Introducing Jason

When I moved this blog from AOL last October, I did it for a number of reasons. One of them was differences I had with the company. Another was the superior features on this server. Another was that this server allowed me to add new writers, while AOL did not. I wanted to make sure that content would not suffer if my schedule did not allow me to post as often as I would like. Unfortunately I do not write this blog for a living. I do not make a cent. I do it for the satisfaction I get writing about my favorite team. As my schedule has become busier in recent weeks, it has become evident that this site has suffered, and something had to give.

It is on that note that I am proud to introduce a new writer, JeepSunday, a.k.a. Jason. He has been one of the best and most loyal readers that this blog has known from its outset. He has agreed to help keep up the content on this site. What does this mean? This blog is going to have a great writer joining the staff. What does it mean for me? Jason has offered to take game recaps. I am still going to contribute as often as I can. At times this will be a lot. When I am pressed for time, now this blog will not be starved for content.

Please welcome our newest writer to TheYankeesBlog.com.

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.