Question #144: What are you most worried about with this year’s Yankees?
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- January
- 23
Spring training is less than a month away. Opening Day is less than three months away. Baseball is nearly upon us.
The Yankees have had an unbelievable offseason. No one can deny that. But as we approach the beginning to a new season, the question is this:
What is your top concern about this year’s Yankees?
For me it starts at the back of the rotation. Right now, most people look at the Yankees rotation as this: CC, Wang, Burnett, Joba, ????.
When in reality, it has to be this: CC, Wang, Burnett, ????, Joba.
Joba Chamberlain can’t be the fourth starter this year. He pitched 100 innings last year. If you look at last year’s Rays – who had what has to be thought of as the ideal year for starting pitchers in that they had their top five starters pitch 153 of the 162 games – the fourth-highest innings pitched was 184 2/3. To expect Joba to get to that number (or even close) coming off a year of injury and only 100 innings is unreasonable. Frankly, assuming he stays healthy, getting close to the 152 1/3 innings that the Rays’ “fifth starter” pitched might be tough, too, which brings me to my next point.
The bullpen. If the Yankees don’t make another move (i.e. Andy Pettitte), and go into the season with Joba and, say, Phil Hughes at the back end, the stress on the bullpen increases. Hughes has the same innings issues as Joba. So now that’s two pitchers who need to be managed and cut short on some (if not most) nights. That means more innings for a relief corps that is missing one if its best weapons because Joba is now a starter.
Do I think Edwar Ramirez and Phil Coke and Damaso Marte and Brian Bruney and whoever else ends up setting up can’t do the job? I’m not saying that. But I am saying that the bullpen concerns me. We all know relievers are wild cards. Look at the names of the guys who carried the Rays deep – Dan Wheeler and Chad Bradford, et. al – but there’s no guarantees. And so if the Yankees don’t strike it rich with their guys in front of Mariano, he might not see the ball too often. And that’s bad news.
So, back-end-of-rotation/Joba is my first concern. What’s yours? Check back later, too, for Pete Abraham’s take and throughout the day as we go back and forth.
10 a.m., Peter Abraham says:
What concerns me about the Yankees isn’t the back end of the rotation or a seemingly weak bench. Those things will get fixed. What worries me is what the new Yankee Stadium will be like.
Oh, it’ll be a terrific facility. But I wonder if the preponderance of expensive seats close to the field will change the atmosphere in the Bronx. In another life, I covered the UConn basketball team and was on that beat when they opened their new arena, Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies were just getting good and the crowds were loud and passionate. Big East coaches said it was the toughest place to play in the league. But as the team improved, the school took the opportunity to charge more for seats and instituted a program that rewarded the most generous boosters with the best seats. Overnight, it seemed, the fans closest to the court went from being kids with their faces painted blue and white to wealthy older people who showed up late and left early. The toughest gym in the league was no longer.
The Yankees, for all of their resources, have blue-collar fans. I used to love looking down at the crowd during the National Anthem at all the jerseys and marveling at how many people had Thurman Munson’s number on their backs or Paul O’Neill. I wonder when I look down this season whether those people will even know who Munson was. Or will they be there for the cheese and crackers?
11:42 a.m., Sam says:
Pete makes a great point about the Stadium. As much as any other team, the Yankees have always had what I felt was an almost-tangible homefield advantage – not necessarily in the biggest games, either, but more in the games against a middle-of-the-pack team. I can’t tell you how many games I watched against the Royals or Mariners or A’s where the Yanks would be trailing in the 7th or 8th, the other team would bring in a mediocre reliever and all it took was the leadoff man getting on base for the Stadium to start getting crazy.
Next thing you know, the mediocre reliever looks like a deer on the Merritt Parkway at night, the Yankees have first-and-second, nobody out, and suddenly a two-run deficit is a one-run lead. It happened all the time. Seriously, Arthur Rhodes was probably responsible for five of those meltdowns just on his own.
Anyway, the comments section has been interesting, too. Seems like a lot of concerns about Posada, which are absolutely fair. What reason do any of us have to believe that he will be healthy enough to catch 120 games this year? Understand, this is an injury that Posada has never had before and, truthfully, CATCHERS RARELY HAVE AT ALL. That can’t be stressed enough. There is very little history to look at and say that absolutely Posada will be able to handle the load. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.
Here’s another area I’m concerned about: Team defense. No one in the outfield has any kind of arm, Jeter’s range is fading year by year, Cano has been spotty and Posada – well, who knows? To me, that sounds like a lot of groundballs getting through to the outfield and a lot of times those outfielders will have no chance of throwing out a runner who happens to be on second base. I could see the Yankees giving up a lot of so-called “cheap” runs this year.
Thoughts?
12:37 p.m., Peter Abraham says:
From a baseball standpoint, they still need a starter. CC Sabathia is coming off a taxing season. A.J. Burnett has a history of injuries, Chien-Ming Wang missed half the season with a mangled foot and Joba Chamberlain will be on an innings limit. They still need a workhorse starter to suck up 175 or so innings. I think it’s Andy Pettitte—assuming the lefty will come to his senses and take a pay cut. But if it’s not Andy, can Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy or Alfredo Aceves do it? That we do not yet know.
My concern is Posada. I think the Yanks can make the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation work, but if they can’t get production out of Posada they are pretty screwed. The Yanks can’t go into the season with holes in their lineup in CF and at catcher. If his health is in question its going to be a long season.
Gotta be Posada. If he can’t catch, then what? Molina catching and Posada sharing time at DH with Matsui. Sounds like the makings of another October sitting at home!
It’s all about the pitching. We need another starter via trade or whatever. Somebody will go down for an extended period with an injury, Burnett? Joba?, so another young fill in won’t do.
Just as an aside, Posada is a big question mark!
Why is everyone so down on Molina. I’m sure he’s aware of the situation and has been working on his hitting in the offseason incase they need him again everyday.
The guy has a canon for an arm and calls a pretty decent game.
If Posada cant go yeah it will be a hit to the lineup but not as bad as saying the Yankees wont make the playoffs.
Come on man, its January for goodness sake.
I think Pete has quite the argument, never really thought about it but that could effect the mental state of the players. Most players feed off the engery of the crowd.
I think one of the major problems is, development…if we have so many positions locked up now how do we develop the younger guys. I’m sure Phil Hughes wins the # 5 job if Pettitte doesnt swallow his pride and realize hes a 4 and not a 2 anymore.
Thats really it though, you could try and get them in the bullpen to keep arms fresh but some people feel that compromises their starting pitching.
Really developing players is going to be a real challenge now.
wow pete, you eloquently described what i have been fearing for a ever since i got the details on the new stadium’s price structure. Im a life long yankee fan, but I never quite meshed with the whole ultra-corporate attitude the sport. I and people like me are seemingly being shut out of the yankee’s future, and I cant say that that makes me happy.
Molina is a great defensive catcher… but his offense is subpar. He is by no means a starting catcher. Who was then Molina’s backup – another Moeller? No thanks. Molina is best suited to stay a back up and the Yanks do need to go out and get a co-catcher. Salty or Miguel Moreno if possible.
The bench I hope will get fixed and hopefully not by anymore Josh Phelps’ or Wilson Betemit’s. A real bench would be nice.
The rotation will only concern me if they decide to go internal and use Aceves/IPK/Hughes/Coke as the 4th. Sam is indeed correct that Joba’s innings limit definitely pushes him to the 5th slot. I don’t know who’s out there that’s left that’s worth a dime, but my hope is still out there that they can sign Pettitte.
If the Yanks do go Aceves/Hughes/IPK/Coke as they 4th/5th slot – you have a big question mark there. Joba is definitely the 5th guy with a innings cap/pitch count cap. He’ll get pulled if the Yanks have a big lead, he hits the 5th inning or he hits his pitch count. The long man will be the Joba filler – and IMO, that’ll be either Coke or Aceves – whoever does a better job at ST. And eventually Horne if he can prove himself durable in AAA. I would really rather the Yanks get someone decent for the back end via trade of Nady. But if they can get a better catcher via trade of Swisher, then I’d go there first. My concern over Posada looms larger than who can fill the 4th spot. I’m probably in the minority, but the Yanks have at least some viable alternative with the rotation but nothing if Posada comes up throwing like a Damon… er noodle. If Molina is slotted as the starter, then the Yanks have two pretty big holes in their lineup making pretty instant outs – CF and C (see 2008 Yankees). Cash’s job right now should be expending all time and energy in pursuing a co-starting catcher.
Molina’s a great defensive backup, but is a career .237 hitter. We definetely need Posada’s bat back in the lineup.
I have to agree with Sam Borden that pitching is what concerns me. If Joba and Phil are at the back of the rotation at the end of spring training, it will mean that both of them will be in the bullpen by the end of the season, and the Yankees will have to find two fresh starters. Aceves could probably step up, but its just a matter of time before big league hitters figure him out. We may be seeing Ponson again come August.
My biggest concern is the overall health. The back of the rotation, CF, the bench will work itself out. If the pitchers go down again we will be in the exact spot we were last year, no matter what the offense does.
Pitching health.
1) Most people seem to assume that CC will be good for 220+ innings – which is supported by his history. But I still fear that the massive workload will catch up to him at some point. Hopefully that point is not this year.
2) Back of the rotation – will they guys holding down the 4/5 spots have anything left for the playoffs?
The only thing I’m really worried about is the Yankees catching situation. On the one hand, if Posada’s healthy, then it’s all good. Well, not looking at his so-so defense. But if Jorge can’t catch 100-120 games, the offense would take a big hit with Molina back there (although the defense would be significantly better).
So if Posada can’t get the job done behind the plate, I fully expect to hear talk of a trade. Maybe something like Hughes for Saltalamacchia.
Last years’ problem was offense as much if not more than starting pitching. Gotta go with Po as a major concern. Molina is a back up, and a good one, but he cannot put up Jorge’s usual numbers. A healthy Jorge really lengthens the lineup.
After that, I think getting enough innings out of the starting rotation is the next most pressing issue. I agree 100% that they need another starter and that Pettitte would be the best option. Hughes and Joba will have ‘09 innings limits and once the Yankess have to reach down to Aceves and some others either to fill in innings or fill in for injury, they are really playing with fire.
I also have a vague question about how the stadium will play. The dimensions are the same, but with less foul territory on the field, which will take away a few easy short pop outs. Beyond that will the new configuration have different park effect dynamics, and if so, how might that affect the team.
As to the new stadium, will those expensive seats even be filled every game? Unless banks/corps are already on the hook for these seats I don’t see anyone willing to spend 2500 a ticket for a game against most if not all opposing teams.
I wonder what happens to those tickets if, as Pete and Murphydog mentioned, they’re not necessarily sold all the time. I mean, is anyone paying 2500 bucks to see the Royals? That’s insane.
Will they be sold at a lower price for games if it’s a week before and none have been sold? Or will they just be empty seats …
There will be injuries to the starting five this year just like every other year.We need a fifth starter and have Hughes and company for depth.Sign Sheets with an incentive laden contract with an option for next year.Pete has expressed his concern about Sheet’s health and I hear those concerns.My point is that if he produces 150 innings with a 3.09 era(last year) that is a huge bridge to the bullpen and the farm depth.He is 30 year’s old.I love Pettite but I’m not sure I want to go through another year of the Clemon’s drama where Pettite would have to testify for the prosecution.Bring in Sheets.
Clemen’s with an e.
Posada is a big question mark but you know he will stop at nothing to try and get back into the lineup.
Joba is a concern. He needs to go into the bullpen as an 8th inning guy. Mo wont be around much longer and we need someone to take over the closer role.
Also the yankees need to show that they are a team and not just 25 individuals.
i’m probably in the minority here, but i’ll say the non-Mo part of the bullpen worries me the most.
Joba is a starter (and should remain one). Phil Coke is going to go back to being a starter.
Beyond that there are only guys who have had flashes of success over the past year or so. Edwar, Veras, Bruney…
Marte is the only one with a decent multi-year track record. even he had a period of adjusting, whether it was him adjusting to the yankees or joe girardi adjusting to him, i’m not sure.
i know Melancon is promising, he is still a prospect, however.
Juan Cruz would be a welcome addition.
am i overreacting?
I’d really, really like to see another starter. I feel great about the team as it is, but I’d feel that much more secure if they could lock up another starter.
Sam – given that this is the Yankees first year in the new stadium, I don’t believe that there will be any problems selling tickets to any game – even a game against the Royals or M’s. Especially with CC, AJ, or Joba pitching and Tex in the field. Maybe next year, there might be a drop off or the Yanks succumb and sell unclaimed tickets for less hours before the game but I don’t see that happening during the inaugural season of the Yankees’ new stadium.
1) Will Girardi manage the game (and his team) better?
-The Yankees need to hit & run, steal bases and continue to manufacture runs, so that they won’t be defeated beacause A-Rod grounds into an inning-ending double play with 2 men on. Girardi needs to manage his pitchers and situations better, or somebody should call Donnie Baseball and profusely appologize for not making him the manager.
2) Joba needs to stay in the pen.
– With Pettite back, Mariano coming off of surgery, Joba needs to be the 8th inning (closer to be). It will make the Yankees harder to beat down the stretch. Let Hughes and Co. battle it out and earn the 5th spot.
3) The Yankees have a weak bench and are poor defensively.
– Who’s playing center? Damon’s range is reduced and he has no arm. Cano has hands like bricks and he doesn’t hustle (Orlando Hudson anybody?) We need speed, good defense, and clutch hitting (players that know how to bunt), and the obvious need (consistent starting pitching).
4) It’s an odd year (2009), so does that mean A-Rod will win the M.V.P, or will he whine when Texieria wins the A.L. Player of the Month in June and gets voted to the All-Star team?
5) Will the New (Unecessary) Stadium bring with it, a new curse?