Mientkiewicz on First

The Yankees have reached a deal with Doug Mientkiewicz to play first base in 2007. He’ll make $1.5 million on a 1 year contract. This move what what the doctor ordered. Mientkiewicz was the right choice given the other options.

Clearly Doug is not an impact offensive player. His offensive output was simply offensive in 2004 and 2005. However, last season he receovered to hit .283 with a .359 on-base percentage. This was right in step with his career .270 average and .359 on-base. Assuming he can put up something similar, which is not a stretch, he will be an effective part of the lineup. His power numbers are subpar for a first baseman, but considering the above average production the Yanks will get from just about every other position, the team can carry him even if he doesn’t hit at all. The reason for signing Doug Mientkiewicz is his glove. Doug is an elite defender at the position. He has excellent range, will save infielders a ton of errors with his handling of the ball, and can throw, unlike Jason Giambi. The Yankees have plenty of offense. First base defense is underrated. In October, mistakes are maximized. With the exception of Hideki Matsui, a case can be made that the Yanks are at least average defensively at every position, and they are above average at most. This will only help the pitching staff. With ground ball pitchers like Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang, infield defense will be at a premium. Getting Mientkiewicz will pay dividends.

Mientkiewicz played in high school with Alex Rodriguez. The two have remained close friends. It appears evident that the Yankees are going to give A-Rod at least one more year to work through his problems. A guy with Alex’s mental issues will benefit from having another friend in the clubhouse, creating a happier and more productive atmosphere. It’s not a coincidence that the best of A-Rod’s three years in pinstripes came when his friend Tino Martinez was on the team, making the clubhouse more comfortable for him.

There are some concerns about adding another lefty to the lineup, but Mientkiewicz wasn’t signed for his bat. The team could easily platoon him with either Andy Phillips or Josh Phelps and keep at least solid defense at the position while potentially upgrading the offense against lefty pitchers. In the end, this move makes a lot more sense than taking on a big contract to trade for Richie Sexson, a one-dimensional power hitter with a subpar glove. In recent seasons, the Yankees have loaded up on guys like that. They do the job over the 162 game season, but their flaws are exposed in the month that means more than any other, October.

Yanks Sign Igawa

The Yankees have signed Japanese lefty Kei Igawa to a 5 year, $20 million deal after spending $26 to post for Igawa. This was an interesting move by the Yanks. Igawa has had a lot of success in Japan, posting a 16-10 record with a 2.97 ERA in 2006. He has constantly been among the Japanese leaders in strikeouts, indicating an ability for him to miss bats. His career record in Japan was 86-60 with a 3.15 ERA. His ERA never reached 3.80 in Japan, and he won an MVP award in 2003. Despite all of these positives, the move is still puzzling.

Japanese pitchers have struggled to adjust to American hitters. Daisuke Matsuzaka faces some of the same troubles, but he is supremely talented. He is like the Ichiro or Hideki Matsui of pitchers. He should find success anywhere. Igawa doesn’t have the repertoire to dominate in the American League East. He figures to be more of a backend starting pitcher. It’s tough to imagine that a young guy like Jeff Karstens or Humberto Sanchez would provide much of a dropoff in production for a fraction of the $52 million the Yanks paid Igawa. It’s also puzzling as to why the Yankees posted $32 million for Matsuzaka and $26 million for Igawa. The pitchers are not in the same league when it comes to stuff on the mound.

This move isn’t terrible when one considers everything. The total money is in line with the market. It’s better to spend it on a guy like Igawa who at least has a small chance of being excellent than on a known mediocrity like Gil Meche. The posting fee also must be considered as a sunk cost. The remaining contract is not too prohibitive. The team can rid itself of Igawa easily should he falter either through trade to a National League team willing to take a chance or just release him.

This move isn’t terrible, but it is still quite puzzling. The Yankees just spent a lot of money on a guy who doesn’t look like anything special or much of an improvement over what they already have. Brian Cashman has done a great job this offseason so he gets a pass. Maybe he knows something that nobody else does.

Andy Comes Home

Rejoice for in this holiday season the prodigal lefty has returned. The Yankees have resigned lefty starter Andy Pettitte to a 1 year, $16 million deal. This also includes a player option for 2008. This rights a wrong that ruined the holiday season for Yankees fans three winters ago. This move is the highlight of the Yankees offseason.

The finances of the contract alone make it a smart deal. General managers across baseball have gone wild this offseason, giving five year deals to mediocrities such as Gary Matthews Jr. and Gil Meche. The $16 million salary that Andy will make is not that crazy in this market. A team like the Yankees can afford it without a problem. The big part of this deal is that it will tie the team down for at most two years. It promotes flexibility. If Andy’s blows out his elbow in 2007, the Yanks will not be on the hook for a long time the way they almost were with Jason Giambi before he regained his stroke in 2005. This helps to minimize any risk with the lefty’s balky elbow.

Said elbow has to be something of a concern. He did miss a substantial part of the 2004 season. That body part played into New York’s decision not to aggressively pursue Andy following the 2003 season. Despite all of this, with the benefit of hindsight few think letting Pettitte get away was good for the Yankees. He made 32 starts in 2005 and posted a 2.39 ERA. In 2006 he got off to a very slow start, but bounced back in the second half with a 2.80 ERA after the All-Star break. The man can still pitch well, and the elbow hasn’t stopped him from doing so over the past two seasons. Yes, these numbers were in the National League, but Andy has certainly proven that he can handle pitching in the American League East.

Pettitte is also a proven commodity in New York. A lot of pitchers don’t have the stomach to handle the pressure of pitching in front of the bright lights. Andy Pettitte does. Some pitchers shy away from taking the ball in big games. Andy Pettitte wants to be on the mound when everything is on the line. It is where he feels at home. The big games that Andy has delivered in the past are too numerous to count. Over the past few seasons, the Yanks have had short Octobers because their pitching has faltered. Starters let pressure get to them. Andy Pettitte does not have a perfect postseason track record. He has had some atrocious outings. However, he can be trusted to come through. If he doesn’t, it is because he get beaten, not because he succumbs to the pressure.

Andy’s presence also increases the possibility that another former Yankees starter will return to the Bronx, Roger Clemens. Roger likely will return at midseason 2007 under a similar arrangement to the one he had in 2006. The bidding will probably boil down to the Yankees and the Astros. Boston probably would be out unless Theo Epstein fires up his money-printing machine one more time. However, there really isn’t much in Beantown for Roger aside from being forced to view his friend Pettitte as an enemy. The Yanks now will be able to both offer the most money and the opportunity to pitch again with his best friend. This might make up for the perks that Houston can give him being close to home and not forcing him to travel.

Andy Pettitte’s clubhouse presence will also be valuable to this team. He is another piece of the dynasty days. He was brought up in an atmosphere where winning was all that mattered. No individual accomplishments were relevant. That thinking has eroded in recent seasons. Andy at least brings back a piece of that atmosphere conducive to winning. It will be a good influence to younger players in the clubhouse, some of whom he might take under his wing and bring into the workout regimen he learned from Clemens.

Andy Pettitte never should have been an Astro. The Yankees had every chance to lock him up before he hit the market in 2003. They did not make him a priority. New York failed to negotiate with him during a brilliant season. The Yanks didn’t contact him when they had an exclusive negotiation window in the offseason. When he asked the team for a 4 year, $52 million deal, the Yankees countered with 3 years, $39 million. Only the first 2 years and $26 million were guaranteed. That’s less guaranteed money than the Astros gave him. All of this came for a man who erased three different 1-0 postseason deficits for the team in 2003 with big performances in Game 2’s. All of this came for a man who pitched his heart out in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, losing 2-0 to Josh Beckett because his vaunted offense disappeared. All of this came for a man who had pitched countless big games for the team, including a 1-0 win over Cy Young winner John Smoltz in the pivotal game of the 1996 World Series, which launched a dynasty. Instead, the Yanks made a malcontent like Gary Sheffield a priority over a homegrown hero. Three years later, the Yanks have realized their mistake. The biggest irony is that had the Yankees given Andy the deal he wanted, he’d be under contract in 2006 for $12 million instead of $16 million. Talk about a mistake.

The Yankees get more than a pitcher in Andy Pettitte. They get a man of integrity, one who is not solely motivated by money. Sure, finances played some role in his decision. However, he offered the Astros a hometown discount in both 2003 and 2006 because he wanted to be near his kids. He turned down a 4 year, $54 million offer in 2003 from Boston because he felt that he could never betray his fans and teammates like that. He reportedly turned down a 4 year, $66 million deal from Baltimore right before resigning with the Yanks because there were two places that he loved pitching, and he was going to be in one of them.

A great Yankee has returned to pinstripes to end his career. Aaron Guiel will have to give up number 46. The Donovan Osborne’s and Alan Embree’s of the world are gone. The rightful owner of the jersey is back. It gives the Yankees a much better chance to return to their accustomed spot as World Champions in 2007.

Mussina Resigned

The Yankees resigned Mike Mussina to a 2 year, $22.5 million deal. The Yanks pretty much had to bring the Moose back. He defied his age in 2006, registering his best year since 2003 and staying healthy. Starters that reliable are not easy to find, especially ones who have proven that they can thrive under the bright lights of New York. The Bronx Bombers need pitching help. A team doesn’t respond to that by getting rid of its second best pitcher. The Yanks probably just should have picked up Mussina’s option. The $17 million doesn’t look too bad in the hindsight presented by what the market turned into. Even without that, the Yankees could have afforded the hit. It’s best not to commit to aging pitchers for a long time since it can go downhill in a second. Mike would have been motivated by pitching in another contract year. Still, the $11.25 million for 2007 looks like a bargain. That’s about what Gil Meche is making. Two years of Moose are also much better than no more Moose at all.

Wright Traded to Baltimore

The Yankees traded Jaret Wright to Baltimore for righty reliever Chris Britton. This deal makes a ton of sense for the Bronx Bombers. They sent $4 million to the O’s along with Jaret. This was what it would have cost them to buy out the contract. For the same price, Brian Cashman added a quality young reliever.

Wright was pretty good for the Yanks in 2006, posting a 4.49 ERA. However, it was time for him to go. Jaret never went deep into games even when he pitched well, which taxed the bullpen. On days he was off, he could force the ‘pen to throw 8 innings. Jaret also pitched miserably in Game 4 of the ALDS, where the Yanks were eliminated. This was not an isolated incident. Since the brilliance of his early postseason career with Cleveland in 1997, Wright’s ERA has been 8.10 or higher in five of his six subsequent postseason series. He struggles with pressure. Jaret had the spirit of a fighter. Yankees fans should always admire the way he fought back to return from a shoulder injury and the constant flurry of projectiles coming at him in 2005 as well as his work in 2006, but an upgrade was in order. A team can get by with Jaret Wright as a backend starter, but it should upgrade from that whenever possible. The guy has not been a very productive pitcher during his career. There remains a strong possibility that his relatively strong 2006 was a fluke year and that he will regress. This was New York’s chance to sell high.

In return, the Yanks get Britton, a 23 year old righty. In his rookie season of 2006, Chris pitched 53.2 innings and posted a 3.35 ERA. In years past, New York’s bullpen has been too top-heavy, lacking any depth. Britton is a promising young arm who can help carry the load and make sure guys like Scott Proctor get more rest. Baltimore reunites Wright with Leo Mazzone, the pitching coach under whom Jaret has had the most success of his career. Still, good young arms don’t grow on trees. Wright was not worth giving up Britton.

The Yankees now have another rotation hole to fill. However, pitchers who do what Wright do are easier to find than 23 year old bullpen arms. This was a stroke of genuis by Brian Cashman. This team is better because of this deal.

Sheffield Traded to Detroit

The Yankees started their offseason by dealing Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for a trio of minor league pitchers. Trading Sheffield makes a lot of sense. Had Sheff been allowed to enter free agency, he almost certainly would have signed with Boston. The Tigers did knock the Yanks out of the postseason in 2006, but the Red Sox still present a bigger challenge to New York if only because the fierce rivals battle within the same division. By dealing Sheff, the Yanks also were able to get something tangible in return instead of just draft picks. The guys that New York got are further along and easier to project.

The Yankees did very well in what they got. All three pitchers are quality prospects. The centerpiece was Humberto Sanchez. He’s only 23, throws hard, and finished last season with a combined 2.53 ERA between AA and AAA, striking out 129 in only 123 innings. Sanchez does bring some concerns due to weight and elbow problems, but his upside is too good to pass up. He is highly touted and projects to become a terrific pitcher for a long time. He should be ready to contribute starting in 2007. Sanchez could fit as either a starter or a reliever. He adds another quality young arm to the system, joining Phillip Hughes, Tyler Clippard, J. Brent Cox, Darrell Rasner, and Jeff Karstens. Since the Yanks rely on old pitchers, having this kind of insurance can give the team peace of mind entering the 2007 season. Brian Cashman has also stockpiled enough young arms that he can move a few of them to get more immediate help. This is the kind of flexibility that can only come when an organization values young talent. It’s tough to make quality trades when everything of value within a franchise is tied down in a long term deal. A team can never have too much quality pitching. Sanchez can only help matters.

The other pitchers, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Clagett, are relievers with potential. Neither is as advanced as Sanchez, but both still could make some noise in the future. Whelan is only 22 and posted a 2.57 ERA in A Lakeland in 2006. He has a power arm and some project him as a future closer. Clagett dominated for A Western Michigan this season, posting a 0.91 ERA, striking out 58 in 59.1 innings. This is another guy with potential to shoot through the system.

This trade was a good one from all sides. The Tigers are looking to win now. They needed a big bat and had young pitching to spare. Sheffield’s attitude won’t be a problem because he respects Jim Leyland, and Leyland knows how to handle him. Sheffield will wax poetic about how much he loves being surrounded by people he knows from the Marlins, but the real reason he is happy is that he got a contract extension. If he missed these guys so badly, why is this the first time he’s mentioned them since he left Florida. As for the Yankees, they have no room for Sheffield, and Gary had become a malcontent. Bobby Abreu gives the lineup better balance, selectivity over power, and better defense than Sheffield would have. They got rid of deadweight and picked up three good arms.

The Offseason Plan, Part 4: Becoming Brian Cashman

After Parts 1, 2, and 3 of this series outlined what the Yankees should try to do, it’s time to put that plan into action. In the following post, I will take the role of Brian Cashman and build the 2007 Yankees. As always, these moves might not all be possible, however, I am willing to defend the plausibility of all.

Ed. note: I’m aware that Don Mattingly has already been named bench coach. I’m going back in time to make this post.

Coaching staff:

Reassign Lee Mazzilli and hire Davey Johnson as bench coach:

Mazzilli is part of the Yankees family so he should have a place in the organization. Lee would be sent to manage the Trenton Thunder, which would keep him close to New York and give him a chance to enhance his resume for his next managerial job. He did not do a terrible job as bench coach. He just was not a good fit with Joe Torre. The two men think too alike. Torre’s in-game management is not nearly as lacking as some of his critics claim. However, there undoubtedly has been something missing since Don Zimmer left after the 2003 season. This was because Torre and Zimmer had differing philosophies. When two smart men disagree on an issue, thought is provoked and the right answer is reached. Zimmer had enough credibility that Torre would listen to him. Johnson has that same kind of credibility. Davey is a superb tactician who understands the New York landscape having managed the Mets to the 1986 World Championship. He has shown some desire to get back into the game but has not recently considered or been considered for a Major League managerial job. This means that he will not threaten Torre like Buck Showalter or Lou Piniella would. Johnson would take over the baseball wise man role on the staff that has been lacking.

Hire Joe Girardi as first base coach if Tony Pena becomes Washington’s manager. If not, hire Girardi as YES Network analyst with the understanding he becomes Yankees manager in 2008:

Pena has earned his keep if for no other reason than the role he played in Jorge Posada’s vast defensive improvement in 2006. If he is hired by Washington, the Yanks should get Girardi back onto the coaching staff. Joe had the undermanned Marlins thinking postseason for a time in 2006. He proved that he can effectively lead a team. The only reason that he was fired was that he called his terrible owner out for overstepping his bounds and not letting him handle the managerial aspect of the team he was hired for. He has proven that he is the most qualified manager to take over when Joe Torre retires. Joe’s contract runs out after 2007. That would be the right time for him to go and become a high-paid consultant, media analyst, and future Hall of Famer. He has had a long and successful run. This would allow his team to dedicate the season to him and give him the farewell tour he deserves. Joe could go out like a king on his own terms. His trusted liutenant Girardi would take over. If Pena is retained, Joe can refresh his batteries after a trying year and bring his insightful mind to YES. Girardi would not be a great bench coach because he would run into the same problems as Mazzilli, thinking too much like his mentor.

Players:

Sign Daisuke Matsuzaka to a 5 year/$70 million deal:

Matsuzaka is the cream of the crop when it comes to starting pitchers this offeason. Any pitcher making an adjustment from Japan is a gamble, but when one looks at his MVP performance in the World Baseball Classic and his stuff, he should acquit himself nicely. He is a 26 year old who posted a 2.13 ERA this season with the Seibu Lions. Some have raised alarm over the fact that he has thrown a ton of pitches. However, the fact that he has never had a serious injury shows that he is a durable innings-eater. Matsuzaka allegedly throws a pitch called the gyroball (seen in the above link), which is like baseball’s version of Excalibur. It is almost impossible to hit given the movement. The Yankees can afford to take risks because of the money that they make. This is one that they should take without hesitation. Young aces don’t come along every day.

Trade Alex Rodriguez to the Dodgers along with with cash making his deal worth $8 million annually through 2010 for Chad Billingsley, Adam LaRoche, and Jonathan Broxton:

I’ve outlined why A-Rod should go in Part 3. This deal makes sense for all parties involved. Alex needs to approve any trade. He would go to the Dodgers. Heading to L.A. would keep him in a big market with one of the game’s marquee franchises. He would be able to play shortstop again and be the face of his team instead of being Derek Jeter’s sidekick. The laid back fans of Southern California would treat him like a god, and he would stay with a contender. For all of his flaws, the man is still the most talented player in the game, a guy who brings people to the stadium, and a two-time MVP in his prime. That is why his demand is high, and the Dodgers would pay a king’s ransom to get him. The Yankees would set themselves up for the future by acquiring elite third base, starting pitcher, and relief pitcher prospects that have either proven themselves in the Majors or are ready to contribute. Giving up three young studs might seem like a high price for the Dodgers. However, with A-Rod, Rafael Furcal, and Wilson Betemit, and James Loney in the mix, there is no need for LaRoche. The other two guys easily could be frontline pitchers, but L.A. can overpay. They’re getting one of the game’s best for $8 million per season. Carlos Lee is going to get more money this offseason.

Trade Jason Giambi to the Angels along with cash to make his deal $10 million annually through 2008 for Scot Shields and Casey Kotchman:

Giambi is as dangerous as they come at the plate. However, as stated in Part 3, his one-dimensional game and personality make him a bad fit for the team. The Angels are a team starved for hitting. They would love a lefty power hitting run producer like Giambi to stick behins Vladimir Guerrero. Giambi would come relatively cheap in terms of offensive production available on the market in terms of money and compensation. The Yanks would get a top young first baseman in Kotchman, who is good defensively and a top setup man in Shields. Shields has a rubber arm so fans would not have to worry about Joe Torre overusing him. Kotchman was hampered by a bout with mono in 2006, which lowers his trade value, but he has tremendous upside. With Kendry Morales in the mix, the Angels can part with him. Acquiring Casey should pay big dividends down the line. This might seem like a negative trade for the Yanks, but in reality they will have filled a pair of needs and gotten younger.

Pick up Gary Sheffield’s option and trade him with cash to make his contract worth $10 million through 2007 to the Tigers for Placido Polanco:

Sheffield has a fearsome bat, but he also has no spot on the team and has worn out his welcome through the use of his big mouth. He has threatened to become a problem for any team that trades for him. That is why the Tigers are a natural fit. Sheff loves Jim Leyland from their time together with the Marlins, and the feeling is mutual. The Tigers are also a natural fit since they are seeking a power hitting corner outfielder. Had the Yanks let Sheffield walk, they would have seen him end up in Boston with only draft picks in return. Now they send him out of the division and get Polanco back. Placido hits for a high average and typically posts a high on base percentage, 2006 excluded. He is capable of playing superb defense at every infield position. Placido would be arguably the best utility man in baseball.

Sign Andy Pettitte to a 2 year/$22 million deal:

One of the biggest mistakes that the Yanks ever made was letting Andy get away after the 2003 season. He was a reliable lefty who loved pitching in big games. He came through time and again when the team needed him to. He is still pitching at a high level. In 2005, he finished second in the National League in ERA. After a rough start in 2006, he recovered to post a 2.70 ERA after the All-Star break. His elbow is something of a concern, but it also was three years ago. The Yankees sure made a bad move by not trusting that elbow then.

Sign Mark Mulder to a 1 year/$5 million deal with $5 million in incentives and a 2008 team option worth $10 million:

Mulder is coming off rotator cuff surgery. This means that he will be a gamble. It also means that he will come cheap. Mark is familiar with the American League and has been one of the game’s top lefties when healthy. He has also been excellent in big games. This is a move that could pay huge dividends for the Yanks.

Pick up Mike Mussina’s option:

The Moose should be back coming off a terrific 2006 season. However, at this point he is a year to year proposition due to his age. If his option is declined, it will take a two to three year deal to get him back. That is too long. He is not worth $17 million in 2007, but the Yanks can afford to overpay in the short term to make the team better in the long run.

Trade Jaret Wright, Kyle Farnsworth, and Mike Myers to the Astros with cash making Wright’s contract worth $3 million through 2007 for Brad Lidge:

It would cost the team $4 million to buy Wright out. The best move would be to send Jaret and that $4 million elsewhere for something of value. A $3 million pitcher who posted a sub 4.50 ERA in the AL has value for an NL team. Farnsworth was consistently inconsistent for the Yanks. Again the NL is a better place for him, and he would draw interest in an era where relievers are hard to find. Myers is a capable situational lefty reliever. In exchange the Yankees would pick up Lidge. Brad still has some of the nastiest stuff in baseball. He is just a guy who needs a change of scenery. In New York, his pitching would not be a major story. He could just relax and do his thing. He also would not have to deal with the pressure of the ninth inning. Everybody around the Astros say that Brad Lidge has not been a basket case despite his struggles. He remains confident and determined to recapture the form that once made him a top reliever. Moving away from the site of negative ghosts will help him do so.

Sign Eric Gagne to a 1 year/$3 million deal with $6 million in incentives and a 2008 team option worth $9 million:

Once upon a time a number of pundits viewed Gagne and Mariano Rivera as neck and neck for the title of best closer in baseball. A pair of injury-plagued seasons has knocked Gagne off the radar. He still has the stuff to dominate. If he can stay healthy, he and Rivera could form the game’s top 1-2 punch. Some might argue that he would not accept a setup role. However, his agent is Scott Boras. That means that he will go where the money is, especially if that comes with exposure. There probably will not be another team offering the opportunity to make $18 million.

Sign Mike Piazza to a 1 year/$6 million deal:

Piazza accepted a reduced workload in San Diego and came through with a very productive year. Playing in less games helped keep him fresh. The Yanks could find him enough at bats as Jorge Posada’s backup. Mike could catch for 60 games then another 60 split between DH and first base. His body would be in even better shape then. He also would allow Jorge Posada’s workload to be cut. Jorge had a great 2006, but if he is forced to keep playing 140 games behind the plate, it is going to catch up with him one of these years as he gets older. Joe Torre also would finally have a backup catcher good enough that he would not have to send Posada up late in games he is supposed to have off. As long as the Yanks can find an adequate amount of playing time, Piazza will come. He loves New York and wants a chance at a ring. He could be a terrific bat to have off the bench on days when he doesn’t play, and his locker room leadership would be a huge plus.

Sign Nomar Garciaparra to a 2 year/$18 million deal:

Yes, another roll of the dice with an oft-injured player. The fact of the matter is that the Yanks will need another big righty bat with A-Rod and Sheffield gone. Nomar proved that he can still hit. He will have to learn how to play third base, but he does have experience at the position from his time with the Cubs. The Yanks also will have Polanco to caddy him, which means that he will get time to rest and stay fresh. He also could play some first base to give Kotchman time off against lefties, lessening the strain and DH as well with the occasional game at shortstop and second base. His all-out style of play will leave a positive impression on the young players, and he will be motivated to finally settle his score with the Red Sox. In a delicious twist, he will take over for the guy who all of Boston wanted to supplant him three years ago.

Sign Frank Catalanotto to a 2 year/$14 million deal:

Frank is one of the game’s most underrated hitters. He typically hits around .300 with a high on base percentage. The Yanks can find enough at bats for the Long Island product at first base, DH, corner outfield, and even second and third base.

Resign Bernie Williams to a 1 year/$1.2 million deal:

Bernie served the Yankees well in 2006 in a reduced role. By not playing everyday, he was able to stay fresh and produce when called on. He helped the team out a lot when Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui went down. Bernie would continue his defacto role of player-coach, taking Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera under his wing. Bernie is still a big-time producer from the right side of the plate. There still are not many players as good in big spots either. Having him on the bench would be valuable. Number 51 is worthy of a roster spot for one last run.

Release Randy Johnson:

The man is still a feisty competitor. Paying him $16 million to go pitch for a rival at minimum wage does not seem very appealing. However, Randy’s body is breaking down. It is amazing it took that long for it to happen. His back and knee will never allow him to be consistent again. Sure, he will show the occasional flash, but he will not be able to survive six months. His situation is analogous to Kevin Brown’s in 2005. The Yankees are going to have problems if they depend on Randy in 2007 without an adequate backup plan.

Release Carl Pavano:

If some team wants him as a throw-in for a trade and is willing to take on any small portion of his salary, the Yanks could also deal him. However, Pavano has had chance after chance to get on the mound. He always comes up with some injury that keeps him from getting back. He was never that good to begin with. It is time for him to stop taking the roster spot of a minor leaguer with potential just to continue his endless rehab tour. Even if he does eventually return, he probably will not be an impact arm.

Promote Kevin Thompson:

Thompson has progressed through the minor league system. He has passed every test thus far. Now he deserves a chance to show himself at the Major League level. The market for backup outfielders is paltry. Even if he doesn’t work out, K.T. is not much of a worse option than anything else out there. At best, he will prove to be another reliable bat off the bench. At worst, he will be a valuable pinch runner and ace defensive outfielder.

Promote Darrell Rasner:

Rasner has also progressed through the minors. He impressed late in 2006 as both a starter and a reliever. He has shown that he deserves a roster spot. Rasner can serve as a long reliever who eats innings and keeps his team within striking distance when the starter gets hit hard. He also can be a spot starter.

Play Melky Cabrera:

Melky proved that he can play in 2006. In 2007, he can be very useful to the Yanks. New York will have three aging outfielders. Cabrera can play all three outfield positions, meaning that he will be able to play the field for Matsui, Damon, and Abreu to give them days to rest at DH or on the bench. Melky would play most of his time in leftfield while Matsui, the worst defensive outfielder serves as DH, but he would see plenty of time in the other spots.

Your 2007 New York Yankees:

Lineup:

1. Johnny Damon CF
2. Derek Jeter SS
3. Bobby Abreu RF
4. Nomar Garciaparra 3B
5. Hideki Matsui DH
6. Jorge Posada C
7. Robinson Cano 2B
8. Melky Cabrera LF
9. Casey Kotchman 1B

Bench:

1. Mike Piazza C/1B
2. Frank Catalanotto IF/OF
3. Placido Polanco IF
4. Bernie Williams OF
5. Kevin Thompson OF

Rotation:

1. Daisuke Matsuzaka
2. Chien-Ming Wang
3. Mike Mussina
4. Andy Pettitte
5. Mark Mulder

Bullpen:

1. Mariano Rivera
2. Eric Gagne
3. Scot Shields
4. Brad Lidge
5. Scott Proctor
6. Darrell Rasner

I realize that some people will take issues with some of the recommendations. For starters, my bullpen has no lefties. However, that is because I believe that these righties are better than any of the lefties either on the team or the open market. Having an inferior pitcher just because he’s a lefty defeats its own purpose.

Others might point out how much money I’m paying players to go to other teams. However, when one considers the luxury tax and revenue sharing, the Yankees will be saving money in this way.

The other issue is that I have taken a lot of chances on injury-prone players. The reason for this is that they will come with a low price tag and have high upside. Part of this team’s problem is that it has gotten bogged down in inflexible long term deals. For example, if Nomar Garciaparra goes down, he is not a financial hindrance. However, if Aramis Ramirez does not produce, the team has an albatross on its hands.

The other reason I am so will to take chances is that the team’s farm system is very deep with players ready to contribute. If Mark Mulder and Andy Pettitte go down, Chad Billingsley, Phillip Hughes, Tyler Clippard, and Jeff Karstens will be waiting in the wings. If Gagne and Lidge don’t pan out, Jonathan Broxton, J. Brent Cox, and T.J. Beam are there. If Nomar goes down, LaRoche will be ready. I do not like to put a lot of pressure on young, unproven players before the season. By allowing them to start in the minors, if they are eventually called up, anything they offer will be viewed as a bonus. Players are in no lose situations. If they succeed, they gain confidence and are viewed as heroes. If they cannot come through, they are not vilified. They just go back down to the minors for more seasoning. This philosophy has worked with Robinson Cano, Chien-Ming Wang, and Melky Cabrera.

So there are my moves. Tell me that they won’t happen. Tell me they are wrong. I’ll still defend their plausibility and their effectiveness. They’re also relatively cost-effective. The Opening Day payroll to the twenty-five man roster would be in the range of $170 million.

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.

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.

The Offseason Plan, Part 1: The Style

This is the first of a three part series outlining my view on the course the Yankees should take during the offseason. Before we get to any moves, however, first it is important to establish the characteristics a championship team has.

Despite having the most talented team in baseball, the Yankees have once again fallen short of winning the World Series. That makes six straight years that the Yanks have failed in finishing the year on top. It does not add up that a team as loaded could fail to win. There has to be some reason for this. There are key components that make up a winning team. The 1996-2001 Yankees showed these. Therefore, before we go to the offseason, it is beneficial to look at the character traits of the individuals that made those teams so successful. Through this lens, we can see where the Yankees have gone wrong. This list is in no way comprehensive. Some of these overlap. The items are abstract, and there are exceptions to all of these rules. This is simply a rough outline. However, these themes played a prominent role in the team winning titles.

Patient hitting approach: Gene Michael fueled the team’s turnaround in the 1990’s by stressing the need for hitters to be patient. Michael utilized on-base percentage long before any books were being written about Billy Beane. The results could not be ignored. The great Yankee teams did not get themselves out by swinging at bad pitches, and they wore pitchers down, which led to a feast on the soft underbelly of opposing bullpens. These guys also found ways to get on base with walks. While walks aren’t as good as hits, they are much better than outs. This is one area where the Yanks have stayed the course in recent years. This team’s approach at the plate is very good. There was, however, something great about the old teams’ approach. They went up looking to get a hit. If nothing was there, they took a walk. Certain other hitters go up looking to draw a walk and only swing if they have to. This leads to a lot of strikeouts. When a hitter puts a ball in play, there is a chance to reach base. There is none with a strikeout. There also are key points in a game where putting the ball in play is important to advance runners and score big runs. Those Yanks excelled in doing this. Some of the new guys do not take the optimal approach. The type of patience is not too important. One is slightly more preferable, but having it in any form is excellent.

Diversified offense: The Yankees did not live and die by the longball. Just about everybody on the roster was capable of hitting a homer. In fact, those Yankee teams hit a lot of homers. However, they were able to produce runs in other ways, coming through with men in scoring position, hitting behind runners, and advancing men. Delivering the timely hit is also critical to extend innings, score runs, and decide games in late innings. Some hits are bigger than others. New York’s hitters had very high slugging percentages, but they did not have many big-time power hitters. This diversity in offense does not compare favorably with the current collection of pure sluggers who can hit the ball out of the park on any occasion. It’s easy to pound the Devil Rays and the Royals into submission in July, but against the best pitchers from the best teams, it is tough to wait only for homers. There are other ways to score runs in tight postseason games, and often utilizing these can be the difference between winning and losing. Teams that can do this do not have their hitters flailing at the plate, trying to hit a homer to get a team going.

Embracement of pressure: The guys on the title teams did not shy away from pressure. They relished it. They were never afraid of failure. There was no way that they could fail. Everybody wanted to be in the spotlight with everything on the line. This leads to the next point.

Chemistry: Chemistry is a controversial component in baseball. Many claim that it does not exist. Even those who do have a tough time defining it. I view it as applicable to any other joint venture in life. When you like the people you are surrounded with, you are generally happier and more productive. These people become close friends, and you would do anything for them. This kind of camaraderie makes accomplishing a task altruistic. You want to accomplish a task for the other people you are with. This makes you focus even further. You develop the kind of trust with the others that you do not fear failure because you know that your friend behind you has your back. The current Yankees are more a collection of players who are completely on their own. They feel the weight of the world on their shoulders because they feel like they have to come through or nobody else will. They think that they have to be the guy.

Defense: The Yankees of old were very strong defensively. Bernie Williams was a Gold Glover in centerfield. Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius held down the corner infield spots admirably. Joe Girardi was a rock behind the plate. Paul O’Neill was solid in right. Chuck Knoblauch did have his infamous throwing problems, but he never made a killer throwing error in a key spot. There were not defenders as iffy as Jason Giambi or Gary Sheffield taking the field in huge games. As the years went by, Bernie Williams greatly slowed down in center, a situation that went unaddressed for far too long.

Pitching: The Yankees were filled with terrific pitching in those days. Their starting rotation was comprised by the likes of David Cone, David Wells, Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez, and Jimmy Key. The bullpens had Jeff Nelson, Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Stanton, and Mariano Rivera for close games. These were all guys who embraced the stage of big games. They could be given the ball on a moment’s notice. They did not care how long they had to go. It did not matter. They loved the big stage and had the talent to back it up. They were durable and determined to have success.

No excuses: The Yankees were focused on only one thing, winning. There was no obstacle that they felt was insurmountable. The only other alternative was failure. No mitigating circumstances were allowed. Everybody wanted to take the field and do whatever they could to help the team. This led to Paul O’Neill playing on one leg, Derek Jeter playing through pain in 2001 and never telling another person, and David Cone pitching through pain in 1998, and numerous other similar feats. They never asked for praise for playing through their pain. They did not make excuses if there were extenuating circumstances. They just took the field because winning was the only thing. Jack Nicklaus always used to comment on how he knew a golfer who complained about the course’s difficulty before a tournament had already been beaten. It is easy to rationalize failure. If one can do it before said failure even takes place, there is not any desperation to succeed. Not having success is fine because there is already an excuse in tow.

Depth: Joe Torre was always able to find terrific players coming off the bench in big games. Tim Raines, Wade Boggs, Darryl Strawberry, Chili Davis, Chad Curtis, Luis Sojo, Jose Vizcaino, and other talented players were waiting in reserve roles to make big impacts on critical games. Joe Torre could choose the matchups he wanted and almost always had an edge. These days, the Yankees load their starting lineups with high-priced superstars. The bench has been neglected since there seems to be no need for such players.