New York Yankees DH Nick Johnson To Have Surgery: Ill-Concieved Move Leaves Void

May 17, 2010
By Anthony Tripicchio

Players often fail to live up to their reputations when thrust into the bright New York spotlight.

In this case, the Yankees got exactly what they paid for when they signed designated hitter Nick Johnson.

Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports senior baseball writer, is reporting that the fragile Johnson will undergo right-wrist surgery on Tuesday and won't return to action until July.

The news should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Johnson throughout his injury-riddled career.

Only once in Johnson's 10-year career has he ever accumulated 500 at-bats in a single season. He's played in 100 games just three times and hasn't done so since 2006.

As I documented in the offseason, the acquisition of Johnson was a poor decision that was destined to go awry. Castoffs Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui signed for slightly more than Johnson and both obtained one-year pacts.

It's mystifying why Yankees' GM Brian Cashman was so eager to ink Johnson while slamming the door on two more proven, dependable performers. Cashman clearly wanted to avoid the histrionics of Scott Boras, Damon's super-agent, but re-signing Matsui would have been far from a massive undertaking.

Although Johnson is about four years younger than Matsui, his health history should have been enough to nullify the age difference. Matsui was an iron man in Japan and carried that distinction through his first three seasons with the Yankees by playing every game.

Matsui, despite being slowed by knee problems in recent years, played 142 games last season and aided the Yankees to the championship while securing the World Series MVP award.

With Matsui and Damon elsewhere and Johnson occupying his familiar spot on the disabled list, the Yankees find themselves employing a revolving door at DH.

Marcus Thames is hitting a robust .414 against lefties, but is reduced to an ordinary .263 against right-handers. He's ideally suited for a platoon role.

Francisco Cervelli continues to impress each time he's inserted into the lineup to catch, but there are several drawbacks that prevent prevent the Yankees from utilizing him as an everyday player.

Even though Cervelli is a defensive upgrade from regular Jorge Posada, Posada loves to catch and is reluctant to relinquish his full-time duties behind the dish. Since Posada is a member of the prestigious Core Four and an obvious leader in the clubhouse, it would be wise to keep the prideful veteran content.

Further, if Cervelli becomes the starting catcher and Posada is the DH, then the Yankees will need to carry a third catcher. In the event Cervelli was hurt during a game and the Yankees have to move from Posada from DH to catcher, they would lose the DH for the remainder of the game and the pitcher's spot would be inserted into the lineup with the roster as it's presently constituted.

Of course, the ideal scenario to fill the DH void would have been promoting blue-chip prospect Jesus Montero from Triple-A, but he is not hitting at the astounding clip he did last year. The 20-year-old phenom needs more time to hone his craft in the minors.

As it stands right now, the Yankees will play Thames against lefties and Cervelli will catch more often than the typical backup would with Posada garnering appearances at DH to keep him fresh. Juan Miranda, if he hits, will have opportunities as well.

Joe Girardi may also opt to use the DH as a rotating resting place for regular position players such as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, and Mark Teixeira. Some will need the half-days off more than others.

Johnson, meanwhile, is cemented as an ill-advised addition.

No Returns: Yankees Stuck With Vazquez and Johnson

May 2, 2010

By Anthony Tripicchio

If Yankees' GM Brian Cashman purchased Nick Johnson and Javier Vazquez at a department store, he would be frantically searching for his receipt right now. Sorry, no returns.

As the calendar turned to May, Vazquez continued to display the same ineptitude he showed in April as the right-hander was destroyed by a weak-hitting White Sox team Saturday afternoon. Vazquez allowed 11 baserunners in three plus innings and five earned runs, including three homeruns. His ERA on the season now stands higher than the Empire State Building at 9.78.

Clearly, Vazquez's second tour of duty in New York is beginning to look like another wretched ordeal. He's not locating his fastball, he's hanging off-speed pitches, and his head is a mess.

There are five months left in the season, but the litany of failures Vazquez has previously suffered in the AL along with his visibly fragile temperament all suggest that this experiment is the same lost cause it was the first time around.

I'll reiterate that my stance on Vazquez is not merely based on his disgraceful tenure in pinstripes. I cited a myriad of factors here over two months ago, including his AL nightmares and his incompatibility with the dimensions of Yankee Stadium. While many supported the move to reacquire him at the time, that bandwagon is looking awfully light right now as exemplified by the boos that cascaded down on him upon his premature exit Saturday in the new cathedral.

According to Michael Kay, Vazquez did a disappearing act for the media prior to Saturday's game and that is as inexcusable as his performance thus far. If your play is terrible, you need to be accountable and if that is too much to ask in May, then I don't see how you can make it through September. New York is an impossible place to play for those with skin thinner than Kate Moss.

Vazquez's next turn in the rotation is slated for Friday in Fenway Park and there has already been discussion over whether he will make that start since the Yankees can skip him due to their off day on Thursday. Although the Red Sox lineup is not as intimidating as it once was, putting Vazquez in that chaotic environment would be like throwing him to the wolves.

On the last year of his contract, Vazquez will see his future play out elsewhere. The only question is how soon that will occur. Since Vazquez has a history of success in the NL, he may actually be movable despite his miserable start to 2010 if the Yankees are willing to eat a portion of his $11.5 million salary.

Brad Penny, John Smoltz, and Vicente Padilla all resurrected their careers to some extent last year after their respective defections to the NL (Penny continues to thrive in St. Louis this year, Padilla was the Dodgers' opening day starter before subsequently landing on the disabled list, while Smoltz is in quasi retirement). The three noted above were unceremoniously released by their AL clubs, but Vazquez should be better than all of them at this stage of his career and proved as much last season in Atlanta.

Look for NL contenders to inquire about Vazquez prior to the trade deadline. Ironically, if the Mets are still in the mix in July, Vazquez would be a good fit for them in their gargantuan ballpark.

Johnson, meanwhile, was 0-1 in a pinch hitting appearance which dropped his batting average to an embarrassing .136. Johnson is buoyed by his .378 OBP, but that and his expiring contract are the only redeeming qualities about him at this point.

His predecessors Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui continue to excel in their new locales. Damon, who is on fire, hit a walk-off homer Saturday in Detroit and raised his average to .344 accompanied by a .439 OBP and .511 slugging percentage. Incidentally, he's also been lauded for contributing to the rapid development of former Yankee farmhand and the early favorite for AL Rookie of the Year Austin Jackson.

Curtis Granderson, the big name who Detroit traded for Jackson among others, strained his groin running the bases Saturday and was immediately placed on the disabled list. Struggling while Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke contribute in Detroit and Arizona, Granderson has yet to find himself as a Yankee.

Lefties still give Granderson fits as he bats .172 against them in 2010 and just .215 with a .303 OBP overall.

In spite of his slow start, he's a Yankee for the long haul and will be given every opportunity to succeed once he's healthy because, unlike Vazquez and Johnson, the Yankees have simply sacrificed too much for Granderson to allow him to flop.

Yankees' Robinson Cano Soars to Stardom

April 30, 2010
By Anthony Tripicchio

Robinson Cano finally gets it and now he is assaulting opposing pitchers.

The immensely talented second baseman has been beset by immaturity and lackadaisical play at times in the past but if his torrid start is any indication, those days are over.

Hitting a scalding .407 with eight homers and 17 RBI, Cano leads the AL batting race by a mile, ranks second in the league in homeruns, and is tied for fifth in RBI. Although he receives acclaim for his potent bat, often overlooked is his defensive acumen.

Thursday night in Baltimore, Cano made a spectacular play to rob Nolan Reimold in the third inning of a clear base hit up the middle by ranging far to his right to secure the sharp grounder and with his momentum carrying him further away from first base, threw out the struggling outfielder on a fly. The arm strength he displayed on that play, and continues to exhibit on a routine basis, is unrivaled at his position.

You would be hard pressed to find another second baseman in baseball capable of making the same play, especially without at least bouncing the throw. Sadly, the play will be overshadowed by Cano's exceptional night with the bat (3-4 with two homers, a double and three runs), but it was the highlight of the night.

As a vocal critic of Cano in the past, I assure you that this is not a puff piece. Cano has had limitations in years gone by, which I have been quick to indicate, that have hindered him from reaching his potential.

He's always been a free-swinger and that's never going to be completely reigned in. However, Cano is becoming more disciplined at the plate as evidenced by the fact that he's on pace to break his career-high walk total. He's drawn six free passes in 81 at bats which puts him on pace to draw close to 50 walks over the full season. His previous best is 39 in 2007.

With regard to his maturity level, Cano was frequently seen clowning around with his inseparable pal Melky Cabrera in recent years. Since Cabrera was shipped out of town, Cano is more about business. Meanwhile, Cabrera isn't exactly raking in Atlanta as the Braves have discovered the hard way that he is merely a fourth outfielder.

New responsibility delegated to Cano has expedited his growth. He is now the unquestioned fifth hitter in the batting order.

The Yankees have attempted to slot Cano into the fifth spot in the lineup before, though he's never been able to justify sticking there because of his poor situational hitting. Jorge Posada is worthy of protecting Alex Rodriguez but even with Posada's excellent April, Cano is entrenched in the five hole.

In 2009, Cano hit a feeble .207 with runners in scoring position. Thus far, albeit a small sample size of 20 at bats, Cano is showing marked improvement batting an even .300.

Cano cites the work he does with hitting coach Kevin Long in the cages about as much as he says hello. His performance corroborates the time he has committed and it may be a stretch to say he has been as diligent and dedicated previously.

Larry Bowa, Yankees' third base coach for two seasons under Joe Torre, was vital to Cano's development because he constantly demanded nothing short of the Dominican's best. Bowa's boisterous and fiery personality kept Cano in line so it is no coincidence that the second baseman had by far his worst year in the majors in 2008 (.274, 14 homers, 72 RBI, .305 OPB) the year his mentor defected to Los Angeles with Torre.

Bowa's absence left a void in Cano's professional life. Cano lacked guidance, wasn't necessarily interested in becoming a dominant player, and didn't put forth the effort required to excel.

At 27, Cano is growing up and his newfound work ethic is a testament to that.

Rededicated and entering his prime, there's reason to believe Cano has arrived as not only an elite player at his position, but as a bonafide MLB star.

Cash Conscious Yankees Will Pay the Price for Losing Matsui and Damon

Feb. 22, 2010

By Anthony Tripicchio

For the first time in decades, financial constraints may have hampered the Yankees.

Whatever the cause, the Yankees enter 2010 as an inferior team compared to the unit that won the 2009 World Series.

The everyday lineup suffered the most damage. Allowing both Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon to leave the Bronx created a void that GM Brian Cashman didn't adequately fill.

Curtis Granderson, the most notable offseason addition, comes packaged with an epic flaw. His well documented inability to hit left-handed pitching is an issue that did not plague the departed duo of Matsui and Damon. In fact, Matsui excelled in that department, batting .282 versus lefties (eleven points higher than he did against righties) with 13 homers, 46 RBI, and an astounding .976 OPS in 2009.

Damon, meanwhile, hit a respectable .268 against southpaws which is markedly better than his replacements, Granderson and Randy Winn.

The switch hitting Winn, who will be 36 in June, hit a pitiful .158 from the right side last season. Although his career numbers are much better than that, it's easier to expect deteriorating numbers as he reaches the twilight of his career.

More perplexing is the acquisition of former Yankee and new DH Nick Johnson.

While evaluating Johnson, it's a question of when, not if, he'll spend an extended stint on the DL. Johnson has only played 100 games or more in three major league season and has failed to do so every year since 2006.

Anyone anticipating a power surge from him due to the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium could be headed for disappointment. Johnson has only hit 20 or more homers once in his career. Further, he's always spread the ball to all fields and isn't known as a pull hitter.

Since Johnson signed for $5.5 million, just one million less than Matsui's $6.5 million deal with the Angels, the decision to let Matsui walk for a one million dollar discount on Johnson is far from a sound baseball move. More preposterous is the notion that Johnson will be invaluable as a first baseman to spell Mark Teixeira.

Scouts have observed Johnson's once above average defense taper off in recent years. More significantly, Teixeira is in the prime of his career at age 30 and rarely needs a day off. In the unsual circumstance that Teixeira would be on the bench, Nick Swisher has proven to be a decent option at first base anyway.

The brittle Johnson will have the opportunity to play with the pitcher he was traded for in 2004, Javier Vazquez. Yet another spotty addition by Cashman, Vazquez finds himself returning to a league where he's been little more than an average starter.

Vazquez's track record aptly demonstrates that he's strictly a NL pitcher. Three of the four years Vazquez has spent in the AL, he's amassed an ERA of 4.67 or higher and surrendered at least 25 homeruns. That includes his one unforgettable year with the Yankees when he went 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA and capped it by yielding Damon's earth shattering grand slam in Game 7 of 2004 ALCS against Boston.

Although his numbers in Atlanta last year represented an ace-like performance, Vazquez is a misfit in Yankee Stadium. Left-handed power hitters will have field days off of him at home and he'll be nothing more than an exorbitantly priced, backend starter.

Granted, on the surface, the Yanks didn't give up much to acquire him. Melky Cabrera is a useful fourth outfielder whose production Brett Gardner and Randy Winn can replicate. The wildcards in the deal, however, are pitchers Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino.

Vizcaino was ranked as the third best prospect in the Yankees system prior to the trade and impressed in Staten Island in 2009. If the 19-year-old continues to develop over the next few years, this is a trade that could really burn the Yankees down the road.

The more attractive alternative to Vazquez was to roll the dice with one of the several low risk, high reward starters that were on the market. Despite Ben Sheets startling signing for $10 million after missing the enter 2009 campaign, his base contract is still two million less than what the Yankees have committed for Vazquez and wouldn't have cost them an intriguing young arm like Vizcaino.

In the end, Cashman just needed to resign either Matsui or Damon, not both. He should have been able to play one against the other in negotiations as a result, but instead let his personal vendetta against Scott Boras, an Arliss Michaels wannabe, intercede.

Both Matsui and Damon have become defensive liabilities, but their bats will not be easy to replace.

Walsh Opens Vault for Knicks' Christmas in July

Feb. 20, 2010
By Anthony Tripicchio

Picture this.

Toys "R" Us is prepared to unveil aisle No. 2010 labeled "Superstar NBA Free Agents," and standing on the mammoth shelves are LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson. Amidst the palpable hype for the new product line, there's predictably an obscene demand from the public. The new aisle, however, doesn't debut until July 1.

Well, Donnie Walsh just pitched the Knicks' tent at the front entrance.

Walsh's feverish maneuvering at the trade deadline affords him an edge over nearly every other consumer. He can obtain two stars from the desirable list (only Miami can do the same), while most of his competition will be limited to one or none at all.

The only commitments resting against the Knicks' 2010-2011 cap are Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, and Eddy Curry.

Although Walsh paid a steep price to put the Knicks in this position, you have to admire that 22 months into his tenure as president, he's followed his blueprint perfectly. Regardless of the losses that mounted in the process, Walsh was determined to steer the Knicks well below the projected 2010 salary cap of $53 million.

Yes, he's made some personnel missteps along the way, but none have adversely affected his big picture. Even Brandon Jennings, who some were lauding as a franchise player in the season's first few months, has cooled off considerably since then, shooting an unenviable 37 percent from the field. While he may have been a better pick than Jordan Hill was, Jennings no longer appears to be a devastating oversight by Walsh.

As he awaits July in the tent with James Dolan's checkbook in hand, Walsh has a few items to entertain him over the season's remaining 29 games.

Tracy McGrady, a seven time All-Star, will showcase what many anticipate to be eroding skills on the Madison Square Garden floor. McGrady hasn't played significant minutes in over a year and a half, but he's been an elite player in the past and he's still only 30 years-old.

Jeff Van Gundy calls him "one of the best pasing wing players to have ever played the game."

He's a great pick-and-roll player, and he's going to get guys really good shots," Van Gundy said.

As we've seen exemplified repeatedly by Chris Duhon and David Lee, the pick and roll is Mike D'Antoni's bread and buter.

Understandably, McGrady's explosion and elevation may be hindered by microfracture surgery that few have ever regained their orginal form from. At 6'8 though, McGrady still is capable of getting his own shot off and can utilize his unique handle and passing ability to make teammates better.

Expectations should be tempered for him initially as he shakes off rust, but we will know if he can still play by the end of the year. If he can, McGrady would certainly be an asset to pair with James or Wade.

Another attraction for Walsh as the Knicks play out the string is the untapped potential of Sergio Rodriguez. Though he was just an afterthought of the blockbuster deal, Rodriguez is a point guard D'Antoni has targeted for years and even had a hand in drafting for Phoenix before they shipped him off to Portland for cash.

Rodriguez has good size for his position at 6'3 and is known as an excellent transition point. Rodriguez, however, has been buried on depth charts in all of his NBA stops thus far and no one has seen enough to ascertain whether or not he's a difference maker. D'Antoni will ensure that question gets answered.

Meanwhile, Walsh is camped out and ready to go shopping.

Weighing the Granderson Deal From All Angles

Dec. 10, 2009
By Anthony Tripicchio

Believe it or not, Curtis Granderson isn’t the only player involved in the three-way pact capable of making an instantaneous impact.

You’ve already seen my assessment of the move from the Yankees' perspective so below is a more thorough analysis of the packages received by both Detroit and Arizona:

Detroit Tigers: SP Max Scherzer, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Dan Schlereth and LHP Phil Coke

The Tigers, in an obvious payroll slashing mode, prioritized moving both Granderson and Edwin Jackson this offseason. Little did they know they would land a stud starter who is not only capable of outperforming Jackson right away, but one who is younger and inexpensive. They have to be ecstatic that they were able to pry Scherzer away from the Diamondbacks.

Scherzer, a 24-year-old fireballer, averaged more than a strikeout per inning in 30 starts in 2009. A victim of the Diamondbacks’ anemic lineup, he won just nine games despite posting a respectable 4.12 ERA. The 6-3 Scherzer throws a violent fastball in the mid 90s with a nasty slider and changeup (changeup grip pictured) to round out his arsenal.

Scherzer’s mechanics are flawed, which lead some to question his long-term durability. Assuming the Tigers are smart with him, their outstanding trio of frontline starters (Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, and Scherzer) can remain intact for many years to come.

While Scherzer is poised for a breakout season, the Tigers may need to exercise patience with center fielder Austin Jackson. The 22 year-old batted .298 with four homers and 64 RBIs this past season at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

Though he may be ready defensively, Jackson’s three to one strikeout to walk ratio suggests otherwise at the plate. Further, his lowly .404 SLG suggests it’s unrealistic to expect power at the next level right now.

If Detroit deems him ready to start the season in the majors, they will bank on him playing plus defense and hope that he can utilize his speed to generate some extra base hits at the plate.

Pitchers Dan Schlereth and Phil Coke provide the Tigers with two different types of lefties. Schlereth has a live arm and if he can harness his control, could eventually be used in the back of the bullpen.

Coke, on the other hand, has the ability to start or setup depending on Detroit’s needs. He setup for the Yankees all season and was the primary lefty up until the postseason emergence of Damaso Marte.

Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Edwin Jackson, and SP Ian Kennedy

Once a prized prospect, Edwin Jackson was an abject failure as a big league pitcher until he made strides with 14 wins in 2008 for Tampa Bay. Then the Rays stunned everyone by sending Jackson to Detroit for the unheralded Matt Joyce.

Joyce could only muster 32 unproductive at bats in Tampa Bay while he languished in the minors for most of the season. Meanwhile, Detroit reaped the benefits of Jackson’s immense progress, especially in the first half when he went 7-4 with a 2.52 ERA.

Overall, he shaved eight tenths of a run off of his ERA in 2009 to 3.62 and trimmed his WHIP to a serviceable 1.26 in the AL.

Though he slowed down considerably after the All-Star break, Jackson finally displayed the promise of a big-time starter. His second half struggles can be attributed to him surpassing the 200 innings mark for the first time in his career. Crucial to his overall success was his ability to limit his walks to 70 in 214 innings, his lowest total as a starter.

Still, it’s hard to believe Arizona would be so quick to rid themselves of Scherzer unless they believed Ian Kennedy was a legitimate pitcher for the long haul.

Kennedy, who will turn 25 in 10 days, was once mentioned in the same breath with Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. Injuries have beset the former 2006 first round pick and he was most recently sidetracked by an aneurysm.

Fortunately, Kennedy has fully recovered and pitched in Winter Ball to confirm as much. Kennedy’s stuff is not overpowering as his fastball tops out in the low 90s and he is reliant on his command to be effective.

Yankee officials have whispered that they believe Kennedy can win 12 games in the offensively challenged NL West. Afforded an opportunity to showcase his underappreciated ability, Kennedy is the linchpin of the three-way deal.

His upside is as high as a No. 2 starter. If he fails, Diamondbacks’ GM Josh Byrnes will join a crowded unemployment line.

Granderson Trade Depletes Farm, Handcuffs Halladay Talks

Dec. 9, 2009
By Anthony Tripicchio

Curtis Granderson, an All-Star center fielder acquired at the Indianapolis Winter Meetings, improves the Yankees’ 25-man roster immediately. Making him a top priority this offseason, however, was a mistake.

Two-time 20 game winner Roy Halladay is capable of swinging the balance of power in the AL by himself. Granderson, though a valuable player, is not.

A rotation of CC Sabathia, Halladay, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes would make the Yankees an indestructible force. With Halladay still available, the door is open for the Red Sox and Angels to close the gap on the champs.

While Granderson is a nice addition, he came at a price of two upper echelon prospects in Triple-A, starting pitcher Ian Kennedy and outfielder Austin Jackson. Those blue chippers could have been used in a package to land ace and division foe Halladay.

Now, if the Yankees wish to pursue Halladay, it will almost assuredly cost catcher Jesus Montero, the undisputed best prospect in their system, as a starting point. The aftermath of sacrificing Montero would leave the Yankees nearly barren of Double-A and Triple-A talent and limit trade maneuverability for several years.

Not to mention that the 20-year-old Montero hit .337 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs in an injury shortened 347 at bats last season in the minors. Montero will start the season in Triple-A and if he continues to hit at that rigorous pace, will be ready for the Big Show by the All-Star Break. He’s a rare find that GM Brian Cashman would be foolish to part with.

To be fair, Montero’s defensive abilities have been questioned by scouts and many envision him as a first baseman down the road. Mark Teixeira presents a road block there so the Yankees will continue to monitor his defensive development at catcher where he could be an offensive standout at the position.

With the future discussed, let’s move on to Granderson, the man that Cashman has made part of the present.

Granderson hit .249 with 30 homers and 71 RBIs last year for the Tigers. His .327 OBP was the lowest of his career as a full-time player. More troubling, perhaps, is his .183 average against left-handed pitching.
His paralysis against lefties is more a trend than an aberration as he’s hit just .202 against southpaws over the past three seasons. The Yankees routinely pounded lefties in 2009.

In Granderson’s defense, Comerica Park is a spacious pitcher’s park which likely transformed some of his homers into doubles and triples. The fabled right field short porch in Yankee Stadium should treat him more altruistically. Johnny Damon found the new stadium charitable last season as he hit a career high 24 homers, a fact that undoubtedly entered into Cashman’s mind as he pulled the trigger on the deal.

The Yankees would love to see Granderson duplicate his earth shattering 2007 season when he hit .302 with 23 homers and 74 RBI and tallied an astounding 84 extra-base hits. As a complementary player in New York surrounded by stars, he won’t need to produce robust numbers, but he’s proven that he has the potential to do so.

With Granderson secured at a reasonable salary for $25.75 million over three seasons, the Yankees have flexibility while they decide whether to retain Damon and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. As it stands, the Yankees have leverage and can play Matsui against Damon in negotiations. They no longer need someone to play left field since they will shift Nick Swisher or Melky Cabrera there.

The designated hitter spot is the void in the lineup. Matsui, as a result, is more of a fit than originally perceived.