2008 Yankee News & Notes Thread

[26 to 6]

Yankees answer to Sox's Colon move - but will it carry same weight? ( no pun intended)

How is this an answer to Colon? How moronic considering Colon was signed before SPRING TRAINING. This is an answer to injuries, not to counter a move made by the damned Red Sox. We're not like that here, we're not consumed by this rivalry the way a lot of Sox fans are. This is just to add another experienced arm to the organizational depth chart. Now lets be clear, I never want to see Ponson in pinstripes on that Yankee Stadium mound EVER again (unless they're pinstripes on an opposing team's road uniform, in which case I would be delighted) after we had him in 06. Nooo thank you. But I guess Cash just wantedsome insurance. Hopefully it doesnt come to that though. I'll take Kei Igawa or an out of shape David Wells ANY day over Fat Pig Ponson.

 

Anyone see the news about the agreement that will put a Hard Rock Cafe in the New Yankee Stadium?Sounds pretty cool, should be an awesome place. I love Hard Rock Cafes, and I imagine one with a little Yankee flavor would be pretty awesome. Also a steakhouse, called NYY Steaks.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080618&content_id=2954740&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/images/2008/06/18/lEw2RsAx.jpg

 

Also, we claimed Oneli Perez off waivers from the Guardians and sent him to Trenton. He's spent time in Triple-A Charlotte (White Sox) and Buffalo (Cleveland) this year, so he's been on the move quite a bit this season. He's got an 8.49 in 21 appearances at both of his stops combined this season. I also read on Southsidesox.com that he has 6 fingers on each hand. Wow

http://bp0.blogger.com/_YntY1kyKo4o/RjB_pIiKt4I/AAAAAAAAAv0/_k6ZkRGoy8g/s320/fingers6.jpg

I'm not sure if that pic is actually of Oneli's hand or just that of someone else with 6 fingers, but it's the pic that accompanied the post on southsidesox.

[jacksonianmarch]

that 6th finger is useless

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

that 6th finger is useless

 

Thank you for your qualified medical opinion

[TheKilo]

How is this an answer to Colon? How moronic considering Colon was signed before SPRING TRAINING. This is an answer to injuries' date=' not to counter a move made by the damned Red Sox. We're not like that here, we're not consumed by this rivalry the way a lot of Sox fans are. This is just to add another experienced arm to the organizational depth chart. Now lets be clear, I never want to see Ponson in pinstripes on that Yankee Stadium mound EVER again (unless they're pinstripes on an opposing team's road uniform, in which case I would be delighted) after we had him in 06. Nooo thank you. But I guess Cash just wantedsome insurance. Hopefully it doesnt come to that though. I'll take Kei Igawa or an out of shape David Wells ANY day over Fat Pig Ponson.[/quote']

 

When das can get your panties in a twist, I don't even know what to say anymore.

[YAZMAN]

When das can get your panties in a twist' date=' I don't even know what to say anymore.[/quote']

 

I'd say:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/BoNeato/orly6iw.gif

[das11209]

How is this an answer to Colon? How moronic considering Colon was signed before SPRING TRAINING. This is an answer to injuries, not to counter a move made by the damned Red Sox. We're not like that here, we're not consumed by this rivalry the way a lot of Sox fans are. This is just to add another experienced arm to the organizational depth chart. Now lets be clear, I never want to see Ponson in pinstripes on that Yankee Stadium mound EVER again (unless they're pinstripes on an opposing team's road uniform, in which case I would be delighted) after we had him in 06. Nooo thank you. But I guess Cash just wantedsome insurance. Hopefully it doesnt come to that though. I'll take Kei Igawa or an out of shape David Wells ANY day over Fat Pig Ponson.

 

.

 

You are saying he is an insurance move and adding experienced arm but then again you never want to see him pitch in the Yankee stadium.

You also say you will take Igawa the automatic loss pitch before him?

Height of contradiction?

[26 to 6]

You are saying he is an insurance move and adding experienced arm but then again you never want to see him pitch in the Yankee stadium.

You also say you will take Igawa the automatic loss pitch before him?

Height of contradiction?

I didnt contradict myself one bit. I explained that his signing was made for insurance, butmy PERSONAL PREFERENCE is to never see him again at the big league level with the Yankees. And yeah, I probably would take Igawa over him. So what? At least Igawa has the ability and potential for success based on his great career with Hanshin. In all likelihood, the outcome would be the same between Ponson and Igawa, but with Igawa there's still that CHANCE he could do something. He's gotta come around at some point.

[26 to 6]

Also, the Yankees have gotten Chris Basak back from the Twins in a minor league trade for "future considerations."

 

http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.com/Blogs/SWBYankeesBlog/tabid/552/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3848/Welcome-back-Chris-Basak.aspx

[ARod2212]

I didnt contradict myself one bit. I explained that his signing was made for insurance' date=' butmy PERSONAL PREFERENCE is to never see him again at the big league level with the Yankees. And yeah, I probably would take Igawa over him. So what? At least Igawa has the ability and potential for success based on his great career with Hanshin. In all likelihood, the outcome would be the same between Ponson and Igawa, but with Igawa there's still that CHANCE he could do something. He's gotta come around at some point.[/quote']

I disagree. Igawa has been lit up every time he's been on a major league mound and has been mediocre in Triple A. Ponson put up solid numbers this year in Texas before going on his drunk ******* binge. I'd run Ponson out there before Igawa 10 times out of 10.

[a700hitter]

How is this an answer to Colon? How moronic considering Colon was signed before SPRING TRAINING. This is an answer to injuries' date=' not to counter a move made by the damned Red Sox. We're not like that here, we're not consumed by this rivalry the way a lot of Sox fans are. [/quote'] :lol: No, the Yankees are not like that. What was the Kei Igawa move all about. It wasn't in reaction to the Red Sox winning the bid for Dice K? It sure looked like it was.

[26 to 6]

Morgan Ensberg latched on with Cleveland after he was released by the Yanks. He'll be sent to AAA Buffalo, along with fellow recent signees Juan Rincon and Tony Graffanino.

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=91691

http://cleveland.Guardians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080624&content_id=2993358&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

[Optimist]

One of the Yankees' saviors of 2005 isn't doing too well in Houston.

 

Chacon Suspended After Attacking Houston's GM

[Cocos Disciples]

Matsui just landed on the DL.

[26 to 6]

Oneli Perez, the 6 fingered wonder has just been DFA'd to make room for David Robertson.

[Optimist]

It's interesting to see Matsui go from an iron man with that streak to an injury proned player after that one wrist injury a few years ago. Let's hope this isn't an extended stay on the DL for him. If it is, the Yankees might need to go after another bat (while looking for a pitcher to step in for Wang at the same time.) I wouldn't be too surprised to start hearing some whispers calling for signing Mr. Bonds.

[jacksonianmarch]

This would mean more time for Betemit at 1st, more time for Giambi at DH and more time for Damon in the OF. If Damon ends up needing the DH slot, we could call up Gardner. All he's doing is leading the IL in walks, OBP, triples and is 3rd in runs.

[a700hitter]

This would mean more time for Betemit at 1st' date=' more time for Giambi at DH and more time for Damon in the OF. If Damon ends up needing the DH slot, we could call up Gardner. All he's doing is leading the IL in walks, OBP, triples and is 3rd in runs.[/quote']Gardner sounds like a pretty good minor leaguer.

[jacksonianmarch]

He has dominated this yr. He's in the Ellsbury mold. Better eye, worse contact, same speed, better arm.

[a700hitter]

He has dominated this yr. He's in the Ellsbury mold. Better eye' date=' worse contact, same speed, better arm.[/quote']Like I said, he sounds like a good minor leaguer.

[CrespoBlows]

No power.

[jacksonianmarch]

Jacoby doesnt have power either. But, that being said, Gardner has almost as many EBH this yr than he had all of last yr, so the power is coming. He wont ever be a HR threat, but he's become more of a gap hitter.

[a700hitter]

Jacoby doesnt have power either. But' date=' that being said, Gardner has almost as many EBH this yr than he had all of last yr, so the power is coming. He wont ever be a HR threat, but he's become more of a gap hitter.[/quote']...and he'll have a chance of cracking the Yankee OF after two of the following leave the Yankees: Damon, Matsui and Abreu. Melky is young, so he'll be around for a while.

[jacksonianmarch]

Well, Matsui is down for at least 2 weeks. Damon has been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury. And Melky is hitting like he's blind these days. If we lose Damon, I'd expect Gardner to get a shot. Christian was called up because he was on the 40 man and we were facing some lefties. I dont see him lasting long as a 28 yr old rookie. Gardner will be up this yr and we'll see how he does.

[a700hitter]

Well' date=' Matsui is down for at least 2 weeks. Damon has been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury. And Melky is hitting like he's blind these days. If we lose Damon, I'd expect Gardner to get a shot. Christian was called up because he was on the 40 man and we were facing some lefties. I dont see him lasting long as a 28 yr old rookie. Gardner will be up this yr and we'll see how he does.[/quote']I hope he gets called up and starts next weekend

[26 to 6]

Well' date=' Matsui is down for at least 2 weeks. Damon has been in and out of the lineup with a foot injury. And Melky is hitting like he's blind these days. If we lose Damon, I'd expect Gardner to get a shot. Christian was called up because he was on the 40 man and we were facing some lefties. I dont see him lasting long as a 28 yr old rookie. Gardner will be up this yr and we'll see how he does.[/quote']

Christian was not on the 40 man they purchased his contract, and to make room they outrighted Steven White. Like you said they were facing Pittsburgh's lefties and they didnt want to reduce Gardner's playing time. I haven't been a big Gardner fan, and thought of him really as good trade bait, but he's had a good season and I wouldn't be opposed to him getting a shot in the near future.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

He has dominated this yr. He's in the Ellsbury mold. Better eye' date=' worse contact, same speed, better arm.[/quote']

 

Yeah....and Melky Cabrera was supposed to be at the same level if not better than Jacoby Ellsbury.

 

Ellsbury leads the AL in stolen bases and is a top candidate for rookie of the year. Meanwhile Melky Cabrera is probably the worst starting CF in the AL East.....but I'm sure Brett Gardner is great

[YAZMAN]

but I'm sure Brett Gardner is great

 

Flavor of the Week.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Let's consider a couple of things regarding Brett Gardner:

 

1) How well has he done this year; and

2) How good is he?

 

First, this year...let's not cut down how well he's done. His AAA MLE is .285/.403/.438, and I'd sure take a player with a .400+ OBP who can play an MLB-caliber CF on my team.

 

That's how well he's done. How good he is may well differ. Certainly he wasn't too highly regarded coming into 2008. His 2007 AAA batting line was .260/.343/.331, which translates to an MLE of .239/.317/.315, far too low for consideration of readiness. What changed?

 

1) Gardner has a career history of a greater-than-normal split vs. RHP and LHP. Entering 2008, his projected split was -.035/-.048/-.072. His actual split in AAA this year is +.043/-.011/+.130. All of his home runs have come in 83 PA vs. LHP, none in 195 PA vs. RHP. I suspect a small sample size aberration in his PA vs. LHP.

 

2) Gardner has a BABIP of .380. Yeah, he's fast, but he's not that fast, at least with MLB fielding, not AAA fielding.

 

I plugged Gardner's total MiLB stats from all levels--a respectable .289/.388/.386 batting line--into the MLE calculator at minorleaguesplits.com as a SWB to NYY conversion. It came out as a .246/.332/.322 batting line. BP PECOTA projected Gardner as a .236/.313/.327 hitter in MLB entering the season. When I look at the unusual stats vs. LHP in 2008, the ultra-high BABIP, and the tendency of many high-OBP/low-SLG batters to decline severely in IsoD upon promotion to MLB, I think that expecting too much from Gardner may be overoptimistic. He can steal bases, he can play CF, and he can hit for a reasonable OBP vs. RHP at the MLB level. Expecting him to meet that .285/.403/.438 MLE in MLB, though, looks out of the question.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

From Baseball America chat:

 

Q: Anton from the Bronx asks:

Is Brett Gardner finally closing in on those comparisons to Jacoby Ellsbury? I know the power is still a question, but doesn't that OBP mark make Gardner just as valuable?

 

A: Matt Eddy: Gardner could be a poor man's version of Ellsbury, as they say, but his top two tools — speed, defense — still fall short of the Boston center fielder's. And Ellsbury has more power and better bat control. That's not a knock, because Gardner could be quality leadoff batter, capable of working deep counts and intelligently stealing bases.

 

Ellsbury has more speed, stronger defense, better bat control, and more power.

[26 to 6]

Brett Gardner has gotten the call and will be in uniform tonight against the Rangers.

 

No link just yet, sorry.