11/26: Yankees Talking With Zaun
Posted by: Patrick
From Newsday.com:
Via Pro Sports Daily.
Finding a capable backup catcher is high on the Yankees' agenda this offseason, and the agent for Gregg Zaun said last night that he has been in "consistent" contact with general manager Brian Cashman.
Via Pro Sports Daily.
11/24: Former Yankee Dobson Dies
Posted by: Patrick
From MLB.com:
Dobson was traded to the Yankees on June 7, 1973 in exchange for Frank Tepedino, Wayne Nordhagen, Dave Cheadle and Al Closter. In his 2 and 1/2 plus seasons in New York, he was 39-37 with a 3.65 ERA. On November 22, 1975, he was traded to Cleveland for Oscar Gamble.
Pat Dobson, 64, one of four Baltimore Orioles pitchers to win 20 games in 1971, died in a San Diego area hospital on Wednesday night. The cause of death was not immediately known. ...
Dobson was 122-129 lifetime with a 3.54 ERA in 414 games (279 starts) for Detroit, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, the New York Yankees and Cleveland from 1967-77. He helped guide the Tigers to the 1968 world championship, while his 1971 Orioles club lost to the Pirates in the World Series. He was an All-Star with the Orioles in 1972, though he finished 16-18, but with a 2.65 ERA.
Dobson was 122-129 lifetime with a 3.54 ERA in 414 games (279 starts) for Detroit, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, the New York Yankees and Cleveland from 1967-77. He helped guide the Tigers to the 1968 world championship, while his 1971 Orioles club lost to the Pirates in the World Series. He was an All-Star with the Orioles in 1972, though he finished 16-18, but with a 2.65 ERA.
Dobson was traded to the Yankees on June 7, 1973 in exchange for Frank Tepedino, Wayne Nordhagen, Dave Cheadle and Al Closter. In his 2 and 1/2 plus seasons in New York, he was 39-37 with a 3.65 ERA. On November 22, 1975, he was traded to Cleveland for Oscar Gamble.
Posted by: YB Bloggers
The 2006 is well over now and we've had some time to think and reflect back on the individual performances of the season. And so, here are our individual player grades for the 2006 regular season. First, we have the hitters. We'll cover the pitchers in a future entry.
C - Jorge Posada: A
Patrick: 2006 was a nice bounce back year for Jorge, from the down year that 2005 was. He hit .277 with a .374 OBA, .492 SLG, 27 doubles, 23 home runs and 93 runs batted in. His .492 SLG was the 3rd best mark he's put up in his career while the 143 games he played ties with 2002 for the second most in a single season. Somehow, he managed to steal 3 bases, more than he's ever stolen in a single season, while not being caught once.
C - Sal Fasano: C
Jason O.: How can you not love Sal? The sweet facial hair, the cannoli-fueled physique - this guy is 100% old school. He fulfilled his expected role admirably (very little offense, above average defense) as a back-up catcher after the release of Kelly Stinnett.
C - Jorge Posada: A
Patrick: 2006 was a nice bounce back year for Jorge, from the down year that 2005 was. He hit .277 with a .374 OBA, .492 SLG, 27 doubles, 23 home runs and 93 runs batted in. His .492 SLG was the 3rd best mark he's put up in his career while the 143 games he played ties with 2002 for the second most in a single season. Somehow, he managed to steal 3 bases, more than he's ever stolen in a single season, while not being caught once.
C - Sal Fasano: C
Jason O.: How can you not love Sal? The sweet facial hair, the cannoli-fueled physique - this guy is 100% old school. He fulfilled his expected role admirably (very little offense, above average defense) as a back-up catcher after the release of Kelly Stinnett.
Posted by: Patrick
From Bloomberg.com:
Mike Krzyzewski is accustomed to expectations of greatness as Duke University's basketball coach. He says it's nothing compared with what Joe Torre faces as manager of baseball's New York Yankees.
``There's more pressure on Joe Torre than anyone coaching anywhere,'' Krzyzewski, who has won three national championships and 684 games at Duke, said in an interview for Bloomberg Radio's ``On the Ball'' program.
``There's more pressure on Joe Torre than anyone coaching anywhere,'' Krzyzewski, who has won three national championships and 684 games at Duke, said in an interview for Bloomberg Radio's ``On the Ball'' program.
11/22: Other Yankees Received Votes
Posted by: Patrick
I just wanted to mention that some other Yankees showed up on ballots, as well.
A-Rod received 1 5th place vote, 2 8th place votes and 1 10th place vote. Jason Giambi received 1 6th place vote and 2 9th place votes. Johnny Damon received 1 5th (?) place vote and 1 10th place vote. Robinson Cano received 1 8th place vote. Mo received 1 9th place vote. Finally, Chien-Ming Wang received 1 9th place vote.
A-Rod received 1 5th place vote, 2 8th place votes and 1 10th place vote. Jason Giambi received 1 6th place vote and 2 9th place votes. Johnny Damon received 1 5th (?) place vote and 1 10th place vote. Robinson Cano received 1 8th place vote. Mo received 1 9th place vote. Finally, Chien-Ming Wang received 1 9th place vote.
11/22: Ballots Released
Posted by: Patrick
Before I mention the link, I just wanted to remind everyone that this is just baseball and is just a matter of opinion. It's very, very easy to criticize when you aren't the one voting. And no matter what the case is, again, it's just a game - personal attacks and namecalling have no place. Do I think Jeter should have won? Yes. Am I disappointed he didn't? Yes. Yes, yes, yes. But, it should be kept in perspective. So, if you want to contact these individuals and give your opinion, very well. But, keep it classy and respectful, please. Respresent us well.
Anyway, here is the link. For those curious, the person who voted Jeter 4th was Danny Knobler of Booth Newspapers in Detroit. The person who voted him 6th was Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times.
Via Fabian.
Anyway, here is the link. For those curious, the person who voted Jeter 4th was Danny Knobler of Booth Newspapers in Detroit. The person who voted him 6th was Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times.
Via Fabian.
Posted by: Jason
First, I knew something was afoot when Ryan Howard won the NL MVP over the deserving Pujols.
Also, don't expect me to start this with the pro forma "all due respect to Morneau" concession. As has been mentioned 37 times elsewhere, Morneau was not even the MVP of his own team. He did not deserve this award, period.
I'll review the extensive damage that the sacred BBWAA has done to the MVP award by drawing appropriate analogies:
1) The Heisman Trophy: In 1989, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail was without question the best player in college football. Notre Dame's coaching staff actually INVENTED a play for the Rocket, the flanker screen. Who wins the Heisman? Ty Detmer, of course, who threw for 200,000 yards in the defensively challenged (to be kind) Western Athletic Conference.
2) The Oscars, 1999: Steven Spielberg crafts one of the 15 greatest movies in 100 years of Hollywood, Saving Private Ryan. The film succeeds on so many levels that it almost defies description.
Best Picture? Shakespeare in Love.
Reflect on that for a moment. A movie memorable now to me only in the absurdity of Ben Affleck cast as an original Shakespearean actor.
Recall the 7th inning of the 2nd game of the doubleheader in the defining Boston series this year. Bases loaded. #2 clears the bases with an opposite field double. Yankees win en route to a sweep.
Morneau over Jeter. I am baffled...and like the oscars and the Heisman, I'll never look at the award the same way again.
Also, don't expect me to start this with the pro forma "all due respect to Morneau" concession. As has been mentioned 37 times elsewhere, Morneau was not even the MVP of his own team. He did not deserve this award, period.
I'll review the extensive damage that the sacred BBWAA has done to the MVP award by drawing appropriate analogies:
1) The Heisman Trophy: In 1989, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail was without question the best player in college football. Notre Dame's coaching staff actually INVENTED a play for the Rocket, the flanker screen. Who wins the Heisman? Ty Detmer, of course, who threw for 200,000 yards in the defensively challenged (to be kind) Western Athletic Conference.
2) The Oscars, 1999: Steven Spielberg crafts one of the 15 greatest movies in 100 years of Hollywood, Saving Private Ryan. The film succeeds on so many levels that it almost defies description.
Best Picture? Shakespeare in Love.
Reflect on that for a moment. A movie memorable now to me only in the absurdity of Ben Affleck cast as an original Shakespearean actor.
Recall the 7th inning of the 2nd game of the doubleheader in the defining Boston series this year. Bases loaded. #2 clears the bases with an opposite field double. Yankees win en route to a sweep.
Morneau over Jeter. I am baffled...and like the oscars and the Heisman, I'll never look at the award the same way again.
11/21: Morneau Wins MVP Over Jeter
Posted by: James
According to Peter A. over at the LoHud Yankees Blog, Minnesota's Justin Morneau won the American League MVP over Derek Jeter.
Morneau had 320 points and 15 first-place votes. Jeter had 306 points and 12 first-place votes. Pete A. found the link to the official BBWAA release, includes the voting breakdown. Morneau hit .321/.375/.559 with 34 homers, 130 RBIs and 3 steals while Jeter batted .343/.417/.483 with 14 homers, 97 RBIs and 34 SBs.
Much like Alex Bleth over at Bronx Banter, I could have lived with Jeter losing to Mauer and Santana but losing to Morneau is just plain annoying. He was CLEARLY the THIRD most valuable player on that Minnesota team behind Mauer and Santana and yet he beats out Derek Jeter for the MVP. I might sound like a fanboy here but to me, that's just ridiculous.
Update: Say what you will about Derek Jeter, he was all class in his remarks about his getting hosed, I mean, losing, the MVP award. For those of you who side with me, I'd check out Mike A.'s thoughts as well as what NoMaas has to say. The comments over at David Pinto's Baseball Musings are also definitely worth a look.
Morneau had 320 points and 15 first-place votes. Jeter had 306 points and 12 first-place votes. Pete A. found the link to the official BBWAA release, includes the voting breakdown. Morneau hit .321/.375/.559 with 34 homers, 130 RBIs and 3 steals while Jeter batted .343/.417/.483 with 14 homers, 97 RBIs and 34 SBs.
Much like Alex Bleth over at Bronx Banter, I could have lived with Jeter losing to Mauer and Santana but losing to Morneau is just plain annoying. He was CLEARLY the THIRD most valuable player on that Minnesota team behind Mauer and Santana and yet he beats out Derek Jeter for the MVP. I might sound like a fanboy here but to me, that's just ridiculous.
Update: Say what you will about Derek Jeter, he was all class in his remarks about his getting hosed, I mean, losing, the MVP award. For those of you who side with me, I'd check out Mike A.'s thoughts as well as what NoMaas has to say. The comments over at David Pinto's Baseball Musings are also definitely worth a look.
11/21: AL MVP Announced Today
Posted by: Patrick
The AL MVP will be announced today. If it goes to Jeter, that will be an acceptable birthday gift.
Posted by: Patrick
From the New York Post:
Via Steve.
Former Yankee three-time World Series champion Scott Brosius will take over from Scott Carnahan, his head coach at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., starting in 2008. Carnahan will be Brosius' pitching coach for the Division III program. "I am excited," the Yankees' third baseman from 1998 to 2001 tells The Post's George King. "I have been an assistant the last few years and things worked out and led to the head coach. It's a 40-game schedule and it won't keep me away from my wife and [three] kids." The classy Brosius doesn't follow the Yankees closely but is aware Alex Rodriguez has had a tough time with the fans. "I would have been thrilled with those numbers," Brosius said.
Via Steve.
