Thanks for the memories Hideki

[jacksonianmarch]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/angels-in-serious-discussions-for-hideki-matsui.html

 

Hideki Matsui is heading to Anaheim so long as he passes a physical. Sounds like 1yr $6.5 mil. Consummate professional who had a flare for the dramatic and brought over an avid fanbase and a lot of overseas yen. Sorry to see him go, I really wish we could have brought him back in over Damon, but now it looks like Damon is the prize fish for the yankees.

[yankees228]

Not surprised at all. I thought there was practically no chance that they bring back Matsui, because I think they realize the importance, considering their roster, of having a flexible DH spot. While it might be tough to replace Matsui's production in the immediate future, I think this is a good long term decision by the Yankees.

[Meh]

Wish him the best of luck, such a great guy. I always thought he'd be a Yankee killer and now he goes to the Angels, figures.

[26 to 6]

This sucks. I love Hideki, the fact that he's going tot he hated Angels blows. He's going to be a huge addition to their lineup. He's a classy guy and great clutch hitter. He's exactly what the doctor ordered for the halos.

[yankees228]

This sucks. I love Hideki' date=' the fact that he's going tot he hated Angels blows. He's going to be a huge addition to their lineup. He's a classy guy and great clutch hitter. He's exactly what the doctor ordered for the halos.[/quote']

 

They're going to need it too considering the improvements of the Mariners.

[yankees228]

I also like how the Yankees, especially lately, don't get caught up in sentimentality. Regardless of what Matsui has done for them in the past (and the most recent past), they didn't think he fit in with their long term plans, so they let him go.

[Cocos Disciples]

Matsui wanted to get closer to the porn industry.

[26 to 6]

Matsui wanted to get closer to the porn industry.

Yeah that's what it was.

[Optimist]

Look forward to him returning to the Stadium at some point this season. Hopefully he doesn't hurt us too much.

[Gom]

I will give him a standing ovation. As I did Bobby.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have a feeling Yankee Stadium will rock when he comes back. I will miss him.

[riverside sluggers]

Glad he wont be killing us 19 times a year haha

 

I bet Vladdy goes to the division rival Rangers

[Gom]

I have a feeling Yankee Stadium will rock when he comes back. I will miss him.

 

How could you not. My "I hate Cashman because he's a f***ing moron" sense is really starting to tingle.

[a700hitter]

How could you not. My "I hate Cashman because he's a f***ing moron" sense is really starting to tingle.

I think he will be missed. He was a very consistent quality hitter who came up big in lots of big spots.

[jacksonianmarch]

How could you not. My "I hate Cashman because he's a f***ing moron" sense is really starting to tingle.

 

That sense only comes on when all other sense goes out the window. This was the right move if you truly desire flexibility. And with Posada, ARod, and probably Jeter needing DH time, this was the right move.

[yeszir]

Good riddance.

[a700hitter]

Good riddance.

Absolutely, good riddance to Shemp.

[yeszir]

Absolutely' date=' good riddance to Shemp.[/quote']

 

Holy crap he DOES look like Shemp

[a700hitter]

Holy crap he DOES look like Shemp

A Met fan friend of mine has been calling him Shemp for years.:lol:

[yankees228]

That sense only comes on when all other sense goes out the window. This was the right move if you truly desire flexibility. And with Posada' date=' ARod, and probably Jeter needing DH time, this was the right move.[/quote']

 

Bingo. And, if they bring him back, don't forget about Damon.

[Gom]

That sense only comes on when all other sense goes out the window. This was the right move if you truly desire flexibility. And with Posada' date=' ARod, and probably Jeter needing DH time, this was the right move.[/quote']

 

I'm pissed that the Red Sox got Lackey, the Philles got Halladay, and we lost Matsui, all in one day. We've been passed by the Sox, and he's sitting on his ass.

 

I'd be mollified if we got Sheets and Wang, but knowing this guy, who the hell knows?

[jacksonianmarch]

Knowing this guy? You mean the guy who went out and spent $423 million in one offseason and brought #27 to the table. CMon man, stop being a f***ing idiot. The off-season is still young and our team as it stands right now is still better than Boston's, by a good amount. And there is still a position left to fill.

[Gom]

Knowing this guy? You mean the guy who went out and spent $423 million in one offseason and brought #27 to the table. CMon man' date=' stop being a f***ing idiot. The off-season is still young and our team as it stands right now is still better than Boston's, by a good amount. And there is still a position left to fill.[/quote']

 

Dude, you're insane. The teams are pretty much dead even. We have better hitting, barely, and they beat us in the rotation. The bullpens are a wash. How is our team better by a long shot?

 

Last year, he followed my plan, and went further by getting Tex. This year, he got Granderson, which is a decent move, but nothing else. I realize it's early, but overpaying for Bay or Holliday when Matsui and Damon could have been gotten on the cheap [well, at least Matsui] is annoying. Letting the best pitcher on both the trade market and the free agent market annoys me the most. I can live without Matsui or Damon, but that rotation has it's warts at the end, and if he doesn't re-sign Molina, you can forget about Burnett being effective.

 

It's still early in the off-season, but if all he does is bring back Damon, I'd be pissed. We need two more SPs, and I'd prefer Sheets and Wang. If he goes into the season with Hughes and Joba in the rotation, it's going to get hairy.

 

Honestly Jacko, get off this guys' dick. I give him credit when he does well, and kill him when he does poorly. No matter what he does, you act like you want to go down on him like a baby seal. I'm not going to kill him yet, but if he stands pat from here on until spring training, I will.

 

He's earned the benefit of the doubt, but until [if] his young players pan out, I won't trust the guy. I like his plan, which he copied from Gene Michael, but Gene was instrumental in the Yankee Five. So far, the most effective player he drafted going into next season is Robertson.

[jacksonianmarch]

We won the world series with a rotation that was 3 men deep, a 4th who fell off a cliff in August and a 5th that was being passed around between Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. Right now, our rotation has those same top 3 guys. AND, we get to improve upon that by having Joba in season #2 as a starter with no restrictions and Phil Hughes, who I think is going to have a pretty solid season. I have said many, many, many times that you need 3 guys in your rotation that you can count on. We have that. If the 4th and 5th spot fall into line, then great. The sox have the same exact thing, except I like our ace better and their #2 and #3 better. That's it.

 

In terms of the lineup, stop bitching. We have an open corner OF spot. Those arent hard to fill.

 

In terms of Burnett's effectiveness being linked to Molina, we have a very capable backup who caught Burnett at the beginning of the yr well in Cervelli. No worries there

 

In terms of insurance policies for the rotation, I think Gaudin would be a good one and another is Aceves on the big league level. If Sheets price comes down, then great. But I am perfectly content with Hughes and Joba in that rotation provided we have some contingency plan. Gaudin would be one of them (he did pretty well for us actually).

 

Also, you continue to perseverate on Matsui leaving. I loved the guy, but Cashman has said from day 1 that he needs more versatility. Hell, Jeter's 35, ARod's 34, Posada's 37. These guys hit incredibly well, but at their ages, we cannot be starting them 160 times a season anymore. They need their rest. And bringing back a full time DH would mean that there would be a lot of pressure to keep the lineup as is. Getting Granderson was a big step. Getting a Bay or Damon would be another since it opens up the DH at times for resting guys.

 

Saying that the best player Cashman drafted was Robertson is pretty ignorant. I'd say Joba and Hughes were pretty good too.

 

Regardless, more reactionary BS from you. I am not surprised.

[Emmz]

Absolutely' date=' good riddance to Shemp.[/quote']

 

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0910/mlb.world.series.look.a.likes.2/images/matsui.075267965.jpg

[Gom]

We won the world series with a rotation that was 3 men deep, a 4th who fell off a cliff in August and a 5th that was being passed around between Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. Right now, our rotation has those same top 3 guys. AND, we get to improve upon that by having Joba in season #2 as a starter with no restrictions and Phil Hughes, who I think is going to have a pretty solid season. I have said many, many, many times that you need 3 guys in your rotation that you can count on. We have that. If the 4th and 5th spot fall into line, then great. The sox have the same exact thing, except I like our ace better and their #2 and #3 better. That's it.

So you'd give their rotation a edge up in a short series. What's to stop them from going three-man in the playoffs?

In terms of the lineup, stop bitching. We have an open corner OF spot. Those arent hard to fill.

I agree. Which is why I'm not killing him.

In terms of Burnett's effectiveness being linked to Molina, we have a very capable backup who caught Burnett at the beginning of the yr well in Cervelli. No worries there

I hope so. I would much rather have Molina.

In terms of insurance policies for the rotation, I think Gaudin would be a good one and another is Aceves on the big league level. If Sheets price comes down, then great. But I am perfectly content with Hughes and Joba in that rotation provided we have some contingency plan. Gaudin would be one of them (he did pretty well for us actually).

Remember last time we tried to go with two unproven pitchers in the rotation? We didn't even make the playoffs. I honestly believe that in the AL East, you need seven starters to make it through the season. I'd love to bring back Wang and sign Sheets. Imagine a pen of Joba, Hughes, and Mo.

Also, you continue to perseverate on Matsui leaving. I loved the guy, but Cashman has said from day 1 that he needs more versatility. Hell, Jeter's 35, ARod's 34, Posada's 37. These guys hit incredibly well, but at their ages, we cannot be starting them 160 times a season anymore. They need their rest. And bringing back a full time DH would mean that there would be a lot of pressure to keep the lineup as is. Getting Granderson was a big step. Getting a Bay or Damon would be another since it opens up the DH at times for resting guys.

Then why should any team have a DH? Matsui could have played 5 games a week, while rotating a player in DH the other two games.

 

Considering the production we got out of Matsui, and what he signed for...big mistake.

 

However, the big mistake is Lackey. By not being involved with Lackey, Boston strengthened their rotation immeasurably and kept all their prospects to make a trade for a bona-fide hitter to replace Bay's offense.

 

There is very little doubt that their team has improved while at the current time, our team has declined.

 

I know this can change in a heartbeat if we trade for/sign a big pitcher or hitter. However, until then, they've closed the gap.

Saying that the best player Cashman drafted was Robertson is pretty ignorant. I'd say Joba and Hughes were pretty good too.

When the big lights were on, who did you trust the most? For me it was Robertson in October. So far, going into next season, I have the most confidence in him.

Regardless, more reactionary BS from you. I am not surprised.

It's only ******** if you're got your head between Cashman's legs.

 

Oh...you missed a spot on your chin.

[yankees228]

In terms the current state of their rotation, a pitcher like Lackey made a lot of sense for the Yankees. No one disagrees. But Gom, what you continue to miss in your refusal to believe anything anyone says is that there is a very good chance last offseason is effecting what they can do this offseason. They had a great offseason last year, one in which they spent a lot of money. In my opinion, they were going to do some minor tweaking (Granderson), and go with a similar team. If Lackey's price tag came down in the sixty million dollar range, I think the Yankees might have been interested. But if a team was willing to sign him at the price the Red Sox signed him at, the Yankees simply were not going to be interested. A lot of Yankee fans seem to want and expect everything. Unfortunately, the realities of the world tend to clash with this desire.

[yankees228]

As for not resigning Matsui, I think this is just the consequence of the A-Rod and Posada contracts. The Yankees need to attempt to preserve this two players through the duration of their contracts (for A-Rod, as much of it as possible). A permanent DH simply does not fit into their plan for next year.

[Gom]

In terms the current state of their rotation' date=' a pitcher like Lackey made a lot of sense for the Yankees. No one disagrees. But Gom, what you continue to miss in your refusal to believe anything anyone says is that there is a very good chance last offseason is effecting what they can do this offseason. They had a great offseason last year, one in which they spent a lot of money. In my opinion, they were going to do some minor tweaking (Granderson), and go with a similar team. If Lackey's price tag came down in the sixty million dollar range, I think the Yankees might have been interested. But if a team was willing to sign him at the price the Red Sox signed him at, the Yankees simply were not going to be interested. A lot of Yankee fans seem to want and expect everything. Unfortunately, the realities of the world tend to clash with this desire.[/quote']

 

I understand your point, and I see the inherent logic in it. However, the Yankees are not at the point of player development as the Red Sox, but seem to be heading in that direction. The Red Sox have a five year jump on us.

 

The Yankees need to be more effective with their financial measures. It was a huge mistake to not offer Damon arbitration, considering his agent is Boras. For goodness sake, Boras rejected arbitration for Beltre! At the very least, it would have given us two extra picks. It was a mistake for us not to resign Matsui, considering he would have been a one year stop gap at a very affordable price. It was a huge mistake not to sign Lackey. It will be a huge mistake to not sign Molina. Since Cervelli is not the long-term answer, his value is more in a trade. Montero or Romine or Mauer is the catcher of the future, not Cervelli.

 

The Yankees were incredibly lucky to go through a season with CC, AJ, and Andy throwing over 90 starts. This will most likely not happen again. Right now, our rotation lags behind the Red Sox as does our farm system. I actually would rather have Wang and Sheets on short deals than Lackey on a long deal. However, if we stand pat, I'd be very disappointed, and calling for Cashman's head.

 

The jury is still out, but I'm not happy.

[yankees228]

I'm not even going to touch on the Molina point, because it's clear we're far apart on that one. So lets look at your three other criticisms point by point.

 

1. It was a mistake not to sign Lackey - Again, while acquiring a pitcher of Lackey's ability would certainly be a huge help, after what they did last offseason (and if you consider all the guys they have locked up long term), I'm inclined to believe that ownership simply isn't going to give Cashman the go ahead to spend the required amount of money. To me, this is a logical and plausible scenario.

 

2. It was a mistake not to sign Matsui - http://www.talksox.com/forum/508092-post28.html

 

3. It was a mistake not to offer Damon arbitration - While I expressed my displeasure with this decision at the time it was made, for the reason you mentioned, I understand that this is an example of the fact that the Yankees are going to be very money conscious (at least for the moment) after what they did last offseason. For whatever reason, they believed there was a possibility Damon might accept, and they just could not take that risk.