when did Mo rip the pen?

Per Pete Abe: “Velocity doesn’t mean that you’re going to do the job. Throwing hard doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get it done. We have big guys like Farnsworth, Proctor and Bruney. And those guys they want to do the job.

I would never say they don’t want to do the job. Sometimes it doesn’t go our way. Definitely it seems like it doesn’t go their way when they’re pitching.”

Lidge>>Farnsworth

I’d pass on Vidro for Igawa.  At least you can send Igawa to AAA.  Vidro you’re stuck with on the 25 man roster this year and next.

Sean, has there been an addition to the fam yet?

Henn or Myers? Unless Torre gets shitcanned between now and then, bye bye Sean Henn.

Here’s what I’d do: 1) Trade Farnsworth to a Strip Club, for a case of baby oil. Here’s the logic, Farnsworth would probably be a better strip club bouncer than he is a relief pitcher, and that baby oil sure smells nice.

2) Don’t do anything that involves Wilson Betemit.

3) Trade Igawa for Santana straight up. Come on Cashman, earn your keep already.

All pretty sensible Sean, ‘cept that I can’t see Houston making that deal.  Lidge, at his best, was a far superior pitcher than Farny, and unlike Farny seems to recaptured top form in recent outings.  Having traded one of their top relievers, doubtful they’re looking to part with another.

Daily News has reported that Yanks turned down a Gagne deal centered on Horne.  I don’t know squat about Horne, but he’s at the most the 4th best/ML-ready pitching prospect (after Hughes. Joba, Kennedy).  We can’t horde these guys forever...anyone have further thoughts on this?

The Dukes concept is very interesting.  But I’m of the belief that you can’t have too many bullpen arms.  Even if we were to add Joba and Gagne, I say you keep Proctor.  The Betemnit trade would be a great one to make in the off-season, because I think Proctor may be on the rapid decline (thanks in part to his usage of course), but I think he’s got enough in the tank to help us for the next 2-3 mos.

I’d be for Vidro if he took Cairo’s spot, but I don’t think his defense is good enough for that.

Finally, worth noting that we have the good fortune of avoiding the Chisox 2 best pitchers—Buehrle and Vazquez—this week.  So while a sweep is not imperative, it’s what a serious playoff contender would do.  Anything less than 2 out of 3 would be appalling.

Looking ahead to Cleve series in 10 days, matchups appear to line up like so:

Fri: Hughes-Carmona
Sat: Moose-Byrd
Sun: Pettitte-Westbrook

Sort of not the A team for either team...nice to avoid CC though.  Lot of pressure on Hughes in the opener.

I would think Farnsworth could pass through waivers, although I don’t really understand how that works… Especially if you are just looking to dump salary and get back a minor leaguer with no future.

If I am correct, today may not be the deadline that matters for him.

If the Rangers turned down Horne for Gagne, then they are waiting for the Yanks to relent and offer someone better, probably Kennedy.  Cashman would be insane to give up someone like Kennedy for a two month inury-riddled rental like Gagne.

I’d love to see the Astros bite, but I doubt they’d want Farnsworthless or Duncan.  I think the Yanks might have to include another prospect to sweeten the deal.

I could see Seattle taking Igawa, making Ichiro and their Japanese fan base happy.

B-Man - Cash had better horde those prospects.  Pettite, Moose, and Clemens are no spring chickens.  Pettite can be gone next year.  Clemens is a FA after the season.  Moose will have a hard time pitching well next year and can’t be counted on for big things as he nears 40.  Yanks are going to need all the young pitchers they can get.  And they can’t count on FA pitchers to fix the situation.

Sean, has there been an addition to the fam yet?

Not yet… Saturday is the due date, so really any day now.

All pretty sensible Sean, ‘cept that I can’t see Houston making that deal.  Lidge, at his best, was a far superior pitcher than Farny, and unlike Farny seems to recaptured top form in recent outings.  Having traded one of their top relievers, doubtful they’re looking to part with another.

The Lidge thing is a bit of a stretch, admittedly, however - Lidge and Ensberg make a total of $9.7 million this season and are both still arbitration eligible for next year - Capt. Tightpants is owed another $10.75 million between this year and next, so if you’re Tim Pupura you get a little financial stability and a possible prospect for dead money in Ensberg and a guy who’ll wind up getting a raise presumably next year.

I’d love to see the Astros bite, but I doubt they’d want Farnsworthless or Duncan.  I think the Yanks might have to include another prospect to sweeten the deal.

I didn’t include it, but maybe add someone like the Attorney General or Kevin Thompson to the Houston deal, but ask for Orlando Palmeiro as well. If you’re not a contender, you don’t need a PH specialist.

Sean, has there been an addition to the fam yet?

Not yet… Saturday is the due date, so really any day now.

The fact that you’re posting, and posting without numerous and blatant typos, should hint that the new addition has yet to arrive.

Sleep now.

PS - if you have ESPN Classic, that will become your new best friend during midnight feedings, rockings and changings.

Most of those deals are completely unrealistic. No way that Lidge deal happens or the Proctor deal. Dukes has way to much talent to give up on like that.

1) Gagne for Jeff Marquez and Tyler Clippard

We`ll get draft picks as compensation which will make loss of them less painful. I`ve also heard it might take slightly less than that. By that I mean Jeff Karstens instead of Marquez if that’s possible do it. If not, find the middle ground.

2) Proctor for Betemit

Betemit strengthens the bench and is insurance for Phillips. He can play almost every position and would definitely be an upgrade over Cairo

3) Dump Farnsworth and Myers

Just addition by subtraction. Both are terrible we need to just get rid of them

i don’t think any of the other teams in those trades would accept those offers, except for maybe the Seattle trade.

the first and 3rd don’t feel very realistic to me.

Dukes is nuts, but he has options.  they don’t have to trade him.  they are better off sending him down and seeing if he matures.  you should wait on talent like that. what does it cost you to wait, Scott Proctor?

they are better off sending him down and seeing if he matures.

Normally I’d agree, but Tampa has placed Dukes on the restricted list - meaning they are essentially done with him - he’s not going to Triple-A and he ain’t coming back to Tampa.

Daily News has reported that Yanks turned down a Gagne deal centered on Horne.  I don’t know squat about Horne, but he’s at the most the 4th best/ML-ready pitching prospect (after Hughes. Joba, Kennedy).  We can’t horde these guys forever...anyone have further thoughts on this?

i agree with turning this down.

who cares if he is the 4th best prospect for the Yankees??  you don’t rate him in comparison to the yankees’ system.  you rate him in comparison to the rest of the prospects in baseball.  he is a very good prospect.

and you don’t trade very good pitching prospects for 30 innings. 

it’s as if no one has been paying attention for the last 4 seasons while Darrell May, Tim Redding, Aaron Small, Donovan Osbourne, and Scott Erickson were starting games for the NEW YORK YANKEES.

Normally I’d agree, but Tampa has placed Dukes on the restricted list - meaning they are essentially done with him - he’s not going to Triple-A and he ain’t coming back to Tampa.

oh really?  interesting.  would the yankees be able to send him to the minors?

oh really?  interesting.  would the yankees be able to send him to the minors?

Yes they would.

I don’t think Dukes is worth the trouble.  He’s not just a hothead or a malcontent.  It sounds like this guys has serious mental problems.  You don’t need to juggle someone like that while trying to fight for a postseason berth.

I think Dukes needs to take time off, get himself some therapy/treatment, then come back to baseball.

I doubt a stint in the Yanks minor league system will cure him.

Thanks Sean for using the “attorney general”. I wasn’t sure anyone got it several weeks ago when I slipped it in. Got no reaction, which isn’t new for me.

Mike K- check my last post on previous thread relative to rowdy crowds.

For those of you who care - Robothal is reporting that the Yanks have stopped talks with the Rangers about Gagne and are moving on.

Robothal is reporting that the Yanks have stopped talks with the Rangers about Gagne and are moving on.

I think this is a good thing.  The Yankees would have to give up a bit much for a guy that’s gone in 3 months.
Its possible they are focusing on Wheeler and Qualls now.

Proctor has been sent to LA for Wilson Betemit.

I presume Cairo is done then, or is that just wishful thinking?

Flame on, Scotty. Flame on.

Understand your point, yup, about Yanks’ aging pitching staff.  But how many rookie pitchers do you expect us to have in the rotation or on the staff?  At some point, don’t we need to leverage the surplus of young arms? 

Maybe that time is not now, on this deal.  Though I do think the presence of an effective Gagne—and, God willing, a dominant Joba—completely changes the outlook (and the look of this team).  It means many of those 1 and 2 run losses could become wins.  30 innings seems like a lot if it’s 30 innings that won’t be pitched by Farnsworth.

I’m afraid, for the moment, Betemit takes Shelley Duncan’s seat.  Joe just loves his weak-hitting middle infielder types—the Sojo/Vizcaino role. 

I dunno.  If we were out of it, I would like this deal.  I just fear we’re going to need every available arm down the stretch.  With Gagne off the table apparently, unless there’s another deal, we’re swapping out Proctor for Joba.  Which figures to be an upgrade, but you never know with a guy who’s spent—what?—a week or 2 above the AA level.

Glass half-full: while Betemit’s BA stinks, .834 OPS ain’t bad.  10 HRs in less than 200 PA’s is actually quite enticing, especially playing in cavernous Chavez Ravine.  And interestingly, his K/BB this year is 49/32, a vast vast improvement over the last 2 years when it was 2.5/1.  Wonder if he’ll platoon with Phillips—any read on Betemit’s defense? 

BTW, 2 different sites have 2 different dob’s for him.  Rotoworld has him at 7/28/80.  MLB.com says 11/2/81.

Trading Proctor for Betemit is fucking stupid. I’m sorry. I just don’t get it.

Betemit’s defense is supposed to be quite good at any infield position.  I think MLB.com has the right birth date.

Trading Proctor for a bucket of gatorade would be defensible.  Had a nice little run, but he’s used up.

mcnally, that looks nice and all ... but i want a pony!!!

Hell, I think you could replace Proctor with Britton and at worst break even on the pitching front, so picking up Betemit is fine by me.  Now they need to loose Farnsworth somewhere and that can be Chamberlain’s spot if they are so set on bringing him up to short relieve.

Trading Proctor for Betemit is fucking stupid. I’m sorry. I just don’t get it.

Betemit is better than Proctor.  what’s not to understand?

Is Betemit the new starting 1B?  Bit of a waste to play him there, but he’s a better offensive player than Phillips.