Spring training Game 6: Yankees at Reds
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 06, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Here’s the earliest lineup post ever:
YANKEES
Damon DH
Molina C
Abreu RF
Giambi 1B
Betemit 2B
Jackson LF
Gardner CF
Woodward 3B
Gonzalez SS
Pitching
Chien-Ming Wang (2-3 innings, 40 pitches)
Darrell Rasner (2-3 innings, 40 pitches)
Kyle Farnsworth
Sean Henn
Dan Giese
Billy Traber
REDS
Aaron Harang is starting. That’s all we know so far. Hopefully Hall of Fame nice guy Andy Phillips gets a few hacks against his old teammates.
Notes: Hold onto something solid but Joe Girardi seems to love Kyle Farnsworth. He said he would use Krazy Kyle on back-to-back days, in the middle of innings, etc. Farnsworth has changed his mechanics (specifically when he breaks his hands) on the advice of Dave Eiland to eliminate how much he dragged his arm last season. That tended to flatten out his slider. When thrown right, it’s a great pitch for him. … Girardi had the “throw strikes” talk with Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain after their nibblesome outings yesterday. Nibblesome is probably not a word but if you’ve read this far, you know what I mean. … Hideki Matsui will be getting in a game soon. He’ll start off as the DH. … Mariano Rivera is scheduled for an inning tomorrow and will probably follow Andy Pettitte to the mound.
OK, we’re off to Sarasota in the blog mobile. Check back later for updates.
Billy Traber closing things out. Nice, Im rooting for him to make the team if Joe decides to take a lefty.
I trust him way more then I do Henn or Igawa..
GO YANKEES….and is there any news on any of the HATED Red Sox doing poorly in Spring Training, Peter ?….MOST of us would LOVE to hear about that, too ! ( insert sinister laugh sound here )
Yeah but is Kyle going to cry when Girardi sends him out there the second day in a row? Or will we?
Good morning ya’ll. To all of you guys who i made excited about Andy Phillips getting the triple it was him. I just got confused cuz he played LF. Nice to see him still having his yankee blood, getting a big hit against the sox.
Pete, any chance we get a pic of the BlogMobile? Does’t it have any special features like a rocket launcher or anything?
Seriously..you are the best…thanks for all the updates!
Youngtimer good question. lol. I remember reading somewhere that Kyle himself said that his back is much better, don’t remember exactly what he did, and he’ll be able to pitch back to back days. Lets hope for the best.
Jeez, DV, give it a rest! It’s Spring Training!
Farnsworth said in an interview earlier in the year he has “no problem” working back to back days.
Every new manager has one guy he looks to fix when he takes a job. For Girardi, that’s Farnsworth.
IMO, you give a new manager that chance. If it works, and they get one good year out of him, doesn’t that benefit the team?
Its great to get excited about young players. But, you can’t have a team full of them and think you are going to win a championship.
There is no doubt ANYBODY who has watched Kyle Farnsworth over the years can argue he doesn’t have great stuff. He does.
You can go back to games when he has frozen David Ortiz with a great slider or blown a 100 MPH fastballs past good hitters. The talent is there. The consistency is not.
Its a matter of bringing it out of him and putting him in situation in which he can be successful. That means, being able to handle his rough outings.
He’s not a closer. His best years have come as a 7th inning setup guy.
Its his last year with the Yankees, unless he either has a great year or they deal him.
Its just one of those deals where you leave it to the new manager and see if he can find a way to get something out of him.
The guy is a talent. Its just finding a way to pull it out of him. That’s the challenge.
I know this is a bit outside of the lines, but while we’re talking about the bull pen..
I know something that they always seem to talk about on the radio and on YES, is how Torre would normally play the outfield back for some reason when Mo was pitching.
I know we all have terrible memories of all the bloop hits that fell just in front of a charging outfielder..
I wonder if we’ll see anything different from Girardi this year. He seems like the kind of manager that would look at the stats and move the outfield around more based on the pitcher and the matchup.
Just judging from the things I have been reading and what I saw last year, I think Eiland will make a big impact on the Yankees. I have respect for Gator as pitcher, but I think some of the woes that Mussina, Wang, Hughes, and maybe even some of the revolving door pitchers, were in part due to Gator’s style of coaching them.
Wang had some struggles, he had the fingernail issue, and just didn’t seem quite the same as he had been the year before. Mussina said that he got help with his pitching problems from Stottlemeyer – that Mel had given him advice from what he noticed from seeing Moose on TV. Hughes made a big turn around in his pitching shortly after Eiland came up, and Eiland said he saw things with Hughes mechanics that were wrong.
Maybe Eiland can help figure out Farnsworth’s problems. Eiland was no where near the pitcher that Gator was, but sometimes that makes for a better coach.
SJ: I think Girardi’s the type that likes a challenge
Well, I have three midterms today. Wish me luck, because I definitely need it!
Interesting point DMan. I know Girardi is one of the newer type managers that work stats quite a bit. That might help gain a bit of an edge.
Pete’s entry from the previous thread…†As expected, some inane responses. How can you hate people you don’t know? â€
.
ANSWER: Easy…I hate every member of an Islamic Terrorist Group, Pete….and I don’t KNOW any of them..
.
Oh..and Baseball “hate†is nowhere near real “hate†my friend. It is just a recreational “hate†that has no real substance. Would I take pleasure in a Boston Red Sox player enduring a real personal tragedy ? Of course not. Would I enjoy one of them going into a huge slump that hurt the team and got him sent to the minors…..Absolutely….LOVE the Yankees,,,,HATE the Red Sox….is like….Love Ice Cream and Hate Brownies….that kind of hate…..Ok, Pete…???…So settle down and stop being so sensitive !
don, why post that comment again in this thread? it wasn’t a good response the first time, it is even worse out of context. besides, how can anyone hate brownies?
“Oh..and Baseball “hate†is nowhere near real “hate†my friend. It is just a recreational “hate†that has no real substance”
Three days ago in Boston a guy was at a bar with his girlfriend. He was wearing a yankee hat.
A group of Red Sox fans started a fight with him at the bar for wearing that hat. The guy left to avoid a confrontation but that group of Red Sox fans followed him out of the bar, caught up with him and then proceeded to beat the hell out of him.
They were kicking him in the face. He wound up in the hospital.
And all of this happened right in front of his girlfriend. She stood there watching this, helpless to stop it.
That’s real hate. Does this happen often – no. Is it that infrequent – no. And it there have been incidents on both sides.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cam.....1637136069
CB…I was talking about SANE Baseball Hate…( sorry I didn’t clarify )….What you are showing is a bunch of insane jerks that hardly needed a reason to act out their stupidity and, sad to say, I am sure that there are New York fans ( NUT JOBS ) that have done the same to Red Sox fans. …..oh and K.Huiz….while I respect your right to have an opinion,,,,you are flat out wrong…It WAS a good response the first time and so what if it is out of context …who are you,,,the Blog Police ?….and for the record, I love both Ice Cream AND Brownies….not like I want to Marry them, but just, ya know, I love them, Man !
rebecca : good luck with your tests today
CB: thanks for all the good stuff you write and for sticking up for brandon last night. i just get driven out of here by negative guys like W
Action starts today means I won’t see him tomorrow
SJ: i’ve never been a fan of farnsy, but i’ve been saying the same thing; why NOT let girardi and eiland try to fix him up. it would be a huge asset. if they fail; so be it.
same thing goes for bruney, though i have less hope for him. maybe it’s because we don’t seem to have enough roster spots for bruney…but they did end up giving him a bunch of cash, so maybe he will make the team
hey brandon
I love the word nibelsome. I predict that “nibelsome” as in “nibelsome ways” will work it’s way into the lexicon by the end of spring training. It will form the basis of vocabulary list for elementary school students around the country. They will use it in sentences such as “I believe any pitchers nibelsome ways were in part responsible for driving Billy Martin to drink.” Thanks Pete, once again your very presence has made our culture richer.
CB has always been a stan up guy I have so much respect for him on this board & MikeEff thanks for pointing that out yesterday I feel the same way.
I almost feel bad for Abreu today.. Hes going to look so slow in the outfield next to Jackson and Gardner.
yup but Action running down those gappers will be a sight for my eyes & Brett
Old Goat -
Apparently the adage might be true – Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach. Not to seem like I’m slamming teachers. It seems the best coaches are often bench type guys – probably because they got to watch – while the best players are too busy worrying about what they have to do.
And re the OF being deep behind Mo, there’s was surely a bit of extra base hit avoidance in late lead situations going on there too. Not necessarily the wrong approach.
Possible WS Matchup today:
on the yanks broadcast on rsnpn yesterday, peter pasquerelli picked (a peck of pickled peppers) sorry, picked the yanks in the east and the reds as the nl wild card.
“CB…I was talking about SANE Baseball Hate…( sorry I didn’t clarify )….What you are showing is a bunch of insane jerks that hardly needed a reason to act out their stupidity”
My point was that there is baseball hate that is real hate. There just is. Nor can it be dismissed as insane. You see this unfortunately with human beings all over the planet – soccer especially.
I don’t know if those guys hardly needed a reason. But we do know what their actions are. And I don’t think you can just chalk it up to a “few bad apples.” It happens more often than that.
So when someone takes up the issue of “hating” people in relation to sports there is, unfortunately, a long and not so pretty track record there. Its not something that can be dismissed by sensitivity.
Think about that guy – his physical injuries will recover. But what is his relationship going to be like with his girlfriend. She watched those guys not only physically beat him up but humiliate him in front of her.
That’s just not easy. And it’s not that uncommon. When some people talk about hate they mean hate.
Good team preview on the Yankees for 2008. Breaks down the lineup, rotation, etc. And you can vote! lol Seems it’s yet another 2nd place finish projection. Ugh.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/200.....ast-stand/
well said CB. there just are no excuses whatsoever for attacks like that.
Good luck Rebecca!
Old Goat
“Eiland was no where near the pitcher that Gator was, but sometimes that makes for a better coach.”
You hit it on the head. I see this all the time in the sales industry specifically (and others as well), where you have guys who are top performers and can out sell anyone but make just so-so managers. In other words they are not great at “teaching” someone as well as performing on their own. The reverse of this is also true. Eiland to me is one of those “so-so” performers that can really teach mechanics etc. to pitchers.
This is why I feel having him instead of the Gator will help improve our pitching this year, particularly with guys like Farnsy. Who have great stuff but just need someone to help them put it together for better results. Hoping this theory proves correct on the field this year!
I agree about Eiland and how effective he may be as pitching coach. And as for Farnsworth, Girardi caught him. Who knows a pitcher better than his catcher? Maybe he and Eiland can help Farnsworth. After all if we have an effective 8th inning guy, Joba can move into a starting role at some point.
Is the game on Mlbtv?
“i just get driven out of here by negative guys like W”
I’m actually very positive on the Yankees. I see much to be excited about. I also see a lot of people setting unrealistic expectations, which I think is a bad idea. So, I bring a dose of reality.
For instance, Shelley could definitely be a useful platoon guy at 1B and in the corner OF positions. The likelihood of him suddenly emerging as a full-time 1B is small. Why do I say this? Well, given his career track record in the minors and his age at this point, he would have to be EXTREMELY abnormal in order for that to turn out to be the case. Would it be wonderful? Sure! Do I think the Yanks should bank on it? No, that would be irresponsible. I also don’t consider saying this to be “negative”. It’s just realistic.
I’ve said that, and things like that wrt other players and situations time and time again. And yet some posters have continued to ignore these points, and the rationale I use to come up with them. I have become frustrated with these folks, and that comes through in my tone.
I don’t know if anyone can really help Farnsworth; his problems began long before he came to the Yankees. He’s one of the many pitching questions I have re Cashman.
Farnsworth has been trouble for years. Although I can’t recall an episode with the Yankees there were plenty before he got here. At least he didn’t lick his entire palm before each pitch last time he pitched. Anyone remember the ball that dropped into some woman’s drink last year after Farnsworth gave the ball his big lick?
Full disclosure – I’ve been a Guidry fan for a really long time. I don’t know what type of a coach he is (the Yankees really didn’t have the caliber of pitchers they had while Mel was here) but Guidry could really pitch.
Stottlemyre said he saw some things with Wang’s delivery last year and was going to call him – and probably did while he was in AZ before ST but Wang needed to develop an out pitch. Too many people keep emphasizing the fact that Wang doesn’t get strikeouts and though we’ve heard about his style of sinkerballer not getting strikeouts but apparently Wang feels pressure about it.
A small wish – please make them go away: Henn and Ramirez, Farnsworth and Igawa – I know they’re going to keep trying with the latter 2 because they’re paying them so much money but really, don’t they just want to win?
Give some of the newer guys a chance, then go out, and get a good lefty! With all the money the Yankees spend (or waste), can’t they do this one little thing?
torre’s gone, he’s worked with girardi before, he gets a fresh start and hes playing for a contract, if ever kyle was going to have a good year for the yanks, this is it.
joe is pumping him up and showing confidence and thats the best way for him to go into the season.
“Good team preview on the Yankees for 2008. Breaks down the lineup, rotation, etc. And you can vote! lol Seems it’s yet another 2nd place finish projection. Ugh. ”
The fact that they say “Failing to trade for the ace [Johan Santana] that everyone felt the Yankees needed” kind of shows their bias right off, though. It’s far from true that everyone thought (thinks?) they needed Santana or his like.
Anyone have a link to streaming audio for this game?
“Give some of the newer guys a chance, then go out, and get a good lefty! With all the money the Yankees spend (or waste), can’t they do this one little thing?”
the Yankees refuse to go out and get a good lefty because they simply want you to be unhappy.
after all, good lefties are cheap and plentiful. they are so easy to come by that surely the Yankees lack of a dominant lefty reliever must be intentional.
Farnsworth’s problems are no mystery. When facing his 1st hitter he challenges with his good stuff, more often than not puts him away then starts to toy with the corners.
If Girardi / Eiland can get through to him to go after hitters with every pitch for the next hitters, the results will show. He’ll likely only be called on to face 3 hitters so he might as well go the gamut with his best and call it a day.
Does anyone know of or have a link to listen to today’s game? It’s not on mlb.com nor XM, so I’m scrambling to find something. Thanks for any help.
JMO but, I haven’t seen Whozat being a real negative poster.
There is a difference between realistic expecations and negativity. Whozat has always seemed to fall on the side of being realistic.
This whole “ace” stuff is really overblown. The Red Sox had two aces in 2006, Beckett and Schilling. How did that turn out? They didn’t make the playoffs.
The Padres had the Cy Young winner last year in Jake Peavy. How was their playoff run? Oh yeah, they didn’t make the playoffs.
Bottom line, you win and lose as a team. If you get hot in the playoffs, you can make a run.
The Indians couldn’t hold a 3-1 lead last year because their ace and others, couldn’t finish the deal.
Johan Santana, for all his greatness, is 1-3 in the post-season and hasn’t pitched the Twins into the playoffs in the last couple of years.
It takes more than one great pitcher to win. The Mets will find that out this year.
The Yankees built a Dynasty in the 90′s without one great pitcher. They would roll out 4-5 very good pitchers on a nightly basis, couple it with the best closer in history and a dangerous lineup.
Seems to me, that’s what they are trying to recreate now.
If the starters do their jobs, this team is more than good enough to win.
I think its great they aren’t the favorites for a change. It makes it easier to develop the younger players and it gives them a rallying point for a change.
Let the Red Sox have the bullseye on them for a change.
Don’t forget that Leo Mazzone and his magical pitching elixir coaching never made it to the majors
*as a player, of course
I feel like I’m a fairly knowledgeable guy when it comes to baseball. Posters like SJ, CB, as well as hmmm & whozat add a lot to this blog, their writing styles differ but they all want the same thing, educated baseball discussion. I have read many posts that don’t make any sense, some where I try to engage in conversation about their thinking, some people are interested in thinking over their initial point & some not.
I feel like I have already learned more than I ever thought I would, particularly about the Minor leagues.
If your comment is questioned, defend it with some educated answers, don’t take it personally. That way you can see another’s point of view, just be open to it.
Whozat is one of the smartest posters here. i am not sure how that makes him overly negative.
Don Vito -
One of the problems is that some people are but one beer away from a physical confrontation that would never happen if they were sober (or alone, as opposed to in a group).
nyfaninlaaland -
For those who coach better than they could actually perform, I think it’s even more than simply the watching. I think those whose talent does not come easily have to work harder on their mechanics, on the specific elements of the activity, whether it’s pitching or hitting or fielding. So, they’ve been through the grind of it. It is the rare exception that those for whom things come easily, naturally, are able to break down what it is they do that makes them successful. Moreover, many athletes are loathe to do just that because they don’t want to mess with success, you know?
I agree regarding the Farnsworth reclamation project – why not? They’ve got very little to lose and a lot to gain if Girardi is able to bring him around.
Pete
Look down for the pirate ship when you’re going over the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Very cool.
P.S.: There’s a Columbia restaurant in St. Armand’s circle on Lido Key in Sarasota. Might want to stop for lunch and a mojito after the game. Yummy.
“If your comment is questioned, defend it with some educated answers, don’t take it personally. That way you can see another’s point of view, just be open to it.”
No one is disagreeing with this.
The issue isn’t about being smart or being negative about the team.
The issue is about being negative towards other people.
When a basic level of respect and politeness break down the board takes on an unfortunate tone that makes the overall discussion less interesting and less enjoyable.
People should express their opinions fully. Those opinions are and should be questioned fully.
But when questioning others opinions there has to be a basic level of civility that is maintained.
There is no parameter for being mean, shrill, or cranky towards others just because one is convinced that he or she is correct and the other person is incorrect – no matter how many facts, figures or scouting reports you have to back you up.
Being civil and good humored when discussing baseball has nothing to do with having logic or evidence on one’s side.
Its one thing to try to educate others. Its an entirely different matter when they disagree with the opinions they are being educated about and the conversation becomes hostile.
Tom
I looked this morning and FSN Ohio TV Broadcast is the only thing today. Pete’s live blogging is the lifeline.
“Farnsworth has changed his mechanics (specifically when he breaks his hands) . . . ”
Hmmm. A broken had or two for Farnsworth doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
I also had the same guilty thought when I saw the “when he breaks his hands” line.
I like the word “nibblesome,” but in that sentence I would have gone with “nibblish.”
Thanks Pat (and Pete).
Funny Balboni.
Actually does anyone actually know what the term “breaks his hands” means from a “baseball” standpoint? I can only speculate, but am not familiar with that term…someone educate me please.
…“breaks his hands†means from a “baseball†standpoint? ”
A pitcher breaking his hand is essentially when he snaps or flexes his wrist during his arm motion.
It’s particularly a key part of throwing a breaking ball – that’s part of what helps give the ball rotation and spin (along with the elbow and shoulder).
SJ- I agree with you that a team doesnt need an “ace pitcher” to be successful, but to say the yankees didnt have one great pitcher during their late 90′s dynasty couldnt be more false. David Cone was great, David Wells was great, Roger Clemens was great as was Andy Pettite…and lets not forget about El Duque.
“i just get driven out of here by negative guys like Wâ€
yes i said that, and CB is correct in pointing out that i was referring to your downright lack of civility in your treatment of some people here.
You “break your hand” when throwing a slider/curveball/etc. You hold the ball in a different grip and “break” your hand to make it come out with a different spin rather than straight off the tips of your fingers. So when Farnsworth drags his arm its a pretty lazy motion and the slider doesn’t have as much snap.
This is hard to explain and probably made no sense but thats my best try
Until Kyle Farnsworthless learns how to put some sink on his balls and not have such a high tendency for fly balls and walks, he will be a below replacement level reliever.
Thanks CB.
I assumed that he was referring to some type of wrist action as well. It was plural use of “hands” that made me unsure since pitchers just throw with one hand. Thanks again.
Ross its not about having sink, its about having control. If he can improve his mechanics and spot his fastball on the corners he will be near unhittable like he was in 2005. He does actually have a 2-seamer he threw a bit last year and that didn’t really help.
whozat,
You’re fun and all, but you come with a lot of “you know that..right?” comments. They’re kind of snarky.
Wiseass is fun, but maybe pick your battles cuz your negativity is clear to everyone but yourself.
Keep posting cuz you’re fun. Even hmmm made an effort to be less negative and has had fun with it.
Pete…just missed ya at legends today. Saw ya leaving but voted against screaming your name across the lot.
Had a great time watching bp and bullpens though…
Btw…frank howard still getting it done
Rasner >>>>>>>> Karstens
I have a completely different read on ” … breaks his hands … “.
To me that is the point during his delivery, following coming to a set position that he separates his hands pulling back the right arm.
The height and depth that the arm is taken back can and does affect the way the ball is delivered in the forward motion.
I don’t see the use of the plural “hands” having anything to do with wrist snapping.
Brandon,
Anytime I see Lebron say things like this I truly believe he would like for the Knicks to somehow get under the cap by the time he’s a free agent. Maybe I’m dreaming though.
“To get a standing ovation in the greatest basketball arena in the world, it was a dream come true for me. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.”
– Cavs forward LeBron James, on his salute from the New York crowd.
“The issue isn’t about being smart or being negative about the team.
The issue is about being negative towards other people.”
gotcha. i just assumed we were talking about the “negativity” Pete brought up a few days ago.
yes, i realize that i can also get carried away with the sarcasm…you are right, civility is certainly not too much to ask. i am sarcastic, but sometimes i AM joking and it might not come across in print. i do try to tone it down.
and yes, i realize the irony of posting this in a thread where i made a fairly sarcastic comment. apologies.
“I have a completely different read on †… breaks his hands … “.
To me that is the point during his delivery, following coming to a set position that he separates his hands pulling back the right arm.”
Southern Yankee I completely see your point. When I posted I hadn’t noticed the use of plural hands until jashell2000 pointed that out.
That is another use of the term break with pitching – separating your arms after bringing them together during the wind up. That used to be much more dramatic when guys had less compact motions and tended to rock on the mound with their arms (old films of pitchers from the 50′s and 60′s are great with that).
I’m just so used to hearing break of the wrist/ hand with respect to breaking balls I assumed that was the reference.
But given that pete mentioned hands instead I see what you are referring to.
Thanks.
Giambi is playing so much 1B they might cause him to break down faster *knock on wood*
Not sure you guys are completely right about “breaks his hands”. The term can also refer to when/how the pitcher takes his hand out of the glove, thus making the pitching arm freeer to move. But I could be wrong…
Is there really no audio link whatsoever to this game? mlb.com doesn’t even seem to have a link listed.
Cone, Wells, Pettitte and Clemens (at least the 1999 version) were not “great” pitchers.
They were very good pitchers.
None of the above had a dominating year like a Santana and Pedro in his prime type of “ace” years that gets talked about when the national talking heads discuss what the Yankees are lacking.
That was my point.
The thought that the Yankees need that type of guy to go further in the post-season isn’t accurate.
They are 4-13 in their last 17 post-season games. They all can’t be attributed to the “lack of an ace”.
Untimely hitting has had as much (or more) to do with the lack of the success in the post-season the last 17 games.
Its about having a balanced, well rounded pitching staff, with guys who can give you innings. That’s what the Yankees have lacked in recent years.
Hopefully, that changes.
I just don’t buy the ” lack of an ace” argument because there are too many instances over the years where the team having that ace has not had playoff success.
No Andy Phillips in the Reds’ lineup today:
Hopper- CF
Keppinger- SS
Griffey- RF
Dunn- LF
Encarnacion- 3B
Hatteberg- 1B
Votto- DH
Valentin- C
Green- 2B
Harang- P
Former Yanks Mike Stanton and David Weathers are expected to pitch…
I also think that “break his hands” refers to when he takes his pitching hand out of his glove after the set. It’s important because it sets the momentum and angles for his shoulders throughout his motion.
Either way, Farnsworth is a mystery wrapped inside a conondrum inside an enigma. He is a paradox. Someone’s observation from before, that he always gets the first batter out by throwing strikes, and then gets NIBBLESOME around the rest of the batters, is dead on. I mean, the guy throws heat, and he should just throw heat until they start hitting it.
Also, I love Ian Kennedy today for two reasons: 1, that I just love him; and 2, that I noticed in the picture of him in today’s competing newspaper that rhymes with Moo Pork Rhymes, that he not only wears his socks high, but that they’re not even socks – they are old school stirrups. Kennedy for President!
Farnsworth should “announce his presence with authority” is what I’m saying.
Lori,
Here’s a list of links of Cinncinati radio affiliates. Just keep clicking on the call letters until you find one with a game. Please post the correct link when you find it.
http://www.thegamelive.com/baseballmlb.html#nl
Here’s the complete list of affiliates:
http://mlb.mlb.com/cin/schedul.....liates.jsp
Have fun!
Lori seems there is no coverage on mlb.com for the game today either on radio or tv
No wonder Brett Favre kept putting off retirement, he can’t even get the words out of his mouth. He’s losing it now. What a great guy.
I like whozat’s “call ‘em like I see ‘em” direct approach. He’s one of my favorite posters here.
“Untimely hitting has had as much (or more) to do with the lack of the success in the post-season the last 17 games.”
I completely agree with this and think its a point that goes missing when discussing the teams lack of post season success.
Yes the pitching in the post season has been poor to very bad.
But since that game they blew to the Sox in 2004 the bats have just disappeared.
The entire team collectively presses way too much in the post season. It’s white knuckles all around.
This is one of the issues with having so many all start calliber players – each of them seems to want to carry the load in the post season rather than letting the game come to him.
It’s also one of the issues with having every season be a complete failure if they don’t win the world series.
Hitting is difficult enough – they need to stop pressing in the post season but that’ s easier said than done.
Hopefully having more younger players contribute will loosen up the team, let them relax and let their natural hitting talent come through in the playoffs.
This is one potential benefit with having Girardi – hopefully making that change and turning page will put 2004 further away in the distance. I don’t think many of the hitters recovered from that (ARod being the most dramatic before and after example)
ragmagnetic,
unfortunately the Knicks are going to screw it up, I don’t think our fans understand the only reason we aren’t in more cap hell is because Milwaukee’s GM Larry Harris rejected Zach Randolph to Mil. LeBron also said when asked if he ever thought about being a Knick, he responded “no” not that he would admit it but I see it very difficult for him to reject Jay-Z the only hope the Knicks have is Jay-Z and him get into a fight or Jay-Z is fired from the Nets and that’s likely not happening.
I meant raymagnetic sorry man
I hear ya, SJ.
I commented elsewhere:
Last year was killed early by rotation injuries, in playoffs by Wang’s inexplicable collapse… let’s remember that Wang was the only playoff winner against Detroit the year before. One may not like him as a “ace†because he doesn’t have that “dominance†feel – low K’s. But he’s one of 6 AL East starters with over 100IP and ERA under 4 in both 2006 and ‘07. 1 (Bedard) is gone, another (Schilling) might be out for the year. Leaving Halladay, Burnett, and Kazmir. Only 4 others did that in ‘07 alone – Beckett, Shields, Guthrie, and Litsch (Pettitte would have too if not for a meaningless 9/29 start giving up 8 earned in 5 IP – and winning!). Hence the worry about Toronto, while Tampa’s backend rotation is a ?. Ultimately pitching is about not allowing runs isn’t it? Like the style or not, that’s what Wang does.
It’s having multiple starters that allow a team to compete that makes for success. In the playoffs it’s as often – like in hockey goalies – about who’s hot. Think St. Louis in ’06 (Weaver?), Chisox in ’05, Angels in ’02.
JGNYC
March 6th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I like whozat’s “call ‘em like I see ‘em†direct approach. He’s one of my favorite posters here.
Can someone critisize me so i can have a fan base? Seriously,do i have a fan out there? Anyone.
hmmm,
I see you as joking around with facts to back it up. I dont think you pick on people who are not purposely trying to get a rise out of this blog. Your very informative and crack me up. Makes people have to bring logic into the conversations(accept myself offcoarse). Keep it up. CB,whozat,sj and many others are the reason why i only read and post here. Do what you do thats what makes it stand out all alone.
SJ44 is wrong when he dismisses the contributions of various Yankees pitchers in the late 1990s. In 1999, the year he cites, David Cone was one of the most effective pitchers in the American League. His adjusted ERA (137) is testament to that fact. He walked a few more that year than he probably wanted, but he knew how to pitch, and was very hard to hit (26 fewer H than IP).
The worst year for “aces” was 2000, and that was in the context of a relatively weak AL East. To be fair, SJ44 is right to say that the team’s lack of success is not wholly attributable to the lack of an ace. Getting hot in the playoffs matters, and that’s just what the Yankees did in the late 1990s.
I should clarify that 1999 was a poor year for pitching. Cone’s 137 was 2nd in the league…the clear sign of a year when pitching perfs regressed to a pretty lame mean.
“They’re kind of snarky.”
Yep. They are. I usually do it when people post something that’s already been discussed a repeatedly in the very thread they’re posting in. Or, someone posts their umpteenth uninformed opinion that makes no sense, and shows no interest in developing the acumen to reason through their thoughts on their own.
I mean…if someone comes in and is freaking out on march 5th about how Joba has no control and that moving out of the pen would be insanity…does such a post NOT deserve to be snarked at?
In a stunning development, the Boston Sawx are playing the Dodgers in Fort Myers and of all people, Peter Gammons is there.
Just found out that a friend of mine was able to get me tickets to games on 3/15 and 3/16. Have to fly down from Albany, NY if I can find a reasonable price at this late date. Probably heard this a million times, but where is the best place to stay if you don’t have Steinbrenner-like money? thanks