Our First Comment

We here at 26goingon27 truly appreciate anyone who reads our site or takes the time and effort to comment on it. Normally, we won’t respond to every comment, but since this is our first, we are. I’m not reprinting the whole thing, scroll down and link to it if you want to read it. Basically anonymous thinks we’re a bunch of excuse makers, clearly not understanding analysis, and that Brian Cashman is a jerk. I’m not going to bother with the trite stuff, but as for the rest, let the lesson begin.

Anonymous takes us through a position by position breakdown, his or her or its comments are in italics. I’m only commenting where I disagree.

He doesn’t mention King Jorge, I can only assume because even he knows how good Jorge is, so he got one thing right.

1B - doug m., despite your hate for him should just play every day. he is hitting better in may and you dont need a home run hitter at every spot, especially 9th. you take his defence forgranted which is necessary with cano at 2nd. he has already come up with some huge plays
Look, I’m not going to debate this, if you think Doogie is a good player you’re an idiot. The Yanks don’t need homerun hitters at each position, but they need actual real life MLB hitters, something Doug is not. If you doubt me go to www.baseballreference.com, type in Doug, then type in any other Major League First Basemen, if you don’t see a difference go watch the WNBA.

CF - damon is getting older, is breaking down more and more every day and has an arm like a wet noodle. damon was a decent signing because it took away a key component from the sox and he gives them a nice leadoff hitter but still, another cashman fucked up. he is clearly on the decline and playing hurt...cashman could have signed beltran for $20M less than the mets but he passed, a major fuckup passing on a premier gold glove CF who is a true 5 tool player.
I agree and disagree. Yes, the Yankees should have signed Carlos Beltran. Yes it is always a risk when you sign a 30 year old, especially when he relies on his legs. However, given the fact that Gary Matthews Jr. and Juan Pierre just got huge contracts and Damon is clearly better than both of them, this is looking like something of a discount. Also to be fair, Damon had a huge season last year.

RF - abreau wont slump the whole season but he lost his power a while ago and plays right field like the wall is wrapped in barb wire. watching him go back on a fly ball has actually become really hilarious. good job signing an awful RF in MLB's shortest right field park. another brilliant cashman move.
Look Abreu has clearly slumped since he stopped using the grey glove. However, he tore it up last year and will probably bounce back. Also, Cashman gave up a minor league middle reliever and a shortstop who has almost no chance of being a good MLB player for one of the best outfielder in baseball over the past 7 seasons. If you think this is somehow a bad move, you’re probably Steve Phillips.

Giambi- one of the worst yankee signings. its always something with him whether its bone chips, stomach virus, cancer, sars or some ridiculous shit that puts him on the DL. also, he was a disaster at first the past few years and they finally had enough. for such a waste he has a big mouth...good teammate throwing a-rod under the bus last season in the SI article. he has done nothing aside from causing distractions in the clubhouse. do you know the yankees owe him 21M next season?? and 23M the following?!? CASH-MONEY, brilliant signing
The guy has been a stud when healthy, not so when hurt. His teammates love him, he’s the only guy willing to talk to the press, and he is the only person in MLB to come clean about steroids. Is he being paid too much, absolutely, but at the time no one questioned this deal.


kei igawa another terrible move by cashman
Just to be clear the New York Mets and the Seattle Mariners both really wanted Igawa and bid highly for him. In retrospect was this a bad move, yes, but look its not like the Yanks were the only team who thought he’d be good.

farnsworth another terrible move by cashman (should have tried to trade him to philly with melky for brett myers insted of giving clemens that joke of a contract)
Ummm…evidently anonymous knows something we don’t, because as far as I can tell this trade was never on the table.

cashman is also a douchebag because he could have got mike gonzalez straight up for melky from the pirates but passed. like the yanks ever need to hold on to a corner outfielder, the most expendable piece in baseball. melky will never be an every day outfielder anyway since he isnt a $15M player
My favorite of all comments. Look, there are a few absolute’s in baseball, one is don’t trade a young everyday player who shows promise for a middle reliever. I just want to be sure that anonymous is talking about the same Mike Gonzalez who just had his third MRI in a week - that’s the guy Cashman should have traded for? Melky might not be an everyday player, but that would be because of his own limitations, not the size of his contract.