For Those Fans Who Say Joe Girardi > Aaron Boone

We’re back, and we are as controversial as ever as we continue to right wrongs and correct a lot of misinformation that gets passed around via Yankees fans and Yankees “fans” alike. Last week we analyzed the reason and history behind the luxury tax threshold in Major League Baseball and used our findings to determine whether the Yankees would be better off, worse off, or about the same today if George Steinbrenner were running the team as opposed to having Hal Steinbrenner run the team, and we are going to look to do something similar today with first year rookie manager Aaron Boone and his predecessor, Joe Girardi. Would the 2018 Yankees, a team on pace to win 100 games, be better off, worse off, or about the same with Joe Girardi at the helm this season? Let’s analyze.

We have to remember that Aaron Boone is a rookie manager with no managerial or coaching experience anywhere within baseball before taking the job with the New York Yankees. If that is a problem to some, it is not a problem with me to be honest, then that blame should be on Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner as well as the coaching staff that they approved and assembled around Boone, and the blame should not be on Boone himself. Anyway, Girardi was not a rookie manager in his first year in the Bronx and was not foreign to the idea of playing under the watchful eyes of Yankees fans and the media in New York, he played here and won World Series championships here in New York, but even with that experience under his belt his first season, 2008, did not go exactly according to plan.

In 2008 the Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since the 1993 season with Joe Girardi at the helm, and to add salt in the wound it was the final season of the old Yankee Stadium as well. Now, one could argue that Boone has a much better roster than Girardi had at his disposal in 2008, but I cannot say I fully agree with it. Does Boone have a younger team? Sure. A more versatile team? Probably. A better team though? That’s questionable, given and assuming health and all that. Girardi had Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Jason Giambi, Robinson Cano, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Brett Gardner, 20-game winner Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, a good version of Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson, Phil Coke, and a slew of other players that were at-minimum serviceable MLB-caliber players. Sure, the Yankees had a lot of injuries that season, but if that isn’t an excuse for Boone than it isn’t an excuse for Girardi either. Also, sure, Boone does himself no favors with his pitching and in-game decisions, but does anyone remember Joe Girardi’s binder and the subsequent memes and Twitter accounts that have popped up since making such a mockery of the same problem that Girardi had as well?

Want to know a difference? While Boone is on pace to win right at 100 games this season in his rookie season and make the postseason in the American League, Joe Girardi led the Yankees to an 89-73 record, a third-place finish, and to a nice place on their couches during October for the first time of Derek Jeter’s illustrious career. Of course, Girardi got better as the years went on, but then again so did his teams, so I find it truly remarkable and irresponsible to say that this current team would be better under Girardi than they are under Boone. Boone didn’t injure the players and he damn sure didn’t make many of them underperform. Now should Boone ever bring AJ Cole into a game ever again? No. But did Girardi have his favorites and do the same damn thing? Absolutely, and probably more so than Boone. And let’s be real, Brian Cashman and Larry Rothschild are calling more of these pitching change calls than we will ever admit or want to think about.

The team is fine, and Aaron Boone is a fine manager. Joe Girardi was a fine manager. They both had great things about them and they both had things that made me want to break any screen that I watched the game on. That’s baseball, and that’s especially baseball in New York. Deal with it.

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/30: Dustin Ackley & Bobby Abreu... Come on Down

It's July 30th, trading deadline eve, so this post should be littered with tons of trades that happened on this day in Yankees history. We begin by looking back to this day in 2015 when the New York Yankees acquired Dustin Ackley from the Seattle Mariners for Ramon Flores and Jose A. Ramirez.


Also on this day in 2006 the Yankees sent a package of four minor league players to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Abreu. The package included shortstop CJ Henry, lefty relief pitcher Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and right handed pitcher Carlos Monasterios. The Yankees also received Cory Lidle back in the deal while New York would be on the hook for all of Abreu's remaining salary. Abreu made $13.5 million in 2006, $15.5 million in 2007, and had a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.

The Yankees later ended up getting CJ Henry back on a minor league deal in one of the better trades in the Brian Cashman era.

Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees acquired Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. The Yankees were in need of a catcher after Jorge Posada's season ending surgery earlier in the month. Rodriguez had to waive his no trade clause to make the deal happen.

Also on this day in 1990 George Steinbrenner announced that he would agree to go on the permanent ineligible list which would give the Yankees owner a lifetime ban from day to day operations of his team. The Boss was later reinstated in 1993 but subsequently agreed to the ban to avoid jeopardizing his relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Outside of Yankee Stadium on that day in 1990 24,037 fans in attendance started chanting "NO More George! NO More George." The Boss reportedly did not hear about the chant at the stadium until he watched the 11 o'clock news later that night.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/27: Hideki Matsui Gets Married

On this day in 2008 at the start of spring training Hideki Matsui made a wager with his teammates on who would be the first to get married. What Matsui did not tell his fellow Yankees players was he already had plans to wed in a few weeks’ time. Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agreed to pay off their bet after Matsui married his wife on a Yankees off day.

Yankees History w/ 18th Pick Overall in MLB Draft

With the announcement that the Baltimore Orioles signed former Texas Rangers ace Yovani Gallardo to a three year deal the New York Yankees became almost essentially locked into the #18 pick in the first round of the MLB First Year Players Draft. This got me thinking, what have the Yankees done in their storied history with the 18^th pick overall in the MLB Draft so I got to researching and found that he team has only had the #18 pick in the first round once in the franchise’s history. In 1978 the New York Yankees selected a shortstop out of Bullard High School in Fresno, California with the 18^th pick overall and his name was Rex Hudler.

Hudler went on to have a pretty decent MLB career posting .261/.296/.422 triple slash with 56 home runs in his 13 season career. Hudler was never the All Star or the guy to lead the team offensively but he still managed to produce a solid 6.5 career WAR with a career .972 fielding percentage. 

The Yankees have come close to taking a player 18^th overall in years past, the organization took Bill Burdach 19^th overall in the original MLB Draft in 1965 out of Wahlert High School. The team also took Terry Whitfield 19^th overall out of Palo Verde High School in 1971 before picking 19^th overall again in 1975 when they took Jim McDonald out of High School as well.

In 2005 the Yankees climbed one spot higher to the #17 position where they took shortstop C.J. Henry with their first pick. You may remember Henry being used as the center piece of the cash dump that was the Bobby Abreu trade with the Philadelphia Phillies and you may also remember that shortly after the trade the Yankees got Henry back after not hacking it in Philadelphia. Total win for Brian Cashman.

I find it amazing that the Yankees have drafted first overall, twice taking Ron Bloomberg and Brien Taylor, more times than they have at the #18 slot. Unless something goes down between now and then the 2016 MLB Draft will mark just the second time the Yankees take someone with the #18 slot and if he turns out to be half as solid as Rex Hudler was I think New York is in pretty good shape going forward. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/14: Yankees Sign Andruw Jones

On this day in 2011 the New York Yankees signed the "Curacao Kid" Andruw Jones to a one year deal essentially closing the door on Johnny Damon's career in pinstripes. Jones signed for one year and $1.5 million and ended up stinking up the joint for two seasons.

Also on this day in 2009 the Yankees lost free agent Bobby Abreu to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after they signed him to a one year deal worth $5 million. Abreu was in his age 34 season and came off a very solid .296 average with 20 home runs and 100 RBI's for the Yankees the previous season.


Happy Valentines Day everybody!

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/30: Bobby Abreu is a Yankee

It's July 30th, trading deadline eve, so this post should be littered with tons of trades that happened on this day in Yankees history. We begin by looking back to this day in 2006 when the Yankees sent a package of four minor league players to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Abreu. The package included shortstop CJ Henry, lefty relief pitcher Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and right handed pitcher Carlos Monasterios. The Yankees also received Cory Lidle back in the deal while New York would be on the hook for all of Abreu's remaining salary. Abreu made $13.5 million in 2006, $15.5 million in 2007, and had a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.

The Yankees later ended up getting CJ Henry back on a minor league deal in one of the better trades in the Brian Cashman era.

Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees acquired Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. The Yankees were in need of a catcher after Jorge Posada's season ending surgery earlier in the month. Rodriguez had to waive his no trade clause to make the deal happen.

Also on this day in 1990 George Steinbrenner announced that he would agree to go on the permanent ineligible list which would give the Yankees owner a lifetime ban from day to day operations of his team. The Boss was later reinstated in 1993 but subsequently agreed to the ban to avoid jeopardizing his relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Outside of Yankee Stadium on that day in 1990 24,037 fans in attendance started chanting "NO More George! NO More George." The Boss reportedly did not hear about the chant at the stadium until he watched the 11 o'clock news later that night.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/27: Hideki Matsui Gets Married

On this day in 2008 at the start of spring training Hideki Matsui made a wager with his teammates on who would be the first to get married. What Matsui did not tell his fellow Yankees players was he already had plans to wed in a few weeks’ time. Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agreed to pay off their bet after Matsui married his wife on a Yankees off day.

This Day in New York Yankees History 2/14: Yankees Sign Andruw Jones

On this day in 2011 the New York Yankees signed the "Curacao Kid" Andruw Jones to a one year deal essentially closing the door on Johnny Damon's career in pinstripes. Jones signed for one year and $1.5 million and ended up stinking up the joint for two seasons. 

Also on this day in 2009 the Yankees lost free agent Bobby Abreu to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after they signed him to a one year deal worth $5 million. Abreu was in his age 34 season and came off a very solid .296 average with 20 home runs and 100 RBI's for the Yankees the previous season.

Happy Valentines Day everybody!

2017 Will Be a Good Season for New York

The 2017 New York Yankees will be World Series champions, write that down in pen because it's going to happen. Looking at the current state of the Yankees contracts and all the money they have coming off the books New York almost has to win the World Series after the 2016 season much like they did in 2009 when a ton of money came off the books from 2008.

Mike Mussina, Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Kei Igawa, and other notable contracts came off the Yankees board before they went on a spending spree that saw CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Nick Swisher, and Mark Teixeira join the ranks. Eight seasons later following the 2016 season the Yankees will see CC Sabathia. Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Carlos Beltran come off the board for somewhere around $100 million in payroll flexibility.

I know it's way too early to start thinking three seasons from now but the correlation between the 2009 Yankees and the 2017 Yankees is shaping up to be a big one. Stick it out and stay tuned.

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/30: George Steinbrenner Goes On Permanent Ineligible List

It's July 30th, trading deadline eve, so this post should be littered with tons of trades that happened on this day in Yankees history. We begin by looking back to this day in 2006 when the Yankees sent a package of four minor league players to the Philadelphia Phillies for Bobby Abreu. The package included shortstop CJ Henry, lefty relief pitcher Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and right handed pitcher Carlos Monasterios. The Yankees also received Cory Lidle back in the deal while New York would be on the hook for all of Abreu's remaining salary. Abreu made $13.5 million in 2006, $15.5 million in 2007, and had a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.

The Yankees later ended up getting CJ Henry back on a minor league deal in one of the better trades in the Brian Cashman era.

Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees acquired Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. The Yankees were in need of a catcher after Jorge Posada's season ending surgery earlier in the month. Rodriguez had to waive his no trade clause to make the deal happen.

Also on this day in 1990 George Steinbrenner announced that he would agree to go on the permanent ineligible list which would give the Yankees owner a lifetime ban from day to day operations of his team. The Boss was later reinstated in 1993 but subsequently agreed to the ban to avoid jeopardizing his relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Outside of Yankee Stadium on that day in 1990 24,037 fans in attendance started chanting "NO More George! NO More George." The Boss reportedly did not hear about the chant at the stadium until he watched the 11 o'clock news later that night.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/27

On this day in 2008 at the start of spring training Hidek Matsui made a wager with his teammates on who would be the first to get married. What Matsui did not tell his fellow Yankees players was he already had plans to wed in a few weeks time. Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agreed to pay off their bet after Matsui married his wife on a Yankees off day.

New Yorks Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies 3/1

Not much really has to be said about this game that hasn't already been said. CC Sabathia will start the game and pitch the first two innings, Hiroki Kuroda will follow CC with the next two innings, and Masahiro Tanaka will pitch the fifth and the sixth innings before the bullpen takes over. Former Yankee Bobby Abreu will be in right field for the Phillies and another former Yankee in Reid Brignac is available off the Philadelphia bench. 

The game will be televised on the YES Network and MLB Network. Here is the Yankees starting lineup for today:

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Brian McCann DH
Brian Roberts 2B
Francisco Cervelli C
Kelly Johnson 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Corban Joseph 1B
Mason Williams CF

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/14

On this day in 2009 the Yankees lost free agent Bobby Abreu to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after they signed him to a one year deal worth $5 million. Abreu was in his age 34 season and came off a very solid .296 average with 20 home runs and 100 RBI's for the Yankees the previous season.

Happy Valentines Day everybody!

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/30

On this day in 1990 George Steinbrenner agrees to step down from every day operations of the Yankees and agrees to go on the permanent ineligible list. George would be reinstated in 1993 but for three long years George Steinbrenner was not involved with his beloved New York Yankees.

On this day in 2006 the Yankees sent CJ Henry and three other minor league players for Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle from the Philadelphia Phillies.

On this day in 2008 the Yankees acquired Ivan Pudge Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.

New York Yankees Spring Training Notes 3/15

CC Sabathia made his Spring Training debut today in a Grapefruit League game against the Miami Marlins. CC's final pitching line was 5 IP 2 ER 8 H 1 BB and 2 K's. This is the first real action he has seen since his elbow surgery so this is definitely a good sign. The season starts in 16 days so you have to figure he has two more Spring Training starts and then he mows down Boston at home on April Fool's day.

Michael Pineda and Cesar Cabral continued with their similar rehab assignments by throwing 35 pitch bullpen sessions each today including sliders and change ups just like last time. Boone Logan is expected to throw a bullpen session tomorrow against Rob Segedin and Ramon Flores in his quest back to the mound after elbow stiffness.

The Yankees scouted former player Bobby Abreu while he was in the Venezuelan Baseball League this season but apparently were not impressed enough to offer a contract. You will remember him coming over in a salary dump with Cory Lidle and almost being re-acquired last off season when we were shopping AJ Burnett. With Abreu entering his age 39 season I am happy that the Yankees decided to pass on Bobby Abreu this time.

A Bad Week For Former Yankees

This has been a bad week for former New York Yankees players. After the trade deadline a flurry of roster moves were made around the league and some former Yankees felt the brute of them. Let us take a look around the league at some former Yankees.

It all started when the Rays designated for assignment and then released Hideki Matsui. Matsui, as you all remember, was the 2009 World Series MVP and Yankees fan favorite.

Johnny Damon was also designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians very far away from 3000 hits. After hitting a lackluster .222 I do not see him getting there.

Randy Choate was acquired by the Dodgers in the deal with the Marlins that brought Hanley Ramirez over to Los Angeles and in his first appearance got lit up for a home run and a couple of hits in a Dodgers loss to Arizona  on August 1st.

The Dodgers, to make room for newly acquired Shane Victorino, designated Bobby Abreu for assignment. This is the second time this year he has been DFA'd.

Brett Gardner & Michael Pineda Update

Joe Girardi said that he did not think Brett Gardner would be able to come off the DL on Thursday, when first eligible, against the Kansas City Royals. Brett was scheduled to take live batting practice for the first time since going on the DL with elbow issues but at the time of this post we did not know how that went. The Yankees want Brett to be in a game or two of rehab before coming back up to the majors so I am still OFFICIALLY leading the Bobby Abreu watch.

Michael Pineda's labrum surgery went well today according to the doctor, which is always a good sign. The normal timetable to be out is a full year, so May 1st 2013, but I am already hearing rumors that he COULD be back in as soon as 10 months. Medicine is getting better and better every day so it is very possible, especially with as young as Pineda is, to have him back to start the season next year.... but let us not get TOO ahead of ourselves. Get well Michael!

Tigers @ Yankees 4/29/12

Nick Swisher has a low grade strain on his hamstring and Joe Girardi says it will take a couple days to heal. With Gardner still on the DL I see it more and more likely that we give Bobby Abreu a short look at a Yankee.

CC Sabathia pitched into the 8th inning and gave the bullpen a much needed break to win his third straight start as the Yankees won today 6-2.

Welcome to the Yankees DJ Mitchell

Why Make a Sideways Deal?

Why are people giving up on me already? It's only Spring Training.
The Yankees have extra pitching, so it's no surprise that people are thinking about dealing some of that extra pitching in order to fill a need. I'm not part of this group, but there are those that see a need when it comes to a DH to hit against RHP.

Raul Ibanez was brought in to fill that role, and I was one of the few that was good with that decision. Although Raul's numbers vs. RHP last season were far from eye-popping (his line was .256/.307/.440), in his career he's hit RHP to the tune of .286/.351/.488. His home run total vs. RHP last season was 16 in 437 PA, which is right in line with his career average of 17 HR/437 PA. Not that I was expecting him to match that career triple-slash vs. RHP, but looking at the projections at Fangraph's it seems like a line vs. RHP of .266/.332/.451 is about right (I looked at the average change in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage by the 4 projections from 2011 to 2012, and then added them to his triple-slash vs. RHP last season).

Lately the talk has been trading for Bobby Abreu, as he's clearly not happy with what will most likely be a part-time role on the Angels, thanks to the OF being full and Kendry Morales looking good this spring. Initially I saw this idea as another nostalgic move, like how so many Yankee fans longed for Johnny Damon's return while citing what he did for the team 2+ years ago, rather than what would be best for the team. But I decided to take a look and see if Abreu would be a better alternative anyway.

Bobby Abreu's 2011 vs. RHP was .259/.366/.400. Looking at his projections, like I did for Ibanez, the only true change I see for Bobby is to up his slugging percentage a bit. So chances are, at this point, he's not an improvement over what the team has anyway. I think the Yankees should just hold onto that extra pitching, and see what Ibanez can do during the regular season. If after a month or so he proves to not be the answer they were looking for, and Abreu is still available, then look at using the extra pitching to acquire him.

Besides, if Ibanez is looking okay (especially considering he'll be batting in the lower third of the lineup), then that extra pitching could be used on a future replacement for Nick Swisher or Russell Martin.