THE YANKEES, THE METS & SPENDING: A FAN'S TAKE

The metaphoric comparison for the Mets and Yankees spending habits over the recent years are best illustrated in Ernie Palladino’s headline in his November 25th article on CBSLocal.com:

Same Old Yankees, Same Old Mets This Offseason

What Else Is New? NYY Jump Right In While NYM Dip Their Toe in the Water

The Yankees performed their usual dazzling diving board plunge into the free agent pool so far. Brian Cashman’s Christmas came early, inking former rival outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, former Met Carlos Beltran, and power-hitting catcher Brian McCann.

All three signings helped cushion the blow of losing Robinson Cano to the Mariners.  It was also a comforting remedy for the Yankee faithful since missing the playoffs in 2013. It's important to note that it's only the second time in the last 14 years.

Anyway, this off-season splash of seismic proportions have sent ripples across the Major League Baseball. The New York Metropolitan fan base has been wondering for seasons when they will get to swim in the deep end again.

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal tweeted this:

So the Mets have spent $27.5 million on major-league free agents since 2010. The Yankees have spent $238 million in the past two weeks.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) December 4, 2013

“I think it is an absolute joke that a team in New York spends like the Royals and Pirates,” said long time Mets fan Chris Higgins.  “It is tough to be a Mets fan these days, but I truly believe they will turn it around, when though I don't know.”

It could be coming sooner than many people expected.  In June, Met’s General Manager Sandy Alderson proclaimed that the team should have a $90-100 million dollar payroll entering 2014.  Recently, Alderson finally opened the checkbook, and did a cannonball of his own.

Former Yankee Curtis Granderson traded pinstripes to rock the blue and orange for cool four years $60 million. Outfielder Chris Young inked a one-year 7 million dollar deal, and Bartolo Colon will help bolster the rotation with a hefty 2 year-20 million-dollar contract.

“It was something that had to be done,” said Andrew Baicher, a Mets season ticket holder since 2006.  “You had to restore credibility to a franchise that has been ridiculed for its frugal ways.”

In 2006, the Mets lathered with a $101,000.00 payroll, were on the brink of reaching the fall classic. They took the St. Louis Cardinals to Game 7 of the NLCS.  The Cardinals escaped from Queens with the pennant, and the Mets franchise has been on a continuing downward spiral of epic proportions ever since.

Citi Field has been a ghost town throughout much of its existence.  Nearly the entire farm system has auditioned at one time or another.  A fan can only go so many times for a tee shirt Tuesday door prize.

Much of the inability to field a competitive team can be attributed to numerous investments gone awry.  It’s hard to predict the future, but the Mets have been submerged in contract misery especially during the recent dark times.   Omar Minaya regretfully doled out over a combined 100 million dollars to out Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo.  The team found themselves waist deep in financial peril after falling victim to Bernie Madeoff’s Ponzie Scheme. 

There is no denying that when Alderson took the reigns as General Manager in 2010 he was already behind 0-2 in the count.  Alderson was tasked with shedding dead weight contracts and building a winner. Building a winner isn’t a quick fix with a financially hamstrung team that finished 70-92 to close the Omar Minaya era.  Worst of all, he was partnering with Wilpons.  The duo still finds themselves submerged in hot water with a dissatisfied Met fan base. 

How can they justify not spending in one of the most valuable markets in the country? 

Lifelong Yankee fan AJ Morebito has had the luxury of rooting for a team that has sustained excellence with a free spending blueprint.   While he agrees with Met fans being distraught, he knows better than anyone that spending the most doesn’t guarantee a championship.

“I would be mad if my owner wasn't spending money on top free agents but it’s a business. If you have the money you do what you want with that money, but more money doesn't mean the best team.”

According to Kevin Wells of the Washington Times, "In the last 18 years of World Series, the team with the highest player payroll has won four times." The New York Yankees "...did it in 1996, 1999, 2000, and 2009."

The Wilpons remain in the crosshairs of that fan base; but Alderson is slowly transforming his reputation.  Money may buy happiness, but it's only temporary when you don’t win.

--Jon Pino
  BYB Guest Writer & Philadelphia Phillies Fan




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THE UNNECESSARY ATTACKS ON PINEDA ARE HAPPENING

Why are certain sports outlets not giving you the whole story when it comes to the Yankees? Or, better yet, why is the slant so severe and critical? Is it because the Yankees are just not playing up the par, so they like to kick them while they're down? Is it that they just hate them?

It's funny, this morning I was going to write generally about how media outlets like to not give you the whole story when it comes to the Yanks.  I mean, if you really want to find that nugget that makes every Yankee fan feel good, you either have to search for it in a piece written from a Yankee fan perspective, like Bleeding Yankee Blue, or, you need to read guys who still treat journalism like journalism and report, not slant. Again I give my man Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record a shout out. He does it best.

Anyway... there's a point to this.  Last week I found it interesting that there was a headline in Yahoo Sports titled "New York Yankees Injury Update: Michael Pineda Placed on DL (Shock!)" Now, as a casual Internet surfer, I eyeballed the headline and just figured the dateline was from last year or something.  But it wasn't. It was from March 21st of this year.  I became curious, because... I'm protective of my Yankees.
 

Reading through the piece, it said: "To make room for Brennan Boesch on the team's 40-man roster, the New York Yankees moved Michael Pineda to the 60-day disabled list last week."  OK...Well yeah, that's actually how it went down.  I mean Pineda didn't "re-hurt" himself, the move was done strategically because of Yankee personnel. In other words, they needed to fill all the rosters and move guys around. It's a normal procedure in the Spring.  So, in other words, what's the big deal? Why are we making this headline so dramatic?

To the casual net surfer, all they read was "Pineda was placed on the DL (Shock!)", and if they're lazy enough, the reader will throw their hands up in frustration, form a negative opinion about "loser" Michael Pineda and move on. That sucks!  Now look, while Yahoo's media strategy may not seem that bad to you, the fact of the matter is, it's a very deceiving headline, don't you think?

Then, enter this piece from CBS Sports titled The Pinstriped Perils Of Yankees No-Show Michael Pineda, essentially, it's a piece attacking Pineda for getting hurt.  Now, truth be told, I've written my share, full disclosure, but I did it as a news story, when it happened, THE LEMON? was written in March 2012. Ironically, I was criticized in the Seattle Post Intelligencer (HERE) for doing what I am criticizing media outlets of doing.  The difference? My news item was topical, these news items I'm highlighting are attacks.

Look, I don't get it. Players get hurt and Pineda didn't get hurt on purpose. I had to pick this CBS piece apart, because it's mad silly.  Jason Keidel writes: "He seems to be an amalgam of the worst deals of the last decade, equal parts Pavano and Ollie Perez. Pineda now has his mailed forwarded to the DL, where he starts this season, just like last season. Just like next season?"  Well, in fairness to Pineda, he's making strides this spring and all I've been reading is he'll be ready this year, read HERE, YES Network, writing "Michael Pineda threw what was termed a “successful” bullpen session on Tuesday, throwing a 35-pitch session in Tampa that included throwing sliders off a mound for the first time." I mean, this piece is out there, why didn't Keidel reference it?

Or how about this: "Mike Francesa and Evan Roberts said the trade’s true virtues can only be measured in years, not days, weeks, or months. But you can’t have one player playing every day while Pineda has literally flatlined for the Yanks. He hasn’t thrown one pitch in the Bronx." Again, Michael Pineda got hurt, not because he wanted to get hurt, but because athletes sometimes get hurt. So yeah, of course he hasn't thrown a pitch.  While we don't like it, we live with it. And for the record, he will be back.

There's more, and this is the final example... when Keidel writes: "You can respect a New Yorker’s impulse to protect a prospect like Montero, who had so many stars next to his name and plays such a precarious position (catcher), where the Yankees haven’t fielded a Hall-of-Famer in half a century (Yogi Berra)."  Well, look, as a Yankee fan who was knee deep in the Montero drama, I can tell you that Jesus Montero was to be our future. I didn't make that up, that came from Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees.  Let's not forget that Cashman went to the media telling us that he wanted to get Montero 500 at bats in 2012, read HERE.

Then, in an unusual bait and switch, Montero was gone. The point is, of course we Yankee fans wanted to "protect a prospect like Montero", we were told we were going to!

All of this is exhausting... right now the Yankees aren't exactly winning, players are hurt, it's still cold in the Northeast, and now, all I want to do is write a positive piece about Michael Pineda and these little, irritating, inaccurate nuggets are out there waiting for me to find them.  Truth be told, I'm sick of it.

I hope Pineda comes into the 2013 season and dominates and shuts the critics up, because while we may not be "in love" with Michael Pineda the way we were Jesus Montero, love in baseball is a funny thing and things can change in a heartbeat if you believe in yourself and embrace the fans doing it.  I hope and trust Pineda will do that... he's just got to work his way back and I know he can.  

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CC MONSTER DOMINATES; YANKEES WIN 6-3

Entering tonight's match up with the Seattle Mariners, several important story lines were working.  The Mariners came in red hot, having won seven games in a row and eight of ten, since trading Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees.  Meanwhile the Yanks had gone 4-5 since the acquisition of Ichiro, but Suzuki had managed a hit in every game with New York. 

 

Additionally,  CC Sabathia had struggled in his last three outings.  Manager Joe Girardi decided to make a change at catcher, giving Russell Martin the start instead of CC's usual "personal" catcher, Chris Stewart.  In his post game comments, Girardi expressed his desire to reunite the Martin-Sabathia battery combination.  Girardi also reinserted Mark Teixeira into his lineup. Girardi played one more trump card by inserting Curtis Granderson into the lead-off spot for only the 4th time this season.

The night started well for Sabathia with his new battery mate.  Through the first six innings, CC struck out 10 Mariners.  His only blemish was a ball he left up and over the plate to Casper Wells.  Wells deposited the pitch into the left field stands for a home run.  Though five the Yanks had hit Kevin Millwood fairly well, they only managed two runs on seven hits and a walk.  The Yanks scored 2 in the third inning after Ichiro reached first via an infield hit.  

Ichiro extended his Yankee hitting streak to 10 games with the single.  Russell Martin followed with a double to center and Suzuki moved to third on the hit.

 

Robinon Cano plated the 2 runners with a single to right.  The Yanks carried that 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but nobody was feeling comfortable with New York winless in the last six one-run games played.  The Yankees were able to get some insurance via the home run ball.

 

Eric Chavez hit a patented fly ball, short-porch, Yankee Stadium home run that also scored Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez was on base via a fielder's choice.  The Chavez HR reduced the anxiety level and gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead through 6.

 

Sabathia was able to cruise through innings seven and eight, allowing only a one out double to Miguel Olivo.  Olivo was left stranded as Sabathia retired Eric Thames and Trayvon Robinson on ground outs. In the seventh inning, the Yankees increased their comfort level with two runs off reliever Carter Capps.  Capps allowed a Russell Martin single and a Granderson walk to start the seventh.  He was replaced by Oliver Perez who quickly allowed RBI singles to Cano and Ibanez.  The Yankee lead had grown to 6-1.

 

In the ninth, Sabathia had a hiccup.  He walked nine-hole hitter Brendan Ryan to start the inning and then allowed a monster shot HR off the bat of Dustin Ackley.  Suddenly the lead had shrunk to 6-3 and the Yankees had closer Rafael Soriano warmed in the bullpen.  Girardi visited the mound, but the big man convinced the manager all was well.  Sabathia proved it by retiring Wells, Kyle Seager, and Jesus Montero in succession.

 

Sabathia continued his August dominance, running his career record in the hot month to 42-12.  CC also recorded his 35th complete game in moving his 2012 record to 11-3.  His Friday night dominance was a major first step in restoring order and confidence to the Yankee camp.

 

Friday night's final, Yankees 6  Mariners 3.

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer

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WHY DOESN'T CASH LIKE SPENDING CASH?

It seems like the only off season move that Cashman disagreed with this year is the one that has the most impact on the Yankees upcoming season. It's Rafael Soriano. He insisted on not giving up a first round pick, and of course Hal, with the George genes in full effect, decides to make the team better by picking up Soriano. Great player, great move as far as I'm concerned. Cashman is trying to preach patience, but at the end of the day, he forgets one thing...We are the New York Yankees, the team with the highest payroll for 10+ years running. We aren't the Pirates and we damn sure aren't the Royals. We go after the best talent and we don't wait for the after thoughts to approach us.

Look, New York has the smartest and most active fans of any city in the world. We expect a winner on the field every single year. It seems to me that since the beginning of 2009 when King George really started to lose it, there haven't been any major deals. Think about this for a moment; After the 2008 off season spending extravaganza of CC, AJ and Tex, the Yankees have traded for or signed Jerry Hairston Jr., Javy Vazquez, Boone Logan, Curtis Granderson, Austin Kearns, Kerry Wood, Lance Berkman, Rafael Soriano, Pedro Feliciano, and Russell Martin. 5 of these players are no longer with the team as a result of struggling teams getting rid of expiring contracts, and 3 of the 5 left on the Yankees are relief pitchers. Don't forget, a relief pitcher position is the position with the poorest contracts. That leaves us with Curtis Granderson, who we traded our top prospect Austin Jackson for, and Russell Martin. The Yankees have made no Free Agent or trading splashes since George left us mentally. And that is not meant to be disrespectful, that is fact. It doesn't look like the Yankees will be making any "splashes" this off season after losing out on Cliff Lee. Cashman is preaching patience, but with patience here are some potential moves that can be made mid-season, and in my opinion, should be made:

• Mark Buehrle: Chicago White Sox- He's getting up there in age and nearing the end of his prime, but is still one of the best in the game when his command is right and his pitches break.
• Chris Carpenter: St. Louis Cardinals- Former Cy Young award winner. Carpenter could bring some veteran leadership to the Yankees. 39 years old, but has not shown much of a decline since his Cy Young Season.
• Oliver Perez: New York Mets- Once one of the best prospects in the game. Looked great as a young Pirate, but the Mets ended up destroying another up-and-coming pitcher. Could seek a revival by hopping on the subway over to the Bronx. (I know The Mighty Casey disagrees.)
• Jose Valverde: Detroit Tigers- His windup and pitching style pisses me off as an opposing fan, but boy would I love to see those evil Red Sox look like little leaguers against his nasty change up. If we need some more help in the bullpen, he is the man to turn to.
• Juan Pierre: Chicago White Sox- "I used to run base like Juan Pierre, now I run the base high hat in the snare". Good line by our very own Jay-Z. Looks like other than Brett Gardner, the Yankees have been running the base high hat in the snare. We need speed.
• Jose Bautista: Toronto Blue Jays- Wow, would this be a splash! Last years MLB Home Run leader in the huge Rogers Center. Would he hit 60 in a year in the new Yankee Stadium? Perhaps.

These are some of the acquisitions I would recommend to the Steinbrenner's if I were the GM. This is based on the upcoming expiring contracts in the 2011-2012 off season. I like them, but of course I do, I picked them. What do you think?


Will Cohen BYB Freelance Writer




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