Are the Bombers doing wrong as to da Shef? The Neil's have it out

Neil H says:

So Mazz gone, Donnie in?

Neil M says:

Little change for me really, Donnie might've been the hitting coach last year but seemingly he was Joe's #1 confidant, I'd imagine that he'll still be heavily involved in hitting and is clearly being lined up to be the NYY gaffer in 2008

Neil H says:

If the Yankees struggle in-season, does Donnie take over?

Neil M says:

No, you've asked me this one before and several people have questioned this but I cannot see any way in which Torre is gone mid-season, if he was going to go, he's already gone, as it is, he'll be there until the Yankees make their last out or throw the last pitch of their 2007 season

Neil H says:

If the Yanks don't meet their 2007 goal, and Joe retires though, is Donnie really going to be able to step in for 2008?

Neil M says:

The thing with the AL is that there is very little in-game management for the managers, so he can step in and do a job, whether or not he's the right man for the job we'll see but the fact Joe Girardi is expected to sign with the YES network this season shouldn’t be overlooked

Neil H says:

You think that he is being asked to try out from the booth?

Neil M says:

I think that he's stayed out of other jobs and stayed 'in-house' because he thinks he could well have a shot at the top job

Neil H says:

Is that realistic?

Neil M says:

It’s just as realistic as Donnie taking over, Girardi could be a manager of an MLB team today but he's decided he doesn't want that job, he's waiting for something else and the job he did in Florida didn't go un noticed and he's highly thought of within the organisation. Personally I was surprised that he didn't become the bench coach this year with Donnie staying as hitting instructor but he's still hanging around and there must be a good reason for that

Neil H says:

What do you make of the Sheffield noises?

Neil M says:

He's moaning that the Yankees have guaranteed him $13million next season, anyone that moans about being guaranteed $13million is an idiot

Neil H says:

He isn't worried about next season though - he is thinking 2008 and beyond. Where does he play if he is still with the Yankees in 07 - that play-off experiment at 1b wasn't pretty?

Neil M says:

The chances of Gary Sheffield playing for the Yankees next year are about the same as my chance of becoming the 2008 President of the United States of America

Neil H says:

But who takes him? He has already said he will be the pain we know he can be for anything less than a 2 year extension - who will take that risk on a guy that couldn't hit last time he played?

Neil M says:

Honestly, will Gary Sheffield walk away from $13million and be put on the inactive list?

Neil H says:

No, but he will play poorly, he will cause serious issues in a clubhouse, he will not run out ground balls, he will take no risks with his body - again who trades anything for that risk?

Neil M says:

Well early reports indicate no fewer than eight teams are interested and one GM who wasn't named was quoted as saying "To be honest, I was kind of put off [after talking to Cashman] leaving me to believe he's got at least a couple of teams really pushing him hard [for Sheffield]."

Neil H says:

Speculate on the identity of the 8 teams that would pay $13m for an outfielder, who at 39 wants a 2 year extension, and who hasn't hit in 4 months?

Neil M says:

Well they were all named, Orioles, Angels, Astros, Giants, Rangers and Cubs with the extra bonus of keeping both the Red Sox and Mets out of the loop -

if Sheffield becomes a Free Agent you know the Red Sox are going after him hard, also the Mets are in the market to replace Cliff Floyd

Neil H says:

Nope - I guarantee you right here, right now, the Sox have no interest in a 39 year old that wants a three year commitment

Neil M says:

But thats the thing, Sheffield doesn't get three years anywhere, if he hits Free Agency, he gets an incentive laden one year with an option for a second year depending on criteria

Neil H says:

I think he does get three if he is FA - Franco gets a 2 year deal, of course someone gives him 3 in this market, as long as he isn't looking for 3/40?

Neil M says:

Franco wasn't coming off health issues and was a $4m commitment over two years, Sheff wants three years at $13m+ each year, he has active links to BALCO and steroids and GMs no doubt are aware of that. I honestly believe teams will roll the dice on a one year rental because of the thin FA market but to commit $40m to him would be an awful decision, saying that, it brings the Orioles right back into play, thanks to Mr Angelos

Neil H says:

Well why would you take a one year risk at 13m, and give up a player, when he says "If they do that, if I just [go] to a team for one year, there's going to be a problem."

Neil M says:

Because if Sheffield doesn't produce this year then he doesn't get a big pay day when he does hit Free Agency. It's a bit like why does T.O keep getting chances, he might be a bad team mates off the field but on the field, if healthy, he'll produce

Neil H says:

TO keeps getting chances in a completely different environment where they can cut him and not pay him there and then if he doesn't play - sheff is guaranteed $13m. Go on then, give me another giggle - who do the Yankees get for a 13m RF that hasn't hit in 4 months?

Neil M says:

The biggest name that has been mooted in the press is Brad Lidge, but I think most fans would be delighted with a BP arm or an AA or AAA catching prospect

Neil H says:

Well for entertainment value I hope he stays in the AL East just to see what he does in 18 games against the Yankees

Neil M says:

And that is another reason why the Bombers picked up their option, they can trade away from the AL East, Sheff's whinging is hilarious, before the year he was moaning about the Yankees not picking up the option, now he's moaning that they are, also he's bemoaning the contract, the one in which he negotiated directly and triumphed it and belittled those that used agents, you've got to admit that is amusing

Neil H says:

I agree it is amusing as a Sox fan, but I am not sure that treating a player like this is that amusing - you may not agree with his stance, but his stance has never changed - he isn't complaining about you picking up his option if you play him in RF, he is complaining if you pick it up to play him at 1b, or to trade him - he moved to 1b to try and help the team and be a team guy, and now, in his mind, he is being punished for it - that surely isn't that unreasonable a view?

Neil M says:

His effort was appreciated, however Bobby Abreu is the Yankees RF for next year so unless we are planning on starting two RF's one either has to move position, sit on the bench or leave the club. We aren't treating him badly at all, we are just going by the contract, if he wanted a NTC then he should've made sure he got one, remember George wanted him over Vlad whom Cashman had agreed a deal in principle with so Sheffield had a lot of leverage and failed to get one, that is his error, not ours

Neil H says:

So basically you are happy with the, it is his own fault, move on 'meat;' approach - you are comfortable that George didn't oversell how easily the option would be exercised, how certain that Sheff would never be traded?

Neil M says:

$13million 'meat' to play baseball, hard life, diddums, so yes I may have a heart of stone thinking he has a torrid life to play baseball at stupid money

Neil H says:

I have to disagree - what does what he makes have to do with wanting to be happy at work? He didn’t make the decision to pay that – the Yankees did?

Neil M says:

I have to disagree wholeheartedly, he doesn't have to play baseball next year, he's not being forced to, if he wants to get another job then he's free to. He signed a contract and he now wants to worm out of it because things aren't perfect

Neil H says:

He isn’t trying to worm out of it, he wants his employer to honour his contract - he didn’t sign to play anywhere other than RF - if the Yankees don’t want him at RF, then don’t’ pick up the option - the Yankees are picking up the option to suit their own needs, not because they want him - you cant see why that analogy would seem unfair in your own life?

Neil M says:

Yes they've picked up the option for their own needs but Sheffield has signed the contract, undoubtedly it was the prudent move to use the contract to the Yankees advantage, if they have, as reported, picked up the option

Neil H says:

So if they have picked it up for their own ends, don't complain about Sheffield whinging, or him going all out to damage his trade value - those are his ends

Neil M says:

He's whinging that the Yankees used the contract he signed for their benefit, his fault he signed the deal, he should've inserted a clause if he wanted a release

Neil H says:

Again - if that is your view, fine, but don't complain about him doing the same thing back

Neil M says:

We just have wildly opposing views, he can't blame anyone but himself as he put together the contract

Neil H says:

And the Yankees can't blame anyone but themselves as he is exactly the same person as he signed!

Neil M says:

I don't think anyone at the Yankees are complaining, lets be honest, unless Cash had something lined up he doesn't trigger the option, he clearly has something he likes on the table so has according to the reports, he won't be the Yankees problem for very long.

At this point the conversation drifted towards the football as it was Saturday afternoon and Neil H's Dundee U were losing and the gaffer was on the verge of losing his job. Neil M's Portsmouth won again, but it wasn't all good news as his radically changed fantasy team had a slow afternoon with no clean sheets, one goal and two assists between them, poor, very poor.

More debates to come including one on A-Rod's future and trade value, the annual Manny question and possibly others when we get around it to.

3,079 Miles... - The blog with a structure, kind of, sorta, possibly, maybe...nah