The Sox are Doomed

Well, that's the end of that. Tom Verducci is predicting that the Sox will win 100 games and win the World Series. Therefore, they will win 82 and miss the post season. Double check, but I don't think he has another team in the majors winning even 95 in this prediction. That doesn't make sense.

Insights into Strasburg Injury

Here's an interesting article on the Stephen Strasburg injury written by Tom Verducci. Seems there's a hitch in his giddy up that portended his current elbow issues. It's a very technical article and some of the descriptions are hard to envision without video of Strasburg's delivery, but it's interesting nevertheless. It helps to illustrate the reasons for other pitchers' arm problems as well. You'll recognize the names, Mark Prior, Joe Nathan and others.

Links!

I know it's a little late, but leave it to Joe Posnanski to write an insightful post on the passing of Duke Snider. There's also one on the 1955 season, when he barely missed out on the MVP. Also Tom Verducci echos the sentiments that have been on this blog since it's inception. As Peter points it out on an almost a weekly basis, starters are more valuable than closers.

Torre is only tarnishing himself

I'm sure everyone has read something about the new collaboration between Joe Torre and Tom Verducci that is supposed to blow the lid off of all the despicable things going on in Yankeeland during the final years of Torre's tenure with the team.

I guess what Verducci and Torre don't realize is that there is nothing new in their book. People don't like A-Rod? Wow, how insightful, I never would have seen that coming. What's this you say? Cashman didn't throw a tantrum when the Steinbrenners forced you out? No way.

I was never a huge Torre fan. I always thought that he was a poor game manager and was awful at running a bullpen. But I always respected Torre for his ability to manage a clubhouse and to handle his teams through rough waters. It saddens me to see him try to make a quick buck by selling old stories with Tom Verducci.

It is also a big hit on his character and that of Verducci's that they both refuse to take any responsibility for what the book says. Well you know what: too bad. The two names on the cover of the book are Joe Torre and Tom Verducci. They have a responsibility to stand behind what they put their names on.

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In other news Andy Pettitte is back and the rotation is all but complete. The deal only guarantees Pettitte $5.5 million for one year with the possibility of earning another $6.5 million in incentives.

Bringing Pettitte back, while unnecessary, makes the Yankees rotation one of the best in baseball. From front to back it looks something like this:

CC Sabathia
A.J. Burnett
Chein-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Joba Chamberlain

That's pretty formidable and the Yanks can sleep a little easier knowing that on paper they will have plenty of innings coming from their front five. There is also a lot less pressure on Joba to perform and to eat up innings, plus any injuries that befall the rotation will not necessarily be devastating since the Yanks will still have Hughes, Kennedy and Aceves waiting to fill in.

I was all for letting the kids try to fill the back end of the rotation again but I do understand Cashman's concern about having forty percent of your rotation be young kids who may not be ready to handle a full season. The one good thing about bring in Pettitte and not someone else is that Andy is still on a one year deal and will not be blocking any kids for an extended period of time.

The summer is going to be very interesting and it will be fun to watch these three teams battle it out.