The Celtics did it. The Patriots did it. Even the Detroit Red Wings did it. All have created a dynasty, or at least a year in, year out reputation from being at the top in their respective sports. I guess that is why the Yankees are taking a page out of their book.
Here are some of the monumental signings on behalf of the Yanks in the past month:
- Mark Prior
- Andruw Jones
- Bartolo Colon
- Freddy Garcia
There is also confidence within the organization that if there is enough money on the table, they can persuade Andy Pettitte to put on the pinstripes for one more year. And if their efforts fall short, they are holding out hope that they can pull David Cone and Paul O'Neill out of the Y.E.S. broadcast booth.
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My objection is that although I do understand what the Yankees are attempting to do, they are going about it in the wrong way. Essentially, it's trying to fight a fire with baking powder instead of baking soda. Sure it sounds similar but does produce the same results, Jeremy Giambi.
New York obviously swung and missed on prized free agent starting pitcher Cliff Lee, and rightfully kept their distance with former Yank Carl Pavano. Jorge De La Rosa opting to remain with the Colorado Rockies, meaning the top three free agent starters were off the markets. With Pettitte seeking to hang up the pinstripes and Javier Vazquez exiled to Florida, the Yanks were left to three in the rotation.
This is the Yankees though; can't they just go out and trade for The Freak? Maybe they can pry Albert Pujols away from St. Louis and hold him hostage for Adam Wainwright. Trust me, the movement is already underway.
Maybe the more conventional move would to someone a veteran, someone who could come at a cheap rate, under the radar. One candidate: Kevin Millwood. Sure he played like a scrub in Baltimore. Can you blame him? Still, I would consider his season with the O's a one-year blip on the radar. The dude pitched well down in Texas for a long time; the same can't be said about Prior.
Or why wasn't a trade made for Armando Galarraga, you know, that guy who really did throw a perfect game last year? Nah, getting old chubsters seemed like the better option, right?
Along with Prior, as I mentioned earlier, the Yankees went out and signed 2005 Cy Young Award winner Colon, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the Majors since 2009, and Garcia, who once helped the Chicago White Sox to a World Series title before injuries hampered in his career. Last season Garcia threw 157 innings, the most since 2006 in the South Side of Chi-Town.
While the Garcia signing is somewhat qualified, Prior and Colon have combined to toss just over 300 innings since in the past five seasons. Compare that to Yankees workhouse CC Sabathia, who has accounted for over 237 last year and more than 1400 in that same span of time.
I hope you don't have high expectations.
It's hard to argue against the signing of Jones, who will replace Marcus Thames as a designated hitter and right-handed pinch hitter off the bench. Jones hit seven more out of the park than Thames did last season, although Thames seemed pretty clutch, especially his two-run homer against Brian Duensing in the A.L.D.S. Oh well.
So the swapping of role players, invitations of elders to Spring Training is what the Yankees are all about in 2011 -- rolling the dice and hoping for the best.New York obviously swung and missed on prized free agent starting pitcher Cliff Lee, and rightfully kept their distance with former Yank Carl Pavano. Jorge De La Rosa opting to remain with the Colorado Rockies, meaning the top three free agent starters were off the markets. With Pettitte seeking to hang up the pinstripes and Javier Vazquez exiled to Florida, the Yanks were left to three in the rotation.
This is the Yankees though; can't they just go out and trade for The Freak? Maybe they can pry Albert Pujols away from St. Louis and hold him hostage for Adam Wainwright. Trust me, the movement is already underway.
Maybe the more conventional move would to someone a veteran, someone who could come at a cheap rate, under the radar. One candidate: Kevin Millwood. Sure he played like a scrub in Baltimore. Can you blame him? Still, I would consider his season with the O's a one-year blip on the radar. The dude pitched well down in Texas for a long time; the same can't be said about Prior.
Or why wasn't a trade made for Armando Galarraga, you know, that guy who really did throw a perfect game last year? Nah, getting old chubsters seemed like the better option, right?
Along with Prior, as I mentioned earlier, the Yankees went out and signed 2005 Cy Young Award winner Colon, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the Majors since 2009, and Garcia, who once helped the Chicago White Sox to a World Series title before injuries hampered in his career. Last season Garcia threw 157 innings, the most since 2006 in the South Side of Chi-Town.
While the Garcia signing is somewhat qualified, Prior and Colon have combined to toss just over 300 innings since in the past five seasons. Compare that to Yankees workhouse CC Sabathia, who has accounted for over 237 last year and more than 1400 in that same span of time.
I hope you don't have high expectations.
It's hard to argue against the signing of Jones, who will replace Marcus Thames as a designated hitter and right-handed pinch hitter off the bench. Jones hit seven more out of the park than Thames did last season, although Thames seemed pretty clutch, especially his two-run homer against Brian Duensing in the A.L.D.S. Oh well.
Once Lee resided in Philly, once the rival Red Sox added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to their arsenal, all expectations for a new beginning in the Bronx faltered. Why bother, asked Brian Cashman or the Steinbrenner brothers. Now that is why the G.M. did not want to waste his money on that relief pitcher.
Instead, N.Y. spent their money on overpaying Derek Jeter to be the first Gold Glove winner at shortstop while splitting time in left field and a catcher with a bad knee that drove in all of 26 runs in 2010. Simply brilliant.
This year, it looks as if the Bronx Bombers are yielding the American League to the new-look Sawks. They spend the money, they deserve it. Well, Pujols may be on the market next month anyway.
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Well, at least they let Man-Ram and Johnny Damon settle for Tampa. Dodged a bullet there.
samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs
