pt barnum is right

[smazza]

a sucker born every minute

[smazza]

i never thought yankee would find a team to take contreras

INSTEAD of getting a Big Unit, the Yankees got rid of a big headache.

They gave up on a lab experiment named Jose Contreras in exchange for what they believe is a surer thing. The Yanks wanted a No. 1 starter and ended up with more of what they have in dealing with the White Sox for Esteban Loaiza: another righty, middle-of-the-rotation uncertainty come October.

What they don't have anymore is Contreras, which was essential to this deal. As one Yankee said, this club has designs too grand to keep playing camp counselor to Contreras. The Yanks have reached a state in 2004 due to their parade-or-bust ambitions and near-$200 million payroll that no growing pains are allowed. It's succeed instantly or see ya.

"The future is now all the time here," Joe Torre said. "That's what you get with this trade. We get a guy who is more consistent and more experienced and we traded someone with a high ceiling who has not been consistent."

Earlier this season, a Yankees official cautioned about giving up on Contreras' electric stuff, noting how the Pirates regret losing patience and dealing Jason Schmidt, who has blossomed into an elite starter. Contreras might have it all click, but it was not going to happen here. Not when the entire Yankees machine  fans, media, front office  has become Steinbrennerian with its lack of patience.

So Contreras will have to learn elsewhere to spot his fastball to both sides of the plate, hold runners without tipping his pitches, and not turn to jelly at the sight of trouble. The White Sox, with Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen as manager, pride themselves on being the most Latin-friendly organization for players and believe that will help provoke the best out of Contreras, though they turned sour quickly on Loaiza, a Mexican.

The Yanks, after 11/2 years of holding on-mound pep rallies to try to soothe Contreras, simply were exhausted from the effort. Only the strong survive here, and Contreras lost his will someplace between his great escape from Cuba and seeing the Red Sox for the first time.

 

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"It is simple for us," a Yankees executive said. "Who are you more comfortable handing the ball to in the playoffs, Loaiza or Contreras?"

Well, before we rush to name Loaiza a Game 1 starter, know the White Sox were as anxious to get rid of him as the Yanks were to dump Contreras. A 21-win revelation last year, Loaiza, according to scouts, has lost 3-5 mph on both his fastball and cutter. A White Sox official said Loaiza experienced the velocity dip by becoming cutter crazy, and he was annoying the organization by losing his focus routinely and surrendering homers (sounds like Contreras, actually). There have long been questions about Loaiza's makeup, and he has a 7.34 ERA in his past seven starts.

Yet, granting that Contreras' pure stuff was superior to Loaiza, the scout said, "But Loaiza is a veteran who knows what he is doing. You can trot out Loaiza with confidence you could not place in Contreras."

Loaiza has started one playoff game, losing but pitching well (three earned runs, seven innings) in the 1999 Division Series against the Yanks. He also has a respectable record against the Red Sox (3-2, 4.04 in eight starts). But he is going to learn quickly about the patience in the Yankees' world. Mike Mussina is due back in a few weeks and, if Loaiza does not pitch well, he is going to wind up in the bullpen.

The audition does not end there for Loaiza. He is in his walk year, and the Yanks suddenly have an extra $12 million to spend the next two years (how much they are saving with Contreras gone). They will be looking to sign a more reliable pitcher than Contreras, and Loaiza now has the Yanks' full attention, something walk-year pitchers Pedro Martinez, Matt Morris, Matt Clement and Carl Pavano currently do not.

But that is a decision for tomorrow. The Yankees only play for today, for this year, for a parade this October. That is why they were so hot to snare Randy Johnson and solve their greatest need, a No. 1 starter. Failing that, they played for today by getting rid of their No. 1 problem

[smazza]

next question

why would any team help yankees?

[KnightsRule]

next question

why would any team help yankees?

I think Contreras is a much better pitcher then Loaiza. Some guys just cant pitch in NY like kenny rogers but can flourish other places. Loaiza has been pretty bad this year and really had only one good season in his career.  Loaiza is 99-87 in 9 years with a 4.60 era.  Last year e was 21-9 with a 2.90 era. The year before he was 9-10 with a 5.71 era and this year he is 9-5 with a 4.86 era. I think loaiza will suck in NY, I hope anyway.

[smazza]

again-we will see

get bAck too me in two years

[Velcro]

it might not take 2 years, if he sucks this year... George will dump him.