Bleacher Report - Articles by George Smith

Fixing the New York Yankees

George Smith — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:46:14 -0400

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm watching the postseason without baseball's most historic franchise. There is no denying that the New York Yankees are in a transitional phase, going into their new stadium.

But do not worry Yankees fans, the club won 88 games this season, despite losing Chien-Ming Wang very early, Jorge Posada going down early, Alex Rodriguez for a month, Phil Hughes/Ian Kennedy going a combined (0-8), Robinson Cano sleep walking through the season, and all of their offseason distractions.

The Yankees are not far off from being a postseason team once again. The Yankees have roughly $80 million coming off their payroll (Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Ivan Rodriguez, Carl Pavano among others).

So, the Yankees will have plenty of money to spend in a free-agent market that is dominated by starting pitchers. Expect the Yankees to take the money coming off their payroll, as well as the expected revenue coming in from Yankee Stadium 2.0, to make a big splash.

I mean, let's face it, Hank Steinbrenner missed the playoffs in his first season as the Boss, so you can expect him to try and fix things. Here's what the 2009 Yankees should look like from each position.

Catcher

The Yankees' best player in 2007, Jorge Posada, failed to have the same kind of year he did before, with a .268/22/69 year. But Posada is under contract for the next three seasons, and he insists he will be back to normal come Spring Training, so you can bet on the Yankees starting with Posada behind the plate.

Expect the Yankees to retain Molina as a backup next season because of his strong defensive presence and consistency, despite his poor hitting performances.

However, if Posada fails to regain his 2007 form, expect the Yankees to make a trade for a catcher. Until then, it's Jorge Posada behind the plate.

First Base

Jason Giambi will not be playing first base for the Yankees next season, that's for sure.

The big question here is Mark Teixeira. He consistently posts 30+ homers, 100+ RBI with high average, OBP, and slugging. He’s also a renowned clutch performer, batting .324 and slugging .618 for his career with runners in scoring position. This is unquestionably a characteristic sorely lacking in the Yankees current lineup.

If all that isn’t enough to convince you, he’s also a slick, Gold-Glove level first baseman. He’s a perfect fit that fills several different holes for the Yanks. He's a perfect fit, right? Well, his agent is Scott Boras.

The infamous Boras will undoubtedly looking for a 10-year, $200 million contract for Teixeira when his market value is probably $120-160 million. The Yankees' organization is keeping quiet on Teixeira because they do not want to give Boras any leverage. If the Yankees can get him for seven or eight years and $160 million, they'll sign him in a heartbeat.

I think the Yankees will end up with Teixeira. Abreu will be gone, and the Yankees will be looking for a hitter in the three spot. The Yankees can outbid anyone else for him, and there isn't a better option at first base.

Second Base

This is going to be Robinson Cano. I have heard the rumors about Cano being traded for either Jake Peavy or another top-flight starter, but I don't believe it. I expect the Yankees to stick with Cano.

They're sending the hitting coach Long down to the D.R. to work with Cano on his swing. They tried to revamp his swing in September with some success. So, because of Cano's contract, I think he'll stay in Pinstripes.

Shortstop

Derek Jeter...nothing else to say.

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez...ditto.

Outfield

Abreu wants to come back, but the Yankees are reluctant to give him an extended contract. The Yankees are trying to get younger and better defensively. Abreu lets too many flyballs in between himself and the fence, so I don't think he'll be back in pinstripes, despite his consistency.

Xavier Nady will be moving to right field to replace him. He is under contract and played well enough to stay in the lineup. As for left field, the Yankees are stuck with Johnny Damon.

Damon does not cover enough ground to play center field and does not have the arm to play right field. This leaves Damon, the Yankees' best average hitter last season, in left field.

Hideki Matsui could play some time in left, switching off with Damon, but he will spend most of his season playing DH and providing the Yankees with the same kind of strong bench they had at during their run through the late '90s.

Here's a...Manny Ramirez in Pinstripes? Well, he grew up within sight of Yankee Stadium, he hates the Red Sox with a passion, and he loves attention. Image a three-four spot in the lineup with two future Hall of Famers in Manny and A-Rod. It would be deadly. Manny is a proven postseason hitter that came through in the clutch.

The Yankees could really use someone besides Derek Jeter that can hit in the postseason. However, Manny Ramirez will be looking for a four-year deal, and I don't think Cashman will be falling for that trap.

Eventually Manny will find some reason to complain about his situation in New York. And he isn't the definition of getting younger and better defensively.

The big question the Yankees have is center field. Melky Cabrera was supposed to be the future, but he didn't pan out and probably won't this season. Damon can't play there because the Yankees want to get younger and better defensively.

The Yankees' top outfield prospect, Austin Jackson, is not ready to be called up, but he should be an option in the future. Brett Gardner is a youngster Yankees fans saw a lot towards the end of the season. I think he's the Yankees' best option for 2009. He is outstanding defensively.

He has a cannon for an arm and covers a lot of ground. He is younger and the fastest player in the entire Yankee organization. He stole 13 bases and was only caught once in limited action.

However, he hit a poor .228/0/16 in 127 at-bats. He will be spending the entire winter working on his swing a trying to improve on that average. If he can get his average up to over .260 and continue to play superb defense, I think he'll be a decent short-term center-field solution.

Starting Rotation

Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte are contemplating retirement. Andy Pettitte is reportedly siding toward a return, whereas Mussina seems happy to be retiring on a high note. Expect Pettitte to perform better, starting the season as a No. 3 or 4 starter with less distractions (steroid issue and pressure) than last season.

Chien-Ming Wang will be back as the No. 1 starter. He was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA last season before missing the last 3.5 months. Brian Cashman has said that Joba Chamberlain will be starting the season in the rotation.

He only pitched 100 innings last season, so the Yankees will have to be careful with how many innings he throws this season. His limit will probably be around 160 innings to avoid a Fausto Carmona type debacle.

Joba had a very impressive ERA as a starter last season and he should fit nicely into the two-spot.

Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were disasters last season, but both are considered prospects and are very young. They won't be in the starting rotation this year and will both start the season in AAA if not on another team if the Yankees can package them for a better pitcher.

If they have another season like they had last season, their trade value will greatly diminish. The Yankees will need to address the two remaining vacancies in their rotation via trade or the free-agent market.

The big question on everyone's mind is CC Sabathia. I believe it is inevitable the Yankees will end up with Sabathia. He is in the prime of his career and a true ace with a Cy Young award. He would solidify the Yankees rotation and give them the shutdown ace they would need in big series. He is a perfect fit for the Yankees and when they unveil their new stadium.

The Yankees can give CC the long-term contract and big bucks he will demand. They can outbid anyone, and, ultimately, I think that is why CC will end up coming. The Yankees will also give him a chance to compete in the postseason or for the postseason every single season.

And don't you think CC would love to be the opening day pitcher at the new Yankee Stadium? Hank has been clamoring on and on about getting a better rotation, and I expect him to force Cashman into throwing the big bucks at CC, that is, if Cashman even needs to be convinced.

I do not believe that the Yankees will pursue A.J. Burnett if they sign CC. He is too much like Pavano. He is injury prone and will cost too much for a pitcher who wouldn't be a No. 1 or 2. Expect the Yankees sign a low-budget veteran such as Derek Lowe, who has proven he can pitch in a big market and in the playoffs, or a younger pitcher such as Jon Garland.

Bullpen

The Yankees had a much improved bullpen in 2008 compared to 2007. Expect Mariano Rivera to continue to be the dominant closer they had last season. Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez will both be back because both of their ERAs are under four and are relatively young.

Brian Bruney was excellent last season, going 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA, so he will be competing for the roll of set-up man. The Yankees will pick up the option for Damaso Marte because he is a lefty specialist whom the Yankees will certainly need against David Ortiz.

He will also improve as he adjusts to New York and could compete for the set-up job. Youngster Phil Coke will be in the 'pen after a very impressive performance down the stretch, going 1-0 with a .63 ERA.

Also expect to see Humberto Sanchez, who is finally back from Tommy John and throwing harder than ever. He will be starting off in the 'pen as a long reliever. I expect the Yankees to sign maybe one reliever, but not too much needs to be answered here.

Projected Yankees lineup

Johnny Damon

Derek Jeter

Mark Teixeira

Alex Rodriguez

Jorge Posada

Hideki Matsui (DH)

Xavier Nady

Robinson Cano

Brett Gardner

Starting Rotation

1. CC Sabathia

2. Chien-Ming Wang

3. Joba Chamberlain

4. Andy Pettitte

5. Derek Lowe/Jon Garland/Mike Mussina

The Yankees will be in the playoffs in 2009. Cashman realizes what needs to be done to compete in the A.L. East, and he'll make the changes. And Hank won't go two-straight years missing the postseason, especially with the second season being the inaugural season of the New Yankee Stadium. Expect the Yankees to make big changes.

Is Maryland the New ACC Favorite?

George Smith — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:28:18 -0400

This season in the ACC has turned out to be a major surprise for many teams. Five weeks into the season, the Maryland Terrapins sit atop the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is very surprising that the most inconsistent team in the conference has a chance to win the ACC title.

Coming into the season, the general consensus around the conference was that Clemson would go on to win the conference title and walk into an Orange Bowl spot. With the most prolific running backs in the conference and the most dynamic defense, they seemed a sure thing put up 10 wins.

Even though the Tigers lost to Alabama, they were still favored to win the ACC. But after taking a 17-6 lead at home against the Terrapins and conceding 14 straight second half points, it might be time to write the Tigers off.

Maryland has let inconsistency define their season. The Terps needed three quarterbacks to beat Delaware and then lost to Middle Tennessee State. Then the week after the awful MTSU loss, the Terps rebounded to dominate No. 25 California in College Park.

I can't explain it, but the Terps play very well in College Park against ranked teams. Just ask Matt Ryan and Boston College last year.

After the California win, a typical Maryland team would just crumble against an average Eastern Michigan team. But this season could be a new chapter for the Terps as they turned in one of their finest offensive performances of the season without the ACC's leading rusher, Da'rel Scott.

This brings us to Week Five in the ACC. The Terps were faced with a game they certainly had circled when the schedules came out—in Death Valley against a Clemson team that came off a 54-0 thrashing of South Carolina State.

The Terps defense looked terrible in the first half. They were unable to stop Clemson's deadly running back tandem as the Terps conceded 17 points. In the first half, the Maryland offense showed signs of life at times but had to settle for two field goals, in part due to false start penalties.

But Ralph Friedgen said something to his team at halftime. Darrius Heyward-Bey provided the game's key offensive play with a 76-yard run to set up a Maryland touchdown. Chris Turner was consistent all game for the Terps, and Da'rel Scott, in his first game back from an injury, ran for a score.

Maryland looked like a completely different team in the second half. In fact, they looked much like a team that can win the ACC.

The saying among Testudo's Troops is that Maryland will go only as far their quarterback takes them. This season the Terps will be led by a more mature Chris Turner throwing the passes to arguably the best receiving corps in college football.

Darrius Heyward-Bey is a future first round draft pick. At 6'3" and over 200 pounds with a 200-yard dash that ranks seventh-fastest in the world, he is the complete player.

Da'rel Scott at running back has certainly made the loss of Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball an easy transition. Scott leads the ACC in rushing while averaging 5.6 yards a carry and has that big play capability the Terps lacked last year.

But the focal point of the Terps offense is most likely their experienced offensive line, which features four seniors and one junior. They have made life easy for Turner and Scott in the backfield.

On defense, Maryland has shown they can stop some of the most prolific players in college player. Before shutting down C.J. Spiller and company in the second half of the Clemson game, they held California's offense to its worst game of the season.

With an easy road game at Virginia next weekend, the Terps should move to 5-1 and a much deserved spot in the top 25. After the UVA game, the Terps will have a week off to prepare for a 25th-ranked Wake Forest team. The Terps will have the Demon Deacons in College Park this season, where the Terps seem unbeatable.

Wake will have played Clemson the week before and could be worn out for a physical Maryland team. During their abysmal loss to Navy, they looked like they wanted to even their impressive turnover ratio. I'll expect Maryland to run the Demon Deacons out of town, especially after Maryland blew a huge lead last season on the road to Wake.

Aside from Wake, the Terps will only have to go to Blacksburg, Virginia to face the Hokies in their last real test of the season. But Tech is not even in the Atlantic Conference.

Maryland has shown it can win against ranked teams in hostile ground by beating Clemson. In addition, by losing to East Carolina earlier this year, Tech proved they are vulnerable.

If this season plays out the way Ralph Friedgen and the Terps hope, they should enjoy a nice trip to South Florida with a spot in the Orange Bowl.

The only question is whether they can stay more consistent this season. My answer would be yes after three straight convincing wins.

The Terps seem to have the focus to, at the very least, beat every ACC team.