Is Berkman going to take Thames place as the regular DH? I hope not. Thames is hot right now, I think they should not take Thames out of the lineup right away

Berkman should probably DH against righties, and Thames should DH against lefties.  A few hot games doesn’t change the fact that Thames is not a good hitter against RHP, but he’s almost certainly a better DH option against lefties.

I’d imagine they’ll throw Berkman at first base a few times to help Teix heal up if needed too, maybe after Rodriguez gets back.

With Thames sitting against righties, the Yankees have a pretty potent RH bat off the bench for late innings as well.

I’d like to see Berkman, ya know, hit a ball out of the infield before getting excited about him returning to the lineup.

and Greg Golson is probably not going to start much but could be useful as a pinch runner for Brett Gardner.

Nice.

I like how Berkman said something along the lines of the fans can’t wait to see if I climb above the Mendoza line

A Berkman/Thames platoon could be quite excellent.

Frankie Piliere with an interesting breakdown of Jeter’s swing/mechanics. Doesn’t look good. http://goo.gl/Deda

5 or passable but right now Jeter is our main concern, maybe he can stay at KLong’s hose for a few days

I think I recall, although I can’t find any confirming links, that there were reports about Jeter’s slowing swing/mechanics during the 2008 season.

You know, if Berkman can’t get a hit in AA, do we really want him back?

He got a hit in his first game.  So that’s 1-2 in games getting a hit.  We’re getting a .500 hitter!  He also has *not* failed to reach base in a game during his rehab.

maybe he can stay at KLong’s hose for a few days

Sorry, had to laugh.

[6] Just read it.  You can take it either way - he’s losing it and this is what we’re stuck with, or there are mechanical problems that are fixable.  Or a third way - Jeter isn’t able to swing like the Jeter of old, so he’ll need to rebuild his swing and try for a new approach. 

Jeter’s versatile.  People have been predicting his demise since the turn of the century.  I remember in particle Rob Neyer - I think in a mailbag response - mentioned prior to the 2003 season that Jeter’s OPS had been declining the past 4 years, and he may be done as an elite player.  And as Rich pointed out, after 2008 we heard that as well.  Eventually Mark Twain *did* die, and perhaps Jeter’s career has too.  But I don’t think it has, quite yet.  MVP candidate Jeter yes, but not above-average player Jeter.

Jeter will be back next year, maybe not to his previous level, but probably to above average. As long as he isn’t an embarrassment on defense, he’s worthy. Just bat him 8th, please, Joe.

[10] it’s also helpful to remember how terrible all the other shortstops are currently.

Doesn’t look good.

I was going to say something along the lines of what [10] did, but then I saw [10]. I’m hoping it’s fixable, or adjustable.

Yeah, I didn’t mean to suggest this version is definitely going to be restofcareer_jeter just that septemeberandplayoffs_jeter might still suck. And hit 1st/2nd.

Eventually Mark Twain *did* die

What?  Why wasn’t I informed?

[15] We were hoping to spare you some grief.  Sorry

From Daily News

Jeter may be the ultimate team guy, but two former teammates believe that when it comes to getting paid, his pride will demand that he get something approaching A-Rod money, regardless of what he hits this season.

“It’s up to (the Yankees),” one former player said. “Knowing Jeet, he’s not going to let an off-year, if it turns out to be an off-year, play a role in what he thinks he should get paid. He just doesn’t think like that. He’ll be more convinced than ever that he’ll come back and hit .330 next year

What will he be worth and for how many years?  Of course he has other value to the Yankees but so did Matsui.

[17]  If he wants ARod money, wave his ass goodbye.  I wouldn’t pay Babe Ruth’s reanimated zombie corpse three times his market value.

Right now I wouldn’t go past 3/50, and that’s probably $25M and a year more than he’d get from any other team.

If he’s starts out intransigent, they should just tell him we stand ready to beat the best offer out there, and let him see what the market really is.

[18] agree and and then some, I think two for thirty with a team option would be my choice.

I give him three hots and a cot and expect him to be grateful.

It would be two out of three “off-years.”

A-Rod, otoh, was coming off of an MVP season.

Arod was too many years but lets not compound that mistake-it is sunk cost

Coworker has two tickets for tonight going to waste. Upper deck behind third base. I love the view. I’m in the fidi

AJ due for a goodun today

Right now I wouldn’t go past 3/50, and that’s probably $25M and a year more than he’d get from any other team.

You sound as if you think that MLB is a perfectly functioning free marketplace populated by rational actors on both the buying and selling sides.  If Jeter actually hits free agency, the Mets will offer him 4/$80 in a heartbeat.  And move Reyes off SS and out of the leadoff spot.

And BTW, anybody know what’s wrong with BBTF?

EDIT: answering his own question:

September 1, 2010 5:40 PM EDT. Sorry BBTF.org is offline at the moment. The motherboard on our web server died today and needed to be replaced. We are in the process of getting the web server and database server talking again. We should be back up shortly.

Sorry for the inconvenience. I appreciate your patience.

Jim Furtado

AND BTW, anybody know what’s wrong with BBTF?

I think Francouer or Delta took exception to Dan’s taunting.

You sound as if you think that MLB is a perfectly functioning free marketplace populated by rational actors on both the buying and selling sides.  If Jeter actually hits free agency, the Mets will offer him 4/$80 in a heartbeat.  And move Reyes off SS and out of the leadoff spot.

Terrific, I’d love for that to happen if it were any other player except Jeter.

Hard to believe, if I remember correctly, that the Mets did do that already with Kazuo Matsui. Those knuckleheads.

MC, I sort of remember you from BBTF, or maybe I’m wrong. You used/still post there? Or mostly a reader?

And as long as I’m in a cutting and pasting mood…

As you’ll hear if you listen to the audio of Joe Girardi’s press conference, the manager didn’t even wait for a question to announce the news that Javier Vazquez is returning to the rotation. Jason Zillo asked who wanted to start and Girardi said, “Why don’t I start?” before telling the media that Vazquez will replace Dustin Moseley as Saturday’s starter.

from LoHud.  Oh, and a bit later, when asked about moving Jeter down in the order:

“I don’t see it happening,” Girardi said. “We still see him as a top of the order guy.”

[29] I do read and post at BBTF, sporadically at least.  I don’t know how you’d remember me though, since I’ve never used the same handle over there.

I have a powerful (and maybe irrational) dislike of Berkman.  And the fact that Girardi will keep running him out there because he is a Proven Veteran.

I don’t know how you’d remember me though, since I’ve never used the same handle over there.

Oh that’s even more likely, but earlier on (and likely still), there was a great many posters who designate which city/state they were based in, so I probably got you mixed up with those folks.

Why dislike Berkman? Who’s a better option at DH vs. righties? Nick “MVP votes” Johnson is still out, last I checked.

Who is this team’s second starter? If they make the playoffs you pretty much have to start CC in games 1 and 4. Burnett with Nova on standby?

Why dislike Berkman?

Fer sure, too much upside there. With reasonable assumption to be at least average. But that’s just my take, with the Yankees lacking a real lefty DH.

Who is this team’s second starter?

And yeah, this month is going to be big for sorting out the rotation.

Like I said, it’s somewhat irrational.  Small sample sizes, and so on, but he looked horrendous both offensively and defensively with the Yanks.  He seems like the definition of washed up even though he had a pretty good year even just last season.

Who is this team’s second starter?

The Yankees have the best second starter in baseball.  CC Sabathia is almost as good as Ivan Nova, so it’s really more like having a 1 and a 1A.

A-Rod, otoh, was coming off of an MVP season.

Not just an MVP season, but a ridiculous 9 WAR season. His fifth 9 WAR season in an eight year span. He was unquestionably the best player in the game at that moment in time. Granted Pujols took the crown from him the next season.

Edit: Also, ARod was 32 years old. Jeter is 36.

If Jeter thinks he should get ARod type money (even if only for 3 or 4 years), he is f*ckin’ high.

His argument will probably be, you’re going to be giving Arod 30M when he’s 42 or whatever, you can’t give me 20-25 when I’m 37, after I’ve been the face of the franchise, etc.

“[15] We were hoping to spare you some grief.”

“The reports of my death are greatly accurate”.

You didn’t use gravely accurate.  :(

Well, neither did the original.

[34] “Who is this team’s second starter? If they make the playoffs you pretty much have to start CC in games 1 and 4. Burnett with Nova on standby?”

Pettitte.  You go CC, Pettitte, Hughes (after he skips a couple starts to rest up he’ll be better) and then the best of Vazquez/Burnett/Nova.

[25] “You sound as if you think that MLB is a perfectly functioning free marketplace populated by rational actors on both the buying and selling sides.  If Jeter actually hits free agency, the Mets will offer him 4/$80 in a heartbeat.  And move Reyes off SS and out of the leadoff spot. “

No chance.  The Mets’ financial condition is somewhere between Greece and Portugal.  They’re cutting budget for the forseeable future.

And if they are that stupid, say “Best wishes Derek” and spend the money on Carl Crawford, or Adam Dunn plus.

No chance.

No sensa yuma.

The Mets’ financial condition is somewhere between Greece and Portugal.

But they just dumped Francouer.  Happy days are here again!