Comments on: Playing down to the competition http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/ A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:52:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: doslobo38 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545253 doslobo38 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:48:19 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545253 Miggs, I agree 100%. We cannot afford to lose Abreu. He is consistant, doesn't get hurt, is multifaceted and his defensive problems are exaggerated by most people. His numbers are just too damn good. He must be resigned to a 2 or 3 year deal (I like 2 with an option). Nady is no replacement for Abreu since coming to the Yankees he is batting .267 in the same time frame Abreu is batting .335. My fear is some other team is going to offer him as big and long a contract as he wants because they know that he is going to keep putting up a .300 BA with 20 homers and 100 rbi's for some years to come. The let's get rid of Abreu crowd is just wrong as far as I'm concerned. Bobby has earned a new contract and that is all there is to it. Miggs, I agree 100%. We cannot afford to lose Abreu. He is consistant, doesn’t get hurt, is multifaceted and his defensive problems are exaggerated by most people. His numbers are just too damn good. He must be resigned to a 2 or 3 year deal (I like 2 with an option). Nady is no replacement for Abreu since coming to the Yankees he is batting .267 in the same time frame Abreu is batting .335.

My fear is some other team is going to offer him as big and long a contract as he wants because they know that he is going to keep putting up a .300 BA with 20 homers and 100 rbi’s for some years to come.

The let’s get rid of Abreu crowd is just wrong as far as I’m concerned. Bobby has earned a new contract and that is all there is to it.

]]> By: GreenBeret7 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545183 GreenBeret7 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:05:37 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545183 Doreen September 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm Fredo - I’ll give ya Igawa as a desperation move. But I would “argue” that Moose was expected to be a 5-6 inning pitcher. I think that the expectations for Matsuzaka were higher. I know after last year, when he did not “dominate” as predicted he would, expectations are clearly lowered - not the “ace” with the gyroball they had hoped for, but a really, really good #2 or #3. Still, more than Moose. I’m certainly not sayin’ Matsuzaka isn’t good, but certainly he’s had a fair amount of luck this season, combined with obvious skill at being able to pitch out of trouble. ________________________________________________ Major part of the problem with the Tampa Faction can be laid at the feet of Billy Connors, who, somehow convinced George Steinbrenner that he knew about pitching. Steinbrenner hired him and he became George's snitch. He'd let GS know who on the team was talking about him. Connors was as bad a pitching coach as there is. Here is the 2007 assessment of Billy Connors on Kei Igawa. nypost.com/seven/02082007/sports/yankees/kei_workout_yankees_.htm Just add WWW. to the front of it. Doreen
September 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Fredo -

I’ll give ya Igawa as a desperation move.

But I would “argue” that Moose was expected to be a 5-6 inning pitcher. I think that the expectations for Matsuzaka were higher. I know after last year, when he did not “dominate” as predicted he would, expectations are clearly lowered – not the “ace” with the gyroball they had hoped for, but a really, really good #2 or #3. Still, more than Moose.

I’m certainly not sayin’ Matsuzaka isn’t good, but certainly he’s had a fair amount of luck this season, combined with obvious skill at being able to pitch out of trouble.

________________________________________________

Major part of the problem with the Tampa Faction can be laid at the feet of Billy Connors, who, somehow convinced George Steinbrenner that he knew about pitching. Steinbrenner hired him and he became George’s snitch. He’d let GS know who on the team was talking about him. Connors was as bad a pitching coach as there is. Here is the 2007 assessment of Billy Connors on Kei Igawa.

nypost.com/seven/02082007/sports/yankees/kei_workout_yankees_.htm

Just add WWW. to the front of it.

]]> By: helno51 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545130 helno51 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:38:01 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545130 petes stat is kind of stupid in the fact that he includes baltimore. pete states that vs everyone else we won 59% of our games. but he includes baltimore in the group that we played poorly against even though winning 11 of 18 means we won 61% of our games vs baltimore. I understand pete is trying to make his point carry more weight but including baltimore is not being honest about things or just being lazy and not looking at how the math works. petes stat is kind of stupid in the fact that he includes baltimore. pete states that vs everyone else we won 59% of our games. but he includes baltimore in the group that we played poorly against even though winning 11 of 18 means we won 61% of our games vs baltimore. I understand pete is trying to make his point carry more weight but including baltimore is not being honest about things or just being lazy and not looking at how the math works.

]]> By: Gary http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545124 Gary Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:33:45 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545124 Among the goals the team needs to set for 2009 is never to be swept in a series and in particular with teams they should beat. Losing 2 of 3 can happen with any team but with the talent and changes expected for 2009, being swept is unexceptable. Among the goals the team needs to set for 2009 is never to be swept in a series and in particular with teams they should beat.
Losing 2 of 3 can happen with any team but with the talent and changes expected for 2009, being swept is unexceptable.

]]> By: ralph http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545107 ralph Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:23:02 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545107 It comes down to Cashman refusing to trade for a number 1 pitcher, Santana, and doing absolutely nothing to upgrade the offense or bench last winter, then giving Cano a big contract when it wasn't necessary. I also think that refusing to re-sign Bowa, who was begging to stay, was a mistake by Cashman. Cashman reacted to the Red Sox, rather than being pro-active. (see Igawa). I hope that he decides to take a walk to Seattle, because it looks like Gillick is staying in Philly. It comes down to Cashman refusing to trade for a number 1 pitcher, Santana, and doing absolutely nothing to upgrade the offense or bench last winter, then giving Cano a big contract when it wasn’t necessary. I also think that refusing to re-sign Bowa, who was begging to stay, was a mistake by Cashman. Cashman reacted to the Red Sox, rather than being pro-active. (see Igawa). I hope that he decides to take a walk to Seattle, because it looks like Gillick is staying in Philly.

]]> By: John in Ohio http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545097 John in Ohio Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:16:11 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545097 I cringe everytime Abreu goes back on a fly ball. The guy is deathly afraid of leaving his feet, hitting the wall, or colliding with the center fielder. I like it when he comes to the plate, but he kills ya in the field. I cringe everytime Abreu goes back on a fly ball. The guy is deathly afraid of leaving his feet, hitting the wall, or colliding with the center fielder.

I like it when he comes to the plate, but he kills ya in the field.

]]> By: 86w183 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545063 86w183 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:53:43 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545063 I agree, which is why I can't rationalize signing Abreu. They should offer Arbitration to preserve the possible draft picks. If he accepts, time to teach someone 1B !! I agree, which is why I can’t rationalize signing Abreu. They should offer Arbitration to preserve the possible draft picks. If he accepts, time to teach someone 1B !!

]]> By: The Other Phil http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545047 The Other Phil Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:40:48 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545047 86: I don't think he'll get moved. He'll make $13m next year and has a no-trade clause. I don't see another team taking on his $13m salary for a LF that now has a history of injuries and is more suited to be a DH. 86:
I don’t think he’ll get moved. He’ll make $13m next year and has a no-trade clause.
I don’t see another team taking on his $13m salary for a LF that now has a history of injuries and is more suited to be a DH.

]]> By: The Other Phil http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545035 The Other Phil Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:37:19 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545035 Miggs: If he can be re-signed to a reasonable deal, I'm all for it. I just think that he's looking for a 3yr min deal, which I hope the Yanks won't do. And unfortunately, the thing about injuries is, they're not a problem until they are. Before Posada and Matsui got hurt, they were also guys that never got hurt. You never know how things will go. Maybe that's why he shies from the wall so much... Since Nady has played the majority of his career in RF (I finally looked it up), it would make sense to move him there, leave Damon in LF and have Matsui DH full-time. Miggs:
If he can be re-signed to a reasonable deal, I’m all for it. I just think that he’s looking for a 3yr min deal, which I hope the Yanks won’t do.
And unfortunately, the thing about injuries is, they’re not a problem until they are. Before Posada and Matsui got hurt, they were also guys that never got hurt. You never know how things will go. Maybe that’s why he shies from the wall so much…

Since Nady has played the majority of his career in RF (I finally looked it up), it would make sense to move him there, leave Damon in LF and have Matsui DH full-time.

]]> By: 86w183 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/comment-page-3/#comment-545014 86w183 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:26:08 +0000 http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2008/09/24/playing-down-to-the-competition/#comment-545014 Miggs--- Problem is Matsui is signed for '09 and Abreu isn't. Bringing him back without moving Matsui just doesn't make sense unless you are in the group who believes anyone can play 1B. Now if Matsui can be part of a deal for a young pitcher or CF then I'd be fine with Abreu coming back to be a DH/OF. Miggs—

Problem is Matsui is signed for ’09 and Abreu isn’t. Bringing him back without moving Matsui just doesn’t make sense unless you are in the group who believes anyone can play 1B.

Now if Matsui can be part of a deal for a young pitcher or CF then I’d be fine with Abreu coming back to be a DH/OF.

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