The Yankees starting pitching is a strength. Making that statement might surprise some. On the surface you see an unproven number four starter, and a fifth spot that will feature a scrapheap combination of Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, and maybe Kevin Millwood. If you break it down logically the Yankees are in a good position […]

One thing that any student of advanced metrics will tell you is not to get fooled by small sample size. Unfortunately, Spring Training is one small sample size, making it necessary to evaluate pitchers on many of the intangible principles that make scouting the toughest job in sports. Many assume that Bartolo Colon has the […]

There was a report this weekend the Yankees are scouting Cubs righty Carlos Silva. The jury may still be out on whether Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon could provide 25 starts this season, but Silva (no relation to the author of this article) is not much of an upgrade. He is due $11.5 million this […]

I had this discussion with NYBD contributor Joe DelGrippo last night. Yesterday morning I predicted the Yanks 25 man roster that would include four bench players and seven relievers. Knowing that Joba Chamberlain could go multiple innings does it make sense carrying Sergio Mitre or Bartolo Colon? Why not take an extra bench player like […]

It’s still early in camp, but I believe the Yankees 25 man roster is taking shape. Most of it was a given, but there were a few spots up for grabs. Here is my March 8th projection: Starting Lineup C- Russell Martin 1B- Mark Teixeira 2b- Robinson Cano SS- Derek Jeter 3B- Alex Rodriguez LF- […]

Conventional logic dictates that Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova will win the last two spots in the Yankees rotation. Assuming Kevin Millwood continues to hold out at the Scott Boras compound for a big league deal, the remaining options are Bartolo Colon, Sergio Mitre, and a bunch of kids. One discussion we’ve been having on […]

If I told you Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and Sergio Mitre were three of the participants for a rotation spot in New York, you probably would say the team was the Mets and Omar Minaya the general manager. Alas, those three, along with prospect Ivan Nova, are the top candidates to round out the Yankees […]

I am not asking that question because of innings limits, but rather, this comment by John Manuel of Baseball America in a recent interview with NoMaas: Nova has a good chance to earn a starting role in New York. I do not expect him to be a starter long-term because he has such power stuff […]

Assuming Andy Pettitte‘s workouts lead to nothing, the Yankees battle for the fifth spot may resemble a “who’s who” of former All Stars. Mark Prior and Bartolo Colon are now joined by Freddy Garcia, who signed a minor league deal yesterday. Minor League deals never bother me because they are a free look. The player […]

In a move that resembles more Omar Minaya than Brian Cashman, the Yankees signed former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. Colon hasn’t pitched since 2009 when he went 3-6 with a 4.19 ERA for the White Sox. After sitting out 2010, he spent the winter pitching in the Dominican, […]

The Yankees, Phillies, and Cardinals are all rumored to have interest in Arizona RHP Dan Haren. Unlike Cliff Lee, who is a free agent at the end of the season, Haren is signed to three more years, including one which is an option. In many ways he is the perfect complement to each team’s ace […]

Jeff Pearlman caught up with former Mets catcher Ed Hearn in an article over at Sports Illustrated. The premise of the piece was Hearn’s concern that Washington will tinker with Stephen Strasburg just like the Mets did with Doc Gooden back in the eighties. Yes, Hearn is correct in saying that Mel Stottlemyre erred in […]

Interesting question posed to Tim Kurkjian this morning. Does Mariano Rivera have a shot at the Cy Young? The short answer is no. Zack Grienke—unless he completely and utterly implodes—is getting it. He all but wrapped it up with the amazing start he had. That said; why isn’t Rivera in the conversation? I know, I […]

There will be one Yankees team playing for a title in 2008. The Scranton Yankees defeated the Pawtucket Red Sox 2-0 in 10 innings on a walk-off homer by Shelley Duncan. With the win the Yanks won the best of five series 3 games to 1. Phil Hughes was the pitching story striking out eleven […]

The other night, you think Grady Little was watching the game wondering why Jerry Manuel didn’t send Pedro Martinez out to pitch the 6th inning? Folks will complain about the Mets bullpen again, but they gave up only three runs in 7 1/3 innings in that horrible loss Tuesday. Did anybody else realize that the […]