Comments on: Yankees taking care of the Rays, at least http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/ A Yankees Blog by Journal News beat writer Peter Abraham Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:18:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: chambliss http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524990 chambliss Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:42:34 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524990 While they are saying and doing all the right things, the Yankees know that they are out of it absent a miracle. The result is that they are as loose as I have seen them all season. You can see it in their faces. Playing relaxed and with more confidence, A-Rod is ready to go on a tear. You can see it. No more squeezing the bat until the sawdust hits the ground. The Rays, on the other hand, look scared. They were sloppy last night, and the relaxed Yankees took advantage. The Rays have a number of guys who have never been in first place this late in the season. If the Yankees win tonight, the Rays are in trouble and they know it. The Red Sox are not going to collapse. They have too many home games left, and they are a completely different team at home. Tampa could collapse, and the result could be pretty interesting for the Yankees if the Yankees can win 8 or 10 in a row. At this point, the pressure is off the Yankees. Everyone says that they are done. They can play loose and see what happens. They have nothing to lose. While they are saying and doing all the right things, the Yankees know that they are out of it absent a miracle. The result is that they are as loose as I have seen them all season. You can see it in their faces.

Playing relaxed and with more confidence, A-Rod is ready to go on a tear. You can see it. No more squeezing the bat until the sawdust hits the ground.

The Rays, on the other hand, look scared. They were sloppy last night, and the relaxed Yankees took advantage. The Rays have a number of guys who have never been in first place this late in the season. If the Yankees win tonight, the Rays are in trouble and they know it.

The Red Sox are not going to collapse. They have too many home games left, and they are a completely different team at home.

Tampa could collapse, and the result could be pretty interesting for the Yankees if the Yankees can win 8 or 10 in a row.

At this point, the pressure is off the Yankees. Everyone says that they are done. They can play loose and see what happens. They have nothing to lose.

]]> By: rover http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524973 rover Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:12:26 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524973 Other teams get up to play the Yanks, when and if the Yanks don't receiprocate the outcome is far more predictable. For the most part the yanks are comprised of vets, and are likely to be more dificult to light a fire under than guys who are just happy to have a home and check. It is within this role that Girardi may have repeat may have failed the team. For the most this season has been one of underperformance ok and a lot of key injuries. However, those who have played somewhat regularly have been mostly lacklustre particularly in key situations. I honestly don't know the answer for this but believe it starts in the clubhouse. I keep seeing references to Icecream in the locker room, I've no idea as to why I see that soooo. Can a manager have an adverse affect on players? I've yet to hear any player say anything about Joe G. other than the niceties you would expect to read and hear. As I remember it seems to me that there was for more vocal respect for Joe T. Don't know what or if that is even relevant the fact remains I have yet to hear anything suggesting true respect or even love of Joe G. Only my uninformed opion. Other teams get up to play the Yanks, when and if the Yanks don’t receiprocate the outcome is far more predictable. For the most part the yanks are comprised of vets, and are likely to be more dificult to light a fire under than guys who are just happy to have a home and check. It is within this role that Girardi may have repeat may have failed the team. For the most this season has been one of underperformance ok and a lot of key injuries. However, those who have played somewhat regularly have been mostly lacklustre particularly in key situations. I honestly don’t know the answer for this but believe it starts in the clubhouse. I keep seeing references to Icecream in the locker room, I’ve no idea as to why I see that soooo. Can a manager have an adverse affect on players? I’ve yet to hear any player say anything about Joe G. other than the niceties you would expect to read and hear. As I remember it seems to me that there was for more vocal respect for Joe T. Don’t know what or if that is even relevant the fact remains I have yet to hear anything suggesting true respect or even love of Joe G. Only my uninformed opion.

]]> By: trisha - I support Sidney Ponson and also believe Arod will start to hit. http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524923 trisha - I support Sidney Ponson and also believe Arod will start to hit. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:29:40 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524923 I think being a Yankee is a double-edge sword in that it gives a player an automatic cachet, and sometimes wearing pinstripes can subconsciously substitute for needing to play hard all the time. When you play for the Avis Sux, your need to continually prove yourself seems to be motivation enough. Eh. I think being a Yankee is a double-edge sword in that it gives a player an automatic cachet, and sometimes wearing pinstripes can subconsciously substitute for needing to play hard all the time. When you play for the Avis Sux, your need to continually prove yourself seems to be motivation enough.

Eh.

]]> By: trisha - I support Sidney Ponson and also believe Arod will start to hit. http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524913 trisha - I support Sidney Ponson and also believe Arod will start to hit. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:26:46 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524913 "But I gave up on them last year and vowed I wouldn’t do it again. So until they’re mathematically eliminated, I’ll continue to use magical thinking and tell myself that somehow, some way, my team and I will get through this." Me all the way! 'Ceptin I didn't give up on them last year. :) “But I gave up on them last year and vowed I wouldn’t do it again. So until they’re mathematically eliminated, I’ll continue to use magical thinking and tell myself that somehow, some way, my team and I will get through this.”

Me all the way! ‘Ceptin I didn’t give up on them last year.

:)

]]> By: Jacques http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524902 Jacques Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:22:54 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524902 Pete, the Yanks have won 5 games at the Trop this year Pete, the Yanks have won 5 games at the Trop this year

]]> By: Michael http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524901 Michael Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:21:23 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524901 Alright, this could get real interesting if the Yankees can pull what the Rockies did last year. If we can take down the Sox and get in the wild card, chances are the Angels will have the most wins and pick us over the white sox or rays. While the Angels have an absolutely stacked pitching staff, we don't really have anyone other than Mussina. so ending this season early isn't that bad given that getting destroyed in the ALDS again is just prolonged pain. Alright, this could get real interesting if the Yankees can pull what the Rockies did last year. If we can take down the Sox and get in the wild card, chances are the Angels will have the most wins and pick us over the white sox or rays. While the Angels have an absolutely stacked pitching staff, we don’t really have anyone other than Mussina.

so ending this season early isn’t that bad given that getting destroyed in the ALDS again is just prolonged pain.

]]> By: GreenBeret7 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524863 GreenBeret7 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:07:34 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524863 jk September 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am There is a good analysis of the Yankees defense at the Replacement Level blog, Pete has the link in his blog roll. The Yankees are by far the worst defensive team in MLB. All of the flubs by Cano, Damon, Giambi and Abreu have hurt the team big time. Defense was a strength of Melky and if the rest of the team could field a ball, they could have carried Melky’s bat. http://www.replacementlevel.com/ ______________________________________________________ Did Jeter and Rodriguez flub a few, also? I'm shocked that you didn't finger Rodriguez, but, in no way surprised that Jeter escaped scrutiny. Aren't they as guilty as the rest? jk
September 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
There is a good analysis of the Yankees defense at the Replacement Level blog, Pete has the link in his blog roll.

The Yankees are by far the worst defensive team in MLB. All of the flubs by Cano, Damon, Giambi and Abreu have hurt the team big time.

Defense was a strength of Melky and if the rest of the team could field a ball, they could have carried Melky’s bat.

http://www.replacementlevel.com/

__

Did Jeter and Rodriguez flub a few, also? I’m shocked that you didn’t finger Rodriguez, but, in no way surprised that Jeter escaped scrutiny. Aren’t they as guilty as the rest?

]]> By: bodhisattva http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524845 bodhisattva Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:05 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524845 mel, Thanks for that link; it made me smile. The thing about being a Yankee fan is that for most of us, it is a birth right. Happily, we have no say. Happily, we prefer the occasional misery to someone else's fleeting glories, because it's OUR misery. Being a Yankee fan is one of the 10 ways I would define myself, right up there with other essential, ineluctable things about me. I am a Yankee fan to my core. I know I'm not alone :) mel,

Thanks for that link; it made me smile. The thing about being a Yankee fan is that for most of us, it is a birth right. Happily, we have no say. Happily, we prefer the occasional misery to someone else’s fleeting glories, because it’s OUR misery.

Being a Yankee fan is one of the 10 ways I would define myself, right up there with other essential, ineluctable things about me. I am a Yankee fan to my core.

I know I’m not alone :)

]]> By: bodhisattva http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524840 bodhisattva Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:54:49 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524840 Laura, Here's hoping Girardi has Rasner on a short leash. For we have Aceves available, Joba and Mo tonight. Aceves can pitch a couple of innings, at least. The Rays, for all their pitching and athleticism, aren't a patient hitting lineup. That has worked in our favor so far, as it did when they came into the Stadium earlier for the two-set. Laura,

Here’s hoping Girardi has Rasner on a short leash. For we have Aceves available, Joba and Mo tonight. Aceves can pitch a couple of innings, at least.

The Rays, for all their pitching and athleticism, aren’t a patient hitting lineup. That has worked in our favor so far, as it did when they came into the Stadium earlier for the two-set.

]]> By: 86w183 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524835 86w183 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:52:17 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/04/yankees-taking-care-of-the-rays-at-least/#comment-524835 Art---- I'll take ten straight first round sxits any day! It's like the Florida Basketball team going five years and winning just two of seven NCAA Tournament games. Then they won two straight NCAA Titles. The moral of the story: you keep gunning for post-season play no matter what, because you can't win it all without getting in. They'll make the needed changes whether they finishin strongly or not. So why not take a run at it? Go 17-and-6 (or better) the rest of the way and see what happens. One thing this year just might do is get fans, players, media and the front office to appreciate how great it is to make the playoffs. There's nothing wrong with wanting to win it all, but there is something wrong with the mindset that only a WS Title is acceptable. Then again, I started going to Yankss games in 1964 at age six and saw a lot of bad teams over the years. Art——
I’ll take ten straight first round sxits any day! It’s like the Florida Basketball team going five years and winning just two of seven NCAA Tournament games. Then they won two straight NCAA Titles. The moral of the story: you keep gunning for post-season play no matter what, because you can’t win it all without getting in.

They’ll make the needed changes whether they finishin strongly or not. So why not take a run at it? Go 17-and-6 (or better) the rest of the way and see what happens.

One thing this year just might do is get fans, players, media and the front office to appreciate how great it is to make the playoffs. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to win it all, but there is something wrong with the mindset that only a WS Title is acceptable.

Then again, I started going to Yankss games in 1964 at age six and saw a lot of bad teams over the years.

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