Sorry for the lack of updates, but here is my latest article.
It was supposed to be a game of two teams battling it out at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It was supposed to be a game that would be considered a classic. It was supposed to be a game that would be replayed on television over and over again. None of those happened Saturday night as the Oklahoma Sooners dismantled the Texas Tech Red Raiders 65-21.
Oklahoma drove 73 yards down field on their first drive of the game for a DeMarco Murray touchdown run. Murray, a sophomore running back, ran for 48 yards on the drive and sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 22 yards. Murray’s night would not be finished.
Sophomore defensive end Adrian Taylor and sophomore defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sacked Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell for 12 and 7 yards respectively on their next drive. After the ensuing punt, Bradford and junior tight end Jermaine Gresham hooked up for a 42-yard reception. Junior running back Chris Brown ended that 76-yard drive with a 4 yard touchdown run, extending the Sooner lead to 14-0.
Texas Tech drove down field in the red zone on their following drive, but did not convert a 4th and 3, turning the ball over to the Sooners. DeMarco Murray was a key player on the ensuing drive. Murray ran the ball 23 yards on a 1st down and also caught a Sam Bradford pass for a 31 yard reception. Bradford passed the ball to Gresham again on the drive, but this time for a 19 yard touchdown catch. Gresham’s touchdown put the Sooners ahead 21-0 with 10:58 left in the 1st half.
Texas Tech continued to struggle as they failed to convert another 4th down. After the failed 4th down conversion, Sam Bradford continued to shine. Bradford scrambled twice for gains of 13 and 8 yards. Bradford also threw the ball to senior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias for a 28 yard touchdown, increasing the Texas Tech deficit to 4 touchdowns!
The Red Raiders finally showed some signs of life when Harrell threw the ball 34 yards to senior wide receiver Eric Morris. Two plays later, Harrell and freshman wide receiver Tramain Swindall put the Red Raiders on the scoreboard with a 25 yard touchdown pass.
However, the Red Raiders could not gain momentum. Murray and Brown continued to establish a solid running game for Oklahoma. Murray ran for 28 yards and Brown ran for 37 yards on the next drive that ended in a Chris Brown touchdown, making the Sooner lead back to 4 touchdowns. When it had seemed as if the lead could not have been any bigger, freshman linebacker Travis Lewis intercepted a Harrell pass and returned it to the Texas Tech 2 yard line. Murray ran up the middle for another touchdown. At halftime, Oklahoma was up 42-7, a monumental amount of points scored in one half.
The 2nd half was much like the 1st half. Oklahoma scored a field goal on their first drive of the half. Sophomore linebacker Keenan Clayton returned a fumble by Texas Tech senior running back Shannon Woods to the Texas Tech 3 yard line to end a potential Red Raider run. Two plays later, Chris Brown ran the ball into the end zone again to continue the Texas Tech nightmare. With 1:38 left to go in the 3rd quarter, Bradford launched a deep ball down field that was caught by senior wide receiver Manuel Johnson for a 66 yard touchdown pass. Oklahoma continued to pour it on with a Ryan Broyles 26 yard touchdown catch from Sam Bradford, increasing the lead to 65-14.
Sam Bradford increased his chances at winning the Heisman Trophy with his 4 touchdown game. Bradford was 14/19 with 304 passing yards. Bradford now has 42 passing touchdowns on the season. DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown combined for 233 of the Sooners’ 299 rushing yards and a whopping 5 touchdowns! Jermaine Gresham caught 5 passes for 95 yards with 1 touchdown. Gresham has 10 touchdowns in the 2008 campaign now. Kicker Jimmy Stevens kicked 1 field goal and 8 extra points in the game.
As for the Red Raiders, Graham Harrell was 30/51 in his passes with 317 yards in the air. Harrell also threw 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. The Red Raider run game was shut down by Oklahoma’s defense. Graham Harrell’s running abilities were not shown as he contributed negative yardage on the ground. The Red Raiders cumulated 19 carries for 24 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s Heisman campaign also likely ended with his poor performance. Crabtree had no touchdowns and only 62 receiving yards with 6 catches.
Texas Tech fell to 10-1 with the loss, likely ruining their chance at playing for the National Championship game in January. Oklahoma’s odds are still alive with the victory as they too are 10-1. Texas Tech will face Baylor next week while Oklahoma will face Oklahoma State.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Yankees' Hot Stove preview
The 2008 season for the New York Yankees was just a disappointment. Their offense failed to score more than two runs 50 times this season. Their pitching has had problems, especially by trying to develop their young players like Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Injuries have taken a toll on the team. Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Brian Bruney, Jon Albaladejo, and others have been on the disabled list at least one time. Posada and Wang have been out for extended periods of time, since June and have missed the entire season since. As the Yankees wrap up their final season at Yankee Stadium, they will head into 2009 going into a brand new, $1.3 billion stadium right across the street. They will also face many key decisions to make.
The Yankees already resigned Brian Cashman to a 3-year extension through the 2011 season at GM. The past few seasons, Cashman has revamped the entire farm system and changed the tactic of the Yankees. Before, the Yankees’ approach to prospects was to trade them for major-league ready players. One of the examples of trading a key prospect for a major-league ready player was when the Yankees traded Jay Buhner, Rich Balabon, and Troy Evers to the Mariners for Ken Phelps. This move was criticized by many and seen as a giant mistake in retrospect. Now the Yankees’ strategy is to rebuild but still try to contend for the postseason by keeping potential impact players that could help the team in the future. In 2004, the Yankees were ranked 27th in baseball by their minor league depth by Baseball America. Now they rank the Yankees 5th in all of baseball, courtesy of Brian Cashman. It is a great move in my opinion and he can build on his own success if he puts the pieces of the puzzle together.
The Yankees have a lot of players who will be free agents at the end of the season. Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Carl Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, and Damaso Marte are some notable players. Those players will free more than $88 million off their payroll. They face many crucial decisions to make whether to resign them or let them walk. Notable players who will be in the free agent class are CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett (assuming he opts out of his current deal with Toronto), Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and other key players. Here is my analysis on these players.
Mike Mussina – 20-9, 3.37 ERA in 2008 (SP, 40 yrs old, Type A)
Mike Mussina entered the 2008 campaign with extremely low expectations. Fans and analysts saw him as a back-of-the-line rotation starter or even a relief pitcher. His season was just stellar compared to the predictions. Mussina won 20 games (which nearly sealed him a ticket to Cooperstown) with an ERA in the mid-3.00s. He was the Yankees’ ace in 2008. I would offer Mussina arbitration and potentially a 2 year deal if he declines arbitration. If he accepts, we have him for another year. It would be good to have him but one cannot expect him to put up numbers like he did in 2008. If he declines, the Yankees receive 2 draft picks and continue to build around their future. If he declines, he could retire on a high note with his 20-win season.
Andy Pettitte – 14-14, 4.54 ERA in 2008 (SP, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Pettitte, a longtime Yankee, will be a free agent this offseason. Pettitte struggled at times in 2008 as his ERA points to a sign of decline. There has been some speculation that teams have figured out his deceiving pickoff move, which would be a tremendous blow to his future. He has had a lot of success over his Yankee career (and Astros career from 2004-06), but I do not think the past will make the Yankees jump all over him. I would not mind seeing him back in Pinstripes, but definitely not at the money he made in 2008 ($16 million). I would offer him arbitration too. If he accepts, he is back for one more year. If he declines and signs with another team (potentially the Astros) than the Yankees would receive 2 draft picks in the 2009 MLB draft. If he retires (which there has been some minor speculation of), than his career will end. It may be on a sour note with the steroid issue and the high ERA, but all in all, he did have a solid career.
Carl Pavano – 4-2, 5.77 ERA in 2008 (SP, 33 yrs old, None)
“American Idle” signed a 4-year deal worth around $40 million in the 2004 offseason. The Yankees, thinking they picked up a gem, could not be any more wrong. The New York media has been all over him, criticizing his lack of team effort and failure to stay healthy and durable. Pavano has endured injuries to his shoulder, buttocks, ribs, and elbow, all of which had led to his demise. I say let him go for good. Get him out of New York. The fans do not like him and neither do some of the Yankee players. Since he is not a type A nor a type B, the Yankees will not receive any compensation for his departure.
Ivan Rodriguez – .276/7/35/.714 OPS (with DET and NYY) in 2008 (C, 37 yrs old, Type B)
Pudge Rodriguez was acquired by the Yankees in a deadline deal by the Tigers for reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge hit .219 with New York after hitting .295 with Detroit. In the Yankees’ perspective, I would let Pudge walk. The Yankees will have Jorge Posada healthy in 2009 and also a well-rested Jose Molina. Francisco Cervelli, a young minor league catcher, can be the injury replacement. Pudge’s exit will net a draft pick for the Yankees.
Jason Giambi – .247/32/96/.876 OPS in 2008 (1B, 38 yrs old, None)
Jason Giambi’s situation with the Yankees is a tough one. This year has been a success for him, hitting 32 homeruns and close to 100 RBI. Giambi has had his share of misery as he hit .236 with only 14 homeruns and 39 RBI in 2007. He is making $22+ million this season and it is doubtful he will make even close to that next season. His option for the 2009 season will likely be declined with a $5 million buyout. The Yankees need a real first baseman. Giambi has said he would like to return to the Yankees in 2009 and would be willing to take a pay cut for it. It is a difficult decision on what to do for Giambi. If the Yankees make an attempt at Mark Teixeira, expect Giambi to say good-bye to the Bronx. If the Yankees do not go for Teixeira, than there is a possibility Giambi could be back, but not a great possibility. The Yankees can move Johnny Damon to 1B or maybe Jorge Posada to 1B if he is not fully healthy. Juan Miranda, a Cuban 1B, can replace Giambi if everyone retains their spot.
Bobby Abreu – .296/20/100/.843 OPS in 2008 (RF, 35 yrs old, Type A)
Abreu has been a Yankee since the deadline deal in the 2006 season. Since then he has met expectations and filled a much needed void in the outfield. Abreu’s arm is one of the best currently on the Yankees, but his overall defense is average at best. I would offer Abreu arbitration and leave it at that. If he accepts, he is on the Yankees for one more season and would play the same role in 2009 as he did in 2008. If he declines, he can sign somewhere else and the Yankees would obtain 2 draft picks for compensation.
Damaso Marte – 5-3, 4.02 ERA, 5 saves (with PIT and NYY) in 2008 (RP, 34 yrs old, Type A)
Marte came along with Xavier Nady in the deadline deal from the Pirates when the Yankees traded away 4 minor leaguers. Marte was acquired by the Yankees because when they were still in contention, they needed a left-handed relief pitcher, and that’s what they got with Marte. Marte has a $6 million option for the 2009 season and the Yankees are in a debacle with him. They can pick up the option and use Marte for the 2009 season as the set-up man; they can pick up the option and trade him for prospects, they can decline the option and let him walk, or they can decline the option, offer him arbitration, and see where it goes from there. The Yankees cannot go wrong by keeping Marte on their roster. If they do not choose to have him on their 2009 roster, they will have Phil Coke and/or Billy Traber to replace him as the lefty in the bullpen. Plus, Marte would enable the Yankees to acquire 2 draft picks.
CC Sabathia – 17-10, 2.70 ERA, 10 CG (with CLE and MIL) in 2008 (SP, 28 yrs old, Type A)
CC was the 2007 Cy Young award winner for the Cleveland Indians and has also gone on a rampage for the Milwaukee Brewers since they traded for him in July. Sabathia is due to get a ton of offers from a lot of big league clubs all over. Hank Steinbrenner has openly said that Sabathia was the top priority of the Yankees’ offseason. He has pitched over 500 innings in the past 2 seasons, but if I were the Yankees, I would throw that out the window. He is the much needed ace the Yankees need that can go long into games and strike people out. He can also pitch on short rest (as he did several times during the pennant race) and pitch during the stretch run. His postseason struggles are a “hazard” but to get to the postseason, you must succeed in the regular season. Sabathia is due an enormous contract in the offseason and the Yankees need to be the ones who give it to him. However, if the Yankees do sign him, they will lose a first round draft pick because Sabathia is a type A free agent.
Ben Sheets – 13-9, 3.09 ERA in 2008 (SP, 30 yrs old, Type A)
Ben Sheets is Sabathia’s teammate and has had a great season with a 3.09 ERA. Sheets has had problems with injuries before, most recently elbow problems that left him off the Milwaukee postseason roster. Sheets is only 30, but the injury history is more than a big risk. The Yankees should not make a pitch to sign him because there are better options than him (Sabathia, Burnett, etc.). If they do sign him, it should be to a short-term deal with not as much money as he deserves when healthy.
A.J. Burnett – 18-10, 4.07 ERA in 2008 (SP, 32 yrs old, Type A)
Burnett is a pitcher who opted out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He could have opted in and stayed firm with Toronto, but he chose to opt out to explore more possibilities and seek more money. Burnett has had injury problems in the past with his shoulder, which causes concern for teams interested in the pitcher. A reason to make a pitch for Burnett is because he dominates the American League east. In his career, he has an ERA of 2.97 against the Redsox; 2.58 ERA against the Yankees; 1.00 ERA against the Blue Jays; and a 2.98 ERA against the Rays. Burnett has a very good fastball and curveball which is also a plus. However he does struggle at times. His 18-10 record seems exceptional but his 4.18 ERA is worrisome. Nevertheless, I would offer Burnett a contract that is between 3 and 5 years in length. Burnett dominates the AL East which is important and when he is on his game, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league. It would not surprise me if the Yankees sign him because he would have a tremendous impact on their 2009 rotation. If they do not sign him, than it is only a missed opportunity in a Yankee standpoint.
Mark Teixeira – .308/33/121/.962 OPS (with ATL and LAA) in 2008 (1B, 28 yrs old, Type A)
Mark Teixeira is a young first baseman who is a great defender and a power hitter. Some teams that are bound to be interested in him are the Angels, the Redsox, the Orioles, and the Yankees. There are many other teams that could offer Teixeira a contract but those 4 teams are only the most notable teams. The switch-hitter has said he wanted a long-term contact from 8 to 10 years and deserves one. His agent, Scott Boras, is sure to advertise Teixeira for as much money as possible. By that, it could range anywhere from $150 million to $225 million (or even more!). Teixeira should be the Yankees’ #2 priority and “Big Hank” is certain to offer him a big contract. Do not be surprised if he signs with another team, but do not be shocked if he does sign with New York.
Manny Ramirez – .332/37/121/1.031 OPS (with BOS and LAD) in 2008 (LF, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Ramirez, coming off a dramatic 2008 campaign, almost led Joe Torre’s Dodgers to the World Series. He also almost sunk the Redsox to the ground with his incidents on and off the field. Ramirez is a career .321 hitter against the Yankees with an OPS of 1.029. He has 55 homeruns and 163 RBI against the Yankees in his life. Why would the Yankees sign him? He wants vengeance on the Redsox because they “disrespected” him. Plus it would only help the Yankees offensively. Why would the Yankees stay away from him? He is just a hassle on and off the field. Plus the Yankees already have a lot of depth in the outfield. Again, Hank Steinbrenner has said the Yankees will “explore” the Manny Ramirez situation, but in my mind he is staying with LA. Ramirez is not the person the Yankees need. He does help the offense but his antics will lead to an assured fiasco.
Robinson Cano – .271/14/72/.715 OPS in 2008 (2B, 26 yrs old, under contract)
2 seasons ago, Robinson Cano was contending for the batting title in the American League, only behind Joe Mauer and teammate Derek Jeter. This season, with a batting average of .270 and going into colossal slumps, fans have booed him and critiqued him with his streaky hitting and his poor defensive play. Many have said that Cano has struggled because of the loss over former 3rd base coach Larry Bowa because Bowa gave Cano tough love and say that is what Cano needed for motivation. I still believe Robinson Cano is the 2nd baseman of the future for the franchise. Trading Cano will continue with the old “Yankee-way” by trading young prospects for older, experienced players. He is still very young and there is plenty of room for improvement.
Melky Cabrera – .249/8/37/.641 (sent to AAA for a stint) in 2008 (OF, 24 yrs old, under contract)
Melky Cabrera filled Hideki Matsui’s spot in 2006 when Matsui broke his wrist in a game. The fracture forced Matsui to be sidelined for the majority of the season, initiating Melky Cabrera’s time in the majors. In 2006, Cabrera was a huge asset to the team with his defense and speed with 12 outfield assists and 12 stolen bases. His 2006 campaign affected his role in 2007, when Cabrera was the starting centerfielder for the Yankees. His defense shined again in 2007 with 16 outfield assists. His speed was still intact with 13 stolen bases. 2008 was an entirely different story for the switch hitter. Between 2007 and 2008, Cabrera’s batting average dropped 31 points, on-base percentage dropped 31 points, and slugging percentage dropped 54 points. He had 37 fewer RBI in 2008 than 2007. All had seemed lost for him. With his value diminished, many have wanted him out of New York with all of the players currently occupying the outfield. I would not sell low on Cabrera. He has plenty of value and potential. He could be part of the future outfield for the Yankees or he could just be trade bait to land another player. The Yankees should keep Cabrera and let him develop.
Ian Kennedy – 0-4, 8.17 ERA in MLB (6-3, 2.22 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 24 yrs old, under contract)
In 2007, Ian Kennedy was called up to the majors to see if he could help the Yankees in a playoff run. He did that, with a 1.89 ERA in 3 starts for the Bombers. In 2008, it was expected that he would be a back-end rotation starter for the season. Kennedy had a dreadful season for the 2008 New York Yankees. In 10 starts, he pitched a total of 39.2 innings, allowing 36 earned runs and 50 hits in the span. His 8.17 ERA is appalling and his criticism of the New York media has also ruined his image. He was not a favorite by manager Joe Girardi as he disapproved of Kennedy’s comments towards the media. I still believe Kennedy’s future is with the Yankees. The former 1st round pick from Southern California is very young and has plenty of time to mature. He has to learn how to act toward the media to avoid controversy.
Phil Hughes – 0-4, 6.62 ERA in MLB (3-0, 4.79 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 22 yrs old, under contract)
Phil Hughes has had his shares of highs and lows. He had a no-hitter going in his 2nd career MLB start in 2007, but had to leave that game due to injury. In the 2007 postseason, he was successful by allowing 1 run in 5.2 innings. In the AAA championship game, he struck out 12 in 5 innings. In a September game against the Blue Jays, he pitched 8 quality innings. Those were his highs, but here are some of his lows: being rushed to the bigs in 2007, the injuries he suffered in 2007 and 2008, vision problems (had to start wearing glasses), and starting off the 2008 campaign with an ERA of 9.00 in 6 April appearances (34 earned runs in 34 innings pitched). He has been pitching in the Arizona fall league to build up arm strength and develop better pitches. He is one of the youngest players in the game now and it would be wrong for him to be given up on. It was thought that Hughes had ace-type pitches and could develop into an ace in the future. That is still not completely unlikely as there is plenty of time for development.
The Yankees already resigned Brian Cashman to a 3-year extension through the 2011 season at GM. The past few seasons, Cashman has revamped the entire farm system and changed the tactic of the Yankees. Before, the Yankees’ approach to prospects was to trade them for major-league ready players. One of the examples of trading a key prospect for a major-league ready player was when the Yankees traded Jay Buhner, Rich Balabon, and Troy Evers to the Mariners for Ken Phelps. This move was criticized by many and seen as a giant mistake in retrospect. Now the Yankees’ strategy is to rebuild but still try to contend for the postseason by keeping potential impact players that could help the team in the future. In 2004, the Yankees were ranked 27th in baseball by their minor league depth by Baseball America. Now they rank the Yankees 5th in all of baseball, courtesy of Brian Cashman. It is a great move in my opinion and he can build on his own success if he puts the pieces of the puzzle together.
The Yankees have a lot of players who will be free agents at the end of the season. Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Carl Pavano, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, and Damaso Marte are some notable players. Those players will free more than $88 million off their payroll. They face many crucial decisions to make whether to resign them or let them walk. Notable players who will be in the free agent class are CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett (assuming he opts out of his current deal with Toronto), Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and other key players. Here is my analysis on these players.
Mike Mussina – 20-9, 3.37 ERA in 2008 (SP, 40 yrs old, Type A)
Mike Mussina entered the 2008 campaign with extremely low expectations. Fans and analysts saw him as a back-of-the-line rotation starter or even a relief pitcher. His season was just stellar compared to the predictions. Mussina won 20 games (which nearly sealed him a ticket to Cooperstown) with an ERA in the mid-3.00s. He was the Yankees’ ace in 2008. I would offer Mussina arbitration and potentially a 2 year deal if he declines arbitration. If he accepts, we have him for another year. It would be good to have him but one cannot expect him to put up numbers like he did in 2008. If he declines, the Yankees receive 2 draft picks and continue to build around their future. If he declines, he could retire on a high note with his 20-win season.
Andy Pettitte – 14-14, 4.54 ERA in 2008 (SP, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Pettitte, a longtime Yankee, will be a free agent this offseason. Pettitte struggled at times in 2008 as his ERA points to a sign of decline. There has been some speculation that teams have figured out his deceiving pickoff move, which would be a tremendous blow to his future. He has had a lot of success over his Yankee career (and Astros career from 2004-06), but I do not think the past will make the Yankees jump all over him. I would not mind seeing him back in Pinstripes, but definitely not at the money he made in 2008 ($16 million). I would offer him arbitration too. If he accepts, he is back for one more year. If he declines and signs with another team (potentially the Astros) than the Yankees would receive 2 draft picks in the 2009 MLB draft. If he retires (which there has been some minor speculation of), than his career will end. It may be on a sour note with the steroid issue and the high ERA, but all in all, he did have a solid career.
Carl Pavano – 4-2, 5.77 ERA in 2008 (SP, 33 yrs old, None)
“American Idle” signed a 4-year deal worth around $40 million in the 2004 offseason. The Yankees, thinking they picked up a gem, could not be any more wrong. The New York media has been all over him, criticizing his lack of team effort and failure to stay healthy and durable. Pavano has endured injuries to his shoulder, buttocks, ribs, and elbow, all of which had led to his demise. I say let him go for good. Get him out of New York. The fans do not like him and neither do some of the Yankee players. Since he is not a type A nor a type B, the Yankees will not receive any compensation for his departure.
Ivan Rodriguez – .276/7/35/.714 OPS (with DET and NYY) in 2008 (C, 37 yrs old, Type B)
Pudge Rodriguez was acquired by the Yankees in a deadline deal by the Tigers for reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Pudge hit .219 with New York after hitting .295 with Detroit. In the Yankees’ perspective, I would let Pudge walk. The Yankees will have Jorge Posada healthy in 2009 and also a well-rested Jose Molina. Francisco Cervelli, a young minor league catcher, can be the injury replacement. Pudge’s exit will net a draft pick for the Yankees.
Jason Giambi – .247/32/96/.876 OPS in 2008 (1B, 38 yrs old, None)
Jason Giambi’s situation with the Yankees is a tough one. This year has been a success for him, hitting 32 homeruns and close to 100 RBI. Giambi has had his share of misery as he hit .236 with only 14 homeruns and 39 RBI in 2007. He is making $22+ million this season and it is doubtful he will make even close to that next season. His option for the 2009 season will likely be declined with a $5 million buyout. The Yankees need a real first baseman. Giambi has said he would like to return to the Yankees in 2009 and would be willing to take a pay cut for it. It is a difficult decision on what to do for Giambi. If the Yankees make an attempt at Mark Teixeira, expect Giambi to say good-bye to the Bronx. If the Yankees do not go for Teixeira, than there is a possibility Giambi could be back, but not a great possibility. The Yankees can move Johnny Damon to 1B or maybe Jorge Posada to 1B if he is not fully healthy. Juan Miranda, a Cuban 1B, can replace Giambi if everyone retains their spot.
Bobby Abreu – .296/20/100/.843 OPS in 2008 (RF, 35 yrs old, Type A)
Abreu has been a Yankee since the deadline deal in the 2006 season. Since then he has met expectations and filled a much needed void in the outfield. Abreu’s arm is one of the best currently on the Yankees, but his overall defense is average at best. I would offer Abreu arbitration and leave it at that. If he accepts, he is on the Yankees for one more season and would play the same role in 2009 as he did in 2008. If he declines, he can sign somewhere else and the Yankees would obtain 2 draft picks for compensation.
Damaso Marte – 5-3, 4.02 ERA, 5 saves (with PIT and NYY) in 2008 (RP, 34 yrs old, Type A)
Marte came along with Xavier Nady in the deadline deal from the Pirates when the Yankees traded away 4 minor leaguers. Marte was acquired by the Yankees because when they were still in contention, they needed a left-handed relief pitcher, and that’s what they got with Marte. Marte has a $6 million option for the 2009 season and the Yankees are in a debacle with him. They can pick up the option and use Marte for the 2009 season as the set-up man; they can pick up the option and trade him for prospects, they can decline the option and let him walk, or they can decline the option, offer him arbitration, and see where it goes from there. The Yankees cannot go wrong by keeping Marte on their roster. If they do not choose to have him on their 2009 roster, they will have Phil Coke and/or Billy Traber to replace him as the lefty in the bullpen. Plus, Marte would enable the Yankees to acquire 2 draft picks.
CC Sabathia – 17-10, 2.70 ERA, 10 CG (with CLE and MIL) in 2008 (SP, 28 yrs old, Type A)
CC was the 2007 Cy Young award winner for the Cleveland Indians and has also gone on a rampage for the Milwaukee Brewers since they traded for him in July. Sabathia is due to get a ton of offers from a lot of big league clubs all over. Hank Steinbrenner has openly said that Sabathia was the top priority of the Yankees’ offseason. He has pitched over 500 innings in the past 2 seasons, but if I were the Yankees, I would throw that out the window. He is the much needed ace the Yankees need that can go long into games and strike people out. He can also pitch on short rest (as he did several times during the pennant race) and pitch during the stretch run. His postseason struggles are a “hazard” but to get to the postseason, you must succeed in the regular season. Sabathia is due an enormous contract in the offseason and the Yankees need to be the ones who give it to him. However, if the Yankees do sign him, they will lose a first round draft pick because Sabathia is a type A free agent.
Ben Sheets – 13-9, 3.09 ERA in 2008 (SP, 30 yrs old, Type A)
Ben Sheets is Sabathia’s teammate and has had a great season with a 3.09 ERA. Sheets has had problems with injuries before, most recently elbow problems that left him off the Milwaukee postseason roster. Sheets is only 30, but the injury history is more than a big risk. The Yankees should not make a pitch to sign him because there are better options than him (Sabathia, Burnett, etc.). If they do sign him, it should be to a short-term deal with not as much money as he deserves when healthy.
A.J. Burnett – 18-10, 4.07 ERA in 2008 (SP, 32 yrs old, Type A)
Burnett is a pitcher who opted out of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He could have opted in and stayed firm with Toronto, but he chose to opt out to explore more possibilities and seek more money. Burnett has had injury problems in the past with his shoulder, which causes concern for teams interested in the pitcher. A reason to make a pitch for Burnett is because he dominates the American League east. In his career, he has an ERA of 2.97 against the Redsox; 2.58 ERA against the Yankees; 1.00 ERA against the Blue Jays; and a 2.98 ERA against the Rays. Burnett has a very good fastball and curveball which is also a plus. However he does struggle at times. His 18-10 record seems exceptional but his 4.18 ERA is worrisome. Nevertheless, I would offer Burnett a contract that is between 3 and 5 years in length. Burnett dominates the AL East which is important and when he is on his game, he can be one of the best pitchers in the league. It would not surprise me if the Yankees sign him because he would have a tremendous impact on their 2009 rotation. If they do not sign him, than it is only a missed opportunity in a Yankee standpoint.
Mark Teixeira – .308/33/121/.962 OPS (with ATL and LAA) in 2008 (1B, 28 yrs old, Type A)
Mark Teixeira is a young first baseman who is a great defender and a power hitter. Some teams that are bound to be interested in him are the Angels, the Redsox, the Orioles, and the Yankees. There are many other teams that could offer Teixeira a contract but those 4 teams are only the most notable teams. The switch-hitter has said he wanted a long-term contact from 8 to 10 years and deserves one. His agent, Scott Boras, is sure to advertise Teixeira for as much money as possible. By that, it could range anywhere from $150 million to $225 million (or even more!). Teixeira should be the Yankees’ #2 priority and “Big Hank” is certain to offer him a big contract. Do not be surprised if he signs with another team, but do not be shocked if he does sign with New York.
Manny Ramirez – .332/37/121/1.031 OPS (with BOS and LAD) in 2008 (LF, 36 yrs old, Type A)
Ramirez, coming off a dramatic 2008 campaign, almost led Joe Torre’s Dodgers to the World Series. He also almost sunk the Redsox to the ground with his incidents on and off the field. Ramirez is a career .321 hitter against the Yankees with an OPS of 1.029. He has 55 homeruns and 163 RBI against the Yankees in his life. Why would the Yankees sign him? He wants vengeance on the Redsox because they “disrespected” him. Plus it would only help the Yankees offensively. Why would the Yankees stay away from him? He is just a hassle on and off the field. Plus the Yankees already have a lot of depth in the outfield. Again, Hank Steinbrenner has said the Yankees will “explore” the Manny Ramirez situation, but in my mind he is staying with LA. Ramirez is not the person the Yankees need. He does help the offense but his antics will lead to an assured fiasco.
Robinson Cano – .271/14/72/.715 OPS in 2008 (2B, 26 yrs old, under contract)
2 seasons ago, Robinson Cano was contending for the batting title in the American League, only behind Joe Mauer and teammate Derek Jeter. This season, with a batting average of .270 and going into colossal slumps, fans have booed him and critiqued him with his streaky hitting and his poor defensive play. Many have said that Cano has struggled because of the loss over former 3rd base coach Larry Bowa because Bowa gave Cano tough love and say that is what Cano needed for motivation. I still believe Robinson Cano is the 2nd baseman of the future for the franchise. Trading Cano will continue with the old “Yankee-way” by trading young prospects for older, experienced players. He is still very young and there is plenty of room for improvement.
Melky Cabrera – .249/8/37/.641 (sent to AAA for a stint) in 2008 (OF, 24 yrs old, under contract)
Melky Cabrera filled Hideki Matsui’s spot in 2006 when Matsui broke his wrist in a game. The fracture forced Matsui to be sidelined for the majority of the season, initiating Melky Cabrera’s time in the majors. In 2006, Cabrera was a huge asset to the team with his defense and speed with 12 outfield assists and 12 stolen bases. His 2006 campaign affected his role in 2007, when Cabrera was the starting centerfielder for the Yankees. His defense shined again in 2007 with 16 outfield assists. His speed was still intact with 13 stolen bases. 2008 was an entirely different story for the switch hitter. Between 2007 and 2008, Cabrera’s batting average dropped 31 points, on-base percentage dropped 31 points, and slugging percentage dropped 54 points. He had 37 fewer RBI in 2008 than 2007. All had seemed lost for him. With his value diminished, many have wanted him out of New York with all of the players currently occupying the outfield. I would not sell low on Cabrera. He has plenty of value and potential. He could be part of the future outfield for the Yankees or he could just be trade bait to land another player. The Yankees should keep Cabrera and let him develop.
Ian Kennedy – 0-4, 8.17 ERA in MLB (6-3, 2.22 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 24 yrs old, under contract)
In 2007, Ian Kennedy was called up to the majors to see if he could help the Yankees in a playoff run. He did that, with a 1.89 ERA in 3 starts for the Bombers. In 2008, it was expected that he would be a back-end rotation starter for the season. Kennedy had a dreadful season for the 2008 New York Yankees. In 10 starts, he pitched a total of 39.2 innings, allowing 36 earned runs and 50 hits in the span. His 8.17 ERA is appalling and his criticism of the New York media has also ruined his image. He was not a favorite by manager Joe Girardi as he disapproved of Kennedy’s comments towards the media. I still believe Kennedy’s future is with the Yankees. The former 1st round pick from Southern California is very young and has plenty of time to mature. He has to learn how to act toward the media to avoid controversy.
Phil Hughes – 0-4, 6.62 ERA in MLB (3-0, 4.79 ERA in MiLB) in 2008 (SP, 22 yrs old, under contract)
Phil Hughes has had his shares of highs and lows. He had a no-hitter going in his 2nd career MLB start in 2007, but had to leave that game due to injury. In the 2007 postseason, he was successful by allowing 1 run in 5.2 innings. In the AAA championship game, he struck out 12 in 5 innings. In a September game against the Blue Jays, he pitched 8 quality innings. Those were his highs, but here are some of his lows: being rushed to the bigs in 2007, the injuries he suffered in 2007 and 2008, vision problems (had to start wearing glasses), and starting off the 2008 campaign with an ERA of 9.00 in 6 April appearances (34 earned runs in 34 innings pitched). He has been pitching in the Arizona fall league to build up arm strength and develop better pitches. He is one of the youngest players in the game now and it would be wrong for him to be given up on. It was thought that Hughes had ace-type pitches and could develop into an ace in the future. That is still not completely unlikely as there is plenty of time for development.
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