Posted by: Patrick
Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees are still talking with both Andy Pettitte and Ben Sheets as they try to fill that final rotation spot. How many times should we mention that the Yankees are still talking to Pettitte? Until we hear directly from Brian Cashman or Andy Pettitte (and not a anonymous source report) that the talks are over and finished, they are talking.
I've had enough of this. Let's trade for Jake Peavy and get it over with.
Via D.J. Blatter.
I've had enough of this. Let's trade for Jake Peavy and get it over with.
Via D.J. Blatter.
Posted by: Patrick
ESPN's Keith Law recently released his list of the top 100 prospects in the game. Now, on his ESPN blog, he names who he feels could make the leap to the top 100, from each organization. Here is what he said, for the Yankees:
Via Diane Firstman.
Righty Arodys Vizcaino (Rookie) is among the Yanks' top prospects already, despite turning 18 after the 2008 season ended. He has easy velocity, hitting 94 repeatedly and sitting at 90-92 with good deception and a plus curveball. He's athletic and should sit closer to 94 when he's fully developed.
Via Diane Firstman.
01/24: Off Topic Joba
Posted by: Patrick
The Grand Island Independent has a (mostly) non-baseball interview with Joba Chamberlain. It's a good read.
Via Ben.
Via Ben.
Posted by: Patrick
Today, the Yankees officially moved all of their belongings from the old Yankee Stadium to the new Yankee Stadium. For photos, check out LoHud.com and, for a video, watch below.
Via Mike.
Via Mike.
Posted by: Patrick
Newsday's Kat O'Brien reports that Freddy Garcia has opted to sign with the Mets.
Posted by: Patrick
ESPN's Keith Law has released a flurry of Minor League rankings, profiling all organizations and the top prospects in the game. Keeping it Yankee related, he put 3 Yankees in his Top 100 prospects. The highest one is Austin Jackson, who comes in at number 46. Jesus Montero (83) and Andrew Brackman (95) follow.
He ranks the Yankees system as a whole at 15, saying:
His top 5 prospects for the club, in addition to Jackson, Montero and Brackman, are pitchers Dellin Betances and Zach McAllister.
Via Peter Abraham, Ben and Mike.
He ranks the Yankees system as a whole at 15, saying:
For the first time in several years, the Yankees' system is light on impact talent, with major question marks on each of the top four prospects. The 2008 draft class doesn't offer much hope -- the Yankees' first pick reversed course on them midsummer and decided to go to college; their third pick had a medical issue and didn't agree to terms; and the resulting crop of players doesn't offer much upside.
His top 5 prospects for the club, in addition to Jackson, Montero and Brackman, are pitchers Dellin Betances and Zach McAllister.
Via Peter Abraham, Ben and Mike.
Posted by: Patrick
From the AP:
Werber played a grand total of 7 games with the Yanks, over two seasons. Oddly enough, he was purchased by the Red Sox, from the Yankees, on May 12, 1933. He came up big in the 1940 World Series, hitting .370 as his Reds beat the Tigers, 4 games to 3.
Bill Werber, who was the oldest living ex-major leaguer and a teammate of Babe Ruth, died Thursday. He was 100.
Werber, a career .271 hitter who led the American League in stolen bases three times, played with Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove in stints with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He hit .370 as the third baseman on the 1940 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds.
Werber, a career .271 hitter who led the American League in stolen bases three times, played with Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove in stints with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He hit .370 as the third baseman on the 1940 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds.
Werber played a grand total of 7 games with the Yanks, over two seasons. Oddly enough, he was purchased by the Red Sox, from the Yankees, on May 12, 1933. He came up big in the 1940 World Series, hitting .370 as his Reds beat the Tigers, 4 games to 3.
01/21: Nady, Melky Get New Deals
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees agreed to one-year deals with both Melky Cabrera and Xavier Nady to avoid salary arbitration. Nady, who made $3.59 million last year, will get $6.65 million in 2009. Cabrera, who had a rough 2008, still ended up with a $1.4 million contract, a raise of roughly 200% over the $461K he made last season.
I also declined in job performance in 2008 and would like to triple my salary.
Via NoMaas.
I also declined in job performance in 2008 and would like to triple my salary.
Via NoMaas.
Posted by: Seamus
Teams released their provisional 45-man rosters for the World Baseball Classic on Monday, and according to Peter Abraham, nine Yankees were selected. Six of the nine are on the Dominican roster: Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Damaso Marte, Edwar Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Jose Veras. The other three are Alfredo Aceves (Mexico), Francisco Cervelli (Italy), and Derek Jeter, who was the only Yankee selected for Team USA (could be kind of odd to see Jeter and Dustin Pedroia patrolling the middle infield together). Bernie Williams was selected to Puerto Rico's squad, and four minor leaguers in the Yankee farm system (no major prospects) were also selected. Teams will announce their final rosters, consisting of 28 players, on February 24.
Complete provisional rosters can be found here.
Complete provisional rosters can be found here.
Posted by: Seamus
Hall of Fame electee Jim Rice blames the Steinbrenners for his team's misfortunes in his days as a member of the Red Sox. Rice pointed to the advantage the Yankees have had in the free agency era as the reason the Sox never won a World Series in his tenure.
From Newsday's David Lennon:
Gee, I wonder how much money Bucky Dent was making when he doomed the Red Sox' season in 1978? I wonder who was blaming Steinbrenner when the Sox had a 14-game lead in August of that year. Oh, and I bet it was George Steinbrenner's fault that Bill Buckner couldn't handle a routine ground ball, or that the Red Sox couldn't hold a 2-run, nobody on lead with one out to go against the Mets.
Let's be realistic here. During Rice's 16-year career in Boston, the Yankees won the American League East five times ('76, '77, '78, '80, '81). Of those five years, the Red Sox finished 2nd only once (1978). I don't know why the Yankees' spending machine should be to blame for the Red Sox finishing 3rd or 4th almost every time the Yankees won. Second, Jim Rice played all throughout the 80's, in which the Yankees made the playoffs only twice. I don't see the beef here.
Rice goes on to whine about the Steinbrenners' influence on today's game:
While ignoring the fact that the Yankees have actually decreased payroll this offseason, Rice also had nothing to say about his $133 million Red Sox machine losing the ALCS to a team with a payroll of $43 million. I bet he wouldn't have had anything to say about any "unfair advantage" should the Sox have won that series.
I just don't get it. If a Pirates fan wants to complain about the economics of baseball, that's one thing. But enough from these Sox fans and players already. This is like Donald Trump crying poverty because Bill Gates suddenly decides to move into town.
Maybe Rice should point more to his .225/.313./.366 career in the postseason. And you thought A-Rod was bad...
From Newsday's David Lennon:
"During that time, Steinbrenner spent more money than the Red Sox," Rice said. "He had more free agents. So when you get the best free agents, and you get the superstars from other ballclubs, that's what made you have a better team. The more money you can spend, the better you should get."
Gee, I wonder how much money Bucky Dent was making when he doomed the Red Sox' season in 1978? I wonder who was blaming Steinbrenner when the Sox had a 14-game lead in August of that year. Oh, and I bet it was George Steinbrenner's fault that Bill Buckner couldn't handle a routine ground ball, or that the Red Sox couldn't hold a 2-run, nobody on lead with one out to go against the Mets.
Let's be realistic here. During Rice's 16-year career in Boston, the Yankees won the American League East five times ('76, '77, '78, '80, '81). Of those five years, the Red Sox finished 2nd only once (1978). I don't know why the Yankees' spending machine should be to blame for the Red Sox finishing 3rd or 4th almost every time the Yankees won. Second, Jim Rice played all throughout the 80's, in which the Yankees made the playoffs only twice. I don't see the beef here.
Rice goes on to whine about the Steinbrenners' influence on today's game:
"The Yankees haven't won in the last eight years. What do they do? They go out and buy high-priced players in the hope to get back the winning percentage they had 10 years ago."
While ignoring the fact that the Yankees have actually decreased payroll this offseason, Rice also had nothing to say about his $133 million Red Sox machine losing the ALCS to a team with a payroll of $43 million. I bet he wouldn't have had anything to say about any "unfair advantage" should the Sox have won that series.
I just don't get it. If a Pirates fan wants to complain about the economics of baseball, that's one thing. But enough from these Sox fans and players already. This is like Donald Trump crying poverty because Bill Gates suddenly decides to move into town.
Maybe Rice should point more to his .225/.313./.366 career in the postseason. And you thought A-Rod was bad...
