Comments on: Matchups for the Red Sox series http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/ A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:58:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: randy l http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-3/#comment-31271 randy l Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:52:10 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31271 murphydog- i'm surprised how you feel about protecting hitters and pitchers claiming their half of the plate. santana was taken deep by hafner the other night. next pitch hit martinez the catcher. next time up halfner was knocked off of the plate first pitch. hafner didn't move off the plate so the next pitch from santana hit him in the front right shoulder. hafner didn't get mad. he knew he chose to take over both sides of the plate. santana threw the ball where hafner made the choice if he was to be hit or not.there was no headhunter bad attitude on santana's part. but pitching like this is why santana is santana. and the twins are the twins. overachievers. this yankee team needs to overachieve if they are going to win it all. that said i'm with you that hatfield/mccoy headhuting has no place in the game, but there is a middle ground and santana is the perfect example of how to occupy it. the yankees have become pacifists in a game where turning the other cheek is not rewarded. murphydog-
i’m surprised how you feel about protecting hitters and pitchers claiming their half of the plate. santana was taken deep by hafner the other night. next pitch hit martinez the catcher. next time up halfner was knocked off of the plate first pitch. hafner didn’t move off the plate so the next pitch from santana hit him in the front right shoulder. hafner didn’t get mad. he knew he chose to take over both sides of the plate. santana threw the ball where hafner made the choice if he was to be hit or not.there was no headhunter bad attitude on santana’s part. but pitching like this is why santana is santana. and the twins are the twins. overachievers.
this yankee team needs to overachieve if they are going to win it all.
that said i’m with you that hatfield/mccoy headhuting has no place in the game, but there is a middle ground and santana is the perfect example of how to occupy it.
the yankees have become pacifists in a game where turning the other cheek is not rewarded.

]]> By: saucy http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-3/#comment-31210 saucy Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:48:59 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31210 didn't get to read thru all of this today, but ditto on everyone's comments on meintkeivwicz batting 2nd. The heart of our order was handcuffed while Cano spent pretty much his entire rookie season batting 2nd. I can't see one thing to justify that move. he's not hitting. making good contact and hitting well are 2 completely different things. Here's to hoping jeter's back tonight to limit our coaching staff's dumb decisions. though i'm sure they'll think of something else to make 99% of their fans collectively scratch their heads tonight. didn’t get to read thru all of this today, but ditto on everyone’s comments on meintkeivwicz batting 2nd.

The heart of our order was handcuffed while Cano spent pretty much his entire rookie season batting 2nd.

I can’t see one thing to justify that move. he’s not hitting. making good contact and hitting well are 2 completely different things.

Here’s to hoping jeter’s back tonight to limit our coaching staff’s dumb decisions.

though i’m sure they’ll think of something else to make 99% of their fans collectively scratch their heads tonight.

]]> By: murphydog http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31201 murphydog Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:31:57 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31201 SJ: 1) How does one show a sense of urgency for pitchers' muscles to heal? Give Mussina a team rubdown before each game? The problem is the starting pitching, not the offense. Not an excuse, but a fact. Stop using invincible ignorance to avoid dealing with the problem. It's the pitching. 2) Just because A-Rod doesn't always hit the game winning home run doesn't mean these guys aren't trying or aren't looking to win. In baseball sometimes you lose. It's a hard game. 3) Leyland's speech is cool for a team of last place players like the Tigers were who haven't won anything in a long time and don't remember what it was like to win. The Yanks have not been a last place team complacent about losing. Could Torre be more fiery? You don't know what it's like behind closed doors. Besides, do you really think you need to motivate Jeter, A-Rod, Posada, Mo, Giambi, Pettitte. C'mon. Do they look like they are not hustling, just moping around? They are beating the drum all the time. Or is it just that you guys need to see water coolers launched from the bench? 4) Hitting people doesn't get pitchers back any sooner and it sure doesn't save the bullpen. When you are throwing crappy AAA pitchers up against Major Leaguers the last thing you are permitted to do is knock somebody down who hit one of your crappy AAA pitches for a HR. You would look like a clown. I'm also not against chin music. But the head hunting Clemens did to Piazza? No way. That was sickening. But let's play along. Tell me what happens when the Evil Empire starts hitting guys on the Devil Rays? Care to guess what the reaction is in the media? "Payroll just under $200 million, 26 titles and they have to hit people? It's a sign of how desperate Torre's team has become." Not that the media is the be all and end all, but it does matter. How about the Red Sox? Want someone to get really hurt? Want to start a riot? They will throw back and hurt someone. We need another injury? We need to issues free passes to put more Sox on base? And when our starter gets thrown out for hitting the batter and we have to go to the bullpen again, then what? What about the other teams? Everybody watches this stuff on ESPN closely. They're already more "up" to play the Yankees than any other team. Want to get them even more pumped up before you roll into town? I understand your frustration, but getting porky is a sure sign that we think we have lost it. Keep your shirts on. Finally, SJ: what Pro-Torre spin are you talking about? Here? On this blog? You have killed that guy at least ten times a night for the last ten days. SJ:

1) How does one show a sense of urgency for pitchers’ muscles to heal? Give Mussina a team rubdown before each game? The problem is the starting pitching, not the offense. Not an excuse, but a fact. Stop using invincible ignorance to avoid dealing with the problem. It’s the pitching.

2) Just because A-Rod doesn’t always hit the game winning home run doesn’t mean these guys aren’t trying or aren’t looking to win. In baseball sometimes you lose. It’s a hard game.

3) Leyland’s speech is cool for a team of last place players like the Tigers were who haven’t won anything in a long time and don’t remember what it was like to win. The Yanks have not been a last place team complacent about losing. Could Torre be more fiery? You don’t know what it’s like behind closed doors. Besides, do you really think you need to motivate Jeter, A-Rod, Posada, Mo, Giambi, Pettitte. C’mon. Do they look like they are not hustling, just moping around? They are beating the drum all the time. Or is it just that you guys need to see water coolers launched from the bench?

4) Hitting people doesn’t get pitchers back any sooner and it sure doesn’t save the bullpen.

When you are throwing crappy AAA pitchers up against Major Leaguers the last thing you are permitted to do is knock somebody down who hit one of your crappy AAA pitches for a HR. You would look like a clown.

I’m also not against chin music. But the head hunting Clemens did to Piazza? No way. That was sickening.

But let’s play along. Tell me what happens when the Evil Empire starts hitting guys on the Devil Rays? Care to guess what the reaction is in the media? “Payroll just under $200 million, 26 titles and they have to hit people? It’s a sign of how desperate Torre’s team has become.” Not that the media is the be all and end all, but it does matter.

How about the Red Sox? Want someone to get really hurt? Want to start a riot? They will throw back and hurt someone. We need another injury? We need to issues free passes to put more Sox on base? And when our starter gets thrown out for hitting the batter and we have to go to the bullpen again, then what?

What about the other teams? Everybody watches this stuff on ESPN closely. They’re already more “up” to play the Yankees than any other team. Want to get them even more pumped up before you roll into town?

I understand your frustration, but getting porky is a sure sign that we think we have lost it. Keep your shirts on.

Finally, SJ: what Pro-Torre spin are you talking about? Here? On this blog? You have killed that guy at least ten times a night for the last ten days.

]]> By: SJ44 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31153 SJ44 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:25:08 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31153 Randy, Couldn't agree more. I remember Leyland going off on his team in late April last year (while they were off to a great start) because they had a poor afternoon home effort in a game before they were to fly to the West Coast. Even though they won the series 2-1, it wasn't enough for Leyland. I remember that sound bite as if it was yesterday. He said, "Its not good enough to just show up and be happy with yourself because you won a series. That's the reason why these guys have lost all these years. Its unacceptable and its going to stop NOW". Folks may downplay that stuff (and certainly, its a whole lot different managing a younger team than a veteran team) but, don't discount the need to put a sense of urgency into your players. Not being done here this year, regardless of the Pro-Torre spin that's going on. From Day One, its been a listless group. The retaliation stuff? I couldn't agree more with you. Its disgusting to see Yankee hitters get drilled and the pitchers don't back them up. Ever since Clemens drilled Piazza in 2000, it seems Torre has put the brakes on that stuff and Yankee hitters have been open targets ever since. Drives me nuts. It would be nice if the, "season starts tonight" for the Yankees. Come out, play a solid game, win, and take over the inside of the plate from Red Sox hitters. It would be a great way to break a losing streak and pump some of life into what seems to be a very listless team at the moment. Randy,

Couldn’t agree more. I remember Leyland going off on his team in late April last year (while they were off to a great start) because they had a poor afternoon home effort in a game before they were to fly to the West Coast. Even though they won the series 2-1, it wasn’t enough for Leyland.

I remember that sound bite as if it was yesterday.

He said, “Its not good enough to just show up and be happy with yourself because you won a series. That’s the reason why these guys have lost all these years. Its unacceptable and its going to stop NOW”.

Folks may downplay that stuff (and certainly, its a whole lot different managing a younger team than a veteran team) but, don’t discount the need to put a sense of urgency into your players. Not being done here this year, regardless of the Pro-Torre spin that’s going on. From Day One, its been a listless group.

The retaliation stuff? I couldn’t agree more with you. Its disgusting to see Yankee hitters get drilled and the pitchers don’t back them up. Ever since Clemens drilled Piazza in 2000, it seems Torre has put the brakes on that stuff and Yankee hitters have been open targets ever since.

Drives me nuts.

It would be nice if the, “season starts tonight” for the Yankees. Come out, play a solid game, win, and take over the inside of the plate from Red Sox hitters.

It would be a great way to break a losing streak and pump some of life into what seems to be a very listless team at the moment.

]]> By: Bill http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31148 Bill Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:19:40 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31148 i agree with you Randy - this team is not showing any fight in them. Old school baseball was like this: You hit a HR off a premier SP who liked to control the inside part of the plate, you were getting beamed the next time you came up. And the batter knew it too. It was part of the game. Yet, Torre won't even knock down Ortiz or Manny when Jeter and Giambi are always getting drilled by Sox pitchers. Why? i agree with you Randy – this team is not showing any fight in them. Old school baseball was like this: You hit a HR off a premier SP who liked to control the inside part of the plate, you were getting beamed the next time you came up. And the batter knew it too. It was part of the game.

Yet, Torre won’t even knock down Ortiz or Manny when Jeter and Giambi are always getting drilled by Sox pitchers. Why?

]]> By: Bill http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31144 Bill Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:15:48 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31144 Enoch: Look below your post. And anyone who thinks Bernie is a better OF than Melky is just not a smart baseball fan. Enoch: Look below your post.

And anyone who thinks Bernie is a better OF than Melky is just not a smart baseball fan.

]]> By: Bill http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31142 Bill Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:13:57 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31142 Yes, Quantrill was great for the Yankees until Torre blew out his arm. Yes, Quantrill was great for the Yankees until Torre blew out his arm.

]]> By: randy l http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31141 randy l Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:13:22 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31141 "It may be a “little thingâ€? to some. However, little things add up to big things and, IMO, that’s where they are right now. All of these “little thingsâ€? have contributed as much, or more, to their poor start than anything else." sj44- i couldn't agree more. there doesn't seem to be a of sense of urgency to fix the little things. last year leyland went off on the tigers for them not doing the little things. being relaxed and cool under adversity sometimes works and sometimes leyland's approach works. i think somewhere along the line someone needs a kick in the butt to pass it down the organizational chain to kick things in gear. it could be steinbrenner going after cashman or torre or the bullpen coach even or the bullpen coach's dog. the point is everyone needs to know they could be replaced(even the dog). that was the message leyland gave to the tigers. i'm old school ,and it made me jump out of my seat when kazmir hit jeter. as the game went on i knew there'd be no retaliation. that's a little thing( not so little when it might affect jeter for weeks),but it shows the lack of edge that this team has. it's one thing to lose. it's another to have no fight. “It may be a “little thingâ€? to some. However, little things add up to big things and, IMO, that’s where they are right now. All of these “little thingsâ€? have contributed as much, or more, to their poor start than anything else.”
sj44-
i couldn’t agree more. there doesn’t seem to be a of sense of urgency to fix the little things. last year leyland went off on the tigers for them not doing the little things. being relaxed and cool under adversity sometimes works and sometimes leyland’s approach works. i think somewhere along the line someone needs a kick in the butt to pass it down the organizational chain to kick things in gear. it could be steinbrenner going after cashman or torre or the bullpen coach even or the bullpen coach’s dog. the point is everyone needs to know they could be replaced(even the dog). that was the message leyland gave to the tigers.
i’m old school ,and it made me jump out of my seat when kazmir hit jeter. as the game went on i knew there’d be no retaliation. that’s a little thing( not so little when it might affect jeter for weeks),but it shows the lack of edge that this team has. it’s one thing to lose. it’s another to have no fight.

]]> By: Bill http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31140 Bill Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:12:19 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31140 Jeremy: I'm sorry, but to say 'The Great Mariano", Proctor and Farnsworth have been terrfic is the overstatement of the year. They have been anything but terrific. I think Myers (besides the crawford meltdown) and Luis have been decent, but thats about it. We're practically in May, and the great Mariano still doesn't have a Save under his belt, yet the bullpen has been terrific? They can't get the ball to Mariano, and then when they do, he crumbles. Anthony: You're foolish to think Bernie is better than Melky. Melky can at least catch and throw the ball, something of which Bernie has trouble doing. Besides that, he has 100x more range in the Outfield. Offensively, they both suck evenly. So, the obvious choice here is Melky. Jeremy: I’m sorry, but to say ‘The Great Mariano”, Proctor and Farnsworth have been terrfic is the overstatement of the year. They have been anything but terrific. I think Myers (besides the crawford meltdown) and Luis have been decent, but thats about it. We’re practically in May, and the great Mariano still doesn’t have a Save under his belt, yet the bullpen has been terrific? They can’t get the ball to Mariano, and then when they do, he crumbles.

Anthony: You’re foolish to think Bernie is better than Melky. Melky can at least catch and throw the ball, something of which Bernie has trouble doing. Besides that, he has 100x more range in the Outfield. Offensively, they both suck evenly. So, the obvious choice here is Melky.

]]> By: Enoch http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/comment-page-2/#comment-31138 Enoch Fri, 27 Apr 2007 17:11:46 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2007/04/27/matchups-for-the-red-sox-series/#comment-31138 100 times better than Melky at what? 100 times better than Melky at what?

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