Rivera has surgery on shoulder
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Oct 07, 2008 
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I sure hope everything works out with no problems. Mo is impossible to replace.
Get well soon Mo
So instead of giving the Rays their due and discussing playoff matchups, Mike turns the show into an ominous Anti-Yankee crusade and hot stove-light edition.
I don’t pray that often, but I am saying a prayer for Mo. I really want to see him go out on top. He is a champion, and he deserves to finish his career that way.
In a way, you hope this fall pains the front office just so that they are proactive this off-season and recognize how good this division is. The last thing they needed to do was take the “injuries killed us” excuse. They need to ne angry and approach the off-season with a mean-streak not the usual conservative approach that Cashman takes. 2 legit winning teams in the division, changes are needed. Drastic changes to the lineup and a horse in the rotation.
Red Sox had injuries too, so did the Rays. It all balances out, we still finished 6 behind BOS and 8 behind TB and that was after a great September in which we won a ton of meaningless games.
Best of luck to Mo
This release from Joe Girardi:
No he didn’t.
—-goes to light a candle, even though he’s not religious —-
Girardi said that Brett Gardner could win a batting title next year.
the yankees should put joba in the pen,trade for a young pitcher and sign a few more.
mo is getting old and i am worried about joba’s health in the rotaion.
We need a new poll.
Whos shoulder scares you the most for 2009?
Mariano
Joba
Posada
Pettitte
No Fatcessa she doesn’t drink it we spray Patrón on Kim.
And someone tell no neck that Rutgers sucks.
“Girardi said that Brett Gardner could win a batting title next year.”
Is this a joke? Link?
Joba. He is the most important pitcher this franchise has.
Kim drinks patron, what a shock
What else is there to do on the road in different cities for 6 months?
Anyone know how this will effect Mo’s offseason workouts. I believe that the past few years he has chosen NOT to do any throwing in the winter but with the surgery I assume he will have to do some sort of reheab involving throwing
She doesn’t drink it they spray it on her.
joba’s shoulder is the most concerning.
he is our ace and face of the franchise.
Brandon –
why waste a good tequila on her? Spray her with the cheap stuff, while enjoying the patron.
First I’ve heard the Schilling wanting to come to the Yankees story.
Schilling was suppose to come to the Yanks? thank god, he didnt…
Kim Jones just brought the Pavano out of the blue.
So true.
Posada. If he can’t throw, we are screwed.
Especially if we have already acquired another 1B. Then what would we do?
Matsui in left, Damon in Center, Nady in right? Posada at DH, Molina at C?
Ouch
First I’ve heard the Schilling wanting to come to the Yankees story.
That’s not new, we’ve known that for some time, the players association blocked the Yankees here.
JOSE TABATA YOU DUMB ASS !
Bloody sock man wanted to come to the Yanks? Barf
Don’t forget the most important vote of your life!
“Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year”
http://www.americanmustacheins.....fYear.aspx
“After beginning the 2008 baseball season in a slump, Jason grew a mustache and personally brought great popularity and regard to Mustached Americans in 2008 as his batting average was 100 points higher with lip fur than it was without.”
Schillings original team picks were Boston, Yankees and Phillies.
“JOSE TABATA YOU DUMB ASS !”
‘Yankee baseball expert’
Listening to this show, we are much further away than I thought. This franchise has taken such a step back.
lol this Brett Gardner exchange is funny. He may hit .250 and beat out bunt singles.
Is this what we have been reduced to? Damn.
R-Tek it’s Kim Jones you think she knows what Gardner is truely capable of ?
“Listening to this show, we are much further away than I thought. This franchise has taken such a step back.”
Any resemblance between reality and what you hear from this show is purely coincidental
i knew the Yankees were on Schillings original wish list but I never heard Mike say he called WFAN and asked him to get word to the Yankees that they needed to move quick because Boston was getting a deal done.
I am now convinced we are going to need Tex more than ever. Where is the offense going to come from?
Matsui is injury prone and puts up empty stats. Posada is 37 coming off shoulder surgery which will affect his bat speed. Jeter’s numbers are probably going to decline. Nady is a .260 hitter with a .320 OBP trying to replace Abreu. We will be lucky if our CF hits .230 and will have a .290 OBP. We don’t have anything close to a 1B. Damon is going to be 35.
The only guys who could be better next year are A-Rod and Cano. Where is the offense going to come from? We’re already on pace to score 200 less runs than last year and are losing our 2 best OBP guys and 50 HRs/200 RBIs. The aging players are going to get worse, not better.
That is a serious concern that Cashman cannot leave as a question mark.
Someone who can sit on hold at work please call Francessa and see if either he knows who made the 3rd most starts for the Yankees this year?
If he didn’t know Tabata was traded, what shot does he have at getting that right.
Mike does have more connections than people think to the Yankees.
How do you think these McClouth rumors became mainstreem? The media didn’t just pick it out of the air.
Joba moving to the pen was his idea first when some caller suggested it to Mike last summer. 2 weeks later, it happens.
He suggested Abreu to Cashman and it came to fruition. He got the Mets Piazza.
Francessa does have a lot of influence.
Mike probably doesn’t know who Robertson is or Coke.
Mike Francessa knows all.
Schilling might do a Clemens next season and pitch the second half. Ugh.
Why the hate on Gardner?
Hate on the guys who couldn’t get the runner home from 3rd with a sac fly or ground out to the right side of the infield.
The guys who earn 40x what Gardner makes.
Trevor,
Francesa only knows DIET Coke!
“The only guys who could be better next year are A-Rod and Cano. Where is the offense going to come from?”
Posada will be an offensive improvement over Molina and Matsui can only improve on his 2008 numbers. That would be 2 more.
NITRO -
Matsui had 2 bad knees which have now both been operated on. He broke his wrist 2 seasons ago. I know it seems like he’s injury prone, but I would not say that. Carl Pavano is the walking definition of injury prone – someone who gets hurt every time they sneeze. The wrist injury for Matsui was a freak thing. He’d played forever without even a day off. The knees are a concern, but one hopes that now, since both knees are repaired, he will be fine. Maybe not back to where he was pre-surgery, but certainly better than this season.
Clint,
What happened with Bronson Arroyo? (is he even in baseball anymore?)
Did his source forget to tell him that we traded Tabata away?
Just kidding. Either he has a connection or he’s Francesadamus. Scary.
“Matsui is injury prone and puts up empty stats.”
Empty stats? Since when is multiple seasons of 100+ RBIs an empty stat?
Why are you guys torturing yourselves listening to this guy? He knows nothing. He’s a Yankees fan in theory, not in practice.
pat
In addition…its not how much you hit…but when you hit
Gardner hit 220, but he had 16 RBI’s (some from the 9 hole) in 42 games…that translates to 60 rbi’s
60 RBI’s, approx 50sb’s…and a decent CF- sounds good to me…especially for less than a mil a year
Laura it’s either him or Micheal Kay
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....n_perwin_1
Hughes pitching. Jackson and Russo starting.
Brandon -
What about classic rock? Muzak? Alternative?
I’ve got HGTV on in the background at home!
Why get agita?! You know you know more than Francessa – why torture yourself?
Occasionally, he’s entertaining. Mostly he seems to infuriate people because he doesn’t have all the information.
I guess people just get addicted to it.
mel
Bad pun alert………
Since Phil’s pitching against Surprise, you never know what can happen.
Question on AFL league.
I get that it’s a pitcher’s league but what level is it? Is it closer to AA than AAA because there aren’t career minor leaguers, AAAA guys, or rehabbing MLB guys?
from Cashman on XM Yesterday crtsy of Neil best Watchdog blog. Is he talking about Lupica here?? That is the only columnist I can think of that has political writing aspirations. I also assume that he is specifically talking about columnists NOT beat writers.
Brian Cashman: “You get motivation in different ways. You get to reinvent yourself, maybe, in different ways. And I started seeing a couple of interesting articles show up about, I think what I would reflect, [sic] from some lazy writers that aren’t very good at what they do. But those guys all of a sudden started writing some stuff that was like, you gotta be kidding me. And I was like, ‘Alright, you know what? Maybe that’s where the motivation is going to come from.’ I’m like, guys, if you’re going to do that then I can either let that happen as I walk out the door and let them try to put that exclamation point on my legacy here, which wouldn’t have been accurate, or I can stay and change the story. And I’m going to stay and change the story. At least that’s my intent. There’s no guarantee.â€
Cashman: “All of a sudden I start seeing people start reflecting, well, you know what, I inherited this and I’m living off the fat of others. Read some of the stuff that some of these idiots [are writing]. And you know what? We have good writers here. We have some of the best writers in the country. We do. These guys are knowledgeable. But there are a couple of guys that want to be in the political arena and kind of affect and portray things that might not be true. And I’ve made mistakes. I have. I mean, don’t get me wrong. We all have and I’m responsible for the ones I’ve made but I’m not going to let some of these lazy ones [writers] that aren’t good at what they do to depict something different. And so I’m staying and I’m going to change the story in the end and that’s why I’m here.â€
Doreen IDK I mean I might turn to z100 or or even a KTU since I heard those stations when I would go to the gym. Maybe I should get back to that
No. He isn’t. He’s has some potential to be an ace. He has yet to prove that. Once he has a winning record over a full season we can start calling him things. At this point it’s by no means certain he is fit enough to start for a full season. Calm down.
Moose was our ace in 2008. Wang is our ace, for 2009 for the moment. But we need to hire a new one too.
“I don’t know where you get your numbers – did the Angels make $30M? I don’t see how.”
tk in dc-
do your own math. 50,000 attendance at yankee stadium at 200.00 per person= 10 million per game. attendance and everything sold at the game is the yankees money if i’m not mistaken.
if someone has specific numbers that the yankees lost by not making the playoffs, i’d welcome it. i’m throwin out my guesstimates because no one is talking about the loss that is as real as sabathia’s salary next year.
the yankees lost at least 20 million and probably a lot more.i’d be surprised if it was under 30 million.
pat,
There are no surprises. You are what you are!
How did the Sox beat the Angels who didn’t have problems getting on base? Not a trick question. Their defense won them the game clincher and almost won them game 3. How did the Angels lose? Their defense let them down and their poor RISP (aided by Boston’s defense).
Can’t ignore the defense.
CC is not as good ? He carried to teams into the playoffs the last 2 yrs., Johan has missed the postseason the last 2 yrs.
So Cash is here to prove some writers wrong? I hope it’s more than that.
“Question on AFL league.
I get that it’s a pitcher’s league but what level is it?”
i was under the impression it was a hitters league…stadiums are small, hitter friendly i thought
two * (I’m sorry I’m getting pissed off here)
mel,
AFL is where teams send their best AA-AAA position prospects. I think there is a service time limit on it, so AAAA players or rehabbing ML guys don’t qualify. Infact, I don’t think Joba qualified because he was in the bigs for a year.
You get a couple of AAAA players (like we’re sending Kevin Russo) to fill out the roster but for the most part, it is high ceiling hitting talent.
The pitching is usually close to ML ready guys. Last year we sent White/Ohlendorf. Guys who need innings as well. AA-AAA guys.
AFL is a bandbox. All the parks are small and the ball flys in the dry desert air.
Hawaii is the pitcher’s park. Thats why teams usually send their better pitching prospects to Hawaii to work on things and their best hitters to Arizona. But guys who need innings are sent to Arizona as well.
Who cares why Cashman decided to stay? The point is, he’s motivated to make the Yankees a championship team. Players do this all the time, they motivate themselves by trying to prove the world wrong. The Patriots are among the best at doing this, they imagine everything as a slight to them and turn it into positive motivation.
Please tell me the AFL gameday will be better than the Hawaii one.
Ralphie,
That’s right. I got mixed up.
Col,
Thanks. You really explained it well. The HWB had a lot of guys from the last 2 seasons actually make it to the majors, so I’d imagine there’d be even more from the AFL.
Clint,
It looks like the one used by AAA. But, like that one, you won’t get pitch info.
Unless you are one of Francesa’s children, its the only explanation you can come up with to truly believe he has “influence” with the Yankees.
He has none. Nada, zip, zero influence with the Yankees.
In fact, the organization sees him for what he is. A talk show host whose job it is to come up with topics to get the phonelines going.
His “involvement/influence” with the Yankees is in two areas. Hosting the Joe Girardi Show, and he doesn’t even like Girardi, and forcing himself on WFAN to have him emcee the Johnny Ellis Foundation Dinner each year.
That’s it.
He doesn’t have any juice to acquire players. Nor does any other media member in the market.
Arizona is a hitters league. Eric Duncan won MVP of the league a couple years back.
Hughes should do well though because he can get these young guys to chase, he is far more experienced than most of these hitters. It is high ceiling young hitters, but inexperienced ones.
If a dope like Francessa has thought of an idea, I guarantee that Cashman and company have also considered it.
SJ44,
Listening to local talk radio and they were talking about how it used be coaching in the 50′s at Georgia (and generally, the south). The La Tech coach is the son of Dooley (?) and he runs it the same way in 2008.
The media watches practice. They go to see the coach. He tells a few jokes. And then he tells them what to write.
I thought that was funny because that sounded wildly familiar, if you catch my drift.
It’s a weird dynamic that the Yankees need someone like Francesa in a way. He helps them stay relevant, even if he’s not and the things he say are totally off base.
My god how is Chris Carlin on sports radio/broadcasts NY needs to step up the requirements.
As far as where he “got” the McClouth suggestion, he got it from Jon Heyman.
Heyman wrote it for his column prior to doing his guest shot on Francesa’s show.
When Mike has an original thought, let us know. It will be a first.
I get a kick out of people who believe sports talk radio hosts are “clued in” with teams.
Teams HATE talk radio. Absolutely hate it because it makes their jobs tougher. Guys like Francesa spout off at the mouth, knowing not of what they speak, and it creates mini-controversies on a sometimes daily basis.
Mike Francesa can’t tell you THREE names in the Yankees farm system. How in the world can people believe he can influence the Yankees to acquire players?
Don’t you think you have to have some understanding of the organization, and its assets, to be able to do that?
Mike had ONE real hookup in his career. Bill Parcells. He and Parcells are very close. So close that, when Parcells wanted to get something out (warning a player about playing harder for instance) into the media, he used Mike to do it.
From a Yankees perspective, he has no such person. He wasn’t even friends with Torre. They had a professional relationship and that’s it.
In the 12 years Torre was in NY, Francesa never shared a meal or a social get together with Torre. Not one.
Parcells? They were together all the time. Completely different circumstances.
This has been one of the most disorganized, cluttered shows I have ever listened to.
How did Mike think he could have 2 guests AND take calls? Nobody will get enough mic time.
Carlin and Jones are football fans anyway moreso than baseball, I doubt they want to take Yankees hot stove in October when the Giants are 4-0.
I think everyone in here will be kicking themselves next year when they see how much of a threat Gardner is. I’m willing to stake my reputation on that.
Mike has tons of Mets connections, not so much Yankees.
Francesa should have Bronson Arroyo as his co-host/minion for a week at WFAN. Can you imagine the love-fest?
Kim is right though… if we get our ace this off-season, things will be resorted back to order. If not, then it will be a long season.
It’s that simple. We don’t need a massive re-construction of the team and getting rid of everyone.
However, if we miss out on CC then it will be tough to compete.
Name that player:
“I’ll take a couple of days, and then I’ll start figuring out where I’m going to play next year.”
Just a comment on Fatcessa. Last year, he said that Phil Hughes was going to be a star – he loved Phil. Now, after a few bad starts (and that’s all it was, before he got hurt), Phil sucks? He sounds like some people here……but what annoys me about that is that Mike has a public forum for his garbage. The man knows zilch about baseball – he wants the Yankees to get younger, but he does not have an ounce of patience. Phil? He lost his talent – should have dumped him. He, like Carlin and Dimberley Jones, should put socks in their mouths because they sound like idiots. We all know why the Yankees didn’t do the Santana deal(Dim Jones: the Yankees DEFINITELY would have made the playoffs with Johan. LOL, ok Dim – because the Mets made it, didn’t they?!) The team was well aware that it would hurt them for this year…..why does everyone conveniently forget that?
I also find it odd, though unsurprising, that some fans throw out Lester as an example of how great the Sox farm system is. Well – Lester, even before his cancer, wasn’t any great shakes – nor should he have been. He was a kid…Plus, I’ll venture to say that he’s surprised a lot of Sox fans. Meantime, Bucholz struggled mightily last year, so much so that he had to be demoted. Is anyone under the impression that he’s not going to be a good pitcher? No. Therefore, cut the whining about the Yankees’ kids. Yankee fans don’t deserve a team made up of homegrown (mostly) talent as that would require having a modicum of patience; Yankee fans deserve exactly what they want – a team full of NOW players with no future.
“Francesa never shared a meal or a social get together with Torre.”
Francesa strikes me as the guy that would cut in front of you if he saw you heading to the buffet table.
None of these guys know anything about the farm system and they are trying to have a round table discussion about the draft.
Mike didn’t even know we traded Tabata.
Disastrous.
Let me help Mike, Kim and Carlin out. It’s all about expectations. Dustin Pedroia, who many people are advocating to be the 2008 AL MVP just put up one of the worst offensive postseason series ever from an MVP candidate. Why isn’t that front page news everywhere today? Because despite being an MVP candidate, his team won through the contributions of others (mostly John Lester) and he has very few expectations on him to be the guy who has to succeed in order for the team to succeed.
In the postseason, how many times does the guy who you expect to succeed offensively actually make the difference in the games. Not often.
Dim Jones?
And you want people to take you seriously?
If the only way you can get your point across is by insulting them, then clearly you have no argument.
Betsy -
Here, here! Agree on all points.
Betsy,
Talking about good earnest young players on a losing team doesn’t make for good radio.
We wouldn’t even hear of Lester, Lowrie, and Elsbury if the Red Sox aren’t winning.
Betsy
Well said…it takes time…and sometimes you have to take a step back…in order to take a few forward…
Here’s one problem I have…the free agents we want (CC, Tex, Burnett) would be to help us now…but the youngsters (Hughes, Joba, Montero, A-Jax) are at least a year away from performing on the big stage
How do we reconcile that?
“Mike didn’t even know we traded Tabata.”
i’m surprised he knows who he is. when the trade was made “we gave up absolutly nothing” according to this show…
Randy,
You’re right about how much money the Yankees lose from missing out on the playoffs. It might be more than what you guesstimate actually when you figure in ad revenues on YES. There was an article in a weekly mag, I forget which one, a couple of years ago detailing how much money the Yankees lose when they get beat in the first round of the playoffs, let alone not making the playoffs at all.
Lester went 11-2 in his first year. He went 4-0 in his 2nd year.
ERA aside, he won games for them. Therefore he could stay in the Sox rotation. If he was 4-9, he would be in the minors.
Similarly, if Hughes wants to stay in the rotation, he needs to win games. Regardless of ERA. Lester proved he was a winner early on.
How much of that 20% ratings dip is because the Yankees are at home?
If I am not mistaken, Francesca is actually friends with Omar Minaya. He’s mentioned it on Mike’d Up. Not anyone on or in the Yankees front office.
im guessing it went successful?
ray,
Thats why the Yankees will not accept another year of no playoffs. The revenue hit will be enormous. They are trying to up the value of the YES Network and have tied in with the new stadium. With the economy the way it is, that holds even more true. Fans are not going to come out to see a substandard team.
They need to win next year and they know it. They can’t rebuild because their market strategy doesn’t allow them to. When they went ahead with this billion dollar stadium, they did so with the expectations they had to win to fund it.
I still remember last year(before Joba came up) someone called fatty asking about whether the Yanks should bring up Chamberlain and he didn’t even know who Joba was and gave the caller the handwave.
A few weeks later(Joba was here and kicking butt)-Fatcesa is talking about Joba like he new all along he was this stud secret weapon the yanks had.
Can’t take what Fatcesa says too seriously. Just listen and laugh
Oh and Betsy-great post!
mel
CC and AJ both said that in some form that the decision will come sooner rather than later. That also happened to be Brian Cashman’s stance on his contract negotiations so now they all have something in common.
The ratings dip is Yankee and VP debate related or so the industry is saying.
If Francesca spent as much time fixing his own radio show as he does fixing the Yankees – he’d be better off.
He’s had a much “yes – I agree” co hosts since Dawg left… the show is rapidly turning into an afternoon siesta.
SJ44,
Thinking back to your point about Francessa making it hard on the front office.
By definition, so does Hank.
I can’t believe they made him change his number. How emasculating.
Pat,
That was actually Teixeira, who was understandably disappointed. Awwww.
Lester went 11-2 in his first year. He went 4-0 in his 2nd year.
11-2? Lester pitched 15 games his first year and went 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA
You guys are all making the point.
The Red Sox kids are allowed to grow because they have a dominant team. They can incorporate young players into the mix and they are part of a championship team already so they will get notoriety and become overhyped. If they struggle, nobody will notice because guys around them pick up the slack. If they do well, the organization gets immense credit. Jed Lowrie has done nothing numbers wise this year but you wouldn’t know that watching the games or listening to talk radio.
That should be an example to Cashman. Put a DOMINANT team on the field capable of winning the WS and then incorporate the kids. Don’t make them captain the ship, let them be passengers. Mask the young players and build a winning culture. Then start to mix the youth in. Cashman basically dedicated an entire year to their development and put the target on their back. That was a mistake. Take all the pressure off them.
He said the Yankees thought Hughes would win a ton of games. No one ever said with the Yankees. It was him that penciled Hughes in to win “15 games”.
The Yankees knew both Kennedy and Hughes would have ups and downs which is the nature of young pitchers. What they didn’t know was that the offense would struggle the way it did.
Betsy to add about Lester. Isn’t this his 3rd year? When he first came up he was not that good. He had potential but he walked the ballpark a lot and was a 5 inning pitcher. He improved as he got more ML experience.
Redding
October 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
“Lester went 11-2 in his first year. He went 4-0 in his 2nd year.”
I am obviously a Lester supporter but just a clarification. He went 7-2 during the regular season in 2006, his first year.
The Yankees knew both Kennedy and Hughes would have ups and downs which is the nature of young pitchers. What they didn’t know was that the offense would struggle the way it did.
exactly.
I still can’t believe how offensive the offense was this past season.
Sorry, i meant 11-2 in his first 2 years.
The Sox also went 9-3 in his 12 starts last year.
He was winning games for them, so even if he had a mid 4 ERA, he could stay in the rotation. His ERA is skewed anyway in 06 because we beat him up during the massacre which increased his ERA from 4.09 to 4.76. His ERA was in the mid 3s for most of that year.
How “dominant” were the Red Sox in 2006? They missed the playoffs.
You know what they had that Yankees fans DON’T have? Patience with their young players.
They had patience with them, used their money intelligently, and created the kind of balance between youth and experience the Yankees had in their dominant years.
This ain’t rocket science folks. The Yankees should just “go back to the future” as they re-tool the team.
Which, if you follow the smoke signals coming out of the Bronx, is what they intend to do.
Ok, the show should get better now, they have moved on to football.
They should have been talking football the entire show instead of hot stove.
The Red Sox young players all overachieved, they made something out of nothing.
Whoever thought Pedroia would blossom into this player he is today? He was supposed to be a pesky player who plays good D, now he is an MVP candidate.
Youkallis reaches superstar status at age 29 and had more RBIs than A-Rod. Who ever thought he would be this good?
Lester was seen as a middle rotation guy, now he is an ace.
Masterson was seen as a bottom rotation guy, he was very good as a starter and has become a great SU man for a championship caliber team. Hell, he was even better as a starter.
Their young players have all overachieved and exceed their ceilings.
With all due respect, the Yankees offense massively disappointed this year. The Yankees had a dominant offense which was the counted on to “mask” the growing pains of Hughes and Kennedy. If the offense had done only slightly worse than the year before, it is conceivable that the rookie pitchers in the rotation experiment could have worked. But the offense, for all the various reasons gone over here and elsewhere, and for no discernible reason whatsoever, flopped.
“Their young players have all overachieved and exceed their ceilings”
Yes some of that is true. Especially about Pedroia. No one really thought highly of him. The baseball draft is a crap shoot. You take a chance when you draft a player and hope it works out. It has so far for the Red Sox.
But I do think some people are overrating some of these young Sox players.
Ellsbury for most of the season hit around 260. When he came up I heard a number of people calling him a superstar. Which is ridiculous. Good little player but not a “superstar”.
Lowrie needs to prove himself. He’s done nothing (okay a game winning hit. Gardner did that too off Paplebon) to warrant so much praise.
You have to give credit to the espn guys for not saying that Pedroia bumped Kinsler in college when they were talking about Pedroia’s ascension.
******BREAKING NEWS********
KNBC 680 The Sports Leader just reported that the Oakland Athletics will have greater payroll flexibility next season and Billy Beane was quoted as saying they want more offense and are looking to get an offensive player who can “help for one or two years.”
Hmmmm, can you think of anyone possibly coming onto the market would could help Oakland and who might be amenable to playing there?
******DEVELOPING STORY*******
Tex, Manny, CC, Peavy and Burnett, now that’s Yankee baseball!
Trade Hughes, Kennedy, Melky. Let go of Giambi, Matsui, Mussina, Pettite, but keep Bobby Abreu!
Nick,
Just greasing the wheels.
“You’re right about how much money the Yankees lose from missing out on the playoffs. It might be more than what you guesstimate actually when you figure in ad revenues on YES.”
raymagnetic-
last year when pete talked about that guy vince gennaro who wrote the book about how signing different players means different things to teams in different markets, i think it was discussed how much the yankees would lose if they didn’t make the playoffs.
my feeling is that there are two games being played. one is the game on the field and the other is the business game of making money. i’m really puzzled that how much the yankees have lost missing this year’s playoffs isn’t being discussed . it’s got to be a big issue behind closed yankee doors. that it’s not being discussed publicly is probably because it’s a very big number.
Barry Bonds?
Nick
If you can get Bobby Crosby to give up his uniform number, you’ve got a deal.
randy l -
This is probably going to sound a little naive, so bear with me. I am not surprised the Yankees don’t talk about how much money they lost by not making the playoffs. For one, I think that would turn off the fans. Which leads to, I guess a spin-off of #1, which is a p.r. thing – don’t we all believe, or want to believe, the Yankees want to get to the playoffs and ultimately win the WS because of the Power, the Pride and the Pinstripes, and not necessarily the fourth “P” – the Pocketbook?
Nick –
2 words: Jason Giambi.
I heard someone that Beane would bring him back to the A’s.
I read somewhere**
The bottom of the lineup tanked. That is what separated this Yankee offense from those in past years. The Yankees got 682 at bats from Melky and Molina and between them they hit .232 with 11hr and 55 rbi. Their combined OPS was .608. Throw in the fact that Cano gave them nothing until it was too late and then you realize that the 7-9 hitters were awful.
The line up was 6 deep..at best
Jason Giambi is going home.
source: MLBTR
ED, Thank God. I hate AJ
I was thinking Ozzie Canseco, but Jason Giambi might be more realistic.
jennifer,
lol. Just like ET. When he put the blanket over his head and rode the bike off into the moonlight.
Tears…of joy!
Tom,
Read it again.
Giambi will return to Oakland with a 2 year deal as Frank Thomas announces his retirement because of continuous bad knees.
Why does Francesa called Carlin-Continent?
He’s bigger than some continents?
Tom
Read it again. AJ hasn’t taken the Yanks out of the mix.
Jeez. Hughes barely had a chance to drink his Gatorade. 6 pitch inning for Eyre.
Mel. Oops. That will teach me to read while eating.
Can I have a Mulligan:
ED, NOT good I HATE Burnett
Tom,
LOL. English teacher, right? Whatcha reading “Pride & Predjudice”?
“He’s bigger than some continents?”
Are you saying that it is unfair to Europe and Australia?
2 ground ball double plays so far.
“Jason Giambi is going home.”
Las Vegas?
Tom -
multi tasking? grading papers, eating, and reading the blog?
Wouldn’t you like to get your hot little hands on a list like that?
Who would be on there? All the small market teams. Most of the NL.
Mel: Romantic novels aren’t my specialty-18th century satire is. I was reading the Dunciad. now I feel like a dunce.
Mel -
I’m guessing it’s safe to cross out the west & central teams?
“Who would be on there?”
West coast teams. Proximity to Baltimore is supposedly a priority.
Ed, let him go to the Braves. He’d fit in well with Smoltz, Glavine, Hudson, and Hampton on the dl.
A public service announcement from Livan Hernandez:
“Don’t read while eating!
Don’t let your friends read while eating!
Don’t… hey, I’m getting hungry.”
So CC doesn’t to come east and Burnett doesn’t want to go West.
Strange.
Why would he wants to play in Baltimore though?
Tom -
Smoltz is a free agent to be this offseason.
If we don’t nab Burnett, Boston will.
Beckett, Burnett, Matsuzaka, Lester
Good night.
He didn’t say he wants to play in Baltimore just near Baltimore.
Smoltz is a free agent to be this offseason.
coughs *Shoulder* unless he wants to be Wetteland
I’d actually try and sign Smoltz for a 2-3 yr deal.
He is the best big game pitcher of our generation. He can be a starter or a closer and could be a SU man to MO here.
He has nasty stuff and could be a mentor to Joba.
Baltimore’s more palatable than Washington.
The only two real players I see are Yankees and Red Sox.
AJ detractors need to put the hate aside. The Red Sox should be given no chance to sign AJ. That would be Que disastre!.
Is that Arizona’s own Chad Tracey?
He has nasty stuff and could be a mentor to Joba.
I’m sold but not 2 – 3 yrs. and it has to have a team option.
Ed, I know. So are Glavine and Hampton. ATL mentioned they’d be open to signing all 3 again at steep discount.
So the two favorites going into the playoffs are out. Do the Angels have to return the championship trophy they won in July back? No more paper champions!
Get
1b Crede
cf Dejesus in a trade
cf backup Baldelli
2b O.Cabrera
P Lowe
P Peavy in a trade involving Cano
Better defensively and more speed. Pitching depth.
Teixeria is another A-Rod… read King’s article in the post.
Stay away from him. Burnett is a better option than Teixeria.
“Baltimore’s more palatable than Washington.”
I beg your pardon?
SoS,
Doesn’t Crede have chronic back problems?
And, sorry, no to Baldelli. I don’t think he’ll be in the game much longer. Valiant effort, for sure, but it’s going to be a tough go.
Heyman says Ethier, Russell Martin, and Kemp are cocky and say “inappropriate things”.
Wilson, different guy. This one is the Texas system. (i had the same question earlier…)
what really would surpise me is if AJ signs with the Rays. :doh:
according to ESPN, Ken Griffey JR isn’t going to retire. either he will stay with Chi-Town or signs with the Rays since Floyd is most likely going to retire.
———
ok, i be back in 30 mins. grocery shopping. =(
X-Mann it’s funny but that’s the first King article that I believe in.
Oh yay. Heyman time.
TK,
The Orioles are more palatable than the Nationals.
“If we don’t nab Burnett, Boston will.”
Would Boston be willing to make Burnett the highest paid player on the team?
Hughes losing the strike zone, two 2 out walks in a row.
Anyone listening to this exchange between Francessa, Kim, and Heyman?
Sounds like there was a lot of problems this year, a disconnect between the players and Girardi.
Wow sounds like Girardi has really alienated his players.
S.o.S.27: Dejesus is a good ballplayer (went to rutgers when he was there).
Steamed crabs with Old Bay and Berger cookies are more palatable than whatever folks eat in D.C. Um, pork?
why is all this just coming out now about girardi? did it exacerbate towards the end of the year?
really not encouraging at all.
Some of the players changing their mind on Giradi?
Heyman thinks this disconnect is a serious problem with the Yankees
pat,
They need pitching. They’re not going to put Masterson and Buccholz in the rotation.
And it would hurt us. Not only does he pitch well against us, but it would hurt us to not have him.
They took Drew with his injury history. Why not Burnett?
Randy , Yanks would lose at least 1 mil per game just in concessions…..As I said earlier, having the Stadium dark in October costs them many millions of dollars…..Probably close to what it’d cost them in Texeiera’s salary…..
So, I guess Girardi is not on Damon’s X-mas card list
Kim-Girardi might not be aware of what his players really think? what?
“Teixeria is another A-Rod… read King’s article in the post.”
King or Sherman? I usually believe King more than Sherman.
pinkpinstripe,
Yes Crede has back problems. I would still try to get him. If not Crede than Atkins. As far as Baldelli. I think he would make a great 4th outfielder. I would think that would keep him fresh.
i hope this Girardi stuff doesn’t affect FA signings, sounds like he is pulling a Bobby Pitrino
pat,
Sorry, I meant Sherman.
Sherman was the one who wrote the article about Teix
I don’t care who the manager is. Just show up and earn your GD pay. If they don’t want to play because they don’t have ice cream or if the manager didn’t get a chance to tell the player he wasn’t playing that day, then step aside. There’s lots of young, hungry players that want to play.
Jesus Christ.
Per Heyman– He’s heard that Jeter and Mariano are the ones who have really soured on Girardi. Said all the veterans but mentioned them specifically.
If Jeter was such a great captain than he would call a meeting with other vet palyers on the team and Joe and explain to him some of the problems this year.
Heyman saying Jeter and Mo had problems with Girardi? What is this? Days of our Yankee Lives?
Clint,
Did Heyman really say Jeter and Mo on the radio just now?
Heyman says Yanks want to land 2 of the big 3 which is the priority.
CC, AJ, and Lowe
Heyman said he has heard talks from the hierarchy that our goal is to land 2 of the big 3 starters (Sabathia, Burnett, Lowe).
Mel- Yes he did.
Love how Kim mentions that she doesn’t even think that Joe sees what is happening in front of him. Glad there is some mainstream media talk of what SJ44 has been mentioning for awhile.
mel-yes
According to Heyman it anarchy in the Yankees lockerroom !
Mark,
Thanks. I predict a very frost environment for Heyman this season.
He just crossed the Jeter line.
mel
Needing pitching and being willing to write a check the size AJ Burnett is looking for might be 2 different things. Beckett will make $10 million in 2009. Dice K will make $8 million in 2009. Are they going to give AJ $15 million or more?
mel,
Thats what he said he HEARD. Didn’t say for a fact. But I was surprised he singled those 2 out, he previously never gave names he just referred to them as “the veterans”. But he named Jeter and MO as the ones who were not high on Girardi by the end of the year.
What on earth did Girardi to in order to lose the clubhouse to this extent? Now Jeter has a problem? Mariano who never has a problem with anyone?
You would think Heyman wouldn’t name guys if he doesn’t have solid info.
“Steamed crabs with Old Bay and Berger cookies are more palatable than whatever folks eat in D.C. Um, pork?”
It is the Capital my left-coast friend – we get a little piece of everything made in the entire country.
Dammitt!! If this is about not having slim jims in the locker room than slim jim it is. Give it to them Joe!! Theres no crying in baseball!!
My god if Jeter had any balls he’d call out John Heyman himself over WFAN, because he’s now throwing Mo/Jete’s name on the burners against GI Joe.
Heyman just gave Francesa a months worth of material to discuss. Ugh
Hughes at 3ip 1 hit 0 er 2 walks 4k’s
46 pitches 29 for strikes 5/0 go/fo
Here is the gameday. Jackson and Russo playing today
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....n_perwin_1
I think we have a case of the telephone game here.
Way to go Heyman. Air out all the dirty laundry.
Peo Javelinas up 1-0
Here we go-This Girardi thing is gonna bother Francesa.
Grab your vodka people
Jeter won’t call Heyman out if its true lol
Austin Jackson sac fly w/ basesloaded 1 – 0 Peo Javelinas
Feel bad for Carlin, he has been reduced to a 3rd level subordinate, only speaks when spoken to.
Peo Javelinas vs Surprise
Why should we believe Heyman?
And what good does this possibly do?
It sounds like neither Jeter nor Mariano to speak to anyone in the press about how they feel about their manager.
Kim ‘No one cares how he treats the media’.
Ummm – Pete?
Way off Topic here, but, what’s the deal with this “controversy” over a tag in the BOS-LAA series?
Oh Chris Carlin sucks he’s like a gabbling school girl anyway.
This is all Petes fault!! He called Heyman and told him to throw Girardi under the bus because he is a compulsive LIAR. Why Pete Why?!
atta boy Jackson, execute those fundamentals
I’m more happy with the sac fly than I would have been with a single.
I don’t think the Yankees lost all that much money by not making the playoffs. Probably a few mill but hardly 30 million. Even if they made the postseason do you think they’d get past the Angels? They would get 1, MAYBE 2 home games.
Jeter is on his private island. He has no idea what was just said.
I’m more happy with the sac fly than I would have been with a single.
I know me too. He’s getting fundamentally bat smart.
If it’s all true, I’m so sad about this team. I tried to ignore the accusations that they’re a bunch of spoiled millionaires playing a kid’s game. They need a babysitter and not a game manager.
I’m so sad right now.
Please understand that there’s a 50/50 chance that what he just said about Jeter and Mo is complete BS. I’m surprised so many of you are taking it as gospel. the one thing that we saw at the end of the year was that the team didnt stop playing hard. They could of easily folded the their tents and lost 8 of their last 10 instead of winning 8 out of 10.
BTW
Peo Javelinas vs Surprise
Has Steve the Mets fan been on the air yet today with a Schoenweiss. Heilman, and Castillo for Peavy suggestion?
So what kind of pitch count is Hughes going to be on? Will he be allowed to throw 100 pitches every time out?
If it wasn’t true then Jeter and MO need to speak up now. They were accused of something by a reputable baseball writer.
Just like Maribelli called out Gary Thorne for the Schilling thing, you speak up when something isin’t true and there is no proof of it.
what the heck is a ‘Peo Javelinas’ anyway? i’d rather our guys be surprizes…
I haven’t heard Steve the crazy Mets fan in a while. Is he alright? Maybe Bellevue took away his phone privileges?
“It sounds like neither Jeter nor Mariano to speak to anyone in the press about how they feel about their manager.”
Well, we knew that was true with Joe Torre. Both players had a 12 year relationship with Torre and Jeter especially talked about Torre as practically a 2nd father.
Why should we expect them to have the same regard for Girardi when they haven’t had the same experience with him?
It is not a huge deal imo – Girardi has to figure out how to win since winning the ‘the greatest deodorant’ – chemistry will follow rings.
If Sabathia wants to hit so badly why don’t we just give him the opportunity to DH once or twice a week if he wants against a righty?
Kim Jones was smart enough not to name names directly but she just said Jeter made statements that conflicted the opinions of the manager all season.
I still think the meeting that Jeter sat in on with Girardi, Cash and Hal was the organizations way of getting Girardi to see that there was rumbling in the clubhouse. No way to prove it but just a gut feeling.
I’m really enjoying the 5-0 groundout-flyout ratio. The strikeouts are a bonus.
I haven’t heard Steve the crazy Mets fan in a while. Is he alright? Maybe Bellevue took away his phone privileges?
He actually wasn’t KoOky last time. I think he said Jonathon Niese for Daniel Cabrera. It actually made sense.
Like someone else said above, neither player will even be made aware of these comments for several days. And i also agree that even if it is true it doesnt really matter. Do you think all of the players love Tony Larussa? Or Lou Pinella? You dont have to love or be happy with the manager to perform well.
He actually wasn’t KoOky last time. I think he said Jonathon Niese for Daniel Cabrera. It actually made sense.
Whoa. He said something sane? I am shocked.
I can’t believe for one minute that every Yankee for the last 12 years before this had absolutely no complaints about the previous manager.
I think Girardi is not liked by the media. Perhaps his players have some problems with him and/or his style. But you can’t tell me in 12 years NO ONE had a problem with ANYTHING Torre did. But none of it was printed. Sheffield had a problem, apparently, but it didn’t get any media until AFTER he left NY.
I seriously cannot believe Jeter or Mo would throw their manager under the bus. It would undermine everything I’ve ever felt about them, or thought about them, if it’s true that they didn’t handle whatever problems they or the team might have had in a more professional manager, which is to say, behind the closed doors of the clubhouse.
And that goes for any other player on the Yankees. I’m sorry, but it’s personal, private information that needs to be worked out in-house without airing it all out, with unsubstantiated statements flying through the airwaves, with the sole purpose of causing controversy, because, the Yankees have been controversy-free for all intents and purposes for 12 years, and the press is having a field day. This does not help the Yankees get better as a team. All it does is undermine Girardi’s presence. I’m beginning to feel that the media has an agenda to get Girardi fired, because he committed two cardinal sins: first, the Yankees didn’t get to the playoffs, and second, he didn’t make a good impression with the media.
Perhaps next time the Yankees should invite senior members of the press corps to the managerial interviews and get their input.
It’s not rocket science, they don’t like Girardi because he is a dictator. He took away his candy and ice cream in the clubhouse. He had a boot camp in ST. He has that stern look on his face at all times and gives military speeches (per Sweeny).
He isin’t a warm, fuzzy guy and doesn’t have a good relationship with his players. And he didn’t win this year.
Why would the players like him?
Later people. I’m going back home in 3hrs. then it’s 90210 that’s right I watch it ! Laterz.
RE the Yankees losing money thing.
This is from 2006:
“However, Forbes said the Yankees lost $50 million last season [2005] because the team paid $77 million in revenue sharing. The New York Daily News also reported in December that the Yankees lost at least $50 million and possibly as much as $85 million last season”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=2557770
“I still think the meeting that Jeter sat in on with Girardi, Cash and Hal was the organizations way of getting Girardi to see that there was rumbling in the clubhouse.”
I have not heard about this – do you have a link to a story? When did it happen?
Hughes not showing any command. That was the one area he needed to focus on.
If this is true about Jeter and Mo .. then I feel like ive lost some respect for them. Their jobs are to play baseball, no matter who the manager is. And Jeets has shows already that he can be a diva when it comes to welcoming people on the team (ie. Arod) and if this is true then I don’t know how to feel about the so called “captain”.
Well, it’s obvious that the players didn’t have the guts to go to Joe when they had problems with him.
somehow this will all be Arod’s fault.
Tiki– http://mobile.newsday.com/news.jsp?key=186530
“I just wanted to let [the players know] that ownership absolutely believes that we’re in this,” Steinbrenner said in a phone interview yesterday. “We absolutely believe we’re in this fight, and that we’ll be in it until the end. Winning takes determination, courage and heart, and it’s time to bring that into the open in a big way. I just told Derek, ‘It’s got to start with you. You’re the captain.’ And he knows that. It was a good meeting. Very positive.”
Said Girardi: “I think it’s nice that Hal included the captain. Hal’s a great communicator. He wanted to communicate to everyone, and he knew Derek could pass it along.”
TKinDC -
I would believe it if it was said of any other player other than Jeter or Mariano. I have never heard either of them speak ill of anyone – whether it be a teammate, a coach, anything. I have no idea whether they agreed/liked Girardi – but I don’t think they’d tell a writer. And I think it has to do with what I’ve seen about them as human beings, NOT simply because Torre was a father figure. But because of the type of people they are.
Was Jeter upset that Girardi maybe asked him to be more vocal to the team and help him out by commanding the clubhouse and Jeter didn’t want to?
I mean, what rules does Jeter have to adhere to? He makes $22 million a year, he can afford candy from CVS if he wants.
And what on earth could his problem with MO be especially after lying on his behalf?
It doesn’t surprise me that Jeter and Mo (and even Posada who wasn’t around as much this year) had issues with Girardi… they called Joe every chance they could get and weren’t exactly quiet about it. Remember when Alex called Lou in 06 when he was struggling it was ‘disrespectful’ to Torre although it was perfectly okay with Jeter/Mo/Posada to do it to Girardi (God I love double standards).
In any case I think part of it was that the players didn’t have their comfort zone (Torre) any more and that was an adjustment. Also I think Girardi came in and too quickly tried to make too many ‘petty’ changes. Did he really think the Yankees were out of shape last year? There were just as many injuries this year. The candy/sweets thing was a bit much he was treating them like children… most ‘employees’ I know would rebel against such treatment I would like to think ballplayers aren’t that different.
Girardi needs to find a way to connect with his players and like wise Jeter needs to live up to Captain title and help his team (all of them) unite and be on the same page if they are going to win all again.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeter/Mo were ticked off at Girardi but I would be surprised if either of them told the media.
40 strikes, 30 balls for Hughes.
Disappointing.
Thanks Tank –
The Tom Coughlin analogy is pretty good – except that a leadership committee structure would seem pretty silly on a baseball team with its smaller roster and constant daily grind.
And then of course there is the whole winning thing.
Doreen,
I think the peeps here said Heyman “heard” Jeter & Mo had problems.
So, no Joe T and all those rules about keeping it in house go out the window? That’s BS to me. Those players can’t keep their gums from flapping. Look at who’s in their last year. Look who’s out the door.
mel -
I’m with you. This is making me very sad. Very, very sad.
You don’t have to like your manager. But please, no talking out of school, you know? And if you have problems, you try to solve them.
I guess I’m naive to the end.
As if we weren’t all down enough about not getting to the playoffs, now we have to hear about the clubhouse problems.
Heyman is reputable as far as these things go, thats why this is even a story.
If it was King or Madden, I’d pass it off as nothing.
Heyman is, as usual, about two months late with this story and also re: the end of the season relationship between Girardi and the players.
By the end of the season, a lot of that stuff between the players and Girardi got worked out.
From about June-August? It wasn’t pretty.
As far as Jeter and Mariano not “getting along” with Girardi, that’s not accurate.
They didn’t like some of the things that were going on and spoke up about it behind closed doors.
Its going to be interesting to see Girardi next season. He says he “learned a lot” this season. I hope that’s true.
If it isn’t, he won’t be long for the gig.
I still maintain he is a smart man and will adjust.
As far as “anarchy” or any of that nonsense, this isn’t little league folks. Not everybody likes the manager.
There were guys in the locker room that HATED Joe Torre. Yet, they played hard for him.
That’s the balance Girardi has to strike.
Unless you view the team through such pinstripe glasses and aren’t able to see the obvious, it was clear to a lot of people that certain guys in the team didn’t play hard this year.
It was also clear the veterans had a hard time understanding and dealing with Girardi’s matchup lineups during the season.
Overall, I think the biggest issue was one of communication between Girardi and the players.
That’s some of the veterans beef with Girardi. Why sweat the “small stuff (like the snacks ban), when the “big stuff” (like effort and preparation) was lacking in some areas?
Did it cost them the season? No. Its just part of the adjustment between players and a new manager.
Man you guys have to chill out about Hughes. This is the fall league, performance really doesn’t matter. He’s just there to get some work in. Also, he’s gotten through 4 scoreless innings, so what if he gave up a few walks. Its really not a big deal.
SJ44 > Heyman
mel -
So, perhaps player “x” who will no longer be here says, something like, “yada yada yada, even Jeter and Mo, yada yada yada.” Hmmm….
“It was also clear the veterans had a hard time understanding and dealing with Girardi’s matchup lineups during the season.”
He got the message though, down the stretch he was pretty consistent with his lineups. Thats encouraging to me becuase it sounds like he listened to the players and changed his management style.
Russo with the GIDP double play. Never happened this season with the big league club, no? lol.
Whatever this about , stays in the clubhouse…Didn’t we cover this topic not long ago…..Scripes looking for an off season story…..
I doubt Jeter will say anything. When the season ended he loaded his burnt orange Ford© Edge with starlets and headed south to some palatial pleasure Dome.
I know it’s the offseason and we’re all looking for something to talk about. But we’re probably blowing this thing way out of proportion. Girardi’s job is to get the team to the playoffs next year. If he doesnt do that, he wont be the manager in 2010.
“Russo with the GIDP double play. Never happened this season with the big league club, no? lol.”
Haha well at least Russo got the run in.
This is all noise because we didn’t win. If we made the playoffs, this would be mere window dressing.
Jeter’s beef with Joe might be that he doesn’t think Joe has what it takes to win, Ditto MO. Both those guys were outspoken at how angry they were that we were not in the playoffs.
Thats why if you are Cashman, you have to make a legit effort to contend. If you don’t, the players who only know winning will become disgruntled and the manager will become a target. These millionaires can’t handle rebuilding– so they blame Girardi because he is an easy target. Not only MO and Jeter, I’m sure all the players are disgruntled at Joe for that reason. So Cashman needs to make sure he has a winner next year or things are going to get ugly in the clubhouse.
Doreen,
I don’t think the dynasty guys, Alex, Matsui, the rookies, or the bullpen guys would say anything negative about Girardi to any media member.
Jackson with a 2 out RBI single in his 2nd AB.
“Well, it’s obvious that the players didn’t have the guts to go to Joe when they had problems with him.”
I dont blame them. GI Joe would probably put them in a sleeper hold if they came at him that way.
memo to all the Yankees players. Joe “nose pickin on t.v.” Torre isnt coming back. This is a professional baseball team not a sunday bar bq.
Brandon,
I see your still watching 90210. Oh brother. Enjoy the soap.
Don’t think the players also don’t see Posada’s disdain for Girardi and are siding with him on it as well, Posada has influence in that clubhouse.
I hope Posada doesn’t try to get Joe fired like Delgado did to Willie.
TK
Guess you got what you were looking for. The meeting was on the return from the Texas/Anaheim/Minny series where Damon and Girardi had issues and a few days before the line-up stabilized. May have been a coincidence but I just thought at the time it was too much of a coincidence.
Jeter would never say anything to the press. IMO, he got himslef invited to a meeting where he told it to the powers that be behind closed doors.
SJ44 -
I’m a grown up and I understand that people don’t always like who they work for, and I even understand that they will talk amongst themselves when they’re unhappy. I don’t really care about that.
What I do care about is someone making it public enough that’s it’s fodder for the masses.
And if what you say is so, that this has all been talked about and most of the feathers have been smoothed, and going forward the situation should improve, what possible reason do Heyman and Kim Jones or anyone else have for talking about this NOW? Except to increase the calls into a radio show?
That’s irresponsible and it’s not journalism. Not unless you also disclose that the issues were brought to Girardi’s attention and he was amenable to discussing them. And that he even worked some of it out going into the latter part of the season.
I didn’t see a team at the end that quit on him or themselves.
As far as players who didn’t work as hard as others, I suppose it must be so, since so many people say it. And if they were a problem, I suppose they will not be there next season. With the possible exception of Cano, because he’s young, cost-controlled and talented and he responded to some “tough love” and a new batting stance.
Mel,
The players DID go to Girardi. Why do you think Jeter sat in on some of the meetings? It wasn’t about personnel acquisitions. It was about the team and what was happening.
You didn’t hear Jeter and Mariano talk out of school. Why be mad at them?
I have a pretty good idea of who gave Heyman the info and I’m positive it wasn’t Jeter or Mariano. He doesn’t even know those guys that well.
Some guys, like Pete and Kepner, DID write about some of this stuff, without naming names, during the season.
The, “I don’t want to believe any bad news” crowd summarily rejected it.
Its not a dissension filled clubhouse or anything like that.
However, if they want to attract high level free agents, Girardi does have to make some adjustments.
These are grown men. Not little boys.
Too many dumb rules and excessive “rah rah-ness” is one way to turn them off.
Remember, players talk to each other ALL THE TIME.
Some share the same agent. Some share the same shoe company. Some guys wives are best friends.
Many players play each other’s charity golf tournaments in the off-season.
Baseball players, by and large, are one big fraternity. Its pretty hard to keep certain things completely quiet within the media.
The fact is, Joe Girardi DID have a hard time with his players for a large part of the season.
Its also a fact that he cleaned up a lot of that by season’s end.
The question, one none of us have the answer to at this time is, how will it play out with free agents?
Time will tell.
Jeter and Mo laying all the injuries at Joe G’s feet? I can understand why Mo was pissed. He sacrificed his health on the chance that they would make the playoffs. But to get angry at the end when it’s too late? That’s childish. Sorry you didn’t make the playoffs, but rally-killing GIDP’s and late inning RBI’s don’t help any.
I can’t believe that’s true.
If you look at it, the only guy on the team who has publicly supported Girardi is Bruney. Farnsworth too before he left.
Isin’t that sad? The only guy who spoke up for him is a 25 yr old reliever.
“I have a pretty good idea of who gave Heyman the info and I’m positive it wasn’t Jeter or Mariano. He doesn’t even know those guys that well.”
Now you have to tell us SJ! At least give us a hint?
SJ44,
I’m not mad at Jeter & Mo. Well a little if they’re throwing hissy fits and blaming Girardi for missing the postseason.
I’m mad at the person with the loose lips. This is third-hand info, but it’s still out there.
And I’m mad at Heyman. Will he feel the Jeter freeze?
Girardi needs to change, thats the bottom line.
Allowing candy is a nice start. Show them you are not a dictator and you care about them. Talk to them more.
Doreen,
You answered your own question. Its a radio show and they need something to talk about.
Its that simple.
The Yankees not making the playoffs is pretty big news.
Why didn’t they make the playoffs is a topic of conversation.
Heyman has a paid segment on WFAN. He has to bring SOMETHING to the table or he stops getting paid.
So, he brings up something that, while those who either are around the team or have friends on the team knew about, chances are pretty strong the fan base didn’t.
In other words, he’s giving WFAN what they are paying him to do…..provide information.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t mean anything.
Guys will show up to ST having turned the page on this season, and will move onto 2009.
My hope is, Girardi has learned how to better handle a veteran team. If he has, he will do just fine.
Pete listens to WFAN a lot, he will confirm this one.
hank hal,
No doubt we will see a “Ha! Told you so” post.
If Girardi gets fired, what about Tony Franklin as a replacement? He reminds me a lot of a friendlier version of Joe Maddon.
I posted this on the last blog but didn’t realize there was a new one already-
Here’s my dream/realistic opening day roster -
1. LF Damon
2. SS Jeter
3. 1B Tex
4. 3B A-Rod
5. RF Nady
6. DH Matsui
7. C Posada
8. 2B Cano
9. CF Gardner
With Miranda, Ransom, Shelley, and Melky coming off the bench
Rotation -
1. Wang (back healthy)
2. Joba
3. Derrick Lowe (could be a good catch for the money, will keep us in the game)
4. Aceves (knows how to pitch)
5. Hughes (I see next year’s team following his lead – he’s good = we’re good)
LHRP – Coke and Marte
RHRP – Bruney, Giese, Edwar, Rasner (long man), Veras, and if anyone falls David Robertson first called up
We can’t sink a lot of years and money into CC, too risky. And we need a defined bench unlike last years. And for the love of god PLEASE no Wilson Betimet.
hughes – 5 walks and 6 Ks in 4.2 innings.
his control has really hit the wall since 2006.
“The question, one none of us have the answer to at this time is, how will it play out with free agents?”
Its almost always about the money. Show em the money and they will play for Girardi.
the only stat i care about for hughes is the first column
I Think Heyman’s source is Kay. They are good friends.
Mel,
That’s not what killed the Yankees season. It was part of it, not all of it.
Here’s one thing that ticked off some of the veterans to no end……
While Girardi was almost manaical about “no snacks” in the clubhouse (he was phoning ahead to road teams telling them what to put on the food spread in the clubhouse), guys were wondering why Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera were allowed to float through the season and stay in the lineup everyday?
They were also ticked off that those two guys missed more signs in one month (May) than the team did THE ENTIRE SEASON, and went unpunished.
Yet, Girardi was fixated on the little things.
That stuff ticks off veterans to no end.
Its just part of the adjustment process. Girardi has to be more concerned with understanding the needs of the entire team. I think he finally got there later in the season. Unfortunately, it was too late in the game, and the Yankees were too beat up at that point, to make a difference.
Patrick,
Without naming names, I think it was one of the players that won’t be on the team in 2009. That particular player has a pretty good relationship with Heyman. I think he was the guy who gave up the info.
If Sabathia’s choices are Torre, Soscia, Manual, or Girardi for comparable money, why would he choose Girardi?
It WILL affect things in a close race. Just like a FG kicker will be a factor in a close game, even though they are barely noticeable on a roster.
“his control has really hit the wall since 2006″
maybe hes working on some different things right now…
Giambi and Jon Heyman are friends? I wonder if they hang out at the bar together.
RHRP – Bruney, Giese, Edwar, Rasner (long man), Veras, and if anyone falls David Robertson first called up
Rasner = DFA waiting to happen really soon.
Pavano is running his mouth now? bah!
Giambi and Jon Heyman are friends? I wonder if they hang out at the bar together.
They probably do body shots off of each other
Giambi’s the snitch
Ponson >>> Rasner >>> Kennedy
Ponson reminds me of Jon Lester actually.
Well, if they’re all such friends and they have those kinds of opportunities to discuss things with each other, then you would hope that they also tell the end of the story, which is that they are working things out and Girardi listened to what they had to say on at least some of the issues, and that it looks promising for next season.
But you know, if people want to sabotage the Yankees chances of getting certain free agents who might be a bit “betwixt and between” as far as coming to the Yankees, wouldn’t this stuff or couldn’t this stuff tend to put a damper of the efforts of the Yankees to acquire such players? And wouldn’t it serve to complicate the process? And mightn’t a player just say, well, why even bother, I’ll go somewhere else where there’s no chance of this kind of stuff?
And I don’t necessarily mean the clubhouse stuff, per se, because I’m sure that goes on just about everywhere to one extent or another. I’m talking about players who may not be too keen on coming to such a media-packed venue, and upon seeing this circus, post-season, just might not want to even get involved with a place where if you sneeze it’s big news.
To that extent, don’t you think the media can influence the outcome of the free agent shopping spree?
It might not be the intent, but it most certainly is a byproduct of such “reporting.”
I think it’s the same guy. You know the one who was willing to speak up in the “Poor Alex” feature in SI?
If his control hit the wall in ’06, then maybe he’s thinking too hard because of the changes they made.
I do like the 6-2 GO/AO ratio and he’s keeping the ball near the plate enough to get 7 strikeouts, a couple of which were called.
I’m not going to poo-poo the results because even if it’s minor league, it’s better than 2 innings of 5 run ball. Good is preferable. Bad is not.
Pavano is running his mouth now? bah!
saucY –
don’t you know its a tradition for players to run their mouthes after they leave the Yankees?
“maybe hes working on some different things right now…”
Im with you. If Dice can come up with the Gyro. Why cant he be working on his own meal to deliver? The Gordita.
Hughes done-86 pitches through 5
5IP 1H 0R 0ER 5BB 7SO 0HR 0ERA
Maybe Torre is giving out this info? Torre and Verducci are BFFs so maybe they are just relaying the info to Heyman.
And you know the dynasty guys are close with Torre and probably tell him everything.
mel,
That is an excellent point. His control has not been the same since they changed his mechanics. He has not been the same GB pitcher either but the results are encouraging today in that regard.
I still question why they toyed with him when he was coming off a dominant AA season at age 19 that made him the #1 prospect in baseball. He had a clean bill of health and a perfect pitcher’s build too (and he has been very injury prone after the mechanic change). I hope the Yanks know what they are doing.
“Im with you. If Dice can come up with the Gyro. Why cant he be working on his own meal to deliver? The Gordita.”
not quite what i meant but i like it
Hughes should try and get back his slider that was his dominant pitch in HS.
Why do the Yankees scrap everyone’s slider just because they don’t have a curve? We’re lucky Joba had a workable curve, otherwise they would have scrapped his slider too.
Doreen,
The media has no influence on where free agents go, regardless of what they write.
When it comes to influence, aside from money, players, agents get their info from a variety of sources.
Players talk to other players all the time.
During Torre’s time here, it was always known as a “good place” for veteran players because Torre didn’t sweat the small stuff, treated them like adults, and they had good guys in the clubhouse.
That’s not always the same in clubhouses around the game.
The Mets for example, have a real latin bent in the clubhouse. For latin players, Omar is the patron saint. For non-latin players? They aren’t as comfortable in that clubhouse.
FWIW, it was the same in Montreal when Omar was there.
The Red Sox, as opposed to how it was in the past, are known for having a good clubhouse. Francona is really well liked by other players in the game, and a lot of guys take less money/years these days to go or stay in Boston.
Overall, the Yankees have a good rep, in terms of players, around the game. Jeter, Mo, and Johnny Damon are among the most popular players among the players in baseball.
There are no real jerks in the clubhouse. Overall, its a good group of guys.
The change, and it remains to be seen how it plays out with other players, is Girardi.
I know a lot of guys in the game. I know veteran players aren’t going to be comfortable around Girardi unless he smooths out the rough edges.
CC Sabathia’s reputation around the game is pretty interesting. He’s basically a guy who likes being happy. Sort of a California cool kind of guy.
I don’t see a guy like CC wanting to play for a marine, regardless of how much money he’s being offered.
If Girardi comes off as one, CC won’t consider the Yankees, IMO.
If he comes off more like Eric Wedge, a guy CC LOVED, young, aggressive former player but a good guy, I think that’s something that would appeal to him.
Other guys, like Tex for example, don’t give a crap about the manager. They want the best they can get and they will deal with the manager after that.
Not every player though is cut from the same cloth.
Its why managing a team, especially the Yankees, is such a tough job. The gig is so much more than gameday strategy, its not funny.
Francessa/Kim/Carlin really improved as the day went on. The 1 o’clock hour was a disaster. They found their roles.
Who was the last player who turned down the Yankees for less money Gregg Maddux 15 years ago?
Sabathia is the closest FA to Maddux we have seen in recent years, in terms of personality.
Wouldn’t shock me if he goes West to play with Torre for less money.
Thanks, SJ44 -
I do appreciate that response.
So, if you’re sent to help recruit CC Sabathia, what can you say that might be encouraging regarding Girardi?
And do you let Girardi do any recruiting calls?
So Girardi is in “parent” mode in the clubhouse. Interesting. I hadn’t really seen what was wrong with restricting ice cream/candy/snacks. But in the more general scope of clubhouse atmosphere, I can understand the larger implications of such a rule and why it might get a person off on the wrong foot.
I did understand the “boot camp” approach to spring training, however. I felt it was Girardi’s attempt at getting the team off to a better start. It didn’t work. Neither did it help prevent injuries. Injuries happen, I guess. Perhaps this spring a little less “boot,” and a little more baseball “camp” – as in drilling the fundamentals – yet, not quite “drilling” because that would be too harsh, I guess.
But there was no doubt that being adamant that Giambi show up in shape helped. Giambi played more games this season than he had in a while. And most of them in the field.
So, I guess the devil is in the details.
There’s 25 different personalities to manage for each game with some easier than others. It’s a manager’s job to mesh them together on the same page with the peaks and valleys of a season and know as much as possible about the likes and dislikes of each one.
Doreen,
If I was recruiting CC, I’d send Jeter, Tino, Damon and Girardi and tell Girardi to be quiet! lol
Seriously though, I’d talk about the vision for the team, why they will be competitive every year, the new stadium (VERY friendly to lefty pitchers), and how the bullpen will add years to his career.
I’d talk about how special it is to win as a Yankee. I’d also talk about how being a Yankee helps you bigtime when it comes to voting for the Hall of Fame.
I’d talk about how unique NYC is. If you want action, there is action. If you want privacy, you’ve got it.
That’s where Jeter comes in. He comes and goes as he pleases in NYC, without any hassles from people.
That would be my sales pitch.
Oh, one last thing.
The contract offer is going to be the biggest EVERY given to a pitcher. lol
Guess its official the season ended when torre walked. Truth be told I never could understand the sweets in the lockeroom thingy. To much Hitler and not enough daddy for the prima donnas. I mean that affectionately of course.