Another thrashing by the Red Sox
But apparatchik Kepner is writing to salute the Yankees!!!!
Wow…
This is the NYTimes last time I checked…right!!!
But apparatchik Kepner is writing to salute the Yankees!!!!
Wow…
This is the NYTimes last time I checked…right!!!
1
Smart moves? Like what" 10-4 tonight....
...Yankee haters conveniently ignore (or perhaps simply don't understand) that teams that don't spend their dough on players, pocket it. Luxury tax payouts are gifts. You'd think complaints would be about the extortion pro sporting teams carry out when they get sweetheart stadium deals (see a great recent article on this topic about Milwaukee in the NYT). But no, God forbid a team spends it's money on....players!!!! Talk about myopia.
3
Nice season, but incomplete analysis as the Yankees continue to be buried by long-term free agent contracts that are far in excess of actual player production, particularly next year with often injured C.C. Sabathia and Teixeira, plus wildly underachieving Ellsbury for five more years. With Bird and other young players now proving themselves as valuable commodities, Yankee success will be assured if they use this youth infusion as foundation and not troll again in free agency.
1
Wow, Yankee haters out in full force today. I seem to remember reading that the Red Sox would win the division and many had the Yankees in last place. Yankees have a playoff spot locked up and the Sox are languishing in dead last. And stop with the money argument. Other teams would spend it if they had it. Because the Yankees have made some good business decisions and have relatively loyal fans they can afford to spend more than most. Also, not making a move is sometimes a good decision and the Yankees (while still making the playoffs this year) go into next year with all of their young talent. A staff of Tanaka, Nova, Eovaldi, Pineda and Severino looks pretty good next year. They're another season away from dropping 60 or so million in payroll allowing them to re-sign some of this young talent. Cashman may not be perfect, (who is?) but he's done a solid job of keeping a competitive team on the field for his entire tenure.
12
While you weren't paying attention, the pop-Rayguns fell into last. You know, the team whose (ex-Yankee) manager is younger than A-Roid.
3
The New York Yankee's could take a lesson or two from the St. Louis Cardinals when it comes to team development.
1
Yankees don't have 'a playoff spot locked up' yet: first they have to defeat the Red Sox. Which they haven't done so far.
"Free agency has propped up their roster."?
"Propped up" their roster? Virtually, the WHOLE team is (over the hill) free agents!
WHEN was the last time that that Yanks has a real star player who came up through their "system"? (Jeter? That was 20 year ago!)
The team is a patch-work of overpaid, over-the-hill, free agents and mediocre role players--as it has been for years now! Who cares at this point?
"Propped up" their roster? Virtually, the WHOLE team is (over the hill) free agents!
WHEN was the last time that that Yanks has a real star player who came up through their "system"? (Jeter? That was 20 year ago!)
The team is a patch-work of overpaid, over-the-hill, free agents and mediocre role players--as it has been for years now! Who cares at this point?
7
Remarkable how facts don't seem to get in the way of the standard, widely-held misconceptions about the Yankees. When the Yankees built their most recent dynasty, which began with the World Series in 1996 and continued through 2009, through most of those years the Yankee starting catcher, closer, shortstop, centerfielder, second baseman and number one left-handed starting pitcher were all home grown.
10
Cashman looks better when you leave out all his blunders. Such as sleeping through the trade deadline while the Mets picked up useful pitchers like Clippard and Reed without mortgaging the future. Wasting millions on Capuano, Esmil Rogers, David Carpenter, Stephen Drew, and Garrett Jones.
7
Moneyball has been no more effective than money bags when it comes to constructing a perennial contender. Sure, spending over $200 million is no guarantee of success. Spending less than $100 million is unlikely to produce a champion.
2
The nature of baseball player acquisitions/retentions is that the unpredicted successes are going to be players who didn't have enormous contracts and the unwelcome failures are going to be players who are getting paid an awful lot and not contributing in proportion to that salary. For the last several decades the latter has been at least in part a function of player contracts stretching as long as ten years, well into a player's late 30's. So the expensive failures tend to draw a lot more sustained attention vis-à-vis the economics.
One recent Yankee decision not mentioned by Tyler Kempner was the decision not to sign Robinson Cano, reportedly because he wanted a longer contract than they were willing to give him. It will be interesting to see how his career plays out - to see whether he has the longevity to continue to play consistently at or near his Yankee level as he gets older. Also we'll never be able to answer the hypothetical of whether a change of venue helped or hindered him.
One recent Yankee decision not mentioned by Tyler Kempner was the decision not to sign Robinson Cano, reportedly because he wanted a longer contract than they were willing to give him. It will be interesting to see how his career plays out - to see whether he has the longevity to continue to play consistently at or near his Yankee level as he gets older. Also we'll never be able to answer the hypothetical of whether a change of venue helped or hindered him.
2
Here are MLB team salaries totals:
1 Los Angeles Dodgers $310,871,568
2 New York Yankees $218,865,148
3 San Francisco Giants $186,180,311
4 Boston Red Sox $183,231,503
5 Washington Nationals $165,349,755
6 Detroit Tigers $161,489,308
7 Texas Rangers $151,611,041
8 Los Angeles Angels $150,805,166
9 Toronto Blue Jays $137,993,063
10 Philadelphia Phillies $137,810,172
11 Chicago Cubs $131,417,485
12 St. Louis Cardinals $129,884,787
13 Kansas City Royals $124,578,473
14 Seattle Mariners $122,881,895
15 Chicago White Sox $118,839,573
16 Baltimore Orioles $117,143,712
17 New York Mets $114,639,437
18 Cincinnati Reds $113,751,845
19 San Diego Padres $109,077,165
20 Atlanta Braves $106,521,111
21 Milwaukee Brewers $106,292,080
22 Colorado Rockies $105,919,862
23 Minnesota Twins $105,902,326
24 Pittsburgh Pirates $98,927,120
25 Houston Astros $80,548,328
26 Oakland Athletics $80,138,435
27 Cleveland Indians $76,913,439
28 Arizona Diamondbacks $75,956,622
29 Tampa Bay Rays $72,698,508
30 Miami Marlins $62,201,864
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/
The Yankees overspend and underachieve virtually every season.
They are as impressive as the spoiled, rotten rich kid who speeds around the corner and crashes his brand new sports car into a fire hydrant.
They are an organizational disgrace.
1 Los Angeles Dodgers $310,871,568
2 New York Yankees $218,865,148
3 San Francisco Giants $186,180,311
4 Boston Red Sox $183,231,503
5 Washington Nationals $165,349,755
6 Detroit Tigers $161,489,308
7 Texas Rangers $151,611,041
8 Los Angeles Angels $150,805,166
9 Toronto Blue Jays $137,993,063
10 Philadelphia Phillies $137,810,172
11 Chicago Cubs $131,417,485
12 St. Louis Cardinals $129,884,787
13 Kansas City Royals $124,578,473
14 Seattle Mariners $122,881,895
15 Chicago White Sox $118,839,573
16 Baltimore Orioles $117,143,712
17 New York Mets $114,639,437
18 Cincinnati Reds $113,751,845
19 San Diego Padres $109,077,165
20 Atlanta Braves $106,521,111
21 Milwaukee Brewers $106,292,080
22 Colorado Rockies $105,919,862
23 Minnesota Twins $105,902,326
24 Pittsburgh Pirates $98,927,120
25 Houston Astros $80,548,328
26 Oakland Athletics $80,138,435
27 Cleveland Indians $76,913,439
28 Arizona Diamondbacks $75,956,622
29 Tampa Bay Rays $72,698,508
30 Miami Marlins $62,201,864
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/
The Yankees overspend and underachieve virtually every season.
They are as impressive as the spoiled, rotten rich kid who speeds around the corner and crashes his brand new sports car into a fire hydrant.
They are an organizational disgrace.
13
The teams in the top half regularly make the playoffs. The teams in the lower half do not.
9
A lot of teams overspend and underachieve. But the Yankees have 27 WS titles and over 40 division titles in over 100 years of baseball. What other team can claim that? And last I heard, nobody plays for free for any team. Every team tries to buy a championship
11
@Socrates,
You are not saluting the Yankess,,.,,,
Shame on ya!!!!
You are not saluting the Yankess,,.,,,
Shame on ya!!!!
1
Smart Moves...
Carl Pavano
AJ Burnett
Gary Sheffield
Kei Igawa
Javier Vazquez (x2)
Hideki Irabu
Randy Johnson
Jason Giambi
Kevin Brown
Alex Rodriguez (2007 resign)
CC Sabathia (2011 extension)
Jaret Wright
Kyle Farnsworth
NYY use a blank check. They will never be held accountable for bad decisions
Carl Pavano
AJ Burnett
Gary Sheffield
Kei Igawa
Javier Vazquez (x2)
Hideki Irabu
Randy Johnson
Jason Giambi
Kevin Brown
Alex Rodriguez (2007 resign)
CC Sabathia (2011 extension)
Jaret Wright
Kyle Farnsworth
NYY use a blank check. They will never be held accountable for bad decisions
2
Accountable to whom? It's their money!
6
I mostly agree with you. However, Sheffield was good, despite his craziness. Johnson was actually not bad. Yeah, his ERA was too high and he was not lights-out like earlier in his career. But he won 17 games for each of two seasons, and pitched a lot of innings. He also pitched through injuries, which was maybe not wise (and contributed to subpar performance), but better than Pavano.
Sheffield, btw, was not a Cashman acquisition. He was George all the way. And the Alex 2007 resign was Hank, who has since vanished from public life.
Sheffield, btw, was not a Cashman acquisition. He was George all the way. And the Alex 2007 resign was Hank, who has since vanished from public life.
5
It's funny to read comments that disparage the Yankees spending--it's a perennial pounding. Yet they continue to win (small 'w') and sometimes Win (big 'W'). Some signings stink some don't and some are meh. on the list above AJ Burnett, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Irabu, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez (2007 resign), CC Sabathia (2011 extension), all made relative sense at the time. Burnett was a big help during the 2009 World Series winning season; Sheffield was a big help in 2007; Irabu made sense as an early foray into the Japanese market without costing much; Giambi was an MVP with the A's; A-Rod also a former MVP and MVP after the dumb re-signing; and CC was/is a great clubhouse presence who could still pitch well pre re-sign.
I'd prefer if the Yankees were a little smarter with their spending, especially the inexplicable luxury tax level they blew past, but hey, It's there money as Michael says.
I'd prefer if the Yankees were a little smarter with their spending, especially the inexplicable luxury tax level they blew past, but hey, It's there money as Michael says.
2
Here, here. The Yankees are always more fun to watch when they have a lot of home-grown players. That was what the Core Five were all about (I will never condone or understand the exclusion of Bernie Williams from the celebrated grouping of Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera, so I won't use that term, ever!).
5
With all the noble discussion about creating more home grown talent, it seems some are forgetting, in competition with other MLB teams, the boatload of money spent last year on Tanaka to pry him out of Japan. Ultimately, winning is about pitching and pitchers like Price and others of his ilk are few and far between so hoping that the young group blossom in the future is just that, hope.
1
Having been a Yankee fan for over 60 years, I did not think the team would make the playoffs as spring training ended. Credit should be given to manager Joe Girardi for his skill at managing ageing players and a very good bullpen. The Yankee mindset of winning as a team has propelled them through the season. Their young players show promise for next season and are a cause for optimism.
9
The Yankees, after fifteen years of pitching being a major problem, have done well there this year and there are hopes for the future.
And let's have some cheers for Alex Rodriguez. Never mentioned by the times without his rap sheet during the first part of the season, and when that became to palpably unfair, never mentioned above the fold even when he has two hits or a homer. In spite of an almost unprecedented New York news blackout, he's put together a really good season and, judging by Stadium applause, won back the fans if not the sports reporters.
And let's have some cheers for Alex Rodriguez. Never mentioned by the times without his rap sheet during the first part of the season, and when that became to palpably unfair, never mentioned above the fold even when he has two hits or a homer. In spite of an almost unprecedented New York news blackout, he's put together a really good season and, judging by Stadium applause, won back the fans if not the sports reporters.
4
I wonder what flavor kool-aide the writer was drinking.
The Yankee season reminds me of a kite.
The first half of the season it flew high; the second half it is crashing toward the ground. You cannot win without offense and the Yankees have none.
Other teams, most notably Toronto, improved themselves before the trading deadline in July. Cashman arrogantly stood pat. That began the Yankee decline.
If they make it through the play-in game, they're toast in the first series.
The Yankee season reminds me of a kite.
The first half of the season it flew high; the second half it is crashing toward the ground. You cannot win without offense and the Yankees have none.
Other teams, most notably Toronto, improved themselves before the trading deadline in July. Cashman arrogantly stood pat. That began the Yankee decline.
If they make it through the play-in game, they're toast in the first series.
6
Sure, you could argue that the front office has done a descent job this year with the integration of some young talent and hanging on to a playoff spot. Congrats. At the same time, you have to consider the fact that the Blue Jays and the Mets, who were both trailing the Yankees in winning percentage as the trade deadline neared, managed to make moves that propelled them to division championships. You also need to consider that Cashman has made some pretty horrific moves in the past few years, which have put the Yankees in the position they now find themselves. Extending CC's contract was a killer. Has he won 10 games in the past three years? That's not a lot of production for $25 million or so annually. Despite the fact that Ellsbury has had been hitting the past couple of weeks, he's going to end up with the same basic stats as Gardner, who makes half as much. It's a little preposterous that the Yankees paid so much for a lead-off singles hitter who is entering the down side of his career and who is strangely no longer permitted to steal bases for fear of missing a two-run home-run opportunity form ARod. So, you'll forgive me if I'm not ready to hand Cashman the GM of the year award.
5
We've left so many men on base. Our offensive strategy is to hit home runs. I posit that you cannot win in October with weak pitching and no plan to put the ball in play when faced with scoring opportunities. The combination of home runs and no pitching is not a good strategy. Coupled with that, Girardi insists on "playing by the book." Until recently, he refused to play talented rookies, he leaves pitchers in and takes pitchers out when it makes no practical sense. I know Steinbrenner was a mad man who wouldn't have allowed careers like Jeter, Posada, Rivera, et al. to flourish. But there is some heat missing underneath the Yankees and it shows.
5
What a gem by #1 Yankees cheerleader/apologist.
The mediocre records is due to injuries
Cashman is a mastermind and he salutes him. All his decisions are wise and sound.
All their players are stars, even chemical Rodriguez-aka A-Fraud- is a "revelation"
If Beltran, Ellsbury, and McCann joined other teams, Kepner will have a name for them: castoffs!
And as usual, no word on the Mets winning their division, but he is guaranteeing a wild card/home game…dream on Kepner…dream on.
The mediocre records is due to injuries
Cashman is a mastermind and he salutes him. All his decisions are wise and sound.
All their players are stars, even chemical Rodriguez-aka A-Fraud- is a "revelation"
If Beltran, Ellsbury, and McCann joined other teams, Kepner will have a name for them: castoffs!
And as usual, no word on the Mets winning their division, but he is guaranteeing a wild card/home game…dream on Kepner…dream on.
9
Thank you for your thoughts, Mrs. Cashman.
1
Every team has challenges. Every team suffers injuries. The Yankees and their fans like to think they are somehow unique. They are not. That is why the games are played. At the end, those teams that have survived the challenges and overcome the injuries--and have had some lucky breaks along the way--make it to the postseason. That's how baseball works no matter how much money you spend.
1
Wow, an article complimenting the managerial style of the Yankees. Long overdue. They've had 6 losing seasons in the last 45 years. I believe they've essentially had close to the same payroll for the past 10 years. This article is much appreciated. Yes, the Red Sox have won more championships recently but is that worth being a fan when the three years sandwiched around the last WS title have been in or near the cellar? The Yanks also carry some burden (e.g., Jeter was not getting benched or moved out of the second sport last year no matter what), and they deal with that burden well. Thank you Mr. Kepner. I willingly acknowledge I'm spoiled rooting for this team and franchise but the whole 'buying championships' thing is worthless when explaining why they are where they are this year and recent years past. Go Yanks!
4
It's good to see the Yankees' management evolve. They were previously pretty good at finding good players in other teams' rejects, but now they've started developing homegrown talent. This orientation and the move away from huge, longterm contracts (viz. Robinson Cano), I believe, bodes well for the organization.
2
The Yankee$!got just enough of everything, as the Orioles collapsed from their last couple of years, the Rays regressed with a manager younger than A-Roid, good starting pitching, and not much else. For the third year out of four, the Sawx were terrible. Their young position players are coming on, and the pitching needs to be as good as it has been late, way too late. But the Yankee$ were ahead of the Jays when the Jays went all in with David Price and Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline, and they flew right past the Yankee$. And the second wild card looks like they'll be lucky to be 10 over .500.
Judge the Yankee$ standing pat at the deadline v. The Jays, and whether the Yankee$ make an impression in the playoffs.
Judge the Yankee$ standing pat at the deadline v. The Jays, and whether the Yankee$ make an impression in the playoffs.
2
Perhaps we are done with George Steinbrenner's noise... and his routine insecurities... think about Billy Martin... sacked 5 times...
Perhaps Cashman will be encouraged to find the best young players...
Ignoring the elderly and infirm.
I could go with this...
Perhaps Cashman will be encouraged to find the best young players...
Ignoring the elderly and infirm.
I could go with this...
2
Does anyone really want to see this bunch of misfits in the playoffs? Has baseball gotten that pathetic?
5
Still cant get over the Phillies are on a path to 100 loses and the Yankees are second fidle in NYC Mr. Kepner?
Get use to it. Hasn't been this way since you we're one.
Get use to it. Hasn't been this way since you we're one.
5
I love this team. Buena suerte!
2
Well over $3 billion dollars spent on salary in the last 14 years and only 1 championship to show for this.
Also, during this time, even though the team was flush with cash, the farm system has still yet to produce a replacement for the "core four" that was built by Gene Michael in early 1990s.
So, despite what this article is peddling, not exactly the paragon of "smart," is it?
Also, during this time, even though the team was flush with cash, the farm system has still yet to produce a replacement for the "core four" that was built by Gene Michael in early 1990s.
So, despite what this article is peddling, not exactly the paragon of "smart," is it?
5
Greg Bird looks like a keeper. Problem is, Teixeira is still under contract, and the team already has an expensive DH under contract for next year. How much will Bird play assuming Tex is healthy?
Right now, only Gregorius (and Bird, who doesn't play when Tex is healthy) is under 30 among the position players. Not exactly progress in that regard.
Right now, only Gregorius (and Bird, who doesn't play when Tex is healthy) is under 30 among the position players. Not exactly progress in that regard.
3
Money helps, a whole lots of money helps a whole lot. I am a Yankee fan but I have no illusions. The Yankees buy players, and given the Yankee spending the team does not come close to the Cardinals.
13
The Pirates came close to the Cardinals tonight... until the bottom of the 8th when Carpenter ran through 3rd base and Andrew McCutchen failed to pick up the ball as Carpenter scored. Oh and then Reynolds hit his two run homer... all of which means nobody comes close to the Cardinals until the post season begins and everybody starts even... Money is on the Cubs and Jake Arrieta to win the wildcard play in, and then lose to the Cardinals who will then face the Mets (sorry Donny Baseball... you don't have the bats right now to go with your Cy Young winners). Now the Mets are by proximity the closest thing to the Yankees and they will pose a real threat to the Redbirds who continue to cart players off the field at a startling rate as rookie of the year candidate Stephen Piscotty joins all star catcher Yadier Molina, and gone for the season all star pitcher Carlos Martinez, on the DL, after his nightmarish collision with Peter Bourjos tonight in the bottom of the 7th inning (way to hang on to the ball though Peter). The Cardinals just win... no matter what, but the Mets are hot, hitting the ball hard, and pitching better than anyone left in the St. Louis rotation... and they are healthy. Meanwhile all the Bronx bombers have to do is beat a) The Rangers b) The Rangers c) The Angels and then what? Division Championship blackout? The Yankees could easily make it as far as your Cardinals Nancy.
1
Agreed 100% but I think we can all admit the Cards are THE model franchise at the moment. No one else even comes close.
Concerning $, there are five teams with at least 170 mil in payroll. 7 with one of 150 mil or more (as of opening day).
Concerning $, there are five teams with at least 170 mil in payroll. 7 with one of 150 mil or more (as of opening day).
1
As of June 20 2015 the Yankees dont even come close to the Mets
2
But they are torture to watch! Count the fans at the park lately. They can't run; they can't hit for average; they don't move runners; they don't pitch all THAT well. With a couple of exceptions nobody can beat out a double play. They are old and overpaid.
They do pounce on mediocre pitchers for home runs. Against a good pitcher, one who doesn't make mistakes, they just cannot scratch out runs. We all just stand around waiting for home runs - and they ain't been coming in bunches here lately. Boring.