|
Post by asburyboss on May 2, 2005 21:17:47 GMT -5
Karsay is designated for assignment Robinson Cano is called up to play 2b Womack goes to LF Matsui to CF Bernie to bench
The shakeup has begun. If I was Womack I'd be renting...if ya know what I mean. I like Womack and this seems peculiar for him...but I like it.
|
|
|
Post by ShakyGiambino on May 2, 2005 21:20:43 GMT -5
New Blood Is Headed to the Aging Yankees By TYLER KEPNER
Published: May 3, 2005
T. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 2 - The Yankees were not constructed to be remade on the fly. The team is too old, with too many expensive contracts, to be easily torn down and built back. But after a dismal start to the season, General Manager Brian Cashman said he could not stand pat, either.
Advertisement "You have to get creative," Cashman said Monday at Tropicana Field. "Ultimately, you've got to find a way."
The first changes could be coming as early as Tuesday. The Yankees plan to promote infielder Robinson Cano from Class AAA Columbus and use him at second base, with Tony Womack shifting to left field and Hideki Matsui to center. Bernie Williams has mild tendinitis in his right elbow, further weakening his arm in center field.
Cano, 22, has never played in the majors but has made a strong impression at Columbus. He is batting .333 with 4 home runs and a team-leading 24 runs batted in.
The Yankees might not stop with his promotion. They are carrying 12 pitchers and expect to activate reliever Tanyon Sturtze from the disabled list Thursday. Cashman said the Yankees would not have 13 pitchers; in fact, he said, "I want to be at 11."
To get to 11 pitchers, the Yankees would probably have to trade or release Steve Karsay and Felix Rodriguez, right-handers who have no real role in Manager Joe Torre's crowded bullpen. Sturtze, Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera are the late-inning team, and Torre likes having two left-handers, Mike Stanton and Buddy Groom. Paul Quantrill, who made 86 appearances last season but recently went a week without pitching, also appears safe.
"We need to see him a few more times before we really try to get an opinion," Torre said. "His velocity looks like it's what it always is, and he's more comfortable physically than he was last year."
Karsay and Rodriguez seem unhappy with their diminished roles. Both had worked in only one of the last seven games before Monday.
Karsay pitched in seven games last season after missing all of 2003 with major shoulder surgery. He was Torre's primary setup man in 2002, the first year of a four-year, $22.25 million contract, but he has been an afterthought this season. He had pitched six innings through Sunday.
Asked if he wanted to be traded, Karsay said: "It's tough to say. It's a tough thing. When you don't pitch regularly, you want to pitch. But I've missed two years; I understand you're not going to get plugged into where you were before you were hurt. I've never done it in my career where I've been in the position like I am right now."
Sturtze, who has a strained left oblique muscle, threw 40 pitches in a two-inning rehabilitation appearance for Class A Tampa on Monday. Cashman and Torre said they knew which pitcher they planned to move when Sturtze comes back, and Cashman said there were many teams looking for bullpen help.
The Yankees might have to include a large portion of Karsay's or Rodriguez's salary in a deal.
As for the other moves, Womack has experience in the outfield, having played 139 games there in his career. Williams could be used as the designated hitter. Cashman said trainers had not told him that Williams might go on the disabled list.
"I can play with it," said Williams, who made a feeble throw from shallow center Sunday as Toronto's Eric Hinske scored on a sacrifice fly. "It's not an excuse for how I'm playing right now. I wouldn't pin it on an injury. I'm starting to feel a little better physically, except for the elbow. I'm starting to get it under control."
The addition of Cano as a starter would further squeeze playing time from an established player. Jason Giambi has contributed little besides his 14 walks, with a .224 average and just six R.B.I. He has not played first base since April 16, and he missed his second start in a row Monday with a cramp in his right forearm.
"We've got to find a way to get him to produce," Cashman said. "Whatever is deficient on the roster, we've got to find a way or be creative in making the puzzle pieces fit better together."
|
|
|
Post by YanksFan on May 2, 2005 22:04:50 GMT -5
Yeah! More young blood!!!!!! Go get them Cano! Hope you are another keeper!! Wow, so far it's been Philips, Wang and now Cano (am I missing someone?). Its kind of obvious that we need some fresh new blood to wake up these dead Yankees. Hopefully this sends a message to management that in future trades we must not trade for more old players.
I hope Cano is something special because this team looks like is missing one player that can wake the rest...
|
|
|
Post by DavidL on May 2, 2005 22:24:23 GMT -5
I hope Cano is more of a real deal than Phillips. It's pretty obvious that folks have figured out that Andy can't hit a ML breaking ball to save his life. At this point, 1B is a black hole offensively for the Yankees.
Hopefully this shake-up gets things moving.
|
|
|
Post by YanksFan on May 2, 2005 22:55:08 GMT -5
Yankees designate RHP Karsay; recall 2B CanoST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Reliever Steve Karsay, who has appeared in just 13 games in the last three seasons, was designated for assignment Monday by the New York Yankees. Karsay, who appeared in 78 games for the Yankees in 2002, missed almost two seasons while recovering from a torn rotator cuff. The righthander posted a 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 innings after he was activated in September last season. In six outings this season, Karsay has posted a 6.00 ERA in six innings. The 33-year-old Karsay is 31-38 with a 3.89 ERA in 10 seasons. He has 40 saves in 334 career games. To take Karsay's roster spot, New York recalled second baseman Robinson Cano from Class AAA Columbus. The 22-year-old Cano was batting .333 with four home runs and 24 RBI in 24 games with the Clippers. Cano is expected to become the team's regular second baseman, with Tony Womack shifting to left field. Hideki Matsui will move to center field and Bernie Williams will split time at designated hitter with Jason Giambi and Ruben Sierra, who is on the disabled list. Baseball's highest-paid team, the Yankees have been an early disappointment, posting an 11-15 record while already drawing the ire of outspoken owner George Steinbrenner. From Yahoo Sports: sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=yankeeskarsay&prov=st&type=lgns
|
|
|
Post by YanksFan on May 2, 2005 23:21:12 GMT -5
More breaking news: Randy Johnson could wind up on the disabled list because of a stiff groin, putting another young pitcher in the rotation. For starters, Johnson will miss his scheduled start against the Devil Rays on Wednesday night because of stiffness in his left groin, an injury that Cashman said could land the Big Unit on the disabled list. Sean Henn will be called up from Double-A Trenton to fill in. From Yahoo Sports NYY-TB recap: sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=250502130&prov=ap----------------------------------------------------------------- Not good news that Randy Johnson could be going to the DL. The youth movement keeps going: now Sean Henn gets his start on Wednesday. Hope we can get good things out of all this...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2005 23:38:16 GMT -5
Henn has thrown a couple of shutouts in a row for Trenton AA
|
|
|
Post by Skinnyhead on May 3, 2005 6:03:12 GMT -5
My beer league softball team made less moves to shake up our line-up. I don't mind saying goodbye to Karsay. The Yankees protected him the way the Vatican protected the Pope on the way out. (He's really not in a coma.) As I lamented before, I hate to see Bernie go out badly. I think this internal move makes it a little easier to take. I'm hoping Phillips is better than what we've seen over the past week. Go Cano!
|
|
|
Post by rj26bomber on May 3, 2005 8:38:52 GMT -5
Need scoop on R.Cano. I'm all for the shakeup cause we need it. A couple of points: 1. with Bernie on the pine, why dah hell did we not sign Carlos Beltran (I know big-time 2nd guess but WE SHOULD HAVE!) 2. I heard Steve Ex-Metspert Phillips on ESPN radio this AM, and he said Cano isn't much of a prospect or words to that effect. What is the scoop here? Just another anti-Yankee spokesperson or what?
|
|
|
Post by rj26bomber on May 3, 2005 8:41:13 GMT -5
Need scoop on R.Cano. I'm all for the shakeup cause we need it. A couple of points: 1. with Bernie on the pine, why dah hell did we not sign Carlos Beltran (I know big-time 2nd guess but WE SHOULD HAVE!) 2. I heard Steve Ex-Metspert Phillips on ESPN radio this AM, and he said Cano isn't much of a prospect or words to that effect. What is the scoop here? Just another anti-Yankee spokesperson or what? 3. Looks we have an opening for a left fielder. Any ideas???
|
|
|
Post by D23 on May 3, 2005 9:14:58 GMT -5
When D23 couldn't spot Sean Henn last night at Bowie. I was under the assumption that Henn was supposed to pitch last night. Perhaps I thought he has been called up (deservingly so) to Columbus. But to my dismay this morning, he is heading to Tampa! BTW, Trenton's offense didn't do much, getting only 3 hits but 1 nice HR by BRONSON SARDINHA. Hopefully, I head back out for a full game Thursday morning....
Though it was a little early than predicted, Cano is going to at least going to get some experience regardless if he struggles or not. You have to understand Cano, stubborn he is or cockiness he has, he's ready to take action. They guy doesn't seem to be fazed what goes around him. Regarding some comments on Cano, note that he's just 22 years old and is still green in some areas. Don't expect him to have immediate impact. First thing, we need from him is get good defense. It will take matter of time for him to adjust to ML hitting, much like Andy Phillips...
I have always wondered why Sanchez wasn't used in several games against lefties over Womack since he was at least putting the ball in play.
|
|
|
Post by drago on May 3, 2005 9:15:13 GMT -5
Why didn't we sign Beltran? I think everybody's still trying to figure that one out...that move would have shored up our OF for years to come, post-Shef. Who the hell knows, but we live with our decisions...the Giambi signing is starting to look like the worst in the Steinbrenner era.
As for youth, I'm all for it. We can't possibly do worse than we've done with this lineup. When your horses can't win, bring in young guys who are hungry and give 'em a shot!
|
|
|
Post by DavidL on May 3, 2005 9:21:32 GMT -5
I think the reason for not signing Beltran was simple, but unfamiliar to Yankee fans - they couldn't afford him. Apparently, signing him, even for the relative bargain rate he would have taken from the Yankees, would have put them into serious trouble with the debt-service rules, which Bud is now enforcing strictly. Even the Yankee revenue stream is not limitless. Torii Hunter may be doable after this year, when so many salaries come off the books (Bernie and Brown most notably), but they also have to plan on resigning Matsui at a significant raise.
|
|
|
Post by rj26bomber on May 3, 2005 9:30:14 GMT -5
I hear you on Carlos D23, but we always found away to do in the past. Guess the Giambi deal (and he being a non-factor) really screwed us, but Carlos would have provided youth and longevity a real centerfielder etc. etc. Oh well there I go again.
|
|
|
Post by YanksFan on May 3, 2005 9:51:44 GMT -5
Same feelings here, RJ. I thought that if there was someone you should have overpaid to get was Beltran. And to think that he was coming at a discount price. I know the Yankees have limits, but he was a guy you couldn't miss. If we could've voided Giambi's contract in the offseason. Grr! Definitely, his signing looks so terrible now, and how many years does he has left?
|
|
|
Post by D23 on May 3, 2005 9:52:04 GMT -5
Well I didn't respond anything to Beltran, DavidL did. But DavidL made a very good point that I too agree. Also keep in mind, it was quite obvious where the Yankees' top priority needs were during this past off season, pitching, pitching and pitching...We lost Lieber and couldn't rely on Brownie and Moose to be our #1 and #2. I don't think we could rely on Vasquez. Thus, we had too many question marks there and got 3 pitchers. Sure it hasn't worked out all that well for us thus far but those were immediate needs. Plus there are some OFs available next season like DavidL said assuming that Matsui permanently moves to CF. I do understand that Beltran would have made a good move for us in the future but pitching is a priority right now...
|
|
|
Post by YanksFan on May 3, 2005 9:56:02 GMT -5
Lieber has been amazing this season so far. I hope Wright can come back healthy this season. As you said, pitching was our biggest need, and so far the deals haven't worked out like we thought. A work in progress...
|
|
|
Post by drago on May 3, 2005 10:51:33 GMT -5
Not signing Lieber in itself was a gamble, basically because we replaced him with a guy whose shoulder can come off at any time, yet proved last year can still pitch. In my mind, Jaret Wright might as well be as old as Lieber (since that was the justicification our brass used for signing him instead of Jon) as far as wear and tear go on the joint. But this isn't to lament not signing Jon. I was very impressed by Wang and am anxiously awaiting Henn's debut.
|
|
|
Post by BernzAMatic on May 3, 2005 16:44:02 GMT -5
WOW!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D Sean Henn is getting an ML start? Holy Cow, I mean he looked good in his start in Trenton this season, and I enjoyed watching him. But I guess when RJ comes back then he goes to Columbus and hence I'll not see him with my "baby yankees" (as my girls call them ) any longer. Guess I'll be rooting on new kids...my new favorite Trentonite will have to be Bronson Sardinha, but alas I don't expect him to last the season in Trenton either...my prediction is Columbus by the All Star break. Bernz-A-Matic
|
|
|
Post by DavidL on May 3, 2005 17:48:53 GMT -5
Hey Bernz, you're doing your part in helping root our kids on to bigger and better things. Hopefully, they make it to the Bronx.
|
|