Maybe. He brought Pettitte back for a lot of money and we'll see how that works out. He traded Johnson who I think will have a stellar year for basically nothing. He beefed up the bullpen but the starting rotation is weak at best. He traded Sheffield and tried to get Arod and Giambi to waive their no trade clauses. They better have a better year then last year as there is no one to blame but him if they don't as he had all the control.
He traded Johnson (who requested a trade to be with his family after the death of his brother), and received two solid starting prospects, a solid reliever, and a brilliant defensive SS. Considering he's moving back to the NL and is where he wanted to be all along, he has no excuse (back included) to not have a great year, something he wouldn't have done here. The starting rotation is fine, Wang-Pettitte-Mussina is a better top 3 than a lot of other teams. Considering what we got back for Sheffield, and that he had no place here, I don't think anyone could argue that was a bad move. He never asked A-Rod to waive his no trade clause, and asked Giambi only to gauge interest, but had no serious intent to trade him. I hope they have a better year, but even if they don't, I'm still glad that Cashman has stacked the team with young pitching for the future.
That solid reliever took the loss last night. The pitching prospect they got was third on the list. Arizona wouldn't give up either of the ones we wanted and who cares about an infielder that will never make the team. We got nothing. Wang may be good again or have a sophomore jinx. Pettitte has to prove he still has it, he didn't last night and Mussina is even less clutch in the playoffs then Arod is. What we got for Sheffield looks to be damaged goods. He absolutely asked Arod and Giambi if they would waive their no trade clauses. That has been well publisized 1000 times over. I should say he asked them if they would consider it, not to do it outright. The point being if they said yes they would be gone.
Took the loss last night, had a 1-2-3 inning on Opening Day. It's been two games, what's the point of using this year as your example? Why not the 119 ERA+ year he's already put up in the AL? They got two decent pitching prospects, what more could you ask for when dealing with a 43 (44 before the end of the season) year old pitcher who just had a shit year and has chronic back and knee problems? He wasn't going to be that good in the AL East this year. It's kind of hard for Wang to have a sophomore jinx in his third season. As far as Mussina being "less clutch"... what is it about his 3.40 post-season ERA that you don't like? That it's better than Cone (3.80)? Pettitte (4.08)? Clemens (3.66)? "Damaged goods"? Hah. Nice. Sanchez doesn't have any structural damage, and still has #2 starter stuff (at worst).
I'm sitting on the comp, radio on the stereo...Stirling was complaining about the pitch outside to ARod... "The 1-2 to Alex...Ray deals...THEIR'S A SWING AND A DRIVE! Patterson going back! IT IS HIGH! IT IS FAR! IT IS GOOOONEEEEE! GRAND SLAM!!!" I was so elated...I freakin yelled.
How many times today did they talk about one player has to step up and get this team ignited? Well, looks like that man is Alex Rodriguez. The EPITOME of clutchness. He must have stole Derek's bag of "mystique and aura" (to use 10P's words) and rubbed the whole thing on himself. Keep it up Alex. Tell them all with your bat!
I gotta agree Alio...ARod did it with the bat today, looked very good in the field...He played with an extra hop in his step today.
Dude, I was jumping up and down and screaming. That was just awesome. I can't count how many times I thought I should just turn off the tv, and stop pissing myself off, but something kept telling me to just hang on. I'm SO glad I did.
He did exactly what I said he needed to. Just relaxed, and remembered, rather than tried to convince himself, that he is a great ballplayer. He even said in his interview post-game that he just felt really relaxed coming to the park today. He looked it. That's his key. Just play loose, and everything else falls into place.
