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Assuming the Position: Will Jeter’s Career End More Like Mantle’s or DiMaggio’s?

January 26, 2011 by William Juliano

 

Before winning the MVP as a CFer, Robin Yount also won the award as a SS.

As is often its custom, the New York Post took a rather innocuous comment and turned it into a blaring headline. Although there really is no reason to suggest that Derek Jeter will be doing his best Robin Yount impersonation anytime soon, that didn’t stop the city’s most creative tabloid from naming him the heir apparent to Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.

If Jeter does eventually move off his current position, he wouldn’t be the first Yankees’ Hall of Famer to make such a concession to age later in his career. In fact, two of the team’s most decorated legends, Mantle and Yogi Berra, played several years toward the end of their careers in unfamiliar territory.

In 1965, Mantle made his first move over to left field, which allowed Tom Tresh to take over in center. Then, after slipping back into CF for the 1966 season, Mantle closed out his career manning first base for two years. This time, it was Joe Pepitone who took over center field for the Mick.

Yogi’s transition from catcher to the outfield came much earlier in his career. In 1958, at the age of 33, Berra first saw significant playing time outside of the catcher’s box when he started 21 games in right field. Gradually, Berra made a more permanent transition and wound up playing mostly left field in the team’s championship 1961 season. Interestingly, a year earlier, one of the more indelible images of Berra occurred in left field at Forbes Field, where the former catcher had a bird’s eye view of Bill Mazeroski’s series winning homer.

Although Mantle’s and Berra’s position switches were effected without much controversy, the same can’t be said about Joe DiMaggio’s one game stint at first base. With the Yankees struggling against lefties, and DiMaggio showing noticeable signs of slowing down in center, in the summer of 1950, Stengel decided that it would be best for the team if the lineup could squeeze in another right handed bat. The only problem, however, was convincing DiMaggio.

This is strictly my idea. I’ve asked Joe to try first base to help the team. That position has been a sore spot for us all season.” – Yankees’ manager Casey Stengel, quoted by AP, July 2, 1950

It may have been Stengel’s decision, but the Old Perfessor actually had owner Dan Topping deliver the news to DiMaggio, according to UP. Never a big fan of Stengel to begin with, the Yankee Clipper wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but eventually relented to Topping’s request. So, on July 3 against the Senators, DiMaggio took his position at first base after only one afternoon of practice. Lined up behind him in center was Cliff Mapes, whose vacated right field was now left open for Hank Bauer.

Naturally, I don’t like the idea of changing my position after so many years, but I’ll play wherever they want me.” – Joe DiMaggio, quoted by UP sportswriter Oscar Fraley, July 7, 1950

Despite recording 13 putouts without error, DiMaggio wasn’t exactly comfortable at his new position. “I just wasn’t sure where to make the play,” the former centerfielder told reporters after the game, “I felt as if I was always one play ahead or behind”.

Luckily for DiMaggio, or really Stengel, Bauer sprained his ankle in the July 3 game, which meant the Yankee Clipper was back in his old haunts after only one game at first base. Whether Joltin’ Joe would have remained in the infield had Bauer not been injured is hard to say, but in comments after the game, DiMaggio strongly suggested that a more permanent switch would be more acceptable after a full Spring Training to adjust. In 1950, DiMaggio was not only a revered figure, but also still the team’s best hitter, so it’s hard to imagine Stengel pressing forward with his grand design if his star wasn’t fully on board.

Not surprisingly, there was little talk about DiMaggio moving to first base the following spring. Instead, the big news was the March announcement that 1951 would most likely be his last season. “I may change my mind,” Joe DiMaggio told the assembled hordes, “but the way I feel now I want to have one more good year, and then quit on top”. So much for the Yankees plan of prolonging DiMaggio’s career by moving him to an easier position.

Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio pose before an exhibition at Ebbets Field in 1951 (Photo: AP).

Early in that spring, just days after making his announcement, DiMaggio injured his ankle, forcing a young short stop named Mickey Mantle to take his place in center. Mantle’s raw athletic ability in the outfield, not to mention his explosive bat, opened several eyes and eventually led to the 19-year old going north with the team. Stengel initially expressed the desire to have Mantle spend 1951 in the minors learning how to play center field, but he couldn’t resist adding his bat to the roster. As a result, the rookie learned on the fly by playing right field in the major leagues, even though more than a few observers wondered why the younger, more athletic Mantle hadn’t already been promoted to play center.

In a final twist to the story, Mantle was still playing right field in Game 1 of the 1951 World Series against the Giants, when fellow rookie Willie Mays lined a ball toward him. With Mantle in hot pursuit, legend has it that DiMaggio called for the catch at the last second, causing the 19-year old to pull up short in one of the drain holes in the outfield. Destined to be DiMaggio’s replacement, Mantle’s accident would wind up causing him to endure a career filled with pain and injury, just like the Yankee Clipper.

It was a strange accident with Mantle, striding toward a fly ball that Joe DiMaggio eventually caught in right center, falling flat on his face when the knee gave way.” – AP sportswriter Jack Hand, October 8, 1951  

Derek Jeter has always been compared to Joe DiMaggio, especially because of his elegance, dignity, and preference for maintaining a very private inner circle. Pride is another common bond that seems to exist between the two men, so it’s not hard to imagine an eventual position shift for Jeter proceeding along the same lines as DiMaggio’s. Of course, Jeter could surprise us all and take to a new spot on the field with the same acceptance as Berra and Mantle. Regardless of the Post’s recent headline, however, that’s a story for another day.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | 1 Comment »

Escape from New York: Are Brian Cashman’s Days as Yankee GM Numbered?

January 25, 2011 by William Juliano

Brian Cashman was the guest of honor at WFAN’s Breakfast with a Champion, a question and answer session hosted by sports talk host Mike Francesa at the Hard Rock Café in Manhattan. ESPNW’s Amanda Rykoff attended the event and provided “live tweets”, from which the following key points emerged:

  • The Yankees need another starter, and their ability to obtain one will determine their chances at winning a 28th World Series.
  • Cashman believes the Red Sox are a better team on paper, but feels the addition of Soriano gives the Yankees a better bullpen.
  • Joba Chamberlain has been limited since his injury in 2008, and as a result, the organization’s plans for him have been altered.
  • Derek Jeter is not expected to remain at SS over the entire length of his current four-year extension.
  • Being a general manager in New York is hard work.

Is Brian Cashman Fed Up Being the Yankees' GM?

Although some of Cashman’s candor was worthy of a raised eyebrow, none of the opinions expressed were particularly groundbreaking. The revelation about Chamberlain represented the first time the organization has used injury as justification for its handling of the once prized pitching prospect, but otherwise, most of the observations were fairly benign.

One remark that was somewhat of a concern, however, was Cashman’s comment about the media in New York having the ability to “wear you out”. Taken alone, it’s really a very mild remark, but in the context of his conduct this offseason, it does make you wonder about whether Cashman really wants to be in New York after his contract expires in 2011.

Last week, New York Daily News columnist Bill Madden wrote about Cashman possibly wanting to leave the Yankees for an opportunity in which he would have less scrutiny and more autonomy. Also hinted at in Madden’s column was Cashman’s desire to operate without the “burden” of the Yankees’ significant financial resources. In a sense, it seems as if Cashman wants to make it on his own…almost like a child of wealth might desire to get out from under his parents’ shadow.

Although Cashman has sometimes bristled at the implication that his success is directly the result of the team’s high payroll (usually by doing so in a self-deprecating manner), he has always seemed content toeing the party line. In fact, Cashman has developed a politician-like reputation for being able to say nothing by saying everything. However, that has all changed this offseason.

Cashman’s conduct during the Derek Jeter contract negotiations was the first sign that something was amiss. Not only did the Yankees’ GM take an early hard line with the team’s superstar, but he also openly discussed the negotiations, even going so far as to lob a few criticisms in Jeter’s direction. Then, after adamantly stating that he would not surrender a first round pick for Rafael Soriano, Cashman was overruled by Hal Steinbrenner, and wasn’t shy about saying as much during the reliever’s introductory press conference. When Cashman talked about having Soriano “forced down his throat”, he was trying to make a point about the positive influence of the Yankees’ resources, but the way he chose to express the thought didn’t seem very flattering.

One can get carried away reading too much into comments, but in this case, it seems like something is up. Is Cashman fed up with the Yankees, and New York in general? Is he tired of the scrutiny and weary of being thought of as “director of spending” (as Madden claims he referred to himself at the recent Winter Meetings)? Does he feel diminished by ownership’s intervention in the Soriano signing, and perhaps even the Jeter negotiations (and, by extension, could there be a split between general manager and short stop)? Finally, has the charm of being a smaller fish in a big pond worn off now that the Boss is no longer the head shark? Regardless of the reason, if Cashman is strongly considering a change of scenery, the Yankees have to consider how that realization will affect his approach during the season.

I’ve always been a fan of Brian Cashman, and see no reason why the Yankees should look to make a change…unless, their GM has already made that decision. If Cashman really would prefer the challenge of a smaller market team with less pressure, less media and less money to spend (i.e., a pasture with less “green”), then it might be better if he and the Yankees part company sooner than later. The Yankees not only have significant challenges facing them before the start of the season (and likely leading up to the trade deadline), but there are also some long-term transition issues slowly emerging. The Yankees need to make sure their general manager is committed for the long haul, and if not, the team might be better off finding that out now.

In a perfect world, the best approach for the Yankees would be to offer Cashman a “take it or leave the organization” contract extension. Because of his long and meritorious service to the organization, however, Cashman deserves the benefit of the doubt as well as every opportunity to decide upon his future. Having said that, it might be time for Hal Steinbrenner and his general manager to have a frank discussion about each man’s respective vision for the future. If it is determined that both paths will not converge, then Cashman and the Yankees might be better off going their separate ways.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Yankees | Tagged , | 7 Comments »

AL East Roundup: All’s Well That Ends Wells in Toronto; Red Sox Reunion in Tampa; Baltimore Courting Vlad

January 22, 2011 by William Juliano

For much of the offseason, all eyes in the A.L. East have been focused at the top as the Red Sox gobbled up high-priced free agents and the Yankees looked for creative ways to spend their money. Yesterday, however, the rest of the division finally responded. In less than 24 hours, the Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles all made (or were on the verge of making) significant moves. Below are some initial observations about these transactions.

Blue Jays trade Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera

Wells time in Toronto had some pits and valleys, but the Angels seem to be counting on his resurgence.

The banner above should really read the Jays traded Vernon Wells’ contract because that’s probably the most impactful component of the deal. Like the Yankees, the Angels have been unable to spend their money this offseason. First, the team was spurned by Carl Crawford, and then Adrian Beltre decided to play for the rival Texas Rangers. Without any other big names players to sign, and a gaping hole in the team’s offense, GM Tony Reagins turned his attention to the trade market and found an eager partner in Toronto’s Alex Anthopolous.

Even before the ink dried, Wells’ seven-year/$126 million contract extension, which was signed after the centerfielder’s career best 2006 season, was regarded as one of the worst in the game. When Wells’ performance plummeted in 2007, things looked even worse. As Wells’ star descended amid the backdrop of fiscal restraint, the contract became an even greater source of derision, and in some respects, may have cost former GM J.P. Ricciardi his job.

Because Wells’ deal was end-loaded, Toronto wound up paying only $40 million over the first three years of the extension. Even though fangraphs.com estimates the dollar value of his production at only $20 million over that timeframe, getting out from under the avalanche of dollars owed on the backend of the deal makes it seem as if it’s now the Jays who are enjoying the last laugh. Or does it?

Predictably, the initial reaction to the deal has focused on the Angels decision to assume the bulk of the $86 million remaining on Wells’ contract, especially when you consider the average value owed to the centerfielder over the next four seasons will surpass what Crawford is being paid by the Red Sox. However, when you also consider the $5 million reportedly going from Toronto to Anaheim as well as the $11 million in savings from the amount likely to be owed to Rivera and Napoli in 2011, the Angels total commitment of $70 million looks much more palatable. Of course, that depends on whether Wells’ can maintain the momentum of his resurgence in 2010. Besides, when Wells departs after the 2014 season, who’s to say that the Crawford contract won’t then be the focus of derision? Regardless, the Angels’ have the financial wherewithal to take a risk, especially in a year in which the team was unable to spend its resources elsewhere.

Although Rivera is a solid contributor, and Napoli has emerged as a pretty good hitter, neither really had much of a role on the Angels. Mike Sciosca has never been a fan of Napoli’s defense behind the plate (where the team plans to platoon Jeff Mathis and prospect Hank Conger), and the return of Kendry Morales will remove the need for him to play first base. The Blue Jays, however, should be able to use both players in their everyday lineup, especially with the departure of Lyle Overbay and expected shift of Jose Bautista to third base. Ultimately, the main advantage to the Blue Jays is they are no longer responsible for Wells’ hefty salary, which threatened to be almost 25% of the entire payroll. Toronto isn’t likely to get the same level of production from centerfield in 2011, but over the long term, the flexibility gained should help the team build for the future.

Rays sign Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez are poised for another reunion, but this time as teammates in Tampa.

The sight of Damon and Ramirez in the same A.L. East lineup is enough to give Yankees’ fans frightful flashbacks to when both were key members of the championship Boston Red Sox team. Although neither player still strikes the same amount of fear into the hearts of the opposition, both veterans should help fill out a thin Rays’ lineup that includes Evan Longoria and a whole host of question marks. The immediate indication is that Damon will keep left field warm while prospect Desmond Jennings gets a little more seasoning in Triple-A, while Ramirez will take over as the team’s full-time DH and provide lineup protection to Longoria.

Damon signed a pretty fair deal that could pay him as much as $6 million, but early reports suggest Manny’s contract is for a much more modest $2 million. Granted, Ramirez’ also comes with a lot of baggage, but the bottom line is the future Hall of Famer can still hit. Even in a year widely viewed as a major disappointment, Ramirez still ended up with an on-base percentage of .409 and OPS+ of 138. The key is keeping the enigmatic slugger healthy and happy, but the motivation for a better contract in 2012 should help take care of that. Agent Scott Boras is fond of referring to these kinds of one-year deals as pillow contracts, so in Tampa he has found Manny a soft landing.

If the Yankees had any confidence in Jorge Posada’s ability to catch regularly, either Ramirez of Damon would have been a perfect fit on paper. As things stand, however, the Yankees, like most other teams, really had no room for these two veterans, so the Rays get to reap the benefits. In what clearly is a rebuilding year, Tampa can afford to roll the dice on two players finding some of their lost magic because the price is right and risk is low. What’s more, if Ramirez rebounds with a strong season, the Rays will be in position to offer him arbitration (which would now be off a low base salary) and recoup a draft pick or two in the process.

Orioles reportedly come to tentative agreement with Vladimir Guerrero

Will Vlad be wearing orange on a full-time basis?

Orioles’ president Andy MacPhail has denied reports that his team has come to terms with Guerrero, but if true, the signing would be a perfect fit for the Orioles. After a down 2009, Guerrero bounced back in 2010, proving that the early reports of his demise were exaggerated. Whether or not Vlad can continue his resurgence is hard to say, but if he just maintains last year’s performance, the Orioles could be poised for one of the off season’s best bargains. Guerrero’s potent bat aiming at Camden Yards friendly power alley in left center would not only give the Baltimore lineup a much needed jolt, but help provide protection and guidance for young players like Matt Wieters and Adam Jones (although neither would be advised to adopt Vlad’s free swinging approach). Although the Orioles are an up-and-coming team, they are still unlikely to contend in 2011, so the idea of spending money and occupying a roster space with a veteran can have some downside. However, the time seems right for Baltimore to get more aggressive. They may not win the division for a few more years, but that doesn’t mean the team and its fans can’t have some fun along the way.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Fear Strikes Out: Mental Illness Turns Star Catcher Into an Axe Murderer

January 21, 2011 by William Juliano

(This is the third in a series on infamous or controversial historical figures who also had a notable association with baseball. For the first installment on John Dillinger, click here, and for the second installment on Billy Sunday, click here.)

Martin Bergen’s childhood dream was to play major league baseball, but soon after realizing that goal, his career and life ended in a nightmare. In what is likely the most heinous act ever committed by a major leaguer, the former catcher awoke on the morning of January 19, 1900 and brutally murdered his wife and children with an axe before cutting his own throat with a razor. Just a stone’s throw from where he had been born, Bergen, and his entire family, lay dead amid a gruesome scene that defied description.

Bergen was considered one of the best catchers in the game during his four years with the Beaneaters.

Bergen was born in North Brookfield, Massachusetts in 1871. Just five years later, professional baseball came within 60 miles of the town when the Boston Red Caps (today’s Atlanta Braves) were inaugurated as a charter member of the brand new National League. The proximity to the town and the game’s growing popularity in the region must have had an impact on the Bergen family because Marty and his younger brother Billy became absolutely enthralled by the sport.

Both brothers exhibited considerable aptitude for the game, so it wasn’t a surprise when Marty embarked on a professional career in 1892. The elder Bergen bounced around various leagues in New England before ending up playing for the Kansas City Blues of the Western League. In addition to being an outstanding defender, Bergen also exhibited impressive ability as a hitter, so not before too long, the now firmly established National League came calling.

In the 1890s, the Beaneaters emerged as of one of the National League’s best teams. In the first five years of the decade, they finished first or second in every season. After the 1893 season, however, the team lost star catcher Charlie Bennett to a train accident that resulted in the amputation of both his legs. Since the tragedy, the Beaneaters had been unable to find a suitable replacement, so the early reports about Bergen were very encouraging. After receiving a positive scouting report, the team reportedly paid over $1,000 to the Blues for the rights to Bergen. The only problem, however, was the suspicious catcher didn’t want to come. Instead of being excited about the chance to play for his hometown team, Bergen felted unfairly treated and insisted that he be compensated as well. Only after Beaneaters’ manager Frank Selee made personal assurances that he would be treated well did Bergen decide to return home.

Bergen was the Boston Beaneaters’ primary catcher from 1896 to 1899, a period during which the team won two additional pennants. Although his batting statistics never lived up to the advanced billing, he was widely considered to be the best defensive catcher in the game. Even the immortal Cap Anson referred to him as one of the game’s best backstops, and, in its May 29, 1898 “Current Baseball News” column, the New York Times concurred, calling Bergen the equal of Deacon McGuire and “a better man than Bennett was in his best days”.

While Robinson and Clarke of Baltimore are good catchers, old Ganzel and young Bergen of Boston can have my money.” – Cap Anson, The New York Sun, June 16, 1897

Despite enjoying a fine reputation as a player, Bergen was also widely regarded as somewhat strange. From his very first days in Boston, the talented catcher exhibited erratic behavior, which included unexplained absences, mood swings, and bouts of paranoia. Most in the organization and the media attributed his behavior to eccentricity, and looked the other way in favor of his great talent…an early day version of “Marty being Marty”. So, despite the numerous trade rumors that swirled around him, the Beaneaters were never really tempted to part with their elite backstop.

During the 1898 season, Bergen’s worst tendencies offered an early glimpse at his potential for violence. First, in the middle of the season, the catcher struck rookie pitcher and future Hall of Famer Vic Willis in the head during breakfast. Then, after an altercation on the bench toward the end of the season, the catcher expressed the desire to bludgeon some of his teammates with a bat. It was hardly the reaction you’d expect from a sane man…even one still angered by a fight. After the incident, the whispers about Bergen’s mental state grew louder. However, the Beaneaters won their second consecutive pennant in 1898, so even these drastic incidents were overlooked.

The 1899 Boston Beaneaters

When the 1899 season rolled around, the growing divide between Bergen and his teammates had not abated. As a result, Bergen’s feelings of paranoia were exacerbated, and his behavior became even more erratic. Then, when his son Willie died of diphtheria at the start of the season, and he missed the funeral because he was on the road, Bergen’s demeanor became even more morose.

Finally, in July, everything came to a head while the team was traveling from Boston to Cincinnati. Earlier in the month, the weary catcher had requested a leave of absence from Selee, but was turned down. So, when the train came to a stop in Washington D.C., Bergen simply hopped off.

Despite pleas from club president Arthur Soden and demands from manager Selee to immediately rejoin the club, Bergen remained on his North Brookfield farm until the team returned to Boston on August 4. In the interim, the weary catcher gave a scathing interview to former Beaneaters’ player and current Boston Globe sportswriter Tim Murnane. In the exchange, Bergen talked about being mistreated by his teammates and threatened with fines by Selee whenever he would request time off.

Upon the team’s return to Boston, the desperate Beaneaters immediately placed Bergen back into the lineup, and, to everyone’s surprise, the hometown crowd greeted him like a conquering hero. When Bergen knocked in the game winning run, the cheers were even wilder. Apparently, Bergen’s interview had won the sympathy of the crowd. Needless to say, his teammates were not impressed.

Catcher Bergen got out of a row with the Boston players by claiming that Tim Murnane ‘incorrectly’ quoted him.  That’s an old dodge, resorted to by all shades of men when reflection brings  for things that had better be left unsaid. But will Murnane stand for being made out a prevaricator and news fakir?” – Deseret Evening News, August 23, 1899

In order to avert a strike by the rest of the team, Bergen claimed that he was misquoted, but the writing was already on the wall. Over the final months of the season, there would be more unexplained absences, louder whispers from disgruntled teammates and increasing examples of bizarre behavior. Finally, in October, Bergen suffered from a mental breakdown during a game. According to reports at the time, the troubled catcher feared that someone was trying to stab him as each pitch was thrown, causing him to move out of the way after each delivery. After numerous passed balls, Bergen was lifted from the game and then derided by the Boston press.

After the crazy events of 1899, there was little doubt that Bergen would be traded. The Cincinnati Reds were rumored to be in hot pursuit that December, but no deal had been reached as of January 19. According to the press accounts, Bergen awoke before dawn on that fateful morning and committed the three grizzly murders. In what can only be assumed was a psychotic stupor, Bergen struck down his wife Hattie and three-year old son Joseph with the forceful blows of an axe before cutting the throat of his six year old daughter Florence and then doing the same to himself. When Bergen’s father Michael discovered the bodies that afternoon, the house was covered with blood. Before much longer, the newspapers were filled with ink.

Unlike many other incidents of extreme violence, everyone who had known Bergen didn’t seem that surprised. “Tragedy Explains All” blared The Boston Globe’s banner. The signs of impending tragedy were everywhere. Bergen knew it; his family knew it; and his teammates knew it. For some reason, however, no one was able to do anything about it.

Almost the entire town of North Brookfield bid farewell to the Bergen family at the funeral on January 21, but only one teammate, Billy Hamilton, attended. In a sad touch of irony, Bergen’s feelings of abandonment by his teammates, which in life were born of paranoia, were finally confirmed by his death.

At the time of the tragedy, Marty’s brother Bill Bergen was on the verge of making it to the majors. Although he spent 11 years playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Superbas, one wonders if Billy would have traded it all in for just one more game with his older brother?

Posted in Baseball, Crime, Culture, MLB | 7 Comments »

Business as Unusual: Yanks’ Decision to Spend Over GM’s Head Is Not a Cause for Concern

January 20, 2011 by William Juliano

Joe Girardi welcomes Rafael Soriano at his press conference, but the sentiment of Brian Cashman’s comments was not as warm (Photo: MLB.com).

Rafael Soriano may not be asked to save many games for the Yankees, but at the press conference announcing his signing, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman was forced to save face.

The biggest news from yesterday’s media gathering was not the player being introduced, but the back story behind his acquisition. As has now been widely reported, Brian Cashman was not on board with the decision to sign Soriano because he wanted to protect that first round pick that was ultimately forfeited to the Tampa Bay Rays as compensation. So, it was with great anticipation that media members gathered at the press conference to grill Cashman, and not the Yankees’ new reliever.

Let me put it this way, I think 29 GMs would love their owner to force Rafael Soriano down their throat. I don’t think that’s something that anyone would want to complain about. I took a stance and I’m not running from that stance. It doesn’t mean I was right, or that it’s the best approach, but that’s who I am and still am. But we are better in 2011 for this, there’s no doubt about it.” – Brian Cashman, quoted in the New York Daily News, January 20, 2011

Despite his frankness, yesterday’s media event couldn’t have been very comfortable for Cashman. After all, it’s not easy to listen as your authority and autonomy are called into question. Although he seemed at ease with the decision, the now public split could put both Cashman and the organization in line for more uncomfortable questions as the general manager enters the final year of his three-year contract.

For Soriano, the introduction must have been a little surreal. Not only was he forced to play second fiddle at his own press conference, but then he had to sit by as the team’s general manager talked about having him forced down his throat. Hopefully, the Yankees instructed the interpreter (Soriano answered all questions in Spanish) to not use a literal translation. If he is even the least bit sensitive, a comment like that could make Soriano’s transition to the team a little more uncomfortable.

Perhaps anticipating some of the potential awkwardness, the Yankees decided not to air the press conference on YES. Of course, that did little to quell the stories about the latest bizarre happening in what has been a very unorthodox offseason for Cashman and the Yankees.

Immediately after the signing was announced, I noted the potential negative ramifications that could result from the emergence of a split in the Yankees’ baseball operations. As Craig Calcaterra of NBC’s HardBall Talk  replied, however, the decision by Hal Steinbrenner to override Cashman’s recommendation really wasn’t unprecedented. Both before and since Cashman demanded more autonomy from the Boss, the Yankees utilized a committee approach to making decisions. As evidenced by the Joe Torre situation, Cashman has not always gotten his way, even on matters as significant as hiring a manager. Viewed in that light, the Soriano signing really shouldn’t be considered so ominous. As he noted at the press conference, Cashman was fully aware of the negotiations, despite not being in favor of the transaction. In other words, he was not bypassed in the process, as had been the case during the days of Billy Connors and the Tampa faction (not to mention signings like Gary Sheffield and David Wells that were almost exclusively transacted by the Boss). As long as the Yankees maintain a chain of command in which Cashman presides over all baseball recommendations, it shouldn’t be an issue when the owners of the team decide to go in a different direction.

Finally, because of the uniqueness of the situation, it’s easy to see why Cashman and the Yankees have been held to more scrutiny on the matter, but the reality is every single ownership group plays a role in baseball personnel decisions. The only difference is that with 29 other teams, ownership’s constraint revolves around saving money, not spending it. As Cashman noted, it really isn’t a negative when your owner is willing to spend beyond your recommendations. If the Yankees had given Cashman a mandate to cut spending, no one would view it as a blow to his autonomy, so the same inference shouldn’t be made because the Yankees collectively decided that signing Soriano was an affordable cost of doing business.

If Cashman had expressed concerns about Soriano’s ability or his clubhouse presence, then there might be reason to worry about the Yankees’ decision making process. However, when the owner overrules the general manager on what essentially amounts to a financial decision (and does so in order to spend, not save, money), the organization and fans alike should be grateful. After all, there’s nothing wrong with having your cake and eating it too…even when it’s forced down your throat.

Posted in Baseball, Media, MLB, Yankees | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

8th Inning Men: A Look at the Yankees’ Best “Non-Closers”

January 19, 2011 by William Juliano

In honor of Rafael Soriano’s official unveiling as the Yankees’ 2011 “eighth inning guy”, listed below are the most dominant seasons by a Yankees’ reliever with fewer than 20 games finished. 

Top-20 Seasons by a Yankees’ Set-Up Man, by WAR

Player WAR Year G GF W L SV IP SO ERA ERA+ OPS+
Mariano Rivera 5.4 1996 61 14 8 3 5 107.2 130 2.09 240 24
Tom Gordon 4 2004 80 15 9 4 4 89.2 96 2.21 204 36
Mike Stanton 2.7 2001 76 16 9 4 0 80.1 78 2.58 175 83
Mike Stanton 2.7 1997 64 15 6 1 3 66.2 70 2.56 176 52
Tom Gordon 2.5 2005 79 17 5 4 2 80.2 69 2.57 166 61
John Habyan 2.5 1991 66 16 4 2 2 90 70 2.3 181 63
Scott Proctor 2.1 2006 83 12 6 4 1 102.1 89 3.52 129 71
Jeff Nelson 2 2000 73 13 8 4 0 69.2 71 2.45 197 46
L. McDaniel 1.9 1968 24 19 4 1 10 51.1 43 1.75 165 63
Bob Wickman 1.7 1994 53 19 5 4 6 70 56 3.09 150 55
Kerry Wood 1.6 2010 24 1 2 0 0 26 31 0.69 625 39
C. Hammond 1.5 2003 62 16 3 2 1 63 45 2.86 155 86
Steve Howe 1.5 1991 37 10 3 1 3 48.1 34 1.68 249 51
B. Boehringer 1.4 1997 34 11 3 2 0 48 53 2.62 172 80
R. Monteleone 1.4 1992 47 15 7 3 0 92.2 62 3.3 120 80
J. Chamberlain 1.2 2007 19 3 2 0 1 24 34 0.38 1221 15
R. Mendoza 1.2 2002 62 14 8 4 4 91.2 61 3.44 129 86
Allen Watson 1.1 1999 21 6 4 0 0 34.1 30 2.1 227 61
D. Robertson 1 2010 64 10 4 5 1 61.1 71 3.82 112 92

Note: Excludes relievers with games started greater than 0 and games finished greater than 20.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

Assuming Mariano Rivera remains healthy, Soriano will have the chance to gun for the immortal closer’s 5.4 WAR, which was compiled asJohn Wetteland‘s set-up man in 1996. At the very least, he’ll be expected to make up for the loss of Kerry Wood, whose contribution was pretty incredible in only 26 innings. Along with Rivera, Soriano will join two other relievers on this list: David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain. If all three right handers can pitch to top form, the Yankees bullpen could feature the best quartet in recent memory, not to mention one of the better one-two punches in franchise history.

For a look at some of the best reliever tandems in Yankees’ history, check out an earlier Captain’s Blog post chronicling the unique 1981 season of Ron Davis.

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Yanks Considering “Innings Eater” Millwood, but Will They Be Able to Stomach Results; Lefties Have Feasted Off Veteran

January 18, 2011 by William Juliano

Apparently not to content with sweeping the 1999 Atlanta Braves in the World Series, the Yankees have belatedly gone about signing their best players. In addition to the hot pursuit of Andruw Jones, the Yankees are now rumored to be interested in Kevin Millwood. Who knows, maybe Tom Glavine or Greg Maddux are interested in making a comeback?

Millwood wipes his brow during game 2 of the 1999 World Series. The righty yielded five runs and eight hits in only two innings against the Yankees (Photo: SI).

At this point in his career, Millwood’s greatest asset is his ability to take the mound every fifth day. Otherwise, it’s hard to see a silver lining in the Yankees’ pursuit of the veteran right hander. Since his last statistically impressive season with the Indians in 2005, Millwood has mostly been below average. His ERA+ has been below 90 in three of the last four seasons, including a career low of 83 in 2010, and most of his peripheral numbers have followed a similar trend. In particular, Millwood has grown increasingly vulnerable to lefthanders, which isn’t exactly ideal when pitching at Yankee Stadium.

In Millwood’s defense, his struggles in 2010 may have been fueled by his home park. Although Camden Yards’ reputation as a hitters park is widely overstated, it does favor right handed power hitters. And, sure enough, Millwood surrendered twice as many homeruns at home than on the road (20 versus 10). Using the handy database at hitrackeronline.com, we can take a look at all 20 of those homers, and what becomes evident is that Camden Yards did have an impact. According to the data, seven of the 13 homeruns hit between left and center (10 by righties and 3 by lefties) were classified as either “just enough” or “lucky”, and on average, all of the long balls would have only been out of 17 other ballparks.

Date Player Team Code Distance # of Parks
4/11/2010 Alex Gonzalez TOR ND 420 30
4/11/2010 Jose Bautista TOR PL 372 29
4/11/2010 Alex Gonzalez TOR JE 353 27
5/2/2010 J.D. Drew BOS JE/L 397 2
5/13/2010 Mike Sweeney SEA PL 411 18
6/8/2010 Nick Swisher NYY JE 412 18
6/13/2010 David Wright NYM PL 404 23
6/13/2010 Jason Bay NYM JE/L 407 1
7/22/2010 Michael Cuddyer MIN ND 437 30
8/7/2010 Carlos Quentin CWS JE 408 4
8/22/2010 Josh Hamilton TEX JE 395 2
8/22/2010 Vladimir Guerrero TEX JE/L 367 11
9/17/2010 Alex Rodriguez NYY PL 401 30

Note: ND = No Doubt; PL = Plenty; JE= Just Enough; L = Lucky
Source: hittrackeronline.com

Unfortunately, the veteran right hander wasn’t much better on the road. In fact, he wound up yielding the same number of total bases away from home in only 14 more plate appearances faced. If one wanted to be completely optimistic, his road BABIP of .357 could be partly to blame, but it should be noted that it has been around that figure in three of the last four seasons.  

Kevin Millwood’s xFIP Split: 2002-2010

Source: fangraphs.com

Kevin Millwood’s HR Rate Split: 2002-2010

Source: fangraphs.com

Since 2006, Millwood has become much more vulnerable to left handed hitters. At the same time, he has also gradually become less effective against right handers. Although he could very well benefit from Yankee Stadium’s spacious left center fielder (which probably would have held a good portion of the homers he allowed to righties in Camden Yards), the short porch in right could only exacerbate his struggles against lefties.

An aging right hander who has been giving up more homeruns, particularly to lefties, doesn’t seem like a great fit for a team that plays in Yankee Stadium, not to mention in a division with a lefty-laden lineup like Boston’s. Although Millwood would definitely provide innings, the Yankees would be better off looking elsewhere. After all, if they really need innings that badly, the Yankees could wind up getting a lot of bad innings.

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