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Disclaimer: If you think this is the official website of the New York Yankees, you're an idiot. Go away. Friday, December 31, 2004
Welcome Back... by Larry Mahnken
The big news yesterday was that Tino Martinez is back in pinstripes.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
ESPN.com - MLB - Sources: D-Backs, Yanks agree on Big Unit deal by SG
Although it's not final, and these stories have been jumping the gun all off-season, it looks like the trade has been agreed upon.
Randy Johnson To Whine Like A Bitch Until Someone Trades Him To Yankees by Larry Mahnken
The lastest:
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Death of a Three-Way by Larry Mahnken
Just like last offseason's A-Rod fiasco, the media's done a pretty poor job covering the Randy Johnson trade. They ran too fast with preliminary reports, trying deperately to be first rather than being accurate. After the Dodgers filed some paperwork regarding the trade early yesterday morning, the media reported that the trade had been sent to the Commissioner's Office, that it was done. If this report was accurate, it would be a mere formality for Selig to approve the trade, so this would have been an appropriate time to evaluate the trade.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Garagiola counters report on trade: D-Backs GM says paperwork is still on his desk by Larry Mahnken
It doesn't matter if you're accurate, it only matters if you're first.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Duncan and Navarro, We Hardly Knew Ye by Fabian
Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan, or as they will often be referred to in the next few days, “two prospects”, figure to be joining the Los Angeles Dodgers organization sometime in the near future as part of the deal that has Randy Johnson landing in the Bronx. So, let’s find out who they are and why you should, or should not, care that they will be gone from the organization. So, 2+ years after his promising GCL debut, the switch-hitting C had been on the right path, and then it all fell apart in ’04, or so some would have you think. The first misstep in ’04 was coming to spring training out of shape. Some say it is inexcusable for a 20-year-old to be out of shape, but I tend to take a lighter stance with that incident. Either way, his actual statistical performance in ’04 was still poor to many. Those people tend to look at a .723 OPS in AA followed by a .676 in AAA and scoff at the merits of such a “prospect”, my view is different. Firstly, I think it is worthwhile to note that in the period that Navarro was in Trenton the park played to a .902 PF. This may have little to no predictive value, but I feel it should be taken into consideration when evaluating performance at the level for the first half of the season. Basically, a .723 OPS in and of itself is under whelming, but considering the run-scoring environment for half the games and the player being 20-years-old I would be a little more forgiving. Also, of the components of his OPS, his .098 IsoP was extremely disappointing, but the 33:44 BB:K in 255 at bats was very encouraging, as that aspect of his game continued to mature. The Yankees then moved Navarro up to AAA for the sake of advancing his trade value and Navarro proceeded to do what any reasonable observer would have expected, he struggled. In 136 at bats, Dioner could only manage a .250 average with a somewhat promising .110 IsoP and 14:17 BB:K ratio. Moving on to Duncan, seen by many as the key prospect in the deal, his history in the Yankee system is much shorter as he was just drafted in ’03. Similar to Navarro, Duncan is adept at drawing walks with 18 in 180 at bats in the ’03 GCL, 2 in 59 NYPL ’03 at bats, 38 in 288 MWL at bats in ’04, and 31 in 173 FSL at bats in ’04. However, that is about where the offensive similarities between he and Navarro end. Going back to the topic of Duncan’s power, which is his calling card as a prospect. It may seem ridiculous to some, but I have a hard time not believing that Eric Duncan is one of the top 10, at least, power prospects in the minor leagues. Duncan already has a career IsoP of .200, which is extremely impressive for a 20-year-old and this past year he posted a .219 in the MWL and a .208 in the FSL. Both marks would have had him in the top 5 of the respective leagues had he had time to qualify for either leader board. In addition, his extra base hit percentage of 52.9% would have you believe that his IsoP should be higher and that will come as soon as some of the 47(!) 2Bs and 3Bs he hit this year begin turning into home runs. Coinciding with the statistical power Duncan has shown, BA has in the past described some of his physical tools as reminiscent of Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, or Nick Johnson with more opposite field power. In the end, the Randy Johnson trade will most certainly make the Yankees a better team in ’05, despite this; I am not sold on the idea. Part of it is that I love to see Yankees come up through the farm system and contribute to the big club, rather than the team just going out and getting the best “mercenary” available. In addition, I think that Navarro had a role with this team starting as the Jorge Posada to Jorge Posada’s Joe Girardi in the year ’06. Eric Duncan, I felt, had an outside chance of contributing sometime within the next two seasons, depending on how bad the Giambi/1B situation gets. Now, the chances of either of those things happening are gone and the organization is without its top C and CIF prospects, but alas, this is the price you have to pay to be a Yankee fan, and hey, it’s not like there’s a guarantee either of these guys will turn out to be anything at all, much less something special or worthwhile.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
New York Daily News: At last, Randy Bronx bound! by SG
Some changes from the earlier report include Kaz Ishii coming to the Bronx, and no money changing hands. Shawn Green still has to waive his no-trade clause, but Moorad is his former agent so it's likely that he will do so.
Friday, December 17, 2004
The Johnson Trade... Maybe? by Larry Mahnken
I'll make some in-depth comments on the potential Johnson trade as soon as it's official. There seems to be some hang-ups right now, partly that Johnson might not waive his no-trade clause (wouldn't the New York media look foolish then!), and that the deal was actually contingent on the Dodgers resigning Adrian Beltre (which makes sense -- with Beltre, they could play Kent at first, without they need him at third, so they need Green at first). So this may be old news.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Yanks reach a deal for Randy by Larry Mahnken
Amateur Hour by Larry Mahnken
The Hardball Times and I were dissed by MLB.com writer Spencer Fordin a couple of days ago, in particular for my Productive Outs article. Fordin seems to dismiss my article because of where it was published and who wrote it, not for its content. Whatever.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
ESPN.com - MLB - D-Backs try to revive Unit talks with Yankees by Larry Mahnken
by Larry Mahnken
I think Yankees fans can identify with how Red Sox fans must feel today. We went through something similar a year ago. It wasn't quite the same, of course, but it was quite a shock.
Monday, December 13, 2004
by Larry Mahnken
From Sons of Sam Horn:
by Larry Mahnken
You could look at it this way:
Friday, December 10, 2004
So, what's next? by SG
Trying to get the bad taste out of my mouth of the Womack/Wright signings, I figured I'd look at some of the rumors that are floating around about other potential Yankee moves.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Blast From The Past--A $1000 Giant Mistake by John Brattain
Would a thousand dollars rewrite baseball history? Ford pitched well in 1954 winning 16 games. However the Cleveland Indians won 111 games and the Yankees would not represent the American League in the World Series. Vic Raschi was dealt to the Cardinals that year and the mantle of staff ace now fell to Ford. In 1955, Ford started the season on fire winning six of his first seven starts, including three shutouts. Ford won 18 games that season as manager Stengel would hold out Ford to pitch against teams they were trying to outrace for the American League flag. The Yankees clinched the pennant in the season's final week. Just as in 1953, they would face the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ford was shaky in the first game of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, but got the win, pitching eight innings. The Yankees won the second game and headed to Ebbets Field in Brooklyn where the Dodgers won all three games. The series shifted back to the Bronx in a must-win game for the Bronx Bombers. Ford was given the start and went the distance winning 5-1. It went for naught as Dodgers' southpaw Johnny Podres twirled a shutout sending Brooklyn into a frenzy. During the offseason the Yankees toured Japan. In a game against the Tokyo Giants--after a night of revelry--produced a play that would have been a classic baseball blooper. The Giants had a man on second and Ford wanted to try a pickoff play. Unfortunately Gil McDougald who was playing shortstop and Billy Martin who was at second base--still recovering from the previous evening's festivities--didn't see the signal. Ford whirled around and fired a strike to second base that bounced off the forehead of a large Japanese umpire (since no one was covering second). The umpire barely blinked. McDougald went to check on the umpire to see if he had been hurt. The umpire regarded McDougald impassively, never changing expression. Apprised of this, McDougald went to the mound to inform Ford, telling him: "Whitey, that's the [expletive]ing tip-off on you. When you can hit a guy dead center from sixty feet and you don't even leave a mark on him. Pal, can you imagine what it's like to play in the infield behind you?" 1956 brought 19 wins and another pennant for the Yankees. On September 16, in Chicago's Comiskey Park, the White Sox Billy Pierce faced off against Ford. After ten innings the game was knotted at 1-1. In the top of the eleventh Mickey Mantle stroked a solo home run and Ford came out to finish what he started. The final out of that game brought along with it the American League pennant. A young 22 year old Baltimore Orioles rookie foiled Ford's attempt at his first 20 win season, shutting out the Yankees 1-0 in Ford's final start of the regular season. Along with the flag came yet another Fall Classic against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ford got the start in Game One but tiny Ebbets Field was a graveyard for lefties of every stripe. After three innings, Ford had to call it a day. The series shifted back to the Bronx with the Yankees down 2-0. Yankee Stadium, unlike Ebbets Field, was a boon to southpaws and Ford was given the start in Game Three as Stengel hoped to stop the bleeding. In the first two games the Yankee bullpen had to pitch 14 innings. The Yankees needed Ford to go deep into the game or the pitching staff could be in serious jeopardy. Ford went the distance giving the Yankees their first win, and the bullpen a much needed rest. The Yankees' Don Larsen pitched a perfect game in Game Five of the series. In Game Seven, Yankee sophomore righthander Johnny Kucks tossed a shutout at Ebbets Field, giving Ford his third World Series ring. The spring of 1957 was bitter for Ford. In an April game against the Washington Senators he injured his arm after warming up too quickly after a long sixth inning by the Yankee offense. His next start against the Red Sox caused the pain to reappear and an early May start against the White Sox did him in. The doctor prescribed rest. Ford would win just 11 games that season. The Yankees won the pennant and faced the Milwaukee Braves. Ford defeated Warren Spahn in Game one, and shut out in Game Five by Lew Burdette. The Yankees fell in seven games. The clouds hovering over Ford cleared to partly sunny skies. The Yankees were eager to avenge themselves on the Braves, but had to reach the World Series first (and hoping the Braves would do likewise). Ford had a magical run in July throwing a trifecta of shutouts. On August 8, Ford threw his seventh shutout of the year against the Red Sox. A couple of days later, Stengel called him in to relieve and Ford reinjured his arm. His shutout against the Red Sox would be his fourteenth and final win of 1958. The Yankees again won the American League pennant and, again, faced the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series. The Yankees had their revenge in seven games but it was not Ford's finest hour. He did not win in three starts and posted a series ERA of 4.11. Nothing went right for the Yankees in 1959. An epidemic of injuries swept the Yankees early in the season and the Bronx Bombers could not get on track. Ford managed to win 16 games, but that seemed irrelevant unless it was 16 wins in a pennant winning season. The following season Ford's injury bug returned for a time. However Ford's shoulder got better just in time to climax an awesome pennant drive as the Yankees won their final 15 games. Ford for his part won his final three starts and seemed primed for an awesome World Series. Casey Stengel had a decision to make. Ford was hot, but his injury woes over the last few seasons were a concern. In what might have been the pivotal decision in the World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stengel decided to start, not Whitey Ford in Game One, but Art Ditmar. Ford was unbeatable at Yankee Stadium and they wanted to keep Ford in reserve until Game Three. That would mean Ford could only pitch two, not three games in the Fall Classic. Ford threw shutouts in Games Three and Six but the Yankees lost Game Seven on a ninth inning home run by Bill Mazeroski. The Yankees again won the pennant. The regular season may have belonged to Maris and Mantle, but the Fall Classic belonged to Whitey Ford. Ford won two games and, as he did in 1960, and again did not surrender a single run. It was the second of Babe Ruth's records to fall in 1961. Maris beat the home run record, but Ford topped Ruth's record of consecutive shutout innings in the World Series. Ford later quipped that it was not a good year for Babe Ruth and commissioner Ford Frick had already used up his only asterisk on Roger Maris. Injuries resurfaced in 1962 for Ford. After pitching seven no-hit innings against the Los Angeles Angels, Ford strained his arm and was out for a month. Still Ford finished 17-8. Ford would get three starts in the series against the San Francisco Giants winning one, losing one and getting a no decision. However Ralph Terry pitched a shutout in Game Seven and Whitey Ford would win his last World Championship. 1963 didn't start well as Ford went through Spring Training with a sore arm. Ford was now 34 and some might have wondered whether athletic age was catching up with him. These thoughts were not dispelled when he opened the campaign 0-2. Ford quickly rebounded winning ten of eleven, after his one loss in that run he rattled off twelve straight and then five of his last six, finishing the season 24-7. Along with that triumph came another pennant and an old-new foe in the Fall Classic, the Dodgers, the Los Angeles Dodgers. However he faced up against Sandy Koufax twice, losing twice as the Dodgers swept the series. 1964 was a roller coaster ride for the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers were holding their own until an August injury to Ford threw the pitching staff into disarray. However Ford came back firing on all cylinders and the Yankees rebounded to capture the pennant. It would be Whitey Ford's last one. Despite the strong finish, there was something very wrong with Whitey Ford. He pitched Game One of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and was hit hard. He would never pitch in another World Series game. Without Ford, the Yankees would lose the series in seven games. Ford wasn't getting blood circulation to his left shoulder and often lost feeling in his fingers. He once had to use a small spray bottle full of warm water on his left hand so he could feel the ball. He was later disallowed from using it as an opposing manager complained he was doctoring the ball. Ford snapped that if he needed to cheat to beat the complaining manager's team, he'd retire. Ford would win 16 games in 1965 and just two in both 1966 and 1967 and would indeed do just that, retired. The Giants could always take solace in the fact they saved $1000.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Out With the Old, In With the Crap by Larry Mahnken
When George Steinbrenner got suspended in the early 90's for paying a gambler to dig up dirt on Dave Winfield (a noble endeavor, if ever there was one!), Gene Michael was given free rein over the organization. He built the team up as he saw fit, and by 1993, only three seasons after having the worst record in the American League, the Yankees were challenging the Blue Jays for first place all year.
Yanks sign Womack, Wright by SG
I am stupified. Two horrible signings IMO. Tony Womack has a career .319 OBP and was rated as -13 RAA defensively last year at 2B. I'm sure Torre will make him the everyday starter and leadoff man though. Two years? $4 million dollars? Miguel Cairo was not offered arbitration either.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
A Difference of Opinion by Larry Mahnken
My steroids article.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
The Giambino’s Faustian Bargain by Sean McNally
In the coming weeks, days and months, the general sports media is going to savage Jason Giambi until he is dead.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Randy Johnson to New York by Larry Mahnken
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