http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/52 Recent articles about Wilson Betemit en-us Yankees have no one else better then betemit? He is the definition of dookie... i am sure they have someone in the farm who is better than him... yankees need young speedy guys damn it!! Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:53:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300167 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300167 Thoughts while struggling through an afternoon meeting…who thinks late afternoon meetings are a good for anybody? Why can't the Jets trade for Favre and then ship him to the Vikings? I'm sure Packers' GM Ted Thompson would ask any team that he makes a deal with to not turn around and trade Favre to Chicago or Minnesota but really, who cares about Ted Thompson's feelings? The only way Kellen Clemens beats out Chad Pennington is due to injury. Of course, Chad tends to get hurt. I'm trying to come up with a New York scenario that would get a half of the attention that the Brett Favre situation is getting. The best I could come up with is if Derek Jeter retired, changed his mind and Joe Girardi said "Sorry, Derek, but it's Wilson Betemit's time," and then offered to trade him to the Padres or Astros. Doesn't it seem like the Yankees have more roster space than every other team? The Yankees should only pay Robinson Cano after the All Star Break. It's nice to see a team actually try to get something in return from the Yankees in a trade. But Seattle, you're trading Jared Washburn, he's not exactly the second coming of Nolan Ryan. No Tiki, no Strahan and no Shockey. Who on the Giants inherits the job throwing the coaches under the bus or screaming at a reporter after a tough loss? I nominate Antonio Pierce. A friend of mine who is a Mets fan told me she wants nothing to do with Manny Ramirez. I couldn't disagree more. I think it's a pipe dream to even think the Mets have a shot to get him. But, if the he some how did end up in Flushing, I would be giddy to have him in the middle of the Mets line-up. I don't think it's a good sign when a 19 year old small forward has a bad back. I understand that the Balkman deal is a small piece of a long term plan. It just just felt a little like a move for the sake of making a move. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:08:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298020 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298020 PITTSBURGH, PA — Even though the Yankees hammered the Pirates 10-0 in Pittsburgh last night, it wasn't all smiles for the Bronx Bombers. After the game, an altercation started around… Read more Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:28:46 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283107 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283107 The Indians have won five of their last seven, finally discovering that if they put injured guys who can't swing a bat on the DL instead of in the 3 and 4 holes in their batting order they might be able to score a few runs. The Tribe has cut an 8 1/2 game deficit with the White Sox to 5 1/2 and things are beginning to look as if they are moving in the right direction (as long as the bullpen doesn't have to play too big a role in any particular game). The Sox, meanwhile, have lost 5 of their last 6 games and look to be about to put Paul Konerko on the DL. So now does not appear to be the right time to pull the trigger on any trade involving CC Sabathia. But you can bet Mark Shapiro is getting plenty of phone calls from the 212 area code trying to convince him otherwise. The Yankees, who have won 17 of their last 25 and have moved to 4 games over .500 and 6 game out of first in the A.L. East, have put together a decent starting staff of late, with the addition of Joba Chamberlain and Darrell Rasner (is he doing it with mirrors?) and the resurrection of Mike Mussina. But all that may get flushed down the pinstriped pot if, as expected once MRI results are in, staff ace Chien-Ming Wang is put on the shelf for most, if not all, of the rest of the season with what is believed to be a broken bone in the foot. The New York Times is already speculating that the Yanks' GM Brian Cashmen has the speed dial to Mark Shapiro fired up. "The Yankees' season changed irreversibly on Sunday. Chien-Ming Wang's season is in jeopardy with a serious injury to his right foot, and C. C. Sabathia instantly became a very important name in the Yankees' universe." -- lead of today's New York Times story. The Times story seems like nothing more than a logical conclusion - no names of any kind are mentioned and no quotes from anyone are included. The New York Post - also apparently speculating - doesn't seem to think the Yankees have the goods to get it done. "The Yankees' options to replace Wang are limited. The Indians aren't about to deal C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees don't have the major league-ready arms Cleveland would want. Dan Giese is in the Yanks' bullpen, and Daniel McCutchen, Alan Horne, Jeffrey Marquez and Kei Igawa are at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre." That is assuming the Tribe is only interested in pitching in return - which may not be a great assumption. Meanwhile, the Yankee blog published by the Journal News, my local paper, is already speculating about who the Yanks might have to sacrificed to get CC to replace Wang. "LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS: C.C. Sabathia (Indians): He knows how to pitch in the AL, he's a lefty (always a plus at the Stadium) and you'll have a few months to try and sign him. But if the Yankees are desperate, Mark Shapiro will seek the world for his ace, especially if he's going to an AL team. Start with Robinson Cano." Robbie Cano would seem like a good place to start, at least if you look at his career numbers. But check out these numbers from NJ.com for the Yanks lost and bewildered 2B this year. "Going into Saturday night's game, Cano had the lowest on-base percentage (.260) and third-lowest slugging percentage (.316) of major-league players with at least 250 plate appearances." If the Yanks were to put Cano in as a centerpiece of a package for Sabathia the Tribe would be getting - for now - yet another player who is underperforming miserably this season. Shapiro would have to try to determine if this year is an aberration or the start of a trend. As has already been established in the linked articles, the Yanks don't have much in the way of MLB-ready pitching (not counting the injured Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy) and they themselves are trying to fill 1B with the likes of Jason Giambi and Shelley Duncan and Wilson Betemit. They also have nothing to offer at 3B (Betemit is their backup there too) and the corner outfield spots are taken by veterans who the Indians wouldn't necessarily want if they end up punting on this season and trading CC. So while the pressure will be brought to bear on Shapiro by the Yanks' front office, it's not clear what the Yankees have to offer in the way of young, healthy major leaguers who are playing up to their potential. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:20:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278496 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278496 It's definitely a possibility. Jon Heyman of cnnsi.com speculates (pure speculation), that when New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada returns, 1B Jason Giambi would become a candidate for release. There would obviously be a few things that have to happen for this to take place thou. Wed, 07 May 2008 19:28:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264523 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264523 In Jeter's (hopefully short) absence who is going to replace him at short? That's the big question of the day. Tyler Kepner suggests the Yankees might move A-Rod over and start Morgan Ensberg at third. Jon Harper of the Daily News says Girardi shouldn't even think about A-Rod at short. I happen to agree with the latter. A-Rod hasn't played short since 2005 and hasn't started a game at short since 2003, when he was still a Texas Ranger. He may not be as comfortable there as he used to be................ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:43:35 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/232597 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/232597 New York Yankees All-Star SS Derek Jeter left today's game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2nd inning with a strained left quadriceps. The injury happened in the first inning while running out a fielders choice. This should be a day-to-day injury and may Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:59:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/231586 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/231586 Draft coming up and in need of some last-minute advice? Already drafted but looking for a quality waiver pickup? Stumbling upon this web site because I stuffed the code with the keywords "Lindsey", "Lohan" and "nude"? Perhaps Rotowhine.com's American League sleepers will fulfill your deepest, darkest desires. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:52:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/218470 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/218470 With the addition of Ensberg Friday night to the 40-man roster, the bench is pretty much set. Heres a look at the bench that manager Joe Girardi will have at his disposal: Jose Molina (C) Shelley Duncan (RF, 1B) Wilson Betemit (1B,2B,SS,3B) Morgan Ensberg (1B,2B,3B) I believe the bench was set up this season so Girardi has more of a "B" lineup than a bunch of "fill-ins." Sure these guys are not the best guys to have come off the bench but the Yanks have had worse. With Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, and Hideki Matsui sharing the duties in center and left, that would give Girardi another option in both positions if need be. As the season rolls along I'm sure we'll see changes but for now, this is the bench that will start the season. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:58:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216490 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216490 In anticipation of one of the biggest match-up in baseball, Baseball Mastermind previews the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, covering respective strengths weakness and predictions for the 2008 season. These two teams are the favorites to win the World Series yet again. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:36:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/178896 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/178896 Who are the Yankees' first basemen options? There are four that come to mind immediately: Jason Giambi, Shelley Duncan, Wilson Betemit and Morgan Ensberg. No, sadly, Tino is not one of them. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:27:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/174060 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/174060 With Spring Training fast approaching, FIO staff writer Rich Lerner takes a look at each MLB team in terms of fantasy purposes. In this discussion, we will take a look at the potential offensive/pitching impact players, some questionable guys, and some youngsters on the come up. This time around - the teams of the American League. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:13:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/148782 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/148782 The lure of adding outfielder Jason Lane to an imposing first base platoon that already includes outfielder Shelley Duncan, designated hitter Jason Giambi and third baseman Wilson Betemit might be too tough for the New York Yankees to pass up. "Why have three guys that aren't comfortable playing the position when you can have four?" asked the fiery yet confusing Hank Steinbrenner. (more...) Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:07:28 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/67366 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/67366 Once the Yankees turn their search outward World Series MVP and brief member of the 1998 championship team, Mike Lowell, will get a good look. Lowell was once a throw in player in the deal that sent Josh Beckett to Boston, but is coming off one of his strongest seasons of his career. Lowell set career highs hitting .324 with 120 RBI's. A big trade rumor surfacing lately has been involving Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera has a lot of upside, he'll be 25 years old next season and the career .313 hitter is coming off a season with fine numbers yet again hitting .320 with 34 homeruns and 119 RBI's. He is also a very patient hitter at the plate, however there are concerns about his defense and many people question his commitment to keeping himself in peak physical condition. The Marlins may also be motivated to trade him. He's likely going to earn $11 million next season through arbitration, and as ridiculous as it seems, the cheap-fish are rumored to be going after both Arod and Barry Bonds so they will need to trim payroll to afford either. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:40:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/34134 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/34134 New York Yankees first baseman Andy Phillips will miss the rest of the season and will need surgery to repair a fractured wrist after being hit on the right hand Sunday. Now that he is faced with the possibility of missing the remainder of the season the Yankees will turn to Jason Giambi who lately has been all leather. When the Giambino does sit or DH the team will continue to turn to Wilson Betemit at first and even go back to Mientkiewicz. Doug Alphabet, who has finally recovered from a broken wrist and concussion he sustained after running into Red Sox Mike Lowell at first base on June 2nd, was recalled September 1st when the rosters were expanded to 40 players. Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:56:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25948 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/25948