Jt, lets move or rename this to the yanks thread (create a New "2009 Official NY Yankees" thread)...this is a good one to start with, but we will get addtional good news and keep Yanks stuff there as well. It was posted in the MLB Offseason News thread. P.S. the contract details and any opt-out or buy-opt will be interesting to see.
He falls apart the second year into his deal. Overweight pitchers always fall apart much sooner then a pitcher who is an average weight i.e Bartolo Colon.
CC has to much heart for that. I expect him to pitch well for the length of the contract, the guy is 28. The real key is now seeing him dominate in the postseason, that hasn't happened yet.
Whenever you have to overpay someone to overcome their hesitance of playing somewhere, it should be a concern.
Its funny because he waited as long as he could so someone else would step up and offer the same amount of money cause he does not even want to be in NY.
CC is going to eat himself out of New York...all that NY thin sliced pizza, all those calzones and fattening Italian food, he is going to balloon up to 300+ if he is not there already. He already was the only guy on the Brewers who could borrow Prince Fielder's pants when he didn't have his uniform ready. The Steinbrenners can throw out all the $$$ they want to but it won't buy a World Series ring since you cannot buy team chemistry.
I have to ask about this. I've seen this saying used many times, we all use it when speaking of football and basketball but does that apply to baseball as well? I'm not a fan of baseball and I don't follow it but is team chemistry really needed in baseball? I mean, every game is isolated match-ups between two players, the pitcher and the hitter. They're all one-on-one match-ups so its not like there's team work in that aspect of the game. As I said, I don't follow baseball but I do know about Barry Bonds because he's such a big name in sports for several reasons. From my understanding, he never liked his teammates and not many liked him. He had the whole thing with Jeff Kent I believe his name was, where he got into arguments and had a brawl in the dugout. He had horrible team chemistry with others from what I heard and look how he did.
Alen, chemistry and human interactions has a role in every aspect of life, and every facet of sports - regardless. When it comes to a clubhouse its about interaction. Now, history has shown in Baseball especially that the clubhouse doesn not overrule the performance on the field. The infamous Bronx Zoo of the 70's proved that out. As far as Bonds, from everything I have read, most in the clubhouse like him and chose his sides over the whole Kent squabble. So Bonds was being defended, and the FO shipped Kent off to make sure it wasnt repeated, etc. So, CC in NY could very well be a non issue, and if so, I would lean to say for one reason. Derek Jeter. And if Boston I would say Varitek would be an equal. Even in the 1970's Thurman Munson had the final say. So you dont have to love one another, but when you take the field, as you point out, as long as you all do your job, they can still win together, etc. Winning makes for strange bedfellows. Always has. This is one of those time will tell scenarios.
The one thing that would scare me is that the Yanks had to up there offer 60 million more than anyone else to get him to sign. My fear if a Yankee fan is he turns into Ed Whitson. But the Yanks had to take a chance.
I think the Yankees needed to do this, they despertly needed pitching last year and they got it. As Teddy KGB said "Pay the man his Money" I think next year the pitching staff is looking like it will be sold with CC and Wang, both potential 20 game winners
check, check, check.... Rotation at this point: CC (L) Wang (R) #3 #4 #5 Options from who's on the roster to who could be FA signing: Hughes (R); Chamberlain (R); Kennedy (R); Aceves (R); Sanchez (R); Petitte (L); Lowe (R); Sheets (R); Burnett (R); Amazining, one signing and things look brighter...get an elite L - although perhaps a season to late, makes the mix and matches so much more possible for the rotation. I sure wish I would hear something positive about Yanks interest in Tex, but it just doesnt even seem like they have any interest. Thats surprising to me.
I would love to get Sheets, but he is injury prone. I do love Joba next year. I believe he can be a 15-16 game winner for us as he is maturing. I hope Petitte comes back, would be amazing to have to Lefties and Hughes should do good next year, i am just worried that he gets hurt again next year. I would be ashame if Hughes becomes our Kerry Wood and is always on the DL, I is interesting on what we will do for the rest of the offseason. I gope we get another big name picture!
o and i hope, just because i am a huge fan of his and he is my favorite player, and i know i will get bashed for this but IDC, we sign Bernie for a one year deal It would never happen but i would love to see it. He said he kept baseball shape. Have him as a DH or something! Highly unlikely but still!
?? Yeah bc David Wells did not pitch past his late 30's. Yes, a lot of overweight pitchers bodies crumble on them. But to say ALWAYS is a bit of a stretch imo. There are examples for both sides. It is really a player by player case. Truthfully, I would be more worried about the workload the Brewers hit him with last year than I would be about him being overweight.
For what other pitchers the Yanks go for... I have a feeling they are going to sign Sheets and Lowe. Sheets to a 4 year contract, but the second two are options IF he is healthy for some % of the first two. Lowe is just a work horse and will be a solid inning eater. I really like Pettitte, but am really afraid that his body is failing on him bc of Steroids. So I would be very hesitant to sign him to anything more than a one year deal.
If yanks do sign Pettitte i dont see it for anything other than a 1 year deal. He wanted to retire last year so i believe this is his last year, if he plays. I could see him ending up back in Houston
To be fair, while Wells did pitch very well, but he did have health issues, some from being over weight and some from his lifestyle. But CC while being heavy has a bigger frame to help.
It sounds like 2 of 4 between Lowe, Burnett or Sheets, plus potential for Pettitte will happen. Personally, signing Sheets, Pettitte (1 yr - aha We all think alike on this one), and Lowe would be the 3 I would love, and let Joba stay in the bullpen. Let Hughes/Kennedy/Sanchez? be long relief or spot starter injury risk option, mid pen of Veras, Albaladejo, Britton/Bruney, and Ramirez, then with deep pen options of (7th) Marte (huge upgrade over Farnsworth), (8th) Joba, (9th) Mo. Now that would be sweet music.
You and my Oldest would freak out together. She cried when he was brought back to close out the old stadium. Honestly, cant see it happening, but DH only....an invite to spring training might ease the pain of his absence????
I am personally with you on Joba in the pen. I feel he is better off there and would have a better, and longer career there.
i hope, i hated the way things ended between them... I was glad Bernie was there during the closing of the statdium. Great Yankee moment and i was glad he was a huge part of it... Also now that i am thinking about it, don't be surprise if Petitte goes to Torre and plays for the Dodgers
A couple of thoughts about CC. Good move by the Yankees, they needed him the most out of any team in baseball. Yes it's obvious they bid against themselves but they print money in the Bronx, so if for some reason this deal blows up in their face it won't stop them from getting other players like it would if he signed with the Brewers or even to a lesser extent LA. I think giving him an opt out clause in insane because if CC has 3 good to great years in a row and the economy is up of course he'll opt out and the Yankees will probably end up paying him even more money (example see Arod) and if CC sucks or somehow gets hurt for the rest of his career (hopefully this isn't the case as I never want to see a player get hurt ever no matter who or what team he plays for) then the Yankees are stuck with him. Opt outs are just bad ideas for the teams. I think you'll see the Yankees sign either Lowe or Burnett and possibly Sheets. Then they can move Joba back to the pen (where he'll probably end up anyway) Then I'd bet they trade Ian Kennedy and possibly Melky for Mike Cameron (if the Brewers would do that) to play CF for 2009. As he's still a good defensive OFer and good friends with CC. I still think the Yankees will need help with their bats, and I'm surprised they aren't going after Teixeira who would really help them.
Brewers-Yankees deal to include Cameron The Yankees have found their center fielder for 2009, as they are set to send Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee for veteran outfielder Mike Cameron on Thursday, according to two major league sources. The Yankees have been saying that Cabrera and Brett Gardner would compete for the center field job, but the acquisition of Cameron gives them a veteran presence at the position. (New York Daily News) Comment
Well, I would have preferred Torii Hunter last season when the option was there, but Cameron over Cabrera is an upgrade probably for 1 to 2 season (even as Cameron is on the downside, and folks expect Melky to be on the upside, etc). Its a 1 year rental to wait for Austin Jackson. If Melky gets his head on straight clearly he can become something nice - but I dont know his celiing...but by then this Austin Jackson kid may be the next big thing so.....
You and me both brother.....it is a mystery. Now, folks are all saying Manny is the target.....a huge part of me doesnt want that to happen...but Tex, in a heartbeat I want that.
I truly believe that the Yankees problems this year will be their offense. A lot of those players are either getting older, coming off an injury or had a career year last year. The only players who I think will do better this year are Arod, Posada, Cano and Jeter. I'd be worried about the rest.
Amazingly, that could be enough to make the playoffs...but then what??? I think we are shy 1 to 2 bats. I want Tex for his D, and to move Swisher to DH. c - Posada/Molina 1b - Swisher/Tex? (maybe Posada?) 2b - Cano SS - Jeter 3b - Arod LF - Matsui/Damon CF - Cameron? Melky/Gardner/Jackson (end of year?) RF - Nady DH - Swisher/Damon/Matsui?? Utility Inf: Ransom Utility OF: Gardner
The Mike Cameron trade is not done and may not get done. The Yankees will need to have a change of heart for it to happen, one source familiar with the discussion said. The Brewers are asking for a second player in addition to Melky Cabrera. The Yankees want the Brewers to pay a portion of Cameron's $10 million salary. Milwaukee is not inclined to fulfill that request at a time when the Yankees are on the verge of paying over $200 million for pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Thursday MLB winter meetings blog
Yeah, posted something similar in the MLB Offseason Thread. I think it happens. The NY Brass want to break up Melky & Cano! Melky isnt long for NY. So I think it will happen. As far as Burnett, I would rather have Sheets and Lowe and Pettitte before I went after Burnett, but we will see.
Speaking of Bernie eariler, he want's to play in the WBC Yankees Blog i hope he plays and i hope he does great! It's his only chance to make it back in the pro's
Mike Cameron for Melke Cabrera is a bad deal IMO, just a bad deal. Cameron is past his best days and Cabrera was still so young to let go so fast.
Bernie is pushing 40 and hasn't played baseball in over 3 years, he's not coming back. But you know what? I hope Bernie does play, although with any other retired ball player, that way no MLB players will have to play and risk injury for this.
Melky is a place holder for Austin Jackson, so swapping him out for a 1 yr rental (and it could be a partial year rental) of a better player at this point is a smart move.
Burnett reaches agreement with Yanks | MLB.com: News Cant say I love the #'s...but since I have loved others that didnt pan out....maybe this will surprise me. Either way, another arm improvement added. 1) CC 2) Wang or Burnett 3) Burnett or Wang 4) ?? 5) ?? I keep hearing Joba as rotation lock....who knows anymore.