Relying on a career backup with a questionable physical build to carry the load as a starter for the next 2 months minimum was pretty dangerous, especially when his backup is Chad Moeller. That's why the move was necessary, also since they could deal from a position of strength with a guy who obviously even Girardi didn't fully trust (Fenway Friday night).
I don't know, man. There are plenty of games where gaining 200 OPS points over Molina's bat would have helped, regardless of where it falls in the lineup. Worth a win or two already? Probably. It's necessary when you think about Molina already almost being at his career high for games played and there are two full months to play.
I understand all the points being made, and I don't knock the trade. I just like Farnsworth and Molina, and they both got snubbed in this deal. In the end, as long as it improves the New York Yankees I'll be happy. I like individual players, but I like my team winning a lot more.
I think the trade helps both teams, obviously we needed a C but Farnsworth has been really good for us most of the year. I know we have depth in the pen but hopefully this doesn't bite us.
We don't have depth at setup. We don't even have a setup guy now and anybody who thinks Marte is one is absolutely crazy. He's a one out specialist and nothing more as we saw the other night. He may be stretched to an inning once in awhile but he is no setup man.
Ramirez has been pitching great. He did last year too until he fell apart. Veras has been good too. It's a total stretch to have any opinion on Marte and if you did it could only be bad after his second appearance. Setup is important because it comes with an attitude almost as much as being the closer does. The Yankees started winning last year after Chamberlain came up because he filled that hole. When they moved him to the rotation this year Farnsworth has done a pretty good job. As a closer for Atlanta he had the disposition to be a setup guy. Only time will tell if any of these guys we have now can do it. Of course if we ever start scoring a lot of runs on a regular basis that job becomes much less important. It's the 1 and 2 run leads I am worried about.
So why is Kennedy still in Scranton? Is he on his way out? Do they believe he is worse than Rasner or Ponson or do they think when they bring him up this time it's his last chance in NY?
In the closer role, expect to see Veras now. Marte isn't in the plans as a setup guy as far as I'm aware. He's a lefty specialist for us, which frees up Edwar for other duties. Once we get another starter into the rotation, I expect to see Rasner go into the pen as a middle-innings/7th inning guy. As for Kennedy, I believe I read somewhere that he is being given extra time in the minors. Perhaps it's for him to mature before he comes back again. While it may not be the Yankees' plan that his next trip to the majors is his last, media/fan pressure might dictate that. Let's be honest, Kennedy has received a pretty raw deal from the media and fans so far. He hasn't pitched great this year, but he's still young, and still has a long future ahead of himself. He shot through the system, along with Hughes and Chamberlain, last year. Obviously, there's only one Joba for every dozen Kennedy/Hughes. But New Yorkers have zero patience, and even less tolerance for perceived failure. Coupled with the fact that Kennedy could have been packaged for Santana, he gets an even smaller break than most.
Please tell me you didn't just use gold gloves as an indicator of defensive talent. Gold Gloves are based on nothing, jeter has several and he has always had the range of a subway turnstile. Looking at Pudge's metrics he's an above average fielder, but most of that comes from his ability to throw out runners, in regards to actual fielding (balls in the dirt, passed balls etc he is below average)
My dreams have come true. Farnsworth and Hawkins both off the team!!! :beer: I'm amazed that Cash got more than a box of curve balls for Farnsworth. Farnsworth suffered from Tom Gordon disease in that you never knew what you would get from him on a day to day basis. Whenever he would come into a game, how many of you would say "The door is now shut!"? Hawkins was even worse. This is addition by subtraction and the fact that we got an upgrade at catcher is a bonus.
Out of curiosity, do you know anything about Marte and what his role was on the Pirates? Or why the Yankees wanted to obtain him? It's because he's NOT just a LOOGY. He's nasty against righties as well (they have a lower BAA than lefties). He was the Pirates' closer. 47 appearances. 46.2 innings. That doesn't seem like they stretch him out to an inning "once in a while." And why does everyone have such short memories? In May, it was "OMG WE CAN'T MOVE JOBA FROM THE SETUP ROLE!! WHO WILL PITCH THE EIGHTH INNING?!?!" That sorted itself out just fine. This will, too, since we got rid of arguably the least consistent/talented pitcher in that pen (of the regulars). I know, I know, I know. I wasn't trying to say that he's awesome because he won the gold gloves. But he won THIRTEEN of them. And - like you said, and I acknowledged - it's mostly for the same skill that everyone loves about Molina: he throws out runners. Pudge is a downgrade defensively, but not MUCH of one. Not like the difference between Molina and Posada (injured). It's similar enough that the offensive upgrade makes Pudge a better choice. Or, at the very least, a smart and viable option to give a career backup catcher a breather.
I'd respond to Don, but anyone who actually thinks Marte is just a LOOGY obviously has no clue what's going on.
Supposedly the Yank are un-retiring it just for the remainder of the season b/c Pudge is a lock future HOFer. JUST KIDDING. I have no idea what # he'll wear. They still don't have it on the official site but I'd guess 11?
