Another step in the right direction
-
- September
- 22
Tonight was a perfect illustration of why it’s so hard to play from behind in a pennant race.
The Yankees win a huge game then can only watch helplessly as Tampa Bay’s terrible bullpen blows a game against Boston. So the Yankees remain 2.5 games behind Boston.
It’s not impossible. But with every day that passes, it becomes less likely. Look at it this way: Boston can go 3-4 and finish with 95 wins. The Yankees would have to go 6-2 to tie the.
The good news is that the Tigers are just about finished. The Yankees now lead them by 5.5 games (six in the loss column). The magic number for a playoff berth is 3.
I’m sure there are Yankee fans out there who will demand a fight to the finish to try and win the division. But based on how he used his bullpen today, Joe Torre is going to make sure guys like Luis Vizcaino get the proper rest rather than blow them out in pursuit of a secondary goal. A desperate manager would have used the Viz in the eighth inning today.
Make the playoffs, that is what counts. Once the tournament starts, nobody cares who won the division. Over these next eight games, the goal has to be to get Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain and Vizcaino as prepared as they can be.
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on Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 at 11:18 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Yankees ARE going 7-1, BoSux no better than 4-3…Division is still attainable… and IMO, crucial to getting a good matchup and seed for the 1st round, which is CRUCIAL to getting to the ALCS and WS….If we cruise in as the #4 seed, rested or not, LAA has a swagger about them and the talent to back it up to hand us our heads, and ANY fan that thinks that can’t happen needs to wake up. IMHO…and OUT !
Exactly. Winning the divsion would be nice, but it isn’t the most important thing.
Never once over the past 6 winters did I look back and say, “yeah that reg. season division title was great.”
Get the team ready for the playoffs, and if in the process you win the division that’s great, but if not oh well.
Joe continues to amaze with his deft handling of the Bull Pen.
crucial Vito?
How well has it worked out recently for the Yankees?
You’re right Peter. I would love to win the division, but since that is looking incredibly unlikely right now—thank you Al Reyes, he of three blown saves to the Sox in the last few weeks!!—I don’t begrudge Joe at all to not go all out for it. A few days ago, I wanted the division badly, but knew the Sox needed to lose two this weekend; sadly, the D-Rays won’t oblige.
What this game (and yesterday’s) further proves is that (1) the Yankees offense can come back; and (2) outside of Mo, Joba, and Luis, the rest of the pen CANNOT be trusted in close games. It could be a huge problem in October. Just about the rest of the relievers should be avoided like the plague.
And one final shout-out to Al Reyes, who looks like he is almost trying to blow games to the Red Sox. I am pretty sure that is his third blown save to them in the last month. Darn.
Pete,
on one hand i do agree with you. but i disagee with you in that if we face anaheim we wont pass the first round! (look at the history).
so its important that we dont face them, and if getting the division helps us avoid them, then i think we neeed to put in all the ‘guns’ to make it happen, and worst case scenario we still get the wc.
What is crucial is that we avoid a first round exit. The only way being the wc does not hurt us is if we get cleveland in the 1st round. Do we really want to count on that ?
Yup! make the playoffs, so we can get bounced out in te first round.
That game was embarrassing today and the pitching staff doesn’t stand a chance against a contender. 8 games 8 days. They’ll all be blown out by the time we get to the end of next weekend!
California’s going to eat us for lunch!
Play today, win today, let fate take care of the rest.
Agreed. They also need to get find some way to get Farnsworth right, if possible.
Tomorrow Jason Taylor eats Chad Pennington for lunch.
Here’s to Hanging Chad, circa Florida.
I really hope Joe takes the time to rest the hitters and not only set up the pitching. Cano, Jeter, A-Rod, Posada would all really benefit from a day or two off in this final week. It would also help some of the bench guys like Betemit to get a few at bats this last week so they can be a little more prepared in the playoffs.
I’m not afraid of any team this year. Remember how glad we all were to get the tigers last year. There is something special about this team that tells me they will beat whomever is in the way!
GO YANKS
TOUGH ALL DAY!
Evan, That is something that I tried to get across here a few days ago, but all everyone on here seems to be worried about is the pitching staff. I realize that is also a problem but it is starting to work it’s way out.
Again, the ONLY team that the Yankees don’t match up well against is LAA…to not only PLAY them in the first round but for THEM to have Home Field over us ?....NOT what the Yankees want….If they can be avoided in the first round, there is a chance they don’t advance to the ALCS..and even if they do…facing them in the ALCS is better simply from the fact that all the new faces on this year’s team with have ACTUAL RECENT PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE, as opposed to what they have now, which is essentially NONE AT ALL…Am I the only one that sees this ???
I Love the Yanks: I think the Red Sox are more embarassed about blowing their 14.5 game lead than the Yankees are about not clinching a spot first. I think getting to the playoffs at all when everyone said it wasn’t possible is enough.
Hey Troll, you know what…It is awesome that you realize that your Team, Managers, Town AND Home Team Blogs all Stink, that’s why you spend you time on a YANKEES BLOG !...What is gonna be a hoot, is that since YOUR team clinched a playoff team first, it will likely start to COAST and open the door to losing the division….HUGE ADVANTAGE for ya there, huh GENIUS ??? Deflate your inflatable girlfriend, put away the dirty magazines and turn off your basement bedroom light…your mommy might walk in on you again, LOSER !
playoff team = playoff berth
I think your analysis is spot-on, Peter. But I also agree that we cannot get blow out in the first round!
Andrea, I am embarrassed that we are celebrating winning 90 games and sneaking into the playoffs as a wild card, must be the first 250 million dollar team to have to scrape beg borrow use 100 platers and just make it in the LAST WEEK of the season.
We are hardly the underdogs, we were prohibitive favorites to win 100 games, and destroy the sux, and we let them beat us??
250 million i guess doesnt buy what it used to.
This team embarrassed me
:L(
I’m with Andrea.
what we did this season is magic.
Hurry up guys limp on into the playoffs, we are sitting here drinking champagne, and waiting for you, cmon, slow pokes
night chokers.
Red Sox first to clinch postseason berth
Julio Lugo hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to break a 6-6 tie and lead the Red Sox to a postseason-clinching victory Saturday in Tampa Bay.
It was redemption night in Boston, as J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek also homered and Eric Gagne got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth. Varitek’s solo blast preceded Lugo’s to tie the game up off Al Reyes in the ninth. Lugo then delivered his eighth homer after Eric Hinske doubled. The win, combined with Detroit’s loss, put the Red Sox into the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Sep. 22 – 11:31 pm et
Dude.
The Yankees did not choke a 14.5 game lead.
Yankees have the heart, they have the drive, and guess what?
Melky Cabrera, Robby Cano, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Joba Chamberlain, Shelley Duncan, Chien Ming Wang Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy have all played their entire major league careers with the Yankees.
Yeah. We buy our championships.
Just like we won’t make the playoffs.
Heart, drive + talent = 27 in 07!
I won’t talk about money as an argument as a good team. Having a high payroll should not automatically mean the team should be amazing.
Regardless, when half the team breaks in some way or another and doesn’t play, it doesn’t matter how much you pay them. They’re on the DL and aren’t playing.
Say what you want. I’m excited.
That’s right, a playoff berth is a playoff berth! Who cares how we get in, it’s getting there that matters! Besides, the Sux can’t possibly feel good about the fact that if they do win the division, it will be not because of any of their own players but b/c of one Al Reyes. Heh. Besides, we have made them sweat buckets and bullets in the past month?! We’re in their heads, Papelblown and 38donuts.com are having nightmares about A-Rod and Jeter/Cano, respectively.
To me, this is a good way to go into Oct. no matter who wins the division!
When the Yanks were 8 games below .500 I remember someone remarking that we as fans were in for either the most exciting or the most heartbreaking 4 months of baseball in our lives. Well, they’ve given us the former, and it’s a 4 months that I will never forget.
This has indeed been a magical season. and I personally believe we’ve still got another month of magic in front of us. LET’S GO YANKEES – #27 IN 07!!
LOL at these winners. Their team just clinched a playoff berth and nothing better to do but troll a Yankee blog! They’re even reduced to bragging about how JD Drew is red hot…heheh. Ah, how the mighty fall!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re in their heads. Enjoy that, Yankees universe – I know I do!
Realism: I honestly have no idea what you just said. but ok!
BBB: just tonight’s game alone was the most exciting and hearbreaking 5 hours of baseball of my life!
Now, Stuart the Troll who uses many names ( you sneaky little trickster you ) you need to go to bed and turn out the lights…Mommy knows that if you don’t get enough sleep, that you will wake up grumpy, just like when your little BoSux Idiots team loses, and you may just backsass your mommy and she will have to get out the wooden spoon…good night Stuart, it has been nice hearing from you….nighty, night !!!
Realism: don’t lump all yankee fans into one group of people who gave up. not everyone gave up on the team.
ok i’m done now.
BBB: I’m a little sad I didn’t have to trash talk Johnny Damon in person today!
Andrea, I think Melky may be motivated by the trash talk too. He was getting bashed and trashed to no end on the blog today, and look how he came through! Will have to remember that in the future, although it will be hard for me to ever trash talk anyone who made a hat from a sunflower seed box and wore it in the dugout!
Peter,
Who do you think will be on the postseason roster based on the clues you have read from Torre/Cashman?
“BBB, Red Sox Township is mighty?”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sarcasm
BBB: it’s true. It’s hard to trash talk JD too, though, when he’s so happy about everything. When he was pinch running for Jorge today, he got on 2nd base and was just all smiles, like “oh, I’m on 2nd base! I’m on 2nd base! Guys! Guys! 2nd base!” How do you trash that?
But you know, we do what we have to do for our team.
Did you see at the end of the game, I’m not sure if they showed it on TV, Melky kept running away from the team when they were trying to surround him and stuff. I’m not sure why, but I thought that was funny.
I wasn’t around here earlier in the season, but I never gave up.
Nor did anyone else I talked to.
eh, I’ll talk the the troll. Whatever.
I know a lot of the fans are bandwagoners. A lot of fans of every team are bandwagoners. A good friend of mine claims to be a Red Sox fan and gave up on the Sox like a week ago when Papelbon and Gagne were blowing games and I, even as a Yankee fan, yelled at her and told her to get a grip and shut her face and realize that the Red Sox were going to the playoffs, relax, but all she could talk about was “oh god, they’re blowing it again, blah blah blah.” That kind of crap, from any fan of any team, especially Yankee fans since that’s my team, pisses me off. So I choose to ignore it. So, talk about it all you want, but I ignored it when it was happening. I tried for a while to change people’s minds and be all “hey, don’t worry, it’ll be ok!” but it just didn’t work.
Didn’t work with my Sox fan friend either.
Some people cannot be reasoned with.
But the real fans are loyal and will always be loyal, so those are the ones I choose to talk to.
“Andrea, the vast majority if Yankees fans gave up. That says a lot about how bandwagon that fan base is. A few months later they were all bragging. Fair weather fans, almost all of them.”
Wow, what a sound and intelligent observation dervived from a large sampling of all Yankee fans around the world.
wait. I have to amend. A lot of fans of GOOD teams are bandwagoners. You’re not gonna find bandwagon fans of like the Pirates or something….it just doesn’t make any sense
Andrea:
I support the New Jersey Nets, have since 1998, and the New York Jets who alternate good year/bad year.
So give me my Yankees. I’m no frontrunner.
The Yankees will win the world series and the redsox will be watching in their tv’s at home.
Khoa, I’m sure our friend here did very scientific research with a very accurate sample size.
And I’m assuming that the “mighty” Red Sox Nation doesnt have its share of bandwagonners. See #4 at:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txredsoxcollapse&prov=st&type=lgns
Rebecca: so you’re not one of those people. You’re a real fan.
It’s pretty funny to hear a Yankee fan say that they are used to the Yankees winning the world series. They haven’t won one this decade (or century) and managed to choke their way into the biggest collapse in professional sports history three years ago. By that brilliant logic, Democrats must be quite used to having their party in the white house too.
I have four kids. None has been alive for a Yankees world series victory. I’m happy for them that they’re not Yankee fans. The two oldest would already be wondering if their team will win a championship in their lifetimes. As Sox fans they have no such problem.
Night Chokers
You have 4 kids and you call people turds ? Oh, they all must be SO proud of you !!!
So was that all the same troll, or multiple trolls?
Four kids and you’re trolling on a blog?
Right.
Vito, Andrea, BBB—I won’t be able to post here during the game tomorrow, so I’m leaving it up to you lot to keep the OPTIMISM going, can you do it?
Where in my post did I say we are used to winning world series? Learn to read next time fool.
I’ll be at the game, again, so no blogging for me, but I’ll be giving some moose calls, hoping we won’t need 47 different pitchers.
“Agreed. They also need to get find some way to get Farnsworth right, if possible.”
So they are going to fix a deadbeat bullpen arm in 8 days what they failed to do in 8 years? One of the few things I agree with Pete about is the abject failure that krazy kyle has manifested into. I want no part of this guy, and it would be worth having him blow a couple more games and the division to keep him off the roster. That is the only legitimate reason to abandon ship on the division.
BJ
“I’m with Andrea.
what we did this season is magic.”
Magic starts in the playoffs. Although I agree that the season was indeed special. I would like to see Pete compare our second half run to other great teams in history. It has to be right up there.
BJ
Whew. I’m back after a LONG day at work. I’m happy to see that we won and our magic number is three!! I am so tired that I can’t even remember who’s pitching on Sunday. Good night all!!
P.S. I promise to stop calling for Igawa to be a long reliever, I heard about what happened!
“Make the playoffs, that is what counts. Once the tournament starts, nobody cares who won the division. ”
Sorry Pete, you got this one wrong.
The Yankees care. Yankee fans care. I assure you Cashman and Torre care. If for no other reason, it gets em more home games. Something that is good for the cash register, and arguably for the teams success in the playoffs. Home field advantage may be a huge huge factor for this specific team given the disparity in its home and away records.
Dogging it the last week to ‘set up’ a staff is ludicrous. The yanks should continue their relentless fight. It will serve them well in the playoffs. Pitchers should go on normal rest as extra days off cause as much havoc as anything else.
The Pitchers will continue to pitch their games on regular rest. Joba and MO will still get the ball. Viz, sure give him as much rest as you want. He has reverted to his historically bad form.
Again, the only argument to dog it the rest of the way is to use farnsworth as much as possible, hoping this convinces Torre to bench him for the playoffs. Short of that, they will continue to fight hard and win a division.
BJ
“Make the playoffs, that is what counts. Once the tournament starts, nobody cares who won the division. ”
Sorry Pete, you got this one wrong.
The Yankees care. Yankee fans care. I assure you Cashman and Torre care. If for no other reason, it gets em more home games. Something that is good for the cash register, and arguably for the teams success in the playoffs. Home field advantage may be a huge huge factor for this specific team given the disparity in its home and away records.
Dogging it the last week to ‘set up’ a staff is ludicrous. The yanks should continue their relentless fight. It will serve them well in the playoffs. Pitchers should go on normal rest as extra days off cause as much havoc as anything else.
The Pitchers will continue to pitch their games on regular rest. Joba and MO will still get the ball. Viz, sure give him as much rest as you want. He has reverted to his historically bad form.
Again, the only argument to dog it the rest of the way is to use farnsworth as much as possible, hoping this convinces Torre to bench him for the playoffs. Short of that, they will continue to fight hard and win a division.
BJ
“Make the playoffs, that is what counts. Once the tournament starts, nobody cares who won the division. ”
Sorry Pete, you got this one wrong.
The Yankees care. Yankee fans care. I assure you Cashman and Torre care. If for no other reason, it gets em more home games. Something that is good for the cash register, and arguably for the teams success in the playoffs. Home field advantage may be a huge huge factor for this specific team given the disparity in its home and away records.
Dogging it the last week to ‘set up’ a staff is ludicrous. The yanks should continue their relentless fight. It will serve them well in the playoffs. Pitchers should go on normal rest as extra days off cause as much havoc as anything else.
The Pitchers will continue to pitch their games on regular rest. Joba and MO will still get the ball. Viz, sure give him as much rest as you want. He has reverted to his historically bad form.
Again, the only argument to dog it the rest of the way is to use farnsworth as much as possible, hoping this convinces Torre to bench him for the playoffs. Short of that, they will continue to fight hard and win a division.
Sorry for the duplicate post folks. Apparently Pete doesn’t like me disagreeing with him. He has banned my moniker. I have never ever been insulting directly to anyone, and am really quite astonished by this move.
BJ
Red Sox fans are funny.
These RSN trolls who are coming in here and talking smack were crapping in their collective underwear just 2 days ago after nearly blowing a 14.5 game lead.
Let’s also keep in mind that their team had the best record in the AL for most of the season and they’ve now squandered that too.
They will be back to crapping their pants again if they find a way to lose tomorrow and the lead is back down to 1.5 games.
Be proud, RSN. We’ll see you in the ALCS.
Bring your crying towels.
Wow. One hit wonders running their mouths.
I have a nephew, just turned 11 and has seen 4 Yankee Worls Championships, and 6 A.L. Pennants.
If your kids never saw a Yankee WS victory, they’d have to be six years old or under.
Yet they’re die-hard sox fans? LMAO. Can you say brainwashed?
My 11 year old nephew has seen more Yankee championships than you, your daddy, your grand daddy and your great grand daddy…oh, and your kids.
Lets start calling RSN “Nina”.
Yaknow that German chick who was also a one-year wonder with 99 Luftballoons.
The Boston NINA’s, LMAO!
Dod anyone here ever think that the Sawx WOULDNT make the playoffs? Why are all the trolls thinking that this was some amazing feat? Typical Red Sox fans, making a big deal outta nothing.
The reality is that they’re not playing well, can barely beat the Devil Rays, they;re scared of the Yankees and this is about the extent of the celebrating they’ll have in ‘07. Enjoy!
All that todays game said to me is obviously Viz’s arm is really really bad and the team isnt admitting to it. I dont think he was saving him and didnt want to pitch him, I dont think he was available. Because leading 6-3, in the 7th did Torre really expect Veras to get people out??!! I mean..seriously he has never even pitched in a close game yet this season. But genius Torre says he would like him on the post season roster…that makes sense. Also Torre STILL has no idea how to manage the bullpen. Villone retires the first 2 batters he faces..why did he take him out knowing that you are very short on options?? Olendorf gets a batter out..he takes him out!? Britton same thing, he gets a batter out…then Torre takes him out. Olendorf couldnt start the 7th inning?? So you take Olendorf out to bring in disaster Igawa are you kidding me?! Torre TRIES to play the righty..righty…lefty..lefty match ups but doesnt realize he doesnt have good pitchers to do that with. Torre in the future when a pitcher gets a batter out..leave them in. There is no reason to over manage!!!
captainscorner relax, vizthrew 27 pitches friday.. only stupid mngrs. blow there pitchers out in the regular season..
I see the red sux inbreds are out in mass tonight…man are these sux fans total retards or what??
enjoy your division and enjoy the angels kicking your Ass…..........
varitek will be dizzy bye game 3 after having everyone run on him
well stated pete
It’s going to be a hell of a week. Go Yankees/Phillies/Brewers/Rockies.
Is anyone still awake?
“I’m not afraid of any team this year. Remember how glad we all were to get the tigers last year. There is something special about this team that tells me they will beat whomever is in the way!”
JJ, I agree with you. Like most I fear the LAA at home in a short series. However, I was thrilled we got Detroit in the first round last year and we lost anyway. Bottom line is…if we play well, we will win regardless of the opponent, and this team definitely has more heart than last year.
That’s was a really good game to win. I guess the bullpen is starting to take shape as Ramirez wearing out his welcome quickly. Ross Ohlendorf throws strikes with his sinking fastball. That’s all we need. Melky finally showed life tonight with 5 RBI game. LOL, not bad.
I just don’t understand the people insisting on avoiding the Angels at all costs.
Guess what guys? If LA is better than NY, then LA deserves to go to the WS more than the Yankees. Simple as that.
NY shouldn’t try to avoid a good team. NY should beat that team. Trying to arrange who your next opponent will be is just asking for defeat, because it requires that you admit your own inferiority.
Torre shouldn’t avoid LA. If LA really is a better team, then they deserve it more than NY. The Yankees should rest up, and then they should beat whoever they have to beat. Besides, if LA is so great, then they’d beat Boston too, and NY would just have to face them in the ALCS.
Face the opponent at hand, and be better than them, or else just go home.
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I agree Pete. Winning the division would be nice, very nice even. But it´s not what ´our´ goal this year. We have to get to the playoffs and then win the World Series. I would much rather beat Boston then (if we even get to play them). I´m just glad Detroit lost last night so we got a lot closer to winning the Wild Card. Once we´ve locked that up we can prepare for the playoffs and get the people prepared you pointed out. And if we can catch Boston in the process that would be very nice.
MORNING MELK MONEY!!
http://tinyurl.com/2cuq9f
Baby Bomber Blitzs BlueJays
What is the difference who you play in the playoffs. All the teams have to be beaten to win the championship. If the Yankees play the Angels good for them. It is time to stop saying the Yankees can’t beat them. Are the Yankees hoping someone beats them for them. I don’t think the Yankee players feel this way. In the playoffs anything can happen. Play them and see what happens.
Does anyone else have the feeling that I have . very disappointed in the YANKEE MANAGEMENT TEAM. At times I feel that TORRES is trying to loose the game, his decisions are very poor , remember PROCTER and now FARNSWORTH. I THINK THAT ITS TIME FOR JOE TO GO. If the YANKEES had BOBBY VALENTINE OR LOU PINELLA they would be in first place by 5 to 10 games. I am sure of at least 10 games lost by poor manager decisions and it is for that reason , I feel hurt when very bad decisions are made I love the YANKEES and have been so loyal to them for many years, BIGJOE
Andrea, I am embarrassed that we are celebrating winning 90 games and sneaking into the playoffs as a wild card, must be the first 250 million dollar team to have to scrape beg borrow use 100 platers and just make it in the LAST WEEK of the season.
You shouldn’t be, one’s payroll doesn’t doesn’t exlcuded them from having to overcome adversity over the course of 162 game, 6 month season. The fact that the players never gave up and continued to fight their way back is something to be proud of not embarrassed by.
Andrea, the vast majority if Yankees fans gave up. That says a lot about how bandwagon that fan base is.
I don’t think the MAJORITY of Yankee fans gave up, otherwise they would have stopped attending games (4.6 mil attedance…indicates they were going to the ball park). They may have been a little disappointed by the way the season started off but MOST were still cheering the guys on (well most of the guys).
I don’t know about the rest of you but, this is the first time in many years that a Yankee team resembles a team and not a collection of talent.
On the trolls, it’s funny to read what some of them have to say, JD Drew is getting hot coming into the playoffs??? Does that guy know they’re playing against one of the worst teams in the league? And if I recall correctly, the Sawx came into the Stadium a few weeks ago coming off a four game sweep of the Chi-Sox and they were unstoppable…..we all know what happened next.
I just checked the pitching match-ups for the Red Sux final homestand. They play OAKLAND and MINNESOTA.
And yet they manage to miss BOTH HAREN and SANTANA.
The ultimate big prize IS the World Series Championship. Few ever remember the lower rung of the ladder. Seldom is it heard about the 39 AL Championships the Yankees have. The number 26 (going on 27) is always discussed.
To all RS Troll:
Give me a break!
There is NO ONE, not one starter, who can pitch outside of Beckett, and the Yankees have owned him this year.
Your bullpen blows. Gagne gets redemption—against the DEVIL RAYS! Yeah, I just feel wonderful about the playoffs.
JD Drew gets hot “right before the playoffs” kind of reminds me of a stove that goes from cold to a single lukewarm burner—then fails.
Better watch it, trolls, or the Yankees may be one back with 6 to play.
Interesting bit from Mark F of the NY Daily News:
Is Joe Torre the best X’s and O’s manager in baseball? No. Is he the best manager for the Yankees? It’s not even a question. Managing this team is about communication, not strategy. The number of times a baseball manager is directly responsible for a win or a loss (despite your creative tally board on the site) is small. Five, maybe ten times a year, tops. But Torre runs a clubhouse with almost $200 million worth of talent and ego, and he manages to keep controversy away for the most part.
Handling the media is also a huge part of the job, and there is no better manager in baseball for that than Torre. He speaks with the press for about 20-30 minutes before each game, then another 10-15 minutes after each game. That’s a lot of time, and many managers wouldn’t have the patience for it. Torre has been a part of the media before, broadcasting for the Angels in the 80s, so he understands the business.
But the biggest misconception as far as I’m concerned is the “Joe Torre ruins relievers” theory. Tanyon Sturtze? Had his most productive seasons of his career under Torre, then pitched with a tear in his rotator cuff and didn’t tell the team. How should Torre have known that Sturtze was in so much pain if the pitcher kept saying he was fine. Scott Proctor? Torre gave him the shot to pitch in important situations, and his career took off as a result. And while most people assume Proctor will eventually have arm trouble from pitching so much, it hasn’t happened yet. Tom Gordon? Got a huge contract as a closer after leaving Torre. Paul Quantrill? Pitched in 80+ games every year, but when Torre throws him that many, it’s irresponsible. Maybe it was that he was almost 40 years old.
Do I agree with everything Torre does? No. Does he fall in love with a reliever and use that guy a lot? Yes. But to say that he wrecks careers is unfair. Players love playing for this guy, and without him, the 96-00 Yankees win one, maybe two titles, not four.
I live on another continent (some would hasten to say in ‘outer space,’ as I’ve often been accused of being a space cadet!) and, therefore, I hope I will be excused for posting from the previous thread on the late, unlamented subject of RBI/RBIs.
I believe that acronyms (POW, WMD, RPM, RBI, etc.) have to be written or said as a plural form when referring to more than one.
Popular usuage, by the way, often ultimately dictates the eventual standard usuage of a word or phrase. During WW II, for example, there was the Women’s Army Corps or ‘WAC.’ If you wanted to say that Susan had served in the Corps, you would have said/written, “Susan was a member of the WACs” (because in this case you’re referring to the whole group, or more than one.)Other examples would be; “ARod has one RBI tonight, but 6 RBIs in the last two games; He was a POW amongst several other POWs. One WMD is certainly less dangerous than many WMDs.” The addition of an ’s’ at the end indicates clearly the plural form. Frankly, I can’t think of a single acronymn that isn’t referred to that way when used as a plural. But then I’ve had enough trouble coming to terms with French as a second language (and if you think Anglophones are fussy!)
So for me it will forever be RBIs (I grew up in the fifties and it certainly was expressed that way as long ago as that- and that, as we all know, was a LONG time ago!)
Well, anyway, it’s all great fun when we’re winning! Go Yanks!
I just hope Ohlendorf pitches in our ‘pen for the postseason. I’ve had enough of the Bruneys, Veras’, and whom ever else. I hope Torre trusts Britton a little bit more. Maybe Villone can catch fire or something. Is Farnsdearth injured? I heard that his pitching shoulder is barking.
As a longtime Yankee fan, I think yesterday’s win was great – Alex and Melky breaking out of slumps with very big hits, clutch pitching by Mo to quiet things in the 9th, drive-to-win of the team as a whole. And I understand the need to find out about certain guys for the post-season roster. But there are some things that just eat at me:
1. Why was Ohlendorf not allowed to start the 7th inning? He had only thrown 3 pitches and has done well generally.
2. Same question for Britton, though I can understand the question about Iggy being a LOOGY.
3. WHY are we still seeing at Kyle? There’s no question anymore. He shouldn’t be on the post-season roster.
4. Same point about Iggy. This isn’t the Japanese league. Maybe he can learn to keep the ball down to ML hitters by next spring.
5. Veras and Edgar are just not reliable enough.
I fully understand the need to start setting up for the playoffs and getting Viz, Mo, etc. needed rest, but certain people should no longer be getting playing time. Look at Ohlendorf, Britton, Bruney (I know he lost Friday’s game, but he has shown effectiveness at times, and it he can get consistent he would be a big plus for us). I think that between these 3 and Joba, Viz and Mo we can get a bullpen rotation for the rest of the season, while giving people regular work and rest, while getting the team in a winning frame of mind.
Phil 27 – 07 – I agree completely with your point about Torre and relievers. In fact, Proctor has done fairly well with the Dodgers. I’m happy for him, disappointed that he couldn’t have the continued run of success for us.
Funny how last night Global Warming stopped criticizing people who wanted Villone to throw more than 2/3 inning and Ohlendorf to throw more than 1/3 inning.
Funnt how Stuart called people “stupid morons” for wanting the same, then shut up.
Eat crow, boys, and remember to be more civil.
Joe Torre is too easy a target for Yankee fans. Some who think that he has to go are falling prey to the back-up quarterback syndrome. Back-up quarterback are always the most cheered guy on a team because of what they might be. Most of the time when they get their time to shine, they show you why they aren’t the starting QB. Same can be said about many of the people some want to replace Torre with.
Same analogy could be made about pitchers. Go back and read some of the comments we have all made about pitchers this year. One or two good outings does not a career make. Fans see a good performance and think we have found the next big arm. 2 bad outings later and we are ready to boo them off the field. A young guy does great in A, AA, AAA and we want them brought up now and pitched every inning. Sometimes potential does equal performance but many times the promise of potential is more exciting than the final results.
tony massarrotti of the boston herald echoed peter a.’s opinion about preparing the red sox for the playoffs instead of going full speed afetr the division title. he said that the angels in 2004 had to fight the last weekend to make the playoffs and had to face a rested red sox team. the result was a 3-0 red sox sweep of the angels. he also mentioned the red sox struggling to the end to get into the 2005 playoffs only to get swept in three games by the rested white sox .
i say fight like hell with the team that is out there on the field for the division title, but rest whover needs rest for the playoffs. boston will be doing the same so it’s a wash. it’ll be a competition of the depth of the two teams. it still matters. it just means things like the yankees are going to see how a kid shortstop plays under pressure for a game or two while jeter gets a day or part of a day off, or viscaino gets a chance to rest whatever is ailing while olendorf or some other kid like karstens last night gets to find out if they can pitch in games that matter. the yankees won’t be giving up the division title. they’ll just be fighting for it just as hard with some other players who are trying to prove they are yankees too.
You know the more this season plays out, the more I actually think I prefer to play Anaheim in the first round. Lackey and Escobar are good, but they are known commodities. Carmona and Sabathia could be a more challenging task. The bad part is the cross country flight, but this isn’t an old team anymore.
By the way, Lupica said that September doesn’t matter because both the Yankees and Red Sox are making the playoffs. He barely mentions how his beloved Mets could still fall completely out of the playoffs, but he makes the point that the Mets could fade, still make the playoffs and then win the world series, while the Yankees could come all the way back, win the division and still lose in the first round. I can’t wait to see what he says on the sports reporters. He is such a biased idiot. I read him only for comic relief. It would be awesome to win just to shut him up.
For everyone that think winning the division is a must, get real. The ONLY thiong that matters in the WS. Look at last year, the worst team to make the playoffs won the whole darn thing. We can’t play Boston in the first round. Given a choice of playing the Indians (we’re 6-0 against them this year) or the Angels (we’re 3-6 aginst them) I’m pretty sure we’d rather go against the Indians. It also means less travel. At this point we want to wrap up a playoff spot, set the rotation, rest the pen and route for the Indians to finish with a better record that the Angels. Then we kick everyone’s butt and take home #27.
“I don’t know about the rest of you but, this is the first time in many years that a Yankee team resembles a team and not a collection of talent.”
I totally agree. you watch these guys play, and you get a sense of heart. They feed off one another, play hard and push themselves to do better. I really think having the young guys loosen up the dugout and finally build some rapport (anyone remember when Damon said last postseason against the Tigers everyone was quiet and never said much to one another, like they were statues?) so the team actually gels as one.
This team is actually really fun to watch. I hope Yankees fans realize how special of a season this is.
lets be honest with each other… nobody wants to play the Angels… but you know what – were lucky to even be in the post season discussion the way this team played the first 3 months… stop whining and enjoy the ride
Alright, time to leave for FedEx. I got a three hour drive ahead of me to probably see the Giants stomped.
At least the fans are slightly weak, I’ll just get called gay all game with my Manning jersey.
GO GIANTS!
GO YANKEES! MAKE THAT MAGIC NUMBER DISAPPEAR!
I don’t think I would characterize the Yankees as lucky to make the postseason, that’s a bit of a stretch. In fact I would say the Yankees were just unusually unlucky in April and a bit in May with so many rookies starting, Mariano struggling and the Red Sox off to the super start. You take away the early blown saves from Mo and the Yankees are in first place right now. Anyway these seems like as good a time as any to show the monthly record for the Yankees:
Wins Losses
April914.391
May1315.464
June1511.577
July209.690
August1811.621
Sept145.737
Total8965.578
The Dumb Manager of the Day Award goes to Rays manager Joe Maddon for using his so-called closer Al Reyes vs. Boston knowing full well that he blew 2 saves in succession only 7 games ago. If he uses him today he gets the Dumber Manager of the Day Award.
Although I heard the end of the game on radio last night but missed it on TV. This morning I got to see the highlights, including Melky’s single to drive in the winning run. I have to say, I really like the energy that the young guys bring to the team—not necessarily in the way they play (although that is fun too) but in the way they seem not to take anything for granted and how much they enjoy winning. Watching Melky, Cano and the rest of the young guys celebrate is just fun! I hope they can translate that to the post season and give this team the energy it needs to make it all the way.
Well that came out funny, repost:
Wins Losses
April 9 14 .391
May 13 15 .464
June 15 11 .577
July 20 9 .690
August 18 11 .621
Sept 14 5 .737
Total 89 65 .578
“The Dumb Manager of the Day Award goes to Rays manager Joe Maddon for using his so-called closer Al Reyes vs. Boston knowing full well that he blew 2 saves in succession only 7 games ago. ”
maybe that was his way of telling his gm that he needs a new closer for next year.
If the Sox go 4-3 and the Yanks go 7-1 to finish, it looks great in the division standings. Bu I don’t think that’s so good of a way to approach the playoffs. If that’s how the team finishes, they’ll have gone something like 21-4 going into the playoffs and had no rest. It’s really be a good idea to rotate in a couple days rest for all the regulars for the final week. Otherwise in order to win the series (meaning by the time October finishes) the team would have had to go on a 2-month long full-bore winning binge with no layoff. Few teams other than the 98 Yanks have ever been that hot for that long. I say let them catch their breath for a couple days because our opponents already are.
Today’s lineup:
Damon lf, Jeter ss, Abreu rf, Rodriguez 3b, Matsui dh, Cano 2b, Cabrera cf, Mientkiewicz 1b, Molina c, Mussina p
Also, Clemens is pitching on Tuesday now. Pettitte is taking his spot on normal rest tomorrow.
not trying to win, or conceding the division, is tantamount to using the prevent defense in football, it could work, sometimes works, its ugly usually, and often missfires. i say play to win everday, i think it is the bosox who used the prevent d this year, and well, maybe it won’t work. play to win everyday, in the longrun, its the best way.