I can't tell you how many times over the last two months I've had people ask me, "So how's the off-season?" I like to tell these people that I'm still waiting for it to begin.
Remember how we all eagerly anticipated spring training by counting down the days? We don't even need to do that anymore, because the winter baseball season is far more entertaining than anything that goes on in Florida. Think about it. You can follow the soap operas involving Torre, Girardi, A-Rod, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte, and Clemens…or you can go to Lakeland and watch #85 pitch to #68.
With that said, I leave with you a few thoughts to hold you over the last few days of 2007:
I'm not sure I know yet where I stand on the Hall of Fame issues surrounding Clemens, Bonds, etc. I'm leaning towards thinking this was all part of an era that, for better or worse, we must simply accept. We know that a lot of players used steroids or HGH and there is simply no way to accurately account for every user and assess how much that impacted his statistical accomplishments. And what if, in many cases, hitters on steroids were facing pitchers on steroids? You can spin this thing round and round and you'll get dizzy trying to come up with an answer.
Because I am not a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (that distinction goes to the newspaper journalists) I will never have a Hall of Fame vote. In order to vote, you must have been a card-carrying member for at least 10 years. In the coming years, a larger percentage of voters will be made up of writers who covered baseball almost exclusively in the Steroid Era. And that is sure to have an impact because these aren't the old-school writers who covered baseball in the '50s, '60s, and '70s.
Andy Pettitte seems to be getting plenty of support from the Yankee fans. I would have expected nothing less. We shouldn't ignore the fact that he was engaged in a criminal activity, but this is a very forgiving society and Pettitte's character in general is something many Yankee fans have always admired. So it's not all that hard for them to forgive and forget.
And yes, I did say "criminal activity." Let's not lose sight of that. Forget about the "it wasn't against baseball's rules" thing. Baseball is not above the laws of the United States. Obtaining, possessing, and using steroids without a prescription and a legitimate medical use are against the law and have been for decades. And no, trying to hit more home runs is not a legitimate medical use. And no, trying to heal an injury faster is not what HGH was designed for.
I'm pretty sure there isn't a baseball rule that says a batter can't pull out a gun and shoot the pitcher. But I'm almost certain it's against the law.
So please, please, please…let us stop hearing that same old excuse that "it wasn't against baseball's rules."
Johan Santana is hanging over us all like the Ghost of Christmas Present. There isn't a sole that believes Santana is staying with the Twins, but the problem is he may not be traded until next July. Or it could happen tomorrow. These are exactly the kinds of things that keep me up at night.
I have read of a lot of fans concerned about the lack of a true lefty reliever. While that may be troubling when you think of Big Papi at the plate, there are still some in baseball who believe it's a luxury rather than a necessity. And for that reason, it is not a big deal if the Yankees don't open the season with one of those guys. They'll want to have one as they go forward and hopefully into postseason, but they aren't at a serious disadvantage if the guy isn't on the roster for all 162 games. They'll be able to pick up somebody as the season goes along. I'd keep my eye on Damaso Marte or John Grabow from Pittsburgh.
Notice how the last few years teams are spending big bucks on long term deals for relief pitchers? The Cubs did it a few years ago, then the Orioles. Several others are trying it now, but the Yankees are shying away. They've been burned by too many Steve Karsays and Kyle Farnsworths. Most people I've talked to this winter believe that unless you're talking about a top-flight closer, it is much too risky to sign any relief pitcher to a multi-year deal. Guys who pitch in 70 games a year just don't consistently put together that many good seasons in a row, assuming they stay healthy in the first place.
The Yankee bullpen is far from a finished work, but their plan appears to be pretty simple. Don't overpay in years. Try to do what every other team in baseball does…identify pitchers in your system who could be serviceable relievers. It sure beats giving 3 years and $12 million to somebody who will finish collecting that money either in another uniform or on the DL.
I'd like to leave you with this thought…part of an old Saturday Night Live bit by Steve Martin:
If I had one wish that I could wish this holiday season, it would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and peace.
If I had two wishes that I could wish for this holiday season, the first would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing in the spirit of harmony and peace…and the second would be for $30 million a month to be given to me, tax-free, in a Swiss bank account.
Thank you to all who have read the blog during the season and the "off-season." Happy Holidays to all and best wishes in 2008.
Go back to 1997, the year after the Yankees won their first World Series under Joe Torre, and two of the most talked about players were a couple of kids who were less than two years removed from their big league debuts in Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
Welcome to February. It may not feel like it outside, but spring is right around the corner. Pitchers and catchers are just two weeks away, and if that’s enough to warm you up right about now then try another pair of socks and some hot tea.
I can’t imagine I’ll ever have the privilege of covering a player like Hideki Matsui again. The word “unique” is thrown around too much, but this was indeed a unique experience, right from Day One.
A few thoughts heading out of Indianapolis: *Assume for a moment no Johnny Damon in the 2-hole. On days when Jorge Posada doesn’t catch and bat 5th, who’s the best option for the Yankees in the 5-hole behind Alex Rodriguez?
Andy Pettitte’s one-year renewals have worked out very well for the Yankees. After signing for the 2010 season for essentially he is now entering the final year of a 4-year, $54.25 million contract.
Yankee fans should be thankful Curtis Granderson’s OBP dipped down to .327 last season (from .361 and .365 the previous two years). The price the Yankees paid for Granderson wasn’t very high if you think about it.
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