Monday, December 28, 2009

Notable Rehabilitation Pitchers

There are few notable rehabilitation projects this off-season. It’s is interesting to see what kind of deals they can get and where they land. The most interesting part for me is how they perform in 2010 and which team ends up with getting the highest reward for their relatively cheap signings.

The list includes Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer, Kelvim Escobar, Ben Sheets and Chien-Ming Wang. Anyone else?

Three pitchers on the list already got their deals that are all major league deals. According to reports, Ben Sheets is seeking for 12MM deal while there are 15 teams are interested in signing Wang.

As the list below shows, I guess Ben sheets will get a deal close to what Rich Harden gets while Wang will get a similar deal as Kelvim Escobar or Justin Duchscherer. Agree? Disagree?

Who will perform the best in 2010 is everyone’s guess. As a Taiwanese, I hope is Wang. However, I think Ben Sheets will pitch the best among them because it seems Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer get injured a lot while Wang and Escobar come off shoulder injuries. Agree? Disagree?


Rangers Rich Harden (born 1981, 11, 30)

Injury & Achievement
1) Has a checkered health history (he's never pitched 190 innings in a season)
2) He's got No. 1 stuff and averaging 9.4 per nine innings throughout his career.

Base Deal
$6.5MM

Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on innings pitched
2) 11MM mutual option for 2011
3) 1MM buyout for 2011 mutual option

A's Justin Duchscherer (born 1977, 11, 19)

Injury & Achievement
1) Proved dominant as both a starter and reliever, posting a 2.82 ERA in 214 appearances for the A's.
2) Spent most of the season on the disabled list with an injured right hip in 2007
3) Missed the 2009 season due to shoulder and back injuries and a bout with clinical depression

Base Deal
$2MM

Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on games started and innings pitched

Mets Kelvim Escobar (born 1976, 4, 11)

Injury & Achievement
1) Between 2004 and 2007, Escobar posted a 3.60 ERA and a 2.63 K-BB ratio with Angels
2) He missed the entire 2008 season with shoulder problems
3) Labrum surgery in July 2008 limited him to just five innings of major league work in 2009

Base Deal
$1.25MM

Incentives
1) 125K for making the Mets' Opening Day roster
2) 2MM based on games pitched
3) 1MM based on games finished

Ben Sheets (born 1978, 7, 18)

Injury & Achievement
1) Missing all of 2009 with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow
2) Posted a 3.09 ERA in 2008 ?

Chien-Ming Wang (born 1980, 3, 31)

Injury & Achievement
1) 2 times 19 games winner with 55-26 record in five years with the Yankees
2) Start 2008 season with 8-2 record before injuring his right foot when running the base
3) Coming off right shoulder surgery and might not be able to pitch until midseason

Wang: I will be ready for rehabilitation games at April

I know Wang’s days in Pinstripes are over. Just for someone may still have interests in knowing what is going on with Wang.

During the latest public appearance last Friday for his charity fund which will be the last one in Taiwan as Wang is going to go back to the United States at the end of December, Wang said he has no hard feeling toward to Yankees for the decision of letting him go because he understands the team has their own considerations.

He will go to Alabama to see Doctor James Andrews on January 4th in order to get the updated information on his injured right shoulder. After that, he will go to Fisher center for the rehabilitation continuously.

As for his future, he is interested in playing for any team no matter where the team is located. It all depends on how the negotiation goes. He focuses on his rehabilitation and the rest of stuffs he will leave to his agent.

As for his progress, he begins his long-toss program on the flat ground on Dec 1st. Right now, He has thrown 3 days a week with 55 throws per days, including 15 throws at 45 feet, 25 throws at 60 feet and 15 throws at 90 feet. So far, there is no issue and he feels great. He expects to be ready for rehabilitation games on April and then major league games on May.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Holidays!

First of all, Happy Holidays! I know I haven’t updated my blog regularly lately. Thanks the patience from all of my readers if there is anyone left right now.

As you guys know, I have been back to Taiwan from Australia for few months. I just got my new job almost 2 months ago. Before settling down, I really can’t spend too much time on my blog. There is nothing to do with Wang’s leave.

I know I promise to set up my new website. That plan is still out there. Hopefully, it can become reality pretty soon.

Of course, Yankees always have ways to keep fans busy during off-season. There is no exception this time around. There are many moves happening and I haven’t missed any one of them. I will post my comments shortly. However, this post belongs to holidays.

After more than 10 years moving around Tainan, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Los Angeles and Sydney by myself, I decide to go back to Taiwan and stays with my family.

It turns out to be a great decision. I have been pretty enjoyed the time with my family. We have watched movies and worked out together. We all know it is good to do whatever you want when you live outside by yourself. However, you will feel pretty lonely during holidays and the days you are sick. Trust me on that if you haven’t lived by yourself.

My family is planning to celebrate New Year somewhere in Taiwan. How about you guys? Any plan?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Welcome Back, Andy

Andy Pettitte re-signs with Yankees for one year deal which is worthy 11.75M. Our rotation certainly looks much better with Andy in fold.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Curtis Granderson and Brian Bruney trades

It seems Yankees never stay still during any point of season, including off-season and playoffs. This certainly gives Yankees fans many things to talk about and have chances to love Yankees more which is a good thing.

There is no exception this off-season as well.

As for Brian Bruney trade, I really can't say I will miss him because it seems to me he always walks tons of guys that is a big no-no for me to a pitcher. I rather pitchers to give up hits than walking guys.

As for Curtis Granderson trade, my first reaction is Yankees giving up a little bit too much for him. Personally, I won't give up Austin Jackson for him. That being saying, I will rather Yankees have him than giving another big long term contract to relative older players, such as Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Of course, I know they are much better overall players than Curtis Granderson. But, at some point, you have to ask how many long term contracts Yankees want to tie to for at least next 5 years.

I don't know prospects good enough to say which team gets the best deal out of this three-way trade. However, no one knows for sure how all the prospects will turn out to be.

If what Brian Cashman says is true which Yankees’ priority this off-season is pitching and a left fielder with no-so-firm fewer pay roll on hand, I think this deal means few things. First of all, I think this deal pretty much closes door on Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Brian Cashman always likes to have flexibility. I don’t think he will go out to give another long term deal.

As for Johnny Damon, Yankees probably gain some leverages during negotiation. If Damon asks more than 2 year deal which I won’t give to him, I can see Yankees go to lesser players in order to add some depth. As we see this season, Melky and Gardner can handle the platoon situation. That being saying, Damon is a good fit to no.2 spot as DH and plays some games at the left field in order to give DH spot for Posada, Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira once a while.

Brian Cashman probably focuses on starting pitchers and bench players from this point on. However, I think this deal may have an impact on Roy Halladay deal for couple of reasons. Of course, I assume Yankees will get Pettitte’s deal done at some point of this off-season.

Firstly, I don’t think Cashman is willing to give up prospects and giving another big long term contract to a pitcher after signing AJ and CC the past off-season. As history shows, there is a big risk to give any pitcher a long term contract. One will think two long term contracts to pitchers will be enough. I know Roy Halladay is an ACE, but he will be 33 year old in 2010. Do you really want to sign him through 37,38?

Secondly, I don’t think Cashman want to give up all good prospects he has at the same off-season after dealing Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke. You don’t give up prospects and let him walk at the end of 2010 season. Draft picks mean much less for Yankees than other small market teams. As Girardi shows he can handle the bullpen well, Yankees will need all the pitching depth they have on the higher minor league system to fill up their bullpen and(or) rotation. You can’t deal all of them away.

If I have to guess now, I think Yankees will bet and sign one or two veteran starting pitchers for a short term deal this off-season in order to fill up the end of rotation. Let us wait and see.

Let’s Go Yankees!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Two tidbits from Taiwan related to Yankees

# According to Taiwanese news, NY Yankees Scout Donny Rowland is going to come to Taiwan to hold the press conference in order announce the signing of a 18-year-old Taiwanese player, 郭阜林(his Chinese name, I can't find his English name), for about three hundred thousand dollars.

If you guys are able to read Mandarin, please use this link to read the full profile of this player.

He is an infield who plays great defense at third base. Basically, he is right-handed power hitter who hits the middle of lineup to drive in runs. His batting average is 0.485 and he drives in 16 runs during the most recent tournament he plays.

# Wang starts light tosses in Taiwan based on Taiwanese news.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

No-tender Wang?

I have read comments from quite a few experts believe Wang will be willing to accept any kind of deal to stay with Yankees in order to get his big endorsement deals. As a Taiwanese who loves Yankees for a long time, I can tell you this belief is totally wrong. This belief definitely comes from an American’ point of view. I can’t blame many experts from U.S have that thought when you consider how big franchise Yankees is in the United States. I realize this when I was in the United States few years ago.

In Taiwan, we have quite a few successful people in all kinds of fields who are very famous around the world, such as Ang Lee, etc. Among them, we also have few other very successful athletes as well. But, I believe Wang means so much to Taiwanese than anyone else because his personality, his work ethics, his charity works, etc.

As long as he keeps fighting and pitching at least at average level in the major league. No matter which team he goes, most Taiwanese will follow him around and support him as usual. In fact, Wang just get a new big sponsorship deal from one of his biggest sponsors, Acer, few days ago. Acer not only pays Wang the same amount of dollars as previous years but also promise to let him leave earlier for rehab without making ads for them. In the past two seasons, Wang still gets quite few endorsement deals even though he was injured most of time.

Furthermore, more and more Taiwanese hopes Wang chooses to leave Yankees. Most of Taiwanese understand baseball and the business side of baseball. Believe me, most Taiwanese expect much more out of Wang than any Yankee fan. Many Taiwanese just feel Yankees front office don’t show enough respect to Wang. many of them hopes Wang not to keep saying how much he wants to stay with Yankees because that may decrease his leverage.

For me, I have mixed feeling regard of Wang’s situation. I know many pitchers can not come back from shoulder surgery. However, I hope he stays because you never have enough pitching. Any pitching staff can be looked terrible when they suffer one or two injuries. Even if Wang comes back at 50% of his 2006-2007 form, he can be a good enough no.4 or no.5 starter.

But, I don’t think Wang will be back. First of all, at this moment, Wang needs playing time to reestablish his value. Small market teams can fill that bill. Secondly, I think one of 30 clubs will give Wang a major league deal and is willing to gamble on him. Thirdly, Wang may have some hard feeling toward to Yankees front office because the way they treat him even though most Asian don’t express their feeling much. Fourthly, Wang once says he like the life style of Seattle, LA, etc. Fifthly, Brian Cashman and his front office staff express more than once how much they like to have power and strikeout pitchers on Yankees staff. Lastly, I believe Wang can accumulate service time if he gets a major league deal somewhere. At the end of 2009 season, it sounds Wang knows Yankees don’t want to have him back when he was interviewed by Taiwanese reporters.

It’s interesting to see how the things turn out. Hopefully, Yankees can work out a deal with Wang because Wang wants to stays. Wang once says Yankees is a great team and the only team he has played for.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

From parade




Great pictures from The Journal News on parade.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Let the Hot Stove begins!

This is just the life of our Yankee fans. This is just the reaction and love we have toward to our beloved New York Yankees.

Let us talk about this after parade.

Yes, Every Yankee fan, Here is 27th Title

Let me describe the scene I saw yesterday at my office. As I told you on previous post, I can't take a day off because I just report to the new job.

Once the o'clock turned to lunch time yesterday, a lot of my colleagues ran toward to cafeteria for television. At that time, the game was on top of 8th inning. Marte just got the lefty out he need to . Here we go. Girardi called on Mo to close the game.

Since that moment, everyone in the cafeteria wants to have a strike call for every pitch. With every minute and every pitch passing by, our lunch break closes to the end. Everyone in the cafeteria start screaming on "come on".

When Mo gets the ground ball to Cano, everyone stands up and ready go back to work with a smile on the face.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Let go Andy!

Before game 6 of ALCS, I said I have a hunch that Bombers would win game 6. However, I don't know what will happen for game 6 of World Series. I really don't want to see game 7.

I won't be able to watch live game tomorrow because of job.

Let go Andy. Let us celebrate.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Yankees will win Game 6 of ALCS

I know you guys hate to see game 6 of ALCS getting rained out and move to today. I really think MLB should get rid of all off days except travel days. Those off days really cool off fans.

By the way, I just get my new job in Taiwan and start working tomorrow when Yankees play against Angels for game 6 at Yankees stadium. So, I can't be there for Yankees tomorrow. But, I have a hunch that our bombers will come through. Why? I have two reasons.

First of all, I truly believe I bring bad luck to my team. There is always some bad things happening when I watch. Every time I go to ball parks to watch games, it seems my team loses most of time. Do you guys remember game 5 when Hughes give up those 2 runs to Angels that eventually let Yankees lose that game? I just wake up and turn on TV. So, If I can't be there for Yankees tomorrow for Yankees, they will win that game.

Second reason comes from a playoff game I watched yesterday. I went to watch game 6 of Taiwan Series which is world Series of Taiwanese professional baseball league with my sister yesterday. My sister's favorite team is in that series. That game ends up playing 17 innings for 6 hours 14 minutes which is the longest playoff game in the world.(P.S. The longest playoff game in MLB is 5 hours 50 minutes. I think.) The point is my sister's favorite team wins that game. So, Yankees will be tomorrow as well.

Let's Go Yankees!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Sweep! Yankees advances to ALCS

I have to admit I feel so frustrated to watching Pavano to throw a great game against us.

The biggest play of the game is Jeter throwing out that base runner at the bottom of 8th inning when Hughes is in trouble again.

I know most Yankees fans may still be in the heaven for advancing to second round of playoffs. But, be honest, I feel nervous about our bullpen. Joba, Hughes and even Mo look shaky. Another thing worries me is the lineup. It seems to me Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeria are the only persons hitting now. Hopefully, I just think too much.

The players of the game: Pettitte, Jeter and A-Rod.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Yankees have a 1-0 series lead

Jeter is the man. This man is unbelievable. I know CC and the rest of bullpen pitch well. Of course, A-Rod finally comes through with man on base with two RBI. Plus, don't forget Swisher and Matsui for their big hits.

But, in my opinion, the hero is the Captain, Derek Jeter. When CC gives up two runs, Posada looks nervous for whatever reasons and the whole lineup can't hit against a guy they don't see often, Jeter wakes up the whole team.

Game 1 of ALDS_Twins at Yankees

8pm It's 8am in the morning in Taiwan. I wake up on time to see A-Rod come through with a big RBI single. And then Matsui hit another home run against lefty. Of course, I miss the big two-run home run by Captain.

8:20pm At the same time, a well rest CC with run support keep putting on zero on the scoreboard.

8:35pm Well, It starts making everyone nervous, doesn't it? Come on, CC.

8:40pm A job well done by CC. Let's go Hughes. We need this big out.

8:48pm Guess what? Hughes get that big out by throwing fastball right by Cabrera

9:03pm A-Rod likes to face Twins in the post season, right?

9:21pm It's good to get everyone in the game to feel the pressure of playoff.

9:47pm It's hard for me to get nervous when Mo is on the mound. Congrats to Yanks for game 1 win(7-2).

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Pettitte vs TOR

1:36pm Today, I need to work on some of my family stuffs, so I will stay up late. Of course, That means I can watch some Yankees games. It's 1:36am in Taiwan.

1:39pm I just watch opening ceremony of 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei. It is great, especially the part presents Taiwan delicious food. It is so cue. If you have the chance to watch it. Do it and tell me how you feel.

1:46pm OK, go back to the Yankees game. Amazing. Our bombers don't waste any more time to get a lead on the top of second inning.

1:52pm I only can say Jeter is a great actor for that ball 4.

1:54pm I thought I could see Swisher work the count to get a ball 4 for a run.

1:57pm Man, that is quick. Pettitte just gives up a run right back.

1:59pm Wait. I don't think it is a homerun. I guess replay agree with me as well.

2:26pm It seems to me Melky pays for his buddy, Cano for that homerun.

2:43pm That is a great play by Cano to get the 3rd in order to avoid Blue Jays scoring that lead run.

2:46pm That is a great job by Teixeira to give Yankees and Pettitte a lead back this soon.

3:34pm This is the breathing room Pettitte and Yankees bullpen needs.