WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 12/30/08
Posted by Steve L. on December 30th, 2008 · Comments (15)
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.
Ok lemme start it off….
Tis the season for a WTF question.
Why did we sign Cash? 3 catchers? Seriously? Or was it to just get him away from Boston? Even so….what do we do with him? Is he young and seen as a possible full-timers until Montero comes up? Why not just sign ‘Tek and watch him rot on the bench. Far to enjoyable for me, OMG. lol
Ok…..discuss
Why did we sign Cash? 3 catchers? Seriously? Or was it to just get him away from Boston? Even so….what do we do with him?
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Part of me says that Cashman was trying to be cute.
Yanks carried 3 catchers last year, I’m not surprised they’d do the same in 09.
Don’t think it’s to play keepaway with Boston; they had (still have, actually) better options.
As to what to do, keep him for depth. As it is, Posada, Molina, Cervelli are on the roster. If the Yanks want Cervelli to play every day, they may keep him in the minors and Cash in the majors. BUC’s are kinda similar to RHRP in that there are many of them, and they seem to bounce around from year to year. Which is why I scratched my head at Cashman’s decision to sign Molina to a 2 year contract…
Which is why I scratched my head at Cashman’s decision to sign Molina to a 2 year contract…
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I didn’t have a problem with that move. Molina can’t hit a lick as we know but he did a very good job defensively from what I could tell. BUC’s may be plentiful but they vary in quality and skill. I wasn’t upset with having a good defensive catcher on the team last year.
Part of me says that Cashman was trying to be cute.
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Probably, although at the end of the day, who cares? For $750K he gives Scranton a backup to Cervelli that can, in a pinch, come up to the big leagues like Chad Moeller did many times last year. There’s nothing wrong with giving Cervelli all of 2009 to play in Scranton.
I’m sure Boston isn’t worried about losing Wakefield’s personal catcher but, eh, it doesn’t hurt anyway. We’ve seen Varitek and Bard suck it up behind the plate when Wakefield’s been on the mound so it can certainly be amusing again to see how Boston addresses that part of it.
Frankly, who the hell knows if Posada ever catches a game again. If the Yanks determine they don’t need Kevin Cash, they can dump him. Not the end of the world.
I can think of two reasons to sign him.
1. He was Wakefield’s catcher last season and he did a good job catching him so it makes Wakefield less effective as they now have to find someone that can catch a knuckleball. Since then Boston has signed Bard who they traded away because he couldn’t catch Wakefield.
2. Being a backup on the Red Sox he has information on how Boston pitchers plan on pitching to Yankee hitters. Although I’m sure their pitching plans will be different in 2009 it stills gives the Yankees some insight into the thinking of the Red Sox pitching staff.
I’m sure this type of move goes on more then we realize in order to gain any type of advantage over your number one rival.
Being a backup on the Red Sox he has information on how Boston pitchers plan on pitching to Yankee hitters.
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If the Yanks, their coaches, or their scouts didn’t know this information already, then there are problems.
I don’t think it’s any big secret that the way to pitch to A-Rod is hard stuff up and in, for example.
Yanks carried 3 catchers last year, I’m not surprised they’d do the same in 09.
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They didnt carry 3 catchers all year though. I like MJ’s explanation though. That makes the most sense.
Ok, heres something else to talk about. With the Cubs ownership being in financial trouble, if the Yanks could trade Cano for Soriano would you do it?
if the Yanks could trade Cano for Soriano would you do it?
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Not in a million years. First, Soriano is no longer a 2B. Second, Cano’s younger and cheaper. He may not be better but the Yanks don’t need another OF right now unless they plan on moving two from the Damon/Nady/Gardner/Melky/Swisher/Matsui group.
Personally I grew tired of watching Soriano flail away at every single low and outside breaking ball that was ever thrown his way. He’s a good player but the Yanks don’t really need him back.
Cash was solid insurance that they had someone who could handle the knuckler. But not offering a contract made sense because Cash was finally eligible for arbitration, so despite his limp noodle bat he’d have gotten more money than he’s probably worth. In the end its not a big deal but I have no doubt that the Yanks were interested in this particular backup catcher only because he was Wakefield’s caddy.
Interesting news that the Sox made an effort to get Hanley Ramirez back. He would have been a nice power bat for the future but the cost would have been astronomical, so I can understand why the idea was stillborn.
Morning Guys… quick question if someone knows this.. MLB made over 6 billion dollars this past season.. What percentage of this is shared with the owners or is it all divided equaly with the owners?// and does any one know what the official luxury tax bill is for all the top spending teams combined is?
I have no doubt that the Yanks were interested in this particular backup catcher only because he was Wakefield’s caddy.
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Maybe, maybe not, but the Sox have George Kottaras in their system, who caught knuckleballer Charlie Zink.
Hey Guys, I am haring that the KC Royal are shopping Zack Greinke, nice pitcher live arm who KC has been trying to sign to a long term deal but he doesn’t want one…. My question is this.. Whats your thoughts on this kid and if the Yankees could slot him in the 4th hole.. Also, Does a deal with Kennedy, Igawa ( we eat the money) do the deal or more needed?….
Where is the love??.. I got no replies… lol
Also, Does a deal with Kennedy, Igawa ( we eat the money) do the deal or more needed?….
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I kind of doubt that the Royals would trade their best young, inexpensive ML pitcher for Kennedy/Igawa, even if we paid for Igawa’s contract.
Sicilian Lou, Greinke is poorly cast for the Yanks and it’s not because of his talent. Greinke has had mental issues in the past so can you imagine what would happen if he pitches in the cauldron of New York. Wait till you see Burnit act like an asshole the minute people in NYC turn on him AND heonly had a domestic disturbance up in Toronto, if that qualifies as a mental issue.
Kennedy or Igawa? See that Nady trade last year ? Any trade involving Kennedy and Igawa will need to be part of multiple pieces in alomst any trades, especially Igawa. At this point, Igawa’s whole salary is gone.
Cash? If the Yanks wanted real insight into Boston’s entire Zeitgeist: how their current pitching/game strategy works, the Yanks would have gotten Varitek. In the end, MJ’s points regarding Cash are the truest hands down. Certainly not a big deal, but given Posada’s injury history and what happened to Molina last year, it doesn’t hurt to have another backup.