How Not to Fix the Yankees

As is the norm on our little baseball site, our goal is to shift from the standard deviation of thinking. Every blogger, writer, announcer, fan, guru, and anchorman is voicing their opinion on how to fix the Yankees. Things that need to be changed, people that need to go into the rotation, people that need to be removed from the rotation, etc...

We're working on ways to "Not to Fix the Yankees". Here's what we'd do.

Sign Mike Mussina to a Multi-Year Deal. The Moose has been lights out this season, so it's safe to assume that he'll be dominant for another three to five years. We should ink him now, before there's a fierce bidding war in the offseason. I'd give him 4 years at $11 million per.

Move Giambi Up in the Order. There is no reason that a guy hitting .188 with seven home runs should be wasted in the four hole. Move Giambi into the three, no let him bat leadoff. His low stolen base total (1) is a great way to deceive teams into thinking Giambi isn't the next Rickey Henderson.

Move Joba into Center Field. Why waste all that built up energy for just an inning late in the ball game? You want to spark some life into the lineup? Put Joba in center. Melky could use a day off.

Trade Jeter. This team is going nowhere right now. Now's a good time to start selling the team off for parts. It worked for Billy Beane, right?

Acquire the Best Left Handed Pitcher on the Market. David Wells wants to pitch in pinstripes again? We say "We've got the contract, but we'll only sign you if you put on another 40 pounds". We can't have some skinny guy moping around the dugout.

Designate the Backup Catcher for Assignment. Who needs Moeller when you've got Joe Girardi on the bench? He's the manager, its not like he'd be doing anything different behind the plate!

That's phase one of our twelve part plan. I'll be sitting be the phone, waiting for Hank to call.

Nitpicking the Experts

ESPN's baseball spent the offseason tossing and turning, each lying awake at night, full knowing this day would come.

It is the eve of the start of the baseball season, and the staff at 108 Red Stitches is ready to analyze their baseball season predictions.

	World Series	American League	National League	Wild Cards
Jayson Stark, ESPN.com	Braves over Tigers	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Mariners	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: Rockies	AL: Indians NL: Mets
Peter Gammons, ESPN/ESPN Insider	Indians over Braves	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Angels	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: D-backs	AL: Indians NL: Mets
Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com	Tigers over Mets	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Angels	East: Mets Central: Cubs West: D-backs	AL: Indians NL: Braves
Buster Olney, ESPN The Magazine	Indians over Cubs	East: Yankees Central: Indians West: Mariners	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: Rockies	AL: Red Sox NL: Mets
Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine	Red Sox over Mets	East: Red Sox Central: Indians West: Angels	East: Mets Central: Cubs West: Dodgers	AL: Red Sox NL: Phillies

Sometimes we wonder who's drinking out of the tainted water cooler over in Bristol, CT. Of the five reporters we've selected, (each of whom we hold in the utmost regard as journalists) Buster Olney is the most creative in his picks, and really is the only one of the five that puts his reputation on the line by selecting the Yankes, Indians, and Mariners to win their Divisions, while choosing the Braves, Cubs, and Rockies, to nestle in first in their divisions.

Everyone else loves the Red Sox or (gasp) the Tigers. Ray Charles could have taken a look at the Tigers' lineup and seen that they could wrap up the Central.

The Sox, Tigers, Mets, and Cubs are all safety picks. There's nothing interesting about them. And we, of course don't agree with any of them.

Here are our picks for the 2008 season, and guess what...we're going to be right.

World Series

American League

National League

Wild Cards

Cubs over Yankees

East: Yankees Central: Indians West: Mariners

East: Braves Central: Cubs West: D-Backs

AL: Blue Jays NL: Brewers

Believe it or not, the Cubs will win the World Series, because of a bullpen anchored by Kerry Wood. With the Reds out of a playoff run by early June, they'll send Ken Griffey Jr to the Cubs to give him (and them) a shot at that elusive World Series ring.

A lot of people are giving the Red Sox a lot more credit than they're worth. A cranky rotation, old age at important positions (catcher, corner outfield, third base) and a bullpen that'll be on again/off again; the Red

Sure, everyone says the Yankees biggest problem is their rotation, but they'll score enough runs to cover the five runs a game their staff will allow. They're a year away from going back to the World Series, and coming out on top.

The Mets will stumble out of the gates due to injuries that have ravished their roster. With Sox aren't the same team as last year. Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Elisbury will have their growing pains as well. only Wright and Reyes fully capable of playing everyday without the fear of shattering a hip, the Mets will patch together a lineup and rotation that will lead to "too little, too late" once everyone is fully healthy and healed.

108 Red Stitches: Mailbag

Time to open up the 108 Red Stitches Mailbag. To ask us a question email 108redstitches@gmail.com. Try to keep it baseball related, spammers not welcome, we know where you live and have Italians on our staff, and we're not afraid to use them.


Dear 108 Red Stitches,

I've got a question regarding closers, or the apparent lack of late in fantasy drafts. Looking over my team, I've notice that I'm weak in the saves category, partially because I failed to draft a K-Rod or a Rivera earlier in the draft.
Looking over my waiver wire, I've got three options; Kerry Wood, BJ Ryan, or Eric Gagne. Any thoughts?

- Kris, New York

We're beginning to believe that you can win in mixed leagues (head to head) without relying too heavily on a closer. What's the big deal if you lose out on one stat category, when you can spend higher picks on guys that will produce in three or four different categories? Back to your question regarding which closer to pick. We faced a similar situation in our league, and decided to go with Ryan. In our situation, we were able to grab Bobby Jenks later in the draft, so we can afford to gamble on Ryan. Wood is tricky, because they have two other options for closer if he doesn't work out. Gagne seems to be the most stable with his role, no one threatening to replace him, as in Ryan and Wood's situations.

That being said, Gagne is fat and lazy. Without anything nipping at his heals, he might have the tendency to become complacent. He signed a one year fat contract, nothing incentive laced, and that scares the hell out of us.

Fantasy Baseball Help: Third Base

If you are looking for the biggest piece of fantasy advice on the internet, you have come to the right place. Get ready for this, and make sure you're sitting down in a chair.

Ready?

DO NOT DRAFT RYAN BRAUN. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER TAKING RYAN BRAUN WITH ANY OF YOUR 25 DRAFT PICKS. LEAVE HIM ON THE FREE AGENT WIRE.

Confused yet?

Good.


We're talking about (obviously) Ryan Braun of the Kansas City Royals. It will be the single most mistake this draft year. Our advice to you is to pay extremely close attention during your online draft, if you are hoping to select Braun. Make sure that you're drafting the correct Braun, the one who plays for the Brew Crew.

Ok, back to normal, every day, 108 Red Stitches advice.

If you can't get your hands on Rodriguez, Wright, or Cabrera, do yourself a favor and pick up Garrett Atkins. As long as Atkins is playing in Coors Field, he'll do wonders for your fantasy team. If you're able to draft Atkins, make sure you have spend a lower level pick on a backup third basemen like;

Chase Headley, Padres. This kid can flat out hit. His only problem is where he plays in the field. With Kevin Kouzmanoff plopped down at third for the Padres, Headley could wind up playing in the outfield, or second base. If he's in the outfield, he'll platoon at first, and won't be worth keeping him on your team. If he plays second, we've got a totally different story. In a position with two great options, (Cano and that other Chase) if moved to second, Headley will immediately increase his value.

Scott Rolen, Toronto. His suggested starting bid is $13. He's a great option because he's hitting in a lineup of guys who love to get on base. If you get into a bidding war with another owner, let him go. $13 is relatively high for a guy on the down slope of his career. Rolen has a little something left in his bat if he can stay healthy this year.

Joe Crede, White Sox. The Giants have expressed interest in Crede, as long as he stays healthy during spring training. With the White Sox having a youngster settling in at third (Josh Fields) Crede becomes expendable. If he heads over to the Bay, his value increases, but not by much. We're not suggestion to draft Crede, just want to make you aware of his current situation.

Team Outlook: San Fransisco Giants

Last Season's Record: 71-91
108 Red Stitches Projected Finish: 5th NL West
Major Offseason Acquisitions:
- Aaron Rowand: CF

Major Offseason Losses:
- Barry Bonds: LF (???)


This organization is an embarrassment to Major League Baseball. They had their chance to right the ship with Bonds leaving, make room for some younger players, but they chose to hold onto their old farts.
This Giants club will be the worst team in baseball, and the only record they will be chasing this year will be for the most losses by a team in one season.

Team Outlook: San Diego Padres

Last Season's Record: 89-74
108 Red Stitches Projected Finish: 4th NL West
Major Offseason Acquisitions:
- Randy Wolf: LHP
- Jim Edmonds: CF
- Mark Prior
- Tadahito Iguchi: 2B

Major Offseason Losses:
- Milton Bradely
- Mike Cameron

On paper, this rotation looks dominant; Peavy, Maddux, Prior, Young, and Wolf. But everyone knows that these games aren't played on paper. Maddux is another year older, Prior is one bad pitch from landing on the DL again, Wolf is a ticking time bomb, and Peavy has to be wondering how many times another unbelievable pitching season will find him watching the playoffs from his couch.
The lineup is littered with young guns, but acquiring an aging Jim Edmonds
is a questionable move. Its hard to believe that the Padres don't have anyone in their system that could play centerfield.
Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headly provide a little hope for the Padres, who are looking to add some offense to a lineup lacking punch. Who knows though, maybe the lineup would be amazing if they didn't play half their games in Petco Park.

Team Outlook: Colorado Rockies

Last Season's Record: 90-73
108 Red Stitches Projected Finish: 1st NL West
Major Offseason Acquisitions:
- Jose Capellan: RHP
- Luis Vizcaino: RHP

Major Offseason Losses:
- Kazuo Matsui: 2B
- LaTroy Hawkins: RHP

The Rockies were the Cinderella Team of 2007, making the playoffs after tearing through the NL in the last month of the season. Barnstorming through the playoffs, the Rockies kept on winning until they met the Red Sox in the World Series.
A lot of the Rockies problems in the World Series had to do with the inexperience roster that the team put on the field. This year the Rockies are a little older and a little wiser, so look for them the win the NL West outright and by a large margin. Despite the rotation being a bit shaky after Francis and Cook, Colorado's lineup should mash opposing pitchers.
Talented youth seems to be a dime a dozen in Colorado. Some of their best position players will probably not break camp this year (see Stewart- Koshansky).
Matt Holiday is a perennial MVP candidate and if Brad Hawpe can figure out how to hit lefties, they'll be staring at another World Series appearance awfully soon.

5 Things Baseball Must Do to Save Baseball

Record TV contracts, revenue sharing at an all time high, millions of dollars beings spent on homegrown talent, players who'd normally have to wait for free agency to cash in. These are all signs that baseball is alive and healthy.
But after a cold winter of steroid allegations and findings laid out in the Mitchell Report, baseball might find itself wading in the waters of Oblivion this season; teetering on the edge of a slippery slope. Here's a list of five things Baseball must do to keep its head above water;

Baseball needs a "Feel Good Story". The last thing it needs is an league wide assault on another home run record. Having five guys challenge a record that already bears an asterisk, could do nothing in the way of extinguishing the public's perception that steroids or performance enhancing drugs are still governing the game of baseball. However, if a fan favorite like a Jimmy Rollins or a Troy Tulowitzki manages to threaten Joe D's hit streak record, the fans might have something to cheer about.

Baseball needs to "Love the Fans". Nothing says I'm sorry like 1000 red roses from ProFlowers.com. Or nothing says I'm sorry like a handful of $5 games and Saturday day/night double headers. Nothing says I love you like making the playoff games, even if its just one or two of them, at a kid friendly viewing hour. Remember, you can always give a gift to the one you love "just because".

Baseball needs to produce a "Little Guy" everyone can love. It's time for those hard nosed players to have their moment in the sun. Guys like David Eckstein, Aaron Rowand, Nick Swisher all need to be put up on a mantle as examples of hard work and dedication prevailing over needle pushing and pill popping. These guys will run through walls, and for what? Just to save an extra base or shave a point or two off their pitcher's era? It's time to celebrate these guys.

Baseball loves the Phoenix. Every once and a while, a team will rise from the ashes and take hold of a league. The Rockies did that last season, but few teams are poised to do the same this year. There's always hope that the Royals might pull something off, and the Athletics have a chance to write a feel good story. Imagine trading off your entire team of All-Stars, playing with a bunch of no-namers, and making it to the World Series. Sounds like something out of a Charlie Sheen movie.

Baseball need to be un-juiced. Nothing would deter the most ardent nay-sayer like a 100% steroid free season. We're talking Majors, Minors, Independent League, heck even your local Sunday Morning Beer League team, not a sniff of steroids, not a drop of HGH, not an ounce of PEDs. The Union needs to embrace this idea along with the owners and management. If someone fails a test, at this point, they should be banned from the game.