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2009 New York Yankees

I'm going to try and trade him for fifty cents on the dollar.

He's really just a terrible fantasy option at this point in his career and considering statistics/being able to produce is all that matters in a fantasy league and public perception means nothing, there's a good chance I can't find any suitors for his services and I release him.
 
Ramiro Pena coming up fast at shortstop for Yankees

Saturday, March 28th 2009, 4:15 PM

Whether Derek Jeter realizes it or not, Joe Girardi's proposed move to bat him leadoff may well be a prelude to a much more dramatic switch in the not-so-distant future.

Jeter's decreased range at shortstop, especially to his left, has been an increasingly hot topic around baseball - which the Yankee high command has pointedly chosen to ignore, because there didn't appear to be any bona fide prospects in the system. That, however, all changed this spring with the emergence of 23-year-old Ramiro Pena, whose dazzling glovework has made him the frontrunner to win the utility infielder's job until Alex Rodriguez comes back in May.

Fact is, Pena has always demonstrated world class defense since being signed by the Yankees out of Mexico in 2005, but his improvement with the bat is what's elevated him to legitimate major league prospect status.

"When I first saw him three years ago, you could knock the bat out of his hands," said one veteran scout whose primary assignment is in the minor leagues. "But he was a magician with the glove and that made him someone to keep an eye on. Now that he's gained a little weight, put on a little muscle, he's no longer an ???out.' He can handle the bat. I always felt his glove would get him to the big leagues, but now I can see him as an everyday shortstop."

Pena hit .266 at Double-A Trenton last year, but scouts who saw him say he appeared to be hampered from offseason shoulder surgery. That has not been the case this spring.

"Best looking young shortstop I've seen in a couple of years," said one National League scout.

So assuming Pena is the real deal, it would seem that with another year of Triple-A apprenticeship, presumably mixed with stints at the big league level, he'll be ready for regular duty with the Yankees. Jeter will be 35 next season, the last year of his contract, and, his pride aside, he can't expect to extend his career as a shortstop. He doesn't hit for enough power to be a DH and, so, a move to center field seems inevitable. As Hall of Famer Robin Yount can attest, there's no shame in moving from shortstop to center field, and as the Tampa Bay Rays will attest after acquiring Jason Bartlett from the Minnesota Twins last year, there's no substitute for defense at shortstop.
 
Ramiro Pena has a minor league career line of .258/.316/.319 at 23 years old and he hasn't yet played above AA.

This kid sucks.
 
Brett Gardner was named the teams centerfielder with Nick Swisher backing up all outfield positions and first base and Melky Cabrera being the fifth outfielder (if he isn't traded).

With Ransom playing third until A-Rod returns, Molina going to be forced to catch at least half the time, and Gardner in centerfield.. the Yankees line-up is going to have three automatic outs at the end of the line-up.

Nice.
 
soxmuscle said:
Brett Gardner was named the teams centerfielder with Nick Swisher backing up all outfield positions and first base and Melky Cabrera being the fifth outfielder (if he isn't traded).

With Ransom playing third until A-Rod returns, Molina going to be forced to catch at least half the time, and Gardner in centerfield.. the Yankees line-up is going to have three automatic outs at the end of the line-up.

Nice.
Click to expand...

Posada took himself out last year because of his throwing arm, nothing else.

I have seen teams with worse batters win it all. As much as you folllow the Yankees you should know that the teams where they had a powerful lineup they went nowhere.

Now that Dynasty we had in the 90's had Giraldi at catcher, Brosuas at third....they were not the best hitters but well you should know the rest.

Now the pitching is much better than last year.
 
Varitek= Molina

Molina is OK as a backstop, I come from an age where a catcher was there to handle pitchers, play good defense and throw runners out. If he can hit that's a plus.
To me Posada was never really a good defensive catcher but he's a damn good hitter.
 
soxmuscle said:
Ramiro Pena has a minor league career line of .258/.316/.319 at 23 years old and he hasn't yet played above AA.

This kid sucks.
Click to expand...

That does not mean anything, now I will say I have yet to see him play but maybe there's an upside to this guy.
 
soxmuscle said:
Brett Gardner was named the teams centerfielder with Nick Swisher backing up all outfield positions and first base and Melky Cabrera being the fifth outfielder (if he isn't traded).

With Ransom playing third until A-Rod returns, Molina going to be forced to catch at least half the time, and Gardner in centerfield.. the Yankees line-up is going to have three automatic outs at the end of the line-up.

Nice.
Click to expand...
Questions about Question Marks
A couple weeks ago, Pete Abe wrote a piece whose thesis was pretty much that Mark Teixeira is the only Yankee position player who doesn't have a big question mark surrounding him. I can't disagree that the Yankees have a lot of guys that have some kind of question regarding what they'll do this year, but seeing that the Red Sox just released Josh Bard, I've got to say this: doesn't everybody? Let's look at the Red Sox questions surrounding their lineup this year:

Catchers who can't hit anymore: Jason Varitek

Players coming off of career years that are likely to regress to the mean: Youkilis and Pedroia

Older players coming off of major injuries last season: Ortiz and Lowell

Young players who haven't proven they can hit Major League pitching yet: Ellsbury and Lowrie

Left fielders who can't actually play left field: Jason Bay

Players who are injury-prone and can't ever seem to string good seasons together: J.D. Drew

These are two of the elite teams in baseball, maybe THE two best teams in baseball, and they both have questions about almost every, single position. If you dig even a little, almost everyone has question marks about them. That's not necessarily a bad thing.
Baseball is all about probabilities. As a GM, you bet that the guys you have will probably give you enough to be successful. Questions are okay, as long as the answer to the query is something along the lines of: he'll probably provide average to above average production for the position. For the most part (except for Varitek) the answer is yes.
Click to expand...
 
min0 lee said:
That does not mean anything, now I will say I have yet to see him play but maybe there's an upside to this guy.
Click to expand...

...but some Yankee retard reporter who labels this kid as the next coming of Derek Jeter does mean something?

This kid has done nothing to prove he'll even be able to claim a utility role in the Majors when he makes it no less replace one of the best short stops of all time.

He's putting up terrible numbers against inferior competition to where a 23 year old should be. Some players take longer to progress than others but the knack on this kid has always been his inability to hit.

Most likely comparison: former Red Sox Manny Alexander.
 
min0 lee said:
Varitek= Molina

Molina is OK as a backstop, I come from an age where a catcher was there to handle pitchers, play good defense and throw runners out. If he can hit that's a plus.
To me Posada was never really a good defensive catcher but he's a damn good hitter.
Click to expand...

Varitek is a terrible player, but he's better than Molina.

That's not saying much considering that Molina is one of the worst catchers in the league.
 
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min0 lee said:
Posada took himself out last year because of his throwing arm, nothing else.

I have seen teams with worse batters win it all. As much as you folllow the Yankees you should know that the teams where they had a powerful lineup they went nowhere.

Now that Dynasty we had in the 90's had Giraldi at catcher, Brosuas at third....they were not the best hitters but well you should know the rest.

Now the pitching is much better than last year.
Click to expand...

I never said that the Yankees offense was going to suck. A-Rod, Teixeira... I mean, the line-up is going to be stacked.

With that said, it'll be nice being able to take a breather against three below average Major League players with Ransom, Molina and Gardner rounding out the order.
 
shiznit2169 said:
I missed my fantasy draft and got stuck with A-Roid.

Which is worse?
Click to expand...

3 Yankees in consecutive rounds.

Cano, Rivera and Jeter.

I could deal with just A-Rod. I like pulling for A-Rod because not even Yankee fans appreciate him.
 
I certainly have had my disdain for some Yankees in the past, but Mo was never one of them.

I obviously can appreciate the talent he possesses - it's hard to be as dominant for as long as it's been in any sport, no less closing for a perennial title contender.

I also kind of like Cano. From a fantasy perspective, there's no way this kid plays as poorly as he did last season IMO.

That said, I still don't want to root for these jerk offs.

And the fact that the damn computer took Derek Jeter over Stephen Drew really chaps my ass.

In my pay league, my team is stacked which is all I really care about though.
 
The problem with Cano if you watch him enough is that he gets lazy, he's been reprimanded once by Jeter and last year his manager bench him.

The kid has lots of potential to be a really good player.
 
I remember when Girardi benched him and rightfully so.

It happens to a lot of people though. For years growing up, you're so much better than everybody else that you can get by on pure talent alone. When things stop being so easy and you actually have to work on your game, it can be depressing when things don't go your way.

He'll be fine though.

He'll never be the on-base type and he'll strike out quite a bit but he's got some power and he should be good for a prime (4-5 years) of at least a .300 batting average at a position where that's hard to find.
 
Scouting the 2009 Yankees

BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, April 2nd 2009, 9:41 AM

CATCHER: Jorge Posada is back following last summer's shoulder surgery, looking to reclaim his position among the game's elite backstops, though it remains to be seen how many games he'll be able to catch when all is said and done. Jose Molina returns as the backup.

FIRST BASE: Mark Teixeira brings a combination of average, power and defense to the position that the Yankees haven't had since the days of Don Mattingly's prime. Teixeira will bat third for the Yankees, who are hoping his long-term deal works out better than that of his predecessor, Jason Giambi.

SECOND BASE: Robinson Cano batted just .151 last April and his average never recovered despite hitting .297 the rest of the way. A fast start will be important for both the Yankees and for Cano's psyche. Cano was benched late in the season for lackadaisical play, something Joe Girardi won't hesitate to do again if necessary.

THIRD BASE: Alex Rodriguez's hip surgery will keep him sidelined until late-April or early-May, but it's unclear whether the injury will prevent A-Rod from being his MVP-type self. There are also the questions surrounding how Rodriguez will handle the abuse that is sure to come his way on the road, where fans will ride him about his steroids admission. Cody Ransom fills the spot until A-Rod comes back.

SHORTSTOP: Derek Jeter's range isn't what it used to be, but he remains one of the most productive shortstops in the American League. Although he managed to finish last season at .300, his 69 RBI and 88 runs scored marked his lowest totals in any full season he has played. Jeter's range - especially to his left - has diminished, but he makes the routine plays and can still pull out the old jump throw from time to time.

LEFT FIELD: Johnny Damon put together a well-rounded season - .303 average, 17 HRs, 71 RBI, 29 steals and 95 runs scored - despite missing 19 games and landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career. Damon's defense is adequate, though he'll benefit from an occasional day off to keep his legs fresh.

CENTER FIELD: Brett Gardner gives the Yankees lineup an element of speed it hasn't had since the days of Alfonso Soriano, though he'll need to prove he can hit on a regular basis to stay in the lineup. Gardner had a scorching spring, beating out Melky Cabrera.

RIGHT FIELD: Xavier Nady enters a contract year looking to build on a career year, having hit a combined .305 with 25 HR and 97 RBI for the Pirates and Yankees. Nady's average plummeted from .330 to .268 after his late-July trade, though a couple months in the AL under his belt should help him feel more comfortable over a full season.

DESIGNATED HITTER: Once an iron man, Hideki Matsui enters 2009 as a full-time DH, his two surgically repaired knees taking him out of the outfield mix. When healthy, he remains one of the most productive RBI men in the game.

STARTERS: CC Sabathia is an AL-proven innings horse who is arguably the top lefthander this side of Johan Santana, while A.J. Burnett possesses some of the best stuff in the game - when healthy. Two-time 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang is back after missing more than half of 2008 with a foot injury. Andy Pettitte's shoulder is back at full strength after tiring for the final two months of 2008. Joba Chamberlain brings his power arm and four-pitch arsenal to the rotation, though the Yankees will closelymonitor his innings total.

BULLPEN: Neither age nor shoulder surgery have caught up to Mariano Rivera, who looked spectacular this spring. Rivera converted 39 of his 40 save opportunities last year, posting a miniscule 1.40 ERA and an eye-popping 77-6 strikeout-walk ratio in 702/3 innings. With Chamberlain in the rotation, the setup duties will fall to Brian Bruney and Damaso Marte.

SCOUTING THE INTANGIBLES

BENCH: Nick Swisher gives the Yankees a powerful, switch-hitting bat to back up both corner outfield spots, first base and DH. Molina will be counted on to start roughly 50 games behind the plate. Ransom will return to the utility infield role once A-Rod returns, while Melky Cabrera provides quality outfield defense and a capable pinch-running option for slow-footed starters Posada and Matsui.

MANAGER: Joe Girardi will be under the gun after last year's team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Girardi says he has learned from his mistakes. A healthy team would be a plus for Girardi, who managed much of last year without Wang, Posada and Matsui, but there won't be any excuses if the new Yankee Stadium is dark this October.

PREDICTION: Two years ago, the Yankees' string of nine straight division titles came to an end. Last year, the 13-year-playoff run crashed to a halt. Can the Bombers start new streaks on both fronts? Sabathia and Burnett are the two primary reasons to believe the answer is yes, though A-Rod's ability to rebound from both his injury and winter of discontent will also play a major role.

The record: 97-65, AL East champions
 
min0 lee said:
Scouting the 2009 Yankees

BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER



"blah blah blah (gay talk)"

The record: 97-65, AL East champions
Click to expand...

Gee, the Daily News actually has something positive to say about the Yankees for once.
 
Link?

Or a link to any reputable sources breaking down predictions?
 
YANKEES (0-0)
2. Derek Sanderson Jeter SS
18. Johnny David Damon LF
25. Mark Charles Teixeira 1B
55. Hideki Matsui DH
20. Jorge Rafael de Posada Jr. C
24. Robinson Jose Cano 2B
22. Xavier Clifford Nady III RF
12. Bryan Cody Ransom 3B
11. Brett Michael Gardner CF
Pitching: 52. Carsten Charles Sabathia LHP
ORIOLES (0-0)
1. Brian Roberts 2B
10. Adam Jones CF
21. Nick Markakis RF
6. Melvin Mora 3B
17. Aubrey Huff 1B
23. Ty Wigginton DH
30. Luke Scott LF
9. Gregg Zaun C
3. Cesar Izturis SS
Pitching: 46. Jeremy Guthrie RHP

CC Sabathia (17-10, 2.70 in 2008) vs. the Baltimore hitters.
Jeremy Guthrie (10-12, 3.63) vs. the New York hitters.
FOR OPENERS: The Yankees are 62-43-1 on Opening Day; 28-29 on the road.
SPRING SUCCESS: The Yankees were 24-10-1 in spring training. The finished with nine straight wins and win in 18 of their last 20 games.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The Yankees are 56-30 at Camden Yards over the last 10 seasons, 16-6 the last three.
BALTIMORE CHOP: The Yankees have won seven straight against Baltimore.
CC YOU ON THE FIRST DAY: This is the sixth Opening Day assignment for CC Sabathia. He is 1-0, 4.23 in the first five.
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER ACE: Sabathia is the sixth Opening Day starter in the last seven years for the Yankees. The list:
2009: Sabathia
2008: Wang
2007: Pavano (yes, really):loser:
2006: Johnson
2005: Johnson
2004: Mussina
2003: Clemens
HOT SIX MONTHS AGO: Cano is riding an 11-game hit streak. Gardner has a 10-game streak going.
Back with much more later.
UPDATE, 1:55 p.m.: It has stopped raining here.
UPDATE, 2:13 p.m.: The fans don???t love Tex here:
 
The season is upon us, so now seems seems like a good time to ask how you think the Yankees will do.
Vote in the poll over to the right.
Last year at this time, I predicted the Yankees would not make the playoffs. The lack of pitching depth and the transition to a new manager seemed like to much to overcome. Given all the injuries, it was remarkable they won as many games as they did.
This year? I like the Yankees getting to the World Series and beating the team they just played, the Chicago Cubs. Here is why:
Pitching: In CC Sabathia, Chien-Ming Wang, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chaberlain, the Yankees can send a quality starter to the mound every day. Meanwhile Phil Hughes is waiting in Scranton along with the capable Alfredo Aceves.

Defense: Swapping Mark Teixeira for Jason Giambi and Xavier Nady for Bobby Abreu will make the right side of the diamond far less of a black hole than it was. Robinson Cano also appears to have overcome the lethargy he played with for much of last season. Having Brett Gardner in center also will improve the defense. The Yankees are far from a good defensive team, but they are much better than they were.

Offense: The Yankees will miss Giambi and Abreu here. But having a healthy Jorge Posada, a relatively healthy Hideki Matsui and Teixeira should overcome that. Nady and Johnny Damon will be motivated by their walk years. It???s hard to gauge what Alex Rodriguez will do given his injury, the drug questions and his turbulent personal life. But he could well have a huge year.
The manager: Joe Girardi first season was rocky, which was to be expected. He is far more relaxed this season and it helps that five key newcomers ??? Sabathia, Burnett, Teixeira, Gardner and Nick Swisher ??? have no ties to Joe Torre. The more the roster turns over, the easier it becomes for Girardi to put his imprint on it.

Depth: The Yankees had a variety of useless players on the bench last season. Now, instead of Morgan Ensberg, Wilson Betemit and the like, they???ll have Swisher, Meky Cabrera and an actual good glove in Ramiro Pena. Girardi has options now.

The schedule: The AL East is a bear. The Yankees, Red Sox and Rays are arguably the three best teams in the game. If the Yankees survive that, they???ll a tough out in the playoffs. The rest of the AL is not very imposing with the Angels a lesser team than in recent years and the AL Central a jumble.

Prediction: 98-64, first place in AL East.

As for the rest of baseball:
AL East
Yankees
Red Sox
Rays
Orioles
Jays

AL Central
Indians
Royals
Twins
White Sox
Tigers

AL West
Angels
Athletics
Rangers
Mariners
Division Series
Yankees over Indians
Red Sox over Angels

ALCS
Yankees over Red Sox

NL East
Phillies
Mets
Braves
Marlins
Nationals

NL Central
Cubs
Brewers
Cardinals
Reds
Astros
Pirates

NL West
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Giants
Rockies
Padres

Division series
Phillies over Dodgers
Cubs over Mets

NLCS

Cubs over Phillies

Yankees over Cubs
Awards
AL MVP: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
AL Cy Young: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox
AL Rookie of the Year: Elvis Andrus, Rangers
AL Manager of the Year: Trey Hillman, Royals
NL MVP: Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
NL Rookie of the Year: Stephen Strasberg, Nationals
NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella Cubs
 
I haven't read much of that article, Min0, but who the hell wrote that piece of shit?

Strasburg winning the Rookie of the Year award?
 
I haven't read much of that article, Min0, but who the hell wrote that piece of shit?
Click to expand...

Peter Abraham, why? Are you going to hurt him?
Strasburg winning the Rookie of the Year award?
Click to expand...

Ortiz is not qualified to win it this year.
 
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