Friday, November 30, 2012

Obligatory "Derek Jeter Is Out Of Shape" Picture Post


It's crazy I know to fracture your ankle and have surgery on it and not stay in shape, I mean it's Derek Jeter. Derek should find a way to rest and rehab his ankle AND stay in shape this early in the off season. Come on Derek get it together! 

Yankees Sign Jayson Nix To Avoid Arbitration


UPDATE: The Deal is worth $900K after he accepted an assignment to AAA Scranton. If he clears waivers he will head down to AAA and become a non roster invitee to spring training.

The Yankees have announced that they signed INF Jayson Nix to a major league deal worth around $1 million avoiding arbitration. This is just minutes after being designated for assignment to make room for Mariano Rivera.

Yanks Sign Mo, Claim Miller, DFA Storey & Nix


The Yankees announced a flurry of roster moves with the signing of Mariano Rivera becoming official. The Yankees designated INF Jayson Nix for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster. The Yankees also claimed RP Jim Miller off waivers from the Oakland Athletics and designated recently claimed Mickey Storey for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster.

Yankees Have Shown Little Interest In Pierzynski & Napoli

Things can surely change, but according to George King the Yankees have not shown much interest in AJ Pierzynski.

This is hardly a surprise, as AJ is not the most respected player on the field. The Yankees like their players to be upstanding citizens. For instance, Curtis Granderson is very well-known for his charity work and being an all-around good guy, and that was talked about a lot when the Yankees traded for him.

When I wrote about free agent catchers in my Offseason Decisions series at the end of the World Series I mentioned Pierzynski, and listed him in the "maybe" category. Having a catcher hit .284/.324/.429 with 15 HR a season would be great (that's AJ's career batting line, and his 162 game average in home runs), and he's also a fine defensive catcher, but I'd rather look elsewhere for a backstop.

As for that Offseason Decisions post, I put Mike Napoli in the "yes" category. Unfortunately I didn't take into account that Napoli only caught in 72 games last season, and likely couldn't catch much more than that. Not to mention how well he'd be at it. So while the offense would be nice, he wouldn't be a good fit.

Which is good, since Ken Rosenthal tweeted that the Yankees aren't really interested in Mike either.

Not that there's much to choose from in free agency, so the Ninja would have to work more of his dark magic.

To the rescue!

If I Had A Hall Of Fame Vote...


If I had a Hall of Fame Vote I think my ballot would look a lot like this:


Roger Clemens
Barry Bonds
Jeff Bagwell
Craig Biggio
Curt Schilling
Tim Raines
Mike Piazza
Bernie Williams #homer
Pete Rose #writein


I have no proof that Roger Clemens did any kind of performance enhancing drugs and until I do I am going strictly on on-field performance. Barry Bonds kind of fits in the same category in my eyes so he is on my ballot as well but then again so is Pete Rose as a write in so I may have just blown any chance I had at a real vote. I know I have the poster child for steroid use (allegedly) in both pitching and the offense in Clemens and Bonds and I know that I do not help my cause with suspected users like Jeff Bagwell but it's my vote and I am kind of over the steroid era. 

Yankees Could Not Match Offer For Russel Martin


The Pittsburgh Pirates, as predicted by yours truly at TGP, signed Russell Martin on a two year deal worth $17 million which is far under market value. The shocking news came when Russell came out and said the Yankees told him that they could not match the offer or beat it and that is why he is headed to Pittsburgh. Say what?!?!

I can get behind the 2014 luxury tax plan and all that but at what cost? Then today we hear that the Yankees have no intentions of going after Mike Napoli or AJ Pierzynski... say what again ?!?! I am hoping that this is more of a ninja cash type scenario that nets us a Joe Mauer and not the beginning of New York Rays.

Miley Named Manager Of The Year By Baseball America


Baseball America has named their minor league manager of the year and it is our very own Scranton Wilkes-Barre Dave Miley. Miley is no stranger to the hardware as he also won International League Manager of the Year as well this season. After leading his homeless team to a division crown and playoff birth for the fifth time in six seasons managing a Yankees minor league affiliate. Congratulations to Dave!!

Welcome Back Mo From The Greedy Pinstripes


You know you have done something special in this game when you celebrate your 43rd birthday and agree to a $10 million contract in the same day, especially after basically missing all of the 2012 season. I just wanted to personally give you a welcome back and thank you for your service to baseball and your loyalty to the Yankees.