Girardi touches on some topics
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- November
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Joe Girardi, Michael Kay and Jim Nantz hosted a charity event on Wednesday night at the Grand Central Oyster Bar.
The “Remember When, Remember Now” dinner was a fundraiser for Girardi’s Catch-25 Foundation and for Alzheimer’s research.
Girardi was nice enough to spend some time with reporters before the dinner started. Here’s his take on some hot topics:
On recruiting free agents: “Not yet. Obviously I’ll wait until we get a little further down the process as players try and make a decision between one or two teams or one of three teams. I believe we have a ton to offer here with the new Stadium, an ownership group that does everything it can to win every year, the city. This is an exciting place to play and I was a player that played other places and came here and absolutely loved it.”
Can recruiting help? “I think so. I think calls from players can help, too. Obviously you’ll be in the clubhouse with players every day and obviously you’ll be in the clubhouse with your manager every day.”
Expect a quick decision on Sabathia? “I don’t know. I know players like to have, a lot of times, things done before the holidays get here so they know exactly where they’re going and they have an opportunity to find a place to live. I’m hoping things get done sooner than later. But sometimes players have a hard time making up their mind.”
On Nick Swisher: “Right now, I would envision him as a first baseman. We’ve gotten reports that he’s very, very good over there. He’s talked about how he likes playing over there. Right now, that’s where we envision him playing. In the next couple of months, could our team change? Yes it could and he could move to another spot. That’s the great thing about Nick, he’s versatile.”
Girardi has yet to speak with Swisher yet. They’re playing phone tag.
Finding a center fielder from outside the organization: “We’ve talked about it in our meetings. What’s going to happen I can’t exactly tell you. Some of it may depend on who we sign first and do we decide from a financial standpoint can we bring in an outside center fielder. But we have had discussions on outside center fielders.”
Andy Pettitte: “We have made it known that we would like to have him back. He has made it known that he would like to come back. Now it’s that process you have to go through. Do I anticipate it? Yes, because both sides want to be together.”
As constructed now, do the Yankees have an adequate lineup? “Oh, I think so. I think we can. Obviously Nick Swisher is an on-base sort of guy. He had a down year and we know that. But he’s a patient hitter, a switch hitter. He’s going to hit you 25 home runs and I believe he had the ability to drive in 100 runs in our lineup. But you win with pitching and defense. Our main focus is starting pitching because we really feel we need to upgrade that. If we’re able to do that, we’ll compete a lot better.”
More on the lineup: “Matsui and Posada are doing very well (rehabbing). We believe that will improve our lineup drastically. You take a switch hitter out of the lineup last year. You take a left-hander who hits left-handers and right-handers very well and is very tough in RBI situations out of the lineup most of the year … We believe there are enough parts. That doesn’t mean we won’t add some But we believe our lineup will be better from a health standpoint.”
Regarding the WBC, Girardi said he supported the idea of guys playing for their national teams. But he said that the Yankees would be cautious with their injured players.
On A.J. Burnett: “Great stuff. A.J. Burnett has great stuff. I think he’s matured a lot as a pitcher as well. He’s learned to control the running game a lot better. He attacks hitters. He gets hitters out quickly. He throws a lot of strikes. He fields his position. … I think he’s much more complete as a pitcher than he was a couple of years ago.”
Burnett’s injury history: “That’s something you look at. He was healthy last year, so to me that’s a positive sign. There’s risk in any long-term contract which you give out. But whoever we sign we’ll do whatever we can to keep him healthy. The other thing is we have a strong bullpen. We don’t necessarily have to push our starters every time.”
Could Hughes be in the rotation next year? “Um … yeah. Obviously you look at what you’re able to acquire and if you’re not able to acquire the three starters you think you are, there’s a possibility he’ll be in our rotation. For him, the first thing that’s important is to stay healthy. No. 2 is fastball command and you build off of that. You hope he learned a lot from this year. It was a frustrating year for him and for us as well. I believe he’s going to be a major league pitcher. Sometimes things take a little bit more time than you anticipate. But I still believe he’ll be a major league starter for us.”
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on Thursday, November 20th, 2008 at 12:25 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
What does CC need time to think about? He either wants to come to NY or not. Our ‘offer’ was a mere formality. If he is interested in coming here, a deal will be hammered out and we will outbid any team.
So what is he waiting for? A WC team to come close to us? Well, then we will presumably raise our offer again and we are right back at square one.
He has had months to think about this, especially from early October on. What more could he possibly try and process in the next week?
“The other thing is we have a strong bullpen. We don’t necessarily have to push our starters every time.â€
Great, great thoughts from Joe G. Thanks, Pete.
*repost*
CB,
The football story came out after Victorino hit the HR off Sabathia. Victorino (state track champ) had also committed to play football & baseball at UH. It was one of those cosmic intersections.
Looking at Cabrera’s deal, then yes it appears that the 8th year is necessary.
Let’s just put it this way, I’d rather pay $175M to Tex than $150M to CC.
Burnett would be almost half the price and can be just as dominant. Wang is a producer. Joba’s coming into his own. Hughes is on the road to recovery. Pettitte holding down the fort. We have Aceves & Coke replacing Rasner, Igawa, & Ponson. I would definitely go to battle with those guys.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have CC. But a Tex/AJ combo’s pretty enticing.
I wouldn’t mind Tex and Burnett at all either.
That’s why CC is not the end all be all like people here make it to be.
However, if Cashman doesn’t get ANYONE, then its a disaster. But CC is not the only upgrade available this winter.
Burnett is a loser think of Carl Pavano with a better fastball.
Yeah CC should just make a decision because moron fans want to know. Hell it is only the next 6 yrs of his life, no big deal..
There’s those “three starters” they keep talking about.
Wang
Joba
+3
They’re targeting CC & AJ with Andy in the hip pocket. Do they mean CC/AJ/Lowe + Andy? That squeezes Joba out.
Hopefully he means CC/AJ/Pettitte. And if they can’t get one of the top-tier guys, you go inhouse with Phil being the best of the lot.
Bulls need to leave Portland right now
Brandon,
Has an NBA team ever doubled up on an opponent?
They’re on the wrong side of a b2b with the Lakers (they looked plenty good last night).
I think the circus trip is more psychological than anything.
mel
November 20th, 2008 at 12:39 am
There’s those “three starters†they keep talking about.
Wang
Joba
+3
They’re targeting CC & AJ with Andy in the hip pocket. Do they mean CC/AJ/Lowe + Andy? That squeezes Joba out.
Hopefully he means CC/AJ/Pettitte. And if they can’t get one of the top-tier guys, you go inhouse with Phil being the best of the lot.
———————————————————-
Reading the ESPN Yankee board is both pathetic and hilarious. Everytime a new article gets linked about Sabathia, Teixiera and Burnett, the Boston trolls come out from under their bridges and the Yankee Suicide Alert Team is activated. It’s as bad as what’s going on here with the junior high kids.
mel from what I’m watchinng your Lakers might beat them by 50+ points.
This panic over CC needs to stop. He will sign where he gets the most money. I am sure he would love to play close to home as every single player in baseball would,but we all know in the end of the day a player is as loyal as the dollar signs. Fans are in a panic because they expected CC to sign the first hour he got the offer. He is doing what every other big free agent will do this offseason.Drive up the bidding and sit on offers. In the end he will sign with us if nobody tops our offer. If money was no object to him he would have accepted the Brewers offer 2 weeks ago instead of holding out to hit the market.At $140 million I find it hard to see another team coming close to that. CC will sign soon just sit back and watch that develop and have patience.
Brandon,
It’s really strange, teams like the Bulls, Knicks, and the Bucks come into Staples Center and play like freaking all-stars. Or you’ll have kids who grew up in LA or went to Southern Cal or UCLA and they light it up.
Since Phil left the Bulls, they’re record on the circus trip (the circus takes over their arena) is like 5-70 or something ridiculous like that.
ack. *their*
Didn’t see new thread…
mel,
I think this is really why the angels are in on CC. Making the commitment to Tex is the most high risk strategy possible. You can easily come up with nothing major to show for the winter.
It’s ironic – I agree that a long term contract for Tex is much less risky given that he’s a hitter. That said, the act of trying to sign tex is much more risk in and of itself.
This is one of the reasons why Boras is so good at getting high dollar deals in the market.
He keeps dragging out the process. As that process drags out teams on his hook start needing his client more and more because the alternative possiblities keep coming off the board.
In a sense Boras keeps driving up the opportunity cost associated with no signing his client. You can’t not afford to sign this one guy because you spent all winter waiting for him and passing up other moves that you may have deemed important but not as important as signing the Boras client.
The longer you wait in the market the more expensive not making a move becomes. You have fewer alternatives – supply keeps shrinking and that artificially increases your demand for what is left.
The commitment to Teixeira is risky because he will be the last big free agent signed, and if he goes somewhere else you’re basically left with your d in your h. Teixeira is the least risky free agent in terms of injury and what you can expect from him over the his contract.
Good stuff from GI Joe.
Pacman Jones for CF?
Oh, no!!!! St. Louis is trying to kill the relief market. They just signed left hander Trevor Miller.
I think a trade for Dejesus could work. The Royals have a ton of CF and not even pitching. The Yankees have no CF and a ton of pitching somehow I see something being worked out.
Why, oh, why did Cashman fall asleep on this deal?
i dont want dejesus
i want us to sign carsten charles sabathia
and then trade hughes for a 5 tool CF like max kemp.
cashman better get these deals done or there will be some very unhappy fans
“i dont want dejesus
i want us to sign carsten charles sabathia
and then trade hughes for a 5 tool CF like max kemp.
cashman better get these deals done or there will be some very unhappy fans”
Everyone on this blog wants CC. I would love to get Kemp, however everything is circular if we don’t get CC then we need Phil to start and therefore cannot trade him. Many things revolve around CC.
Who is Max Kemp?
If Hughes is traded there might be a few happy fans now, but you’ll all be screaming for Cashman’s head asking why he traded him away.
it’s matt kemp, and the Yankees will not be trading Hughes.
They’re not trading Hughes.
DeJesus would be a good pickup if he comes cheaply. Certainly good insurance if Gardner can’t hit.
CB,
Thanks for the explanation. You mentioned it the other day, and the light bulb’s going off now.
I don’t this Artie Lange character, but he’s a riot.
This is the podcast of his interview with DP. Lots of Yankee stuff with a nice Munson story. Worth the listen.
http://tinyurl.com/Artie-Lange-Interview
“If Hughes is traded there might be a few happy fans now, but you’ll all be screaming for Cashman’s head asking why he traded him away.”
Kemp has a VERY bright future. Power, speed, size the guy could have 30/30 capabilities in the near future.
Al,
Most of these fans are unreasonable when it comes to prospects, don’t even bother making sense.
I love how people make blanket statements like “Hughes won’t be traded”, or “They won’t trade Hughes”.
As if they know Cashman personally and asked him. I can easily say Hughes will be traded without backing it up.
Logical fans would agree that anyone from the farm is available for the right price.
Excuse me, “the light bulb’s going on now”
and
“I don’t know who this Artie Lange character is”
Sorry, this Pregnant Man show is making my head spin.
Cashman directly came out and said Hughes isin’t untouchable, yet people are still trying to convince themselves that he is off limits like Joba is. Cashman will listen to offers for him or anybody else and rightfully so.
“Al,
Most of these fans are unreasonable when it comes to prospects, don’t even bother making sense.”
I realize this. I think Dejesus could be our everyday CF and do very well. Also we might be able to get him for just IPK, since KC is in need of pitching.
Why trade Phil? We can fill our holes without him. Even Peavy can be had with out Phil going to SD. Does that mean Phil’s trade value dropped? No, it just means, “no way, no how, not now”.
Is Kemp even available? If he is, other teams will be able to beat our offer. With or without Phil.
So who else is worth giving up Phil? I can only name one. No, not Santana. Halladay. That’s it for me.
No mega-deals that require Phil are going to go down. But we do have lots of other chips that we can work with to get smaller deals done.
So, we’re not being prospect huggers here. Just thinking logically.
oops. That’s assuming that Pujols, Utley, et al. aren’t available.
“oops. That’s assuming that Pujols, Utley, et al. aren’t available.”
Lol. Those guys are never gonna be available. They are in the NL, everyone has a chance to contend.
i’m so sick of people down on phil hughes. phil hughes has filthy stuff and hi, he’s 22 years old! people are all like ‘he’s a bust, what has he done?’ the guy’s 22. and he’s already been in our eye since 20. you really expect a 20 year old to dominate in the majors right away? Tim Lincecum didn’t make his major league debut until he was 23. And his monster year was this year at 24. David Price? 24. Phil Hughes’s best days are ahead.
“i’m so sick of people down on phil hughes. phil hughes has filthy stuff and hi, he’s 22 years old! people are all like ‘he’s a bust, what has he done?’ the guy’s 22. and he’s already been in our eye since 20. you really expect a 20 year old to dominate in the majors right away? Tim Lincecum didn’t make his major league debut until he was 23. And his monster year was this year at 24. David Price? 24. Phil Hughes’s best days are ahead.”
Filthy stuff? Lets calm the love affair here. He is an above-average pitcher who dominated the minors for all of one year. He has shown flashes of dominance at the big league level. However he is a 2 pitch pitcher and his fastball is straight as an arrow and 92 mph. Lets not call this kid Tom Seaver hes got a ways to go.
Oh god, I had forgotten how much I dislike hearing Girardi opening his mouth. Ramble, ramble, ramble without saying anything much.
I hate to say this on the heels of what johnnycat just said, but I liked everything I heard from Girardi. I think he was as definitive as he can be at this point in time but also pointed out of certain maxims that seem to fit nicely with our particular case. They are definitely shoring up pitching, and when you do that and do it well, you take care of so many other problems such as an offensive slump. I like that Swisher could end up being our permanent 1B and have also put forward the thoughts that adding a healthy Sui and Jorge back into the lineup and hoping that Jeter and Cano have better overall years should actually be enough, coupled with top-notch pitching.
As someone who really likes what Hughes has shown in terms of what his pitching is all about (yes there are kinks to be worked out, but I am really impressed with the raw material) I was happy to read that he is a possibility for the rotation. I hope it ends up happening sooner rather than later.
“Oh god, I had forgotten how much I dislike hearing Girardi opening his mouth. Ramble, ramble, ramble without saying anything much.”
he’s got nothing on jeter and torre who wrote the book on how to speak and say nothing.
Joe “Obviously” Girardi
The fact that you suggest trading somebody like Hughes or Cano doesn’t mean your down on them. On the contrary, it means you can get somebody good for them. This is our first year in our new stadium, our farm is stocked, we have picks coming in, Cashman should go for it. He has done a great job of stocking our farm system. This year(our first in the new stadium)is the time to reap the benefits. Nobody should be safe, if it will help us win THIS year.
I’d rather sign Ben Sheets for less years than Burnett.
Potentially more reward for slightly more risk.
CC has said he will not make a decision until after Thanksgiving, so we need to chill. This may be his only time as a FA, so he wants to make sure he makes the best decision for him and his family. As for Tex, would love to have him, but I still think he’s headed back to the Angels. If he does, wonder if Yanks will then zoom in on Manny. As much trouble as he can be, you gotta admit, he’d be a big draw in the new Stadium, and would sure help Arod batting behind him.
mel
November 20th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Why trade Phil? We can fill our holes without him. Even Peavy can be had with out Phil going to SD. Does that mean Phil’s trade value dropped? No, it just means, “no way, no how, not nowâ€.
Well, I don’t get why people don’t get this: we can fill our holes without dealing him. Sometimes it’s as if people want to get RID of him just to do it.
BTW: do you know where I can get good lumpia in NYC? It would have to be vegetarian. I had the most astonishing lumpia in Rhode Island years ago. Nothing else they made at this restaurant was any good, but the lumpia was heavenly.
I’m fairly desperate to have that experience again – I’d gladly ride up the RI if I could repeat it, but that was about 20 years ago and the place is long gone. I’ll go to other boroughs in NY area, or Jersey, if you’ll just point me in the right direction.
Isn’t today the deadline for the 40-man roster? Maybe Pete can put together a conjecture list? I wonder about a couple of Christians: Justin and Garcia; do they make the cut?
I hope we secure Garcia, especially.
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