At 35, he's luxuriating in Houston, after leading the Astros to the 2017 World Series. He has now become Exhibit A in the case for trading a farm system for yesterday's wily meatloaf, and with each game Verlander pitches - especially against the Yankees - you can see the Ferris Wheel turning in Hal Steinbrenner's head. Once Prince Hal starts pondering Kate Upton, well, it's enough to make him put on his kinky boots.
The Yankees will soon load a truck full of young players and convert it to the likes of J.A. Happ - yes, another 35-year-old. They will do this because somewhere, I don't know where, it became a rule in baseball: Teams are supposed to load up on veterans to make that final push. It doesn't matter that the Yankees have relied upon youth to enjoy the best record in baseball. It's now time to scrap the plan, apparently, because it has worked.
Listen: I get it that you can't keep every prospect and, to be sure, Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney and maybe Clint Frazier have paid their dues and need to be freed from the coal mines of Scranton. Trouble is, a deal likely will only begin with those players, and it will end with Justus Sheffield or Albert Abreu, or with the best talent the Yankees have in their system.
Last July, the Yankees packaged three top prospects for Sonny Gray. Lately, the slow movements of Dustin Fowler, Jorge Mateo and James Kaprelian have given the Gammonites reason to call the Yankees Winners of the Deal. (Though they won't yell it too loudly today, after Sonny's performance last night.) Trouble is, you cannot judge such a trade after barely one season.
A trade is coming, folks. Hal wants a Jason Verlander... as if you could snap your fingers, and one would materialize. It's a rare deal that not only wins a World Series, but that keeps on bringing benefits. So... will the Yankees get a Jason or a Sonny? And how much of the future will they give away?
On another front... personal level... big news coming today. Stay tuned.
So endeth the JuJu.
ReplyDeleteBenedícat vos omnípotens Ruthus, et Scooter, et Mantleus, et Spíritus Jeterus.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this smattering of articles -- two of them national, not NYC-based -- on why we should be afraid:
Associated Press: "Clearly starting pitching was always a concern," Steinbrenner said, speaking to a small group of reporters at an owners' meeting. "It's definitely one of the areas we're going to be looking at."
Sporting News: "We've got some flexibility payroll-wise, as you know. The question is, what's going to be available and what are the asks?"
NY Post: “We purposely left a decent amount of money for just this ... I absolutely think, if we decide to go get a pitcher and if a pitcher’s available, I think we definitely have the flexibility to allow me to [stay under the luxury-tax threshold]."
In the AP article, don't miss the part where Billionaire Prince Hal bonds with us lesser folk: "We all fly commercial and even small jets, even my plane has problems from time to time and I fly a dinky little propeller plane," [Steinbrenner] said.
I bet he eats a dinky little tin of caviar when he deplanes, too, just like I do.
Wishing you all the best in your big news, duque.
ReplyDeleteAlso wishing you all the best and praying the blog doesn't change.
ReplyDeleteDoes 2020 have a part in your announcement, Duque?
ReplyDeleteHis plane has problems sometimes? Oh, please, oh, please!
ReplyDeleteBut then, I guess we'd just get Hank, or Randy Levine.
Duque for President! Duque for President!
ReplyDeleteRUMOR FLOATING AROUND THAT MR, DUQUE IS LEAVING US TO WORK WITH TRUMP'S CABINET.
ReplyDeleteDON'T LEAVE US!
ON OTHER MATTERS....
I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH J.A. HAPP RATHER THAN COLE HAMELS, BUT IF THE COST IS TOO OVER THE TOP, THEN THE HELL WITH IT.
J.A. HAPP IS NO JUSTIN VERLANDER. NEITHER IS COLE HAMELS. (NOT EVEN CLOSE).
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE LIVE TRYOUTS FROM OUR OWN SYSTEM.
JOHNNY LASAGNA IS FIRST.
BAD RESULTS?
JUSTUS SHEFFIELD IS SECOND.
BAD RESULTS?
ERIC SWANSON UP NEXT.
THEN, CHANCE ADAMS.
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE WE CATCH LIGHTENING IN A BOTTLE, LIKE WE DID WITH AARON SMALL, AND LIKE WE JUST DID WITH MIGUEL ANDUJAR.
MAY SAVE HAL ANOTHER BOATLOAD OF MONEY LIKE ANDUJAR JUST DID.
https://www.newsarama.com/40374-2-founding-vertigo-editors-help-launch-new-company-ahoy-comics.html
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well. Lookie heah. Seems them good ol' boys got themselves a fancy East Coast magazine.
Now don't that beat all.
Good luck, fellers.
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well. Lookie heah. Seems them good ol' boys got themselves a fancy East Coast magazine.
Congratulations Duque and Mustang!
Nice scoop, John M.
WTG Duque!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Congratulations, you media moguls, you!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I noticed several tells in the press release:
"According to the company's manifesto, the publisher's name, "AHOY," can be interpreted as being shorthand for "Abundance," "Humor," "Originality" and "Yes!""
Could that be "Yes" as in "the YES Network"???
And then there's this:
"Also in September comes High Heaven, a five-issue series for mature readers that's also from Tom Peyer with Greg Scott on art. The satire story shows what happens when "chronic malcontent" David Weathers dies and goes to heaven, where everyone hates a complainer."
Hmmm...could "David Weathers" refer to a certain, former Yankees middle reliever known as...David Weathers??
And...could certain chronic malcontents and complainers refer to...ALL OF US????
And amen, ALL-CAPS!
ReplyDeleteThe season is not even half over, and already the Yankees have demonstrated that they did not need to acquire Drury or Walker. Why NOT give one of these pitchers a shot??
ReplyDeleteAccording to the company's manifesto, the publisher's name, "AHOY," can be interpreted as being shorthand for "Abundance," "Humor," "Originality" and "Yes!"
Ahem.
Am I the only one who has seen this?
Duque & Mustang,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. Wish you all the best in your endeavor.
I hope with your newfound fame and fortune, you'll still find time to wallow with us 'little people'.
Ahem.. will there be an on-line version?
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you! Don’t forget to tip your waitress!
I love the smell of real newsprint over a warm campfire while I'm sitting on some marshmallows and mixing metaphors with my imaginary girlfriend.
ReplyDeleteAAAAAA-AAAA-AA-Ahh-AHHH-AAAHHHHH-AAaAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHaaaa-ah-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaAaAaHaHaHaaaAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete
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