Bring on the youth. I expected we’d miss the playoffs (though not because of the Rays.) Wish we’d have tanked before the trade deadline and been sellers (Giambi, Abreu, even Pettitte.)

Not a fan of binging on free agents with one exception – pitching. Yes it is a minefield – (Pavano, Igawa, etc.) But if we miss, it really only hurts Hank’s wallet – which is going to be bulging next year with contracts ending and the new stadium windfall. A pitcher that flames out doesn’t pitch. Igawa sucked and forced us to find a replacement true. But he was not an immovable roadblock. On the other hand, Giambi has had maybe four good months in the last 3 seasons. In between, he blocks any possibility of a young player growing into the job. The thinking goes “We’re paying him $20M and he has shown flashes, lets just give him a chance to find his groove…”

I’d have gone for Santana if he was a straight free agent but not in exchange for prospects AND a big deal. Yes, he’d be an expensive #3 or #4 starter a few years into his 7 year deal. But the Yanks can afford that. I’d still make room for the young guns – which will never be hard. The ways things go for us, 10 pitchers will get a chance to start for us every year – often before May is over.

We need a different spec for what we want in an everyday player. From ’95 to ’01, we had a mix of a few imported stars, but predominantly home grown talent, and blue collar workers. As the run continued, you got the sense that we were going to win – we just didn’t know who would come through – Bernie, Paulie, Brosiua, Tino – even Spencer, Curtis or Sojo. The expectation to win was high. The pressure was high. But it was distributed across the team.

Now we sport a lineup with 7 batters making $15M plus. 5 came to NY to “win a championship.” The fans judge them on every at bat. If they come through, it is not “wow did you see how Knoblauch delivered last night.” Instead, its “its about time that Giambi got a hit. When is A-Rod going to come through when it counts?”

As I have posted earlier, I am going to give Gardner or Miranda or Ransom a lot more slack after GIDPing in the ninth than I will give our $30M, clutch-every-other-year, 3B slugger. It is more interesting baseball to watch. And I think we will win as much or more games.

So I’d give CC a big offer. I might even trade for another good starter.

1st Base: I’d be happy with a good fielding, solid-not-spectacular hitter with a great work ethic (Blalock?.) One that can shorten his swing and get a runner home from third with a fly ball or a grounder to 2B. Not one that swings from the heels and trys to pull every pitch. If A-Rod holds to form, next year will be a big year again. We can have an acceptable corner infield power output without needing Tex at first.

2nd Base: Tough call. Cano may be unteachable. They thought the same about Soriano. His plate discipline hasn’t really changed but he made a successful transition to the outfield. If he can’t change his unfocused approach to the game, it may be time to “Roberto Kelley him” as Steve says and look for a 21st Century Paulie or a #3 starter.

Gardner in center. Abreu is quite possibly the worst defensive RF in baseball. I’d take his bat back as the DH /back up outfield. But the Yanks already have a line of bad gloves outside the DH office (Matsui, Damon, Posada). Not sure we need one more. Trading Damon makes sense but is risky. Can Gardner step up? If so, trade Damon and then have Gardener steal on the 1st pitch everytime so Jeter can’t erase him with a GiDP. Then make Jeter bunt 50% of the time to get him to third.

Hall of famer’s idea on Davis & Saltimachia has some merit. But I’d give up IPK before Hughes.

Looking forward to a September with young guys trying real hard without a “deliver or you suck” expectation for every plate appearance or pitch. But the way this season is going, the young ones may end up winning enough games to close the gap a bit. Then we’ll switch back in the big dollar guys and tank.

1st base next year…If Teix is a no-go, then I would really try and look into Adrian Gonzalez.

It would be very hard to get him though.

This is the summer where I think we might see some of our young pitchers get traded for positional players.
I really like Zach Mac but his value would be sky high right now.

~~Giving good pitching for them is pointless.~~

But, what if I don’t value the pitching given up as much as you do?

Also, they let Gardner take center, sign CC, re-sign Moose. All their problems solved with 3 simple moves…

CC/Moose/Wang/Joba/Hughes-Aceves-Wright-Other
Bullpen: Mo/Ramirez/Veras/Marte/Giese-Robertson-Albaladejo-Britton-Melancon-Coke-Patterson-Cox-Other

C-Ramirez/Salty
1B-Davis
2B-Cano
SS-Jeter
3B-ARod
LF-Damon or Matsui (most likely Damon)
CF-Gardner
RF-Nady
DH-Posada
Bench: Molina, Miranda, Christian, infielder

Adam LaRoche, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Mark Teahen, and Corey Hart had one thing in common, they’re not that great.

James Loney: Solid, but little power.
Adam LaRoche: Second half hitter, .330s OBP career.
Chris Davis: Solid.
Kevin Kouzmanoff: .316 OBP. .308 this year.
Mark Teahen:.335 career OBP.
Corey Hart: .335 OBP.

Half these players aren’t that good at all, just cheap. Giving good pitching for them is pointless.

But…if the Yankees can pick up Davis (can hit 50 homers in a full year I bet), or that fat first baseman from Milwaukee, that would be nice…

Crazy idea…Trade for Chris Davis AND Max Ramirez/Jarrod Saltalamacchia…A deal centered around Kennedy and McAllister…Allows them to move Posada to DH AND allows them to trade Matsui or Damon, getting prospects back…Mets might be interested in one of them….

Why would anybody want Ian Kennedy?

Hart and Davis are the only ones that I would offer anyone substantial for.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Giambi is back for one more season. There isn’t much out there except for Teixeira, who will cost a fortune. I wouldn’t give up Hughes for a first basemen like Davis. Not that I think the trade wouldn’t be even but I just think Hughes has more worth than that on the market. Whether he should be worth that much is another question. Also in the case of Davis, we don’t know how good he really is. He could be another Kevin Maas for all we know.
I know you can say the same about Hughes but if we are going to trade him, I would like it to be for a sure thing.

I’m not sure why you would trade for Mark Teahan. He’s horrible and you could probably find someone better than him or at least as good without giving anything up.

I would not mind Loney but I don’t think the Dodgers would trade him because they need hitting, their pitching is solid. The Dodgers would probably be a good place for Cano to go actually since Bowa is there and you might be able to swing a deal for some of their young pitching.