Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Taken from the NY Post BOMBERS MUST CHANGE STRIPES By JOEL SHERMAN October 27, 2003 -- FOR the Yankees, this is the offseason of Alfonso Soriano. They must decide if this skilled player is a second baseman, a center fielder or their best trade chip. With a Yankee loss in the World Series, angry fans and George Steinbrenner want blood and Soriano's no-clue, record 26-strikeout postseason makes him a main villain. But before we let what-have-you-done-for-me-lately passion flourish, remember Soriano is just 25, has 77 homers and 76 steals the past two seasons, and - believe it or not - did walk more, strike out less and play better in the field in 2003. Soriano has similarities to Vladimir Guerrero and Sammy Sosa, both of whom added plate patience as their careers blossomed. So there is tremendous risk in dealing Soriano. But I say trade him anyway because his value is high, but his baseball IQ is low. I question if he ever will have the discipline to be even adequate at any defensive position or shake his homer lust enough to be a consistently tough out. So while he is young, he does not fill two other Yankee mandates - better defense and more quality at-bats. Soriano is a big-enough chip to open up any possibility for the Yanks. An AL GM said he thinks the Rangers, looking to cut payroll, would have to consider a Soriano/Jeff Weaver/prospect package for Alex Rodriguez. But it is hard to imagine either A-Rod or Derek Jeter accepting a position change. So Soriano must be used elsewhere. Why don't we accept the Yanks must re-sign Andy Pettitte. Beyond that, this is not a good upper-tier market for free-agent pitching. Greg Maddux should not pitch in the AL and neither should Kevin Millwood. Bartolo Colon was out of shape in his walk year. What do you suppose he'll look like if given at least a three-year pact? Thus, the Yanks should think of a rotation fronted by Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Jose Contreras, and improve the offense and defense around that. Central to that plan is getting Kansas City's Carlos Beltran and Montreal's Jose Vidro. Both are a year from free agency, which is why they are available and why it is dangerous to lure them. But money is always the Yanks' asset, and if these are players the Yanks want to keep, they will keep them. Beltran, 26, and Vidro, 29, are in prime years and in conjunction with Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams would give the Yanks four switch-hitters who offer on-base and extra-base skills from both sides, making the lineup a nightmare with which to match up. And this is more a style that does not go to sleep against elite pitching in the postseason. Think of Beltran as a younger Williams, just with greater defense skills (both range and arm) and the best base-stealing acumen in the league. Williams moves to a corner outfield spot. Vidro is ordinary defensively, but much steadier than Soriano. The price for Beltran would be Soriano and one AL assistant GM said, "the Royals have to do that because the production is great with Soriano and he is four years from free agency and cheaper than Beltran." The Yanks will want to check with Montreal to see if a trade that begins with Soriano gets the Yanks both starter Javier Vazquez (also a free agent after next season) and Vidro. If not, the Yanks need to take players such as Juan Rivera, Jorge DePaula and any prospects that are not top prospect Dioner Navarro and get Vidro, whose likely $7 million-plus price will be too much for Montreal. These are the Yanks, so in the next few weeks we know they will be linked with all the big names, free agents such as Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Sheffield. Maybe they can resurrect Weaver-for-Ken Griffey discussions. Minnesota's Eric Milton could be too expensive now for Minnesota and the Yanks sure can use a prime lefty starter. Perhaps Japanese free agent shortstop Kaz Matsui would play second. The Cardinals are looking to chop payroll and could move J.D. Drew or even Jim Edmonds. But the Yanks must think prime years, tougher outs on offense, easier outs on defense. The Beltran/Vidro combo is the place to start. This is why George Steinbrenner is bad for baseball Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Because he's willing to shore up his team's weaknesses by making trades and signing players? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BobbyWhioux Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Because the rest of the ostensibly major leagues have been made into a second farm system for the Yankees. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Because he's willing to shore up his team's weaknesses by making trades and signing players? No, because he kills any and all competetive balance by using his never ending funds. He also has a tendency to aquire players just so other teams can't get them. Steinbrenner is bad for baseball, plain and simple Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldSchoolWrestling 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Which makes it oh so sweet when his team loses in the World Series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Um his team did just lose to a team with a payroll more than $100 million lower than his so the competitive balance theory doesn't hold water anymore. Plus this is GREAT what is going to happen because when George gets more involved is when the Yankees make their worst moves, i.e. the 1980s. If Derek Jeter came up in the 80s he would have been traded for Ken Phelps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Which makes it oh so sweet when his team loses in the World Series. yes, but the last couple of years he removed himself from player deals (only exception being Head-too-biggie Japsui) and allowed his GM to get the players, now that they haven't won a WS in <gasp> 3 YEARS(!) he's going to go money crazy and bring in every A-list FA that can be an upgrade over what he has. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 27, 2003 If Derek Jeter came up in the 80s he would have been traded for Ken Phelps. Problem is it appears he's learned something about the sport since he would be going after Beltran, Vasquez, Vidro, Urbina(who would be set-up to Maranara Rivera) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Because he's willing to shore up his team's weaknesses by making trades and signing players? No, because he kills any and all competetive balance by using his never ending funds. He also has a tendency to aquire players just so other teams can't get them. Steinbrenner is bad for baseball, plain and simple Actually, Steinbrenner is bad for his own team. Historically, when he has been the most involved in player personnel decisions, the Yankees have not done well. When George steps back and lets his baseball people take care of things (presuming he doesn't fire Cashman and the rest of the front office), the Yankees do well. Plenty of teams with far fewer resources than the Yankees are starting to do well. Competitive imbalance in baseball is not like it used to be, and a collection of mercenary all-stars is still very vulnerable to a good team which plays solid baseball. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 But before we let what-have-you-done-for-me-lately passion flourish, remember Soriano is just 25, has 77 homers and 76 steals the past two seasons, and - believe it or not - did walk more, strike out less and play better in the field in 2003. Good lord, he's only 25. Get rid of him, George, and see what happens to your team... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted October 27, 2003 But before we let what-have-you-done-for-me-lately passion flourish, remember Soriano is just 25, has 77 homers and 76 steals the past two seasons, and - believe it or not - did walk more, strike out less and play better in the field in 2003. Soriano has similarities to Vladimir Guerrero and Sammy Sosa, both of whom added plate patience as their careers blossomed. So there is tremendous risk in dealing Soriano. But I say trade him anyway. well clearly Joel Shuman knows his baseball. Bored, I'm claiming the Jeter line. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Let George have control. He's just going to shoot himself in the foot by bringing in older free agents. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2003 Bah. Every city has a sportswriter who writes acolumn in the offseason, blathering about how the team should trade Ron Belliard for Alex Rodriguez. I try not to listen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted October 27, 2003 But before we let what-have-you-done-for-me-lately passion flourish, remember Soriano is just 25, has 77 homers and 76 steals the past two seasons, and - believe it or not - did walk more, strike out less and play better in the field in 2003. Good lord, he's only 25. 25 or 125, he killed us this post season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2003 Bored, I'm claiming the Jeter line. I'm quoted in a sig now...do I win something? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted October 29, 2003 Rick Down was the first victim. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
