The Yanks yesterday came to terms with the recently released Richie Sexson, formerly of the Seattle Mariners. Sexson, in his twelfth major league season, has seen his offense inexplicably disappear in the last year and a half. A lifetime .261 hitter with 305 homers and 937 RBI, Sexson has had five career thirty homer seasons, yet over his past 175 games has only hit 33, while hitting an anemic .211. So far this season, he has hit .211/11/30, with a woeful .178 average against righthanders. He has posted .344/5/12 numbers in 61 at-bats against lefty pitchers, the Yanks subsequently will platoon Sexson exclusively against southpaws. Sexson is a good fielding first baseman, he likely will see some late inning defensive assignments in place of Jason Giambi on days when he is not in the line-up.
Despite the pick-up, the Yankees are still in the market for a full time outfielder with a power bat, preferably from the right side. With Hideki Matsui likely out for the rest of the season, the Yanks will need to fill holes both offensively and defensively. ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kirkjian, during his weekly appearance with ESPNRadio affiliates, reported Brian Cashman and Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neal Huntington spend considerable time during this past weekend's Futures Game discussing a possible deal for, surprisingly, Jason Bay.
The Yanks had targeted Sexson as the righty first base option since his release last week, thus eliminating the need for Xavier Nady. While Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner are adamant they will not mortgage the future by trading off three or four prospects, Kirkjian reported Huntington to be open to a deal involving one or two prospects, a current member of the 25 man roster, and, in lieu of the extra prospect, cash.
The flux of the Yankees current roster is also up in the air. Johnny Damon is scheduled to be activated from the DL on Sunday, however, he cut short his hitting session on Tuesday due to discomfort in his injured left shoulder.
The situation with Hideki Matsui's injured left knee has taken an unfortunate turn for the worse, it appears he will have surgery and will be lost for the rest of the season. Matsui had been rehabbing the the Yankees Class A franchise in the Florida State League, he too cut short his rehab after a hitting stint on Tuesday resulted in pain and swelling. Matsui returned to New York on Wednesday and is scheduled to see Team Physician Dr. Stuart Hershon today, it is expected Dr. Hershon will recommend surgery.
Righthander Phil Hughes, on the DL since May with a broken rib on his rightside, threw his second bullpen session on Sunday in Tampa, cutting loose 25 fastballs and a dozen breaking balls, and reported no discomfort in the area. Because of the injury, Hughes was severely limited in his rehab option, not only will he need to regain arm strength, but leg strength and his stamina as well. The Yanks have put no ETA on Hughes' return to the rotation, the same can be said for Chien-Ming Wang. Wang, on the DL since June 17th with a torn tendon in his right foot, won't return until September at the earliest. The Yanks will need to activate Wang by August 31st for him to be eligible for possible postseason action, from that date he can have a maximum ten day rehab assignment, meaning he would have to be placed on the active roster no later than September 10th. The question is will he be strong enough to pitch by that date. The Yanks don't want to risk activating him too early, they also don't want to risk not activating him and losing him for October play if he needed another couple days of rehab.
Ian Kennedy was activated from the DL on June 28th, after missing five weeks with a back strain caused by bursitis in his throwing shoulder. Kennedy has made three rehab starts with Triple A Scranton-Wilkes Barre, going 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in 11 innings, allowing 13 hits while striking out eleven.
Reliever Brian Bruney, on the shelf since May 4th with a broken foot, took the loss in his first rehab outing this past weekend while pitching in Double A Trenton. The Yankees also signed former top draft pick and Minnesota Twins ace Eric Milton to a minor league contract. Milton, out since June, '07 after Tommy John surgery, threw a 25 pitch bullpen last week and reported no stiffness or swelling.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Back to Baseball: "Linkin' Logs" (7/18/08)
Dear Francisco Cordero,Try earning your 8 mil this year and close games.
Sincernely,
BNBlogger, JustinY
And that pretty much says it all. The hard charging Mets, winners of 10 straight, have tied the (sorta) idle Phils for first. New Yorkers are more annoying than ever (and not even Yankees fans) and this Phils fan broke a beer mug thanks to Fran's awful performance.
But all is not lost, as the Phillies (who I said were only semi-idle) went out and got workhorse pitcher Joe Blanton, who's been less than stellar this year, but still capable of pitching deep into games (which is the only thing a Phillies offense this potent needs). The Phils shipped three prospects to Oakland; Outfielder Matt Spencer, Pitcher Josh Outman and 2nd baseman Adrian Cardenas. I know little about Spencer, but Outman's been amongst the Phils best pitching prospects and Cardenas was among their best fielding prospects. That being said, the Phils really gave up little in their own plans, because Cardenas's position, as you know, is currently filled by NL MVP-hunter Chase Utley, and with a glove comparable to Utley, there was little reason to see Cardenas in the Phils plans for the future. In fact all, indications are that he was trade bait to from the moment he was drafted.
So how does Blanton help the Phils? Well, check out the700level.com's video from ESPN's baseball tonight...
Yes...he did say that...and Yes, the Phils are currently in first...but I also hope they can catch the Mets! Anyways, on to the links!
- Some more sad news regarding Johnny Mars
- So lost amongst some relatively smart moves was this little tidbit; the Yankees signed Richie Sexson. As one of my really good friends put it; "Sexson's like Giambi...only its when Giambi is slumping."
- Nice Headline
- Does no one want Ron Artest? He's so nice
- Sorry Clippers, but raiding the best team in the west (not to make the playoffs) will not make you a playoff contender...it'll get you 45 wins
- One of the best names in football (literally) will be riding the pine to start this season.
- Fantastic! Two top Eagles have fired their agents and are looking to use Satan...err...Drew Rosenhaus, to get what they want...I guess that's money and not championships
- Hey, Mike Vernon got a job!
- Hmm, the empire strikes back. Look, when the NHL says "Stop being a douche," they mean it
- Courtesy of AwfulAnnouncing, A gem from sports radio personality Chris Baker of Minnesota...
- And of course, thanks to Deadspin...another Vomit-fest from Mets fans...
But not you worry...what do you think of this?
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