Deep Thoughts

It's like an Andy Rooney segment!

• If given the choice between improving their favorite team's pitching staffs or their favorite team's positional player situation, the majority of fans will choose to improve the pitching. It doesn't matter the team's actual needs or present roster construction because it seems that most fans think that pitching is 75% of the game and offense (and defense from a positional player) is 25% (defense being a mere 1% of that 25%). I'm of the opinion that the Yanks should make Mark Teixeira their number one priority over CC Sabathia because of their positional needs now and in the future. That said, I was not shocked to see that most fans disagreed on a NoMaas poll, and by a margin that's even greater than our current presidential race.
• Derek Lowe's four-year, $36 million contract is probably the best contract value-wise signed by a pitcher in the last eight years. It's ironic (probably not the word I'm going for. But for all intensive purposes it does the job, which begs the question "Isn't it ironic, doncha think?" (wink)) that the one he will sign this off-season will be one of the worst contracts over the next four years. Pass. (I should write that the underrated Josh Beckett has a very nice contract as well. I meant Lowe's is the best contract signed on the open market.)
• Jason Bay batted over .400 in the ALDS. He was a .290 hitter with the Pirates. Ergo, Bay didn't start trying until he got to Boston. Jason Bay is a troubled con man. Boston should let him walk after 2009.
• Saw a rumor on WasWatching about a Cano for Beltran deal. Apparently, the Yanks would take on Beltran's contract, pick up the remainder of Cano's, throw in Bruney/Veras and add IPK to the mix. Cashman would then have to massage Minaya every weekday during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Hey, I'm not going to be able to pay for a Yanks ticket anytime soon, so I say go for it! It's someone else's money. One question: Who plays second in Cano's place?
• Do you shop Johnny Damon this off-season to see what you can get in terms of young players? Does he have any remaining value in the trade market? He might since he has one year left on his contract, he can still hit, and he could make the difference for a team that is close. But I'm not sure I know what team fits that description.

Comments

[Brad]

Beckett's contract isn't better than Lowe's? :)

[Nick-YF]

I thought of that, but I guess I meant one that was signed on the open market. But you're probably right. Beckett's contract is quite the bargain.

[Paul SF]

Do I detect some sarcasm about the "underrated" Beckett, Nick? Or do you mean he's just underrated by you. I know you have yet to get over your Beckett issues... ;-)

[Nick-YF]

Honestly, I'm going to stop using the term overrated/underrated from now on. I think Beckett's career path is very interesting. I think it demonstrates just how remarkable the careers of consistently elite pitchers, such as Maddux, Glavine and Mussina, were. Because Beckett has been elite druing certain years and stretches, and has not been during others.

[Brad]

Something just brought up by Harold Reynolds on the radio:

Amongst all the hype surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays, and all their homegrown talent taking the field tomorrow, the fact that the Red Sox are entering the series with 8 homegrown talents versus the 6 on the Tampa roster.
I found this interesting because of all the players taking the field (and I'm not comparing talent levels or anything), the Red Sox are sending guys out there who were not drafted above the 20th position in any draft.
It's just interesting to me that this fact gets lost when looking at the two rosters. Overall, the Red Sox have drafted just as well as Tampa while NOT getting a top three pick each year, and while NOT being the worst team in baseball. In fact, the Red Sox were producing top MLB talent from the middle of the draft and winning the World Series at the same time.
I think some are seriously underestimating the Red Sox' ability to produce from within and win at the same time, while heraliding the Tampa roster for being productive from within.
In the end, Longoria will probably be the best positoin player on either side, but right now, the Red Sox' talent level from their own draft picks have been every bit as good as Tampa's.

Just my thoughts on the issue.

[FenSheaParkway]

Re: Beltran/Cano trade proposal

To answer the question of who would play 2nd for the Yanks, I think WW left out a key cog in that trade: Luis Castillo's contract, I mean, experience. As much as I really like Beltran, I admit I'd have to consider that deal if you throw that in. Consider long enough to decline anyway. I'm wary of blowing up one part of a team to supposedly solve another part, even when the deal seems extra sweet.

[Hit Dog]

"Jason Bay batted over .400 in the ALDS. He was a .290 hitter with the Pirates. Ergo, Bay didn't start trying until he got to Boston. Jason Bay is a troubled con man. Boston should let him walk after 2009."

Hilarious. But God help your squad if you sign the player you're really jabbing at here. Manny would make A-Rod-like headlines in the Post for somewhat A-Rod-like reasons, and the Boston media would seem, gulp, kindly.

[DR]

I agree completely about Teixeira. He should be the top option. If you can get anything decent for Damon, you should do that too.

I think the Yankees went off the rails when they did not sign Beltran. That was a crucial mistake. The Yankees would be a much different and better team had they gone that way instead of getting the miserable collection of pitchers. If you have to take Castillo, do it. You can then turn around and send a package of Castillo and Igawa to Japan and get Bobby Valentine to coach 3rd base.

Maybe Jack Handey can become the new PA announcer in the new Yankee Stadium.

[SoxFan]

"Cashman would then have to massage Minaya every weekday during the 2009 and 2010 seasons."

Throw in a clause that Hank must towel off Omar, and you have a deal.

[Andrew F. (Sox Fan)]

Gotta disagree on Tex vs. Sabathia. Teixeira is a great player, but signing him severely limits the Yankees' roster flexibility. They ought to keep 1B open for when Posada can't catch and A-Rod can't play 3B. They could even move Damon there in the short term.

The bigger need for the Yankees is pitching than hitting. Mussina and Pettitte basically saved your team this season from utter humiliation. I think it's a bit much to expect similar production in the future. If I were GM, I'd value pitching and defense for the team, and look for better offensive production from Matsui, Cano, and others to make up for 2008's woeful hitting.

[yankees76]

I value pitching over hitting, but Texiera is the best FA available, and he can fill in the lost production when Giambi walks. The Yankees have tried Posada and Damon at first, but the team really needs to sign a first baseman to play 1B. I'm also concerned that Sabathia's been over-used the last two years, and that issue, plus his weight and conditioning make at least the later years of his contract risky.