Remaking The Yankees

by Aprisco

Many people are already saying that the Yanks will bring back Posada, will bring back Rivera, will work out a deal with A-Rod and will pick up Abreu's option.  When you look at the regular season numbers of these players, it certainly makes logical sense. However, clearly baseball is about more than logic.  Although many people deny it, there is something to chemistry in baseball.  The fact is "on paper" does not win in the playoffs.  The Yankees "on paper" in the mid -90s did not have the best player at every position.  They may not have had the best player at any position, yet they won four world championships.    Team chemistry matters.  A player's ability to perform under pressure, a player's desire to scrap and claw and do everything possible to win matters.  We have watched this version of the Yankees the last few years and this group doesn't have it.  Although you cannot put your finger on it, this is not the right mix of players to win a world series.  They do not perform well under pressure, not being able to rip apart Kenny Rogers last year and Paul Byrd this year are prime examples.  In years past, the Yankees would've destroyed those pitchers.  They do not make clutch plays and they don't get big outs when they have to.  

It's a difficult question to say what is wrong with this team, but I think it starts with your best player and that man is A-Rod.  He is not clutch, never has been.  He presses in the playoffs and it reflects on the rest of the team.  A-Rod is a great player, he's just not made out for New York.  The Yankees would be served best by letting him go.  As we have seen the past few years, the best lineup does not get you anywhere without pitching and defense.  I would go after a slick fielder with some home run potential who is hard nosed, maybe someone like Casey Blake to fill that role.  He may not be a free agent, but he may be available after the season since Cleveland has prospect Andy Marte who should see playing time at third next season.  Blake is a decent fielder who hit .267 with 18 home runs this year.   Another possibility would be Chicago's Joe Crede.  The Yanks have liked him for a while and compare him to Scott Brosius, a guy who is better than his numbers. He was injured most of this year but he hit 30 home runs in 2006 and is a rock defensively.  Both are right handed as well.  Mike Lowell is a free agent, but enough with aging former Red Sox.  

As a Yankee fan, it's also time to say good-bye to Abreu.  Hard nosed this guy is not.  He still has not found the wall at Yankee Stadium and he will not dive but rather play the ball on the hop.   He isn't getting better either, he will only go downhill from here.  I don't know what you can do with the outfield.  It's a total mess since Matsui cannot field and Damon cannot throw.  Perhaps you can bring in Torii Hunter, move Melky to right and play Damon in  left.  You need Damon to leadoff so he's not getting traded.  Melky's OBP is too low to make him a leadoff hitter.   (.327).   Then, if you can somehow get rid of Giambi, Matsui could DH.  If the Yanks really don't care about money, they should eat most of Giambi's contract and send him to Oakland, who likes reclamation projects at DH.   Plus there's still some affection for Giambi out there.  Ironically, Matsui is probably more marketable given his contract and production, but it is hard to believe the Yanks would move him because of the marketing potential in Japan with Matsui on the team.  With Abreu gone, the time has come to put Cano in the 3 spot and let him become a star.  

I would give the first base job to Andy Phillips.  The fact is, the Yanks starting playing better with him in the lineup and it looked like he finally came into his own last year. He's good defensively and can do the little things at the plate at the bottom of the lineup.   I would bring Posada back.  I would bring Rivera back. They aren't the problem. They had solid seasons, they have no replacement yet. 

I would leave Chamberlain in the bullpen to set up Rivera and maybe start closing some games.  Give me a break, who else can the Yanks trust in the bullpen?  The rest of the bullpen should be remade, perhaps with some youngsters like Veras and Ohlendorf, who showed potential, and maybe Humberto Sanchez (former top prospect of the Tigers traded to the Yanks in the Sheffield deal) when he gets healthy after Tommy John surgery.  Vizcaino is a free agent, good-bye.  We have also seen the last of Kyle Farnsworth, big contract or not.  Same for Ron Villone, Brian Bruney, and almost anyone else in the bullpen this year.   

I don't doubt that Pettite and Wang will be back although you have to be concerned that Wang is not a no. 1 despite the 19 wins the last two years.  These two playoff losses simply cannot be overlooked.  You can make the case that Wang was the reason the Yanks lost the series.  You cannot have your 19 game winner get knocked out in the early innings of two playoff games and expect to win.  Hughes and Kennedy  are in the rotation.  Right now Mussina would battle Igawa for the fifth spot..yikes!  I said it last year, they should have never resigned Mussina.  He has no fastball left.  Now Mussina is a bright guy, he can possibly remake himself the way Clemens and Schilling have done this year, so Mussina as a fifth starter is probably not the end of the world.  But the Yanks could also look to package some of their other pitching prospects, of which there are plenty, for a Johan Santana or perhaps gamble that the D-Train will regain his form with a change of scenery.  D-Train would likely come cheaper given his bad season, with an over 5 ERA.  

My choice for manager is Joe Girardi, if Torre is replaced. I personally don't believe Torre must go, but a change for more grit and hard nosed play could start with bringing in Girardi to manage. No one is more prepared, more knowledgable about the opposing team's hitters.  Plus he's tough and hard nosed. With all the Yanks' young guns on the rise, he will do an outstanding job.  Just look how much the Marlins pitchers fell off this year without Girardi.  Let's bring grit and hard nosed baseball back to the bronx.  

My lineup   Damon, LF Jeter, SS Cano, 2B Hunter, CF Posada, C Matsui, DH Blake, 3B Philips, 1B Cabrera, RF  

Rotation:   Wang Pettite Hughes Kennedy Mussina/D Willis  

Bullpen: Rivera Chamberlain Ohlendorf Veras others to be named