There are a bunch of story lines and discussions that have been floating around the blogosphere over the last few days that I wanted to address. Let’s run through them:
1) Mike Axisa of RAB wrote an interesting post on Jorge Posada’s diminished bat speed, which set off a conflagration in the comments regarding Jorge’s value. While Jorge’s overall numbers have been atrocious, his performance against righties has been solid, to the point where I think it likely that a strict platoon of Posada and Andruw Jones is the Yankees’ best option at DH. Posada has a .349 wOBA against RHP, which would place 5th overall among all DH’s, while Jones is hitting lefties at a .371 wOBA clip. Still, calling up Jesus Montero would give the Yankees the opportunity to have one player fill that role, which would deepen the bench and give the team more roster flexibility. All that said, Posada does deserve a spot on the roster, but it is up to the manager to utilize him properly and stop letting him bat against lefties when superior hitters are available.
2) It seems like every five days, we go through the same discussions regarding AJ Burnett. He pitches at a mediocre (or worse) level, and then we get to talk about how much money he makes and bemoan the fact that he is not a #2 starter. We hear that he should be better, that his stuff is so super and that he must be underachieving. It seems that on some level, people are stilling holding out hope that he will bounce back, and still have some measure of expectation that his status as a 16.5 million dollar player will force him to improve. When the expectations vastly outstrip the results, frustration is certain to follow. It is time to come to terms with the fact that he is not very good, and he is not going to get better. He’s a decent (at best) back-end starter, and the fact that he signed a fat contract two years ago should not cloud our judgment when we set our expectations. Maybe if we can all accept what he is and move on, there will be less frustration when he pitches to his mediocre talent level.
3) I am not going to dignify the story with a link, but I am sure you have heard something about Alex Rodriguez possibly being in trouble with Major League Baseball for gambling in house poker games with other celebrities (his attorney has since called the report factually inaccurate). He was warned in 2005 about playing in underground games, and Bud Selig is apparently upset about Alex ignoring his warnings. Regardless of what you think about the criminality of these actions (the games may not actually be illegal, depending on California law and certain details about the games that have not been revealed), Selig has no grounds for suspending Alex. For a league that has never suspended anyone for DUI or domestic abuse to turn around and crack down on poker games would come off as patently absurd.
Furthermore, any such suspension would likely be reviewable by an arbitrator under a “just cause” standard, and arbitrators have generally read the commissioner’s “best interest of the game” power narrowly when it comes to off-field conduct that does not directly impact the sport or the fans. The only issue that Selig might be able to grab onto is the “connection to gamblers” angle, but there is nothing to indicate that Alex associated with bookies or did anything that would implicate him in gambling upon baseball. Until evidence to that end is released, this is likely nothing more than baseball trying to show that they are on top of all matters regarding player conduct. A possible suspension makes for a sensational headline, but it is almost certainly a toothless, empty threat passed along by officials and reporters looking to make a splash by taking aim at the easiest of targets.
4) Derek Jeter is hitting a whopping .333/.380/.495 in 108 PA since coming off the DL, and is at .290/.349/.405 since May 1st, which would put him in the top 10 for OPS among shortstops for the season. It is obviously folly to adjudge a player to be fixed while he is in the midst of a hot streak, but Jeter is at least back to 2010 levels in terms of offense, leaving at least a glimmer of hope that he will not drop to replacement level until the last guaranteed season or the option year of his current contract.
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IMHO, Burnett should be sent to the bullpen (he still can throw serious gas for an inning or two) and roll the dice w/ Nova and Hughes. If those guys can’t cut it after let’s say 5-7 starts then it’s time for Cahsman break-out Plan 9, from Outer Space….Back to Burnett, it seems that he just can’t stay focused if anything goes wrong, by putting him in the back of the bullpen he very possibly could work his way up the pecking order. As a starter, I really think he’s toast.
By all rights Burnett is probably the odd man out. If not this year than certainly next.
The only issue is we don’t know TRULY how popular or unpopular Burnett is in that clubhouse. It would without a doubt be a massive story and a huge blow to a guy like Burnett.
From a baseball standpoint Burnett should go (cetainly next season.)
The other issue is I don’t trust Burnett in hi leverage situations.
Thts his biggest issue. He has bad control and worse command and generally speaking melts in big spots.
Seems to me there is no way out.
If Burnett is a liked guy in the clubhouse taking his spot wouild be a bad clubhouse move during the regular season.
And he could possibly be a worse reliever than he is starter.
The greatest possible solution would be to pay 8 million a year of Burnetts salary and trade him to a NL team. But the odds of that are next to nil.
The Yanks unofficially clinched the wildcard with a win last night – check this:
If the Yanks play just 27-26 ball the rest of the way, the Angels would have to play 34-17 / two wins every three games / .667 ball the rest of the day to finish tied with the Yanks. I see the Yanks playing far better baseball than 27-26 and don’t see the Angels playing 34-17 or better ball the rest of the way.
I don’t see the Indians catching the Tigers and I ultimately see the Rangers prevailing over the Angels despite being only 1.5 games ahead of them. That means the Yanks’ first round opponent will be the Tigers or Rangers.
Games 1 and 5: Sabathia vs. Verlander or Ugando
Game 2: Colon vs. Porcello or Lewis
Game 3: Garcia vs. Scherer or Wilson
Game 4: Burnett/Nova/Hughes vs. Fister or Holland/Garrison for Texas
Detroit and Texas could switch their Game 2 and 3 starters.
Sabathia vs. Weaver
Colon vs. Santana
Garcia vs. Haren
Burnett/Nova/Hughes vs. Chatwood
if the Angels make the postseason.
For point one:Bring Montero up, if he’s as good as the hype, boot Posada. If not, keep Posada.
As for A.J. he is rapidly becoming an expensive version of Mitre. You have to keep him due to salary size, but mop guy is a good fit. It won’t happen though.
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Worst case, Nova gets sent down, knowing he gets a quick recall, when somebody gets hurt.
Yeah Burnett should go to the pen but how many 1st rate starters have stories of mediocre veterans keeping them down on the farm. This may be one of those scenarios unfolding.