Yankees cancel workout
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 06, 2007 
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who cares about MlB, season’s over. what is it gonna do? suspend Arod for “game” 3?
They gotta do what they gotta do.
Yankees been defying MLB forever, who cares?
enough with the Arod bashing… how is jorge, matsui(zero and looking bad doing it), jeter, and the gang hitting???
Why is it always Arod’s fault? True he has had 8 or so bad AB’s but it has been 8 not 80.. the guy walked twice in game 1….
The gnat crap killed Joba and then once they had to go to there 3rd best releif pitcher you know the story. They can win this series, hit Westbrook(he is eminitely hittable) and then we have game 4.. I pitch Wang on 3 days and have Hughes in reserve….
whineers, bandwagoners do not lose faith…they lost 2 games on the road, shocking!!!!!!!!!They finished 2 games over 500 on the road during the season for a reason(there pen stinks) and once you get past the big 2 you know the story. I go to Krazy Kyle instead of Viz if needed
Who cares?
They should just cancel the game as well. Clemens is not gonna be sharp and gonna gives up some runs early. The Yanks bats will press just like always and we’re gonna have to suffer through one of those drawn out, lopsided losses watching the 2007 season slowly die.
That’s how it always goes in the last game of the playoffs anymore. I really don’t think I can take another one.
Re: Pete’s thought on a possible complete team overhaul…Is it Torre’s fault his veteran mashers couldn’t hit the side of a barn these past two days? Boston didn’t exactly mash Kelvim Escobar last night….is red sock nation calling for a regime change?
Yeah he could have pulled Wang (hehe) sooner in game 1 and gone to a real pitcher (hughes, farnsworth, viz) as opposed to breaking in Ohlendorf AND he could have raised a stink about the bugs and pulled a Piniella and yanked the team off the field…but neither are fireable offenses at this point; especially considering the loyalty factor amongst the teams (free agent) lieutenants.
Lets win these next three and not have to even consider this doomsday scenario.
PS-Abreu would be a perfect fit for the Mets too…but again, lets win so we can look back at these thoughts and laugh.
Ok then, what is the reason then for the Yanks just disappearing every playoff series anymore?
Don’t give me the good pitching answer either. Every playoff team is facing good pitching and you don’t see their offenses just going into shutdown mode every single game.
Something is wrong here. What is it?
I like the idea of canceling the workout today. Gives these imposters a day off to collect their thoughts, get riled up from reading the papers and listening to the talk shows. Hopefully they can take their frustration and anger out tomorrow on Westbrook.
Remember, these are still the same Indians who choked last year during the pennant race.
The Yankees will find their spark.
Until the last out is made, I refuse to believe anything different.
You actually think these guys are reading papers and listening to sports radio? Please.
They’re packing up their places and making plans to head home for the winter and spend all their hard earned millions of dollars. While us fans are left sitting here recovering from yet another kick to the stones.
Right on Rebecca. I know they need 3 wins to advance, but I’m looking forward to just ONE win right now, so that there is at least temporarily a good attitude on here. You can’t win three without winning one. Win one game, and suddenly you put a little pressure on Cleveland, and they might be the ones tightening up.
Westbrook is pretty good, but not in the class of Sabathia and Carmona, and it will be a much different atmosphere in New York. They need to make the most of it. Last I checked, they haven’t packed their bags yet, right?
Rebecca- That’s the spirit!! We won’t give up or give in!!
In Clemens’s last start he pitched on 12 days rest and was sharp, so why should this start be any different? Tomorrow we will see the best that Clemens has to offer, because you know that he isn’t ready to call it a career!
yeah I was right the loser bandwagon defeatists are out in full force…
they lost 2 games in a row on the road, one a heartbreaker with this bug issue which was an issue and these loser fans think the world is coming to an end. Playoff baseball everything is magnified to bad games offensively are a big deal…how many times during the yr. did the yanks go into a offensive slump for a few days??? Numerous, they scored 965 runs for a reason, they will be fine whiners…..
Joba dooes his job it is 1 – 1 and the yanks look to close them out on Monday.. Big difference some gnats in the 8th… Joba had 2 WP’s and 2 walks and a HBP but the gnats were a non factor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would have pulled my team off the field….They did that a few yrs. ago in cleveland vs the angels, screw TV……
The Yankees aren’t in the ideal position, but I will do my duty as a Yankee fan. I will support this team, all of the players, and Joe Torre until we are eliminated. I am not thrilled to be down 2 games to 0, but I’ll be darned if I give up now! I’m obligated to support the Yankees, and that’s exactly what I am going to do!!
Sorry for using “darned.” That’s as bad as my language will get!!
How can any Yankee fan worth his salt not be encouraged by the success the Yankees have had this year against both Westbrook and Byrd? Westbrrok is 0 – 2 12.46 ERA amd Bryd is 0 -1 33.50. They both have had outings against us this year where they didnt make it past the second inning.
Come on folks, dust yourselves off. We’re not done fighting yet!!!!
J-dawg: Pfft, you’re language is tame
Seriously, you probably didn’t want to hear me last night!
Anyway, there’s still at least one more game to go, and I’m pretty sure the Yankees are going to be much buoyed by their home crowd.
LET’S. GO. YANKEES!
Why exactly would MLB care if the Yankees canceled their workout?
You’ve got to look at this playoffs series as a microcosm of the season.
The Yankees start off with poor pitching and get shelled. Then they get a great Pettite performance and can’t hit a lick and lose with the pen…
Then, Roger arrives and the turn around begins. I really feel confident in this. He’s going to step up and they’re going to win this thing.
It just doesn’t feel like it’s going to be over Sunday, this team isn’t going to rollover like the last few years. Maybe I’m just a blind optimist, but I find a positive spin is a much better way to approach this…and I was born in the Bronx, and I know my brethren, slightly pessimistic would be an understatement.
Sorry to be a cheerleader, but keep the faith, these things can turn on a dime.
Torre is not responsible for the bugs. But he is responsible for his reaction to the bugs– or rather his lack of a reaction. He should have argued vigorously that the game should be delayed, as the infestation was likely to be short-lived (it was). It certainly was more of a distraction than any rain shower. He admitted in the postgame that he didn’t even ask. DIDN’T ASK! When his 22 year-old is clearly going out of his mind in his first postseason appearance? Now maybe that idiot Froemming (who should be nowhere near a postseason game since he is one of the league’s worst umpires) would have said no. But you have to try. You just have to.
I sincerly hope it does not end on Sunday.
However, if Clemens struggles early due to inaction for a long time, Torre should get over this loyalty bullshi*t and summon Hughes or whoever in time before the game is out of reach.
Well, that time Torre cancelled BP, it seemed to work…maybe cancelling practice will have the same effect?
“Torre is not responsible for the bugs. But he is responsible for his reaction to the bugs—or rather his lack of a reaction. He should have argued vigorously that the game should be delayed, as the infestation was likely to be short-lived (it was). It certainly was more of a distraction than any rain shower. He admitted in the postgame that he didn’t even ask. DIDN’T ASK! When his 22 year-old is clearly going out of his mind in his first postseason appearance? Now maybe that idiot Froemming (who should be nowhere near a postseason game since he is one of the league’s worst umpires) would have said no. But you have to try. You just have to.”
Well said.
There are one too many situations like this where Joe is clueless and more so since Zimmer left.
Now, Torre apologists would say Zimmer did not win much, but the fact of the matter is that with him as bench coach Joe looked like a genius and he is lost and clueless since Zimmer left…..
They did stop the game before!! This has happened in the past!! Joe should have gotten off his butt and told them to stop the game.
http://tinyurl.com/2a6ajz
“Well, that time Torre cancelled BP, it seemed to work…maybe cancelling practice will have the same effect?”
Hope you are right.
But these gimmicks will take the team only that far.
Unltimately, during the game the manager has to manage right and place the team in a position to succeed and all these millionnaire players show some grit and produce. That is the only way to have success.
And I don’t want to hear how the other pitchers dealt with it. It was way worse when Joba was out there.
I believe it’s always a good call to cancel BP or workouts after deflating loses such as Friday’s game. It gives the players a chance to regroup and get away for a day. This is a smart move by Torre. They’ll come back like gangbusters.
I was more surprised that any batter didn’t object to batting when the bugs were at their peek. Would you want to face a 99 mph fast ball looking into those bugs. Or have the balls to stand there and hope the pitcher isn’t to blinded?
The umps should have held up the game until they cleaded out as they did anyway. Bad call by the umps!
While the bug situation was a mess, I still don’t think it is any excuse for the Yankees poor hitting of late. It makes me think that down the stretch, all of the crappy pitching they face hurts them in the playoffs. Don’t remember who they all faced against TB and Baltimore, but I don’t any of their pitchers had the stuff of Chubby and Carmona. Hope their bats wake up against Jake Westbrook.
They should have held up the game, no different then when rain is pouring down.
oh my gosh, no workout, no meeting? so what are the players going to do all day today?
“They did stop the game before!! This has happened in the past!! Joe should have gotten off his butt and told them to stop the game.
http://tinyurl.com/2a6ajz”
I wonder if there is a bigger reflection of Joe’s dumbness than this. There was a precedent where the game was stopped of all places in Cleveland. I give to Joe that he did not know it, just like almost all of us did not.
But, but, but, his answer was he wanted to make sure the Kid could see, instead of moving of his butt, argue with the umpire and get whatever advantage he could. How do you think a Lou or Billy would have handled it?
The weakness of this team is starting pitching. Gutsy starting pitching. ANdy is the only pitcher that doesn’t fall apart when he’s out there on the mound if something is going wrong. Wang falls to pieces, as does Mussina. Roger can at times, too, but he can also be pretty gutsy with a little less success than Andy has.
I fully believe the Yankees will put some fight into the rest of this series and it will go 5 games. If the underdog can beat the favorite two games in a row, then the new underdog can beat the new favorite 2 games in a row. Game 5 is going to be crazy. We can only hope that Wang or Pettitte can pitch, and pitch well.
This team needs IPK, Hughes, Chamberlain all to pitch well next season. If Andy doesn’t come back, we;re going to need an ace for this staff. Pitchers will be on the market this offseason and during the season for trades. We need to make some sound moves, even if it means giving up some big prospects (hopefully offensive ones). This team never has trouble finding offense with their cash, but pitching is certainly a rare commodity.
Have faith for the next few games. Roger can go 7-8 if the Indians aren’t patient. We’re going to have to use Mo and Joba again, and maybe Farnsworth. BUt let’s not panic with regard to Farnsworth. He could surprise us.
Who will start game 4? I have no idea. I kind of hope it is Moose because I know he’ll go out there with a plan and execute. We should DEFINITELY take him out in the 5th, regardless of the score, because he starts to falter from the 6th inning on. Hughes needs to be ready to throw 3-4 scoreless innings in relief. he showed some nasty stuff on thursday and he’s still got it in him now.
We need a hero this year. I think it’s Hughes.
Spend their money.
It’s two games, people. A two game offensive slump in October is no different than a two game offensive slump in August. These things happen.
Giving the team a little extra time away gvies them a good opportunity to recharge their batteries. The practice and workout strategies for the first 2 games haven’t worked. It’s a good idea to try something different.
Right, I have no doubt that Joe didn’t know this has happened in the past. But anyone could see he was unnerved by it. Also why would the other manager want his guys out there with a guy who can’t find the plate and is thrown 100?
More insight on buggate. I heard Chirs Basick last night on ESPN (not sure how he got that gig all he is really famous for is giving up Bonds Aaron breaking HR) He said that Carmona said he was not bothered by them at all. Basick said that Carmona had an advantage of Joba in that he had been pitching for 9 innings and had developed a ryhtm and was in a groove whereas Joba had only thrown 5 pitches and had not developed any kind of rhythm on the mound thus probably affected him more. No excuses but thought it was interesting.
In terms of the workout who cares they are doing the press conferences with Rocket and Torre that is all that really matters for MLB
I think and I hope if we win the next two you start to put a little doubt in Cleveland, maybe you get in their heads. Right now we are on our heals needing to win the next two. But if we can get the game back to Cleveland self doubt might start.
They know they stole last night from us. I firmly believe, if not for the bugs, we would have won the game 1-0. Joba pitched out of a jam the previous inning, so we know it wasn’t post season jitters.
Torre never does anything. He didn’t even ask for the game to be delayed. Suppose the game is delayed with 2 outs and a guy on third. They delay it, bugs are gone and Rivera comes in. Either way Rivera should have come in in that situation. Torre has tob e fired even if they win it all he deserves to be fired
gayle, they had the bug problem there before so they’ve learned to deal with it. I also heard they have bug problems where they come from, so they’ve learned to adapt.
Also were they bitting bugs? I mean they were making me itch and squirm watching them on him. I feel terribly for Joba.
He would have gotten it done. 
At the very least Torre should have gone out there with the intention of forcing the umps to get together to talk about it and if nothing else stall for a while to see if the problem lessened while that went on.
And as much as I love Jeter, that was embarassing watching him flail around like a little girl because bugs were getting on him.
Yeah Jeter was going nuts too, it seemed like they were all over Jeter and Joba.
Also were they bitting bugs
No but tbugs crawling all over you while pitching can’t help
What time is the press conference supposed to be? ESPN has in the corner NYY news conference 12:45. HMMM
RELAX PEOPLE!!!! Always looking to put the balme on somebody….Yanks took it on the chin in a hostile place and lost to 2 filthy pitchers…..If they can right the ship tomorrow and get a W under their belts, I think they will get to game 5 on Wed. Who said this was going to be easy? Clev is a very good team….that Perez out of the pen is nasty…..Ynaks are a great home team this yr and one win could change the momentum…Hopefully the bats get rolling and they Yanks take the next 2 and go back to Cleveland ready to hit and beat Sabathia in 4-3 masterpiece of a game!!!!
and if not……..Joe and AROD should still come back!!
Oh never mind, just re-read Pete’s post, it is the time for Roger to appear. Espn is making it seem like it is a special news conference.
Bob-
You’re making some of the most annoying posts I’ve ever seen on this blog. You’re worse than the trolls. If you’re not going to hold out hope than go start your off-season early and stop posting your negativity.
If Yankess win tomorrow, which I beleive we will, then Cleveland will most likely bring Sabathia on 3 days rest to close the deal knowing that Carmona is avaialble on full rest for the 5th game.
cleveland would bring sabathia back on 3 days rest IF they were down 2-1. since they are up 2-1, assuming the yanks win tomorrow, which they probably won’t, they’ll use bryd.
Andy is being a good teamate. He’s making excuses for Joba. Pointed out he was sweating, and had the off spray running down his arms.
Asking about him coming back next year. with or without joe. Said he has to think about it, will factor in EVERYTHING. Joe would factor into it.
Damn a holes. they cut away from Andy.
Andy is a great teamate. We need him to be back next year!!
Why would MLB care if the Yankees cancel their workout or not?
Yesterday was a heartbreaker. F’n bugs!! I didn’t even know stuff like that happened outside of third-world countries!
Anyway it is good to see the optimism on here. Makes me feel refreshed as I watched last night’s game with all Philly fans who are the most negative people in the world and think everyone is doomed!
We’re not doomed. We’re just in the same situation we’ve been in all year – gotta come from behind when everyone is counting us out. Can we do it? I don’t know. But I know we’re going home, the SQUIRREL WILL BE THERE, and our boys are going to show some passion and fire no matter what!
Thats just what I have to believe right now. The baseball gods didn’t answer my prayers last night but that doesn’t mean they’re never going to. Perhaps they just want us to win in the most dramatic way possible. All I know is I will be rooting for the team with everything I have, willing them to success as I know you guys will. This team has so much heart. NEVER SAY DIE. LET’S GO YANKEES!!!!
Clemens, Doug and Joe torre are up next.
Jennifer, good catch on that story. I am sure Torre did not know about it ahead of time. But a manager is suppose to MANAGE during the game, to react to game events and do his best to give his team an opportunity to perform at the levls they are capable of. Torre does not do this as much as he should and last night he failed miserably. No, this is not Torre bashing, Pete. It is a statement of fact. When your 22 year-old rookie is being driven insane by bugs, you gotta try and do something. As I said, you have to try. Even if Froemming said no, you buy time and maybe, just maybe, you animate your team.
Just a reminder, in 95′ I ran around the Stadium chanting SWEEP! SWEEP! and we all know what happened, they got swept out in Seattle.
What channel is it on?
This year, I agree, at least just ask. Than you might have recourse or you can face Cash and say you asked and they declined. But to sit and not say a word!! thats just wrong!
Gotta agree, This Year. Last night I kept thinking of Billy and what he would do in that situation. Even wondered a bit what Girardi would have done. Maybe next year we will find out?
I don’t mean anything against Torre – I have enormous respect for him and that doesn’t change even when I disagree with his decisions ala last night. I will always wonder what would have been if he had done something though.
One last point on this bug/Torre issue. I find it comical that reporters like Pete do not ask Torre these questions. I give credit to the one who did ask Torre if he requested the game be delayed. But when Torre said no, how can you not ask “Why the #*#* not?” Or, to be more delicate, “Don’t you think in retrospect that it would have been a good idea to ask the game be delayed because it was clearly affecting your rookie’s performance?” Never ever see that, they are so scared of getting the “Glare”. So if you want to accuse me of Torre bashing, Pete, please explain why you did not ask that JOURNALISTIC question.
Mike NYY hit the nail right on the head. Torre saw the bugs were bothering Boba and admitted it after the game. Stand up for your team and make a stink about delaying the game. And the umpires were wrong. That was not a minor irritation. In the Bottom 8/Top 9 there were so many bugs out there and they were all over Joba. Maybe if Joe pushes, the umps do delay the game a bit.
Moreover, even if there was no delay, when you see Joba struggling, and clinging to a one run lead late in the game, it’s time for Rivera.
We all know that the offense was inept last night and that’s not on Torre, but if he made some different moves in the 8th we might have won that game.
WHOA, Roger said I probably would have pulled us off the field. Talk about an idictment on JOE.
This whole thing about such and such player will not come back if Joe is not brought back should stop. It is total non-sense.
As much as we love them, first and foremost all these players are for themselves and maximize the money they get. Yankess will never underbid for thier services. If they do, it means Yanks do not beleive in their future value just like Red Sox did with Damon.
If they want to go somewhere else instead of staying with Yanks just because the manager was gone, so be it. I can not beleive the statements here that they would prefer to to go to a new organization, a new manager, new team mates,…. just because the manager is different with Yankees. That too given it is almost certiain the new manager will be (if at all Joe is gone) Girardi or Mattingly both known quatities to the the players.
Also, remember that both Mo and Posada are towards the end of thier careers.
WHOA, Roger said I probably would have pulled us off the field. Talk about an idictment on JOE.
Wow, what channel is it on?
Yeah, not putting in Mo when he saw that Joba was struggling was the biggest issue for me. Indeed we could have won that game.
I think it is high time for a managerial change but I keep thinking about what Pete wrote that if Joe leaves, Mo and Jorge could leave too due to loyalty. Does everyone else think that would really happen? I have trouble imagining them doing that to Jeter, but you never know. The idea of Mo and Jorge not being in pinstripes literally makes me nauseous. Is it worth it to bring Joe back so they will stay? Would it even come to that?
Vader, the key difference from ’95 is that if we somehow win the next 2 games, we go back to Midgeville. Not the case then. Which gives me the thought, what happens if we do win games 3 and 4 and go back to Cleveland and that Jobian (like the double play on words?) recurs. Do you think Torre is not out there asking for the game to be delayed? Of course he is. This is the compelling proof (yes I am a lawyer) that his ability to react to in-game events is sorely limited– especially since Zim was banished. During April and May when everyone was getting hurt, I emailed friends, “What’s next, locusts?” Guess I was right, although the specimum of insect was a bit off. Back to drinking after 12 hour hiatus.
It is on espn news, and i’m sure they will post it online.
“One last point on this bug/Torre issue. I find it comical that reporters like Pete do not ask Torre these questions”
With due respect to Pete (I like this blog, and Pete puts in lot of effrot into it unlike any othe blog for which I am thankful):
When did Pete ask tough questions to Joe Torre? To the contrary, when people here quesiton Joe’s actions, he is one of the biggest Torre’s apologists. Sory to say this, but it is a fact. On the other hand, I do recognize that the reporters do not want to get in Joe’s doghouse as they have a job to do and thier papers will fire them if they do not have good relationship with the officials of the teams they are convering. Typically, TV guys are more aggressive.
BBFan, you answered my question before I even posted it. Thanks for your input. I hope with every breath in my body that you’re right and the idea that Mo & Po would leave if Torre wasn’t brought back is indeed nonsense. They NEED to stay no matter what. This team NEEDS them.
Thanks jen
Doug is up next.
Why did they cancel the workouts? What did the over paid super stars need the day off…? In 2 days they will have 5 months off.
Anyone know what time the Stadium gates open tomorrow? I’m getting there as early as possible to show A-Rod that some Yankee fans appreciate what he’s done for this team and want him to return even if he goes 0 for 21 this post-season.
It’s tough to thrive when you only have one round each season in which to prove yourself.
All I can say is that for Game 3, Torre better put someone formidable behind A-Rod to protect him, and it better not be Matsui. A-Rod won’t get anything in the zone to hit and if Matsui continues to slump A-rod will continue to swing at pitches out of the zone.
I know Matsui has been a great post-season, clutch hitter but Joe has finally has to accept he’s either injured or slumping or both and A-Rod needs better behind him.
Everyone on deck tomorrow, Hughes, Moose.
Doesn’t know who is pitching game 4. We win game 3 first.
TV greed played a part in the game being delayed by the umps. Even with no bugs, the umps are on notice to keep the game moving so the ratings don’t suffer. Even though TNT is a sister network to TBS, they wanted assurance of having the Boston / L.A. markets in place without any interruption such as the end of game analysis without those damned commercials. God forbid that would ever happen.
BBB,
I sincerely believe that both Mo and Posada will be back irresepctive of what happenns with Joe. They will retire as life long Yankees (one team career which is very rare these days). Cashman will do every thing possible to bring them back.
Regarding Joe, I do not want him back, does not meean my wish will be fullfilled. He outlived his usefulness as a manager and we need some one that can manage in-game better. I am not sure if Mattingly is that person. May be Joe Girardi. Time will tell.
Cash is out there now. Has his kid up there with him.
Jenn, what station is broadcasting this?
Kill-Schill – I agree with you about supporting Alex, both fan-wise and batting order -wise. Matsui isn’t getting the job done now, not to say he isn’t going to hit again, it’s just not happening now. Unless Alex feels he’s got protection from the No.5 hitter, he will press, expand his strike zone, and we’ve seen what that does. Whether it’s Giambi, Cano or whomever Joe and Donnie think is best, but it’s got to be someone who the Cleveland pitcher sees as dangerous.
I’m watching online, it isn’t on espn.
go to yankees.com you’ll see a link for it.
His kid is wearing a giambi t-shirt.
I dont understand why everyone is going crazy about who is batting after Arod. Does it really matter??? Arod came up twice yesterday with a runner on 2nd, in the 4th and 9th and he struck out both times. It is not like they walked him both times and pitched to the person behind him and they killed them. With 1st base open both times, they said Arod we dare you to get a hit and once again he couldnt do it. So who bats behind him doesnt matter. They are coming right after him and once again he spit the bit.
After sleeping on it last night, I think what happened in the 8th inning is as severe an indictment of Joe Torre as anything in recent years.
He should have had Posada delay the pitches as much as possible. He should have been filibustering with the umpires. He should have threatened to pull his team from the field. There are hundreds of stall tactics he could have attempted.
Do you honestly think MLB would award the Indians a forfeit if Joe Torre pulled his team from the field until the bugs went away?
They would never decide a playoff game on a forfeit. The worst thing that would happen would have been a fine or suspension of Torre. With what was occurring on the field, I’m sure the Yankees would have been cool with that.
It’s a disgrace that he didn’t act. He did nothing. I think since Zimmer has left the bench, this kind of inaction has been rampant.
I still think the Yankees are going to get this to game 5 and then it’s a toss up.
But I’m finally ready for the Joe Torre era to come to a close. There are a hundred things he could have done last night in a nightmare freakish situation in the 8th to protect his players and he instead chose to do nothing but hold Jeter’s bat.
I know the players aren’t hitting and that’s not Torre’s fault. He’s not telling them to hit, but for his lack of action, his lack of understanding and admitting that Matsui right now is a shell of his former self and not a 5th place hitter, he is going down in flames right in front of our eyes. I think he subconsciously wants out, because there is no other baseball reason why he would put his worst hitter right now to protect the league MVP and no reason why he would let his players play on a field when they are being attacked by bugs when other games in the history of baseball have been delayed for such events.
The sad thing is, I don’t think Torre is astute enough to know that other games got delayed by things like this. You cannot have your in game manager be that clueless.
Shame on him. He’s going down in flames and he’s pouring the gas on the fire.
I hope this team can overcome him, since they are better than this and they can win this series. I still believe in the team.
I am aghast at Joe Torre.
Where’s the link? I must be retarded.
Gates open 2 hours before gametime
Rogers press conference was somewhat bizarre I think. he didnt really seem to answer the questions posed. Sweeny asked about his emotions being too high and being amped up and all he talked about was coming back from the inuuries
Pete or Tyler Kepner asked him what he could impose on the young guys about being in this positon and the asnwered about some of his favorite post season memories.
Re asking about the bugs and Torre he was asked the specific question last night about pulling the team when the question has been asked an answered there is no need to press the question again they are reporters not fans who think they can berate someone
Right on the front page, where it says the yankees lost, look right below it in the same window. it says press conference.
Baseball Channel TV, right? I got it.
I got it. Jen. Thanks.
this tean has no heart…they are a joke to root for its the same thing every year.
no problem
Peter,
why Torre did not TELL Joba to CLAIM he could not see homeplate because of the bugs? Then the umpires would have had to make a decision about delay of game Let’s not forget that MLB HAS a rep in every playoff game to help the umpires with a tough decision such as delay of game.Tough questions are part of covering a team. Why be tough on A-Rod and not Torre. His famous ” cold stare”? Put on dark glasses.Torre blew an opportunity to help his team.
Doug texting Alex about keeping his head up.
guys, bottom line is we’ll win game 3 tomorrow, thats all that matters. who cares about any of the other games. take it 1 game at a time and we’ll be FINE. we’ve been in MUCH worse shape than this before. considering this season, we’ve been in a hole all year. look at 96 in atlanta, we did that on the road. look at the 2 indians pitcher’s we’re facing and we’re going to be throwing clemens and probably wang out there. our hitters need to bang out with their wang out and we’re golden. don’t lose hope yet.
Talking about *win today* thats it.
Joked, they were wearing Derek Jeters cologne thats why they were all over them.
Just stopping by to check the ledges.
I heard a pitcher, don’t remember who; talking about being in a close game, with men on base and the pitching coach came out to the mound. The interviewer asked him what the pitching coach said at a time like that. The pitcher said the coach asked him if he had every thrown a pitch for a really great unhittable strike. The pitcher said yes and the coach told him, well now would be a good time for you to do that.
Same goes for the Yanks. Have they ever won 1 game? Yes. Well now would be a good time for them to do that. Have they ever won 3 in a row? Yes. Well now would be a good time for them to do that.
We have all witnessed an amazing season that many thought would be made up of meaningless August and September baseball. Instead we will be watching meaningful October baseball. Those who are writing off this season now are the same ones who wrote this team off in June. No one can forsee if this season is going to end pretty; or if it is going to end ugly; but one thing we know is it’s never a dull moment with this team.
For those of you lucky enough to have tickets to tomorrows game, cheer extra loud for those of us who don’t and for the fans of the 22 other MLB teams that wish they were watching their team play. And win or lose, give the guys a big hand at the end of the game to show how much we’ve appreciated the ride they’ve taken us on.
BBFan,
I agree completely. If you go back and look at all the games in any given season, especially recent ones, it seems like there are always 5-10 more games we would have won if the bullpen was managed better. 9 times out of 10 it is about improper use of Mo, meaning Joe NOT bringing in the greatest reliever of all time in the most high leverage situation. I know Mo is loyal to Joe, but he’s also smart. If the Yanks were to bring in a manager that would consistently give him chances to pitch with the game on the line, in those “give up a run and you lose” situations, maybe he wouldn’t object as loudly as many people think.
Also, Jorge ditching his BFF Jeter to go to the hated Mutts? I just can’t see that happening unless it’s about money, which I can’t imagine it would be.
Girardi is the guy I want managing next year. First off it’s always best to have a former catcher IMO. Secondly, if things go bad with Girardi, Donnie could always take over. But as of now I’m not sure he’s ready yet, Girardi has more experience and if Donnie were to struggle the papers and even some fans would rip him a new you know what, and I don’t think I could handle seeing my childhood idol booed and maligned like that!
If we lose to Westbrook, blow up the team, no mo, no posada, no arod.
we should see a game 4.
Blaming it on the bugs is not an excuse. It didnt bother Carmona, Perez or Mo. If Mo gave up a run he wouldnt of said well the bugs were bothering me. Whether nerves got to him who knows. But Joba had to do a better job then walking the lead of hitter on 4 pitches, then 2 wild pitches. And if it was the bugs and Torre saw how much Joba was struggling he should of went to Mo. A must win and you have the greatest closer of all time in the bullpen and a struggling rookie on the mound. Especially after that line drive out to Mienk. he had to get Joba out of there and bring in Mo. Mo could of got the 4 outs, he went WAY too long with Joba who was crapping his pants.
kill schill:
i’m with you one hundred percent on going out and letting arod know that real fans still appreciate he did for the team this year and want him to stay. be loud and try to get some major MVP chants going during his ab’s.
Unfortunately, you know that Torre is not going to take Matsui out. His quote in one of p-abe’s articles this morning is ridiculous. Basically, he’s saying that Matsui is unpredictable, so he feel’s he will get out of his slump at any time and then bam! Um, you can’t say something like that and be serious can you. I mean wer’e not talking about spirituality here, we’re talking about baseball. It’s not a faith issue, it’s a logical managerial issue. I don’t care if Torre has respect for Matsui, don’t anybody come on here and tell me that for the last month you’ve looked forward to Matsui’s at bats. Personally, I’ve dreaded watching him than worrying about the bullpen.
Also, to say that a hitter is streaky is all well and fine during the regular season when there’s an ebb and flow of 162 games. But this is not the regular season. He can’t wait for Matsui to suddenly get hot when he’s lounging at home in Japan during the winter!!
torre let him die on the hill. the kid was incredibly uncomfortable. his effort was heroic, all things considered.
one tired of all words and no action. the reaction should have been visceral, to take care of the kid.
also troubling, no emotional preparation for the games, veterans flailing open loop just like last year, and the year before and the year before. they have to be led, and there had/has to be more forced integration betwen the older and younger guys, because the playoffs are akin to a new season, and this must come from the top.
we’re running the “brother in law of the year contest,” where the nicest guy around the barbeque wins. lovely, but not here and not now. there needs to be more of a game plan, more of a demonstrated, rather than declared, commitment to winner, something more visceral, and that effort and discipline is born of desire and starts at the top.
they’ve got one day to fix it. will be interesting to see if they pull it out. regardless, torre & company may be toast. seems the tank is empty, and when there are no visceral responses to adversity, no protective instincts demonstrated, and not enough hunger to force-feed some leadership on the front end. “sitting there” is not enough.
Hey guys… anyone know where I can find some info on bugs delaying or affecting the outcome of a baseball game – or any other strange things like the bugs we saw last night? I am writing an article on this… Thanks!
You know, I hear everyone blaming Joba for letting the bugs get to him a bit, but I am putting the blame on Jorge Posada that inning and here’s why:
#1: Even though he has had a superb offensive season, he is consistently letting balls he should block get away from him. By the way, Sizemore scored on two wild pitches that I think Posada should have nabbed.
#2: Sizemore wouldn’t have even got on base were it not for an accurate throw from Jorge to first.
The Yankees will win the 2007 World Series!
And for all you nervous nellies out there, GET A GRIP! This thing is not
over by a long shot. Cleveland will not be in our house to celebrate. They
will be there to be vanquished.
Game 3: Yankees 6 Cleveland 4
Game 4: Yankees 9 Cleveland 1
Game 5: Yankees 5 Cleveland 4
Yankees win the division series 3-2.
DONE.
Now, I’m not a huge believer in hocus-pocus, but baseball has a grand tradition of curses — the Red Sox curse, of course, and the current Cubs curse. My fear, my deep fear, is, yes, that the Yankees now have a curse. I mean this. The collapse in the 2004 ALCS was the biggest choke in baseball history. Since then — three full seasons later — the Yanks have not won a single post-season series. I am a deep, true, lifelong Yankees fan — they can have 50 consecutive sub .500 seasons and I’ll still root for them — but I have a horrible suspicion that the curse that was once on the Red Sox is now with the Yankees. How else to explain the crazy nose dive that everyone’s numbers seem to take in the post-season? Even Joba now has something like a 5.50 ERA in the post-season! Help.
After the game winning hit, the cameras showed shots of the Yankee dugout and Torre heading for the tunnel to the visitor’s clubhouse. I had the feeling right there that it would be the last time he’d be seen in a Yankee road uniform. I’d like to be 100% wrong but all indicators point to this being his last year.
Don Mattingly is a Torre clone and Joe Girardi didn’t turn down the Baltimore job without reason. He’s been perched in the broadcast booth looking over what he’s about to inherit. This team is getting younger and needs new direction.
Should we delay games now because the wind may be blowing hard? Sprinkling a bit? Too hot? Too cold?
How about this for game 3:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Arod 3B
Posada C
Giambi DH
Cano 2B
Melky CF
Minky 1B
The problem is they are so role-oriented, even this slight change may not spark anything. I’ve been thinking about all kinds of crazy scenarios, but this is th only thing I see Joe doing, and even this for him would be a stretch because he loves hideki so much. Any other combos?
“#2: Sizemore wouldn’t have even got on base were it not for an accurate throw from Jorge to first”
Sizemore struck out and ended up at 1st because of the passed ball in MO’s inning in the 10th. Joba actually walked Sizemore to start the 8th.
Let’s not blame anyone. Give Sabathia and Carmona their due. Their pitchers were more dominating than ours, and with the bugs, they got a little lucky. End of story.
Perhaps, one can quibble with Joe’s lineup decisions, like his stubborn loyalty to Matsui, and not playing Shelley, a right-handed against Sabathia, but last night I can’t imagine it would have made a difference. Carmona was practically un-hittable.
We have to knock out Westbrook and Byrd early and then count on Wedge making one of his characteristically foolish managerial decisions.
Pete
You are 0-1 today. It’s after 2 and no interviews are posted.
I hope to God that none of you who are going to Yankee Stadium tonight decide to boo A-Rod if he doesn’t hit. Just remember that NO ONE hit the ball last night except Melky Cabrera.
TEAM game.
Like Jeter said on Thursday: “We, we, we.”
And something needs to be done to abolish the best of 5 ALDS series. Too much hinges on anomalies. The ALDS should be expanded to a best of 7.
Larry: Uh, I’m hoping that no one’s going to Yankee Stadium tonight; they’re liable to get arrested for trespassing, seeing as there’s no game!
Rocket wore burnt orange today. HOOKEM! Man what a rough night. That’s great news that CMW gets the call in game 4. LETS GO YANKEES!
I believe today is the day the Congratulations are in order for IPK as it is his wedding day. Hope all can enjoy
Funny Rebecca, I was thinking the same thing. ACtually, I was thinking “Did I miss something? Sweet! Another game TONIGHT!!!”
The City of Cleveland must be up in arms. Definitely not a Chamber of Commerce delight with a national audience wondering what kind of hellhole Cleveland is with all those bugs.
Many will wonder if Cleveland is the corporate headquarters and research / distribution center for “Off” products.
“Doug texting Alex about keeping his head up.”
Awwww. I’m sure I’m not the first to post this in the past couple days, but I’d just like to say that I love this team. And no matter what happens I will always have love for them and fond memories of the season. They gave us the most exciting 3 months of baseball we could have hoped for when everyone thought they were all but dead and buried.
Oh and yes, congrats to IPK on his wedding today. Can’t wait till we have the awesome triumverate of him, Hughes and Joba starting playoff games. It will be SICK!! And it will happen thanks to Cash turning the organizational philosophy around. In Cash we trust!
Indeed! Congratulations to IPK are in order!
THE BUGS.
The likelyhood of another occurance similar to last night’s infestation or hatch as it should be more appropriately termed happening this Wednesday evening about the same time is highly probable. I am not an entomologist but I do know and will share with you what we saw and can expect. First of based on the hundred or so midges I saw on the back of Joba’s neck they appeared to of the species Baetis vagans.
This particular bug lives 364 days out of the year as a crawling insect on the bottom of a Lake, stream, river or pond, in this case Lake Erie. One day out the year this insect rises to the surface, sheds it skin and then transforms into a fly, then flies off the water to land, a tree, bush whatever and wait until usually early evening when they cluster into clouds in the air flying in a circular motion and have sex (referred to by Trout fishermen in this stage as spinners). In the transformation to a mayfly they have no mouths or eyes, they have 24 hours to get it done and no time for BS or backtalk, sounds like a much better deal then we have.
The females then return to the body of water at night and die on the surface filled with eggs which if not eaten by trout or other species sink to the bottom to begin the cycle all over again.
The lake water temperature is what triggers a hatch of a certain species, and once a hatch of a species begins it usually occurs at about the same time daily, although some days may be skipped and the lenght of the hatch lasting anywhere from 1 week to 18 days.
The bugs were not trying to bite the ballplayers, they were trying to have sex but were rudely interrupted by the Indians and the Yankees.
When this particular hatch started is anyone’s guess, it is impossible to stop, on and if Wednesday the game start time could be changed to circumvent it, or they could treat it as a rainstorm in a delay as in most cases it would last only 2 hours.
Funny comment above about the perception of Cleveland now due to the bugs. I always associated Ohio with “jorts” (if you don’t know, google it), now add one more to the list. My wife was thoroughly disgusted last night (both at the ending of the game and of course the bugs). Still. Not gonna make excuses. CLE had to deal with the same nastiness that our boys had to deal with. Good experience for Joba.
Rebecca, you know what I meant. Tonight, tomorrow, whenever.
As soon as the first boo begins (and I actually believe the Yankees will kill the ball tomorrow night), Yankee so-called-fans will be running out of town an integral part of their future.
Yes, yes, yes, I know, “only the postseason matters”…yes, yes, yes, we all know. I hope all of you also know that we wouldn’t even be in the postseason or having this conversation right now if A-Rod wasn’t on the team.
“Yes, yes, yes, I know, “only the postseason mattersâ€?…yes, yes, yes, we all know. I hope all of you also know that we wouldn’t even be in the postseason or having this conversation right now if A-Rod wasn’t on the team.”
Amen!!! Anyone who is going to the game tomorrow PLEASE cheer Alex extra loud to drown out the idiocy of certain “fans” who have their craniums firmly implanted in their posteriors where A-Rod is concerned!
BBB,
Nicely put. Reading articles about the end of Torre, A-Rod leaving, Posada and Rivera being reluctant to stay, etc…we need to focus on Sunday and Sunday only. As a team, win as a team, back up the Rocket, and throw everything out there. We will win tomorrow, mark my words.
during the postseason, there is a moratorium on teams making trades. Maybe we can extend it to fans speculating about the future, who should stay or go, etc? You know, wait UNTIL your team’s out of it. Gotta keep rooting to the end. There’s no harm in believing for at least another day. What are you going do otherwise, root for Cleveland?
this whole thing about Posada and Rivera leaving if Joe leaves is ridiculous. They’ll walk away from the only organization they’ve known? Away from teammates they’ve known almost as long, away from a core of young guys that have revitalized this team like no veteran free agent that’s come here since 2000? Uproot their families? All for one guy? They’ve been hearing the questions about Torre being fired for a few years. If it happens, they won’t be shellshocked. They know the old cliche: “managers are hired to be fired”
Look, if they leave, it’s because they weren’t treated with respect accorded to a long time productive employee (like Pettitte in 2003) or because the money isn’t there. Not because Joe Torre isn’t there. Certainly, they have an allegiance to Joe that is not to be ignored but really, this isn’t a soap opera.
BBB from 3:17,
absolutely dead on about supporting A-Rod. The guy puts enough pressure on himself w/o the fans putting in their 2 cents at the first bad swing.
A-Rod needs to put up or shut up in ( hopefully ) the next 3 games against Cleveland. His approach in game one ( pass the baton, if they don’t pitch to me ) needs to be reinstated for games 3, 4 and 5. We will be facing 2 VERY BEATABLE pitchers and with Clemens and hopefully Wang on short rest, with Moose in the wings for games 3 and 4,,,,we have a very good chance to knock out CC and drive up his pitch count in a game 3, especially seeing him for the 2nd time in sich a short period of time. Andy will come up HUGE and this time, Joba, Joba, Mo…in 7,8,9 will get it done. It all starts with Sunday, and I expect that Yankees and Rocket to Moidalize Westbrook ( BUM ! ) and the Indians….GO YANKEES…it is FAR FROM OVER !!!
_Roger’s press conference was somewhat bizarre_
Gayle, that’s just Roger, he doesn’t necessarily respond in a linear fashion.
I can identify with that. it’s like quasi-ADD. a number of players have it, that’s how he was able to execute that double play against the Tigers on the attempted double steal.
He was the same way during his press conference after his surprise return.
Also, remember how Buster Olney reported Roger is like a big kid, cuz he has the hyper energy of one of the baby bombers. That goes to the ADHD point.
LETS TAKE 1 GAME AT A TIME. LETS ROCK THE THE PARK ON SUNDAY. WITH WHO WE FACE WE CAN GET THIS TO GAME 5 THEN THE PRESSURE IS ON CLEV. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THIS TEAM WE MADE THIS FAR. GO YANKS
A couple of semi-objective observations.
(1) ARod has had plenty of strikes to hit. He has offered at a couple of borderline pitches, but he has had hittable balls in each at bat. Some people are acting as though he is being given nothing to hit. Entirely untrue. He has simply not made the pitcher pay when the pitch is in the strike zone. IN the nine pitch at bat against Carmona, 5 pitches were over the plate, and the “bad” ball he swung at was just off the corner (after being in the strike zone for 58 feet).
(2) All year, on balance, it doesn’t matter WHO (i.e team or pitcher) the Yankees play ….. it does matter WHERE they play. They are a .500 team on the road, and a .680 team at home. I’m sure they hit MUCH better at home. With that in mind, their bats will defrost in the next two games.
They are not “in a collective slump.” This is their statistical pattern.
But Sabbathia (or Carmona) in Cleveland for Game 5 will probably reinforce the away statistical pattern.
Brian (Red Sox Fan)-
true.
I brought this up before game 1, the yanks are 6-4 at the Jake, over the last 3 years, but 9-2 at Yankee stadium.
its not as if they were blown-out yesterday. They were one gnat-induced-wild-pitch from a split.
Even then, ball didn’t skip back to the backstop, it took a fortunate hop and boomeranged back towards posada. The runner (Clevelands’ faster runner) beat Jaba to the plate by six inches. Had it been someone else, it would have been out number three. That’s why baseball is great and at the same time heartbreaking – a symmetrical game that constantly produces asymmetrical results.