Take the poll: Playoffs or not?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 28, 2007 
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We haven’t had a new poll here in a while.
So …
Do you think the Yankees will make the playoffs? Vote over to the right. One vote per reader, no waiting.
Meanwhile, I am lining up a player to take part in our next reader Q&A. More on this as it becomes available. We’ve already had Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi.
Hillebrand is nothing special. is he a better hitter the cairo? Yes, because he has some power cairo has none..It is a victory by default.
if they give up absolutley nothing of value, fien.. I do not think it will help… WHy not Duncan for a few AB’s???
Duncan is almost the requisite 30 yrs old… The Yanks only think you can play if you are over 30 or they are so depserate that they change there rules.. I assume that is why ramirez and britton cannot get a sniff or the pen has been working so well they do not want to mess up the winning formula!!!!!!!!!
Really at least in the 70′s if they lost they went down fighting. firing martin 20 times, making trades, getting in fights…now it is just blather, cliche’s, and acceptance…
the pitcher had good stuff today, the sun was in my eyes, and the plane ride was long type of drivel..
they have no fighting spirit.. yankee fans light fighting spirit..
the fact that chris britton is not currently in the yankees’ major league bullpen is scary decision making on somebody’s part. maybe they are afraid he’ll come up and actually throw strikes!
loved a-rod’s postgame interview today, much as i did pettitte’s yesterday. he wasn’t as forward as pettitte was with his statements, but you could see the anger on his face.
i agree that a lot of times turning a clubhouse upside down is song and dance, and i know it isn’t the yankees’ leadership (torre, jeter, rivera) way. however, i think a-rod and pettitte should keep stepping up and be the vocal leaders of this club. they are veterans who command respect, pete has reported multiple times how much youngsters like melky and robbie look up to a-rod, and a-rod has had veterans like damon, abreu, and matsui on his back for so long this season they have no choice but to listen and be motivated by what he has to say.
i have no way of knowing what goes on inside that clubhouse. but somebody needs to do something to at least convince this team that it isn’t illegal to play with energy and cofidence.
It’d better be Wang!
I don’t think the Yankees will make the playoffs. The Yankees are 36-39. I think 95 wins gets the wild card (or 95-67).
So the Yankees have to go 59-28 from here on out.
That’s .680 baseball from a team that currently is at .480 baseball for half-a-season.
And I think that the schedule between now and the All Star break will make this even a smaller possibility. They may have to play better than .700 baseball after the All Star break.
But then again, the month after the All Star break is a pretty easy schedule.
Its sad to watch one of “the scariest lineups of the century” as people were saying at the beginning of the yr and pray for a run. How come I never hear a word on giambis injury and when he might be back? Does he even have an injury or is it all a front so he can deal with the investigation first? We really need his bat back in the number four hole. At this point, it would be nice to have bernie back as well. He certainly would put up better numbers than melky is giving us – a 315 OBP from your starting centerfielder and a 310 OBP from your starting first baseman is not helping the cause. Throw in the fact that Damon, Abreu, Cano and Matsui are having the worst yrs of their respective careers and its not really that difficult to understand why this team sucks. What will it take to get teixera right now?
When Hughes comes back, we will have the pitching to make a serious playoff run after the all star break. But starting pitching wont win every game and this lineup needs to start producing. The bullpen is just a mess and a half. Trading farnsworth and promoting Britton would be a start. Vizcainos era has went from 7.23 on May 16 to 5.35 today so he certainly found his groove. Meyers and Bruney are both having exceptional yrs despite their occasional inability to find the strike zone. After Mos 10.57 era in April, he has given up 4 earned runs in 20 innings with 2 walks and 19 K’s. With Hughes back, I gawa would make a decent long man out of the pen I would hope. Vizcaino, Bruney, Myers, Britton, Igawa and Mo gives us what I would hope would be a decent second half bullpen. If Proctor stops walking the ballpark every couple of starts u can throw him in there as well – he had a 1.5 era in May when he walked five guys in 12 innings and has a 3.52 era in June walking nine guys in 15. Anyhow, a 3.48 era in 41 innings is not bad at all but his 22 walks are the concern.
I voted yes, but we all know it doesn’t look good right now.
I watched a lot of SUMO games when I was in Japan, and am still following the reports. There are so-so players that, from time to time, defeat the best players (the SEKIs or even the YOKOTSUNA). The reason is simple. They try to find out the very few weak points of these top players, and they only practice in the hope to win over THESE players, not anybody else. Why do they do that? Because the bonus for winning a game in SUMO is different from game to game. If you win over a top player, you usually make 20 or 30 times more bonus than winning over a weak opponent. And, you got famous.
Don’t tell me that the other MLB teams are simply waiting for “the scariest lineups of the centuryâ€? to slam them over the ball park walls. Even if they think it fine to yield to Yankees in regular season, they may still have to think about what if they see them in the playoffs. They prepare for the Yankees, trust me.
Similar things happen to Yomiuri Giants. In Japan, if you win a game, you got 60% of all the income. Those include tickets, right for TV broadcast, commercials, etc. To broadcast a Giants’ home game, the TV company pays circa $ 1 M USD. To broadcast a say Hiroshima Carps game, it may be only 300K or less (and it may be 500K if the opponent is Giants). Everybody wants to play the Giants, and they want to win. In the Giants’ lineup, they usually accumulate 3 to 4 players who were the 4th at bat of another team before. But they have at least 4 seasons finalized in the lower half of the ranking before this one, as I have witnessed.
The above arguments are not to say that “Oh, the Yankees are still good. It’s that their opponents are all crazy.” I was just saying that they are less prepared for almost any game than their opponents. Maybe the only exception is the Red Sox. They may have prepared themselves for the Red Sox. I don’t really know.
#5 pitcher of Red Sox can pitch them to death. Rookies can pitch them to death. The poorest offensive team can hit them to death. Whatever unfamiliar to them seems to be able to kill them. Everybody that wants to get famous could have a chance playing Yankees.
Sure, if everybody take you as the target, how can you prepare for so many different enemies? But you simply have to. Especially if you got 10 times more salary, you should prepare more.
I think the next player should be Andy Pettitte!!
He’s such a great guy.
no. they won’t make the playoffs. if you’ve watched this team play all year and honestly think they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, you’re either incedibly optimistic or, um, delusional. or you’re brian cashman.
hillenbrand is .254/.275/.325 with 3 HR and 22 RBI in 197 AB this year. plus the guy’s a world class jerk. forgive me if i’m not overjoyed that “help is on the way.”
yikes.
I must admit I didn’t care yankees’ playoff before Wang became yankees’ starter. But now I and most of my countrymen very care it.We hope Wang and yankees make a comeback in next game. And Win world series in October.
We’ll pray everyday till it happens.
No, I don’t think we’re going to make the playoffs and while I will be very disapointed, I’m not sure that will be necessarily a bad thing. May result in a much needed housecleaning. Like being grounded after get a bunch of Ds on your report card. This team just seems to keep finding a way to lose, rather than win. Just seems to lack heart (save for Petitie and a few others.)
Feel like that Yankee have very little hope for playoff.
Lost of desire and start to scare to watch live game.
Wake up Yankee!
The Yanks look beat and tired. Last night Joe Torre, who always looks beat and tired, looked even more beat and tired – if that’s possible. And last night Joe finally ran out of answers in the post game interview. Funny, but it’s come full circle to Joe’s 1995 season, when the Yankees were a Wild Card contender. Only this year the team is in decline, not on the rise.
Shea Hillenbrand is a trouble maker, and mediocre with the stick. But hey, he’s a first baseman. On this Yankee team from hell I’m sure he’d fit right in.
Where’s Danny Cater when you need him? (NYY 1970 – 1971).
“Funny, but it’s come full circle to Joe’s 1995 season, when the Yankees were a Wild Card contender.”
Torre was hired in 96
I voted no. After they ripped through that 9 game winning streak, I just couldnt fathom seeing them revert back to the team that they were earlier in the season, but somehow they managed to take every ounce of momentum they mustered together and throw it all away.
at the beginning of the season, i think we all knew the rotation was going to be shaky, but as long as they could consistently give 6 innings, this offense was going to pound other teams’ pitching. this just hasnt happened. Damon got old quick; Abreu’s disappeared for chunks of games at a time; we knew that cano was not a hugely disciplined hitter, but he’s swinging at everything out of the strike zone.
replacing cairo with hillenbrand is not going to make any difference. cairo and 1B is not the problem. the fact that so many of the bats we were counting on to produce 1-8 down the lineup have been streaky at best, and the offense and the pitching just cant sync up.
i’m getting the feeling its just going to be that kind of year. I’m not completely giving up on the season, but people have to be honest with what we’re watching here. the talent on the team says its not a .500 team, but when you’ve gone through almost half the season, and they are sitting below .500, how can we expect them to play .700 baseball at the flip of a switch, and consistently enough to last for 25 games, let alone another 81?
if i’m cashman, i seriously consider moving some players at the deadline, because even if by some miracle they do make the playoffs, does anyone really feel confident that they can win the whole thing, even with the SP we have right now?
the braves, dodgers, padres and mets can all use offense in their lineups right now, and we have players who might be attractive enough by reputation to bring back some valuable pieces(Abreu, Cano, Matsui… even ARod); maybe a Chase Headley, Andy LaRoche if ARod opts out, or a Saltalamacchia or Carlos Gomez to add youth to the team.
I voted yes only because I think it’s all but certain that Girardi replaces Torre at the ASB if not sooner. I think that could be enough to get them the WC.
I’m not sure what the Sumo reference is all about. The “world’s greatest offense” is not getting it done for a number of reasons that are easy to understand. Three of the 9 opening day starters are hurt, though 1 continues to play ineffectively. Replacing them are 2 guys with minimal offensive impact. In addition, 2 of the guys counted on to be very good offensive players have been average or below.
The “world’s greatest offense” assumes 9 very good offensive players (well, 8 really) playing to their potential. Instead of that, they have 3, maybe 4 of them performing at or near that level – Matsui, Jeter, Posada, and A-Rod. It’s really not very hard to understand why they aren’t scoring runs.
Quotes of the Year:
“Actually before you send Bobby Aboo Aboo somewhere tie him to the wall in the batting cage put a catcher’s mask on him and drill him with 95 MPH heat from the pitching machine and don’t let him wear a cup either MAYBE HE WILL GROW UP AND ACT LIKE A MAN!!!�
“VOID GIAMBI’s contract I don’t care if you have to plant roids at his house do whatever it takes!!!!!!!!�
“Post Igawa up for Japanese teams to bid on him.�
HAHAHA those are good
Good grief, anybody who thinks the Yanks even have the remotest chance of making the playoffs is dumber than a stump.
Playoff teams do not suck this terribly in close games.
Is there a “F NO!” choice? I agree with Kasey. Furthermore, this team as it is presently constructed and performing doesn’t deserve a playoff spot. Maybe I’d rather see Boston-Detroit and Anaheim-Cleveland, and look forward to a new-look 2008 Yankees instead of another desultory first-round exit.
Stick a fork in ‘em, boys, they’re done. The Yankee fire sale should net some interesting players if the front office hasn’t given up yet.
No, I don’t think they will make the playoffs.
I’m ashamed to say I voted No after voting Yes on BBFan’s poll a few days ago.
Also a few weeks ago, I floated the idea of getting Hillenbrand, the day the Angels made him a backup. It was widely panned. In one of my bolder lines, I said something to the effect of Cashman not only has to get Shea, he WILL get him. Allows us to save resources for more important areas. If I had patience I would go back and find the comment, but I don’t care that much.
playoffs are nowhere in sight for the yanks . not at this point . i dont like the idea of trading at the deadline because i dont want to trade away prospects unless the yanks trade away veterans ( but who is going to take lazy vets w/ large contracts – nobody !! ) . bedard threw a great game last night . good to see mo’ and bruhney work hitless and walk-free innings .
better question is – who gets fired if the yanks get swept in baltimore ?
I would vote yes if I had confidence that Cashman would actually make the proper moves. I really think that with a decent power hitter at 1B (think Paul Konerko, the White Sox are going to be sellers) and a decent bullpen arm (replacing Farnsworth) they MIGHT have a shot at the Wild Card. But I have no faith in Cashman. None.
Pete… any chance we can get Posada or Moose in an interview?
This road trip has been one of the all time failures. What a depressing start to a summer. Just when things were coming around.
I don’t see a play off chance being possible.
By the way, since when is Matsui pulling his weight with the bat? When every lefty batter can’t hit there is a serious problem. Put the Yankees up against a lefty pitcher and they may scratch out 3 hits over 5 innings. Provided the sun doesn’t shine.
Stick a fork in them, they are done.
Its amazing that until today Matsui hasn’t taken any flak. Joe will never bench him, he even moved him up to the 3 hole!
He plays a bad LF with little range and a bad arm.
Anyone but Mussina. What a condescending, pain in the arse. How about Posada, Mo or good ‘ol Wang — though the Wanger might be too nervous to speak on tape. And could we even hear him if he did? He’s gotta learn to SPEAK up!
Forgot to add my choice for next reader Q&A:
Pettitte
The reason is he seems to be one of the few that remains highly competitive. I would be interested in his views on this team vs. the one he left back in ’03.
i’ve seen quite a bit of postings on torre getting canned, and my opinion is they are going to let him finish the season, the team needs a complete overhaul (duhh), and while they have a ton of young arms they wont be ready for a few years at which time both jeter and posada are 3 years older
any thoughts on seeing what they can get for cano and moving jeter to second, dont SS slow considerably as they get into their mid 30′s, hell ripken didnt finsih his career there, this is not a knock on jeter but for the good of the team long-term that might be the thing to do
i’m assuming arod stays at 3rd next year- can you imagine this offense without him – wow
Why not do an interview with Farnsworth. It might be interesting to hear why he thinks he sucks.
I’m voting “no”.
If they make some changes and get some new faces into the lineup I would be more optimistic, but this team as presently constituted isn’t a winner anymore.
Just can’t believe it’s basically that same team from last season that destroyed Boston for 5 games in Boston. That’s what is messing with most of our heads.
No playoffs for the Yanks in 2007.
Playoffs NO Way It’s time to say goodbye to Joe the diplomat Torre and say hello to Joe true grit Girardi. How about not bringing in Mo in the ninth inning of a tie game and then bringing him four runs down in the eigth Lets take off the silk gloves and putting on the work gloves
I don’t think this team is going to the playoffs. Cash and Co. should plan accordingly. Now is the time to replace Torre with the manager of the future, whether it is Girardi or Mattingly. If we need to bondo the current model Yankees with the likes of Hillenbrand for the rest of the year, please keep it only for this season, don’t give up any prospects, and give toxic Shea a locker in the far corner, away from anybody who we want to keep positive. Be smart sellers in the trade market, and hold to the “younger, more athletic, cheaper” vision.
In keeping with that vision, let’s hear from Wang, our present and future ace of the staff.
I have a sinking feeling it will be Clueless Joe-lite with Mattingly getting the job next.
I thought this was a Yankees website…
The yanks will make the playoffs…they are not playing like it right now, but they can easily make a good run. The wild card is certainly within reach, and if they really heat up they might even take the East. Its hard to stay positive with this team, but what kind of fans are we if we’re ready to hang up our gloves before the fat lady sings.
Although this team is finding ways of shooting itself in the foot right now, they can beat any team in baseball.
I would love to see Mariano Rivera in the Q & A.
hillenbrand is a pain in the #@%%^. he’s a real first baseman. he’s got attitude. red sox fans hate him. all this relaxing crap isn’t working at all. shuffle the deck . try something new. maybe hillenbrand will have a healthy bad attitude that will rub off on some other players. sciosa had no problem with him at all. he just had no place to play him.
cashman’s only observed skill, the way i see him, is spending money on good players, so he either does that or he gets fired. if he gets in the way of a yankee cash flow to good players he’s out the door. red sox management and red sox fans love cashman. doesn’t that tell anyone anything? let’s see how they like him if he spends some yankee money.
the difference for the red sox this year is matsuzaka. the red sox sent 53 million over to
japan in one big chunk that does not show up on salaries to upset the balance. it worked. yankees move.
Voted YES. They are fully capable of doing it and I don’t think Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, ARod, Clemens, Damon or Matsui are quitters. The least we fans can expect is for these guys to work hard and not give up.
Since Dave brought it up, I’ll risk further ridicule and ask:
Pete, is there any chance Jason Giambi will be back anytime soon? All I can find is that he was placed on the 15 day DL at the beginning of the month. It’d be nice to have someone besides ARod who can crush a pitcher’s mistakes and put a little fear into them.
What we need is a pep talk from the “Roger will pound his fist!” guy.
When Giambi went on the DL, it was said he could be done for the season. Being as though we havent heard anything new, I would assume later rather than sooner, so dont count on him.
This team will not make the playoffs. This team has no passion. This team has no desire to win. This team has no emotion what so ever. Whose fault is that? Simple, the manager. He should have been fired in November. He should have been fired in May. He should be fired NOW!!!!!!! If George were still George, would Torre be the manager? Absolutely not……
Did you see the back page of the Daily News. They blamed the game on Roger and wrote that about the $28 million.
The guy had a shutout through 5 and had 0 run support!
They just wanted to once again talk about Clemens and his contract.
Maybe ESPN owns the Daily News?!
Hey Pete?
What did you vote?
Vote for Posada! Last chance to make him the starter in the All Star game. He completely deserves to start, more so now than at any other point in his career. He’s a couple hundred thousand begind I-Rod, so we need to work on it. Please vote for one of the last great players left from our last great run. Vote!
I voted no. The Yankees only had 1 hot streak this season. It came two weeks ago and it went quickly. People need to stop with the excuses (whether it’s injuries or what not), this team won’t make it this year. Whether it’s the players aren’t hitting or the pitchers not executing their pitches. I can’t see this team going past 70 wins beyond at this pace.
“replacing cairo with hillenbrand is not going to make any difference. ”
how do you know that? what’s it cost to find out? nothing but some cash, which the yankees have plenty of. if it doesn’t work out, keep making changes until it clicks. that’s what winners do.
The Yanks will capture the WC,and win the playoffs.They will then sweep the Mets in the WS.Word!
Agreed randy l. What do I know, though; I’m “dumb as a post” for voting yes.
Just to prove it: I’d sign Bernie just to get another switch hitter into the lineup for dealing with lefties (and to give him a last hurrah if there’s nothing left to lose this season).
Probably can’t sign another DH-slash-occasional outfielder unless Damon goes on the DL, though.
As a fan, I hope we make it…..as an intellectually honest, realist…..no way…..this team is soft and a group of losers
I actually voted “Yes”. It’s pretty clear we’re not going to win the division but I have a hard time conceding the WC. I’m hoping the All-Star break will help these guys get their focus back cause right now it looks like everyone is just lost.
Pete, I would love it if you could get Moose as the next Q&A subject. I know we’re all disappointed w/the season he’s had so far but he is still the most interesting and intelligent personality on the team. I love his dry sense of humor and would love to hear what he has to say. Also it would be nice for him to get a chance to set the record straight – he did not ASK for a “personal catcher.” I know many people are just determined to hate him no matter what but cmon, this isn’t Randy Johnson we’re talking about. He and Posada have always had a good relationship and he wouldn’t do that and I hate when people insinuate otherwise..or even worse, some media members have insinuated that Posada has a problem getting along w/his pitchers, which is absolutely ludicrous.
I’d also be really interested in hearing from ARod or Brian Bruney.
Playoffs?
Can we get to 500 first?
You’re reading the Daily News for reporting or good stories?
That’s your first problem.
If it doesn’t involve steroids they don’t want anything to do with it.
Or they have Mighty Mouse Lupica write Yankee hit pieces.
oohh try to do the q&a with posada!!
Bernie’s not coming back. I am a Yankee fan, and even I’m getting annoyed with Yankee fans claiming that the Yankees need to get Bernie back. Things were handled wrong at SP by both the Yankees and Bernie. Bernie has moved on. Even if somehow they did come to an agreement, it would be months before he was in Baseball shape again.
Give it up. Bernie’s gone.
Jeff in MA, agreed on signing Bernie. Not only would it help tremendously to DH him vs lefty starters, but he could also come off the bench late in a game started by a righty, so it would help w/our pathetic offense vs LHPs and provide veteran presence and a HR hitter off the currently weak bench.
I know a lot of people will argue, but Bernie doesn’t have good career PH numbers. Well, I know the numbers aren’t great but I gotta wonder if this is a lot like the old “Giambi hits better when playing 1b than he does when only DHing” argument, which proved faulty because Giambi’s DH numbers had been mostly from times when he was banged up in Oakland. Perhaps it is the same with Bernie and most times he came in to PH in the past, he hadn’t been in the lineup because he wasn’t 100%.
Either way I think it’s worth a shot. Not only could he help the team but resigning him would bring closure to the long and fruitful career of one of the best Yankees ever. He deserves that much, IMO.
I voted Yes. I guess i am one of those incredibly optimistic people Kasey referenced.
Things are beat right now, but i am having a hard time conceding the Wild Card. 8 games in 91 left is not insurmonstable. I still have hope.
Please dont sign Shea Hillenbrand. Urggghh.
Why wouldn’t the Yanks make the playoffs? You scared of the Indians?
My belief that they will get hot and make the playoffs has been shaken but not deterred.
They do need a good hitter to play 1b and soon.
Oh, and I voted yes on the playoffs too. Optimists unite! Gotta keep the faith.
Hey Peter, instead of a player, can you let us have a Q&A with Joe Torre? I have a question for him about his use of Mo.
I’ll vote yes for now. I remember when they started out 10-19 a couple years back, and folks were already trotting out comparisons to other teams with similar starts. Thing is, none of those teams have the lineup potential this one did or does. Having said that, we’re a long way deeper into the season, and yes they’re miserable in one-run games, but I still believe this team can make a decent run at, and even win, the Wild Card.
Hey. Faith is believing in that which you cannot see, right?
How about a Q and A with Miguel Cairo.
Probably a lot more interesting than a star level player.
if yanks are 5 above 500 at all star break, joe becomes more proactive and they light a fire under some of the underachieving people like abreu,cano,matsui and cabrera. get a decent bench, trade mussina to siberia maybe they might reach playoffs and lose in the first round again.
They’ll make a run and make this interesting. There is too much pride and talent here for them to quit and pack it in. And its not like there are formidable teams in front of them. Even the three best teams in the AL have major issues right now. All you need is one hot streak like they had a week ago.
I’d have more faith if they went out and actually beat the Orioles. That would help. Throwing strikes out of the pen and scoring some runs wouldn’t hurt either.
What’s with all the excuses from ROBBER CLEMENS. Just do ur job Clemens. Giving excuses is not ur job, we have someone else(Mussina) to do that job for the Yanks. He is costing only $872,000 per start. So far he has ONE victory in 5 start. And the Yanks r 1-4 when he is starting. This means he is costing 3.5 million for a victory. The RedSox must be feeling pretty good right now for not signing ROBBER CLEMENS.
What is this sign Bernie stuff?
They tried to in March. He said no. His loss. He’d be hitting 5th and playing everyday if he would have taken the deal.
Clemens isn’t doing a bad job. he allowed 2, 3 and 4 runs in his last 3 starts. For this line up, that should be enough. He’s also 44. When he’s showing fatigue and sweating his ass off, take him out of the damn game.
On top of that Andrea, he didn’t feel quite right shaking himself off after one pitch to Gomez. What does “Clueless Joe” do? KEEP HIM IN!! He’s 44 and he’s exhausted. At least warm up somebody like Vizciano or hell Bruney.
Andrea,
He is also getting paid more than any other pitcher in the history of Major League History to do a better job than that. Age is just an excuse. Doesn’t he know he is 44 when he signed the 28 mil contract. All of a sudden when he is to go out and pitch he comes up with the Age excuse. Age, too hooot, too humid, no run support…all r excuses. He is not facing the detroit tigers(best offense) for heavens sake. He is facing the Baltimore Orioles who has one of the worst offense ever and they are playing without the Yankee killer Miguel Tajeda.
Agreed, Paul. To an extent, I get that you keep a pitcher in to give him “confidence.” But how confident is Scott Proctor after walking in the winning run? How confident is Roger Clemens after he gives up a 3 run home run.
What is Torre doing over there? Taking a nap? I was never one of those anti-torre people, but I started questioning him during the Angels series. And then in the NL parks, I just think he was out of his mind.
I just found this site and was reading the posts from two weeks ago. I was amazed. The Yankees are a very bad team and the posts were all about how a hot streak meant they were going to catch the Red Sox. I cannot believe how people are so blinded — the team is flawed and only getting worse.
The Red Sox will not lose nine games in the next 85 games or so — they will not collapse that much and I don’t think Toronto will get that hot. The Yankees are two games further back than Toronto and probably just barely better with all hands on deck. But when you have broken down has-beens on your team, you have to expect injuries. Pettitte or Moose will likely go down at some point. You’ll be lucky if Clemens’ groin gives and you can avoid 5 inning 4 run performances. Mariano, Posada, ARod or Jeter — you never know. That’s how it can get worse. I don’t see any evidence of it getting better than being a .500 team that wins their games in spurts — six in a row, then lose 2 of 3. You’ll never pass six wild card teams like that, especially good teams like Cleveland and Detriot who are only going to improve with trades soon. As will the other teams like the A’s or Seattle maybe.
Anyway, great site, loved reading for myself why people hate Yankee fans’ arrogance and ignorance to reality. Good luck to you all, it’s gonna be a long, boring summer.
SOmeone posted Myers has pitched well this yr. Really lefties hot over 300 against him, if that is good what is bad..
can they make the playoffs? Of course, will they doubtful.. they need to make changes yesterday.. I am sorry I think Torre is the classisest guy etc. but it is over… They need Girardi, they need more attention to detail, they need to bring up some young blood..
Again where is Cashman, be a man face the media provide answers to what the plan is..
No trading of Cano, I know he has stunk bad this yr. but baseball is astrange game, you do not give up on a 24 yr old who hit 341 last yr. If you do you usually pay in the long term.
birng up britton and ramirez and duncan and DFA villone, myeres, and send down Basak or Phillips. Try to trade Krazy kyle and make small moves……
Hillebrand is a better hitter thne what they have at 1st but if his contracts is more then this yr. say no and realize he is better then what we have but what we have is garbage.
Cairo is a good utility guy that is it.. Damon cannot play CF, keep melky out there………..
do not trade any blue chip prospects; tabata, jackson, cervelly, horne, kennedy, chamberlin, hughes, clippard(the guy is 22), and others.. sure trade desalvo, karstens, rasner, beam, etc…. the only tradeable chips in my opinion are; vizciano, farnsworth, proctor(no), bruney(no),
and prospects..
they do not have much that is tradeable if they could trade abreu I would do it in a second…
So far all he has faced National League teams & Baltimore(one of the worst offense playing without Miguel Tajeda) and he is 1-3 with 5.45 ERA.
FYI, here’s a good article from New York magazine: http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2007/33974/
It’s a little dated (written at the end of the last, and only, winning streak) but it has some interesting tidbits about Torre and A-Rod.
nyy: I hate when people use money as the be-all end-all excuse. The Yankees offered him that much money. And when he signed, he was under the impression that he was working for one of the best managers in the game–a manager that knew what he was doing.
If he is used correctly, the 872,000 per start works out. But just like you can’t expect A-Rod to hit a grand slam every day, you can’t expect Clemens to pitch a shut out every day, no matter how much money they are making. He did look like he hurt himself. Is that an acceptible excuse for you? It’s not like he’s Carl Pavanoing us and demanding a surgery that he may or may not need.
Why is it when any other teams’ fans think the season is about to turn around, they’re being hopeful, but when a Yankee fan does it, it’s arrogance?
Clemens contract is not for $28 mill. dollars it will cost about $15 mill. a lot damn right but it is water under the bridge.. the Yanks gave up no young talent and were desperate.. If they did not get Clemens they would be pitching 2 rookie starters with none of them named Hughes…………..
The Hughes injury is huge and I nknew it at the time also..WOW
After last season with all the injuries, Bernie should have taken his chances.
There was no chance in hell that Torre would cut Bernie Williams. No chance.
Greg, We would all agree with you, except that this team won 9 in a row two weeks ago and are capable of doing it again!
Who cares what they’re paying Clemens or anyone else? Has it effected anything they’ve done to improve their team? Even the terrible Pavano signing hasn’t hampered their trying to improve. It just doesn’t matter. They could pay Clemens 100 mill. Obviously, they can afford it because its a business and they’re not losing money.
nyy – Yeah, Clemens has been worthless — he’s had ZERO RBI’s this year. What a criminal.
Re: Bernie — I said I’m dumb as a post, didn’t I? My reasons are down to
1. Sentimentality
2. They could use a right handed bat for lefties
3. The team needs something intangible to pull together and recover some confidence. Maybe he could change the chemistry in a positive way.
I’m not pretending it’s well thought out. Neither is “Season’s over, blow up the team, trade everybody, fire everybody right now”.
The team that won 11 out of 12 just over a week ago is still here. I would think they’re capable of doing it again.
You take 16 out of the next 20 and you’re a game or two out of the WC.
The only intangible they need right now is a win. Any win. One at a time.
Jeff–I think I’d rather they “bring back Bernie” than blow up the team. I’m just not counting on it. At least you admit it’s not realistic. There are people, i.e. many blog commenters and callers on Mike and the Mad Dog (it’s a bad day when you watch/listen to that crap) that honestly believe that we can re-sign Bernie and that he’ll make ALL the difference.
i agree with randy l on shae. what can it hurt at this point? and if it won’t cost us much, it’s a lot better than giving up something for someone who won’t pan out in a season that just may not work out anyway. the guy may have anger problems, but i think that shows he wants to be a winner. lets just hope he doesn’t get carried away.
that said, i voted yes. but as always, i’ll stick with a hope for the best, expect the worst mentality.
A Q&A with Joe Torre is a very good idea. I can think of ten questions off the top of my head I would want to ask that man.
Time to White Flag It–
By an angry, disgruntled Yankees fan who has to live in RedNeck Nation (coastal Maine)
CAMDEN, ME – The season is over. Now, lets just hope and pray Cashman gets some mid-grade-toalmost-good prospects back for Abreu, Damon, Mussina, Clemens (from Houston or Boston, don’t care to even watch him pitch anymore in pinstripes–he is an obvious example of what is wrong fundamentally with this team!), Farnsworth, etc.
And hold onto the core guys like Jeter, Wang, Hughes, Cano, Melky, extend Posada for two years tops, extend Rivera for one/ two year(s),wait for A-Rod to make his decsion, same with Pettitte (player option).
Right now, if they haven’t already, just cut Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano from the team. Make a big deal with it in the press. Pay them off 100% if you have to, but the team needs to be rid of those to players ASAP. Accept the loss and move on. For fan (and maybe even player morale) dump Pavano and Giambi for what they’ve done and what they stand for.
Free Agency, you ask? If available, go after a pitcher like Mark Buerhle (28 years old, LHP, AL proven) for three/four years, $30-$45 mil. Open the doors to the Steinbrenner vault if Carlos Zambrano is available. Wait out a year to see if Francisco Rodriguez becomes available as a FA, or trade for him before 7/31/08 so LAA can’t lock him up long term. Other pitchers I’d pursue through possible trades? I want to say Dontrelle Willis, but I am downright frightened of the NL-to-AL transfer for Starting Pitchers. I feel the same way about Roy Oswalt and Jake Peavey. For some reason though, I trust The Big Z being able to cut it in the AL. Possible 2008 starting rotation (ideally)? 1. Zambrano 2. Buerhle 3. Wang 4. Pettitte 5. Hughes. (ASsuming they can get Buerhle and the Z).
They need a whole new OF. If they can dump the three current (Damon, Matsui and Abreu), I’d keep Melky, of course, and the two FA I go after is Eric Byrnes and Andruw Jones. Eric Byrnes is known as Captain AMerica and is exactly what the Yankees need in both the field and the clubhouse– he would be a shot in the arm. And, on the cheap, too. I believe he will be 32 or 33, so a two or three year deal at about $5 M per would be appropriate. He makes about $2 a year in ARIZ on a two year deal.
Jones would be pricey, but his power right-handed bat would be needed, especially if A-Rod bolts via opt-out. Who knows… 5 years, $100M total/$20 M per? Would that get it done. I belive he will be 30, so the trick is too not lock him up too long term, via Damon, or even Beltran (NYM) or Soriano (CHC). 6 years, $120M? His defensive presence in the OF, especially with Melky and Byrnes flanking him, would be unbelieveable. Three fast, strong armed men, as opposed to BrokeWrist Godzilla, Damn Damon, and Bobby “slower than peanut butter” Abreu.
Infield– aside from Cano, Jeter and A-Rod (if he’s still there), the big question is first base. Stop gap, some basic defender for a year until Mark Texieria (SP sorry-I’m sure)becomes available via free agency. If they can, I’d go after Jarrod Saltalammachia for a future C/ then they can DH Jorge, poss 1B for a year?
And if A-Rod goes
(Cut to black Sopranos style)
No way in hades do the Yankees make the playoffs, in fact it will be a real struggle to finish above 4th place in the American League East. I have been a die hard fan for over years and usually can’t wait to get home to watch a game or read the boxscore, but this is the first time since the 80′s that I have totally given up on this team. I would rather watch paint dry than watch this Yankees team. The good news if there is any is that they have some talent in the minors, ie, Tabata, Urena, Joba, Kennedy, Z. Almonte, Betances and hopefully Hilligoss and some of the new draft class. 2009 can’t get here fast enough for me, hopefully by then this will be a proud franchise again not the dead shell of a team that for 2007.
The Yankees have the potential to make the playoffs right now. Everyone is just underachieving. We can win 10 of 12 easily and another team (Bos/Det/Cle) could also lose 10 of 12. We had a lot of SP injuries to begin the year. It’s no longer an excuse, but it is a reason for 10 or more of the losses.
Hillenbrand has been bad this year. More recently actually, he’s brought his average up to .254. If we get him for cheap, and I believe we should–meaning we give a low-to-mid level prospect, then it’s worth it. I’d rather have someone else (Dmitri Young), but I’m sure that avenue has been explored by management. So Hillenbrand is better than our current 1B on the roster.
I’m hoping we also get a better back-up C. Nieves is terrible.
Anyway, here’s hoping for a strong push.
Go Yanks! BTW, I have a son on the way–I’m naming him Jeter! W00h00!
What’s that?
Playoffs?
Don’t talk about– playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs?
I just hope we can win a game!
The Yankees are going to make the playoffs. And until they’re 7 games out with 15 to play, I refuse to exclude the possibility.
1) They’re going to win tonight. Record 36-38
2) Then they’ll bounce back with a 7-3 homestand, posting a 44-42 record into the All-Star Break.
3) To redeem himself for his feckless construction of the major league roster, for thinking Josh Phelps a better option than Bernie Williams, for imagining Will Nieves an adequate back-up catcher, Cashman will secure a deal for a reliever of Gagne, Otsuka, Qualls or Wheelers’ caliber and/or if Gimabi doesn’t return, a hitter of Teixiera’s ability.
3) In the second half, the Yankees will go 50-26.
And Yankees fans will rejoice like they haven’t since 1996 because to quote Richard Nixon, “Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain”
And may God not punish me for quoting a Republican.
They need a hitter and a bullpen pitcher before I can even contemplate playoffs.
The bullpen which had generally been the NYY strength is now one of the weakest in the league.
But here’s some numbers that I found interesting. I took the NYY runs scored / game and runs allowed since ’02.
We’re averaging only 5.3 runs per game, the lowest over 6 years. And while the bullpen has been poor, we’ve only allowed 4.6 runs per game, almost as low as ’03 when we had strong starters (excl. Weaver!) and a pretty goodbullpen.
So I’m thinking that the loss of Giambi, and the poor performances from Abreau, Damon, Cano and whoever is at first have more to do with our troubles than the pitching.
RS/G RA/G
2007 5.33 4.57
2006 5.74 4.73
2005 5.47 4.85
2004 5.54 4.99
2003 5.41 4.42
2002 5.57 4.33
Sorry, those numbers were unreadable, ket me try this again using spaces instead of tabs.
RS/G RA/G
2007 5.33 4.57
2006 5.74 4.73
2005 5.47 4.85
2004 5.54 4.99
2003 5.41 4.42
2002 5.57 4.33
So 4.57 runs allowed per game doesn’t seem bad historically, it seems that the 5.3 runs scored may have the greater impact – yes / no?
The heart says we make the playoffs, the head says we don’t.
It’s hard to believe that the team picked by Vegas as 3 -1 pre – season favorites to win the World Series is this bad!!
It’s even harder to believe that their roster is so inflexible that there are only 2 or 3 players that are tradeable and could provoke interest by another team.
If Pete starts another poll about who is to blame for this mess, count my vote for Brian Cashman. Kei Igawa,Carl Farnsworth and the trades for Humberto Sanchez and Russ Ohlendorf have been disasters. The Yankee bench is now consists of Will Nieves, Andy Phillips and Chris Basak. And these are the Yankees?????
I’d vote for Posada as the next Q&A Contestant. Not only is he having an outstanding season, I understand he has helped design and update modern catching gear and is very well respected throughout the league. He must have a heck of a fitness program to inquire about too.
Besides, the first question you have to ask him is a slam dunk:
Jorge, is it really true that you urinate on your hands to make them tougher?
GET ANDY PETTITTE TO DO THE Q&A!
I’ll say it again and again. Getting rid of Sheffield was the dumbest move the Yankee’s could’ve ever done. Granted Sheffield has a mouth, but people say that he is a club house cancer and glad he is gone. Well idiots, do you know think that Bobby Abreau is club-house cancer???? Sheffield was not a club house cancer, he was a feared bat and every major league pitcher would agree. People are so stupid, they think that good team go an pick flowers in between games and skip over the rainbow. Sporta are comeptitive and ego-driven. I would take an agressive put your foot in your mouth player like Sheff any day over a quiet self loathing Bobby Abreau. Another story of a play who just can’t make it in NY.
Pete, I really liked your suggestions of change this past week. I agree totally.
Get rid of Torre and his unmotivating ways. Yeah he has an astounding winning record, but who wouldn’t with the budget and players he managed?????? Now that he has a struggling team, his manager skills are showing and he is just awful!!
How many times this year when Nieves is behind the plate does he give another — potential good bat — a day off. WHy the F*** would you take 2 bats out of the lineup when your team is not hitting?
People who I don’t want to see or I don’t think deserve to wear the Yankee’s uniform.
Carl Pavano – no need to say anything
Kyle Farnsworthless – forget it, he does not belong in the bronx
Bobby Abreau – another steroid user and not anymore why he sucks now.
Jason Giambi – Never liked Giambi steroids, drugs or not. Yeah he has serious power. But he is a complete F-in wreck. He destroyerd himself with Steroids and Speed
Johnny Damon – Christ sake, trade his worthless broken body
and you wonder why the RedSox let him go. At least DL him NOW!
TORRE, GUIDRY and LONG — get rid of these worthless coaches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Players I am 50/50 on canning.
Melky – although he is great defense he has no bat. Partially not his fault since Kevin Long is not helping him and he is a baby. How does Torre ever let him swing at the first pitch? Absolutely no plate discipline.
Cano – nothing special in the minors at all, I am beginning to think that last year was a fluke. Yet I do think he has potential to be great still.
Abreau, Cabrera, Cano or best friends — SPLIT THEM UP!!!!
think about it, if you worked with 2 of your best friends it would be great and work would be much more pleasant, but most people would not be as productive as if they didn’t have their best friends with them when they went to work. Especially if you are fresh out school ( or the minor league in this case ) Melky and Robby are to immature.
Best friends does not equal good teamates.
Seriously, something has to change and change now. During the all-star break split this whole F’in team up please. THey have absolutley no chemistry. Nor do they have a motivating manager, hitting or batting coach.
Playoffs?? Yeah right. Wild Card? Yeah right!
I cannot wait until they break this whole worthless team up minus Posada, Jeter, AROD.
Bernie would be a much better option then Damon!!!!!!!!!!!
Kharma has got the best of the yankees this year that is for sure.
Matsui??? Ever since he broke his wrist he has been awful and I am not feeling like he will rebound.
IF WE DO NOT GET ICHIRO, THE RED SOX WILL!!!!!!!!!!
WITH THAT SAID, WE BETTER GO AFTER HIM WITH ALL OF OUR GUNS AND AN OPEN WALLET!!!
okay.. I’m done.. carry on now, thanks.
Lets just say “NO WAY” they have been nothing but a disgrace and should be totally embarassed.
They make mistakes that little leaguers dont and I know TORRE doesn’t play but his decision making has been awful and right now he is VERY STALE.
Watching the bench during games,seems by the looks on their faces that they really don’t give a crap at all.
Nora, my mom, and I aren’t giving up yet – the Yanks will make the playoffs!
Cashman have to find a good righthand 1B player as soon as he can.