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

Trade Deadline = Zero For Yankees

The trade deadline came and went Sunday at 4pm and Brian Cashman was unable to add any pieces to the current edition of the NY Yankees. Cashman made it very clear that he is comfortable with the team that he has and that there was no one out there who was better than what the Yankees already have on the roster. Really???

The biggest prize this year was Ubaldo Jimenez and full credit to the Cleveland Indians for stepping up and making a move to go for it this year in the AL Central. Jimenez is only 27 and his contract fits in well with the Tribe's salary structure. The Indians also picked up Kosuke Fukudome from the Cubs in a move to bring another bat to their lineup. Will it be enough to overtake the Tigers?? I'm not sure but Indian GM Mark Antonetti recognized he needed to get a top pitcher and he did that and a 27 year old at that.

The Yankees will tell you that Jimenez is not an ace, he is not a #2 and he's a #3 in the AL East. They will also tell you that since the All-Star break last year, Jimenez is 10-16 with an ERA over 5. But closer examination of his stats tells a different picture than what the Yankees are selling. If we look at what Ubaldo has done since June 1st of this year, he is 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA. Those numbers are inflated as a result of his last 2 starts with the trade rumors swirling around him. Looking at last year, if you look at his starts since the All-Star break, Jimenez was 5-7 with a 3.80 ERA. Upon further review of those number, in 5 of the 7 losses Jimenez pitched 35 innings and allowed 11 earned runs for a 2.83 ERA. He also had 2 no decisions where he pitched 14 innings and allowed only 1 earned run.
Ubaldo's numbers since last year's All-Star break are inflated based upon his first 9 starts this year.

Now Cashman has said that he can win with what he has and that the Yanks would be more comfortable with Colon as their #2 as opposed to Jimenez. So let's take a look at Garcia, Colon and Nova. Cashman said yesterday that he is comfortable with Garcia and Colon and cited that they had ERA's in the low 3s pitching in the AL East. But that statement means nothing because with a payroll of over $200 million, its all about the post season and as a result we need to look at how these guys have pitched against possible playoff opponents.

Bartolo Colon has 1 start against Boston, Texas and Detroit respectively. He's pitched 18 innings and allowed 12 earned runs for an ERA of 6.00. With respect to Garcia, he has faced Boston twice, Detroit once and Texas once for a total of 20 innings and allowing 12 earned runs for an ERA of 5.40. Ivan Nova has pitched 21 2/3 innings against Boston and Texas and has allowed 13 earned runs for an ERA of 5.40. Do you have warm and fuzzy feelings about these numbers Yankee fans??? I don't.

Cashman has decided to go with what he's got. The talk now is that Montero will be coming up once the rosters expand and that Banuelos could end up in the Bronx as the Yankees left-handed relief specialist. You know what, I hope this all happens and it all works out. But for a team who's motto is that only a World Series championship equates to a successful season, they have a lot riding on a bunch of young kids: Hughes, Nova, Banuelos and Montero. And that's ok but I find it insulting for Cashman and Company to try to get me to believe that the Yankee rotation is championship material because it is not!! Would Ubaldo Jimenez have ensured a World Series?? I don't know but what I do know is that I would rather go with a 27 year old than a 35 and 38 year old down the stretch. And let's be clear, if Nunez, Montero, Banuelos, Nova and Hughes don't pan out, you can kick yourself for not having Cliff Lee and/or Ubaldo Jimenez. Remember this is about winning the World Series not making the playoffs and from where I sit the Yanks will be lucky to make the ALCS.