Mark Montgomery: The Next Big Thing

Could Mark Montgomery be the next big thing to come out of the Yankee farm system? The Yankees management certainly hopes so, as Montgomery has been turning heads lately. Not to mention the fact that with all the injuries hitting the team now, every bit of talent helps. For those that do not know, the Yankees drafted this 22-year old kid in the 2011 Amateur draft, and he is already being compared to David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain. He has a really nasty slider, and fastball that hits the low 90s to complement it.

Despite having pitched only 2 years in the minors, his numbers so far are outstanding. In his 92+ innings over 72 games at various levels of the minors, he has allowed only one home run. In 2012, he pitched in the Florida State League and Eastern League, and he has demonstrated excellent control. Over that time, he has a WHIP of .886 (.780 if you take out intentional walks) and 3.1 walks per nine innings (2.7 without the intentional walks). Translation - he does not allow many baserunners, and he does not give out free passes. Then there is that slider. He has been able to get that over for strikes, and making batters miss it a lot. In his current minor league career, as of this writing, he is recording 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Not surprisingly, in 2012, his ERA was 1.54 and he only had two losses recorded against him.

(Photo: YES Network)

Granted the minor league stats, are not always good indicators of success at the major league level, as the caliber of hitting goes way up. However, let's compare those numbers to Joba Chamberlain's in 2007 when he went through the same leagues. His WHIP was 1.008, he recorded 2.8 walks per 9 innings, and 13.8 strikeouts per 9 innings. While Chamberlain gave out walks at a lower rate, he allowed more baserunners than Montgomery has. Joba's ERA of 2.45 is almost a full run higher. That is not to say that his number looks bad, it is just to illustrate how good Montgomery has been. Joba's strikeout rate of 13.8 over nine innings is a little lower, which would indicate the Montgomery has a higher propensity to strike a guy out. When you are looking for a pitcher to close out a game, or get the team out of a tight spot, this guy could prove to be worth his weight in gold.

I compare him to Joba because the Yankees brought up Joba in the middle of his first year in the minors. The team thought that highly of him. When he made it up, he was tremendous, and he lit up opposing batters and created excitement in the Yankee bullpen. However, they were very careful with him, and they should have been wiser in managing him in his second year. It makes sense that the Yankees have their eye on him, and it would not surprise any of us if he made an appearance somewhere late in the summer. If the Yankees are careful and take care of him, this kid could pay huge dividends. Personally, I cannot wait to see what he can do in the majors.

Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. This article is republished at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

What If Mariano Rivera Falters?

Mariano Rivera's return to camp this spring was a moment that brought joy to the hearts of many Yankee fans. We all feared the worst - that it was all over - last May when he went down with a torn ACL. At his age, many wondered if he would have the wherewithal to come back from an injury like that. Now he is throwing simulated games in spring training and showing that he is on track for an Opening Day return. What many of us may not have considered - and this may be denial on our part - is that his return may not be as perfect as we are imagining it will be. The definition of denial is "an unconscious defense mechanism in which emotional conflict and anxiety are avoided by refusal to acknowledge those thoughts, feelings, desires, impulses, or facts that are consciously intolerable". Many of us refuse to acknowledge the fact that Mariano Rivera is 43 years old, that he is recovering from a major injury, and that he will not pitch forever. Responsible leadership must acknowledge the risks that come with these circumstances and must have an adequate backup plan. Mind you, I am not saying that we can easily replace someone like Mariano Rivera, but we need to have a plan as to what happens if, at some point in the season, he can no longer pitch well. What happens then?

The way I see it, there are four pitchers on the current roster that the Yankees should consider to fill the closer role. Since we know that eventually Mariano will have to retire, these guys should be under consideration for successor to Rivera.

David Robertson was the first person the Joe Girardi went to when Rivera was injured. He pitched in three games before suffering a strained oblique muscle that knocked him out and allowed Rafael Soriano to take over as closer. In those three games, he got a save on a very shaky performance, he blew the save on the next night, and he got the last two outs in a non-save situation in the third game. Personally, I do not think those three games paint the whole picture on his capabilities as a potential closer. Over the last two seasons, he has an ERA of 1.78 and an opposing batting average of .177. His 2012 postseason ERA was 0.93. These stats are the hallmarks of a good closer. Besides, who could forget his performance in Game 2 of the 2009 ALCS against the Angels, holding them down in extra innings, to earn the win? He should get some serious consideration.

Then there is Joba Chamberlain. Personally, this one is my favorite option, having been very impressed by his mindset when he first came up. Before the failed "convert to starter" experiment, Joba was a dominant member of the bullpen. In 2012, he suffered a serious leg injury that knocked him out until August 1. Then, for the first month after that, he was bad. However, starting September 9, he did not surrender an earned run. Not even in his four appearances in the postseason. He reminds me a lot of Rafael Soriano - a pitcher who does well under pressure but poorly otherwise. You don't believe me? In 2012, in games decided by three runs or fewer, Joba's ERA was 0.79. In games decided by four or more runs, it was 8.71. If you have watched closers for any length of time, you know that they do not do as well in non-save situations. The theory is that their head is not in the game if the game is not on the line. In 2007, Joba always came in with the idea that the game was on the line and he consistently nailed it down. Here is another stat, if you are not already convinced. A loss for a reliever is when they come in with a lead or a tie score and the opposition takes the lead on their watch, followed by an eventual loss to their team. Joba has not had one since July 10, 2010 - that's 83 consecutive regular-season appearances. A blown save is when you have a lead and you give up the lead, regardless of the outcome. He has not had one of those since April 17, 2011. Granted, none of those appearances was as a closer, but it should make you at least curious as to whether or not he can close.

(Photo by John Munson/The Star-Ledger)

David Aardsma was an offseason pickup last year this time, having just recovered from Tommy John surgery. The thought was that he could recover in time to be a 2013 option out of the bullpen, and one that was reasonably priced. Well, it is 2013 and now would be the time for the Yankees to cash in on the investment. He had two respectable seasons as the closer for the Seattle Mariners in 2009 and 2010. In those two years, he converted 69 out of 78 save opportunities, to the tune of a 2.90 ERA. He was not an All-Star, but he was not terrible. In a pinch, I think we could have something worthwhile in him. If nothing else, he has extensive experience pitching the ninth, which no other Yankee pitcher besides Rivera has.

One other option, which may have escaped the notice of many, is David Phelps. Okay, I know what you're thinking. He is supposed to be training to be a starter. You're probably right, that he is on track to be a starter and that we should not mess with him. There are just a couple of things that stand out, though. Seven times he came into a game in 2012 on 3 days rest or less (which is typical for closers), and he did not surrender a single run. All of those games were close (six were decided by two runs or less, one by 3 runs). In those games, opposing batters hit .071. That is noteworthy. Remember, Mariano Rivera first came up as a starter before they converted him to a setup man in the bullpen. It is something to think about.

None of us wants to think about Mariano Rivera not pitching well or that he is mortal and that he will one day have to call it quits. Nevertheless, the Yankees have to think about the future, and may even have to think about the present. It pays to have a backup plan, and it looks like the Yankees may have options.

This article is republished at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

The Race For The Catcher Spot Is On

The race for the starting catcher role of the Yankees is on, and this is going to be a pivotal role for the team. After the loss of Russell Martin, the Yankees had to scramble to fill this role with blowing the budget, and they are in camp with four contenders. Francisco Cervelli, who was the backup to Jorge Posada and Russell Martin from 2008 through 2011, fell off the pace in 2012 and is looking to make a comeback in 2013. Chris Stewart, a career journeyman and Martin's backup last year, is looking for his first starter role at the age of 31. Austin Romine, at age 24 with little major league experience, is the bright future star who is viewed as a serious contender for the starting catcher in a few years. Finally, there is Bobby Wilson, who the Yankees signed for insurance and is getting a look this spring.

Most people underestimate this aspect of the game, but the catcher is involved in almost every play of every game. They call every pitch, they hold every runner, and they block the plate on every close scoring play. It is a tough physical position, usually requiring more off-days than other field positions. Therefore, Joe Girardi is right to focus on the defense aspect of the role. Still, this is a departure from the function that Yankee catchers have played for the last two decades, having been spoiled by the offensive productivity of the likes of Russell Martin, Jorge Posada, Joe Girardi, Jim Leyritz, and Mike Stanley. In fact, most Yankees World Series teams had strong bats at the backstop (think Thurman Munson, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Bill Dickey).

When thinking about catching defense, you think primarily about three things. First, how well do they call a game? Second, how well do they handle difficult pitches? Finally, how well do they stop the runner on first from taking second? So how do the current contenders stack up?

Francisco Cervelli can call a decent game. Pitchers had an ERA of 3.50 when he caught them in 2011 and 4.04 in 2010. For the most part, it will be the same pitchers this year, so it looks like he can handle the current roster of pitchers. This is good news for him. As far as handling difficult pitches, he only has five passed balls in his entire career (over 1300.1 innings). It makes him a reliable backstop. However, throwing runners out runners at second is where he fails significantly. Since he had hardly any major league experience in 2012, I am looking at 2011 and 2010. In 2011, he allowed 24 stolen bases out of 28 attempts. In 2011, he allowed 55 stolen bases out of 64 attempts. If I am an opposing manager, and I have a few good base runners, I am sending the runner from first as often as I can. This can create a real liability on defense, and if Cervelli wants to make a run for the starting catcher spot, he needs to improve his arm strength and mechanics.

Chris Stewart is known as a primarily defense catcher. In 2012, Yankee pitchers had an ERA of 3.42 when he was catching, which is comparable to Cervelli. In 2011, for the Giants, his pitchers' ERA was 2.74. Having to face American League hitting can probably account for the increase in 2012, but you can see that he calls a good game. He allowed eight passed balls over 395 innings in 2012, which is above average, but not terribly off the charts. He may have had an off-year in that category, as he came into the season with 5 passed balls over about 600 innings in his career coming into last season. Therefore, the expectation is that he will be able to handle pitches. He threw out about a third of the base runners attempting to steal, which is above the American League average for qualified catchers. The conclusion is that he is a very good defensive catcher. The problem is his bat. Can Joe Girardi swallow having a career .217 hitter in the lineup every day? Granted, he did improve his average last year to .244, but you have to wonder how Joe will handle him in a lineup that is clearly lower on power and higher on contact and speed.

(Photo: NY Daily News)

Austin Romine is a great rookie coming up through the system, known for his defense skills much more than his hitting skills. At 24 years of age, he has some time to build his game-calling skills and his hitting. He has a great opportunity this spring to show off his progress and create a good impression to Yankee management. At the same time, he is probably only getting this opportunity because the catching spot is so fluid right now. He got some looks last September, and his defense was very good in some spots, but it is obvious that he is not yet ready for the majors. Bobby Wilson is another career journeyman who is getting a look this spring. He will be turning 30 this April, he has never hit .230 for any season, and he has never started 60 games in a season. If the Yankees had only one option at catcher, he might be able to fill a backup role. Nevertheless, on this team, at best he is the backup to the backup, and is unlikely to get serious consideration for a spot on the 25-man roster.

I do not pretend to have the ability to read Joe Girardi's mind, but if it were I, I would carry both Cervelli and Stewart and mix/match as the season goes on. Realistically, Stewart is the one who will probably get more of the starts and be pinch-hit for in close games with runners on. Then the Yankees will need another reliable backstop on the bench - probably Cervelli. Both have an opportunity to make a case for themselves. Stewart needs to improve his hitting enough that he is not an automatic out. Cervelli will need to improve his arm strength and his mind-set towards the game. By his own admission, he went into a tailspin last year with is approach, and he is looking to make a better showing this year. Personally, I am rooting for Cervelli, because I liked how he played with fire in his belly in 2011. However, both of them fighting for that spot by improving their respective weak points will be great for the Yankees. The Yankees will surely need that this year.

This article is republished on Bleeding Yankee Blue.

The Changing Landscape of the Yankees Lineup

Spring Training is well underway, and the first games are a few short days away. For all the individuals trying out for spots on the roster, this is ultimately a team sport. Looking at the Yankees last year, the big shortcoming was the ability to bring runners in from scoring position. If I had to hear certain sportscasters say RISP one more time, I was going to scream. The team's reliance on the home run was also very noticeable. Therefore, we will see how the team responds to the new season.

(Photo: NY Daily News)

The departure of certain hitters - Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Raul Ibanez, and Alex Rodriguez - is sure to change the makeup of the hitting approach of the Yankees' lineup. Their likely replacements - Ichiro Suzuki, Brett Gardner, Kevin Youkilis, and Travis Hafner - tend to focus more on contact and less on the long ball. I had a theory that if the Yankees would stick to getting base hits and making contact instead of swinging for the fences, their RISP problems would go away. Since I am a numbers guy, I decided to look at some stats. Check this out:

	AVG	AB/HR	BB/PA	BB/K	H:HR
Alex Rodriguez (2012)	0.272	25.700	0.096	0.440	6.000
Nick Swisher (2012)	0.272	22.400	0.124	0.550	5.083
Russell Martin (2012)	0.211	20.100	0.110	0.560	3.238
Raul Ibanez (2012)	0.240	20.200	0.082	0.520	3.842
Ichiro Suzuki (NYY, 2012)	0.322	45.400	0.021	0.240	13.600
Brett Gardner (2011)	0.259	72.900	0.103	0.650	17.857
Kevin Youkilis (Career)	0.283	24.600	0.123	0.670	5.959
Travis Hafner (2012)	0.228	18.300	0.122	0.680	3.167

First, some explanations. I know Alex Rodriguez is still with the team, but he will be out at least until the All-Star break, so he is departed until then. Ichiro was a new hitter after joining the Yankees, so I am only looking at his Yankee stats. Youkilis had a terrible year last year, so I am looking at his career numbers because he has been consistent until 2012. Brett Gardner's 2012 numbers were meaningless since he did not play, so I am looking at 2011 for him. The statistical categories above are pretty well known, except for the rightmost one - H:HR. That number indicates the number of times the hitter got a base hit inside the park for every time he hit a home run.

(Photo: The Star-Ledger)

Okay, so what do the numbers tell us? Well, for one thing, the guys leaving swung for the fences WAY too often. Russell Martin's was astonishing - he only has about three base hits for every home run he hit. Raul Ibanez was only a little better than that. It explains to some degree why the Yankees did so well when hitting home runs but did so poorly when they did not. Swinging for the fences did not usually pay off for the Yankees when they faced pitching staffs that kept the ball in the park. If you look at Ichiro's numbers, he is definitely going for the base hit. He is looking to get on and get runners over. It is no surprise that he was the most productive hitter in the ALCS, leading the team in hits, batting average, and runs batted in. Ichiro's H:HR is better than double those that are not in the lineup anymore, and Brett Gardner's is even better than that. What does that tell you? That if these guys are the everyday right and left fielders, we should see expect to see more hits in play and fewer stranded runners. The fact that both of these guys have good speed will also help them generate bigger disruptions to opposing infielders, which should lead to more manufactured runs.

(Photo: ESPN)

(Photo: ESPN)

What about Youkilis and Hafner? Their H:HR looks remarkably similar to the guys that left. It means that these guys are also swinging for the fences. In fact, Youkilis' stats across the board look remarkably similar to A-Rod's. However, look at the BB/K stat. That is the "good eye" stat, and both Hafner and Youkilis look great in that stat. It reflects the hitter's ability to distinguish a ball from a strike, and their self-discipline to take the walk instead of swinging through it or taking a called strike. There is a reason why Youkilis is called the God of Walks. Opposing pitchers are much less likely to fool either these guys. This could be very valuable to a team looking to manufacture runs. Kevin Long has already been working with Youkilis to change his stance. Hopefully, he can get him to adjust his swing to make more contact and get more hits. If he can do that for either him or Hafner, we might have a stellar #2 and/or #6 hitter in the lineup.


Clearly, it is impossible to tell what a season might bring. Nevertheless, if you believe the stats and the players' histories, we should expect to see more patience at the plate from some of the hitters, more productive at-bats, and perhaps far fewer stranded runners in scoring position. This would be a welcome change.

Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, One Final Time

Spring Training is finally here and those of us who suffer from baseball withdrawal will finally get our baseball fix. As with every new season, I am excited to see what kind of team the Yankees will put on the field. I want to see the newly acquired Yankees wearing the pinstripes and either taking their swings or working their windup. It is a special time of year, filled with excitement. Every once in a while, we get to watch the sun set on the career of someone special. This is one of those years.

(Photo: The Star Ledger)

Watching living legends and heroes in the twilight of their careers is a privilege. For those that don't already know, Mariano Rivera holds the record for most career saves with 608 (the next closest active pitcher is Francisco Cordero with 329), the most postseason saves with 42 (the next closest is Brad Lidge with 18), the second lowest career postseason ERA with 0.70, and dozens of other regular-season and postseason records. However, when Mariano Rivera first came up, he was a starter who did not impress too many people. It did not help that he had surgery on his pitching elbow when he was in the minors a few years earlier. Joe Torre, manager at the start of the 1996 season, mentioned that he would not be too upset if the Yankees traded Rivera for some good talent (Chasing the Dream, by Joe Torre/Tom Verducci, p. 162). Who would have thought that a pitcher who was that much of a liability would become the most reliable man in the Yankees bullpen for the next 17 years and counting. There were questions about whether or not he could handle the transition from setup man to closer in 1997. He responded with 43 saves. Questions came up about whether or not he had the mental fortitude to recover from giving up that Sandy Alomar Jr. home run. It would be three years before he gave up another run in the postseason. It would be four years before failing to convert another postseason save. After the 2001 World Series, more questions came up about whether or not he would ever recover from that kind of a defeat. He went on to slowly build a Hall of Fame career as the Yankees closer, being the consistently reliable closer for the Yankees, and making us all unaware of what it's like to be nervous in the ninth inning. From 1997 when he first became a closer through 2011, he averaged just over 40 saves per season. That is unheard of. Then there was the news on May 3, 2012, that Mariano Rivera had a torn knee ligament. I admit that I was sure he was done. He was 42, and already amassed more than enough credentials for a Hall of Fame vote. Younger men would have great difficulty with the recovery. Now, in just a few days, he will prove me and everyone else wrong and he is going to take the field for Spring Training. He will join the Yankees as their closer for one more year.

(Photo: MATT SLOCUM / AP)

Then there is Andy Pettitte. Andy Pettitte has been a stalwart member of the Yankees starting rotation since 1996. After a new manager and significant turnover following the 1995 season, Andy Pettitte quickly became the ace of the staff in 1996. He was the man who the Yankees relied on to keep the team on a winning track, going 13-3 that season after a Yankees loss. In the legendary Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, he beat John Smoltz in a 1-0 win that would set up the Series win two nights later. He was in the Yankees starting rotation in every postseason after that through 2003. Many of us will remember the fans, knowing that he was going to be a free agent after 2003, chanting his name loudly during Game 6 of the 2003 World Series, letting him know how much he meant to us. Nevertheless, our hearts broke on December 12, 2003 as he signed with the Houston Astros, citing his desire to be closer to his family. As much as it hurt us, you have to appreciate how much this shows what kind of a man he really is. On January 11, 2007, the Yankees re-introduced Andy Pettitte as a member of the team, having signed him to a one-year deal. In Game 6 of the 2009 World Series, he set the new record for playoff series-clinching wins with six. He also earned his fifth World Series ring in eight trips (seven with the Yankees, one with the Astros). He is the record holder for postseason career wins (19), career starts (44), and career innings pitched (276 2/3). However, most important to the fans, he was part of the Core 4 with Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Jorge Posada.

(Photo: NY Daily News)

In a couple of days, pitchers and catchers will report to camp and start their drills to get in shape for the season. Fans will be gawking and getting autographs, the press will be watching and reporting, and some members of the next generation of Yankees will be joining Pettitte and Rivera in sprint drills and long toss sessions. Barring the unforeseen, this will be their final lap - their victory lap. Sure, they will be on hand as special instructors at Spring Training in years to come, much as Jorge Posada will be this year. But this year is special. They may not have it on the scoreboard as they did in 2008 for the closing of the old Yankee Stadium, but there will be a countdown. With every appearance on the mound, with every game, with every start and every jog from the bullpen, we get closer to the last time we see them as active players wearing the Yankees pinstripes. Let's take it in, enjoy it, and celebrate what they have meant to this organization and to baseball.

This article is also posted on Bleeding Yankee Blue.

Sometimes The Best Deals Are The Ones You Don't Make

There is no question that this has been one of the quietest offseason in recent memory for the Yankees. No major multi-year, multi-million dollar free agent signings, no blockbuster trades. We lost a few players that were fan favorites, and we re-signed a few key players, but nothing earth shattering. As Yankee fans, we are not used to this. We measure the success of our off-season by the number of times we make the back page of the paper, or the number of minutes spent by sports radio talk-show hosts on the latest additions to the roster. The question is - is this inactivity really a bad thing? Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make.

Back in 2008, the Yankees were in a state of turmoil. For the first time since 1994, the Yankees did not make it to the playoffs.  Many expected heads to roll, and the Yankees certainly went on a shopping spree. The major acquisitions were C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher.  It is obvious that the Yankees were looking at Sabathia and Burnett as franchise players, signing them to 7 year and 8 year deals respectively for upwards of $20M per year. Fortunately, both players have been incredibly productive, and no one questions their salaries. The Yankees signed Burnett to a 5-year deal for $82M. Maybe the shorter term reflected the Yankees concern about his durability, but everyone agrees that it was still too long. Sure, he was a cornerstone of the postseason campaign in 2009. Nevertheless, was that worth signing him for the additional four years? Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and the answer is obviously no.

Now look at some deals the Yankees did not make in that and other recent off-seasons. In need of an additional outfielder after 2008, the rumors started about the Yankees pursuing Manny Ramirez. He ended up signing a 2-year deal for $45M. Over that time, he hit about .290, never breaking past 20 homers in either season, and created lots of drama. The Dodgers finally gave up on him and he finished out his contract in Chicago. Was that worth $22.5M per year? How about Carl Crawford's 7-year $142M contract? Did the Red Sox get their $20M worth when Crawford hit .255 with 11 homers in 2011, or when he played just 31 games before needing surgery in 2012? I could talk about Barry Zito's 7-year $126M contract and contrast that with his spectacularly mediocre performance since signing it. The list goes on and on.

Look, I am not saying that every long-term big-money deal will go bad. But for every Sabathia and Teixeira deal, there is a Burnett and Crawford deal to match. Many major league teams, including the Yankees, are starting to take notice. Simple logic tells you that these deals are fraught with danger. Let us say a 30-year old superstar files for free agency and wants an 8-year, $200M deal. Furthermore, let us say that he has a great first year in that contract. Do we really believe that he will be just as worth the $25M in the year when he turns 37, as he was when he was 30?  Never mind the risk of injury. With the threat of the luxury tax being ever-present, every year that a team pays these extravagant salaries is a year that they are less financially capable of acquiring new talent. I do not want to jump on the Alex Rodriguez bandwagon too much, but when we see that kind of drop in productivity, with that kind of financial obligation for that long of a period, it handcuffs the team.

So, going back to the Yankees, maybe a quiet off-season is not such a bad thing. I certainly think they have issues to address if they are going to have a successful year. However, maybe trimming the budget is a good thing in the long run. Maybe being in a better position to acquire talent in 2014, when the free agent market looks to be richer than in recent years, is a good thing for the Yankees. For my part, I believe the team will make the adjustments needed during the course of the season to have a successful run. I am just not afraid of the quiet as some might be.

Joba & Youkilis - Is This Really Newsworthy?

You know it is a slow news month when the vultures are out looking to make stories out of nothing. This week, Joba Chamberlain left a voicemail for Kevin Youkilis and he has not gotten a return call. Yeah, seriously! Now, Joba should probably have known better than to tell a newspaper that he has done everything he can do to reach out to Youkilis (Read here). It did not take much effort for the tabloids to turn this into World War 3. I guess that is what sells. I just wish it were not so presumptuous.

The Yankees are not strangers to clubhouse rivalries. Sometimes it has worked out well, sometimes not so well. In 1999, the Yankees acquired Roger Clemens from the Toronto Blue Jays. He was known for going after batters with his "inside fastball", including many of the Yankees. In what I thought was a brilliant move by the Yankees, Derek Jeter and Chuck Knoblauch came out for spring training to greet Clemens each wearing a set of catcher's gear. It was a funny moment, to poke Clemens for all the times he threw way inside to these guys, and to clear the air (Read here). It so happened that this greeting made its way to the press, and any thought of internal conflict evaporated in a matter of minutes. The key here was that both the returning players and Clemens had a mature attitude about it, and all had the same vision - to win, without the ego drama.

Now, it is not as if such moves have never gone sour. Back in November 1976 when the Yankees signed Reggie Jackson, his entrance brought a whirlwind of interpersonal drama.  His ongoing conflicts with Thurman Munson and Billy Martin were legendary.  They fought over everything under the sun, and ultimately for the spotlight. While they won two World Series out of three during his stay there, Reggie was not exactly the best personality for a happy clubhouse. Part of it was the leadership at the time. As much as I loved Billy Martin as a kid, with all his screaming and kicking dirt at the umps, he could barely control himself, let alone Reggie and the rest of the enormous egos on that time. Thankfully, Thurman Munson was the captain and the leader that kept everyone on track to winning. They won both World Series between Reggie's signing and Thurman's passing.

I expect that the captain Derek Jeter and the manager Joe Girardi will manage this, both of whom stress the importance of parking your ego at the door and doing your part to help the cause of winning. Remember when Alex Rodriguez said that he understood Joe Girardi benching him in the playoffs last year? That's the standard of behavior enforced in the clubhouse. Kevin Youkilis has been around the league for the better part of nine years, having gone to the postseason 4 times, and been a part of a World Series winning team twice. His spent his entire career so far with big-market teams. I am sure he gets it. Joba may be a little more inexperienced, but he grew up in this environment. He gets it too. Okay, so someone has not returned a phone call yet. Big deal. Personally, I hope that they decide to go to a bar on an off night during Spring Training and have a beer, and that someone tips off the press. That should send the vultures back to their roost.

You can also find this article on Bleeding Yankees Blue.