NFBC Message Boards

Sorry that Tom and I haven't been leading the baseball boards this past month, but we're working on our first Fantasy Sports Magazine and going to press in early January. This is our 20th year of baseball and it should be a special issue. We'll be all over the boards after the holidays with lots of interesting insights that we've uncovered in our rankings and ratings. It's a fun time, but it's also a nose-to-the-grindstone time for us here, so we apologize.



Anyway, the winter meetings sure were a dud as the economy is taking a toll on everyone. It's obvious the agents just don't understand the severity of the economic slowdown and they are still holding out for record contracts. I don't think it's coming, which means we could have a lot of unsettled business until spring training gets closer. That will make it tougher on fantasy owners as they do their off-season work, but it will also make it fun when spring training rolls around.



The Yankees are so flush with money right now thanks to their new ballpark and the YES network that it's almost like they are playing fantasy baseball with a $520 salary cap while everyone else plays with a $260 salary cap or even less than that. Imagine if you could actually be the GM of the Yankees and build a franchise around top players with no concern for what you spend. Imagine what you could build.



With that in mind, how would you build this team? For my money, I'd take gamers rather than superstars. Guys like Sabathia, Brian Roberts, Russell Martin and Jacoby Ellsbury would headline my team. I'd have no problem keeping A-Rod and Jeter, but would rather have David Wright and Jose Reyes. I certainly wouldn't be building a pitching staff around A.J. Burnett and Ben Sheets. Give me CC, another top starter, Joba Chamberlain and I can find a fourth and fifth starter for less money than the Yankees are going to spend. And Rivera as closer is perfect.



Oh well. Maybe someone else can do better than me on this subject. It just seems like the Yankees are throwing money at everyone and expecting another world championship. Baseball doesn't work that way as TEAMS win pennants. Let me know what you can do with $200 million and let's see that championship team. Thanks.

Greg, as I diehard Yankee fan im obviously thrilled with the signing of Sabathia. I like you think that Joba MUST be in the rotation. I really hope he does not wind up in middle relief, he is too good. Id like to see them put the full court press and Peavy and get him to waive his no trade clause. A front three of CC, Peavy and Joba would be sick. I can live with Wang and Pettite (at 10mil) to round out the rotation. I also think that the Yankees can easily satisfy the demands of the Padres (Hughes and Gardner plus, maybe). I also really like the idea of Cameron patrolling CF. I know he strikes out alot but he is a nice power/speed combo and is a very good defensive centerfielder. If they came away with a rotation of those I wouldnt even worry about them siging anyone else although I do think there is still a very good chance that if Manny is still around in mid January he could be headed back home.

Originally posted by fireballs:

Greg, as I diehard Yankee fan im obviously thrilled with the signing of Sabathia. I like you think that Joba MUST be in the rotation. I really hope he does not wind up in middle relief, he is too good. Id like to see them put the full court press and Peavy and get him to waive his no trade clause. A front three of CC, Peavy and Joba would be sick. I can live with Wang and Pettite (at 10mil) to round out the rotation. I also think that the Yankees can easily satisfy the demands of the Padres (Hughes and Gardner plus, maybe). I also really like the idea of Cameron patrolling CF. I know he strikes out alot but he is a nice power/speed combo and is a very good defensive centerfielder. If they came away with a rotation of those I wouldnt even worry about them siging anyone else although I do think there is still a very good chance that if Manny is still around in mid January he could be headed back home. Yeah, as if stealing CC from the Brewers wasn't bad enough, unloading Melky Cabrera on this unsuspecting management would be criminal. At least Cameron is a great defensive centerfielder. Cabrera's OBP and plate discipline is the last thing the Brewers need. I wish they would look at OBP better and make their free swingers start to take more pitches and make pitchers work harder. They started to do that more under Dale Sveum and I hope they do that more this year, too.



I hope the Yankees trade Phil Hughes somewhere because I want to see him succeed. He has good talent and he shouldn't be buried in NY. Let's see him start this year and succeed.



The Mets and Yankees have too much money with their new ballparks and regional networks and this could get ugly, unless neither makes the playoffs again. Then maybe they'll hire some of us fantasy guys to build their franchises and I think we'd get it done!!

If the Yankees were smart they'd slot Hughes as the number five starter. He worked his way up the system and was deemed untradeable last year. Now, he is the stuff in the back of the Yankees garage.

After seeing Joba come out of the bullpen two years ago and seeing him start last year, his niche seems to be the bullpen.

CC, Wang, Burnett, Pettitte, and Hughes with Joba and Rivera in the pen. Great stuff.

But, a reminder of the first five words of this post.

OK, I'll play Yankees G.M..... first the pitching staff. I am not as high on C.C. as most people are. Reason being,his start of the season for cleveland last season,when he was pitching for a new contract and he was horrible.now the pressure of living up to that big contract and getting use to the New York media and the pressures of the city. Also look at the amount of innings he has thrown the last 2 seasons and he is not in the best of shape(1 pizza lite of 300lbs.)A little to worry about from your #1 pitcher. #2 pitcher Wang is coming off foot injury, hopefully ready to go in 2009. #3 starter I would sign Ben Sheets,take the chance he can stay healthy,big talent on a short team contract.(2 year contract with a team option). #4 starter I would re-sign Andy Pettitte,a pitcher that has prove he can pitch in New York and give you 200 innings and win 12-15 games. But it looks like the Yankees are going to be cheap with Pettitte again(they didn't learn the first time he left). I think he is going to sign with Torre and the Dodgers and the yankees will sign Burnett instead to a 5 year deal for 85 million and he will turn into the next Carl Pavano(more time on the DL than pitching). #5 starter i would try and trade Ian Kennedy to the Reds for Bronson Arroyo,another solid 200 innings pitcher. Phil Hudges would start the season in the minor to show that he can stay healthy and regain his form((he didn't pitch well in the arizona league this fall).Someone gets hurt or isn't pitching well then hope Hudges will be ready.



The bullpen would have Marino Rivera as the closer.(still the best). Joba Chamberlain as the set-up man.(not sure he can go a whole season as a starter and stay healthy and affective). Than the rest of the bullpen would be Marte,Ramirez,Bruney,Albaladejo,Coke and the long man would be Aceves. Strong back end of the bullpen and many good young arms for a very strong bullpen.



The starting line-up would be



1. Johnny Damon LF-DH

2. Derek Jeter SS

3. A;ex Rodriguez 3rd

4. Manny Ramirez LF-DH

5. Mark Texeria 1st

6. Xavier Nady RF

7. Jorge Posada C

8. Mike Cameron CF

9. Robinson Cano 2nd



Bench-- Swisher,Matsui,Molina,Gardner and sign Damion Easley as a utlity infielder.



Now if this Team didn't win the World Series,I would have to re-sign as G.M. and give up my big salary and admit I know less than the current yankee GM and Ownership. LOL

The economy does not seem to apply to the starting pitcher market...gents get your sons throwing early and often. The Mets really made some fairtly reasonable financial moves. You can argue velocity drop etc but K Rod was crazy consistent for 5 years, so to me 3 years at 12 mill per is not all that otlandish. Putz for 5 mill is cheap...KC just gave FARNSWORTH almost 9 plus over two...whod you rather have next year Farnsworth for 4.5 or Putz for 5? My bigger concern would be giving Ollie stinking Perez a 5 year deal. It will be interesting to see whom they slot in after Johan, Pelf, Maine. Why spend 19 mill on the bp when youve got Tony Armas starting?



I think CC has some great stuff and a fighting spirit. But how many successful, lasting pitchers since Mickey Lolitch and TErry Fat Tub of Goo Fosrster have carried that kind of weight around...heck look at how guys like Mo Vaughn, Ortiz and that ilk fade to black. 80 mill for Burnett is as crazy aas 5 years for a guy chronically on DL and Derek Lowe is a top of the line #3 starter, but 16 per over 4 for a 36 year old?! These are crippling contracts that ca and will hurt even big spending clubs.

They are doing a great JOB!

All I can say is I am glad the Braves didn't get AJ. Five years and $80+ for a 32 year old guy who has thrown 30 games in a year twice (both contract years)? No thank you. What is the over/under Burnett that the Yanks get 100 games from him over the next five years or that he starts 100 games over the next five years?



And CC Sabathia has a personal workout manager...David "Boomer" Wells!!!

I agree with Roy. I would have made the biggest push at Tiex rather than CC. Why throw so much money at a guy who doesn't really want to be here? Every time the press has something bad to say, (and if he starts anything like he did last April..there will be plenty bad said))he has to go home and hear his wife tell him.."We should have just took the money they wanted to give us in SF..who needs this sheet". And AJB? I guess Cashman hasn't paid a whole lot of attention the the DL list the past 4 years or so.

So they've thrown $1/4billion at 2 pitchers. For my money, I'm going for Teix and Manny first. I've got young arms who can pitch to a 4.5 era and win 15 games with that lineup behind them. Sign Pettitte (No more than 10mil), and let's see how far the bats take us. Add pitching mid season if Joba doesn't cut it as a starter, and/or injuries or inefective kids can't get the job done. The arms will be there for the trading before the deadline..they always are.

Maybe some of you folks play to much fantasy baseball. In real baseball the only thing that matters is how good the guy is that takes the mound.



Good Gm's don't let these types of pitchers become free agents. When they come available you lock them up.



I do agree that AJ is a risk. He is a much better risk compared to what other teams send to the mound, even if he brakes down. You need power arms to win World Championships.



The way the Rays and Red Sox are put together these signings where a must.