8 (or so) Questions: author Marty Appel

In a VERY special 8 (or so) Questions, I was afforded the opportunity to speak with long-time Yankees PR Director and author Marty Appel. You may recognize Marty's name from his work as an expert on Yankeeography, or his appearance yesterday on the MLB Network. As I referenced yesterday, this weekend marked the 30 year anniversary of the death of Thurman Munson. A close friend of Munson (and co-author of his autobiography), Appel's newest book, "Munson: The Life and Death of a Yankee Captain" paints a rarely seen portrait of a mythical figure in Yankees lore. Marty was kind enough to give The Fowl Balls a few minutes of his time (and to send us an advanced copy - I am kind of a big deal). Enjoy the interview and go buy the book - it really is amazing.

Jimmy Dugan - As someone who was around the team during Munson's tenure, what did you learn during the research for this book that you hadn't known before?

Marty Appel - I learned the details of his difficult childhood, some of which was suspected. Finding his brother and sister who were willing to talk and fill in the pieces was important. It also helped to explain some of his darker, grouchier side......and his discomfort and being in the middle of the controversial Bronx Zoo years. He just didn't want to be there.

JD - Was this a difficult process for the Munson family? Did you tread lightly, hoping not to trudge up negative memories of Thurman?

MA - For the family, the pain of Thurman's passing remains hard, even 30 years later. With all the detail in the book, it was understandable that they chose to take a more passive role with the book. We didn't tread lightly; he's a historic figure and people want details. But some concession was certainly made to the feelings of the family.

JD - As a long-time PR Director for the Yankees, explain what your responsibilites were pretaining to the players. Who was difficult to deal with?

MA - Thurman! You sort of want your captain to be good with the press, and he just wasn't. Otherwise, the players were pretty good. This was the era before Internet, sports talk radio, ESPN and cable. We didn't know that was coming, but what we had was demanding enough. Lots of media, each looking for its own exclusives. My job was to manage the process. I was also involved with publications, promotions, broadcasting, community relations, marketing, team historian, etc. Each is a separate department today.

JD - What type of qualities that Thurman Munson possessed as a human have been evident in subsequent Yankee Captains like Guidry, Randolph, and Jeter?

MA - The way they relate to teammates and earn their respect. They all played the game honest and true, hard and tough. No compromising, no lying. You knew where you stood with them if you were a teammate.

JD - Thurman Munson seemed, in reading the book, to be the type of player that has become a rarity in Major League Baseball: a selfless, hard-working, hard-had-and-lunchpail type of guy that my father has always harped upon. Who would you say resembles Thurman most closely in today's game?

MA - Posada. Jorge has matured to a leader behind the plate, and you can see his take charge qualities at work. Munson is a role model for him - he has a photo in his locker. I really like the way his game has come along, and so do the fans.

JD - As someone who lived through the heart of the Steinbrenner reign, how has the tone of the team changed since King George has taken a step away from day-to-day operations?

MA - I think everyone tries to carry on as they think Mr. Steinbrenner would like it done. Sometimes there are variations on what that means, and I think that can create uncertainty. It's a better running machine with the top guy in action. But they are still a model front office, something he built.

JD - As someone that had grown close to Thurman, was it hard for you to work through this project? I had read that you listened to tapes of Thurman from the time you co-wrote his autobiography, was it difficult to re-live those memories?

MA - Yes, it was difficult to hear the tapes because i remembered being right there with him in his study at his Norwood NJ home, sitting side by side, chatting like old friends talking baseball. But I wanted his voice in my head as I began the writing process.

JD - Give the people an update - what are you working on now?

MA - These days are filled with media requests for MUNSON, and we're also in discussion on film rights, so no attention yet on the "next" project.

Once again, we thank Marty for his time. Be sure to buy the book , as it is an amazing read.

8 (or so) Questions: Lane Meyer of NoMaas

In a real treat for our readers, NoMaas' Lane Meyer agreed to sit down and discuss tomorrow's amateur draft with me. Lane runs a draft blog attached to NoMaas, click here, that has become the foremost stop for Yankees draft fanatics. I dropped him a line to get the low-down on who the Yankees could pick, his great interviews with Damon Oppenheimer, and snack foods.

Jimmy Dugan - Though you are as big a Yankee fan as the rest of us nutcases, you are a man amongst boys when it comes to the draft. What draws you to this particular event?
Lane Meyer - I just love the fact that it has so many facets. Sensei John Kreese always makes fun of me for saying "the talent does not flow linearly," but it's the truth. The fact that any team literally has the chance to have the best draft, and likely the best farm system, if they just decide to spend a little more money makes the whole event exciting. Last year Kansas City set the all-time record for total signing bonuses in a single draft (just north of $11 million) and they got a haul of great talent. Knowing that the Yankees are willing to do similar things makes all three days of the draft extremely exciting. For example, Dellin Betances was taken in the 8th round a few years ago, while Mark Melancon followed him in the 9th. Dellin fell because of a strong Vanderbilt commitment and a $1 million pricetag, while Mark dropped because there were strong indications that he'd need Tommy John surgery. Here's the thing though - Yankees fans went nuts that year when they were drafted because we KNEW they were good picks. When following the draft, the 26th round pick could possibly have more talent than the 2nd rounder, and that's what is so intriguing about it.

JD - As is very well known, Gerrit Cole gave the Yankees the finger and went to UCLA after the team used its first round pick on him. Is this a commentary on the cockiness of the organization feeling that they can buy anyone, or was Cole giving off mixed signals about his signability?
LM - In no way, shape, or form did Gerit Cole tell the Yankees that he was undecided - this had nothing to do with the Yankees being cocky or misreading things. An organization like the Yankees does not "take a chance" with their 1st round pick. They had specific conversations and were led to believe that he was absolutely willing to sign with them. Then he changed his mind. The end.

JD - You have commented on the blog that you desire more raw power in the organization - anyone in particular you would target?
LM - Yeah, one of the guys I interviewed, Tommy Joseph out of Horizon High in Arizona has a fantastic right-handed swing, and most scouting services report him possessing "light-tower power." He's a bit raw defensively (catcher), but his bat is top-notch and I'd love to see the Yankees take a shot at him.

JD - Though I personally see it as unlikely, Keith Law's latest mock draft has Tanner Scheppers falling into the second round - could a college pitcher with Scheppers' talent fall past the Yankees?
LM - Absolutely, and for two reasons: First, his asking price. Second, his injury history. Shoulder injuries are a terrifying thing, and although Scheppers has been bumping it up to 98 mph, if a team does not like what it sees on his medicals they're not going to pick him. Then when you factor into the equation that he might be asking for several million dollars, you can see why he might fall until someone feels the opportunity cost of the pick is worth selecting him.

JD - This draft is lighter at the top when it comes to elite college hitters than past drafts. Could a player like Dustin Ackley or even Grant Green possibly fall to the Yankees due their pricetag?
LM- I doubt there's any chance in hell of Ackley falling. He's one of the best college hitters we've seen in quite some time, and even if his demands are ridiculous (rumored to be between $9-$10 million) he's just too good a player to fall that far. Green is in the same boat, but because there have been more knocks on him this season (lack of power, poor defense) there's the slight chance that he could fall all the way to #29...but it's still doubtful at this point. However, that could all change in a day if some new demands come out, and that's another reason the MLB draft is so exciting.

JD - In your latest, in-depth interview with Damon Oppenheimer (which are incredible, by the way) you asked him how the Yankees evaluate hitters coming off of injuries - was this an indirect reference to high school super-stud Luke Bailey?
LM - Not really, but I suppose you could make a very indirect correlation because Bailey has had TJS, but his name was not brought into the conversation, nor was his position, even. I was simply curious how a team would look to evaluate that situation (TJS to a position player), and Damon gave me a logical and insightful answer.

JD - After reading about him, I think I am obsessed with David Renfroe - is my craziness well founded, or should I take that camera out of his bushes?
LM - David is a great guy to talk to, loves baseball, and is relatively new to being a full-time position player, so he's definitely worth getting excited about. I'd only ask that you don't fall victim to the same virus that so many other newer draft fans are felled by, and that is thinking we know better than the actual scouts. If the Yankees don't take Renfroe on Tuesday (which I think is more an more unlikely) there's a reason behind that, and we know so little actual information about the situation that it's not right for us to level criticism like we've been out there scouting the kid on multiple occasions.

JD - Gun to your head - who is the Yankees first round draft pick in 2009?
LM - I'm going to switch it up and say Joseph or Renfroe. I'll be writing an entry in the next 24 hours to discuss why.

JD - Now that the MLB Draft is televised, what makes the MLB Draft better than the NFL Draft?
LM - Well, the televised portion is terrible because it's only 3 rounds, and like we discussed earlier, part of the excitement is that great prospects can be picked at any point. For me it's better than the NFL draft because it moves much, much more quickly and the excitement that is generated by a player falling in the 1st round of the NFL Draft for an hour or so is omnipresent for nearly 3 full days in the MLB Draft.

JD - What do you eat to maintain sustenance during the impossibly long draft?
LM - Grilled steaks and ice cold watermelon, along with gallons of lemonade.

Thanks again to Lane Meyer for taking our questions. Definitely check out NoMaas' Draft Blog, as Lane has interviewed many potential draft picks as well as Damon Oppenheimer himself.

8 (or so) Questions Fantasy Edition with Tim Dierkes

You may not know it, but MLB Trade Rumors founder Tim Dierkes is also a fantasy baseball guru. With everyone's drafts on the horizon, I bounced some questions off of Tim to get his take on the upcoming season.

Jimmy Duggan- Give me your #1, super secret fantasy sleeper that you haven't told anyone else about:
Tim Dierkes - My problem is that I tell everyone all of my sleepers. I guess one guy I havent hyped up much who could be a ROY contender is Tommy Hanson. Needs a rotation spot first though.

JD - With drafts right around the corner, give me your top five picks:
TD - 1. Hanley Ramirez, 2. Reyes, 3. Pujols, 4. Wright, 5. Braun

JD - Who is your best candidate for a bounce back fantasy sleeper:
TD - I'll take Aaron Harang or Victor Martinez.

JD - With the relatively large drop off at 2B after Utley and Pedroia, what round should I be looking to draft Robinson Cano?
TD - Cano is going on average in the 7th round, way too early for me. I would rather wait back for Kelly Johnson in the 18th or 19th.

JD - WHat is your predicted fantasy line for Hideki Matsui:
TD - .283-16-76-71-1 in 464 ABs

JD - In a typical fantasy 5x5 format, are you a bigger advocate of drafting pitcher heavy or bat heavy?
TD - Definitely bat heavy. I usually wait until the 7th or 8th round to think about pitching, and midseason I'll try to round out my staff using the waiver wire.

JD - What is your snack of choice when doing a live draft?
TD - Sour skittles.

JD - Since none of us are perfect (even you) who is your "holy sh*t I can't tell anyone I drafted this guy or I would no longer be considered an expert" from last season?
TD - How about Kosuke Fukudome? There are probably worse though.

We at The Fowl Balls would like to thank Tim for giving us a little time (again). Keep checking out MLB Trade Rumors while the world tries to figure out what the hell the Yankees are going to do without A-Rod, and good luck in your drafts.

8 (or so) Questions: Mike Ashmore of Thunder Thoughts

Thunder Thoughts is a blog about the Yankees AA affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. Blogger and beat writer Mike Ashmore has been covering the team since 2006, and he was kind enough to answer a few of our questions:

Jimmy Dugan - Who is the best prospect you have seen that didn't make it to the
big or busted at the big league level?
Mike Ashmore - Right now, Eric Duncan and Chuck Lofgren come to mind...I'd say Adam Miller -- there were people who thought he was better than Phil Hughes when both were in the Eastern League in 2006 -- but I still think he's going to be a big leaguer.
Duncan was a local guy and a first rounder, and as a result was hyped to ridiculous levels. I think people forget how young he still is,but the fact that he isn't getting spring invites and isn't getting a sniff in the Rule 5 shows you how far his stock has fallen.
As for Lofgren...BA has him ranked as Cleveland's #2 prospect last season, and now he's fallen completely off the radar. He had one great year in 2006, a pretty good year in 2007 and was a mess last year...was he a starter? Was he a reliever? He's only 23, but still...yikes.
Adam Loewen comes to mind as well, actually...he got a handful of games in the bigs, but he was another first rounder who was hyped to death who just never really panned out.

JD - You had the chance to watch Mark Melancon pitch pretty frequently last year - how good is he?
MA - Well, he certainly doesn't suck. Melancon's going to be an above average big leaguer one day, and perhaps the future Yankees closer depending on how things work out with Mariano Rivera and so on...then again, people were saying the same thing about J.B. Cox a few years back and that didn't entirely pan out.
Melancon's fastball still isn't where it once was in terms of velocity, but his secondary stuff is pretty nasty...a bad outing from him was rare in Trenton. I doubt he cracks the big league club out of camp...but he'd have to be one of the first guys called up if an opportunity should arise in the bullpen.

JD - Better logo: Thor or the Cloud? What is the best Minor League Logo?
MA - Neither...I'm impartial to the original logo from the first eight years of the Thunder's existence. That's the one I was accustomed to from following the team when I was younger.
Best minor league logo? Yikes. Probably not a good answer, but Always liked the color scheme the Vermont Lake Monsters had.

JD - How has the morale of the team has changed from the barren early2000s, to what is now billed as a resurgence. Guys like Robinson Cano have talked about how futile it felt to be a Yankee farmhand for along time until he and Wang got promoted. Do Yankees minor leaguers feel like more than bait now?
MA - Well, I've only been covering the Thunder since 2006, so that isn't as easy to answer as I'd like...but even over the past few years, guy shave felt like they actually have a chance in the organization as opposed to more or less being groomed for someone else's big leagueteam. I still wonder whether that attitude will change considering guys like CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were added via free agency...which was more like what the "old" Yankees would do and not as much going torwards building from within as they'd seemed to be trying to do over the past few years. You can't blame them at all forgoing out and getting the best guys available...but if you're Yankees minor leaguer, you're probably a little more frustrated than you were last season.

JD - Is Austin Jackson the potential star that the Yankees are telling us, or is he a serviceable big league center fielder?
MA - Somewhere in the middle, I think. Occasional All-Star? Perhaps.Perennial All-Star? Probably not. But the kid is a great athlete with a great attitude and a strong work ethic, and that can take you pretty far. I'd really like to see what he can do against Triple-A pitching for a full season and not see him get rushed...but that all depends on how the Yankees center field options perform in the first half of the year.

JD - Give me a sleeper for 2009
MA - Is Eric Hacker considered a sleeper? He's on the 40-man roster, after all. But he could end up on the Trenton roster to start the season considering the pitching depth the organization currently has. He was just so consistent, and he's similar to Phil Coke in that he just wants the ball and doesn't really care when or where he gets it. I'll be very curious to see if he can follow up on his breakout season of'08.

JD - I read in your bio that you have conducted an inordinate amount of interviews - who was the most interesting?
MA - I don't even want to take a stab at putting a number on how many people I've been fortunate enough to interview during my career...I know it's a pretty ridiculous number that I'd ultimately be pretty proud of. Most interesting? I usually go with Matt DeSalvo when people ask me that question. He was just a very different guy who was very into books and just had a lot of layers to him. He liked to answer questions with other questions and is probably the only player to this day who didn't want to read what I'd written about him.

JD - Dish dirt: Who was the biggest prick?
MA - Ha. You could probably make an All-Star team out of the guys who have turned me down for interviews...but most of them have been nice about it. I think Kenny Rogers was the first one who ever flat shot me down back when I was working for a sports radio show in 2005, and he wasn't the best about it. Ben Sheets also wasn't the easiest to talk to,either.
As far as Yankees go...I've never, ever had a problem with anyone in Trenton. A-Rod shot me down once before a Yankee game, but I wasn't surprised. More embarrassed than anything else because he did it in front of other reporters, really. But then Derek Jeter was kind enough to give me a few minutes of his time, and it made the day suck much, much less. Think of it this way...I need to talk to those guys a lot more than they need to talk to me, so it was nice that Jeter would actually give a break to the Double-A beat writer. You don't forget stuff like that.

JD - As a minor league expert, I have to ask: Is it really possible fora catcher that has pop from both sides of the plate and calls a great game to be overlooked to the tune of 220+ minor league home runs, or was Crash Davis as fake as Joaquin Phoenix's shtick?
MA - Setting minor league records is kind of like being the tallest midget...yeah, that's great and all, but you're still a midget.Little person? Is that more politically correct? But the point is,there are guys who have got some impressive minor league numbers who have never and likely will never get a look at the big league level.
There was obviously some embellishing on the Crash Davis story...but it's not too far-fetched.

Thanks again to Mike for taking the time to pen some very in-depth answers for us (we'll be keeping an eye on Eric Hacker!). I urge all of our readers to check out Thunder Thoughts, as it gives an excellent snapshot of whats going on in Trenton throughout the year.

8 (or so) Questions: Author Jeff Pearlman

The author and owner of many leather bound books, Jeff Pearlman is kind of a big deal. He has written, in my opinion, one of the best baseball books of the last 25 years in "The Bad Guys Won" - a chronicle of the 1986 Mets. He also recently released "Boys Will Be Boys" about the 1990's hooker and coke happy Dallas Cowboys. Jeff was good enough to tolerate by hard line of questioning.

Jimmy Dugan: As the resident expert on John Rocker, the misunderstood, enlightened philosopher of the 1990's, what would he say about the state of the New York Yankees going into the 2009 season?
Jeff Pearlman: He'd probably say, "I like what they're doing with the pitching staff. Now would you like fries or onion rings with that?"

JD: Is Torre a complete traitor or does he deserve to vent after years of being caged by Steinbrenner?
JP: There's no loyalty in corporate America today, from the powers that be to the employees, so why should Joe Torre show loyalty back? He had a great run, the Yankees had a great run, he has opinions and he's being paid much money to do so. I have no problem with that.

JD: If the Yankees pick up Manny Ramirez will the Yankees become the University of Delaware to the Mets version of Delaware State?
JP: No, the Yankees would be USC to the Mets' DeVry.

JD: Imagine you are Brian Cashman. Is the answer for center field already a Yankee?
JP:Well, they have such a great lineup that it's the sort of thing where the team can afford to have a good glove with some speed out there, and just hope he hits .250 with four homers and 20-to-30 steals from the eight hole. In other words, I'd say Yes.

JD: We have noticed that you recently moved from ESPN to SI. Were you the "player to be named later" in the deal for Rick Reilly?
JP: I wasn't even an empty can of Mr. Pibb.

JD: What do the Yankees do if Posada's shoulder just doesn't respond?
JP: What they always do—spend huge amounts of money to steal someone else's catcher.

JD: Since you are the biggest Barroid expert this side of Pedro Gomez, i ask you this: is he the least likeable character that you have written about? Personally I can't see him as anything worse than on par with Keith Hernandez.
JP: He's 8,000,000,000,000,000 times worse than Hernandez. Hell, he's worse than Rocker. Yes, he's a terrible, terrible human being.

JD: As a professional journalist, does your jaw drop like mine when you find out deplorable things about the Cowboys in the 1990's?
JP: No, because I've seen the insides of locker rooms and clubhouses. I've heard the stories for years and years. Truthfully, nothing surprises me anymore. It just entertains me.

JD: My readers may not know this, but you and I actually hail from two towns on opposite sides of a bitter rivalry in upstate New York. I attended Carmel High School while you were a student at the clearly inferior Mahopac High. Share a fond Rams-Indians sports memory with us.
JP: Hmm ... this isn't a sports story. But it's Carmel-related. As a high school junior I'd never kissed a girl, and I was invited to the 1989 Carmel High junior prom by Jody Cohen. I knew Jody from Hebrew school—beautiful girl, always had a little crush on her. Anyhow, all night I was thinking, "Tonight I'm finally going to kiss a girl." The prom ends, we go back to my house in Mahopac. I pull my dad aside and say, "Let me drive her home. Please." Well, my dad could be strict about certain things, and I had yet to earn my senior license. In other words, I couldn't drive alone past 9 pm. So my dad drives us to Jody's house, and as I walk her to her door, the car's running, headlights on, my old man sitting there watching. I pussed out, didn't kiss her. Kills me to this day.

The Fowl Balls would like to thank Jeff Pearlman for putting up with us. You can buy his books here, read his work on si.com, and be sure to check out his blog, jeffpearlman.com. He has a link to the history of farts. Brilliant.

8 (or so) Questions: Sensei John Kreese of NoMaas.org

Originating in 2005, NoMaas.org has evolved from "that site with the funny Photo Shop pictures" to one of the most respected analytical Yankees sites on the internet. That evolution has been in no small part due to Sensei John Kreese, the founding father of our favorite baseball blog. The Sabermetrics freak took some of his valuable time to sit with Jimmy Dugan to talk Hot Stove, Phil Hughes, and reveal some nasty fetishes.

Jimmy Dugan: Will Hank really let the fear that AJ Burnett ends up with the Red Soxmake him sign the injury prone pitcher? Would they take the chance that Burnett becomes "Pavano Jr." over the chance that the Red Sox sign him and he goes 12-9 with them (his career best record before the contract year of 2008?
Sensei John Kreese: Fortunately, it looks like Hal is the real boss, so hopefully Hank's delusions don't have to be taken as seriously by the fans. Burnett is a good pitcher. He had the best K/9 (9.39) among AL starters and that's pretty impressive considering he faced Boston, New York, and Tampa 457 times this season. He's much better than Pavano in ability, so I wouldn't compare him to that Olive Garden lover. However, like you referenced, his injury history is ridiculous and signing him to a long-term deal is a mistake waiting to happen. To me, this would be a signing that is similar to the mistakes of the past. Too much risk for too much money.

JD: 2009 Yankees rotation: CC, Wang, Lowe, Joba, Pettitte – Am I far off?
SJK: That would be a very formidable rotation. I'm not a huge fan of Lowe because of his age, but I'd rather sign him than Burnett. In regards to Pettitte, I don't know what the Yankees are waiting for. How many 200 inning pitchers do you know that will sign up for 1-year?

JD: Mike Mussina: Hall of Famer, or just a grade A p*ssy?
SJK: 3500+ IP with a 123 ERA+. There are only 18 pitchers in MLB history who have pitched more than 3000 innings with a higher ERA+. Send him to Cooperstown.

JD: They guys at noMaas.org were big proponents of trading for Matt Holliday. Considering the package that it would have required to land him, why were you not more troubled by his career home/road splits?
SJK: No, because his park-adjusted numbers showed that he was a very good hitter. Plus, he's improved his hitting on the road every season. In 2008, he had .892 OPS on the road. Also, according to several defensive metrics, he's a good left fielder also.

JD: In recent news, the Yankees have left some relatively big namedprospects unprotected for the Rule V Draft. The most shocking to me were JB Cox and Alan Horne. Does Shelly Duncan deserve a spot on the 40-manmore than these two guys? Could they help a major league team right now?
SJK: Shelly Duncan isn't a professional baseball player, so I don't know why hewas protected. Cox surprised me, but he was pretty terrible at AAA lastseason. Horne won't be selected. He was hurt for most of last season andhe was also terrible at AAA when he did pitch.

JD: What can Yankee fans reasonably expect from Nick Swisher? In youropinion, has the Swisher acquisition dashed all hopes off seeing Mark Teixeira in the Bronx?
SJK: The Swisher acquisition was robbery. Love it, love it. He was incredibly unlucky last season, especially if you look at his line drive rates. He has great plate discipline, sees a ton of pitches, and has good power. I wouldn't be surprised to see a .260 /.370 /.490.
Cash has been hinted that they can't afford both Sabathia and Teixeira, regardless of who they acquire, so I don't know if Swisher affects that.

JD: Knowing full well that AFL numbers mean nothing, what can be said aboutthe progression of one Phil Hughes?
SJK: Oh, our little Phil. The AFL is a big hitters league, so if a pitcher puts up good numbers there, it's very encouraging. Now, I've seen reportsthat he pitched against some of the worst hitting teams in the AFL. So who knows. I do believe he should start '09 in AAA. He needs to showthat he can command his fastball. What made Hughes such an amazing prospect was his ability to spot his fastball wherever he wanted. Pinpoint control.

JD: If you were to come across Ian Kennedy, and he was in flames on thestreet would you urinate on him to dispel the blaze, or continue on your merry way?
SJK: Some people are into that type of stuff. I'd probably continue on mymerry way and then look for two girls and one cup.

JD: What are your feelings on mercy?
SJK: Mercy is not something which appeals to me.

We would like to once again thank Sensei John Kreese for his time. His site has been a large inspiration for us, and a great contributor to the success of The Fowl Balls. If you haven't yet checked out NoMaas.org, you may be mildly retarded.

8 (or so) Questions: Tim Dierkes of mlbtraderumors.com

If you aren't familiar with Tim Dierkes website, http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/, you are way behind the curve. The site delivers information pertaining to Major League transactions and provides detailed analysis and commentary. Tim took a few minutes out of his busiest time of year to answer some of our questions.

Jimmy Dugan - What was your first impression of the (final) trade setup between the Pirates and Yankees?
Tim Dierkes - It may just be that media reports leading up to this trade led us to believe the Pirates would get more. But my first impression was that the Pirates didn't do too well. Not a huge Tabata fan.

JD - What is the latest on the potential Jarrod Washburn deal?
TD - The Mariners are now waiting to see if the Yankees will give them Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera.

JD- Are the Yankees actively pursuing a catcher?
TD - It doesn't seem that way.

JD- Is there any substance to the Brian Bannister-melky rumors?
TD - Bob Dutton does good work at the KC Star, so I'd say yes.

JD- Why on God's green earth are the Mets plastered on the back page today making a move for Manny?
TD - Not a good fit, they couldn't really give the Red Sox an impact bat back in return. And I doubt they'd part with Fernando Martinez.

JD- Did Sidney Ponson crapping himself at Fenway add to the urgency to add a starter, or does Brian Cashman truly believe this team can contend by promoting from within?
TD - I wouldn't imagine one start changed Brian Cashman's plans at all. He still seems likely to add Washburn or someone similar.

JD - Would you have traded your snack pack for billy madisons half eaten banana?
TD - I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Thanks to Tim Dierkes for giving us some time. Again, loyal followers, I implore you to utilize http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ to keep up with the rumor mill.

8 (or so) Questions: Ed Price of the Newark Star Ledger

Ed Price is the Yankees beat writer for the Newark Star Ledger. Always insightful, Ed took the time to speak with Fowl Balls about the upcoming trade deadline, amongst other things.

Jimmy Dugan - You have been right on top of the Jarrod Washburn story since it broke. What is the latest? Also, is Washburn really the answer?
Ed Price - I have nothing new today on Washburn, but it's pretty warm if not hot. He's not "the answer" but he's an upgrade from Ponson or Rasner (if one doesn't consider the salary).

JD - You just broke a story linking the Yankees to Randy Winn. What does this mean? Is he considered a potential corner outfield answer, or does this open the door to move Melky to Seattle for Washburn?
EP - I could definitely see Winn coming in and playing CF if they move Melky for Washburn. Or playing LF if Posada has surgery and Damon is the DH.

JD - Now that ESPN has blown it completely out of proportion, how serious was the Yankees' consideration of Barry Bonds?
EP - Never serious. Hank told an Associated Press writer he'd bring it up. He did. It was shot down quickly.

JD - Play Brian Cashman for a minute (like we all wish we could): Is it smarter not to make a move based on the lack of difference making players available, rather than 'rearranging lawn furniture"??
EP - It's always smart not to overpay. If there's someone who can push you over the top - Sabathia - then you go for it. A championship now is worth giving up someone who has only potential.

JD - If no move is made, do you think that the Yankees have the answers internally to make a run at the division? World Series?
EP - I think they could use another starting pitcher. If the top 6 hitters hit to form and the bullpen stays the way it is, they have a chance.

JD - How will Jorge Posada's potential move to first base affect the Yankees pursuit of Mark Teixiera?
EP - My guess is the Yankees were never hot on Teixeira to begin with -- as a trade now or free agent in the winter.

JD - How much confidence does the organization have in Wang to be a reliable number 1 upon returning after the playoff collapse of 07 and erraticness of mid '08. How much will that determine moves beyond bullpen, rotation backend, and righthanded bat? Are they banking on Joba's development to fill that "ace" role?
EP - Well, I don't know that right now you have to choose between Wang and Joba as the first-game playoff starter. But they aren't worried about Wang's 07 playoffs because they seem to feel they know what caused it -- as long as he fixes it. He isn't a classic #1 -- but Joba could be once he gets his pitch counts down

JD - Is Derek Jeter's haircut now out-dated enough that it could be considered 'retro'?
EP - I think he wishes his slugging percentage was retro.

Thanks to Ed for taking the time to speak with us. Please check out the Newark Star Ledger Blog at http://www.nj.com/yankees/.

8 (or so) Questions: Peter Abraham of The Journal News

Peter has been covering the Yankees for the Journal News and LoHud.com since October of 2005. Prior to that, he spent four years covering the Mets. We here at Fowl Balls have always enjoyed the insight that he provides as he gives the general public access to the Yankee clubhouse. He took the time to field some questions from us via email.

Jimmy Dugan - As someone who spends a lot of time around the clubhouse, what is your impression of the Girardi regime as opposed to the team as run by Joe Torre?
Peter Abraham - I think Girardi puts a bright picture on everything and has too much faith in some players (like allowing Pettitte to stay in the game the other day). Torre was more cold-blooded.

JD - After a (somewhat) encouraging start today, It looks like Joba could develop into a short term asset in the rotation, as Fowl Balls thought all along. Who is the answer in the 8th inning hole?
PA - Mark Melancon.

JD - What is your first impression on Yankees 1st rounder Gerrit Cole
PA - Only what I read, I've never seen him pitch. He seems like a cocky kid with a big arm. Josh Beckett was like that, Joba is, too.

JD - Has Derek Jeter ever given you a quote with any substance behind it?
PA - Sure, plenty of times. You only see the TV questions, which often lack substance because that's what the medium demands. Plus the players are different on camera. If you ask a good question, you get a good answer.


JD - Now that Jason Giambi has snapped out of it, there is a lot of focus on the struggles of Robinson Cano. What is the buzz as to the cause of his slumping?
PA - He is a slow starter, always has been. He doesn't have a great work ethic and not having Larry Bowa around hasn't helped that.

JD - Can this team win it all?
PA - I don't think so. The pitching's not good enough. Torre was able to push them through their slump last season and once the ball got rolling, it never stopped. I don't know if Girardi can do that. That seem content to be .500.


JD - Vegas odds: A. Yankees Signing CC Sabathia
B. Yankees Signing Mark Teixiera
C. Yankees Signing BOTH Sabathia and Teixiera
PA - A. 20-1
B. 1-2
C. 100-1

Thank you to Peter for taking the time to give a peek into the Yankee clubhouse. Visit his blog at http://www.yankees.lhblogs.com/.