tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Clarifying My Position On Yankees

Any of you who have followed this blog know that I am a passionate Yankee fan. I have followed this team since I can remember, with my first Yankee memory being Bobby Richardson's catch of Willie McCovey's line drive to give the Yankees the 1962 World Series. I have gone through the Jerry Kenney-Horace Clarke days at the old stadium. Was sold on the story that Steve Whitaker and Bill Robinson were the new Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. The 80's were a disaster with the bust signings of Steve Kemp, Butch Wynegar and Steve Sax to name a few. Was also sold on the story that the acquisition of Steve Trout was going to give the Yankees the pennant, only to see them hopelessly out of the race. So for those to think I am a fair weather fan, don't go there. I remember the bad old days and there are many of you who have been spoiled by the glory days from 1996 - 2000. Which by the way had its core built by Gene Michaels.

I for one do not care that the Yankees have not signed Jeff Keppinger or Nate Schierholtz. My problem is that the Yankee farm system is not capable of filling in the holes that have been created at catcher, third base and right field. The Yankees knew that Russell Martin was a free agent and they apparently had some concerns about Austin Romine because he didn't play much last year. Since they knew this, how could they allow Martin to go to Pittsburgh for 2 years for $17 million?

The Yankees knew that ARod was going to have hip surgery weeks before it came out publicly. They do not have anyone in the system that they could give a try for the period of time that ARod would be out. Knowing that, why would they let Eric Chavez go. Not only did they let him go but they didn't even make an offer. (didn't make an offer to Martin either) With Chavez on the team, they could have went after a Jerry Hairston Jr. who would have been able to platoon with Chavez at third while also providing them with versatilty.

The Yankees knew they were not going to re-sign Nick Swisher. There had been reports that they were going to go with Ichiro and also bring Raul Ibanez back. They knew that once again they had no one in the farm system to step up, even in a platoon role. So what do they do?? They make an offer to Nate freaking Schierholtz. They could have had Ichiro weeks ago and there are reports that Ibanez is drawing interest from other clubs.

The lack of a farm system has been papered over for years because the Yankees have always had the ability to outspend everybody. With Hal Steinbrenner's self-imposed 2014 $189 million dollar cap, they no longer have that ability. That is where the failure lies. I don't have a problem with holding down payroll, but if that is what you are going to do then be honest with the fans and tell us that we need to start building from within. Tell us that we are in for a rebuilding process that will rely on kids playing in the Bronx. Tell us that we need to build a team not just to make the playoffs but to win multiple World Series and that this will take some time. If they were straight with us I wouldn't have a problem with it. In fact, I would love to see some young kids. I have been one of Phil Hughes' biggest defenders. I want to believe that Joba Chamberlain can be "the guy". So going with kids doesn't bother me. It never has. What bothers me is the arrogance and untruthfulness.

The Yankees are the richest team in all of sports. With all that money you would think they would have the best scouts money could buy all over the world. Yet, they have not been able to come up with a homegrown outfielder since Bernie Williams. A smart organization would have been planning in the early 2000's to have kids ready to replace the O'Neill's, Martinez's, Posada's, and Brosius'. Instead they decided to go the trade and free agent route which has resulted in one World Series win and 10 playoff failures. I would rather they not make the playoffs and build for the future than go in and be embarassed liked they were against the Tigers. And let's be honest, if it wasn't for Raul Ibanez they would have been knocked out by the young, homegrown Baltimore Orioles.

Unfortunately, there are many Yankee fans who don't want to face reality. The facts are that this organization is in trouble. The empty seats you saw in the ALCS will be a common appearance. There was a time back in the late 60's when they didn't draw 1 million fans. Ratings on YES last season were down. That's probably because last year's team was one of the least inspiring teams to watch.

Based upon the self-imposed cap, the best thing the Yanks can do is give Eduardo Nunez a shot at third base. Bring him down to Tampa and have him work there throughout spring training knowing that its his job until ARod comes back. Behind the plate, make it an open competition between Austin Romine, Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart. Take the two best and go with them. As far as right field goes, bring Ichiro back. He's a professional and loved being a Yankee. Re-sign Ibanez and try to get some bench help. By doing this the Yankees will get a good look at Nunez. They will allow Gary Sanchez to move up in the system as he is probably at least 2 years away from being ready and Ichiro allows them to give outfield prospects another year for development.

There are those that say I am being negative but the truth hurts and sometimes you need to face reality. And the fact is that this organization is in serious trouble and I'm not sure that Hal, Levine, Trost & Cashman have the ability to right this ship.

Petitte Re-signs With Yankees…Are We Happy Yet??

Well the Yankee high command and propaganda machine is working in overdrive as it begins the sell job for the 2013 baseball season. A couple of weeks ago they announced that they signed 38 year old Hiroki Kuroda to a one year deal, bringing back their number 2 starter from a year ago. Yesterday, it became official that their number 3 starter, 40 year old Andy Petitte, will be back for another season. It is reported that a deal with 42 year old future hall of famer Mariano Rivera should be done before the Winter Meetings begin next week. According to Brian Cashman & Company, mission accomplished.

The game plan, according to Cashman, is to then focus on the catcher and right field position. Russell Martin appears to be the catcher the Yanks are after but it is being reported that the Pittsburgh Pirates are interested and may be willing to offer Martin a 3 year contract. This will be a problem for the Yankees since they are adverse to extending contracts beyond 2013, though they would be willing to give Martin a 2 year deal. With respect to right field, there have been many reports that the Yankees are willing to bring Ichiro back and the 39 year old wants to be back in Pinstripes. See a trend here??

With the Yankees signing so many players between the ages of 38 and 42 will the next step be renovations in the clubhouse for wheelchair access?? All kidding aside, where are we going with all of this?? Cashman will tell you that age doesn't matter. It's all about the individual and how they prepare. But I hate to tell Mr. Cashman, baseball is a 162 game marathon and the older you are the more difficult it is to complete the marathon. Particularly when your goal is to play deep into October beyond 162 games.

The moves that the Yankees have made to this point are indicative of the arrogance of this organization. They obviously believe that as long as they can bring back long time favorites (Petitte & Rivera) and big names (Ichiro), fans will continue to follow the team and pay the ridiculous prices at the new Stadium. What these money grabbers don't understand is that sports fans need to believe that there team is getting better and/or their team has a chance to win a championship. The last time the Yankees did either was before the 2009 season when they signed CC Sabathia and Mark Teixiera. That was also the only time they have won the World Series since 2000.

With Hal Steinbrenner's edict to get the payroll down to $189 million dollars by 2014 and a farm system which seem to be devoid of anyone who can step in and contribute in 2013 or 2014, there doesn't seem to be much to be hopeful for. Steinbrenner wanting to get payroll down to $189 million dollars is fine. But the problem is that the farm system that Cashman & Company have is not ready to add pieces to the big league roster. What makes it worse is that the Yankees are saddled with ARod and Teixiera's contracts, which take up a huge chunk of the team's payroll not to mention Sabathia's contract and what they will have to pay Robinson Cano and if they decide to keep Curtis Granderson.

Cashman needs to be held responsible for not preparing for the time when the Yankee stars of the mid to late 90's begin to leave the game. We still don't know who will replace Derek Jeter at shortstop. It is clear that since he moved Jesus Montero to Seattle, he has no one to replace Jorge Posada. The fact that they need Andy Petitte back and must rely on Kuroda shows that he has failed in the development of pitchers. And I shudder to think what happens once Mariano calls it quits.

So am I suppose to be happy with the Yankee moves at this point?? Hardly. If anything I see another season of watching a creaky old team that may make the playoffs only to be knocked out. When you think about it, the Yankees have done nothing to improve themselves. In fact, Cashman will tell you that this team had the best record in the American League last year. That's great but the reality is that if it wasn't for Raul Ibanez, the Orioles would have eliminated them in the first round. Food for thought: in 1964 the Yankees lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. It was the fifth time in a row the Yanks had made the World Series. In 1965, the Yankees finished in last place. The moral of the story is don't tell me about last season when your roster is filled with late-30 somethings and 40-somethings. Brian Cashman needs to be held accountable. Unfortunately, it appears that's not going to happen.

Now What Mr. Cashman??

Hiroki Kuroda has turned down the Yankees $13 million dollar qualifying offer leaving the Pinstripers without their number two starter. Brian Cashman stated in a couple of newspaper stories that he is confident that the Yanks can sign Kuroda but if they can't he is happy that the Yankees will get a compensatory draft pick. They will also get compensatory draft picks if Rafael Soriano and Nick Swisher sign elsewhere and Cashman sees this as an insurance policy that will help build the farm system. That would be true if Cashman and Company were able to draft players who eventually succeed in Major League Baseball.

Without Kuroda the Yankees are in big trouble, especially if Andy Pettite does not come back. Will Cashman then try to sell us with the signings of Freddy Garcia-types to fill out the roster?? The loss of Soriano and Swisher are not as serious as losing Kuroda. Kuroda was exceptional last year and really stabilized things when CC Sabathia was hurt. Losing Kuroda would force Cashman to make some kind of move however based upon Hal Steinbrenner's edict to have payroll at $189 million dollars by 2014, I am not optimistic.

The winter meetings in December will be very interesting as the future of this franchise will be shaped: will the the Yankees continue to be a factor in the American League or will they begin their descent back to the days of Horace Clarke, Jerry Kenney and a half-empty Yankee Stadium.

Yankeeland In Trouble

After a terrible post season, the New York Yankees find themselves with some major question marks. Rafael Soriano and Nick Swisher will not be back. We don't know whether Andy Pettite and Hiroki Kuroda will be in pinstripes and Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are another year older. On top of all of this, Hal Steinbrenner is committed to bringing payroll down to $189 million dollars.

This past year's team was one of the least entertaining in a number of years. The home run or bust offense has failed miserably. Brian Cashman's statement that he is not going to change a philosophy that was successful under Gene Michael is a joke because if you look at the record, only one year from 1996-2000 did the Yankees have a 40 HR hitter. That was in 1997 which was the only year that the Yankees did not win the World Series during that time period.

Cashman's job is safe and that is a problem. He has failed to recognize that this team needs to get younger and it needs to rely less on home runs. In the post season, you have to be able to manufacture runs and these Yankees are unable to do that. Part of the problem is that the Yankee farm system has been terrible in developing position players under Cashman. It is inconceivable that the richest team in sports has such a terrible scouting staff. When was the last time the Yankees developed an outfielder, a third baseman and a first baseman (Bernie Williams, Mike Pagliarulo and Don Mattingly)??

I hate to say it but we can be on the verge of a dark period in Yankee history rivaling the late 80's early 90's. Cashman and Company have done absolutely nothing to restock this team with young homegrown talent. Take Jeter, Pettite, and Mariano Rivera from this roster and what you have is a collection of mercenaries around Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner and Joba Chamberlain. For those of you who don't know, that's what the 80's were like. Yankee fans we can be in for a long winter.