1. You know all those free agents who said they want to become Yankees: Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Patrick Corbin, Andrew Miller, David Robertson, Zach Britton, J.A. Happ, CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner. Thus far, we have signed Happ, CC and Gardy - all returnees, nobody under 35. Used to be, kids grew up wanting to be Mickey Mantle. Eventually, it became Don Mattingly and then Derek Jeter. I'm not sure the next generation will lean toward the Yankees at all. It might even skew toward Boston. It's as if the United States were abandoning its role as world leader, allowing the likes of China and Russia to step in. (Of course, that would never happen.)
2. Can an almost entirely RH lineup win a pennant? We may find out. If the Yankees sign Manny and keep Andujar, that would leave Gardner, Greg Bird and Aaron Hicks as the lone lefty bats on opening day. Last year, Gardy was mediocre, and Bird an abomination. Hicks hit .240 from the left side, .312 from the right. This is a serious imbalance. We might see bullpen RH side-armers start games against us. Wait, maybe Jacoby Ellsbury will make a comeback!
3. It's great to hear that Clint Frazier is ready and raring to go. We've watched him for three years, and his concussions were among the worst disappointments of 2018. When Aaron Judge went down, it should have been Red Thunder stepping in, but he was nursing migraines. I, for one, hope the Yankees keep him - why trade a guy when his value is so low? - but, damn... he's another RH bat in an overcrowded outfield. I still see him hitting 30 HRs, but maybe not in pinstripes. The horror, Mr. Kurtz, the horror.
4. From a purely analytical standpoint, instead of sinking - say - $30 million into Manny, would the Yankees be better off signing: 1) the best remaining free agent pitcher - Dallas Keuchel, ($16-18 million?) 2) a solid-but-cheap fielding SS ($2 million) and a top reliever, maybe Zach Britton? ($10-$12 million). Keep Miggy Dimaggio at 3B, give Bird and Sanchez one more chance, have Frazier platoon with Gardy and let a few bullpen arms rise from the farm. Would they ever go with Tyler Wade? (who is only 24.) Will they ever try Chance Adams? (who is, you guessed it, 24.)
Is Manny Machado - or, for that matter, Bryce Harper - the best use of $30 million? The answer is always no. The problem here is that Food Stamps Hal Steinbrenner is sitting atop a volcano of money, while he gaslights the world, poor-mouthing about luxury taxes. The Yankees have the resources to sign anybody. And it's especially galling when Boston outspends us by $40 million and takes aim at a dynasty. I hate to say this, but right now, the state of the Yankees is all fucked-up. Merry Christmas.
Cheer up, duque. Remember, we got C.C. for Christmas ten years ago and you know how that turned out. The Yankeeverse is about to make a big move. I can feel it!!!
ReplyDeleteOf course, your Point 4 is the best suggestion. Will they follow it? Doubtful. Brian is being a very, very bad boy this year and Santa will probably not discipline him. Krampus would, though.
ReplyDeleteA ship returned to home port just the other day after being gone for a very long time. Among the thousands of fathers and sons and mothers and daughters on board was a sailor named Faith Guidry Jackson.
ReplyDeleteIt was her first deployment. Faith Guidry Jackson is the mother of three young kids. When asked if the time away had been harder on any of the children in particular, she talked about the night terrors suffered by her youngest, a four-year old girl. The family reunion was as sweet as you could imagine. The girl stopped in her tracks as she walked out of the family home and saw her mom. After a moment in disbelief they embraced as only a mom and her four-year old could. The two older siblings wiped tears of joy away as they joined the group hug.
It was a heartwarming segment no matter your worldview.
But in these times of Yankee frustration and anxiety, this sailor’s name took me away to a time when the games were called by Rizutto and White. A time when the players were called Guidry and Jackson.
How did you get your middle name, I’d wished the reporter’d asked her.
Faith Guidry Jackson!
Deep Pockets Cash is hoping on one of these young arms in the minors to come through for him...one of them have to come through I guess...
ReplyDeleteBill White,
ReplyDeleteA fine tale for the holiday, it's nice to see someone's faith restored. Especially as we are becoming faithless over here, and might I add, with good reason.
Doug K.
I remember the St. Louis Browns.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees will soon resemble them.
Some called them, " The St. Louis Clowns."
Cashman's great uncle, twice moved, was their GM.
You van't fool mother nature.
Why can't they all just fucking die already?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Winnie.
ReplyDeleteFUCKERS!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am volcanicly angry. Have been for weeks. Food stamps Hal needs a flying banner now. Not on opening day. Now.
ReplyDeleteFrank Zappa can snort my ass.
ReplyDeletetesting
ReplyDeleteSadly it looks like Harper to the Dodgers then
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/12/report-dodgers-reds-finalizing-a-significant-trade.html
Or maybe they are opening space to trade for Stanton because he is less money and they've wanted him before. Not saying probable just saying possible.
ReplyDeleteDoug K.
I admire your optimism, Doug K. But why take a guy who is older and plays the field less well? Why not just go after Harper?
ReplyDeleteCosts less? But then you have to give up a prospect so... like I said I'm just What ifing here. Plus, if I'm right, I get to be a genius! :)
ReplyDeleteDoug K.
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