Girardi on the Yankees
-
- May
- 15
Here’s Joe Girardi’s postgame interview session:
He’s not happy with Ian Kennedy and even more displeased with his hitters.
A few stats:
- The Yankees are hitting .229 against lefties.
- They’ve scored six runs in the last 42 innings.
- They were outscored 15-6 in this series.
- Johnny Damon was 1 for 18 in the series.
- They drew 10 walks in four games against Tampa Bay.
Next up: Johan Santana. He is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his career against the Yankees.
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on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 8:15 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Why did I think the Yankees did better against Santana than that? Some no decisions, possibly?
Doreen me TOO. I thought we’ve beaten him.
I listened to the game, and Pete, you we right below, this is a BORING team. But it also seems like when they do hit em hard, they are right at somebody. Nothing to the gaps, nothing past the infielders’ gloves.
Kennedy and Igawa aside, the pitching has been better than good. The team WILL hit.
Or everyone got old at once and $8 beer is gonna be the only thing keeping hope afloat at the Stadium.
I thought we did better vs. Santana.
Tomorrow should be..fun?
I think we killed Santana in the playoffs and Pete is just citing season stats
Why can’t I find how many games his team lost when he pitched?
GOOD…send IPK down and keep him there….trade him and Igawa to the Padres for anything you can get….tell the hitters to hit the ball or Hank will take matters into his own hands….BY FORCE !
Hey, I got tickets to tomorrow.
It will be fun. Unless it gets rained out.
everyone did not get old at once. jeter is 33 not 45.. arod is 32.. cano is 25… the age thing is overblown..
the yankees have moose 39, Mo 37(does he look old?), then the next oldest pitcher is Kyle at 32….
they need some youth in the field but Abreu is 34 not 45, again…why do fans continuously panic all the time…I guess the only year yankee fans did not panic was 98….
Cano is a lifetime 314 hitter with over 1500 Ab’s what are the odds he hits 208???????????????
Do I expect Giambi to not have his old #’s absolutely but he should hit 250 with power if he continues to drag they need to come up with plan B…
IPK did better then last time up. Got into and out of trouble 2 or 3 times. Last time up, when bad things came about, it looked like he would fold. This time he stood tall and worked out of the mess he made. Realistically, we would like to have better results, but any improvement is better then none. 27/08.
If the Yankees don’t do well this series against the Mets expect to see some changes. Maybe starting with Damon, when your lead off hitter can’t get it, it doesn’t help.
Yeah, the hitters have sucked and the four and five spots in the rotation have been in flux…but how about that bullpen. 3.30 ERA good for fourth in the AL.(and I realize ERA is not a great stat for the pen, but still the good bullpens have low ERA’s).
Yes—this team is god-awful boring. The most entertaining parts of the game were Damon’s throw (tee-hee) and IPK not blowing up with the bases loaded. Other than that, I had more fun cutting the grass this afternoon. Forget energetic things like stealing, hit and run, of slick fielding. At this point I’d settle for someone going first to third on a hit.
heheh
heheh 
heheh 
I agree that our bullpen is good. That has basically been our only consistent part of this team. The main problems have been our pitching and offense. In effect we only have one consistent starting pitcher and that is Wang and our offense has not been that great. I understand that Posada and ARod are injured and all, but players have to step it up to make up for their absence and they are not doing that.
And we shall see the ace that we didn’t trade for tomorrow.
Can you believe people actually refused trading for Santana?
I am laughing at you.. you know who you are.
Give Hank more power. Obviously the rest of corporate Yankees are clueless and what they did is obviously not working and won’t work.
My Yankees are getting comfortable under-performing, it’s been happening for years, sooner or later you end up wearing that hat that fits. They are wearing it no doubt.
the yanks did well against santana in the playoffs.
let’s see how they do against the mets. can’t write them off yet. they are just too boring to watch right now.
Has anyone seen that movie, “The Tiger, the Witch, and the Loveseat?” What a remarkable piece of trash!
There are Devil Ray trolls?? Maybe the nursing homes in Florida have computers.
Marc—
You mean the Devil Rays have blogs, and actual reporters covering the games, let alone trolls?!?!?
I’ll be damned!
I thought the same reporter covered both the Marlins and the Devil Dogs?
They’ve scored six runs in the last 42 innings.
Unreal…absolutely unreal.
And get this Santana is even better at the Yankee Stadium.
2-0 1.17 ERA.
My guess is that the Mets take the first 2 and the Yanks win Sunday night.
Girardi should be upset with his team.
But, being upset isn’t enough. He has to push Hank to pull the plug on some guys if they don’t pick up the pace in the next couple of weeks.
He is hamstrung with a roster full of guys who are underachieving. Some are only on the roster because of money. If that stays that way all year, Girardi can be as upset as he wants to be, nothing is going to change.
What’s funny is, as bad as this team has been, (and they have been bad) they are 3 games in the loss column behind the Red Sox.
That’s it. Only 3 games.
That’s all that matters. Staying close until reinforcements arrive.
Kennedy? Hard to be mad at the guy, IMO.
You put a crappy defense behind him, no offense, and he has to learn on the job. Certainly not the best recipe for pitching development.
Clearly, he needs more time in AAA. Its not Ian Kennedy’s fault Kei Igawa is useless. That’s on the Yankees.
Its the only reason he was summoned this early in his AAA stay for another start.
Their bullpen threw another 4 shutout innings today and it wasn’t even from the main guys. That’s a positive.
There are signs this can be a good team. They just need to come to the realization that some of the dead weight on it isn’t going to get better and pull the plug.
Like it or not, the Yankees are going to have to swallow hard soon and eat a contract or two. If not, they can’t expect to win a lot of games when the offense is on pace to score 650 runs this year.
Its still way too early to give up on this team. Those that do learned nothing from last year when they were worse off than they were right now.
Fleas get off the Santana kick. Its tired, boring and not even the problem with team right now. Even if they had Santana, they are scoring 2 runs a game the last few weeks.
As good as he is, Santana wouldn’t be pitching to a 1 ERA.
He’s hardly transformed the Mets into world beaters.
Not having Santana isn’t the problem. The problem is the offense is non-existent.
I saw that mlbtraderumors.com has ken rosenthal’s new trade rumors column up. All about the Rockies already thinking about poss trading Matt Holliday.
Sees the Yankees, mets, detroit, seattle, among others as competing teams.
Here is link:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8143654/Rockies-could-be-in-market-to-trade-Holliday?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=3498
Here are Holliday’s numbers:
Year G H AVG HR RBI R
2004 121 116 .290 14 57 65
2005 125 147 .307 19 87 68
2006 155 196 .326 34 114 119
2007 158 216 .340 36 137 120
2008 37 47 .318 6 21 27
Tot 596 722 .319 109 416 399
Anyone else think this is a fabulous idea?
What is a fair package? Kennedy and Gardner?
test
Rosenthal has the Yankees, among other teams, as possible suitors for Matt Holliday, who the Rockies may be looking to move.
Link: mlbtraderumors.com
Holliday numbers:
Year G H AVG HR RBI R
2004 121 116 .290 14 57 65
2005 125 147 .307 19 87 68
2006 155 196 .326 34 114 119
2007 158 216 .340 36 137 120
2008 37 47 .318 6 21 27
Totals 596 722 .319 109 416 399
With the kind of funk the offense has been in, even 2008 Cliff Lee will have trouble winning
Didn’t the Rockies sign Holliday to an extension?
If so, I wonder why they would deal him?
giambi sucks
SJ44,
As much as I value your opinion on here (usually), I have to disagree with you on this:
“Fleas get off the Santana kick. Its tired, boring and not even the problem with team right now. Even if they had Santana, they are scoring 2 runs a game the last few weeks.”
In my estimation, Fleas is not the only Yankees fan to be thinking this, and quite frankly, if Johan goes out and shuts down the bats once again tomorrow, then all of NYC will be second guessing Cash and Co. for passing on a available bonafide ace in his (questionable) prime.
You are supposedly close to the biz, right? Think of all the ink that will be spilled in lengthy columns by NYC and NJ media on Sunday if the Yankees are facing a sweep at the hands of the Mets.
Even if the Mets just win the Johan game, people will still be forever holding this ‘non-trade’ over the head of Cashman.
Especially Hank.
I don’t think its tired at all. In fact, I don’t think this issue will tire for years, at least not until a few years down the road when media, scouts, management and fans can guage the trade to see who made out and who didn’t.
If Johan is great to decent over the next 5-7 years, and the kids flounder (or just keep doing what they are doing, Melky NOT included), then it will be viewed as a bust, a bad ‘non-move’ by Cashman to hold onto pitching prospects that didn’t pan out rather than give them up for an ace like Santana.
But if Santana needs TJ surgery in two years and his contract is a folklore tale in 10 years, while Phil and Ian are racking up the 20 win seasons and Cy Youngs, the Cashman will look like a genius.
But the jury, IMO, is still at recess on this topic. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early to call it a tired topic, IMO.
What about this Holliday thing? Who do you give up to get him, SJ?
it’s the offense’s fault kennedy has a 9 era.
Didn’t the Rockies sign Holliday to an extension?
If so, I wonder why they would deal him?
“The Rockies signed Holliday to a two-year, $23 million deal in January, but could lose him as a free agent after the 2009 season and receive only draft picks in return.”
—per K Rosenthal
PS – a special shout out and thanks to 112321 for adding such enlightening comments to society!
SJ
Why does Kennedy need to go back to AAA?
He seems to have figured out AAA so if taking his lumps in the majors doesn’t shake his confidence, what is to be learned there better than with the big club?
I bet cashman will be no where to be found tomorrow. He doesn’t want fans throwing garbage at him after santana celebrates his perfect game.
get the candy bars back, seriously, for the players.
Maybe IPK would do better without the backup guys playing every time he pitches. Why were the 2 best hitting Yanks, Matsui and Abreu sitting down? I think Joe doesn’t like IPK.
Yeah, anti.. I’m sure Cashman will hide in his office all day, under his desk, like George Costanza used to.
He’s got an alarm clock on the secret shelf!
Isn’t Mussina 8 wins away from you never coming back here?
Am I wrong, or is Mussina tied for the lead in wins in the AL?
just curious…
Can’t expect pitchers to be perfect. Expecting rookie pitchers to be perfect? Impossible.
When the plan was created to have Hughes and Kennedy in the rotation the idea was that they would have an offense behind them that could score runs. After all, they did score 968 runs last year.
Now, its a team that scores 3 runs or less in half of their games.
Nobody could have predicted that in the off-season.
But, that’s what it is now. Meaning, its awfully tough to expect rookie pitchers to keep you in games when your offense is this bad.
Its why the Yankees are going to need to take a real hard look at this roster in the coming weeks and swallow hard.
There is no way you can keep a guy like Giambi on this team with the numbers he is putting up this year. Yes, its a ton of money to eat.
But, if you don’t, your starting first baseman is a .135 hitter for the season (taking out the 6 hits he has off Byrd and Timlin this year) and that’s just ridiculous.
How in the world can the Yankees expect to win games with a guy like that starting at first base? I’m not even going to get into his defensive play because its an embarrassment.
Damon? I don’t know what his problem is, but he in Year 3 of his deal and he has basically been a functional player for 1 1/4 years of that deal. Certainly not what the Yankees hoped for when they laid 52 million dollars at his feet.
If he doesn’t get some level of consistency back into his game, its also good enough to stay an everyday player.
That throw he made today from LF was just painful to watch. I mean, really, that’s the best they can do for a LF now?
Memorial Day is usually the first time teams really take a full view of what they have. That day is coming up soon.
When it does, if the same guys continue to struggle, its time to get them out of the lineup. As Yogi would say, at some point, “its gettin’ late early”.
When Arod comes back on Tuesday (hopefully) that’s a step in the right direction. But, its going to take more than Arod to get this team hitting again.
Sorry, SJ44, but how can you NOT be mad/tired/sick of Kei Kennedy or is it Ian Igawa? I’m not talking about Ian Kennedy personally, but the entire situation. Can you still justify Cashman considering Kennedy to be “untouchable”?
Let’s call a spade a spade. As of May 15,2008 Ian Kennedy is statistically the worst starting pitcher in the American League in terms of innings per start and ERA. Don’t blame Kei Igawa. He has nothing to do with Ian Kennedy. Kei Igawa wasn’t annointed to be a starter last winter.Ian Kennedy was. If Kennedy was ill prepared, then place the blame where it belongs… on Brian Cashman.
The Yankees would have to score 9 runs per game to overcome Kennedy’s 8.44 ERA. Kennedy’s problems cant be blamed on the offense anymore than they can be blamed on Kei Igawa.
I wonder how well Kennedy would pitch if the offense would give him say an early 4 run lead and then play some good defense.
Don’t think he’s had the benefit of that type of support from the yankee team in any of his outings.
Two of the seven games Kennedy started the yankees were shut out, and the run total of the opposing teams he’s faced are just about double of the yankee total score.
Five of those seven games have been on the road.
Not as simple as you think.
why does girardi keep batting giambi clean up? you cant bring back what you never had (skills).
bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) May 15th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Yeah, anti.. I’m sure Cashman will hide in his office all day, under his desk, like George Costanza used to.
He’s got an alarm clock on the secret shelf!
Isn’t Mussina 8 wins away from you never coming back here?
Am I wrong, or is Mussina tied for the lead in wins in the AL?
just curious…
———-
nice changing of the subject. maybe i should go back to your post that linked to an explicit site? then you will never be back, ever.
What skills? Giambi? Giambi had skills anti-Mussina?
the AAAA boys = kennedy, hughes, igawa
What are you, 14?
Wasn’t there a game he left up like 7-2 that was then blown by the bullpen? I think if you fix the offense everything else falls in line…
Hey—At least I honor my bets. Lets see if you do the same…
Skills? Giambi had skills? I think all Giambi ever had was PED-skills!
I still think Kennedy needs to learn at the MLB level. He’s shown he can do it in the Minors, even without extensive time at AAA. He needs to learn to face and get out good hitters, and that can only happen up at the Major Leagues. The hitters are better, andhe’ll be able to coast by in the Minors. He’ll take his lumps, but he’ll learn and be better for it in the end.
There were good signs today. He didn’t walk batters, mainly challenged, and drastically reduced mistakes. His pitch count was manageable, and he didn’t kill the bullpen. The signs of progress are there, and I’m willing to stick with him and the growing pains as our number 5 starter, for the time being.
“The Yankees would have to score 9 runs per game to overcome Kennedy’s 8.44 ERA.”
No, today they would need to have scored 6. How many times would that have been a non-issue last year? Not saying Ian or some of the starters needs to do better but the offense has been no help.
Ian Kennedy is in his second professional season, and is too good for AAA. He’s the #5 starter. Yes, he’s been horrid this year, but if you stick with him, he’ll
definitelyfinish the ERAOk, They didnt hit again today but if the Yankees would have done last winter what they have always done pretty successfully years ago, we`d have Santana right now. Instead, we leaned on our farm system, which is not a strong suit for the Yankees. They added very little to last years team that fell short again. The Yanks were successful when they made trades and signed free agents and used their best tools -$$$
People may not like it, but it is what it is. I think going into this seasonwith Wang-good # 1 starter- a shaky and older Petitite who translates to a number 3 or 4 on better teams as your # 2, then Mussina as a #3 he has pitched well, but I dont think we expected it, then two unproven “potential” pitchers was a mistake. How can a team with the $$$ resources that the Yanks have be quite frankly just about as good as the above average teams? Yanks roster is pretty good, not great, not the best, and other teams with far less resources have better rosters, how is that?
Well if offense is the problem, why not do something about it?
All these trade chips—move some of them o get the pieces needed!
What site? I didn’t link anything…. I referenced a site, but i did not link it to here. Get your facts straight, my friend.
AND
This the third time Kennedy has faced Tampa already this season, and the second time in Tampa.
The other opponents:
Baltimore,KC, @Cleveland and Detroit in Yankee stadium.bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) May 15th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
What are you, 14?
—-
you’re the one with the un-funny jokes.
i never said giambi had skills. I said “you cant bring back what you never had (skills).” do you know how to read?
bronxbomber,
No, Anti-Mussina is one win away from leaving. He said Moose wouldn’t win 7 games this year. He has 6 wins.
He won’t be going anywhere. He will just post under a different name.
Pat,
Kennedy needs to go to AAA because he doesn’t yet know how to pitch at this level. All of his stuff is roughly the same speed. He doesn’t add or subtract from his fastball, there isn’t enough MPH spread between his fastball, curveball and changeup, and he lacks the ability to make changes the second time around an order. Its why hitters act as if they know what’s coming.
Those are things best learned in the minors. Its very tough to learn that at the ML level and just about impossible to learn it in the Yankees rotation when the team is struggling so much.
Minor league stats are often deceiving. People see a great stat line and say, “that guy is ready”.
However, it takes more than just looking at the stat line to see if he is indeed ready.
What was he getting hitters out with? Can he locate his breaking pitches in hitters counts? Does he make adjustments the second time around an order? Stuff like that and you can only get that by watching him pitch.
I’ll give you an example. Last year, in the only game Joba got shelled in the minors, Cashman and the Yankee braintrust was there. He got called up after that outing.
Why? Because in that game, he got hit hard but, he was locating everything in his arsenal and made adjustments to hitters. He just got beat that day. It happens.
The stat line didn’t read well but what he brought to the table pitching-wise showed he was ready.
Kennedy was better today. Not great obviously, but better.
He just needs more innings under his belt in the minors, IMO. 40+ AAA innings is not enough. Without it, they are rolling the dice between developing him and ruining him.
edit
don’t need to do better but the offense has been no help.
im leaving now but before i go this is for you bronxbomber 777: middle finger
“May 15th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Ian Kennedy is in his second professional season, and is too good for AAA. He’s the #5 starter. Yes, he’s been horrid this year, but if you stick with him, he’ll
definitelyfinish the ERA”Ugh, my post got eaten up.
He’ll
definitelyfinish with an ERA less than 6.00, which is league average, no?And all you Santana morans – do you want Hughes for Santana to be like the Smoltz or Randy Johnson trades? Because in 6 years, I’ll bet that Hughes is better than Santana.
Rishi,
Seeing as how Kennedy has never given up fewer than 3 runs in a game, that’s impossible. In his 5 starts he’s pitched a total of 20 2/3 innings….by far the worst starter in the American League in that regard.
“In my estimation, Fleas is not the only Yankees fan to be thinking this…”
fleas is a Yankee fan? Next you’ll tell me that anti-mussina is a Yankee fan too!
Trade Damon. Release Giambi. They are the Yankees, if they kept ol’ Pavano around for four years, then they CAN afford to dump Giambi with close to $20 M left on the books.
Make an offer to COL for Holliday. Offer Tabata, Kennedy and another picthing prospect.
Find a suitable 1B. Either one that can hit or one that can play defense. Having a guy that can’t do either is just plain dumb at this point.
anti – go away. What a moron.
“Trade Damon. Release Giambi. They are the Yankees, if they kept ol’ Pavano around for four years, then they CAN afford to dump Giambi with close to $20 M left on the books.
Make an offer to COL for Holliday. Offer Tabata, Kennedy and another picthing prospect.
Find a suitable 1B. Either one that can hit or one that can play defense. Having a guy that can’t do either is just plain dumb at this point.”
Ah, the immortal “Trade what we don’t want for we want” schtick. Yeah, I’m sure there are 29 GMs out there just falling over themselves to help the Yankees out.
They didnt hit today- but had the Yankees done what they used to do we`d have Santana in pinstripes. Lets face it, the Yankees tried to rely on the farm and thatsnot the Yanks strong suit. For years they were successful signing free agents and making trades. They did nothing this winter. Plus going into the season with one solid starter Wang, Petitte was is older and maybe a # 3 or 4 starter, Mussina, who has done well, and two totally unproven kids makes no sense. People may not like it but the Yanks have won making trades and using their best tools or assests $$$$
The Yanks have the most $$$ resources, yet there are a bunch of teams with better or equal rosters with much less $$$ and resources, how is that?
“In my estimation, Fleas is not the only Yankees fan to be thinking this”
Fleas is a Yankee fan? Next you’ll tell me that anti-moose is a Yankee fan too!
IMO, Kennedy talks like a Major League pitcher, he just didn’t pitch like one.
What then, V, would you do? Put on your GM hat…
I’m not saying to trade Damon for Holliday. I’m saying move Damon for a bag of balls. Get him out of NYC.
I’m not saying offer Giambi for Sabathia. I’m saying dump him!
But, compared to the teams Rosenthal mentioned, the Yankees have far more trading chips than DET (farm wiped after Cabrera/Willis trade); SEA (wiped after Bedard trade); etc.
Obviously a decent package needs to go to COL. But they aren’t keen on dealing him within the NL. So that leaves , obviously, the AL.
Not saying to send junk. A good trade slightly stings both teams. Or so I’ve read.
My post got eaten also.
Drive,
If Kei Igawa was a functional ML pitcher, Ian Kennedy would still be in AAA.
He was “annointed” as the 5th starter because Igawa was so awful the Yankees wasted 46 million dollars on a veteran Japanese pitcher whose skills didn’t translate to the American Game.
Kennedy has to learn how to add and subtract from his fastball. How to handle hitters the second time around the lineup, gaining more spread between his fastball and off speed pitches, etc.
That’s awfully tough to do at the ML level. Just about impossible to do it with the Yankees.
Its not a coincidence in a less pressurized environment (Scranton), he threw his best game of the year.
Some guys just aren’t ready to be good after 45 AAA innings.
That doesn’t mean they are busts. It just means that its too soon for them.
V
May 15th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
anti – go away. What a moron.
Hey V—at least we agree on something!
This the third time Kennedy has faced Tampa already this young season, and the second time in Tampa, the first Tropicana game on April 14, Kennedy enjoyed his only win of this season 8-7, but he only gave up 3 of those runs in six innings.
Jason Jones of Trenton…on his way to 6-0.
Mark Melancon makes AA debut tonight.
“What then, V, would you do? Put on your GM hat…
I’m not saying to trade Damon for Holliday. I’m saying move Damon for a bag of balls. Get him out of NYC.
I’m not saying offer Giambi for Sabathia. I’m saying dump him!
But, compared to the teams Rosenthal mentioned, the Yankees have far more trading chips than DET (farm wiped after Cabrera/Willis trade); SEA (wiped after Bedard trade); etc.
Obviously a decent package needs to go to COL. But they aren’t keen on dealing him within the NL. So that leaves , obviously, the AL.
Not saying to send junk. A good trade slightly stings both teams. Or so I’ve read.”
If they get Holliday, then Damon needs to go, no doubt.
And it would definitely take
at leastTabata or Jackson plus a good pitching prospect (> Kennedy, if not quite Hughes) along with a good relieving prospect (Masterson?).What are Holliday’s home/road splits?
In games that Kennedy has started, the Yankees have scored 4, 0, 8 (bullpen blowup; he gave up 3 runs in 6 innings that time; nevertheless, Yankees actually won this time), 0, 3, 4, 2
In order for the Yankees to hypothetically win those other games, the replacement starter + bullpen would have to have given up less than 4, 0, 0, 3, 4, and 2 runs, respectively
The two games in which the Yankees scored 4 would have been reasonably winnable with a better 4th/5th slot pitcher having a good day (or a 3rd or better slot going), barring bullpen damage.
To win a game in which you score only 3 sounds like needing a 2nd slot or better, but that’s just my opinion. 2 would be a 2nd slot having a good day or your 1st slot. Dunno what to do about the 0’s.
Hey SJ44 – I agree with your assessment of Giambi and Damon, they are not a positive for the team in any way – offense or defense! I don’t know if they will have to eat their contracts, but I sure would like to see if they could get something for them somewhere. Kennedy needs to stay and work out the kinks.
The starting pitching (Except for Pettite) seem to be coming around quite nicely, and the bullpen is stronger than I thought it would be. But the defense is unacceptable! Other than Melky they have no speed out there. The pitchers deserve a better defense behind them. I would be for bringing up one of our speedy outfielders. Even if they can’t hit a lick at least their defense would make a difference.
All the Yankees need to do is weather this storm. Better days are coming. The pitching staff is carrying the team. This team should be 10-15 games under .500 given their offensive numbers. It’s not enjoyable watching the lifeless offense perform but until they pick it up, what choice do we have?
The Giambi issue is the 2,000 elephant in the room for the Yankees right now.
The pitching is better than its shown. The bullpen has been great. Moose and Wang are solid. Hopefully, Pettitte can get it going again and Rasner is giving them a lift.
Right now, the offense is the real issue.
Everybody tries to sidestep the Giambi stuff but, he’s making over 21 million dollars this year. This for a guy hitting .135 except when he faces Paul Byrd or Mike Timlin.
Its a giant problem for the Yankees. When you lose players like Posada and Arod, guys like Giambi have to step up. Instead, they shrink.
Damon is also a problem. He’s a leadoff guy who can’t get on base, can’t run and frankly is just awful in LF. At least there are at least a couple of possible solutions for him down the line. He has a limited NTC clause so there might be a market for him at the dealine if the Yankees choose to market him.
They also have a guy in AAA (Gardner) who may soon get a chance.
Giambi? Its frankly the worst possible scenario the Yankees could have with a player right now. They have nobody in AAA ready to take his spot. He gives them no production, is owed a ton of money owed, and what he brings to the table is so lacking, he ties up multiple roster spaces. The trifecta is uselessness for player in the game today.
Short of eating a ton of money, I don’t know how the Yankees can solve their first base dilemma this season.
V,
“And it would definitely take
at leastTabata or Jackson plus a good pitching prospect (> Kennedy, if not quite Hughes) along with a good relieving prospect (Masterson?).”Thats essentially what I said! Kennedy, Tabata and a second pitching prospect…
Where you got: “Ah, the immortal “Trade what we don’t want for we want†schtick. Yeah, I’m sure there are 29 GMs out there just falling over themselves to help the Yankees out.” from I have no idea…
Its not like I pulled an Anti-Mussina and said something foolish like:
WE need to trade Kei, Damon and Giambi for Holliday, and then Farnsworth for Vlad and K-Rod!!!
V said, “And all you Santana morans – do you want Hughes for Santana to be like the Smoltz or Randy Johnson trades? Because in 6 years, I’ll bet that Hughes is better than Santana.”
V, you took the words right out of my mouth! Now, what about Hank??? He is starting to foam at the mouth already I hear. Can Cashman keep this moron in his room before he starts duplicating his daddy? I, personally, have had enough Pavanos, Johnsons, Browns, Sheffields, and the like. There are no quick fix solutions in baseball, but has Hank learned that?
V,
“And it would definitely take
at leastTabata or Jackson plus a good pitching prospect (> Kennedy, if not quite Hughes) along with a good relieving prospect (Masterson?).”Thats essentially what I said! Kennedy, Tabata and a second pitching prospect…
Where you got: “Ah, the immortal “Trade what we don’t want for we want†schtick. Yeah, I’m sure there are 29 GMs out there just falling over themselves to help the Yankees out.” from I have no idea…
Its not like I pulled an Anti-Mussina and said something foolish like:
WE need to trade Kei, Damon and Giambi for Holliday, and then Farnsworth for Vlad and K-Rod!!!
Shizzle! Lost is on…. Boom, I’m outta here!
I am very confused, I thought Anti Mussina promised he’d be gone if Mike did well. Well Mike has done more than well, and he is still here. Someone please explain!
SJ44,
I hear what your saying. But in listening and reading about Kei Igawa prior to the Yankees signing him most baseball people thought very little of Igawa. Those folks’ opinion has been validated beyond a shadow of a doubt.
So folowing your thought, Cashman’s backup plan for Igawa’s failure was Ian Kennedy. Basically then, the Yankees are sacrificing Ian Kennedy’s development due to Igawa’s failure. In tennis they would cal that a double fault on Cashman.
On a positive note, the Yanks are in a better position than they were a year ago. The bullpen is better. They have 2 starters pitching exceptionally well and a third ( Rasner) that has held his own to this point. The Yankees have stunk but still have lost only 3 games more than Boston. It’s a long season, but they need to make some changes. Unlike a lot of folks here, I don’t have full confidence in Cashman making the correct moves. After all, this is in large part his team and it has regressed evey year since 2004.
Holliday? His home/road splits aren’t good but, he can play.
He’s RH, another plus.
Here’s the problem. Who leads off if he becomes the LF?
I wish Matt could play first base. If he could, you do what you have to do to get him.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t play first so, you solve one problem (if they did get him) and it you create another (lack of a leadoff hitter).
My prediction Yankees tread water this weekend, and when Alex comes back Tuesday a light goes on.
test 2.0
Get Damon out of the lineup. DFA Giambi. Bring up Gardner. Put him in LF to alternate with Matsui. Melky stays in CF, Abreu in RF, of course.
Put Joba in the rotation by July. Bring up Robertson and Cox after a couple of AAA months under their belt.
Investigate a trade for a 1B, which, I admit, is easier said than done.
Shelly Duncan stinks, this is not an argument. So does Ensberg. So does Betemit. These should not be our other
options at first.
But the most important thing is to cut ties with Giambi and Damon, by any means necessary.
sj- What are the chances that something is done with Damon, he has been awful this year? I really think something needs to be done with him.
We all looked at 2008 and 2009 as the last years of some REAL bad contracts. Lots of money will be freed up during these 2 years and Cashman can hopefully make some better decisions.
Ahhhhh…. lost so many psotings tonight.
What in the H-E double hockey sticks is going on with ghetto word press tonight !
SJ,
Would cutting Giambi and trading Damon for nothing make it harder to attract free agents?
rconn23
Agreed!!
ARG!
kd- I don’t think so. Look at the teams that have cut bait on guys that were not preforming.
The complaining about Kennedy (and Hughes) on this blog reminds me of George rushing to give up on young pitching back in the 1980s. In fairly short order, the Yankees gave up on Jose Rijo, Doug Drabek, Al Leiter, and Jim Deshaies. Pitching could have been the Yankees strength in the late 1980s, combined with Dave Winfield and a healthy Don Mattingly. Instead Winfield and Mattingly were completely wasted on teams that had no pitching at all.
Rijo at least helped to bring us Ricky Henderson. We got a mediocrity in Rick Rhoden (and the immortal Cecelio Guante) for Drabek, who later went on to win the NL Cy Young award. For Leiter, we got Jesse Barfield on the downside of his career. Deshaies went on to have a number of good seasons with the Astros. We got Joe Niekro, for whom pitching was a way to supplement his Social Security check. We were desperate for “established” pitching to help us win now in 1985. As I recall, Niekro gave up 8 runs in his first 3 innings with the Yankees, and went downhill from there. Surprisingly, we didn’t make it to the playoffs in 1985.
Anyone care to repeat this? We need to give Kennedy and Hughes time, and not give up on them in 1/4 of a season.
Some near term changes they should consider is to stop sitting Matsui and make him the everyday DH. He is their best hitter right now. Platoon Giambi as often as possible at 1B with Duncan/Ensburg (pick one). Send the other one down and bring up Gardner to relieve Damon and Abreu occasionally and have some speed on the bench. Move Damon down to the 9th spot and let Melky lead off…Damon lacks consistency and you need that in a leadoff spot.
Arod coming back will help but he is not going turn this thing around by himself.
The Holliday rumor is intriguing but we are talking about July…things need to start changing now.
Bronxbomber 77 said, “But, compared to the teams Rosenthal mentioned, the Yankees have far more trading chips than DET (farm wiped after Cabrera/Willis trade); SEA (wiped after Bedard trade); etc.”
The Yankees will end up like Detroit, overpaid players with nowhere to go. No thanks, I vote we stay with the kids and build from within.
56bomber interesting thought, Melky has been swinging the bat much better than Damon.
The worst thing could happes is the yanks play .500 ball all season. That would be a colossal bore (this is hands down the most boring team since 1990) and boring is worse than bad.
JsDad – agreed. Its way too early to be evaluating the Santana non-trade. That can start in about two years.
Free agents go where the money is. Making moves on guys like Damon and Giambi would not affect what FA’s do with the Yankees.
The Yankees also aren’t going to sign a ton of free agents in the future so, its kind of a moot point.
They will sign a guy or two but, it won’t be like the 80’s and early 90’s. I think they finally learned their lesson on that front.
You offer enough money, guys come to your team.
Damon once said he could “never” play for the Yankees. $$$ changes a lot of minds.
Jennifer, Honestly, I don’t know what market Damon would have this season.
The Damon of right now? Probably not much.
If he can get back and become an effective player? Perhaps some interest.
The problem is, teams today shy away from guys like Damon, and Giambi for that matter, these days. Their contracts don’t match their output.
Its almost as if their type of game represents the past in today’s baseball. Its funny how much the game is changing post-PED and greenie testing. It really is like a different game and the numbers back it up so far this season.
I suppose if a team at the deadline is in the WC hunt and feel that adding a guy like Damon can put them over the top, there would be interest.
But, that’s projecting two+ months out right now and who knows how he will be playing at that time.
Heaven forbid “captain intangibles” actually tries to light a fire under his team like Wagner did for the Mets tonight…
IF Gardner can hit MLB pitching (which hasn’t been established), he’d be a good fit for the leadoff position. I don’t think you can ask him to come up and do that yet, as he hasn’t fully mastered AAA pitching yet.
56 Bomber—
I like your ideas, but I am not sure about Melky leading off.
The consensus seems to be:
1. DFA Giambi, or at least get him out of the starting lineup!
2. Either place Damon down in the lineup, or trade him.
3. Stick with the kids!
4. Find out if there is one or two of our minor leaguers that could be brought up for a look. We could find some answers from there.
5. Do not trade our young talent for a quick fix solution!!!!
ARE YOU LISTENING HANK??
The two biggest free passes for the yanks this season- Jeter and Long (hitting coach)
“Heaven forbid “captain intangibles†actually tries to light a fire under his team like Wagner did for the Mets tonight…”
Wagner’s an idiot, not a leader. His teammates don’t like him.
I think all Wagner did was P—- a few people off. I don’t think pointing fingers lights a fire. But, that’s just me.
Drive 4-5..
IPK; game by game runs given up…6-2-3-4-3-4-5, the 8 era is a bit misleading don’t you think. I realize they pulled him before it got worse, but it is what it is. One can’t work on COMMAND of ones’ pitches in the big show. This is one of the reasons some of think he should have stayed at AAA a bit longer. Same thing goes for Phil. COMMAND is the name of the game.
A lot of people (at the start of the season) said they would be happy if Moose gave them 6-7 innings of 4-5 run pitching. Just a thought. 27/08.
“The two biggest free passes for the yanks this season- Jeter and Long (hitting coach)”
Apparently, Cano seems to like Long. He’s looking
muchbetter at the plate lately, and he says Jeter and Long are the reason.And Jeter is a defensively challenged light hitting shortstop that is supposed to be a leader on this team. Your point is?
I would give just about anything to get Matt Holliday, including a kidney, i’d give my liver but that’s shot
“They will sign a guy or two but, it won’t be like the 80’s and early 90’s. I think they finally learned their lesson on that front.”
SJ44, what evidence do you have for that?
I would be very encouraged if I knew that was true, because I am more fearful of Hank doing something stupid than I am of Cashman doing something stupid.
Apparently, Cano seems to like Long. He’s looking
muchbetter at the plate lately, and he says Jeter and Long are the reason.Um, OK. So Long gets the credit for getting his average above .200 but no blame for being in the postion where he actually has to get his average above .200?
Pepitone – Melky’s not the perfect leadoff guy but this team does not have alot of options. The two major components missing are a bonafide leadoff hitter who’s a threat to steal and a decent fielding firstbaseman.
C C Sabathia is going to be a very very very rich young man next winter. And the Yanks, for all their minor league pitching depth will be fully involved. They’re moving into the new Stadium and Hank will be looking to make a splash. With the payroll the Yanks will be shedding and having been talked out of the Santana deal, Hank will not want to be denied.
I agree with this – ” Jeter is a defensively challenged light hitting shortstop” – why can’t he be moved to the outfield?
Is it too late? Has he refused? What?
Maybe Girardi will change things by force if necessary!!
What did Wagner do?
“The two major components missing are a bonafide leadoff hitter who’s a threat to steal and a decent fielding firstbaseman.”
You’ve got no argument from me there, but has Melky been given the chance to prove he can handle the role? He does have the speed, but does he have the patience to take walks, and can he hit well enough to be a threat leading off?
Maybe he can, I just don’t know.
“Apparently, Cano seems to like Long. He’s looking
muchbetter at the plate lately, and he says Jeter and Long are the reason.Um, OK. So Long gets the credit for getting his average above .200 but no blame for being in the postion where he actually has to get his average above .200?”
Give me the name of a single hitting coach who can make his players slump proof.
ARod credits Long with fixing his swing from 2006 for his 2007 season.
he tore into delgado and beltran (the giambi and damon of the mets) for ducking the media after sucking for yet another game
“C C Sabathia is going to be a very very very rich young man next winter. And the Yanks, for all their minor league pitching depth will be fully involved. They’re moving into the new Stadium and Hank will be looking to make a splash. With the payroll the Yanks will be shedding and having been talked out of the Santana deal, Hank will not want to be denied.”
Thank goodness Hank doesn’t write the checks. Hal does.
Why is that news to Wagner? Haven’t they always done that?
Big free agents down the road?
I can always see the Yankees going hard after guys at positions they are currently weak in at the minor league level…
Definately not the OF. If all pans well, Melky, Tabata and Jackson could be the OF of the future.
But I could see them going after a free agent at 1B (think Teixeira), poss CC if Hank has a fit next winter.
BUT, I always thought the Yankees (like every other team in the Majors) would go hard after Hanley Ramirez when he hit free agency. Jeter won’t be the SS for ever. I guess they have to wait. But, will he be past his prime when he finally hits FA?
Poss a free agent catcher down the road, if ‘all hail Jesus’ doesn’t work out. Maybe a McCann or a Martin?
What do I know? I’m a fat bar owner from coastal Maine!
V-
so why do pitching coaches ever get fired? are you saying that that long has done a good job this year? please enlighten me, because by that rationale the only reason a hitting coach should be fired is for pissing in someones cheerios
Hard for me to blame the hitting coach for the lack of offense. He doesn’t step in the box and hit and I doubt he is teaching guys not to hit.
You put the onus where it lies. On the players, not the coaches. Players play. Its up to them to do the job.
Billy Wagner is a moron. He should look in the mirror.
That guy blew more saves down the stretch for the Mets last year and was as responsible for their chokejob as much as any player.
Yelling at guys isn’t leading. It really isn’t. That’s little league nonsense.
That doesn’t light a fire under anybody. Its like false hustle.
Leadership is setting an example and playing up to it.
The yelling? Save that for the movies and little league.
SJ-
If leadership is setting an example than playing up to it, that jeter’s only contribution towards being a leader on the yanks is running hard to 1st base on ground ball outs. thats sad. this team has been DECIMATED by injury and jeter has done absolutely nothing to shoulder the load.
Micky#7—Old Ranger,
His 8.44 ERA is no aberration. He has thrown the fewest inngs per start of ALL major league pitchers.There’s a reason they have to pull him.
Kennedy has allowed 54 baserunners in his 20 2/4 innings. That’s why he has been removed from games. He has walked 2 more batters than he’s struck out. I wish there were a silver lining, but there’s not. He’s been awful and is certainly not ready to pitch at the major league level.
“V-
so why do pitching coaches ever get fired? are you saying that that long has done a good job this year? please enlighten me, because by that rationale the only reason a hitting coach should be fired is for pissing in someones cheerios”
Coaches get fired either because they truly suck, or as a scapegoat for the players.
A hitting coach can also suck. Everything I’ve seen about Long, and the players he’s fixed, says he’s a pretty damn good hitting coach, especially when it comes to breaking slumps (fixing ARod’s swing, helping Carlos Pena, etc.).
SJ44, did you miss my question?
“They will sign a guy or two but, it won’t be like the 80’s and early 90’s. I think they finally learned their lesson on that front.â€
SJ44, what evidence do you have for that?
I would be very encouraged if I knew that was true, because I am more fearful of Hank doing something stupid than I am of Cashman doing something stupid.
If you know something let me know, because I’m losing fingernails over Hank’s threats.
Coaches get fired because owners look for scapegoats. Most of the guys at the ML level are pretty damn competent.
For owners, its a helluva lot easier firing a coach making 200K a year than it is DFA’ing a bad player making 20 million.
“Micky#7–Old Ranger,
His 8.44 ERA is no aberration. He has thrown the fewest inngs per start of ALL major league pitchers.There’s a reason they have to pull him.
Kennedy has allowed 54 baserunners in his 20 2/4 innings. That’s why he has been removed from games. He has walked 2 more batters than he’s struck out. I wish there were a silver lining, but there’s not. He’s been awful and is certainly not ready to pitch at the major league level.”
He was
notgood today, but you have to say, he didn’t walk many.It’s not as much progress as I’d like, but progress nonetheless.
He’s not going to get ready to pitch at the major league level by dominating AAA. If you’re just going to stick him in AAA, might as well put him on the trade market for a bag of balls.
Come on people, no matter which side of the Santana trade debate you were on, it’s a non factor right now. The only thing different would be the Yanks losing his starts 3-1 or 3-2. It’s the bats that are killing this team, nothing more, nothing less. If you step back and think about it, sure there have been some bad starts, but the pitching really has been pretty darn good for the most part. A few more runs here and there and this team would be tied with Boston easily right now.
And for those of you scared about how the media is going to go crazy when Santana beats the Yanks tomorrow…who cares?
Will they proclaim Cashman a genius if someone they beat him? (I could hardly type that without laughing though.)
Great, great story about Mo playing center, Pete.
Its stuff like this that makes you blow the competition away!
So Long deserves no blame for their abysmal offense this season? If not, he has the best job in the world
What do you want Jeter to do? You want him to hit 40 HR’s, make up for Giambi and Damon’s less than stellar play or become the 5th starter?
Really, what do you think he can do other than do his job?
Its all he can do. He can’t make other players better.
He’s a SS, not a point guard.
Pepitone,
Hank said something the other day in that AP interview everybody missed.
He said, “I’ve got to make up for five years worth of mistakes here and we are doing it with the younger players”.
Everybody missed that in that interview.
What he is saying is, they aren’t going to fix all their problems via free agency. They will be aggressive with some but, will do it predominantly from within.
Hank is well aware of the wasted money the Yankees have spent on the FA market. Hence his dissatisfaction with certain guys on the team.
Hank likes to talk like dad. He doesn’t ACT like dad. That’s the difference.
Plus, with Hal also there, they are good buffers for one another.
http://www.metsblog.com/
Scroll down you’ll see video of Wagner.
I wouldn’t say I’m ‘scared’ about what the media write.
I wouldn’t say anyone on the team, in the front office or ownership is scared either.
But the Joel Sherman’s, Kevin Kernan’s, Mike “I hate you so much” Lupica’s, Ian O’Connor’s and so on of the world are going to kill Cashman and the Yankees.
And, because Hank is hanging onto reality by such a thin piece of string, I think (heck, I’ll even predict) that if the Mets sweep this series this weekend, especially if Johan dominates, it could set off or start a chain of events that changes this organization and the progress at the farm level it has made.
Yeah, I said it.
Yanks get swept. Johan is dang near perfect. The kids still need time (AND PATIENCE) to grow into MLB players, but Hank goes buts. Fires Cashman. Makes some dumb trades, depletes farm. Signs Bonds, Piazza and a slew of over the hill fools that have no business being on a field in uniform.
See where I’m going with this? With a buffoon like Hank at the helm, anything can happen!
V
I dont think destroying Ian Kennedy’s confidence by getting spanked at the major league level is development.
Once upon a time clubs wanted starting pitchers to pitch 250 – 300 innings at the minor league level before bringing them up. Clyde King used to say that the only way a kid could learn to get out of jams was by learning it in the minors.
Ian Kennedy was brought to the majors having pitched 149 minor league innings, only 45 of them at AAA. He needs to learn his craft in Scranton for everyone’s benefit.
Joel Sherman is the biggest ** but we already know that.
From living on the black.
Mike was talking John F (writer of the book) in the Mets clubhouse. He sees Miggy putting masking tape and asks him what the heck he is doing. Miggy explains that the reporters keep sneaking peeks into the lunch room that they are not allowed in, so he is putting tape down so they won’t walk over the line. Sherman says to Miggy really nice your team is ?-? and you are worried about us stepping over the line.
Hank isn’t going nuts. He’s not his father.
The guy left the Yankees because he hated how his father acted with that stuff.
In every interview he gives he talks about not being like his father.
That’s worrying about something that isn’t going to happen.
I knew this would happen, and I knew the closet fans would come out tonight and call Kennedy a bum, he is not a bum, what I said 6 days ago about him getting the start and not earning it came true a bit, but 2 things happened tonight, he was fastball, changeup and couldn’t locate his 3rd and 4th pitch, gee who said he needed to stay down and polish himself, Iwamura cheated on the first HR, Riggans got a tip from Hinske on his HR… yup I’ll leave it at that. He doesn’t suck he just needs more than 1 start to figure it out, but not up here, now we got to wait until someone else qualifies for the start from AAA since it’s that type of thing.
The Matt Holiday rumors come out and already people want to dump prospects, this is what we call working backwards, he’s not a 1B, not a leadoff hitter when Alex and Posada return what are you trying to do w/ Matt Holiday’s addition and the fact that it would take top tier prospects tell you something is up. Don’t get in that bidding war.
Drive 4-5…
That’s what I said. He should be at AAA for a few weeks or more. Also, I was pointing out the actual runs he gave up, not his era., big difference. SJ 44 hit it on the head a few times to-day, along with you (at times). 27/08.
Players like Mike Lowell and Jorge Posada present another dilemma re: signing free agents. What do you do with your own aging free agents?
The Yankees decided to sign Posada (for FOUR years) and Rivera, and coaxed Pettite into returning. The Sox re-signed Lowell. I’m not sure that either team would have pursued those players at this point in the careers if they had played with other teams.
So the Yankees have some tough choices coming up next year with respect to Abreu, Mussina and Pettite. Right now, Pettitte and Mussina are the Yankees’ 2d and 3d most effective pitchers. Do the Yankees let them walk, and, if they do, who replaces them? I doubt that Cashman (or whoever) will anoint two more prospects for the rotation, especially with the current state of the Hughes/Kennedy experiment.
Both teams talk about getting younger, but they still insist on re-signing their own veterans (did I mention Timlin?). If the Yankees do part with Mussina and/or Pettitte, I would assume that Sabbathia would be their main target – another BIG contract.
It’s much easier to be a GM on a blog.
What has Hank actually done to make you think he will go off on some stupid rampage?
If you look past the crazy way he says things and think about it, he actually does seem to have a clue what to do.
SJ-
Um, how about he can do his job better than he currently is. That means coming up with something other than a 2-out base hit when down 4 runs to keep the average at .300. That means hitting into fewer DP’s. It means going 4-4 and driving in a game winning or tying run late in a game. these are all things you and I have seen him do the past 10 years. with 2 big bats out of the lineup, its not out of the question to expect your 2nd highest paid player, supposed team leader and perennial all-star step up and contribute. its amazing how many jeter apologists there are
“Everybody missed that in that interview.”
Yep, I did too. Thanks SJ44, I can sleep better now. : )
Seriously, that is great news. Thanks.
I think if Mike continues on the track he is on the Yankees will resign him for a year.
Bob,
Exactly. Hank has done NOTHING to warrant such worry.
It ain’t gonna happen folks. He’s not turning into Dad overnight. Regardless of what happens this weekend.
BTW, he’s also contractually forbidden to act like dad.
His partnership agreement states that he and Hal have to be unanimous in their decisionmaking or no decision is made.
I’d prefer folks worry about the stuff that is happening (like the lack of offense) than the stuff that won’t happen (firing everybody and signing 40 yr old DH’s).
anyone hear this ?
brandon would not shock me at all.
“Players like Mike Lowell and Jorge Posada present another dilemma re: signing free agents. What do you do with your own aging free agents?
The Yankees decided to sign Posada (for FOUR years) and Rivera, and coaxed Pettite into returning. The Sox re-signed Lowell. I’m not sure that either team would have pursued those players at this point in the careers if they had played with other teams.”
I do agree with what you’re saying here. All three of those would’ve found a team that would’ve given them big money. The Yankees offered Lowell I believe a 3-year contract to play first and wanted him to play 3rd before A-Rod came back. Posada is one of the top 2 or 3 offensive catchers in the game, coming off of his best season, and his defense is VERY underrated. Mo is Mo, he can play and close for any team he wants.
I do understand what you mean with resigning your own players and where to draw the line, but those 3 had homes where ever they wanted them.
So, you think Jeter isn’t trying to do better?
I guess you believe he can just will results.
He can show photos of his 6 conquests of the Maxim Top 100 he’s had and it turns pitchers to mush. Thereby enabling him to climb tall buildings, hit .500 and win every game for the Yankees.
If you don’t like Jeter, that’s your opinion. But, to think he isn’t trying tells me you haven’t watched the Yankees too much since 1996.
Don’t confuse lack of results with lack of effort.
Jeter NEVER lacks effort. That’s leadership.
If he could will hitting the ball where guys aren’t, he would hit 1.000.
Unfortunately, it isn’t that way in the non-video game world.
On Baseball Tonight, Buster Olney said the Yankees internally want to trade Johnny Damon.
How bout throwing Giambi in there?
“So Long deserves no blame for their abysmal offense this season? If not, he has the best job in the world”
Name me a single hitting coach who can fix Andruw Jones’ swing. It can’t be done. His bat speed is down, and he’s
finished.Giambi is looking finished. Everything I see says he’s hitting to left field with power in batting practice, working with Long, etc., but in a game situation, he reverts to same old Giambi. Long can’t bat for him.
Cano’s been AWFUL. He’s coming around. He credits Long.
ARod had one of his poorest years in recent memory due to a horrid mid-year slump in 2006. He credits Long with fixing his swing prior to the 2007 season.
Carlos Pena credits Kevin Long for fixing his swing.
:shrug:
Brandon,
Wouldn’t shock me either. I’ve said all along Damon and Giambi are on borrowed time with the Yankees.
JMO but, I don’t think either guy finishes the year in NY.
They are players of a bygone era in baseball and the Yankees are looking to go in a different direction.
I think a divorce is inevitable with both guys. Its just a matter of deciding the terms.
SJ-
please tell me you are kidding… i dont question his effort in the least. I could put a retarded kid out there who will try hard and give maximum effort but he would only be slighly less effective than jeter. my gripe isnt that he isnt trying (thats so cute) but that his “best effort” these days isnt cutting it.
“SJ-
Um, how about he can do his job better than he currently is. That means coming up with something other than a 2-out base hit when down 4 runs to keep the average at .300. That means hitting into fewer DP’s. It means going 4-4 and driving in a game winning or tying run late in a game. these are all things you and I have seen him do the past 10 years. with 2 big bats out of the lineup, its not out of the question to expect your 2nd highest paid player, supposed team leader and perennial all-star step up and contribute. its amazing how many jeter apologists there are”
LOL! Now you really sound moronic, man.
You think a player can say “oh, well, we’re losing bad, so I won’t get a hit here, I’ll save it for when I need it”? Baseball ain’t like that.
‘Clutch’ hitting has been pretty much disproven. You take the aggregate stats in baseball, because, given Jeter gets one hit in four at bats, it’s pretty much random which of the four at bats it was (runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out or no one on and none out), etc.
ant1 – Mussina
I’ll tell you why Girardi is batting Giambi cleanup. He is trying to demonstrate to ownership just how washed up Giambi really is. By batting him cleanup and throwing him out there on 1B everyday, Girardi doesn’t have to say a word.
My second theory? They’re trying to get their money’s worth before they tank him.
My third? They assume if he plays everyday he’ll end up on the DL. Now, wouldn’t that work out for the best? They don’t have to embarrass themselves by releasing him, and they get to replace him, which we know they are DYING to do.
V-
so long gets credit for fixing cano but no blame for him having to be in a position to be fixed?
I can’t imagine any team at this point of the season being all that interested in aquiring Damon especially given his contract.
That’s like Buster Olney saying “Bob internally would like to bang Jessica Biel.”
right, so why do they always tell us what a players batting average is with RISP?
right, so why do they always tell us what a players batting average is with RISP?
“Brandon,
Wouldn’t shock me either. I’ve said all along Damon and Giambi are on borrowed time with the Yankees.
JMO but, I don’t think either guy finishes the year in NY.”
SJ I said the same thing
“V-
so long gets credit for fixing cano but no blame for him having to be in a position to be fixed?”
Name me a single hitting coach whose players never go into prolonged slumps.
I won’t hold my breath.
keep burying your head in the sand and telling yourself its going to be OK. this team is cooked. its a toxic mix of over priced, over the hill veterans and not quite major leage ready youngsters with a few good players tossed in for good measure
Well, I will say this, the Yankees have options, maybe not great options, but they do have options, and I would like to see them make some changes from within the system.
Getting rid of both Damon and Giambi would be a terrific start. Bringing up some of their more promising youngsters and seeing what we got would be another.
If we have to lose like this, I would rather we lose with the kids than these overpriced washed up veterans.
“right, so why do they always tell us what a players batting average is with RISP?”
Because ‘they’ like to tell us a ton of inane stats that have no predictive power whatsoever (Batting Average is pretty useless itself ;-)).
I’ve just started nibbling into statistical study of baseball (did a project for my regression analysis class (surprise, surprise, OPS is the best predictor for team runs over the course of a season ;-))), and have a database that I compiled from retrosheet.org – every pitch thrown in the major leagues from 2000-2007. 2 GB. Yeesh. Now I need to figure out how to automatically grab Gameday data and link to pitch f/x.
V- there isnt one that exists. when they finally do get around to firing long, maybe carlos pena can write him a letter of recomendation for his next job
“keep burying your head in the sand and telling yourself its going to be OK. this team is cooked. its a toxic mix of over priced, over the hill veterans and not quite major leage ready youngsters with a few good players tossed in for good measure”
Your posts are getting more idiotic as time goes on. I’m finished with you, troll.
Im a troll? thats rich. Is Giambi over priced? is damon over the hill? is kennedy not quite major league ready? the only thing worse than band wagon yankee fans are fans like V who feel as if they keep telling themselves is isnt that bad thet start to believe it
V – that project sounds awesome.
seems like everyone is forgetting about Rasner! Thank god he has emerged. He looks very comfortable out there and seems like the guys like playing behind him. So we have CMW, Moose, Pettitte, Rasner and whoever gets thrown to the wolves in the 5th spot; I’m totally fine with that!
they need to be ready for the Mets, that’s a team coming to the Bronx hungry for a win w/ 3 very good SP matched up.
Giambi has a 123 OPS+. He leads the Yankees in homeruns and walks (not his fault he’s not getting driven in) and is second on the team in RBIs.
Batting average is, besides the save, one of the most useless statistics in major league baseball. It says absolutely nothing about the value of the player. In fact, a .250/.400/.500 player is more valuable than a .300/.400/.500 player, simply because the .250 hitter’s hits are for more power, and the singles that are missing are replaced by walks. The difference between a double and a single is more than the difference between a single and a walk.
Proof positive that batting average is an absolutely useless statistic.
Giambi’s been the 4th-most valuable hitter on the team. It doesn’t matter about his salary. He’s been more productive, as a hitter, than any of the first basemen, and all of the Yankee hitters but for Matsui, Abreu, and A-Rod.
Giambi is most certainly not the problem.
To SJ44:
ever think about set up your own blog?
You’ve got some interesting views on the Yanks, It’s waste that you say it here.
I’d prefer folks worry about the stuff that is happening (like the lack of offense) than the stuff that won’t happen (firing everybody and signing 40 yr old DH’s).
How about I worry about whatever I want, you pompous, blowhard of a windbag…
FWIW… get your own blog!
Is Juan Miranda completely off the radar as a 1st base solution?
The list of useless guys doesn’t end with Giambi (and I actually stop short of calling Damon completely useless.) The Shelley Duncan experiment is close to over. At best, this guy was going to be Shane Spencer, but he’s a AAAA hitter all the way. I realize Morgan Ensberg is getting more at-bats than he was supposed to, but his past success before he fell off the cliff clouds the fact that he’s an average, at best, bench guy.
With Alex and Jorge at 100%, this is a better team. These games still count, however, and this is not a 90 win team at the moment.
Santana? I still wouldn’t make the trade. Not when we still can’t assess who Ian and Phil will be in the end. Not when, as the NY Frickin Yankees, we can throw the world at Sabathia at the end of the year. Luke SJ said, the world’s ills would not have been cured if he was wearing pinstripes right now.
We’re paying for the sins of the beginning of this decade. We’re paying for becoming the type of team we weren’t when we were winning championships, and now we have to figure out how to get back there. it didn’t take quick fixes then either. to get to Jeter, Mo, and Posada, we had to live with Chuck Cary and Clay Parker for a while.
I don’t understand why Abreu and Matsui were not in the lineup bc they can hit left handed pitching. I partially blame Girardi for the hitters not hitting. He changes the lineups so much, especially against lefties, that they cannot get into