01/03: 3 Months to Opening Day
Posted by: James
April 2, 2006. Opening Day 2006 (it's day before my birthday too, just in case Jeter, A-Rod, etc. happen to read this site and feel picking me up a little something after the game).
Baseball dealings have quieted down quite a bit and most of the big names are off the table (excluding all this talk about a Manny and Miggy blockbuster) so to whet fan appetites a little, ESPN has put together a page with the projected starters for each team, both in the AL and the NL. They've bolded any new aquistions so it gives you a concise way to see how the faces on each team has changed. For instance, take a look at Florida's projection (this is just ESPN guessing, of course); five of the nine starters are rookies. Also, after losing 104 games in 2004 and 106 games last year, Kansas City is welcoming seven new players to its depth chart. Still, looking at the new guys, does anyone see why that team would be that much better in 2006?
It's not much, but it might give you some ideas for early fantasy drafts and before you know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting, spring training will be in full swing and then, we fans can start having anxiety about in-game issues again.
Baseball dealings have quieted down quite a bit and most of the big names are off the table (excluding all this talk about a Manny and Miggy blockbuster) so to whet fan appetites a little, ESPN has put together a page with the projected starters for each team, both in the AL and the NL. They've bolded any new aquistions so it gives you a concise way to see how the faces on each team has changed. For instance, take a look at Florida's projection (this is just ESPN guessing, of course); five of the nine starters are rookies. Also, after losing 104 games in 2004 and 106 games last year, Kansas City is welcoming seven new players to its depth chart. Still, looking at the new guys, does anyone see why that team would be that much better in 2006?
It's not much, but it might give you some ideas for early fantasy drafts and before you know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting, spring training will be in full swing and then, we fans can start having anxiety about in-game issues again.
01/02: Privacy Policy
Posted by: Patrick
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12/30: Sabermetrics
Posted by: James
For the most part, when using baseball statistics, our little group of bloggers stick mainly to the big guns (ERA, OBP, SLG, HRs, RBI), and doesn't usually go into sabermetrics. Still, I like the idea of sabermetrics a lot and every now and then, you might see one or two up in my posts. For those who are interested in such things or would like to learn a little more about some of these newer stats, Steve Lombardi over at Was Watching has put up a nice list of definitions of some of the statistics that he uses, which include some sabermetrics.
For those who don't know what sabermetrics consist of, Wikipedia has a pretty clear synopsis:
With that, I wish you all a very Happy and Fruitful New Year. Enjoy it (responsibly) with family and friends and please be safe. I've lost a friend to a drunk driver and wouldn't want any of our readers to experience the same thing.
For those who don't know what sabermetrics consist of, Wikipedia has a pretty clear synopsis:
Sabermetrics is the analysis of baseball through objective evidence, especially baseball statistics. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research. It was coined by Bill James, who has been its most enthusiastic (and by far its most famous) proponent.
With that, I wish you all a very Happy and Fruitful New Year. Enjoy it (responsibly) with family and friends and please be safe. I've lost a friend to a drunk driver and wouldn't want any of our readers to experience the same thing.
Posted by: James
A story in today's Miami Herald has the Marlins set to sign Miguel Olivo.
I had previously thought that it would have been nice if the Yankees picked him up as a younger backup for Posada. He would have been a cheap (made $400k last year) and young (entering his age 28 season). Still, why come to the Yanks to compete with Stinnett for the backup job when you can go to any number of teams and compete for the starting one (not that there was any reported Yankee interest)?
In addition, Eric Byrnes, who was mentioned in the comments as a potential solid signing, was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will start the year in center field. Byrnes would probably have been a nice addition to the Yanks because of his ability to play any outfield position and would have provided some pop with his bat, something Bubba Crosby cannot claim. Again, why backup when you can start, right?
The Marlins addressed their need for help behind the plate by agreeing in principle to a deal with free agent catcher Miguel Olivo, the player told reporters in his native Dominican Republic. The catcher was expected in Miami on Thursday to undergo a team physical and finalize his contract.
I had previously thought that it would have been nice if the Yankees picked him up as a younger backup for Posada. He would have been a cheap (made $400k last year) and young (entering his age 28 season). Still, why come to the Yanks to compete with Stinnett for the backup job when you can go to any number of teams and compete for the starting one (not that there was any reported Yankee interest)?
In addition, Eric Byrnes, who was mentioned in the comments as a potential solid signing, was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and will start the year in center field. Byrnes would probably have been a nice addition to the Yanks because of his ability to play any outfield position and would have provided some pop with his bat, something Bubba Crosby cannot claim. Again, why backup when you can start, right?
12/29: Cairo Set to Rejoin Yanks
Posted by: James
At the bottom of a Daily News article about Chad Bradford, a guy that I wouldn't have minded seeing in the Yankees pen, is the following blurb:
Just a physical and Cairo can officially be put on the Yankees 25-man roster. So far, Cairo has played every infield position except catcher and every outfield position except center field. That kind of versatility is good to have on any team, even if he can't recreate the numbers he put up in his first stint with the Yanks. Besides, there were very few other options available (ex. Felix Escalona, Pokey Reese, etc.)
Reserve infielder Miguel Cairo reached a preliminary agreement with the Yankees yesterday on a one-year, $1 million deal. Cairo's contract is pending a physical, which is expected to be given this week.
Just a physical and Cairo can officially be put on the Yankees 25-man roster. So far, Cairo has played every infield position except catcher and every outfield position except center field. That kind of versatility is good to have on any team, even if he can't recreate the numbers he put up in his first stint with the Yanks. Besides, there were very few other options available (ex. Felix Escalona, Pokey Reese, etc.)
Posted by: Seamus
According to YES Network, Hideki Matsui has decided not to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic scheduled for March.
Well honestly, it looks like this whole WBC is turning into one big mess anyway. It's at the wrong time of the year, too many guys opting out, too many players playing for countries they never lived in before, and too much politics involved (Cuba is not allowed to send its players, and as a result, Puerto Rico has withdrawn as a host). I could really do without it. It's certainly not big enough to risk injury over, especially during spring training when guys aren't yet in top shape. If a player wants to go that's fine, but I certainly don't have a problem with any of the Yankees' players focusing on their job with the Yankees, who I watch 6 months out of the year.
``The reason I decided to go to the United States was to try and become a world champion with the Yankees, and I fear that chasing two goals might get in the way of that dream,'' Kyodo quoted Matsui as saying in a statement.
Well honestly, it looks like this whole WBC is turning into one big mess anyway. It's at the wrong time of the year, too many guys opting out, too many players playing for countries they never lived in before, and too much politics involved (Cuba is not allowed to send its players, and as a result, Puerto Rico has withdrawn as a host). I could really do without it. It's certainly not big enough to risk injury over, especially during spring training when guys aren't yet in top shape. If a player wants to go that's fine, but I certainly don't have a problem with any of the Yankees' players focusing on their job with the Yankees, who I watch 6 months out of the year.
12/27: Bernie Was Great
Posted by: Patrick
It's Damon's Turn at Center of a Yankees Myth:
The Yankees have had three great center fielders, the first of whom most of us easily forget. All three are in the Hall of Fame: Earle Combs, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. The line ended with Mantle nearly 40 years ago, and it has not regenerated itself, no matter what fans of Bernie Williams think. ...
Williams has been a solid player - he hit better than .300 for eight consecutive seasons - and he contributed significantly to the Yankees' postseason successes. But he was not the Gold Glove outfielder he was voted to be from 1997 to 2000, and he was not a dominant hitter in the American League. ...
Williams has been a good player but not a great player.
Williams has been a solid player - he hit better than .300 for eight consecutive seasons - and he contributed significantly to the Yankees' postseason successes. But he was not the Gold Glove outfielder he was voted to be from 1997 to 2000, and he was not a dominant hitter in the American League. ...
Williams has been a good player but not a great player.
12/27: Jeff Reardon Arrested
Posted by: James
Jeff Reardon has apparently been arrested for armed robbery.
Reardon, who finished out his major-league career with a whimper in 1994 with the Yankees, is being said to have walked into a jewelery store with a note saying that he had a gun and that the store was being robbed. The 50-year-old Reardon was later found at a nearby restaurant and charged.
The man wasn't in pinstripes for long (9.7 innings in 1994) but he is 6th in major-league history in saves (Mariano passed him this year for the 5th place). His baseball-reference page cumulates his gross salary at over $11.5 million dollars so unless he lost all of that money, I'm baffled. Not a completely Yankees related item but a sad story, nonetheless.
Reardon, who finished out his major-league career with a whimper in 1994 with the Yankees, is being said to have walked into a jewelery store with a note saying that he had a gun and that the store was being robbed. The 50-year-old Reardon was later found at a nearby restaurant and charged.
The man wasn't in pinstripes for long (9.7 innings in 1994) but he is 6th in major-league history in saves (Mariano passed him this year for the 5th place). His baseball-reference page cumulates his gross salary at over $11.5 million dollars so unless he lost all of that money, I'm baffled. Not a completely Yankees related item but a sad story, nonetheless.
Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview in the Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere series is Dave Nekoukar of Pride of the Yankees.
When you're not blogging about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?
Watching SportsCenter, following the NY Giants and NY Rangers, walking the dog or chasing after my two year old son.
When you're not blogging about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?
Watching SportsCenter, following the NY Giants and NY Rangers, walking the dog or chasing after my two year old son.
12/24: Manny Says
Posted by: Michael
Johnny Damon was deciding where he should go. Should it be to the Yankees? With the Yankees it would be a team that really wants him, and shows it. Or should he remain with his faithful fans in Boston? So he decided to follow the advice of his fellow teammate and current Boston left-fielder Manny Ramirez. Manny said, "Go to NY."
Now I'm not surprised that Manny of all people is helping the Yanks in their recruiting efforts. But you have to wonder how long Boston will put up with him. He is still currently on their opening day roster. But is he being shopped? Only time will tell.
The Red Sox are a team that is imploding. It started last year with Pedro and Lowe leaving. Then accelerated with Theo bidding adieu. Now slowly one by one they are peeling off of the WS Championship team. It's a ship that is sinking...slowly, not quite like the Marlins, but more of a painful death.
Before Damon agreed to his four-year, $52 million contract, he spoke by phone to Ramirez for some guidance and the latest information about the Boston left fielder's trade demand.
Even though Ramirez still is under contract with the Red Sox, he urged Damon over to the other side of baseball's best rivalry.
"Manny said, 'You should go to New York,' " Michelle Damon [Johnny's wife] told The Post.
Even though Ramirez still is under contract with the Red Sox, he urged Damon over to the other side of baseball's best rivalry.
"Manny said, 'You should go to New York,' " Michelle Damon [Johnny's wife] told The Post.
Now I'm not surprised that Manny of all people is helping the Yanks in their recruiting efforts. But you have to wonder how long Boston will put up with him. He is still currently on their opening day roster. But is he being shopped? Only time will tell.
The Red Sox are a team that is imploding. It started last year with Pedro and Lowe leaving. Then accelerated with Theo bidding adieu. Now slowly one by one they are peeling off of the WS Championship team. It's a ship that is sinking...slowly, not quite like the Marlins, but more of a painful death.
