Today in The Journal News
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- July
- 2
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No Jeter, no bunt, no victory for the slip-sliding away Yankees last night. Brian Heyman has the story.
Alex Rodriguez had a busy day that included a special visitor. This notebook also has updates on Melky Cabrera and Hideki Matsui.
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I have a bunch of blogs linked over to the right and you’d do well to check them out when you get a chance. There are a lot of talented writers out there.
But do yourself a favor and bookmark Yankees For Justice. Check out this recent post by Todd. He has a way of reminding his readers that baseball is so much more than the final score.
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on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
sign Bonds or Sosa.
We need a bat, pronto.
that’s a nice story right there, Pete.
That explains what Girardi needs to fix as a manager. You dont think 1st and 3rd when there is a batter going through a 0-18 slump. Wilson Betemit on 2nd base with 1 out and Damon the 1 guy who can hit with RISP, and then Capt Clutch as a pinch hitter.
Seems a little too obvious
Bonds or Sosa??? Good grief what in the world makes you think that will make any type of difference?
Here is the honest to God truth about this team. Cashman has built a team around veterans and young players that he hoped could compete, but in the back of his mind, he knew that wasn’t very likely unless EVERYTHING broke for him. Well the chances of that happening were slim to none. So he bit the bullet and went with it anyway, knowing the future would be better for it. Where have seen this before?
Our hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Remember when they didn’t make the playoffs in 2006? We all had a good laugh at them didn’t we? Well they won the WS the next year. Why? They rebuilt, got healthy. This team is on the right track, it just kills me when I see fans screaming for everything from Melky to be pushed off of cliffs, to Girardi being axed, to Jeter being finished.
Are you serious? People here are actually questioning Derek Jeter. The same Derek Jeter who would run through a brick wall if it meant driving in a run. Some of you people are just amazing. I’m not giving up on this team, there is still half a season to play. Let’s go get em boys.
No one should be questioning Jeter. And until were 2 games back with 1 remaining I dont give up. There is NO reason to think we cant win this year. Come September when hopefully Wang can contribute again, and maybe Pavano and Hughes we should make a good run.
Post July 1st
2007-56-27
2006-52-32
2005-54-27
2004- 50-24
While the Red Sox are
2007-45-35
2006-37-47
2005-49-34
2004-64-28
As for the Tampa Rays? Think…2005 Orioles
Went from 43-36 to 73-88
Im not saying they will drop out as bad, but I wouldnt trust such a young team in the 2nd half
Todd,
Great Job, It’s ammazing how something so small, maybe 10-15 minutes of your time, can go a long way. I’m sure he will always remeber you.
Well, Andy Phillips short stint with the Mets is already over. He’s been DFA’d and will probably end up back with the Reds:
It’s still laughable to think of all the writers & analysts that said in the spring that the Yankees would win many 10-8 games because their hitting would carry the pitching ?
HA !
All teams go through slumps offensively
At this point the Yankees must lead all of baseball in squandered chances in games and in gaining ground in the standings.
This was supposed to be the time of the season that the team had a favorable schedule to work to their advantage and haven’t worked the opportunities.
The stranding of runners is well known along with no timely hitting or come from behind wins but it’s beyond ludicrous now.
The Yankees are not fundamentally sound and there are no magic buttons to push.
this team isn’t going through a slump… it’s reverting back to form. The “win streak” was during interleague play against a bunch of AAAA teams. At this point, this team shows no signs of life or ability to break it without the help of the National League. It is what it is. and soon, they’ll probably be back to a .500 or so team. Frustrating.
And Only this team can make pitchers like Millwood, Chacon, and Feldman look like Cy Young contenders.
“As for the Tampa Rays? Think…2005 Orioles”
You’re dreaming. No comparison. ‘05 O’s did it with mirrors for awhile but were never to be taken seriously. Rays have the best 1-5 rotation in the AL East, by far the best defense, a solid pen and are winning despite having only one guy, Eric Hinske, who has exceeded expectations offensively. They have great team speed and a manager who runs circles around the one we have.
An economy of words, an athletic, comfortable style, indelible characters and always the truth… Todd’s a chip off the old Jimmy Breslin.
“With Rivera, you’ve got to try to get as close to home plate as you can,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “He’s got that high leg kick, and we made (Jorge) Posada rush his throw. He threw outside of the bag, and that’s all we needed right there.”
no guts, no glory.
ron washington is old school and a scrapper. the above is real baseball, not something bill james or the baseball wanabees at baseball prospectus measure or pay any attention too..
girardi should pay attention that he got beat by something that isn’t in his baseball prospectus copy on his shelf in his office.
maybe it’s time for him to chuck that book and get back to his roots.
unless, that is, he likes getting beat by the ron washington’s of the baseball world.
“With Rivera, you’ve got to try to get as close to home plate as you can,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “He’s got that high leg kick, and we made (Jorge) Posada rush his throw. He threw outside of the bag, and that’s all we needed right there.”
no guts, no glory.
ron washington is old school and a scrapper. the above is real baseball, not something bill james or the baseball wanabees at baseball prospectus measure or pay any attention too..
girardi should pay attention that he got beat by something that isn’t in his baseball prospectus copy on his shelf in his office.
maybe it’s time for him to chuck that book and get back to his roots.
unless, that is, he likes getting beat by the ron washington’s of the baseball world.
Fair points, Randy. Poorly managed game by Girardi and Washington was wisely taking adavantage of the opposition’s weakness (read: Posada).
Thanks for the kind words, murphydog.
this team disgusts me. if we could get a few games on the red sox going into the all star break, hopefully we could reboot after the break.
Fred,
All it takes is 1 injury. 1 injury can kill a season. Brian Roberts. Their injury is inevitable. Also, do you honestly think all 25 players on that roster will thrive under the 2nd half pressure? Sorry, I dont. Will they get 80 wins, YES. 85 is a serious possibility. But to crown them champs with NO evidence they can do it with the pressure of not only the reigning champs, but the 26 time WS champs riding behind you, chances are, a slip up is coming.
What does everyone think of Alex not participating in the homerun derby? Personally I am glad, I don’t want it to mess up his swing and his obligation is to the Yankees, and Yankee fans, to get the ship right. Not to mlb to participate in a phony event.
Jason Stark is funny, he says his obligation is to mlb, the Yankees, and Yankee fans. I’d be curious to know how many Yankee fans, think Alex’s obligation to participate. Also Jason states, that well Alex participated years ago and it didn’t mess up his swing. Well if it is in his head, than it will mess it up.
I am EXTREMELY happy Arod is not participating. Thats 1 thing less Yankee fans would have to worry and boo about with Arod. What does Jason Stark know about Post HR Derby swings? How much baseball has he played?
You know I am really happy that, that rag the NY Post though the front page of the paper should be about Alex and not the terrorist that ran over people and cars in Jerusalem. Nice to see their priorities in order.
The Tampa office is trying to break up the Cano-Melky party. Too many days of coming in to the clubhouse hungover. We all knew that, and it destroys ability and trade value. Energy spark? I have no energy after a wild night on the town (probably why I’m not working and posting on this blog)… IPK & Melky for CC is what their current proposal is. Understandably, Shapiro doesn’t want the Melkman.
I disagree with bunting in that spot … we’re down 3-2 in the ninth inning and the pitcher just walked Bettemit to lead off the inning on 4 pitches. I dont like giving up an out when we are scrapping for runs and only have 3 left to work with.
What Melky did to start his AB was smart … take a pitch (which was called a strike).
Once this was done is where I have a problem with Girardi’s strategy … he pinch ran Bettemit with Gonzlalez. Why not put the hit and run at that point … Melky may be struggling, but he is making contact (evidence by the fact that he grounded into a 6-4-3 DP. That same ground ball that went for a DP either goes into CF for a single if Michael Young was breaking to cover the bag at 2nd Base … OR … Young fields it but his only play is getting Melky out at first … either way the inning is alive and the Yankees have the tying run in scoring position with less than two outs with Damon and Jeter coming up.
You could also argue why Girardi did not have Gonzalez attempt to steal … but that may be asking a lot for a AAA call up to do in that spot whose name is not Homer Bush.
“this team isn’t going through a slump… it’s reverting back to form. The “win streak†was during interleague play against a bunch of AAAA teams. At this point, this team shows no signs of life or ability to break it without the help of the National League. It is what it is. and soon, they’ll probably be back to a .500 or so team. Frustrating.”
agreed, sunny. so frustrating.
two days ago, i jumped all in and got chewed out for calling this team great… that they just needed to be a little more consistent, and maybe if Cashman made that move to reenergize the vets and show the team Cashman and the organization that they believe in the players and go all in.
i apparently couldnt have been more wrong.
the pitching, and the bullpen, has been really much better than i thought itd be, even without wang and hughes, and kennedy, etc.
who wouldve EVER thought this offense could be as bad as it is right now? and by bad, not necessarily that they cant hit, but they just consistently underperform.
there is just no way this team is 6.5 games worse that Tampa.
just very, very frustrating.
The Tampa office is trying to break up the Cano-Melky party. Too many days of coming in to the clubhouse hungover. We all knew that, and it destroys ability and trade value. Energy spark? I have no energy after a wild night on the town (probably why I’m not working and posting on this blog)… IPK & Melky for CC is what their current proposal is. Understandably, Shapiro doesn’t want the Melkman.
Im assuming your being sarcastic?
Fredo,
I am afraid you are correct. The guy who said the Rays are the 2005 O’s isn’t paying attention. All you have to do is look at their 5 starters and look at ours. Garza has shown #1 starter stuff the last two starts. Since his dust-up with his catcher a couple of weeks ago he is a better pitcher.
Kazmir has learned what Joba hasn’t yet. Economy of pitches.
Joba is Kazmir from 2 seasons ago.
If that team were to get C.C. then you could probably pencil them in for the pennant this year, right now. Also I see them having a better 2nd half offensively.
So the rest of the league and especially the Yanks and Sawx need to watch out. In fact I wrote a month ago that they reminded me of the ‘69 Mets. I am now ready to say that they are going to win the wild card. I just don’t see both Boston and the Yanks passing them this year. Historically teams in first place on 7/4 win their divisions a majority of the time. Just because they have never been here before is not a good enough reason to discount this Rays team.
Sorry to burst your bubble TurnTwo, but its 7.5 behind Tampa
I guess you guys dont understand what I meant. Because it had NOTHING to do with how talented Tampa is
“Their injury is inevitable”
Which one??? Kazmir missing a month? Pena missing a month? Their closer going on the DL…..twice? Navarro, who should probably get a look as the 2nd catcher behind Mauer in the allstar game, missing a month???
You expecting their plane to crash or something?
So, the season has gotten down to the point where we are rooting for injuries from the teams better than the Yankees in order for them to compete?
Or, ask for them to sign Bonds or Sosa (both of whom would need 6 weeks to get ready) to help this offense?
Here’s the way I look at it. When you spend over 200 million dollars on a team, and most of them are healthy, you shouldn’t have to pray a 40 million dollar team suffers injuries to compete.
This team hasn’t hit all year. The back end of the rotation consists of Darrell Rasner and Sidney Ponson. The manager doesn’t think his 9th place hitter, a guy who is hitting under .200 for almost 6 weeks, needs to bunt the tying run over to second base.
You know what that tells me? It tells me this is a team that should be sellers at the deadline. If not, they just set back their rebuilding process another year.
I also don’t want to hear the nonsense of, “We went 51-25 in the second half last year”. Last year was a fluke.
They had Chein Ming Wang last year. They also had an offense that scored 968 runs.
This year, no Wang, no offense and no clue most nights.
Sorry, this ain’t last year. Its this year and this is one awful baseball team that has been put together.
Excuses end after 85 games of a season. You are what you are.
EVERY team, even the Yankees, has bad seasons. The key to not repeating them to learn from them. Jury is out as to whether this team will learn from this season.
“I dont like giving up an out when we are scrapping for runs and only have 3 left to work with.”
I don’t either, yet they sent an automatic out in Melky up to hit.
I’ve seen it all now,how can anyone justify Melk’s AB in the 9th. Here’s the issue, it called for a bunt, Melk can’t bunt,we’ve seen that. Jeter was being saved for PHing for Gardner ( remember CJ is tough on lefties ). The bottom line is that we are carrying 3 catchers because Po is not 100% leading us to a poorly contructed bench. We need players that can bunt, move runners over, have the ability to work the count. These are things that Melk can’t do .
Melky is the least of our problems.
What I saw last night was what a mistake it was to resign Posada to a long term contract.
Now what we have have is a high priced catcher who cannot block balls in the dirt (Molina does without effort), or cannot throw out bunters or base stealers.
Ian Kinsler, stole 3 bases and the game from Posada and the Yankees last evening.
What we have is another slow running high priced hitter and candidate for DH who cannot play good defense along with Matsui and Giambi.
Wait until the Yankees play Tampa and Boston and they steal bases and the game or advance on Posada’s passballs into the dirt to win the game.
This yankee team is going nowhere until they get younger. Get used to getting beat by younger more athletic teams with sub-par pitching with this current cast of Yankees.
So I see Fred has turned into a Tampa fan. Anyone else jumping on the bandwaggon while its still at the station. Because a bunch of kids whose only 2nd half challenge in their careers have been fighting for a spot for next years team and maybe 75 wins. When we are 7.5 games back August 20th, then fine, ill admit were in trouble. But were not in trouble right now
Based on Rhapsody’s post I will ask a question I asked last night. Why carry three catchers only to have one and a very effective one ride the bench?
I predict a bloodbath when the Red Sox get here followed by a vulture party when the Rays come and pick what’s left of the Yankees. Red Sox have lost two to the unstoppable Rays true. But they have both been very close games. That tells me that the Yankees are going to be meeting their Armegeddon soon.
Why they play like little leaguers with the talent they have will continue to bewilder me. I put my All Star Game tickets on Stub Hub. The Yankees having any representation there other than Mariano feels like fraud to me.
Loving the Loyalty guys. Why waste time posting on here for a team you all have clearly given up on? This would be the definition of a troll.
“What I saw last night was what a mistake it was to resign Posada to a long term contract.”
Hinsight is always 20/20. I half agree with you RIB, but I din’t see where the Yankees had a choice. Posada is coming off one of his best seasons, they have no answer in the system that isn’t years away and they headed into the year knowing they’d need a veteran presence with so much youth being introduced to the rotation. I think Posads suckered them into that 4th year merely by saying he was going out to lunch with Minaya, but he was going to get three years no matter. The shoulder thing is a real problem, but so far as I know, it wasn’t one when he signed. Of course, they everyone ran wild on him last year too, so who knows??
I guarantee you the Red Sox will not make the same mistake with Varitek.
Unless Posada has his shoulder repaired in the off-season to a close facsmile of what it was.
We’ve been snookered into one more long contract to an aging vet.
If you didnt want to sign Posada, then who do you have playing Catcher? Molina full time?
Robertson was good… and having giese for long relief is a godsend.
Joba just needs a more direct approach or batters will continue to sit on his pitches. He is doing great but it could get ugly against the red sox if he doesnt throw more strikes. Hopefully the staff could straighten him out soon and turn him into our real ace. He is close.
Tonight will be a key determinate of whether ponson was a fluke or not. I’m sure the rangers will be pumped go up against him. Maybe he can beam someone…wake up the team.
It is not time to say the yankees are sellers, not even close in fact. I agree this is not the year. But a team full of veterans should not be counted out. Also my confidence in cano is slightly growing. I think if he could get going as he always does in the summer, the back of our lineup would really improve. We need him to knock in giambi (.401 obp)
“Loving the Loyalty guys. Why waste time posting on here for a team you all have clearly given up on? This would be the definition of a troll.”
That’s 90% of the posters here. What a bunch of idiots.
Off topic, but is there anyone who you’d like to be less today than Diamondback catcher, Chris Snyder. Placed on the DL last night with a fractured left………..testicle.
Big ouch!!!!
Boston has no soul when it comes to there players, and sometimes thats a good think. Derrick Lowe, Nomahh, Pedro, Arroyo…They sense when players are done. So them letting Varitek is a possibility. But they did resign Schilling with an injury he likely knew about earlier
Posada could always be our first baseman of the future. I imagine he could develop into a decent fielder.
I’m convinced that half of the posters here don’t actually watch the games.
If I see one more ‘Cano needs to get it going’…
Hey Jim,
The discussion here was about Melky ignoring the elephant in the room. This is a Yankee forum correct? We don’t need a PC cop, thanks anyway.
“Loving the Loyalty guys. Why waste time posting on here for a team you all have clearly given up on? This would be the definition of a troll.â€
How can anyone say they are not in trouble?
Are you serious? Really, take the pinstripe glasses off.
They are 8 games out of first in the loss column.
Their #1 starter is out for the season and they are hitting under .240 with RISP.
Their starting catcher, the best catcher in the league, can’t throw.
You don’t think that’s a problem?
Honestly, I can understand all the fan warblings but, let’s be real for second.
This team is in BIG trouble.
You don’t think so? Check out the locker room show last night.
It was a morgue.
These guys aren’t stupid. They know if they don’t win 5 of the next 7 games on this homestand, the division is gone.
One bad roadtrip? The Wild Card, for all intents and purposes (unless you think this team is going to play .650 baseball in the second half) is gone.
You act as if this team can just turn it on and off at will. If they could, don’t you think they would have done it by now?
They didn’t have two teams as good as Tampa and Boston to jump last year in their own division. The league is also more balanced. Meaning, fewer blowout wins (which the Yankees had a lot of last year) in the second half this year.
You may not believe they are in trouble but, you are probably in the minority in that opinion. At least among people who watch games.
“I guarantee you the Red Sox will not make the same mistake with Varitek.”
Apples and oranges to some degree. Again, Posada was coming off one of his best offensive seasons while Varitek is neck and neck with Melky and Daric Barton as the AL’s worst everyday offensive player.
They may sign Varitek with such a young staff, but he won’t be seeing 3-4 years like Jorge.
I said cano has been better. I have liked the way he has been hitting recently.
Cano no longer has the lowest AVG in our lineup. Melky does. For probably the 30th time on here. Basically this entire team is a 2nd half team. Arod, Jeter, Cano, Pettitte.
are you gonna argue that cano has been good. do you have downes
my bad David Robertson for Setup, i was responding to jim. i agree he has been better
SJ, were 5 games behind our REAL competition. How are we out of it, when a year ago today we were 10.5 back, and got to 2 games back.
I think its time for the trolls to find a new site please, its getting annoying. Starting to think im in a room full of Red Sox fans
Yeah!!!!! Sign Bonds AND Sosa!!!! They’re LEGENDS and THE YANKEES STINK!!!!!!!!!!! Joba and Mo are TERRIBLE!!! How do they let us lose last night?!?!?!?! We need to trade those guys RIGHT NOW for C.C. Sabatthia. Now, their’s a gamer. Speaking of gamers, can we please get a bigger choke artist to play shortstop for us?! Has that guy EVER come through in the clutch?!?! But, really, it’s all Girardi’s fault. If he had started Brett Gardner instead of that LOSER Melky we would’ve scored TEN runs with a DOZEN stolen bases.
Now, I’m off to burn all my Yankee merchandise.
My point,Posada can’t throw out runners.
He shouldn’t be behind home plate.
When someone can give me solid evidence that the Rays will be solid in the 2nd half, then ill say im worried. But you guys are possibly the WORST Yankee fans ive ever heard.
“Oh if we dont win every game this weekend and then next week, and the rest of July, were out of any consideration”
Call it quits and cheer for the Rays, but I have taken into account who is saying what, and I will have some stuff to say at the end of the season
You’re in a room full of realists. You want to be Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and ignore what you see, that’s cool. Some are going to call it as they see it.
Do yourself a favor kid. Don’t try and moderate the blog.
Some of us have been here since Day One. Who the hell are you to tell anybody here what to post?
Its not a cheerleader blog. Never has been. Never will be.
That’s why its so popular.
Nobody is a “troll” for having dissenting views. You don’t even know the definition of the word if you think having dissenting views amounts to being a troll.
So don’t waste your time trying to make it a cheerleader blog and telling people what to post or not post here.
If you don’t like it, either move on or take it up with Pete and see if he will change it to a cheerleader blog just for you.
agreed. it is clear the yankees are clearly struggling. Im being a realist, i realize the chances are slim. the offense is really pissing me off. but we are only 5 out the wild card. if we one 3/4 against the sox (which we wont) everyone would shift entirely. But they can definitely pick away at 5 games. all it would take is a sweep or two, something we havent been able to put together yet.
“My point,Posada can’t throw out runners.
He shouldn’t be behind home plate.”
When you have a team with 4 DH’s on it, you sometimes have no choice.
“Some of us have been here since Day One. Who the hell are you to tell anybody here what to post?”
Wow your the man!
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm… Now, she was a hot li’l number.
No I dont give up like some of you. Fred, Rapcity, SJ….I never knew the season ended July 2nd?????????????? Did they cancel the rest of the season or something? Cuz last time I checked this is the same team as last year who almost made the 10.5 game comeback. But I guess theres only 6 games left and were 7.5 games behind. Guess were done for
WHose to say I havent been here since day one, kid
Now, you sound like a clown. You are taking names and numbers? Who cares.
If you are here to talk baseball, talk baseball.
Stop with this 10 year old nonsense. Its not impressive.
“Loving the Loyalty guys. Why waste time posting on here for a team you all have clearly given up on? This would be the definition of a troll.”
Kiss my…
stop bickering everyone. How about A-rod, getting some 50 yr old punami eh? He has been mr. yankee recently, I’m lovin it. Its too bad he was been injured, he would be looking at another possible mvp
If you have been here, you wouldn’t be posting such gibberish and deciding what the content of the blog should be.
Nobody is telling you how to root. Try doing the same.
Your pleas for being the blog cheerleader are falling on deaf ears.
Who was in LF last summer? Damon
Who was in CF last summer? Melky
Who was in RF last summer? Abreu
SS? Jeter
3B? Rodriguez
2B? Cano
C? Posada
1B?Mientkiewicz/Giambi
DH? Giambi/Matsui
Pitching. Pettitte,Hughes,Mussina,Clemens,Wang
This year
Damon
Melky
Abreu
Jeter
Rodriguez
Cano
Posada
Giambi
Giambi/Matsui
Chamberlain,Mussina,Pettitte,Rasner,Ponson
Last time I checked, besides the pitching, which has done its job, this team looks awfully the same to me. Yet this year, we have no shot. Hmm interesting
I don’t think people are giving up on this team, but we have issues..issues that might not magically go away.
I personally am not giving up on this team at all..but I’m frustrated as hell watching them these past few days.
Today is a new day, new game, let’s see what they do. Maybe they will actually score more than 2 runs and…win? :O
“When someone can give me solid evidence that the Rays will be solid in the 2nd half”
Can you offer any that they won’t??? Consider the 2003 Marlins as you answer. Recall a 20 year old Frank Rodriguez carrying his team to the title in 2002 (with 23 year old John Lackey getting the Game 7 win). Consider the ‘07 Red Sox who started 2 rookies and had half their rotation and their closer pitching in the postseason for the 1st time.
haha relax SJ44. what do you think about giambi’s future next year. what could be done to fill 1b. could we pick up a catcher and stick jorge at 1st? maybe pudge? although i dunno if he has anything left.
Sounds as though someone has a male cheerleader fetish?
So, what exactly is so fun about bashing your team?
If you’ve listened to Jorge, he doesn’t see himself as a first baseman. He sees himself as a catcher. He will play first every once in a while, but he doesn’t want to play there now.
i know, but he just isnt gonna have much left as a catcher
Everybody calm down…. These guys are right to be pessimistic when have you ever seen a team make late season comebacks to win a division or make the playoffs? Answer: NEVER. It doesn’t happen. The 2007 Yankees and Mets are proof of that.
I resisted giving up on the Yankees all last summer. Finally, around the All-Star break, I had enough and actually uttered the words, “I don’t think we’re making the playoffs this year”. And we didn’t. After the Dec. 30th Giants/Pats game I said to my father, “Coughlin’s a decent coach, but he’s not gonna lead us to a championship.” And, he didn’t.
So, these guys aren’t giving up on the Yankees, they’re being S-M-R-T.
and we sure as hell don’t need another dh
So now this team isnt allowed to lose 3 in a row? You guys are acting as though the Yankees will never win again. Chances are they kick the Rangers as s tonight, then this weekend get beaten down by the Sox in 1 game, and beat them big time 1 game. It happens everytime, but you guys are too naive to catch a pattern
I was at the game last night…all the diehards who sit regularly around me were definitely all getting really frustrated, and a couple of us started saying out loud (gasp!) that the unthinkable could be a possibility this year.
Nowadays when I watch other games on TV/MLB.TV, I sometimes find myself making a mental note that wow these guys are scoring a lot today. And then I realize it’s b/c I’ve gotten so accustomed to watching low scoring games from the Yanks.
The next 2 weeks will be mission critical in my mind. If we let ourselves fall back to 12 behind, based on how our team has been playing AND how the Rays and Sox have been playing, I don’t think we can count on us to suddenly start making a run and the other two suddenly start to drop off. To think that is to disregard reality.
I hope Sidney Ponson can be our stopper tonight…the state of the Yankees is not rosy considering I just typed that
Fredo
I clearly understand the makeup of this Yankee team.
I do not understand how we could have Posada behind the plate in his current condition against either Boston or Tampa in the upcoming series.
They’ll pick him cleam, particularly Tampa with all the good baserunners they have on the roster.
Everybody calm down…. These guys are right to be pessimistic when have you ever seen a team make late season comebacks to win a division or make the playoffs? Answer: NEVER. It doesn’t happen. The 2007 Yankees and Mets are proof of that.
I resisted giving up on the Yankees all last summer. Finally, around the All-Star break, I had enough and actually uttered the words, “I don’t think we’re making the playoffs this yearâ€. And we didn’t. After the Dec. 30th Giants/Pats game I said to my father, “Coughlin’s a decent coach, but he’s not gonna lead us to a championship.†And, he didn’t.
So, these guys aren’t giving up on the Yankees, they’re being S-M-R-T.
Bad spelling aside, this makes no sense. “I dont think were making the playoffs this year” and we dont? Uhhhhh, we did make the playoffs. Bug attack in Cleveland ring a bell?
**clean**
“So now this team isnt allowed to lose 3 in a row?”
It’s not because they lost 3 in a row, the issue is they were completely winnable games. We lost not b/c the other teams beat us, but we beat ourselves with Girardi’s over-managing and our lack of scoring with RISP. That’s not just 3 games, it’s been a trend for the better part of the season so far.
You also have to blame it a little on Girardi. If he would put the same lineup out consistently, maybe the batters would be used to hitting in front of or in back of the same guy, and have a better idea of what to do. But when you sit Jeter out for what he said “nothing” your not going to win games. Chances are at LEAST 2 games this weekend we play Boston with the B team lineup.
Melky needs to be seated for multiple games plain and simple. Get C.C.!!!!
“Bad spelling aside, this makes no sense. “I dont think were making the playoffs this year†and we dont? Uhhhhh, we did make the playoffs. Bug attack in Cleveland ring a bell?”
Mr. Robertson needs to go to the shop and have his sarcasm detector fixed.
SJ44 lives for these kinds of losses and losing streaks. He gets to be negative and say the season is over again and again. Have faith people. He’s been wrong everytime.
And… S-M-R-T was purposely misspelled. Simpsons, much?
No you need to say its sarcasm because I wouldnt doubt an idiot comment when you misspelled smart
Sorry, this ain’t last year. Its this year and this is one awful baseball team that has been put together.”
so if the yankees are sellers at the break, do the same people who put the team together, get another chance to make the same or similar mistakes?
how do they keep getting a free pass onward despite the poor results?
I think SJ is actually Chris Russo behind the computer. Doesnt have any thing to say when we win
How can the Yankees be sellers when you have Posada 3 more years. Mariano 2 more years. Jeter who will have to be a career Yankee. Arod 9 more years. This team is built to win NOW and the years to come.
haha sj44 really is the worst.
“No you need to say its sarcasm because I wouldnt doubt an idiot comment when you misspelled smart”
Anyone else appreciate the irony here????
“SJ44 lives for these kinds of losses and losing streaks. He gets to be negative and say the season is over again and again.”
I don’t ever remember SJ claiming the season is over again and again. I remember him saying the team can’t keep playing with these problems and expect to win games. I think that’s fair.
SJ as Russo. That actually makes sense. Both are clueless and full of themselves. You get the feeling that people like him would be happy to see the Yanks lose.
I dont think its bashing I think people are being real
Funny thing is. All the negative people are trying to drag everyone down with them by mentioning over and over how bad the offense has been without anyother reason.
“No you need to say its sarcasm because I wouldnt doubt an idiot comment when you misspelled smart”
I thought the fact that the comment strung together 3 blatantly false statements, followed by a massive misspelling would state loud and clear that it was sarcasm.
Anyway, my hangover’s finally starting to kick in, and It is waaaay past my bedtime. I’ll leave you kids to fight amongst yourselves.
Any trade ideas out there? Cuz Cashman reads this and TOTALLY takes your suggestions!
Being real would be saying were done when we down 5 games with 4 games remaining. I dont see us as being in trouble when we have the same offense as last year.
“SJ44
June 27th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I agree that not bringing Mariano in the game was a mistake.
However, its not the only reason they lost the game.
When you have the weaknesses this team possesses, its not one move that costs you games. Mariano could have easily spit the bit last night. Its not like he’s been automatic this year.
At this point, its so beyond strategy as to what’s wrong with this team, its not funny.
Its just not a very good ballclub. Period. Names mean nothing to me. Its all about production and, with few exceptions (Arod, Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Wang and Rivera), this team has not produced consistently all year.
They can’t hit. More appropriately, 6 of the 9 guys in the order (excluding Arod, Jeter and Posada) aren’t hitting and they NEVER hit with RISP. Getting in runners from third with less than 2 outs? They have been near the bottom of MLB all year at it. Its killed them in three games on this roadtrip thus far.
A blip here and there with the offense. That’s all we have seen this year. For the most part, this team has seriously underachieved offensively.
In fact, if Arod has just been good this year, instead of unbelievable, they would be in last place right now. That’s how bad the offense has been this season.
When you score 4 runs or less (in the AL) 42% of the time (their number for the season), you aren’t a good offense, run differential be damned.
They don’t throw strikes out of the bullpen. That’s been a weakness of the ‘pen (except for Mo) all season. Now, its reached the embarrassing stage.
Its why they don’t win low scoring games.
At this point, they have 12 more games before the All Star Break. If I am the GM, I see what happens in those games.
If they go 8-4 or better, I try to salvage the season by making some upgrades and saving my A List prospects. I look to make some moves (Wiggington for Henn, for example) that gives me a chance to compete.
Anything less than 8-4, I have to face reality. Its not a playoff year and I begin the dismantling process. The only untouchables on this roster are Arod, Jeter, Wang, Posada, Pettitte and Rivera, as far as I am concerned.
Everybody else (excluding the “A†List prospects) is in play and you see what’s out there.
No trade clauses? A big issue. However, you talk to some of the guys who haven’t won rings (Abreu and Mussina, for example) and see if they want to go someplace that gives them a better shot. If they don’t, you make it clear this is their last year in NY, regardless of the outcome. Perhaps that makes them re-think their stances. If not, you make plans for next year excluding both guys.
The key now (IMO) is to think beyond this season. How do you want to construct the team? What type of players to you want in the clubhouse? Stuff like that.
Like it or not, this is a transition year. I know for many Yankee fans, they don’t like hearing it. But, that’s the way it is.
Use it as such, move out some folks, begin calling up the guys you see as part of your future (I start with 4: Britton, Ramirez and Chamberlain for the bullpen and Kennedy to be the 5th starter), and start getting their feet wet at the ML level.
Every other team in baseball mainstreams their young arms into the flow this way. Its time the Yankees do the same thing. If nothing else, it gives the fans something to talk about besides the same guys failing every night. That’s how you build hope to a fan base, IMO.
Its all you can when your season goes in the wrong direction.”
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200...../#comments
Dangerous move Robertson for Setup. Messing with the sj44 negative brigade like this. They unite quick and won’t stop. Be prepared to be called a troll and stupid by them.
Melky Cabrera for Michael Inoa
see that wasnt so hard.
Lets see how Ponson does tonight before thinking about trades. But Rasner has to go
Anthing come of Horne’s injury the other night?
“I dont see us as being in trouble when we have the same offense as last year.”
It’s the same guys, not the same offense. Whether it’s age, lack of greenies, or whatever, it’s not the same offense.
To have the same offense as last year is great, but to get the same production as last year is what we need thats what we are not getting
Its funny how real Yankee fans have become trolls. You know, the ones that still believe in their favorite team
this is a boring subject. the yankees have been playing like crap. They are not in great shape. but it would be stupid to stay its all over. we will find out in the next month or so if we are buyers or sellers. As long as they hang in there and stay close to the red sox, its not over. This is faaaar from ideal, but its not over. k, new topic?
Its not the end of the season Fred. The offense can literally turn around in a week. It doesnt take long. But to expect them to score 10 runs a game is ridiculous. Although I have the 10 run game feeling tonight, with a Arod (as you guys would say) “meaningless, stat padding” HR.
These blogs are basically places for the negative. You don’t see happy fans on here. It is for the chronic complainers like SJ44. He can pontificate whatever he wants. Doesn’t mean he’s right and you have to listen.
Lets say we go 2-2 against the Sox, and 1-1 against the Rays. Are we done even though we stayed even?
Reality has set in with the 2008 Yankees. This poorly constructed team does not have the ingredients to mount a 2nd half charge any way similar to last year.
It’s now evident that this season is a transitional one and any fan that pays attention can see that the upcoming offseason will be a very busy one.
Aside of all the money coming off the books, some very clever trading will need to be done to fill holes the farm system either can’t or is not ready to fill.
Free agency offers only Teixeira and Sabathia and that’s not a given that the Yankees can or will sign either or both.
There’s no need to get down on the team. every team goes through this phase and it’s a long time coming for the Yankees. The signs have been there since the 2004 season and they somehow managed to reach the postseason only to be eliminated early.
When the dust settles, the organization will be better off for 2008 being what it is.
I wonder if Sox fans are saying the season is over and rebuild?? Every fan base has there sky is falling fans.
Why in gods name does Girardi not bunt Melky in that situation!!!! The kid is 0-18 for crying out loud!!!
http://thefinalseason.blogspot.com/
on a positive note. I liked the way robertson pitched. he was inside and out, really picking his pitches well in a very tight spot for a 2nd appearance
Short of calling Girardi an idiot, he sometimes avoids doing the obvious right thing to look smarter. Im convinced of that. Last night how obvious was it? If he wasnt going to bunt Cabrera (currently the weakest hitter in his lineup and in an 0-18 slump) and you do not want to bunt, then hit Jeter for him.
Girardi is incredible. The team is struggling in a lot of areas and Girardi seems to throw gasoline on the fire every night
Sounds like Met posts in here
keep it up folks-
nothing more fun to read than the pompous pontificator , His Majesty SJ44, King Of The LoHud being shown up by his own words.
“Lets say we go 2-2 against the Sox, and 1-1 against the Rays. Are we done even though we stayed even?”
Probably wouldn’t stay even with the Rays since they have KC at home for 4 while the Sox and Yanks go at it.
I never said it was over. I’m saying this team is not as good as last year’s and of even greater importance is the fact that so many teams are better than they were last year. Texas, Baltimore, KC??? Those were easy series to go win last year. There just aren’t a lot of layups anymore and to expect this group to pull a 50-28 over the last 78 games is not especially realistic.
Sounds like giving up Fredo
Boy, why all the poster on poster crime?
Last night’s game, IMO, was what the Yankees are this season, good enough to stay in it, but not good enough to overcome the obstacles. Look at their record when losing after seven or when they don’t score first.
I think Singleton or Kay said last night they have a glass jaw, I don’t know if it is age, no PEDs or what, but it is true.
Some of you act like this team can overcome anything because they have in the past, and I am not saying they can’t, just that sometimes it just isn’t their year. I mean no Wang, .240 with RISP, and the other things mentioned above, don’t add up to a championship team.
I will still watch and hold out hope, but because SJ, mentions that if the Yankees fall further back, that they should be sellers and or do an internal inventory, that does not make him a negative nellie, it makes him a realist.
“These guys aren’t stupid. They know if they don’t win 5 of the next 7 games on this homestand, the division is gone.”
No, this is what you think they know.
What I know is that most of the players have been here before.
This isn’t the first time they’ve looked dead in June/early July.
This isn’t football. I could point out so many instances of teams looking dead and then making the playoffs.
Last year the Phillies were 7 games back with nineteen games to play. They had no pitching whatsoever. How did last season turn out for them?
It’s really laughable how many people are saying the season is done on July 2nd.
It seems most of the posters have NEVER watched a baseball season before.
Saying a team is dead in July is one of the most idiotic things I think I’ve ever seen written on a blog.
Were the Red Sox dead in ‘04 when they were a .500 team before they traded Nomar?
You don’t even have to look at the Yankees of last year to single out multiple instances of teams looking dead in July and then coming back to make the playoffs.
In their last 40 games against both the AL and NL they are 24-16.
The MOST frustrating part of this blog is how many people over react after every single frickin game.
Take a look at the whole picture and try not to make mini soap operas any time the Yankees lose 2 out of 3.
I love how people say everything BUT the Yankees are officially done, but make sure to say, “Im not saying they cant do it” so no matter what they cant lose the conversation.
What has the blowhard SJ44 ever been right about? He was wrong on cutting Giambi. Wrong on Andy P. Wrong on trading Cano. Wrong on giving up last season. Cheer up. He is a terrible predictor.
“You’re in a room full of realists. ”
No, you guys aren’t realists. You guys just get a kick out of being miserable baseball fans. Any REALIST would know that the division isn’t over in July.
How many games do the Rays have left against the entire AL East?
Gimme a break.
Todd is a true Yankee fan and he reflects on the importance of the Yanks to the neighborhood. In the Bronx it is not always whether the Yanks win or lose but that they are the Yankees and there is a tradition and love for the sport. Thank you so much Todd for laying it on the line.
Why you know what the future holds???
I just say it how I see it, so I don’t know what will happen and still hold out hope.
“Any REALIST would know that the division isn’t over in July.”
Any READER would know I never said that.
My only point to the pinstriped blinded yo-yo who feels all is well is that Tampa Bay is legit. They are better than the Yankees in most phases of the game and there is no reason to think their performance will slip.
SJ44 in 2007-
Totally agree. The Yankee fanbase is insistent on making every year a contandeing year, which, it should be at the beginning with a 200 million payroll. But, 81 games later, and we are on the downswing going into the ASB. At the ASB, this team needs to be realistic in their expectations and seriously consider what to do with the team. Plnety of teams bite the bullet and choose to rebuild and bring young guys up to start transitions. It’s how Boston and the Rays are good this season. We don’t have to look further than our own division to see how things r done. As you said, in ‘06 we laughed at the Sox not making the playoffs and we all know what happened in ‘07. We lose 75+ mill. off the payroll after this year, most of which won’t be coming back and none of which should be resigned for nearly the same type of contract IMO. I think we have bullpen solutions in house. Wang is out until September and anybody who believes he will come back lights out is dillusional.
After this year, we will need: 1B, SP, and a RF or CF if Melky doesn’t get his act together.
I really think C.C. should be a part of this team. We all want to say it is a bad move, but we can’t invest our future in all of our prospects. Not every young kid pans out. This guy is a lefty proven Ace. we could have the best rotation in baseball: Wang, C.C., Joba, Hughes, and Pettite if he is willing to take a pay downgrade. This team could be great for the next few years if we are just realistic about this one and do the things we need to do to put ourselves in a good position for the future.
“Were the Red Sox dead in ‘04 when they were a .500 team before they traded Nomar?”
1) They weren’t dead 2) They weren’t a .500 team.
I feel bad for the person who actually went to see if SJ44 actually said the year was over a year ago. There’s tons of things that could have been done in the time it took to find that single post.
For what its worth, SJ44 is usually very articulate with his posts, and usually knows what’s he’s talking about. For me, since I don’t know as much as he does, I like his posts.
Its July 2nd. The games coming up against the Sox and Rays are very important. The biggest games of the season so far. 5 games, the goal should be to win all 5 of them. I don’t know if there is any way around that. This team has to show Cashman that it can win in the second half and make the playoffs, otherwise there’s no reason to throw prospects at a C.C. Sabathia, since all it will cost is money in the offseason. I refuse to write this team off right now. I don’t think its over yet. I’m not gonna give up on my team and we shouldn’t either. I honestly believe we’re spoiled by the WS wins. But I got news for you, the last time we won a WS was 2000.
Here’s how I look at it, and you all can scoff and laugh if you want. But we’re crying and complaining about how bad our season is been, how we’re 7.5 games out, how our ace is out until Sept at least, how we’re only 4 games over .500, how out CF can’t hit, how our manager is clueless….I know a Mariners fan who would give ANYTHING to be 4 games over .500! Come on people, lets be a little more respectful of both the game and our team. It could be a whole lot worse.
Yeah the Rays are better right now. But have they been in this situation in the 2nd half before? They are a team of young kids. Do you expect them all to be hot the entire year?
*has
“It’s the same guys, not the same offense. Whether it’s age, lack of greenies, or whatever, it’s not the same offense.”
Can we cut the nonsense about lack of greenies already. Weren’t greenies banned last year?
Do you know how many legal, over-the-counter things you can take to give you the same effect as greenies?
Another idiotic idea that people have latched upon must be the reason why a player struggles.
Yeah David Robertson for Setup I do expect them to be good all year. Its not just hot…the Rays have been getting top picks for years. Eventually you have to think they’re gonna stumble into some talent. Well that time has come.
Saying they are done is an over reaction. However losses like last night are becoming the norm and not the exception. This last few weeks was supposed to be an easy part of their schedule. They (and with help from Girardi) threw games away. A month ago we were all complaining about lack of pitching, now they are getting that and the offense is off. I would liek for Girardi to stop over managing put a consistent line up on the field day in and day out and let it go. its 80 games, plus spring training he should know what he has by now
“I feel bad for the person who actually went to see if SJ44 actually said the year was over a year ago. There’s tons of things that could have been done in the time it took to find that single post.
For what its worth, SJ44 is usually very articulate with his posts, and usually knows what’s he’s talking about. For me, since I don’t know as much as he does, I like his posts.”
He might be articulate, but he’s nothing but a negative Nancy. ‘Realist’ is not equivalent to ‘Pessimist’, which he is, and has always been. (FYI, finding the quote took 2 minutes).
“Do you expect them all to be hot the entire year?”
Who’s been hot??? Upton? Underperformed. Pena?? Underperformed. Crawford?? Right where he normally is minus a lot of steals. They are winning despite nobody having an extraordinary year.
“Who’s been hot??? Upton? Underperformed. Pena?? Underperformed. Crawford?? Right where he normally is minus a lot of steals. They are winning despite nobody having an extraordinary year.”
Pitching. Their pitching has been amazing.
I have been arguing for two weeks that the Yanks are hurting themselves with a third catcher.
All I heard in response was, we need insurance for Posada, who needs a fifth outfielder, who cares about the 25th man anyway its not important why are you wasting everybody’s time worrying about that when Wang is hurt and we are not hitting with RISP.
What happened last night? We need a run in the 9th inning and because it’s not important, we don’t have a pinch runner who can steal a base, we don’t have a pinch hitter who can actually lay down a bunt (which was needed because Melky’s no good at it), we can’t pinch hit Jeter because then Damon has to play left and we lose the DH and there will be no one left on the bench other than two catchers who can’t hit.
I can’t stand the seeming attitude that the details aren’t important and the Yanks are just going to pick it up. We just lost three very winnable games and could have picked up big ground at least on the Red Sox. Instead, business as usual.
I had a really old, very experienced, professor tell me something recently that stuck with me.
“Wishful thinking is not a plan for success.”
Those of you who see this Yankee team making the same type of turn around as last year are exemplifying that statement. The key hitters are one year older and except for A-rod and Cano (who’s performance is an anomaly IMO), are on a downward career arc.
The starting pitching as currently configured is not that of a playoff team. Come on, Rasner? Ponson? If they last the rest of season in the rotation I’ll be shocked.
The bullpen has for the most part been solid. that is what has kept them above .500 so far.
It is not hopeless. IF Wang can come back and IF Hughes gets healthy and IF Kennedy regains form in the minors then they have a chance.
That’s a lot of IF’s guys.
So, what have I said that’s wrong? And if you think it’s disloyalty, well that’s your problem. I have been a fan of this team for longer than most of you have been alive and that’s just a fact.
‘Realist’ is not equivalent to ‘Pessimist’
It’s not the equivalent of “optimist” either. Lot of blind optimism offered by a few.
“Yeah David Robertson for Setup I do expect them to be good all year. Its not just hot…the Rays have been getting top picks for years. Eventually you have to think they’re gonna stumble into some talent. Well that time has come.”
Even Arod doesnt stay hot all year. I said the same thing about Carmona this year. He was a 5-15 pitcher in 2006, then 19 game winner in 2007, and then he was a top 5 pitcher. I was the first to say no he isnt. And has proven so this year since he isnt even playing. No one stays hot for an entire year. Unless your on the 1998 Yankees
“Probably wouldn’t stay even with the Rays since they have KC at home for 4 while the Sox and Yanks go at it.
I never said it was over. I’m saying this team is not as good as last year’s and of even greater importance is the fact that so many teams are better than they were last year. Texas, Baltimore, KC??? ”
So at one point you say the Rays play KC so the Yanks won’t stay even.
Then you say that KC is a better team then last year.
So either KC will be a cakewalk for Tampa, or KC will play better than last year and possible could win a few games.
Which one is it? Inquiring minds want to know.
The Rays aren’t winning because of a few hot guys that will cool off. They are a fast team that knows how to do the little things to win games, not to mention having a great starting rotation and bullpen. They steal, turn doubles to triples and singles to doubles. They have Of’s that save games with their catches and a manager that knows when to bunt and sit guys down. Some people need to give credit where credit is due and not just expect every team that we don’t expect to win to fall off. ‘69 Mets anyone? or how about the ‘96 Yankees for the better example? I wonder what a blog would look like during that season. I’m not saying Tampa is going to win it all, but you can’t just sit here and say they will fall off because they aren’t proven second half teams. Every team needs to start from somewhere. We havn’t been a second half team in our 100+ years. We learned, and now, so r they.
“Pitching. Their pitching has been amazing.”
Yeah, but they’re good pitchers. Kazmir is an ace. Shields is close to that too. Garza. Solid #3. There #4/#5 guys are pitching well, but not over their heads.
If you guys think the Yankees cant make the same comeback as last year, then why come in here and post? Honestly?
“Any READER would know I never said that.
My only point to the pinstriped blinded yo-yo who feels all is well is that Tampa Bay is legit. They are better than the Yankees in most phases of the game and there is no reason to think their performance will slip.”
You might not have said this. You did say however that this is a room full of REALIST.
How many posters here did say that the season would be over in July?
They are not REALIST, so saying that this is a room FULL of REALIST isn’t accurate at all.
Ray, I’ve noticed, beyond being a pisspot today, that you really have no answers.
What don’t YOU attempt offering something intelligent instead of blasting other people’s thoughts???
Its over Giardi should leave. He is by far the worse manager ever. He takes to many risks and none of them work out. During tuesday’s game he has gardner, a rookie, bat second and monday bat first the kid has no experience in the majors and Giardi treats him like a mvp. Jeez hes needs to stop. Another thing he has malky swing in the bottom of the ninth. Melky is in a slump and the tying run is on first. Giardi better get his act together or yankees fans will let him know what town he’s in pretty soon.
I still cant grasp a reason how a realist is thinking with a 200M payroll, cant make the playoffs when the season is half over.
If I had to guess, and this is just a guess, none of you posting here dont get paid for your baseball “analysis”
OK the facts. The Yanks are in trouble unless the turn it around.. It is true this is the same offensive team that scored 960 runs last year… They lost a unproductive Shelly Duncan and that is it. The prbolem is no one except damon and giambi are doing as well as last year.; abreu, jeter, etc are down.. yes they are older but again 32, 33, 34 is not 40.. Cano the younger guy is the biggest problem is performance has killed them.
the pen is much betr hen last year possibly even with Joba. If they can replace Hqwkins that would really help. They will use his slot tonight, veras pitched 2 days in a row, roertson threw 40 + pitches so have 1 total disaster in the pen does hurt…
The wang injury kills. The good news is they may get wang and hughes(should be good) back.. If the guys who make the big bucks do not turn it around they are toast…I have said this a 1000 times and it is true..
the RISP is terrible and not getting any better. The inability to steal games is hurting alot also.
Against a tampa or boston the yanks need to think about playing Molina else every single or walk to a ellsbury or crawford is a double or triple… the posada injury obviously hurts alot and this was not a problem last year so that is a negative.
the rays area good team but counting on Howell, balfour, hinske, and others is just as perplexing as the continued failures of cano, abreu, jeter, posada, matui, arod, etc…
Trading or signing sosa or bonds or trading 5 guys for sabathia would be malpractice and ruin everything cashman has done the last 3 years to redo there whole minor leagues and give them a future..
a yankee fan is a yankee fan thru good times and bad, yes you can complain about the team and there lack of clutchness and fight but giving up is not the yankee way, hopefully the players feel the same way.
Do not dont ^^^
Quote of the day
“The Yankees are in trouble unless they turn it around”
Thanks Captain Obvious
“I still cant grasp a reason how a realist is thinking with a 200M payroll, cant make the playoffs when the season is half over.”
Payroll, eh??? That’s what wins??
We’re in great shape then.
And also. Cano isnt the biggest problem. Melky is. Melky has the worse stats of the two.
You did say however that this is a room full of REALIST
You said the Red Sox were .500 when they traded Nomar in 2004 when they were actually 56-46.
Guess we all need to be a little more careful with how we word things.
I would hope payroll would give us a chance. If not then why pay players at all? If they arent paid for their ability and to win, why pay them?
Lol,
You can call him a pessimist if you want. But you know why he’s a realist? Because you can’t point to anything other than hopes to prove him wrong. You can’t provide any proof that the Yankees are gonna bounce back. Neither can I. You can’t go off of last year. Different time, better teams. I hope they do pull it off, and I’m not giving up on them. But I’m not feeling that confident.
hahahahahha “The wang injury kills”
Sorry to hear that.
So last night was another frustrating and painful experience (that’s what she said.)
But the pitchers and defense have held the highest scoring team in baseball to 5 runs over 2 games. And Gardner has already illustrated that he can do some things to help this team win games.
1-run games are a coinflip and the Yanks have been pretty fortunate in these close ones so far.
david robertson for setu get a clue, if Melky hit zero he would not be the biggest problem. get a clue.. the guys who make the most $$$$$$$$$$$$ are suppose to carry the team they are not that is the biggest problem.
I will follow your logic if your man Robertson fails 2 of the next 4 times then saying he is the problem ovver if Pettitte gives up 9 runs in his next 3 starts is the comparable.. Pettitte makes $16 mill at because of the Wang injury is there # 1 starter right now and he should carry more weight then Robertson..
Why can’t people like you understand that? Abreu and arod coming up dry in the 1st inning matters even though it is the 1st inning and not the 9th>>>>>>>>>>>
How bout you guys go tell Jeter that its realistic that the Yankees cant make the run they made last year.
I would hope payroll would give us a chance. If not then why pay players at all? If they arent paid for their ability and to win, why pay them?
Cuz payroll does not = performance
Ask a Mets fan about that sometime.
Lot of Yankees, this season in particular and for various reasons, aren’t playing up their paychecks.
Stuart clearly hates the well paid.
Stuart, learn to write, then come talk to me buddy
* up TO their paychecks.
Besides someone like Scott Kazmir who gets paid min wage for a top flight guy. Everyone underplays their contract. Do you believe Johan Santana deserves 19M for a 7-7 record?
Hey Fredo?
Is it evev possible to live up to 20+ mil? Is a .300 average, 40 HR’s 120 RBI’s and an OBP or .400 really worth 20 million dollars? I’m not mad at the players for getting theres, but professional athletes in general are paid entirely too much.
Every post SJ44 had in 2007 is eerily sim to right now. He clearly wants to lose and always sees
no hope. That isn’t a realist, folks.
Do you believe Johan Santana deserves 19M for a 7-7 record?
Absolutely not. Just as I don’t believe Jeter deserves $20M for the season he’s produced so far this year.
even*
“1) They weren’t dead 2) They weren’t a .500 team.”
In July of that year at one point they were a .500 team.
Maybe not when they traded Nomar, but in July they were a .500 team.
In my opinion, someone making 20 million dollars a year should be breaking records every year. The salaries are getting ridiculous.
Brian L:
You’re preaching to the choir. Everyone’s paid too much and more often than not that pay is based on past history rather than projected impact going forward. Not a great way of doing things, but it’s the nature of the beast.
Panic on the blog today.. I’m not surprised.
I will never understand people that give up on a team halfway through the year. There are so many things that can happen between now and the end of september. The Yankees team is NOTORIOUS for playing poorly in the first half. They did it last year and the year before and the year before that…
Time after time this team has gotten hot in the second half and made the playoffs. The lineup is the same as last year. These guys WILL hit and they WILL score runs.
Some people just never learn.
Who do you guys want in the HR Derby? Arod or Giambi?
Who cares bout salaries?? You do realize the team is worth over a billion right? Why shouldn’t the actual talent be paid accordingly?? It is capitalism after all.
If you had to choose 1, who would you rather have right now, Clemens to help the depleted 5 hole (Rasner) or Bonds (helps the offense)?
A few days ago people were talking about how there are no great teams in the league and how every team has a flaw. Now people are saying that the other teams in the AL are better than they were in the past?
Cleveland last year was better than the Sox or Rays are this year. The White Sox are not a very good team and yet they lead their division. Anaheim is the same team they have been the last several years; all pitching, no hitting. The Rays are better this year but the Jays, Tigers and Indians are worse.
It’s easier for the Yankees to take a wild card spot if the two contenders are in their own division. New York gets more chances at playing them and gaining ground.
“In July of that year at one point they were a .500 team.
Maybe not when they traded Nomar, but in July they were a .500 team.”
Incorrect Ray. Last day the 2004 Red Sox were at .500 was April 15, when they were 4-4. After May 13, when they were 20-15, they were never again within 5 games of being .500
True that Fredo, which is why I can’t understand why ppl are railing against Cashman trying to get him to sell the farm and then pay CC Sabathia 100+ million. Just nuts. Why waste the money on player development and scouting if you’re not gonna bother playing your prospects. Yes, not all of them will pan out. But hell take your chances.
“Who do you guys want in the HR Derby? Arod or Giambi?”
Giambi
“If you had to choose 1, who would you rather have right now, Clemens to help the depleted 5 hole (Rasner) or Bonds (helps the offense)?”
I’d rather have help for the rotation but not Clemens (and thats not becuase of his off the field stuff). He is finally too old to play, his body was breaking down last year. If I had those two options I’d go for Bonds because last year he was still one of the top 5 hitters in the league.
“Lol,
You can call him a pessimist if you want. But you know why he’s a realist? Because you can’t point to anything other than hopes to prove him wrong. You can’t provide any proof that the Yankees are gonna bounce back.”
Well he can’t point to anything saying he’s right either.
A realist knows the season is long and anything can still happen. A realist knows that the season is not over on July 2nd.
The empirical evidence says that the Yankees are not mathematically eliminated from any of the playoff races.
I do not know if they will make the playoffs, but I do not know if they won’t either.
That is a realist speaking.
I am not interested in seeing this particular team make the playoffs and exit quietly again because they have come up against quality pitching and faltered again.
They need to be sellers and they IMHO should trade for minor leaguer position players who are close to being ready to step in next year. That means cutting ties with Damon, Giambi and Matsui. All three are having much better seasons than anyone expected with the way their seasons began and I believe that there are teams out there that believe they are a decent bat away from really contending.
Neither one of the three are in the future of this organization. Get something for them and move on to the future.
I believe they have more than enough pitching in the minors to use as chips in the trades mentioned above but they clearly do not have any position players that are MLB ready. They need to think beyond the immediate situation to the future.
Waiting for Tex in FA is not an option. He could be signed by the Braves or we could be outbid by another high revenue team or maybe he just doesn’t prefer to play here. He is indeed a very thin reed to hang the hopes of this team on.
Well getting CC is different than getting someone like Tex. Though you dont see it right now, the pitching staff is still our weakness. CC would boost our rotation as one of the best in the ML even without Wang. Sabathia/Pettitte/Chamberlain is a very tough tandum to beat in a 3 game series. We have PLENTY of pitching in the minors, + Melky who Michael Kay (who you all hate) said either send Gardner down, or trade Melky, you cant have both. And I agree
“Cleveland last year was better than the Sox or Rays are this year”
True. Better than the Yankees are this year too (not to mention last year).
Bigger point is the bottom feeding teams, like the Orioles and Texas are more difficult outs. That makes it more difficult to go on an extended run of winning. Argument isn’t that the Yankees can’t play .600 for the rest of the year. It’s that it will a lot more difficult to do so this year than last year. Level of competition is higher.
“Incorrect Ray. Last day the 2004 Red Sox were at .500 was April 15, when they were 4-4. After May 13, when they were 20-15, they were never again within 5 games of being .500″
Well then I was wrong. However they did look dead and it turned out they weren’t dead.
Ray,
He can point to the team’s performance. The fact is, they just haven’t been very good. He’s calling it like he sees it. Can’t fault him for that.
“Level of competition is higher.”
I disagree. What is the evidence to show that the bottom feeders are better than in the past?
I like SJ44 but it is pretty funny that his post from last year is EXACTLY what’s being said today.
People who want to believe in a second miracle comeback season for the Yankees in ‘08 have every right to do so. But to be fair you should admit that the facts are not on your side.
This team has lost its ace, leaving it with only two reliable starters, Mose and Pettitte. Joba has a long way to go this year and it’s unfair (and unreasonable) to expect him to make up for Wang AND be a reliable 3d starter in his first half season in the MLB rotation. The defense has been shoddy and now it looks like you can run at will on Posada. Add to that the fact that the offense has sputtered badly leaving an obscene number of men on base and has been completely unable to put away pitchers and you have the recipe for a season that falls short.
But if you don’t like those facts, compare this year to last year and do it fairly. Last year – if memory serves me correctly – the Yankees started turning it on just before the All Star Game. This year, the Yankees are looking worse, not better, as they approach the All Star Break. And they have lost Wang.
The Yanks seem unlikely to make an impact trade-deadline move. Still, they might turn it around if, for example, Boston’s pitching falters and the Rays’ youngsters tire in the stretch from playing a full MLB season. But that Scooby Doo ending assumes the Yankees have no more injuries, that their aging veterans don’t tire either, that Pettitte and Moose stay hot, that they start hitting like mad, and that Joba outperforms all reasonable expectations – all at the same time and all starting tomorrow and all contrary to the first half trend.
It’s one thing to be optimistic, it’s another to ignore the evidence. The Yankees will have to pull off another miracle to get even the Wild Card. Let’s hope they do, but, be honest, it’s a long shot.
Seattle was a shoe in for a playoff spot by baseball “analysts” and look at them. The Mets were automatic for the NL East, and Johan was automatic for 25 wins and the CY Young.
The Yankees have a better chance then them.
Look at the “Young” Diamondbacks for example. They were the definition of awesome in April, and now are .500
“Ray,
He can point to the team’s performance. The fact is, they just haven’t been very good. He’s calling it like he sees it. Can’t fault him for that.”
Doesn’t mean his analysis is correct either. I’m calling it on May 20th they were 20-25, Now they’re 44-40. That is a record of 24-16 over their past 40 games.
So to me they have been playing well.
Well, for all you die-hard Yankee optimists out there, there are a few reasons left to hope for a turn-around. Probably not enough, but it isn’t absolutely cut and dried the way some would have it.
Despite recent hitting woes, the Yanks’ team OPS+ in June was the best all year. That reflects the increase in offense since ARod and Posada came back (OPS+ reflects how well the Yanks hit vs. how well the league hits, the Yanks were about 12% better than the league in June, the best month for the Yanks by far.
OPS+ from the catcher spot was about 80% of league average (OPS+ numbers are coming from Hardball Times), but that includes some awful offense from Molina. With Posada back, that will be much better.
OPS+ from 2B was about 67% of league average, reflecting Cano’s horrible year. But Cano has been hitting better, and you can reasonably believe he could have a big 2nd half. So lots of upside there.
BA with RISP has been horrible, about 86% of league average, and accounts for a lot of losses so far. But no one has ever shown that last month’s BA w/RISP has anything to do with next month’s BA w/RISP, so you could reasonably hope that as bad as the Yanks have been so far at it, given their overall offensive capability they’ll be above average in the 2nd half.
It’s a common misconception that hitting with RISP reflects some innate ability. It doesn’t. It is basically random, given how good a player’s overall offensive performance is. Don’t think so? The Yanks performance with RISP has been bad so far – 87% of league average. But with runners on second and third, they are 39% above league average. With runners on first and third, they are slightly above league average. With runners on first and second, they are 75% of league average. It jumps around all over the place, because its all sample size variation. That includes overall RISP as well.
Bottom line, there is reason to believe the Yanks offense will come around, if you want to believe that way.
The Yanks are in the position of a poker player who needs to draw to an inside straight to win a hand. Not a great bet, but if it doesn’t cost much to see another card, maybe stay in a while longer. Plus, I don’t see much downside to not giving up, there aren’t a lot of next year deals out there right now.
Go Yanks!
“Lol,
You can call him a pessimist if you want. But you know why he’s a realist? Because you can’t point to anything other than hopes to prove him wrong. You can’t provide any proof that the Yankees are gonna bounce back. Neither can I. You can’t go off of last year. Different time, better teams. I hope they do pull it off, and I’m not giving up on them. But I’m not feeling that confident.”
SJ44 is fond of the saying ‘They are what they are and show no sign of improving’ (paraphrased). He essentially forecasts the rest of the season to occur like the past.
One thing I know in baseball is that you can NEVER close the book on a team at the halfway point, AS LONG as they ’stay close’. Yeah, I’m fairly certain that there’s no chance in the world that the Mariners take the World Series in 2008, but there’s only a handful of teams I’d say that about.
If you looked at the Yankees hitters, and ONLY looked at what they’ve done this past month, with no idea what they’re record was, you’d probably say this is a pretty solid team. :shrug:
ESPN predictions: April 1st
AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Angels
AL Wild Card: Mariners
NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Rockies
NL Wild Card: Brewers
ESPN predictions: July 1st
AL East: Rays
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: Angels
AL Wild Card: Red Sox
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Cardinals
2 of their predictions stayed the same. Shows how much they know
Just curious, and I’m not jumping on anyone’s opinion, but did anyone think the season was over Saturday afternoon, after we beat Santana and were 7 games over?
Bad couple of days with the bats. I don’t think you can say playoffs are out of the question. Half of the season has yet to be played. It’s not like they are double digets out of the WC. Are the the 98 Yankees? No. Are they the 90 Yankees, I don’t think so either.
Think Red Sox complain like Yankee fans for not having a Get away day game?
“That is a record of 24-16 over their past 40 games.
So to me they have been playing well.”
Could look at it that way. Or you could look at those 1st 29 games and be dazzled with the 20-9 they put up then wonder what the hell happened in theur most recent 11 games when they’ve gone 4-7 against largely average to below average teams.
Lies, damn lies, and statistics and all that stuff.
“What is the evidence to show that the bottom feeders are better than in the past?”
You mean besides the Yankees inability to consistently beat them???
I have not seen anything to illustrate that Gardner can help us win games besides running to first base really really fast. There is no pop in the bat and it’s almost as though he steps up to the plate hoping and praying to draw a walk. I know its only been 2 games so by no means am I saying “get rid of this guy” but by no means is he the savior as so many people on this blog made it seem.
murphydog-
we’ve had good pitching, it’s the bats that went to sleep.
“Could look at it that way. Or you could look at those 1st 29 games and be dazzled with the 20-9 they put up then wonder what the hell happened in theur most recent 11 games when they’ve gone 4-7 against largely average to below average teams.
Lies, damn lies, and statistics and all that stuff.”
I chose May 20th as my starting point because that’s the day A-Rod came back from being hurt.
It’s not some random date that I chose.
I think you gotta get a bigger sample size before knocking him. Were you saying send Robertson down after he gave up a run to the Mets sunday? No one said Gardner would be a savior. And whats wrong with drawing a walk? If he gets on base, he is basically already on 2nd base
David Robertson a lot of analysts have the Yankees out of it. I don’t think it’s because they want to hate the Yankees. I think they’ve watched what the Yankees have done so far and aren’t impressed.
There are all kinds of Yankee fans. Because people don’t root and think the same doesn’t make them any less fans. Some people like the thrill of living on the edge and waiting for the big day to come around. Some prefer more consistency.
The fans here who are upset really want to be able to cheer for the Yankees. But a lot of them see a team of underachievers without any good reason to think they will start to achieve. That’s their right to feel that way.
This team has yet to work as a team for any period of time. If the pitching is working the hitting is not. If the hitting is working the pitching is not. If hitting and starting pitching are there the bullpen implodes. That’s no way to go through a season. The most frustrating thing is not being able to figure out why a lineup that was supposed to score the most runs in the majors looks like it is on its way to the baseball graveyard. A lot of questions and not a lot of answers.
I agree with the poster who said the frustrating thing is not that we lose games but that we lose games we should be winning. Not being able to hit with RISP is a dangerous thing for any team. The Yankees find new ways to add to that stat daily.
This team hasn’t given me much to cheer about. When you have the goods but the goods can’t deliver that’s when you’re in your biggest trouble. Go out and get a bat? When you have stars at just about every position you shouldn’t need to go out and get a bat. These jokers need to start hitting.
Leyland got his team to do it. Guillen got his team to do it. Girardi doesn’t seem to have the answer.
So you can’t go knocking posters here who are totally frustrated with a team that’s underachieving. That’s unfair. You want to be optimistic about the future nobody is taking that away from you. Just don’t confuse that with thinking you’re a better Yankee fan than people who are here complaining. They love the team as much as you do, maybe some more. They just don’t have the patience you do.
At this point I keep Melky in CF and send Gardner back down to keep his confidence up, bring him up in September if we are making a playoff run. We def dont need another lefty bat in that line up
Durham:
If nothing else, you have to admit Gardner’s approach at the plate and apparent command of the strike zone are good things. Whether he can parlay that into some production is something else, but he’s probably earned a shot to find out.
“You mean besides the Yankees inability to consistently beat them???”
The Yankees had trouble beating bad teams last year in the first half as well.
OK, why can’t AROD just fly under the radar? Maybe its all hearsay, probably is, but could you turn down Madonna?:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ut-Madonna’s-rep-swats-down-report
“I chose May 20th as my starting point because that’s the day A-Rod came back from being hurt.
It’s not some random date that I chose”
Not saying otherwise. Just sayin the past week and half, they’ve played poorly. What they did in the 4 weeks prior to that doesn’t change that.
Whoever said you need to break up the Melky/Cano tandem, I hope Tampa is thinking the same thing. These are kids with a lot of money and huge popularity due to their pinstripes. It has to be going to their heads. They have been seen partying hearty. That can’t be helping their game! When I say break them up I mean find a way to separate them or put a leash on them. I don’t mean get rid of one of them.
Mark,
I totally agree. And one of the arguments you’ll hear is “who cares, Mantle and Ruth used to drink all the time and were out until the odd hours of the night”. The big difference is the fact that Melky nor Robbie are anywhere near the tier on which Ruth and Mantle are.