OT: Two Incredible collapses in one night

[oldjudge]

Jeff-I don't think there is that much to fix with the Yankees, although they do not require some fixing. Even with the underachieving squad of this season they were probably one good starter away from the ALCS and possibly the world series. If they had been able to sign Cliff Lee we might be having a different discussion now. Are they getting old-absolutely. Jeter and Mariano will more likely than not be worse next year. Arod may or may not be given his injury plagued season this year. He will never be the old Arod (do we even know what the old Arod would have been with the Yankees without the juice?) but with a good off season conditioning program he could be better than this year. Granderson will have a hard time matching this season's numbers but Gardner, Cano and Martin should match or exceed them. Teixeira has a shot at posting better numbers next year, certainly in batting average. If he would only learn to bunt and just occasionally lay one down third he could add thirty points to his average(18 more hits a year based on 600 ABs) and get teams to stop shifting on him. Add to this that they will have Montero for a full season and they really don't look bad in terms of every day players. I would like to see them get a new RF. Swisher is certainly good enough during the regular season but his post season stats make Arod look like a post season superstar. The Yankees have one of the best or the best bullpen in the AL so no issue there. Where they are really weak, as you correctly pointed out, is their starting pitching. They need to get Sabathia back and hopefully back in better shape. Nova has a lot of promise going forward and I am optimistic about Hughes. However, I see these two no better than number three starters. Therefore, I think their most pressing need is a top drawer starter (they grow on trees, don't they?). However, with Posada's contract gone(I would not resign him) and hopefully Swisher gone, there will be some extra money and I would go big for the right guy either via FA signing or trade.

[Kalineman]

You're right, tbob. My boss is a huge Twins fan and he laments some of the moves that the Twins GM has made in recent years. Hey, the Tigers will gladly take "castoffs" like Delmon any time.

[insidethewrapper]

All is well with the world, the mighty Yankees have struck out.

The AL EAST ( AL least) have both teams already eliminated.

That final strike to AROD was greeted with cheers and tears last night by 3 generations of Tiger fans at my house last night.

Go Tigers !

[barrysloate]

If I had to guess whether or not the Yankees will be better or worse in 2012, I would say worse. Sure, they are going to court some high priced free agents in the off season but they will add one or two at most. In the meantime, Posada will retire, Jeter will turn 38, Mariano will turn 42 next month, A-Rod looks shot and his body may in fact be breaking down, Hughes looks shaky at best, Sabathia will not last long if he doesn't get in shape (he does have a healthy arm), and Granderson had a career year which he may not be able to duplicate. And the starting pitching is average at best. This could easily be the beginning of a decline for the team, unless they have a reservoir of talent in the minors, or they can make some incredible free agent acquisitions.

And how much money does A-Rod have left on his contract? I believe over $100 million. That's quite a bit for a player whose productivity is way down.

[oldjudge]

Barry-The whole Yankee model is that if they are a contender/champion they will draw fans, bring eyeballs to the YES network and sell lots of memorabilia. Arods contract and then some is already paid for out of this projected revenue stream. The only thing that can derail this is if they become less competitive and you have a Mets situation where attendance drops, ticket prices are cut, and you get into a revenue death spiral. They will pay/spend what it takes to stay at the top because if they are not at the top then they are at the bottom, there is no middle for them.

[barrysloate]

Jay- I understand what you're saying but there are two things going on here. As far as a business model, they are extremely successful. They have the second most valuable franchise in major league sports and an incredible revenue stream. But if they team is falling out of contention late in the season, it's no consolation to the fans that their bills are paid. They want to see a winner on the field, and that is a question mark.

[calvindog]

Dave, I agree re Swisher.

Jay, I agree that Cliff Lee on this team certainly would have gotten them past Detroit. But a championship? I don't think so.

And Barry, I obviously agree re next year. Too many holes, too much money invested in old, diminishing players. They may be starting a decline. Problem is, who will fill their void? No one else has their money!

[chaddurbin]

we had the $100,000 infield with the philly a's...will we see a $100 million infield with the yankees?

don't worry yankees fans...if fat cc leaves and you got no pitching just throw 200mil at fat prince fielder and move the rf fence in another 50 feet. problem solved.

[oldjudge]

Jeff-I meant getting to the ALCS or World Series, not winning it. I would have thought that the Phillies were a lock for that but they are skating on thin ice with the Cards. Carpenter can easily throw a shutout.

[Anthony S.]

Prince isn't fat, he's big celled.

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

we had the $100,000 infield with the philly a's...will we see a $100 million infield with the yankees?

don't worry yankees fans...if fat cc leaves and you got no pitching just throw 200mil at fat prince fielder and move the rf fence in another 50 feet. problem solved.

[celoknob]

Per$onally, I don't $u$pect Yankee$ fan$ $hould worry $o much about the team.

De$pite the fact that they are very badly mi$managed, they are able to with$tand making all $orts of $tupid mi$takes and $till compete ju$t by throwing lot$ of $$$ around and eventually doing $omething beneficial to the club.

They can afford to make front office mistake$ that would deve$tate other teams for year$ ju$t by fla$hing more off$ea$on $$$ and eating huge contract$ of aging $tar$. Meanwhile, more than half the other team$ are ju$t lucky if they can keep their young homegrown $tar$ when arbitration/free agency role$ around.

[D. Bergin]

Everybody's bagging on Swisher like he's a stiff. He may not be clutch in the postseason in the chances he's gotten so far, but he led the team in OBP for the season and played a solid right field.

I don't think it's as easy to replace a guy like that as everybody is suggesting.

He's also a great clubhouse guy. Yea, I know the Sabremetric guys don't think intangibles like that even exist, simply because they can't assign a number to it. I think it has merit.