Ryan Kalish is a prospect in the Red Sox organization. Here are his minor league stats, to date:

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He also had a nice showing in the Arizona Fall League last year. And, John Sickels lists him as the third best prospect, now, in the Red Sox farm system.

So, why do I care about some kid in the Red Sox minor league system? To be candid, it’s because he went to High School about 20 minutes away from my house. And, that’s where Boston drafted him from – in the 9th round of the 2006 draft.

For sure, he’s projecting towards the big leagues. And, he could be in the Red Sox outfield come 2012 – if not sooner.

If this happens, and he plays well, and does positive things against the Yankees, I’m sure we’ll hear – again and again – about how he’s from New Jersey and now sticking it to the Yankees. Then again, it’s not like the Yankees didn’t have a shot at him. New York drafted Dellin Betances, Timothy Norton, Mitchell Hilligoss, George Kontos, Colin Curtis, and Zachary McAllister – after they took Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain and – before the Red Sox selected Ryan Kalish. And, in retrospect, Kalish would have been a better pick than Timothy Norton or Mitchell Hilligoss – and more than likely a better pick than Colin Curtis.

Shame, at the time, Ryan Kalish was playing High School ball just 60 miles, or so, south of Yankee Stadium. This kid could be one that the Bronx Bombers missed – right in their own backyard.

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Via the Post -

After months of speculation that the Yankees’ hunk and his sexy steady Minka Kelly are headed to the altar, The Post has learned that the super couple may have settled on a wedding date — Nov. 5.

And while it may bring little solace to Jeter’s legion of female admirers, fretful Yankees fans will be glad to note the date is at least two days after the World Series ends.

After getting a tip about the upcoming nuptials, The Post confirmed the date by spotting a curious entry in the official calendar at the ritzy reception palace Oheka Castle in Huntington, LI, for the first Friday in November that read simply “JETER wedding.”

Page Six broke the story of their secret engagement in August. And in November, The Post also ran photos of Jeter and Kelly frolicking in the water off St. Barts — and looking very much in love.

The sumptuous Long Island site is certainly suitable for the superstar shortstop. The opulent Oheka features a French-style chateau hotel and spa, with an exquisite main ballroom and formal gardens with eight reflecting pools and three fountains.

The castle — the second-largest private residence in the United States — has hosted lavish parties for royalty, Hollywood stars and heads of state for nearly a century. Teen idol Kevin Jonas was married there last month.

Oheka, known for fiercely protecting the privacy of its guests, would not comment.

There’s an Eddie Murphy “Raw”/bush woman/”half” pre-nup joke in here…but, that aside…this will make it interesting at the end of the season when Jeter’s contact is up…

Will he shut down contract talks while he’s on his honeymoon? If so, then expect the contract speculation to carry on until December…maybe longer.

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Aroldis Chapman has signed a reported 5-year, $30 million contract, with the Cincinatti Reds.

Could the Yankees have made Chapman a better offer? Yeah, well, probably. But, I’m glad that they didn’t. And, I applaud Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office for not biting on an abstract talent who reportedly is a forty-million-dollar airport with a thirty-dollar control tower – even if he does throw hard and is left-handed.

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You’re probably aware of Josh Wilker’s blog Cardboard Gods. And, if so, the fact that Josh has a book coming out, Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards, should not be news to you. (And, if you’ve never heard of his blog and book, now you have!)

While the book is not slated to be published until April 1st, the good folks at Seven Footer Press have provided me with an advanced reader’s copy. And, now that I’ve finished Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards, here’s my review of Wilker’s forthcoming book.

Don’t be mistaken, Cardboard Gods is not a book about baseball cards in the sense that it details the industry and/or hobby of collecting them. More so, this book is the memoir of Josh Wilker using the anchors of his childhood, his beloved baseball card collection, as selected portals into various parts of his life story. And, his story is somewhat atypical to the Norman Rockwell chronicled nuclear family setting that many of us have experienced.

Related, as I was reading Cardboard Gods, at times, I found myself thinking “This is sort of like the PG-13 baseball fan version of The Basketball Diaries, written by the late Jim Carroll.” (And, in fact, I later learned that Josh is a fan of that work and writer.)

Now, this is not to say that this book is a rip. It’s merely shared to inform that this is not a book for those who can’t handle a story that is…let’s say…”colorful” and “strikingly unconventional.” And, in reality, I found Cardboard Gods to be absolutely engrossing. Wilker’s unique presentation approach (using his baseball card collection) and clever picturing painting through word selection, combined with the story of his avant-garde upbringing and its residual impact, make Cardboard Gods one heckuva of a compelling read. And, I highly recommend this book.

April always brings a slew of new baseball book. When that time comes, be sure to make room for Cardboard Gods: An All-American Tale Told Through Baseball Cards among those that you elect to read. There’s a lot in this one – and something for everybody.

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BaseballThinkFactory.org is a great source for baseball news. And, at times, some of the comments left there are right on the money too.

For example, today, at BBTF, they’ve linked to a post written by Murray Chass where he takes a shot at some bloggers. In it, Chass wrote:

When you were in school, did you ever flunk both English and math in the same year? If you did, did you do it publicly, not just for your teacher and your parents to see?

I have come upon a whole organization that gets a failing grade in English and math. And I am not picking on it because it is an organization of bloggers. But if I didn’t already dislike blogs, this would do it.

I recently received a news release from the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBA), a recently formed organization that unabashedly acknowledges that it is copying the Baseball Writers Association (BBWAA). Except it’s for bloggers, not newspaper reporters.

The error-infested release only reinforces my feeling about blogs and bloggers. It becomes Exhibit A. If a person can’t write basic English correctly and doesn’t know basic math in a sport filled with numbers, what business does he have writing anything for public consumption?

Seeing this, immediately, I thought of a comment that Dayn Perry left at BBTF the other day. In it, Dayn said:

I’d really appreciate it if bloggers would retire the FJM approach to engagement.

For those not aware, “FJM” was a blog “dedicated to analysis and critique of the sports media.” Or, as they shared in their final post at FJM, they were a bunch of guys with a “borderline-sociopathic joy for meticulously criticizing bad sports journalism.”

And, I have to share that I feel Dayn Perry was dead, solid, perfect with his comment the other day.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the concept of constructive criticism. But, there’s also the element of “putting someone down” to make yourself feel like you’re in control or more powerful (and perhaps cover up your own insecurities as well) at play here too. And, related, these “put downs” tell you a lot more about the party who’s making the comments than anything else, at least in my opinion.

Now, as I write this, I cannot help but to think back that – at this blog – I’ve used certain members of the Yankees organization as blogging pincushions at times. And, to be frank, this reflection now has given me pause. Related, going forward, I’m going to think hard when posting some “criticism” and consider the reason why I’m sharing it. Is it warranted or constructive? If not, am I merely posting it in an attempt to make myself feel better by putting someone else down?

That last question is a good one. And, it’s probably one that every blogger and/or media member should consider when writing about something that someone else wrote.

Hence, the title of this post: “Green Advice To Jefferson Applies To Blogging?” In 1989, then Yankee Stanley Jefferson was upset about being sent to the minor leagues and was blaming others for his demotion. To this, then Yankees manager Dallas Green said to Jefferson: “Look in the mirror, big boy!”

Great advice Dallas. Hopefully, someday, those blogosphere will get – and, “retire the FJM approach to engagement” (as Perry suggested).

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I keep reading that the Yankees are hot to bring Jerry Hairston back this season. Granted, he can play every non-pitcher position except for catcher. And, he’s not a bad base-runner. But, note the following:

From 2006 to 2007, Hairston had 376 PA and a BA/OBA/SLG line of .197/.259/.270 – with an RCAA mark of -34.

And, from 2008 to 2009, Hairston had 730 PA and a BA/OBA/SLG line of .267/.339/.425 – with an RCAA mark of 9.

This suggests, to me, that Hairston is a better player when he plays three games a week (or so) than he is when he only gets into a game once a week or thereabouts.

Now, with Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson both being players who should sit against lefties, I could see Jerry Hairston getting some semi-regular playing time…if he were to sign with the Yankees. (He could also play third when A-Rod is the Yankees D.H. this season.) But, if New York is looking to sign Hairston to be the next Cody Ransom, Enrique Wilson, Clay Bellinger or Dale Sveum type bench player for them…then…maybe…it makes more sense to save their money and let someone else sign Jerry Hairston.

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Via Brad Dickson in the Omaha World-Herald last Saturday –

In Des Moines, a deer crashed through the window of an apartment. Experts think the deer may have tried to mate with his own reflection. Same thing once happened to A-Rod.

Yankees pitcher Mark Melancon married Omahan Mary Catherine Cimino with the rehearsal dinner held at Rosenblatt Stadium. Let’s hope this isn’t a preview of the new downtown stadium when the CWS isn’t in town — weddings and bar mitzvahs.

For those not aware, Rosenblatt Stadium has been the site of the Men’s Division I College World Series since 1950.

There’s no truth to the rumor that, at the rehearsal dinner, Melancon drilled a waiter in the back with a thrown cocktail glass because the server asked Mark if he was aware of the impact that the lack of conflict resolution skills played in failed marriages…

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But, just ride the wave…because Spring Training is not all that far away now…

(more…)

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The Yankees won the World Series in 2009. So, how will they do in 2010? Is another ring in the works? Related, for fun, I decided to look at “the seasons after” the Yankees won it all since the Steinbrenner family has owned the team. There’s six in total. And, here’s what I found:

1978 (following the ’77 ring):

I think most know the story here. In the end, the Yankees won the A.L. East, going 100-63, taking it all via the one game “play-in” at the end of the season (in Fenway Park). You know…deep to left…Yastrzemski will not get it…it’s a home run! (Remember?) The Yankees got off to a good start this season – but had a rough June and July. And, on July 18th, they sat at 47-42…and were 14 games back of the Red Sox (before they came back to take the division). Then, come October, New York took home another ring.

1979 (following the ’78 ring):

What a mess. Manager Bob Lemon was vexed by the death of his son before the season (who was killed in an automobile accident at age 26). Goose Gossage got hurt in a clubhouse fight with Cliff Johnson and missed 3 months of the season. Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash. And, the Yankees went 89-71 (and finished 4th in A.L. East).

1997 (following the ’96 ring):

The Yankees just missed taking the division again – finishing in 2nd, two games back of the Baltimore Orioles. However, in truth, it took a late season push to get that close. On September 6th that year, New York was 79-61 and were 9 1/2 games out of first. In any event, their 96-66 overall record got them the post-season wildcard berth. In the ALDS that year, the Yanks had a 2-1 game lead and needed to win just one more to make the ALCS. But, they blew Game 4 and then lost Game 5 – and that was that.

1999 (following the ’98 ring):

On September 1st, the Yankees found themselves in first place, at 81-49, with a lead of 8 1/2 games. After that, they went 17-14 and ended up taking the A.L. East by just 4 games. But, that was enough. And, the post-season was a blitz. New York went 11-1, overall, and took home another ring.

2000 (following the ’99 ring):

After a strong April, the Yankees went a combined 23-28 over the next two months. But, on June 1st, they still found themselves tied for first place with – guess who? – the Boston Red Sox. New York turned on the jets for the next two months and went 36-20. And, on September 1st, they had a 5 game lead over Boston. From there, the Yankees mailed it in, going 13-18 to close out the year. But, they still took the division. The ALDS that season was a tight one – going five games. And, the ALCS was somewhat “not easy” – going six games. Heck, even the World Series, against the Mets, was close – and the fact that it “only” went five games was somewhat misleading. Yet, in the end, it was another ring for the Yankees here.

2001 (following the ’00 ring):

I still like to say this is the season the Yankees won the World Series, three games to four. But, we all know the truth here – and it’s best not discussed in Yankeeland. This year, New York got off to a so-so start and were at 34-28 at the close of June 12th – 3 games out of first. After that, the Yankees went crazy, going 61-27, and winning the A.L. East by 13.5 games. (And, this includes the stoppage of play as a result of 9/11.) After a miracle comeback in the ALDS, the Yankees beat a strong Mariners team in the ALCS before…well, you know, going on to win the World Series, three games to four…

In the end, the good news here is that five out of six times, after winning the World Series, the Yankees came back to reach the post-season again. And, I think most expect the Yankees to reach the post-season again this year – after their ring in 2009.

The only question is – what will the Yankees 2010 season be like? Will it be a slow start followed by a strong push? Will it be a hot start followed by a coast to October? Will it be a wire-to-wire cakewalk? Or, will it be a dogfight, all season long?

What do you think?

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From just about one year ago, via Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com on January 6, 2009:

New York Yankees pitcher Sergio Mitre has received a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. Like Philadelphia Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, Mitre claims he had no desire to break baseball rules and that he took the banned substance unwittingly after purchasing a legal supplement at a GNC store in Florida.

The commissioner’s office on Tuesday officially announced Mitre’s suspension.

Mitre told ESPN.com that he takes “full responsibility” for his actions. He said he failed a drug test because a trace amount of androstenedione appeared without his knowledge in a nutritional supplement that he bought at GNC.

And, now, one year later, via Bryan Hoch at MLB.com, on January 7, 2010:

The Yankees avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Sergio Mitre on Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract.

Mitre will earn a base salary of $850,000, plus possible performance incentives, MLB.com has confirmed. The Yankees officially announced the signing on Thursday morning.

Mitre, 28, was 3-3 with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games (nine starts) for the Yankees in 2009, returning to the big leagues after undergoing Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery in July. The Yankees had declined his option for $1.25 million in November, with the intent of re-signing him to a lesser deal.

What a difference a year makes, huh? O.K., Rony Bautista, for you, perhaps better days are coming…

…if it can happen for Sergio, it can happen to anyone.

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Have you ever heard of the vulture win? More on this from David Young of ESPN.com back in 2007:

Vulture wins are a function of opportunity, both in being the pitcher of record when a team takes the lead and of the team’s ability to take that lead. While there’s an element of luck involved — being in the right place at the right time — there’s also an element dependent on having enough talent to merit a manager’s faith to take the mound in potential vulture situations. Typically, the league leaders in vultures will have depended more on talent than luck to get their wins, and the king vulture, or league leader in vulture wins, will be around the 10-win mark by season’s end.

Personally, what really makes a “vulture” (pitching season) stand out to me, in addition to the wins, is not being charged with many losses at the same time.

So, who have been the great vultures in Yankees history? Thanks to the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia, we can look at some numbers on this one. And, to that end, I asked the “CBE” to show me pitchers for the Yankees where they had seasons with GAMES STARTED <= 5, GAMES >= 10, WINS >= 8, and LOSSES <= 3 (all at the same time). Here's that group ranked by RSAA:

RSAA                  YEAR    RSAA      GS        G        W        L
1    Mariano Rivera   1996       35      0       61        8        3
2    Sparky Lyle      1974       22      0       66        9        3
3    Johnny Murphy    1941       17      0       35        8        3
4    Ron Davis        1980       15      0       53        9        3
T5   Johnny Murphy    1936       11      5       27        9        3
T5   Ron Davis        1979       11      0       44       14        2
7    Alfredo Aceves   2009        8      1       43       10        1
8    Johnny Murphy    1938        6      2       32        8        2
9    Luis Vizcaino    2007        3      0       77        8        2
T10  Steve Hamilton   1966        2      3       44        8        3
T10  Sparky Lyle      1978        2      0       59        9        3

When I look at this list, I like to eyeball the RSAA and Games Pitched (G) columns and do the RSAA/G math in my head. And, when you do that, you know that guys like Mariano Rivera and Johnny Murphy made this list because they were pitching great - more so than vulturing up wins. But, check out Ron Davis in 1979 and Alfredo Aceves in 2009 on this chart. Yes, they were not bad in the RSAA department - but, they were not lights-up either. To me, that suggests that these two lines just may be the biggest "vulture" seasons in Yankees history.

This sort of gets lost in the story of the Yankees 2009 Championship Season - Alfredo Aceves playing the role of "Los Yanqui Buitre."

What are the odds of him pulling this line again in 2010? Wearing my Roger Murtaugh hat, I would probably say “Pretty thin, huh?” - to which, I'm sure, Martin Riggs would answer “Anorexic.” So, let's hope the Yankees aren't banking a repeat of this from Aceves this season.

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Some information on this dinner that I received and wanted to share:

Champions past and present will be honored at the 30th Anniversary Thurman Munson Awards Dinner, remembering the late, great New York Yankees catcher and captain on Tuesday night, February 2, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. New York Yankees 2009 World Champion pitcher Joba Chamberlain; Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, Thurman’s teammate on the Bronx Bombers’ 1977 and ’78 World Series title teams; 1986 New York Mets World Champion and Yankees 1996, ’98 and ‘99 champion outfielder Darryl Strawberry; Knicks starting point guard Chris Duhon, a member of Duke’s 2001 NCAA championship squad; and Yonkers Raceway’s two-time champion driver Jason Bartlett will be the recipients of Munson Awards from the AHRC-New York City Foundation.

Piniella, a previous Munson Award recipient, will receive the “Legend Award” for his long and meritorious service to baseball. Lynn Pike, the president of Capital One Bank, will receive the “Corporate Hero Award.” For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner contact 212-249-6188.

Diana Munson, Thurman’s widow, will attend the gala, and has been involved in the benefit since its inception, raising nearly $10 million to assist children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Longtime New York sports anchor Len Berman, formerly of NBC Sports, will once again serve as the master of ceremonies for the 16th consecutive year. The honorees will be cited for their accomplishments on the field of play and philanthropic efforts.

The AHRC New York City Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports programs enabling children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives, including programs of AHRC New York City. AHRC New York City is one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities.

Among a long list of notable athletes to previously receive the Munson Award are: Alex Rodriguez, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Willie Randolph, Mariano Rivera, Muhammad Ali, Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, Bernie Williams, Arthur Ashe, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Willie Mays, Mark Messier, Mike Richter, Adam Graves, Tom Seaver, Harry Carson and John Franco.

For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner contact 212-249-6188.

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I have some very good news to share. Within the next 60 days (or so) there’s going to be three major changes to WasWatching.com – with the intent being to improve the blog, of course. Call me a tease, if you want, but, I’m not going to share the details on this until we get closer to the “reboot” (for lack of a better word). But, I did want to share that there’s a lot of work going on now, behind the scenes, to make all of these three items become a reality – as soon as possible.

As always, thanks to all for their interest in WasWatching.com!

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Via DominicanToday.com:

President Leonel Fernandez received in the New York Yankees last night in the National Palace, where the world champions presented the World Series trophy won over the Philadelphia Phillies in November.

Fernandez arrived to start the ceremony at 7:19 p.m., with Yankees players including Robinson Cano, Dámaso Marte, Francisco Cervelli, coach Tony Peña, as well as the great player and Dominican leader Many Mota.

The Head of State said it was a great honor for him to receive the trophy in the house of government, since it came from the United States’ most successful sport organization.

He said he feels highly identified with the team because great Dominicans have been part of it. “I feel very happy for living this moment together with you, who are great symbols in global sports.”

O.K. which current, famous, Dominican Yankee is missing from this picture:

Then again, maybe it was a good thing that he was a no-show?

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The Miami Herald Blog has the story.

With a name like that, A-Rod’s lucky she’s too young to date a retired and/or deceased ball player. Otherwise, I can think of one or two players she may have preferred over Alex…

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If I am reading this correctly, if not for the 2006 draft, over the last 4 drafts prior to 2009, the Yankees overall grade here would be as bad as the Mets overall grade – with a GPA in the ballpark of 2.13…and that’s bad.

Yup, a GPA better than Flounder Dorfman – but, still, pretty bad.

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I’ve already gone on record sharing that I believe Tim Raines has a case towards being worthy of Cooperstown National Baseball Hall of Fame enshrinement. However, many of those who had a vote on this year’s BBWAA ballot didn’t see it that way.

So, does Rock have no shot, period?

Actually, I think it’s just going to take some time. Maybe not as long as it took Travis Jackson to get in via the Veteran’s Committee – but, it may take Raines until he’s off the BBWAA ballot and then the living National Baseball Hall of Fame members get to vote on him.

Think about it. In the future, Raines will have Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Derek Jeter and Joe Torre to lobby on his behalf. And, that could be very helpful.

Basically, Tim just needs to keep his nose clean and wait. (Yes, I know, Raines did once have an issue keeping his nose clean. But, that was then and this is now.) Cooperstown may still happen for him – it’s just going to take some time. Perhaps another 15 years, or more? Raines will be in his mid-’60′s by then. But, that’s better than having it happen after he’s gone.

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Hey, if Greenday can do it, why not Yogi?

Via Bedfordtimesregister.com:

Actors’ Summit, Hudson’s professional theater, begins the new year with the regional premiere of “Nobody Don’t Like Yogi” by Tom Lysaght.

This one-man show based on the career of Yogi Berra andfeatures the acting talents of George Roth.

The play is set on “Yogi Berra Day” in 1999 when Berra returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time in 14 years. The long absence was the result of a feud between George Steinbrenner and Yogi. To get Yogi back, Steinbrenner made a personal visit to the Yogi Berra Museum and apologized to Berra.

Although Yogi Berra is widely known for his Yogi-isms, the cartoon character named after him and his television commercials, much of the public is unaware of his accomplishments as a player and manager.

While Berra was on the team, the New York Yankees won 14 American League championships, and triumphed 10 times in the World Series, unequaled records for a player in either major league. He holds World Series records for most games played by a catcher, most times at-bat, most hits, and most doubles. Only two players in the history of the game have scored more home runs in World Series play. Among other records as a catcher in the regular season, he played 148 consecutive games without an error. Berra played in 15 All-Star games, and was named Most Valuable Player in the American League in 1951, 1954 and 1955.

The performer

George Roth returns to the Actors’ Summit stage after his performance as Henry Kissinger in last season’s “Nixon’s Nixon.” Recently he appeared at Beck Center for the Arts as Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” and Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Me? I’m still waiting for the Broadway show based on the greatest hits of Billy Idol – sorta like what they did with Mamma Mia/Abba and Movin’ Out/Billy Joel. It would work…I’m tellin’ ya…

Then again, I liked Cobb when I saw it too…

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Hawk Dawson made Cooperstown today.

Some fun via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia:

Players with CAREER OBA < 0 vs. the league average, and,
CAREER SLG > .08 vs. the league average

RCAA                           RCAA      OBA      SLG      PA
1    Andre Dawson                216    -.007     .089    10769
2    Bob Meusel                  133    -.007     .080     6028
3    Luke Easter                  61    -.002     .083     1931
T4   Gus Zernial                  53    -.018     .089     4561
T4   Dave Kingman                 53    -.029     .087     7429
6    Dick Stuart                  52    -.013     .085     4363

Former Yankee Bob Meusel – aka Long Bob – should have played longer…if he would have played as long as Dawson, maybe he would have made Cooperstown too?

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Per Bryan Hoch: Girardi’s staff intact for Yanks’ 2010 run

What, no Ernie Pantusso types? Man, that’s boring…

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This one was too hard to pass up. Via Pete Caldera -

Out in the Bronx, there is no cause to add a slugging left fielder to the Yankees’ lineup.

“Our team is, for the most part, set,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday by phone from his office at Yankee Stadium.

On a day when the Mets threw a lavish news conference to introduce Jason Bay, late of the Red Sox, Cashman — who has already imported center fielder Curtis Granderson, starter Javier Vazquez and designated hitter Nick Johnson — was working on improving the Yankees’ bench.

“We have a left fielder,” Cashman said, adding, “We do like Brett Gardner.”

Unless there is a reversal by the Yankees’ ownership to add payroll, Cashman — having improved the starting pitching, upgraded in center, and filled the DH vacancy left by Hideki Matsui’s departure — is concentrating on role players.

“With the money we had to spend, we chose to spend it in those spots,” Cashman said. “We’re just playing with the bench right now.”

Still, the Yankees have room for another outfielder – preferably a right-handed bat; Cashman acknowledged that he’s searching for a right-handed hitter.

And based on Johnny Damon’s asking price, and the fact that the Yankees have already filled the No. 2 spot in their lineup with Johnson, it would strongly appear that Damon and the Yanks have ended their run – regardless of the current situation in left field at the Stadium.

Xavier Nady, who missed virtually all of last season due to elbow surgery, is beyond the Yanks’ current payroll parameters. Both Nady and Damon are represented by Scott Boras, who reportedly agreed to send top left field client Matt Holliday back to the Cardinals for $120 million.

Maybe Brett Gardner, in 2010, can have a season like Willie Wilson had in 1979 (for the Royals)? Won’t that be sweet?

And, I wonder where Johnny Damon ends up now? The Braves? The Giants? Back to the A’s? Or, how about a sleeper pick – the Rays? Either way…Johnny’s not going to see a lot of money.

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When I started this blog 4 years and 9 months ago, I was 42 1/2 years old, my son was just a one-year old, my daughter was only two months away from her 3rd birthday, and I had a job that afforded a somewhat reasonable work/life balance.

Today, I’m 47 years old, my daughter is now 7 1/2 years old, my son is four months away from his 6th birthday, and my current job has more of a “trading floor” pace to it (except this floor is open for a minimum of 9 hours a day, Monday to Friday).

Also, today, I have an increased focus on taking care of myself – much more than I did back in 2005.

Basically, I don’t have the time to write this blog that I used to have at my disposal – now that the kids are older, my job has changed, and I have other – and frankly more important – interests (such as maintaining good health).

So, I’m at a crossroads in terms of which way to go…with respect to the future of WasWatching.com.

I once thought that a change in my posting pattern was the solution – fitting it in where I could, etc., (rather than trying to make 4 or 5 posts a day). But, at the same time, on a back burner, I’ve been considering adding other voices to the blog (to offset my lack of posts and fill in the gaps).

But, lately, I’m starting to think that perhaps it’s time to just shut it down – completely.

Like I said, I’m at the point where there’s three ways I can go with this – and I don’t have a strong feeling, at this junction, as to which road I want to take (as I move forward). Each route has its pluses and minuses – and I need to play the pro and con game to sort it all out.

To that end, since this should be a slow week for news, etc., I’m going to take a few days off from the blog – unless something major breaks in Yankeeland. In the interim, while I’m away, feel free to use the comments section of this post to discuss anything you want that’s Yankees related. (Heck, I might even chime in, here and there – as time allows. But, I can’t say that for sure now.)

See you in a bit…

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Lin Garrett was the Yankees Scouting Director from 1996 through 2004. Two years ago, I detailed how terrible he was in that role. Yesterday, Greg Fertel shared some numbers to support what I had once published on Garrett.

It’s really a shame that it took Brian Cashman seven years to get Lin Garrett replaced by Damon Oppenheimer. Just think, if the Yankees had been developing decent prospects during Garrett’s time, the tail end of that group would be about 23 to 28 years of age now, in their prime, and contributing to the Yankees today. It probably would have saved the Yankees a ton of money, in payroll, too.

Now, as I wrote two years ago, for all we know, it could have been “The Boss” who was keeping Cashman’s hands tied on this one – and keeping Garrett in a role where he was awful?

If Brian Cashman ever writes a book about his time with the Yankees – and I hope he does someday! – perhaps then we’ll know the skinny about how Lin Garrett was able to keep his job for seven years while Cashman was the General Manager.

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Vince Mercandetti, over at Sox and Pinstripes last week had an interesting take on Brian Cashman and the Yankees “plan” since 2005. Here’s a snip:

Heading into 2008 the Yankees spent their money resigning important players (Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada) and buying time. It was almost like a rebuilding year with an upside as Cashman and Co. knew what was going to happen at the end of 2008. They were the Red Sox in 2006 knowing what lay ahead for 2007. The right pieces, the right payroll situation, the right time to strike. The Yankees still had a formidable team and probably make the playoffs if not for major injuries to Posada, Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes and a slew of other players. Either way, they didn’t choose to trade for Santana because they knew they could have their cake and eat it too the next year.

And that’s exactly what they did.

In 2009, they used Abreu, Giambi, Pavano, half of Pettitte’s, and all of Mussina’s contracts and used them on “the right” pieces. They went out and signed Sabathia, who was the insurance policy with a bigger upside than Johan Santana. He was a player they knew they would only have to spend money on and that was the biggest strength they knew they had after the exodus of ’08. They signed Burnett because Wang was no longer a sure thing and his Free Agency would approach soon. They already had A-Rod, Rivera, Posada, Jeter and now Cano (who they extended the year before) locked in. They brought Pettitte back again, relegated Hughes and Chamberlain to one guaranteed rotation spot and in turn had the proper depth necessary to last a full season.

Then when the time and the price was right, they snagged Mark Teixeira to solidify the offense after grabbing Swisher in a trade, another insurance policy, for both right field and first base. It was a spending offseason and the Yankees still saved a few million dollars because the payroll called for that situation.

This is not the first time I’ve seen these types of thoughts expressed. In fact, I’m pretty sure that readers have shared similar ones in comments here, in the past – that the Yankees passed on Santana, for example, because they knew that Sabathia would be available the following year and would only cost money and not prospects plus money.

I cannot say, for certain, that this was the Yankees plan – and I’m not sure how anyone outside of the organization can say they know it was, for sure, either. But, if that was the plan, it was a gamble – in my opinion. Why? Because you’re assuming that those players would be on the market a year later and that they would be willing to sign with you, etc.

What would have happened if the Giants threw a boatload of money at Sabathia, and if the Red Sox didn’t screw up the Teixeira talks, and Burnett did not opt out of his deal with the Jays? Did the Yankees have a “Plan B” if those players where not there for them after 2008? Would that plan have worked as well as the “Half Billion For CC, A.J,. and Tex” Plan?

Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy that it all worked out. But, if that really was “the plan,” man, what a roll of the dice…at least to me.

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Via the esteemed Press Trust Of India

Actress Kate Hudson reportedly dumped sportsman Alex Rodriguez, her boyfriend of nine-months, because he is still obsessed with Madonna.

Hudson, 30, became “mad with jealousy” after the New York Yankees player kept calling and texting the 51-year-old singer with whom he had a fling before he met the ‘Nine’ star, Sun online reported.

“She gave him three chances then hit the roof. How would you feel if your boyfriend kept calling his ex?,” a close friend of Hudson told the newspaper.

Rodriguez, 34, started dating the ‘Almost Famous’ star nine months ago but they split recently.

Boy, when Madonna casts a spell, it’s a doozy, eh? Either that, or, our A-Rod is one messed up little dude…

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Please consider taking the following poll:

Thanks in advance. And, please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section below.

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Let me stress in the opening of this piece that this is a hypothetical situation which I’m throwing out here today…it is not a suggestion and I am not implying anything with this post. The purpose here is to purely play “What if?” to gauge the reactions of Yankees fans (or baseball fans in general) to this type of situation if…well…what if (?) it happened…

O.K., here goes, starting with things that we know:

• Last Spring, Alex Rodriguez (herein “A-Rod”) had major surgery to repair a tear in the labrum of his right hip. He returned on schedule from that procedure and performed outstanding this season. In fact, he healed so well that a follow-up surgery, scheduled for the end of last year, was called off by his doctor.
• The doctor who managed A-Rod’s rehabilitation this summer from hip surgery has ties to a suspected performance enhancing drug (herein “PEDs”) dealing doctor (where the PEDs include human growth hormone, or “HGH”).
• HGH stimulates muscle growth and helps reduce body fat. It also allows athletes to recover faster from strenuous training. Baseball players have used HGH in the past to recover from surgery/injury – such as the Yankees Andy Pettitte. But, since a valid test for HGH usage does not exisit, baseball does not test players to see if they use this banned substance.
• A-Rod has used performance enhancing drugs in the past. And, A-Rod has former ties to experts in the field of using PEDs and avoiding detection of said usage.
• The Yankees won the World Series in 2009 – and were greatly assisted by a super-human post-season performance by A-Rod throughout every round of the playoffs.

Now, here’s the hypothetical part:

What if it is found out – someway and someday – that Alex Rodriguez used HGH during 2009 and that played a part in his strong performance during both the regular season and post-season? Would that, in any way, “taint” the Yankees championship (which they won that year)?

Personally, I’m on the fence with this one.

Yes, I know that you never want to see anyone (a person or a team) achieve something by “breaking the rules.” However, on the other hand, as fans, many of us are willing to make a player a hero if he took a cortisone injection or had a tendon stapled in order to stay on the field and perform well.

Of course, sure, there’s the difference between PEDs that are banned and legal procedures performed under a doctor’s care. But, at the end of the day, do we really care what our “warriors” do in order to suit up and do battle for our colors? Plus, there’s the whole “Since MLB doesn’t test for HGH, how do we know that everyone’s not using it?” angle to consider too…

In any event, casting my own ambivalence aside, what are your thoughts on “The Hypothetical A-Rod HGH Question”? Would it “taint” the Yankees 27th World Championship? Why? Why not?

Related, would it change your view of Alex Rodriguez? If so, in what way?

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Via Bob Klapisch -

It appears [David] Cone’s short but brilliant run in the YES broadcast booth may be over. Sources say Cone is out after a heated disagreement with network executives.

A spokesman confirmed via e-mail: “David’s contract is up. We’d love to have him back, but he’s in the process of evaluating his various options. … He may not be back based on what he decides.”

Cone’s skill and confidence grew appreciably in the past year. Like former-Met teammate Ron Darling, he had a graceful way of explaining baseball to casual fans, but also was immersed in cutting edge sabermetrics.

Michael Kay said, “I’d come into the booth five hours before a game and Coney would already be there, buried in the computer, looking up stats. He took it very seriously.”

Betcha the MLB Network picks up Cone in a heartbeat. This will be a loss for the YES Network, if you ask me.

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Via Phil Rogers –

They were Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden, but you probably know them as Notre Dame’s Four Horsemen of the 1920s.
“Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again,” Grantland Rice wrote after a 13-7 upset of Army. “In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. Those are only aliases.”

We bring you a baseball version of these literary horsemen of the Apocalypse. They are Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez.

We will call Mauer famine, as he’s clearly the best catcher to come along since Ivan Rodriguez; Pujols destruction (duh); Fielder pestilence; and Gonzalez death, as in to the Padres franchise.

All four of these elite hitters are within two years of free agency, as for that matter is Ryan Howard. He’s a little older than the others and not quite as big of a contractual question (albeit still a huge one for the Phillies), so we’ll stick to the aforementioned four.

Executives with other clubs believe [the Red Sox and Yankees] are sitting out the Matt Holliday sweepstakes because they want as much flexibility as possible to land one of baseball’s four horsemen at some point in the next two years.

The Red Sox have been pursuing a Gonzalez trade. Given Kevin Youkilis’ ability to play either infield corner and their holding a club option on David Ortiz’s contract for 2011, they would be a fit for any of the four.

The Yankees are keeping the DH spot clear, for the time being, as a potential way to accommodate Pujols, Fielder or even Gonzalez playing alongside Mark Teixeira. They have advanced catching prospects (Jesus Montero and Austin Romine) to offer if the Twins reach a choking point with Mauer, which Mauer will dictate more than the club.

Assuming Derek Jeter gets his $20-something million a year contract once his current deal is up, very soon the Yankees will have four players at $20+ million a year – where Jeter will join CC Sabathia at $23,000,000, Mark Teixeira at $22,500,000, and Alex Rodriguez at $27,500,000.

So, is there room for a fifth player on the Yankees making in excess of $20 million a season?

I doubt it…but that’s just my opinion. Imagine paying five players in excess of $100 million, combined, in one season. That’s just crazy, no?

More than likely, the Yankees are keeping their D.H. spot open for A-Rod or Jeter…as we get closer to 2012…more so than hoping to land a Pujols or Fielder type…

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I’m working on a little project and thought I would ask you readers for an assist here. In your opinion, what were the Yankees biggest needs in the off-season, following these seasons: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

I have my own opinions and was wondering if they were in-synch with what others thought.

Thanks in advance for whatever you can and do share here.

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