2008 New York Yankees

nyy26wc · 08-31-2008, 05:55 PM

I've been playing along with the 2008 Yankees season. I started with the default MLB rosters that came with the game and started at spring training.

I've recently been sending daily updates about my team to a friend and, after today's magnificent game, I decided to start posting about my team here.

I made some moves in spring training. Most noteably, I undid the Johan Santana trade, sending Santana back to the Twins and the other players involved back to the Mets. Then, I put together my own version of the trade. I did give up more to the Twins than the Mets did, judging by the overall/potential OOTP9 ratings. I traded Melky Cabrera, Ps Kei Igawa, Jason Jones and Steven White and SS prospect Marcos Vechionacci for Santana. My other major offseason move was to sign Barry Bonds.

I then simulated up to whatever date it was in real life, which was a day or two after OOTP9 came out. I GM'd the team during the time, making things like DL moves.

I made some major inseason trades. On July 4, I traded Jason Giambi, Jeff Karstens, 4 other minor leaguers and $3 million to the Braves for Mark Teixeira.

I was also working on a trade with the Phillies. It started off as an effort to diversify my bench by getting a righthanded bat for the OF. I started off with trading Jim Edmonds for So Taguchi. Then, the trade expanded from a small one to a blockbuster when I targeted Pat Burrell. I ended up trading Hideki Matsui, Wilson Betemit (who was having a very good year for me coming off the bench. But, I didn't think that could last, so I decided to get rid of him when his value at its highest) for Burrell and 4 minor leaguers, most importantly, P Carlos Carrasco.

Then, on July 24, I made a phone call to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have been a surprise team and are currently leading the NL Central by 2 games. I knew that a manager like Dusty Baker would have to be in panic mode at the thought of going into a pennant race with a 21 year old rookie CF, when I had a "proven veteran" that I could offer him. I traded Johnny Damon, Carrasco, Ian Kennedy and 2 other minor leaguers for Jay Bruce.

Here's my current roster--
SP--Johan Santana
SP--Mike Mussina
SP--Joba Chamberlain
SP--Andy Pettitte
SP--Phil Hughes
RP--Jonathan Albaledjo
RP--Brian Bruney
RP--Vinnie Chulk
RP--Kyle Farnsworth
RP--Mike Stanton (claimed off waivers on July 12)
CL--Mariano Rivera

MY LINEUP
CF--Jay Bruce
SS--Derek Jeter
DH--Barry Bonds
3B--Alex Rodriguez
1B--Mark Teixeira
2B--Robinson Cano
LF--Pat Burrell
RF--Bobby Abreu
C--Jorge Posada

BENCH
INF--Marcus Giles (signed as a free agent in spring training)
INF--Nick Punto (acquired in a trade with the Twins in July)
OF--So Taguchi
OF--Jay Gibbons (signed as a free agent in spring training)
C--Jose Molina

nyy26wc · 08-31-2008, 06:03 PM

I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to set up my pitching rotation for the postseason.

I decided I wanted Mussina (the favorite for the Cy Young Award) and Chamberlain (who would be the favorite had he been in the rotation the entire year) at the top of the rotation, with Santana dropping to my 3rd starter.

It was difficult trying to set things up that way. Having days off tomorrow, September 11 and 22 were ruining my plans in terms of who pitches when, with what amount of rest that I wanted them to have.

Finally, I settled on a plan where Chamberlain pitches today, on 3 days rest, and Santana's next start will be on 6 days rest. That allowed me to set up the rotation of Mussina, Chamberlain, Santana, Pettitte, Hughes, with Pettitte and Hughes battling each other for a spot in the postseason rotation.

But, since he was going on 3 days rest, I imposed a 80 something pitch count on Chamberlain for today. Maybe I was babying him, but I'd rather baby him and put a single game at a risk turning it over to the bullpen than take an unnecessary risk, while I am running away with things, and put World Championship #27 at risk.

Looking at the state of my bullpen, I needed an extra arm, just in case Chamberlain had to pulled early in the game. So, before the game, I sent Hughes to the minors and called up Tyler Robertson, who I had acquired from the Twins for Morgan Ensberg in spring training.

Chamberlain came into the game with a 27 consecutive innings shutout streak. Included in that streak was a masterpiece in which he came 2 pitches away from joining Don Larsen, David Wells and David Cone in Yankees history. A 4th inning E4 and a 8th inning line drive single to center, off the bat of Brad Wilkerson, was all that stood between Chamberlain and a 15 SO perfect game against the Royals on August 15.

Chamberlain's consecutive shutout innings streak ended at 28, when the Blue Jays scored 2 in the top of the 2nd. But, we tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd. Jay Bruce homered in the 5th for a 3-2 lead.

We went to the 7th feeling confident about the game. Chamberlain (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 10 SO) came out and was replaced by Vinnie Chulk. Chulk has a 0.00 ERA in 12 innings since being acquired in a trade for Jose Tabata.

Well, make that had a 0.00 ERA. With 1 out, Matt Stairs and Vernon Wells hit back to back HRs to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom of the 8th, A-Rod attempted to tie the game, but his shot to left was caught on the warning track. Then, on 1-0 count, the next batter, Mark Teixeira, hit one 353 feet into the left field stands to make it a 4-4 game.

In the 9th, I handed the ball to Mike Stanton, who had a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings since being claimed off waivers on July 12. Stanton came into the game having allowed 3 runs in his return to pinstripes. He doubled that in just 2/3 of an inning and we were in a 7-4 deficit.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Blue Jays gave the ball to their new closer, Jeremy Accardo, with an ERA of 1.82. Posada walked on 4 pitches and Nick Punto was sent in to pinch run. Bruce doubled to right center, Punto stopped at 3rd.

Derek Jeter, with 199 career HR, stepped up to the plate. The team also had 199 HR for the season.

Here's the full play by play--

Now Jeter steps in...
so far he's 1 for 4 today...
1-1 count of Jeter with no one out...
Accardo from the stretch...
he deals...
swung on...
high drive...
deep to right...
Rios racing after it...
but this one is gone!
Good-bye!
That ball landed 339 feet from home plate!
On most days, that's an out!
But today the wind helps it fly out of here! [18 MPH wind blowing out to right]
The game is now tied at 7 as Derek 'Mr. November' Jeter delivers a three-run blast!

Bonds singled. With the winning run on 1st, I sent Marcus Giles in to pinch run. A-Rod had another drive to left, but once again, it was caught at the warning track. Texieira popped to 3rd. Cano had a dribbler in front of the plate, which the catcher couldn't handle. The E2 sent the winning run to 2nd, but Burrell hit a 6-4 fielder's choice grounder to end the inning.

In the top of the 10th, I gave the ball to Mariano Rivera. The plan was to give Rivera the 10th and then Robertson, who is normally a starter and would have been starting in AAA today if he wasn't called up, would then pitch the remainder of the game.

Rivera had a sort of 1-2-3 inning. He faced 3 batters and got 3 outs, but Willy Taveras had walked with 1 out and Molina, who replaced Posada behind the plate after Punto had pinchrun for him, threw him out trying to steal to end the inning.

We went to the bottom of the 10th, facing Brandon League. Abreu flied to left to start the inning. Molina lined a base hit to left. With Molina representing the winning run, I wanted to pinch run for him. If it was September 1, I'd have another catcher to use if I didn't win the game in the 10th. But, since it was only August 31, I had to take my chances with him on the bases. Bruce was hit by a pitch. With a full count, Jeter walked to load the bases.

I have Sinatra singing New York, New York in my ipod, to be played after my victorious games. I decided that, with the winning run 90 feet away (the fact that it was Molina never entered into my thinking) and Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez coming up, I better set the ipod so that I can start the song right after the game ended.

I took my eyes off the screen and set the ipod. When I returned to the game, I had remembered that Bonds wasn't up. I had sent in Giles to pinch run for him.

The count was 1-1 on Giles--

Here comes Marcus Giles...
he's stepping in with a .259 batting average...
The count is 1-1 on the hitter...
League into the stretch...
kicks and fires...
swung on...
driven hard...
to deep left center field...
Taveras has a long way to go...
and a short time to get there...
but it's going...
going...
gone!
GRAAAAAAND SLAAAAAAAM Giles!
How far did it fly? 407 feet!
Marcus Giles delivers a walk-off GRAND SLAM!! Ballgame!! That was clutch!

My Yankees have the winning percentage that is reminiscient of 1998. The team is 96-41, for a .701 PCT, which is a 114 win pace.

But, today, it feels like 1996, when, on any given day, the last guy on the roster you'd expect to be the hero is.

We play today. We win today.

I have a 13 1/2 game lead over the Rays and a 21 game lead over the Red Sox. The Blue Jays and Orioles have already been mathematically eliminated.
The magic number to clinch the division is 13, to eliminate the Red Sox is 5 and to clinch the postseason is 11.

nyy26wc · 09-02-2008, 12:16 AM

My Yankees were off today (the real life Yankees only played today due to a rainout earlier in the season).

But, since it's September 1, it's time to expand the roster.

OOTP9 allows you to put anyone you want on the postseason roster without having to go through the formality of following the Brian Cashman technicality. But, I decided to use my powers as commissioner to order myself to abide by the rules of MLB and comply with the Brian Cashman technicality.

I was already covered for pitching, since Chien Ming Wang is on the DL for the rest of the season.

But, in order to be covered for hitting, I needed a hitter on the DL. So, I sent P Tyler Robertson to the minors and called up 2B Ismael Zambrano. Zambrano's a AAA 2B who tore his ACL in April and is out for the season. I then placed Zambrano on the 60 day DL.

My September callups are Ps Phil Hughes, Tyler Robertson, Darrel Rasner (who is being rewarded for a 2.70 ERA in AAA), Brian Bruney (his reward for a 2.55 ERA in AAA) and Zachary Ward (2.34 ERA in AA and 3.03 ERA in AAA--he was acquired, along with Robertson, in the spring training trade that sent Morgan Ensberg to the Twins when he failed to make the team out of spring training), C Max Ramirez (acquired in a trade on July 25 with the Rangers for Eric Duncan, Ramirez is a candidate to take away Molina's backup C job in 2009), 1B-3B Mitch Hilligass (a nonprospect who is getting a reward for a respectable year in AAA, maybe I'll give him a token AB in a blowout just so he can say he appeared in the majors before he gets dropped from the 40 man roster during the offseason), 1B Shelley Duncan and OF Austin Jackson.

To make room for Zambrano on the 40 man roster, minor leaguer Edwar Ramirez was designated for assignment.

nyy26wc · 09-02-2008, 03:49 PM

Andy Pettitte had a bad outing, as the Yankees lost to the Rays, 5-1. Jonny Gomes hit 2 HR for them.

The Rays are in the middle of a fight for the wild card, as their lead over the Indians/Twins (the Indians tied the Twins for the lead in the Central today) is just 2 1/2.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox lost, to knock the magic number to eliminate them down to 2 and the magic number to clinch the postseason is down to 10.

nyy26wc · 09-03-2008, 05:30 PM

Yankees power was on display today.

Mark Teixeira hit what was called the longest HR in Tropicana Field history, a 461 foot shot to right center in the 3rd. A-Rod erased that record with a 466 footer to left center in the 7th.

Barry Bonds and Robinson Cano also homered, with Teixeira providing 3 hits.

The Yankees won a slugfest, 12-7, with the teams combining to score in 9 of the 18 half innings.

Phil Hughes, who is locked in a battle with Andy Pettitte for a spot in the postseason rotation had a chance to take a lead in the battle after Pettitte didn't have a good outing yesterday. But, Hughes was even worse--2 IP, 8 H, 5 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

The game featured the major league debut of prospect Austin Jackson, who walked as a pinch hitter in the 9th. September callups Max Ramirez and Zach Ward also made their debuts for the Yankees.

The Red Sox lost, setting up the possibility that the defending World Champions are approximately 24 hours away from mathematical elimination for the division race, as that magic number is down to 2. The Yankees's magic number to clinch the division is 11 and to clinch the postseason is 9.

08-31-2008, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
nyy26wc Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 33	2008 New York Yankees I've been playing along with the 2008 Yankees season. I started with the default MLB rosters that came with the game and started at spring training. I've recently been sending daily updates about my team to a friend and, after today's magnificent game, I decided to start posting about my team here. I made some moves in spring training. Most noteably, I undid the Johan Santana trade, sending Santana back to the Twins and the other players involved back to the Mets. Then, I put together my own version of the trade. I did give up more to the Twins than the Mets did, judging by the overall/potential OOTP9 ratings. I traded Melky Cabrera, Ps Kei Igawa, Jason Jones and Steven White and SS prospect Marcos Vechionacci for Santana. My other major offseason move was to sign Barry Bonds. I then simulated up to whatever date it was in real life, which was a day or two after OOTP9 came out. I GM'd the team during the time, making things like DL moves. I made some major inseason trades. On July 4, I traded Jason Giambi, Jeff Karstens, 4 other minor leaguers and $3 million to the Braves for Mark Teixeira. I was also working on a trade with the Phillies. It started off as an effort to diversify my bench by getting a righthanded bat for the OF. I started off with trading Jim Edmonds for So Taguchi. Then, the trade expanded from a small one to a blockbuster when I targeted Pat Burrell. I ended up trading Hideki Matsui, Wilson Betemit (who was having a very good year for me coming off the bench. But, I didn't think that could last, so I decided to get rid of him when his value at its highest) for Burrell and 4 minor leaguers, most importantly, P Carlos Carrasco. Then, on July 24, I made a phone call to the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have been a surprise team and are currently leading the NL Central by 2 games. I knew that a manager like Dusty Baker would have to be in panic mode at the thought of going into a pennant race with a 21 year old rookie CF, when I had a "proven veteran" that I could offer him. I traded Johnny Damon, Carrasco, Ian Kennedy and 2 other minor leaguers for Jay Bruce. Here's my current roster-- SP--Johan Santana SP--Mike Mussina SP--Joba Chamberlain SP--Andy Pettitte SP--Phil Hughes RP--Jonathan Albaledjo RP--Brian Bruney RP--Vinnie Chulk RP--Kyle Farnsworth RP--Mike Stanton (claimed off waivers on July 12) CL--Mariano Rivera MY LINEUP CF--Jay Bruce SS--Derek Jeter DH--Barry Bonds 3B--Alex Rodriguez 1B--Mark Teixeira 2B--Robinson Cano LF--Pat Burrell RF--Bobby Abreu C--Jorge Posada BENCH INF--Marcus Giles (signed as a free agent in spring training) INF--Nick Punto (acquired in a trade with the Twins in July) OF--So Taguchi OF--Jay Gibbons (signed as a free agent in spring training) C--Jose Molina Last edited by nyy26wc : 08-31-2008 at 06:41 PM. Reason: Cano's batting in front of Burrell in the lineup

08-31-2008, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
nyy26wc Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 33	I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to set up my pitching rotation for the postseason. I decided I wanted Mussina (the favorite for the Cy Young Award) and Chamberlain (who would be the favorite had he been in the rotation the entire year) at the top of the rotation, with Santana dropping to my 3rd starter. It was difficult trying to set things up that way. Having days off tomorrow, September 11 and 22 were ruining my plans in terms of who pitches when, with what amount of rest that I wanted them to have. Finally, I settled on a plan where Chamberlain pitches today, on 3 days rest, and Santana's next start will be on 6 days rest. That allowed me to set up the rotation of Mussina, Chamberlain, Santana, Pettitte, Hughes, with Pettitte and Hughes battling each other for a spot in the postseason rotation. But, since he was going on 3 days rest, I imposed a 80 something pitch count on Chamberlain for today. Maybe I was babying him, but I'd rather baby him and put a single game at a risk turning it over to the bullpen than take an unnecessary risk, while I am running away with things, and put World Championship #27 at risk. Looking at the state of my bullpen, I needed an extra arm, just in case Chamberlain had to pulled early in the game. So, before the game, I sent Hughes to the minors and called up Tyler Robertson, who I had acquired from the Twins for Morgan Ensberg in spring training. Chamberlain came into the game with a 27 consecutive innings shutout streak. Included in that streak was a masterpiece in which he came 2 pitches away from joining Don Larsen, David Wells and David Cone in Yankees history. A 4th inning E4 and a 8th inning line drive single to center, off the bat of Brad Wilkerson, was all that stood between Chamberlain and a 15 SO perfect game against the Royals on August 15. Chamberlain's consecutive shutout innings streak ended at 28, when the Blue Jays scored 2 in the top of the 2nd. But, we tied the game in the bottom of the 3rd. Jay Bruce homered in the 5th for a 3-2 lead. We went to the 7th feeling confident about the game. Chamberlain (6 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 10 SO) came out and was replaced by Vinnie Chulk. Chulk has a 0.00 ERA in 12 innings since being acquired in a trade for Jose Tabata. Well, make that had a 0.00 ERA. With 1 out, Matt Stairs and Vernon Wells hit back to back HRs to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the 8th, A-Rod attempted to tie the game, but his shot to left was caught on the warning track. Then, on 1-0 count, the next batter, Mark Teixeira, hit one 353 feet into the left field stands to make it a 4-4 game. In the 9th, I handed the ball to Mike Stanton, who had a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings since being claimed off waivers on July 12. Stanton came into the game having allowed 3 runs in his return to pinstripes. He doubled that in just 2/3 of an inning and we were in a 7-4 deficit. In the bottom of the 9th, the Blue Jays gave the ball to their new closer, Jeremy Accardo, with an ERA of 1.82. Posada walked on 4 pitches and Nick Punto was sent in to pinch run. Bruce doubled to right center, Punto stopped at 3rd. Derek Jeter, with 199 career HR, stepped up to the plate. The team also had 199 HR for the season. Here's the full play by play-- Now Jeter steps in... so far he's 1 for 4 today... 1-1 count of Jeter with no one out... Accardo from the stretch... he deals... swung on... high drive... deep to right... Rios racing after it... but this one is gone! Good-bye! That ball landed 339 feet from home plate! On most days, that's an out! But today the wind helps it fly out of here! [18 MPH wind blowing out to right] The game is now tied at 7 as Derek 'Mr. November' Jeter delivers a three-run blast! Bonds singled. With the winning run on 1st, I sent Marcus Giles in to pinch run. A-Rod had another drive to left, but once again, it was caught at the warning track. Texieira popped to 3rd. Cano had a dribbler in front of the plate, which the catcher couldn't handle. The E2 sent the winning run to 2nd, but Burrell hit a 6-4 fielder's choice grounder to end the inning. In the top of the 10th, I gave the ball to Mariano Rivera. The plan was to give Rivera the 10th and then Robertson, who is normally a starter and would have been starting in AAA today if he wasn't called up, would then pitch the remainder of the game. Rivera had a sort of 1-2-3 inning. He faced 3 batters and got 3 outs, but Willy Taveras had walked with 1 out and Molina, who replaced Posada behind the plate after Punto had pinchrun for him, threw him out trying to steal to end the inning. We went to the bottom of the 10th, facing Brandon League. Abreu flied to left to start the inning. Molina lined a base hit to left. With Molina representing the winning run, I wanted to pinch run for him. If it was September 1, I'd have another catcher to use if I didn't win the game in the 10th. But, since it was only August 31, I had to take my chances with him on the bases. Bruce was hit by a pitch. With a full count, Jeter walked to load the bases. I have Sinatra singing New York, New York in my ipod, to be played after my victorious games. I decided that, with the winning run 90 feet away (the fact that it was Molina never entered into my thinking) and Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez coming up, I better set the ipod so that I can start the song right after the game ended. I took my eyes off the screen and set the ipod. When I returned to the game, I had remembered that Bonds wasn't up. I had sent in Giles to pinch run for him. The count was 1-1 on Giles-- Here comes Marcus Giles... he's stepping in with a .259 batting average... The count is 1-1 on the hitter... League into the stretch... kicks and fires... swung on... driven hard... to deep left center field... Taveras has a long way to go... and a short time to get there... but it's going... going... gone! GRAAAAAAND SLAAAAAAAM Giles! How far did it fly? 407 feet! Marcus Giles delivers a walk-off GRAND SLAM!! Ballgame!! That was clutch! My Yankees have the winning percentage that is reminiscient of 1998. The team is 96-41, for a .701 PCT, which is a 114 win pace. But, today, it feels like 1996, when, on any given day, the last guy on the roster you'd expect to be the hero is. We play today. We win today. I have a 13 1/2 game lead over the Rays and a 21 game lead over the Red Sox. The Blue Jays and Orioles have already been mathematically eliminated. The magic number to clinch the division is 13, to eliminate the Red Sox is 5 and to clinch the postseason is 11. Last edited by nyy26wc : 08-31-2008 at 06:05 PM.

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09-02-2008, 12:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
nyy26wc Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 33	My Yankees were off today (the real life Yankees only played today due to a rainout earlier in the season). But, since it's September 1, it's time to expand the roster. OOTP9 allows you to put anyone you want on the postseason roster without having to go through the formality of following the Brian Cashman technicality. But, I decided to use my powers as commissioner to order myself to abide by the rules of MLB and comply with the Brian Cashman technicality. I was already covered for pitching, since Chien Ming Wang is on the DL for the rest of the season. But, in order to be covered for hitting, I needed a hitter on the DL. So, I sent P Tyler Robertson to the minors and called up 2B Ismael Zambrano. Zambrano's a AAA 2B who tore his ACL in April and is out for the season. I then placed Zambrano on the 60 day DL. My September callups are Ps Phil Hughes, Tyler Robertson, Darrel Rasner (who is being rewarded for a 2.70 ERA in AAA), Brian Bruney (his reward for a 2.55 ERA in AAA) and Zachary Ward (2.34 ERA in AA and 3.03 ERA in AAA--he was acquired, along with Robertson, in the spring training trade that sent Morgan Ensberg to the Twins when he failed to make the team out of spring training), C Max Ramirez (acquired in a trade on July 25 with the Rangers for Eric Duncan, Ramirez is a candidate to take away Molina's backup C job in 2009), 1B-3B Mitch Hilligass (a nonprospect who is getting a reward for a respectable year in AAA, maybe I'll give him a token AB in a blowout just so he can say he appeared in the majors before he gets dropped from the 40 man roster during the offseason), 1B Shelley Duncan and OF Austin Jackson. To make room for Zambrano on the 40 man roster, minor leaguer Edwar Ramirez was designated for assignment.

09-02-2008, 03:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
nyy26wc Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 33	Andy Pettitte had a bad outing, as the Yankees lost to the Rays, 5-1. Jonny Gomes hit 2 HR for them. The Rays are in the middle of a fight for the wild card, as their lead over the Indians/Twins (the Indians tied the Twins for the lead in the Central today) is just 2 1/2. Meanwhile, the Red Sox lost, to knock the magic number to eliminate them down to 2 and the magic number to clinch the postseason is down to 10.

09-03-2008, 05:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
nyy26wc Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 33	Yankees power was on display today. Mark Teixeira hit what was called the longest HR in Tropicana Field history, a 461 foot shot to right center in the 3rd. A-Rod erased that record with a 466 footer to left center in the 7th. Barry Bonds and Robinson Cano also homered, with Teixeira providing 3 hits. The Yankees won a slugfest, 12-7, with the teams combining to score in 9 of the 18 half innings. Phil Hughes, who is locked in a battle with Andy Pettitte for a spot in the postseason rotation had a chance to take a lead in the battle after Pettitte didn't have a good outing yesterday. But, Hughes was even worse--2 IP, 8 H, 5 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. The game featured the major league debut of prospect Austin Jackson, who walked as a pinch hitter in the 9th. September callups Max Ramirez and Zach Ward also made their debuts for the Yankees. The Red Sox lost, setting up the possibility that the defending World Champions are approximately 24 hours away from mathematical elimination for the division race, as that magic number is down to 2. The Yankees's magic number to clinch the division is 11 and to clinch the postseason is 9.