Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 11, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Joe Girardi changed the lineup and Andy Pettitte did what he usually does as the Yankees avoided a sweep in Kansas City.
Chien-Ming Wang will see some old “friends” in Boston tonight. This notebook also has news on Derek Jeter making progress, new titles for the Steinbrenner family and Jorge Posada.
————
Sam Weinman is in Augusta and reports that all eyes were on Tiger Woods as he started his pursuit of the green jacket.
Sam also has a notebook from The Masters focused on our local hero, Johnson Wagner.
I don’t want to see give away bases, but Boston is not USUALLY a team that runs. That said, Molina has done such a great job, especially defensively, it seems nuts to push the Posada issue and possibly experience a setback.
Playing with injured players is part of the game. If injuries are minor enough that the DL is not necessary, consider yourselves lucky.
Any status on Giambi, Pete? Was he 100% when he played the other day?
Well done to Andy for a clutch job last night.
IMO, Hideo Nomo doesn’t have much left. He must have shown something this psring to make the team as a non-roster guy but his splitter didn’t have much bite and his fastball was around 87.
The interesting thing to me was the flurry of Japanese media when Matsui came up to face him. I’m sure that the matchup was big news in their papers today.
News on Shelly Duncan from Rotoworld:
“Shelley Duncan homered and doubled three times Thursday in his first game after being demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Duncan has to be upset about losing his spot to a roster crunch, but he’s taking out his frustration in the most constructive way possible. He should return to the majors later this month.”
I wonder if Pete got off the ground. Usually he posts an entry from the gate. Today there wasn’t one.
Best thing to happen to Shelley in terms of getting AB’s.
IMO, they are going to have a decision to make with Betemit because Ensberg is going to help this team win games.
If you have one corner IF (Ensberg), you don’t need the other (Betemit). They really do need a guy who can play middle IF on the roster. That looks to be Gonzalez. Betemit is not a middle infielder at this point in his career.
If Betemit needs eye surgery (or that is just the conveinent injury de jour to save releasing him) go ahead and get it done now.
This way, Shelley can get recalled earlier than the 10 days required by rule when he was sent down.
I don’t think it was a coincidence the offense hit in the first game they played where the temperature hit 60 degrees.
Only people truly lacking in any knowledge of baseball believed this team wasn’t going to hit this season.
Offense is not going to be an issue with the Yankees.
One last note. Where are the Andy Pettitte haters now?
Funny how they run and hide after a performance like last night.
All the chicken littles ran away during the game. IT was quite peaceful around here last night.
That was true about Wilson needing lasic!?? I thought someone was joking.
Do you believe this garbage!!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04.....106016.htm
Well put SJ, as always.
This will be a good weekend, love to take two, but will settle for one. Sunday night will be a big day in the Young Philip Hughes’ career.
Did anyone read the article in the post regarding the Sawx fan putting the shirt in the concrete at the new Stadium? Is it me…or do we live in an F-uped society that a story like that makes an exclusive in a widely-circulated newspaper?
I guess you did Jennifer
I get the fact that some of these folks like to stir it up to draw attention to themselves. Sad but, that’s the way it is.
This blog though became as popular as it has because it is a place folks can go to discuss the Yankees in an intelligent fashion. Unlike most blogs on the internet.
We, the regulars on here, really have to be the policepersons to keep the original goals of this blog intact.
Its one thing to be frustrated with bad play or what not. Its absolutely dumb to go into full panic mode and trash everything about the team after 9 or 10 games.
Just because one has free speech rights, doesn’t mean has to use them to show how stupid they are.
Its going to be a long, exciting, fun and sometimes frustrating, season.
If we can work hard to make sure the trolls don’t become the “voices” of the blog, it works out best for everybody.
Nobody is looking to squash opinions. However, there is a difference between offering an opinion or a unique perspective, and being a moron.
We need to do a better job of flushing the morons out of here. It will make this place better for everybody in the long run.
“However, there is a difference between offering an opinion or a unique perspective, and being a moron.”
I tend to agree. Offering unreasoned opinions and then insulting anyone who disagrees needs to be fought valiantly against.
My co-worker came in and told me about it. He couldn’t believe he “scooped” me on the story! He said it is everywhere. I think it is very childish. I really hope they find the guy and fire him, and charge him with something. Who is he to do that?
fire him and charge him? seriously, for a prank? lets get real here… have a little fun and laugh a little once and a while.
lol alright!!! that’s it for the visiting team’s locker room
they can change across the street in one of those jersey shops…
mean while, lets bury three jersey’s under the pitcher’s mound: Larson, Wells and Cone; then lets bury the babe’s jersey under the home locker; M&M’s jerseys under the dugout and Dimaggio and Gherig’s under homeplate…
am I forgetting anyone?
Not good news about Horne in the minors. I hope he gets better soon, as I think he was the best minor league pitching prospect we could bring up if/when we need one this year. 5-5 is okay with me for the first 10 games of the year, considering how we are playing as a team and with the early injuries. I am ready for the Yankees to lay down a SWEEP in Boston and put all this BS talk about Boston having OUR number now to rest. It is going to be especially fun to watch us light up Beck@$$ when he faces us, as he is PRIME for a BEAT DOWN !
or on a second thought, lets just not move
Andy Pettitte came up big as a stopper last year and continues to do the same this year.
Bad weather continues to plague the team and only a brief visit to the Rays next week stops the potential bad weather conditions with visits to Baltimore, Chicago and Cleveland to end the worse part of this year’s schedule.
Betemit is not a fit on this team and Cashman should be able to move his $1.165 contract so the team fits out to be a full 25-man roster.
What’s not to like with the players proposed in the overly hyped Santana deal ? Melky appears to be the happiest of the group but the others WILL be contributors.
i hope they get tonight’s game in. i don’t like when games get postponed, especially good ones. who’s pitching for Boston again?
for tonight’s lineup i predict Jeter will be back in and Damon will be the odd man out to get Posada at DH and Molina behind the plate. Carbrera, Jeter, Abreu, Rodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Giambi, Cano, Molina.
If we’re posing NY Post articles, I think this one is a much better read:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04.....106001.htm
If its buried in the visitors locker room, how does it “jinx” the Yankees?
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to bury the Red Sox jersey under the home locker room?
Seems to me, the only teams getting “jinxed” by the jersey will be the visiting teams.
Unless they change dugouts, I think that’s good news for the Yankees.
SJ44
Well said.. as usual.
Brian, i believe they’ve already said that Jeter will be out at least tonight, and may try for tomorrow, but no guarantees with the weather up in Boston being a factor.
Jennifer -
Watch, I’ll bet another worker comes out and says they buried something positive for good luck under the floor in the Yankees locker room. Besides, all they really need to do is make sure the ghosts find their way over!
It was good to see the Yankees have an all-around good game last night. It was relaxing to be able to joke about getting a couple of timely hits – “was that a hit? with a man on second?” — that kind of thing. Andy Pettitte usually comes up big when needed. And even though it’s early, it’s good to have a couple of stoppers (Wang, Pettitte) in the rotation. Even with the slow start, they haven’t lost more than 2 straight. Love to take 2/3 in Boston, but 1/3 would be fine. I read in the Star Ledger this morning that the Yankees are 9-21 against the Red Sox in April. Thought that was kind of interesting.
“I hope he gets better soon, as I think he was the best minor league pitching prospect we could bring up if/when we need one this year.”
I agree, if there’s a long-term need. For short-term stuff I have no problem with a Rasner spot start, or Marquez maybe.
“Brian, i believe they’ve already said that Jeter will be out at least tonight”
That’s true. I expect him to miss the whole series, unless they put him at DH in the last game or something. Or maybe a PH appearance.
But he hasn’t tested the leg running yet, or moving laterally or any of that. I’d much rather that he sits out the series (as much as he’ll hate every second of it) than he plays gimpy for all of april and may.
“Yankees are 9-21 against the Red Sox in April”
Going back to when?
I’m inclined to believe based on recent seasons, that the record is the other way around for August matchups with the Red Sox. they always seem to have an early advantage but we pound them late in the season which is when it counts.
windows question: this really annoying thing it does where a message pops up every 5 minutes saying automatic updates ready to install blah blah blah restart now or later? and of course i’m busy so i hit later. but windows’ idea of later is asking me again in 5 minutes. is there a way i can change some setting so it just know to wait until i effing decide to restart and not keep interrupting me?
Hopefully it is nothing serious but Alan Horne left due to injury at SWB:
http://emedia.thetimes-tribune.....fault.aspx
If the conditions are bad, I don’t play Jeter at all.
No sense risking him on a wet field.
My nephew plays for BC and they have a series with FSU scheduled for this weekend in Boston.
They changed the schedule so they can play a DH today, starting a 11 am.
The projected bad weather forced them to scrap the Saturday afternoon game.
If the weather reports are true, it looks like its going to be pretty bad tonight and tomorrow.
Doreen,
I think there is a logical explanation for that. Good, veteran teams play their way into the season. They realize its a long haul and it takes time to get going. I also think the weather plays a big factor in early results.
If you notice, younger teams are full of life early in the year. Their managers, eager to make good impressions, also tend to play the games as if they are playoff games. Meaning, heavy use of their bullpens to secure wins.
By the time July rolls around, those teams, especially their bullpens, get gassed and they drift back to their losing ways.
Sometimes, we all forget how long the baseball season is. Pacing yourself, both as a player and fan, is important.
Its why, thus far, I like the way Girardi has used his bullpen. He’s not overworking some guys and drydocking others. That’s going to help as the season rolls on.
Brian from PA -
Don’t know back to when. The paper just said what it said. It is kind of interesting. But I know that it means not too much, since the Yankees have been taking the season series from them, and also, since they play each other at mostly a close to .500 clip.
yeah, by now i think most of us should have learned that nothing it the past matters when it comes to these two teams. pitching matchups never seem to matter either. it seems everytime i look ahead to the matchups for a whole series i’m thinking either “man we have favorable matchups” and we drop 2 out of 3 or i’m thinking “crap this is gonna be a long series” and we kick their asses…
any hockey fans know if game 2 of the Rangers-Devils series is on Versus tonight?
go Rangers by the way. and go Yankees of course. tonight is a good night for rivalries..
It’s funny, I was in favor of Gonzalez making the team out of spring as our utility infielder and nobody really agreed with me. Most people on here said that Ensberg, Duncan and Betemit offered plenty of versatility which now is proven to be wrong. After Jeter and Posada are healthy I think the Yankees should keep Gonzalez on the team and get rid of one of Betemit, Duncan and Ensberg.
In fact, I also think we need a better outfielder on the bench. At the moment our fourth outfielder is basically Matsui and our fifth outfielder is Duncan. In my opinion the Yanks should call up Gardner to be the fourth outfielder; he can fill in at any spot and pinch run late in games. The bench would have Gonzalez, Molina, Gardner and one of Betemit/Ensberg/Duncan. Do you guys really want to see Matsui in left or Damon in center for the rest of the season?
Our starters are good enough that we really don’t need many pinch hitters off the bench. Having all 3 of Duncan, Ensberg and Betemit is redundant.
The I/O cable box lists Flyers vs Capitals as the first game on
Versus tonight.
“It’s funny, I was in favor of Gonzalez making the team out of spring as our utility infielder and nobody really agreed with me.”
Hey Patrick, Gonzalez definitely looks great, and it looks like you were ahead of the curve in predicting it.
But don’t you think he’s better off playing every day at SWB than riding the bench for months at a time when Jeter’s healthy?
Strikes me that the Yanks did it the right way, keeping him at AAA, and calling him up only in the unlikely event of extended downtime for Jetes. I think they’d probably want to send him back down once Jeter’s 100%.
i don’t like the idea of the yankees settling for a .500 record and simply surviving april. girardi doesn’t seem like he likes that idea either. he said last night was a big game. arod also said it was a big game.
i welcome the manager saying a mid april game with a mediocre team is a big game and like his sense of urgency in the way he’s using joba and moving players around in the field and in the lineup.
cashman has had a tendency to keep his eye more on the future and, in my opinion, is too casual about winning everyday in the early part of the season. he tends in the early season to create a bench that makes little sense and, to his credit, improves it as the season goes on.
girardi inclination to win each day seems to be unravelling the bloated bench situation quickly by using the players which is a sure way to find out if they belong.
i’m sure girardi is taking this early boston series very seriously. it’ll be interesting to see what he does this series that we aren’t expecting. i think it’s great that the players arrive at the park not knowing exactly what they will be doing or where they will be hitting.
SJ44,
A few points:
‘I get the fact that some of these folks like to stir it up to draw attention to themselves.’
That’s ascribing a motive, which is unfair. Maybe people really feel that way and are posting to vent. It’s not your place to decide that they’re just looking to stir things up or to draw attention to themselves.
‘We, the regulars on here, really have to be the policepersons to keep the original goals of this blog intact.’
This is not being a policeperson:
‘Its absolutely dumb’
‘doesn’t mean has to use them to show how stupid they are’
‘and being a moron’
‘We need to do a better job of flushing the morons’
That’s being a jerk. And the fact that you’re a ‘regular’ or that you were here in the beginning does not excuse being a jerk. It’s just being a jerk who also happens to be a regular.
There are definitely people who come here and are just plain nasty to the other posters. They are the bad apples that we can do without, and we accomplish getting rid of them by just ignoring their posts. But widening the scope to people who just feel differently than you do about the team, a given player, a given situation, etc, is lumping them into a group that many of them don’t deserve to be in. And one of the biggest problems I’ve been seeing here is a tendency for *any* opinion that is less than glowing to be stamped ‘panicking’ or ‘trashing the team’ … which blurs the definitions of ‘reasoned opinion’ and ‘unique perspective’ a little more and lumps even more undeserving people into an unfavorable group. Suddenly you have a witch trial atmosphere, and the people throwing around words like ‘panic’ and ‘trashing’ are as much the bad apples as anyone. Is that kind of activity going to be policed as well?
It’s always easy to forget that unfriendly conduct can go both ways, and if you really want to be a ‘policeman’ you have to rise above it and you have to be fair.
“But don’t you think he’s better off playing every day at SWB than riding the bench for months at a time when Jeter’s healthy?”
Well first of all Jeter, Cano and Rodriguez will need days off here and there. Especially Jeter. Gonzalez can cover all 3 spots (unlike Betemit).
He obviously wouldn’t get much playing time but his ceiling really isn’t that much higher than the level he is at now. He is projected to be a fairly mediocre hitter with fantastic fielding ability. He’s never going to supplant Jeter as a starter but he can fill the utility role right now and for several years into the future. I think he can do that job right now so whats the point in letting him sit at AAA. His future is to either be a very good utility man or to be traded to another team. I’d rather utilize him right now than let him “develop”.
When someone gives a poster on this blog the finger, that goes beyond having an opinion.
That’s a person that should get punched in the face and be forced to grow up a little.
Nobody is looking to stifle opinions. This has never been a vent blog. There are a zillion of those venue on the ‘net.
Right now, Gardner is suffering from an ankle injury. I think he will be with the Yankees at some point during the season.
Its been a place for people to congregate and talk Yankee Baseball.
When it drifts from that, you lose what made the blog great.
If Pete wants it go to in that direction, that’s his choice.
However, he’s made it clear a number of times that’s not what he is looking to do here. He has told us (by “us” I mean the posters) that we have to police it. So, we are.
Nobody needs to take any crap from people on here.
I think we can have a simple rule all can agree on. If you won’t say something to someone’s face, it shouldn’t be on the blog.
That’s something even the most out of control person can agree with.
Patrick, the reason for that is that A-Rod, Jeter, and Cano are basically everyday players. Other than Cano’s hamstring in 2006, the three of them have played almost every day since May 2005. Nobody thought Jeter’s health would be an issue, and nobody thought that Betemit would be so woefully bad at fielding AND at hitting. The initial bench looked so versatile in that context. Suddenly we realize that it isn’t.
I still regret that trade. It makes sense in theory: a middle reliever in his 30s for a middle infielder with power and versatility. But he just hasn’t shown anything to date, and we probably would have been better served holding onto Proctor. No point in dwelling on that though.
I was hoping Cashman could pull off a trade for Joe Nathan with Betemit and someone like Jeff Marquez included in the package. But it seems we’re stuck with the guy until we can find a team willing to take him. Maybe for a middle reliever
In my opinion the Yanks should call up Gardner to be the fourth outfielder; he can fill in at any spot and pinch run late in games. The bench would have Gonzalez, Molina, Gardner and one of Betemit/Ensberg/Duncan. Do you guys really want to see Matsui in left or Damon in center for the rest of the season?
can Brett get atleast 100 sample ABs to know if he can get on base as consistant as you assume first. Brett just came back from ankle injury that had him benched for 4 days, he played w/ his ankle heavily wrapped rushing him to the majors is not going to help us, let him get more sample ABs and learn more fielding routes in AAA before you annoint him the next answer. Gonzo is a veratile player but he also needs to learn to get on base at a better rate, Betemit will recieve lasik eye treatment they believe he needs it and it might help him put the bat on the ball at a better rate. Ensberg yesterday showed you he can hit LHP as much as I love Shelley Duncan he can’t be an easy 1 – 2 – 3 out otherwise he’s not a plus player. He’ll be back but lets chill w/ the OMG you see the 4 for 5 night vs AAA, vs AAA is the keyword, let him show that vs the ML and he will recieve more time. Oh yeh, no one wants to see Matsui in the OF but we can’t DH all the time either.
Cashman didn’t create the bench on his own. Its not just his decision. Girardi also has input.
At the start of the year, they thought Betemit could handle the middle infield backup role. If he can’t, and if he can’t move well or hit he can’t play middle infield, you adjust.
At least this year, they have options for the bench. Its a helluva lot better than its been in previous years.
For the first time in years, there is enough depth in the organization to fortify the bench. Cashman should get credit for that.
Gonzalez, Gardner and Lane are definite upgrades from the past.
Duncan will be back soon and he will help. So will Ensberg, IMO.
They now have the best backup catcher in baseball in Jose Molina. They only had to give up Jeff Kennard to get him. Again, that’s a positive move by Cashman.
I don’t think the Yankees are looking to give away games. However, when you examine the schedule, health of certain players, and weather conditions, its not out of bounds to look to April as a tread water month.
Obviously, it would be great if they do better than tread water.
As long as they aren’t 14 1/2 games out by Mid-May, its an upgrade from last season.
Brian from PA :
Answer: Hold down the key then simultaneously type-in “until red sox wins”, then click . It’ll gone away forever.
Also: regarding bench options and spot starters in the Minors: keep in mind that people on the 40-man roster are first in the pecking order.
Thus, if we needed a starter, the likely succession would go: Igawa, Marquez, Karstens when healthy, White, Wright (all on 40-man), Rasner, Horne, McCutchen.
For bench players, it was a no-brainer to bring the Attorney General up. He was the only infielder (other than Juan Miranda) on the 40-man NOT in the Majors. Bringing up someone like Brett Gardner or Jason Lane or Chad Moeller means you’re booting someone off the 40-man. As of right now, I don’t see the Yanks getting rid of anyone unless it’s Steve White or Sean Henn.
SJ44,
Again, I can agree with just about all of that. But none of it covers my point.
The problem is that the definitions of things like ‘vent’ and ‘crap’ are too easily widened by posters who just plain don’t like what another person has to say. I agree that ‘giving the finger’ is entirely inappropriate. But is saying that the team’s chances could be hurt by a vital player being injured ‘crap’? The problem you have is that things like that tend to draw the insulting behavior you’re deploring. And somehow it becomes excusable when the insults are directed at someone with a dissenting opinion.
If you want to police the blog *responsibly* you have to make sure those cases are covered as well. Because right now it’s not just the people giving fingers who are being ‘policed.’
Brian from PA : “windows question”
Answer: Hold down the “ctrl” key then simultaneously type-in until red sox winsâ€, then click “ok”. It’ll gone away forever.
swo, At this point in his career I believe Jeter should get more time off. Betemit is not a middle infielder, he is a third baseman.
Brandon, I honestly don’t care if they can get on base or hit at all. I want Gardner and Gonzalez for more versatility on the bench, something that is currently absent from this team. Neither player will ever start on this team so why not utilize them now? How am I annointing either the next answer or panicking about the team? I am simply stating that we have 3 guys that fulfill the same role (corner infielder with power).
In my opinion we need more versatility; a guy that can field well in the middle, a guy who can sacrifice bunt when needed, an above average fielding outfielder, someone who can pinch run and maybe steal a base, etc. None of those roles are filled right now and adding Gonzalez and Gardner fix those problems.
Don’t get me wrong, SJ44. I’m not complaining about the bench. I’m just addressing a concern expressed by other people. We definitely didn’t know that Betemit would lack versatility.
I wish the trade didn’t happen personally, but I agree with it in theory. It made sense! Like I said, a middle reliever for a high-ceiling middle infielder. Can’t complain, right? Well, it didn’t work out, but it isn’t the end of the world. Thanks to the Randy Johnson trade, which we are continuing to reap massive rewards on
“Do you believe this garbage!!”
Just where a red sox shirt belongs, buried under the Yankees, covered in filth, sitting below us for the next 100 years.
Just checking in from enemy territory here in Boston… The sun was out this morning but it has now turn to overcast with a chance of rain
Here is a great website i found as well:
http://bleedingsports.blogspot.com/
“I still regret that trade. It makes sense in theory: a middle reliever in his 30s for a middle infielder with power and versatility.”
Isn’t this playing Monday Morning Quarterback? The trade made sense in theory, aren’t those the proper trades for a GM to make? Not to mention the fact that Joba Chamberlain came up to the Bronx shortly thereafter. Proctor was essentially replaced by Chamberlain and Betemit was brought over to solidify the bench.
Patrick, we also need some speed, which those two guys might be able to provide!
the best time to start testing these young guys out is this year as we have some many veterans it would be easy to mask their rookie status.
Alberto Gonzalez is not a utility infielder.
He is a shortstop. That’s pretty much it, unfortunately. He’s played a few games at second but nowhere near enough for you to be confident or even OK with putting him out there at second.
That’s the limitation of keeping Gonzalez on this team. He only has experience playing one position.
Maybe they can give him a crash course in second base at the major league level but I don’t know if you want to do that even with a player as defensively talented as Gonzalez. Making the pivot at 2nd is not easy nor is it something that will just come “naturally” to someone. It has to be practiced.
If the team truly believes that Betemit cannot even fill in in the middle infield for even 3-5 games then that really puts his value to the team in a different light.
Girardi gave him quite a bit of time at short and appeared to be satisfied with his play there. Also we heard a lot about how he was happy with Betemit losing weight and the impact that would have on his range.
Betemit already is a stretch to play second. If he can’t play SS for even short periods of time that is a big, big problem.
If the team lacks that much confidence in him then they have to reevaluate the bench situation immediately. If he can’t fill in up the middle then no matter his .770 OPS and power off the bench his value diminishes greatly.
I don’t know if this was possible – but when the yankees originally signed Justin Christianson he was playing 2nd. They converted him to the outfield, I believe to take advantage of his fantastic speed.
This might have been past him but I really wish they’d tried to convert Christianson to a utility guy. If they’d kept him at second and gave him some work at SS he’d be an almost ideal back up guy.
As it is now he and Gardner are almost the same player. If either could play in the infield as well they’d be very valuable given their speed and ability to pinch run.
“then lets bury the babe’s jersey under the home locker; M&M’s jerseys under the dugout and Dimaggio and Gherig’s under homeplate…
am I forgetting anyone?”
Aaron Boone’s jersey under the left field homerun seats.
Its going to be interesting to see how the bench plays out as the season unfolds.
They have to carry 12 pitchers in the AL. You have 10 guys who are givens on the roster: Posada, Molina, Giambi, Cano, Jeter, Arod, Damon, Matsui, Melky and Abreu.
That leaves 3 open spots. Personally, I think Shelley Duncan should have one of the spots because he can play both the OF and first base. That leaves 2 spots.
One of those spots has to be for a middle infielder. Right now, its Betemit, with Gonzalez nipping at his heels.
That leaves one open spot. If Ensberg hits, he’s the guy. If he doesn’t, it certainly opens the door for Brett Gardner.
If they DL Betemit (for his eye surgery), then the AG is on the roster for awhile.
Its going to be fun to see how they handle all this during the year. At least there are some viable options for a change.
CB
I remember reading that they transferred him to the outfield because he wasn’t good in the infield
Russell, I love the positive spin on that! Can we burry Manny under the concrete too?
that horne injury sounds like its nerve damage…not good,
“In my opinion we need more versatility; a guy that can field well in the middle”
In the general case, not really. If Jeter’s healthy, he plays near every day, and so does Cano. I’m really surprised that they deemed Betemit’s D so bad that they couldn’t deal with it for a week.
As for sac bunting…Which guys in the regular Yankee lineup will you pull for a sac bunter? That said, Melky should REALLY work on executing his bunts. I’ve seen him fail to lay one down when ordered too many times now.
You hope for the best with Horne. I guess he is getting an MRI today. Hopefully, its not nerve damage but it definitely doesn’t sound good.
yankees ben,
I know that was there concern and this is probably just me looking back in retrospect but if they could have really worked with Christianson intensively to keep him in the infield – at least so he was half way decent it would have been unbelievably useful.
I bring this up because the infields in the independent league are horrendous. It is not easy fielding there because many of the surfaces are so poor.
Anyway, the point is moot. But by moving him to the outfield he really becomes so similar to Brett Gardner that his value decreases significantly.
If he could play multiple positions, with that speed, he’s an ideal bench player.
SJ – Agreed with everything in your previous post except for Duncan. Yes he can play RF and 1B but not very well. Giambi is our every day 1B which is frightening, we need someone more capable to fill in and for me that would be Ensberg.
whozat – About middle infielder, “if Jeter’s healthy” is the key. You need to keep Gonzalez around in case someone has to sit for a day or two. Also Girardi is going to want to rest his guys a little, no matter how much they can play. Also while Gonzalez doesn’t have a lot of speed, he can pinch run at the end of games for extremely slow guys like Giambi, Molina, Posada, etc.
Sac bunting, usually I’m against it but in some cases it’s necessary to win a game. Several times last year M’alphabet stepped in to put down a bunt. Who would I pull to put down a bunt depends on the situation.
Guys I have a trivia question for you:
Which RHP currently on the team is actually a lefty?
if it is nerve damage, his career is probably over. very sad.
CB you’re right about his value but I don’t think they’ll do this. If you want a speedy middle infielder how bout Bernie Castro I think he has some speed. You can go with Molina Duncan Ensberg(although I’m not sold on him.) and Castro.
“Which RHP currently on the team is actually a lefty?”
Joba. Why did his father make him throw the baseball with his right arm?
Imagine Chamberlain left haded as he naturally should be.
Damn that makes me sad
Hopefully it isn’t anything too serious. I am really looking forward to seeing him pitch in the bigs.
Stupid question but just saw the end of the game on YES replay and it looked like Wang was on the line for high fives at the end of the game. If this is true why not have him fly ahead of the team since he is pitching tonight. Maybe my eyes deceived me but thought it was him.
Perhaps a Betemit for Loretta trade down the line would work. The Astros will be looking to move him soon. He would work on the bench nicely.
what is not to love about andy. there is never a time when he doesn’t give 110%. any stats guys who know how many times he has stopped a yankee losing streak?
CB ha ha thats fast I just read it thats really an intsresting move from his father.
Maybe he starts throwing from the left side too, I believe the Yanks drafted a pitcher who throws from both sides and uses a custom made glove so he can switch hands, but I think he didn’t sign.
“I’m really surprised that they deemed Betemit’s D so bad that they couldn’t deal with it for a week.”
agreed whozat. though i’ll admit i was a little bummed duncan was sent down at the same time.
“You need to keep Gonzalez around in case someone has to sit for a day or two.”
I disagree. If it’s just a day or two, you can deal with someone who’s got middling D as long as he brings something else to the table. Power, OBP, something. If the outage is going to be long, then you need someone who’s not a liability in the field. I, personally, thought Betemit would be fine at SS for 3-5 games. His performance over time indicates that he’ll not hit for average, strike out a lot, but take some walks and give you some pop. Apparently, they decided that his D is so egregious at SS that they needed Gonzo. I didn’t see that as the case, but I’m not at the games.
“Also while Gonzalez doesn’t have a lot of speed, he can pinch run at the end of games for extremely slow guys like Giambi, Molina, Posada, etc.”
If he’s just an average runner, that’s not much different than Betemit.
On sac bunting, the situations where it’s necessary are just so few and far between, and the guys you’d willingly pull from the lineup are so few that it really doesn’t make much sense to prioritize this as a desirable skill in a bench guy on the Yanks.
Ensberg and Shelley can hit, and can hit lefties, well. They are both solid cogs on this team – I would be very happy if Girardi rests the vets more this season with these two as fillins.
Does Betimit really need eye surgery? LASIK did Kendall (Brewers) well. I started playing racquetball in the last few months, and I actually play better without contacts than with – I imagine it’d be even better with surgery… It could make a difference.
About the Post story,
Yankee fans have been rooting for the Yankees to bury the Sox in the stadium forever. What’s odd is that a Sox fan would want to help us out.
Yeah I think you are right. I think I saw Wang. But it can’t be the case. They aren’t going to have him arrive to Boston at 5 am for a 7pm game.
Let’s now jump to any major conclusions regarding Horne’s injury never mind his career.
They’ll know a lot more after the MRI. Until then it’s just speculation.
Raymagnetic – I suppose I should have been more specific.
I, personally, never liked the trade from day 1. Even before we realized that Betemit is overrated. I’ve just always put him in the same boat as Andy Marte: all hype and no substance. I also liked Scott Proctor and thought it was a shame that he had to go.
BUT I saw the virtues in the trade, so I didn’t complain about it. As it turns out, it didn’t really work so well for either team. Oh well. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens with Betemit, trade-wise.
Yeah, let’s wait until we actually hear what Horne has before we start saying “OMGZ HE HAS NERVE DAMAGE LIKE GAGNE DID” or anything like that……….
Gayle,
According to this morning’s Star Ledger, they told Wang he could fly ahead, but he opted not to; the flight was a connecting one through Detroit.
Doreen thanks I thought I must had been seeing things.Although Wang probably made the right move I guess the way travel is these days connecting flights and all he could have had issues and been just as late getting in. I am although somewhat suprised that it is an option and not something the team says guess what you are flying ahead.
I dont recall ever saying he had nerve damage…however, I do recall saying that it sounded like his ijury could be nerve damage….because like OMGZ THOSE ARE THE EXACT SYMPTONS OF NERVE DAMAGE!!!LOLZ!!!
Gayle -
Yeah, I wouldn’t think it was optional, either. Unless it was only optional because they couldn’t get a direct flight?
“Can we burry Manny under the concrete too?”
Long as we aren’t talking about his Jersey. That was bad :/
Yikes there are a few typos in that notebook.. hey pete can i be hired as an editor!?
who could blame Wang for not wanting to go to Boston, alone?
When players travel ahead of the team, its always optional when it includes a connecting flight.
Different deal if the flight was direct.
On a complete side note unrelated to the Yankees, I think TB relief pitcher Al Reyes should be officially renamed Al “Don’t Tase Me Bro” Reyes.
Next time he pitches in NY, we need to start a “Taser” chant.
in 7 career ABs Ortiz has struck out 4 time & walked 3
his splits are read .000/.300/.000
who’s the pitcher …
HELL YEA KICK REDSUX ASS TODAY! YEAAHH!
“Even before we realized that Betemit is overrated. I’ve just always put him in the same boat as Andy Marte: all hype and no substance.”
Well…except that no one really though Betemit was a can’t-miss top prospect who’s never been able to do anything in the majors. At least, not when the Yanks got him. He was a guy who could play 3B, tolerable SS, provide lefty pop and strike out a bunch. No one saw him as more than that, at least no one reasonable.
weather update: it’s raining in boston right now.
i dont have tickets to the game tonight, but i’m going to have dinner with my fiance (date night) at a place right outside fenway. sending all my good thoughts over the monster!
is the game going to be played today? i hear it’s raining all day
I guess we will see if there will be a game played today.
Hugh,
Guess who actually was diagnosed with nerve damage? Matt Garza of the Rays (via the Twins), now on the DL. The scary part? He said he had this in Minnesota, too. Talk about trading damaged goods! (assuming the Twins knew).
Following quote from Tyler Kepner’s NY Times story today. When asked about Farnsworth struggling this early in the season and whether those struggles might impact how he might be utilized.
“It’s way too early to say,†Cashman said. “Up until Memorial Day, we’ll evaluate everything, and from Memorial Day to the trading deadline we’ll look to see what we can do to improve ourselves.â€
http://www.northjersey.com/spo.....ience.html
Klapish making something out of nothing.
* Just how early is it?
Not too early for Hank Steinbrenner to say before hanging up, “you always have concerns. That’s part of being a winning team, addressing any problems if there are any.”
That’s another way of saying: stay tuned.
Making something out of nothing.
Some in the media seem to be waiting for some type of eruption from ownership.
Hate to disappoint them but, its not happening.
jennifer,
I didn’t even bother to read the article. I didn’t want my head to explode.
Does Hank not follow baseball? Has he not seen other vaunted bullpens watch the merry-go-round on the basepaths. Has he not seen the blown saves by the premier closers of the league? Has he not seen the horrible starts by other “aces”?
I’d rather be 5-5 with our team than 10-0 with some of those other teams.
OK. I really flew off the handle. Good that Hank is willing to do something when there are issues. But we’ve only got 1 or 2 real ones. The rest are the results of unpredictable nature of baseball.
Brandon – Farns!!!
i cant read Klapish used to be one of the go to guys in terms of baseball but he lost me a few years ago. There are much better baseball writers these days who are not only better writers but have better baseball knowledge in my opinion
good job saucY
i went to the scranton-trenton game, had great seats as there werent many ppl there, but i was really underwhelmed by horne’s pitches, now i guess i know why…
Mel there was nothing in the story that would make your head explode no volitile quotes all he said was if there are issues we will address them like any good owner would say or do. He didn’t say we have to sweep this series, he didnt say this team better play better now or else. Just a whole lot of nothing from Klapish which is pretty much what I expect these days from him
“Do you believe this garbage!!”
Leave it to the NY Post, to make this into a story. This should just be ignored, like trolls.
Hank gave a standard, corporate answer. What’s he supposed to say, “We won’t address things if we have problems”.
Thus far, there has been a smooth transition in ownership. No major problems. Only frustrated members of the media, who pre-concieved notions of a Hank/Hal regime have not materialized.
btw, billy wagner is right handed. learned to throw lefty when his right arm was in a cast.
So, Brandon, are you saying that we keep Farnsworth in bubble wrap or packed in ice, whichever you prefer, then roll him out for Boston.
It’s odd, that Farsnworth sucks against everyone, except the one guy that always kills the Yankees. That’s what makes baseball a great game!
Shelley Duncan had a terrific game last night in AAA.
3 doubles and a home run.
That’s been commented on a few times.
But what’s the really interesting and sort of surprising part of that performance is that Shelley even played at all.
When you’re optioned down to the minors you have 3 days to report.
When Albaladejo got sent down he didn’t play the next day.
That Shelley even made the effort to play last night says a great deal about him.
He flew from Kansas City to Scranton – not exactly an easy connection to make I’m sure.
And that was after being sent down for no particular fault of his own. He had a great spring and clearly deserves to be on the big league club.
A lot of other guys would have been pretty angry, maybe a even resentful. Shelley doesn’t have a lot to prove at AAA. I’d guess a lot of guys wouldn’t necessarily make the effort to report quickly and wouldn’t take the at bats in AAA all that well.
But instead of doing that Shelley takes the exact opposite approach – he makes the effort to get to AAA as quickly as possible and then excels there.
That says more about him than the numbers he put up last night did.
As long as he continues using this as a positive it may be helpful in the long run – he gets some at bats (which he really needed) and hopefully the major league roster will sort itself out some.
Jennifer
Controversy sells.
Baseball Tonight tried to stir up the Jeter/A-Rod SS debate last night even though the team had already brought up AG and he’s been playing well. The hated white haired one said A-Rod is itching to play SS again because of the SS HR record and Destrade said the Yanks should never put A-Rod back there under any circumstances because it would cause a media frenzy and impact Jeter and A-Rod’s relationship.
None of A-Rod’s quotes sounded like he was dying to play SS again and the pregame pics on YES last night looked like the boys are getting along just fine.
I don’t know what they were discussing, but the most corporate answer is, “We don’t see any issues now, but we’ll address any problems as they come up.”
You want to back up your team, let the young guys on the field know that they won’t be sent down or that shiny new contract won’t be ripped up if you’re not perfect. All players need a certain comfort level to perform at their optimum.
So most owners paint a public picture that’s prettier than it really is, but often it’s to give the players and the fans that comfort level.
I want the players to feel confident in their place on the team and I can see through PR speak, so I don’t mind a little window dressing. Especially when Cashman’s doing his thing behind the curtain.
In fact Alex sounded very uncomfortable with the thought of playing SS. He said if the team wanted him to he’d take a flier at it.
Klapish is a moron. Nothing that Hank said in the article was sounding the panic button. He gave a standard responce. That if we have issues to address we will. I don’t understand how he is trying to make a story out of it.
pat,
I’ve noticed that you often say what I’m thinking. I too noticed Jeter and ARod giggling together before the game and thought that it looked like the honeymoon is still on. I also said what I later saw you wrote about Melky having more HRs than ARod, but of course ARod didn’t let that last long.
CB,
You are so right about Shelley. You just have to love him, and I hope he’s earning brownie points with the organization right now.
Whatever Shelley Donuts.
Best quote from Hank in that Klapisch piece:
“Honestly, I’m not reading too much into this series. We’re too banged up for that,”
Once again the headline really doesn’t match up with what’s actually said.
Worst part of that Klapisch piece:
“One whiff of Kyle Farnsworth and you’ll know why we’re still in favor of keeping Chamberlain in the bullpen ad infinitum… Every time Chamberlain shuts down the opposition, acting as the bridge to another Rivera save, the Yankees move closer to postponing his conversion to a starter until 2009. It’s the smartest move they could make.”
Ad Infinitum is an interesting way to put it. This is the dominant point of view of the entire media on this subject and the cries are only going to grow louder as the season goes on.
Did Klapisch see that curve ball Joba threw Teahan yesterday? How do you keep that guy in the pen? It’s baffling to me.
Speaking of Baseball Tonight, caught some of it (a rarity) and was pleased to find Andy doing a phone interview. He seemed very happy. Had the rough start but was pleased about going deep into the game.
Also saw the highlights of Tavares almost coughing up a 5 run lead. It was fun watching Papelbon have to come in and get a 4 out save. Francona was trying to save him for tonight.
Jenning’s report on how Alan Horne described his symptoms sickened me.
It sounds reminiscent of what Cone complained of ’96 before they diagnosed an aneurysm.
I don’t know which would be worse: nerve damage or an aneurysm.
You have to sympathize with him. Horne is 25 or 26 and have derailed him his career. He’d probably be pitching in the majors somewhere by now, had he been healthy all those years.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I hope the Yankees release a diagnosis as soon as they obtain one, but given their habit, we’re not likely to hear definitive news for a while.
pat
i think you mischaracterized the baseball tonight discussion of arod at ss
phillips was the one who was dead-set against it. he said that arod would like to do it but the yankees should not even consider it.
Here’s my thoughts on Betemit.
He’s not an effective switch hitter and he doesn’t hit enough to play 1b on a regular basis.
He can’t play the middle infield as evidenced by the decision they made this week.
At best, he’s a 3b with some holes in the offensive side of his game but would he start for any team in the league at 3b?
I don’t know, but I think his place on this team is tenuous at best.
He’s showing the league that he’s a backup corner IF who doesn’t have the offensive game to start every day.
I’m trying not to fall in love with Gonzales, but I will say that he seems, just from watching a few games, to bring more to the team than Betemit currently does.
It’ll be interesting to see if Cashman (who stumped for Betemit) decides he doesn’t fit on the team.
Shelley belongs on the team and I’m happy he’s getting the at bats, but I also want him back up here as soon as he’s allowed to be.
I guess the real question is who is better suited for this team? Betemit or Gonzales.
I’m not even throwing Ensberg in there because I feel he has a definite role on this team, not to mention that if he shows he is back offensively, he will have trade value at the deadline. It’d be short sighted to part with him at this juncture.
I don’t feel the same way about Betemit since I don’t think he has enough stick and offensive smarts to be a corner IF.
Jenning’s report on how Alan Horne described his symptoms sickened me.
It sounds reminiscent of what Cone complained of ’96 before they diagnosed an aneurysm.
I don’t know which would be worse: nerve damage or an aneurysm.
You have to sympathize with him. Horne is 25 or 26 and still in the minor because injuries have derailed him his entire career. He’d probably be pitching in the majors, somewhere, by now, had he been healthy.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I hope the Yankees release a diagnosis as soon as they obtain one, but given their habit, we’re not likely to hear definitive news for a while.
Oh, yeah, and they started talking about Harden and how he was the best stuff (Phillips).
They all agreed that they need to get him healthy, get 3 or 4 wins from him and then trade him right away.
CB
Shelley’s quotes about being sent down also show alot about his character. He’s a team player.
He made mention of understanding that guys with options are valuable to the team because of those options and in a way he is contributing to the big team by being able to go to Scranton for them.
Clare
LOL. That means my kids would roll their eyes at you too.
i found the post article kinda funny. leave it to sox fans to think wizardry and witchcraft is what wins baseball games!
weather report calling for 47 degrees and a 70% chance of rain at gametime with rain probability going up throughout the game. not likely to be any baseball in beantown tonight. i expect that means we’ll miss bucholz.
The way they handled Gonzalez last year speaks to 1) how much they do like him 2) how good they are becoming at developing young players.
It was pretty clear last year that Gonzalez had a major league glove but was still developing as a hitter.
But given that Jeter or Cano weren’t going anywhere the automatic move to make would have been to convert Gonzalez to a utility role.
That yankees didn’t do that – I think the reason why they didn’t was because they wanted him to focus on hitting without distractions and to become the best player he could possibly become.
Gonzalez got off to a horrendous start last year in AAA. They stuck with him and the key move they made was to send him to AA for a bit to get his stroke figured out against lesser pitching. He turned it around and then they sent him back to AAA very quickly and he continued hitting very well.
This year in winter ball in the very touch Venezuelan league he continued hitting.
Their patience and comittment to Gonzelez even when he didn’t have a clear role on the major league roster is paying off now.
That’s not something they would’ve done before – they wouldn’t have made that type of commitment to developing his game.
He’s had good at bats up in the majors and doesn’t look overwhelmed at all.
In case someone hasn’t heard what happened with Al Reyes, closer for TB:
According to the St. Petersburg Times, Al Reyes was arrested early Friday morning “after falling down, picking a fight and spitting blood at the patrons of a popular Hyde Park night spot.”
Reyes may have been out celebrating his 38th birthday, which was Thursday. The newspaper reports that Reyes “fell against a ceramic pot inside the bar” and thought that someone had pushed him, at which point he “began exchanging words” with a patron who eventually “punched Reyes in the face.” In a news release, police said that Reyes then “began to spit blood on the people in the area and began to swing his arms about,” at which point an officer reportedly twice used a taser to subdue him.
i hate April. it seems for every single game everyone is all over the weather reports and we try to speculate on whether the game will be played or not..nerve wracking… as much as i’d hate a rainout, it wouldn’t be a bad break for the Yankees to get a day off, especially before playing Boston. not to mention if the game gets rained out we can all watch the Rangers-Devils game.
The Pink Sox uniform in the concrete of the new Yankee Stadium reminds me of when Georgetown beat Syracuse University the very last game played at Manley Field House…before the Dome era. He walked off the court and said..”Manley is officially closed.”
I love the fuel this adds to the NY-Boston rivalry…the story is not yet finished!
SJ44 – “We, the regulars on here, really have to be the policepersons to keep the original goals of this blog intact.”
Would that be considered manifest destiny, eminent domain, or squatter’s rights?
He (Big John Thompson) walked off the court and said..â€Manley is officially closed.â€
Y’s guy
Sorry if I mislead.
No one on BT was in favor of A-Rod at SS. What I was trying to show was how they were trying to stir the pot on the issue. Since AG had already played SS well for 2 nights by the time their show aired last night, the whole issue was old news and they were trying to keep it alive by making it sound relevant.
russell, funny story about reyes, but percival is the ray’s closer
Someone was reading the blog yesterday:
Wanting a Championship (Cleveland): With Fausto’s signing, the Indians’s core is locked up for several years. Since CC says he wants to stay in Cleveland, does he have the courage to tell the players’ union that he will sign for a little less to stay in Cleveland, or will he cave in and go for the biggest offer just to appease the union?
Jayson Stark: (1:21 PM ET ) I don’t know that this is just about keeping the union happy. I think CC knows what he’s worth. And unfortunately for the Indians, and people in Cleveland, he’s not going to get it from the Indians. Besides, don’t you think the Indians SHOULD be cautious about investing in a guy with his body type for the kind of years and dollars it would take?
Russell NY
Isn’t 38 a little old to be acting like a college boy drinking for the first time?
Steve Philips basically said it would bring contreversy and Alex can’t handle that pressure and he is big now w/ no range, also how he is 1 HR, he especially eluded to this “he is also 1 HR away from breaking the SS alltime HR record held by Cal Ripken Jr.”
god forbid he ever breaks that record
jennifer,
Have you seen Reyes? He’s a big guy. I don’t think he had “just a couple”. He must’ve been drinking like a fish to be that wasted.
Jennifer NY,
Baseball players live in a fantasy world. Sort of like high school teachers
38 = 23 to them, they are in their drinking prime!
SJ44 is a nazi. He’s similar to Hitler and heres proof:
Hitler goal:
Hitler’s goal was the “purification” of the “Aryan race” [THE "REGULARS"] through the elimination of “subhumans” [NEW POSTERS AND PEOPLE WITH DIFFERING OPINIONS], which included Jews, gypsies, Asians, black Africans, and everyone else who was not a white Aryan[a "REGULAR"].
SJ44 (Hitler Jr.)goal in his own words:
SJ44 – “We, the regulars on here, really have to be the policepersons to keep the original goals of this blog intact.
…
We need to do a better job of flushing the morons out of here. It will make this place better for everybody in the long run.â€
So in behalf of everyone who isn’t a “regular”, this is for you SJ44: *middle finger*
i wanted to put my 2 cents in here on the bunting discussion. someone asked on here who in the yankees order should bunt and id answer everyone except arod. for one thing, when you show you will bunt, you force the defense to move in which increases your ability to get a hit straight-up. Secondly, when we get to the postseason and the games are tight, we dont have anyone except jeter and the utility guy who know how to bunt. because you dont want to take cano, melky, jeter out of close games, it is important that they all know how to execute a bunt. often an 8th inning bunt in a close game leads to a 10th inning at bat with a runner in scoring position (maybe bunted there.) every year at this time ppl say who would you bunt for but after the ps we’re asking, why cant the yankees manufacture runs?
WTF ? ^^^^
haha,
Someone in DC’s still drunk. Asked Stark if the Tigers would be desperate enough to give up Porcello for Cordero. Whooo that’s a good one.
CB
If you had to compare Gonzales to other players would he be a Cairo/Sojo type or something else?
Paul– being originally from Syracuse, you just brought up some old wounds I thought were long buried.
anti-mussina – if I grab my crotch does that make me Michael Jackson?
That’s twice you have pulled that you little punk. Its the last time it will happen.
Fortunately, there is a way to deal with folks like you.
Calling me a Nazi, which I am not, and giving me the finger twice, won’t just get you banned from here, it will get your ass butt kicked.
Fortunately, I know who you are, where you live, and how this will handled.
Enjoy your fun in here because its coming to an end very soon.
Fortunately, I know who you are, where you live, and how this will handled.
Enjoy your fun in here because its coming to an end very soon.
—–
That’s the last straw, SJ44! I’m calling the cops on you!
Russell NY April 11th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
anti-mussina – if I grab my crotch does that make me Michael Jackson?
—
It depends… were you trying to pleasure yourself?
Sorry, Gus…We bleed Orange in the winter and pinstripes the rest of the year.
Russell NY,
Only if you wear a white glove and sequined jacket.
Oh, were you trying to make a point? Sorry.
I like Mark Loretta, then again I liked Wilson Betemit. But I would not trade Betemit for Loretta. You don’t trade a young player with potential for someone nearing 40 who projects as a utility player for a year or two.
But I wouldn’t mind taking him if all it cost was his overpriced 2.something million salary.
anti’s a rabble rouser thats for sure, but sj, your post was pompous.
…”work hard to make sure the trolls don’t become the “voices†of the blog” – puleeez….
“Nobody is looking to squash opinions.” – sure looks that way to me…
“We need to do a better job of flushing the morons out of here. ” – you got a frog in your pocket there, chief?
My god, is the Nazi stuff really necessary? If you want to accuse someone of censoring free speech, just call him Cheney, sheesh.
Anyway, isn’t the best way to handle troglodytes like that by ignoring them?
Just render a collective judgment that no one will answer or respond to any of the following posters [insert name] who regularly resort to ad hominem attacks like that.
They’ll leave after a while. Send them to that site that pays homage to the great bust of a Yankee prospect who played 1b for a minute or two.
Q: Can I file a complaint if I have been threatened over the Internet via email, chat room, or on a website?
If you think your life is in danger, please contact your local and/or state police immediately!
———–
I’m doing this immediately to protect myself from SJ44.
To everyone who is dealing with SJ44… BEWARE! He is nuts as you can see by the threat he made to take my life:
“Fortunately, I know who you are, where you live, and how this will handled.
Enjoy your fun in here because its coming to an end very soon.”
mel
LOL!!!! sometimes a little estrogen is needed to off set an abundance of testosterone.
Let’s see some speed in back-ups or power but please no Loretta. He’s a decent player but the Yanks need to stay the course with the youth movement and guys you will see for a few years. Get rid of the rentals. They just don’t help team chemistry IMO.
What’s this mysterious eye problem that supposedly besets Betemit?
Don’t you love how Francesa insists on calling him a “mint”, as in Beta-mint.
Like Spearmint or Peppermint, only instead of freshening your breath it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.
Betemit just sucks… plain and simple.
Hehe, Pete’s American Airline flight has been cancelled.
Anti-Mussina will find himself banned fron this board in short order.
Victor the Predictor April 11th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Anti-Mussina will find himself banned fron this board in short order.
—-
If I’m banned for saying ” *middle finger ” then SJ44 should be banned for threatening to take my life.
Think the second T is silent Betemit anyways lol. Betemee
think you’d have to ban sj44 for threatening physical harm also…
… and kill schill…
anti, I can appreciate this little performance art piece you’re staging today, but can the curtain please come down already? And permanently?
except he didn’t, he insinuated that you wouldn’t be posting on the board much longer.
kill-schilling would be justified…
“Get rid of the rentals. They just don’t help team chemistry IMO.”
He’s a utility guy. You’re never going fill a whole roster with homegrown players. Mark Loretta’s impact on team chemistry is not going to make or break anything. He’s a nice hitter, gets on base OK. I don’t really know if he’s much better at SS than Betemit is these days. Since they’d be hitting in the 7 or 8 hole, I’d kind of rather have the pop than the OBP. Loretta is a decent 2B, though, while Wilson hasn’t shown that.
hope you made your flight pete
“think you’d have to ban sj44 for threatening physical harm also…”
If that had actually been SJ44, ok. But I’m pretty sure it was an impersonation.
From the weather, it looks like the Yankees and Sux will have difficulty playing either Friday night or Saturday afternoon, let alone both games.
BTW, was I the only one utterly awed by Joba’s last fastball to Guillen. I don’t even remember Mo doing that back in ’96. He threw up a fastball right down the pipe and dared him to hit it. Simply amazing. Amazing that Guillen couldn’t touch it. Even more amazing that Joba had no compunction about throwing it. Can another major league reliever do that? Putz? Papelbon? I remember Wohlers could, for about one year.
My My, if only I still had the confidence of a 21 yr. old. Ah, to be young again.
anti,
I think the middle finger’s cleverly hilarious.
Can’t wait to see someone make you so mad that you have to bust out the double-barrel middle finger!
Boston Update #2:
The light rain from this afternoon has subsided but it is still overcast outside.
It is also windy and chilly outside.
I work 2 miles from the toilet that is Fenway by the way
Threatening your life? Hardly.
However, giving someone the finger on this blog and calling them a Nazi is clearly grounds for banning.
If you disagree, take it up with Pete.
read this again wsr:
“…won’t just get you banned from here, it will get your ass butt kicked.”
key word “butt kicked”
“Fortunately, I know who you are, where you live, and how this will handled.”
stalking me
“Enjoy your fun in here because its coming to an end very soon.”
he is planning to cripple or kill me.
the most sinister thing on the board is the insinuation by sj44, who i believe is an aquanitance of pete’s, that he obtained the address of a poster on this blog. i’d like to konw if this was done through the blog administrators. if this is the case then the implications are extremly serious
wait someone posted a cyber middle finger, that’s a cyber no no
Oh brother
Justified? In being banned, Mel? Or in resorting to physical violence?
Moniker notwithstanding, I deplore physical violence, except in self-defense.
But that’s, in part, a survival tactic. I’d get my butt kicked otherwise.
When Dad comes home, your All going to be in big trouble…now go to your rooms.
Bryan,
Looks like a big flush is coming your way.
http://www.wunderground.com/ra.....on%2c%20MA
haha Mel.
As for anti-mussina: “It depends… were you trying to pleasure yourself?”…
depends which kind of pleasure you’re talking about
I didn’t get any info on anybody from Pete.
Zip, nada, zero.
Very simply, this person has given me the finger twice on this blog.
He has also called me a Nazi.
Call me crazy but, that’s grounds for banning.
As far as impersonators of me, I can’t control them.
I can however, object to someone giving me the finger twice and calling me a Nazi.
Whozat- “You’re never going fill a whole roster with homegrown players”. I didn’t say they had to be homegrown. I was saying they should be young and suggested maybe more than half year deals(rentals). I’m not really into Betemit either. He just ins’t good enough all around or even at one thing like hitting or fielding. Yanks tried to get Loretta via FA and that would have been fine but to trade for him doesn’t make sense to me.
kill-schilling,
Justified violence. Kill-Schill. Your name. Hello?
dont konw anything about any imitators but it sure looked to me like it was your writing at 8:57 trying to be the ‘voice of the blog’
btw, that was a joke. I’d never condone the taking of a life, even one as vile as Curt Schilling. If harm were to come of him or if he were to pass on to the other side, I would respect his memory by recalling his great achievements in the sport of baseball.
Sorry, Mel, a beer too many last night addled my brain.
SJ44, any Melancon, McCutchen, or JB Cox updates?
Yankees Republic e-mailed me this morning. He wanted to know who, in this board’s collective judgment, was most likely to be this year’s Joba, if any.
I figured Melancon. But SJ44 I defer to you on all minor-league scouting reports.
I think impersonating another poster is very serious.
This is something that can easily be checked – right?
Not trying to be the voice of the blog at all. I expressly stated that was not my intention.
Just trying to avoid stuff like what happened today.
Unless of course, you believe giving someone the finger and calling them a Nazi belongs in this blog.
While you are all setting criteria for who should be banned, can you include anyone who uses a fake website address just so their name is in bold type?
Melancon and McCutcheon both pitched last night. Melancon struggled and McCutcheon had a no hitter going into the 6th before losing 3-1.
I believe Cox is still in extended ST.
One last thing about the policing of the blog and then I am done with it.
Pete himself said it was up to us, the posters in here, to police this blog. He said it as late as a week ago.
My intention is simple. Its not to stifle conversation. Its to stifle the idiocy that sometimes permeates in here.
If folks are offended by that, my apologies.
However, I think the majority of folks would have rather have a nonsense free place to discuss Yankee baseball than some of the stuff we have seen the last few days.
Pat –
Is THAT what that is? – that is so lame.
Thanks for the info.
This is so not a fun place to visit today.
And I was really looking forward to a nice, peaceful blog break after cleaning my bathrooms.
Maybe later?
Bryan – I am with you. I live about a driver then five iron from Fenway. Those d… Boston drivers trying to get to Fenway make it take an extra twenty minutes for me to get home during gamedays, don’t even mention trying to go through Kenmore Sq.
The weather doesn’t look to great for today or tomorrow.
Should be quite easy; all servers should be keeping logs of IP address and timestamp for all requests/connections made
And of course, all ISPs should be keeping track of which subscriber are on which IP at whichever time of the day
Yes, Kill, back to baseball.
How should the Yankees approach Buchholz? He had a rough first outing, but his control returned for his second one.
Do they stay patient and make him work? Hopefully drive himself crazy on the mound?
I hope they take this approach. I’d hate to see the Yankees make themselves looks silly swinging at his slop.
…like sands in the hourglass, these are….the Days of Our Lives.
Jimmy 27 April 11th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think impersonating another poster is very serious.
This is something that can easily be checked – right?
—
I agree, especially when it’s a threat to someone’s life.
I think all the Yanks’ fans at the game tonight should hold up signs saying they want their lap-tops back or something to throw him off like the yellow wigs last for A-Rod year.
Melancon’s number in the FSL, thus far, hardly inspire confidence, 11.57 ERA.
I have no reason to doubt his talent, the above numbers notwithstanding. He hasn’t pitched in 12-18 months.
But is there any reason to doubt his readiness for this season as a consequence, SJ??
I think Joba should start too. But the more I see Joba dominate in the 7th and 8th innings, the more dubious I become that anyone can fill his shoes.
anti-mussina,
If you truly feel threatened, please contact officer NYPD113th.
Can we drop it now? It’s like a fight in the schoolyard. Move along, nothing more to see here.
Anti Mussina….. end the discussion already because pathetic attempts to troll are showing. You are what we call a attention fill in the blank.
Who want to spculate on the line-up?
I like Melky in the 2 hole- but Molina is pro – I would trust him there for a game or 2.
I think it would be nice to slap Laptop around tonight.
Dave S = Funny
What the hell is going on today? I wasnt planning to post today being that im celebrating my b-day today and tomorrow(i decided the older i get the more days to celebrate). I dont think we all have to agree on everything the other says. Have your oppinions or as some do,attacks on some players that arent doing so well. Its your perogative. Dissagree on the comments. But to attack each other personally is uncalled for.
Alex is only 1 HR shy of passing Ted William’s on the all-time list. I would love to see Alex tie or break the record this weekend in Fenway.
Molina too slow for two hole.
Now on to the game at hand.
Yes it is April 11, and game 1 of Yankees Red Sox, but perhaps it is what we need to build on last night’s momentum.
Anyone else feel Girardi is handling the bullpen well. Not overworking anyone, trying to give days off whenever possible. It certainly helps that we now have at least a few arms that can get people out. If Wang and Pettite can go 6-7 the majority of their games, that will help immensely.
As for Hughes and Kennedy, my thoughts are, if you think in 5 game groups you will get:
One great start, one good start, one mediocre start, one not so good, and one bad. When the Yankees start hitting, that is probably enough for 12-14 wins each.
Oh, and Joba threw some very, very nasty pitches last night.
i live a mile from fenway myself. i hate having to maneuver around sox fans on my way home from work all summer.
guys, can we all just chill? please? this thread is quickly just disintegrating into stupidity.
anti, giving someone the middle finger is *so* fifth grade. either say it like a man and get kicked off the blog and deal with it, or just get over it and move on.
sj, you’re throwing fuel on the fire. it’s tempting to go there, i know, but it’s not worth it and it’s ruining the thread for the rest of us. i respect the fact that you’re trying to keep the blog focused on the yankees, but please remember that legitimate fans post on here that have all different levels of baseball knowledge. in deciding who should post and who shouldn’t, we need to look at the intent of the poster, and not necessarily at the context of the post.
weather: still cloudy, not raining right now, cold, windy. sounds like baseball weather to me!
One thing you can trust, with that weather report for Boston, Jeter won’t play until Sunday at the earliest.
They’re not going to risk his quad on wet turf.
Sunday is supposed to be dry however.
JD,
Wouldn’t that be a hoot if Pete asked Clay to sign his laptop?
I doubt that security will let fans in with their laptops tonight.
I think its going to take him a little while to get used to pitching competitively again.
He’s pitched 3 times thus far. The first time, he threw well but got scuffed around a bit.
The second time, he threw great. Last night, he got knocked around.
Its kind of the pattern with pitchers coming back from TJ surgery. They kind of run hot and cold until they get the feel back for pitching again.
If he can stay healthy, I still think he has a shot of contributing to the Yankees after the AS Break.
This first month is like getting back on the bicycle again.
Hmm, forgot to note that thanks to various free IP tools online (like DNS Stuff or IPTools for example), it shouldn’t be hard to get a general geographical location based on an IP
Noted JD.
You know Pudge has been leading off for Detroit? That’s a little wacked.
Speaking of the Melkman. Thats 2 wins that he had a big part in out of 5. As many homers as Arod(dont think i will ever be able to say that again).I think he is the most under rated started on the team. PURE ENERGY!!
Melky for 10 more years in our outfield. Hope to see Gardner here this year as well.
“I was saying they should be young ”
Why does the age of the last few guys on the roster matter?
Besides…who’s really giving up young guys that can play 2b and ss serviceably while not killing you with the bat? If you want one of those, you need to grow him. Loretta will be available for very little. If they judge Betemit’s D to be so bad they can’t afford to wait for his power and Gonzo has too little experience at 2B, then Loretta would be an option worth looking at.
SJ44,
Is your definition of “idiocy” somebody who doesn’t agree with you? I admit there are some lame comments, they don’t have to be addressed at all for the most part, but you generally castigate people with different views. It is annoying.
If you’d just let it go instead of proclaiming your opinion superior, you’d probably wouldn’t get (as many) nasty comments.
mel-
That would be too funny. I wish they(security) would though. Need to make cardboard ones or something.
fran – i would love to see that.
the yankees need to stay patient at the plate. buckholz has an innings cap also, so at the very least, besides just not swining at bad pitches, they’ll eat up a little bit of his arm.
Does anyone else like Molina being our catcher and Posada our dh? Guys arent running on us, he calls a better game and has been good at the plate.
Is it a coincidence that were undefeated with Giambi on the bench?
Bryan, RB I think we need to start a Yankee fan stuck in Boston support group. I know there are more of us on the board.
I have been here going on 13 years.
My wife has turned into a very non-violent pink hat, and now we “fight” for influence over our two young daughters.
redsux suck! there’s nothing to worry about. we will crush their pitching and wang will be 3-0.
I still think we should sign Bonds. Someone has to play the villain in baseball. Hmmm… yankees the most hated franchise + bonds the most hated player = return of the EVIL EMPIRE.
Imagine this line up:
Melky CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Arod 3B
Bonds DH
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Gardner LF
any chance bruney starts again tonight?
Whozat-
Who would you trade for Loretta then? I’m just not being convinced. Betemit for Loretta? Just don’t see that trade happening. Why would Astros want Betemit if Yanks don’t? They would ask for prospects and most likely pitching given their staff at present.
“I hope they take this approach. I’d hate to see the Yankees make themselves looks silly swinging at his slop.”
Slop? Have you seen his change and curveball? And yes they will look silly if they go after his change.
^^ that was directed to “Mel”.
Jason, what we need is a bona fide Yankee bar. Right now I watch yankees games huddled in my apartment like im anne frank or something.
Jason,
I feel bad for you. That’s worse than a mixed-religion marriage. I’ve seen very few converts in the Yankee/Red Sox rivalry.
Fight for the girls. Think of their futures.
dont give in Jason
-fellow Yankee fan in Boston
Jason,
I can give you a list of people I know living miserable in Boston who are NY fans. You guys really should be in therapy. I was there for a weekend when the bus left for spring training and I thought I was going to lose my mind!
“However, I think the majority of folks would have rather have a nonsense free place to discuss Yankee baseball than some of the stuff we have seen the last few days.”
I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
Anti-mussina, most times you add little of value or substance to any of the discussions which take place here.
Jason, i feel your pain – my fiance is a mets fan, and we’re probably going to raise our kids here in mass. i have to get my kids to ignore both the sox and the yankees. im fighting on two fronts!
Dave,
Yes, I’ve seen his stuff, as the Orioles have. Slop refers to all that stuff outside the zone. I also think that Matsuzaka throws a lot of slop. Of course they throw strikes to keep the hitters honest.
It works, but doesn’t mean I have to like it.
With the impending weather tonight, I highly doubt there will be a game.
“but you generally castigate people with different views. It is annoying.”
I’ve never found that. I think he usually gets annoyed at people who don’t bother to think before they post, and/or are uninterested in listening to dissenting points of view.
“They would ask for prospects and most likely pitching given their staff at present.”
They can ask all they want. No one is going to give them useful pitching prospects for Loretta. His value is pretty low, even if they eat some salary. Some tolerable AA starter that MAYBE has a future as a middle reliever. Cash got Molina for Jeff Kennard. I don’t really see Loretta having more value than that.
Also, I’m not saying that Loretta is someone the team needs. There’s a lot of room between “Loretta would be useless” and “Loretta is a must-get”
As for Betemit for Loretta…Well, the Astros are playing Wigginton or Blum at 3B these days. Both righties, and Blum doesn’t have much bat. I could certainly see how they might be interested in Betemit. He could actually be a solid and cheap 3B for them if he can keep his average up with regular playing time. As the strong side of a platoon, he could work out for them.
What’s worse is that she has adopted the Red Sox after growing up a Mets fan (although that I can understand because her father had box seats).
Fortunately, she is really not a fan and I think only wants to get the girls for bragging rights. By I now have MLB extra innings and 150 more regular season Yankee games on my side.
The other thing that has become annoying the last few years are those hooligans streaming onto the street after WS wins and disrupting what would otherwise be a quiet night.
Mel,
Alright, I guess I understand. I mean I take the word “slop†to mean a pitcher is throwing crap and getting by with smoke and mirrors. But to each their own. Let’s just say that if Hughes would have the curve and change that Buchholz features he would be awesome and no one would even worry about his fastball clocking in at 91-92.
can people wait till Betemit gets 100 ABs and post laser eye surgery just to see what he is or can be w/ better vision at the plate.
Interesting point about Matsuzaka (as it relates to Phil Hughes) – the point was brought up on the radio here that Daisuke was purposely trying to throw his fastball more slowly, to have more control. He was at about 92 for most of his last game (in which he was very effective). This is just another example of location, control and movement trump 1-2 miles per hour any day of the week.
“When Dad comes home, your All going to be in big trouble…now go to your rooms.”
S.o S.27,
I agree. Our best defensive infield is with Molina catching.
The problem is, if Damon sits, who is our leadoff hitter? Melky doesnt have enough plate discipline and no one else has any speed.
“Slop refers to all that stuff outside the zone. I also think that Matsuzaka throws a lot of slop. ”
You’re kind of overloading a term here…to me, and I think to others, “slop” in the context of pitches refers to a mediocre pitches thrown at the edges of the zone (see: everything Jamie Moyer throws), not quality breaking pitches that can be thrown outside the zone that guys often swing at. slop == junk
Is this Lorretta/Betimet talk hypothetical or is it being rumored?
Very Cool. Yankee fans are out of this world!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/.....54248.jpg/
Dave,
Well, if he and Matsuzaka get their control under control then I can’t call it slop anymore. But if they did that, we’d have bigger worries.
I just like pure pitching and paint the corners kind of control.
And don’t accuse me of liking Laptops if he were on our team, cuz he’ll never wear pinstripes! lol.
Regarding Mark Melancon. No need for concern in this young season.
The first order of importance is that he’s healthy. After a few impressive outings, the confidence factor sets in along with the next level of arm strength.
He’s being closely monitored by Nardi Contreras and necessary mechanical adjustments will be made as needed.
Hypothetical I hope.
whozat,
Yes, I realize the difference now. Another effective thing that I don’t like is all the moving parts and elbows and herky jerky motions that throw batters off. I mean it works, but it’s not aesthetically pleasing to me. Sorry, that’s the feminine side of me.
dave, nobody on this blog really *is* worried about hughes’ fastball’s velocity. i wouldnt care if he lobbed the ball towards the plate underhand, as long as he keeps getting batters out.
So far, Buckholz and Hughes have been just about equal – they’ve each had a few good outings, a few not-good outings, and they’ve each thrown a no-hitter (or Hughes was seven innings into one when he pulled his hammy, at least). Should be a pretty good matchup for years to come.
Drive 4-5,
Jeter had better numbers than Damon the year they signed Damon. I would have him leadoff and Melk hitting behind him. I know Melky is the unpopular choice but i thing he can grind out at bats more than Cano and has the ability to bunt.
“Let’s just say that if Hughes would have the curve and change that Buchholz features he would be awesome and no one would even worry about his fastball clocking in at 91-92.”
Hughes does have an excellent curve. And no real talent evaluators are worried about his fastball clocking at 91-92. He was rated the best pitching prospect in baseball in 07 with that same FB. It’s just Pags on his blog, and fans who heard “91-94″ and then turned that into “mid-nineties” and then to “94 touching 96″ that are worried about his “loss of velocity”.
I hate the T during games… Since the MBTA is run by complete idiots they don’t send extra Ts even though they know the T is always packed from 5-6 with people from work without 30,000 losers going to a baseball game
Is Pete stuck somewhere with this airline mess?
“Melky doesnt have enough plate discipline and no one else has any speed.”
Plenty of guys have enough speed to go first to third on a solid base hit. That’s really all you’re looking for.
As for Melky, his OBP was the same as Damon’s in 06. If he returns to that form, which would be reasonable, he’d be just fine as a leadoff guy, though his speed is not quite what Damon’s is.
bryan, the worst? is when on thurs/fri/sat nights, after the game gets out, drunk red sox fans and drunk bu undergrads pack onto the t at the same time. i plan my going-out schedule around not getting on the t at those times.
The day Barry Bonds puts on pinstripes is the day I will stop watching the Yankees forever.
That being said, it will never happen.
Anyone here who might know about this, what is the scouting report on Dellis Betances? What pitches does he have, what kind of pitcher he projects to be, his potential, etc.
“has the ability to bunt.”
I think we’re assuming that, given his lack of power and kind of slappy style. I’ve seen him botch some bunt attempts this year pretty badly. He certainly SHOULD be able to bunt, given his skillset.
Meant to say Dellin Betances.
whozat: man please.
“As for Melky, his OBP was the same as Damon’s in 06. If he returns to that form, which would be reasonable, he’d be just fine as a leadoff guy, though his speed is not quite what Damon’s is.”
As if OBP was the ONLY thing that qualified you as a lead off hitter. hits, runs, avg … that has nothing to do with it right? Wow.
Another great point rb15
There are a lot of pink hats on those nights
A Loretta / Betemit deal is strictly hypothetical. If the Yankees do anything soon it will likely be done in-house.
Little in the way of dealing is done this soon into a season. Most teams use June 1st until the All Star break for roster evaluation. They buyers and sellers emerge and tune rosters for the final push of the season.
This might have been touched upon already. But did you guys here that a worker on the new stadium put a red sox shirt under the concrete of the visitors clubhouse to curse the Yanks?
whozat,
Is the Betimet being traded a rumor?
google for “scouting report dellin betances”
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/20.....-betances/
Hits is already included in Avg, which is already included inside OBP
“As if OBP was the ONLY thing that qualified you as a lead off hitter. hits, runs, avg … that has nothing to do with it right? Wow.”
Well he never said OBP was the ONLY thing that qualifies a leadoff hitter. However you want your leadoff hitter to get on base ahead of guys like Abreu, Rodriguez etc. which is why if Melky can improve on his OBP then he’d be a viable leadoff hitter. He’s not necessarily a speedster but he runs good enough and makes contact most of the time as well.
Thanks Bronxbyte. Not a big fan of his and started getting a bit excited.
MLB has just increased the drug testing from 3000 to 3600 per year.
whozat,
I’m just basing my opinion on Melky’s .327 OBP last year. He was .360 the year before, and we certainly could live with that.
I havent given up on Damon just yet. After all, we’re only 10 games into the season. But boy, right now, Damon and Giambi sure look old.
Betances is a very tall, very young kid.
His potnetial upside is that of an ace, although as with most tall pitchers it might take a bit to get his mechanics repeatable. Throws hard and already has nice secondary offerings.
Had an interesting line in his last start, lots of Ks and lots of BBs, not very many hits. Was charged with two runs, but it was his last inning of work, he walked to guys and the reliever let them score.
“Is the Betimet being traded a rumor?”
no no. Strictly hypothetical.
“As if OBP was the ONLY thing that qualified you as a lead off hitter. hits, runs, avg”
It’s the leadoff guy. Who cares if he gets on by a hit or by a walk. His job is to be on base. As for runs…I’m pretty sure that has mostly to do with the guys behind him. Speed helps boost your run total, yeah, but only by a small amount.
Johnny sees more pitches per plate appearance, that’s true. He’s in the low 4′s, where melky’s in the mid 3′s.
However…the question was “who leads off if Damon sits?”
I’m pretty sure Melky could be fine there for a game every now and again. No?
By the way the Red Sox / Boston bashing is a lot more fun than the bashing of other posters.
S.o.S.27,
I just got home from work and was wondering if the blog had discussed the shirt caper too.
I live in Mass. and heard about it all morning from the Sox fan yahoos that I work with.
I finally shut them up when I told them that the guy was a typical Sox fan. He was too stupid to take the shirt off before he tossed it in lol.
I got a lot of high fives from my Yankee brethren lol.
“I’m just basing my opinion on Melky’s .327 OBP last year. He was .360 the year before, and we certainly could live with that.”
Yep. That’s why I said if he returns to his 06 form — or betters it.
And, if you knock out the months last year when he wasn’t playing regularly, he got on base pretty well. There’s also his heinous september slumps. We’ll have to see if that happens again.
But, anyhow…there’s reason to think that he can keep his OBP up.
Drive 4-5,
Niiice!!
I think we should counter and put one under our locker that says BOSTON SUCKS!!(pissed on offcoarse)
Drive 4-5,
Whats funnier is that even though they are defending champs. The Yankees are still in their heads. You would think they would have gotten over us by now.
My two cents: If you post here, you should be prepared to have your opinions challenged and even criticized on any number of grounds. Your right to free speech, however you may think about it, is not a shield against criticism. The free exchange of ideas is a two-way street.
If someone challenges your opinion it ain’t grounds for invoking the name of history’s worst war criminals. That’s over the top, even kidding around. If you write something that is plainly intended to evoke a strong response, don’t complain when the strong response comes.
This is a shared space and what you voluntarily submit here is fair game for others to read and respond to. Failure to think your comments through is a perfectly legitimate criticism. If you are challenged, respond logically, don’t get your panties in a twist and whine about it.
If you are being criticized, please remember: it’s a sports blog NOT PARLIAMENT. You are on notice that not everyone is going to be gentle and follow Robert’s Rules of Order.
If you are going to criticize, please remember: there are some very sensitive souls out there who write all kinds of aggressive, impetuous, impulsive and illogical things, yet have a pride of authorship as strong as any of the Twelve Apostles. Try to persuade and illuminate when responding to the impulsive, ill-considered and foolish things they have written. Either that or ignore them. But educating these folks, or at least getting them to agree to disagree, works better in the long run in the hit and run, guerilla warfare of the blogoshpere.
I read an interesting sports news article on the http://www.nypost.com site on how this is an important game for Wang to prove himself..kind of agree with this..if you’re the ace in the Yankees rotation you better produce. Under new management the Yankees are supposed to be this “new and improved” team (which I don’t really buy) so if their #1 starter can’t beat the Sox it could spell trouble for them down the line.
bonds will be the next mr october if he signs with the yankees. he will work twice as hard because he wants a ring.
“So far, Buckholz and Hughes have been just about equal – they’ve each had a few good outings, a few not-good outings, and they’ve each thrown a no-hitter (or Hughes was seven innings into one when he pulled his hammy, at least). Should be a pretty good matchup for years to come.”
Um, actually Buchholz has only made one start so far where his defense (Lugo and Casey) let him down. And no Hughes hasn’t thrown a no hitter yet. We missed the match up by two days. I would have loved to see both of them against each other.. we’ll see it eventually.
Anybody know the whereabouts of this guy ?
http://www.kfdm.com/onset?id=5.....ticle.html
Bucholz certainly has the potential to be a good one. He’s a more of a strikeout pitcher than Phil Hughes. But over the long haul, Hughes could end up being more durable and thus better.Hughes doesnt have the shoulder problems that Bucholz has already had. Hughes has the body type that could help him hold up over the long haul. Bucholz doesnt.
Clay Buchholz – “Gateway” to the Boston Pitching Staff!
It sure did not take this group long to prove Godwin’s Law:
“As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law)
The typical response when this happens would be to shut down the discussion. Or at least to have a tacit agreement to move on to some other thread.
I hope Pete is having a safe and forward-moving trip to Boston.