The Hall of Fame Question

The term “performance enhancer” is one of the most reviled terms in today’s culture. To be connected with the term is to be singled out as a cheater and a felon. The outrage has brought about countless “60 Minutes” specials, ESPN special reports, and even Congressional meetings. Although the term has also been applied to football, the outrage has been much more present in baseball, which has long been considered America’s “pure” game. Just being mentioned as a possible user is enough to demonize a player. Fans and media alike scream for lifetime bans for users, but is all that outrage justified?

Several different reports have surfaced concerning users of these “performance enhancers” in recent years. None of these reports have been too reliable. The most reliable “report” has been a book whose author is, by all accounts, a scumbag. That book is ¬“Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big” written by former big league outfielder Jose Canseco. In this book and the sequel, Canseco discloses several names. At first, reviewers discredited Canseco, but so far, he has been more successful at exposing players than anything else. The other reports have all relied on even seedier sources and questionable circumstances. Who did or did not use performance enhancers is a question for which an answer does not seem possible. In addition, some evidence suggests that steroids, the performance enhancer most commonly associated with the term, actually do not help a player as much as people believe. For these two main reasons, players associated with performance enhancers should still be considered for the Hall of Fame.

To understand the extent of the witch hunt put on by Major League Baseball, one must first look at the definitive rehashing of steroid rumors – the Mitchell Report. The 409 page document officially titled the “Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball” is anything but independent. George Mitchell was hired by Commissioner of Baseball Alan “Bud” Selig to investigate players suspected of steroids. In total, 89 names were revealed, including some huge stars, some retired but still well-known names, and, most of all, insignificant role players. For this, Mitchell needed sources. He found two of them in Kirk Radomski and Jason Grimsley.

Kirk Radomski’s contributions only happened under a very specific plea agreement that came about from his home being raided. Federal agents found receipts and an address book relating to sales of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) and arrested him. After that happened, he gave them more supposed evidence (Mitchell 138-140). However, very little of it actually says anything other than a dollar amount. None of it is exactly the proverbial smoking gun when the truth is many ball players give clubhouse attendants checks for all sorts of services, and the dollar amounts are hardly consistent. A check from one player is for $200. Another player’s check is for $2000. The only evidence against catcher Paul Lo Duca is two handwritten notes that say, “Thanks, call if you need anything!” and “Sorry! But for some reason they sent the check back to me. I haven’t been able to call you back because my phone is toast! I have a new # [sic] it is [number not available]. Please leave your # again because I lost my all of my phone book with the other phone. Thanks.” Both notes are just signed “Paul” (Mitchell D-25). That does not reference steroids in any way, yet it is used as the only evidence against the catcher.

Jason Grimsley’s participation was also a result of government pressure. He was to receive a package of HGH, but the government was watching the delivery. He chose to participate with federal agents as opposed to jail time, since sale of HGH without a prescription is illegal, as is sale and possession of most steroids (Mitchell 106-108). The third means of information used by George Mitchell was information from the grand jury investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative in Burlingame, California, also known as BALCO. However, The BALCO investigation is hardly complete because one of the main trainers, Greg Anderson, has refused to testify and has been in jail as a result. To this day, he still refuses to testify. Not only that, but the federal investigation has failed to produce enough evidence to convict anyone connected to BALCO.

The question still remains – what do steroids do? Most people believe that steroids increase home run production. The effects on pitchers are vastly unknown, but essentially, the consensus layman’s belief is that it causes a person to gain velocity, although several baseball experts have found that there is no effect on pitcher’s performance (Walker). This happens because testosterone enhances muscle growth, which makes a person stronger. Put simply, “A great hitter can build extraordinary muscle mass, increase his endurance, and prolong his dominance” (Socher 55). If this is true, then there should be statistical evidence supporting the claim. However there is not. R.G. Tobin uses a mathematical and physics-supported model to show that steroids should increase individual home run production by 50% (16). That number is eye-opening and would completely demolish any argument that steroids do not enhance performance if found true. The problem is it’s not true. In fact, no player ever connected with steroids has ever achieved such a jump (Walker).

There are several examples of players connected with steroids that have never benefited from any sort of statistical anomoly. Alex Rodriguez did have an increase of home runs between 2001 and 2003 when he has admitted taking steroids, but using numbers adjusted for home field, the increase is actually not an increase (Sports Reference LLC). Eliminating home field statistics, which are skewed depending on the ballpark, the numbers actually show no increase at any point. Roger Clemens has been accused of beginning to take steroids in 1998. However, a study by Jonathan Cole and Stephen Stigler points out, “When we compared Clemens's E.R.A. through 1997 with his E.R.A. from 1998 on, it was worse by 0.32 in the later period” (qtd. in Walker). Even Barry Bonds, who allegedly took steroids for a long period of time and is the poster boy for steroid use, shows a fairly consistent line (Walker). He had one spike in his record breaking season in 2001, but steroids do not affect a player one year and not any others. The statistical evidence simply does not back up steroids having any effect on individual production.

However, individual production may not be noticeable at small doses, so surely, with steroid use as rampant as most believe, there will be a definitive jump in overall power production, right? Not quite. There has been five distinct jumps in power since 1900. Four of them directly resulted from changes in the manufacturing of balls used. Only two of the jumps even occurred in the so-called “Steroid Era,” which is from 1980 to the present. One of the jumps, from 1986-1987, is unexplained. The other, from 1993-1994, came from “a change made then in the ball-manufacturing process” (Walker). Taking those ball changes out of the equation, the steroid era – save for that unexplainable 1986-1987 jump – has actually seen a slight decrease in total power production. Steroid use affects the upper body more than the lower body. Conversely, in baseball, power comes mostly from the lower body and the torso. Bulked up biceps and shoulders do not actually help a batter hit the ball any better. In fact, research has shown that steroid use actually only helps a player hit the ball about two to four feet farther, which is only about one more home run a year, and that is assuming all muscle gain is directly related to steroids, which is preposterous considering the amount of time baseball players spend in fierce workout regimens (Walker). In addition, “there is some evidence that steroids decrease reflex reaction time, although there do not appear to be indications of a significant effect on such factors as hand-eye coordination” (Tobin 17). With that information in hand, it is difficult to argue that steroids cause as much of an effect as most people believe.

The question remains though: why take steroids if they do not actually benefit? Well, there are several answers. First, not everybody knows the truth. Several noted steroid users who have admitted to use have claimed in retrospect that they do not think it helped at all, but they did not know until they tried. This reason is probably the most important and most prominent. A lot of players think bulking up will help them become better players. There are at least two problems with this. First, as Tobin states, “Studies directly investigating effects on athletic performance … do not exist. … In a 1991 meta-analysis of 16 prior studies, Elashoff et al found no clear evidence for steroid-induced strength enhancement” (17). The truth that there has never been a statistical connection between steroids and production is echoed all over. Professor Arthur DeVany puts it best: “There is no evidence that steroid use has altered home run hitting and those who argue otherwise are profoundly ignorant of the statistics of home runs, the physics of baseball, and of the physiological effects of steroids” (qtd. in Walker). It is worth mentioning that most of the players mentioned in the Mitchell Report were either role players or minor leaguers – not everyday players, not superstars. Not only that, but there has been no pitching benefits. In Cole and Stigler’s calculations, they looked at 23 pitchers from the Mitchell Report and compared their ERA before and after alleged steroid use. They found that the ERAs actually rose 0.5 points after steroid use (qtd. in Walker). That is truly eye-catching.
Another main reason why players take steroids is medical benefits. Although there are many known defects caused by steroids (and even those are greatly exaggerated), there is also the consensus belief that steroids can heal injuries faster than simple rest and rehabilitation. That is simply untrue in all ways. Several doctors and biologists have said there has been no link. In fact, that rumor may have originated through athletes who believed steroids (or HGH, which is more commonly connected to this) helped them in this way. Dr. Mary Lee Vance states, “The key word is perception because there’s no evidence at all that it helps anyone recover from injuries” (qtd. in Walker). Although it is true that HGH and certain steroids are valuable in healing skin particularly with burn victims, as Dr. Gary Gaffney summarizes, “Any physician using HGH for healing (unless it would be related to burn injuries, AIDS, and children with short stature) is practicing myth, heresy, chicanery, or quackery” (qtd. in Walker). Skin injuries, or flesh wounds, are not the type of injuries that occur often in baseball, and when they do, they are not serious enough to make a player miss any time.

The fact that steroids and HGH are illegal is hardly relevant to the Hall of Fame. Crimes are off-the-field incidents that have little to no bearing on on-the-field production. The Hall of Fame is not just for nice people. The Hall of Fame is for players that excel in their era. With all the evidence that goes against the general consensus about steroids, it is hard to classify use of so-called “performance enhancers” as anything but a misled crime. Did the users intend to enhance their performance by taking the drugs? Maybe, but intent does not always generate results. “With or without steroids, it requires extraordinary skill, judgment, and coordination” (Tobin 15). Several alleged steroid users, and some admitted ones, have Hall of Fame numbers, and the evidence does not justify a sense of impurity in those numbers. Most of the players connected to steroids have not failed a drug test. Convictions cannot be allowed on hearsay. It is simply not known who actually used steroids and who did not. 104 players failed drug tests in 2003, the first year of testing. Only one of those players has been identified. Since it is a crime, players guilty of using “performance enhancers” should be suspended, but with careful consideration of the evidence, a failed drug test is just that – a failed drug test, not a black mark on the game of baseball.

Mitchell, George J. Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball. DLA Pipers USA LLP. 13 December 2007.
Socher, Abraham. "No Game for Old Men. (Cover story)." Commentary 125.3 (Mar. 2008): 55-58.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/.
Tobin, R. G. "On the potential of a chemical Bonds: Possible effects of steroids on home run production in baseball." American Journal of Physics 76.1 (Jan. 2008): 15-20.
Walker, Eric. Steroids, Other "Drugs", and Baseball. The Owlcroft Company. .

For more information, visit Walker's site. It has the most in-depth analysis of all the claims of what steroids do.

Nick "The Man" Swisher

The signing of Mark Teixeira by the Yankees had created a situation in which there was an “odd man out,” well perhaps two (with Melky). Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady were the two that many knew would be fighting for a job, and ultimately Nady won. From the start, I viewed this as a mistake. Nick Swisher was and is the superior player. He brings much more to the table than Nady does. After getting off to a torrid start, Swisher finally seems to have made his point. He has come out of the gate hitting nearly .500 with 4 HR, 11 RBI, and 10 runs. Xavier Nady was injured in last night’s game and appears to be headed for the disabled list, perhaps for the season, opening a world of opportunity for Swisher.

You’ve got to love the guy, he’s very energetic and plays hard every second he’s out on the field. I haven’t been this impressed with an incoming player since, well, never. The White Sox may be kicking themselves right now and for the rest of the season, as their return centerpiece was Wilson Betemit, want to bet who has the better year? Now many people probably want to know what exactly is so special about Nick Swisher, and the reasoning for his supposed superiority over Nady. Firstly, Swish has a great eye at the plate, which leads to many walks, he’s reached the 100 BB plateau or come close in three of the four full seasons he’s played. No matter where you put a guy in the lineup, walks usually mean runs, and he will most likely be batting ahead of the run producing Matsui and Posada. In that case Nady, who walks only about 30-40% as much, will not score as many runs making him the worse choice. Another aspect of Swisher’s game that is far superior to Nady’s is his power. Swisher hit 35 HR’s when he was with Oakland in 2006, and that’s some big time power. He hasn’t hit that many since, but you’ve got to think the potential is lurking within. The protection and depth of the Bombers lineup could help this power resurface as he may see better pitches. Nady has the ability to hit between 15 and 20 homers, topping out at 25. Still excellent, but I’d rather have a guy that can start at 25 rather than end there. In addition to his other skills, he is also a switch hitter, which makes him a weapon of sorts. This ability to hit from both sides could allow the Yankees four potential switch hitters in the lineup at once, imagine that. A lineup with that much flexibility and depth could reek havoc on any pitching staff, even the Red Sox so called “best staff in baseball.” The final and perhaps most likeable skill of Swisher is his attitude. He is little strange and crazy, but his deviant style and leadership skills are probably advantageous to the team. He likes to go out there and play baseball the way it’s supposed to be played, for fun and sport, not for business. Some players can learn something from him, even Posada, who was not amused by Swisher’s relief appearance. From what I can tell so far, Nick Swisher is a guy that will give anything for his team, he’s gonna give you 150% everyday (the extra 50% comes from Redbull), he plays how every fan wants a player to play, and he has fun doing it.

Swisher is and will continue to be a huge addition to this team. Even as he cools from the scorching streak, which he surely will, Swisher will remain a threat. So far there are only positives from him, he’s done everything right. This is a guy who could help this team win a championship, not A-Rod, not Teixeira, not Sabathia, Nick Swisher! I’ve created some stat prediction formulas, and though I wouldn’t rely on it here are the numbers I came up with for a full season:

The Order (BA, OBP, SLG, H, HR, R, RBI, BB, SO, SB)
Swisher: .250, .366, .463, 133, 29, 95, 84, 94, 142, 3
Nady: .291, .345, .487, 145, 22, 65, 80, 32, 97, 4

This Is Beyond Stupid

In the academic world there are only a few simple rules to follow when writing some form of thesis. Do not, under any circumstance plagiarise. If your institution is of any quality you will likely find that if you do, then you will be swiftly shoved out the door before the ink of the "F" on your paper is dry. The next rule is that if you intend to make a point you must justify it with either proof or at the very least some rationale to back up your assertions.

Unfortunately the second rule of the academic world does not extend to journalism. If it did then I wouldn't have spent yesterday pulling my hair out over the depressing obituaries that the New York press, fans and sports media community are dishing out to Chien-Ming Wang. Simply put...if you think he is finished as a major league pitcher you are an idiot.

You may flip that argument on me and point out his statistics that are some of the worst any pitcher has put up in two starts that you or I have ever seen. I am not suggesting that he hasn't been awful. He surely has and he is the primary reason this team is at .500 rather than possibly 2 games over. However if you are to believe that he is finished or that the league has figured him out then you are doing so at the wrong time.

I believe that the issue with CMW is part mental, part mechanical. He has in the past run into mechanical issues that were in the end resolved and I believe that they will be resolved again. If I am to believe Posada, they were resolved up until he stepped on the mound in the first inning against Tampa. For whatever reason, potentially mental he can't get it all together just now. Is that cause for concern, yes! Is it cause to state his ultimate demise as a major league pitcher, no!

I believe that he will eventually get it together again because statistics and history tell me that for the most pat this guy has been a very good pitcher. More statistics and history back up that belief than the current hypothesis/tripe being perpetuated by the media, but even more embarrassingly by fans (some 44% say via a YES pole that he is done, loving the loyallty there!). When he gets it back together, then you will find out if this 3 year ride he has been on is coming to an end.

The fact that Tampa and Baltimore are crushing bad pitches as a function of bad mechanics tells me only that they can do what every team should to bad pitching. It tells me very little about Wang other than when he pitches bad he will get hit hard, which is true of any pitcher. If Tampa and Baltimore (or any other team) were getting to Wang when he has his good sinker and when his mechanics are in line to provide an effective slider and change, then I will be worried because that will tell me that when he is at his best he can't get it done anymore. You may say that you don't think he can get back to having his effective stuff but all information available suggests that is not the case based on what is going on in between starts.

If you are worried I urge you to be patient. What is going on with Wang bugs me just as much as the next person because he's been my favorite guy the last few years. Based on that don't take this article as a sign of bias. I am simply suggesting that any suggestion that he is done, on a downward spiral or regressing is far too early and lacking in strong evidence or rationale to carry any real weight.

Exhale and Mechanics

Breathe Easy

Fear not Yankees fans. It turns out this team wont go 0-162. The Yankees managed to get their first win of the season yesterday against the O's 11-2. Burnett provided a showing on the mound that compared to the outings of Wang and Sabathia probably felt like a perfect game in the minds of Yankees. In reality though it was an effort that didn't even last as long as 6 innings. Now given the first two games it is probably not right to complain about the composition of a win, but in general greater efficiency will hopefully be a trend as the season progresses.

I would imagine that most Yankees fans didn't want a 1-2 start. Most Yankees fans would probably still be upset with a 2-1 start. Reality is that you don't always get what you want and we will have to make do with the results of the first series. On the upside the pen looked better after the opener, Tex got over the shock of boos and started to hit and Robinson Cano, at least for the moment has managed to avoid his traditional early season slump.

Hopefully the Yankees can pick up where the left off with a strong showing in KC...maybe even a sweep...though that's what we probably thought at the start of the Baltimore series.

Don't Worry...We Fixed Their Mechanics

I'm not a pitcher. I'm not a hitter. Truth be told I've never played a game of organised baseball in my life. My hands on baseball experience is limited to the occasional game of catch. Taking that into account please excuse my possible ignorance with my following query.

I keep reading after bad starts that pitchers (Sabathia and Wang in this case) review tape and can see right away what is wrong, and assure everyone that it is a simple adjustment that will be resolved with a trip to the pen, with everything back to normal by the time the next start comes around.

How come the adjustment, cited as a slow arm for Wang and an inability to get his front foot down fast enough for Sabathia, could not be resolved during the game? Could they not review what is wrong during the game and fix it on the fly? Just a thought. I'll settle for the issues being resolved by their next start.

Parting Shots

Commentators come out with some dumb statements, but on Wednesday night Rick Sutcliffe took stupidity to new levels in his assessment of CMW. The highlight of CMW getting bombed by the Orioles had passed and ESPN had returned to their coverage of the Rays-Red Sox game. Sutcliffe then comes out with this gem, "I'm not worried about Sabathia. I'm not worried about Teixeira, but I am worried about Wang, because he got injured running...and he has to run again this year."

I decided to give up and turn the TV off at that point for fear that listening to anymore earth-shattering statements may make me dumber. Seriously of all the things you could think to say you said that? Give me a break. Be worried if his arm is always injured. Be worried if he can't throw his sinker for 3 or 4 starts in a row, but please don't cite your fear based on a freak injury and his future use of that injured body part.

CMW & The Media

The Return Of CMW

Welcome back CMW. Tonight marks the return of the best product of the Yankees farm system since the Jeter, Mo, Pettitte and Posada era. On top of that he has been about the only consistent pitcher with the Yankees since he made his debut in early 2005.

Wang finds himself in somewhat of a familiar situation in that he starts a game following a loss. Wang has been very reliable in the past few years in terms of winning such games and given how bad opening day was it is fairly important that this team puts in a solid effort and a win centered around some good pitching, hopefully deep into the game. Will that be the case though...I'm not too sure.

Roberts and Jones proved too much for Sabathia and if Wang starts up in the zone then the first inning maybe uncomfortable viewing. It is imperative that Wang by-passes the first inning adjustment experienced by most sinkerball pitchers, and shifts straight to the strike throwing, groundball getting machine that we all know he can be. I accept that there must be the 2nd dimension to his game involving his improved off-speed stuff, but make no mistake about it, CMW must have that sinker low but in the zone, because as we saw on Monday the O's wont swing if pitches aren't consistently close.

It also wouldn't hurt if the Yankees jump on Koji Uehara early and often. Myself and other Yankee fans will not be satisfied with the, "It's the first time we have seen this guy" excuse. Other teams hadn't see Kei Igawa but they seemed to get the job done.

In short pitch well, defend well and score early...it's that easy right??

They Finally Caught Up

It only took the media about 3 months to catch up to my train of thought. George King writes today about the realisation of pressure and expectations for the newest Yankees. I wrote about this in late January. Way to bring about original thought there George. I'm not saying that you stole my article, I very much doubt that would be the case. Simply that it is innovative to think ahead and write about this when they had just signed, while it is fairly easy to write about what is staring you right in the face. Originality George!! Get with the program.

Parting Shots

A disgraceful article in the post today by Joel Sherman on Joba Chamberlain and a video of his DUI arrest. I am not condoning what Chamberlain did. It was irresponsible and dangerous. However to paint this as the start of a downward spiral for Chamberlain on a personal and professional level is ridiculous speculation based on very little other than attempting to make vague connections between his childhood and his actions today.

As I said a few months ago the newest Yankees better have prepared themselves for over the top media and fan reaction. It only took one start and a heatpad to set off a frenzy regarding Sabathia. As ridiculous as it seems this will set off a chain reaction of events over the next week.

• Questions to Sabathia about the start and the heating pad
• Articles before his next start about his last start and the heat pad
• A camera on Sabathia in between innings on his next start
• More hysteria if the next start isn't good
• Crazy hysteria if they see the heat pad again

How to stop this train...win. Win early, win often and win looking good. Welcome to New York C.C.

Depth and Defense

Depth Misconception

In the last week every baseball site from the humble blog to the modern day media powerhouse has shot out its season predictions and projections, boldly stating who they think will be left standing come October. Some do so with rationale, while others appear to have closed their eyes and ran their finger down a list of teams to arrive at the Mets as Sports Illustrated did.

As misguided as I believe that projection is, it is not the one that perplexes me the most. It will probably not come as a surprise that I disagree with any prediction that has the Red Sox as the division or wild card winners. Now I don't fundamentally disagree with the idea that the Red Sox can win the division or wild card. What I have an issue with the is the thinking behind their decision, primarily with the point that the Red Sox will win due to pitching depth.

The common phrase nowadays is that you can never have enough pitching. Fair enough pitchers will get injured and it is nice to have someone to step in. However when the players you have to step in are old and injured (Smoltz), completely unproven (Tazawa) and an anomaly (Buchholz) then I hardly see it as a distinct advantage. If the Red Sox end up using any of the 3 for an extended period of time then it is because something has gone very wrong with the starting 5 they have in place just now.

Same goes with the bullpen, where there are only so many innings to go around and where more often that not you don't get a whole pen chipping in during key late and close game situations. It always ends up coming down to 3 guys max, so spare me the list of names after Papelbon, Masterson and Okajima. Anyone outside of that trio likely wont see time unless injury occurs, and if and when it does then granted they have someone to step in but don't try and sell me that the Red Sox would feel good about losing Papelbon because Ramon Ramirez or Daniel Bard is there with his zero major league experience and recent history of wildness.

Designated Defense

If Chien-Ming Wang is inducing groundball after groundball but losing games then look for my finger of blame to be pointed squarely at Derek Jeter. Everyone else in the infield are perfectly competent defenders so it would seem right to view Jeter as the weak link, especially with a groundball pitcher like Wang on the mound. Every 5th day will be a test for Jeter and if he isn't up to the task then just as Wakefield has a designated catcher then so should Wang have a designated SS with Pena taking over in the field and Jeter playing DH.

Parting Shots

You would think Selena Roberts, with her extensive Arod research would know his age, or be able to add correctly. She recently discussed the future of Jeter with the Yankees on the show The Sports Reporters. To paraphrase Roberts, "Two years from now Jeter will be out of contract and will look at Arod who is 40 and signed on for 7 more years." Arod is 33, and is younger than Jeter who is 35. Your sources with the steroid test results may be right, but your math skills are lacking.

To those who site the age of some Yankees as a weakness then it is fair enough to do so when comparing them with the Rays. However if you must use such a comparison with the Red Sox then you do have to acknowledge that they aren't all spring chickens either. Drew, Varitek, Ortiz and Lowell are all fairly old themselves and are arguably showing greater signs of comparative decline to some of the Yankees, i.e. when healthy who is showing greater decline Posada or Varitek? Also youth is only advantageous if the younger player is equal or better than the older guy. Jed Lowrie over Jeter...I don't think so!

Enjoy Opening Day!

Put Up, Or Shut Up

When Alex Rodriguez arrives at camp the press will get their chance. Every journalist, press blogger or general media smart ass who has picked at every detail major or minor of that interview will have their opportunity to have their issues answered when Arod arrives for his version of a state of the union address...that is presuming they will actually ask the questions they have been demanding to hear in their columns over the last week.

The press have a habit of talking tough in their columns then either not asking the questions they demand to hear, or not even bothering to show up in the case of the likes of modern brand of tv journalists who report from their living room and back up their assertions with that unnamed source guy.

Simply put:

If you don't buy the GNC story, ask about it

If you want to know why he took seemingly fabricated shots at Selena Roberts, ask about it

If you question his revelation to stop using, ask about it

If you want to know who supplied him with the stuff, ask about it

Every single issue you can possibly have with the interview, the tests, everything, you should ask about it and if you don't like the answer, if you think the answer is bull shit then say so then and there. Don't wait till the next day to write an article about how x, y and z wasn't answered and how there are still so many questions you have.

Anyone with a legit media outlet will get their shot when he arrives and they best make the most of it.

Put up or shut up guys.

Not Just One Fraud

Baseball has been slowly mending since the release of the Mitchell Report and the BALCO case, but the recent accusations surrounding star player Alex Rodriguez have seemingly reopened baseballs wound. From the year 2001 to 2003 (or roundabouts) Rodriguez admitted that he used performance enhancing drugs, though not specifically naming what he took. After the article’s release, Rodriguez held silence for nearly 48 hours, probably pondering how he should handle this situation and where his career could be headed. His dirty little secret, which was kept quiet for at least six years has finally been released. We all have been exposed to the lack of integrity and untruthfulness of yet another star. Not only has it shown us his guilt, but it has given us perspective into baseball underworld, the corrupt and undisclosed off the field aspect of the game. Naming another player who was going to be considered among the all-time greats as a cheater, now makes us ask the question: Who isn’t using performance enhancing drugs? It is almost as if we must suspect every player, and assume they are guilty unless proven clean.

Without taking any blame off of Alex Rodriguez or any other player violating the drug policy, the leaders of the MLB and MLBPA should be held accountable and accept an equal amount of blame for these problems. The suspicion of steroids has long existed and in recent years these suspicions have been proven well founded. Some of the best players since the 1990’s have been linked to usage of these performance enhancing drugs; Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, and now Alex Rodriguez. Major League Baseball and other associate people have allowed the sport of baseball to be engulfed in a cloud of distrust and questionability. Bud Selig and others are just as guilty as all those accused players, for they have allowed use of these substances to run wild and go hidden and unpunished. They may have felt it was for the good of the game to keep names like Bonds, Clemens, and Rodriguez off lists and out of the public eye, for they were the stars of baseball. In reality, however, all that they did was create a situation that now looks much worse, for the officials and the players alike. The regimes of the MLB and MLBPA have created a massive shit storm (for lack of a better word) that threatens to send baseball in a downward spiral toward its demise. Not only is it unfair to fans and honest, hardworking players, but it is immoral and in some cases illegal. It seems that baseball has somehow been allowed to hide information regarding some banned and controlled substances, which makes no sense. Some of these players have been guilty of using and perhaps selling federally illegal substances, yet for the most part they have seen a lack of punishments. It is sad as a citizen of a democracy to see a large profitable organization, granted monopolistic rights by the government, get away with illegal activities and abuse its privileges. It is unjust and illegal, and it must be stopped! It is time for fans to start booing and harassing guilty players and demand change within the MLB. It is time for the government to step in and stop letting baseball cover up federally illegal activities (though in these time this is of minimal importance), and make them spill the beans.

People surely have varying opinions about the steroid era, about its impact on baseball, and how it should be treated, and I have my own. Hank Aaron is still the all-time homerun king, Roger Maris still holds the single season record for homeruns, Rickey Henderson holds the all-time walk record, Lou Gehrig’s 1995 RBI’s still rank 5th all-time. Steve Carlton ranks third in career strikeouts, Tim Keefe’s 342 wins still place him 9th all-time in career wins, it can go on all day, the nullification of statistics compiled by “dirty” players. The cheaters have not only cheated themselves or the fans, they have cheated history. It is time for people to take responsibility for what’s happened. No more secret test results, no more sweeping evidence under the carpet, and no more lack of punishments to guilty individuals. No more just accepting apologies especially since, it is my opinion that all the players that have been caught and apologized have not done so because they are sorry for taking steroids, it is because they are sorry they got caught, they are sorry that their reputation and credibility has been taken away. Baseball must go into rehab, it must rid itself of all harmful persons and begin to regain its reputation as America’s sport. Those proven guilty must be charged with consequences, such as stripping of awards, being banned from the HOF, and though it may seem harsh, banishment from the game seems in order. This problem needs to stop quickly, thus cruel and seemingly unfair actions must be put in place and enforced. I want my sport back! I want to be able to watch a game and not have to wonder if the guy pitching the ball or the guy standing in the batter’s box is using HGH or anabolic steroids. For the love of God, I just want to watch some pure, honest baseball!!!

Pressure

“No-one puts more pressure on me than myself” – Athletes Cliché

I’ve been thinking about pressure recently. I watched the inauguration ceremony and aside from the obvious historical relevance what stuck with me was the few shots we were shown of President Obama as he was walking through the hallways leading up to the balcony. Head up, eyes forward, looking like a guy totally ready to take on the biggest job in world even though he will clearly have an indefinable level of pressure on him.

The average person will never know such pressure. The pressure we face in life is split into milestones. For me, in my limited years it has all been about pressure in education. Setting goals, reaching goals and trying not to screw up and waste my parent’s money in the process, and there will be plenty more down the line that hopefully I will succeed with at similar level as those I have already achieved.

Now you may wonder what the hell that has to do with baseball or the Yankees. In the mix of my day dreaming I thought about the Yankees and the pressure that comes with signing a deal, big or small and putting on those pinstripes. Probably not as big a deal as being leader of the free world, and probably not as minor as the life of student scrapping his way through grad school, so lets just say what Yankees players face is somewhere in the middle.

I’ve watched a lot of press conferences and I read every bit of information I can get my hands on and the quote that opens this blog is one that I hear a lot. In most cases it may not be so cliché. When a player from Kansas or LA or Florida says those words after signing a deal I can probably believe that what he is saying is true. That his own will and drive to be great is no greater than those who pay him to play or pay to watch him play. Our team isn’t in Kansas. The Yankees are not from LA or Florida. They are in New York where that line does not apply. Where those words take on their cliché status and where even though it is the same game played in all of the other 30 major league cities, it is just a bit different.

I have but one major worry with Mr’s Burnett, Sabathia and Teixeira. It has nothing to do with elbows or shoulders. Injuries happen, though hopefully they wont, and even if they do I have to presume it wont be a Carl Pavano situation for any of these players. I don’t worry about talent or skill. All of the additions have it, the deals have them at the peak levels of their talent and I doubt that any of this trio will suddenly wake up one day soon and lose their ability to do what they do.

What I worry about is an unknown yet inevitable day this year. A day when I will crawl out of bed, stumble across the hallway to my pc to read about the game that has passed in my slumber and read a back page along the lines of:

“Sabathia Smacked By Sox”
“Burnett Bombed by BoSox”
“Teixeira Tanks in 8th”

Now those headlines will mean nothing much to us. We are Yankees fans and for the most part we a desensitised to the nature of our over the top expectations. However I wonder what will happen to the aforementioned players when they wake to see these headlines plastered across the overly dramatic back-page background of them with a slumped head heading back to the dugout or the vision of them walking off the mound – hat tipped up, wiping the sweat from their brow whilst closing their eyes and exhaling in the typical shot that photographers always seem to get.

I wonder how they will react when they see this. New York chews up and spits out more athletes than any other city regardless of expectations, salary or sport. It is a wonder to me that A-Rod can still take it, as even the press realises that a mix of their words and our expectations enables them to caricature Rodriguez with the weight of the world on his back in a way that is meant to be amusing, but is maybe too close to the truth to be funny.

That is what I worry about. The situation I have described will happen. Perfection is unattainable in life and in baseball and when it happens it will be on of those defining pressure milestones for the players involved. How they respond is vital and you obviously hope they respond in the right way, with strength and accountability, but at the same time realise that just as that hurdle is passed it is there again in the next game, in the next at bat waiting to trip you up and if you can’t handle the pressure then you will keep falling.

I don’t know how it will be set-up in the new stadium, but in the old one as you walked down the tunnel leading up to the dugout there was the sign stated the famous Joe DiMaggio quote, “I thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee”. That’s a true statement but just so these players know what they are really in for they could also hang up the following:

“No-one can put more pressure on you than we can” – New York Yankees

Thoughts on the New Yankee Stadium

There is much anticipation over the opening of the New Yankee Stadium this April. I, like many Yankee fans, am unsure what to think about the new stadium. I figured that in this post I will go through the many positives and negatives that the New Yankee Stadium will bring. First lets start with the negatives.

Negatives
1.) Atmosphere- Despite the resemblance to the old stadium, I believe that the atmosphere of the New Stadium will be different than the old. For starters, the new stadium lacks history. The Yankees greats such as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and Mattingly have never played a game inside the new park. Part of the mystique of the old stadium was the people associated with it. You could almost visualize the great ballplayers on the field as you were watching a game pan out. For alot of us watching a game at the old Stadium wasn't just about what was happening on the field. It was an all encompassing feeling that every part of the Stadium was somehow connected to the events that took place inside it. While walking the corridors you can't help but think that someone was walking the same corridor after Aaron Boone's ALCS home run or David Cone's perfect game. Even the little things such as the peeling paint, or ancient bathrooms showed the stadiums connectedness to hundreds of great Yankees moments. Bob Sheppard's voice will also be sorely missed from the New Stadium. Despite his contract to announce the opening game at the new stadium, it is unlikely that Sheppard will be there for long. Unfortunately for me, the memories of old Yankee games won't be able to transfer over to the new stadium. However I am optimistic that there will be great new moments in the New Yankee Stadium for years to come.

2.) The Bleachers- One of the biggest blunders of the New Stadium was the design of the bleachers. The old Yankee Stadium had nearly 7500 bleacher seats. The New Stadium will have only half as many. This number will be offset somewhat by a standing room area that can hold 2,000. Despite this, the Stadium will still be nearly 2,000 bleacher seats short of the old stadium. Although the Bleacher Creature will surely establish themselves in their new section, the removable of bleacher seats will surely disperse the once cozy section. That means less affordable seats for poor college kids such as myself, or any other Yankee fan who is on a budget. Being able to see a Yankee game for under 20 bucks is a great thing, and I think that the lack of bleachers in most new stadiums (at least compared to the older stadiums such as Fenway, Wrigley and the Old Yankee Stadium) has partly contributed to the rising ticket costs. A second problem that I have with the bleachers is the sports bar which I like to call "That really ugly black box" that they put in center field. First of all it is an eyesore. Architecturally it doesn't fit in with the rest of the Stadium, which to its credit has done an excellent job of retaining many of the features of the old stadium. Second it is located right above monument park, which could somewhat hamper the experience. Rather than looking up and seeing the bleachers, or the facade, fans get an eyeful of drunk patrons who have nothing better to do than look at monument park from the confines of their air conditioned, padded bar chairs. Anyways, the removable of "cheap seats" has really pissed me off, and has not only decreased the likelihood of me ever sitting with the bleacher creature but has also prevented thousands of fans from seeing a Yankee game at an affordable price next year.

3.) Cost- 1.3 billion dollars later......we have a new stadium. This number is absolutely outrageous when you think about it. About 450 million dollars will be paid by the tax payers, while an equal amount will be contributed by the Yankees. The remainder of the money has been paid for by the city or state and has included funding for infrastructure improvements, replacing McCombs Dam Parkland, and building parking garages. Anyways, I think that this is an outrageous cost, and unless A-Rod is willing to play for free for the remainder of his career, we will continue to see higher than average ticket and merchandise costs at Yankee games.

Positives
1.) Design- One of the successes of the stadium (besides the aforementioned center field monstrosity) has been the incorporation of multiple elements of the Old Yankee stadium. In some cases the New Stadium looks more like the pre-renovation stadium than the older one did. The facade around the entire upper deck, as well as the beautifully done exterior have created a ballpark that is gorgeous from inside out. In addition, wider concourses, more restrooms and better handicap accessibility have made the stadium easier to get around. I am happy that things such as field dimensions and monument park have been preserved in the new stadium. All in all, I think that the architects did a good job at trying to recreate the Yankee Stadium experience of old.

2.) The Big Ass Replay Screen- That thing is huge! It will not only replay the highlights of the game, but also be able to entertain us between innings with clips of classic Yankees moments, Yankeeography, etc. I'm just hoping that it doesn't take too much away from the game and hopefully fans can keep their eyes fixed to the pitcher and batter and not the replay screen.

3.) Improved Sight Lines- One of the big advantages of the New Stadium is that it offers near perfect sight lines for nearly every seat in the house. In the old stadium, especially in the upper deck near the foul poles, it was difficult to see down the lines. Now, with improved sight lines, fans won't have to miss a double down the line or Jeter diving into the stands to make a game saving catch.



This sums up my thoughts for the New Stadium. Although they are mixed, I still look forward to seeing the Yankees in their new home. Feel free to add your own thoughts and opinions on the New Stadium.

AJ Burnett: Cashman’s Folly?

When the Yankees shelled out nearly a half of a billion dollars in about a one month span, and pitcher AJ Burnett was one of the recipients. The now 32 year old righty, received a 5 year $82.5 million deal from the Yankees in December after his “breakout” year in 2008. Many Yankees fans are in favor of this signing and look to Burnett to be an essential part of the 2009 season and beyond, however there is evidence that may suggest otherwise.

From the standpoint of his mentality, his stuff, and his 2008 season, Burnett may seem like the perfect fit for New York. There is no arguing that he has electric stuff and wants to win every time he gets the ball. The argument is more focused on the question of will he be able to go out there every fifth day on a constant basis to provide what he has to offer? Along with all of his success, Burnett’s career has been plagued with injury, and not minor ones. In 2003 he had Tommy John surgery, after elbow inflammation persisted through the early season. The surgery delayed the start of his 2004 season, though he returned strong. The injury bug left Burnett alone until the 2006 when he was again hit, and twice. The first injury was related to remains from his initial Tommy John surgery that became irritated and inflamed in his elbow. The second injury was again related to the elbow and put him on the DL for nearly a two month span. As he had done in the past, when he did pitch, he pitched well. His 2007 season got off to a good start, he completed the majority of the season up until mid-June, when he was struck with shoulder issues. This seemed to be more a chronic issue, as he spent time on the DL in two consecutive months for what seemed to have been the same injury. This injury is the most concerning out of the long list, due to the fact that it involved the shoulder. Sure, elbow issues are bad, but shoulder problems have a higher probability of ending a pitcher’s career. Though Burnett’s 2008 season was DL free, he endured a heavy workload just a season after having spent time off due to a shoulder injury. He made 34 starts and pitched over 220 innings, both being firsts in his career. An injury prone 32 year old coming off his body’s most taxing year shouldn’t be what anyone wants to hear. In addition to having so many injuries, the trend of them doesn’t favor the Yankees. Every year he has pitched over 200 innings (which is just 3 times in 8 seasons), he has spent the following year on the DL for at least part of the season, if not missing the whole season. Some of the other injuries also followed lighter load seasons, such as those of 2007, which isn’t reassuring in any sense. It just seems that Burnett can’t stay healthy, and if his 2009 season takes the same path as every other year, he will be in for some potentially time consuming and serious injuries.

Contractually, the signing of Burnett really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Above are mentioned facts of his career, which has consisted of plenty and too much time off due to health related issues. The Yankees gave a 32 year old, oft injured pitcher, a five year deal. Could you recall the last time the Bombers gave a lucrative somewhat long deal to a much younger pitcher with similar concerns? Yes, you probably guessed it, a fan favorite, Carl Pavano. It’s a stretch to consider Burnett in any sense to be like Pavano, except for their health histories. The thought of having another disastrous contract like that of Pavano still looms, however. A Burnett injury will be a constant threat to the pitching staff of this team for the next five seasons, unless his toughness and body have finally adjusted to being a major league pitcher, this, however, seems quite unrealistic. His final season in pinstripes will be at age 36, which is a little old for any pitcher (excluding Randy Johnson). His career is close to crossing over the line into the statistical declination period, as that drop begins for most pitchers between the ages of 32 and 34. In coming years his stuff will begin to decline and he will have to adjust by learning new pitches, or changing pitch selection, not to mention he will become even more prone to injuries. The money is not so much the issue when it comes to Burnett’s contract, it’s the years. A five year deal is a long deal for anyone who is 32, especially someone like him who carries such a great risk. Finally his spot in the rotation is also a bit of a concern. He has the stuff of an ace, but is currently slotted in at number two in the rotation. That, to me, seems to be pushing it, there is little doubt that Wang can keep his arm healthy and pitch another solid 200 innings, but there is doubt surrounding that same ability of AJ Burnett. If you ask me, he should our third man, he may be able to get a little extra rest, and would surely prove to be the best number three pitcher in the majors.

AJ Burnett undeniably has the stuff, mind set, and natural ability to compete anywhere, especially in New York. He has the potential to win many a games in the Bronx and become a big performer and star, but it is all based on how healthy he can stay. For most pitchers with stuff like his, the sky is the limit, but for Burnett, it seems to be more like his health is the limit. Possessing a career filled with dominance and injury, could the recent signing of AJ Burnett be Cashman’s folly?

Patience...Except When You're Bad

I think one of the most interesting aspects of this coming season that has yet to be discussed relates to Phil Hughes. His rotation status from the standpoint of opening day has obviously been debated in relation to the variety of other options that exist, however all likelihood suggests that at some point this year he will get his chance at holding down a rotation spot either through injury, his own performance or the simple fact that he is Phil Hughes and the Yankees are not yet ready to give up on the player once dubbed the 'baby rocket' by Jason Giambi.

Presuming that Hughes gets his shot is a fairly safe bet. What is less safe and about as volatile as RBS shares are is how fans will react to Phil Hughes. Fans are by nature quite fickle so again it would be safe to say that if he wins they will love him. What will be far more interesting to see is if he doesn't get it done right away, how long will Yankee fans tolerate him...better yet how long will the front office tolerate poor performance?

Prior to the start of last season the general statement from the front office was that Hughes, along with Kennedy, had their rotation spots, essentially for better or worse, with the realisation that the backup options were not any good and would not serve as any real form of organisational development if they (they being the likes of Rasner, Karstens) were put into the rotation ahead of Hughes.

A few weeks into April the organisation was singing a completely different tune. Hughes and Kennedy had both flopped. Hughes was evidently injured, but he only attributes the injury bothering him in his final start before his DL stint, so sadly he really was that bad in April. The general consensus was that had it not been for the injury Hughes would have likely been sent down to the minors for what had been considered a major disappointment in terms of his performance, essentially confirming a worse case scenario for the Yankees when they constructed the 08 season roster with a goal of being lead by young players like Joba, Hughes and Kennedy (JHK).

Now compare this year’s roster to last year’s. Last year the vast majority of fans believed the Yankees had enough to compete and rightly so. That being said it would have been a stretch to presume this team would be a title contender when the plan was at one point to have a rotation comprised of 3 rookie starters. Even with the rationale fan and some within the organisation taking such reduced expectations, no player was spared for poor performance and that included Phil Hughes. So what does that say about what response he should expect to get if he is poor this year?

This team is on another level compared to last years, in terms of talent, added wealth and most importantly expectations. My belief is, if you can't win with this team, and win right away then whom can you win with? The brunt of such expectations falls on the Usual Suspects and obviously the new additions, but also on the likes of Hughes. If Hughes couldn't get some slack on a team that probably wasn't set up to win last year, then what will the response be if after 5 starts he is putting up numbers similar to those seen in the first month of last season, for a team that is meant to dominate without exception?

It will be very interesting to see if the Yankees soldier on with Hughes, again providing that health is not an issue. Alternatively and more worryingly the Yankees, like some fans (myself included) may lose patience to the point where JHK, which is now arguably only JH, suffers another loss to leave only Joba from what was the most anticipated group of prospects in the Yankees for many years.

Am I exaggerating here...ask Ian Kennedy! His early promise from 07 starts against Tampa, KC and Toronto have been banished from the minds of fans in place of the pitch after pitch that was either wide of the plate or shot into the outfield. Phil Hughes is only sparred from Kennedy status due to his hype, his better stuff and the fact that his injury saved him from himself.

Will he be just as lucky this year?

*****

I thought I'd borrow an idea from the Sports Reporters and finish with a parting shot. Please though don't take this the wrong way. My general disdain for the vast majority if not all of the main media extends to the Sports Reporters cast so this shouldn't be taken as a tribute to their so-called expertise, rather an attempt to do it better than they do.

Kevin Youkilis signed with the Red Sox last week for $40 million over 4 years. In his press conference Youkilis stated that money isn't a big deal to him, that he loved Boston and that his wife and family were part of the decision. That's right, his wife and family. Weren’t they the same reasons that Teixeira mentioned?

Even though their logic was the same, it was Teixeira, and more importantly his wife who were mocked by the media, including Peter Gammons for their decision making process. Then again that is to be expected for you see Boston is a magical place. Where 42 year olds are good investments, where 2nd place in a Cy Young a few seasons ago means you are due for greatness, where injuries magically heal, where 39 isn’t as old as it is in the Bronx and where you can take into account your family without everyone taking shots at you.

Minor League Breakdown: My Top 10 Yankees Prospects:

1.Austin Jackson
The 22 year old centerfielder is the obvious choice for the Yankees number one prospect. He is the first high ceiling offensive player that the Yankees have actually given adequate time to develop in the minors for quite some time. He has five tool potential, though he is yet to fully refine and develop his skills. His 2008 in Trenton was good, but the power numbers weren’t quite there. I expect his power to begin to develop, as well as the other aspects of his game. You could expect Jackson to break into the majors as early as late this season, as long as he makes the proper adjustments in AAA. Jackson is most likely going to be our centerfielder for years to come, hopefully he can fill the void Bernie has left.

2.Jesus Montero
An offensive monster, the 19 year old catcher possesses offensive tools like no Yankees minor leaguer from my generation. He is said to rank 80/80 on the scouts power scale and also has the ability to drive in and score a lot of runs, as well as bat above .300. The one negative that Montero has showed to this point, is lack of plate discipline, as his strikeouts are nearly double his walks, however this should improve as he gains experience. Fielding wise, Montero has made strides, and has a very good arm, he won’t be stellar, but he could be good enough. To put in perspective how good he is, his season last year compared to Albert Pujols year at the same age. No matter what position Montero ends up playing, he looks to be a definite big leaguer with All Star and Silver Slugger potential. He is probably 2 years off, but learn the name.

3.Zach McAllister
Perhaps my favorite prospect in the system, Zach McAllister’s 2008 showed why the Yankees drafted him. The 21 year old righty had an incredible breakout year as he completely dominated opposition in Tampa and Charleston. He has pin point control, a solid repertoire (FB, CB, SL, CH), and a good GO/AO ratio. He will most likely start the season in AA, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him in AAA at mid-season, and perhaps in the Bronx at roster expansion time. He has a great build, is still very young, and seems to be very polished. If I had compare him to a current Major Leaguer it would be Jon Lackey. McAllister could be on his way to being a middle or upper rotation starter with a solid career, if he can come close to his 2008 numbers, expect him to hear him mentioned.

4.Dellin Betances
Another young and very projectable prospect, the “Baby Unit,” has ace potential. His 2008 season, which was mostly spent in Charleston (A-), was a series of ups and downs. The most evident problem he has is control, as can be seen with his high walk rates. His walks allowed many more runners to score than you might otherwise expect, opposing hitters only batted .208 off him, and he held opponents to just 87 hits in 115 innings. At times, however, his walks disappeared, and he flashed absolute dominance, shutting teams down and occasionally gaining double digit strikeouts. If Betances can continue the progress he made last year, especially toward the end of the season, he could begin to move quickly. Pitchers with a big frame like Betances (6’8”- 6’10”) often struggle with control for a while. If he can put everything together, Betances has #1 and closer potential.

5.Andrew Brackman
Brackman is on the list not because of what he has accomplished, but because of his overwhelming potential. His frame couple with his pitches could make him into a staff ace or a great closer. Delayed by injuries, the Yankees first pick in the 2007 draft, the 23 year old debuted in the Hawaii Winter League in this offseason. Though he struggled, signs were promising that his velocity and pitch movement was getting back to where it had been. However, like Betances, Brackman looks to have some control issues, maybe even more significant than the Baby Unit. In any case, keep an eye on the big man, he could be a dud or a star, let’s see what he can do in 2009, because if it’s good, he could move quick.

6.Austin Romine
Another solid catching prospect in the Yankees system, the 20 year old Romine had a very good freshman year. He batted .300 with 10 homers and good production for the RiverDogs, as well as displaying good defensive capabilities. He should start in Tampa for the 2009 season and switch on and off between designated hitter and catcher with Jesus Montero. Hopefully he does as well in the coming season as he did last year. He has good potential, and at this point he looks to at least be on pace to be an average major league catcher. Romine has it tough right now with Cervelli and Montero ahead of him, but he should still be watched closely.

7.Brandon Laird
The huge 21 year old righty belted 6 more homers than highly touted Montero in 10 less games last season. He has amazing power potential, but his body type, the signing of Teixeira, and other factors (such as impatience) are working against him. I like Laird a lot, and if he can improve his patience and hit for a bit of a higher average, he could have a big impact. An improvement from last season could help put him on more people’s radar, because he seems underrated at this point. Brandon Laird could be destined for the DH job in a few years, but regardless, keep an eye on the kid, he has some great power.

8.Mark Melancon
The former University of Arizona closer bounced back nicely in 2008 from his Tommy John surgery. Melancon, 24, again flashed the dominance he showed in his college career. Not only does he display fine control and have the ability to strike out a majority of opposing hitters, but he also has a good groundball tendancy, which to me is an important attribute, especially to a reliever. This means he is somewhat less homerun prone, and with a good infield he could keep opposition off the base paths. Armed with a solid fastball, devastating curve, and what seems like a solid mentality, Melancon could be on his way to the Yankees bullpen in 2009, and perhaps be the future closer.

9.Jairo Heredia
Another young, low level pitching prospect in the Yankees system, Heredia helped round out a dominant staff in class A Charleston in 2008. His 2008 season was proof of the excitement that has surrounded him. He showed decent control, an ability to get strikeouts, and a good GO/AO, which are all good signs for an 18 year old. I expect that Heredia will spend the whole season in Tampa, because with so much pitching depth throughout the system, there is no need to rush him, unless of course he makes Tampa look too easy. It’s still very early in his career, but already I’ve heard comparisons to Pedro Martinez, take a mental note of the name Jairo Heredia because you might hear it a lot in years to come.

10.Kanekoa Texeira
Acquired in the Nick Swisher deal, I instantly liked the stats and what I read about Kaneko Texeira. With a chance to make the bullpen out of spring, you could at least expect to see him at some point during the season. He possesses a low-90’s high movement sinking fastball that allows him to have high GO/AO rates (almost 3 in AA), as well as a devastating slider, which was ranked the best in the White Sox system, prior to the trade. Texeira can get both righties and lefties out, but completely dominated lefthanders in 2008. I was unsure about the Yankees tenth prospect until we acquired Texeira, he has the tools that could put him in the bullpen as long or short relief for years to come. At only 23, more minor league experience couldn’t hurt, but if he dominates AAA and the bullpen needs help, he should get the call.

Writers Wanted

Since my workload for this semester will surely pick up, I won't always have time to post articles. I'd like to try for 2-3 a week, maybe more if I'm not busy. If anyone is interested in expressing there opinions about the Yankees, let me know! As long as you're articulate and know what you're talking about, I'd love to have some help. Post a comment in here if you have interest, leave me your email and name.

Andrew Brackman, New York’s Next Great?

Drafted number 30 by the New York Yankees in the 2007 draft, Brackman could become the biggest steal since, well Joba Chamberlain. Faced with injury concerns, the NC State junior fell significantly in the draft. He was ranked as the 7th best prospect entering the draft, and was considered to have the best fastball out of all the other pitchers. It seems that the elbow injury, which would require Tommy John surgery, was too big of a concern for most teams. However, the Yankees looked at the situation differently, they decided it was a way to get one of the most talented players in that year’s draft class at the number 30 spot. To me, and to many, this was a smart idea that will pay off in years to come. The last time the Yankees used this strategy and picked a high reward, injury risk, his name was Joba Chamberlain, and we all know that story. Let’s take a closer look at what the Yankees got in Andrew Brackman, and how these abilities could put him on the fast track to the Bigs.

The characteristic(s) of a pitcher that always draws the most interest is the stuff. Well then, let’s have a look at what Brackman throws. First, and most obviously the giant righty throws the fastball, both the two-seamer and the four-seamer. His fastball ranges anywhere from 92-97 consistently, and when he reaches back he can hit 100 mph. His two-seamer is more likely in the lower velocity range (92-95), however, the key to this pitch is the movement. The scouting reports suggest that this pitch has a lot of movement, and movement which is also late. The movement is most likely generated due to the fact that the 6’10” righty has an enormous downward plane. Additionally, Brackman can consistently get the pitch within the strike zone. Having good movement, velocity, and consistency with this pitch, with so little experience is a very good sign. Next there is Brackman’s four seamer, which more likely sits in the upper portion of his velocity (94-97). There is not a whole lot of information about it, but I assume there is some kind of movement, and his control is at least decent. The next, and perhaps most feared pitch is his spike curveball. The velocity of this pitch ranges anywhere from 77-83 mph, usually sitting 78-81. This pitch has a lot, and very nasty movement (looks like 1 to 7 or 12 to 6). Again he probably generates more movement than other pitchers just because of his sheer size. However good the pitch may be, he struggles with inconsistency control wise with it. Due to his relative inexperience in comparison with the difficulty of the pitch, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Finally Brackman throws a changeup, and it this point, it is mostly potential. The speed of his changeup can sit anywhere from 82-84 mph, which seems a little too fast. 80-82 mph seems like it would be a better range, just because the fastball velocity is bound to dip here and there, and the pitch may lose its trickery. When he was drafted scouts said that his changeup was just an average pitch, however many people suggest it could easily become a plus or plus plus pitch for him. Pitch wise, Andrew Brackman has all the right ingredients for a starter, a fastball (with 2 variations), a curveball, and a changeup. Inconsistent mechanics, command, and control, like is usually the case, will be the biggest problem that he will face, especially because his frame is so large. Hopefully Nardi Contreras and other organizational helpers like Dave Eiland can help harness the potential that lays within all of Brackman’s pitches, and make him the next great Yankees pitcher.

When it comes to the build of a pitcher, Brackman is a dream. He is a huge guy standing at 6’10” and a fairly proportional weight of 270 pounds. His height and weight coupled will give him an advantage over other pitchers, because firstly he will be able to throw harder, with the larger downward plane and extra body weight. Secondly his height, as previously mentioned will help him develop extra movement on his pitches, which may be near impossible for smaller pitchers to develop. Thirdly his gigantic body will surely give him some kind of intimidation factor, because how often do you see a guy this big, throwing in the upper-90’s, and not playing basketball? Though his size is a definite advantage to him, many also see it as a disadvantage. No worries though, Brackman is a very good athlete, and his all around athleticism should allow him to make the proper adjustments in a given amount of time. He played baseball and basketball (center) at NC State, so I’m sure he is no stranger to proper footwork, agility, and jumping. These three factors alone should help him be at least an average fielder, and to me fielding is extremely important. Not only will his athleticism help with his fielding ability, but it may also help him develop and make adjustments to his pitching mechanics quickly and fairly easily. To be able to play at the college level you have to be willing and able to be coached, and be able to make adjustments to any situation which may arise. I’m going to quickly allude to his basketball career. To play basketball the most important aspect of a shot is proper mechanics and repetition of these mechanics. If you get good at it, you’ll the majority of your shots. I know baseball is completely different, but if he can make adjustments to his mechanics in baseball, like he did in basketball, he should be able to move quickly. So now that we know about his body type and athleticism, let’s take a look at his experience. This is where the majority of the concern with Brackman resides. His baseball career is young, and his professional baseball career is just starting. Brackman is an extremely raw talent, which may be the one factor that prevents him from making the majors within the year. He has problems repeating his delivery, which then causes his pitches to be uncontrollable or wild. This issue most likely takes root from his size and relative inexperience pitching, especially professionally. His baseball career is still very short. As far as I can see, Brackman pitched for his entire high school career, which was very good, he had the seventh best career ERA in Ohio history. When he went to North Carolina State, he also pitched, but for only about 30 games. His Freshman year was fantastic and put him on the radar by scouts again, his sophomore year was ugly mainly due to injury, and his junior year he bounced back. Additionally in his junior year, he pitched in the Cape Cod League, where he earned title of the second best prospect in the league. After being drafted, Brackman was almost instantly sidelined due to an elbow injury that required surgery. Brackman returned to pitch in the fall of this year, after missing a year for Tommy John surgery. He put up fairly unimpressive numbers in the Arizona Fall League, however, he had two very dominant starts. His walk and hit rates were high, but his strikeout rates were high, and his velocity was apparently very good. Having just 40 games (give or take) of upper echelon baseball experience could, as I mentioned, put a strain on his movement through the system, especially when coupled with his Tommy John recovery. Surely Brackman will have major limit on his innings this season, I would guess maybe even below 100 innings. Due to this, I almost think it’s more realistic to move the big guy to the bullpen. With his velocity and plus plus curveball, he could easily be the next great closer. Perhaps the Yankees could just have him pitch out of the bullpen this season to build up experience and confidence, and then make the transition back to starter. No matter where he ends up, whether it be in the back end of the bullpen or the starting rotation, Brackman has impact potential.

One of the riskiest draft picks for the Yankees in a while, Brackman could pay off big. He has a lot to work on and it remains to be seen if he can stay healthy, but if everything falls in place be prepared. Andrew Brackman could be the next big thing in pinstripes, literally.

The Fifth Man

At this point, the Yankees pitching staff, and team for that matter is nearly set. However, one big question mark still looms in the midst of all the offseason activity, who will be our fifth starter? Cashman has said that the Yankees would be willing to fill that spot with an internal option, though there are remaining free agent starters on the market. It is a questionable strategy at this point, considering the pitching woes of our youth, especially last season, but let’s take a look at what the Yankees have, and what is available.

Internal Options:

Alfredo Aceves:
A very interesting option indeed, Aceves flew through the minors last season, and landed on the big stage on the last day of August. In his brief time in the Bronx he was pretty impressive, giving the Yankees 3 quality starts out of his four, and going at least 5 innings in 4 of his 6 appearances. His ERA was low considering he gave up 25 hits and 4 homers in 28 innings, but if he can manage to keep the runners he lets on base from scoring, that’s all we need. Possessing a low 90’s fastball, a solid curveball, a good changeup, and a cut fastball of sorts, look for Aceves to show up in spring ready to make the team. At this point, he may be the best and most polished internal option the Yanks have, and if I had to pick anyone to be our fifth man, it would be Aceves.

Phil Hughes:
One of the most highly touted pitching prospects in the Yankees system, probably since Brien Taylor, Hughes has thus far been far from spectacular, though there is still a lot of potential in him. It doesn’t seem as if he will be ready to take on the duties as the Yankees fifth man in 2008, or at least to start the season. He is coming off two straight years derailed by injury and inconsistency and may need some time to recuperate and regain momentum. Hughes took a step in the right direction in the AFL, pitching lights out for most of his starts, not to mention his fastball regained velocity. If Hughes dominates in AAA for 5 or 6 starts, and our #5 man is struggling, he should get the call. A mid-90’s fastball combined with a curveball, slider, changeup, and newly developed cutter, could potentially make the 23 year old Hughes a weapon. He remains a big question mark in my book, at least until he can show consistent dominance or at least decent pitching again.

Ian Kennedy:
Kennedy is another candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation for the Yankees. Like Hughes, he has failed to translate his minor league dominance into the majors. His brief showing in the 2007 season showed promising signs, but it all crashed down for him in 2008 with bad performance and injury. From what I’ve seen, Kennedy is a very polished pitcher with a good variation of pitches, and fairly consistent mechanics. His problem in 2008 appeared to be associated with a lack of confidence in his stuff and a fear of bat on ball contact. He was almost too cautious when pitching to hitters, which led to high walk totals, and nearly a 1/1 K/BB ratio. His 69 innings in AAA showed that he still has good stuff, as he once again dominated on the minor league level. Hopefully with a confidence boost and some experience under his belt, Kennedy could perhaps be an impact player. Again, I say Kennedy starts the season in AAA, and under circumstances of showing good pitching on his part and a bad fifth man in the Bronx, he could get the call.

Phil Coke:
Coke is quite an intriguing option. His 2008 work out of the bullpen showed a truly dominant side of him with a mid-90’s fastball, a nasty slider, and a decent changeup. It would make sense for the Yankees to add another lefty into the rotation, but with expense to the bullpen, the move becomes questionable. Coke would most likely not be the same pitcher in the rotation as he is out of the pen, which is usually the case. His fastball velocity would most likely dip to around 90, his slider would slow and movement may be reduced, and the lack of a good enough third pitch might begin to show. Additionally, Coke had some kind of arm issues last season, as you may remember he was a component in the Nady and Marte deal until the Pirates didn’t like something during his physical. With this potential injury and a somewhat weaker repertoire, Coke seems better suited to be a reliever. Interestingly enough, rumor has it that Cashman even told him to prepare to be a starter at spring training. Coke is an option, but I’d rather keep him as a reliever.

Kei Igawa:
Potentially the Yankees worst signing in the past decade, Kei Igawa, still remains an option to be the fifth starter. He was bombarded in his debut year in the Bronx, and thus has spent almost all the rest of his time in the pinstriped uniform of Scranton. In his time there he has managed to put up some decent numbers. He carries a mid-three ERA in his AAA career, and solid walk and strikeout rates. Again it would be nice to have another lefty in our rotation, but it isn’t a necessity. Igawa has been far from impressive and may be destined to spend his years in American baseball on a AAA team. Igawa is an option for the fifth spot, but he wouldn’t be my first, second, or even third choice, unless he really shows something.

Jason Johnson:
At this point, I don’t really even consider him an option. He has atrocious career numbers, and quite frankly, I’d rather have Donovan Osborne come back and pitch in the number five spot. Unless Johnson somehow finally figured to put everything together at age 35, don’t expect him to make the team.

External Options:

Andy Pettitte:
Being a free agent, Pettitte is an external option, as the Yankees would have to add him to the payroll. A long time Yankee, he would be a great option. He has proved his consistency by winning 12 games in 13 of the last 14 seasons and 200 innings in almost every season he’s pitched. The problem with Pettitte is not his abilities or attitude, it’s the cost. After spending nearly $500 million dollars and cutting payroll, the Yankees are looking for a cheaper short term option. Pettitte, however, feels deserving of a contract in excess of what the Yankees offered him, probably somewhere between $12-16 million. After not accepting the Yankees offer, and the Yankees rightfully unwilling to raise the offer, Pettitte may be forced to sign with a more desperate team or just retire. In addition to the financial issues, there was also signs and talks of injury with Pettitte at the end of last season, I believe it involved the elbow. With the high price demanded for a potentially injury risk, I think the Yankees would be smart to shy away from Pettitte, unless he takes their current and fair offer.

Pedro Martinez:
I’ve always been a fan of this guy, aside from when he threw Zimmer to the ground. Pedro is a tremendous pitcher with the combination of great stuff and a competitive attitude. Yes he is aging, injury prone, and his stuff is deteriorating, but he surely still has something left in his tank. An incentive laden deal, much like the one given to Penny and Smoltz, would be a perfect fit for Pedro, if he accepted. As a number five man, Pedro could get the rest he needed and provide more than almost every other fifth man. Though many people doubt him, and dislike him due to some incidents, Pedro is a good pitcher with the right mind set, and even at age 37 would be a fine option.

Freddy Garcia:
Garcia is another option for the fifth spot, mainly because he will come fairly cheap. If he is offered a contract, it should be based on meeting certain innings and start quotas and bonuses for the innings he pitches over what they expect him to. Garcia has been out for nearly the entirety of the last two seasons, so it’s hard to know how badly the injuries affected his stuff and his conditioning, especially considering he had a shoulder injury. He has had a good career and proved to be consistent enough, not to mention he is only 32. The Yankees should watch him work out and try and gauge what he wants for a contract, because if he could be had for a one year deal, with the previously mentioned contract, I think it would be a good high risk high reward move.

Ben Sheets:
If I had to pick someone to sign, Sheets would be my guy. He has stuff that could make him worthy of a number 1 or number 2 job, but his health has always held him back. Sheets pitched well in 2008 and would have been more demanded had he not had an end of the season injury. At just age 30, Sheets could be a great sign. If he would accept anything from $10-12 on a 1 year deal with an option, I would go for it, however, that may be unrealistic. From what I can see, none of Sheets most recent injuries are that serious, and if he is your fifth man, missing a few games here in there wouldn’t be a big deal. Sheets is an option, but at this point he seems like a long shot.

Randy Wolf:
The 32 year old lefty is coming off a decent year in the NL. Wolf has pitched well in his full seasons, but like Sheets, he has also been plagued with chronic injuries. I’ve only seen him pitch a handful of times, but I think he has good enough stuff to get by in the American League, especially as a number five. Additionally, Wolf has major league experience under his belt, which is always a help. I’m not aware of the contract he is looking for, but again if he would accept an offer in the Yankees range, he wouldn’t be a bad choice.

There are some other options out there, including those by trade, but I don’t want to speculate while it is pretty quiet. When it comes to other free agents, I felt that they aren’t a good option, or may be asking for a longer more lucrative deal than the Yankees would offer. Overall, it seems like Cashman is set on going with internal options, but I’m not particularly crazy about the idea. With AJ Burnett and a limited Chamberlain in the rotation, I think it would be almost necessary to pick up another veteran pitcher. The risk of injury is something the Yankees are going to have to take if they sign another free agent, but if the contract is short and inexpensive, it won’t be a big deal. If I had to pick an internal option at this time I’d pick Aceves, and as a free agent I’d pick Ben Sheets. There is still plenty of time until spring training, and until the season starts, we are left to ponder.

Odd Man Out

The Pros and Cons of The Outfielders

Nick Swisher:

Pros:

-Switch hitter. One of the biggest advantages Swisher holds over the other three outfielders is his ability to bat from both sides of the plate. This would allow for a more flexible lineup, and create a lineup that would be very similar to that of the 1998 Yankees..

-Walking ability. Swisher, is probably the best out of this group of 4 at walking. He has averaged 93 walks in the last three seasons, peaking at 100 in ‘07, and dipping to 82 in ’08. Getting on base allows for more runs to be scored, Swisher scored 86 runs last season, while batting just .219, the walks surely allowed for him to have that production.

-Power. Swisher also has the most power out of this group. He will give you on average 25 homers, and still has the potential to reach 30-35. Having power in the bottom of the lineup is always a plus.

-Flexible and Solid. Swisher has the physical ability to play all the outfield positions and even 1B, with at least average fielding ability. He is best in the outfield, but he provides flexibility for injury or rest days, and is sound in providing it.

-Age. Swisher is the youngest of this group of outfielders, at just 28. He is currently in his prime and should provide production until his contract runs out.

Cons:

-Strike Outs. Though Swisher walks a lot, he, like many hitters, seems to be hurt by the strike out. He has struck out at least 110 times in each of his four full seasons, but tends to be more around the 130-140 range. Being productive, however, could lessen the effect of this.

-Batting Average. When it comes to this category, Swisher is far from a star, however, there is potential to hit higher. Last season was a struggle for Swisher, and there was talk he was unhappy, a change in scenery should help boost his average. Keep in mind Brosius batted .203 before coming to the Yankees.

-Base Stealing. Swisher provides little ability to steal bases, though he isn’t a bad base runner. Speed is always a plus when it comes to close games and late innings, and with a lineup already lacking that ability, Swisher provides no help.

Xavier Nady

Pros:

-Balance. Nady provides a good balance in all of the offensive categories, not being fantastic at any one. He is probably just above average in most categories, and you could most likely expect at least .280 20 80 from him next season.

-Right Handed. Though not looking to be such a big issue this season, Nady could provide a right handed bat for the part of lineup, which will probably be more left handed.

-Super Utility. Like Swisher, Nady also has the ability to play all outfield positions and first and third base. He could play the corners above average, first and third (probably) average, and center above or slightly below average. Having him could allow for rest, or a position change given an injury occurs.

-Age. Nady is still just 30 years old, and with a contract only extending to the end of the season, he will be in his prime for the season.

Cons:

-Poor K/BB ratio. Nady lacks the ability to get on base via the walk, which alone isn’t a problem. However, with his newly found power, he has also found the ability to strike out. Coming close to, or going over 100 K’s in each of the last 3 seasons, Nady might not be a good fit for what may seem like an impatient lower half of the lineup as it is. He will strike out nearly 3 times as much as he will walk.

-Speed. Again, Nady is a player who can run the bases fine, but when it comes to stealing, he isn’t your guy. I would say his base stealing ability is below average, especially for an outfielder.

-New York Pressure. Overall Nady had a great 2008 season, however, the time spent with the Yankees was less than expected. His AVG and OBP took major hits, while his power seemed to be helped by the ballpark. The question is, can Nady be as good a player in New York as he was for the Bucs.

Hideki Matsui

Pros:

-Consistency. When it comes to being consistent, Matsui is among the best. When he is healthy, he will always drive in 100 runs and hit 20 homers. He is a middle to bottom of the order weapon.

-Toughness. Matsui is one of those guys that hates to not be playing, and even apologizes when he gets hurt. He displays a tremendous amount of physical and mental toughness, and always wants to be out there providing for the team. He always hustles and tries his best, he is a true warrior.

-Balance. Much like Nady, Matsui also provides a good balance within the offensive categories, however, he is probably a level up from Nady. He is not overwhelmingly good at any one category, but his makes him a solid player.

Cons:

-Age and Health. Unfortunately for Hideki, he is 34 going on 35, and age has taken a toll on his body. Injury has plagued him for the last 3 seasons, and he has missed large portions of 2006 and 2008. He is surely past his prime now, but can he be counted on to provide one more good year?

-DH. With his deteriorated knees, Matsui is likely relegated to DH, and only DH. His range was never tremendous, but now it will surely be below average. His effectiveness on the team could be reduced by being the full time DH.

-Double Plays. Considering the majority of pitchers faced are righties, Matsui always provides a hurt for all the good he provides, 55 GDP against righties in the majors. He is extremely prone to grounding in to the double play, and less productive Matsui coupled with a less productive Posada could mean disaster.

Johnny Damon

Pros:

-Speed. Unlike the other outfielders in this group, Damon can actually provide some speed. Though not quite game changing, 25-30 swipes could probably be expect from a healthy Johnny.

-Leadoff Man. If Brett Gardner were to have a bad spring, or not be able to adjust to the majors in 2009, Damon could be the leadoff man. He probably has enough left to provide good enough production for the one spot in 2009.

-Leadership and Personality. From what I’ve heard, Damon carries himself very well on and off the field. It’s evident he wants to have fun out there, but he also knows what it takes to get to the top. He is a very good influence on the youth, plus he apparently convinced CC to come to the Yanks.

Cons:

-Age and Health. As might be expected, Damon’s age causes health concerns, and has done a lot to make him less of a player. He isn’t getting any younger, and the season is long, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him spend some time on the DL in 2009. Last year was a rebound year for Damon, after a pretty bad 2007, but it seems unlikely that he can repeat his last season again.

-Fielding Ability. The range of Damon in the outfield is beginning to decrease as each year goes on, and with fielding always being among the top concerns, this is a problem. Not only is his range poor, his arm is among the worst in the majors (in my opinion), and that often allows for players to get an extra base.

-Money. If the Yankees are looking to dump a contract, not make a more positionally flexible roster, Damon, like Matsui, is the guy you point the finger at. He is going to make $13 million next season, which seems too much for a 35 year old.

Conclusion:

To conclude, I believe that Nady and Matsui should be the players put on the trading block. However, due to Matsui’s recent injury history, I think dealing him is highly unlikely, which would move Damon into that position. Therefore, Nady and Damon become the Yankees trade bait. The Yankees should start to test the waters now, just to see what kind of interest can be sparked. Like I said, I pick Damon over Matsui to be traded because he is healthier, and might gather more attention. Nady, however, was picked for other reasons. Each player provides similar abilities fielding and flexibility wise, though to me, Swisher is the better player. With his power, walk, and production abilities, not to mention he is a switch hitter who is 2 years younger, he has a clear advantage. I see Swisher bouncing back from his awful season last year, and potentially scoring 80-100 runs while providing that same amount of walks. Thanks for reading, what are your opinions?