The Offseason Plan, Part 3: Who Doesn’t Fit?

In Part 1 of my offseason plan, I detailed the style of players that championship teams are built with. In Part 2 I examined who on the Yankees fits this mold. Now in Part 3, will look into who fails to fit this mold. All of this will lead up to Part 4 where I will take the role of Brian Cashman and use this information to build the 2007 Yankees. As with the rest of this series, this list can easily be debated because all players fit at least part of the mold I outlined, and few fit none.

Guys who don’t fit:

Alex Rodriguez: At the top of this list sits the most talented player in the game. Any fool can see what A-Rod brings to the table. He has ability like few who have ever played the game. Even in years where he has struggled, Rodriguez has produced more than most in the game. However, he has become a sort of burden to his team. He has shown a lot of mental weakness during his time with the Yankees. He puts way too much pressure on himself in big spots. This is a sure recipe for failure in baseball. A-Rod lets the vast expectations of the fans and media to get to him. After three years, he has still not figured out how to handle adversity. If he cannot grasp it by now, he never will. Alex has also turned into a clubhouse divider, not unlike the 24 and 1 personality Steve Phillips once condemned him as. Whenever anything happened this season, the focus was always on A-Rod, which provided massive distractions to the team. A word was never spoken in the past when Joe Torre benched Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, and Alfonso Soriano in World Series games or had Jason Giambi, Soriano, or the.340 hitting Robinson Cano bat 7th-9th in the postseason. However, when A-Rod was dropped to 6th and 8th against the Tigers, it was a national story and “proof” that Joe Torre “hates” Alex. Tom Verducci’s piece in Sports Illustrated showed that A-Rod is concerned primarily with his own stats and image. That certainly is what his old teammates with the Rangers believe as well as many of his current teammates with the Yankees. He has gone out of his way to separate himself from the rest of the clubhouse. The guy is simply too insecure to make it in the most heated New York moments. He tries to please everybody and ends up costing his team as a result.

Jason Giambi: Giambi is a dynamic offense weapon. The man is an elite power hitter and owns one of the best eyes in baseball. However, he is a defensive liability at first base. His presence on the roster in 2007 might leave no room for Melky Cabrera to play every day and develop at optimal rate. Giambi also has the irritating tendency of having a ready made excuse everytime he goes into a slump. Excuses like this are dangerous because they can qualify failure. To a championship team, there is only winning and losing. No excuse cuts it. Jason also tries to play his own perception up in the media, whether it is apologizing for nothing in 2005 or throwing a teammate under the bus in the infamous SI piece to try and make himself look like a leader. Being injury-prone is also a problem Giambi has.

Gary Sheffield: Gary Sheffield is a dangerous hitter, but he is ultimately about Gary Sheffield. This is a guy who goes out of his way to stir up trouble and get his name into the paper. He has gone out of his way to make an issue out of his contract situation, providing the team a thoroughly unnecessary distraction. If he was so worried about being traded, he should have had a no-trade clause put into the contract with the Yankees that he personally negotiated. If the fourth year was such a sticking point, he should have gotten it guaranteed. Nobody held a gun to his head and forced him to sign a deal. If the pact was so unsatisfactory, he should not have signed it. It is too late to complain. The team is bigger than Gary Sheffield’s wants and needs.

Jaret Wright: Wright is a character guy. He also pitched adequately for the Yanks in 2006 after working his tail off to return from a serious 2005 injury. However, the team needs to upgrade the rotation. Even when he pitched well, Jaret taxed the bullpen. There also were several horrific outings along the way. Wright’s postseason record leaves something to be desired as well. His shelling in Game 4 of the ALDS helped end New York’s season. Unlike the other three guys on the list, talent instead of attitude is the problem with Wright.

Randy Johnson: Johnson remains a feisty competitor. The Yankees just picked him up about three years too late. His body is breaking down. Randy’s fastball has lost velocity, and his slider has lost its bite. This has to do with back and knee ailments that will only get worse as he ages. He still shows flashes of his former dominance from time to time, but he physically cannot do so consistently. It is amazing that his body held up for as long as it did. However, the Yanks would be making a mistake to depend on Randy in 2007 much like they made in 2005 when Kevin Brown was running on fumes.

Ron Villone: Villone is a durable lefty reliever. However, he is too inconsistent to bring back. Ron was brilliant early in the year but was as bad as any pitcher in baseball over the season’s final six weeks. New York cannot have Jekyll and Hyde on the mound.

Kyle Farnsworth: Kyle has a live arm, but he is completely erratic. He has long stretches when he looks brutal. He has never been the most trustworthy pitcher in pressure spots either. Even when he does his job, he makes his team sweat. Farnsworth is also injury-prone. Because of this, he has been limited to one inning outings and few back to back games.

Octavio Dotel: The Yanks took a flier on Dotel coming off surgery. He looked like a shell of the former dominant reliever he once was. However, this admittedly might have just been rust. If the Yankees want to bring back Octavio to try and get some bang for what they invested in him in 2006, they should make sure that they are not counting on him to play a prominent role in the bullpen.

Andy Phillips and Craig Wilson: Neither of these guys hit much at all for the Yankees. Andy at least played good defense but not good enough to earn a roster spot for next year.

Jeter Wins Hank Aaron Award

Derek Jeter has won the 2006 American League Hank Aaron Award. The Aaron Award is like a Cy Young for offensive players. Some might point out that David Ortiz and Travis Hafner hit way more homers. However, Derek was very valuable offensively, hitting .343, scoring 118 runs, putting up a .418 on base percentage, stealing 34 bases, and scoring 97 runs, slugging .483, and collecting his normal share of huge hits. Derek was outdone by his peers in a few of these categories, but his offensive contribution was more diverse than hitting homers. He was great across the board, which the others cannot say. The others were valuable. Derek was just valuable in a different way. Any of the top contenders was worthy. Jeter has nothing to apologize for.

Mo Wins DHL Delivery Man of Year

Mariano Rivera has won his second consecutive DHL Delivery Man of the Year Award for being the top reliever in the game. It is just another accomplishment in the greatest relief career ever. Savor these next few years because when Mariano retires, we will never see dominance on the same scale from a closer ever again.

Lidle Remembered

Cory Lidle was remembered at his memorial service today. Joe Torre, Brian Cashman, Derek Jeter, and Jaret Wright attended from the Yankees organization as did childhood friends Jason Giambi and Aaron Small. Aaron delivered a very heartfelt and emotional tribute to his friend.

“If there was a baseball game being played, me and Cory and Kevin were in it,” the younger Small said, his voice breaking. “Cory was more than a friend. He was like a little brother to me.”

The service sounds like a fitting tribute to the man:

Three small planes flew over mourners at a memorial Tuesday for Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, a comforting reminder to his family, friends and teammates that he died doing something he loved.

There really is not much of substance I can add. It is simply a heartbreaking story. My heart goes out to Cory Lidle, Tyler Stanger, and their friends and family. Now they turn to the painful task of going on in their lives.

The Offseason Plan, Part 2: Who Fits?

Last week I wrote a post detailing the kind of players the Yankees had during their great run of championships in contrast to the players that they have had since 2002. It probably is not random that one core had nothing but success and the other has fallen flat on its face in postseason play. As the Yankees ponder their potential offseason moves, they should consider which players fit this mold and which do not, making changes to their roster accordingly. As with the last post, this list is hardly comprehensive. Most players do not fit all categories. It is a broad overview of which players fit the general mold.

Guys who fit:

Derek Jeter: El Capitan tops the list of players who fit the listed description. He was on those great teams so it is only natural that he would be a part. Jeter is a very patient hitter with some pop. He plays good defense. Beyond that, he is a great leader who embraces big moments. With Jeter a game is successful if he is 0 for 5 but his team wins. A game is a failure if he is 5 for 5 but his team loses. He can be counted on because he always plays the game hard and never makes excuses, even when he is playing through pain or having problems personally. Derek is everything that one could ask for in a baseball player.

Mariano Rivera: Mo is another guy who thrives under pressure. He will pitch as often and for as long as the manager asks. He is extremely durable and has shown no signs of letting up as he has aged. Mariano is the greatest closer ever. His dominance was one of the top reasons that the Yankees built a dynasty. New York had a huge edge pitching him in close games. Mo made sure that the Yanks did not give away big games in late innings. He was perhaps the most important cog in the dominant pitching formula. He has never shied away from big situations and has been a great locker room presence.

Jorge Posada: Jorge is yet another member of the championship core. He has quietly been one of the best hitting catchers in the history of the game statistically during his career. Jorge is a leader in the clubhouse who brings the win or nothing mentality to the table.

Bernie Williams: The final member of the core of four is the venerable Williams. Bernie has clearly slowed down as he has aged. However, he played a valuable role for the Yanks as a bench player in 2006. His defense has slipped badly, but Williams still does not fear pressure and provides a great example in the locker room for youngsters like Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera. He still can swing pretty well from the right side of the plate. This is not a guy who can carry the load anymore, but he still can contribute both on the field and off.

Hideki Matsui: In a clubhouse of stars, Japan’s most popular player blends in nicely and does his own thing without generating big headlines. Hideki swings a good bat and has a good eye at the plate. Matsui is a terrific situational hitter, doing what is needed to get runners home. Godzilla has not been a huge slugger in America, but he is capable of hitting the ball out of the park when he has to. He also grew up playing for the Tokyo Giants, the Yankees of Japan, so he knows how to handle the spotlight of New York.

Johnny Damon: Damon showed that he is a gamer in his first year with the Yankees. He constantly was in the lineup despite several nagging injuries. However, Damon seldom said a word about any of them. Johnny is fearless on the field, whether it means throwing his body around or helping his team overcome eighty-six years of bad karma. Playing in Boston prepared him well for the experience in New York. Both cities make their baseball teams into circus acts, but Johnny has adapted well. He kept his dynamic personality even when joining the corporate Yankees clubhouse, adding some needed life and loosening things up. Other people have tried too hard to fit in the past, changing themselves. Damon did not.

Bobby Abreu: Abreu fit in well after his move to New York. He likes being out of the spotlight, which was impossible for him in Philadelphia. Bobby thrived because he did not want every bit of attention focused on him, and he got his wish with the Yankees. Abreu much prefers being one cog in a cohesive unit. He plays great defense and wears opposing pitchers down with his selective eye. Bobby’s power numbers have diminished, but he still hits for average and drives in runs.

Robinson Cano: Cano is one cool customer. It cannot be easy for a 23 year old to thrive with all of the pressures that come with being a Yankee. However, Robbie has done just that. He could be a lot more selective at the plate, but if he maintains a high batting average, that will not be a major issue for him in the future. Cano’s defense has progressed very well as he has developed. In the near future, he could easily become an elite defender. Robbie also has sought out the sage advice of Bernie Williams so it is clear that he understands the influences he needs to surround himself with. This is a stark contrast to the Alfonso Soriano-Raul Mondesi friendship of the past.

Melky Cabrera: Melky is another young guy who thrived under the pressure of New York and become a fan favorite. Cabrera has a good eye at the plate and has been terrific in important situations. He never stopped battling in key at bats against elite pitchers in big games. Melky also emerged as a top defender in the outfield in terms of both range and arm.

Chien-Ming Wang: Wang has been a consistent pitcher since he was called up from the minors in 2005. In 2006, he emerged as a legitimate ace. Joe Torre could count on Wang to pitch a good game every fifth day. He was the kind of frontline starter that the team has tried to find by spending a ton of money on in recent years. However, Wang makes the baseball equivalent of slave wages.

Scott Proctor: Proctor always had the ability to become a solid pitcher. In 2006 he finally put it all together, sacrificing some velocity on his fastball to add a lot of movement. Proctor was incredibly durable, leading baseball in innings pitched by a reliever. Many pundits waited for his arm to tire out. However, it never happened. Proctor’s finest hour this season came in the five game series in Boston when Joe Torre called on him time after time to get big outs, and Scott never showed any fatigue. There clearly is the chance that this season was a fluke and Proctor will regress next season. However, given his durability this year, it is worth the risk to bring him back. If he can duplicate his 2006, the Yankees will struggle to find something as valuable in return. Good, cheap relievers are hard to find.

Mike Mussina: Moose put together a big year for New York. He is not an ace at this point of his career, but he is still a capable starter who has delivered for the Yanks in big spots. He is a creature of habit. Mike is still tougher than the general perception of him is. The Yanks have a solid starter in Mussina.

Sal Fasano: The Yanks couldn’t ask for much more in a backup catcher. Fasano kept his mouth shut and provided capable defense when called upon. He handles a pitching staff very well.

Miguel Cairo: Cairo did not have a great season statistically. However, he provided competent defense at all four infield positions. He also provided a number of big hits along the way. Miguel did not have many hits, but the ones he did have were significant. He is a better hitter than he showed in 2006, not nearly as bad as his numbers indicated.

Brian Bruney: Bruney is a youngster with a power arm. He did great things after his August callup, earning Joe Torre’s trust in some big spots.

Mike Myers: Myers does what is asked of him. His primary job is to get lefty hitters out in big spots, and he is adept at doing so. Mike is also a durable pitcher, capable of saving the bullpen by pitching in mopup situations.

FAA More Alert

The FAA has become more proactive in New York’s airspace as a result of Cory Lidle’s deadly plane crash earlier this week.

“A smart terrorist could load up a small, little plane with biological, chemical or even nuclear material and fly up the Hudson or East rivers, no questions asked,” said Schumer.

The senator said the Lidle crash should be “a wake-up call to the FAA to re-examine flight patterns, which, amazingly enough, they haven’t done since 9/11.” The date refers to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack when two airliners were flown into the World Trade Center.

Nobody thought of this in the five years since 9/11? At times government incompetence can be frightening.

Lidle’s Family Could Lose Benefits

Cory Lidle’s family could lose $1,5 million in benefits if it is discovered that he was flying the doomed small plane registered to him on Wednesday afternoon. This is just disgusting. All that this does is hurt the people who have suffered as a result of Cory’s death. It is an absolutely callous way to trying to save $1.5 million, an amount of money that means very little to the entity that would be paying it out. The Lidle family is probably pretty well off, but the fact that the Union would want to prevent a grieving family from receiving benefits, while protecting guys like Barry Bonds would show just what kind of a person Don Fehr is.

A-Rod’s Plane Overruns Runway

Alex Rodriguez’s private jet overran the runway at Bob Hope Airport near Los Angeles on Friday. Thankfully nobody was harmed. On a normal week, this would be disturbing news. With this event taking place two days after Cory Lidle’s death, it’s enough to make one sick. In this case at least everybody is fine.

Cory Lidle Killed in Plane Crash

Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle died today in a tragic plane crash in New York. Cory’s plane crashed into an apartment complex in New York. His flight instructor also died in the accident. Reports are that there were no fatalities on the ground.

Testimonials are pouring in all over the media about what a good guy Cory Lidle was. I did not know Cory. All that I know is that a son, husband, friend, and father has been lost. Please keep Cory Lidle and his family in your prayers.

It’s just amazing how one day a baseball team can be the most important thing in the world and the next day it means nothing.

This Passes for Journalism in Texas?

In what might be one of the worst columns in the history of the newspaper industry, The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram’s Gil LeBreton decides to shun his role of objective analyst and turns into a regular loudmouth at a bar. His general message is “In your face Yankees fans!” This article offers no insight into anything. This kind of thing is message board material, not something that should be printed in an actual newspaper. LeBreton can’t even stay consistent in his bashing of the team and its fans.

If your baseball team doesn’t win the World Series, take heart — neither did Steinbrenner and the Yankees. It wasn’t such a lousy baseball season, after all.

Yankee fans are good at that, turning the argument around on their tormentors. It hides having to defend their own team’s failings and financial flops. It keeps them, they think, from having to talk about Carl Pavano.

He encourages fans of other teams to only worry about the failures of New York and then bashes Yankees fans for doing just that to other fans. By bashing Yankees fans, he also makes an idiotic sweeping generalization in the process.

Rangers fans have created a fake rivalry with the Yankees just as Tigers fans, Marlins fans, and fans of every team not named the Red Sox or the Mets have. However, the average fan usually does not get employed by a publication just to talk smack. Somehow Gil LeBreton bucked that trend down in Texas.

If you have three minutes to waste, read that and realize you likely meet the columnist standards of The Fort-Worth Daily-Star.