Double-digit deficit for Yankees
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Podcast on May 18, 2007 
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The Yankees have not been 10 games out of first place since Sept. 22, 1995, the year before Joe Torre became manager.
They are now 3-9 against left-handed starters with four of the losses coming in the last seven days.
Andy Pettitte is 0-2 in his last two starts. In line in those games: 14.1 14 5 5 2 6. He is 2-3 and could easily be 6-1. It’s Houston all over again and he’s getting frustrated.
Here’s Pettitte’s postgame interview session:
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I’ll catch you guys tomorrow. Thanks for reading today. Don’t forget, if you’re interested in reading what’s going on with the Mets, check out the LoHud Mets Blog.
Yes, this is corporate synergy at work. I’m just a cog in the giant machine.
I was panicked at 9.5…10 isn’t THAT much worse- is it?
Well, there is always the Wild Card. Maybe. Any opinion who will play first base next year, Texeira?
I doubt we’d go after Texiera. We’ll be going after either Torii Hunter, Ichiro, or Andruw Jones, most likely. We might go after Texiera if A-Rod opts out.
The hope is that Eric Duncan can turn it around and prove that he can play in the majors and be the first baseman of the future. His backup plan, Juan Miranda, looks like crap.
Why go after these guys when we have Melky, Damon, and Tabata coming up in 2008-2009? It’s not like we need more CFs, but we do need a 1st baseman that can hit and field.
Melky isn’t a starting CF at this point. His bat sucks way too much.
I blame New hitting coach Kevin Long for struggling against lefthanded pitchers. He’s horrible.
Tabata may not be ready by 2009. We’re certainly not bring Abreu back. Melky is a 4th outfielder, plain and simple.
If A-Rod opts out, we’ll need a bat to replace him.
Melky is the RFer for the next 15 years…when Matsui’s contract runs out we put Tabata in LF…I think they make a run at Ichiro to play CF for the next 5 and move Damon to 1b.
Alot depends on AROD (per usual)…if he leaves they’ll need a thumper- Texiera would be great fit as a young switch hitting gold glover…but the Rangers would want a ton for him- and I don’t think he is wirth it. They gotta hope he hits free agency in 09 and then it’s just money.
If AROD goes I think they’ll skip Ichiro and get Andruw Jones.
If AROD stays I think they’ll go after Ichiro for CF and move Damon to 1b.
They have so many arms that they will be in a good place to be dealing this Winter. I just hope they deal wisely.
Clippard and Hughes HAFTA be untouchables at this point.
The losses now leave me not angry but numb – I expect nothing – blow them up an start over – treat this year like an audition for prospects.
Damon to 1B? I don’t see that working.
I’m with ya on the numb part Eric…as for blowing it up? well I wouldn’t mind Shelley Duncan get some ABs the rest of the way.
Can they just release Abreu at this point? Any chance he gets picked off waivers? would a team really take a swig with that salary for the rest of the year? Maybe? Clear the spot and let Melky play everyday.
Giambi is totally unmoveable, so he can’t be “blown up”…although I wonder with his recent admission tot aking roids if the Yankees NOW have the proof they need to void the contract (like they were strongly considering 3 years ago). I can’t imagine it being possible at this point since he’s been productive (not Oakland A’s/ MVP productive- but 40HR productive)…
Come on, Stein & Sons, how long you´ll have my Yankees agonizing? Execute the only remedy now: fire Torre, hire Bobby Valentine!
I want Jones and Ichiro in next year’s Yankees OF!
After 2007:
Sign Andruw Jones for CF, Ichiro for RF, extend Posada’s contract through 2009, move Damon to 1B, make Cabrera the LF, Matsui the DH, RELEASE GIAMBI ($21M eaten offset over time with a trade of Igawa’s $16M for 2008-12 which I think they could make as he’s only 27 years old and a lefthander who could thrive in the DH-less, weak 7-8-9 batting order N.L. if he’s sent there).
Ichiro RF protected by Jeter
Jeter SS has been hitting the cover off the ball with
an anemic Abreu batting third most of this year
Damon 1B protected by A-Rod; has more power than Abreu
now at this point (24 HR last year)
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH > Giambi in the #5 slot and at DH
Jones CF
Posada C (the only slowpoke in the lineup
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF protected by Ichiro
A-Rod would be a fool to leave with Ichiro and Jones joining the team.
Thanks, Pete. Still love the blog; the team, on the other hand, is giving me agita.
Oh b.t.w., here’s how they can sign Ichiro:
Just buy out then let go of Abreu for $13M cleared ($15M he’s making this year – $2M buyout). The Yanks could then sign Ichiro to a 3-year $36M ($12M/yr.) contract because he accepted a 4-year $44M ($11M/yr.) contract extension for 2004-8.
Here’s how they can pay for Andruw Jones’s $15M salary for 2008:
Jaret Wright’s $4M for 2007 off the books.
Javier Vasquez’s $3M for 2007 off the books.
Randy Johnson’s $2M for 2007 off the books.
Jose Vizcaino’s $3M for 2007 off the books.
Ron Villone’s $2M for 2007 off the books.
Miguel Cairo’s $0.75M for 2007 off the books.
There you go folks: 2008 Jones costs the Yankees
$15M – 14.75M = $250,000.
Ichiro would kill the clubhouse, Jones is another all or nothing type of hitter, we shouldn’t go after either of them…And if you have to choose one, go with Ichiro, at least he won’t strike out.
I wouldn’t mind an ERic-Byrnes type on this team…Jones and Ichiro? ugh…talk about two more bigger (and separate) cabs…
How about Abreu and Mussina to Arizona (would they really take ALL of our deadwood?) for Byrnes and a prospect.
Matsui is rapidly becoming a DH
This is probably the stat that says exactly how bad things are right now, in 1-run games we are 2-8.
“It’s Houston all over again and he’s getting frustrated.”
Sounded like he blamed himself more than blaming the team.
Two headlines you are not likely to see this summer:
“Yanks clinch AL East”
and
“Sunnis and Shites invite Jews over for pork chop dinner”
or perhaps
“Igawa returned to Japan and $51m returned to Yankees”
guys, we’re 10 games out of the division, but 6.5 out of the WC.. we can still get back in this thing, but its gonna have to happen soon
Wait until July 1 to see how this team is doing. They can turn it around.
However, if they are out by a significant amount of games by the deadline, then they should trade two of their OF’ (Damon and Abreu) for AAA positional players. They need to bring in some youth to the lineup. Even before this season, most yankee fans probably wanted to see a youth movement anyway..
the A’s would love Damon. WE would need to eat some money…but we could get some decent prospects if we make him available…how can we not at least listen?
The team needs a spark.
Players have guaranteed contracts and many of our guys are not tradable due to various reasons – old, injuries, too high salary, veto rights etc.,.
So, what are the options? Fire Cashman or Torre. Firing Cashman will not do much as the GM will never be the spark plug.
So, the only option, however unfair it is, fire Joe Torre. Get some one who can lit fire under the belly of these listless millionaire players.
I still believe Yanks will make the playoffs if proper action is taken now when there is still some time to recover. I will not rule out winning the divison either, but it is getting late slowy for that to happen.
Pettitte needs to stop blaming himself and throw towards the dugout at Cano.
Torre is over the hill. He has come full circle and it truly Clueless Joe. He has not won in the playoffs for years and now he can’t win in the regular season. Dump Joe and put Bowa in there. Bowa will light a fire under these guys.
10 games will be tough to come back from if they even can, about Ichiro one of my buddies who is a Sox fan swears the RedSox will get him before the trade deadline. He claims Ichiro has expressed interest in playing in Boston already and with him going as a free agent next year seattle will be looking to deal, anyone else heard anything about that?
It is nice to see others who agree that htere is no fire to this team. I believe that Torre cannot light the spark they so desperately need. I think you need someone like a Girardi or Pinnella(even thought not available) to come in and lock horns wtih some of these guys. But also, it is about time that jeter begins showing his nuts and addressing these players. If you have to call them out in the papers then do it. This is about winning championshps not life long love affairs. Too many guys are tanking and pouting. Nice example from a “class organization” that they allow such a pathetic display.
The “band of outs” need to removed, benched and plugged with hungry less talented guys who are willing to “scrap” their way into a starting position.
I am so friggin’ disgusted right now. All I can say is “Theeeeeeeeeee Yankees Suck!!!!!!!!!”
YankeesRob, who would Boston give up for Ichiro. You gotta think that there would be some pitching? If I am Seattle, I ask for quite a bit. Don’t see the deal happening with Boston.
Also, just checked with a buddy of mine who is pretty accurate on trades and he has heard nothing.
Ichiro to Boston wouldn’t shock me. They can deal Ellsbury (top minor league prospect and outfielder in AAA) and maybe 1 or 2 young arms.
If the Yankees could “choose” their manager I would vote for Jim leyland…he is old school no doubt, but he LOVES the Yankees and always raves about them…but at the same time he doesn’t put up with any crap from a Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, etc…of course, the Tigers would never let him out
I think Colorado Yank was right. People have to stop this romance with Jeter and start making him accountable for his role as Captain. What has he done in that respect other than giving his standard premeditated statements.
He is a very good player (sorry he is not a great player), but as a Captain he is a failure. What did we win since he bacame captain?
MESSAGE TO ALL YANKEES “FANS”: Being the humanitarian than I am, I want all of you to be happy. That being said, it is NOT TOO LATE TO BECOME A METS FAN and be HAPPY! The Mets have the most exciting player in baseball (see J. Reyes) and will continue to be the most exciting TEAM in baseball for the next 20 years. I RESPECT THE YANKEES and all the success they HAD. But we all must live in the present and realize that the Yankees are a group of individuals who hate eachother. The Mets are a TEAM. SO, its OKAY if you want to be Mets fans. I want all of you to be HAPPY!
colorado yank;
i totally disagree with you about jeter. he’s as tough as it gets and as good as it gets. a team is made up of a variety of kinds of players. my previous comments were about adding a spark and some intensity, but that was not meant as a slight to jeter. if you had a team of 25 jeters i don’t think you’d need someone to fire up the players. jeter is self contained in that way. he always gives 100%. jeter can’t be everything for everyone. every team needs a paul o’neil kind of intensity to fire up the players who aren’t so self motivated.. that’s not necessarily the captain. all jeter does is consistanly get hits over long periods of time when other’s come up with streaky numbers.
Wow! Some of you dudes need to go away for about 5 years and become Cubs Fans or Mets Fans or fans of some other MLB Team that wins a Division maybe once every 8-10 years!
Yes, the Yanks are playing terrible for the collection of stars and the money that General George pays for these guys.
The Team DOES look listless. That comes from not playing good baseball. However it seems that only Abreu and his disciple, Cano, are the only two that appear to have no fire. That said, however, I am guessing that’s their “low-key” personality rather than an attitude problem. The Yanks WILL play better. Whether or not it will be too late, will depend on how well the Red Sox play and the other teams vying for a Wild Card. Mark it down, Boston will have their down steak – they are not a .700 ballclub! Because of the slow start, the Yankees are no longer in control of their own destiny, but with 75% of the season yet to go, by no means are they eliminated on May 19th!
Ichiro will not be playing for the Yanks. The Red Sox have a strong desire to bring him to Boston, if not in a trade this season, next year when he is a free agent. They’ll throw Dice-K type money at him and I believe Cashman would opt more for Andruw Jones’ rightie bat that Suzuki.
Let’s worry about 2007 for now!
All of you guys are retarted. I know it is nice to dream but they yanks aren’t getting andruw jones who is way overrated and is having his worst year ever and by the way he said he wouldn’t even go to the yankees cuz he wants to go somewhere warm. And for ichiro he is getting older and older and he is NOT going to the bronx.The best fit would be texiera because meintkewicz is terrible and giambi is horrible also. Texiera woyld bring the yankees a young 25 year old that has a ton of power and is a good feilding first baseman he would be perfect for long term.
as a life long yankee fan i myself am pretty annoyed with my boyz.. jeter is always a lock.. arod is the man .. by far one of if not the greatest all around player of all time he jus gets crapped on because hes so famous and people expect him to sprout wings and fly or piss platinum and diamonds.. abreu played better after the trade from the phillies but i think thats jus because he wanted the hell of that team and didnt care where he landed.. he can go.. we can def trade for him.. cano i never liked .. i can play a better defensive second base than him.. damon is always good hes jus slumpin.. giambi is my boy not only is he clutch and has power but hes an italian and we italians always prosper in NY.. but maybe a trade for him wouldnt be so bad.. maybe its what we need to ignite this fire thats gonna get these guys 2 explode they have so much potential is practically about to bubble over.. the bosox have more trouble with the yanks this year than anyone else.. we have schillings number he cant do jack against us… beckett also.. and forget about wakefield wen hes on the mound its like batting practice.. if boston is all that is standing in the way of the yankees for the pennant im not worried.. im more worried that they cant beat anyone else .. which is a sad state of affairs.. pettitte has been there ace and SHOULD BE 7-2 unfortunatley the run support hasnt been there.. POSADA is having a career year and clemens comings back is like a godsent.. DITCH abreu and cano or jus abreu because his average is lower than his body weight at this point.. Texeira would work out alot better than Helton .. Todd hits hard but he gets injured every other week … i like mark texeira he gets my vote.. one question remains tho.. WHERE THE F**K IS BERNIE WILLIAMS?? i cannot believe the yankees were so arrogant as to jus bully him off the team.. its like hey mariano your getting old hes a few million.. than we retire paul oneill as a star ( rightly deserved i might add ) we do the same for mattingly also a legend and clemens.. but someone who has eat drank slept and crapped pinstripes for 16 seasons we tell him take a minor league contract or get out.. did we forget he leads the yankees historically in grand slams and also was the last yankee to win a batting title in 98… this is more like the curse of the BERNIE-BINO