One thing that “Yankee Trader” brought up is what is foremost on my mind. Centerfield. When Giambi and Abreu are let go, there is a lot of offense that goes with them. I like Gardner and would love to see him in CF, but he’s not the answer to the power drain the Yanks are looking at (2009 thumpers: ARod, Nady, Matsui, Posada). I think the Yanks need a big bat in CF. That’s going to have to come via trade… and its going to be expensive.

As for a big bat ON A LONG TERM CONTRACT at first, I’m leery. That Giambi contract was horrible. We’ve had a clunky roster for years, largely due to that deal. I’m not looking forward to that mistake being repeated. Yeah, I know Teixeira is not Giambi… still his will be an unmoveable contract.

I wasn’t aware of that, to be honest. If that’s the case, I have no problem with what you said. Stick is still in the organization, so they still have him to use if they want him. I think he was wrong to want to include Phil in the Santana deal and I think that will be proven out over time, but Stick absolutely knows his baseball. What exactly does he do with the Yankees, Pete? Does he help out in the scouting department?

I meant also to say in my post that I agree with you about Joe. He is such a smart guy that there’s no way he doesn’t learn from this experience. He’s generally done a very fine job, but he has made some peculiar decisions. I guess I can chalk this up to him trying to be almost too creative. Knowing Joe, during this off-season he will spend a lot of time wondering what he could have done better. This lineup will look a lot different with Giambi gone and possibly Abreu, and whomever in CF. A more flexible, younger lineup may play more to Joe’s strengths……..that and good health. He was given a stacked deck from the beginning.

But, you are far from being a fan of Girardi and it would be nice to admit it because that’s the perception many of your readers have of you.

I am in fact a big fan of Cashman. I just think he needs some help with player evaluations, which is a widely held opinion in baseball. His assistant GMs are either lawyers or stat guys. He has no Stick Michael type, which is something virtually every other GM has.

After what Phil did last year pre-injury and then in September/October, I had absolutely no problem giving him a spot in the rotation. He struggled at the end of ST, but so what? Lots of pitchers do………Was Pete saying, after Phil looked so good early in ST, to send him back to AAA? I don’t think so. Ian, I agree with.

Andy and Moose? No thanks – one will do nicely. I would go with Moose; Andy has just not had a good year – too up and down.

Bowa? I have no problem bringing him back because he’s a great coach, but as a security blanket for Cano ? Please – if Cano can’t handle life as a professional ballplayer (and he plays like an amateur), then I don’t want him on this team.

“I suppose what I focused on was that Girardi just cannot have that at this point in his career.”

I agree. It’s not something I was criticizing Girardi for, just taking account of it and adding it to the overall recipe for a lost season.

Losing Joe T., a borderline HOF player in his day, meant losing that “intangible” element of being able to say to any player on his team: “I played with the best. And you, son, aren’t fit to hold their jock.” Not that Joe T ever said that, but he could have and they all knew it.

If the Sox lose today and the Yankers just happen to win. You have to look at the next series in Toronto. You’re lookin at a sweep buddy and most likely 10 to 12 out by next weekend.

It’s nice to have pipe dreams though DFox! I guess it makes your season worthy??

according to this article from 1989 ,lack of bunting skills has been going on for a long time.

if whole generations of players couldn’t bunt, who’s going to teach young players to bunt?their coaches, it looks like, couldn’t bunt either.

I re-read your post. Um, I agree about Torre’s gravitas. I suppose what I focused on was that Girardi just cannot have that at this point in his career.