Saturday, February 20, 2010
It has begun...
Hooray! Ring the bells, sound the alarms, and wake up the children because Spring Training is upon us! Pitchers and catchers reported to camp Thursday and a few others reported early to get a jump start on their title defense in the upcoming 2010 season. The biggest stories that will likely begin to take shape when Grapefruit League games start next month will be the fifth starter pitching, whether Granderson will play center or left field, and whether or not Kevin Long can help some hitters hit off of left handed pitchers or improve their swings. Other than those details the Yankee team is pretty much set barring a disaster or explosion of skills by a prospect. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yanks made another minor trade during or just after Spring Training because they will have three to four viable starting pitchers remaining and you can't just throw those guys in the bullpen. I see either Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre being traded. I like Gaudin better and think he pitched better for New York last season than did Mitre. The problem is that Brian Cashman, the GM, has a man crush on Mitre for some reason so he might be more reluctant to trade him. However, at this point it doesn't really matter because I am too excited and stoked to care about the trivial details. It's baseball time people and I can't wait for this next season!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Final pieces likely in place
The Yankees are most likely done dealing this offseason as they have made one minor trade and signed one free agent. The Yankees traded a minor league infielder to the Texas Rangers for minor league outfielder Greg Golson. Golson will compete for a roster spot during spring training. The 24 year old is a speedster and solid defensively. He could be a good right handed hitting compliment to the host of left handed hitting outfielders we currently have.
The other move the Yanks made was to sign veteran outfielder Randy Winn to a one year deal in which he will most likely be playing left field. Winn played the last few years with the Giants and had previously played with Seattle and Tampa Bay. The 35 year old is a switch hitter but he might as well just be a left handed hitter which is why this move confuses me. Winn hit .292 against right handed pitchers and only .158 against lefties. So, rather than signing a right handed hitter to platoon in left field with Brett Gardner, the Yankees sign a guy that can really only do damage from the left side.
While the Yankees do have right handed hitters in Jamie Hoffmann and Golson in the outfield mix, it is unlikely that the Yanks will look to carry five outfielders on their active roster. This means that, barring some move or monstrous spring training, Golson will be sent down and Hoffmann will have to be sent back to the Nationals. We received Hoffmann from the Nationals as compensation for the Brian Bruney trade but, since he was signed and traded to the Yankees, he would have to be sent back to the Nationals if he doesn't remain on the Yankees active roster.
Essentially the Yankees have two switch hitter in the outfield in Winn and Swisher and two left handers in Gardner and Granderson. The hope is that the Yankee hitting coach, Kevin Long, can improve the swings of all four outfielders that remain on the roster so that this concern does not become an actual problem. It would be great if the guys didn't need right handed hitting compliments but only time will really tell what will happen with that.
Updated lineup:
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF
8. Granderson CF
9. Winn/Gardner LF
The other move the Yanks made was to sign veteran outfielder Randy Winn to a one year deal in which he will most likely be playing left field. Winn played the last few years with the Giants and had previously played with Seattle and Tampa Bay. The 35 year old is a switch hitter but he might as well just be a left handed hitter which is why this move confuses me. Winn hit .292 against right handed pitchers and only .158 against lefties. So, rather than signing a right handed hitter to platoon in left field with Brett Gardner, the Yankees sign a guy that can really only do damage from the left side.
While the Yankees do have right handed hitters in Jamie Hoffmann and Golson in the outfield mix, it is unlikely that the Yanks will look to carry five outfielders on their active roster. This means that, barring some move or monstrous spring training, Golson will be sent down and Hoffmann will have to be sent back to the Nationals. We received Hoffmann from the Nationals as compensation for the Brian Bruney trade but, since he was signed and traded to the Yankees, he would have to be sent back to the Nationals if he doesn't remain on the Yankees active roster.
Essentially the Yankees have two switch hitter in the outfield in Winn and Swisher and two left handers in Gardner and Granderson. The hope is that the Yankee hitting coach, Kevin Long, can improve the swings of all four outfielders that remain on the roster so that this concern does not become an actual problem. It would be great if the guys didn't need right handed hitting compliments but only time will really tell what will happen with that.
Updated lineup:
1. Jeter SS
2. Johnson DH
3. Texeira 1B
4. Rodriguez 3B
5. Posada C
6. Cano 2B
7. Swisher RF
8. Granderson CF
9. Winn/Gardner LF
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