2009 RealGM Yankees Summit

[APerna]

Similar to the way I conducted “Summits” on the NBA and NFL boards last year, I’d like to do the same on RealGM’s MLB boards as we prepare to for the beginning of Spring Training and the 2009 season.

The process, for those of you who may have taken part in the NBA or NFL versions, will be exactly the same. I’ll post questions on each of the individual team message boards, and ask that posters, and specifically fans of each team, answer each question.

Ideally, I’d like each answer to be roughly one or two sentences, but I realize that it is very hard to convey your opinions and feelings in just a few words. All I ask is that you try not to reply with more than a paragraph.

With that I wish you and your team of choice the best of luck in the coming season.

Please reply within this thread.

1. How would you rate the team’s offseason thus far?

2. What move do you wish the team made? (i.e. signing, trade)

3. Who do you feel will have a breakout season?

4. Who do you see regressing after a strong 2008?

5. What is the best case scenario for the club in 2009?

6. What is the worst case scenario for the club in 2009?

[Lconte17]

1. How would you rate the team’s offseason thus far?

So far the offseason has been eventful. We got the best Lefty in baseball to team up with an ACE Righty in Wang. We got the best switch hitter in baseball, who happens to fill a big need at 1b. we got a strike out pitcher, but comes with an injury risk. Even still with the work the front office put in. They have every Yankee fan excited cause we got top tier talent, with out giving up our promising young stars, and still trimmed payroll.

2. What move do you wish the team made? (i.e. signing, trade)

Either Signing Andy Pettitte or Signing Ben Sheets. Andy is an old time favorite, and any yankees fan who doesnt have a soft spot for the lefty is just (Please Use More Appropriate Word). Ben Sheets is an Ultimate reward kind of pitcher. If we could give Pavano 10mil a season, i think we can give Sheets a try for 10 m over 2 years.

3. Who do you feel will have a breakout season?

Phil Hughes. If we dont get one of the 2 listed above, Hughes becomes the number 5. I strongly feel that if he can stay healthy, he will have the same kind of influence and numbers as Lester had for the Soxs last year.

4. Who do you see regressing after a strong 2008?

Unfortunately, the person who will regress in 2009 IMO is going to be AJ Burnett. For as hard as he throws, i just cant see him staying healthy to make 30-35 starts. I still think he'll be a factor. But i just cant see him posting win/loss record of 08. Still could post 200ks though.

5. What is the best case scenario for the club in 2009?

Sabathia, and Wang, do what they do and get 18-20 wins. Burnett, Joba, Hughes all get 14-17. Mo Gets 35 Saves or more

Jeter post 200hits/.320 ba/ 100+ runs scored
Cano wins batting title, and shows us why he is an elite 2b like everyone expects him to be
AROD post triple threat numbers, Hopefully similar to 2007
Tex hits over .310ba/ 160h/100+Rbis Wins gold glove
Mastui comes back healthy does his normal thing, maybe giving us a good trade chip since i dont see us signing him again
Posoda comes back and does what he always does
Nady starts off strong, finishes stronger
Swisher becomes, Nick Swisher again, instead of Chitown Swish
Garnder becomes more then a stop gap for Jackson, and reminds us of a young Bernie

The win the AL East by more then a game, Handle the Redsox series, Win the AL, Then Win the World Series. Then Sabathia or Wang win CY Young, Tex or ARod win MVP, Girardi MOY

6. What is the worst case scenario for the club in 2009?

Not making the playoffs, Finishing third in the AL East. Burnett gets Pavano-itis, Jeter regresses, Cano regresses, Hughes does nothing, Joba need TJ Surgery, Posoda comes back looking like IRod did last year. The Mets win the WS with Santana winning CY Young.

[-steez-]

1. How would you rate the team’s offseason thus far?
An excellent one... Words seriously can't describe what the Yanks pulled off. Tex, CC, AJ and no loss of top prospects and somehow the payroll is gonna be lower than last years. Simply put, an amazing job by Ca$h.

2. What move do you wish the team made? (i.e. signing, trade)
I kinda wish the Cameron trade had gone down... A serviceable bat and glove to serve as a stopgap until AJax is called up. I also wish the Yankees were able to have resigned Andy Pettitte. He makes so much sense as the 5th starter its not even funny. With Joba on an innings cap and Hughes being uncertain for now, Andy would've been a perfect piece to round out the backend of the rotation.

3. Who do you feel will have a breakout season?
Cano will show that last year was an abberation and put up #'s we're famliar with from. Something along the lines of .310/22HR's/100+ RBI's. I also feel Melky will have a huge bounceback year and put up #'s similar to what he had in 06 and 07 and be a good bottom of the lineup batter hitting something like .260-.280 with 12 hr's and around the ballpark of 70-80 RBI's. And last but not least, A-Rod will continue his trend of putting up MVP numbers in odd numbered years.

4. Who do you see regressing after a strong 2008?
Xavier Nady... He put up career #'s last year and I find it hard to believe he'll repeat that.

5. What is the best case scenario for the club in 2009?
A dominating season... 96-100 wins all leading up to #27.

6. What is the worst case scenario for the club in 2009?
Not making the playoffs obviously or only making another ALDS cameo [ala 05-07]... AJ returning to his injury prone self, Cano showing that last year was not an abberation but a revelation [/clyde], Hughes not finding himself, and the entire lineup being as woefully inept with runners on base as last season.