Reconstructing the Yankees
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by user Bwell316
This is probably the first time in recent history I have looked forward to the Yankees offseason, as the product on the field has been horrid, and I really tire of analysts who have to tell the viewers that the Yankees are "still dangerous". If they mean dangerous like eating that 4 day old Chinese food in the back of your fridge, then yes. If they mean they can steal your girlfriend and send you into a dark drinking depression dangerous, that would be a check in the "no" box. This team lacks passion, energy, baseball smarts, defense, intangibles and consistency, and I would go as far to say that's just the tip of the iceberg. Here is what the Yankees should do this offseason...
1. Upgrade the outfield defense
This could be done by signing these two players, Eric Byrnes and Ichiro. They could then shift Melky Cabrera to left field, move Ichiro back to right and put Byrnes in center. With a pitching staff that allows alot of flyballs, they could make up alot of ground. The Yankees pitchers haven't always been hit hard this year, but they have been hit enough to where I can tell you the outfield defense of Matsui and Abreu is not championship caliber. Abreu runs like he has had untreated hemmoroids dating back to his Philadelphia days, and Matsui is just missing something. Improving the outfield defense not only makes your team stronger, it helps the mentality of a pitching staff that constantly tries to nibble at corners because they are terrified something could get hit into the outfield. Yes, Torri Hunter and Andruw Jones would also upgrade the defense, but Ichiro will be a better value, will generate more Japanese interest and set-up Red Sox-Yankees series in which Matsuzaka pitches against Matsui and Ichiro to be a Japanese phenomenon.
2. Move Hideki Matsui to first base
An offseason of working with Don Mattingly should help this along nicely. Matsui is going to provide 20 homers, 100 rbi's and a .280 average pretty much every year. His offense and consistency makes him a better choice at first than Johnny Damon, and I think he is a safer bet.
3. Make Damon the full-time DH
It's pretty obvious the years of reckless outfield abandon are taking their toll. This lineup doesn't work when he is not in it, but the outfield's ability to throw out runners is hurt significantly when he plays out there. If Damon batted third in a lineup behind Ichiro and Jeter, the hit and run possibilities are through the roof. Someone needs to show Brian Cashman DVD's of the Yankee teams from 1996 to 2001, because they were all built around steady hitters(Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez), not big boppers(Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield etc.). They could manufacture runs and could win one run games, which is something this year's Yankees can't do.
4. Hire Joe Girardi
I love Joe Torre as much as the next guy, but it's time. Girardi is in house (works for YES), is a former Yankee, and did alot with a Florida team last year that was supposed to lose 100 games. He'll bring a National League style to this team, which worked well when they first brought Torre in, and with a lineup full of gap hitters and speed, they could cause all sorts of problems for teams out there.
5. Re-Sign Jorge Posada, get a dependable backup catcher
Posada is having a career year this year, but I worry that he will get signed to a big deal and then peter out. Sign him for no more than three years, and try and get a guy like Brian Schneider, Jose Molina, or Gregg Zaun to be Mussina and Phil Hughes personal catchers. This gives Posada two days off a week and gives the Yankees a switch hitting pinch hit option in those games. Keeping Posada fresh is extremely important. Will Nieves just isn't cutting it.
6. Let A-Rod go, sign Pedro Feliz to play third
Will Feliz replace Rodriguez completely? Of course not. Remember though, the Yankees signed a guy by the name of Scott Brosius to replace Wade Boggs and that worked out pretty well. This allows A-Rod to go to the west coast, where he will be much happier, and for the Yankees to finally be able to not have to listen about A-Rod this and A-Rod that.
I think those 6 moves, along with smart bullpen management (ie not using Scott Proctor every day) and good use of their farm system, get the Yankees back atop the AL East, and keep them their for awhile. Heck it might even get them title number 27. This much however, is clear, there is a lot of work to do, and it should start now....
