Is it me or did the Cubs rob a lot of banks? Geez they're really opening up the purse this offseason (maybe FINALLY the Yankees can be seen as not the only team who actually SPENDS money on free agents)

Why are you so personal with your beef? Baseball is a business, and those 2 players left. Its a good thing that one(if not both) will return to the Bronx.

Yes, Jeter had a great GAme One....and then promptly did mistakes that were un-Jeter-istic, which put a crappy note on what otherwise was a totally MVP-worthy season.

What really worries me is how for the first time in years, there was almost hints of disgruntlement within the Yankee clubhouse...and its not just against A-Rod. Mussina himself all but saying that Jeter was held, to put it, out of reach of responsibility....really, Jeter needs to rectify that situation.

If A-Rod now has convinced me that he shoots blanks in the playoffs, Jeter can save the day and get Team Yankees back to work.

Everyone knows I don't exactly worship the Jeter Altar, but there is just a vast difference of today and that title-reign of years ago. In those title years, the Yanks didn't have the best players at certain positions, but they had such a team chemistry and so fucking solidified behind Jeter. If Paul O'Neil was the respected old man in the daily line-up, Jeter was the young captain that, unless I'm mistaken, never had discontent indirectly stated in interviews like of the last few years.

That is why Andy Pettite back in the clubhouse is a welcoming move that some Yankees fans don't seem to comprehend. Thankfully, DJ gets it. Hopefully, a man of the "Old Guard" himself, he'll get Team Yankees back behind Jeter, and for Jeter to sweep away the problems of last year.

What I don't get about the Cubs is, WHERE is this money coming from?

No, not banks. Try the mafia. Imagine if the Cubs keep losing, and the "mob repo men" come to town.

Then again, considering the last few seasons, the Cubs have played like they're legs were broken.

Matsui Pumped Over Igawa



But the difference is that the Yankees a.) aren't counting on their farm system as major force, only as a band-aid for injuries b.) have talent in their farm system, whereas the Red Sox had virtually none after Papelbon.

In addition, I'd like to see the Yankees get Gagne before the Red Sox do. With Papelbon moving to starter (which, imho, is a huge mistake, I project that he'll get walloped), and Foulke gone, they need a closer.

And the Yankees need a better set-up man than Kyle Farnsworth, especially if they can't get Villone back.



I've heard rumours that the team will be up for sale next year, and they want to maximize the value they get in return.

Regards,
DJ

I am glad to see Pettitte back in the clubhouse but as a starter (as of now) I think the main has the potential to be another Jaret Wright (I'm praying he proves me wrong).

I don't have as much beef with Pettitte as I do with Clemens. The Yanks didn't sign Pettitte and he wanted to be closer to his family, so it was a perfect fit in his eyes. However, the spurning that Clemens played on King George and all us Yankee fans was pretty poor. This whole "I'm retired" now....well...ok...maybe not...HEY HOUSTON! (add in the fact that I hate ALL texas teams except the Dallas Mavericks and I think you get the picture)

EXACTLY! They finished dead last in their division this past year but they definitely seemed posied to change that this year (and I hope so). They fired Dusty, signed Lou, Soriano, Ramirez, Lee, Lilly, etc.

I have a similar feeling towards Clemens, mostly because he screwed the Yankees with his Favre-esque retirement bullshit, and then signed with Houston. I buy Pettitte the family man; Clemens, not so much. The Yankees may not even need Clemens if the rotation unfolds as well as it looks on paper, though I wouldn't doubt it if he ended up in pinstripes if only for a playoff run. If Boston signs Matsuzaka, then they probably won't shell out the cash to get Clemens. The Yankees and the Astros are the only viable option left, unless the Cubs rob another bank ( ) or the Texans get really, really good really, really fast.

Pettitte kind of got shat on when he left here. I would've liked to have had him stay, and they should have tried harder to keep him. It took his leaving and the loss of Jon Lieber to make the Yankees realize they can't let these guys go (which is probably why they worked Mussina so hard).

Best,
DJ

I agree. I was talking to a friend about this this past week that if the Yanks took the gamble on Dotel this past season, why not Gagne? And if boston signs Gagne, why not take the chance with Foulke? I agree, they need a new set up man and his name is NOT Kyle Farnsworth. As for Villone, I'm sorry to see that he rejected arbritation and hopefully he'll resign with the Yanks (he was GREAT during the first-half of the year and just got overworked in the second-half).

Also, thanks for the Matsui article DJ (glad to see you back sir)!

Alas, only in this thread.

---

BTW - Dotel signs with the Royals? I guess he must be in it for the money. Gil Meche and Octavio must be in on a secret nobody else knows about...because the Royals are terrible, and still will be in the basement of the league this year, right alongside the Pirates.

And as far as Gagne goes, his agent (Boras) has met with the Yankees (though not necessarily for Gagne...) and is involved in talks with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, (surprise!) Cubs, Cleveland, and the Dodgers.

I'd have to think though that the Yankees may not be the best fit simply because Gagne wants to close. But if they could convince him to become a set-up man (and possible heir-apparent to Mariano) ala Tom "Flash" Gordon (another one they should never have let get away), it would be great.

Lure of Yankees draws Pettitte in; Red Sox have issues

By Peter Gammons

Of course it helps to have the Yankees' revenues to take on Bobby Abreu's $15 million salary when the Phillies want him out of town and pay Andy Pettitte $16 million off a 14-13, 4.20 ERA season.

Though Yankee Stadium in the late 1980's was about the last place this side of a West Virginia coal mine that anyone wanted to play, what Gene Michael and Buck Showalter turned around and Brian Cashman and Joe Torre have cultivated is a place players want to go to and win.

Oh, winning is part of it, and so is never having to argue over 10 bucks. But Torre is a man players implicitly trust and respect, and when the Brothers Hendricks couldn't make a deal in Pettitte's hometown with Drayton McLane, it didn't take 72 hours for Pettitte to go home -- no longer than it did for Johnny Damon to make an emergency landing in New York last season.

Look at the Yankees' offseason. When they were bounced out of the playoffs by the Tigers and George Steinbrenner was so outraged that he was ready to fire Torre, he was returned to rational earth with this thought: "The Tigers thought they had to have home-field advantage and lost it by being swept by the Royals the final week of the season. Would you have fired Jim Leyland?" Two decades ago, Torre would have been gone.

Cashman, who with president Steve Swindal got the organization refocused on development (ask their scouting people what it's like in the new Cashman World), not only refused to trade off Philip Hughes and gave Melky Cabrera a chance, but has also moved Gary Sheffield and Jaret Wright for four young pitchers, two of whom, Humberto Sanchez and Kevin Whelan, could be major parts in the second half of the 2007 season. He also signed Kei Igawa for depth and inventory.

Pettite may not be the dominant top-of-the-rotation guy he once was, but as he turns 35 in June he gives the Yankees a third proven starter with Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina. Mussina was fourth in the AL in quality starts with 23; Wang sixth with 20; Pettite had 20 in Houston -- albeit far from the AL East. Now there is less pressure on Randy Johnson to rush back and no pressure as they spend half the season figuring out who will be the 4-5 starterts down the stretch between Carl Pavano, Igawa and Hughes. Now Scott Proctor can remain in the bullpen.

Then there's the whole Roger Clemens issue. If he decides to leave Houston, he doesn't need a video to sway him -- Torre is good enough.

Pettite is a great signing on a one-year deal, even with the player option for 2008, and at the end of the season Johnson, Pavano, Jorge Posada and Abreu come off the books as Vernon Wells, Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones come onto the market. The next year, they can have Mark Teixeira at first base in their new stadium.

The Yankees have won the AL East nine straight years, and since Cashman gained control last fall, they are in better shape to make a run at the Braves' incredible record than they have been in a couple of (baseball) generations. I was there when Rick Rhoden DHed, remember the "Mr. May" line and the releases from "Ken Clay spit the bit" to the apology for losing the playoffs.

It's very different, now, and a lot more difficult for the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Orioles.


Red Sox get offensive
The team the Red Sox should put in the field in 2007 is a far cry from the one that was 11th in the league in runs after the All-Star break. If, as expected, Manny Ramirez returns, a lineup of Julio Lugo, either Kevin Youkilis or Coco Crisp, David Ortiz and Ramirez could make J.D. Drew a 125 RBI guy, particularly with his left-center field power in Fenway. More important, it will be a lot easier for Drew to adapt to Boston as a complement to than a replacement for Manny.

1. Matsuzaka. Scott Boras insists he does not have to bring the 26-year-old right-hander to Boston this week. Boras claims that he is "arguably one of the five best starting pitchers in the game and should be paid accordingly, especially coming off of this market." In Boras's mind, that fair market price is $20 million, not that he's asking for it because of the posting system. But Boras also claims that Matsuzaka can get $15-18 million pitching in Japan, that Seibu can get a lot more than $51.1 million next year and that Boston can write off most of the posting costs with marketing and the exclusion of the luxury tax.

Boston essentially needs to get the Matsuzaka agreement done by Tuesday night so they can get him in Wednesday for a physical prior to the Thursday deadllne. One GM Friday said "it would be a shame for Matsuzaka and baseball to hold him out to try to force a change in the posting system." Boras has a very strong relationship with Theo Epstein, but he is willing to hold out players when necessary, such as Boston's current catcher and right fielder.

Will it get done? No one knows. But one can assume that the Red Sox are a far better team with Matsuzaka than without him, although he has never thrown a pitch in the AL East.

2. Closer. The Red Sox would not guarantee Eric Gagne 60 percent of his $10 million 2006 salary because of the fear that there's as much chance that he's Rob Dibble as he is Trevor Hoffman. Washington asked for Craig Hansen and Clay Bucholtz for Chad Cordero, which isn't happening. Essentially, there's nothing on the market except for Tony Armas, which has been discussed, so if spring training were to open Monday, 28-year-old Devern Hansack, the Nicarauguan veteran who threw a five inning no-hitter the last day of the season, would be the first choice as closer.

The Red Sox believe that if and when Hansen remembers that his 95-98 mph four-seamer is a complementary, hittable pitch, goes back to his 92-95 mph sinker and regains consistency with his Brad Lidge slider, then he can eventually close. So can Bryce Cox, their third-round pick out of Rice who blew through the system.

But they need a veteran or two to get them to midseason, and thus far have had no luck trying to acquire Derrick Turnbow, Cordero, Jesse Crain, Chad Qualls, Cameron Loe, et al.

Source: ESPN.com

Boston - You're counting on Coco Crisp to make J.D. Drew work?




Thanks! I needed that!

Regards,
Double-J

Talks Breaking Down Between Boston and Matsuzaka


Yes.

Cashman, get on your horse. Send Seibu (and Boras) a message, with a few million inside to whet their appetite.

While I still think this deal will get done, it would be a huge blunder if the Sox couldn't do it, and they would, as abovementioned, be the laughingstock of the league.

Regards,
Double-J

Great minds think alike DJ. I just posted that too

I guess you can always count on boston to f*ck up a good thing

Haha, beat you!

Here are some videos of Igawa:

Kei Igawa (2001) (notice the 2nd batter...hehe )

Japanese All-Star Series 2004 Game 3

Japanese All-Star Series 2004 Game 8 (Watch him strike out Big Papi!!!)

But doesn't Matsuzaka go back to Japan for another year if boston doesn't sign him?

That is my understanding. Otherwise, why the bidding war to earn the right to try to sign him. If he doesn't sign, Boston doesn't have to pay a dime of the infamous $51 million.

While the Red sox end up with egg on their face if they don't sign him, Matsuzaka doesn't play major league ball in 2007 and Seibu is out of the cash it desperately needs.

Therefore, Boras, if your boy is serious about pitching in the majors, get the deal done. My gut feeling is that Boston has already put an acceptable package together, and Boras is waiting to see to what extent they'll sweeten it before the deadline.

From the beginning this negotiation had the makings of an eleventh hour agreement. It is in both parties' interest to characterize the offers and counter-offers as being far apart. The deal will be done because it has to get done.

"The Rangers are still interested in reliever and former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne. Reports out of Boston said the Red Sox were probably out of the bidding and that Gagne was choosing between San Francisco, Cleveland and Texas for a base salary of around $6 million and additional money if he reaches certain incentives. Daniels did not comment on Gagne."

"The Cardinals have asked to view Carl Pavano's expansive medical records, according to a report in yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a sign that the Yankees might be able to get out from under that albatross of a contract. The Rockies previously expressed interest in the righthander, but talks broke down because they wanted the Yankees to eat most of the $22.95 million left in the final two years of his four-year, $39.95-million deal, a person familiar with the talks said."

Source: Ben Maller

It depends on MLB and Selig. It could either render the whole decision null and void, where Seibu would send the cash back and the Red Sox send Matsuzaka back across to the Lions, or...

...since the Mets placed the second-highest bid, by rights, they should get the rights to negotiate, and Seibu will still get its cash.

From what I understand, it could go either way if the deal falls through.

So where did the Yanks bid then, 3rd?

Mike and the Mad Dog said the Mets were #2, so I think it went like this:

1.) Red Sox
2.) Mets
3.) Yankees
4.) Rangers
5.) Cubs/Dodgers

Matsuzaka On Plane to Boston


Like I said, I figured the deal would get done, but I'm assuming that the Red Sox finally caved.

In addition, this is going to make Zito even more expensive, because he'll be the last big name pitcher available, and plus, Boras will use Matsuzaka as a benchmark (not that the Mets can't afford Zito, but still...).

I believe Boras has been ready to make the deal all along, but waited and feigned disinterest in an effort to sweeten the deal as best he could. He misses the mark when he compares his client to a free agent who should get free agent $. He is not and his market value is determined by his status. If he didn't make the deal, Matsuzaka would have to play for Seibu for two more years, during which time an injury or mediocre performance could derail his dream of playing in the majors.

If the deal isn't done, Red Sox lose no 4 and become the front runner for Clemens possibly; Boras gets nothing; Seibu doesn't get the 51 million dollars; and Matsuzaka would hope to return in 2008...with a different agent.

Not that I want him back with the Yankees, but I don't think Clemens will go back to the Red Sox if this deal falls through. The only teams he'd pitch for would be Boston, New York, and Houston, and having Pettitte on the same club or the proximity to his home gives distinct advantages to the Yankees and the Astros.

He wants to pitch for a team with a sure-fire shot at the World Series, and without Matsuzaka, the Red Sox aren't even the best team in the AL East, let alone contenders in the playoff hunt. Of course, Clemens is only going to pitch for at most half-a-season anyways, so if the Red Sox are in or near 1st place in the AL East, he still may want to come back, but I think Boston is probably the least likely destination.

And one more thing - let's all tip our caps to all the Red Sox fans who are now telling everyone they are going to run over the Yankees...First, please shut your hypocritical mouths about how much the Yankee payroll is, because you spent an egregious amount of cash just for a phone call, and then overpaid someone who has never made a major league start. Secondly, J.D. Drew...right. Really one of those players in the echelon of Mays, Ruth, Gehrig etc. Not. Congrats.

In addition, let's make note of the fact that if the Yankees had pulled this off, the only story coming out of the media outlets would be how this is terrible for baseball and only the rich teams (i.e. NY) can sign these big stars. Yet, Boston's move is being hailed as some sort of international handshake between these two countries. Wake up? The 2004 Red Sox team is still the most expensive world champion team to be fielded in history.

Again, kudos to the Red Sox for winning the bid, I'm just getting ready to wrap myself in my Yankee/old-fashioned baseball fan blanket ala Linus Van Pelt to deflect all of the hypocritical, pro-Boston crap I'll be hearing up until spring training.

As usual DJ, the Yankees are held to a double standard. The Yankees make this deal and as you said, "it just proves what's wrong with baseball." Boston makes the deal, and it's "great for baseball." F*cking hyptocrites! It's just good ol' fashion Yankee hating.

PS - Does this guy have the potential to be a Jose Contreras? Hmmm.....

There is always a risk, Irish. Its like playing Russian Roulette. Either you're Clint Eastwood, or Christopher Walken.

Guys, you complain about the double-standard used against the Yanks.

May I ask, what would you prefer? That the Yanks be the "face" of American professional baseball in stature, dominance, and in victory, or let the Red Sox become that?

Its like being President. The monkey shit thrown at you the alpha-male, by the weaker beta-males, is only because the Yanks are on the top, and Red Sox/Dodgers/Phillies/Astros/etc. are NOT.

Red Sox fans, in their leadership role of the Anti-Yankee lobby, had the sympathetic factor in that their franchise hadn't won a title in several generations. I felt good when they won in 2004.

But now, without the sympathy, they reveal to be exactly like their Yankee fanbase adversaries: Loud, ignorant, obnoxious, retarded, and most of all, WHININING.

Yanks fans, its like being the Undisputed Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Everyone else is gunning for you, and criticizing you as such. It comes with the territory. Accept it, and piss on those challengers when they fall in defeat.

I'd just prefer the media would shed this image of David v. Goliath in these Red Sox/Yankees battles, where the Red Sox are constantly the hard-luck club that doesn't have money or great players at every position but their camaraderie and fan base drive them forward, while the Evil Empire Yankees use their deep pocketbooks and selfish greed to buy championships, ruining the game of baseball and driving smaller market teams out of business.

Because that's crap, and I think we all recognize it.

Like:

"We can't operate like the Yankees." - Theo Epstein, after the Yankees traded three low-level prospects for Cory Lidle and Bobby Abreu.

Right, because they didn't just spend $51 million for a phone call and another $8-$10 million per year plus incentives on a pitcher who has never started a Major League game.

Cry me a river!