2009 Yankees wishlist

I'd compare C.C. more to Bartolo Colon than I would to Zito. C.C. still probably has two or three really solid seasons in him before he hits a wall and his weight catches up to him, as did Colon (He didn't really deserve that Cy Young, he only got it because of the wins from playing on a good team), before he starts to decline. How steep a decline that will be remains to be seen, but I have a feeling that C.C. is going to become injury prone very soon because of his weight. If he can trim himself down significantly I think he'll be real good for quite a while, but if he stays at the weight hes at hes doomed to a fairly early decline because of those pounds hes packing. I personally think he'll end up getting traded at the deadline this year anyways.

As for Hughes and Kennedy, I remember reading somewhere, I'll try to find the link, that the Yankees admit to overhyping and overrating them. From everywhere I've heard its pretty much accepted that Kennedy's ceiling is a #3 or #4 starter, and I've personally heard more about him as a #4 than a #3. Hughes has the potential to be good, but I just see him as a poor man's Justin Verlander, #2 type and not this super-ace Yankee fans are expecting. I remember Jason Giambi and the brilliant (sarcasm) Yankees media comparing him to Roger Clemens before he'd even pitched at AAA, or maybe it was AA, a few Spring Trainings ago. Joba I think is the real deal, though not maybe to such a high degree as a lot of people are expecting. I think he'll be a legitimate ace, but he does look a bit hefty, and he is young and he'll have to adjust to facing guys the second and third times through the order and adjust to starting in general, but I think hes the best of the Yankees pitching prospects by a wide margin. Now, given I've seen more of Buchholz than I have of Hughes and I am a Red Sox fan, I think Buchholz will be better. His change is absolutely jaw-dropping, and his curve and fastball are just as good, his slider isn't on the same tier as the change and curve, but it still grades out very well from what I've seen of it. Buck's problem, it seems to me, is that he hasn't really learned how to pitch, which doesn't surprise me since hes 24 and hes only been pitching for a few seasons because he was a SS in college IIRC, and that he doesn't really pitch off his fastballs and he doesn't do the subtle things that you need to do to be successful. Once he learns how to pitch and gets some of the subtle things down he'll be real, real good.

With Boras as Teixeira's agent hes gonna be asking for the moon in negotiations. If you think the Yankees aren't going to have any competition and that they're a lock for him, you've got another thing coming. I could see the Dodgers, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Red Sox (just to drive up the price on the Yankees, or perhaps as a replacement to Manny if they don't pick up his option) all seriously in on him, along with the Yankees. I could also see the Giants, Phillies, and Orioles as sleepers on him. Hes gonna end up with an 8 year deal at 18+ mil per year, which I think is a bit much for him, but the market is what it is. Hes a GG caliber first basemen and hes a real good hitter, but he'll be making A-Rod money and A-Rod's on a completely different planet from Tex'.

As for the Yankees in general, its just the natural cycle of sports. All teams go through a period of winning and a period of losing (rebuilding), and its the Yankees time to rebuild, as much as you Yankee fans don't want to hear it, just as it is the Tigers and Brewers to win again.