2009 New York Yankees | giants50's Blog

The Yankees signed Mark Teixeira yesterday to an 8-year, $180 million deal. It was their third signing of a big free agent this offseason and they really have done a great job with this and have succeeded in the market. They can't go out to get Manny because they have spent a lot. How much is George Steinbrenner really worth? I am a Yankee fan but we have to get it through the boss's head. Money does not grow on trees and especially in a terrible economy. He is spending $423.5 million on three players over the next 8 seasons and then the remainder of Alex Rodriguez's contract. God bless George but Brian Cashman has gotten these guys and we all have to give the guy some credit because he did a great job of signing the three biggest baseball players on the market and a much needed new pitching staff. The Yankees will have Chein-Ming Wang back coming off of an injured season in which he went 8-2 but was injured on June 13 while running the bases and was never seen for the rest of the season. He was signed for a 1 year and $5 million contract just a couple of days ago. The Yankee organization has built a team worth to watch play at the new stadium. The highest ticket price is $2,500 and it will get worse when the Yankees make the postseason. A new addition would be nice for the Yankees like Ben Sheets or Randy Wolf to replace Phil Hughes. Everyone saw what he did last year and he went 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA, ending his season injured in late April. There has to be someone to replace him because he can't be trusted in the rotation. There have been talks about Ben Sheets but they have died down. Maybe a small guy like Oliver Perez or a big guy like Derek Lowe but whatever it takes to get that guy in the bullpen or into the minors. They can give him a chance in April and part of May but if it doesn't work, maybe a guy like Phil Coke and Hughes can switch spots and that will work out much better. Joba did a great job starting last year going 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA and he looks like he's better there because his fastball can hit 100 MPH in the 7th inning. Manny Ramirez is now not an option for the Yankees with Mark Teixeira being signed. The Yankees have to re-sign Xavier Nady or if he goes, Manny has to come in. They can pay Abreu but then their spending is done. They should have thought it over because Bobby Abreu has to come back. He was there the whole season last year and he carried the offense when the struggled. He is a big part and he is needed. The Yankee offense will be enough to support Sabathia, Burnett, Wang, and Joba, but Phil Hughes continues to remain a question. He is lacking success but should the Yankees give him a chance? They are sending Ian Kennedy and Darrell Rasner to the minors after those two went a combined 5-15 last season, the reason the Yankees had to get these to guys. Mark Teixeira has averaged .290 batting average, 30 home runs, and 100 runs batted in the past 5 seasons. He is likely to do it again with Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter high on base percentage guys hitting in front of him. He is also likely to score a lot of runs with Alex Rodriguex hitting behind him. A-Rod has had an MVP in every other year for the past 6 years. But in those postseasons, he has become a bust and his success in the postseason has fans criticizing him. Why should he be criticized? Maybe for his high payroll but he does well in the regular season and helps the team as much as he can. Two years ago, when the Yankees won the wild card, he was Mr. Clutch every single game. He hit four walk-off home runs and batted in 31 in the 9th inning. Last year, he was always booed. The crowd cannot treat him like this. He tries his hardest and he does his best. He has brought two MVPs to the Yankee organization and their fans boo him. He does not deserve this. If the Yankee crowd wouldn't pressure him with the thought of boos, maybe he could relax and play good baseball. The left field position has been filled in be Xavier Nady, who will have to re-sign because he has nowhere else to go. He hit 13 home runs last year for the Yankees, 26 total, and was a surprise to everyone because he wasn't as good with the Mets. Once the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired him and put him in the lineup, he has been great and continued his great season with the Yankees. Damaso Marte was a bust out of the bullpen and he was a waste. He gave up three walk-off home runs last year including a grand slam against the Rangers second baseman Michael Young. He lost two with the Yankees but he came up big sometimes and he was re-signed to a 3 year, $12 million deal about a month and a half ago. Edwar Ramirez was terrible in the beginning of the year, regained his staff and was lights out in the midseason, but then he lost everything at the end of the year. He gave up 6 runs twice and he just couldn't pitch, raising his ERA to 5.50 and above to end the season for him and all hope was lost. He has to bounce back this year for sure. Phil Coke was impressive the minute he started pitching. He pitched for exactly one month and he gave up one earned run the whole time. 13.1 innings was his total amount of time pitched and he gave up just that one run. That was his first career month and I say he will be the bullpen leader along with Mariano Rivera who only blew one save last year and he ended up winning that game anyway so it wasn't that bad. Those two will lead the bullpen. Dan Giese had the best game of his career going against the Cincinnati Reds last year on June 23, and after 6 2/3 innings he was pitching a no-hitter, but after he lost that no-hitter, he never pitched well the rest of the sesaon, losing that game and two more along with it. It was disappointing and I don't think he will be pitching a lot this year. Another guy from that Yankee bullpen was Jose Veras who was good at times, but he wasn't a good setup man. He will be better this year but he was just like Kyle Farnsworth, who gave up too many home runs because of the hard fastballs were getting knocked and battered around. The right field position will be occupied by Nick Swisher. The Yankees got him for a reason. He cannot play designated hitter because Johnny Damon can't throw in the outfield so he has to play that. In center will be a rotation between Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera. They both have very strong arms but they can't hit so they will bat last when they do hit. They have speed and Gardner would make a great pinch runner when Melky is starting. The infield is amazing starting with Jorge Posada at catcher who has to redeem himself after signing a big catcher contract but then getting injured for the majority of the year. Then Alex Rodriguez is at third who had less runs batted in last season because of his month long injury in May. Derek Jeter had problems with his hand after being hit there too many times last year so he has to try no to lean into pitches this year and be more careful. Robinson Cano is known for his post All-Star brilliant performances. He hit just barely over .270 and he didn't show much improvement with his play after the All-Star Game. The end of the season was bad and he will be batting late in the lineup because of his play. Mark Teixeira leads his new home offense at first base after the big deal and he will make a huge difference. Pitching will be huge this year and the last thing the Yankees want is to have CC Sabathia injured or AJ Burnett because that is a waste of money and who is Joe Girardi going to get to replace them. Those are huge shoes to fit into so we have to keep our fingers crossed. Hopefully, Jorge Posada doesn't get injured and maybe Andy Pettitte can make up his mind if he wants to come back because if he does, he will be welcomed into the new and improved best rotation in baseball. This will be a big season and hopefully the one we have all been waiting for. The one where the Yankees win the World Series and come back, bust out of their playoff slumps and do it. Thank you very much for reading my blog. Go Yankees in 2009 and also, MERRY CHRISTMAS!