May 07, 2007
Pitching Costs Yankees
The Yankees poor starting pitching cost them in signing Clemens:
Cashman had a standing offer to Clemens of $25.5 million, from a meeting with Hendricks in March. The Yankees' recent urgency gave Clemens leverage in negotiations and essentially cost the Yankees an extra $2.5 million.
Privately, the Yankees had been determined since last winter not to be outbid for Clemens, who made a prorated portion of $22 million with the Astros last year. His current annual salary is the highest in baseball.
Another advantage for the Yankees was they wanted Roger now, whereas the Red Sox and Houston asked to wait until the end of June. Clemens wants to pitch as soon as possible, so that helped move the Yankees to the top of the list.
New York's rotation by the middle of June is likely to be Wang, Mussina, Pettitte, Clemens and Hughes. That should be enough with this offense, even if Roger only goes six innings a start.
I think that it would be hard to blame the full additional $2.5 million on the poor Yankees pitching in that before anyone realized how poor their pitching would be Clemens had the $25.5 million offer and declined to accept it. So even before seeing how bad their pitching turned out Clemens had communicated that they would need to up the offer a little.
Aryeh
Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I'll be surprised if Roger can even go 6 innings per start. Last year he averaged about 5.9, and I don't see that number going up in the AL East.
On another note... Herrell's over Toscanini's, David? Are you serious? Nothing against Herrell's, I mean, I've got a $1 coupon for there in my wallet, but they got nothing on Tosci's. Have you tried the burnt caramel ice cream? Heaven!
If you really think Mussina, Clemens and Pettitte will all remain in the rotation for the duration, I just listed the Brooklyn Bridge on eBay.
David: Do you really think that Clemens wanted an early return? The last couple of seasons, he's wanted the opposite. And if my memory serves, he barely made it to the end of 2006. Now, he's one year older and will be trying to pitch one month longer. He may have nothing left by the postseason.
And if the Sox or Astros really wanted Clemens, why would they want him to wait? I know they'd be saving a few million bucks, but that doesn't seem like a deal-breaker.
The most likely scenario: the Yankees were desperate for starting pitching, and pushed Roger to come back ASAP. That raised the price, and Clemens went for the highest offer. The "wants to pitch as soon as possible" line came from Randy Hendricks, and appears to be typical agent-speak.
I hope Clemens contracts AIDS from his steroids needle.
Clemen should guaruntee a win in each game he pitches. It is absurd the amount of money team are willing to pay him. I hope it backfires. Serves both the Yankees and Clemens right.
Gee, I guess Matt Davis is a Red Sox fan. Way to stay classy there, Matt.
I am a Braves fan. I hate the Yankees but I hate Clemens much more.
Dear Matt Davis, You are a disgusting moron.
Sincerely,
Everybody
Matt Davis sounds like the guy I tried to bang who just wanted me to stick a 18 inch dildo up his ass. I'm much more conservative than that, I sent Matt to a guy that's into that sort of thing, Chipper Jones. If I remember correctly, Chipper and a guy named John Smoltz all rammed large objects this up guy's butt.
See you all in 45 days...I'm off to prison now.
I would never stick myself in him.
sigh
it will be, um, interesting to see roger be ready to pitch in about 3 weeks. he WANTED to wait until the end of june last year.
and he DID break down late in the year in 04, 05 and 06.
and he got to 100 pitches usually by the 5th or 6th inning and that is without the DH problem.
we'll see.
i'm really not sorry he's gone.
prima donna &*$^!