Yankees talk the talk before Game 3
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- October
- 6
Joe Torre, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Doug Mientkiewicz and Brian Cashman were made available to reporters today. Torre and Rocket had to be there under MLB rules. Minky and Pettitte were good enough to sit down and help out.
Torre said he was considering using Jason Giambi as either the first baseman or DH. He is 6 of 14 with two homers against Westbrook, so that makes sense. Hideki Matsui 5 of 11, so maybe Mientkiewicz (5 for 21) sits.
Clemens was his usual confident self. “Bottom line is for me to get the ball to the next starter,” he said.
Here are the complete press conferences from Yankee Stadium …
Joe Torre:
Roger Clemens:
Doug Mientkiewicz:
Andy Pettitte:
Brian Cashman:
—————
Meanwhile, in a totally random event today, former St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca was on the same flight from Cleveland.
Coach was coming back from a clinic he did for Nike. My first job out of college was covering UConn basketball for a paper in Connecticut and he was one of the great characters of the Big East at the time. He was a great coach and a funny guy, a real New York legend.
I went over to say hello and we had a nice conversation. Carnesecca is 82 now and a huge Yankees fan. “You watch,” he said. “They’ll get back in this thing. Joe Torre is from Brooklyn, St. Francis Prep. I remember when he was a kid. He knows what to do.”
So there you go. Trust Coach Carnesecca.
That’s it for the blogging today. I’m pretty wiped out and have a story to do. Check back tomorrow, we’ll have updates all day on Game 3. Get that squirrel up that pole.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, October 6th, 2007 at 2:53 pm by Peter Abraham.
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lets go yanks
Cleveland unleashed the midges… so it’s time for us to unleash scooter.
Get up that pole bud, we’ve got work to do. I’ll hand deliver a bushel of peanuts from Albany if that little rat can help get this ship righted.
Series is over. But if you really want to discuss “game” 3, it doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup, whether with Big G or one Arod with 8 Reggie Jacksons. They just would not perform. It psychological at this point.
Hey, Pete,
I was figuring your first job was up in watertown, ny!
I found this online:
Squirrel’s Message:
The idea of insurmountable obstacles is not part of Squirrel’s viewpoint; nor is giving up. Squirrel is a powerful totem to call on at any time when you feel stuck in your life or in a project and ready to give up. Its medicine teaches us that perseverance and the willingness to adopt different methods are the keys to success.
It is probably no coincidence that squirrels are found wherever humans live. Perhaps they are here to give us the message: “Don’t give up; lighten up.”
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/power/poweranimals/squirrel.html
Yankees in five. That’s all there is to it. Yankees in five. This can’t be the year that the bugs beat us. That would be unacceptable. They can take three straight. They can. Yankees in five.
It was a fun season. I’ll tune in for the first inning, just to see Clemens pitch, but I don’t have high hopes, at all.
I thought it was criminal that the game wasn’t delayed last night.
Torre says the team has to concentrate on winning. Does that mean they concentrated on losing the 1st 2 games ?
C’mon Joe, ya gotta come up better analogy than that. How about some encouraging vibes.
I am still in depression-mode from last night… I wish today wasn’t a day off for them, I think that might make things worse – they have so much trouble getting out of their own heads.
there still no reason to give up, though. 2 at home is great for them, and if they win those 2, we know they love theatrics and can win in CLE!!!
Sorry. Trading away Arod would be one of the worst decisions this organization has ever made. I, for one, do not want to sit around in 2008 and watch Alex put up 50 homers and 145 RBI’s for another team (God forbid for Boston), while we have some Joe Crede-type replacement putting up half those numbers.
It’s also ignoring the postseason problems we had BEFORE ARod was even here. Why were the Yankees eliminated in 2001,2002, and 2003? Don’t give me the Joe Torre crap. They were eliminated in those years by Arizona, Anaheim and Florida because they were outpitched. Plain and simple. Call it whatever you want, but this team has been in an offensive slumber for many years, and ARod is just a scapegoat. Nobody hit last year. Nobody has hit this year. What’s the universal answer? Get rid of the best player in baseball. That’s stupid.
We need a pitching staff that can do to others what has been done to us. Perhaps we’re already starting down that road in ‘08.
AMEN, Darrin
For the “misery loves company” crowd, at least every other series is oh-two at the moment and the Cubs, Phillies, and Angels will be heading home soon, too. Cubs might win tonight. Phils-Rockies is a toss-up. I think Weaver will win a game for the Angels (last night they showed Jeff Weaver’s picture on TBS instead of Jered Weaver; luckily for the Angels they have the good Weaver). But that’s about it. I don’t think the Phils’ bullpen can keep the Rockies from scoring twenty runs. Webb will win his next start. And Beckett will probably dominate the hapless-when-not-playing-the-Yanks Angels.
Do you all hear Minky? WE NEED THE FANS NOW
Do your part. Be there. Be a part of 27 in 07.
Lou’s a great guy. Everytime I see him on campus, he’s a gentlemen. There should be more like him in the world.
Well put Darrin.
We need 5 Andy Pettittes.
Cheer up Yanx Chick. The Bronx atmosphere will rejuvenate the Bombers and bring them out of their funk.
Darrin:
So. Friggin’. True.
With our rotation in ‘08—at the least we’ll have Wang, Hughes, a healthy Kennedy and this kididunnoifyou’veheardofhim Joba….
I’ve been saying all along that I think we’re witnessing the birth of a dynasty.
The dynasty of the late 90s started with a loss-we lost to Seattle in 1995. Then we won three out of four and nearly four out of five…
We get an actual bullpen, no one’s going to want to play us next year…
Thank you Pete, for all that you do.
There’s no “trading away” A-Rod. Either he leaves or stays. You know, the last four post-seasons haven’t been his fault, but he can’t totally be exonerated either. He didn’t lose the games by himself, but he hasn’t helped his cause by not hitting. It would make things a lot easier if he picked up a hit and didn’t go down swinging like he did last night in a huge spot.
People talk about re-upping A-Rod like it’s a no-brainer, but you’re talking about a guy who is going to demand THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR (at least; Verducci was talking about having to give him a piece of the YES Network). Even for the Yanks, that’s a lot of money. They really have to examine if it’s worth it. I think it is and I would gladly extend him. But you can’t make a decision about something costing that much money without consideration. And if A-Rod puts up two more oh-for-fours then it might make Cashman think “we got bounced in the first round with you; we can get bounced in the first round without you.”
I hope A-Rod is here next year, but if he is or not will not solely determine how the Yankees’ future is shaped.
Having the best collection of talent means nothing, as we have been painfully reminded year after year.
What do all of you think of this starting nine/ batting order for the 2008 Yankees:
M.Cabrera CF S $500K
Sardhina RF L $380K (rookie minimum)
Jeter SS R $20M
Posada C S $15M (re-signed for 2 years & $30M)
Cano 2B L $600K
Betemit 3B S $440K
S.Duncan DH R $400K
M.Cabrera CF S $500K
A.Phillips 1B R $400K
Brett Gardner LF L $380K
Total cost:
$38.6M ($35 for Jeter & Posada + 3.6M everyone else.)
Let go of A-Rod.
Buy out then let go of Abreu.
Trade Damon and at least half his remaining salary.
Release Giambi.
Put Matsui on waivers so Seattle claims him a.s.a.p. cuz they need a DH and would want another Japanese star to go along with Ichiro and Johjima.
Whoops, take M.Cabrera out of the #7 slot.
Cabrera
Sardhina
Jeter
Posada
Cano
Betemit
Duncan
Phillips
Gardner
Homegrown, that is a terrible lineup and severely pales in comparison to what we have now. In fact, I think i could probably guarantee you that the Yankees finish in last or 4th with that lineup.
Our strength is our offense. Unless we’re getting some amazing starting pitching, why in the hell would we get rid of our best offensive players?
Anybody else getting the feeling that Giambi is going to have a great season next year?
I agree, alext. That lineup would be lucky to score 700 runs.
I couldn’t agree more with (almost) all of these comments, especially what Rebecca said about witnessing the birth of a dynasty. That is what I’ve been thinking all along too. In a year or 2 the front of our rotation will look as sick as Cleveland’s does now with Hughes, IPK and Joba. And then Pettitte and Wang as the 4 and 5 starters? I will take it, happily!
Cashman is moving this team in the right direction. Whether this year or not, it WILL happen for them. And even if they don’t win it all this year, hold onto these memories of the great, squirrel-infused 2007 season, because we are indeed witnessing the beginning of something VERY special. As they say in Almost Famous, “it’s all happening!”
Our hopes for 27 in 07 are still alive. M to tha Z is 100% correct, we need the fans. A-Rod has fed off their energy all year and will continue to do so. When I tune in from home tomorrow night, when the best player in baseball comes up to bat I want to hear the joint positively shaking with MVP chants!! GO YANKEES!!!!!
Homegrown, that lineup is terrible
Also if they release Giambi they still have to pay his cntract
Seattle doesn’t need a DH, they have Vidro, plus with Adam Jones and Vladimir Balentien, they have cheap in house options. Matsui is staying with the Yankees, deal with it. As for tomorrow night, he should be on the bench and pinch hit late.
4 great seats at Yankee stadium during the playoffs: 2nd mortgage on my home
Program, snacks and souveniers: whoops there goes the kids college fund
Watching Arod strike out with the potential winning run on base:
PRICELESS!
Guys:
A-Rod cannot be traded. Full NTC, no ifs, and or buts. If he comes back, it will be with a huge extension. He’s not getting traded. He either leaves or stays, period.
And stop coming up with bargain-basement lineups with minor league players. That is not what they are going to do. The Yankees make a lot of money and they spend a lot of money. A year before they move into a new stadium and need to sell suites and sponsorships, they’re not going to run a bunch of bums out there.
Nothing is getting blown up. They’ll have a payroll of 180-200 million and have as many stars as possible, A-Rod or no A-Rod.
We have something amazing here.
Appreciate it.
Yeah, that is a horrible lineup. Sorry to keep busting out with movie quotes but the line from Billy Madison comes to mind here – “I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Bobby’s option NEEDS to get picked up. And releasing Giambi is lunacy, you don’t just release a player that can still be one of the most vicious offensive machines in the game. I’d be more open to getting something back for him, but that won’t happen. We’re stuck with him one more year but I agree w/myrtlebeach that he’ll have a great 2008.
I’m also thoroughly uninterested in trading Damon. Maybe that seems like a great idea now but everybody would be crying next year when the average number of pitches per plate appearance from the leadoff spot was cut in half from what it is this year.
The only people I’d be open to trading are Moose and Farnsworth. If A-Rod does opt out, I kinda like Farns to Philly for Greg Dobbs, he’d be a lot better of an everyday 3b than Betemit.
I thought it was criminal that the game wasn’t delayed last night….... * that was home town cooking, right there ! *
It sounds like Minky is on the pine tomorrow for Giambino at 1st, no way Torre ever benches Matsui under any cicumstances so that Giambi DHs. It will never happen. If Giambi is in the game minky isn’t, bank on it. That means white knuckles every hit up the first base-line and don’t hold your breath waiting to to see a 3-6-3.
“At this point it’s hard to tell what they need more—a psychologist or an entomologist.”
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com
Amusing statement, making light of the situation. I hope our guys are good enough mentally to make it through. I see AROD being the hero of game 5 and 3&4 being offensive onslaughts by the Yanks.
I dont think it can go any other way.
Oh and also? Can we not do the whole “let’s send every Japanese player in the game to Seattle” thing? Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine.
Minky needs to stay in the lineup for his defense. Matsui is killing the team right now. Bench him. i`d actually like to see Molina get a star with Posada at DH
I agree Mike but Torre will never bench Matsui. I’m suspecting that the decision to play Matsui everyday is not Joe’s.
How would you all feel if we let go of A-rod(or he leaves on his own), but added Santana next year?
How would you all feel if we let go of A-rod(or he leaves on his own), but added Santana next year?
If we get Santana it means we`ve given up Joba or Hughes so it would be bad
MIke NYY – True, I forgot he wasn’t entering free agency.
LaRussa and Duncan in ‘08 will do better job then Bloe and Gator!
Pete, would you please blog Syracuse hoops after the Yanks win the series???
Really alext? Giambi and Damon are certainly NOT among the Yankees best hitters unless you consider a 36-year old strikeout king who bats under .260, strikes out 100+X/yr., and has been ravaged by steroids (Giambi) and an aging leadoff hitter who posts low BA and OBP (Damon) among the best hitters the Yanks have, I don’t. Duncan at DH and Gardner in LF would be breaths of fresh air after these two overpaid ($52M between them through 2009) clowns. A-Rod is a postseason chokeartist thus not worth what he wants, let him choke somewhere else. Matsui is a broken down 33 going on 43 old man who’s better days are behind him -no way he’s equalling or bettering his streaky, deceiving 2007 in ‘08. He has .255, 14 HR, 72 RBI thus garbage for his $13M/yr. salary written all over him for ‘08. Mel Freaking Hall II.
Posada is Posada. I see at least .280 BA, 20 HR, and 80 RBI with his usual high OBP from him. Jeter is Jeter. I see at least his career BA (.315), 15 HR, 80 RBI from him -a typical year. Cano and Cabrera will be a year older -I see them bettering their 2007s. That’s four solid players right there.
Betemit hit 14 HR between the Dodgers (10 HR) and Yanks (4), so 25 HR over a full season isn’t a stretch. He’s only 25.
Duncan hit 7 HR in
Couldn’t fall asleep last night…then at 5 am on one of the movie channels, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid came on. I’d never seen it before, but in the opening scenes Butch Cassidy, played by Paul Newman says this: ”...boy i’ve got vision and the rest of the world has bi-focals.”
We’ve gotta believe that the Yankees will come back. The will.
Now I know not everyone thinks we should get rid of him, but I’m not going to single anyone out. Matsui is playing hurt. Yes he had a highly erratic year but his numbers stack up. That said something needs to be done about him this series because he’s hurting this team. I think any talk of trade is ridiculous, try replacing 23 home runs, and 103 RBIs. Lets be god damn loyal.
No way Clemens doesn’t have Posada behind the plate in what could be his final start ever.
I keep thinkg that 3 games with Rocket, Wang, and Pettitte going that we really do have a shot. But then I always come back to, it isn’t that simple. There is something in these guys heads at this point. It will all come down to whether they can shake that and just play like they are capable of. I hope to God I’m wrong, but given what has happened past years, I just don’t have the confidence they can.
matsui will be fine in the long run. he’s not at 100% and should not be in the lineup, but thats not his fault.
They need to buy some BugZaPPers for game five.
it is matsui fault, if he’s not 100%
if he can’t go, he has to pul himself out of the line-up, like Wally Pip and the Iron Horse.
I kept thinking, don’t they launch fireworks at alot of these stadiums. Light off a few of those and maybe the smoke would have chased the bugs away? Or give Joba a big stogie to smoke while he was pitching. lol
“LaRussa and Duncan in ‘08”
Dave Duncan is THE MAN, but bringing him onboard also requires bringing LaRussa onboard, which I am not willing to do.
I think Girardi should manage next year and Dave Eiland should get some consideration for pitching coach. Gator’s done a GREAT job with Wang but look at the difference in how Hughes pitched without Eiland there and then with him – and Hughes is our future more than anyone else.
Speaking of pitching coaching though am I the only one who wishes we had never fired Stottlemyre? Does anyone know if he is still involved w/the organization in any capacity?
I wrote a piece on the bugs in Pete’s last entry. A midge is a mayfly, they have no mouths or eyes, they are in the mating stage. They don’t bite, that stage lasts we saw last evening lasts about 2 hours and could quite possibly happen again on Wednesday if the weather and the lake temperature are similar. Usually a hatch lasts 1 week to 18 days, meaning what we saw last night could occur daily for that length of time (2 hours) and the same time of day. Don’t know when it began. Hopefully things will cool off weather wise. Talk to any flyfisherman he’ll fill you in.
Unleash scooter ?
In the old days we’d unleash duracell. I can still see Dave Parker bobbing and weaving in the outfield.
Stottleneyre retired and is now helping out Arizona
Maybe make Eiliand the bullpen coach so he can still help out Hughes and we keep Gator on?
“We’ve gotta believe that the Yankees will come back. The will.”
Leonardo, Hemingway said it best in The Old Man and the Sea. “Have faith in the Yankees, my son! Think of the great Rodriguez.”
(edited slightly for passage of time, of course.
I have my doubts Alex will come through, he just can’t relax, tries too hard and puts too much pressure on himself. Look at the stretch he had with 499 home runs, same thing. After he hit 500 he was ok. He’s wrapped too tight.
We are going to win this guys. I feel the offense is going to explode tomorrow along with a great game from Rocket.
After that there will be no stopping us, we’ll become the hottest team and ride that wave all the way to the World Series.
homegrown, i’m sorry to tell you, that lineups sucks, my man. nice try, though.
I agree, the only game I’m worried about is number 5.
The game last night was a classic in every sense. Pacing the room, asking WTF it all means, blah blah blah. Bottom line though is we were outpitched. Andy was great; MO looked like the Mo of old. Unfortunately ,Joba was wild and it cost us. Their bullpen was better.
I cannot criticize the kid though. He’s been in the majors for what? 2 months? He saved the season for us and represents a very bright future.
Anyone who wants to see him stay in the bullpen (Francesa), is outta their mind. All great relievers with the exception of those switching mid or late career are guys who did not make it as starters.
The Yanks might as well keep AROD if they can. Peter is correct when he says the payroll will always remain high. Lets not kid ourselves about that.
I would love to see Giambi go. The YAnks came all the way back without him.
Abreau has done some very good things as a Yankee. Anybody remember the Massacre in 06?
Matsui should stay as well.
Now imhop the biggest bust on the NYY is old sexy calves himself, Johnny Damon.
This guy was signed to lead off effectively and play center field. Not to be an inconsistent hitter who needs to be replaced because he cannot throw home from shallow left.
I think that was the worst signing Cash has made.
It was bad enough when the Yankees got Boggs and then Clemens. But at least they did not represent Sox triumph over the Bombers.
Our pitching looks more promising than it has in years.
3 in a row is very possible. Go Yanks
Oh like Giambi isn’t a bum Peter? He is. He’s an old washed up steroids cheat who is so much that, he su cks so bad, he’s not even starting postseason games now. The Yankees shudder at the thought of him playing 1B. He made $20+M this year to ride the pine and fight Shelley Duncan for postseason ABs. Yeah, a real great guy to have. Duncan the career minor leaguer making who knows what peanuts compared to Giambi. I’d rather see him making $400K every day than a
$21M bust like Giambi.
Damon is another bum who told the press how he was “out of shape” going into 2007. Nice to hear that from a guy who signed a 4-year $52M contract after the first year of that contract. You were among the beat writers who reported that. He also ran his mouth whining about getting less playing time and the possibility of a trade. Maybe he should look at himself in the mirror and take a cue from Melky who outplayed him at every turn, took his job. Yeah, Bronson Sardhina who’s 24, has a strong arm, can play the OF well is a bum, right. Who replaced Damon in LF with bases loaded last night? Batting .270 like Damon did this year is not a difficult task, neither is posting his OBP.
Matsui is on the decline, you saw the last good year from him. He has killed the Yanks in two straight postseasons.
That alone should jettison him out of here.
A-Rod: 4 for 50 ZERO RBI in the postseason since 2004. ‘Nuff said.
Abreu did what he did cuz he was protected by A-Rod and I have to wonder about his work ethic: he’s playing for a club option, stinks, then turns it on. Hmmmm…lazy? Yep. He’s an awful RF, has limited power. You honestly think he’s posting another 16 HR and 101 RBi next year? Please.
Yeah, let’s go into next year and 2009 with them since it’s worked out so well. Pssssh.
Right Peter, they’ll spend $180-200M/yr. to keep embarassing themselves in the first round by teams who build from within with guys most people outside those cities/areas would know for a fraction of the price. So you’re saying the Yankees are the N.Y. Knicks of M.L.B. now cuz guess what? That’s what they’ve become: spend tons of money on overpaid, underachieving losers, just sell those luxury boxes to fake (Yankee) fans and people who buy them to entertain equally clueless clients, get in the postseason every year, and keep stealing more bond and taxpayer money doing so like M.S.G. does paying no property taxes.
Thanks for telling me the Yanks care more about making as much money as possible than winning.
B.t.w. Chamberlain is no lock whatsoever to be 15 or wins better next year wit ZERO M.L.B. starts under his belt and his outing last night negates 10 of his 19 regular season appearances. Tell Cashman to get a real bullpen next year so a kid doesn’t have to be its savior.
Thanks for the updates Pete. It gives the impression we are there. Hopefully the Yankees left their bats in OH and the new ones have some hits in them.
Oh while I think about it good bye A Rod.
Homegrown your CLUELESS!
homegrown in massachusetts.
It does no good right now to think about what ifs and play at being manager.
Right now the one thing the Yanks need more than anything else, is the support of their fans.
There’s no reason to act like this year’s over. Last time I checked, the LDS was a best of five series, not a best of three.
Wilson Betemit as the full time 3B? I guess that would be okay if you’re into a .220-.240 hitter with 180-200 strikeouts. You think Yankee Stadium fans will have the patience for that?
Also: In the event that the Yankees pull off a minor miracle and get their offense in gear and get this to a game 5 in Cleveland—don’t worry about the bugs. A cold front is expect to move into the midwest early next week. No muggy 80 degree temps in Cleveland on Wednesday (more like low 60s).
That all you can come up with “yanksin5”. Clueless is right, only not me -you and Torre.
Let’s look at each guy in this postseason Peter wants back next year:
Giambi: Riding the pine. Career minor-leaguer making a fraction of Giambi’s $20+M gets a pinch-hit AB before him. Useless.
Matsui: Killed the Yanks for the second straight postseason.
Damon: Smacked a homerun in his first at-bat but has vanished.
A-Rod: 0 for 6 with 3 popouts, 3 strikeouts, a walk, and an intentional walk.
Abreu: The only guy who’s shown up among the five but a hit a game isn’t exactly what I expected from a career .300 hitter. Again, A-Rod protects him, so it’s possible he could have two decent games at the plate.
But you all can live in denial and wave the navy and white pompoms like the rose-colored cheerleaders you are who bleat nothing in the way of a retort. Cleveland has to play only .333 ball now to send the Yanks home to their absolute worst A.L.D.S. exit under Torre. I mean this is 100X worse than last year, 2005, 2002, and certainly 1997. What’s the common thread with all these early exits? Torre and his awful bullpen and lineup decisions. He took Pettitte out after 93 pitches so he could have Pettitte for Game 5, but you have to play Games 2-4 first, Clueless. What’d you do, watch film of Lou Pinella in Game 1 of the N.L.D.S. Goodbye and good riddance to Torre, the lucky so-so and A-Rod the posterboy for “chokeartist”. Soon they’ll be a verb for choke: A-Rod.
“Man he aroded again.” “That guy’s an A-Rod bro.”
I can’t believe you all are talking about Game 5! let’s get Game 3 behind us first, please! before this series even started, many were talking about drawing Boston for the ALCS! love how Roger said that he would have delayed the game for the bugs or taken the team away for a while….contradicting what Torre did or didn’t do.
Homegrown, you are an absolute moron.
Go cheer for someone like Tampa Bay or Kansas City.
If you’re that big into having an all homegrown team, go watch some Trenton or Scranton games.
“October 6th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
What do all of you think of this starting nine/ batting order for the 2008 Yankees:
M.Cabrera CF S $500K
Sardhina RF L $380K (rookie minimum)
Jeter SS R $20M
Posada C S $15M (re-signed for 2 years & $30M)
Cano 2B L $600K
Betemit 3B S $440K
S.Duncan DH R $400K
M.Cabrera CF S $500K
A.Phillips 1B R $400K
Brett Gardner LF L $380K
Total cost:
$38.6M ($35 for Jeter & Posada + 3.6M everyone else.)
Let go of A-Rod.
Buy out then let go of Abreu.
Trade Damon and at least half his remaining salary.
Release Giambi.
Put Matsui on waivers so Seattle claims him a.s.a.p. cuz they need a DH and would want another Japanese star to go along with Ichiro and Johjima.”
*Are you kidding me? You will be in last place with that garbage.
With a fanbase that can barely take it when they get beat up in the playoffs, can you imagine them missing the playoffs with that lineup? There would be mass suicides in New York.
Hahahaha*
Haha, I was just cracking up at the thought of Homegrown’s lineup with the new stadium opening. That would be one empty place, kind of like Tropicana Field.
Im a yankee fan,i support my team thru the good the bad and the ugly. you sir sound like a spoiled child.Be a man act like a fan.After every win or loss you pick apart every game looking for a mistake.Just enjoy it for what it is a baseball GAME.You remind me of the kid in lil league that cried when the handicapped kid had to have a chance to bat. You guys are not the yankees GM nor will you ever be. get over it. Goooo yanks!
Homegrown:
With your lineup the Yankees will be fighting it out with Tampa for 4th place.
If that’s what will make you happy, then good luck to you.
Your proposed lineup contains 2 total raw rookies (Sardinha, Gardner) of which we know absolutely nothing; and 2 swing-and-miss artists (Betemit, Duncan). Obviously, I have no complaints with Jeter, Posada, Cano and Cabrera, and I can even live with Andy Phillips at 1B. But in the AL East that lineup is just not good enough.
The rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated.
‘Sides, you think those gnats have the balls to try to crowd Roger! Theere’d be chin music, I tell ya!!
Gnats have chins, don’t they.
Yanksin- I’m on the same page as you!
I would definitely be down with a Betemit/Phillips platoon at 1b next year. I would hate to get rid of Dougie though! But Betemit is cheap and under our control and has more power..DM is a contact hitter though while Wilson is the strikeout king…
Someone refresh my memory, have we ever seen Wilson lay down a bunt this year? Can he do it?
I don’t think Betemit has, but Andy and Doug are both very good bunters.
I have tickets to Game 4. The Yankees are something like 15-1 in the postseason when I’m in the building. If they win tomorrow there WILL be a Game 5!
Easy does it on Homegrown. he makes some valid points, though I disagree bout Elcomelduce. He could stand to lose a few pounds though. And regardless of next year’s lineup, the one they fielded this year could not win the AL EAST either.
As for Torre, excuse me, Mr. Torre as DJ says, it was nice of him to keep his eyes open during the game last night.
He should have been “relieved” last October after moving AROD all over the lineup. If there were personal reasons involved there, the fans deserved an explanation.
As for the payroll issue: Until the entire system is overhauled, The Yanks will spend as much if not more than everyone else. That said, they should try and sign Alex and hope. Hell, Bonds was bad in the postseason until 02. and barring injury, AROD will eclipse Bonds.
Question: If the Yanks slash payroll drastically, will tix prices come down? Concessions? Souvenirs? Of course not!
Prices in Baseball are beyond out of whack. Hell, we helped start the process. it is part of a larger problem bettr left for other blogs.
We and I think Homegrown love the game and follow the Yanks for whatever reason.
Has anyone else reached the point where they turn both TBS and CBS radio off during the game due to their lameness?
Honestly, this looks pretty grim! I guess everyone knows it because they are all talking about next year!!! The bug thing made me itch! But…. they are still a very capable team. No one said they would even make the post season at mid season. So for sure there is a slim chance!!!!! I do think hughes over o dorf though, thats my only critisism!!!
The Yanks will always spend more than anyone else because they MAKE more than anyone else. I really don’t see what the problem is with the teams that make more money spending more money. Revenue sharing is a great concept in my opinion, because it does help at least somewhat in the disparity (the system has flaws too, but it keeps things from getting totally out of hand).
Clearly just buying anyone they want isn’t going to solve anything, but I really do think that A-Rod would be worth a lot more money. We would not even BE in the playoffs this year without him, plain and simple.
I knew as soon as I saw Vizcaino the yankees lost the game. Why didn’t he pitch Mussina or Hughes. What a mistake.
Instead of some of you being all negative vibes, how about trying to send the team optimism? Yesterday’s done and over with, don’t focus on the 0-2, just focus on tommorrow and winning.
Joe: Because you’re not going to pitch a starter in a role like that when you might need them in games 3, 4 and 5.
That was Viz’s job…
Doctor’s Companion:
EXACTLY!
Poor Viz…. can’t even really blame him 100%. He pitched poorly, but our offense lost that game, not our pitching.
That said…. let’s try to get over that and get ready for tomorrow!!!
Giambi is a former MVP with the potential to hit 30-40 HR and 100-130 RBI next year. If he’s already under contract, why not DH him? I’d rather have him in there than Damon.
Matsui is an extraodinary hitter. You are a moron if you think that Matsui is washed up. Did you miss him tearing the cover off the ball after he came back from his injury, especially July and August?
He had water on his knee and he needs to be benched to allow it to heal. Damon needs to stay in left and Giambi needs to DH. I personally agreed with all of Joe’s decisions except starting Matsui over Giambi. That is his one mistake, and for all we know, that could have changed the game completely. Jason is a clutch hitter and he has a pinch hit single already in this series.
Joe said Moose was going to pitch the 12th
YC,revenue sharing is a noble concept. it would be difficult in baseball, where due to the number of games, each team has its own TV contract. The NFL, with fewer games, can share TV $ equally.
The idea of AROD being the highest paid MLBer is legit, so we might as well be the team to pay him.
That being said, the best thing about this season, for me, is the injection of some youth and emergence of guys like MC, RC, SD, JC, PH etc. No reason AROD can’t be part of it. The kids seem to really like him.
Although I do think it is time for a change on the bench, Baseball managers get waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much credit for winning or losing. The game is not that complicated.
Rebecca-Thanks! Maybe we can combine our thoughts to form an optimism bubble to cover the team with tommorrow XD
Can someone please make me happy and tell me that a Yankees comeback is actually possible? (Excluding homegrown, if that was the Yankees lineup I’d die)
People are optimistic about tomorrow. It can be done. People needn’t worry bout sending “vibes” to the Yanks .The players could care less what we think anyway. The “negativity” sensed by some is merely objective and honest analysis, which is rarely if ever given by announcers(except Leiter), team officials etc.
It has never been Viz’s job to pitch after Rivera. Everyone in that Pen(including Moose) is shaky besides Joba and MO. Once the Yanks failed to get the lead with Mo on the mound, who was not nervous? I know I was.
Apparently my last post has been deleted b/c I suggested A-Rod looked uncomfortable last night but in slightly more colorful although not at all vulgar terms.
Does anybody have any suggestions on how the Yankees are supposed to build next year’s bullpen? Assuming Mo comes back and we resign Viz and cant trade Farns, we still have at least 4 roster spots open for the bullpen. We have tried year after year to go the free agency route to get relievers but that hasnt worked. We tried trading for them but that worked just as poorly. I am not certain whether we should just start bringing up young guys like Whelan and Cox and Sanchez and Betances and try some of them in the bullpen a la Joba this year and see which ones fit and which ones we want as starters for the future or maybe we should try something more radical and go with like a 7 or 8 man rotation and let the starters pitch upwards of a 150 pitches since they will have 7 or 8 days off and hope we wont need a bridge to Mo. That might actually work.
Yankee Chick,
Revenue sharing is fine except teams pocket that money. The payroll for the Florida Marlins remains about the same as last year. Yet hey got several millions of dollars from revenue sharing, most of it from Steinbrenner’s pocket. The rule should be that if you get x amount of money and you spent y amount for payroll, your costs for the following year should be at least y+x.
Although I’m down on Torre’s managerial skills, I still believe Yanks in 5.
Jaewon-
we’ve been down 0-2 before, and under worse conditions and tossed the other team down the hole.
The 1996 World Series, we lost the first game 12-1 and the second game 4-0, sound familiar (ie no one hitting). Well there’s one major difference, those two loses occured in Yankee Stadium. Well we went on and won the next four games.
Same thing in the 2001 AL Division Series, lost the first two games at home, Andy pitched a great game but without run support, lost game two 2-0. Then we won three straight.
Think how upset everyone was when we lost to Beckett at Fenway last month. Same story, no run support. Then the next day, Rocket and Jeter slapped them upside their heads.
Yanks will win this series…book it.
Vulgar = Lacking sophistication or good taste; Making explicit and offensive reference to bodily functions; course and rude
What about the possibility that Matsui is only playing because of the revenues they are getting from japan right now. Theres no doubt these games are highly televised in Japan and that the yankees are benefiting from that. if matsui is out, people there may be rooting for dice-k and the red sox, and you know that guys like Randy Levine and Lonn Trost cant have that. I know Joe is very loyal to Matsui and it can be thats why hes playing, but even Joe must know that a healthy Giambi who kills the indians has to more valuable to the team a Matsui who is very very hurt right now. Is Joe really that loyal? He benched tino and boggs in the 96 world series, and he wont sit Matsui? Something is going on here.
ED FL, exactly the money needs to earmarked and used for it’s intended purpose. Currently treated as a fine for being successful and then dropped into a black hole. Just as long as the Ynakees are punished, who cares?
just so you all know, the team doesnt pay revenue sharing while it is building the new stadium. Since they are paying for the new stadium, mlb rules allow the team to use the money they would paying to revenue sharing for their construction costs.
We can still win this.Wang has to come back for Gm 4 and Pettite for Gm 5.Giambi has to play period.We should solve Byrd and Westbrook and our pitching staff has to hold them down.Get to game 5 Pettite vs CC Ill take my chances.
Sorry, but Carmona is pitching in Game 5. I doubt the Indians are stupid enough to throw CC again
I look at 2008 Damon and see Roger Cedeno or B.L. Hunter with worse defense. I most certainly don’t see 1998-99 Knoblauch or 1993-97 Boggs. I don’t even see Roberto Kelly in his best year. I look at 2008 Matsui and see Mell Hall. I look at 2008 Giambi and see an overpriced Matt Stairs who can at least play a little 1B and LF -I’d rather have Stairs than Giambi at this point. I look at 2008 Abreu and see first half of 2007 Abreu extended. I look at A-Rod and I see the Dan Marino of M.L.B. These five aren’t getting it done.
The thought of any 3 or 4 or all 5 Yankees next year scares me.
B.t.w. since when is .270 BA and .351 OBP from Damon, a veteran leadoff hitter making $13M who should have at least 30 points more on his BA and OBP acceptable? It’s unacceptable. His 2007 was lousy considering his talent and stature. That’s early Damon which was o.k., but Yanks didn’t give this guy $52M to be o.k., OK??? A rookie could post those numbers (.270 BA/ .351 OBP) with better defense at a fraction of the price.
Any of you who think the Yanks should have an eight-figures player at 6 to all 9 positions looked at the starting lineups for Cleveland, Arizona, and Colorado? Cleveland has exactly ONE veteran in their everyday lineup: Kenny Lofton. Arizona’s lone veteran is Eric Byrnes who began his M.L.B. career late. Colorado’s lone bonafide veteran is Todd Helton. These teams are suceeding with mostly kids in the everyday lineup who play solid fundamental baseball and with solid pitching.
Now look at the Cubs: Soriano, Lee, Floyd, Ramirez, Lilly. Not old guys save Floyd, but a couple are overpaid (Soriano, Ramirez, and Lilly.) They spent all that money on Soriano, DeRosa, and Lilly, and look where they are: about to be swept by Arizona.
When I look at the Yankees, I see an old, bloated, overpaid, underachieving, islands unto themselves mess, and alot of selfishness. A leak about Posada wanting 3 years and $36M which is only cuz he’s having a great year, but what is that all about after the Yanks paid him top dollar all these years? Since when did the Yankees diss you Posada with your making $12M this year? I love ya guy but what’s with the pay me attitude? Two years $24M or take a hike, smart teams don’t give 36 year old catchers 3 years at top dollar. You won’t hit .338 again, you may not even get to .300. A-Rod’s agent running his mouth to the point where some story comes out about how A-Rod might go to the Cubs and be part-owner one day, that’s too weird to be 100% b.s. Betcha several teams have tampered with A-Rod. Damon bitching about playing time when he has a World Series ring and 4 years of security and probably the best contract for a leadoff man after Soriano who really isn’t a classic leadoff hitter. Giambi admitting he’s a steroids cheat. Matsui not once offering to learn 1B in the offseason. He could’ve done that before this year.
The Yanks should model themselves after Cleveland of yesteryear and today. Yesteryear being lock up Cano and Cabrera early (they’ll take that security cuz even if it’s a 4-year deal, they’re both still only 26-27 years old) to save money during that time and go with youth (‘07 Indians). No more buying players or I should say no more buying $10M/yr. or more guys. Look at the 2005 Chi-Sox -who the hell was a big star on that team besides Frank Thomas and maybe Jim Thome? Since the well is pretty dry now for position players, how about trading for an M.L.B. ready rookie 3B (Betemit could be the utility infielder and insurance 3B) who’s another Ryan Zimmerman? If this kid goes even 2 for 4 with 2 RBI in a postseason game, that’s half the hits and more RBI than A-Rod has collected since a postseason game 3 years ago.
How bout this?
Tomorrow, during the game, NO NEGATIVITY
Unless it’s the ninth inning and we’re down by five or more, let’s make a pact not to be negative.
Use positive thinking.
Minky says that the Yanks need their fans.
We’ve been with the team all year. Why give up now? Why give up at all?
LET’S GO YANKEES!
Rebecca-I’m all for your plan
Not sure what to make of this, but down here in Louisiana, it is now official squirrel hunting season. Seriously.
Homegrown, this team is exceptional. We have faced very good pitching and have choked a bit. Don’t start criticizing every player on the team because we’ve let two games get away in the post-season. The series isn’t over with. I hope, for everyone’s sake, that the Yankees shut you up and finish the series with a 3 game win streak. You are suggesting tearing apart a team with some of the best players to ever play the game. How in the world will that team you designed win even 70 games? We need pitching. End of story. So focus your efforts elsewhere by researching possible free agents and trades next year.
Doctor’s Companion: Awesome!
Who else?
homegrown, why no mention of Jeter?
Im in sounds like a plan!
Not sure what to make of this, but down here in Louisiana, it is now official squirrel hunting season.
Means, there’s gonna be alotta orphaned nuts – sniffle
There’s only one thing I want tomorrow. The first time ARod comes up to bat, I want the entire stadium to erupt in a “MVP!” chant. That place needs to go crazy for him, even if this is the last game of the season. The fans need to show ARod that they recognize what he’s done this season.
If the Yanks bats really have gone silent, we’ll find out tomorrow. But it’s too soon to know that yet- they’ve only faced two Cy Young contenders so far. Most bats go silent at that point. These next two games are heavily in NY’s favor, and then it goes back to Cleveland.
It is still too soon to jump off the cliff. NY could definitely win the next two games, and then it comes down to Sabathia v. Pettitte in Cleveland for Game 5. And coming off two home wins with Andy on the mound in a win-it-or-go-home October game? Yeah, I like NY’s chances on that one.
myrtlebeachfan
Wow, take the pinstriped glasses off. This Yankees team is not “exceptional.” They won the wildcard cuz Seattle then Detroit collapsed and Boston was better (albeit only 2 games better but they always pull a late-season swoon).
Don’t tell me what to do. I can criticize a 32-year old guy who wants $35M or more a year yet goes 4 for his last 50 AB with ZERO RBI across FOUR postseasons including 0 for his last 6 with 3 popouts and 3 strikeouts when it counts most: the postseason (A-Rod). I can criticize a guy who’s killed the Yanks in two straight postseasons (Matsui.) I can criticize a $52M leadoff hitter who posts lousy BA and OBP (Damon with his .270 BA and .351 OBP). I can criticize a guy who makes $20+M and su cks so bad he can’t buy an at-bat in the postseason (Giambi.) I can criticize a guy who played like he didn’t care for half the season then when he realized he wasn’t getting his bloated option playing like that turned it on (Abreu.)
I hope the Yankees win three straight and advance to the next series but you know what? SO WHAT IF THEY DO? That’s the least they could do and that’s not enough. If you ever are able to talk to Jeter, a restaurant, a bar, wherever, after they lose a postseason series, tell him at least the Yanks made the postseason (whatever level), he’ll flat out tell you that means nothing. that doesn’tmean there isn’t/ should be no joy in winning but it’s really got to the point where it shouldn’t be about just winning the A.L.D.S. cuz of the 2002-06 failures.
The best players to ever play the game? HAHAHAHA. You’re kidding me. Damon, Abreu, Giambi, and Matsui were very good players once and that’s it. Greatest players, that’s rich.
Pettitte/ Wang/ Chamberlain/ Hughes/ Mussina with Mo back closing, 6 new relievers (NO ONE from this year, not even Vizcaino, the new Tom Gordon), a deep bench, solid defense, and a level lineup full of young players will most certainly win way more than 70 games. The starting nine doesn’t exist in a vacuum. A-Rod is a great regular season player like Dan Marino was a great regular season player.
What’d Dan do? Choke time and time again, although he did go the show.
Kurticus:
Oh man. Oh friggin’ man would I love that.
Yankee Stadium tomorrow needs to be ROCKING like no one’s business. I’m talking game 7 2003 LCS after Aaron Boone rocking. I mean SHAKE IT TO THE GROUND rocking.
Clemens and Wang WIN BIG @ Home !
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Andy comes up HUGE on the road !!!
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Yankees dial in and BATTER CC
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YANKEES IN FIVE
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OPTIMISM RULES !!!
Homegrown –
While we’re at it, why don’t we get Jesus Christ himself to play centerfield, resurrect the ghost of Babe Ruth to DH, and sign Henry Rowengartner to be our closer?
No one agrees with any of your suggestions, so stop making them, and why don’t you just stop being a Yankee fan altogether – it will make you and the rest of us a lot happier.
Here’s Alfonso Soriano getting booed by Cub fans for not producing in the playoffs. Like A-Rod, he’s getting upper echelon money and it all gets magnified in the postseason.
Let either see a slump in May and its, “Awww… don’t worry. He’s just in a slump, he’ll snap out of it”.
Let’s start a poll, who here dislikes and disagrees with Homegrown ?
.
1st vote YES, by me
.
Homegrown-
we crushed the DBacks in June (4-1) (7-2) (7-1).
dude, baseball ain’t monopoly, chicks dig da’ longball.
Yes.
Expect to see Rev. “Homegrown” at the pulpit Sunday ranting and raving about what the Yankee organization should be doing.
The following Sunday it will be about a man on Mars. The next Sunday he’ll discuss stem cell research.
Why don’t you just ignore homegrown, after reading his first post earlier today was enough for me. You to debate whether he should be ignored?
blam
Why no mention of Jeter? Real simple: JETER.
But since you want to mention him, what if he announced he wanted an extension? He deserves one wayyyy more than A-Rod,
it’s called 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 incl. World Series M.V.P. in the 2000 Series vs. the crosstown rivals. All the clutch hits and plays. He’s only 33/ a year older than A-Rod. His contract runs through 2011. He’d be 37 years old at the end of it, by no means old anymore with year-round conditioning and modern medicine. What if he said “I want a 3-year $90M extension.” DONE DEAL. Oh b.t.w. how does it look to give A-Rod $35M/yr. while Jeter makes $15M/yr. less for all Jeter has done for the Yankees?
That’s something I haven’t read anywhere: Jeter in relation to the talk of A-Rod’s demands. A-Rod wants a new contract but what has this guy done as a Yankee to really deserve it? If A-Rod is worth $35M/yr., you better believe Jeter is worth at least $27.5M/yr. or midway between the $20M he’ll make next year and $35M. So Jeter’s underpaid, I don’t see him asking for more, more, more like A-Rod is doing. I don’t see Jeter asking for a renegoitated contract. Why? Cuz Jeter is a honorable man. A-Rod is a greedy mercenary. I bet the Yanks never thought he’d pull this “I will opt out after 2007” jive. He certainly didn’t run his mouth about it prior to the trade in early ‘04. B.t.w. why didn’t he ask for more years and money before the trade? He was younger then.
B.t.w. I’m not looking for a hit or even an RBI from A-Rod tomorrow. Move men to 2B and 3B on a groundout to set up a 2-run hit. Make a play which saves a run or two. Do something tangible to help the team win.
You have to understand something: People including myself don’t get on A-rod cuz he’s a choker. They get on him cuz he’s too good to be as abysmal as he’s been in the postseason and they’re tired of his agent yapping every so often about getting paid for the future, putting the cart before the horse. He should at least put a gag order on Boras (which you better believe Boras will honor), if not fire him.
Here’s a heretical thing to say: A-Rod should just play out his existing contract cuz if he’s good enough to make top dollar 3 or more years after it, he should have no problem posting the numbers to get that payday. $27M/yr. is still tons more than anyone else is making. Manny Ramirez who hit a walkoff three-run homerun last night is pulling down $20M/yr. and for all his zaniness/ loopiness, the guy has not once run his mouth about wanting more years or money. A-Rod should take a cue from him.
Mr. Homegrown :
Can you advise me on what the mortgage rates will be in January ? Also, any idea what a gallon of milk will go for ?
Hey D for Dumba ss train that the best you can do?
What’s wrong with stem cell research? It saves lives. Every civilized country including Canada has it save us cuz we have a moron in the White House who panders to the far Christian right lunatics who think it’s murder. Par for the course since he doesn’t care about sick poor kids either.
Man on Mars? Hahahaaha you volunteering?
Awww I’m really crushed that you don’t like me, Gabriel. I will vote for myself so it’s s tie nyah
(let the votes saying they dislike me flow now hahahahaha.)
Yo Rev. TimH why aren’t YOU practicing what you preach?
sad watching the Cubs getting finished off…hope that’s not us this time tomorrow!
sad watching the Cubs getting finished off…hope that’s not us this time tomorrow!
Kelli
25% and $10.53.
Come here, Mrs. Jeter, I’ll pump u up, you sweet thang
Soriano will K he does that in the postseason as well all remember
Don’t worry. It’s just once step closer to redemption…Arizona has to get to the World Series for us to beat them!
(Okay, I feel horrible for the Cubs. They deserve so much better.)
Jeter’s agent is praying for A-Rod to get a huge contract. In 2000 the Yanks offered Jeter $119M for 7 years. It wasn’t until A-Rod got the $252M for 10 years that the Yankees up’ed Jeter’s current contract. I think this is one of the reasons why Cashman is so insistent about an extension to A-Rod’s contract rather than him opting out because he needs to keep the Texas money in play. He has to know that whether it be now or 3 years from now, Jeter is going to be in line looking for similiar money. Both Jeter and A-Rod are signed through 2010. If they can agree to an extension for A-Rod for beyond 2010, Jeter is going to benefit from whatever deal that A-Rod gets because the Yanks aren’t going to diss Jeter who is the face of the organization.
Mr. Homegrown –
Will you be leaving me milk and cookies under the tree this year like always ?
Homegrown watching the D-backs and Cubs and wondering why can’t the Yanks be modeled on the D-backs?,,
I posted my opinion which mirrors yours about AROD earlier today, except I left the part out about Jeter specifically. I totally agree with you and I think the Cashman should tell Arod to take a hike if he doesn’t come thru. not worth it, sorry, just not!
thanks Dr…on your knee?
Jeter’s future wife-
Doesn’t it make you rethink your opinion on anything if it is the same as Homegrowns? It would make me think twice.
KurticusMaximus,
if we win tomorrow, u can rest assured we won’t be facing Byrd on Monday, they’ll put CC on the mound on short rest. so 114 pitch count on Thursday then pitching again on 3.5 days rest…..hmmmm
Most of the young players on the D’backs,Indians and especially the Rockies are number picks. Suggesting the Yankees go with Sardina,Phillips,Duncan and to some extent Gardner is a bit ridiculous. None of those guys are top prospects that you’re giving a chance to and they are no where as talented as a Steven Drew,Justin Upton,Troy Tulowitzki or Matt Holliday. Now if Tabata and or Jackson where ready to be in the line-up next year now we’re talking.
pat,
why? did he post something bad? I didn’t read everything since I’ve been home from dinner. just up about 10 blogs…
“If they can agree to an extension for A-Rod for beyond 2010, Jeter is going to benefit from whatever deal that A-Rod gets because the Yanks aren’t going to diss Jeter who is the face of the organization.”
Do not count on it.
It depends on how Jeter is performing at the end of 2010. If he is not performing well, he can not expect a good deal. Look at what happened with Bernie. A-Rod gets a deal (because of his performance this year), does not mean Jeter has to get one like that. Whether we like it or not, baseball is a buisness.
Bitch and moan after tomorrow if they lose. I don’t understand people already talking about next year’s roster issues instead of debating what the next lineup should be tomorrow, predictions on clemens, that sort of thing. I expect such negativity from a red sox blog who are used to LOSING. This team is not done, they will show us something tomorrow. If they lose, so be it, but they’re not gonna just give up because the fan’s are disappointed they didn’t win a very close, extremely tense pitching duel last night, and wang got his ass beat in game 1.
I’m not gonna say we’re definitely going to win three games in a row or make a prediction as such, but I’m freakin psyched about the game tomorrow and question fan’s who invest so much time to following and supporting a team to give up and start contemplating roster moves before the season is over. And don’t keep saying this is over, you have to win three games.
Game 1: Wang sucked, offense couldn’t get going, they drilled us
Game 2: Excellent pitching on both sides, even with the Joba wierdness, both offenses stymied, us with hits, them with bringing men home.
As I see it, we’ve been beaten once and lost one that was anyone’s game. Tough, but you know the player’s aren’t losing sleep designing a bullpen and Cashman isn’t calling up all the young “timely hitters” on the FA market next year.
Everybody chill out, if they look horrible tomorrow, then you can go crazy, waste of energy to do it a night or two too early.
GIAMBI???????????????
Hello?
Joe?
power out in CO? not as bad as the bugs swarming!
Anyone catch the power going out at Coors?
My gut is telling me G-d himself is playing a roll in this year’s postseason!
Homegrown,
You really mouthed off so much about A-Rod.
Can you show the proof where he personally demanded $35 mil/year or where he said that he will opt out?
If there is any thing, he always said great things about wearing Yankee uniform.
Based on media speculation or what the agent says, you just can not write what you did and attribute it to the player himself.
Now, A-Rod has the opt out clause in his contract and he has every right to opt out. What is wrong with it? He is not holding out like what some idio*ts did in the past.
BBFan
I say that because I agree that baseball is a business. Jeter is not only the face of the Yankees but probably top 3 of players as the face of MLB. He’s the poster child for all things that are right about the game and has the respect of the fan base. He generates/ has generated and will generate millions of marketing dollars in revenue for the team. Under the new Cashman policy, getting younger, lowering payroll, there are likely to be many superstars in the making not Big Name free agents showing up in the stadium in the coming years. That makes a Superstar face of the franchise even more important. It’s all about ticket sales and corporate sponsors and Jeter helps them with both. 2008 and 2009 are no brainers for ticket sales. Last year in old stadium, first year in new one. 2010 and beyond is where the Yanks are going to need Jeter for his off field revenue potential as much as his on field talent. I loved Bernie but he was the elder statesman of the organization and not a Hall of Fame face of the franchise.
Rebecca,
Re: Coors and the lights going out, we needed that last night. Lights attract bugs. If they’d gone out maybe the swarm would have dissipated.
I REALLY want Roger to come up huge tomorrow (and the Yanks to come back and win the series) just so Lupica can shut up about how Clemens isn’t worth the money. I mean, yeah, I want to win because I’m a fan but to shut up Lupica would be the icing on the cake.
My gut is telling me G-d himself
“Himself” ??
Rebecca, perhaps it was Athena or Venus.
http://tinyurl.com/2esrec
As you know, they’re long-time season ticket holders.
Tomorrow Arod should get the “Stay Rod” chant during every at bat. He knows that the fans think he is the MVP but atleast with the stay rod chant he would know that we want him back next year.
O.T.
Stunning Report
The unranked Stanford Cards have defeated USC in so.cal.!!!
The glorious Florida Gators are battling toe-to-toe with LSU for college supremacy, 17-14 in the 3rd qtr.
USC LOST?!
Well now, I’ll believe anything can happen!
Homegrown,
Not that it really matters, but Matsui did offer to learn 1B.
This should be a fun game, with more to follow. I think the team will play well. Clemens-Wang-Pettite has a nice ring to it.
They are a resilient bunch; they have really put on a show in the 2nd half. I see Jeter saying something like, “hey, are we going to let our season be ruined by a bunch of stupid bugs.”
Oh, and Florida is up by 10 on LSU.
Wow.
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Clemens P
I’d be pretty nervous if I was Jake Westbrook.
you think AROD still thinks this? this is a quote from him in 2004
“I love being the highest paid player in the game.” – Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez
I’m not having Giambi 5th, but other than that I’m down with it.
still don’t think AROD should opt out, only if he wants to leave NY…if he wants to stay, then stay under your current contract like a man! you signed it you negotiated it, don’t you think you owe it to the organization? (of course, we know the answer here is, “NO”!)
I’ll be at both games tomorrow and I’m gonna stand and cheer for Alex. If the logic is to boo him, why aren’t we booing Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Cano, Posada, etc. who all have failed to hit this series.
I hope these aren’t his last games in pinstripes. I like him and I want him to break records as a Yankee and win a championship with this team.
He’s got my support. I just hope there are more fans like me there at the game so they don’t give the media and TBS what they are salivating for. A public stoning of Arod.
I just can’t wait to see the lineup….who is protecting AROD against Westbrook….I swear to God, if it’s Matsui, I may not watch! I would be too pissed to go thru that horror!
JFW,
Most likey A-Rod will extend with Yanks.
If he opts out, he is not violating any contractual terms. He is using what he negotiated.
Nothing wrong with It.
Did Jeter sign the originally negotiated contract for 117 mil? When A-Rod got the mega deal, he re-negotiated it up to 189 mil. One could argue that he should have been man enough and sign what was agreed. See, all these players look after themselves and I do not find any thing wrong with it.
One of these years ARod is going to bust out in the postseason. It’s bound to happen (ala Barry Bonds and Peyton Manning); I’d like him to do it while in Pinstripes, thank you very much.
MJL: Frankly, I don’t see why in the world Jake Westbrook would be “pretty nervous” about facing this lineup. If nothing else, he should be supremely confident with the lack of hitting.
I am with you G. Love on your comments about A-Rod.
Darrin,
I hope A-Rod busts out tomorrow. The longer it takes, more abuse he has to put up with.
I think we ALL hope A-Rod breaks through.
I KNOW we all hope the Yankees break through.
Torres comments about Matsui are ridiculous!!! That he expects him to bust out at any minute. He hasnt busted out in over a month so why would he expect it to happen tomorrow. He better DH Giambi tomorrow, give him a chance. But not at 1st base!!!! Mienk. has to play 1st base I wouldnt want the Yanks season to end because Giambi pulls a Charlie Brown and gets hit 4 times by a ground ball.
For the teams sake and for Arod’s I hope he can come up big for the team. Otherwise it is going to be a long off season for him with the media and everyone else talking away. Especially since he already said to the media yesterday that he is pressing. Which maybe he should not of said.
We have seen this with the Yanks offense for the last 4 years they go to bed in the play offs and dont come out of it. But hopefully it doesnt continue tomorrow. Westbrook and even Byrd if they got that far do not have the stuff to blame it on the pitcher and if they did get shut down then you definitely know it is them and not the pitcher.
Darrin –
I’d be “pretty nervous” if I went 6-9 on the season, with a 4.32 ERA and 1.41, and was facing that lineup which knows it’s win or go home, in a hostile environment like the Stadium. Oh yeah, my career numbers at the Stadium are 1-4, 7.50, and 1.88 with a .317 BAA. But that’s just me.
MJL, you’re exactly right. Your line up is exactly the same as mine would be.
Bat Cano 5th. i think he gives A-Rod the best protection at the moment.
Damon
Jeter
Abreu
a-Rod
Cano
Posada
Giambi
Mientkiewicz
Melky
It’s tough to sit Matsui. But they have to play Giambi, and w/a few rabbits like Sizemore, Lofton, plus the Rocket coming back from a hamstring, they need the D.
I’ll be starting the MVP chant from section 19 tomorrow night when Arod. I hope some of you are there to join me. We need Arod to do what he’s done fo