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New York Yankees Make Offer To C.C. Sabathia

Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: New York Yankees

C.C. Sabathia

The New York Yankees are flexing their money muscles as they have already offered free-agent pitcher, C.C. Sabathia, a substantial contract that rivals Johan Santana’s six-year $137.5 million contract signed last offseason after a trade from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Mets.  Sabathia, the gem this offseason of pitching free-agents, will be getting offers, or at least interest, from many MLB teams, but at this point, no one can compete with the Yankees’ money.  It’s known that Sabathia, a California native, would rather go to Cali and hit in the National League.  However, will the lure of the almighty dollar be enough for Sabathia to say no to where he really wants to go?

Read More | Yahoo! Sports

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Offseason Notes - C.C. Sabathia and Derek Lowe

Posted by Charles Mitri Categories: New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Rumors

C.C. Sabathia

C.C. Sabathia’s name came up last night at Joe Torre’s Safe At Home fund raising gala. New York Yankees captain and Torre protégé, Derek Jeter, said that he has spoken to the lights out lefty about wearing the pinstripes next season, but no news yet if C.C. will be moving to the Bronx for 2009. Sabathia could well be the Yanks’ answer to Johan Santana and would anchor the Yanks’ pitching impoverished rotation. The real question is can Sabathia win the big games? While hurling for the Cleveland Indians, Sabathia was nearly unhittable against the Bombers in the divisional round of the 2007 playoffs, but looked awfully pedestrian this year, ceding five runs in two innings against the world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

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2008 MLB Predictions - World Series And Award Champs

Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories:

Before we talk about the World Series winner, take a look at whom I think will win the various divisions and wildcard for the American League and National League. When you’re done, come on back…

Welcome back! And the winners are:

World Series - Arizona Diamondbacks over the Cleveland Indians

I am totally picking the Diamondbacks because a former A’s pitcher will lead them! I’m kidding. Although I do think that Dan Haren is going to make a big difference for the D-Backs, as well as a healthy Randy Johnson who does a Curt Schilling and wins one more World Series in his old age (sans bloody sock). I like the young talent here with Upton, Drew, Young, Jackson, mixed with the veterans Byrnes, Orlando Hudson, and Chad Tracy. Plus, part of this pick is gut instinct. I could be totally wrong, but really, in November will anyone remember me picking the D-Backs all the way in March? Doubt it… however, I will tell you this much… if the D-Backs do win it all, I WILL be mentioning this blog post and proclaim myself a GENIUS!

And now, we move on to the individual awards for 2008.

AL MVP - Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox

Yes, everyone’s favorite enigma of a ballplayer is my choice for being the A.L.’s best in 2008. ManRam had an off-year last season due to injuries, but it’s a contract year and what better way to comeback than in a contract year, right? Either way, Ramirez is one of the better hitters in the game (1.003 career OPS as of this writing allows you to claim that title) and he actually worked out during the offseason. Yes, the guy is looking trim… for him anyway. I’m sensing a .330/45/140 type of season.

NL MVP - David Wright, New York Mets

New York’s other man in the hot corner gets better and better and the numbers the past three seasons prove it. Wright will make last season’s choke job a thing of the past and he will help his team get over the hump and make it back to the playoffs. As you can see I have the D-Backs winning it all, so the Mets don’t get far, but just getting back to the postseason will help people forget about last year. Wright will be a huge part in that happening.

AL Cy Young - Rich Harden, Oakland Athletics

All Harden has to do is stay healthy and I know he’s determined to prove to everyone that he’s a gamer and can bring it for a full season. As my mantra has been - Harden + 30 Starts = Cy Young Award.

NL Cy Young - Johan Santana, New York Mets

Santana will be worth the money… this season at least. It’s a new league and some hitters have never faced a pitcher like Santana, which will give him an advantage. Also giving him an advantage will be the pitcher-friendly homes of N.L. East teams. Johan won’t have to deal with any pesky designated hitters or the superior A.L. offenses as well. Not that Santana needed any help, but he’s going to get some on top of his undeniable pitching ability.

AL Rookie of the Year - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

Longoria was sent down to the minors to start the season, but he’ll be back up before long and just rake. Longoria has good command of his hitting zone and has succeeded at every level he’s played in. Longoria should put up some really good homerun numbers and has the potential to hit 30 on the regular. For his rookie season, he should continue the tradition of recent 3B call-ups with pretty good pedigree - the abovementioned Wright and Ryan Zimmerman.

NL Rookie of the Year - Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

As Longoria, Bruce was also sent down to the minors, but should be up soon. Bruce can hit for average and power. He’s one of the top prospects in all of baseball and once he makes it up to the big show, he should do well as he can hit in all directions. Last season in three levels of the minors, Bruce had an OPS close to a thousand. He can hit to all fields and if you’re in a fantasy keeper league, Bruce is one of the top guys to own.

AL Manager of the Year - Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers

Leyland won the award two years ago in 2006 and with the stacked lineup he has on offense, he should do it again with the Tigers this year. In fact, I believe the Tigers will end up with the best record in baseball and for that, the manager deserves an award.

NL Manager of the Year - Willie Randolph, New York Mets

Willie goes from potential scapgegoat and thisclose from being fired in 2007 to being hailed in 2008. Randolph is the type that should learn from his mistakes and with a disastrous slide in 2007, you have to think that Randolph will be that much more focused in his approach. For example, shut up and leave Jose Reyes alone. That’s easy enough to do. Know how to use your bullpen in-game and in-series. I think he gets it now… so much so that he’ll get the coaching hardware. And, just a note… Randolph’s mentor, Joe Torre, will come close to winning the award himself for his work with the Los Angeles Dodgers.


2008 MLB Predictions - N.L. Division and Wildcard Winners

Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories:

Continuing on with our series of predictions, let’s take a look at the National League Division and Wildcard (predictive… is this even a word?) winners. You can check out the A.L. division/wildcard winners here.

WHO WILL WIN EACH NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION AND THE WILDCARD?

NL EAST - New York Mets

Yes, we all know about the huge choke job last season, but this time, I don’t think it’s going to go down that way. I expect it to be a dogfight straight through with no one really running away with it as the Mets did last season… til the last 15 games or so, anyway. The Atlanta Braves should be as good as always, and of course you can’t count out the Philadelphia Phillies, the defenders of this here division, but with the acquisition of Johan Santana, the return for hopefully a full season for Pedro Martinez, as well as the continued growth of both John Maine and Oliver Perez, and the Mets actually have a potentially top staff on their hands. Offensively, the Mets are led by David Wright and Jose Reyes, the young cornerstones of the club for the next several years. It’s Reyes in particular that affects the Mets more as he is the one that sets the pace. Towards the end of last season, Reyes seemed to be pressing, whether it be trying to hit more long balls or succumbing to the scrutiny of manager Willie Randolph. If Reyes can sustain his first half .387 OBP and not his second half .316 OBP, the Mets should do some major damage offensively, especially with Carlos Beltran and hopefully a rejuvenated Carlos Delgado. Mets fans can only hope.

NL Central - Chicago Cubs

Expect the Cubbies to do it again and take the Central. They return their top three starters - Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill - with the addition of Ryan Dempster, former closer, to the starting rotation. So, who’s closing? Remember Kerry Wood, he of one of the nastiest fastballs and dude that struck out 20 batters in a game? Yeah, him. Imagine Wood only having to pitch one inning or so effectively. “Because the ninth belongs to Kerry…” Sorry, had a 90’s relapse. In any case, the offense is pretty good with Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, basestealer galore Ryan Theriot, and potential Rookie of the Year, the slugging catcher Geovany Soto and the O is looking good. The x-factor to how much this offense goes to another level will be Japanese import, Kosuke Fukudome.

NL West - Colorado Rockies

Last season, the Rockies made it all the way to the World Series only to lose to the Boston Red Sox. Still, last season’s run in the postseason was impressive and it wouldn’t be surprising if they did it again. They will be led by N.L. MVP runner-up, Matt Holliday, as well as star-on-the-rise, Troy Tulowitzski. And don’t forget about Garrett Atkins and the underappreciated by the general fan, Brad Hawpe. Actually, speaking of underappreciated, how about the Rockies very solid pitching. Jeff Francis, former Minor League Player of the Year is starting to come into his own, winning 17 games last season. Francis will lead the way with young gunners, Ubaldo Jiménez and Franklin Morales, two pitchers who can really deal. Closer Manny Corpas looks to be the stopper many expect him to be over a full season. So, while young like the Diamondbacks, the Rockies have the experience of getting to the World Series on their side, which adds a lot confidence to a team.

NL Wildcard - Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks traded away highly regarded prospects to the Oakland A’s in order to get pitcher Dan Haren. Good move? You bet. The combination of Brandon Webb and Haren will be as good as any one-two punch out there. Add a healthy (?) Randy Johnson, a promising Micah Owings, and the rotation will be strong. And while the offense is young, there is no doubting their talent. Who wouldn’t want a Chris Young, Justin Upton, Stephen Drew, or Conor Jackson in their lineup? And they all have one year of a successful season and playoff experience under their belts. And just imagine that this group is led by firebrand, Eric Byrnes who had a legit argument going for him to be the N.L. MVP.


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