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CC Sabathia or Johan Santana As The Ace Of Your Pitching Staff?

In New York Mets, New York Yankees on December 5, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Johan Santana, left, and CC Sabathia.

Johan Santana, left, and CC Sabathia.

It’s been three weeks since the New York Yankees offered him a six-year, $140 million contract, but chances are that free agent CC Sabathia will likely pitch in the Bronx.

Despite reports that Sabathia would prefer to play in his home state, teams in California either have other free agent priorities or simply don’t have the money.

Let’s assume for the sake of argument that Sabathia signs with the Yankees.

New York will feature the two highest-paid pitchers in baseball, with the Mets’ Johan Santana at $137.5 million over six years.

That’s a salary of $23.3 million for Sabathia and $22.9 million for Santana per season, for a combined total of $46.2 million.

It’s an understatement to say that it’s a big investment for the New York baseball teams in two pitchers. In contrast, the entire payroll for the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays was $43.4 million in 2007.

So who would you rather have as the ace of your pitching staff?

CC Sabathia or Johan Santana?

Sabathia went a combined 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers last season, and was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after getting traded to the Brewers in June.

He led the majors with 253 innings pitched, finished fifth in the National League Cy Young voting and sixth in the MVP balloting.

Sabathia is a durable pitcher capable of supplying his team with quality starts and 200-plus innings each season. His fastball is explosive and his slider is an excellent out-pitch to left-handed hitters. His change-up has improved significantly.

Santana has three dominating pitches—a mid-90s MPH fastball, a high-80s MPH slider and a change-up. The change-up is devastating because Santana throws it to hitters like he’s throwing his fastball.

Santana also throws his slider with different breaks at different speeds, giving him a slurve-like alternative to his other pitches.

He finished the 2008 regular season with a 16-7 record, posting a 2.53 ERA with 206 strikeouts. His 2.53 ERA led the majors and was a career best. He also set a career high in innings pitched.

Santana finished in third place in the National League Cy Young award race.

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The Half-Billion Dollar Yankee Lineup

In Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 10:01 pm
New York Yankees second baseman Derek Jeters awaits his turn to bat at Yankee Stadium on August 16, 2008. (Photo courtesty triitalian, flickr.com)

New York Yankees second baseman Derek Jeters awaits his turn to bat at Yankee Stadium on August 16, 2008. (Photo courtesty triitalian, flickr.com)

What the hell, let’s sign ‘em all. This is New York, baby. We need a winner.

You think mom and dad with the 2.3 kids who need to refinance their home mortgage for bleacher seats on family day expect anything less?

And what about all the suits in the luxury suites that work for the mega corporations? They gotta spend their Federal bailout package money and they better be compensated for it with a winning team.

Hank and Hal, as you know the new Yankee Stadium has a hefty $1.3 billion price tag. It’s time to compensate the New York City taxpayers with lots and lots of homers.

We expect no less than spanking new World Series banners to decorate the new digs.

So, c’mon. Let’s do this. Who cares if this is “bad” for baseball or that Kansas City Royals fans are shaking their heads—fuggedaboutit!

The Batting Lineup

A $3,500 top-tier seat with a great view of the right-field foul pole and the Jersey coastline won’t keep me away from seeing this friggin’ batting order:

  1. LF Johnny Damon ($13 million)
  2. SS Derek Jeter ($21.6 million)
  3. 3B Alex Rodriguez ($28 million)
  4. RF Manny Ramirez ($25 million)
  5. 1B Mark Teixeira ($20 million)
  6. DH Hideki Matsui ($13 million)
  7. CF Xavier Nady ($3.35 million)
  8. C Jorge Posada ($13.1 million)
  9. 2B Robinson Cano ($3 million)

Jose Molina ($1.875 million) will be the backup catcher.

The Pitching Staff

Let’s put together the sickest pitching staff this year’s free agent crop can muster.

And if one of them underachieves, we’ll just make a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for David Price and send them in return Kei Igawa, a bag of baseballs, and a near-mint Reggie Jackson baseball card.

Check out this starting rotation:

  • CC Sabathia ($24 million)
  • Chien-Ming Wang ($4 million)
  • Joba Chamberlain ($390,000)
  • AJ Burnett ($13 million)
  • Derek Lowe ($13 million)

Of course, the bullpen will include Damaso Marte ($4 million) with Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez ($14 million) setting-up Mariano Rivera ($15 million).

(Current players with the Yankees include ‘08 salaries. Current free agents are projected ‘09 salaries.)

Summary

Hank and Hal Steinbrenner—the baseball world is counting on you. Madison Avenue is counting on you.

We can’t bear another Tampa-Philadelphia World Series. One more of these and the consequences will make Marshall Applewhite proud.

With the Yankees, we’ve got pinstripes and Kabbalah. The richest team in American sports history meets the Material Girl. What could be more cool?

Without the Yankees, baseball is just a bunch of overpaid dudes swinging a piece of wood at a little ball. What could be more boring?

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Yankees Fans Outshine All Others

In Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Rap artist Jay-Z

Rap artist Jay-Z is a diehard New York Yankees fan and has been spotted taking in a game or two at Yankee Stadium.

Red Sox Nation can keep Stephen King.

Yankees Universe has more stars than the Milky Way. Yankees games are spectacles where luminaries show up to root on the home team (this fact doesn’t escape the wrath of satirists).

Yankees Universe

The Music World

Among the stars who are among the constellations of Yankees fans are legendary musicians Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen.

In fact, McCartney signed former Yankees center-fielder Bernie Williams to his music publishing company.

Top rap acts 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Nas, Puff Daddy, and Chuck D of Public Enemy sport their Yankees gear proudly. Jay-Z, from Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, even considered buying shares of the team.

Athletic All-Stars

New England quarterback Tom Brady has been photographed on the tough streets of Manhattan wearing his Yankees cap. He is also friends with third-baseman Alex Rodriguez.

One of the best basketball players on the planet, Cavaliers small forward LeBron James, rooted his Yankees on during a playoff game in Cleveland, drawing the ire of local fans in Ohio. He’s also released a Nike sneaker line inspired by the Yankees.

Movie Stars

Comedians Adam Sandler, Robin Williams, and Chris Rock are Yankees fans. None however, can brag like Billy Crystal, who was signed to a one-day contract by the Yankees during spring training (he struck out on his one at-bat).

Director and producer Spike Lee loves the Yankees and included the team’s ‘77 World Series run in the film, Summer of Sam.

Movie stars Jack Nicholson, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Bruce Willis, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and James Gandolfini of The Sopranos are fellow pinstripers.

It’s been documented that Nicholson refused to wear a Red Sox cap during his role as a Boston gangster in The Departed, out of loyalty to the Yankees.

Politics

Politicians Henry Kissenger, Joe Lieberman, Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton root for the Yankees. Although did Clinton by coincidence start attending Yankees games only during her election bid for New York senator? You decide for yourself.

Esquire named Giuliani the best mayor in America while he governed New York and reports that “when Giuliani was three and living in Brooklyn, his father made him wear a Yankees uniform around the neighborhood, a taunt to Dodgers fans, who’d periodically beat him up.”

Summary

The Yankees are the most revered and the most detested sports team in the universe. That is the price of an illustrious history of fame and success.

I can’t imagine that New York, one of the world’s most brilliant cities, and its variety of Yankees fans (satire), would expect any less from the home team and baseball’s best ever franchise.

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Reign Delay: Back to New York Yankees Glory in ‘09

In Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 9:16 pm
If the New York Yankees can ink CC Sabathia to a free-agent contract, it'll go a long way towards restoring the Bombers' dominance of the late '90s.

If the New York Yankees can ink CC Sabathia to a free-agent contract, it'll go a long way towards restoring the Bombers' dominance of the late '90s.

The New York Yankees will not be denied. The Yankees will blow away all other suitors for pitcher CC Sabathia. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner will open up the vault and make Fort Knox look like a piggy bank.

Just Go All Out and Get Sabathia

Forget about all the other free-agent pitchers out there. Get Sabathia. Sabathia is the first priority.

Any talk from Sabathia about wanting to stay in the National League is, at worse, true, only to mean the Yankees will change his mind with a bigger number, or at best, a ploy to loosen the Yankees’ purse strings.

Either way, Sabathia knows the Yankees desperately want him and need him, and they’re able and willing to pay.

Sabathia will be the starting pitcher for the New York Yankees come Opening Day ’09. Put this in the bank.

Other Pitching Rotation Possibilities

Perhaps the Yankees can also add Derek Lowe, to round out the pitching staff, if the numbers make baseball sense, as the team has question marks with the possible retirement of Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, and the worrisome lack of development of Phil Hughes.

Only Chien-Ming Wang is a certified ace on the current Yankees pitching staff.

Should Joba Chamberlain come out of the bullpen or start? With starters Sabathia, Wang, Lowe, and either Mussina or Pettitte, maybe Chamberlain makes more sense coming out of the bullpen.

A pitching-relief duo of Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera will ostensibly shorten games to six or seven innings.

The Yankees have made it clear, however, that they will start Chamberlain.

The Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series with one great starting pitcher, a lock-down bullpen, timely hitting, and guts.

With the pitching possibilities outlined above, let’s turn our attention to hitting and guts.

Other Key Positions: First Base and Center Field

Forget about first-baseman Mark Teixeira. The Yankees don’t need a $200 million fixture at first. Jorge Posada can move to first and play some designated hitter. (Jose Molina can take up the bulk of the catching duties and provide solid defense.)

New York needs an everyday player in center field, like they had in Bernie Williams. Perhaps they can workout a trade somewhere, but at what price? Can they wrest Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates or even Rocco Baldelli from the Tampa Bay Rays?

Xavier Nady playing in right field is perfectly fine.

With dumping Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu, the Yankees will have to replace some bats. I’ve made the case for Manny Ramirez on a purely emotional basis, but practically and realistically, I’m not sure it makes sense with the team’s current logjam of aging outfielders.

Batting Lineup

Maybe the answer to replacing these bats is closer than you think and doesn’t require a free-agent acquisition. The Yankees do have Alex Rodriguez, Nady, Johnny Damon (who had an outstanding offensive season last year), Posada, Hideki Matsui, Derek Jeter (who can provide some timely hitting), and Robinson Cano (with the hope of a turnaround season).

Summary

So in short: Get Sabathia, get Lowe at the right price, sign either Mussina or Pettitte, pass on Teixeira, make a trade for a center fielder, and hope that the Yankees’ bats from last year come alive as they should.

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The Case for Manny Ramirez in Yankee Pinstripes

In Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Current free agent Manny Ramirez will look good in New York Yankees pinstripes. Ramirez is pictured here during a Boston Red Sox and Yankee game on April 22, 2007. (Photo courtesy of Just A Big Geek, flickr.)

Current free agent Manny Ramirez will look good in New York Yankees pinstripes. Ramirez is pictured here during a Boston Red Sox-Yankee game on April 22, 2007. (Photo courtesy of Just A Big Geek, flickr.)

I find it insulting how self-appointed baseball purists hide behind their staid placards like “tradition” or “purity” or “arrogance.” Go ride off on your moral high horse! And that includes fellow New York Yankee fans that hide behind that thin veneer as well.

“…I remember when the Yankees were all about Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle…”

When we read about our past idols, their faults and failures are conveniently swept under the rug by history’s broomstick. Don’t look to men who are paid millions to hit a hard, white leather ball with a piece of wood for moral rectitude. Quite frankly I find it gutless and hypocritical.

I can’t help but think of Roberto Clemente and the controversy he stirred up during his playing days because he was such the opposite of the somber Protestant ethos that all players at the time exhibited.

Ahem.

Why the Yankees Need Ramirez

That established, Manny Ramirez is a good fit for New York. I’m looking for fire and firepower. So what if I don’t like his matted dreadlocks. He doesn’t care. He overstayed his time with the Boston Red Sox. Kind of when you don’t quite know how to break-up with your girlfriend when you’ve grown overly comfortable and bored.

Anyway, he isn’t fazed by the heat of the bright lights that has made so many other players wilt. Ramirez is the type of player that shines brightest on the big stage, and their is no bigger stage than Broadway.

He is intimately invested in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. He’s from Washington Heights, NY. He’s playing in front of his (and this last remark will bring grist for the mill.)

Ultimately, his absence from the Red Sox lineup cost Boston a trip to the World Series. A championship actually because what’s more uninspiring than the Phillies? The Red Sox would’ve swept them.

On the flip side, he single-handily carried an anemic offense to the National League Championship Series in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He’s got two or three solid years in front of him.

Quite simply, Ramirez has the mental acuity to play outfield in Yankees Stadium.

Mark Teixeira is nice, but he just doesn’t do it for me. He doesn’t exhibit the toughness to bat in the four spot in the Yankee lineup. He’s as excitable as wet cardboard. He can obviously hit, but, his bat will only work with the Atlanta Braves or Anaheim Angels.

On pure hitting prowess, just imagine Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez as your three and four hitters? Makes me salivate.

Ramirez Will Bring Passion to Yankees

What’s been missing on the Yankees is not a will to win, but intensity, ferocity. They had that in their pitchers during the championship seasons (Orlando Hernandez, the young Andy Pettitte, David Wells, and Roger Clemens.)

What we’ve got now are “quiet leaders” in Derek Jeter, the older Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Yankees players that haven’t earned that right—Alex Rodriguez.

Yes, I believe Ramirez can bring some fight to the team. Yes, I say that with a straight face. No, seriously.

The Yankees aren’t built for the long run—we’re built for now. If the price is right (apologies to Bob Barker) there’s no reason Ramirez shouldn’t be in pinstripes.

Now when I write about adding Ramirez to the Yankees, it’s neatly side-stepping the inconvenience of having several outfielders already in the apex of their careers.

I don’t pretend to know how to sort that out, but Manny Ramirez in a Yankee uniform is a great short-term move.

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New York Yankees’ Top Five Free-Agent Deals Gone Bad

In New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Pitcher Carl Pavano is the worst free-agent signing the New York Yankees have ever inked. Often injuried, teammates questioned is commitment to baseball.

Pitcher Carl Pavano is the worst free-agent signing the New York Yankees have ever inked. Oft injured, teammates questioned is commitment to baseball.

Despite hefty price tags, baseball free-agents don’t come with warranties.

As a Major League Baseball general manager, if you play, there’s a chance you’ll pay. Sometimes free-agent pick-ups work great. The New York Yankees are no strangers to playing the free-agent sweepstakes.

Ironically, in this off-season it is no secret that the Bronx Bombers need starting pitching. In recent years, four of their five worst free-agent signings have been hurlers.

Below is my list of the five worst Yankees free-agent signings in recent off-seasons.

(These stats were tabulated by the author and are not official MLB stats.)

5. P Jaret Wright

Three years, $21 million

16-12, 5.28 ERA, 203.3 IP, 1.32 K/BB

Wright was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after his second year with the Yankees. This was a reach because Wright only had one full-season of success with the Atlanta Braves at the time. He also didn’t have a solid playoff showing for the Bombers.

4. 1B Jason Giambi

Seven years, $120 million

209 HR, 604 RBI, 706 SO, .254 AVG

Giambi hit 41 home runs in each of his first two seasons in the Bronx. Then his production tailed-off and his average plummeted. He’s awful as a first baseman, but the Yankees had to play him there because he doesn’t hit as well when he’s the designated hitter. Inking a free-agent to such a big number for so many years is almost certainly going to fail.

3. P Jose Contreras

Four years, $32 million

15-7, 4.47 ERA, 166.2 IP, 2.13 K/BB

In his first season with the Yanks in ‘03, Contreras had a 22.34 ERA as a starter (7.43 ERA out of the pen), spent two months on the disabled list and had four stints in the minors. The next season, he was inconsistent again and spent a month in the minors. After only a season and a half in the Bronx, he was traded to the White Sox.

2. P Kei Igawa

Five years, $20 million (plus $26 million posting fee)

2-4, 6.65 ERA, 71.2 IP, 1.43 K/BB

Just securing the rights to talk to Igawa came with a whopping $26 million price tag. Can you say, “You had me at konnichiwa?” After losing the Dice-K sweepstakes against the Red Sox, the Yankees just had to have any Japanese pitcher they could get their hands on to keep up with the Epsteins.

1. P Carl Pavano

Four years, $40 million

9-8, 5.00 ERA, 145.2 IP, 2.50 K/BB

Pavano got a huge contract from the team he beat in the World Series. He really only had one solid season with the Florida Marlins. Most of the time, Pavano suffered from a laundry list of injuries, including his buttocks—apparently from sitting on his arse all the time.

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New York Yankees’ Top Five Free-Agent Deals Gone Good

In New York Yankees on November 25, 2008 at 7:58 pm

Opponents in the playoffs dreaded having to face the New York Yankees' Bernie Williams.

Opponents in the playoffs dreaded having to face the New York Yankees' Bernie Williams.

Major League Baseball general managers are often criticized harshly for their free-agent signings that don’t pan out. Rightfully so.

Like any other MLB team, the New York Yankees are no strangers to suspect free-agent signings. They’ve also had their successes.

In my lifetime, outfielder Reggie Jackson is arguably the best free-agent signing the Pinstripes have inked. Below is my list of the five best Yankees free-agent signings in recent off-seasons.

(These stats were tabulated by the author and are not official MLB stats.)

5. P Mike Mussina

Six years, $88.5 million; two years, $23 million

106-61, 4.06 ERA, 1,322 IP, 1,064 K, 3.85 K/BB

For eight years, Mussina was a steady presence in the Yankees starting rotation (only in ‘04 was he plagued by injuries). The Moose won 20 games for the first time at the age of 39 this past season with a win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. In his first three years with the Yankees, he ranked in the AL’s top three in strikeouts.

4. OF Hideki Matsui

Three years, $21 million

70 HR, 330 RBI, 267 SO, 214 BB, .296 AVG, .370 OBP (first three years with Yankees)

Godzilla’s monster years came during his career in Japan, but he was still a productive hitter and solid team player during his first three years with the Yankees who came cheap by baseball standards.

3. P Jimmy Key

Four years, $16.8 million

48-23, 4.14 ERA, 603.4 IP, 400 K, 2.51 K/BB

In ‘93 the Yankees weren’t able to land starters Greg Maddux and David Cone. Key helped the Bronx Bombers to a World Series title in ‘96, with his final start in pinstripes out dueling Maddux in the deciding game. Key was one of the game’s premiere control pitchers during his career.

2.  P Orlando Hernández

Four years, $6.6 million

61-40, 3.97 ERA, 875 IP, 703 K, 2.31 K/BB

Hernández enjoyed his best year in ‘99 with a 17-9 record and setting career-highs in strikeouts (157) and innings pitched (214.1). After the regular season, El Duque was selected the MVP in the American League Championship Series. He helped the Bronx Bombers to three World Series titles.

1. OF Bernie Williams

Seven years, $87.5 million

149 HR, 630 RBI, 575 SO, 541 BB, .294 AVG, .383 OBP

The Yanks rewarded Williams after eight productive seasons by resigning him to a hefty free-agent contract in ‘98. More importantly signing the center fielder kept him from going to the rival Red Sox. He was a major contributor to four World Series titles.