Me? I got nothing. Every plan worth a paragraph requires signing a free agent ace, which Hal "I'm Not Cheap" Steinbrenner has ruled out, after stressing that I'm Not Cheap is not cheap.
The possibility exists that I'm Not Cheap is actually not cheap, but posturing - planning to bid on, say, David Price, rather than allow Boston a clear bidding path to the pitcher. That is our version of "fantasy baseball." When I'm Not Cheap said the same thing last year about Max Scherzer, we didn't believe him, thinking I'm Not Cheap could not be so cheap. Had we signed Scherzer, who knows? We might have won the AL East. But we didn't, and for a guy who counts his holdings in billions, and owns the frickin' NEW YORK YANKEES, I'm Not Cheap is looking damn cheap.
So here we are, basically standing pat with a wild card. If you're wondering Who's On First, you might as well be Lou Costello. Because practically every position is inscribed in granite: 1B (Tex), SS (Didi), 3B (Headley), the OF (Gardy, Ellsbury, Beltran, Hicks), C (McCann), DH (A-Rod), the starters (six of them, no discernible ace), the bullpen (Miller, Betances, Wilson).
You want wiggle room: 2B, fifth starter, bullpen depth. We're like a school budget that's been rejected, but the board can't make changes due to mandated programs. So it puts up the same budget.
I think a better question is how did we get here? It's now been six years since Hal basically bought the pennant by signing CC, Tex and AJ. Everything since has floundered. And, frankly, he has never held a plan for a full season. In the last six years he has:
a) Declared "Austerity," demanding that the payroll be cut to $186 million, with an absolute moratorium on two-year deals. Then, same month, he signed Ichiro to a two-year deal. And then he ditched "Austerity," claiming $186 million was just "a goal."
b) Announced new "Austerity," refusing long-term deals, letting Robbie Cano's 10-year pact go to Seattle. Same month, he ditched the plan, committing the Yankees to 15 years worth of McCann, Ellsbury and Beltran.
c) Purged memories of "Austerity" with mid-season deals for Headley, Prado, McCarthy, et al, in chase of a Wild Card. The following winter, announced "Austerity," refusing long-term deal with Scherzer, et al.
d) Last summer, vowed to beef up team at trade deadline, but stood pat. And now we're back to "Austerity," not signing any big name.
It looks like a long season. But if we're floundering next June, then what? Do we have a plan?
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Called Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB radio other day during discussion of ace free agent pitchers. Asked why Yankees weren't part of discussion, why Steinbrenners getting a pass. Bowden said if he was in charge of Yankees, Jason Hayworth would be opening day right fielder and David Price Opening Day starter. 0f course, neither Bowden or Stern understood the government mandates affecting the budgetary process.
HAL (AND CASH,) HAVE NO TRUE "VISION" GOING FORWARD.....THESE LAST 6 YEARS, IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE THEY MAKE THEIR PLANS, (WHICH IS DO NEXT TO NOTHING, AND KEEP PAYROLL DOWN), THEN, AS THE WINTER GOES BY AND THEY SEE OTHER TEAMS TRYING TO IMPROVE BY DEALING AND MANEUVERING, AND SIGNING FREE AGENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY SPEAK TO EACH OTHER AGAIN AND SAY, "WE BETTER DO SOMETHING", AND THEN, BINGO, YOU GET THE WONDERFUL, LATE, CARLOS BELTRAN, CHASE HEADLEY, AND STEPHEN DREW SIGNINGS. IT'S AMAZING HOW WE WENT FROM ONE MINDSET AND CULTURE OF PASSION AND A "KILL OR BE KILLED" ATTITUDE (GEORGE).....AS OPPOSED TO HIS SON HAL WHO HAS AN "AUSTERITY FIRST, I NEED PAYROLL FLEXIBILITY!" ATTITUDE.......WHAT A SHAME....IF HAL ONLY REALIZED, IN THIS BUSINESS, THE OWNERSHIP OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES CREATES MONEY (IF YOU PUT A LITTLE EFFORT) INTO IT...THE MORE HE SPENDS, THE MORE HE WILL MAKE!......FAN INTEREST IS WANING....SIGN A DAVID PRICE AND YOU GET EXCITEMENT BACK!....HAL WILL MAKE ALL THAT MONEY BACK, AND MORE WHEN THE TEAM WINS!
I have a plan.
Do not spend any money at NYSIII next year.
I will always root for the Yankees but I have lost my enthusiasm.
Expecting to fall asleep frequently with games on the TV next year.
I REALLY SHOULD PROOFREAD SOME OF THE IGNORANT SHIT I WRITE. I FORGOT THAT CARLOS BELTRAN WAS ARGUABLY THE BEST HITTER THE YANKS HAD. SORRY, NOW I HAVE TO GO CLEAN THE BASEMENT.
YEAH...THE YANKEES REALLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, THE CARLOS BELTRAN SIGNING.....OF COURSE YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE WHOLE YEAR (AND A HALF) THAT HE SUCKED OR WAS HURT.........PAY ATTENTION!....OR YOU JUST SHOULDN'T POST HERE........STAY IN THE BASEMENT.....MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY, AND HANG YOURSELF WITH A NICE COARSE ROPE.
Hey, that second Anonymous sounds like...could it be?....
Hannibal Lecter?
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