Kuzul

The news no New York Yankee fan wanted to hear came today, as pitcher Andy Pettitte is hanging up his pinstripes.
 
Not only is this a sad day because Pettitte is a legend, but it marks the end of an era, as fans will never see the Yankees’ “Core Four” play together again.

Where does this leave the Yankees heading into the 2011 season?

Without Pettitte in the rotation, there is no doubt the pressure is on.
 
In his 16-year career, Pettitte has 240 career wins, 203 of which were won during his 13 seasons in pinstripes. He has made 42 playoff starts, winning 19 of them, making Pettitte the winningest pitcher in postseason history.

So how could a 38-year-old southpaw be such a season-changer?

In 2010, after winning the World Series in 2009, Pettitte was having a career year and was named to the All-Star team.
 
Prior to a groin injury that put Pettitte on the DL on July 19, 2010, he had made a total of 18 starts. Pettitte’s record was 11-3, but the team went 15-3 in his starts. Pettitte didn’t return for two months, and he did struggle for his first two starts back, but he won his final regular season start and once again was dominant in the postseason.
 
Pettitte was a rock in the Yankees’ rotation with a cemented reputation to come through when the team couldn’t. He provided a sigh of a relief when on the mound, because Pettitte was unswerving and reliable.
 
If anyone thinks that this is not a major blow to the Yankees, don’t listen because it is a complete lie. Pettitte’s absence will affect everything, from making the postseason to winning, if the team can qualify in the first place.
 
It puts a mandatory need to win on A.J. Burnett, which is the last thing he needs. It also leaves not one, but two holes to fill at the back end of the rotation.
 
The guys auditioning for these spots include Ivan Nova, Sergio Mitre (I am completely against this), Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and a few promising prospects.
 
Honestly, looking at this group since the Pettitte news, which is still so fresh, is only providing me with abundant discomfort.
 
I would rather have Nick Swisher pitch than see Mitre start. Colon went AWOL in Boston and don’t think that can’t happen just because it’s New York. Nova can pitch well enough, as we saw last season, and he should be improved since he knew what to work on in the offseason. I hope the Yankees take a chance on a prospect, specifically Manny Banuelos, and just let him pitch.

Can the Yankees win without Pettitte?

With Pettitte, life would certainly be easier in the Bronx, but I believe the Yankees can still win without the southpaw. Here are a few things that now cannot happen:

Burnett’s role just went from critical to vital, and that is a tough spot to handle for anyone trying to prove himself again.

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira cannot afford slow starts, as both tend to struggle in April, especially Tex, because last season it wasn’t until well into June until he showed any consistency.

Alex Rodriguez should be back to normal, unless the jet-setting partying with girlfriend Cameron Diaz has gotten in the way.

Joe Girardi has to break it off with Mitre; Mitre is NOT a starter, has never been productive and is injury prone. Mitre as a long man is the only spot where he has displayed any worth.

Girardi has to be on his game, because getting off to a hot start will help the team’s confidence sans Pettitte.

Hopefully, GM Brian Cashman will get a solid starter before the trade deadline, and New York is fit for a King.

I like the idea of letting a prospect fill the fifth spot.

The reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants had a 21-year-old in the rotation, Madison Bumgarner, who posted a 3.00 ERA in the regular season and won all his three of his postseason starts. Bumgarner turned 21 last August.
 
This will all be figured out as time goes on, but getting back to Pettitte, I have a few things left to say.
 
As a fan, it breaks my heart to know I will never see one of my favorite players on the field again.
 
I grew up with Pettitte and have seen him pitch in the Bronx countless times, including going to Philly to cheer him on in Game 3 of the 2009 World Series. Pettitte also had a clutch hit that game in a performance I will never forget.
 
The only feeling I have is that it has been an absolute honor to have Pettitte represent my hometown of New York City.
 
I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and hope to see him on Old Timers Day!

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In 14 days, pitchers and catchers will report to their respective camps as 2011 spring training means baseball is finally back again.
 
For the New York Yankees, it means pitching tryouts will begin, as there are two big holes that need to be filled in the starting rotation.
 
GM Brain Cashman is trying to fill the fourth and fifth spots, while Yankees fans are holding their breath hoping southpaw Andy Pettitte will appear.
 
For now the auditions are among Sergio Mitre, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and newly signed right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia. This is presuming Mark Prior is only trying out for the bullpen.

 
Who is Freddy Garcia?
 
Garcia is a 35-year-old, right-handed pitcher who used to have a lot of promise. Debuting in 1999 with the Seattle Mariners, Garcia was considered one top youngster in the league. In his five seasons in Seattle, Garcia was voted to two All-Star teams, came in second for Rookie of the Year and almost won the Cy Young in 2001.
 
That is not the Garcia the Yankees just signed for $.1.5 million, with another $3.6M in incentives pending on number of starts he makes.
 
This Garcia was traded in 2004 to the White Sox and played in Chicago for the next two seasons. Then it was the Phillies in 2007, where he had season-ending surgery after going making 11 starts, winning just one and posting an ERA just shy of 6.00. In 2008, Garcia made three starts as a Detroit Tiger, before heading back to the White Sox where he pitched the last two seasons.
 
The only promise Garcia has shown was last season, making 28 starts, posting a 12-6 record with a 4.64 ERA over 157 innings pitched.
 
It’s not great but the Yankees need to weigh all their options.
 
Still, Garcia is not going to be the permanent solution because he doesn’t strikeout enough batters and gives up too many home-runs. The AL East, especially the Boston Red Sox, could devourer Garcia for dinner. In 2010, Garcia only had 89 strikeouts, while giving up 23 home runs.
 
Earlier in his career, Garcia’s home run numbers were awful but his strikeout numbers were tremendous and that provided enough of a bolster.
 
Garcia wants to pitch for the Yankees and says it will motivate him, which are just words for now.
 
Garcia is a signing that could work out, but at the very least he could hold down the fort until the trade deadline.
 

So, What Are the Yankees’ Other Options?
 
With Cashman trying to make up for a mess of an offseason, Garcia doesn’t provide much comfort for Yankees fans.
 
Maybe it is time to offer Andy Pettitte too much money, so his decision to return would be impossible to refuse.
 
Still, why Joba Chamberlain is not given a chance seems ludicrous to me, as the Yankees should weigh all their options.
 
It is preposterously mind-boggling that Mitre is getting his millionth chance, while Joba is not even mentioned as an option.
 
Mitre is another Kyle Farnsworth, taking losing games over and over to a whole new level.
 
This still doesn’t seem to faze the Yankee brass, but it definitely pisses off the fans. Skipper Joe Girardi is taking a huge risk putting Mitre on the mound because it could cause a riot in the Bronx.
 
There are the prospects, which have a couple of solid arms coming off the farm. For this to work, it would entail the Yankees making a change regarding their methods of dealing with innings limits and pitching counts.
 
This fiasco will definitely make Yankees spring training a more heavily watched event, but it is surely not by choice.

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It’s September 17, 2011, the New York Yankees are playing a Saturday afternoon game up in Toronto, the second of a three game set against the Blue Jays.
 
Including this game, there are just 10 games left in the regular season.
 
The Yankees, who are leading 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth, are about to clinch the AL East.
 
Shocking to say the least, as no one predicted the Bombers to even be wildcard contenders. Unquestionably, this was not supposed to be happening.
 
I mean the Yankees were old, outdated, yesterday’s stars and age was supposed to come before beauty in 2011.

These statements were specified as facts that Yankee fans were told to deal with it back in April.

Why?
 
Well, because the 2011 World Series was going to be between the Phillies and Red Sox. PERIOD.
 
The Yankees were assumed to be building a nursing home in October, not playing in it.

How could they win, with a below average shortstop, an overrated third baseman, a declining guy at first and a pitching staff that only had one certified ace.
 
So let’s say after clinching, the Yankees finished the 2011 season posting 103 wins. Continued onto the World Series, a rematch against the Phillies and the outcome was like déjà vu.
 
I can promise the players would jump onto the field at Yankee stadium as if this was their first championship, not the franchise’s 28th.
 
The famous “core four” would now need to use both hands to wear all six rings.
 
Who knew that in addition to being World Champions again, their cheating, celebrity hungry and way over-paid guy at third could be taking home his fourth MVP award.

 Could anyone say media mess?
 
Seriously, to top it off FOX announcer Joe Buck threw-up on camera while saying, “The Yankees are back on top.” Buck went on to collapse.
 
Yes, this would make Yankees Universe turn into a solar system and surely some readers might have shortness of breath at this point.
 
Instead, be thankful that someone is giving you notice that this result could undoubtedly happen.
 
Just think about all those baseball experts who said the 2011 Yankees were not a championship caliber team. Talk about looking like an idiot and that is me being polite.
 
The sports media took advantage by creating so much drama about the Yankees in the last year. Not one MLB writer seemed to mind losing some creditability and a lot of integrity in exchange for viewers.

 So, what if this scenario became your reality?
 
What would you say and how would you say it, without looking even more like a lunatic?
 
My point is that the Yankees have officially heard all the crap and were forced to deal with it since 2010 finished.

No one thought that of it as the perfect bait to motivate a team that knows how to do one thing better than any other team…..

That is WIN!

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New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman signed another ex-superstar to a minor-league deal, ex-Angels–White Sox–Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon.
 
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Colon will earn $900K in the majors and has the right to be released if he isn’t on the team after Spring Training.
 
Is Cashman really this desperate?
 
In 2005, Colon won the AL CY Young award, but has since completely imploded, both physically and mentally.
 
The following three seasons, 2006-2009, Colon had 14 wins in 47 starts, one complete game, allowed 44 balls to go yard, only had 172 strikeouts and pitched a total of 226 innings.
 
You might remember Colon back in 2008, when the Red Sox were the only ones interested in signing the overweight pitcher, who stood at 5’11″ and tipped the scale at 245 lbs.

Making seven starts for Boston, the injury-prone Colon found himself back on the DL again.
 
Colon then left Boston for his home in the Dominican Republic to tend to personal issues and never returned. The reason given was, “He didn’t feel like it.”
 
Colon’s attitude is why no team wanted him in the first place; add that to all the injuries and that, my friend, is the definition of being unreliable.
 
By no means am I trying to erase how talented Colon used to be, but since he took home pitching’s biggest honor, he has been a mess.
 
The last time Colon pitched on a major league mound was back on July 24, 2009.
 
The reality is that acquiring a self-proclaimed reformed hazard is the last thing the Yankees should want to waste their time on.
 
It would seem like Cashman’s on some ego filling mission by trying to look like a genius GM coming out of Spring Training.
 
Cashman is banking that one of the smug, injured, either mentally or physically, washed-up players he signed for pennies will become legitimate player again.
 
Well, this makes me officially question Cashman’s intentions for the 2011 Yankees. Spring Training is going to look like Old Timers Day.
 
What is Cashman’s next move?
 
Rumor has it Cashman is interested in re-signing Skipper Joe Girardi to play and manage, killing two birds with one stone.
 
That is a joke, but in all seriousness GM Brain Cashman might need a head-check.
 
What strikes me as odd is that MLB teams repeatedly fail to learn from others’ mistakes.

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Last night, Tuesday January 25, 2011, the MLB Network Special analyzing the 2011 “Top 50 Prospects” aired, and just three New York Yankee minor leaguers made the cut.
 
Making the list…

• PLAYER MUST HAVE ROOKIE STATUS TO BE ELIGIBLE (To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player-limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service)
• BASED ON INPUT FROM SCOUTS AND FRONT OFFICE PERSONAL
• TIES BROKEN BY JOHNATHAN MAYO

So, which pinstripe prospects made the cut?
 
To be exact, two catchers and a left-handed pitcher out of the Bomber’s farm system graced MLB Network’s Top 50 Prospect list. Click here to see the entire list.
 

Jesus Montero No. 9

Jesus Montero has been atop the Yankees prospect list for two years, so it was expected that the 6’5″ catcher land in the top 10 across the minors, as well as being the top catcher on the list. Montero has Yankee Universe salivating in anticipation of seeing this youngster up in the Bronx in 2011. Montero is hitting .300 and averaging 30+ home-runs. Montero has a great arm, but the Yankees are still toying with moving him from catcher due to his large size. Being compared to All-Star Mike Piazza is not a bad rap to have.
 

Gary Sanchez No. 32

At just 18-years-old, catching prospect Gary Sanchez is said to be the real deal. MLB.com picked Sanchez as the third best catching prospect, so this kid has superstar potential. Sanchez has the bat of Montero and the defensive skills of Yankee prospect Austin Romine, but considering his age he looks to surpass both. 2011 will mark Sanchez’s first full minor league season, so Yankee fans will have to hold their breaths a little longer.
 

Manny Banuelos No. 35

LHP Manny Banuelos is only 5’10″, but described as having “a great feel for pitching.” Banuelos has a change-up and breaking ball that he throws for strikes. Add that to a 93-94 mph average fastball, that can clock in at 96+ at times as well. Banuelos was “born to pitch,” according to why he made the MLB Network Top 50 prospect list.
 

Are there any Yankees prospects of note that did not make the list?

• RHP Dellin Betances just missed the top 50, landing at No. 53.
• Catching prospect Austin Romine was nowhere to be found, which was shocking considering how talented defensively Romine is behind the plate. Romine’s bat is not near Sanchez or Montero, but he is no slacker.

 
Which MLB teams seem to have a lot to look forward to in the future?

• Kansas City Royals had six top youngsters, four of which landed in the top 20.

• Right behind KC is the Tampa Bay Rays, who had four prospects on this list. The Rays Jeremy Hellickson ranked No. 2 and Desmond Jennings took the No. 7 spot.

• No. 1 ranked prospect is Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s outfielder Mike Trout. Trout is just 19-years-old but excels in every area of the game and has a work ethic well beyond his years. Said to be a future All-Star and will be a household name for years to come.

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A lot has gone on in New York Yankee Universe since losing to the Texas Rangers in the 2010 ALCS and handing the title of “reigning champions” over to the San Francisco Giants.
 
So, how are the 2011 New York Yankees looking heading into the season? Let’s take a look.

 
The Offseason Summary:
 
The New York Yankees headed into the offseason with high expectations, but everything seemed to take a turn for the worst.
 
Yankee Captain and New York icon, Derek Jeter’s new contract negotiations became a soap opera and the press had their claws all over it.
 
Fans were pissed, some at Jeter but mostly at the organization for the belittling and penny pitching games being played on the Captain. It all worked out in the end, but it did leave bruises behind that hopefully won’t linger too long, but you never know.
 
That followed the news that Cliff Lee was not going to play in the Bronx, but instead went back to his old team in Philadelphia.

It came as a shock because the Yankees usually get whatever they go after.
 
Now that time passed since Lee’s decision, it was a humbling experience and a needed one, particularly in Yankee Universe.

For Yankee fans, it makes them realize that not every player’s dream is to be in pinstripes; for the team, they will have to work that much harder for anything they earn this season.
 
Hey, at least Yankee-haters can’t use “the buying championships” excuse any longer, as that torch has now been lit in Boston and Philadelphia too, and that is a fact.
 
One resigning that GM Brian Cashman sealed up without much drama, was that of closer Mariano Rivera for two more seasons.
 
Owner Hal Steinbrenner, who finally took some charge and made his daddy proud too, made a vital move by adding Rafael Soriano to the roster. Soriano was the AL’s best closer in 2010 and is elated to be Mo’s set-up man.

This move gives the Yankees the best eighth and ninth arms in the game, but it also provides a back up in case Mo’s age catches up to his talents.

So, how do the Yankees look heading into 2011?
 
The Yankees look like one of the best teams heading into 2011 and will contend again in 2011.
 
Here are some hopes that could make the Yankees season even better:
 
1. AJ Burnett has been working his butt off this offseason, now let’s see if it pays off.
2. One of our pitching prospects is good enough to win a rotation spot.
3. Pettitte could make a decision.
4. Cashman trades for King Felix in June.
5. A-Rod and Jeter both have career years.
6. Teixiera doesn’t struggle at the plate past April.

Is there anything else to note regarding the 2011 New York Yankees?
 
Of course, but this list could go on forever and talk many directions so here are a few:

• The Yankees play in the AL East and it looks to be tougher than ever.

• The Bombers can still hit, as their line-up is atop the best in baseball list.

• My bet is that Robinson Cano to be unbelievable this season, along with the Yankee outfield of Swisher, Granderson and Gardner. This groups production is more important in 2011, as they are the Yankee future.

• After watching the Red Sox GM Theo Epstein win with homegrown players, Yankees GM Cashman followed that formula by growing the Yanks farm the past few seasons. So far, it has produced Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner, Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano and of course, the “Core Four.” Funny that Epstein and Cashman, in a sense, have traded places this offseason.

• This season would be the time to bring up one or two formidable youngsters, at least one has to be a pitcher, and see how they fair in the Bronx. The innings limit need to be handled a lot better than the “Joba Rules” by Girardi and company.

• Speaking of Girardi, he seems to be a good fit so far. It wouldn’t hurt if he kept his binder in the clubhouse sometimes.

• The Yankees are not being viewed as the favorites for anything this season, as almost all predictions have been Phillies vs. Red Sox in the 2011 World Series. This group doesn’t like to be doubted and statistically, the franchise fairs better as the underdogs.

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It is official: Ex-Atlanta Braves superstar Andruw Jones has officially signed with the New York Yankees. 

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting a one-year deal at $2MM bucks with performance incentives worth another $1.2MM for 2011.

Jones has a career batting average of .256 with 407 home-runs and 1,222 RBIs.

This is agent Scott Boras’ second signing in the Bronx this week, as closer Rafael Soriano signed for three years worth $35MM, but he can opt out of the contract at the end of 2011 or 2012 and it doesn’t include a no trade clause.

Soriano was the best closer in the American League last season posting a 1.73 ERA and had 45 saves in 2010.

Soriano will set-up for Mariano Rivera, a job he feels is an absolute privilege.

This was a solid pick-up by Hal Steinbrenner and President Randy Levine, who took the reigns from GM Brian Cashman to get the deal done.

Getting back to Jones, who indisputably was one of the best players in baseball for almost a decade.

Just to get some perspective on how good, in 2005 Jones hit 51 home-runs and 128 RBIs. In the following season Jones’ bat posted 41 bombs and 129 RBIs. Jones also earned a Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Award in 2005 and two of his 10 Gold Gloves for prevailing defense as an outfielder.

Jones was an absolute monster, as those numbers are so nasty it is to the point of almost unbelievable. 

Please realize that this is not the Jones the Yankees just signed. Super Agent Boras had to do cartwheels to get over $2MM and possibly more, for a player who has fallen like Jones.

Just looking at his seasonal stats, it is easy to see that when the Braves ousted Jones is when his real struggles began.

Here is a little history on Mr. Jones:

Jones signed with the Atlanta Braves when he was just 16. He spent his first 12-seasons in Atlanta. In 2007, the Braves did not renew Jones’ contract. 

Jones had no home pre-2008 season, until signing a two-year, $34MM contract to go play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

That love affair ended after one season, as Jones showed up overweight, out-of-shape and posted a .158 batting average. Clearly, Jones was not interested in being a Dodger and the feeling was mutual. 

This left Jones homeless once again. His best offer was a minor league deal to play for the Texas Rangers in 2009. Jones had no other options, but after showing up fat and not fit, Texas decided not to keep him either.

As a Ranger, Jones played in 82 games, posting a batting average of .222 and slamming 17 home-runs. 

Still, this was a 10-time gold glove winner, who was still productive as recently as two years prior making teams wonder what was going on, because Jones was just 31 years old.

Next up was the Chicago White Sox, who felt that $500,000 was little to lose if they could get Jones close to his old self. Jones signed another one-year deal in 2010, making Chicago his third home in three seasons.

Jones came to White Sox spring training 30 pounds lighter and in shape, which is a positive change. Under the leadership of skipper Ozzie Guillen, Jones hit 19 home runs, 48 RBIs, in 278 at bats and played in 107 games, the most games Jones had played in since 2007.

Jones also had career milestone while in Chicago, hitting home-run #400 on July 11th. 

The White Sox did not resign Jones, as the free agent has now found a new home in the Bronx for at least another season. 

So, what happened to Andruw Jones and why is it still a mystery? 

There has been much speculation, such as: 

• Depression hit after the Braves let him go, as it was Jones’ home since age 16.
• Steroids have been blamed due to Jones’ massive numbers in 2005 and 2006 dropped so sharply at the age of 29. Nothing has been proved implicating this happened.
• Is Jones’ actual age, his real age? Age has been questioned with Jones, mainly due to Miguel Tejada’s admitting to pretending to be two years older, so he would be eligible to play and for a signing bonus. Both are from Curacao in the Caribbean, but Jones did not do this either.

No one knows for sure, but it seems that Jones thought Atlanta was home because he knew nothing else.

My guess is he got depressed and uninspired, feeling kicked out and betrayed by the Braves. That is what makes the most sense, as the behavior is warranted and not uncommon.

My Outlook On Jones In Pinstripes:

As much as I was against this signing, $2MM is pocket change for the Yankees considering the possibilities. It is not my choice to root for the player, but it is for the team so try and see the positives.

It is not secret that Jones wants to make a comeback; he is in playing shape and was once considered a defensive specialist in the outfield. Jones can play all three positions in the outfield and still pretty well from what I have heard.

The five-time All Star is now 33 years old and might never be what he once was, but that is not expected.

If Jones can be three-quarters of that player again this deal could be on the GM Brian Cashman’s Top 10 List of greatest signings.

After last season’s busts like Nick Johnson and Randy Winn, Cashman could use a boost.

I think Yankee fans should be more optimistic about Jones, as he is supposedly great in the clubhouse and he already is friendly with most of his new teammates.

Why this might work is because nothing motivates a player to thrive like New York City, and add that to wearing the Yankee pinstripes and anything is possible.

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In 2010, the Yankees were adamantly clear that it was repeat or bust.
 
The reigning 2009 champion New York Yankees lost in the ALCS, eventually passing the World Series crown to the San Francisco Giants.
 
Most teams would be elated if that was how their last two seasons had panned out, but up in the Bronx expectations run high.
 
Reading the 2011 roaster is not going to provide much comfort, as the Bombers have more holes to fill this season compared to the last two combined.
 
Still, there are positives that weren’t there in 2009 or 2010, in particular the emergence of outfielders Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson.
 
Gardner and Granderson’s roles are more vital than ever this coming season.
 
The Yankees are confident in this duo’s abilities, so much so that GM Brian Cashman did not go after Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth during the offseason.
 
Why, and how, is this tandem so important in 2011?
 
Let’s look at both guys individually:

 
Curtis Granderson
 
Granderson’s first year in pinstripes did not start on the right foot. After hitting a game-winning home run in Fenway on Opening Day weekend, Granderson started to struggle, which turned into a slump and fans were starting to stamp him as a bad trade.
 
Granderson had only posted seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 51 strikeouts in the first half of the 2010. He also missed the entire month of May due to a pulled hamstring.
 
Things were not looking good, and frustrations were growing on both sides. Had Grandy forgotten his talents in Detroit? At the All-Star break it sure seemed that way.
 
After tweaking his swing with Yankee hitting coach/miracle-man Kevin Long, Granderson starting crushing balls again, and he hasn’t looked back since.
 
In the second-half of 2010, Granderson more then doubled his home runs going from seven to 17. His meager 24 RBIs in the first half raised by 19, as in July, August and September he had 43 RBIs, 71 hits, nine double and four triples.
 
Granderson has been known to strikeout a ton, but in those three months he only bit it 72 times in 282 at-bats, which was a marked improvement.
 
Granderson has always been an elite outfielder and his skills never faltered defensively in 2010, which kept Yankee fans optimistic.
 
What I love about Granderson is that neither clutch situations, nor location faze him. It is as simple as, he is either hitting or he is not.
 
Heading into the 2011 season, Granderson needs to continue being productive at the plate because even just getting him on base is a threat. With his leg all healed, expect Granderson to double his 12 stolen bases from last year.

 
Brett Gardner
 
Unlike his buddy above, Gardner did not struggle much in 2010. Right out of the gate, Gardner produced.
 
Gardner does not have the power bat like Granderson does, but stealing 47 bases and constantly hitting deep into pitch counts with long at-bats surely makes up for it.
 
Gardner is unique because he is a pest that pitcher absolutely dread. When at the plate, Gardner has a superior eye for pitches and draws a lot of walks, 73 in total in 2010.
 
Pitchers don’t want Gardner types to walk all the time because they’re more lethal while on the base. One extra blink, and Gardner will be on the next base.
 
Gardner is as fast as a Tasmanian devil, stealing 47 bases, but only getting caught nine times last season. Gardner’s speed was easily in the top-four in baseball, as he tied with Crawford for third in 2010.
 
Gardner finished the year with a .382 OBP, with 20 doubles, five home-runs, seven triples, 47 RBIs and 102 strikeouts.
 
Like Granderson, Gardner is a stellar defender and, at a ripe 27 years old, he is not even in his prime yet.
 
The Yankees expect big things for Gardner, not only in 2011, but also for years to come. I really like what I have seen of Gardner since he emerged in 2009 and am happy the Yankees GM and ownership did, too.

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Finally, the New York Yankees got their man by signing closer Rafael Soriano.
 
This recent good news came from a tweet by Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated just minutes ago, of the reported three-year, $35 million dollar deal.
 
Well, Yankee fans will sleep well tonight, because Soriano to Mariano is without question the best one to punch to shut down opponents in the eighth and ninth innings. Soriano was a Tampa Bay Ray in 2009, so he is already familiar with the competitive AL East.
 
Strength in a team’s bullpen and closer are absolutely vital in winning games.
 
A solid bullpen takes pressure off the starting rotation to have to go more than five to six innings.
 
In tight game circumstances, if your relievers have the ability to shut down hitters, it closes the opponent’s capability to score, inevitably giving a team a better shot at winning more games.
 
Soriano was hands-down the best closer in the American League and most would say in all of baseball in 2010. Soriano posted 45 saves in 64 attempts, giving up just four home-runs, two walks and striking out 57 in 62.1 innings of work.
 
It puts the Yankees back in contention, considering what the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies have accomplished this off-season.
 
Something BIG had to be done in the Bronx to send a message that the Yankees still want to win.
 
Now that message has been sent, and in my opinion, this move makes the Bombers lethal for 2011.
 
Get ready for a little….pinstriped R&R in 2011.
 
 
 

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The off-season keeps getting worse for the New York Yankees, as ace Andy Pettitte finally gave word that he was not physically ready for the 2011 season.
 
What does this mean exactly?
 
It construes that Pettitte has not been preparing this off-season for an on-time return to the Bronx, but he is could come back later on.
 
This is starting to sound a little to ‘Brett Favre’ for my likes, but it is also shocking that Pettitte would be so inconsiderate to his teammates.
 
Why not tell this to the Yankees in December?
 
The selfless thing and what Pettitte should have done, was inform the Yankees the moment he decided not to train. That would have been over a month ago.
 
People retire all the time that held their jobs for decades longer than Pettitte, and it is a hard adjustment for anyone to get used too. Still, there is a line of respect that an individual owes their employer and fellow co-workers by not making about personal apprehension.
 
This flip-flopping by Pettitte is unwarranted, considering the team needs his talents more than ever this coming season.
 
Pettitte’s uncertainty is natural, but it doesn’t make his actions right.
 
The Yankees, like any other sports franchise deserves players to give there all for the entire time required. That is part of the deal.
 
To play or not to play is a cowardly stance to take. It casts Pettitte in a very unflattering light.
 
Baseball is a team sport, and Pettitte’s doubtfulness does answer one question.
 
Sadly, Andy Pettitte is not a team player anymore. Please stay retired and thanks for the memories.

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