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So yeah.
The better question is: what if the Yankees get both CC and Burnett?
Yeah, that's just sick.
I'm pulling for Atlanta to come out on top in the Burnett sweepstakes for two reasons...
1. I like the Rays and would like to see them continue to have success against the big-spending Yankees
2. I live near Atlanta and don't want to continue to hear about Braves suckage. They NEED Burnett....Yankees are just being greedy now.
So yeah.
The better question is: what if the Yankees get both CC and Burnett?
Free agent A.J. Burnett is apparently headed to the Yankees http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3765754
AJ Burnett Signing = Carl Pavano Signing
AJ Burnett is going to get into an accident, hurt himself, and lie to the Yankees about it?
I don't understand why some people just assume won't work out. It's not like the Yankees care if they blow money away on players. They can afford it. Burnett might not be the greatest pick-up ever, and he might not be worth the money he's going to get, but at best, he'll be the third guy in the rotation. That's at best. He might be the fourth or fifth starter in the rotation. If he's only what he's been the last four seasons, he'll do fine as the fourth starter. Pavano was a disaster for the Yankees, but primarily because of Pavano lying about his car accident and rib injury. That as much as anything was where all the went wrong with Pavano.
Wang, Sabathia, Chamberlain, Burnett, and either Pet te, Hughes, or someone unexpected is a very fine staff.
Fair enough. Although I've argued this with other people about Sabathia already, but CC has been fat basically his entire major league career. His weight doesn't affect his pitching, and up until now, it hasn't affected his health in terms of being injury prone. That's not to say he can't or won't be injured. But, it is to say that you can't just expect him to get injured because of his weight. It hasn't been proven to be a factor so far in his career.
And, while I agree with the "cost-benefit analysis" part of your argument, it's not like the Yankees are worried about that. They spend what they have to and what they want to to get the players they want. It's almost as if there is no cost-benefit analysis when it comes to their personnel decision making. If a big contract doesn't work out, it doesn't affect them as it relates to throwing more money elsewhere on other players they target. So, I would hesitate to make an argument against the Yankees as it pertains to how bad, big contracts might affect them financially. They technically don't affect them other than actually paying out those contracts out.
I only question his ability to rebound from major injury for three reasons:
1) As you mention, there is no precedent;
2) Seriously, he is heavy enough that it is an obstacle to recovering from injury; and
3) The Brewers used and abused him like a rented car.
I'm not saying he is injury prone; I'm saying I question his ability to rebound from injury. More specifically, there is a good chance he will miss some significant time next year. There is also a chance he will fulfill his entire contract without missing more than 10 starts. Which has better odds?
You are certainly 100% correct in that the Yankees can afford to do this and the Burnett deal, both from a baseball and purely financial standpoint.
Because it aggravates a lot of people that their team has zero chance due to baseball economics. Pittsburgh and Kansas City could have Branch Rickey, Connie Mack, Billy Beane, and Dallas Green in their front offices, and I don't think it would make much difference. For every Tampa and Minneapolis, there are at least an equal number of small market teams that have zero chance at success from year to year.
Am I in favor of wholesale change? Maybe. I'm not sure. Still, I'm pretty sure this is the source of a lot of the scrutiny of the Yankees' moves.
On a purely personal level, I wish Sabathia the best, particularly because Milwaukee abused the out of his arm.
I wish sabathia his worse season ever
I couldn't care less if it works out for them. I'm not a Yanks fan, nor a hater. I'm saying it'll probably turn out like the Pavano signing, because a bunch of money was thrown at a guy (after a career year) -- and there's a good chance he'll be on the DL a lot, given his history.
The reasons behind the injury are irrelevant - but Pavano missed a lot of time after signing a huge contract. And Burnett has really done nothing in his career to make people believe he won't miss time. Even after signing a big contract.
Similar in that a lot of money is going to be invested in a pitcher who will probably be watching games from the dugout.
Great, the Blue Jays star pitcher is gone
A "good chance?" I guess I'd like to know what your definition of a "good chance" is. I don't think there's a "good chance" that CC will miss significant time next year.
Yes, he pitched over 250 innings last year. Did you know CC pitched over 250 innings the year before that in 2007? Didn't affect him injury wise last season. Of course, the counter argument is, "well, that's two years of over 250 innings per season, so he's bound to get injured this year." That could be the case. Again, not saying he can't get injured. But, seriously, I can't say it's a "good chance" of happening. He hasn't pitched less than 28 starts in a season. He's always pitching at least 180-220 innings a season. As fat and out of shape as he is, it hasn't affected his durability, health, and pitching. Sure, he "could" get injured. Any player "could" get injured. CC has proven he's no more susceptible simply because of his weight or his workload.
Again, he pitched the same amount innings with the Indians the year before. And, it's not like CC didn't want to work on 3 games rest when they asked it of him. He was a gamer. And, he wanted the ball. Didn't complain. Never hesitated to pitch when called upon.On a purely personal level, I wish Sabathia the best, particularly because Milwaukee abused the out of his arm.
Maybe they will finally break the Boston curse of 2004 and win a damn playoff series with this lineup. Then again that could be pushing it.
You're saying the glass is half-full; I'm saying it's half-empty.
From a National League perspective, Yost (and later Sveum) used and abused Sabathia. Since he is somewhat competent at the plate and the Milwaukee bullpen was incompetent, Sabathia pitched a lot more innings that most NL managers would have had him pitch. (Hope that made sense.) Most of his complete games were totally unnecessary (blowouts). I was aware of 2007, but my point was this year added another 250 inning season, as well as another year of chronological age.
I understand that innings and/or pitches alone don't kill arms. It's the actual damage done to the muscles and connective tissues. Sabathia has too many factors against him: getting older, previous "good luck," and two intense seasons with a lot of consecutive innings.
You also seem to misunderstand my point about his weight. His weight hasn't made him injury prone: that's a fact. I'm saying that his weight compromises his ability to recover from a major injury (particularly any fracture to his legs). That's also a fact. Assuming all other factors are equal (such as 6"0", same body type, etc.), a 300 lb. man is not as likely to fully recover from a fracture to the legs as a 200 lb. man. As the age of the patient increases, the disparity becomes greater.
I would also cheerfully admit that a fracture of the femur in baseball is better classified as a "freak accident" and not a "pitching injury." In that sense, I was thinking of ACL, hamstring, and shoulder problems.
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