Yankee fans spend their winters doing one of two things.  Debating the best way to retain yet another World Series Title.  Or, like this year, they debate the best way for the team to get back to the top of the heap.  There are many opinions.  Some are valid.  Some are not.  But it is important to remember one rule when discussing The Hot Stove League.  Shiny new toys are awarded in December.  The World Series Trophy is awarded in October.

So as the big names started coming off of the board last week, it was easy to ask why the Yankees weren’t making any moves.  There were CJ Wilson and Mark Buehrle.  Each gobbled up by aggressive front offices looking to make a splash.  Surely the Yankees needed pitching.  Why not go hard after one, if not both of these men?  And there were options in the trade market.  Gio Gonzales, Phil Neise, and Jayir Jurrjeans were all made available by their respective clubs.  But the reality is that the asking price was just to high for any of the three.  Besides, it is a misconception to think that the Yankees were bounced out of the postseason because of their pitching.  In Game 5 against Detroit the Bombers left the bases loaded twice.  And if the breeze were just a little bit stronger in the eighth inning, the Yankees would have been moving on to their third consecutive appearance in the ALCS.  The Yankees were a 97 win team.  Champions of the AL East.  That doesn’t happen with “bad” pitching.  The second reason to not pursue Wilson and Buehrle is that while they are excellent pitchers, they are not the type of players that would normally command the money that was offered to them this winter.  The reason they were able to cash in is because they were the best that was available and someone always gets desperate and overpays (Anaheim).  I know most believe that the Yankees can just print money and eat even the most egregious mistakes.  But the reality is that just isn’t true.

Cashman has stated that the Yankees would like to get their payroll down to $189 million by 2014.  Adding bad contracts to pitchers over the age of thirty will not help that cause.  Especially combined with the already enormous contracts of CC, AJ, A-Rod, Jeter, and Tex.  So what is the answer?  How to the Yankees, a perennial contender, maintain their edge?

The answer is a combination of things.  The first is patience.  Brian Cashman has worked hard at restoring a once depleted farm system and making it one of the best in the majors.  And the time is almost upon us where the young arms, and bats, will be ready to help the big club in the Bronx.  We witnessed the rise of Ivan Nova last year.  This year it looks like Hector Noesi will have a similar chance heading into Spring Training.  Also waiting in the wings are Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos.  Two stud pitchers who have been coveted at one time or another by almost every other club.  It wasn’t that long ago that Gene Michael and Buck Showalter were finally able to stockpile talent and gradually ease them into the majors, laying the foundation for the most recent Yankees Dynasty.

The second requirement for a quiet offseason is an expected return to form.  There is no reason, at least not yet, to believe that Phil Hughes can’t be the pitcher he was in 2010.  His loss of velocity remains a mystery, but his commitment to training harder and being ready for the spring is promise enough to believe that he will be okay.  AJ Burnette remains another enigma.  His inability to put a string of successful innings, let alone games, together was something that has gnawed at the Yankees for two years now.  But in Game Four of the ALDS, with his teams back to to wall, Burnette thre a gem that brought back memories of the 2009 postseason.  Having already invested $86 million on his arm, it is at least worth seeing if he indeed has turned a corner under pitching guru Larry Rothechild.

The last requirement is due diligence.  Brian Cashman must kick every tire and knock on every international door because you never know where a gem might be hiding.  And though Nakajima might not seem to be an important move, he could be valuable in a sign and trade scenario.  There is also the bidding for Yu Darvish.  And the possibility of signing Hiroki Kuroda.  While he may not be the biggest fish in the sea, he may be just what the Yankees need to bridge the gap until the prospects can contribute.

So remember, a quiet offseason doesn’t necessarily mean that it is an unsuccessful one.  One only needs to travel north to Fenway to see what can happen to teams who are crowned champions before Christmas.

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Compared to last year, Yankee fans must feel that the offseason is developing at a snail’s pace.  At this time last year we were all dissecting, theorizing, and hypothesizing every minute detail in the pursuit of Cliff Lee.  This time around, not only are the fish not as big, they don’t seem quite as ready to bite yet.  Or, maybe the front office isn’t quite ready to cast their line into the free agent ocean.

That doesn’t mean we are without rumor and speculation.  Once again, starting pitching has taken center stage as the Yankees top priority.  Much of the discussion is based around the cost and where the best available options lie.  CJ Wilson is the prize of the 2011 free agent pitching class.  And he may command a big salary because of this fact.  But at the end of the day, he is still CJ Wilson.  Just because he may be the best available pitcher doesn’t turn him into Sandy Koufax.  Some experts believe he is seeking for AJ Burnett money.  If a team is willing to give him that, good for them.  If it comes to that, I believe the Yankees will pass.
Another pitcher poised to make a splash is Yu Darvish.  Though, after the Kei Igawa experiment, the Yankees will probably tread very carefully.  And whether or not you believe the Red Sox mishandled Dice-K, most will agree that dipping into the far east pitching market has been less than prosperous.
Edwin Jackson is out there as well.  And a World Series ring may raise his sticker price above what a pitcher of his stature may otherwise command.

There is also the possibility of trading for a starting pitcher, but it seems, for the time being, the prices may be to high.  There was some interest in the Braves Jair Jurrjens.  But knee issues and the high asking price of Nick Swisher and Eduardo Nunez seems to be enough to make the Yankees balk at the deal.  It is rumored that Billy Beane wants a Dan Haren type ransom for Gio Gonzalez, so don’t look for the Yankees to have to many conversations with the A’s.
All of these pitchers are viable options for the Yankees.  But it should be only for the right price.  There’s no reason to pay an Ace’s salary for a number three starter.  And one can’t discount AJ Burnett or Phil Hughes I was the Yankees 2012 rotation.  Expectations have been dramatically reduced for both.  But if AJ’s Game Four performance in the ALDS is a sign that Larry Rothschild has finally found his way into Burnett’s head, then 2012 may be a bit more like 2009 for the much maligned pitcher.
The situation for Hughes is a bit different.  His is an enigma of lost strength and velocity.  It is believed that he has hooked up with a well known trainer in Southern California in order to improve his conditioning in time for Spring Training.

If these two pitchers can be counted on with regularity, the Yankees rotation isn’t nearly as flawed at it is believed to be at this moment.

However, they can’t be counted on until they prove themselves next spring.  Which leaves the Yankees with the task of continuing the search.

There will undoubtedly be more names, Garza and Piniero to name a few.  But one thing is clear.  The market is developing very slowly.  And so… we wait.

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Now that the pain of an early ALDS exit is behind us, Yankee fans can begin to look toward 2012 with eyes on how their team might try to improve it’s chances on bringing a 28th Championship to the Bronx.  Though the season did not end in attaining the team’s ultimate goal.  In time, 2011 will be looked back upon as one of those special seasons.  From 3,000 to 602, there were plenty of moments, and players, that made 2011 a successful season.

Derek Jeter watches number 3,000 sail into the bleachers.

On July 9th, Derek Jeter became the first player in Pinstripes to reach 3,000 hits.  A tremendous feat considering the rich history of the Yankee franchise.  But it’s not the individual accomplishment that will make this record so memorable.  Rather, it is how the record was reached, what was accomplished in the game, and how it was just another step in the iconic shortstop’s resurgence at the plate.

The moment that is 3,ooo occurred with a flair for the dramatic that we are all now accustomed to when it comes to the Yankees Captain.  Just the second player to get his 3,oooth hit on a home run (Wade Boggs), the Home Run was part of an unprecedented 5 for 5 performance that also saw the Captain get the game winning hit in a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.  The ball turned Christian Lopez into a household name, as we all hung on the news and emotion of this young man and his would be battle will the IRS.  All because he made a noble gesture for which the Yankees wanted to thank him.

Jeter’s day at the plate may be looked at as the turning point of his season.  A .260 hitter when he hit the disabled list with a calf injury, Jeter went on a tear and finished the season just shy of hitting .300, silencing the critics who were writing the shortstop’s eulogy early in the season.

Rivera on the mound after Save 602

Like Jeter, Rivera is another iconic Yankee who entered 2011 on the cusp of a milestone of his own.  Already considered the most dominant closer of all time, Rivera just needed the technicality of passing Trevor Hoffman for the all time Saves lead.  He accomplished that feat on September 19th, recording save number 602 against the Twins.  After the game, his longtime battery-mate pushed him back onto the mound to let the moment soak in.  It was a moment that no Yankee fan will ever forget.

Speaking of Rivera’s battery-mate, the 2011 season may have been the final curtain call for Jorge Posada.  It was a season that began ominously for the border line Hall of Famer.  Having been relegated to a role as DH, Posada struggled at the plate and even asked out of the lineup before a game against the rival Red Sox.  But if this season is indeed the end, Posada finished it with an exclamation point.  He secured one final Division crown for the Yankees when he came off of the bench and delivered the game winning hit against Tampa Bay on September 22nd.

The Veteran delivers like so many times before.

2011 wasn’t just about the remaining members of “The Core Four”.  It was also about living up to monikers and surpassing the expectations.  Yankee fans everywhere enjoyed poking fun at the pundits who said the Yankees couldn’t continue to win by relying so much on the long ball.  But the Bronx Bombers survived just fine hitting and MLB best 222 home runs on route to a 17th AL East crown.  A crown that came at the expense of the Boston Red Sox, who, prior to the season, were picked by so many people to run away from the rest of the AL East.  And run away they did.  They just ran in the wrong direction.  It was a division title that nobody outside of the Yankees and their fans had expected.  That it was won in the midst of their arch rivals collapse made it all the more enjoyable.

One of the great things about Baseball is that it is played everyday.  There is something that fans can appreciate every game.  For Yankees fans in 2011, this joy came in the form of not one, but two players.  Curtis Granderson had a breakout season in the Bronx. His 41 homers and 119 RBI almost make you forget that he scored a league leading 136 runs.  Numbers that have garnered MVP attention.  But it is his teammate, 2nd Baseman Robinson Cano, who continues to emerge as the most dangerous hitter in all of baseball.  But his smooth swing is only half of the story.  His defensive prowess and quick release in the field make him a must see on a regular basis.  Two players providing thrills day in and day out all summer long.  These are quieter moments that may be missed in the big picture.  But avid Yankee fans know to appreciate what these to players brought to the ballpark everyday.  They both had special seasons hat we all enjoyed watching unfold.

Lastly, in September, Yankee fans finally got to see the teams much heralded prospect, Jesus Montero, make his debut in the Bronx.  And Montero did not disappoint.  He was so impressive down the stretch that he played himself onto the postseason roster.  Yankee fans can only hope that this was a glimpse of many wonderful years to come from this hitting phenom.

So, even though there wasn’t a parade through the Canyon of Heroes, there was plenty of memorable moments that can separate 2011 from other seasons that didn’t end in a championship.  And when we are telling our Grandchildren the rich history of this proud franchise, we will draw a lot of our story from 2011.  It will be a year that will return to the forefront of our minds as we take them through Monument Park and they ask what it was like to see Jeter and Rivera play.

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Robinson Cano and the Yankees failed to finish off their rally in the rain.

Better bounce back quickly, though. Justin Verlander is on deck for Detroit, and it’s a pretty safe bet he’ll pitch more than one inning this time.

Max Scherzer held the Yankees hitless until the sixth, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and the Tigers beat New York 5-3 Sunday to tie their best-of-five American League playoff at a game apiece.

Shut out until the eighth inning, the Yankees tried to fight back on solo homers by Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher. Jorge Posada hit his first postseason triple in the ninth and Detroit catcher Alex Avila slipped on a slick on-deck circle, preventing him from catching a foul popup for the final out.

That seemed to be just the break New York needed to complete a stirring comeback from a four-run deficit. But closer Jose Valverde, perfect in 49 save chances this season, retired Cano on a grounder with two on to end it.

“After the Granderson popup, where the catcher slipped, I said, ‘Wow, this might be our inning, we might have a break there,’” Mark Teixeira said. “But you can’t come through every single time. Robby’s been so big for us all year long and you guys saw what he did yesterday. It’s just tough to score a lot of runs off a closer like that.”

Derek Jeter made a costly error at shortstop for the Yankees and went 0 for 5. He struck out twice in key spots in the late innings.

Scherzer silenced Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and the rest of a New York lineup that scored nine runs in the series opener. The right-hander was working on a no-hit bid until Cano blooped a single in the sixth.

“He throws the ball hard. He pitched extremely well today,” Jeter said. “He’s been tough on us in the past and he was tough on us again.”

The series shifts to Detroit on Monday night, with no day off for travel because Game 1 was suspended by rain Friday and then completed Saturday. Verlander (24-5) gets the ball at spacious Comerica Park, looking to follow up on a dominant regular season that earned him the pitching version of a Triple Crown and a place in the MVP discussion.

Better bring those bats. Because if the Yankees don’t win Game 3, the season rides on the unreliable arm of A.J. Burnett in Game 4.

“It’s huge. Tomorrow’s a really big game. You don’t want to go down 2-1 with them having a chance to close it out at their home park,” Teixeira said.

The good news for New York is that its own pitching star, CC Sabathia, will be back on the mound Monday as well. He and Verlander squared off Friday in a highly anticipated matchup that lasted only 1½ innings.

Aces, interrupted. Now, they meet again.

“It should be a fun one to see those guys go to work against each other,” Granderson said.

The Yankees, however, would like to give Sabathia more support than they offered soft tosser Freddy Garcia, who held Detroit in check for five innings. He gave up a two-run homer to Cabrera that barely cleared the right-field fence in the first.

The Tigers cashed in on Jeter’s throwing error in the sixth, chasing Garcia with RBI singles by Cabrera and Victor Martinez that made it 4-0.

Teixeira went 0 for 4 and never hit the ball out of the infield. A banged-up Rodriguez was booed after an eighth-inning popup dropped him to 0 for 8 in the series.

“No big deal. We’re really focused on the goal here,” Rodriguez said. “There’s no need to even get emotional. You’ve got to stay in the moment.”

What he needs, perhaps, is time to get healthy — and that’s not available in October.

Hampered by nagging injuries to his knee and thumb, A-Rod finished the regular season by batting .204 from June 29 on. Right now, it doesn’t look as though he can turn on hard stuff inside with any authority.

“This time of year nobody cares, nobody wants to hear about banged-up,” said Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP. “I’m not worried about it. The playoffs, every pitch is a different lifetime. You can’t worry about what happened over the last month.”

Rodriguez’s slump in the cleanup spot is a growing problem for the Yankees because Cano was recently bumped up from fifth to third to get him more protection and pitches to hit.

“I don’t have any plans in changing my lineup,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s only two games. I’m not going to make too much of two games.”

The first hit Scherzer allowed was a soft single with one out in the sixth by Cano, who had a grand slam and six RBIs on Saturday night. New York never got going again until the Tigers’ bullpen took over.

Even the early sunshine didn’t help the Yankees, who went 44-12 in day games this season — the best winning percentage (.786) for a major league team since 1900.

What began as a beautiful afternoon turned messy in the seventh, when rain sent fans scurrying for cover as the Yankees tried to rally.

A leadoff walk and Posada’s single chased Scherzer, who yielded only two hits over six-plus innings in his postseason debut. Russell Martin flied out and pinch-hitter Eric Chavez struck out against Joaquin Benoit, who threw a called third strike past Jeter to end the inning. Jeter, never animated when he argues, didn’t like the call and stayed at home plate for a long discussion with umpire Eric Cooper.

Jeter also fanned against Valverde for the second out in the ninth. Swisher hit a leadoff homer that inning and Andruw Jones had a sacrifice fly.

Granderson connected to start the eighth.

Five years ago, the Yankees won their playoff opener against Detroit and then got shut down by Tigers arms for three straight games. Cano and Co. don’t want that to happen again. But they rarely threatened until the ninth on Sunday, and now there’s another tough task on tap in Verlander.

“The road to a championship is never easy and we don’t expect it to be,” Rodriguez said.

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“Sunday MLB on TBS” will air a special preview of analyst Cal Ripken’s interview with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. The clip provides a glimpse into a candid onversation between two all-time great shortstops.

The preview will run during a special half-hour edition of MLB on Deck airing Sunday, Sept. 25 at 12:30 p.m. (ET) with Matt Winer (host) in studio alongside Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst).

MLB on Deck precedes TBS’s doubleheader featuring two divisional match-ups: The Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees, 1p.m. (ET) followed by the San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks, 4 p.m. (ET).  The full interview between Ripken and Jeter will air during TBS’s exclusive coverage of all four Division Series and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Here’s the clip:

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Author’s Note:  The truth is, I wasn’t going to write a story about 9/11.  I didn’t think anyone needed one more story recounting the horrors of that awful day.  After watching heart wrenching documentaries and stories of heroism and loss this past weekend, I found myself in exactly the same emotional state that I was enveloped in ten years prior.  Unable to turn away from the TV, the images seeped into my subconscious.  I got little sleep this weekend.  They weren’t nightmares.  Rather a stream of images from that day, and the days…weeks…and months that followed.  They haunted me just as they had in 2001.  In all reality, they haunt me every day.  I imagine it is the same for anyone who experienced that day.  And so, I couldn’t bring myself to write about it.  I didn’t want to subject people to the pain yet again.

Then two things happened.  The first was this post I read by a friend of mine, Stacey Gotsulias.  The second was a chance encounter with the airing of Nine Innings from Ground Zero on the MLB Network.  They allowed me to find my inspiration for what it is I wanted to say about that day, that team, and that very emotional time.  This isn’t a retelling of that September day.  Nor is it a recounting of the Yankees march to the World Series.  It is the story of how a baseball team gave this fan a much needed reprieve.

Read the rest of this entry »

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"What do you mean I'm terrible? The manager says I'm doing fine!"

In an organization where the mantra is “Win now”, you wouldn’t expect there to be much in the way of tolerating losing.  But that is exactly what the Yankees are doing in the case of AJ Burnett.  The Yankees trail the Red Sox by 1 1/2 games entering tonight’s contest at Fenway Park.  And they are sending their struggling hurler back to the hill after a deflating performance against the lowly Orioles last Friday. Read the rest of this entry »

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Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been scratched from the lineup for Tuesday’s game against Oakland because of a thumb injury.

According to MLB.com, Rodriguez jammed his left thumb when trying to backhand a ball in Sunday’s game against Minnesota. That was his first appearance since returning from knee surgery. A torn meniscus had kept him out since July 7.

Eric Chavez is starting at third in Rodriguez’s place.

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