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As Red Sox fans we can only hope something will happen to Joba. He looked pretty dominant last year and just about any time he's on the mound. His stuff is overpowering and he has a good head on his shoulders. The fact that he has injury concerns is the only thing that's keeping me from being really worried about him. I'm kind of worried though.

The Yankees have to win the WS. Anything less is a disappointment. I don't see that expectation changing for the life of Teixeira, A-Rod or Sabathia's contracts. They will not do that. Clearly "only" one or two World Series titles won't be enough, given how many people remain disappointed with their teams performance even the year after they win a World Series. Most franchises can placate their fans with one WS, but not in NY, and not with a lot of Red Sox fans. Personally, I'm pretty happy with a team that wins a few WS in a decade, but that's not enough for some. It certainly isn't enough for the Yankees.

I'm slightly torn on Jeff Kent as a HOF player. Part of that is because he isn't a characteristic 2B. The numbers we would usually look for from a 2B would be OBP, SB, H, etc.,. Instead, he leads all 2B in HRs, that's the most impressive number he has going for him, and something that shouldn't be overlooked. Of course, it comes in an era when HRs were flying out of ball parks. His career .356 OBP and .500 SLG are decent, but unexceptional--the .500 SLG is pretty good (top 100 all-time), but a .356 OBP isn't that impressive by itself. He played 17 seasons and had a total of 2298 hits, which also isn't fantastic, but it puts him in the same class as guys like Chipper Jones, DiMagio and McCovey... so not bad. It looks like his OBP went slightly up over the years, at least his attention to walks seems to have improved, which is something I always look at when trying to figure out if a player is using. Was it that pitchers suddenly started pitching around him because he was a hulking beast, or did his eye and plate discipline improve and get him slightly more walks. In his case it looks like the later. I'm suspicious because he played with Bonds for so long, but I can't let suspicion get in the way of a good argument and won't let it play out here. He was a very productive 2B, a position that tends to not have a lot of power hitters or middle-lineup mashers, which Kent was. I don't like him as a person or as a player, but can't let that sway me either. Overall, I guess he gets in in my opinion. He had a number of very good seasons, including 8 out of 9 seasons with 100+ RBI. He was productive with a few different teams, played for a long time, and was consistently one of the top 5 offensively at his position throughout most of that time and he wasn't moved from 2B, which tells me his defense was adequate. That's a very good career. Unlike others here, I don't see this as a purely open and shut case. Its close, and I had to look up a number of thing before concluding 'yes'. One of them was where he hit in the lineup. He hit 4th for most of his time in SF. If he had been hitting 3rd I would have been more skeptical, with Bonds and his massive body waiting behind him. But he hit BEHIND Bonds, with guys like JT Snow behind him. His RBI numbers were helped, but he had 5 seasons in SF above his career average OBP, even with s*** behind him. Overall, sure, he gets in.

I see people are advocating waiting a few more weeks to get Tek, but am I the only one that would be slightly concerned if he signed with, say, the Dodgers or Padres tomorrow? (just examples) I can rationalize the benefit of a 1st round pick any day of the week, but I also think this team needs a better option than Josh Bard. Whether that is one of the mentioned possibilities like Teagarden, Saltalamacchia or Montero, or resigning Tek, they are going to need someone, even if it is someone like Montero who, with Bard, and their AAA level catchers, could allow a good competition to take place. I just don't like the chances of only two of those catchers competing for the spot. I think Tek still has some hand until the Sox have that other option in place.

Maybe. He's also 22 years old. His MiLB numbers are as good as anyone, and given his age and the success he had at that age I see plenty of reason for optimism (if I were a Yankee fan). I certainly didn't say he I was sure he will be a tremendous starter. Re-read what I wrote: There is no doubt that Hughes is a SP, and you and I have (historically) agreed that Hughes should be a tremendous starter. I said that 1) there is no doubt he is a SP (whereas Joba may be a reliever or SP) and 2) Jacko and I have historically agreed that he should be a tremendous starter. Not that he will be, but given his stuff and prior performance he should be. I still believe that. I think that if the Yankees moved him for anything other than a really nice player coming back they stand to be selling low on him. That said, I can understand injury concerns about him and would see that as the most significant mitigating factor to his minor league numbers. At his age I wouldn't give up on him, unless there is reason to believe his injuries will reduce his velocity. EDIT: I forgot to mention: I hope I'm totally, 100% wrong and that the Yankees keep relying on him and that he's one of the games biggest flops. :thumbsup:

I find it best to get frustrated with Jacksonian in batches, and then to let it go before getting too heated. He loves the Yankees, which is absolutely a mistake, but I can't critique his passion. He's also a good poster around here. Hopefully you guys can carry your disagreements into the actual baseball season. It's much more fun to argue s*** on the field.

Do you love the idea of Joba in the rotation? It seems to me like the Yankees would be best served with him as the set-up man and eventually work his way into a closer role. It reminds me a lot of the Sox situation with Papelbon, when they thought he would be a valuable starter but ended up keeping him in the pen. Joba is a tremendous talent with a great head on his shoulders. If they're worried about his durability it seems like he would be best used in the pen, where their depth seems a bit weak anyway. Use him in high leverage situations, because the leverage in innings 1-5 usually isn't as high and can be handled by a more 'average' pitcher. He will make up much of the value he loses with fewer innings if he is literally winning games for them in the 7th and 8th innings of close games. Sabathia Wang Burnett Pettitte Hughes/??/ That to me seems like it should be the rotation. There is no doubt that Hughes is a SP, and you and I have (historically) agreed that Hughes should be a tremendous starter. Keeping him on the bench of in AAA doesn't do much for his trade value or his development and confidence as a Yankee. He was 'ready' to start in 07 and going into 08, so proving himself at AAA seems like a waste of his talent. Let him start, let him work his s*** out in the #5 hole and if needed have the offense carry him.

Settle down man. You may or may not be more knowledgable, but until you know for sure you may want to just do your thing with some humility--especially if you're trying not to be haughty. If you're knowledgeable then continue to prove it. I have no problem with you holding some of the Yankee fans' feet to the fire, but there's no point in dissing this site because it isn't SOSH. I don't know about other people, but I found the arrogance of some of the posters at SOSH to be intolerable so I choose not to post there. I have no reason to think that my insight isn't 'on par' with that site, merely that this site encourages more discussion and back-and-forth, with fewer hawks calling people out for useless posts.

Factor in the $9m more a year (or whatever it is) that Teixeira costs it seems like even a diminished Berkman is more valuable to just about any club than Teixeira is. Maybe that's just me, but that extra half-win that Teixeira may give you per-year probably isn't worth the huge amount. That's not to diminish Teixeira, I just think its important to take cost into account when you talk about "valuable". "Value" should be relative to "cost"... at least in most worlds.

Do you think Henry attended this meeting to do a face-to-face negotiation or to breakup with Tek?

I think the young catchers who seem to have the best shot of being a 'franchise' catcher are going to cost Buchholz. The other guys might not be worth a guy like Bowden. At another time perhaps the Sox will be able to deal a few OF prospects, some relief pitchers, or some young pitchers who weren't BP's #2 overall prospect in 2008. Or, perhaps best of all, the Sox could draft someone.

From my point of view, this is the most important thing this team can get from its catcher next year and the year after, assuming they're not going to get an offensive juggernaught like Mauer or Martin. I think he instills confidence in the staff and his game preparation is great. I also think he can come back offensively and have some semblance of success at the plate. With the diverse staff of young/old, recent acquisition/rookie/veteran Sox members, I think Tek is still a great fit.

I like the WBC, all things consideed. I like opportnities to see players outside of their usal settings and really don't worry too much about the injury concerns. I'm psyched to see Dice-K and Yu Darvish pitch against other good hitters in (fairly) high pressre situations.

I think and hope it will be Tek. Short deal and plan for the future. Have Bard/Kottaras/Brown battle out for backup role.

I saw that Scott Kazmir will be joining Team USA. Excellent.

I bet he's a Red Sox catcher next year. He's too good a guy and a leader to have drawn such little interest so the Sox should be able to get him for not too much.

It will be interesting to see how Lester matches up against guys like Sabathia and Santana as he moves forward. He's 25 next year, so he definitely has that going for him. Mariano is a monster, but I don't know a single person (Yankee or Red Sox fan) who would want either of them as your closer. Papelbon will be 28 next year, so he's got the youth going for him like Lester does. As far as Beckett, we all know what he's done in the postseason. Let's just hope he can come back to form this year.

Right. You take the high OBP over the K concerns any day of the week. That said, I also hear a700's point about moving in runners etc., and think that's maybe the 'second tier' of being a great plate control artist and something that was frustrating with the Sox a few years back. It could have been a lot of bad luck, but guys like WMP and Belhorn seemed to be rally killers in close games. Either way, a team needs to have that OBP baseline established first and then they can start worrying about GBs to the right side and sac flies, etc.,

Then Manny will go in a Red Sox uniform.