How to best handle the final days of 2008
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 18, 2008 
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Here’s a question for you. Would you rather see this lineup:
Gardner LF
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
A-Rod DH
Nady RF
Miranda 1B
Ransom 3B
Betemit SS
Cervelli C
Or this one?
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A-Rod 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Many e-mailers have written to say they believe Joe Girardi should be giving “the kids” a chance. I disagree. As long as the Yankees are mathematically alive and/or playing at home, they should play the varsity.
People pay a lot of money to attend games in the Bronx. Many people might be at the Stadium for the first time. They should see the marquee players through Sunday. Once the Yankees are eliminated and are on the road, play the reserves. At that point, any experience you can give to guys like Gardner, Miranda or Cervelli would advance their development.
That final week in Toronto and Boston is sure going to be strange. It’ll be a little like covering spring training.
I hope everyone gets to play in the final game at the stadium. ield the regulars for 7 innings, then if you up or down put in the bench guys.
They could easily do a mix of the two every night to satisfy everyone. 10 games is not enough for a real evaluation regardless – they should have started mixing in the kids once the season was hopeless, no matter how much they tried to cling to thinking that it wasn’t hopeless.
I hope everyone gets to play in the final game at the stadium. ield the regulars for 7 innings, then if you up or down put in the bench guys.
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Agree!!
This is off-topice from the current post, but if anyone is interested, the Trenton Thunder are selling and auctioning off game-worn jerseys.
http://www.trentonthunder.com/.....sp?Page=80
The bids for an Austin Jackson jersey opens at $300. Wow.
Brandon, there is a Tabata jersey opening at $250, fyi.
put a couple youngsters in there.
Gardner, NOT betemit,,,EVER….
No way does Jeter sit for Betemit, of all people.
I rather see the first one. but take out Betimit and replace him with Jeter.
As long as there’s any chance of extending the season you must play to win, period. If they are out by Sunday night, then go ahead and treat it like a spring training game and get everyone in there, but if they are still contending you gotta go for the “W”.
Wow Pete.
I guess paying customers on the road don’t count?
Not to mention playoff possibilities for other teams based on the lineup the Yankees utilize.
Here’s a idea. Play a lineup that you actually believe has a chance to win and not just based on salaries and veteran status.
Also playing the first lineup will assure the organization a top 15 pick in next years draft. Let’s find some kind of way to keep the first round pick instead of giving it to Milwaukee.
I would love to see Miranda at first instead of the dancing bear, I have no problem with Gardner in CF, batting 9th, Nady-left, Damon-DH, Matsui-OR
Your post confuses two issues. You ask which lineup WE would rather see, and you’re asking a bunch of people who watch a lot of games, have seen the regulars often, and are beginning to be more interested in the future than in this year.
But you give your own answer on the basis of what’s ‘good for ball’ — keep the engines running until the ship actually sinks, and let the paying customers see the best we have.
the heck with the road paying customers,,they have to do whats best to evaluate talent for next year..if guys are gonna be gone next year, sit them now…
I agree that they should play the regulars through Sunday except for the starting pitchers. Phil Coke has earned the chance to start a game or two (I believe he is a starting pitcher). We don’t need to see Pettite, Ponson or Pavano anymore!
SoCalYankeeFan
Joey’s Poodle,
What’s confusing about Pete’s post? He asked a question and then gave his own opinion about the question.
I dont exactly see how he’s confusing 2 issues.
“We don’t need to see Pettite”
Wow, that’s gratitude for ya, a bad half season and out with the bathwater you go. Andy P. deserves some respect, he’s come through in big games more often than not in his Yankee career.
Okay, obviously no one wants all the kids all the time. But playing 1 per day wouldn’t kill us. Nice job playing the strawman though Pete…..
i agree with playing the varsity especially damon,nady who will probably be on the team next year.
if melky,gardner,miranda are in the 2010 plans then maybe play them but anything is possible and you have to give them the best chance to win.
“Wow, that’s gratitude for ya, a bad half season and out with the bathwater you go. Andy P. deserves some respect, he’s come through in big games more often than not in his Yankee career.”
That’s true, there is no way anyone else can start that last game at the Stadium. Injured or not, I think he will step it up and at least keep us in the game.
That being said, I would like to see them shut him down after that. Even if hes just tired, its not doing him or the team any good to keep trotting him out there.
Disagree, the last game should be all vets. Unless we’re on the wrong side of a blowout.
I don’t know if the players would like to walk off to ovations if they get substituted late in games, but my guess is that the key guys want to be on the field behind Mo.
You can’t play to lose against Toronto and Red Sox in last six games. You’re fighting for third place with Toronto, and most Yankee fans would rather see Tampa win the division. Therefore you field the team with the best chance of winning to start the game and depending on the score then filter in the rookies.
They could easily do a mix of the two every night to satisfy everyone. 10 games is not enough for a real evaluation regardless – they should have started mixing in the kids once the season was hopeless, no matter how much they tried to cling to thinking that it wasn’t hopeless:
how can history be changed if you just give up? you never give up until it is over no matter what.
10 games can make a difference for example if the yankees trade hughes in the offseason and he goes out and pitches a no hitter and one hitter over his last 2 starts,he could increase his trade value.
Cody Ransom is not a kid, only an idiot would advocate for his playing time above anyone else on this roster.
If we win, how do you guys think it’ll play out?
It might be kind of somber. Quiet fist pumps. Gather at the mound for a team moment. Acknowledgement of the crowd. There won’t be a dry eye in the house. People breaking into their giveaway sponsored by Kleenex.
Doesn’t MLB make teams start 4 regulars even during spring training? To not do that regular season would be a joke and unfair to the fans who spend lots of money on tickets whether it be in the Bronx or on the road.
I would play the regulars through Sunday and if eliminated by the road trip play the team I envision on the field for 2009 for the last week.
SoCalYankeeFan :
i agree coke needs a start or two,he can be something special and he’s a lefty.
worse case ha is trade bait.why start pavano,rasner,ponson,pettitte when they are all goners and coke still gives you a good,maybe the best chance to win.
Everybody should get in the final game.. maybe not an AB, but they should be in the field at least. Jeter and A-Rod should be the only ones who stay in the game all night and MO should pitch the top of the 9th regardless.
If Mussina is up to it, I’d even have him throw an inning or even get 1 out.
that is why this blogg is does well,it is because pete get’s the ball rolling .a tweak here a tweak there.
he asked a question,gave his oppinion and let’s us go from there.
predicition:
chad moller will hit a walkoff HR in the bottom of the 12th to send off the stadium.
rasner will get the win.
Oh boy, Schilling’s insight is immeasurable.
He rails on Manny on his (paid?) WEEI spot.
It’s all true, but is there no honor code in baseball?
The Red Sox series will be interesting. Even if the Yankees are out by then, I think they play the Sox tough especially if it means preventing them from winning the division. Hey, if we cannot win the East we sure don’t want the Sox too either.
Phil Coke can not start a game now. He hasn’t started a game in months.
Mel, can you imagine a team having a secret vote to get a player off the team and the GM accepting that crap? You might as well let the players vote on trades and salaries and get rid of the GM.
Does anyone know how soon aftet the season teams can start negotiating with their own personnel?
jason -
Well, we fans don’t want the Red Sox to win the division (or the wild card for that matter, either), but the question is, do the Yankees really care who wins the division and/or the wild card if it’s not them? I don’t mean the front office, I mean the players themselves.
I want the Yankees to play all their remaining games to win. And if they don’t win, I hope the games are at least good games, close games. I don’t want them to go quietly.
As far as draft picks go (playing for draft picks, that is), my feeling is you play to win, always. I can’t pull for my team to lose so they can pick up a guy in the draft who may or may not help them “x” years down the road. If the end up with draft picks because they didn’t/couldn’t win, that’s fine. I just can’t hope for them to lose. (I do understand that it is a good thing to have good draft picks, overall.)
So, I guess I’m saying, in answer to Pete’s question, is I want to see the regular lineup, with the possible exception of late game replacements. As for the final game, at the stadium, depending on the way the game is going (for instance, in a close game, I would want Giambi to be pinch-run for), I think the vets should be out there.
Ray, the teams can negotiate with their own players at any time.
jason,
But it would be fun if we could beat the Sox with our ‘B’ lineup.
Re: Phil Coke. Ashmore did a feature on him. He started AA and was BAAAD. ERA close to 7, gave up 18 runs in the first month. Then he turned it around. Gave up only 15 runs the next 3 months. Onwards and upwards, and here he is with a fastball that’s surprising even himself.
I like his composure and the results, but I’d caution against trying to convert him to a starter just yet. 5 months ago Coke was stinking it up in AA.
BTW, Ashmore started his series of questions with Cashman.
mel -
I think Curt Schilling is trying way too hard to fight becoming irrelevant.
The first lineup listed looks like there are at least 6 players who could not possibly be everyday players next year on this team. Gardner cannot be our starting CF next season, Melky has proven he cannot be either, Miranda cannot make the jump to a regular role next season its too soon, Ransom is 32 and we already have a 2b, SS and 3b, Betemit is not going to be a regular if they keep him, and Cervelli is not going to be on the ML team next year so whats the point?
Scorpio:
i give pettitte all the respect in the world,i just don’t wan’t to see him pitch.he admitted he was hurt,he isn’t the same pitcher and he probably won’t be back.
without ped’s this is a young man’s game,something has obviously changed this year with offense,pitching and i believe it it because of testing.
i think pettitte/ponson/rasner should be replaced with hughes,aceves,coke for the rest of the year.we might get lucky and find ourself some replacement starters to go along with hopefully signing sabathia and possibly making a trade for another young studd pitcher.
i’d love to see the yankees try to trade for volquez,peavey,cain,billingsley,kershaw,saherzer in addition to signing cc
.sabathia,wang,mussina,sherzer,joba would be a nice rotation.
Thanks GB,
How does it work with GM’s? If Cashman isn’t re-signed can they interview candiates who aren’t with the organization? I’d just like to see them get the GM decision over with as quickly as possible.
I wouldn’t mind bringing back Pudge next year if he can play some 1st base.
GB7,
Is that what happened with Manny? It’s the FO’s fault. They lapped up Manny’s act for years because it helped compete with the Yankees for attention. Year after year Manny told them he wanted out, but they chose to keep a disrespectful player like him.
I don’t think there is any way the Yanks end up with one of the 15 worst records in the league at this point. They may end up with the 5th best record in the AL at this point.
I still say kick Boston’s …
Ray, with or without a GM, teams can’t talk to players under contract to other teams until 15 days after the last WS game. They can’t talk to them about money until the 15th of November, though (I believe that’s the date). Note sure how they can prove whether money was discussed or not.
Recap of Dennis Eckersly’s interview on the DP Show:
Dennis Eckersley thinks the Indians’ Cliff Lee deserves the American League Cy Young. But the Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez deserves serious consdieration for MVP, since he’s closer to an every-day player.
Eckersley, who was a great relieve and good starter, said he can understand if every-day players were upset when he won MVP as a closer.
Eckersley doesn’t think Manny Ramirez has done enough in L.A. to win NL MVP — although he thinks Ramirez has been incredible. Eck apparently said some critical things of Manny in Boston after Ramirez quit on the team.
Also, Eckerlsey doesn’t think players stats should be combined if they are traded from one league to the other mid-season.
Dan asked Eck who he’d rather face: Manny or A-Rod. Eck said he’d rather face A-Rod, because Rodriguez swings and misses often. Manny is more disciplined — but both are great hitters.
Mel, in MLB Rumors at the upper right on this page, there’s a story with The Boston Mouth telling all he knows about it.
Dan Patrick whiffed on this one, he should’ve asked if Joba should be a starter or a reliever since Eckersley did both well.
Yeah, as an out-of-stater, I know I would be pretty disappointed if I took my kids to see the Yankees play one of their final games at the Stadium, and not get to see Jeter and their other favorites.
I remember a quote by Mantle that went something like “I try to play every day, as hard as I can. I hate to think that some working guy can only afford to see one game a year, and he brings his kid with him who only wants to see me, and then I miss the game.”
That second lineup, for better or worse, is the Yankee lineup. Like THU said in the first response above, give the kids a chance in the later innings, but give the fans their Yankees.
I think it is going to be so emotional for the fans and players on that final game. I think what will happen throughout the game is the bleacher creatures will chant every name of every player with at least one repetition (“DAN-NY PAS-QUA *clap,clap, clapclapclap* DAN-NY PAS-QUA *clap,clap, clapclapclap*”).
And I think the fans will be classy. I bet that win or lose, after the final out of the game is recorded, the capacity crowd stands up and gives a long, standing ovation to the House.
It’s been a tough year all, but oh, so many wonderful memories from the Stadium.
I live in Chicago now, and I did not get to see a game this year. But I had so many wonderful times there over the years. My goodbye will be from a distance, but no less teary-eyed than many of you who will be there I am sure.
It’s nice reading about other peoples’ feeling about the closing of the stadium. Dan Graziano gave his tale in this morning’s Star Ledger.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde....._to_i.html
Y’all know how I feel – that the history has more to do with the people that inhabited the place. But that doesn’t make people’s memories of the Stadium any less poignant. I just believe that lots of new memories will happen in the new Stadium. And 20 years down the road, there will be someone who plays there or walks in and says, “This is where Derek Jeter stood; this is where Mariano Rivera pitched.” It’s up to the Yankees of our generation to stand up to the huge task of making the new Stadium as wondrous as the old.
And I will admit that it won’t be the same at the new Stadium, simply because Babe Ruth (for example) did not play there. I guess as the end draws near, sentimentality wins out over practicality. But next year, when they unveil the new digs, I’m sure it will be impressive. Impressive, but, yes, different.
Why do people want to see all these people at first who can’t play it?
Matsui
Johnny
PUdge
Jorge
How about this we get a “REAL” first baseman. Haven’t you seen enough of someone who can’t play? What the last 7 years. People seem to think it is so easy to learn the position. It isn’t just ask Mike Piazza.
jennifer -
I’m with you 100%! It’s like 1B is being used as the “I don’t know where else to play these people, but we’d like their bats in the lineup, and if they can field a ball, that’s gravy” position! Enough!!!!!
Is this really an issue?
Nady v. Gardner? Molina v. Cervelli? ARod at third or ARod at DH? Seriously, who cares?
Seems like the only real questions are whether Jeter, Damon, Abreu, Giambi, and Matsui are in the lineup. Jeter will play no matter precisely because everyone wants to see him close out the Stadium. Matsui should not play for medical reasons. As for Damon, Abreu, and Giambi, is anyone going to be choked up because some of them aren’t in a game?
Interesting comments about Manny. I will certainly grant you that the Sox FO has some responsibility for how the Manny drama turned out.
Manny produced at the plate and the front office turned a blind eye to his antics.
But to simply say the Sox drove Manny out of Boston makes for good fodder to feed Yankee generalizations about Boston it simply is not true.
There was a qualitative change in Manny’s behavior this year and the FO that had ignored his behavior could no longer do it.
He simply quit on the team. He didn’t want to play in the Yankee series, and even an MRI showed no problems with his knees. He physically accosted the Sox ticket secretary when he couldn’t get the tickets he wanted. As soon as he started to play for the Yankees isn’t it remarkable that his knee problems disappeared.
Manny is one of the most gifted offensive baseball players but he only puts forth effort if he is in the mood or about to negotiate for a new contract.
“Many e-mailers have written to say they believe Joe Girardi should be giving “the kids†a chance. I disagree. As long as the Yankees are mathematically alive and/or playing at home, they should play the varsity.”
Couldn’t agree more.
big mistake….as soon as he started to play for the dodgers obviously
In Mussina’s starts (at least until he fails to win one and loses out on the chance to win 20) and for the final game in YS I’d start all the regulars. Beyond that, maybe a mixture? I really want to see Gardner playing, he’s shown year after year in the minors that he takes time to adjust to a new level, and there is NO better time to give him at least the chance to adjust to the majors to see if he can. Matsui probably doesn’t need to be playing anyway at this point except Sunday, so move Damon to DH and have Gardner in center.
“Dennis Eckersley thinks the Indians’ Cliff Lee deserves the American League Cy Young.”
No crap. Lee is a blindingly obvious choice.
“But the Angels’ Francisco Rodriguez deserves serious consdieration for MVP, since he’s closer to an every-day player.”
This is idiotic. As frequently as it happens, it still amazes me when great, veteran players say things that reveal such ignorance about baseball.
K-Rod is not even the best closer in the AL unless you look solely at saves – which is dumb. How can he possibly be a contender for MVP?
Putting Damon at first for a year is better than than 7 years at 20 million a year for Teixiera. No thanks. Nady isn’t too bad, in case NYY can make a deal for Damon or Nady, because Matsui is worth more to NYY than any other team. Nobody’s going to want Matsui in a trade until he proves that he’s healthy.
For you Phil Coke fans, he was moved to the bullpen to limit his innings for the year. I think his value going forward is in the pen because he can wear all the hats, long relief, set-up, spot start, and even close if Mo has been used 2-3 days in a row.
As for the rest of the year, can we stop talking about still alive for the playoffs? Our “out” number is 3. Any combination of Bos wins or NY loses that come to 3 means we are out. Guess what, we are out of the playoffs. I do agree that even if you play all the “kids” for the last 10 games, it isn’t enough to fully evaluate them. I still would try to get them into as many games as possible though.
Seven years of a DH at 1B is enough for me too! A top defensive 1B would improve the Yankees defense at four positions. That’s a pretty good payoff.
The best we would have been able to get last year for Matsui would have been Noah Lowry. That was coming off of a 100 run 100 RBI season. Now, with him being a year older, didn’t play a full season, needing surgery for the second straight year, all he would be is a salary dump for a A or AA player. However, he would be worth much more than that to us if the surgery goes well.
completely agree. play the starters through monday and then switch to the kids.
Doreen, I just read Graziano’s account. Maybe I’m out in leftfield all by myself here but I cried through the whole thing. Is it really too enormous for people to realize the enormity of the thrills we’ve been treated to? How about Cliff Floyd saying that once you play in Yankee Stadium you’ve been to the BIG leagues? Or Ozzie Guillen saying that you haven’t been in a world series until you’ve been in one in Yankee Stadium? The enormity of it is hitting me now, and I am sick at heart that I never took the time to go on a Stadium tour. I never did. And now they will be no more.
Imagine standing on the field where Mickey Mantle played, or Joe D or the Iron Horse or the Babe. Or the mound where Mariano Rivera closes out games? I never thought I would feel this emotional about the Staidum closing down but I guess the reality is hitting me. And I will tell you that as a Yankee fan I feel like royalty. Because being a fan of the Yankees is about as close as you can come to being a Yankee. I feel like royalty for rooting for this franchise, which has played in this Stadium, and which has produced most of the top names in the game of baseball. And continues to, to this day.
I hail the New York Yankee organization; and to borrow from one of our heroes, I thank the Lord for making me a Yankee fan.
I see the possible lineup but I am thinking next year..Cano,Cabrera,Kennedy and another Triple A kid for Pujols (in LaRussa’s doghouse) also on the cheap if available the kid from Cincinatti-Voto.? Then we can pick up Orlando Hudson.
Pitch Pettitte and Mussina, but the others? Let Phil Coke Start. Tampa made it work with young pitching. We can too. I saw good things in Hughes last night, but too many pitches. We can definitely make it work with Wang, Joba, Mussina, Hughes, Pettitte, Coke, and maybe CC if you want to spend the green.
I think our pen is going to be sick next year. Young and talented and there are still guys in triple a waiting, like Sanchez, Melancon and Jones (AA).
This offseason needs to be devoted to teaching the team how to bunt and not swing for the fences.
What teams can boast that their top 4 in the lineup all hit over .300, yet have a lousy RISP avg.
“Cano,Cabrera,Kennedy and another Triple A kid for Pujols (in LaRussa’s doghouse)”
Not in a thousand years.
Fair point Peter, but I think they should rotate Miranda at 1B during these last two weeks of games. Matsui’s knee is done and they might as well shoot the horse and put Giambi at DH for the better of the game of baseball.
I want to see Juan Miranda, but for 1B in the future, lets see someone like Adam LaRoche. Can hit for average, decent power, good fielder?
Cano isnt going anywhere and shouldnt. He will fix what was wrong as soon as they teach him to take pitches and focus solely on opposite field, like Jeter.
I like Damon a lot, but most likely if one contract goes in a trade, it is him. Who leads off next year?
Pujols??? Wow, I’m speechless. Was that GW Bush posting under jimmyviz?
“Wow Pete.
I guess paying customers on the road don’t count?
Not to mention playoff possibilities for other teams based on the lineup the Yankees utilize.
Here’s a idea. Play a lineup that you actually believe has a chance to win and not just based on salaries and veteran status.”
If Girardi did that, we’d be in the playoffs this year.
“Well, we fans don’t want the Red Sox to win the division (or the wild card for that matter, either), but the question is, do the Yankees really care who wins the division and/or the wild card if it’s not them?”
Yes players will get pumped up to play the spoiler at the end of a meaningless season if they have ANY competitive spirit. You see it in the NFL every year. Adding in the Sox/Yanks rivalry can only help that.
Phil Coke hasn’t started a game in two months. It would be dumb to start him now. He’s not stretched out for it.
You play the starters until you are eliminated. When that happens, you shut down the guys that either need surgery (Matsui) or are nursing lagging injuries.
No logical baseball person evaluates players in September. Its a meaningless month, as far as player evaluations are concerned.
You just finish out the season, regardless of who is in the lineup, and get to work toward fixing this team.
The sooner the better.
Two things Yankees play nine innings and 162 games all should be played to win every stinking one of them. My unwritten rule is you do everything you can to keep bean towners out. Do all you can to deny them the division. If that is the most damage we can do then we must do that.
Hopefully, somebody that’s in charge of the WS will bring in the real “Voice Of Baseball”, Ernie Harwell, to broadcast the games. He’s baseball history by himself, as well as being a great writer. He’s the only announcer ever traded for a major league player.
“Two things Yankees play nine innings and 162 games all should be played to win every stinking one of them. My unwritten rule is you do everything you can to keep bean towners out. Do all you can to deny them the division. If that is the most damage we can do then we must do that.”
HEAR HEAR!!!!!
If I wanted to see a team of kids, I’d buy tickets to SWB.
Since when does Wilson Betemit count as a kid? You’re not evaluating him or giving him a taste of the big leagues…so why on earth would you play him with the kids?
If you want to see a game full of 2nd tier prospects, go watch a game in Scranton.
Mel – There is an honor code in baseball. But since Manny doesn’t use it himself, it doesn’t apply to him.
Asking for so-called quality National League players is quite risky. Please allow at 30 points of the batting average when NL players come to AL teams. Look at Nady, he hit 330 in Pittsburgh and is hitting 278 as a yankee. Hudson La Roche etc will hit well below what you are seeing from them in the NL
sorry I meant OFF the batting average, not OF
I don’t understand how so many trivualize the 1 base position. There is broad belief that you can throw just any old major leaguer out there and get by. Get by is the key phrase. Having played said position 1 base played well takes primarily the same skill set as does third base along with some additional skills. You must be able to throw and know where to do it. Believe me it is just as hot down there when Giambi pulls one to you at first as it is when arod slams one at you at third. yep when holding a runner on territory responsibilty is somewhat diminished, but how valuable is the 1 base guy who can hold and still get to balls ten fifteen feet down the line on occasion. He is then expected to make up for every bad throw made on the infield. Any good major leaguer should be able to play 1 base to some degree, playing it really well is another story. Not all that easy folks.
They really need a guy who stands out down there on defense and offense. In this day and age you can’t make do, or just get by. That done to often will come back to bite you.
Rookies playing in September means nothing. Look at how Hughes and Kennedy performed in September last season and compare that to this season.
Pitchers who have no future with the team, & who are as weak as Ponson, Rasner, Pavano should be replaced by prospects.
However, stars like A-Rod, & Jeter have to play if healthy. 1) fans pay alot of money to see them play.
2)they still have to remain competitive when playing teams competing for playoff spot’s.
I’m sure the Twins appreciate the Yanks taking 2 of 3 from the Sox this week. We’d expect the same if the Twins were playing Boston/Rays & we were still in it.
Cervelli needs to play, he probably will be our 3rd or 2nd Catcher next season.
Honor the game. At home or on the road, play to win until eliminated. At home or on the road, play the varsity, even if eliminated if the opponent hasn’t clinched or been eliminated.
If the game is indeed meaningless then give the kids experience and get ready for next year. I see games regularly but I do enjoy seeing the kids.
I would like to see lineup #2 In the final three games of this year. If the Yanks have a chance to play spoiler to Boston and keep them from winning the AL east I think they should put their best in there. Maybe give the kids a chance one game
Pete: There is NO WAY they are sitting Jeter (Particularly in Mussina’s 3 starts, and the FINAL GAME at the Stadium). That being said, I am all for blowing it up and starting over with the kids and a few veterans like Rivera, Jeter and Rodriguez. I have had enough of the guys who are on the decline, such as Abreu, and Pettitte. Guys with poor work ethic, such as IPK, Melky and Cano. And guys that will not get us back to the top like Pavano and I-Rod.
I was for signing one free agent (Texieria), but now that I think about it, I hope they just SAY NO. They may need first if Posada can’t catch anymore. I am even willing to let Nady go after 2009 to get better cost containment (Not to mention being rid of Matsui’s and Damon’s contracts). By doing that, they can save money and if they put ii into the farm, they will be back on top in a couple of years.
Covering those games should actually be like covering an execution. Those fans will be merciless.
The Yankees will head into Boston, just 3 games out of the Wild Card….Boston will be eliminated from the division race and the Yankees will sweep them out to force a one game playoff….
“Once the Yankees are eliminated and are on the road, play the reserves.” Once? If you’re so sure we’re not making the playoffs, what does it matter whether we play the young ones now or later?
Bobby is keeping my fantasy baseball hopes alive!
Heartily agree. Going up on Saturday, and don’t want to see Gardner except maybe as a defensive replacement or in a blowout.