January 2011
A Newfound Respect and Appreciation for Levine…
I have to admit that I have never really taken the time to know or understand Yankees president Randy Levine. I took a dislike to him without really giving him a chance to prove himself. I don’t know if it was something he said or a certain look that he gave during a press conference or if I really had any reason at all. But within the last couple of weeks, I have gained a newfound appreciation and respect for Levine. A week or so ago, I was reading a column by one of the Yankees beat writers (I don’t recall which one) and it referenced that the writer had bumped into Levine and he made a comment about how easy and comfortable it is to talk with Levine. Somehow, I had expected him to be “standoffish” and arrogant. But today, when he stood up to Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, he showed that he is the right man for the job.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!…
Understandably, the signing was met with mixed reaction by Yankees fans, but personally, I liked the move to sign Andruw Jones as the team’s fourth outfielder.





Another Yankee Killer on the verge of Pinstripes…







Finally, there’s action in the bullpen!…

If they’re saying it, it must be true!…
Rumors…

With nothing to talk about, the speculation continues
about what free agents the Yankees are looking at. The latest has pitcher Justin Duchscherer and
outfielder Andruw Jones within the team’s sights…

Tony Gutierrez/AP

UPI/David Richard via Newscom
I like Duchscherer, although he has been beset with
injuries and depression in recent years.
I recognize that he is considered an “average” pitcher, but he does know
how to win. He’ll never be the second
coming of Chris Carpenter, but when the alternative at the 5th spot
in the rotation is Sergio Mitre, he’d be worth the shot. I have quietly been hoping the Yankees would
sign former Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis but there has been no activity on that
front. It wasn’t that long ago
(pre-Ubaldo Jimenez) that Francis was considered the ace of the Rockies
staff. If the signing of Francis is not
meant to be, then I like Duchscherer over other options like Jeremy
Bonderman. I like the addition of either
Francis or Duchscherer even if somehow and magically Andy Pettitte decides to
return for one last season.
The other rumor has the Yankees considering outfielder
Andruw Jones. I actually wanted the
Yankees to sign Jones last off-season.
He ended up with the Chicago White Sox and hit 19 home runs. I realize that he will never be the Atlanta
Braves’ version of Jones, but in the right role, he can excel. I lived in the Los Angeles during his final
year with the Dodgers and it was pathetic to see Jones as a shell of what he
used to be. Still, I think he’d be a
good fit as a role player for the Yankees.
Jones could also step into left if either Brett Gardner or Curtis
Granderson missed any time due to injury.
What can Larry Rothschild do to restore Joba Chamberlain’s
confidence? With A.J. Burnett and Joba
at the top of his to-do list, I wonder if Larry fully understood what he was
getting himself into. If he can somehow
turn both of these guys around, he will be a legend in Yankees history.

David Zalubowski/AP
Speaking of Rothschild, the Yankees announced their 2011
coaching staff and the only change was Larry in for former pitching coach Dave
Eiland. All things considered (and
nothing against Eiland), but I feel very good about the pitching being in the
hands of the long-time Cubs pitching coach.
It’s also good to know that Tony Pena will return to his role as bench
coach for manager Joe Girardi. I think
that’s a good pairing, even if Pena will have to coach against his son, Tony
Pena Jr., who is currently a member of the dreaded Boston Red Sox.

There has been so much talk lately about the impending
free agency of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. Personally, I do not want to see Albert in
anything other than a Cardinals uniform.
Hopefully, the first ballot to be Hall of Famer and the Cardinals can
find a way to ensure that Albert stays in St. Louis for the duration of his
career.

Scott Rovak/Getty Images
There are going to be some really great pitching
performances in the National League this season. Granted, the class of the rotations is the
Philadelphia Phillies, but so many teams have improved (like the Brewers, Cubs,
and Marlins to name a few). Plus, let’s
not forget the solid starting five of the World Champion San Francisco
Giants. Give me the #5 starter, Madison
Bumgarner, for the Yankees rotation…please!
I have to admit that I was pleased to see future Hall of
Fame closer Trevor Hoffman retire today.
It fixes his save total at 601, and certainly makes it within reach for
also future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera.
With a two year contract and standing at 559 saves, there’s no reason in
the foreseeable future that Mo can’t erase the difference. I think both Trevor and Mo should be first
ballot elections, although I’d admit that Lee Smith should go in before either
one. With Mo, I have definitely been
grateful in recent years that I’ve been able to watch one of the all-time great
New York Yankees. It’s a lengthy list
but Mo will exit at the head of the class for his position. I am envious of anyone who actually saw my
idol, Lou Gehrig, play, but I’d also say that I’ve been very fortunate to see
Mo pitch. It’s nice to know that when
#42 is retired at Yankee Stadium for Jackie Robinson, it will be shared by
Mo. Nevertheless, I wish the very best
for Trevor Hoffman, who I hear is headed back to the San Diego Padres for their
front office.

AP
Finally, I wanted to say how much I miss former Yankees
beat writer/blogger, Peter Abraham. I
keep up with him with Boston.com, and his latest post shows why he is simply
one of the best…if not the best.
Okay, one more thing.
The loss of Dallas Green’s 9-year-old granddaughter, Christina Taylor
green, to the shooting in Arizona is devastating. I can’t help but think of the great things
that she could have and most likely would have accomplished in her
lifetime. It was a senseless tragedy and
we are clearly the worse for it.
Somehow, the world is a lesser place today because of her loss. I am also saddened for the others that lost
their lives, and I wish for a full and speedy recovery by Rep. Gabrielle
Giffords. The restoration of her life
and career is so important to the balance of life…


-Scott
I Know What It Must Feel Like To Be An Angels Fan…
As it stands today, and I realize that it is still early
January, the Boston Red Sox are clearly the class of the AL. The Yankees inability to snag a frontline
pitcher will haunt the team, and the missed opportunities to upgrade in other
areas will cost the team valuable victories in the highly competitive AL East.

Jim Davis/Boston Globe
At the moment, Ivan Nova represents the #4 starter behind
CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett.
I’d argue that Burnett should be considered no more than a #4 if he can’t
turn it around. Meanwhile, other teams
are getting stronger. The latest AL team
to improve was the Texas Rangers with the addition of former Boston third
baseman Adrian Beltre. I know that the
Rangers, like the Yankees, still need more starting pitching, but they’ve
clearly improved the offensive and defensive makeup of the team.
It appears that the Chicago Cubs have acquired pitcher
Matt Garza from the Tampa Bay Rays. At
face value, it would appear the move weakens the Rays for the short term,
particularly in light of the previous losses (namely Carl Crawford, Rafael Soriano,
and Carlos Pena). However, the Rays have
a rich farm system and of course they needed a spot in the rotation for high
end prospect Jeremy Hellickson. Everyone
seems to be writing off the Rays, but I fully expect them to be in the thick of
the race. Somehow, they are the New
England Patriots of baseball…they may suffer huge personnel loss but there’s
always someone ready to step up their play as a replacement.

Jim Davis/Boston Globe
The rest of the division has gotten better, while the
Yankees have simply gotten older.

Last year, when the Rays trotted out Joaquin Benoit and
Rafael Soriano, it was game over. As it
stands, the Yankees set up crew consists of David Robertson and Joba
Chamberlain…a combo that was not consistent last year and forced the deadline
trade for Kerry Wood who solidified the position. I would have really liked to have seen the
Yanks pursue Soriano for the set up role, especially after his agent expressed
his willingness to set up for Mariano Rivera.
I was disappointed when GM Brian Cashman came out today to say there was
no chance of a Soriano signing since it would cost a first round pick. I get it.
The farm system is important and it has taken years for the Yankees to
rebuild the system after the cupboards were left bare. But still, it is hard not to think about how
effective a bullpen duo of Soriano-Rivera would be. It would probably be the best one-two punch
since the days of Rivera-Wetteland in the mid 90′s.

AP
It definitely sounds as though Andy Pettitte won’t be
making the trip to Florida next month. I
want Andy to come back but I am okay if he decides to stay home. If he came and his heart wasn’t in it, he
just wouldn’t be the same pitcher we’ve come to rely upon. I wanted Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre to
come back this year and he did after much coaxing by his teammates, but the
results were horrific. Andy either has
to be “all in” or he should go ahead and hang up the glove. I would hate to see Andy leave with a Javier
Vazquez type of season.
The Yankees have made minor moves this off-season that I’ve
liked. The latest is the pick-up of
former Chicago Cubs reliever Brian Schlitter.
While he was not effective in his brief time with the major league club
last season, I have to believe this signing had much input from former Cubs,
and now Yankees, pitching coach Larry Rothschild. If Larry felt the Yanks should move on
Schlitter, then I feel he showed Larry enough to prove that he could be a
valuable and effective arm in the pen.

There’s still time for the Yankees to make the necessary
moves to improve the roster and certainly if an “all in” Andy Pettitte signs up
for a final season, the team will look much better than it does today.

If they maintain the status quo, I can’t help but wonder
how intense the pressure will be on manager Joe Girardi. Can he survive a season where he finishes
third (or worse) in the division? I am
not so sure. His best friend is his new
three year contract. Managing General
Partner Hal Steinbrenner is a numbers guy, and unlike his father, might not be
so willing to “eat” a contract. As much
as I would dislike the move, I can’t help but think that the Yankees failure to
land a quality frontline starter has enhanced the chances that we will see
Bobby Valentine in the Yankees dugout.
Ugh, I hope it doesn’t come to that…

AP
Sadly, today brought the loss of another former Yankee
(Ryne Duren). Duren was a reliever for
the Yanks in the late 50′s and early 60′s, and was known for his coke bottle
glasses and 100 mph fastball. I liked
Yogi Berra’s quote about Duren: “Ryne could throw the heck out of the ball. He threw
fear in some hitters. I remember he had several pair of glasses but it didn’t
seem like he saw good in any of them.” Duren
passed away in Florida on Thursday at the age of 81.

Diamond Images/Getty Images
Congratulations to Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of
the San Francisco 49ers. My favorite
Harbaugh moment still has to be in 1992 when the Chicago Bears were leading the
Minnesota Vikings 20-0 in the fourth quarter and the Vikings came back to win,
21-20. I can still remember the
frustrated Harbaugh wondering what hit him.
Nevertheless, I do wish him much success as he attempts to revitalize
the 49ers. It should be fun next season
when the Niners play the Baltimore Ravens, coached by Harbaugh’s brother
John.

Well, I guess I’ll go back to waiting for the Yankees to
make a move…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
–Scott


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