Game 87: Red Sox at Yankees
-
- July
- 4
YANKEES (45-41)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C
Rasner RHP
RED SOX (51-37)
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Drew RF
Ramirez DH
Lowell 3B
Youkilis 1B
Crisp CF
Varitek C
Lugo SS
Beckett RHP
Josh Beckett (7-5, 3.65) vs. the Yankee hitters.
Darrell Rasner (4-6, 4.42) has never faced any of the Red Sox hitters.
Notes: Happy Fourth of July everybody. Hope you enjoy some time with your friends and family along with the baseball. Go outside and play catch with your kid. … LHP Billy Traber has been called up from AAA Scranton. No word yet on the corresponding move. … The Yankees have lost four of five and are 5-8 in their last 13 games. … The bullpen has allowed three earned runs over the last 25.1 innings. … Cano is 24 of his last 61 and is up to .252. … The Yankees are 1-3 on their homestand and 23-21 at home. … Today is George Steinbrenner’s birthday. He is 78.
UPDATE, 11:23 p.m.: Alberto Gonzalez was optioned to Scranton. … RHP Brian Bruney starts his rehab assignment today with the GCL team. … The Yankees will wear the hats with the red, white and blue NY the next three days. This is believed to be the first time ever they have worn an alternative hat. … Chien-Ming Wang is here and said he will have a cast on his foot for another month. “It feels better,” he said. Wang will start upper body workouts today. … Joe Girardi: “We need to start winning games.”
UPDATE, 1:13 p.m.: The Yankees announced that Andy Pettitte and Sidney Ponson will start against Tampa Bay next week.
UPDATE, 1:19 p.m.: Here’s an update on two rehabs in Tampa via the AP:
Brian Bruney allowed one run and two hits over two innings in his first minor league rehab appearance.
It was first thought Bruney would need season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in the foot, but the right-hander opted to rehab the injury after consulting several specialists.
“I think I made the right decision,” Bruney said. “Only time will tell. The foot felt good. My arm felt great, so I’m excited.”
He struck out three and walked one in a Gulf Coast League game against Detroit minor leaguers. He retired six of his last seven batters after allowing the first three to reach base.
Also, right-hander Phil Hughes, who was placed on the disabled list with a broken rib April 30, threw 90 feet on level ground. He hopes to throw off a mound in the next week or two.
UPDATE, 1:25 p.m.: Nice job by Rasner wiggling out of trouble in the first inning. Then Damon walks the walk after talking the talk with a double.
But why in the world would Jeter give away the first strike by trying to bunt? Swing the bat.
UPDATE, 1:32 p.m.: A two-run double by A-Rod. Celebrate, it’ll be all right.
UPDATE, 1:38 p.m.: Josh Beckett had a few words for umpire Paul Schrieber as he walked back to the dugout. He was talking into his glove. I guess in case Marlee Matlin was in the crowd.
Meanwhile the scoreboard between innings featured the Yankees picking their favorite Elvis songs. A-Rod selected Heartbreak Hotel. You can’t make this stuff up.
UPDATE, 1:43 p.m.: In case you’re wondering, Jason Varitek wears themed catcher’s equipment on holidays then auctions it off for charity. He’s wearing a red, white and blue chest protector and shin guards today. Nice job by the captain of the Red Sox.
In other charity news, Joba Chamberlain signed 100 little tote bags before the game for patients at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute. Joba is great at doing things like that.
UPDATE, 2:11 p.m.: Wow, what a crazy play there. The Yankees were lucky the ball rolled back onto the field instead of over the fence. Great effort by Damon to get back to the wall as the ball was smoked by Youkilis.
Meanwhile, it’s 3-3 and Rasner has put seven runners on base in three innings. The Yankees aren’t going to survive if that keeps up.
UPDATE, 2:15 p.m.: No word yet on Damon’s injury. He appears to have a shoulder or wrist injury based on how he was holding his arm as he ran off the field. His loss would be a real blow. Damon is hitting .317.
UPDATE, 2:27 p.m.: Say this for the Yankees, they are playing with more sense of purpose then we saw last night. But what matters is how they look in two weeks, not today.
Meanwhile, the Braves sent down Jeff Francoeur today. Might be worth mentioning that to Melky.
* * * * * * * * * JOHNNY DAMON UPDATE * * * * * * * * * * *
X-rays on Damon’s left shoulder were negative. The Yankees are saying he has a contusion. He will be further evaluated tomorrow, an examination that will include an MRI.
It sounds as though they are worried about a separation.
UPDATE, 2:59 p.m.: I’m sure we’ll get another “Darrell gives us everything he’s got” from Joe Girardi. But you could see that home run coming a mile away (or in the 2:11 p.m. update, at least). His stuff is such that he needs to have nearly perfect location to get through a good team.
Rasner was lights out for four starts. But that was against Seattle, Detroit at the height of its struggles and twice against Baltimore. He has been getting hit hard since with an exception here or there.
It’s pretty simple, the Yankees have three good starters. That makes it hard for a team to achieve any consistency.
UPDATE, 3:19 p.m.: So the Yankees have little use for Billy Traber all season but they’re running him out there down 6-3 with four innings left? Interesting move.
UPDATE, 3:38 p.m.: Starting to rain here at the Stadium.
UPDATE, 3:47 p.m.: Dr. Ronan Tynan just did the extra-long version of God Bless America. It was a rare Stadium appearance for the good doctor. I believe he has been touring with Social Distortion.
UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Some news from Scranton via Chad Jennings. Chris Britton has been activated off the disabled list and optioned to the AAA team.The Yankees also re-signed Ben Broussard to replace Shelley Duncan on the roster.
UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.: Well, here is their chance to get back in the game. First and second, nobody out.
UPDATE, 3:58 p.m.: Nice play by Lugo to take a single away from Gardner. But what impressed me was Jose Molina running hard into second and sliding through the bag to take out Pedroia. Molina hustled through the play.
UPDATE, 4:02 p.m.: Great scene at the Stadium. Bases loaded, one out, the crowd into every pitch, rain coming down, A-Rod on deck. This could be your ballgame.
UPDATE, 4:04 p.m.: Two outs and A-Rod up. Delcarmen coming in to pitch. Madonna and Dr. Ronan Tynan are singing Don’t Cry For Me Argentina during the pitching change. OK, that may not be true.
UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: The Yankees are 1 for 7 with RISP. And so it continues.
UPDATE, 4:13 p.m.: The game has been delayed as the grounds crew works on the field. Meanwhile it’s still raining. Farnsworth is on to pitch.
UPDATE, 4:20 p.m.: That was brilliant. They spent 10 minutes working on the field, Farnsworth faced one batter and now the game is being delayed by rain. Why not put the tarp on in the first place?
How to help the home team. Farnsworth warms up, faces a batter and now he’s probably done for the day. Then A-Rod gets an error because he’s playing in a swamp.
At least now Girardi can hold another meeting.
UPDATE, 5:08 p.m.: It has stopped raining and the grounds crew is about to pull the tarp.
UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: The game will start back up at 5:45 p.m. There are not too many fans left here here at the Stadium. Can’t say I blame them.
UPDATE, 5:45 p.m.: Edwar Ramirez now pitching. There are maybe 10,000 people still here. Of course most of the lower box seat phonies have fled the scene.
* * * * * * * * * YET ANOTHER JOHNNY DAMON UPDATE * * * * * * *
Johnny went to Columbia Presbyterian for an MRI that revealed a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. He is day-to-day.
Damon has never been on the DL in his career.
UPDATE, 6:10 p.m.: Great job by Edwar and the rest of the bullpen today (4 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs). But now the Yankees have to deal with Jonathan Papelbon and his mean looks.
I suspect the Yankees will fall back on “we gave it a great effort, today was better, etc.” after the game. But a team with a $205 million payroll shouldn’t take much solace - if any - in trying hard. You can find 25 guys in the parking lot who will try hard.
UPDATE, 6:27 p.m.: Replays showed that seemed to be a catch by Crisp. What is it with these two teams? Something always happens.
Great at-bat by Brett Gardner. That showed you something.
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“If we bring Gardner up, he’s playing everyday.”
This front office has turned into a joke.
no gardner again today?
big shakeup girardi.
Hopefully the Yankees will win today as a birthday present for George.
Happy Birthday George and Happy Fourth of July to all.
Sorry George. Another loss coming today.
Happy Birthday though
And what’s the point of having a lefty in the pen if he can’t get anyone out? If Drew comes up in a big spot, then thank God we’ll have our best man, Billy Traber, on the case.
I shut off the game last night before it was over and stayed away from sports, just heard that Joe held a closed door meeting.
Also heard that Joel Sherman doesn’t grasp the English language. Doesn’t know what it is between my team and me. Also wonder if he ever grilled Joe T on what his meetings were like. I think Joel should just ignore Joel’s questions. He is jerk.
Good morning, Pete -
I would love to know what has been said between Joe, Cash, and the Steinbrenners over the past few weeks. To really understand how they seen the team, not just now, but in the future. And not just the 25-man team, but the whole organization.
From past interviews (I think by Pete) Cash has indicated that he has been moving to professionalize the Yankees, to get them away from the mom-and-pop mentality that many have commented on. What I think will favor this approach is that by investing a few more dollars, relatively speaking, in a better organization, they can save many more dollars (millions) by NOT spending wildly on FA contracts. It is a pure business approach that Hal should see the sense of, and it seems that he does in fact. The decision not to trade for Santana is a show of that philosophy.
Unfortunately for the here and now, that approach will not yield here and now results.
i think sherman’s questions were quite reasonable. i was one of the 56,000 people there who wanted some answers.
“no gardner again today?”
Nobody thinks Melky stinks more than I, but he did have a couple hits yesterday. They may as well see if he can go on a little run.
Also, happy birthday to Harry Moskowitz.
(That’s John Sterling to you and me.)
MikeEff
Come on, how many times did he have to ask, with the answer it is between my team and me. Would I have loved to be a fly on the wall? Heck yeah! But if Joe doesn’t want to reveal what was said, that is up to him. Did the old Joe ever tell the media what was said in those closed door meetings? No! I sent Joel and email letting him know what I thought of his antics last night.
“Nobody thinks Melky stinks more than I, but he did have a couple hits yesterday. They may as well see if he can go on a little run.”
A couple hits?! A blind squirrel. Forget his “little run.” He is what he is. A 4th OF who we have as our everyday CF.
Sorry, MikeEff, but, just like in the personal lives of other people/players, your “want to know” about what goes on between Girardi, the players and front office is trumped by your lack of the need to know.
im so glad girardi is playing gardner.
I think Girardi needs to go old school like the Baltimore Orioles and start having fielding practice before games. You can’t have Jeter not turn that DP and then have Damon threw the ball to no one on Lowell’s RBI single in the first inning. Lowell took second on the throw.
jennifer, i know you have girardi’s back, and that is very admirable- i certainly respect your opinions, but i’m getting fed up with girardi’s “press conferences” after one of our many lossed. i don’t appreciate his defiant attitude and his prevarications and sometimes downright disinformation ( injuries etc).
fredo- i know what you’re saying, but one halfway decent game doesn’t mean anything. melky isn’t the answer. perhaps gardner is- the only way to find out is to let him play
To Martin,
Come on,if Melky can get rolling before the trade deadline like he did last year,Yankees can
trade him for something worthful.So at least your team can get the last of him.
green beret- agreed- i don’t have the need to know—but why do they even have press conferences? are they not to give information to the public? guys like me with no right to know anything?
MikeEff
Did Joe T ever reveal what was said in his closed door meetings?
Maybe because Cabrera is hitting .308 lifetime in 26 at bats against Beckett.
I love how Johnny Damon admitted that once the Yankees hit hit, they go down for the count. Glad to see that the fans aren’t the only ones noticing that.
I like Girardi’s passion and the fact that he’s not afraid to upset a bunch of millionaires. I’m just not sure how those who have been coddled by Torre all of these years will respond. I’m sure Jeter was annoyed by it. Considering that his error upset the apple cart, he shouldn’t be complaining.
I wish I could have been in on that meeting.
“then have Damon threw the ball to no one on Lowell’s RBI single in the first inning. Lowell took second on the throw”
Damon threw (for lack of a better word) exactly where he should have. The cutoff man (Arod or Jeter) was not where he was supposed to be.
jenn, no he didn’t. but are you actually satisfied with the answers girardi gives to the press?
i’m not just talking about last night.
Next time Joel Sherman should try watching the game so he doesn’t have to ask such a stupid question after it’s over.
So Girardi freaks out yesterday and sends out pretty much the same players today? This makes no sense.
I couldn’t stand Torre last year, but Girardi is worse. He seems to not know what he’s doing..
And I love how everyone is making a big deal about Jeter’s error. Pettitte didn’t have it yesterday, whether or not Jeter committed that error, they were going to lose. The game ended in the first when they got the first two men on base and couldn’t score. The loss had nothing to do with the error. It didn’t help things, but I honestly don’t think it made a difference. Needless to say, Jeter has not had it this year.
They’re officially giving Gardner the “Duncan treatment.”
TRADE TRADE TRADE
I’ve said this before the season, during the hot streaks and now. I said to breakup this .500 ball club. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE a .500 Ball team. Trade the parts that can be traded.
1) We had value with Matsui - no more injured.
2) Trade Damon and start Gardiner.
3) Release or trade Betemit - unless they think the new shades will help - but he he is a DH at best.
4_ Play Duncan full time and see what he can do: OOPS out of the season.
Even if you trade in theory two of your best hitters Damon and Matsui - the hitting can’t be any worse than what it is and the other guys start to pick up the slack. I’ve seen it a hundred times. Put Jeter or Cano in the third slot - time to do a Billy Martin and have these guys move around in the lineup or pick a number out of a hat and that is your spot in the lineup. I remember Chris Chambliss was batting 8th.
And it worked. Bring up the young pitchers and lets see what they can do.
Too Early to throw in the towel? PLease this is a team sinking fast and stuck in Mediocrity, Time to spare the pain and accept defeat.
For the Yankees a .500 ballclub is defeat. Save the dough shed the players that aren’t performing or are old.
From an earlier thread.
“Girardi has to connect with the core guys. Jeter, Damon, Abreu, A-Rod, etc. The team will rise or fall on how they play. Joe Torre always found a way out of the woods, now Girardi has to find his path. This is what managing is about. Strategy is 10 percent, the rest is getting your guys to play the game right.”
Pete,
You have the pen (or keyboard), so you can write any BS and get away with it.
Let us look aboutt some facts:
First you need to get off your man crush on Joe Torre. Yes, he has good inter-personal skills, better than most of the managers in the ML. Still, Yanks made Joe Torre, not the other way round. He was a failure as a manager before coming to Yanks and so far his team in LA is a sub-500 team. Enough proof? Also, open your eyes and look at the facts. In spite of all the problems, Girardi’s team has better record this year than Torre’s team last year at this time. So, how well Torre was connecting with his veterans? He must have been a disaster by your standards. Also, how well he connected with A-Rod and Sheffield? He threw A-Rod under the bus with that SI article, openly talked to media about the “ha” incident and then appologised to A-ROD, insulted him batting 7th in the ALDS, even without informing him……How well he connected with the team as a whole? He always had his people vs others.
Now let us talk about Girardi connecting with his players. Today Damon, Giambi, and Cano have come out of thier season long slumps. Same with Mussina. Every one was on Girardi’s case when they were struggling and he kept believing in them. Is Girardi as good as Torre in inter-personal relatioships? No. He will never be just like you will never be like your buddy Tyler Kepner. Get over with it and start being rational. There are very very few managers as good as Torre in that respect. Stop beating on the dead horse
Also, I challenge you to show some cajones and write about Jeter’s futility. Just listing the DPs in the last thread is not enough. Show the same vigor and write about Jeter’s futility just like you take all these shots at Girardi and A-Rod. Jeter is a failure this year. This is what Buster said on ESPN: Jeter is having the worst offensive season of his career. In addition he hits all these GIDPs killing rallies. Becaue of that alone Yanks must have lost about five games this season. After the game, Jeter gave the same BS talk about how the offense should do better. May be he should look into a mirror, recognize he is a major part of the problem, swallow his ego, goto Girardi and tell him that he wants to bat lower in the order so that he would not kill the rallies. Obviously, it is wishful thinking on my part, as he will never do that and he wants to hang on to SS poistion until he is forced out of there. Even if Girardi shows some cajones and bats him low in the order, all the heavens will fall courtesy to media vultures as Jeter is your golden boy and he can walk on water and can do nothing wrong.
I wish Yankess win today and hopefully this negative talk will subside a little bit.
How many times did Torre tell the press what went on in his player meetings?
The answer is: Zero.
Did you ever hear details from Torre about the players only meeting he held in St. Louis a couple of years ago. The meeting in which he almost came to blows with Gary Sheffield?
Nope.
As usual, folks focus on the wrong target. Joel Sherman knows no manager tells the media what goes on in a private meeting.
That move was done by Sherman to provoke Girardi. Unfortunately for him, it failed.
Jennifer is right. The public doesn’t have a right to know what goes on in a private meeting. If you think you do, tell me how many teams you follow in which private meetings are divulged publicly.
A bit surprised there is no hint of shakeup in the lineup after the big meeting. Oh well. I’m headed up to the Bronx now, hope it’s they play much better today. Go Yanks!!
“If we bring Gardner up, he’s playing everyday.”
Is this an exact quote?
I don’t expect the meeting to have any effect considering that we are going against Beckett today. But it should help in the games going forward. We will see.
Let’s see what happens today. Hopefully the Dead Bats Society will decide to no longer exist. Easier said than done though.
No Brett again? Disappointing. Let’s go Melky and Let’s go Rasner!
“A couple hits?! A blind squirrel. Forget his “little run.” He is what he is. A 4th OF who we have as our everyday CF.”
And the other CF is what exactly? Willie Mays?
oh and happy July 4th everyone!
Fredo,
I agree that’s my point perhaps a little pre game fielding might just help Jeter and A Rod know where they should be. The throw should have gone to second.
I’m just glad they were smart enough to bring Billy Traber back into the fold.
In case anyone missed it, JD’s comment last night is very revealing about how the players see the tsunami coming:
“We better do something soon,” Damon said. “July 31 (the trade deadline) comes sooner than you know it, and I know a lot of guys here that don’t want to go to another team or even be in that conversation. … Come July 31, we better be in a good spot.”
Just because they have press conferences, doesn’t mean that Girardi, the players or anybody else is required to spill their guts, just to placate the media slugs and rumor mongers. Face facts, you don’t want news on the Yankees, you want gossip. Gossip columnists like Sherman and Lupica serve absolutely no purpose. Basically, they are male (perhaps, though debatable) versions of Rona Barret and Liz Smith (Hedda Hopper and Luella Parsons for you old timers). My suggestion, if you want gossip, go buy the National Enquirer or London Mirror.
BBFan,
I actually would argue the opposite. I don’t think Girardi has to connect with the veteran players. I think the veteran players have to connect with him.
If they lack intensity, focus, etc, that’s not on Girardi, that’s on the players.
I know folks hate hearing negativity but, give a listen to what Johnny Damon said in the post-game last night.
Say what you will about Damon but, he called out the entire team for their lack of effort last night.
I had ZERO problems with what he said. Only thing is, he shouldn’t have been the guy to say it.
One person should have said what Damon said last night.
Derek Jeter.
He’s the captain of the Yankees.
Come out, say, “We stunk, starting with me and this is unacceptable”.
No talk from the Captain. Very disappointing.
For the folks who get upset about hearing Damon speak so much, do you know why he does? Because he is one of the few players who makes himself available to the media after nights like last night.
Unaccountability from these players is as big a problem as lack of focus. Not enough standup guys in the locker room, IMO.
Its why the Yankees are left with little choice but to break up this merry bunch of mercenaries. The sooner the better.
You want Girardi to be a better manager? Give him players that care. Not enough guys care on this team.
If they did, we wouldn’t see performances like last night.
“I’m sure Jeter was annoyed by it. Considering that his error upset the apple cart, he shouldn’t be complaining.”
He has no reason to be annoyed or upset. He is bot above the rest of the team.
We lost the game yesterday becaues of his stupid error in the first inning. That changed the tone of the whole game and Pettite was not himself after that.
“melky isn’t the answer. perhaps gardner is- the only way to find out is to let him play”
The answer to what? I would love to know what your question is.
Do you think if Gardner had played last night he would have went all Barry Bonds are something?
It’s amazing to me how much people really focus on the #9 hitter in the Yankees lineup.
If the top of the order guys in the lineup don’t produce the Yankees will have a ridiculously hard time scoring runs. That’s the bottom line.
Whether Melky or Gardner plays isn’t the root of the Yankees run scoring problem.
“Is this an exact quote?”
Google it. (Hint: Be sure to include the quotations.) Will everyone please be sure to precisely quote diction for ray from now on. I’m sure he’ll appreciate day and time info too.
Will they have a fireworks display at Yankee stadium today, or are they relying on the Red Sox to provide the entertainment?
“They’re officially giving Gardner the “Duncan treatment.”
What are you talking about? He’s played in 60% of the games while he’s been called up.
You people need to really relax with your fixation on Brett Gardner.
“And the other CF is what exactly? Willie Mays?”
If you’re going to answer your own question, then you don’t need a question mark. But I don’t agree with your suggestion. Mays is not the answer, but Gardner plays center.
I know that Melky had a few hits last night, but if Joe wants to ge this team going he should start Gardner. If he gets on base, he can electrify the crowd with his baserunning.
I agree with everyone who said that Sherman was out of line last night. The Yankees should ban him from the press room.
““Is this an exact quote?”
Google it. (Hint: Be sure to include the quotations.) Will everyone please be sure to precisely quote diction for ray from now on.”
There’s a big difference in he’ll play everyday and he’s here to play.
He has played in 3 of 5 games since he’s been up. I don’t recall anyone saying he’ll play everyday.
“How many times did Torre tell the press what went on in his player meetings?”
No manager does. No reason they should. Fact is, there’s not much magic to these meetings. “We stink, we’re not playing hard, we’re underachieving and we have to be better” is quite likely the content.
The Yankees haven’t won for George on his birthday in recent years. Time to change it.
Derek Jeter is the captain in name only.
That lead by example garbage would work if he was on a young team like the Marlins.
Nothing is going to improve Jeter’s throwing until he gets rid of that sidearm flip. He’s great on throws when he has no time to think about it. When he has time, it’s anybody’s guess as to where he throws it. That has been 70-75% of his errors throughout his career….throwing errors.
SJ44
Isn’t it at least one of the manager’s duties to MAKE players care? To motivate them, and get them to buy into the gameplan? He has to manage in the business sense of the word (personalities, differences) as well as how it applies uniquely to baseball (lineups, tactics).
I’m not saying it’s all Girardi’s fault, and certainly with many of the players being veteran, the impetus lies more on them, but I think it’s his job to find a way to reach the guys on the team, and not the other way around.
bravo BBfan!! bravo!!
Fredo,
Exactly. My point was, fans don’t need to know the content of the meetings. Its not on their “right to know” list and Sherman knows that.
That was just a dog and pony show started by him to provoke Girardi. Fortunately, Girardi wouldn’t take the bait.
Really folks, Brett Gardner is not the key to the season. I’m all for homegrown love but let’s try to keep it logical.
“Derek Jeter is the captain in name only.
That lead by example garbage would work if he was on a young team like the Marlins.”
Well said.
For the good of the team he needs to get out of that 2nd position in the batting order. He has to volunteer to do that.
well, hopefully this is it for Hawkins; can’t see who else they’d cut. Traber’s been shaky, but he’s more likely to make a positive impact than Hawkins.
Gardner’s intriguing, but it’s not like he projects to be Mickey mantle, or Bernie Williams. if Matsui is out, on days Posada catches they’ll be able park Damon or giambi at DH, and then play either Gardner or Betemit. i think that, and some pinch-running, is going to be Gardner’s role & opportunity.
“This is what Buster said on ESPN: Jeter is having the worst offensive season of his career. In addition he hits all these GIDPs killing rallies. Becaue of that alone Yanks must have lost about five games this season.”
Jeter’s having a bad year for true. But it’s nonsense that the Yanks have lost 5 games due to Jeter’s DP’s.
He has 12 DP’s this year. Is he really trying to tell me that in about half the games Jeter has hit a DP that the DP was the sole reason for the Yankees losing?
No, that’s nonsense.
Mike, they shouldn’t need to be motivated. Winning a ring should be enough of an incentive.
A little off topic, but the news just came out today. Remember what happened with Reyes on Sunday? Well Keith Hernandez was calling him out during the game about his antics. Well apparently Jose’s family told him what Keith said about him, and on the team plane Jose got in Keith’s face, it almost came to blows!! Too bad they didn’t tell him what Kay said!!
Really what a baby!
SJ started me thinking…as he frequently does…
Damon is one of the few who routinely talk to the media, win or lose. It may be ironic, as he’s one of the few actually having a decent year.
But one who only seems available after a win, or a big game, is Bobby Abreu.
How many of us were thinking, in the off-season, that Bobby might be brought back for one more year? A lot. Do we still hold that opinion? Not I, not based on what I’ve seen so far. His OF play has been OK at best, and outside of a couple of instances, he’s not been doing well at bat. Given his age, and that his play is has been getting worse, let alone the $$$, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him gone, maybe even mid-year. And who knows, a change of scenery might re-invigorate him. If it does, good for him. But I’m thinking it’s time for him and us to move on.
Melky in RF - with his arm, and give the younger guy every chance to succeed - and Brett in CF going forward?
I agree that Girardi does not have to tell the media what happened in the team meeting, but why in the world did he call the meeting right after the game? All it did was incite a media circus. A media circus that already existed due to A-Rod’s ridiculousness. There was no reason why he couldn’t have called the meeting today.
Torre didn’t tell the media about team meetings, but I don’t believe he called the meetings right after the game either. He also tended to call them when a scrub wasn’t pitching the next game.
Girardi is an idiot.. =/
So Chad Moeller is on the team why?
Girardi took responsibility for not getting wins. Good. It’s a start. I agree the manager has to find a way to get his players to cowboy up when they aren’t doing it. That is if they have the talent to do it. These Yankees do.
The player who has disappointed me the most is Jeter. He has a lackadaisacal (sp?) attitude. I’m only hoping that one of the things Girardi and coaches said was something like “if you’re hurt, get your ass out of the game because you’re killing the team.” I had to laugh when they said Damon and Jeter also talked in the meeting. Jeter’s one of the biggest problems here! I have no problem with Damon.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE STEINBRENNER! You deserve so much better than you’ve gotten these past years.
“Isn’t it at least one of the manager’s duties to MAKE players care? To motivate them, and get them to buy into the gameplan?”
Yes, it is.
For all we do not know, Girardi must have done it.
May be some of these veterans are on the downside of their skiils (Jeter’s defense, Posada’s throwing etc.,.) and it does not make any difference.
raymagnetic
Who knows, if Jeter didn’t make that error in the first, maybe Andy could have righted himself in the second. The game could have been totally different.
I will keep saying for the hard of hearing. Leyland and Guillen found a way to do it. NY is still in the US. The Yankees are still ballplayers. Motivation is still a smart tool in private industry. Baseball is private industry isn’t it?
I’ve got a little no-hitter trivia going over at Faceoff (mine and Sam Borden’s blog) at:
www.faceoff.lohudblogs.com
“I had to laugh when they said Damon and Jeter also talked in the meeting. Jeter’s one of the biggest problems here! I have no problem with Damon.”
What if they talked about Jeter’s DP’s? Do you have any idea what they talked about?
SJ44-
Once the Yankees decide to become sellers, then Cashman will be fielding calls from the contenders on player availability.
Dodgers need a leadoff hitter now that Furcal is out and Pierre is not the answer. Damon and others for righty Matt Kemp?
Arizona and SF are still in the race in the west. Abreu and prospect to SF for lefty pitcher Sanchez?
Phillies need a pitcher-Mussina might welcome a trade and still be close to his home in PA. This would unload the remaining salary owed Damon Abreu and Mussina, three players who would have some trade value and let the Yankees get younger
“Melky in RF - with his arm, and give the younger guy every chance to succeed - and Brett in CF going forward?”
I’m all for looking for other options in RF and letting Bobby go. He seems to be in a decline though he did have an excellent second half last year.
That being said I would never put Melky in RF. An outfield of Damon, Gardner, and Melky would produce 15 HRs combined!
SJ44,
I was beginning to think that Damon had a contract to appear on the YES post game show, but then as you pointed out he is probably the only one that stays around. And the fact is that Damon speaks the truth. He doesn’t try and hide any facts or feelings.
jennifer
No, they SHOULDN’T need to be motivated. But they also SHOULDN’T be struggling the way they are. They SHOULDN’T be playing like a group of inconsistent glass-jaws. But they are, and if nothing else, the manager should be reminding them of those facts. It may be up to the players to get it going, and I agree in the end that’s the only way it can happen, but obviously Girardi is going to be judged on the results they produce, and he should be.
We’ve got a little Yankees no-hitter trivia going at our Faceoff blog:
http://faceoff.lohudblogs.com
ray the way it was reported was that Jeter and Damon also addressed the team in the meeting. I could be wrong but I didn’t get that it was so that they could give their own personal mea culpas. More than that I totally believe that Damon is someone who would man up that way. I don’t see Jeter standing in the clubhouse pointing out all the way he sucks.
It’s possible Girardi brought it up.
Mike,
How do you know he’s not doing it? I’m honestly not trying to be a jerk about this but, what can he do?
Can he bench Jeter? How about Arod? Can he make Sidney Ponson a real pitcher? Darrell Rasner? I know Brett Gardner is the man of the moment for some but, on a team with 10 guys making over 7 million a year, he’s not going to turn around the season.
Really, there is only so much he can do.
I have to tell you, if Joe Girardi needs to motivate a team with a 209 million dollar payroll, then they have the wrong players on the team because Girardi is sure as hell motivated.
He takes the losses much harder than the players. When you see that, its on the players, not the manager.
How can these guys NOT be motivated to play for the NY Yankees?
And before people tell me, “Torre did”, the Yankees are 4-13 in their last 17 post-season games. You mean they didn’t have “motivation” to win those games?
At this level, the players have to push themselves harder. Sometimes, you don’t have players who can do that. Sometimes, they don’t want to. I think the Yankees have too many guys on the team at this time who either can’t or won’t push themselves, and sacrifice their own numbers, for the betterment of the team.
Take a good look at the roster. An honest look.
Pitchers: Moose, Andy, Chamberlain, Rasner, Ponson, Hawkins, Farnsworth, Robertson, Veras, Traber, Ramirez, Rivera.
How many of those guys are “keepers”? In other words, guys you think you can win with? Six, maybe seven guys. That leaves you 5-6 players short on the pitching staff.
Among the 13 position players, how many are really guys you want on your team with the season on the line? Six or seven more, tops.
That leaves you quite a bit short from having what I would call a championship team.
With that being the case, I don’t know a lot of managers who would get more out of the team. Personally, I don’t think some of the guys on the team have much left to give.
Hard to be hungry if you aren’t starving, if you know what I mean. I don’t know many “all star at every position” teams that win titles. I know of many that (like this one) that haven’t.
I just think its a bad mix of guys. Over the hill vets, underperforming younger players, injured key players, and just plain bad players. I don’t know how you win a title with this mix of guys.
Just my opinion. I could be wrong.
I also thought it was pretty funny that Jeter spoke. Jeter was a huge part of the problem in last nights game. He seems to be more of a captain only in name. But we all know George named him captain cause he was parting too much.
Bobby Abreu is far from a problem on this team. Given the issues on offense from the bottom of the batting order and Jeter, the fact that he’s #5 in the league in RBI. He’s #1 or #2 in RBI, stolen bases, doubles, hits, #3 in homers and runs scored, first in triples on the team.
Maybe you’re right. Abreu is really dragging the team down.
“Remember what happened with Reyes on Sunday? Well Keith Hernandez was calling him out during the game about his antics. Well apparently Jose’s family told him what Keith said about him, and on the team plane Jose got in Keith’s face, it almost came to blows!!”
Wow. For real? Someone tell him what Kay said!!!
“BBFan,
I actually would argue the opposite. I don’t think Girardi has to connect with the veteran players. I think the veteran players have to connect with him.
If they lack intensity, focus, etc, that’s not on Girardi, that’s on the players.
I know folks hate hearing negativity but, give a listen to what Johnny Damon said in the post-game last night.
Say what you will about Damon but, he called out the entire team for their lack of effort last night.
I had ZERO problems with what he said. Only thing is, he shouldn’t have been the guy to say it.
One person should have said what Damon said last night.
Derek Jeter.
He’s the captain of the Yankees.
Come out, say, “We stunk, starting with me and this is unacceptable”.”
SJ, you hit on the mark.
I hope Pete read your entry.
When will Joe Girardi or Joe Torre reveal what goes on in a closed door meeting???
It will happen the day that Joel Sherman posts his yearly work performance evaluation with his editor in chief on the front page of his newspaper.
Meaning NEVER.
We would all loved to be a fly on the wall, but Joel is only trying to sell papers and be the story instead of reporting it.
Sherman was just trying to goad Joe G. into a tirade like the seattle mariners manager had a few weeks ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4xjkYfKuHo
Sherman you are a hack, not a journalist. What you do is no better than what the “established” news outlets are crying out against when they rail against the reckless bloggers.
jennifer Jeter’s act has worn thin with me to the point of wearing out. I hate to think that he is over the hill but if he is he is. I don’t see any passion from him. He used to be nothing but passion.
Maybe I am totally wrong about this but I think the Yankees have the players to deliver a championship. Somewhere between that and where they are is the problem. Maybe what Girardi did last night is a step toward eliminating the gap.
I guess I don’t know the last time or the last long period of time I remember the Yankees playing with passion and intensity. Then I watch the Rays play.
Maybe it was the 2000 Yankees or the 2001 Yankees.
I don’t know. It feels like it’s been a while.
“Dodgers need a leadoff hitter now that Furcal is out and Pierre is not the answer. Damon and others for righty Matt Kemp?”
Damon has an NTC and it would have to be a helluva prospect the Yanks are including to get Kemp.
“Arizona and SF are still in the race in the west. Abreu and prospect to SF for lefty pitcher Sanchez?”
Why would the Giants trade a good young pitcher, who will be under their control for six years for a half season of Bob Abreu???
So, do we know what Jeter actually said last night in the meeting? Or are we all just assuming he said nothing and blamed everyone but himself?
Off topic:
Some reports out there that the Brewers are prepared to offer LaPorta as the centerpiece of a Sabathia deal.
The two meetings in which Torre was as angry as he had ever been as Yankee manager were both in 2005. One in Tampa and one in St. Louis. He called both of them immediately after bad losses.
The timing of the meeting isn’t the issue.
After last night, if he didn’t call a team meeting, something would have been wrong, IMO.
19 first pitch swings. 11 first pitch outs. Missed signs. Errors. 5 DP’s.
I think they deserved an airing out.
Will it do any good? Probably not.
Can’t make a bad team good folks. All you can do is try to make them good again.
You don’t do that with meetings. You do that with trades.
Only a matter of time (by the end of the month to start, IMO) that this team breaks up. Its time.
Losing isn’t an issue to me. Every team loses. Its how you lose. Is the effort there? It hasn’t been for a lot of the season.
Do the players seem like they care? Not enough of them do, IMO.
When you see that, I have no problems if they (the Yankees) decide to be sellers at the deadline.
I also don’t want to hear, “its Girardi fault”. That’s BS. That’s player scapegoating the manager. Damon called them out on it last night and he’s 100% correct.
SJ44
Frankly I don’t disagree with you. The team this year is sort of in purgatory, halfway between a contending team and a rebuilding team, but not either.
At the same time, it’s impossible to say if Girardi could be doing “more,” to get the team to win, because “more” may not work with this group of guys. Maybe it takes less. Maybe just a little more. As I said, Girardi will be judged by us and by his bosses on the results the team produces on the field. As such it is his job as manager to make that product as good as possible. You can’t blow up an entire team on the basis of “it’s a bad mix of guys.” I mean you could, but ..you can’t. When it’s a team as a whole that does not perform to its ability I think you look elsewhere.
That is of course given the assumption that the team is playing below its level. It’s entirely possible the bar is set too high. I guess that, ultimately, is your point. Maybe it is that simple.
“I also thought it was pretty funny that Jeter spoke. Jeter was a huge part of the problem in last nights game”
Jeter gets criticized for not saying anything because he’s the captain. Then if he does speak out during the meeting he’s criticized because he shouldn’t be speaking.
What if he told everyone that he was going to step his game up?
Nobody knows what was said and Jeter gets criticized because he spoke during the meeting. Honestly I just don’t get it.
“I just think its a bad mix of guys. Over the hill vets, underperforming younger players, injured key players, and just plain bad players. I don’t know how you win a title with this mix of guys.
Just my opinion. I could be wrong.”
SJ, you said it right.
It is time to stop thinking about the glory days and make the veterans accountable. That includes Jeter, Posada and Pettitte (Mo excluded).
Jeter should be told if he does not improve he is not entitled to what he wants. Instead it will be what the team needs. If Cash could do that to Bernie, he should be able to say the same to Jeter.
Posada has become a liability as catcher. May be he should have his surgery now and be ready for the start of next season. His offense is not good enough to occupy the 1B or DH slot for the rest of the season.
Pettite is a tough one. He is on and off.
Hard to be hungry if you aren’t starving, if you know what I mean.
I’ve thought that about the Yankees for a while. You say how can you not be motivated when you play for the Yankees. I think it’s a little complicated. For a lot of players playing for the Yankees is the goal. Once they’re there it’s like they’ve reached the top of the hill. On other teams the goal is getting to the postseason. They don’t have the street cred that the pinstripes automatically gives you.
I’m not saying the Yankees don’t want to be in the postseason. Maybe the players take it as a given and don’t stop and think that too many L’s means you didn’t get the job done. Other teams have players who go home at night and think about how important it is to win. Yankees have players who go home at night and think about the fact that they get to put the pinstripes on. Maybe that gets them through too many nights. I don’t know.
Matt Kemp has minimal power, doesn’t walk and strikes out too much. Yeah, he’s perfect. Make it Loney and it’s a start of a decent talk.
Hey everybody, I know this has nothing to do with today’s game but i’ve got a problem, maybe someone can help. I purchased 2 tix to Sunday’s game on StubHub last night, Upper-deal, Tier 6, almost behind home plate for $75. Now someone offered me 2 tix in Field Box level, 3 rows near 3rd base for a very cheap price considering the game. I really want those tix but now I can’t cancel those StubHub tix. What to do? Anybody got any ideas? Anybody interested in buying those tix?
SJ44-
Your 11:14 opinion is ’spot on.”
This team does not field well, they can’t or won’t work the count, they don’t try to advance the runners, and they are stuck with too many players who should DH-Damon, Matsui, Posada, Giambi. Also the bench is awful.
Allow them 2-3 weeks to right the ship and then prepare for 2009. It would take a miracle for this team to put it all together and be capapble to advance to the WS. Making the playoffs and losing in the 1st round is not something that Yankee fans need to tolerate anymore.
“Some reports out there that the Brewers are prepared to offer LaPorta as the centerpiece of a Sabathia deal.”
Hope it’s true. At least he’s out of the AL.
“Jeter gets criticized for not saying anything because he’s the captain. Then if he does speak out during the meeting he’s criticized because he shouldn’t be speaking.”
It is not about what he says, it will be more about what he does to help the team. I hate to say this but lately I find him selfish and put his self interst above the team.
Why is Gardner on team if he isnt goin to play?
This team had better show some effort and enthusiasm today, yesterday was an embarassment. It was one of the worst feelings I ever had while being at the Stadium.
Wouldnt it be nice if the Yankees young pitchers could win games like Lester, Masterson, Buckholz?
Two years ago Yankees were in Cleveland on the 4th of July got embarassed had a team meeting and everything turned around for the season. Lets hope last night was rock bottom.
http://www.newyorkyankeesnews.com/maelias33/weblog/
“One person should have said what Damon said last night.
Derek Jeter.
He’s the captain of the Yankees.
Come out, say, “We stunk, starting with me and this is unacceptable”.””
Say that to the press..so the fans can hear it? Or to the team(which he might or might not have done last night and no one knows either way)?
” I hate to say this but lately I find him selfish and put his self interst above the team.”
What? What self interest does he have that he’s putting above the team?
The stuff you people come up with in here is a riot.
“I also don’t want to hear, “its Girardi fault”. That’s BS. That’s player scapegoating the manager. Damon called them out on it last night and he’s 100% correct.”
Right on the mark again, SJ.
Does anybody else get the feeling that some of our stars look around and wait for the other stars to get something going during any point in a game?
The point is, the offense definately feeds off of each other, and we all know that’s why a lineup needs to be thought out ahead of time. Now before everybody says blame Girardi for not having a consistent lineup everyday, think about the players in the lineup.
On any given day we most likely have Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Arod, Giambi, and Cano in that lineup. They could all be considered stars.
What if the problem is they are all waiting for somebody else to step up and get the ball rolling?
I realize these are all major leaguers making millions and shouldn’t need a closed door meeting or a pat on the back, but if they all sit around and give away at-bats and scoring opportunities because they’re hoping somebody else will light the fire, we as fans will all be very disappointed for a long time.
77,
If I was Cashman, here is what I would do:
I would call Pettitte, Abreu, Damon and Moose (all the guys with NTC’s who have value) in for a meeting and tell him that by the 24th, if the team isn’t showing signs of life, he is going to dismantle it, and he wants to give them a heads up on it.
If they decide to go in that direction, he wants those guys permission to deal them to contenders if they want to finish their careers on a winning note.
He should tell them this isn’t about their play but about improving the long term prospects for this franchise. The future of the Yankees is more important than the future of any one individual.
If the players say no, nothing he can do during the season. You just have to play it out.
If the players give a conditional ok (depending on the deals, of course), he needs to explore what he can get for them.
That’s a start.
The next meeting he should hold is with Posada and convince him that by the 31st, if they are out of the race, they want him to get the surgery and shut it down for the season.
Jorge has 3 more years to go on his contract and its foolish for him to continue to play with a bad wing. Gotta think long term in trying to keep him healthy.
The next meeting I hold is with Jeter and Arod. I tell them the direction the team is going (if they decide to cash out on the 31st) and tell them its up to both of them to be leaders and set examples for the younger guys.
I also tell them that whatever off the field crap they have going on has to cease. Its time to up their games on and off the field.
The next meeting I hold is with the Steinbrenner’s. I tell them I need more help on the pro player personnel side and whether I (Cashman) am back or not, you have to have more beef in that department.
At this point, its all he can do.
Matt, what has Buchholtz won? He has the same career number of wins as Hughes. One game doesn’t mean that he’s proved anything.
Jeter’s was awful in April-May, but had a nice June. look at his splits. plain silly to say he’s washed-up, as a lot of frustrated posts are saying.
if you look at his career stats, he’s had a couple of years - 2004 & 2007 - where he had a few more GIDPs than in other years. he’s trending towards that this year as well. meaning the GIDPs don’t signify anything meaningful in terms of assessing how he’ll do going forward.
obviously i’d like to see him play better, and expect he will. my only criticism of him are the stupid bunts early in the game. Derek, bunting with a man on first was OK in the deadball era, or for pitchers in the medieval NL; it’s stupid in the AL, unless it’s something like the 8th inning in a tie game against a top righty.
It is not about what he says, it will be more about what he does to help the team. I hate to say this but lately I find him selfish and put his self interst above the team.
I have to agree with you. For a long time everyone accepted that Jeter wasn’t the kind of rah rah captain who was going to motivate the team that way. We all accepted that since we saw him lead by example. He played with passion. Now he looks nothing but lethargic and bored.
Say what you want about Varitek but you never question about how much he wants to win. He works hard and leads that team by example. If something goes wrong you can see it on his face. Jeter just stands there with his la dee dah look on his face. Varitek isn’t a rah rah guy either but you never question how hard he works and how much he cares about winning.
So now Jeter doesn’t work hard and doesn’t wanna win? Look, I know people are frustrated, but are you kidding me?
So yesterday was bash Melky day, today is Bash Jeter day..oh I know..maybe tomorrow will be bash Abreu day..
Happy birthday, George.
Maybe the Yankees can win one for the George-er.
The last thing I’ll say is that I still definitely believe the Yankees have the players to get the job done.
Now we’ll see if they do it.
Well, sorry CC fans, but if these rumors are true, CC is going to Milwaukee.
If the rumors are true, the Brewers have reportedly discussed trading LaPorta… there’s no way the Yankees beat that.
You are not going to blow this team up in the last year of Yankee Stadium. That’s absolutely silly.
We are 4 games over on July 4th, last year we were two games under.
There is no reason that this team can’t fight for the Wildcard. I’m not saying they will win it but at least put up a fight. Cashman needs to get this team a bat or an arm and give it a boost. Like the Abreu trade of 06.
I agree with Jeter looking lethargic and bored. Does anyone here think he misses Torre that much?
Green Beret - Having some of the better batting numbers on a bad offensive team doesn’t meant that one is having a good year at the plate. Especially for the money being paid. If Alex can be panned for not being clutch, why can’t others? I’m just wondering if he’s still a good fit for the team.
I don’t have a problem with Jeter’s effort. Never have.
One problem I do have, not with Jeter but with the entire team, is doing the little things.
Stuff that unfortunately, the YES Crew never bothers to explain to viewers during the telecast.
Last night, Jason Varitek, who has been struggling as bad as anybody in baseball the last couple of months, not only worked walks last night, he gave himself up in a 5-0 game (with a 3-1 count on him), to advance a runner to third with a groundball with less than 2 outs. That run eventually scored.
Why is that significant? Because the game was already over, yet Varitek still did the right thing from a baseball perspective.
Usually when a guy is struggling and the game is in hand, that’s when he takes a rip to see if he can snap out of his funk. Varitek didn’t do that and that kind of unselfishness spreads through a team.
Don’t believe me? Take a good look at the Yankees from 1996-2001, prior to the “All Star at every position” nonsense.
This Yankees team does not play like that. They don’t do the little things. They don’t advance runners. They don’t hit SF’s. That stuff wins games.
It also creates a team first mindset that, IMO, is missing with this team.
That has to change before we even start the conversation about playoffs, World Series wins, etc.
Granted last night was aweful but if you are going to have a come to Jesus moment with the team, it’s usually smarter to do it with your ace on the mound the next day and not the other teams.
That being said, Go Razz. Give them 7 strong and hope the Yanks bats sing today.
Happy Birthday George and Happy 4th all.
S.A. I don’t believe I’ve had a bash any player day yet. So this is a first for me. I might have gotten upset about the way the offense was playing but never any one person. I’ve been feeling that way about Jeter for a while. I don’t think he deserves to have the title of captain. I’d rather see damon with the C or someone else who actually acts like they care. I don’t see Jeter as a team leader. Almost the opposite. Maybe he started to believe his own press a little too much.
There was a time when every player seemed to look up to Jeter and want to be him. I don’t mean just the Yankees. Now the players in MLB voted him as the most overrated player in the majors. Bull that it’s jealousy. I think it’s fact right about now.
SJ44- You should be Girardi’s bench coach. Now maybe some of these talks have already been done.
I would include talking to those players whose contracts are up also about moving them to a contender. Farnsworth and even Giambi, whose salaries might have to be eaten, to get a younger good player.
SJ44, thanks for the armegeddon post at 11:37. It was a good post albeit the worst case scenario. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but last night was pathetic. One thing about the struggling Yankee teams in the past is that they could always turn it up a notch for Boston. That was not the case last night.
Anyone wanna bet that somewhere right now George has a musty smelling blanket covering his legs only while staring a white spot on the wall?
Doris what a nice thing to say. What goes around comes around. Hope nobody wonders the same thing about you when you’re George’s age.
Soon I’d like to see a discussion of trades that the Yankees might realistically be able to make and for whom, to prepare for the 2009 season.
Also the Yankees can trade in August as most if not all of their high priced players will pass thru waivers.
SJ your mos recent post is dead on.
As I stated last night; mose, dmon, abreu, and pettitte would all have value at the deadline..
Alli s well in Yankeeland they sent down the AG and called up Traber another big move that will definitely get the zillionaires to play better…
THink of Jorge trying his hardest with 1arm, but afraud, softie(abreu) and others doing nothing.. Jeter is a dissapointment not just his performance but his postgame blather and his lack of an honesty in communicating to the press.
Damon mentioned Variteks AB last night and the hit to the right side as a great AB and that is all you need to know. Varitek made an out and it was a great AB because he sacrificed for the TEAM, what a concept….
Now to arod when will people take a long look at him and be real… the guy has the softest good #’s in baseball. Last yr. arod carried the team and no I did not expect him to duplicate the best right hand hitting season in yankee history but his lack of clutch hitting is beyond bad..
The team should be able to hit 270 or 275 with RISP no problem.. The minnesota twins are hitting 300 with RISP, hit the ball to the right side, just hit a fly ball to the outfield etc..
If cano keeps up his hot hitting they should move him up to 2 or 3 in the order, the only problem with that is he has mental cramps and gets very anxious when men are on base…
the yanks have alot of problems WOW…9 more yrs of therecord breaker.. invision this 7 or 9 yrs from now arod has the HR record and many other records and the yanks have won nothing, is he a great player?????How can he be considered a great player???
to St. Torre we need to remind his groupies on occasion how those great yankee teams have played for him the last few yrs. in the playoffs, and that was porrly. Torre won when they had a team of guys like; oneil, brosius, cone, wells, mendza, bernie, and so on.
this group of zillionaires have won NOTHING NOTHING. How many titles does abreu have and giambi, and arod, and cano, and matsui, and moose.. THe answer is ZERO.. they have never won squat…..
id gladly spend my last few years in that condition if it meant owning the NY yankees for 20 years
I GUARANTEE you that you are going to see Yankees playing with passion today win or lose. If I’m wrong it’s time for me to turn in my Yankee fan membership and watch reality shows with my girlfriend.
If I’m right I only hope that it lasts for more than one game.
Anyone know why Moeller doesn’t get to catch any games? I hope Girardi resolves that.
Trading away old Outfielders and Pitchers are just not worth it.
Oh great, we get “decent prospects”, we have tons of those already.
I would rather fight for the Wildcard than this doomsday nonsense.
SJ,
I agree. It seems like everyone is waiting around for the 3 runner homer. That’s not happen with this team. When we won our 4 Championships the Yankees did not have one player hit over 30 home runs on those teams. The most was Bernie with 30 in 2000. We won by doing the little things very, very good.
Well, all I have to say mark is sometimes looks can be deceiving. Go ask Eli Manning. He didn’t looked like he cared, right? It has to be since that was all I heard and all that people would say.
None of us know what Jeter said or didn’t say to the team and now people are assuming that he doesn’t care and doesn’t wanna win..based on how he acts? What? He needs to play better, that is a fact. A lot of people on this team need to play better.
Also, Those lovely players voted Jeter (along with Alex) as one of the most overrated players in the majors, yet they also voted him (and Alex) as the people they would love to build a team around. Go figure.
Global I agree. I say we live and die with these guys. If this year isn’t the year it isn’t. You only trade when a trade makes sense. They said it last night on Baseball Tonight. What good is a trade when the Jeters, Arod, Abreus and Canos, the heart and soul of the team, aren’t getting the job done? That wasn’t my line, that was theirs. But I thought it was a great one.
You and the wife ready for the 4th Doris? Taking the kids to go see the fireworks?
anyone read klapisch this am? he is spot on: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Klapisch_Time_for_Yanks_to_face_reality.html
just because there are a lot of Yankees with trade value doesn’t necessarily mean they are going anywhere. I’d imagine someone like Moose or Pettitte would have a full NTC anyway.
Anyway, the Yankees have a lot of work to do, but they’re hardly out of it. They still have most of their games left versus Boston and Tampa.
That said, they have to start winning.
Like now.
And SJ is dead on about the little things.
SA- we have a 9 month old so we are debating whether or not its worth it to keep him up till 9:30. If we do go, we will go in Watermill as we are out east for the holiday weekend.
I could care less about the WC. I care about whether or not this team can win a World Series.
This team, as presently constructed, can’t win the World Series. By moving some parts now, you can begin the process of putting together a team that can win the World Series again. Perhaps (if the off-season is fruitful) as soon as next year.
There is no fight with this team. Frankly, there really hasn’t been fight with this team (over long periods of time and the post-season) since the 2004 ALCS debacle.
Gotta change the culture of the team before you even think about winning anything significant.
The sooner they can do it, the better.
S.A. to be the captain of the NY Yankees is probably the biggest honor in organized sports. Here’s the difference with Eli and Jeter. Eli is a kid who is making his way. Jeter’s been around long enough to know better. He’s a shadow of the player he was in the past in every way. If he’s leading by example it’s no wonder the team has been sucking.
Every catch his canned postgame interview? Just what is his value these days? If you have to guess at what he is all about it’s not a real good thing is it. Take a look at his batting average. Watch the throws he makes. I agree that whoever said Jeter is playing selfish. Maybe too many endorsements and too many females has taken his “EDGE” away.
You want to be happy with Jeter go for it. I’m embarrased that he’s the best we can offer for captain of the Yankees at this point.
The issue with trading giambi is not that his contract is up at the end of the yr because it is but he has a $5 mill. buyout for next yr.. that makes him fairly expensive.
Kyle could be moved today he has less then $2.5 left on the bill and he has some value.
if they yanks moved some of the abreu, damon, moose, giambi, pettite, matsui crowd. they could get many many prospects or possibly some majore league talent..
Personally I would move all of them except Pettitte if we want him back for next yr…I like Damon and think he has the most value.. abreu is a FA in 70 games so why not.. Giambi is having a good yr but if I am the GM he is not back under any circumstance he is 37 and fragile…
The Yanks can do this and save a tone of $$ and allow the GM for the 1st time since 2000 to have flexibility to make some moves and signings in the offseason..
Imagine a team of texiera, cano, jeter, arod, posada, in the infiled next yr. a DH of Matsui, gardner, melky, and 2 unknown at the moment out fielders.
a staff of wang, joba, hughes, pettitte, and un knowns , and a pen of mo and robertson, veras, edwar, cox, melancon, and others.. yeah not the star team you are use to but a very young team with huge upside…..
the good news in all of this is the expiring contracts and the yanks good minor league system which is getting better all the time…
“Chien-Ming Wang is here and said he will have a cast on his foot for another month. “It feels better,” he said. Wang will start upper body workouts today.”
Poor Wang. Glad that it feels better though.
sj-
if you were hank and hal would you keep cash?
I agree with some of your points SJ44. I agree that this team as presently constructed can’t win the world series because I agree with your point that there’s no fight with this team.
But I don’t agree that the team as presently constructed can’t win the world series if they find that fight.
do you seriously think cashman will do what SJ said?
i mean as much as it makes sense i just dont see him as someone who has the balls to do such a thing
“The last thing I’ll say is that I still definitely believe the Yankees have the players to get the job done.”
I am in the same boat.
At the same time, even if they make to the playoffs, changes need to be made for next year.
I predict that the yanks will win today to honor the death of jesse helms
mark- we will just have to agree to disagree about Jeter.
Maybe in time he will leave the Yankees and go somewhere else or maybe retire. That should make you and some others happy.
Hopefully he won’t make you hang your head in shame as a Yankee fan for too long. The man sure is an embarrassment to the franchise.
If only he was more like Jose Reyes…maybe today he will threaten to beat up Michael Kay..
They need a good start from Rasner to get them going.
insidethepinstripes.blogspot.com/
Maybe in time he will leave the Yankees and go somewhere else or maybe retire. That should make you and some others happy.
Or maybe he’ll go back to being the player most of us were proud to call the captain of the Yankees. I bet that would make a lot of us a lot happier than the other options you mentioned.
Some people don’t mind mediocrity S.A. I’m not one of them especially when I’ve seen so much more from a player.
Nobody is afraid to play the Yankees anymore. Look at their home record.
In a year where home teams have dominated baseball, the Yankees are barely over .500 at home. That advantage disappeared with Mystique and Destiny some time ago.
nyyyanks23- have you been watching baseball tonight again? I only ask becuase that type of expert analysis is rare amongst the non-professionals
“What? What self interest does he have that he’s putting above the team?
The stuff you people come up with in here is a riot.”
1. Insisting on playing when he is hurt.
2. How about voluteering to move another position, so that the team can try to get a better defensive SS.
Pete PLEASE if the opportunity ever presents itself ask Girardi if he sees Moeller catching any more games this season. Absolutely ridiculous that Girardi has him riding the bench, collecting rust, when Jorge’s arm just isn’t getting the job done and when we saw Moeller call some really good games, plus hit and throw runners out.
That one puzzles me the most of all of Girardis calls.
The first move the Yankees should make when the off-season begins in September is get rid of Cashman, and bring in a new GM. The next move is to cut ties with Mussina, Giambi, Farnsworth, Hawkins, Damon, Abreau & Pettitte. The big decision will be what to do with Jeter? If he can no longer start at SS, where will he play. Forget third with his range, or the outfield. Maybe first, if the don’t pursue Texiera. Second is out, unless they trade Cano. And the DH spot has to be open for Matsui (Unless traded), and Posada.
Doris-
Enjoyed the Klapisch article today. He’s right-who has the cajones to tell Jeter he’s moving to 2nd or 1st next year and to top it off that A-Rod is playing short, while they sign a FA or trade for a player to play 3rd!!!!
Steinbrenner would have to step up and basically say to Jeter, you are no longer “the man.”
“Or maybe he’ll go back to being the player most of us were proud to call the captain of the Yankees. I bet that would make a lot of us a lot happier than the other options you mentioned.
Some people don’t mind mediocrity S.A. I’m not one of them especially when I’ve seen so much more from a player.”
and I am sure people will still complain about our embarrassment of a captain. I don’t like mediocrity. I don’t like stupidity either.
“the good news in all of this is the expiring contracts and the yanks good minor league system which is getting better all the time…”
Great news! I can’t wait for the AAA years!
“mark- we will just have to agree to disagree about Jeter.
Maybe in time he will leave the Yankees and go somewhere else or maybe retire. That should make you and some others happy.
Hopefully he won’t make you hang your head in shame as a Yankee fan for too long. The man sure is an embarrassment to the franchise.
If only he was more like Jose Reyes…maybe today he will threaten to beat up Michael Kay.. ”
Keep living in the past.
Then do not complain when the team stinks like yesterday.
mark - HANK STEINBRENNER IS THE MAN
You’re right on about Varitek leadership. You could put Mark Messier and Paul O’Neil in that category. Just look at their faces. Once the game starts they refuse to lose or be beaten. Yanks were beaten after the first inning last night.
Maybe our offense can touch up Beckett for more runs than the Red Sox do Ranser.
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“Keep living in the past.
Then do not complain when the team stinks like yesterday.”
Whos living in the past? Jeter has to play better. No duh. He’s hurting this team…so are a lot of other people. But Jeter supposedly is such an embarrassment and brings such shame to the NY Yankees. Oh nooooooooooo.
I don’t like stupidity either.
I’ll reserve judgement on that one S.A. Ha ha.
Gah!
**whos=who is