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Game 63: Royals at Yankees

Peter Abraham
June
8

YANKEES
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Chamberlain RHP

Joba Chamberlain (1-2, 2.42) vs. the Kansas City hitters.

Zach Greinke (5-3, 3.56) vs. the New York hitters.

Notes: Gaze upon the lineup, good people of the pinstripe persuasion. This is only the third time in 63 games that these nine have been together. Opening Day and April 25 were the other two. … Joba Chamberlain is making his second start and will be limited to 75-80 pitches. Efficiency is the word of the day for the young man from Nebraska. … Thanks to Mike Dougherty for calling in the lineup. I’m flying to Oakland tomorrow and have the day off.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 8th, 2008 at 10:30 am by Peter Abraham.
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912 Responses to “Game 63: Royals at Yankees”

  1. canocabrera

    I love this lineup!

  2. HOW THE HECK?

    Good lineup, but I like seeing Damon in left better. I know the heat is probably driving that, but still…

    At least its better than the defense that was put out there for IPK.

    Off topic, still wondering how a man with a fractured wrist can come back so quickly. Wells broke his wrist in a manner similar to Matsui. He comes back in about a month, Matsui was out almost the whole season. Amazing healing there. Maybe too amazing.

  3. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    WooHoo!
    Let’s Go Joba! Let’s go Yankees!

  4. Kill-Schill(ing)

    Does anyone have an injury update– this means YOU, SJ44, LOL– on Phil Hughes?

    Has his rib healed and why haven’t the Yankees announced the results of his second MRI as yet? Should I infer bad news?

    Would you know if he has been cleared to throw, as yet?

  5. PJH

    Why release exactly how many pitchers Joba can throw? Its pretty stupid to give the other team the exact time you are going to pull your pitcher.

  6. PJH

    How the Heck- It definitely depends on the fracture. Matsui’s was displaced.

  7. Y's Guy loved SWB

    not a doctor, nor have i played one on tv, but fractures come in many different shapes and sizes and the healing time varies greatly dependant one the type and location.

  8. Laura - Trying to keep the faith!

    “Why release exactly how many pitchers Joba can throw? Its pretty stupid to give the other team the exact time you are going to pull your pitcher.”

    If Joba is throwing strikes, it doesn’t matter. The hitters will have to swing and be protective of the plate. It’s only an issue is he’s not throwing strikes (like last time).

  9. Y's Guy loved SWB

    this pitch limit thing isnt rocket science. they increse the guy by about 15 pitches (approximatly one inning) each outing. i think the royals knew what the pitch limit would be sometime last week.

  10. YankeeVIP

    this is going to be a tough game for joba i feel.

    the heat is going to make it tough to last

  11. murphydog

    “the heat is going to make it tough to last”

    It will be a factor, I guess, but he’s so young it really shouldn’t be a big deal.

  12. The Last Yankee Fanâ„¢ (a.k.a. ERâ„¢)

    Can Joba reach 3 innings?

    Let’s hope so.

  13. Y's Guy

    joba’s from nebraska, and pitched college games in texas, oklahoma, etc. it gets oppresively hot in the midwest in the summer, im sure he’s used to pitching it heat and humidity.

    that being said, the way the yankees are playing this year, they need to expect a tough game every day from every team. when i read on here that they have an easy schedule coming up, etc. i see it as tempting fate.

    other teams see the yankees at .500 and they sense blood in the water and a chance to get back at a team that has been beating them for decades and it makes thier month to take a series from them. meanwhile with our pitching and b/p in a shambles right now, no lead is safe. expect another tough 2 games today and tomorrrow from these guys.

    hey, where is the love for robbie cano (7 hits last 3 games) if you’re gonna bury a guy for slumping, you should at least give him some props when he has a good series.

  14. HOW THE HECK?

    When you can see the un-natural bend to the wrist area, as you did with Wells, then I would say it wasn’t just a crack. That doesn’t even get into rehabilitation of the muscles. A lay off of not using it even a few days would require a good deal of rehab time.

    The last word that was about a week or so ago on Hughes was that his rib still hadn’t healed.

  15. PJH

    Laura- Thats not the point. The point is that the other team knows when Joba is coming out. Its like the Joba rules. Everyone knew when he could not pitch. It gives them an advantage.

  16. HOW THE HECK?

    Kids don’t feel the heat and the effects from it the way older players will. I don’t think the heat will be as much a factor as his location and pitch selection will be.

  17. Kill-Schill(ing)

    Joel Sherman is perhaps one of the few baseball columnists in the New York media I genuinely respect but the trade’s he proposes in today’s columns– trades on how to improve the Yankees- strike me as some of the most self-defeating, foolish, and short-sighted I’ve ever heard.

    Here’s one:

    1) Trade Jose Veras and JB Cox for Ty Wigginton.

    Is he insane? If I valued Ty Wigginton as highly as he does– and quite frankly, I’m not sure Shelly Duncan can’t fill that role just as well if the Yankees actually ever played him consistently– I might, MIGHT, trade Chris Britton for Wigginton, but that’s about it.

    He’s right about the Yankees need for a lefty; he recommends the usual suspects: Fuentes, Marte, Sherrill, Thornton.

    2) But then who does he recommend the Yankees trade to acquire one of these guys. IPK. IPK?? IPK for Damaso Marte? IPK for 33-yr-old Fuentes? IPK to an AL East Division Rival for Sherrill? Sherman, are you trying to be gratuitously provocative or did you and Vacarro go out drinking last night and mail it in from McSorley’s?

    3) Finally, He exhorts the Yankees to try to trade for Huston Street. I like that idea too. But good luck trying to trade with Billy Beane. Beane reminds me of Shylock. Only when you cut him, Beane doesn’t bleed or better yet, he bleeds but the blood is black.

    Sure, for Street, Beane would take Phil Hughes off your hands and probably your mother too.

    You can read Sherman’s contorted musing here.

    http://www.nypost.com/seven/06.....htm?page=2

  18. YankeeVIP

    we saw it yesterday.. but the ball is going to be flying out.. so we need to temper the situation for joba a bit

  19. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Love this line up but would have Damon in left and Matsui DH. Either waythough, I can live with it.

    Last night was amazing, but I got back at like midnight and didn’t go to sleep till two so now my mother’s helling at me for sleeping in…

    Sheesh, it’s like you can’t win!

  20. RhapsodyInBlue

    I read Sherman’s column today in amazement.

    Melancon, Kennedy and Melky for Garret Atkins?

    Better shot at a liver transplant.

  21. #9

    Temps going to be in mid 90s today here in NYC and it will feel like 100 degrees.

  22. YankeeVIP

    i wonder if the pitchers are having problems getting adjusted to jorge behind the plate again calling games.

    jorge is a great catcher .. dont get me wrong, but molina might call a better game? thoughts.

  23. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    YankeeVIP: Molina is likely a better defensive catcher, but what we get off of Jorge’s bat helps us more, in the end.

  24. Y's Guy

    i didnt really like sherman’s trade proposals either, but props for sticking his neck out.

    the yankees do have to start deciding who’s a keeper and who’s not and start filling some holes. sherman points out correctly that the yankees dynasty wouldnt have happened if they didnt go get oniell, tino, wells, wetteland and others for young players. hanging on to 12 RP pitching prospects is not a good plan. we also need to get some LH pitching and a RH hitter or two.

    i’m also worried that cashman is too gun shy about moving any young guys to address these needs.

  25. Y's Guy

    molina is clearly a better defender, blocking balls and throwing out runners, especially considering jorge’s shoulder. but with the number of crossups and problems between him and the pitchers iv seen so far this year, id have to disagree about his pitch selection, it seems like he and the pitchers are never on the same page.

  26. RhapsodyInBlue

    Jorge’ bat in the line-up torques every other batter.

    That was a big big HR by him yesterday off of a very good pitcher.

    DeJesus and KC thought they had the game in the bag with a 1 run lead and Soria to close out the game.

    Then Jorge comes through. I really like Molina, however

    Jorge’s value to this team is immeasurable.

  27. Fran

    Nice to finally have the line-up back in full. I like Damon in left over Matsui, but as long as both bats are in there it’s fine.

  28. Kill-Schill(ing)

    I think Damon’s just exhausted after yesterday.

    I just went outside, it’s oppressive and tomorrow’s worse.

    And wouldn’t you know it, the one day the Yankees play a 1:00pm on get-away day in a wrap-around series it’s going to be 96 degrees and humid.

    BTW, expect this heat to exhaust them sufficiently to have difficulty rebounding in Oakland.

    Which makes winning today and tomorrow all the mor important.

  29. The Fallen Phoenix

    Yes, even though the Yankees have two lefty-beating RHPs in Mariano Rivera and Edwar Ramirez, and have kept lefty hitters to a below-average OPS this season, they absolutely *need* a LHP in that pen.

    …In all seriousness, Fuentes would be a great pickup, he’s not just a good lefty reliever, he’s a good reliever, period. I wouldn’t trade any major piece–such as Ian Kennedy–for him, though. And I wouldn’t trade for a LHP just to have a LHP.

  30. rconn23

    I didn’t like any of Sherman’s trade proposals. I don’t believe any of his proposals would really help the Yankees. Wigginton can play third or first, but he really doesn’t play either position well. So let’s give up J.B. Cox for that. Right.

    As for Garrett Atkins, his road splits, as with most Rockies players, are pretty wide. He has a .776 OPS away from Colorado.

    I’d love to get Huston Street, but Beane will require two top prospects.

  31. Fredo Corleone

    Wasn’t around yesterday as I was at a wedding, but Pettitte, while simply awful, really deserves some credit for taking a beating for the team and Joba.

    Was hoping Posada’s presence might have a more positve impact on Pettitte, but I guess yesterday wasn’t the beginning of it. We’ll see what his next start brings. Nice win (it would have been a really bad loss) and finally some offense.

  32. Dennis-Costanza(Sox fan)

    The Yanks win yesterday put everyone in the AL East over .500. That is very, very rare this late in the season for a 5 team divsion to have every team at or above .500. I could only find one example since 2002 of a division having every team over .500 in June. The NL West did it until around the middle of June in 2006.

    I could have sworn the “experts” had ordained the vaunted Al Central as the best division in baseball before actual games were played.

    They now sound a tad like Big Brown’s trainer…

    BTW, I saw that Harden pitches today so the Yanks will miss him this week in Oak. That is good news for you guys.

    Have a great Sunday and take care.

    -dennis

  33. Joe from Long Island

    Dennis – You are one of the most respectful posters here.

    Have a good day yourself.

  34. BBFan

    “Why release exactly how many pitchers Joba can throw? Its pretty stupid to give the other team the exact time you are going to pull your pitcher.”

    Very good qeustion.
    In the past Girardi refused to give such info and our beloved media crucified him for not coming clean. I have no doubt they are giving that info to keep these vultures from the back of Girardi. They can always deal with the opposition, but not from these vultures as they are not accountable to any body and they can write whatever BS they want and get away with it.

  35. Y's Guy

    you may be right about releasing a pitch count being part of managing expectations. but there’s no problem with that. the royals know exactly how many pitches he’s thrown in ever outing he’s ever pitched. they have seen the increments in pitch counts for each outing and know within 5 pitches either way exactly when the yankees will take joba out, they may not be a primo organization, but i guarantee they knew how many pitches joba was going to be pulled at without joe g. saying anything, so it doesnt matter at all that they released and number.

  36. Fredo Corleone

    BBFan:

    Girardi was BS’ing the press on injury issues earlier in the year. There was no reason for it as other teams knowing that info is not a big deal. Lying or withholding on injuries was counterproductive.

    Letting the world know your pitcher is on a count is a little different as a team can actually use that to an advantage.

  37. Jorge Steinbrenner (the long lost third brother)

    If our pitchers are on point, letting the other team know when they’re coming in is a non-issue. If Joba’s effective for three-five innings, and Giese can get us through the next three and keep us in the game, we can tell them which pair of gold lame underwear they’re wearing, for all i care.

    Sherman’s proposals are ridiculous. I’ve seen teams get burned by mid-season trades for relievers, no matter how good they may seem for the other team, enough times to know that you don’t trade anything of value for them. I’d rather stick with what we’ve got.

    Go Yanks! Yesterday was awesome. Let’s hope for the same results, with a bit less drama, today.

  38. Y's Guy

    meant to day ‘released a number’ obviously.

    id also like to remind bbfan that he is expressing himself freely on a forum provided gratis by our ‘beloved media.’

    which reminds me again to thank pete and the LoHud for this forum.

  39. Doreen

    Anyone with half a brain would know Joba was on a pitch count, so I don’t think it did any specific harm in giving the exact number. I’m sure most opposing teams could figure it out for themselves to within 10 pitches. The only way it wasn’t going to be a “problem” was to have Joba work it out in the minors, and the Yankees decided not to do that.

    What a game yesterday! We were supposed to leave the house at 5 o’clock to go to a friend’s house but we kept hanging out in front of the t.v. I will be ever grateful to Johnny Damon for ending it right there – no extra innings, thank you – so we could be fashionably late as opposed to embarrassingly late! :)

    Good luck to Joba today. And I hope the offense doesn’t have it’s usual day after “hangover.” There’s been quite a few times in the past couple of years when a slugfest has been followed by, well, a 2-1 type loss like the other day for Rasner. But I have to say, it sure is nice to see that lineup!

    Sounds like everyone had a fantastic day at SWB. I hope next time around me and mine can join in.

  40. bill brasky

    can we have joba bat and someone DH for Cano?

  41. PittsburghYankeeFan

    Joel Sherman has really outdone himself this time. What decade does he think we’re in–the 80s?

    What a turkey.

  42. randy l

    “He was then promoted to the AA Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League, where he was 4–2 in 7 games with a 3.43 ERA and 64 strikeouts.”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joba_Chamberlain

    how is this not rushing joba chamberlain as a starter? if they are going to have him learn to pitch at the major league level they should have eased into this more slowly. maybe a few starts at scranton to work on his third pitch.

    he’s a kid pitcher who needs more time to be stretched out than a veteran in spring training. that timetable doesn’t work for someone who’s had a handful of starts above the a ball level.

    has there ever been a pitcher start in the major leagues with less minor league and mlb preparation than joba in modern baseball history and do well?

  43. GreenBeret7

    Y’s Guy, You’re not saying that David Wells was a trade, are you? He was a two time free agent. The first time, he was a replacement when Baltimore signed Jimmy Key as a free agent, so NYY signed Wells from Baltimore.

  44. GreenBeret7

    As for Sherman and Lupica, they’re both idiots and have no business being called sports writers. They’re more along the lines of Rona Barrett or Hedda Hopper. They are gossip queens, happier to invent stories than actually find the truth.

  45. Y's Guy

    gb, you’re right, i had that in my head as a trade. same thing happens when i remember the tiant for torrez ’swap’ (and randolph/sax)

    but the point remains that gene michael didnt just hang with every prospect to put together a winner. i remember alot of people bithcing about them moving r.kelley for oneill, alot of ppl didnt think b. williams was gonna make it in cf.

  46. RhapsodyInBlue

    Sherman’s column in today’s NY Post, he offers some fixes that in my mind exhibit a very limited insight into the value of some of the Yankee prospects in the trades that he proposes.

    I would expect so much more coming from a New York beat writer.

  47. TKinDC

    I was down in Texas when Huston Street was their closer and he closed out their win in the CWS – he was an absolute bulldog.

    You do kind of wonder what good it will do to have a kick-ass rotation in Trenton for the next 3 years – when do we start moving those chips around the table to help the big club.

  48. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Tampa still in Tampa, still waiting for a test to show it is fully healed. Not exactly sure what that means.s

  49. TKinDC

    Great pic of 4-5 guys sporting ’staches on the daily news blog – Look like rejects from a Village People casting call.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/

  50. jack benny

    Just because a guy is young and in the Yankees farm system doesn’t make him a can’t-miss player that has huge trade value. Kennedy should have been dealt last year when his value was at it’s peak…now, reality has set in and he isn’t much more than a number 5 guy, if that. He just hasn’t shown anything close to the mental toughness needed to be a quality MLB starter. And, obviously, his “stuff” is mediocre, too.

    And Hughes better end up a number 2 guy, at worst, or hanging onto him was a bonehead move.

  51. jack benny

    Just because a guy is young and in the Yankees farm system doesn’t make him a can’t-miss player that has huge trade value. Kennedy should have been dealt last year when his value was at it’s peak…now, reality has set in and he isn’t much more than a number 5 guy, if that. He just hasn’t shown anything close to the mental toughness needed to be a quality MLB starter. And, obviously, his “stuff” is mediocre, too.

    And Hughes better be a number 2 guy, at worst, or hanging onto him was a bonehead move….

  52. GreenBeret7

    Y’s. of all of those free agent swaps, the one I disliked the most was Key for Wells.  Jimmy Key would have been the perfect pitching coach.  He was the best tutor that Pettitte could have had.  Dealing Kelly was a no brainer.  He was one of the up and comers in the system, but, ended up more as a disappointment.  His defense wasn’t that great.  O’Neill seemed like he would have the perfect swing for Yankee Stadium (like Maris).  What I didn’t realize was that Piniella was forcing him to pull and he couldn’t really do that.  It turned out perfectly for NYY.  O’Neill, and, in his early years, Maris, had the identical swings.  They were line drive/gap hitters with power, not natural pull hitters.  Maris got to NY and was hitting a few homers, but hitting well over .300 until the front office called him in and asked him to start pulling the ball more, that they didn’t care about the average.  Those two were nearly identical players in drive and talent.  Maris was a marvelous defensive outfielder, and the second best base runner on the team. Only Mantle was faster.

  53. TKinDC

    From the Globe:

    “Jonathan Papelbon said his left elbow injury is not a figment of his fertile imagination, and pulled off his jersey to show a reporter the puffiness. “It’s called ulnar neuritis,” said Papelbon, who had joked that it was the “Elton John elbow injury – nagging, like Elton John’s music.” “It’s when the ulnar ligament pops out of its groove. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something that happened when I dislocated the elbow my senior year in high school playing football.”"

  54. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    If anyone else would like pictures from last night, email me at rebecca@puristbleedspinstripes.com

  55. Y's Guy

    gb, wish i had seen mantle at his peak, the first game i went to was in 64, he played cf but i was a little kid. by the time i got to konw alot about baseball, mick was playing 1B.

    when the yanks moved kelley, i was pshyched as i had seen bernie in colonie and was really pulling for him although i had no idea of the offensive force he was going to turn into.

    stick really had the magic touch with the moves he made, hoping cash (with stick helping) can make the same type moves.

  56. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Want to be a clubbie?

    http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....el_ri.html

    On the other hand, maybe not! Damn they work hard! No wonder they get big tips from the players.

  57. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Go to Star ledger and read the article about clubbies, WOW they work hard!

  58. Y's Guy

    watching the kids getting thier bats at the stadium reminds me of bat days i went to a long time ago (i got a tom tresh the 1st time!)

    suprised they still give them out on the way in, you’d think they’d be worried about someone clubbing someone else in the stands!

  59. RhapsodyInBlue

    The answer is he makes further into the season than the blimp who pitched on Friday in Fenway.

    Will Fat Jober make it to the third today, that’s the question.

  60. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    ok The Joel Sherman trade article is garbage, that simple. Heck he stoled one idea from Max Kellerman of ESPN, Max was the guy that wanted Houston Street, but every proposal that Joel put in his column is garbage. It’s unbelieveable how ridiculous his proposed deals are.

    ex. Unlike that trio, Wigginton is a real player, not a part-time prayer. Eats up lefties (.499 career slugging percentage, .593 this year) while not being an easy out against righties. He is a grinder. He is under control next year, as well.

    The YanksNew York Yankees have a stockpile of righty relievers from Double-A to the majors. They should decide two or three such as Mark Melancon and Humberto Sanchez are untouchable, then say pick two from the rest. Maybe something like Jose Veras and J.B. Cox gets this done.

    FOR TY WIGGINTON ? I wrote 3 weeks ago how he can be an option, but not for that. Jesus Jerry Hairston Jr. is a better hitter than Wiggy, so is Scott Hairston vs LHP, Ryan Freel, Jeff Keppinger…my god what a garbage column he wrote today. Basically stealing ideas and pasting it on his column, the sad thing is some stupid fans will actually say why aren’t the Yankees executing any of these proposals.

    Seriously he deserves a punch in the face for spewing those proposals. Sunday afternoon and he already has pissed me off to begin a week. :evil:

  61. Oliver from singa[pre

    Joba has to be patient. They will try and work his pitch count. Throw strikes and the rest will take care of itself

  62. Oliver from singa[pre

    joba has to be patient. They will try and work his count. Throw strikes! The rest will fall in place

  63. Raj

    Anyone having issues with YESHD on DirecTV today?

  64. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    Brandon…The game hasn’t even started yet and you are near a stroke. Relax little Buddy. Its Joel Sherman for crying out loud.

    Who cares what he thinks?!?!? Same with Harper, Poopica, George King the III, and so on. Especially Wallace and Gammons !

    NOW

  65. sara

    Hi all..I was at the stadium on Friday night..frustrating game to say the least! BUT I saw the best t-shirt being sold out stide the stadium. It said, ” Anyone but Farnsworth”
    I thought that was the greatest shirt I ever saw!
    Just thought I’d share!
    Go Joba…Go Yankees

  66. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    Got cut off:

    Now, if Pete wrote those trade proposals, then I could see blowing a gasket. Pete and the beat writers are the ones with their finger on the pulse of this team, not the columnists.

    How many games you think Sherman, Poopica, et al have been to this season…. 5, maybe 7?

  67. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Good to see so far they aren’t being patient.

  68. Laura

    How many pitches has he thrown so far?

  69. sara

    laura…12

  70. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    DAMN

  71. Fran

    Good start by Joba. Only 13 pitches for the inning.

  72. sara

    13 pitches in the first inning…11 strikes 2 balls

  73. Laura

    Thanks, Sara.

  74. Oliver from singa[pre

    NICE VERY NICE START!! 13 pitches only!! Now time for the ofense to get working!!

  75. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    PT/S 13-11

  76. mel

    Nice work, Joba! Good start.

  77. Laura

    I think they should let him throw 80 pitches if he’s coasting along and isn’t tired.

  78. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    Filthy

  79. sfill

    holy cow – he is wayyyy in a better mindset today – clearly. I am very sure Posada has alot to do with that.
    This is what we have been waiting for (ok yes, sorry – i am getting excited too early I know!)

  80. kidjock

    99 MPH! nice efficiency by Joba

  81. Fran

    Sara – Sorry you didn’t see the Yanks win Friday night. Funny tee shirt.

  82. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I can’t remember the last time a Yankee starter started off like that.

  83. BBFan

    “Why release exactly how many pitchers Joba can throw? Its pretty stupid to give the other team the exact time you are going to pull your pitcher.”

    How do we know he was BSing in all those cases.
    One example was Bruney’s.
    Girardi first answered based on what he knew at the time of the question asked. Then it turns out based on a second doctor opinion there was a fracture (stress?), and then all these vultures including Pete made a big deal about it.

    Girardi was damned if he talked, and is damned if he did not talk.

    Look, I am for openness to the extent it is possible, but the Girardi bashing for these supposed openness issues is way out of line.

    I agree, letting Joba’s pitch count known does not make any difference. Opposition can easily guess it.

    Let us enjoy the game today, hopefully, it will be the first win for Joba as a starter.

  84. Jay

    If that doesn’t make you happy as a Yankee fan, just turn off the game…

  85. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Great first inning for Joba.

    Can’t wait for the Johnny ovation.

  86. Nick in SF

    “Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (F) Leaving Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, my girlfriend and I saw a guy selling “Anyone But Farnsworth” t-shirts. I really regret not getting one.”

    http://bleacherreport.com/arti.....For-050608

  87. Kyle the Hick

    was greinke in the bullpen last year?

  88. sara

    I almost bought the t-shirt when i saw it. going back to the stadium a few more times this year and will be sure to get one!

  89. Laura

    Okay, seeing him getting sprayed down by Monahan did not bring back good memories.

  90. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    was greinke in the bullpen last year?

    yeh he was, then they figured they were wasting his talent. He had strike throwing problems, BTW they might trade Greinke for the right price this season.

  91. sara

    BOBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  92. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Bobby rocked that one.

  93. Jay

    BLAAAAAAAAAST!

  94. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    WHOOOOO!

  95. S

    Bobby!

    So far so good in this game.

  96. Kyle the Hick

    Bobby being Manny and watching his homerun…hahah great shot

  97. Fran

    Great way to start off today!

  98. sara

    interesting…Yankees picked up Grienke’s brother in the draft this year

  99. Laura

    All those in favor of signing Abreu to a new contract, raise your hand!

    “hand raised”!!

  100. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Greinke better start using his secondary pitches

  101. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    interesting…Yankees picked up Grienke’s brother in the draft this year

    his fastball sucks :(

  102. The Last Yankee Fanâ„¢ (a.k.a. ERâ„¢)

    Come on Joba!

    Just get 3 innings.

  103. sara

    Laura, I agree about Bobby.
    Brandon that sux about Grienke’s brother’s fast ball!

  104. Kyle the Hick

    I gurantee Joba throws at some one..

  105. Go Getter

    Joba will definitely be more efficient this time out. As the 1st inning showed. The butterflies are gone from start one and we’ll see the real Joba here today.

  106. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    damn I’d love to have Zack on this rotation. Oh god I hope Joba just pitches don’t respond to Zack brushing off Matsui.

  107. DFox

    Does Grenkie seriously want to get one of his teammates hurt? If I was on the Royals I would say to him don’t throw a pitch like that again. Do it when Mussinas pitching, not the guy who can hit 101mph.

  108. Kyle the Hick

    STACHE!!! BIG HIT Get a BIg LEAD FOr the HUSKY JOBA

  109. Todd

    # The Last Yankee Fanâ„¢ (a.k.a. ERâ„¢) June 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    Come on Joba!

    Just get 3 innings.

    Like ER cares? Don’t try to fool us, Sox fan. Get a life.

  110. Nick in SF

    If Joba retaliates, it better not be until his 75th pitch.

  111. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I gurantee Joba throws at some one..

    I hope not, save it for another day, he should know he has a goal today, so don’t waste you pitches and don’t get kicked out of a game either.

  112. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Joba can retaliate by putting up a 0 spot.

  113. GreenBeret7

    Y’s, I know that I don’t have to say the obvious, but, Mantle’s talent was eye popping. Think of Albert Pujols from the right side (with blinding speed) and a early 90’s version of Barry Bonds from the left side, with blinding speed and that was Mantle. In center field, he wasn’t a natural, but he learned very well. What he did was outrun any mistakes he made. The power was ungodly. From both sides. From the left, though, because his knees were so weak, it would collapse and it caused a severe upper cut, which led to monstrous home runs, but, lower average and more strikeouts.

  114. Todd

    “Oh god I hope Joba just pitches don’t respond to Zack brushing off Matsui.”

    Because he shouldn’t back up his players?

    Wow. You really don’t know ballplayers.

  115. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    If Joba retaliates, it better not be until his 75th pitch.

    he shouldn’t at all, after watching Abreu sitting infront of the plate, Greinke had to do it.

  116. Laura

    I don’t think Joba will be throwing at anyone this early in the game. It’s a possibility once he closes in on his limit, but not this next inning. I would be very disappointed in him if he did that.

  117. Kyle the Hick

    HI I am new to this blog.. However over the past couple od days I kept on asking for brian fuentes on Colorado.. Does anyone have any information on this guys contract status and feelings for who the Yankees would have to give up for him. I think he is a terrific reliever in the worst pitching park..

  118. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Jorge hit the crapola outta that one…just to the wrong part of the park!

  119. Laura

    Too many teams throw at the Yankees. Our pitchers have to make it known that it won’t be tolerated. But you have to pick your spots. Now is not the time.

  120. Deegan

    Brandon,

    You are the guy who wants to trade for Aaron Boone. So I really wouldnt be trashing Joel Shermans views of who they should trade for.

  121. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Because he shouldn’t back up his players?

    Wow. You really don’t know ballplayers.

    what nonsense is this, so if he throws inside head hunting and gets off his goal of conservative pitching today what does it do ? All it ends up doing is getting him a warning or getting him kicked out in early innings. His goal today get to the 5th inning, the policing should be done another day.

  122. sara

    “he shouldn’t at all, after watching Abreu sitting infront of the plate, Greinke had to do it.”

    he went up and in on damon before abreu hit the homer

  123. Deegan

    Everyone here cries when the Yanks don’t respond. Now people don’t want them to? They got 8 innings to respond. They will.

  124. Kyle the Hick

    He wont throw at Gordon.

  125. Todd

    Why does he need to head hunt to respond? A solid one in the back in the 4th inning with two outs accomplishes it right?

    Learn ballplayer etiquette and post here about it before you run your mouth off.

  126. Nick in SF

    If retaliation is called for, there is a good candidate in the bullpen who is available today.

  127. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Brandon,

    You are the guy who wants to trade for Aaron Boone. So I really wouldnt be trashing Joel Shermans views of who they should trade for.

    he’s already a bench role player, in 48 AB vs LHP this season .340/.415/.617 you don’t like that ?

  128. Kyle the Hick

    One other thing Joba always cries and asks for strikes he has too mature a little. He is sometime to emotional and demanding as a starting pitcher.

  129. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    he went up and in on damon before abreu hit the homer
    he lost control on that pitch, he was going up and in.

  130. Laura

    I didn’t realize that this was a wrap around series.

  131. JB

    You do realize that pitchers don’t throw at the first guy they see, right?

  132. Jay

    “Too many teams throw at the Yankees. Our pitchers have to make it known that it won’t be tolerated. But you have to pick your spots. Now is not the time.”

    Its really not the time. Getting kicked out of the game sets back his progress by 5 days. Not necessary. He didn’t even hit him.

  133. Nick in SF

    “You do realize that pitchers don’t throw at the first guy they see, right?”

    If Farnsworth would, that would kill two birds with one stone.

  134. Kyle the Hick

    Wide strike zone today.. I know Joba is not a groundball pitcher but it would be nice he could get one here

  135. YankeeVIP

    pete.. i cant believe your not blogging two games in a row.. im miserable now.

    i know its not realistic.. but just have joba throw fastball/sliders.. he is practically unhittable wiht those two pitches.. even when everyone knows its coming.
    dont get beat with your 3rd/4th pitch

  136. Vrsce

    2 strikeouts to get out of the inning

  137. Laura

    Giambi has to be the most talkative 1B in the majors. He talks to everyone who comes down there.

  138. Laura

    27 pitches so far.

  139. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    catch that Georgy

  140. EY

    :(

  141. JB

    Posada and Molina have cost Joba runs this year in 2 starts.

  142. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    dammit a fan got hurt.

  143. Kelvin

    The starting pitcher isn’t necessarily the one who does the responding.

  144. Becca

    If he continues like this he might be able to go 5 innings and get a W.

  145. YankeeVIP

    thats just a nasty pitch… just nasty.

    joba looking good.

  146. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    nice inning for Joba, I hope that guy/girl that got hit will be ok.

  147. mel

    :evil: on the passed ball.

    Joba knows the Yankees need him. I don’t think he’ll throw at anyone. I wonder if Roger’s already texted him?

  148. DFox

    Yeah the Yankee catchers are costing Joba runs, pitches, innings, and whatever else comes with that. Let’s see Posada make a GOOD play for him rather than this sub-par catching.

  149. Nick in SF

    “they gave her the ball”

    Nice.

  150. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    car jumper is pissing me off

  151. sara

    so next inning can joba hit the center fielder :-/

  152. Fran

    Gathright has made two nice plays in center robbing the Yanks of hits.

  153. #9

    “dammit a fan got hurt.”

    Woman hit in head – hope she’s all right.

  154. Laura

    Robbie faked shooting Gathright. LOL!

  155. Kyle the Hick

    Brian Fuentes #40 RP» 2008 STATS
    ERA SV SO WHIP
    2.45 9 23 1.13

    I want this guy.

  156. The Last Yankee Fanâ„¢ (a.k.a. ERâ„¢)

    And Joba’s ERA keeps climbing, but even if he throws 50 pitches the next inning, he still can get through 3.

    Now if only Yanks are capable of getting that knock out blow….

  157. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    Colorado will probably wait until the trade deadline approaches when they can get the most for Fuentes. I would predict he’ll bring in 3 quality prospects (Colorado would probably take guys like Betances). If it’s a move the Yankees need to make in order to get into the playoffs, it may be worth it. Despite pitching in Colorado, there’s still some risk in bringing over an NL guy to the AL East, but he would be one of the better relievers on the trade market.

    One drawback is that more and more teams are in the wildcard race this season and the price could go a little higher for guys at the deadline.

  158. canocabrera

    Robinson might be talented with a gun

  159. Kyle the Hick

    Thanks for the Information. But to be honest he is putting these stats in Colorado and he pitched in the postseason and pitched pretty well. I dont care what the Yankees have to give up for Fuentes i can not stand Farnsworth at all.. He is a joke

  160. The Last Yankee Fanâ„¢ (a.k.a. ERâ„¢)

    wow that was fast, did Joba even have the chance to get to the dugout?

  161. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Good Afternoon Folks!

    So how do you top a game like yesterday’s?

    How about a great start by Joba?

    GO YANKS!

  162. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    what is it w/ everyone and Brian Fuentes, he is an ok reliever that’s all he is in the AL, heck for me to even think about this deal they’d have to throw in Franklin Morales.

  163. randy l

    ” Robinson might be talented with a gun”

    if you go hunting with him just don’t be the first thing that moves.

  164. #9

    “if you go hunting with him just don’t be the first thing that moves.”

    *Shssssshhhh Boom*

  165. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    I think the Yankees need to first see what they have in the minors (Melancon, Cox, Robertson, etc) before they make any big trades.

    If things were different and the Yanks could get guys as pure salary dumps… that would be ok. But before they give away guys who could help the bullpen for 10 years for a guy to help the pen for 2-3 months… they should make sure about it.

  166. Kyle the Hick

    Brandon then who do you think the Yankees should trade for to help improve their awful pen? Cause by all means fuentes is an allstar and is terrific against lefties

  167. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Big improvemnet for Joba already!

  168. Kyle the Hick

    This is the Yankees. Just becasue Joba made it look so easy in the bullpen does not mean these young studs will have the same easy transition. Once again we are the Yankees i dont play for next year i play to win the world series.

  169. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    come on Joba!

  170. mel

    Teixeira looks horrible in red. :)

  171. Uhura's Army

    Cashman should really have gotten another starter this off season and we should have transitioned Joba at Scranton. We shouldn’t be throwing away games at the major league level.

  172. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Kyle, I’d think about the Fuentes deal but only if they throw in Morales, especially w/ him being a FA after this season and a 34 yr. old at that.

  173. Kelvin

    Fuentes would be a terrific addition to the pen. Considering he’s also lefty.

  174. Kyle the Hick

    I am not that informed with Morales. What are his projections as a player in the Bigs?

  175. Kelvin

    Morales? As a throw in? Maybe they’ll ask for Hughes as a throw in considering they feel the same way about Morales.

  176. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    the economics of the game has made that philosophy tough to keep up with. Small market teams are getting $$ from the big market teams and are able to stay in contention.

    The Yankees have recognized this and are building a team that hopefully can compete now but has a nice mix of young guys that will also contribute in the future. They don’t need or want to rely on giving away their farm system to compete on a year to year basis.

  177. sara

    Uhura’s Army..what games have been thrown away? the bull pen lost the first game he pitched and he is doing a pretty good job today

  178. Kelvin

    No one here knows the cost any of these relievers will cost but we are certainly going to have to pay them to improve this team. Just a process of deciding who in the system is going to be good and who won’t and trading the right guys.

  179. Nick in SF

    Oooooooooohhhhhh Joba, that wasn’t the right pitch!

  180. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    WOW… well he wasn’t going to be perfect.

  181. sara

    well besides that home run

  182. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Oh well.

  183. Kyle the Hick

    Dave, I agree with that philosphy but you are believing heavily that these young guns will be just as good Joba. And to be honest that is hard to believe.

  184. Boston Dave

    ouch

    gotta write this off as growing pains. Joba will learn to work off of his fastball more (even more than he is).

  185. Uhura's Army

    We throw away game 1 of the Tor series. We are throwing this game away.

  186. Laura

    I’m really starting to get sick of this Guillen character.

  187. Kelvin

    Dave is under the mistaken impression that every prospect becomes a good major league pitcher.

    Which is not the case.

  188. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    com’on Joba don’t waste pitches

  189. Yeah!

    wow imagine what boston could do to Joba..

  190. Confucius

    “Colorado would probably take guys like Betances”

    Everything I’ve heard about him suggests that Betances is the Next Big Thing that’s going to come out of our farm system. Not just ‘good pitcher’ like Melancon or Horne, or even Brackman or Cole. We’re talking the next Hughes/Joba type … maybe even better.

    He’s just a prospect and 100 things can go wrong. But considering the ceiling, I’d want a lot more than Brian Fuentes for him.

  191. mel

    Laura-

    I was thinking the same thing.

    Guys-

    Why argue with the doom & gloomers? It’s an exercise in futility.

  192. sara

    it is the 3rd inning how is this game being throw away?

  193. Kyle the Hick

    Joba is chaotic on the mound. He needs to relax and understand he will not be perfect. Its quite annoying watching him pitch he begs and begs for strikes.

  194. rconn23

    Jose Guillen. Average player against everyone else. Babe Ruth against us. Makes no sense.

  195. Terry

    “ouch

    gotta write this off as growing pains. Joba will learn to work off of his fastball more (even more than he is).”

    That is why he should be in the pen til next season or at least in Scranton doing this. The majors isn’t for training.

  196. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    well, that’s not good
    Come on Joba

  197. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Joba’s throwing well today-better than his first start…

    Even the best pitchers make mistakes…

    Let’s Go Yanks!

  198. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    I don’t expect any of them to be as good as Joba. What team has 4-5 Joba’s in the bullpen??

    In fact, how many teams have what you would consider a solid bullpen? It’s a tough thing to “build”.

    If the Yanks can turn just a handful of their minor leaguers into career effective relief pitchers, they’ll be ok.

    Wouldn’t you rather have some guys who come up at age 22-24, show they can pitch, and stay with the Yanks for 10 years? It seems crazy but that is a legit possiblity with the present Yankee farm system.

  199. Caddy

    Joba is a power strikeout pitcher. It is why he is going to throw a lot of pitches everytime he pitches. Get over it.

  200. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    baby steps, and for the imagine vs Boston comment, keep flapping

  201. sara

    let’s go yankee bats..get that run back plus some!

  202. Laura

    I don’t think he’ll make it through the next inning if he’s only got 20 pitches available.

  203. Angel

    “That is why he should be in the pen til next season or at least in Scranton doing this. The majors isn’t for training.”

    You think seasoned veteran pitchers with years of experience aren’t still constantly learning and making adjustments to their pitches and pitching style while they pitch in the majors?

    Just look at Mussina.

  204. Matt

    Stupid pitch by Joba. You threw him so many sliders in that at bat and you have him set up to blow him away with a fastball and you hang one. Hopefully we’ll get back out there and score but they had him set up for the pitch to K him and with a guy with a 98 mph fastball, they instead chose to mess around with breaking stuff and paid the price.

  205. Kelvin

    You use the farm system to improve the big league club. You identify which players will be all stars for you and hold onto them. But the goal is to use the system to help the big league club. Trades are a fact of life.

    No team is built with 25 system guys. I know you want to live in a fantasy land of a system like that but it doesn’t happen.

    And if the touted prospects are like Ian Kennedy you better really hold off on that outlook.

  206. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Grienke is getting his secondary pitches over, it won’t be easy to comeback right now.

  207. S.o.S.27

    “Jose Guillen. Average player against everyone else. Babe Ruth against us. Makes no sense.”

    I thought your were describing Kevin Millar for a second.

    Maybe Joba should sit in with Kennedy and Hughes in the “How to pitch” classes Rasner is going to conduct.
    Trying to be too perfect. You dont need to avoid bats,as long as its in a good location. I guess thats what they call growing pains.

  208. Kyle the Hick

    Dave,

    You are crazy. Not every kid in the minors become career effective pitchers. Its about 1 out of 5 pitchers our of the minors that become effective. Look at the Yankees current stint of minors that come into the bigs. JOba is great, Aaron Small sucked, Hughes is still a question mark, Kennedy is a question mark, oHlendorf is a quesion mark, Aarom small sucked. COme on these are the Yankees not the A’s or Twins who rely i their farm system.

  209. Boston Dave

    “That is why he should be in the pen til next season or at least in Scranton doing this. The majors isn’t for training.”

    If Joba doesn’t start this season, he doesnt start a full season next year either. He needs the innings. So, you are either for Joba as a starter or you’re not.

    I don’t suspect Joba will struggle all season. It’s pretty amusing that Joba is being judged on the same scale that he had in the bullpen.

    Nobody with a brain thought he would have a sub-2.00 ERA in the rotation. But it seems like many are already writing this move off as a loss. I would rather have Joba learning on the job than Kei Igawa losing games for them in his place. At last check, the Yanks don’t have a very good alternative to Joba starting right now.

    That’s the problem with the shortsightedness of fans and the media.

  210. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Joba is 22 years old. He’s not going to be perfect.

    Also, I think we need to give Guillen the Manny treatment and just walk him every time he comes up.

  211. Nick in SF

    The majors isn’t for training?

    Finished products only, please!

  212. Y's Guy

    for those of you who wanted joba in the pen or in scranton: who whould you have pitched in his place? igawa?

  213. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    what part of this did you not understand? “If the Yanks can turn just a handful of their minor leaguers into career effective relief pitchers, they’ll be ok.”

    a handful = 3-4

    sorry if that went over your head or you are not privy to the depth of the yankees minor league system (pitching in particular)

  214. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    for those of you who wanted joba in the pen or in scranton: who whould you have pitched in his place? igawa?

    waiting for someone to say Bronson Arroyo :lol:

  215. Kyle the Hick

    Dave i guess everyone in the minors is going to be good. Sorry didnt know that you inside info on the minor league system.. My bad.

  216. Boston Dave

    “Also, I think we need to give Guillen the Manny treatment and just walk him every time he comes up.”

    Guillen doesn’t walk. Joba can get this guy to swing and miss at the high fastball. The problem in that AB, IMO, was that he got away from his best pitch.

  217. Terry

    Moose has 250+ major league wins as a astarter. Being a little disingenuous there, Angel?

    Moose also wasn’t being stretched out was he?

  218. BBB

    Wow, I don’t think I have ever seen a pitcher get so lucky before. Posada and Cano smoked the ball, Jeter hit it hard, but now he is settling down..ucch. Hopefully they will start dropping in for us soon though!!

  219. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Sheesh, you guys, some of you sound like Joba’s given up six runs in one inning…

  220. mel

    Caray & his Darling talking about how Joba’s move is a desperation move. What if Joba was lights out? Would it still be desperation?

    Maybe they should comment on the Atlanta game.

  221. Laura

    They are politely saying that Greinke had a nervous breakdown.

  222. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    Again, during what stage did your brain lock up trying to understand this?

    I said that the Yankees will be alright if 3-4 of the maybe 15 or so pitching prospects can become effective bullpen guys, they’ll be just fine.

    I suggest you do some research on their farm system before using guys like Aaron Small as your evidence. Or just keep drinking the moonshine and spewing nonsense.

  223. Kelvin

    Kyle,

    It is useless going back and forth with the Dave’s of the world who see the Yank system and minor leaguers as gold.

    Not everyone is Joba in Scranton and Trenton and there is a reason why they are in the minors. Guys like Dave would almost rather lose with the minor league guys here than win with vets and trades and free agents.

  224. Kyle the Hick

    Matsui slump coming?!!?!?!?!

  225. Jorge steinbrenner

    young pitchers struggle. This shouldn’t be a mystery to anyone.

    The recipe is simple: make less mistakes. Joba will get there. I’m glad to sacrifice another first-round playoff loss to build another dynasty.

  226. mel

    Brandon-

    What’s the list of “must haves” here?

    -Arroyo
    -Fuentes
    -Marte
    -Sabathia

  227. Angel

    Not at all, Terry. Just pointing out the silliness of your statement.

  228. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “for those of you who wanted joba in the pen or in scranton: who whould you have pitched in his place? igawa?”

    Good point…

    However, you could also say:

    For those of you wanted joba in the starting rotation who would you have pitched in the 8th or sometimes 7th and 8th? Farnsworth?

  229. Nick in SF

    Terry, making a point that you disagree with or think is weak is not the same as being disengenuous.

  230. Timmy Lupus

    Joba has made only 15 starts in the minor leagues. This is only his second big league start. Anyone expecting the guy to come out of the gate throwing like Sandy Koufax in his prime was sadly mistaken. It’s going to take a bit of time to develop into what we all HOPE he can be as a starter. That said considering his lack of experience in pro ball as a starter he’s throwing the ball pretty well.

  231. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    19 yr. old OF/3B Viciedo defects

  232. Nick in SF

    Dynasty, your counter-point is weak as usual. Starting pitching is not the same as setup-man pitching.

  233. Kyle the Hick

    Dave,

    You are an insane fan. But a great fan. and I apprecaite how you think about the Yankees Farm system it kinda makes me feel better. I now know the Yankees have future petites, riveras and jobas in their minor league systems.

  234. Kelvin

    You have to get to pitchers like Greinke early and quick. or they settle down and start mowing down hitters.

  235. Laura

    Come on, Joba. Hang in there!

  236. Boston Dave

    Kelvin/Kyle,

    Can you even name 3-4 of the Yankees top minor league pitchers?

    And please stop with the “not everyone is Joba” garbage.

  237. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    that’s the Joba I watched in A ball a 9 pitch inning !

  238. randy l

    “Finished products only, please!”

    is it true in his garden at home that cashman pulls his carrots out of the ground to see how they’re doing?

  239. Laura

    Not sure if Girardi will let him start the 5th. I think he should.

  240. Yeah!

    well atleast joba is doing his thing against these aaa players.

  241. MrMulligan

    Anyone think Joba going with the slider vs. Guillen over and over was a “rookie” mistake?
    Did he shake off Jorge or was that the pitch called?
    If pitch called…it was a BONEHEAD decision by Jorge or Girardi.

  242. Terry

    Comparing Moose who has 250+ wins as a major league starter to Joba and his ZERO is silly.

    Because they aren’t alike at all since Moose doesn’t have to be stretched out and Joba does. Hence why he should have done that in the minors.

    Moose had different problems and you don’t send him to Scranton to deal with those. You either cut him or continue throwing him out there.

    So your straw man argument, Angel, is silly. But I shouldn’t be surprised coming here. The majority here think that anyone that thinks that Joba should be in the minors getting to 100+ pitches is an idiot.

  243. Boston Dave

    Kyle,

    Look at it this way. The Yankees have taken a new approach – developing talent and letting their young guys come up through the system.

    We can agree to disagree on whether it’s the right approach (which I am 100% in favor of). Let’s just agree to root for the Yankees and their young guys… because that’s the direction they’ve taken.

  244. Kyle the Hick

    Horne, Bentaces, Heredia

  245. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    ”Dayán is going to spark a lot of talk in the majors,” said his agent, Puerto Rican lawyer Jaime Torres.

    “He has arrived with youth, he is very versatile and his conditioning is exceptional. We will soon see him wearing the uniform of a major league team.”

    Torres added that Viciedo reminds him of Boston Red Sox star Manny Ramirez.

    VERSATILE PLAYER

    Standing 6-2 and weighing 202 pounds, Viciedo is known as a powerful batter and a versatile defender, capable of playing shortstop, third base and outfield, and he even can pitch. His fastball has been clocked at more than 90 mph, but he said his pitching days are over.

    19 yr. old OF/3B Viciedo defects

  246. MrMulligan

    “that’s the Joba I watched in A ball a 9 pitch inning!”

    JOBA…JOBA…JOBA (gonna be a wild ride this year)

  247. Kyle the Hick

    I forget Pavano

  248. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Branon, you still gonna do that write up on what latin players go through?

  249. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “If Joba doesn’t start this season, he doesnt start a full season next year either. He needs the innings. So, you are either for Joba as a starter or you’re not.”

    Not necessarily…why not give him more innings this year in the pen, ie. allow him to pitch 3 inning stints where necessary…6th, 7th and 8th on occasion…

    He could be used in more games and it would give him enough innings to make him a full-fledged starter by next year…in the meantime it would also allow us enough time to find a suitable replacement in the pen…

  250. Nick in SF

    You made a little progress, Terry. Keep trying and you’ll get it.

  251. Y's Guy

    dynasty, that is also a good point. im one who believes that we need him in the rotation, but i can deal with those who think he helps more in the bp. but we all have to admit that there are good and bad choices either way. keeping him in the b/p would leave us with a gaping hole in the rotation just as we now have in the b/p.

    its pick your poison.

    joe g. has the same dilema everytime he has to decide whether to leave the starter in or go to our terrible bullpen. neither option is w/o risk.

  252. BBFan

    For those who think Joba should be in Scraton stetchnig out his innings, look at the alternatives. He is keeping the Yanks in the game today. Who else you would have used to get the same result? Igawa? white? It would have been a white flag before the game started.

    Also, whether it is in Majors or in Scranton, he would have pitched the same pitch counts while building his arm strength. The only drawback is the use of bullpen and that has not been an issue so far as Cashman has manipulated the call ups well, including probably some phantom injuries.

  253. Kelvin

    Melancon, Cox, Robertson, McCuthceon, Marquez, Horne, White, Betances, etc, etc

    Yeah Dave we can all read and check the reports of the system. This isn’t 1985 and you aren’t alone there, bud.

    Just that you are nuts thinking all of these guys will be successful major leaguers.

    kennedy had a lot of hype. What has impressed you about him? If all these guys are like that we are in trouble. Not one of these guys is Joba and there is a reason for that. They dont grow on trees.

  254. Terry

    Nick,

    Who is talking to you? Have something to say besides snarky comments and maybe you will be happy with yourself.

  255. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Rebecca I completely forgot about that, I’ll be sure to do it this month. Thanks for reminding me.

  256. Y's Guy

    dynasty: its more game OR more innings, not both. he cant pitch 3 innings every other day, and when he goes 3, you dont have him for the next day or two.

  257. Boston Dave

    BBFan,

    That is a great point that doesn’t get brought up. The move to the rotation for Joba, whether intended or not, turned out to be both part of his development as well as a direct need.

  258. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Brandon: Let me know when you do, can’t wait to read it!

    Now, I would love some Yankee runs…

  259. JB

    They could have easily gotten Joba 120 innings out of the pen this year. And next year he could have been a starter from day one.

    Question to all the Joba rotation people. If IPK and Hughes are here and pitching well, does this move happen?

  260. Kyle the Hick

    Cano is slow!!! He needs some BIg Brown steriods to run faster

  261. Harrison's Deal

    I care about the major league team and winning every game. player development is about the minor leagues.

  262. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    JB: It happens, but not this soon.

  263. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Cano is slow!!! He needs some BIg Brown steriods to run faster

    can he stleast get horse steroids that work, and Big Brown is not a good option at this time

  264. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Nick in SF,

    I happen to think that setup pitching is one of the more underrated components of the game…

    A good starter gives you a chance to win once every five games, correct?

    Inadequate or poor setup pitching can adversely affect the outcome of every single game, because starting pitchers seldom go 7 let alone 8 innings…

  265. Boston Dave

    Kelvin,

    quick math lesson for you and then we can end this debate.

    4 / 20 = 20%

    “Just that you are nuts thinking all of these guys will be successful major leaguers.”

    find one post where I said they will all be successful. I suggested that they only need a handful to be. Stop being a complete ass.

  266. Y's Guy

    jb, since they’ve been saying that he was going to move to the rotation since ST, the answer to your question is, yes, they would have done it anyway.

  267. Pax

    Now Joba is a moved and we have all the seen the huge hole that moving him did. Now they only get 4 innings from a starter for a month every 5 days. How is that helping the team even if his 4 innings are good every 5th day?

  268. Kyle the Hick

    JB you remark is incredibly correct. The keys to the season were hughes and kennedy if they pitched well there would have been no need to move joba in the rotation this season. and then hank wouldnt have made any remark and forced this decision

  269. S.o.S.27

    “Not necessarily…why not give him more innings this year in the pen, ie. allow him to pitch 3 inning stints where necessary…6th, 7th and 8th on occasion…”

    What difference would it make? He is allowing almost a run a game since starting. Would pitching in the sixth rather than the first make him locate better and throw less pitches? We need to be patient for a few weeks. Joba is the least of our starting pitching worries. Like iv said before. Id rather have a dominant starter than a dominant set up guy.

  270. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    what are they doing ?

  271. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Joba is piching in the 5th!

    This is a success anyway you look at it!

    Go Yanks!

  272. JB

    How would they have done it if IPK and Hughes were pitching decent?

    Who gets bumped??? Obv not Moose, Wang or Pettitte.

    This was a desperate move. Especially since they had no replacement ready for the pen.

    He’ll be eventually great as a starter but the big league club isn’t about his development like this.

    You cannot tell me or anyone that this was the plan all along.

  273. MrMulligan

    Gathright is an important out…JOBA

  274. Kyle the Hick

    This is a great move keeping Joba in. He is dominating right now. Who wants hawkins or Giese coming in

  275. Y's Guy

    looks like that pitch count # was alot more flexible then joe g. had indicated. maybe he was jerking the royal’s chain a bit?

  276. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    are they throwing away the clicker to get him past 5 IP ?

  277. Kelvin

    Boston Dave,

    Watch the foul mouth and the nasty language. Being anonymous doesn’t give you the right to use cuss words and be nasty.

  278. YankeeVIP

    5 so innnings.. joba is going to be a monster starter when he gets some experience in there.

    basically one bad pitch to guillen.. cant fault the kid.

    the one thing joba has that nobody else has in the rotation (maybe CMW) is the put-out pitch. when you need to get a guy out.. you can throw that fastball or slider to get guys out

  279. Y's Guy

    of course, our guy Pabe had it at 75-80, kay seems to think it was 75 and not one more. like cone said, he looks fine, let him finish and give him a chance for a W.

  280. Martin S

    Basically, we can blame the average start here on the fact that Hughes and Kennedy stink to high heavens.

  281. BBFan

    “I care about the major league team and winning every game. player development is about the minor leagues.”

    I agree with your point.
    But is Joba hurting winning games at the Ml level? He is not, espcially given the alternatives we have. Also, this development thing is misunderstood. They are stretching him out, which is different from development. He has already proven to be an effective ML pither. Sure, he is still learning, but that is true with any rookie or sophomore.

  282. Nathaniel Lewis

    Pitch counts are a terrible thing.

    He’s 22 years old!

  283. Nick in SF

    Dynasty, I’ve been wondering for a while why you use so many ellipses when you post your stubborn theories about Joba. I think it’s because you haven’t thought it all the way through, so you can’t make fully completed points about it.

    Setup pitching is important, yes, but clearly not as important as starting pitching.

    If you’re going to be throwing Joba out for 2-3 innings in relief to try to get closer to his innings limit, then you aren’t going to have him available all the time for those crucial but random 8th inning appearances, so it would be self-defeating.

  284. Boston Dave

    Kelvin,

    Waaa. Then don’t read my posts. We can be anonymous or not. daveyb411@yahoo.com

    I took offense to you consistently misquoting me. I told you the debate was over. You want to keep it going, that’s your call.

  285. Harrison's Deal

    Joba is going to be a fantastic starter but this is dumb.

  286. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    damn you pitch count …

  287. Y's Guy

    one hangins slider from being an excellent start. cant be too dissappointed about that.

    Let’s Go Yankees!

  288. Kelvin

    Posting your email address doesn’t disqualify you from being a jerk, Boston Dave. But good luck with that.

    I don’t go back and forth with nasty foul mouthed people like you so be well.

  289. Yeah!

    “Kyle the Hick
    June 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
    This is a great move keeping Joba in. He is dominating right now. Who wants hawkins or Giese coming in”

    Ooooooooops!!!

  290. MrMulligan

    97 – 77 MPH…SWEET JOBA

    Damn DeJesus & Guillen play like the 2nd coming of Williams & Ruth against us.

  291. Terry

    “Setup pitching is important, yes, but clearly not as important as starting pitching.”

    Well, when you have NO set up men it becomes a problem doesnt it?? And NO plan for moving there one set up man??

  292. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Despite that score, you have to consider that a more successful outing for Joba this time around as opposed to last time. Three runs is not horrendous–and we’re only down by one, and two of those runs came on one bad pitch.

    Joba pitched more, and, by what should be all accounts, better.

  293. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    here’s the DP

  294. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    DP = Designated Pitcher

  295. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “If you’re going to be throwing Joba out for 2-3 innings in relief to try to get closer to his innings limit, then you aren’t going to have him available all the time for those crucial but random 8th inning appearances, so it would be self-defeating.”

    There would be plenty of opportunities-just watch the games!

    Here are some more for you to wonder about…………………………..

  296. Angel

    Ohh it threw the “straw man argument” insult at me. So now I’m disingenious AND having straw man arguments.

    The nerve of me to disagree with Terry’s assertion that the majors aren’t for training.

    I love how you disagree with someone and they take it all personally. If you want a forum where everyone is going to agree with everything you say, this isn’t the place for you Terry.

  297. Laura

    Overall, it was a good start by Joba. I look forward to him going deeper into the game next time.

  298. BBFan

    It is up to offense to win this game.
    They need to score a few runs for the bullpen to be successful. But it is not going to be easy as the royals pitcher has settled down well and has very good stuff.

  299. MrMulligan

    “Overall, it was a good start by Joba. I look forward to him going deeper into the game next time.”

    Agree 100%

  300. Boston Dave

    Kelvin,

    go cry to someone else. Like I said, don’t read my posts. You don’t like jerks and I don’t like idiots. Fair enough.

    “I don’t go back and forth with nasty foul mouthed people like you so be well.”

    In that case, I will truly, truly miss your incredible insights and your uncanny ability to take what someone writes and completely misunderstand it.

  301. Baby Ruth

    Chamberlain was great but what about the rest of the game here?

  302. Rich

    “I don’t go back and forth with nasty foul mouthed people like you so be well.”

    what are you a priest or something? maybe you shold go to the Carebears website or perhaps go draw a picture of a rainbow.

  303. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    There would be plenty of opportunities-just watch the games!

    Here are some more for you to wonder about…………………………..

    that makes absolutely no sense..your forgetting how he is already in 5 day mode, your idea, a stupid one is he pitches 2 – 3 innings to get to his 150 limit for the year, you do know he has throw days, days that he has to take breaks, soreness and your thinking to drop 150 out the pen ? Nick in SF good luck w/ this one.

    PUMA ! :D

  304. Kelvin

    Like I said Boston Dave. I won’t read your posts and I won’t go back and forth with foul mouth nasty people. So good luck and stop stalking me.

    I’ll miss reading your insights that the farm system is gold and the Yanks shouldn’t improve their big league club by trading any of them for pieces that would help.

  305. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Giambino with the defense!

  306. Nick in SF

    Dynasty, thankfully your theory can’t be tested, so we’ll never know.

    Manny just struck out with the bases loaded vs. Bedard.

  307. YankeeVIP

    giambi is like a cat at 1b!!!!

    outside of his inability to throw, he has played a pretty good 1b this year. he makes those plays and is above avg on scooping the ball.

  308. S.o.S.27

    “Damn DeJesus & Guillen play like the 2nd coming of Williams & Ruth against us.”

    Giambi is playing first like the second coming of Mattingly.

  309. Terry

    Disagree all you want, Angel. Just don’t use ridiculous straw man arguments like comparing Mussina this year to Joba in regards to development. Just silly.

  310. Boston Dave

    “I’ll miss reading your insights that the farm system is gold”

    I suggest you shy away from the jerks and imbeciles at Baseball America or any of the publications that rate the Yanks farm system as one of the top 5-8 in the game (if rated solely on pitching prospects the Yanks would possibly be top 3).

  311. EY

    Good start by Joba. He’ll be ready for a full start next time he’s out. Can’t wait until then.

  312. Kelvin

    “what are you a priest or something? maybe you shold go to the Carebears website or perhaps go draw a picture of a rainbow.”

    Are you serious??? LOL. I guess it makes me holy not to engage nasty, foul mouthed people on a Yankee blog. LOL. That you too, Boston Dave taking another name??? Wouldn’t shock me.

  313. Y's Guy

    you boys done reading all of each other’s posts about how you wont read any more of each other’s posts?

    Let’s Go Yankees!

  314. BBFan

    This the inning Yanks have to strike with thier top of hte order. If they can get Greike out, thier bullpen is shot. Damon already has a good start with a long at bat.

  315. Nick in SF

    I’ll try to keep this very simple; pitching out of the bullpen is not the same thing as starting.

    The idea is not to just get Joba to 140+ innings, it’s also to get him experience starting games at the major league level.

    Because they see Joba as being more valuable to the team as a starter than as a setup man.

  316. S.o.S.27

    “Chamberlain was great but what about the rest of the game here?”

    Would you prefer 10 runs in 7 innings from our starter? Be patient folks. He’s almost there. Our starters have sucked this year. We cant worry about who pitches late innings if our starters have us coming from behind every game. 6 of the last 7 games won have been comebacks. Cox and Malencon will be up soon enough.

  317. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Yeah Johnny!

  318. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    BTW Chris Smith on PP sounds like he wants to sign w/ the Yankees but he will talk it over w/ his folks.

    GO JOHNNY GO !

  319. Kelvin

    “I suggest you shy away from the jerks and imbeciles at Baseball America or any of the publications that rate the Yanks farm system as one of the top 5-8 in the game (if rated solely on pitching prospects the Yanks would possibly be top 3).”

    So they are jerks and imbeciles there because they don’t think the Yanks hitters are worthy and a top 3 system???

    Not like they have the Yanks 20 or anything. This is the extent of your arguments?? That’s hilarious.

    Maybe you should stop posting.

  320. BBFan

    Wow. Damon.
    We should score this run without fail.

  321. Jeff NJ

    Tie game coming up soon

  322. EY

    Great job Damon! Wait to go work the pitch count

  323. Y's Guy

    stand-up triple baby!!!!

    im loving the way joe g. is using damon, matsui and giambi, resting them is giving us some excellent results!

  324. EY

    *Way to go

  325. JB

    And would they have done this Nick in SF if IPK and Hughes were pitching???

    If yes than this season was basically a development year especially with no replacements in the pen.

  326. Matthewson

    How was that not a strike to jeter? Wow.

  327. Matthewson

    Greinke is impressive.

  328. EY

    :( Captain.
    Let’s go, Bobby. Work your magic again.

  329. James G

    That’s a bad job by the Captain. He has to get that run in. Hopefully Bobby can pick him up… and he did.

  330. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    I’ll take that! Joba can’t lose!

  331. EY

    BOBBY!!!

  332. Boston Dave

    “you boys done reading all of each other’s posts about how you wont read any more of each other’s posts?”

    who said they were done reading posts? quote please.

  333. Laura

    We’ve got to get this run home.

  334. Y's Guy

    nice work bobby, cash in that triple.

    now for the A-Bomb!

    Let’s Go Yankees!

  335. Drew

    Way to pick him up Bobby!!!

  336. PaulydaGoat

    Captain Clutch does it again.

    Seriously though, when will Jeter earn his $$ this year?

  337. Laura

    Thank you, Bobby!!

  338. Vince SI

    If the Yanks listened to the boobs here all the time Damon would have been traded a year ago.

  339. BBFan

    Mission accomplished with Abrue.
    We have to keep up with them and get to thier bullpen.

  340. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Bobby is the best at getting the runners in

  341. Laura

    He might pitch around A-Rod again.

  342. MrMulligan

    TIE GAME, BABY!!!

    More late inning Yankee Magic coming?

  343. Nick in SF

    JB, the plan was always to bring Joba into the rotation this season. I think the timetable was moved up due to the Hughes/Kennedy situation, but that’s just a theory. Since there are replacements moving through the farm system, it does make sense that they would have transitioned Joba a little later in the season when fresh arms were available.

  344. Boston Dave

    “So they are jerks and imbeciles there because they don’t think the Yanks hitters are worthy and a top 3 system???”

    Again, the point went WAY over your head. It’s called sarcasm you simpleton.

  345. Laura

    Matsui needs to make him pay for walking A-Rod.

  346. Angel

    I’m sick to death of Joey Gathright.

  347. Y's Guy

    damn, that gathright can really go get ‘em. damn…..

  348. Terry

    F Gathright

  349. EY

    Robbed by Gathright for the third time :( !

  350. Jeff NJ

    I think the reason we can be patient with Joba is because the Yankees are now only working one rookie in the rotation. If Rasner was the 4th starter from day one and Hughes or Kennedy were struggling as the 5th starter, they could be a lot more patience. Joba took another step in shutting down the naysayers today, next week it should fully pay off.

  351. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    how did he hurt himself there his wrist didn’t bend ?

  352. Laura

    Man, what a pain in the rear that guy is!!

  353. BBFan

    With man on 3b and less than two outs, the two guys I want at bat are Abrue and Matsui. Not Jeter, Not A-Rod, though they may be better players overall.

  354. Laura

    “how did he hurt himself there his wrist didn’t bend ?”

    I think he came down on it hard.

  355. MrMulligan

    Greinke up to 90 PC…

  356. JB

    I just don’t see moving Joba with no one out there to take those innings. But we’ll see. I think hes a great SP and will be terrific in that role but Id breathe easier with some pitching in the pen that got outs and threw strikes.

  357. Laura

    “With man on 3b and less than two outs, the two guys I want at bat are Abrue and Matsui.”

    I have to agree with this. In theory, you should want A-Rod up there, but he tends to try to hard and ends up popping up.

  358. Y's Guy

    looking at it again on the tivo, he really laid out and came down hard on his elbow, could be a jammed shoulder.

    damn nice catch mr. gathwright!

  359. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I just don’t see moving Joba with no one out there to take those innings. But we’ll see. I think hes a great SP and will be terrific in that role but Id breathe easier with some pitching in the pen that got outs and threw strikes.

    you’ll love Melancon

  360. S.o.S.27

    For the people who are saying that if Hughes and Kennedy were healthy. Joba would stay as the setup guy. Hughes wouldnt have been able to finish the year with his innings cap. They were planning on putting Joba in the rotation all along. The only difference is with the injuries they have had to the other 2. He’s probably in a month sooner.

  361. Laura

    I think that’s the first ball A-Rod has fielded this game.

  362. Boston Dave

    JB,

    who would be starting today if not Joba? Igawa? Though creating a hole in the bullpen (which hopefully can be filled by someone like Melancon), he is filling a huge hole in the rotation.

  363. Angel

    What is that all about? The new term around here? You disagree with someone’s point and state why – and because the person you disagree with doesn’t agree with your counterpoint, you are somehow now making a strawman argument?

    I see.

  364. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Coney getting a little umm… frisky :)

  365. Nick in SF

    JB, no argument, taking Joba out of the bullpen in late May left a gap. Which is why, again, I think that the original plan was to do it a little later in the season when replacements from the farm system would be ready. But taking Hughes and Kennedy out of the rotation left a slot open even with Rasner pitching well.

  366. Angel

    Honestly, the amount of straw people are throwing around on this blog – it may just needs its own hay baler.

  367. BBFan

    Giese looks like sneaky effective.
    WE might have found out our long man, by accident(!!!!!) out os necessity!!!!

  368. Boston Dave

    Nick in SF has it right, IMO.

  369. Boston Dave

    that is pathetic Jorge. Cmon.

  370. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    WTF happened there ?

  371. S.o.S.27

    When are major league batters going to figure out Masterson? This guy is pitching better than Beckett for them. He’s matching Beddard inning for inning.

  372. Y's Guy

    personally i look forward to when the yankees are in K.C. BECAUSE i know michael Kay never makes the trip, so it’s usually my favorite yes team bobby murcer and ken singleton.

  373. Boston Dave

    Rollins got benched the other day for not hustling. Posada practically walked to the ball.

  374. EY

    Ugh Jorge :(

  375. Angel

    Sheesh, Jorgie.

  376. Laura

    Posada didn’t run hard for that ball.

  377. Boston Dave

    phew… Giese looks like a nice change of pace guy in the pen.

  378. S.o.S.27

    After all these years. Youd think Posada would learn how to block a pitch with his chest. Freakin Frustrating!!

  379. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I can’t stand this guy Cody or Corey watever his name is … I’d kick his a..

  380. Boston Dave

    SoS,

    I’ve been thinking the same thing with every one of his starts. It’s a bit worrisome.

  381. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Nice inning from Giese.

  382. LathamJoe

    Posada’s lack of defense and lack of hustle has cost his Team 2 out of the 4 runs so far.

  383. Laura

    So far, I’m impressed with these Giese guy. I like him better as the long man than Ross O.

  384. S.o.S.27

    I think we might have found our long man. Giese has been very impressive since coming up. Hopefully they dont demote him like his last outing.

  385. Y's Guy

    lathan, check the score.

  386. Nick in SF

    Angel, watch out for this guy:

    http://tinyurl.com/5o8mfq

  387. Y's Guy

    think they’ll send giese back down and bring him back with a wink-wink injury for joba’s next start?

    Let’s Go Yankees!

  388. BBFan

    “I think we might have found our long man. Giese has been very impressive since coming up. Hopefully they dont demote him like his last outing.”

    If Giese continues to pitch like this he will not go any where. When the need arises they will probalby send Veras or someone else.

  389. Angel

    How did you arrive at that figure, LathamJoe?

  390. Boston Dave

    Giambino!!!

  391. Y's Guy

    C YA!!!!!!

  392. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    damn he is just sizzling right now

  393. EY

    CLUTCH GIAMBINO

  394. Laura

    I had said that if Ron Jeremy didn’t get going before the All Star Break, we should DFA him. I guess he heard me.

  395. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    GIAMBINO IS ON FIRE

  396. BBFan

    It is really funny how Giambi runs bases after a HR. It looks like he is runnig very hard, but he is not covering much ground. It is hilarious watching him.

  397. sw

    Woohoo Big G!

  398. Angel

    LOL Nick!!

    The flower in the vest was a really nice touch too.

  399. mel

    Jesus crap, Jason!

  400. randy l

    nick in sf-

    serious question.

    is there any starter in modern mlb history who has done well in the first few years of their career who have had so little starting experience as joba?

    i’m not saying there isn’t, but i think some historical precedents would be helpful.

  401. GreenBeret7

    Brandon, I don’t know about you, but, Giese doesn’t impress me on the mound.  It’s after the inning is over and you notice nothing was added to the score board.  He’s turned in two very nice appearances, so far.

  402. ahhmazinaignagdk

    Giambi….do not shave the mustache!

  403. S.o.S.27

    Giambi’s bat speed has improved immensely. His isnt getting cheated on any pitch. What do you do with his contract if continues to stay on this tear? Trade Matsui or Damon? Let him walk and get a good draft for him?

  404. Laura

    Even if RJ has a monster year, I don’t see the Yankees keeping him. But he’ll have an easier time landing somewhere else.

  405. Boston Dave

    Laura,

    At least you gave him til the break. Most of the bloggers wanted him DFA’d 2 weeks into April.

    Either way, gotta love it…

  406. Kyle the Hick

    Giese for set up men role!!!

  407. kidjock

    I was wrong about Giambi. Love live the stache. But if he continues to hit like this, do you bring him back? (at a substantial pay cut of course)

  408. BBFan

    “I can’t stand this guy Cody or Corey watever his name is … I’d kick his a..”

    Who are you talking about? Giese?

  409. S.o.S.27

    Maybe we could get our starting pitchers to grow porn staches. Wang might need a marker.

  410. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Randy—that’s a good question.

  411. Kyle the Hick

    Nah texiaria is going to be avialble and he actually can play some solid D.

  412. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    GB long relief suits him, it’s funny because I said the same thing his mound presence does nothing for me but before you know it your realizing he’s 3 innings into his work putting 0’s on the board, I don’t know what it is, he just throws strikes I guess.

  413. Boston Dave

    randy l,

    dwight gooden, clemens (though his first season at age 21 his ERA was over 4)

    i doubt there are many who had great seasons at age 22 since then.

  414. Nick in SF

    randy l, I am not so well versed in the history of the prior starting experience of successful major league starters. So I can’t really answer your question authoritatively.

    But what point are you trying to make? You’ve seen Joba pitch many innings now, and presumably you are aware of what he did as a collegian and when he rocketed through the farm system. Do you think he has a lot to gain by pitching against AAA hitters now?

  415. Joe from Long Island

    Time to start thinking…Get through the 6th and 7th with some combo of Ollie, Veras, and Edwar, then hand it to Mo. There is no way I think of either LaTroy or Kyle.

  416. S.o.S.27

    “At least you gave him til the break. Most of the bloggers wanted him DFA’d 2 weeks into April.”

    2 weeks in April? Hell I wanted him dfa’d in february.

  417. Y's Guy

    roger clemens 9-4, 4.32, was 21 when the season started.

  418. GreenBeret7

    Brandon, he’s got a chance to be the relief version of the new Mike Mussina.

  419. BBFan

    Is Garthright in the Center or he is out of the game due to injury?

  420. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Who are you talking about? Giese?

    the stupid Happy Hour break guy

  421. S.o.S.27

    Has Cano ever heard of a walk!!

  422. Laura

    Not a pitch Cano should have swong at.

  423. Joe from Long Island

    My previous post didn’t get through…(maybe that’s a message) –

    I think they should get through the pre-Mo innings with Geise, and iff needed Ollie/Veras/Edwar. No way do I use LaTroy or Kyle.

  424. Rey22

    Hasn’t Felix Hernandez pitched very well at a very young age?

  425. Don

    Seriously, could Giambi be back on the juice?

  426. Y's Guy

    dwight gooden 20years old his rookie year 1984:

    17-9, 2.60 era.

  427. Kyle the Hick

    Giese for president!!!

  428. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    what does he mean all of the sudden they announced chance of afternoon showers in the afternoon last night.

  429. mel

    TNT crew said Tom Gordon’s son and the spawn of Scott Boras got drafted this year.

  430. Jorge Steinbrenner (the long lost third brother)

    No matter what happens from here on out, today looked like an unqualified success to me. Joba plan looked executed to perfection today.

    I wonder if it ever crossed a young Dan Giese’s mind that he’d only get into the majors as the understudy for a kid named Joba.

    If Joey Gathright could hit, I swear I’d give up the world for him.

  431. Laura

    Leaping over that pitcher was a dangerous play. He could have come down on his head and broke the pitcher’s neck.

  432. mel

    Where’s Tony Pena Jr.?

  433. Kyle the Hick

    veras in the 8th or Kyle?

  434. Guiseppe Franco

    Giambi is not coming back next season. Not a chance.

    Cashman has been looking for a reason to get rid of him the last few years (remember when they tried to void his contract after the steroids revelation?) and you can bet that he will be a happy man when Giambi is out of his hair and his contract is off the books.

  435. MrMulligan

    “dwight gooden 20years old his rookie year 1984:

    17-9, 2.60 era.”

    Damn, Doc should’ve been Cy Young!

    KIDS: DRUGS ARE BAD (South Park)

  436. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    veras in the 8th or Kyle?

    Veras I hope

  437. Y's Guy

    bob feller at 18 (1936): 5-3, 3.34 era!
    can you imagine that?

  438. S.o.S.27

    “Seriously, could Giambi be back on the juice?”

    b-12 is not illegal.

    “Where’s Tony Pena Jr.?”

    The question to ask is wheres his bat?

  439. andy Hawkin's ghost

    If we can re-sign Giambi for 10 million or under, you do it. I’d like him to be our primary DH. Abreu is gone. The tough choice is Damon/Matsui. They add a lot in the intangible department but we have to get more athletic in the OF. What about Matsui to the Dodgers for the kid Ethier? Would the Pirates trade Jason Bay or Nady? Both would be up grade to some extent.

  440. MrMulligan

    “bob feller at 18 (1936): 5-3, 3.34 era!
    can you imagine that?’

    Feller is a HOF and lost a few years (mid-20’s) to WWII…amazing.

  441. Kyle the Hick

    DAN THE MAN!!!

  442. Laura

    DeJesus is another one who annoys me. I’ll be glad when these Royals leave.

  443. Joe Mama

    Pedro Martinez
    Age: 22

    11-5 3.42

  444. GreenBeret7

    S.oS.27, don’t you have an issue with Jeter not walking? I realize that Jeter has that huge one walk lead on Cano, but,…..

  445. Jeff NJ

    Giambi could definitely be back at DH next year, assuming either Melky, Damon or Matsui are traded. There will be a new starting 1B that’s for sure.

  446. MrMulligan

    Mr. Giese…I LOVE U MAN

  447. Igawa's buck teeth

    No way he pitches Farnsworth in the 8th with the heart of the line up…RIGHT?

  448. Laura

    “If we can re-sign Giambi for 10 million or under, you do it. I’d like him to be our primary DH. Abreu is gone.”

    I disagree. If Abreu will agree to sign a 2 yr deal, I think the Yankees will bring him back next year. Unless they feel that the kids down in AAA are ready to play with the big boys, you keep Abreu. He gets on base, can Jack one out every now and then and is a perfect fit in front of A-Rod. I’d sign Abreu before I’d sign Ron Jeremy.

  449. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “Joba took another step in shutting down the naysayers today, next week it should fully pay off.”

    Not the naysayers who are worried about the bullpen…

    If he makes the starting rotation stronger that’s a plus…but if we lose as many games in the bullpen as he wins as a starter, then where are we?

    We won’t know till the end of the season…

    In the future (next season and beyond) provided he becomes a frontline starter and Melancon(if he’s the real deal)to setup and eventually close, then we’ll be fine…

    Meanwhile, Giese is doing great!

  450. GreenBeret7

    actually, Bob Feller was only 17. He didn’t turn 18 until after the season was over.

  451. sunny615

    so… what do you think girardi thinks of Geise’s tryout for long man? I think he’s done pretty well so far… but then again, this is the royals. I still don’t think Ohlendorf is long man. He’s maybe a one or two inning specialist tops. Rasner or IPK could be the answer if they all come back healthy and effective.

  452. randy l

    nick in sf-
    he’s had by my crude count 15 starts in the minor leagues. 8 at double A or above.

    i’m just wondering if any successful mlb pitcher has had so little minor league experience starting and done well their first few years in the majors.

    i’m not saying he can’t do it, but it’d be nice to know what he’s up against.

    where should our expectations be with someone who has done it the way he’s doing it?

    surely there is some historical precedent.

  453. Kyle the Hick

    BIG INNNING

  454. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Austin Jackson is 2 for 3 w/ 2 1B, RBI, BB

    Our Juvenile delinquent is also 2 for 3 w/ 2 1B, R

    (he still isn’t pulling the ball.)

  455. mel

    No sense reading the tea leaves yet, hopefully we’ll get some insurance runs.

  456. Laura

    The Yankees are idiots if they try to trade Matsui. To me, out of the three of them (Damon, Matsui and RJ), he’s the most valuable and the one who will be reliable in the long run.

  457. Joe Mama

    Verlander

    Age: 23
    17-9 3.63

  458. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Brandon: Love the nickname there… can we call him JD for short?

  459. Nick in SF

    Yes, randy l, ha hasn’t started many minor league games. But he did start in college.

    Either way, my question still stands: Do you think he has a lot to gain by pitching against AAA hitters now?

  460. Laura

    Jeter needs a hit. He’s so due!

  461. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I guess so Rebecca

  462. S.o.S.27

    “S.oS.27, don’t you have an issue with Jeter not walking? I realize that Jeter has that huge one walk lead on Cano, but,…..”

    a. Hes mr. Clutch, El Capitan, Mr.Yankee himself, Mr.November, Mr. Immunity.

    b. Atleast he knows how to bunt.

    But yes i wish he would walk more often.

  463. Laura

    Oh, Derek!

  464. randy l

    “Hasn’t Felix Hernandez pitched very well at a very young age?”
    yup, there’s one.
    thank you.
    now to look up gooden’s minor league starts.

  465. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “is there any starter in modern mlb history who has done well in the first few years of their career who have had so little starting experience as joba?”

    That’s a good question that I don’t know the answer to…

    Here’s a question I do know the answer to:

    Is there any pitcher in modern mlb history who has found immediate and overwhelming success at the big league level as a reliever?

    I know of at least one: Joba!

  466. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Didn’t Jeter used to always work the counts?

  467. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    IDK why but I got a feeling Josh Hamilton is going to hit one over the stadium.

  468. MrMulligan

    “The Yankees are idiots if they try to trade Matsui. To me, out of the three of them (Damon, Matsui and RJ), he’s the most valuable and the one who will be reliable in the long run.”

    Laura: We have to get younger in the OF…Matsui will be 35…and if he keeps this season up his trade value will never be higher. IMO, we send him to SF for some arms in the off-season…

  469. Y's Guy

    big run there! lets get him in!

  470. sw

    “is there any starter in modern mlb history who has done well in the first few years of their career who have had so little starting experience as joba?”

    Jim Abbott never even pitched a game in the minors and pitched decently in his rookie year (12-12, 3.92 ERA) at age 21.

  471. Jeff NJ

    Dealer has an ace, insurance anyone? insurance?

  472. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Come on, Alex!! Show me something here.

  473. Nick in SF

    Dynasty, I’m worried about your emotional stability. Are you going to cry when Joba is getting his Cy Young award and wish he was still being used as a setup man?

  474. MrMulligan

    MVP needs to deliver here…

  475. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Man, this blog is like a baseball encyclopedia! We can ask any wuestion and get an answer. I want to try one.

    Who’s the last pitcher the Yankees converted from a reliever to a starter and how did he do?

  476. S.o.S.27

    First and third or runners in scoring possition. Arod should just tell the ump to start the count at 0-2.

  477. Jeff NJ

    C’mon A Rod, only a 2 run double? He sucks.

  478. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    oh Alex your approach is confusing, the first 2 pitches are drivable to the OF and gets the guy over this is wasting pitches

    As I write that he gets the job done….Sorry Alex

  479. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    A-Rod!!!!!!

  480. EY

    YEAHHHH MVP!!!!! Insurance runs!

  481. Y's Guy

    Big hit right there! nice job, ill advised to try 3rd there, but a big hit!

  482. Jeff NJ

    Rebecca, are you referring to Righetti? No wait, he went from starter to reliever.

  483. MrMulligan

    YES

  484. GreenBeret7

    Not good, Rodriguez. That was a Bonds/Ramirez moment, there.

  485. Boston Dave

    MrMulligan,

    who do you think SF would trade for Matsui? There is no chance it’s Lincecum or Cain. Do they have anyone else worthwhile (worth trading Matsui for)?

  486. Angel

    Okay.. that wasn’t a pose, Michael Kay you tool.

    Standing on homebase waiting for it to drop in, is posing.

  487. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    YAY ALEX

    BOO John Sterling

  488. S.o.S.27

    Need i say. Blame Meachum?

  489. DFox

    I disagree with the posing being why he was out at third… He had to stop at second anyway, and when they started booting the ball all over the place he got too cocky. Anyway that’s a nice clutch hit.

  490. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    So, do we have enough runs to go to Farnsworth in the 8th?

  491. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    What’s with A-Rod coughing all over everybody? LOL!

  492. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Jeff: I don’t know the answer!

  493. randy l

    on doc gooden : “He spent one season in the minors, in which he led the Class-A Carolina League in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Gooden had 300 strikeouts in 191 innings”

    so 191 innings at a really young age.

    but that’s more than 25 starts. more than joba. but joba had his nebraska starts.

    ok , there’s some precedent there.

  494. Rey22

    A-Rod was smart there. Gotta keep the 3 run lead so Mo can get the save. He ran to third on purpose.

  495. Guiseppe Franco

    We have to get younger in the OF…Matsui will be 35…and if he keeps this season up his trade value will never be higher. IMO, we send him to SF for some arms in the off-season.

    With Giambi gone, Matsui is going to be the everyday DH next season.

    I don’t see Matsui going anywhere.

  496. Boston Dave

    Rebecca,

    I’m sure there have been some since 1976 but Ron Guidry pitched in relief for the Yanks his first 2 seasons there.

    He turned out alright.

  497. Nick in SF

    Here’s another question: has a pitcher with Joba’s stuff and potential ever spent an entire career in the bullpen without having ever been given a chance to be a starter?

  498. Y's Guy

    i never saw him look to the 3rd base coach there, and why should he, the play was right in front of him. cant blame him getting thrown out on anybody by alex for not busting it out of the box. making the 2nd out at 3rd is a no-no.

    but it was still a big hit.

  499. Kev Van

    man, now that everyone’s back and hitting, we do have a scary line-up….all the way till posada.

  500. MrMulligan

    “MrMulligan,

    who do you think SF would trade for Matsui? There is no chance it’s Lincecum or Cain. Do they have anyone else worthwhile (worth trading Matsui for)?”

    Not sure…I just remember they were interested in him this past off-season (makes financial sense for them with a large Asian fanbase)…Lincecum is an AMAZING talent.

  501. Angel

    That was nothing like Manny Ramirez. He stands there waiting for it to drop.

  502. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    He clearly thought the ball was gone and didn’t run hard out of the box. We got the two runs so I can’t complain. Well, I could but I won’t.

    :)

  503. Jeff NJ

    Boston Dave, read Joel Sherman’s Yankee trade proposals in the NY Post today. He mentions going after Jonathon Sanchez, a lefty pitcher from SF. I don’t follow the national league, so I don’t know anything about him.

  504. Boston Dave

    SoS,

    was ARod running hard the entire way? I didn’t see it or they didnt show it… but I am guessing he “admired” the hit at least somewhat.

  505. rconn23

    Now I won’t need to drink so much scotch for the top of the 8th to get through Farnsy.
    I thank you A-Rod – and my liver thanks you.

  506. randy l

    jim abbot.
    interesting.
    i would have never guessed that one.

  507. S.o.S.27

    “So, do we have enough runs to go to Farnsworth in the 8th?”

    You must of been here a week ago on THE FARN RULES.

    Never pitch him on colse games
    Never on blow outs.
    Never on sunny days
    Never on rainy days
    Never on extra innings.
    Never after the game is over.

    Brandon remembers more of the rules.

  508. GreenBeret7

    yeah, Sos27, he looked clutch in these at bats, today. He’s also screwed up a few bunts this year, too. Not to mention ill-advised bunts when a chance to sneak one through the right side would have worked just as well or better. Jeter’s problem is not knowing the difference between sac bunts and bunting for hits. He’ll never be confused with Rizzuto or Mantle as a bunter. Jeter’s a Hell of a player, but, sometimes, he outthinks himself at times.

  509. Boston Dave

    thanks Jeff NJ.

    Sanchez looks really good sometimes and other times not so good. I believe he has control issues.

    I am a fan of Matsui so I hope they keep him unless they get a really good deal. Call me naive but I do think there is a benefit to remaining as popular as possible in the Far East . Keeping Matsui helps with that.

  510. randy l

    “Here’s another question: has a pitcher with Joba’s stuff and potential ever spent an entire career in the bullpen without having ever been given a chance to be a starter?”

    i know that answer.
    no.

  511. S.o.S.27

    Boston Dave,
    I was just having fun at the people banging on Meachum yesterday for sending Cabrera on a sac fly. Its always Meachums fault.

  512. Nick in SF

    I said this during the off-season and I’ll say it again: I don’t think the SF Giants have any particular need for Matsui, his ethnicity aside.

  513. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Oh, give me a frackin’ break!! That pitch was low.

  514. Y's Guy

    alex trotted to first and then cruised a little faster after rounding first, but didnt start going hard until he was almost to 2nd , when he saw the bobble. had he been running hard all the way, he would have had a stand-up triple.

    but he didnt stand and admire it like bonds and manny, he just trotted.

  515. Angel

    Well he wasn’t running as hard as if it was an obvious base hit that required flat out running, but he was hardly posing either. It did look gone.

    He made it to second easily after hitting it hard, so he was hardly jogging.

  516. Eugie

    “If we can re-sign Giambi for 10 million or under, you do it. ”

    Hell No. Giambi is always hurt. He’s horrible at 1b. He’s a slow starter. He’s a pull hitter. He’s a ME player.

    Let him go somewhere else. please.

  517. Boston Dave

    thanks MrMulligan,

    I wasnt sure if there was genuine interest after they signed Rowand to a huge deal (and are stuck with Randy Winn). If they can steal some young guys for Matsui, I have no problem with that.

  518. randy l

    “Either way, my question still stands: Do you think he has a lot to gain by pitching against AAA hitters now?”

    nick in sf-

    i’m gathering info to make an informed decision.

  519. MrMulligan

    “With Giambi gone, Matsui is going to be the everyday DH next season.

    I don’t see Matsui going anywhere.”

    I like resigning Abreu, a YOUNG LF, Tex and Damon @ DH next year…but Matsui is a TRUE PROFESSIONAL and I would not be disappointed if he retired a Yankee.

  520. Y's Guy

    nick, the giants big bat is bengie molina! how can you say they dont need a guy like matsui?

  521. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Looks like Betemit is going into the game. When was the last time we’ve seen Shelley Duncan? Why don’t they just send him down to the minors already.

  522. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Boston Dave, read Joel Sherman’s Yankee trade proposals in the NY Post today. He mentions going after Jonathon Sanchez, a lefty pitcher from SF. I don’t follow the national league, so I don’t know anything about him.

    that’s my boy in SF, he’s improved so much, 93 – 95 at times as a SP he can be 91-93 mph. I’ve always thought of him as a BP pitcher w/ SP upside. Joel Sherman though is a moron for the prosal he wrote. I’m sorry I just can’t respect that guy at all.

  523. Boston Dave

    thanks Y’s Guy.

    I guess I can’t blame ARod for jogging to first (Bonds and Manny were/are the worst) but typically you don’t pull out a triple unless you’re going for it from the start. I’ll take the RBIs but hopefully Alex learns from that.

  524. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Says something that they’ have Veras pitch the 8th over Farnsworth.

  525. S.o.S.27

    GreenBeret,
    The glass is half full. He bunted a runner over in the first yesterday. Which ended up scoring. We won the game by one run.

    IMMUNITY!!

    On a serious note. He has been injured often this year. Whats Cano’s excuse?

  526. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    proposal *

  527. Angel

    And also its really hot out there too.. can’t say I blame him for not running flat out when it really did look gone.

  528. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    To me, the talk of getting rid of Matsui is just crazy. The guy has driven in over 100+ runs the whole time he’s been here I think. Why would you give up that kind of run production? Damon and Giambi are healthy right now, but how long is that going to last?

  529. Kev Van

    veras is on.
    please prove that you’re more reliable than farnsworth so we can stop using him in the 8th

  530. MrMulligan

    “I wasnt sure if there was genuine interest after they signed Rowand to a huge deal (and are stuck with Randy Winn). If they can steal some young guys for Matsui, I have no problem with that.”

    I think the Rowand deal effectively squashed their interest this year…wonder what Winn’s contract status is?

  531. Joe from Long Island

    One can be generous and say that Alex was protecting his quad muscle, but it didn’t look good not running it out. Though no where near as bad as what Manny does.

  532. Jeff NJ

    I agree Nick, the Giants would seem more likely to bite at 3 young guys. Say Melky, Kennedy, and Marquez. Maybe that’s too much, but not a bad offer.

  533. Y's Guy

    i can see why they might trade matsui, b/c of his trade value, but i’d HATE to see him go. i love that guy!

  534. Kyle the Hick

    Giraridi loosing faith in farnsworth???

  535. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    nick, the giants big bat is bengie molina! how can you say they dont need a guy like matsui?

    this is true.

  536. MrMulligan

    “To me, the talk of getting rid of Matsui is just crazy. The guy has driven in over 100+ runs the whole time he’s been here I think. Why would you give up that kind of run production? Damon and Giambi are healthy right now, but how long is that going to last?”

    Not until after the season…no way if he’s 28 but he’ll be 35…we HAVE to get younger and better defensively.

  537. Nick in SF

    Y’s Guy, because the Giants are trying to get younger, they don’t need a 35 year old DH who can also play left field part time. Does Matsui last a full season playing left?

  538. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Giraridi loosing faith in farnsworth???

    about time

  539. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Depending on how we finish the year, they may just keep everybody (i.e. Matsui, Giambi and Damon). Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

  540. S.o.S.27

    “Looks like Betemit is going into the game. When was the last time we’ve seen Shelley Duncan? Why don’t they just send him down to the minors already.”

    He will come down with an injury in Jobas next start. Geise comes up. Havnt you been following the Yankees this year. Those invisible bench guys have been very valuable.

  541. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I agree Nick, the Giants would seem more likely to bite at 3 young guys. Say Melky, Kennedy, and Marquez. Maybe that’s too much, but not a bad offer.

    for who ?

  542. Boston Dave

    “nick, the giants big bat is bengie molina! how can you say they dont need a guy like matsui?”

    Considering Sabean’s big free agent moves have been Zito and Rowand, I wouldn’t put much faith in him recognizing his team’s needs and making a good deal for his club.

    Maybe they can steal Cain after all.

  543. Y's Guy

    sorry, im not a guy who slams alex, i like him but not hustling is unacceptable. i applauded charlie manual for benching rollins for not hustling on a popup the other day.

    i know he’s probably taking it easy on the leg, but theres a difference between not busting it full speed and trotting, and he was trotting.

  544. MrMulligan

    “that’s my boy in SF, he’s improved so much, 93 – 95 at times as a SP he can be 91-93 mph. I’ve always thought of him as a BP pitcher w/ SP upside. Joel Sherman though is a moron for the prosal he wrote. I’m sorry I just can’t respect that guy at all.”

    Just picked up Sanchez in FBB…that kid is $$$$…Matsui for Sanchez is a WINNA.

  545. Jeff NJ

    Farnsworth should not be the 8th inning guy. He has lost that job for now. Good to see Joe G has learned that hard lesson. Truth is, they should just mix and match in the 8th, nothing magical about that inning.

  546. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Where did we get Veras from? Did he come over in a trade?

  547. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Guillen to the Mets remember I said this first.

  548. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Man, I can’t stand that guy!!

  549. MrMulligan

    Guillen = Millar

  550. S.o.S.27

    Am i the only one loving these young minimum wage relievers delivering this year. Rather than watching these multi million dollar busts? i.e. Farns,Hawkins

  551. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    “Guillen to the Mets remember I said this first.”

    The Mets need something. I think they’ve lost 3 in a row. They are like us in that they can’t get over .500 and stay there for a long period of time.

  552. Boston Dave

    Laura,

    he was an undrafted FA signed by the Rays and then picked up by the Yanks (the only team he’s pitched for)

  553. Jeff NJ

    Brandon, those three (Melky, Kennedy & Marquez) for Sanchez plus someone (Sherman wants Wynn), think that’s too much?

  554. Guiseppe Franco

    I like resigning Abreu, a YOUNG LF, Tex and Damon @ DH next year…

    What young outfielder?

    It’s easy to suggest such a move, but it’s another thing to find one.

    Maybe Gardner can be that guy, but they aren’t going to pencil him in as an everyday starter next season when he’s yet to play a major league game.

    And Damon is a pretty good left fielder. Too many people focus on his arm and look at nothing else. Way too short sighted.

    I would imagine Cashman would sooner let Abreu walk before trading Matsui.

  555. Nick in SF

    Girardi’s little son was seen wearing an “Anyone But Farnsworth” t-shirt before the game. Could be a clue.

  556. V

    Re: Matsui to Giants.

    I don’t like it. Other than financial considerations from Japanese popularity, the guy’s bat is not slowing down.

    If the Giants approach the Yankees about Matsui, I start the talks with Lincecum, then fall back to Cain.

    Not likely, but who knows with Sabean?

  557. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Is Girardi going to give us Farnsworthless in the 9th? Everyone, say a prayer!

  558. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Where did we get Veras from? Did he come over in a trade?

    Jan 19, 1998: Signed as a nondrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

    Nov 15, 2004: Signed by the Texas Rangers to a minor league contract.

    Nov 27, 2005: Signed by the New York Yankees to a minor league contract.

    FA

  559. yankeenate

    pretty impressive inning by veras there. ball was jumping out of his hand

  560. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Thanks for the info, Boston Dave.

  561. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Brandon, those three (Melky, Kennedy & Marquez) for Sanchez plus someone (Sherman wants Wynn), think that’s too much?

    too little they view him highly and don’t need pitching, they have top SP/SU/CL in thier system.

  562. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    Why are they showing this to us? They should be showing this to Cano.

  563. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Nick: There was a woman in the bleachers last Tuesday with that shirt. I tried to get a picture but couldn’t.

  564. Guiseppe Franco

    There is no way Giambi comes back next season. It matters not what we think – it matters what Cashman and the Steinbrenners think.

    Cashman has tried to get rid of Giambi for a few years now. He sure as heck ain’t gonna pick up his option now that he has the chance to rid himself of that contract once and for all.

  565. Boston Dave

    Since Boston is finding a way to win every dang game, I guess we need to start rooting against Tampa Bay as well.

    masterson has 24IP with a 2.59 ERA so far. what the heck…

  566. GreenBeret7

    SoS27, Jeter isn’t hurt now, and neither are Posada or Rodriguez, so, there is no excuses for lack of hustle, today. I don’t care whether the run scored, yesterday, it still wasn’t a good play.

  567. Nick in SF

    Where is this “Matsui to the Giants” speculation coming from? I don’t get it. Yes, the Giants could use Matui’s BAT right now, but not his age or his DH-ness.

  568. S.o.S.27

    If we hang on. Over 500 and in 3rd place. Not a bad day.

  569. MrMulligan

    “Y’s Guy, because the Giants are trying to get younger, they don’t need a 35 year old DH who can also play left field part time. Does Matsui last a full season playing left?”

    Makes baseball sense but they did keep Bonds in the OF…and you cannot overlook the important fact that Matsui would help sell Tixs (although with their young pitching their an up-n-coming team…especially if they could get anything out of Zito).

  570. Boston Dave

    Guiseppe,

    do you think the Yanks would give him a 1yr deal? He’s likely stuck in the AL as a DH but who is going to give him a 2yr deal? Oakland? And can’t he be had for 1yr/6M ?

  571. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Here’s Jose Veras’s scouting report

    “Assets: Has shown the ability to be a successful late-inning reliever in the minors. Owns a resilient arm that can be used early and often.

    Flaws: Struggles with consistency at the big-league level. Needs to cut down on his number of walks in order to see increased appearances.

    Career potential: A decent middle reliever.”

    I would say very spot on.

  572. Laura - Looking for an A-Bomb from A-Rod

    “Where is this “Matsui to the Giants” speculation coming from? I don’t get it. Yes, the Giants could use Matui’s BAT right now, but not his age or his DH-ness.”

    I would think an AL team would be more interested in him than a NL one.

  573. Nick in SF

    MrMulligan, they had compelling reasons to keep Bonds that don’t exist with Matsui.

    And I don’t think the Japanese factor sells that many more tickets.

  574. MrMulligan

    “Where is this “Matsui to the Giants” speculation coming from? I don’t get it. Yes, the Giants could use Matui’s BAT right now, but not his age or his DH-ness.”

    There was rumored interest in him from them this past off-season…

  575. Boston Dave

    why would he do this?

    18-year-old Cuban third baseman Dayan Viciedo arrived in the United States at the end of May and is now living with friends and family, his agent, Jaime Torres, revealed Sunday.
    If Torres is establishing residency in the U.S., rather than going to the Dominican Republic or another country as many Cuban defectors have, then he’s going to be subject to the MLB draft, rather than a bidding war. Viciedo isn’t as highly regarded as Yulieski Gourriel, but he was one of Cuba’s top prospects.

  576. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    That scout sounds about accurate.

  577. MrMulligan

    Nice inning from Veras

  578. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    BD he’s 19 yrs. old and my guess is his agent didn’t know the rules.

  579. MrMulligan

    “MrMulligan, they had compelling reasons to keep Bonds that don’t exist with Matsui.

    And I don’t think the Japanese factor sells that many more tickets.”

    I’ll defer to your opinion…seeing as you live there!

    I REALLY like Matsui…the consumate pro…we just have to get younger and better defensively.

  580. mel

    Re: Giambi. Hell no. He’s only doing what he gets paid $22M to do. In fact he owes us. So don’t feel like you need to resign him because he’s doing well in the middle third of his contract year.

    You say “Thanks. Enjoy this $5M parting gift. Don’t forget the golden thong and don’t let the clubhouse door hit you on your way out.”

    We’ve been suffering and waiting for years for Giambi be gone.

  581. randy l

    on pedro martinez;
    “After a brief September assignment in 1992, he turned in a strong season as the Dodgers setup man in 1993, going 10-3 with a 2.61 ERA,119 strikeouts, in 107.1 IP in 65 games. ”

    so he threw over 100 innings which is essentially one more year than joba had, but close enough to give some historical comparison of someone doing well right away without a lot of starts.

  582. Nick in SF

    Yes, there was rumored interest in the off-season that went nowhere, understandably. Then months of silence about it. So why is there talk about it today? That was my question.

    Is it just a case of someone remembering the talk from the winter and tossing it out there today? Wishful thinking?

  583. Guiseppe Franco

    Boston Dave,

    No, I don’t think it’s even remotely possible Giambi comes back.

    It’s funny how people wanted him DFA’d a month ago and now some people are talking about bringing him back next season.

    People seem to forget how many times Cashman has tried to void his contract the last few years. It has happened more than once.

    http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/18731751/

    I’d bet my house that Cashman will throw a kegger the day Giambi’s contract is off the books.

  584. Kyle the Hick

    It really is a joy watching the number 42.

  585. MrMulligan

    “MrMulligan, they had compelling reasons to keep Bonds that don’t exist with Matsui.

    And I don’t think the Japanese factor sells that many more tickets.”

    I’ll defer to your opinion since you live there…the article talking about trades got me thinking.

  586. MrMulligan

    MO

  587. mel

    Overall a good game. No need to nitpick when you pick up the ‘W’.

    Nice showing by Giese.

  588. Boston Dave

    Giuseppe,

    I agree with you for the fact Giambi was making 21M+ a season. I don’t see the risk in taking him back on a one year deal for 5-7M.

    I don’t see him getting more than that unless he stays at the pace he’s on now.

    But you may be right that Cashman just wants to close that chapter.

  589. Jorge Steinbrenner (the long lost third brother)

    SOS27,

    I’m all for minimum wage relievers. The fact that there’s people on here advocating for trading for guys like Damaso Marte is ridiculous. i can think of more relievers changing teams that made zero impact on their new team than i can think of ones that actually made any difference.

    speaking of bullpens, while it was encouraging to see Edwar in the bullpen just now, let’s not forget that, before crapping the bed the other night, he was on quite the roll. there was a point this season where Joe Girardi would have made sure he put a guy who had a bad outing right out there the next night. let’s hope this doesn’t result in Edwar riding the bench. that DID NOT work last year.

    this is looking like a very, very good win today, with lots of encouraging things to look at for the rest of this season.

    if Dan Giese continues what he’s doing, you have to think this is the end of LaTroy Hawkins. you also have to think we’re close to trading Farnsy for a bag of bats, even if we ate the salary.

  590. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Whoa one game over .500!!

  591. Boston Dave

    Brandon,

    well his agent needs to get him out of the country ASAP :)

  592. MrMulligan

    Nick:

    Newspaper article talking about trades got me thinking…you know SF better than I.

    I love Matsui = Consumate Pro (but we got to get younger)

  593. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Great win

  594. DFox

    Yeah that was a great game all around, especially the bullpen.

  595. Mike

    games like this shut up the sj44’s of the world

  596. Nick

    Isn’t the Giants big bat Aaron Rowand?

    ANyway, both Molina and Rowand are having All-Star seasons.

  597. Boston Dave

    what are the odds Seattle (Beltre, Reed, Sexson) gets to Papelbon and the day can be complete?

    7%?

  598. Y's Guy

    great job dan giese today again!

    really need to win tomorrow though, have to take 3 of 4 from k.c.

  599. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Randy Pedro was damn good too 119 K’s to 57 BB as a MRP/SU

    6.39 H/9, 0.42 HR/9, 4.79 BB/9, 10.01 K/9, 1.24 WHIP he won the ROY that year I read his record was 10-5 w/ only 2 games as a SP.

  600. Boston Dave

    Mike,

    what does that mean? SJ44 is a major proponent of Joba in the rotation and sticking with cheap or homegrown bullpen guys. Right?

  601. YanksAngel

    Great win

    and to celebrate

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thop-hYKxLU

  602. MrMulligan

    “Isn’t the Giants big bat Aaron Rowand?

    ANyway, both Molina and Rowand are having All-Star seasons.”

    Molina has been their clean-up hitter…as you said, both having TREMENDOUS year’s.

  603. mel

    Boston Dave-

    Ignore it. There’s a guy who always comes on to make a comment about SJ44’s Negative Brigade. (translate: stalking issues)

  604. Boston Dave

    cmon Sexson. close your eyes and swing hard…

  605. Nick in SF

    The SF Giants have to get younger too, which is why I don’t think Matsui makes sense for them.

    And active hits leader Omar Vizquel is a big bat for them too!

  606. Boston Dave

    mel,

    thanks… I should have figured that.

  607. MrMulligan

    Big Sexy vs. Papelbon…not looking good

  608. Boston Dave

    mel,

    I know it didnt turn out well for you but game 1 was some pretty good basketball (IMO). Can’t wait for the game tonight.

  609. MrMulligan

    Damn, Big Sexy almost got him.

  610. Boston Dave

    MrMulligan,

    Beltre smacked a pitch from Papelbon but it went to one of the deepest parts of the park and Coco caught it. Sexson actually hit the ball somewhat well but it hung up for Drew.

    The Sox have to stumble at some point right? Yanks just need to stay on a roll.

  611. Martin

    Y’s Guy,

    Are you ham fighter?

  612. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    Nice win! Let’s make it a habit. :)

  613. mel

    Boston Dave,

    Thanks.

  614. YankeeVIP

    giambi would actually be an attractive trade piece i think. if he can continue hitting for another week or two.. im sure alot of teams would take his bat..

    he is not being resigned end of the year.. so why not get an middle reliever for him

  615. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Isn’t the Giants big bat Aaron Rowand?

    Bengie and Rowand it’s really a toss up but the better of the 2 my guess is Aaron Rowand since he protects the #2 hitter and clean up hitter.

    Rowand
    .328/.396/.525 8 HR 36 RBI

    Molina
    .332/.359/.498 6 HR 40 RBI

    RISP Rowand
    .323/.413/.339 w/ 26 RBI

    RISP Molina
    .359/.400/.547 w/ 32 RBI

    Rowand is the #5 hitter, Molina is the clean up guy.

  616. Fran

    The bullpen really pitched well today. I was impressed with Giese. Also liked Veras in the 8th.

    Now the Yanks need to win tomorrow and take 3 of 4 from the Royals before heading to the West Coast.

  617. randy l

    justin verlander seems to be the closest to joba’s limited minor league preparation for starting.
    so the short list people have come up with is:
    clemens
    gooden
    pedro
    jim abbot
    verlander
    felix rodriguez

    he’s in rare company , but it’s doable.

    the only question is how quickly the yankees did the stretching out.

    none of the above went from reliever to starter the way joba has in season.

    the yankees have opened themselves to second guessing in the way they’ve stretched him out.

    if he makes it through the next 6 weeks without injury, i’d say they pulled it off.

  618. Martin

    Anyone with the baseball package should turn to the A’s game. Rich Harden looks like he’s locked in today.

  619. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    he is not being resigned end of the year.. so why not get an middle reliever for him

    because the offense needs him, but I can see a deal for Matsui unfortunately because the deals might get attractive come trade deadline. IDK how the league FOs are going to react come the trade deadline.

  620. Boston Dave

    randy,

    i think you mean felix hernandez (not the journeyman reliever) :)

  621. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Anyone with the baseball package should turn to the A’s game. Rich Harden looks like he’s locked in today.

    check the buyer beware label

  622. MrMulligan

    “The Sox have to stumble at some point right? Yanks just need to stay on a roll.”

    Injuries and (IMO) weak SP (high WHIPs) will catch up with ‘em…

  623. mel

    You guys know that I have a rooting interest in Shane Victorino, but I would love him in pinstripes.

    I was also dismayed to pick up the newspaper the other day to find out that Jon Hee was drafted by the Red Sox. Be nice to him cuz he’s a nice guy and it’s not his fault he was drafted by the Sawx.

  624. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    The Sox have to stumble at some point right? Yanks just need to stay on a roll.

    thier players haven’t even served thier suspensions yet

  625. mel

    Matsui’s not getting traded…

  626. PAT M.

    Yankee vip…….Giambi will be worth draft picks when he walks away from NYC…..Club needs him this season, besides with so many teams always in the playoff hunt, there are more buyers than sellers…..The game has changed quite a bit in the past few years…..

  627. MrMulligan

    “You guys know that I have a rooting interest in Shane Victorino, but I would love him in pinstripes.”

    Victorino = $$$$ (Love his game)

  628. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    So how about this whole renaissance of Jason Giambi thing?

  629. Nick in SF

    Giambi has a no-trade clause, has a huge salary, and is a defensive liabilty. And he is signed for next year, it’s just that the team has a buy-out option.

    Also, he’s kind of helping now, isn’t he?

  630. Boston Dave

    MrMulligan,

    agreed… but so far they’ve gotten away with both of those. I am waiting…

  631. randy l

    “i think you mean felix hernandez (not the journeyman reliever) ”
    yup.
    thank you.

  632. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “the yankees have opened themselves to second guessing in the way they’ve stretched him out.”

    Agree…I don’t like the way they’re doing it…I would have preferred they completed the final phase of the transition in the minors if they made him a starter this year…

    Or

    Make him a starter next year…this year stretch him out in more 2 and 3 inning stints to get him to his 140 innings…

    That would have been a better choice in my opinion for this year…

  633. MrMulligan

    “Matsui’s not getting traded…”

    In the off-season? (Remember, he’ll be 35 and is a defensive liability…but would make a sweet DH / 5th OF.)

  634. Nick in SF

    I don’t think the Yanks get any compensation draft picks if they buy out Giambi’s contract. Not sure about that, though.

  635. Espresso

    I don’t see where all this trade Matsui talk is coming from. He is a great DH and can spell an out fielder now and again. All he does is give you 100 RBI.
    A lot of people are harping on changing the outfield, but they’re producing. Damon is a decent left fielder, his arm is weak but servicable and he covers good ground for a left fielder. Melky could get his obp. up a bit, but he isn’t terrible.

  636. Glenn

    It may be too early to judge but Dan Giese may be the long man Girardi has been looking for.
    This combined with the progress of Mark Melancon and J.B. Cox puts Hawkins and Farnsworth on shaky ground as the trade deadline in July gets closer.

  637. Boston Dave

    Nick in SF,

    would you take Giambi back if he agreed to a 1yr deal in the $6M range?

    I’m trying to think of what teams would be interested in him next season and how much $$ and yrs he would stand to get.

  638. mel

    Mr. Mulligan,

    He’s been our most consistent Yankee in his tenure here. He might even have achieved “True Yankee” status. :)

  639. MrMulligan

    “I don’t see where all this trade Matsui talk is coming from. He is a great DH and can spell an out fielder now and again. All he does is give you 100 RBI.
    A lot of people are harping on changing the outfield, but they’re producing. Damon is a decent left fielder, his arm is weak but servicable and he covers good ground for a left fielder. Melky could get his obp. up a bit, but he isn’t terrible”

    AGE and he’s our only decent tradeable comodity at the ML level…save guys we ARE NOT getting rid of (Cano, Jetes, ARod, Posada, Melkman – maybe?).

  640. MrMulligan

    commodity

  641. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Joba wants to throw 140 pitches, ok kid calm down

  642. Boston Dave

    I agree… keep Matsui unless another team wants to overpay for him with a legit prospect.

  643. MrMulligan

    “He’s been our most consistent Yankee in his tenure here. He might even have achieved “True Yankee” status.”

    AGREE…when you think of the word PROFESSIONAL Matsui comes to mind!!!

  644. Nick in SF

    Boston Dave, does your $6M include the $5M buy-out? Then it’s a question worth asking. Of course it’s all very premature, since we don’t know if Giambi is getting through the season unscathed.

    Given the Damon/Matsui duo and given that there are days when Posada will have to DH as well, Giambi is going to have to play in the field a lot more than he ever has as a Yankee (or at least a lot more than in recent years), so whether he can be a basically full-time non-DH and last the season is an open question.

    Although when you consider his limited range at first… well, yeah.

  645. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    Can I ask where all this Matsui to the Giants talk stems from? Is this just conversation fodder or spec? Or was this actually reported/written somewhere?

    Why get rid of Matsui? He produces… I say keep him and DH him next year when Giambino is gone.

  646. Yankee Trader

    Giambi with a 22M club option-No way!! He get’s bought out for his 5M.

    Farnsworth and his 4-5M gone too!

    Pettitte and his 16M gone!

    Mussina and his 11M gone!

    Hawkins and his ?3M gone!

    Abreu and his 16M possibly gone!

    Matsui and Damon will have one more year.

    If the Yankees look out of it later this summer, expect Abreu, Mussina, hopefully farnsworth and Hawkins gone.

    Plan is for this team to get better defensively, get younger starting pitching, and develop their minor leaguers, while making trades to bolster the lineup, rather than overpaying in years and dollars for FA’s.

  647. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Glenn: I think it’s a little too early to talk about that for sure–need to see if Giese can get a few more long spots in his belt and see what Melancon and Cox do before getting rid of Hawkins an Farnsworth.

    Not saying I wouldn’t welcome it, though, but Melancon and Cox are still young and it’d be a little risky bringing them up without a safety net.

  648. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “AGREE…when you think of the word PROFESSIONAL Matsui comes to mind!!!”

    Don’t forget CLUTCH!!!!!!

  649. Nick in SF

    The flip side of the Giambi question is, would he be willing to take a small deal, maybe incentive-laden, to come back? And what would his other options be?

  650. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    Sure, he’s not the OF he used to be. But I love his bat and he has ben a Red Sox killer over the years. Hits well in YS and FP.

  651. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    I’d rather keep both Matsui and Damon than Abreu. But what do I know?

  652. Espresso

    I get the age arguement, but he’s a DH. Why not use it to let older, but still productive hitters stay in the lineup? As far as the trade bait angle, what do you do with the spot then? You’re going to downgrade, that’s almost a lock.

    I do believe pitching wins championships (just like defense in football) so getting good pitching talent is a priority, but I don’t think a NL team is a good fit.

    Plus there is the whole Japanese market to keep tuned in.

  653. MrMulligan

    “Plan is for this team to get better defensively, get younger starting pitching, and develop their minor leaguers, while making trades to bolster the lineup, rather than overpaying in years and dollars for FA’s.”

    Except for dumping a BOATLOAD of $$$$ on Texeira = 1B and 5-hole covered for 5 years, IMO.

  654. MrMulligan

    “I’d rather keep both Matsui and Damon than Abreu. But what do I know?”

    As much as any of us “Amateur GMs”…

  655. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Why get rid of Matsui? He produces… I say keep him and DH him next year when Giambino is gone.

    the better hitter of the 2 when healthy is Jason Giambi, there is no doubting that just look at the numbers. The SF rumors came in the winter, they have a need for a power hitter and we’re offering Jonathan Sanchez the Yankees wanted Cain, LA has a huge asian population that would have embraced him, Sabean didn’t want to really do either of the deals. I wouldn’t say Matsui is untradeable, it’s tough to control playing time w/ this type of lineup and I’ll give you an example. Say if Cleveland tells you we’ll give you CC Sabathia for Matsui is he still untradeable ?

  656. Nick in SF

    Another point you people who want to trade Matsui are forgetting: Mothra is still out there!

    http://tinyurl.com/6mxkf5

  657. MrMulligan

    “Plus there is the whole Japanese market to keep tuned in.”

    Speaking of Japan…Does anyone know if that young, phenom SP is gonna force his way out this year?

  658. Go Getter

    Joba looked real good for his time in there. Giese also looked good. But let’s remember these are the Royals. But still a good win all the way around. The bats need to carry this team for a spell while the pitching sorts itself out.

  659. bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!) FEAR THE 'STACHE!

    I could see them going after Teixeira after this season. Definately. Rather have them drop a Brinks truck on him than fat CC.

    Imagine CC with $150 million. Now imagine all the business White Castle, Wendy’s, KFC, Denny’s and McDonald’s in the NYC/north Jersey area stand to gain!

  660. Yankee Trader

    Nick in SF- The Yankees would first owe him 5M, which is about his worth at age 38, then another 8-10M one year contract. He will not be back.

    As far as Matsui to SF, there were pre-season rumors of trading him, if he agreed, for a starter, Noah Lowry , on the 60 day DH list now, and possibly the young lefty Sanchez.

  661. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Nick in SF – hilarious :lol:

  662. mel

    If you had to get rid of one of the 3: Abreu, Matsui, and Damon, I’d have to choose Damon. Alex loves Abreu. Matsui’s consistently good. And maybe Gardner works out. Wonder how Melky would do in LF? Hmmm…

  663. MrMulligan

    Sanchez: 5-3, 3.70, 1.38, 75 K / 75.1 IP

    L15: 3-0, 1.80, 1.20, 18 K / 20 IP

    We need Godzilla this year (and he’s been AWESOME throughout his Yankee tenure) but Sanchez is really turning it on…and he’s a 25-year old Lefty.

  664. mel

    That was a hypothetical. I don’t see much of a market for JD.

  665. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    mel if you had to choose to stay w/ one.

    Matsui,Damon,Abreu or Giambi ?

  666. PAT M.

    I thought Giambino’s contract reads, 7 years, with a club option….

  667. LiveFromNewYork

    I hope Girardi has had enough of Hawkins and Farnsworth and keeps Giese and Veras more visible. I know that trying to get rid of Farnsworth is a hopeless cause. His appearance on the mound are like a tick. Unkillable and no good reason for its existence.

  668. MrMulligan

    “Imagine CC with $150 million. Now imagine all the business White Castle, Wendy’s, KFC, Denny’s and McDonald’s in the NYC/north Jersey area stand to gain!”

    LOL

    “If you had to get rid of one of the 3: Abreu, Matsui, and Damon, I’d have to choose Damon. Alex loves Abreu. Matsui’s consistently good. And maybe Gardner works out. Wonder how Melky would do in LF? Hmmm…”

    Think Matsui gets us the most back…Melky have enough offense for LF?

  669. mel

    Personal choice would be Matsui.

    The Yankees would have to choose between Alex’s personal choice vs. Matsui being a true Yankee.

    The tie breaker would be the wall thing. They might go with Matsui because of that!

  670. Nick in SF

    Whatever trade might have been on the mythical table in the last offseason, I don’t think the same will be available after this season. The Giants are very pleased with Sanchez and he’s more important with Lowry’s injury woes.

    2-1 Angels.

  671. Fran

    Go Getter – you’re right in that’s it’s the Royals the Yanks beat. But these are the games that they have to win to make their move.

  672. Yankee Trader

    Mark Teixera would be nice, married to a Georgia girl, favorite team Orioles, admired Don Mattingly and represented by Scott Boras. Don’t see another 6-7 year 20M or more per for him. Having a below his norm year in Atlanta.

  673. andy Hawkin's ghost

    I love Matsui but he will get us more in the market than Damon. To keep Abreu he needs to accept a significant pay cut. I’d say around 8-10 mil a season. I see the argument against keeping Giambi but he has been nothing but clutch over the course of his contract. Is he an everyday player? No. Damon, Matsui and Abreu are in essentially the same position. Decent hitters who lack defensively. Of paramount importance is getting more athletic in the field. Abreu’s defense in right is average at best and saying the same about Johnny and Hideki is being kind. We need OFers who can cover more ground. Let us not forget that Posada will be transitioning more and more into the DH over the next few years. Our starting OF needs to be everyday players not situational guys.

  674. mel

    Mr. Mulligan,

    Are you a realtor? Because you sure are in the selling mode. The Yankees haven’t been sellers for years. Why now? Look at the WC standings today. 4 teams over .500, two of those teams are only 1 game over the mark.

  675. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Personal choice would be Matsui.

    that’s really all that matters than

    The Yankees would have to choose between Alex’s personal choice vs. Matsui being a true Yankee.

    Alex has nothing to do w/ the decision, look where Doug E. no fresh is

  676. mel

    Who did Texas choose Laird over?

  677. Espresso

    the better hitter of the 2 when healthy is Jason Giambi, there is no doubting that just look at the numbers.

    When healthy is a pretty big stipulation. Also the numbers aren’t dramatically different. Giambi walks more and hits it out more, but Matsui has better LHP/RHP splits and has pretty good obs and slg as well. He also uses more of the field when hitting. There is also the belief that Giambi hits better when playing in the field. I don’t have that split, but it makes sense and you hear about it alot. I would rather have Matsui in that spot.

  678. mel

    Brandon,

    HaHa. That’s right! Who would you choose?

    BTW. I’m not let Alex run the asylum, but dang we got the guy for 9 more years. They’re going to have to keep him happy.

  679. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    How about the rest of you ?

    Matsui, Damon, Abreu or Giambi ?

    *keep in mind Giambi has a team option, meaning if the Yankees want him gone next season all it cost them is $5 MIL in total.*

    *Damon and Matsui have 1 more yr. at $13 MIL*

    *Abreu is a FA after this season*

  680. MrMulligan

    mel:

    LOL

    I brought the Matsui trade talk up as an off-season move…as others have mentioned, we need to get younger & more athletic in the OF and he’d bring us quality in return!

  681. mel

    Mr. Mulligan,

    :oops:

    I’m just protective of Matsui.

  682. MrMulligan

    Brandon:

    During this season…we need ‘em all for our upcoming playoff run.

    Offseason: Re-sign Abreu (for 2 yrs, less $$$ and if he finishes strong)…trade Matsui for young playas.

  683. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Matsui is a class act who’s clutch…

    Matsui stays!

  684. Yankee Trader

    Look at some of the FA pitchers next year who might be available for trade this summer: AJ Burnett, Ryan Dempster,Oliver Perez, Ben Sheets, Randy Wolf,Brian Fuentes, Jason Isringhausen, Brad Lidge, Francisco Rodriguez, Trevor Hoffman, Kerry Wood, Brandon Lyon.

  685. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Brandon,

    HaHa. That’s right! Who would you choose?

    My answer would be Bobby because he wouldn’t cost much and has been productive and one of the most durable guys in this lineup.

    BTW. I’m not gonna let Alex run the asylum, but dang we got the guy for 9 more years. They’re going to have to keep him happy.

    me neither and he’s paid enough to be happy and he’d still have Robi and Melky and Georgy and Jetes and Joba.

  686. MrMulligan

    “I’m just protective of Matsui”

    He’s been one of the best signings in Yankee History, IMO

  687. Fran

    I would choose to keep Abreu. Of the 4, Abreu to me is the most verstile. He actually plays the field. He also takes a lot of pitches and Alex loves hitting behind him. The other 3 to me are fast becoming DH’s and you can only play one of those at a time.

  688. mel

    Tejas up 1-0. Oakland down, too.

    If we can keep chipping away, the season will take on a whole new dimension.

  689. andy Hawkin's ghost

    It’s tough to let go of our favorites (Matsui and Giambi are mine) but the reality is that aside from Jeter, A-Rod, Wang, Joba, Mo, and Jorge EVERYBODY is available for the right price. Here’s something to consider: is Cano a prospective trade piece? If the Giants said: “we’ll give you Lincecum for Matsui and Cano,” do we pull the trigger. PURE speculation (unrealistic at that) but is Cano expendible?

  690. MrMulligan

    I like the RPs…Lidge, Fuentes…maybe Wolf (although his sucess looks like a product of Diego’s stadium).

  691. Yankee Trader

    Here’s a thought-sign Ivan Rodriguz, a FA for two years, let Giambi go, Play Posada some at catcher and some 1B and DH. Trade Matsui for Ichiro!!!!!

  692. mel

    Andy,

    I hear you, but in reality when’s the last time anyone came asking for our big pieces? They all make too much and they’re old. That’s why we’re stuck with them year after year after year.

    Cano? Everytime he does something boneheaded, I throw up my hands in frustration. But really, who replaces him? The only guy who’s an upgrade is Utley.

  693. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    “we’ll give you Lincecum for Matsui and Cano,” do we pull the trigger. PURE speculation (unrealistic at that) but is Cano expendible?

    that is a sure sexy what if

  694. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Matsui’s been amazing for the Yankees. One of Cashman’s best signings.

  695. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Yeah cause in two years I-rod will be able to hit. He’s hitting .246 now! Unless he can find an undetectable he won’t hit more.

  696. 27 this year

    I hope you were kidding about Pudge Yankee Trader,
    He is worse than having Molina behind the plate. Pudge is losing it as a hitter and defense. Especially signing him for two years, Posada can remain at catcher and play better over two years than Pudge.

  697. MrMulligan

    Cano will be our 2nd half MVP

    (at least my FBB teams hope so)

  698. Pax

    Why would anyone want to worry about who DH’s next yr at this point? We don’t know what is going to happen. There is a lot of time between now and November and we don’t know what kind of demands Abreu and Giambi and Tex will have.

    What is the problem with having too much talent especially since the farm system sucks in regards to bats at the high levels?

  699. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    hey guys and girls
    YANKS JUST WON!
    LETS CELEBRATE AND STOP COMPLAINGING

    EVERYONE KNOWS, MATSUI,GIAMBINO,ABREU, AND DAMON ARENT LEAVING! SO STOP SAYING IT.. ALL 4 OUR HITTIN FOR US.. SO STOP!
    IM A HUGE JETER FAN BUT HES NOT DOIN ANYTHING FOR US AND U ALL WANNA TRADE THE GUYS WHO ARE DOING THINGS, THIS IS OUR TEAM AND ITS GNA STAY LIKE THAT, MAYBE A LEFTY BUT THATS IT.. GOODBYE AND LETS GO YANKS

  700. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    I hate is when people write in caps and make no sense.

  701. Yankee Trader

    Was kidding about Pudge. Want the Yankees to get younger, better defensively. There is no need anymore to pay the overpriced years and salaries for FA’s, especially when you look at the recent success of the two Florida teams, and Oakland.

  702. yankeefan91

    theres a rumor that the rwins are going to let juan rincon go and that the yankees might be interested

  703. Jeff NJ

    lol, Brandon. I’m thinking Aaron is 11, making his first post. Give the kid a break.

  704. Yankee Trader

    Juan Rincon going downhill, not on steroids anymore!

  705. Nick in SF

    What did Pete Abe say, that this was the third time this season that we’ve had this lineup for a game? I’m excited to see what this lineup can do now that everyone is back and (reasonably) healthy!

  706. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    im 21 and its common sense.. and sorry i dont sit on the post all day and complain about the yanks..

  707. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    theres a rumor that the twins are going to let juan rincon go and that the yankees might be interested

    why ? he’s not a LHP or a good MRP, he’s not impressive at all. I guess for a minor league assignment but that’s all a RHP w/ a 5.19 season ERA and a 7.36 ERA over his last 10 games would command.

  708. MrMulligan

    This Juan Rincon: 5.19, 1.69, 16/18 in 26 IP?

    Noooooooooooooooooooooo

  709. MrMulligan

    “im 21 and its common sense.. and sorry i dont sit on the post all day and complain about the yanks..”

    We’re just having a discussion on ways to improve the Yanks going forward…DON’T LET US BOTHER YA

  710. MrMulligan

    Rincon was TERRIBLE last year too…this guy really made his career with ‘roids.

  711. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    im 21 and its common sense.. and sorry i dont sit on the post all day and complain about the yanks..

    The debate is not your age, it is about your need to write in caps because of a difference in opinions. The fact we disagree on keeping every vet on the lineup while chances are they will be reaching thier peak value is irrelevant.

  712. Yu Darvish

    I’m very encouraged by Joba today only that one mistake to Guillen(shoulda gone fastball) but 5 K’s in 4 and a third only one walk when hes able to go 100 watchout hes only getting better as he gets stretched good thing Girardi let him get to around 80 next time were looking at 90 probably nice win today cant split tomorrow Moose should come through… Veras looked pretty good maybe a fluke but that would be nice I think his stuff is better than Kyle’s, his fastball has some life and movement

  713. 27 this year

    Did Aaron just imply that we should trade Jeter cause he isn’t doing anything?

  714. Igawa's buck teeth

    Why is everyone talking about trades? We dont really need anything right now. Sure we could use a RP but who cant. I like the team as it is let the pen take care of its self from within.

  715. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    What scared me is when Joba slipped in he’s ready to throw whatever whether it’s 60 or 85 or 90 0r 140 … I was like calm down Joba. :?

  716. OldYanksFan

    Giambi w/Yankees, OPS
    2002: Giambi, 1.034, 3rd. ARod 4th.
    2003: Giambi, 0.939, 7th. ARod 3rd.
    2004: Giambi, 0.720 (Injured, steroid withdrawal, 264 ABs)
    2005: Giambi, 0.975, 5th. Manny 4th.
    2006: Giambi, 0.971, 6th. ARod 13th.
    2007: Giambi, 0.790 (Injured 254 ABs)
    2008: Giambi, 0.950+, 4th (so far)

    Giambi’s contract was HEAVILY BACK LOADED. This was the Yankee’s idea. He made $8 and $9m in 02/03 (for 3rd and 7th in OPS), so IF the Yankees could have voided his contract in 2004, they would have stolen him for 2 years (Manny got $40m for those 2 years for somewhat better production).

    In the 2003 Playoffs 7th game against Boston, Giambi hits TWO HRs against Pedro. Think Aaron Boone ever sees his famous AB without Giambi?

    In 2005, the Yanks TIED Boston. Think they do that without Giambi’s 0.975 OPS?

    Contract: Giambi, 7/$120m = $17.1m/yr, Yankees OPS: .930+
    Contract: Jeter, 10/$189m = $18.9m/yr
    Jeter’s OPS is under .720 now and he has 2 more years to go.
    Which of these 2 contracts will ultimately be a better bang for the buck?

    There are currently more then 30 players 38 or older.
    Alou, 41, $7.5m
    Griffey, 38, $8.2m
    Kent, 40, $9m
    Shef, 39, $13.3m
    Thomas, 40, $12.5m
    RJ, 44, $15m

    Of course, Giambi’s numbers are far better then anyone on that list. So if he ends the year with a .900+ OPS, you think he will only be worth $6m?

    In 7 years (including this year), Giambi has finished 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th in OPS. Thats 5 years in the top 7. WHO ELSE HAS DONE THAT? Manny and ARod.

    There are a LOT of Giambi haters, but I’m amazed that people can deny how valuable he has been. Considering what ARod and Manny get paid, he hasn’t been that bad a deal.

  717. Yu Darvish

    Melancons’s line at Trenton 19.2 IP , 10 Hits, 3 ER, 2 BB, 18 K’s can anyone say “He’s ready” at least send him to SWB when he reaches 20 IP for a reliever thats good enough plus he had 25 IP in A ball I think over 50 innings for a reliever is good enough for AAA

  718. 27 this year

    Giese has been brilliant, he came up and continued exactly what he was doing in the minors. I think he might be our Aaron Small, journeyman, although he isn’t starting now, I think he is great as a long reliever, maybe say pitch the sixth and seventh combined on some days and as a spot starter for any possible reason. He has shown he could pitch in AAA and he hasn’t done anything wrong in the majors.

    I also hope Bruney comes back by july. He was dominant after losing weight and I think he is our eighth inning guy. BTW god knows what we are going to do with a bullpen that could have to encorporated Melancon and Cox and Patterson and possiblity Sanchez and Robertson and Giese now. Already, although they are not good, what else we do with Farnsworth, Veras, Ramirez, Britton, adn Hawkins. We got Mo and can have six other guys. Some of the guys like Farnsworth are just not possible to move to the minors. I just wish we could figure something out

  719. 27 this year

    About Melancon, why in the minors does he always pitch like three and four inning relief outings. In the majors, he would have to pitch one inning or two and be able to do stuff back to back days.

  720. Don Vito A. Bellamo

    After we beat these Royals 3 out of 4 with another WIN tomorrow….we only need to go 19-4, to finish that 20-8 I was speakin’ about…..GO YANKEES !

  721. Boston Dave

    The $5M buyout on Giambi is a sunk cost. You can’t bring that into the equation. I think he’s worth a 1yr deal at 6-7M, which is as good or better than he’s going to get from anyone else (IMO).

    I think OldYanksFan makes some very good points.

    Giambi is worth keeping for another season, IF, he stays healthy this year and agrees to the short term deal.

  722. Boston Dave

    OldYanksFan,

    the fact that Giambi’s contract is backloaded is a point that is almost always ignored.

    the fact that a backloaded contract is actually favorable to the team financially (barring any major change in the CBA in the middle of the deal) is something that is either ignored or misunderstood.

  723. MrMulligan

    Did the Cubbies “enjoy” Farnworth-less?

    Maybe we can trade him to Wrigley for 1B Micah Hoffpauir?

  724. DFox

    I laugh at all the people who are book balancing in here… Who cares how much money Giambi makes? Abreu? Matsui? Damon? If they are producing, why does anyone care how much the Yankees are paying them? When was the last time the Yankees made or didn’t make a move because of the money? I can’t remember any. And don’t say Santana. That was a combination of giving up tons of young players AND being robbed financially to get him. As a Yankee fan does anyone seriously want to see them not resign Abreu because of the money, and rather sign a lesser player? I’ve never seen so much fuss over a thing such as Yankee finances that really concerns no one here. When the Yankees start cutting corners because of Giambis $20 million contract, then let’s talk. But until then, you people just look silly complaining about it.

  725. 27 this year

    Keep Giambi but dont overpay, he stays at our terms. I defintely think over the offseason we got to move Damon or Matsui. I think we would get more for Matsui adn Damon is a big part of our offense. Although, Matsui is really good we would get more and Damon plays better defense (not good D) just better. Posada, I think has got another year in him at catcher maybe even more and I think Giambi could do something at 1st or DH. We need a first basemen regardless. Just a stopgap because of Posada and Jeter. I love Melky but I dont think he would provide enough O. Gardner would be next year’s cf and would provide more O. Damon could DH a little and Melky take over but I think Damon would provide more offense which would overcome any dif between his and Melky’s D.

  726. Yu Darvish

    27 this year I think they wanna get him stretched Innings wise faster so theyre throwing him for 3 or 4 IP as opposed to 1-2 that he would be seeing in the Bigs but for a reliever hes already around the magical 50-55 minor league innings they talk about a relief pitcher needing as opposed to the 100+ a starter requires

  727. MrMulligan

    “Giambi is worth keeping for another season, IF, he stays healthy this year and agrees to the short term deal.”

    Listen guys, Giambi’s stats do look impressive but WE HAVE TO get younger, faster and better defensively.

    If we keep everyone we’ll have numerous guys on the wrong side of 30 next year: Matsui, Damon, Posada, Giambi, Abreu…are all heading toward part-time DH duties.

  728. MrMulligan

    Hell, how much longer is Jetes a starting SS?

  729. DFox

    MrMulligan, what does getting younger have to do with signing those guys? If you resign those players then you automatically can’t develop players in the minors? That’s absurd. Those players cost MONEY, not prospects. The Yankees can spend as much money on them as they want, if they are still good, why not?

    But I fail to see the correlation between resigning older players and developing players in the minor leagues. Some of you act like it’s one or the other.

  730. MrMulligan

    And who’s compaining?

    We’re having a (semi-) intelligent discussion on future moves to improve our beloved Yanks!

  731. DFox

    I understand that completely, but what I’m saying is I don’t see why balancing the Yankees checkbook comes in to that discussion.

    Like some people here are acting like last November Brian Cashman started a press conference and said “Sorry Yankee fans, we were unable to re-sign Alex Rodriguez because we’re paying Giambi $20 million a year, Andy Pettite $11 million a year, etc.”. But is that realistic? No way.

  732. Yu Darvish

    J.B. Cox is more tricky I dunno if he has the stuff to be any better than a 6-7 inning guy

  733. MrMulligan

    “MrMulligan, what does getting younger have to do with signing those guys? If you resign those players then you automatically can’t develop players in the minors? That’s absurd. Those players cost MONEY, not prospects. The Yankees can spend as much money on them as they want, if they are still good, why not?

    But I fail to see the correlation between resigning older players and developing players in the minor leagues. Some of you act like it’s one or the other.”

    OK…IMO, we need to get younger & better defensively NEXT YEAR at the ML level.
    Resigning or refusing to trade any of those players will result in an even older and worse defensive squad next year.
    Our defense is very, very avg this year…we cannot allow it to comtinue into next year…especially with a young SP staff.
    This has nothing to do with developing minor league position players…we do not have any stud position players MLB ready.

  734. Eugie

    please not another year of .230 30 hr’s but hey at least he gets his walks. There are some short memories here. This guy is always hurt with something, anything, he could stub his toe and be out. He continues to love the shift. We were reminded not too long ago that he can purposely hit to the left side, he just chooses not to. His defense his horrible, he’s a statue out there. If he catches the ball it’s a great play.

    It’s great that he’s hitting but he historically starts off slow.. Do we really want to do another year of this experiment?

  735. MrMulligan

    “I understand that completely, but what I’m saying is I don’t see why balancing the Yankees checkbook comes in to that discussion.”

    I agree and believe with the New Yankee Stadium…finances will matter even less!

  736. Eugie

    and YOU KNOW they wont stick him as a DH because he WHINES about it and brings up his split stats. Which are extremely misleading.

  737. DFox

    OK then that’s a different argument… To trade a player you have to have them signed.

    But about the defense… I don’t see it.

    Where are the poor defensive players? I can only think a few. 1st base, yeah, they don’t have a defensive first baseman. And the only other one I can come up with is left field. But every other position… Robinson Cano is an excellent second baseman, Jeter is still an adequate short stop, A-Rod is a very good defensive third baseman, Posada’s a good defensive catcher, Melky is one of the best defensive CFs you’ll find, and Abreu is adequate… With a lineup like the Yankees have, where are you going to find defense like that?

  738. MrMulligan

    We can only have a 25 man roster…do we really want 5/13 position players to be part-time DH’s and defensive liabilities next year?
    6/13 if we start subbing for Jetes @ SS more often…

  739. Glenn

    Giambi’s contract :

    7-Year worth 120M- + he receives a 17M Signing bonus that is paid 3M in 2002, 4M in ‘03 and ‘04, 4.5M in ‘05, 1M in ‘06 and 0.5M in ‘07- he will make in 2002-8M, in 2003-9M, in 2004- 10M, in 2005- 11M, i 2006- 18M and in 2007 and 08- 21M and in 2009- Team Option 22M or 5M buyout
    Agent: Arn Tellem

  740. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    There are a LOT of Giambi haters, but I’m amazed that people can deny how valuable he has been. Considering what ARod and Manny get paid, he hasn’t been that bad a deal.

    This season early in the season the question was his productivity but even w/o that OYF what you are missing are the games Giambi didn’t play in that stretch of his contract.

    For instance From 2002 to 2007 he had 752 GP out of 952, but get deeper into his contract the last 4 seasons he’s played 441 games out of 648, that means he missed 207 games in that 4 yr. span, 52 games per season (no Giambi)

    Post season
    03′ 17 GP
    04′ 0 GP
    05′ 5 GP 19 AB
    06′ 3 GP 8 AB
    07′ 3 GP 4 AB

    Durability and health has been a big factor in Giambi’s tenure in NY, is he worth a longterm contract, if your a stat guy absolutely not. How about a cheap short term if Giambi asked say for a 2 yr. extension at 9 million per yr. then I’d think about it. Either way Giambi’s durability has always been the question since 2004.

  741. MrMulligan

    “Where are the poor defensive players? I can only think a few. 1st base, yeah, they don’t have a defensive first baseman. And the only other one I can come up with is left field. But every other position… Robinson Cano is an excellent second baseman, Jeter is still an adequate short stop, A-Rod is a very good defensive third baseman, Posada’s a good defensive catcher, Melky is one of the best defensive CFs you’ll find, and Abreu is adequate… With a lineup like the Yankees have, where are you going to find defense like that?”

    1B – Terrible D, 2B – Continual Mental Lapses on D, SS – Diminishing Range, LF – Both Terrible (One with Diminished Range & One with No Arm), RF – “Scared Wall Syndrome” (Actaully he has a gun arm but diminishing range), C – Age, never good at blocking bad pitches

    I love the Yanks but you have to try and look at this team objectively…and they’ll all be a year older next year!

  742. Brad

    With the economic times among other considerations, the Yankees will be looking for payroll sensibility and value.
    Just because there’s big dollars coming off the books doesn’t mean the Stenbrenners will be in a hurry to get it back up to $209M.

  743. Kelvin

    It would help to actually have a player on the bench who could play SS and 2b. I know Jeter and Cano like to play but Gonzalez should be on this roster.

  744. Boston Dave

    Damon is actually one of the best LF in the league this season. Next team you see CB, he can give you the #s (sorry I don’t have them).

    Abreu is also one of the better RF this season (again, see CB for the #s).

    The Yanks actually have one of the best defensive OF in the league. I believe their infield is average.

  745. Boston Dave

    good point Brad

    The reason the smaller market teams have money to spend is in part courtesy of the Yankees monster payroll.

  746. Nick in SF

    Re-sign Giambi on a 9-month contract. The 9 months consist of May 15 through the end of the season X 2. He gets a bonus for playoff time.

  747. Yu Darvish

    This offseason signing C.C. as the legitimate one ( dont mention Wang he has been terrible for a month now) is a necessity and unless someone from the minors steps up (Humberto Sanchez/Melancon) we must sign a guy to help the broken bridge to MO

  748. Nick in SF

    Are you talking about signing C.C. to be the setup man?

  749. MrMulligan

    BD:
    Do you not agree with these statements?

    Damon’s arm is inadequate and he gives up extra bases…Abreu plays “scared” of running into the wall and is losing range.

    But I’m just an amateur GM…I’ll leave it up to Cash (if he’s still here…maybe Oppenheimer?).

  750. Boston Dave

    Re: Giambi

    If the Yankees do not sign Teixera, there are really no other worthwhile free agent 1b.

    That may make a more compelling reason to give him a large contract, but if not, the 2009 Yankees may have a similar 1b situation to 2008.

    Adam Dunn looks like one of the few interesting likely free agent OF.

  751. GreenBeret7

    Mulligan, you need to get over your fetish for Cano. “continued mental lapses”? The BS about Abreu is just that. He does nobody any good doing face plants on the walls, and his range isn’t “diminishing”. Does he slam into walls? No, and for two good reasons. His offense is too valuable the the team, but, mainly because of a badly seperated shoulder in 1997 that almost ended his career. That was one of the reasons that Houston allowed him to be exposed to the expansion draft.

  752. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    C.C. for the 8th! :P

  753. MrMulligan

    C.C. = 8th inning Joba (I like it…

  754. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    can I post now?

  755. Vince SI

    “Why is everyone talking about trades? We dont really need anything right now. Sure we could use a RP but who cant. I like the team as it is let the pen take care of its self from within.”

    Are you blind??

    We need a right handed power hitter on the bench, someone who can play the middle infield, and a lefty in the pen.

  756. 27 this year

    We don’t need to sign a guy to bridge the gap. The one thing about relievers is it is almost impossible to find a guy that is consistently good. If there was someone who was consistently good out of the pen, they would close and they are locked up like Nathan, Papalbon (team control), and MO and others. We just got to hope one or two of our minor leaguers and such to get hot and become that bridge. Look at the Brewers, they signed like four guys hoping one could be good and they all failed. Linebrink failed. Everyone said we should sign them and they all failed. No team has had a setup guy that has been consistently good year in and year out. Relievers are unpredictable and any reliever who is consistent is a closer.

  757. Boston Dave

    MRMulligan,

    I agree with both of those points. I am suggesting that those factors, especially Abreu’s fear of the wall, don’t come into play enough to single-handedly qualify them as poor defensive OF.

    The overall #s that the statisticians use suggest that they are both above average.

  758. GreenBeret7

    separated**

  759. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    BD I love your opinions but MrM has it right

    1B – Terrible D
    2B – Continual Mental Lapses on D
    SS – Diminishing Range (forgot to add ball in ground syndrome)
    LF – Both Terrible (One with Diminished Range & One with No Arm)
    RF – “Scared Wall Syndrome” (Actaully he has a gun arm but diminishing range)
    C – Age, never good at blocking bad pitches

    I love the Yanks but you have to try and look at this team objectively…and they’ll all be a year older next year!

    he/she has it dead on, w/ the exception of 3B or CF this roster has some issues in the future, mostly the OF and right side of the field. We can mask the left because Damon can cover ground in the OF and Alex is a big mobile body at 3B, but to the right of that field we have some problems.

    I’ll be back later people. Stay safe.

  760. MrMulligan

    Beret:

    You don’t think Cano makes mental lapses?
    Really?
    OK, then I’m wrong…Thanks for setting me straight!

    And 34-year old OFs never lose range…tyour a GENIUS, my friend.

  761. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Reyes trying to be jeter, sorry kid, you ain’t no Jeter.

  762. Boston Dave

    I was just looking at the potential free agent relievers after this season and there are plenty of interesting options. If these guys don’t get signed, it may be the best pool of relievers in a while.

  763. MrMulligan

    “Adam Dunn looks like one of the few interesting likely free agent OF”

    Dunn would hit 50 HRs @ The Stadium…

  764. Kelvin

    Damon is one of the best defensive LF’s in the league. Who is better than him out there? His lack of arm doesn’t hurt him in left as it would in center.

  765. Boston Dave

    Brandon,

    I was only backing up the corner OF spots based on something CB posted a few days back. I have no argument against C, 1b, and SS.

    Could the Yanks do better defensively in the OF? Of course.

    But technically their OF is one of the best so far this season, strictly going by the #s.

  766. Kelvin

    Adam Dunn?

    You are going on and on about the lack of defense and you want Dunn playing left in the spacious Yankee Stadium?

  767. Boston Dave

    MrMulligan,

    Dunn would be very nice… he doesn’t hit for avg but he would probably mash and he gets on base. He’s almost like a young Giambi :)

  768. jennifer

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3432656

    Looks like things might be falling apart for Tampa.

  769. MrMulligan

    Dunn would hit 100 HRs in The Stadium…

  770. Boston Dave

    I don’t know enough about Dunn’s D but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s below average. I haven’t seen him play enough but considering he does steal some bases he may have good speed for his size. Anybody have his defensive #s, specifially re: his range?

  771. MrMulligan

    “His lack of arm doesn’t hurt him in left as it would in center.”

    I would respectfully disagree…teams have been tagging and taking extra bases on his arm at an alarming rate this year…again, IMO.

    And people, I’m talking next year…when they’ll all be a year older…

    If we don’t resign Abreu or Giambi…how about Dunn as a RF / DH?

  772. GreenBeret7

    Cano has no more mental lapses than most other 3rd year players…actually fewer. There’s no other 2nd baseman in baseball with a stronger or more accurate arm. If he was hitting his normal .315, you wouldn’t have even brought it up. He’s in was a slump…nothing unusual for a player. In 2004, Jeter was nitting .169 on the last of april, I’m wondering if you thought it caused mental lapses on defense?

    There are maybe 5-6 right fielders in baseball better defensively, but, I can tell you, he’s better than Guerrero (everybody’s idea of the great outfielder). Abreu blows Guerrero away in almost every career defensive department. He’s also better than Ordonez.

  773. GreenBeret7

    If Jeter was hitting**

  774. MrMulligan

    Tex & Dunn to replace Giambi & Abreu in ‘09?

  775. Yu Darvish

    I wasnt saying put C.C. in the 8th lol that would be foolish 150 MIl dollar set up guy I was saying C.C. needs to come to NY and be our long awaited true Ace and in addition to that we must sign a set up guy if Sanchez or Melancon dont pan out

  776. Nick in SF

    I don’t think the Padres are serious about saving Willie’s job.

  777. GreenBeret7

    Dunn could open a butcher stop in the outfield. Now, he is brutal, and no better as a first baseman.

  778. MrMulligan

    IMO, there have been numerous examples of Cano covering 2B late…no excuse for a3rd year player…anyone else see this?

    It has nothing to do with his offensive stats (I’ve got him on all my fantasy teams and think he’ll be our 2nd half offensive MVP).

  779. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    Yikes Billy Wagner
    Watch out people-The Mets fans are gonna take over talk radio

  780. Yu Darvish

    Adam Dunn strikes out more than Billy Crystal I dont get how he still has a great OBP and he likely would hit 50 in the stadium but pretty much hes a left handed Richie Sexson he wouldnt be popular here in NY strike out prone guys are hated here

  781. MrMulligan

    Yu:

    I believe Reggie used to K a little…;>)

  782. Nick in SF

    Yes, Adam Dunn and Reggie Jackson, that’s an apt comparison.

    Where can I buy a case of Adam Dunn Bars, by the way? I want to be ready for the press conference when they sign him.

  783. Yu Darvish

    MrMulligan- Reggie wasnt a .248 career hitter and he always hit more than he whiffed thats an unfair comparison

  784. DFox

    Very well said GreenBeret7. I don’t see how anyone can complain about Cano’s defense.

  785. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Mets got swept by the Pads!! NY radio will be a good listen tonight! :)

  786. GreenBeret7

    There was one play about a week ago, and the reason he was late covering was because he was playing in the hole for a left handed pull hitter, and just because Kay says it and Jeter gives him a dirty look, doesn’t make it so. Kay’s never going to criticize Jeter, but, the fact is, Jeter just flat out missed the bag. Jeter’s given Rodriguez “the look” after Jeter ran into him on a pop up to third base a couple of years ago. Everybody on that team has had their share of mental lapses this year.

  787. Yu Darvish

    If we are gonna sign any LH batter its gotta be Teixiera hes not an automatic swing for the fences guy his career avg is .286 like my chances better than under .250 plus hes a GG caliber 1B

  788. MrMulligan

    ‘09 Moves from Yanks HQ (Orlando):

    Trade Matsui for Sanchez (SP) or Cain (SP)
    Re-sign Abreu (2 yrs w/team option)
    Keep Damon (One more year)
    Sign/Trade for a young, athletic LF
    Sign Texeira – Do Not Sign Giambi
    Trade for Fuentes (July ‘08 move)
    Re-sign Mussina (1 yr w/team option)
    Pettitte – Retirement

    Pick up World Series Rings @ Opening Ceremonies for New Stadium!!!

  789. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    Alan Horne tonight:

    4IP 3H 1R 1ER 2BB 7SO 0HR 3.00 ERA

  790. MrMulligan

    OK maybe my belief that Cano is MVP level talent and is not hitting HAS colored my opinion…

  791. MrMulligan

    “MrMulligan- Reggie wasnt a .248 career hitter and he always hit more than he whiffed thats an unfair comparison”

    It was a JOKE…;>)

  792. GreenBeret7

    Regardless of Dunn’s walks and the RBI’s/power, 190-195 strike outs is too much. 150 strikeouts would be bad, but, Dunn’s averaging close to 190 the last few years, and next to zero defense. A .963 FA for an outfielder is just plain ugly.

  793. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    Tex & Dunn to replace Giambi & Abreu in ‘09?

    tex yes, dunn no.. Dunn is a worse OF the Abreu.. Come on use common sense.. the years not even over, the AL is wide open and ure already talkin about next yr.. these are all fantasy’s that u do on XBOX or Playstation.. Be Real.. go hang out with ure girlfriends, o wait u dont have one. bc ure obsessed w. blogs

  794. Yu Darvish

    Alan Horne is shot too many injuries this year and in the past

  795. MrMulligan

    “tex yes, dunn no.. Dunn is a worse OF the Abreu.. Come on use common sense.. the years not even over, the AL is wide open and ure already talkin about next yr.. these are all fantasy’s that u do on XBOX or Playstation.. Be Real.. go hang out with ure girlfriends, o wait u dont have one. bc ure obsessed w. blogs”

    Naw…just the same wife for 12 years…relax

  796. Yu Darvish

    Aaron- Its just discussion on here plus what party is going on , on a sunday night go chill with your Gf stupid noob my gf is a pain in the ass my time with out her is the only time I can do whatever I want and this is what I like to do so get a life bro

  797. GreenBeret7

    S.A. add in Robertson’s 3 innings, 1 hit and 4 strikeouts, 0 walks.

  798. Yu Darvish

    Anyway I say sign Sabathia and Tex and be done with it offer Abreu a 2 year 25 million dollar deal if he accepts it good, if he dont who cares

  799. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    u want me to get a life , but u sit here on the blog thinking off ways to make a team better that u have no control over.. we know and everyone knows we need a Lefty out of the pen, is it gonna happen? maybe? prly ya but all this crap where we gotta trade Matsui and Giambi and Damon, all who have done stuff for and won games for us in the past week or so.. come on guys

  800. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    did you guys hear, apparently the rays are fighting in the dugout too!

  801. MrMulligan

    Aaron:

    You really need to learn to RELAX, bro…IMO, we need to trade Jetes, too!!!!!

  802. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    Thats not what i said, i said ure all bashing the guys who are producing but not the ones who arent.. im one of the biggest jeter fans ull ever see, he’s my favorite player of all time.. and ill be the first to admit when hes doin crap, like right now.. why dont u talk about how hes struggling, why talk about the producers?

  803. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “did you guys hear, apparently the rays are fighting in the dugout too!”

    When did this happen?

  804. Yu Darvish

    “u want me to get a life , but u sit here on the blog thinking off ways to make a team better that u have no control over.. we know and everyone knows we need a Lefty out of the pen, is it gonna happen? maybe? prly ya but all this crap where we gotta trade Matsui and Giambi and Damon, all who have done stuff for and won games for us in the past week or so.. come on guys”

    Then why are you hear the purpose of this blog and posting on it is to complain or offer ideas on how to improve the team you should leave if u think this is silly and to answer your questions the LHP we are looking for is named Brian Fuentes the Yanks will likely have to send one good prospect to the Rockies but hes a solid lefty set up guy IMO

  805. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Dynasty: Today. Garza and Navarro

  806. Coach Jay23

    Ok guys, no way the Yankees are getting rid of Matsui now that he is hitting the way he did a few years back so throw that idea out the window. Maybe they explore that again in the off-season, unless Colorado makes Holliday available with Fuentes. You want to trade Damon really ok then whos are leadoff hitter? Who will take Giambi and his contract? No way the Yanks are gonna pay for most of his contract when they buy him out for $5 million. So guys maybe the Yanks will add a bench player or 2 but no changes are being made to the top 9 during the year. As far as ‘09 Tex should be #1 priority over CC, If not look into to getting Holliday or Garrett Atkins and moving him to 1st, then go after CC. As far as this year, go call Pitt and see what it will take to get Marte and Nady make 2 of the young pitchers avalable(not including Hughes) Get rid of Ian anyway you can.

  807. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    “GreenBeret7 June 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    S.A. add in Robertson’s 3 innings, 1 hit and 4 strikeouts, 0 walks.”

    Yup! Good job outta him.
    Patterson pitching right now..so far for him:
    1IP 2H 1R 1ER 1BB 1SO

  808. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    **rain delay for them

  809. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    “Today. Garza and Navarro”

    They were fighting too? Oh brother….

  810. Aaron(a REAL Yankee fan)

    and the only reason I come on here is to check out the line up and see what Pete has 2 say.. and to laugh at the pathetic comments

  811. Yu Darvish

    “go call Pitt and see what it will take to get Marte and Nady make 2 of the young pitchers avalable(not including Hughes) Get rid of Ian anyway you can.”

    I totally agree coach IPK is not a major league caliber arm hes similar to Igawa can dominate AAA but we have seen what he does up where it counts and it aint pretty Holliday and Fuentes is the ultimate win situation

  812. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Rebecca,

    That’s bizarre…Can’t imagine that sort of thing happening with the Yankees, can you?

  813. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    Just saw them fighting on ESPN.
    Lotta hot heads on that team

  814. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Dynasy: Circa 1977, I definitley can.

  815. Yu Darvish

    Rockies are 10 games out and really in the shyt but I doubt they’d include Holliday for anybody but thats what we really need another big time righty bat to stifle the lefty heaviness of the line-up

  816. LCâ„¢

    Everyone go listen to the San Diego announcer call the Tony
    Clark HR off of Wagner on their homepage. It’s INCREDIBLY ridiculous but very entertaining as well.

  817. Nick in SF

    Mark Ellis walk-off grand slam for the A’s in the 12th!

  818. keith

    jesus, what a disaster of a thread. i’ve never heard such terrible ideas.

  819. Yu Darvish

    Still waiting on Boston to start losing some games only 5 GB in the loss column, Tampa is about to lose following that ugly scuffle and are on the road til Wed then they go to tropicana and play the Marlins and Cubs I smell theyre demise

  820. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Rebecca,

    I meant present day Yankees…We don’t have any Reggie or Billy type personalities on this club-I don’t think anyway…

  821. Igawa's buck teeth

    The Yanks dont need Tex they really need C.C for next year. If they dont get him then I have no idea who is going to pitch all those innings

  822. MrMulligan

    “Thats not what i said, i said ure all bashing the guys who are producing but not the ones who arent.. im one of the biggest jeter fans ull ever see, he’s my favorite player of all time.. and ill be the first to admit when hes doin crap, like right now.. why dont u talk about how hes struggling, why talk about the producers?’

    Bro, we are not bashing anyone and we’re all enjoying the production The Stache and JD are providing.
    But we have to get younger next year and Giambi, Damon, Matsui & Abreu are all on the “wrong side of 30″.
    By the way, my trading Jetes remark was made “tongue-in-cheek”…El Capitan will retire as the Yankees All-Time Leading Hitter.
    Have a nice Sunday evening…by the way, weren’t Giese & Veras awesome today?

  823. Nick in SF

    Dynasty, one more month without candy and there will be fights, I don’t care what their record its.

  824. Yu Darvish

    I agree Igawa C.C. is priority number one then Tex or whoever else his agent is Mr. Personality Scott Boras so you know he will drag out Tex’s free agency as long as humanly possible

  825. GreenBeret7

    Rebecca, Garza’s attitude is what got him traded out of Minnesota. My brother has season tickets to the Ft Myers Miracle (Twins FSL team). He said that Garza wouldn’t take instructions from their pitching coach, Eric Rasmussan, and Rasmussan threatened to beat him bloody if he didn’t start taking instructions and didn’t stop shaking off the pitches (coming from the bench). A million dollar talent and a ten cent brain.

  826. mel

    CC for the long man in the pen!

    Wonder if the guy with the funny glasses who manages Tampa (Madden?) will say something along the lines of: “I’m proud of the way our guys have responded to their poor play. It shows they have passion.” gag.

  827. MrMulligan

    Coach:

    All of my trade / signing scenarios were for ‘09 (except for picking up Fuentes next month)…

  828. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    “Dynasty, one more month without candy and there will be fights, I don’t care what their record its.”

    That’s funny, and it just made me think of something…

    I wonder if there’s an exception for Moose bars…

  829. MrMulligan

    “CC for the long man in the pen!”

    I’m telling ‘ya C.C. = Joba in the 8th!!!

  830. Yu Darvish

    Joe Maddon is annoying just like his team those scrappy pack of misfits cannot keep up their winning ways the Yanks will rise likea phoenix from the ashes!

  831. mel

    Mr,

    Did you explicitly write that you were talking offseason? If you did, then we all need to work on our reading skills!

  832. MrMulligan

    “jesus, what a disaster of a thread. i’ve never heard such terrible ideas.”

    Thanks for adding to the discussion!!!

  833. GreenBeret7

    If the Yanks make a deal with Colorado, I’d just as soon see them get Fuentes and Aaron Cook to start.

  834. Yu Darvish

    I wonder what Phil Hughes is doing playing with a slinky down in Tampa for a top prospect that kid doesnt seem to compete hes no Joba and I think that has affected his confidence hes a very fragile guy not good for NY

  835. MrMulligan

    “Mr,

    Did you explicitly write that you were talking offseason? If you did, then we all need to work on our reading skills!”

    Yes!!! My earlier post:

    ‘09 Moves from Yanks HQ (Orlando):

    Trade Matsui for Sanchez (SP) or Cain (SP)
    Re-sign Abreu (2 yrs w/team option)
    Keep Damon (One more year)
    Sign/Trade for a young, athletic LF
    Sign Texeira – Do Not Sign Giambi
    Trade for Fuentes (July ‘08 move)
    Re-sign Mussina (1 yr w/team option)
    Pettitte – Retirement

    Pick up World Series Rings @ Opening Ceremonies for New Stadium!!!

  836. MrMulligan

    “If the Yanks make a deal with Colorado, I’d just as soon see them get Fuentes and Aaron Cook to start.”

    Fuentes, IMO is a MUST HAVE…Cook is very, very interesting.

  837. 27 this year

    This is a list of all the starting pitchers, closers, and middle relievers after this season.

    STARTING PITCHERS

    Jeremy Affeldt (30)
    Tony Armas Jr. (31)
    Kris Benson (33)
    A.J. Burnett (32) – can opt out after ‘08 season
    Paul Byrd (38)
    Roger Clemens (46)
    Matt Clement (33) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
    Ryan Dempster (32)
    Chad Durbin (31)
    Josh Fogg (32)
    Jon Garland (29)
    Tom Glavine (43)
    Mike Hampton (36)
    Mark Hendrickson (35)
    Livan Hernandez (34)
    Orlando Hernandez (43)
    Jason Jennings (30)
    Randy Johnson (45)
    John Lackey (30) – $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.5MM buyout
    Jon Lieber (39)
    Esteban Loaiza (37) – $7.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.375MM buyout
    Braden Looper (34)
    Derek Lowe (36)
    Greg Maddux (43)
    Pedro Martinez (37)
    Jamie Moyer (46)
    Mark Mulder (31) – $11MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.5MM buyout
    Mike Mussina (40)
    Carl Pavano (33) – $13MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.95MM buyout
    Brad Penny (31) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $2MM buyout
    Odalis Perez (32)
    Oliver Perez (27)
    Andy Pettitte (37)
    Mark Prior (27)
    Kenny Rogers (44)
    C.C. Sabathia (28)
    Curt Schilling (42)
    Ben Sheets (30)
    John Smoltz (42) – $12MM club option for ‘09
    Brett Tomko (36)
    Josh Towers (32)
    Steve Trachsel (38)
    Tim Wakefield (42) – perpetual $4MM club option
    Kip Wells (32)
    Woody Williams (42)
    Randy Wolf (32)

    CLOSERS

    Joe Borowski (38)
    Brian Fuentes (33)
    Eric Gagne (33)
    Trevor Hoffman (41)
    Jason Isringhausen (36)
    Todd Jones (41)
    Brad Lidge (32)
    Brandon Lyon (29)
    Francisco Rodriguez (27)
    Kerry Wood (32)

    MIDDLE RELIEVERS

    Jeremy Affeldt (30)
    Doug Brocail (42) – club option for ‘09
    Shawn Chacon (31)
    Juan Cruz (28)
    Alan Embree (39) – $3MM club option for ‘09
    Scott Eyre (37)
    Kyle Farnsworth (33)
    Keith Foulke (35)
    Aaron Fultz (35)
    Tom Gordon (41) – $4.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $1MM buyout
    Eddie Guardado (38)
    LaTroy Hawkins (36)
    Matt Herges (39) – club option for ‘09
    Bob Howry (35)
    Steve Kline (36)
    Damaso Marte (34) – $6MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
    Trever Miller (36) – $2MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.4MM buyout
    Guillermo Mota (35)
    Will Ohman (31)
    Darren Oliver (38)
    Al Reyes (38)
    Dennys Reyes (32)
    Juan Rincon (30)
    Russ Springer (40)
    Mike Stanton (42)
    Mike Timlin (43)
    Salomon Torres (37) – $3.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.3MM buyout
    David Weathers (39)
    Dan Wheeler (31)
    Matt Wise (33)

    Thanks to http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ree-a.html, mlbtraderumors for the list

  838. mel

    Ahh..that’s the problem, I thought it was ‘09 already. :lol:

  839. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    This team needs candy..
    Kit Kats, M&M’s, Jelly Beans…that will save us

  840. Paulio

    Time to forget this .500 baseball thing and start winning at a good clip. Put some space between us and the pretenders and show that we are legit.

  841. 27 this year

    The only guys I see helping us with relief is Marte, Fuentes, adn K-Rod

    For starters, CC and I like Burnett, although he may get injured, I dont think he is too much of a risk. Sheets is too much a risk

  842. 27 this year

    Only thing with K-Rod is he wants to close and Mo is ours

  843. Yu Darvish

    Cook would not be good in Yankee stadium hes a right handed fly ball pitcher and Cain looks terrible this year Sanchez is the only guy I’d try

  844. Nick in SF

    I think the candy problem will be solved soon, below is a picture of the Yanks’ new clubhouse manager, seen here posing with a group of visitors from the Kyle Farnsworth Fan Club:

    http://tinyurl.com/6lnlbz

  845. MrMulligan

    C.C., Sheets, Wolf…bring back Loaiza
    Fuentes, Lidge, Lyon…euthanize Farnworth & Hawkins

  846. Yu Darvish

    I love Brandon Lyon with the D-backs do you think hed set up his numbers are ridiculous

  847. mel

    I think the players need to earn back their candy/ice cream privileges.

    Based on certain thresholds.

    Sundae party when they hit 5 games over .500.
    Pizza party when they hit 10 games over.
    Candy in the clubhouse when they hit 20 games over.
    Freezer with ice cream novelties comes back when they hit 30 games over.

    Incentives will work for this group of overpaid kids!

  848. RhapsodyInBlue

    Believe he was acquired as part of the Schilling deal, about time he did something..

    I love Brandon Lyon with the D-backs do you think hed set up his numbers are ridiculous

  849. 27 this year

    Oh yea, I meant to add Lyon, he should be pretty good. Cain is a really good pitcher however, he just gets 0 run support. Last year he was like 5-13 with a 3.60 ERA, he just needs a new team

  850. Yu Darvish

    Lidge is too cocky to be a set-up guy although that is intriguing I think ther only legit set up options are Fuentes in a july trade or Lyon after the season Marte’s numbers are disappointing this season IMO 4 ERA for your closer is awful check out John Grabow though very tempting http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=5864

  851. Yu Darvish

    Fuentes is the only option I can see in a July trade however check out John Grabow with the Pirates pretty good numbers Marte not so much but Id take him too

  852. Yu Darvish

    27 this year- Have you seen Cain’s numbers his K’s are down tremendously and his HR’s are up in the Santana range I believe 12 not good for a young pitcher he is fading behind the much smaller but more effective Tim Lincecum(I’d trade Hughes and IPK for that guy)

  853. Jorge Steinbrenner (the long lost third brother)

    This team begins to look a ton better and all the talk on here is possible trades. Absolutely insane.

    I’d love to hear from more fans who actually find more joy in watching young players evolve and create a new mix with our veteran core, no matter our won-loss record. In many ways, this is as fascinating a season as I’ve ever lived through.

  854. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Nick, can you post a regular link, I can’t open that page. My firewall is blocking it.

  855. Coach Jay23

    CC is closer to 30 then TEX. Tex switch hitting 1st baseman. A above-average 1st baseman. That takes care of that. I agree we need to get younger and we have alot of money so we can really afford both CC and Tex and make that splash going into the new stadium. I believe the Yankees will have to keep at least Damon or Abreu next year. We will need a leadoff hitter somewhere if we let Damon go. I dont’t agree with some that say we should trade Melk. He has proven he can play in the MLB, Gardner has not proven to be able to play YET i know he hasnt come up yet. I blame some of Melks struggles on Girardi moving him to the 6th hole for a little bit. Gardner will be 25 in sept.Melky will only be 24 in august so its not like Gardner is younger and has more upside. As far Aaron Cook are you serious? Cook is 29 and will serve as what for us in the future? has a career era of above 4.00 in the NL so you really think that will drop in the AL with a DH and playing against teams like Tor,TB, and Bos.Replace who Pettitte with him, where Andy is a 2nd half pitcher and has given up 10 HRs to Cooks 8 and Andy’s whip is 1.46 and Cooks 1.21 in the NL and in a weak NL west. Any moves the Yanks make to their starting rotation wont be until next year unless for some reason CC comes available and the Yanks have to jump on him before Boston does.

  856. GreenBeret7

    Cook also pitches to an ERA of 3.16 in Colorado, with 60 more ground balls than fly balls this year, who walks about 2 a game. 91 innings, 86 hits, 24 walks. I’ll take it any time. He’s been getting better every year.

  857. Yu Darvish

    Jorge Steinbrenner- This team is too highly paid and far too talented for .500 to be accepted, exciting perhaps acceptable? hardly

  858. Yu Darvish

    The Yanks have enough soft toss groundball guys we need pitchers who can actually K a batter just my thoughts

  859. Coach Jay23

    Still didnt answer. who are you replacing Cook with??

  860. GreenBeret7

    The only soft tosser NYY has getting any outs right now is Mussina. I’ll hold judgement on Rasner.

  861. Espresso

    I say resign Pavano then give 7 years to Hampton and Sheets. Stock pile the talent.

    I don’t get the Abreu hating. I like to see our guys in the top 10 on SC, but I’d rather have in the field most days. He plays a bit cautious, but he plays the ball off the wall well and keeps it in front of him. How many times does a showy dive turn into extra bases? I think he plays smart baseball.

  862. GreenBeret7

    I’ll answer posts that are readable, Jay. I also wasn’t aware that there was a time limit on answering you.

  863. MrMulligan

    Again, these moves are to make us younger and better defensively for next year.
    I love most of our team and they’re proven offensive studs BUT we have too many on the “wrong side of 30″…ballplayers 35+ will just get more injury prone and defensively challenged, IMO.

  864. Yu Darvish

    Lol at espresso the all DL team there, Jonathan Sanchez looks absolutely filthy and hes a lefty who do we have to give SF for him if its IPK have him please

  865. MrMulligan

    After we win this year’s WS with our “ancient” crew…

  866. OldYanksFan

    Glenn – Giambi’s $120m INCLUDES the signing bonus AND the $5m byout. $120m is the TOTAL.

  867. 27 this year

    Well I guess you’re right about Cain’s numbers. However, for Matsui or Damon, you can’t expect that much. With the way teams are changing, Matsui at 13mil is a lot because he offers no defense and although I love him in clutch situations and he is a power hitter, most teams do not view him as a huge middle of the order threat. I think he is but then again, I also think NY overvalues him. To get Cain, a change of scenery could be the key, for like two years he pitched, he got nothing and I think that is eating away at him. For matsui, I think Cain would be a pretty good guy to get along with someone else.

    As per Marte, I did not realize him numbers were down. I think if we gave up IPK or Horne and say Marquez, we could manage to get Grabow without losing Jackson. We have a lot of young pitchers and we cant keep thinking every single one of them is going to make it.

  868. MrMulligan

    “Lol at espresso the all DL team there, Jonathan Sanchez looks absolutely filthy and hes a lefty who do we have to give SF for him if its IPK have him please.”

    Sanchez is smoking this year…there was a rumor SF offered him for Matsui but we wanted Cain…maybe this off-season?

  869. GreenBeret7

    Rich Harden started the game today by tying a major league record with three strike outs on 9 pitches in the 1st inning.

  870. Dr. Cox

    Just got home and checked the Box Score.

    Damon and Giambi, along with Milton Bradley, could be the hottest hitters in baseball right now.

    2 in our line up.

  871. MrMulligan (Bring Back Loaiza)

    75 K / 75 1/3 IP…SWEET

  872. S.A.- No pain..no gain

    LOL! Steve the crazy Mets fan on WFAN. Uh Oh. He’s not happy..

  873. GreenBeret7

    Sorry, 27, but, it’s doubtful anybody’s giving up two young starters for a middle innings relief pitcher, even a left hander, who’s having his first year under a 4.30 ERA.

  874. MrMulligan (Bring Back Loaiza)

    The Rook Bruce @ Cinci is “lighting it up”, too.

  875. MrMulligan (Bring Back Loaiza)

    Bruce: .457, 14 R, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB (13 gms)

  876. Yu Darvish

    “As per Marte, I did not realize him numbers were down. I think if we gave up IPK or Horne and say Marquez, we could manage to get Grabow without losing Jackson. We have a lot of young pitchers and we cant keep thinking every single one of them is going to make it.”

    I agree thats the thing that nobody gets is that we cant hoard every pitching prospect because some of them are more valuable as chips than pitching in the pinstripes I’d say these are the keepers from the minors pitching wise-

    Humberto Sanchez, Dellin Betances, Andrew Brackman, Phil Hughes, Mark Melancon thats it

  877. MrMulligan (Bring Back Loaiza)

    “Cook also pitches to an ERA of 3.16 in Colorado, with 60 more ground balls than fly balls this year, who walks about 2 a game. 91 innings, 86 hits, 24 walks. I’ll take it any time. He’s been getting better every year.”

    Cook is intriguing because I don’t think we’d have to give up a lot and he has been improving every year…

  878. Yu Darvish

    “Sorry, 27, but, it’s doubtful anybody’s giving up two young starters for a middle innings relief pitcher, even a left hander, who’s having his first year under a 4.30 ERA.”

    Marte is a premier reliever on a bad team and he has not had an over 4.00 ERA since 1999 so please do research before posting and him and Grabow are the immediate 7th and 8th inning answer

  879. GreenBeret7

    Doc, never had much use for Bradley. He’s always had as much talent as anybody, but, between fighting with fans, team mates, coaches and managers…and deciding when he’d dog it or hustle, he’s just not worth the headaches.

  880. Yu Darvish

    Milton Bradley is Gary Sheffield with a sillier name and less power yanks have no use for him

  881. Dr. Cox

    GreenBeret:

    I agree with you. He was at his complete worse on in LA and in Oakland. But as bad of a team player and hot head he may be, it does not take away from the fact that he is swinging one hell of a bat right now.

    Its just a shame he’s so uncoachable. He even tore his ACL fighting with an ump. Thats saying something…

  882. GreenBeret7

    Darvish, I know what Marte’s numbers are. Those numbers are in reference to Grabow, and, no, he’s not an 8th inning pitcher based on 2 months out of 6 years.

  883. Yu Darvish

    Wow you got it all wrong Marte is the set up guy Grabow is the 7th inning guy or he could battle it out with Veras/Farnsy, Edwar

  884. Nick in SF

    Jennifer, if you’re still paying attention, here’s the link; I went out to get some food.

    http://farm3.static.flickr.com.....1285_o.jpg

  885. GreenBeret7

    LMAO, Doc. I saw that. Almost put his coach on the DL at the same time.

    It’s really a pity to see all that talent wasted like that, when you see guys like Cody Ransom or Nick Green, guys with a quarter of the talent, grinding out 10-13 years in the minors for just one more chance.

  886. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Wow Joe T is looking very old.

  887. GreenBeret7

    Davish, it makes no difference. Nobody’s trading two young starters for a relief pitcher, and especially one that will be a free agent or one that’s never had a decent full season.

  888. Y's Guy

    no way for milton in pinstripes. 7 teams in 9 years! ever wonder why he changes teams so often? every team that gets him wishes it hadnt and shows him the door.

  889. GreenBeret7

    Y’s, Bradley is Joey “Albert” Belle without the resume’.

  890. Dr. Cox

    Nobody said anything about Milton in pinstripes.

    I simply said that Damon, Giambi and Bradley were the 3 hottest hitters in baseball right now.

    No where was it mentioned he should be a Yankee.

  891. TKinDC

    Nice Q&A with Action Jackson in the NY Times blog in case you missed it:

    http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....n-jackson/

    I wonder if these guys (Gardner and A-Jax) are on Melky’s mental radar.

  892. GreenBeret7

    That Texas outfield and whole team would explode if Bradley and Hamilton ever reverts to their former selves.

  893. Y's Guy

    pirates hold a $6M club option on marte for 2009

  894. Yu Darvish

    “That Texas outfield and whole team would explode if Bradley and Hamilton ever reverts to their former selves.”

    I often wondered that too what if they started to play like they used to how hard would Texas suck

  895. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    Alan Horne
    4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K’s
    PT/S: 82-44
    that’s a horrible PT/S ratio IDK how he had that line tonight, he should get better in that ratio later on not bad for a debut, not good either

    3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K’s
    PT/S: 37-27

    that right there makes your mouth water 27 strikes and 10 balls in 3 innings of scoreless baseball ? WOW GO/AO 3-2 I mean damn that is WOW

  896. Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 12 )

    the 2nd stat is David Robertson but you guys know that *

  897. Fredo Corleone

    “For matsui, I think Cain would be a pretty good guy to get along with someone else.”

    Giants would never do such a deal. Nobody is trading young pitching for an old bat who’s a marginal fielder. Forget Sanchez, Cain or Lincecum. If Matsui were to agree to be traded, our sights would have be set a LOT lower than that.

  898. Y's Guy

    not worried about horne’s stats from his first game, more interested in how he feels tomorrow. if anyone is injured in the next 2-3 weeks, horne’s the only thing standing between us and the return of the igawamonster.

  899. Y's Guy

    they turned down matsui for cain last year, dont think they’d take it with matsui one year older and one year closer to free agency.

  900. Fredo Corleone

    “That Texas outfield and whole team would explode if Bradley and Hamilton ever reverts to their former selves.”

    How do we know Hamilton isn’t himself right now? From what we’ve seen for a year plus, he’s pretty damn good.

  901. Yu Darvish

    Where the heck did David Robertson come from? Does he throw hard or is he a finesse guy

  902. Boston Dave

    The Yankees will be committed to building a bullpen from within. Don’t get your hopes up for any major trades this season or big contracts for relievers in the offseason.

    I think the list that was posted was incomplete. I believe Joe Beimel should be on that list but I could be wrong.

  903. GreenBeret7

    Darvish, I was referring to their personal issues, not their baseball numbers.

  904. Yu Darvish

    Igawa is kinda like a bad dream that is re-occurring I wish he could go back to Japan and why was Alan Horne injured for 6 weeks?

  905. Yu Darvish

    Oh I see they are volatile Bradley never seems to like anyone

  906. GreenBeret7

    Fred, I was referring to their personal histories, which is still a work in progress. Their histories are not exactly stable.

  907. GreenBeret7

    Darvish, Horne had a bicep injury, and since he had TJ Surgery a few years ago, they aren’t taking any chances.

  908. Y's Guy

    why do nba players even bother dribbling?

  909. GreenBeret7

    Because if they just left puddles, everyone would know it was them?

  910. PittsburghYankeeFan

    Did you see that FA class of pitchers for 08-09? What unadulterated dreck.

    Forget it. The Yankees either rise or fall with the young pitching. The guess here is that they rise. These guys have had very little AAA experience, so they have to be given a break.

    We can mash our way to the WC at a minimum.

  911. 27 this year

    Boston Dave, I dont know about Beimel but Generally, the guy that runs the website, Tim Deirkes is really good and for teh most part is always accurate when it comes to this but then again…

  912. 27 this year

    Fredo, I realize the Giants wouldnt trade Cain for Matsui, that is why I basically said it would be a steal for us. Read the whole post not just a line

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New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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