-- with Mikey Stew, Doc, & Johnny B --
When Alex Rodriguez was traded from Texas to the Yankees for Alphonso Soriano, the Hot Stove got even hotter... Here's some of the bull that flew in late February, 2004.
"If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base." -- Dave Barry
Mikey Stew: Man that's gotta hurt Johnny. Personally, I do not agree with the move but I guess I will be able to find it in myself to root for the best player in the game at Yankee Stadium. I love that kid Soriano but now it looks like he will be gone. At least until 2007. Don't worry though Johnny. I'm sure the Sawx will come in second again and make the playoffs.
I hear that for the All Star game this year the AL is just going to send in the Yanks. With the defections from the NL to the AL this off season it looks like the AL will have home field advantage in the World Series for awhile.
B. Stew: I like Soriano a lot. A whole lot. But even though you're my brother, if you don't think that's one of the greatest trades ever then there is absolutely no hope for you. Alfonso who?
Get ready for the inevitable "buying a championship" blather from Sawx and Met fans. As if there's something not noble about improving your team anyway you can. Proper response is: "He would have been a Met/Red Sock if only those teams had just wanted it a little bit more. But a lack of fire in the belly is just one of the hallmarks of a losing team." My apologies and best wishes to any Sox/Met fan on this mailing list.
No, not really.
Doc: Yes, George Steinbrenner is a genius. They'll go 162-0 this season. They've become the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
MS: Actually in a large part he is. If you remember when he bought the Yanks they were a pathetic team that was losing money and had to actually pay radio to keep them on the air. He smartly recognized the potential for the team and built them up to this point where they make enough money so that they can do these things. It's a lot like playing cards. If you want to make money you have to bet your own first. He sunk a lot of his own money in first and built the team up to being one that fans support and now we see the results.
The Mets should take a cue from that. There is no reason why they cannot do the same thing. And, it's not like they haven't tried in the past. They have just kept signing all the wrong big bucks guys like the Yanks did in the eighties. I do like the direction they are taking now though. They will be super solid up the middle this year. Now if the small market Mets would just make a few of the right signings they could be right there with the Yanks in the money propigating department and away they go.
JB: Noble they're not. Just rich. And y'all need a 2nd baseman - buy Bret Boone?? I'm actually glad the Yankees got him and not the Sox. The Sox scenerio wasn't a good deal for them. A-Rod is the best, will probably smash Aaron's record. And the Yanks should win it all - that is truly the best team EVER bought, maybe the best team ever. Now if Torre can convince Jeter to put his ego aside and let a great defensive shortstop (with range) play short...
MS: We will have Jeter play short thank you. What we will do is trade Tony Clark to the Sawx for Nomah and let him play second.
I hear Texas is going to pay 67 million of his remaining salary. That actually makes him a bargain for the Yanks if it's true. And, since Bernie's contract runs out after 2006, Texas will be grooming our next center fielder. After all the rest of baseball is our farm system. Seriously though the Yanks will now have a super offense their pitching is very suspect going into the season.
Should a couple of these pitchers break down the Yanks don't really have anyone to bring up from their system or trade from their farm system in order to fill the void/voids if created. And as the Sawx proved last year great hitting does not win. Pitching wins.
And, as impressive as the lineup will be the Yanks do not have a very deep bench so there are not a lot of trades they could make using their big club to get pitching without losing a front line guy that would not easily be replaced. The Yanks look great this year but because they have decimated their farm system I do see darker days ahead for them. They are at once awesome and fragile. In fact this is the most fragile team I have seen the Yanks with in almost ten years.
Don't be so pessimistic Mark. Games are won on the field and usually by the team with the least injuries over the year unless of course you are the Tigers or Mets (just kiddin there Mark). Should a couple of pitchers go down and say A-Rod or Jeter or Sheffield gets hurt the Yanks could be in deep trouble considering it looks like the AL BEAST is back as the preeminent division in baseball. Their pitching could fall apart and their lineup would not be as awesome.
As JB would say, Just Sayin.
JB: In all honesty, this Yankee club (as presently constituted) is in a
great position to give the Marlins a run for their money... I'm betting
by Opening Day A-Rod is the shortstop. The Yankees will make the sound
baseball decision, regardless of feelings. (Unless Stein says
otherwise.)
The Weasel: Well - I figure it is time that I chime in on the Yankees latest acquisition. When I heard about the deal, (while I was away on vacation), I anticipated all of this email chatter. I have to admit I was tempted to call JB, as I know how hard he would take this, and of course I wanted to offer him support. Sorry Johnny - couldn't resist. At any rate, a lot of the comments were predictable.
I knew there would be a lot of chatter from the non- Yankees fans about money buying anything. After all, the richest team gets the best player in the game. This perspective implies that the only teams that contend are the ones that can afford the high salary players. While this certainly doesn't hurt, it is not a true formula - recent examples: Oakland, Minnesota, etc. It is also true that Teams enhance their financial capacity by putting winning teams on the field, (I am aware that some markets have their limitations). But the reality is that this is not a level playing field, and it never will be. Best case scenario, some markets are more limited than others, and this is a fact of life.
I also understand the frustration felt by fans of other teams, because it is true that the Yanks can pursue quality players in a way many others cannot keep up with. While most teams can pursue 1 or 2 superstars, we can go for more. While this does not give us the pennant, it does give an edge.
I also do not feel that his season is hopeless for the other teams to compete in. I agree with my esteemed colleague, Mikey Stew, although I am not sure I share his formulation. While there are always some question marks around pitching, this staff may end up better than the recent and much celebrated staff they are moving away from. There is a lot of potential here, although there are lots of variables.
If the offense is improved - of which I am not sure - it is likely a result of having obtained Sheffield. While he is a bit long in the tooth, he still had a very productive season last year. If you compare the offense of A-Rod versus Soriano, there is not a huge difference. A-Rod is a better hitter now, Soriano is newer to MLB, and looks like he may have extraordinary potential. He also adds speed as a component, which can be an asset, particularly with some teams. Where the more substantial difference is lies in defense. However, for this season, at least, if A-Rod plays a new position, the defensive levels should be closer.
In any event, the Yankees almost had to do this deal. It is kind of like the reason that we had to go after the Taliban, or the reason that the Mob will sometimes take people out that they really don't care about. If you are on top, you have to make that clear all of the time. When Pettitte and Clemens defected, (a carefully chosen word), we were starting to look bad - like people can fuck with us. Sheffield, Vasquez, even Brown were good acquisitions, but they do not carry the clout that Clemens & Pettitte have. They also do not approach the attraction of a Curt Schilling. No........it had become clear that we needed a marquis player to keep up - and A-Rod is the ace of spades. Beat that......... So, we may or may not win the pennant, but we did just win this off season, and we pissed off a lot of people in doing just that.
Looking forward to a great baseball season as always........
(Newton Center, March 3, 2004) This just in: the first wave of MLB's steroid scandal has hit the Yanks hard. Two of their recent big purchases have been implicated. There's some question as to whether Giambi and Sheffield can play juice-free. Can you say Punch & Judy?? Baseball's new hardline drug policy could cost each of them $25k (the equivalent of a pint of beer for us bluecollars) if they choose to continue juicin' it... Gotta think it's helped Shef avoiding injuries (or playing through them.) He played in 140 games only twice in his career, and now 4 of the last 5 years has exceeded that. Always a gifted hitter, but this taints the record. Same with Bonds and McGwire. Bad news for baseball. There'll be asteriks all over the place. --JB
