10/12: Thanks, Mel
Posted by: Patrick
Mel Stottlemyre's time with the Yanks appears to be up.
I know a lot of people will be celebrating in jubilation. But, I'm sad to see him go. He's been a Yankee for a great many years. 10 as a coach where we won 4 titles and finished in the top 5 in AL ERA in 6 of the last 10 seasons. 11 as a player where he went 164-139 with a 2.97 ERA. He was a good pitcher on a medicore team during his playing career.
Usually when someone receives too much critcism when things go bad, they also receive too much credit when things go well, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I have read many times where people slam Mel for ruining young pitchers, but then dismiss the ones that he was around that did well as already having talent (Andy Pettitte, Ramiro Mendoza, Mariano Rivera, Chien-Ming Wang). Yeah, he "ruined" Javy, Contreras and Weaver, but when it comes to one of the best lefties in the game and the greatest reliever of all time, they were just good. Either they need coaching or they already have talent - pick one. When it comes down to it, Mel was a member of the Yankee Organization for approximately 25 years (unless he did some work with them in between) and was a good one, as well. I missed his playing career as it was before my time, but I haven't heard bad things. As far as his coaching career with the Yankees, I have seen it and I have seen a person that people respect and that has done a solid job. If he is actually gone, it is time for people to pay respect to someone who has been a Yankee for around 40% of their life.
Thanks, Mel, thanks for your time with the Yankees.
I know a lot of people will be celebrating in jubilation. But, I'm sad to see him go. He's been a Yankee for a great many years. 10 as a coach where we won 4 titles and finished in the top 5 in AL ERA in 6 of the last 10 seasons. 11 as a player where he went 164-139 with a 2.97 ERA. He was a good pitcher on a medicore team during his playing career.
Usually when someone receives too much critcism when things go bad, they also receive too much credit when things go well, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I have read many times where people slam Mel for ruining young pitchers, but then dismiss the ones that he was around that did well as already having talent (Andy Pettitte, Ramiro Mendoza, Mariano Rivera, Chien-Ming Wang). Yeah, he "ruined" Javy, Contreras and Weaver, but when it comes to one of the best lefties in the game and the greatest reliever of all time, they were just good. Either they need coaching or they already have talent - pick one. When it comes down to it, Mel was a member of the Yankee Organization for approximately 25 years (unless he did some work with them in between) and was a good one, as well. I missed his playing career as it was before my time, but I haven't heard bad things. As far as his coaching career with the Yankees, I have seen it and I have seen a person that people respect and that has done a solid job. If he is actually gone, it is time for people to pay respect to someone who has been a Yankee for around 40% of their life.
Thanks, Mel, thanks for your time with the Yankees.
10/12: Welcome James Varghese!
Posted by: Patrick
Posted by: Patrick
We've been selected as one of the best New York Yankees blogs according to Deadspin. From their site:
Emphasis mine. Thanks for featuring us! Congrats to Replacement Level Yankees Weblog and Bronx Banter, who were also featured.
More than any other sport, baseball lends itself to individual blog obsession. Every Major League Baseball team has several blogs obsessed with chronicling the ins-and-outs of everything. Deadspin salutes these modem-addled souls and proudly presents Blogdom’s Best, given to the most outstanding blog for each team. ... Today: The New York Yankees.
As we’re finding out, the baseball playoffs go ahead and keep going even though they don’t have the Yankees in them. Surprising, we know. Though Yankees blogs can’t compare to the massive spread of Red Sox blogs — we’ll get into that tomorrow — they’ve got a solid presence, and, strangely, they don’t get a single penny of that $210 million payroll. Who’s done more for Yankees fans: These blogs, or Kevin Brown? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
3. YanksBlog. Well-designed, pleasant site with a tendency to look to the future … something the team itself could use some help with.
As we’re finding out, the baseball playoffs go ahead and keep going even though they don’t have the Yankees in them. Surprising, we know. Though Yankees blogs can’t compare to the massive spread of Red Sox blogs — we’ll get into that tomorrow — they’ve got a solid presence, and, strangely, they don’t get a single penny of that $210 million payroll. Who’s done more for Yankees fans: These blogs, or Kevin Brown? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
3. YanksBlog. Well-designed, pleasant site with a tendency to look to the future … something the team itself could use some help with.
Emphasis mine. Thanks for featuring us! Congrats to Replacement Level Yankees Weblog and Bronx Banter, who were also featured.
10/12: Off the Books in 2006
Posted by: James
There seems to be some confusion amongst Yankee fans about who comes off the Yankee payroll this off-season and how much these guys were making in 2005. Based on the information that I have collected to this point and cross checked with Hardball Dollars, here's where that situation stands:
Yankees who are now free agents:
Kevin Brown: $15MM (millions)
John Flaherty: $800K (thousands)
Tom Gordon: $3.75MM
Matt Lawton: $1.5MM
Hideki Matsui: $8MM
Felix Rodriguez: $3.15MM
Rey Sanchez: $600K
Ruben Sierra: $1.5MM
Yankees with options/buyouts:
Tino Martinez: $2.75MM in 2005 - $3MM option in 2006 (with a buyout of 250K)
Tanyon Sturtze: $850K in 2005 - $1.5MM option in 2006 (with a 15K buyout)
Bernie Williams: $12MM in 2005 - Option in 2006 already declined for $3.5MM
Yankees who were traded/released/bought out:
Buddy Groom: $850K
Steve Karsay: $4.88M in 2005 - $6.5MM option in 2006 (bought out for $1.5MM as part of his release)
Mike Stanton: $3.84MM
Paul Quantrill: $3MM in 2005 - $3.6MM option in 2006 (bought out for $400K as part of his release)
I tried to make this as complete as I could but if you see anything (or anyone) that I might have missed, please let us know.
Yankees who are now free agents:
Kevin Brown: $15MM (millions)
John Flaherty: $800K (thousands)
Tom Gordon: $3.75MM
Matt Lawton: $1.5MM
Hideki Matsui: $8MM
Felix Rodriguez: $3.15MM
Rey Sanchez: $600K
Ruben Sierra: $1.5MM
Yankees with options/buyouts:
Tino Martinez: $2.75MM in 2005 - $3MM option in 2006 (with a buyout of 250K)
Tanyon Sturtze: $850K in 2005 - $1.5MM option in 2006 (with a 15K buyout)
Bernie Williams: $12MM in 2005 - Option in 2006 already declined for $3.5MM
Yankees who were traded/released/bought out:
Buddy Groom: $850K
Steve Karsay: $4.88M in 2005 - $6.5MM option in 2006 (bought out for $1.5MM as part of his release)
Mike Stanton: $3.84MM
Paul Quantrill: $3MM in 2005 - $3.6MM option in 2006 (bought out for $400K as part of his release)
I tried to make this as complete as I could but if you see anything (or anyone) that I might have missed, please let us know.
Posted by: Patrick
Leiter pondering retirement:
Although I'm guessing most won't be, I wouldn't mind bringing him back in that role. It depends on how FA goes. There are some guys I'd be interested in before him, though, such as Scott Eyre and Scott Sauerbeck.
"When you've got kids old enough to respond and tell you what they think, that plays a big part," Leiter said. "My son's thinking it's pretty cool, playing with A-Rod and Jeter and all these guys, so he'd probably vote to stay."
Leiter, who began his career in pinstripes and lives in the area, hinted that the only way he would continue playing would be to re-sign with the Yankees as a left-handed specialist.
"It's been good for me, this circle," he said. "Eighteen years ago, I was able to pitch my first game here. I like the area. There wouldn't be too many other places." ...
Though he played for Torre for less than three months, Leiter was pleased to earn the manager's confidence in his new role in the bullpen.
"Any time your boss shows faith and confidence in you, you don't want to let him down," Leiter said. "And he did, and it meant a lot."
Leiter, who began his career in pinstripes and lives in the area, hinted that the only way he would continue playing would be to re-sign with the Yankees as a left-handed specialist.
"It's been good for me, this circle," he said. "Eighteen years ago, I was able to pitch my first game here. I like the area. There wouldn't be too many other places." ...
Though he played for Torre for less than three months, Leiter was pleased to earn the manager's confidence in his new role in the bullpen.
"Any time your boss shows faith and confidence in you, you don't want to let him down," Leiter said. "And he did, and it meant a lot."
Although I'm guessing most won't be, I wouldn't mind bringing him back in that role. It depends on how FA goes. There are some guys I'd be interested in before him, though, such as Scott Eyre and Scott Sauerbeck.
Posted by: Patrick
Jon Heyman of Newsday has come up with a plan to fix the Yankees. More of the plan can be found here. Here is the plan (taken from the articles):
Sign B.J. Ryan to be Mariano Rivera's main bullpen set-up man.
If he wants to be, sure. The problem is... he already said he doesn't want to be. Edit: Apparently, I was wrong.
If Hunter can't be acquired for Robinson Cano, try for Red Sox free agent Johnny Damon.
Sign B.J. Ryan to be Mariano Rivera's main bullpen set-up man.
If he wants to be, sure. The problem is... he already said he doesn't want to be. Edit: Apparently, I was wrong.
If Hunter can't be acquired for Robinson Cano, try for Red Sox free agent Johnny Damon.
Posted by: Patrick
Welp, the first Yankees season at YanksBlog.com has finished. We launched after the season had already started, on May 5, 2005. On that day, the Yankees were 11-18, tied for 4th place in the bottom of the AL East. They were 8 games back of the East leading Orioles and 5.5 games back of the second place Red Sox. They finished 95-67, winning the division by tie breaker and going 5 games in the ALDS before falling.
During the season (or abbreviated season, anyway - the Yankees were 84-59 since we launched)), we posted 290 entries, covering most games and a lot of details in between. It's fun to be able to write about something you enjoy as we do here at YB. Even in this, a season of "struggle." Our beloved Yankees are getting older and our first and biggest notice of this is the great Bernie Williams, who may have played his last game in pinstripes (bring back Bernie). It's sad as it just really hit me and I actually got tears in my eyes watching the tribute over at noMaas.org (gah, why am I telling you this? lol). I started watching baseball more closely in 92, 93, 94. Bernie's first few years. I grew up watching Bernie Williams play and now, it could be over. Has it really been that many years? Gracious. Although Donnie was my first favorite and Jeter was my second (with an interim favorite of Boggs in between), I couldn't have watched a better example of a quality, classy ballplayer. Thank you, Bernie.
Thanks to the Yankees. Players, coaching staff, organization, owner. As a Yankee fan, I do feel blessed to be able to root for a team and an organization that is consistently in the hunt and consistently doing what they can to win. It's a privilege that most team's fans do not have. Thanks for a great season.
I was happy to become more of a part of the Yankees blogosphere, punctuated by such blogs as Bronx Banter, noMaas.org (they might not be exactly a blog, but I'm putting them in here - the Sheffboyardee and Cashman robbery pictures are just about the funniest things I've ever seen), NoSenseWorrying.com, Off the Facade, Pride of the Yankees, Replacement Level Yankees Weblog, The Futility Infielder, The Weblog That Derek Built and WasWatching.com.
I'd like to thank my fellow YB Bloggers - David Williams, Michael Black and Seamus Molloy - for their contributions to YB and their dedication to the Yankees and writing about the Yankees. As I'm sure everyone aware, the train doesn't stop when the season ends. We'll still be having entries here on a daily basis, covering Yankees news, rumors and the like. So, stick around and keep commenting.
Thank you for visiting and supporting YanksBlog.com this season.
During the season (or abbreviated season, anyway - the Yankees were 84-59 since we launched)), we posted 290 entries, covering most games and a lot of details in between. It's fun to be able to write about something you enjoy as we do here at YB. Even in this, a season of "struggle." Our beloved Yankees are getting older and our first and biggest notice of this is the great Bernie Williams, who may have played his last game in pinstripes (bring back Bernie). It's sad as it just really hit me and I actually got tears in my eyes watching the tribute over at noMaas.org (gah, why am I telling you this? lol). I started watching baseball more closely in 92, 93, 94. Bernie's first few years. I grew up watching Bernie Williams play and now, it could be over. Has it really been that many years? Gracious. Although Donnie was my first favorite and Jeter was my second (with an interim favorite of Boggs in between), I couldn't have watched a better example of a quality, classy ballplayer. Thank you, Bernie.
Thanks to the Yankees. Players, coaching staff, organization, owner. As a Yankee fan, I do feel blessed to be able to root for a team and an organization that is consistently in the hunt and consistently doing what they can to win. It's a privilege that most team's fans do not have. Thanks for a great season.
I was happy to become more of a part of the Yankees blogosphere, punctuated by such blogs as Bronx Banter, noMaas.org (they might not be exactly a blog, but I'm putting them in here - the Sheffboyardee and Cashman robbery pictures are just about the funniest things I've ever seen), NoSenseWorrying.com, Off the Facade, Pride of the Yankees, Replacement Level Yankees Weblog, The Futility Infielder, The Weblog That Derek Built and WasWatching.com.
I'd like to thank my fellow YB Bloggers - David Williams, Michael Black and Seamus Molloy - for their contributions to YB and their dedication to the Yankees and writing about the Yankees. As I'm sure everyone aware, the train doesn't stop when the season ends. We'll still be having entries here on a daily basis, covering Yankees news, rumors and the like. So, stick around and keep commenting.
Thank you for visiting and supporting YanksBlog.com this season.
Posted by: Patrick
First non season related entry after the end of the season... gotta start somewhere, right?
Brosius, O'Brien among hall of fame inductees:
Congrats.
Via Brian MacMillan.
Brosius, O'Brien among hall of fame inductees:
Former Linfield College baseball player Scott Brosius and the school's 1966 baseball team will be inducted Tuesday night into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. ...
Brosius spent 11 seasons in the major leagues, including seven with the Oakland Athletics and four with the New York Yankees. He was the most valuable player of the 1998 World Series.
Currently a McMinnville resident, Brosius has been an assistant coach for the Linfield baseball team the past four seasons.
Brosius spent 11 seasons in the major leagues, including seven with the Oakland Athletics and four with the New York Yankees. He was the most valuable player of the 1998 World Series.
Currently a McMinnville resident, Brosius has been an assistant coach for the Linfield baseball team the past four seasons.
Congrats.
Via Brian MacMillan.
10/11: Yanks lose ALDS in game 5
Posted by: Michael
There could be lots of finger pointing as to why we lost this game 3-5, and thus the series. You could point your finger at Moose. He lasted a mere 2 2/3 innings. Point your finger at the suspect officials, particularly the home plate ump who called Robinson Cano out in the 5th inning for running out of the base path. While the rest of the night, squeezing the Yankee pitching. You can point the finger at our weak pathetic bats. The stat Fox had up in the 9th inning really told alot. Between A-Rod, Sheff and Matsui, they were combined batting .208 for the series. I mean, come on, when you need Jorge Posada to be the hero, you know that it can't get much worse for our offense.
I think the number one reason why we lost the ALDS was our serious lack of defense. Whether it was Giambi not being able to throw the ball, or just clueless meandering by our infielders when the ball is hit to them. Often times it looked like A-Rod was the rookie. Is he still trying to learn 3rd base?
The game just got out of hand in the 2nd inning when the Angels tacked on three runs. Bubba Crosby and Gary Sheffield collided in a misplay which allowed two runs to score and almost allowed an in-the-park home run. Replays showed that Sheffield would have most likely had the ball, but Crosby couldn't have heard Sheffield call for it. I can't blame Crosby, but it was our defense on that play that caused this to happen.
Bartolo Colon came out of the game in the 2nd with an injured shoulder. The guy couldn't throw strikes, and was quickly replaced by Ervin Santana. I knew then we were in trouble. I've followed the Yanks pretty darn closely these last few (10) years and know that when it comes up against a young pitcher they don't know too well, they have a tough time. And indeed they did.
After Mussina left the game, with the Yanks trailing 2-5, Torre puts in Randy Johnson who does an equally good job in keeping the Angels from scoring any more runs. But it was our bats that couldn't get anything going. Jeter came up big in the 7th with a home run, but alas it was a solo shot, and the Angels retired the Yankees to end the inning.
So the Yanks go home. They have another off-season to think about what could have been. A-Rod can think about his rally ending double-play in the 9th. And shudder to think that Jaret Wright would have been our game one pitcher against the White Sox in Chicago (I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming... I saw McCarvers ugly mug on the TV and realized I wasn't). We are left to ponder off season moves that can get this team back into the Series and on to their 27th Championship.
Some Game Related Notes: ESPN.com did a homepage poll and asked who you were rooting for tonight. When you answered, and clicked submit, it would tally your record and give you a nationwide map on how the country answered state by state. You've probably seen this. Well I thought it was very hysterically funny that the Angels would be colored Yankee Blue and the Yanks would be colored Angel Red. Leave it to ESPN.
I really don't see how you could call Cano with running out of the base paths in the 5th. If anything he was on the line and the ball was just poorly thrown by Molina.
I think the number one reason why we lost the ALDS was our serious lack of defense. Whether it was Giambi not being able to throw the ball, or just clueless meandering by our infielders when the ball is hit to them. Often times it looked like A-Rod was the rookie. Is he still trying to learn 3rd base?
The game just got out of hand in the 2nd inning when the Angels tacked on three runs. Bubba Crosby and Gary Sheffield collided in a misplay which allowed two runs to score and almost allowed an in-the-park home run. Replays showed that Sheffield would have most likely had the ball, but Crosby couldn't have heard Sheffield call for it. I can't blame Crosby, but it was our defense on that play that caused this to happen.
Bartolo Colon came out of the game in the 2nd with an injured shoulder. The guy couldn't throw strikes, and was quickly replaced by Ervin Santana. I knew then we were in trouble. I've followed the Yanks pretty darn closely these last few (10) years and know that when it comes up against a young pitcher they don't know too well, they have a tough time. And indeed they did.
After Mussina left the game, with the Yanks trailing 2-5, Torre puts in Randy Johnson who does an equally good job in keeping the Angels from scoring any more runs. But it was our bats that couldn't get anything going. Jeter came up big in the 7th with a home run, but alas it was a solo shot, and the Angels retired the Yankees to end the inning.
So the Yanks go home. They have another off-season to think about what could have been. A-Rod can think about his rally ending double-play in the 9th. And shudder to think that Jaret Wright would have been our game one pitcher against the White Sox in Chicago (I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming... I saw McCarvers ugly mug on the TV and realized I wasn't). We are left to ponder off season moves that can get this team back into the Series and on to their 27th Championship.
Some Game Related Notes: ESPN.com did a homepage poll and asked who you were rooting for tonight. When you answered, and clicked submit, it would tally your record and give you a nationwide map on how the country answered state by state. You've probably seen this. Well I thought it was very hysterically funny that the Angels would be colored Yankee Blue and the Yanks would be colored Angel Red. Leave it to ESPN.
I really don't see how you could call Cano with running out of the base paths in the 5th. If anything he was on the line and the ball was just poorly thrown by Molina.
Posted by: Patrick
I just realized that we forgot to announce the winner of our giveaway. It was James Varghese. Congrats!
