Post #7: Grading Cashman So Far

The Yankees signed Pettitte to a 1 year deal for 16 million and a 2008 player option for 16 million, which is in essence signing him for 2/32 because Pettitte will jump all over that option for many reasons, including:
- The market will calm down by then
- His numbers will get worse after pitching in the AL
- 16 is a lot especially for his age and he really wants to retire soon anyway so its not like he'll not pick up to sign a 3 or 4 year deal.
I love this move, in fact I called for it in an earlier post (the plan B post) because as a short term deal, it keeps 2009 open. I'll just paste my post from an nyyfans.com forum in a thread about grading Cashman this offseason:

I give him an A- as well, but it could change to B+ or A depending on the pan-out-ness of Igawa, and the Sheffield package.
The Pettitte signing was very important. After Matsuzaka, he is the only guy available I'd be willing to give the ball to in the playoffs, and he signed him to a short term deal which is exactly like we needed. Even the 16 million dollar 2008 option doesn't bother me because 2009 (Santana and Carpenter free agents, more minor leaguers emerging) is an important year to avoid committing Pettitte to at this point.
Igawa signing I like as long as 1 of the following 2 happen: he pitches well (like a nice 3rd starter, 4.20 era or so in that division) OR if Pavano or Johnson are traded (in which case if he pitches like a #4 I still like the deal). Does that make sense? Because if they got him just for depth and not because he's good its a waste of money since Rasner and Karstens can be close to as good for free. We'll see how Igawa pitches but this is the only move that puzzled me. Note I said puzzled and not bothered - thats because its simply not a money issue. On the contrary, even is he isn't good the team is better off having him than not having him, he will just be added depth. Its not like screwing up by signing the wrong position player to a long term deal and being stuck with him. Its just money so its not a big deal, but a blemish nonetheless if it doesn't pan out.
I agree with whoever said above its possible that he misjudged the market and acted too quickly on Sheffield and maybe could have gotten an even better package, but I will not downgrade him for this right NOW, just something to keep an eye on (how exactly Sanchez and Whelan or maybe even the other guy pan out). The Wright and Phelps moves were nice little ones as well, and I won't blame him for Matsuzaka. The best and most underrated move of his, though, remains resigning Moose at a bargain both years and price wise.

Did you know? Albert Pujols is tied for 9th all time in post season home runs, with 13, tied with Chipper Jones and Jim Edmonds. Bernie Williams is the all time leader with 22, Manny right behind with 20. Oh, and Pujols will be all of 27 on January 16th.

Post #6: Memo to Ca$h: Just Say No To Mediocrity!

My personal reflection has led to this startling discovery re: NYY starting rotation...
Wang and Hughes are the future (2009 and beyond) because at that point Mussina, Pavano and Johnson are all gone. I would be hesitant to fill one of the 3 remaining 2009 rotation spots right now with anyone on the FA market (even Zito and Schmidt). Personally I'd wait, because the team has a chance to be special in that window starting in 2009 and I'd rather sign 2 of Zambrano, Santana and Carpenter [all free agents in the next two years] which would add very little to payroll [Johnson/Mussina/Pavano combine to make nearly 40 million as a 2007 trio, fiscally it is feasible for Zambrano and Santana/Carpenter to make 40m/year as a duo and have another kid-inhouse option working for 300 G's, so in both cases its 3 pitchers at 40 million, so don't think about telling me that Cashman wants to lower the payroll and this is antithetical to said plan] making that rotation, with the last spot going to yet another in-house option (Betances? Chamberlain? Garcia? Kennedy? Clippard? Sanchez? will any pan out?)
Can you imagine a 2009 rotation of Santana, Zambrano, Hughes, Wang and Betances? Why are we rushing to fill that spot with a Zito when a new dynasty is on the horizon, one for the next generation of Yankee fans, in a new stadium with new faces and probably even a new manager. I have a dream!
Yankee fans: this would mean "suffering" in 2007 with a mere rotation of Wang, Mussina, Pavano, Johnson and *Karstens (*Until Hughes is ready mid-season after starting in AAA). I believe this to be a worthy cause, considering this rotation isn't worse than last year's (Wang, Mussina, Johnson, Wright, Lidle) which combined with the aforementioned dynamic offense to win 97 games and run away from an excellent AL East. In fact I predict it will be better, as Pavano has to prove basically his manhood or else he will surely die (or won't ever get a big contract again whichever he views as worse.) Johnson won 17 lucky games and will once again be a shell of his former self as he embarasses himself yet again, but I believe Hughes will live up to the hype with Verlander/Liriano-esque production in 18+ starts in the #5 spot and the Yankees should win 100 easily. So if this is "suffering" just for 1 year, until we sign Zambrano to replace Johnson and then Carpenter or Santana the following year, then it is suffering I plan to do. Then we have Zambrano in 2008 and the dynasty will be berthed.
In summation, option #1 this offseason would be Clemens or Pettitte to a 1 year deal. Option #2 for me would be a 2 year deal to a middling starter. This would hamper 2008 a little because Wang, Mussina, Pavano, this guy in his 2nd year, and Hughes would not really allow for Zambrano to be signed. But I'm sure it could be done anyway and Pavano will be done away with. However, absolutely no 3 year deals, even to Zito or Schmidt, that isn't an option! Heed me, Cashmoney!

Did you know? You obviously don't know me very well if you expect me to actually give you $10 for naming Olerud and Martinez, but in any event, that's totally ok! Anyways, here is my 2nd installment of the quiz version of did you know: Who did I omit from the following very prestigious club: .295+ avg, .405+ obp, 400+ homers and 1500+ runs (In ascending order of total runs scored if that helps):
Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Mel Ott, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth

Post #5: Time for Plan B

OK a lot has happened since my last baseball post. Sheffield was dumped to the Tigers for Sanchez, Whelan and Claggett, all 3 of which are good young arms. Sanchez according to Cashman projects to be a back of the bullpen type of guy, which could be very helpful in the near future. Whelan is talented with nasty stuff and is a year or so away from the Majors by most accounts. Clagget is a young unknown who randomly pitched over 60 innings with an under 1 era for single A. Needless to say I am extatic about this move. Cashman has been looking to stockpile young arms to replenish the system and he picked up 3 nice ones with someone he doesn't even have a spot for on the 07 team. The Tigers fill their middle of the lineup need with a nice bat in a particularly shallow market, although Shef is declining, can't play defense (he will be asked to DH - I wonder how long before he starts barking about Ordonez that he should be the one out in right?) and is coming off of major wrist surgery (even casual fans who have seen him take 1 AB should know how important his wrists are to his swing). There really is no downside to this package that Cashman clearly took over several others. I don't care about facing the Tigers in the playoffs and Sheff's vengence. Please. The Tigers with their backload of pitching of Miller, Minor, Verlander, Bonderman, Rogers, Maroth, Robertson off the top of my head are capable of starting could afford to trade the young arms. I think its a trade that works for both sides. I do not understand why the Tigers signed Sheffield to a 2 year extension of 14 million per, though. He will be 40 in 2009 are you kidding me? His OPS has been declining every year since 2003 that is way too much money for him as a 40 year old in 2009.
Then they traded Wright to the Orioles for Chris Britton, a 23 year old righthander with decent numbers in a tough park/division who has been healthy and not overworked. Thats a lot of checks on the checklist you have when evaluating relievers. Wright had a decent year for the Yankees, although Torre's inability to manage him (taking him out despite cruising along in the 5th and 6th innings) put stress on the bullpen and taxed Proctor and Villone into submission. I can write a whole article with proofs, etc, just about that but I will leave it for another time as I still haven't gotten to the meat and potatoes (Matsuzaka and rotation plan B) of this post. I don't understand why the Orioles want a mediocre starter who won't give you 200 innings even for $3 million. Don't tell me he's reunited with Mazone, he had that 1 good year with Atlanta not because of the damn pitching coach but because of the division and league and park. With Villone likely leaving in free agency (he's spent out: take the Type B pick for him and let some other team buy high on him) its important to rebuild the bullpen and Sanchez/Britton joining Proctor/Farnsworth and possibly Dotel as the bridge to Rivera is a good start. I don't think Cashman is done with the pen though. I can't wait to rock Jaret Wright 5 times a year.
The Red Sox put $51.1 down to talk with Matsuzaka. I am not happy about this. All indiciations are he will be a very solid pitcher and that 51.1 doesn't count to payroll/luxury tax. He will be the most expensive player in baseball at about 30 mil/year but that doesn't comfort me enough. I was fully expecting the Yankees to win the bid and slot him in at 1.5 as a complement to Wang who I also view as a 1.5 type pitcher in the rotation. The Sox can't trust Clement to be healthy, Lester is by all accounts out for '07 with cancer, and Wakefield is aging and on his last leg. Even with Matsuzaka they need Schilling to repeat his solid 06 season and for Beckett to improve drastically or else they will finish 3rd in the division yet again.
I can't blame the Yankees for not bidding that high, but people who are saying the Red Sox are stupid are wrong, imo. Yes they are clearly hypocrites as they cried poverty last year at the deadline (Theo saying he can't compete with the Yankees and take on Abreu's contract, also their whole "eye towards the future thing" with Crisp instead of a couple of million more for Damon last offseason). However that 51.1 will be partially recouped by opening Japanese market (a cut of Mats' merchandise sold in Japan, and advertising in Fenway a la Yomiuru newspaper ads in the Stadium). Besides, they needed a starter and he is by far the best one out there.

What can the Yankees do now? What is plan B? They resigned Moose for 2 years/22.5 million, (a nice short term deal I was advocating) which is arguably a hometown discount for a guy who is statistically better than Zito and Schmidt.
Mussina, Wang, Pavano and Johnson will make up next year's rotation. I will go through the options and come to 1 conclusion as to what should be done for the 5th and final spot:

• I'd rather not start the year with Hughes as he is unready for a 200 ip load yet and I don't want to have to keep his strict pitch count on the major league level like some advocate (imagine a 1-1 score scenerio in the 5th inning and Hughes has thrown 90 pitches but has to leave even though he's pitching well - his development should not cost the Yankees winning games and I fear it may).
• Karstens or Rasner are more than capable of handling the 5th spot for 2007, but is that rotation (Wang, Mussina, Pavano, Johnson, Rasner) good enough to win a world series? Probably not even if Pavano somehow turns his career around.
• As I see it there are 3 groups of FA starters left. Group 1 are the good starters who will come at a high price. This is Zito and Schmidt. Should we go out and sign Zito or Schmidt to long multi year deals? No. My rotation plan calls for, eventually, by 2008 opening day, 2 of the 5 spots to belong to the "future" (the future means from the group of Hughes, Clippard, Garcia, Betances, Rasner, White, Whelan, and anyone else being developed now in the minors or who will be acquired by Cashman in the near future). As it stands, Randy Johnson's spot will be vacant by 2008 and can be occupied by a future member. If we sign Zito or Schmidt to a long term deal then come 2008, Zito/Schmidt, Wang, Mussina and Pavano will only allow for 1 future spot. But what if Whelan and Hughes are Verlander and Jered Weaver of 2008? It would be a gluttonous, expensive, unacceptable logjam.
• Should we sign someone from group b of the free agent starters, namely the middle to back of the rotation types who will be cheap fliers? Wolf, Batista, Lilly and Meche primarily make up this group with hordes of others as well. But there will be the same problem as if Zito/Schmidt were signed, by 2008 there won't be room. This is more acceptable because most likely they will require 2 or 3 year deals as opposed to 4 or more, so by 2010 the spot will be reopened. But this isn't good enough for me. I want 40% of my 08 rotation to be non-Wang future types.
• The logical conclusion. The third free agent starter type: The last hurrah close to retirement reliable starter: Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. As much as it hates me to say it (I hate both of them especially Clemens) signing one of them to a 1 year deal (they are both by all indications open to a 1 year deal) is the best option. They will fill out the rotation: Wang, Clemens, Mussina, Pavano and Johnson and make it a very formidable one for the regular season as well as short series in the playoffs. Talent isn't in question for either, neither is health for the most part, and both have not just handled but thrived in NY before. Then come 08, Clemens/Pettitte will be off the books. Johnson will be off the books. The 2 "future" starters can come up fully ready for a full season and start the initiation for the new dynasty (which as I tell everyone begins in 2009 with the new stadium and new manager.) And if only 1 future starter is ready, which is more realistic, like only Hughes for example, then we should sign a big time free agent next offseason and here is why: big time starters will be cheaper next year then ever, with Zambrano, Oswalt, Schilling, Smoltz and others all free agents. The Yankees in the offseason before 2008, thinking about 2009, will realize that both Mussina and Pavano are gone after that season and they will need to be replaced so why not now (ie 2008) when the market is cheap for big time starters.

That' s right I'm looking ahead to looking ahead to the next offseason. When Mussina and Pavano are entering their final years it will be smart to replace 1 of them for 2009 while allowing the other one to be replaced in-house by the aforementioned future group.

That's enough for now, you can leave comments, I hope I was clear with my ideas and reasons if not my explanation is lacking not the ideas themselves so leave comments and I will embellish if necessary on anything written in this post.

Did you know? According to ERA+ (which is park and league adjusted) Pedro Martinez is, BY FAR, the greatest pitcher who ever lived (at not giving up runs) with a 160 ERA+ and its not even close. Rounding out the top 5 are epic names like Lefty Grove 148, Walter Johnson and Dan Quisenberry and Hoyt Wilhelm and Joe Wood at 146, Ed Walsh at 145, and Roger Clemens and Johan Santana at 144.

Post #4: Day Took Er Jubs!

If there is a hobbie/passion in my life greater than baseball it is without a doubt South Park. This here post will be the honorary first South Park post and probably not the last. Being such, I will be more inclusive and detailed in said post. To begin, if you are unfamiliar with South Park (that's you, dwellers of under the rock) South Park is an animated show on comedy central which uses 4 foul mouthed kids and their wacky town as tools to mock conservatives and liberals, democrats and republicans, to mock celebrities, to mock people who believe ridiculous nonsense, and generally to tackle every issue in a humorous manner to expose the ridiculousness of the extremists positions within the issue on both sides of the spectrum. As M&T (the shows creators) often say, whatever is funny goes. They don't draw lines as to what is/isn't fair game. Social topics covered, off the top of my head, include but are FAR from limited to: fad of metrosexuality, gay marriage, abortion, saving the rainforest, immigration, scientology, the Mohammod cartoon, voting (Puff Daddy's Vote or Die campaign), the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Michael Jackson, and much much more.
Currently the show is in its 10th season. Being that I own every episode, every special, and practically every interview M&T ever did on my hard drive and have watched them all multiple times, I feel more than qualified to say that the show is not what it used to be. Some people point to the better animation (claiming that the older, choppier animation and sound from the first 6 or so seasons had more "charm") or the morphing of some of the character's personalities/voices (particularly Cartman) as negative points of change. I disagree, those have neither taken away from or added to my enjoyment of the show. It's just that some of the recent episodes (some not all) have first of all featured unnecessary nastiness, ie disgusting scenes (like the gay sex scene between Richard Dawkins and Mrs. Garrison, the teacher who had a sex change) that are not intrinsic to the plot. When the etzem nastiness is part of the process of parody, it is not only acceptable but enhances the experience. But when it is separate and apart and even random from the myseh parody, a la some recent episodes, it is a huge detriment. I hope you chapped that.
Another point of decline in my estimation is a tangible lack of ferocity in the parody. Usually great exaggeration is used to really "stick it" to the victims of the parody, but recently (particularly in the episode "Mr. Teacher Bangs a Boy" about Ike having an affair with his teacher a la the recent LeFleur and other scandals) there is a large void, a vancantness in the episode. It lacks essense. In other words, like in that teacher episode, Kyle does NOT give a 2 minute long "I learned something today" speech in the end detailing the extent of the teachers obvious retarded psychotic state. Also there are a lot more pauses of dead air which bother me and add to the lack of intensity.

Anyway, despite all of this, it is still my obssession and favorite show and always will be as long as they continue to keep the premise of the show going. I will now discuss the current episode: Go, God. Go! Part 2 was last Wednesday's episode. It was named part 2 for reasons unknown yet (the previous episode was completely unrelated). The following is the summary of the episode from Wikipedia, which for some reason has DIE HARD south park fans updating it constantly as you will soon see, so if you already saw this episode just scroll down a bit:

Cartman is unable to wait three weeks until the Nintendo Wii comes out, spending his time mindlessly pacing in front of a store called EV Games (a parody of EB Games) and asking how long until it comes out at intervals of about five seconds. Unable to wait any longer, he decides to go into suspended animation and get unfrozen as soon as the Wii comes out. Cartman gets Butters to bury him in the snow in the nearby mountains to ensure that he won't be disturbed until the release of the Wii.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Garrison — strongly against her wishes — is forced to teach evolution; however, she hates the theory and doesn't seem to know very much about it, and instead teaches the students about "retarded fish frogs having butt sex." Principal Victoria decides to hire Richard Dawkins to teach the theory along with her — they quickly get into an argument, and Mrs. Garrison decides to "act like a monkey" if she's related to one, ultimately throwing her own feces at him. However, Dawkins turns out to be infatuated with Garrison, and she becomes very excited about her first real date since becoming a woman.
On their date, Dawkins and Garrison hit it off, and Dawkins manages to convert Garrison to atheism (citing the Flying Spaghetti Monster), before the two have sex; the next day, Garrison – just as outspoken about her new atheism as her former beliefs — denounces God to the class and makes Stan sit in the "dunce chair" for suggesting God could exist along with evolution, after Stan makes the suggestion that evolution could be the answer to how and not why lifeforms are the way they are. Dawkins is at first reluctant to be so brazen, but Garrison tells him he was too soft on religious people in the past and that together they can rid the world of religion and all the violence it causes. To celebrate their new idea the two have sex again. Meanwhile Proffessor Chaos and General Disarray race to find Cartman, but remains hidden for 540 years after an avalanche covers his body. Finally he is unfrozen, and despite his loved ones being dead, is most upset that the future people do not have a Nintendo Wii.
Cartman is told that his unfreezers might be able to retrieve an antique Wii from a technology museum. In the future, everyone is atheistic and believes only in science (often saying things like "Oh my Science" and "Science Damn you!," but mocking Cartman for using similar, religious phrases). They tell Cartman that they think someone he knew caused the atheistic revolution, but before they can tell them who, they are attacked by another atheist group (the United Atheist Alliance, or Alliance Atheists), which kills the first group (the Unified Atheist League) and takes Cartman. They then contact a group of superintelligent sea otters (the Allied Atheist Allegiance) with whom they are also at war, who tell Cartman that the world will soon be theirs.
The episode ends, to be continued.

A couple of interesting notes which may/may not be obvious to you:
The whole point of the various Atheists in the future is to show the people who believe that religion is a major cause for war, that even without religion there would still be fighting and lack of unity. (It's obvious even to a mild fan that they love to attack hippies on this show, in a recent interview they were open about enjoying sticking it to radical liberals more than anyone else. The song Imagine by John Lennon, King Hippie himself, references the fact that religions = war.)
Also as someone pointed out on a South Park message board, its interesting that Atheists exist in the South Park universe considering Jesus lives in South Park, Santa and Mr. Hankey are frequent holiday visitors, God himself made an appearance at the New Year, and Satan has a recurring role.
Another point is Stan asking "Couldn't evolution be the answer to how rather than who" to ask that aren't evolution and the idea of intelligent design not necessarily mutually exclusive.
For reference, this is the second time someone was frozen and revived in the future. In the episode Prehistoric Ice Man (Season 2 Episode 18 original air date 1.20.99) Steve/Gorak/Larry was found frozen from the ancient time of 1996. Also interesting is that Steve Irwin, the late crocodile hunter first made an appearance in Prehistoric Ice Man and then wasn't seen until 2 weeks ago's episode, the Hell on Earth 2006 Halloween special in which he appeared with the sting ray tastelessly yet hilariously attached to his chest as a member of hell. You see? This is the type of stuff you get from Simmyball.
Another important episode to reference is Goobacks, the episode about immigration from Season 8 Episode 7 on 4.24.04. This is one of my favorite all time episodes, the origin of Day Took Er Jubs ("They took our jobs"). It is about people from the future called "goobacks" (they have gooey backs) who come back in time to current South Park because the world in the future is overpopulated and there aren't enough jobs. From Wikipedia: in the newscast it is reported that the time-traveler is looking for work because of the overpopulation in his time, and that the money he earns will be enough to feed his family in 3045. The time portal he took is said to follow "Terminator rules," as it is a one-way portal, (as opposed to the two-way "Back to the Future rules").
At the bottom of the wikipedia page someone who is now my idol wrote:
Despite what the episode states, "fading" occurs in the Back to the Future movies, not the Terminator movies. Under The Terminator rules, when someone comes from the future, they remain in the present time even if they alter the course of events so that they no longer exist in the future. The Back to the Future rule says that when someone comes from the future and alters the future so they will no longer exist, they fade in the present day into nothingness, along with any other tangible proof of their existence. Regarding the rules of time travel discussed in the episode, the time portal itself is the only thing which follows the rules designated by films, while the actual physical manifestation of the person from the future follows different rules.
If you weren't sure, the goobacks faded at the end of the episode. Anyway, the goobacks are from 3045 and Cartman was transported to the future in 2546. It is to be determined if the one way time travel which exists in 3045 was invented yet in 2546. My guess is that Cartman will get to either playing the ancient Wii or a cooler new system and won't want to leave the future, but somehow get tricked into returning to the past.

Did you know? There are 3 players in baseball history with a .424+ OBP, 1500+ RBI and less than 1300 Strikeouts: Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Frank Thomas.

Post #3: Mets offseason outlook

I find out the news, and I am filled with joy! I thought I was finally able to point out a flaw, an imperfection. You see, nothing brings me more joy than to ridicule the general managing of the hated New York Stems. However, lately there has been a problem. The man who once traded Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon while GM of the hapless Expos could do no wrong as the GM of said Stems... until now! He just traded away Anna Benson and her baggage that is her husband to Baltimore for Jorge Julio months after a similar starter for reliever trade (Seo for Sanchez) and suddenly I am left staring at a gaping hole in the rotation. A hole, it would turn out, that even Jose Lima's large behind can't fill. Excellent, I exclaimed. In his haste to rid the team and city of this headache he traded away his starter even though, due to the Seo/Sanchez deal, he has now done 1 too many starter/reliever trades this season. What a glorious day.
But alas, in retrospect of that transaction, what's this in the fine print? Some minor leaguer included from Baltimore? Hmmm... But certainly he won't be great for the Mets, certainly he won't rise out of nowhere to turn this deal into a positive? Oh no! What if he is really solid down the stretch, a great pick up, and continues pitching well well (not a typo think about it) into the playoffs and even factoring into the future in the minds of Met fans? Ahh who I am I kidding.
That can't happen.
But wait.
It just did.
He was supposed to be a footnote. 90 innings, 6 wins, a 120 era+, a 1.133 whip and 1 gritty outstanding post season debut performance later (2.63 era in 3 starts, 10 hits in 13.2 innings and 13 k's, working around 11 walks) and the 25 year old righty will likely enter the 2007 season as the Mets #3 or maybe even #2 starter.
If the Mets wanted Zito on July 31st, all they had to do was say two magic words to Billy Beane. Those words are "Lastings Milledge." Beane has been quoted to say as much. Minaya thought he could win without Zito. For all intents and purposes, he was right. Zitolessness was not the reason the Mets lost this year. Beane thought he had a shot to win with Zito in 2006 rather than trade away Zito for some unready piece of the future. For all intents and purposes, he was right. Only 2 teams went further than the A's. Now he will settle for getting a draft pick (the Dodgers will sign Zito, I predict) and will proceed to rape at the draft, getting the next Zito/Swisher, etc. Along with signing the next bargain MVP candidate for $500,000 and you have the A's inexplicably competing next year despite a payroll less than what Arod will make in the next 2 and half years.
Now, Minaya is faced with an offseason filled with many possibilities, i.e many ways for him to screw up and make me happy. If he wants to keep me depressed, however, here is what he should do:
Floyd is gone and Endy Chavez is best used as a super-reserve, great 4th outfielder/pinch runner/defensive replacement/injury or day off speller, role/utility player. Green is your right fielder making 3.7 million from you (and 5.8 from Arizona) and a $2 million buyout on a $10 million dollar 2008 team option. You can look to trade him during the year if you want, if you either decided to keep Milledge and now want to give him another shot or you decide Chavez should start, or you get an outfielder back for Green, or one of zillions of other possibilities. Lo Duca will be back, and since he is naturally a great hitter with men on base I'd rather find a way to move him to 6th. I would look to acquire a big time outfielder to bat 2nd and move Lo Duca 6th. To do this I would try and trade Milledge and mid level prospects for Vernon Wells. Wells is basically a 1 year rental, and the Jays would be getting something HUGE for him, as they should, considering his ridiculously low price and ridiculously great talents. Another option is to make a super prospect package of Milledge and Pelfrey and maybe some mid-level prospects and send them off for Carl Crawford, who has 2 years remaining followed by 2 (relative bargain years) for 09 and '10. Statistically either would make an exceptional #2 hitter in this lineup, as they are both great with runners in scoring position and at driving in runs in general. They both have great speed (In fact Crawford is faster than Reyes, I have no proof for that, but my vicious animousity towards Reyes just typed that spontaneously) and play great defense, especially Wells who may be the best defensive outfielder in the game.
The remainder of their contracts look like this:
CARL CRAWFORD
07:$4M, 08:$5.25M, 09*:$8.25M club option ($2.5M buyout), 10:$10M club option
VERNON WELLS 07*:$5.6M
* = Eligible for Free Agency after that year
I'm not going to bother to go through their stats, just trust me that batting between Reyes and Beltran either could be an MVP candidate. This would be better than signing Lee or Soriano because you are getting the outfielder without spending a ton of money, instead you can use just a smaller portion of that money to sign a second baseman. Plus were you to get Lee or Soriano, who would bat 6th? Wright? That's not a good idea. Delgado? Soriano/Lee? Or maybe Lo Duca, but that means you have to move a stud power hitter to #2, I guess Beltran? I'm thinking as I type this, I guess that could work, but personally I don't think either of those 2 especially at their price tags and more importantly the required YEARS commitment on their contracts make them good fits. Carlos Lee for the next 5 years? Then what happens when Glavine is gone after next year and you want a good free agent pitcher who becomes available and willing to be a Met. How will you afford him. Rather, Wells/Crawford are short term solutions making the team one of the best in baseball for the next 2 years, and if they want to stay and a deal can be worked out great, if not then they will take that money and go after someone else in the future. There is no commitment to 4 years from now unlike Lee/Soriano. Oh and stay away from the devil. I mean Gary Sheffield. Seriously don't even go there.
Around the infield, Wright Reyes and Delgado are givens. Beltran in center is a given and I'm assuming for now Green is a given. Lo Duca is a given. This leaves 1 outfield spot (resolved above) and 2nd base (resolved right here):
For the second baseman, I'm not sure who's available besides Belliard and I'm too lazy to care, but Belliard would be a great fit batting 8th, or you can even keep Valentin who sucks at fielding. I would rather the better defense since the lineup is stacked as it is and I would just stick Anderson Hernandez there personally before starting Valentin. If you want to get really greedy, trade for Crawford/Wells and then sign Soriano to play 2nd base. This wouldn't be wise however, if you were interested in using that money sometime in the next several years to buy a big time free agent starter (ex: Oswalt after 2007), which, with the age/decline of Pedro/Glavine, the Mets really should be looking towards for the long term.
With the rotation, it appears more and more that the Mets have no interest in Zito especially if they are bringing Glavine back for $14 million. Glavine is definitely not worth 14 million - the question is, is their a cheaper way to fill that need? The answer is no. Bring Glavine back. With Maine, Bannister, and Perez, and Humber in the wings, you have 3 rotation spots filled right there. Those guys are all young, you need to bring back someone who you can rely on somewhat and Glavine is that person. He is only a 1 year commitment, and you can worry about replacing him with next year's deeper free agent pool. He will be motivated to get his 300th win and to win a championship in what will surely be his final year.
The bench: Franco, Woodward and Castro will be back, Valentin or Hernandez will play 2nd unless one is signed with the other coming off the bench as well.
Back to the rotation. As I see it the givens are Glavine Maine and Perez, especially after this post season. If Bannister is healthy he is almost guaranteed a spot as well. For the other spot (or 2), you have a few options. If you didn't trade Pelfrey, he can be a guy. As can resiging El Duque who was effective (hits < innings < strikeouts). Trachsel undoubtedly will be gone. Pedro will of course be returning to give a huge boost in the middle of the season. I don't care about his health, I don't care if he has to pitch lefty and underhand. He will make it work. He is a genius on the mound, he is the greatest pitcher in baseball history at not giving up runs. Victor Zambrano will be back unless he is traded or offered and declines arbitration, the same with Dave Williams. Alay Soler is signed for 2007. If Humber is ready and there is an open spot he will debut. A hodgepodge of all these starters will make appearances in 2007 and in all likelihood will form one of the better rotations in the NL.
Finally with the Pen will shake out like this: Wagner to close, and then: Sanchez, Heilman, Bradford, Mota and Feliciano aren't eligible for free agency and so will be brought back at good prices or traded. I wouldn't be shocked if Hernandez is resigned for a 1 year deal with incentives. Oliver I expect to be gone. Heath Bell and Royce Ring will probably be factors as fillins throughout the year. A very deep and solid bullpen. Probably will be the best in the game.
Of course there are many other available bargains who can can either be starting pitchers or corner outfielders but I'm not going to mention them (at least not yet), but what I wrote is simply what I would look to do, were I Minaya with the goal of pissing off Simmy Cohen.
Alright I'll be back later in the week with the Yankees offseason outlook, something I am much more knowledgable in. Take care now, bye bye then.

Did you know? There are 2 players in the .295+ AVG, .395+ OBP, 500+ Doubles, 250+ Homers club not listed right here: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth. $10 to anyone who can name those 2. Leave your name and answer in the comments on facebook or blogspot.

Post #2: Chef saga continues

I realize how long the previous post is, just bare with me I'm a beginner here! Anyways, my friend Robert Glass IM-ed me the following article: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2639001 and I feel so strongly about it I just had to follow up on the previous post I made.
After the Yankees got Abreu in the middle of the season, Sheffield, the biggest phony, low life, club house cancer in sports who's initials aren't T.O., lied to everyone and said that for the sake of the team he will gladly move to 1B. There is no direct quote to the media because it's only sources who said he said it to Torre but here's the closest I can come to one, it's from http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/columnists/rick_hurd/15211849.htm ("around the horn" section)

Gary Sheffield, on the disabled list since June 13 after surgery to repair a tendon and ligament in his left wrist, greeted newly acquired outfielder Bobby Abreu with a hug, then said it was futile for the media to anticipate his reaction to a trade that essentially leaves him without an outfield spot. Said Sheffield: "Y'all think you know what I'm going to do. ... Nobody knows. That's the mystique of me."
Sheffield may be on his best behavior because his $13 million option for 2007 hasn't been picked up, and there's not a huge market for 37-year-old outfielders seeking that kind of cash.
Sheffield told manager Joe Torre he'd be willing to play first base or DH when he returns from the DL, and he's already working with hitting coach Don Mattingly -- a pretty good first baseman in his day -- on footwork drills.

P-H-O-N-Why? You will soon see.
Not looking for credit here, but at the time I just called it a ploy to make himself look good entering the free agent market. I don't consider myself a genius for making such a bold prediction, it's rather obvious for anyone who has witnessed this retard's antics.

Back to reality (oh there goes gravity,) suddenly, when news came out that the Yankees were not going to allow him to test the free agent market and instead would pick up his option, the scumbag who once said “ you might as well not bother trading for me, cause you're gonna have a very unhappy player. You gonna inconvenience me, I'm gonna inconvenience every situation there .” (I got that quote from here: http://www.contentmart.com/ContentMart/content.asp?LinkID=28291&CatID=173&content=1 which was actually just a reference from an article about one of his many "misquoted" mishaps he's had as a Yankee), the loser who once purposely dropped fly balls as an outfielder in Milwalkee and desecrated the Dodger clubhouse with his constant whining and unhappiness (I mean after all why should someone making upwards of 10 million dollars a year to play a boy's game for a living be happy? ), suddenly this jackass comes out and says (quotes from article from first link in this post):
"This will not work, this will not work at all," Sheffield told the newspaper. "I don't want to play first base a year for them. I will not do that."
and
"I don't know what they're [Yankees] going to do," Sheffield said. "Maybe they picked it up just to trade me. If they do that, if I just [go] to a team for one year, there's going to be a problem."

I will not entertain for 1 second, except to write this line, that Cashman seriously considers Sheffield a viable first base option.
Leave it to this buttpipe to do his best to sabotage Cashman's obvious plan of trading him by anouncing that he will be unhappy (and we all know what that means) with his new team. Great, just great. Thank you for ruining by Thursday morning , you overpaid, overrated cancer.

Did you know? There are only 2 members of the 300 (HR) 300 (SB) 100 (3B) club: Willie Mays and -brace yourself- Steve Finley. The other 4 members of the 300 (HR) 300 (SB) club are Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds, Andre Dawson and Reggie Sanders. Andre Dawson just missed the aforemention 300-300-100 club (98 triples).

Post #1: Chef cooking over the hot stove

As is to be expected since I just started, there is a lot of exciting stuff I want to get to, including but not limited to the state of the up and coming Mets rotation, thoughts on the current post season and world series (game 4 was rained out tonight, dammit), the 2007 Florida Marlins, the Yankees long term plan, Arod, and much more.
I decided to start with Sheffield (http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sheffga01.shtml) though, because this is an issue making headlines today. When the Yankees got Abreu from the Phillies it officially ended Sheffield’s future as a Yankee past 2006. With Matsui and Damon locked up until 2009 and Abreu in right for 2007 and likely 2008, not to mention Melky who is by all acounts here for the long haul, there is already an odd man out as it is --- as one of those guys will have to DH with Giambi (becoming a 21 million dollar liability before our very eyes for 2007) forced to play (a bad but surprisingly improving) first base.
Sheffield, the oddest man of them all, therefore has no place and the Yankees won’t pick up his 13 million dollar option (about 4 million of which is deferred, meaning he gets it but much later on and in small increments.) If they don’t pick up his option, they get a draft pick (either type A or type B, it will be interesting to see what Elias ranks him, whether they base it purely on the last season's stats or take his whole career into account) from the team that does sign him.
However, another option, which I first saw discussed on a message board, is to pick up his option and then try and trade him. This was the topic of the Bill Madden column in today’s Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/465012p-391288c.html. I have several thoughts about this possibility swirling in my head after reading that, the first 2 points are obvious no brainers:

• let me make it clear that as long as what you get back is better than a draft pick and there is no additional financial liability then there is obviously no reason not to do it.
• it is important for Cashman not to get burned on an unofficial handshake type of deal where terms were agreed upon on a Sheffield deal only to have the other team back out at the end. The Yankees have no room for Sheffield and should only pick up his option if a deal is 100% in place.
• now the Yankees can control where Sheffield winds up. I personally was never worried about him going to Boston, considering 1. how he’s declining as a hitter (2003-2006 OPS: 1.023, .927, .891, .806) 2. the outfield defense he and manny will form in the corners will be atrocious, especially considering how tough right field is in Fenway and Sheffield's old legs and 3. most importantly, they will have to commit to him for 2 or 3 years for more than he is worth and that is money that could have been better spent on something much more important and something that would have suited the Red Sox needs much better. (hint: starts with a “p”). So basically, him going to Boston I would have viewed as a POSITIVE for the Yankees.
• since Soriano and Lee are the only slugging corner outfielders on the market, there may be interest from teams like the Cubs, Angels and Astros. The Angels and Astros in particular because i view them as being only a Sheffield away from becoming division favorites. However... :
• I really don't expect much in return for Sheffield considering his injury status, his decliningness, his attitude, and his paycheck (for a smaller market team.) Sure he is still a masher and at 13/1 year is a good deal and small commitment but there is no way he is in the same ball park as Abreu who, for only a few more million garnered Gillick and the Phillies practically nothing from the Yankees, and they threw in Lidle (r.i.p) as well! If Cashman gets something like Prior (us delusional yankee fans immediately think Prior upon reading this Madden article, but Hendry would have to drunk and high at the same time to entertain such a trade) for Sheffield months after Gillick got nothing for Abreu, Gillick should be fired. Now you may say: but Simmy, didn't Abreu have a full no trade clause which made it harder for Gillick to deal him? The answer is, Abreu was willing to waive that for ANY TEAM, even Kansas City or Toronto (the Canadian teams, well now that expos are in Washington I guess its "team", always seem to be in stars' No Trade Clauses, probably because as they would say on South Park, Canada sucks ass) as long as he had his 2008 option for 16 million (he is definately worth it) picked up. The fact that Lidle was involved and still all Gillick got was Henry, the Yankees toolsy young shortstop high ceiling #1 draft pick out of high school dude who are a dime a dozen and struggled in low A ball, and a couple of AAAA players, is flat out theft by Cashman, and it would be ridiculous if he can turn Sheffield into something useful.
• the last thing I think about when I read that article was that since a few million was deferred teams will be much more willing to take on the contract, who cares about paying a few hundred thousand a year for 15 years in a row starting from 10 years from now, or whatever the exact details are? It's much better than 13 million cash up front, and teams will view him as really only costing 9 or 10 million.

Very exciting development!

My prediction? I forsee the yankees picking up Sheffield's option and trading him for a useful major league player, probably a reliever with good stuff coming off of a good year, or a nice prospect and the other team paying the whole or most of the contract. I am anticipating such a great move from him because of Cashman's (who hasn't made ONE bad decision since gaining full power last offseason unless you want to count the debatable 4 year deal to Matsui) sheer genius (until proven otherwise - I am always willing to flip a 180 like a dog and hate him after one miserable deal, Heaven forbid).
As for life without Sheffield? Quieter! Plus, Matsui will probably DH with Melky in left, Damon in center and Abreu in right and Giambi at first full time. Because injuries happen, the Yankees will probably add a first baseman/role player type who can spell those outfielders or fill in for an injury, by either playing outfield or playing first base and letting Giambi DH, improving the defense. I do not believe the Yankees are satisfied with Wilson or Phillips.
OK that's all for now. Wow long post.

Did you know? Craig Biggio is the only player in baseball history with at least 600 doubles, 250 homeruns and 400 stolen bases.

Welcome to Simmyball

damricon23 (10:41:00 PM): ive gotten around 3 emails from u since the yankees were eliminated about the yankees put it in a blog

And so it began. Right off the bat, pun intended, let me just tell you I have absolutely no plan or commitment to how often I will update this blog, it's just something that will happen. If you want someone who really knows his stuff about baseball and posts funny, interesting updates almost daily, check out aarongleeman.com.
Basically, it will be my thoughts on baseball with a heavy, heeeeeavy emphasis on the Yankees and Mets, but again, we will see as we go along. Who knows what I may decide to write!
Simmyball draws heavily from money ball, as I buy into many sabrmetric concepts and am always open minded and intrigued by new baseball related ideas. But there are certain points where I'm more three nights in august oriented, it depends on what makes sense to me. I am absolutely obssessed with stats and records in general, as meaningless or obscure as they might be, so to tell you to expect a ton of that would be an understatement.
Ok I may check back very very soon maybe even later tonight with my first real post but again: no promises! COMMENTS ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE VERY ENCOURAGED! When arguments come up, that's when progress is made and we will all benefit so comment away (in general!) OK Bye now.