Looking Forward to 2008:  New York Yankees

Even though the Yankee front office has been preaching player development and patience, we here at BTF and Count the Rings™ can’t develop out own talent for anything … so what do we do come preview time? We assemble a bunch of all-stars from elsewhere in the blogosphere. That’s just how we roll.

We did this the last two years under the premise that no team is more projected and examined than the Yankees, so why not get some completely subjective opinions on the team. If you want objective analysis, got to the old Replacement Level Yankee Weblog and look at SG’s stuff. It’s just wonderful.

As for this preview, let’s look at who’s joining me today:

Andrew Fletcher of the tastefully named Scott Proctor’s Arm; SG of the aforementioned RLYW; the Yankee blogosphere’s resident curmudgeon, Steve Lombardi of the prolific WasWatching.com; and all three – by accident – of the authors of River Ave. Blues: Benjamin Kabak answering on his own and Joseph Pawlikowski and Michael Axisa splitting their work.

So be nice to the panel, and feel free to call us fanboys, homers, haters, or whatever, just don’t call us late to first pitch. And without further ado, here’s 7,000 words covering 20 questions and more than 120 answers on the 2008 Yankees.

1. Looking back on the offseason, now that its over and the game count, what are your thoughts on L’Affaire de A-Rod?

Sean McNally, BTF & RLYW: I’m happy he’s still here. What fan wouldn’t be? He’s a historically great player, still in his prime. How it transpired was completely ludicrous, but hey, everyone seems happy and Scott Boras looked ridiculous – what more can you ask for?

Andrew Fletcher, Scott Proctor’s Arm: I’m happy he’s back.  His offensive production is irreplaceable, but he still frustrates me.  Seeing him strike out against Jonathan Papelbon sent me through the roof, but it’s a long season and the clutch hits will (eventually) come.

SG, Replacement Level Yankee Weblog: I was pretty irritated when he opted out, but I’m glad he’s back even if his contract is too long.  The Yankees are clearly a better team with him than without him and that’s my main concern.

Steve Lombardi, WasWatching.com: I would have liked to have seen the Yankees press him more when he came crawling back.  Granted, they need him now – as they’re lacking power.  However, if you think the last three years of Giambi’s contract has been a dead weight, you ain’t seen nothing yet.  The last few years of the new A-Rod deal are going to be a nightmare in terms of return on investment.

Benjamin Kabak, River Ave. Blues: It seems to me that the A-Rod Affair was a bit overblown. The fans are thrilled to have him back; the Yankees clearly need his bat in the lineup. The opt-out made good business sense considering how much money he received, but the PR side of things was handled badly. And the fans seem to have forgiven him for or even forgotten the entire incident. 

Joseph Pawlikowski, (also) River Ave. Blues: Honestly, once they announced that he was coming back, I put the whole thing behind me. And I think the Santana situation helped do that for most fans. It was an unfortunate week or two, but in the end it worked out, I suppose. I do wonder, though, how Cashman feels about going back on what he had been saying all year.

2. Heading into the season – what has you most concerned?

SM: Starting pitchers, young and old. Outside of Chien-Ming Wang, every spot in the rotation has questions – Mussina and Pettitte – too old? Too injured? Kennedy and Hughes – too young? Too inconsistent?

I’m much more forgiving of the last two because growing pains now can mean success later, but I’m concerned. Moose at this point is what he is – if his curveball is on and he’s “pitching backwards” then he can give you six and not get shelled. If not, well, I have an eight-month-old son who can entertain me with raspberries and giggles (best part of fatherhood by the way – having something to distract you from lousy ballgames).

AF: Phil Hughes has concerned me the most so far.  He has not found control of his pitches thus far and has been taxing the bullpen (11 innings pitched in three starts).  There has been much made about the decrease in his velocity, but that doesn’t matter if he’s throwing 30 pitches an inning.  He is the youngest pitcher in the Majors, so there will definitely be struggles.  The Yankees are making him learn on the fly, so expect more struggles before he gets better.

SG: Derek Jeter’s defense, Mike Mussina and how the young pitching will perform.  We’ve already seen exposure in all three areas early into the season.  Jeter’s already 3 runs below average offensively according to zone rating, Mussina can’t throw a pitch that can miss bats and Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have combined for 22.3 innings of 8.88 ERA so far (as of April 17).  I am usually concerned about the team’s defense, but the overall team defense is probably better than it has been in a long time (as in below average by about 15 runs instead of 50).

SL: Sixty percent of the starting rotation and eighty percent of the bullpen.

Michael Axisa, (again) RAB: Joe Girardi’s inexperience. The bullpen is what it is, and ditto the rotation, but that stuff always manages to work itself out. I know he won Manager of the Year in 2006 and all that jazz, but come on, who knows how Girardi will handle the team when they’re coming down the stretch in September in the middle of a race for a playoff spot. People think he’ll be great just because he’s not Torre, but the reality is that Girardi’s a wildcard. A great manager won’t help you win many games, but he sure can help you lose them. 

BK: Starting pitching. While I am a firm proponent of the youth movement, the Yankees are relying on two young guns — Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy — and one old gun — Mike Mussina. I’m not too confident that this array of arms can carry the Yanks for a full season right now.

3. What part of this Yankees team are you most confident about?

SM: That A-Rod will have a dominant offensive season. Someone will ##### and moan about a bad Phil Hughes start if Santana’s going good. Jeter will be praised effusively for whatever he does.

AF: I’m most confident in the production of Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez.  When Abreu was on last year, the Yankees offense as a whole seemed to click.  If he is more consistent this year, the offense will be fine.  Rodriguez loves hitting behind him.

SG: The offense should be good for at least 900 runs this year, even if Jason Giambi is cooked.  I’d be surprised if another team outscored them this year.

SL: Kim Jones’ collection of tight sweaters.

BK: Despite their slow start, I have utmost faith in their offense. This team, when it clicks, just mashes from 1-9, and if the pitching can keep pace, the offense will carry this team this year.

Joe (RAB): At this very second? Nothing. I have confidence that we’ll score 900, 950 runs. I have confidence that Wang will win 17 to 20 games, and I have confidence that Pettitte will have another solid year. 

4. With the expectation that Joba will be a starter in ’09 – what’s the best way to deploy him in 2008 and why?

SM: See Santana, Johan. Circa 2002-2003. Start in the ‘pen, when attrition hits the starters, bring him out front.

AF: I’d keep Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen as long as possible this year.  They have no eighth inning reliever – I have zero faith in Kyle Farnsworth or Brian Bruney.  While seven innings of solid pitching is more valuable in the long run than one inning of great pitching is, it’s important for Chamberlain to be the bridge to Rivera this season.

SG: See Chad Billingsley in 2007.  He started the year in the pen and then moved to the rotation in mid-June.  It worked out to 147 innings in total and I’d like to see the Yankees do the same thing with Chamberlain.

SL: I’m 100% on-board with the call to use him in the pen.  You do need to limit Joba’s innings this season.  And, the Yankees need a good arm in front of Rivera.  Having Chamberlain in the pen this year makes perfect sense at it addresses two issues with one player.

BK: Keep his innings under wrap in the bullpen with the intent of transitioning him into the rotation as soon as possible this season. The Yankees need to guard his arm; he’s clearly got the makeup and the ability to succeed, and he’s a better option than Mike Mussina right now. But they need to keep him physically healthy as well.

Mike (RAB): Well, ideally he’d be a starter from the outset, but that’s just not possible with his innings limit. Tons and tons of pitchers have started the year in the bullpen and moved into the rotation midseason. Hell, Chad Billingsley, Zach Greinke, Roy Oswalt, Johan Santana, and Carlos Zambrano have all done it this century. I say keep him in the bullpen for the start of the year, then stick him in the rotation after the All Star break. If he needs to go to the minors to get himself stretched out, then so be it.

Minor rant: The people who think he can’t make the transition to the rotation, or think that he belongs in the bullpen obviously do not watch baseball. Everytime the bullpen blows a game late I see people commenting “well, where do you think Joba belongs now,” but everytime one of the starters sucks, I’m sitting there saying the exact same thing to myself. 200 innings of a 3.50 ERA is better than 80 innings of a 2.00 ERA. It’s not rocket science. There’s a reason Josh Beckett and Jake Peavy and Brandon Webb and Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay and Justin Verlander and Brad Penny and CC Sabathia and countless others are not set-up men. Your best arms should pitch the most innings. Case closed, end of story. 

5. During the offseason, the Yankees re-signed Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada to big, long-term deals. Which, if either, will they regret doing? Who ages better Mo or Po?

SM: Between Mo’s elbow and Po’s shoulder – the back ends of both contracts are ugly. I’d say Mo’s contract ends up biting worse though, pitchers are always one pitch away from being D-U-N. Done. At least with a weak arm, Posada could play first or DH.

AF: Jorge Posada is already injured, and I hated giving him the fourth year.  I think catching all those games throughout his career will come back to get Posada sooner rather than later.  I didn’t like Mariano Rivera receiving three years, but I don’t think he’ll age as fast at Posada will.

SG: I really think both will be decent contributors over the majority of their contracts, although if I had to pick one to regret it’d be Posada. I think Mo will age a little better because his role is less taxing.

SL: Rivera will age better.  There’s been a lot of closers who have been able to hang in there as old-timers.  It’s only one inning of work a few times a week.  It’s not like you’re asking the guy to throw 200 innings or squat behind home plate for 130 games.

BK: Mariano ages better, and they may regret the fourth year for Posada. Catchers just don’t hold up over the course of a long season, and I think Posada won’t be a viable option behind the plate when this deal is up.

Joe (RAB): Mo ages better. I said at the time of the deal that they’d be regretting the back end of the Posada deal. Which is why I want him to play more first base.

6. Hideki Matsui appears, barring injury to others, be ensconced as the DH/4th outfielder this season. He’s due $26 million over the next two years. Should the Yankees think about dealing him?

SM: Hot start aside, I say yes – for the right offer. He’s still a useful player, but because of that, he’d bring a lot back in trade. Maybe a buy one Japanese player, get the other free as a way to bail on Igawa?

AF: I’d try to trade Johnny Damon before trading Hideki Matsui.  While Matsui is always either very hot or very cold, he usually puts up solid offensive numbers.  Damon has been getting benched early thus far, so it seems that he may not have a place on the team.

SG: There’s this desire to get rid of Matsui by a certain segment of Yankee fans but he projects to be the second best offensive player on the team this year ignoring position.  He’s a defensive liability in LF but if he’s primarily at DH he’s a valuable player.  Obviously, you should think about dealing him (or anyone) if you can do it in a way that would strengthen the team, but I’m not sure who you could get for him that would do that.  I’d keep him.  With all the money coming off the books in 2009 his salary is hardly going to prevent the team from doing anything they’d otherwise be able to do.

SL: Love the Godzilla.  Who doesn’t love the Godzilla?  I’m fine with Matsui as the Yankees D.H. this season and the one to follow.  There’s no way I would re-sign him after that.  But, for now, I would only move him if it was a deal that made a lot of sense for the team.

BK: Considering his offense so far, I would be loathe to see the Yankees deal him. His bat and his lefty power is just too important to the middle of this order. A year ago, I would have said “trade him,” but I have little faith in Jason Giambi and prefer Matsui to Damon.

Joe (RAB): No, I don’t think the Yanks should deal Matsui. I don’t see any team giving up anywhere near equal value, or anything useful to the team. Just hang onto him and hope he hits well enough to justify a portion of his salary. 

7. The early tabloid controversy this year did not involve A-Rod this year (Ed: How refreshing), but rather LaTroy Hawkins. Where do you stand on the Paul O’Neill number issue?

SM: It was the first time in my adult life I’ve been embarrassed to be a Yankee fan. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Look, O’Neill was a good ballplayer, but he was also red ass (and apparently, judging from his quotes on the affair, a self-centered jackass). Those are nice to have on your team, but you don’t canonize them - especially when you’re the Yankees.

The Yankees should have some standards for this kind of thing like: make the Hall of Fame, win a major regular or post season award, set a significant record or lead the league in something (win a batting title, etc.).

Paulie did none of that, yet because he smashes water coolers, he’s a god amongst lesser beings. I call bull.

The other problem here is that by caving in LaTroy has given power to the idle mob. The same dopes that boo A-Rod for strikeouts in April now supplant a guy trying to honor one of the best players ever. Awesome.

AF: LaTroy Hawkins should have kept No. 21.  Who cares what some idiots think?  Paul O’Neill should not get his number retired and people need to move on.  O’Neill was a good player, but he is not worthy on Monument Park.

SG: It’s a joke.  The people who booed Hawkins are idiots and I thought O’Neill came off poorly when asked about it as well.

SL: Personally, at this point, I would un-retire all the Yankees numbers.  Celebrate the greats with Monument Park and maybe a Yankees Hall (or Circle) of Fame in the new Stadium.  Put up statues for the really, really, great.  But, put all the numbers back into circulation.  They have too many retired numbers as is – and it’s slated to grow some more with Torre, Bernie, Jeter, etc.  It’s become too much.  So, for me, I would tear it all down now.

BK: I don’t think Paul O’Neill’s number should be retired, and I think Yankee fans should be embarrassed that they booed LaTroy Hawkins before he had even thrown a pitch in a Yankee uniform. It’s just a number, and that someone else is wearing it doesn’t lessen our memories or respect for players who had previously worn that number. Isn’t he wearing Roger Clemens’ number now anyway? 

Mike (RAB): Ugh, it was an absolute disgrace. The way to honor Paul O’Neill is not by chanting his name when another player wears his number. That kind of bull belongs in Shea or Fenway. It was disgusting and classless, and fans all around baseball are laughing at us for it. 

8. Related question – who from those Yankee teams, and the current vintage should expect to see their number on the wall one day?

SM: 2, 6, 13, 20, 42 and 51

AF: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre, Bernie Williams and Alex Rodriguez.

SG: Rivera and Jeter definitely. Bernie and Posada probably.

SL: Count on Rivera, Jeter, Torre, and Bernie.  Maybe A-Rod down the line.  Probably Posada too.  Maybe Gossage as well now that he’s in Cooperstown.  I would not retire #54 – but, I could see them doing it.

BK: Derek Jeter’s 2, Joe Torre’s 6, Mariano Rivera’s 42, Bernie William’s 51 and Alex Rodriguez’s 13 will be tough to reissue to future players.

Joe (RAB): Bernie. A Yankee lifer who was the best center fielder in the AL for a good stretch. Not HOF material, but definitely significant in Yankees lore. I’d put Pettitte above O’Neill. Plus, he wears 46, so it’s not exactly a premium number (same w/ Bernie’s 51). Obviously Jeter. I’m figuring Torre’s 6 will be retired, too. Beyond that, we’ll see on A-Rod. A couple of World Series and a few more MVPs in the next 10 years seem to be the only way for him, though. 

9. One of the most controversial of the current Yankees is Phil Hughes. Why is that, and what should we expect from him ’08?

SM: Expect the usual growing pains – some good starts, some bad starts, some great starts. In the long run, expect him to have a good, but maybe not great career.

AF: I already stated that Hughes is my No. 1 concern this year.  He should get to 10 wins simply because the offense is good.  However, he will need to pitch more than three innings.  As time goes on, he’ll be able to harness his pitches and hopefully he’ll throw harder when the weather gets warmer.

SG: Controversial?  How so? He is one of the youngest pitchers in the league and will have good outings and bad outings.  Those expecting him to dominate are probably going to be disappointed, but I think he has a good chance to be league average or a little worse than that this year and with the Yankee offense that should be fine.

SL: It’s because the Yankees and many of their fans have built Hughes up to be a “savior” of the starting rotation. There’s nowhere for him to go from there but down.  If he doesn’t “star” now, he’s a bust.  In terms of expectations for this season, I would suggest that it should be the same as any team would have for a guy as young and green as Hughes – meaning just as many downs as ups (and, because this is the Yankees, having to deal with the microscope that will be on him every time that he fails to live up to that “star” status).

BK: Hughes is so controversial because of the Johan Santana trade and because he represents the Yankee future. He’s expected to assume the mantle of staff ace in the eyes of many fans right away, and those are simply unreasonable expectations. In 2008, we should expect some good and some bad as he adjusts to life and pitching in the Major Leagues. What many fans forget is that the Twins were not willing to make a one-for-one deal involving Santana and Hughes. While Hughes bears the weight of that non-trade, that’s an unfair burden on his shoulders.

Mike (RAB): It’s Johan Santana’s fault. When the greatest sports franchise in the history of man doesn’t want to give you up in a trade for the best pitcher on the planet, it puts an instant bullseye on your back. All of us heard about how great and how talented he is as he climbed the minor league ladder, and now it’s gotten to the point where people are saying “okay, let’s see what you got.” He’s the youngest pitcher in baseball and the second youngest player in the game. He’s pitching in the AL East. He’s got the target on his back. Everything is set up for him to fail, and even though he got off to a rough start, you have to commend him for how’s he’s handled everything.

I believe in the Phil Hughes. I expect moments of greatness, moments of utter suckiness, and generally a respectable body of work in 2008. How’s 14 wins, a 4.20 ERA and 130 K in 150 IP sound? Remember, the Phil Hughes Experience is not about 2008 or even 2009, it’s about the following 10 years. 

10. Another oft-debated Yankee is Melky Cabrera. Some look at him and see someone a bit overmatched and not quite a regular on a championship club; others as a young Bernabe Figueroa Williams. When you look out to 2010, 2012… what do you see?

SM: I see somebody else’s centerfielder. I think Melky’s a good part, but with some of the kids coming up behind him, I think he might get passed by. But if were a career-long Yankee, it wouldn’t be an embarrassment, but I think the detractors are closer to the mark than the guys who see Bernie’s ghost.

AF: I think Melky Cabrera is overrated by Yankee fans.  Yeah, he’s a nice player, but that’s all he’ll be.  He’ll always be around .270/10 HR/70 RBI.  He is great in center field and saves a ton of runs, but that can be replaced with someone like Brett Gardner.  The Yankees need one of those annoying, pesky leadoff hitters.  I think the Yankees should consider trading him if the right offer comes along.  Sell high.

SG: Probably an average overall player as a centerfielder, or one of the best fourth outfielders in the game.  I don’t see stardom from Melky but I think he’ll be pretty useful.  Think Stan Javier with a little more pop and a little less speed maybe.

SL: Melky will be out of centerfield by then – but, still a solid defender in either right or left.  He’ll never been a power hitter.  But, then again, neither was Paul O’Neill.  I can see Cabrera being a regular on a championship club.  He may never be as good as Bernie Williams was at his peak, but, Melky can help a big league team.  He’s shown enough skills to warrant playing time.

BK: That far out, I see Austin Jackson in center field, and at this point, I’m willing to concede that Melky will be a corner outfielder on the Yankees. I — and the rest of us at River Ave. Blues — were the leaders in the anti-Melky contingent, and so far, it looks like we were wrong. We are happy to be wrong about Melky, but until he puts up consistent offensive numbers, until he stops swinging at predictable 3-2 sliders in the dirt, a part of me will wonder if he’s the right man, long-term, for the job. There’s no denying the enthusiasm that he brings to the team.

Joe (RAB): Well, we are Melky-Hating Central at RAB. Seriously though, it’s not that we hate him, it’s that we, or at least I, don’t see him getting significantly better at the plate. I fully believe that he can be a .280/.360 guy who hits a couple of dingers – average or slightly above average center fielder. And there’s nothing wrong with that. So no, I don’t at all see him as a young Bernie. We’ll see if Austin Jackson can fit that bill. 

11. The Yankees farm system has had quite the renaissance since 2004 or so. Who in the minors has you most excited? Are surprised the degree that fans now care about the Charleston RiverDogs and the like? Why is that?

SM: I’m a sucker for catchers, so I’m very excited to see what happens with Jesus Montero. Brett Gardner intrigues me a lot too – to the point where I wonder if he’ll be an X-factor this year.

I’m surprised a bit, yes. I guess the Internet and Baseball Prospectus and some of organization’s focus on the farm system have changed people’s perspectives. The Yankees were about the now for so long, it’s still weird to be thinking about the future so much.

AF: Kei Igawa has me most excited in the minors.  But seriously, Jesus Montero excites me the most.  Whether he stays at catcher or moves to first base, his future is bright.  And he’s younger than me (I was born in 1988) ]Ed. Note: I was born in ’78. This makes me feel old].
No, I’m not surprised that people are caring about the Charleston RiverDogs.  With the advent of blogging, fans have more access than ever.  It’s easy to go to MiLB.com or Yankee blogs to check up on the affiliates.  And this is a great thing.

SG: I like Austin Jackson, primarily because the Yankees need some young position players to start taking over for the guys who are getting older.  Further down I like Dellin Bettances’ potential too.  I’m not surprised that people are following the minors more because it’s a lot easier to do it now with the internet.

SL: I think Brett Gardner has a chance to be a Brett Butler type player.  Austin Jackson looks good.  Jose Tabata?  Just a gut feeling here on him.  But, he gives me a Ruben Rivera vibe.  Why do so many care about the minor leagues now?  It’s because so many baseball fans want to look like an expert – especially some bloggers.  So, if they can rattle off a bunch of names from the farm system, some feel like it gives the appearance that they really know what they’re talking about – at least to some.  Hence, the large numbers of those with interest in wanting to know the names, teams, etc., of the bush leaguers.

BK: I’m thrilled to watch Jesus Montero make his way through this system. This kid’s the real deal offensively, and if the Yanks can nail down a position for him, he’ll become the position player of the future. Fans know and care about all of this simply because blogs are paying more attention. Information flows easily over the Internet, and minor league scouting has benefited immensely. 

Mike (RAB): I am definitely surprised about how fans have taken to the farm system these days. I started following the minor leagues somewhere around 1999-2000, and back then no one cared about the farm system, and I mean no one. It all sorta started out with Wang and Cano being called up in 2005, that kinda piqued everybody’s interest. Next thing you know Melky showed up. Then it was Hughes and Joba. Then Shelley did his best Kevin Maas impersonation. Now that you have young players not just on the 25-man roster, but also playing crucial roles, and people are anxious to see who’s next.

Personally, the prospect I’m most excited about is Andrew Brackman. I know he’s out until 2009 with Tommy John surgery, but the package this kid brings is otherworldly. He’s got a chance to be more dominant than Joba, and in no way is that an exageration. Jesus Montero is also an exciting guy, if he manages to stay behind the play he’s got superstar potential.

12. Derek Jeter. Great shortstop or greatest shortstop?

SM: Great hitter. Would love to see him take the Robin Yount career path, but that’s probably just a fantasy.

AF: I love Derek Jeter.  He is everything that is right with baseball.  How he won three-straight Gold Gloves, however, is beyond me.

SG: Average shortstop overall if his defense continues to slide.  His next contract negotiation should be very interesting.  He’s not worth nearly what he’s being paid now in terms of his on-the-field value.

SL: Pretty darn good offensive shortstop.  Not the worst fielding shortstop.  He’s not Jose Offerman or Wil Cordero.  But, he’s not as good with the glove as just about every other starting shortstop in the bigs.  Just because you’re thirtieth out of thirty, it doesn’t mean you’re the worst ever.  Still, he’s not great – and certainly not the greatest.

BK: Great hitter. Mixed at short.

Joe (RAB): The tone suggests you’re talking about defense. All I’ll say is that Jeter looks light years better so far this year than he did last year. 

13. It’s the final year of Brian Cashman’s contract – will he back? Should he be back?

SM: I hope so and yes. Cashman gets a lot of heat for the things he does poorly (see: Igawa, Kei and Pavano, Carl), but generally I think he’s what you want in a GM – a good delegator and manager of people and personalities. Also, in the same way I was against, at the time, the Joe Torre “firing,” I’m a firm believer that unless you have someone lined up who’s guaranteed to be better, you don’t sack a guy.

AF: I hope he will be back and he should be back.  He’s done a great job mixing in the young guys with the veterans and building up the farm system.  While there will be setbacks this year, the Yankees won’t regret missing out on Johan Santana.  They’ve proved that constructing an all-star roster only gets you to the playoffs.  He has struggled with the bullpen and struck out with some free agents, but he has done a solid job overall.

SG: I’d like to see him come back but I don’t think he will.  I’d think if he wanted to be back he’d have agreed to an extension already.

SL: I’m somewhat sure that Cashman has an old beer can full of reefer roaches with Hank Stein’s DNA on them.  So, he’s probably a safe bet to come back – if he wants to come back.  Should he be back?  Check the Yankees stats for Javier Vazquez, Jeff Weaver, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, and Kei Igawa and compare them to the resources (in terms of players and money) Cashman used to have them on the team.  Then, you tell me if he should be back.

BK: Yes and yes. While the Yankees may not be the most efficiently assembled team in terms of money, it’s hard to argue with a decade of continued success. Cashman’s been with the Yanks for 22 years, and the Brothers Steinbrenner aren’t about to let him walk.

Joe (RAB): Bring him back. The man has a plan in place, a plan I can get behind. Might as well let him see it out. As long as he’s learned the lessons of Johnson and Pavano – and assuming the Yankees will let him operate with that in mind – there’s no reason to look elsewhere. 

14. On the current Yankee squad – which Yankee is your favorite guy to watch? Doesn’t have to be best player, just who’s the most fun to watch.

SM: I love watching Chien-Ming Wang pitch. It’s just a mystery to me how he’s successful. The numbers tell me a guy who doesn’t get a lot of punch outs shouldn’t be a No. 1, but my eyes tell the numbers to can it. It’s just amazing to see.

AF: I love watching Derek Jeter, and it’s always entertaining watching A-Rod hit A-Bombs when the score is 7-1.

SG: Joba and Mo.

SL: Andy Pettitte.  He just comes across as old-school enough to have fit in with any Yankees team.

BK: Mariano’s the most fun to watch. This guy comes into the game so calmly and uses his one devastating pitcher to mow down hitters. He’s been doing it since 1996, and he’s off to one of his best starts of all time. It’s simply amazing watching him work.

Mike (RAB): Well, everyone likes watching Joba, and aside from him I really enjoy watching Hughes pitched. I followed the kid ever since he was just an awkward little 18-yr old coming out of high school, and watching him accomplish what he has in the minors and now fill a rotation spot for the big league team is very, very cool. I also enjoy watching Rock ‘n Rohlendorf, nothing that guy throws goes straight. 

15. Flip side, least favorite guy to watch?

SM: Kyle Farnsworth. Period.

AF: I’ve always disliked Jorge Posada for some reason.  I don’t know where it came from, but he’s always bothered me and I would have let him walk after last season if there were a decent replacement.  I also hate watching Kyle Farnsworth pitch.

SG: The Farns.

SL: None.  I love them all like they’re brothers from a different mother.  Well, as long as they’re wearing pinstripes, I feel that way about them.

BK: Jason Giambi. It’s like watching a baseball train wreck unfold in every at bat.

Mike (RAB): Moose is kinda boring. He’s been doing his thing for so long that it’s gotten stale. Watching Bobby Abreu at the plate can be torture. His at-bats last so damn long and he never changes his expression or body language. You wouldn’t be able to tell if it was the first day of Spring Training or the 7th game of the World Series from watching him. 

16. Over/unders:

A) Two 1-2-3 innings for Kyle Farnsworth
SM: Under
AF: Over
SG: Over
SL: Under
BK: Over
MA: Over

B) 28 combined “wins” for Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes
SM: Push
AF: Under
SG: Under
SL: Under
BK: Push
MA: Hmmm, I’ll say Under

C) .280 batting average for Melky Cabrera
SM: Over
AF: Under
SG: Under
SL: Over
BK: Over
MA: Over!

D) One extension or re-signing of Bobby Abreu
SM: Over
AF: Over
SG: Under
SL: Under
BK: Over
MA: Under. Let him walk, take the compensation draft picks and sign Juan Rivera as a stopgap until Jose Tabata or Austin Jackson is ready.

E) 40 homers for Alex Rodriguez
SM: Over
AF: Push
SG: Over
SL: Over
BK: Over
MA: Over

F) One 30-HR season for another Yankee
SM: Under
AF: Push
SG: Over
SL: Under
BK: Over
MA: Under, but someone should make it close

G) 19 wins for Chien-Ming Wang
SM: Under
AF: Under
SG: Under
SL: Under
BK: Over
MA: Over

H) 10 starts by pitchers not currently on the 25-man roster
SM: Over
AF: Over
SG: Over
SL: Over
BK: Under
MA: Over, it always happens

I) 50 walks for Robinson Cano
SM: Under
AF: Under
SG: Under
SL: Under
BK: Over
MA: Over

J) 15 HR for Jason Giambi
SM: Over
AF: Under
SG: Over
SL: Under
BK: Over, begrudgingly
MA: Over

K) One violent throttling of Hank Steinbrenner by a family member
SM: Over
AF: Over
SG: Over
SL: Under
BK: Under
MA: Under, Hank’s the designated violent throttler in the fam.

17. Handing out awards to Yankees – team MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Gold Glover.

SM: MVP – A-Rod; CYA – Wang; RoY (First-Year Yankee) – Hawkins; GG – Melky

AF: MVP – A-Rod; CYA – Wang; RoY – Joba; GG – A-Rod

SG: MVP – A-Rod; CYA – Wang; RoY – Joba; GG – Cano

SL: MVP – Abreu; CYA – Wang; RoY – Joba; GG – Alberto Gonzalez

BK: MVP – A-Rod; CYA – Wang; RoY – Joba; GG – Melky

MA: MVP – A-Rod; CYA – Wang; RoY – Joba; GG – Alberto Gonzalez

18. On Sept. 29, what will the Yankees’ record be, and will they be booking tee times or flights and hotel rooms for a postseason series?

SM: 94-68 and in the playoffs somehow.

AF: 90-72, Wild Card winners.

SG: I would have said 96-66 before the season started but I’ll amend that to 94-68.  That should be good enough for flights and hotel rooms.

SL: Around 90 wins.  Whether it’s just ninety or closer to ninety-five will depend on some luck.  This should put them in the running, at the worst, for the Wildcard.  But, it will be close.  Whatever they book, it might not be a bad idea to go the “refundable” route if they’re booking in advance.

BK: 95-67, hotel rooms for the postseason. I’m a Yankee optimist. 

Mike (RAB): Let’s say ... 94-68, and they’ll be looking forward to banking their playoff shares. I dunno how they’ll get in, but they will somehow, always do.

19. This being the last season in the renovated Yankee Stadium – what will you miss and not miss about it and what are you looking forward to and/or dreading about the new joint?

SM: I guess, I’ll miss its dinge, it’s raw feel. By the time I started going to games, it was no longer the House Ruth Built, but the ballpark equivalent of a renovated split-level, so I don’t know that I’ll miss the unnecessary romance attached to it. It was a special for that happened there, not the building itself. As for the new place, having experienced a new ballpark here in Washington, I’ll be excited to see how the Yankees blend modern features with their nods to the past. I’m not excited to have to take out a subprime mortgage for the privilege.

AF: I’ll miss the fact that the new Stadium is not on the same location.  Yes, it was renovated in 1974 and 1975, but the location was the same.  I will not miss the crowded corridors and cramped bathrooms, however.  I’m looking forward to a modern, world-class structure (boy, am I sounding like a P.R. person).  I do not, however, like that there will be a few-thousand less seats and that the upper deck is not on top of the field.

SG: I guess I’ll just miss the Stadium itself.  I won’t miss the urinal troughs.  If I still lived in the New York area I’d dread the ticket prices but since I don’t I’ll just dread hearing Michael Kay wax poetic about how wonderful the new stadium is.

SL: I’ll miss the current location of the season tickets that I’ve had since 2001 – Section 15 in the Loge.  Since I’m not a millionaire, I’ll never get those seats in the new place.  Basically, all the things that I won’t miss about the old place will be the things that I’m not looking forward to in the new place – like traffic and parking issues, outrageous prices for food and drink, etc.  What am I most looking forward to in the new place?  Not having to miss an inning (or more) to go take a leak.  As much as you have to pay, these days, to see a Yankees game in person, it’s a shame to lose one-ninth of the game (or longer) having to wait on line, missing the action, because nature calls.

BK: I will miss that famous mystique and aura of Yankee Stadium. I will miss the memories and the history. I won’t miss the grimy feeling that seems to pervade every inch of that place. I won’t miss the long lines leaving the stadium, the nasty bathrooms or the interminable food lines. I will miss the sightlines too and the low-hanging upper deck.

I’m looking forward to the shine and glimmer of a new stadium. I’m looking forward to improved sightlines down the lines and modern amenities. I’m dreading the higher ticket prices and the idea that the new stadium is cursed which won’t go away until the Yanks win their first championship there, whenever that may be.

Mike (RAB): I’ll miss so much. The Stadium just has this aura of awesomeness that you don’t get anywhere else. I won’t miss the narrow concourses, but I’ll miss the black seats, the little alleyway where the ambulance parks, the way the Tier level overhangs, all the little things. It’s a marvelous place, and I’m terribly saddening that it’s going away.

I am looking forward to the new digs though, I can’t wait to see the open-air concourses and martini bars and ridiculously huge JumboTron and the new Monument Park, all sorts of stuff. It won’t be the same though, it just won’t. 

20. What’s your best Yankee Stadium memory?

SM: Watching Soriano’s walkoff in the 2001 ALCS. Bought tickets on eBay, drove all day from DC, stayed til the end, then drove all the way home that night. Got in about 4:30 in the morning, and still went to work at 8:30 the next day happy.

AF: My best Yankee Stadium memory is seeing Alfonso Soriano’s walk-off home run against Kaz Sasaki in Game 4 of the 2001 ALCS.

SG: The best game I attended live at Yankee Stadium was the Benitez plunks Tino game so that’s probably my favorite memory.  That or the time some drunk girl in the upper deck threw a full beer at another girl.

SL: In person?  Gotta be Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS.  But, there are many, many, other great memories as well.  I’ve probably forgotten some of the years – since there’s been so many great memories from going to games there.

BK: Game Six of the 2000 ALCS. When David Justice’s towering three-run home run in the bottom of the 7th gave the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish, the stadium was rocking. It was an electric evening that night and one I will never forget.

Mike (RAB): I was in the stands for Doc’s no-hitter. It doesn’t get any better than that.