Indy Star Insider: Damien Darling – Lady B
Ever since I started writing for Turnstyl3.com, I have brought you the goods on all things wrestling. While I enjoy writing about mainstream wrestling topics, I feel it is time to illuminate you on the independent circuit and the stars that work it. Every month, I will bring you the lowdown on the many different talents, male and female, from the different independent federations around the country. My hope is to give all of you wrestling fans out there – hardcore and casual, mainstream and independent – an opportunity to know who the Rugged Ring Warriors who hail from all regions of the world. I will call these articals my Indy Star Insider.
Let’s begin this inaugural Indy Star Insider with a gentleman who refers to himself as “The Final Freebird” and the “Charlie Sheen of the Wrestling Scene.” Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, say hello to the one…the only…DAMIEN DARLING!
Damien Darling
Weighing in at 225 lbs., 6’1” and hailing from “Badstreet USA”, Damien Darling started his wrestling journey at Blasts Pro Wrestling Center in Staten Island, NY. After Blasts closed down, Darling only became more determined to become a well-known name in the wrestling business; and with his charismatic persona, he is well on his way.
Damien’s technique and ability in the ring is truly effective. It’s no wonder he has won championships such as the FWE Triborough Championship, the NWS Tag Team Championship, in addition to the hearts of many fans. This drive for success is also what landed at #6 on ProWrestling Illustrated’s World All Pro Wrestling list back in September of 2011.
Coming out to Poison’s classic tune, “Nothin’ but a Good Time,” it is clear that is exactly what he wants to give his audience. Having the chance to work with wrestling legends as well as other very talented independent stars is not something this Freebird takes for granted. In all honesty, no independent wrestler, male or female, should ever take for granted the privilege of wrestling legends of the ring. Working with legends is one of the best ways to truly learn and perfect your craft. Darling is definitely not one to let opportunities of learning new lessons slip away. That kind of attitude can only make for an even better wrestler in the future.
Not only is Damien a great talent to watch in the ring, he is a pleasure to be around outside of it. He is quite a humorous and down-to-earth individual. He loves interacting with his fans and is more than willing to take photos with them. Attributes such as ability, technique, discipline, as well as compassion for the sport makes for a shining star that will succeed immensely in the wrestling world.
Don’t believe me? Well then you can have your chance to see Damien in action. Check out the Family Wrestling Entertainment (FWV) website for a list of Damien’s upcoming shows.
WrestleReunion6 – Lady B
If you’re a huge fan of professional wrestling and you’re in the Los Angeles area, then come and join the fun with Publicity Management Services at WrestleUnion 6 featuring Superstar Billy Graham. Scott Epstein and his Publicity Management Services team are bringing WrestleReunion6 to the Westin Los Angeles Airport from January 27th to the 29th!
Scott Epstein and Publicity Management Services provides celebrity wrestling appearances at any occasion. Scott and his team work with professional wrestlers such as April Hunter, Shannon Moore, Jeff and Matt Hardy, ODB, Mr. Anderson, Christy Hemme, The Beautiful People, Axl Rotten, Buff Bagwell, as well as Legends such as The Wild Samoans, Bruno Sammartino, Diamond Dallas Page, Bob Backlund, Rocky Johnson, Larry Zbyszko, and Ernest Miller (The Wrestler). They also provide photography, writing, and submission of newspaper and magazine articles to prospective audiences; create and manage media materials for all types of events; and much much more. To get more of an idea of what this company offers, you can go to PublicityMan.com.
Unfortunately I will not be able to attend WrestleReunion 6, but I can tell you that Scott Epstein is not a man to disappoint wrestling fans. To those of you who can make the event, tickets are going fast, so I suggest that you order yours ASAP. Don’t miss your chance to meet The Legendary Superstar and Rosita! Visit WrestleReunion.com today!
Rugged Ring Warriors – Lady B
For those of you who have yet to experience the independent wrestling circuit, 2012 is your year to get to know the wrestlers from “the other side of the tracks”. Take it from this independent wrestling fan, I have yet to be disappointed with any show I’ve attended. While the gyms may be dank and the mats smell of must, I have to admit that its quite refreshing to see real wrestling every now and again, especially since mainstream wrestling has gone from a sport to a soap opera over the past few years.
LadyB & Jeff Coleman
My first exposure to indie wrestling came back in late 2004. One afternoon, I went to to support a friend who was training at East Coast Professional Wresting (ECPW), a wrestling school in Lake Hiawatha, NJ. While I thought I would spend a few hours getting a sneak peek at some up-and-coming grapplers learning to take a bump, I was so intrigued by what I saw that I wound up staying for the entire day and catching the show that took place later that night. It only took one show before I was hooked. Once a month, two of my best gal pals and I took the bus from Port Authority to Beverwyk Road then walked to Lake Hiawatha. Imagine that, three chicks from Brooklyn and Queens doing all that traveling…to catch an independent wrestling show…in New Jersey. Forget the Kardashians, we should have had our own reality show.
Its been seven years since I hit up my first independent show, and these shows get better every year. In fact, this month you can come and enjoy a number of indie shows in the NY/NJ area.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll see you there!
If you are up in Binghamton, stop by and see my friends from the ECPW Empire State: 
Or if you are around PA this weekend…check out the ECPW’s show on January 14th
A Truly Priceless Party – Lady B
Nothing says “holiday” like a good party. The party I attended this past Saturday at the Real Church at CJF in Bellmore, NY had the makings of a great bash: food, music, friends, surprises, and…WWE superstars.
Ted DiBiase Jr and Bobby Riedel
On Saturday, December 17th, WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. hosted his famous DiBiase Posse Party, with the help of Integrity Bookings’ Bobby Riedel. DiBiase’s party allows fans of all ages to spend some quality time with Ted Jr.
I, along with the many other fans who attended, got the chance to not only talk with Ted but also snap a few pictures and grab an autograph or two. And despite his million dollar lineage, the cost to be part of Dibiase’s posse was only $5, plus non-perishable food item that could be donated to the area homeless.
While spending some quality time with “The Priceless One” was, well, priceless, the real treat of the evening came when the posse saw an exclusive sneak peek of Louis Carter’s biographical documentary about “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase entitled Wrestling with Faith, which focuses on Ted DiBiase’s life, career, and ministry.
Judging from what I saw in the eight-minute sneak preview, I just know it is going to be a hit with wrestling fans all over the world. Films such as this are always great because they make fans feel as if they have been deemed trustworthy enough to let into a superstar’s life and get a glimpse of the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly.
After previewing the documentary, Ted took the mic at the front of the chapel in the Real Church for an intimate discussion and retrospective of not only his dad’s career, but his own. And from the moment Teddy got in front of us, his sense of humor illuminated the room.
“It’s funny if you think about it, as far back as I can remember I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” Teddy started. “If you’ve followed The Million Dollar Man since he retired, you might know that he’s a minister. So now this is where he stands, in front of churches. So now, I’m in the ring and then in front of a church. Taking after you dad,” he said smirking with pride.
The entire place erupted with laughter.
After a few brief words, Teddy opened up the Question & Answer portion of the party. It was amazing to see fans get the chance to interact with Ted and ask him questions about his personal and professional life. All of his answers were insightful and entertaining, but there was one discussion in particular that earned him a tremendous amount of respect from the crowd.
Discussing his path to professional wrestling, Ted revealed, “I did have to graduate college first. That was my dad’s stipulation. After I did, I told my dad that what I wanted to do was wrestle. So he took me to Harley Race’s wrestling school and the rest is history.”
Speaking as a parent, it feels good to know that your child has a backup plan for themselves. In Ted’s case, graduating college guaranteed that he was going to be able to provide for himself and his family. It’s that kind of role model fans need nowadays. It’s the cloth that WWE legends are made from. Whether you are talking about Hulk Hogan reminding everyone to take their vitamins and say their prayers or John Cena teaching to Rise Above Hate, the message of the true WWE role model is clear in Ted’s actions.
While his inspirational message was certainly welcome, I had to know one thing: Which Legend he would like to face in a match?
“Legends? Hmm…I was always a Bret Hart Fan growing up. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were my favorites, and I’m very blessed and very lucky to have wrestled Shawn Michaels. l would love to have had the chance to wrestle Bret though…”
As a fan of “The Hitman” myself, I would pay to see a match between Teddy and Bret Hart.
As if the evening was not worth every dime of the $5 admission fee, event promoter Bobby Riedel announced that there would be a DiBiase Posse version of the show X Factor. Fans were going to get the opportunity to display to Ted in a special talent show. But Ted apparently understood that it this task could not be taken lightly, therefore, he enlisted the help of a few a few friends to help him judge the contest. The friends he brought…Daniel Bryan and Hornswoggle! Needless to say, we were very pleased with the surprise of their presence as well as the fan’s performances.
As each contestant went on to sing, Ted just couldn’t help but let his party self show. It was cery refreshing to Ted let loose as he broke out the air guitar and danced along to the performances. Contestants JJ Jones, Dan Acosta, Lexa Rose and Ryan Peterson all did a great job in their performances. However, I think everyone will agree that the priceless moment of the evening was when Ted and Bobby Riedel both attempted the song New York, New York. It’s too bad there wasn’t enough room for me to participate in the kick-line that formed, because that would have really made my night.
(l-r) Ted DiBiase Jr, JJ Edwards & Bobby Riedel
All in all, it was a great party. I have a whole new level of respect for Ted because of the lengths he went to in order to get close to his WWE fans.
“This is about you. I want to get to know guys,” Ted announced toward the end of the evening. “This is what I do when I go home. I love hanging out with my friends. In each city and state I’m getting to know people in the WWE Universe on a more personal level, which is really cool to me. As a superstar, I owe you guys for the awesome time I have in the ring. It would not be enjoyable if it weren’t for you.”
Hearing the appreciation and respect Ted has for his fans made this a Simply Priceless party. You can bet that I will be in attendance for the next DiBiase Posse Party that comes to the New York area. I seriously recommend to you all to do the same and attend a DiBiase Posse Party (DPP) near you!
For more information on these parties be sure follow Ted on Twitter @TedDiBiase. In addition, Bobby Riedel has also been asked to arrange several of these events in different cities, so you can get more information by emailing him at TalentRelations@IntegrityBookings.com
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Yankees Hot Stove: Bullpen – Andrew Rotondi
The MLB Winter Meetings, which got underway this week in Dallas, usually provide some Baseball excitement during the Holiday Season. At the 2009 meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced that they had successfully traded for All Star center fielder Curtis Granderson. While I do not expect a splash of that caliber, I will highlight what Cashman should focus on as the off-season progresses.
Over the past week I discussed off-season plans by breaking down each area of the Yankees team: Position Players, Starting Rotation, and Bullpen. This is part 3.
The Yankees went into 2011 with a rebuilt bullpen, intent on winning games by leading after 6 innings; and they were mostly successful in doing so.
The Yankees added two major components to their bullpen prior to the 2011 season. They signed Rafael Soriano to a monster contract—a contract that was publicly opposed by Brian Cashman—but received virtually nothing from him due to poor performance and injuries. They also signed Pedro Feliciano—a deal Cashman orchestrated—only to later blame Feliciano’s shoulder injury on the Mets’ overuse of him in previous seasons. The Yankees also lost Joba Chamberlain—a heaver version of himself—to Tommy John Surgery in the midst of his best season since his rookie year.
Despite all of that, the Yankees had one of the best bullpens in the league thanks to the ever-steady Mariano Rivera, a breakout season by David Robertson, and nice contributions from Luis Ayala and Corey Wade (wouldn’t count on that again though). Assuming a healthy (physically and mentally) Soriano and Chamberlain, their ‘pen should be even better next season, but one giant hole remains…
Suggestions:
The bullpen is perhaps the most difficult area of the team to fill because assessing how a reliever will perform from one year to the next is unpredictable. The Yankees have been extremely lucky—luckier than any team in the league—for the past 16 years to be able to pencil-in Mariano Rivera’s name as the closer. It has covered-up some other mistakes that have been made in the ‘pen, a luxury most GM’s do not have. So with the back end, and the right-handed pitchers filled for the 2012 Yankees, Cashman should focus on one thing:
Brian Cashman should hoard left-handed relievers this off-season.
The following is a list of lefty relievers currently on the free agent market:
Javier Lopez had a dominant season for the Giants last year, holding left handed batters to a .185 slugging-percentage.
- Mike Gonzalez
- John Grabow
- Javier Lopez
- Damaso Marte
- Hideki Okajima
- Darren Oliver
- Dennis Reyes
- Arthur Rhodes
- George Scherrill
Sign them all.
In all seriousness though, Cashman should weigh all options (free agent market, trade market, and the farm system) to find a lefty reliever(s) because Boone Logan as the only lefty out of the bullpen is asking for disaster.
Andrew Rotondi is an avid Yankees fan who feels he can manage better than the manager himself. As a contributing writer to NYYUniverse.com, he is able to live out this fantasy while providing readers with factual information through his sarcastically biting witticisms. Andrew currently resides behind enemy lines in Boston, where he can be found frequently trashing the Red Sox and their fans. When you are not voting for Andrew in our New Writers Contest, you can follow him on Twitter @Yankees_talk
Bromance Dominated NBA Recruiting – Natalie Saar
Forget BRI. Its all about WAG & BFF in the NBA
The time of NBA owners initiating and making trades for high profile players is long gone. Sure, they’re able to technically do it, and nothing goes through without them having the final say-so, but long gone are the days when players didn’t nudge their buddy and say, “Hey, you should really come to Miami.”
One big sticking point the recent NBA lockout was the fact that owners, a proud group of people, did not want to bow down and acquiesce to players demands. When LeBron James “took his talents Miami,” owners were forced to dig their heels in deeper and attempt to curb player movement. As ESPN commentator Max Kellerman puts it “The Decision” made them “kiss the ring” of James to try and woo him, or keep him in their city. In the end, it didn’t matter what any owner said, or even how much they paid him (remember he took a pay cut to take his talents to South Beach), he just wanted to play with his friends!
Well, now that the free agent frenzy has begun, players like Chris Paul are being good little basketball players and keeping mum. Paul is saying all the right things like, “My heart is in New Orleans,” but his actions are speaking entirely to the contrary. Over the summer, he buddied up to New York Knick Carmelo Anthony. When Melo was asked about the Bromance, he responded by saying ,”As far as me recruiting Chris Paul, no, not at all. We’re very close friends, I’m pretty sure you guys saw him out here in New York a lot . . . but we’ve never had any kind of conversation about him coming to New York.”
Riiiiiight. So Melo would like everyone to believe that while they rubbed elbows all summer, playing basketball much of the time no doubt, there was never a conversation about Paul joining him and Amare in NYC. If there’s one thing thing these players have learned during the lockout it’s how to speak like politicians.
Over the years, it’s become obvious to anyone with a brain that players are indeed colluding, in the wee hours of the night club, yelling to each other over the loud music, that they should play together.
Now owners, despite their tireless efforts to restrict player movement, essentially giving players no option in the matter of trades, are in about the same place that they were before. Chris Paul, on the lackluster New Orleans Hornets, has a chance to play with his new BFF in the city that never sleeps and get paid at the same time. Of course there are other suitors, but there’s one thing they don’t have that the Knicks do: Carmelo Anthony. Teams like the Lakers and Clippers are in the Paul discussion, but unfortunately, Kobe didn’t invite Paul to his Malibu Mansion over summer, so they can kiss that chance goodbye.
Players, despite the owners’ best efforts, have found a way to supersede the system, both new and old versions. No matter what the Dan Gilberts of the world try and do, the key players will hold a lot of the movement power, and they want to play ball with their friends.
Natalie Saar is a columnist from California. She keeps it classy by eating, exercising, and writing about sports. Check out Natalie as she competes for first prize in our New Writers Contest! It’s pretty high stakes, like poker with Doyle Brunson or a one night stand in Zimbabwe. Natalie is competing for a $100 first prize and a spot in our stable of writers. We hope you like her style. We sure do. Vote for Natalie today!
Beat the Boredom of Soccer – Matt Agosta
If soccer doesn't stunt your growth, the caffeine will.
As an American, I was brought up to enjoy the kinetic frenzy of basketball, the repeated concussion laced hits of the NFL, and the powerful, far reaching roid-prescribed homerun bombs of baseball. This was given to me by birth and will be passed down to further generations of Americans. So, its only natural that when viewing soccer games, my first instinct is grab the remote and change the channel. For an American watching his/her first soccer games he/she will be tempted to do other things such as learn Portugese or hand out flyers for seven dollars an hour. Here is where my experience comes in.
After watching soccer with my girlfriend’s father, I’ve developed some effective tactics for new fans of the game that have a hard time paying attention. These will benefit you for the upcoming Olympic games and maybe become second nature by the next World Cup in 2014.
1) Drink coffee – This is simple enough. If you don’t have any java nearby, fear not. Statistical probability has determined that there is a Starbucks no more than five minutes away from you, even if you live in deep in an Alaskan forest. Coffee is very important because a lot of important European league games start up around seven o’clock on Saturday morning. If you are unprepared, soccer will hit you with a two-pronged attack: a) you know nothing about the game and b) you’re hung over from Friday night. Therefore, there is no shame in having coffee to watch a game of soccer. Even if it’s a night game, you can always pull the excuse that after a busy work week you’re just holding on for another four or five hours. Who would disagree with that line of reasoning in today’s economy?
2) Study the teams before the game – If you have a day or two of advance notice, it might help to study the teams a bit. You will have to scourage the outer boundaries of ESPN.com or Yahoo Sports, but they all have their own soccer sections that can give you a decent outline of what type of game you’ll be watching. If the game is a Team USA match, it won’t be that hard to become invested in the outcome. If it’s an important European game, you might be catch a few international stars hit a goal or two. If it’s the MLS, then just cancel plans or go back to the Portugese audio tapes.
3) Lower your expectations – Before the game, tell yourself that you’ll be happy with a 1-0 score. Repeat it ad nauseum. Did you ever wonder why foreigners always sing songs at soccer games? It’s because they know deep down a goal won’t be happening any time soon, and they have to find ways to stay interested. In fact, maybe if you sing a song to yourself while watching the game you may just get the notion of a 5-4 game out of your head (I never do, but you can). 3-1 is possible. 2-1 is likely. 7-5 is baseball.
4) Give out numerical grades for flops – This’ll help you because players falling on the ground in false agony happens a lot more than goals. Make a 10 point scale. One will be used when the player falls on the ground after minimal contact and then after four or five seconds decides to get back up and race into action at full speed. Five will be when a player flops and convinces you that he’s in valid pain and draws a yellow card against the opposing team. You will only be able to tell if he’s faking it is if he’s running around as if nothing happened after two minutes. A ten point flop should only be used when the following occurs: A player flops in the goal box, fools the referee into stopping the game and then earns a free penalty shot in a very close game. At this point in time the entire stadium will be shaking as if Tom Brady was given the ball with 1:50 left to score the winning touchdown. After the ten point flop each and every soccer player on the field will surround the referee to plead their case. It doesn’t matter if the penalty shot is made or not because after the game every analyst will still be debating on whether or not the foul had happened.
Matt Agosta is a California-born writer residing in Queens, NY. He’s mufti-faceted. He loves European soccer, American soccer, Spanish soccer, and Women’s soccer! We also imagine that he likes fish tacos, blondes, and free beaches. Check out Matt as he competes for first prize in our New Writers Contest! It’s pretty high stakes, like poker with Doyle Brunson or a one night stand in Zimbabwe. Matt is looking to take home a $100 first prize and a spot in our stable of writers. Vote for Matt today!
Let’s Get Ready for….Shopping! – Lady B
Well, the holidays are upon us, and for us wrestling fans out there the perfect place to go shopping for gifts is the www.wweshop.com! At the WWE’s online headquarters, the wrestling enthusiast is able to get all the latest t-shirts, hats, jewelry, and of course action figures…for the kiddies. Yeah, the kiddies. (That’s the story, and I’m sticking to it.) The WWEShop.com gets seasonal this time of year, so be sure to pick up Christmas decorations to make your tree layeth the Smack-eth Down on any other tree in your neighborhood. Christmas hats, stockings, and ornaments that have your favorite WWE Superstars on them are just some of the holiday trimmings that the mega-marketer offers its fans. Can you believe that they actually have a John Cena snowman ornament? [Insert your own joke here.] However, given that it’s the Season of Santa, or S.O.S as I like to call it, I urge all Non-Cena fans to let those jokes slide. At least for all the youngsters who hold Cena as high as a Fanboy holds Han Solo.
For those looking for a huge amount of WWE merchandise to buy for reasonable prices, there are plenty of package deals that are being offered. Take my word for it, look at the site and you won’t be disappointed. Package deals featuring superstars like “The Viper” Randy Orton, John Cena, CM Punk, The Miz, Rey Mysterio, and even Zakk Ryder are all available for the wrestling fan’s Christmas shopping spree.
For those of you who are old school and shun call waiting, there are real old fashioned, brick and mortar stores where you get your hands on some classic wrestling and sports memorabilia. The Staten Island-based Sports Heros and Legends has some of the industry’s best merchandise, including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and professional wrestling memorabilia. You can find everything from action figures to room decor, vintage memorabilia, autographs, and much more. The store also offers wrestler autograph signings every month.
For those of you with someone special in your life, you may want to go the extra mile (literally and figuratively), and take a ride up to Waterford, CT. This Thursday (12/8), WWE Superstar Zack Ryder will be at at K&M All Star Sports located at the Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT at 6:00pm to sign autographs and snap photos. While tickets are required and space is limited, you can call head for more information (860-772-2041). So, for those of you who haven’t gotten your Christmas cards printed up yet, nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a Rough Ryder. It’s not everyday that something like this happens, and if you’re looking for a kick@$$ gift for a sports fan, I think this would be one of the perfect places to go shopping.
As we countdown to the 25th, I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a safe Happy New Year. Oh, and for those of you who are fans of my show, The Diva Lounge, featured on 1wrestling.com, I have something special in mind for this holiday season. Keep checking www.1wrestling.com and once it’s up, feel free to let me know what you think. Once again, Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year.
Lady B is from Crooklyn! (That’s Brooklyn, NY for the uneducated.) She’s a real tough mother! No, really. She’s got a baby girl AND she loves wrestling. You wanna mess with her? We don’t! Check out Lady B as she competes for first prize in our New Writers Contest! It’s pretty high stakes, like poker with Doyle Brunson or a one night stand in Zimbabwe. Lady B is looking to take home a $100 first prize and a spot in our stable of writers. Click here to vote for her today!
Yankees Hot Stove: Starting Rotation – Andrew Rotondi
The MLB Winter Meetings, which will kick-off December 5th in Dallas, usually provide some Baseball excitement during the Holiday Season. At the 2009 meetings, Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced that they had successfully traded for All Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson. While I do not expect a splash of that caliber, I will highlight what Cashman should focus on as the offseason progresses.
Over the next week I will discuss each area of the Yankees team: Position Players, Starting Rotation, and Bullpen. This is part 2.
Nova finished 4th in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2011.
There is no question that the Yankees pitching staff—especially the Starting Rotation—outperformed expectations in 2011. Their team ERA was 3.73 (.35 below league average), and their five main starters (Sabathia, Burnett, Nova, Garcia, and Colon) combined for a 3.86 ERA.
Plain and simple, do not expect a repeat performance in 2012 without any personnel changes.
After you account for injuries, poor performances, and everything in between, the average Major League team uses 10 starting pitchers each season. To account for this, you need between 7 and 9 starters on the 40-man roster exiting Spring Training that you feel comfortable starting a game. In 2011 the Yankees used 8 different starting pitchers. That number is excellent considering the Yankees had the highest average age of pitchers (31) in the American League last season. It would be foolish to count on the same level of health next season, especially because the Yankees will be relying on Phil Hughes to rebound from an injury-riddled 2011 and the 35 year old Freddy Garcia to duplicate his successful first season in Pinstripes. So, what should Brian Cashman do about the biggest area of need on the 2012 New York Yankees?
Suggestions:
All signs out of Seattle are that King-Felix is not on the trade block (although any player can be had for the right price), but let’s rule out that scenario right away.
Sure, trading for Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain would be nice, but the Giants have shot-down any rumors that they are trading one of their two star pitchers this offseason. Despite the fact that the Giants have had a high payroll for some time and are in a wealthy market, there has been indication that they cannot sign both Lincecum and Cain to long-term deals (probably because they are still hurt by the absurd contract they gave to Barry Zito). Lincecum is a free agent after the 2013 season, but he has been setting record highs each year in arbitration. Cain is signed through 2012, but will likely get AJ Burnett-money in the offseason. I don’t expect the Giants to trade either anytime soon, but Lincecum or Cain might be on the block if the Giants are not in the 2012 playoff race. (Note: with the new playoff format starting in 2012, more teams will be in “the race.” This means that there will be more buyers than sellers at the July trade deadline, which could mean less mid-season movement.)
The answer is probably in the free agent market and the farm system. The top free agent pitchers on the free agent market are, in my opinion, C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt, and Hiroki Kuroda. I automatically rule out signing National League pitchers to free agent deals because the league change has proven to be too much, so that leaves C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle. Wilson is a good pitcher, but overrated by the fact that he is the best option on the market. He has only had two season as a starting pitcher (granted, both good) and his career playoff ERA is 4.82. Stay away from him.
Buehrle has been a big-game pitcher since 2001 and could add depth to the Yankees rotation.
Buehrle is a more intriguing option because he will not demand the same length contract as Wilson. Mark is no longer a shut-down pitcher, but he is reliable and durable (Buehrle has pitched at least 200 inning in each season since 2001). The Yankees have Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances in the pipeline, and the veteran presence of Buehrle could be helpful. Sign Buehrle to a two—maybe three year deal, which I think is more than fair considering his miles and recent performance.
Signing Buehrle would also allow the Yankees to be more patient with prospects Banuelos (age 20) and Betances (age 23). If you recall, the Yankees left Spring Training in 2008 with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy in the 5-man rotation and neither of them won a game that season. In New York, patience with young pitchers is usually beneficial to their long term success.
Andrew Rotondi is an avid Yankees fan who feels he can manage better than the manager himself. As a contributing writer to NYYUniverse.com, he is able to live out this fantasy while providing readers with factual information through his sarcastically biting witticisms. Andrew currently resides behind enemy lines in Boston, where he can be found frequently trashing the Red Sox and their fans. When you are not voting for Andrew in our New Writers Contest, you can follow him on Twitter @Yankees_talk
