Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 05, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Johnny Damon did his part. The rest of the team didn’t do theirs as the stumbling Yankees fell again to the Red Sox.
Seamhead Sam Borden broke down the stats that point to why the Yankees have been so inconsistent this season. But there is no easy solution.
Darrell Rasner is 1-7 with a 6.28 ERA in his last eight starts but will stay in the rotation according to the always optimistic Joe Girardi. This notebook also has updates on a special first pitch, Brian Bruney, Chris Britton, Humberto Sanchez, Chien-Ming Wang, new hats and some signings.
Sox-Yanks today at 3:55 on Fox. Back later with the lineups.
From lat thread:
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Jeter.
I know what should happen with him but I doubt anybody in the organization could convince him to do it.â€
If he continues to be bad and the yanks do not make the playoffs, he will be told by Cash (if he is around, if not the new guy who will not have nay alligence to Jeter) and Hank that he is moved to another position. If he bitches and moans, fans will trun on him.
Good news about Bruney. Hopefully he will not have any setbacks.
We need him in the bullpen, probably replacing Hawkins.
Who would have thought bullpen will be our strength this year
I told you he sucked.
From the discussion of the last thread on Jeter:
Can he play second? If so, move Cano for a good piece (pitching) and move Jeter to second.
We still need to find an SS though.
Great to see the amateur managers and GMs out in full force this morning. Jeter is not moving to second. If your complaint is his range…how does that make sense? Folks, think before you post. Think before you post.
What ever happened to Murderer’s Row Plus Cano?
This is absolutely ridiculous. Its been something different each of the past 3 seasons.
It’s time to cut ties with K. Long-Someone needs to be held accountable. Yesterday, perfect example-Bases loaded Abreu up-pop out, ARod grounds out, no runs again
How about changing up the lineup Joe?
1. Gardner(since Johnny is out) LF
2. Jeter-Better get it going SS
3. Giambi DH
4. AROD 3B
5. Posada C
6. Abreu RF
7. Cano 2b
8. Betemit 1B
9. Melky CF
Pete, I’ve been wondering ever since the first stories appeared about Girardi’s last clubhouse tirade what he meant about ‘following the rules’. I’ve watched for further mentions since it seemed to me that that was the only part of the leaks that was remotely interesting or new. Yet no one seems to have followed up with info or even speculation about what rules? how broken? by whom? Maybe I missed the memo, but I’d be very grateful for a clue to what that was all about.
If he must move the most logical move should be first base. I think hes fine at short, thats not the problem right now. Getting a starting pitcher to hold a lead is
“It’s time to cut ties with K. Long-Someone needs to be held accountable. Yesterday, perfect example-Bases loaded Abreu up-pop out, ARod grounds out, no runs again”
Because Kevin Long popped out and grounded out?
“Because Kevin Long popped out and grounded out?”
He’s the hitting coach not some ballboy. He needs to take some responsibility.
There will be at least a 50% roster turnover before the 1st pitch is thrown at the new Stadium.
““I don’t know what’s going to happen with Jeter.
I know what should happen with him but I doubt anybody in the organization could convince him to do it.â€
If he continues to be bad and the yanks do not make the playoffs, he will be told by Cash (if he is around, if not the new guy who will not have nay alligence to Jeter) and Hank that he is moved to another position. If he bitches and moans, fans will trun on him.”
Why? Because you say so?
Honestly, what is with people who have never set foot in the Yankee front office, acting like they know exactly what goes on in there and how things are done?
I hate to say it but something is wrong between the hitters and Long. Last year, Long helped Arod have a beast year and Cano was fixed after a slow start. Posada had a career year and Abreu had another good year. I think Long just lost his magic or got lucky for last year’s great year.
I think we should hire Rick Peterson to be pitching coach. He always seems to turn pitchers into really good ones.
PH;il:
You’re absolutely right about “amateur managers and GMs” being out this morning.
Move Jeter..Move him where?? Boston can consistently win with Julio Lugo, one of the worst shortsops in MLB. Jeter is not the problem. Pitching and timely hitting is.
Let’s face it, the 2008 Edition of the NY Yankees is just not as good as Boston or Tampa Bay.
Todays Headlines speak volumes about the 2008
Season:
” The Ineffective Rasner likely to stay in rotation”
Do you think that Rasner, along with Traber and Hawkins, would even be considered on the 25-man roster if the Yankee Front Office had serious intentions of winning a World championship in 2008?
new lineup
Jeter-SS
Abreu-RF
AROD-3B
Giambi-1B
Posada-DH
Cano-2B
Melky-CF
Gardner-LF
Molina-C
the kevin long apologists on here are really fun to watch… i think his relatives all post. he wouldnt cut it as the hitting coach at new rochelle high school, much less the yankees
“Great to see the amateur managers and GMs out in full force this morning. Jeter is not moving to second. If your complaint is his range…how does that make sense? Folks, think before you post. Think before you post.”
Can you read English and udnerstand? Read again, before posting such critcism.
Robby Thompson?? Another new expert- does he advise Joe to leave the starting pitcher in until the game is lost?
Lots of posts about weather or not the yanks fornt office is serious about this year. Even if the cynics are correct, even middle of the road teams look to improve their team during the year, and so far it looks like the Yanks are standing pat.
Predict the 09 Lineup!
LF- Damon
SS- Jeter
3B- AROD
1B- TEX
RF- Matsui
DH- Posada
2B- Cano
C- Molina
CF- Austin Jackson ( yeah baby!)
I’d sign up for that.
“Why? Because you say so?
Honestly, what is with people who have never set foot in the Yankee front office, acting like they know exactly what goes on in there and how things are done?”
First of all it is a blog and people express their opinions. You have done so too.
If his skills continue to diminish, he should still continue at SS and the team should suffer? See what happened with Bernie. It is team management responsibility to keep the team competitive, not to live in the past. It happens to all great players. Babe Ruth….
gardner-cf
Jete- ss
Abreu- RF
AROD-3b
Cano-2b
Giambi-1b
Posada-DH
Molina-C
Christian-LF
that’s what I want right now..
Cant lead off gardner, he cannot hit
“Cant lead off gardner, he cannot hit”
ahhh but he can walk like no one’s business
“he wouldnt cut it as the hitting coach at new rochelle high school, much less the yankees”
Yeah, its Kevin Long’s fault. How many Atbats has he had this year??
The NY Yankees are:
3rd in the AL in OBP
5th in the AL BA
5h in the AL in Slg. Pct.
6th in the AL in Runs
Matsui, ARod and Posada all have missed significant time which has also affected those numbers.
But its Kevin Long’s fault that the Yankees can’t hold a lead or hit with RISP.
As Casey Stengel once said: ” Amazin’ Amazin’ Amazin’!”
Cant lead off gardner, he cannot hit
right now, I doubt that will be the case all season.
The Captain should take it on his own to move to 1st base in 2009 unless Teixeira is strongly pursued.
When he arrived in ’96, there was no certainty he would turn out the way he did. Either Gonzo or trade can make the SS position good enough.
The only place Jeter should be moved is down in the order.
His playing SS is not causing us to lose games.
His hitting, however, is causing us to lose games.
He’s a shell of himself offensively and I do believe he’s the engine for this team.
When other guys see him fail in the lineup I think it takes the starch out of them.
In the spring Arod was predicting an MVP season for Jeter based on how he came to Spring Training looking fast and in better shape.
I think everyone on the team is shocked how awful he’s been and I think is a pathetic group of players that can’t hit on their own — they can only feed off each other. It’s a fairweather offense in more ways than one.
So if someone doesn’t kick start the offense, the rest of them stay asleep.
Jeter used to kick start the offense. Now, he stalls it.
He should be batting 6-9 until he proves otherwise.
I live in Chicago, and is there any way I can watch today’s Red Sox-Yankees game? The Fox here will be broadcasting the uninteresting Cubs-Cardinal game, and my subscription to the MLB.TV will, of course, be blacked out! Any solution?
“Either Gonzo or trade can make the SS position good enough.”
pahahahahahahahaha Gonzo?
seriously bro?
no offense but we don’t need someone hitting .190 right now if not at all.
“If his skills continue to diminish, he should still continue at SS and the team should suffer?”
Right now, Jeter is still arguably the best SS in the AL. There is no other position to move him to where his bat will not be worse relative to other AL players playing that position.
Derek will be the Yankee shortstop through 2010. He’s far from the Yanks biggest problem.
Right now, Jeter is still arguably the best SS in the AL.
He’s not even the best SS on his team.
There is no other position to move him to where his bat will not be worse relative to other AL players playing that position.
It’s not about that, if and when the Yankees move him off SS it will be to conserve his career, you can’t already tell the wear and tear is getting to him ?
“He’s not even the best SS on his team.”
ARod hasn’t played SS in 4 years. His SS days are over. The major leagues aren’t Strat-O-Matic.
“if and when the Yankees move him off SS it will be to conserve his career, you can’t already tell the wear and tear is getting to him”
There is no place to move Jeter to. He can’t hit at SS, so he’s going to play 1B? To much wear and tear at SS, so he’s going to CF? He’s not Ernie Banks, his Robin Yount days are past.
The stats say he still is one of the best SS in the AL. That’s a fact.
The Yanks have so many problems – why worry about Jeter?
ARod hasn’t played SS in 4 years. His SS days are over. The major leagues aren’t Strat-O-Matic.
Athletically and range wise Alex can still play SS, he gets to more balls in the SS hole than Jetes has already and that’s from 3B. Your believing that junk that Alex can’t play SS really ? Are you serious ? Have you watched how his range has even got to balls Jetes can’t.
There is no place to move Jeter to. He can’t hit at SS, so he’s going to play 1B? To much wear and tear at SS, so he’s going to CF? He’s not Ernie Banks, his Robin Yount days are past.
The point is to conserve him, it’s already affecting his game, he’s lost not 1 but 2 steps in his defense and hitting. Why is CF the option, there is LF and 1B and no one said you have to have 20 HR to play 1B, can he have a better chance of hitting .300 from a position that will conserve his lateral movement probably.
The Yanks have so many problems – why worry about Jeter?
Because he’s not hitting !
Abreu should not bat before ARod. Abreu still has a great eye but is not the same hitter anymore. With ARod behind him, he sees more strikes and is less likely to draw a walk. I would rather see what happens with Cano in the 3 hole getting Arod protection. Cano’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t draw walks… well let’s see how he does when more of his pitches are strikes.
Line up with Damon and Matsui injured:
Jeter SS
Abreu LF
Giambi DH
ARod 3B
Cano 2B
Posada C
Cabrera RF
Betemit 1B (or any other random 1st Baseman)
Gardner CF
And then Girardi should keep it that way for at least five games.
Why worry about Jetes because he has 12 GIDPs, kills more rallies then he has started. The guy is the # 2 hitter when he doesn’t get on Bobby follows so now our # 3 and 4 bats don’t get AB w/ runners on. You ever notice that ?
“The NY Yankees are:
3rd in the AL in OBP
5th in the AL BA
5h in the AL in Slg. Pct.
6th in the AL in Runs”
but where are they in situational hitting?
they seem to have a lot of highs and lows.
having the ability to create a run when you need it is different than creating a run when you don’t or at random.
long’s most publicized achievement is arod, and arod is a really bad situational hitter. he makes no attempt at situational hitting.
so i’m not sure what it is exactly that long brings to the table.
he’s so introverted that you almost never hear him talk about much. so what really is his philosophy? the walking tradition and high obp that began with boggs and travelled on down through bernie,posada, etc seems to have gone by the wayside.
the yankees rarely wear out other teams with pitch count now. is that because of long?
i really don’t know ,but it would be nice to know.
long’s most publicized achievement is arod, and arod is a really bad situational hitter. he makes no attempt at situational hitting.
I agree here.Kevin Long is getting a free pass, consistancy is the problem and the batting coach is there to keep you in rythmn , we are not seeing enough of that from any player.
Why is Rasner still in the starting rotation. We have other options at SWB and Trenton: Karstens, Aceves, McCutchen and Jason Jones. We know what Rasner is (at best a long man in the BP and Giese is filing that role nicely). Time to see what the rest can do.
Also, why, other than his $3.75M contract, is Hawkins still on the roster? How much worst can J.B.Cox, Scott Patterson and Scott Strickland be?
Time to accept the 2008 team for what it is, a mediocre, underachieving, overpaid team that looks like it is playing underwater. Time to cut the fat, bring up the “kids” and look to the future.
Happy 4th Everyone!
SoCalYankeeFan
the article that supposedly was going to have some stats detailing the Yanks inconsistency is awful. it was so bad that it actually amused me.
first, there is not even the most basic statistical analysis. it just lists the # of Yankee runs scored in the 1996-2000 period, then lists the # of runs scored this year. this article doesn’t even do simple stuff such as extrapolate this year’s #s out to a full season, or compare them to league scoring rate – for example, the 2000 AL averaged about 5.3 runs a game, the 2008 AL about 4.6.
of course it’s true that this team scores less than those teams. but i had to get my calculator out to figure out things such as the 2000 team scored about 5.4 runs per game, while 2008 is scoring 4.7. and then i’m still left with figuring out why and whether it means anything.
which it doesn’t – the 2000 Yankees won 87 games, but they won because the AL East was weak.
anyway, once the article finishes the statistical presentation, such as it is, the rest of it is the usual media idiocy. There’s some whining about how A-Rod “refused to be accountable for the second straight day, blowing out of the clubhouse without talking to reporters.” And then the rest of this alleged analysis results can be summed up like this: ‘A-Rod a choker if he doesn’t get a clutch hit every single time.’
this article is so bad that it reads like a satire of NY sports-writing that you’d see in “The Onion”. so while i learned absolutely nothing about the 2008 Yankees, at least the article provided comic relief.
Sorry, but disagree with Sam today. To me, the most glaring failure was not “Alex Rodriguez’s groundout with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.” Most fun one to write about maybe, but others glared just as brightly.
To me, failing to get a run in with bases loaded and 1 out is at least equally as glaring a failure than not being able to do it with 2 outs. If Bobby Abreu was accountably standing near his locker after the game, what did he have to say about that?