Sheesh, only in New York.

Again with the “fading” playoff comments from the NYT. I’d rather be 5.5 out in a weak Central than be in the Yankees shoes 3.5 out of the wildcard and 6 out in a tough East.

Good. The more pressure and intensity is the better for us. Let teams offer us the moon.

It’s like the stock market roller coaster. Our leverage improved with this key injury to Wang. But, if another key player, especially a starter, goes down for the Yankees, they may decide to throw in the towel. Then that additional leverage evaporates. This may be our best window of opportunity, while CC is pitching well and the Yankees are one starter short.

if anyone subscribes to Baseball Prospectus premium, here is Kevin Goldstein’s take on the Yankees’ best prospects.

Obviously, I still think it’s unlikely that a trade will go down. The Yankees are well aware of their vulnerable position and will probably be more likely to look for internal help from Hughes (when he returns), Kennedy, Horne, and the rehabbing Pavano before cutting a deal with Shapiro, who has pretty much made a name for himself finding big value in trading for prospects (our pro scouting department can be thanked for half of our current squad). Also, contrary to a popular belief in NY, our playoff hopes are far from ‘fading’-that’s more wishful thinking on their part than anything-and C.C. still has tremendous value to this team over the next several months if we’re contending.

That said, I think that a few guys on this list are interesting. I’m thinking you have to start with either Cano or Hughes and work from there. Kennedy appeals to me as a buy-low option-he’s still got solid #3 potential. Horne could give an instant boost to our bullpen, and they’ve got three raw high-ceiling RH power arms-Betances, Brackman and Sanchez-who could factor in as well. I don’t know if you target a guy like Jackson or Tabata, both of whom have been decent if wholly unspectacular at AA Trenton this year (to be fair, they’re 21 and 19, respectively)-seems like either could end up being just another 4th outfielder, which is the last thing we need.

Just for fun, how about starting with Cano + Kennedy + Horne + one of Betances, Brackman, or Sanchez (to be known from this point onward as BBS), or Hughes + Cabrera + Horne + one of BBS? Our organization is not particularly well stocked in middle infielders or power arms (I’m sort of writing off Miller here), and these packages could help us both right now and down the road.

Yanks’ limp Wang lets them down again

An update from the NYT

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/as-one-ace-goes-down-will-the-yanks-pursue-another/index.html?hp

I can only hope that these type of articles get Hank worked into a frenzy.

We really do need to trade CC to an AL team. Otherwise, he’s going to beat us with a grand slam someday.

Here’s a paragraph from the New York Post:

The Yankees’ options to replace Wang are limited. The Indians aren’t about to deal C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees don’t have the major league-ready arms Cleveland would want. Dan Giese is in the Yanks’ bullpen, and Daniel McCutchen, Alan Horne, Jeffrey Marquez and Kei Igawa are at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. And any deal for a second-line starter such as Shawn Chacon would carry a high price tag.

Interesting that they don’t list Hughes as untouchable. A few months ago he probably was, and although the Yanks would be selling low an him, I don’t think the scouting report on him has changed that much – he’s one of the view young pitchers not yet settled into a ML rotation that profiles as a true replacement for someone like CC – hell, he could replace Westy’s production later this year already.

If someone like Hughes and a good position prospect like Austin Jackson can be had in a CC deal, I don’t pass it up, even if its the Yankees.

Dayn Perry over at BP has been doing “Mock Blockbuster” trades this season, and his most recent one had the Indians trading CC to St. Louis for outfielder Colby Rasmus and catcher Bryan Anderson. If an outsider (Perry) thinks we can get that for CC than why would we even settle for a guy like Kennedy from the Yanks.

by the way – i’m going to go all chuck and remind a few guys about when i said i just assume CC not hit and increase his chances of getting hurt while playing offense. obviously, it happens from time to time. and it really sucks when it does.