Game 30: Tigers at Yankees
-
- May
- 1
YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Duncan 1B
Matsui DH
Cabrera CF
Ensberg 3B
Cano 2B
Moeller C
Kennedy RHP
Nate Robertson against the New York hittters.
Notes: Another day, another lineup. … The Yankees have yet to get swept this season. … IPK has yet to face any of the Detroit hitters. … Thanks to Brian Heyman for calling in the lineup.
UPDATE, 5:08 p.m.: Phil Hughes a stress fracture in his ninth rib, according to Joe Girardi. Hughes will be shut down for four weeks before he can start throwing again. That’s assuming he has healed by then.
Phil is also going to see an eye specialist tomorrow.
Terrible news for Phil. It’s unfortunate but he has not been able to stay healthy in his professional career. But he’s only 21.
UPDATE, 5:10 p.m.: Here is the injury history on Hughes:
2004: Made only three starts for the GCL Yankees because of a fractured toe on his left foot.
2005: Had two stints on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
2006: Only healthy season. Went 12-6 with a 2.16 ERA.
2007: Tore left hamstring on May 1 and did not return until Aug. 4.
2008: Stress fracture in rib cage.
You can say all you want about prospects in any sport. But the most important thing is being on the field. Until you can do that consistently, all the rest is window dressing.
The strange thing is that Phil really worked hard this spring to get in shape, showing up in Tampa early and then joining Andy Pettitte for his early morning workouts. Obviously it’s not his fault. Hopefully this is just a run of bad luck and he’ll move on and have a good career.
UPDATE, 5:21 p.m.: This press release from Major League Baseball:
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that New York Yankees Minor League player Angel Reyes has received a 50-game suspension for testing positive for stanozolol metabolites, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The suspension of Reyes will be effective at the start of the season for the Single-A Staten Island Yankees of the New York-Penn League.
Reyes is a lefty pitcher who has been in the organization since 2004.
UPDATE, 7:22 p.m.: That’s how it works, you throw strikes and have a fast inning then one of the big guys belts a three-run homer. Hopefully Kennedy can just relax and pitch his game. We’ve all seen that he can do it.
UPDATE, 7:38 p.m.: Brian Cashman said earlier tonight that Hughes could be out until July. So obviously he does have an injury and it was wrong of me to suggest otherwise last night. It’s still a bit murky as to when the team knew Hughes was injured, but that’s not the point now.
As the Yankees move forward, it’s pretty evident they’re going to need a starter from outside the organization. If not now, then next season. Hughes and Joba Chamberlain won’t be able to give them 200 innings in 2009.
It’s a shame. I’ve gotten to know Phil pretty well and he’s a good guy who did everything right over the winter and in spring training. Hopefully he’ll keep his head up and get through this. He should take a look at Josh Beckett’s history and realize that sometimes it just takes a while.
UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: Wow, two outs and two strikes and suddenly the Tigers score three runs to take the lead with a double and a triple. Another rough outing for Kennedy.
UPDATE, 8:19 p.m.: It wouldn’t seem possible for Robbie Cano to have two hits over 29 at-bats. The person this team misses most isn’t Joe Torre or Don Mattingly, it’s Larry Bowa. They need somebody to get this bunch going, especially Cano.
UPDATE, 8:39 p.m.: If Ian Kennedy can’t be trusted to get the final out in the fifth inning of a one-run game, then he doesn’t belong in the rotation. Joe Girardi did the right thing there by bringing in Albaladejo. It also speaks to the lack of faith he has in Kennedy - which is justified. That said, I’d rather see Kennedy than Kei Igawa.
UPDATE, 9:54 p.m.: The Tigers have 11 hits and eight of them are for extra bases. I don’t know if they can overcome their horrid start to make the playoffs, but that Detriot lineup is going to make a lot of teams miserable this season.
UPDATE, 10:23 p.m.: Just another long, fruitless game for the Yankees. They are 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position headed into the ninth inning. It’s shocking to see them get swept at home. The Tigers are a good team but the Yankees shouldn’t be that bad a team. This next few weeks will be a test of the team’s ability to stay together in the face of adversity.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 3:37 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Melky rose to the challenge and did a great job hitting sixth yesterday. I hope it continues.
Thanks! Lineup disection time.
If Kennedy loses The State troopers should close down the GWB upper level!!!!!
In 13 at bats, Giambi is slugging .850 off of Robertson, with an OPS over 1.400.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, uh, why is he sitting?
Giambi is sitting because Girardi is a contrarian to his own detriment.
Another bonehead Girardi move to add to my list.
better defense behind one of the younger pitchers, perhaps?
The less Giambi, the better.
But jeez, these lineups. Giradi is channeling his inner LaRussa.
Duncan batting cleanup. Wow.
Shelley Duncan at cleanup? Did I read that correctly?
Pete -
Do you really think is makes a difference that the lineup is different every day? I hear people complain sometimes, but it shouldn’t really matter, right?
we lost last night, but remember, there’s always at least one loss right before a winning streak. maybe last night’s was that one…
Doreen: Yeah.
I like this lineup!
Whoa … did I really just write that?
If Im an oposing pitcher, Id be trembling looking at that line up.
Giambi is sitting because…
- he is batting 0.000 vs. lefties this season
- past performance is no indication of future performance.
Entire Season TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
vs Left-handed Pitcher New York Yankees 15 17 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 1 .261 .000 .000
I’m tired of Girardi just putting guys wherever his pen leads him. It’s starting to get me PO’d.
What are the Yankees numbers against bad left handed pitchers? Theyve got to be even worse than their overall numbers against left handed pitching.
Here is better formatting of Giambi’s stats vs. Lefties so far:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
15 17 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 1 .261 .000 .000
“better defense behind one of the younger pitchers, perhaps?”
Shelley Duncan does NOT represent better defense behind a pitcher, young or otherwise.
I do like Melky batting sixth. He’s been our go-to guy this year.
Why is giambi sitting when he has a .538 batting avrege against nate robertson???!!! Can anybody explain that?!!!
Shelley in the 4 hole. I love it!
Does anyone know how Girardi handled his lineups with Florida? Injuries have screwed things up so far this season, but did Girardi tinker with the Marlins lineup too?
Daver, if you use the word “code”, like blockquote, it gives you more of a fixed width text. only problem is multiple spaces:
G..AB.R.H.2B.3B.HR.RBI.TB.BB.SO.SB.CS.OBP.SLG.AVG15.17.0.0.0..0..0..1...0..4..4..0..1..261.000.000
What changes could you POSSIBLY make to this line-up, and why, exactly?
Good L,R throughout. Rather have Ensberg at #4? Rather bat Abreu and Matsui back to back at #s 3 and 4? Why?
Stop bitching and offer your alternatives.
can’t watch the game tonight, best of luck to IPK!
so Fredo, you like giambi’s D better?
Giambi is 0-for the season against lefties. To me, that’s the only relevent statistic.
He’s barely hitting anybody. When you can’t hit lefties, you can’t play.
Frankly, I could care less about the lineup at this point.
Nine guys will bat tonight. Somebody has to hit.
“past performance is no indication of future performance”
I guess the use of stats in sports is pointless then.
Sabermetricticians beware!
P.S.
Personally, I’m glad Giambi is sitting but this goes against what Girardi has been preaching, he says he’s going by numbers hence benching Matsui even thought he had the hotter bat but maybe this is a sign that Giambi has tried his patience too much.
IPK
5.2 8 3 3 3 4
and most importantly…. a W
Scorpio -
Since Giambi hasn’t got a hit off any lefties this season, I would say Girardi is going by the numbers. Not a single hit. Not one. It’s a good bet that in spite of his numbers against Robertson in past seasons, during this particular season, he’s not showing very well against any lefties.
No Giamboid.
did I read that right ! Duncan swinging 4th ?
“so Fredo, you like giambi’s D better?”
It’s like picking the leper with the most fingers, but yes I like Giambi’s defense better.
Good thing Shelley “Keith Hernandez” Duncan is over at first. That should sure things up nicely.
Doreen,
Good points. I’m not sad that Giambi’s not in. I’m just praying we won’t get swept!
haha, fair enough…
In the early going, Girardi doesn’t seem to be going by the numbers too much. Giambi has been stinking up the joint, but tonight wouldn’t be the time to take him out.
Duncan cleaning up? Yikes!
Cano, we need you now!!!
there’s an argument that matsui should hit 4th, but this way you have duncan’s righty bat in between bobby and godzilla—also shelley might get some thing decent to hit with matsui protecting him
What’s going to get more comments tonight? The lack of Giambi or Shelley batting fourth?
I sense ambiguity about Jason.
When he’s in there everyday, it’s “how can he be playing Giambi? Put Duncan in there, he can’t do any worse.”
So, today, Duncan is in for Giambi, and it’s “Oh my Gosh, Duncan at FIRST? No GIAMBI?!”
Not so easy, is it?
We are a schizophrenic, very difficult to please bunch, are we not?
MikeEff - time to update that username!
Jason hit over .500 against Robertson, and what did he do? Nothing! That is why he is sitting. YOu can’t go by past numbers with him.
Guys, the lineup doesn’t matter. What does matter is how Ian Kennedy pitches. That will be the biggest determinant of whether the Yanks win.
“it’s like picking the leper with the most fingers”.
wow, that is a fantastic analogy. hilarious!
Doreen,
Giambi may not have 1 hit against a lefty yet, but he does tend to draw a boatload of walks and get on base. Not saying Giambi should clean up tonight, but he could be in there.
But here’s hoping Shelley can swing it tonight!
“there’s an argument that matsui should hit 4th, but this way you have duncan’s righty bat in between bobby and godzilla—also shelley might get some thing decent to hit with matsui protecting him”
good point, still weird though
go get’em BAM BAM
I have been just hating Joe G this season. cannot get a call right until now.
Rebecca -
The guess here is the most comments will be about IPK.
That kid is officially under a magnifying glass. With Hughes on the DL, less magnification maybe by the organization (because right now he’s not getting demoted), but moreso by the fans.
Tough lineup for him to face - he needs to be crisp.
Oops never mind, we are facing Robertson tonight.
Why wouldn’t tonight be the night to take him out? Have you seen him at the plate? He’s awful.
He could get 3 hits a game if he just hits the ball to left field. He won’t do it.
He continues to hit into the shift and continues to be awful.
His past numbers are just that. The past.
At some point, you have to look at the evidence in front of you and right now, Jason Giambi can’t hit lefties.
0-17 is just that. 0-17.
Frankly, he shouldn’t play at all. But, that’s another issue for another day.
Why is Girardi changing the lineup so much? Oh, I don’t know, perhaps he is searching for a combination since NOBODY is hitting and his best two hitters are on the DL.
Its not like he has appealing options.
Like I said earlier, I could care less about the lineup. Unless the rules change, they will have 9 hitters bat tonight, correct?
If that’s the case, its time for whomever is in the lineup to hit.
Girardi can’t be second guessed putting a .150 hitter on the bench who also happens to be the worst defensive player in baseball.
He’s had 4 walks against lefties and 4 strikeouts. I don’t know. When else is Duncan going to get at bats? He’s not going to be in against righties. This is his opportunity.
Who else is Joe going to hit 4th? If he uses Matsui, that’s two lefties (Abreu) in a row. The righty choices are Shelley, Ensberg, Chad Moeller, and Melky (switch hitter). I guarantee any of those would generate anguish, also. And if Abreu is moved from 3rd in favor of a righty, then you’re changing someone’s spot in the lineup again.
SaucY— thanks for the reminder
don’t forget that attrocious D on 1B, but Jetes hasn’t exactly thrown the ball well over there
How is Juan Miranda’s glove?
better than Jason’s
I hope the fans are a li’l easier on IPK tonight than they were on Hughes the other night. I was at that game and could not believe the way he got booed coming off the mound. He’s a 21 yr. old kid and the future of the organization, not some high-priced free-agent expected to win 15-20 games.
I was pretty disappointed with the fans in general, to be honest. I don’t know if it’s because this is the last season at Yankee Stadium and a majority of the crowd is made up of tourists, corporate types and front-runners, or if the Yankee fan has just become spoiled, but I was embarrassed to be a Yankee fan the other night.
The game started with 1/3 of the place empty and, by the 7th, it was 1/2 empty, at least. Then, with Cano up in the bottom of the ninth as the tying run the place was DEAD. Nobody making any noise. Everybody just waiting to get out to their cars to get warm.
In the beginning of the season I thought the Yankees would have a huge home-field advantage playing in the final season of Yankee Stadium to packed, energized houses, but it may end up being a detriment if all these tickets were bought up by corporate-types, tourists, and bandwagon jumpers. I implore the real, die-hard Yankee fans out there to get out there, fill the place up and show the boy some love. What I saw the other night made me sick.
shelley made some awesome plays this weekend playing first against cleveland
I am glad Giambino is sitting on the pine. Perhaps he should be put on the DL with a “pull to the right side”. He can rest and work on being able to hit the ball to the left.
I meant “show the boys some love”. Thanks.
SJ44,
But the stats don’t lie! lol.
I haven’t watched every game Giambi’s played in, does anyone know how many walks he’s drawn? In general or statistically?
CM - are there many tickets available for tourists? I thought most games were sold out?
It’s April. Season ticket holders from NJ or LI likely aren’t interested in an April game when it’s 50 degrees at 9 pm.
Agree on the booing. I’d like to think that it’s collective - those boos are pent up for the whole team. Hughes just gave’em an excuse to let them loose.
CM: The majority of the Yankee fanbase around my age is spoiled–I was 10 when they won in 1996 and I don’t remember the last time they missed the playoffs (you’d have to go back to 1993, when I was all of seven years old!)
Mel,
Not enough walks to justify being in the lineup.
He’s there to drive in runs. Not draw walks.
Giambi drawing walks, which he doesn’t do much of anymore, is not enough to keep him in the lineup when he is 0-the season against lefties.
“One month was enough patience for the youth movement. Gotta go back to signing aging vets.”
it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
i’d like to see some of the strength of the minor league system used to add some veteran depth to the pitching.
i know it’s a hit to anyone who wholeheartedly backed the all out youth movement, but to be in denial that there s a real problem right now isn’t going to help.
there is a serious problem right now , and i don’t see the the yankees solving it totally in house this year. in my opinion, if the yankees stick to the original plan they won’t be seeing the playoffs.
that said, i hope they mostly stick to the youth plan , but stay flexible if the right veteran pitcher becomes available.
with the constraints of what girardi has right now, how is he supposed to come up with a great lineup? nate robertson can be a tough lefty. he’s one of the few pitchers who stands up ortiz when he’s hot and then strikes him out low and away. i can see sitting giambi for duncan.
Mel,
15 walks in 23 games. Not a whole lot, really, considering.
FYI - Kay pretty vocal about Giambi’s refusal to push the ball the other way. Feels it’s time for Girardi to demand it.
The word I have yet to hear used so far re: this is “selfish”. I think it’s time that one be used. The guy has hit some big homers for NY, no question. But it’s time that he recognize being on base 40% of the time is better for the team than homering 8% of the time.
Thanks, guys. I knew that he wasn’t getting the free pass as much, even with his good eye.
You know, Rebecca, I was thinking of this during the whole O’Neill debate about how the mainstream press was on O’Neill’s side while the blogosphere was on Hawkins, and whether that had anything to do with age or not. I was celebrating my 30th birthday at the game the other night and was 18 when they won in ‘96. I grew up with the Yankees being terrible. So, there is definitely a whole generation of fnas who doesn’t know what it’s like to lose.
As for Steve’s comments on NJ and LI ticket holders, I’m from the Jersey Shore. That was probably one of two or three times I’ll have a chance of being there again. I don’t care how cold it was or what the score was, I’ll be damned if I’m gonna sit on my hands at the end of the game with the tying run at the plate.
Maybe it means more to me than others, but for a fanbase that prides itself on being so kowledgeable and supportive and the greatest fans in the world, what I saw Tuesday night bothered the hell out of me.
I often hear, giambi should just bunt, or half swing to the left side of field. Then the counter, well it’s not that easy maybe he cant do it.
I know its not something he practices, but A. he should and B. if you show it, teams then have to respect it.
What do I know, Sidney Ponson just pitched 8 innings for a win and phil hughes cant get through 3. Please tell me if any pigs are flying outside your windows.
I would never say he’s selfish. Foolish. Stubborn. Unable to execute in games that count (he was able to hit the other way in spring training, right?). But not selfish. I would have to say at this point, to me, he’s shown he is simply not capable of making the adjustments, because any fool could see that if he could make the adjustments, he’d have a few more hits, but he’d also not be facing such a drastic shift all the time.
I know, I know. It’s easier said than done - they pitch him to pull the ball. I know. But isn’t that what he worked on this spring and last? I think he just CAN’T do it.
“FYI - Kay pretty vocal about Giambi’s refusal to push the ball the other way. Feels it’s time for Girardi to demand it.”
Kay is such a doof…Giambi did hit the ball well to left-center last night for a sac fly and he has to do it more often.
SteveHowe, you’re right. Even Ortiz - the man that shift was invented for - occasionally pops one to left or bunts down the third base line. Giambi is being SELFISH (there - I said it). I would rather see him lay down a sac bunt and advance a runner, than hit one more line drive right at someone. I’m sure he’ll hit better than 180 eventually, but right now, he needs to try something different - especially when the team’s having such a problem pushing runs across.
I’m up at Syracuse for another week, so logistically it would be near impossible for me to get to Yankee games until I return home.
That said, I’ve got tickets to two games (I’m not supposed to know about one of the games but my brother is very good at spoiling surprises). I’ll probably go to others as well, but I need to do things like figuring out the rest of my life first. Minor details, really.
Giambi owns Kenny Rogers the way he owns Robertson, yet the other night he didn’t get a hit until the 9th inning, when Rogers was long gone. To rely on past numbers with Jason is a mistake, sometimes, you have to put the book down and trust what you see.
Maybe the reason the offense is in such a terrible state is because the guys can’t get use to where they are in the lineup. I would think it would negatively affecting having to bat in a different slot from day to day. Don’t these guys like the routine of knowing where they “belong” each day?
Last night Giambi could have bunted to the right side with bases loaded and get 1 maybe 2 RBI’s and keep it at only 1 out. He actually made decent contact and hit it into left center. Still, he could have easily slapped it to the left side for a 2 RBI single. If he can’t do that he shouldn’t be in the majors.
WOW a big difference from Arod batting cleanup and now Duncan. It might even be hard for the Yanks to score there usual 2 runs tonight.
Giambi has to go and Cashman is too stubborn to cut him loose.
You’d think if Cashman would just build a smart team from the start of the year he wouldn’t have to fix it on the fly all the time.
Even Ortiz - the man that shift was invented for -
To be fair, opposing teams were shifting on Giambi before Ortiz was any good.
Olendorf should be ready in the 2nd inning for his 4 inning relief appearance.
CM -
My husband and I have often commented how it always seems like the fans at the Stadium don’t get going until the Yankees are in the middle of a rally. They aren’t loud and boisterous to create excitement; they’re passive in that they only get excited if the moment presents itself. The result is that over the t.v. at least, it seems awfully quiet at YS most of the time. In contrast to a lot of other stadiums where the fans start cheering to try and get something going at the beginning of an inning. And if someone gets on, they cheer like it’s already a rally.
We’ve thought maybe the sound at YS (electronically, that is) isn’t as good as at other stadiums with respect to how it’s picked up by television, but I don’t know.
It’s that NY attitude — show me what you can do, THEN, I’ll show you the love. That’s the cousin attitude of “what have you done for me lately?”.
“You’d think if Cashman would just build a smart team from the start of the year he wouldn’t have to fix it on the fly all the time.”
Yeah if only Cashman had the forsight to know that A-rod and Posada would be injured. What a hack!
Honestly, is there a single team in the majors that has the same 25 guys throughout an entire season?
Giambi’s Batting Averages from 1996 - 2002:
.291, .293, .295, .315, .333, .342, 314
Granted, if you bite into most of these, you may find a creamy HGH filling, but I’ve always remembered Jason as having known how to HIT.
He used to beat the Yankees on balls into the LCF gap.
I agree, though Doreen, that he’s getting busted inside so much, he almost has no choice but to jerk the ball.
(If I hear him say again in a postgame “Hey, I’m hitting the ball hard”, my remote will taste drywall.)
Rebecca, I’m not urging everyone on these comment threads to head out to the Stadium tomorrow, I just expect more out of the fans that are there. It’s the last season at the single most famous building in sports. The least the fans could do is show up if they have tickets and make some noise once they show up. If not, then they should stop patting themselves on the back for what a great group of fans they are.
Patrick - really? That extreme shift where the ss plays on the right side of second base? I thought the Rays did it to Ortiz for the first time a few years back. No?
Giambi’s ability to draw walks somewhat negates his current poor average, helping him score more runs than anyone else on the team not named Damon, Cabrera, or Rodriguez - despite the fact that he is 8th in plate appearances for the team. Bad defense aside, scoring runs for this team can’t be a bad thing, can it? The team is 9th in walks, 10th in runs scored, and 11th in OBP. Coincidence?
As I understand it, Giambi used to hit to all fields when he played for Oakland, right? I understand the short porch is tempting, but that shouldn’t be the only reason for Jason to have become a strict pull hitter. Does it have to do with bat speed? Is it coming off the PEDs? Is it age? Is it a combination of everything?
Carmen Miranda’s glove was better tha Jason’s
Carmen Miranda’s glove was better than Jason’s.
A truly amazing story in the NY Times today about an opposing softball team carrying a hobbled hitter around the bases after a home run. (Long story short - girl hits homerun, buckles knee rounding first - shades of Jack Clark, for those fans who remember - she can’t move, first base(wo)man carries her around the bases…)
http://tinyurl.com/483b5h
Can anyone imagine Shelly Duncan or the Giambino playing first and picking up a hobbled Red Sox rookie to touch ‘em all?
Pete - I think that’s your screenplay to write.
Just a note to those who think the Yankees are making up this injury to Hughes. Now think about this, if they just sent him down it would be for a min of 2 starts (10 days), he could get himself righted in 2 starts. Now they put him on the dl that is a min of 3 starts, and they are saying that he won’t touch a ball for 6-7 days, than he’ll throw off flat ground, than half mound, than full mound, than games. Do you realize how much further back that pushes him!!!
the reason giambi is not playing tonight scorpion is a few reasons; he sucks, terrible against lefties look it up, he is so fragile if he plays too much he will break, and it is a long season..
Therefore Girardi is correct even if Duncan goes 0 for 5, the bottom line is Giambi hits the ball to 1/3 of the friggin field, he SUCKS…He also cannot field and is slower then me, besides that he is well worth his $20 mill this yr…
Giambi’s woes are likely the result of a combination of factors.
SteveHowYouDoin -
Yeah Giambi wasn’t just a slugger with Oakland, he was a hitter. I remember during our playoff series vs the A’s he was the only guy hitting and it seemed like every at bat he would be ripping doubles, singles, homers.
They always say steroids can’t teach you how to hit. Maybe once he stopped juicing he lost batspeed and now he doesn’t have enough control of the bat to go opposite way, etc.
Doreen, I think you’re right, but, unfortuantely it wasn’t always that way. The Yankees success I think has created that atmosphere. Too may people at Yankee Stadium are there because it’s Yankee Stadium, just another place to visit on the way to the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. The other problem is the increase of season ticket holders who buy seats they never intend on using. The end result is a stadium with empty seats and passive fans. The fact that this is the Stadium’ last year makes the problem worse. To a 30 year fan who looks forward to the one or two times a year I can go, and remembers what a treat it was the first time my father took me to see Mattingly and Winfield, it’s just disappointing to find that lack of electricity.
Why would they push him back like that? And why would they have it be an injury that is very difficult to come back from. See Albert, and Bobby. If they wanted to lie, why not say something different? Like back pain.
“Honestly, is there a single team in the majors that has the same 25 guys throughout an entire season?”
Ummm, obviously no. Are there teams that have a flexible bench and depth in the staff…yes.
Please…lots of apologist here.
Giambi and Timlin should both retire and do barnstorming HR derbys at retirement homes throughout the Midwest.
“Patrick - really? That extreme shift where the ss plays on the right side of second base? I thought the Rays did it to Ortiz for the first time a few years back. No?”
Actually I’m pretty sure the shift was employed against Ted Williams.
I don’t think Cashman anticipated 20% of his Opening Day Roster being on the DL on May 1. Led by Arod and Posada.
Its kind of tough to hit him for that.
Let’s examine the lineup tonight:
Damon, Jeter and Abreu are in their usual spots in the order.
Duncan hitting cleanup? He’s hitting between two lefties.
The Tigers aren’t only starting a lefty tonight, they have 2 in their bullpen. Seems to make sense to have a righty hitting between 2 lefties.
Melky is hitting 6th. Right now, he’s hitting better than the other guys below him in the lineup.
Cano breaks up 2 righties.
The lineup makes sense. Whining about it doesn’t. At least to me.
I still think Giambi is juicing is neck is thick and he’s still very big. If that’s the case it’s not helping him hit except for the occasional HR.
Giambi’s stats vs. Nate Robertson have no relevance. His deteriorating skills are the concern.
The very least he can do is hit the ball down the left field line to be a baserunner but he obviously won’t nor will it be asked of him.
MikeEff-You should have “SUPPORT DUNCAN HAND BASH.GOT ICE?”
Im glad Giambi is sitting on the bench. Hopefully it wont just be for today. Give Shelley a week in the lineup to find his rythem. Giambi got more than that and failed.
mel-One more series away from colliding. Spurs-Lakers. Cant wait
patrick - no way. huh. consider me flummoxed.
i still say giambi should lay down a bunt. or at this point, just catch the ball and then throw it into left field. maybe nobody will notice?
I don’t think it’s worth too many people’s time to be worrying about Giambi or Duncan. It’s a good sign of the injuries and what a slow start the rest of the lineup is off to, that it’s this much of a concern. If, over the course of a season, our playoff hopes hinge on the performance of either Jason or Shelley, then Cashman has truly done a terrible job as a GM. The guys who are hurt will be back, Cano and others will come around, and Giambi and Duncan will both be what they are: solid role players. The true concern right now is pitching, but I advise everyone to take a deep breath and look at the calendar. If we have these problems at the trading deadline, start sweating.
“Honestly randy half of your posts make no sense.”- patrick
right you probably are are, but the problem for you is , on any given comment, that i’m not sure you know enough to know which half you’re looking at.
ortiz can bunt because he grew up in the twins system where everyone learns to bunt. it’s not going to happen with giambi. you may be right about him not having enough pop to go the other way now.
if giambi was looking to go the other way, i don’t think he’d have the 5 home runs.
SoS,
May the best team win.
Just kidding, I’m not looking past…I don’t even know who we’re playing! Either Jazz on Sunday or Rockets on Tuesday.
SJ, making sense isn’t important to some. Only moaning. I’m and expert in this behavior - I see it from my son on a daily basis (lol)!
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/04/19/game_shifted_into_the_bizarre/
patrick - this shift. i was right - rays v. ortiz, 2006.
i love oritz’s quote halfway down: “If I was 0 for 20, I would have bunted.”
um, jason? any comment?
SoS : Ha!
I am now convinced that Joe Girardi is playing to lose.
As much as I’m not a fan of Jason Giambi and would love him off of this team… just look at the numbers he has against this pitcher… WHY WOULD YOU SIT A GUY WHO’s HITTING OVER .500 AGAINST THE OPPOSING PITCHER?
He doesn’t have to be at first. He could DH! I just don’t get it.
RB15:
To be fair, you were both right. Teams have been using shifts for decades. The one described in the article hasn’t even been used on Ortiz in years. He gets a pretty normal pull hitter shift now.
When Jason Giambi signed his 120 million dollar contract with the Yankees, he was an all field hitter.
He had gap to gap power and used the entire field.
Year by year, he became more of a pull hitter.
Now, its all he does.
The irony is, he spent the spring hitting the ball the other way and looked better at the plate than he has in years.
Now, think about it for a minute. You are hitting .160. Why not go back to doing what you were doing when you hit in the spring? Its a game of adjustments. Make the adjustment.
The other night, the bases are loaded and its the PERFECT time to hit the ball the other way. What does he do? He pops out chasing a changeup in the dirt he was trying to drive.
I’m sorry but, when your team is struggling, you have to do other things to help them win. He doesn’t, so he sits.
Personally, I’d wish he would sit against lefties AND righties.
He can’t help this team. The past is the past and his game is WAY in the past.
The lesson to be learned is, you don’t give 7 year contracts to guys with bad bodies and who are 30 and over. I don’t care how much the fans howl for you to do it.
His contract and his game has been an albatross around the Yankees for years.
Next year will be a breath of fresh air when they are actually rid of the contract.
Hopefully, they won’t make the same mistake again this off-season with another “must sign to a bad contract” guy.
The “Shift”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infield_shift
mel,
If i were you id be rooting for the rockets. Utah is a scary team. Good at home,big men shoot the long range shots,excellent point guard that can break a defense down. I would pass on all that.
Spurs have their hands full with the mvp paul. But i think they will let him get his and shut down the rest of the team.
MikeEff-One more.”Duncan.Laying the smack down on ya!”
“http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/04/19/game_shifted_into_the_bizarre/
patrick - this shift. i was right - rays v. ortiz, 2006.
i love oritz’s quote halfway down: “If I was 0 for 20, I would have bunted.”
um, jason? any comment?”
Ah ok, you mentioned the shift where the SS was on the right side of 2B, I thought you were referring to the regular shift used against Giambi, Ortiz, etc. The original over-shift was used against Ted Williams and I’m pretty sure he was the first one. He refused to bunt to the left too, maybe Giambi thinks he’s Ted Williams 2.0?
Giambi should definitely be bunting, at least a few times to keep the other teams honest. Even yesterday with the bases loaded the entire left side was open. He could have had a 2 RBI single with almost no effort.
Bad news guys.
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/13210?from=36hr_maps&zoom=8&interactiveMapLayer=radar
The radar does not look good, at all.
Girardi interview coming up on WFAN. He’s usually pretty calm with them but this could be the week he gets cranky because Chris has said the Yanks are lying about Phil being hurt.
“Hopefully, they won’t make the same mistake again this off-season with another “must sign to a bad contract” guy.”
Don’t talk about Texiera that way!
Honestly, we have one year to go on our long 1b nightmare. What a treat it will be to have an infield where the first baseman can field his position and even (i know it is hard to believe but it is possible) throw to 2nd base on occasion.
Because Eugie, he is 0-17 for the season against lefties.
Why is that so hard to understand? Are you so caught up in the splits, you don’t consider how the player is looking now?
I think Joe Girardi wants to win more than you want him to win. In fact, I know that to be the case because its his job.
Its also his job to get a guy out of the lineup who is hitless for the season against lefties.
Here is another stat to consider. Since August of last year, Jason Giambi has the second lowest batting average in baseball for everyday players. Its .185. The only player worse? Gary Sheffield.
I’ll leave it to everybody to discuss what they have in common.
http://www.weather.com/weather/map/interactive/13210?from=36hr_maps&zoom=8&interactiveMapLayer=radar
Radar does not look good.
Very much looking forward to the Girardi interview on WFAN. Russo’s been slamming the Yanks on a number of topics today (as well as accusing them of lying about Hughes) and he already promised one caller he was gonna go after Girardi.
Just looked at the radar, it doesn’t look good for getting tonight’s game in.
Tk,
I was thinking CC! lol
Honestly, I think Tex goes to Baltimore. Its the buzz everybody around the game believes at this time.
I’m sure the Yankees will go full bore for him.
But, he and his wife are Md. people and its always been his dream to play for the Orioles.
I’d love to see him in the Bronx but, we shall see.
pat -
Do you they they’ll have the nerve to come out and directly ask him if Hughes’ injury is legit?
right, that shift. THE shift.
looks like we’re all talking about the same thing, or different things. but we all know that there’s a regular shift, and then also the extreme shift for ortiz c. 2006 and some other players. i’m relieved that i’m not actually insane.
but obviously, it’s time for me to go home now. have a great night, everyone! go yankees!
The problem so far this year is that no one has really hit their stride on the yankees…I know I know its May but these things happen, Jeter may have gotten old over the winter (that happens to mid 30’s athletics) and so have, maybe, alot of other yankees. Cano hmmmmm who knows maybe Rod Carew… Giambi… yeah think anyone will offer him anymore than a cool mill next year since he has been slowed(sucky) as of late. Johny Damon looks like he is pretty old in the field as well.
???
I don’t think Teixeira will go to Baltimore because they will not give him the megacontract he will command.
I hear Phil Hughes strained his oblique singing karaoke with Miley Cyrus.
SJ44 -
Especially if Baltimore has a decent season. They’re off to a much better start than anyone expected, and no one thinks they’ll keep it up at this pace. But even if they keep it up a little, I think the draw for Teixeira is going to be to go play for the Orioles.
Of course, I’m holding my breath, because I’d love to have him on the Yankees, but in the long run who knows if it would work out? Giambi was supposed to work out, too.
CM - just checked out your blog. great stuff!
Giambi says he doesnt take batting practice on the field because he doesnt want to see the short right field porch and start pulling the ball? What the hell does he think he’s doing?
Solution. Stop taking batting practice in a cage. Instead take batting practice on the field and maybe it will have the opposite effect for you. Like learning how to hit balls to left.
So its one of two things.
a.pull hitter .250 avg.
b.hit to all fields and be .300 hitter again.
If the choice is a. All i have to say is 5 more months count down.
“i still say giambi should lay down a bunt. or at this point, just catch the ball and then throw it into left field. maybe nobody will notice?”
If Giambi could catch the ball, yeah, that people would notice.
I assume Shelley Duncan has embarrassing information on Joe Girardi. Blackmail is the only possible explanation.
giambi might put out an eye or worse if he tried to bunt.
he doesn’t know how to bunt.
it’s not a skill you just throw into the mix.
hughes has a stress fracture girardi just said, won’t do anything for at least six weeks ugh
Hughes has a stress fracture in a rib
i meant four weeks
You mean you have a problem with 300 pound lefties? Me too!
I think a lot will depend on Pettitte and also on whether IPK, Joba and Phil are realistic members of the 2009 rotation.
The idea of putting over $100 mill into a starting pitcher not named Santana is pretty daunting. But we have plenty of time to let that play out.
It doesn’t help that Jeter is playing hurt right now. That quad is definitely affecting his swing.
Both Damon and Jeter are playing on one leg.
Now, before people yell, “they should be in the DL”. At some point, guys are going to gut it out. Its why they are pros.
The main reason you don’t put everybody on the DL is, believe it or not, you can’t turn the Yankees into the Scranton Yankees and think that’s a good thing.
Its just a rough patch now and they need to fight through it. Its all they can do.
WOW hughes stress fracture right rib out atleast four weeks according to giardi on mike and the mad dog
com’on
Phil’s got a stress fracture in rib- 4 weeks shutdown.
I think he was singing karaoke with Mindy Mcready
Stress fracture in rib? 4 weeks off for Hughes!
So, if Hughes is out 6 weeks, you can forget him until the AS Break.
Darrell Rasner, this is your big chance.
Danny McCutcheon? Get ready, you are on deck.
Well, Mad Dog looks like a fool now. Sucks to lose Hughes for 4 weeks. But, it’s a big thumb of a nose to all the haters who made it see like the Yankees were lying to get Hughes a break.
Thanks for the compliment Saucy, there’ll be more good stuff coming soon now that my birthday bender is over.
Why does Giambi need to bunt when he can just try to hit to left? Wouldn’t that be easier?
Hughes also going to see an eye specialist to find out what the story is what the night vision blurs.
apparently hughes hurt it against the white sox and did not tell the yankees until after his start against cleveland
Yeah… stress fracture… it’s quite unfortunate that I dont believe a word out of Joe Girardi’s mouth. Is it a stress fracture? Is it a pulled Oblique? Is it messed up vision? Who knows, and worst of all nobody in Yankeeland is going to tell us the truth.
I guess I can eat crow for assuming the Yanks were lying.
I the hell did he get a stress fracture? Did he get hit with a ball? I don’t remember.
Josh Beckett has been on the DL 9 times. His first 3 years in Florida were spent on and off the DL.
My point is, you stick with high level young pitchers.
Hughes is going through a rough patch but, its way too early to give up on him.
Does anyone know how long he’s had this stress fracture? Could this be the reason for some of his struggles?
well, if there was ever a chance for Darrel Rasner to prove himself…
i think they said he tweaked it during the white sox game but who knows
mechanics change back to 2006’s delivery 2 - 3 weeks, testing it 1 - 2 weeks…
Girardi: “yeh atleast 4-6 weeks and that’s if he can pitch”
and he has to go to SWB after “video rehab”
SoS, that explains it - Giambi should be looking at the ball, not at the short porch.
Honestly, he’s been around and I think Giambi knows how to conduct his batting practice in the most helpful way, etc. I just think Joe needs to sit him down and tell him that his hitting into the shift schtick is getting old, fast. It’s frustrating to watch. Now is the time when veterans like him need to find ways to manufacture runs, when the pitching staff is struggling and there are several key injuries. Are they squeezing him inside? Fine, then don’t bunt down the third base line - put on a sac play and start the runners, and bunt down the first base line. At least then you’ll give the runners a chance to move over.
Night everyone!
DA-RELL RAS-NER (Clap! Clap! ClapClapClap!)
Here’s the problem with the stress fracture - stress fracture’s are painful. How could he not know he was hurt? This doesn’t make sense.
lol brandon that same thing crossed my mind. Theyre gunna send him back to Tampa and let Nardi rework him and get him back to where he was. Maybe he actually has a broken rib but for some reason I don’t believe this manager or this front office. /shrug
Pete,
Do you still think the Yankees were making up this Hughes injury?
“I the hell did he get a stress fracture? Did he get hit with a ball? I don’t remember.”
A High 5 from Bam Bam Duncan gone awry?????
Hughes=bust
Johan would’ve looked good in pinstripes. Hank and I were right.
Johan has been a hr machine in the NL…. Sign C.C. in the off season and move on. You could always root for the Mets.
Don’t like young pitchers getting hurt like this early in their careers. This injury sets his innings back once again.
welp thats another lost year for Hughes
His innings will be limited to ~150 next year same as this year
At least he can watch The Office now
Was there a reason Girardi lied yesterday about him not being injured then lied again and said he has a strained oblique? This is getting absurd, I can’t trust anything Girardi says now.
seriously? that bites. sounds pretty painful. I am pretty sure Phil never expected this to happen, poor guy.
Hughes being out 4-6 weeks with this fracture stinks, but life goes on. Life, not just sports, is about coping with adversity. Phil will be back. But the flip side of the coin is that life presents you with opportunities - the key is to recognize them and be ready to take advantage.
Who knows, maybe Rasner will be this year’s Aaron Small - another guy who took advantage of an opportunity. Or McCutcheon, or someone else.
Game time is 7:05. I’ll be watching.
as far as hughes goes, this is starting to get almost comical.
anyone know anything about rib stress fractures?
Cynically speaking, this gives Hughes an excuse for the rest of the season, similar to what happened last year.
If he pitches well, he’s a phenom. If he doesn’t…well, he was injured and shut don for a month. He hasn’t built his arm strength back up.
At least it ain’t his right arm.
“Pete,
Do you still think the Yankees were making up this Hughes injury?”
I do. Still not sold on the fractured rib. In the last 24 hours he’s gone from not injured to an oblique injury, to a fractured rib. I’m holding out for something better. Probably have malaria by the end of the game tonite.
Hughes is going to be at least until July.
Hey Patrick what makes you think he isn’t lying now about this broken rib? Sounds to me like they heard people talking about how they were fabricating an injury and needed one that sounded more serious…
Question for SJ and other baseball minds:
Does phil being out for a month have any effect on when the Yankees move Joba into the rotation?
Yeah, Jim. 5 starts one month into the season is definitely enough to know if a guy’s a bust. Why don’t you and Hank go follow football and let those of us who understand what 162 games mean concern ourselves with the Yankees.
I don’t know that working out prevents fractures. The only surefire protection from injuries is to sit on the sidelines.
Wasn’t the oblique injury supposedly not serious? Now it’s serious? Makes no sense.
“Was there a reason Girardi lied yesterday about him not being injured then lied again and said he has a strained oblique? This is getting absurd, I can’t trust anything Girardi says now.”
I know that once you lie you lose some credibility but can you really assume that this case was not just a mis-diagnosis. It sounds like he had the MRI today.
I’d just like to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“as far as hughes goes, this is starting to get almost comical.
anyone know anything about rib stress fractures?”
yes and they really hurt, you can not not know if you have it or not.
“Here’s the problem with the stress fracture - stress fracture’s are painful. How could he not know he was hurt? This doesn’t make sense.”
Actually it’s quite possible to not know you have a stress fracture. I have a toe right now that has a stress fracture. I didn’t know it right away. When my foot began to feel pain I went to see a podiatrist and was told that my fracture looked like it was caused months before.
please keep hughes as far away from pavano as possible
My play opens tonight–I have a long break between scenes in the second act, so I’m hoping to sneak out and listen to the game and hopefully hear that IPK is pitching brilliantly, Chad Moeller has hit a grand slam, and Phil Hughes doesn’t have leprosy.
“Does anyone know how long he’s had this stress fracture?”
” stress” sounds like it develops over time . it would explain a lot if it’s been slowly developing.
“I guess I can eat crow for assuming the Yanks were lying.”
You are probably the only one who will own up to it.
Betemit’s fake injury turned out to be pretty serious as well.
I see a lot of myself in this Phil Hughes kid.
-Carl Pavano
Rob NY, we know they’re not lying because instead of him being out for 15 games to straighten his head and get back to the majors, he’s now out for 4 weeks and will need some rehab starts before he can get back on a major league mound. They do not want him out for 2 months.
This is what happens when half your prospects are high ceiling high risk pitchers.
I think the Trade market hass to heat up.Even if JOba goes to the rotation.
Phil will be the ace of the Yankees. It will not happen this year, obviously, but it will happen.
Guy needs to get straightened out from a mechanics and health standpoint.
When do we get to hear Peter cry to us about Girardi not telling him about Hughes’ injury in time?
Enough of the lineup whining already. Mr Torre would have Miguel Cairo at 1B tonight.
Now who comes up if Ian or Rasner struggle? Mcutchen? Joba? Trade? Please dont say Igawa.
I’ll say this,,,when Shelley Duncan is your cleanup hitter and IPK is taking the mound, you win this game and it is a borderline miracle….WOW !
just enough time to do some indoor throwing, w/ no cameras around. We know it’s , eh F it do I care if they fix him I’ll be happy, so w/e.
Just added 6 new shots of the New Stadium… enjoy http://tinyurl.com/6zsewe
“Does phil being out for a month have any effect on when the Yankees move Joba into the rotation?”
It shouldn’t, but it could. Lot depends on what the reinforcements do. If Rasner pitches reasonably well, they should have no problem sticking to their plan.
S.o.S.27, if ANYONE even utters a word that SOUNDS like Igawa, he/she should be strung up by his/her toes !
I’m close to being convinced that Phil Hughes is a brittle or snakebit athlete. Maybe some of both.
During his entire career, Mussina has spent lees time on the DL than Hughes has in 2 seasons and Mussina has never had what could be called a rigorous workout regimen.
Rebecca,
I don’t think it affects the Joba Plan. Its Darrell Rasner’s big opportunity. If he can pitch along the average of what a #4 pitcher provides an AL team, they go forward.
As far as folks now labeling Hughes a “bust”, get a grip. Go back and look at Beckett’s career and ask yourself why the Marlins didn’t give up on him?
Check out Eric Bedard’s career. Both guys have had substantial DL time in their careers with injuries more serious than Hughes’.
It happens and like Joe from LI says, you deal with it.
I think its a little early in his career to be labeled a bust.
Think differently? Apply for a job in Personnel Departments of MLB team armed with the belief that Hughes is a bust and see if that gets you hired.
Its adversity he has to work through. Its not an injury to his arm, shoulder or elbow. That’s the good news.
He will be pitching again in 6 weeks, barring any setbacks.
“This is what happens when half your prospects are high ceiling high risk pitchers.”
What does this mean? All young pitchers are high risk. Very few are high ceiling. The Sox are going with Buchholz and Lester - are they headed for disaster?
on a serious note… does anyone know what carl pavano’s status is right now. still rehabbing what? any sliver of a chance he takes the mound this season?
Could it be something as simple as the players over-conditioning? Working out too much?
Anyone think we should maybe look to trade one of Ajax or Tabata for pitching? Being that Melky looks like he is here to stay and Gardner is improved?
Hughes just showed that he is not mature as people thought that he was. He threw his side session, and pitched 4 innings 90 pitches 2 days ago knowing that he was hurt. Not bright…You have to assume that Cashman and Girardi had a meeting with him and gave it to him about not being honest with injuries considering he knows how important he is to this organization…So this is 2 years in a row where he is now going to miss 2 months and it is going to be another year where his development as a pitcher is delayed. The injuries good thing have not been to his arm but he has had these things hold him back every year now.
“Anyone think we should maybe look to trade one of Ajax or Tabata for pitching? Being that Melky looks like he is here to stay and Gardner is improved?”
absolutely not !
SJ: Even if Kennedy continues to struggle? Just curious
SJ,
You can add Roy Halliday to that list of injured in the past.
Damn even Horne’s hurt. Maybe if he wasn’t he would have been called up.
Girardi basically said that he wasn’t sure what the injury til like 6:30 yesterday and didn’t want to release any info prior to hearing from the doctors about the extent. They didn’t diagnos the stress factor til today.
Since its now clear that he’s actually hurt, it doesn’t seem to me that there’s any reason to think that they were being intentionally deceptive. Just because the timing coincides with calls for Hughes to be pulled from the rotation doesn’t necessarily there’s some nefarious plot to deceive the public.
I think this is really people just used to dealing with Torre and having to adjust to Girardi’s style in dealing with the press. Girardi doesn’t give any less information than Torre did but he’s less adept at presenting it in a way that doesn’t seem evasive. That’s all.
“absolutely not” ?
why not?
“Anyone think we should maybe look to trade one of Ajax or Tabata for pitching? Being that Melky looks like he is here to stay and Gardner is improved?”
Nope. Give Rasner a run at the #5 job and see how it goes.
Any pitching you might pick up now is going to be of the low end of the rotation variety anyway. Dave Bush, Matt Belisle, Loaiza redux. Any appeal there????
Amen, Chris N.
I guess these are the things you have to expect when you fall in love with every “can’t miss” prospect.
Who’s next on my future stars baseball card…
“why not?”
those kids are too young and have too much ability to traded for quick fixes. I don’t agree in continueing that same cycle.
what about roy oswalt i heard rumors of him earlier was there any truth in those rumors and what do you think they would ask for?
Jax:
Any idea on Horne’s status. He’s missed 3-4 starts since it was announced he’ll miss one start. I did hear he was throwing off flat ground late last week, but little since.
Brandon,
Ruben Rivera ceiling was probably higher than both those guys and we pulled the trigger on him. Ricky Ledee brought us back Justice. Which in turn helped us win championships. I just think that some times you have to give something to get something. Who knows what they will end up being. We dont give Rivera or Ledee a second thought.
If Kennedy continues to struggle, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCutcheon, provided he keeps pitching well, gets a shot.
They aren’t going to mess with Joba and rush something that could end up hurting him.
As far as Hughes, its why teams ALWAYS tell players to tell them when they are hurt.
Look at it from his perspective. Clearly, he feels a responsibility to help the team. So, he decides to gut it out. After all, he has seen the scorn Carl Pavano has gotten for all these years.
Its tough and its the pressure players feel to be in the lineup. We saw it with veterans like Arod and Posada and its pretty clear Hughes didn’t tell anybody he was hurting until he came out of the game last night.
How it could happen? A variety of ways. You can hurt it on a pitch. You can hurt it in cold weather. It could be a combination of things.
Jim Palmer once broke a rib throwing a pitch on a hot summer day.
Its sports and guys get hurt. Just a fact of life. You can’t put them all in plastic bubbles.
“Damn even Horne’s hurt. Maybe if he wasn’t he would have been called up.”
Horne saids he’s ok, he threw from 60′ the other day, today or tomorrow he will throw from 120′ next Tues. they hope he will throw off a mound.
I feel a good start from IPK tonight and win for the Yanks….we haven’t been swept all season and I don’t expect it to happen tonight!
Question for the group - Does a drug suspension, like the one to Reyes on the SI Yankees, take one roster spot away from the team? Or can they replace the player?
Hopefully Hughes doesn’t turn out to be Ben Sheets. That would be sad…..A guy who has great stuff but keeps getting hurt
Joe…….I’m pretty sure they can replace the player