Tigers do their part for Detroit
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 28, 2009 
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The television trucks were clogging the streets in downtown Detroit yesterday to report more bad news for this devastated area. The decision by General Motors to eliminate the Pontiac brand will cost 21,000 people their jobs.
Over at Comerica Park, GM has already pulled their ads from the stadium because they can’t afford it. The company had sponsored the big fountain in center field since the ballpark opened.
The Tigers had offers from other companies to take over the space. But team owner Mike Ilitch passed. Instead he had the logos of GM, Ford and Chrysler put on the fountain above a sign that says “The Detroit Tigers support our automakers.”
The cost to the companies? Free.
Ilitch explained to reporters last month that his father worked at Ford and he feels he owes it to the Big Three to lend his support. Ilitch is a former Marine and a former Tigers minor leaguer who founded the Little Caesars Pizza chain in 1959. Now one of the wealthiest men in the state, he has renovated much of the area around the park and also owns the Red Wings.
The Tigers, I’m told, are fearing massive drops in attendance this season as many people around here simply can’t afford to attend a game. But Ilitch is doing his part to try and bolster civic pride at a time it’s really needed. You have to respect that.
Very nice move by Mr. Ilitch. Classy of him to stand up for the auto-industry that is sitting in the gutter. The recession reaches everyone, well everyone except the Yankees.
That city wasn’t exactly a shining example of properity in recent years- more bad news.
Whoever built my 1999 Chevy S-10 and 2000 Tahoe did a heck of a job- 130,000 miles on the pickup and 180,000 on the SUV and have never needed to do any thing other than routine maintenance. The old lady’s Subaru on the other hand….
Ilitch seems like a great guy. In these times it is very honorable to see a guy who will disregard revenue for a bigger cause
What a great gesture. Similar to not having a sponsor-named Yankee Stadium, but much more meaningful because the Tigers are making a statement in times of hardship.
Perhaps the Tigerss should give tickets away to the laid off workers. Leno did free concerts in Detroit for unemployed people and other entertainers have followed suit.
Hopefully there’s light at the end of the tunnel soon.
Wow Pete your girl, Kim Jones, is really sweatin’ you. Another plug for your blog on hers on Monday. Does she have a thing for beat writers? I don’t see a diamond on that finger yet….
thats a pretty cool move by Mr. Ilitch, kudos to him.
Nice move by Ilitch and Pete really should make his move on Kim Jones. Maybe Yes could film a reality show of their courtship. Every week a different former Yankee could drop by offering relationship advice. I can’t wait to hear what Goose has to say or how he will figure out a way to mention how much easier it is for closers today.
Times are tough and while at the end of the day this is only a token gesture to the people of detroit it’s good to know there’s still good people running big businesses. I’ll happily tip my cap to Ilitch for this gesture. I have mixed feelings about the politics of bailing these companies out but at the end of the day you can’t feel anything but bad for those that are losing their jobs and the community around them that will suffer. Hopefully something good will come of it. Pete, thanks for sharing this with us. It’s always nice to hear about good things like this during bad times. Best of luck to the people in detroit. Hopefully something good rises in the ashes of a decimated industry.
Awesome! Good to hear!
One more thing. This also puts our problems as fans of a team going through tough times on the field in perspective. As much as I want to see the Yankees win on the field I’d rather not see my fellow Americans go through the pain an hardship of this recession. I left work today pissed off that the Yankees dropped their fourth straight game, couldn’t even pull a win out for me on my birthday. But hearing that 21k people will be losing their livelihoods suddenly puts it all in perspective. So win or lose we should all be grateful that we have the means to watch our team and enjoy the game. Right now some people have problems that are simply too big for them to worry about baseball.
I do respect that.
Incidentally, what is up? The team of Singleton and Cone. Melky. Swish at the outset of the season. All obvious first stringers for whom the Yanks seemingly have nothing but contempt. Sickening.
Wouldn’t it have been better to sell the ad space to someone else and donate the money to a worthy Detroit-area cause? How exactly is anyone actually helped by this?
Too bad the “media” isn’t as classy, they are still more worried with bringing people down, putting people “in their places” and forgetting that baseball is suppose to be fun and entertaining not about which wannabe high school jock turned beat writer can cause the most drama of their own.
_ _ _ _ _ _
Wouldn’t it have been better to sell the ad space to someone else and donate the money to a worthy Detroit-area cause? How exactly is anyone actually helped by this?
Dave L. The Ilitches do a lot for the community this was a simple jester about showing support for companies that have support millions of families is SE Michigan and around the country. It wasn’t about selling something and making money ~sigh
*supported millions
Yes, you do have to respect that.
Pete -
This actually brought tears to my eyes.
It’s so easy to get caught up in – well, in “stuff.” Detroit is really suffering as a city. Sometimes it’s the seemingly small gesture – allowing the companies to retain some level of dignity by displaying their logos – that go the farthest.
I have my personal opinions about what happened in the auto industry, but the bottom line is people. And there are too many people out of work in Detroit.
I couldn’t bring myself to watch the post game yesterday, did the Yankees just “tip their cap to a good pitcher”? Can’t say the team looks very athletic right now and I don’t know how that changes much this season. They do have a little fight but how much good does that do when you absolutely can not hit once a runner advances past first base?
Could be worse, we could be New Orleans. Ouch, I went there.
I don’t know if that was a Fruedian typo to use “jester” instead of “gesture” but it elicited a chuckle!
The benefit of putting the automakers logos up there is the same as it would be if they had bought the space. It reminds customers of their existence and the importance to “Buy American” in these times.
It owuld be nice to hear that sentiment from our elected blowhards on both sides of the aisle who are seemingly only concerned about one thing… the next election.
“Could be worse, we could be New Orleans. Ouch, I went there.”
sham-wow.
As for the Yankees. Eh, I got nothing.
I drove up to Detroit for the game last night. The cheers for the Tigers were unusually loud…almost like a pressure valve for those folks.
Detroit is a mess, from the torn up highways, to the automakers, to the horrible school system, to the recent political scandal…it’s really difficult to see how it will ever recover.
As far as the game, Verlander was a beast last night. First pitch strikes time after time. He hit 99 on the gun at least once, and was still pumping it in there at 97 when Leyland took him out in the seventh.
Since the outcome wasn’t what I’d hoped for, I’d have to say that the highlight of the evening was seeing the look on the face of a little guy who was about 10 or so getting Red Wings player Chris Chelios’ autograph. That was very cool. Chelios was sitting across the aisle and one seat ahead of me.
This team is in trouble. I hope they find their groove soon or this is going to be a long season.
Just remembered that Verlander came out in the 8th, not the 7th. Was still dealing at 97 mph.
“This team is in trouble. I hope they find their groove soon or this is going to be a long season.”
I will be the first one to admit that there is plenty to be frustrated and concerned about … however, is it possible (just remotely possible) that the schedule makers could one year not have the Yankees playing basically all their games in April on the road?
ONE home stand for the entire first month after spending 2 months of tedium down in Florida? Also, one travel day as well … after their last home game against the A’s, no less.
Am I the only one who feels as though the Yankees have been living out of one hotel after another since the season began?
Again, they have to suck it up and play better with the hand they are dealt … but why is it that for the second straight year they get no days off during an April schedule that has just one home stand?
Starting out with 15 of 21 on the road is not easy, that’s for sure. A veteran team should handle it better, but then again this team is SO veteran they may need more rest!
If they’re still hanging arounf .500 at the end of May I’ll join the panic patrol, but ot before then.
Now that’s a classy move. Meanwhile, back in New York, we get $2600 seats per ball game, another stadium that is a shrine to a different team, and PSLs (extortion) from our football teams.
Girardi will start to hear rumblings about his managerial style and sense of urgency.
disco stu -
The silver lining to that cloud is that there will be that many fewer road games ahead.
Better to have that in April than September, though I admit, I have no idea what their September schedule looks like.
I just want to say one thing about the current 4-game losing streak. It’s very easy to root for a team when everything is clicking and breaking their way. Every team goes through a stretch (well, most teams) each year where they look utterly hopeless. It’s frustrating, to be sure, when everyone had such incredibly high hopes that this season would start off differently than recent past ones. But don’t lose sight of the fact that it is only April. Some things will straighten themselves out – for instance, CC sure did a good job last night (no, not good enough it turns out, but no walks and 99 pitches through 8 is a very encouraging thing) – and other things will be addressed specifically, as they have in past years.
I am joining the “another one bites the dust” crowd who will no longer follow the game threads (unless the team is winning), because they simply don’t add to the enjoyment of the game. And it’s become startling to me to see how some opinions spread like wild fire to become “fact.” I’m not a pollyanna who doesn’t see what’s problematic for the team, but I’m one of those for whom ranting about it doesn’t make me feel better.
It’s not that I can’t deal with criticism of the team. It’s the tenor of the criticism that’s irksome. And since everyone is entitled to feel the way they feel and express their discontent in whatever way suits them, I am choosing to avoid it, rather than fight it.
Suzyn Waldman brought this up on the broadcast last night as well… great gesture and I hope it helps a little…
I think signing posada through 2011 was clearly a mistake especially since the yanks had the brains to actually think he would be our everday catcher for much of that time. I cringed when i heard four years but outside of posada, you look around at the team signed beyond this season and it REALLY is just not old and slow anymore. There are guys like cano who are young but cant steal a base unless its handed to them and gift wrapped but the old yanks that were defined by guys like giambi, matsui, damon, abreu, pettitte will likely all be gone after this season. Our roster next year is looking at 6 or so players beyond 32. Thats certainly a huge leap away from the yanks of five years ago. Then, practically our entire staff was in their 40s with a few young late 30s guys. Now, burnett could be the veteran at 33. Outside of jeter, arod and posada, there are no veteran guys at all really. And jeter and arod are still in their mid 30s and still have some speed left in them. You keep mentioning that the yanks are getting older and older pete but they are actually getting younger and younger.
Dave -
And who would you have signed to catch for the Yankees instead?
Doreen- Don’t you know that Jose could have been the starter and Pudge the back up.
jennifer -
Oh, that’s right. I forgot!
Last night’s play with Posada had nothing to do with speed or lack of athleticism. It had to do with effort.
He didn’t run hard to first base.
Watch the play. He watched the ball and didn’t run hard.
I am assuming he thought Inge would just throw the ball to first base because it was hit so slowly. When Inge went to second, it was too late for Jorge to decide to run hard and he got nailed.
Its inexcusable for a veteran like Posada to not run hard on that play. A symbol though of a bigger issue with this team. They aren’t mentally tough and effort is now becoming an issue.
Look, this team has a LOT of issues. Some, early in the year or not, that may derail them before the season even gets going.
However, one thing they can do is produce EFFORT every night. Posada’s gaffe is not defensible.
But, that’s one of the many problems with this team. Too many “stars”, too many “names”, and it makes it tough to discipline guys.
What Girardi should do today is sit Posada. You want to dog it, regardless of stature on the team, you sit.
If you don’t make the players accountable for their play, you never fix what’s broken.
It took him until September to finally sit Cano, who dogged it all season, last year. How did that work out? It embarrassed the kid enough to where he worked his butt off in the off-season and he’s now reaching his potential.
Look at his numbers before and after the benching. Night and day.
We may look back on it and say the benching completely changed the direction of his career. Only problem with it was, it came 4 months late.
What’s really broken on this team is, they roll over. Yes, Verlander threw great last night. But, TRY!!! GRIND!!! Don’t just “tip your cap”. That’s BS and that’s all we hear about when a pitcher dominates this team.
We have seen former all stars like Verlander dominate this team. That’s not a sin. But, we also saw guys like Carl Pavano and Jeremy Guthrie pitch like Roy Halliday against this team with little resistance from them. Either way, its always a, “tip of the cap” to the opponent. To me, that’s a losers mentality.
You can only play the “Its only April Card” for another couple of days. By that time, the Red Sox may have a 13 game winning streak and put more distance between themselves and the Yankees. Not good if you are the trailing team with as many issues as the Yankees presently face.
At some point, somebody on this team is going to have rattle some heads. Its embarrassing to watch their futility once guys reach scoring position. They literally have no chance to score once guys reach scoring position. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team this bad in those situations. They were bad at it last year. They are MUCH worse at it this year. That’s hard to understand, given the so called “talent” that’s on the team.
I am hoping Hughes steps up today with a big performance. If he can pitch well, it could solve a few problems with this team.
I have no idea where they are going to find the ability to hit with RISP. It doesn’t seem to be present with this group.
So, its up to the pitchers to just shut the other team down and hope they get a run or two.
Certainly not how it was drawn up when they formed this team in the off-season. But, you deal with it and hope for the best. All you can do.
I would like someone in the media to ask Jorge why he didn’t run hard down to first. No one asked the manager what he thought about Jorge loafing it down to first. That is what should have been asked.
Doreen
The frustration level sometimes is understandable but how some people choose to express it is over the top. I saw your comment the other day about calling people garbage. Couldn’t have agreed more.
Mike and Mike on ESPN are having a related discussion this morning. Do fans have the right to say anything they want to players at a game and has fan behavior gotten out of control?
They raise the point that in what other industry is it tolerated for customers to verbally abuse employees of a business they are patronizing no matter what the employee is paid.
Booing and heckling are a part of professional sports but what is acceptable and what crosses the line?
The comment area here is like a stadium where no one can give you that disgusted look when you say something stupid or offensive. The anonymous nature of it gives people a hubris that they might be less likely to show if they had to say it in person. Some of that seems to be happening here during the game threads.
Posada’s contract is up after 2011.
Meanwhile down in Tampa Jesus Montero continues to rake.
.364 2 11 OBP .417
That was a nice move by Mike Ilitch. Tough times for those automakers right now.
I hope Hughesie can pitch well tonight and I also hope the Yankees offense can get him some run support.
There is always something with this team. Would be nice to see them clicking on all cylinders for a while.
I like Jorge, but that non-effort from him last night was just disappointing to see.
Let’s hope things turn around tonight. May is just around the corner
Posada’s contract up after 2011.
Meanwhile down in Tampa Jesus Montero continues to look like a stud.
.367 2 11 OBP .417
I think one of the issues, the main issue IMO, is money.
Fans believe they can say whatever they want about and to a player because of the money they earn.
The size of one’s tax return does not determine how you treat a person. That’s a BIG problem in sports and a bigger problem when it comes to fan behavior.
One of the reasons why players are less accessible for autographs is because of the increasing aggressive nature of fan behavior. Its become a security issue.
I have personally witnessed fans cuss out players because the player has to leave and can’t sign every autograph desired.
Its bad behavior toward players is more aggressive than I ever remember it being. In some cases, it does border on being a bit scary.
We all get frustrated at the play of our favorite teams and players. But, how one expresses that frustration is the issue.
In all my years in the biz, I don’t remember it being as bad as it is today. That’s something that has to change.
How to change it? That’s a whole different issue.
“So, its up to the pitchers to just shut the other team down and hope they get a run or two. Certainly not how it was drawn up when they formed this team in the off-season.”
SJ
I thought that was exactly how it was drawn up this off season. They signed CC, AJ and Andy so the starting pitching was going to be a strength of the team. Tex was a very nice addition but he was not the main focus of the off season.
Big kudos to Ilitch. It’s a real shame Pontiac is being eliminated, they have created some fantastic cars over the years.
Back to the Yankees. Really dissapointing performance last night. Sabathia pitched okay but a loss is a loss. Maybe I’m expecting too much but so far he’s been crappy in 4 out of 5 starts.
The Yankees have lacked athleticism for a very long time, this is nothing new. It won’t change until the Yankees can develop some young position players. Cano and hopefully Jackson is a start. Cabrera, Gardner and Pena can be useful bench players. That’s still not enough but it’s a start.
It’s been a tough 4 days as a Yankee fan but every team goes through slumps. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the team beyond injuries, players are just not performing right now. Hopefully they snap out of it tonight.
SJ:
Any sense that Posada has issues with Girardi and/or visa versa? Or you think last night’s “effort” was just a result of the frustration of the past few days?
Wfan is saying the Yankees will be lowering the ticket prices for the Legend Seats.
pat- I think booing is okay. But heckling, cursing trash talking players crosses the line.
Take what happened a few weeks ago in KC. A ‘fan’ was yelling to Jorge that he bedded his wife, and she wasn’t good. That is so far over the line it isn’t funny. Fans think they can say what ever they want because they pay the players salaries. They also know the players cannot retaliated, and if they do they will sue.
**retaliate**
WFAN is saying that the Yankees will be lowering the Legend Seats ticket prices.
That’s about the only good news coming out of the organization.
How many times do we hear from fans that so and so makes so much $$$? Too many times to count. Fans are jealous of ballplayers – that’s what it come down to. They expect perfection for their money. The reason why they don’t get PO’d at movie starts (who make more money for a couple of months work than baseball players do over the course of a year) is because most kids played baseball at some point – even if it was just a game with the neighborhood kids and not Little League. The constant refrain is “oh, I’d do it for free” – no, they wouldn’t. Baseball is a game and it’s also these players’ jobs. Would any of us do our jobs for free? I don’t blame players for restricting acess to the fans. The fans don’t care about them – they don’t look at them as people (if they did, they wouldn’t boo, taunt, heckle and say such incredibly nasty things). The same fans who cheer a player one day will malign him the next – it’s not acceptable.
jennifer
The conversation on ESPN came about because the NY Rangers coach squirted water at fans during a game and got suspended for it.
Knowing that players can do nothing about it makes it even worse to me because it’s not a fair fight going in.
I think many of the players probably enjoy some of the creative banter but it has gotten so far beyond that now.
I know I’ve gotten more sensitive to it as I’ve gotten older probably because I’ve had to avoid explaining what that means to my kids.
Pete:
Your comments about A-Rod is the previous thread were an unnecessary cheap shot. You have a very good and very popular blog. There is no need for you to make such an inflammatory remark. If you want to take a jab at someone, stick with the manager who is doing a lousy job. He is making poor in game decisions and the team does not seem motivated.
As for last night’s game, I did not see the replay, but I saw the Posada DP live and I could not believe that he did not make it to first before the throw. Wow. I know that guy is slow, but it was a slow roller that some players might have beat out to first without a runner on first.
I don’t care if he is not ready. I would bring up Jackson and give the guy a shot. He’ll bring some talent and energy to the team. Gardner has the energy, but the talent is not there.
Let Pena play everyday for a few weeks, or until A-Rod gets back. The kid has a great glove, and he seems like a decent hitter too.
Wow, SJ44 overreacting. I haven’t seen THAT one before
Some fans express so much venom towards their team when things are not going well. It’s kinda disturbing.
I can understand disappointment, but some need to get a grip.
Steve B,
I don’t know if he has issues with Girardi. If he does, it doesn’t defend not running hard to first base.
The problem with this team is the roster is like a cluster of fine crystal. It looks great until one piece breaks. When it does, its like an avanlanche to the rest of the crystal and everything breaks. Its a poorly constructed roster and has been for some time now.
Why do they need 9 pitchers? It shortens their bench. For a team that can’t hit with RISP, unless they are going to use CC to pinch hit, doesn’t it make sense to have another position player on the roster? That’s just one example, I could go on.
We talked about it yesterday. Simply put, the Red Sox handle injury situations better than the Yankees because they have greater roster flexibility.
That’s on Cashman. The GM is responsible for the roster and truth be told, he’s done a terrible job with it.
210 million dollars spent on this roster and even someone lacking a lot of baseball knowledge can see its filled with holes.
How do you do that? Really, that’s quite a feat.
Its not good. Now, with Damon hurting, they really don’t have an OF capable of hitting major league pitching at a high level on the entire roster! That’s just amazing to me.
That’s why, contrary to popular belief, I don’t see this huge change when Arod comes back. Will the offense be better? Marginally.
But, if you have 3-4 automatic outs in the your lineup every night, which the Yankees do, teams can pitch around the guys that can hurt them pretty easily.
Couple that with their complete inability to hit with RISP, and I don’t see teams quaking at the Yankee lineup, even with Arod in it.
That means, the pitching has to be in the Top 3 in the league for them to be competitive. Right now, its dead last. That ain’t good.
Unless some stuff changes real fast, this may finally be the year guys start losing their jobs. I say this because if this team is bad this year, and that stadium is empty (regardless of how many tickets are sold) heads are gonna roll. Its unavoidable.
In the end, that may not be a bad thing because something has to change. What we are seeing on a nightly basis from this team is completely unacceptable.
The Yankees have significant and unique problem. There is a huge attachment to winning, a huge expectation to win from the organization, the players and the fans. Winning is what we all want but the excessive attachment and expectation is counter-effective. It kills energy and it stifles spirit. Yes they are paid money but it is still a Game. Play The Game for the fun of it, with passion and purity. Enjoy and celebrate a win. Ignore a loss, give it no energy, no power.
The best thing we fans can do it offer unconditional support to our team. That means no complaining, no booing. Take the presssure off of our players. Enjoy the wins, enjoy a good game, a good play. Ignore the rest. Let cashman do the worrying.
Before panic sets in further – look all the way back to 2008 –
playoff team Milwaukee started out 16-18
playoff team Chicago White Sox started out 16-18
playoff team LA Dodgers started out 8-12
World Series team Tampa Bay started out 8-11
World Series champ Philadelphia started out 8-10
What does it prove? Good teams can turn things around.
Ask yourself if the Yanks are a good team? Could they turn it around?
If the answer is yes, have some patience. Have some faith in the players and manager.
If the answer is no, then for your own health find a new hobby.
I think it’s hard for Girardi to discipline the stars on the team, especially those who were his former teammates.
I think that’s the case with Posada. For one, he’s a notorious hothead, and seems to be the de facto leader on the team. Not sure he’s who you want exerting the most clubhouse influence. It’s got to be tough for Girardi to call out Posada for dogging it, although he absolutely should.
One of the reasons I was for the hiring of Girardi over Mattingly was that I thought Girardi was more of a disciplinarian than Torre.
However, he had a young team in Florida that was a lot more malleable, not a team full of high-priced stars.
I don’t know if there is a way out of this funk until the “old guard” is gone – Posada, Jeter, Pettite etc. That’s tough for me to say because there is no player I admire more than Jeter. But he’s killing this team defensively. That’s not up for debate. The old, “he makes the plays when he needs to” line doesn’t cut it anymore. He’s costing this team runs.
Posada’s strikeout rate this year is alarming. Molina is the superior defensive catcher. While he obviously doesn’t have near the bat Poasada does, I wonder if the team wouldn’t be better off with Molina behind the plate.
Pete’s line about the Yankees resembling a company softball team is spot on. The only player with a hint of athleticism – Gardner – doesn’t appear to be good enough to deserve playing time.
It’s a tough spot the team is in.
SJ44 -
I don’t know how you go about changing it. I wish I did. The only thing I know to do is keep expressing displeasure with it and drumming it into my kids’ heads.
pat -
I’m glad it’s being discussed. That’s always a first step – acknowledging that a problem exists.
What is and is not appropriate in today’s world has gotten really out of whack (and not just in baseball). I hate when I say things like that, because it’s just a short scootch away from sounding like, “kids today…” but it’s not just kids. I think that’s what’s so particularly troublesome. It is the adults. And the the kids just follow suit. Civility and the ability to hold one’s tongue – instead of being a sign of strong character are seen as a weakness. Topsy-turvy.
Back to the Yankees, though. SJ44, except for the last 2 games, they have scored enough runs to win if the pitching were good enough. They had scored no fewer than 4 runs per game prior to the last two games. Although the RISP avg is certainly distressing, I admit, it’s not as problematic if they’re winning.
I don’t know what went on with Posada last night. I find it interesting that no one questioned Joe Girardi about it, at least not that was reported, and no one questioned Jorge (though he may not have been available to be questioned). It’s talked about that Girardi has veterans with big paychecks that make it difficult to discipline – but another aspect to that is there are still some players here with whom Girardi has a player/player relationship as well as player/coach relationship. It is often difficult to manage your peers. Posada may be the most difficult to resolve the relationship with, because they shared the same job at one time. But that’s a big leap here – presumptive, to say the least – to suggest they don’t have a good working relationship. It’s one of the problems I had with the comments on this blog last night jumping to conclusions that Jorge was trying to undermine Girardi. I can’t and won’t make that leap based on one play, or even to include that Posada was upset at being taken out for defensive purposes last week.
I hope the Yankees were able to sleep well last night, are well-rested and ready to step it up for Phil Hughes (Hughesy! –
) tonight.
One last thought. There truly is some luck involved in baseball, and I do agree that to some extent you can make your own luck. But there are times when it seems NOTHING breaks your way – they mentioned the wind last night (not as an excuse, but sort of a “shake your head at” thing) dying down just at the point of Ordonez’ HR. When things are going wrong, EVERYTHING seems to go wrong. And when things are going well, it’s the total opposite. Bloopers find the spaces between the outfielders and ground balls develop eyes.
I still want to know why it’s okay that when Swisher went to try to catch Ordonez hit last night that the wall literally opened up?
If Jorge really didn’t run out that ball, then he needs to be benched. There is NO excuse for lack of effort. Not executing is one thing, but not trying? I never thought this would be a problem, but I wonder if Joe is intimidated by the guys he played with. Think Jorge got a talking to last night? I doubt it ….I wonder if Jeter noticed? How can anyone take anything Jorge says seriously now?
One thing I never accused this team of is lack of effort. I know that when you don’t execute, it looks bad …..but I don’t believe we have slackers on this team. I believe this team wants to win…and we’ve already seen signs of fight from this team in numerous games that we hadn’t seen last year. I wonder if they are getting beaten down by the bad pitching (how many games have they been taken out of by the 3rd inning), both starting and relieving? There were games the Yankees came back in only to have their pitching give it away. It has to take some starch out of you. This is where the manager needs to show some leadership. Joe needs to pick these guys up and he needs to do it soon. This season could easily spiral out of control to the point where it will be impossible to catch up. The Sox are very good – they won’t play like this forever, but they will be consistent. The Jays are good, the Rays will eventually start to roll. Again, I know they are trying. I just don’t know what you can do about the RISP issue – it would be one thing if they had bad players, but the don’t. Well, they do at the bottom of the lineup and that is part of the problem. I hope Hal hasn’t restricted the payroll to such a degree now that he’s tied his GM’s hands. So much $$$ went into the pitching and Tex and I appreciate that, but there are still holes to fill. If George were running the team, he’d spend as much as he needed to to fill them. I don’t sense that with Hal/Hank (mostly Hal) – they are running this more as a business. That could cost them.
Pete: I’ve been in Detroit for two weeks, and I think this city is teetering on the brink. The owner has done something very classy, for which I applaud him heartily.
Hope the rain stops by mid-afternoon, which it is forecast to do… I’ve got great seats for tonight’s game (doing my own little part to support the local economy – after all, they’re hosting me for the five weeks I’m here).
pat I heard some of that conversation this morning. They had no security behind the bench to try and curb that stuff.
Just like in KC, why did it take security so long to get over there and toss the guy out. The ump surly heard it call time out, stop the game till the guy is tossed. Simple.
Just like ‘fans’ who interfere with balls in play, toss em. You know the ground rules when you enter the stadium, you break em’ your gone.
Were we saying this about the Yankees in ST, about how they had all these holes and how bad the team is? I don’t recall that being the case…..Hindsight is 20-20. We need the pitchers (mostly pen guys) because the SP has been crappy.
rconn23
Agreed any other ss in baseball would have had that play up the middle.
Question is what is there to do about it? What happens next year when his contract is up? He can’t continue to play ss. But where do you move him? He isn’t a dh, not enough power, hits into way too many dp. Do you let him go and tick off half the fan base? Or do you bring him back because he was the “core”./ Cash is going to be in a difficult position. I don’t envy it at all.
You all wonder why we spend so much money and still have an unathletic, old team?
It’s because of us, the Yankee fanbase, who believes it is our God-given right to be in the playoffs and compete every year.
Because of this, we constantly trade away athletic, younger players for already established players.
We refuse to allow this team to rebuild and re-tool over the course of 2-3 years.
Every team has done it. The Red Sox did it for years, and now they have one of the deepest farm systems in the league.
If this current team dopesn’t make it to the playoffs and doesn’t cut it throughout the season, MAJOR changes need be made, first of which is a normal, league average contract for Jeter.
$210M with no healthy OFer, NOT ONE!, two basestealing threats, one of which can’t hit, no bat on the bench.
DT,
Good teams can turn it around. However, going back in time is a double edged sword.
You can cite teams that did turn it around. Conversely, you can also cite teams that started poorly, never really got it going, and played themselves into a hole they can’t climb out of…. much like last year’s Yankees team.
It does work both ways.
When I see guys not running hard to first in a big moment of the game, that’s a bad sign. That’s why I’m hoping Girardi does something internally about that.
He can’t let that fester. There is no excuse to what Posada did last night. Gotta play hard, no matter what. That’s not a lot to ask.
You know, all along, the mantra was “If we stay healthy, we will be a good team.”
Guess what?
In less than 3 weeks’ time, health has become a major issue. Not counting ARod, because they had that one before game 1, since the start of the season, you’ve got Wang, Nady, Bruney, and Ransom, all going down with an injury. Then there’s Matsui, who’s knees will be an issue all season, and Damon, who is a constant member of the walking wounded. And don’t forget Teixeira’s wrist, which seems to be okay right now, but cost him time already and who knows if it may down the line?
I think there is your answer to all the “holes” that the Yankees have right now. Of course there are holes! People are missing!!!! And there are only so many depth levels.
Not to mention Gardner totally falling off of what won him the CF job out of spring training.
Doreen
Have you ever seen the specials 20/20 does called “What Would You Do”? They stage a hidden camera situation that tests whether strangers will step in and act for someone in need of assistance. It’s like Candid Camera with a moral.
When I see or hear people do outrageous things, I think how great would it be for John Quinones to come out with a video and show them how crazy they were and ask them to justify their actions.
And, sure, the Red Sox have some injuries. Dice-K I would agree is a loss; but Lowrie? Come on. He was sub-par to begin with. What other major injury have they had to fill, where they’ve had to dig into their 3rd or 4th level of depth?
And frankly, Nick Green being productive is a complete surprise.
pat -
I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard of it. We should all behave as if there were a camera on us!
You know, sometimes I’ve told my girls – would you want Grandma to know? That’s a good one for us.
A-rod won’t make much of a difference? That is pretty hilarious. When A-rod gets back the Yankees are replacing their worst offensive player with one of the top 3 hitters in the league.
Best possible lineup w/out Arod:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Pena 3B
Gardner/Cabrera CF
Best possible lineup w/ Arod:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner/Cabrera CF
That is not 3 or 4 automatic outs. Molina will get some time, Damon will need to sit a bit but adding A-rod will help this team a TON.
Obviously none of this matters if the Yankees can’t pitch.
Hopefully a nice sweep of New York will boost the spirits in Detroit!
Looks like NY is doing their part also!
Alex protects hitters and brings a power threat BUT he still is a 33 yr old 3B coming off hip surgery. He doesn’t make us a more athletic team.
The only thing that will help this team in the long run will be dismantling their sentimental attachments to players.
Take the Sox: Manny, Nomar, Millar all gone. They were beloved Red Sox, but the organization didn’t make dumb, emotion-driven decisions.
Even if Alex comes back at say 75% just his mere presence in the line up will make a world of difference.
Oh, and in Tek’s walk year, he didn’t make lunch dates with other GM’s to get a contract out of his team….
…Unlike another catcher we all know.
That’s what I don’t get. Everyone revels in the “old guard”. These guys are just as greedy as the organization itself.
We get our players to do that while the Mets and Sox get their star players, even after MVP seasons, to take discounts.
Yankees may be a great business, ut other teams are much better at the business of baseball.
Last year we we lost Wang, had no Posada, and were dealt the final, irrevocable blow of losing Joba.
Too much to overcome for us.
I say if just Joba doesn’t go down we still make it.
SJ – I agree there is no excuse not to hustle. I only saw the play in real time – since I was watching the Detroit feed – not much was made of the play from their end.
(is there a replay or youtube of it somewhere?)
I wouldn’t say that play is symptomatic of the Yankees play as a whole.
The team is making the opposing pitcher work. That will lead to good things.
I haven’t seen them “pack it in”. When they get down, they mount rallies.
When starters keep giving them length, like CC did last night – there is no need to carry 13 pitchers. That is crazy.
Playing 15 of the first 21 on the road this year is not easy. There is something to be said for sleeping in your own bed.
After Detroit, 18 of the next 24 are at home – if the Yanks are still under .500 at that time – I’ll join the panic parade.
Actually the end of those 18 of 24 home games is Memorial Day.
If the Yanks still are struggling then we can all have a Memorial Day panic.
Others can bring charcoal and lighter fluid, I’m bringing beer and an umbrella.
I sincerely doubt that Posada dogged it. Maybe it seemed that way, because Girardi didn’t have Melky stealing 2nd base with Cabrera playing behind the runner at 1st. That is typical Girardi coaching or lack there of. You have a slow runner at the plate and a speedy runner on 1st and a runner on 3rd and you don’t steal! WOW! Incredible. Girardi provides the attitude to this team and it sucks.
Also, lay of Tex! He is swinging at anything he can reach trying to help the team out but other teams still prefer to walk him. Arod is needed to protect him.
The team is pressing! Duh! This is still April folks, and the Yanks have played fewer home games than most after an extended spring as well. I am sure they are tired and wanting to be at home for an extended time! Again, Girardi needs to use the pitchers properly. He can’t have Bruney when he comes back being the most active RP in the majors (like he was in 1st 2 wks of season). He has to use Marte only against LH batters. He needs to have a long man. Melancon needs to be the 7th inning guy. Bruney the 8th. Mo the 9th. Let Veras spot for the one who needs a rest. I also like Robertson and Coke for 1 inning or less situations. None of those guys should go more than 1 inning.
DT April 28th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Actually the end of those 18 of 24 home games is Memorial Day.
If the Yanks still are struggling then we can all have a Memorial Day panic.
Others can bring charcoal and lighter fluid, I’m bringing beer and an umbrella.
=================================
I’ll bring the potato salad!
I still believe.
More on that later since the tome I started to write somehow disappeared and I am now on the way to somewhere that I feel I have been since Friday night – the dentist’s office!
GO YANKEES!
JoeyA
April 28th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Alex protects hitters and brings a power threat BUT he still is a 33 yr old 3B coming off hip surgery. He doesn’t make us a more athletic team.
The only thing that will help this team in the long run will be dismantling their sentimental attachments to players.
Take the Sox: Manny, Nomar, Millar all gone. They were beloved Red Sox, but the organization didn’t make dumb, emotion-driven decisions.
======
Umm..what’s Manny doing in that group? They keep Manny, they beat Tampa last year and win the WS, and we have to hear about the new “dynasty.” Didn’t happen, so they don’t get to be in the dynasty conversation.
The idea that it was a good move to get rid of Manny is just beyond ludicrous.
I was advocating for us to sign him.
Manny is Manny. Just ask David Ortiz.
Like I said, this team has some serious issues. The maddening part is that most of them are what should be non-issue issues. Dogging it. Mentality. Tip the Cap crap. I’m tired of this team always slogging it for the first 2 months of the season and playing catchup hoping for a summer swoon from the div leaders every single year. It’s becoming an annual event. I hate to say it, but it’s time to find some young, fresh position players instead of older name players. How to go about doing that… who knows? Oddly, Cashman doesn’t seem to… sigh.
The Yankees Lineup should have been at the begining of the season the following:
C-Posada
1B-Tex
2B-Cano
SS-Jeter
3B-Arod (OUT)
LF-Damon (HURT)
CF-Gardner/Melky
RF-Nady (OUT)
DH-Matsui (HURT)
Bench
Swisher
Gardner/Melky
Ransom (OUT)
Molina
PITCHING
CC
AJ
Wang (OUT)
Pettite
Joba
CL-Mo
Setup-Bruney (OUT)
This is not a team of players with one guy out like the Red Sox. The Yanks have 4 very good hitters out or hurt and their top utility guy too. Arod is perhaps the best hitter or one of the best hitters in baseball or at least in the conversation. That is a huge loss. These guys will get healthy! Losing Wang w/o really knowing it devastated this team with 3 automatic losses and a huge drain on the bullpen. (Note Wang should have been out at 4-2 or even earlier in game 3 but again one has to wonder about what Girardi is doing!). Pitching Bruney so much in 1st couple of weeks was a killer now too and may set him up for being injured all year. Stupidity charges a high price! I am so happy for everyone who wanted Joe to be gone that you got what you deserve. I hate it that our Yankees are having to pay the price of inept management, especially Girardi. Girardi is a moody self absorbed control freak. The sooner he is gone the sooner the issues will be resolved. Maybe he can take away the chocolate candy from the players too. I believe the clubhouse does not respect Joe G. End of story.
new posts up…
Where are these young fresh position players that are lying around just waiting for a call from the NY Yankees? Other teams are not so willing to give the Yankees theirs.
There is going to be a need for patience as far as position players the Yankees may have right now in the lower levels of the system.
But where are these players the Yankees missed?
Meanwhile, I am amused at all the Negative Nellies here.
Did you really think we were going to play small ball this year?
We are going to rely on starting pitching, OPS, and our BP. That’s how the team was constructed and no one was moaning about that a couple of weeks ago. This is news?
Believe or not, teams win this way. We’re not, nor WERE we, in a position to turn into the Rays.
Say whatever floats your boat, but opposing pitchers are not going to have a picnic with the middle of our order when it’s
Tex
ARod
Cano
You might take some solace in the way CC threw last night; might get excited by the fact that our BP just added a jewel in Melancon – anyone who says that’s a premature judgment has not seen this kid live much.
And I don’t know who the 3-4 automatic outs will be once ARod is restored. Cabrera/Gardner? They won’t BOTH play when Alex is in there. Even if Molina is giving Jorge a breather, I count two autos.
Who else would qualify as an “automatic out”?
Jeter
Damon
Tex
ARod
Cano
Posada
Matsui
Swisher
Cabrera/Gardner
We are going to be in the race all year.
Lovers of Boston apparently choose to ignore the imminent declines of Ortiz & Varitek and the fragility of Lowell. That won’t get better as the year wears on.
Jason Bay is a nice player, but he’s not Manny; you don’t lose Manny and actually get better for it.
This is the first entire season they face in a long time without the Great Redeemer’s bat at cleanup to bail out and erase bad outings by their starters.
If you think Ellsbury is going to be a world beater leadoff man every night, you don’t know much about him. He’s a better player than Gardner, but this guy goes through “Gardner-like” stretches trying to get on base.
It’s clear though, that Red Sox paranoia is in full-swing here. The people prone to this over rate them and undermine us.