Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 10, 2009 
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Nick Swisher drove in five runs as the Yankees beat the Orioles for their first win of the season.
A.J. Burnett wanted to go deeper in the game but did his job. This notebook also has updates on Robinson Cano, Andy Pettitte, Chien-Ming Wang and Ramiro Pena.
The Yankees were stunned by the death of Nick Adenhart.
Here’s my guess at today’s lineup
Jeter
Damon
Tex
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Swisher (RF)
Ransom
Gardner…. Not saying JG should replace X. But Swisher is hot and I don’t want Matsui out 2 consecutive days.
We should switch matsui with tex until arod is bAk
It was interesting the way Girardi hedged on Pete’s post-game question about get Swisher AB’s. As long as GGBG holds down CF the only real line-up question is the corner outfielders’ roles and playing time.
Hideki is the DH almost all the time if I am making up the line-up. Nady and Swisher really come down to who is hot at the time. It is nice to have a solid professional bat on the bench and given Swisher’s contract he is not going anywhere. X is going to be a free agent soon too so that might factor in.
Cano’s improved patience is very impressive so far. Let’s hope it’s a permanent change. Jim Palmer was singing Cano’s praises yesterday…he’s a big fan.
I realize that Tex has to hit third, but I would love to see what Cano could achieve hitting in front of A-Rod all year. I think the numbers would be huge. He’d have to maintain the paitent approach, of course.
Not gonna happen, but man…..
I realize that Tex has to hit third, but I would love to see what Cano could achieve hitting in front of A-Rod all year. I think the numbers would be huge. He’d have to maintain the paitent approach, of course.
I agree. When the news came out that A-Rod was going to miss part of the season I actually wondered if Girardi would make that move. Apparently he’s committed to keeping Tex in the 3 hole, but hey, it’s nice to have options like that. Maybe he’ll tinker with the idea when Tex doesn’t play.
John
I listened to Palmer some also. He is very knowledgable of players on the other team and very unbiased on his opinion of the opponents players. He was class as a player and seems to be the same as an announcer.
Boy what a day makes… the Yankees and Sawx are both 1-2. I wonder if John Kruk also thinks that the Sawx aren’t as good as everyone said they were.
The season really starts to get going today with 15 straight…then the first Sawx series after the off day.
From the prior thread – M, thanks for posting that link. There were some good quotes from AJ – I really don’t think he’s going to pitch like a #3 this year.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....y_fro.html
“I was (sitting) dead red heater there and it just started in the strike zone and dropped,” Huff said. “You have to tip your hat to have the (guts) to throw that pitch.”
That quote says it all – I love the fact that AJ had the confidence to throw that pitch in that situation.
As to Cano, I said before the season that I thought he was in for a big year – he’s simply way too talented not to. I would leave him where he is, though, for the time being – it’s his comfort zone. Maybe later in the season we can think about moving him up in the lineup, but I don’t want him to put any more pressure on himself than he has to. Eventually, he’s going to have to deal with that because hitters as talented as he is just don’t bat that low in the order.
IMO…Cano will be the number three hitter in this lineup within the next year or two.
The most impressive thing so far has been the patience at the plate.
Palmer was also very complimentary of Swisher and what he can contribute to a team with his patient approach at the plate (from both sides), and enthusiastic attitude.
Palmer is an excellent color guy…no overabundance of homerism, which is nice.
Let’s keep it rolling Andy.
O’s announcers on MASN made some comments yesterday that got me wondering about whether or not the whole Cano laziness issues has been significantly blown out of proportion. They basically said that he has a very smooth style of play and that comes across sometimes as laziness or not trying. I know he had a sub-par year but I’m really doubting if laziness was the issue and it wasn’t just the ups and downs of baseball…He’s looked great in the field and at the plate the 1st 3 games, but it doesn’t really look like he’s pressing or trying any harder than we used to…I think it may seem that way because he’s had success
hokie
Yeah….they compared him to Manny Trillo. Said everything is so easy for him that it looks like he’s not trying hard.
hokiehill
I think that point about Cano is very accurate. He makes the plays so smoothly at times that I can see how some people can see it as lazy. I think we fans will see in the years to come what the Yankees saw that caused them to keep Cano rather than trade him.
Heard that as well….free MLB Extra Innings this week, im going to have to order it, the wall to wall baseball is freaking AWESOME!!!!
He played like a dog last year. There is no way around it.
To his credit, he realized it, worked his butt off in the off-season, and it’s showing right now. Hopefully, it keeps up.
As far as Swisher/Nady, I say just keep doing what you are doing.
Neither guy is a true everyday player. With age and injury questions with some guys, I think you have to work guys in early in the season and see where it goes.
There are enough AB’s to go around. Especially with the way Girardi plans to utilize the bench this season.
Coach
$30 off if you order before Sunday, I think.
I get it every year, and my wife is always thrilled.
(rolls eyes)
John
That is who I am trying to convince. If I tell her the $30 off thing…Im way more apt to get it…sweet.
I live in Upper Michigan at the moment on the shores of Lake Superior….this is my only shot at getting games without having to watch them on the comp.
Swisher isn’t an everyday player? Look at his entire career please, not just last season. He is an above average RF; hitting and defensively.
SJ, not going to argue about him having a bad year last year…and maybe his down performance weighed on him and caused him to lose some focus through out the season. I’m just saying I don’t think he just turned into some lazy bum last year which has kind of been the concensus with a lot of Yankee fans.
I agree on your Swish/Nady point…it has seemed to work well for both Nady and Swish at the plate at this point, so no need to tinker
He’s not an everyday player Patrick. Not in the true sense. On a bad team? Yes, he is.
On a playoff calibur team? He isn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Swisher. I think he’s a great addition to the team, love his attitude, and the way he approaches his AB’s.
I just think he’s a more effective player with 350-400 AB’s than he is with 600 AB’s.
That assessment is looking at his entire career and not just last year. Although, its pretty tough to just forget about last year because he was awful for a very long stretch of time and its not just because he didn’t get along with Ozzie. He didn’t get along with Macha either and he was effective in Oakland. I don’t think the manager relationship had as much to do with his bad season as others do.
There is more to playing everyday on a championship calibur club than OBP.
The Yankees have a nice rotation right now with Matsui, Swisher and Nady. I’d just like to see them leave it as is for right now and see what happens.
If someone emerges from that group showing they can handle everyday use, great. After three games though, I’d be very hesitant about becoming set on the lineup between those 3 guys. Its still a work in progress.
FYI, Russ Ohlendorf has a nice outing for the Pirtaes yesterday – good for him and I hope he keeps it up.
how are nady/swisher not everyday players??? nady hit 25 homers last year and had almost 100 rbis and plays a solid (not great) corner outfield.
swisher had a bad year last year, but still an everyday player. swisher or nady would be starting in RF for the mets. if you can name 30 better right fielders than swisher/nady then ill agree with you hes not an everyday player….
What I would really like to get feedback on from the blogger is this:
What do the Yankees intend to do, if anything, about Brett Gardner’s weakness on balls hit straight over his head? Now that they’ve made their choice, how do they keep fly outs on the warning track from continuing to turn into doubles? Do they bring in Mickey Rivers to tutor him? Can you ask the manager his thoughts? I would, but I have no access to him.
Thanks
No quotes from Joba about Nick Adenhart?? Two young and upcoming pitchers — one a drunk driver — the other killed by one. I wonder if he’ll say “Nick was Nick, but Joba is Joba.”