But seriously, from this point forward, I'm going to make a concerted effort to keep this thing running at least somewhere near real-time. Because let's face it, aside from work I don't have a goddamn thing to do. Up next (we hope): my take on the moves that have been made since we got our shit pushed in by the Almost-World Champion Rays in the ALDS, followed by what's left to be done before pitchers and catchers report in February. Fingers crossed we'll get that out tomorrow.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Apologies to Anyone Who is Listening (Reading)
In my first post I promised that this would be a blog that would offer an (rightly or wrongly) opinionated commentary and that would be updated frequently. Well, sitting here nearly 10 months since my last post, I'd be insulting all 18 people to have visited this site to say that I violated the second guarantee. But that's the beauty of having a blog that isn't read--I don't have to apologize for shit.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
There's Work Left to be Done
So, despite the somewhat overwhelming optimism in my last post, I have a number of concerns about things we still have to accomplish to compete this year. In order of importance, here they are.
1. The 5th Starter's Spot - I really don't mean to sound like a broken record in saying that I just don't see Gavin Floyd getting it done, but, frankly, I just don't see Gavin Floyd getting it done. All the coaches were raving about his progress in the opening week of ST, and yet he got shelled in his only start thus far. Yes, he is recovering from the flu, but this isn't how you're supposed to pitch when proving that you belong in a big league rotation. Being as even-minded as I am, I will withhold final judgment until after his next start; if he falters, I will be the first to throw him under the bus. You cannot tell me with a straight face that KW honestly believes that he is confident in Floyd's ability to go .500 at the 5 spot. Given that KW wants to compete this year, how can he possibly think that Floyd gives him the best option to play in October? This is what baffles me more than anything else Kenny dishes out, as it is so strikingly contradictory.
Floyd's done, end of story. So why not give the last rotation spot to someone on the up-and-coming, namely Jack Egbert or Lance Broadway? The difference in wins produced (on the downside) can't possibly exceed two relative to Floyd's numbers, and Egbert and Broadway aren't getting any younger, either. Yes, I understand that coaches know infinitely more about their team than do fans, but if everyone is complaining about Floyd and raving about Egbert, clearly the latter's doing something right.
One other option has to do, ironically, with a lack of options (good baseball pun, I know). That's right, the chip in the McCarthy trade not known as John Danks, Nick Masset. He's out of options, which means he's going to start the season on the 25-man roster, as we all know how quick KW is to give up on his projects. However, he's been HORRIBLE out of the bullpen, and what did he do in his one start versus the Cubs on May 20? 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 3 BB. It's not Buehrle's no-hitter, and it's clearly a microscopic sample size, but it's more respectable than anything Floyd has been able to produce.
So if Floyd continues to suck during ST, and Masset's already going to be on the roster, why not give him the first two starts out of the 5 spot? There are so many aberrations in early April as teams and players try to adjust to the season that anything can happen to anyone on a given day, so even if he doesn't pitch well, Masset can get lucky. Another option would be to alternate Masset and Floyd out of the 5 spot depending on how they performed in their last outing, and sticking the odd man in long-relief duty to keep their arms loose. It's unconventional, no doubt, but it serves as almost an in-season competition, which we'd like to think leads to improved performances out of proud major league pitchers. But to say that Floyd is being handed the spot essentially regardless of his ST numbers is so contradictory to the goals and mindset of this team that it is almost maddening.
2. Saturation at 3B - Let's get two things straight: 1. Josh Fields will have a more dominating offensive season than Joe Crede. 2. Josh has improved on defense, while Joe has been showing severe signs of rust (4 throwing errors already).
Don't believe me about the first claim? Consider this, then: Josh Fields hit 23 HR and 67 RBI in 373 AB last year, his rookie season; the only time Joe has topped 23 HR was in 2006, when he hit 30 in 544 AB, and drove in 94. Had Fields kept up his production for the additional 171 AB Crede received in 2006, he would have hit 33.5 HR and driven in 98 runs, despite hitting lower in the order than did Crede. Supplement this with the fact that Joe is almost 5 years older than Josh and is coming off back surgery, and there is little doubt that Josh is set to be the more productive player this season.
Yes, we had all assumed that Joe would be gone by now, because at this point he's just blocking Josh's progression. However, there need to be buyers to sell to, and the market for recovering 3B with average OBP skills is very small. San Francisco doesn't want a one-year rental who is only marginally more productive than their last 3B (Pedro Feliz), and we don't want what they are offering. At this point, the Dodgers make the most sense for Joe, as Nomar is injured and slipping, and Andy LaRoche is out for about two months. A scenario that I have considered which hasn't garnished a whole lot of talk is the Dodgers take Crede until LaRoche gets healthy, and then they try to trade him to a contender around the deadline for a piece they need, as they figure to be pushing for the playoffs as well. On the flipside, it wouldn't do them much good should Crede get injured early, leaving them with three 3B on the DL.
If we should be forced to hold on to Crede, as his .091 ST BA isn't exactly making his trade value soar, we have already been told that Fields will start the season in AAA. Why? Why in God's name would we keep the more productive player out of the line-up, simply because Crede has 'earned' the right to be there? Yes, it helps us showcase him for a trade, but showcasing takes a backseat to winning. I can't begin to tell you how worried I am that Crede doesn't return to form this season, in which case not only will there be a void of suitors for him, Fields spends time in the minors for virtually no reason.
Then there are the rumors that Konerko could be traded, which would open up 1B for Josh (people keep mentioning bringing Swisher into first, but then it accomplishes nothing for the Crede/Fields saga). However, this a trade that sacrifices Paulie to accommodate Joe, while it should be the other way around. Yes, we would likely get some much needed starting pitching in return, and if done early this move keeps us from dealing with Paulie after he has full no-trade protection (which become effective in early June, I believe), but this hurts us both offensively and defensively, as a Fields/Crede combo is inferior to either a Fields/Konerko or Crede/Konerko combo at the plate, and Fields hasn't played a day of 1B since being drafted. Add this to the fact that Paulie is the most beloved Sox player not named Buehrle, and there would be an uproar on Michigan Ave. months before Ozzie stripped naked.
I think our best option is to sell Crede to the Dodgers now at about 75 cents on the dollar (if that) for a respectable but not phenomenal starting pitching prospect, coupling Joe with another piece if needed, and be done with it. Because a few months from now, we may not even get 40 cents on the dollar, as an NL scout referred to him as a below-average 3B right now. Joe was a hero in 2005, but we need to part with history if we are to progress forward.
Coming up next: my other pressing concerns.
1. The 5th Starter's Spot - I really don't mean to sound like a broken record in saying that I just don't see Gavin Floyd getting it done, but, frankly, I just don't see Gavin Floyd getting it done. All the coaches were raving about his progress in the opening week of ST, and yet he got shelled in his only start thus far. Yes, he is recovering from the flu, but this isn't how you're supposed to pitch when proving that you belong in a big league rotation. Being as even-minded as I am, I will withhold final judgment until after his next start; if he falters, I will be the first to throw him under the bus. You cannot tell me with a straight face that KW honestly believes that he is confident in Floyd's ability to go .500 at the 5 spot. Given that KW wants to compete this year, how can he possibly think that Floyd gives him the best option to play in October? This is what baffles me more than anything else Kenny dishes out, as it is so strikingly contradictory.
Floyd's done, end of story. So why not give the last rotation spot to someone on the up-and-coming, namely Jack Egbert or Lance Broadway? The difference in wins produced (on the downside) can't possibly exceed two relative to Floyd's numbers, and Egbert and Broadway aren't getting any younger, either. Yes, I understand that coaches know infinitely more about their team than do fans, but if everyone is complaining about Floyd and raving about Egbert, clearly the latter's doing something right.
One other option has to do, ironically, with a lack of options (good baseball pun, I know). That's right, the chip in the McCarthy trade not known as John Danks, Nick Masset. He's out of options, which means he's going to start the season on the 25-man roster, as we all know how quick KW is to give up on his projects. However, he's been HORRIBLE out of the bullpen, and what did he do in his one start versus the Cubs on May 20? 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 3 BB. It's not Buehrle's no-hitter, and it's clearly a microscopic sample size, but it's more respectable than anything Floyd has been able to produce.
So if Floyd continues to suck during ST, and Masset's already going to be on the roster, why not give him the first two starts out of the 5 spot? There are so many aberrations in early April as teams and players try to adjust to the season that anything can happen to anyone on a given day, so even if he doesn't pitch well, Masset can get lucky. Another option would be to alternate Masset and Floyd out of the 5 spot depending on how they performed in their last outing, and sticking the odd man in long-relief duty to keep their arms loose. It's unconventional, no doubt, but it serves as almost an in-season competition, which we'd like to think leads to improved performances out of proud major league pitchers. But to say that Floyd is being handed the spot essentially regardless of his ST numbers is so contradictory to the goals and mindset of this team that it is almost maddening.
2. Saturation at 3B - Let's get two things straight: 1. Josh Fields will have a more dominating offensive season than Joe Crede. 2. Josh has improved on defense, while Joe has been showing severe signs of rust (4 throwing errors already).
Don't believe me about the first claim? Consider this, then: Josh Fields hit 23 HR and 67 RBI in 373 AB last year, his rookie season; the only time Joe has topped 23 HR was in 2006, when he hit 30 in 544 AB, and drove in 94. Had Fields kept up his production for the additional 171 AB Crede received in 2006, he would have hit 33.5 HR and driven in 98 runs, despite hitting lower in the order than did Crede. Supplement this with the fact that Joe is almost 5 years older than Josh and is coming off back surgery, and there is little doubt that Josh is set to be the more productive player this season.
Yes, we had all assumed that Joe would be gone by now, because at this point he's just blocking Josh's progression. However, there need to be buyers to sell to, and the market for recovering 3B with average OBP skills is very small. San Francisco doesn't want a one-year rental who is only marginally more productive than their last 3B (Pedro Feliz), and we don't want what they are offering. At this point, the Dodgers make the most sense for Joe, as Nomar is injured and slipping, and Andy LaRoche is out for about two months. A scenario that I have considered which hasn't garnished a whole lot of talk is the Dodgers take Crede until LaRoche gets healthy, and then they try to trade him to a contender around the deadline for a piece they need, as they figure to be pushing for the playoffs as well. On the flipside, it wouldn't do them much good should Crede get injured early, leaving them with three 3B on the DL.
If we should be forced to hold on to Crede, as his .091 ST BA isn't exactly making his trade value soar, we have already been told that Fields will start the season in AAA. Why? Why in God's name would we keep the more productive player out of the line-up, simply because Crede has 'earned' the right to be there? Yes, it helps us showcase him for a trade, but showcasing takes a backseat to winning. I can't begin to tell you how worried I am that Crede doesn't return to form this season, in which case not only will there be a void of suitors for him, Fields spends time in the minors for virtually no reason.
Then there are the rumors that Konerko could be traded, which would open up 1B for Josh (people keep mentioning bringing Swisher into first, but then it accomplishes nothing for the Crede/Fields saga). However, this a trade that sacrifices Paulie to accommodate Joe, while it should be the other way around. Yes, we would likely get some much needed starting pitching in return, and if done early this move keeps us from dealing with Paulie after he has full no-trade protection (which become effective in early June, I believe), but this hurts us both offensively and defensively, as a Fields/Crede combo is inferior to either a Fields/Konerko or Crede/Konerko combo at the plate, and Fields hasn't played a day of 1B since being drafted. Add this to the fact that Paulie is the most beloved Sox player not named Buehrle, and there would be an uproar on Michigan Ave. months before Ozzie stripped naked.
I think our best option is to sell Crede to the Dodgers now at about 75 cents on the dollar (if that) for a respectable but not phenomenal starting pitching prospect, coupling Joe with another piece if needed, and be done with it. Because a few months from now, we may not even get 40 cents on the dollar, as an NL scout referred to him as a below-average 3B right now. Joe was a hero in 2005, but we need to part with history if we are to progress forward.
Coming up next: my other pressing concerns.
Thoughts on Spring Training Thus Far
So I'm back from my Caribbean cruise, which was certainly not without some legendary stories (let's just say it was almost a very short trip for me). But all's well and good, so I am picking up the blog as promised. Here are my preliminary thoughts on the Sox and their 7-8 Cactus League record:
- Alexei Ramirez just may be everything I'd hoped he'd be...and more. A 4-5 debut and a .360 average overall? So long Juan Uribe.
- Linebrink's contract is wayyyyyy too long.
- We can't keep leaning on MacDougal's 'stuff' as a crutch--he needs to be on a very short leash come opening day.
- This will for sure jinx it, but Jose appears to be his old self in terms of velocity, control, and pitch effectiveness. I also am impressed (perhaps shocked is more appropriate) by how much he improved in his last outing after Coop told him to speed up on the mound.
- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Dewon Day is not a major league-caliber pitcher.
- The John Danks cutter does exist! And he's getting closer to erasing a question mark from the rotation with every start.
- Then again, Gavin Floyd is not exactly helping his own cause, getting hit very, very hard. I've said it since last year, he simply cannot get the job done on a day-to-day basis.
- Dotel's still got it (with the exception of one rough outing). Here's to keeping him off the DL.
- I'm sure Javy's just working out some early-season kinks, but I'd be all for him figuring it out sooner rather than later...
- Why, Joe Crede, why? (More on this in an upcoming post)
- Paulie's back.
- Jerry Owens could and should be the lead-off hitter and CF on opening day (more on this later, too).
- Swisher could be much better than advertised if he stays healthy to play 81 games at the Cell.
- I have this nagging feeling that JD is done.
- Fat Bobby has 0 K through 5 IP. Let's work on that...
- Jason Bourgeois is Pablo Ozuna v. 1.1.
All things considered, I am much more optimistic about this season than I was a month ago. We desperately need to figure out the 5th starter situation (not that there's much to figure out, since barring a 'Day After Tomorrow' situation, Ozzie and KW have said that Gavin will be in the rotation), and the bullpen could make some strides towards consistency (sound familiar), but most of the players are hitting the ball pretty well, and Danks and Contreras seem poised to handle the starter's roles much better than last year.
World Series? Probably not. But at the very least it doesn't look like a 72-90 squad, so at least we're headed in the right direction.
- Alexei Ramirez just may be everything I'd hoped he'd be...and more. A 4-5 debut and a .360 average overall? So long Juan Uribe.
- Linebrink's contract is wayyyyyy too long.
- We can't keep leaning on MacDougal's 'stuff' as a crutch--he needs to be on a very short leash come opening day.
- This will for sure jinx it, but Jose appears to be his old self in terms of velocity, control, and pitch effectiveness. I also am impressed (perhaps shocked is more appropriate) by how much he improved in his last outing after Coop told him to speed up on the mound.
- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Dewon Day is not a major league-caliber pitcher.
- The John Danks cutter does exist! And he's getting closer to erasing a question mark from the rotation with every start.
- Then again, Gavin Floyd is not exactly helping his own cause, getting hit very, very hard. I've said it since last year, he simply cannot get the job done on a day-to-day basis.
- Dotel's still got it (with the exception of one rough outing). Here's to keeping him off the DL.
- I'm sure Javy's just working out some early-season kinks, but I'd be all for him figuring it out sooner rather than later...
- Why, Joe Crede, why? (More on this in an upcoming post)
- Paulie's back.
- Jerry Owens could and should be the lead-off hitter and CF on opening day (more on this later, too).
- Swisher could be much better than advertised if he stays healthy to play 81 games at the Cell.
- I have this nagging feeling that JD is done.
- Fat Bobby has 0 K through 5 IP. Let's work on that...
- Jason Bourgeois is Pablo Ozuna v. 1.1.
All things considered, I am much more optimistic about this season than I was a month ago. We desperately need to figure out the 5th starter situation (not that there's much to figure out, since barring a 'Day After Tomorrow' situation, Ozzie and KW have said that Gavin will be in the rotation), and the bullpen could make some strides towards consistency (sound familiar), but most of the players are hitting the ball pretty well, and Danks and Contreras seem poised to handle the starter's roles much better than last year.
World Series? Probably not. But at the very least it doesn't look like a 72-90 squad, so at least we're headed in the right direction.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Playing Catch Up, As Usual
Okay, so I've gotten away from the blog for about three weeks because of midterms, et cetera. Not that it really matters, given that I get about one visitor per day (a lot of site authors joke like this; I'm being dead serious. Like, Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy test serious.), but I still feel obligated to put some time into this after promising to do so.
There are a ton of links I've missed, and I wish I could get them all posted, but I'd rather just fly solo through the Cliff's Notes version. Most of the credit goes to South Side Sox, Sox Machine, and MLB.com, sites that are actually responsible about providing daily insights on our beloved Good Guys. Here are the things you've missed if you haven't been paying attention, which you probably have if you scoured through the hundreds of websites that come before mine on any Google search. My ascent to the top is moving considerably slower than expected...
- Danny Richar has had trouble with his visa and still has not reported to camp. Ozzie's pissed.
- Mike MacD hit Joe Crede in the hand on the first day of live BP. Crede's fine, though I'm beginning to think there's a curse trying to keep him in Chicago.
- Buehrle had soreness in his left shoulder and missed a scheduled intrasquad start. Says he's fine, and I believe him since he hasn't missed a start since Castro's been in office (either one, I suppose).
- Ozzie is high on Contreras returning to form now that his personal life is in order. Let's hope Ozzie isn't just high.
- Speaking of The Count, he's helping fellow Cuban Alexei Ramirez adjust to life in the big leagues. Glad we have a $10 million mentor within the organization.
- Speaking of Alexei (I'm working on a nickname), even Greg Walker says he has a long swing. Let's tighten that up, big guy, before Greg tries to tighten it up for you...
- Alexei is drawing many comparisons to a younger Alfonso Soriano with regard to his body type and athleticism. He has apparently been very slick/smooth with the glove (Ozzie said he was impressed by watching him simply field grounders, which is actually saying something), and Scott Merkin even predicts he will break camp as the starting second baseman (p.s. WTF?! I've been more optimistic about Alexei than Alexei has been about himself, but even I would never have ventured a guess that he would be turning double plays on Opening Day. Scott is down in Tucson, and for him to make a claim like this means there is something really impressive about this kid. Could be the Major League steal of the offseason.)
- Gavin Floyd has impressed pretty much everyone down in Arizona. As they say in Super Troopers, "I'll believe that when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet."
- Ozzie says he's giving Brian Anderson a fair chance to break camp with the team. For my response, see above line.
- Still no word on the batting order or position battles. We wait with bated breath.
- Jerry Owens predicted 65 steals this season. He tweaked his groin in the first 4-inning intrasquad game. I'll leave you to come to your own conclusions.
I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but kudos if you made it this far without leaving the site. Spring Break is next week, so don't expect any coverage of the first few Cactus League games. I will, however, be better in the future about keeping up with the posts. In the meantime, feel free to visit the site early and often, and be sure to click on the referral links so I can actually get some money out of this deal. Give and take, give and take.
There are a ton of links I've missed, and I wish I could get them all posted, but I'd rather just fly solo through the Cliff's Notes version. Most of the credit goes to South Side Sox, Sox Machine, and MLB.com, sites that are actually responsible about providing daily insights on our beloved Good Guys. Here are the things you've missed if you haven't been paying attention, which you probably have if you scoured through the hundreds of websites that come before mine on any Google search. My ascent to the top is moving considerably slower than expected...
- Danny Richar has had trouble with his visa and still has not reported to camp. Ozzie's pissed.
- Mike MacD hit Joe Crede in the hand on the first day of live BP. Crede's fine, though I'm beginning to think there's a curse trying to keep him in Chicago.
- Buehrle had soreness in his left shoulder and missed a scheduled intrasquad start. Says he's fine, and I believe him since he hasn't missed a start since Castro's been in office (either one, I suppose).
- Ozzie is high on Contreras returning to form now that his personal life is in order. Let's hope Ozzie isn't just high.
- Speaking of The Count, he's helping fellow Cuban Alexei Ramirez adjust to life in the big leagues. Glad we have a $10 million mentor within the organization.
- Speaking of Alexei (I'm working on a nickname), even Greg Walker says he has a long swing. Let's tighten that up, big guy, before Greg tries to tighten it up for you...
- Alexei is drawing many comparisons to a younger Alfonso Soriano with regard to his body type and athleticism. He has apparently been very slick/smooth with the glove (Ozzie said he was impressed by watching him simply field grounders, which is actually saying something), and Scott Merkin even predicts he will break camp as the starting second baseman (p.s. WTF?! I've been more optimistic about Alexei than Alexei has been about himself, but even I would never have ventured a guess that he would be turning double plays on Opening Day. Scott is down in Tucson, and for him to make a claim like this means there is something really impressive about this kid. Could be the Major League steal of the offseason.)
- Gavin Floyd has impressed pretty much everyone down in Arizona. As they say in Super Troopers, "I'll believe that when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet."
- Ozzie says he's giving Brian Anderson a fair chance to break camp with the team. For my response, see above line.
- Still no word on the batting order or position battles. We wait with bated breath.
- Jerry Owens predicted 65 steals this season. He tweaked his groin in the first 4-inning intrasquad game. I'll leave you to come to your own conclusions.
I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but kudos if you made it this far without leaving the site. Spring Break is next week, so don't expect any coverage of the first few Cactus League games. I will, however, be better in the future about keeping up with the posts. In the meantime, feel free to visit the site early and often, and be sure to click on the referral links so I can actually get some money out of this deal. Give and take, give and take.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Slow News Day
My apologies for the lack of posts in the past few days, as there just really hasn't been anything on which to sound off. Not a whole lot new to report today, either, but two pieces by Scott Merkin are worth checking out on the White Sox website. This one talks about Contreras rebounding (dramatically) in 2008, while this one provides an outlook of the season of the whole. The second article is perhaps the best Merkin has put out in some time, with a lot of good insight on the organization as a whole. People who follow the Sox in depth won't be shocked by anything he has to say, but it's great for those who are unaware of the smaller names and big storylines heading into Spring Training.
Hopefully I'll find something interesting to report on soon.
Hopefully I'll find something interesting to report on soon.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
I Thought it Was a Good Idea
So my idea of Crede going to the Yankees all but evaporated today, as the Bronx Bombers signed Morgan Ensberg to a one-year deal. He will be competing for time at first base, and while it is not an earth-shattering signing, it really does reduce the odds of the Yankees coming out as Crede suitors to about .01%. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that something beneficial works out with the Gyros.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
...Actually There Might Be
I've had a change of heart, or at least of thought, after my last post. I think there might be one other team who could seriously entertain the idea of trading for Crede: the New York Yankees. Hypothetically, the deal could conceivably consist of Crede, a reliever like MacDougal or Thornton, and potentially a utility player or prospect for a top ten Yankee pitching prospect. This prospect would ideally be Ian Kennedy, but Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez, Ross Ohlendorf, or Andrew Brackman are certainly more realistic. Lest you think I've lost my mind--yes, I know there is still that guy Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez manning third in pinstripes--let me run over some points that make this trade more plausible, if not entirely feasible:
I'm not saying that any deal with the Yankees will happen or is even being considered. I do know that the Yankees want to win and have the collateral to improve their 2008 roster via trades, so I'm not sure it's entirely out of the question. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
- According to MLB.com, the Yankees have exactly one back-up player at second, short, and third. Stunningly, they are all the same person: Wilsom Betemit (he's even 3rd string at first!). They clearly have zero depth in the infield, and all of their top 10 prospects are either pitchers, catchers, or outfielders. More on this in argument #7.
- For this deal to work, A-Rod would have to move over to 1B or DH. Though he might be opposed to this, it makes sense on two levels: one, even though A-Rod has become a good defensive third baseman, Crede has a higher career fielding percentage at 3B (.968 vs. .960). True, fielding percentage isn't the end-all, be-all of actual fielding ability, but it works as an effective proxy. Two, A-Rod is a 32-year old who just signed a 10-year contract worth $275 million. Playing an active position like third increases his risk of an injury/decreases his durability, whereas playing first or DH maximizes his offensive potential over an extended period of time, which is where his true value lies. We have all seen how Barry Bonds has physically struggled to play left on an everyday occasion, whether this problem is steroid-induced or not. Limiting his defensive strain now will work wonders in ensuring he is still semi-productive in his early forties.
- You might say that the Yankees already have two first basemen in Jason Giambi and Shelley Duncan. True, but it is still their weakest position from an offensive standpoint--Giambi is clearly on his way down and I'm not sure Duncan is ready for everyday action (he's a 28-year old who made his major league debut last summer). Giambi is insanely expensive, no question, but fans aren't going to put up with another Juan Uribe-caliber season. He's entering the final season of his contract, and it's not impossible the Yankees could trade him if they agree to pay a large percentage of his salary. A change of scenery is best for everyone in this instance.
- Yankees fans are getting very impatient about winning another World Series, particularly in light of the Red Sox taking two of the last four. Despite their many shortcomings, the Steinbrenner family (and GM Brian Cashman) understand this and are doing all they can to maximize current and near-term success (they essentially gave up on the Johan Santana sweepstakes--missing a big name for the first time in a long time--because the prospects being demanded were too numerous and talented). Crede is a very inexpensive rental for a team with revenues like the Yankees, and they haven't shied away from dealing with Scott Boras clients in the past, increasing the likelihood of resigning him to a long-term extension.
- The Yankees bullpen needs some more stability, particularly now that Joba Chamberlain is moving to the starting rotation--thanks in part to their offseason transaction, the Sox now have an assortment of pieces to offer.
- Six of the top ten prospects in the Yankees farm system are right-handed pitchers; losing one will not kill their long-term success.
- Bringing in Crede gives the Yankees a lot of flexibility with their line-up, or at least more than having THE SAME BACK-UP FOR EVERY INFIELD POSITION. For instance, if Crede sits, A-Rod plays third and Giambi/Duncan plays first (exactly where they would be as things stood now). If Matsui sits, A-Rod can play first while Giambi/Duncan hits as the DH. No need for Wilson Betemit in any of this; they can play him if they want to, but at least now they have the option, instead of the need, to play him. What happens if Jeter or A-Rod gets hurt? Either Betemit plays every single game, or they make a trade mid-season, the urgency of which would cost them more in talent than a deal for Crede would now.
- Crede has found a knack for coming up with clutch hits during his time with the White Sox, something Yankee fans will remind you has not happened with A-Rod.
I'm not saying that any deal with the Yankees will happen or is even being considered. I do know that the Yankees want to win and have the collateral to improve their 2008 roster via trades, so I'm not sure it's entirely out of the question. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
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