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Archive for July, 2007

Cash shopping Damon

July 26, 2007

The Yankees have been calling a few teams to see if they’d be interested in taking center fielder Johnny Damon off their hands. One of those teams is the Braves, whose answer (according to an official with one of the teams involved, who requested anonymity because he was talking about deals that weren’t completed) was that they liked Damon, “but not at that price.”

Damon is signed through 2009 at $13 million per season, and if the Yankees were to trade him, which they technically could if they believe Jason Giambi is coming back soon from his foot injury, they’d probably have to chip in a good chunk of that salary. That, along with Damon’s limited no-trade clause, makes it unlikely the Yankees would deal him, but it sure is interesting that they’ve looked into it. (Source)

A deal is unlikely to get done, but at least Ca$h has the right idea in mind.

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Tigers want Farns

July 26, 2007

In what only can be described as a strange twist, the Tigers have an interest in taking Kyle Farnsworth off the Yankees’ hands.

According to multiple sources, the Tigers are looking to make a deal that would bring Farnsworth back to the team he pitched 46 games for in 2005. (Source)

I’d give the Tigers Farns and $3M of the $7.5M left on his deal (through ‘08) for Zach Miner and a Single-A pitcher.

Miner is 25 years old and has an ERA+ of 133 this year in the small sample size of 21 IP. 1/7 inherited runs have scored. 6 K/9, throws hard and used to be a starter, so he has enough stamina to handle his arm being abused by Torre.

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More Torre rediculousness

July 26, 2007

Yesterday’s organizational meetings in Tampa, Fla., focused more on the Yankees’ need to change the personnel in their bullpen and obtain a versatile, utility-type hitter who could play some first base until Jason Giambi gets back.

Many in the organization favor seeing if Andy Phillips and Shelley Duncan can provide the offensive answers. And there are also many in the organization who worry that manager Joe Torre could stand in the way of the improvements they try to make. Torre was opposed to the team’s efforts to acquire outfielder Milton Bradley when the A’s put him on waivers, and he opposed a possible deal for Houston infielder Morgan Ensberg. (Source)

I endorsed a deal for Bradley because it was cheap and I like Ensberg (career OPS+ of 116). I wouldn’t give anything of substance up for Ensberg because Phillips and Duncan have been hitting and Giambi, who is starting a rehab at Single-A Tampa Friday, is coming back soon.

But, more importantly, why the hell would anyone in this organization listen to Torre on anything? Let alone let him shoot down trades.

I wouldn’t mind a reliever with a 144 ERA+ this year, a career ERA+ of 122 and 11 K/9. He might have had something to do with why Octavio Dotel left after last season…

Between Steinbrenner (picking Sheff over Vlad after ‘03), the Tampa Offices and Torre shooting down trades this is some full control Ca$h supposedly has. But, hey, it could be worse, we could be trading Ian, Phil or Joba for Tex. The kind of deal we probably would’ve made five years ago.

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And now Le Tigre

July 26, 2007

A-Rod: 2-5, HR (35), R (96), 2 RBI (102) in a 7-1 W over the Royals. The next home run he hits will be number 500.

Also, in the postgame interview he said, “Wearing this uniform is something special to me.” I hope he is back next year.

Yanks are 6.5 behind the Sox and 4.5 back of the Indians. Yanks have won 6 games in a row and clinched their 6th series win in a row.

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Playoffs? You kidding me?

July 25, 2007

“If we continue to play this way, there is no reason we shouldn’t be in the playoffs,” the leadoff hitter said following a 9-4 win over the Royals…

Damon is right to think about October since the Yankees have scored 63 runs during a five-game winning streak that has pulled them within 4½ games of the AL wild-card-leading Indians. They remain 7½ back of the first-place Red Sox in the AL East. (Source)

The Indians are in trouble, they really only have 2 good pitchters (Sabathia and Carmona) and their big bat Travis Hafner has sucked all year. The Yanks are 4 games back in the loss column, that’s nothing because we are rolling, we get Hughes and Giambi back soon and we can make a move at the deadline.

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Cano sets career high in BB

July 25, 2007

For probably the first time ever, Robbie Cano walked 3 times last night. No, seriously it happened. He raised his walk total to 21 for the season, which is a career-high for the 24-year old. His OBP is now a pedestrian .337.

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Hughes may be one start away

July 25, 2007

Phil Hughes threw 73 pitches, 54 of them strikes, for AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Tuesday. Hughes posted a line of 6 IP 2 HA 1 BB 7 K.

He’s still probably one start away. He’ll most likely go 80-85 pitches next time and then he’ll be ready for the majors. AL GMs have said for weeks that the biggest acquisition at the deadline with be Hughes coming back to the Yankees, they are damn right.

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It’s A-Rod’s fault

July 24, 2007

Isn’t it always? Once again Mike Lupica ignores stats and blames A-Rod for everything.

If he leaves because of this crap, I can’t blame him at all. This is absolutly unacceptable. The NY Media hate this guy for no reason and blame him for everything, they are insanely stupid.

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More trade talk

July 24, 2007

Of all the teams following the Yankees, the White Sox seem to be paying the most attention. And while the Yankees don’t have an interest in bringing Jose Contreras or Javier Vazquez back, industry sources indicated last night they could be interested in 27-year-old right-handed starter Jon Garland or 30-year-old lefty reliever Matt Thornton.

Garland, who makes $10 million this year and $12 million in 2008, is 7-7 with a 4.15 ERA. His career mark is 89-75. Thornton, 30, is 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA. Left-handed hitters are batting .296 (16-for-54) against him. (Source)

Garland is an okay pitcher. I like him, but I don’t love him. He has a career ERA+ of 105, but has won 18 games the last two years and has pitched at least 191 IP every year since ‘02. I love his endurance, he goes deep in to games. When you do that on a good team, you’re going to win a lot of games like he has the past two years. With Mike Mussina having easily the worst year of his career, I wouldn’t mind taking on most of Garland’s contract for this year and ‘08. Remember, he’ll only be 28 next year.

The White Sox are looking for a shortstop, I’d be willing to part with Alberto Gonzalez (.953 OPS at AA through 22 games) and another prospect for Garland.

As for the lefty reliever Thorton, we don’t need him. His career ERA+ is 99, but he posted a 140 last year. We already have Myers, who is a lefty by gives up an OPS of .832 vs. LH. But, Thorton isn’t any better, he gives up an OPS of .858 vs. LH. So, there is no real reason to acquire him because we already have a guy who isn’t having a bad year (171 ERA+ for Myers) and we wouldn’t improve a weakness, we’d just be spinning out wheels.

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Joba and Kennedy promoted to AAA

July 24, 2007

The Yankees last night promoted right-handers Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain — their top two draft picks last year — from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Both started the season with Class A Tampa.

Lefty Chase Wright and right-hander Tyler Clippard, both of whom made starts for the Yankees this year, were demoted from Scranton to Trenton. (Source)

Two words: fast track. I fully expect Joba to be in the Yanks rotation in ‘08.

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100 RBI on July 23rd

July 24, 2007

With a single up the middle in the 9th, giving the Yanks a 5-2 lead in their 52nd win (9-2 final, 5.5 back in the WC race), A-Rod knocked in his 100th RBI tonight, A-Rod has knocked in at least 100 runs in 11 of the past 12 seasons (10 striaght).

His career high in RBI is 142, he’s on-pace to obliterate that (164). He is having a truely spectacular season and may I just say that it is an absolute joy to watch him play the game of baseball on a daily basis.

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