Did anyone see the article today on RiverAve that put into prospective of where we are at in regards to the 189 goal. I will attach the article below however what if we were to do the following. C, 1B, SS, LF, CF, RF, and DH is all set for 2014. With 3rd base do the following Re-sign Reynolds and platoon him and Johnson at 3B They would most likely combined for 20-25 Hr and 60-70 rbi, the same production we would love to have out of Arod if he would come back which you know he's not for about 23 million less. 2B, wait for it, take a flyer on Brian Roberts, I think he is still a free agent. Ok I know he's hurt all the time, but where does it say we have to have all stars at every position. It's a risk, but teams have won world series with a middle infielder hitting 210. It allows us to reach our goal of 189 and I feel be productive. Just a thought, and they could then turn all their attention to pitching. But if money be damn, sign Infante, overpay and still platoon 3B, just forget the 189 http://riveraveblues.com/2013/12/2014-payroll-breakdown-part-four-97562/
IMO, pitching is a major deficit right now... You have CC and Kuroda next year... CC had his worst year by far so he'll likely be better, but Kuroda imploded during the last two months... No more Pettitte, no more Hughes (Addition by subtraction?). Nova will be back... What is the status with Phelps? So we have 3 starters. We need at least 2 more, if not 3 or 4 for when CC gets hurt, Kuroda implodes or something else happens. What is the status with Pineda? And then there is the bull pen... Robertson in there to close? still many holes to fill. So a good chunk of time/resources needs to be focused on pitching, IMO, rather than 2B and 3B.
...acquiring one more starter should do it...from what Joe said, Phelps, Nuno, Pineda, and I can't recall the other one (Warren?) will compete for a starting spot.
...by the time they're done, I think the starting pitching will be just as good, if not better than last year's.
I say we go with our guys, and focus on the bullpen. I would feel better if they signed a closer and kept Robertson in the 8th inning roll. Add a power lefty, and if you must Beniot... Keep Warren as your long guy, Give Phelps and Nuno the 4 and 5 starter spots. Pineda, well I just keep my fingers crossed and hope Betances can contribute.
I am not really a fan of Roberts only because of injury history. Guy cannot stay healthy. They need a 2nd baseman who can stay on the field. A platoon at 3rd is fine but a steady 2nd baseman is needed and one more starter along with a bullpen guy or two.
...yeah, I gotta believe that between all the youngsters, they can find at least 1 if not 2 serviceable starters...I mean can any of them be worse than Hughes was? Of course, we also have to hope that CC and Kuroda can both find their mojo again and we have to assume that Nova will pick up where he left off, otherwise the revamped offense better score about 200 more runs than they did last year. ...and Jetes, I think you're right, a platoon a 3B should be OK, but I'd like a full time 2Bman who can also hit.
I am leery at pinning hopes on Phelps and Nuno as the 4 and 5 starters and not knowing what they could get from Pineda. I would just feel better if they had one more proven starter. I think they have to find a full time 2nd baseman whether it is a free agent or through a trade. Hopefully Cash is turning over all the rocks out there.
...with the exception of 2B, the Yanx should have better production out of every position next year...McCann, Tex, Jeter, Elsbury, Gardner, Beltran, and whoever plays 3B should be offensive upgrades over last year.
^^^^ without a doubt. When you look at our numbers offensively by position last year it's amazing to me how they won 85 games.
...the pitching was very good for most of the year. ...btw, I just checked, and as near as I can tell, the Yanx played 77 games last year in which they scored 3 runs or less. So yeah, it really is hard to believe they won as many games as they did.
...that means that games in which they scored 4 or more runs, their record was 69 - 16 ...unreal, that confirms just how good the pitching was. ...the Red Sox scored 203 more runs than the Yanx...can you imagine what the Yanx' record might have been if they had scored another 203 runs?
^^^^ Wow, when you reflect back on that, you can't help to see how good the pitching was and that was with Hughes shitting the bed, CC being erratic, a mystery guest pitching the #5 spot and Kuroda with a flat tire down the quarter stretch.
