The ALCS: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

[mike546 0]

Their not paying him a lot are they? Because they picked him up from the Dodgers farm system.

 

I originally thought it was just a hot streak for Sturtze. For example, he went 4 2/3 scorless innings against Boston on the night Rivera blew a save, then got shelled for 8 runs the next week. But he finished the year on a huge scoreless innings streak, 12 innings to be exact. He pitched the 3 awesome innings against the Twins in game 2, and went 3 scoreless innings during the last 2 two games at Fenway.

 

I can't guarantee he'll be good next year, but I'm fairly confident he will.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Their not paying him a lot are they? Because they picked him up from the Dodgers farm system.

 

He's eligible for free agency.

[mike546 0]

Question for you Al.

 

If your the Yankees, would you pick up Lieber's option?

[Guest Posada20]

Posada doesn't belong back on this team after the post season he had.

Any chance the Yankees can get rid of you as a fan? Look what Posada did with the pitching staff that he had or I should say didn't have. Posada is second to Jeter at being the team leader.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Question for you Al.

 

If your the Yankees, would you pick up Lieber's option?

No. Simply because I think you can get a better pitcher for $8 Million, or even resign Lieber for less.

[mike546 0]

Posada doesn't belong back on this team after the post season he had.

Any chance the Yankees can get rid of you as a fan? Look what Posada did with the pitching staff that he had or I should say didn't have. Posada is second to Jeter at being the team leader.

You mean the GREAT AWESOME job he did with Brown?

[KingPK 0]

Speaking of over looked years, Cabrera had an AWESOME season.

Agreed. 294/366/512 in Pro Player Stadium, and he's just 21! Most similar batter at age 21, Hank Aaron. Of course Ruben Sierra is #2. In any case though, he has the potential to become great.

So do you think the Sox should hold on to him? Before the playoffs, I thought he was a good addition for this year, but they could do better in the FA market, but now, I wouldn't mind seeing him stay around for a while. Especially since he seems like a guy that really loves what he does (a la Jeter).

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I hate to break your heart, but I was referring to Miguel Cabrera.

[KingPK 0]

Oh yeah, Orlando played in Montreal this year.

 

*Bashes head against wall*

 

Well, do you think they should anyway?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Oh yeah, Orlando played in Montreal this year.

 

*Bashes head against wall*

 

Well, do you think they should anyway?

I honestly don't see what's special about Orlando Cabrera. He's 29, and he's never posted an OPS at or above the league average. His OBP is barely above water. With the loaded shortstop market this offseason, I think the Sox are well off trying to improve at the position.

[mike546 0]

It said in the post today Lieber would be willing to make a new deal.

 

I REALLY want Lieber back. Hes one of those David Cone and Jimmy Key pitchers. A great, nice guy, a veteran with a savy about him.

 

He defintley deserves to come back.

 

I mean, who else out pitches Pedro in a playoff game, and stays close with Curt Schilling in one series?

[The Czech Republic 0]

It said in the post today Lieber would be willing to make a new deal.

 

I REALLY want Lieber back. Hes one of those David Cone and Jimmy Key pitchers.

Jimmy Key, what's he, like, 45?

 

I could hit him.

 

Did you see the game last night Mike? It sucked, didn't it? It sucked!

[mike546 0]

It said in the post today Lieber would be willing to make a new deal.

 

I REALLY want Lieber back. Hes one of those David Cone and Jimmy Key pitchers.

Jimmy Key, what's he, like, 45?

 

I could hit him.

 

Did you see the game last night Mike? It sucked, didn't it? It sucked!

 

I was rooting for the Cardinals.

[Vern Gagne 0]

The old ESPN commerical with the teenage anchor.

[mike546 0]

WOW.

 

Just got this from Anglesaults "wtf is wrong with the Yankees" thread. Funny quote from Al.

 

Andy Pettitte had a 12.27 ERA in the 1999 World Series. A 10.00 ERA in the 2001 World Series. His career postseason ERA is 4.05. That's hardly impressive. Clutch performance is a load of crap. Its not an inherant ability. And before you bring up Derek Jeter, his 314/385/469 career postseason line is nearly equal to his 317/389/462 line in the regular season. And if you mean Vazquez, he IS that dominating. Easily better than any Yankees starter from 2003.

 

Had me tearing up in laughter.

 

God how things change.

 

And this isn't an insult toward you Al, just funny.

[Guest Anglesault]

Hammond was criticized because he couldn't live up to his amazing 2002 campaign with the Braves. He still posted a 2.86 ERA with the Yankees, alongside a 45/11 K:BB ratio. He pitched well in Oakland this year. You can't tell me he wouldn't look better in a Yankees uniform than Felix Heredia.

I think Hammond may have struggled against lefties with us.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

WOW.

 

Just got this from Anglesaults "wtf is wrong with the Yankees" thread. Funny quote from Al.

 

Andy Pettitte had a 12.27 ERA in the 1999 World Series. A 10.00 ERA in the 2001 World Series. His career postseason ERA is 4.05. That's hardly impressive. Clutch performance is a load of crap. Its not an inherant ability. And before you bring up Derek Jeter, his 314/385/469 career postseason line is nearly equal to his 317/389/462 line in the regular season. And if you mean Vazquez, he IS that dominating. Easily better than any Yankees starter from 2003.

 

Had me tearing up in laughter.

 

God how things change.

 

And this isn't an insult toward you Al, just funny.

And he still had a better year than Pettitte.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hammond was criticized because he couldn't live up to his amazing 2002 campaign with the Braves.  He still posted a 2.86 ERA with the Yankees, alongside a 45/11 K:BB ratio.  He pitched well in Oakland this year.  You can't tell me he wouldn't look better in a Yankees uniform than Felix Heredia.

I think Hammond may have struggled against lefties with us.

Just from memory, I recall Hammond being miscast as a lefty killer. Just because he was aging and left-handed, the Yankees assumed he was a LOOGY type pitcher. He's not. Hammond is one of those rare pitchers who is equally adept at facing both righties and lefties.

[Guest Anglesault]

WOW.

 

Just got this from Anglesaults "wtf is wrong with the Yankees" thread. Funny quote from Al.

 

Andy Pettitte had a 12.27 ERA in the 1999 World Series. A 10.00 ERA in the 2001 World Series. His career postseason ERA is 4.05. That's hardly impressive. Clutch performance is a load of crap. Its not an inherant ability. And before you bring up Derek Jeter, his 314/385/469 career postseason line is nearly equal to his 317/389/462 line in the regular season. And if you mean Vazquez, he IS that dominating. Easily better than any Yankees starter from 2003.

 

Had me tearing up in laughter.

 

God how things change.

 

And this isn't an insult toward you Al, just funny.

And he still had a better year than Pettitte.

Quite the feat.

[Brett Favre 0]

I had a better year than Pettite.

 

Here's a little something from Bill Simmons. Hate all the teams he loves, but the guy's hilarious, and didn't know where else to post this:

 

Patrick (Atlanta GA): Any chance of Nomar throwing out the first pitch Saturday?

 

 

Bill Simmons: He's going to come out with Mia, let her throw it and then say, "Thanks, beautiful." And then we're going to shoot him in the head and put him out of his misery.

[Guest Anglesault]

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Joe Torre managed the most bizarre, bang your head against the wall series I have ever personally seen him manage and more or less pissed the series away.

 

His personal dislike of Kenny Lofton kept him out of situations where a baserunner or bunt type guy could be used.

 

Using Tom Gordon in a 19-8 game.

 

Bringing in Felix Heredia to pitch to David Ortiz (it worked, but you can't tell me he wasn't conceding that game.

 

The flat out refusal to tell his team to bunt on Schilling.

 

Pitching to David Ortiz period.

 

Bringing in Homerun Javy over Hernandez in what was still a close game.

 

There were times when I think it bordered on deliberate sabotage.

 

What the fuck happened to him?

 

Is this the difference between Zimmer and Randolph?

[mike546 0]

Hammond was criticized because he couldn't live up to his amazing 2002 campaign with the Braves.  He still posted a 2.86 ERA with the Yankees, alongside a 45/11 K:BB ratio.  He pitched well in Oakland this year.  You can't tell me he wouldn't look better in a Yankees uniform than Felix Heredia.

I think Hammond may have struggled against lefties with us.

Just from memory, I recall Hammond being miscast as a lefty killer. Just because he was aging and left-handed, the Yankees assumed he was a LOOGY type pitcher. He's not. Hammond is one of those rare pitchers who is equally adept at facing both righties and lefties.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

NOW I remember.

 

How Kay used to ramble on about how the changeup is more effective to lefties than righties.

[Guest Anglesault]

Apparently the owner of Mickey Mantle's was seriously going to rename it "Ted Williams'" for thr rest of the World Series before the uproar got to him.

 

I don't even know where to start on that.

[Guest Brian]

I wasn't thinking about disbanding the whole team, certain guys are just indispensible because they're either locked up or too valuable. But there are some guys who are getting up there in age, and maybe they could get some trades going and start rebuilding the farm system. They'll free up room, money, and they'll have something waiting in the wings, in case they need a trade down the line or so they have something for the future. Their farm system has been pretty gutted.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

This might upset AS here but I believe the Yankees should gut the team(save for the worthy ones and the unmoveables) and for 2005; don't even consider it a Championship run, create a fucking TEAM. Remember the dynasty? It was a TEAM.

 

Clearly the "Superstar Mercenaries" approach isn't working, Steinbrener appears to think every position player has to be valued at over $10 Million a year, Giamib/Sheff/AROD/JETER/MATSUI is enough fucking starpower.

 

Randy Johnson won't make a difference just because he's randy Johnson, Johnson/Mussina is a nice one two punch but when Leiber/Vazquez/El Duque is your 3-5 rotation, you have problems (Brown is so fucking gone.) Pavano already said no to the Yankees, so their goes one attractive name.

 

I personally believe The Yankees need to go after not the Beltrans, Beltre's etc of the FA Market but the tool players. It doesn't matter how expensive your team is, when they can't work together and you don't have a complete roster.

 

Instead of giving up your pride and Integrity for Pedro Martinez or creating a impossible move for Randy Johnson, Go for 3 of these pitchers to work along Mussina and Leiber...

 

Brad Radke

Russ Ortiz

Kris Benson

Matt Clement

Cory Lidle

Kevin Millwood

Jaret Wright

Matt Morris

Paul Wilson

Paul Byrd

Jose Lima

Eric Milton

Odalis Perez

 

Are those in the Pedro/Johnson Echelon? Not at all but you can get three of those players for half the price ONE of those two would cost you.

 

Get a couple Relievers such as

Felix Rodriguez

Paul Shuey

Antonio Alfonseca

Jeff Nelson

Scott Williamson (he'll be really cheap)

Rheal Corimer

 

 

Bernie Williams is headed for Retirement or is headed for a more active spot on the bench, Which means people are clamoring for Carlos Beltran. Yes, Beltran is the BEST FA on the market, hands down but You don't need starpower and offense for this team, they need pitching and They can get better quality pitching by not spending money on Beltran. They just need a CF who can play the position and is capable enough at the Plate, there are people on the block capable of that, Hell if you must, sign Steve Finley.

 

Nomar is a Free Agent, thus many people are starting the "Sign Nomar and put him at 2nd" notions, which is a completely stupid concept, he's too much money and he'll bring his baggage in along with his refusal to be the #3 man on the infield.

 

They need a Second baseman despertely and look who is available

 

Bret Boone

Placido Polanco

Jeff Kent

Roberto Alomar

 

and other players whom are capable of fielding, there's no need to sign Nomar when there are smarter cheaper options available and 99% of those options are vastly better choices then Nomar's ego and Miguel Cario and Enrique Wilson's...whatever they have.

[geniusMoment 0]

Paul Wilson is close to signing a multi-year deal in Cincy, he is willing to sign for less to stay, and has said he likes it in Cincy so much he wants to finish his career here. Williamson also wants to return to Cincy, in fact, he had his arm surgery done be the reds orthopediac specialist, and is rehabing at a reds facility not far from where I live on the UC campus.

[Cartman 0]

Too bad Williamson doesnt want to stay with Boston...i'm sure they are willing to give him a minor deal while he rehab's for the next year or so.

[alfdogg 0]

And it begins...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

This might upset AS here but I believe the Yankees should gut the team(save for the worthy ones and the unmoveables) and for 2005; don't even consider it a Championship run, create a fucking TEAM. Remember the dynasty? It was a TEAM.

 

Clearly the "Superstar Mercenaries" approach isn't working, Steinbrener appears to think every position player has to be valued at over $10 Million a year, Giamib/Sheff/AROD/JETER/MATSUI is enough fucking starpower.

 

This team won 100+ games the last three years. The previous Yankee teams coasted in the postseason due to a little luck, and the fact that the competition wasn't as great.

 

Instead of giving up your pride and Integrity for Pedro Martinez or creating a impossible move for Randy Johnson, Go for 3 of these pitchers to work along Mussina and Leiber...

 

Brad Radke

Russ Ortiz

Kris Benson

Matt Clement

Cory Lidle

Kevin Millwood

Jaret Wright

Matt Morris

Paul Wilson

Paul Byrd

Jose Lima

Eric Milton

Odalis Perez

 

Are those in the Pedro/Johnson Echelon? Not at all but you can get three of those players for half the price ONE of those two would cost you.

 

There is a reason some of those guys cost half as much. Jose Lima surrendered 33 home runs in 170.3 IP, in Dodger Stadium. You think Home Run Javy was bad? Kris Benson is league average, as is Kevin Millwood. Russ Ortiz walks almost as many guys as he strikes out.

 

Get a couple Relievers such as

Felix Rodriguez

 

Rodriguez is under contract to the Phillies.

 

Bernie Williams is headed for Retirement or is headed for a more active spot on the bench, Which means people are clamoring for Carlos Beltran. Yes, Beltran is the BEST FA on the market, hands down but You don't need starpower and offense for this team, they need pitching and They can get better quality pitching by not spending money on Beltran. They just need a CF who can play the position and is capable enough at the Plate, there are people on the block capable of that, Hell if you must, sign Steve Finley.

 

Actually, I believe they can improve their pitching by signing Beltran. Pitching is not the only thing that effects a defense. The Yankees were third in K:BB ratio, but they finished 6th in runs allowed because they had a large amount of hits allowed. Why? Perhaps because Bernie Williams patrolled center field past his expiration date. Sign Beltran, and alot of those hits become FlyOut-8.

 

They need a Second baseman despertely and look who is available

 

Bret Boone

Placido Polanco

Jeff Kent

Roberto Alomar

 

and other players whom are capable of fielding, there's no need to sign Nomar when there are smarter cheaper options available and 99% of those options are vastly better choices then Nomar's ego and Miguel Cario and Enrique Wilson's...whatever they have.

 

Alomar's done. He'd be a worse idea than Nomar, because at least Nomar can hit. Bret Boone's value flucuates with his batting average, and the M's are stuck with him for $8 Million anyway.

 

This notion that star players are undesireable is insane. They are stars for the very reason that they are better than role players. One must remember, however, that there is a difference between a star and a name. Many of those mid-level pitchers are guys I would pay no more than $2 Million for. Look at that list of pitchers again. Matt Morris and his 4.72 ERA? Eric Milton had a 4.75 ERA. Cory Lidle had a 4.90 ERA. Millwood had a 4.85 ERA. Paul Wilson has pitched four full seasons, and has yet to post a league average ERA in any of them. These are not role players for a championship team. They are scrubs. We have a term for teams which spend millions on these types of pitchers. They're called the Mets.

[Guest Anglesault]

This might upset AS here but I believe the Yankees should gut the team

stopped reading. Gutting a team assures nothing but losing for several years/