New York Yankees 2010 offseason thread

[jacksonianmarch]

Imp, I am not sure how you want to slice it, but I like to pinpoint when he fell off a cliff. August 1st, he fell off that cliff. I am not cherry picking, especially if the argument is about both fatigue and his role change. He was obviously fatigued by the end of the yr and the change in the way he was used didnt do him any favors. The numbers bear it out. If you want to be lazy and just use the splits column on ESPN to see the pre and post ASB, go for it. But if you really want to pinpoint when he fell off that cliff, you'll actually do the work and crunch the numbers yourself. From August 1st on, his ERA was over 7 and his WHIP was almost 2.

[Imperial59]

Imp' date=' I am not sure how you want to slice it, but I like to pinpoint when he fell off a cliff. August 1st, he fell off that cliff. I am not cherry picking, especially if the argument is about both fatigue and his role change. He was obviously fatigued by the end of the yr and the change in the way he was used didnt do him any favors. The numbers bear it out. If you want to be lazy and just use the splits column on ESPN to see the pre and post ASB, go for it. But if you really want to pinpoint when he fell off that cliff, you'll actually do the work and crunch the numbers yourself. From August 1st on, his ERA was over 7 and his WHIP was almost 2.[/quote']

 

I'm not arguing that he didn't tire at the end of the year. My point was that he pitched poorly most of the year and had ugly peripherals well before August, he didn't have a bad year just because he tired at the end.

[yankees228]

The optimistic side of me hopes that Chamberlain had really figured things out coming out of the ASB, and the ten (or so) days off following the start in TB messed him up. Granted, he wasn't anything special in the first round, so what he'll be moving forward is a huge mystery.

 

Personally, I don't think velocity is his biggest problem. Much like Hughes, I think it's important for him to have a change up, and to improve his fastball location.

[Imperial59]

Personally' date=' I don't think velocity is his biggest problem. Much like Hughes, I think it's important for him to have a change up, and to improve his fastball location.[/quote']

 

I don't think it's the velocity on his fastball last year that was an issue so much as it was the loss of life on his fastball. It was a lot more straight.

 

But you're right, he really does need to work on his change and throw his curve more to be effective. He was pretty predictable last year, throwing his fastball or slider 86% of the time. And when he had trouble locating his slider hitters would give up on it and sit on his straight fastball.

[riverside sluggers]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2010/02/02/rich-aurilia-not-ready-to-retire-hopes-for-a-final-season-with-mets-or-yankees/

 

Rich Aurilia is hoping he can sign with the Yankees haha, as if the bench couldnt get worse offensively

[a700hitter]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2010/02/02/rich-aurilia-not-ready-to-retire-hopes-for-a-final-season-with-mets-or-yankees/

 

Rich Aurilia is hoping he can sign with the Yankees haha, as if the bench couldnt get worse offensively

Aurilia is a NY kid. He went to my High School in Brooklyn, which was also the Alma mater of Chris Mullin.

[riverside sluggers]

Yes I know that. Then the Mets is the team for him. He will be lucky to get a minor league deal

 

Guess under that logic, the Sox shouldve signed Tom Glavine because he grew up in Concord

[Spudboy]

Yes I know that. Then the Mets is the team for him. He will be lucky to get a minor league deal

 

Guess under that logic, the Sox shouldve signed Tom Glavine because he grew up in Concord

 

Isn't Glavine from Billerica?

 

Or do I have him confused with someone else?

 

I guess I'm wrong, Glavine appears to be from Concord.

 

But there is a big time pitcher from Billerica. Who is it?

[Spudboy]

As it turns out, Glavin was born in Concord (Emerson Hospital?) and did indeed grow up in Billerica.

He played at Billerica Memorial High School.

[26 to 6]

Jon Heyman tweets that the Yankees have signed Marcus Thames to a minor league deal worth $900k if he makes the team.

 

I like this one a lot, I liked Thames when he was coming up and still vividly remember him hitting the first pitch he ever saw as a Major Leaguer off of Randy Johnson over the left field wall at Yankee Stadium. I remember how disappointed I was when we traded him for Big Rube', but Ruben grew on me and I didn't mind it as much. I'm glad we got him back though, but with the Winn signing becoming official today, and for twice what Thames is getting payed, it makes me scratch my head. If they both make the team it pretty much ensures that Hoffman is headed back to the Dodgers, unless they find a way to move Winn (my preference), although that's probably doubtful.

[yankees228]

Jon Heyman tweets that the Yankees have signed Marcus Thames to a minor league deal worth $900k if he makes the team.

 

I like this one a lot, I liked Thames when he was coming up and still vividly remember him hitting the first pitch he ever saw as a Major Leaguer off of Randy Johnson over the left field wall at Yankee Stadium. I remember how disappointed I was when we traded him for Big Rube', but Ruben grew on me and I didn't mind it as much. I'm glad we got him back though, but with the Winn signing becoming official today, and for twice what Thames is getting payed, it makes me scratch my head. If they both make the team it pretty much ensures that Hoffman is headed back to the Dodgers, unless they find a way to move Winn (my preference), although that's probably doubtful.

 

Winn has his value in his defensive abilities. An outfield of Swisher, Granderson, Gardner, Winn, and Thames is comparable to what they had last year (Swisher, Damon, Cabrera, Gardner, and Hinske). The only thing they're missing that they had last year is someone with Hairston's bat

[Keeper]

The only thing they're missing that they had last year is someone with Hairston's bat

 

Nah not really, Hairston's bat is a dime a dozen.

[26 to 6]

Hairston's bat wasn't what appealed to me, it was his versatility. His offense could be easily replicated.

[Keeper]

Hairston is versatile, I'll give him that.

[yankees228]

Nah not really' date=' Hairston's bat is a dime a dozen.[/quote']

 

I should have clarified that. You rarely find a guy with a bat as good as Hairston's, who is also as versatile as Hairston.

[jacksonianmarch]

Thames is a very good depth signing. I like it. He gives you a legitimate right handed platoon candidate with Gardner. He also gives us a platoon candidate at DH if needed should Nick Johnson get injured. He crushes lefties. Looks like Jamie Hoffman is gonna be on a train back to LA.

[26 to 6]

Now for anyone who cares about uniform numbers, like I do for some strange reason, there's some updates out of Yankee camp. Randy Winn takes 22, recently vacated by Nady. Thames takes 38, which was worn by Bruney until the end of the season when Kennedy scooped it up after Bruney switched to 99, and Javy takes 31, previously worn by Mike Dunn. Obviously he couldn't wear 33 as he did in 2004, as Swisher currently occupies that number. Nick Johnson is wearing 27 (Yankees.com has him falsely listed as 26. His old 36 is belongs to Edwar Ramirez...I'm sure he could have wrestled it away if he really wanted it) and Kei Igawa, who has historically worn 29 throughout his career in Japan and both in the Majors and Minors, ends up with 17 (falsely listed as #27 on yankees.com), as Cervelli's obviously got 29. Boone Logan takes Phil Coke's 48, Jamie Hoffman has been given number 73, Greg Golson got 61, and Juan Miranda moved down a bit from 72 to Melky's #53. Royce Ring got 47, and Mike Rivers got the surprisingly low #12. David Winfree and Jon Weber got 78 and 79, respectively.

[Cocos Disciples]

For whatever reason I'm interested in uniform numbers too. Thanks for the update; are you in Florida?

[jacksonianmarch]

Uniform number always has a correlation with the guys who they expect to make the big club. Hoffman in the 70s is not good for him

[26 to 6]

For whatever reason I'm interested in uniform numbers too. Thanks for the update; are you in Florida?

Na I'm not in Florida, I wish though. But yeah, for some reason uniforms, logos, and uniform numbers just intrigue the s*** out of me. I think especially since the Yanks don't wear names, the number is the the main source of identification for a player. Idk....just interesting I guess.

[riverside sluggers]

Jesus Montero blasted a mammoth home run in Yankees camp Monday.

Montero drilled a ball to deep left-center and nailed the top of the "M" on the "George M. Steinbrenner Field" sign. "I didn't see where it landed," Yanks manager Joe Girardi said. "You see the swing and you hear the sound, you have an idea where it's going." Montero, 20, hit .317/.370/.539 last year at Double-A and is likely to begin the 2010 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

[jacksonianmarch]

It is what he does. Montero is a beast, an absolutely dominant offensive beast who just turned 20 yrs old. If he doesnt get hurt, he'll be taking meaningful ABs in the Bronx at some point in 2010. His bat is just that good

[Imperial59]

It is what he does. Montero is a beast' date=' an absolutely dominant offensive beast who just turned 20 yrs old. If he doesnt get hurt, he'll be taking meaningful ABs in the Bronx at some point in 2010. His bat is just that good[/quote']

 

What position do you think he'll play on the Yankees? I know he's a natural catcher but you've said that he's pretty raw defensively and I'm curious how you envision the Yankees working out the catcher situation. Do you think they'll just hand Montero the job after 2010?

[yankees228]

Per yankees.lhblogs.com, Cashman confirmed today that Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre both have non-guaranteed contracts. I think this gives us some insight into what there mindset was with those two contracts, and with the Park contract. When you consider that Aceves also can be sent down, the Yankees do have some flexibility when it comes to the back end of the rotation. Personally, I think Mitre will be let go, Aceves will be starting in AAA, and Gaudin will be the long man, but we'll see.

[26 to 6]

What position do you think he'll play on the Yankees? I know he's a natural catcher but you've said that he's pretty raw defensively and I'm curious how you envision the Yankees working out the catcher situation. Do you think they'll just hand Montero the job after 2010?

They'll probably give him the chance to improve defensively behind the plate, but if not he'll most likely be DH/1B/LF type. With his bat, they'll surely find a spot for him.

[jacksonianmarch]

What position do you think he'll play on the Yankees? I know he's a natural catcher but you've said that he's pretty raw defensively and I'm curious how you envision the Yankees working out the catcher situation. Do you think they'll just hand Montero the job after 2010?

 

I have a feeling that he'll be working his way into a platoon at DH as well as the primary bat off the bench come September and October. He'll probably spend almost the entire season in SWB before coming up prior to Sept 1 so he can be eligible for the playoffs. Also, should Posada, Tex or Johnson get hurt, Montero will probably get a look

[Imperial59]

I have a feeling that he'll be working his way into a platoon at DH as well as the primary bat off the bench come September and October. He'll probably spend almost the entire season in SWB before coming up prior to Sept 1 so he can be eligible for the playoffs. Also' date=' should Posada, Tex or Johnson get hurt, Montero will probably get a look[/quote']

 

Where do you see him playing longterm?

[Imperial59]

They'll probably give him the chance to improve defensively behind the plate' date=' but if not he'll most likely be DH/1B/LF type. With his bat, they'll surely find a spot for him.[/quote']

 

Do you think they'll give him this year to improve behind the plate and then either slot him as a catcher or DH on the big club next year?

[jacksonianmarch]

Aceves in AAA? Dude, the guy was the glue of our bullpen last yr.

 

He relieved in 42 games, throwing 80.2IP. His BP ERA was 3.35 with a WHIP a shade under 1 and 7.5K/9IP. On a lesser team, he probably would profile in the rotation due to his multitude of pitches and control, but even at his best, he doesnt appear to break the rotation in NY. He has a great niche, he is our new Mendoza, a guy who can come in for multiple innings when the starter gets hurt or shits the bed and keeps it close. He is vital to the success of this team in his role. While Hughes, Marte, Robertson, Rivera and now Park hold down the later innings, he is the savior of the middle innings. We need that.

[jacksonianmarch]

Where do you see him playing longterm?

 

Long term, hmmm, that's tricky. Thing is, if Montero was the only catching prospect in the system, then it would be easy. But with Romine, Higashioka, Murphy and Sanchez behind him, I see Montero moving off the position as he gets older. He'll probably be a C/DH in 2011 for Posada's final season. Will probably man the same when Romine comes up in 2012 after Posada retires. Then will likely be the DH/1B as Tex gets older. Eventually, by the time he's 26, Tex's contract will lapse and I think Montero ends up there. Regardless, my prediction is that he's an opening day starter in 2011 probably at DH in the #5 hole behind ARod.