Links for Monday night, as recently promoted Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands doubles in his first MLB at bat…
- As Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes, the Yankees’ low-risk veteran signings are paying off now that Eric Chavez, Russell Martin and others are contributing to wins.
- In a conversation with Beerleaguer, Joe Crede praised White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf for re-signing A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko this offseason.
- D'Backs GM Kevin Towers told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that he plans on seeing a handful of players in preparation for the June draft. Towers will take a look at some top players the organization could select with the No. 3 and 7 picks, though Arizona executives Jerry Dipoto and Ray Montgomery will run the draft room.
- One of the players on Arizona’s radar is Virginia left-hander Danny Hultzen, who told me today that he wouldn’t prevent the D’Backs from selecting him this year. They chose him in 2008, so he technically has to provide permission for Arizona to select him again.
- As Evan Drellich points out at MLB.com, a number of notable players retired this offseason, including Carlos Delgado, Trevor Hoffman, Gary Sheffield and Mike Hampton.
Danny Hultzen is a boss
Also, Andruw Jones has done a good job in the outfield and has some good at bats against lefties… I know the Yankees get ripped for signing guys that were great in like 2003, but being a Braves fan I know how important a quality bench can be when you are in the playoff hunt. They have guys that can put the ego aside and contribute to winning.
see yankees money dont win games….not always.
money has never won games…player ability to produce does, though. And really, every team has at least one overpaid millionaire, so im not sure what the “money buys championships” mentality is about…
“so im not sure what the “money buys championships” mentality is about…”
Easy, it’s about hatred. When the Yankees win, they buy their championship (despite about half their World Series roster in 09 being homegrown). When almost any other team wins, they earn it.
To be fair the Yankees have had the highest payroll the last decade or so, so there is that. But they are not the only ones to “buy their championships”. The Blue Jays were big spenders when they won in 92/93. The Red Sox didn’t have much home grown talent on the 04 team. So there are a lot of teams that spend a lot to try and win. The Yankees just consistently spend the most by a wide margin and don’t always get what they pay for(2001-2008).
Well from 2001-2008 they still made 7 playoff appearances (most in MLB), 3 LCS appearances (tied with Boston and St. Louis) and 2 WS appearances (tied with Boston and St. Louis). Also have the most division titles won (6).
By Yankee/Steinbrenner standards, it’s fair to say they didn’t get what they paid for since their main goal is to win it all. So I can see why they consider it a “failure”. However, only the Phillies and the Giants (had it not been for a Padres choke) were the only division winners that had the highest paid team in their division. 3 of the other 4 teams who have the highest payroll in a dvisiion failed to even make the playoffs (Cubs, Tigers, and Mariners).
If I would call any team a “failure” for the past 10 years, I would have to say it’s the Mariners, with the exception of 2001. 2001 was when they last made the playoffs if I’m not mistaken. And I think they’ve finished in 3rd or 4th (2nd to last and last) every year since then. And I’m also sure they have the highest paid team in the West when you combine the payrolls of the other AL West teams the last 10 years which is basically why I’m calling them a big failure, when you have the highest paid team in a division and have 1 playoff appearance and in only a 4 team division.
I didn’t say they were a failure and I know you didn’t say that I said they were failures. But my point was that they were paying the most money(by leaps and bounds) in order to win it all(something I am alright with, you have the money go for it) and have only won it all once in the last 11 years. That does not seem like the best policy. However, as you stated they have been in the playoffs every year except 2008 (and maybe 2011, I kid) and that helps give you the chance of winning it all.
Fair statement. I’ll agree. Although I was somewhat of making an argument with your last sentence in your other statement, by “get what you paid for” and was assuming you were going based on the old “Win a World Series or Fail” kind of view. Although in recent years with Boston now spending big and building a competitive team, adn with Tampa being competitive the last few years, I wouldn’t considering losing in the playoffs if they win the AL East, a failure.
Well sometimes you do “get what you pay for”. Only in the sense that the Yankees paid big bucks for Arod, Jeter, Posada, CC, Mo (all quality players) but they are deficient in other major places (starting staff) and as a result if they do make the playoffs they don’t have the pitchers to get to the WS. But they are still a great team. Just nitpicking.
I don’t expect them to make it to the WS myself. Then again, see the 1996 team. A well rounded lineup, excellent bullpen, trashy rotation, and they ended up beating the Braves famous trio. Also I was shocked that the 04 team was 3 outs away from a WS despite a rotation of Mussina (decent year). Lieber (who? lol), a horrible inconsistent Kevin Brown, and an injured El Duque (for the most part of the season) yet faced a HOF pitcher in Pedro, a possible HOF pitcher in Schilling, and a very good postseason track record of Derek Lowe
Same for their 00 team. Yes they had Pedro and Pettitte and Cone, but their numbers for 2000 were terrible, which is why i consider them one of the worst teams ever to win the WS (Maybe even 3rd, behind the 06 Cardinals and 87 Twins)
Young phenom Phil Hughes is also living up to fan expectations.
Where in the article did it mention Phil Hughes?
I don’t see where he is living up to expectations. Unless you are being sarcastic. I am a Red Sox fan but a fan of baseball in general and would like to see Hughes pitch well(except against the Sox) but he has been generally horrible since the All Star Break of 2010. Me thinks that the Yankees should have suspected something a bit sooner and tried to fix it before he came into 2011 with a “dead arm”.
Last year with Hughes it was all about his inability to keep the ball in the park in the 2nd half.
Complete season totals:
Home: 4.66 ERA w/ 20 hrs allowed in 106 IP
Road: 3.47 ERA w/ 5 hrs allowed in 70 IP
This season, it’s velocity and he’s still a thrower who works off of his FB. Still has the makeup to be a front of rotation guy but needs the FB and to master that change.
Didn’t Jermaine Dye retire as well this offseason? Maybe he didn’t meet the definition of “notable players”.
Sherman needs to get out from under Cashman’s desk. And he should take his hall of fame vote and stick it. Go find another convicted felon to vote for.