A month before Spring Training, the roster (whether we like it or not) is starting to come into focus. Also the questions that they'll take into ST are also starting to come into focus.
The obvious: Who plays 2B and who plays SS? Ideally for me, unless Tulowitzki flashes his 2015 form with the bat and/or with the leather, it's LeMahieu and Gleyber with Tulo in a backup role.
Secondary: What does the bullpen look like? Do they add or are they content with the personnel on the roster? My preference would be to hold what they've got, because perversely and counterintuitively it should keep the big arms fresher (because they won't have to handle garbage time)
Tertiary: What do they do with Adams, Acevedo and Abreu? Do they force the issue on starting vs. relieving because they're all 40 man guys?
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In comment 14265154 JIn comment 14265130 Mike from SI said: Quote:
Rotate him through the OF spots with Judge and Stanton and have him also play 1B. We could use some lefty pop and he has immense talent. But Macahdo is more of a "fit" for what we need defensively, I understand that.
I agree re lefty, which is why I'm still hoping for Bird, though I know some consider him a lost cause.
I'm also holding out hope but this is probably the last year he gets a chance (rightfully so).
I don't really understand why they wouldn't at least have Harper in for a visit. They did it with both Corbin and Machado despite seemingly not being all that serious about either one. At the very least, it could drive the price up for other teams they might compete with for free agents in the next couple of years.
I know CC can't seem to make it 6-7 innings anymore, but 5 innings of 3.7 ERA pitching is very solid from a 5th starter, especially in the ALE.
Sevy is as good an ace as you'll find outside of the top Cy Young candidates. Tanaka is a great 2. Happ is a solid 3. Paxton will be an awesome 4 with upside.
Obviously injury is always a concern. But, the point of going after a Kluber isn't because we have a weak rotation. It's because we could have the best rotation if we added another #1.
Maybe I'm just a homer. But, I'm not concerned about our starters winning games this year.
No way paXton is a 4th starter imo
Personally, I consider Severino the #1 and I view the #2 as a really tight race between Paxton and Tanaka. Not much space overall between #1 and #3. Happ as a clear 4th, and Sabathia hopefully #6 by the time we get to OD.
Section 125 wrote:
RAB wrote:
What were focusing on right now is his pre-pitch setup, Mendoza added. Were trying to put him in the best position so he can react at contact. Making sure that he finds a spot where hes comfortable on his setup so he can have a better first step, a better read on the ball to create better angles. It starts with his setup and his ready position.
What am I missing? Look it really doesn't matter either way. Last year he had zero range and the few balls he got to he had trouble throwing to the bases. If he's not much better in 2019 he won't on 3B very long. We'll see soon enough.
Personally, I consider Severino the #1 and I view the #2 as a really tight race between Paxton and Tanaka. Not much space overall between #1 and #3. Happ as a clear 4th, and Sabathia hopefully #6 by the time we get to OD.
Just to make opposing teams have to adjust to the different styles and "stuff", I would prefer to have Sevy be the #1, Paxton the #2, Tanaka the #3, Happ the #4 and CC the #5.
Sevy is just an ace when not tipping pitches. Paxton is more FB reliant. Tanaka relies on off-speed and may throw fewer FB than anyone. Happ is also FB reliant. CC throws junk now.
It would make teams have to adjust day-to-day and might mess with swings. Sometimes little things matter.
totally agreed. I'd be fine with them matching that ($25M per)
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$175M over 7 years. Lets say Harper goes to Philly and that's the only offer Machado has. How do the Yankees not reengage and offer the same thing or slightly lower?
totally agreed. I'd be fine with them matching that ($25M per)
I also agree. When they speculated at the end of last season that both would at least get 300/10 year contracts. 25 for 7 sounds really good. Isn't that hwat the Yanks offered Cano?
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In comment 14265400 Strahan91 said:
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$175M over 7 years. Lets say Harper goes to Philly and that's the only offer Machado has. How do the Yankees not reengage and offer the same thing or slightly lower?
totally agreed. I'd be fine with them matching that ($25M per)
I also agree. When they speculated at the end of last season that both would at least get 300/10 year contracts. 25 for 7 sounds really good. Isn't that hwat the Yanks offered Cano?
It was right around there iirc. Hell, it's not much more than what they signed Ellsbury to
@RiverAveBlues
6m
Fully operational discount shoppers.
@RiverAveBlues
7m
If the Yankees can't beat 7/$175M it's time to close up shop
I would be really disappointed if MM signs this 7 year deal with a team other than NYY.
Verified account @JonHeyman
3m3 minutes ago
While the Yankees are still shopping Sonny Gray, they are also looking around for a starting pitcher. Relief is on their radar as well. Talking to Ottavino, others.
Jon Heyman Verified account @JonHeyman 3 minutes ago
While the Yankees are still shopping Sonny Gray, they are also looking around for a starting pitcher. Relief is on their radar as well. Talking to Ottavino, others.
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Verified account
@JonHeyman
9m9 minutes ago
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Yankees attitude on Manny Machado is that while you never say never, its unlikely at this point. They are stacked on infield, and thats before Didi returns (likely in 2nd half).
If true Chisox offer to Manny is only 175M for 7 (via
@Buster_ESPN
), Machado may have erred not making deal with #yankees back on dec. 19 when yanks dined w/MM and NYY was ready to talk turkey. Machado wasnt talking $ yet but NYY would have paid more than 175. Back then anyway.
I was not going to be annoyed if Machado went to CHW for 8 years and 275M... but if the current offer is 100M LESS than that, the Yanks need to get back into this thing.
I still don't know how the pieces would fit with Didi back in the fold late July/Aug (barring setback), but at this point, we can cross that bridge when we get to it. That stuff tends to work itself out a bit.
Feeling like NYY are still not going to bite - but at this price, they really should.
I was not going to be annoyed if Machado went to CHW for 8 years and 275M... but if the current offer is 100M LESS than that, the Yanks need to get back into this thing.
I still don't know how the pieces would fit with Didi back in the fold late July/Aug (barring setback), but at this point, we can cross that bridge when we get to it. That stuff tends to work itself out a bit.
Feeling like NYY are still not going to bite - but at this price, they really should.
If Manny gets signed under 200M elsewhere I will have grave doubts about the Steinbrenners' commitment to this franchise. Sell the fucking team if you're only in it for the money--there are much better investments to make money on than sports teams.
While I'm with you as concerns signing Machado at the WS offer or somewhat more, the Yankees have been a pretty good "investment to make money." George paid $8.7 million in 1973 and the team is valued at $4 billion today. That's a 460x increase, albeit over 45 years.
They do and are looking for one according to Heyman. Not sure what that has to do with Machado...
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Sell the fucking team if you're only in it for the money--there are much better investments to make money on than sports teams.
While I'm with you as concerns signing Machado at the WS offer or somewhat more, the Yankees have been a pretty good "investment to make money." George paid $8.7 million in 1973 and the team is valued at $4 billion today. That's a 460x increase, albeit over 45 years.
Investing in sports teams from the 70s through mid 90s turned out to be a great bet. But that's not the current question facing Hank and Hal. If they're not in it to win, would they make more money by taking the $4 billion and investing it, or from owning the Yankees? I think it's the former by a wide margin.
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i mean they need another SP.
They do and are looking for one according to Heyman. Not sure what that has to do with Machado...
what it means is allocating money to that instead of another hitter. Pitching is needed
Having said that, they shouldn't have expressed interest in him if they weren't willing to go to that level to pay him. Were they seriously expecting him to go for less?
to back your FFS, i will jump that with at least getting a serviceable 4th or 5th guy. The rotation needs to be solidified. We have a semi ace, a number 2 and a 3rd. Gets real sketchy afterwards. the lineup is still powerful.
While i would love machado, but pitching will win the game. A freaking innings eater would be lovely.
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There are no aces available. Beat the drum all you want, it's not going to upgrade the rotation.
to back your FFS, i will jump that with at least getting a serviceable 4th or 5th guy. The rotation needs to be solidified. We have a semi ace, a number 2 and a 3rd. Gets real sketchy afterwards. the lineup is still powerful.
While i would love machado, but pitching will win the game. A freaking innings eater would be lovely.
Who? Sonny Gray is actually better than any available FA starting pitcher on the market. It pains me to write that, but it's true - especially his stats away from YS3.
he is the one i want on the team. Fuck it. He isnt the true ace but he is better than Sonny gray
CF - Hicks/Gardner
RF - Judge
LF - Harper
DH - Stanton
SS - Didi/Tulowitski
C - Sanchez
2B - Torres
1B - Voit
3B - LaMahieu
And a rotation of Bumgarner, Sevy, Tanaka, Paxton, Happ/CC
What am I missing? Look it really doesn't matter either way. Last year he had zero range and the few balls he got to he had trouble throwing to the bases. If he's not much better in 2019 he won't on 3B very long. We'll see soon enough.
Clearly says it is his throwing. It says nothing about his range. His set up is to get him ready to make the transition from catching it, to the throw. His internal clock is off and he takes too long to throw.
He gets to balls. He screws up the throws.
Getting to batted balls is a tricky thing to judge because a guy with bad range will often just look "out" of a play and like he doesn't actually have a shot at it - while a player with better range might have an actual shot at those same groundballs, but find them just out of reach.
Player B actually has better range, but to the eye, might look like the "worse" defensive player because he had the range to actually make an attempt at playing it while Player A may just have had a first step too slow to even dive or make a true attempt at all.
The Yanks seem to be betting pretty big on Miggy improving. We'll see if he is able to reward that faith or not.
Heres a blurb on Roman from MLBTR:
Getting to batted balls is a tricky thing to judge because a guy with bad range will often just look "out" of a play and like he doesn't actually have a shot at it - while a player with better range might have an actual shot at those same groundballs, but find them just out of reach.
Player B actually has better range, but to the eye, might look like the "worse" defensive player because he had the range to actually make an attempt at playing it while Player A may just have had a first step too slow to even dive or make a true attempt at all.
The Yanks seem to be betting pretty big on Miggy improving. We'll see if he is able to reward that faith or not.
There are definite "techniques" that are used to "set up" to field balls that put the fielder in a better position to throw immediately after catching it. Whether it is a crossover step, a slight step toward the plate as the pitcher throws the ball or something else. Good fielders are precise in their body set up at the time they catch the ball. He looks a bit like a statue at times because he has not set his body in position to throw off fielding the ball and then must reposition himself to make an accurate throw.
Going to take thousands of reps to get out of his bad set up and feel comfortable to the point that the throws are natural. He may not be "athletic" enough to get it, but obviously the Yankees think he is.
It literally ends up dominating the discussion.
It literally ends up dominating the discussion.
Because there is nothing else to bitch about, although I partially agree that not at least throwing a number at Machado and/or Harper is a bit "cheap."