i like it Derek.  you’re pumped, i’m pumped.  the team is a little younger, improved defensively, and the pitching staff is going to strike out a shit-ton of hitters this year.  this is the most “balanced” yankee team in 5 years.

all that’s left is to start passing out the NRI’s and create some competition for the bench.

this is the most “balanced” yankee team in 5 years

Especially if the Jeter’s improved defense is for real (even if he’s only -7), Cano’s defensive lapse last year was a fluke, and Melky or (especially) Gardner can stick in CF.  I’m generally optimistic, so I think these things will generally happen, and they may actually be the most balanced team since the 90’s; when, Brosious was at 3rd, Tino at 1st, Bernie was still a good defender and Knoblauch was as well.

all that’s left is to start passing out the NRI’s and create some competition for the bench

I think that has already been done.  Though I’m sure they could add a few more in the coming weeks.

In other news, FanGraphs had something to say about the Chase Wright trade.  Not a lot, but in particular, “Frankly, Fryer seems like a bit much to give up for Wright, but I’ll give the Brewers and their exposure to Fryer the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.”

I’m not trying to say this was a steal by Cashman or we should start penciling Fryer into the 2011 starting lineup or anything.  But more indications that this was a solid trade by Cashman.

But more indications that this was a solid trade by Cashman

Yeah, and I think more than anything it shows how deep the farm system is with pitching. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Wright holding down a spot in an NL rotation sometime in the next 2 seasons.

Wright might be able to fill in at the back of an NL rotation.  but i am comfortable with the return they got.  Fryer is a bit of a longshot, but he’s off the 40 man and has at least shown some offensive skills.  if he keeps hitting this year, maybe he makes it to AA by the end of the year and turns into a C prospect.

there was some debate as to whether they should have kept Wright over Giese, but i think i’d rather have Giese and Fryer than Wright.

Aw, come on.  Kevin Millar in the division again?  Wasn’t his line .400/.500/.800 against the Yankees or something stupid?  I was hoping he’d sign somewhere else.

Agree on Giese vs. Wright.  It might have been Aaron Small syndrome, but Giese was getting guys out last year in the majors, and should at least have a decent shot at being a productive long-man.

Aw, come on.  Kevin Millar in the division again? Wasn’t his line .400/.500/.800 against the Yankees or something stupid?  I was hoping he’d sign somewhere else.

Even if that line meant something, it’s safe to say that he’ll have a tougher time doing it against the new staff than the old one.

A better reason for wanting Millar out of the division is just that he and his obnoxious “Cowboy Up” persona get on my nerves.

Who do I have to voodoo hex to ensure health for the Yanks this year?

Joe Torre?

A better reason for wanting Millar out of the division is just that he and his obnoxious “Cowboy Up” persona get on my nerves.

Yeah, that’s most of it.  It was just extra annoying when you combine the persona with not sucking.  I was also just joking.

Guys, sorry for the hijack, but this is too good not to share.  And, er, it’s spring training related!  It stars a Hall of Famer!

Warning: NSFW or the easily offended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6403VV2oyu0

What’s the concept here - he’s mic’ed (sp?)?

This was funny (Sam Borden posting for Pete Abe), talking about what foods represent current Yankees:

“Teixeira: Wienerschnitzel (no one knows how to spell it or pronounce it, but it’s actually pretty good)”

If ever there was an appropriate time for a “Food Metaphor” tag, this is it…

For Jeter, I would’ve gone with vanilla ice cream: bland and predictable!

But still my favorite!

rilke, it looks & sounds to my eyes like he’s just done or is about to do something for a news crew and is mic’ed.  He either forgot to turn it off or doesn’t care, figuring that it will never be used.  The shooting was probably for B-roll.

“MLB.com reports that the Rangers called off a two-year contract agreement with Ben Sheets when they determined that he has a torn flexor tendon in his elbow that may require surgery.”

I just saw that myself.  Apparently, there was a reason no one wanted any part of Sheets.

Kepner randomly notes that “Matt Smith [w]as physically unable to straighten his pitching elbow.”  Bummer re Sheets.

I don’t remember Smith from 2006, despite his infinite ERA+.  Oh, he was in the Abreu/Lidle “trade”.

Call for Jeter to CF by Christina Kahrl on ESPN yesterday, but I’m no Insider.

Seems Andruw turned down minor league contract offer from The Yanks.

zenslinger - I am, and I even got SG to run some projections on that (see the comments section of the prior post re: best debutes of all time).  Suffice it to say that the idea sounds better than it would probably work out to be.  We’ve kicked around Jeter to the OF for years now.  The main problem from a performance perspective is that I don’t know that you can just assume Jeter would be a good CFer.  There are obviously other obstacles (Jeter’s ego, the time it would take to teach him CF). 

If there was a really top-notch SS available, maybe.  The OC isn’t that.  I think you need a no doubt about it upgrade to justify dealing with the obstacles.

Thanks, Rob, I should have known it was already discussed.

Was just reading Verducci being interviewed about The Book on SI.com. He says Jeter will never move from SS, making the comment—of questionable relevance but interesting—that quarterbacks and goalkeepers are forced to retire before they consider moving positions. I suppose as long as he’s not truly bad, it will be hard to move him, but if he resigns for four years…can he play SS for five more years? I guess Omar Vizquel has done it until past forty.

The Yanks should be very well improved defensively this year, so the heat won’t be on Jeter’s glove except among the statheads.

That comment is not of questionable relevance, it’s absolutely irrelevant.  The comparison might make some small amount of sense if you were talking about turning a pitcher into your next shortstop.  Of course quarterbacks and goalkeepers don’t switch positions.  So what?  Those positions require a highly specialized set of skills that are of little use at any other position.  IOW, once they’ve been playing at the highest level of their respective sports for several years, most QBs and goalies aren’t good enough at the rest of the game to play anywhere else.  But aging baseball players switch to easier positions all the time, especially catchers and shortstops.

Do a LOT of shortstops switch?  I know some do, but most don’t hit well enough to play a position in which defense is easier but more hitting is required.  Or do they?  How common is it really?  That’s a serious question, not a gauntlet thrown down.  In general I agree with MC that the comparison is not relevant.

And Rob Neyer responds to Christina Kahrl:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3886715&name=Neyer_Rob

Do a LOT of shortstops switch?

Depends on how you define “a LOT” I guess.  OTTOMH: Ernie Banks, Robin Yount (both injury-related, of course), A-Rod (special case), Cal Ripken, Vern Stephens, Rico Petrocelli, Buck Weaver, Carlos Guillen, Mark Grudzielanek, Toby Harrah, Jim Fregosi, Jay Bell.  Michael Young starting in a little over a month.  I’m sure there’s a bunch more.  And of course, lots of shortstops turn into utility guys eventually.

most don’t hit well enough to play a position in which defense is easier but more hitting is required

A lot of the guys on the list above didn’t hit much after they moved.  Some of them didn’t hit much before they moved.  Ripken didn’t really hit well enough for SS anymore by the time he moved back to third base.

I’m having trouble of thinking of SS who switched after 30 and remained full time players for a number of years.  This isn’t a 25 yr old making the switch.

There is also B. J. Upton who now plays CF successfully after trying out SS for a while. Granted, he was very young when he was shifted, but he did switch.

thats kind of my point.
Most switches occur young.
I don’t want to check all of the guys in [26] but most seem to have switched young or become part-time players after switching.

In [46] of the previous thread I asked where Jeter goes after SS if that day comes for whatever reason.  Is LF a sensible option for him if you have to put him somewhere or is it SS/DH/retire?

Banks was 31.  Grudzielanek was 30.  Bell was 33 and had two seasons as a full-time 2B and one more where he got 500 PA splitting time between second and third.  Ripken was 36 and kept his streak going for two years at 3B.

Is LF a sensible option for him if you have to put him somewhere or is it SS/DH/retire?

Maybe he and A-Rod share 3B and DH starting in 2011, while occasionally filling in for Hardy at short.

I’d be interested in seeing Jeter’s first step at 3rd.

Jeter could be a second baseman. I really don’t think he could play the OF right now or even 3rd base.

I’d like to know, what if Matt Wieters got offed by the very same bikers?

Actually, it was a completely different set of bikers that off’ed him.  Came out of left field.

My guess is Jeter will move to DH permanently whenever he does move.

I can’t imagine Jeter accepting a DH job and also don’t think that Cashman could be that stupid to give the DH role to an old Jeter.

Jeter’s future looks very uncertain.

You can’t imagine Jeter being a DH? Really? It’s not that much of a stretch.

A 39 year old Pete Rose hit .282/.352/.354 for a nifty OPS+ of 94 in 1980.  In 735 PA.  While playing 95% of his teams defensive innings at first base.  That team won the World Series.  Two years later, he hit .271/.345/.338 (90) while starting every single game at 1B for a team that finished three games back, and almost certainly would have made the playoffs in a three-division format.

So why is it so hard to imagine Jeter as a DH?  Or to dismiss the possibility out of hand because no GM would be that stupid?  Now I’m certainly not recommending that teams go out and find aging hitters with diminishing skills and hand them the DH job, but it’s not as if this has never happened before and won’t happen again.

You can’t imagine Jeter being a DH?

No. I just don’t think he’ll want to. I think he rather leave the Yankees than being a DH.

Um.. okay.

I just don’t think he’ll want to. I think he rather leave the Yankees than being a DH.

Based on what, exactly?  Having watched the guy’s entire public life, it seems to me that the very essence of Derek Jeter is that he doesn’t let anybody really know the first goddamned thing about who he really is, and yet we all think we know this kind of stuff about him.  I’m not picking on you specifically.  I just think it’s quite a remarkable phenomenon, really.

Having watched the guy’s entire public life, it seems to me that the very essence of Derek Jeter is that he doesn’t let anybody really know the first goddamned thing about who he really is, and yet we all think we know this kind of stuff about him

My sentiments exactly.  Has anyone ever even asked him if he’d consider changing positions?  Everything here is so ridiculously speculative because we’re all going completely winter-batshit.  SG, bless his soul, chums the water with what little gruel he can scrounge, but we’re all so very thirsty for real blood.  Spring training and the WBC can’t get here fast enough.  I’m dying.  Dying!

Everything here is so ridiculously speculative because we’re all going completely winter-batshit.  SG, bless his soul, chums the water with what little gruel he can scrounge, but we’re all so very thirsty for real blood.  Spring training and the WBC can’t get here fast enough.  I’m dying.  Dying!

Clearly someone needs to accidentally insult someone again.

not it! <touches nose>

Cash as a NRI seems sensible.  Wasn’t there some talk years back of the Sox doing this with Flaherty in order to pick his brain re: yankee pitching?
Not that there is anything to it, really.  But there hasn’t been much turnover in the Sox staff so it could be useful.