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!!!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
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:
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
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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?
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?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
