Blog Archives
“Stoking The Fire Segment” – Tanaka Will Miss Over A Years Worth Of Work In 7 Year Deal From ‘TJS’ Avoidance
Pitching with a partially torn UCL in his pitching arm since July of 2014, the Yankees and Tanaka’s camp have avoided having Tommy John Surgery thus far, but how far can they go in avoiding the procedure? I also make the point that even if the Yankees ace somehow eludes the injury for the duration of his 7 year contract – that the fans are only seeing him at 85 – 90%. I thought the move was to have TJ Surgery in 2014, and upon returning from it, he would be able to turn it lose like an ace should.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) Follow @stokes_Hunter21
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What is better: 5 Years and an average of 200 Innings Thrown, or 6 years of throwing 150 – 165 IP?
The diagnosis of Masahiro Tanaka‘s slightly torn elbow was first disclosed in July of 2014. Had he gone for Tommy John Surgery there for repair, he could be back at full strength right about now in time.
Instead of going ahead with a procedure (that is operating at about an 86% rate of full return for pitchers,) the Japanese born Tanaka has been nursing the injury since the start of the 2015 season.
Having signed a 7 year deal worth $155 MIL – that also included a $20 MIL posting fee, the Yankees were hoping to land an ace that could pivot their rotation from 2014 – 2020.
While it is amazing the man can even throw with this lingering issue, Tanaka authored a great WHIP of 0.994 and a respectable ERA of 3.51 in 24 Game Starts during 2015. Here is the problem though, he missed 2 months of the season when his elbow flared up. Read the rest of this entry
Tampa Bay Rays State Of The Union For 2016
The Rays have still been one of the best teams in baseball since the start of 2008. Last year marked their 1st losing season since 2007 – and that was only at 80 – 82. But with the starting positional players listed on depth chart all being below league averages on offense – except for Logan Forsythe and Evan Longoria, they will need a few breakout players from their bench. It may be time trade one or 2 Starting Pitchers to add some offensive help. If they fall out of contention in 2016 it also may not be a bad idea to trade all veterans that they can. This may include Longoria.
Chuck Booth (Owner/Lead Analyst) Follow @chuckbooth3024
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The Tampa Bay Rays failed to make it to .500 or better for the 1st time since 2008 in 2015, however with a 5 game winning streak at the end of the campaign, they made it to 80 wins or better for an 8th year in a row. I highly suspect this year that may come crashing down.
First Boston went off on a spending spree to amp up its roster, and now the Yankees have added Aroldis Chapman to the fold, and upgraded at Second Base with Starlin Castro.
Toronto made its moves for the better in late July, and should be a team to be reckoned with again in 2016.
Only the Orioles don’t look to compete in the AL East during the 2016 campaign with the Rays thus far, and they still may be tough to play 19 times a year if they are to re-sign Chris Davis.
Tampa Bay still clearly has the best Pitching Rotation in the Division with Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, Matt Moore and Jake Odorizzi filtering in spots 1 – 5. But will it be enough to help a fledgling offensive in 2016? Read the rest of this entry
Tampa Bay Rays Payroll In 2016 + Contracts Going Forward
The Rays are one of six teams that are projected to spend over $30 MIL in Arbitration Eligible Players along with the Baltimore O’s, Toronto Blue Jays, NY Mets, Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals all will likely pay more in totality than the Rays for 2016. The team will only have around a $70 MIL payroll for the coming year. Don’t look for them to add that many pieces either with drawing just under 1.3 Million fans in 2015 – the worst attendance figure in the Major Leagues. The club has won at least 80 games a year since 2008, and still they can’t draw at Tropicana Field.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The Rays only have four players on current contracts so far this winter, but they also only stand to lose 2 players after the 2016 year in James Loney and Logan Morrison.
Tampa has 3 players in the 1st year of Arbitration and 5 guys in the 2nd Year of Arbitration. The 2nd year guys include Jake McGee, Logan Forsythe and Alex Cobb – all could be added with 1st Year ARB player Drew Smyly as distinct trade candidates.
Already having 5 pending Free Agents in 2018 has to be in the minds of the management. All of them will not end the 2016 year on the Roster in my view.
Morrison and Loney both may not reach opening day as both being on the Roster either. Read the rest of this entry
ALL Time Tommy Surgeries List: Updated For 2015 Players
Holland took over Closer duties during the 2012 season – once Jonathan Broxton was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He was 7 – 4, with a 2.96 ERA – with 16 Saves. He was dominate until he went down with a UCL tear this season.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer) Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The epic is going absolutely nowhere fast, and we have seen a dramatic spike in the last decade of surgeries. We have a dedicated page to the list here.
There have been several scares with some big name pitchers on 9 figure salaries, with Masahiro Tanaka and Clayton Kershaw in recent years, but there will come a day when a guy goes down making $25 MIL plus per year.
You could say that Yu Darvish was heading towards an astronomical payday before his setback this season.
2015 Surgeries (29)
Greg Holland, Royals, Oct.2
Aaron Barrett, Nationals, Sept.3
Nathan Adcock, Reds
Jason Vargas, Royals, Aug.1
Jack Leathersich, Mets, July.30
Don Kelly, Marlins, July.1: OF
Sergio Santos, Blue Jays, July.1
Brandon Workman, Red Sox, June.15
Jarrod Parker, A’s – Honorable mention (3rd TJ Surgery not to occur, but he is out indefinitely after was revealed he had a tear in his elbow – recovering from 2nd TJ Surgery from Mar, 2014 in Minor League rehabilitation earlier in the month.) Still having an elbow surgery, just not the Tommy John operation. Read the rest of this entry
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
With almost $100 MIL tied up in contracts for Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira and a potential Tommy John Surgery candidate in Masahiro Tanaka, this New York squad is in some deep trouble for next season. Despite the recent playoff misses, and injury prone players brought in by Brian Cashman, the club saw fit to grant him a 3 year extension last month. It may take a small miracle for them to make a playoff spot next campaign.
The Evil Empire Is About To Crumble In The Bronx!
Jordan Gluck (Featured Writer): Follow @jgluck777
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The Yankees have long used the prolong success of the “core four” to drive them to go far in the playoffs. They then surrounded them by free agents and other homegrown players.
Today the Yankees are in some trouble and if they aren’t smart this offseason they will remain hampered by large contracts for a long time instead of a quick retool to be VERY competitive in two years.
Let me show you what I’m talking about
Here is their Starting lineup and their ages:
LF Brett Gardner 31
3B/2B Martin Prado 31
CF Jacoby Ellsbury 31
C Brian McCann 30
RF Carlos Beltran 37
1B Mark Teixeira 34
DH Alex Rodriguez 39
2B Robert Refsnyder 23 (Or acquisition at 3B, Prado plays 2B)
SS Brendan Ryan 32
Not exactly Spring chickens over there. The only player under 30 is one that will almost absolutely be replaced by someone who is most likely over 30. This at this moment isn’t exactly a star studded lineup, but the way that their being paid might make it seem that way. Read the rest of this entry
As Of Right Now – The Yankees Are A Mess For 2015: End Of The Year ‘State Of The Union’
With almost $100 MIL tied up in contracts for Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira and a potential Tommy John Surgery candidate in Masahiro Tanaka, this New York squad is in some deep trouble for next season. Despite the recent playoff misses, and injury prone players brought in by Brian Cashman, the club saw fit to grant him a 3 year extension last week
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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Let me get this straight…The ‘Bronx Bombers’ have missed the playoff for 2 years straight and no one has lost their jobs? Man how times have changed in Yankees land.
If George Steinbrenner were alive still right now, the twitter and social media world would be trending his name for all of October.
Since when is it acceptable to miss the playoffs, underachieve and spend to the best payroll in the American League?
Firing Kevin Long is not going to solve the hit crisis the club has.
Before any of you throw daggers at our site, we have had this stance for a couple of years now.
The 1st mistake was to not get under the Luxury Tax Threshold this season. That was soon followed by inking Brett Gardner to a 4 Year Deal, when you have such a similar player in the Outfield like Jacoby Ellsbury. Read the rest of this entry
Stop Praising The Yankees For 2014! + Someone Should Be Held Accountable For This Disaster!
The Yankees can’t stop themselves from spending!! A self-imposed cap of under $189 MIL was shot when injuries began to mount. The club should have packed it in for the year, traded veterans near the deadline, with nothing but a hope and a prayer to make the playoffs. Now because they couldn’t fall under the Salary Tax Threshold, it will take a miracle to reach underneath this mark before the 2016 CBA. Welcome to financial hell Yanks, and your team is old – and have no Starting Pitcher’s likely above the #5 slot to begin the 2015 season currently on your 40 man roster under contract, and your payroll is already nearing $175 MIL on just 17 players as it is. Despite all of this, the Yankees are set to offer Cashman an extension? Are they for real?
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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I am sick and tired of hearing all this praise being bestowed on Brian Cashman for the job he is done.
I will not lump Joe Girardi into this conversation, Heck, he has done a great job manipulating the roster he has been given. With the amount of injuries (which happens to old players – hello!) the Yanks are lucky they are not cellar dwelling with the Red Sox.
Back near the Trade Deadline, Chuck Booth explained the “Pinstripers” were foolish to not take advantage of a seller’s market, giving them the ability to deal some veterans – in order to get under the $189 MIL Luxury Tax Threshold. They were 47 – 47 at the ALL – Star Break. Read the rest of this entry
Yanks Finish 30th In The 2014 MLB ‘Runs Scored” Survivor
The Yankees moved within 2.5 games of the Mariners for the 2nd Wild Card spot, but more importantly, finished their 11th different run variation from 0 – 10 last night, and became the 30th team to do so this year. We will see you all in 2015!! Thanks for reading along.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The New York Yankees had played 129 games – and finally registered exactly 8 runs in any contest this year – with an 8 – 1 drubbing over Kansas City last night – in a potentially crucial Wild Card matchup against one of the teams they maybe vying for a playoff spot with.
Why is this important?
Because the Bronx Bombers are the 30th team to complete their quest to score precisely 0 – 10 runs in 11 different variations in the MLB.
Atlanta was the 29th club to finish their mission, and they were done this at the 98 games mark – which was 31 matches ) faster than the “Pinstripers”.
Scoring 8 runs in a game was one of the tougher things to do for all other teams yes, but this Yanks lineup has doled out nearly $130 MIL in player contracts for the 2014 season on their offense alone.
The hitting has been pathetic to say the least – until the last 4 games. Joe Girardi should win manager of the year for this team even posting a winning record thus far.
Having 4 major Starting Pitching injuries should spell doom for any club, however that hasn’t been the problem with this squad.
Acquired/Organizational Pitchers Brandon McCarthy, Shane Greene, David Phelps, Chase Whitley, Chris Capuano have peace-mealed a solid effort for the Starting Rotation.
It has been the 1 – 9 batters that have caused this franchise to struggle this campaign. Nevertheless, they finally pushed across the required amount. They are the last team to finish, and it happened 4 months and 2 days from when the Giants 1st finished their quest on Apr.23, 2014.
The Rays were the 1st AL club to finish 2 days later – and the Braves were the 29th club to do this – and that was done on July.20, 2014.
Yankees Have Still Not Completed MLB Scoring Runs Survivor: 30th Place Showing Shows Epic Fail In 2014
You are on the clock New York. Every other team finished Runs Scoring Survivor before the 100 game mark, and you are in jeopardy of running the whole year without plating 8 runs specifically in a game. We are waiting to close the category up for the year. You have already secured last place in this deal. With your payroll on offense at $130 MIL in position players, that would rank you in the top 8 for team salaries alone. Your hitting has been abysmal – and an EPIC FAIL this year!
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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The New York Yankees have played 123 games – and still have yet to register exactly 8 runs in any contest this year. Why is this important?
Because the Bronx Bombers are the 30th team to complete their quest to score precisely 0 – 10 runs in 11 different variations in the MLB.
Atlanta was the 29th club to finish their mission, and they were done this at the 98 games mark – or currently 25 matches (and counting) faster than the “Pinstripers”.
Scoring 8 runs in a game was one of the tougher things to do for all other teams yes, but this Yanks lineup has doled out nearly $130 MIL in player contracts for the 2014 season on their offense alone.
The hitting has been pathetic to say the least. Joe Girardi should win manager of the year for this team even posting a winning record thus far.
Having 4 major Starting Pitching injuries should spell doom for any club, however that hasn’t been the problem with this squad.
Acquired Pitcher Brandon McCarthy, Shane Greene, David Phelps, Chase Whitley, Chris Capuano have peace-mealed a solid effort for the Starting Rotation.
It has been the 1 – 9 batters that have caused this franchise to struggle this campaign.
i won’t get into this that much more – as that is saved for another blog, but this team has 39 chances left to come up with 8 runs on the nose in a game this year – or this little category of mine will be left unfinished this season.
329 other variations have been authored it is time for New York to quit messing around, and get its act together. Read the rest of this entry
What Masahiro Tanaka’s Injury Means For The Yankees In 2014 + 2015
With Masahiro Tanaka out for at least 6 weeks with a UCL tear, the Yankees are dealing with 4/5ths of their opening day rotation now on the DL – and their 5th starter (Kuroda) having struggled in the 2nd half of 2013. The club is barely at .500, and must realize there is an opportunity to reset the 50% Luxury Tax Threshold to 0, by slashing some payroll via trades in the next 3 weeks. The worst thing this organization could do would try to salvage this year, like they did in 2013, by adding payroll, flipping prospects, for an ill-advised playoff run that the odds are stacked up against.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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I have talked at length about the Yankees precarious position of defining whether or not they are contenders or not, and whether they should seek selling off some assets, to fall below the $189 MIL Luxury Tax Threshold – or if the franchise should run at a postseason berth in Derek Jeter‘s last season.
Seeing that Masahiro Tanaka will be out for at least 6 weeks with a partially torn UCL on his pitching arm, and possibly be out with Tommy John Surgery afterwards, this season outlook is becoming bleak.
Even with the Japanese superstar throwing at a premium level, the club would have a longshot chance to make the playoffs – and do some damage. Read the rest of this entry
Yankees Hanging In the AL East + Wild Card Race
The New York Yankees have managed to stay afloat among injuries, old age and lackluster play at home so far. A lot of it can be attributed to Mashahiro Tanaka, the Bullpen as a whole, timely hits from bench players, a few streaks by Teixeira, and for unheralded players like Yangervis Solarte and Dellin Betances. The Bronx Bombers will have a tough time competing without the likes of Sabathia, Nova and Pineda for the next stretch, and will not see Nova for the whole year.
The Yankees spent $503 MIL on player salaries in the offseason, and half of the roster is comprised of different guys from last year.
It was a team that also splashed the biggest International signing plus posting fee with their 7 YRs/$175 MIL pact with acquiring Masahiro Tanaka.
Going into the second game of a 7 game homestand versus the Twins (3), a makeup game vs Mariners on Monday, then concluding with a 3 game set against Oakland., the Bronx Bombers are 28 – 25, and 2.5 Games Behind AL East leading Toronto.
While it is too early for the standings really, if the playoffs were to start today, the Yankees would be playing against the Angels in the Wild Card playoff spot.
Fresh from a 5 – 4 road trip through Chicago (both teams) and St. Louis, the team did well to salvage the trip after dropping the 1st two contests to begin with.
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