2018 WS bound?

As Luis Severino delivers ace-like performances and the BP has been rebuilt I think things are almost set for next year. We have had many calls for Cashman to trade for a starting pitcher and I have been against doing so. We all know we could USE an Ace type pitcher, I just don't see the NEED for one.

A balanced team is a very hard team to beat, by that I mean; good defense, pitching, and timely hitting will carry the day, more times than not.

We have a chance to make the Play-offs this year without adding another pitcher. 2018 will be the Year we make a hard run at the WS. We have players out with injuries this year, If they can come back at pre-injury (or better) performance and we dump one/two contracts (CF/LF) the team will have all we NEED for a well balanced team.

2018
Starters...before trades....
Gary Sanchez-C,  S. Castro-2b,  Didi Gregorius-SS,  Miquel Anduiar 3rd,  Greg Bird-1stB,
Aaron Judge-RF,  Clint Frazier-LF,  Billy McKinney/Estevan Florial-CF.

Pitchers...before trades....
Luis Severino,  Tanaka,  Montgomery,  Chance Adams, And one of...Clark Schmidt, 
Domingo Acevedo,   Justus Sheffield even throw in Adam Warren.

BP...before trades...
A. Chapman,  Dellin Betances,  Adam Warren,  Chard Green,  Domingo Acevedo,

Replacements...
Sonny Gray, 

Story Time...

Back in the mid 50's Joe had a full ride to a mid-western college in football. He hurt his right shoulder. The following spring he was working out with the baseball team to get back into shape. On this one day his right arm was hurting a bit so, he started warming up left handed with a friend of his (a catcher) named Frank. Frank wanted to have him throw like a pitcher, so he did. Shortly Frank was lunging all over the place to catch the ball. Soon they were laughing, when a dark shadow loomed over the two of them...the coach showed up and asked for the ball. He looked the ball over and asked Joe to show him what he had...which was, slow, slower and the slowest Junk the coach had ever seen. He sent Joe over to the batting cage to take some swings, didn't like the way he handled the bat.

The rest is history, Joe lead the team in hitting and was the closer, also played 2nd base well enough...nobody wanted 2nd base so he was dropped in that spot.

Reason for this story is simple, some have the idea sports are easy because as one looks at the pros play, it looks so easy...no, no, NO! One looks at those playing in the majors and you will see 95% of them have been playing the game as far back as 9/10 years old or younger. Being good at baseball as with any sport, starts with the music in your soul/body. Everything is 1, 2, 3, finish!

If anyone of you played to a good level, stop and think...It is a hard thing to explain, unless you can think in the abstract. Everything is done with music, even walking...you can't touch it, you don't even think about it but, it is there in everything one does!

Cashman and "Keep the kids!"- I love it!

Look what I found on YES by A.J. Hermann.....

'A young nucleus of supremely talented high-upside prospects has emerged to deliver hope and optimism to a Yankees club that hasn't won a postseason series since 2012.

New York's farm system is as loaded with talent as it's been since the halcyon days of the Core Four, and typically when teams find themselves with a stockpile of attractive assets, they look to see which established Major Leaguers they might realistically be able to acquire to bolster the MLB team.

However, now, in the dead of winter, before a single pitch has been thrown, may not be the ideal time to make such a move.'

------------

Now, there is a man with a head on his shoulders and NOT, "This is the way we always do things...Trade the future for the now!"

I would like to have the Yankees do like they did from 1945 thru 1964...all of which I saw or heard on the radio, thank you very much!

1945 thru 1964 the Yankees won 10 of 15 WS! Now, that there is winning fans!

WE have won five WS in the last 20 years, which would you like to see?

I have been a big time backer of keeping the top (10) kids and more if they are lower in the system but have very good upside. We have been trading away our younger guys along with the older top players because "King" George wanted a 32/34-year-old vet player. They would trade away a player with 10 good years in him for a guy with one or two years in him and cost much, much, too much!

Business 101, the deal must be an even or better deal for the Yankees...!

Those that thought to blame all the bad years on Cashman, shame on you! Look what happens when one cuts him loose. He does what he did and could have been doing for a few years before this.

There were a few of us that paid attention to what he had been trying to do but got cut down by the bosses. Given his head, as they did with him in 2015(+) was just what we wanted him to do and he got us a lot of talent.

Don't Trade the Farmers!

Pineda

Well guys, as they say on my turf, "Quintana, he got the sense"! Numbers show him as a very good pitcher, there can be many reasons for his 50% win/loss record! He was leading when he was pulled from the game, but the BP couldn't hold it for him is the most notable and logical reason.

The thing is unless we pick up a couple big name game changers after this season...when we will have about $40+/- mil coming off the payroll...we will need the top guys from the farm, really bad.

A-Rod

I can live without Judge, Mateo (both top 10), I don't want to but...I don't want to be 80 this year, such is life!

My answer to a trade is, give them Pineda, for Quintana...could it possibly be the pressure of pitching in NY, Pineda's problem. One big drawback to that is, IF Pineda gets his head in the game, he could be a game changer for the Yanks.

There are too many ways to look at a trade for Quintana, with us coming out even or on top! I haven't seen as much top grade talent in the Yankees Farm since the 90's. We did alright with that bunch of guys, didn't we? Let them play then add what we need.

2017 New York Yankees team...as "I See It"

Catcher-Gary Sanchez/Austin Romine
1st Base-Greg Bird
2nd Base-Castro
3rd Base-Headly/Wilkerman Garcia
SS-Didi
LF-Dustin Fowler/
CF-Ellsbury
RF-Judge
DH-Brian McCann
Utility-Refsnyder/Tyler Wade

Starting Pitchers;
1-Luis Severino, 2-Michael Pineda, 3-James Kaprielian, 4-Bryan Mitchell
5-Luis Cessa 6-Jordan Montgomery 7-Masahiro Tanaka (No Order)
Bull Pen;
Closers; Dellin Betances, Cale Coshow, Jacob Lindgren, Domingo "ACE" Acevedo, Nathan "Evo" Eovaldi!
BP---We have a Plethora of pitchers working to be in this position.

The Chairman of the Board

Edward Charles Ford

Born: October 21, 1928, New York, New York

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Played For: 

New York Yankees (1950, 1953-1967)

Elected to the Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers: 1974

Whitey missed the 1951 and 1952 seasons because of the Koren war.
Edward Whitey Ford was the big-game pitcher on the great Yankees teams of the 1950s and early '60s, earning him the moniker "The Chairman of the Board". The wily southpaw's lifetime record of 236-106 gives him the best winning percentage (.690) of any 20th-century pitcher. He paced the American League in victories three times and in ERA and shutouts twice. The 1961 Cy Young Award winner still holds many World Series records, including 10 wins and 94 strikeouts, once pitching 33 consecutive scoreless innings in the Fall Classic.

Eventually, Ford went from the No. 4 pitcher on a great staff to the universally acclaimed No. 1 pitcher of the Yankees. He became known as the "Chairman of the Board" for his ability to remain calm and in command during high-pressure situations. He also knew how to throw the scuff and mud ball very well! Casey used him against the other teams best pitchers, in fact, Casey would hold him out a game or so to make it work out. He was also known as "Slick," a nickname given to him at one time (Billie Martin, Mickey Mantle) by manager Casey Stengel who called them Whiskey Slicks. Ford's guile was necessary because he did not have an overwhelming fastball, but being able to throw several other pitches very well gave him pinpoint control. Ford was an effective strikeout pitcher for his time, tying the then-AL record for six consecutive strikeouts in 1956, and again in 1958. Ford pitched 2 consecutive one-hit games in 1955 to tie a record held by several pitchers. And yes, he could be our #1 starting pitcher right now, in this day and age IF he were still young and healthy. His career came to a halt because of nerve disruption in his hands, he had to keep them warm and the other teams said it was not right for him to use a hand warmer to do so...rules are rules.

Ford in 1954.

Jeter Unanimous Choice HoF? Not so fast!

Where is it written that a player should receive unanimous votes just because he was the face of the Yankees and played SS for 20 years? 

He played SS very poorly (Gold Gloves are popularity awards) check his records he was not good.

So basically, some of you think an SS that broke many Yankee hitting records...here is why; he played 20 years hitting in the #2 spot and had Two times more AB & PA than any Yankee in history He should have those Yankee records! He was a singles hitter that played SS...poorly! 

Jeter is not in very many top ten MLB records except having over 3,000 hits, having many more At Bats and Plate Appearances and wasn't considered a good SS defensively. He wasn't the player other teams had to worry about beating them, so they pitched to him...he was a very good singles hitter but, not someone that was going to beat you very often.

All this can be looked up and digested, I understand every generation needs a guy to be the Yankee face and popular player...that is the nature of the game.

My question is; does that initial him to a Unanimous Vote? No way!

HoF Jeter-Yes/A-Rod?

The Idea of A-Rod missing out on the HoF is a laugh it should be called the "Hall of Shame" some of the players in the last 20+/- years that have gotten in is unconscionable and a disgrace to those that truly belong. Just because one is a nice guy has nothing to do with the game, production over one's career is what counts...I would add, be "Dominant" for many years is the big tipping point for me! Three or five years out of one's 15/18-year career are nice but what is great about that?

Take Jeter for example! As many know, I am not a fan of his!

The guy was very good as a Punch and Judy hitter had a bit of power (average of 16 HRs) but not really a "Dominant" player. He had 20 years as an adequate SS but got the job done with the glove... if he got to it, it was and out, and fans this is not to be said for many at SS! He became the face of the Yankees and as with Joe Torre was in the right place at the right time. He has set many Yankee records but other than having the most strikeouts, At Bats, hits, and many more Yankee records and those are nice. 

If my memory is still good, he was only in the Major League Baseball top 10 in 3 categories At Bats #7, Plate Appearances #10 and hits #6.

Jeter was the most likeable player in the league, and he had what I have always considered the 6th tool for any player, something he and A-rod shared "A Sixth Sence" of baseball. Believe it or not, that 6th tool is had by very few baseball players.

Does Jeter deserve to join the ranks of the HoF? Yes, a very good player, well-liked by all, a good example for other players and kids to replicate! Not as a first ballot unanimous pick, though...that is just silly...he is better than Mickey, Whitey, Mo?

The time has Arrived to Play Our Own

Anyone ever notice that our prospects are rated less than the way we (as fans) rate them?
We tend to overrate our own players (doesn't everyone) but this year we do have many players on the edge of big league time, for a change, they are not superstars by any means!
I have waited for this thing going on with the Yankees for years, it would never have happened without the great co-operation between Hal and Cashman both being on the same page. They have different reasons for this co-operation but it will work out in the end. Why do I say it will build a winning team in the near future? Very simple, I have about 70 years of personal history with the Yankees to draw from.
Back in the day, I remember the team built around our own players and a few trades made when NEEDED...not WANTED.
Example: A-Rod was wanted by "The King" but not a NEED. Key and Cone were NEEDED along with "The Mose".
We wouldn't have made the WS without A-Rod one time, so many will say because he carried the team to the playoffs almost by himself, which is true. My contention is, who is to say a less talented player with the help of some timely hitting couldn't have made the same thing happen.

Jacob Lindgren

Now, the cost of FA players has gotten out of control with long time contracts and huge money outlay. One can still get an FA (without a draft pick) at the right price and contract IF one will go for young rising players with talent and are not superstars.
Bottom Line; We now and in the future have a good Farm System...not the best but very good players coming thru for years to come. We now have the base players needed to build a team around and keep things going for years to come. With lower priced contracts, we can go out and get a player we may need without hurting the bottom line.

I LIKE IT! So will all of you when it comes togeather in a year or so!

Pros/Cons Unanimous Choice, HoF...Jeter!

I have been a TRUE Yankee fan for about 70 years.

Jeter has been hyped more than any player I have ever seen.
How can anyone in their right mind think a singles hitter that happen to play SS for theYankees, is a unanimous choice for HoF. He has one of the worse defensive ratings of any SS...#261 of 281! 

"Captin Clutch", fans call him, name me 5 clutch plays he has made in his 20 years of playing. Name me any season Jeter lead the team anywhere. He was named(voted) the top Yankee player 3 times in 20 years. Mickey was named Top  Player 10 times in 16 years...get the idea? The truly great players don't need all the hype he has gotten over the years. Players like Mo, Mickey, Yogi, and Whitey...you know, the real greats of the Yankee Teams.

I think that is enough of the negative, let's show the positive.

Jeter has one good MLB record...3400+ hits., which is almost impossible NOT to have, being #7 in At Bats and batting .310 in the #2 slot! When I say he was a singles hitter, check it out...#5 in history. Playing 20 years with a .310 BA is not an easy thing to do, also being the Face of the Yankees is also something I would never want around my neck.

I have said and say again, every generation of Yankee Fans needs a hero, mine was Mickey, along with Whitey, Yogi, Billy and LoPat. This generation has Jeter a guy that played a long time and set many NEW Yankee Records. Jeter is one of the 20 best Yankees but not in the top 10...one way players can't belong in the top 10.

Jeter will be in the HoF, rest assured BUT, No Way is he a Unanimous Choice

The best I have seen

Over the last few years, we have had  the "core 4" plus 1 (Bernie), they have helped bring us many years of world series championships and playoff runs.

Alas, now they are gone, Who will be on the team for the next run at five in a row as they did back in 1949 thru 1953 or the 8 wins from 1947 thru 1958?

So many years of watching some of the greatest Yankee teams of the 40's/50s' and the bad of the 70s' and 80s' with some so-so years in between.

One thing I can say for sure is, I have had the privilege of watching some of the best Yankees of my lifetime. This is my list of the best of that time;

A-Rod--SS/3rd

Mickey--CF

Joe "D"--RF

Bernie Williams--CF

Yogi--C

Munson--C

Elston Howard--C

Cano--2nd

Frank Crosetti--SS

The "Scooter"--SS

Jeter--SS

Mattingly--1st

Clete Boyer--3rd

Bobby Richardson--2nd

Roger Maris--RF

Whitey Ford--SP

Eddie Lopat--SP

Allie Reynolds--SP

Mel Stottlemyre--SP

Vic Raschi--SP

Red Ruffing--SP

Ron Guidry--SP

"Mo" and Righitti--BP

Some truths and misinformation about pitching

I keep hearing the same old story about pitching...

Keep the ball down...now that is the silliest thing in the world...but, true to some extent! If one has a sinkerball, curve, change-up yes, by all means...keep it low! 

Every pitcher is different, every pitcher has different pitches, so one can't pitch to the  Cookie Cutter style!

If one has a good fastball, change and let's say slider, yes and no. change and curve...down! Fastball inside just above the hands or up near the letters and above. If any of you watch, even the pros will swing at the high hard one...the reason being, it looks as big as a softball and as easy to hit but, unless your name is Yogi...don't go for it...87% of the time you will miss it completely or pop it up.

Do I have stats to back it up? Nope, none at all, just watching and learning from those that had what I never had...a good fastball.

More proof is four guys we have on the Yankees, Bird, Brett, McCann and Ells all three of them will go for it on any 2 strikes count (almost)...and miss it. That and a killer slider down and away will make a hitter humble! Unless you are Mo, then add the Cutter in at the hands.

I am waiting for EVO to learn to go up with his Fastball once in a while instead of down, it is easier to drop the bat on a low pitch then swing up on a fastball (around 93/100 mph) around the eye level.

One of the greatest assets for a pitcher is C&C (Command & Control) with it a pitcher with a 90 mph fastball and two off-speed pitches can become the #1/2 on some staffs with a long winning career to look back at when they hang up the spikes.

Yankee Fans are Spoiled!

I am well over 70 and have seen many of the greatest Yankees from back in the 1940's up to this day. And have had trouble understanding some of the fans of this day and age...You are spoiled! May goodness we haven't been to the playoffs in three years...fire the manager and GM!

I have seen or heard (radio) 18 of the 27 WS wins and also the great depression of 1960s and 1980s those years we won very little at all.

The times have changed, the team can no longer buy the WS win as they have done in the past.

One must build a dynasty like they had in the 1940s 1950s, one does that by making good trades and bringing up the kids...you know, guys like Joe "D", Whitey Ford, Yogi, Elli Howard, Stottlemyre, Rizzuto, Guidry, Munson, Mattingly and one of the greatest of them all Mickey Mantle. Well, let's say Mantle and A-Rod are two of the greatest Yankees of the last 65 years.

So, let me say this; Give Cashman and (I hate to say this) Hal time to try it the new way...the way Cashman has been trying to do for years. Build the farm system and use the players as homegrown players and trade the players for missing pieces we need.

These next three years are the turning point for this team and the whole system itself.

We have players with potential ready and willing to come to the Bigs. There are a plethora of pitchers  and International signings are going to start lighting it up this year.

Ortiz not for prime time HoF!

I am A Yankee Fan first and foremost, as with Daniel, talent is talent, but my vote against him is he was given special treatment as a hitter and only a one-way player. I know he was a good glove at 1st base, but he would make it as having been a DH over the majority of his career in Boston.

This would be another one-way player to get into the HoF because he was a nice guy and the face of the team. His name was on the Mitchell Report and has had (it has been said) known use of PED's along with his buddy Manny but wasn't given tests like the other players.

His style of hitting was to make the plate only 10" wide, the outside 10"! He stood on the batters box line and leaned over the plate giving the pitcher less than half the plate to throw the ball for a strike. A pitcher would miss the to the inner half of the plate, it was long gone. If it was a strike on the outer half of the plate it was a double or single (HR, sometimes) because he could still reach it and put good wood on it. At first, some of the pitchers would throw inside to him and (sometimes) hit him, getting tossed out of the game just for throwing a strike. With all that body armor, he could care less if you came inside on him because if you didn't hit him he would step back and put a charge into it. I think everyone knows, if you are in the Show, one can hit a fastball...right, well how is it possible for a right-handed pitcher to throw anything but a fastball to him? If one throws a curve he will let it hit him or if not inside enough to hit him...it is in his wheelhouse and gone. Splitters and chang-ups would get him out...good ones!
So, even though Ortiz is a great baseball talent and on that alone should be a shoe-in for the Hall. Forget about all the innuendos of PED use.

I say Nay for the HoF...Only because he had the advantage of playing 1/3 of the games each year as the team's DH and didn't wear down as most other players did.

 

Brett Gardner one of the backbones of the Yankees

Brett has always been underrated, remember when all the experts were saying he would only be a 3rd or fourth outfielder. Yet every year someone always wants to trade for him.
Even last year look what happened when he was hurt (he tried to play for a week hurt) they took him out because of his injury and the team slowed down.

Every team needs someone like him in the lineup, and the Yankees have he and Ells...which is even better for the hitters behind them.
He is playing out of position as a left fielder, he hasn't got the offensive power tools for that spot but then again he has some things other power hitters don't have...speed, clutch hitting, all-out hustle and never quits!
I saw him play in Trenton back in 2006 and mentioned him on a blog I was on as being a very good guy to put on the fast track. As things have a way of happening with guys that aren't big time power hitters and the team needing right handed hitting at that time, they took their time with him...too much time!
As an all-out player, he needs rest, which he hasn't gotten for a long time because of Ells injury. Ells goes down and Brett slows down at the plate, too much time without rest is his worse enemy!

Why Buy Players, What about our Farm

Why do some fans want to buy pitchers when we have enough now? Most everyone complains about the farm system, but keeping kids on the farm is not the way to go. We lost a good pitcher in the rule 5 draft, plus a few others. One can only protect 40 players then what do you do?

It has to be a "Use'um or lose'um thing. Depending on injury reports we have about 5 pitchers to fight it out for the number 5 spot and the same or more for the bullpen all of them are good... are they a good enough force to be reckoned with...no one knows until they pitch against live major league hitters. A few of them have a few innings under their belt already and did well.

Who was it that said, we had to have the best players at every position, the core 4+1 came from the farm...so can others. Jeter, Mo, Posada and Andy all came to spring training not knowing if they would make the cut...except Jeter, he was the replacement for our injured SS.

Once a player gets to AAA and does well...after 4-5 years on the farm...they can develop a real bad attitude quickly.

The history of minor league players is hard to figure out. One reason is because some are better than what they have shown on the Farm or not as good. There have been many players come up to the Show and take-off like a pro and then fizzle out, conversely, much more adjusted to the game and became Jeters and or Andys.

One prime example was Don Mattingly, he was a double and Avg. hitter, so they said, but he adjusted. The great Mickey Mantel was sent back down because he didn't adjust to the big show and the speed etc. Brett is another one, all the experts said he would be a good 4th or fifth outfielder at best.

A-Rod...One of the Games Great Talents

One of the greatest talents to play baseball in my lifetime, and he screwed it all up thinking he needed that something extra. What a jerk, fans may say his ego got to him, I say nay, nay! 

I think it was his lack of self-confidence, not his ego! Playing with the two teams before the Yankees, he got little recognition for his game, it was always Nomar and Jeter. Is there anyone out there in the baseball world that can honestly say; "A-Rod wasn't the best SS or player in baseball"? When one stipulates he hadn't used drugs until he joined Texas. take his first 8 years and compute what might have been without the dirt he inflicted upon himself.

What A-Rod said of Jeter was the truth, just think about it. If Jeter had played for any other team than the Yankees or Boston he would have been a very good singles hitter playing SS and nothing more! All those years A-Rod was the best SS but who knew, not the baseball fans! Jeter would never have played SS for 20 years on other teams as he did with the Yankees. Being the poster boy for the Yankees made him out to be much better than he really was. Pitchers didn't worry about him or any other singles hitter, but they pitched very tough to guys like Tino, Bernie, A-Rod, O'Neill, Giambi and Posada. Power hitters don't get 3,000 hits 
very often...A-Rod will be one of nine power 
hitters to make the 3,000 hit club, joining 19 single hitters in said club! He will also be one of three in the 3,000 hit and 600 home runs club

Jeter gave the Yankee fans someone to look up to and kids to emulate for over 20 years and go in the HoF because he played for the Yankees just the same as Joe T got into the hall for the same reason. Being on the right team at the right time gives one a much better chance than others with as much if not more talent going into the Hall.

You fans are Spoiled

You guys are spoiled, you grew up with the core 4+ and thought it was going to be that way every year.

Hell, I grew up with the greatest winners of all-time, 16 World Series Wins out of 21 tries. Then the depression hit the Team, nothing at all from 1965 thru 1975 and again from 1982 thru 1994.

And now because of three years not making the playoffs some of you sound like the world is coming to an end and want to pick up your balls and go home. Some fans you are!

Yes, there are many problems with the team from Ownership on down to some of the contracts we have that are not productive.

As I have stated a few times, the good teams had about 4-6 home boys and some of the rest were FA or trades. Which was detrimental to the Farm system, we always gave up too much for a player near the end of his rope. Everyone (King George etc.) forgot the keyword in any endeavor, "Balance" in the sports field, war, business or life...one must have Balance! Spend when needed, trade when needed but balance all that with the kids down on the farm.

Bryan's article above is a good one to read and think about, do you see how he has replaced players with our very own Farmers? Now that is the way to go, have any of you given a thought to the next 5 to 10 years at all? I kind of doubt it very much? Have any of you ever played 3 Dimensional Chess, you should try it, the first kills only mean something in the "now" of the game but, not the outcome of said game.

For all we know, the Yankees are being taught to play like "Chess", not paying too much for guys ready for the downslide and using our own guys when they show they are good enough or better than what is on the market.

If there had been a 26-30-year-old very good SS out there to be had (without giving up players we could use ourselves) then one goes for it...because of "need", not because we wanted him.

"Chris" a True Fish Story

I was fishing one day when a young man joined me. we started talking about baseball and he said he was taking a few weeks off from baseball.
It seamed he was a pitcher for a minor league team and was not getting the job done.
I began by asking him what he threw and the speed of each.
He said a 90-93+/- FB, very good change, curve (working on) a power slider that is workable and a so so cutter.
I asked him how he threw, short or long arm, side, over the top, 3/4 what?
He started by saying, what do you mean short or long arm? I asked him to show me, he did, he was another Ewell Blackwell type (long arm). I told him there were a bunch of kids (17-21) playing at the park (very good park), the fish don't like us, let's go.
He was a bit impressed when I told him I had a big time fast ball at about 82-86, he laughed and said most people say they had a 92-95 fastball, let's go.
Well, to (try) and make this short I asked him (with the blessing of the kids) to just pick up the ball and throw to 1st a few times, well it showed me his natural motion is short arm. I asked him to throw all his pitches.
His fast ball had good pop and jump, his change could be a big time pitch (had great feel for it) but, I asked him to throw his cutter after 3 changes and change again. I asked him how many times he was beat by throwing a cutter after a change or a change after cutter. Then do the same with a curve and cutter and a slider and a curve.
Then I asked him to just mix-up the FB, curve, and change. It seemed as though a light went off in his head. After explaining what Eddie Lopat told me about using short and long arm with the same pitches gave one six pitches not three (and worked for me somewhat) junk the cutter and slider. Unless they are dependable pitches...they go a long way when hit.
The following spring he showed up while I was fishing, we talked an had a good day with our catches. As we were leaving he said he had done very well in the winter league and would be moved up a step.
His pitching coach liked his idea of dropping his cutter and slider and try short arm but, the coach told him to stay with his motion (as had I) he said he is getting a bit more bite on his pitches and was thinking about adding his cuter to the mix come ST. I suggested he forget about the slider and concentrate on making his pitches great.
His name was Chris ???????. I moved to another state, later that year. Never have seen him again. I hope it worked out for him.

THE PORE YOUNG 'UNS, YOU NEVER SAW SOME OF THE BEST!?

Bob Gibson

Some of the young-uns think, cutting the pie is an after game treat! Just kidding!
I some times pity the younger generation, They missed out on seeing some of the greatest players of all time in their best years.
How many of them would be shocked to see Bob Gibson just throw bee-bees and not let anyone crowd the plate…Jeter, Posada and some of those guys that are diving over the plate would get a high hard one stuck in their ear. Or the tandem of Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax along with Osteen and Podres (4man rotation). Sal “The Barber” Maggly(SP). These guys would go 9 or more innings almost every game.
Remember the “Cleveland Jet” Herb Score, Bob Feller, Bob Turly or Ryne Duren…now those four guys could bring hot hot hot heat and I don’t care who you are, you would never dig in against Turly or the others…at least, not twice.
There were many other old timers pitchers and Pos. Players that some never saw, in real life.
This is why I always say, “Stats are a very good tool but, not a bible,” a very well trained eye lets the stats show him a problem but, it depends on the person putting them together to be good at his job also. Also, stats don't tell you if a problem can be corrected and how to do it.

Sandy Koufax

Take the stats of Jeter compared to Rizzuto, the stats say Jeter was heads above Phil but, how can Ruzzuto (a very good SS in his time), from 60 years ago be compared to Jeter and his stats of today. If one had never seen Phil or Jeter play, one would say Phil couldn't carry Jeters Jock...and they would be right. Having seen both of them play, Jeter was the better of the two but not by as much as the stats show.
Can anyone of you see A-Rod, Tex or Cano swinging a club like they use to just 25 years ago...38 to 40+ ounce bats were used by many players back then, have any of you seen the gloves of 30+ years ago?
According to the stats, Hammering Hank was a better player then "The Babe" in HRs' but, do any of you really believe he was? No, not a bit but, the stats say other wise. So don't make a judgement on who is the better player on stats alone think about it a bit. Would Jeter have hit as well back in the 50s' or 60' as now... No f--king way. He would dive across the plate with that 36 oz., of wood and end up in the hospital. Remember, they didn't have helmets back then and most of the good pitchers would throw at your head in a heart beat. Also, I started with a 36
bottle bat, hands separated and choked way up, from both sides of the plate.

(Jeter and Phil were used because everyone knows of them both.)