Hasta La Vista Bruney
I think I hear Phil Hughes crying. After all, his best bud and close teammate, Brian Bruney was traded.
According to a numerous amount of sources, including LoHud, Bruney was traded to the Washington Nationals for a PTBNL. However, we later learn that this PTBNL is actually not a player, but the first pick in the Rule 5 draft.
Not bad Cashman, not bad.
Side Note: Bruney joins three former Yankees who are currently on the Nationals’ roster. You want to know who these men are? No? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway.
Drumroll please…
Alberto Gonzalez
Tyler Clippard
Wil Nieves
Wow. Impressive, huh?
My Version of “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down”
Over at LoHud, Sam Borden created a thumbs up and thumbs down rating system based on some stuff that has been mentioned/rumored/brainstormed during this offseason thus far. I’ve decided that I would like to express my own ratings about Sam’s ratings.
Let’s begin:
#1) Thumbs Down to Roy Halladay’s agent saying Halladay won’t approve a trade once spring training starts. Nice try, pal – you think Roy will say ‘no’ to the Yankees (or Red Sox or Phillies) if the Jays are 20 under again in July?
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Down. Sam’s opinion is exactly on the dot, with the exception of the ’20 under’ which, I’m guessing, will probably be more like 30.
#2) Thumbs Up to Jay’s GM Alex Anthopoulos saying he’s got no problem dealing within the division. At least someone is being honest.
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Up. Alex Anthjahdflajhsdfljbljasehuha clearly knows what he’s talking about, compared to this guy.
#3) Thumbs Up to those who think Curtis Granderson would be a good fit with the Yankees. Great player and an even better guy. (And yeah, I know about the splits. I’d still take the chance.)
My Rating: Thumbs In Between for Thumbs Up. Granderson may be a decent outfielder but offensively he’s terrible against left-handed pitching. I don’t know…
#4) Thumbs Down to anyone who wants the Yankees to go after a “big-name” reliever like Mike Gonzalez or Rafeal Soriano. First, signing these guys would now cost draft picks since they were offered arbitration; and second, if the Yankees have learned anything over the past few years, it’s that big-money non-closers just aren’t worth it. I’d rather see more of Dave Robertson in 2010 than end up with another Kyle Farnsworth.
My Rating: Thumbs In Between for Thumbs Down. I’m completely torn on this one. As we saw this past season, D-Rob and the Baby Bombers can get it done. However, with Phil Hughes and/or Joba Chamberlain moving back to the rotation, the ‘pen are losing an arm. Yes, the Yankees have depth in their system (Mark Melancon, Michael Dunn) but I would say that getting another experience arm wouldn’t hurt. Plus, not everyone is Kyle Farnsworth.
#5) Thumbs Up to all of you who commented and emailed about the Tiger Woods post/saga/disaster. You guys (and girls) helped me come up with this column, which was about the lost of privacy for all of us in this day and age. So thanks.
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Up. Check out Sam’s column. Great stuff.
#6) Thumbs Down to a best-of-seven Division Series (at least until someone tells me how the World Series won’t end near Christmas.)
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Down. It’s one thing for a post-season to have sooo many off-days, but to inch that much closer to the never ending NBA play-off system (four rounds of best-of-seven) is unnecessary. I’ll pass.
#7) Thumbs Up to an international draft – an idea that seems long overdue.
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Up. Long overdue? I think Sam means, longgggggggggg overdue.
#8) Thumbs Down to trading Phil Hughes for Halladay (though thumbs up to trading Joba Chamberlain or Austin Jackson for him).
My Rating: Double Thumbs Up for Thumbs Down. It’s nice to know that someone is on the same page as me when it comes to my favorite Yankee.
#9) Thumbs Up reclamation project gambles (and, for what it’s worth, Justin Duchscherer > Rich Harden > Ben Sheet in my value book).
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Up. I have to be honest; I have nooo idea what any of that means. I’ll just go with Sam’s judgement.
#10) Thumbs Down to sticking with Chien-Ming Wang (sadly, for book sales).
My Rating: Thumbs In Between for Thumbs Down. So I’m guessing that CMW won’t be back next year, but I really liked the guy (when he was healthy).
And finally . . .
#11) Thumbs Up to mailbags – how has it been this long without one? Let’s get it going. Feel free to e-mail questions and we’ll try to do our first offseason one shortly.
My Rating: Thumbs Up for Thumbs Up. Lohud should definitely take the time to re-launch these mailbags. (I don’t think they’ve had one since Peter Abraham left.) It’s something to do over this longggg off-season.
Well, that’s it. Interesting. A waste of my time, but very interesting. I’m pretty impressed that I mostly agreed with Sam.
I’ve Got Some Catching Up to Do…
Some very random notes since my last post – -
- MLB award winners include: Joe Mauer (AL MVP), Albert Pujols (NL MVP), Tim Lincecum (NL Cy Young), Jim Tracy (NL Manager of the Year), and Mike Scioscia (AL Manager of the Year).
- Derek Jeter was crowned the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. My, what a season he has had.
- New York Jets quarterback received some sliding help from Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi.
- The Atlanta Bravers are adding some experience to their ‘pen with the additions of Scott Proctor and Billy Wagner. Interesting…
- The Yankees didn’t make any arbitration offers to any of their free agents.
- Shelley Duncan became a free agent.
- David Robertson is very giving this holiday season.
- AJ Burnett wants his former teammate, Roy Halladay, to join him in pinstripes.
- Halladay would approve of a trade to the Bronx Bombers.
- The Red Sox are still looking for a decent shortstop but may end up turning to Dustin Pedroia to change positions.
- Tommy Henrich passed away yesterday morning. He was a Yankee his entire career and won seven championships. Henrich, 96, was the oldest living New York Yankee.
- I’m sure that you all have heard about Tiger Woods by now so I really don’t see the point in linking you to any articles. If you’ve been hiding under your bed for the last week or so, and have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, just Goggle “Tiger Woods” in Goggle News and you’ll get more than enough results.
Happy Birthday Mariano Rivera!!
The greatest reliever of all-time is turning the big four-oh today.
This is the same guy who wants to pitch for another five years.
I love this guy.
No Cy for CC
Our ALCS MVP didn’t come away with the 2009 Cy Young award like I hoped. Instead it was Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals.
Greinke only won 16 games (which could have been more if the Royals’ offense had offered some support) but had an incredible ERA of 2.16 and a strikeout total of 242.
Felix Hernandez finished second with Justin Verlander, CC Sabathia, and Roy Halladay behind him.
I would go into more detail, but I’m currently trying to figure out my spring schedule for classes next semester. (Which is very, very aggravating!!)
I’m Famous!!!!
Wow… this day started off pretty good but then went totally downhill. This was a nice pick-me-up.
Thanks MLBlogs!!
(P.S. There’s only one problem: No one reads my posts; it feels like I writing to a brick wall. I better try and fix that somehow.)
Bailey & Coghlan Capture Rookie of the Year Awards
AL Rookie of the Year – Andrew Bailey
NL Rookie of the Year – Chris Coghlan
Honestly, I can’t tell you much about their seasons. (If this was Brett Gardner or Alfredo Aceves, it would have been a different story. But….) Bailey had 26 saves along with a 1.84 ERA as a reliever. Coghlan finished with a batting average of .321 along with 84 runs, 162 hits (including 94 in August and September), 31 doubles, and an OBP of .390.
Pretty impressive, huh?
Congratulations to them both.
As for the announcements of other awards:
Tuesday: American League Cy Young
Wednesday: Manager of the Year for both leagues
Thursday: National League Cy Young
Next Monday: American League Most Valuable Player
Next Tuesday: National League Most Valuable Player
Let’s keep our fingers cross that CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter (or Mark Teixeira), and Joe Girardi each come away with an award.
I know, I know, I’m getting somewhat greedy. But a girl can dream, right?
Update 5:48 PM: Bailey is on the Oakland Athletics and Coghlan is on the Florida Marlins. 
Oh Belichick, Way to Pull a Girardi…
If you thought that Joe Girardi micro-managed his post-season bullpen to the nth degree, check out how Patriots’ coach, Bill Belichick, micro-managed his team to a lost to the Indianapolis Colts last night
Un-freakin-believable. It’s like that game three of the ACLS. You know? The one where Girardi took out David Robertson for Alfredo Aceves who immediately lost the game? Yeah, I know you remember, you just don’t want to. Don’t worry, I don’t either.
Well, Belichick’s 4th down decision late in the fourth quarter last night ultimately cost the Patriots the lost. Yeah you can blame two Pat’s turnovers in the red zone prior (just like you can blame the lack of the Yanks offense in Game 3) but still…. what a terrible move.
Mr. T Was Rooting for the Yankees in the Fall Classic
I’m not surprised. Are you?
2009 Silver Sluggers Finally Announced
Tonight, the 2009 Silver Slugger awards were handed out to the top hitters in the game…
American League Winners:
C – Joe Mauer (third Silver Slugger)
1B – Mark Teixeira (third SS)
2B – Aaron Hill (first SS)
3B – Evan Longoria (first SS)
SS – Derek Jeter (fourth SS)
OF – Ichiro Suzuki (third SS)
OF – Jason Bay (first SS)
OF – Torii Hunter (first SS)
DH – Adam Lind (first SS)
I did pretty good with my predictions of Mauer, Tex, Hill, Jeter, Bay, Hunter, and Lind . I guess I was kind of greedy when I thought that Alex Rodriguez might come away victorious. As for Ichiro, I was thinking about it, but to me, he’s a very, very good hitter, but he’s not a slugger. This is the Silver Sluggers, not the Silver Hitters. But nevertheless, Ichiro is still one of the best hitters of the game so he certainly deserves this award.
National League Winners:
P – Carlos Zambrano (third Silver Slugger)
C – Brian McCann (third SS)
1B – Albert Pujols (third SS)
2B – Chase Utley (fourth SS)
3B – Ryan Zimmerman (first SS)
SS – Hanley Ramirez (second SS)
OF – Ryan Braun (second SS)
OF – Matt Kemp (first SS)
OF – Andre Either (first SS)
My short Jayson Werth campaign came to an abrupt end. *Sigh*
Congrats to all!!
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