Yankee Fans Unite

I think the Yankees really need to pull out the stops to get CC in the rotation.

Yes there is some risk given how the Brewers are doing their best to wear him out, but he is a work horse. I think he can handle the load.

Rotation:
CC Sabathia
Wang
Joba/ Hughes (due to innings limits)
Mussina (I think they need to bring him back, short term, possibly year to year)
Pettitte - not so sure. He isn't looking very good this year. Then again no one is.
Burnett ? Another possible. Risky, but he is a good pitcher when healthy.

Lineup:

Damon (I hope they don't even think of trading him)
Jeter
A-Rod
Nady
Matsui
Cano
Posada
Molina

Let Pudge and Abreu go. Abreu is looking like he is aging. His fielding isn't that great. You need a younger man out there, and maybe someone who has some speed for on the bases. Giambi - gone. I don't think there is any chance he gets another year.

Maybe the Yankees can find a decent CF to cover for a year or two for Jackson to have the time to develop. Melky - I think he blew his chances and will be traded or at most a replacement.

I really think Teixeira would be a great fit in the lineup. He would offer protection to A-Rod, but I am not sure that the Yankees will spend on him AND the starter. The SP is the biggest concern they have.

I also wonder if maybe Cashman would be doing the Yankees a favor and not come back. Maybe he and the Yankees need some fresh views. Continue on the developing of pitching, but please, sign some position players. The Yankees keep signing all these pitchers, almost all right handers, yet the position players they draft are way down the list. Can't develop your own when you are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Inoa showed the Yankees that they need to get up to speed on LA signings as well. They blew that deal, they fell asleep.

The Yankees need to spend more on the coaching staff. They have lost a ton of talented coaches to the Rays and the A's. That is just plain wrong because it was mainly about their salaries that they lost them. There is no excuse for that.

So, what do you think?

I like Teixeira as well, but like Gammons said last night, if Jorge has to go to 1st base, you can't do it.

I've been more or less opposed to signing Sabathia, but he is the premier power guy in the game.

I guess he'd be worth it, but he still doesn't have as long a track record as Santana.

I agree about the position players, OG.

I stressed my concern back in February over the age in the lineup and lack of developing replacements and was waved off by some people.

Now things look even worse.

The Yankees could struggle to hit HR's next year if they let Giambi go. I'd bring him back on a 1-2 year deal and hit him 6th.

Nady should be in RF.

I just have no idea where this is going. The Yankees have been a truly puzzling franchise over the past 5 years and it'll probably continue.

And what's scary is the ingenious plans Hank the Bank might have

Somehow I get the notion that Nady is a younger version of Abreu. Not gifted with speed and not a go-getter for the ball. Same type of bat though, from the opposite side. No choice but to throw him out if right and see how he does

Either keep Abreu or Matsui to DH, not both. Damon in left. Giambi is toast as log as you can get decent bat to replace him.

I'd rather get Teixeira than CC. If there can only be one here. The pitching will be ok, if not great with Joba and Wang back. Bring Moose and Andy back for 1 year. Either Hughes or Aceves or sign a mid-level FA pitcher.

(funny thing about this innings limit on Joba: he can go 5 innings and throw 105 - 110 pitches and someone else might use the same in 7 innings but they'll look at innings limits on him when he's throwing the same amount of pitches as a 7 or 8 inning guy)

I'd trade Cano for a big time CF and try the kid Ransom at second. Admit I haven't seen him play much but they say he plays all 4 IF positions and the kid has some pop as well. Don't think Cano has a winner's attitude and you can probably get a ton in return for him still. Or bring in a Cairo type for now (if we get pop like Teixeira to restock the lineup).

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu DH
A-Rod 3B
Teixeira 1B
Nady RF
Posada C
Ransom 2B
"Big Time CF" (someone who will go get the ball, run the bases, steal a few, be a spark plug at the bottom -- hit .300)

That team wins next year.

Molina to back up Jorge (if he gets hurt Jose has to play everyday-- Jorge won't get hurt anymore)

OG -- I noticed you only have a 8 guys in your lineup and both Posada and Molina occupy a spot? Care to elaborate?

i think OG has Posada at 1st in that scenario, and calling for a new CF.
try the kid Ransom instead of Cano? here's my only problem with that. he's 32.

That's generally the way I've felt, too.

And as far as Robbie, don't you wonder if some of the same things were said about Andruw Jones when he was younger? The nonchalantness, the acting cool.

He turned out ok, didn't he?

Trading Cano, not a smart move when he's the exact thing the Yankees need--young hitters!!

As soon as Cano is gone, the lineup would be older than Mick Jagger.

Damon LF/DH
Jeter SS
Arod 3b
Texiera 1b
Posada C
Matsui RF/DH
Giambi DH
Cano 2b
mystery center fielder
but what about Nady? maybe Matsui has to DH and you drop Giambi. unless Nady can play CF, but i dont know that he can.

Damon
Jeter
Arod
Texiera
Posada
Matsui
Nady
Cano
CF

Bench: giambi, molina, ransom, christian

either one of those is a NASTY lineup. on paper.

ryan spilborghs, colorado. 28. .314
curtis granderson, detroit. 27. .299 $1mil.
cody ross, florida. 27. .262, but 19 homers. $390k.
matt kemp, dodgers. 23. .292
ryan sweeney, As. 23. .287
shane victorino, Phils. 27. .286 $480k
rick ankiel!, St Louis. 29. .270, 24 HRs. $900k.
there's also bj upton and vernon wells but they are in the division. maybe less likely.
no idea who is a FA, if any. but these are the best hitting CFs in the league under the age of 30.
i like Victorino out of this bunch. he's a switch hitter, and has speed. and doesnt make that much $.

Most of those guys, their teams aren't looking to give them up.

Austin Jackson, probably not ready.

It's a good question, what they do about CF. I don't know.

Is Damon out for certain?

see post on earlier thread.
wait, this is the post.
JD can't play center. can't.

I'd give Melky another shot in center. If nothing else, he's holding the slot for Jackson, and you have the Gardner and Christian as options if Melky is absolutely horrible.

I'd keep Damon in left. Since I think Nady is on contract for next year and Abreu isn't, that solves the right-field issue. Bye-bye Giambi - at least as an everyday player. Either Jorge at 1st (if he can't catch) or Texeira if the Yanks can get him. I'd keep Cano. Jeter stays at short but I'd start seriously looking for a new shortstop.

Damon
Jeter
Texeira
Rodriguez
Matsui
Posada
Nady
Cano
Cabrera

Ransom
Christian
Molina
a good pinch hitter with power (maybe Giambi)

Rotation:

Wang
Mussina
Hughes
Pettite
Chamberlain

Make Joba the #5 pitcher and with the fewer number of starts, he should be OK. If they can get CC, I'm not opposed, but I don't see CC as doing well in NYC. I think he might be another BlackJack.

Putting Posada at first is a bigger error than having Giambi there. He can't play that position well.

I think Posada will be back behind the plate.

I left out the one position in the lineup because I am not sure who they can get for CF. Melky is done. I don't see him coming back unless its as a 4th OF.

Unless Melky hits over .500 in the minors, he won't be back. He had two years in the majors to hit, he has regressed. Sad to see it, as I liked the guy.

Cano is probably going to be open to be traded, but they would have to get a lot back for him. I really think he needs to be checked for ADD, as he seems to space out of games. It may also explain some of his poor ABs.