03/01: The Captain
Posted by: Patrick
Bryan Hoch has an article on the three team captains in the game: Derek Jeter, Paul Konerko and Jason Varitek.
The article notes that, of the three, Varitek is the only one to wear a C on his jersey.
I've heard some rumblings, which are natural, that Jeter isn't the best choice for captain and that someone else, perhaps Jorge Posada would be better. I think part of this is based on public perception of things. Just because Posada speaks out more on issues, like trading for Santana or leaving Joba in the pen, doesn't make him more suited to be captain. The captain's role is private as much as anything. i.e. what he does when the press isn't looking. You can find plenty of quotes from teammates, current and former, testifying to Jeter's prowess as captain, in the things he's done with his teammates, when the press isn't necessarily around.
If I have to pick one from my outside perspective, it's Jeter. I love that he's the captain. In Jeter, we're witnessing a Yankee legend of a historical caliber. 70 years from now, they'll talk about Jeter like they talk about Gehrig now. He handles himself professionally on and off the field. He's the consummate team player and an example of a guy who plays the game the right way and has the proper respect for the game and those that came before him. (No,I don't think him not running away from the shortstop position when A-Rod came takes away from him nor his relative no comment during A-Rod's struggles. He's still a human being like everyone else).
Some of the things I say for Jeter, I can also say for Jorge. You can also find plenty of articles talking about Posada's leadership. I think he's a terrific leader and would make a fine captain. I don't see why we need to pigeonhole the team into only having one leader. The captain is important, but you need multiple leaders and character guys to make great teams. Derek Jeter is a great leader. Jorge Posada is a great leader. Mariano Rivera is a great leader. They all lead in different ways, but it doesn't mean that any of them isn't a good leader. Other guys are leaders and can manage leadership roles just fine. Like A-Rod or Moose with the young pitchers this spring. At the end of the day, we should be less concerned with switching around captains and more glad that we actually have players of this quality when it comes to leadership.
"It's an important role and it's an honor," Jeter said. "I know, in this organization, it's not something that's thrown around lightly. It's something that I cherish." ...
"There are a lot of responsibilities," Jeter said. "You're accountable to your team, your teammates, the organization, the media. You understand that it's not just an honorary thing."
"There are a lot of responsibilities," Jeter said. "You're accountable to your team, your teammates, the organization, the media. You understand that it's not just an honorary thing."
The article notes that, of the three, Varitek is the only one to wear a C on his jersey.
I've heard some rumblings, which are natural, that Jeter isn't the best choice for captain and that someone else, perhaps Jorge Posada would be better. I think part of this is based on public perception of things. Just because Posada speaks out more on issues, like trading for Santana or leaving Joba in the pen, doesn't make him more suited to be captain. The captain's role is private as much as anything. i.e. what he does when the press isn't looking. You can find plenty of quotes from teammates, current and former, testifying to Jeter's prowess as captain, in the things he's done with his teammates, when the press isn't necessarily around.
If I have to pick one from my outside perspective, it's Jeter. I love that he's the captain. In Jeter, we're witnessing a Yankee legend of a historical caliber. 70 years from now, they'll talk about Jeter like they talk about Gehrig now. He handles himself professionally on and off the field. He's the consummate team player and an example of a guy who plays the game the right way and has the proper respect for the game and those that came before him. (No,I don't think him not running away from the shortstop position when A-Rod came takes away from him nor his relative no comment during A-Rod's struggles. He's still a human being like everyone else).
Some of the things I say for Jeter, I can also say for Jorge. You can also find plenty of articles talking about Posada's leadership. I think he's a terrific leader and would make a fine captain. I don't see why we need to pigeonhole the team into only having one leader. The captain is important, but you need multiple leaders and character guys to make great teams. Derek Jeter is a great leader. Jorge Posada is a great leader. Mariano Rivera is a great leader. They all lead in different ways, but it doesn't mean that any of them isn't a good leader. Other guys are leaders and can manage leadership roles just fine. Like A-Rod or Moose with the young pitchers this spring. At the end of the day, we should be less concerned with switching around captains and more glad that we actually have players of this quality when it comes to leadership.
03/01: Reggie on Austin Jackson
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham has this quote from Reggie Jackson on Yankees prosect Austin Jackson:
“The best athlete in the organization is Austin Jackson. He moves better than LaDainian Tomlinson.”
02/29: Whoa, Hank...
Posted by: Patrick
This is what happens whe you read the first half of an article, realize "er... it's getting later and I still have a bunch of work to do" and skim the rest.
You miss this quote, that Alex pointed out:
You miss this quote, that Alex pointed out:
For his part, Hank betrays no worry about the competition in the American League, whether it’s the Cleveland Indians, who eliminated the Yankees last year; the Detroit Tigers, who added Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis this winter; or, above all, the Red Sox, who have not only won the World Series twice in the last four years but are arguably becoming a national phenomenon. “Red Sox Nation?” Hank says. “What a bunch of [expletive] that is. That was a creation of the Red Sox and ESPN, which is filled with Red Sox fans. Go anywhere in America and you won’t see Red Sox hats and jackets, you’ll see Yankee hats and jackets. This is a Yankee country. We’re going to put the Yankees back on top and restore the universe to order.”
02/29: Igawa...
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees topped the University of South Florida by the score of 11-4 today. Check out the box score. If you throw out the 6th inning, the Yankees won, 11-0. What happened in the sixth? Kei Igawa pitched.
After getting the first out, he walked the ninth hitter on 5 pitches, according to Peter Abraham. In the next three hitters, he'd get another out, but also walk another guy and hit someone to load them up with 2 down. And then: grand slam. Ouch.
After getting the first out, he walked the ninth hitter on 5 pitches, according to Peter Abraham. In the next three hitters, he'd get another out, but also walk another guy and hit someone to load them up with 2 down. And then: grand slam. Ouch.
02/29: Double H Stein & the Fam
Posted by: Patrick
Jonathan Mahler has an interesting look at Hank and Hal Steinbrenner (and the whole Steinbrenner family, to an extent).
Via Steve.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
From Bill Madden:
Our thoughts are with the Murcers and those close to them.
Via Steve.
According to an emotional e-mail sent to friends Thursday from Murcer’s wife, Kay, the Yankee broadcaster will undergo a brain biopsy on Monday in Houston after an MRI revealed an “area that doctors are concerned about.”
“Please pray that it will be determined to be necrosis (scar tissue from the radiation), and not another cancerous tumor,” Kay wrote in her e-mail. “It’s one of the two.”
“Please pray that it will be determined to be necrosis (scar tissue from the radiation), and not another cancerous tumor,” Kay wrote in her e-mail. “It’s one of the two.”
Our thoughts are with the Murcers and those close to them.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
From Alyson Footer:
One day after two top-ranking Congressional Committee members sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking it to determine if Roger Clemens committed perjury in sworn testimony, the FBI responded Thursday by launching an official investigation.
According an a report by The Associated Press, the FBI is looking into whether Clemens lied to Congress when he denied taking steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
According an a report by The Associated Press, the FBI is looking into whether Clemens lied to Congress when he denied taking steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
02/28: 2009 Free Agents
Posted by: James
Never to early to think about it...and might give you some names to keep an eye (for Yankee signing and fantasy purposes of course!) on as they head into their contract years so here's MLB Trade Rumor's list of 2009 free agents. Good job to them for putting together the players eligible for free agency after the 2008 season (and noting their ages and buyout numbers).
Posted by: Patrick
From Barry M. Bloom:
At the house.gov website, you can read the letter they sent requesting the investigation as well as an analysis of where they feel Clemens may have contradicted himself.
Via Peter Abraham.
The Congressional Committee that investigated the accuracy of the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs has sent a letter to the Department of Justice, asking that the top prosecuting arm in the U.S. determine whether Roger Clemens committed perjury in sworn testimony.
The top-ranking Committee members, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va.), said in the letter that Clemens "committed perjury and made knowingly false statements during the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's investigation of the use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in professional baseball."
The top-ranking Committee members, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Tom Davis (R-Va.), said in the letter that Clemens "committed perjury and made knowingly false statements during the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's investigation of the use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in professional baseball."
At the house.gov website, you can read the letter they sent requesting the investigation as well as an analysis of where they feel Clemens may have contradicted himself.
Via Peter Abraham.
02/27: Jon Manuel Interview
Posted by: James
Speaking of Baseball America and Jon Manuel, the guys at NoMaas were able to get an interview with Mr. Manuel and it's definitely worth the read.
Here's a highlight. Go check out the whole interview for more.
Here's a highlight. Go check out the whole interview for more.
8) Just seeing images of Andrew Brackman at ST has us awed. Like you, we at NoMaas placed him in the Top-10 this year despite him undergoing major arm surgery. When talking to talent evaluators, what is/was the buzz about Brackman (not including the rumors of his injury), and what was it that led you to put him in the Top-10 in the end?
I've said many times, he had either the highest ceiling in the '07 draft class or the No. 2 ceiling behind David Price. That said, he got paid too much (whether they had to buy him out of the NBA or not, it was too much), and the other buzz always has been, is this guy going to be the kind of guy who thrives with this target on his back from this contract, in that media market? He seems to be a guy who does not want attention called to himself. That's the half-empty read on him. There are a lot of negatives if you want to nitpick. Bottom line is, he's got an 80 fastball and 70 breaking ball when he's right with sick athleticism and size that can't be taught. He's the classic high-risk, high-reward guy, and the Yankees really believe in him.
I've said many times, he had either the highest ceiling in the '07 draft class or the No. 2 ceiling behind David Price. That said, he got paid too much (whether they had to buy him out of the NBA or not, it was too much), and the other buzz always has been, is this guy going to be the kind of guy who thrives with this target on his back from this contract, in that media market? He seems to be a guy who does not want attention called to himself. That's the half-empty read on him. There are a lot of negatives if you want to nitpick. Bottom line is, he's got an 80 fastball and 70 breaking ball when he's right with sick athleticism and size that can't be taught. He's the classic high-risk, high-reward guy, and the Yankees really believe in him.
