I am talking about the new evil empire called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who dropped the bomb today with the announcements of signing Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson.

Pujols will be making $250 million bucks over the next 10-years; while Wilson will be paid $77.5 million over the next 5-years.

Image via Wikipedia

If the Angels new pricey transports work out like the 2009 New York Yankees, the Halos are banking on being World Series bound in 2012, literally.

It must be a wretched day in St. Louis, Missouri. My heart goes out the Cardinals fans that lost the face of their franchise today, as Pujols took money over loyalty and that hurts, no doubt about it.

Pujols is the West Coast’s version of A-rod, which would make him A-Jols?

Need a better nickname than that, but you can’t fake the Yankees without an A-something and the Halos got themselves an expensive one.

Since, Rangers’ fans have only been around for like three years who cares, but supposedly their offer to Wilson was pathetic, according to Wilson. Bo-ho.

Now not to worry Yankee fans, as it will take the Halos at least a decade more of overspending, while winning four more World Series for them to ever catch the boys in the Bronx.

Hey the Bombers are still the rightful owners of the highest paid player ever in Alex Rodriguez, so take that Angels.

Related articles

• Reports: Albert Pujols Agrees To 10-Year Deal With Angels (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Pujols to sign 10-year, $250 million deal with Angels (nypost.com)
• Albert Pujols’ Mystery Team Not The New York Yankees (tracking.si.com)
• Albert Pujols Becomes an Angel With 3rd Biggest Contract in MLB History (inquisitr.com)
• Angels sign lefty Wilson, too (nypost.com)
• Report: Albert Pujols To Sign With Los Angeles Angels (tracking.si.com)
• Who’s Next? (welcometothe716.wordpress.com)
• AP Source: Albert Pujols to the Angels (mercurynews.com)

© Kate for Lady Loves Pinstripes, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Bronx, Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Yankees, World Series

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Here are my three reasons why:

1)    If Burnett goes to an AL East team or a playoff contender, the Yankees might have to face AJ down the stretch. And if you forgot why the Yankees signed Burnett in the first place, a main reason was that they hated facing him. Wouldn’t that be a slap in the face if that started happening again?

2)    The Yankees will have to eat $8 million of the $33 million still owed to AJ , but what will they get back for him? It is a risk because the Yankee are not going to get an arm with a better skill set than Burnett type, and acquiring a worse pitcher isn’t worth it.

3)    Also Burnett is liked by his teammates, he works hard and was the only positive thing that came out of the 2011 ALDS. Fact remains that Burnett came through when the team needed him most, under intense pressure of win or bust Game 4, and he did it not in Yankee Stadium. That is more than I can say about the rest of the Yankees.

So, now that everyone knows about Burnett being offered up, you have to presume word got back to him as well.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Apologize To AJ Burnett

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Post tags: Brian Cashman, New York Yankee, World Series, Yankee, Yankee Stadium, Yankee Universe

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Wally the Green Monster getting a little loose.

The 2011 Winter Meetings are officially underway down in Dallas, Texas and New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman has yet to make any noise.

The Yankees have not been shy about being quiet, and look to stay that way because the team is already pretty good.

Not that the Yankees are devoid of need, but they are nowhere near desperate enough to pursue a starting pitcher that is not of Cliff Lee-type caliber.

The Yankees would be more serious about Texas Rangers pitcher CJ Wilson, if his demands were not outrageous. Wilson reportedly wants something around 6-years at $100-120+ million, which is mind-boggling.

Look the Yankees have no problem with excessive spending but to fork over ace-type money for a middle of the rotation arm would be stupid. Wilson is more likely to get that from the Marlins or Nationals, who both seem to have retained the Yankees off-season shopping habits.

One move that Cashman should make this week is to resign 10-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones. Jones was a perfect fit in 2011 as a sub for Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson, as well as filling in at DH.

Jones is a right-handed hitter who can rake against lefty pitching. As a Yankee, Jones had 152 at-bats vs. lefties; he hit eight doubles, 12 homers, 31 RBIs and drew 22 walks.

When Jones started games the Yankees, as a team went 39-19; and when Jones made a cameo the team finished 52-25.

Jones did play all season with fluid in his knee, but according to Marc Carig at the Star-Ledger it has been “cleaned-up” as Jones had it drained straightaway after the season.

Even though Cashman stated early today to ESPN New York that these meetings are really to discuss “higher end type” stuff, and he did state why:

“I can’t spend a lot on the smaller stuff right now, even though they are important players.” 

Well, the new rumors flying around is that the party boys in Boston are interested stealing Jones. Cashman might reconsider playing the waiting game for too long; or else the Red Sox’s might get their grimy beer paws all over him.

The Red Sox supposedly want to use Jones in a more everyday role in the outfield, which could be more appealing than coming off the bench in the Bronx.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees Hot Stove: Red Sox Been Caught Stealing

© Kate for Lady Loves Pinstripes, 2011. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boston Red Sox, Brian Cashman, CJ Wilson, Curtis Granderson, New York Yankee, Red Sox, Scott Boras, Yankee

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Image by acme401 via Flickr

If you had not heard yet, ex-New York Mets skipper, turned ESPN analyst Booby Valentine has been named the new GM of the Boston Red Sox.

Valentine will have his hands full in Beantown, as he will have to crackdown on the Red Sox players who preferred hosting keg parties and eating fired chicken to cheering on their teammates.

Valentine knows that Boston fans are still stewing, and rightly so considering the level of betrayal they felt by their beloved Red Sox.

Luckily for Valentine, ringleader and pitcher John Lackey is already out for the entire 2012 season. Lackey was deemed injured about a week after the September collapse. The Red Sox declared that Lackey needed Tommy John surgery, which approximately has a 12-15 month recovery.(...)
Read the rest of Red Sox Hire Bobby Valentine

© Kate for Lady Loves Pinstripes, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Boston, Boston Red Sox, ESPN, John Lackey, New York Mets, Red Sox

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Here are Garza’s numbers from 2010-2011 (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

IS A GARZA TRADE WORTH THE YANKEES TIME?

The Yankees, along with the other 29 MLB teams are shopping in a pitcher’s market, which means no Black-Friday or Cyber-Monday sales this off-season.

In terms of Garza, his age is right on as he just turned 28-year old, but can he handle the heavy-hitting AL East now?

Garza spent his first two seasons in Minnesota, until the Twins traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays where he was from 2008-2010.

Any baseball fan knows that 2008 was the year the Rays went from bottom feeders to AL East champs. Garza went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA and throwing 185 innings during the regular season; and in the 11 wins his ERA was 0.64.

The Rays made it to the World Series in 2008, and Garza took home the ALDS MVP honors after he beat-up the Boston Red Sox. Also, last season the Rays avoided getting swept by the Rangers the night Garza took the hill, so he definitely has exhibited postseason success.

So, how has Garza fared vs. the AL East teams from 2008 till now?

Take a look (all stats compliments of baseball-refernce.com):

Garza’s numbers are just so-so against the AL East, but scouts say that he should be better but just hasn’t been. He features a two and four-seam mid-90’s fastball, a curveball that is wicked far less than hittable, a decent change-up and a slider.

Garza improved from being a pop-up to a ground-ball pitcher before coming into hitter friendly Wrigley Field, but in even more batter friendly Yankee stadium without more improvement….it could spell disaster.

He does have youth on his side, as remember that Cliff Lee did not come into his own till age 28-29.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Opinions Wanted On Matt Garza

© Kate for Lady Loves Pinstripes, 2011. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chicago Cubs, ESPN, Garza, Matt Garza, Tampa Bay Rays, Yankee

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The reason is the 2012 New York Yankees are on route to being last season’s identical twin, which wasn’t enough then and odds are it won’t be now.

With a little luck, mixed in with smarts GM Brian Cashman did find the pot of gold in 2011 but remember the Yankees did not make it past the ALDS. And it is hard to believe that almost the same team, a year later will be World Series bound.

The media will spread rumors that the Yankees are bigger ‘players’ in the market because it sells, but when has the Yankee brass been shy about expressing their interests. The simple fact it is that actions speak louder than words.

So, when Cashman told Dan Patrick that the team’s offseason priority was pitching back on November 4th it gave the notion that the Yankees would be perusing one of the top free agent arms, like Rangers CJ Wilson.

That is till I realize that this time last year Cashman had already made multiple trips to Arkansas and everyone knew it was to convince Cliff Lee to come to New York.

All that Cashman has said about Wilson is:

“I don’t think it’s a stretch to tell anyone he’s the most attractive candidate.”

So, there will be no Lee type bidding wars to lose, as the Yankee brass clearly stated that the team’s biggest move was to lock-up CC Sabathia, and that is exactly what Cashman did.

That means no surprise Christmas gifts named Reyes, Pujols or Fielder. So, Yankee fans should try not to get their hopes up because unless ‘the Boss’ gets reincarnated, Pujols will not be in pinstripes because the team does already have one of the best first baseman in Mark Teixeira.(...)
Read the rest of New York Yankees: Preview Of The 2012 Team Preview

© Kate for Lady Loves Pinstripes, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Brian Cashman, CC Sabathia, ESPN, Mark Teixeira, New York Yankee, Yankee

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