It's disappointing to presume that Wang won't be back. He's an enigma of sorts - winning 19 games two years in a row, and then getting bit by the injury bug the last couple of years. I really do think that the start of 2009 for him was more mental than physical, with mechanics and just psyche fostering doubt. Hopefully, he rebounds in a good way for another club. From what I understand, he's a nice guy and a respectful teammate. This fan wishes him the best of luck.
To get Doc, we'll need to give up a considerable amount of value. But - as Buster Olney reported in his Thursday blog - now might be the best time to get return off of either Joba and / or Hughes. (I neither think nor believe the club would allow both to go in a trade.)
Jobamania seems to come in short bursts - I've waffled long enough on whether he's a starter or a reliever. I'm beginning to fall on the side of the latter. He seems to thrive on emotion, yet he is able to utilize that emotion to his advantage in the late innings and dial it up when it matters most. He got into a groove at some point in the season of pulling an "A.J." - pitching effectively overall but giving up 2-5 runs in one inning. This postseason, I think his true colors shown more vividly. Allow him the chance to take the torch from Mo now. See if he has the moxie.
Hughes should still be a starter. He filled the role this year well of late-inning reliever, but he seems more composed on the mound for the long haul. I think he has the work ethic to further develop his array of pitches as well. He may not become an ace - but he could be a solid #2 / #3 guy if he continues to build his abilities. And - as Burnett and even CC get older, he may prove to be valuable.
So - presuming one will have to go to get Halladay - I would ultimately say Joba, as unfortunate as that may be. His postseason performance give him a slightly larger upside than Hughes, I think - and from my projection of him now, he's slightly more expendable. (What if he doesn't become Mo 2.0? The other end of the spectrum is Farnsworth 2.0.)
We get Halladay. We don't need the other Holliday, or Bay (for that matter). That being said, the Melky / Gardner experiment will not work this time 'round. They respectfully fought for the CF position to start the year, and - fortunate for some bad luck - Brett broke his hand. So the competition naturally was settled. Barring another injury, I think both guys will wear thin going through another year of having to prove something to the team. In the end, if Girardi does that again... I don't see it having a long-term positive effect with either guy. And, with AJax in the wings - isn't it a matter of time before one of them just wants out altogether and stops playing with determination and passion?
I'm not sure about Johnny, either. I love his experience. I love his stature. I love his enthusiasm and generally disposition within the team. He started the loosening up process, allowing Melky and Robbie to jump up in the air... for mob scenes at home plate, where the goal became the player's HELMET and not the player himself... and for the notorious pie-in-the-face to become welcome. He's also got one of the weakest arms in the league. Opposing players test this, and almost dare him to do something about it. His defensive liability is growing, I think. And it may start to impact his offensive potential and clubhouse position.
Ah... whatever. If he wants to come back for two years... so be it. For the short-term, the team can handle him in left field.
I can go on and on - resigning Matsui? Andy? - but let's just assume that #55 stays (he's the best DH on the market, isn't he?), and we bring back Pettitte. (Which seems to be "Favre Lite," in some respects. I adore Andy Pettitte and what he has brought to the team that I love. It gives me the comfortability to kid with him about this. Along with conditioning, he seemed to have picked up the art of retiring from Roger, too.)
Okay... the line-up:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeria 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner CF
(I like Brett's speed - offensively on the bases and defensively in the field - over Melky's. Generally speaking.)
Rotation:
Sabathia LHP
Halladay RHP
Pettitte LHP
Burnett RHP
Hughes RHP
I'll get to the bullpen later.
Oh - and, if we get greedy and get Lackey... that's not the worst thing in the world. But I think that all but ruins Phil's evolution.
Go Yanks. I love listening to Ol' Blue Eyes now. Reminds me of a month ago...
:)
