Yankees and Mientkiewicz agree to terms

[jacksonianmarch]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01042007... orrissey.htm

No money yet, but it Mientkiewicz will be in NY to take a physical. The physical for him, as it will be for RJ will be a bit more extensive as both had the same surgery. Doug's was during the season and he is younger, so he is likely to be further along in the recovery. A newspaper outlet previously said that he had been running and fielding, but he was a little bit away from swinging a bat.

[Mr Crunchy]

hes a solid 210 hitter with no power or speed but a great glove
the yanks can hide his bat in their lineup a couple days a week

[riverside sluggers]

Oh yea, he's going to get booed at Fenway Park. Although that was a given when the rumors were starting to fly earlier this offseason. He's sure to give the Yankees a solid glove at 1st base

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by Mr Crunchy

hes a solid 210 hitter with no power or speed but a great glove
the yanks can hide his bat in their lineup a couple days a week

he's not spectacular by any means. He is a career .275 hitter with a career OBP of .350. I'd take that.

[a700hitter]

Another move backward by the Yankees. So far this offseason, the Yankees haven't made one move that made me say "Damn!" They usually make at least two of those moves every off-season.

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

Another move backward by the Yankees. So far this offseason, the Yankees haven't made one move that made me say "Damn!" They usually make at least two of those moves every off-season.

And where did it get us?

Cashman is sneaky; he's making moves that will make you say "Damn!" at the end of the season instead.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by 26 Reasons to Hate Us

And where did it get us?

Cashman is sneaky; he's making moves that will make you say "Damn!" at the end of the season instead.

Is this where we play role reversal and I remind you of the string of AL East Championships?

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

Is this where we play role reversal and I remind you of the string of AL East Championships?

Is this the part where I remind you of the collossal disappointments the yankees have been in the postseason since 2000?

AL East crowns are nothing to be proud of. Not with the money this team spends.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by 26 Reasons to Hate Us

Is this the part where I remind you of the collossal disappointments the yankees have been in the postseason since 2000?

AL East crowns are nothing to be proud of. Not with the money this team spends.

It makes it even harder to win the WS if you don't make the playoffs. The Yankees were the best team in the post-season tournament this year. They should have rolled over the competition, but they went flat, choked or whatever. I am glad that within a few short months after the Yankees were being heralded as a juggernaut with one of the best lineups in history that Cashman is dismantling that team. I hope he moves ARod next.

[Gom]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

It makes it even harder to win the WS if you don't make the playoffs. The Yankees were the best team in the post-season tournament this year. They should have rolled over the competition, but they went flat, choked or whatever. I am glad that within a few short months after the Yankees were being heralded as a juggernaut with one of the best lineups in history that Cashman is dismantling that team. I hope he moves ARod next.

Oh Lord...can you believe this guy? Just what exactly has he dismantled? Have you realized what he has done so far? Let's take a look at what he got rid of this offseason.

A 43 year old pitcher who was a collosal disappointment this season, who will not be ready for the start of the upcoming season due to major back surgery who was making 16 million.

A 39 year old malcontent than missed all but two months due to a serious injury to his wrist. This was accomplished without eating a penny of his salary.

A 31 year old pitcher who averaged 4.6 innings per start and burned out the bullpen win or lose.

He brought in a solid starting pitcher in Pettitte, a projected back of the rotation starter or servicable reliever in Igawa, completely restocked the farm system with 6 prospects, two of whom which are considered potential top of the rotation possibilites. He also brought in two servicable arms in Britton and Vizcaino [knowing how Torre burns his pen, this is huge], brought in one of the top defensive firstbasemen in Mientkiewicz, allowing the fragile Giambi to solely DH.

Yeah, I guess you are right. Complete dismantling. The Yankees are going to be battling the Blue Jays for 2nd place.

Try to go easy on the eggnog next Christmas.

[riverside sluggers]

Originally Posted by Gom

a projected back of the rotation starter or servicable reliever in Igawa

Basically Igawa could be a serviceable reliever... I dont see what the big hassle was to first post $26 million to talk to him then sign a 5 year contract. Basically it could turn out to be 5 years/$46 million for a guy who could be a serviceable reliever in the end, Im not yet seeing how this was an impact move by New York

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

Basically Igawa could be a serviceable reliever... I dont see what the big hassle was to first post $26 million to talk to him then sign a 5 year contract. Basically it could turn out to be 5 years/$46 million for a guy who could be a serviceable reliever in the end, Im not yet seeing how this was an impact move by New York

It is a move that made Lilly's signing unnecessary. Igawa will cost much less than Lilly will overall (Lilly would have cost 56 mil over 4 yrs while Igawa will cost 54 mil over 5). Igawa is more durable than Lilly, and mark my word, Igawa will be a good #4 on this team.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by Gom

Oh Lord...can you believe this guy? Just what exactly has he dismantled? Have you realized what he has done so far? Let's take a look at what he got rid of this offseason.

He got rid of a pitcher that won 34 games over the last 2 years and beat the Red Sox in 7 out of 8 decisions. Oh BTW he's going to the HOF. They got a mediocre 32 year old reliever and 3 so-so prospects. Yea for me. They also got rid of an OF that averaged 31 HRs and 125 RBI over the past 3 years prior to his injury. For this likely HOF they got some prospects, one of whom might make the 2007 bullpen. Yea for me. They got rid of an 11 game-winning starter for a fatso middle reliever that will pitch in a mopup role.

Originally Posted by Gom

brought in one of the top defensive firstbasemen in Mientkiewicz, allowing the fragile Giambi to solely DH.

Too bad he can't hit a lick. He's probably a step down from Phillip's bat.

Originally Posted by Gom

Yeah, I guess you are right. Complete dismantling. The Yankees are going to be battling the Blue Jays for 2nd place.

I never said the dismantling is completed. I am hoping that there is more to come. I am looking forward to Melky going to Pittsburgh

BTW: I am not one who believed that they were one of the all-time juggernauts like many Yankee fans believed as the playoffs began. They were, however, the superior team in the playoffs. ARod choked, Torre panicked and the team folded its tent showing little or no heart. Certainly, the solution was to get rid of two future HOFers. I like it. Go Cashman.

[Gom]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

He got rid of a pitcher that won 34 games over the last 2 years and beat the Red Sox in 7 out of 8 decisions. Oh BTW he's going to the HOF.

Maybe they should get Christy Mathewson. He's in the Hall of Fame too. Wait...he's dead. Never mind. Last year he was 2-1 versus the Red Sox with a 7.17 ERA. Last year against the Sox, in 21.1 innings, he gave up 17 runs on 26 hits, 3 of them homreuns with 16 walks. Yeah, he really dominated you guys. The fact that he won any game shows how pathetic your pitching was in those games.

Originally Posted by a700hitter

They got a mediocre 32 year old reliever and 3 so-so prospects. Yea for me. They also got rid of an OF that averaged 31 HRs and 125 RBI over the past 3 years prior to his injury. For this likely HOF they got some prospects, one of whom might make the 2007 bullpen. Yea for me.

A malcontent who had no power at the end of last season due to a major injury to his wrist, where he gets the majority of his power from. A player who didn't want to switch positions to help the team, and was only interested in his own welfare. If healthy, his production will be missed, but his post-season production in NY [.260 BA, 2 HR in 81 AB] will not be missed.

Originally Posted by a700hitter

They got rid of an 11 game-winning starter for a fatso middle reliever that will pitch in a mopup role.

I don't know if you actually watch baseball and don't know the Yankees or simply don't comprehend it. 11 wins on the Yankees is not an accomplishment as a pitcher, not when you have 30 starts. The fact that he averaged 4.6 innings a start and killed the bullpen made him more of a detriment than anything else. They burned the pen with him win or lose. At least with Randy Johnson [or Beckett in your case] if they pitched well, they went deep into games. A major addition by subtraction.

Originally Posted by a700hitter

Too bad he can't hit a lick. He's probably a step down from Phillip's bat.

Mientkiewicz was brought in to play defense, and give below average offensive contribution. His primary value is to keep Giambi OFF the field. Call me crazy, but I think the Yankees will finish in the top half of offensive production in the AL next year. Having below average production when you are getting above average offensive production from EVERY OTHER SPOT POSITION ON THE FIELD makes one below average production easier to swallow.

Originally Posted by a700hitter

I never said the dismantling is completed. I am hoping that there is more to come. I am looking forward to Melky going to Pittsburgh

Who knows? I like Melky, but unlike most Yankee fans, I'm not in love with him. Getting a fireballing lefty pitcher out of the pen to be your setup man is worth your fourth outfielder, in my opinion. That deal, however, hasn't been made yet.

Originally Posted by a700hitter

BTW: I am not one who believed that they were one of the all-time juggernauts like many Yankee fans believed as the playoffs began. They were, however, the superior team in the playoffs. ARod choked, Torre panicked and the team folded its tent showing little or no heart. Certainly, the solution was to get rid of two future HOFers. I like it. Go Cashman.

I think I have proven where you thumb has been at this point.

[Optimist]

When did trading old, declining, expensive players for young players with plenty of potential (especially young pitchers) become a bad thing?


....oh yeah, when the Yankees started doing it. Sorry, I forgot what site I was on for a moment.