Marquez

http://www.rotoauthority.com/2008/01/top-78-starting.html

Rotoworld ranked the top 75 starting pitchers of 2008. Keep in mind, this list ranks the most valuable starting pitchers for a fantasy league, not a major league baseball team. Although, given that fantasy leagues are based on the statistical produciton of major league players, the list does in a way rank how valuable these starters are.

Rnk Name $ VAL
1 Johan Santana $ 43.28
2 Jake Peavy $ 38.71
3 Brandon Webb $ 30.40
4 C.C. Sabathia $ 28.96
5 Cole Hamels $ 28.71
6 Josh Beckett $ 27.49
7 Erik Bedard $ 25.71
8 John Smoltz $ 25.62
9 Scott Kazmir $ 25.53
10 Dan Haren $ 25.52
11 Roy Oswalt $ 25.41
12 Aaron Harang $ 25.16
13 Javier Vazquez $ 24.06
14 Daisuke Matsuzaka $ 23.97
15 Rich Hill $ 23.58
16 Felix Hernandez $ 22.54
17 John Lackey $ 22.20
18 Justin Verlander $ 21.84
19 Roy Halladay $ 21.45
20 Chris Young $ 20.18
21 Matt Cain $ 19.98
22 Yovani Gallardo $ 19.84
23 Carlos Zambrano $ 19.68
24 James Shields $ 19.35
25 Tim Lincecum $ 18.98
26 Pedro Martinez $ 17.18
27 A.J. Burnett $ 16.76
28 Brett Myers $ 16.37
29 Kelvim Escobar $ 15.85
30 Ben Sheets $ 15.58
31 Ted Lilly $ 15.51
32 John Maine $ 15.24
33 Tim Hudson $ 15.04
34 Francisco Liriano $ 14.67
35 Ian Snell $ 14.61
36 Greg Maddux $ 14.60
37 Derek Lowe $ 14.30
38 Fausto Carmona $ 13.19
39 Chad Billingsley $ 13.08
40 Jered Weaver $ 12.85
41 Joe Blanton $ 12.72
42 Jeremy Bonderman $ 11.04
43 Adam Wainwright $ 10.81
44 Jeff Francis $ 10.18
45 Bronson Arroyo $ 10.16
46 Brad Penny $ 9.67
47 Tom Gorzelanny $ 9.66
48 Chuck James $ 9.29
49 Curt Schilling $ 9.21
50 Randy Johnson $ 9.01
51 Chien-Ming Wang $ 8.40
52 Joba Chamberlain $ 7.90
53 David Bush $ 7.87
54 Andy Pettitte $ 7.70
55 Oliver Perez $ 7.62
56 Dustin McGowan $ 7.60
57 Barry Zito $ 7.40
58 Phil Hughes $ 6.36
59 Hiroki Kuroda $ 6.33
60 Kevin Slowey $ 5.31
61 Zack Greinke $ 4.23
62 Mark Buehrle $ 4.18
63 Gil Meche $ 3.88
64 Mike Mussina $ 3.59
65 Dontrelle Willis $ 3.43
66 Shaun Marcum $ 3.35
67 Scott Baker $ 3.23
68 Jason Bergmann $ 2.76
69 Clay Buchholz $ 2.65
70 Andy Sonnanstine $ 2.20
71 Jon Garland $ 1.48
72 Ervin Santana $ 1.37
73 Jason Schmidt $ 1.29
74 Kevin Millwood $ 1.02
75 Rich Harden $ 1.00
76 Matt Garza $ 0.90
77 Jake Westbrook $ 0.31
78 Micah Owings $ 0.27

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0740,demause,77974,2.html



Billing the city for the lobbyists he hired to push his new stadium (now taking shape across the street from the soon-to-be-demolished House That Ruth Built) was, it turns out, the least of George Steinbrenner's chutzpah. According to documents obtained from the parks department's archives via the Freedom of Information Law, the Yanks submitted to the city for reimbursement such "stadium planning" costs as a dozen crystal baseballs presented as a gift by the team, and bar tabs for Yankees execs—plus a whopping $9 million in expenses incurred the year after the team's sweetheart-lease clause expired. And it's become increasingly clear that city officials diligently looked the other way while this was taking place.

The subsidies date back to a provision inserted into the Yankees' and Mets' leases by Mayor Rudy Giuliani on his last day in office, allowing the two teams to deduct from their city rent "planning costs" for their hoped-for new stadiums. This was specifically defined to include both the salaries of team employees working on stadium planning and unspecified "consulting" services—a clause that, as first reported by the Voice last year, allowed the Yankees to bill taxpayers for such items as the political operatives who lobbied the state and city for their new stadium deal; the salaries of team execs Randy Levine, Lonn Trost, and Hal and Hank Steinbrenner; and even the lawyers who drew up the new lease in the first place.

Mayor Mike Bloomberg has long insisted that his hands were tied by the Giuliani lease. But the latest documents show that Bloomberg's largesse to the Steinbrenner clan has gone far beyond even what was allowed by his predecessor. The original lease provisions allowed the teams to deduct "all [stadium planning] costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of Tenant during the Credit Period"—defined as from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2005—up to a limit of $5 million per calendar year. By the end of 2005, however, the Yankees had only spent down $16 million of their allotted $25 million.

According to the parks department, the team was nonetheless allowed to deduct an additional $9,035,636 from its rent the following year, after the stadium-planning clause had expired. (The Yankees got an additional no-questions-asked $5 million rent break in 2006, as well as similar reductions in 2007 and 2008, courtesy of a clause added by Bloomberg as part of the final stadium deal.) Mayoral spokesman Jason Post says the lease was amended by Bloomberg in 2005 to allow late deductions "because the project was delayed."

The team, meanwhile, was busily supplying boxes of receipts to the city to justify its deductions. But whereas the earlier receipts were limited to stadium-related expenses—although questionable ones, like the $700-an-hour lobbyist bills and restaurant tabs for engineering consultants—by late 2005, the files had begun to look like those of an organization hastily trying to spend down its account by billing the public for everything but the kitchen sink. Among the latest crop of items the city apparently reimbursed the Yankees for:

Tens of thousands of dollars in "gifts" of Yankees merchandise to unspecified recipients in late 2005. One receipt alone, submitted by team marketing vice president Debbie Tymon on September 10, totaled $1,620 for "12 crystal baseballs" from the Yankees' team store—plus an $80 rush charge.

More than $26,000 in food and bar tabs at the Stadium Club during the two 2005 postseason games played at Yankee Stadium.

Innumerable small charges for such items as umpire meals, a tow-truck bill for a team exec, and the cost of shipping batting helmets to Tampa Bay during a Yankees road trip there.

Bettina Damiani of Good Jobs New York, a subsidy-watchdog group that has been a vocal critic of the Yankees project, says: "Every time you turn a corner, there's something going on with this project. Every level of government that should have protected taxpayers and residents isn't there."

There's no indication that city officials looked at the receipts once they were submitted. Parks department spokesman Warner Johnston says the Yankees were allowed to take the rent deductions based on their own self-reported numbers, and that it's up to the city comptroller's office to audit the rent credits.

But while City Comptroller William Thompson initially blasted the Giuliani leases for denying the city "pre-audit authority over the level and nature of spending," the presumptive 2009 mayoral candidate has been less than enthusiastic about using his power to audit the Yanks' claims after the fact. Thompson spokeswoman Laura Rivera tells the Voice that no audits have been done of the planning deductions since December 2004. Citing office policy, she would not comment on when—or whether—another audit would take place.

Until one does, there's apparently no way of knowing precisely which expenses the Yankees intend to claim to justify their $5 million rent break. A team spokesperson wouldn't comment on specific deductions, and both the parks department and the mayor's office referred all questions to the comptroller's office.

Dick Dadey, executive director of the Citizens Union, says the latest revelations only make the Yankees' sweetheart deal even sweeter: "I'm not surprised there is lax oversight over an ill-defined phrase in the agreement. But to allow the Yankees to include such ludicrous expenses as part of their stadium planning defies any reasonable person's sense of logic."

Damiani points the finger at Bloomberg, who has built his reputation on minding the store: "To have nobody doing checks and balances on the New York Yankees is an embarrassment

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3199532&name=Neyer_Rob
I don't particularly like the Yankees, which I come by honestly (video here. I don't particularly like Yankee Stadium, which is a matter of taste. But I love baseball history and you can't write baseball's history without the Yankees and Yankee Stadium, and this photo does send a happy shiver up my spine (even as I think about what lousy public policy this is).

http://www.startribune.com/sports/13851951.html

The Bronx Bombers would love to see the lefthander in pinstripes, but front-office personnel differ on how much he should cost in salary and young talent.

"At this point I think that it kind of looks like we probably won't do it, but that doesn't mean I don't want to," Hank said. "I'm kind of back and forth on it, and some people don't want to do it because of the money."

"Just strictly because of the money, they are advising not to," Hank said. "But ... nobody would ever say 'don't do it' as far as getting Santana because nobody could say that. He's one of the two best pitchers in baseball, but I'm running into resistance.

"I think we could get him, but it's just a matter [of what] to give up. Certainly we don't want to give up [righthander] Phil Hughes and [center fielder] Melky Cabrera, but you know, look what you're getting.

I don't want to say what I would give, because Minnesota will claim I'm tampering. Yes, the door definitely isn't completely closed."

Hank said he believes the Mets are serious about trying to trade for Santana. "I think they may need him worse than we do or the Red Sox do," he said. "It's just a matter of do they have what it takes to trade for him."

Papelbon cites Mariano Rivera--Commercial Dispatch

http://xmmlbchat.blogspot.com/

"The Boston Red Sox can thank a member of the New York Yankees for one thing.

* If it wasn't for a little encouragement from Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon may not have developed into the type of pitcher capable of finishing a World Series game with a save for the Red Sox.

Already a pretty good closer himself, Papelbon felt the need of getting a little advice from Rivera during the 2006 All-Star Game.

* “Even though he plays for the Yankees, I sat down and talked with him for about an hour after the All-Star Game was over and just tried to pick his brain,” Papelbon said. “At the end of our conversation, he said, ‘Pap look, you're going to follow me, but you are going to do it for a different team and just always remember that closers have to have a short term memory. You have to walk into the office the next day (after you blow a save) and act like nothing happened.' I've kind of taken that approach.”

Papelbon, a former Mississippi State pitcher, was introduced to the Humphrey Coliseum crowd during Tuesday night's basketball game against Kentucky."....

* From article in The Commercial Dispatch by Danny P. Smith, "Papelbon Can Thank a Yankee for Advice,"


Ht : Susan Mullen and his blog

http://philhughes.wordpress.com/


Phil Hughes is already down in Tampa working out. He also set up his own weblog. It’s brand new but he has two posts up and we’re told there will be more on the way.

We’re pleased to say that Phil linked to this blog, so it’s the least we can do to return the favor.

Now that Phil is blogging, maybe we can get some other Yankees on line. I even have titles for them:

Tales From the Trainers Room by Carl Pavano.
I’ve Actually Got Plenty To Say by Chien-Ming Wang.
The Alex Rodriguez Weblog by Cynthia Rodriguez.
Krazy Kyle’s Korner by Kyle Farnsworth.
Ask Hank by Brian Cashman.

Register those domain names now. They could be worth something.

http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2008/01/16/sports/sports3.txt

The Boston Red Sox can thank a member of the New York Yankees for one thing.

If it wasn't for a little encouragement from Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Papelbon may not have developed into the type of pitcher capable of finishing a World Series game with a save for the Red Sox.

Already a pretty good closer himself, Papelbon felt the need of getting a little advice from Rivera during the 2006 All-Star Game.

“Even though he plays for the Yankees, I sat down and talked with him for about an hour after the All-Star Game was over and just tried to pick his brain,” Papelbon said. “At the end of our conversation, he said, ‘Pap look, you're going to follow me, but you are going to do it for a different team and just always remember that closers have to have a short term memory. You have to walk into the office the next day (after you blow a save) and act like nothing happened.' I've kind of taken that approach.”

This is one instance where I wish Mo was a little less overall sweetie pie and a little more old school Bob Gibson. Oh, well, these are different times.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/13853476.html


The Twins are expected to trade their star lefthander before spring training, and it might not be for any immediate help.

By BASEBALL INSIDER JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: January 16, 2008 - 10:31 PM




The Johan Santana trade discussions have reached a quiet but crucial stage.

The Twins know what they can get. And they realize none of the packages will appease their fans, who might never forgive them for trading the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

Still, Twins officials privately say they think Santana will be traded before spring training opens next month.

For now, the Twins and the three most interested Santana suitors -- the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox -- are regrouping, trying to decide how far beyond their comfort zones they will go to close this deal. The end result might leave some Twins fans gasping for breath.

It's possible the Twins will trade Santana without landing one player who is universally recognized as a big help in 2008.

Lately, the Twins have seemed most intrigued with the Mets' offer.

The Mets are offering some combination of the following five players: Carlos Gomez, Fernando Martinez, Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey.

Gomez, 22, could step in immediately as the Twins' starting center fielder, but some scouts are skeptical about his bat.

The Twins are much higher on Martinez, 19, and Guerra, 18, even though they realize both might be in the minors until 2010.

As for Humber and Mulvey, neither projects as better than a No. 4 starter.

But if the Red Sox and Yankees don't improve their offers -- and the Twins have reason to believe they won't -- Santana could wind up with the Mets.

The Twins would make that deal and step into a public relations nightmare.

The media isn't kind at those moments. Just look at Twins history.

When they traded Chuck Knoblauch to the Yankees in February 1998, then-General Manager Terry Ryan was ripped for not getting New York to surrender prospects Ricky Ledee, Ramiro Mendoza and Luis de los Santos.

The Twins settled for Eric Milton, Cristian Guzman, Brian Buchanan and Danny Mota. None was expected to reach the big leagues that first season, but Milton did, joining the starting rotation. Guzman took over at shortstop in 1999.

The headline writers had a field day. A sampling:

"Twins' Ryan booted this one."

"Stealing second."

"Deal reveals Minny madness."

Mendoza remained a key reliever and occasional starter for the Yankees. But de los Santos went on to appear in only three big-league games.

Ledee was the quintessential five-tool prospect. The common criticism went, "How could the Twins trade a four-time All-Star and not get Ledee?"

Well, Ledee never matched the hype. He retired last season after years of failing to impress as a big-league regular.

Milton and Guzman started the 1997 season at Class A. When they joined the Twins the following year, most people said, who?

Both became All-Stars.

Knoblauch played in four World Series for the Yankees, but the trade paid huge dividends for the Twins.

Minnesota eventually traded Milton to Philadelphia for Carlos Silva and Nick Punto, and Buchanan got traded to San Diego for another little-known minor leaguer named Jason Bartlett.

If the Twins don't get Phil Hughes or Jacoby Ellsbury for Santana, many will look at the holes they have left for 2008 and judge the trade as a failure. But maybe Hughes and Ellsbury will never match the hype.

Time will be the true judge.

In 2003, some thought the Twins were fleeced when they sent A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Francisco Liriano.

That day, Giants GM Brian Sabean said, "It's not often that you can send a reliever and two unproven prospects for a front-line, lefthanded-hitting All-Star catcher."

Yeah, silly Twins.