There’s something happening here
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- June
- 7
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Johnny Damon, of all people, did the math for me.
The Yankees were leaving the clubhouse at U.S. Cellular Field last night when Damon took a final glance at the telvision. The Red Sox were in the process of losing to Oakland.
“That’s puts us 10 and a half out,” he said. “If we can get to five or six games at the All-Star break, we’re going to win it.”
“You think so?” I asked him.
“Check out the schedule,” he said.
So I did and Damon may not be the idiot he would have us believe. Counting tonight, the Yankees and Red Sox each have 29 games left before the All-Star break. Here’s a little breakdown:
Games against teams over .500: Yankees 12, Red Sox 16.
Games at home: Yankees 19, Red Sox 16.
It’s not unreasonable to think that the Yankees could go 19-10 in those games and the Red Sox 16-13. By the time the break rolls around, the Yankees would be 7.5 games out and it’s a race then.
Yankees schedule: White Sox (1), Pirates (3), Diamondbacks (3), Mets (3), at Rockies (3), at Giants (3), at Orioles (3), Athletics (3), Twins (4), Angels (3)
Red Sox schedule: at Athletics (1), at Diamondbacks (3), Rockies (3), Giants (3), at Braves (3), at Padres (3), at Mariners (3), Rangers (4), Devil Rays (3), at Tigers (3)
Schedule analysis: The trap for the Yankees is their final 10 games before the break are against the A’s, Twins and Angels, three good teams. They need to do a lot of damage in the next 19 games.
Boston has a rough road. That road trip to Atlanta, San Diego and Seattle could be a killer. Closing the first half with three at Detroit is no picnic.
Other factors: The Yankees have nothing but bad things happen to them so far this season and it has been cold beer and good times for the Red Sox. That will change at some point. It also will be interesting to see how the Red Sox react if the Yankees start to make a move and the footsteps behind them get louder. You know there’s panic just waiting to break out.
The Yankees should get better with the addition of Roger Clemens. He’s no Matt DeSalvo at least. Damon could be a hugh difference maker as the DH and we’re starting to see Bobby Abreu, Melky Cabrera and Robbie Cano play like they did last season. Joe Torre is starting to hit the right buttons again. Abreu gets a day off and goes on a tear. Miguel Cairo plays two days in a row and gets four hits. Melky looks like Paul Blair in center.
Whenever Torre is asked about making the playoffs, he says the same thing. Play for the division, win as many games as you can and look up at the end of the season and see if that gets you the wild card.
He’s right. They Yankees need to set their goals high and chase the Red Sox, not the Tigers.
Listen to the idiot (Damon, not me). This race isn’t over.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, June 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
I’m the first to post.
I think Damon was probably referring to the post-all-star schedule:
KC x 10
TB x 14
TOR x 14
BAL x 12
I agree Greg. We’re still a lot of games back but it should make it an interesting season.
I hope Moose wins tonight. Last year the season turned around for the Yankees when they swept the White Sox coming out of the All-Star break. 3 out of 4 here would be great.
Pete,
Nice job, Mr. Lombardi… I hope the players are reading your blog… when does your motivational speaking tour start?!?!
Good to hear. We should always look to the top until its completely out of reach.
I think Damon’s point is cool and all, but who cares right now. IMO, we should look at each game one at a time, win that game, then worry about the next one and then win that one and so on.
In that frame of mind, tonite is a huge game, if we win, we win 2 straight series and 6 out of our last 8. If we lose, we split with the whitesox who are struggling even more than we are
That is a sweet, sweet schedule. Unless Tampa Bay can really pick it up, the Yankees second half could look a whole lot like the Red Sox first half.
Shoot there’s panic breaking out in Boston right now. Check out soxaholix for some intelligent commentary.
Two games does not a comeback make. Who thinks the Yankees can play .650 ball this month, let alone this season? This year’s team has too many problems to overcome.
Why should the Red Sox tougher schedule make a lick of difference? The Sox can handle anyone — they’re the team to beat. Sure, every team will have hiccups — some more than others — but counting on league’s best team to close up shop in June is plain stupid.
I think Damon’s new barber may have clipped off some of his brain, too.
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I agree, one game at a time. It’s nice to see them playing like themselves again but if the Yanks start thinking too much about schedules and things like that, it’s a huge trap. You have to play to win every single game, it doesn’t pay to worry about standings or chasing either the Tigers or the Sox, either way you want to win every game. And that’s the only way anybody should be thinking.
It’s not over until the Yanks are mathematically out of it… I BELIEVE!!!!!!
Relax, It’s still June the 7 theres plenty of baseball to be played. We are currently down 10.5 games out I think we might be knocking on the redsox’s door before the allstarbreak.
I think if/when Jason comes back, he should be a pinch hitter off the bench for the rest of the season.
Get 5 over .500, see where you are at that time, then do the math.
Until then, it means nothing.
The byproduct of digging such a deep hole for themselves. Even a week-10 days of good baseball isn’t going to dig them out of it.
Its going to take 4-6 weeks of consistently good baseball to accomplish that.
Notice how anytime Pete mentions the Red Sox, the trolls’ Gay-dars go off and they have to come fart loudly in public? Cute. LOL
Anyway, apart from that – Damon gas a very valid point. That doesn’t mean you don’t go out and play your hardest and shoot for winning every game – where did anybody say that? Yes, it’s always one game at a time. The point is that the conditions are good for the Yankees if they play right and win their games, that’s all.
I would think Damon would not go out of his way to make it clear that he is watching the Red Sox so closely after getting pounded for knowing they were losing in the ninth about a month ago, then came back to win.
I agree with the shorter term focus on today and on winning (not splitting) series. Just do that and the standings will take care of themselves.
FYI, Moose vs. Contreras is no sure thing tonight, Moose had better figure out early what’s working and have a plan b and a plan c to be able to put away the hitters he is facing today. How about a new arm slot like Coney used to do? Mix it up.
Tom—really?
Don’t forget how good a hitter Giambi is when healthy.
He’ll start every day once he’s back. Book it.
Just as any champion should, the feeling in the Yankee clubhouse should be this – We are the defendind champions and it is ours until someone takes it from us.
I’ve said all along there is far too much season left to give up on the division and focus on a wildcard race that you cannot possibly predict until the end of the season, too many variables with other division races going on at the same time.
yankees need to take it one game at atime first, get out of the hole they dug themselves then worry about what other are teams are doing. They have made some progress this week but they need to keep it going.
That sweep at home to the Angels really hurt. They gained momentum against the Sox then got swept there, and then lost the first two in Toronto. That being said besides that 5 game stretch they have been playing good baseball. The Sox are going to stay at a .600 clip for the rest of the year I would say, so that means this team has to play that much better to make up ground. There are plenty of games to chip back at the lead but it is going to take until the final weeks in September to do so.
That being said I think if they continually chip away at the lead the Red Sox have, no matter whether or not they catch them I think they look up and are leading the Wild Card race at the end of September. No way is the Wild Card coming out of the West and I think the Central is a little deeper than last year and will reflect so by not having two teams run away and compete for the division. The White Sox will turn it around, Minnesota will be good, and Cleveland and Detroit have showed they can win. Only one team gets above 95 I say.
The story of the Yanks falling behind early and catching the Sox is an old one. But I for one never tire of it. That said, I wouldn’t put too much stock in the schedule argument. The rest of the way, both teams play many of the same opponents. The differences are that the Yanks have 1 more series against the following teams than the Red Sox:
Mets (35-22)
Pirates (25-34)
Orioles (28-32)
Blue Jays (28-30)
Tigers (33-25)
and two extra series against the Royals (22-38)
The Sox have one more series against the following teams than the Yankees:
Braves (33-27)
Padres (35-23)
Mariners (30-26)
Rangers (21-38)
White Sox (26-29)
and two extra series against the Devil Rays.
That’s two tough opponents for the Yanks and maybe 3 for the Red Sox. A slight advantage for NY – but not 10.5 games worth.
Will,
I agree I think Giambi will come back and tear it up. The only problem with that is Damon is better for this team as a DH than as a centerfielder and also Melky only has shown he can produce when he gets regular at bats. You are diminishing two players by putting one back on the roster. I’d say give Giambi his walking papers or make him a pinch hitter, which sounds crazy but Damon and Melky are a better combo than Damon and Giambi when factoring in defense.
Bronx,
I agree. The schedule isn’t going to matter. If this team is a playoff team they are going to have to beat all the teams they are supposed to beat and hope the Red Sox hit a few bumps in the road. If the Sox stay healthy I think they will cruise to a division crown with the hole this team is in.
For those people interested in the draft, a link:
MLB.com coverage main page:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/...../index.jsp
The 1st pick by the D-Rays is about to be made
Coverage on MLB.TV (til 9 PM) and ESPN 2
Several Yankee message boards are also following the draft pretty closely
We also have 6 games against the Red Sox. Opportunity to pick up a couple games, maybe a few games if we can get a sweep.
Yes, you always take it one game at a time and try and win everyday (what real athlete plans on losing or accepts losing?). Point is, there’s no reason to think it can’t be done until it’s mathematically impossible, period. Anything can happen, as has been shown this year, last year, and every year.
Yeah, well when the Yanks aren’t going right, then they can’t win against anybody, so let’s not get too excited, especially about the division, and ESPECIALLY since the Yanks aren’t even at .500!!! DAMN. Come on, this conversation is premature by two months.
Let’s see if they can win TONIGHT, if they can WIN a freaking series, win with MUSSINA, win 5-6 in a ROW!!!
Damn, damn, damn.
Getting to 5 games over .500 may take them till mid July, unless they go on some crazy streak. I think its a must they win tonight and sweep the Pirates over the weekend. Absolutely no excuse for them to lose with Mussina, Pettitte, Clemens going over the next 3 games.
Sunday, we’ll see where they are.
“I’d say give Giambi his walking papers or make him a pinch hitter, which sounds crazy but Damon and Melky are a better combo than Damon and Giambi when factoring in defense.”
how do you figure?
Giambi is a better hitter than Damon. there is no defensive part to the comparison if they are both DHing.
Damon is a better hitter than Melky.
Melky is a better defensive CFer at this point.
so you are saying that the advantage in Melky’s defense over Damon’s defense outweighs the combined offensive difference between Giambi and Damon and Damon and Melky?
i doubt that.
SP is right- they lose tonight, then all they did was get a split. They have to start at least winning a series before we all start going nuts – and that starts tonight.
The race is over, the Yankees win. Beckett’s senstive little finger will have him crying and hanging out with Pavano. Schilling will need several months to recover when a big mac gets lodged in an artery. Wakefield will be Wakefield and this Matsuzaka guy hasn’t impressed so far. Manny hasn’t yet started his annual whining, but it is coming soon to a ballpark near you. Everything I read last year in July had the Yankees written off for the division crown and even the wild card, and what was it 10 games? Pettite has pitched great, Wang is there now, Britton is doing very well, Clemens will hold be fine, Hughes is coming back and Moose will turn it on starting today, Rivera is on, the bullpen is getting there. Yanks win the east by 6.
Bill,
You’re right. The Yankees need to make hay in interleague play. Hopefully, they’ll learn their lesson from last year. Sox went almost undefeated and Yankees were much less successful during interleague.
“Absolutely no excuse for them to lose with Mussina, Pettitte, Clemens going over the next 3 games. ”
Contreras > Mussina.
is that an excuse?
I agree the yanks have a very legit shot.. if they can shave 3 or 4 games a month, 3 months left in the season seems enough.
a couple of random thoughts:
1. the yanks start to play alot better and are in a groove.. what do you do if giambi comes back… torre always shows loyalty to vets, but you have to leave him on the bench ( i thought that was the biggest problem last year when matsui and sheff came back for the playoffs)
2. watching the beginning of the draft on espn2.. selig just looks like an idiot.. listening to him speak makes me cringe..everything he says is purely to cover his own a$$ and to pander to the networks… the way he manages mlb, he should not be allowed to say jeter and arod’s name..
3. i saw zimmer at the TB table at the draft.. i miss zim and like him, but given his open hatred for our boss, should he be wearing that yankee championship ring … i wish zim would come back though
Actually Peter, the Yanks should set their sights on making the postseason, wildcard or division winner.
The Yanks will make the postseason because the Tigers schedule from here on in is much, much difficult. Go to detroittigers.com and check their schedule and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
To summarize the comparison between the two teams’ schedules:
The Tigers have a much harder interleague schedule than the Yanks: Mets, Brewers, Braves, Phillies, and D.C. with the first two teams having the DH to the Yanks’ w/ Clemens & Clippard vs. Pittsburgh, Arizona, Mets, Colorado (there, so it might as well be an A.L. park game), and S.F. who has no hitting outside of Bonds.
The Tigers have much better divisional opponents outside of Cleveland to battle than the ones the Yanks have to battle outside of Boston: Chicago, K.C., and Minnesota to the Yanks’ Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Toronto.
Speaking of T.B., Baltimore, and Toronto, the Tigers have only four games left with T.B. who historically gives them trouble, only one game left with Toronto (makeup game),
and no more games with Baltimore while the Yanks have a ton more with all three of them.
The Yanks have more games vs. K.C. than the Tigers (10 to 9)
who have only 3 vs. K.C. in September, same as the Yanks.
The Yanks are done with Oakland after 6/29-7/1 then Minnesota the next series 7/2-5 while Detroit plays Oakland 10X and Minnesota a ton more than 4 games. The Yanks are done with Seattle in Sept. (3 games) while the Tigers have 7 vs. Seattle. The Yanks are done with Texas while the Tigers have 7 more vs. Texas including tonight.
The Yanks and Tigers see Boston the same number of games before September: 3.
The Yanks are done with Chicago after tonight then
7/31-8/2 while the Tigers have a 5-game series at Chicago including a doubleheader and then some.
The bottom line is the only breathers in Detroit’s schedule are 9 games vs. K.C. negated by the Yanks’ 10 vs. K.C. thus the Yanks will win the wildcard if not the division.
Damon’s comments, once again, speak to attitude. If you think you can do something, it’s one step closer to actually doing it. I like that the Yankees are not counting themselves out. It’s corny and cliche but, as Tug McGraw once said for those cross-town rivals, “Ya Gotta Believe.” Or, to quote one of the Yankees’ own, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
You know it’s a sad day in Yankeeland when fans are hoping an easy schedule will propel their team to the top.
Instead of having confidence in your team to play good baseball, you’re relying on the miscues of your opponents.
My, oh, my…
Way too early to think about ANYTHING BUT GETTING TO .500, after that you can look to see where you are and set another goal.
I have no problem with Damon or anyone else checking the Red Sox score, I do it.
Why does Damon want to play DH so bad, is it too good to be true, because you would think he would at least try to put up a fight to keep his CF job.
Are any of the national networks picking up Clemen’s start on Saturday?
Yankee VIP,
I was thinking the same thing last night. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the team is playing better without Giambi. There’s a better centerfielder (who’s hitting too) and Damon’s hitting much better when he doesn’t have to play in the field. When (and if Giambi) comes back, they may re-break what they seem to have fixed.
Clay,
Maybe it’s because Damon’s a team player and realizes that team is clicking right now? On that note, are there any other teams that leadoff with the DH?
Contreras hasn’t pitched well at home this year, and in his last outing against the Yankees, he gave 4 runs, 3 BB, and took the loss.
Of course, Moose was shelled at Chicago earlier this season, but hopefully, he can bounce back.
The thing about the wild card is that there are 7 teams in front of the Yanks in the wildcard race – it’s not just Detroit. Even if the Yankees get hot for the rest of the season it will do no good if 1 of those seven does as well or better. Hopefully, they can start the passing game. They have a chance to pass the Orioles tonight.
The Cubs just took 3B named Vitters. He could be Phil Hughes’ twin.
REd sox trolls:
Everytime the Red sox wins, a devil gets his horns.
hmmm,
My argument is
1) Damon isn’t healthy. He needs to get right. As a DH his legs are fine. As an outfielder his legs hurt him which makes him a liability in the field and he doesn’t hit as well.
2) Since he doesn’t hit as well as an OF as a DH it makes him worse when Giambi is in the lineup.
3) Melky has proved that he can not be consistant playing 3 times a week. He either has to play everyday or he is worthless b/c he doesn’t hit w/o playing everyday.
4) Melky > Damon in the outfield. Melky playing CF makes Abreu and Matsui better fielders b/c he can cover more ground which improves our total defense.
5) Yes Giambi is a better hitter than Melky but all the above factors make the difference not that great b/c having Giambi in the lineup a) hurts Damon b) hurts Melky c) hurts our total defense as well as our CF difference
I’m encouraged recently. Wang was awesome last night, looking like he might be better than last year. I think that Moose needs to get it going. If he can confuse batter like a few years ago, then the rotation is looking a lot better. If not, then they really need to make a trade for a starter. That might be tough without giving up something substantial. Offensively, this team is just too good to score one run a game. They’ll get hot and Cano will hit .330.
Mel, It wasnt a slight on Damon, I love the guy, his actions are just suprising because I have never really seen someone embrace the DH spot, at least not someone who bats lead off and isn’t at the end of their career. Giambi hasn’t yet.
Prediction:
A Top 10 or 15 pick slides to the Yanks at 30 due to signability. A first round pick slides to the Yanks at 94. Going to be a good day.
Interesting tidbit from John Heyman
Two of baseball’s most high-profile managers — Joe Torre and Lou Piniella — got themselves into some trouble within their own organizations this week.
Torre’s recent criticism of Alex Rodriguez’s controversial “Ha!” play against the Blue Jays last week earned George Steinbrenner’s wrath and an uncomfortable phone call, courtesy of the Boss, SI.com has learned. General manager Brian Cashman did the honors on Steinbrenner’s behalf, but it was the owner who most disapproved of Torre’s failure to support Rodriguez over A-Rod’s screaming strategy.
More at SI.com
It will be a long time before Giambi is completely healthy. Since the short term fix is working right now, the Yankees will not rush Giambi. Even when Jason is completely healthy, who knows what other issues regarding MLB etc will affect his status/performance. That’s why I say Jason is a big question mark. I wonder if he’ll get the Pavano treatment, out of sight out of mind.
You know it’s a sad day in Yankee-haterland when they hope the Yankees lose and worry about their schedule when they should hope their own team makes the postseason. Afraid your team will draw the Yanks in the postseason? If I was Boston, the Mets, or anyone else, I would be cuz there isn’t as good a postseason rotation as Clemens/ Pettitte/ Wang (for games 3 and 7)/ Mussina or possibly Hughes, a closer as good as Mo, or a money player as Jeter save David Ortiz.
I have full confidence in the Yanks playing good baseball.
I also have full confidence that that good baseball plus an easier schedule they have than Detroit will propel them into the postseason, too bad if the schedule is easier.
O’s just drafted Wieters. I thought he’d slide. I would have been happy for a long time if he slid down the draft to us.
For those thinking that it will take an extended period of time to overtake Boston:
While that is more likely the case, please note that Boston just lost 4 in a row, and we took 3 of our last four during that time. We were 14 1/2 games out last week and are now 10 1/2 out. All it takes is a few weeks like that and it can be done.
Also – look at the Sox’ “can do no wrong” rotation. Dice-K is struggling with his command. His game before last, he gave up 12 hits and 6 runs (earned) over 5 2/3 innings. Even in the 2-0 loss to Oakland the other night, his command sucked. Wakefield is suckong, _period_. Schilling is impossible to figure out from one start to the next. The best thing they have had this year has been Beckett – and based on his history (and with the finger issues that have surfaced recently), there is no way he stays as hot as he was to start the season. Don’t be surprised to see this finger problem of his resurface a few times throughout this season. Papelbon is not only becoming hittable, he gave up his first HR to us the other night. Lots of stuff in our favor apart from the schedule, now that our bats are coming alive and the NY pitching is on track to improve a great deal as well.
Why are the Yanks only competing with the Tigers? I see the Indians struggling more than the Tigers and the Yanks passing them and the Tigers winning the Central. That is 90% more likely than the opposite being true I would say
BTW, did anybody else see the proposed trade idea (I think it was in the “SoCal today” paper?) with Pittsburgh? The writer suggested Zach Duke to NY for Farnsworth and Jeff Marquez. I’d do that any day if it becomes a valid rumor at some point and not just the dude’s opinion.
I’ll pay for Farns flight to Pitt if that were to happen.
Toronto, Baltimore, Minnesota, Oakland, and Chicago
Toronto and Baltimore are pretenders who will fall by the wayside like they always do, so forget them.
Minnesota doesn’t have the rotation beyond Johann Santana or the offense beyond Morneau, Hunter, and Mauer to win the wildcard or division. Remember, no Liriano (out for the year) and Radke (retired).
Chicago does not have the offense to carry their pitching, namely their bullpen outside of Jenks, to a wildcard or division title. Ozzie’s scared to go to his bullpen. Ditto for Oakland whose offense outside of Swisher and Chavez is even worse for the long-haul. Remember Oakland plays alot more games vs. the East and Central cuz they have only 3 divisional opponents and L.A. and Seattle could give them fits while Texas’s bats could give them a fit if they don’t pitch.
Detroit’s schedule is just too tough.
It’ll basically be a dogfight between the Yanks and Tigers with the Yanks coming out ahead.
Farns needs to go and soon, like before Roger arrives. If some team is dumb enough to take him, then he would have written his own ticket out of town. Not only did he open his mouth about the family plan, he followed up by saying he saw no need to clear the air with Clemens.
…and you’ll all be whining here again after the Stanks get creamed during interleague play.
!!!
1) Detroit is winning the Central
2) Brewers just drafted our 1B in LaPorta. Bad pick for them, he doesn’t need a lot of time in the minors. He could have been up here for us next year.
Pete – any truth to this rumor being discussed by the Yanks…
Pirates trade Zach Duke (p) to Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth (p) and minor-league pitcher Jeff Marquez. Pittsburgh’s in a lot of games, but they struggle to hold leads. Not that Farnsworth hasn’t, but the big right-hander does have a pedigree as an NL closer. Who knows? Duke’s been down since his stellar debut in 2005, but he’d be a new look for pitching-poor New York. The addition of Double-A fireballer Marquez would ease the Pirates’ pain.
Thoughts on this???????
Damon should keep his mouth shut and not jinx us.
Wrong Bronx,
Here are the 7.
Team W L GB
Detroit Tigers 33 25 —
Oakland Athletics 31 27 2.0
Seattle Mariners 30 26 2.0
Minnesota Twins 29 29 4.0
Toronto Blue Jays 28 30 5.0
Chicago White Sox 26 29 5.5
Baltimore Orioles 28 32 6.0
New York Yankees 26 31 6.5
Growing up in southern California, I was a huge Angels’ fan. Couldn’t stand the Dodgers and still can’t stand them. I pulled hard for the Yanks in the late 70’s and early 80’s when they played the Dodgers in the World Series. Anyway, I now live in Washington state and follow the Mariners mostly (because they’re the local team), but I stumbled upon this blog about 2 months ago and have really quite enjoyed it. It’s great to see knowledgeable and passionate baseball fans. But I do agree with Pete to a certain degree that many of you are more vocal when the team is losing, In particular, this SJ44 chap…he’s on here all the time when the Yanks are losing and struggling, but last night, hardly a peep from him. Interesting, isn’t it, how some people like the spotlight when they can complain and bellyache?
I’d stay away from NL pitchers. Especially struggling NL pitchers.
Its not like the Yankees have been stellar in their selection of NL pitchers.
I don’t see how that trade makes the Yankees better. Its more risk than reward.
Wang, Clemens, Pettitte and Moose are set in the rotation. Clippard is 3-1 and is more than adequate as a 5th starter. Hughes could be back by August 1.
Not seeing where Zach Duke fits here.
If they are going to give up Farnsworth and Marquez, I’d rather it be for a first baseman who can play everyday and improve the team.
Zach Duke has given up 100 hits in 67 innings this year, according to Gene Collier, I don’t want him. Guidry is no Rick Peterson.
how about Farnsworth for a guy like Xavier Nady? RH bat, can hit .280, give you some power from the right side, and can play OF and 1B?
My friend also just mentioned that obtaining a guy like Zach Duke could in turn be spun to be used in a package to get a player like Teixeira, too…
Hey – it’s simple: We play today, we win today! It worked in ‘96 and it should still work today. I like Damon’s attitude- no hanging our heads cause we’re too far back!
Yanks are gonna draft Porcello today.
Interesting. I have not followed Zach Duke but it was mentioned by Ben Maller as I was perusing though baseball stories.
I do agree with getting rid of Farnsworth and still think that a straight trade for Brad Lidge would be a good move. Regardless of stats that everyone will throw out, it is just a feeling from watching him throw.
i’m amazed at how often 2 (or more) pro ball players come from the same h.s. arod and minky, giambi and lidle. and 2 guys drafted already. coincidence or are certain high schools scouting/recruiting baseball players like colleges do for football/basketball? maybe i’m just out of the loop.
Since, the Sox play in 10 minutes, it would be great if they lost(with Shilling, their #1 pitcher) and then we would know comming into tonight that we can only gain ground.
Also a win tonight combineed with a “good” Moose outing will mean 3 in a row and a huge momentum going into the lowly Pirates while the Sox are playing the red hot DBacks!
Clemens: Hey Farnsworth, c’mere.
Kyle: Yeah?
Clemens: Who are you to talk about my contract? What have you done for this team and in your career compared to me?
Kyle: Excuse me?
Clemens: You heard me. I helped this team win two World Series
and have won 7 Cy Young Awards.
Kyle: Yeah whatever man.
Clemens: Whatever’s right. Maybe you should know what the $#@% you’re talking about and talk to me like a man not a $#@! mouse to the media, #@$hole.
Kyle: Yeah o.k.
Clemens: $%&@ %^&off.
Where did this rumor originate from?
thanx for the ray of hope . i’m now back to one game at a time mentality . couple the schedule with clemens and an offense that just may be starting to gel — me likey . those beantown bums are slowing a bit right now and the yanks need to take full advantage .
Then maybe “Clemens could pound his fist”.
I hope he breaks Farnsworth’s glasses!
The 8th inning shall be Bruneys. Oh wait, Joe will just have Proctor go the 7th & 8th instead.
I read the article that was the source of this rumor and it was just some writer throwing out ideas. I doubt it is based on any factual information.
“1) Damon isn’t healthy. He needs to get right. As a DH his legs are fine. As an outfielder his legs hurt him which makes him a liability in the field and he doesn’t hit as well. ”
isn’t Giambi basically out for the season, or several months?
i assumed we are talking about when he gets back.
i don’t think Damon is finished as a OFer.
The way it stands now.When Giambi returns he will DH.Damon will work at 1B.Melky will stay in CF.
If you are a positive person, you can take Pete (and Damon’s) words and think that there is something brewing here.. history has shown us in the recent past that Yanks can do it.. Also, this offense is capable of beating any team and taking 2 out of 3 from any team as long as the starters keep them in the game… At the same time, you cannot carried away with this team after a couple of games… Time and time again, they’ve showed glimpses of coming out of a slump only to see that shut down by a good pitcher or poor play.. Even when they get hot, they are not gonna carry over this till the end of the season.. There are going to be cold streaks when they lose 3 or 4 games in a row.. For now, lets take one game at a time and see if they can close out the gap with the sox to 5-6 games.. Having 6 games in hand against them is also a good thing where they can control their own destiny.. Until then its too early to get carried away with a few wins against poor offense (no hitter in the white sox lineup is hitting more than .280 as of y’day)..
saucy,
Part of it might be that one player is being highly scouted and the other player gets exposure as well. It’s cool to see teammates get drafted and end up on the same team, ala Rodriguez/Minky.
They need a win tonight. It would match their longest winning streak of the year(3). If they can not win 3 in a row, they are going nowhere. Moose has to step up.
yea Blackaccord, but the Pirates, Giants, (mets right now) arent hitting much better.
jk,
If Moose continues to struggle, how do they delicately move him out of the #2 spot he’s lined up in? Wang, Pettitte, Clemens. That’s good stuff.
Damon is no idiot. the guy probably has the highest IQ on the team. As for Moose, he had a bad outing the last time, so he’s likely to have a better one this time.
Mel the real question will be in August when hughes comes back and if Clippard is pitching much better than Moose.
Who will go to the pen to make room?
Knowing Joe, Clippard gets sent down.
When was the last time the Pirates traded for a guy who added 6 million a year to their payroll?
Its not their usual business tactic. I don’t think they would interested in Farnsworth for that reason.
Giambino becomes the next Chili Davis, Darrel Strawberry, Rueben Sierra…P.H., platooned DH…Of course this is a costly role player 22-23 million for his last year…Even if they can move him with his approval, the club will be picking up most of that contract….
saucy, I think a lot of it could be attributed to some programs being run very well – not just in terms of developing talent, but also attracting it because of that as well.
We have a private Catholic school here where I live that is like that when it comes to basketball. Also, the HS football teams in Louisville are *stocked* and beat the crap out of the rest of the state every year in the finals because they basically recruit (without calling it that).
Guys, as far as the Pittsburgh/Zach Duke thing goes, I said in my original post that it was a writers opinion, not an actual rumor.
Talk about obsessed with the Red Sox.
“When Giambi returns he will DH”
You mean IF he returns this year.
“the real question will be in August when hughes comes back”
Folks, there’s no lock on either of these guys coming back this year. Hughes will be hobbling around with his foot in a boot for several weeks yet… then there’s rehabilitation… then there’s rehab starts… thinking we’ll see Hughes in September is August is being very optimistic.
* sorry, I meant seeing Hughes in AUGUST, as per the post. Must be nap time.
I see the Tigers got Porcello with the 27th pick. Too bad.
Yanks got Andrew Brackman. 97 mph fastball… but some concern about his durability. Interesting.
Brackman is a real good pick especially at # 30……
Um my money is on Farnsworth. He is a blackbelt….
Brackman will just simply blow away A ball hitters….
The Sox fans are already looking over their shoulders. I checked out the Boston.com boards today and after losing four, almost everyone was panicking. They know who is lurking in the shallow water and it’s obvious that they’re beginning to get petrified.
That’s just what we need around here, a little optimism. That, and a couple wins against the Angels.