Hurtin'
Well, we've lost four in a row, but as of publication, we're still only 1.5 games behind Boston. That's not bad, considering Sheff and Matsui are out and Giambi and Jeter have missed time recently. But while the latter two should be back soon, we can't count on the others at all this season. And without them, I'm not sure we have enough hitting to win (considering how many times our hitting has had to bail out our mediocre pitching).
While Cashman says his priority is a pitcher, I wonder if that is the right move. Jaret Wright has been solid, more or less, and Johnson, Moose, and Wang aren't going anywhere. That would mean replacing Chacon. But in a situation like this I think you need to look at the potential for gain. Chacon may be a .500 pitcher this season when all is said and done, but is the guy we're going to bring in going to do much better? Unless you can get a front line pitcher--and from where?--there isn't much to gain in bringing in another starter. On the other hand, we could more easily and more cheaply bring in a front line outfielder (an Abreu or Soriano, perhaps), greatly increasing production over Melky or T-Long or Bernie. The upside for bringing in an offensive player seems greater.
While Cashman says his priority is a pitcher, I wonder if that is the right move. Jaret Wright has been solid, more or less, and Johnson, Moose, and Wang aren't going anywhere. That would mean replacing Chacon. But in a situation like this I think you need to look at the potential for gain. Chacon may be a .500 pitcher this season when all is said and done, but is the guy we're going to bring in going to do much better? Unless you can get a front line pitcher--and from where?--there isn't much to gain in bringing in another starter. On the other hand, we could more easily and more cheaply bring in a front line outfielder (an Abreu or Soriano, perhaps), greatly increasing production over Melky or T-Long or Bernie. The upside for bringing in an offensive player seems greater.
posted by Anthony at 4:15 PM
11 Comments:
Don't look now, but a Burnett-less Toronto is only 2.5 games out of first and six over .500.
I think we should bring in a pitcher. I'd love to see Zito because I want him to stay in the AL (my best fantasy pitcher) and I think he would fit in nicely on the Yankees staff.
He'd be No. 2 behind Mussina (this season), he can pitch into the late innings, even when he's getting beat up (take a look at last night), and he's young.
He wouldn't be a mistake like the Brown's and Pavano's of the past.
Also, I think we should give Melky a chance. He's been slumping lately but he certainly has a promising stick and is good defensively (he looks like he gets more comfortable every game). Now, that still leaves two holes in the outfield, but I think the Yankees should sign someone of a lesser value, or rely on Crosby to come back.
I just think that even though we have holes in our lineup, we can still score runs. We need a pitcher who will get some innings (and some wins), and save the bullpen from overworking itself.
Trade A-Rod.
We may bash A-Rod, but he and Giambi are going to have to put this team on their backs RBI-wise for the rest of the season. As go they, so go we.
I just wonder how many more wins we get out of Zito than Chacon. Maybe Zito could win 8 in the second half to Chacon's six. But it also wouldn't be surprising if it was reversed. I just don't think there is anyone out there so automatically better than Chacon that replacing him is worth it.
I also think Zito will cost us Cano, where someone like Burrell will not. Would you feel the same way (fantasy notwithstanding) if Oakland would demand Cano and Philly only a top prospect?
I agree with j. marcavage.
The Yankees need pitching. Granted they've made some mistakes in the past. Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Hideo Nomo, Irabu, and others.
But, a guy like Zito is proven, and I think he can certainly win more games than Chacon. But most importantly, the Yankees bullpen is already overworked. Guys like Scott Proctor, Ron Villone, and Farnsworth need rest in between relief appearances. The Yankees need starters to pitch into the sixth and seveth innings. A guy like Zito can do that.
And I'm not completely sold that Matsui won't be back until September. He's even mentioned coming back sometime in August. Although that's very late, that may be the spark the Yankees need to win a big stretch in August and ultimately the division.
-OG
Let's say we could trade Melky Cabrera and a minor league pitcher for Pat Burrell or Cano and the same minor league pitcher for Zito.
Is that still a trade you Zito fans would make?
Well we're going to lose something if we trade for Zito. Why do you think it would have to be Cano?
In either instance we lose a good prospect, Cano being certainly more proven than Cabrera. Cabrera is only 21, however.
I just feel that we have gotten such rotten pitching in the past, grabbing guys who were too old, or too unproven. Now we may have a chance to get Barry Zito. This guy could win 250 games!
It seems that we've lived on our offense for far too long. I think that Mus, Zito, Randy, Wang, and Wright would be a solid starting staff that could carry us to the WS.
And I think our offense will be there regardless.
Let's just assume for a minute that to get Zito, we'd need to trade Cano. So, we'd be dealing Cano, who has three more seasons before free agency, for Zito, who would have three months (and who we could sign in December).
Would you guys do it?
Another consideration: Zito might not even be available.
Oakland is only 1.5 games out in a weak division. And they just swept us at home! If Blanton turns it around (I'm not sure of Harden's status), they could easily win that division and take a good pitching staff and improved offense into the playoffs.
Well if Zito isn't available he isn't available. I still want pitching. The Yankees need pitching more than hitting.
I think we can all agree on that.
I agree the Yankees need pitching, but it's not that simple in this case. No one is that bad on our staff, we're just across the board mediocre. Whether it's Randy, Wang, Farnsworth or whoever, most of our pitchers have been mixed this season. That said, there is no quick fix. It's not like our fifth starter is 1-7. Chacon, for instance, is 4-1. Wright is 3-4 but has pitched fairly well since May 1. It would be one thing if we could bring in a great starter to replace a terrible pitcher. But in our case, we'd be trading in an average starter for a good, but not great, pitcher, and losing a young player in the meantime, who I think would probably be Cano but at the least would be Melky. Is there net gain there? Minimal, if at all. And net loss long term.
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