<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"> </o:smarttagtype> Mike Mussina Matsui not being injured. Joba in the Rotation all year. Hughes and Kennedy potentially breaking out. Chien-Ming Wang Big Contracts expiring Multiple Early Draftpicks. <o></o> This year sucked. I thought last year was a great building block, and was pretty happy, even when we didn’t have a reasonable shot at a playoff berth. Kennedy, Hughes, and Joba showed that they have what it takes to make it in the bigs. Cano had a great year. A-Rod was super clutch. This year, everything came crashing down. A-Rod regresses (though he has great overall numbers). Hughes and Kennedy get injured, and aren’t given another big second chance. Here are reasons why I still have hope for next year. Mike Mussina<o></o> Moose has relearned to pitch this season. He’s gotten over the fact that he’s lost velocity. He’s living on the black, scattering hits, and his curve is breaking. His location has been great, and his Jose Molina is calling the perfect game for him. This doesn’t seem like it’s a fluke season, to me. Matsui not being injured.<o></o> Matsui is the most clutch hitter on our team. Losing him the last two years was a huge loss. I expect him to be healthy, and think he’ll primarily DH. He is the ideal protection for A-Rod, and brings stability to this club. Remember, he played 518 games in a row. Joba in the Rotation<o></o> Chamberlain has been working on arm stamina this year, and it’s gone well, though he had to shut it down, because of fatigue. Joba was dominant in his games, though I think he’ll go deeper in the years to come. His fastball still bites at the end of his outings, and his curve and slider still breaks. Look for his changeup to progress further. Hughes and Kennedy progressing.<o></o> Self explanatory. One more year pitching, one more year getting accustomed to the<st1> Bronx,</st1> one more year refining their stuff. Chien-Ming Wang.<o></o> Chien-Ming Wang is coming off a freak injury. If he returns to the form he was in, when he won 6 strait, look out. He really solidifies the rotation, and gives the Yankees a horse who can pitch efficiently. Since they aren’t rushing him, I doubt he has any lingering projects. Big Contracts coming off the Books. Giambi, 23 million, Pettitte, 16 million, Abreu, 16 million, Pudge, 12 million, Mussina, 11 million, Pavano, 11 million, all expire after this year. ~89 million in total. Lets say we resign Moose for 2 years/ 25 million. This allows us to sign a big free agent. I’m thinking CC Sabathia. He gives us a true ace, to go along with a trio of Wang, Moose, and Joba. It also allows us to go with younger players, without feeling like we’re wasting big money players. <o></o> Multiple Early Draftpicks. The Yanks failed to sign their top two picks, so they are compensated with 2 picks. Giambi, Pettitte, Pudge, are all Type B at worst, giving us 1 pick. Abreu is probably type A, as is Moose, giving us potentially 2 picks each. Assuming we resign Moose and only get one pick for Abreu: We have 8 picks in the first 3 rounds. That should really solidify the farm system, and, hopefully, a few pan out.
Nice thread, this year is disappointing but every good team has bad seasons. This year we have a bunch of under performers: Yanks, Indians, Tigers, some might add the Cardinals in too. I expect next season to be a normal playoff season. Maybe we'll see a good signing in the off-season but we can win with what we have. Injuries have been a plague this year and they'll happen next season too. The Yankees need to be able to deal with injuries and i think they have a pretty good bench for that. I think the Rays will be good next season, but won't do as well as they have been.
The biggest reason to hold out hope is that the Yankees have the cash to go out of their way to buy enough talent to make the playoffs next year. -Petey
Really? You don't think Hughes, Kennedy, or Melancon can have large contributions? We built a very good bullpen from inside, and it will continue to get better, from inside. You don't think a healthy Matsui, A-Rod, and maybe Jorge, make enough of a difference? Wang doesn't shore up the pitching? Getting CC would be a huge acquisition, no question, and would create the most change. But I think we have enough young talent for an impact next year.
Matsui, ARod and Jorge are all getting older. Rookies are just that, fresh off the farm. I don't know what to expect of them. I don't have much faith in Moose to repeat. I recall many calling for his head. But the Yankees ability to sign the top free agents are a given. -Petey
I was hesitant with Jorge, I didn't like the contract he was given. Matsui is getting up there too, at 34, though I still have hope with him. A-Rod though, I have no doubt he will be fine next year.
