Game 132: Red Sox at Yankees
-
- August
- 27
YANKEES (70-61)
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
I. Rodriguez C
Ponson RHP
RED SOX (76-55)
Ellsbury RF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 1B
Bay LF
Lowrie 3B
Varitek C
Cora SS
Crisp CF
Byrd RHP
Sidney Ponson (7-4, 4.67) vs. the Boston hitters.
Paul Byrd (8-11, 4.61) vs. the New York hitters.
Notes: The Yankees are 6-7 against the Red Sox this season. … Mark Kotsay is expected before game time but will not be in Boston’s lineup. … The Yankees have 35 home runs in August. Only the White Sox (47) have more in baseball.
SIR SIDNEY: Ponson is 3-12, 6.92 in 21 games against Boston in his career. He faced the Red Sox on July 27 and allowed seven runs in four innings.
THE IRON HORSE: Well, not quite. But this will be the 12th straight game Jason Giambi has played at first base. That’s his longest such streak since playing 19 straight from Sept. 1-20, 2005.
GET INTO THE GROOVE: A-Rod had one RBI in the last seven games.
BYRD MAN: Paul Byrd is 2-5, 4.90 against the Yankees in his career. Since 2007, he has throwing 14 innings against the Yankees, giving up 16 runs on 21 hits.
Back later with updates.
UPDATE, 5:09 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference:
He walks about A-Rod, Giambi and other topics. It’s fairly brief, about eight minutes. Among his comments is that A-Rod has hit in the clutch his whole career.
UPDATE, 7:04 p.m.: Hank Steinbrenner is at the game. It is only the second game he has attended in person this season.
UPDATE, 7:17 p.m.: Jason Bay’s double makes it 2-0. Sir Sidney has already allowed three hits.
The Yankees are going to have to mash if they are to win this game. Ponson is already at 21 pitches and isn’t going to last long.
UPDATE, 7:24 p.m.: Apparently Bobby Meacham tied up Red Sox third base coach DeMarlo Hale, donned his uniform and then sent Jason Bay into that sure out. Talk about cutting Ponson a break. Shows you what they think of Alex Cora.
2-0 Boston, Yankees coming to the plate. If they can score 18 here, Ponson should get the win.
UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: Johnny Damon never, and I mean never, complains about a call. He had a right there. Tim Timmons missed it.
The crowd – for now – applauds Alex as he comes to the plate.
UPDATE, 7:35 p.m.: And A-Rod delivers an RBI single. See, Joe Girardi was right.
UPDATE, 7:54 p.m.: Tyler Kepner did a little fact-finding to debunk Joe Girardi’s pre-game statement about A-Rod.
UPDATE, 8:07 p.m.: Well, I must admit, I did not expect the Byrd-Ponson matchup to be 2-1 after three innings.
UPDATE, 8:28 p.m.: Big hit there for Cano to tie the score at 2-2. And Matsui goes first to third on the single. You have to give Matsui credit for rehabbing like he did to come back. A lot of players would have had the surgery when the doctor suggested it.
UPDATE, 9:33 p.m.: Pudge Rodriguez is 10 of 51 with the Yankees with one RBI in 18 gamesand has struck out nine times.
It’s only 4-2. But there is little evidence the Yankees can overcome that. The last nine batters have gone in order and they’re three outs away from getting Papelbon.
UPDATE, 9:47 p.m.: Jose Veras is in the process of putting the game out of reach. One run in, no outs, bases loaded.
UPDATE, 9:50 p.m.: Now it’s 7-2. That should do it. Now they need Mussina to avoid a sweet.
The Yankees will be 12-18 since that eight-game win streak. The Yankees used to get in position then put the hammer down. Not this year.
It’s going to be interesting to see what these final 30 games are like.
UPDATE, 10:00 p.m.: Time to option David Robertson, no?
A 4-2 game turned ugly in a hurry. So far, the Yankees have been outscored 18-5 in the series they said they had to win. Can even Sunny Side Joe Girardi spin this in a positive fashion?
UPDATE, 10:23 p.m.: Giambi is 4 for 4 against Timlin this season with three home runs and a double.
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“BYRD MAN: Paul Byrd is 2-5, 4.90 against the Yankees in his career. Since 2007, he has throwing 14 innings against the Yankees, giving up 16 runs on 21 hits.”
Sounds like a pitcher we should beat up on. I won’t be surprised when we don’t.
Girardi just isn’t all that bright
FREAK!!! Giambi hits after Alex again?!?!?!?
The Giamboid has 4 HRs off Byrd, two earlier this season. There is hope.
Okay, I understand ARod not producing – when you have a contract for the rest of your baseball life, there’s no incentive to play well – it’s not like he has to ever negotiate agian. (That’s the problem with mondo long term contracts)
But presumably Giambi wants to play next year. He has a huge incentive to play his azz off.
Just don’t get it.
“I’m trying to put together an appropriate playlist to listen to during this evening’s game with the sound off – other than Mozart’s requiem, depeche mode, and the cure I am a little at a loss for material – any ideas?
Ave Maria? Taps ?
Doesn’t Phil Hughes start for SWB today? Keep your fingers crossed that the kid pulls it together!
Bronx Jeers how about The Smiths…they are known for their depressing music, “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ is a great song for your playlist!
what happens if the yanks lose to the sox again?! is the season over or we still have a stupid chance?
If byrd win the game cashman needs to get fired! he could of have this guy over here….
Losers pick at the lineup get a life fools…
you wanted the stars day in and day out and now you get them and you still bitch and moan… more 18 yr old spoiled fools…
yeah moving giamsteroid down to 7th will make a difference!!!! the only guy less clutch then giamboid is the best player in baseball him self alex mr. small rodriguez…
51 games of 3 runs or less, what a joke..
wakefield looked bad and they hit him hard and still scored only 3 runs, that is all you need to know about the hollow hollow offense.
once the yanks get eliminated at least they will play gardner some…
This looks like it will turn out to be a sweep.
As for Hughes, who really cares about him? He’s Carl Pavano Jr.
Bronx Jeers – lol @ Taps
What song?
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue comes to mind, written by a great New Yorker and composer. Yankees win tonight.
Bronx Jeers
Let me get this one in first (and hopefully last)......
(extended) Holiday – Madonna
yea I am wanting the great paul byrd.. he is another old piece of crap, any fan who would want him on the team is a mo-on.
“The Yankees have 35 home runs in August. Only the White Sox (47) have more in baseball.”
Yet they are 11-12 on the month. Think I’d rather have the 2nd most wins in August.
“Girlfriend in a Coma” kinda describes this team.
One complaint. Move Jason down!
“yea I am wanting the great paul byrd.. he is another old piece of crap, any fan who would want him on the team is a mo-on.”
Sadly, Byrd is sort of like Ponson, Rasner and Pavano in that sense.
“You get mad props for figuring out how to do an umlaut.”
No mad props, just cut ‘n’ pasted it.
Much like Girardi seems to have done with the 5th spot in the lineup lately.
(hey, if we’re not going to slam Girardi for something, why bother showing up?)
Do we have any info we can release on Paul before the game?
“Since 2007, he has throwing 14 innings against the Yankees, giving up 16 runs on 21 hits.”
Sounds a lot like Kenny Rogers vs the Yanks prior to Game 4 of the ‘06 ALDS. When a team aint going well, you can throw prior history out the window.
“yeah moving giamsteroid down to 7th will make a difference!!!! the only guy less clutch then giamboid is the best player in baseball him self alex mr. small rodriguez…”
So maybe we should move Giamoffsteroid to 7th and As long as its not clutch to 8th.
CK in LA
August 27th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Okay, I understand ARod not producing – when you have a contract for the rest of your baseball life, there’s no incentive to play well – it’s not like he has to ever negotiate agian. (That’s the problem with mondo long term contracts)
That is one dumb post. Nobody on this team works as hard as Arod. Before and after games and in the offseason this guy is constantly trying to get better and stay in shape. So just because the dude is set for life doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about winning. He actually has some history to make that keeps him motivated as well. Sorry he stunk last night.
from earlier today: “They are having a bad year. It is not the apocolypse.â€
at least if there was an apocalypse there wouldn’t be another red sox world series victory .
I shudder at this star-studded Yankee lineup. Byrd won’t last an inning.
Ponson, however, should be able to shut down the team of scrubs the Sox will send out there,
By the way, Coco Crisp had three hits last night.
Song list how about Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, with Giambi in the line-up:
I see a little silhouette-o of a man. Scad a moosh, vad a moosh will you do the van-dango? Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening, me.Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo, Figaro Magnifico o o o o.
why are people all gloom and doom?
didnt we establish before the series began that we needed to win 2 out of 3 and in reality we werent going to sweep? okay so we lost one now we need to win the next 2.
but i do agree if we lose tonight, well i dont know what to say, at least i wouldnt be surprised.
Jeter Girl,
It wasn’t mine as I took it from the previous thread but
Please,Please,Please Let Me Get What I Want would be good if Arod comes up with RISP.
Haven’t had a hit in a long time….
See the year I’ve had could make a good fan turn bad
So for once in my life let me let me
get a base hit
Lord knows it would be the first time.
Yeah I used to listen to The Smiths just a little.
“THE IRON HORSE: Well, not quite. But this will be the 12th straight game Jason Giambi has played at first base. That’s his longest such streak since playing 19 straight from Sept. 1-20, 2005.
GET INTO THE GROOVE: A-Rod had one RBI in the last seven games.”
These are definite keepers. Pete’s rollin !
I will be positive as the game grows near.
aardvark:
ironic isnt it? the sux’s bottom lineup that everyone laughed at before the game ended up giving andy the most problems.
last night was a sad sad game
Leaving To the game today…Maybe There will more of the same as last night…(SOX FAN)
“I’m trying to put together an appropriate playlist to listen to during this evening’s game with the sound off – other than Mozart’s requiem, depeche mode, and the cure I am a little at a loss for material – any ideas?”
Here’s a couple of ideas:
1)Garth Brooks-Unanswered Prayers
2)Yankee Mambo (tribute to the 1996-2000 team)
3)Neil Young-Don’t let it bring you down
4)Ray Charles-Hit the Road Jack
5)Bruce Hornsby-The Way it Is
6)Sweet Caroline-Neil Diamond(this is going to be a tough one to stomach)
7)Metallica-Unforgiven
8)Memories-Barbara Streisand
9)Billy Joel-Just the way you are
10)Bob Dylan-The Times they are a changin
you gotta have faith, yes, we (or some of us) did postulate that 2 of 3 would be sufficient. Losing the Pettitte vs. Wakefield game wasn’t the best way to get there, but if we can get by tonight, we’ll be back in business, at least for one more day.
Or so goes the theory.
”(extended) Holiday – Madonna”
Haven’t we suffered enough?
lol at the yankee mambo
you gotta admit that was a good song those years lmao
The Yankees should play Meatloaf’s “Two Out Of Three Aint Bad” in the clubhouse for motivation. He is a great Yankee fan if you didnt know…
Here’s another song for the list:
Queen: Death on 2 legs
Green Beret,
Where are you? Hope you’re getting your sarcasm meter fixed. I can’t believe you bit on my draft comment.
I see A-Rod becoming a Zito-like albatross upon this team in the near future.
Show of hands: How many are excited by A-Rod’s chase of the all-time HR record?
How come I only hear crickets?
Today is the most important game of the year. After we win, then it will be tomorrows game.
Show of hands: How many are excited by A-Rod’s chase of the all-time HR record?
How come I only hear crickets?
Because you asked for a SHOW of hands not a yay or nay. I would be worried if you where hearing things with a show of hands
Another loss tonight should effectively end our season (if it has not happened already). I guess Girardi just feels Giambi will hit. I don’t see it, but hey what do I know? I’m just a fan(atic). I do know I need a drink…
Unbef***inglieveable That 3 and 4 tandem went 0 for 9 last night and instead of breaking it up GI Joe keeps it together. We are going to have to kidnap Jason Giambi.
A-Rod’s Rangers finished last when he was with them, but it wasn’t because he choked in the clutch.
How hard of a concept is it that we need to split of ARod and Giambi. Having are two worst hitters with runners on batting 4 and 5 kills us game in and game out.
Girardi is being really stubborn here and it is getting a little bit annoying. Giambi is still batting 5th. I know i am no manager, but I am truly starting to believe Girardi is overmatched here. He is handling the pitching really well, but i see no intensity and no openness to change from what isnt working. Do they still have Buck Showalter’s number?
ZMAN7777:
well let me say a lot more people here would be much happier if AROD added to his homerun count last night when the bases where loaded
but i dont expect him to hit homeruns everytime he comes up, jeez all i ask for is a base hit with RISP, so that way the Big G can come up and do the job, oh wait…..
That 4 and 5 * (sorry my error)
ZMan,
I could (not?) care less about the HR record.
YankeeDiva, what you’re hearing is the sound of one hand clapping.
Thanks, Diva. I couldn’t see any hands . . . or crickets for that matter.
I do see an albatross though. Pitches, pitches everywhere . . . but not a one to spank!
I’m trying to stay positive, I really am. I’ve watched A Rod play dozens of games at the Stadium and never once booed him. Even at his worst I always said that it doesn’t helps him be productive if he the fans are putting more pressure on him. He puts so much pressure on himself. Besides, last year when he consistently came through in the clutch, I didn’t feel like I was being two faced or fickle.
Last night when he hit into the 7th ininng double play I just put my head in my hands and looked down and stared at the floor. I saw the last flicker of hope for the season fade.
Tonight, given the same set of circumstances, I am positive the I will boo him till my wife hits me over the head with a hardcover book. How’s THAT for being positive?
How hard of a concept is it to understand that no matter how much you bitch and moan about the 5 spot in the lineup Giambi will still be there?
Wonder what I should pick up from the liquor store to get me through this game. Everclear?
Save us Sir Sidney. Go Yanks!
A-Rod will hit a meaningless solo homerun in the bottom of the eighth, when the Yankees will be either up or down by seven runs.
Randy l –
No worries. The Cubs, the Angels, The Rays – pick one.
Girardi is too stubborn. I dont really understand why his job is safe. It’s not just about losing the season, its about his unwillingness to change or apparently show any emotion at all. I defended him all year, but as i mentioned, he is really overmatched here.
I’ve probably said this 5 times before, but it will apparently take the jaws of life to pry Giambi from the 5 spot.
I’m fairly convinced that the Yanks will exercise the $5 buyout clause in Giambi’s contract and sign someone else to play first base. And next season, he’ll somehow still be batting 5th in pinstripes.
Albatross ….. Albatross …..
Maybe we can get John Cleese to work the stadium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_u7VGiMO0U
Prediction: Oakland will sign Giambi to a one-year, $2M contract in the offseason. He will replace Frank Thomas as the team’s obligatory, inexpensive, over-the-hill, .240-hitting slugger.
He will not be missed here.
I’m sad to say that the magic is gone:
1)There are no squirrels running up the flag pole in 2008.
2)Routine plays have turned into little league looking blunders (i.e. Giambi at 1b, Arod dropping routine fly balls).
3)Sidney Ponson is considered “reliable”.
4)Trading Farnsworth was a BAD thing.
5)Our 300 million dollar man has 2 RBI in the 8/9 innings this season. Yes, 2.
ray complaining does not make one bit of difference to the lineup.
Point of the blog is to come and share yankee baseball insight as well as air your frustrations about the team (if the situation warrants it). I’d say its warranted.
“How hard of a concept is it to understand that no matter how much you bitch and moan about the 5 spot in the lineup Giambi will still be there?”
raymagnetic,
The over under on how many games will someone mention Giambi in the 5th spot for the rest of the games was 28 of the last 35 games. I picked over. Let the streak live!!
“I’m trying to put together an appropriate playlist to listen to during this evening’s game with the sound off – other than Mozart’s requiem, depeche mode, and the cure I am a little at a loss for material – any ideas?â€
Maybe you could find a recording of Suzan Walman’s announcement of Roger Clemens’ return to the Yankees. That would be nice.
what I don’t get is, I know Girardi is trying to be consistent now, but how can he just keep plugging AROD and GIAMBI into the 4/5 spot. I mean seriously, we have NO chance of making the playoffs if something doesn’t adjust there.
last night I did heroin for the first time in my life aftter watching the yankee game. I bought an extra bundle for tonight, just in case.
I didn’t follow ANY Yankees games to start the 2nd half…they won 8 in a row…then I started watching them a lot…UNTIL this weekend,,,,they swept Baltimore….then I tuned in last night to see Andy getting totally hosed by that ICEHOLE behind the plate…..back in the “L” column….I will do my best to stay away from following them at all for the rest of the year…I will DEFINITELY stay away for the next 2 games agains the BoSux and when they win both games,,,,remember why it happened….
I don’t want to introduce negativity on top of negativity, but I will anyway. Let’s play a little thought exercise:
Imagine it’s September 1, 2014. The Yankees have still not won #27. The Yanks are 8 games back from wild card contention. Arod comes up and hits his 763rd home run (for the sake of this discussion, Barry Bonds has not hit another).
What is the reaction?
I pray we never find out.
“I’ve probably said this 5 times before, but it will apparently take the jaws of life to pry Giambi from the 5 spot.”
How about a fifth of JD tied to a big-game fishing reel?
Nick—the reaction is noise from crickets (or at least it should be!)
Can we have a vote please?
All those who want I am the jinx,,,DVAB off the island say AYE!
Drive 4-5 I feel your pain even I would have been tempted to boo not sure I would have bbo’d but would damn sure be tempted to boo, there is only one player that I boo’d as a Yankee fan in the past 10 years and that was Felix Heredia. Boy did he really piss me off.
Only if A-Rod will follow DVAB
A-Rod and Giambi as our 4 and 5 hitters with their PISS POOR RISP is the reason that we S*CK in the clutch all year….Teams won’t why away from pitching to those two TOTAL CHOKERS when the game is on the line for the remainder of the season and watch how the both of them WILT under the pressure of EVERY clutch situation that has “game on the line” implications. Both of these clowns are sickening to watch “when it counts’....you get your hopes up and WAY MORE often than not, they smash those hopes to bits.
Didnt Carlos Pena used to be in the Yankee system? You’re welcome Tampa!!! Yeah. we made the right choice. Jason Giambi.
The Balboni Curse:
seriously, only 2? really? wow, when he stinks, he truly stinks
but what i dont understand is how can someone with over a .300 average and have over 20 homeruns still finds a way to be hated and booed.
“What is the reaction?”
It wasnt clutch. The bases werent loaded and it was before the 8th inning.
AYE !
doreen-
the problem is that if the red sox pull off the wild card, they do have the right kind of pitching for the playoffs with all the off days.
asuming beckett comes back. they have beckett, matsuzaka. and lester for almost all their games with a sprinkle of wakefield thrown in.
as much as i like the yankeees , i dislike the red sox.
it would not be a total loss if they go down too, but if they make it to the playoffs, they’ll be tough for any team because of their top three starters
PETE—- Will you please ask Girardi point blank this question….
Why does Giambi continue to bat fifth and how low will he have to drop with his RISP before you make a change?????
Good lineup..
Let’s Go Yankees!
Kevin
Didnt Carlos Pena used to be in the Yankee system? You’re welcome Tampa!!! Yeah. we made the right choice. Jason Giambi.
I wanted him to stay that year too. I remember how he was w/ Oakland and then he hit his rock bottom you don’t just forget to how to hit.
“Imagine it’s September 1, 2014. The Yankees have still not won #27. The Yanks are 8 games back from wild card contention.”
..so it’s safe to asume cashman is still the gm?
but what i dont understand is how can someone with over a .300 average and have over 20 homeruns still finds a way to be hated and booed.
Because many people hit around .300 and hit 20 hrs. None of them make close to 300 Million and none of them come up and fail in so many clutch situations. The weird thing is next year he will probably be MVP.
Giambi needs to be hitting 10th.
TK,
How about “Jesus Christ Superstar”? There’s a couple ways you could read into that.
“The Balboni Curse:
seriously, only 2? really? wow, when he stinks, he truly stinks
but what i dont understand is how can someone with over a .300 average and have over 20 homeruns still finds a way to be hated and booed.”
This is why, this is an excerpt from the NY Daily News. Arod trys to say the right thing to the press, but, just check out the last statement he makes…if you read what he said then you can deduce that he is implying that although he was terrible last night, so was everyone else. Even if he did fail to come up with a hit 5 times, twice when just a base hit was needed, he is still going to help the team win. This was the case last year, but this year is a different story. The 2 RBI was stated by Michael Kaye last night when Arod was batting and talking about how un-clutch he’s been this season as compared to last.
“Today, we sucked. I sucked. I played terrible. They hit balls all over the place, down the corner at third base, and I left men all over the field. We win as a team and lose as a team. Tonight, you can put it on me, but I’m going to help this team win a lot of games, too.â€
LC,
If Charlie Manuel looked down the bench and saw Giambi, Cole Hamels, and Igawa. Giambi would be picked last!
my take is that we are watching an extremely flawed team in action that even one off-season will not fix. i know, as a yankee fan, i’m supposed to be gung-ho and never give up, but this is serious. we may see several years of trying to right this ship. flame on… but also be prepared to live through one of those eras… there’s a lot to repair.
“Imagine it’s September 1, 2014. The Yankees have still not won #27. The Yanks are 8 games back from wild card contention. Arod comes up and hits his 763rd home run (for the sake of this discussion, Barry Bonds has not hit another).
What is the reaction?”
I’d be happy for him. It’s still a great achievement, one he accomplished wearing the pinstripes.
Also, let me say that as horrible as A-Rod was last night, I never booed him. I would never boo a Yankee. I’m sorry, I just think that’s wrong. I remember being horrified that year when Jeter got off to that horrible start and the fans booed him. Can you imagine booing Mariano Rivera? No, right? Then there’s no way that anyone should have booed Jeter. It’s things like that which cause some fans to be embarrassed to be Yankee fans.
I think the first team to 21 should be awarded the victory tonight. I think today is the one day where Joe G should have changed the lineup. I have no doubt in my mind that Giambi will jack one tonight but I think he does need to be moved down in the lineup for a few days and break up the ARod/Giambi combo so the Yankees have a reasonably chance at scoring a runner from 3rd with less than 2 outs.
If Charlie Manuel looked down the bench and saw Giambi, Cole Hamels, and Igawa. Giambi would be picked last!
LOL sadly this is true.
“Didnt Carlos Pena used to be in the Yankee system? You’re welcome Tampa!!! Yeah. we made the right choice. Jason Giambi.
I wanted him to stay that year too. I remember how he was w/ Oakland and then he hit his rock bottom you don’t just forget to how to hit.”
If we could all predict the future Pavano and Igawa wouldnt have been signed. Pena was batting around .250 with tons of K’S when he was playing with us. No body would have predicted that he would become a basher again after being cut by Detroit.
People who forgot how to hit.
Brett Boone
Richi Sexson
Giambi
Jashell,
If people are allowed to complain about the lineup regularly then I’m allowed to talk about them too, no?
S.o.s,
I’ll take the under. No way Giambi is still in the lineup if the Yankees fall out of contention completely.
My theory here is extreme but bear with me:
Since Alex has a .400 OBP and hitting over .300, but is piss poor with people on base, put him leadoff. Put Giambi right after him at the top, as he walks alot and because of the shift, doesnt hit in many DPs. Then put your hitters who can single with people on. It’s not gonna happen, but depserate times call for something new. “it is change we can believe in.” Someone i think uses that as his catch phrase, but this whole thing isnt working.
Nick in SF,
“Imagine it’s September 1, 2014. The Yankees have still not won #27. The Yanks are 8 games back from wild card contention. Arod comes up and hits his 763rd home run (for the sake of this discussion, Barry Bonds has not hit another).
What is the reaction?”
I’m not sure. But I’m reasonably sure my head will be all lumped up from my wife having hit me over the head with hardcover books for 6 years.
People who forgot how to hit the needle.
Brett Boone
Richie Sexson
Giambi
FIXED
I am not a huge fan of Arod but he does not fail because he does not care!!!!!
He fails because he tries to hard and grips to hard..
people with the logic he has his money he does not care that is classic stupidity.. Newsflash Arod was rich a year ago also…
“Imagine it’s September 1, 2014. The Yankees have still not won #27. The Yanks are 8 games back from wild card contention. Arod comes up and hits his 763rd home run (for the sake of this discussion, Barry Bonds has not hit another).
What is the reaction?â€
I’d be happy for him. It’s still a great achievement, one he accomplished wearing the pinstripes.
Also, let me say that as horrible as A-Rod was last night, I never booed him. I would never boo a Yankee. I’m sorry, I just think that’s wrong. I remember being horrified that year when Jeter got off to that horrible start and the fans booed him. Can you imagine booing Mariano Rivera? No, right? Then there’s no way that anyone should have booed Jeter. It’s things like that which cause some fans to be embarrassed to be Yankee fans.
Jeter and Rivera have both been booed. Jeter was hitting .190 in June a few years ago and he heard it. Rivera was struggling in april last year, and he heard it.
Drive,
A little advice. Book on tapes or e-books, dude.
Good one, randy. You’re like a pit bull.
Sure, it’s 2014 and Cashman is still GM, Phil Hughes is in Scranton working out a couple kinks in his delivery with high hopes for him to finally join the rotation the next season, Joba has just been shut down because he’s reached his innings limit, Ian Kennedy woke up and feels like he’s going to make someone look stupid, the Pittsburgh Pirate have just DFA’d Livan but are grateful for the innings that he ate for them, and the Yankees still haven’t re-hired your buddy. What a calamity.
“People who forgot how to hit the needle.
Brett Boone
Richie Sexson
Giambi
FIXED”
People who remember how.
Pena
In reference to boo’ing players:
It is absolutely necessary to make your voice heard in the good times and bad.
These are very well paid athletes and we are all paying top dollar to see them and next year will likely be squeezed out of getting tix easily.
Boos are absolutely appropriate and warranted in some instances…and in no way, shape or form make you any less of a fan. These are not little league or high schoolers we’re talking about.
It also sends a message to the front office that the fans want a change. It’s all about the fans, the fans that buy merchandise, tickets, 9 dollar hot dogs and 4 dollar cokes.
Not booing is way to socialist for me. I like to speak my mind, that is why I live in the U.S.A.
stuart,
Alex cares too much. That’s the problem.
I wonder if ARod has consulted with Joel Fish (http://www.psychologyofsport.com/). This guy spoke to my swim team in college, I know what you are all thinking, swimming, but swimming at a high performance is all mental and this guy was very good.
This has to be causing tension in the locker room too. Our leadoff guy hit two homeruns last night and our 4-5 were 0-9 with 2 DPs and many strike outs, plus an error they both had a hand in. Do you think Damon, Jeter and Abreu sit and glare at A-Rod across the room?
“My theory here is extreme but bear with me:
Since Alex has a .400 OBP and hitting over .300, but is piss poor with people on base, put him leadoff. Put Giambi right after him at the top, as he walks alot and because of the shift, doesnt hit in many DPs. Then put your hitters who can single with people on. It’s not gonna happen, but depserate times call for something new. “it is change we can believe in.†Someone i think uses that as his catch phrase, but this whole thing isnt working.”
ARod was a leadoff hitter in HS.
mel
August 27th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Green Beret,
Where are you? Hope you’re getting your sarcasm meter fixed. I can’t believe you bit on my draft comment.
__
Sorry, Mel. Unlike some of you, I can’t lay around on an overstuffed sofa, playing on the computer and watching the soap operas and eating bon-bons.
Sorry, Mel…I’ve always wanted to accuse someone of watching soaps and eating bon-bons. I answered your message in the last thread….just too late. I was eating bon-bons.
“Jeter and Rivera have both been booed. Jeter was hitting .190 in June a few years ago and he heard it. Rivera was struggling in april last year, and he heard it.”
I mentioned that Jeter was booed and I said that I didn’t think it was right. It’s not right to boo Mo either. We’re supposed to support these guys; not help tear them down when they are at their low point. Do people think booing A-Rod last night was going to help him perform better? From what I saw, his performance only got worse as the boos got louder. Hmmm, I wonder why.
Laura,
Thank you pulling me off the ledge. I was staring into The Boodom Abyss. I’ve never booed him and I won’t start booing him now. Thank you.
Can I at least mumble “that no good chk*ing s%ofa$$%@!$” under my breath?
“people with the logic he has his money he does not care that is classic stupidity.. Newsflash Arod was rich a year ago also…”
I agree with you Stuart. There isnt one teammate or writer that doesnt say he is the hardest working player on the team. From the first one to show up. To extra batting practice. Money hasnt made him lazy. It might have made him put more pressure on himself. The more you make. The more your expected to produce.
“Can I at least mumble “that no good chk*ing s%ofa$$%@!$†under my breath?”
As long as you keep it to a low whisper.
Laura, I think the boos are a result of frustration. And trust me, I’ve been frustrated enough to do plenty worse than boo…
i actaully kind of feel bad for Arod, the guy is expected to do so much and gets hell when he doesnt, but then again he most likely knew this when he signed the dotted line last year
but also i feel that no matter what arod does people will always ALWAYS find something to bitch about
“Do you think Damon, Jeter and Abreu sit and glare at A-Rod across the room?”
No, because they know that there have been times when they’ve come up in big spots and didn’t deliver. Jeter is in no position to look down on A-Rod for his DPs when Jeter himself has 19. How many times has Abreu made a base running blunder this year? And what about that ball that Damon dropped in TOR?
There is plenty of blame to go around. A-Rod is the usual punching bag. His God awful performance last night just made it worse.
Laura,
It’s so easy to fall into the Boodom Abyss. I have to admit, mel’s suggestion of e-books makes it easier for me to think about booing
We need to buy a title this offseason. Win it all next year at all costs.
“Laura, I think the boos are a result of frustration. And trust me, I’ve been frustrated enough to do plenty worse than boo…”
I don’t doubt it. In the end though, I don’t see how the boos will make you feel better. Their horrible play makes you want to run out on the field and slap them around for 10 mins. That might actually help. Unfortunately, that will also get us arrested.
One poster was saying that booing let’s the players know that we are not happy with their performance. Yeah, ‘cause I’m sure they have no idea that we aren’t happy with their play!! We don’t need to boo to have our voices heard. You want to affect change? Stop going to the ballpark. Stop putting your butts in the seats. Stop buying the merchandise. That will definitely get management’s attention.
in 2006 the sux finished in third place in our division, did they not?
what did they do in 2007? does anyone remember? i cant remember i think i cut that memory from my brain, its in the garbage along with 2004
my point is one bad season doesnt have to dictate what happens the next season, just look at the rays!
It’s like booing in the forest. If no one hears them no big deal.
but also i feel that no matter what arod does people will always ALWAYS find something to bitch about
I know it seems like everyone is attacking A-Rod, but come on. .240 with RISP? This is the best player in baseball? Its not like he is batting .350 and .400 with RISP and he just missed one. Thihs has been all year from the first game. 28 Mil for 28 hrs and 78 rbis, with .240 RISP is not what i consider getting your money’s worth.
If Jose Molina made 28M and was considered the best in baseball, we’d be on him too.
This season we have attacked Cano for dogging, Jeter for DPs, Giambi for being a fat f-ck, Damon, Abreu, and the pitching, Girardi, Cashman. A-Rod is NOT the only target.
Randy l –
If the Red Sox make the WC (ewwww), you’ll have to blame the Twins, who let Livan Hernandez go despite being their savior for the first half of the season!
Then there’s the Beckett factor. Not as good this year as last, and perhaps nursing an injury. There’s also the Matsuzaka factor – will he be able to get away with walking the planet in the playoffs? Will he have thrown waaaaay too many pitches during the regular season and his arm finally, FINALLY, falls off?
And their bullpen isn’t really that good this year.
It may not be their year, either. Keep the faith. Cubs, Angels or Rays. Or Phillies.
Laura,
“You want to affect change? Stop going to the ballpark.”
Here’s where you lose me. I’ve been going to the ballpark for 45 years (I’m dating myself). It’s a link between my parents and I. I’ve taken my kids to the ballpark since they were small. It’s a link that my kids now have with me. There are millions just like us. We shouldnt be denied that just because our beloved team stinks in any given year.
Keep this up and I’m gonna start booing… I mean it!
“It’s like booing in the forest. If no one hears them no big deal.”
I don’t know, Mel. To me, booing is so low class, particularly last night. A-Rod got booed as if he were a member of the Red Sox. I just don’t think we should be doing that to one of our own. Like it or not, A-Rod is a Yankee for the rest of his life. He’s ours to keep. I really believe that we will win championships with him on board. It doesn’t seem like it now, but one of these days, months or perhaps years, he’s going to come up big when we need him.
yesterday when a-rod came up in the bottom of the 9th i prayed please dont hit a home run!! it was my first time ever i hoped my favorite player makes out! i hope you understand why.
Fat Lady spotted on the Deegan…
The frustrating thing for me isn’t the number of games the Yankees have lost, it’s the number of games they have had a reasonable chance to win that they have lost.
When Sidney Ponson gives you eight scoreless innings against the Anaheim Angels, for instance, you HAVE to win that game.
Laura,
I think you misunderstood me. It’s okay to boo at the tv or at the computer. Not okay to boo in person.
“Here’s where you lose me. I’ve been going to the ballpark for 45 years (I’m dating myself). It’s a link between my parents and I. I’ve taken my kids to the ballpark since they were small. It’s a link that my kids now have with me. There are millions just like us. We shouldnt be denied that just because our beloved team stinks in any given year.”
Drive, I hear ya and I totally understand where you are coming from. My experience has been that businessmen take notice when their wallets are being negatively affected. The other poster was saying that he wanted management to know that he wasn’t happy. I was merely telling him how I thought he’d best get that message across.
“I think you misunderstood me. It’s okay to boo at the tv or at the computer. Not okay to boo in person.”
You are right; I did misunderstand you. Sorry.
Alex cares too much. That’s the problem.
That and he opens his hips to pull every ball too much
Save us Roger!:
i know he hasnt been the only target, at least almost everyone on this team has been targeted, what im saying is that because of the contract he signed, and because of what he is expected to do, people will never be happy with him, but i also agree that his numbers this year with risp have indeed been terrible
this is a qoute from Arod about 2 years ago:
“Until i win 5 world series with this team and have a world series clinching home run, fans will never be completely satisfied with me, and i know that.”
i may have changed a few words but overall thats what he said and hes right.
i do belive that you are allowed to boo!
a note about damon yesterday; he forgot that he is a yankke he played a great game!
I do think that they should slip Nady between A-Rod and Giambi. Neither A-Rod or Giambi can hit lefties, so you have Abreu, Arod and Giambi all in a row. A-rod also cannot hit rightys, which makes it tough to act on this logic, but at least you can get someone in from 2nd or 3rd base.
Since Damon does not steal bases anymore, they should switch him and Jeter in the lineup. Jeter can get on base if that is what he is supposed to do (stop sac bunting in the 4th inning!!). Damon has more power than Jeter. Let Damon’s hits count for some RBI.
Jeter
Damon
Abreu
GIDPlay-Rod
Nady
Giambi
Matsui – who can hit lefties
Cano
Pudge/Molina/Moehler whoever else can bat .200
nick in sf-
if cashman is still there in 2014, i’m going to have to get some good antidepressant therapy.
.. and livan will be only 39 . since he can’t get any slower and still have the ball reach the plate in the air, he’ll still be pitching. he may even be throwing that pitch to arod.
... and don’t worry about my friend neil. he just finished getting david price ready to make his tampa debut .
Brandon,
That’s because he’s trying too hard because he cares about the team (or what people think, who knows?).
It’s amazing how muscle memory doesn’t account for much in baseball. A small breakdown creates a bigger problem.
i have an interesting question:
do any of you think that johnny damon regrets going for the money and becoming a yankee?
i guess time will tell, right?
Booing a poor at-bat or a bad play, specific to that at-bat or play, I think is appropriate. Booing before a player even steps into the batters box is not. You’re certainly not going to applaud a guy who just hit into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. I don’t like to boo, but I HAVE booed. It is a way to vent frustration. There’s not much else you can do.
What bugs me is that people seem to be a lot more comfortable booing than cheering and that’s what’s wrong at the Stadium. Most of the time the cheering doesn’t even start until after the scoring is done. We will cheer good plays, yes. But until someone actually does something, the stadium is quiet. There’s no noise to distract the other pitcher, there’s no Rah-Rah before the fact to show support. It’s like people are sitting there with a “show me” attitude and I really am disappointed by that.
“do any of you think that johnny damon regrets going for the money and becoming a yankee?”
Maybe if BOS wins another World Series this year.
Ugh, same lineup, different day
you gotta have faith,
Was he hanging in the Hamptons while playing for Boston? j/k I don’t think he was with Michelle in the early Boston years.
Seriously, I think he likes the city and the fans. Some of his teammates probably irritate him. I don’t think he knew what a culture shock it would be. But I don’t think he regrets leaving Boston. The writing’s always on the wall over there. Like graffiti. Can’t be ignored.
It’s amazing how muscle memory doesn’t account for much in baseball.
Actually it does, it’s what seperates good players and great players. I don’t think Arod has made the transition from 5 tool athlete to 5 tool player. It’s hard to explain he’s the guy w/ the best potential of any player in the league and it has never been reached fully. He has yet to get the muscle memory part of this game down it’s a big reason why he comes up unclutch. Ah now I figured out the comparison, you see a guy like Daniel Cabrera a fireballing pitcher w/ great potential but he has a problem repeating his mechanics, that’s what happens to Alex in the clutch.
Booing a player because of the number he chose is stupid beyond infinity.
Folks do forget that in 2007 Alex Rodriguez was the best clutch hitter in baseball. He led all of baseball in batting average and home runs after the 8th inning. He hit .452 with 8 home runs in the 9th inning. He had 26 home runs and 46 rbi’s with 2 outs and runners in scoring position.He had 13 home runs that untied games.
Even last year in the playoffs he hit better than Jeter, Posada, Giambi and Matsui. He was pitched around because no one was producing behind him.In Game 1 he was 0 for 2 with 2 walks. Posada hit behind him and went 0 for 4. In Game 2 he went 0 for 4, but Carmona only allowed 3 hits. In Game 3 he was 2 for 4. In Game 4 he was 2 for 5 with a home run.
A Rod has hit in the clutch for the Yankees and he will again. He’s won 2 MVP Awards as a Yankee. They just dont hand those out. He’s been horrible this year,but that doesn’t mean he’ll be horrible the rest of his career.
He’s been horrible this year,but that doesn’t mean he’ll be horrible the rest of his career.
For his sake I hope he isn’t
why is AROD in the clean up spot?
Speaking of numbers, Alex needs to get rid of his. Changing numbers can be life changing for some athletes. The problem is it would look silly because it would look like he’s shedding it because it’s unlucky (which it is).
Brandon: “Ah now I figured out the comparison, you see a guy like Daniel Cabrera a fireballing pitcher w/ great potential but he has a problem repeating his mechanics, that’s what happens to Alex in the clutch.”
I’d love to think it was a simple issue of mechanics, but we’ve seen that he’s pressing, which is more than just mechanics. It’s mental approach to the ABs. He swings at bad pitches and over-swings many times. He makes his mechanics bad, which some would argue is actually easier to resolve, if he would just relax.
I think that an issue of mechanics only would be more akin to the changes in Giambi’s swing. Giambi is a dead-pull hitter because his mechanics have changed and he can’t/won’t change them back. ARod’s mental approach is completely different when it’s a big spot and you can see him just take awful hacks because he’s just trying too hard.
ARod will get better once the hitter behind him gets better. I am soooo not a bandwagon-jumper-on-er but the “Giambi Should Not Be Batting 5th Bandwagon” best have a seat for me!
Brandon,
Who cares about him? He’s getting paid no matter what (baseball and its stupid guaranteed contracts).
What about us!
Most of the time the cheering doesn’t even start until after the scoring is done. We will cheer good plays, yes. But until someone actually does something, the stadium is quiet. There’s no noise to distract the other pitcher, there’s no Rah-Rah before the fact to show support. It’s like people are sitting there with a “show me†attitude and I really am disappointed by that.
so the stadium is quiet? first time i ever heard that. that whole paragraph reeks of stupidity. have you ever been to any baseball games in your life? I’ve been to my fair share of parks and no crowd is into the game like a Yankee Stadium crowd. seriously, what an ignorant and mornic statement. do you have any idea of what you’re talking about?
“why is AROD in the clean up spot?”
Why wouldn’t he be? That’s where you put your most dangerous hitter.
mel –
I agree with you about ARod switching numbers. I don’t think he’d look silly at all. I think most people would ask, “What took him so long???” 13 is just not a good number.
Speaking of numbers, I also think it was totally ludicrous for Joe Girardi to choose number 27. First of all, if they did go on and win #27 this year, or if they do next year, what’s he going to do – change it to 28 the following year? Secondly, it was cheesy. It was the one thing I didn’t like about him from the very beginning.
bleh
that’s all i can say about this team
bos wins 6-2
Tim Boat: It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Stadium (living in L.A. will do that), but on TV, it does seem that way. If it’s no score or the team is behind, the only noise is when a Yankee does something or if there are 2 strikes on the opposing batter. It’s not a bad observation. It definitely doesn’t deserve you insulting someone.
“ARod will get better once the hitter behind him gets better.”
Doreen—I hope you’re right about this, but I wouldn’t bet on it. So much of this is in A-Rod’s head, that even having Babe Ruth (circa 1927) in the 5th slot might not help much.
“He’s been horrible this year,but that doesn’t mean he’ll be horrible the rest of his career.”
Well, this needs qualification, no? He’s batting over .300 with 28 HRs. That’s not horrible. He’s been horrible in situations with RISP. That I will agree with.
Just gotta believe.
Just wondering, can we get a fight song like Go cubs Go… Go Yankees Go! Go Yankeees Go!
Drive: The problem is, people REMEMBER how good he was last year and expect it this year.
Other Phil,
Yes, that’s what I was trying to say. In baseball, the mental game (slumps) make you do things you’ve been trained not to do. It overrides the muscle memory that you’ve accumulated over the years.
Whereas in gymnastics or diving, you let it fly.
In tennis or volleball, an easy winner or kill opportunity can cause even the best of the best to change their mechanics because they’re trying to overdo it. This is the “Eyes as Big as Saucers” syndrome.
Hey Peter, A-Rod’s career vital line is .303/.404/.552 w/RISP. So next time you try to make a subtle jab about Joe Girardi’s optimism, do a little research first.
I’m with Doreen on this: booing a specific bad play or bad at-bat is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I’d go further and say it’s excellent if the player is repeating specific bad habits that he needs to break. That’s the kind of booing that is a complementary act to cheering to the skies an excellent play or a player who rises above his usual level (as compared with just routine rooting for the laundry).
But booing a player when he comes on the field or when he misses a tough one is just destructive.
Girardi is such an idiot….THIS YEAR is a PART OF A-ROD’S CAREER, RIGHT ?....and .246 RISP is NOT CLUTCH….Somebody dig up some dirt on this idiot and get him fired…..KEEP GIAMBI in the 5 hole, Joe…..YOU ARE MANAGER OF THE YEAR ! ;-(
To make you feel even better about tonight-Paul Byrd is 5-1 in his last 6 games including a win over the Angels, a complete game win over Toronto, averaging about 7 innings/game and given up only 4 runs in 2 of the last 6 games. Ponson on the other hand lasted 2 innings last start, and the last time he faced Boston he looked terrified. Our starters the last month, since Joba has been hurt, have pitched so poorly, that our one strength, the bullpen, has been just as bad, due to overuse.
Stuart-I know you think Byrd is an old bum, and I can’t deny that, but based on his latest statistics, and being a FA, he was worth a shot in place of Ponson, Rasner and Pavano.
Kotsay too-has had a good August, we could have put him in center, Damon in left, and let Nady play 1st for a while, letting Giambi ride the bench.
I truly believe, that when the Yankees didn’t improve with the addition of Nady Marte and I-Rod, that the Steinbrenners, not publicly admitting it, told Cashman to forget about adding anyone put on waivers.
On the booing issue, I agree with the poster who said it’s the fans’ way of expressing displeasure to management. I can tell from this blog that a lot of Yankee fans are sick of at-bats like A-Rod’s seventh inning masterpiece, um GIDP against Masterson. But Yankee fans are merciless. They booed Randy Johnson, one of the great pitchers of his era, when he revealed that he’s mortal and failed to lead the Yankees to a world championship.
As a Sox fan I still think it’s wrong to boo Damon for taking the money, and I thought it was wrong to boo Bellhorn for merely reverting to his old self after the great moments of 2004.
However, if I were a Yankee fan, I’d boo A-Rod’s $30-million butt, too.
TOP, I didn’t say that was his only problem. I said it plays a part. He cheats himself, opening his hips early to pull a ball into the LF stands instead of taking what’s given. A ground ball through the 2B hole would have been better last night because you wouldn’t have seen a double play and Ellsbury has no arm to home. It’s amazing to me it’s like he couldn’t settle for what he was given a a ground ball to the 2B hole a flyball to deep RF, a gapper, no he did the worst possible thing basesloaded the 2B/SS playing up the middle DP depth he pulls off a sinkerball into the shortstop’s lap.
Tim Boat –
First, I see no reason for you to attack me personally. I don’t do that to anyone else here, and it’s really not necessary. If you want to say, “I’ve been to the Stadium, and it’s not like that in person,” then I’d have to answer you, that no, I haven’t had the pleasure of being at the Stadium in a number of years, I only get to watch on television. However, I HAVE been to live baseball games and often.
What I said was the stadium doesn’t get noisy until AFTER a play – there doesn’t seem to be a lot of it going on BEFORE for, you know, inspiration.
Anyway, if what you say is true, then there’s something very wrong with the sound system at the stadium, because the pre-play inspirational-type cheering doesn’t come through as well as it does when I’m watching games from other stadiums. However, the boos do come over loud and clear for some reason.
last chance for the Yanks. Win or they’ll be in a hole so deep – I don’t think they could win if they had 3 joba’s on the staff.
A-Rod has hit in the clutch his whole career?? Sure, if you don’t count the nearly 5 years of his career as a Yankee.
Doreen’s comment about the crowds at the Stadium are absolutely correct. Anyone who regularly attends games will attest to that.
ZMAN7777
I hope I’m right, too.
It seems we won’t get that answer this season, so I’m also hoping we’ll find out next year.
Brandon:
Not disagreeing with you, just expanding on the point. Sorry if it came out that way. He’s definitely not taking what he’s being given. Even when he swings at bad pitches, if he goes with them, then he’ll send them the other way or do something other than GIDP. But he’s swinging so hard and pulling everything that he’s going after bad pitches and/or hitting weak grounders. It’s so disappointing.
Given what Yankees fans are paying to attend games, they have every right to boo, hiss, or turn their back on poor performance.
Let’s face it, a big problem with A-Rod is that he’s simply not very likable. Fans don’t see in him a gritty, team-first guy. The image he projects is one of detached cool, of being “above the fray”. He’s polished to the point of not being real.
doreen,
So true about the booing. That’s a post-96 thing.
I don’t fault Girardi for defending Arod. I guess he can score fan points and embarrass him like Torre did two years ago. How did that work?
There are a LOT bigger problems on this team than Arod.
Tim Boat: That’s what the Stadium USED to be famous for—proactive rooting—encouraging the players when they had a chance to do something good, not just after they did it. It was one of the big differences I used to notice between the Stadium and Fenway, where it used to be that they would sit there glumly unless and until something good had already happened. I used to never understand Fenway crowds at all. Now I’m beginning to get a clue. It’s about crowds who’ve been disappointed too often and just don’t want to set themselves up for disappointment. Meantime Fenway crowds have become pro-active rooters. What I thought was the difference between New York and Boston turned out to be the difference between fans expecting the best and fans fearing the worst.
Girardi isn’t stubborn. He simply lacks the balls to do what he is supposed to do, manage the team, manage the lineup, and put the team with the best chance to win on the field. For about two months now it has been obvious that the team with the best chance to win does not have a-rod hiting cleanup. Only one conclusion to draw and that is that Girardi is in denial of reality. It’s called insanity.
Girardi just doesn’t get it.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results such as the case with Giambi.
No hope today means less disappointment tomorrow.
Tim Boat,
I go to over 15 games a year and Doreen’s perception of the crowd is on the money. Sometimes I wonder if there would be any noise if the centerfield scoreboard didnt implore people to yell.
And there’s no need to disrespect anyone here either.
Funny thing was I went to one of the games in Baltimore this weekend, sat in Section 208, which seemed to be 100% Yankee fans. Same thing happened there and the few times anyone (myself included) tried to do one of those inspirational, motivational, rah-rah things, well, if no one joins in, you feel kinda silly. But if a few people start together, it gets picked up by a lot more people.
Joey’s Poodle,
That’s a very good observation. I’ve thought that myself.
Drive 4-5 –
Thank Heavens for the Centerfield Scoreboard!!!
“CHARGE!”
ZMAN7777- If Babe Ruth[circa 1927] was on the present team, we wouldn’t have signed A-rod to a 10 year deal.
Only thing that keeps Giambi out of the 5 spot is rest or an injury. Giambi could have pushed his average up, by learning how to bunt down the 3rd base line against the shift. Imagine getting a 5M buyout, for doing nothing. He could retire and become an announcer. To think we could have signed Ortiz that year instead of Giambi, and kept Tino another year!
Joey’s poodle nailed it re: the crowds. Couldn’t be more correct.
i cannot believe some of you people bashing arod. this guy had a historic season last year!!! one for the ages with 54 HRs/154 RBIs and won his 2nd MVP as a yankee! he carried us on his back to the playoffs and hit 9 9th inning HRs. he had 2 walkoffs in the first week of the season,
this guy is the BEST BEST player in baseball bar none. the guy iis going to break barry bonds record for HRS!! do you realize how much money and fame he is going to bring us?
20 years from now, you will be teeling your kids/greatkids/great grand kids that the all-time HR leader donned pinstripes and did amazing things.
be is class on the field and off the field. so hes not clutch, either was payton manning. arod will have his day. what i do know is that he will be the clean HR leader by the end of his career and he will do it in yankee stadium and he will make us hudereds of millions of dollers in revenue. yankee stadium will be sold out for years to watch him, he is a legend like ruth, damaggio, babe etc.
But booing at the Stadium, unlike sitting like lumps, is not a recent development at all. Yankees fans have been great boo-ers over the years and some of the most historic Yankees have heard themselves booed at home for bad play.
“He could retire and become an announcer.”
Trader—I doubt Jason possesses the vocabularly or verbal skills necessary to succeed in a media job. He’s not exactly Michael Strahan.
yea Girardi should bury his best player. That would be smart, Arod has 9 yrs. left on his deal and brain surgeons want the coach to bury his best player and the rationale is????
Yea he should be honest like Peter wants and say arod sucks,ditto for giambi and cano, and etc.
IT makes no sense, clowns
Mark007:
I don’t think people are disputing the fact that ARod is the most talented player in the game (possibly ever, depending on who you talk to). However, his performance this year, especially in “clutch” situations has been very disappointing. It’s not about how much “money and fame he brings us” but what he does on the field to win games. Hitting HRs is great and all, but if the Yankees still lose the game, what’s the ultimate point? He had plenty of that in Texas and left because he wanted to go to a winning team and win a WS. In 20 years, I’d rather remember him as the guy that led the team to 4 or 5 championships rather than led the team in HRs every year.
Peyton Manning was also seen as a “choker” in the playoffs and he had to win the Super Bowl to prove people wrong. Until ARod is on a WS Championship team, he’ll still be seen as such. But if he at least produced in the post-season, most would say “well, they didn’t win, but at least he did his part”. However, his numbers show otherwise.
Oh, and exactly how famous and rich are “we” going to be because of his HR chase?
mark007,
Don’t know about bragging to the grandkids part. As great as he is, he’s just not one of the heroes (yet). He’s really hard to root for. Very hard to explain, but most people know what I’m talking about.
I cheer for him because I cheer for the laundry. I only care about what he can do for my team. Once he’s gone, I won’t think about him twice.
I wonder if a PR campaign would help his Q-factor?
well whatever happens tonight ill still be a yankee fan and thats a fact.
this season will definitly seperate the real yankee fans from the ones that are only fans of teams that win.
GO YANKEES!
Joey’s Poodle,
It’s not just Yankee Stadium. At times Ted Williams was booed terribly at Fenway. Jim Rice and Bob Stanley had a very rough time of it. Heck, Bill Buckner had to move to Montana to get away from it even after he retired. The great Mike Schmidt was booed in Philly.
I think it’s more of an East Coast thing though. The fans are just much more passionate.
ZMAN7777-Good Point!! Drugs do that to you!
Mark 007-Your comment is meant to be funny, right???
A-Rod or Pujols-hmm that didn’t take long to figure out whose better!!
Legend-A-Rod??? NO!! Michael is a legend with all his talent and titles. Tiger is a legend with all his talent and titles!! A-Rod has talent, albeit a lot of it wasted and has no titles, so no he is not a legend, except in his own mind.