In a bold move, the Yankees today acquired Ruben Sierra to, in ESPN.com's words, "help the outfield." Though it only cost them Marcus Thames, the only team Sierra is going to help is Texas, where Buck Showalter no longer has the "temptation" to play Sierra over Mark Texeira, Carl Everett or other deserving hitters. A low-risk move by the Yanks, but nonetheless a puzzling one. Rob Neyer breaks it down; follow the link. A BB regular and Coach disciple, who goes by the moniker of "A," claims in an earlier thread that Sierra could have aided the Jays because he's cheap. I respectfully disagree; Reed Johnson is a better fit, and he's even cheaper.
For clarification, I would not sit Johnson for Sierra - so long as Johnson isn't comatose that is. I would, however, take Sierra over a third catcher and since Myers and Wilson are the best platoon I've seen during my relitively short lifetime Huck's the odd man out.
I'm not going to get in the middle of anything between two of the most opinionated people I know. I agree that Sierra would be a lot more valuable off the bench than a banjo-hitting catcher who never plays, but as Neyer points out, Ruben can be a volatile element in clubhouse chemistry, so I'd rather he wasn't a Jay. I agree with Gitz, too -- this deal is addition by subtraction for the Rangers, with Thames (having a decent year in AAA last time I looked) a potential dividend in a year or two.
It's not a bad move for the Yankees, either. Sierra is a proud man who might have a good couple of months on the Big Apple stage, and he's insurance if Nick Johnson is out longer than expected.
It's not a bad move for the Yankees, either. Sierra is a proud man who might have a good couple of months on the Big Apple stage, and he's insurance if Nick Johnson is out longer than expected.
Sierra to NY? This is a great deal for the Jays. Rivera-Matsui-Sierra would be the worst outfield in the AL East.
Everyone (except Steinbrenner, apparently) knows the Yankees need two solid defensive middle infielders (Jeter to 3B, Soriano to OF) and they need to shore up the bullpen. Marcus Thames isn't a superstar, but he could have been a useful chip in addressing those real needs.
Suckers.
Suckers.
Rivera-Matsui-Sierra would be the worst outfield in the AL East.
Contrary to advertisment, I have been tremendously unimpressed with Matsui defensively - but statistically, he's done pretty well. I would go so far as to say that Rivera-Matsui-Sierra might be the worst outfield in the AL, and by a comfortable margin to boot. Sierra is a graceless lummox in the field now; think Manny Ramirez with less speed and better hands. Rivera is not a good outfielder either. A Sierra-Matsui-Mondesi outfield is even worse. Mondesi has been inexplicably good so far this year, but this is the same guy who was awful for two years in a row.
Contrary to advertisment, I have been tremendously unimpressed with Matsui defensively - but statistically, he's done pretty well. I would go so far as to say that Rivera-Matsui-Sierra might be the worst outfield in the AL, and by a comfortable margin to boot. Sierra is a graceless lummox in the field now; think Manny Ramirez with less speed and better hands. Rivera is not a good outfielder either. A Sierra-Matsui-Mondesi outfield is even worse. Mondesi has been inexplicably good so far this year, but this is the same guy who was awful for two years in a row.
I may be opinionated, but I'm right about 34.42 percent of the time. This puts me ahead of most weather forecasters, Peter Gammons, and Mick Doherty, but well behind most everyone else, including the other good people here in Da Box.
Wow, Neyer finally ditched the flannel shirt picture. His new picture looks like a different person.
Sierra on the Rangers:
"The Texas Rangers organization isn't what it used to be," he said. "At the top, they don't know what they want. [General manager] John Hart, he's slick. He just plays his games. Buck Showalter, he told me he wanted me in the lineup every day, but that he had to play [Mark] Teixeira every day or send him down.
"If they really wanted to win, that's not true. I can still play, but they never let me get in a groove. I got two hits in a game in Tampa Bay and they sit me down. I hit a home run in Baltimore and they sit me down."
Sierra said he even offered to play center field when Doug Glanville went down to injury, but that the offer wasn't taken seriously by the Rangers.
"I can still run," he said. "Who's faster than me on the team? Donnie Sadler, that's it."
Sierra was asked how much longer he intends to play.
"I'll play until I don't want to," he said. "I can play another six, seven years. Ninety-seven, 98 mph fastballs, they still don't bother me."
So much for the new-found maturity. Adios.
"The Texas Rangers organization isn't what it used to be," he said. "At the top, they don't know what they want. [General manager] John Hart, he's slick. He just plays his games. Buck Showalter, he told me he wanted me in the lineup every day, but that he had to play [Mark] Teixeira every day or send him down.
"If they really wanted to win, that's not true. I can still play, but they never let me get in a groove. I got two hits in a game in Tampa Bay and they sit me down. I hit a home run in Baltimore and they sit me down."
Sierra said he even offered to play center field when Doug Glanville went down to injury, but that the offer wasn't taken seriously by the Rangers.
"I can still run," he said. "Who's faster than me on the team? Donnie Sadler, that's it."
Sierra was asked how much longer he intends to play.
"I'll play until I don't want to," he said. "I can play another six, seven years. Ninety-seven, 98 mph fastballs, they still don't bother me."
So much for the new-found maturity. Adios.
First:
(Jeter to 3B, Soriano to OF)
I've been a proponent of re-examining the NYY middle infield since Soriano came up, and I think he will probably not stay at 2B in the long term. But moving either of these guys would be problematic in the clubhouse and with the fans and, worst in NYC, with the media. Frankly, the best solution is the opposite of what's suggested; Soriano to 3B and Jeter to CF. But it won't happen, especially with Steinbrenner anointing Jeter team captain without even consulting with Torre.
Second:
I'm right about 34.42 percent of the time. This puts me ahead of most weather forecasters, Peter Gammons, and Mick Doherty
John, I'd normally say that I enjoy your sense of humo(u)r, but if you're that far from the right, and I'm that much further left than you, well, let me just say that makes me proud and I look forward to seeing you driving around with the BUSH/CHENEY '04 bumper stickers on the back of your SUV as you ride solo in the carpool lane.
(Jeter to 3B, Soriano to OF)
I've been a proponent of re-examining the NYY middle infield since Soriano came up, and I think he will probably not stay at 2B in the long term. But moving either of these guys would be problematic in the clubhouse and with the fans and, worst in NYC, with the media. Frankly, the best solution is the opposite of what's suggested; Soriano to 3B and Jeter to CF. But it won't happen, especially with Steinbrenner anointing Jeter team captain without even consulting with Torre.
Second:
I'm right about 34.42 percent of the time. This puts me ahead of most weather forecasters, Peter Gammons, and Mick Doherty
John, I'd normally say that I enjoy your sense of humo(u)r, but if you're that far from the right, and I'm that much further left than you, well, let me just say that makes me proud and I look forward to seeing you driving around with the BUSH/CHENEY '04 bumper stickers on the back of your SUV as you ride solo in the carpool lane.
Frankly, the best solution is the opposite of what's suggested; Soriano to 3B and Jeter to CF
What?
What?