Today in The Journal News
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- June
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Jason Giambi is headed to the disabled list as the problems get deeper for the Yankees
Alex Rodriguez’s brush with tabloid journalism isn’t really surprising given how hard it is for a public figure to hide. Ernie Palladino has the story.
Yankee fans in the suburbs aren’t giving up hope yet. Andrew Gross and a cast of thousands tell the story.
I’m headed up to Boston this morning. I’ll blog at you again from Fenway Park this afternoon.
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on Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 3:39 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Cleveland beat Detroit last night 11-5, so the Yanks are only 7 games behind Detroit for the A.L. Wildcard, by no means out of the postseason race. If the Yanks take 2 of 3 from Boston this weekend, they would either remain 7 games behind Detroit (Detroit takes 2 of the next 3 from Cleveland) or be only 6 games behind Detroit (Detroit loses 2 of the next 3 to Cleveland). I can’t see Cleveland sweeping Detroit. Cleveland has 6-1, 2.89 Carmona starting vs. the decent Maroth tonight, so between Wang and Carmona the Yanks chances of being only 6 games or remaining 7 games behind Detroit after tonight are pretty good.
‘Sounds good to me Ray! It’s really time the Yanks go on a 8-2 run instead of settling for 6-4 (2-1 vs. Boston, 2-2 vs. Chicago, 2-1 vs. Pittsburgh). They have Wang/ Mussina/ Pettitte/ Clemens/ Clippard/ Wang/ Mussina/ Pettitte/ Clemens/ Clippard or my guess a trade acquistion to do it, so it’s possible at least on paper. They go even 7-3, I think they’d be only 5 behind Detroit going into the series vs. the Mets 6/14-16 cuz I don’t see Detroit doing better than 5-5 in their next 10 after this weekend. Also the Yanks have a much easier interleague schedule than Detroit (Yanks vs. Pittsburgh, Arizona, the Mets, Colorado, and San Francisco to Detroit’s Mets, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Philly, and D.C.)
Re: Palladino’s story
Athletes have been doing this forever and the press has turned a blind eye – back to the angry woman chasing the Babe through the train and the press never reporting it.
As Paladino said anyone today can be caught on camera, so those in the public eye do need to be more discrete or clean up their act.
Yet this wasn’t a cell phone picture. This was the paparazzi and the NY Post paid to print the picture. The Post changed the rules and didn’t let Arod know the rules were changing.
I feel the worst for his wife.
I agree, I feel bad for A-Rod’s wife.
A-Rod had already had a “run-in” of sorts, last year (or the year before?) when he was found to be playing in a questionable poker game. So, he is no babe-in-the-woods, and should know to be more discreet.
Feel sorry for Cynthia?? No way – she knew what she was getting herself into when she married a jock. She’s a smart cookie, kind of reminds me of Hillary – hooked her wagon to a star and off she goes into the limelight. One of these days we’ll probably be reading Mrs. A-Rod’s tell all book and she’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
I don’t care if Cynthia ends up laughing all the way to the bank and star-charts. I would feel badly for anyone who is publicly humiliated in this way. I stopped feeling bad for Hilary when it became clear that she had made her peace with her relationship with Bill, and when she decided that she got more out of being in that relationship than ending it.
i find this pretty comical, even though not our favorite source
“poll results”:http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4281/arodhaer5.jpg
A few notes:
Getting Helton to replace Giambi would be like getting Damon to replace Bernie. Both were slight upgrades for a year or two but then the exact same problems will come around. (No arm for Damon-Bernie, Injury prone, slow, old for Helton-Giambi.
Getting Ichiro would be great but where does he play. He likes right but its hard putting our fastest outfielder anywhere but center where he is playing now. Also when he is put in center can Damon or Matsui play left? Jermaine Dye is a good right fielder and would blend in nice here. He is getting older and is injury prone though.
I don’t know where the Yanks go next year at first. Its hard to hold all the chips for Texiera b/c he isn’t guaranteed to sign here. His boyhood idol Donnie Baseball at manager might help that out a little.
A sweep plus the return of the Rocket on Monday would be a huge momentum boost for this team and in October I think we will all remember this as the weekend that turned it all around.
When Alex signed the big contract and put on the pin stripes he knew that his private life was over. And yet, he continues……….no wonder his team mates shun him
The “LA Times”:http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-plaschke1jun01,1,2606859.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-dodger&ctrack=1&cset=true had funny article on the HA thing.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/.....;cset=true
the daughter is who everyone should feel bad for.
i’ll be at the game tonight. if i see you peter, i’d love to buy you a $20 beer.
what is the over/under on how many “i got its” rodriguez will hear if there’s a pop up to third?
Bonds and Ozzie Guillen thought arod was ok for doing it. sigh – not a good sign.
“Newsday Article”:http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spmside015237911jun01,0,4738248.story?coll=ny-sports-print
I agree with whoever said that Cynthia knew what she was getting into. I do think she loves him and she has stood by him through this rough NY time for him. However, the media is trying to destroy that marriage. Specially The Post. Mrs. A-Rod knows what the deal is. That’s why while all the papers wrote about how she was leaving him and making drama, she was getting herself quickly to Boston to regulate her man. Then while all the shows discussed how the marriage was over, they were holding hands and laughing and having cozy lunch in Boston.
ha ha ha ha
I would love Ichiro too but there is no way Seattle will let him leave. I hear that the majority of the ownership is Japanese companies and they would never let that happen.
I think we take two out of three this weekend. The Rocket plus the schedule before the All-Star Break can turn this team around in June.
Saucy –
That is FUNNY!!! In an enlarged area picture, I’ll bet Queens, NY would be red, too!
It’s not about letting him leave, it’s about getting the right deal. So far, Ichiro has indicated that the Mariners are not offering him “fair value” in their extension talks so if he’s bound to leave via FA, Seattle would do well to trade him now to get something back for him.
Sunny615 -
Thanks for the link to a very good article.
what was giambi doing that was so great ? yanks needs a some right handed power anyway . if the yanks cant win with wang , moose , pettitte and clemens then they arent good enough anyway .
Last night on the Mets telecast, Ron Darling was so “high and mighty” about the whole incident. He played on ‘86 Mets, called the dirtiest team of all! You mean Lenny Dykstra NEVER deked an opponent? C’mon.
Anyway, it’s going to be interesting to see how things go in Boston this weekend. Let’s go Yankees!
forget ichiro . he’s aging and expensive
It seems as though these NY tabloids won’t stop until Alex is crushed, except now they are taking more than him. His wife and daughter. Do they really need to be stalking them outside their apartment? Isn’t there more important things going on in the city?
I think this is the perfect time to bring up Shelly Duncan. They need a right handed bat that hits for power( he has 13 HRs. Damon can still play center, let Shelly DH and leave Melky(220 hitter) on the bench. Thompson can only run which Joe never utilizes anyways(Bubba Crosby). Duncan can also pinch hit and play 1B or RF.
Sunny615,
Thanks for the link. It’s a good column. I think you called it yesterday: The golf-culture is creeping into our game.
True, Ichiro is in the tailing part of his career (34), but he’s stll a better bat and faster than Melky and has an equal arm. Melky, while a good defender and good arm, I believe has pretty much topped out.
We also have no one who is ready to replace Abreu, Damon or Matsui in our aging OF already. Abreu will be gone. Damon is broken, and Matsui’s defense is unspectacular. Tabata is 3 years away from making it through and after him, the rest of our prospects wouldn’t make the KC club.
Agreed TD.
If it was doable, I’d offer up Farns, Melky, and a prospect (Clippard, Wright, DeSalvo, or Ohlendorf) for Ichiro. And make them take Igawa too.
Sunny I agree w/ you 100 %
Here’s what disturbs me what Gary Sheffield said was 100% right !!! the Yankees have no leader and imo when the only Yankee to back up Alex is Larry Bowa I find it gutless and wimpish, these guys rather be choir boys and take losses then to show some life some grit SOMETHING !!!!!, these players like Damon, Giambi, Posada and Jetes they’d rather stay shut and imo the attitudes of these players are starting to reflect their manager Joe Torre it is clear there is alot of favoritism in that lockerroom and that does not make a team, it makes rifts and dead baseball, I expect to lose 2 out of 3 in Boston, but if I see that lifeless garbage and these players that rather stay in the background I will be extremely pissed this weekend.
To think a teammate who stays clean, carried us for a month gets no support from that room, it’s GUTLESS and it’s a bunch of COWARDS in that lockerroom. People think we’re bad now or sputtering wait till Alex Rodriguez opts. out.
Don’t trade the farm for Ichiro, he’s a free agent after this season, let’s get him for free.
Brandon, don’t you worry, that’s where Roger fits in. You know he’ll defend his teammates, in fact soon we’ll hear his opinion about it.
“forget ichiro . he’s aging and expensive”
and cranky if he doesn’t get his way. (from what i’ve heard) not really a fit for us.
I gotta ask – I’m not a New Yorker so I dont read the Post except online if there is a wrap on a Yankees game. Did Arod do something to the NY Post that provoked this vendetta/obssession with him? Or is this just the type of “journalism” they’re all about?
with the red sox coming up tonight, i went back thorugh the box scores from the 5 game sweep last august. some interesting things pop out like nick green started two games. sydney ponson started a game. cory lidle won the last game. craig wilson was the first baseman. all the red sox regulars were in there except trot nixon. so much for the injury excuse for that series. i also noticed how the red sox,still in “younger and cheaper” anti uber mode, used craig hansen and manny delcarmen a lot. they ruined both. hansen has still not recovered. this is the problem with rushing talented young pitchers. they really can be set back for years if they are brought up too soon.
those were my quick obsevations. if anyone wants to cheer pump themselves up take a look at those box scores.it’d be interested at what other eyes see.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....amp;half=2
Seems like many retired players interviewed didn’t have an issue with the “HA”.
Old school versus new school or maybe something as simple as current players would not want to have the same thing happen to them and be embarassed by it.
I keep hearing and reading, “Jeter would never do that”, Yankee fans and haters alike have been vocal that A-Rod is no Derek Jeter since he hit NY. Why start comparing them now then?
As long as A-Rod is gonna be a pinata, he might as well give people a reason to swing rather than just sit back and wait for it to happen. He said in spring training that he didn’t care what people thought of him anymore and he was just here to win. Many doubted his sincerity when he said it, but right or wrong, I think he put an exclamation point to that sentence this week.
I know Jeff it just irks me a New York born player can’t get a break in his hometown , everyone plays Monday QB w/ Alex, “oh he did that ?” “yeh he did that what do you think ? ” , “I can’t believe he did that ?” “wow man I don’t know what to say ”
This kind of crap pisses me of Barry Bonds defended him even blamed the infielder for dropping it and the guy flinch way after Alex passed him, Jose Reyes defended him, Ozzie Guillen and he hated Alex 2 years ago commended him for that !!! Larry Bowa actually stood up for him
Damon (wimperish comment)
Posada (nothing)
Jeter (deflection)
Giambi (he should just shut and pay us back before we listen to him again)
Everyone who wanted to trade Alex this season where are they now ?
Zambrano is having a bad season
Creded is garbage right now
Ervin Santana has been garbage
Miguel Cabrera ?, Aramis Ramirez ?, the Prior rumors , Scott Rolen rumors, what would this season be w/ Alex gone, where are these fans that came up w/ these deals now.
And Joe Torre can you show some cojones and defend your 3rd baseman atleast it gets you respect in the lockerroom, seriously Bowa , Larry Bowa was the guy that stood up in that room you gotta be kidding me, this team has turned into marshmellow players !!!!!
Anyway we need to sweep this series in Boston and we need some heart on that field again SOME COJONES (BALLS!!!)
sorry Pete I had to get that out.
“all the red sox regulars were in there except trot nixon. ”
but Randy, you forgot about Varitek and his wonderful pitch selection [/sarcasm]
It amazes me how A-rod gets villifies but steroid users get applause and nobody cares what they do.
Peter, I know you don’t want to trash rival newspapers, but the Post and the Daily News seem to have totally eviscerated the rules regarding A-Rod’s personal life, while respecting it for other players. Do you think this indicative of the pressures the tabloids are putting on their sports reporters, or is unique considering the Post and News’ portrayal as A-Rod as the anti-Christ?
Thanks for your consistently terrific blog….
Delusional Yankee Fans: You win one game (barely) and you think you have a shot at the World Series. People! You’re a last place team. You have a better record than just 2 other teams in the American League. You’re 1-5 in your last 6 games! Are you that arrogant that you think you have the right to just turn it around by wishing real hard? The same team that’s 22-29 is showing up at Fenway Park tonight where they were swept the last time they were there. They got swept at home last weekend and they should have been swept in Toronto. Dirty-Rod won that game for you with his lip-sticked mouth. Now you think you have a chance at the wildcard? Trust me Gary Sheffield alone will make sure that they beat you for the wildcard, but what am I even saying? THERES 6 OTHER TEAMS YOU HAVE TO GET THRU BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO DETROIT!
You guys are a funny bunch of clowns!
Nevermind, I googled and worked out what the deal is.
Two words Rupert and Murdoch. All his papers are like that in England and Australia too. The current editor at the Post was previously the editor of its tabloid equivalent back home.
Angel, not to mention News Corp owns Fox News, which has made a business of slanting news and opinions to match Republican opinion. Now he is rumored to be buying the Wall Street Journal too, wonder how long until the WSJ has color pictures and exposes CEO’s cheating on their wives.
5 or 6 articles in the nypost and nydailynews combined about A Rod? The NY media is ridiculous.
New York is an uptight town. Remember the screeching that happened two years ago when Anna Benson wore a low cut dress to a Christmas party. Every paper had a writer denouncing it right next to a picture of it.
Ichiro is the type of guy who strikes me as being able to play far beyond the age of 34. He is rarely injured, in excellent physical shape, and of a size that will help him rather than hurt him as he ages (easy to carry around an Ichiro-Jeter sized frame than a Giambi-Ortiz size).
I don’t see any reason at all why Ichiro can’t perform for six more years. I think he’s like a poor man’s Pete Rose…who had an excellent season at the age of 34 and was effective long afterwards. He was also a difficult person to deal with but never let you down between the lines. I’d love Ichiro in the Bronx, and would trade Damon, Clippard, and Ohlendorf to get him.
I keep hearing and reading, “Jeter would never do that”, Yankee fans and haters alike have been vocal that A-Rod is no Derek Jeter since he hit NY. Why start comparing them now then?
As long as A-Rod is gonna be a pinata, he might as well give people a reason to swing rather than just sit back and wait for it to happen. He said in spring training that he didn’t care what people thought of him anymore and he was just here to win. Many doubted his sincerity when he said it, but right or wrong, I think he put an exclamation point to that sentence this week.
Many retired players I’ve heard interviewed had no problem with the HA. Old School Versus New School Baseball, I guess.
A-Rod’s new girlfriend in Toronto
June 1st, 2007 at 9:40 am
Delusional Yankee Fans: You win one game (barely) and you think you have a shot at the World Series. People! You’re a last place team. You have a better record than just 2 other teams in the American League. You’re 1-5 in your last 6 games! Are you that arrogant that you think you have the right to just turn it around by wishing real hard? The same team that’s 22-29 is showing up at Fenway Park tonight where they were swept the last time they were there. They got swept at home last weekend and they should have been swept in Toronto. Dirty-Rod won that game for you with his lip-sticked mouth. Now you think you have a chance at the wildcard? Trust me Gary Sheffield alone will make sure that they beat you for the wildcard, but what am I even saying? THERES 6 OTHER TEAMS YOU HAVE TO GET THRU BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO DETROIT!
You guys are a funny bunch of clowns!
FU, typical realist. Please allow us our fantasies, as otherwise we would have to kill ourselves due to our empty lifes.
If anyone’s interested, this is a good article from the NYTimes about pitching injuries and conditioning with Kerry Wood of the Cubs being the main focus: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06.....ref=sports
“but Randy, you forgot about Varitek and his wonderful pitch selection [/sarcasm]”
you’re right saucy. funny how i block that$%^&# out of my mind. so they had two regulars down. matsui and sheffield were still out. aaron guiel was playing first and outfield for the yankees. ponson starting. injuries still no excuse for the red sox.
losing varitek probably did affect their pitchers. one more reason for the yankees to get a really good back up. one foul tip to posada’s hand and the yankee season is over. to go through a season with no catching insurance is just like us driving our cars without insurance. if something happens, yeah, it’ll be bad luck, but we’d still be paying through the nose to pay for that bad luck.
triple a should be stacked with insurance. if you pay players like they did with villone, they’ll go down there.
“They got swept at home last weekend and they should have been swept in Toronto. Dirty-Rod won that game for you with his lip-sticked mouth. ”
nothing like a little revisionist history. the game was already 7-5 and Toronto did not score again.
as for the rest of your post, all i will say is “we’ll see”.
let’s check back at the all-star break.
Nick B. – In today’s NYTimes, Torre is quoted saying Johnny Damon could end up playing first base. Dunno about this year but that’d make room for a FA outfielder next year, at least. I’d be more in favor of Torii Hunter than Ichiro, though. It’d be nice to have a good arm in center for a change.
from dan shauhnessy : joe morgan(ex red sox manager on arod pop up controversy,”I remember when Eddie Stanky used to get behind second base, jumping up and down when guys were trying to hit, and they wound up changing the rules and making that illegal.”
“Sox fans ready to hate on A-Rod should take a look at Red Auerbach’s first book, “Basketball for the Player, the Fan and the Coach,” which featured a chapter listing 57 “strategic moves,” including: “Faking injuries is used for many reasons” . . . “grabbing or pulling the pants or shirt of the opponent can be very aggravating” . . . “some players may agitate their opponents by incessant chatter, refusing to talk to them at all, or even ridicule” . . . “if the opposing team has a high scorer, keep reminding the other players of their uselessness because the scorer takes all the shots.”
red sox fans are going to be in fever pitch tonight at fenway with arod their primary target. i’m down here on cape cod and red sox fans are as confident and cocky as i have ever seen them. they are actually giddy. for some reason i’m not worried. when something seems to good to be true, it usually is.
a couple of key injuries and the red sox implode. their emotional ballon is so tight a pin can pop it.
one player i’d pitch around is youkillis. he’s manny right now and manny is youkillis.
youkillis is the kind of player the yankees do not have. extremely emotional, and that’s for good and bad. when things are great he’s a frontrunner high fiving everyone including the bat boy. when things go bad he pouts and acts like the batboy. every called strike against him is an audition for a reality tv show.
i’d say shut him down and it’d be a big step in quieting the red sox offense. he also has the ugliest batting stance since counsell. he needs to be drilled at least once just for that. seriously though, if a yankee gets hit and a message needs to be sent back not to do that, he’s the one to hit.
Say all you want A-Rod is a great player and we are lucky to have him. I guess this will be a stressfull weekend for
yankeefans we all know how much A-Rod and the yankees are
hated in Boston. Jason just hates A-Rod and its all because
in years to come it will be A-rod who is a legend not Jason
he’s just a two bit ass who let his anger get the best of him in that famous pushing of A-Rod. I just love it when A-Rod does well because I know its killing Jason.
Ichero? Why would Seattle trade Ichero? Seattle is a handful of games out of 1st in the division, and only two (not 7) out of the WC. They need him to make the playoffs. Right now, they are also playing a lot better than the Yanks.
This story nauseates me. I think it’s the last nail in the coffin concerning A-Rod’s fate next year. No way does he re-up with the Yanks after this media circus. Whorish reporters trying to sell newspapers.
Gossip. The Devil’s Radio.
It’s not so much the affair. It’s awful to focus on that. It’s the specifics that have now given rise to some ugly insinuations about somebody’s personal preferences in terms of sexual proclivity. I have no issue with a player’s preference for male or female or other partnership, but you know that a story like this morning’s article in The Sun, which piggybacked off of yesterday’s testimony from a stripper in the News, is going to blow up and become really really sad.
When A-Rod leaves, it will be hard not to think of this as being the straw that broke the camel’s back.
This A Rod stuff will all blow over soon, especially because his wife seems to have forgiven him as shown in happy togetherness in Boston yesterday. It continues to be none of our business. FYI, he got his picture taken in Toronto, he is now fair game anywhere, so even if he leaves NY he doesn’t avoid that. If the Yankees pony up 4 years at $100M extension, A Rod will stay, money talks.
Oh man I read that story about the yankee fans not giving up hope. What a disgrace that was to read. Those people they inteviewed fit all the negative yankee fan stereotypes. Like the kid who said he’d watch if they started winning again. Or the guy who said proctor has reverted back to his old self. Proctor has been the best part of the bullpen this year, way better than Mariano!
Then there is the guy who thinks if they fire Torre they’ll win the wildcard. Ugh what a pile of crap that was to read.
You wouldn’t believe the yellow “journalism” in the sports press up here in RSN. Besides the over-the-top Globe column someone pointed out yesterday, today we have myfoxboston.com, after inaccurately describing the baserunning incident on the news last night, with a poll:
“Would you be happy if Jason Varitek and the rest of the Sox went after A-Rod this weekend?”
The first answer is “Yes, I can’t stand that guy.”
So now the Sox should be throwing at ARod (or attacking him with full catcher’s gear on) because he fooled a *Blue Jays* player?
Heck, why not just shoot him? He obviously deserves it.
It’s amazing how far people have gone off the deep end over Alex. The level of hatred shown by (some) Sox fans for the Yankees in general just betrays their fear that their team has peaked too early again.
randy -
i think you should be drilled for running a lame crafts store. its probably as good a reason to hurt someone as his batting stance. karma…
Jeff, I hope you are right. But at this point I think he’ll opt out and go for a smaller stage. I think Anaheim right now would be the only place I can think of (contenders, owner willing to spend).
I don’t think it’s so surprising if a baseball player cheats on his spouse, just the same that it doesn’t surprise me in any other profession. It creates an awful dynamic for the people directly involved, but it is hardly surprising. THese things happen.The details that were spoken about in some of these articles are what i feel to be the most dangerous ammunition for the press and the rotten elements of the fan base. Sexual preference of a player is a topic that can become poisonous in the world of sports. I wish it wouldn’t be such an issue. But that’s the reality.
You’re right, it’sn one of our business, but how often is that logic abided by?
ARod signing with the Angels makes more sense with every Post/News “expose.” If ARod, as Pete claims, is a businessman greatly concerned with his image, who do you think he’d rather play for: the Yankees, who cannot prevent their best all-around player from being thrown to the wolves, or the Angels, run by one of the most media-savvy organizations in the world?
I totally agree about Youkilis. He looks like he is taking a dump at the plate. His face makes him look retarded. It’s painful to watch when he is up at bat.
Drill him in the head.
Jeff in MA,
That’s just horrendous, especially considering that, with a 13.5 game difference between the Sox and Yankees, there’s no reason for the teams to be at each other’s throats at the moment. They are not desperately struggling for first place – the Sox have at least 10 games over the rest of the division and the Yankees are fighting for wild card contention. I guess the newspapers realize that and post these inane polls to try to reignite the rivalry.
farnsworth to SF?? sabean went public with declarings to do something about the bullpen. anybody there to get in return? could be good for everybody.
like the thompson thing. go-go yanks of 07 scare off the ghost of the 66 yanks that gave johnny keane a heart attack.
guess is arod has a week to ten days to carry the team. if not, to the highest bidder. he’s not coming back. intangibles. bottom line, public displays of his ilk aren’t the yankee image, public being the operational term. have to look at net differences between him and whomever. if he doesn’t carry the team, and is the dave winfield du jour, the net difference in wins-losses will be small and could be additional through subtraction. don’t laugh: andy phillips plays third. scott brosius wasn’t much more when he arrived…
Interestingly enough, in 2002 the Red Sox started with a 36 – 15 start and didn’t make the playoffs.
Let’s hope for a repeat of history.
Why is Alex hated so much? Is it for his contract? Was he hated this much in Texas? All of a sudden one paper takes a picture of him with some blond, and everyone comes out of the woodwork and they know where he went and when he went there.
No,it’s because he likes she-males. We knew it all along.
Now go get yer f****n’ shinebox!!!
This is off-topic, but I thought it bore mentioning: As shaky as Mo was in April, he’s really turned it around of late. He had a 10.57 ERA and 1.83 WHIP for the month of April, but a much more Rivera-like 1.74 ERA and 0.77 WHIP for May. Looks like he’s fine to me.
Oddly enough, in the same amount of innings this month, Papelbon had a 3.60 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Not that that really means anything, just thought it was interesting. Mo’s been about twice as good this month as Paps. (Also, Mo has only had 3 save opportunities this month, but he’s nailed down all of them. Papelbon’s 5 of 6, which is also very good.)
Fred – Did I miss a story with reliable information that ARod is likely to be traded soon? Is someone in the organization criticizing him publicly or off-the-record?
Seems like the Yankees have on-field problems that far outweigh anything he’s allegedly done off the field. The team would have to obtain an awful lot in a trade in order to justify replacing ARod at third with Andy Phillips (no knock on Andy, but come on).
I think what this team really needs is Ron Coomer.
andy phillips only problem is he has to lose the “clay bellinger shuffle,” a disease that afflicts AAAA players who do “ballet” with every move, flinging the bat on the way to first after a walk, throwing the ball around the infield, etc. clay bellinger, our esteems co-commenator, was the best i ever saw at this, “the clay bellinger home run trot,” every move as baseball card cinema verite.
no one has said a word about arod. all i’m saying is that what he’s doing in the public eye is not the yankee way. nothing need be said: they don’t buy that product.
we have to look at NET results in the win-loss column, not gross numbers on the individual stat sheet. winfield was a master at compiling useless numbers. arod is of the same ilk, seemingly. if he pulls the team out of the gutter and carries them to victory, of course, keep. but if not, if the numbers are winfield numbers, one must question how much more, in wins and losses, one is getting, not how dramatic the numbers on the chyron. i think the phillips/brosius analogy is a valid speculation. also have to remember there is an intangible, especially when you’re in a dramatic comeback mode. i’m not in that clubhouse, but sense is there will never be a sense of family while arod is there, nor does the current cast of characters play to torre’s strength, which is a spiritual brand of leadership.
jennifer,
That “some blonde” has been identified as “some stripper” in the Post. Of course it’s Alex’s right to be in such fine company. But he (and some fans here) can’t really expect such things to go unnoticed when he’s so happily married.
Why not bring up Shelly Duncan instead of Thompson?
fred, April was just one month and one day ago. Have you forgotten so soon?
Lots of happily married men go to strip bars though.
Welcome to the lives of ordinary people, NY Post, lol.
hey rich-
thanks for checking out my gallery. i’ve never been hit by a pitch( while hitting) because being old school i have a balanced batting stance that allows getting out of the way. check out yaztremski’s hit by pitchs in his career( two per year). it’s hard to get hit if you have a balanced stance like his. youkillis’ stance is unbalanced as he leans in on every pitch. it’s his choice if he doesn’t get out of the way. i’m also an advocate of pacifistic drilling ( that’s when you hit them in really painful places that don’t do any permanent damage)
my gallery has a mound and a plate behind it. drop by some day and i’ll give you as many chances as you want to try to hit me with a pitch. if you can’t, then i get to throw one pitch to you.
jeremy, this is my point. yanks played under 500 in april, maybe less. is there a month where arod was among the leaders in two-out rbi hits, even hr/rbi, AND the yanks were 625+?? his legacy in texas was hall of fame numbers and a 480 ballclub. this is more a question than a statement – can the guy produce when the team is winning, and as such, not be the only focus of attention?? remember, it’s about wins and losses. no one is denying he may be the best overall player since dimaggio.
jer-
thanks for the link.excellent article on young pitchers. best i’ve read. hmmm, sj44,doreen, murphydog, chris ny, etc- read this article. it’s a must read.
here’s the link again:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06.....ref=sports
a tip of the hat again to jer. gettin info like this is what makes this blog great.
Randy,
Jeter gets hit by pitches a lot as well…Does that mean Jeter’s stance is unbalanced.
fred, I think that’s kind of an unfair way to look at ARod’s contributions. If ARod hadn’t played to superhuman levels in April, the Yankees would have won several fewer games than they did. ARod scored a lot of runs for the Yankees in close games in April but could not bat in the other eight spots or, most importantly, make spot starts for Wang, Mussina, Igawa, and Pavano.
As for a time when ARod played very well and the Yankees won games, how about September 2006. The Yankees went 18-11 (ok, that’s .621, but close enough, right?), and ARod put up a 1.156 OPS (.358/.465/.691).
nyy
yeah jeter is leaning in too. that’s why i always worry about him getting hit on the hands. jeter pays the price of hitting that way. he’s a tough guy even though he doesn’t act that way.he knows he’s going to get hit and he still leans in there. you never see him complain when he gets hit either.
Turns out the NY Post is not all negative, this Joel Sherman article compares the current team to the 95 team, which also started 22-29 behind a huge start from Boston. They called up some rookies including Pettitte, Rivera, Jeter and Posada, but the biggest thing was the acquisition of a stud righty named Daivd Cone who took the pressure off the rest of the team. Let’s hope history repeats itself, at least until the 5 game loss to Seattle.
On another note, not to pick on George King, because I saw it in other places, but King mentioned that DeSalvo will probably go down for Britton and then Clippard would go down for Clemens. If that’s the case, who starts Tuesday? Clippard is here to stay until the Yankees acquire someone or Hughes comes up. It’s like the simplest of concepts is beyond professional writers.
Sorry here’s the link http://www.nypost.com/seven/06.....herman.htm
Sherman also wrote an intelligent column yesterday about how the Yankees should not trade for Helton or Sexson (not that I’ve heard much talk about Sexson) and should concentrate on staying young.
I envision Sherman as a really insightful baseball fan who gets pressured by the Post to write ARod character assassination-type pieces, and hates doing it. Maybe I’m just naive.
Shelley Duncan is a career .251 hitter and strikes out a ton. He’s been hot so far, but there’s a reason why he’s 27 and still in the minors.
“Shelley Duncan Stats”:http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/D/shelley-duncan.shtml
Sunny 615,
Almost all sluggers strike out a ton but you get a ton of HRs in return!
Melky strikes out a lot and doesn’t hit Hrs!
“if he doesn’t carry the team, and is the dave winfield du jour, the net difference in wins-losses will be small and could be additional through subtraction. don’t laugh: andy phillips plays third. scott brosius wasn’t much more when he arrived…
”
how do you figure the net difference in wins-losses would be small?
last year, in a down year for a-rod, there was about a 6 win difference between A-Rod and Phillips.
in a good year, like this one, i’d guess the downgrade would be about 8 wins.
yankee fans who can’t wait for a-rod to be gone should be prepared to miss the playoffs next year if he leaves.
and Scott Brosius was MUCH better than Andy Phillips, so i’m not sure what you are even talking about.
“we have to look at NET results in the win-loss column, not gross numbers on the individual stat sheet. winfield was a master at compiling useless numbers. arod is of the same ilk, seemingly.”
well, this season A-Rod has been the “clutchest” yankee. that is, his hits have added the most wins to the Yankees.
Jeter is second and posada is third.
http://www.fangraphs.com/winss.....eason=2007
i’m not sure where you are getting this from as you have no evidence to back it up.
We can all thank the NY Post for making it certain that there is no way Arod comes back to NY next season.
Now, we can’t trade him this season and next season at 3b we’ll be lucky to have Tony Batista.
Guess who the the available free agent 3b are for next season?
Mike Lowell (god, no), Mike Lamb (didn’t we dump him once already) and Pedro Feliz.
We have NO 3b in the minors.
Who’s on 3rd next year?
I guarantee it won’t be Arod as he will bolt NY and the media for really crossing a line this season and go somewhere else.
Which means we’re gonna have to make a trade and give up players we can’t afford to give up to get something to play 3b next year.
Thank you NY Post for dashing any chance of keeping a RH power bat and all star 3b in our lineup.
I read the article today. Dusty Baker ruined Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. Those guys didn’t have pitch counts when they broke in and Dusty rode them until they broke down.
When you are throwing 130 pitches in 40 degree weather, like both did all too often under Dusty, bad things can happen.
There is no question you have to take it easy on young pitchers.
However, you walk the fine line of what is “too much”?
85 pitches in a major league game? 150 innings? I don’t think that’s too much for a 21 year old arm.
120 pitches and 200 innings? WAY too much.
Scott Boras’ Office did a study on pitching and injuries associated with it and gave the study (free of charge) to every major league team.
A lot of the teams threw it away. Some, like the Red Sox, Yankees, Devil Rays and Braves, didn’t and actually incorporated some of the recommendations made in the study to their development programs.
One thing the study showed is that kids are throwing WAY too many pitches in high school and college. Its making it hard for teams to properly evaluate pitchers when it comes to the draft.
I have heard scouts say they are not recommending their teams draft kids from some southern states because the kids arm’s are getting abused.
Its why everybody walks on eggshells with young pitchers. You balance the pressure to win with the need for development.
As we have seen all over baseball, with cases like Liriano for example, that fine line (winning vs. development) often gets blurred.
randy1:
Great article. So it’s like all the hours put in during Med School: learn to work tired and still do no harm.
I actually think Sherman gets a bad rap from Yankee fans. He is no Lupica, who can’t go a day without ripping the Yankees.
As for Duncan I don’t think 27 is that old for a prospect, that’s about the top end. Some guys take longer to develop. Not that this is relevant, but Mo was almost 26 when he started helping the big league team.
Joe, as far as 3B in the minors, while it’s true we have no A Rod, I would say there is some prospects there include Basak and Hilligoss.
Melky Cabrera is a 22 year old kid who, at 21, helped the Yankees make the playoffs last year. He, like many other second year players, is having a “sophomore slump”.
Shelley Duncan is a 27 year old career minor leaguer who is finally hitting in AAA.
Shelley Duncan is not the cure all for anything. He is hitting bad pitching in his 3rd or 4th year of AAA baseball.
You can’t be serious to believe Shelley Duncan is a better player than Melky Cabrera because he has hit home runs in Scranton this year.
Even the guy was any good, he would already be in New York.
Its not like the Yankees can’t use a good RH bat.
But, as we saw with Andy Phillips last year, some guys just aren’t good enough to hit in the majors regardless of their minor league stats. Shelley Duncan is one of those guys.
He’s not even as good a hitter as Andy Phillips, let alone Melky Cabrera.
There is more to baseball than just reading a stat sheet. Without context, the stats people love to quote become meaningless.
Its too early to decide whether or not Hilligoss is a prospect. He is in lower Single A ball right now.
Charleston is below Tampa on the Single A scale.
Scouts always say that until an everyday player gets to AA, and hits, you don’t know what you have.
He’s a talented kid. However, its too early to say what, if anything, the Yankees have with him right now. I do like his bat, though. Reminds me of Robin Ventura.
Basak isn’t a prospect. He’s a journeyman minor league player, who happens to be playing in Scranton right now.
If Arod leaves after this season, his replacement won’t be someone from the Yankees farm system in 2008.
Jer and Randy1,
Thanks for the Play Magazine story. Very interesting. However, I should have printed it out. I’m seeing spots from all that computer-screen reading.
“As for a time when ARod played very well and the Yankees won games, how about September 2006. The Yankees went 18-11 (ok, that’s .621, but close enough, right?), and ARod put up a 1.156 OPS (.358/.465/.691).”
how about August and September of *2005* when the Yankees literally had to win every game they did to make the playoffs?
.324/.429/.733 in August
.330/.424/.598 in September
give me a break. when it comes to a-rod everyone loses all sorts of rationality, no matter what the facts say.
a-rod put the yankees on his back and carried them into the playoffs in 2005. it’s that simple.
SJ44,
If pitchers are throwing too many innings in college, is it smart for teams to take high-ceiling high school pitchers in the draft so they can control their innings?
SJ,
I would think kids from CA, AZ throw as many pitches as those from the southern states.
SJ44,
Even if your right that Shelly Duncan stats mean nothing, Melky is hitting .222 with 1 or 2 HRs, how can Shelly be worse?!
SJ, any idea on how in depth scouting reports in AAA are? i’m curious. someone mentioned duncan cannot hit curveballs well. do other AAA players know this, or do they not look into pitcher/batter matchups as deeply?
“The New York Post believes that Jason Giambi is likely done for the year after being diagnosed with a a partially torn plantar fascia tendon on the bottom of the left foot.”
Pardon my cynicism but…how convenient that would be.
Todd,
Its a pitcher by pitcher question, with no easy answer. I had one scout I know tell me last year the Yankees were “nuts” for drafting Ian Kennedy. He told me USC burned the kid out and he would flop.
I see the same scout at one of Kennedy’s starts this year, recount the conversation I had with him, and he tells me he was “dead wrong” and that Kennedy is, “One of the five best pitchers I have seen in the minors this year”.
I ask him what changed in a year and he told me some interesting things.
First, the Yankees didn’t pitch Kennedy much after they signed him because they knew his arm was fatigued.
Second, they said Kennedy is using more legs and less arm in his delivery and its made him a more effective pitcher, without putting so much strain on his shoulder. He missed several starts last year at USC with a shoulder injury. That’s one of the reasons he dropped in the draft.
He also told me Joba Chamberlain, another pitcher he was critical of the Yankees taking, is in his “Top 5″. Chamberlain has lost almost 40 pounds since his last start at Nebraska and was hitting 97 on this scouts gun when he saw him pitch. He told me now that’s he’s fitter, he is a dominant young pitcher.
Now, he believes the Yankees shouldn’t even consider trading either guy. Sometimes, over time, scouts opinions change on players and teams.
When you are dealing with athletes, especially pitchers, there are no absolute’s and no, “one size fits all” way of doing things. Its why you have to have good coaches, better scouts and a little luck to develop players.
If we all know that Moose pitches poorly on 5 days rest, why is he pitching on Sat instead of tonight ( his reg. start day)?
“Pardon my cynicism but…how convenient that would be.”
For whom? Bud Selig?
I’m not convinced the Yankees have anyone to replace his bat at the moment.
SJ, interesting that the scout is so high on both those baby Yankees. Very encouraging.
Marc, just because Moose likes to pitch every 5 days, doesn’t mean he should be able to skip over any of the other non rookie pitchers. I would rather Moose stays in order. If you think about it, come Tuesday Moose will clearly be the number 4 starter on the team, which is about right. Last year he was number 2, and we all remember how he blew that game against Det in the momentum changer of the first round.
You know what, the Yankees are better off without Giambi right now. He can’t play first so he clogs the DH spot. He can’t run so he clogs the bases when he gets on. Yes he hits an occasional HR, but that long ball philosphy has only hurt the Yankees since he got here. Let Melky get an extended look and go out and trade for a righty OF before the deadline.
Jeff NJ,
I agree Moose is the #4 and isn’t that good, but we want his best for this series and he clearly would pitch better if he went tonight.
Jeff,
You may be right, of course. I’m just skeptical that Yankee management is so motivated by “morals and values” that they’ll be likely to 1) trade ARod because he was photographed with a stripper and 2) get rid of Giambi for being (marginally) honest about steroids.
Last I checked, Stein & crew were motivated by winning and little else.
SJ44,
Thanks for the insight. That’s great to hear about Kennedy and Chamberlain. Kennedy was billed as “very polished” coming out of USC. He has certainly shown that in Tampa. How fast could he move through the system?
“Joe, as far as 3B in the minors, while it’s true we have no A Rod, I would say there is some prospects there include Basak and Hilligoss.”
Basak is not even close to a prospect. he is a below average baseball player who had a few hits in ST and has had everyone on this site clamoring for his return ever since.
If the Yanks had Hughes back then there staff is top 6 or 8 in baseball..
wang is averaging 7 innings per start then need another starter who can do that…..
the Yanks need to run on the bases now that they have limited power….
Giambi being out for the year would be very convenient. For every team that has to play against the Yankees.
What possible upside can there be to Giambi being out for the season? We would miss his bat. We would lose the .05% chance that we could trade him. We would not gain a means of voiding his contract.
the only player worth trading arod for is miguel cabrera.
Could Jeter move to 3B next year and Alberto Gonzalez come up to play SS? I know Gonzalez is a huge step down offensively from Jeter but supposedly he’s a slick fielder.
“Its a pitcher by pitcher question, with no easy answer. I had one scout I know tell me last year the Yankees were “nutsâ€? for drafting Ian Kennedy. He told me USC burned the kid out and he would flop.”
and to this point, why don’t you tell me how Josh Bard is doing?
because there tons of “experts” who blasted the Yankees for taking Kennedy over Bard.
Have a good drive up. You want to grab a beer or something, let me know. I’m around.
Other Pete,
Unbothered Yankee Fan in Boston
sunny615, good choice. I would also trade him for Sizemore.
Not that either trade is remotely feasible. Also I still don’t know who plays third in ARod’s absence.
Miguel is a 3rd baseman. But it’d probably take half our pitching prospects to get him.
Of course, makes much more sense now. I inexplicably forgot that the Marlins converted him from left field.
There’s also no way the Marlins would agree to take on ARod’s salary, when the whole team makes about $5 million more than he does. For the deal to work, it would have to be pretty absurd from our end.
Can we stop the trade A Rod talk? Why would any team trade good players away for a guy who could opt out in 4 months? Why would A Rod except a trade when he is comfortable here in NY? No A Rod will leave here at his choice only.
Currently, the Yankees only pay $16 mil of his salary. And I’m sure a deal could be worked, but this is all moot since Arod is in an “opt” year. end daydream.
Mientkiewicz to San Francisco for Ryan Klesko. Klesko becomes the 1B, Phelps backs him up. Once Damon can play CF again, Klesko becomes the DH, Phelps the 1B (Andy Phillips is called up to back up or share 1B with Phelps). Klesko can also play a little LF in a pinch, too.
I know Klesko is 36/ a few years older than Mientkiewicz and not as good defensively, but he can hit and is making next to nothing (the Yanks would take on only the remainder of his $1.75M for ‘07 while S.F. would take on only the remainder of Mientkiewicz’s $1.5M for ‘07). He’s just a better hitter than Mientkiewicz. I don’t see S.F. going anywhere with San Diego, L.A., Arizona, and possibly Colorado in front of them, too, or getting anything better than Mientkiewicz for Klesko. The worst S.F. can do is say no.
Mientkiewicz has a World Series ring with Boston so I doubt he’d care if he was moved.
Again, I know Doug’s defense is solid, but the Yanks need
more hitting with Giambi possibly out for the rest of the year. Klesko has only one homerun but his ‘07 stats according to baseball-reference.com are .310 BA/ .373 OBP/ .460 SLG, 10 BB, only 16 SO in 100 AB, so he puts the ball in play. He’s not the everyday 1B I presume after 50 or so gmes with S.F. and only 100 AB. Is he hurt right now? If so forget it then.
Some more active rumors from MLBtraderumors:
Seems the D-Rays would like to trade Elijah Dukes for a solid reliever.
(Curious if Cash is interested in him for Farnsworth)
Stark says the hottest free agent could be “30 year-old Chunichi Dragons center fielder Kosuke Fukudome, who will be an unrestricted free agent.” I have learned from Mike Plugh that Fukudome is best in right field, but might be able to get by in center. Plugh thinks Fukudome will get $12-15MM annually for three or four seasons. Will Carroll has connected the Red Sox to Fukudome, while Phil Rogers suggested the Cubs.
(Again – wonder if there will be any Cash involvement)
Finally – Texieria:
Buster Olney believes the Rangers will get some “tepid offers,” with no team willing to pony up top prospects. He also mentions that the Yankees have little to no interest in getting involved. Though I think that could change if Brian Cashman is pushed out of power.
Fukudome? That’s gotta be a fake name right?
Well if there’s one thing Cashman has proved it’s that he can pull off a big-name trade or signing in total secrecy.
Jeff NJ, in 2006 the Yankees had a rotation comprised of Wang and Randy Johnson. Fukudome would fit right in on this team. I would totally buy his shirt.
No doubt his uniform would be a big hit. LOL
isn’t that what tampa nicknamed their stadium?
Jer & Randy1 –
Thanks for the link to the article. I read it, I want to read it again, so I printed it out.
One thing struck me immediately: the sentence that stated that teams view players (pitchers, I guess specifically) as something to sacrifice rather than preserve.
As I commented yesterday, this way of thinking floors me. On the human level, that’s bad enough. But as we all know that baseball is a business, and so wouldn’t the bottom line be to protect your investment for as long as you can to get the most production over the longest period of time?????? The way teams deal with injuries is reprehensible. And the competitive nature of the athlete plays into the attitude that if an injury can be “played through” it can’t be all that serious. At least until it becomes that serious.
I’m not going to defend Carl Pavano, BUT, look at the peer pressure to play through injuries. Randy 1, I know that you’re particularly upset about the way, specifically the Yankees, teams don’t work to prevent injuries and then fudge through them. But look what happens when you have an athlete who is honest about not being able to play through the pain. Who would want to deal with that?
I also have a question regarding high school, college and even little league baseball. I don’t have a son, and my daughters are not athletically inclined, so I don’t have a lot of exposure to what goes on there. Do those teams tend to rely on one or two very good pitchers to get through their seasons? Or do they spread the innings around. I know I’ve heard there is now a pitch count in little league, but are they really making sure not to over work those young arms? I know that with travel teams, and elite teams there is as much frenzy to win as in the major leagues (at least by the parents and other “adults”) that the work load of these kids is tough. You wonder how long they’re going to enjoy the game — but I digress. My question is, simply, do they rely too much on one or two pitchers to carry the load, or is it getting spread around enough, even if the other 3 or 4 pitchers are mediocre or poor?
Regarding the Melky versus Duncan debate. Melky is a solid and versatile fielder. He was able to hit ML pitching last year, and I believe he’ll turn it around enough to salvage his season, anyway. I saw Duncan play a couple (few) games in Trenton over the last 2 seasons (before he went to AAA). He’s not all that impressive as a player. Yeah, he hits homeruns, but he doesn’t bring much else. I’m as surprised as anyone that his BA is as high as it is. Now if some coach could be interviewed and talk about what he’s done specifically to improve his hitting, that would make it interesting; then you could wonder whether this season so far is an anomaly or an indication of a more positive future.
I think Thompson is the best move for now, with Cashman skulking in the background trying to cook something up. Because last year, though they lost Matsui and Sheffield, Giambi was a major powerhouse for 3/4 of the season and when he slackened off, Abreu picked up the slack RBI-wise, if not HR-wise. Right now, Abreu’s not doing his share (to say the least) and we don’t have Giambi. So there is definitely a power void and we’ve seen that during the last few weeks of basically not having Giambi (he was in the lineup, but not hitting), that it’s going to be very, very difficult for the Yankees to score runs without someone with a RH bat!
Fukudome.
“What’s your name?”
“Fukudome.”
“No reason to be nasty!”
hmmn,
You mean Daniel Bard, the Red Sox first round pick from North Carolina last year. Josh Bard is the backup catcher for the Padres.
Bard is in the low minors for the Sox and they have had some problems with him. His pitching so so but, he is a head case (his rep coming into the draft last year).
He has not pitched as well as Kennedy and he has already gotten into it with a pitching coach and his manager this season.
The yanks have to try to make a move for Teixiera, he’s perfect. He is a power right handed bat and is a gold glove, Texas needs some pitching and we have plenty of #4/5 pitching prospects like DeSalvo, Wright, Rasner, karstens, etc.. The money can’t be an issue at this point after the Clemens fiasco.
Wouldn’t Rasner and Karstens being on the DL limit their appeal?
Doreen,
Folks just see numbers (the Melky vs. Duncan debate) and jump to the conclusion Duncan is the “answer”.
Melky, as a 21 year old, was hitting .360 in AAA last year when he got called up to the Yankees. He is also the best defensive OF on the team.
Duncan is a DH on a KC Royals-type of team. He can’t play any position on the field and isn’t hitting ML pitching.
Its great that in his third year in AAA, he is hitting well but is he no where near the player Cabrera is, even in his bad year. Melky has more tools than Duncan.
AAA is littered with guys who hit just enough to get fans excited but not enough to be able to play in the majors.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, their AAA roster is loaded with guys like that.
Not their long term updside, they are both in their mid 20′3 and have pitched fairly well in the Majors. Broken bones are not as severe as strained muscles and surgery.
Someone mentioned Lupica earlier in this thread. He is exactly the kind of sensational journalism that is wrong with most papers. Every friggin thing he says is over dramatized as the end all to be all. Enough already. Go away and do your Sunday morning ESPN show and continue to write half hearted books….
Makeing a move for Teixiera would be bad at this point. You would over pay for a slight upgrade in performance. Yes, he can hit but will playing for the Yankees change his production, like it did with Giambi. He became a severe pull hitter once he signed with the Yankees. Bad move.
Sj44,
Explain how batting .230 with no power and barely any speed is better than whatever Dunacn can offer??!
I think the only downside to getting Teixeira is the players we’d give up for him. The Rangers must be desperate for pitchers and we’re not dealing from strength in that area anymore.
If it really is a buyer’s market for Teixeira, I’m sure Cashman will try to work something out, much like when he robbed the Phillies to get Abreu and Lidle.
Jeter will never move to 3rd. Jeter will always be the SS as long as he is in pinstriped. The dumb continues in here.
Jeremy,
It looks like it wasn’t such a steal for BOTH those players.
Jeremy, The Phillies were doing a salary dump and had no need for Abreu. Cashman didn’t rob them. Phillies got rid of a player they didn’t want anymore.
The dumb continues.
Colorado Yank, I don’t think it’s that simple. I’ve never seen a pull hitter as extreme as Giambi and I’ve never seen him give a good explanation for why he doesn’t raise his average by going the opposite way. Teixeira is a switch hitter, a role in which Bernie and Posada have fared just fine.
Duncan is 27, if this is not a good time to bring him up, that tells me that the Yankees have given up on him and he is just occupying a spot in AAA, filling up the roster. For whatever reason he is hitting better this year, I say bring him up and see if we can catch lightning in a bottle or cut/trade him while he still may have some value.
American Gladiator, that’s a harsh and inaccurate reply. The Yankees gave up four players for Abreu, none of whom was much of a prospect. Cashman refused the Phillies’ requests for better players. Abreu had fewer than a season and a half left on his contract and got the Yankees into the 2006 playoffs.
“The money can’t be an issue at this point after the Clemens fiasco.”
There was a “Clemens fiasco”? Boy, am I out of the loop. I thought he hadn’t even pitched for the Yankees yet this year.
You can’t trade guys on the Disabled List and Texas isn’t taking the back end of the Yankees prospects chart for Mark Texiera.
The guy is 27, an all star, a power hitter who is also a switch hitter, and has won a Gold Glove. Do you really think Texas can’t get better offers for him than “#4 and #5″ type of pitchers from other teams?
One thing folks have to realize, teams aren’t going to take the Yankees slugs for their all stars. At least not in the real world.
Marc,
Why is it so hard for you to understand? Do you not think there is a difference in pitching between AAA and the majors?
Do you really think hitting automatically translates to the majors?
Where is Duncan going to play? Are you next going to tell me he is a better OF than Melky or a better first baseman than Minky?
You are so set to believe this guy can hit, based on 40 games in AAA, you don’t look at other facts in the equation.
He has no position. He can’t play first and he can’t play the OF. That makes him a DH. Right now, Johnny Damon is the DH on the team. Are you next going to tell me Duncan is a better hitter than Damon.
Melky Cabrera is a better baseball player than Shelley Duncan. Its not even debatable.
Sometimes, you have take your head out of a stat sheets. The stats don’t tell the entire story. Especially when one is hitting against ML pitching and one is not.
When both guys where in AAA last year, Melky, almost 7 years younger than Duncan, hit .360. They aren’t even in the same class of player, regardless of Melky’s struggles because Melky can also help this team defensively. Something Duncan can’t do.
I thought we were talking Duncan over Thompson? Remember he is replacing Giambi a DH.
Because Damon will be putting most of his time in as DH right now, which will hopefully give his calves a break from standing in the outfield, you need an outfielder as a replacement, not a DH. Thompson and Melky can both play the outfield, all positions, which also allows Matsui and Abreu to get rested. Duncan won’t allow that luxury. He is really only good as a DH.
Again I find the dichotomy very interesting. On the one hand, there are so many posts about how the Yankees have to abandon the “let’s wait for the HR” offense, and then an equal number of posts clamoring that we can’t live without the HR. Just an observation.
SJ44,
Melky is not the same player as last year since he was fighting for a spot, now he wont be sent down no matter what. He needs some retooling.
We don’t need defense right now, we need a offensive spark to ignite the bats. I realize that in the long run Melky is a better player, but for the next few weeks or so, Duncan might get hot and hit a couple of big homers while Melky has been given every opportunity to anything this year and has come up way short.
It’s getting to the point where I’m starting to think Marc has some sort of tie to Duncan. Either related/friend/went to the same school, who knows. and I’d also imagine that the other names calling for Duncan to get promoted were probably posted by the same person under a different name.
Doreen, I also enjoy the dichotomy of “the team is too old and has too many bad contracts” and “trade for Helton.”
Doreen,
Thats because outside of Arod in April, we don’t have any sluggers. Jeter and Posada are hitting for AVG, and the rest of the team arent hitting. We just lost the second to best slugger.
and no, Damon is replacing Giambi as DH, the OF is replacing Melky as the 4th outfielder. at least that’s the impression i got
Marc,
You didn’t answer where he will play. You can’t just throw him out at any old position. I have read several scouting reports on various sites about him in the minors and not one of them thought he was at all a major league player. Maybe a reserve on a bad team but he does not fit on this team and will probably not contribute much. Maybe they could catch lightning in a bottle but I highly doubt it.
Good point NE. Iguess Torre and Cash are thinking, let Melky play everyday. Then who is better for a bench spot, guess they like Thompson. The only time Thompson will play though is to pinch run for Phelps or Nieves or to ph for pitchers in NL cities.
He can DH or come off the bench. Up until yesterday Damon was alright to play center now all of sudden he is done in the field.
So far, except for A-Rod (and it’s because of April), everyone is down in their HR production. Hopefully we’ll see more from Matsui, Damon and even Jeter. I don’t have any illusions about Abreu re-locating his HR swing, nor about Cano developing one yet. But the Yankees can take this opportunity to play that “smaller” game, with, hopefully, the opportune HR thrown in. Maybe this will force them to focus a little more on those little things. I think in the last few games we’ve seen this little “bump” in the aggressive-ness meter. I mean, Giambi and Posada actually stole bases; and of course, there’s the new “ha” play.
I never count Cashman out as far as finding something. Except this year they’re not dealing from strength, and everyone in the league is having way too much fun seeing the Yankees struggle to help them out.
Regarding Teixiera, what if the Yankees could take A-Rod’s complete salary? I haven’t thought that one out, so, just take it as an off-the-cuff thought.
Shelley Duncan isn’t a slugger. Just because he hit some HR’s in AAA doesn’t make him a “slugger”.
You think he is just going to walk into a major league clubhouse, after a third of the season is gone, and just hit home runs. I wish it was that easy.
He can’t hit major league pitching. He has never hit major league pitching, which is why he is still in the minors at 27, and now he is going to provide a power surge for the Yankees?
Not the least of which is, where does he play? He can’t play first and he can’t play the OF.
Don’t need defense? I disagree. Somebody has to catch the ball in the OF, don’t you think?
If they want to get back in the race, its going to come from pitching and defense, as much (or more) than offense.
That’s the problem with the Yankees. They have ignored pitching and defense for years and wanted to be just a slug it out club.
Why do you think their record is so poor in 1 and 2 run games? Its because their bullpen and their defense can’t hold leads.
Thompson is a perfectly serviceable backup outfielder. He can run and play every outfield position, and he can hit a little. His Baseball Reference page is even sponsored by this site. What more could you want from the guy?
Reminds me of those preseason discussions about Bernie that went nowhere (”Thompson is better as a fifth outfielder in every way.” “No, Bernie is better.”).
“You mean Daniel Bard, the Red Sox first round pick from North Carolina last year. Josh Bard is the backup catcher for the Padres.”
yes, that is what i meant…i am amused at myself for that mix-up.
” I mean, Giambi and Posada actually stole bases”
and pathetically, they led my fantasy team in that category for the week…
Duncan may only be hitting 305 against AAA pitching but Thompson is hitting 260 against AAA Pitching. I guess the Yankees brass was looking for a fielding option and possible pinch runner.
“The yanks have to try to make a move for Teixiera, he’s perfect. He is a power right handed bat and is a gold glove, Texas needs some pitching and we have plenty of #4/5 pitching prospects like DeSalvo, Wright, Rasner, karstens, etc..”
what would you rather have if you were the Ranger:
1. 1 1/2 more seasons of an all-star 1Bman plus draft pick compensation in 2009
2. package of #6/7 starters
we’re not getting Teixiera for nothing, unfortunately.
Teixiera is probably the most popular Ranger. the Rangers are going to have to get something in return that justifies the trade to their fanbase.
trading Teixiera for any of those guys simply makes no sense from the Rangers’ perspective. every organization has their own Matt DeSalvos.
hmmm, it’s not true that every team has a Matt DeSalvo. Our Matt DeSalvo is an author and literary genius! Take that Texas.
One thing hmmm…..They changed the rules re: draft pick compensation for free agents. After this year, draft picks will no longer be the compensation for lost free agents.
You lose a free agent, you don’t get anything for the loss.
That’s good news for a team like the Yankees. It will allow them to spend for free agents and not have it hurt their draft status each year.
i think doreen brings up a good point about possibly eating some of what texas is currently paying for a-rod as part of a package for tiexiera…
“One thing hmmm…..They changed the rules re: draft pick compensation for free agents. After this year, draft picks will no longer be the compensation for lost free agents.
You lose a free agent, you don’t get anything for the loss.”
are you sure about this? i know they CHANGED the draft pick compensation, but i didn’t think they eliminated it.
they eliminated the draft pick compensation for Type C players, and made Type B players a sandwich pick, instead of the signing teams’ 2nd round pick.
but i though Type A compensation was still a first round pick.
i’m not saying i don’t believe you, but it seems like this would be a bigger story. i guess it will be next year.
I don’t think the Yankees eat Arod’s full contract. The amount owed is about $30 mil for the next three years if he stays or signs an extension. If he opts out it’s $10 mil. All for about 1.7 years of Tex – who on top of the $10 or $30 mil, is making $9 mil this year and projected to make $15 mil through arbitration next year. That’s an awful lot of eating for one and a half years of one player.
For those interested (and I’m sure some are, and some aren’t) you can find Kosuke Fukudome’s stats here:
“Fokudome”:http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1064
(It’s Koe-Sue-Kay Foo-Koo-Doh-May. Not Koe-Sucky F*ck-You-Do-Me.)
Cynthia,
Ged rid of your husband and get some of that 252 million from him. He’s cheating on you left and right and you do not need that for you daughter to grow up with. Dump him!!!!