I expect Pettitte to have an ERA around 4.20. I'd be surprised if Hughes had an ERA of 4.20 or higher. But he'll start in Scranton to get the innings and build the arm strength.
I'd like to see ALL the prospects get significant time down in the minors. Even if that means dealing with Pavano pitching for a few months. I don't want to ruin any of them by bringing them up too soon. As for the Japanese matchup jonnyd, it isn't us who will be all hyped up. It's Japan. We're talking about heroes over there. (Matsui and Matsuzaka. I don;t know how Igawa is seen over there.) Personally, I don't really care, except the revenues generated by having these guys. (Hell everyone loves our dollar, I see nothing wrong with us yearning for the yen.) Back to what we were talking about 10P10, I hear you. A for Melky, yes, Matsui will create more runs that Melky will save, but my concern is how those runs balance. I don't see runs as raw numbers. Sure, Matsui is going to hit more homers than Melky is going to save with his glove, but how important will each be? Has Matsui hit any homers with the impact that Melky's catch on Manny had? That's where I see the difference. Plus, you know I like small ball. I would rather have a guy like Melky in the 9 spot, getting sprinkled hits and having his speed on base for Damon and Jeter than Matsui coming up after Giambi has either grounded out to right-second or launched one into the stands. That's just my version of baseball love. As far as Gonzalez, don't get me wrong. I don't object to having talent, regardless of the position. However, given my feelings about Melky, overall I don't like the idea of the trade. It's the overall scenario, not the specifics on any one point that I have an issue with. And you are spot on. I am a fan of the pinstripes since I was 3 years old. One of the reasons I adore Jeter is his attitude that a title is ALL that matters. It's exactly the same way I feel.
It's the way I feel as well, which is why I want the Yankees to have the best players. The Yankees won from 96-00 because they had the best players from top to bottom. Over the last few years, they didn't have that (in the rotation or bullpen).
This is interesting. http://www.nypost.com/seven/1217200...yanks_deny_trade_talk_yankees_george_king.htm Unfortunately George King has a horrible track record. But if we can somehow unload him, that would be incredible.
If we could dump Randy, even for low level prospects, that would instantly make us better. He only starts because he is getting paid, and he only gets out there when his body isn't breaking down. The thought of that pushing Pavano up in the order scares me though. If we unload Randy, you have to believe the Yanks will push Roger to return. If we could somehow parlay a trade of Randy into acquiring Sexson, that would be pretty sick. Cashman is working his ass off this offseason. Can you imagine where we would be if he were actually in charge all along?
If God is a Yankees fan then Cashman will unload Johnson for a pack of gum or something. Anything to remove his negative influence from the rotation.
Just imagine for a second we could trade Randy for Sexson, and Clemens returns. Damon Jeter Abreu A-Rod Giambi Sexson Matsui Posada Cano Wang Mussina Clemens Pettitte Pavano/Igawa/Hughes (if he can't be denied) Sweet fancy Moses.
I know the lineup sounds great and all, but there is nothing about that lineup that corrects the fact that they totally malfunctioned come playoff time. It's really been the same story for years and years, and nothing would change that other than new players.
Well, Sheffield has been one of the worst post-season hitters for us, and he is gone. Other than that, everyone else (aside from A-Rod) has their ups-and-downs. What should they do to change? Rely less on power hitters, and more on contact hitters? Well, other than Sheff and A-Rod, their two worst hitters in the post-season last year were their two contact hitters, Damon and Cano. Post-season sample size is so small, that the players who come through change from year to year, generally. It's the pitching that needs to be improved.
Exactly, our pitching has betrayed us the playoffs. Aside from maybe A-Rod, I find it hard to believe that a lineup as talented as that of the Yankees will go totally silent over a 5-10 game stretch. If our pitchers could hold us in the series, we'd be unstoppable.
It's been the bats not the ptiching, the pitching was definitely good enough to win the lst 2 years but our "great" bats were silenced come playoff time.
I was wondering if you guys had a link to what FA’s are out there for the 2007 off-season? I know that after this year, Posada ($12M) and Randy ($16M) come off our books (thank the Lord for being done with Randy). Also Abreu has $16M team option, or a $2M buyout. Also in 2008, Giambi ($22M, $5M buyout), Pettitte ($16M), Mussina ($11.5M), Pavano ($10M), and Farnsworth ($5.5M) come off the books. Given what is coming off in 2007 and the massive amount coming off in 2008 ($65M just with the 5 players I mentioned), I figure we will be quite active next year (unlike this offseason). However, I was wondering if there was anything worth shopping for, or if we will get stuck with the Gil Meche’s and Ted Lilly’s of the world again. Thanks all, Mike
5.56 ERA isn't going to win a playoff series. The bats deserve blame, but the poor pitching deserves just as much blame.
I would semi-agree with junc. I think our bats hurt us more than our pitching. Our pitching has been far from good, but the bats have gone stone cold in October. I think it appears worse since so much more is expected from those bats. With the lineup we've presented in the postseason the past few years, that 5-6 runs a game should be nothing for us to overcome. Our lineup, playing at expected potential, should score from 8-10 a game. Even against top-tier pitching, it should score 6-7, which would be enough to win games where we give up and average of 5 and a half per.
The pitching hasn't been great but it;'s been good wnough to win w/ if our bats played up to even half their level.
I'd love to live on the same planet as you guys, when a 5.56 ERA is good enough to get by. Both the offense and pitching have been awful in the playoffs and deserve equal blame, period.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/20061219TDY24003.htm Good that he only gets $4M per year. If he's good, it's a bargain. If he sucks, or we just have no use for him, there will be a decent amount of teams willing to trade for a young lefty with Japanese connections who's only making $4M per.
We were up 1-0 over det and Muusina wasn't great but we had det on the roeps and couldn't score any rusn to break it open. if we score a few runs in that game we win and take the series.
We gave Mussina a 3-1 lead to work with, and he lost it. The bats get blame for falling asleep after the 4th, but Mussina gets just as much blame, if not more, for giving up three runs over the next three innings.
