This is the hardest blog post I have ever done. The retirement of all time great and the best player in Major League Baseball for the past twenty seasons, Derek Jeter has hit me hard. The best player and one of the very first players drafted by Mr.S. (rip) and the YANKEES is gone and the hole he leaves offensively and defensively as the best shortstop in baseball is enormous. However, we must move on.
The YANKEES for 2015 will be fine and are reloading. With a very deep and talented starting rotation, albeit a starting rotation with much to prove, do not be surprised if this team performs far above expectations of the pundits and so called talking head experts. Didi Gregorius has been tabbed to replace Jeter at shortstop, which in reality can never be done. Didi needs to be himself, do what he does best and must not let the comparisons to Jeter get to him. Chase Headley has been given the third base position and that may be one of the best moves the YANKEES have made in the off season. The basic starting team will be McCann c. Teixeira 1b. Drew 2b. Headley 3b. Gregorius ss. Gardner lf. Elsbury cf. and Beltran rf. The YANKEES have a boatload of very promising minor leaguers, some of which who will undoubtedly be heard from over the 2015 season.
During the off season the YANKEES lost closer David Robertson, but have gotten better and deeper in the bullpen with the maturation of Betances and the signing of Miller. The closer spot has not been decided and possibly no one will be named. From start to finish the YANKEE pitching staff will be exemplary and carry the team a long way. The lineup on the other hand will have to come together and several players will have to step up their game over last seasons effort. The loss of Jeter, the leader, the captain, will leave a gaping hole that will have to filled by everyone in the lineup stepping up their performance.
Personally, I had an almost non-stop off season with interviews and evaluations. By my choice I am now on a year to year proprietary deal with the Steinbrenner sons. But they are not Mr.S. Hopefully, they will make the decisions that are best for the team, the fans, and winning.
I've noticed the stat frauds are almost non-existent here anymore. You guys and gals have done a great job beating them off, refuting and disproving their garbage man made formulas that are meaningless and useless. WINS and WINNING will always define the best players and teams. I will try to post more often this season and glad you are still here and growing the best baseball blog in the world, the WIN METHOD.
To conclude............LETS GO YANKEES.
2,485 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2401 – 2485 of 2485The sux and Dbacks paid 30 million per year for Price and Grienke. When they pitch against the Yankees we have Tanaka, Louie Louie, Pineda, and Eovaldi who can match them pitch for pitch any game any day.
Steven F, I can't speak for everyone here, but afraud if he did not cheat the game and his family, and he could produce clean, he may be more accepted. Despite much propaganda he and his flunkies put out about him, he is a team mate problem. No matter what, he still gets credit for helping teams to the playoffs and more. That is offset by his cheating. I do not accept Barry Bonds as the HR king. Aaron is. Bonds and others cheated for their totals. To many truly greats played clean and deserve the honors they earned.
Augie
Understood. I don't love having a person like on my team and have trouble accepting him as well. From what I've seen some people on here on don't stop at not accepting him, but actively blame him for all the Yankees problems. That just seems a little bit of a cop-out to me.
Jimbo
The contract for these guys are crazy, but let's be honest they are FAR superior pitchers to Pineda and Eovaldi at this point, and are both more consistent than Tanaka and Severino at this point.
Steven F...........You are right to a point. But watch when Price and Grienke face the Yankees and they are matched by the Yankee pitchers as they step up to the challenge. My point being the Yankee pitchers don't cost 30 million for multi years. If the Yankees play .500 ball against Price and Grienke the Yankees are way out front.
Samardja or whatever his name is got 90 million. What a waste of money. We have five starters better than him.
Jimbo
Man I hope you're right. Greinke is rarely if ever going to face us being in the NL, but Price is 13-7 against us in his career, and has won his last 3 starts against us. Playing .500 against him is a BIG if, seeing that it hasn't been the case over the last 8 years. Again I would love if you're right, but predicting that is really just wishful thinking at this point.
YankeeMike...Exactly, this 2016 team is going to surprise many doubters and non believers.
Who knows what afraud may have done without being juiced. He made his bed, he is making a small fortune, but he is still a liar and cheat.
Steven F. You forgot Greinkes record versus the Yanks. 4-8. That makes Price/Greinke 17-15 against the Yanks. That is in no way shape or form worth 30 million a year. I also looked up Felix Hernandez and he is 8-6 over his career. Another multi million dollar pitcher. Just not worth the money.
The Yankee records against those very highly touted pitchers shows they can compete with anyone.
It's only 2 starts but Clayton Kershaw has lost both games to the Yankees.
Guys, explains why the Yankees are so competitive..
Jimbo
No I didn't forget it, but as I said we're not going to be facing Greinke very much if at all going forward, so who cares. We will being facing Price numerous times, so he's the guy I care about, and we've struggled against him, especially recently, that's all I was pointing out.
Also that's a poor argument for saying Greinke isn't worth it. Over his past 5 seasons he's 66-20. David Price is 63-30 over his past 5 seasons. These guys win, and they win consistently. Honestly they've won more consistently than any of the current Yankee starters have. There's been a lot of hate for the teams signing these guys and I'm not sure why. I'd love to have them on my team, these guys are winners, isn't that we want?
Pitchers who win for one team may not necessarily win for another team. But there is no question both Price and Greinke have helped their teams dramatically. I agree, I wouldn't mind having either one on my team, but never ever at 30 million a season for the years they signed for. My other point on how well the Yankees have fared against Kershaw, Hernandez, Greinke, and Price was not the importance of who we will face, but that we competed with them over and over fairly closely. And we didn't pay out pitchers 30 million a season for multiple seasons. CC's long term was bad enough.
Jimbo
They may not necessarily, but in general, a great pitcher will be great for any team he pitches for. Both these guys have pitched for 3 different teams over the last 5 years, they've been very successful at each team.
I know the current money going out seems crazy, but baseball revenue is higher than it's ever been right now. CC's contract was the highest ever for a pitcher at the time. Tanaka is making around 23 million a year, and that contract was given to him before he even threw a pitch in the majors. It's easy to say we didn't pay out 30 million, but that was purely due to timing. We've given out record breaking money to attain top tier talent, that's all Arizona and Boston did. If we ever want to acquire top tier talent, we're going to have to dish out that kind of money to acquire it. If this team says never ever 30 million, then they're never ever going to acquire elite free agents or retain elite talent. Moreover, why do we care what we spend to improve the team - would you rather Hal pockets it?
Steven F. When we start talking about what owners spend or don't spend we are getting away from baseball. I believe the owner of any business can do with whatever he wishes with the revenues. For all I know they may have a very specific plan they are working. Then again, they may not know what they are doing. The biggest spender rarely wins the WS. The teams that win the WS win with the assortment of players who do the most to help their team win and win when it counts.
Jimbo
100% with that assessment, it's very very difficult to buy championships. Player development is crucial.
In terms of me bringing up what the owners are spending, I was merely responding to the some of the posters who stated it was not a smart move to sign those guys for that money. In summary my point was these guys are proven winners, and if they have the money to bring them in, why is that wasteful?
Guys, who, how, where and when ownership spends is the prerogative of the ownership. Fans always have options. Some, whine, cry, and bemoan. Some demean, and insult. Others support while stating their opinion respectfully. No one forces any fan to root for a team, the fans can root and support whoever they wish. I enjoy and support the Yankees come hell or high water.
Steven F. I could live with signing both Price and Greinke. I could live with giving then 35 million per year each. My caveat, would be one year each with a performance based goal and continue each year. The players wouldn't and their agents wouldn't accept that because they want the guarantee for not being able to perform. In my world it doean't bwork that way. If I don't perform I'm out of job.
In my day all contracts were one year and all based on performance. You had a rotten year, you made less the next year. The union ruined baseball for the fans. Great for the players, the owners to cover expenses just charge more and more for everything.
What's pay for what you are worth??? Just kidding. Nowadays you get paid for doing absolutely nothing.
Stay the course Brian.
Steven F.>>>>>>>Don't miss the importance of Price having never won a post season game. Isn't he 0-7? very telling in the most important of games.
Yankees have just made a deal with cubs. Yanks get Starlin Castro for 2b. No word who yanks gave up.
Interesting, what with Ref/Ackley?
How can those idiots report a trade and not know the deal?
It was Warren and a player to be named later.
At least it wasn't any of the kids. Warren will do great in the inferior NL. Probably starter for the Cubbies.
Brendan Ryan is the player to be named latter.
Castro gives us a decent bat. Girardi needs to get Castros head on straight.
I can live with this deal. I'll miss Warren.
All peaceful again after last night deal with Cubs. Warren will be missed, he filled two roles very adequately.
The big thing is we still have all are young up and comers.
I think this trade makes us better. Well, at least I hope it does.
Yanks trade Wilson to Tigers for two minor league pitchers.
Some dodo on a baseball forum want to trade Betances and more for Puig. What a jerk.
Puig is a pig.
Steady Cash, stay the logical course.
Slowly blooming and growing and then the jackpot.
Puig is not only a pig he is mentally unstable.
Cashman and Yankees play it smart as they pass on Heyward, who goes to the Cubs for $184 million for 8 years. More wasted money, but it isn't ours.
No no Heyward. Another step forward.
With Warren and Wilson gone, spring training should be highly competitive for the guys who want to fill those spots.
Hugh Frazier
Why is it wasted money? Heyward helped st Louis to the playoffs and the most wins in the regular season. He's going to help the Cubs win games. What exactly is the waste?
The WIN METHOD deniers are out in force at the baseball forums.
Just over 2 months to spring training and real professional sports is back in action.
Steven Fischer, The cost, the options. Beltran 14 years older had arguably just as good if not better season in 2015. Beltran also got his team to the playoffs. Look at Heywards post season numbers. Awful. Yes, I am using stats, just the basic ones, none of the made up ones. I can live with Gardner, Elsbury, Beltran for another year. Heyward may have even been paid more per year without the options.
Bigbadwolf
I don't think he was a fit for the Yankees, I'm just arguing it's not a waste of money for the Cubs. In regards to the Beltran comparison- offensively they had similar seasons, but right now Heyeard is a much better defensive player than Beltran (if you watch them play it's very easy to see, Heyward is just faster and more athletic at this stage). I think defensive value and injury risk (of which Beltran is much riskier) get factored into their salaries, so it's not a great comparison.
My main point though is to me he's a very good player who is going to a talented team that had a need for an outfielder. The Cubs did what they had to do to get him and can afford him as they have a lot of young cost controlled players. That doesn't seem like a waste of money to me, but rather money well spent.
Steven F, No question Heyward is better defensively than Beltran. I was just trying to show how similar year they had in 2015 considering the difference in age. When I judge cost, it is to the team I support, not what someone else is willing to pay. I think is is possible every team in baseball has an outfielder who can do what Heyward does and is getting paid far less. Injury risk.....If Beltran goes down, the Yankees only lose the money for 2016, his last season. If Heyward goes down it cost hundreds of millions to the team. I think Heyward is a bigger risk monetarily.
Steven Fischer...I think bigbadwolf did most of the talking for me. Also with luck Judge may make a big splash. And in a couple of years maybe the front office goes all out for Harper if he passes WIN METHODs smell test.
Steven F. There are a lot of good players out there. You don't need to spend 200 million.
Guys, Harper may not even be worth what his projected value is going to be.
Best case scenario our kids develop and we win a WS before Harper is available. We could ignore him altogether or help drive up the price it will cost someone else. No one player is ever a team.
To everyone, I'm not arguing the Yankees should have signed him, as you guys said with Judge on the horizon and are outfield currently locked in I don't think he's a fit here.
What I do think, is that he's a very good player. Based on WINMETHOD, he's one of the best players in baseball since he was part of an 100 win Cardinals team. My point is that if he helps that Cubs team win more games next season going forward, then it isn't a "waste of money", what better use of money is there?
White Knight.....That would be nice.
Steven F. The Cubbies won 97 games last season and went to the playoffs. If they win 94 games in 2016 and go to the playoffs, how much did Heyward help them? What if the Cubs miss the playoffs?
Quay Ho
What if they win 100 and go to the World Series? Are you saying it's more likely the Cubs are worse with Heyward, I would argue that they are better, and thus more likely to win more games. What is the consensus on him as a player? I think both winmethod and stat junkies alike would agree he's one of the better outfielders in baseball
Lori, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Steven F.. I am saying he will make little to no difference to the Cubs. For what the Cubs are paying they may feel he will take them to the WS. I am saying the Cubs may do exactly what they did last season and the 184 million wasn't worth it. The Cubs have just as much chance to not do as well. Heyward is not a difference maker the way I see it.
Quay Ho
Fair enough, I think we view him differently as a player. I think from the Cubs perspectives they can't just say well we won 97 games last year so we don't need to do anything. I think they saw an opportunity to improve their team and took it. They've also set themselves up well for the next few years to be successful. We'll see how it plays out, but to me investing in future success is not wasteful.
What happens if Heyward goes down for any reason and does not or can not perform at expected level. I think the Cubs helped themselves more getting Warren for almost no cost.
Will-i-am
Actually teams take out insurance policies on these players to protect against these situations, so they would recoup some money on the deal.
Anyway though, every deal comes with risk, and they don't always work out, but that shouldn't scare teams from signing players. Ultimately I think they made themselves better by getting the best free agent outfielder available, and to me that's not wasteful
Steven F. That is all well and good. I wouldn't spend 23Mil/year if I can get just as good for maybe 15mil/year. I believe the only way that money is justified is if Heyward can help the Cubs to a minimum of a WS next season and at least another while he plays for the Cubs. If the Cubs go to the playoffs and are eliminated in the playoffs, yes the money was a waste as far as I am concerned.
Will-I-am
Who right now in this market can you get who is just as good?
Steven F. It is not as much as who is in the market or available. I was thinking more along the lines of outfielders from all the teams. Most of which are just as good and far less costly. It is hard to calculate injuries, but I rather have Gardner and or Elsbury before Heyward.
Just because a player is available does not mean you need to try to sign him for over 20 million dollars per season. In Heyward case most teams did not give him a sniff, I am sure for various reasons.
Will-I-am
Gardners contract was a great bargain at around 15 million a year. Ellsbury makes over 20 million a year though. Also Heyward was better than both of them last season, is much younger, and has been more durable than them. I think you might be undervaluing Heyward if you think every team has an outfielder who is just as good. The guy was one of the best players on a 100 win team last year, from what I've read on this blog that alone makes him one of the best in the game.
Warren. That is what I am getting at.
Steven F. Even his 100 win team did not want him and let him go. That says something about what they think his value is. No question he has helped his team last year and in the past. Many outfielders fall into the same category and have helped their team to the playoffs last year and in the past. I wouldn't seek his services for the dollars he got.
If the Yankees signed Heyward I would root for him, I did not and do not think he is what the Yankees needed and he wouldn't help this team any more than what we have on the field now or what we will have on the field in the next few years.
All,
Keep in mind the only thing I'm saying is calling a waste of money isn't fair. The cardinals didn't let him go, he was a free agent and he chose where he wanted, did we let Andy Pettitte go when he went to Houstan? Or did he choose to go there.
It seems like every time a free agent is signed that we call them a waste of money, isn't that pretty unfair until we see the results?
I agree Steven, the results will tell the final story. But the decision to pull the trigger on the deal has to be made before. The Cardinal could have resigned him if they wanted to try to keep him.
Carl. The Cardinals would have had to top the Cubs offer.
If Lindgren recovery is full, he could be a big time lefty reliever. WIN METHOD was very high on him.
Isn't a possibility Goody wins Warrens spot?
Goody has as good a chance as any. Has good stuff and may be ready to bloom.
I can't wait for Louie Louie for a full season.
The Yankees are going to shock the naysayers in 2016.
The talk forum doesn't have Nick goody on the radar. Blinded by their meaningless stats I guess.
Pete Rose denied reinstatement to baseball this afternoon by baseball commissioner.
We have Louie Louie and now maybe Goody Goody.
I'm putting in for the Stadium bleacher creatures chanting Louie Louie.
Louie Louie, Louie Louie, Louie Louie.
Merry Christmas WIN METHOD fans.
Cashman gets raked over the coals, yet he does a great job dealing with all he has to deal with.
great job! :)
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