Hank: Yanks tank
-
- May
- 14
Right on cue, Hank Steinbrenner bashed the Yankees.
Hours before Joe Girardi insisted his team was playing hard after a 2-1 loss against he Rays, here is what Hank Steinbrenner told Kevin Kernan of the Post:
“We’ve got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off. The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing. These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money.”
This was my favorite part:
“This is going to get turned around. If it’s not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have to.”
By force? What does that mean, executions at dawn for anybody not trying hard enough?
Anybody else get the idea that this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better?
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on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 4:58 am by Peter Abraham.
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Does anybody feel that Girardi is being a bit soft? Softer than we expected? I hope Hank’s statements get him more fired up, and consequently fire up this yankee squad.
And another thing—the return of Posada and ARod aren’t going to fix things at all because they’ll be rusty.
And who’s stealing bases on the Yanks other than Damon who has a measly 5? I’m betting the Yanks are among the worst teams in SBs.
C’mon Yanks!! Get with it…
I am probably in the minority, and it may be my military background, but I am all for Hank spouting off. Something has to get these guys going. They can’t use the excuse of not having A-Rod and Posada for not scoring more than one run. For a team that is supposed to be averaging 5-6 runs a game, you can’t tell me those two are responsible for 5 runs and 7 other guys one run. Ridiculous.
Jeter hits a triple with one out and they can’t get him in with Abreu and Matsui following, a sac fly, a hit to the right side? Come on, this is pathetic.
Stan I agree with you 100% about Girardi, this guy, I thought, was going to get the team motivated. He yells at reporters more than his team. What is he waiting for, perhaps it will take Hank to make a bold move for him, like dropping an over priced vet or firing one of his coaches, which I would be in favor of.
This is becoming RIDICULOUS.
So, the Yanks are underacheiving offensively (check), need to score more (check), not use injuries as an excuse (check), need to do a better job of earning their huge paychecks (check), and if not, next year will bring changes (check). Good ol’ Hank will get hammered for this by the usual suspects….but other than the timing (‘kicking them when theyre down’ argument) what did he say that was either not factually accurate or exactly what alot of fans are thinking right now?
Some of you guys sound just like Hankenstein. What happened to Junior’s “We have to show patience with this Team” baloney during the Santana trade talks?
The Red Sox just dropped 3 straight to The Rays last week and 3 of 4 to the Twins Do you hear John Henry blabbing his mouth in the media about the Red Sox players??
Girardi is a fiery manager. He’s also pretty savvy. If he thinks his team is laying down, I’m sure he’ll address it. I saw a lot of frustration last night – not lack of hustle or lack of enthusiasm. Players, teams go through slumps. Tampa Bay is young and talented, right now they’re a hot Team. Performances by professionals tend to return to their norm, unless injury and age has taken too much of a toll. Things will change..despite Hank’s big fat mouth.
Hope the line-up angry as Moose.
Alot of the guys on the team come off as half hearted. I think they are capable of alot more but it doesnt look like their heart is in it.
Who cares about Girardi being soft. What bothers me is he doesn’t do anything…no base stealing, no hit and run and no bunt. If the Yankees were firing on all cyclinders I could understand it, but when the team can barely scratch a run, it’s time to take action. Yesterday alone, the Yankees grounded into several double plays, while the Rays produced the winning run by being aggressive.
Joe Girardi makes Joe Torre look like Casey Stengel and Billy Martin put together.
I am also for Hank spouting off, especially when everything he says makes total sense. If the team can’t handle such mild criticism than maybe they are only collecting checks.
If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen
Lol – I’m so sure that Hank’s statement will light a fire under these guys that wasn’t already there.
They’re not hitting with RISP – oh, they’re not trying hard enough? Puh-lease.
I WOULD like to see more SBs, hit and runs, heck, a suicide squeeze, but ‘they aren’t trying hard enough’? Bull$&*^.
by force means mike francesca becomes manager.
NY YANKEES RECORD AS OF 5/14/08 – 19-21
NY YANKEES RECORD AS OF 5/14/07 – 17-19
Slumps happen. Losing Streaks happen.
Sometimes, even losing Seasons happen! WHEN IS THE LAST TIME the NY YANKEES HAD A LOSING SEASON?
Gosh, I wonder how many “loyal fans” the Yankees would lose with a less than .500 Finish??
I have no sympathy for anything said about the way this team is playing, Hank is correct, something needs to be said.
How can we expect the young pitchers to play well with this offense behind them?
They look and play like a bunch of content millionaires.
I understand that Hank is part of the ownership group, but can he take a step back and let things play out. If he does not trust certain people to correct the issues have them removed after giving them a chance (I am saying keep Girardi this year and next no matter what and fire Cashman if it comes down to it) instead of vocalizing your issues every other week as it could end of becoming a distraction to the team.
Hank also said a lot of positive things.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05142008/sports/yankees/baby_boss_bashes_bumbling_bombers_110724.htm
But he hit the nail on the head; the lineup is performing like they are waiting for reinforcements.
Hank referenced the fire and enthusiasm of the young, almost prepubescent Rays. Every Yankee fan saw it last night. There’s a sense that the Yankees are aging opera singers trying to make a hip hop record.
The “force” Hank spoke of refers to replacing “watchful waiting” with surgery. That could mean a 2009 Cashman-ectomy, but IMO that would seem to fly in the face of the positive comments about the young pitchers and Hank’s appreciation of the need to play more like the young Rays.
It sounds to me like the Yanks will be creative in the trade market if there is anything that makes sense, and be willing to DFA untradable players who are without a NY future past 2008. (Big G, my brother, I love you buddy, but it might be time to consistently hit into the shift for someone else).
yankee fans plz stop complaining. i didnt have my francesca-os for breakfeast yet
To be honest I agree with what Hank is saying. It’s his delivery that’s wrong.
The truth is as an owner paying a $200million plus payroll he and his family has every right to expect more. Even factoring out Alex and Posada it’s still a $160million payroll, that’s 4 times more than the team whose own town couldn’t bother to show up at the stadium to support their team but looking about to sweep the Yanks who have the whole New York if not more fans behind them.
get ready to ready party like it’s 1990!!
at least we’ll be rid of the bandwagon jumpers who think Derek Jeter invented the shortstop position and maybe the fatcats will stop driving the secondary ticket market prices and allow average salaried to afford a game once in a while.
im not worried about hank. everybody in the organization can clearly hear what a blowhard he is. hal and the rest of the teams leadership will stop him from doing anything foolish and i think even george will step in on the side or practicality if there is a dispute between hank and the rest of the yankees leadership. its just noise, ignore it.
So…
This could be good news for Mussina.
It always seems like right before he goes, hank loses his cool and says something..and then Moose goes out and kicks butt.
This is frustrating
richard sandomir’s review of bobby murcer’s new book in the times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/sports/baseball/09sandomir.html?ref=baseball
it includes this:
“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.”
I was wondering when the next Steinbrenner comment was going to be made. His comment wasn’t too harsh, we all know that family can say make some crude comments. Hopefully his words spark something in the guys and we get to see a win tonight!
“By force? What does that mean, executions at dawn for anybody not trying hard enough?”
Is this truning into the Bill Simmons report? Everyone knows what “by force” means: firing people, spending lots of money for free agents, trading top prospects away for a quick fix.
Is this a good thing? Rather not but who knows? There might be better GMs out there than Theo-copycat Cashman.
Ya can’t have it both ways, Hank!
In refusing to give up Hughes, Kennedy, and Melky, for Santana, “Loud Mouth Junior” stressed “patience” because the Yankee Organization has committed to youth.
Well, the “youth movement” has only partly worked so far this season. Hughes and Kennedy are still learning. The BP has improved significantly with the emergence of Ohlendorf, Bruney (until he was injured), Joba, and now Veras…but no lefty.
Take out two of your top hitters from ANY Team and the offense will suffer. Add that another one of your best hitters (Cano) is currently batting under .200. The Yankees are lucky to be only 2 games under the “break even” mark.
Management knew (or should have known) that they needed (a) one more reliable starter to offset the youth and inexperience of their two rookies, (b) a defensively strong first basemen to solidify the infield, and© an effective lefty bullpen arm.
They failed to do any of that. And loudmouth Hank should take the heat for THAT, instead of blaming his players!
You think that was bad, wait until the Mutts sweep us this weekend.
Come on Yankees. Go out and win the next 2 games and prove to the entire world, once and for all, you ARE a .500 team!
Is 7:35 AM too early to start drinking. I figure I’ll be ready for tonight’s game if I start now.
I would love to see the Yankees more aggressive on the bases – but they’re really not getting on base at a very good clip to begin with. I would love to see more creativity with regard to making the most of the few occasions where they do have baserunners.
They seem to be waiting for the right “count” to do things like hit-and-run, stolen bases, bunts, whatever, but their plate discipline seems to be off this season, too, and there are an awful lot of 0-2 counts, aren’t there?
How could it hurt to try and do things at unconventional, unexpected times? Where’s the harm in putting guys in motion right away? It might not work all the time, or even most of the time, but at least it gives the opposing team something to think about.
Last night, the Rays player who got the GWH against Mariano said all he was trying to do was hit the ball to move the runner over. The Yankees just seem to be bypassing the simpler aspects of the game, they are pressing, they are frustrated by their inability to get the big hit. Consequently, when you TRY to get the big hit, you come up with nada.
However, for everyone who is saying they have no heart, they’re not trying, I would ask, what do you want them to do? All you can do as a player is move on to the next at-bat. I suspect what many people want to see is hitters going back to the dugout, taking out water coolers, slamming down bats, throwing gloves, or some other tantrum-like behavior. I would agree that their play is flat right now; I would not agree that they don’t care. Professional athletes are competitive by nature or they wouldn’t have gotten where they are.
Doreen,
You are calm rational and insightful as always.
good post Doreen
It’s Hanks job to say these things. 1 run in 11 innings against the TAMPA BAY RAYS is pathetic. Pathetic… pathetic.
I don’t know Hank Steinbrenner.
But sometimes when I read these statements, it seems like Hank is parodying George’s pronouncements that he made in his heyday.
Is he serious? Is this how he saw George act when the team struggled so he is simply copying his management style?
If I could I would ask Hank; “How did that work for your Dad, and do you think that method is still effective?”
The answer should be; “It didn’t and no.” But somehow i don’t think that he would respond that way.
“All you can do as a player is move on to the next at-bat. I suspect what many people want to see is hitters going back to the dugout, taking out water coolers, slamming down bats, throwing gloves, or some other tantrum-like behavior.”
I’d actually settle for that next at bat being a professional one. Abreu AB in the 6th with Jeter on 3rd and one out. Up 2-0 in the count he let’s the best pitch he saw in the at bat go for strike one then fails to bring him in? Awful.
Why not bunt in the 7th with Melky, who is now 14 for his last 62 and now at a Melky-like .270 avg/.331 OBP, following Giambi’s leadoff single???
Time to dust off the “Big Hook”
To be honest I think these are fair comments. Slumps happen and all that, but not across an entire offense. Last year was different, there were injuries, there were specific problems. This year we have pitching mostly, but all the bats have been quiet all this season so far. There’s no specific problems, it’s a general problem that is getting worse, not better. Other than last year A-Rod was never that clutch anyway, so his bat gone makes little difference. Jorge is a loss, but he’s one guy.
The lack of offense has gotta be a managing/coaching issue—sorry, but there’s no other explanation.
Girardi’s got a lot to learn, I guess he will eventually—but I don’t think it will be this year. He’s too close to these players, and it doesn’t look like he’s motivating them well. And other than changing the line-up at random (and we can all do that) he’s not really calling plays or shaking things up on the field.
Sure, they all love Kevin Long—but where’s the results?
I feel so sorry for Wang last night. He SHOULD have been the winner.
If I were Cashman I’d start printing off some resumes. I think he may need them soon.
I think his “by force” line means that he’s not going to let the General Manager go into a season with 3 question marks in the rotation again, even if the General Manager insists on it.
Now the Yankees can’t even win when Wang pitches well. No wonder Hank is losing his patience and sounds pretty harsh.
Prediction for the Mets series:
0 runs in 7 innings against Santana
1 run in 8 innings against Perez
0 runs in 9 innings against Maine
Hank has a right to complain.
The team is not performing.
“I feel so sorry for Wang last night. He SHOULD have been the winner.”
Wang was terrific, but he was the second best starter in that game last night. Jackson was superb and deserved the win even more than Wang.
There is no reason you should score so little runs with a lineup that still can look like this:
Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Matsui, Cano, Giambi, Cabrera
Those are 7 guys, 5 making more than $10 million, that can’t score more than 1 run in 11 innings? Too frustrating as a fan to watch.
Isn’t it time for the Captain to call a players only meeting and have a kick around session with his mates ?
Maybe he doesn’t have it in him to offend any of them even in a subtle sort of way.
What ever happened to the resilience that was a staple of the team ? Maybe they’ve morphed into complacency and satisfied with it.
I haven’t been so frustrated watching 2 games in a row in a long time. This was so bad. Lets hope they turn it around in the next couple games.
The biggest impact that Hank can make could come without ever saying a word. Do something obvious like telling Cashman to DFA Giambi and not be concerned about the money part of it. The shakeup factor. It can’t possibly worsen the team.
Scott and owlnation (except for blaming the management) have hit the nail on the head.
I see no fire from this team. I see no desire to play. I said this last night… if what has been happening to the Yankees lately happened on my high school team, stuff would be flying in the locker room. Our coach would be chewing our butts off for the way we played and let our pitching down. It’s pathetic. It should be a private bashing, but if it’s not happening in the club house, then I’m glad to see Hank get on their asses, because frankly.. he’s 100% right.
There are no more excuses for this team. Whoever keeps making excuses is just fooling themself. Sure, the team will (hopefully) turn around, but as of now, they’re playing like crap and they should be told they are. A-Rod and Posada are not responsible for what the other 7 batters on the team do. It’s a sad, sad, day when the Yankees can’t come back from a 1-0 game.
By using them as another excuse for the complete absence of offense, it only puts THAT MUCH MORE PRESSURE on them to perform when they come back. That isn’t going to help.
looks like everyone shares hank’s sentiments.
shame on you pete-abe for trying to exploit this.
i have been all over this team for weeks about how terribly this roster was put together and now everbody’s on the bandwagon, so its time for me to go the other way.
you cant ask guys to do what they dont do well, this roster has nobody who knows how to bunt, nobody who can pinch run, nobody who can play defense at 1b or LF in late inning situations, and has never been concearned with unproductive outs. now everybody wants bunts and steals, runners moved over etc. THIS IS NOT THAT TEAM! it could have been that team, had we done the right things and kept some role players (dougie m, gardener) and let the dead weight go (ensburg, betamit, duncan), but that wasnt done, so you cant ask a team to be a different team than it was built to be. cash built a team that either bashes you to death or gets killed and now with arod and posada out, they’re getting killed. but there is not really anything this team can do about it.
get used to it, because even after they get healthy and start mashing (and they will) and force thier way into the post season (and they will) the inability to score on the best pitchers, the inability to manufacture runs and the horrible defense will bounce them out in the 1st round again.
virginislands –
Admittedly, it’s a lot easier to be rational in the cool light of a new day.
“Do something obvious like telling Cashman to DFA Giambi and not be concerned about the money part of it.”
Good idea. Disregard the fact that the team is struggling offensively and DFA the team leader in homers and #2 RBI man. Nevermind his OPS is better than Jeter’s, Cano’s, Cabrera’s, Abreu’s, etc. Nevermind they have no MLB level 1B on the team to fill Giambi’s spot.
Brilliant.
Good Post Pete….starts some good back and forth. Bottom line is that Hank is PO’d like many NYY fans and hopefully players, managers and coaches are PO’d that we are finding ways to lose games in, what seems to be, more and more new and frustrating ways. I don’t care what the standings say,,,these are the RAYS….they get paid like 20% of what we do and they OWN the Yankees so far this year ? THAT in and of itself is pathetic. Good thing that Boston stinks too, so far. I will keep believing that WE turn it around before they do….although after the last 2 games against the mighty RAYS, that just makes me look the silly man, right ?
Not too long ago the things that infuriated George the most was lackadaisical play and losing to Boston, Tampa Bay, and the Mets. With George’s high standing in the Tampa Bay area, it was the embarrassment of losing to the Rays that would torture him.
Not many know who Stuart Sternberg is but the entire area knows who George Steinbrenner is.
Any losing to the Mets at the Stadium this weekend could set Hank off.
Can we put Damon at first and bring up Austin Jackson or Brett Gardner?
By force? Wow talk about a straight up threat to Cash.
Last night someone asked if he has said anything or something to that effect. His responce was it stays in the clubhouse, so it wouldn’t shock me if he went off on the team, but doesn’t want the media to be aware of it.
I don’t see how any of this is his fault. His team is not hitting, what is he supposed to do? YOu can’t bench Jeter, or Bobby etc.
It is very frustrating to watch the team get shut down by a bunch of scrubs. You can’t keep saying well he pitched well. Yeah he pitched well cause you can’t hit worth **.
This team may want to reach the 21-29 mark and take it as a challenge to see if they can put it together and exceed what the 2007 team did for rebounding and go even further in the playoffs without bugs etc. in the way of success.
Austin Jackson is doing reasonably well in AA, but he’s probably not big league ready til 2010.
Gardner hitting around .220 in his last 10 games and the early pop he showed was a mirage, but he’s still getting on base at a decent clip and is stealing some bases again after recovering from an early ankle injury. Honestly don’t think this lineup is better without Giambi right now though.
@ Y’s Guy: Great points. I think the whole post-season point you made was a given, except to those who refuse to admit the obvious.
Santana, Perez, Maine – the Mets are looking to embarass us. At least we don’t have to put up with a Santana v Wang duel – where the Yankees score 0 runs in 52 innings against Santana with Wang taking the loss.
“It is very frustrating to watch the team get shut down by a bunch of scrubs.”
Jenn, with Arod and Posada out, the Rays had superior players to the Yankees at C, 1B, 3B, LF and CF. The Rays are no longer scrubs.
I love Hank. I love his motivational speeches. I loved it when George would spout off. Usually after something like that, all of a sudden the team would wake up. They were definitely afraid of George for the most part. Whether or not they react the same way to Hank, time will tell.
Is it just coincidence that Mike Mussina started pitching lights out right after Hank took him to the woodshed? I think not.
I’m all for tough love. IF there is any lethargy on this team, Hank’s speech just might eradicate it.
Fredo absolutely. Anyone calling the Rays scrubs has not been watching the Rays. They do everything right.
Hank has yet to meet a microphone he didn’t like. I said this last night that he just likes to talk too much. Even if there’s noting important to say. He says whatever is on his mind just because a reporter calls him up wanting answers.
Look at the pass off-season. If you read the newspapers it seemed there was a Hank comment every day. Even if it had nothing to do with baseball. He talked about buying a soccer team-like someone cares. Talked about the Giants SB win…...
Hank’s pretty tame compared to Big George. in the bad old days, George would’ve fired Kevin Long and/or called someone a “fat pussy toad” or something.
I predict the Yanks will take the next two games.
But I thought that before Hank’s speech. I’m thinking the embarrassment factor alone might be a motivator.
The Rays are playing like the Angels used to play.
Not good. (For us I mean)
Fredo –
I agree with you; the Rays are not scrubs. For the last couple of seasons, they’re offense (mostly speed) has given the Yankees fits. However, the Yankees were able to exploit a weak bullpen and an inconsisten pitching staff to beat them.
Nowadays, look at their pitchers! It is not just the Yankees that they are beating. This time it is not a case of, well, he just pitched a good game this time. They are good pitchers. Now, perhaps the second time through the league they will not be overpowering, but for now, they are doing very well (understatement). So combine effective starting pitching with a strengthened bullpen, plus speedy runners (which also strengthens their defense, cutting down the number of gap-hits), and now add some confidence, and you’ve got a great recipe for success.
Will it last? Only time will tell. But you can’t say the Yankees are losing to scrubs anymore. Same address, different resident these days. (They even changed their name!)
The was bigger news then Hanks comments.
Did anyone see the comments from the Tampa Times.
“Not to be out done by Goose Gossage, Brent Abernathy took exception to the celebration by Jonny Gomes in last nights 2-1 11th inning victory over the Yankees. Abernathy, star of the Devil Rays for 96-00 was embarrassed with Gomes show of emotion after stealing a base off closer Mariano Rivera and later scoring the game winning run off a single from Gabe Gross. ‘Showing emotion is not the Rays way. Pumping a fist after a steal or throwing your helmet after you score. We didn’t do that when I was here.’”
I think we have a brewing controversy with the 1st place Rays.
There’s no telling what Hank would have said if not for Boston also stinking up the AL East but it also comes to mind the ground that could have been gained through all this misery.
The Rays are expected to come back to earth but they are a team to be taken seriously from now on. They may not put rumps in seats at Tropicana but as a team they are jelling. For the first time in their history they have legitimate pitching and the hitting to match.
**that’s “THEIR” offense, not they’re. My fingers are faster than my brain this morning!
Predictable…whoever thought that Hankee was going to be a positive and calming influence on the team was kidding themselves.
This guy is going to ruin this team’s future, and I suppose it’s his right to since his family owns it.
It won’t be long before he’s hiring a shady gambler/detective to dig up dirt on A. Rod so he can blackmail him with it.
“By force if we have to”....sheesh, gimme a break.
i have been a supporter of brian cashman for years but looking at this team, i have come to realize that its time for him to go. if there was ever a team that needed to make a trade (even the addition-by-subtraction kind) or a bold move made to shake things up (like releasing igawa and ensberg) this is that team. but cash seems to think things are going fine or that nothing can be done.
i also like girardi, and i do not blame him in the least for whats going on, but id sure like to see him channel lou pinella and throw a major fit on the field or in the clubhouse to shake things up.
Um I think I made it pretty clear I was referring to the pitching. We did hold the Rays to 2 runs last night. We should have beaten them even with Alex and Jorge out.
Where is Captain Intagibles when you need him? I mean, if you arent going to hit (other than 2 out singles to keep the average hovering at .300) and you cant field, what good are you? Isn’t it the job of the captian to take control of the situation? I mean, why even name him captain then?
For the first time in their history they have legitimate pitching and the hitting to match.
And how long did that take? Patience is everything in this game. You can’t ‘force’ anything. The Yankees have been trying to ‘force’ their way to a championship since 2002 and where has it gotten them?
Hankee needs to let this organization rebuild itself without his interference. It’s on the right path but there’s going to be growing pains. You have to live with them if you want to be successful in the future.
Jennifer –
Yes, they definitely should have been able to score 2 runs in 9 innings, even without ARod and Posada.
Doreen – you’re absolutely right. The other night, people were claiming that the Rays were basically a flash-in-the-pan, that they would fade as the season wears on. That might prove true; the problem is, we’re playing them now, when they look young and enthusiastic and energetic and we look flat as a pancake. Hmmm, I think I need breakfast!!
1) who the hell is brett abernathy?
2) there’s a ‘ray’s way’ of doing things??!!!??
3) go away old men
If I were the yankees I would cut Giambi tomorrow just to make a point…
jeter is playing on a bad quad, which is not getting any better with him playing everyday. being a leader also means playing hurt (and not saying a word about it) and knowing when you can do something and when you cant. our captain is doing just fine.
In past years the Rays would have a token player (usually Carl Crawford) to represent the team according to All Star rules of every team having a representative.
The Rays could easily have James Shields, Carl Crawford, and B.J. Upton on the team this year.
JMO—what would releasing Morgan Ensberg and Kei Igawa do for this team?
Someone has to play third, someone has to start every 5th day.
Yankees have lost 2 key offensive playersto injury (one of them the best offensive player in the league) and are still only 4.5 games out of 1st on May 14th.
How would releasing marginal players change the team’s attitude and performance? So Wilson Betemit steps in as the everyday 3rd baseman and they Yanks cruise to a World Series title?
Hank: Yanks Tank
Jeter: No hits neither
Mo: What, no Score?
Jorge: my arm? no way!
Abreu? boo hoo hoo
Girardi? wheres my bacqardi?
Wang? team has no fangs
Giambino: I’d rather be in Reno
Cano: out of the flow
Johnny Damon- can’t we just play, man?
Shelly: Whats that smelly?
Alex- better take an exlax
Matsui- the team went kablooie
Moose- I’m sick of the excuses
I have to agree with him. This team needs to get in gear.
Anyone else get the feeling Hank has the fire and win now attitude his father had, including the unreasonable expectaions and demands, but with far less intelligence?
bigpopp,
how’s your captain doing?
.255, which is really good for him so i guess you’re right, our captain stinks but yours is really leading your team in its time of need.
JMO,
I was making this up. abernathy was a ray was back who was pretty awful. Im kind of tired of the gossage nonsense. The yankees franchises most famous moment is babe ruth calling a shot. Can you show someone up worse?
Also sick of hank. The team is stumbling, but no one is running away. Making threats does nothing. Didnt work last year in PS when his dad did it. The efforts there. Guys are busting it and the defense has shown focus.
People under estimate how much not having Arod and Posada hurt a lineup. They are both run scorers and producers. They take pitches and work a pitchers count. Molina does neither. AG is doing an ok job, both is more a utility guy.
When they come around, it will make it more rewarding to have suffered through this.
“If I were the yankees I would cut Giambi tomorrow just to make a point…”
He would be the likely choice if that’s what was decided to shake thing up. He has no future with the Yankees whatsoever. He’s well aware of it.
“If I were the yankees I would cut Giambi tomorrow just to make a point…”
cut him now, now that he finally started hitting? Sure, why not waste $25M…......
jonathon, releasing ensberg and igawa opens roster spots for the type of role players we need to spark us and sends a signal that we’re not carrying dead weight, it also shakes up the clubhouse and bench. it worked quite well for the mets last night. gozalez can play 3b for the next week.
Man, what a bunch of spoiled brats Yankees fans are.
I hate to say it, but part of me is hoping for three years of sub .500 ball so you morons can go away.
Really, they aren’t trying hard enough? Really? You have to be f-ing kidding me if you honestly believe that.
They’re TWO BEST HITTERS are out of the lineup. Their THIRD BEST HITTER is hitting .500 pace with that sort of lack of production.
The Rays are not the Rays of three years ago, where a crappy journeyman starter goes out for two innings, bombs, and a crappy journeyman reliever is forced to take five innings of lumps, with crappy journeyman players and one or two good young players on the field.
Crawford, Upton, Longoria – you’d be lying (or stupid) if you said you wouldn’t one or more of those guys on your team.
Ditto for Kazmir, Shields, Garza – and Edwin Jackson seems like he’s finally ‘figuring it out’ (he’s currently in that Oliver Perez flip a coin, dominant starter or crappy starter phase – but his dominant starts show what he’s capable of).
I love how people think there’s something Cashman can do right now on the trade market. It’s May 14th. Most teams haven’t given up on their seasons yet. No-one’s making trades, in case you haven’t noticed that there has been zero trade news since the season started.
“Anyone else get the feeling Hank has the fire and win now attitude his father had, including the unreasonable expectaions and demands, but with far less intelligence?”
:tup:
And fat lot of good that ‘win now attitude’ did for the 80s/early 90s.
Ok, that came out wrong (a phrase got deleted):
Their TWO BEST HITTERS are out of the lineup. Their THIRD BEST HITTER is hitting under 200 – NO team can play a better than .500 pace with that sort of lack of production.
I don’t blame Hank at all. In fact, I hope he screams louder. This team is sad.
Yesterday’s game revealed how dismal the Yank bats are. Can’t even manufacture a measly run?
Hank has a right to say what he wants. I think it is a warning to Cashman as much as the players.
The Yankees do look flat. They are not trying to work counts. They are giving the opposing pitchers too many easy innings.
Last night in particular, the Yankees had their chances early on to score some runs which makes it all the more frustrating.
i think igawa gets dfa’d today or tomorrow, whenever they can bring kennedy up. by promoting cox to scranton (with horne and karstens about to come back, too) there is no room for igawa at scranton, with melancon coming up to trenton, there is no room for him there. and is there any point to keeping him? he will never succeeed in the majors.
Sorry but this would be my plan:
Trade Igawa to the Padres for a low level prospect. Trade Betemit to anybody for a AA-AAA lefty bullpen arm. Send Duncan back down to AAA. Keep Gonzalez up as a backup (his hitting isn’t going to improve any by keeping him in AAA). Send down Veras, Britton or Edwar and try out that lefty we just traded for.
Now you have Gonzalez backing up the middle infield, Ensberg backing the corners. Betemit and Duncan have no role anyway (especially if they can’t come off the bench and pinch hit).
There’s no other quick fix. The outfield has been the highlight of the team and you aren’t changing ARod, Jeter or Cano. Giambi has been hitting well lately and seems to be driving balls deep to left-center often.
Not blaming Hank for anything. My point is that he’s trying to be the hot head his Dad was (for better or worse), but he’s even less intelligent with his rants…..
I’m all for someone giving whatever kick in the pants or spark of energy or whatever it is that this team needs. In reality, it’s probably more about age than desire. Yell all you want, it’s not gonna make anyone any younger.
Bunch of high-priced losers! Hank has the right to rip into them.
I find it funny that fans can vent, say whatever they want, and its “their right”.
When one of the owners of team do it, he’s “out of line”.
If he can’t do it, what’s the point of owning the team?
Hank didn’t say anything fans haven’t thought or said in the last week or so.
Please, give me a break. I love how some fans think they have a right to call others “spoiled”.
Our ace puts up only one run over 7 innings and a line-up sprinkled with All-Stars and proficient hitters can’t even produce a single run. Blame A-Rod & Po?? Give me a break.
Good thing they were in a dome or the “true fans” will be blaming the weather.
Get off the horse, this is a message board, people vent and voice opinion here.
i love how ppl always say there are not trades available out there. have you called all 29 gm’s or did you have someone else do it for you?
remember how the diamondbacks got haren and eveyone said what a joke, they way overpaid for him?
remember how everyone said that the marlins would want a king’s ransom to give up miguel cabrera (all they really wanted was one guy plus take dontrell’s contract)?
its always the same, speculating that trades cant be made then all of a sudden someone (else) makes a good one everybody says ‘well thats a stupid move’ or ’ they way overpaid for that guy’
tell the dbacks that they way overpaid for haren while he and webb are out there channeling shill and randy of 2001.
I agree with you Chris. I think it’s a little bit of an act and he is trying to be too much like his father. Also don’t think he’s much of a baseball expert despite some of the quotes in the papers.
Hank and Hal are more into football then baseball.
Whoever said this is a warning or something to Cashman…..please! As if it’s Cashman’s fault the team isn’t hitting.
“If he can’t do it, what’s the point of owning the team?”
I agree. I just find it funny sometimes the way things come out of his mouth. Seems forced to me, like he’s trying too hard to be like his Dad, or like he’s just less intelligent.
“By force..,” “next year..” When would his Dad talk about waiting till next year to fix it? They can certainly wield their power as owners, but what force? Start threatening not to pay people if YOU don’t think they’re trying to hard, and see how many people are going to want to play for you….....
i dont understand why the Padres would want Igawa… they have pitching, they need offense just as much as the Yankees do.
The only way they take Igawa was if you agree to piggyback them an OF, prob Matsui (who would have to waive his no-trade to do so).
“have you called all 29 gm’s or did you have someone else do it for you?”
No, I’ve simply noticed that I haven’t heard of ONE single trade since the season began and I’ve watched baseball before and noticed that there rarely are many, if ANY, trades this early in the season.
One thing Girardi can do is try to force the issue, like the Rays do. Try and steal, hit and run, bunt. I see none of that. Last night, 1st and 3rd and 1 out. Why not send Cano to stay out of the DP? Why not let Gonzo try a squeeze bunt? This team is hurting for runs, gotta try anything to score there.
There is no trade market on May 14. Nor is there a trade market for the Igawa’s, Betemit’s (whose on the DL, BTW), etc.
In other words, nobody wants the Yankee scrubs and nobody will give you gold for them.
There is one way for this team to improve. Play better.
Its that simple.
If you think teams are interested in old, past their prime, expensive players, you know nothing about the current state of the game.
Teams are going AWAY from that strategy, not to it.
If this keeps up, the Yankees will do what they have done every year since 2005. Call up another young player or two from within and see if that lights a fire within the team.
That’s their only possible solution at this time of the season.
Its not a coincidence guys like Cox and Melancon are being aggressively promoted within the system. They are setting the table for Joba’s transition to the rotation.
If I’m someone like Brett Gardner, I hope I have a hot streak in me right now. Two good weeks of baseball could get me a promotion.
When you look at this team objectively, and look at realistic solutions from within, he’s the only position player who could possibly be considered for a callup.
Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata aren’t even close to being ML ready.
Gardner gives the Yankees something they lack. Speed.
The problem is, he’s struggling in AAA right now.
Hopefully, Arod gets back soon. That’s a start.
But, if Cano and Giambi continue to hit under .200, Jeter shows no pop with his bat, and Damon and Abreu continue to sleepwalk through games, you could have Billy Beane as your GM, there isn’t a damn thing that can be done.
I don’t know why anyone else would want Igawa either… We probably lost our shot at unloaded him last year.
well, chris, apparently you have had your head buried this week while the mariners and reds are working on moving a big money contract (griffey) right now.
and this is exactly the type of deal the yankees would be looking for, one where they unload a talented but heavily paid player for prospects while paying off a big chunk of the money owed him)
people say there arent trades available because traditionally, GMs dont move players off of their roster until they’ve determined their team cant win that particular year, and May is just too early to tell a team’s fan base that you’ve given up already.
so yea, if you decided you were going to really overpay for a player, a GM might bite this early, but the chances are slim to none.
Watching this series, it’s clear who the better team is. Tampa Bay has its young pitching maturing at the right time, with a balanced lineup. The Yankees, even if they had their full complement, are older, inconsistent, poor defensively and have absolutely zero speed. Their starting pitching is suspect and will go through some more growing pains this season.
We saw a potential playoff team in last night’s game. It just so happens that it wasn’t the Yankees.
I wouldn’t say Gardner is struggling right now.
“well, chris, apparently you have had your head buried this week while the mariners and reds are working on moving a big money contract (griffey) right now.
and this is exactly the type of deal the yankees would be looking for, one where they unload a talented but heavily paid player for prospects while paying off a big chunk of the money owed him)”
Um, do you think that maybe, um, there’s something else to that? Like the part where Griffey was drafted and played for the Mariners for the long time?
The Mariners stink – they have no shot at the playoffs – this trade would be to put fans in the seats, nothing else.
I have to disagree Pete. I am all for Hank yapping away. This team is too good and too costly to put up 1 or 2 runs a night. Yeah, I know, A Rod and Jorge are out. I get it.
Hank has every right to be upset. These guys aren’t performing and the frustrations that have built up over the past few years are adding fuel to his fire.
Pitching is not and has not been the problem this year. Jeter with 1 hr, Giambi basically sucking, and the lack of bench has been the problem.
I do think it will get worse before it gets better. Starting with the Yanks failing to make the playoffs this year, Cash leaving at the end of the year, and either Hughes or Kennedy being the next Yankees future Hall of Famer to be a bust.
Sorry to be so negative, but I think Hank is right.
Y’s,
Here’s the problem with your statement:
1. Those were off-season trades. Its a completely different animal. You don’t see those type of in-season trades. Mainly because with the wild card, almost every team has a shot and they aren’t making those kind of in-season moves.
2. Those two deals involved multiple, high end prospects, for younger, all star calibur players.
Let’s examine both deals. The Tigers thought they were paying 152 million dollars for a 10 year third baseman and a solid #2 starter.
What they got instead was a DH and a guy who can no longer throw the ball over the plate. They gave up their 2 best prospects and a third (Badenhop) who could help them right now.
Dave Dombrowski will never admit it but, he’d love to have that deal back right now. That deal made the Tigers worse, not better.
Haren? That’s a classic win, win trade. Both teams gained on it. But, that means you have to have YEARS of losing to amass the prospects the D’backs had to make that trade.
I don’t think Yankee fans want that.
Big in season trades just don’t happen anymore. They especially don’t happen in May for the reasons described above.
“Please, give me a break. I love how some fans think they have a right to call others “spoiledâ€.
Our ace puts up only one run over 7 innings and a line-up sprinkled with All-Stars and proficient hitters can’t even produce a single run. Blame A-Rod & Po?? Give me a break.
Good thing they were in a dome or the “true fans†will be blaming the weather.
Get off the horse, this is a message board, people vent and voice opinion here.”
They lost. Tough $&@^.
You whiners sound all the same.
apparently someone forgot to tell the reds and mariners that trades arent made in may.
Quote:
Kenneth Keith Kallenbach
May 14th, 2008 at 7:04 am
get ready to ready party like it’s 1990!!
at least we’ll be rid of the bandwagon jumpers who think Derek Jeter invented the shortstop position and maybe the fatcats will stop driving the secondary ticket market prices and allow average salaried to afford a game once in a while.
***********************************************************
Amen to what this guy said!!
“Haren? That’s a classic win, win trade. Both teams gained on it. But, that means you have to have YEARS of losing to amass the prospects the D’backs had to make that trade.”
And I’ll remind people – the A’s GOT Haren (and Barton and Calero) for Mark Mulder.
The Cardinals weren’t as big on Haren as the Yankees are on Hughes. Despite the 2006 Series, I don’t think a single Cardinals fan thinks that was a good trade.
The idea that a “youth movement” is costing us wins is ridiculous. We are not scoring runs. The lineup doesn’t have a single rookie regular. We’re suffering from Giambi and Cano’s slumps and ARod and Posada’s absence. Jeter and Abreu have been merely adequate so far. None of these players is untested. Matsui is the only hitter in the lineup who could be called imposing.
Ensberg and Molina are easy outs, but that shouldn’t be surprising. They are backups. They are not meant to be playing every day.
What could Cashman have done differently? Which hitter should he have moved? Giambi and his $26 million remaining? Cano, one of the top 2Bs in baseball? How could Cashman have fixed the team’s inability to hit with RISP?
The game plan for this team was to compensate for the unreliability of rookie pitching with offense. On day 1, the lineup looked awesome. Now it’s full of holes. I can understand why Hank’s angry: this team should be scoring 5+ runs a game to bail out lousy starters. Instead it’s chronically unable to come from behind or knock out opposing starters. It’s frustrating and there’s no better explanation for it than injuries, slumps, and bad luck.
The good news is that injuries heal, slumps end, and good luck eventually replaces bad.
“apparently someone forgot to tell the reds and mariners that trades arent made in may.”
“Um, do you think that maybe, um, there’s something else to that? Like the part where Griffey was drafted and played for the Mariners for the long time?
The Mariners stink – they have no shot at the playoffs – this trade would be to put fans in the seats, nothing else.”
11 game winning streak starts tonight !...WHO’S WITH ME ?...STAY POSITIVE….fight the bad thoughts !...LOVE YOUR YANKEES…..GO…FIGHT….WIN ! ( dang, there goes another pom-pom out the window again ! )
never wear white after labor day
never eat oysters in months that have an r
never make trades in may (wait till your team is totally dead in the water before attempting to improve it)
“There is one way for this team to improve. Play better.”
.
Amen to THAT, brother !!!
.
“well, chris, apparently you have had your head buried this week while the mariners and reds are working on moving a big money contract (griffey) right now.
and this is exactly the type of deal the yankees would be looking for, one where they unload a talented but heavily paid player for prospects while paying off a big chunk of the money owed him)”
I’ll concede that I forgot about those trade talks, but I don’t see who would take Giambi and his $25M with what he’s shown so far. He seems to have turned the corner and may have a good or at least decent year. but a $25M year? I don’t think so, do you??
The bottom line is everytime things aren’t going well people scream for a trade. You asked me if I’ve called the other 29 GM’s to see if they’ll make a trade. Have you?? What magical trade is out there that Cashman is ignoring?
never eat oysters in months that have an r
best oyster I ever had was in Quincy Market
Also let’s not forget that many teams are to fond of dealing with the Yankees. They tend to hold up the Yankees more than they would other teams. Especially Beane.
Are not too fond of dealing with the Yankees I mean.
yes, to move giambi or matsui or igawa you have to eat alot of contract dollas. so you’re saying its the money thats keeping us from improving?
The pitchers are young and the hitters have all gotten old at once. It’s happened before, in ‘65, going from the series to under .500. Everyone says A-Rod is injured, but he wasn’t doing so well when he was playing, at .286 with a .495 SLG. Cano, with is 82 walks in more than 1700 at bats, simply can’t control the strike zone well enough to have along career. Not only is he hitting .183 (last in the AL), but his OBP is .237 – dead last in the league. He is also dead last in OPS. Giambi has the second worst BA in the AL. Damon and Matsui are doing well, but how long will that last? They are each 34. The only guys regularly starting on the team who are under 30 are Cano and Melky, and Melky has yet to have a slugging average as high as .400 for a whole season. I think that later this year, we’ll look back at this as being “the good old days.”
If people want to believe that the team is playing badly because they don’t care, lack hear, etc. or that Girardi is “soft” or not being creative enough, so be it.
But it’s really not possible to say whether the team looking flat is the cause of their poor offensive production or the result of their poor offensive production.
Baseball is a game of one hitter coming up and facing a pitcher in a discrete event. If the hitters don’t get on base and that’s happening up and down the line up the team will inevitably look “flat.” The manager will always look bad, like he’s not doing enough.
We’ve seen this all before – in terms of results this season is eerily similar to the start of last season.
Last season many people wanted Abreu DFA’d and Cano sent down to AAA to punish him for his lack of heart.
IMO this isn’t an issue of the team “not trying.” In order to hit the baseball you have to have a balanced combination of concentration and relaxation.
If anything the issue with this team is that they press and “try too hard” – that’s why they tend to have bad at bats when they are going poorly.
Baseball’s not like football where you can make big adjustments in terms of personnel on the field, new schemes, etc.
There isn’t much Girardi can do right now just as there wasn’t much Torre could do last year to when the team collectively wasn’t hitting. The main thing he can do is to probably keep the team as loose as possible and focused on the fact that they’ve all hit before and will start hitting again.
That doesn’t mean they can afford to wait for ARod (never mind posada).
It just means that at this point of the season they only thing that is going to help them is for them to trust their natural abilities and execute at the plate.
There’s no magic bullet of making trades, DFA’ing guys, manager yelling at them, etc. which is going to change this.
It’s up to the players to execute at the plate. Besides Giambi there’s no player on the team who looks like he’s finished.
They’re playing very poorly. They need to play their way out of it. Fortunately, no one has run away from the pack like Boston did last year.
So we trade Giambi. Who do we get to play first? Duncan?
If we acquire a Mientkiewicz-like stopgap somehow, we would have even less production from first than we do now. At least Giambi walks and hits the occasional HR.
You might have heard of an impending free agent 1B named Teixeira. Call me crazy but I think the Yankees would rather have 1B open next year so they can make an aggressive move for Teixeira than lock up the position by trading for some mediocrity. I know, it’s a nutty idea.
Real disappointed in you Pete. You gave us just part of the comments – the ones that look bad and play it off like Hank was only bashing the Yanks. When you read everything he actually said, you’ll see he offered a lot of praise to guys as well. Also, nothing he said negatively isn’t true. This team has to score more runs and it does appear that many nights they don’t play with a ton of fire. I mean, do they have a single comeback win all year? I don’t remember one, at least not one in the late innings. Yankees teams used to thrive off that.
there’s plenty of blame to go around and i dont want to jump all over one guy but the guy we really needed to come through while arod and posada are convelescing is cano. he just signed for big dollars and aside from needing him b/c of the injuries, we need him to become the #3 hitter b/c its likely abreu is gone. (dont see him signing for less than 4 yrs)
definatly cant put it all on one guy, but he is really hurting the team right now.
now we are at the they are not trying point!!!!!!
yeah these guys with no ego’s want to be embarrased because they do not care and are rich so nothing matters, be real.
hank is just like his big mouth dad spouting nonsense thinking baseball is football.
brute force does not work in baseball.
Ynkee fans are just as stupid as fans in general, not suprising.. Yeah Girarid is soft, why don’t they hire a General to run the team!!!!!Classic….
Giambi is making $21 mill not $26..the good news is that slug is gone in 4 months and abreu will be done this yr. SJ still like abreu the jelly legger against lefties and the guy who has a fear of walls??? that is $37 mill. adios at the end of the yr.
the yanks woes are simple; cano, giambi, jeter, damon, abreu, are not playing near there potential.. it is that simple..5 guys in the lineup not playing to plan and 2 starters are hurt….
move out one giambi and sign another (tex). he will get 6 yrs and huge money from someone and im praying its not the yankees.
CB,
Your a stat guy right?
What the number of pitches/plate appearance for molina vs posada or Betimitt vs. Arod? Same as OBP.
My contention is that the offense has lacked some guys who typically have long AB, work starters, and turn over a lineup.
Add those two to the mix, pitchers will take a diff approach to our lineup.
Magic bullet is true. No trades to be made and few players to promote. This team need to play closer to abilities.
SJ-
I don’t want “gold” for Igawa or Betemit, but getting something is better than cutting them. Plus there’s always a trade market for a lefty starter. Some pitching coach in the league will swear he can fix Igawa. The Padres wanted him last year even though he was terrible. What’s the difference this year? For Betemit…how about some random A ball guy?
And for all of you who keep saying there are NO trades this early in the season, you’re wrong. There are, just not big trades. Teams trade spare parts frequently.
Finally, Cashman is not going to be threatened with being let go. Do you really think there aren’t any teams that want him? Somebody said he needs to get out some resumes. Please…if he were available right now teams would be calling him to take over. The Nats? Phillies?
Except Tex is 28 or 29. A switch hitter, who plays far superior defense to Giambi. What are the other options out there. Please don’t say Duncan or Miranda.
i dont think anyone isnt trying but it seems everybody is noticing a lack of energy. i think its possible that everyone gets a little too comfortable at home in tampa. most of the guys have places around there and its the winter home of a bunch of guys. i think there might be something of a distraction factor going on besides the general slumping offense and sloppy defense.
ok; there MAY be trades early in the season, but there are NEVER significant trades in May.
“just not big trades”
Exactly. People are calling for Cashman to save the day with some big trade, not just trade some spare parts. Cashman has proven over the years that he’s not afraid to take chances trying to find a hidden gem. Yet now people seem to think he’s asleep at the wheel because he’s not trading Giambi or Matsui for the next Shaun Chacon or Aaron Small. Where are these spare parts that are miraculously going to pick up the slack for losing 2 of our most important hitters and players, and for the rest of the lineup not hitting?
And for those wanting to trade Matsui, who do you want to get in return since he’s the only one really hitting right now?
The people wanting to trade Matsui are probably the ones who were more worried about him than Giambi before the season started .
clowns cashman is a very good GM.. he has kept the steinny’s under control for 10 yrs. he would get a job in 2 minutes.
look at the minors they have replensihed them and have tons of good young players.
Texiera is the same old insanity, he is a very good player but will be 29, ie he is getting old.. and will be making a ton while he is 35 or so, bad idea…
they have miranda, duncan, and others, once in a while you need to give a guy a chance…they have been looking for a 1B for 4 yrs and that is sad sine they are pating someone $21 mill…Giambi and steinny signing research it, this is not FOOTBALL.
I’m not sure the Yanks get Mark Texeira next year.
His agent is Scott Boras. They have both indicated that they want to play out free agency to get the best situation, and Tex’s speaking highly of Baltimore, Atlanta, and NY (which has two teams) indicates to me that they are looking forward to a bidding war. Which he has every right to enjoy. It is free enterprise, afterall.
The catch is, for me as a Yankee fan – do you give him a 7+ year big$$$ contract, that will make him unmovable for the duration of that contract? Just like we’re bemoaning Jason’s contract, and the situation it has put us into, why does anyone think that giving Tex the same deal will NOT end up the same way – locking the Yanks into a contract that they will come to regret. Heck, look at the Tigers and Miguel Cabrera and the Mets with Santana (how many HRs has he given up, Brandon?). As SJ44 suggested, think a GM might be regretting those deals already?
I’m all in favor of a bigtime player or hitter. The catch is that, unless you grow your own, they come with risk that can last a long time.
“It’s a marathon and not a sprint.” Keep telling yourselves this and you will probably feel much better.
I love it how people actually think that kicking chairs over, owners spouting off to media, etc., will actually make the team start hitting better.
If that’s all that it took I’m surprised nobody in the Pirates organization didn’t do this years ago.
The Yankees may or may not start swinging the bats better but if they do it’ll have nothing to do with anyone kicking a chair over.
other options at 1b, lets see, posada, matsui, damon, hafner, sexon, konerko, c.pena, c. guillen, garciaparra, ortiz, m ramirez, huff, young , johnson, delgado, just working off the top of my head who might be available….
i guess you’re right, there are no other options at 1b.
SJ44….you should have your own blog. You’re hitting the situation right on the head. I would love to see Gardner get hot for a couple of weeks and get promoted. Even now he’s taking his walks and getting on base. I think he could put a spark in this lineup with his speed and defense.
The whole lack of energy theory – could it be that we simply look lethargic because the team on the other side is MUCH younger and FASTER than our team?
Our fastest guys would probably be average on teams like the Rays. Jeter is getting older and has a bad quad. Melky is up there with our fastest guys and he’s not really a fast guy. He steals some bases and sometimes impresses on the base paths, but he would go unnoticed if we had real speed (his speed almost does go unnoticed now…).
I think we look lethargic because we’re not getting hits and because we’re older and slower than teams like the Rays. I don’t care if Jeter were 95, you think he wouldn’t still want to win? Has nothing to do with being comfortable or unmotivated.
“They lost. Tough $&@^.”
“You whiners sound all the same.”
Brilliant commentary from Mr./Mrs. Baseball Prospectus.
Wanker. Whiner. V. All the Same.
“lets see, posada, matsui, damon, hafner, sexon, konerko, c.pena, c. guillen, garciaparra, ortiz, m ramirez, huff, young , johnson, delgado”
And of those guys who is realisitc. Nick Johnson. That is about it.
Do you really think teams want Kei Igawa? Never has a rumored interest in one guy been so wrong.
The guy has shown repeatedly he can’t pitch. Now, you want Cashman to “get something” for him.
Ok, he will get a Single A non-prospect, at best, for him.
How does that make the team better?
As CB said, there are no magic bullets. No big trades are going to be made in May, and the only way they are going to improve is to play better.
The proposed Griffey to Seattle trade as “evidence” big trades are made? Please, you can’t be serious.
Griffey has a no trade clause AND he is a shell of his former self. He wants to go to ONE place. Seattle.
Chuck Armstrong, the Mariners President LOVES Griffey. If that happens, it will be a sentinmental trade and nothing more.
That’s not an example of a “big” May trade. Its more an example of one team (Cinci) shedding payroll and another (Seattle) needing a “name” to help draw fans.
Sorry folks but, nobody pines for Jason Giambi for the Yankees to be able to make a similar move. Nor will Giambi waive his no trade to do it.
ian, that was the list i just thought up off the top of my head, there are probaly 15 more 1b options available.
ok first you say there are never trades in may, then i point one out and you have a reason why it doesnt count. nice form.
“What the number of pitches/plate appearance for molina vs posada or Betimitt vs. Arod? Same as OBP.”
There’s two ways to look at this – do you compare molina/ betemit to Posada/ARod of 2008 or to Posada/ARod of 2007.
Let’s start with Molina/ Posada. Molina righ now is hitting .203 with a .221 OBP and a .311 Slugging %. Those are truly horrendous numbers – even for a backup catcher.
Molina is seeing 3.4 pitches per at bat – which is in line with his career average.
Last year Posada as we all know had a career year – .338 BA/ .426 OBP/ .543 SLG %. He saw 3.8 pitches per at bat last year.
One of the major issues for the yankee’s offense coming into this year was how would the team deal with Posada’s regression back to his mean production – very little chance he’d come close to anywhere near last year’s production again (same is true for ARod).
This year posada was hitting .302/ .333 OBP/ .476 SLG. Not great but not bad at all over 66 at bats. He was seeing 3.4 pitches/ AB.
This year ARod was .286/ .343/ .495. He was seeing 3.9 pitches / AB.
Betemit has only 27 AB this year – he’s seeing 3.7 pitches/ AB. Ensberg is seeing 4.0 pitches per at bat.
So the issue with Molina and the 3rd base replacement’s isn’t an issue of taking pitches or patience.
It really has to do with trade offs.
Neither ARod nor Posada were going to do what they did last year.
But both were doing fine so far this year. Unfortunately, since they’ve gone down the players filling in for them have essentially performed like replacement level players.
It’s very hard to really grasp how devastating such a trade off is.
It’s not just your losing two guys who were performing well – it was that you lost them and replaced them with guys putting up marginal numbers.
Many people thought the yankees were wrong to give Posada such a large contract this off season and that they gave ARod too many years.
But the reason why they did so is exactly because of what we’re seeing right now. Catcher has always been a premium position and 3rd base has sort of become one – there just aren’t many good 3rd baseman in baseball anymore (in a strange way ARod could have a slightly worse year this year and still be more valuable player relative to his peers at 3rd base because both Miguel Cabrera and Ryan Braun are no longer 3rd baseman because they couldn’t hack it defensively).
This isn’t really Molina’s fault – he is a backup and a defensive guy.
Betemit’s injury was really unfortunate because he hits for power and was hot.
Ensberg could be done.
Replacing all star level production with replacement level production is really devastating. The only way to survive that is if every other player in the line up steps up in a big way.
That hasn’t happened and that’s why the offense is so poor right now.
can you imagine if girardi hadn’t banned candy and ice cream? they’d be really in the depths.
is it time to start wondering if girardi is too rigid in his thinking and lacking in creativity?
i always liked girardi as a supporting character, maybe his engineering mind needs to have the balance of some free spirits around him.
one thing that strikes me about this team is that it’s boring, really boring. have you ever seen a more boring looking coaching staff. are long, eiland, and thompson the same guy? they don’t look like they know what fun is.
even the players look bored.
the first thing some player on the team needs to do is too install a hagen daz freezer in the middle of the locker room and tell girardi where to go. if nothing else, there’ll be a big fight and we’ll get some energy.
Anybody can write names and believe they are “options”.
Let’s examine the names:
Pena. The Rays have no interest in trading Carlos Pena. None. If they did, why would they trade him to a division rival? Scratch him.
Konerko? Just what the Yankees need. Another 14 million dollar a year player who can’t play up to his contract. Scratch him.
Sexson? See Konerko. Scratch him.
Guillen? The Tigers aren’t interested in trading one of their best players and team leaders. Scratch him.
Matsui and Damon? Neither guy is a first baseman. Geez, haven’t we been through this enough? You can’t just make people into first basemen. Its not a video game.
Delgado? That’s pretty funny. We already have an old, shot first baseman. Why not add another?
I think you get my point. Just spouting off names are not “options”. There is a lot more to doing deals than just spouting off names.
NONE of those guys are realistic options.
cash thinks the idea is to keep all the prospects until they either pan out or fail (at which time they have no value). igawa is a perfect example, if our baseball ppl were so sharp, they would have moved him in a second last year.
the genius of stick wasnt just developing jeter, mo, bernie, pettitte, etc. it was in deciding to keep bernie and trade roberto kelly, keep pettitte and trade springer, trade prospects who never panned out for tino martizez.
if we keep all these kids till they make it or fail, we will get a few players but miss out on the ones we could have had. someone needs to decide which guys are likely to make it and move the others while their trade value is high.
“That hasn’t happened and that’s why the offense is so poor right now.”
no way. not enough ice cream.
ok sj, so its giambi or tex. which one do you sign for next year?
tigers made cabrera into a 1b and hes doing pretty well, but im sure you’ll have some reason that doesnt count either.
Paulie,
Like SJ44, none of them are real options. Except for maybe Nick Johnson.
I’m glad Hank said what he did. He’s right. This team even without Arod should be winning series. Outside of Igawa, they’ve actually been getting the pitching they need to stay close and win games.
Before Pettitte gave up the game the other night, the team was in it and they couldn’t move runners. GIDP’d. They sucked the life out of the team.
When the other team gets 1 run, it’s like 10 runs now because we know the Yanks are going to breeze through at bats being unproductive.
I’m afraid of what’s going to happen this weekend. If the Mets come in and pitch well and hit and sweep the series in the stadium, it will get ugly.
There’s a real potential for that to happen if the bats don’t wake up.
I really think the team chemistry needs a shake up. I’m not talking about trading for Giffey, but maybe bringing up Garnder (even though he’s struggling) and putting him in LF might be a nice spark and give this team some speed.
This is a walk or home run team. That’s all we all are. That is unacceptable.
And yes, I do agree with the DFA Giambi idea in one breath, but then I sit and look how he’s outperforming so many of the guys in the lineup.
Cano is a major disappointment yet again at this point in the season. Hank should be allowed to pay him less in April and May.
Damon and Giambi show up and do something to win a game once a week.
The hole is 3b is huge without Arod, but there’s go to be some kind of production from the OF, SS, 2b, 1b to get us through this.
Hank is right to say what he did. Only some fans who freak out when he criticized their precious darlings.
There are a lot more fans who agree with Hank than the pom pom waving sect.
They better start playing. If they want to be Yankees, then show it on the field.
sj so now that you’ve decided that only tex can be our 1b, how much more do we pay him than we are paying giambi now?
and what’s your backup plan since you dismissed anybody else possiby playing 1b for the yanks next year.
“if we keep all these kids till they make it or fail, we will get a few players but miss out on the ones we could have had. someone needs to decide which guys are likely to make it and move the others while their trade value is high.”
Cashman dealt Clausen, Halsey, and Milton come to mind – Soriano turned into A-Rod if you want to count that kind of deal too.
They made Cabrera a first baseman because he couldn’t move anymore.
He’s 24 years old and he has already outgrown the position in which the Tigers signed him to play. Their intention was NOT to move him this year. That’s how bad he was at third base.
You think he is doing “well” at first? Have you seen him play? He’s a stick figure at first. He’s a 24 year old DH playing first base.
You think that’s a good thing?
Who is talking about re-signing Giambi? That’s not going to happen. They will pay him his 5 million to buy him out at the end of the year and that’s it.
We are talking baseball here. Not just spouting off like emotional 10 year old who didn’t get the Christmas present he wanted.
You can’t just push a button and make all the changes you want.
Some of you act as if no other GM in the game watches baseball. You think there are markets for all the underperforming Yankee players? There aren’t.
Cashman has shown a willingness to trade prospects in the past.
Right now? Depends on the deal.