The Yankees have been in the playoffs every year for how many years now? Oh,now it's "the yankees haven't won anything this century" LOL! Holy crap. Ok fine,and your AAA team hasn't won since almost a 1/4 of the way back into the last one. I'd rather root for the team that makes the moves to be in contention every year rather than the one that lives in their shadow and graces the playoffs every once in a while. All Star retirement community > David Wright.
OMG .. It's crazy that one move ,One move a thread gets started cos all of us Yankee fans( You know the Real team of NY ) are happy that the Yanks brought back a pitcher who will greatly help the rotation and all these haters are poping out of the wood works like some cochroaches . If RC signed with the team that yall Yankee haters are for it would be the best thing since sliced bread , but since the Yanks made the move it's the worse move since Doc Gooden started snorting.... DON'T HATE CONGRATGULATE !!!!
This is a good deal since the Yankees were desperate, although it isn't all that great, this is the same guy that ran out of gas the last time he was in the playoffs, the same guy who hasn't been in the AL in years, and when he was with the Yankees had by far his worst years statistically of his career, that isn't even bringing up the fact that he is 45, now it is still better than the crappy alternative, but he is just a good 6 inning pitcher on a team with an already overused bullpen
I think I said the same exact thing about Randy Johnson, and I am pretty sure I was right on that one, this is far from a lock that this will end up working out the way you hope from this move, 45 is ancient in baseball years
hmm..two things. He is starting in June so he won't run out of gas in October anymore . Second, the Yankees would have signed him whether the starting rotation was banged up or not. They tried to do it in spring training.
I'm actually more thrilled that he didnt go back to the sox than that he went to the Yanks. He very well may have put the Sox over the hump in terms of an ALCS type run.. For the yanks...he may smooth over a rocky situation...but by no means is he "the final piece" or anything of that nature. Petitte and Mussina's consistency, Hughes development, Rest for the bullpen and improved clutch hitting is what will turn this team around.
I think the only reason we actually picked him up, and paid so much for him, is because of the rotation situation. He's a band-aid, nothing more, nothing less. The rotation is struggling, and it's 85% due to injuries. Another 10% is simply age, and that still points back a lot at the 85%. The other 5% is Carla having a body made of tissue paper, and that points back at the 85% too. Clemens became a priority because we need a stop gap. There's no solid timeframe on Hughes yet. In terms of our order, right now, here's how I see the rotation in terms of strength: Wang Pettitte Clemens Moose Rasner Here's what I hope it looks like, in terms of strength, in August: Wang Hughes Pettitte Clemens Moose If it works out that way, we're in pretty good shape. Not that I believe Clemens is less talented than Pettitte, but so far, Andy's been pretty good, when healthy. If Roger comes in and pitches better, then we're in very good shape. Did we overpay for Clemens? Yes. Did we give him an opportunity to say no, and listen to an offer from the Sox? Probably not. That's the reason for the amount. A lot like the bid the Sox put on the table for Matsuzaka. Don't give the competition any chance whatsoever to beat you. I didn't want Clemens for one simple reason. What he's done the past few years, dangling teams along while he "decides" whether to play or not, is bad for the sport. Unfortunately, right now, the Yankees have no choice. We need to level the staff out until the kids are ready. As much as many of you hate it, there's one simple reason it happened, it's business. We have the money, the Boss doesn't give a damn how much is spent, and he stops some of the bleeding. Does he fix it all right now? Of course not. Will he fix the situation overall a month from now? Who knows? The fact is, the Yankees had to take the chance, if there is any hope of this offense, on pace to score over 900 runs, to actually be worth the money being paid for them.
Didn't Nolan Ryan pitch until he was 47? He was another power pitcher who was never probably in as good shape as Clemens. He will still be effective. It is harder then the NL of course. The alternative is give up a lot of prospects to get somebody you have to pay for years and may never be as good in big games as Clemens may be. I don't see it as desperation at all. I see it as the cheapest alternative while the young pitchers develop. Now if they could have gotten Willis or Santana without giving up the farm(literally) it would have been better. Other then that I don't see anybody out there that would have been worth the money or the prospects. I'm pretty sure he will be better then Kei Igawa who he is replacing.
The Red Sox didn't want him until July. He wanted to pitch now. They also, I hear, wanted him as a 6th starter to only pitch on Sundays so as to give Matsusaka the amount of rest between starts that he is accustomed to. Now if that doesn't tell you what Boston is thinking about him (Matsusaka) this early into the season, nothing does. The biggest benefit of having him back may be that he can give Hughes, Sanchez, Ohlendorf, Karstans and some others tips on pitching and staying in shape that may make them better pitchers for the rest of their careers. That in itself would be worth the money spent now.
I like the Yankees and hate George so to me this is a win/win. If the Yankees win it all it will be lots of fun in October around here. On the other hand if they don't win the fact that George blew the big wad to get Rodger will create great Drama with the usually beheadings come October. This will be entertaining either way. Love the move.
Actually, in all fairness, Nolan Ryan was one of the most well-kept players in the history of the sport. Perhaps more than Clemens. His workout ethic was amazing. We actually watched a film about him in a high school gym class. He was a total workhorse.
