A second chance

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Category: Baseball
Published on Thursday, 27 October 2011 09:10
Written by Administrator
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I am not going to list a myriad of stats here, but since Brett Gardner went down, Melky Cabrera has been fucking terrible. Granted the Yankees are rolling, and you don't want to screw too much with a good thing, but the fact is they have been doing so with Cabrera floating around the Mendoza line for over a month.
 
The reason I bring this up is Mike Cameron has cleared waivers (hat tip to MLBTR). I have been campaigning - read:begging - the team to make a move for Cameron since last year (see: here). Of course I ended up disappointed when the trade did not go through, but it has never made more sense than it does right now.
 
Let me recap in bullett form:
  • Mike Cameron offers an above average glove, and above average power 
  • Melky Cabrera is a below average baseball player
  • Cabrera's above average arm does not warrant a spot in the lineup
  • Cameron is a free agent after the season - if the Yankees pick up the tab, I don't see the trade being a back-breaker
  • Brett Gardner was never that good to begin with 
Make this deal, Cash.
 

7 More to Go

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Category: Baseball
Published on Wednesday, 27 July 2011 09:09
Written by Administrator
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7 More to Go

 

CC was simply FUCKING AWESOME last night. I was there. I saw it. It was one of the greatest games I've been to. It was pretty cold, but the $9 Millers kept me a little warmer. Oh, and don't get the beef sliders, they aren't that good and look like shriveled, fattened turds. But definitely get cheese on the fries. I enjoyed them.

 
The stadium was rockin' last night and the crowd was amazing. Everyone was into it, out of their seats for every 2 strike count CC dealt. The Angels looked a little cold out there last night, making shitty plays in the field. The first inning was hilarious. My Mets fan friend (rough few years man, sorry) sent me a text saying, "Angels are looking like the Mets out there".

 
Once it got to the 9th, the stadium was going nuts as "Enter Sandman" cued in the greatest closer EVER!!! They flashed Mo highlights on the big screen and the always there, long-haired fat fella in the bleachers did his best air guitar impression, as he does every time Mo comes into the ballgame (see picture above). Smiles all around and high fuckin' fives everywhere. "CC! CC!" chants walking down the ramps, and "Twenty-Seven" chants as well. Then of course they had the "Fuck The Angels" one going. I only saw 2 Angels fans the whole game, and they were walking the wrong way on the sidewalk after the game. Losers.
 

The Legend of Nick Swisher continues to grow

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Category: Baseball
Published on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 09:09
Written by Administrator
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The Legend of Nick Swisher continues to grow

 

After murdering the ball at the plate and shutting down the American League Champions on the mound in his first three weeks in New York, Nick Swisher took it to another level yesterday. Swish rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and his sheer enthusiasm forced the Dow Jones Industrial Average to raise by over 70 points in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. (Photo courtesy of LoHud)
 

Welcome Back, Nick the Stick!

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Category: Baseball
Published on Monday, 23 May 2011 12:05
Written by Administrator
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It looks as though the Yankees took my advice and are about to sign Nick Johnson, effectively ending Johnny Damon's time with the team.

There is a ton to like about this move. Johnson fits the Yankees lineup like a glove. A left handed, elite OBP guy to hit behind Jeter and in front of Teixeira is exactly what this team needed to make it go. Though Damon had a great year, he was not your typical 2 hitter. He got homer happy in the new Stadium, and his contact rates didn't benefit. Add to that the fact that he didnt hit a regular season home run over the last 5 or so weeks of the season, and you can really get an idea of why having a contact-oriented two hitter can benefit the machine that is the Yankee offense.

I have also heard the argument that Johnson has value tied to his glove. WILDLY inaccurate at the point in his career. His UZR/150 last year was -6.6. Terrible. He also made 12 errors at a position where Kevin Youkilis didn't make any two years ago.

In the end, this is just a savvy baseball move. A year of Nick Johnson at $5.5mm beats the shit out of 3 years at $30mm+ for a guy that was forced to leave the clinching game of the World Series with a fucking leg cramp. I know Johnson isn't historically durable wither, but being slotted in as the DH will help that, just as getting 30-40 games off to utilize the DH position as a "weigh station" for Jeter, A-Rod, Posada and the like will.

In short: Great move. Helps the team while saving that few extra dollars to make another sizable move **coughMattHollidaycough**.

 

**TRADE**

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Category: Baseball
Published on Friday, 08 April 2011 07:02
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The Yankees have acquired OF Xavier Nady and RP Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Tabata, Ros Ohlendorf, Phil Coke, and George Kontos.

Jimmy Dugan's Take - At first glance, this looks like a lot to give up for a couple of 'band-aids', but I like this move. Both Nady and Marte could be a part of the 2009 roster, with Nady under contract, and the latter having a $6 million option.
As for what the Yankees are sending to the Bucs, yes, they are giving up some value. Tabata has loads of potential, but his downside has become more evident in 2008. Not only has his power continued to disappoint, his attitude is now in question. Ohlendorf is at best a servicable reliever. Kontos and Coke are similar as they both have solid minor league numbers, but are not considered in the Hughes-Kennedy-Horne-Melancon or even Marquez level of Yankee pitching prospect.

UPDATE - Coke and Kontos have been replaced by minor league pitchers Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens. While most experts have McCutchen rated higher than both Coke and Kontos, Karstens is a spare part - and horribly ugly to boot. Still a good trade.

 
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