07.22.2008 We would not trade the Utz potato chip sign for...

The Yankees noticed Monday when the Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn held the Red Sox to two runs over five and two-thirds innings in a 4-0 loss in Seattle. Washburn is one of the pitchers the Yankees are evaluating as they approach the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. (Source)

Washburn has an ERA+ of 84, an OPS against of .815, a WHIP of 1.48, a K/9 of 5.32, and a FIP of 4.45.  He's also due to make $10.35 million in 2009.

We would vomit if a trade was made for him.

Isn't she so cute?
 

07.21.2008 The difference between Girardi and Torre

Entering Monday's game: 10.50 K/9, 3.00 K/BB, 5.25 H/9, 0.97 WHIP, .559 OPS Against

Of American League relievers who have thrown at least 20 innings this season, Edwar ranks 11th in K/9, 15th in WHIP, 16th in K/BB, and 15th in OPS Against.

It's nice to have a manager who gives young players the chance to succeed.

Unrelated note: Great move by Girardi in Monday's game, bringing Edwar in during the bottom of the 6th with runners on first and third.  That basically shut the door on the Twins.  His bullpen management this season has been exceptional.

Girardi signals to the bullpen as he makes a pitching change.
 

07.21.2008 Posada to the DL, the Yankees should target...

In a big blow to the Yankees offense, we learned that Jorge Posada will be sent to the DL for the second time this season, again with shoulder problems.  He could be lost for the season.

While the return of Johnny Damon will help alleviate the loss, the Yankees will still have a large hole in their lineup due to Posada's injury.  You figure that Damon will now DH in the near-term because of his gimpy shoulder, which means more Brett Gardner in LF (not good).  And when Damon is healthy enough to play LF, there will then be an open DH slot (also not good).  We'd rather not see Richie Sexson in that role.

So how do the Yankees fill either that LF or DH spot? 

Our target: Pittsburgh OF Jason Bay (who has been rumored to be on the move)

Here's why we like him.

He can flat-out rake.  He's a 130 OPS+ hitter for his career, posting a line of .281 / .376 / .515 / .891.  His career home/away splits are nearly identical, meaning he hits in all ballparks.  And he's in the midst of another great season at the prime age of 29.

He also has a financially-friendly contract situation.  He's only the books through 2009 and is scheduled to make a moderate $7.5 million next season.  With the amount of money the Yankees will spend (we hope they spend) in free-agency and with the roster in a likely state of flux, it would be advantageous to have a reasonable-salaried, high-quality player like Bay.

The downside to Bay is that he lacks range in LF.  He has consistently ranked near the bottom of the barrel in Zone Rating among NL left fielders over the last few years.

We absolutely love his bat though, and when Damon can actually play LF, Bay can then DH and all those with a defense-fetish can be happy.

In regards to who we'd be willing to trade for Bay...probably anyone but Austin Jackson and Phil Hughes (yes, we still believe).  If Pittsburgh insisted on one of those two, we would walk away.
 

07.21.2008 Lane Meyer = internet celebrity

Lane Meyer's draft blog continues to spread like salmonella.  Phil Allard of WCBS 880 interviewed Lane about the Yankees' 2008 amateur selections. 

It's a great conversation between two people who have "no credentials."
 

07.20.2008 Yanks kick off 2nd half with sweep of Oakland

Yanks only 3 games behind Boston and 4.5 behind Tampa.
 

07.20.2008 Let's be real, son

With all the griping from us and other fans about what the Yankees should do at the trading deadline, we sometimes overlook what really needs to happen to propel this team into the playoffs.  We need to see some of the existing Yankees perform near their means.  We can point the finger at the front office all we want, but if players like Jeter, Cano, and Abreu continue to underperform, there are only so many things Cashman & Co. can do.  You can't trade for a whole new lineup. 

OPS+ 2008 vs. 2007

Derek Jeter: 99 vs. 121 (currently having the worst year of his career)
Robinson Cano: 75 vs. 120
Bobby Abreu: 110 vs. 114 (.23 point higher OBP in 2007)
Melky Cabrera: 76 vs. 89 (it's gotten worse every year since 2006)
Jorge Posada: 112 vs. 154
 

07.19.2008 **NoMaas exclusive** Interview with Yankee draft signability case, Blake Monar

Proving once again that NoMaas is your best resource for Yankee draft coverage, the tireless Lane Meyer had a one-on-one conversation with 2008 26th-round pick and major signability case, LHP Blake Monar.

Check out our Yankees draft blog to read this great interview.
 

07.19.2008 Signing Sexson does not address the Yankees problems

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had admitted the club's interest in Sexson recently, with the franchise in need of an additional power bat due to Hideki Matsui's lingering injury troubles. (Source)

Let's assume that Richie Sexson is not a corpse of a baseball player.  Let's also assume that he doesn't have a .370 BABIP against left handed pitching and that he hasn't been extremely lucky this season.  Lastly, let's assume that he didn't have a .238/.333/.419/.752 against LHP in 2007.

The main point here is that acquiring Richie Sexson does not address the Yankees biggest offensive problem, which is having Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera in the same outfield (unless you like seeing a corner OF bunt his way on to first base).

As you saw in Friday's game, Sexson played first base (not a replacement for Matsui) and as a result, makes the lineup actually worse because you're sitting Jason Giambi to get Sexson in there.

A lineup with Gardner-Melky-Sexson-and-most-of-the time-Molina is rather putrid.  Giambi has a .903 OPS versus LHP this season.  He does not need to be platooned for.

If Sexson continues to play at Giambi's expense, then this isn't the "no-risk" move that some are describing it as.  If you take Giambi out of the lineup for Richie Sexson, then this is an acquisition which could hurt the Yankees.

This team needs someone to actually replace Matsui and the banged-up Johnny Damon.  They don't need a platoon partner for Jason Giambi.
 

07.17.2008 Would you rather?

Have this happen to you:

or have this be their attempt to solve the Yankees problems:

Serious question.
 

07.16.2008 Report card time

NoMaas' Gilbert Lowell provides his mid-season grades for all the position players and our protein-supplemented manager.

07.15.2008 Interview with the NY Sun's Tim Marchman

Tim Marchman covers the Yankees for the New York Sun and he's one of the best at what he does.  In his first interview with your beloved NoMaas, we hit on several topics including Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and the Yankees future in the AL East.

Click here to read.
 

07.15.2008 Papelbon: "I can't believe I wasn't well-received by Yankee fans."

After declaring that he, not Mariano Rivera, should be the closer for the AL All-Star team, baseball's biggest imbecile, Jonathan Papelbon, was shocked that he wasn't welcomed kindly by Yankee fans:

MLB.com reported that during a red carpet parade for the All-Star Game that went down Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, Papelbon and his wife Ashley were bombarded by insults from fans. 

"I feel like I needed to be in a bullet-proof car," Papelbon said, according to the Web site. "My wife is pregnant and she's getting her life threatened. It's stupid." 

Papelbon told MLB.com that he was so disturbed by the parade incident that he didn't even care if he pitched on Tuesday. 

"Your family gets involved like that and you're trying to enjoy an experience with your family, and you have a wife who's pregnant who doesn't feel safe riding in a red-carpet event, you know what I mean? How would you feel?" Papelbon said, according to MLB.com. (Source)

07.15.2008 Brett Gardner is not the answer

With the news that Matsui may be gone for the season and Damon will be out longer than expected, the Yankees are left with an outfield which contains two poor hitters in Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner.  Let's take yet another look at the player which many believed to be The Great White Hope. 

At NoMaas, we never clamored for Brett Gardner nor did we believe he was some
great prospect.  In fact, we suggested that it would be wise to trade him while his hype value was at its highest in AAA.  When you strike out at a high rate in the minors and you have zero power to make up for those strikeouts, then your potential as a major leaguer is significantly limited.  It doesn't matter how fast you are if pitchers can challenge you without fear of consequence.

The sample size police may caution us that he's only had 44 plate appearances, but his lack of production is just so logical to us.  In his 44 PAs, he's either struck out or hit the ball to the infield 28 times (not including 2 sac bunts).  His ground ball rate of 54.2% is very, very poor for a corner OF.  He's doing exactly what we thought he would.

The point of this isn't to rip on Gardner.  He's just a kid and as fans, we'd love to see him improve.  However, what we are saying is that this team is not making the playoffs with a Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera combination in the OF.  The offense just can't afford that.  An acquisition needs to be made.
 

07.14.2008 Clash of the Titans: 1927 Yankees vs. 1998 Yankees

With All-Star festivities in full effect, we decided to have some fun of our own and have WhatIfSports run a custom simulaton for us.  We thought it would be very cool to see how the vaunted 1927 Murderer's Row Yankees would play versus the 1998 team that steamrolled its way to 114 regular season wins.

So, we had WIS simulate a best-of-seven series 1,000 times.  The rotation for the '27 Yankees was Waite Hoyt, Herb Pennock, and Urban Shocker.  Taking the mound for the '98 Yankees was David Wells, Orlando Hernandez, David Cone, and Andy Pettitte.

Without further adieu, here are the results:
Game 1: 1927 Yankees win 8-5 (Box Score)
Game 2: 1998 Yankees win 7-6 (Box Score)
Game 3: 1998 Yankees win 7-4 (Box Score)
Game 4: 1927 Yankees win 8-7 (Box Score)
Game 5: 1927 Yankees win 4-2 (Box Score)
Game 6: 1998 Yankees win 5-2 (Box Score)
Game 7: 1927 Yankees win 6-2 (Box Score)
 

07.13.2008 Interview with Rob Neyer

It may be a break for baseball, but we're not breaking at NoMaas.  In our first of two great interviews this week, we kick things off with a return from baseball historian, author, and ESPN columnist...the world famous Rob Neyer.

In this latest exchange, Rob offers his opinions to Sensei John Kreese on the Yankees' first half.

Click here to read.

P.S. Rob Neyer now ties Tyler Kepner for most interviews with NoMaas.Your move, T-Kep.

Rob Neyer and Sensei John Kreese go back a long way.
 

07.13.2008 At the break: Comparing NYY, Tampa, and Boston

The following data was obtained from Hardball Times and Baseball-Reference.

Offensive categories:
 

Team	Runs/G	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS+	Pitches/PA	BA/RISP	OPS+
NYY	4.63	.267	.339	.414	.752	3.85	.256	103
TB	4.63	.262	.337	.412	.749	3.84	.253	103
BOS	5.14	.282	.355	.452	.802	3.86	.272	113

Observations: Tampa and the Yankees have nearly identical performing offenses.  Boston is in a league of their own.

Not included in the chart:  Tampa has stolen 100 bases in 133 attempts -- The Yankees have stolen 60 in 82 attempts -- Boston has stolen 78 in 100 attempts.

Also not included:  Talk about home field advantage, Boston is averaging 5.91 runs per game at home and 4.42 runs per game on the road.  It must be nice to play in a little league field.

Pitching categories:
 

Team	Runs/G	ERA	FIP	K/G	BB/G	ERA+
NYY	4.34	4.12	3.91	6.90	3.10	99
TB	4.11	3.77	3.87	7.00	3.2	109
BOS	4.11	3.83	4.04	7.30	3.70	113

Observations:  With the pitchers that Tampa still has on the farm, their staff is going to be crazy good for years. 

Not included in the chart: Not only does Boston light up the scoreboard at home, but they also allow less runs at home than they do on the road (3.78 vs. 4.42). 

Defensive categories:
 

Team	Def Efficiency	RZR
NYY	.690	.832
TB	.710	.836
BOS	.706	.833

Observations: Defensive metrics are much more difficult to obtain and evaluate, but on the surface, the Yankees convert less batted balls into outs than both Boston and Tampa.  Also, if you look at the team ERAs and FIPs of both Boston and Tampa, it looks like their pitching may have benefited from some solid defense.  The reverse seems true of the Yankees. 
 

07.11.2008 If not scoring runs is cool, consider the Yanks Miles Davis

As the offense continues to defecate the bed, the Yanks say they're not interested in Bonds.

Barry Bonds is not considered an option. Cashman said: "I guess I can say that they have engaged us in the past and I've told them that I have too many people, maybe not too many people with the same ability, but too many people at the same spot that you have a lot of dollars committed to." (Source)

We're aware of the "Yankees have too many DHs!1!!" argument that many fans have.  However, the longer Damon and Matsui remained sidelined, the less it makes any sense and the less runs the Yankees score.

Plus, we find it unsual that the Yankees can pick up everyone's "tired, hungry, and poor", but yet can't take a chance on one of the greatest hitters* ever.
 

07.11.2008 Yankees aim to lead the league in HRs allowed next season

The Yankees signed left-handed starter Eric Milton to a Minor League contract on Friday. The 32-year-old, who is recovering from surgery on his left elbow, has been assigned to Triple-A Scranton and will be placed on the disabled list. This will allow him to continue his rehab at the Yankees Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. (Source)

Year -- Home Runs Allowed by Milton -- Rank
2000 -- 35 -- 2
2001 -- 35 -- 2
2004 -- 43 -- 1
2005 -- 40 -- 1
2006 -- 29 -- 5
(Source)