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Thread: Yankees Off-Season Plans

  1. #16
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Quote Originally Posted by yankeessuck013
    he's gonna be a year older and I can't see him pitiching as much as he did this year.
    We said that last year too. He turned into quite the dominant pitcher down the stretch. RJ is now a pitcher to be afraid of once again.

  2. #17

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    RJ will win 18-20 games next year. Toward the end of the year he put it all togther and went 6-0 in his last 8 starts with an under 2 ERA. Look for RJ to want to prove something next year after what I would call a joke of a start in the post-season. Mussina certainly isnt aging with grace but even with injuries he found a way to win 13 games. Hes a 15 game winner IMO. The wild card here is Pavano. I have no idea what to expect out of him next year. I also believe they will find a way to dump Wright. Everyone including there grandmother knew that was a stupid signing. Even if he comes back he wont beat out Chacon or Wang for the final 2 spots. IMO the Yankee sucess or failure next season will be determined by how they re-vamp that bullpen. I believe everyone is a free agent in the bullpen except for Rivera. The way they shape this bullpen in the off-season should shape their season. There is no doubt in my mind that Ryan MUST BE #1 priorty . Then look for a CF.
    Gabe Kapler is full of heart and determination:
    http://nomaas.org/images/kaplerftl.gif
    :lol:

  3. #18
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    I doubt the Big Unit gets 20 wins next year. I see him getting between 10 and 15 realistically. I think he's getting too old; he is vulnerable to injury, and if he does get injured, I see it being some sort of back injury.
    West Virginia University 2014

  4. #19
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Quote Originally Posted by schillingouttheks
    We said that last year too. He turned into quite the dominant pitcher down the stretch. RJ is now a pitcher to be afraid of once again.
    I wouldnt go that far...and I wouldnt mind getting rid of him too (im in my Steinbrenner mode since last night...dont be alarmed, ill only be like thins another week or so)

  5. #20

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Quote Originally Posted by 26 to 6
    I wouldnt go that far...and I wouldnt mind getting rid of him too (im in my Steinbrenner mode since last night...dont be alarmed, ill only be like thins another week or so)
    I feel the same way also. I loved how Big Steiny aka King George aka George Steinbrenner III took a slighty shot a Torre today by sending his congrats to the Angels AND THEIR MANAGER. This off-season will be an entertaining one.
    Gabe Kapler is full of heart and determination:
    http://nomaas.org/images/kaplerftl.gif
    :lol:

  6. #21
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Leiter pondering retirement
    After 19 years, lefty ready to hang up his spikes

    By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com

    NEW YORK -- Al Leiter had an interesting 2005 season, returning to an organization with which he once won a World Series ring, only to end up with the club that drafted him back in 1984.Leiter returned to New York on Tuesday, one day after he and the Yankees lost Game 5 of the American League Division Series to the Angels."There wasn't a person in that room who didn't think we would be in Chicago today," Leiter said. "But we're not. We didn't do it. I think it was a big shock, a surprise for everybody. Certainly Derek and Jorge and Tino and guys who have been here for a while took this really hard." Leiter, who was acquired in mid-July to plug a hole in an injury-riddled rotation, finished the season as New York's primary left-handed specialist -- a role in which he thrived.

    Despite his success out of the bullpen, Leiter, who will turn 40 on Oct. 23, will likely retire this winter after a successful 19-year Major League career. "There would have to be a lot of talking to convince me to come back," he said. "Joe Torre had mentioned a few days ago, joking that, 'I think you've found a niche' or that I have a niche if this is something I want to do as far as coming in and flipping a few curveballs and getting a couple of lefties out. The last couple of weeks, knowing that that was the role, it became more enjoyable, as opposed to sitting in the bullpen and being told to be ready from the first pitch to maybe the seventh," he added, referring to his role as a long reliever. "When you're not really sure when you're supposed to get up, that's not fun when you sit out in the bullpen."

    Leiter, who said it was more than a 50-50 chance that he would hang up his spikes, will consult with his wife, Lori, and their children. His two older daughters -- Lindsay, 10, and Carly, 8 -- as well as his 5-year-old son, Jack, will have their chance to weigh in on his future. "When you've got kids old enough to respond and tell you what they think, that plays a big part," Leiter said. "My son's thinking it's pretty cool, playing with A-Rod and Jeter and all these guys, so he'd probably vote to stay." Leiter, who began his career in pinstripes and lives in the area, hinted that the only way he would continue playing would be to re-sign with the Yankees as a left-handed specialist.

    "It's been good for me, this circle," he said. "Eighteen years ago, I was able to pitch my first game here. I like the area. There wouldn't be too many other places." Torre called on Leiter in each of the first four games of the Division Series, including a crucial spot in Game 4, when Leiter got Darin Erstad to hit into an inning-ending double play. Though he played for Torre for less than three months, Leiter was pleased to earn the manager's confidence in his new role in the bullpen. "Any time your boss shows faith and confidence in you, you don't want to let him down," Leiter said. "And he did, and it meant a lot."

    After going 3-7 with a 6.64 ERA with the Marlins in the first half of the season, Leiter was dealt to the Yankees on July 16. He started at Fenway Park the next day, defeating the Red Sox. He appeared in 16 games for New York (10 starts), going 4-5 with a 5.49 ERA. "It made for a very exciting second half," he said. "Certainly, my first half with the Marlins was miserable. It's certainly not the way I anticipated the end for me, and I say 'the end' because I'm pretty sure that was it."
    "See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

  7. #22

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    I typed a big long post, but the battery on my laptop died and I lost it all, so I'll make it short. Joe is a great manager, possibly the best in the league, and firing him would be the biggest mistake of Steiny's career. Rash decisions never pay off, but hey I'm not going to complain if Steiny makes a HUGE mistake like letting Joe go.

  8. #23
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    SHIPPING SHEFF SHOULD BE IN PLANS

    October 12, 2005 -- TEN years ago, the Yankees lost a first-round playoff series to the AL West champs in five games, triggering sweeping changes that ushered in a new general manager, manager and dynasty. From the ruins of being eliminated by the Mariners in October 1995, the Yanks renovated the front office, coaching staff and roster, and somehow formed a championship mosaic from disparate pieces. However, back then, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera emerged from the system to join Andy Pettitte as instant stars and bedrocks. They were cool, calm, and collected rings because of it.

    The Yanks cannot expect the same bounty now, not after years of incompetence from the Tampa minor-league officials. That is why, in the aftermath of losing a first-round playoff series in five games to the AL West champion Angels, the Yanks face their most critical offseason in a decade. GM Brian Cashman might leave, George Steinbrenner is as disenchanted today with Joe Torre as he was 10 years ago with Buck Showalter, and key roster issues must be confronted.

    Job 1 for Steinbrenner is addressing the front office structure and his crippled relationship with Torre. As for on the field, here are five thoughts:

    TRADE GARY SHEFFIELD TO ADDRESS CENTER FIELD: Sheffield remains a great hitter. But he embodies an overall Yankee problem of too much age and too many sourpusses, and the money-obsessed Sheffield is facing his walk year. The White Sox were interested in obtaining Ken Griffey during the season for his bat and now might lose their one power source, Paul Konerko, to free agency. Could Chicago start a package with defensive stud Aaron Rowand to get Sheffield?

    The Blue Jays crave power and believe Alexis Rios can play center. Is there a mega-trade possible involving Sheffield for Vernon Wells? Can Sheffield be used to obtain pieces that could be redirected to Minnesota to liberate Torii Hunter? The Yanks must find out and then aggressively pursue free agent Brian Giles to play right. Giles is said to favor the West Coast, and should draw strong interest, as well, from the Cubs and Red Sox, if they can move Manny Ramirez.

    GO GET B.J. RYAN: The Orioles' closer will be among the most in-demand free agents, and the Yanks cannot even offer the closer job. What they can offer is huge money and vague promises of succeeding the indomitable Rivera. The expiring pacts of useless relievers Steve Karsay, Felix Rodriguez, Paul Quantrill and Mike Stanton total roughly $15 million. The Yanks must use a chunk to get a southpaw who dominates lefties and has proved he can pitch in the AL East.

    RE-SIGN HIDEKI MATSUI: But before they do, the Yanks have to figure out what happened to this guy defensively all year and offensively in the Division Series. Three years at $30 million is the ballpark. One intriguing alternative would be to sign Johnny Damon as a left fielder/leadoff man. But his agent, Scott Boras, is going to seek at least a five-year deal for Damon. It is important that the Yanks do not go with Damon in center, where he already has lost a step and has a worse arm than Bernie Williams.

    THINK DEFENSE: The Yankee pitching was better than generally perceived. It was hurt by bad defense, especially in center. But not exclusively there. The Yanks need to make Jason Giambi a 120-game DH. They should thank Tino Martinez for the memories and find a younger player with a chance to grow. Milwaukee's Lyle Overbay is going to be in big demand. But the Yanks might be able to pry somebody such as Detroit's Carlos Pena.

    Jorge Posada might just be too expensive to trade. If the Yanks retain him, they need to upgrade with a better all-around backup than the cerebral, but limited, John Flaherty. Arbitration-eligible receivers from small markets such as Cincinnati's Jason LaRue and Tampa's Toby Hall should be targets.

    AVOID ADDING EVEN MORE AGE/DECLINING ATHLETICISM/PRIMA DONNAS: We can use a bunch of names, but think Ken Griffey Jr. and you will get the idea.
    "See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

  9. #24
    Power, Pride, Pinstripes
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    ARod for Manny? LOL...wait

  10. #25
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Flash ready to close door
    Sets self up for new team, role

    BY JULIAN GARCIA
    DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

    Tom Gordon seems to be pointing way out of Bronx as he states wish to be a closer again, and not Mariano Rivera's setup man. Tom Gordon's days as a Yankee appear to be over. That doesn't necessarily mean he is done pitching in New York. Gordon, one of four Yankees to clean out his locker yesterday at Yankee Stadium, said he would like to become a closer again. Since the Yankees already are set at that position with Mariano Rivera, it seems as though Gordon, now a free agent, has pitched his final days in pinstripes.

    "I'd love to close again somewhere," Gordon said. "We'll see what happens, but if it takes me somewhere else, so be it." Now that he has made it clear he wants to close, Gordon could become one of the most coveted relief pitchers on the market. And after Braden Looper's shaky, injury-filled season, it seems as though the Mets will be looking for a new closer. Gordon, whose contract ran out when the Yankees' season ended on Monday night, made $3.75 million this season. By comparison, Billy Wagner, widely considered the best closer now available, made $9million. Baltimore's B.J. Ryan made $2.6 million but is not as established as either Gordon or Wagner.

    Several times during his five-minute talk with reporters, Gordon addressed his two-year Yankee career in the past tense. "I enjoyed my time here," he said at one point. In two seasons with the Yankees, Gordon has pitched in 159 games, giving up 115 hits in 172-1/3 innings. He has a record of 14-8 with six saves. Though he was considered one of the best setup men in the game, he struggled during the postseason. He was unreliable against the Twins and Red Sox last October and in the division series loss to the Angels this year, he allowed two hits and two runs in 2-1/3 innings. Both hits and both runs came in the 11-7 loss in Game 3, when he did not retire a batter.

    He went out of his way yesterday to praise both Joe Torre and outgoing pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who said on Wednesday that he is stepping down. Gordon also said he learned a lot about closing from Rivera, which may be one of the reasons he feels he is ready to take on that role once again. In 17 big-league seasons, the 37-year-old Gordon has 116 saves and an ERA of 3.93. "I enjoy pitching, period," he said. "I had a great time setting up here. But closing is always going to be the first choice for me."
    "See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

  11. #26

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Goodbye Flash. Great reg season set up man but when the lights got to bright you shit the bed. Hopefully you shit the bed for the Mets as their closer.
    Gabe Kapler is full of heart and determination:
    http://nomaas.org/images/kaplerftl.gif
    :lol:

  12. #27

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Veteran southpaw Al Leiter, who turns 40 later this month, is seriously considering retirement. "There would have to be a lot of talking to convince me to come back," Leiter told the New York Post. Leiter went 7-12 with a 6.13 ERA and 1.77 WHIP for the Marlins and Yankees in 2005.

  13. #28
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    side note from Yankees offseason plans:

    The Texas Rangers have sparked interest in Minnesota Twins' Matt LeCroy after his team had outrighted him to the minors. Lecroy in 2005 had batted .260 with 17 HRs and 50 RBIs.

    Arizona Diamondbacks' short stop Royce Clayton has been offered a 1-year deal to return in 2006 (likely worth about 1.5M), but he says he will test the open market first

    The Diamondbacks have begun negotiations to bring back relief pitcher Tim Worrell, and starting pitcher Shawn Estes for next season

    Several sources are startig to report that the Japanese pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka will be posted soon which would allow him to join an MLB team. He could be one of the top 3 starting pitchers available on the free agent market, if posted.

    The Rays have begun working on a long-term deal with Rocco Balldelli that would buyout his arbitration years. The deal would likely be for 3-years + an option. He appears to be negotiating the deal himself because he fired Scott Boras in July. :lol:

    The Rockies have begun talk about a contract for next season with the reliever Mike DeJean.

    Brian Giles has said he would like to play with his brother in Atlanta, but could always re-sign and have the Padres trade for brother Marcus, who said he would play any position for the Padres. Teams that are interested him are Cardinals, Indians, Tigers, Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Mariners and the Cubs. The Padres are making progress on a long-term deal with him. There is still a significant financial gap, but it's not as vast as when negotations began.
    "See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?"

  14. #29
    Evil Emperor
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    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Several sources are startig to report that the Japanese pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka will be posted soon which would allow him to join an MLB team. He could be one of the top 3 starting pitchers available on the free agent market, if posted.
    this my friends is GOOD NEWS.

    Matsuzaka is like the Roger Clemens of NPB. I had not heard he intended on coming over this soon, the way I understood it was that he would stay over there for a few more years.

    If you listen to Bobby Valentine talk about him you would think he's Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Pete Alexander, Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson all rolled into one.

    Now that is obviously an exageration

  15. #30

    Re: Yankees Off-Season Plans

    Quote Originally Posted by 26 to 6 View Post
    Matsuzaka is like the Roger Clemens of NPB.
    I thought you said don't annoint someone before their proven. (You said that about Jonathan Papelbon)
    I don't ever wanna see the Red and Blues again. :blink:

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