Blog poll: How is Joe Girardi doing?
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- May
- 14
The season will be 25 percent over after tonight’s game. How do you think Joe Girardi is doing as manager of the Yankees?
Vote in the poll over to the right.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 11:48 am by Peter Abraham.
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This team is just too old and it’s showing. There’s been an utter lack of energy for the past few seasons.
It’s funny how everybody was praising Girardi’s offseason letter to players, when Damon, Abreu, and Giambi were taking extra bases at the beginning of the season. Teams always look energy-less when they don’t hit, because they don’t have the opportunity to run. I think all it takes is one huge two-out RISP hit, and this team will stop pressing.
At the end of the season, this poll should be given again.
Girardi isn’t living up to what I expected. But let’s see how it goes. Maybe my expectations were wrong to begin with.
Winning makes everything seem better, losing makes things feel like it’s 10 times worse.
I voted “I’m reserving judgment for now,” so I don’t have it in for Girardi at all.
But I am more than a bit surprised there hasn’t been any discussion in the media about Abaladejo’s injury.
Arms are delicate, so I’m not saying I necessarily blame Girardi, but it’s a fair question to ask. If the manager uses a short reliever for three innings, and the reliever blows out his elbow in the third inning, was it because of the unaccustomed use? Does it matter (negative or positive) that it’s not the first time the manager has used the reliever for more than an inning?
I thought for sure there would be a swarm of “Girardi Injured Abaladejo” stories, fair or not.
I love how everyone points to a “lack of energy” being the Yankees’ downfall, and Tampa’s “energy” being a big ingredient to their success. You can have all the energy in the world, but when you have two Silver Slugger winners out for most of the season, and another all-star hitting under .200, it’s no suprise why the Yankees suddenly “look old”. And in case anyone hasn’t noticed it isn’t the young and energetic Evan Longoria leading the way for the Rays, but their 4th ranked team ERA.
As S.A. said, I’m disappointed. I like Joe and I love the Yankees, but he’s made some decisions that make me scratch my head. He can’t swing the bat or pitch the ball, I know that…it’s a long season. Proportionally, the Giants weren’t looking too good at this point in the season either.
Joe, for the love of all that is good and holy, don’t pitch to Manny. Just don’t. Especially if Mussina’s on the mound.
how can you be dissapointed when your two rookie pitchers go a combined 2-10? it just cant happen. The offense needs to pick up the pace, we look like the tigers.
This blog poll has been sponsored by Bigelow Green Tea.
Judging managers after 6 weeks is pointless. This isn’t football there’s no intricate scheming to develop, there aren’t complex substitution packages to arrange, etc.
It’s just baseball. The decision on whether to hit and run or to take out a pitcher isn’t that earth shaking.
Manager’s don’t have large game to game impacts on how a team plays. It’s more their overall mindset and ability to handle issues that arise over the course of a very long season.
Girardi has done fine overall. The most impressive and perhaps important thing he’s done so far is diffusing that impending disaster with the media.
Getting into a fight with the media this early was a potential disaster for Girardi and after making some mis steps he’s cleared the air after that meeting and been more transparent.
Like it or not those things are major part of what the yankee manager job description entails.
Very happy. He’s used his bullpen intelligently, with better relievers appearing in higher leverage situations, regardless of the score (Torre never would have used Joba down one run last night).
Bullpen usage is really the only thing that differentiates managers, and Girardi has been impressing me.
Everything else is due to luck and injuries, and Girardi can’t be blamed or given credit for that.
I agree, Joe has made some interesting decisions, but our rookie pitching has been lacking, and with arod and posada out, that takes away a lot of the offense. I’, not so sure how much I like the idea of everyone getting some rest every few games (excluding catchers) like joe has done. I think once we get our right guys back on the field, stick with it and let everyone get into a rhythm. Overall, I’m willing to stick it out with joe, and see how things go.
How about a poll rating the 10 year performance of Brian Cashman?
Did u guys noctice the Florida Marlins. They have the best record in MLB right now. This is the very team Joe managed 2 seasons ago. They lost Cabrera this season and Willis. They have done progressively better after they fired Joe G. May the yanks erred on Joe G.
I voted “I’m disappointed”.
Girardi’s bullpen management has been fantastic. He has a good eye for when a starter is done, and uses those arms properly. Other than a misguided (but now corrected) use of Ross Ohlendorf earlier in the year, he’s been great.
NYY - clearly the Marlins new manager is responsible for Hanley Ramirez becoming one of the best players in the game, Uggla being one of the hottest hitters in baseball, and Renyel Pinto and Scott Olsen being two of the luckiest pitchers, right?
Man, if Girardi was still managing those Marlins, Ramirez would be in AAA, Uggla would 4 HR instead of 12, and all those balls that are finding fielders gloves against Olseon would have been hit 10 feet to the left.
Girardi sucks!
We’re in a better position at this point this year than we were last year, so he’s obviously doing a good job when you consider Hughes and Kennedy sucking, Po and A-Rod being hurt, losing Bruney and Albaladejo (likely) for the season. We had more Torre losses last year at this point from terrible pitching management. I’d give the team an overall letter grade of a C…not great, not terrible, but average. We’re still right there, so we’re fine.
Looks like the first quarter grades for Girardi aren’t all that high.
Girardi on the DL, what did Joe G. ever do to you and I’m just curious who did you want as Yankee manager for this season ?
Girardi had the same team team. He had Hanley Ramirez and Uggla when he was coaching there. Also the marlins are without Cabrera and Willis.Their Payroll is the same as when Girardi was there. Maybe the Marlins owner Loria was right in Firing Joe G. Maybe it was not the owners fault as it was made out to be in the media when he was fired. Loria might have realized that Joe was not fit to be a manager and looks like he was right.
Uggla wasn’t given a chance till the Mitchell Report and its results.
Adam, we are seeing the Yankees (not us) in a better position this year mainly because most of the teams are not running away with it like the Red Sox did last year.
The pitching has been hurt in part due to Girardi’s defense selections. Such as Kennedy’s last game, Igawa’s game with Betty at third. Resting hot bats and seeing them cooled off when they come back. Lack of running and instead hitting into double play outs.
I think some of the bat woes are due to never getting into a groove with where they are in the lineup. Remember A-Rod commenting how he liked to bat behind Abreu last season. The batters get more comfortable in a set role. Yet we see musical chairs being the rule of the day with Girardi’s lineup. There is a reason why most managers don’t play around with it as much as Girardi has. It doesn’t work.
For somebody who was so widely acclaimed such a short time ago, my, how things have changed.
He can’t hit for them and he can’t pitch for them. He can’t execute for them, or guide the ball when they hit it.
I have liked his bullpen management so far, as he seems to rest guys more regularly than Joe T. did. And the ‘pen, inclluding Kyle, is pitching better than last year, whether due to some magic or whatever.
It’s only six weeks so far. Give him a chance.
I think the bullpen management so far has been good, or at least good enough. It doesn’t appear that Girardi over-uses anyone, and for the most part the work gets spread around.
I like that he rectified the media situation. He’s been noticeably less cantankerous in his post-game interviews and at least he’s giving the impression that he’s being as candid as he can be without compromising his relationship with the players and management (i.e. - injury information).
However, he’s not had his opening day team most of the season. There has been a level of injury almost since day one, varying in severity but maintaining a consistent presence. I know he can’t play for the players, and because we are not in the clubhouse, and because even our trusted blogmeister is not privy to everything, we can’t know specifically how he deals with his team behind closed doors, so to speak.
So, some things have been disappointing (though I’m not sure how much Girardi could control most of those), but some things have been encouraging (bullpen).
I would have to reserve judgment until equilibrium returns.
Hey.
Clay Bucholtz to the 15 day DL with a broken fingernail. As PA would say, I can’t make this stuff up. I haven’t posted in a while as things have been so negative all the way around. I hope everyone is doing all right.
Take Care,
Dennis
“Girardi had the same team team. He had Hanley Ramirez and Uggla when he was coaching there. Also the marlins are without Cabrera and Willis.Their Payroll is the same as when Girardi was there. ”
This will probably sound crazy to you, but since Girardi did such a bad job, what happened last year when Girardi WASN’T the manager and they had Cabrera and Willis?
The only issue I’ve have with Girardi was pitching to Manny with Mussina. Outisde of that, he’s been pretty good. He’s handled the bullpen incredibly well, and has had to deal with significant injuries, and an awful rotation situation. Does anyone in here think that Torre, or the anyone else, could do more without Arod & posada, with Kennedy & Hughes, while also having Cano & Giambi under .200? Girardi has been keeping the ship afloat until he gets his guns back. If Arod and Posada are healthy, the Yanks would be in decent shape, despite their shaky starting pitching.
BTw, I’ve always considered this season to be a bit of a throw away. With all the dead money on the books for this season, and the young arms being broken in, some figured that 2009 would be a more committed season. I think the Yanks still have the talent to compete for the playoffs this year, but I’m more concerned with the development of our younger players. This years experience has to make them ready for 2009.
Adam
May 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
We’re in a better position at this point this year than we were last year, so he’s obviously doing a good job when you consider Hughes and Kennedy sucking, Po and A-Rod being hurt, losing Bruney and Albaladejo (likely) for the season. We had more Torre losses last year at this point from terrible pitching management. I’d give the team an overall letter grade of a C…not great, not terrible, but average. We’re still right there, so we’re fine.
Last year through the 1st 40 games Yanks were 18-22(4 games under). This season they are 19-21(2 games under). No much difference there in the way Yanks performed. The only difference was Sox were not as hot as last year. But again Rays/Orioles and Jays were not that good last year. So it will be difficult to make up ground like last year if they
dig themselves into a bigger hole than they r in right now.
Dennis, who were you rooting for in the NY@TB game last night? before or after the results of your own team’s game?
Glad for the new post…things were getting a little dreary….even my attempt at poetry was ignored. Go Yanks.
As for the ‘revolving lineups,’ some of that was going to happen because of trying to get Matsui and Damon appropriate rest and trying to figure out the Giambi/Duncan thing. But really, the injuries started to take over almost right away, and many of the lineups seem to be an attempt to try and find the right “chemistry,” plus to break up the same handedness players. Right now, I won’t fault him on this. Some people say he needs to “shake it up,” others say he’s fiddling around too much. No one will be happy as long as the hitters remain unproductive.
nyy. Last year we had Alex and Jorge. If we had both of them we’d have a few more wins. So don’t compare this year to last year. We have had better pitching this year but no offense.
Brandon, I didn’t think Girardi was a good choice from day one. I didn’t like his style, and he didn’t do a good job with the Marlins bullpen. Since he has come here he hasn’t shown anything that was talked about, more small ball, more scratching out runs in tight games, being fine with the media because he was a part of it.
I thought the way Torre got treated has hurt the Yankees quite a bit, and I also felt that Girardi had a hand in some of that. Remember he turned down a job that would have happened right away with the Orioles. While I can understand that coming into that team wouldn’t look all that great, it was talked about at that time that Girardi was holding out for the Yankees. Michael Kay made those remarks. With his connections to the team, I think he had more than an hunch that moves were being put in place.
I think Girardi is concerning himself with things that aren’t his job, that he is a control freak who thinks he has a right to tell adults what they can snack on. He masks some incompetance with his musical chairs lineups. He lies, and while now he might be showing some change, don’t expect it to last. Leopards don’t change their spots.
The injury rates are high, despite all the crap about how in shape everyone was coming into spring training.
My first choice was for Torre to close out the old Stadium and usher in the new. He earned it.
Mattingly might have been a little bit better choice than Girardi, but not by much. I think Tino Martinez would make a better manager. I personally was anyone but Girardi. He hasn’t shown me anything to change my mind.
Saucy.
I was a rooting for a good night sleep after watching the Sox squander chance after chance.
Too early for me to care aboout the standings. Heck two years ago Baltimore was in first place June 1st and finished 27 games out of first place. Oddly enough Baltimore has finished 27 games out of first two years in a row.
-Dennis
Bottom line is they are doing better than they were this time last season , and remember they made the playoffs last year. The disappointing part is that it will probably end the same way last year, getting wiped out in the post season.
jennifer
May 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
nyy. Last year we had Alex and Jorge. If we had both of them we’d have a few more wins. So don’t compare this year to last year. We have had better pitching this year but no offense.
Exactly my point. Don’t compare this season to last season. This season a 4 game hole may be like 8 game whole last year. Our division is a lot tougher this year than last year.
The analysis of some on here crack me up.
The Marlins are now “better” because Girardi is gone?
How were they last year after he was gone?
Hanley Ramirez LOVES Joe Girardi. He broke down and cried at the BBWAA Dinner last year, when he was receiving an award, and said Joe Girardi “made him into a player”.
When Girardi came back to work a Marlins game for Fox last year, they stopped BP because the entire went up and embraced him when he came onto the field.
Yes, it sure seems like those guys didn’t like him.
He gave guys on that team a chance AND instilled a winning mindset from Day One. Media people in Florida laughed when he said he was thinking playoffs with this group. Guess what? Most of the players on the team now say Girardi instilling that mindset is the reason why they believe they can win. Despite the payroll limitations.
Did you ever stop to think they may be “better” now because they have been given time to develop? The time many Yankee fans don’t want to give to young players.
I get some of you have your panties in a wad because the Yankees aren’t winning right now. But, at least have the good sense to discuss rationally why they aren’t winning.
Making ignorant, blanket statements, supported by nothing other than your emotions, are not rational reasons why they are struggling at this time.
NYY…
Nice try, kid…but it won’t wash. The players are older, the players have more experience and the team has played another 2 years…to get more comfortable with each other. What did Joe G. ever do to you and I’m just curious who did you want as Yankee manager for this season? (Stolen last piece, from Brandon). Has Joe G. done as I would have done, or you…No, sometimes! But to say he was not fit to manage the Yanks? Might be a little over kill, don’t you think? Had to post something after the disaster last night. Better luck to-night. 27/08.
The poll you should have also put up Pete is what we think of Cashman’s job after 25% of the season.
I think his blunders have more to do with the record than any of Girardi’s.
I am not down on Girardi, but he needs to show some ingenuity. Not bunting Molina the other night and letting GIDP with a runner on and no one out looked like vintage Torre stubborness.
Molina is not one of the best hitter on the team. The chances of him hitting a double there are small. Move the runner over and try to make something happen with one out.
What happened after the double play by Molina? AG hit a double. If Girardi had moved the runner over and gave up one of his worst hitters in Molina, we’d have gotten a run in that inning and Andy would have had something to work with.
Still, I think he can and will do better. I just think his GM needs to come up with a new plan and execute it now and get this team straightened out roster wise.
“Girardi had the same team team. He had Hanley Ramirez and Uggla when he was coaching there. ”
NYY - so to be clear, you are giving Fredi Gonzalez credit for Uggla hitting HR at a rate 3X what he’s done in his career (through 40 games), and this is your reason why Girardi is a bad manager.
Brilliant.
I don’t know why I’m getting into this, but you might recall that the 06 Marlins also far exceeded expectations and Joe was the manager of the year. I don’t put too much weight on that, because they were led by players that absolutely came out of nowhere (Uggla, Ramirez) and by fluke performances (Helms, Olivo).
Really, the fact that you’re quoting Florida’s fluky success through 40 games as evidence that Girardi is a poor manager is shocking. If that’s the biggest “negative” you can say about Girardi, then he’s the best manager in history.
For those complaining about injuries, how could Girardi have prevented the Posada and Arod injuries?
I’m curious to know the answer to that question.
Take out the best two hitters out of ANY teams lineup, and they are going to struggle. Add to it, the only two power hitting RH hitters in a lefty dominant lineup. Its no wonder the offense is struggling. Especially against LH pitching.
With all of that, they are still well within shouting distance in the division.
As we saw last year, playoff berths aren’t decided in May.
Is it a flawed team? Yes. But, we knew that going into the season.
I’d rather see what this team is like when Arod and Posada return before deciding the season is over.
As far as the job Girardi has done so far, he is a much better bullpen manager than Torre. He has gotten more out of Farnsworth than anybody could have expected and, despite the injuries, seems to be keeping the team afloat right now.
His best move has been to diffuse the battle with the beat writers. That showed he was amendable to change.
As far as the revolving lineups, as Doreen said, that’s more because of injuries than anything else. Hard to fault him for that.
I’ll also agree I think his bullpen handling has been excellent.
He’s made Farnsworth a useful part, made Hawkins have a productive role. Those 2 things alone I thought he would never be able to accomplish.
You guys are nuts comparing this year to last year. We have been playing different teams, most with new additions, in different ballparks, in different weather, with different injuries and different kinds of luck involved.
Baseball can be analyzed… to an extent. But arguing an arbitrary number of games back isn’t much evidence of anything.
Its the little things that bother me… Girardi was supposed to manage the game differently than Joe Torre.. He was supposed to be an aggressive, outside-the-box thinker…
Take last night… Abreu walks with 1-out in the 10th… Yanks are struggling to score runs… Navarro behind the dish… Matsui swings at the first pitch… DOUBLEPLAY.
What a surprise right? How many of those have we’ve seen lately.
THEN, I have to watch J-Gomes steal a base, and that leads to a win?
That’s what I’m disappointed in JOE Girardi… That’s the type of baseball we blamed Torre for… Passive, waiting-for-something to happen style.
Why not tell Matsui to take 2 pitches and tell Abreu to run?
How many times did we have our regular line up together this year? Once maybe twice! When Alex comes back don’t be suprised if this team turns it around and goes on a winning streak. We are getting a glimpse of what life would have been like without Alex this year, and it isn’t pretty.
Not even a full season is too damn early to pass judgement on a manager
…although now I wish that I voted it’s all A-Rod’s fault, as A-Rod is (also) Legend, and thus somehow responsible for everything in New York…
Does anyone like oysters?
matthew f - dead on.
Blargh - I voted that it was A-Rod’s fault. If he wasn’t injured, we would be winning right now
i voted ‘im furious’ because i dont see any fire coming from joe that we all tought it will be! where is the hit an runs maybe some sac- bunts somthing please somthing! i think his problem is that he trying to be joe torre!
Micky#7–Old Ranger
May 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
My choice would be Joe Torre by the way.
TO ALL THE GUYS THAT SAID THAT WE DONT NEED A-ROD BACK THIS SEASON WE COULD DO GOOD WITHOUT HIM! THIS IS LIFE WITHOUT A-ROD……
I voted disappointed, though I admit it’s early for any real judgement. I think a ton of the blame belongs to the players — I don’t care if Alex and Jorge are out, there are still a lot of good hitters in the lineup. But I have been disappointed in the way Girardi has chosen to approach the game. I know there are a lot of “stars” on the team, and many of them are older, but I expected a lot more manufacturing (via bunting, stealing, hit & run, etc) than we’ve seen, and I’ve been surprised at some of the pitching decisions (situational, not roster). If you listen to Flaherty in the booth (and he sounds a lot like Girardi did when he was up there), he’s been surprised as many times as I have about what Joe has decided to so in several situations. It almost feels like Girardi is being too cautious — which feels an awful lot like Torre. Maybe there really is too much ego on the team, and the manager is just handcuffed by it. But I can’t imagine Jose Molina refusing to bunt.
Well I voted I am pleased. Given the situation missing our 2 top hitters, and still be this close. Plus I think his bp management is light years ahead of Torre. He tries to get everyone work in situations they can succeed. He tries not to rest a reliever for too long.
The Blame rests with the GM, too many pitchers in the bull pen, not enough position players. the Team looks old plays old and looses old.
Bottom line, is Joe the one hitting into the double plays? Lay the blame at the feet of the offense.
“For those complaining about injuries, how could Girardi have prevented the Posada and Arod injuries?”
Simple. Allowed them to have ice-cream and dohnuts in the locker room. Therefore their muscles wouldnt be as tight. You cant pull a fat. Only muscle.
Just heard today Phillips saying that the league is on pace to score less than 1000 runs this years vs. 06. Also the velocity has gone down and the injuries are up. He said the struggles are not due to weather.HGH?
So far Girardi has been too much like Torre. I want to see more fire in the dugout. Pinella like.
How can we judge Girardi when he has managed the whole season without a bench?? He has had a 13-14 man pitching staff with just 3 bench guys. This team will keep struggling, without Arod and Posada, until they move the pitching staff back to 12 and allow the team to have a bench that can actually be used. They need Garnder to be brought up to play some OF and especially be used as a pinch runner in the 7th or 8th innings.
I’m pleased in the way he’s doing the job. I say with a straight face too =]
In all honesty this is the team he was given to manage and he’s doing the best job any manager can do. Given the injuries and the youth movement atleast we’re not 10 games out so far. Things will get better once the offense starts to click on all cylinders.
We can all agree that our bullpen is being managed to the tee. The team is prepared day in and day out and he can’t be more hands on without putting on catchers equipment. Give the guy a chance before we start calling for the axe. The results aren’t there yet but they will come. No one is running away with the East yet. Wait till summer, things will heat up.
we won w/ Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch
j/K
If this team as a whole was hitting better, I could judge better. It is obvious he manages the bullpen better than Torre. And it seems he doesn’t have a certain allegiance to guys just because they are veterans, the way Torre did. I feel he is going to give everyone a fair shake. Shaking up the lineup isn’t neccesarily a bad thing. Would Melky ever bat 6th under Torre? Melky has been one of the better bats this season and thus was moved up.
ice cream + candy + NY Yankees = Championship
any chance Ensberg will be cut and Jason Lane/someone with a live bat will be brought up? Preferably before we face Kazmir?
we won in spite of Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch too.
I have a pet theory on the line-up and Girardi’s approach -
Because he was a more defense-oriented player Girardi probably had to bounce around a lot in the lineup during his career as a player and got used to it. I don’t think that he treats slots in the line-up as sacred cows that can’t be modified.
Of course the only way to be sure about this is if the Yanks could finally field a healthy team for more than one game in a row.
One of Girardi’s “problems” would also have been a problem for Torre had he stayed, and that is what to do with players you are contractually obligated to who are no longer at the top of their game. You can’t just ship ‘em out and they’re not really (not really, you have to admit) tradeble for the very reasons the Yankees themselves no longer find them to be a good fit.
In addition to that, Cashman’s plan to be more flexible and athletic is going to take some time; there aren’t a whole lot of position players ready to step up (okay, virtually none) should someone actually want to take a Giambi off the Yankees hands. Certainly, no one is going to fall into their laps, and certainly not in a trade for the Giambis of the team. Anyone obtained in such a trade would be years away from the majors.
Teams like the Rays have been able to fly under the radar and all these great draft picks are bearing fruit for them now. So the message is that change can be effected, but it won’t be revolutionary and the restless natives have to be somewhat patient. Not even the Yankees, who have been arguably the most dominant team in baseball over their history, have dominated every era in baseball.
If they can stay competitive (and believe it or not, they still are so far due to the long-awaited, much “celebrated” parity among more teams) while retooling, rebuilding, regrouping, reassessing, recharging, it is a good and a rare thing.
Disclaimer:
Despite my overall optimism for this team, and the general support I have for Cashman’s plan moving forward, I reserve the right to be disappointed with the results of any particular game, or specific plays or non-plays as they occur within a particular game.
NYY;1:14…Your choice, not mine. But that’s ok.
Jennifer: 1:18…right on, you have a head on your shoulders. 27/08.
How good would the rays be right now if carl crawford and bj upton got hurt and simonstine and ed jackson were 2-10 w/ a 8.50 era?
I think some need to admitt and accept that two injuries and two miscalculations have placed this team in the hole, but its a hole that they should be able to climb out of.
I think Joe is doing a fine job although I do find myself missing the other Joe. My real problem so far with the Yankees is their schedule. They’ve played how many days in a row without a day off? I don’t count rainouts.
It’s clear that MLB and ESPN has bias against New York and wants to make things more difficult for us to win games.
Everyone talks about senate investigations into steroids and NFL cheating but they really should be investigating whoever put the schedule together. Year after year, the Yankees are put in a position to get off to a slow start because of their schedule. Something should be done but won’t because Selig hates all things Yankee.
“I reserve the right to be disappointed with the results of any particular game, or specific plays or non-plays as they occur within a particular game.”
Nice CYA Doreen - I don’t think anyone will jump ugly with you for being mad at a loss. The blog does get a little hostile sometimes though
I think Girardi will grow into the job over this season and should be very good over time. Even though I like Girardi I wanted Trey Hillman as manager.
This team is just plain old and playing old! Abreu is a shell of he NL days with a pathetic walk rate of under 9% compared to over 16% in the NL. He a poor defensive player and one hops almost everything. Overall the outfield beyond Melky does not make game changing plays.
I hope Damon and Abreu are traded asap. Bring up Gardner play him in center and move Melky to right and play Matsui in left. Move Jeter to first and play Gonzalez at short. Bring up Miranda to dh and release Giambi.
Gardner
Jeter
Matsui
Arod
Miranda
Posada
Cano
Melky
Gonzalez
This would be my lineup after the trading deadline.
I am not worried about the bullpen as Cox, Robertson, Melancon and Patterson are all pitching well and getting closer everyday.
As for the starting pitching I would rotate everyone to give all a chance.
Horne
White
McCutchen
Marquez
Wright
All should get a chance to see what they can do and gain experience.
This team needs change.
“The poll you should have also put up Pete is what we think of Cashman’s job after 25% of the season.”
i couldn’t agree more.
what was girardi supposed to do with the pitching staff that cashman gave him? i called them the” frangibles” earlier in the year, but what is a manager supposed to do when he has to count on, while at the same time juggle three pitchers who are too delicate to just use as needed?
too many delicate inning restricted pitchers at once is, in my opinion, a bad plan.
that said, girardi could have spoken up. if anyone knows if girardi liked the pitching staff he was given, it would be interesting to hear. we know posada said to get santana. what was girardi’s opinion on this?
Pete, an option for voting should read “he’s not joe torre.” while i personally am not disappointed with girardi, i do wish mr. t was still running the show. things have certainly changed, and im not comfortable with girardi right now. having torre’s presense was a gift, especially in these situations in the team standings at this point in the season and with testy owners speaking up more.
I would think that Girardi would have some say in how many pitchers to carry on the roster. While you are lauding him for his bullpen work share program, I guess you forget all the arms that are going un-used. Edwar and Britton have seen very little play. Why have them up if they aren’t going to be used?
Jennifer, please. Think for one minute of a way to stop the endless hits into double plays from the same players. Stealing a few bases, or at least attempting to do so will help. I’d rather see an out come from being thrown out of a stolen base attempt than see a double play happening almost every time a base runner is at first.
How does Girardi manage with a runner getting a triple? He doesn’t do anything. He waits to see what will happen. Try a suicide squeeze for a change. I guarantee you no team would ever expect that from the Yankees.
Bobby can steal bases. Damon can steal bases. Jeter can steal bases. Gonzalez should be able to steal bases. Even Matsui might sneak one off now and again. Those are manager’s calls. What about bunts? No, the only bunt show we see is Abreu hitting lead off in an inning as he watches the pitch go by. Abreu always does that when he stops hitting with his bat.
Jennifer, I’m glad you are pleased that the Yankees are near the bottom of the division and playing the same regardless of the manager. I’m glad you are pleased with the results so far that has not shown any come from behind wins.
A-Rod and Posada are important to this lineup, however, they didn’t produce every run last year, nor any other year.
As to the musical chairs lineups, you can stablize the lineup to compensate the injury losses. To say that it is only about trying to find “chemistry” and so he changes it every game is silly. SJ44, I’m sorry, but you are wrong to excuse the diddling with the lineup by blaming the injuries. Tweaking a line up to cover for a player who is out is one thing. Changing the lineup daily produces what? Have you seen any more production out of the Yankee lineup because of his farting around with it?
Set a lineup, try it for a while, tweak it for the pitcher they are facing, possibly, or to rotate the DH with Giambi and Matsui.
Give the players a spot in the lineup and see how they do.
We talk about small sample size, well, isn’t that what Girardi is guilty of? One game, here is how we will lineup. Next game, oh, that didn’t produce well enough, here’s the changed lineup.
I think Girardi also rests his players too often, when they haven’t shown any signs of needing the rest.
Girardi couldn’t help prevent the injuries, but it was talked about on here how Girardi insisting the players come in shape in ST was going to mean less injuries. Guess what? That didn’t work, did it. There is a problem with the Yankee training staff for this many injuries. Two years running this has happened. They fired the last guy, but they didn’t fix the problem.
currently showing that 73% either think he’s doing a good job or are reserving judgement. that’s alot better than he’s doing with this blog’s posters!
Pete. The real question should be is what grade would you give the strength and conditioning coach?
d-
Glad to see the shipment of Hatorade has arrived at “Girardi on the DL”’s house on time.
“a way to stop the endless hits into double plays from the same players. Stealing a few bases, or at least attempting to do so will help. ”
it certainly will b/c there will be one more out and nobody on base after the non-basestealers try stealing bases.
TKinDC, its better than Yankee KoolAide that some of the fans drink.
theres only so much that the coach of this team can do given the roster. the running game is futile with slow players and a leadoff hitter that pops out a lot and swings at the first pitch. some players (coughcoughmelkycoughcough) don´t have any idea how to bunt. other than that, you have to look at bullpen management. i think this is the category where girardi is a little better than j.t. he spreads the work around a little better. one more thing: STICK WITH ONE LINEUP FOR A FEW GAMES IN A ROW. veterans are creatures of habit, let them get into a routine and see what happens.
Y’s Guy, nothing like putting words into someone’s mouth.
Or do you think that Jeter, Damon, Abreu, Gonzalez can’t steal bases? Damon got a lead off single last night. Didn’t even take a big lead off the base.
When you have a runner at first and no outs and that person can actually run why not attempt to steal? Especially when they keep getting outs with double plays.
Giambi isn’t going to steal, nor is Molina, but I would hope to see those who can steal attempt it more. That is just smart baseball. But then, look who I’m talking to.
“Glad to see the shipment of Hatorade has arrived at “Girardi on the DL”’s house on time.”
more like someone stoled the Bigelow Green Tea package
As roughly half of the Yankees attempted steals have resulted in an out, perhaps Joe G is discouraged a little.
Too early to rate his performance. I do think he generally overrated by the fandom as a whole as he was lauded as a great hire despite his overall lack of credentials/accomplishment (and spare me the “he was Manager of the Year” talk). He may turn out to be an excellent manager, but we don’t know that that’s going to be the case yet.
They’ve been inundated with injuries. Kennedy and Hughes couldn’t have been worse and no one (with a few exceptions) has hit.
Hiring Girardi was the right move and they’ll be fine.
its been a very disappointing start to the season. I think we all need to just accept that this team isnt as good as some might have thought and that we really need alex back in theline up. The second half of the year should be something to look foward to, hopefully.
“theres only so much that the coach of this team…”
what’s up with the “coach” thing. espn lists “coaches ” for managers too on it’s team pages.
this isn’t football or basketball or amateur baseball.
girardi is the MANAGER.
Daily Workout Update for Alex
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/05/arod_says_hell_run_bases_thurs.html
Ways to fix this team.
-Trade Damon and bring up Gardner while we can still get something for him.
-Eat some money on Giambi and trade him as well back to Oakland.
-Call San Diego and give Igawa plus prospect for Kouzmanoff.
-Rotate Joba and Kennedy in the 5 spot.
-Call up Cox or Melancon for the pen.
-Rotate Cano and Gonzalez at first till Cano gets hott. He needs to know that he isnt needed when batting under .200.
Melky
Jeter
Abreu
Arod
Matsui
Posada
Kouzmanoff
Cano/Gonzalez
Gardner
Pitchers
Wang
Pettitte
Mussina
Rasner
Joba/Kennedy
Yankee KoolAide - it is mmm, mmm good!
I have a hard time pushing the panic button at the quarter pole of the season with the injury situation as it is and the standings being what they are.
The collective amnesia about what happened last year with the team among the nabobs of negativism is laughable. I believe the team will come around.
As for stolen bases - I would guess the Bill James Seamhead numbercrunchers could take you on with reams of data. How many SB’s did the Bosux have last year and they got the brass ring.
I also take the radical position of holding the people on the field accountable for what goes on in games - so kill Giambi or whomever as much as you like but blaming the manager for not getting Jete in last night from third is rough IMHO
hater_
jeter has a strained quad, damon has 6 steals and abreu only steals off pithers who are slow to the plate. if you want to start gonzalez to increase your SB’s then go ahead, but speed is not a weapon this team possesses.
double plays happen, especially to good hitters. eddie murray led the world in gidp on his way to cooperstown, and donny baseball was right behind him almost every year. thats just a law-of-averages thing which will even out over time.
“A-Rod and Posada are important to this lineup, however, they didn’t produce every run last year, nor any other year.”
True story, but one can’t deny the effect their absence has on other players. Would one argue that Abreu is less effective in the 3 hole without Arod behind him? As you consider that, recall that Bam Bam Duncan has been among those used as the cleanup hitter. How about Melky, a good bottom of the order hitter (.327 hitting 8 or 9, .207 hitting anywhere else) being forcred to move up in the lineup and having useless bats such as AGon and Molina behind him?
The magnitude of those missing bats is significant.
What value would Kouzmanoff have?
I would say that the hitting coach should be on the hook. Two years ago we lost Matsui and Sheffield but we still had an offense and did very well. Cano has been just bad at the plate. He looks like he has no idea at the plate. Damon, Jeter, Matsui and Giambi should be picking up the slack but haven’t. Ensburg looks as bad as Cano. Even Duncan’s approch at the plate looks very bad.
It may be time to look at how long to go before you shake things up by getting rid of Long!
Girardi on the DL-
i like girardi. i do like you putting out an opposing viewpoint because i think this blog has to much group speak going.
“There is a problem with the Yankee training staff for this many injuries. Two years running this has happened. They fired the last guy, but they didn’t fix the problem.”
you’re right about conditioning program. this is just a major weakness of cashman. he just simply doesn’t get it. it’s not the manager’s job to come up with a conditioning program.
it is odd how both jeter and arod had quad injuries, though it could be just bad luck and have nothing to do with what they are working on.
“What value would Kouzmanoff have?”
Enough that Igawa and a prospect wouldn’t get it done. Pads aren’t tradsing bats, they’re seeking them.
Speaking of Giambi. What do we really need him for? Yesterday he hit a shot to the right field wall and it was away from the right fielder still ended up with a loooooong single. Could that have been the one run we needed?
Doesnt play defense
Hits to the shift consistantly
Homeruns are few and far between
Slow as a snail
Did i miss something? Oh yeah. Thats all good because he draws walks.
Cashman are you reading this!!
it is funnya farm on these ideas today..
you guys are out of your mind….
these moves are beyond ridiculous…
with all the accolades the Red sox have received lately and all the knocking of the Yanks, we are 3 games back of them is the loss column. And we haven’t played decent ball take a suck on that you fair weathered fans, it would almost be worth it to have a few losing seasons to get rid of these bandwagon fans. Grow up!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s what happens when everybody gets a trophy in the soccer league
Check Steve Goldman’s latest blog entry on the Yankees’ postseason chances:
http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080512&content_id=1442888&oid=36019&vkey=6
stuart, I have to agree. Some people seem to think that teams are willing to trade for our garbage. Or somehow promoting half the AAA team would catapult us to the playoffs.
“Enough that Igawa and a prospect wouldn’t get it done. Pads aren’t tradsing bats, they’re seeking them.”
Hell id take Mienktjsldfjitz rite about now. At least he brings a glove with his .250 avg.
sos27 - I’m all for change, but we need a little realism…
1. If yuo want to start Brett Gardner, fine, but remember he is not a sure thing (supposedly struggling a bit at SWB now). If you trade Damon, who’s your safety net outfielder - Matsui? I think his fielding skills are on the downside.
2. jason has a no-trade clause, and I’ve read quotes in the paper in the past where he’s said he will not approve a trade off the Yankees.
3. Sounds great to me, but it takes two to make a trade. Where have you read that Kevin Towers, the Padres’ GM, is an idiot?
4. I like that - if, only, Cox and Melancon don’t pull a Hughes/IPK, and are more like Joba.
We can calculate all we want, unfortunately the players or other GMs have to cooperate. Darn it.
Y’s Guy, Jeter had a quad strain, but he is running well now. If he still had a strain he would be injuring it worse - just like A-Rod did. That is how muscle tears work.
Girardi doesn’t even send the runners early for a hit and run. Going by a small sample size of a dozen stolen base attempts has gotten Girardi scared to send them? If that is so, then he doesn’t belong as manager. He doesn’t have the balls for it, then.
You must be young. Very young. I’ll make sure to ignore you from now on.
“as i posted before, keeping all your prospects is not a good way to build a team. you have to have good baseball evaluators decide which ones are the keepers and which ones should be moved while they are still hot prospects. THAT was the genius of stick michael that built the last baseball dynasty.” -Y’s guy
just wanted to say i really agree with your statement here from the previous post.
Why do we still have 8 relievers on this team? Girardi does a good enough job managing the bullpen that I think we can finally get the bench back to an appropiate amount of bodies.
stuart
“beyond rediculous” im pretty sure thats exactly what my brother called it the day we traded our great OF prospect (roberto kelley) for a washed-up platoon player (o’neill).
“Why do we still have 8 relievers on this team?”
Pure sepculation on my part, but it might be because the Yanks have gotten less than 6 IP per start out the 2-5 spots in their rotation.
They are a .500 team without A-Rod and Posada. The schedule has been brutal so far with few days off and tough teams. The schedule gets very easy after the Mets and A-Rod will be back. Anyone who jumps off the bandwagon now is nuts.
I’m not going to judge Girardi 40 games into a 162 game season.
Girardi on the DL,
Your posts have been spot on. The Yanks are not winning games that can be won, that’s what has been disappointing. Wang’s seven inning of 1-run ball easily compensates for the lack of A-Rod & Po’s bat. Even Long & Girardi have said as much.
Randy, I have very credentialed Physical Therapists in my family. One is one of the leading experts in PT. The chances for both of them having a quad injury speaks more about the conditioning program they had. While the weather and type of play has added to the chances to get hurt, the bigger problem is that they didn’t give either player the right amount of time to heal before putting them back on the field.
A-Rod will most likely always have a quad issue since this grade of injury. He will not be symetrical with the muscular development of each leg because of this, which will affect his play.
For as careful as the Yankees have learned to be about their young pitchers, they have not had the same depth of concern over the conditioning and rehabilitation of veteran players. The only thing we are lucky about with the two quad injuries is that Jeter had a milder strain and while he came back days earlier than he should have, he didn’t tear it worse like A-Rod did.
Just think, had A-Rod sat for a few more days, he wouldn’t have been on the DL, he would have been in the lineup more than a week ago.
I’m pleased.
Joe Girardi is doing all he can with what he has. He has done so much to show his commitment to the team since he got the job.
To the naysayers, give him some time.
To those who wish Joe Torre was still here, he isn’t exactly running away with it in the West.
And I don’t think things would be much different if Don Mattingly or Tony Pena had gotten the job instead.
I think people just want to find someONE to blame instead of the team as a whole.
“Wang’s seven inning of 1-run ball easily compensates for the lack of A-Rod & Po’s bat.”
Does if we live in a vacuum. Doesn’t if the guy pitching for the other team was even better than Wang.
Joe from Long Island
1.Gardner would be in left and Matsui dh.
2.Dump his a$$. I know its 20 mil. But its handcuffing us.
3.Kevin Towers is a good GM. Alot of people say that Igawa would do well in the N.L. They claimed him last Aug. But Cashman didnt want to get rid of him. If they are looking for bats then maybe Damon.
4.We have to make the Joba move sooner or later. Lets see what these guys have.
Folks. I know im pissing against the wind. I am just tired of seeing the same OLD things. Damons slumps and smiles. Waiting for Giambi to try the left side. Giving Igawa a chance. Cano lackodaisacal demeaner and throws. Waiting for the 5 run homer. BTW just because some of us want changes doesnt make us less fans than the happy go lucky ones. We all react different. Im in no way conceding this year even if we dont make changes. It just would be nice to hold some of these players accountable with a blind eye to their paychecks.
hater is the yankees conditioning coach also responsible for raphael furcal’s quad injury? how about erik byrnes’s?, jimmy rollins’s maybe?
It should also be noted that just because a person doesn’t like the manager or some of the decisions of the team, that it makes them a bandwagon fan, or one who hasn’t seen the Yankees and been a fan of them for decades.
I couldn’t stand Martin as manager. I thought he was a jerk and an idiot. That didn’t make me root less for the Yankees, nor did it change the complaints that I had at that time against Martin.
You don’t have to like every team member to be a fan of the team and franchise.
2.Dump his a$$. I know its 20 mil. But its handcuffing us.
Lot of guys, like Cano, Jeter, Cabrera and Abreu are making outs with more frequency than Giambi is. He’s a convenient whipping boy, but he’s been one of the 2-3 best offensive players on the team.
“And I don’t think things would be much different if Don Mattingly or Tony Pena had gotten the job instead.”
Au contraire - there would be yummy tasty ice cream to build strong bones and teeth!!!
Training in baseball is generalized. Most of the strength and conditioning coaches are not really qualified to do the job. They are like these personal trainers who know only how to get someone to go for more reps or lift more, without knowing anything of substance about the body they are working on.
Sports medicine has come a long way, but baseball trainers for the most part are not trained in that way.
I wouldn’t expect a person such as Y’s Guy to understand that there is a systemic problem with a lot of trainers though. It’s tough to understand things when on Ritalin.
You don’t have to like every team member to be a fan of the team and franchise
We can agree on that 100%!
Joe g is doing a fine job. Not much more could be expected right now. And btw how about those rays celebrating by pouring water coolers on their heads and all that nonsense. I haven’t heard anybody criticize them or really anyone else (papelbon etc.) except for Joba.
The role of a manager in MLB especially in the AL is minimal. While I like and respect Joe Torre and Terry Francona I do not think they all of a sudden turned on a switch once they came to NY and Boston. Yes they both did/do a great job sheltering (as much as possible) the media in two baseball ravenous towns. The success was mostly due to great ownership and savvy GM decisions as well players that looked beyond individual accomplishments. FOr every AROD and Manny you need two guys like Brosouis and Youk.
In fact most baseball people will tell you that an AL manager impacts less than 10 percent of a 162 game schedule. The ownership and GM play much greater roles in continuing success.
Joe Giradi seems to be doing a decent job with things that he can control. Fitness-discipline,respect of players and vice versa as well as he is starting to have a better relationship with the media. The success of the Sox and Yanks in 2008 rests far more with front office decions than dugout decisions.
My opinion.
Respectfully-
Dennis
Girardo dl,
I totally agree.
Fredo,
Jackson was not better than Wang. Yanks had their opps and squandered them, man on 3rd at least twice. Even if Wang posted a ZERO, he would’ve left with a ND at best.
You can’t expect a pitcher to post zeroes every outing.
I voted I’m disappointed…I think the only reason I voted that is because he left Mo out there for a 2nd inning last night….I think that was a stupid move.
Even if Rivera got out of the inning and the Yankees scored in the top of the 12th(?), who was going to pitch the bottom of the 12th?
I think Joba probably should have gone 2 innings before Mo did, or how about using Ohlendorf in a situation where he has a chance to win?
girardi on the dl
your crying and blaming girardi for everything is comical. you’re not a trainer yourself but you decide that “Most of the strength and conditioning coaches are not really qualified to do the job.”
you blame giradi’s lineups for losing games, not the hitters themselves.
maybe ridilin isnt such a bad thing…
Alright, so much garbage being spewed here, I can’t stomach it all, so I’ll just pick a random comment from SOS 27:
“-Trade Damon and bring up Gardner while we can still get something for him.”
Right, because what we need to do now is get less powerful. This trade would make us cheaper and worse. Getting cheaper is not the goal. Besides, Damon will bring next to nothing if we don’t kick in money.
“-Eat some money on Giambi and trade him as well back to Oakland.”
Because Oakland doesn’t have enough DHs (Sweeney, Thomas, Cust). How much money? How much do you think Oakland would spend? Giambi still is a productive hitter.
“-Call San Diego and give Igawa plus prospect for Kouzmanoff.”
Don’t know where to start on this one. Which prospect? Kennedy or someone better I assume you meant?
“-Rotate Joba and Kennedy in the 5 spot.”
And have them have 9 days off in between starts? Move them from the bullpen to the rotation and back, over and over again? Effectively have one less pitcher on your staff?
“-Call up Cox or Melancon for the pen.”
Cox has thrown 7 IP above A ball. Melancon? Zero.
“-Rotate Cano and Gonzalez at first till Cano gets hott. He needs to know that he isnt needed when batting under .200.”
Cano has been the most unlucky hitter in baseball. That aside, somehow he’s going to get hot while not playing.
Based on his line drive rate and other factors, he should be hitting in the neighborhood of .290. Also note that he was _lucky_ for the past two years, so perhaps your expectations of him are too high.
Nice try though - got more?
“That’s what happens when everybody gets a trophy in the soccer league”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Cashman had a window to dump Igawa on SD last season and he blew it.
The only way people will touch Igawa is as an outright release with the Yankees paying off the remainder of his contract.
Last season SD was willing to take the contract via a waiver claim and boy genius Cashman pulled Igawa back.
The only way you can trade Igawa, Giambi or Damon is for some other teams large contract mistake like Zito. You have to take more salary back (from an underperfoming players) than you send them. That’s it. You’re not going to get talent for them. You’re going to have take on an equally worse contract in order to shed these guys.
There isn’t a manager in the game that wouldn’t like to have some decisions back and Joe Girardi is no exception.
Take away the injuries, Giambi’s albatross contract, and even .500 records of Hughes and Kennedy, and the Yankees are sitting on top of the division.
The controllables have been dealt with by Girardi very well. Of the losses, possibly 3 games were either directly or indirectly because of his decisions.
At the halfway point, better judgement can be made and roster moves wherever they can be made by Cashman, will be done.
If by the end of July the hierarchy senses that the team is better positioned to surge forward by ridding the team of Giambi’s remaining 2008 contract plus his buyout, they just may pull the trigger and do it if Cashman has a suitable replacement in a deal and Giambi is showing downhill production.
Actually Cox spent a whole year in AA in 2006. And pitched to a low ERA.
Great stat from FAN’s Sweeny
Catchers and 3B’s are 16 of last 85.
But a “good manager” would have no problem with A-Rod and Posada out.
Not giving San Diego Igawa wasn’t a big deal. SD wasn’t taking on the money we wasted on the bidding fee. Which was the main cost. Igawa’s salary isn’t hurting us. Sure we aren’t getting anything for it, but it certainly isn’t a crippling figure. Just keep him in AAA as an innings eater.
this from richar sandomir’s NYT review of bobby murcer’s book:
Obligatory Yogiism from the book: Berra got a call from Mel Stottlemyre asking about Murcer. “Hey Carm!” Berra shouted to his wife. “He wants to know if we’ve heard anything about Bobby’s autopsy down in Houston.” Not autopsy, Yogi, biopsy.
“Jackson was not better than Wang. Yanks had their opps and squandered them, man on 3rd at least twice. Even if Wang posted a ZERO, he would’ve left with a ND at best.”
Scorpio, Jackson allowed six baserunners and ZERO runs in 7 innings. Wang allowed 10 baserunners and 1 run. Jackson was better, plain and simple.
I havent seen any indication of the Giradi influence yet. Forget about being in better condition we know that didnt happen. I was hoping for a more aggressive stlye but we still seem to be waiting for someone to hit a home run rather than trying to manufacture some runs. Last night when we didnt bunt Canoe with two on and no outs is a good example. No bunt , no runs. We get one run there and we win the game. Hopefully we will see some of his passion coming through sooner than later. I still think that he is the right guy for the job
some corrections to the brain surgeons on thissite Mientekiewicz(however it is spelled) is hitting 205 for a change.JB Cox is a very legit major league prospect.
he was very good at Trenton 2 yrs ago, was out al last season.
Gardner is not struggling at AAA, he is doing very well and is also a legit major league prospect and is 23 or so, and supposively very fast.
Giambi does have a good OBP especially for a guy hitting 190 or so, but remember he is hitting 190(NOT GOOD).
agin for the 50th time cano, giambi, jeter, are not near expectations..the replacements for Arod and Posada have done TERRIBLE. ie the hitting being bad…
the bullpen has been a B or higher and Hughes will be FINE…
they are in better shape in the standings then last yr. and should be fine and the best news is next yr no giambi, pavano, abreu, and others….
“But again Rays/Orioles and Jays were not that good last year. So it will be difficult to make up ground like last year if they dig themselves into a bigger hole than they r in right now.”
Not so fast. The fact that those teams are better this year will also prevent Boston from winning as many games as last season, so catching the Sox will NOT be more difficult than last year.
the orioles stink talk to me about the orioles in 6 weeks…
the Jays have many issues, etc.
again the yanks are 4 out of first that is the bottom line..
the sux scored a run in the first because of speed that is the thing I am surised by that we have not done more with speed this yr.
Jeter has zero stolen bases, why does the king get a pass from all the pundits????His OBP stinks, his power stinks, his defense is bottom tier of the league…..
amen to what stuart said.
…except the part where he mocked everybody as ‘brain surgeons’ right in front of 2 misspellings….
“Gardner is not struggling at AAA, he is doing very well and is also a legit major league prospect and is 23 or so, and supposively very fast.”
He’s hitting .226 over his last 10 game. He’s very fast and is stealing bases again. Good OBP but zero pop and he strikes out a bit too much. He’ll be 25 in August.
Girardi has been mediocre, kinda like the team.
In the long run he’ll be great. Right now the team is bad and he has to held accountable for that.
Actually Garnder has started to hit for a little more power and has cut down on his strikeouts a bit while increasing his walks. His average was up over .300 as of a few days ago and is OBP is almost 100 points higher. I wouldn’t say he is doing exceptional, but he is doing quite well.
REPORT: HANK STEINBRENNER THREATENS USE OF FORCE
Hank Steinbrenner delivered an ultimatum that Joe Girardi and his coaching staff as well as Jason Giambi have 48 hours to leave Yankee Stadium.
“Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict commenced at a time of my choosing,”
How the hell do the O’s let Lester have a 7 pitch inning???
I’m disappointed so far.
I’m not happy with the Jason Giambi experiment at 1b. The whole idea that he can only hit if he plays 1b is a joke. The guy is a liability out there. He can barely field that position and has cost the Yankees some runs already. Who cares if he can walk to first base alot? He’ll just give them something back later in the game. It took Torre a few years to realize this. Now we have to sit through another year it.
I was also expecting Duncan to have more of a role this year. Possibly more 1b time. I know he hasn’t hit much so far but he also hasn’t been getting any consistant playing time.
Farnsworth.
Farnsworth is dangerous. I know he’s done great lately and I’m glad but every time he comes in.. I start biting my nails.
I think I’m more disappointed in ownership than I am with Girardi. He was after all a .500 manager with the Marlins. So right now he is playing to his capabilities.
What’s with the defeatist quotes from Hank Steinbrenner? “If it’s not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have to.”
Next year? Ownership should NEVER bring up the words “next year”.
I don’t know why this is so complicated for some folks to grasp.
They are missing Arod and Posada. Their two best hitters from last year and their two best power hitters against RH pitching. Arod is also the best player in the game. Its IMPOSSIBLE to replace Arod.
Cano and Giambi are both hitting under .200.
That’s HALF their lineup unavailable. If you don’t think that makes a difference, you don’t understand baseball.
It puts guys in spots in the order they aren’t accustomed to hitting and that affects how they are pitched.
Guys also press in these situations. Everybody tries to do too much and that’s when you see teamwide slumps.
The replacements for Arod and Posada are not offensive players. The more they play, the more you realize why they are reserve players. They aren’t built for everyday use.
With in essence, 4 automatic outs in the lineup every night, the other 5 guys don’t have the luxury of having off nights. That’s pretty tough
Small ball? Who do you play small ball with? They don’t have small ball players on the team.
Its IMPOSSIBLE for any team, let alone the Yankees, to have ready made replacements for guys like Arod and Posada over a long period of time.
Its why all that’s realistic right now is for them to stay close until those guys get back.
When they get back, it will be much clearer to be able to assess the team.
The effort is there. One of the most common mistakes some fans make is to assume lack of production is a sign of lack of effort. It isn’t. These guys are trying.
They bust it down the line all the time. If they weren’t trying, they wouldn’t be hustling.
Right now, aside from the injuries, the lack of production from Cano and Giambi are killing them right now.
If those guys were hitting, they probably have 3-4 more wins this year.
There is only so much any manager can do when half your lineup is either injured or ineffective.
Its not football. There aren’t ready made replacements at every position.
They just have to keep grinding. There is no magic wand to this. Just keep grinding, get healthy, and let’s see how it goes from there.
“Jeter has zero stolen bases, why does the king get a pass from all the pundits????His OBP stinks, his power stinks, his defense is bottom tier of the league…..”
Stuart, relax a little.
Jeter’s quad injury = not so many steals.
Jeter’s career OBP is .388 according to ESPN. Right now he’s at .340. He’s not so far off that he won’t catch up to his usual number by the end of the year.
His career slugging (power) is .461. He’s at .404 right now but in the last 7 games he’s slugging .480. Wanna bet he gets to about his career average by the end of the year?
Yeah I’ve heard people say his defense isn’t that good. (Yawn).
By the way, what’s Jeter hitting with RISP?
fredo Corleone, Gardner in a slump that last few days..Wow a 3 or 4 or 5 game slump never happens, WIllie Mays never had a slump.
My point is gardner is a legit prospect(has a chance) and I am sorry he is 24 not 23…
People can do whatever they want with #’s….
Fredo C…
And what is Johnny hitting over the last 3/4 games? Plus, no steels, bunts, walks. If you would check more on Brett, you would see he is walking and Steeling bases. 27/08.
Murphy dog his avg with RISP in my opinion is overstated, weak infield hits not driving in runs.. But you are correct he is down but only slightly we have bigger issues.
My bad..But I was hoping some guys could pick things up while arod was out….
And Jeters fielding from my view is bad, bad throws and terrible range…
Agree with Murphydog on Jeter. Take away Ortiz and manny and see how the Sox look. When Arod and Po come back the lineup will strech out and they will start to produce. Relax remember only 3 back of RS in loss column
SJ I think I have said that about 10 times….
Molina man his #’s are BAD>>>
I know it is irrelevant but when arod and Betemit come back I say adios to Ensberg he is very inneffective, older. and another slow big K guy they do not need. I keep the AG, he can play multiple positions, I assume he can bunt, and has much more speed.
I know it is a small move but get younger and more athletic whenever possible…
sox put buckholz on the dl because of a torn fingernail jonathan van every called up from pawtucket is playing cf today (struck out his 1st ab)
SJ:
You were right about that Ashville team down in Lo-A. They apparently can mash. Both Betances and McAllister got croaked. Like seeing Montero drawing some walks now.
Was a little disappointed in the big McCutchen/Bowden matchup.
Please don’t compare AAA stats with major league stats. They aren’t comparable.
Brett Gardner is a guy who may see action sometime this year in NY. He’s not a better player than Johnny Damon right now. He just isn’t.
There is more to the game than just stats. Often, AAA stats don’t translate to ML success.
You have to actually watch players. Who did they get their hits against? What pitches did they hit? Were they overwhelmed on fastballs? Can they hit off speed pitches? Stuff like that.
A week ago, Johnny Damon was on a two week run that had him hitting nearly .500. The last two games he has been cold. It happens.
That’s not the problem with this team right now. Its not just one player.
There isn’t any magic bullet or one player that’s going to turn things around. Its a TEAM effort. That’s why all they can do is to keep grinding.
Getting rid of Johnny Damon for Brett Gardner right now solves nothing. Especially if, Gardner can’t get on base.
Veteran players find ways to get going. You just have to give them the time to do it. In these cases, experience does matter.
Mid-May is not “late” in the season. Especially in a year where nobody is breaking away from the pack.
“If you would check more on Brett, you would see he is walking and Steeling bases. 27/08.”
Yeah, that’s sort of what I meant when I said he has a good OBP and is stealing bases. Next time I’ll type slower in case you don’t read very fast.
It’s still to early for me to make a sound judgement of Girardi’s performance so far. I’ll reserve judgement till the end og the 08′ season.
However, I have been extremely disappointed with the Yankees medical and conditioning staff the last few years. Injuries have affected the teams from MLB on down and I think it’s time the Yankee hierarchy address this issue.
This year alone the Yankees have had Pettite, A-Rod, Posada and many more miss games on the major league level. On the minor league side we’ve had Horne, Suttle, Heredia, Abe Almonte and more go down. These are widely considered to be legit prospects in our system.
Last year they let Jose Tabata play almost the whole season on a bum wrist. Although he did well, the possibility that swinging with a hurt wrist for a whole year affected his swing even after the surgery annoys me.
This is something Cashman(or whoevers in charge) need to really look into following the 2008 season.
stuart:
Jeter’s been looking less than stellar on the throws, true, but we don’t have Minky at 1st anymore - it’s Giambi, no wait, it’s Duncan, er, Ensberg, um.. Betemit. I think a legitimate factor is how the throws are being received.
baltimore rookie adam jones (from seattle in the bedard trade) just laid down a textbook bunt for a lead-off single. its NOT a lost art just yet.
“I couldn’t stand Martin as manager. I thought he was a jerk and an idiot. That didn’t make me root less for the Yankees, nor did it change the complaints that I had at that time against Martin.
You don’t have to like every team member to be a fan of the team and franchise.”
your point is well taken. i really liked billy martin, and yet we agree on conditioning issues with the yankees. we don’t have to agree on everything to be yankee fans.
the yankee organization does nor have to agree on everything. creative differences is important in any organization.
my feeling is that when cashman got control of the organization, a lot of creative differences and opposing views went by the wayside. i think that’s why we see things like igawa signings , hughes being rushed, and arod injuries that could have been prevented.
i have no objection to the spirit of the cashman youth plan. i have a problem with how he’s doing it. he needs some help that doesn’t just kiss up to him and endorse every aspect of it.
murphy dog I will let it go again Jeter is far from the problem but he can play more jeter like.
the problem is no arod and jorge, and 2 guys significantly unerachieving and most guys slightly underachieving.
the pen has been great really only lost 3 games; the chisox game, the delucci 3 run jack, and last night and only 1 really was a game they for sure should have won.
again as built this team does not steal(figuretivley) any games that is a big issue.. with a soft run because of speed on the basepaths or because of great D, they do not do that therefore when they are not hitting it looks even worse…
strange…manny has 498 HR and they switched the balls out to marked ones. is #499 really worth alot of money? kinda says ‘i guessed wroing which day to come’, doesn’t it?
good news so far Tabata continues to hit
Justin Christian homered today
Edwar Gonzalez in AA is starting to rack up XBH, for anyone curious he plays the COF, but mainly RF
SJ Brett Gardner has a .379 OBP%, .454 SLG, .833 OPS
he has crossed the plate 31 times and walked 21 times in 36 games in SWB, he is struggling in his last 10 games but 11 R, 6 RBI, 9 BB in those last 10 games from the leadoff spot.
It’s not impossible a thought of him being called up sooner, rather than later.
who are the pathetic souls who voted “its Arod’s fault”