All-Season MFY IGT

[Guest Edgy DC]

No, he got into the game later, getting a pinch single for Buddy Groom in the ninth.

[Guest Frayed Knot]

"The best part is being able to accomplish it in this uniform"

Guess who, on doing guess what?



S.
T.
F.
U.
!
!

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Star Ledger sez:

Yanks win, but trade talks begin

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

BY DAN GRAZIANO AND ED PRICE
Star-Ledger Staff

NEW YORK -- George Steinbrenner is in town, mainly for today's announcement of plans for a new Yankee Stadium, but he's also here to check in on his stumbling baseball team. The Yankees began a 13-game homestand last night, and if it doesn't go well, it could bring about some roster changes.

Multiple baseball people familiar with the Yankees' plans said yesterday the team has been calling around to assess the trade market and that the Yankees could do something major if they don't start playing better by the end of the homestand. One of those people said the only untouchables on the roster would be shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and starting pitcher Randy Johnson. That person didn't mention Mariano Rivera as an untouchable, but it's hard to envision the Yankees making any sort of move with their Hall of Fame closer.

Steinbrenner was upbeat after last night's 9-0 victory, but he said he planned to stay in town "for a while," not just for today's announcement. And he admitted to concern about the way the team has played.

"Sure we're concerned," Steinbrenner said. "Until we're in first place, we're concerned. But we're doing all right."

The Yankees aren't ruling out the possibility of asking players such as Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams to waive their no-trade protection if teams are interested enough to give something good in return for them.

"They're talking about almost everything," an official with a National League team said. "They're talking about players who used to be off-limits."

Among Yankees regulars, the only players who don't have no-trade clauses are catcher Jorge Posada and right fielder Gary Sheffield, and either could bring back a great deal in a trade if the Yankees were willing to help pay his salary. The question is whether such a move would constitute a change simply for change's sake, or whether the team could actually improve itself with such a major move.

Contending teams generally don't want to send back major-league talent for high-priced veterans, but there's a chance the Yankees could try to convince Matsui, for example, to accept a deal to a West Coast team like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which has some pitching to deal and could use Matsui in a pennant race. But the Yankees could end up competing with the Angels for the wild card, and it's unlikely they'd want to do something that could help a competitor.

Another possibility is San Diego. The Padres can't take on any payroll, but if they dealt a player like Phil Nevin (who's making $8.5 million this year and next) for a player like Matsui (who's making $8 million this year and can be a free agent when it's over), it could help them free up some cash for other things.

The Yankees also would consider moving their two impressive rookies, pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and second baseman Robinson Cano, to teams that are out of the race and looking to make veteran-for-prospect deals. But that will cause a rift in the organization, as some believe the Yankees should keep Wang and Cano and build their future teams around them.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Oooh, I hope they do build their future teams around Wang & Cano! Because they're, you know, like, really good and stuff!

Does anyone seriously think these guys project to be the cornerstone of any team? Let alone the GREAT and MYTHIC and AWE-INSPIRING YANKEES.

That would be like us saying we're going to build our future teams around Keppinger and Scobie.

That being said, I'd be willing to send them Glavine in exchange for Wang or Cano . . .

Since they need a centerfielder, I wonder if there's anyone worth trading Cam for. Matsui for Cameron, straight up? He hasn't been terribly good this year, but I'd expect him to improve . . . Of course, we'd have to move him to RF, and I'm not sure how he'd do over there.

How sad for them that they only have one really marketable player . . .

:lol:

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I was on board for a Matsui/Kablammeron deal months ago, or at least since it was clear Beltran would be the CF. It might risk helping the MFYs a little too much, and we'd have to predicate the deal on re-signing Matsui OR extracting xtra stuff from the MFYs, but it might provide a nice buy low-sell high type deal. I'd look into it.

[Guest silverdsl]

Rotblatt wrote: Oooh, I hope they do build their future teams around Wang & Cano! Because they're, you know, like, really good and stuff!

I think the idea regarding Wang and Cano isn't necessarily that they will be superstars in the future but that the Yankees never have the patience to allow any young players to develop and see what they might be able to do. It's an organizational philosophy that has become really problematic as we've seen this season. Cano and Wang could be around for a while in some role and come cheap. Whereas the creaky, ancient veterans the Yankees usually trade their young talent for are often highly (over) paid and won't be around for as long as a young guy might. So while Cano and Wang might end up having less than adequate major league careers I'd like to see the Yankees give them a chance for a change.

[Guest metirish]

I like Wang, I've watched him pitch a few times and he has decent stuff with what looks like good composure on the mound, Cano's not bad either...

[Guest Rotblatt]

]I like Wang, I've watched him pitch a few times and he has decent stuff with what looks like good composure on the mound, Cano's not bad either...

Sure. They're fine role players. But would you be happy if the Mets decided to build their team around them?

Wang's got good control but he doesn't strike people out and hasn't been particularly good in the minors. I'd guess his ceiling is as a #4 starter or so.

Cano's pretty young, but he didn't exactly set the minors on fire either. He might be an average regular at some point, but I seriously doubt anyone's projected him as much more than that.

It seems bizarre to me that after throwing away young players with actual upside like Vazquez & Weaver, they're now going to balk at trading mediocre prospects . . . It's a testement to just how depleted their farm system is. And how fucked up their player evaluation system is. One average year gets you booted, no matter how talented you are . . . Unless, of course, you're untradeable because of your huge contract.

[Guest metirish]

I agree, any sane person can see that Wang probably projects as a #4 type while Cano is nothing special, of course if you watch the odd MFY game Kay and Murcer on Al Yankzeera talk up a storm about them, in one game I watched Cano made a good diving play then flipped the ball to SS, Kay nearly wet himself comparing him to Alomar in his pomp.

[Guest MFS62]

That was a terrible call in the 9th last night, wasn't it?

And (sigh) Jason Bay hit that ball a long way.

Later

[Guest metirish]

]That was a terrible call in the 9th last night, wasn't it?

yes it was horrible, it can be heard here, also listen to Fran on Scutaro's hit..

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp

click video highlights..

[Guest Frayed Knot]

That's why they're the Devil Rays -- Lesson #14,568

After jumping on Randy Johnson and taking a 10-2 lead ... the D-Rays enter the 9th down 20-10


Here's the bottom 8th -- hope none of you had Travis Harper on your Roto team:

Franklin Nunez pitching:
Robinson Cano: singled to center.
Derek Jeter: singled to right, Cano to third
Ruben Sierra hit for Tony Womack.
Ruben Sierra: Sierra grounded out to second, =red]Cano scored, Jeter to second.
Gary Sheffield: Sheffield singled to left center, Jeter to third.
Alex Rodriguez: Rodriguez singled to left, =red]Jeter scored, Sheffield to second.

Travis Harper relieved Franklin Nunez.
Hideki Matsui: Matsui doubled to deep right, =red]Sheffield scored, Rodriguez to third.
Jason Giambi: Intentional walk - Russ Johnson ran for Jason Giambi.
Bernie Williams: Williams tripled to center, =red]Rodriguez, Matsui and Johnson scored.
Jorge Posada: =red]Posada homered to right, Williams scored.
Robinson Cano: Cano flied out to center.
Derek Jeter: singled to right.
Ruben Sierra: singled to right, Jeter to third.
Gary Sheffield: =red]Sheffield homered to left center, Jeter and Sierra scored.
Alex Rodriguez: =red]Rodriguez homered to right.
Hideki Matsui: =red]Matsui homered to center.
Russ Johnson: Johnson flied out to right.

[Guest metirish]

Did the loyal yankee fans stay to see it all?, well if Lou is ever going to quit it's tonight.

[Guest Frayed Knot]

So the Yanx and Birds go into the 10th tied at 4 (O's tied it up in the 8th).
Yanx don't score in the top so Torre brings Stanton in to start bottom 10 so as to turn the switch-hitting Brian Roberts around to his "non-power" side.

1st and only pitch Stanton throws in the game (to Roberts) = Thank you for coming and please arrive home safely ... Yanx lose, Yanx lose.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

New Shit in a Suit

Swindal to succeed Steinbrenner
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
June 28, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- With his 75th birthday approaching next week, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner made it official Tuesday: Son-in-law Steve Swindal will follow him as head of baseball's most storied team.

Steinbrenner did not say when Swindal would take over. At a news conference on June 15, Steinbrenner mentioned in passing that Swindal was ``going to carry on.''

``Yes, Steve will be my successor,'' Steinbrenner said through spokesman Howard Rubenstein in an e-mail response to questions from The Associated Press. ``I also have other sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law coming along and they will remain involved. As I have said many times, `You must let the young elephants into the tent.'''

Swindal, 50, is married to Steinbrenner's daughter, Jennifer. He said there was no way he would be as hands-on as his father-in-law.

``I think that's impossible. My inherent style is more delegation,'' Swindal said Tuesday during a telephone interview from Tampa, Fla. ``I don't think there could ever be another George Steinbrenner. He is Mr. Yankee and has represented them for 32 years. I could only could only hope to surround myself with the best, brightest baseball minds and do a lot of listening.''


Swindal said Steinbrenner had told him he would be the successor.

``We've discussed that all the kids would be involved at some point in running the team and everybody would contribute,'' Swindal said. ``It just happens at this point in time my kids are further along, and I can spend more time in New York. The other boys have younger children, and they have to stay closer to home.''

Swindal and Jennifer Steinbrenner have a daughter who just completed her freshman year in college and a son who is at the Culver Military Academy, where George Steinbrenner went to school.

Swindal was chairman of Bay Transportation Corp., a towing company, from 1987-97 and became a Yankees general partner in 1998. Harold Steinbrenner, one of George Steinbrenner's sons, also is a general partner. Steinbrenner's other son, Henry, has the title of senior executive. Steinbrenner also has another daughter, Jessica.

In his e-mail responses, George Steinbrenner wouldn't say how long he will remain in charge of the Yankees. He headed a group that bought the team in 1973.

``I love what I am doing, so I will not speculate,'' he said.

[Guest Edgy DC]

]As I have said many times, `You must let the young elephants into the tent.'''

Then I imagine a lot of people have wondered a lot about what you're talking about.

]"He is Mr. Yankee ..."

If there was a Mr. Yankee, it shouldn't be him.

[Guest metirish]

MFY lose to Baltimore 5/4 in 10, Kofi Annan to Chair next MFY meeting.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Key play when the O's tied it in the 8th was a sac bunt that was either misthrown by Gordon or miscaught by Tino (both really, but I don't know who got the error). That allowed the runner on 1st to go all the way to 3rd, & he later scored.

Meanwhile, Boston got Foulked over whan after ralling for a lead, their closer coughed up 5 in the 9th and they lost 12-8.

[Guest holychicken]

Yeah, I was at the red sox game last night. . .first game that I was at that I kept score. It was easy to tell from my seats way up in the bleachers that foulke got squeezed on the batter before Hafner. . . hehehehe

The only other game I scored was when I "practiced" on sunday night watching the mets vs the yanks.

Both of those games had painful endings. . . I think I might have to stop doing this.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

June 30, 2005 -- EXCLUSIVE

BALTIMORE - Mike Stanton and Paul Quantrill are the initial blood stains of the Yankees' putrid first three months, The Post has learned.

The veteran relievers were designated for assignment after last night's game against the Orioles was rained out.

Granted they weren't axed to make room for Roger Clemens or Mark Kotsay, but it's clear the summit meeting in Tampa Tuesday has claimed its initial victims.

Stanton and Quantrill, both of whom struggled in reduced roles than they have been used to, were called into Joe Torre's office and informed of the move that the club planned to announce tomorrow.

The Yankees have 10 days to trade or release the pitchers, who will likely clear waivers since Stanton makes $4 million and Quantrill $3 million. The Yankees have until tomorrow night to fill the spots. One could be calling up shortstop Felix Escalona from Columbus (Triple-A).

Stanton and Quantrill drove from Camden Yards to their New York area homes together last night and plan on remaining in the area until their situations become clearer.

"(Torre) told me I was designated for assignment and (Brian) Cashman got on the phone and said it was a move from Tampa and some other stuff," said Stanton, whose last pitch as a Yankee was belted for a game-winning home run Tuesday night by Brian Roberts. "It was shocking, it totally blindsided me. I didn't see this coming. I am numb."

Since the 38-year-old Stanton was a key member of the Yankee World Series champion teams in 1998-2000, the move hurt.

"I feel if I had gotten the opportunity to do the job and pitched my way out of it, then that was one thing," said Stanton, who was 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in 28 games. "But I had 14 innings. I didn't think they brought me back (from the Mets) to be a left-handed specialist."

Even though his overall numbers weren't good, Stanton did well in the role as a specialist since left-handed hitters batted .176 (6-for-34) against him.

Stanton, who has a full no-trade, isn't ready to retire but he can pick and choose where he continues his career. Quantrill, doesn't have a no-trade clause, and will think about if he is done at 37.

"I certainly didn't pitch to my ability," said Quantrill, who was 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 22 games (32 innings). "I was always used to pitching a lot."

Quantrill, who appeared in a team-high 86 games a year ago despite pitching with a balky knee, will wait and see what develops.

"I don't want to get into a situation like I was in this year," Quantrill said. "I wasn't in the mix. I don't want to get in a situation like this again. It's not worth it. But at the end of the day I am big on being accountable and I didn't pitch well. I didn't help the team."

The emergence of Tanyon Sturtze and the addition of Buddy Groom cut into Quantrill and Stanton's work load and neither adjusted to the irregular schedule.>

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I can't say that I'm shedding any tears over that one.

[Guest holychicken]

I'm shedding tears. . .do you know how many games that stanton and quatrill combined to blow for them?

At least heredia wasn't able to blow a bunch of games for us before he went out.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Yes HC. I told D-Dad last night that we got the better of that trade.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm curious to see what their better options will be.

They better not touch Jerry DiPoto.

[Guest metirish]

Jason Anderson and a guy named Colter Bean are being talked about in the media.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jason Anderson would be the first Yankee-Met-Yankeee since... Mike Stanton.

I like what this says.

"Hey, you want this?"

"I've no use for another one of your hand-me-downs, thanks."

"Then, um, can I have it back?"

[Guest metirish]

Cue Mr. Bean jokes if young Colter gets called up.

[Guest seawolf17]

Mr. Bean was up earlier; he pitched two innings against Anaheim in April. Good to see them scuffling like this; it warms the cockles of my heart.

[Guest metirish]

I suppose Torre will look to Scott Proctor to emerge as a trusted warrior outta the bullpen.

[Guest seawolf17]

Stanton & Quantrill out, Bubba Crosby up for OF help and Wayne Franklin into the bullpen.

Franklin (age 31):
2003 MIL - 10-13, 5.50 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 79 ERA+
2004 SF - 2-1, 6.40 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 69 ERA+

(snicker snicker snicker)