YFSF

Okay, Just One More Touchy-Feely Posada Post

This time, it is the Boston Herald (?!) with a very nice send-off for Jorge.

Jorge, By People Who Played With Him

LoHud put together a compilation of quotes about Jorge Posada.

Yanks Trade Jesus for Pitching

And pitching wins championships. It is being reported that the Yanks have dealt Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi for young stud Michael Pineda and Jorge Campos. It's the second time Brian Cashman has agreed to send Montero to Seattle.

You always are more worried about young pitchers getting injured than position players, but then again maybe calling Montero a position player is a misnomer. Not to toot my own horn, but I've never developed an attachment to the young slugger because I always thought this day was coming. It was clear that the Yanks didn't buy their own hype about his catching prospects. He was essentially stuck as a DH since he never would have the chance to take over first base with Teixeira around.

Both clubs do well here. The Mariners get the best hitting prospect in the game. The Yanks get the #2 they've desperately wanted for a while. Heck, Pineda has the stuff to be a number one. Campos and Noesi both rate as B prospects according to John Sickels, with Campos having more upside and Noesi ready to contribute now. Seems like a fair trade to me.

Update: Word is the Yanks also got Kuroda on a one-year deal. Suddenly the pitching staff is a strength!

Thank Goodness

Now we won't have to try and type Hiroyuki Nakajima anymore.

Okajima & Jones in Pinstripes

The Yanks signed Andruw Jones to a one-year contract for $2mill with another $1.4 mill in incentives.  Still a power threat against lefties, Jones is likely to see more playtime in the outfield in 2012 to make room for Montero to get a fair amount of right-handed DH duties.  Though Jones looked a bit portly in the pinstripes last year, I did enjoy the ridiculous moonshots he launched on occassion.  And a greatly-diminished-late-in-career Jones is every bit as good defensively as Swisher, though I'd rather see Gardner's time in left maximized.

In other news, the Yanks signed former Sox Hideki Okajima to compete in Spring training for the LOOGY role.

Happy New Year everyone.

Opening Move is a Closer

The new regime in Boston made their first player move this week, dealing Josh Reddick and 2 minor leaguers to Oakland for two-time All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and versatile outfielder Ryan Sweeney. 

Bailey has had some arm issues in the past, appearing in fewer games and throwing fewer innings with each successive season since his 2009 debut.  But when he has played he has been pretty much lights out, posting a sub-1.000 WHIP, a 206 ERA+, and a 3.55 K/BB over those 3 seasons.

As for Sweeney, the 26-year old outfielder can apparently play all three OF positions well and has better offensive numbers pretty much across the board than the 24-year old Reddick (+35 points in BA and +52 points in OBP, though -38 points in SLG).

While there is nothing earth-shattering here, and I don't know enough about the minor leaguers dealt to assess that portion of the deal, it would seem this is a pretty good move for Boston, with an apparent upgrade in the 3rd or 4th OF position and the filling of a big gap left by Papelbon's departure at relatively low cost.

Here's to hoping that Bailey's numbers have been massively inflated by pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum...

Good News

Alex Rodriguez' knee-mending in Dusseldorf did not involve any banned substances. What ticks me off is that the Germans knew this three years ago but he's only now getting it fixed, even though the only downside is that his trick knee won't tell him if there's a rain a-comin' anymore. That and the concern that every time he has to leg out a single he might run straight into Poland.

Moral Pulpit For The Day

Pick which is worst:

A.  PED usage

B.  Placing bets on baseball games while an active player/manager/owner

C.  Throwing a game(s) for money

D.  Owner collusion

I'm going with D.

Bonds Sentenced

Mark Fainaru-Wada recently tweeted the Bonds results: "Judge: 2 years probation, 30 days location monitoring/home confinement; 250 hrs community service."

Bonds lives in a mansion on two acres in Beverly Hills.

And I just think I read that the sentenced is stayed while Bonds appeals. I am certainly glad that all the time, money and noise guarantees nobody will ever cheat at baseball again.

Nothing Rhymes with Melancon. Or Punto.

Melancon seems like a decent addition at first glance.  Then I got bored.  And Punto... well, I guess he knows how to win or something, though he may have helped the Cardinals win a Series last year mostly by staying out of the lineup for the greater part of the season. I started to dig some math to describe the Punto factor, but then I got bored. Then I tried to think of a headline. And got bored.

This video is strangely appropriate.

Game Changer

This off-season, the Yankees brass have yet to sign any Once-In-A-Generation sluggers to Rodriguean money, and no Yankee batsman has been implemented in a Rodriguean PED scandal. No Yankee player has ended up exposed in a spread in the society pages. Since Freddy, no pitcher of significance have been signed by the Bombers, foreign or domestic. The Yankees aren't mentioned anywhere on the front page of mlbtraderumors.com. No trades have been offered to only be rejected by a power-mad commissioner. Okay, wrong sport, but what a sham of a racket the NBA has become.

Joe Girardi, a man who looks like he could bring some serious Sergeant Hulka rage to the party, has yet to say he hates anyone. Rather, he occupies his time by joining Robi Cano in helping with a food drive and when asked about the topic of expanded instant replay — which practically every sentient being in the universe supports — took the controversial position of, "I'm with you fellas."

What passes for serious noise in the Yankees Universe is YES considering putting Lou in the broadcast booth. Count me as content for the peace and quiet. For now.

To be clear, I love this idea. I seriously can't wait for someone to make a bone-headed suggestion and for his Sweetness to completely ridicule the notion.

What kind of baseball do you play?

Bobby: "I Hate The Yankees"

"I don't want to waste valuable time talking about the Yankees." Bobby V then went on a bit longer not talking about them by saying how he talked to Joe Girardi and used to love the Yankees before discovering his hatred for them, then moved onto other topics not Yankee-related.

This is gonna be fun.

Also, Ortiz accepted arbitration.

Hot Stove Heating Up

There are lots of rumors surrounding both of our teams right now.  The Yankees are being linked to Hiroki Kuroda, Gio Gonzalez and John Danks.  The Sox are making a push for a Wagner College's own Andrew Bailey.  Most importantly it's being reported that the Yankees are willing to listen to offers for A.J. Burnett.  Who do you want?  Who don't you want?  Here's your place to discuss it all.   

Feeling Good Was Good Enough For Me...

Good enough for me and Bobby V.

Edes says Bobby V to helm the Sox.

Garcia Signed

One year, four million? I like that very much.

Unpleasant Thought

"I have one year left.  I might call it over." — Mariano Rivera, quoted by George King in the Post.

I prefer to remain in denial regarding the inevitability that there is a day coming relatively soon when Mo will no longer pitch for the Yankees ever again.

Verlander Voted Most Valuable

Justin Verlander wins the MVP to go with his Cy Young, while Jacoby Ellsbury (gerbil's MFRS) got the runner up. I was on the fence whether it should be Ellsbury or Verlander and can not argue with either choice. Jim Ingraham of The Herald-News in Ohio left Verlander off his MVP ballot entirely (and explains his position in the linked article.

I don't get omitting Verlander altogether. There are 10 other major-league players more valuable than he was? Pete Abraham provides an interesting read as he explains his MVP ballot.

The Jig Is Up

Jon Papelbon is no longer a Red Sock. 

Three More Years

Cashman re-ups as GM/VP for the next three years. Good. Now go fix AJ.

CC Opts In

CC Sabathia chooses not to opt out! The big guy has signed an extension. My analysis: Yay!