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In what could be interpreted as a salary dump, the Yankees traded relief pitcher Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals for a player-to-be-named-later. My guess is that the Yankees will end up taking a younger relief pitcher from the Nats farm system and throw him into Double-A or Triple-A.
This was a good move. Bruney was hot sometimes and cold others and oft-injured. He wasn’t worth keeping around for any price. Seemed like a good guy, but this is a bizness….
With the fun of hosting our first Thanksgiving at our new home, I have been unable to get online and sink myself into the Yankee Universe until now. There are two stories I want to throw my two cents in on.
Bob Sheppard will not return
First, long time Yankees announcer Bob Sheppard told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com that he has “no plans of coming back.” Sheppard was the voice of the Yankees at Yankee Stadium for the better part of 6 decades, announcing such stars as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter.
I am sad to hear this – Mr Sheppard was the voice I heard from my first Yankee game through most of my life and I know that many will miss him. He has not announced a game since late 2007 due to illness, and the 99 year-old deserves his retirement.
Before this, Sheppard had always said he intended to return as the Yankees announcer when he overcame his illness. Paul Olden took over for Sheppard this year and has been doing well filling those big shoes. Sheppard’s voice can still be heard at Yankee Stadium every game – Derek Jeter uses a recording of Sheppard’s voice when he comes to the plate.
Roy Halladay talk heats up
The rumor mill is cranking about Roy Halladay and what appears to be an inevitable trade from the Blue Jays. Will he go to the Yankees? Will he go to the Red Sox? Jon Heyman reports that the Jays are interested in Yankees top prospect Jesus Montero and possibly a pitcher like Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.
I’m torn on this. On the one hand, Halladay is a combined 37-21 with a 2.79 ERA in his last two seasons with a sub-par Toronto squad. He was the most dominating pitcher for the first half of the 2009 season, so he does have what it takes to be a good pitcher.
But to give up a great prospect like Jesus Montero and a solid young pitcher like Hughes or Joba, is just a little silly. Halladay is 32 years-old, and will want a 4-5 year contract at max money. He has thrown over 220 innings each of the last 4 seasons and I am concerned he might break down at the end of a long contract. With 32 year-old AJ Burnett already on the roster for the next 4 years, I don’t want to turn the rotation into what might end up looking like an old folks home.
The Yankees have a lot of decisions to make regarding their pitching for next season. Although the Yankees won in the playoffs with a three-man rotation, they need 3 great pitchers, 2 good pitchers and 2 solid backups in Triple-A, not to mention a strong bullpen to repeat as champs in 2010. Joel Sherman and his Hardball blog has a detailed update on several of the Yankee pitchers, although he does not give any indication where he got the information from. I will report for now – I plan on waiting a couple of weeks before sharing my opinions. I need some more time to evaluate.
Sherman says the Yankees have already decided to keep Sergio Mitre, whether it is by picking up his $1.25 Million option or waiting for salary arbitration. Mitre was an on-again, off-again starting pitcher for the Yankees this past season. Despite a 3-3 record with a 6.79 ERA, the Yankees must think he will be a better pitcher next season or that he may be a decent back-up plan in case of an injury to a starting pitcher, but I doubt he has any chance to compete for a starting 5 slot.
Sherman also says the Yankees will ask Alfredo Aceves, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain to be ready to compete for the starting rotation in 2010. He also predicts that the Yankees will make an offer to Chien-Ming Wang to return next season, but it will be for much less than the $5 Million he was paid this season.
Before the season, many called that amount a steal for a pitcher like Wang, and it was considering he had won 19 games in 2006 and 2007 and was pitching extremely well in 2008 before getting injured midway through. Unless you were living under a rock this season, you know he wasn’t pitching well this season and was injured again.
As a result of that injury, Sherman predicts that Wang will not be ready to pitch until May 2010.
It’s often proven true. Good pitching wins games, and that was the case during the ALDS sweep of the Twins. The Yankees were quick to credit their pitching.
“Our pitching is the reason why we’re here,” said Derek Jeter. “CC started it, A.J. followed, and Andy finished. That’s how you have to win in the playoffs.” Mariano Rivera agreed. “Everything was pitching.”
The Yanks have the offense to generate runs, no question about it, but the offense was a bit anemic against the Twins. So with that in mind, here’s a blog post by Joe P. at River Ave Blues about how pitching was the key in the ALDS and will be the key for victory in the ALCS…
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This is the first time in the history of this blog that the Yankees have clinched the AL East. This is a first for Trevor and I, and to mark this, I want to address some things regarding the Yankees and how they will prepare the team for the ALDS.
The lineup and bench are deep. The lineup boasts seven Bombers with 20+ home runs and the first time in MLB history that a shortstop and second base tandem had 200+ hits in a season. The bench has speed and the ability to hit for runs.
Outside of a few locks in the bullpen, who will make it? The locks are Mo, Hughes, Aceves and Coke (Robertson if he’s healthy). Gaudin has a good shot because he’s so versatile. Bruney made a strong case with 1.2 perfect innings. Marte has been terrible, but he’s a lefty.
Will Joba start or a relieve? He had a solid game on Friday against Boston. If the Yanks pick the longer LDS series, Joba could be moved to the pen for it. But then, if the Yanks advance, does it screw him up if/when he goes back to starting?
Who should start the second game of the ALDS? Should the Yanks go two straight lefties or put Burnett in between? I’d do the latter.
Should the Yankees do the long or short series? It all depends on who they face – Minnesota or Detroit. If it’s the Tigers, perhaps the Yanks want the shorter series if it means having to face Justin Verlander only twice instead of three times.
Who should be in the outfield, Gardner or Melky? Melky’s got power and an arm. Gardner’s got speed and defense. The best bet is to platoon them. Use them vs. the pitchers they are facing, and situational hitting and base running.
The rest of the roster is up for grabs. I have no idea who will be there. This week will tell.
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When trying to find a ticket seller for baseball tickets, try VividSeats.com. They’re a leading seller of sports event tickets and have reasonable prices for some of the biggest games this year. They offer cheap Yankees tickets throughout the season and you can view the full schedule and seating charts.
