Back up and running!

Hey everyone, so as you may know i've taken a few months off, along with Ace... and it's about time we get this blog up and running again. Just thought i would mention that Ace won't be returning to the blog, this is now a one man show.
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Just because i've been out of blogging for the last few months, doesn't mean i didn't watch the games, or hear about them... somehow. I've watched almost every game, and i know that this team is more ready for the postseason than they have been in years.

Now you may be a little worried with CC's last start at Tampa Bay, which i don't blame you, but you may as well get his bad start over with before the postseason. Honestly, i feel better knowing he's bombed a start before the playoffs going in than knowing he hasn't. The last thing anyone wants is to throw CC out there for game one against the Tigers or Twins and have him blow up... figuratively and literally. I mean, the guys been absolutely unhittable for almost two months, it was bound to happen. But i'm expecting alot of fist pumping from CC this postseason, and definitely looking forward to it.

A.J. Burnett is a different story, you don't want to throw him out there after a string of bad starts, he's too streaky. Though he may snap out of it--it was very important they had him feeling good and on a decent roll before sending him in for game 2.

Regarding the offensive concerns, of course A-Rod will be on the top of that list, but i think it's about time he snaps out of it. Having Teix hit in front of him, i think help takes off a load of pressure to have him produce. I know all of you remember the last few postseasons with him, he was pressing and trying too hard. Now, i'm not saying he won't be pressing this time, but having Teix there in front of him, must take off a load of the pressure.

Look for Nick Swisher to have a huge ALDS, i can feel he's ready for it. He's just one of those guys you know can come through for you in these types of games...

Naturally having success in the playoffs relies on dominant starting pitching... if the Yankees get decent starting pitching, these teams are in trouble.

What is wrong with Mark Teixeira?

To say that Mark Teixeira has been somewhat of a let down so far would be a huge understatement. But what exactly is wrong with him? To find out lets take a look at his current stats and compare them to his career norms.

The first thing to look at his walk and strikeout (K) rates. His walk rate is actually way up at 16.5% from his career average of roughly 12%. His K rate has remained steady with his career average at about 22%. Even though it appears he has improved his patience at the plate, both his OBP and SLG percentages are about 100 points below his career average at .338 and .434 respectively. The biggest culprit is pretty clear though, his batting average on balls in play (BABIP), currently at a whopping .184. A large portion of that is bad luck, as a BABIP that low is not sustainable, but there also appears to be another culprit, his line drive percentage(LD%). His LD% is down over 10% while his fly ball percentage (FB %) and his ground ball percentage (GB %) are up about 10% each. To give you an idea of how big a difference this can make, the league average BABIP on line drives is about .700 while the BABIP for ground balls and fly balls between .230 and .250... Ya that can make quite the difference.

Okay so it’s pretty clear he is just making worse contact, which means he must be swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone right? Wrong, he has actually swung at 2% less of pitches outside the strike zone this year. So he must be making less contact with balls in the strike zone? Again, wrong he is only a percentage point lower than when he had his monster year last year. The only place where there appears to be a huge discrepancy is his contact rate with balls outside the zone, which is 20% higher at 70% than his career average of 50%.

So what exactly does all this mean? One of two things in my eyes. One, he has just been extremely unlucky so far and it’s just a matter of time before things start to go his way. Or two the pressure of playing in New York is affecting him, and he is starting to press. Whatever it may be if he does not start to produce better the Yankees are not going to go very far this year.

*Note- he is a solid buy low candidate for anyone who plays fantasy baseball

Some thoughts continued: Teixeira, Pettite

Well, it wasn't long since i last made a post, and i already have alot to talk about, i'll start with Andy Pettite.



Late last night, Andy Pettite declined the Yankees 1-year 10 million dollar offer. I'm a big fan of Andy... and i always will be, but where does he think he's going to get 10 million dollars a year coming off the season that he just had.

I've always supported Andy Pettite with everything, even later in the secondhalf of last year when he was struggling. In the steroid scandal with him and Roger Clemens, i supported him, the fans supported him, the team supported him. Andy has been a great player and teamate durring his entire time with the Yankees, he has a great attitude and knows how to win. Unfortunately for Andy, he is no longer a 16 MM dollar pitcher.

Andy recieving a 10 MM offer was a great oppurtinity for him to pitch in the New Yankee stadium and also still be one of the highest paid pitchers in Major League Baseball. Where he thinks he can go and get 10 MM a year, i don't know, i can't see any teams in the MLB forking over such money on a 36 year old player with a bad elbow.

Now, my feelings towards Andy on this matter are alot lighter than what i've seen with other Yankee fans; however i still am suprised with how Andy has handled the matter.

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Ok, enough with the serious talk... Mark Teixeira was introduced today, and i'm really excited. If you watched the press conference on YES like i did, you could see how happy Mark was to finally be introduced as a Yankee.

If you didn't watch the conference you also missed Brian Cashman or... i like to call him 'Caaashh mooneyyy' .. get the shittt scared out of him when the Microphone screeched.

If you get the chance, watch the conference again later tonight on YES (i'm sure they'll be replaying it)

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Sergio Mitre was suspended 50 games for abusing the league's drug testing policy...

So much for that great signing...

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Yesterday i posted a link to a post David Chase made on Roto Authority... he has since folllowed up with a part two.

Very interesting read if you get the chance.. here's the link.

Teixeira is NY bound

Well, while i was in a deep sleep the last few hours, Mark Teixeira seem to have agreed to a contract with the Yankees.

-What does this mean Yankee fans? I am calling a "world series sweep. 4 games. See ya."

-In other news... Bernie Williams made his debut in Winter ball... he went 1-3 with a line drive single up the middle.

-Meanwhile... Rinku and Dinesh love Chinese food...


gotta love these guys... and did i just get a CC Sabathia sighting?

-If you are interested in learning the type of guy Phil Hughes really is check this out, really cool story.

-back with more thoughts on Teixeira later...

Teix wants to be a Yankee?

That's what really is coming to mind right now, i know he hasn't come out straight forward and said it, but think about it.

Mark said he wants to play on the east coast and he wants to win. Teix has had complications in the past with the Red Sox, and they've grown farther and farther apart as the offseason goes on. The Angels, who i thought were the best suitors for Mark, just pulled their offer from the table, who does this leave... the Nationals, Orioles and the Yankees.

Mark also has said he wants to be on a contending team, counting out the Orioles and Nationals. The way i see it, is once Mark gets a solid offer from the Yankees, he's going to take it.

Mark wants to make his decision before Christmas, reasonably so, the guy has to get situated in. The Yankees had better make a solid offer soon, or we may end up seeing Teix playing for the Orioles, and the AL east is hard enough as it is.

I personally would love to see this guy in pinstripes next year, and for the first time i kind of think it's a possibility. I was so dead set on Mark Teixiera heading to the Angels (ever since we signed AJ and CC), that i didn't even think of us signing him.

How's this for a lineup Yankees fans (yes i do enjoy putting up theoretical lineups):

Jonny Damon-LF(i just totally forgot how to spell his first name, is it Johnny, jonny, johny? brain fart at its finest)
Derek Jeter-SS
Mark Teixeira-1B
Alex Rodriguez-3B
Jorge Posada-C
Hideki matsui-DH
Xavier Nady-RF
Nick Swisher-CF
Robinson Cano-2B

That IS a world series team.

Production problem...

The Yankees lost two key members of their offense last year in Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi. Even with those two the Yankees offense ranked 7th in the AL, so one can not expect Nick Swisher alone to pick up the pieces.

It was reported today that the Yankees were still very interested in the two biggest bats in the free agent pool despite spending almost a quarter of a billion dollars on pitchers already.

Making an offer to Mark Teixeira would be smart; however he is looking for a long term deal, can the Yankees really afford that considering what they've already spent? Manny Ramirez is also out there, and has even said he would love to play in New York, a shorter term deal would be available, but still, the price would be extremely high.

Realistically, the Yankees should look at other options, in case they are unable to sign Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez. Players like Adam Dunn or Milton Bradley can be signed worth far less. Just imagine if the Yankees signed BOTH Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez... that would be crazy.

Let me just give you a mouth drooling theoretical opening day lineup...

Jonny Damon-CF
Derek Jeter-SS
Alex Rodriguez-3B
Manny Ramirez-LF
Mark Teixeira-1B
Jorge Posada-C
Hideki Matsui-DH
Xavier Nady-RF
Robinson Cano-2B

Now that you're salivating over that lineup... take a look and enjoy your opening day starting rotation.

CC Sabathia
Chien Ming Wang
AJ Burnett
Joba Chamberlain
Andy 'Big game' Pettite

I don't know about you Yankee fans, but i'm anxiously awaiting opening day 2009 wether Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez are Yankees or not.