December 02, 2005

Steinbrenner and his deep pockets: Is "The Farns" the real deal or did the Yanks over-pay for under-talent?

posted by timdawg to baseball at 02:57 PM - 35 comments

All I know is he never materialized for the Cubs and they booted him in a not so gracious manner. Even with his 2005 "career" year, he still posts a 4.45 ERA and 2 KO's against the Reds and the Royals

posted by timdawg at 03:07 PM on December 02, 2005

Sounds like a mistake to me.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 03:14 PM on December 02, 2005

Mistake but par for the course.

posted by HATER 187 at 03:21 PM on December 02, 2005

Not mistake- this guys is much younger than Gordon, and a mil cheaper over 3 years. Sounds like a good move to me.

posted by redsoxrgay at 03:31 PM on December 02, 2005

Wait till he picks somebody up and body slams them again causing a suspension and see how much he is worth.

posted by skydivemom at 03:37 PM on December 02, 2005

The New York Yankees agreed Friday to a $17 million, three-year contract... What is this, $5,000 - $10,000 or something per pitch for a set-up guy? The mind boggles...

posted by STLCardinalfan at 03:41 PM on December 02, 2005

At $5,666,666 per year (average figure) 70 outings is $80,952 per. Average 15 pitches is basically $5,400 per pitch. Yep, I got into the wrong profession

posted by timdawg at 03:50 PM on December 02, 2005

Ah - this deal looks sane compared to the other ones being thrown around out there. Farnsworth is a good addition - he may be closing around the time Rivera retires in a year or so. Honest - how many Yankee fans' hearts just skipped a bit? That's not a guy you can just replace with X free agent who happened to have 40 saves last year. I'm excited about the prospect.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 04:00 PM on December 02, 2005

I still think that's a lot of money for a set-up guy who really hasn't done anything yet. If Farnsworth ever realizes his potential, then maybe he's worth the cake. I just never saw it Chi Town.

posted by willthrill72 at 04:12 PM on December 02, 2005

After a year like he just had a raise is certainly in order but Stienbrenners "give so much no one can hope to come close" mentality is really starting to get to me. I have no problem spending a fair amount of money on good personel but to overpay the great majority of your players just seems fucking retarded. I mean retarted.

posted by HATER 187 at 04:16 PM on December 02, 2005

THE STRAIGHTEST FASTBALL IN MLB HISTORY. Seriously, i've never seen a fastball with as little movement on it as Farnsworth's. To quote Jack Slater, "BIG...MISTAKE."

posted by The Gangstinator at 04:22 PM on December 02, 2005

Farnsworth used to pass out in the locker room in the cubs clubhouse during rain delays. I used to see him out all night before day games. What till he blows another save opportunity and watch the melt down. He won't finish the contract . The fans will run him out. This will be entertaining to watch. Like wily coyote and the acme bomb. It is just a matter of time. Bet on it.

posted by whodat at 04:26 PM on December 02, 2005

The team needed to replace Gordon, who was NOT going to resign with the Yankees, and this is the obvious choice with regards to what was available. The guy has a great arm and is more than 10 years younger than Gordon. The Phillies are the weaker of all the teams in this whole process, losing Wagner and replacing him with Gordon. Gordon, who will be 39 when the season starts, may start to fade quickly at this age. Being the main closer for a team expected to make a playoff run, warming up three to four nights a week (even if he doesn't get in) may mean he tires out, which he showed at times last year. Steinbrenner pays for someone he wants and isn't going to get outbid. What's a million here or there?

posted by dyams at 04:28 PM on December 02, 2005

Many Cub fans would groan when Baker brought him into a game - Farnsworth couldn't leave fast enough for North Siders...

posted by ChiSox1977 at 04:30 PM on December 02, 2005

I seriously doubt the Yankees ever look to mirror the Cubs with regards to personnel moves.

posted by dyams at 04:54 PM on December 02, 2005

Other hot stove news: Marlins fire sale continues, Twins trade for Luis Castillo. As for Farnsworth. A perfect match with the Yankees. Given that they clearly don't believe in being thrifty (and with setup men, you can be reallllly thrifty and get equal or greater performance), this is a great signing. They had to replace Gordon somehow, right? Pretty sure that they'll be unhappy with the signing though.

posted by panoptican at 04:56 PM on December 02, 2005

I don't think Farnsworth has the makeup to pitch in NY; he seems to be a bit of a loose cannon who's going to end up following Jeff Weaver's example.

posted by dfleming at 06:12 PM on December 02, 2005

THE STRAIGHTEST FASTBALL IN MLB HISTORY. Farnsworth used to pass out in the locker room in the cubs clubhouse during rain delays. I used to see him out all night before day games. This is why I love this site. Good stuff. The Red Sox had a reliever in the 90s (Joe Hudson) who could not throw a straight fastball. Then he figured out how. Then he did something else.

posted by yerfatma at 06:16 PM on December 02, 2005

I don't think Farnsworth has the makeup to pitch in NY Well, he wouldn't be the first. Like the old saying goes, "If you can't make it there, you can probably make it somewhere else."

posted by dyams at 06:52 PM on December 02, 2005

Its a good deal for the Yankees! His entire contract is only 3/4's of what A-Rod makes in a season. The other upside is that he sucked in the post-season too, which will take all the attention off of A-Rod's post-season performances.

posted by INOALOSER at 07:06 PM on December 02, 2005

Jeff Weaver Go wash your mouth out with soap, dfleming.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:32 PM on December 02, 2005

If ever a player needed to be out west, and STAY out west, it's Jeff Weaver. Actually I'd like to see him go about 200 miles further west.

posted by dyams at 08:11 PM on December 02, 2005

Weaver's brother is out west and is going to be scary good.

posted by yerfatma at 08:35 PM on December 02, 2005

the Yanks continue to back-peddle, thats great for baseball!!

posted by fetty 929 at 07:45 AM on December 03, 2005

Weaver's brother is out west and is going to be scary good. Jeff had scary good stuff when he was in Detroit; he even shows it on occasion with LA. I think mentally, he's been broken, though. It's hard to think of Detroit as a place to hide, but being a really good pitcher on a 100 loss team, I guess there's no pressure on you. Go wash your mouth out with soap, dfleming. Aim tho sowwy elll bee bee.

posted by dfleming at 08:24 AM on December 03, 2005

not quite an antique but could very well be a has been (only a couple'a years left before antiqueville)

posted by FrankySP at 09:00 AM on December 03, 2005

Funny the Phillies didn't want to give a 34-year old Wagner a four year deal, but they found a reason to give a (soon-t-be) 39 year old Gordon a 3-year contract. Brilliant.

posted by dyams at 11:46 AM on December 03, 2005

Jered Weaver may or may not be scary good in the Majors (he definitely was in college); the strikeouts were good this year in the minors and Arizona Fall League, but he has a bit of problem with control and homers. As a Cardinals fan, I always was happy to see Farny coming in when he was with the Cubs. Now there's a dude who always seems to give up a homer in a big spot. Red Sox fans rejoice on this one.

posted by holden at 04:33 PM on December 03, 2005

The Red Sox better worry about their own bullpen.

posted by dyams at 05:21 PM on December 03, 2005

The Red Sox better worry about their own bullpen. Foulke, setup by Timlin and Guillermo Mota. They'll be fine.

posted by dfleming at 07:23 PM on December 03, 2005

Its a good deal for the Yankees! His entire contract is only 3/4's of what A-Rod makes in a season. And for the his entire contract he'll contribute less than 3/4 of what A-Rod does in a season.

posted by grum@work at 07:28 PM on December 03, 2005

Foulke, setup by Timlin and Guillermo Mota. They'll be fine. Oh yea, that combo will scare the crap out of the Yanks

posted by drevl at 08:48 PM on December 03, 2005

They always have Curt Schilling. Maybe Beckett can be their setup man.

posted by dyams at 08:38 AM on December 04, 2005

Better to have a question mark or two in the pen, rather that the starting rotation and the pen.

posted by yerfatma at 08:57 AM on December 04, 2005

I actually said what I said to see if you were around, yerfatma. There's nothing that gets me going like a little Red Sox - Yankees jousting.

posted by dyams at 11:51 AM on December 04, 2005

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