Game 43: Mets at Yankees
-
- May
- 16
YANKEES
Damon LF
Abreu RF
Jeter SS
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Gonzalez 3B
Moeller C
Rasner RHP
METS
Reyes SS
Anderson DH
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Church RF
Alou LF
Delgado 1B
Schneider C
Castillo 2B
Santana LHP
Darrell Rasner against the Mets hitters.
” target=”_blank”>Johan Santana against the Yankees hitters.
Back later with updates.
UPDATE, 6:02 p.m.: As of right now, they’re going to try and play. It’s still raining here but it’s supposed to clear. It seems unlikely the game will start on time, however.
UPDATE, 6:11 p.m.: Willie Randolph held a lengthy closed-door meeting with his team this afternoon. The Yankees, it seems, are Club Paradise when compared to the Mets. Word is that Randolph could be fired at any time. Willie has received the dreaded vote of confidence from Omar Minaya, however.
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on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 3:46 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Cano before Cabrera.. another new lineup!
GO YANKS!!!!! Hopefully the offense can get somehting going here.
Oh goody Giambi against another lefty and he’s playing 1B.
Giambi gets another chance to get it going. The length left on that rope gets shorter and shorter…
Jax..what are their options? Shelly? he be SMELLY lately!
I guess Duncan’s done nothing to impress. At least Ensberg’s getting on base…
i like this lineup alot, i think its the best one we’ve had without arod and jorge.
i know its santana but i think we outlast him tonight and then feast on that crappy bullpen for a late comeback victory! just what this team and its fans need!
The options aren’t great but I would have but Ensberg in there.
has abreu ever hit before jeter this year? if not that is new as well
Santana has problems pitching inside to LHB so Cano is there for the power threat, Melky is one of our best hitters w/ RISP so if Santana walks or allows an XBH to Robi Melky’s AB after Cano is very key in this game.
What I can’t agree w/ is Giambi, he has shown absolutely nothing consistant. No”thong”
Re: Shelley – Like that saying “You can’t get a job without any expeience, but you can’t get any experience if you can’t get a job”. Shelley can’t get in the lineup because he isn’t hitting, but he can’t get any hits if he’s not in the lineup.
We already know what Jason can/can’t do, in the field and at bat. Why not play Shelley more and give him a chance?
“has abreu ever hit before jeter this year? if not that is new as well”
yes he did
im tired of seen ablerto gonzalez y dey dont call up ramson to play
I love that Wagner has an AB against Rasner. What are the odds of that??
Let’s hope this game even gets played tonight. I don’t want to face two lefties in the same day if this does end up turning into a day/night double header tomorrow.
Abreu has hit before jeter. yesterday.
kev….3rd night in a row of abreu in front of derrick.
“I guess Duncan’s done nothing to impress. At least Ensberg’s getting on base…”
he’s warming up Matt Carson’s spot right now
Giambi two strike outs and a grounder. Doesn’t say much for your team when you fifth batter weighs more than his batting average.
Kevin this is actually the second or third time Jete has hit after bobby.
whoa. . . why is abreu before jeter?
“Why not play Shelley more and give him a chance?”
Cuz the odds are pretty low that he’ll do anything with the chance, frankly.
“im tired of seen ablerto gonzalez y dey dont call up ramson to play”
Cody Ransom?
Seriously??? The guy DEFINES career minor leaguer.
Giambi has actually been playing some solid defense as of late.
“he’s warming up Matt Carson’s spot right now”
Who?
This juggling of the lineup has got us all the way into last place ( I know, not really, but work with me here )...so let’s just keep doing it. How about make a rule that from here on out we will NEVER repeat a lineup …EVER !!!,,,,Girardi needs to get a clue here, keep the people that play every day in the same spot every day that the play and just move around the other “pieces”...there is NO WAY ( IMO ) that this constant juggling is helping them hit better.
Cody Ransom?
Seriously??? The guy DEFINES career minor leaguer.
he has more power and can play good defense he plays third shortstop and some outfield
to back up Whozat’s post
Cody Ransom
APRIL: .245/.288/.439
MAY: .259/.281/.481
there is a reason he is a career minor leaguer
“Girardi needs to get a clue here, keep the people that play every day in the same spot every day that the play and just move around the other “piecesâ€â€¦there is NO WAY ( IMO ) that this constant juggling is helping them hit better.”
Guess you didn’t see yesterday when hmmm basically broke down how the 1998 Yankees used 120 different lineups that year.
Gonzalez playing 3rd rather than Ensberg makes it seem like the Yanks are trying to decide who to move on Tuesday.Ensberg’s value was his on base percentage against lefties. The fact that he’s not in the lineup against Santana speaks volumes.
I still dont unserstand the logic of putting Abreu ahead of Jeter. It may just be me, but what is this logic?
“he has more power and can play good defense he plays third shortstop and some outfield”
Gonzalez plays good defense too, at SS, 2B and 3B. Ransom really doesn’t play OF any more than Cairo did when they stuck him in LF a few times. The offensive differences are pretty negligible. Gonzalez has gotten on base a little more, Ransom has hit for a bit more SLG. Gonzalez might actually be able to hack it as an MLB utility guy. Ransom’s had the chance to stick for years and hasn’t. He couldn’t even stick on the Giants.
Damnit, I put an “a” instead of an “e” in Brett Gardners name. Its fixed now though.
“I still dont unserstand the logic of putting Abreu ahead of Jeter. It may just be me, but what is this logic?”
Jeter’s hit with RISP thus far. Abreu’s gotten on base more than Jeter thus far. So, this ordering increases the probability that a man will be on base when someone who’s actually been getting hits with runners on comes to the plate.
im sitting at home.. i should be leaving for this game right now.. but im not confident itll be played.. i may leave at the last minute and arrive an inning late if its not cancelled by 5
don…no offense but check yesterday’s lineup thread for hmmmm’s comparison of how many lineups the yankees used last year and yanks vs other teams this year and you will see that this is a average year for lineups. pete keeps pushing new lineups as some kind of a problem (asking yesterday what the record was…) but this is just S.O.P. for the yankees.
notice that pete didnt note whether it was a repeat lineup or not today. (see, he DOES read this blog!
still love ya pete!!! you’re the bestest!
“I still dont unserstand the logic of putting Abreu ahead of Jeter. It may just be me, but what is this logic?â€
Plus, Abreu really benefits when Alex is behind him. He hasn’t played as well since A-Rod has been on the DL. He’s not getting as many pitches to hit. Not sure why when Matsui is behind him. Matsui is no A-Rod, but he is most certainly a dangerous hitter. I wouldn’t want to pitch to him.
Also to give a R bat to split up heart of order. If not, they’d have 4 L in a row.
raymagnetic you don’t know who Matt Carson is ?
giambi has not played solid D. he needs to dive for a play others make in there sleep.
Ransom is 29 he probably is a career minor leaguer.. check out his strikeouts at SWB…He is not the next Arod.
this is who they have available now, the only debateable move is if Duncan should get the start….
Its to split up the lefties. You don’t want 4 lefties in a row facing Santana. When Arod is back, Abreu will go back to the 3 spot in the order.
Brandon,
I could look him up if I wasn’t being lazy right now. Perhaps you could enlighten me?
Without Posada and A-Rod, the Yankees are simply too lefty heavy.
I have to think that Shelley would be in there if he’d done much of anything so far on this go-round, but he hasn’t. I guess Gimabi will at least take more pitches to achieve the same result—or bust out big time!
Brandon,
I assume you were joking about Matt Carson taking Shelley’s spot.
Goes to show you, Duncan and Ensberg have been mini disasters backing up the main disaster Giambi. Imagine we had a real first baseman like Tex. The Yankees should and will open up the checkbook for him. Question is will they try and trade for him mid-year.
Thinking about Pete’s post last night about Mo, I present the Yanks’ new late-inning pitching/defensive alignment:
8th inning: Joba pitches and Mo plays first base.
9th inning: Mo pitches and Joba plays first base.
“Imagine we had a real first baseman like Tex. The Yankees should and will open up the checkbook for him. Question is will they try and trade for him mid-year.”
I think TEX is out with a back injury. Following in his idol’s footsteps I see.
What about putting Mo out in CF on days when Melky’s off? That way, we should use Damon in LF and still have Matsui as the DH.
ok I’ll give you a run down
at age 25 in Trenton it started to click for him, he hit 16 HR w/ 76 RBIs and finished the 2007 campaign w/ 43 XBH, slugged .414
this season 2008
No not really raymagnetic
Matt was SLG .545 w/ 5 HR, 26 RBI in 27 games in AA.
so far in his first 7 games in AAA: .379/.438/.483, 11 for 29, 2 XBH, 7 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
RISP: .429/.500/.429 in 7 ABs
he’s batting in the 6-7th spot of the line up, thus his low RBI total.
patience and power and hitting w/ RISP could put Matt in the Bronx soon
I’m really surprised they haven’t called this game yet. It’s not gonna happen tonight.
No not really raymagnetic, ok I’ll give you a run down
at age 25 in Trenton it started to click for him, he hit 16 HR w/ 76 RBIs and finished the 2007 campaign w/ 43 XBH, slugged .414
this season 2008
Matt was SLG .545 w/ 5 HR, 26 RBI in 27 games in AA.
so far in his first 7 games in AAA: .379/.438/.483, 11 for 29, 2 XBH, 7 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
RISP: .429/.500/.429 in 7 ABs
he’s batting in the 6-7th spot of the line up, thus his low RBI total.
patience and power and hitting w/ RISP could put Matt in the Bronx soon if Shelley doesn’t get it together.
Poor Willie. He’s really bugging out right now, you can hear it in his voice.
i think we’d be better with mo in LF and damon at 1B
“Without Posada and A-Rod, the Yankees are simply too lefty heavy.”
Even WITH them they’re too lefty heavy. They had a hard time with lefties last year too.
Ensberg, at least, has been taking walks of late. Not really hitting, though.
“Poor Willie. He’s really bugging out right now, you can hear it in his voice.”
you blame him
Mo could probably cover center and right field at the same time, letting the AG be an infield roamer, which would help out Jeter and Giambi both.
ok lets check out the power of the blogosphere, who is close to yankee stadium and can you tell us whats happening outside right now. im in philadelphia and the radar is just colors.
Just called the Stadium—it’s 4:24, still horrible rain out there, more coming, and they say the game is still on….
not to go back into trade speculation but how much could a guy like brandon inge help this team out right now?
hope this lineup works wonders!
damn, wood, the blogoshere is doing just fine eh? thanks!
“patience”
He’s old for the league. His patience has never really been stellar (33 walks in 500 ABs?) and he K’s a lot. He’s your standard minor league slugger who will just become a swinging K in the majors. He’s Shelley without the first base experience. Actually, Shelley showed more plate discipline in the minors than Carson has.
Yaknow what would be awesome? Bases loaded, Mo pinch-hits for Giambi, and gets a grand slam
The next chapter in Mo’s mythos…
Carnies and rubes, carnies and rubes.
They can’t postpone the game until they get the parking money and sell a few beers and hotdogs!
This game should get in just fine according to these two radars:
http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?zoommode=pan&prevzoom=zoom&num=6&frame=0&delay=15&scale=1.000&noclutter=0&ID=DIX&type=N0R&showstorms=0&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&map.x=400&map.y=240&scale=1.000¢erx=400¢ery=240&showlabels=1&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&lerror=20&num_stns_min=2&num_stns_max=9999&avg_off=9999
http://www.accuweather.com/radar-state.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=1&zipcode=10451&metric=0&site=NY_&anim=1
That green batch is passing thru nj/ny now, and as you can see, theres nothing behind it.
“not to go back into trade speculation but how much could a guy like brandon inge help this team out right now?”
Not a lot.
.361.344.281
.336.380.228
One is Gonzo, the other’s Inge.
Clearly, there was an obvious spot to put Shelley, but just as clearly, not much confidence in him…
Damon LF (L)
Abreu RF (L)
Jeter SS (R)
Matsui DH (L)
Giambi 1B (L)
Cano 2B (L)
Cabrera CF (R)
Gonzalez 3B®
Moeller C (R)
Rasner RHP
Why so down on Shelly? He got good wood on Kazmir’s heater twice last night, one hit!
gotta be driving some of the players (both sides) crazy, teams getting bashed in the papers, a death-watch on willie, hank’s threatening armed conflict, yanks just got home from a drubbing in tampa and the mets just got booed out of shea against the expos, the papers going crazy, the subway series where the eyes of new york are really on you and…...
its raining and you dont even know if you are going to play.
And, also, this is Giambi
.341.438.181
A weird line. To say the least. With his spotty D, certainly not good enough. And far too walk-based. Especially if he doesn’t see that hitting into the shift isn’t bad luck. But, still more of a contribution that Inge.
We don’t need Inge. What we need is for the players that we already have to start hitting up to their potential. The fix isn’t on the outside. We have enough to win internally. We just need better results from the current crop of Yankee players.
I drove past Yankee Stadium not too long ago and it is a steady rain.
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
OOOOOO! SCARY!
god, what a weak lineup. UGH!
giambi also got good wood on a few last night. i think joe g. knows how much this team really needs giambi right now, if he could get in the groove, just for this week, it could really make a huge difference (i know the same could be said for shelley)and joe is showing his confidence in him.
laura, im not making a case to trade for inge. i was saying how much would you like to have him on your team tonight or this month for that matter. he catches, plays 3b and LF, runs bases well and could pinch-hit or pinch-run for the molasses brothers(moeller/molina) anytime and go in behind the plate.
whozat you telling me Carson hasn’t improved ?
in 29 ABs .379/.438/.483 w/ a 921 OPS
then that’s one heck of an introduction hot streak in AAA so far in 2008 AA+AAA stats
34 G 141 AB .328/.385/.514 w/ 23 SO, 11 BB (since you would look at that stat) that’s a SO every 7.1 AB
Can’t see them playing tonight. Its supposed to rain late into the night and into the early morning hours.
I’m thinking more of Shelley in RF again rather than watch Santana make Abreu look bad. Bobby is not on his game right now, he’s down 0-2 just about every AB, then lunges at outside pitches. Shelley is getting the bat out, sometimes too soon ala Sheff. Give the big guy some AB’s is what I think!!!
“Mo could probably cover center and right field at the same time, letting the AG be an infield roamer”
for my totally random thought in this vein, if a knuckleball pitcher had an unhitable (and uncatchable) knuckleball on a given night, could his team take one of the outfielders and put him at the backstop?
i know you can’t pull the catcher because it’s a making a travesty of the game.
the giambi shift is allowed. how far can a team go?
I think the defensive players must all be in fair territory (except the catcher obviously.
The storm is moving fast if you look at the radar. If you’re westerly of the Bronx, you’ll see it’s just cloudy outside.
As long as a rainout doesnt result in a day/night doubleheader this weekend, as rainout wouldnt be the worst thing for the Yanks. Every game they can avoid playing without ARod is a good thing. Plus, I’d get to see Santana pitch when I go to the Stadium tomorrow lol.
ok i feel compelled to insert a (bob)eukerism here:
Q: how do you catch a knuckleball, bob?
A: that’s easy, i wait till it stops rolling and pick it up!
JohnC-
based on the radar, they shouldn’t have any problems with rain after this batch passes.
I just went out back to check the skies. Beautiful, breezy, little puffs of white clouds, about 80-85 dgrs…. oh sorry I’m just outside of Tampa. No wonder the Rays are in first and the Yanks NOT.
I am southwest of the Bronx-West Central NJ to be exact and it is not raining here…I just hope that things clear up in time for the game tonight as I want to watch some baseball.
there’s a such thing as Rays fans
some knuckleball pitchers have a hard knuckler that catchers can’t catch when it’s moving a lot, so when there’s a runner on third, they don’t throw the hard one. they ease up for the catcher, but it makes it easier to hit too.
if a second baseman can play way out in right field, why can’t a defensive player play at the back stop?
if nothing else , it’d be fun to tick off an umpire crew a team didn’t like. i’m not sure they’d know how to react.
Brandon –
I don’t know many Rays fans but as a Yankee fan living in the Tampa Bay area I sure as hell do know who’s in 1st place!
I just took a look at the radar on weather.com. There may be a few hours to squeeze this in, but it ain’t gonna be pretty. It’s not a slam dunk that this game won’t happen. I just hope they don’t string along the fans that are there before they cancel (if they do).
“then that’s one heck of an introduction hot streak in AAA”
Yep. And probably pretty irrelevant.
Brandon…any guy in the minors can have a hot couple months. It’s just not worth getting excited about them unless they’re actually an interesting talent or they sustain it for a while. Ask yourself what’s more likely…a 26 year old in AA finally figured it out, or that the luck of the draw has his BABIP really high for a while. A middling defensive corner OFer whose only skill is SLG is not a real useful guy.
wanted to mention that back in 78, billy martin had a system of ‘shuttling’ sparky lyle and rich gossage into rf to keep them both in the game.
southern, i wouldnt get too puffy about the rays at the 1/4 pole, it remeinds me of my eagle’s fan g/f who was just as puffy at the 1/4 pole of the nfl season….how’d that work out for her?
Randy – from the Official Rules
4.03 When the ball is put in play at the start of, or during a game, all fielders other than the catcher shall be on fair territory.
“We already know what Jason can/can’t do, in the field and at bat. Why not play Shelley more and give him a chance?”
I’m also part of the Shelley Duncan fan club, but when $22M is vested in a veteran I understand the priority for that veteran to play. But someone commented that maybe they’re playing Giambi for potential trade reasons, hoping someone will bite. But with the Big G batting under .200 and playing regularly that may be wishful thinking. Shelly’s batting about the same, but he plays once a week.
BIlly ,
Thanks…I was driving myself crazy looking for the rule!
“if a second baseman can play way out in right field, why can’t a defensive player play at the back stop?”
You can do pretty much anything you want in fair territory, that I know. I’ve seen teams bring a 5th infielder in and play with only 2 OFers. Usually only with 1 out in the ninth and a speed demon on 3rd or something, where even a shallow fly-ball ends the game, but I’ve seen it.
I don’t know if you can put guys in foul territory, though.
It’s like another question I asked once…Must an AL team use a DH? Can the pitcher be both the pitcher AND the DH? I know you can wind up in an AL game with the pitcher having to bat (by PHing for a position player and then putting your DH into that position player’s position), but I wonder if it’s legal for an AL manager to take a lineup card up there with his starting pitcher in the batting order.
“But with the Big G batting under .200 and playing regularly that may be wishful thinking. Shelly’s batting about the same, but he plays once a week.”
At least Jason’s getting on base and getting XBH sometimes.
Finally got my cards from National Baseball Card Day.
A-Rod and Derek Jeter were in my free pack (made my day).
Whozat –
The DH is under rule 6.10
You do not have to have a DH, but if you don’t at the beginning of the game you lose it for that game.
I don’t think you can name your starting pitcher the DH, because once the DH takes the field (in this case, to pitch) you lose the DH.
Joe Girardi just said that one forecast is bad and one forecast saying it is possible.
i like a sunny day. does that make me a fan of the rays?
thanks billy-
the espn power rankings are really strange. we’re looking at a new balance of power.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking?season=2008&week=8
Southern Yankee – I like Shelley out in right too. At least Baby Bash knows how to play the freakin’ wall.
“Southern Yankee – I like Shelley out in right too. At least Baby Bash knows how to play the freakin’ wall.”
Yeah, but Abreu can actually get to more balls, so…
Abreu’s been worth +3 runs on D this year, tied with the other best right fielders in the league.
“Abreu’s been worth +3 runs on D this year, tied with the other best right fielders in the league.”
So even without crashing into walls he’s one of the best right fielders in the league. Reading this blog you would never think so.
Why do you want Abreu to crash into walls? That is how pwople get hurt, we have enough injuries….
“So even without crashing into walls he’s one of the best right fielders in the league.”
According to the fielding bible, as of a few days ago, that was true for this season.
Of course, here on the blog we know that defensive quality is directly proportional to the amount of dirt on your uni at the end of the game, plus the number of objects you crash into times the hardness of those objects. Divided by the number of times you “look silly” or “hot dog it”
Also, if the blood spilled when you crash into stuff is pinstriped, that means you’re a “True Yankee” and you get to kick over five water coolers and hang out with Paul O’Neill at one of Bernie’s guitar concerts.
At which you are required to mock ARod and sigh wistfully over the loss of Bubba Crosby and Andy Phillips.
I’m listening to an interview with Abreu and he guarantees that the Yankees are going to make it to the playoffs. He also guarantees that he’s going to make a running catch into the RF wall.
“So even without crashing into walls he’s one of the best right fielders in the league. Reading this blog you would never think so.”
Do not question the blog. The blog sees all, knows all, and most importantly DFAs all.
what has shelley done for this team at all… im amazed by everyone’s high expectations for shelley duncan. he is a scrub … exciting in the dugout but he sucks, constantly swinging for the long ball and popping up.
I still think Abreu bending over to field balls that careen off the base of the wall is the funniest thing. I think I can actually hear his back creaking.
Of course I mean this in the fondest way.
although i cant explain why bobby hasnt gotten over his peculiar ‘wall problem’ i have never had a problem with it, i knew about it before he joined the yankees and was still very glad the yankees made that move.
What is wrong with Girardi and his ever-shifting lineups? How does this help? I think it’s safe to say that this experiment, just like his starting a reliever in expectation of a rain delay, is not working out. Why is he trying so hard to prove to everyone what a smart, deliberative manager he is?
apparently the story with Abreu and the wall is that one year he ran into it and seperated his shoulder going after a ball. he’s been timid about running into the wall since.
“what has shelley done for this team at all…”
If fans like someone, he’s got gallons of unlocked potential and just needs to be handed playing time in order to succeed. If they don’t, he’s a bum and has to go.
bobby has a very strange way of playing the OF, alot like gary sheffield’s in fact. on sinking liners, he often gets way too close to the ball, but then his extremely quick reaction to the ball (almost) always prevents it from getting by him. he is bad at diving at balls in front of him, but he has that sliding catch down very well, and he has a very strong, though not always accurate arm.
bottom line, for what he gives you with the bat, he is a very good RF.
“apparently the story with Abreu and the wall is that one year he ran into it and seperated his shoulder going after a ball. he’s been timid about running into the wall since.”
Understandable. That’d take him out of the lineup for ages, and would be HORRIBLE for the team.
Anybody near the stadium? Can they please just cancel this freaking game and play it on Monday?
Randy 1 – only one defender can be in foul territory. I guess you can put him anywhere you want, but most teams ssem to like to have that player squat directly behind home plate.
So, you can’t back up the catcher on pitched balls because it’s against the rules (otherwise, teams would do it for intentional bases on balls).
Which leads me to amend paragraph 1 – on intentional BB, the catcher has to stay in the catcher’s box until the ball is pitched. So that is probably the ONLY place where the defender can start the play in foul territory.
I had a feeling that Abreu had a history with the wall. I like Abreu and think that we should consider resigning him if he ends up having a monster year.
“Yep. And probably pretty irrelevant.
Brandon…any guy in the minors can have a hot couple months. It’s just not worth getting excited about them unless they’re actually an interesting talent or they sustain it for a while. Ask yourself what’s more likely…a 26 year old in AA finally figured it out, or that the luck of the draw has his BABIP really high for a while. A middling defensive corner OFer whose only skill is SLG is not a real useful guy.”
very interesting then whozat I got one question why hell is Shelley on the Yankee roster ?
“What is wrong with Girardi and his ever-shifting lineups?”
Uh…the fact that two of the team’s best hitters are out and a litany of injuries and poor performance have forced change after change?
And also the fact that the team is overwhelmingly lefty, and they’ve been trying to find SOMEONE who can platoon with one or more of the left handed players to help the team hit better against southpaws.
And also the fact that they had a grueling schedule early and guys like Damon and Giambi simply can’t play every single day with no days off and stay healthy.
But it’s probably the fact that he wants to seem smart, and not all of that stuff. Yup.
“very interesting then whozat I got one question why hell is Shelley on the Yankee roster ?”
Great question. First of all, he can play first base tolerably. Second, he actually HAS shown some decent plate discipline in his time. So, if he could actually get on base and punch out some doubles and homers against left-handed pitching, that’d be valuable. He’s not shown that ability this year, and I have to think his spot is tenuous. Carson doesn’t seem to have even Duncan’s plate discipline AND he can’t play first. So, given that Duncan’s slot is questionable, why would they want Carson?
Laura…
I’m with you on re-signing Abreu if he has a good year. Salary dumps are useless if they do not improve the club, and I doubt there is any way the Yankees could improve on Bobby for as much as it would take to keep him.
“what has shelley done for this team at all”
Not much… because he has little opportunity to be productive since the roster is pretty much stacked. He’s on the team because he’s a right handed power batter, but also a pretty good RF. But you can’t judge this guy based on a once a week lineup appearance. The only we can know for sure whether he’s good or bad is if he’s consistently in the lineup. And Ihis plate appearances, albeit few of them, have gotten much better over the course of this season. He’s not hacking like he used to. So Kevin Long is doing SOMETHING right with him.
Instead of the tar-and-feather, walk the plank Yankees fan approach to anything remotely unsuccessful on this team, take a step back and realize that this team is going to take much longer to come around then what we’re used to.
i cant wait for a solid everyday 1B next year!!!!!!!
“I’m with you on re-signing Abreu if he has a good year. Salary dumps are useless if they do not improve the club, and I doubt there is any way the Yankees could improve on Bobby for as much as it would take to keep him.”
Mark, I don’t pay attention to the minor leagues, but are any of the guys in AAA positioned to take his spot? I would think that would be the only thing that would give the Yankees pause about resigning Abreu (after a monster season).
the thing with bobby going forward, though is this: how long would you sign him for?
i cant see his agent taking less than 3 yrs (probably + and option for a 4th). are you gonna go that far? i say no more than 2. if the yankees feel the same way i do, then he’s likely not gonna be back next year.
I’m not sure why people focus so much on Abreu and his willingness to run into walls.
Not running into a wall would only be a major problem if it prevented a player from making plays on a number of possible outs.
Abrue is having an outanding defensive season this year. He has a .929 zone rating – that’s the third highest for any right fielder in baseball. The two with RF with higher zone ratings are Franklin Guittierez and Randy Winn. Guitierrez is hitting .214. Winn .242.
And addition to his range in RF he has a very strong arm.
Last year Abreu was the seventh best RF in all of baseball.
Abreu’s willingness to run into walls has almost no overall impact on how good a defensive player he is.
“Instead of the tar-and-feather, walk the plank Yankees fan approach to anything remotely unsuccessful on this team, take a step back and realize that this team is going to take much longer to come around then what we’re used to.”
We’ve been spoiled. We are so used to having winning seasons that every bump in the road feels like a nightmare. Truth be told, worse case scenario – I’m fully prepared to accept a non-playoff season, but man will it hurt like hell!
giambi should be released and the yankees need to get a real first baseman.remember last year they started winning when giambi was out of the lineup.texiera is going to want way to much money.how can the rays sign kashmir for less than 10 million a year and the yankees overpay for every single player?pettitte and mussina getting 27 or 30 million combined,kashmir/9.5 million.if pettitte comes back in 2009 give him 8 million a year same with abraeu or let them walk,i would of signed mo but not posada for 4 years,maybe 4 yrs,32 or 36 but that is it.
Good lord… listening to Scott Ferrell on SNY right now – his voice is more annoying than ever… sounds like a Popeye with a cold…
“i cant see his agent taking less than 3 yrs (probably + and option for a 4th). are you gonna go that far? i say no more than 2. if the yankees feel the same way i do, then he’s likely not gonna be back next year.”
I don’t know. Abreu seemed so thrilled when the Yankees picked up his option. He may be willing to accept a deal for less than 3 yrs. We will have to wait and see.
It’s miserable outside, the game shouldn’ be played…
“Randy 1 – only one defender can be in foul territory.”
brian-
being red sox fan , i guess you need to know that kind of stuff with wakefield and
... manny.
you never know where manny is going to be when the ball is pitched.
... in the wall, high fiving fans on the wall, etc.
he could be anywhere.
“how can the rays sign kashmir for less than 10 million a year”
Because he’s young and still under team control, and thus has little leverage? No one else can bid on him. Also, he’s had durability problems and so is incentivized to take guaranteed money rather than go year-to-year?
over/under on weather it gets rained out?
“Good lord… listening to Scott Ferrell on SNY right now – his voice is more annoying than ever… sounds like a Popeye with a cold…”
so true
***whether
cb, as i said, i knew about it and i can deal with it. but its not just about ‘crashing’ into the wall, he wont even make contact with it, that is different. he’s a rf in yankee stadium, going back to the wall is part of the job, and he misplays anything that would put him in contact with the wall. thats alot more plays than the ones that would make him crash. some balls just HAVE TO be made to win big games and you cant help but worry that we’ll get burned by it sometime.
im not crushing the guy, i like him and id give him a big 2 yr extension if he’s sign it, but it does have to worry you some.
“remember last year they started winning when giambi was out of the lineup.”
It also helped that Robbie and Bobby stopped sucking right around then, Melky started to get full-time ABs and took off (until September that is), and the pitching started to get healthier.
Per usual, not sure of all of the discussion that has taken place. I don’t know if anyone reads 138 posts before posting, but I know I usually have time to skim those right before mine, especially when there are so many.
Obviously Abreu has been mentioned. I just want to echo what CB said about Abreu defensively. I think he is outstanding. His “refusal” to run into walls, which has been greatly exaggerated as far as I am concerned and always takes on a life of its own if he misses a catch near a wall, doesn’t seem to inhibit him from having great range, and a phenomenal arm. Add his typically good offense, I love the guy. I’d sign him again in a heartbeat.
Hope the game is delayed at least a little. Then I’ll get to maybe watch some of it.
GO YANKEES!!!
GO BREWERS!!!
No chance this game will get in tonight. I just got home from work, it’s miserable out there, cold and windy, and still very steady rain. Perfect recipe for more injuries.
“some balls just HAVE TO be made to win big games and you cant help but worry that we’ll get burned by it sometime.”
I have much, much more serious concerns about this team. What happened to Jeter’s walk rates and extra base hits? What about Bobby’s walk rate? That could just be ARod. Is there a Bobby Kielty type out there we could get to slot in against lefties? Is Damon going to start getting on base again?
Still raining as per Mike Francessa although they are going to batting practice today on YES. My question is what are they going to be showing during that show?
Stopped raining here in Central NJ
We will see
I’m driving now on the BQE past exit 5 (Yankee stadium) and its just drizzling. (880 says rain will stop around 7:00).
i had my fingers crossed for a cancellation…it’s gross out here (LI) and we really don’t need anyone else to get hurt out there
i say it a ball game!
LETS GO YANKEES!
very importnt to SMACK your little brother down as soon as you first see him to remind him of the proper pecking order!
“I don’t know if anyone reads 138 posts before posting,”
i think that would be considered cruel and unusual punishment if someone were forced to do it.
“very importnt to SMACK your little brother down as soon as you first see him to remind him of the proper pecking order!”
What a wonderful family life you must have.
Frankly…they just need wins. Who cares who the other team is? A game’s a game. They need to win because they need to start stringing together well-executed ball games and stop feeling like a loss in inevitable as soon as they get behind by a run or two.
You dont give Abreu anymore than 2 years. Hopefully Tabata is ready by then. Or maybe If Gardner or Jackson plays center you move Melky to right. Bobby is a great player but I have the feeling anythiong more than 2 yeras and we’re in the same situation as we are with Damon.
We have some money to spend with Moose, Giambi, Pavano, & Bobby and Pettite (if they don’t resign)coming off the books as well as Damon & Matsui if their still w/us the following year.
We does everyone think we spend our money?
CC, Tex, A RF? You know we’re making at least one big signing in the off season if not a sign & trade before the deadline.
whozat, where’s your sense of humor? lighten up, guy!
Randy 1 – I’m not sure that the laws of baseball, or nature, apply to Manny.
But that “High Five Catch and Throw” was, shall we say, unique. All that was missing was the UCal band.
rain broke its drizzle now. lets go, game on.
“Word is that Randolph could be fired at any time.”
Who would they replace him with? Any candidates rumored?
sibling rivalry goes All the way back….
IN THE BIBLE CAIN SLEW ABEL…..AND EAST OF EDEN (MAMA)HE WAS CAST…..
OK…he MISSED the high five !!!...it was nowhere near a dead on slap…they barely touched pinkies….give it a rest !...
Too bad about Willie. But he really has lost control of the team. It started last year, but it’s ready to explode.
Hopefully our closed door will be more effective than their closed door.
Let’s just get a win today.
Good lord baseball gods..please. Let us score more than 1 run and win this darn game
i never like seeing willie in blue and orange anyway. hated seeing him in dodger blue, too.
the yankees let him go as a fa , the dodgers signed him to replace steve sax for them, so the yanks signed sax and both made the all star teams in thier new leagues. just didnt look right.
Give Abreu a 2-year deal with a team option for a 3rd year. By the end of his 2nd year he’ll be approaching 37 years old with little left.
By then, either Austin Jackson or Jose Tabata or both should be ready.
Possibly he can be similar to Ruben Sierra in his last year.
it would be real nice if the game was played tonight and the yankees actually participated. it would be a shame if it got rained out and Rasner got pushed back even further, considering how well he did in his first 2 starts. then again, it wouldn’t matter how well he pitched if the hitters continue down the path they’re on.
god bless Alex Rodriguez. please come back to us on Tuesday Alex and hit .450+ for the next 2 weeks.
Go Rays!
heheh
heheh 
heheh 
WOW! i just saw the wagner clip from last night! that was pretty bad!
where did you see the clip?
thanks…
We never seem to win when the game is on My9. Can we break the curse tonight?
I guarantee you Bobby Valentine’s got one foot ready to step on the first flight out of Japan if Willie gets the axe.
Out of all the available candidates, he could whip that team into a contender by the end of the season.
still raining ?
omar giving willie a vote of confidence!
HA!
thats like when curley’s hanging off the building and larrys hanging onto his pants!
i never thought of that when i saw the piece in the nyt about valentine the other day! i guess bobby v’s agent is earning his money!
Didn’t Donnie Walsh give Isiah a vote of confidence?
here is the link for the Wagner clip that is on YouTube…http://youtube.com/watch?v=O3FmLIeRa0I
Based on what we have seen so far from the Yankee.500’s, because it is Santana, they will somehow win tonight as the Mets bullpen blows the game.
However, in an effot not to dash the hopes of all us Yankee fans, they will revert back to their putrid performance in Tampa and lose the next 2.
Just as Willie got a vote of confidence from Omar, Tim Kurkjian gave the Yankees a vote of confidence that their hitting will come around once Posada and ARod are back. Apparently he has not been watching Giambi, Damon, Duncan, Molina, Cano(although not so much as of late)Ensberg, Betimit and other swing the bat.
What’s more difficult for a struggling hitter? Getting to the Mendoza line or staying above it once you hit it?
I also noticed Bobby V started popping up again on the NY media radar this past week.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Not to mention that I’m sure the Wilpons would mind opening the new stadium with him in charge of the team.
I doubt Omar’s going to get to bring in whoever he wants at this point.
wow. i’m cooking spaghetti and breaded chicken cutlets and i just splashed some hot oil on my hand. if i wasn’t drunk it would probably hurt.
GO YANKEES! eff the metrosexuals.
I guarantee you Bobby Valentine’s got one foot ready to step on the first flight out of Japan if Willie gets the axe.
Out of all the available candidates, he could whip that team into a contender by the end of the season.
Wonder when Girardi will do the same. He apparently has skills since he won Manager of the Year with a losing record.
Shawn Chacon vs. Sidney Ponson in the all-Texas battle tonight.
I think Hideki Irabu is throwing out the first pitch!
They really need to call this game. It is like it was opening day outside.
raining in boston too!
It is cold and nasty outside.
Uh oh. Vote of confidence from Omar for Willie?
I got a bad feeling for him
delgado didnt want to come to new york in the first place and this is exactly why.
It’s YANKEE time!!!
“King of Queens” just seems wrong during a Subway Series rain delay. Maybe on the Mets channel, sure, but….
Game is called.
Game Called!
Any update for those of us stuck at work on the west coast? Gameday says “Delayed-Rain”, but are they getting ready or will it be awhile?
Great
skip Rasner- Petitte and Wang -at least we have a shot
SNY still shows a delay
“Didn’t Donnie Walsh give Isiah a vote of confidence?”
In NY, a vote of confidence usually earns you a ticket out of town but I say Willie is going nowhere. The Wilpon’s are way too cheap to be paying 2 managers.
I do not bring back Abreu next yr. he will be 34 or 35, no way move on.. I assume Jackson and tabata will not be ready so get a 1 yr solution unless there is a very good FW who is young and available and I doubt that is the case.
again we have example after example of signing old guys and have terrible contracts why do it again. Abreu is the same age as Damon, 1 is shot and the other is not????
Damon was signed at 32 for 4 yrs….
NO NO NO…
STOP THE INSANITY….....
no moe over 30 yr old signings..none.
they signed Posada and Mariano because the history etc…...
Game is cancelled.
how bad is sny when they did an entire segment after the game was called and nobody knew it until they cut to commercial and the annoucer SAW it on the tv monitor (on the ys scoreboard!)
It’s 100 degrees here in L.A.
dont you just love the traditional rivalries in interleague play?
...like kc vs. florida?
joe pep, nice to hear from you, im guessing if its 100 where you are, you’re in the valley. am i right?
No, I live in Fullerton. I was told by one of the teachers at the school that her truck temp gauge registered 98 around noon. So, I’m guessing we got close to it later.
Hey, East Coast guys wanna trade weather?
call us back in a month!
Did anyone read the story about the Yanks wearing Giambi’s thong when they go into slumps on deadspin?
Ha Ha Ha…I love it!