Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Yankees Sign Daniel Aldrich


According to Mike Axisa on River Avenue Blues the Yankees have signed undrafted free agent Daniel Aldrich out of the College of Charleston. I will let you read Mike's scouting report, seen HERE, but he is definitely a very interesting sign. With those power numbers you can always find a spot in the minor leagues for him and hope for the best. Especially since we had 400K left over from our draft pool money which his $150 K contract, not confirmed... more assumed, will come out of. Thank you once again to Ty Hensley for signing that below slot deal!

Eric Chavez Needs More At Bats

How about this guy?

After seeing Eric Chavez hit a run-scoring ball to RF in the 3rd inning of Wednesday night's game I was thinking, "there's no way they can keep him out of the lineup when ARod returns". So I decided to take a look at some stats.

In the last 28 days Andruw Jones is hitting a lowly .122/.229/.195 in 48 plate appearances. So taking at bats away from him is a no-brainer. Even if you chalk up Andruw's last 28 days as a slump, and look at his season numbers, things don't get any better. His line for the 2012 season so far sits at .213/.297/.455.

Yeah, things just aren't going so well this year, Andruw.

Over the last four weeks Raul Ibanez is hitting .279/.343/.492 in 67 plate appearances, and his season line is .250/.312/.469. For the record I think the "real" Raul is closer to his season averages than his last 28 day averages, after all this is a guy that hit .245/.289/.419 in 2011.

Then we come to Mr. Chavez, who is hitting .316/.381/.614 over the last 28 days, and .293/.350/.540 on the year. Now, Eric did only hit .263/.320/.356 in 2011, so perhaps he's hitting "out of his head" this season. But don't you think the Yankees may as well take a shot at giving Chavez more at bats, even it they're just "riding the wave"?

In my opinion the question isn't "which of Jones, Ibanez, or Chavez get the majority of at bats?" The question in my mind is "should Chavez play 3B, and ARod DH, when Rodriguez returns from the DL?"

Assuming Alex doesn't jump ship to the NFL. The Jets would surely be interested.

Looking at each players UZR/150 (not my favorite stat, but probably the best one we have for defense), the choice doesn't clear up. Chavez's UZR/150 so far this year is -11.5, while Alex's is -12.5. Sure, Eric's is better, so the choice seems clear, but that's just too close (not to mention the issues with the stat itself) for me to say for sure one way or the other.

Even if you look at the past few years these two have played the hot corner the choice doesn't really clear up. ARod had an outlier season in 2011, when he had a UZR/150 of 20.2 at 3B, while Chavez had a 9.5 that was more like his glory days in Oakland. In the three years before that both players have been below average third basemen.

What it comes down to me is health. Yeah, swinging a bat is not great for somebody with hand issues like Alex, so it's not like he's "safe" DHing every day. But it's a hell of a lot better for him to stay off the field, where he can simply lose his balance bending for a ball, put all his weight on his hand, and mess it up again.


Did you not listen to Jimmy Dugan? There's no crying in baseball!

So matter what order Girardi wants to put the guys, the majority of games should have Chavez at 3B and ARod at DH for the rest of 2012.

Rangers @ Yankees 8/15/12

UPDATE:
Nick Swisher RBI Double, Curtis Granderson sac fly, and Eric Chavez single in the bottom of the 3rd puts the Yankees up 3-0 early. 

Yankees hold on to win 3-2

Tonight the Yankees will host the Texas Rangers in the third game of their four game set at the New Yankees Stadium. On the mound for the Yankees will be Sweaty Freddy Garcia and he will be facing Texas Rangers right hander Scott Feldman. The game will be televised on Wednesday Night Baseball on ESPN and the YES Network at 7:05 pm ET.

Lineups

1. Jeter SS
2. Swisher 1B
3. Granderson CF
4. Teixeira DH
5. Chavez 3B
6. Ibanez LF
7. Martin C
8. Suzuki RF
9. Nix 2B

Go Yankees!!

Felix Hernandez Throws A Perfect Game!

Dont Jinx Me Bro
Perfect game through 7 IP against the Tampa Bay Rays

UPDATE: 3 outs away from a perfect game. As much as Felix Hernandez kills us I am rooting for the guy!!

UPDATE: 25 up 25 down!!!!!

26 up 26 down!!!!!

PERFECT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melky Cabrera Tests Positive

 "Hey, look, it's my testosterone level."
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. 
The suspension of Cabrera is effective immediately.
For those of you that think this is a mistake, and like Ryan Braun, Melky will fight this and try to prove his innocence, he released this statement through The Players Association -
“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used. I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down.”
I'm far from a fan of Cabrera's, and to be honest it's probably an irrational dislike. I think it stems from the fact so many Yankee fans were upset when he was traded before the 2010 season. Then again, it may be the guy the Yanks acquired for Melky that was the problem. Who knows? However, even though I won't be joining the Melky Cabrera Fan Club, I'm not going to say his recent success is all because of the extra testosterone.

Sure, perhaps the last time he was tested was in the first half of the 2011 season, when he was hitting .293/.332/.455. And after that negative test he decided to start using a PED so that he could hit... say... .384/.412/.580 in July, and then .323/.350/.448 in September/October. Oh, and put up a line of .297/.328/.505 in August. Then, after getting a raise of $4.75 million, he could hit a whopping .346/.390/.516 (all numbers well above his career averages) before his first time being a free agent.

But thinking he was trying to be this shady is probably ludicrous. And in no way should this news make somebody that is not a fan of Melky, say... me, feel better about that "irrational" dislike. Not to mention going so far as to call Melky Cabrera the c-word (no, not THAT c-word).

Brian Cashman 2012 GM Of The Year


Let's make one thing clear before I even begin writing. I do NOT think Brian Cashman is going to win the 2012 GM of the Year award and no I do not think he will even be in the conversation. If his name if brought up all you will hear is how anyone could win with a $200 million payroll, going over slot on the draft, buying International Free Agents, etc etc etc. All these "unbiased" news people and people with votes will ignore all the under the radar gems we continue to find year in and year out.


Eric Chavez



Eric Chavez was signed to give guys like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira days off in the field. Chavez was a risky signing, especially last season, because of all the injuries but has managed to *knock on wood again* stay off the DL all season long. He has also filled in with great glove work, power shots, and a great presence in the clubhouse. All for under 1 million bucks (900K)



Raul Ibanez




Raul Ibanez, even at age 40, has been nothing more then stellar all things considered. Cashman signed Raul to split time against right handed pitching over Johnny Damon even though Damon had better splits against right handed pitching and was very familiar with New York and loved by the fans here. Granted Johnny Damon wanted more money then Raul Ibanez but Cashman did not falter. Raul has done nothing but come up with big hit after big hit and fill in for injured guys like Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner better then any of us could have hoped for or expected. All for $1.1 million bucks.



Chris Stewart




Chris Stewart, not fist pumping and energetic Francisco Cervelli, has been our back up catcher this season. Despite rumors and denials he has also pretty much been CC Sabathia's personal catcher all of this season. He has filled in admirably behind the dish calling games, throwing out runners, with the bat setting career highs almost all the way across the board, and even done some things on the base paths. All for George Kontos and $482K.

Derek Lowe






Yes I know it was one game so that is why I am listing him last but signing a guy on a pro rated league minimum salary and having the Braves and the Indians pay his salary for us while he pitches four shut out innings and gets a save while also saving our bullpen was ingenious. Do not get me wrong I was leading the "WTF" charge on twitter when we signed him but we all looked pretty dumb last night, including a prolific Texas Rangers offense, when Lowe walked off the mound with his shirt tucked in. If we can get any semblance of the guy that pitched last night then this bullpen just got all the more nastier and maybe even sealed the fate of Freddy Garcia... finally.



I think I have said enough here to show the value that Brian Cashman has brought us this season. I did not even mention the Clay Rapada and Cody Eppley signings that have really solidified our bullpen and made it once again a strength for us even without Mariano Rivera. I also have not mentioned the trade that brought us Ichiro and CASH for basically nothing useful or the Casey McGehee for nothing trade. Andruw Jones for $2 million was not the worst deal that we have ever signed either *cough Carl Pavano cough*. Bringing back Andy Pettitte seemed like a no brainer but Cashman could have said no I guess and NOT giving Russell Martin a big extension looks rather genius right now as well. Granted for every Ichiro trade there is a Michael Pineda trade that does not work out the way you liked it to but it is not like Jesus Montero or Hector Noesi are doing anything special anyway. Hell the Mariners already have Mike Zunino in AA because they are rushing him to the majors to be behind the plate but I digress.

Brian Cashman does have a $200 million payroll, we all know that, but it is the little things that he has done that have kept this team together. It is the minor little signings and such that kept our heads above water while we have $100 million bucks or more (slight exaggeration but with Arod and CC on the DL making around $50 million combined you get my point) sitting on the disabled list. I know Brian Cashman will not even be considered for GM of the Year and that is a damn shame in my very humble and biased opinion but you have our appreciate Brian. Thank you Ninja Cash!




Alex Rodriguez Injury Update


I feel like I have written more about injuries this season then I have about the actual team but I digress. Alex Rodriguez had routine x rays to look at his broken hand and the x rays looked great. He is now cleared to take the brace off of his hand that took a Felix Hernandez fastball and broke just a few weeks ago. He is already hitting off of a tee and doing everything he can to keep his legs and his arm in shape so maybe we can get him back a little earlier then expected.

Derek Jeter Appreciation Post



Derek Jeter is probably the most appreciated player that we have on the Yankees.. so why would I make an appreciation post for him you ask? Simply put the guy is 38 years old and still producing like he is 28 years old. He can still take that ball the other way, fight off tough pitches, hit for a high average, and is far from a slouch in the field (although his range is limited as it always has been) with the best of them (or better) at his age. Derek Jeter has been the rock at the top of the Yankees order, the spark plug in most cases, and as always an integral part to the Yankees on both sides of the ball.

Here are a look at the 2012 stats from our 38 year old shortstop as of 8/14



.318 AVG
9 HR
38 RBI
154 H
.360 OBP
.424 SLG
.343 wOBA
1.9 WAR
8 Errors




Thank you Derek for simply being Derek. That is all that will be said because that is all that needs to be said. Your name alone speaks for itself. Now go out there and get ring number six!!