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New York Yankees: Cashman you are losing it again

Posted by on 23 February 2012, 11:05 pm
David Aardsma

Image via Wikipedia

Are the New York Yankees in need of another right-handed reliever?

No, no…. the Yankees need a lefty to aid Boone Logan out of the bullpen, and even more so now that LHR Hideki Okajima failed his physical a few days ago.

Well, not when your GM is named Brian Cashman who is on his quantity vs. quality crusade again hoping to look like a genius; when in actuality it is skipper Joe Girardi & Co. who has to deal with another over-crowded camp in Tampa weeding through a plethora of has-beens.

And he can thank the Yankees GM for once again handing out invites to Spring Training to every injury riddled, washed-up or even old-for-a-veteran player who at one time displayed a little talent.

The latest in Cashman’s stockpile is injury-riddled player, right-handed reliever/closer David Aardsma.

Aardsma…Who?                      

Good question, as why would you know Aardsma; he didn’t pitch at all in 2011 but he did manage 31 saves over a total of 49 innings in 2010 and 38 saves in 2009.

That doesn’t explain why over his six-year career Aardsma got tossed to five different clubs the Giants, Cubs, White Sox, Red Sox and his last stint was as the Mariners closer from 2009-2010. He spent all of 2005 in AA because of total inefficacy.

Aardsma just turned 30-years old, and has suffered from serious hip and elbow injuries. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Cashman you are losing it again’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Matsui Rumors Are Not Funny For My Dad

Posted by on 17 January 2012, 1:23 pm
Hideki Matsui Reprint from Flickr

Image via Wikipedia

The latest question swirling around Yankee Universe is who will fill the void at DH?

Rumors are that the Bombers are interested in Johnny Damon and Carlos Pena, but have actually reached out to Hideki Matsui according to a  tweet from Jon Heyman at CBS.

Matsui was the 2009 World Series MVP and was let go after single-handily leading the Yankees to their 27th Championship, and fans were not happy at all.

So, when I told my dad that the Yankees were thinking of bringing back Hideki Matsui in 2012 his hopeful excitement made me reconsider if I should have said anything.

Matsui has been my father’s favorite player from the day he came to the US from Japan, and he still rants about the reason behind letting Godzilla leave in the first place.

My thought is would Matsui want to come back after being treated so poorly?

One aspect of Japanese culture that I am in utter awe of is the sense respect, tradition and commitment that each possesses in all aspects of life. Matsui was so level-headed, and like my father his work ethic and sportsmanship was almost surreal.

So, this makes me wonder whether Matsui would even listen to the suggestion of playing in the Bronx again because it is a sign of disrespect? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Matsui Rumors Are Not Funny For My Dad’ »

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Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2012 NFL Playoff To Superbowl Picks

Posted by on 7 January 2012, 4:35 am

The New York Yankees and MLB will take a backseat as it is Wild Card weekend, which officially marks the start to the 2012 NFL Playoffs.

So, which of the 12 contending NFL teams are Super Bowl XLVI bound?

And what team has enough swagger to be named the 2012 Super Bowl Champs on February 5th in Indianapolis?

Here are this lady’s official picks from Wild Card Weekend all the way to the Superbowl Champions: Continue reading ‘Lady Loves Pinstripes: 2012 NFL Playoff To Superbowl Picks’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Happy New Year You Cheapskates?

Posted by on 30 December 2011, 1:17 am

Cheapskates? Or Victims?

At the start of the 2012 off-season the New York Yankees brass turned reformed savvy shoppers?

The Yankee and cheapskates… it just sounded wrong. And guess what, it just might be.

In actuality, MLB’s new collective bargaining agreement could be a bigger influence behind this thrifty transformation in the Bronx.

See, the Yankees have to pay a 40% tax rate on any money that exceeds MLB’s payroll maximum, which now sits at $178 million. So for 2011, the Yankees will be writing a check for $13.9 million, a franchise low since 2003.

Under the new CBA any team that chooses to overspend year after year will be penalized.

This means the Yankees tax rate will jump to 42.5% in 2012, and 50% in 2013; but the kicker is when overspending teams manage to drop below the set payroll it cuts their respective tax rate by 17.5%.

The league-wide payroll most will stay at $178 million through 2013, but jumps to $189 million for the following three years.

This puts a damper on GM Brian Cashman’s offseason plans, as it seems the baby Stein’s will never be reckless as papa-Boss, but with a current payroll north of $215 million can you blame them?

So is this the post-Boss-era essentially a travesty or are Hank and Hal changing the mantra of winning first?

New Year = New Yankees?

The MLB offseason is baseball’s equivalent to a New Year, as it allows changes to be made, and with any luck for teams to get better.

Inevitably, rules and finances do force teams to look in all directions of how to make these improvements happen.

Certain teams rely on spending cash, others exploit trades and some cultivate the draft.

It is no secret that the Yankees are baseball’s shopaholics, but the new rules implemented even make a big spender, like New York pull in their spending reins.

This sort-of explains why the Yankees have done zilch this offseason, but it also doesn’t.

See, GM Brian Cashman has spent the last few years turning an almost obsolete farm system into one of baseball’s best, so why not dip into the honey jar? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Happy New Year You Cheapskates?’ »

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New York Yankees: Phew, Rangers Got Yu

Posted by on 20 December 2011, 6:01 am

Are the New York Yankees are officially cheapskates?

The Ballpark in Arlington home of the Texas Ra...

Yu Darvish's New Home In Arlington, TX.

Not quiet, but when Japan’s Mainichi Daily News publicized that pitcher Yu Darvish had the highest bid for a Japanese player under the posting system, a reported $51.7 million and that the team was the Texas Rangers, I was totally relieved.

The Yankees do not need another Japanese import to implode, or pay millions for a pitcher to be chauffeured to throw in Scranton-Wilkes Barre for five years.

As for now Nolan Ryan and Co have just bought 30-days to negotiate with the latest Japanese import and if Darvish signs a contract the Nippon Ham Fighters will get a cool $51.7 million.

You can bet that the Rangers will have to offer Darvish at least six-years and well-over $60 million bucks for him to stay in Arlington.

Remember that in Japanese culture if Darvish were offered less, or even equal a contract than fellow countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka made with the Boston Red Sox back in 2006, it would be considered a sign of disrespect because Darvish is regarded more talented.

The Red Sox gave Dice-K a six-year, $52 million deal, which had another $8+ million in incentives and a no-trade clause. Also, add in the $51 million posting fee, a personal translator, and a Japanese chef for clubhouse in exchange for one good season in 2008. Not to mention that Red Sox fans can’t stand Dice-K, who will be out till next September recovering from Tommy John surgery. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Phew, Rangers Got Yu’ »

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Baseball Basics: The Posting System

Posted by on 16 December 2011, 3:49 am

If you are a baseball fan, you must have heard the name Yu Darvish.

Darvish is Japan’s newest pitching phenom who is coming to MLB in 2012, but that seems to be the extent of some fans knowledge by choice or not.

Well, since I did receive a few emails this week asking me to explain what the process is for a MLB team to sign a Japanese player in a Baseball Basic, now seems to be the perfect time.

What is the Posting System?

The posting system is the process used by a MLB team can acquire a player from Japan’s Nippon Pro Baseball.

Here is a simple breakdown of the process:

  • An NPB player and his team both have to agree that he can be posted.
  • The NPB player’s team informs Japan’s NPB Commissioner’s Office of the posting, then proceeds to call MLB, who in turn notifies all 30 teams. This can only take place between November 1st and March 1st.
  • Once posted, MLB teams conduct a four-day silent auction bidding to win just an exclusive 30-day window to come to contractual terms with the NPB player who is posted. Bids go directly to MLB Commissioner’s Office and are sealed.
  • Once four-days are up, MLB discloses only the highest bid to the NPB team without revealing the name of the bidding ball-club.
  • The Japanese team has 30-days to either accept or reject the bid, and no negotiation is allowed. The MLB team does not pay any money at this point.
  • If the bid is rejected, the NPB player remains with his Japanese team and cannot be posted again until the following year.
  • But if it is accepted, the MLB team has won the 30-day exclusive period to sign the NPB player. Continue reading ‘Baseball Basics: The Posting System’ »

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New York Yankees Hot Stove: Not Yu Again As Bombers Bid On Darvish

Posted by on 15 December 2011, 2:37 am
The Yu Darvish auction officially ended at 4pm yesterday, and rumors are swirling that the New York Yankees might have gotten trigger-happy.

English: Yu Darvish, starting pitcher for the ...

What exactly are MLB teams bidding for?

To win the negotiating rights of Japan’s latest pitching sensation, and MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the winning bid is “sky-high.”

ESPN’s Buster Onley tweeted that the Bomber did make a bid, which I was hoping would not be the case until now.

Is Yu Darvish Heading To The Bronx?

From the start of this Darvish fiasco I had little concerns about GM Brian Cashman making a go-of-it with another Japanese pitcher after the Kei Igawa catastrophe.

The Yankees literally flushed $46 million down the toilet to get Igawa, posting $26 million for negotiating rights and handing Igawa a $20 million, 5-year contract. And trading Igawa was not an option because once demoted off the 40-man roster, his salary no longer counted toward the team’s luxury tax payroll; so if traded Igawa would have to be added back on, which made him cheaper to keep down in the minors.

To his credit, Darvish is a better pitcher than Igawa ever was in Japan but he will cost more than double the money.

Look, it is no secret that the Igawa acquisition has tarnished Cashman’s legacy for too long already, and after watching Daisuke Matsuzaka bomb up in Boston, why would the Yankees take such an expensive risk again?

I recently wrote the reasons ‘Why Yu Do Not Belong In The Bronx,’ which also listed facts of why the odds are against Japanese pitchers transitioning to MLB in general.

And guess what, here are three more strikes against Japan’s latest:

1)     According to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan, Darvish was stalling on his posting decision but got pressured into it by his Japanese team the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. The Fighters are financially strapped and need the money, so that is more added pressure on an already burdened 25-year old’s shoulders. Passan also wrote that Darvish would ‘refuse to settle for a well-under-market deal,’ which means that if no contract can be reached he will go back to Japan. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hot Stove: Not Yu Again As Bombers Bid On Darvish’ »

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