Pitchers And Catchers Report

[Tailgater]

The 2009 Yankees are better than the 2009 Yankees?

Rickey?

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=18281:date=Feb 17 2009, 10:00 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 17 2009, 10:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18274:date=Feb 17 2009, 09:16 AM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Feb 17 2009, 09:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18209:date=Feb 16 2009, 10:48 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 16 2009, 10:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18207:date=Feb 16 2009, 09:45 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Feb 16 2009, 09:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18205:date=Feb 16 2009, 10:41 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 16 2009, 10:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18200:date=Feb 16 2009, 09:37 PM:name=Scarey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scarey @ Feb 16 2009, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18194:date=Feb 16 2009, 10:07 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 16 2009, 10:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18193:date=Feb 16 2009, 08:58 PM:name=jeffy777)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jeffy777 @ Feb 16 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18148:date=Feb 16 2009, 05:46 PM:name=cigar)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cigar @ Feb 16 2009, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I had thought about it but never posted anything about it. I would not mind at all to see Fontenot to get a shot at hitting leadoff. He put up a .395 obp last season and has good pop. Of course he doesent have a lot of speed but I think he would do well at getting on base. Regardless I do think he needs to hit first or second when he is in the lineup.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hell yeah. I'd love to see Fontenot at the top of the lineup.

<!--quoteo(post=18190:date=Feb 16 2009, 09:07 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Feb 16 2009, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The Yankees aren't getting to the World Series.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

WAY to early to make any WS predictions, whether it be teams making it or not making it. Hardly anyone would've guessed the Rays would've made it last year. We could see another surprise this year, who knows......
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The Yankees aren't going to the World Series.
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I'm not going to make any predictions, but Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Pettite, and Chamberlain is a pretty formidable rotation, not to mention their lineup that ranked in the top ten in MLB in scoring. I'm not saying their a lock by any means, but they have a pretty damn good chance.
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They could also be the 3rd best team in their division. The additions they made were nice, but the overall makeup of their team is not that much better than it was last year.
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Considering Sidney Ponson had the third most innings pitched on the team with a 5.04 ERA, I think they might get a little bit more out of that rotation.
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Or Sabathia's innings could catch up to him, Wang could have problems coming back from injury, Burnett could turn into glass again, Pettitte and his age could fall off a cliff, and Chamberlain could prove that he doesn't have stamina to start all year.

I see them as minimally improved overall if you factor in all of their offseason moves. They are not going to the World Series.
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The thing is, you could say this about just about anyone's rotation. Take the Cubs.

"Zambrano's innings could catch up to him, Harden could have problems coming back from injury, Lilly could turn into glass again, Dempster and his age could fall off a cliff, and Marshall could prove that he doesn't have stamina to start all year."

*knocks on wood*

Anyway, to say the Yankees or most other teams will not make the worlds series, is a little silly IMO before spring training. If you tell me the Pirates aren't going to the WS, I'm fine with that. But not a time that has a potentially dominating rotation with a better than average lineup.
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The Cubs play in the NL Central, the Yankees play in the AL East. The Cubs won the division last year and the 2009 Cubs are probably marginally better than the 2008 Cubs. The Yankees didn't even make the playoffs last year and the 2009 Yankees are probably marginally better than the 2009 Yankees. Not to mention that every team in the NL Cantral got worse aside from the Cubs, while the same can't be said for the AL East. The Yankees are not going to the World Series.
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While I agree that the Yankees play in a much better division than the Cubs, I don't know how you figure the Yankees are marginally better.

They have Sabathia and Burnett coming into their rotation and a healthy Wang replacing Ponson, Rasner and fill ins. That alone is a significant positive change for them. They're outfield got significantly better with Swisher playing CF over Cabrera. Losing Abreu is tempered by having Nady playing full time. On the infield, Teixeira over Giambi is a pretty solid improvement. I don't know an area where they took a step back. So how is that marginally better? The only loses are Abreu and Mussina.

I can see that Abreu > Nady, but Swisher >> Cabrera makes up for that pretty easily. CC>Mussina>Burnett>>>everyone else the Yankees had at SP. Tex >> Giambi.

[The Dude]

Thie thread is way too Yankee-ey.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=18308:date=Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM:name=The Dude)-->QUOTE (The Dude @ Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Thie thread is way too Yankee-ey.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree. Boys are back in town.

Font meets The Game.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->While I agree that the Yankees play in a much better division than the Cubs, I don't know how you figure the Yankees are marginally better.

They have Sabathia and Burnett coming into their rotation and a healthy Wang replacing Ponson, Rasner and fill ins. That alone is a significant positive change for them. They're outfield got significantly better with Swisher playing CF over Cabrera. Losing Abreu is tempered by having Nady playing full time. On the infield, Teixeira over Giambi is a pretty solid improvement. I don't know an area where they took a step back. So how is that marginally better? The only loses are Abreu and Mussina.

I can see that Abreu > Nady, but Swisher >> Cabrera makes up for that pretty easily. CC>Mussina>Burnett>>>everyone else the Yankees had at SP. Tex >> Giambi.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Go look at offensive numbers last year for all the guys you named and you'll see what I mean. Pitching-wise, they'll be better, offensively they may be worse. Overall, they are marginally better than last year.

[jeffy]

<!--quoteo(post=18326:date=Feb 17 2009, 12:59 PM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Feb 17 2009, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18308:date=Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM:name=The Dude)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dude @ Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Thie thread is way too Yankee-ey.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree. Boys are back in town.

The Riot meets The Game.

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The Riot? That's Fontenot [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

[HemisFear]

Does Zambrano have a Dirty Sanchez mustache?

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=18329:date=Feb 17 2009, 12:14 PM:name=jeffy777)-->QUOTE (jeffy777 @ Feb 17 2009, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18326:date=Feb 17 2009, 12:59 PM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ Feb 17 2009, 12:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18308:date=Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM:name=The Dude)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dude @ Feb 17 2009, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Thie thread is way too Yankee-ey.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I agree. Boys are back in town.

The Riot meets The Game.

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The Riot? That's Fontenot [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]
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Yeah, that's what I said. I wanted so badly to say The Riot meets The Game. Oops, fucked that one up.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=18239:date=Feb 17 2009, 02:51 AM:name=biggz)-->QUOTE (biggz @ Feb 17 2009, 02:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18070:date=Feb 16 2009, 02:23 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 16 2009, 02:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think this will be the opening day lineup:

Soriano
Fontenot
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Soto
Fukudome
Theriot
Dempster<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I pretty much agree with that lineup, but I have a question. Why do you have Dempster as the opening day starter? Is it because of Z's eye infection, his comments about not liking starting opening day, or something entirely different? Just curious.
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Yeah I just don't think Z starts on opening day as he's struggled there and Lou's even talked about it. If he really wants it, he'll probably have it though.

[Auz]

Dempster was our best pitcher last year so he should start opening game.

[kbwsb]

I agree with that. But there are other options: if Z felt slighted, I'd let him do it.
For pure strategy sake, Harden would get the call; he's the most dominating pitcher, and he's the most prone to injury, so this would be a way to get an extra start out of him, and give him more rest.

I know it's a long 162-game marathon, but how many division races come down to a game or two? Plenty.

[Andy]

I'm guessing the Dempster gets the call as the opening day starter, but I think Harden should. I'm almost guaranteeing that Lou (and the media) will have talked to Z about starting the opener and it will be no big deal.

[Fella]

I think in one of his recent interviews Lou mentioned Lilly might start opening day.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=18384:date=Feb 17 2009, 02:39 PM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Feb 17 2009, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think in one of his recent interviews Lou mentioned Lilly might start opening day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I heard that as well. He wants to make it up to him for not being able to pitch him in the playoffs.

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=18390:date=Feb 17 2009, 02:47 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Feb 17 2009, 02:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=18384:date=Feb 17 2009, 02:39 PM:name=Fella)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fella @ Feb 17 2009, 02:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I think in one of his recent interviews Lou mentioned Lilly might start opening day.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I heard that as well. He wants to make it up to him for not being able to pitch him in the playoffs.
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It worries me to see stuff like that. It seems like everyone is just <b>assuming</b> that we're gonna win the division by 10 games, and thus we can dick around, and settle old scores, and have "fun" lineups, and let our 4th best starter be our Opening Day guy...to me, that's a dangerous path to go down.
This is the Chicago fucking Cubs we're talking about.

Spock would pick Harden for Opening Day. His combined ERA+ last year (in both the AL and NL) was 203, best in MLB for any starter.
Literally, number 1. Better than Sabathia, better than Santana or Linceum. And that's in about 150 innings, so it's not a small sample.

He's lights out when healthy. Let's get this season off to a good start by giving our team it's highest % chance of winning. Radical concept, I know.