General Chat / A-Rod's A Yankee

Err...the real field of dreams (and hey look, Fenway Park is in this film!)



Kaiueno

In the end it boils down to this. Yes NY got A-Rod, but they lost two all-stars and MVP candidate to get him. Did they improve their offence? Maybe marginally, but not as much as some may think. Did they improve their defence? I would think so, but you never know when you move anyone to a new position. Did they improve their chemistry? That question can't be answered yet. Yeah, they're scary on paper, but you still have to play the season.

In the end I always think it comes down to pitching and the Sox improved theirs while the Yankees would seem weaker. Vazquez would seem a budding superstar and I think this may be the best move the Yankees made, but I'm not sure he'll hold up under the pressure in NY. If the kid starts slow, it could be a long season. Brown is an aging injury waiting to happen who could still have a stellar year or two left in him, but is far from a sure thing. Contreras would also seem to have some mental toughness question marks. Rivera is still the best closer in baseball, but I think the Yankees over paid for a bunch of aging middle relievers and in my opinion middle relief is at best a crap shoot. So that leaves Mussina having to be the ace of the staff. We will see how that pans out. I'm sure they can improve during the season, but they are far from the experienced proven staff of winners they were in previous years.

The Sox on the other hand, now support the best offence in baseball from last year with one of the best starters and one of the top closers in the game. The bullpen gained a lot of confidence in the playoffs, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the middle relief really solidified itself this year. I think the Sox biggest question marks may come in the concern that many of their players may have experienced career years last year. Still if Pedro is healthy they should be able to produce enough runs for the top three starters to be right in there with the Yankees.

Now for the crazy talk...Watch out for the Blue Jays. Young team, low payroll, but they have a very strong young and balanced offence. If they can find some reliable bullpen help and a starter other than Halladay can step it up they definitely could make a run at a wild card spot, even if they are in the same division as the two free spenders.

The Jays would have had a chance had the Yanks not gotten A-Rod.

Field of Dreams is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time.

Kai, I am going to a Boston game in Fenway park on May 8th; they play the KC Royals. My wife has a conference in Bean Town and all day Saturday I will have nothing to do so I figured since I really want to see Fenway I am going to go. Should I wear all my Yankee gear? Or would I be asking for an ASS kickin?



BTW...I still love you guys

Field of Dreams is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time.

Kai, I am going to a Boston game in Fenway park on May 8th; they play the KC Royals.  My wife has a conference in Bean Town and all day Saturday I will have nothing to do so I figured since I really want to see Fenway I am going to go.  Should I wear all my Yankee gear?  Or would I be asking for an ASS kickin?



BTW...I still love you guys 

Buy your tickets now (with only 33K seating, they sell out many/most games), and if you want to be harrassed all day long (as I would do ), go ahead and wear your Yankees crap...err, cap.

I need to go back to Fenway...perhaps in a few summers when Gavin will remember it.

Kaiueno

The Jays would have had a chance had the Yanks not gotten A-Rod.

No.
Even if the Yankees didnt get A-Rod, lost Jeter and any other guy of your pick..the Jays still would not have a chance. The Orioles have a better team this year..
1). Yankees
2). Red Sox
3). Orioles
4). Blue Jays
5) Rays

Oh, yes, Roy Halladay is tight.

It's going to be fun to watch a Grady Little-esque collapse happen to the other side for once.

Go Sox.