stadium announcer Bob Sheppard passed away today at the age of 99. He was as much a part of the Yankee mystique as the Stadium itself. The new Yankee Stadium has brilliantly recreated many of the features of the old stadium, but they'll never replace the "Voice of God".

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has honored Bob Sheppard by continuing to have Bob's recorded voice introduce him whenever he comes to bat. Jeter will bring Sheppard's voice with him to the All-Star game this Tuesday, and plans to continue this tribute at Yankee Staidum until he retires.

Below is a video tribute to Bob Sheppard played on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard on May 7th, 2000:

Rest in peace, Bob. There will never be another like you.

Clamoring for Cliff Lee

2010-07-07T16:56:00.012-04:00

As the NBA's "Lebron Watch" nears a conclusion, sports fans can soon turn to the "Cliff Lee Watch". Major League Baseball's July 31st trading deadline is fast approaching, and 2010's prize is Seattle Mariners ace Cliff Lee.

Lee, who will be a free agent after this season, will be due "just" 3 million dollars in the final two months of the season. And whoever acquires him will become immediate favorites to claim their division title, and perhaps even favorites to represent their league in the World Series. Yes, Cliff Lee is that good (as he proved in last year's post-season).

So what are the odds Cliff Lee will don the colors of your favorite team? Here's how I'd set them...

Minnesota Twins: The Twins, in my opinion, have the greatest need. They're a team with a great line-up and decent pitching - enough to get them to the post-season - but they lack the true "ace" that will get them past the first round and into the promised land. They also have the catching prospect the Mariners covet, Wilson Ramos. Odds: 3 to 1.

New York Yankees: Can the rich get richer? Of course they can. If it looks like the Red Sox or Rays will grab Lee, look for the Yankees to swoop in no matter what the cost. They have two catching prospects to dangle in front of the Mariners (Jesus Montero and Austin Romine), and they'll probably end up with Lee after the season anyhow. So why not now? Odds: 4-1.

Chicago White Sox: Never underestimate Whie Sox GM Kenny Williams. Look for him to try and beat the Twins to the punch here, especially since it looks like Sox ace Jake Peavy has been lost for the season. Odds: 6-1.

Tampa Rays: Rumor is they'll offer center fielder B.J. Upton for Lee, which could be enough to get it done. Upton, still only 25, hs a huge upside. If the Mariners think they can turn him around, and can squeeze a few more prospects out of the Rays, it could happen. Also, the Rays window to win is now. Cliff Lee would be a sure way to vault them past the Red Sox and Yankees and into the post-season. Odds: 8-1.

Philadelphia Phillies: Will the Phillies undo their biggest off-season mistake (trading Lee to the Mariners)? It will take a lot more than they gave up to get it done. I don't see this happening, but it would make the Phillies a lock for their third World Series in a row. Odds: 8-1.

Boston Red Sox: If the Yankees and Rays are in the mix, you can be sure the Red Sox are too. But GM Theo Epstein has been reluctant to part with his top prospects, so this is much less likely. Odds: 10-1.

New York Mets: Is Josh Thole, Fernando Martinez enough to get it done? Not if they're bidding against the Twins and Yankees. The Mets will need to throw in Jonathan Neise as well, which I doubt they'll do. Odds: 12-1.

The field: The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers and also said to be in the mix for Lee, but they are long shots at best. The same goes for anyone else you can think of. Odds: 20-1.

Seattle Mariners: Could Lee just stay in Seattle? It's possible, since the Mariners would net two draft picks when he leaves as a free agent. But with the rumor mill in full force though, they're sure to get more value now in a trade. Odds: 30-1.

Again, my gut tells me Mr. Lee will land in Minnesota, which will make the Twins a team no one will want to face in the playoffs. With Joe Mauer and Justin Mourneau both in the line-up (Mourneau was hurt in the 2009 playoffs), and Cliff Lee anchoring the pitching staff, you'd have to say the Twins would have a good a shot as any team (even the mighty Yankees, Red Sox or Rays) to take the 2010 World Series trophy home.

2010 All Star Game Snubs

2010-07-05T13:58:00.009-04:00

Rosters were announced yesterday for the 2010 MLB All Star game, which will be played on Tuesday, July 13th at Angels Stadium in Anahiem. And almost immediately afterward, countless stories hit the internet, print media and radio and TV airwaves about All-Star game "snubs" - players who deserved to be chosen, but for some reason were not.

To me, this is a pointless debate. In each league, probably close to a hundred players who are having great seasons, and clearly everyone can't be chosen. This year, comissioner Bud Selig and his special committee voted to expand the rosters to 34 players for each league, but still it's not enough.

Why all the "snubs"? Well first, the fans get to vote on the starters, and fans tend to vote with their hearts, not by stats. Although admittedly, the fans did a decent job this year. All of the all-star starters this year are at least worthy of being on the team. You could quibble with the fact that certain players are starting over others, but that would be a bit picky.

Second, the players get to vote on a set number of reserves. The players also play favorites, omitting players the don't care for personally. Last year, A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox was famously kept of the AL roster (in favor of the Red Sox Jason Varitek) simply because he's widely hated throughout the league.

Third, the All-Star managers get to fill out the remainder of the rosters, with the ridiculous restriction of having to choose a player to represent every team, even if that team has no deserving all-stars (Michael Bourn of the Astros would be a good exaple this year). Plus, they have the pressure of appeasing the players on their own team, which leads them to choose their own players over more deserving players.

American League (and Yankees) manager Joe Girardi, for instance, chose Yankees third baseman Rodriguez this year for the team, who while having a decent season, clearly has no business being on the roster. But Girardi's playing by the rules here and taking care of his own guys. You can't really knock his choice. Knock Major League Baseball for giving him the power to make that choice. Similarly, NL All-Star manager (of the Phillies) chose Ryan Howard or more deserving candidates such as Joey Votto of the Reds.

Then of course, you've got managers choosing players for no apparent reason at all, such as Manuel's choice of the Braves utility man Omar Infante. That reduces this year's roster by yet another quality player, and creating an additional "snub".

So what should be done? This game is supposed to be for the fans, right? So let the fans vote on ALL the players, with no restrictions on what team the player is on, no input from players or managers, and no consideration for statistics. Fans tune in to see their favorite players, not to see no names like Arthur Rhodes and Trevor Cahill, no matter how great their stats are.

If the fans were in charge this year, we'd surely see Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasberg on the NL roster, and Pirates middle reliever Evan Meek off it. Sure, it may not be "fair" to all of the players who supposedly deserve a shot to be on the all-star team, and it will create dozens more snubs, but who cares? It certainly would be vastly more entertaining. And isn't that really what it's all about?

Citifield Makeover

2010-07-01T21:05:00.007-04:00

The 2010 Inside Cheez ballpark tour hit Queens this past weekend. It was my second trip to Citifield, the home of the New York Mets. My first trip was in April of last year, which I chronicled in this post, and the most glaring omission to the ball park, in my opinion, was the lack of Mets "flavor" in the ballpark.

Had the Mets done anything to rectify that problem? I was about to find out.

The first clue was right outside the front gates, the iconic "home run apple" (pictured above) is now a landmark just outside the "Jackie Robinson Rotunda", a great photo op and meeting place for fans, a al "the bat" at the old Yankee Stadium.

Also, on the wall of the exterior of the ballpark were tributes to past Mets greats, such as Casey Stengel and Tom Seaver (pictured above). I don't recall these being here last year, so in my book it's another nice job by Mets management to add a little Mets "history" to the ballpark. In addition, there are now stone plaques in the sidewalk commemorating great games in Mets history, such as Seaver's "imperfect game" or the "black cat" game.

Inside the ballpark, it was just as beautiful as I remember from last year, and then some. The Mets again took a page from the Yankees, and added historic Mets photos throughout the ballpark. Granted, Mets "history" isn't quite as awe-inspiring as Yankees history, but the photos add that Mets "flavor" that was clearly missing in 2009.

The Mets also renamed the outfield "bridge" after their old stadium (pictured above). At the game I attended, Ike Davis hit a home run onto the "Shea Bridge", a 450 foot shot.

Add to all that a brand new Mets museum (which I didn't get a chance to visit), and you've got an "amazin" upgrade from last year's Citifield inaugural.

Last year, I said the Yankees did it right, while the Mets missed the boat. This year, the Mets absolutely closed the gap. Citifield will never have the "feel" that the new Yankee Stadium has, but it's now a ballpark that Mets fans can be 100% proud of.

Bronx Bench Building

2010-06-27T20:55:00.006-04:00

As Major League Baseball's trading deadline approaches, the New York Yankees have some work to do. Yes, they do still have the best record in baseball. But have you seen their bench lately? Or the back end of their bullpen?

The bench: Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo, Chad Huffman and Colin Curtis.

The pen: Chad Gaudin, Chan Ho Park, Sergio Mitre and Boone Logan.

Ok, so maybe the bullpen isn't the worst in the world, but it certainly could be better. And the young, inexperienced bench needs some major fortifications.

Brian Cashman, are you listening? Here are a few suggestions:

Lance Berkman: In a perfect world, this is the guy the Yankees get. He wouldn't be added to the bench, but he would be added to the now vacant DH spot, and lengthen the Yankees line-up considerably. Imagine this: Jeter, Swisher, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Cano, Berkman, Posada, Granderson, Gardner. Not bad, eh?

Xavier Nady: With the release of Randy Winn last month, it's clear Cashman blundered signing him instead of bringing Nady or Eric Hinske (who's been great for the Braves) back. Hinske's not going anywhere, but Nady could be reacquired. If the Cubs fall further out of it, he could be had rather cheaply, and would be a welcome addition to Joe Girardi's bare bench.

Ty Wiggington: Baltimore's jack of all trades may be the perfect addition for the Yankees. He's having a great year, with 13 home runs, a .270 average and 40 RBI. He can fill in a DH, first, second, third and in both corner outfield positions. The problem is, the division rival Orioles aren't likely to trade Wigginton to the Yankees. Long shot for sure...

Johnny Damon: The Yankees need a DH, and Damon is slowly being relegated to the bench in Detroit with the emergence of rookie Brennan Boesch. Could he return to the Yankees? Absolutely, but the Tigers would likely need to fall out of the division race first.

Trevor Hoffman: The major league's all-time saves leader is now the set-up man for John Axford. (Who? Exactly.) As terribly as Hoffman began the season, that's got to stick in his craw. Would Hoffman be willing to make the move to the Bronx to set up for the greatest closer in history, Mariano Rivera? And perhaps have a shot at winning his first World Series? You bet he would. For the Yanks, his experience would be an upgrade over Joba Chamberlain in the 8th, and would move Joba to the less pressurized 7th. For Hoffman, it's a no-brainer, and it sure beats setting up for Axford in Milwaukee.

Ballpark Tour: Allentown, PA

2010-06-22T20:05:00.006-04:00

The next stop on my 2010 ballpark tour was Coco-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, home of the Iron Pigs, AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. I'd been meaning to make the trek to this ballpark since it opened in 2009. And on Father's Day, when the Iron Pigs were playing the Scranton Yankees, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

As you pull into the parking lot, the first thing you notice is this is truly a ballpark, not a stadium. You don't see it towering in the distance like Scranton's PNC Field, and from foul pole to foul pole it's wide open. It features a handsome brick exterior, similar to the majority of recently opened major and minor league parks.

Once inside, Coca-Cola Park is a stunning sight as well. It sports marvelous views of the field from any of the almost 10.000 seats, a "dugout seating" area right behind home plate, and numurous luxury boxes. As with most minor league ballparks, you're right on top of the action. The players seem to be right next to you, not miles away.

Another feature that was a big plus for me, is that the consourse completely encircles the park. You can walk out to the outfield and stand right above the pitchers as they warm up in the bullpen (I spotted Scranton's Kei Igawa from this vantage point, a rare sight indeed). And unlike in some parks, those with lawn seats (as we had) can sit in some empty box seats if they're available (as we did).

Again, as is the usual at minor league parks, there was plenty to do for the kids, including a playground in the left field corner, visits by the resident "pig" mascots, games like mini-golf and mini batting cages. After the game, kids were invited to run the bases (this done every Sunday at Coca-Cola Park), and for Father's Day, Dads and kids were invited on to the field for a game of "catch".

Looking for some star power? Well, there wasn't much of that here. There were, however, a few recognizable names - players who have seen some Major League action, such as Brandon Duckworth, Cody Ransom and Eric Bruntlett - and top prospects susch as the Yankees' Jesus Montero. Mostly, though this AAA game was clearly (and not surprisingly) a notch or two below Major League play. There were quite a few easy double plays, for instance, that were not turned, leading to runs you normally don't see in the bigs.

What about the food, you say? I didn't sample much, but what I did have was outstanding. Especially delicious was the "Aw Shucks" roasted corn, not normally a ballpark staple. The ears are roasted on the premises and served with the husk still attached, then dipped in a mixture of butter, parmesan cheese and spices. Amazing! The "Pretzel Burger" ( a burger with a soft pretzel in place of a roll) also looked great, but I didn't get a chance to try it.

Coca-Cola Park in Allentown certainly isn’t the best of the AAA ballparks I’ve seen (Louisville Slugger Park in Louisville is my favorite), but it’s definitely worth the trip. Father's day with your son, baseball and roasted corn? What could be better?

Miracle Ball

2010-06-18T20:18:00.005-04:00

It's been called "the greatest mystery in sports" by some. What ever happened to the home run ball Bobby Thompson hit to send the New York Giants to the 1951 World Series?

"Miracle Ball", a 2009 book by Brian Biegel chronicles the author's attempt to solve that very riddle: the whereabouts of "The Shot Heard 'Round the World".

Before I began reading, I thought: "How could this be a book? Does the missing ball even matter? If it hasn't been found by now, it's likely gone forever." But after the first 20 pages or so, I was hooked. I needed to know what happened to that ball.

Did finding the ball really matter? Well it did to the author's father, who grew up in Brooklyn loving the Brooklyn Dodgers, and had his heart broken on that October day. The elder Biegel believed he possessed the "Miracle Ball" after purchasing a ball signed by the 1951 Giants at a Salvation Army on Long Island. In his mind, his ball had to be the ball.

Recovering from a torturous bout with depression, the author sets out on a healing journey to thank his father for helping him through his illness in a very unique way: by discovering the fate of the elusive home run ball.

What Biegel finds along the way is nothing short of astonishing. From the Baseball Hall of Fame, to a serendipitous meeting with Bobby Thompson, to forensic photo analysis by the New York City Police Department, to a convent in New Mexico, Biegel amazingly stumbles onto clue after clue that will seemingly lead him to his spherical prize.

Does Biegel find the Shot Heard 'Round the World? You'll have to read the book to find out. Either way, "Miracle Ball" is a terrific read for not only anyone who loves baseball, but anyone who loves a great non-fiction mystery novel.

Marvelous Morneau

2010-06-06T19:00:00.001-04:00

A few more thoughts on my recent trip to Target Field in Minnesota: this time, on the Twins themselves. While watching this team, I couldn't help noticing that their line-up revolves around one key player. Nope, not catcher Joe Mauer - first baseman Justin Morneau.

Sure - Mauer's outstanding, and he provides offense at a usually weak-hitting position - but Justin Morneau is the complete package. On-base percentage, average, home runs, RBI, and gold glove caliber fielding. The Yankees held him hitless in games 1 and 2 of their recent series, and not surprisingly, they won both games. In game 3, they couldn't stop him, and the Twins prevailed. As Morneau goes, so goes the Twins.

Which brings me to the point of this post. Minnesota recently signed Joe Mauer to an 8-year, 184 million dollar extension, which kicks in in the 2011 season. It had to be done, since Mauer is the hometown boy and face of the franchise, and would have been a free agent at season's end.

But to me, Justin Morneau is even more important than Mauer. Morneau (who is quietly leading the Major Leagues in hitting) is in year 3 of a 6-year, 80 million dollar deal, which expires after 2013. He's a relative bargain right now, but now that they've locked up Mauer, the small town Twins certainly won't be able to afford Morneau in 2014, when his 14 million dollar salary will shoot past the 20 million a year mark easily.

The window is wide open for the Twins to win now. Mauer and Moureau are in their primes, they've got a nice supporting cast this year (for a change), and they've got a sparkling new ballpark to boot. What they don't have is the power pitching to beat the likes of the Yankees, Angels, Rays or Red Sox in the playoffs. Before the trading deadline, look for the Twins to go after one of the top pitchers available. If they're able to land an ace such as Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, they will be very tough to beat come October.

Minnesota On Target

2010-06-05T14:00:00.008-04:00

I made the first of my yearly baseball pilgrimages last week, when I paid a visit to Target Field in Minneapolis, the new home of the Minnesota Twins. My brother and I were there to take in the 3-game Yankees-Twins series. As you can see in the photo above, the interior of the ballpark is quite beautiful, right up there with many of the newer parks, such as Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Progressive Field in Cleveland, Citifield in New York and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

The exterior of the park, shown in the photo above, sets it apart slightly from those parks, with it's slightly space-agey, modern design. The ballpark's location is terrific as well, right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, next to the Target Center (where the NBA's Timberwolves play), and easily accessible from Mass Transit and the many downtown hotels. We stayed at the Westin Minneapolis, which turned out to be a great choice - very comfortable hotel (transformed from an old bank), and just a ten-minute walk to the ballpark.

After seeing 3 games there, it's safe to say that Target Field is a gem, and a startling upgrade from the dark, dank, indoor Metrodome. Great sight lines, a multitude of delicious food choices, green grass and perfect weather for outdoor baseball (at least when we were there).

But does it have any features that rank it with the best Major League ballparks, such as the bridge and city views of PNC Park in Pittsburgh, the warehouse at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the roof at Safeco Field in Seattle, the ocean at AT&T Park in San Francisco or the iconic tradition of Yankee Stadium? Sadly, no. The enormous Twins logo sign in center field is very cool (the Twins shake hands when a home player hits a home run), and it does have a few quirks, like the flower box overhang in right field, but there's nothing that really sets it apart.

Don't get me wrong, that's not a terrible thing. I'd certainly rank Target Field somewhere in the top half of the Major League ballparks I've visited (I've been to 24 of the current 30). It's outstanding, just not the cream of the crop. There's plenty here to keep Minnesota fans pouring into the gates for years to come. A competitive team on the field (led by former AL MVPs Joe Mauer and Justin Mourneau), lots of tributes to Twins greats (such as the Kirby Puckett statue pictured above), and a bustling downtown area to hang out in before and after games.

That brings me to the city itself. What a refreshing difference from the traffic, congestion and wall-to-wall people you'll find in New York City (where I spend my weekdays). Minneapolis is impossibly clean, the people are almost too friendly, the transit system is incredibly smooth and not at all congested, and there are many terrific sights to see (including the "Spoon and Cherry" sculpture pictured above).

Granted, I did spend only three days in the city, and the weather was quite good. It was 75 degrees and sunny each day, although we did witness the first rain-suspended game in Target Field history (the game was resumed the following day). Perhaps if I spent a few days at the ballpark in late April I'd have a different opinion. And if I'd spent 3 days in Minneapolis in January, I may never want to return.

But on these 3 days in May? The Yankees-Twins series at Target Field was just about as perfect as can be. If you can get a ticket (the Twins are sold out for 2010), I highly recommend a visit to this terrific ballpark in a friendly, Minnesota city. It truly is "On Target".

Yankee Trading Hindsight

2010-05-24T12:18:00.007-04:00

At 26-18, the New York Yankees are about where I expected them to be record-wise at this point in the season, but how they've gotten there certainly isn't what I expected. The Yankees have been carried so far by their pitching, not their hitting. The Yankees top 4 starters each have 4+ wins, while a third of their line-up is injured (Johnson, Granderson & Posada), and slugger Mark Teixeira is hitting just .209.

Still, everything is going according to Yankees GM Brain Cashman's 2009 off season plan, right? Wrong. So far, not many of his off season moves have worked out. In fact, most of the moves have been flat out terrible. Here are the stats of the players Cashman added in the off-season:

Javier Vazquez: 3-4, 6.69 ERA
Chan Ho Park: 1-1, 7.20 ERA
Boone Logan: 0-0, 5.06 ERA
Curtis Granderson: .225 BA, 2 HR, 7 RBI (injured)
Nick Johnson: .167 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBI (injured)
Randy Winn: .213 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBI
Marcus Thames: . 357 BA, 2 HR, 10 RBI
Jaime Hoffman: released in spring training

Of the above players, only Thames has performed to expectations. But injuries have forced the Yankees to play him in the outfield, where he's a hack defensively. How about the players the Yankees have jettisoned? Here are the stats:

Ian Kennedy: 3-2, 3.24 ERA
Phil Coke: 3-0, 3.43 ERA
Brian Bruney: 1-2, 7.64 ERA (Released)
Johnny Damon: .290 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI
Hideki Matsui: .227, 5 HR, 22 RBI
Austin Jackson: .337 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBI
Jerry Hairston: .225 BA, 0 HR, 12 RBI
Eric Hinske: .368, 4 HR, 20 RBI
Melky Cabrera: .213, 1 HR, 9 RBI

Wow. Big difference, huh? Throw in reliever Tyler Clippard (traded in 2008 to the Nationals for AAA pitcher Johnathan Albaladejo) who is now 7-1 in the Nationals bullpen, and Cashman's "plan" doesn't look so hot.

The players I'm about to list weren't necessarily swapped for each other, but here's essentially what Cashman did, and whether is was a WIN for him, a LOSS or a TIE.

Lefty reliever: Traded Coke, added Logan - LOSS
Right bat off bench: Let Hinske go, signed Thames - LOSS
4th outfielder: Traded Cabrera, signed Winn - LOSS (simply because Melky is younger)
DH: Let Matsui go, signed Johnson - LOSS
Outfielder: Let Damon go, traded for Granderson - LOSS
Starting pitcher: Traded Kennedy, traded for Vazquez - LOSS
Righty reliever: Traded Bruney, signed Park - WIN (but not by much)
5th outfielder: Let Hairston go, traded for Hoffman - LOSS
Traded Austin Jackson - LOSS (and a BIG one)

The 2010 season sure hasn't been a good one so far for Brian Cashman, and luckily for him, the play of the Yankees farm products he drafted (Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, Phil Hughes and Brett Gardner) has kept the Yankees afloat. Also, I think the Granderson trade, while it looks like a huge win for Detroit and Arizona, will eventually turn out to be a good one for the Yanks.

One things for sure, though. Even if some of the new recruits do turn things around, Cashman's going to need a big 2010 off-season to make up for this enormous bust in 2009.

Interleague Intrigue

2010-05-16T14:33:00.005-04:00

Now that interleague play is fully entrenched in Major League Baseball, I have to admit I do like it. As a Yankees fan at least, it's fun to see the Yankees play teams like the Phillies and Astros (as they will at home this season), or take a road trip to see the Diamondbacks or Dodgers (the Yanks two road trips this season). I'm sure it's also a treat for other teams to see the Yankees come into town.

But for most teams' fans, Interleague play is not only not interesting at all (Royals at Nationals anyone?), it's also unfair. The New York Mets, for instance, play the New York Yankees 6 times, while the Phillies draw the Red Sox 6 times (an easier match-up this year at least). The Nationals, who are also competing with the Mets for a wild card spot, get the hapless Baltimore Orioles for 6 games.

This just isn't right. At the very least, all of the teams in each division should play the same 6 teams in interleague play. Forget the so-called "natural rivalries", and rotate the interleague schedule equally, and have teams face off every 3 or 4 years, instead of every year (as is the case with the Yankees and Mets).

To make matters worse, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig just allowed the Toronto Blue Jays to move their June 25th-27th interleague series with the Phillies to Philadelphia's Citizen's Bank Park. The move is being made because of security concerns with the G-20 summit which will be held in Toronto that week. Understandable, but didn't MLB know about this when they made the schedule?

Now the Phillies, who already had a bit of an edge in the schedule facing the Red Sox instead of the Yankees or Rays (as the Mets and Marlins will), will have three extra home games on their schedule. This is unfair with a capital U. Sure, the Blue Jays will bat last as the do at home, but how many Toronto fans do you think will make the trek to Philadelphia for these "home" games? Zero, that's how many. No matter how you slice it, these are home games for the Phillies, and if they sweep the series, the Mets and Marlins should have a serious beef.

As it always is for Selig and MLB, this isn't about what's fair. It's about money. In order to convince the Jays to move the series, I'm sure they guaranteed Toronto a lion's share of the profits from the games in Philadelphia (sure to be sellouts). The Jays will likely make more money playing these games on the road, than they would have if they stayed home.

The fair thing to do would have been to move the series to Buffalo, New York, the AAA home of the Buffalo Bisons, who happen to be away that weekend. It's a relatively short drive from Toronto, seats 13,000+ fans (enough to make a decent buck), and it certainly wouldn't have given the Phillies any sort of advantage. Need a Major League park? How about Detroit? The Tigers are also away that weekend, and it's close enough to Toronto for it to make perfect sense.

The bottom line is, Bud Selig and the team owners don't care about the fans or what's fair. They only care about lining their pockets. If the Phillies sweep this series and then win the NL East by just one game, all parties involved should be ashamed of themselves.

Trouble Brewing in Beantown

2010-05-08T21:12:00.004-04:00

After the Boston Red Sox' third consecutive loss to the last place Baltimore Orioles last weekend, rumors of a clubhouse rift began to surface. Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia made reference to how tough the losses were to take for the players who had "been here before". That may have been difficult for players such as Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Victor Martinez to hear, but Pedroia's on to something here.

Pedroia's words seemed to light a fire under the Sox, as they swept 4 games from the also-reeling Los Angeles Angels this week. But this weekend, the Red Sox are right back to their losing ways, getting embarrassed by the "walking wounded" Yankees on Friday and Saturday. The Red Sox are now 1-8 against their main competition in the A.L. East, the Rays and Yankees.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein put a lot of effort into improving the team's defense this past off-season, but what he clearly didn't ask himself was, "Are these players winners?"

Beltre, Scutaro and Martinez specifically are used to losing - coming from the Mariners, A's and Indians respectively. Outfielder Mike Cameron hasn't been on a winning team since the 2001 Mariners. And John Lackey just doesn't look comfortable yet out of his familiar Angel uniform. And even he is 8 years removed from his 2002 World Series game 7 victory.

The Red Sox still need some new blood - some winning blood.

Some suggestions? How about David Eckstein? He has two World Series rings and a World Series MVP, and is now toiling for the soon to be fading San Diego Padres.

Old pal Kevin Millar, while he may not have much left, would at least add some fire to the clubhouse. He's currently playing for the Independent League's Saint Paul Saints.

And on the pitching side, how about former Boston starter Bronson Arroyo, whose salary the Reds would love to unload. He's an innings eater who's proven he can handle the pressure cooker of Boston.

One thing's for sure. If the Red Sox don't do something soon, the Yankees and Rays will soon be leaving them far in their rear view mirror. As Yogi Berra would say, it's gonna get late early.

The Turning Point

2010-04-29T20:13:00.005-04:00

I was watching "Yankee Classics" on the YES Network a few days ago, and they were showing one of my favorites: game 1 of the 1996 ALCS vs. Baltimore. Yes, it's the infamous "Jeffrey Maier Game".

Watching the play again, in which the young boy (who's now in his 20's) "stole" a home run for the Yankees' Derek Jeter, got me wondering - how different would things be today had Maier not snatched that ball?

Certainly the Orioles would have won that game if not for the interference. Perhaps they'd have won the series as well, and might have even won the World Series instead of the Yankees. Maybe a then "clueless" Joe Torre gets fired after bowing out in the playoffs in '96 and '97, and the Yankee dynasty of the late 90's never happens. Could the Orioles have won multiple World Series' instead of the Yankees?

It never ceases to amaze me that in baseball (and in life in general, for that matter), one seemingly small moment can change the trajectory of every event that follows. For me, the Jeffrey Maier interference play was one of those moments. It very well could have been a key turning point in Yankees history.

Much like Cubs fans vilify Steve Bartman, Yankee fans should celebrate Jeffrey Maier. So thanks Jeffrey, wherever you are, for the 1996 World Series, and maybe even a few more.

Cold Starts

2010-04-27T20:45:00.007-04:00

The New York Yankees are off to a decent start this season (12-6 as of today), so instead of panicking about the team itself as they usually do, Yankees fans are panicking about individual players - specifically DH Nick Johnson (who is batting under .150) and much maligned starting pitcher Javier Vazquez.

Johnson, even though his batting average is low, is doing what the Yankees brought him here to do: get on base. He leads the league in walks, and even though he's batting .135, he has an on-base percentage of .375. Johnson's career average is .270, and he certainly will hit close to that this year. Yankee fans simply just need to be patient, like they are being with Mark Teixeira (who is also hitting under .150). It's April - Teixeira will get hot, and to a lesser extent, so will Johnson.

As for Vazquez, he has had four starts thus far this season - four starts. Shouldn't we give him a bit more time than that before we send him packing?

Three of those four starts were against the Rays and Angels, probably the two best teams in the American League (other than the Yankees). Vazquez just doesn't seem to match-up well against the Angels, especially Bobby Abreu, who has hit 10 home runs lifetime off Javy.

Is this cause for concern? Yes. Vazquez was brought in not only to help in the regular season, but to bolster the post-season rotation. If he can't beat the best teams in the A.L., he won't be any help there. But is it time to declare the trade of Melky Cabrera (who's also off to a slow start) for Vazquez a bust? Hardly.

Let's give Javy the benefit of the doubt here, and give him until at least Memorial Day before we start calling him the second coming of Ed Whitson.

Need a reason to cheer Vazquez instead of boo? ESPN's newest loudmouth (and former Boston Red Sox loudmouth) Curt Schilling thinks Javy can't cut it in New York. Let's all get behind Vazquez, and prove "Mr. Bloody Sock" wrong.

Lightning Rod

2010-04-23T20:58:00.006-04:00

It seems that wherever New York Yankees third baseman steps, controversy follows. And now, it turns out, there are places on the baseball diamond he's not even allowed to tread.

In Thursday afternoon's game against the Oakland A's, A-rod was rounding the bases when teammate Robinson Cano hit a foul ball off A's pitcher Dallas Braden. Rodriguez then stepped on the pitchers mound on his way back to first base. This did not sit well with Braden, who proceeded to scream at A-rod on the field, as well as slam A-rod to reporters after the game.

"If I've got the ball in my hand, and I'm out there on that mound, that's not your mound. You want to run across the mound? Go run laps in the bullpen. That's my mound", said Braden.

"That was a little surprising", said Rodriguez. "I've never quite heard that, especially from a guy who has a handful of wins in his career."

Braden later went on the praise the Yankee organization, and single out Derek Jeter as a possible role model for A-rod. Braden also brought up the incident A-rod had with Bronson Arroyo in the 2004 ALCS, when he slapped the ball away from Arroyo intentionally on a play at first base (probably what Arroyo is best known for, unfortunately, even though he's had a decent career).

Should A-rod have stepped on the mound? Probably not. But he's such a space cadet that I'm betting he didn't do it on purpose. And even if he did, he certainly wasn't trying to show up Braden.

Did Braden overreact here? Absolutely. He easily could have asked A-rod nicely not to step on the mound when he's pitching, A-rod would have apologized, and that would have been that. In fact, if Derek Jeter had been the one who stepped on the mound, I'll bet Braden would have given him a high five on the way by.

I'm not defending A-rod here, believe me. He's as phony as they come, and never seems to think before he does or says anything. But I think opposing players are looking real hard for reasons to dislike the guy, ready to snap at him for any "unwritten rule" he inadvertently breaks.

And now, it will probably get even worse, as A-rod's "bush league" resume expands. First there was the "Arroyo slap" against Boston. Then there was the time he supposedly yelled "HA!" while Toronto third baseman Howie Clark (who's definitely only known for this bit of A-rod trivia) tried to catch a pop-up back in May 2007. And now this. Add the 25 million dollar salary, and the Centaur painting in his bedroom, and you've got a recipe for unadulterated A-rod hate.

One thing's for sure. All of a sudden, everyone knows who Dallas Braden is. And who does he have to thank for his new-found fame? The "Lightning Rod", Alex Rodriguez.

My advice to Braden? Add a few hundred wins to that "handful" (17 actually) you have, so you can avoid only being the answer to this trivia question: "What was the name of the pitcher who freaked out when baseball home run king, Alex Rodriguez stepped on the pitchers mound in 2010?"

Batter vs. Pitcher Stats

2010-04-14T20:24:00.010-04:00

One thing that bothers me about baseball statistics, is that when pitcher vs. batter match-ups are discussed, they almost never include post-season statistics. Wouldn't you say these are important match-ups in a players career? Maybe even the most important?

A few years ago, during a Yankees broadcast, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was facing Jay Payton (who was then with the Orioles and is now out of baseball), and the announcer stated "Jay Payton has no lifetime home runs off Mariano Rivera". But as most Yankee fans are well aware, Payton did hit a home run off Mariano when he was with the Mets, in game 2 of the 2000 World Series. The home run wasn't listed in Payton's lifetime statistics because it happened in the post-season.

Ever since then, I've taken the pitcher versus batter stats I hear on TV broadcasts with a grain of salt, especially when they involve two players who have quite a few post-season games under their belt.

Just last week, again on a Yankees broadcast, we heard how Red Sox slugger bats more than .600 lifetime vs. Andy Pettitte - again, regular season stats only. I'd venture to guess Ortiz has had quite a few at-bats versus Pettitte in the post-season as well, but we don't hear a thing about it.

I understand why post-season stats aren't counted in a player's lifetime statistics. Many players (such as Derek Jeter) get many more post-season at-bats than others. It wouldn't be right to count Jeter's post-season hits as "career" hits. But when judging a pitcher versus batter match-up, isn't this information imperative? I'd like to think Yankee manager Joe Girardi has post-season stats at his disposal when deciding whether to bring in Damaso Marte to face Ryan Howard the next time the Yanks face the Phillies (I'm sure Girardi won't need those stats to jar his memory, but you get my point).

Fans have been blown away by HD quality picture and high tech graphics in Major League Baseball broadcasts. Isn't it about time we upgraded the statistics as well?

Let's Meet Some New Mets

2010-04-09T22:05:00.006-04:00

Inside Cheez is a very Yankee-centric blog, mainly because the Bronx is where my baseball allegiance lies. But every once in a while, my baseball mind shifts to Queens (especially when my Yankees are losing 9-3 to Tampa, as they are tonight). Yes, it's an ultra-rare post about the "amazin" Mets!

As usual, GM Omar Minaya is the subject of my latest Mets musing. Is this guy trying to get fired, or what?

Everyone is well aware that the Mets had a boatload of injuries in 2009, and this, as much as anything, was the reason for their disappointing season. But the puzzling moves of Omar Minaya certainly followed a close second.

This year, Mr. Minaya is at it again. First, when the Mets needed a #2 starter more than just about anything in the off-season, Minaya passed on Angels ace John Lackey. He claims he made an offer, but we all know he offered just enough to appease the fans, and not quite enough to appease Lackey. Without a true #2, just like last season, it's Johan Santana and pray for rain.

Now the injury bug has reared its ugly head again, with center fielder Carlos Beltran and first baseman Daniel Murphy going down with injuries. Both will be out until May at least. As luck would have it, two of the Mets top prospects, outfielder Fernando Martinez and first baseman Ike Davis, had monster springs. How perfect! Now the Mets can fill these spots with two hot-hitting prospects, and see what they're made of until Beltran and Murphy return, right? Wrong.

Martinez and Davis were sent down to AAA, and taking the place of the injured? Exiled Anahiem Angel Gary Matthews Jr. and career backup Angel Pagan in center, and strikeout machine Mike Jacobs at first, who has been jettisoned by the Marlins, Mets and Royals previously.

Does Minaya really think Matthews Jr. and Pagan have a greater upside than Fernando Martinez? At the very least, Martinez would equal the numbers of these two retreads. It's more likely he'd do much better.

And Mike Jacobs? Seriously? This guy wasn't good enough to play first for the Kansas City Royals! You heard me, the Royals! Ike Davis, even if he struggled, would be a better option than Jacobs. And please, don't give me the "we don't want to rush him" bit. The worst that could happen is: Davis hits .100, and gets sent back to AAA.

It's time for the Mets to stop babying these prospects. Bring 'em up, and see what they've got. If I'm Minaya, I'd much prefer to go down swinging, with my top "young guns". Entrusting two key spots in the line-up to borderline major leaguers just doesn't make any sense.

Rivalry Renewed

2010-04-08T21:42:00.009-04:00

It's only April 8th, less than a week into the Major League Baseball season, and we've already had an extra large helping of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. The teams played 3 excruciatingly long games - long mostly due to the teams' knack for working the count and working over pitchers.

The Yankees came out on top in the series, but we're a long way (159 games to be exact) from finding out who is the better team in 2010. There were a few things I took away from the series, however....

* Curtis Granderson will be just fine in New York, Any worries that Granderson could capably fill Johnny Damon's shoes seem to have been put to rest already. A home run in his first Yankee at-bat on opening day, then a 10th inning home run off Jonathan Papelbon to win game 3.

* Speaking of Papelbon, doesn't he seem a bit less invincible lately? Maybe it's because of his post-season meltdown against the Angels, but more likely it's because 8th inning man Daniel Bard is throwing some serious cheese. This will never happen, but I think the Sox would be better off making Bard the closer...now.

* Speaking of Bard, what was Sox manager Terry Francona doing pitching him in ALL three games? This kid is the goods. I know you want to beat the Yankees, but pitching Bard in three straight games, even with the day off, is mind-boggling.

* Joe Girardi, on the other hand, was calm, cool and collected in this series. He continued to show off his best attribute: his handling of the bullpen. Even after the bullpen's meltdown on opening day, he wasn't afraid to go back to his guys in games 2 and 3. And he resisted the urge to use his 8th inning man, Joba Chamberlain, in all 3 games. Nice job, Joe...

* How much of a gamer is Andy Pettitte? After getting pummeled by Jacoby Ellsbury on a play covering first base in the first inning, 38-year old Andy bounced back with the best Yankee pitching performance of the series, one run in 6 innings. John Lackey's debut for the Sox was just as terrific.

* Red Sox DH David Ortiz is sure in for a long season. After going 0 for 7 in the series' first two games, he was already being hammered in the Boston papers. I read this quote on another website this morning, and it's so true: "Boston's a great city to play in if your the hero, but a terrible city to play in if you're the goat." Ortiz needs to get going, and quick.

* Red Sox veterans Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek sure are class acts. They've accepted their new bench roles without a complaint (at least publicly). Hopefully Ortiz will do the same once Francona finally decides to sit him against lefties.

* One thing is certain in this rivalry: these teams will finish 9-9 on the season after their 18 games are played. It seems like every year, no matter who has the edge early (the Red Sox started 8-0 vs. the Yanks last year), the final tally is always 9-9.

Round 2? Strangely...back at Fenway, May 7th. Why do I get the feeling these two teams will be tied for first place on that day?

MLB Predictions 2010

2010-03-28T15:33:00.006-04:00

It's that time of year again - time to make my fearless predictions for the upcoming baseball season. What the only thing that's certain? I will remind you if I get these correct, and I won't mention this post again if I'm not. But here goes anyway...

NL East - It's hard not to go with the Phillies here. A full season of Roy Halladay is a huge upgrade over a few months of Cliff Lee. And I think Cole Hamels bounces back with a big year. The other teams in the division will be improved, but not enough to catch the Phils.

NL Central - Again, pitching is the key. Wainwright and Carpenter lead the way, and the Cardinals come out on top. The Cubs will be a distant second.

NL West - This is it - the year the San Francisco Giants put it all together. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain carry the pitching staff, and Pablo Sandoval and Mark DeRosa lead the offense to the NL West crown.

NL Wild Card - This looks wide open to me, but I'll go with the Diamondbacks, again because of pitching. I like Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson and a returning Brandon Webb over anything the other contenders can trot out there. Don't count out the Braves, Cubs or Rockies, though.

AL East/AL Wild Card - Take your pick: Yankees or Red Sox? I'll go with the Yankees in the division, Sox in the Wild Card. Both these teams are just too stacked to be overtaken. The big losers here are the Rays, who will win 90 games but come up short.

AL Central - Joe Nathan or no Joe Nathan, I'm going with the Twins. Manager Ron Gardenhire always seems to be second-guessed, but he also always seems to win this division, no matter who his players are. And this year, the Twins have a better team than they've had in years.

AL West - Angels manager Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball, hands down. As much as the Seattle Mariners have improved, I think Scioscia will emerge victorious yet again. Angels by a nose.

Playoff match ups? In the NL, I'll go Phillies over D-backs and Giants over Cardinals. Then I'll take the Giants over the Phillies, with Lincecum besting Halladay for NLCS MVP.

In the AL, Yankees over Twins (again) and Angels over Red Sox (again). Yes, just like last year. And like last year, the Yankees defeat the Angels in the ALCS.

Then, for the first time since 1962, the Yankees face the Giants in the Fall Classic. The Yankees will lose to Lincecum twice, but get to Matt Cain twice and take the series in six. World Series MVP? The ageless Mariano Rivera.

Send Joba to Scranton

2010-03-19T19:08:00.007-04:00

I touched on the New York Yankees 5th starter competition in my "Yankees Spring Battles" post on March 3rd. Now that we're deep into spring training's third week, the picture is starting to look much more clear. The Yankees must do what not many are considering: send Joba Chamberlain to AAA Scranton.

Why? There are a multitude of reasons. First, the Yankees spent the entire 2009 regular season grooming Chamberlain to to be the starter he wants to be, and the team wants him to be. To give up on that while Joba is just 24 years old would be premature.

Second, if the Yankees keep Joba in the majors, along with Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes (who are both pitching well and deserve to be on this team), they will be forced to trade both Sergio Mitre (who has also looked good) and Chad Gaudin. If Joba goes, only one of those pitchers will have to go (likely Gaudin).

Third, everyone thinks Joba should go to the pen so the Yankees can groom him to replace Mariano Rivera as closer. I don't know what you think, but to me, Rivera is showing no signs of slowing down. He could easily pitch 5 more years, and at that point Joba will be 29.

And finally, Joba's simply not pitching well. Much better pitchers (Roy Halladay comes to mind) have been sent back to the minors after spending a few years in the bigs. And frankly, Joba needs to be knocked down a few pegs. He still has the potential to be a front-line starter, but he's not the phenom he once was, and I think the early success has gone to his head.

Remember, the chances of the Yankees going the whole season with 5 starters are very slim. So here's my solution: finally take the innings limit off Chamberlain, and have him start opening day in Scranton. And keep him there until two things happen: he starts dominating AAA hitters and the Yankees have a need. That will probably happen sooner than later, but if it's not until September, so be it.

Then, perhaps next season, GM Brian Cashman's master plan can finally come to fruition: both Hughes and Chamberlain in the 2011 rotation ready to unleashed, with either Javier Vasquez and/or Andy Pettitte leaving as free agents.

And if you think the Yankees bullpen will be weak without Joba, think again. The Yankees made it to the World Series last season with Chamberlain playing the role of mediocre starter. You could even make the case the Yankees will be better this season starting Joba in AAA, with David Robertson filling the 8th inning role vacated by last year's 8th inning man, Phil Hughes.

So will Joba be exiled to Scranton? Doubtful. But it sure makes a lot of sense to me.

Float This

2010-03-11T19:51:00.007-05:00

Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci broke some interesting news in his column this week. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is considering implementing "floating realignment" at some point in the future.

In a nutshell, this would be done to alleviate the problem that the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays perennially face - being stuck in the same division with the juggernaut New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

Middle-market teams like the Orioles, Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, and Texas Rangers would "float" (swap divisions) year to year with each other, giving the teams moving out of the American League East a chance to actually make the playoffs some years, and the teams moving in a chance to add a dozen or so dates with the Yanks and Red Sox, bringing in more fans and more money.

Interesting idea, but sorry Bud, it ain't happening.

Sure, the Orioles want to win, but would they really give up 12 home games with the Yankees and Red Sox for a better chance to do it? No way in hell.

And yes, the Indians would love to see the Yanks and Red Sox come to town 12 extra times a year, but they're having a tough enough time winning as it is in the Central Division. The difference in their revenue wouldn't be nearly as much as it is for the Orioles. Cleveland is a 9 hour drive from New York, and a 12 hour drive from Boston. Not exactly a day trip like Baltimore.

Here's another radical idea, that's a bit more fair, but also unlikely to happen. Why not put all the high payroll teams in the same division? For instance, the Yankees, Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadephia Phillies and New York Mets might end up slugging it out every year, with only one or two making the playoffs each season. The rest of the divisions could also be realigned each season based on the previous year's payroll.

Now that would give the middle market teams a fighting chance. The only problem is, MLB also answers to FOX, who owns the rights to the playoff and World Series broadcasts. FOX surely won't allow any chances that reduce the chances of a highly rated World Series. It's pretty safe to say that we'll likely see the current MLB alignment for a long time to come.

The All-Unemployed Team

2010-03-05T20:46:00.004-05:00

The United States unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent today, and Major League Baseball 's unemployment rate is almost as staggering. With many MLB General Managers focusing on youth, defense and paring down payroll - there are quite a few former all-stars still out there looking for work.

The only position players that seemed to have little trouble fining work this off-season were middle infielders, so I had to cheat a bit on this 25-man roster. My only rules are that each player must be actively seeking a job, and be somewhat healthy. Here it is: The 2010 "All-Unemployed" team (as of March 5th, ages in parentheses):

Catchers: Paul Bako (38), Michael Barrett (33)

First Base: Hank Blalock (29)

Second Base: Ryan Freel (34) - yeah, I know he hasn't played second in years.

Shortstop: Nomar Garciaparra (36) - cheated again on this one, but Nomar could still pull it off

Third Base: Joe Crede (32)

Utility infielder: Rich Aurilia (38)

Outfielders: Jermaine Dye (36), Rocco Baldelli (28), David Delucci (36), Wily Mo Pena (28), Geoff Jenkins (35)

DH: Gary Sheffield (41)

The position players available were few and far between. What you see above is pretty much all there is. But I had quite a few pitchers to choose from. The list below are the guys I think would give me the best chance to win this year.

Starters: Jarrod Wasburn (35), John Smoltz (43), Pedro Martinez (38), Noah Lowry (29), Braden Looper (35)

Lefty Relievers: Joe Beimel (32), Ron Mahay (39), Jaime Walker (38)

Righty Relievers: Chad Bradford (35), Julian Tavarez (37), David Weathers (40)

Closer: Jason Isringhausen (37)

As crazy as it sounds, this "All-Unemployed" team wouldn't be all that terrible. Sure...they're old, they're slow, they'd play terrible defense, and the bullpen is suspect. But that starting staff isn't too bad, and the line-up has a little bit of pop. Too bad these guys couldn't form their own team and see how things shake out.

Is this team capable of winning a division, even in the National League? No way.

Finish above .500? Again, no.

But could it finish ahead of the Kansas City Royals or Pittsburgh Pirates? Absolutely.

Yankees Spring Battles

2010-03-03T07:31:00.010-05:00

The World Champion New York Yankees don't have to much to worry about heading in to today's spring training opener. There's so little to worry about in fact, that manager Joe Girardi organized a trip to an arcade for his team yesterday.

The way I see it, barring injury, 21 of the 25 roster spots are pretty much set. The catchers will be Jorge Posada and Francisco Cervelli. Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are in the infield. Nick Johnson is the DH. And Brett Gardner, Randy Winn, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are all but guaranteed outfield spots. That's 11 for those of you who are counting.

On the pitching staff, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Javier Vasquez are 4 of the starters. Either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes will occupy starting spot number 5, with the other taking over the 8th inning role in the pen. Mariano Rivera is the closer, and Dave Robertson, Damaso Marte, and newly acquired Chan Ho Park will be guaranteed bullpen spots. That adds up to 21. The question is, who will claim roster spots 22 through 25?

In the back up infielder battle, Ramiro Pena clearly has the edge. He was on the team for most of 2009, and proved himself to be a stellar defender with a surprisingly capable bat. It would take an outstanding spring by minor leaguers like Reggie Carona or Kevin Russo to unseat Pena. The fact that the Yankees did not bring in any major league ready middle infielders to complete for a job, tells you all you need to know about this competition.

The back up outfield spot will be much more competitive. Squaring off will be rule 5 draft pick Jamie Hoffman (who must be offered back to the Dodgers if he does not make the team), non-roster invitee Marcus Thames, and minor leaguers Greg Golson, Reid Gorecki, Colin Curtis and David Winfree. In my mind, the edge here goes to Hoffman, because he's already on the 40-man roster, and the Yankees will lose him if he doesn't make the team. If he has a great spring, he's a lock. Marcus Thames, however, surely could unseat him with a monster spring, and he'd slide right in to Hoffman's 40-man roster spot. The minor leaguers are extreme long shots. It would take an injury or two to put them in the true mix.

The final two spots on this team will go to pitchers, since manager Joe Girardi has already decided he's taking 12 pitchers north. Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin and Alfredo Aceves are candidates for both the 5th starter job (which they are unlikely to get) and these two final bullpen spots. If Girardi decides to take a second lefty reliever, Boone Logan and Royce Ring are candidates. In addition, Jonathan Albaladejo and Mark Melancon, who sent time on the 2009 team, have a shot.

Hmm...that's 7 pitchers for 2 spots, which makes this Girardi's toughest decision of the spring. Here's how it breaks down: Mitre and Gaudin are out of minor league options, so they must either make the team, be traded or released. Everyone else can be sent to AAA Scranton if needed.

The guess here is that either Gaudin or Mitre (or both) will be traded before opening day. The only way one of them makes this team is if there's an injury to a starter in the spring. It just doesn't make sense to keep two long men, when Alfredo Aceves (who I think will make this team) was terrific in this role last season. If the Yankees have an issue with starting pitching later on, Aceves or even Chan Ho Park could step in. Of course, if Aceves has a bad spring, that minor league option will look very tempting.

For the 25th and final spot, I think Joe Girardi will want that second lefty in the pen. So either Boone Logan or Royce Ring will make this team. My money's on Logan, since he's already on the 40-man roster, but stranger things have happened.

First pitch of Yankees spring training is just moments away. Let the title defense begin!

Cano Can Do

2010-02-28T20:12:00.002-05:00

Over the past 5 seasons, we’ve all heard the talk. New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is the next Rod Carew. He won’t just win one batting title, but 4 or 5. He’ll be the perennial gold glove second baseman in the American League. Cano is the next Yankee great – the man to whom Derek Jeter will one day pass the torch.

Well, in 2010, it’s time for Robbie to start fulfilling some of that promise. Sure, he’s already one of the best second baseman in the American League, averaging 19 home runs, 87 RBI and a .306 batting average in his 5 seasons. But with his immense talent, he could, and should be doing so much more.

You’ll never hear GM Brian Cashman or anyone else in Yankees management say this, but I believe the reason the Yankees traded Melky Cabrera had much more to do with Robinson Cano than it did Javier Vasquez.

Cabrera and Cano were inseparable. They were great friends, hung out together on the road, in the dugout, at dinner after games - and they were also always goofing around on the field. At times, it seemed they were more interested in coming up with new handshakes for their teammates, than they were in perfecting their games.

For Cabrera, who has a quarter of the talent of Cano, the goofing off never seemed to be a problem. Last year, Melky came up with clutch hit after clutch hit. But Cano batted a measly .209 with runners in scoring position last year, almost 100 points lower than his career average, and at times looked like he was on another planet on the field. He also came up empty in the post-season, when it mattered most. Was he distracted by the fun and frivolity with Cabrera? We’re about to find out.

Score another win for Brain Cashman. He lifted the (figurative) monkey off Cano’s back this off-season when he jettisoned Melky Cabrera, and Robinson is about to live up to that Hall of Fame first name of his. Mark it down - the 2010 American League batting title will finally go to its rightful heir, Robinson Cano.

Ticking Time Bombs?

2010-02-27T12:08:00.005-05:00

Much has been said and written this week about the contract situation of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. In 2010, he will be in the final season of a 10-year, 189-million dollar contract. The question now is not whether he will resign with the Yankees in 2011, but for how much and how long?

In today's New York Post, Joel Sherman made some great points. To read the article click here.

I agree with Joel's take for the most part. But to me, the albatross contract does not belong to CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira, it's Alex Rodriguez by a landslide.

At the end of Sabathia's contract in 2015, he will be 34. Not ancient for a pitcher of his caliber. I think Sabathia will age much like former Yankee David Wells did. And Wells was still very effective at age 34.

At the end of Mark Teixeria's contract in 2016, he will be 36. The Yanks probably went one year longer than they wanted to on this one, but Teixeira will most likely still be productive at that age.

But Alex Rodriguez? At the end of his current 10-year deal in 2017, he will be a whopping 43 years old. This doesn't look so bad now, but by around 2015 or so...the Yankees will certainly be regretting this contract. Even if Rodiguez is still a 30 home run, 100 RBI guy beyond age 40, is that really worth 20 million dollars a year (A-rod's salary in 2016 and 2017)? And will he be able to play the field? I don't think so...

What's worse, is that A-rod's deal has a direct impact on what the Yankees can do with Derek Jeter, the face of the Yankee franchise. If the Yankees, as you'd expect, sign Jeter to a 4-year, 100 million dollar deal prior to the 2011 season, they will have two 35+ infielders for the next 4 seasons. Not exactly a recipe for winning. Now, I understand both Jeter and A-rod are Hall of Fame cailber players, but age catches up to everyone.

This, more than any other reason, is why Brian Cashman chose not to resign 36 year old free agents Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. He needs to offset the aging A-rod, Jeter, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera, by making the rest of the team younger....and quick.

In 2014, when the Yankees have a 40 year old Jeter and a 39 year old A-rod in their line-up, they will need quite a bit of youth to offset it. That will be Brian Cashman's challenge over the next few years. Also, what position will they play? With Mark Teixeira planted at first, my guess is A-rod at DH, and Jeter in left field.

You have to give Yankees GM Brian Cashman credit, though. Of all the 7-year plus contracts he's negotiated - Derek Jeter's and Mike Mussina's in 2001, Jason Giambi's in 2002, and Sabathia's and Teixiera's in 2009 - only Giambi's (and not really until the very end) blew up in his face. Of course, the jury's still out on the 2009 contracts.

The one he didn't have a hand in - the Alex Rodriguez contract of 2009 (negotiated terribly by Hank Steinbrenner) - is the true ticking time bomb. Let's just hope Cashman can find a way to diffuse it before it goes off.

Hope Springs Eternal

2010-02-18T20:14:00.009-05:00

This past week, the week that pitchers and catchers report to Major League Baseball camps, is arguably the best time to be a baseball fan. Why? Because Spring Training is the time when fans of every team still have hope.

The Kansas City Royals fan can dream of Zack Greinke capturing another Cy Young award, Rick Ankiel slugging 50 home runs and Trey Hillman being voted Manager of the Year as he leads his team to an unexpected A.L. Central title.

The Pittsburgh Pirates fan can dream of Ryan Doumit winning the triple crown, Zach Duke winning 25 games, and Lastings Milledge stealing 50 bases and helping lead the team to its first World Series title since 1979.

Crazy? Maybe. But it sure is fun to have hope.

This may sound strange, but as a New York Yankees fan, I kind of miss having that kind of hope in February. For instance, in spring 1990, I had hope that Dave Lapoint would pitch a shutout on opening day, Andy Hawkins would win 20 games, Alvaro Espinoza would win a gold glove at shortstop, Don Mattingly would regain his MVP form and Jesse Barfield would hit 50 home runs. Of course, no of the above happened and the Yankees lost 95 games. But it sure was fun being the eternal spring training optimist.

Now, with the payroll in the stratosphere, along with Yankees management, Yankee fans' expectations are through the roof. Either the Yanks win the World Series again in 2010, or we're all disappointed. Pessimism rules the day. What if Nick Johnson gets hurt? What if Curtis Granderson can't hit lefties? Will we miss Matsui and Damon? Who will be the 5th starter? Hope has been replaced by despair, and that's no fun.

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy that since the 1996 championship the Yankees have spent more than the GDP of most countries to keep the team competitive, and expectations high. But a teeny-tiny part of me would like to see the Yanks go in the tank for a year or two. It would knock the egos of many elitist Yankee fans down a few pegs, and perhaps lower the ticket prices a bit so the real fans can afford to attend a few games.

Best of all, it would give the Yankees fan some genuine hope for the first time since 1995. Believe it or not Mets fans, I'm a little jealous. Just a little...

Get Well Geno!

2010-02-14T10:51:00.007-05:00

I'm taking a bit of a "blog break" in these days heading up to spring training (most teams pitchers and catchers report this Wednesday or Thursday), and I'm still looking for those guest posts (please send one along if you're interested), but I wanted to take a moment today to send get well wishes to long-time Yankees trainer Gene Monahan.

Monahan will miss his first spring training in 48 years this season. He is out due to an "undisclosed illness": see this Daily News story.

48 years as Yankees trainer. Think about that for a moment. Geno has been with the Yankees since the days of Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle...through the playing careers of Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly...and now Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter. He has 7 World Series rings. Not as many as Yogi, but close.

Through thousands of player changes and dozens of manager and coach changes, Gene Mohahan is the one familiar face we've seen in the Yankee dugout for our entire baseball lifetimes (at least those of us 50 or younger).

I was lucky enough to meet Monahan one day at the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, NJ. Not only has he been a terrific trainer for the Yankees all of these years, he is a heck of a nice guy too.

Get well soon, Geno! The Yankee dugout just won't be the same without you...

One Player, One Team

2010-02-06T09:57:00.005-05:00

The rumored 10 year contract extension that the Minnesota Twins are currently negotiating with All-Star catcher Joe Mauer got me thinking - if Mauer, who is 26, signs a 10 year deal, it would keep him in a Twins uniform until age 36, and it's very likely the deal would ensure he retires as a Twin.

This may not have been a big deal 20 or even 10 years ago, as All-Stars like Cal Ripken, George Brett, Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount and Craig Biggio spent their entire careers with one team. But these days? It's a rarity.

A few exceptions to the rule? There are three on the New York Yankees alone. Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada have all spent 10+ years in pinstripes, and it's a pretty good bet they're all in New York to stay. The Yankees have been vilified for overspending on free agents, but they've also smartly spent the money to keep their homegrown stars.

Another exception is the Atlanta Braves' Chipper Jones. He's been a Brave since 1995, and is almost certain to retire in Atlanta.

So who are the other current All-Stars who will make it to the end of their careers with one team? Will it be Albert Pujols, who heading into his 10th season in St. Louis? Or perhaps younger stars such as Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Grady Sizemore, Troy Tulowitski, Ryan Braun and David Wright?

One thing's for sure. The numbers will be few and far between. It will take the combination of a possible Hall of Fame career, and a team ownership with a commitment to winning. My money's on Mauer and Pujols, and possibly Wright. But the rest? Not very likely...

Praise for Lohud

2010-01-31T16:14:00.004-05:00

Since I pen a baseball blog, I find myself perusing quite a few of the other baseball blogs on the internet, and being a Yankee fan, I tend to gravitate toward the Yankees blogs. Some of the best include River Avenue Blues, Sliding Into Home and The Yankees Universe. But the best of the best, in my opinion, is the Lohud Yankees Blog.

Created by the staff of the Journal News in New York's Hudson Valley, this blog is far and away the best source of Yankees major and minor league news and thought-provoking opinions from Chad Jennings, Sam Borden and Josh Thompson. If you're a Yankee fan, this blog is a must-read, and essential for your bookmark page.

Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I like to steal an idea from the Lohud boys. I thought it would be a cool idea to turn the pages of Inside Cheez over to its readers for the month of February (something Lohud has been doing this the entire off-season in their "pinch-hitters" series). I know Inside Cheez has at least a half-dozen faithful readers, so what do you say?

If you'd like to write a piece on any baseball related topic, I'd love to post it here on Inside Cheez. This blog could use a little perspective from the non-Yankee fans out there. Even if it's a post that's already appeared on your own blog, it's welcome here (and I'll add a link to your blog as well).

If you're interested, please e-mail your submission to me at cheez2323@yahoo.com, and I'll post if for you. Also, tell me a bit about yourself so I can add some background info.

The "Pinch Hitters" series is certainly an interesting read on Lohud, and I think it will be a nice change of pace for Inside Cheez as well.

Mets Mess

2010-01-30T13:46:00.007-05:00

Since I've been spending quite a bit of time lately analyzing the state of the New York Yankees off-season, I figured it only makes sense to take a moment to delve into the team just a few miles away in Queens: the New York Mets.

While the Yankees have spent the winter pondering the pros and cons of jettisoning Johnny Damon and Hideki Mastui, the Mets spent the winter wishing they had those kinds of problems. The Mets have been linked to halfway-decent free agents such as Jason Marquis, Joel Pineiro and Bengie Molina, only to see them sign elsewhere. Meanwhile they have signed a few bottom rung free agents such as Fernando Tatis, Kelvim Escobar, Chris Coste, Frank Catalanotto and Josh Fogg - nothing to write home about.

The Mets and GM Omar Minaya, however, did make one big splash - blowing former Pirates and Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay out of the water (4 years, 66 million) to get him to sign on the dotted line - and paying much more than any other team seemed willing to spend. But was it the right move? I say no.

The Mets have many more holes than just left field. For the 66 million they laid out for Bay, they could have signed Rick Ankiel to play left (he went to the Royals for 1 year, 3.25 million), Joel Pineiro (Angels, 2 years, 16 million) and Jon Garland (Padres, 1 year 5.3 Million) for the starting rotation, Bengie Molina (Giants, 1 year 4.5 million) to catch, and Nick Johnson (Yankees, 1 year, 5.75 million) to play first, and still have more than 30 million left over! Granted, it may have taken a bit more cash than that to convince the above players to come to the Mets, but you get the idea.

Instead, the Mets have an all-star in left, and big question marks at first, catcher and in the staring rotation - not nearly enough to catch the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves or even Florida Marlins in 2010. Call me crazy, but I'll take the quantity of players listed above over the quality of Jason Bay any day of the week.

And the question marks don't end there. The Mets are depending on Johan Santana, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes being healthy, and David Wright and Jeff Francoeur figuring out how to hit home runs at CitiField. If all five of those players bounce back with all-star performances in 2010, the Mets will be just fine - and on their way to 85 to 90 wins. But knowing the Mets history, I certainly wouldn't bet the ranch on it.

Winn-Win Situation

2010-01-28T20:14:00.004-05:00

Finally, the "will he come back, or won't he?" saga of Johnny Damon is over. Yesterday, the New York Yankees signed free agent outfielder Randy Winn to a one-year, 2 million dollar contract. This fills their final roster spot, and leaves Damon to officially look elsewhere for employment.

Is this the greatest signing in the world? Not by a longshot. But it's certainly not worth jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge about, which is what I'm afraid most Yankee fans I know are planning to do. The word "outrage" would be putting it mildly.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Yankees GM Brian Cashman is doing a great job this off-season. He's not letting sentiment get in the way of making a smart business decision. It's much better to let Johnny Damon go a year early, rather than a year late. As good of a clutch hitter as Damon is, he's also a disaster in the outfield. He doesn't get a good jump on the ball, and his arm is easily the worst in the league.

A friend of mine astutely pointed out that Cashman let sentiment get in the way in 2006, when he kept a defensively challenged Bernie Williams a year after his long-term contract was up (Bernie was 37 that year). Cashman didn't want to make that same mistake again.

Randy Winn, who will be 36 in 2010 (the same age as Damon), is simply a better fit for this year's Yankee team. He'll be the 4th outfielder, a job Damon would not have been willing to accept. He'll play terrific defense, which Damon was unable to do. And he'll play for 2 million, exactly 11 million less than Damon asked for.

Also, think about this. Cashman has essentially replaced Damon, Hideki Matsui, Melky Cabrera and Sergio Mitre (who is still on the team but will not be in the 2010 rotation), with Curtis Granderson, Nick Johnson, Brett Gardner (who was a reserve on the 2009 team and will replace Damon in left) and Javier Vasquez. The Yankees are now younger, much better defensively, and they replaced a below average starter with an above average starter.

So get off the ledge Yankees fans! This team won 103 games in 2009, and will likely win more than that in 2010. A few months into the season, the only time you'll think about Damon is when you're giving him a well-deserved standing ovation when he steps to the plate in an A's, Royals, Tigers or Rays uniform. And now that's he's out of Yankee pinstripes, he might even get an ovation at Fenway too.

Jesus On Deck

2010-01-24T12:20:00.005-05:00

In the New York media (and in this blog), a lot has been made of the New York Yankees trades for Curtis Granderson and Javier Vasquez, and the Yankees lack of interest in their own free agents, Johnny Damon and Hideki Mastui. But not much has been said about the acquisition of free agent first baseman Nick Johnson. So I figured I'd take a moment to delve into that signing a bit.

Nick started his career with the Yankees, but ended up being blocked at first base by the Yanks' signing of Jason Giambi before the 2002 season. He was later traded to the Montreal Expos for the aforementioned Vasquez. But why bring him back now? Even though he's a great hitter, great defensive first baseman, Johnson has suffered through a myriad of injuries since leaving the Yankees, and played more than 140 games a season just once in his career.

The answer is simple: Jesus Montero. After the trade of Austin Jackson to the Tigers, and the elevation of Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes to the major league roster, Jesus Montero is the Yankees number one prospect. And even though he just turned 20, he could be ready as soon as this year.

There's a reason the Yankees didn't go after ace pitcher Roy Halladay this off-season (who eventually was traded to the Phillies) - it's because the Blue Jays wanted Montero in the trade.

What does that have to do with Johnson, you ask? Montero, a catcher by trade, is not the greatest defensively, but he's a monster hitter. He's got DH written all over him. We all know that Yankees GM Brian Cashman wants to make this team younger. And make no mistake - installing Montero as the DH (and emergency third catcher) in 2011 is part of that plan. That's why Cashman elected to go with a stopgap solution at DH in 2010 - Nick Johnson.

If Johnson plays even 100 games at DH this year, the Yankees will get their money's worth. Limiting Johnson to 100 games will keep him healthier, and also allow the Yankees to give 35+ players Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter some games at DH.

What if Johnson gets hurt again? That just means Jesus Montero makes his inevitable debut at Yankee Stadium in 2010, not 2011. It's a chance the Yankees were willing to take, rather than block Montero's development by signing Johnny Damon to a 2 or 3 year deal.

Look out AL East, the Yankees are finally figuring it all out. They're getting younger and better - and on course to be the "Team of the Decade" yet again.

Johnny on the Spot

2010-01-18T13:51:00.009-05:00

Now that Matt Holliday, John Lackey, Jason Bay and the rest of the "Type A" free agents have signed, the most prominent free agent left on the market is the New York Yankees' Johnny Damon.

As I mentioned in my recent post "Burned by Boras", Johnny hasn't exactly played his cards right this off-season. His hard-nosed stance (orchestrated by Boras) seems to have eliminated the Yankees from his list of possible future teams. Rumors that he was close to signing with the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants have fizzled. So as Red Sox Nation often wondered, what would (or in this case "will") Johnny Damon do?

It seems that Johnny's going to have to eat some humble pie, much in the same way Bobby Abreu did last off-season, and take a one-year deal for about 5 million and incentives. Surely there are some teams who will take a chance on Damon at that price, but will they be teams that are contenders? Probably not.

My guess is that one of Johnny's former employers will come calling, and Damon will answer the call. Oakland's Billy Beane loves a bargain, and he's been known to bring back former All-Stars who are in the post-35 stage of their career (similar past signings include David Justice, Frank Thomas and Jason Giambi). And the Kansas City Royals, who could use a solid veteran or two, seem like an ideal landing spot. Johnny could then finish up his career where it all began.

One thing's for sure. Future 35+ free agents are certainly learning a lesson this off-season: Forget waiting around for the "best deal". Be reasonable, not greedy in negotiations, and take the first decent offer you get.

Fair Weather Fans

2010-01-16T20:28:00.009-05:00

Nothing sticks in the craw of a die-hard sports fan more than the fair weather fan. That is, a fan who only roots for teams who are doing well (also sometimes known as front-runners or bandwagon jumpers).

And nowhere is the fair weather fan more prevalent, than New York City. All one has to do is glance at the caps on the heads of passers-by, or the jerseys on their backs.

Truth be told, there are always a great deal of Yankee caps to be found on Manhattan streets, but for the past few months, since the Yankees won the World Series in November, there have been exponentially more.

In October 2004 and 2007 (Red Sox World Series years), there wasn't a Yankee cap to be found in the city. But on seemingly every walk or subway trip I took, I counted a half dozen Red Sox caps every few minutes. Now? I haven't seen a Red Sox cap since August.

Football fans are no different. A few months ago, I saw Giants jerseys galore on the streets. Today, it's a sea of Jets green as far as the eye can see.

Is it a case of people who are already fans breaking out the shirts to "support the team", and disgruntled fans of losing teams stashing them away? Of course. But I think it's an equal number of "casual" sports fans trying to "look cool", and sport the colors of the hot team.

I truly believe sports fans have every right to root for whoever they'd like to (this is America after all). But let's face it: bandwagon jumpers are phonys. I just don't think I could ever trust someone who was a Mets fan in 1986, and a Yankees fan in 1996 (and believe me, there are a lot of those people out there, lurking among us). Unless, of course, he or she had a damn good reason for it - such as "Keith Hernandez ran over my dog" or "Kevin Mitchell slept with my sister". Outside of something outlandish like that, I'm not buying it.

The only people I spare from my fair weather fan wrath are kids, who pretty much by nature are fair weather fans - hence the vast number of New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers fans who grew up in the 70's. But once you hit puberty, you should be locked into a team, for life (or in the case of Cubs fans, make that life sentence).

So, am I a fair weather fan? (all Yankee fans are suspect until proven otherwise, in my opinion)

I give you two nuggets of proof: First, I attended 20+ Yankee games in both the 1990 and 1991 seasons, their worst seasons in my lifetime (they lost 90+ games each year), and I have the ticket stubs to prove it. Second, my favorite football team is the San Diego Chargers, winners of zero Super Bowls, and owners of dozens of losing seasons since the AFL-NFL merger.

My football luck could be changing this year, however, as the Chargers are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl in 2010. If it happens, not only will I be able to celebrate a World Series and a Super Bowl in the space of 3 months, but I will also likely see my first San Diego Chargers jersey ever on the streets of Manhattan. Damn front-runners!

Marky at the Bat?

2010-01-13T20:26:00.006-05:00

When former A's and Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire "talked about the past" and came clean about his use of steroids throughout the entire decade of the 90's earlier this week, it was a surprise to no one. It's clearer now than it ever was that McGwire's bloated home run totals were tainted, and he will never be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Was is surprising is what his former manager Tony LaRussa, who is still the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, is planning to do to attempt to strengthen McGwire's Hall of Fame chances.

The now 46-year old McGwire was hired this off-season as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach, and LaRussa is toying with the idea of putting McGwire on the roster, and using him as a pinch-hitter this season.

The idea here is not to add a potent bat to the Cardinals' bench - but to restart McGwire's Hall-of Fame clock. You see, a player must be retired for 5 years before being Hall-of-Fame eligible, and if McGwire has even one at-bat, it will be 5 years before the baseball writer can vote, or more importantly not vote for him.

The fact is, LaRussa doesn't want McGwire banished from the Hall because it makes him look bad. He's doing this not just to preserve McGwire's legacy, but also his own. Do you think the A's would have won the 1989 World Series without a juiced up Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco? Also, I don't believe for a second that LaRussa didn't know McGwire was a steroid user until this week. It's a joke.

The only man who can put a stop to this McGwire pinch-hitting farce is MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. But he's another one who ends up looking bad if McGwire gets shut out of the Hall of Fame. Selig's fingerprints are all over the steroid era as well. Selig played dumb for 20 years, and acted like steroids were not a problem in baseball, and now he's trying to come off as a hero.

Here's something heroic, Bud. Invoke the "best interests of baseball" clause, and tell Mark McGwire if he even picks up a bat in front of a stadium full of fans, whether in batting practice or a game, he's banned from Major League Baseball forever. Make McGwire face the music on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2011, so we can put this cheater in our rear view mirror forever.

HOF Voting is a Joke

2010-01-09T20:51:00.005-05:00

The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced its Baseball Hall of Fame voting on Wednesday, and Andre Dawson was the only player who received the necessary 75% of the vote to be inducted.

Dawson, as I mentioned in my "Hall of Fame Candidates 2010" post a few months ago, is deserving of the honor. But somebody please tell me how it's possible Roberto Alomar wasn't voted in, in his first year on the ballot?

Alomar, a shoe-in Hall-of-Famer, received "yes" votes from 73.7 percent of the baseball writers, falling 8 votes short of induction. It seems that many of the voters felt that the "spitting incident" (Alomar once spit on umpire John Hirschbeck in and argument on the field) was enough for them to conclude that Alomar wasn't deserving of "first ballot" status. The thinking here is: withhold your vote this year, then vote him in next year.

My question is: what if every writer decided to do that this year? If 95% of the writers withheld their votes for Alomar, he wouldn't have received the 5% he needed to even stay on the ballot. Far fetched? Maybe. But it could happen. And it would be a shame. Once off the ballot, a player must wait 20 years to be considered by the Veteran's Committee (who are even tougher to convince than the BBWAA).

In my opinion, either you're a Hall of Fame player, or you're not. Why leave players on the ballot for 15 years, so they can "gain momentum" and lobby for votes? Bert Blyleven, who 17 percent of the voters thought was a Hall of Famer in his first year on the ballot 13 years ago - got 74.4% this year. Blyleven wasn't a Hall-of-Famer in 1997, and he isn't now. But next year, a few more voters will say "what the heck", and he'll get in. Ridiculous...

Reducing the eligibility to one year would make things simpler, and force the writers to make the correct decision the first time.

So what do you say, BBWAA? Make 2011 everyone's last year on the ballot, and you can finally spare us this yearly dog and pony show.

Burned by Boras

2010-01-03T12:51:00.005-05:00

I've always thought baseball "super-agent" Scott Boras was out for his own self-interests, and not the interests of his clients (see my "Beware of Boras" post from November 2008 for more). I also thought that for marginal players, Boras was clearly not the best choice for an agent. But now, with baseball's (and America's) economy in a tailspin, Boras isn't the right choice for any player.

Just take a look at how he's handled some of his recent "big name" free agent player negotiations:

His now famous opt-out of Alex Rodriguez's contract in the middle of the 2007 World Series caused A-rod to drop bar Boras from speaking to the Yankees so he could negotiate the contract himself.

Last off-season, after advising Manny Ramirez to dog it for the Red Sox and force a trade to the Dodgers, he recommended that Manny decline his 2-year, 20 million dollar option, only to find Manny had no other suitors but the Dodgers.

And this off season? Look what he's done to Matt Holliday and Johnny Damon. Holliday was offered a 7-year, 138 million dollar contract by the St. Louis Cardinals (a team where he thrived last season), and Boras advised him to hold out for the same 180 million dollar contract he got for Mark Teixeira last year. Only today, that contract is no where to be found. No team is interested in Holliday at that price. Now, he'll be lucky to get that same 138 million dollar offer again from the Cards.

Damon is in even worse shape. Everyone knows Damon wanted to return to the Yankees. Everyone also knows the Yankees wanted to retain Damon. Leave it to Scott Boras to ensure that didn't happen.

The Yankees were interested in signing Damon to a deal similar to the one Bobby Abreu got from the L.A. Angels: 2-years, 19 million. According to Boras, Damon would accept 3-years, 39 million, and no less. He also insinuated there were many other teams willing to fork over 39 million if the Yankees were not. Boras was bluffing, and the Yankees didn't bite. Instead they signed Nick Johnson to a one-year 5.5 million dollar deal, leaving Damon out in the cold. Boras has since come back with a 2-year, 20 million dollar compromise, but it's too late. Damon is the latest victim of Scott Boras' greed.

My question is: why do players need these agents at all? Alex Rodriguez did just fine by himself, securing a 10-year, 275 million dollar deal. And if Damon were representing himself, he most certainly would still be in pinstripes, probably at around 2-years, 20 million or so.

Scott Boras is still living in a world where money is no object to Major League Baseball teams. Unfortunately, that world no longer exists. My advice to the remaining free agents (Xavier Nady, Jarrod Washburn, Rick Ankiel and Adrian Beltre are a few others) represented by Boras? Take matters into your own hands, and give Boras the pink slip.

Gardner is Right for Left

2009-12-28T20:20:00.008-05:00

With all the moves the New York Yankees have made over the past few months since their World Series victory, they've pretty much used up all of the 200 million dollars GM Brian Cashman has hinted will be their payroll ceiling for 2010.

After acquiring a new starting pitcher (Javy Vasquez), a designated hitter to replace free agent Hideki Matsui (Nick Johnson) and a center fielder to replace the recently traded Melky Cabrera (Curtis Granderson), now Yankees "Universe" seems to be clamoring for a new left fielder as well. I say, when is enough enough?

Brett Gardner, who is currently slated to play left, is more than adequate to play left field for a championship team, especially one that has an all-star at virtually every other position on the diamond.

How soon we forget: the Yankees won the 1996 World Series with Gerald Williams opening the season in left field (later replaced by an aging Tim Raines). In 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Yankees won it all with Chad Curtis and Ricky Ledee splitting time in left. And in last season's championship year, the Yanks won with Melky Cabrera patrolling center field most of the season.

So why not Brett Gardner? He hit a respectable .270 last season, with 26 stolen bases, 3 HRs and 23 RBI in only 248 at bats. Double those at bats, and you've got yourself a pretty damn good number 9 hitter.

Yankees fans are getting spoiled by all the All-Star free agents the Yankees are able to purchase at any moment. It's time for the whining to stop.

I believe Brian Cashman when he says the Yankees are done spending this off-season on big ticket free agents. I also believe he's doing the right thing. A low salary addition like Reed Johnson (who has been rumored) would be the perfect right-handed compliment to Gardner in left. The Yankees have more then enough talent to win again in 2010. And besides, isn't more fun to see the Yankees win with at least a few blue collar players?

Javy Holidays

2009-12-26T13:58:00.005-05:00

The New York Yankees made their second major December trade earlier this week, when they acquired Javier Vasquez and Boone Logan from the Atlanta Braves for Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn and 19-year old minor league prospect Arodys Vizcaino. My first reaction to this trade was: "Are you kidding me?"

Like most Yankee fans, the memory of Javy Vasquez that's burned into my brain is the image of him giving up a grand slam home run to Johnny Damon in game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, handing the game and the series to the Red Sox. For the icing on the cake, Vasquez served up another home run to Damon a few innings later, throwing the same pitch. Overall in 2004, Vasquez had an unspectacular year in pinstripes, imploding in the second half after making the All-Star team, and subsequently getting traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the off-season for Randy Johnson.

My plan earlier in the week was to slam Yankees GM Brain Cashman in this post for bringing back Vasquez, a pitcher who seemingly couldn't cut it in New York. But I decided to give it a few days to sink in and gather my thoughts. Here they are...

1. As much as that day in October 2004 will never leave Yankee fans' memories, it was only one game. And in Vasquez's defense, Joe Torre brought him in to face an impossible situation. Down 2-0 with the bases already loaded (old pal Kevin Brown took care of that), and until the playoffs, Javy hadn't pitched in relief all season.

2. While Vasquez did have a disastrous second half in 2004, it was only 3 months of an otherwise decent career. He's averaged well over 200 innings, and almost 200 strikeouts per season over the past 10 years, and he had between 10 and 16 victories in each of those seasons.

3. In 2004, Vasquez was counted on to be the Yankees number 1 or 2 starter. Now? He's the number 4 starter. A much less pressurized situation for him.

4. Vazquez had a career year last year for the Braves, going 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts for a mediocre team. Perhaps Javy has finally figured it all out.

5. Vasquez is in the final year of his contract (getting paid 11.5 million in 2010), and will be motivated to pitch well for his next payday.

6. Vasquez, unlike the Ed Whitson's of the world, does want to pitch in New York. It was clear that he never wanted to leave the Yankees, and he is thrilled to be back. Whether that means he's got the stomach to handle New York pressure remains to be seen.

7. Cashman didn't give up much to get Vasquez. Melky Cabrera is an average player at best, and Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino are crapshoots. They could be great, but most likely won't be.

If you think I'm trying to talk myself into liking this trade, you're right. After listing all of the above points, I don't think this trade is a disaster, but still wouldn't have pulled the trigger.

The biggest question I have is this: While Javier Vasquez will mostly likely have a good 2010 season, and the Yankees will probably make the playoffs, would you really trust this guy to start a game 4 of a big playoff series? The ALCS vs. Boston, for instance? I sure wouldn't.

Because no matter how well Vasquez pitches this year, the first time he's in a big spot in the playoffs, our minds (and his) will flash back to that fateful day in 2004 when Johnny Damon took him deep. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he's got the guts to handle it.

Grandy is Dandy

2009-12-13T12:28:00.011-05:00

Faithful readers of Inside Cheez already know how much I like Curtis Granderson, who was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees this past week. Rather than rehash my ode to Granderson, please check out my post from almost two years ago, "Reviving a Lost Art", in which I suggested Granderson was the perfect player to start a team with. Now in 2010, the Yankees can do just that.

I've also stated in the past how much I like Austin Jackson, who went to the Tigers in this transaction. I'd seen Jackson play numerous times with the AAA Scranton Yankees, and came away impressed. I never imagined of course, that these players would be traded for each other.

So do I like this trade? In a word, "yes". Yankees GM Brain Cashman has once again outdone himself. Acquiring a player of Granderson's caliber for a player (Jackson) who if the Tigers are lucky, may eventually turn into Granderson, is a steal. At best, Jackson will be in 5 years what Granderson is now. What's more likely is that he will be a 4th outfielder type.

What makes this trade even better is Granderson's salary. Just 5.5 million in 2010, 8.25 million in 2011 and 10 million in 2012. Again, a steal for a player with Granderson's skills. Granted, he did have an "off" year in 2009, but in the Yankees powerhouse line-up, I predict a .300, 30 HR, 20 steal season. And hitting coach Kevin Long will surely improve his numbers against lefties (which were below .200 in 2009). Besides, the only dominant lefty starter in the AL East (who's not on the Yankees) is Boston's Jon Lester. Granderson could easily sit in those 3 or 4 games.

What about the other players the Yankees gave up, you say? Ian Kennedy (who went to the Diamondbacks) wrote his ticket out of town when he said he "pitched great" after a terrible loss in 2008. The Yankees don't take to kindly to players who are "happy" with their performance after they lose. If not for his aneurysm in early 2009, he would have been traded long ago. At best, he's a 3rd or 4th starter, and he had no role on the 2010 Yankees team.

As for Phil Coke, (who went to the Tigers) he showed the Yankees exactly what he was made of down the stretch in 2009. He just didn't have the stomach for the pennant race, and was hammered in September and in the playoffs. If you can't cut it when the heat is on, you've got no place on this Yankee team. Coke's role had been wrestled away by Damaso Marte, and he was expendable.

So what's next? I think the Yankees now clearly only have room (at the DH spot) for Damon or Matsui, not both. Cashman will make Damon a 2-year 18-20 million dollar offer, and if he doesn't take it, he'll sign Matsui to a 1-year, 10 million dollar deal. My advice to Johnny Damon? Take the deal. Or else you might be spending 2010 back playing for the Kansas City Royals. And no self-respecting Damon fan wants to see that.

Halladay for the Holidays?

2009-12-05T13:14:00.007-05:00

Based on what we're hearing from new Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos, the Jays are very serious about trading ace starting pitcher Roy Halladay this off-season. It's also pretty clear Halladay wants out - if the trade is made with one of the teams of his choice. Since Hallday has a full no-trade clause, he has every right to make that choice.

What follows is a list of teams I think have a realistic shot of landing the ace right-hander, and the odds of it happening in my estimation:

New York Yankees - Roy Halladay has said he wants to play for a winner. Check. He also wants to play for a team that trains near his Florida home (just outside of Tampa). Check. He has a pal in the Yankees in A,J. Burnett. Check. The Yankees can afford to give him a huge contract extension. Check. The Blue Jays seek 3 top prospects in return - a pitcher, catcher and shortstop. The Yankees can offer a starting pitcher in Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, blue-chip catching prospect Jesus Montero, and shortstop Ramiro Pena. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you believe my previous post. If Yankees GM Brian Cashman is "all in" in 2010 - Halladay will be a Yankee. If not, the Jays will move on to choice #2. Odds: 3-1.

Boston Red Sox - More of a long shot, because Sox G.M. Theo Epstein has said he will not include 19-year old shortstop prospect Casey Kelly in any deal. A possible deal-breaker since the Jays seek a shortstop. If this turns into a Yankees-Red Sox war (which the Jays hope it does), all bets are off. The Red Sox will definitely have to give up Clay Buchholz to make this happen, though, or the Jays will move on to choice #3. Odds: 5-1.

Philadephia Phillies - The Phillies can absolutely put together a package to entice the Jays, in catcher Travis d'Arnaud and pitcher Kyle Drabek - but they also don't have the shortstop Toronto seeks. Drabek would be enough to make this happen though, if the Phillies dare to pull the trigger. Just imagine: Halladay and Cliff Lee in next year's post-season rotation. Nasty. Odds: 7-1.

Los Angeles Angels - They don't have any prospects that will make the Jays salivate, but if the top three pass, Toronto may settle for some lesser names. Also against them if the fact that they train in Arizona. Halladay prefers to stay in Florida in March. The odds will rise if the Angels lose ace John Lackey as expected. Odds: 12-1.

New York Mets - In the same boat as the Angels. Not many top prospects to throw at the Jays. Shortstop prospect Wilmer Flores would be a start, but likely not enough. Odds: 15-1

Tampa Rays - This team has not been mentioned in trade rumors, but I think they have a realistic shot if they jump in. Halladay would be home all-year round, the team has a great shot to win (especially if they add Halladay), and they have prospects to give the Jays, including future ace Wade Davis and shortstop Reid Brignac. A longshot, since the Rays generally don't have much money to spend, so I'll put the odds at 20-1.

The Field - There's always a chance another team (The Cubs, Giants or Rangers perhaps?) could jump into the fray, but I doubt it. Odds: 30-1.

Toronto Blue Jays - Of course, the most likely scenario is that the Jays can't find a deal to their liking, and decide to keep Roy Halladay for 2010. If this happens, they'll get two top draft picks when he signs with another team in 2011 - which could be a better package than anything they'll acquire now. It's not very exciting for us hot stove fanatics, but it's the place to put your money if you're a betting man. Odds: 2-1

Hall of Fame Candidates 2010

2009-11-29T15:21:00.006-05:00

For the few of you who have been faithful readers of Inside Cheez since its inception (and I thank you for that) parts of this post will look familiar. In the past two years, I've listed the Hall of Fame candidates I would have cast my ballot for if I had a vote, and last year, only my choices of Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice got in.

My feelings on the other candidates I chose haven't changed, but the ballot has. What follows is my revised list for 2010:

Don Mattingly: Perhaps I'm biased here, but in my mind, Don Mattingly is a Hall of Fame player. I understand his career stats are borderline (as far as Hall of Fame standards go), but in his prime, Mattingly was the most feared hitter in the game, period. He was also one of the best (if not the best) defensive first baseman of his era. If Kirby Puckett is a first ballot Hall of Famer - then Don Mattingly should be in as well. Compare their stats on Baseball Reference dot com - they're almost identical. (of course, you could argue Kirby shouldn't be in either). Anyhow, Donnie Baseball gets my vote.

Jack Morris: Here's another guy who's stats aren't the greatest as far as Hall of Fame standards go, but to me, Jack Morris is a Hall of Famer. He's got 3 World Series rings for 3 different teams, and he's the reason they won those rings. If you wanted one pitcher (from his era) to pitch game 7 of the World Series for you, who would you pick? Anyone who saw game 7 of the 1991 series knows the answer.

Tim Raines: This was another tough one for me. My first thought was no - Raines isn't a Hall of Famer. But after looking at his stats, I'd vote yes. He played from 1979 to 2001, so there's the longevity. In the 80's with Montreal, he was one of the best players in the National League, and a perennial MVP candidate. He's 5th all-time in stolen bases, and you could make a case for him being the second best base-stealer (in his prime) behind Rickey Henderson. In the 90's he transformed into a great role player, and won 2 World Series rings with the Yankees. Also, his stats compare favorably to Lou Brock, who IS in the Hall. Rock gets my vote.

Andre Dawson: Another guy who gets completely overlooked because the prime of his career was played in Montreal. Stats are similar (if not better than) Dave Winfield, who's in the Hall. Andre gets my vote as well.

Barry Larkin: It's Barry's first year on the ballot, and he would definitely get my vote. He was N.L. rookie of the year in 1986, a 10-time All-star, N.L. MVP in 1995, World Series Champ in 1990, and had a .295 career average with 198 HRs and 960 RBIs while playing a gold glove shortstop. This is a no-brainer to me, but he still might not get in on the first ballot.

Fred McGriff: A vote for the Crime Dog? Yes indeed. Take a look at his numbers and compare them to any non-steroid user: .284 average, 493 HRs, 1550 RBIs, .503 slugging percentage, 377 OBP. McGriff is absolutely a Hall-of-Famer, and if he didn't play in the same era as Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, you wouldn't even think twice about it.

Roberto Alomar: I really hated Alomar when he was playing, and that's why I'm voting for him. He always beat up on my beloved Yankees, and his career numbers are staggering for a second baseman: .300 average, 210 home runs, 1134 RBI, 474 stolen bases, .371 OBP, N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1988, 10 All-Star appearances, 6 gold gloves and 2 World Series rings. Need I say more?

The above guys are in if I'm voting - these guys are not:

Edgar Martinez: Great, great hitter, who's numbers aren't quite there for me. Also, he rarely played the field. I believe a Hall-of Famer must excel on offense and defense. Edgar skipped the defense part, so no vote from me.

Harold Baines: Great hitter, but he also didn't play the field at all. I say no to full-time DHs.

Bert Blyleven: Great pitcher, but not a Hall of Famer in my mind. I put him on par with Don Sutton, who did get in, but shouldn't have.

Lee Smith: Not in the same class as Goose and Sutter. I say no.

Mark McGwire: He needs to come clean about his steriod use (and he may this year). Then the voters (and I) may consider him.

Dale Murphy: Another guy who's close, but the .265 career average ices it for me.

Dave Parker, Alan Trammell, Andres Galarraga, Todd Zeile, Robin Ventura: Great players in their time - but I have to draw the line somewhere. I'm drawing it above them.

David Segui, Kevin Appier, Ellis Burks, Pat Hentgen, Eric Karros: Good players? Yes. Hall of Famers. No way.

Mike Jackson, Ray Lankford, Shane Reynolds: There's always one guy who I can never figure out how he even got on the ballot. This year, there are three. If these guys get even one vote between them, I'll be floored.

My prediction? Larkin and Alomar get in. The rest are likely in for a long wait.

Yankees Target: 2012

2009-11-25T22:34:00.007-05:00

Here's a news flash for Yankees fans: Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman isn't planning on going full guns to win another championship in 2010.

Mr. Cashman has been quoted over and over again in the New York tabloids in the weeks since the 2009 World Series victory, and he's said all the right things, never showing his hand (at least outwardly). He's said that free agents Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte are all terrific players, and he'd speak to their agents first before "engaging" other free agents. He's also said the Yankees plan to keep the 2010 payroll in the same ballpark as last year's - about 201 million. That would leave him about 21 million to spend this off season (when you factor in the expiring contracts and current player raises).

But one thing Cashman said caught my eye. He was asked about how difficult it would be to let World Series heroes such as Damon and Matsui leave the team as free agents. He responded by bringing up Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein, who faced a similar dilemma after the 2004 World Series. Epstein let all-star free agents Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe and Orlando Cabrera walk in the 2004 off season, and as Cashman smartly pointed out, they "still won another World Series three years later".

Let's read between the lines here. If Cashman considers Epstein winning 2 World Series in 4 years a terrific accomplishment, wouldn't he consider it a success to pull that off himself? Of course he would.

So Yankees fans, if you think Brian Cashman is going to sign John Lackey, Chone Figgins, Matt Holliday and trade for Roy Halladay this off season in an all-out effort to win in 2010, think again. Cashman, like Epstein, is a smart businessman, and has a long-term plan for the Yankees franchise. He isn't about to alter that plan just to win back-to-back championships.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Cashman won't try to win next year, I'm just saying he's going to try to win with players that will make the Yankees better not only in 2010, but also in 2011, 2012 and beyond. He's in it for the long haul.

The fact is, the Yankees three-peat (sorry Pat Riley) in 1998, 1999 and 2000 spoiled us all. If the Yankees don't win another championship until 2012, Brian Cashman will still consider his plan a success. You should too.

Out with the Old?

2009-11-21T20:19:00.007-05:00

One of the toughest decisions New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman faces this off season is whether to resign his top three free agents: Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte.

Now, if these three players were in their primes, this would be a no brainer: he'd resign all three. But Matsui and Damon will be 36 next season, and both will likely want at least a three-year deal. Pettitte will be 38, but would likely want a one-year deal.

Pettitte's the easy call here. He he wants to play, sign him to a one-year deal for about 10 million. It's worth the risk of injury or ineffectiveness, since the Yankees are only committing to one year.

Signing either Damon or Matsui to a three-year deal would be an enormous mistake. The Yankees already have Jorge Posada (who will be 38 in 2010), Derek Jeter (who will be 36) and Alex Rodriguez (34 and coming off hip surgery) on their roster for 2010 season and beyond. Can they really afford to add another 35+ player to that list, no matter how talented they are? The answer is absolutely not.

Johnny Damon has had a great four years with the Yankees, and finished up with a terrific World Series. But he's a terrible fielder with one of the worst throwing arms in the league, and his legs are slowly giving out on him (the Yankees should take that pulled hamstring in game 6 as a sign of future trouble). If he looks this gimpy in 2009, imagine what he'll look like in 2012!

Hideki Matsui was also an outstanding signing for the Yankees, and he too had a masterful World Series. But that should not mask the fact that he can no longer play the field at all. He's still a great hitter, but he can be replaced easily with fresher legs. Matsui does give the Yankees a presence in Asia, but it doesn't bring in enough money to justify signing him to a three-year deal.

With the Yankees 2009 World Series victory, Brain Cashman is playing with the house's money. He can afford to bring in some new, younger blood in 2010, and be spared the wrath of irate fans longing for their World Series heroes. The Yankees have lost much better hitters, and even bigger fan favorites (Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams come to mind) and ended up doing just fine.

Now, if there's a limited market for Damon and Matsui (which I'm afraid there might be) and either is willing to return for one year, now we're talking.

My guess is we'll see rookie Austin Jackson manning centerfield for the Yankees in 2010, Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner in left, and either Damon or Matsui (more likely Matsui) at DH on a one year deal. If that happens, the Yankees will be in terrific shape.

Note to Free Agents: Sign Early!

2009-11-14T20:33:00.007-05:00

Here's a tip for this year's MLB free agent class: don't wait around until January for the best deal. Sign early, and take the best deal you can get before the calendars switch to 2010, or risk taking a lot less as spring training draws closer.

Don't believe me? Take a look at the lesson Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu learned. Last off-season, he started off thinking he was going to get a 3-year, 34 million dollar deal from the Yankees. He ended up waiting...and waiting...and waiting...for a deal that never came. He ended up taking a 5 million dollar one-year deal with the Angels right before spring training started.

This year? Abreu was a free agent again, but this time, he didn't wait around. He signed a 2-year, 18 million dollar deal before the free agency period even began. He wasn't about to make that same mistake again.

Last year, the players who signed early, such as the Phillies Raul Ibanez, got great deals (Ibanez got 3-years, 36 million). The players who waited? They got a fraction of what they envisioned, and in some cases were forced into retirement.

So...the clock is ticking. Especially for those free agent DH/outfielder types who are over 35. This means you Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Jim Thome, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Mike Cameron, Jermaine Dye and countless others. There are only so many jobs available, and in this game of MLB musical chairs, you certainly don't want to be the last man standing.

World Series Heroes

2009-11-06T20:40:00.006-05:00

The New York Yankees claimed their 27th World Series Championship on Wednesday night, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, thanks to some outstanding performances from some likely heroes and one unlikely hero:

Derek Jeter - As usual, Jeter hit over .400 for the series, and was especially effective against Phillies ace Cliff Lee, who none of the other Yankee batters could solve.

Johnny Damon - Also hit over .400 in what might have been his last games as a Yankee. His incredible at-bat in the 8th inning of game 4, and subsequent 2 steals on one pitch, were the turning point of the series.

Hideki Matsui - Despite not starting in 3 of the 6 games, Matsui managed to hit .615 for the series, with 3 home runs and 8 RBI. His 6 RBI performance in game 6 was one of the greatest in World Series history, and earned him the MVP. Matsui also could have been playing his final games in pinstripes.

Mariano Rivera - Was his usual dominant self, and somehow lowered his post-season ERA from 0.77 to 0.74 in the process. He single-handedly snuffed out the Phillies patented late-inning comebacks. When he entered each game, it was over.

Damaso Marte - In my mind, Marte should have been the series MVP. He masterfully handled the dangerous lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in numerous key situations. His strikeout of Utley in the 7th inning of game 6 eliminated any chance the Phillies had to get back in the game. Would anyone have guessed Marte would be a key player in post-season before the playoffs started? I sure didn't...

Andy Pettitte - Gutted his way though two starts with not-so-great stuff, including the series clinching game 6 on 3-days rest. The Yankees had the right man on the mound when it counted. Pettitte now has 17 post-season wins, the most ever.

What do all of these players have in common? They've all won championships before. (Matsui, don't forget, won 3 titles in the Japanese league) It's difficult enough to win the World Series, but it's almost impossible to do without experienced players to lead the way.

Pettitte vs. Pedro

2009-11-04T19:34:00.005-05:00

With only minutes until first pitch at Yankee Stadium, I figured I'd post a quick thought or two on game 6. Here's the question I have: why is the New York media acting like this is another 2004-like collapse?

Don't believe what you read in the papers: the Yankees clearly have the edge in this series the rest of the way, even though Pettitte goes on 3 days rest tonight. Would you want A.J. Burnett pitching in this spot? I wouldn't. Yankees manager Joe Girardi pitched Burnett in game 5 because it didn't matter if they lost. Now he's got Pettitte on the mound for game 6, the man he wants there with the season on the line, and if the Yankees somehow lose tonight, he's got CC Sabathia as the back-up for game 7.

I'm sticking with my prediction of a Yankees World Series win in SIX games. I think the Yanks will get to Pedro Martinez early, and the Phillies bullpen will have no answer for the Yankees in the late innings.

Mark it down: Yankees championship number 27 comes tonight in the Bronx. In about 4 hours or so, let the celebration begin!

1=27

2009-11-02T07:51:00.007-05:00

The Philadelphia Phillies came within a tiny foul tip of making this a 2-2 World Series last night, but the Yankees' Johnny Damon (who had a brilliant at-bat against Phillies closer Brad Lidge) stayed alive on that foul tip, and now New York is 1 win away from championship number 27.

I could write for hours on the 9th inning only, but I'll try to keep it short here. If the Yankees win this series (and it's extremely likely they will), Johnny Damon has cemented his place in Yankee lore for eternity. He may have even earned himself a contract for next season in the space of five minutes.

Damon's at bat against Lidge will surely go down as one of the greatest in Yankees history, right up there with Paul O'Neill's at bat against Armando Benitez in 2000 World Series game 1. With two outs and no one on in the top of the 9th, Damon fouled off slider after slider (including that teeny-tiny foul tip with 2 strikes), finally getting a base hit after 10+ pitches. Then on the first pitch, Damon stole two bases, getting a great jump on Lidge to grab the first bag, then smartly heading for third when Lidge failed to cover the base (Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz had vacated the base to cover second with "the shift" on Mark Teixeira). I've been watching baseball for more than 30 years, and have seen thousands of games, and I've never seen that done, even once.

Damon on third changed the entire complexion of the inning, keeping Lidge from throwing his slider, for fear of allowing Damon to score on a pitch in the dirt. Lidge subsequently hit Teixeira with a pitch, gave up a double to Alex Rodriguez on a fastball right down the middle to score Damon, and then a 2-run single to Jorge Posada. Mariano Rivera enters for the bottom of the ninth, and 8 pitches later, game over.

The reason I say the Phillies were a foul tip away from winning themselves? If the game had stayed tied, Phil Coke would have been the pitcher, with the crowd going wild in a 4-4 game. A recipe for disaster for the Yankees. It almost certainly would have resulted in a Phillies walk-off win.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel almost got away with pitching Joe Blanton last night, and saving ace Cliff Lee for tonight. If not for that teeny tiny foul tip, Manuel is a genius this morning. Now, the Phillies backs are against the wall, and Manuel needs not only a second masterful performance from Lee tonight, but a miracle in the Bronx in games 6 and 7. A game of inches indeed.

Back in Control

2009-11-01T08:00:00.006-05:00

With the Yankees 8-5 win over the Phillies last night, the New York Yankees are back in control of the 2009 World Series. If the Phillies win, they'll now have to do it back at Yankee Stadium, in either game 6 or game 7 (sorry Jimmy Rollins). The Yankees, on the other hand, could wrap it up in 5 games in Philadelphia, but at worst will get another chance to play at home.

Some other positive developments for the Yankees:
* Alex Rodriguez broke of of his World Series slump with a home run. He should be able to relax for the rest of the series, which is bad news for the Phillies.
* Nick Swisher broke out of his playoff-long slump with a double and a home run. Look for Swisher to be back in the line-up again tonight.
* Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte looked great in the bullpen, perhaps finally giving Joe Girardi the "bridge" to Mariano Rivera he's been searching for the entire post-season, since Phil Hughes has shown he can no longer hack it.
* Girardi's moves in game 3 paid off yet again, especially his decisions to pitch Marte the entire 8th inning, and pinch-hitting Matsui in the 8th (he hit a home run).

The negatives? Phil Hughes. Joe Girardi can no longer afford to pitch Hughes in a big spot. As great as he was in the regular season, he's been lost in the post-season. In this World Series, he's given up 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning. Not good...

Now, for today's big decision: the starting pitchers for game 4. Tonight's game is now the pivotal game in the series, and on Friday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced he's throwing Joe Blanton instead of opting for Cliff Lee on short rest. Joe Girardi is going with CC Sabathia on 3 days rest, just like he did in ALCS game 4.

First, the Phillies side. I think Manuel is making a mistake here. I know Blanton pitched great in last year's World Series, but the Yankees always tee off on him. That combined with the Yankees throwing their ace Sabathia, most likely will result in a Phillies loss. Manuel's theory is that Lee has never pitched on 3 days rest. There's a first time for everything, isn't there?

On the Yanks side, I think Girardi's doing the right thing. Chad Gaudin (the Yanks current 4th starter) hasn't started in over a month. And Sabathia has proven he can pitch well on 3 days. Going for the jugular is the right call.

That said, if the Phillies somehow pull out tonight's game, the momentum clearly shifts back into Philadelphia's favor, and Manuel looks like a genius.

Tomorrow, we look back at game 4, and preview game 5.

Mo Money

2009-10-30T12:59:00.006-04:00

I was first in line to slam Yankees manager Joe Girardi after his overmanaging in ALDS game 2 (and again numerous times in ALCS), but it's time to give credit where credit is due. Girardi made the right move using Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for 6 outs in last night's World Series game 2. Whether he won or lost the game, this was the only move to make.

Mariano Rivera is his best pitcher, and regardless of the fact that he threw 39 pitches yesterday, he'll be fine for an inning in game 3 after today's off day. Game 2 was a must win game for the Yankees, and Girardi correctly treated it as such.

Joe also made a few other key moves that worked out swimmingly:
* Leaving A.J. Burnett in the game in the 7th instead of bringing Joba Chamberlain (A.J. pitched brilliantly the entire game, by the way)
* Putting on the hit and run with Melky Cabrera at bat and Brett Gardener at first in the 7th inning (Melky got a hit, moving Gardner to third)
* Pinch hitting Jorge Posada for Jose Molina in that same inning (Posada delivered an RBI single)

In the earlier playoff rounds, Girardi had no business trying to outmanage Ron Gardenhire or Mike Scioscia - but Phillies manager Charlie Manuel? Girardi certainly can outmanage him. Manuel isn't a "by the book" guy like Girardi, which he proved by failing to send the runners in the 8th (resulting in a double play).

The biggest managerial decision for both men is coming up after the crucial game 3. Bring back the aces Sabathia and Lee for game 4 on 3 days rest? Or go with your 4th starters, Gaudin for the Yankees, and Blanton for the Phillies. Which pitchers they choose could determine the outcome of the series, and I'm guessing neither will make that call until after game 3.

I wouldn't either, by the way. I'll tell you which way I'd lean on Sunday morning.

World Series Vibes

2009-10-28T19:09:00.005-04:00

With the start of the 2009 World Series less than an hour away, I thought I'd point out something I noticed after reading the comments the Yankees and Phillies players have made over the past few days leading up to the Fall Classic.

The Phillies have made quite a few bold and brash statements - from Jimmy Rollins predicting a Phillies win in five games on Jay Leno Monday, to Jason Werth spouting off about how CC Sabathia doesn't scare them, to Pedro Martinez announcing he was the most influential player ever to play at the old Yankee Stadium. I wouldn't call these statements "confident". "Cocky" and "arrogant" seem to be a better fit.

The Yankees, meanwhile, made no bold predictions. Following the lead of their manager Joe Girardi, and captain Derek Jeter, they only offered kind words about the Phillies, and exuded confidence, not arrogance.

It seems to me that the Phillies ARE in fact concerned about playing the Yankees, and are attempting to mask that concern with their overconfidence. The Angels' Torii Hunter spouted off in much the same way before the ALCS, and look where it got him.

It's surprising to me that Rollins and the rest of the Phillies thought it was a good idea to give the Yankees some more motivation with this bulletin board fodder. Yes, you're in New York, Jimmy. But you're not playing the Mets.

A Battle of the Pens

2009-10-26T20:04:00.008-04:00

My predictions for the ALCS and NLCS were short and simple. I thought the bullpens would decide the outcome. I was right about the ALCS. Angels closer Brian Feuntes' blown save in game 2 was the difference between a 4-2 Yankees series victory and winner-take-all game 7. I wasn't so right about the NLCS. The Phillies high-powered offense made Brad Lidge and the rest of the Phillies bullpen obsolete (although the pen did perform well against the Dodgers).

On paper, the 2009 World Series is one of the most evenly matched we've seen in years. The Yankees and the Phillies have the top two offenses in baseball (the Yanks were a bit better), the Yankees have a slight edge in the starting rotation, and the Phillies have a slim edge on defense and at manager. So again, I believe this series will come down to the bullpens, specifically Phillies closer Brad Lidge vs. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

As I mentioned in my LCS predictions, Lidge was terrible in the regular season. But in the post-season, he's turned it around, giving up zero runs so far. Phillies' manager Charlie Manuel has been careful with him though - pitching him in situations where he can succeed, sometimes for as little as a third of an inning.

Future Hall-of Famer Rivera has been his usual spectacular self this post-season, entering games in the most precarious of positions, pitching 2 innings or more in a few spots, and not giving up a run until last night's game 6 (he gave up 1 run with a 2 run lead). Without Rivera's brilliance, the Yankees likely would not have beaten the Angels.

I believe this series will come down to which closer blinks first - Lidge or Rivera - and my money is on Lidge doing lots of blinking. Yankees in six, with Rivera closing out Yankees championship number 27 at the new Yankee Stadium.

Yanks Season Hinges on Game 6

2009-10-24T20:23:00.008-04:00

Now that game 6 of the ALCS is officially rained out, the pressure is squarely on the New York Yankees to win finish off the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night, or they'll severely impair their chances to win championship number 27.

How so? Well, the World Series, which seemed so far away after Thursday's game 5, creeps closer by the day. It begins this Wednesday (unless it rains again of course). With a game 6 victory, even on Sunday, the Yankees pitching rotation lines up perfectly for the Philadelphia Phillies, who have been patiently waiting for their opponent.

If the Yankees win Sunday, they'd pitch C.C. Sabathia in game 1 on Wednesday vs. Phillies ace Cliff Lee. Sabathia would be pitching with a full week's rest. Thursday, A.J. Burnett would pitch game 2 on 6 days rest, and Andy Pettitte would pitch game 3 next Saturday on 5 days rest. Perfect. Then the Yanks could even bring back Sabathia for game 4 on 3 days rest if they choose to.

If the Yanks lose Sunday, there's a big problem. First, they'd have to play game 7 with ace Sabathia on the mound, and beat the Angels. That won't be easy with momentum clearly on the Angels side. And even if they win, their rotation would be ruined for the World Series.

Burnett would have to start game 1. He'd be on 5 days rest, which is plenty, but he's no Sabathia. Game 2 is where the problems set in. Pitching Andy Pettitte on 3 days rest would be risky, since he never does it, and Sabathia on 2 days rest is out of the question. Enter Chad Gaudin, who has pitched a grand total of one inning this post-season. Gaudin hasn't pitched terribly for the Yanks this season (they're 7-0 in his starts), but he'd still be a huge question mark for game 2, especially with the Phillies' potent line-up.

After that, you'd have to pitch Sabathia in game 3, so there would a possibility of throwing him in game 6 or 7 if necessary. Then Andy Pettitte would move back to game 4, ensuring him of only one World Series start. That's all bad news for the Yanks, and great news for the Phillies.

One thing's for sure here. The Phillies will be rooting hard Sunday night for a Angels victory. After fighting it out in a game 7 Monday, both the Yankees and Angels pitching staffs will be in shambles on Wednesday, giving Philadelphia an enormous edge in the fall classic, no matter who they face.

Out with the Old Umps

2009-10-23T20:58:00.005-04:00

I think it's fair to say that we've never seen umpiring this terrible in the post-season, or in the history of baseball for that matter. I can recall at least a dozen calls that I've seen umpires make that were so wrong it's inexcusable. Most notably (and these were just in the games I happened to be watching)...

* Phil Cuzzi's calling Joe Mauer's double down the line in game 2 of the ALDS foul when it was a foot fair

* Dale Scott calling Nick Swisher safe on a pickoff play at second base in ALCS game 4 when he was out by a foot

* Tim McClelland calling Swisher out for leaving third base too soon on a sac fly in ALCS game 4 when he wasn't even looking at Swisher

* McClelland (again in ALCS game 4) calling Robinson Cano safe at third on a run down play when he was standing a foot off the base when he was tagged.

So what can be done? Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has said over and over that he doesn't want to take the "human element" out of the game, and humans make mistakes. I agree - we certainly can't replace the umps with computers - but something has to change here.

First, I'd get rid of the older umps who seemingly have no interest in even getting in position to make calls correctly. Tim McClelland was not in the correct position to see either of those plays clearly in ALCS game 4. The most glaring part of the replay we all saw wasn't that McLelland got it wrong - it was that he wasn't watching. Inexcusable, especially in a playoff game. At least Dale Scott was watching the play when he got it wrong. Heck, McClelland was the umpire in the 1983 Pine Tar game. It's time to retire, Tim.

Second, I'd do something to fix this so-called "merit system" for assigning umpires to work the playoffs. The fact that Phil Cuzzi was even assigned to that ALDS game is a joke. It looks to me more like a playoff rotation, not a reward for a job well done. Now, the umpires can't work the playoffs in back to back years. I say, the best umps should work the playoffs every year.

Third, I'd nix the right field and left field foul line umpires in the playoffs. They're not used to working in those areas, and it's just as easy for the first and third base umpires to make the foul line calls.

Instead, for the playoffs only, I'd put those umps in a luxury box with an HDTV and a radio to the crew chief on the field. Those two umps would watch the game, just like we do, on TV - and radio down to the crew chief to immediately change blatantly incorrect calls (ball and strike calls would not be included). Managers would not be allowed to "challenge" calls. It would be the sole decision of the umps upstairs, and it could happen in seconds. Any arguments from players would result in immediate ejection from the game.

Finally - and this is the easiest one to correct - if another umpire sees a blatantly terrible call on the field, he should say something to the incorrect ump! I don't believe for a second that one of the other umpires didn't see Cano standing a foot off the bag when he was tagged. They just didn't want to overrule the "crew chief". It's an umpiring "fraternity", that's for sure.

Who has the best job security in America? Major League Baseball umpires. And it's time to put a stop to it...

Over Managing 101

2009-10-18T15:55:00.006-04:00

The Yankees are up 2 games to none in the ALCS after last night's 5-hour, 13 inning marathon (which ended after 1am Eastern time), and are now in control of this best of 7 series as it heads to Anaheim for games 3, 4 and 5.

So much went on in game 2, that I just don't have time to get into, including the second base umpire inexplicably calling a runner safe at second instead of invoking the "in the neighborhood" rule (I liked the call, by the way - see my post from 1/1/08 for more on the subject), A-rod playing hero yet again, the Angels hitters collectively looking lost at the plate (especially Chone Figgins, Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter), and Robinson Cano looking lost in the field. What I would like to cover is the managing of Joe Girardi.

Am I the only one who noticed he is over managing like crazy this post-season? Yesterday, as in game 2 vs. the Twins (which also went extra innings), Girardi used 7 of his 8 pitchers in the bullpen, including 4 of them for less than an inning. He is very lucky this game didn't go more than the 13 innings it did, or he'd be second guessed right out of town. Girardi had only Chad Gaudin left in the pen if the game had continued.

He also emptied his bench, pinch-running for both Nick Swisher and Hideki Matsui and leaving huge holes in the line-up. Freddy Guzman's at-bat in the 11th inning was particularly excruciating (he can't hit a lick).

Angels manager Mike Scioscia, on the other had, still had 3 pitchers left in the pen and most of his bench left.

I know what you're thinking. It worked didn't it? The Yankees won both games, and they are 5-0 so far in the post-season. Very true. But Girardi is walking a tight rope here, banking on the Yankees' exceptional talent and late inning magic at home to come through so he doesn't look foolish. Last night, Alex Rodriguez bailed out Girardi in the 11th, and the Angels' uncharacteristic sloppy defense bailed him out in the 13th.

If Girardi keeps managing this aggressively, sooner or later, one of these games will come down to Freddy Guzman at the plate or Chad Gaudin on the mound with the game on the line and no safety net. For Girardi's sake, I just hope it's not World Series game 7.

Nutshell LCS Predictions

2009-10-14T19:56:00.005-04:00

The League Championship Series' begin tomorrow night and Friday, and it's time for me to make my usual predictions. Now, I could give you a detailed breakdown of pitching, offense, defense and coaching - but why bother? In my opinion, both of these series' are so evenly matched, it all comes down to one crucial aspect of the game: the bullpen.

First, the National League. It seems that whenever I criticize Phillies closer Brad Lidge (as I did last post-season and again a few days ago), he pitches well. When I keep quiet about him, as I did just about all of the 2009 season, he was terrible. In the Division Series against the Rockies, he was a little shaky, but good enough to get two saves for the Phils.

Even if Lidge returns to his 2008 post-season self, which remains to be seen, I still like the Dodger bullpen over the Phillies pen. The Dodgers top 5 of Jonathan Broxton, George Sherrill, Ramon Troncoso, Hong-Chih Kou and Ronald Belisario are much more reliable than the Philles' Lidge, Ryan Madson, Scott Eyre, Chad Durbin and Chan Ho Park. This series will come down to the strength of the pen, and Los Angeles will come out on top. Dodgers in 7, with Broxton closing it out.

In the American League, the Yankees have had the top bullpen in the league all season long. The day Phil Hughes moved into the set-up role ahead of future Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera, the Yanks pen became unstoppable. Now, add the seemingly rejuvenated Joba Chamberlain, along with Phil Coke, David Roberston and Alfredo Aceves, and the Angels will have a very tough time scoring runs in the late innings.

The Angels bullpen took a bit hit when they lost Francisco Rodriguez to free agency last off-season. Free agent signee Brian Fuentes has been good, but he doesn't strike fear into the hearts of hitters like K-rod did. Couple that with set-up man Scott Sheilds going down for the season, and the bullpen became less than stellar in 2009. The Angels current top 5 of Fuentes, Darren Oliver, Jason Bulger, Jose Arredondo and Kevin Jepsen are simply no match for the Yankees pen.

That huge bullpen advantage, plus the home field advantage they have capitalized on all season, puts New York over the top. Yankees in 7, with Mo on the mound for the clincher.

Waiting is the Hardest Part

2009-10-13T20:06:00.007-04:00

It's a beautiful, crisp, cool October evening in New York City - a perfect night for post-season baseball. Both the Yankees and Angels finished up their 3-game sweeps on Sunday, and yet, no baseball tonight. As a matter of fact, the ALCS will not begin Wednesday night either. Or even Thursday. It will begin Friday night, when the forecast in New York is for rain. Lots of rain.

So what's the deal?

The deal is: Major League Baseball relinquished the rights to decide what dates and times these games would be played when they sold rights to broadcast the playoffs to FOX and TBS. The networks decide the schedule, not MLB. God forbid if FOX has to move a few more episodes of "Bones" or "Glee" to get these ALCS games started. They also want to capitalize on the usually weaker ratings nights (Friday and Saturday), instead of wasting these top rated games on a weeknight.

Who loses in this scenario? Who else? The fans. Yankee fans who could have been enjoying a terrific evening of baseball tonight, now will have to sit through countless rain delays, and perhaps even the rescheduling of a game or two. And if enough games are pushed back, we may still be playing baseball well into November (it's bad enough World Series game 7 is scheduled for November 4th). All because a extra special episode of "Hell's Kitchen" is on tonight.

This isn't a picnic for the players either, who most certainly would prefer to play tonight, rather than wait a full four days and get rusty in the process.

Major League Baseball should handle this the way the NBA does. If both teams are finished with their previous series, get the next series started immediately. If the American League team then has to wait for the NLCS to be over before the World Series begins, so be it.

Up next, ALCS and NLCS predictions. Luckily for me, I have a whole 4 days to mull them over...

Yankees vs.Twins

2009-10-10T20:01:00.008-04:00

Well, I never did get around to picking the Yankees-Twins series, which is already well underway. I realize it looks like 20/20 hindsight at this point, but I was going to pick the Yankees in 3, honest I was! And of course, there's still time for me to be incorrect.

A few thoughts on what we've seen so far:

* C.C. Sabathia has silenced his critics, at least to this point. It's been said (even by me) that he hasn't come up big in big games. C.C. came up big in Game 1.

* Joe Girardi ended up smelling like roses after his choice to catch Jose Molina in game 2 (A.J. Burnett's catcher of choice) over Jorge Posada. Burnett pitched great, Posada was in the game by the 7th, and the Yankees won.

* Jorge Posada should have handled the above better, by the way. "We'd just better win the game" was not the correct response. There's clearly an "i" (at least a small one) in Posada's team.

* Brian Cashman also looks pretty brilliant after two games. His acquisitions of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira have all paid immediate post-season dividends. All four look as cool as a cucumber out there. A great sign going forward.

* Damaso Marte should not see the light of day in this series again. Brian Bruney will surely take his bullpen spot if the Yankees make it to the ALCS.

* Have to ever seen a pitcher look as scared as the Twins Joe Nathan appeared to be in the 9th inning of game 2? He looked beaten before he even threw a pitch.

* Alex Rodriguez finally got the gorilla off his back. After his bottom of the ninth, game tying home run in game 2 no one can ever again say he doesn't come through in the clutch when it counts.

* Derek Jeter clearly deserves the title of Captain on this Yankee team. His home run in game 1 set the tone for the game and the series, and eased the pressure on his team mates, big time.

* I can't help but feel sorry for Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. He's one of the best managers in the game, and has gotten more than anyone else could out of his team. He just can't seem to beat the Yankees no matter what he does. 4 walk-off losses to one team, in one season? Just unheard of.

Now, it's off to the Metrodome, for what looks like will be the final Major League Baseball game played there. On Sunday, the Yanks will have another chance to gain some revenge on former teammate (and Twins game 3 starter) Carl Pavano, who pitched well against them twice this season. The Yankees may have been fooled twice, but they won't be fooled a third time. The guess here is that it will be another long night for the Twins, and another long off-season for Ron Gardenhire.

Phillies vs. Rockies

2009-10-04T12:47:00.010-04:00

How will the NL Division Series pitting the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies and Wild Card Colorado Rockies play out? Let's take a look:

Pitching: As always, the key, and the area I give the most weight. The defending champs are stacked, with last year's AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, rookie of the year candidate J.A Happ, last years World Series MVP Cole Hamels, and the steady Joe Blanton. The Rockies staff is less experienced but still quite formidable, with Jorge De La Rosa, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis and Aaron Cook. I love the Rockies top 2, but Marquis and Cook scare me in a big spot. I give the slight edge to the Phillies, but not by a lot.

Hitting: The Rockies hitters have been unstoppable in their charge to the wild card lead. Troy Tulowitzki, Ian Stewart, Clint Barmes, Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton have all had career years, and they're a huge reason the Rockies are in the playoffs. They were in this same spot two years ago and led the Rockies into the World Series (where they lost to Boston).

The Phillies, on the other hand, probably have the best offense in the National League, with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jason Werth and Raul Ibanez all having MVP caliber years, and Jimmy Rollins finally starting to look like himself again. Edge to Philadelphia.

Bullpen: Here's where the Rockies surge in front. Their bullpen has been fabulous down the stretch, and closer Huston Street is having the kind of year Brad Lidge had last season, almost perfect. The Phillies, have Lidge, who's having the worst season of his career, blowing 11 saves. He looks like he may have sold his soul to the devil in 2008, and is now paying the price. Rockies by a mile.

Defense: Pedro Feliz, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard all have 10+ errors this season, compared to only Barmes at 10+ for the Rockies. Not a huge deal, but edge to the Rocks.

Manager: Charlie Manuel, is underrated as a manager, and Jim Tracy is the number one reason the Rockies are back playing in October. Again, slight edge to the Phillies. Manuel has a ring, Tracy does not.

The verdict? Sticking to my "pitching wins in the playoffs" mantra, I've got to go with the Rockies. The starting pitching will keep the Rockies close, and they'll win at least two game in the bullpen. Lidge implodes (like we all thought he'd do last year), and the Rockies win in 5.

Dodgers vs. Cards

2009-10-04T12:33:00.006-04:00

Now that the NL match-ups are set, let's dive right in! Two of the best managers in baseball (Joe Torre for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tony LaRussa for the St. Louis Cardinals) square off, and here's how I see it playing out:

Pitching: Let's see...who has the edge? Two Cy Young awards candidates for the Cardinals, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, plus 15-game winner Joel Piniero - or a bunch of rookies and mid-level starters for the Dodgers? The clear answer is the Cards. Joe Torre could conceivably go with any of seven starters in this series (Wolf, Kershaw, Billingsly, Kuroda, Garland, Weaver or Padilla). They're all pretty much interchangeable, and mediocre.

Batting: The Dodgers have some great bats, specifically Manny Ramirez, "Mr. Clutch" Andre Eithier, and Matt Kemp...but they have nothing to compare to the best player of this generation, Albert Pujols. Now that Albert has Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa to protect him, he will be unstoppable on the post-season, especially against the Dodgers less than stellar starters. Edge to the Cards.

Bullpen: Both pens have been shaky of late, but I'll take L.A. closer Jonathan Broxton over St. Louis' Ryan Franklin any day of the week. Slight edge to the Dodgers

Managers: Again, two of the best, with 6 World Series wins and countless division championships between them. Even.

Defense: The only true weak links here are Manny Ramirez for the Dodgers, and Skip Shumaker for the Cardinals. Again, call it even.

Both these teams, have not played well lately, but I think the Cardinals have the better team. Carpenter, Wainwright and Pujols are three superstars the Dodgers just can't match. Cardinals win it at home in 4.

Sox vs. Halos

2009-10-03T20:47:00.014-04:00

It's that time again: time for the Inside Cheez fearless playoff predictions! I call them fearless only because they are absolutely no ramifications for me when I am inevitably incorrect. But here goes anyway...

Strangely, at 9pm on the Saturday before the final Sunday of the season, there is only one match up in stone. The National League playoff teams are set (Philadelphia, St. Louis, Colorado and Los Angeles), but until the NL West is decided, either tonight or tomorrow, we won't know the match-ups. And in the American League, the Central division is heading into the final day. Either Detroit or Minnesota will face the Yankees starting Wednesday.

So for today, we're left with the one match-up that will definitely happen: The Boston Red Sox vs. the Los Angeles Angels. Here's how I break it down:

Pitching: The most important aspect of playoff baseball, and here Boston clearly has the edge. I don't care if Josh Beckett hasn't been pitching well lately, Jon Lester was recently hit by a line drive and Daisuke Matsuzaka has been hurt all year. I'll take Boston's big three (plus 4th starter Clay Buchholz) over the Angels' probable starters John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana any day of the week. I fully expect Beckett to be his usual unhittable self beginning this week.

In the bullpen, Boston's got the edge too. Billy Wagner and Jonathan Papelbon in the 8th and 9th are as good as it gets. Angels closer Brian Fuentes doesn't scare me, and he shouldn't scare the Boston hitters either. The Red Sox win the pitching match-up by a landslide.

Hitting: If I told you before the season began that the Angels have the edge here, you'd think I was crazy. But I am, and they do. 1 thru 9, the Angels are stacked. They're no easy out in this line-up. They may not have household names, but the results speak for themselves (check out the stats here at Baseball Reference dot com):

Boston, on the other hand, has some monster hitters like Victor Martinez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay - but they also have huge holes in the line-up, such as Alex Gonzalez and Jason Varitek - and question marks like David Ortiz, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew. Don't get me wrong, Boston's hitting is just fine, but the Angels have the edge here.

Manager: Boston's Terry Francona and LA's Mike Scioscia are two of the best in the business. No need to debate it. Call it even.

Defense: Ok, so Boston has the pitching edge, and Los Angeles has the hitting edge. What decides it? Defense, that's what. Boston's got a huge problem at catcher, and you can bet the Angels will exploit it. Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez have combined to throw out only 13% of base runners this season, a terrible percentage - and the Angels have 5 batters in the line-up with double digit stolen bases. Look for the Angels to run, and run, and run some more.

Also, if Francona decides to play Varitek at catcher and Martinez at first base, the defense gets even worse. Boston's best bet is to play Martinez behind the plate, Youkilis at first, and Lowell at third. Captain Varitek should be on the bench.

The guess here is Francona will choose not to embarrass his veteran catcher, and play him behind the plate in this series. It will cost Red Sox Nation dearly. Angels in five.

In the coming days: Yankees vs. Detroit or Minnesota, and the NL match-ups. Stay tuned.

Savings at Safeco

2009-09-27T20:16:00.012-04:00

With the exorbitant prices at the the new Yankee Stadium, it's making more and more financial sense to see the Yankees on the road, rather than at home. Last weekend, I took my family of three cross country to Seattle, Washington for the Yankees 3-game series at Safeco Field, and spent less than $2000 for airfare, hotel, game tickets (for all 3 games) and food. That's less than the price of one seat behind home plate for a game at Yankee Stadium.

What makes this deal even better, is that Seattle is an absolutely fabulous city (above, see the view of the city from the Space Needle, with Mount Rainier behind it). There are dozens of terrific restaurants, the world famous Pike Place Market to browse, amazing weather if you go at the right time, and one of the Major Leagues finest stadiums, Safeco Field.

Opened in 1999, Safeco Field celebrated its 10th anniversary this season, and it's just as beautiful now as it was then. Breathtaking views of the city from the upper deck, great sight lines from every part of the park, an unbelievably friendly and helpful staff, and food that's just as good as the cuisine you'll find in the heart of the city's downtown.

As readers of "Inside Cheez" are well aware, I've been to 26 of the 30 current Major League Stadiums, and I'd rank Safeco number two, just behind Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Unfortunately, attendance has been very weak at both of these pristine baseball palaces (especially in Pittsburgh, which hosted a crowd of less than 3,000 last week).

What makes Seattle's Safeco Field truly unique is the retractable roof. Absolutely necessary in rainy Seattle, this umbrella roof is one of a kind. When open, Safeco looks just like any other of the newer stadiums, open air all around with no roof in sight (see above). What you can't see is that the roof is actually over the rail yards that are beyond the right field grandstands.

When it begins to rain, as it did last Saturday evening, the roof slowly and quietly begins to slide over the stadium, on enormous metal tracks along the outfield. In about 10 minutes, the roof is over the field. And amazingly, you still feel like you're outside. The open air behind the seats continues to circulate, giving you the feel of being outdoors, while it rains just feet from your seats. Hence, the "umbrella" effect.

So, next season, when you're thinking about purchasing those $500 field level seats at Yankee Stadium, think again. There are plenty of terrific ballparks that are just as beautiful as Yankee Stadium (Baltimore's Camden Yards comes immediately to mind), where you can see Yankee baseball for a fraction of the price. Yes, even if you factor in hotel and airfare. The only additional expense is time. And if your trip is to a city like Seattle, that added "expense" is well worth it.

Predictions Revisited

2009-09-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

Well, it's about that time of year...the time I pull out the predictions I made back in March, and see how wrong I was. I actually couldn't remember what teams I picked, so after taking a peek at my March posts, here we go...

AL East - Believe it or not, I thought the Tampa Rays would repeat. How wrong I was. Who'd have thunk the Rays pitching would take this much of a downturn? Kazmir and Shields were a shell of their 2008 selves (Kazmir was recently traded to the Angels), and David Price hasn't lived up to the hype yet. Also the trade of Edwin Jackson to the Tigers was a killer. Also, after a few years of underachieving, I never thought the Yankees would be this good.

AL Central - I picked the Minnesota Twins here. While they're not officially out of it yet, they are very close to flat lining. The Tigers are much better than I thought they'd be (see Edwin Jackson trade above for the reason).

AL West - My choice: the Angels. Hey, I got one right! Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball, hands down. Even with an incredible amount of injuries this season, the Angels are on top.

AL Wild Card - I went with the Yankees here, but the winner will be the Boston Red Sox or the Texas Rangers. At least I was right about the Yankees making the playoffs.

NL East - Score another one for me! The Phillies are clearly the class of this division. But are they still the class of the NL? I think not...

NL Central - How silly of me to think the Cubs would win the division two seasons in a row. Have I learned nothing from history? Manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan have done their usual masterful job leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the division title. It's the Cards who are now the team to beat in the NL.

NL West - I picked the Giants to be the surprise team of the NL this year, and while I was right, it doesn't look like they'll have enough for the division crown, or even the Wild Card. The Dodgers and the Rockies look like they'll secure the final playoff spots, leaving the Giants shut out after a terrific season.

NL Wild Card - I picked the Florida Marlins to take the Wild Card. Wrong again, but as usual, Florida overachieved even though they have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. They didn't have the horses to finish the race this season, but they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2010.

Let's see...3 out of 8 correct? That's a decent batting average, but I'm sure no Nostradamus. Next on the prediction list: the playoffs. See you back here around October 1st...

Silence is Golden

2009-09-11T20:51:00.004-04:00

I was flipping from game to game on the TV a few nights ago, when I stumbled upon the New York Mets game. I watched for a while, and the announcers didn't say a word. In fact, I watched the whole inning and the announcers didn't say a word!

The great thing about this is, there was nothing wrong with my TV, and the Mets were not "experiencing operating difficulties". I was witnessing a new feature the Mets are trying out during their broadcasts: the silent sixth!

The entire sixth inning, the only sounds you hear are the sounds of the game. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the tones of the organ, and at Citifield, the sounds of the planes flying overhead (from nearby Laguardia Airport). Brilliant!

The amazing thing is: I didn't miss a thing. Do we really need the announcers to tell us the pitch was a ball or a strike? If a player was given a hit or an error? Or if a player hits a home run? No, we don't. The picture tells the story, and it's the only story we need.

In an era when TV announcers seem to find it necessary to fill every second of time with mindless babble, the Mets "silent sixth" is a breath of fresh air. And as bad as the Mets are, it actually held my interest so much, that I watched an entire inning, and enjoyed every second of it.

Now, if we can just get the other 29 teams to hop on board with the "silent sixth", or better yet, the "silent game", the baseball world will be a much better, and quieter, place.

Yankee Stadium West

2009-09-03T19:07:00.007-04:00

Have you sworn off Yankee Stadium because of the ridiculous prices at the new "Baseball Cathedral"? Looking for a place to take a family of four to see Yankee baseball for a a fraction of what you'd pay in the Bronx? Well, as they say on "The Office", it's time to get your Scrant on!

The Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the Triple A affiliate of the New York Yankees, offer just about everything the Major League team does (with the exception of the ability to watch major league players, of course), and quite a few things the parent club does not.

While PNC Field doesn't have the fancy amenities of the spectacular new ballpark in the Bronx, it was quite a bit easier to get to: an hour and twenty minutes from my New Jersey home, about the same time it takes to get to Yankee Stadium (when you factor in NYC traffic). Scranton traffic? There was none to be found. And get this - the parking was FREE.

Once inside, I didn't see high class restaurants like Yankee Stadium's NYY Steak, but I did see plenty of terrific food choices: Scranton-style pizza, cheese steaks, sausages, hot dogs, popcorn in a Yankee helmet (which my son loved), and amazing cinnamon-coated nuts. The food wasn't cheap, but I also didn't need to take out a home equity loan to feed my family.

In addition, the setting (see photo above) much more serene than the grey Bronx skyline. What would you rather see as the backdrop for baseball? A tree lined mountaintop or debilitated buildings?

Another plus - PNC Field is much more kid-friendly than Yankee Stadium. There are the usual minor league contests in between innings to keep the kids entertained, a mascot to help them cheer on their Yankees, and games on the concourse (like the batting game above) in case they need a break from the action.

Want to see familiar faces on the field, you say? Quite a few players who've been with the big club were on display in Scranton, including Shelly Duncan, Ramiro Pena, Cody Ransom, Johnathan Albaladejo and Edwar Ramirez. PNC Field is also a great place to see the Yankees stars of the future. Yankees phenom Austin Jackson put on quite a show on this day as well.

All in all, another great day at the ballpark, and another reason you'll see me attending more minor league games than major league games in the future. The best part was, I told my son we were going to see the Yankees (which wasn't a lie, technically), and he absolutely loved it. He didn't even know the difference.

Injury Warm-ups

2009-08-30T12:20:00.005-04:00

Just a thought I had while watching the Yankees-White Sox game this past Saturday afternoon:

Yankees starter Sergio Mitre was hit by a line drive in the 6th inning and had to come out of the game. Baseball rules dictate that when there's an injury, the reliever (in this case Chad Gaudin) is entitled to as many warm-up pitches as he likes to get ready to enter the game.

What usually happens in this instance, is the pitcher, while warming up on the mound, feels intense pressure to warm up quickly, and usually says he's ready even when he's not. 9 times out of 10 the reliever gets hammered. Gaudin, to his credit, took enough time to get ready, and pitched great. Yankees announcer Michael Kay didn't help things by complaining on-air about the length of time Gaudin took to warm up.

My question is: why does the relief pitcher have to warm up on the mound? Wouldn't there be less pressure on the reliever if he warmed up as usual in the bullpen, then was allowed his customary 10 pitches on the mound? As we all know, pitchers are creatures of habit, and doing all their warm-ups on the mound in front of 50,000 fans likely throws them off.

I'm pretty sure there's no rule against a reliever warming up in the bullpen after an injury. If I were a Major League manager I'd definitely give it a shot. There's certainly nothing to lose, and maybe a few wins to gain.

Catching the Crabs

2009-08-27T20:35:00.001-04:00

As recently as 20 years ago, it was impossible to catch a minor league baseball game in New Jersey. But today, baseball in the Garden State is thriving, with more than a half-dozen minor league options to choose from, including two major league affiliated teams: The Trenton Thunder (AA level affiliate of the New York Yankees) and the Lakewood Blue Claws (A level affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies)

First Energy Park in Lakewood was the stop on my most recent ballpark tour, and while it's nothing spectacular, it certainly was a terrific evening at the ballpark. The Blue Claws have been in existence since 2001, and over the past 8 years, Claws fans have seen current Major League stars such as Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels play for the team.

First Energy Park, like most minor league parks, is a terrific place for kids (as long as you keep your eyes open for foul balls). There's a play area in the left field corner where kids can go to release some energy, with jungle gyms, a bounce house and other activities. Team mascot "Buster" (pictured above) roams the ballpark, high-fives all the kids, entertains the fans and poses for pictures.

There are also games and promotions in between innings to entertain the whole family, such as the "Ham, Egg & Cheese" race (pictured above). Also, the Blue Claws merchandise, while typically pricey, is some of the best in the game. The team has dozens of different t-shirts, hats and other memorabilia all emblazoned with the "Crabs" logo. (The "Got Crabs?" t-shirts are a big seller)

Oh yeah, and there's baseball too! We were lucky enough to see former Yankees prospect Jesus Sanchez (who was traded to the Phillies in the Bobby Abreu deal) pitch a gem of a game on this night. Even though this is A ball, you never know when you're going to see a future Major League star in action. I'll certainly be watching Sanchez's progress after seeing this masterful performance.

Overall, a trip to First Energy Park in Lakewood is a great night out for the whole family. My 3 year old son even made it through the whole game (which lasted til 10pm) without batting an eye. On your next trip to the Jersey shore, a trip to see the Claws is highly recommended.

Batting Stance Guy

2009-08-18T20:10:00.006-04:00

Inside Cheez has been on a mini summer vacation, and I thought I'd check in and break up the emptiness of this space with some brilliant baseball related video. Here's a recent appearance of "Batting Stance Guy" on The Late Show with David Letterman for you to enjoy...

As Batting Stance Guy himself says, this is "the least marketable skill in America". But is it? He seems to be gaining more and more exposure, and his impersonations of Derek Jeter and Kevin Youkilis alone are priceless.

One thing's for sure, he has put a LOT of time and energy into this. At the very least he seems to be having fun doing it, and how many of us can say that about our jobs?

If you want to see more (and what true baseball fan wouldn't), check out Batting Stance Guy at battingstanceguy.com