For the most part, when using baseball statistics, our little group of bloggers stick mainly to the big guns (ERA, OBP, SLG, HRs, RBI), and doesn't usually go into sabermetrics. Still, I like the idea of sabermetrics a lot and every now and then, you might see one or two up in my posts. For those who are interested in such things or would like to learn a little more about some of these newer stats, Steve Lombardi over at Was Watching has put up a nice list of definitions of some of the statistics that he uses, which include some sabermetrics.

For those who don't know what sabermetrics consist of, Wikipedia has a pretty clear synopsis:


With that, I wish you all a very Happy and Fruitful New Year. Enjoy it (responsibly) with family and friends and please be safe. I've lost a friend to a drunk driver and wouldn't want any of our readers to experience the same thing.

A story in today's Miami Herald has the Marlins set to sign Miguel Olivo.


I had previously thought that it would have been nice if the Yankees picked him up as a younger backup for Posada. He would have been a cheap (made $400k last year) and young (entering his age 28 season). Still, why come to the Yanks to compete with Stinnett for the backup job when you can go to any number of teams and compete for the starting one (not that there was any reported Yankee interest)?

In addition, Eric Byrnes, who was mentioned in the comments as a potential solid signing, was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will start the year in center field. Byrnes would probably have been a nice addition to the Yanks because of his ability to play any outfield position and would have provided some pop with his bat, something Bubba Crosby cannot claim. Again, why backup when you can start, right?

At the bottom of a Daily News article about Chad Bradford, a guy that I wouldn't have minded seeing in the Yankees pen, is the following blurb:


Just a physical and Cairo can officially be put on the Yankees 25-man roster. So far, Cairo has played every infield position except catcher and every outfield position except center field. That kind of versatility is good to have on any team, even if he can't recreate the numbers he put up in his first stint with the Yanks. Besides, there were very few other options available (ex. Felix Escalona, Pokey Reese, etc.)

According to YES Network, Hideki Matsui has decided not to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic scheduled for March.


Well honestly, it looks like this whole WBC is turning into one big mess anyway. It's at the wrong time of the year, too many guys opting out, too many players playing for countries they never lived in before, and too much politics involved (Cuba is not allowed to send its players, and as a result, Puerto Rico has withdrawn as a host). I could really do without it. It's certainly not big enough to risk injury over, especially during spring training when guys aren't yet in top shape. If a player wants to go that's fine, but I certainly don't have a problem with any of the Yankees' players focusing on their job with the Yankees, who I watch 6 months out of the year.

It's Damon's Turn at Center of a Yankees Myth:

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Jeff Reardon has apparently been arrested for armed robbery.

Reardon, who finished out his major-league career with a whimper in 1994 with the Yankees, is being said to have walked into a jewelery store with a note saying that he had a gun and that the store was being robbed. The 50-year-old Reardon was later found at a nearby restaurant and charged.

The man wasn't in pinstripes for long (9.7 innings in 1994) but he is 6th in major-league history in saves (Mariano passed him this year for the 5th place). His baseball-reference page cumulates his gross salary at over $11.5 million dollars so unless he lost all of that money, I'm baffled. Not a completely Yankees related item but a sad story, nonetheless.

Our next interview in the Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere series is Dave Nekoukar of Pride of the Yankees.

When you're not blogging about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?

Watching SportsCenter, following the NY Giants and NY Rangers, walking the dog or chasing after my two year old son.

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Johnny Damon was deciding where he should go. Should it be to the Yankees? With the Yankees it would be a team that really wants him, and shows it. Or should he remain with his faithful fans in Boston? So he decided to follow the advice of his fellow teammate and current Boston left-fielder Manny Ramirez. Manny said, "Go to NY."


Now I'm not surprised that Manny of all people is helping the Yanks in their recruiting efforts. But you have to wonder how long Boston will put up with him. He is still currently on their opening day roster. But is he being shopped? Only time will tell.

The Red Sox are a team that is imploding. It started last year with Pedro and Lowe leaving. Then accelerated with Theo bidding adieu. Now slowly one by one they are peeling off of the WS Championship team. It's a ship that is sinking...slowly, not quite like the Marlins, but more of a painful death.

Coming into this off season, I was pretty content with most of the team. There were two core needs. Center field and the bullpen. Obviously my crazy dream was to be in a world where B.J. Ryan and Flash both wanted to setup for the Magnificent Mo together. And on top of that, for us to get lefty killer Scott Sauerbeck. Well, even though we were in the running for Flash and Sauerbeck, none of that happened. So, what did happen?

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With Bernie back under contract and Johnny Damon in the pinstriped fold, here's where the Yankees' 25 man roster stands as of today. I haven't placed Dotel in as a reliever simply because he will probably start out the year on the DL and I haven't accounted for Mendoza because he will begin the year in the minors. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing a Sturtze and Proctor trade for a good backup OFer who could also possibly back up first base. That way, you can play Andy Phillips as the backup second and third baseman (he's played both positions in the past) and Cairo would slot right in as a backup shortstop and second baseman. As an aside, Miguel Olivo (entering his age 28 season) was recently non-tendered by San Diego. It might make some sense to see if he would sign a minor-league deal of some sort because he strikes me as an appealing option should something happen to Kelly Stinnett (entering his age 36 season). Update: Olivo signed with the Marlins.

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I was just watching ESPN and it was reported that Bernie has signed a 1 year/$1.5 million dollar deal. Good to hear.

Update: Larry over at RLYW has added his thoughts and so has Cliff over at Bronx Banter. Both guys make some excellent points and overall, are positive on the deal. However, the best reading comes in the comments (especially at RLYW) where the collective Yankee conscious seems to be debating on how to view this signing.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, while I was not enamored with the Damon signing, I felt that it was one that I could learn to live with (at least for the first 2-3 years of the deal). I had just started writing a full length piece on the positive and negative aspects of this signing but SG beat me to the punch and has written a piece over at RLYW that does a great job in providing a concise and objective looking at the signing. It's a very good read. If you're really down because of the signing, he might be able to talk to you down and if you've been jumping for joy, he might be able to temper your enthusiasm a little bit. Head over and check it out.

Though I can learn to live with it, I am not enthused with this signing...but here are various articles regarding the signing:
-ESPN.
-FoxSports.
-The Times.
-The Post.
-The Daily News.
-Newsday.

Here is the blogosphere's take on the signing:
-Bronx Banter.
-RLYW.
-Was Watching.
-NoMaas.
-Baseball Musings.
-Off the Facade.

Update: Dotel has signed. From what the article states, there doesn't seem to be an option for the next season which strikes me as odd. A team who takes a chance on an injured player theoretically should get a slight reward if that risk pays off. still, I guess you can command that when there are 11 teams interested in signing you.

Octavio Dotel, someone who I have been pushing hard for the Yankees to get, will apparently make his decision regarding who he will sign with known today. Dotel, who came up in the Mets farm system and was traded in the Mike Hampton deal, is a hard-throwing righty who just turned 32 and is coming off Tommy John surgery. He doesn't have a very good history as a closer but when he has been a set-up guy, he has been a dominant one (especially from 2001-2003 for the Astros). When the A's acquired him in 2004 as part of a three way deal with the Astros for Carlos Beltran, they tried to use him as the closer with marginal success (take a look at who sponsors Dotel's Baseball-Reference page). He was injured early last year, which allowed Huston Street to come in and lay claim to the closer job, making Dotel expendable.

According to Dotel's agent, he received 11 offers this winter (including from both the Yankees and the Mets). We'll have to see how much of this is just talk from the agent as every free agent says that the Yankees are interested if only to drive the bidding that much higher. Still, according to writer's sources, the Yankees showed more substantial interest than the Mets. An incentive-laden deal for the 2006 season with an option for the next (something like the Yankees did with Jon Leiber) would be ideal. I guess we will find out today how it plays out.

Yankees Appear Unlikely to Make a Major Move:


Glad to see it. Can't hurt anything to sign him to a minor league deal.

Via Brian.

MLB.com has an article that explains the non-tender deadline and outlines a few of the players that could be made available on Tuesday. Of course, this isn't a full list nor is it certain that any or all of these players will actually be non-tendered. Nevertheless, I thought we'd take a look at the relievers and position players that the article mentioned by name.

Relievers:
• RHP Joe Borowski. 35 year old who actually pitched 2 innings for the Yankees way back in 1997. Since then, he was effective for two seasons for the Cubs before getting hurt. Last year, he pitched well in the second half for the Devil Rays but remains an older pitcher who can't seem to strike anyone out anymore - Pass.

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Well, it looks like that dream is over. Nomar has apparently signed with the 2003 Boston Red Sox, I mean the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sorry, it is a little easy to get confused there with the Grady Little as the manager, the third baseman is Bill Mueller, one of the starting pitchers is Derek Lowe and now starting at first base will be Nomar Garciaparra. Terms of the contract haven't been released, but the New York Post has reported a base salary of $6 million and after incentives, the deal could be worth as much as $8 million. I was hoping the Yankees could have signed him to a contract near the $5 million dollar range but c'est la vie.

Update: Apparently Steve Lombardi and I think along the same lines and he had the following idea first.

However, there is a sliver of a silver lining here because if this is played right, I believe that the Dodger's plan can benefit the Yankees. LA just signed Rafael Furcal to play short and Jeff Kent is currently playing second. When Cesar Izturis comes back from rehab, they can slot him in at second base, move Kent to first and play Nomar in right. All of these moves leave one large (6-5, 240 lbs.) left-handed 26-year old South Korean without a job. I know people haven't been too high on him the last couple of year but he has played in two of the worst parks for hitters over the last two years. he's still young, he get's on-base at a good clip (.349 for his career), is decent in the field and might be non-tendered by the Dodgers. One can only hope.

noMaas.org is the satirical Yankees analysis site. We sat down with the leader of the group, Sensei John Kreese, and asked him some questions. The name "Sensei John Kreese" is fictional as, I would guess, a few of his answers to our questions are, as well.

When you're not blogging/writing/creating images about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?

I own a Cobra-Kai dojo where I train kids to fight in the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Tournament.

I'm a fan of noMaas.org. I think the Cashman in the convenience store image is my favorite. So, why don't you tell us a bit about it? How many people you have on staff, who does what, any details about the operation that you'd like to let us in on, etc.?

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From our poll:

Do you want the Yankees to sign Johnny Damon?

No - 6
Indifferent - 1
Yes - 1

The Yankees have been quiet during the Marlins' fire sale this offseason until now. The Yanks have acquired lefty reliever Ron Villone from the Marlins for minor leaguer Ben Julianel. The New Jersey native went 5-5 last year with a 4.08 E.R.A. in 79 appearances.

Not a bad deal in my opinion. Even after signing Mike Myers, it still can never hurt to add another capable lefty in the bullpen. The Yankees have quietly added a bit of depth in the bullpen this offseason. They've acquired two new lefties, replaced Tom Gordon with a younger Kyle Farnsworth, are also looking to resign Al Leiter and if the rotation is healthy to start the season, they will be even deeper with Aaron Small in the bullpen.

Myers Hopes Damon Will Eventually Replace Him as the Newest Yankee:



Myers Also Recruits:

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Well, I had to point this out.

Good stuff.

Looks like our third baseman has decided to sit out of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.


I would also consider the additional wear-and-tear on A-Rod, and being that this is the very first Classic, we just don't know how much of a strain that will add to his body. Especially when it comes down to the playoffs in October.

Another point-of-view would be the WORLD stage that it set. It would allow A-Rod to further showcase his talents and add to his own developing storied history. But I don't say he needs that. He can continue building upon his resume with the Yankees. I just want him to stay healthy and hit another 40-50 HRs.

Update: It looks like the Dodgers aren't interested after all. However, other sources have now added the Orioles to the list of bidders.

Thank you turnover within the Dodger's organization! It looks like Los Angeles is jumping in the Johnny Damon sweepstakes and the buzz is that they are willing to go higher than four years. in my opinion, if Paul DePodesta was still in charge of that organization, there is no way that an offer would be made to Damon. Still, as long as the Yankees don't feel pressured into making their own 5-year offer, this is good news. It pushes the Yankees a little bit farther out of the fray because to this point, Yankees management has stated that a three year deal would be optimal and four years would be a stretch. Five years should get them out of the bidding altogether (hopefully). Also, the Red Sox, who might not be willing to take the possible PR hit of losing Damon, might up their offer in order to compete. Of course, they are setting up their contingency plans just in case and are reportedly also involved in talks with Seattle about Jeremy Reed.

And while we're talking about our friend Johnny, don't forget to vote in the Damon poll.

Per Jason O's request, here's the latest on Nomar. It looks like the Indians and the Yankees aren't feeling too great on their chances of adding the former All-Star. If the Dodgers, who seem to be the frontrunners right now, sign Nomar, I see it as a double issue. A) The Yankees lose out on Nomar and B) the Dodgers will probably play Nomar in right, move Drew to center and back off of Johnny Damon...making the Yankees and Red Sox practically the only suitors. The more interested teams there are, the better the chances that the Yankees go in another direction, which would be ideal in my view.

I personally would not mind seeing Nomar in pinstripes. I think that the Yanks could stand to add another bat to the lineup and a rejuvenated Nomar would be just the ticket. He would also fit the role of a player who could potentially spot start at any position on the field (outside of pticher and catcher). I think the guys at noMaas.org