Mother Nature plays cruel April Fool’s Joke

It’s a good thing the Yanks got the game in yesterday (better yet, a victory). As far as the Lehigh Valley goes, as of 9 a.m., it’s snowing. Granted not much is sticking, but being 100 miles from NYC and 60 from Philly, this is not baseball weather. I wonder if the Phils will get their opener in today.

A new profile is up on Bronx Baseball Daily. It’s on the person who threw out the first pitch at the Stadium yesterday, Mike Mussina.   

Congats to all-time Yankee Don Mattingly, who won his first game as a manager last night when the Dodgers beat the Giants 2-1. 

Profiles of ex-Yankees at Bronx Baseball Daily.

Besides this blog, I am also writing profiles of ex-Yankees for the Bronx Baseball Daily blog. Miller Huggins is the new profile up today.

With Mike Mussina throwing out the first ball tomorrow, a profile will be going up on Mussina tomorrow.

Upcoming profiles will be on Mel Stottlemyre, Spud Chandler and Snuffy Stirnweiss. There is a link to Bronx Baseball Daily on the right of this page. Feel free to go over there and check out the profiles. 

So who is Fast Freddy Guzman?

Ok, the Yanks are thisclose to securing a postseason berth. Magic number for at least a wild card is 4.

So who is on the postseason roster? Here is a guess.

C: Posada and Molina
1B: Teix 
1B/OF: Hinske
2B: Cano
SS: Jeter
3B: A-Rod
Ut: Hairston
DH: Matsui
OF: Damon, Melky, Swisher, Gardner and Guzman.

That’s 14. It looks as if Ramiro Pena could be joining Francisco Cervelli in Tampa as players “just in case.” Working out in order to be added should the Yanks suffer an injury.

But you are probably wondering…who is Freddy Guzman?

Nope, it’s not this Freddy…

Guzman’s MLB resume isn’t earth-shattering. OF. 5’10″. 165. Switch-hits. 19 for 89 in his whole MLB career. That’s .213. 1 HR. 6 RBI. 5 for 8 in SB. OPS+ a sad 47. 28 years old. 38 MLB games. Doesn’t sound like anything, right?

We turn to the minor league stats. 3 leagues, 2002 Padre system. 89g, 69 SB.
2003, 3 leagues, SD system. 90 SB.
2004, AA/AAA SD system. 65 SB.
2006 AAA, SD/TEX 42 SB
2007 56 steals for Tex AAA (Oklahoma).
2008 Tigers, AA/AAA, 71 SB
2009 4 teams, AAA. Boston/Balt./Sea and Yanks 45 SB.

He’s only a .270 hitter in the minors. 20 minor league HR in 784 minor league games. 443 SB.

Basically, he is there as a PR. That’s it. If Melky starts, Gardner and Guzman provide two pinch-runners off the bench. Also two defensive replacements so that you have a speedier OF. You wouldn’t want Guzman hitting (although, to be fair, the postseason does make strange heroes…after all, Brian Doyle in 1978? Jose Vizcaino getting 4 hits in Game 1 of the 2000 WS?) and he won’t. But Guzman…and Gardner…could get a big steal just as Dave Roberts did for Boston in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. Just don’t get picked off. (See Washington, Herb, …below).

In other words, Guzman could be to the 2009 Yankee postseason what Herb Washington and Allan Lewis were to the Oakland A’s.

Lewis got in 156 games with the A’s. 29 MLB at bats. You read that right. 29 ABs in 156 games. He was used mostly to PR. He went 6 for 29, 1 HR and 3 RBI in his career. 1967-1970, 1972 and 1973 A’s. 14 SB for the 1967 KC A’s. 44 in his career. The Panamanian Express.

Charlie Finley then took the Lewis PR idea to the extreme. He then got Herb Washington, who played in 105 games for the 1974-1975 Oakland A’s. Washington never got an at bat. Ever. He stole 29 bases for the 1974 A’s, two more in 1975 before the strictly…and I mean strictly  PR….was let go.  In case you are wondering, Washington never took the field either. … and yes, the 1974 A’s won the WS even though they were “short-handed” for the entire season, having one player on the team who never hit and never took the field! PR only.  

Oh…Washington’s claim to infamy? Getting picked off by Mike Marshall of the Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1974 WS.  

At least Guzman is a player, even though he can’t hit much, he actually plays the field (that’s on the field…I obviously wouldn’t know about off!) (For the record, Lewis, unlike Washington, actually took to the field in 10 games as well as have those 29 at bats).

So for this postseason, Guzman may be the Yankees’ Lewis or Washington. Good for the postseason or the expanded September roster, but you wouldn’t want it for the regular season…no way.

As for the pitching staff, if the Yankees go with the extended series and just three starters in the ALDS, I could see it shaping up this way:

Starters: CC, AJ, Andy (that shoulder better be getting that rest, Andy!)
Long men: Aceves and Gaudin
7th inning: Robertson (get that elbow healthy, David!) and Joba (think about that….Joba in the 7th, then Hughes and Mo??)
8th: Hughes
9th: Mo
LOOGYS: Marte and Coke. (Lefty One Out Guy)

Mitre goes to Tampa, just in case. So does Bruney. The question becomes, Marte or Bruney on the team? Marte has to show me more, but there are already all those righties…Ace, Hughes, Robertson, Joba (for round 1 in the bullpen, starter afterward, and if just one start in the ALCS or WS, Joba could also relieve an inning in those series should the Yanks advance), Rivera, Gaudin… Girardi may decide to go with the two loogys.

As for Joba, Game 4 starter in the ALCS and WS if Yanks advance. Could he give an inning of relief in Game 1/2 and/or 6/7 as well as start Game 4? Why not? 

See Mussina, 2003 ALCS and Turley, 1958 WS for examples. There are more, but there’s your starting point.

Searchin’

With apologies to one of the greatest two-sided 45′s ever, although the Yanks would love “Youngblood” in the #5 spot, they are still “Searchin’.”

With Mitre at a 7.50 ERA after four starts, the Yanks yesterday signed Russ Ortiz to a minor league deal. Ortiz was 3-6, 5.57 (13 starts, 10 more games in relief) for the Astros this year, ERA+ 75. For his career, the 35 year old is 113-88, 4.48, ERA+ 94. He had a nice stretch from 1999-2004, and won 21 for the 2003 Braves, but since 2004 is 10-28.

Meanwhile, Ian Kennedy (remember him?) hopes to get in a few minor league games before the season ends. He will be pitching in the Puerto Rican Winter League this winter. Kennedy started four games for SWB this year and was 1-0, 1.59 before going down with an aneurysm in his pitching arm. Kennedy turns 25 in December. He is 19-6, 1.95 in his minor league career, but 2010 will be a huge year for him. He needs to bounce back and show that he can do it on the major league level (MLB 12 starts, 1 relief appearance, 1-4, 6.14).

Lastly, the “Truth,” Josh, wonders what might have happened had Mussina decided to come back this year. Surely he’d be better than the combined 5-8, 8.20 that we’ve received from the starters trying to fill that #5 spot, right?  

Boston is in for four games. Time to get revenge for the zero for eight against the Red Sox this year. Joba vs. Smoltz. Time to remind Smoltz that he is 42. Open a bit of a cushion, Yanks.

Game 95. A’s @ Yankees. 7th straight for Yanks, 6-3. 2.5 game lead.

After rain delays of 2 1/2 hours, you never know how teams will react. You can say that they are professionals, but they are also human.

A few years ago (2007?) it seemed like Mike Mussina had a couple of delays in the course of the season. You would think that someone who pitched as long as Mussina did and who won as many games as he did (270) would be able to adjust. Yet he had trouble.

So far tonight, CC has had trouble. 2 runs given up in the 2nd, another in the 4th.

The Yanks have come back with 4 in the 4th. Teix hit #24, a 2-run shot.   

Gardner got SB #20 earlier in the game. For people who knock Gardner, I ask this. You know he won’t give power. He is giving .277 and is on course for about 34 SB. That is what he is good for. .277 and 34 SB from a platoon CF? Isn’t that good enough considering what he can and cannot do?     

CC isn’t sharp. Just wondering. Mo is probably out of the equation tonight. Aceves and Hughes have split games since the break. Robertson and Melancon haven’t been used since the break, I think. This might be a game where they have to earn their pinstripes.

Teix gets another rbi—via double—in the 5th. Posada tacks on a run. 6-3 Yanks after 5.

This is the way it’s going for the Yanks right now. I was somewhere tonight where people were commenting that the Yanks were down 3-0. I mentioned three things: 1) it was early in the game 2) that the Yanks had won six in a row, and sooner or later a loss was inevitable and 3) you can’t live game to game in baseball. It’s a 162 game season. 3 out of 5. That is all. 3 out of 5. It doesn’t sound like much, but it translates to 97-65. People who go game by game don’t get it.

Put it this way. A team goes 4-3 in the course of a week. It goes 4-3 EVERY SINGLE WEEK over the course of a season. Nothing spectacular. Just 4-3. Do you know what you get?

92-69 with one game to go. Which will make the playoffs probably 95% of the time, right?

Now this is interesting. I backtracked to a previous post of mine.

Veras in. A walk (remember the KC game?) Double for Victor Martinez. 2nd and 3rd, no one out. I’m down on Veras. I can see Dave Robertson taking his job…. and soon.

And I can see Melancon taking Edwar’s job soon too. Just saying.  

I think the bullpen has options in case someone falters. Meaning Robertson and Melancon for Veras and Edwar.

Ok. It turns out to be Hughes and Aceves instead of Robertson and Melancon. Funny thing is, do you know when I wrote the above? April 16th. During the first game at the new Stadium. Um…not to toot my own horn, but did I call it?

He isn’t “on” but CC is battling. He goes into the 7th. A 6-3 lead.  

7 for CC. 3 R, 9 H, 0 walks and 4 K.  He battled.

…and the 8th inning guy is in. For those of you not paying attention, that is Hughes. 0.81 in relief this year. This is a team that has had surprising people step up and be valuable. Cervelli isn’t Posada, but what a job he did. What a job Hughes and Aceves are doing.

1-2-3 for Hughes in the 8th. He’s making it look easy.

…and a 1-2-3 in the 9th. Too easy.

7 in a row for the Yankees. They now have a 2 1/2 game lead. 20 of their last 25.

10-6, 3.61 for CC. Hughes ERA down to 3.51 as he picks up his first MLB save.  Six up, six down for Phil.  

   

The new Owner(s).

When people talk about the Yankees, I hear them say “Steinbrenner.” It’s not plural. Not “The Steinbrenners.” Not which Steinbrenner. Just “Steinbrenner.”

There’s no doubt who they are referring to. Not Hal or Hank. George. For the past few years, I’ve tried to tell people that George is old and not involved anymore. That there may be serious health issues. Most of the time they don’t want to hear it. It’s the effect the Boss had or has on people. They may hate the Yankees. They may hate George because he is an extension of the Yankees. They may hate George for being George. They don’t want to accept that the man has the frailties of age like anyone else. They act as if the Boss is stuck in a 1980 time warp.

Maybe that will change now. Maybe not. I mean, if the non-pursuit of Johan Santana last winter didn’t change minds of who’s in charge, what will? Sure, they may say that “look at what they are offering Sabathia”, but people forget a few things between Santana 2007 and C. C. 2008. They just look at the $$$.

C. C. is a free agent. Meaning he would cost money. Lots of it. Compensation in draft picks, but no players that are real or live, so to speak. Players who are yours and who you know about (as opposed to draft picks who you have know idea who they are or will be). Santana last year would have cost the $$$ and PLAYERS. Those players, for good or bad, are still here. Secondly, the money being paid C. C. is in large part from money coming off the books via Abreu, Pavano, Mussina, Giambi. Meaning a transfer of money and not adding new money to the payroll. Big difference there. But the Yankees being the Yankees, people will look at the amount of the contract and not see (or care about) the fact that it’s a transfer. They’ll see it as a purchase and act accordingly.

It will be Hal and Hank, as MLB rules stipulate only one general partner. As King, George A. III notes in his NY Post column today, Hank himself voted for Hal to officially follow their dad, and why not? Hal, and not Hank, put in the time at the Stadium. Hank has showed up how many times? Hal is the one in meetings and working the finances. Hank remains in charge of baseball operations.

Nothing will change. Hal will be (it seems) the quiet power behind the throne, along with Ca$hman. Hank will be the one reporters go to for a quote. Goodness, Hal at 40 running the Yanks. (Hank is 51). I remember Cashman being a GM at what….31? Look at Theo up in Boston. Talk about youth being served. The younger, quieter one ruling the roost. The older one with the rants. If it isn’t like the Godfather, what is? Cashman is Tom, the consigliore. I just wonder who Fredo is? Randy Levine?

Hank, George, Hal and Randy Levine?

Tell George not to chase his grandkids around any tomato patches (that’s what it was, wasn’t it?)

George passing Yankee ownership to Hal.

As long as the Yanks are as successful in slaying their opposition as the Corleone family was in the movie…

Hal apparently has given C. C. a deadline. We can only hope it’s an offer he can’t refuse.

As for Mussina not winning a CYA, remember what I wrote this week about Marichal.

I don’t understand one thing King wrote…about Catfish Hunter being the “Gold Standard” for Yankee free agent hurlers. Hmmm, no wonder we are in a recession. Thank goodness we went off the Gold Standard in 1933. Catfish was with the Yanks for five seasons. Only one was worth it’s weight in gold.

23-14 in 1975. Over 300 IP. 30 CG.
17-15
9-9
12-6 (after a 3-4 beginning, then the arm/shoulder manipulation).
2-9

Total for five years? 63-53. Average 12.6-10.6. Let’s round up.
Since when is an average of 13-11 over five seasons golden for a high-priced free agent pitcher? Granted the Yanks got 3 AL titles and 2 WS titles in those five years, but ask yourself…

If the Yanks sign A. J. Burnett to a five year deal, and he put up those numbers, what would you be saying at the end of 2013? Would you say those five years was golden? I think not.

King states that there are rumblings that the Giants may have made C. C. an offer. I don’t know how after the Zito signing. After that signing, you would think SF would be gun-shy.

I caught the Steeler game on ESPN radio last night. Listened to it. Not pretty but a win. 8-3. With (not in the order of play) the Browns, Ravens, Pats, Cowboys and Titans on the schedule yet, I’d say 2-3 to finish 10-6. As a Steelers fan, I’m hoping for 11-5. How that will seed them, who knows.

Barring an upset, if the Titans beat the Jets this weekend, the only team left to keep Tennessee from an undefeated season could be Pittsburgh. 16-0 seasons back to back between New England and Tennessee? Can it be?

I’ll be rooting hard for PSU tomorrow vs. Michigan St. Rose Bowl most likely on the line. I’d love for PSU to head out west near where I have family.

Lastly, check out this column by Joel Sherman on the Mets and their closer situation. He adds Raul Ibanez news. Bidding war for Ibanez between the Mets and Phils? Would Ibanez make the Phils too lefty-based? (Utley, Howard, Ibanez)? Victorino and Rollins are switch-hitters. Werth is a righty, as is Feliz. Would there be enough from the right side?

No rain-shortened postseason games. Bud Selig is looking for a new rule. All postseason games or games that could affect the postseason (like Game 163 this year between the White Sox and Twins) must be at least nine innings. No rain-shortened affairs.

More Moose. Utley out ’til June? Is DeJesus available? Hughes News.

Yes, I Should Have Known Better, but I had a Hard Day’s Night.

Hmmm. Last night before retiring, I wrote the Moose blog and wondered who, besides Mussina and Koufax, retired after a 20-win season. Today there is an ESPN article by Rob Neyer that states there are three other people who had 20 or more wins in their last year. Once I saw the article, I wanted to kick myself. I should have known two of the three. I’ll blame it on the fact I wrote last night’s column late.

I knew there had to be some kind of strange circumstance that happened. I mean, no one walks away from the game after winning 20, right? Unless you are Moose and had enough or Koufax who was in pain from chronic arthritis. So I was thinking of a special circumstance. WWI? WWII?

Instead, I forgot one very special circumstance. The 1920 White Sox had four 20-game winners. They didn’t win the pennant. Observers could sense a certain “disconnect” amongst the team. There were rumors, and in the end, two of the four 20-game winners (Eddie Cicotte and Claude “Lefty” Williams) were thrown out of baseball. You got it, the 1919 Black Sox Scandal (the other 20 game winners were Red Faber and Dickie Kerr). I should have known Cicotte and Williams. After all, I did see the film “Eight Men Out.”

As for the other guy, read Neyer’s article.

More on Mussina. King, George A. III reports that Moose will be in Tampa next spring as an instructor. Cool. Moose’s best games as a Yankee both came against Boston. His near-perfect game in 2001 (nine days before 9/11) and the relief appearance in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. More than 100 games over .500. Unfortunately for Moose, no WS ring.

Yesterday I remarked about what the Royals will do with Gathright now that they have the “Cereal Man,” Coco Crisp. I didn’t think DeJesus would be available. I thought if anything, Gathright would be getting the heave-ho. DeJesus? Not after .307-12-73, OPS+ 119. (Remember 100 = league average. 119 means DeJesus was 19% better than the average league hitter in On-Base Pct + Slugging Ave.) King writes that while a Royals official said the club isn’t looking to deal DeJesus (a Rutgers and Brooklyn guy), baseball officials believe KC will shop the soon-to-be 29 yr. old OF. The Yanks (and I) have liked him for a while. Lefty bat, 162 g. ave. .287-11-71-10 SB and 105 OPS+. Before the Yanks signed Damon, I was interested in DeJesus or Victorino. I wouldn’t mind seeing the “Road Runner,” Brett Gardner, getting a shot, but if DeJesus is available, I certainly would see what the Royals would want for him. Pete Abraham calls it a fantasy, but hey, it never hurts to ask.

ESPN states that Aaron Heilman wants to start. It’s “Start me or Trade Me” regarding him and the Mets. I don’t think someone 3-8, 5.21, ERA+ 81 should be making demands, do you? It’s not like he had great success as a starter before going to the bullpen either. 5-13, 5.93 in 25 games.

It’s hard to repeat, and the Phils could be finding out why. 2B Chase Utley will require hip surgery that will keep him out four to six months. Meaning worst-case scenario he is out until June. 3B Pedro Feliz needs lower back surgery but should be back opening day.

It looks like Trever Miller will be leaving the Rays for St. Louis. Miller will be 36 next May and was 2-0, 2 saves, 4.15, ERA+ 107 for the AL Champs this year. Career 14-14, 4.43, ERA+ 101, 10 saves.

Winter League: With my DSL problems of last night, I didn’t catch this Pete Abraham posting until today:

Phil Hughes in his final start in the Arizona Fall League tonight (last night, the 19th):

5 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts. 76 pitches/53 strikes.

So Hughes stats were 2-0, 3.00, 7 starts, 30.0 IP, 21 H, 38 K, 13 walks.
When he was on, VERY on, when not…

but remember….he is 22. Inconsistency comes with that age.

For more winter league Yankee stats, go here.

Rats. Steelers/Bengals tonight (for both, a VERY short week) and it’s NFL Network. Ugh. I don’t get the NFL Network. This Steeler fan will be on the computer, radio, etc., trying to follow the game.

Finally, this from Pete Abraham.

Based entirely on the fine work of Chad Jennings, here are some of the notable players who are now eligible to be selected in the Rule 5:

Pitchers: J.B. Cox, Alan Horne, Jason Jones, Zach Kroenke, Kevin Whelan

Infielders: Reegie Corona, Ramiro Pena, Eric Duncan

Now keep in mind that a player selected in the Rule 5 Draft must stay on the major league roster the entire season or he offered back to his original club. So it’s not like the Yankees are casting these guys out. Horne is coming off surgery and is unlikely to be taken. Whelan is coming off a decent stint in the AFL (17.1 11 5 4 14 21). Jones and Kroenke had good seasons in AA.

I suspect the Yankees will at least get a player selected, maybe Cox. But other right-handed relievers have gone past him in the last two years.

The Yankees still have a few players on the 40-man who may or may not be in the plans. But for now at least, guys like Cody Ransom, Justin Christian, Chris Britton and Shelley Duncan remain Yankees.

Stats?

Cox 5-4, 4.07 (mostly AAA), Horne had a great AA in 2007, injured for most of a terrible 2008.
Jones 13-8, 3.26, mostly AA. Whelan 3-0, 4.50, mostly AA. Kroenke 6-0, 3.09, 1 s, AA.

Eric Duncan was a Rule 5 last year. No one wanted him. I didn’t like him a couple of years ago and said he’d never make it. I got blasted by some people. Still think he is a prospect? I mean, it’s the second year the Yanks made him Rule 5 eligible, and he’ll probably be passed over again.

AA (both) 2B Corona .274-3-39, 24 SB; SS Pena .266-2-45.

Moose.

1991-2008. Orioles 1991-2000; Yankees 2001-2008.
270 wins. Winning pct. .638.
20 game winner once, at age 39 in 2008, his final season.
3.68 ERA seems high, but the ERA+ is 123 in the “steroid era.”
Camden Yards, a hitter’s park, was his home base for a good number of years.
Over 2800 strikeouts.
To date, the last Yankees pitcher to win a World Series game.
3460 IP, less than 1000 walks given up (785).
7-8, 3.42 in postseason play.
5x all star.
7 gold gloves.
MVP consideration 3x.
CYA consideration 9x (runnerup 1999).
11x top 10 in ERA.
9x top 10 in wins. Led AL once.

Black Ink: Pitching – 15 (141) (Average HOFer ≈ 40)
Gray Ink: Pitching – 244 (23) (Average HOFer ≈ 185)
HOF Standards: Pitching – 54.0 (28) (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
HOF Monitor: Pitching – 121.0 (67) (Likely HOFer > 100)

Black ink down, but the other HOF indicators are very good.

For more, go to baseball reference.

Hopefully, sometime in 2014 or beyond, there will be a HOF plaque.

The Yanks now need to re-sign Andy, get C.C., and then get either Burnett or Lowe. It’s more imperative now.

As for Moose, Montoursville isn’t that far of a drive from NYC. A nice Welcome Back for Old Timer’s Day beckons.

Moose to retire. New “breakfast recipe” in Boston.

Reports from Fox and ESPN today indicate that Mike Mussina will indeed retire. If so, he goes out on top. Other than Mussina, the only other pitcher I can think of to retire after winning 20 or more games in his final season is Sandy Koufax (27 in 1966). If you know of another, please comment. I’d have typed this earlier but had DSL trouble and it’s about bedtime. So sorry if I don’t look it up.

Boston will have to find a new “breakfast.”

The Red Sox traded Coco Crisp to KC today for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez, 27, was 3-2, 1 save, 2.64, ERA+ 162 for the Royals this year. 9-7, 1 save, 3.62, ERA+ 127 for his career. Crisp was .283-7-41-20 SB, OPS+ 93 for Boston this year. It looks like a nice move for Boston to shore up the bullpen. With Ellsbury, Crisp was expendable. As for the Royals, I’ve always liked DeJesus and he had a nice year. The person on the Royals hurt by this will be Joey Gathright (71 hits, only 4 for XB, OPS+ 59). Now we see what the Royals do with him.

I saw a posting that Boston is looking to make a push for Burnett. With Schilling probably retiring (seriously, can you see anyone right now picking up 38pitches.com or Pedro?), Boston, who didn’t have 38pitches last year, could be looking at a rotation of Dice-K, Beckett, Burnett, Lester and Wakefield. Scary. Masterson in the bullpen then? Then look at Tampa, who according to King, George A. III could be looking at Giambi for DH to help out the AL champs even further. Tampa’s rotation was solid. All the more reason for the Yanks to shore up a rotation that had Darrell “Now in Japan” Rasner as the guy who was third in IP last year.

BTW, Seattle’s Wakamatsu, by his hiring, becomes the first Asian-American manager in MLB.

A few years ago on Yankee Fan Club Radio I gave the plusses and minuses for Mike Mussina and Gary Sheffield for the HOF. Since I am tired and need to get to bed (damned DSL problems), I won’t get into Moose’s career stats right now (I probably have already) but will refer you to an excellent piece by Jason over at Heartland Pinstripes on Mussina’s career.

C.C.=Ca$h and Carry? Oliver Perez?

As you probably know by now, and as you saw from yesterday’s blog post which quoted from various sources, the Yanks have made C. C. Sabathia an offer. One in which Pete Abraham accurately assesses as telling the rest of baseball “Don’t….even…..try….”.

In very simple terms, it equals or matches the offer given to Johan Santana last year by the Mets. Now I know what you are thinking. Why not just do it last year for Santana? But put it this way. Last year, it’s a trade. This year, it’s just money (God, how I hate writing that, especially with people getting laid off and in discussing about $140M or more over six years). You know what I mean though. No giving up of players. Free agency vs. a trade. Keeping players like Melky, Hughes, Kennedy….who may or may not pan out. But if they DO pan out, they are STILL YOURS.

Abraham continues:

There are indications the Yankees will open negotiations with Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett by early next week. When Brian Cashman says he wants multiple starters, he very well could mean Sabathia, Lowe or Burnett and Andy Pettitte.

That would close the door to Teixeira and Ramirez. But I’m not sure those doors were ever much open to start with.

With Swisher, and with Ca$hman’s comments of yesterday, I consider the Teixeria door closed. I don’t think they ever seriously considered Manny. I think that it was something out of Hank’s big mouth, saying “we’ll look at him” just like they “looked at” Bonds at the trade deadline. Meaning “how about ____ “, getting a resounding “NO!” and moving on.

Pete continues:

[Hank] lSteinbrenner confirmed that Brian Cashman made an offer to CC Sabathia. Then he added: “And we’re prepared to make offers to (A.J.) Burnett and (Derek) Lowe. I’m starting to become very optimistic. I think it’s going to be mutually beneficial to us and for these particular players that we’re after for them to join the Yankees.”

Offers are a long way from acceptance. But if the Yankees are seeking Sabathia, Burnett and Lowe, are they prepared to leave Andy Pettitte by the side of the road? Or are they offering three, hoping to get two and then moving on to Pettitte?

One thing is fairly certain: They’re not messing around.

My take is that they are covering all bases. Looking at Joel Sherman’s column of today, Sherman writes of Cashman stating that the Yankees will not sign C.C. and Teixeira in tandem. As I stated, agreed, now that they have Swisher. Cashman says, “at the price tags I have read, that is fantasy land, not reality land” meaning getting C.C. and Teixeira.

Continuing on in Sherman’s column of today, he writes that the plan mimics the Yanks’ 2004-2005 offseason, one in which they decided that they could afford EITHER an ace (the Big Unit) OR a Boras-represented switch-hitter (Carlos Beltran). They opted for Randy Johnson and used the rest of their $$ on (ugh) Pavano and Jaret Wright. I didn’t like it then, that is, the going after the pitcher. I do now. I wanted Beltran in that 2004-2005 offseason. Now, I recognize the need for pitching.

Why the change of heart? Well, I wouldn’t really call it a change of heart. I did recognize the need for pitching in 2004-2005. One that was addressed as best as possible perhaps. But….and this is a BIG DIFFERENCE….I didn’t want Randy Johnson because of his age. At the time of the trade for him, the Big Unit was already 41. Much like I DID NOT WANT Roger Clemens last year at the age of 44 (45 once the 2007 postseason came). Beltran was (and still is) a player IN HIS PRIME…just like C. C. is now. That is the difference between then and now.

Sherman continues on to say that along with C. C., that the Yanks hope to fill out the rotation with a combo of Lowe, Burnett, Perez or Pettitte (he didn’t mention Sheets or Dempster). Here is something I found interesting in Sherman’s column: One Yankees official said that if C. C. were signed, that the Yanks would then turn to a “B” level pitcher for pitcher #2 and then would bypass A. J. and Lowe, concentrating on Perez and Pettitte instead.

That’s interesting. It means that they look at Lowe and A. J. Burnett as “insurance” in case they don’t sign C. C. Fair enough, but that offer to C. C. doesn’t look like the insurance will be necessary. Still, you never know. But Sherman goes on to say that the Yanks’ $209M payroll may be trimmed to $190M for 2009. He quotes Cashman as stating that “there has been speculation that we can pull down 2 or 3 of the top free agents and people are just getting carried away. That is not feasible. That is completely unrealistic.”

Which means what? It means one top-level free agent and filling in the gaps with “B” players. One “B” player has been acquired already—-Swisher. Should C. C. be signed, you then go to Pettitte (one year, less than the $16 M of 2008—$13 M for 2009???) and another lower cost free agent. Which brings us to Perez.

Now I’ll be honest. Perez worries me. Potential is a word meaning you haven’t done it yet. Does Perez have potential? Hell, yes. Consider this list. It states who, at certain ages in their careers, Oliver Perez most resembles. Some names will really stand out. Let me help you by bolding them.

Age 21 David Clyde, 22 Scott Kazmir, 23 Sandy Koufax, 24 Scott Olsen, 25 Frank Viola, 26 Mark Langston

Nice company, no? Perez just turned 27, and you know what they say about lefties developing late. For his career, Perez is 55-60, 4.39, ERA+ 96. Umm….not that great. His 162 game average shows 10-11, 4.39. That ERA+ of 96. Just a tick below average. What’s intriguing is this: 194 2/3 IP. 200 K. Hmmm…..but also 102 walks. Potential that led to 12-10, 2.98 in 2004 for the Pirates at age 22. 15-10, 3.96 in 2007 for the Mets. A nice Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS for the Mets. 239 K in 2004. There is potential there. There is youth (27). There is the possibility of the typical “lefty late bloomer.”

…and then there is the REALITY of 105 walks this year in 194 IP. The 3-13, 6.55 of 2006 put up by Perez in the regular season (Game 7 NLCS be damned). Years with nice K/IP ratios but lousy W-L records and ERAs.

Sabathia had 251 K this year, 209 last year. Perez made $6.5M in 2008.

A rotation of (ages as of opening day 2009) Sabathia (28), Wang (29), Pettitte (36), Perez (27) and Joba (23) is interesting. Three lefties—always good at Yankee Stadium. Youth. Andy would be the only one over 30. Hughes (22) and Kennedy (24) at AAA on the ready. Strikeout pitchers with C. C., Joba and Perez.

There are questions…does Joba continue to progress? Most importantly, what would you get from Perez, the great promise and potential? Or the reality?

I’m torn here. I thought Matt Cain could be a possible steal….youth and potential. Same thing with Zach Greinke. Perez? Hmmm…..It’s a gamble. You really don’t know. Looking at those names and similarities….I mean, throw out Koufax. We won’t go there. But Langston? We’ll take that development, as well as Viola or Kazmir.

Can Perez put together years that his talent suggests? Can he put it all together? I only wish I knew.

A postscript: Mariano Rivera got 3 points in the AL CYA voting, and Mike Mussina got 2 points. They finished 5th and 6th respectively. Rivera has a 2nd, three 3rds and a 5th in CYA voting in his career. Moose has a 2nd, 2 4ths, 3 5ths and 3 6ths to his credit. What is amazing about Mussina’s 2008 season is that it is the first time in SEVEN years he got a CYA vote.