Pinch hitting: New York Super Blog
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jan 26, 2008 
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Next up in our month-long guest blogger program is Dave from New York Super Blog.
Dave has been blogging for only a few months but has been a Yankees fan for 29 years. His fondest memories were going to Yankee Stadium wiith his father. “After reading everyone else’s blogs and commenting there, I thought I would start NYSuperBlog.com to rant on my own,” he said. Here is Dave post:
Joe Torre left the Yankees as one of the most successful and embraced managers that Major League Baseball has ever witnessed. With a Yankee record of 1,173 wins and 767 losses, it’s hard to argue with what he has done for this franchise. He was loved and respected by fans from California all the way through the deepest depths of Fenway Park. That grand time in Yankee history has now passed on to our former catcher, Mr. Joe Girardi. Think he has big shoes to fill? You bet.
At first glance, his record in Florida (78-84 with a fourth place finish in the NL East) is not that impressive. He was working with a youthful team made up of mostly no-names in which only two players on the roster broke the $1 million salary mark. Joe was brought there to cultivate that young team, give them the structure they need to be a powerhouse again and work with all that raw talent to create a contender. He still has the young talent now, mixed in with some veterans, one of the best players that has ever lived and plenty to spend on what he needs. What can he do with all of this? your popcorn ready! (Thanks T.O.)
Questions circling Girardi and how he will manage the team have been swirling since taking over in October. Everyone knows the rumors of his dealings with players behind closed doors in Florida and there is definitely some curiosity on how he will deal in New York. Come on, the way people describe him it’s like he walks around the locker room after the game billy-clubbing players that didn’t perform up to his standards. This hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners mystique has given him a major hurdle to get over even before he takes the field. Girardi is dramatically different in managing style than Torre, but that’s not always a problem. We have a guy that can motivate young players and groom them into stars. Ask Miguel Cabrera if Girardi had a hand in his success. That is exactly what the Yankees need right now. We have a team of young guns eager to go out and show the world what they have. That’s where Girardi might have an advantage on what Torre had. I can’t wait to see guys like Wang, Cano, Joba, Hughes, Kennedy and Cabrera flourish under Girardi! Expect great things to come.
No one supported Torre and cursed Steinbrenner after that horror show of a “negotiation†following the season than me. I will miss Torre, his presence, the unity he brought in the clubhouse and the respect he received from his players. The way he managed was unbelievable. But I truly believe that Girardi will be equally as successful, if not take the team even further. We have a new manager, Hank Steinbrenner (GM, owner or whatever he wants to be today) and staff that really wants to guide this team back on track.
Lets back our new manager, watch him get his second Manager of the Year award and get us #27!
Wow first comment! Nice post Dave, I loved the Girardi hiring.
Girardi is going to be great. I was rooting for him since Torre made it official that he wasn’t coming back…
Girardi was a catcher, which already gives him a heads up in the managing field, and given the make up of the team, the Yanks need someone that will be good with pitchers.
I can’t wait.
27 in ’08!
thanks to Dave for posting and good luck with your blog.
I am really looking forward to Girardi as the manager. The players can use some of his fire. I love knowing that he will play guys because of what they are showing him on the field and will not play the favorites. He will not be as good as Torre was with the media right away but that is fine what happens on the field counts more.
Dave, great post…
Joe was a good choice. A lot of people wanted Don, but with all the young guys, I agree…this was the only way to go. 27/08.
I personally am not a Girardi fan, and am not all that happy over him being hired. I think he has a lot to prove, and am not so convinced that his personality is the right fit for the role he now has.
I will give him the time to prove himself, I will root for the team as I always do. I do like some of the things he has shown so far though. He is out there checking on things, learning who is up and coming.
I have concerns for how he will do managing the veteran players, regardless that they are all professionals. I have concerns for how well he will take being under the Steinbrenners. I also wonder how long the honeymoon with the reporters will last.
Torre had his faults, but he did produce results. He earned respect, just as Girardi will need to earn it over years, not a few months of the off season. Give Girardi his chance, not that we have any say in the matter, but its up to him to earn the respect.
Torre was fired six years too late. I wish everyone would face facts, he lost control of his bullpen a long time ago with Karsay’s blown arm forward.
If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs this coming season I bet there will be tons of people wishing for Torre to come back.
Speaking of Torre and the bullpen, another old friend might be joining him in L.A.; Mike Myers was given a Spring Training invite by the Dodgers.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb......38;c_id=la
From today’s NY Post:
During a question-and-answer session, a fan asked each GM whom he would take from the other’s team if given the chance. Cashman picked Jason Varitek, noting he’d like to take the catcher and “put him [on] another planet,” to cripple the Red Sox.
Who would Epstein pluck from the Yankees?
“I’d take the gentleman on my left,” Epstein said, motioning to Cashman, “and make him [our] scouting director.”
Joe Torre continues to cling onto what Yankee past he can assemble. One of his favorite words has always been “comfortable” and with Larry Bowa, Don Mattingly (now part time), Scott Proctor, Estaban Loaiza, Tanyon Sturtze, and Mike Myers, some comfort is assured when he gets to Vero Beach.
Good job Dave—Girardi has his work cut out for him, as we all know. But he’s the guy I would’ve hired.
As for Cash taking Varitek & sending him to say, Venus. . ., sure, though next time, how about getting Ortiz for our side.
Well said Dave.
I do think the Yanks made the right choice in Girardi, hopefully I am proven wrong.
The Greatest Team Ever 40
Giants 17
Nice post, Dave.
I’m ready to give Girardi the benefit of the doubt, but he certainly won’t be getting any free rides.
Despite all the transition issues and talk of rebuilding, barring injury it’s the same offense and the defense might even see a slight uptick. In his first full year in LF, a more comfortable and fit Damon will be a big defensive improvement over Matsui. A fully healthy Jeter may even surprise a few of the Antiderekians in ’08.
The rotation, despite its question marks, won’t have nearly as many guest appearances by the likes of Chase “4 in a row” Wright. The potential Double and Triple A mid-year pitching call-ups are looking far superior as bullpen and rotation plug ins over what got the team through that rough patch last year.
IMO, the bottom line is that 85 wins and a regular season finish out of the money are not acceptable with this team, new skipper, and steroid distractions, notwithstanding.
“Chase “4 in a row†Wright”
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=2wy.....re=related
Thanks all!
Couldnt agree more…Girardi was definitely a great signing. Should be really interesting to see how it plays out, but with the way the Yankees are shaping up, he’s the guy.
That quote from Epstein sounds like hes trying to lay the foundation! haha!
“That quote from Epstein sounds like hes trying to lay the foundation! haha!”
– Two championships in four years, promising young players throughout the roster, and a farm system ranked in the top 3 by some?
I think the foundation is there Dave.
Cash’s comments last night really bother me. i think it’s really weak for him to slam torre and bernie after they’re gone. Certainly Joe could be out there in cali saying he could’ve won another series or two if his GM had been able to put together a bullpen, or if Cash hadnt wasted all that money on RJ and Pavano, but he’s not gonna do that. You work in that kind of relationship where you’re performance is so dependant on one another, and you’re never gonna completly agree with one another. So when it ends, you put your differences aside and say, “it was a great ride and now we move on”
iv been a cash fan all along but im really distrubed when he’s knocking his current players and saying the team isnt tough enough. It sounds to me like, in his mind, he’s outta here and i think the Stein’s should be at the least calling him on the carpet and asking seriously about whether he should’t be let go now.
113:
Thanks for the video. In my book, it’s up there with Parkway Joe Pisarcik’s “The Fumble” moment (November 19, 1978) for sheer incompetence. I’ll never understand why Wright didn’t throw one high and very tight after the second HR.
There’s no way the Yankee’s kiddie call-ups this year can be that bad.
“There’s no way the Yankee’s kiddie call-ups this year can be that bad.”
– Agreed.
I was too young to remember that fumble, but have seen it a hundred times. Herm Edwards recovered it, did he not?
113:
Yes, it was Herm alright.
Do you think that $$man was actually trying to bash the guys as a result of what happen last year? Or was he trying to give them a little extra motivation for next year? Let them show how “tough” they are. These are the NEW YORK YANKEES.
I loved the Bernie and Torre show. They produced great years for us. It’s time to move on and be the Yankees of today and not yesterday. I didn’t hear the context of $$$man’s comments– but maybe he was trying to close the door on yesterday and was trying to turn the page on a new chapter… albeit in a crass way.
“the fumble” wasnt just that one event. the giants were going nowhere, so in the grand scheme of things it was just another horrible loss for a horrible team. But it was symbolic of how badly the Giants had been run for so long. I was unfortunate enough to become a
Giants fan in the mid-60′s, right as they dropped into being one of the worst franchises in the league. Fran Tarkenton, Ron Johnson, Homer Jones & Co were terrible and things just got worse.
the great thing about the fumble is that it was so pathetic that it embarrassed the Mara’s into action. they had been living off the frank gifford days for a long time but this broke the malaise and in the decade that followed, they got steadily better until Parcells and Belichick showed up.
but for those of us who stuck it out through those years, the payoff has been great!
G-Men 32 OT
Pats 31
greatest super bowl of all time!
sorry i meant
G-Men 34 OT
Pats 31
I forgot about Strahan’s safety that sent it into overtime!
Excerpts from NY Times (Jack Curry) today, with Cashman quotes from last night’s summit with Theo – a very candid Cashamn:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01.....ref=slogin
[While retracing Bernie Williams’s unfriendly departure from the Yankees, Cashman said Williams had become more involved in his music “and that took away from his play†and that Williams had a “terrible season†in 2005. Cashman added Joe Torre had played Williams “ahead of guys who could help us win†in 2006, a reference to Melky Cabrera.
One of the most memorable scenes from last season was Joba Chamberlain pitching while covered with small insects known as midges during a playoff game in Cleveland. Cashman did not use the insects as an excuse and chastised the Yankees for the way they reacted.
“I thought our guys weren’t mentally tough enough to get through it,†Cashman told a fan, who had likened Chamberlain’s experience to one the fan had endured while visiting Africa.]
Well, well. Cashman’s channeling some vintage Big Stein. Might be that he’s tighter with the owners than we supposed.
I think Cashman should be applauded for his honesty. The one thing the Yankees have lacked since 2004 is mental toughness in the postseason.
They did an admirable job overcoming the Red Sox in ’06, but the in the first 60 days of the ’07 season they played like wimps. Beating the Red Sox 10 of the last 14 times they played only proved that the Yankees were the better team head to head. But then the Yanks lack of mental toughness bit them in the arse in the playoffs.
Given the amount of talent on the recent Yankee teams, to completely fall apart time after time since game 5 of the ’04 ALCS is inexusable.
i miss bernie-
That score is completely impossible. It can’t be 32-31 in OT. How are they going to get 1 point after being tied in regulation? It’d have to be at least a 2 point spread and morel likely a 3 point spread
i miss bernie:
Ron Johnson wasn’t terrible. From Wiki: “Ron rushed for 1,000 yards in 1970 and 1972, the first two 1,000 yard seasons in Giants history. Ironically those were the only 2 winning seasons the Giants had between 1964 and 1980.”
Rocky Thompson was terrible. And I remember Rocky Thompson, former No. 1 pick.
what bothers me about cash’s comments is that it just sounds like he’s outta here. i dont think they should let him go for what he said, i just think they have to find out whether he’s in it to stay or just finishing out his contractual obligation. if its the latter, id have to seriously consider letting him go
i miss bernie:
If Cash is on message with so many comments made in the past by Big Stein, that the team isn’t tough enough and didn’t do as well as they should have, why would that mean he is outta here?
Cash isn’t criticizing the ownership, he’s criticizing the team and I’m sure it’s not the first time that the players or the owners have heard his perspective on these topics. Everybody I know is disappointed with the team’s results the last few years and the first round exits are indefensible. Cash is right.
Nobody but Cash knows for sure, but it sounds to me like Cash wants to put together a team more like the Dynasty Years clubs before he goes.
um…oh? That’s um…good? um yea…
murph
if he’s trying to motivate the team with his comments about abreu and damon, i can deal with that, but his knocking Joe and Bernie is pretty indefensable. I’ll be shocked if you hear Joe say anything knocking Cash now that he’s gone. And what could possibly be the purpose of knocking Bernie?
Sounds to me like in his head, cash is composing the book he’s gonna write next winter. (The Cash Dynasty? or Cash n Stein?)
just like bernie, i have to wonder if maybe his future employment might be interfering with his doing the job of GM.
and another thing, the owner is free to knock anybody in the organization, but that right is seldom reciprocal.
“And what could possibly be the purpose of knocking Bernie?”
How’s he knocking Bernie? He DID have an awful year in 05.
And Joe DID play him over guys who could help them in 06, to the team’s detriment. It’s not mean to speak the truth.
joe and bernie and everyone else who left the yankees could take the time to knock cash about a thousand things that happened. but that wont happen because despite what cash said, both of them have too much class to drop to that level.
mind you i have been totally supportive of cash to this point, supported letting Joe go, and yes, i thought bernie hung around 2 years too long. Its just classless to go back now and knock 2 guys who had so much to do with they Yank’s success, now that they’re gone.
It may not be mean to speak the truth but anyone who has dealt with the NY media should know that it’s not always smart to do it.
On a slow news day a month from now in Tampa when a writer pulls out those quotes and asks players about them, what good can come of it.
Maybe I’m just used to Cashman always taking the high road about everything but those comments in a public forum surprised me coming from him.
it would be ‘speaking the truth’ if joe said to reporters in LA, “well that’s a fine opinion from a GM who spent $48M on clemens, moose, farnsworth and pavano last year.” but if i hear anything remotely like that come out of Joe, ill fall off my chair.
Is anyone on this blog happy with the collapse of the team in the playoffs. Why should Cash pull his punches? Maybe, saying these things in public will get some of the players to look at themselves. Be responsible, step up, not Waite for the other guy to do it, do it yourself. What ever it takes to get the job done. These are the New York Yankees for %$#@*& sake! I still think Cash may be in the middle of another power play…with the brothers this time. 27/08
“Is anyone on this blog happy with the collapse of the team in the playoffs.”
–
Morning all, while there’s still some left…
Wow. Being a star must really suck when the game has passed you by (Bernie, Torre). But, good lord people there comes a time when if you are not getting it done anymore; you have to make changes or hit the door as gracefully as possible.
Obviously, Bernie couldn’t make any significant changes as he was at the end of the line. I love Bernie to death but it was over 2 or 3 years ago.
People scream about Damon not being able to throw anybody out but at least he will hist .300 and for decent power. Matsui will hit for power and Abreu will hit for average with occasional power. Then there’s Melky who can gun runners down at any base, with decent a decent batting average and speed. Where was Bernie going to play??
The one person who could have made changes was Torre and fans were going crazy because he wouldn’t make any changes (Williams, Farnsworth, Proctor, Giambi, Mussina etc…).
Torre was the right manager at the right time for the championship runs but when things didn’t go as planned he was way too reluctant to make any changes.
That’s great when you have a young Jeter and Bernie and a rotation of Clemens, Petite, El Duque and Mussina all in their primes. You and I could have filled out those lineup cards and won.
We’ll see how well his shtick holds up on the Left Coast with owners that don’t have deep pockets and players that don’t have a tradition of winning.
I understand people feeling a bit uncomfortable reading anything negative coming out of Cash’s mouth about Joe. Yes, it’s unusual for Cash to lift the veil on any critical thoughts regarding Joe T, but Joe’s not the manager anymore. Under these circumstances, there’s no danger of undermining Joe with the team – he’s a Dodger now. Cash no longer owes Joe complete silence about any disagreements with Joe’s decision-making like he did when Joe was the manager and coming back for another year.
Plus, I don’t think it’s disloyal to raise a fair criticism of your former manager so long as you weren’t keeping it a secret from him when he was your manager. As long as Cash said it to Joe’s face previously and they discussed it like gentlemen, I don’t see the big deal.
And sorry to say it, but Bernie did have a couple of bad years and Cash knows far better than any of us whether Bernie was distracted by his musical obligations – and he may have also talked to Bernie about that too.
So, when that reporter dusts off the quotes and asks about this at ST, all the players have to say is that the reporter needs to ask Cash, Bernie or Mr. Torre about it. And I doubt that anybody will have anything else to say, especially with Joba, Phil and IPK in camp, the Roger and Andy show going on and Jeter’s tax problems.
i think there’s a real misconception about Cash’s “power play” when he signed his current contract. Cash’s dispute was with the “tampa group’ of advisors acting independantly of the GM, and he wanted to consolidate all baseball decisions under the G.M. (subject of course to the owner’s approval). I dont think there was ever any discussion about reigning in the owner’s prerogotive to say whatever he wanted to whomever he wanted. George’s infirmity basically did lead to his being quieter, but that wanst part of Cash’s agreement.
The current percieved ‘problem’ isnt with others running the baseball side ot things, its just that people think cash would prefer that Hank restrain his public comments. I dont think Cash has any intention of a ‘power play’ over the owner’s right to say what he wants when he wants. And although that may push Cash to leave, i dont think he ever intends to try to tell Hank or Hal when to speak, as this would certainly be a losing battle.
ghtt the e
Not sure if you guys already saw this, but a man who claims to be Babe Ruth’s nephew appears to be quite the confidence man.
http://bronx-bomberz.blogspot......fraud.html
Who comprises the Tampa group of villains I always hear about?
Girardi is an excellent choice, especially in this day and age. Preparation, preparation, preparation, is the current-day mantra, taking gainful advantage of all that technology has to offer. The hours required are endless given the complexity of the game as it is now structured and interpreted, in evaluating player personnel, and of course motivating. One need only look to the Baseball Prospectus site to observe the modern-day assessment acronyms. No longer can a manager simply show up, schmooze with the media before and after, “push a button” (to re-energize a euphemism from the 50′s) and then snooze in the comfortable environs of the dugout. “Schmooze, Snooze, and Lose” are well in the past. We now have the right “Joe”!!!!
Cash is a human being. He’s allowed to have negative feelings, and to express them as he feels fit. It may not be a good idea to, for instance, start saying that he’s really worried about the 2008 team and that the young pitching isn’t enough to win 70 games, but there’s no law against him if he thinks that.
Of course, as it’s highly unlikely he thinks that the Yankees will win only 70 games, it’s a moot point (I hope)
FYI…
Yo! Senator Mitchel, lissen up. HGH is Good!
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s.....TE=DEFAULT
Joe, here’s the list of the tampa group from Murray Chass of the NYTimes 10/2/05:
STEPHEN SWINDAL General partner
George Steinbrenner’s son-in-law who has been named as successor to the Boss.
MARK NEWMAN Senior vice president baseball operations
Oversees the Yankees’ minor-league system.
GORDON BLAKELEY, senior vice president, player personnel
Well-regarded scout with extensive international experience.
BILLY CONNORS Vice president player personnel
Works with pitchers and is a confidant of Steinbrenner.
BILL EMSLIE Vice president major league scouting
Friend and increasingly trusted adviser to Steinbrenner.
DAMON OPPENHEIMER Vice president scouting
The top in-house candidate to replace Cashman as general manager, he is coordinating postseason scouting and has a strong hand in player evaluation.
heres the link:http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10.....wanted=all
There wasnt that much of a dispute about thier abilities, the problem was they all had unfettered access to George’s ear and were allowed to bypass Cashman.
There’s nothing insightful in that post.
rebecca, i understand that cash has feelings, im quite sure torre has feelings too, but if joe responded in kind, we’d have a coast-to-coast war of words that would make both look petty and rediculous. Plus, BC has to know that Torre woudnt make any such remarks about cash, even though he certainly has some. I just think it was poor judgement on cash’s part, especially picking on two very classy people for stuff that should be water under the bridge by now.
i miss bernie: At this point, Torre probably doesn’t care about what Cash says.
im sure he cares, and some reporter is going to ask him about it on the day P’s and C’s report, and he’ll stay classy and say something like, “brian and I had a few disagreements but we worked well together to achieve a high level of success.”
i miss bernie: Maybe, but Torre doesn’t strike me as the type of guy to make a fuss out of it.
“Cash’s comments last night really bother me. i think it’s really weak for him to slam torre and bernie after they’re -gone.”
————————————————————
What did he say? Do you have a link?
here’s jack curry’s version from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01.....ref=sports
and pete’s last blog had some too.
murphydog
My father lost money on that fumble.
Nevermind. Got it. What he said was true, but it came out a bit tough on Joe and Bernie. He could have couched his thoughts better.
Torre had many strengths and some weaknesses, and Im sure the same can be said for Girardi. I think they are almost opposites. Torre’s strength were off-field, with the media, and a live-and-let-live attitude with the players. He definitely favored vets over kids.
I am looking forward to having Girardi’s on-field and BP abilities. Time will tell if how he handles the players and the press works out.
Egos would never allow it, but they would make the ultimate team. If Torre was the team ‘Daddy’ and had ALL the off-field responsibilities, and Girardi basically just ran the on-field, it would be awesome!
I was a BIG Torre supporter. My main issue was HOW he was fired, and that it was done in the wrong year… with so many loyal FA’s on the line. I would have liked to see Torre been given a ONE YEAR GUARANTEED contract (CAN’T BE FIRED NO MATTER WHAT), with Girardi as the bench coach. Torre could have ‘closed’ the old stadium, we might have saved some sweat and money on the FAs, there would have been good will, and hopefully Torre would have given Girardi’s opinions real weight, knowing he would be the manager in 2008.
If the players like and respect Girardi, I think he will be VERY effective. We have more kids this year and more coming, so as long as ‘the core’ are OK with Joe Jr., we should be in fine shape.
I think Cashman should be applauded for his honesty. The one thing the Yankees have lacked since 2004 is mental toughness in the postseason.
———————————————————
Again, this is true stuff, and it’s sometimes hard to walk the line of political correctness. But let’s be honest. 2004 was the choke of all time. The Yanks couldn’t close out a couple of close games, and then I think were panicked.
I believe they have played ‘tight’ in the PS ever since. I think they had the talent to go much further then they did in 2004-2007. Maybe it was the pressure. But I have to agree. When it was time to bear down and come up big… they did not.
Also, last year, Damon and Melky came to ST out of shape. Betemine needs to come to this ST in better shape. It looks like Jetes put a little more effort into this offseason. They did have 2 years with great regular season comebacks, but for the talent and money on this team… I just don’t think they were hungry enough.
This year… being the underdog… and having ‘unproven kids’ here might give them a little extra push. But to be honest, the team has disapponted in the last 4 PS’s. They had the talent, but came up short. You can’t blame the FO for being disappoint too.
facts are facts regarding bernie’s downturn and torre’s favoring veterans over young guys but the way cash said it, it kind of came out like Bernie didnt give a crap about baseball and joe favored veterans even though he know it was detrimental to the team. Had he said something like’i thought melky was ready before joe did,’ would have been a fine analysis of the situation without challenging bernie’s and joe’s motivations and desire to win. very un cashman-like. my big fear is just that the tone sounded detached and distant, as if he’s already gone in his mind.
“my big fear is just that the tone sounded detached and distant, as if he’s already gone in his mind.”
All we have is text. It’s really easy to read your fears or suppositions into a quote that has no context, body language or inflection behind it.
whozat,
this is true, i wish i had a video of it to see, (havent checked youtube yet) but the idea of whether or not cash has mentally ‘left the building’ is one that has been brought up in many forums and until now, i didnt see it. But if he has decided to leave, i dont want him running the show this season.
looks like epstein and cashman pretty much confirmed they want to keep their prospects yesterday:
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/200.....-of-youth/
Here’s a question. now that cano has agreed to a contract what is in it bonuses and does it have a no-trade clause. I would be very gratefull to know especially about the no-trade part.Thanks
Sorry but I don’t agree with Cashmans words being motivating. Motivation should happen behind closed doors and not through the media.
Let bulletin board material come from the competition and not have it happening in house.
Cash’s comment that bothered me the most was about the midges, and not being “mentally tough enough”. Is there any way to read that other than a direct slam at Joba?
Granted, Joba blew it, but he owned up to it after the game and didn’t make excuses. What possible reason could there be to call him out on it now?
if you read these quotes without knowing who said them, who would you have guessed the speaker was? my pics: steve phillips or peter gammons
They sounded like something George Steinbrenner would have said, especially the mentally tough part, which might be what makes it even more shocking that it was Cashman who did say it. Cash has always been the ying to George’s yang.
yes the toughness part definatly sounds very George-ish
edit- yin not ying