OK, time to explain the Yankees

[wildcard]

The Yankees are one game back in the Wild Card race. They just added Prado and Drew at the deadline to help them win. Then why did they trade veteran lefthander Thronton on a waiver claim to the Nationals. What is that all about?

I am reading in the press it was to save money. Really? The Yankees are worried about saving $1m in a pennant race? Need some help here. What is going on?

[murph]

Just a quick guess but could it have something to do with the luxury tax threshold? 1 million does not seem like enough considering the overall dollars maybe it did just what they needed.

Otoh I want to know how the heck they are still in the race with that team even with the additions.

[wildcard]

o

I don't know what the explanation is, but I'm hoping that this thread gets moved to the M.L.B. section.

In one breath, OH fans complain that the Orioles don't get enough respect/attention from the media.

And then, we go and place a Yankees-related thread in the Orioles Talk section.

You don't think that the Yankees trading one of their best lefthanded relievers affects the Orioles? What the heck were threads about Price being traded doing on O's talk?

[OFFNY]

You don't think that the Yankees trading one of their best lefthanded relievers affects the Orioles? What the heck were threads about Price being traded doing on O's talk?

Fine.

And since the Blue Jays and the Yankees are within a reasonable distance of the Orioles for first place in the division, then we should also place their threads ......

2014 BLUE JAYS

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/139986-2014-Toronto-Blue-Jays/page4

2014 YANKEES

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/140032-2014-New-York-Yankees/page16

here in the Orioles Talk section, as well.

2 months to go in the season, and it's a pennant race in the A.L. East ...... all of which is Orioles-related.

[SilentJames]

The Yankees are only one game out of the second wild card because the race for the second wild card is coming down to whichever flawed team is seemingly less flawed than the others.

Seattle, Toronto, New York, Cleveland - none of these teams are really what you would call "good" teams.

The Yankees aren't good, but their inherent "Yankeeness" has carried them enough to keep them viable, a month of playing last place teams will help do that too.

The series against the Orioles is the Yankees' season right there. The Orioles will have a chance to bury them in a couple days.

[bpilktree]

He has one more year on his deal as well for 3.5 million so maybe the Nats claimed him and the Yanks thought well we can get out of that contract next season as well. Save the 4.5 million for something else.

[bpilktree]

I agree with this.

I believe that the fact that the Yankees are only 4 games over .500 (58-54) this late in the season says more about them than the fact that they are only one game behind the second wildcard position in the American League.

At best, they appear to be a slightly-above average team.

They have been just like us the last few weeks winning close games. Though theres has been against sup par teams and we are beating the top teams. I think on ESPN they said they have played in 16 straght two run or less games. So a loss of their best lefty in the pen could be a big blow to that.

[Rene88]

Yankees lost last night, but they should not be forgotten, EVER. Good teams, even with weaker rosters, find ways to win. I hate the Yankees, but they know how to win and they have a good manager.

I am definitely more concerned about the Yankees than the Blue Jays. Heck, I may be more scared of the Rays.

[SilentJames]

I agree with this.

I believe that the fact that the Yankees are only 4 games over .500 (58-54) this late in the season says more about them than the fact that they are only one game behind the second wildcard position in the American League.

At best, they appear to be a slightly-above average team.

They have essentially played .500 baseball since the end of April.

+ 4 in april

even in May

- 3 in June

+ 2 in July

+ 1 so far in August.

They have never been more than 6 games over .500 all season.

They need to put together a serious run in August.

[Reboulet'sStache]

I think with Thornton the issue for the Yankees was his inherited runner rate and his salary for next year. The Yankees saw it as clearing money off the books for next year and getting rid of a guy that, while effective in some situations, is ineffective in situations where you really need a bullpen guy to come through for you.

[MrOrange82]

Fine.

And since the Blue Jays and the Yankees are within a reasonable distance of the Orioles for first place in the division, then we should also place their threads ......

2014 BLUE JAYS

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/139986-2014-Toronto-Blue-Jays/page4

2014 YANKEES

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/140032-2014-New-York-Yankees/page16

here in the Orioles Talk section, as well.

2 months to go in the season, and it's a pennant race in the A.L. East ...... all of which is Orioles-related.

No offense, but ^^^not a moderator^^^.

There's basically zero need to get snippy about "off topic" threads being posted in this section. If it's truly off topic, someone will move it. Talking about the Yankees' competitive (or anti-competitive) moves, and what that means to the Orioles, ain't that far off base, though.

[OFFNY]

They have been just like us the last few weeks winning close games. Though theres has been against sup par teams and we are beating the top teams. I think on ESPN they said they have played in 16 straght two run or less games. So a loss of their best lefty in the pen could be a big blow to that.

Overall, I don't believe that the Yankees have been much like the Orioles this season, particularly over the last 2 months.

Two months ago, the Yankees were 2 games above .500 at 31-29.

52 games later, they have gone 27-25, and are still only slightly above .500 at 58-54.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/2014-schedule-scores.shtml

The Orioles, on the other hand, were also 31-29 two months ago.

In their 52 games since then, the they have gone 33-19, and are well above .500 at 64-48.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/2014-schedule-scores.shtml

Thornton has a very good E.R.A. and W.H.I.P. this season, but he had only pitched a grand total of 24.67 innings for the Yankees before they waived him.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/5650/matt-thornton

I don't think that the Thornton factor is particularly significant in the overall plight of the two teams (the Orioles and the Yankees) this season.

[OFFNY]

No offense, but ^^^not a moderator^^^.

There's basically zero need to get snippy about "off topic" threads being posted in this section. If it's truly off topic, someone will move it. Talking about the Yankees' competitive (or anti-competitive) moves, and what that means to the Orioles, ain't that far off base, though.

OK, I'm sorry.

I'll delete my post.

[weams]

Fine.

And since the Blue Jays and the Yankees are within a reasonable distance of the Orioles for first place in the division, then we should also place their threads ......

2014 BLUE JAYS

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/139986-2014-Toronto-Blue-Jays/page4

2014 YANKEES

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/140032-2014-New-York-Yankees/page16

here in the Orioles Talk section, as well.

2 months to go in the season, and it's a pennant race in the A.L. East ...... all of which is Orioles-related.

I think it is ok here for now. I will move it later if I think it needs to go.

[bpilktree]

They maybe moving Capuona to the pen so that may make some sense. They have no other lefties in thepen besides Thorton and Huff and Huff has been bad so you would think they want atleast one lefty that is pitching well out there. I maybe off but for some reason I think I remember thorton and Giardi having some issues this season about how he was using him out of the pen.