He's ba-ack! In NY that is!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Roger Clemens is back with the Yankees. He signed a minor league contract so he can get himself into game shape. Very dramatic in-game announcement by Roger himself during the 7th inning stretch at the Stadium today - I can't wait to see it on Sports Center.

Equally important, the Yankees won their 2nd straight game with a strong pitching effort by their starting pitcher.

Look out Boston - that team making noise over your shoulder is the Yankees and here they come!

[Chicago 1995]

Yankees needed him bad enough to give him whatever he wanted.

Roger gets to be the center of attention. Perfect fit.

Still, the Yankees starting rotation is more wing and a prayer than not.

Moose, Pettite and Clemens are all old enough and the first two at least are creaky enough that I don't know you can count on them. Hughes hasn't pitched more than what, 140 innings before, and Wang's coming off a leg injury and there has to be some question if he can continue to outpitch his perpherals.

And the cumulative effect of Torre's bullpen use won't go away either.

They'll be around. They're not a 4th place team, and they're not going to roll over for the Red Sox.

But the Sox aren't exactly going to roll over either. Better starting rotation. Better bullpen. And a 5.5 game lead . . . Not exactly a bad place to be in.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

But the Sox aren't exactly going to roll over either. Better starting rotation. Better bullpen. And a 5.5 game lead . . . Not exactly a bad place to be in.

Roll over? No. But a 5.5 game lead is like having a 15 point lead 10 minutes into a college basketball game - it doesn't mean much, although one would rather be ahead than behind.

BTW, Roger's contract is for $28,000,000, prorated for the portion of the season he'll play. If the numbers don't deceive me, I believe Roger is not the highest paid player in the game and not ARod (at $25MM per). Don't think that will take any pressure off of Alex though. And Alex hasn't hit any home runs since his 14th about 10 days ago.

[bluebear]

well.. as a sox fan it does pain me to have him sign with the Yanks, especially doing it so dramatically..but 28 million prorated is a lot of money to pay for a nearly 45 yo pitcher (so is the 18-20 that the sox reportedly offered)..seems a bit knee jerk but there are not a lot of quality starters out there. I suspect this will have an emotional impact on the Yanks but May could still be a long month unless their starters pitch like they have this weekend..I still like the Sox pitching staff better but this closes the gap..

Clemens was beginning to be embraced again up here in Boston, but I suspect he will now be public enemy number 1...

Rogggggerrrr...Rogggerrrr...

Go Sox!!!

[JasonEvans]

Was there ever a question as to who he would sign with?

The Astros stink and even with the Rocket he was not going to make the playoffs. He is not coming back to be the best pitcher on a sub-.500 ballclub.

The RedSox have amazing starting pitching. The way Wakefield and Beckett are throwing, he'd be the 3rd, 4th, or even perhaps the 5th starter. I cannot fathom why Boston would have paid big bucks for him anyway. Better to use that $15+ million elsewhere. The only reason for Boston to sign him would be to keep him out of NY.

The Yankees were desperate for him. He can be the savior. It was a no-brainer for him.

-Jason "I still don't think the Yankees will catch the BoSox" Evans

[wiscodevil]

-Jason "I still don't think the Yankees will catch the BoSox" Evans

they don't need to. they only need to win the wild card.

[Mal]

Exhibit 4,398,274 in the case of Why The Rest of The World Hates The New York Yankees. Even when they make their own bed, they just go pay to sleep in another. I hope this fails miserably.

Don't you Yankees fans feel like you need a shower after a stunt like this? If nothing else, it sullies the regal reputation of the franchise to act so desperately.

I think the idea of signing a series of 1 year contracts to play half a season every year is a terrible affront to something. I just haven't formulated the thought yet. Dignity, perhaps? The "team" ideal? The idea that it's an unfair physical advantage to only have to play half the season?

Is this a good precedent to be setting? In two years, will Bonds start signing 45-day contracts with AL penant contenders every August 15?

[Bostondevil]

If you do the math, it works out to a little less than $1 million a start. Think he'll travel with the team? Be a good clubhouse guy? I'm just saying.

Personally, I didn't want him to come to the Sox. I know we all hear about how hard he works in the off-season (retirement?) but the guy is almost 45 years old. If he's your go-to guy, well, I don't think of him as particularly clutch. Good luck Yankees, I still think you're going to need it.

[Olympic Fan]

Just as it was wa-a-a-y too early to starting talking about the Yankees' demise a week ago, it's too early this week -- after a 5-1 week and adding Clemens -- to talk about a revival.

As for the Clemens signing -- everybody except Boston fans have every right to rip on the Yankee profligate spending. As for Boston, how much did that Japanese guy with the 5.50 ERA end up costing you? Even Bill Simmons, the Boston Sports Guy, admits that the Red Sox have BECOME the Yankees when it comes to throwing money at their problems.

Yankee-hating aside, I'd say the potential of the Yankee rotation looks a heck of a lot better than it did 10 days ago.

(1) Wang is back from his injury and pitching like he did last year when he won 19 games. He's the one proven young stud in the rotation.

(2) Mussina is back in the rotation and looking like his old self. He may be old, but he's coming off one of his best seasons and should be solid.

(3) Pettite remains a constant. He's no longer a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, but I still feel very comfortable with his experience in the rotation.

Well, that's three-fifths of a rotation, anyway. Clemens (remember, the guy had a 2.30 ERA last season in Houston) should be a solid six-inning pitcher. That's number four.

I'd like to think that Phil Hughes will be No. 5. The Yankees have used a lot of young starters this month with mixed results -- Darrell Rasner is coming off a shutout start against Seattle ... Igawa had a strong game in NY's one win over the Red Sox (then got bombed by the Mariners).

But Hughes has long been touted as the jewel of the Yankee farm system -- the first great prospect that the Yankees haven't dealt away for a lefthanded DH (George Costanza: "Why ... why ... would you trade Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps ... You don't know what you're doing!). Hughes got to show a little of his potential with six-plus innings of no-hit ball before he was hurt. He should be back in mid-to-late June.

By then, the Yankee rotation ought to match up very well with the Red Sox -- Beckett is pitching out his mind and Schilling is excellent, but Wakefield is just a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher and Dice-K is a major disappointment.

If the Yankees starting pitching improves, then the bullpen improves simply because of the reduced work load.

Who knows, maybe one of the three Yankee veteran starters will break down. Maybe Schilling (who's older than Mussina or Pettite) will break down. Maybe Dice-K will solve his problems and be worth his cost ... or maybe the AL batters will continue to light him up. Maybe Carl Pavano will bounce back from his arm injury (okay, I'm reaching with that one).

I'm just saying, don't count the Yankees out -- 5.5 games with 120 to play is hardly an insurmountable hurdle. I'm not giving them the title either ... I' just doing the same thing I did last week -- pleading for patience. Baseball is a long season and almost every team goes through ups and downs.

[wiscodevil]

Just as it was wa-a-a-y too early to starting talking about the Yankees' demise a week ago, it's too early this week -- after a 5-1 week and adding Clemens -- to talk about a revival.

As for the Clemens signing -- everybody except Boston fans have every right to rip on the Yankee profligate spending. As for Boston, how much did that Japanese guy with the 5.50 ERA end up costing you? Even Bill Simmons, the Boston Sports Guy, admits that the Red Sox have BECOME the Yankees when it comes to throwing money at their problems.

Yankee-hating aside, I'd say the potential of the Yankee rotation looks a heck of a lot better than it did 10 days ago.

(1) Wang is back from his injury and pitching like he did last year when he won 19 games. He's the one proven young stud in the rotation.

(2) Mussina is back in the rotation and looking like his old self. He may be old, but he's coming off one of his best seasons and should be solid.

(3) Pettite remains a constant. He's no longer a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, but I still feel very comfortable with his experience in the rotation.

Well, that's three-fifths of a rotation, anyway. Clemens (remember, the guy had a 2.30 ERA last season in Houston) should be a solid six-inning pitcher. That's number four.

I'd like to think that Phil Hughes will be No. 5. The Yankees have used a lot of young starters this month with mixed results -- Darrell Rasner is coming off a shutout start against Seattle ... Igawa had a strong game in NY's one win over the Red Sox (then got bombed by the Mariners).

But Hughes has long been touted as the jewel of the Yankee farm system -- the first great prospect that the Yankees haven't dealt away for a lefthanded DH (George Costanza: "Why ... why ... would you trade Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps ... You don't know what you're doing!). Hughes got to show a little of his potential with six-plus innings of no-hit ball before he was hurt. He should be back in mid-to-late June.

By then, the Yankee rotation ought to match up very well with the Red Sox -- Beckett is pitching out his mind and Schilling is excellent, but Wakefield is just a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher and Dice-K is a major disappointment.

If the Yankees starting pitching improves, then the bullpen improves simply because of the reduced work load.

Who knows, maybe one of the three Yankee veteran starters will break down. Maybe Schilling (who's older than Mussina or Pettite) will break down. Maybe Dice-K will solve his problems and be worth his cost ... or maybe the AL batters will continue to light him up. Maybe Carl Pavano will bounce back from his arm injury (okay, I'm reaching with that one).

I'm just saying, don't count the Yankees out -- 5.5 games with 120 to play is hardly an insurmountable hurdle. I'm not giving them the title either ... I' just doing the same thing I did last week -- pleading for patience. Baseball is a long season and almost every team goes through ups and downs.

very well said indeed.

i for one, think dice k is going to improve dramatically in the next month or so.

[bluebear]

i for one, think dice k is going to improve dramatically in the next month or so.

I agree with that...

Jon Lester will also be returning to the Sox rotation by June..a higher ranked prospect than Papelbon with a lot of potential...

I'm more than happy with a pitching staff that includes 3 solid starters (Beckett, Dice-K, and Lester) and a top closer all under the age of 27...

[tombrady]

very well said indeed.

i for one, think dice k is going to improve dramatically in the next month or so.

Actually, very poorly said. See my rebuttal below. Just wanted to include you in on it.

[tombrady]

I don't even know where to start here. I'll give it a shot.

"As for the Clemens signing -- everybody except Boston fans have every right to rip on the Yankee profligate spending. As for Boston, how much did that Japanese guy with the 5.50 ERA end up costing you? Even Bill Simmons, the Boston Sports Guy, admits that the Red Sox have BECOME the Yankees when it comes to throwing money at their problems.

Top-10 2007 MLB Payrolls. This was before the Clemens signing. Plan to add about 20 Million to the yankees' payroll -- this won't even take into account the extra $7 million in luxury tax they are paying for just him.

1 Yankees $195,229,045 --> $215,229,045
2 Red Sox $143,526,214
3 Mets $117,915,819
4 White Sox $109,680,167
5 Angels $109,251,333
6 Dodgers $108,704,524
7 Mariners $106,516,833
8 Cubs $99,937,000
9 Tigers $95,180,369
10 Orioles $95,107,807

Complain all you want about the red sox, mets, white sox, angels, dodgers, or mariners spending, but you can see the yankees are still miles ahead of everyone else. all everyone else is trying to do is keep up. the yankees are still setting the spending curve. as such, they (and they alone) are the ones people complain about. Last year, the red sox wanted to get Abreu, but would have had to give up 2 prime prospects, which they didn't do because they need them for the future. The yankees, on the other hand, didn't give up any decent prospects because they could simply pay cash instead (by taking on the full salary). They were the only team in baseball that could do this. The red sox are a far cry from the yankees in terms of finances. The red sox make decisions with a limited budget and must plan for the future. The yankees do not.

that Japanese guy

first of all, real classy. you obviously know his name, its been everywhere. Matsuzaka. not even really hard, even for "some Japanese guy." whats next, you refer to our first basemen Youkilis as "that jewish guy"?


If you think that Bill Simmons represents how the average fan views their Boston sports, you are completely incorrect. He's a columnist, and gets paid for his views. If he wrote the bland, silent majority opinion, no one would read it. take a controversial stand (The red sox have become the yankees!), and he creates a bit of a stir from people like yourself. mission accomplished.

while i'm at it, might as well go ahead and disprove every single point you make. its pretty easy, really.

(1) Wang is back from his injury and pitching like he did last year when he won 19 games. He's the one proven young stud in the rotation.

Last year: 19-6, 3.63 ERA
This year: 1-2, 3.98 ERA

(2) Mussina is back in the rotation and looking like his old self. He may be old, but he's coming off one of his best seasons and should be solid.

"old self" -- career era: 3.64
2007 -- 5.73 ERA.

Oh, and I'd say the following seasons for him were better than last year:
1992
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999
2001
2003

so by "one of his best seasons," you must have meant "one of his average seasons."

(3) Pettite remains a constant. He's no longer a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, but I still feel very comfortable with his experience in the rotation.

Yeah, a constantly mediocre pitcher. If you like his 4.20 ERA last year in the NL, you'll love it by the end of this year in the AL East! Plus, those 6 innings per start he's averaged so far are really gonna do wonders for the all ready overworked bullpen. I know I don't need to remind you that Rivera no longer automatically takes an inning off the back end of ballgames.

This basically says you know he sucks, but he's from those 1990's teams that won some WS rings, so he'll probably still be good now. Might as well bring back Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez!

He should be back in mid-to-late June.

By then, the Yankee rotation ought to match up very well with the Red Sox

Its May 7th. Mid-to-late June is like 40 games from now. Given the red sox have a 5.5 game lead after 30 games, and the yankees won't get Clemens or Hughes until the first week in june at the very earliest, you aren't at all concerned about the games in between when you'll continue to throw out no-name 4th and 5th starters? if the lead continues to grow, being 10 games out by mid june won't be too fun. playing catchup with a 20 year old and a 45 year old is no recipe for success . So say the rotation does "match up very well." You still have to make up the games you're all ready behind (5.5), plus any additional games lost by your AA callups.

but Wakefield is just a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher and Dice-K is a major disappointment.

If the Yankees starting pitching improves, then the bullpen improves simply because of the reduced work load.

Wakefield: 2.11 ERA, 2nd in the AL. he may be slotted middle of the rotation, but he is pitching way better than that this year (and its no longer "early" -- we're 1/5th of the way through the season).

Dice-K. Game log:
IP R
7.0 1
7.0 3
6.0 2
7.0 6
6.0 4
5.0 7

First 3 starts: Outstanding for a rookie (or anyone really). Last 3 starts -- 1 a bit iffy, 1 poor outing, and 1 disaster. He's shown he's got the goods, but he's had control problems which have led to his runs the last few games. But of course -- he's adjusting to an entirely new league -- one with new umpires (and thus strike zone definition) and new sized baseballs (bet you didn't know that). Hits the last 3 games -- 8, 5, 5. Its not like he's getting destroyed by any means. Give him a few more starts to get a full grasp of the American game and how it is called, and he'll cut down on the walks. Its really all he needs to do. He's certainly not getting "Lit up," as you claim.


You really don't understand this Yankees starting pitching thing -- even with Hughes (pitch count, 20 years old, don't want to destroy him) and Clemens (45 years old, averaged 6 IP last year in the NL), the bullpen will still have a ridiculous work load. allowing 2 earned runs in 6 innings is great and all, but not when your bullpen has to struggle through 3 more innings. every night.

[feldspar]

As for the Clemens signing -- everybody except Boston fans have every right to rip on the Yankee profligate spending. As for Boston, how much did that Japanese guy with the 5.50 ERA end up costing you? Even Bill Simmons, the Boston Sports Guy, admits that the Red Sox have BECOME the Yankees when it comes to throwing money at their problems.

You know, I've just never understood this argument, and frankly, it's starting to bother me.

If the Yankees have the money, why SHOULDN'T they spend it on improving their team?

What you're insinuating is like saying that Duke shouldn't be allowed to send Coach K on recruiting trips and to recruiting targets' houses because he is too popular and iconic of a basketaball coach. It's preposterous.

Until MLB adopts a salary cap, which they won't, this flacid "the Yankees keep throwing money at their problems" argument is just what I said - flacid as a wet, limp noodle.

[CMS2478]

You know, I've just never understood this argument, and frankly, it's starting to bother me.

If the Yankees have the money, why SHOULDN'T they spend it on improving their team?

What you're insinuating is like saying that Duke shouldn't be allowed to send Coach K on recruiting trips and to recruiting targets' houses because he is too popular and iconic of a basketaball coach. It's preposterous.

Until MLB adopts a salary cap, which they won't, this flacid "the Yankees keep throwing money at their problems" argument is just what I said - flacid as a wet, limp noodle.

Sadly, I have to agree with you here bc I hate the Yankees too. But you make a good point. Which is why the comparison of the Yankees to Duke is so accurate. The hate for these two teams really derives from jealousy of what others want and can't have.

[JasonEvans]

Can I jsut chime in and say that both of your teams suck!!! Baseball is the only sport where a few teams can spend so much more than everyone else that the playing field is just unfair. When you are the BoSox, Yankees, and Mets with payrolls that are 20%+ higher than virtually every other team in the game you do not have to worry about losing your stars to free agency, you get to pluck stars from other teams when htey are about to be freee agents, you get to bid outrageous amounts on pros from Asia and Cuba and elsewhere so other teams have no chance at them.

How is any of this fair?

The luxury tax should be on a sliding scale starting at about $100 million with higher and higher percentages of tax paid the higher you get. Once you reach about $130 million in payroll, you should be taxed something like 2-dollars for every dollar more you have in payroll. It needs to be a real disincentive.

It is absurd that the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and several other teams have payrolls that are more than 2 or 3 or 4 other teams COMBINED!!! That makes no sense.

--Jason "a level playing field, that is all we ask for" Evans

[feldspar]

Can I jsut chime in and say that both of your teams suck!!! Baseball is the only sport where a few teams can spend so much more than everyone else that the playing field is just unfair. When you are the BoSox, Yankees, and Mets with payrolls that are 20%+ higher than virtually every other team in the game you do not have to worry about losing your stars to free agency, you get to pluck stars from other teams when htey are about to be freee agents, you get to bid outrageous amounts on pros from Asia and Cuba and elsewhere so other teams have no chance at them.

How is any of this fair?

The luxury tax should be on a sliding scale starting at about $100 million with higher and higher percentages of tax paid the higher you get. Once you reach about $130 million in payroll, you should be taxed something like 2-dollars for every dollar more you have in payroll. It needs to be a real disincentive.

It is absurd that the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and several other teams have payrolls that are more than 2 or 3 or 4 other teams COMBINED!!! That makes no sense.

--Jason "a level playing field, that is all we ask for" Evans

You make a valid argument for a luxury tax and round-about for a salary cap, but the reality is that neither one exists as you envision.

To criticize organizations for spending money they are well within their rights to spend is petty and immature, in my not-so-humble opinion.

And, FWIW, it's only been a few short years since the Braves' payroll topped $100 million so, you know, let's not throw stones.

[tombrady]

You know, I've just never understood this argument, and frankly, it's starting to bother me.

If the Yankees have the money, why SHOULDN'T they spend it on improving their team?

Until MLB adopts a salary cap, which they won't, this flacid "the Yankees keep throwing money at their problems" argument is just what I said - flacid as a wet, limp noodle.

This is true -- The yankees have money for a reason (though that reason is they happened to be located in the largest American city). If teams are good enough to generate revenue, and they reinvest it into their team to produce more victories, then there is nothing at all wrong with that. Call it what you wish -- buying a team, buying championships, etc...but its the market that we live in, and the Yankees (and red sox, and mets, etc) play it well. But "the Yankees keep throwing money at their problems" -- this isn't a flimsy argument, it is fact. Theres nothing wrong with this, however. Its how the system works. The problem comes when Yankee fans cry foul for people pointing this out. Its a fact, so they need to accept it. I accept the red sox went out and got the best right fielder (JD Drew) and a great new shortstop (Lugo) and the best Japanese pitcher (well, second best next to Okajima . And I point out that the red sox recent string of success has provided them the revenue to do this. and i'm fine with it. But the yankees are on their own level with a seemingly unlimited amount of funds, unlike every other team (including the red sox -- look at my abreu example in an above post). The fact is, if JD Drew or (heavens forbid) Matsuzaka flame out, it will seriously handicap the red sox for the next few years -- they will have to end up eating that salary in a trade or put up with poor performance. If these players were on the Yankees, it would be a blip on the radar, and full steam ahead.

you get to pluck stars from other teams when htey are about to be freee agents, you get to bid outrageous amounts on pros from Asia and Cuba and elsewhere so other teams have no chance at them.

How is any of this fair?

It is absurd that the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and several other teams have payrolls that are more than 2 or 3 or 4 other teams COMBINED!!! That makes no sense.

--Jason "a level playing field, that is all we ask for" Evans

First off, revenue sharing/luxury tax has allowed small market teams to resign many of their best players the last few years (see Johan Santana on the Twins and Ben Sheets on the Brewers, etc). Its not perfect, but its helping. Those stars are no longer reaching free agency with the hometown teams having no shot at offering fair value.

The system is fair when the Florida Marlins won 2 WS in the space of 7 years while being an overall low-income franchise. Its fair when the Yankees (by far the highest) haven't won in nearly a decade. Its fair when this year the Milwaukee Brewers (18th), Indians (23rd), Braves (13th) are leading their divisions.

Its fair when last year the Cards (11th) played the Tigers (14th) in the WS. Also when the As continue to make the playoffs as a low-income team (though not have much success...)

There are ways to make a team successful on a limited payroll. In the last 7 years, there have been 7 WS champions, and 11 different teams playing in the WS. Baseball has parity, without a salary cap.

By comparison, with a salary cap, the last 7 years in the NFL there have been 5 different SB champions, in the NBA there have been 4 Finals champions in 7 years.

[Dukerati]

Bluebear asked who was the last player the Sox outbid the Yankees on... someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but didn't they blow everyone out of the water for Matsusaka?

I'm a Braves fan so I am certainly not taking sides here but ever since the Red Sox won in 2004, I believe there has been a spending trend with the Red Sox spending more and more money every year and the Yankees attempting to "slash" some payroll. I don't think it is far-fetched to believe that the Red Sox and Yankees will be on comparable payrolls in the very near future...

[bluebear]

Bluebear asked who was the last player the Sox outbid the Yankees on... someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but didn't they blow everyone out of the water for Matsusaka?

I'm a Braves fan so I am certainly not taking sides here but ever since the Red Sox won in 2004, I believe there has been a spending trend with the Red Sox spending more and more money every year and the Yankees attempting to "slash" some payroll. I don't think it is far-fetched to believe that the Red Sox and Yankees will be on comparable payrolls in the very near future...

I think I clarified that in the sentence before that question...the Dice-K bidding was a blinded process where no team knew what the other was bidding...The Yankees have offered more for every other player that the teams have both gone after in recent years..

The sox certainly spent more money this year but there is no way they will match Yankees in spending..they don't have the revenue to do that...I would expect the Sox payroll to drop in upcoming years as big contracts like Manny's come off the books and are replaced by younger cheaper talent. They will continue to spend more that almost every other team but still substantially less than the Yankees..