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

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.