Tonight after a few glasses of wine (the huge screwdriver came later), my father asked me a bunch of questions about why the Yankees dealt Matsui to the Angels.
"Ya know what I don't get, the Yanks got rid of Matsui and signed Nick Johnson."
"Yeah, so?"
"You give up the best DH in baseball. I could understand if he was asking for a lot of money--he's only getting $5.5 million from the Angels. And in return you get Nick Johnson? Who's what? A left-handed DH!"
I'd give you more, but this went on for a while and we really got nowhere. I should also mention that my father's a pseudo-Yankee fan. He's actually a Tiger fan, but because my mom and I are Yankee fans, he roots for the Yanks too. I digress.
My dad, though he's crazy, does make a good point. Why the hell did the Yanks give up Matsui? He only signed a one-year $6.5 million deal with the Angels. He's the World Series MVP. Yeah, he's getting a little old and he can't play the field, but Johnson won't do anything more than DH unless Teixeira gets hurt. He's a solid bat and his numbers blow Johnson's out of the water. You've got the most money in all of baseball and you can't shell out $6.5 million? Something smells fishy.
But the Yanks did some good dealing in picking up Vazquez, who ironically enough, sent Johnson to the Expos when he was with the Yankees his first time around. Unfortunately, the Bronx Bombers gave up the Melkman in the deal. Good thing I never got around to buying a number 53 jersey (or 28 for that matter).
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It's funny he asked you about that because all I've been hearing is "Wah why did the Yankees trade Melky?" Although I hate to disagree with your dad (and I rarely do esp. in politics, I love BIll O'Reilly too) but I think Nick Johnson is the kind of upgrade the Yankees need and could really do well with. I mean let's be honest, "the new Yankee Stadium" was very good to Matsui...and Damon...and Teixera. Just kidding, I'm not a gay. Although the Yankees now have Granderson and he has good speed they are better off not using his power at the #5 hole. Nick Johnson is the perfect #2 batter. He works a great deal of walks, does not strike out like a power hitter and always has an above average batting average. Plus the right field porch will give him 20-25 homeruns at least if he plays regularly. (I read that he could also play in the outfield if needed.) Lastly, Johnson picked up 47 runs and 44 rbis in only 98 games while playing for the NATIONALS before he went to the Marlins. I'm very impressed by that. Also Adam Lind was the best "DH" this past year. He batted .305 with 35 rbis and 114 rbis in the Blue Jays lineup at a neutral ball park. Although 55 of his 151 games were played in the field. That just makes him even more important to his team.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you are putting your duty over your emotions and saying that the Vazquez trade was a positive. Good for you. Because it was a very big positive. The ONLY weak spot the Yankees had was...no not the bullpen. Their #4 and #% starters. Joba is just not Joba in the bullpen. Although Cano's numbers might stagger without his BFF, the Yankees did a very smart thing in aquiring Vazquez, he addressed, really, their only need, someone to eat up innings. (Unless the Yankees have some kind of "Vazquez rules" idea in mind.) But Melky.....eh. He's a great 4th outfielder, someone who comes in in the 8th or 9th inning 'cuz Matt Diaz is feeling a little tired. But who knows maybe he will play everyday. So what do you think about Curtis Granderson?
Idk why I said "not" when I said using Granderson's power in the #5 hole. I'm tripping on Nyquil.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely excited about Granderson. He's still really young and he was a 30-20 guy last year. I think his production will only improve this season.
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