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Yankees and Sox interested in Mike Gonzalez


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YANKS, BOSOX GUN FOR BUC

By GEORGE KING

LOOKING FOR RELIEF: The Yankees hope to acquire the Pirates' Mike Gonzalez to fill the role of lefty set-up man, but the Red Sox are also in pursuit of the pitcher.December 12, 2006 -- Is there anything the Red Sox and Yankees won't fight over? Now it's Pirates lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez.

While the Red Sox are engaged in the high stakes Daisuke Matsuzaka negotiations that have to be completed by midnight Thursday, they are trying to upgrade a bullpen that needs a closer since Jonathan Papelbon is being viewed as a starter.

The Yankees, who have tried countless ways to get a dependable arm in front of Mariano Rivera since Jeff Nelson's and Mike Stanton's first tour of The Bronx, believe Gonzalez could be the guy.

The Pirates are looking for an inexpensive big bat in return for Gonzalez, who was 24-for-24 in save chances last year until tendinitis ended his season Aug. 24. He is believed to be completely healthy.

Ideally, the Pirates would like Atlanta first baseman Adam La Roche, but the Braves have Bob Wickman to close and would likely spin Gonzalez. Enter the Yankees and Red Sox.

The Braves, who have Scott Thorman to replace La Roche, were very interested in Scott Proctor at last summer's trade deadline and haven't changed their opinion. However, since they would be giving up a 32-homer, 90 RBI bat it's likely they would want more than Proctor. Like everyone, they are high on Melky Cabrera but would the Yankees trade Proctor and Cabrera for a 28-year-old reliever who has never pitched a meaningful game after May and has spent his entire four-year career in the NL?

The Red Sox, who acquired Gonzalez from the Pirates on July 22, 2003 and dealt him back nine days later, have dangled outfielder Coco Crisp, but it is probably going to take more than that.

As for Gonzalez, an NL talent evaluator said, "He is probably what Mike Stanton and Alan Embree used to be. He is a power guy, throws 91 to 92 mph. He is a top-shelf guy."

In 54 innings this past year Gonzalez gave up 42 hits, fanned 64 and walked 31. Lefties hit .163 (7-for-43) against him, while righties batted .227 (35-for-154). He is arbitration eligible after making $347,000 last year and the Pirates believe their closer can come from a cast of young arms.

*

The Yankees aren't announcing it but Cuban defector Juan Miranda told ESPNdeportes.com he signed a four-year deal worth $2 million with the Yankees. Miranda, a left-handed hitting first baseman, will be on the 40-man roster. Providing his visa problems that have resulted in him not playing since defecting in 2004 are cleared, Miranda will be in the mix at first base with Andy Phillips and Josh Phelps. He has minor league options. Yankees have also talked to free agents Shea Hillenbrand and Doug Mientkiewicz.

"In Cuba I grew up dreaming of playing in the big leagues but I never thought it would be possible, much less the Yankees," the 23-year-old said.

Miranda was a member of the Cuban national team from 2001 until defecting in 2004 to the Dominican Republic where he gained citizenship last year. According to the report Miranda passed a Yankee physical last week.

Andy Pettitte is expected to take a physical Monday or Tuesday of next week. If he passes the Yankees will announce his signing.

Yankees officially announced Don Mattingly will be Joe Torre's bench coach and Kevin Long will replace Mattingly as the hitting coach. Long was the Triple-A hitting coach last season at Columbus.

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During the season I suggested Proctor and Phillips (with Villone if PItt would take him) but as much as I'd like the guy in pinstripes, I think Melky and Proctor is too much. JMO.

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I said it before i'll say it again. The yankees don't need Mike Gonzalez. I'm perfectly happy with the pen the way it is now.

Well if the report is accurate, then Brian Cashman is not happy with it and he sees Gonzalez as an upgrade. I agree with Cashman on this one.

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I saw the future, it will be a three team 7 player deal.

Yankees give up Proctor, Cabrera

Braves give up LaRoche and Davies

Pirates give up Gonzalez, Castillo, and Cota

Yankees get Gonzalez, Davies, Cota

Braves get Castillo, Cabrera, and Proctor

Pirates get LaRoche... and Phil Hughes

:confused:

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I saw the future, it will be a three team 7 player deal.

Yankees give up Proctor, Cabrera

Braves give up LaRoche and Davies

Pirates give up Gonzalez, Castillo, and Cota

Yankees get Gonzalez, Davies, Cota

Braves get Castillo, Cabrera, and Proctor

Pirates get LaRoche... and Phil Hughes

:confused:

I'm gonna guess no on that one....wouldn't be a bad deal for your buccos though.

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Then I would like Gonzo, Cota, and McLouth or Nady to the yankees for Proctor and Cabrera. Then Castillo and Proctor to Atlanta for LaRoche. Damn I wish Dave Littlefield was genius enough to pull that off.

C-Paulino

1B-LaRoche

2B-Sanchez

SS-Wilson

3B-Bautista

LF-Bay

CF-Duffy

RF-Cabrera

We might be able to win some games with that group.

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Melky = JAG.

It's amazing the way some of you over-rate your prospects.

In Cabreras case....here's what I see when I watch the kid play

-Swith hitter

-Plus arm

-Plus speed

-line drive hitter who's power numbers will increase as most young line drive hitters do

-Off the charts plate discipline for a young hitter (56 BB and 59 Ks this season as a rookie)

So it's not unreasonable to say the guy could be a 20HR/20+ SB threat who is well above average defensively and can work deep in to the count and beat a team several different ways.

IMO, giving up a player like that IN ADDITION to Scott Proctor is too much.

The Yankees don't have many players who bring this much to the table for league minimum. If Cashman really does want to stop the reckless spending, Melky is a player you keep.

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Does he have a good arm? I'm sure someone's said whether or not before, but I never paid much attention cause of his gay name.

He has a well above average arm. Not elite but IMO only Ichiro and Vlad are "elite".

He was among the league leaders in OF assists this season and that was no fluke. Very good arm.

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I doubt the rumor is true. George King is great at making up BS rumors.

I'm sure you're right. I have no idea why the Yankees would want anything to do with a young power lefty when they can just make a push to bring Ron Villone back in to the fold.

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I'm sure you're right. I have no idea why the Yankees would want anything to do with a young power lefty when they can just make a push to bring Ron Villone back in to the fold.

Did i say i wanted villone back? nope. the yankee bullpen is fine without either of them.

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Did i say i wanted villone back? nope. the yankee bullpen is fine without either of them.

So you think the Yankees would be wise to go in to the season with Mike Myers as the only lefty in the 'pen? Thanks, that's about all I needed to hear.

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So you think the Yankees would be wise to go in to the season with Mike Myers as the only lefty in the 'pen? Thanks, that's about all I needed to hear.

Having a lefty in the pen couldn't be more overrated. The yankees have good depth in their bullpen right now and more on the way in the minors. Trading away valuable trade chips that could be used to get a 1B (the yankees real need) for a set up man just because he's a lefty makes zero sense. If the yankees have their hearts set on getting another lefty for the pen they should sign Scott Schoeneweis.

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If the yankees have their hearts set on getting another lefty for the pen they should sign Scott Schoeneweis.
:character42:

I'm trying to understand this obsession you have with 30-something scrub lefties coming out of the bullpen. I'm not sure how long you've been a baseball fan or when you started "rooting" for the Yankees but for each of their last four rings, they didn't win any of em with one lefty in the pen who was good for getting one out every three or four days.

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:character42:

I'm trying to understand this obsession you have with 30-something scrub lefties coming out of the bullpen. I'm not sure how long you've been a baseball fan or when you started "rooting" for the Yankees but for each of their last four rings, they didn't win any of em with one lefty in the pen who was good for getting one out every three or four days.

The yankees won their rings becaue they had good arms out of the pen. Weither they were left or right meant nothing. Mike Stanton was a good pitcher. It didn't matter if he was lefty or righty. Same with Jeff Nelson, Mendoza, Rivera or Wettland. It's not an obcession to not what to give up valuable trade chips for lefty set up men.

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The reason to have a lefty in the pen is to get leftys out right? Well lefties hit 227 off of Schoeneweis and you don't have to give up any players to get him.

Okay, what you're thinking of is referred to as a lefty specialist. If you look at the Yankees 40 man roster you'll see Mike Myers listed under the pitchers. He's a lefty specialist.

However, history has shown that the Yankees success is enhanced when they have a very good lefty in the 'pen who can come in and get one or two tough lefty batters with a righty sandwiched in between. Some managers, in a strategic move will stagger their batting order so they have a lefty, then a righty, then a lefty, etc...

A guy like scrubenweiss cannot be counted on to come in a go more than one batter in that situation. Over the past thee seaons he's allowed righty batters to hit almost .300 against him. I'd prefer a guy like Mike Gonzalez who has shown the ability to shut down lefties AND righties. Mike Myers is a one trick pony and in a move to add versatility to the bullpen. No more one dimensional pitchers please.

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Okay, what you're thinking of is referred to as a lefty specialist. If you look at the Yankees 40 man roster you'll see Mike Myers listed under the pitchers. He's a lefty specialist.

However, history has shown that the Yankees success is enhanced when they have a very good lefty in the 'pen who can come in and get one or two tough lefty batters with a righty sandwiched in between. Some managers, in a strategic move will stagger their batting order so they have a lefty, then a righty, then a lefty, etc...

A guy like scrubenweiss cannot be counted on to come in a go more than one batter in that situation. Over the past thee seaons he's allowed righty batters to hit almost .300 against him. I'd prefer a guy like Mike Gonzalez who has shown the ability to shut down lefties AND righties.

They had ONE very good lefty. Mike Stanton. ONE. Thats anything but a pattern. Is Mike Gonzalez a good lefty? Yes. Is he worth giving up 2 valuable trade chips for? No. You want to trade Proctor for him who also shut down lefties and rightys last year.
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They had ONE very good lefty. Mike Stanton. ONE. Thats anything but a pattern. Is Mike Gonzalez a good lefty? Yes. Is he worth giving up 2 valuable trade chips for? No. You want to trade Proctor for him who also shut down lefties and rightys last year.

Hey madmike, ever heard of a guy by the name of Graeme Lloyd? He was one of the biggest parts of the Yanks winning the WS in '96. His name was not Mike Stanton. Again, I don't know what year you started watching the Yankees and Lloyd stepped up big in the post season in '96. You might have started watching the Yankees after they started winning rings so you wouldn't recall Lloyd. The guy came in to several big spots against one of the best lefty hitter in baseball in Fred McGriff and got the job done. The Yankees also tried a million other lefties that couldn't get it done. That's why Stanton was the mainstay. Look back at their rosters from those seasons and they were always looking for a second lefty to compliment Stanton.

Bottom line...I hope Brian Cashman continues his persuit of another lefty instead of taking your approach of grabbing another scrub to take Villones spot.

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Hey madmike, ever heard of a guy by the name of Graeme Lloyd? He was one of the biggest parts of the Yanks winning the WS in '96. His name was not Mike Stanton. Again, I don't know what year you started watching the Yankees and Lloyd stepped up big in the post season in '96. You might have started watching the Yankees after they started winning rings so you wouldn't recall Lloyd. The guy came in to several big spots against one of the best lefty hitter in baseball in Fred McGriff and got the job done. The Yankees also tried a million other lefties that couldn't get it done.

Bottom line...I hope Brian Cashman continues his persuit of another lefty instead of taking your approach of grabbing another scrub to take Villones spot.

Lloyd was the CLASSIC lefty specialist you say you don't want. He's the EXACT same player as Mike Myers he never pitched against rightys. He pitched 47 and 39 IP in his 2 years with the yankees thats EXACTLY what a lefty specialist does. Oh and the player that Lloyd dominated in 96 was Ryan Klesko not Mcgriff.

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Lloyd was the CLASSIC lefty specialist you say you don't want. He's the EXACT same player as Mike Myers he never pitched against rightys. He pitched 47 and 39 IP in his 2 years with the yankees thats EXACTLY what a lefty specialist does. Oh and the player that Lloyd dominated in 96 was Ryan Klesko not Mcgriff.

No madmike...Lloyd is the guy we already have. Again...check the roster, his name is Mike Myers. Now we need a guy to be what Mike Stanton was. It's not that I dont want a lefty specialist, I just don't want do do what you said which is to add another one to the 'pen. One is enough.

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No madmike...Lloyd is the guy we already have. Again...check the roster, his name is Mike Myers. Now we need a guy to be what Mike Stanton was. It's not that I dont want a lefty specialist, I just don't want do do what you said which is to add another one to the 'pen. One is enough.

A righty pitcher can EASILY do the job Stanton did.

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Lloyd was the CLASSIC lefty specialist you say you don't want. He's the EXACT same player as Mike Myers he never pitched against rightys. He pitched 47 and 39 IP in his 2 years with the yankees thats EXACTLY what a lefty specialist does. Oh and the player that Lloyd dominated in 96 was Ryan Klesko not Mcgriff.

Wrong again..throughout his career Fred McGriff made a living off of Yankee pitching. When the Blue Jays came to town is was a lock that McGriff would go yard. He clobbered a homer in game one and four and was by far Atlantas best lefty bat in the post season. Lloyd may have gotten Klesko as well...but it was situations like the ones below that I was referring to. I watched the games Mike, and I remember them very well.

Fred McGriff Kills an Atlanta Rally by Grounding into a Double Play in the Ninth Inning of Game 4

Atlanta first baseman Fred McGriff came to bat in the bottom of the ninth winning with the chance to win the game for his team. Atlanta had runners on first and second with one out in a tie game. Yankee pitcher Graeme Lloyd got McGriff to hit into an inning ending double play

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Wrong again..throughout his career Fred McGriff made a living off of Yankee pitching. When the Blue Jays came to town is was a lock that McGriff would go yard. He clobbered a homer in game one and was by far Atlantas best lefty bat. Lloyd may have gotten Klesko as well...but it was situations like the ones below that I was referring to. I watched the games Mike, and I remember them very well.

Fred McGriff Kills an Atlanta Rally by Grounding into a Double Play in the Ninth Inning of Game 4

Atlanta first baseman Fred McGriff came to bat in the bottom of the ninth winning with the chance to win the game for his team. Atlanta had runners on first and second with one out in a tie game. Yankee pitcher Graeme Lloyd got McGriff to hit into an inning ending double play

Whats your point? You're using one or two games say how EVERY bullpen should be made up.Mike Myers is the EXACT SAME PLAYER as Lloyd and thats the role you need a left hander for. You yourself said that the reason you liked stanton is that he was able to get both lefties and rightys out therefore a righty who can also get lefties out (LIKE SCOTT PROCTOR) can do the same job as a guy like Stanton.
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A righty pitcher can EASILY do the job Stanton did.

Then please be so kind Mike and explain to me why pitchers like Ron Villone and Scott Scrubenweiss continue to get signed year after year despite having career ERAs over 5.00? Are you that much smarter than every GM in MLB?

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Then please be so kind Mike and explain to me why pitchers like Ron Villone and Scott Scrubenweiss continue to get signed year after year despite having career ERAs over 5.00? Are you that much smarter than every GM in MLB?

Because those 2 pitchers are effective against leftys and villone was effective against rightys last year until torre overused him flagrantly. And because it makes A LOT more sense to sign a guy like that giving up only money then giving up valuable trading chips for set up men.

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Because those 2 pitchers are effective against leftys and villone was effective against rightys last year until torre overused him flagrantly. And because it makes A LOT more sense to sign a guy like that giving up only money then giving up valuable trading chips for set up men.

So is it Joe Torres fault that Ron Villone has sucked for his entire career or just for two and half months last season. Just wondering what the excuse would be for that.

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Because those 2 pitchers are effective against leftys and villone was effective against rightys last year until torre overused him flagrantly. And because it makes A LOT more sense to sign a guy like that giving up only money then giving up valuable trading chips for set up men.

So you do want to pay two different guys to do the same job? How smart would a GM look for paying two lefty specialists and still not having a lefty who can give him a couple of innings without watching his ERA go through the roof. Oh wait, I know. Maybe Scrubenweiss will go two innings, give up two solo homers but that would be AWESOME because his WHIP would be a staggering 1.00. I mean, who the hell cares about a 9.00 ERA, you've said yourself many times that ERA is meaningless.

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So is it Joe Torres fault that Ron Villone has sucked for his entire career or just for two and half months last season. Just wondering what the excuse would be for that.

Take a look at Villone's IP per month.

April May June he pitched 9 13 and 13 IP and he went into the all star break with a 2.27 ERA, a 201 BAA and only 2 homers.

After the break in July he pitched a taxing 17 IP and in august he pitched over 22 IP which is ABSURD for a middle RP. And that dosn't even take into account the fact that he was up throwing in the bullpen almost every game that he didn't come in to.

There should be no surprise to anyone that he numbers got a hell of a lot worse after the break.

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