I really need more than 140 characters.
It was reported yesterday that there is no traction in talks involving trades of either Brett Gardner or Andrew Miller. First of all, I understand reporting on that news. So don't take what I say as a shot to anyone that wrote about it, because that's what bloggers like me or reporters do... report the news, no matter how good or bad that news is. However, with that said, the reports are pretty much meaningless.
Let me ask you a few questions...
Before the Didi Gregorius trade was announced, were there any reports that the Yankees were close to trading away Shane Greene?
Before the Nathan Eovaldi trade was announced, were there any reports that the Yankees were close to trading away Martin Prado or David Phelps?
Before the Aaron Hicks trade was announced, were there any reports that the Yankees were close to trading away John Ryan Murphy?
The answer to the all those questions is "no". I'm not saying there weren't people that could see any of those players being dealt, however the same can currently be said about Gardner and/or Miller. If either or both of those players gets dealt, nobody will be surprised by it. But when it comes to news of an actual trade happening we're probably not going to see it coming.
Brian Cashman didn't earn the "ninja" moniker for nothing.
The magnitude of the players traded Didi or Eovaldi are not on the same plane as Gardner or Miller so I'm not sure you can call Cashman the Ninja. Moving Phelps or Shane Greene or JR Murphy doesn't quite push the buttons of Gardner and Miller
ReplyDeleteKen H...
DeleteHe received the name because of the way he does things, always on the Q.T.! Most of the time nobody knows a trade is actually going down until the last second...thus, the name Ninja.
How are you doing, having fun yet?
Loads of fun Reed. I think elf is more suited for Cashman
DeleteI sort of like "The Ninja", like me, he works in the Night and cuts a deal...so to speak!
DeleteIsn't it harder to sell unproven players than it is established players though? And when I say sell I mean sell in a salesmanship sort of way, not sell in the literal terms. I don't have to talk up Miller and Gardner, you basically know what you're going to get with them.
DeleteReed,
ReplyDeletecorrect. He received the nickname Ninja because you never, hardly ever, see the deals coming. You heard about the Orioles and Mark Trumbo days before the deal actually happened. You didn't hear a word that the Yankees were even shopping Jose Pirela or JR Murphy until they were already gone.
Why would you hear the names Murphy and Pirela? What really have they accomplished in their MLB careers that people would blink an eye that they might be traded?
DeleteJR is a 1st string Catcher for many teams, ours also if we didn't have McCain.
DeletePirela is a future utility player in the making, could play for the Yankees if we didn't have Ackley playing that spot. Both will go North with the majors in 2016. Other than being younger than Ackley Pirela has no place in the up and coming season...JR is in the same situation.
Better for them to move to a team that will play them.
That's the problem with most Yankees farm hands, as Jeff Levin the man with his face on the milk carton has said. Yankees prospects probably want to get traded so they can actually get a chance to play.
DeleteReed JR Murphy might be a number one D wise, but I think you will see he will be a light hitter playing everyday. He is Austin Romine with a better stick.
DeleteNot to say that Murphy swings a big stick, because honestly I'm not as crazy about his defense as most and I definitely would not call him a 1st string catcher, I will say that I like Murphy's swing. He hits for power and he hits for line drives, that can't usually be taught.
DeleteJust using them as an example Hans. They were the most recent. You didn't hear much before the ARod trades and many of the blockbusters that the Yankees pulled off. The Curtis Granderson trade and others.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBurch I don't think Cashman is a ninja, I think he has no ability to get creative and pull off a blockbuster anymore. The Aroid trade had to be made from the Rangers standpoint as it had just fallen apart with the Roid Sux so they went with a decent offer from the Yanks. Look at his track record in recent years and you will see mostly the same trade partners in the Tigers, the Mariners and the D backs and sprinkle in the Marlin's.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people think this guy is a decent gm? He had an open checkbook for many years and a great deal of the time failed on his FA signings. He traded away many farmhands that were from the Michael and Watson farm system. His farm system has been suspect for many years under his watch so tell me again why he is so good please?
I am indifferent on Cashman. His hands are tied a lot of the times. I'm not quite sure I would call him a good GM but at the same time I'm not ready to call him a bad GM either. What's true in most stops is not true in New York.
DeleteHal Steinbrenner, and this has been reported on everywhere from ESPN to Yankees Hot Stove, forced the hand of Cashman on most of the major signings in 2014. Hal wanted Ellsbury, Hal wanted Beltran and Hal wanted McCann. So you stick four or five guys on the team, including Tanaka, and $500 million on the books and then tell Cashman to fill in the holes... but we're not spending any more money. That's like chopping your hands off and handing you chop sticks to eat with.
I agree with you Burch
DeleteI am on Cashman's side but, I agree with the fact of him not being one of the best GMs but , I do think he has done his job under harder circumstances than any or Most Gm's have had to deal with.
ReplyDeleteI think this guy is still the Yankee GM today, not for the money but for his love of the Yankees. His best attribute is his organizational abilities, which, is one of the main reasons "SticK" and Watson picked him for the job. The other thing was, they wanted him to build the Farm system and he has done a very good job with it so far...don't you guys think!
I think this is one we have gone over and over and over ............!
Reed you had me at hello and lost me on the one that says he has done a a very good job building the farm system up
ReplyDeleteHe has done a good job, you have to remember he had to fight first Kin George to keep him from trading away all the depth in the system. Then along comes Hal and gives up 1st round drafts and pulls the cash out of his name but, he talks (I believe) Hal into building and not trading as the best way to go. Reorganizes the whole system, little by little and now we have a good Farm system...not big stars but, players that can play and produce!
DeleteI would rather have 6+ 15 HR guys than 2+ 30 HR guys that play good "D" and hit in the upper end of .200 with 15 HRs per.
Sorry Reed I disagree. His handling of the farm system his time as GM has been more negative then positive. Look at the results. Not one top arm not one bonafide stud player. His best draft pick is Gardner. Need I say anymore.
DeleteThe system is better, however I woukd still say it's in the lower third of systems. Teams like Cards and a Giants who win consistently have better systems, why is that?
The system has never been better since 1994, we only got the core four+1 and then Cano.
DeleteNow we have many guys that can make an impact in the near future even now if we didn't have some of the big contracts.
I think because of the fact we have only had a one-star type (maybe in Severino) player in the system you have the idea it isn't very good. Actually we have something like 5+ guys that could become very good players.
Reed just remember Cashman didn't draft any of the core four
ReplyDeleteThat is why I said 1994 Ken H, you take those five counting Cano out of the equation and you have nothing left until around 2004.
DeleteThen: Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner,Austin Jackson, Joba, Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Austin Romine, David Phelps, Mason Williams, Ben Gamel, Greg Bird, Jake Cavin, Rookie Davis, Ty Hansley, Austin Aune, Refsnyder, Brady Lail, Eric Jagielo, Aaron Judge, Ian Clarkin, Nick Rumblow, Cale Coshow, Tyler Wade...just to name a few and that's not counting the International players.
Some of these have made it and some are on the way...and then we will have the ones that will not make it. But, just of these players alone, half of them or more could be in the Show by 2018, maybe sooner if they get traded.
Reed which one of his draft picks have been game changers?
ReplyDeleteYou misunderstand the whole example Ken H, a team doesn't need game changers they need good solid players that know how to play real baseball, stars are ok but a team can win it all without a games changer. We have a guy by the name of Brett that everyone rags on because he doesn't steal bases as his speed would have one believe he should. But what fans may not know is, a story came out about that very same thing...They don't want him to steal bases.
DeleteAs for those that have been very good players, Joba, IPK, Dellin, Robertson, Phil Hughes, Warren and Severino will be.
It's time to call it a day, have a good nite all of you...you too Ken H...see you all tomarrow!
Sorry Reed I disagree with you about Hughes the human gopher ball and Joba though I do think both wee screwed around with in the same manner as Warren is back and forth between pen and starting. I look at things a little different as he hadn't drafted any major talent. Second some of those guys you mentioned on list weren't drafted they were signed as international FA
DeleteSame difference, they were signed by Cashman just the same.
DeleteYou are right with your assessment of Joba, Hughes and Warren, that is a fact. Warren is handling it much better than those other guys did, talent and personality have a lot to do with his success...so far. Warren is a valuable commodity as he is just as good in either role.
Hey gang. Ken h and Ken r mentioned the back and forth of previous pitchers, and how it can harm a player.
ReplyDeleteTo start, Pineda throws two pitches. What would think of moving Pineda to a 6 and 7th inning guy, move Warren to the rotation, and Mitchell to the current long man/fillin role? Do you think he could dominate there?
Other teams know the value of Pineda as a starting pitcher (considering a mediocre starting pitcher that has a 4.5 Era under 30 years old demands a 90+ mil contract.) if trade comes up. But Shreve imploded at the end of the season, and this could solidify a strong bullpen.
I like it Spade. Warren needs to be in the rotation. Most consistent stater up until they jerked him around and sent him to the pen
ReplyDeleteWarren needs to be in the rotation, I agree, but I don't agree it needs to be at the expense of Pineda. I can't see Pineda translating well into the bullpen, especially in a 6th or 7th inning role and especially with that shoulder. CC should be the one out of the rotation, not Pineda.
DeleteYou beat me to that one Daniel, A bad shoulder may not react well to pitching two days in a row or even every other day.
DeleteIt's not even that, I was more worried about him warming up quickly. I want him to take all the time he needs warming up and I want him 110% warm before he throws a single pitch.
DeleteHe had a major, major surgery. No need to push that in my opinion.
True, Daniel!
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