An Expert Opinion On Posada’s Prognosis

As most Yankees fans know by now, on July 30, 2008, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada had labrum surgery to address a tear in his subscapularis muscle. Missing Posada in 2008 cost the Yankees dearly. And, having Jorge return to action in 2009 is critical towards the Yankees success in 2009. But, is it reasonable to expect Posada to return in 2009 and perform to his usual levels?

To address that question, I reached out to Professional Orthopaedic Associates and asked them if they could share an expected prognosis, in general, for a professional athlete in his late thirties who had the same type of surgery as Posada - where the athlete would be required to expose the repaired shoulder to repeated stress after the procedure.

Dr. Harry A. Bade, a Board Certified and Fellowship Trained Orthopaedic Surgeon with over 25 years of surgical experience specializing in the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, rotator cuff repair, shoulder reconstruction, knee arthroscopy, hand fractures and tendon injuries, was kind enough to provide an answer. Dr. Bade’s reply was:

The prognosis depends on the size of the tear in his subscapularis tendon. Of the four rotator cuff muscles, the subscapularis is on the anterior (or deep) aspect of the shoulder blade. It is an important dynamic stabilizer of the shoulder and is also responsible for internal rotation of the humerus (upper arm bone). These actions are critical when it comes to the overhead throwing motion.

This injury is evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon, first by physical examination and, if necessary, later by arthroscopic surgery. Arthoscopy allows the surgeon to directly view the tear and perform appropriate corrective surgery. This involves releasing the tendon and suturing it back to its insertion on the (lesser tuberosity) of the proximal humerus. This muscle, if well repaired, will heal and again function properly. Healing of the tendon to the bone should occur within 2 to 3 months of the surgery, but reconditioning of the muscle to improve both flexibility, strength and function will take many more months. A return to throw program usually begins 4-6 months after surgery. In most cases, the athlete may expect to return to repetitive throwing that is required of a professional baseball catcher.

While we do not know the size of the tear in Posada’s shoulder, we (hopefully) can assume that it was well repaired. Therefore, allowing time for healing and reconditioning, this information from Dr. Bade suggests that Jorge is right on schedule with his return to throw program which began last month.

This is great news for Posada, the Yankees, and their fans. And, of course, my thanks to Professional Orthopaedic Associates and Dr. Harry A. Bade for their assistance on this matter.

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 2 Comments 

Yanks Ink Johnson & Berroa

The Yankees have signed Jason Johnson and Angel Berroa to minor league deals.

Berroa is a terrible batter - in the Luis Sojo/Alvaro Espinoza mold. And, he’s very over-rated as a fielder.

Of all the right-handed pitchers to throw in the big leagues between 1947 and 2008, logging between 1,200 and 1,400 innings pitched, Jason Johnson is the second overall worst pitcher in terms of Runs Saved Above Average - trailing only Jimmy Haynes.

Ah, two great finds here by Brian Cashman!

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under Off The Field News | 4 Comments 

Sherman: Yanks To Lower Offer To Pettitte

Via Joel Sherman -

Andy Pettitte’s chances to return to the Yankees have dropped precipitously because in the aftermath of the Mark Teixeira signing the organization is now strongly inclined to lower the $10 million offer that the lefty already has been resistant to all offseason, the Post has learned.

Pettitte recently rejected the Yankees’ latest $10 million overture, and now - barring a wave of sentimentality by the Yanks or significant change of strategy by either side - that dollar figure very likely will not be offered again.

Multiple sources refused to divulge if the offer had been lowered already. But one executive briefed on the matter described both the chances of making a deal and the $10 million bid as on life support. Another executive said he did not believe that the $10 million offer was there to be taken any longer. A lowered offer almost certainly would assure the end of the prideful Pettitte’s second tour with the Yankees.

While I still think that having Andy Pettitte return to the Yankees, for just the 2009 season, is vital to New York’s chances to reach the post-season this year, at this point, it’s clear that Brian Cashman and the Brothers Stein do not feel the same way. Therefore, at this junction, Pettitte should pull the string on any other offer that he has out there - and, I hope that he has a stellar season and wins twenty games. He deserves it - and the Yankees front office deserves to watch it happen for some other team…because of the lack of respect that they have shown Andy this off-season.

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under The Airing of Grievances | 10 Comments 

SNY New York Baseball Today Video - Hot Stove Edition

To watch SNY.tv’s weekly Hot Stove Edition of New York Baseball Today, which features a rotating panel of experts and previews the offseason, click play below:

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under SNY Baseball Today Video | Leave a Comment 

Wahoo Pavano

The Indians have signed Carl Pavano.

Man, what is Mark Shapiro thinking?

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 10 Comments 

WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 1/6/09

Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

January 6, 2009 | Filed Under Water Cooler Talk '09 | 24 Comments 

Shaikin: Yanks Made Right Call On Abreu Arbitration Offer

Via Bill Shaikin of The Fabulous Forum blog in the L.A. Times -

And, in a winter in which the Yankees have been roundly criticized for spending more than $400 million on CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, they clearly made the right financial call on Abreu. They declined to offer Abreu arbitration, not wanting to risk a one-year contract at or near his 2008 salary of $16 million. Abreu will be fortunate to make half that, based on the current market.

I’m not so sure on this one.

It may have been nice to get that draft pick for losing Abreu - especially when you consider how many the Yankees have given up this off-season. (Yes, I know, they do get one for blowing their pick on Gerrit Cole last summer - and that does help offset some of what they have lost so far. But, remember, the Yankees blew another pick last year on Scott Biddle. And, it would be a shame to basically punt two drafts in a row.)

Here’s my logic: Do we know, for sure, that Abreu would have accepted the Yanks’ offer, with the hope to get a one-year deal with New York, given the market where guys like Pat Burrell and Milton Bradley are making $8 to $10 million a year? Well, I see the point where Burrell and Abreu can be paired as “like” players both offensively and defensively. And, I could understand where some might say Bradley is at that level, when healthy, too. Therefore, yes, sure, Bobby Abreu will probably get a contract for 2009 (on the open market) in the range of $9 to $11 million for the season. But, he’ll also probably get a two-year deal too. (After all, Burrell did a multi-year deal. So did Bradley. And, Raul Ibanez too.)

So, if you’re Bobby Abreu, would you want a one year deal for $16 million to be on a team that doesn’t want you - and doesn’t need you - or would you rather have a two-year deal for something like $20 million where you’re going to a team that wants you - and has a position for you to play?

I just don’t see how someone can assume - again, for sure - that Abreu would take $16 mill for one to be in a hostile situation over taking $20 million for two to be in a situation where he’s wanted and was the ability to post some numbers that may allow him to get another contract after this one. Then again, if someone wants to assume then I suppose they have that right…

Personally, I think we have to let this one play out to the end before we start saying the Yankees made the right call on not offering Abreu arbitration…but, maybe that’s just me.

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 26 Comments 

A-Rod’s Baseball’s “Mr. Blackwell”?

Beats being “Mr. May!” Via the Post -

There’s no love lost between Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees’ hometown rivals. While watching the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Miami Heat at Miami’s American Airlines Arena recently, he was introduced to June Azoulay, the wife of Madison Square Garden’s official photographer, George Kalinsky. Rodriguez hugged her, but not before tapping her cap with his hand and saying, “It’s a pleasure meeting you, despite the fact that you’re wearing a Mets hat.” A red-faced June said it was a pleasure, too.

Even I have to cut Alex some rope on this one. Clearly, he was just trying to be funny. Amazing what can be attempted…in terms of turning a non-story into a news item…sometimes.

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Rivalry Snapshots | 2 Comments 

The Princess Bride (1987)

Clean…and clever!


The Princess Bride
January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Fav Flicks | 3 Comments 

Giambi Going Back To Cali

Via mlb.com -

The Rays agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Pat Burrell on Monday, dramatically increasing the likelihood of free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi returning to the A’s.
An industry source told MLB.com on Monday afternoon that Oakland could sign Giambi this week, likely to a one-year deal with a possible second-year option.

A’s general manager Billy Beane, who is known to have had several conversations with Giambi and his agent, Arn Tellem, cited his long-standing policy against discussing negotiations while declining comment Monday afternoon.

The A’s and Rays have long been viewed as the front-runners to sign Giambi for the past several weeks. But former Athletics player Carlos Pena is locked in at first base for Tampa and Burrell is expected to serve as the defending American League champions’ designated hitter, so the Rays appear to have no room for Giambi.

Good for the “Big G.” He and Bob Alejo can make like Peaches and Herb now in the Green and Gold…

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 1 Comment 

WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 1/5/09

Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Water Cooler Talk '09 | Leave a Comment 

Former Yank: ‘09 Bombers Will Have Great Stats Yet Lack Grinders

Via Tim Kurkjian:

“I still don’t have a good feel about their club,” one former Yankees player said. “They’ll have a great statistical club, but I still think they’re so away from what made them great. They don’t have enough down-and-dirty guys like (Scott) Brosius, Tino (Martinez) and (Paul) O’Neill.”

Hmm..any guesses on who this former Yankee may be?

In any event, do you agree or disagree with what’s being suggested here?

Me? I think I’m feeling it - at least to an extent.

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 21 Comments 

Gator, Moose, Andy, Catfish & El Duque Were Stein Aces

Here’s a fun list via Baseball-Reference.com’s Play Index Pitching Season Finder. It’s starting pitchers for the Yankees in the “Steinbrenner Era” (meaning 1973 to date) with the most games started where they ended up with a Game Score of 75 or more. (Minimium 5 GS with a GS of 75+ to make the leaderboard.)

                   Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+-----+-------------------------+
 Ron Guidry           55 Ind. Games
 Mike Mussina         25 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte        24 Ind. Games
 Catfish Hunter       21 Ind. Games
 Orlando Hernandez    20 Ind. Games
 Rudy May             18 Ind. Games
 David Cone           18 Ind. Games
 Doc Medich           17 Ind. Games
 Tommy John           16 Ind. Games
 Ed Figueroa          14 Ind. Games
 Roger Clemens        14 Ind. Games
 David Wells          12 Ind. Games
 Randy Johnson        11 Ind. Games
 Pat Dobson           10 Ind. Games
 Dave Righetti         8 Ind. Games
 Jimmy Key             8 Ind. Games
 Melido Perez          7 Ind. Games
 Chien-Ming Wang       6 Ind. Games
 Scott Sanderson       6 Ind. Games
 Hideki Irabu          6 Ind. Games
 Dennis Rasmussen      5 Ind. Games
 Tim Leary             5 Ind. Games
 Andy Hawkins          5 Ind. Games
 Chuck Cary            5 Ind. Games
 John Candelaria       5 Ind. Games

Man, was Rudy May underrated, or what?

January 5, 2009 | Filed Under Yankees History | 4 Comments 

Tim Raines & Cooperstown

Using the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, I decided to look at all players with at least 500 RCAA and 10,000 PA in their career. Just for the fun of it, I asked it to show me Total Average (TA) as well. Then, I sorted the players by their career RCAA per 100 PA. Here’s that list:

PLAYER	          TA  	PA	RCAA	RCAA/100PA
 Babe Ruth	1.400	10616	1795	16.91
 Barry Bonds	1.249	12606	1591	12.62
 Ty Cobb		1.057	13073	1369	10.47
 Stan Musial	1.028	12712	1204	9.47
 Tris Speaker	1.012	11989	1053	8.78
 Mel Ott		1.035	11337	989	8.72
 Honus Wagner	.945	11738	1011	8.61
 Frank Thomas	1.056	10074	853	8.47
 Willie Mays	.982	12492	1008	8.07
 Nap Lajoie	.861	10460	785	7.50
 Hank Aaron	.940	13940	1032	7.40
 Frank Robinson	.961	11743	852	7.26
 Cap Anson	.867	10119	730	7.21
 Eddie Mathews	.916	10101	655	6.48
 Eddie Collins	.942	12039	747	6.20
 Mike Schmidt	.954	10062	623	6.19
 Gary Sheffield	.950	10635	649	6.10
 Joe Morgan	.910	11329	663	5.85
 Rcky Henderson	.945	13346	763	5.72
 Sam Crawford	.820	10596	595	5.62
 Paul Waner	.887	10762	588	5.46
 K. Griffey Jr.	.947	10742	584	5.44
 Wade Boggs	.852	10740	556	5.18
 George Brett	.834	11624	593	5.10
 Tim Raines	.886	10359	516	4.98
 Reggie Jackson	.847	11416	565	4.95
 Tony Gwynn	.806	10232	504	4.93
 Raf.Palmeiro	.891	12046	572	4.75
 Al Kaline	.840	11597	546	4.71
 C. Yastrzemski	.830	13991	547	3.91

Note the numbers for Tony Gwynn and Tim Raines. That’s pretty interesting.

Yes, Tony Gwynn had 3,141 career hits and that’s just about a free ticket to Cooperstown. But, in terms of production rate (like TA and RCAA/100 PA) and chances to produce those numbers (PA) Tim Raines is right there with Tony Gwynn. But, when it comes to voting for Cooperstown, I doubt that many of the members of the BBWAA would look at stats like these. That’s too bad.

January 4, 2009 | Filed Under Math Class | 15 Comments 

Kernan: Yanks Should Take Perez Over Pettitte

Via Kevin Kernan -

There remains one final major move for the Yankees to make. Same goes for the Mets.

The Yankees still have a hole in their rotation. This has been an incredibly prosperous offseason for the Yankees and GM Brian Cashman with the free-agent additions of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. Making one final move toward youth on the free-agent market will set them up for years to come.

The Yankees are waiting on Andy Pettitte but there is another lefty available at basically Pettitte dollars and that’s Oliver Perez. Signing Perez would cement the Yankees’ rotation for years to come and would give them flexibility with Joba Chamberlain.

“Putting Perez on the Yankees would be a great move,” says one top pitching evaluator. “That would be the perfect environment for him. He would be more focused there. He needs strong leadership around him, and pitching in front of a packed house, he would not be complacent.”

Perez is 5-1 against the Yankees lifetime. He takes those games as a challenge and he attacks. Because he already has six full seasons under his belt and has had his share of ups and downs, people forget Perez is just 27. Opposing hitters batted only .234 last season against him. Walks, of course, have been his downfall. There is no excuse for his ridiculous 105 walks, the most in the majors. In eight of his 34 starts last season, Perez surrendered five or more walks.

That has to change. The previous season, he walked 79.

Perez is represented by Scott Boras, who also represents Mark Teixeira. Cashman has a good working relationship with Boras. The GM would have to take a leap of faith with Perez, but the upside could be tremendous. In Pettitte, the Yankees will get a pitcher they hope has one good season left in his cranky left shoulder.

While I agree that it would truly benefit the Yankees to pick up another starter this off-season…since Chamberlain and Burnett have had health issues in the past and the only thing backing them up are the Greenhorn Gang of Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, et al…com’on Oliver Perez?

Oliver Perez has had two good seasons (meaning 2004 and 2007) in the past seven years. In all his other seasons, besides these two, he’s been below average or terrible. Worse, he’s cut from the Joaquin Andujar/Jose Lima/Ugueth Urbina mold in the sense that he’s a bit of a headcase.

I would much rather see Andy Pettitte return for one more year - than see Perez sign with the Yankees. Heck, I would rather see the Yankees give Jon Garland a two-year deal, to be their fifth starter, than Perez. Further, I would rather see the Yankees give someone like Jon Lieber or Randy Wolf or Jason Jennings a non-roster, look-see and make-good, invite to Spring Training (with respect to being the last man in their rotation) than signing Oliver Perez.

January 4, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 17 Comments 

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

I caught a little of this one on E! last night and it reminded me of how great it is…it makes my wildest dreams come true!


Napoleon Dynamite
January 4, 2009 | Filed Under Fav Flicks | 1 Comment 

How Long Until MLB Network Takes The Whole Pie?

So, now that the MLB Network is up, both in regular and HD formats, and in 50 million homes, how long do you think it will take until baseball cuts out the middle-man and they carry the entire post-season (and the All-Star Game as well) on the MLB Network (rather than on, say, FOX and/or TBS) - keeping the whole advertising revenue pie for themselves? I’m thinking we see it as quickly as six years from now - when the current contracts that baseball has with FOX and TBS are over. What do you think?

January 3, 2009 | Filed Under Random Thoughts | 8 Comments 

The Joba Debate - Chapter 2009

Justin Sablich, over at The Times, yesterday took a stab at “Reviving the Joba Debate.” His conclusion:

If the Yankees used Chamberlain to shorten games to six innings, is that really a waste of talent? It sounds more like an incredible advantage to me.

Back on May 23, 2008 I took a look at this question and offered the following:

As you can see, in the A.L., recently, a stellar set-up man on a winning team is usually good for 12-15 Win Shares. And, at the same time, in the A.L., an above-average (but not awesome) starting pitcher on a winning team is usually good for 15-18 Win Shares.

Based on this, I would offer that the claim of “A stud in the pen setting up your closer is more valuable than a solid starting pitcher” doesn’t hold much water. Actually, it’s a push.

So, it’s safe to project that an “ace” in the rotation, on a winning team, is worth around 19 to 25 Win Shares in a season. And, that’s better than the 12 to 15 that you get from a stellar set-up man (also on a winning team).

Based on all this, it does suggest that the best place for the Yankees to use a talent like Joba Chamberlain is in the starting rotation. At the worst, it’s six of one, haf-dozen of the other. At the best, it’s a better position for Joba to add more value.

Of course, my position on this swings on the assumption that Chamberlain can give you 200+ innings as a starter. And…well…if attempting that is going to cause Joba to breakdown during the season, then you have to wonder if it makes more sense to use him out of the pen, save his shoulder, and have him for the full year in that roll.

Chamberlain does have a recent history of getting hurt: A tricep strain/tendinitis in 2006. A hamstring strain in 2007. And, the shoulder issue last season. Is it crazy to assume that a pitcher with a history of injury is more likely to go down again (compared to a pitcher with a great health history)? Maybe not…

I just hope the Yankees know what they’re doing here…if not, it could get ugly.

January 3, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 16 Comments 

But, Who’s Counting?

Six weeks until Pitchers & Catchers report!

Sweet…

January 3, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 2 Comments 

The Curse Of The 10-Year Contract?

Flashing back to February 9, 2001:

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees agreed Friday to a $189 million, 10-year contract after more than 13 months of negotiations.

“I never intended to play elsewhere,” Jeter said, “and to be honest with you, never intended to look elsewhere.”

Jeter agreed to that contract 106 days after the Yankees won the World Series in 2000. And, the Yankees have never won another World Series since he inked that deal.

Now, obviously, Jeter wasn’t pitching in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Game 2 of the 2002 ALDS, Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Game 2 of the 2005 ALDS, Game 2 of the 2006 ALDS, or Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS…so, yeah, you cannot pin all those blown shots at rings on him.

But, it is interesting that, since Jeter got that deal, and since he’s been named captain of the team, the Yankees have won zippo rings.

How many players have ever signed a 10-year contract? There was Wayne Garland in 1976, Richie Zisk in 1977, Dave Winfield in 1980…and, of course, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. Anyone else? Manny Ramirez had an 8-year deal with the Red Sox with two option years on top of that - but, that’s not really a 10-year deal in the same sense as Jeter and the others.

So, is it safe to say that no team has ever won a World Series while they’ve had a player on the team under a 10-year contract? Hmm…

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 6 Comments 

Friday Night Soupy Freebie

Yeah, it’s sorta like Maxi Priest Meets The Partridge Family, but, hey, it’s Friday!

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Random Thoughts | Leave a Comment 

What Yankees-Blogs Do You Read?

I started writing this blog in April of 2005. Since that time, it seems like the Yankees-related blog scene has exploded. If you told me, today, that there were over 150 Yankees-related blogs currently publishing on a somewhat daily basis, it would not shock me. In fact, there’s so many Yankees-related blogs out there, now, it’s hard to keep up-to-date with what’s out there and who reads what. To that end, I thought it would be interesting to do a little survey to see what Yankees-related blogs YOU READ.

I’ve listed almost 90 blogs in the survey. If I’ve missed one that you think deserves some sort of mention, list it in the comments section of this entry. And, if I’ve missed YOUR BLOG in the survey, sorry - it wasn’t intentional. More so, it was probably just an administrative error. Somewhat related, if you have a Yankees-related blog and it’s listed in this survey, and you want your readers to vote for you, feel free to link back to this survey on your blog.

I’ll leave this survey running for a week or so and then will share the results.

Click here to take the survey

Update January 3rd, 9:32 AM - Bad news! There was a tech-glitch with the survey…326 votes in. Sorry about that. I’ll post a new link to a new survey later this AM.

Update January 3rd, 9:52 AM - OK. I’ve created the survey again. The link to take it is below. Again, sorry about this reboot. And, if you were one of the 326 who voted before, please vote again now. Thanks in advance!

Click here to take the survey.

Update January 3rd, 10:06 pm - The survey/poll idea has been scrapped. See my comment made at 10:05 pm today (in the comments section below) for details.

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Random Thoughts | 22 Comments 

Wild Thought: If Not For Small & Chacon…

Do you think, if not for the gifts of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon in 2005, that Brian Cashman would not have been brought back as Yankees GM (after the 2005 season)? Think about it. Without Small and Chacon - two nobodies from nowhere who went on to pitch like Cy Youngs - the Yankees would have most likely not made the post-season in 2005. The Red Sox would have won the division and the Indians would have won the Wildcard.

Would not making the post-season in 2005 be reason enough not to bring back your GM? Nah, probably not. But, when that follows the year where you blew the ALCS, needing one win and having four chances…well…maybe someone would have to pay for that…albeit right or wrong.

Oh, well, it’s just a wild thought for today.

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Wild Thoughts | 5 Comments 

Rotation “Anchors” In The Stein Era

Ah, the stuff that nightmares are made from…

Here’s a fun little list for today, via Baseball-Reference.com’s Play Index Pitching Season Finder.  It’s the 25 worst “ERA+” postings by Yankees pitchers in the “Steinbrenner Era” (meaning 1973 to date) where the pitcher made at least 8 starts in season.

  Cnt Player            ERA+  GS Year Age Tm
+----+-----------------+----+---+----+---+---+
    1 Ian Kennedy         53   9 2008  23 NYY
    2 Ed Figueroa         56   9 1980  31 NYY
    3 Jeff Johnson        59   8 1992  25 NYY
    4 Shane Rawley        61  10 1984  28 NYY
    5 Hideki Irabu        63   9 1997  28 NYY
    6 Tim Leary           64  18 1991  32 NYY
    7 Shawn Chacon        65  11 2006  28 NYY
    8 Kevin Brown         65  13 2005  40 NYY
    9 Philip Hughes       65   8 2008  22 NYY
   10 Doyle Alexander     65  11 1982  31 NYY
   11 Wade Taylor         66  22 1991  25 NYY
   12 Tommy John          66  10 1989  46 NYY
   13 Steve Trout         67   9 1987  29 NYY
   14 Ken Holtzman        68  11 1977  31 NYY
   15 Dave LaPoint        69  20 1989  29 NYY
   16 Sterling Hitchcoc   69   9 2001  30 NYY
   17 Richard Dotson      69   9 1989  30 NYY
   18 Jaret Wright        70  13 2005  29 NYY
   19 Jeff Johnson        70  23 1991  24 NYY
   20 David Cone          70  29 2000  37 NYY
   21 Chuck Cary          70   9 1991  31 NYY
   22 Marty Bystrom       71   8 1985  26 NYY
   23 Tim Leary           71  15 1992  33 NYY
   24 Terry Mulholland    71  19 1994  31 NYY
   25 Kei Igawa           72  12 2007  27 NYY

Man, 1991 was an ugly year.  And, 24% of the “top” 25 have come since 2005.  No shock there, huh?

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Yankees History | 3 Comments 

WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 1/2/09

Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

January 2, 2009 | Filed Under Water Cooler Talk '09 | Leave a Comment 

MLB Network Rebroadcast Of Larsen’s Perfecto

This evening, I got to see the first 50 minutes of MLB Network’s rebroadcast of the kinescope version of Don Larsen’s World Series Perfect Game from 1956 - right up to the point where Duke Snider made a great grab on Yogi Berra’s liner to end the bottom of the fourth inning.

True story: I’m sitting in my kitchen, watching the game, and my 6 1/2 year old daughter walks into the room and looks at the TV. Here’s our exchange that followed:

Her: What are you watching?
Me: It’s a very old baseball game from 52 years ago.
Her: If it’s that old, why are they showing it? Couldn’t they find a new game?
Me: This is a special game. It’s the only time that there’s been a perfect game in the World Series. Do you know what a perfect game is?
Her: No.
Me: It’s when the pitcher doesn’t allow any runners to reach base during the entire game. It almost never happens.
Her: Oh.
Me: You know, Grandpa, my daddy, was only twenty years old when this game was played.
Her: Were you born yet?
Me: Nope. I wouldn’t be born until six years later.
Her: OK, I’m going to read one of my chapter books now.

Having this brief chat with my daughter got me thinking about how old this game really is…and putting it into perspective. I tried to imagine my dad, just a few months past his 20th birthday, still a year away from being married, watching this game - and wondering what he was thinking at that time. I was twenty in 1983 when Dave Righetti threw his no-hitter. And, I can remember how I felt on that day. I’ll have to call my father tomorrow and ask him about Larsen’s game.

In any event, from what I saw this evening, I thought the rebroadcast was fascinating. Yes, the camera angles used and not used were different from today. And, yes, there was no replay. And, yes, the announcing style - one man in the booth at a time, doing play-by-play, without a color-man - was different. And, yes, the commericals were a hoot back then…watching Birdie Tebbetts shave and also hearing about how you could get a free pocket-sized Baseball Encyclopedia with the purchase of a Gillette razor set.

But, there were other things that caught my eye as well - like the “Giambi” shift that the Dodgers used on Mickey Mantle when he was batting left-handed in the fourth inning and the way the catcher was included in the “toss the ball around” routine after an infield put-out with less than two outs. (I noticed both the Yankees and Dodgers do the latter. If I recall correctly, I first saw it in the top of the fourth when someone grounded to second. After Collins caught the throw from Martin for the out, he tossed it to Berra - who was backing up the play at first - and then Berra tossed it to one of the fielders on the left-side on the infield who continued the “toss around” before getting the ball back to Larsen.)

For a baseball addict like me, again, this was fascinating stuff. How about you? Did you watch it? What did you think?

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Trap Door Items | 3 Comments 

Joba Chamberlain (2009)

Getting back to the forecast series, here’s Joba!

Chamberlain’s skill level is high. However, his role and health are questionable - at least to me, at this point. At the end of 2008, it was suggested his shoulder may not handle the burden of starting. While starting is his preference, the team’s biggest need, and where he would offer great value, seeing Joba used out of the bullpen in 2009 - setting up Mariano Rivera - would not shock me.

And, yes, I know…everything out of the Yankees camp says that Joba will be a starter in 2009. But, then again, that’s what the Red Sox said about Jonathan Papelbon prior to the 2007 season as well. Things have a way of changing in Spring Training…sometimes…

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Forecasts'09 | 4 Comments 

True Yankees Old-Timers

Here are some currently living and former Yankees…along with what their age will be on their birthday in 2009:

Player		2009 Age
Tommy Henrich	96
Virgil Trucks	92
Ken Holcombe	91
Fred Sanford	90
Eddie Robinson	89
Bob Kuzava	86
Jerry Coleman	85
Irv Noren	         85
Bobby Brown	85
Cud. Marshall	84
Yogi Berra	84
Bobby Shantz	84
Bob Cerv	         83
Luis Arroyo	82
Jim McDonald	82
Gil McDougald	81
Billy Hunter	81
Whitey Ford	81
Ryne Duren	80
Hector Lopez	80
Art Ditmar	80
Don Larsen	80
Bob Turley	79
Tom Sturdivant	79
Bill Skowron	79
John Gabler	79

So many of these guys played for the Yankees in the mid-to-late 1950’s - including the “ring” teams of 1956 and 1958. Makes you wonder…well, at least it makes me wonder…say, come the year 2029 (which is only 20 years from now)…will some Yankees fans be looking back at guys like Chris Chambliss, Willie Randolph, Bucky Dent, Graig Nettles, Roy White, Mickey Rivers, Reggie Jackson, Lou Piniella, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Ed Figueroa and Ron Guidry the way that some Yankees fans today look back at Yogi Berra, Bill Skowron, Gil McDougald, Jerry Coleman, Bob Cerv, Billy Hunter, Don Larsen, Bob Turley, Tom Sturdivant and Whitey Ford?

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Yankees History | 2 Comments 

The Sixth Sense (1999)

If I ever had 8 hours to kill for myself, one of the things I always thought that I would consider doing would be to watch:

Primal Fear
Fight Club
12 Monkeys
The Sixth Sense

…in that order. It’s an interesting sequence of acting jobs: Norton to Norton/Pitt to Pitt/Willis to Willis. And, all coming in great movies.

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Fav Flicks | 1 Comment 

New Year’s Eve Hack

I’ve been off-line from about 5 pm EST yesterday until about 9:30 am EST today. (Hey, it was New Year’s Eve and all…)

And, I’ve just learned that this blog experienced a WordPress exploit sometime between the hours of 5:56 pm EST and 9:47 pm EST yesterday - and has since been fixed by the good folks at Skiltech.com.

I seem to recall this once happening before - although it was so long ago, if it did indeed happen at all, that I can’t remember for sure. In any event, please accept our apologies for any inconveniences which this situation may have caused you. It was clearly beyond our control. Thank you for your patience during this time. (And, thanks to all of those who brought it to my attention while I was away and reveling, etc.)

January 1, 2009 | Filed Under Site News | Leave a Comment 

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