Eastern Empire

HAHAHA

2009-08-28T07:09:00.000-04:00

A Good Haul

2009-08-18T11:07:00.002-04:00

Heathcott
Murphy
Cotham
Stoneburner

They all will need nicknames now, except for Stoneburner, whose name is already more badass than the other three names combined. Which would be "Murpheathcotham."

Inspiration

2009-08-13T23:50:00.001-04:00

Good thing Youk threw his helmet at Porcello. He really sparked the Red Sox to that 2-0 loss today! It's ovah!

Well Now

2009-08-11T22:10:00.001-04:00

Yanks are doing pretty good, aren't they?

By the way, Youkilis is a bitch who throws his helmet, and he deserved to get slammed.

Still Here

2008-07-09T10:06:00.001-04:00

Must...find....motivation!

Joba belongs...

2008-04-21T14:10:00.001-04:00

In the rotation!

Not to win now (as some idiots will argue) but to win long-term.

If you have a potential ace, do you let him pitch 80 innings a year or 200+ innings a year? Simple as that.

Project P46

2007-11-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

You want Pettitte back. I want Pettitte back. We all want Pettitte back. WasWatching suggests we tell him so.

Couldn't hurt, right? I plan on sending mine this afternoon. So get to it!

Hip Hip....

2007-11-11T21:44:00.000-05:00

Been in Kentucky taking care of some things. But I am so unbelievably thrilled to be reading this.

Who Knew

2007-11-04T21:44:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I thought of the Yankees as a good defensive team. But how easily things can change.

While our shortstop and left fielder are still subpar, we've now got average to good fielders in Cano, Melky, Posada, Abreu, and even Johnny Damon, who particularly appears to be a solid defender when he's in left (Melky should really be the everyday CF permanently at this point). Plus, we had Phillips and Dougie each with about a third of all innings played at first base, and both of those guys can pick it. The trend should continue if we get a defensive upgrade at 3B (by that I mean, not Betemit).

So the quality of defensive personnel and its slow upward climb might help to explain the Yankees' top rating in the Probabilistic Model of Range, by Baseball Info Solutions (and presented via David Pinto here). This basically tells you that the Yanks outperformed their defensive expectations more than any other team, in turning more difficult balls-in-play into outs. There's a bit more info if you follow the link.

Interesting that three of the top four teams are all in the AL East (Yanks, BoSox, and the Jays at fourth, after the Cubbies).

You Know What Would Be Funny?

2007-11-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

If someone did a spoof of that "Leave Britney Alone" kid, only changed it to ARod. I think that would be uproariously funny. Just imagine it. Lord knows there are buckets of material to work with.

Glocko Pop

2007-11-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

Y'all might just catch me in the park
playin chess, studyin math
Signin 7 and a sun
BOBBY!

The Yanks picked up Bobby Abreu's contract today, rightly so. Even after that horrible start, Abreu's 2007 run production was ultimately about the same as Posada's (though Posada's position makes his production more valuable).

Aside from ARod, Abreu might have a better 2008 offensively than any player currently in free agency (including Lowell, Andruw, and Fukudome).

Seven Steps to the Series?

2007-11-02T10:41:00.001-04:00

Over at the Hardball Times, Jacob Jackson (who normally writes for Athletics Nation) has written an ambitious multi-step plan for the Yankees to follow this offseason, for a return to postseason dominance. There are some common sense moves, but some big head-scratchers. For one, I don't think Mr. Jackson realizes that Carl Pavano is having surgery, and will miss 2008....? Maybe he should stick to the A's.

Frankly, I'm still wrapping my head around it because there's a lot to digest, but take a look-see. I'll be back with a critique later.

Cash in Control

2007-11-01T23:52:00.000-04:00

Pete Abe raises the point that, at today's press conference, it was only Girardi and Cashman. No Hank, no Hal, no Levine.

Pete suggests that this is a sign that Cashman is out on a limb - that his fate is intertwined with the success or failure of his choice for manager.

I have to disagree, however. While this very well may mean what Pete says it might mean, I've got to believe that a) the transition towards a more "baseball-oriented" approach continues, putting Cashman in the driver's seat as much as he needs to be; b) while Hank has certainly mouthed off to the press on the whole ARod fiasco, I'm not convinced he's already at a point where he's sending these pointed messages (he's not his father - at least, we don't have enough evidence to suggest he's adopted George's worst habits); and c) they've previously and publicly acknowledged that Cash is going to be out in front.

Cash's fate may be tied to Girardi's success over the next few years. But like Hank said, this ain't the '96 Yankees, they're going to have patience; and Hank ain't George.