The Yankee Thread

[Optimist]

Philip Hughes started tonight:

 

5IP 3H 0R 1BB 9K

 

In his last seven starts:

 

42.2 IP 19 H 3 ER 11 BB 54 K

 

0.63 ERA

4.0 H/9

2.32 BB/9

11.4 K/9

4.9 K/BB

0.70 WHIP

 

Hughes is overrated...

 

lol

[Optimist]

A-Rod is going to have X Rays done on his toe today; he fouled a ball off it last night, and apparently was in a lot of pain.

[schillingouttheks]

I think his ego hurts a little more after last night than his toe does.

[Optimist]

Heh.

 

Anyways, Kimberly Jones is weird. During today's pregame show, she was interviewing Sidney Ponson. Just out of the blue...."Are you an alcoholic?"

[Optimist]

Happy Birthday Joe Torre...

[schillingouttheks]

What a birthday for Joe! He gets to watch Ponson go out and make his first start at Yankee Stadium as a Yankee. Hopefully it will remind me of George's big day!

[Optimist]

Opening Day Lineup:

 

Damon

Jeter

Sheffield

Rodriguez

Giambi

Matsui

Posada

Williams

Cano

 

Tonight's:

 

Damon

Cairo

Jeter

Giambi

Williams

Phillips

Cabrera

Green

Stinnett

 

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

That lineup is amazingly bad.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I know A-Rod should be back tomorrow. Any word on Cano?

[a700hitter]

Happy Birthday Joe Torre...

Another ocassion for senile Joe to blubber like a baby.

[Optimist]

I know A-Rod should be back tomorrow. Any word on Cano?

 

He hasn't even played in a rehab game yet.

[He Hate Me]

Opening Day Lineup:

 

Damon

Jeter

Sheffield

Rodriguez

Giambi

Matsui

Posada

Williams

Cano

 

Tonight's:

 

Damon

Cairo

Jeter

Giambi

Williams

Phillips

Cabrera

Green

Stinnett

 

 

 

ugh...where have you gone Steve Balboni?

[26 to 6]

Well with the deadline just days away I figure i'll just throw out some of what i've been hearing. Others do the same, as well.

 

Obviously, with the unwillingness to part with top prospects this season (which I appreciate), Cashman probably wont be making any big deals. There was obviously all the talk about Hughes for Abreu that the Phillies proposed that was quickly turned down by Cashman. In one of the papers this morning I read that the Phillies look like they're willing to settle for lesser prospects provided the Yankees take Leiber as well. I actually like the sound of this. Now let it be stated that I havent been huge on the Abreu talk, but getting a player with his offensive abilities in addition to a starter, who despite not having a very good year this season, has proved his ability to pitch well in big games, and in big games in New York, for less than top prospects definately catches my interest.

 

A few weeks back there was a lot of talk about the Yankees being close to getting Roberto Hernandez; and for months, dating back to the offseason there have been whispers regarding the Yankees' interest in Craig Wilson. Dave Littlefield was asking for ridiculous options in return for either one or both of those players, but is now appearant that the Pirates are interested in Steven White. While I am not by any stretch of the imagination in favor of getting Roberto Hernandez due to his age and ineffectiveness the last few seasons (with the exception of his very good year with the Mets last season) I wouldnt mind taking the gamble if we were to get Craig Wilson as well. Hernandez, who is from New York, did very well here last year which is definately worth noting; and as I said many times in the offseason when discussing my desire to get Craig Wilson, Wilson provides us with a player with a pretty good bat (didnt have the best of years last year which is why everybody was down on him) and defensive versatility (not to be confused with defensive effectiveness) as he is capable of playing the outfield, first base, and if needed he can catch (if you remember from the offseason, I stated many times how important I feel it is to have a third player on the roster with catching experience). He could be thrown into that platoon with Bernie, Guiel, and Crosby for now, and then be an effective bench player when Matsui comes back around the 20th of August.

 

Now for the most interesting trade possibility I have heard regarding the Yankees, supposedly the Braves were willing to part with Wilson Betemit for Scott Proctor, as they are desperate for relief help. Now, under normal circumstances I would make this deal before the drop of a hat, but considering that Proctor has really been our rock in the bullpen this year (despite his occasional faltering) I am reluctant to back such a deal. If the Yankees dont win it all this year, Cashman might regret not making this deal a few years down the road, but for now I have to respect and support his decision. Now as for Betemiot, since seeing him in his first week in the Majors back in '04 with the Braves here against the Mets, i've really liked him and always sort of wanted him on the Yankees (which at the time, and up until now seemed like more of a fantasy wish). If the Braves are so down on their relievers, which they have a few good, young ones who have potential; maybe they would be willing to ship us one of their relievers in addition to Betemit for Proctor and maybe a less-regarded prospect. Maybe they'd be willing to send us a Villarreal (doubtful), or more realistically (and less appealing) maybe Tyler Yates; somebody who throws pretty hard, but struggled out of the rotation with the Mets. If they were to be willing to give us Tyler Yates and Wilson Betemit for Scott Proctor I would do it in half a heartbeat. Yes, we would be losing Proctor, but we would be getting a good young infielder and a pitcher who throws hard and has potential. I would be comfortable with this because I know that if Yates doesn't succeed (which nobody will be counting on him to do) we have Dotel (hopefully_ coming back soon. We have Beam, who could be pretty good, Matt Smith, Colter Bean, etc. And the possibility also exists that we go out and get a reliever, whether it be Roberto Hernandez or somebody else. Now if we were to get BEtemit, for now he would play everyday at second until Cano comes back; but after Cano comes back and in future years I see him being a role/platoon player, and a very good one at that. He is 24 (either 24 or 26 lol, escapes me at the moment) and has a very impressive bat. He has played second, short, and third for the Braves, but according to what i've heard, the Yankees also believe he could play first, as well as the outfield. I can see him in the future being a guy who gets maybe 3 or 4 starts a week, all in various positions spelling guys like Rodriguez, Cano, Giambi, Cabrera, etc.; sort of like a Mark DeRosa or Chone Figgins like. Or even comparable to the playing time Shane SPencer and Ricky Ledee got. I think that with the opportunity to get Betemit, we should do everything logically possible to do it without possibly hurting other aspects of our team.

 

As it stands right now, I could see the Yankees making a small, impact deal; or I can see them standing pat and doing nothing. Either way I think we'll be alright.

 

Well if you read it all, thanks. As you can probably tell I was somewhat bored and had some things on my mind.

[Optimist]

If the Toronto series wasn't enough to make Cashman pull the trigger on a deal, today's game should be.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I think this will be the most active trade deadline in years.

 

With the deadline only 2 days away the GM of the Phillies has already lowered his demands for Abreu. That makes me think that he would like to unload Abreu's contract by the deadline. My gut feeling is there is way too much smoke surrounding Abreu for a deal not to happen.

 

Betemit was already traded to the Dodgers so we lost out on him.

[Dana Kiecker]

26 to 6..

 

THAT was a KICK-ASS post..

 

 

 

Good job!!

[Beckett95]

jayson stark say'd that most teams have stopped asking about Cory Lidle because they are pretty positive he's going to the Yankees. (Abreu may be involved to)

[riverside sluggers]

yep

 

ESPN's Jayson Stark believes the Yankees will acquire Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle from the Phillies for 2005 first-round pick C.J. Henry and right-hander Steven White.

 

The Phillies could likely get better prospects for Lidle alone, but that so clearly isn't the point. Abreu's no-trade clause may or may not be a stumbling block. The Yankees are apparently prepared to pick up his $16 million option for 2008 in order to keep him happy, though it's not guaranteed that Abreu wouldn't want more to sign off on the deal. In taking Abreu's contract, the Yankees would be employing about $100 million more in talent than any other team in baseball. If they can win under those circumstances, well, Joe Torre really must be a genius.

 

The Red Sox are still having negotiations with the Phils but its just to try and mess up talks between NY & Philadelphia

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5829932

 

We should hear an official announcement sometime today if not tomorrow, Abreu will be wearing the pinstripes and getting curtain calls even when his hits mean nothing

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

ESPN is reporting the Yankees have reached a tentative agreement for Abreu.

[riverside sluggers]

Abreu has been pulled from today's lineup of the first game of a double-header. Probably on a jet to his & Lidle's new home in New York

[26 to 6]

Abreu has been pulled from today's lineup of the first game of a double-header. Probably on a jet to his & Lidle's new home in New York

Abreu doesn't need a new home, he already holds residence in New York. Same building as Johnny Damon, in fact. The Milan building in the 50's I believe.

[26 to 6]

Betemit was already traded to the Dodgers so we lost out on him.

I was pretty angry when that went down

 

..cant blame the Braves though, they got a much better deal from the Dodgers than they would have from us. I'd take Baez over Proctor anyday. It almost makes me want to change my stance on agreeing with Cashman's decision not to pull the trigger on Proctor for Betemit.

[riverside sluggers]

Abreu doesn't need a new home, he already holds residence in New York. Same building as Johnny Damon, in fact. The Milan building in the 50's I believe.

 

did you not get that i was talking about his new home ball park?

[26 to 6]

did you not get that i was talking about his new home ball park?

oops

[Jon_Papelboner]

Cashman should be arrested for robbery this trade deadline, wow. Chacon, a guy destined to be cut is traded for Wilson? A very capable 1st baseman? LOL, amazing.

[Optimist]

Brian Cashman and Mad Dog are really getting into it on the radio/television.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Brian Cashman and Mad Dog are really getting into it on the radio/television.

DAMN I wanted to hear that. Mad Dog was running his mouth non stop. Mad Dog has a tendency to be very unprofessional toward the people he has on his show.

[Optimist]

Cashman (to Chris) : "Don't embarass yourself."

 

And he brought up Wang...who Mad Dog said was going to be a back of the rotation pitcher.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Cashman (to Chris) : "Don't embarass yourself."

 

And he brought up Wang...who Mad Dog said was going to be a back of the rotation pitcher.

Its pretty funny too cause Mad Dog was killing Wang early in the season and Cashman stood by him and now look whos right. Mad Dog is just another talking head moron.

[DirtDog]

Dirt Dog here just lightening your spirits.

 

Bobby Abreu: AVG .277 | HR 8 | RBI 65 | OBP .427 | SLG .434 (batting 4th against NL pitchers)

Alex Gonzalez: AVG .285 | HR 8 | RBI 36 | OBP .329 | SLG .427 (batting 9th against AL pitchers)

 

Just postin'