An Answer To The Comments
To those of you think I am advocating giving up the season because of Posada, I am not. My point was the Yankees need to be buyers if they want to stay in the race or sellers if they do not. The worst possible move right now would be to do nothing and see what happens.
Yes, Molina plays incredible defense, but that defense has translated into 26 caught stealings this year while his bat makes around that many outs every week he starts. In past years the Yankees could have covered this better with everyone at peak offense, but consider where we are this year.
Four players are having good offensive seasons: A-Rod, Giambi, Matui and Damon. It seems almost certain that Matsui is lost for the year.
Three players are having average seasons: Abreu, Posada and Jeter. It seems almost certain we have lost Posada for the year.
Two players are having really bad seasons: Cano and Cabrera.
I will grant you that Cano looks like he is rebounding, but Cabrera has hit .247/.306/.350 this year and his numbers have gotten worse each year of his career so I am not expecting a second half surge.
Now take one of the above average hitters and one of the average hitters and replace them in the lineup with say Gardner and Molina. You know what I think of Molina's bat and Gardner's is even worse (though he has the potential to improve). That's a lot of holes in the offense
Now look at the rotation a minute. We could argue about Mussina, but let's not I will assume for the sake of brevity that he keeps it up. Does anyone feel that Ponson will? I would say you have two below-average starters in Ponson and Rasner and while the Yankees may get Wang or Hughes back, it won't be until the end of August at the earliest.
What the Yankees have developed this year is a fantastic bullpen. There is a reason they are 19-11 in one-run games and it starts with Rivera, but goes far beyond that. Veras, Ramirez, Robinson and yes, even Farnsworth have been very good. The bullpen is going to get better with Bruney returning soon and the release (say it with me Cashman) of LaTroy Hawkins.
Considering everything, the pluses and minuses, I think the Yankees can definitely make a run at this, but they need some help. More offense from catcher or CF would be a plus, but so would another starter. There are a number of directions Cashman can go and my point is he has to pick one. If he trades some of his prospects and get a player who can help the 2008 Yankees I am fine with that. Let's go for it!
Or, he could pack it in and trade some of the 2008 guys for players who can help in 2009 and beyond. I am not as excited about that, but I would accept it.
What I will not accept and what I hope I have explained better is that standing pat is the wrong move. Make a move to stay in it, make a move and get out of it, don't just sit there. There are costs and benefits to either side, but I believe the costs of innaction are the highest.
Comments
Unlikely that there is a starting pitcher available that has the potential to provide more of an impact than a healthy a Wang, Hughes and/or Kennedy will down the stretch. A trade for a young corner outfielder would be nice, but who do you want Cash to go get? He knows we need a young hitter for the future, but I think there a better chance of that happening during the off-season. Never doubt Cashman though. The big trades always just seem to drop from the sky.
Posted by: ian | July 22, 2008 03:45 PM |
They need a big hitting outfielder. There is one guy available who has 762 homeruns, and he won't cost any prospects.
It looks like I was wrong about Sexson. He looks very good at the plate and in the field. That means Betemit is expendable.
Posted by: corey | July 23, 2008 02:52 PM |
That's true Corey, but he turns 44 tomorrow and hasn't played since last year. Even if you think he could jump back in and play at an above-average level, do you want to incur all the baggage that goes with that move?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 23, 2008 05:13 PM
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Sexon looks good at the plate,???? you must have seen him in a restaurant.. Bonds??? Our chemistry is very good , are you a met or red sox fan ??? that would be a huge blunder, we have to make a move for not only this year but for the next four or five year time table. Holliday , Ibanez, Bay. Melkys , Abreu, Damon , Matsui, Worst out field in the majors, Who can't hit, who can catch and who can't throw more than twenty feet. Abreu won't catch a ball near a wall.. lets get a REAL outfielder.
Posted by: michael danza | July 23, 2008 05:35 PM |