2008 Yankee of the Year: Mike Mussina

My congratulations go out to Mike Mussina for capturing Scott Proctor's Arm Nation's 2008 Yankee of the Year Award. He absolutely destroyed the competition, garnering over 70 percent of the vote. It was well-deserved, as well. Mariano Rivera finished in second place and will receive a $25 gift card to T.G.I. Friday's®.

Thank you all for participating in the poll.

Poll: 2008 Yankee of the Year

Update - 5:45 p.m.: If you've already voted, please vote again. I added a different poll (same choices), but this one is easier to read.


It's poll time again. This is a big one, Scott Proctor's Arm Nation.

I know this was a down year for the New York Yankees, but we need some closure here. So, I ask:

Who is your vote for 2008 Yankee of the Year?

Bobby Abreu: .296 BA, 20 HR, 100 RBI
Johnny Damon: .303 BA, 17 HR, 71 RBI
Derek Jeter: .300 BA, 11 HR, 69 RBI
Mike Mussina: 20-9, 3.37 ERA
Alex Rodriguez: .302 BA, 35 HR, 103 RBI
Mariano Rivera: 39 saves, 1.40 ERA

The poll is located in the right-hand sidebar (I'm aware of the problems with the color scheme. I can't control that.) The choices are in alphabetical order by last name. The poll will be open until Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Discuss your choice here.

Poll analysis

Yesterday, I asked you: All things being equal, which pitcher do you want the most?

53 people voted, and the results were clear.

A.J. Burnett: 18 votes (33%)
Derek Lowe: 8 (15%)
Ben Sheets: 26 (49%)
None: 1 (1%)

I wish the Yankees were thinking the way the majority of you did. I would love Sheets here for two or three years. Burnett for five years scares the living you know what out of me, but apparently Brian Cashman feels comfortable offering that. We should learn soon as to which team - the Yankees or Braves - Burnett chooses.

Which pitcher do you want the most?

I have added a new poll to the right-hand side of the page. If you're viewing in an RSS reader, the poll will not be visible unless you visit the site.

I ask: All things being equal, which free-agent pitcher do you want the most?

A.J. Burnett
Derek Lowe
Ben Sheets
None

The poll will close at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow.

Discuss your choice here.

Poll: Who should get sent down?

The Yankees' record is 2-9 when either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy take the ball.

Hughes is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA on the season. He has walked 13 and struck out 13 in 22 innings. He is averaging 3 2-3 innings per start.

Kennedy is 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA on the season. He has walked 17 and struck out 15 in 19 innings.

As is, the Yankees can't contend with these two in the rotation. Their short starts are extremely taxing on the bullpen, and the reason why the Yankees have been so up and down on the season rests with these two young starters. Something needs to be done before both are crushed mentally.

So I ask you, who should get sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre? Hughes? Kennedy? Both? Neither? Discuss your choice in the comments section.

And the results are in

The poll on the right has closed.

I asked, "Who will play the most games at first base this season?"

The responses were as follows:

Jason Giambi - 28 votes (44%)
Shelley Duncan - 24 votes (38%)
Wilson Betemit - 2 votes (3%)
Morgan Ensberg - 6 votes (9%)
Other - 3 votes (4%)

I voted for Giambi. I feel that if he's healthy and is producing a decent amount, he will spend the majority of the time at first base. He hits much better when he's playing first (granted, much of that production was with Oakland while under the influence) but his defensive is suspect.

Duncan has had a hot spring so far, and I believe that he has a roster spot locked up. It helps that he can play the outfield as well. The amount of playing time Duncan has will obviously depend on his production. Betemit should be on the roster as a backup infielder, leaving Ensberg the odd-man out unless he has a spectacular spring.

It'll be interesting to see how Joe Girardi handles this.

Those who voted for "other," whom do you suggest?

Poll: Who will play the most games at first base this season?

A new poll has been added to the right-hand side of the page.

There is no clear candidate for the starting first base job. So I ask you: who do you think will play the most games at the position this season? Will it be Jason Giambi? How about blog favorite Wilson Betemit?

Discuss your choice here. The poll will close next Thursday at 8 p.m. EST.

And the results are in

My inaugural poll has closed, and the results have been tallied.

What are your thoughts on Hank Steinbrenner?

Can't get enough of him - 15, 15%
I like him, but he needs to calm down a little - 55, 55%
Can't stand him - 26, 26%
No opinion - 4, 4%

We had exactly 100 responses, so thank you for participating.

If you're wondering what I chose, I picked the second response. He seems very committed to winning, but early in the off-season, he was giving away vital information without consulting his baseball people. Since then he has seemed to back down from his previous positions - see the previous post.

Now that you have voted, explain your choices.

New poll: What are your thoughts on Hank Steinbrenner?

I have added a new poll to the right-hand side.

The question is fairly simple: what are your thoughts on Hank Steinbrenner?

Discuss your choice here.