I know what your thinking: No way, a washed up pitcher and an injury prone one.

But here is some food for thought:

Duchscherer: He is injury prone but also really good when healthy. Why not offer him a very low base, incentive laden contract?   There is little risk and high reward there.

If Pettitte retires I think the Yanks should seriously consider Millwod.

Millwood is an even better case than Duchscherer: 2 out of the last 3 years Millwood's ERA was over 5. But look closer at last year. He had 2 real bad months and the other 4 were in the 3 to lower 4 era.  In only 1 of his 32 starts did he not go 5 innings. Even without his best stuff, he kept the team in the ball game.  in 2009 he had one bad month.  So 9 of the last 12 months he has pitched like a #1 or 2 man in rotation (mid 3 era in the AL east).  He is an innings eater. He consistently will get you 170 to 200 innings. That is not top end but I would pencil him in the number 4 slot for the year. How about a 4-5 million dollar contract with many incentives?

I would trust Millwood over Burnett at this point. I would especially trust him over Mitre.

Thoughts?

Because I know someone will be thinking it, no this isn't about drugs!

The Yanks did well last year in SB.They ranked 11th in SB with 111 total for 2009 and ranked 3rd in success ratio at 79.9% (caught stealing only 28 times). The speed added another dimension to their team and it showed in the playoffs where manufacturing runs is more of a premium.

I really like the new lineup with Gardner and Granderson and think speed will play an even bigger role this year.
Let's take a look at last year vs this year projections (mine)

Lineup
C Posada 2009 1 sb    2010 1sb   NET even

1B Tex 2009 2 sb    2010 est  2  NET  even

2B Cano 2009 5 sb    2010 est   10  (I think Cano makes a jump in this)  NET +5

SS Jeter  2009  30 sb    2010  est 25     NET -5

3B Arod 2009 14 sb    2010 est 18 (full year)   NET  + 4

LF Damon 2009 26sb   2010 Gardner  est 45 sb  NET + 21

CF Melky 2009  10 sb   2010 Granderson est 30 sb  NET + 20

RF Swisher 2009 0 sb   2010 Swisher est 0sb  NET: even

DH Matsui  2009 1 sb  2010 NIck Johnson  estimate 1 (surprise double steal with Jeter..haha) NET+1

Bench 2009(Gardner/(26)Pena(4)/Guzman(4)/Ransom/(2)Hinske(1)all recorded SBs  total of  37) 2010  estimate (Winn 13, Thames 0, Pena 4, Others 4) total of 21 NET -16

That totals 2009 111,  2010 + 30 for  141.  I dont know if that is realistic but maybe more in the 130-135 range is.

How many team SB does everyone predict for 2010?

I saw this article and got a chuckle.

Link to article here....

Does MLB have a clue? I agree with some things (mound visits, stepping out, etc) but I do not think that is the reason why these teams take longer.

Just using the average time for a game is being blind. There are many reasons beyond taking extra time to pitch or bat.

Here are a few that I posted in comment in the linked article.

1) OBP - If you have more people on base, the game takes longer. Yanks, Sox and Dodgers rank 1,2 and 4 in OBP.
2) Pitches per AB - These teams see more pitches and therefore take longer - all part of the game (not sure of data)
3) Pitchers Ks - If your staff is a strikeout staff, more pitches tend to be thrown. Rankings - Dodgers 3, Yanks 4, Sox 7.
OBP is probably the biggest factor. If you get a guy on, you have to pitch to another batter, more time.

Here are the top 10 for OBP and Pitching Ks. Notice those 3 clubs are the only ones near the top in both top 10s. The Marlins and Braves make the bottom of both top 10s. I would be intersted in seeing where they rank in avg game time. I bet they are in the top 10.
OBP - Yanks, Sox, Angels, Dodgers, Twins, Rays, Rockies, Brewers, Marlins, Braves.
Pitching Ks - Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Marlins, Braves, Red Sox, Padres, Blue Jays, Dbacks.

I would love to find the data that shows each teams avg time. Anyone know where it can be found?

Also, anyone know where I can get average pitches per AB for each team? 

Take these factors into account and I bet there is a significant correlation. Nothing that "hurrying up" would fix. To hurry up these factors, MLB would essentially be saying, Yanks, Red Sox and Dodgers, "swing at more pitches, use less discipline at the plate and when pitching let the other team hit it."

This is just a post to see all the different aspects/variable between  "old school" baseball and today.

So, how would the Babe do? He obviously had a great lineup around him when he played.Where would he bat in the Yanks current lineup?

I will put up his numbers up vs the best hitter in the game today (Pujols). Remember back then they had much bigger ball parks.

162 game AVG:

             RUTH       PUJOLS

AB:         544           596

R:           141           124

H:           186           199

2B:          33              45

3B:            9               2

HR:          46             42

RBI:        143          129

SB:           8               7

BB:         133            94

SO:           86           66

BA:         .342         .334

OBP:      .474         .427

SLG:      .690          .628

OPS:    1.164        1.055

OPS+:    207           172

If all things were equal, how would you feel about putting a hitter, better than Pujols in the middle of the Yanks lineup?

Of course they are not equal. How would he do today and where would you put him in the lineup?

I was thinking to myself. The Twins just got a bad blow today when they announced Nathan is likely done for the year (and maybe part of next year). That got me thinking....

If the Twins offered Mauer (with a sign and trade) for Posada and Rivera.  Would you do it?  I dont think so but its an interesting discussion.

Of course all parties would have to wave clauses etc. But for arguments sake lets say all are waived and Mauer agrees to a 7 year contract.

Would you do it?

Long term lock up from the best catcher is tempting but then again, the Yanks have some good catchers in the system (Cervelli, Romine, Montero).  But none are guaranteed to be close to Mauer, an already sure thing.They could then be great trade bait.

Secure the future?  

From the Yanks point of view I dont think they would do it. It diminishes their short term chance at more titles (and they are icons).

From the Twins point of view do you trade your MVP because you might not sign him anyway and secure a better shot at winning the this and next season in the new ballpark?

I was watching CC, Joba, and Swish on Baseball Tonight this afternoon. They made some interesting comments. It was a good interview. If you get a chance, watch it.

When asked who was most intense on the team they agreed on Girardi and then Pettite. They also talked about favorite TV shows and some charities.

They made note that Swisher was lighter than last year. He definitely looked lighter.

Anyone know why he dropped weight?