It seems like the trendy thing to do nowadays is to clamor for a Robinson Cano trade.  While there may be valid reasons to do so, this isn't a new concept for us at NoMaas.  We advocated a trade involving Cano in July 2007.  Here's what we said then when Cano was off to a poor start to that season.

As Cano showed in 2006, he has the ability to be a very good hitter.  However, as he has shown this year, his lack of plate discipline can cause wide fluctuations in his performance.  He went from a 132 OPS+ last year to a 94 OPS+ this season.  Bottom line, if you swing at balls over your head or in the dirt, your slumps will last longer and you may have a poor season mixed in every so often.  We doubt Cano will ever become a patient hitter.  However, even with Cano's poor current season, he still has a ton of hype value.  Scouts love his swing.  He is an excellent defender.  And he did put up a .890 OPS last season.  By including Robinson Cano in a trade, the Yankees could open a door to a blockbuster deal.  (Source)

Just saying...

We're still open to trading Cano,  but we're not desperate to do so.  If a front line pitcher or premium position player can be had, we'd do a deal.  If not, fuggedaboutit.

 
10.05.2008 NoMaas' offseason plan begins: Idea #1 -- Who to let walk & who to retain

In what has become a NoMaas staple over the years, we're excited to once again present off our offseason ideas and recommendations.  We'll start off with the basics first and then move on to solutions which may be less obvious and require more detail.

So, let's begin with something simple -- Yankees who have expired contracts

Who to Let Walk

Jason Giambi: Great season with an OPS+ of 130, but will be 38(!!) next season and his durability is obviously a major issue.  He's also a big defensive liability at 1B.  With better options available and the Yankees needing to get younger, Giambi's Yankee career is over.  However, let's remember that Giambi was a beast of a hitter during his seven years in New York: .260 / .404 / .521 / .925 

Bobby Abreu: Closed out the season with a great 2nd half (.327 / .408 / .522 / .930) and was one of the very few Yankees who hit with RISP (.822 OPS).  But, he'll be 35 next season and his walk rate has decreased two years in a row.  His OBP numbers reflect that.  While he's still a quality bat, his last two seasons have been the worst of his career.  He's clearly a player in decline.  Add in the fact that he was probably the worst defensive regular RF in the AL and there's really no reason to bring him back.
 

Who to Retain

Mike Mussina: He surprised the muthaf***** hell out of us this season by providing 200 innings of 128 ERA+ ball.  He was the Yankees' best starter this season and finished 5th in the AL in K/BB (4.84) and 5th in ERA (3.37).  His FIP was identical to his ERA too, so his performance was no joke.  Rumors are that he might retire, but if not, a one-year deal would be a move the Yankees would be foolish not to make.  Starting pitching is a very difficult position to fill.

Damaso Marte:  His 5.40 ERA as a member of the Yankees is probably what stands out to the less informed.  However, his peripherals read significantly better: 18 1/3 IP, 24K, 14 H, 10 BB.  Thus, you can see a huge difference between his Yankees ERA and his FIP (2.96).  Everything isn't always as it seems.  Plus, Marte has been a dominant and consistent reliever over his career, which as we've learned is quite difficult to find.  By picking up his $6 million option, the Yankees would have a quality bullpen piece on a short contract.  Yes, please.
 

Leaning Towards Retention

Andy Pettitte: By some measures, 2008 was the worst season of Andy Pettitte's career.  Based on that, one would think it would be easy to recommend that the Yankees let him leave.  However, Andy's case is not so cut and dry.  While Andy threw up a 95 ERA+ this season, he did provide 204 innings.  In 2007, he pitched 215 1/3.  The large-nosed lefty eats innings.  In fact, only 11 other MLB pitchers have thrown more innings than Pettitte over the last two seasons.  We've seen what happens when the Yankees have to resort to pitchers like Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner in the event of injury.  Having someone who can provide innings at around league-average quality is something to seriously consider. 

Plus, if you look at his FIP, it was 0.8 less than his ERA, which suggests that Andy was a bit unlucky this season.  His Line Drive Percentage was only slightly higher than in 2007 (19.9% to 19.4%) and his groundball rates, K/9, and K/BB were all improved over the previous season.   Pettitte is still a valuable starter and for us, it comes down to contract terms, draft pick eligbility, and if the Yankees can acquire a better option.  But, if Pettitte would agree to a 1-year deal, we don't see anything wrong with that.
 

**Note: Between outgoing and incoming (hopefully) free agents, it will be interesting to watch the movement of draft picks. 
 

10.04.2008 From green tea to protein shakes: Grading Joe Girardi

In his initial season as manager, the Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the first time since strike-shortened 1994.  Was it his fault?  NoMaas' Brisco County Jr. breaks down the first year of Joe Girardi. Click here to read.

10.02.2008 Setting the tone for the offseason

We started NoMaas in May 2005 because we were extremely frustrated with how the Yankees organization was being run.  It was an incredibly inefficient operation defined by outdated methodologies of player evaluation, financial mismanagement, and a dysfunctional hierarchy of decison-making.  We believed that philosophies needed to change, processes needed to be streamlined, and the Yankees needed to make much better use of their natural advantages.

Fast forward to the present, and the organization has made progress in all of these areas -- to what degree is up for debate.  Even though the Yankees didn't make the playoffs this season, the organization is closer to reaching a point where they can create a sustainable foundation and become a legit World Series contender every season.  With the resources at the Yankees' disposal, there is no excuse for this organization not to be flexible, fluid, and absolutely dominant machine.

The first step in this organizational revamp was to place focus back on player development.  No need to explain here, we all know that has happened.

The next step was to leverage the Yankees unmatched financial resources in a much more efficient and strategic manner.  Has that happened?  We've seen the Yankees pay more attention to the secondary talent market, such as the Rule 5 draft and waiver claims.  We've seen the front office acknowledge that bullpen performance is extremely volatile and thus should be stocked with low-salary young pitchers.  We've seen more minor leaguers getting opportunities.  We have seen the effort to become more fiscally responsible.

However, being fiscally responsible doesn't always mean saving money or showing restraint.  It also means knowing when to flex your financial muscle.  Unless the Yankees have invested in Washington Mutual or AIG, there is not a team in baseball than can outspend them.  You could make a case for the Red Sox in regards to spending power, but if you listen to their fans, you'd think they had the budget of the Pittsburgh Pirates...so we'll exclude them.  The point remains though that the Yankees have the ability to blow teams away when it comes to bidding on players.  It doesn't guarantee a player will come to the Bronx, but it certainly helps their chances.

As we enter this offseason, we are greeted by a tremendous free agent class highlighted by several premium players who are currently in their prime years.  This is exactly the type of scenario where the Yankees need to flash that chedda.  Now, there are definitely players in this year's class that we would be opposed to signing -- certain players that we've already seen other sites advocating for.  We'll get into that later.  Yet, what we hope the front office realizes is that they are the undisputed top revenue generators in the game and with that comes a huge advantage.  There's a time to penny-pinch, and there's a time to separate the men from the boys.  When there is elite talent on the free agent market, the Yankees need to man up. 

Implementing these new philosophies, while also recognizing when to make major investments, is how this organization will truly become a monster.
 

10.01.2008 Offseason strategery

There is tremendous quality available this offseason and like we do every year, we will be posting our list of recommendations.  Stay tuned, b*tches.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of a ripe cantaloupe.
 

10.01.2008 Overprotective no more

From Newday's Kat O'Brien:

As some of you noted, Brian Cashman said on WFAN that they plan for Joba Chamberlain to be a starter all next season. He confirmed that to me in an email. (Source)

Very welcome news.
 

09.30.2008 Returns

09.29.2008 When it comes to Joba, are the Yankees overprotective parents?

Resident NoMaas physician, Dr. Dale Beaverman, thinks the Yankees are way too paranoid when it comes to protecting Joba from injury.  Read why here.

Extra credit to Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest for the graphic idea.
 

09.28.2008 Season over

While it's very weird for the Yankees' season to have ended in September, that's the way it is this year.  We would like to thank our loyal fans for continuing to visit NoMaas and providing us with the motivation to keep doin' what we do.  You have our appreciation.

09.28.2008 But he never won 21 games

While the most absurd way to judge a pitcher is to use a stat that's hugely influenced by his run support, we'd like to congratulate Moose on bringing a positive to an otherwise disappointing season.  It's safe to say that he tremendously exceeded all of our expecations this year.

09.26.2008 The debate is on

09.25.2008 Thanks, but no thanks

On the final homestand, general manager Brian Cashman inquired about Giambi’s interest in playing on with the Yankees, and wondered if he preferred to finish his career on the West Coast. Giambi told Cashman he wanted to remain in pinstripes.

“I enjoy winning. I enjoy playing good baseball,” said Giambi, adding that he’s looking for a multi-year contract. “I’d like to play into my 40s.”

“I love playing here,” Giambi said. “It’s been fun to come to work every single day. “I would definitely miss it, there’s no doubt.

“I just hope they remember I played hard every single day. I wanted to win,” Giambi said. “I got big hits when we needed them. I was that guy in the lineup that kind of really anchored it down.

“I hope they remember that.” (Source)

We would not be in favor of offering Giambi another contract, especially a multi-year one.  That would be rather insane.  He'll be 38 next season and we all know he's not the most durable of players.  Plus, there's a much younger and excellent first baseman who will be available in free agency.

Yet, let's not discount what Giambi has done in pinstripes.  You could make a very good argument that he's the best hitting 1B in Yankee history not named Lou Gehrig.  Sorry Donnie Baseball, but it's true:

Yankee 1B ranked by OPS+:
Lou Gehrig - 179
Jason Giambi - 144
Bill Skowron - 129
Don Mattingly - 127
Nick Etten (who?) - 127 (played 568 games at 1B for NYY from 1943-1946)
 

09.24.2008 Straw poll

I asked two friends of NoMaas for answers to the following questions:
1. If you were a betting man, do you think Cashman stays or goes?
2. If you were him, would you stay or go?

Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News:
1. I think Cash stays, though he'll have to have some type of assurances from Hal
and Hank that he will still be running the show in terms of baseball ops. He has a
very good relationship with Hal, so I don't think it will be an issue. The minute
they decided not to trade for Santana, they should have given him an extension.

2. I would stay if I were him. Cash is a stubborn, proud guy, and I think he wants
to finish what he started. The three rings he has as GM were won with a nucleus of
players he didn't acquire, and I think he wants to win a title here with his own
team. Plus, the Yankees figure to pay him more than anyone else. 

Tyler Kepner of the NY Times:
(keep in mind that we asked for 1-2 sentence answers to each question.  T-Kep is apparently very aware of his NoMaas reign):

That's a really, really tough question because there are so many compelling forces on both sides. Brian has to be assured that he can do his job the way he wants to, and he got those assurances from George Steinbrenner in 2005 when George was ready to turn over authority. Now, it's not George he has to deal with. It's Hank and 
Hal. Cashman works very well with Hal, but Hank has made his job harder in many ways.

I know Brian would like to see through the vision he articulated three years ago. It takes time to build a farm system, weed out the overpaid veterans and get the payroll leaner, especially after the spending Hank did last winter. The question is whether Brian thinks that's still possible in a working environment that is different than it was 12 months ago, let alone three years ago.

Baseball-wise, I think he's intrigued by the idea of getting a fresh start somewhere else. But there's more to consider than just baseball. The Yankees are all he's ever known, he and his family love the area, and the Steinbrenners realize he's a smart guy they want to retain. They will pay him well and probably tell him what he wants to hear.

As long as Cashman trusts them (and that's a big if), I think he'll come back. He and Hal and Girardi work very well together and I think they share the same vision.

(As for the second question, I can't really say what I would do if I were him, because I don't know enough about his family situation.)

Much love to T-Kep and Mark (better nickname wanted) for their contributions to NoMaas.

Will Ca$h be bangin beats in the Boogie Down next season?
 

09.23.2008 We'll know soon

Brian Cashman was asked by the Steinbrenners to respond by next week to their offer to return as Yankees general manager, according to people familiar with the situation.  The Steinbrenners prefer Cashman to commit to them before they present him with a new contract for a significant raise. (Source)

If Cashman leaves, we'll be the first to admit that we were 100% wrong about Hank forcing out this lifelong Yankee and hip hop icon.  It seemed to us that Hank was initially on board with Cashman's "vision" and would allow him the autonomy he needed to do his job.  Now as the season comes to an end, it looks like we're staring at George Part II. 

It's a sad situation in the Bronx.

Is this the end for Ca$hmoney?
 

09.23.2008 Hank Steinbrenner: Lunatic

We don't understand how anyone in their right mind can be excited about Cashman potentially leaving and having Hank decide which players to target.  He is a lunatic.

Steinbrenner, the Yankees' co-chairman, ripped Major League Baseball's divisional system in a column in this week's Sporting News, saying that the format allows teams to make the postseason even if their records don't warrant such an honor. 

The biggest problem is the divisional setup in major league baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now," Steinbrenner wrote. "Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair. You see it this season, with plenty of people in the media pointing out that Joe Torre and the Dodgers are going to the playoffs while we're not. 

"This is by no means a knock on Torre - let me make that clear-but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the AL East, it wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The AL East is never weak."

"People will say the Cardinals were the best team because they won the World Series," Steinbrenner wrote. "Well, no, they weren't. They just got hot at the right time. They didn't even belong in the playoffs. And neither does a team from the N.L. West this season." (Source)

While there is a great deal of truth to what Hank said, we wonder if this guy will ever shut up.  It's embarrassing.  It's like the man has no self-control.  We can also look forward to another offseason of Hank telling the world who the Yankees are interested in and who they're negotiating with.