Yanks invite Bernie to ST - Talksox

26 Reasons to Hate Us · 01-31-2007, 02:17 PM

Bernie Williams' great Yankees career just might end with a soap opera he didn't bargain for.

SI.com has learned that the Yankees have made Williams a standing offer to come to spring training as a non-guaranteed minor-league invite. While this wasn't anything close to what he was hoping or looking for, all indications are that he is considering the proposal.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ees/index.html

TheKilo · 01-31-2007, 02:52 PM

I hope he goes.

jacksonianmarch · 01-31-2007, 04:07 PM

I had heard a rumor that Melky might actually be sent to AAA to start the yr so he can get regular ABs and Bernie would win the 4th OF spot. I hope it isnt true. I love Bernie, but he is a liability now.

TheKilo · 01-31-2007, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

I had heard a rumor that Melky might actually be sent to AAA to start the yr so he can get regular ABs and Bernie would win the 4th OF spot. I hope it isnt true. I love Bernie, but he is a liability now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKilo

I hope he goes.

Jeff04! · 02-10-2007, 10:12 AM

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9987156

Bernie doesn't want to accept a minor league deal and says he probably won't play for the yanks in 07. I'm surprised he doens't just retire, it would be really weird to see Bernie play for another team...

bosoxnation07 · 02-10-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff04!

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/9987156

Bernie doesn't want to accept a minor league deal and says he probably won't play for the yanks in 08. I'm surprised he doens't just retire, it would be really weird to see Bernie play for another team...

You mean in 07. He will keep in shape and wait for the inevitable to happen, someone will go down with an injury and then theyll probably add him to the roster at that point. The only other team I could see going after him is the Cubs. they could use Bernie as a one yr stop gap for Felix Pie. But I really don't see him going to another team.

jacksonianmarch · 02-10-2007, 10:43 AM

BSN, their OF is loaded and Sori is likely to be their CF in CHC. Murton in LF, Floyd in LF, Jones in RF. Absolutely stacked in the OF. He could do well for himself in ANA where they will be without Juan Rivera for a small portion of the yr as the DH. Other than that, he doesnt project as an OFer anymore. His weak arm kills any shot of him being a RF. His horrible range kills any chance of being a CF. And his bat isnt good enough to fit into LF. It is sad really. He did have a pretty good yr last yr, the type of yr you would think he could walk off into the sunset on. He's a damn good role model, and the kids who are coming up likely grew up watching him play in pinstripes. He would be a great influence on a kid like Tabata in CF or Gardner, etc. But he has to face the facts. He's a DH or a LFer on a crappy team. The Yankees lineup is loaded. Their backups are better than Bernie. He has to face facts one day.

But please, Bernie, retire. I'd love for there to be a Bernie Williams day or something where we can retire his # and officially say goodbye. Nobody should every wear #51 again in the bronx.

bosoxnation07 · 02-10-2007, 10:45 AM

Hes def. earned that.

jacksonianmarch · 02-10-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosoxnation07

Hes def. earned that.

I know the red sox have certain policies about retiring numbers. Dont you have to be in the HOF? Either way, Bernie will be a fringe HOFer. His career avg slipped below .300 this past yr. But for 8 straight yrs he was over .300 and had 18+HR. He had 287 career HR. 1257RBI. 147 career SB. .858OPS career. .381OBP. From 96-02 (7 seasons) his OPS was above .900. In that same span he had 94 or more RBI in each of those yrs. He has the stats to justify it, but they arent overwhelming enough to get him in based on regular season alone.

His postseason #s might. Playoff career leader in HRs, RBI will help. He was the best hitter on a yankee team for 4 WS wins and 5 appearances. He likely was the best CFer in baseball for a 7 yr span. He's got the 4GG's they will like to see. He never finished higher than 10th in MVP voting which will hurt him, but he made the top 20 5 times. (I still find it hard to believe he finished 10th in MVP voting in 1999 when he hit .342 25HR 125RBI for a world championship calibre team).

He will get the # retired. I think he might get in on a late ballot to the HOF or even in Veterans committee.

jacksonianmarch · 02-10-2007, 11:12 AM

what will be interesting is when #2 (Jeter) and #6 (Torre) get retired, the yankees will have #1-#10 retired with 2 guys being retired as #8 (Berra and Dickey).

Fried Neckbones · 02-10-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

I know the red sox have certain policies about retiring numbers. Dont you have to be in the HOF?

HOF with 10 years as a Red Sox.

It's pretty damn hard to get a Sox number retired, especially these days.

TheKilo · 02-10-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fried Neckbones

HOF with 10 years as a Red Sox.

It's pretty damn hard to get a Sox number retired, especially these days.

Pedro's will, no doubt.

bosoxnation07 · 02-10-2007, 12:26 PM

Did Pedro play for us for 10 yrs? What about Clemens? Wakefield is third in team history in Wins and has been here longer then 10yrs. I would have to think they might consider Manny too. And if ortiz plays for us for another 6yrs and play like he has the past 4 then he might get considered too.

TheKilo · 02-10-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosoxnation07

Did Pedro play for us for 10 yrs? What about Clemens? Wakefield is third in team history in Wins and has been here longer then 10yrs. I would have to think they might consider Manny too. And if ortiz plays for us for another 6yrs and play like he has the past 4 then he might get considered too.

What does it matter? If the FO does not retire #45 something is very, very wrong.

Wakefield won't make the HoF, so that's a moot point.

HeadOfSoxNation · 02-10-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosoxnation07

Did Pedro play for us for 10 yrs? What about Clemens? Wakefield is third in team history in Wins and has been here longer then 10yrs. I would have to think they might consider Manny too. And if ortiz plays for us for another 6yrs and play like he has the past 4 then he might get considered too.

Petey was only here from 98-04...so unless they change the rules, he's out. They won't think twice about Wake's...I like Wake, but he's always been a slightly above average pitcher, nothing retirement-worthy, and, he's not a start-and-finish with the Sox guy. If Ortiz plays another 6 years like he has the past 4, the Sox should rename the damn stadium after him. Manny's'll get retired no doubt if he finishes out 10 years here, considering he'll be one of the top 10 hitters ever...with all the trade talks, though...one's gotta wonder if he'll make the 10 year cut. He's only been here since '01.