Posted by TMS:

We also won't have a huge hole in our line up with the subtraction of the Giambi curse (anyone else notice we haven't won a championship since he's been on the team).

if u wanna get technical that "curse" actually started when Moose got here, the year before Giambi was signed... but to be fair the team did get to 2 world series & both those guys helped them to get there... sometimes the ball doesn't bounce ur way, sometimes they do.

[Edited by - TMS on 11-20-2008 1:43 PM]

I don't know, Moose was a big game pitcher and a veteran presence on the mound that Torre had confidence in (game 7 2003 ALCS). Giambi was always sure to get a hit when we were up by a bunch of runs but he never seemed to come up big in the clutch. Two outs, two on and down by a run and he never got on base, plus he was always a great candidate to hit into the double play and kill an inning. The championship teams had guys that didn't always put up big numbers, but they always got the clutch hit. Brosius, Martinez just to name two.

i beg to differ w/u on Giambi's clutchness... he may not have been Reggie Jackson obviously, but if not for Giambi's 2 solo HR's in that same game 7 of the '03 ALCS ur talking about we don't ever have the Aaron Boone HR that got us into the WS... he's also had a few walk off dingers over the years during the regular season also... i don't consider Moose to be a big game pitcher anymore than i consider Giambi a big game hitter, tho he did come up huge in that game in relief... both guys had their share of good moments & bad moments in big games over the years... both came close to helping us win championships but it wasn't meant to be i guess... time to turn the page & start on a new chapter w/new guys... let's hope CC & Tex can be part of that new chapter.

[Edited by - TMS on 11-20-2008 6:48 PM]

We replaced Giambi with an inferior hitter. Had Swisher played 1st base last year instead of Giambi, we likely would have finished in 4th rather than 3rd place. We were a middle of the pack offensive team before this offensive downgrade, and we still need huge upgrades. Counting on aging, injury prone veterans to return and stay healthy is a poor gamble.

Posted by Rookie:

TMS, I think that's a pretty fair assessment. agreed, time to move on and get younger. While I like a veteran pressence on the team, I'd like to see more of a balance between youth and veterans going forward. While last year was a total bust, I like seeing the yankees develope young talent.

Here's one I'd like to toss up:

it seems that since MLB banned the use of anfedamines, teams with younger players have a better competitive edge, especially on the road and down the stretch of a long season.

in the end i think it's important to have a good mix of both youth & experienced vets, just like our teams that won all those championships had & how the Red Sox team is currently constructed... it's always good to have some of those tried & trusted veterans on the team & it's always good to have the precocious neophytes that no one's really seen as well (thanks Clyde).

regardless of who we pick up in free agency this year i have no doubts that some of our youth in our farm system are going to figure in to the equation at some point during the season & help to determine whether or not we get back to the WS again... injuries happen all the time & u just never know when the next Mariano or Joba will come along... i think it's important that we keep accumulating picks & investing heavily in our scouting system going into the future... & we should always make sure we get those compensation picks back for our veteran free agents... when we let Andy P & Flash Gordon walk we came out of it w/Joba & Hughes, not a bad trade off... hopefully we can nab a good talent out of Bobby Abreu signing somewhere else this offseason too.

we got no credibility when it comes to setting deadlines anymore, as we all saw last year w/the whole ARod fiasco... but whatever... if CC doesn't wanna be here, then we gotta move on... that money will be there for him regardless if he makes up his mind now or later IMO... i don't see anyway the Yanks would refuse him even if they went ahead & signed up Mark Tex, AJB & Lowe to longterm deals right now, do u?

Posted by VDesai:

Apparently the re-adjusted Hughes' throwing motion in the Arizona Fall League and he started touching 94-96 consistently again and had a really good finish. Remember last year there was a lot of handwringing about how he changed his motion.

Wow, that's great news. I honestly think Hughes is going to pitch well this year, if he's given the chance of course.

Posted by TMS:

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by VDesai:

Apparently the re-adjusted Hughes' throwing motion in the Arizona Fall League and he started touching 94-96 consistently again and had a really good finish. Remember last year there was a lot of handwringing about how he changed his motion.

Wow, that's great news. I honestly think Hughes is going to pitch well this year, if he's given the chance of course.

u mean if he doesn't pull a labia muscle.

You're right.. those are pretty rough.

Posted by Finestrg:

Posted by VDesai:

Apparently the re-adjusted Hughes' throwing motion in the Arizona Fall League and he started touching 94-96 consistently again and had a really good finish. Remember last year there was a lot of handwringing about how he changed his motion.

Where'd you read/hear this Des?

I can't find anything either.

i think everyone believes ur integrity but it's always good to provide a link to info so we can read up on the details, nah mean?

Posted by VDesai:

Posted by TMS:

i think everyone believes ur integrity but it's always good to provide a link to info so we can read up on the details, nah mean?

Yeah but its a pay site- there's only so much I can give.

don't worry, none of us are gonna rat u out. (i've seen some ESPN Insider stuff on here & no one seems to mind)

Posted by VDesai:

Peter Abraham reported on Hughes' velocity and the mechanics stuff comes from pinstripes plus.

Don't worry, I don't make up stuff.

Didn't think you did. Just couldn't find it and it's on a 'pay site'? It should be AP.