So today I got home and did my rounds on the internet and in the paper. Nothing major, mostly superbowl previews.
And then at about 4 o'clock, about three stories suddenly popped out of nowhere. None were really significant, but they were interesting nonetheless.
Apparently, the Yankees signed Morgan Ensberg to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Ensberg had a great 2005 season, when he hit 36 home runs, but he has gone downhill since. I actually picked him on my fantasy team as a bench player last year. He went on to hit .230 with 12 home runs. Not a good pick.
I think Ensberg could be a legitimate signing. The Yankees are already stacked at first base, but if there are many injuries, Ensberg has the ability to play first along with other infield positions. Also, it definitely seems from viewing his career stats that he's patient at the plate. That's obviously a positive.
So after that bit of news, Phil Hughes informed us on his blog that he is changing numbers for some reason. He is currently 65. He doesn't exactly explain why he's changing numbers, but he is.
Then, I saw on espn.com that Keith Law had made his annual list of baseball's top 100 prospects. The highest Yankee? Joba Chamberlain, of course, at number 3. Ahead of him were Evan Longoria of the Rays (no longer the Devil Rays) and Jay Bruce of the Reds. Also, Clay Buchholz was ranked fourth. The next highest Yankee on the list was Jose Tabata, a 19-year old right fielder, at number 21.
I think it definitely goes to show how much the Yankees have improved on their farm system in recent years. Several years ago, the Yankees had only a handful of players in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Now, with the influx of youth talent in the organization, the Yankees are being represented well on the list.
I think Cashman has definitely made a few blunders over the past few years, but his development of the farm system cannot be overlooked.
I gotta say, Michael Rosenberg's article on foxsports.com is spot on, at least in my opinion.
He discusses how the Yankees lost out on the greatest pitcher in the game. Rosenberg hit on many of the subjects that I feel are worth noting in the trade.
First, he discusses how a team can never make up for a number one starting pitcher; in other words, an ace. And he's right. And that's what the Yankees have been missing over the last several years. There has not been one pitcher the Yankees have been able to call on in must-win games.
Put this in perspective: Chien-Ming Wang gave up twelve runs in two postseason starts last year. Santana hasn't given up twelve runs in back to back games since 2000. Santana would have been the ace of the team, the player they had to have on the mound in a pressure game. And he would be ready.
It's no question that the Yankees have the assets to make it to the playoffs; they've made it every year since I was three. The problem, at least in recent years, is dominating the short playoff series. Sure, over the course of 6 months, the Yankees will find a way to win 95 games. But winning three or four when they need to has been a challenge. But not when you have an ace.
Second, according to several reports, the Twins would have made the deal sans Hughes. In fact, they had dumbed down their offer to Kennedy, Cabrera, and a prospect. Imagine my delight reading this afternoon that we could have had Santana while keeping Hughes in the rotation! Could you imagine? Santana, Wang, Pettitte, Chamberlain, and Hughes on top of our offense?
Simply, we'd be the best team in baseball. Even with our lackluster bullpen.
Most people say that Cashman was hesitant to sign Santana because the deal would most definitely ensure a hefty, $100 million dollar-plus extension. Well, yes. But it's not my money. Well, maybe a $50 parking fee and a $15 beer would hurt, but a World Series win would soften the blow.
We had a shot and it flew by. If Santana continues his success while with the Mets, Cashman will never hear the end of it. And maybe that's a good thing.
And third, the Yankees had to give up virtually nothing in order to obtain Santana. I love Melky and Kennedy, and their potential is sky-high. But Melky hasn't exactly been the anchor of our offense in recent years, and his bat and glove have not exactly been vital to the team compared with other players.
Kennedy definitely has the stuff to be a solid starting pitcher. But no matter how he develops over the next few years, he isn't Johan Santana. Plain and simple.
Remember folks, Santana is only 28. That's five years younger than Derek Jeter. This isn't some 35-year old journeyman who won a Cy Young award twelve years ago. This guy is just entering a period where most pitchers hit their stride. And nothing has proven that he's slowing down. Yes, his 2007 numbers were slightly down. But he also got virtually no run-support and still put up numbers that were better than any Yankee. He also struck out 235. The highest on the Yankees? Pettitte, with 141.
We had our shot and we missed it. It's a shame.
Obviously, we want to expand this site as much as possible over the next few months. We've got a couple of interesting projects lined up in order to do so.
At some point, Ray, myself, and several others will give a 'season preview' podcast, where we'll talk about what to expect from the Yankees in 2008. We'll also talk about other MLB teams and give our perspectives on everything baseball as we gear up for the new season.
We'll also be able to post highlights from games. Our technical producer, Mike, will hopefully be able to rip footage off mlb.com and yankees.com and stream it to the site.
Also, over the next few days we'll think of something to do for the superbowl on the site.
Last, it is definitely encouraged to comment and offer your views on the team and anything MLB or even sports related. Also, if you want to post something on the site, let me, Ray, or Mike know and we'll make it happen.
Thanks, Jeff.
That's what Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting.
I know, if you're a Yankee fan, this is a tough blow to take.
Apparently the Mets gave up just four prospects: Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey. You've gotta think that the Yankees package was better, being that Hughes and Cabrera have proven they can play competitively in the major leagues.
The good news: the Mets aren't in our division or even our league. Also, it assures we keep Hughes and Cabrera for the start of 2008. The bad news: the Yankees may have lost out on one of the premier pitchers in the majors for years to come.
Gomez has the most experience of the four prospects, playing in 58 games last year. He's definitely shown potential, but to be honest, it's surprising the Twins made the deal without acquiring top prospect Fernando Martinez.
The Mets may be taking a huge risk with this trade, giving up four of their prospects. But, if Santana puts up numbers like he has in years past, he'll be a welcomed commodity in Queens. Plus, he'll have the Mets offense behind him, which probably assures him 20 wins barring any injuries.
Yankee fans will view this trade in different ways. Personally, I wanted the Yankees to acquire Santana, even if they had to give up Hughes, Cabrera, and a prospect. Damon could have been a fine replacement in center, and the rotation would have been bolstered immensely.
Thoughts? Reactions?
About three weeks ago espn.com posted their opinion of the 25 greatest sports seasons of all time. In response, I gave my opinion of the top 10 greatest individual Yankee seasons over at facebook.
It's definitely a great topic to discuss, because there are a bunch of different ways to look at it. Plus, it gives us something different to talk about other than Johan Santana and steroids.
Here was my list:
10) Babe Ruth- 1920
In Ruth's first year as a Yankee, he smashed the previous home run record of 29 by hitting 54, more than several teams combined. He also hit .376 with 137 RBIs, 150 walks, and 158 runs scored. With Ruth's explosive season, he alone marked the end of the dead ball era.
9) Lou Gehrig- 1931
In an unforgettable season, Gehrig hit .341 with 46 home runs and 184 RBIs. The 184 RBIs still stands as a Yankee record today.
8) Lou Gehrig- 1927
Although overshadowed by Ruth's 60 home runs, Gehrig chipped in 47 home runs of his own, while hitting for .373 with 175 RBIs, leading the Yankees to their second-ever World Championship. He also hit 52 doubles and 18 triples.
7) Ron Guidry- 1978
In 1978, Guidry by far had one of the best seasons ever for a pitcher. He compiled a 25-3 record with a 1.74 ERA, including a game in which he struck out 18, which set the record at the time. All season long, Guidry was dominant in his starts. His consistency on the mound allowed for the Yankees' historic comeback late that year, and in the deciding one game playoff against the Red Sox, Guidry pitched on three days rest for the win.
6) Babe Ruth- 1927
Ruth broke his own home run record again by hitting 60 home runs, a record that would stand for 34 years. He also hit .356 and drove in 164 runs. Even though 81 years have passed since this historic season, people still marvel at the numbers.
5) Roger Maris- 1961
While he may have only hit .269, Maris broke the all time home run record held by Babe Ruth. Even through adversity and media conflicts, this season alone is why Maris is still remembered today as one of the top Yankees.
4) Mickey Mantle- 1956
In probably the best year of his career, Mantle won the Triple Crown by hitting .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs. In what was probably the best era of Yankee baseball, Mantle had his best season, putting him on top of the New York world.
3) Alex Rodriguez- 2007
Perhaps no Yankee in our lifetime has had to deal with so much adversity as Alex Rodriguez. Even so, A-Rod managed to bear all this conflict and have one hell of a season. He rewrote the record book in April by hitting 14 home runs with two epic walk-offs against the Orioles and Indians. As the season progressed, he never gave in. He finished with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs, and a .314 average- statistically, it was probably the best ever for a Yankee right-hander.
2) Babe Ruth- 1921
In his second season as a Yankee, Ruth took over the game. He hit .378 with 59 home runs and 171 RBIs in a season where the Yankees won their first of 39 pennants. With 44 doubles and 16 triples, Ruth hit for a combined 457 total bases, a mark that still stands today. Oh, and he also stole 17 bases.
1) Joe DiMaggio- 1941
It would be tough to have any type of top-10 Yankee list without the Yankee Clipper, and I'm pretty sure I've saved the best for last. His numbers don't exactly jump out at you (.357 average, 30 home runs, 125 RBIs), but this was a season where DiMaggio set a record that no one has come close to in 67 years. By hitting in 56 straight games, DiMaggio set the ultimate mark of consistency. The next highest on the list? Wee Willie Keeler with 45. Thousands have tried, but even after all these years, DiMaggio ranks at the top in one of the most treasured baseball records.
Joel Sherman of the Post reports that David Cone will return to the YES broadcast booth for about 50 games this upcoming season.
After David Justice left the YES network to work for the website, and now that Joe Girardi is managing the team, YES needed to fill a spot. Cone will now join the likes of Ken Singleton, Paul O'Neill, Bobby Murcer, and John Flaherty as YES analysts. Cone will also host Yankees on Deck, replacing Justice.
David Cone had previously been a part of the YES network, but he has been absent from baseball for three years. Cone played with the Royals, Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox over his seventeen-year career which ranged from 1986-2003. His perfect game in July of 1999 was one of the most storied moments in franchise history.
--Jeff
Yes another blog, but this does not have anything to do with the Yankees, more of a Sport blog. A (online friend) has nicely let me post the websites link in his forums so I'm now promoting his amazing website. I currently am a member of his sports website which is forums about different sports. The cool thing he has is called a Simulation Baseball League which is a league where you are the GM of a team and have all the roles a normal gm would. Every couple days a simulation occurs and your players perform and simulate a real life game and your objective is to win the World Series. A very interesting way to enjoy your free time, so its more productive than just sitting there on facebook or whatever.
The website is http://fandigest.com/forum/index.php and the people there are all very friendly.
-Ray
There are a lot of concerns Yankee fans have as the 2008 season approaches.
What are you most concerned about? The starting rotation? The bullpen? First base? The bench? The outfield? Vote in the poll over on the left.
Here at the Bronx Insider, we'll try and update polls as often as possible, so hopefully this is the first of many.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Twins may soon ask the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets to "step up with their best offers" for Johan Santana. After a period of time, in which the "Johan Sweepstakes" have not been mentioned, the talks have begun once again.
The three teams might have a chance of offering once more, but just released this morning (January 28th) at 9:56, Assistant general manager Rob Antony said Sunday that the Twins' contract offer to Johan Santana remains on the table.The offer is said to include the $13.25 million that Santana is set to earn in 2008, plus another four years at $20 million per season. While $20 million per season is certainly nothing to sneeze at, a total of $93.25 million isn't an especially legitimate offer given that Santana should have no problem getting at least $125 million on the open market.
Do any of the three teams really have a chance? Or are the twins truly convinced they will be able to resign the lefty without having to deal him away? This will be very interesting to see how it unfolds before the beginning of the season.
Whats up with all the conflicts circling the Yankee organization right now?
First, Brian Cashman verbally degraded Bernie Williams' performance in his final years. Cashman said that Williams had a terrible season in 2005, and he made no effort to resign him after 2006 because Williams was too concentrated on his music. Cashman also criticized Torre for playing Williams too much in 2006, even when he had other options.
Williams said this in response: "I don't think he has any basis to say anything like that. Let me put it this way: Questioning a person's commitment to the team is a very serious accusation, at least in my book."
Technically, Bernie still isn't retired, although it's pretty obvious he won't play again. It's a shame that his career had to end the way it did.
This morning, another conflict emerged, this time involving Roger Clemens (again). Peter Abraham of The Journal News reports that the Hendricks brothers (Clemens' agents) have released a report online. The report is more like a mini-novel, covering 45 pages.
Basically, the report compares Clemens to other players and disregards any notion of him taking steroids. I think the Hendricks brothers are trying to prove via statistics that Clemens did not suddenly have a burst of success, which often marks steroid use.
This report will probably be met with some harsh words from George Mitchell and his staff. We'll see how this unfolds.
