The real thing
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Apr 14, 2010 
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I got a few emails asking for a picture of the now famous “fake ring” given to Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher, but the best I could come up with is this shot from someone trying to sell the thing for 125 bucks.
Swisher, by the way, still doesn’t know who put the fake ring in his box. Mariano Rivera finally gave him the real one, but the prankster is still a mystery. “I need to do some undercover stuff and hire some people (to find out who did it),” Swisher said.
It’s a little easier to find pictures of the real thing. The Associated Press moved these photos this afternoon.
I like the view from shown on the lower left.
The ring is beautiful, but it sure is ostentatious – so many diamonds. I do love the words “tradition” and “unity”; if this team was anything last year, it was unified.
I wonder how the players feel knowing their home fans turn on them after a bad start. I wonder what AJ, Phil, etc. were thinking when Vazquez was getting booed off the mound. I mean, these guys gave their heart and soul to win the fans a championship last year after a 9 yr drought and this is how they react 7 games into the season? And the fans didn’t even seem to want to cheer anyone during the ring ceremony except the guy on the opposing team and Rivera.
The players on the team must be rolling their eyes at the reaction of the fans… who boos someone who admitted he never wanted to leave based on something so innocuous that happened 5 yrs ago….
GreenBeret7 April 14th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Weber hit by pitch
Montero must have the pitcher shook up. they’re trying to pick him off of first with him about a step off
Huffman lines into a DP to short with Montero running. No chance to get back
Lemon I was at yesterdays game and that is untrue. The fans cheered everyone who received a ring some louder than others.
I also love the ‘unity’
Perfect!
“I wonder how the players feel knowing their home fans turn on them after a bad start”
I think most players know that a lot of fans are jerks.
Did they really have to put “Steinbrenner tradition” on the side? Seems kind of tacky… they should have put a pie or something on it because that was a key theme in that season, the 17 walkoff wins and late inning magic…..
I do think Javy should not have said that the booing was unfair; he should never let the fans see him sweat…….and this could be getting under his skin, which is not what he wants.
Betsy – Hughes rules (pleading the Fifth) April 14th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
The ring is beautiful, but it sure is ostentatious – so many diamonds. I do love the words “tradition” and “unity”; if this team was anything last year, it was unified.
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There’s so much “ice” on those rings that Dorothy Hamell could skate on it.
# danny April 14th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Did they really have to put “Steinbrenner tradition” on the side? Seems kind of tacky… they should have put a pie or something on it because that was a key theme in that season, the 17 walkoff wins and late inning magic…..
Where the Stienbrenner is, it has the players name. That is Steinbrenners ring.
I wish all the fans that booed Javy would boo who was really responsible, the HP umpire.
Sad
LOL GB – only this “ice” won’t melt.
Each player had their name engraved on the side.
Looks like tomorrow night is a hot ticket to see Young Master Hughes tomorrow night. Cheapest ticket on stubhub is 19 bucks.
Did CC or AJ get booed last year? I know Tex did, not sure about the other two.
SPOILER ALERT.
I’M STILL HERE…….
Sanit is pitching
Mench is safe on a “single”. Purely an error.
walk
ground out to 2nd, both runners advance.
“DANGER, WILL ROBINSON…DANGER”.
AJ got a really nice reception last year, louder than this year; I don’t remember anyone being booed
Betsy’
I’m sure Alex was booed at some point last year just cause he is Alex. LOL
LOL Jen, even at the Opening Day ceremonies? That wouldn’t surprise me – that’s what’s sad about the whole thing.
GB – how does Montero look behind the plate?
Lemon – the silly thing is that the team is off to a good start. and like some have said, we just won the WS – what more can you want?
Not having been at the Stadium, is it just a loud few with the boos or is it more?
FollowThePadres
Got to see Jerry Hairston Jr’s #Yankees World Series ring. Wow. White gold with 119 diamonds = 3.55 carats. Hope my wife doesn’t read this.
31 minutes ago via web
strike out. 2 outs
Orr flies out to deep center
Sanit does his best Andy Pettitte impression.
BTW, AS LONG AS SJ ACTS LIKE AN ARROGANT JACK*** TO THOSE HE DISAGREES WITH, I’LL BE HERE.
NO FAN IS SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER FAN. AGREE TO DISAGREE, BUT HIS PERSONAL ATTACKS ARE UNCALLED FOR AND UNNECESSARY.
Rule #1 – When asked about booing, give the A-Rod or Tex answer, “With the way I played tonight, I would have booed myself too. It is unacceptable and I expect better from myself.”
Vazquez should know better….
Betsy – I wouldn’t be so sure it’s easy to fix a bullpen, especially on the fly, and especially when you’re trying to keep payroll low.
http://tweetphoto.com/18455106
Rich in NJ, here is Jerry with his ring.
Heck, even the tin ring looks pretty good.
Bronx, he looks good…solid as a rock. The steal wasn’t even a throw. Ring never even looked at Bynum. Just picked a swinging strike out of the dirt and threw to first with runners on 2nd and 3rd. No glove movement with the hands or body.
Who was Torre supposed to go to in Game 7 after Brown? We didn’t have anyone to start that game as it is. He brought in Vazquez and expected him to get Damon out and keep us in the game, he didn’t, and he took us out of the game completely.
The booing is not unwarranted. What is the #1 thing fans remember from 2004? The image of Vazquez giving up the bomb to Damon. And what does he do in his first 2 starts? a 9.82 ERA.
I wouldn’t boo anyone, but you can understand why the fans are doing it. His name automatically evokes the darkest moment in franchise history. He has to go out there and change that by pitching well. Until he does, he will continue to get booed.
Rich, lol
Joe, maybe true, but it’s easier to fix than the rotation.
Gardner is not an everyday player, I’ve been saying this all winter, spring, and early season. The more he plays the worse he’ll get. Everyday players are hard to find and Gardner isn’t one of them. Yanks cannot have a left handed corner outfielder with no power and can’t hit start in left field. Additionally, the band of turkeys Cashman assembled to play left field including Thames who can’t hit for avg and is the poorest fielding outfielder I’ve seen in years and Winn who’s best days are obviously behind him can’t fill Gardners woes. I know everyone here will tell me it’s early but believe me this won’t change. We’ll be spending money and prospects to fill Damon’s void sooner than later. Left field is unacceptable at this point.
The booing is unwarranted. Maybe Yankee fans should not go to Yankee games; I mean, the core of the 2004 team is still here. By going to the games now, fans are implicitly approving of the 2004 team. I think they should not go to games in order to express their displeasure over 2004.
yes, I’m being sarcastic – Yankee fans are stooges. Vasquez was FAR from the only one to blame. Yankee fans always need a scapegoat.
Thx, Carl
GB, I have a feeling that Montero is going to surprise a lot of people with his defense let alone his offense.
Phillies lead 10-7 in the 6th. Still anyone’s game.
The Nats bring in Bruney to stop the bleeding.
Curtis leads off the 7th with a single to left
Golson flies out to center
Corona singles to center
Russo walks…bases loaded
pitching change
Nunez grounds into DP….inning over
David Wright hit a home run!!!!
Drafting young David to Erica’s Avengers saved his career!!!
At least Thames looks like he knows what hes doing when he steps to the plate, unlike Gardner.
When I saw Gardner was due up against Fernando Rodney, you knew it would be tough to get something going. A guy like Rodney can throw 95 MPH right down the pipe and the worst that will happen is a single up the middle. More likely, a weak pop up or swing and miss. Gardner is not even a threat to hit the ball a long way. Gardner is a very easy out in a big spot unless he beats out something. Melky had gap power and could jack one out of the park… all Gardner can do is hit one up the middle…
Bronx, Montero only needs to be average behind the plate and he’s going to be a great asset. It’s the bat that will create him, though.
Gardner is an ideal defensive replacement/pinch runner.
That’s where he’ll end up once the long-term solution is found (hello there, Carl Crawford).
z,
yep. there has been so much buzz around the yanks and crawford and now we can see why. gardner stinks…. only a matter of time before randy winn takes over for the rest of the season, then we can get a young 5-tool left fielder underneath the christmas tree this winter……
Alex,
You are right, after Grandy and Swisher hit foul ball popups to lead off the inning, it was totally Gardner’s fault for killing the rally.
Cabrera was let go by NYY – they decided he was not good enough to contribute. If he was good enough, they would of kept him and he would be starting. They didn’t and he isn’t.
I understand your fear that Gardner will succeed, don’t understand your rooting against him.
sanit is still pitching in the 8th
Strikeout
Smash ground out to pitcher and nails Sanit in the arm (glove side) but recovers and throws out the runner
Strike out. Nice 2 inning stint by sanit.
Bottom of the 8th coming.
Will the 9th inning be left to Melancon or Albaladejo to save the honor of the organization….at least for tonight?
While it would be great if Montero can be average behind the plate (and I think he will be), if he can put up a .900 OPS or better, I think he can get by if he is as bad as Piazza.
I personally think it is unfortunate when a player is booed in their own stadium.
Both the Yankees and Sox have a very enthusiastic and passionate fan base. That can be a good thing, but it also means that there will always be that fraction of fans who will boo at a moment’s notice. Plenty of Sox players have been booed at Fenway.
They are the same ones who will jump on the bandwagon six or seven games later when the booed player is doing well.
Trent juit, syracuse manager has been run, but, it’s got to be the most silent and calmest ejection that I’ve seen. It took about 5 minutes. Where’s joe West’s indinity?
Where’s joe West’s ***indignity***
Miranda strikes out
Montero drills on to third base and thrown out
Weber walks
Huffman strikes out
9th inning coming up
Bruney walks the bases loaded while recording no outs in the 7th and is asked to leave the field.
Ian O’ Connor wrote an article with the headline that Javy deserved to be booed (or something like that). I didn’t bother reading it.
Hi Ray – I think you hit the nail on the head.
Nobody’s rooting against Gardner. He’s not an everyday player, he can’t hit, period. Everybody seems to know it but Cashman. And for the group who think this team hits better than last yrs think again. Johnson will do well to be close to Matsui’s productivity and will be a worse 2 hole hitter than Damon because he’s slow and Gardner is light years behind Damon as a hitter. Granderson is an upgrade vs Melky but will struggle late vs leftys. All told Yanks will score less runs, have less power, and be less productive.
No home runs hit today. Shocking.
espnnewyork.com is a sponsor of this site, please be respectful.
Melancon is pitching:
ground out to pitcher
Mench lines out to deep left center
Strike out.
THE YANKEES WIN!!! THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YANKEESSSSSSSSSSSS WINNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!
1-0 scranton
Tyler Clippard was the pitcher asked to put out Bruney’s fire.
Instead, Shane Victorino clears the bases and does it with integrity.
13-7 Phillies and one fears that the scoring isn’t over yet.
Thanks for the updates gb7
“Bruney walks the bases loaded while recording no outs in the 7th and is asked to leave the field.”
He’s just testing the faith of the believers.
I’ll leave the children for the more stout of heart to bathe and rock to sleep. (Please use real rocks…big rocks). When they are in sleepyland, I’ll check back in.
Not really a bad article… a lot of quotes from Cashman, Jeter, etc. about how being booed is a part of the game and everyone has been booed at some point. Some quotes from Mattingly as well. Basically a summary of the Yankees that were booed throughout the years. Not really ripping Vazquez, more like showing that everyone went through it.
“espnnewyork.com is a sponsor of this site, please be respectful.”
Well, we’re still posting here anyway….
“It’s always the fans’ right,” Brian Cashman said. “What they used to do to Alex Rodriguez was way out of line; it became the thing to do to boo Alex whenever he didn’t get a hit. Compared to that, what happened with Javy today was nothing.
“This is an opportunity, a new challenge for Javy to fuel his fire the way it did for Alex. The only way to stop the booing is for Javy Vazquez to be Javy Vazquez, which is one of the best right-handed starters in the game over the last 10 years. I believe he’ll do that.”
A-Rod finally stopped the booing by hitting the ball hard when it counted.
“Roger Clemens wasn’t supposed to be a big-game pitcher when he came to us,” Cashman said, “and he had to overcome that. Everything’s about being judged in New York, and you’ve got to overcome.”
Jeter was booed again in 2008 after committing the mortal sin of having a bad game in the middle of July.
“The bottom line is they’re Yankees fans and … they come here to cheer for you,” the captain said. “Everyone’s been booed at some point, but you can’t let it affect you.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=5089230
“espnnewyork.com is a sponsor of this site, please be respectful.”
My lack of respect for Ian O’Connor pre-dates this site and as such should be allowed by a Grandfather Clause.
Long distance dedication to Brian Bruney:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niBY5Da9ZWA
Damon is not here. Get over it.
And stop this incessant whining day in and day out.
Try writing something positive at least once in a while.
Whether you beleive it or not, it is great team and check out at the end of the season.
“Nobody’s rooting against Gardner.”
Pete, I suspect you’re a troll, but anyway…
You say you aren’t rooting against, but there is an unmistakable glee … a self-satisfaction in your one-note harping on the Johnson/Granderson/Gardner vs Damon/Matsui/Cabrera dynamic.
Worse, despite the Yanks being just fine at 5-3 and despite the fact that the former three are likely as a group outperforming the former (in both senses), you jump at the slightest opportunity to repeat it – in this case a Yankee loss.
So sorry, I don’t believe you for a second when you day you’re not rooting against Gardner.
It’s perfectly plain you’d rather be “right” than anything else.
Nick, my bad
If I have to give espnnewyork page hits on my blackberry while
getting a lapdance atpatronizing Lace or Stiletto to keep this website afloat, I’ll do it.“A-Rod finally stopped the booing by hitting the ball hard when it counted.”
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Another well thought out remark. How do you think these bits of wisdom up?
the javy we see now looks suspiciously like the javy in the second half of 04. the same pitching patters, the same inability to finish off hitters. cashman is out of his mind if he thinks javy is one of the best righties of the last ten years.
Guys, I just had some much fun passing over Dan’s post.
You see, he posted something, but instead of reading it, I just went right over it and onto the next post. His words were here in vain, at least for me.
And he can’t do anything about it. Just imagine if we all did that, every time.
Re: the booing.
I think for a lot of fans, baseball is a day to day thing. it’s about the experience of each game. they’re not so concerned about what anyone’s done before or will do.
they’re just conveying their emotions at the single play or day.
nothing wrong with that.
imo, i don’t think anyone roots against gardner. he just looks over matched to such a huge extent at times that it’s almost embarrassing to watch.
i do think the left-field situation will be a trouble spot for the yanks this season.
I don’t read a lot of posts here.
Folks (the reasonable ones), let’s not spend too much time on the “booing” issue.
Fans who defiantly defend their “right” to boo at ballgames do it out of a misplaced need to believe themselves a part of the team dynamic, rather than just a paid spectator.
They want to feel their approval is required and what players who don’t perform to “hear” them, as if they are somehow a part of the eventual winning, as if Alex Rodriquez was motivated by the fans who have been hard on him to have a great postseason.
That way they get to pretend somehow the help motivate the players and are therefore the “26th man” and part of the team.
You’re not going to reason with these people. They’re emotionally underdeveloped.
stuckey
i enjoyed your post about the booing, but i think i differ a little bit on the emotionally underdeveloped part. i think there’s something to be said for living in the moment and letting your emotions take over. we can’t always rely on reason – life’s no fun that way.
other than that, i really liked your explanation of it as a function of desire to be a part of something.
It looks like it’s the end of Melky as a leadoff hitter for the Braves. He is batting 8th in the lineup today.
Melky batting 8th tonight.
BBFan April 14th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Damon is not here. Get over it.
And stop this incessant whining day in and day out.
Try writing something positive at least once in a while.
Whether you beleive it or not, it is great team and check out at the end of the season.
********************
Is this directed towards anyone in particular????
Scooped by Encinitan. Well done.
“Is this directed towards anyone in particular????”
I’m guessing it was directed towards pistol pete.
Tommy Hanson is nasty.
Erica
“Is this directed towards anyone in particular????”
Me?
“I think there’s something to be said for living in the moment and letting your emotions take over. we can’t always rely on reason – life’s no fun that way.”
Charleston, expect people don’t go through life that way. No one would do that in a smaller, social setting, just give in to your “emotions” and direct anger and bitterness at someone.
What you describe as “living in the moment” is in fact well documented as mob mentality – conduct fueled by the the base satisfaction of anonymously giving into a group of thousands singularly directing their anger toward ONE individual.
Yeah, you can make the tired argument ballplayers make millions of dollars should be able to put up with it, but it doesn’t absolve the individual of the behavior.
If Vasquez or anyone else clearly wasn’t trying that one thing. But to do that because he had the audacity to have a tough couple of innings?
There is no justification for that.
And yeah, it’s COMMON, I understand. But for me, that’s pretty much the most damning description I can give anything.
do all of them really say “Steinbrenner tradition”!!?? thats too much
Pistol Pete,
You don’t think Gardner is a starting MLB player, more than likely you are probably right.
But, Girardi & Cash are giving him a shot, why can’t the you relax and let it happen; it will work out that he either is or isn’t a player.
Do you think that Gardner’s contributions will make or break the Yankees in the next 6 to 8 weeks? I don’t.
do all of them really say “Steinbrenner tradition”!!??
Derek’s says Jeter Tradition
Jorges’s says Posada Tradition
Alex’s says Rodriguez Tradtion
etc, etc…..
>do all of them really say “Steinbrenner tradition”!!?? thats too much
That ring says “Steinbrenner” because it’s The Boss’ ring. Look up Swisher’s ring, you’ll see that it says “Swisher”.
Rich in NJ & Nick in SF (that was like a game of Geography)……
I was just making sure I didn’t have to get all ninja Erica
http://tweetphoto.com/18335612
I heard Whitney Houston got booed in her comeback concert last night in England.
Rumors that she put a hit out on this kid have been unconfirmed so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Bronx Jeers April 14th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
I heard Whitney Houston got booed in her comeback concert last night in England.
Rumors that she put a hit out on this kid have been unconfirmed so far
*****************
Whitney Houston was a huge favorite of mine as a kind in the 80s. It kind of breaks my heart a little to see what she is now
Did Lin Yu Chun dedicate that song to his barber?
I suspect not.
Sesame Street Mafia
Just saw something Sesame related on Food Network while husband was channel surfing if you want to catch the last 10 minutes of it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04.....ref=sports
Mo is the best; I think Jackie Robinson would have been proud of him. My mother worked with him at Chock Full o’ Nuts (she was a secretary, he was VP) and said he was very nice.
pat April 14th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Sesame Street Mafia
Just saw something Sesame related on Food Network while husband was channel surfing if you want to catch the last 10 minutes of it.
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And of course I see this at 11:02. SIGH
pat April 14th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Sesame Street Mafia
Just saw something Sesame related on Food Network while husband was channel surfing if you want to catch the last 10 minutes of it.
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Shhhhh!!! Do you want to get them started again? It’ll end up in a cat fight as to who’s cuter…Bert or Ernie.
Who is cuter….Bert or Ernie?
Which brings up another question, who is hotter?
Jeter or Granderson?
Lundqvist or Jagr?
All the Gardner hate in here is just sad. He’s hardly the person to focus on. He’s a 9th place hitter. I believe that’s traditionally where you bat your weakest hitter….except when you have an all star team.
If you think Girardi and Cashman are up late at night killing themselves over their faith in him, you’re wrong. He’s being given a shot. Deal with it. There is no other alternative on the roster. He’ll most likely be given this shot through June/July before they pull the plug on him.
And you know what? I think he’ll hit .270 and get on base enough to keep the job this year.
He’s not over matched and a horrible player. Where were you the first few games when he was making things happen offensively. If he were as awful as some of you claim, he wouldn’t be on the roster. There’s a reason why he’s getting this shot and it’s not because he’s scrappy and Caucasian as some in here have feel but are afraid to come out and say.
I mean, come on…what do the Yankees owe Brett Gardner. If he’s as bad as you all claim, he’ll be gone soon enough or banished to the pinch runner role.
So calm down. I mean, if you hate him as much as some of you knuckleheads do, you want him on that wall right now. You need him to play a lot so the Yankees will see the error of their ways and he’s exposed.
The only problem with that is I think some of you are afraid that will an extended shot in LF, he just might do enough to hold onto the job.
He’s not going to cost them the season at this point. Getting stressed out over the 9th place hitter one week into the season is silly.
GreenBeret7 April 14th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Shhhhh!!! Do you want to get them started again? It’ll end up in a cat fight as to who’s cuter…Bert or Ernie.
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Ernie is cuter, but Bert has the unibrow.
It’s Miley-mania in MLB! N.Johnson,Tulowitzski and Maybin using Party in USA as AB music.
7 minutes ago
# pat April 14th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
do all of them really say “Steinbrenner tradition”!!??
Derek’s says Jeter Tradition
Jorges’s says Posada Tradition
Alex’s says Rodriguez Tradtion
etc, etc…..
Steinbrenner is the only one whose last name is followed by tradition… the rest just have last names… check out Swishers. http://tweetphoto.com/18335612
Stuckey
Your argument regarding booing is flawed in two ways. First, you characterize fans as having a “misplaced need to believe themselves a part of the team dynamic”. That is in fact false. Fans can have an affect on sporting events and it happens all the time. Leagues wouldn’t give out home field or home court advantage if there wasn’t some marginal benefit to being in front of your home crowd for an important game. A group of fans cheering for a team can help influence performance of either team. If your presence can affect the outcome of the event, then you are in some way a part of the team dynamic, even if you are not a direct part.
The second mistake is in calling fans paid spectators. Paid spectators go to the opera, fans go to sporting events. Most people go to sporting events to watch their team and hopefully see them win. It is expected for you to cheer for your team of choice. That is your right as a fan otherwise you would be kindly asked to leave as you would if you cheered for the soprano while the alto was singing at the opera. However, as the movie Legend once said “Without darkness, there can be no light.” If we accept that fans have the right to cheer, then we must therefore accept that fans also have the right to boo, whether we agree with their reasons for booing or not. You can’t have one without the other.
And I will leave it up to you to decide if you want to attend, watch or listen to a game at Yankee Stadium that is played in complete silence. I know I don’t.
Gardner may not be looking great, but I have been impressed by his taking pitches. Seems to have a pretty good eye that I didnt notice last year, but his defense has also been pretty good and I hated to watch Damon in left the last couple years. Also notice Damon is off to a start that is very similar number wise to Gardner having a lower BA, very slightly higher OBP, same amount of RBIs. (Obviously its still very soon in the season, but still.)
previous comment directed to those still whining about not have Damon back because he wouldnt accept a reasonable offer.
Yesterday Yankee fans were the salt of the earth.
Today? Pond scum.
What a difference a day makes.
Erica – always OPPC – Sesame Street Mafia and GTLU supporter April 14th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
GreenBeret7 April 14th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Shhhhh!!! Do you want to get them started again? It’ll end up in a cat fight as to who’s cuter…Bert or Ernie.
*****************
Ernie is cuter, but Bert has the unibrow.
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Miss Piggy wouldn’t be at all bad, except for the stuffing surgery. I prefer my pigs to be naturally endowed. It just makes her look like…well…a pig.
Cano he didnt Don’t embarass yourself to compare Damon to Gardner. Gardner is a solid bench player, Damon has always been a far better than average everyday player who isn’t afraid of the spotlight. He’s older now but still a far better player than Gardner.
I think they did a great job with this ring it looks very sharp and it also looks like its not to big. Looks wearable.
The Gardner discussion is absurd for the simple reason that they really don’t have a better option. So it makes sense to go with the only LF who is under 33 that may actually get better.
ProFootballTalk
Dan Rooney says “no comment” on whether Steelers support Roethlisberger http://is.gd/btgYt #NFL
42 minutes ago via API
Erica, I see you took advantage of my dropping Bobby Jenks. So happy I mentioned it, duh!
Oh well, it’s in my nature to be helpful. I just don’t know if Darth Vader really needs any help!!!
trisha – OPPC member who sees, hears, and knows all. 28 is on its way!!!!! April 15th, 2010 at 12:21 am
Erica, I see you took advantage of my dropping Bobby Jenks. So happy I mentioned it, duh!
Oh well, it’s in my nature to be helpful. I just don’t know if Darth Vader really needs any help!!!
**************
Hahahaha. I totally didn’t even realize it. I was just looking for a replacement in my reserves for Mike Gonzalez and I saw two saves and said – “gee this looks good”. LOL. Now I know why the name sounded familiar
Anyway, it is sooooo past bedtime. Good night Yankee people
Cant wait to see my boy Phil Hughes pitch tomorrow. Can’t wait
Watching Javy throw that mediocre fastball and sloppy in-the-dirt curve makes me think the Yanks should have given the Jays whatever they wanted to get Halladay. Javy has Jeff Weaver written all over him.
Things will not end well for him in NY.
Yep, 2010 Hughes will be very interesting to watch.
bill April 15th, 2010 at 12:54 am
Watching Javy throw that mediocre fastball and sloppy in-the-dirt curve makes me think the Yanks should have given the Jays whatever they wanted to get Halladay. Javy has Jeff Weaver written all over him.
Things will not end well for him in NY.
**********************************
Bill, I would of love to seen halladay in the bronx but it wasn’t going to happen. Cashman was not going to give up a package of montero, hughes or joba, and a couple of prospects for him. Plus we have our halladay, his name is CC Sabathia.
At Dodger Stadium Justin Upton hit a solo shot bomb to dead center to give the d-backs the lead.
The man is going to be beastly good.
“First, you characterize fans as having a “misplaced need to believe themselves a part of the team dynamic”. That is in fact false.”
You misunderstood my point.
I’m not denying playing in front of a homecrowd is PART of the home advantage.
But consider when that advantage manifests itself? Is booing your own players EVER a part of THIS dynamic?
“The second mistake is in calling fans paid spectators. Paid spectators go to the opera, fans go to sporting events.”
Semantics, and self-serving ones.
“If we accept that fans have the right to cheer, then we must therefore accept that fans also have the right to boo, whether we agree with their reasons for booing or not.”
Why does a discussion always devolve to a defense of someone’s “right” to do something?
I don’t deny anyone’s “right” to boo, anymore than I’d argue to deny anyone’s right to do any number of dumb, immature, unproductive things.
In fact, I’d strenuously defend anyone’s RIGHT to boo.
The question is the mentality of it, which is what I’m addressing.
“You can’t have one without the other.”
Why can’t you? That implies cheering and booing aren’t choices, made individually of one another.
They are.
You CAN have one without the other.
And let’s be clear, I’m not talking about booing in general. Derek Jeter gets booed on the road as course, and I think he takes it in stride and I think opposing fans do it with a level of fun and respect.
I’m talking specifically about booing your own home players, particularly pitchers as they walk off the mound.
And let me be clear. I’m not suggesting that as fans you should always positively support your team’s players. I could give a crap about what makes a “good” fan.
I just find a mob (you can call them a “crowd” if you like), many of them fueled by alcohol, funneling their collective rage at a individual for not succeeding to be distasteful. I find nothing charming about it.
is Javier Vasquez going to try harder next time? Do we think he didn’t care he left with his team down 2 runs and he needed to be reminded of it?
“And I will leave it up to you to decide if you want to attend, watch or listen to a game at Yankee Stadium that is played in complete silence. I know I don’t.”
Entirely beside the point.
I’ve decided that I will not be attending any games this year in which Vazquez is pitching. I refuse to root for this loser who doesn’t know what it means to be a Yankee.
man, what a baby vasquez is. he’s “disappointed” about getting booed? don’t think it’s fair huh?
this dude doesn’t look to have very thick skin. he better wake up quick. he hasn’t done anything for the yankees yet. not when he played for them last, not yet this year. he hasn’t won crap.
he’s got time to prove himself, but honestly, i’m not surprised he already got booed. we traded some decent talent for one season of service for him (assuming he doesn’t re-sign) and the early returns are not good. 2 starts certainly doesn’t make a season, but he needs to ignore the boos and go out there and pitch well. that will make the boos go away.
The amount of idiocy on this site these days is unbearable.
Yankee fans have NO right to boo Javy Vazquez. All he did in 2004 was lead a horrendous pitching staff, pitching like an All-Star for the first three months of the season and in August and September pitching through significant shoulder troubles because he knew that there was literally no one else Cashman could turn to for the rotation. Vazquez is a good guy, a class act who pitched his ass off in 2004 and has put up remarkably consistent numbers over his career.
Grow up.
”The amount of idiocy on this site these days is unbearable.”
Agreed , it’s a little too early predict Javy’s demise.
We have to let 2004 go. BS happens .. its stings a little more because it was against the Red Sox ..
As Long as vasquez wears the pinstripes . . i’ll be rooting for him
Javy Vazquez has said all the right things when he was traded back here. I don’t think he did a particularly bad job yesterday, and I’m disappointed people booed him as he walked off the mound. He’s been a very effective pitcher since he left NY. I don’t think a person should have to suffer six years later for one pitch. Because that is what this comes down to. He had the nerve to serve up a pitch that Damon hit for a GS that took the WS away from Yankees fans. And, if fans have the “right” to boo him, he certainly has the “right” to be disappointed he got booed. I would be disappointed if I got booed, wouldn’t you?
Have you ever thought that perhaps the specter of 2004, and knowing how disappointed the fans were (and apparently still are) have put a bit of unnecessary pressure on Javy?
Anyway –
I’m excited to see Phil Hughes pitch tonight!
Funny how some fans will write off a guy who finished 4th in the NL cy young voting last year after 2 starts. If it helps any then see him for what he is, the #4 starter on the team.. Then you can be pleasantly surprised when he pitches better than that.
Also, there is a chance Hughes will struggle tonight. He’s had a long layoff and he’s facing a pesky lineup. We all hope he does great but just temper your expectations so hopefull the “Hughes sucks” comments will be limited.
Here’s the thing about 2004. For all the revisionists out there who boo Vazquez, do any of you remember the 3 previous games we lost to get to that point? How about the garbage stiff back starter who put us behind the 8 ball to start Game 7 and THEN loaded the bases for Vazquez/Damon? Pretending Javy was a principle reason for 2004 is nonsense.
The Yanks had lost that game without that that home run. They had plenty of opportunities to win the three games prior and didn’t do it. As Doreen said, it’s long past time to let it go…..either that or question the fandom that didn’t boo Mariano Rivera for giving up the home run to Sandy Alomar in 1997…..you know…before he became God.
Carlo is right. You bring a starter in with the bases loaded and then kill the guy 6 years later for not getting out of it. Its ridiculous really…
Blaming Vazquez for 04 is like the RS blaming Buckner for 86. There were many chances for either team to win besides the one game.
Kevin he didn’t say it was unfair to be booed. He said it was unfair to be booed over what happened 6 years ago.
Stuckey, people resort to defending their “right” to do something when they can’t really come up with a defense for doing it period.
Cashman knows its the fans’ right but he wasn’t shy about saying sometimes it was inappropriate. (From Ian O’Connor’s ESPN NY article)
“It’s always the fans’ right,” Brian Cashman said. “What they used to do to Alex Rodriguez was way out of line; it became the thing to do to boo Alex whenever he didn’t get a hit. Compared to that, what happened with Javy today was nothing.
Quantrill, Loaiza and Heridia are equally to blame for 2004 and that’s just the pitchers….or shock….Mariano Rivera in game 4. No sense in blaming Tony Clark or John Olerud, They left after the 2nd game.
Some of you people are making the mistake of assuming that fans are rational.
The only thing about Vazquez’s two starts that MAY BE a legitimate cause for concern, although certainly NOT a legitimate reason to boo him is, as Bob Klapisch pointed out, that his average FB velocity is down about about 1.5 mph from last year to this year. Actually, Kkapisch called it two, but it appears to be 1.6 (91.2 v. 89.6), and we don’t know what his average FB velo was in his first two starts of April 2009.
It could merely be a consequence of building up arm strength.
the yankees goal is to have players who separate themselves from the league.
vazquez as a fourth starter separates them from the league.
does he as a #1 or #2. probably not, but that’s not what his place on the team is.
does gardner as a left fielder and 9th hitter separate the yankees from the league?
probably not.
does he as a 4th outfielder and pinch runner and stolen base specialist ?
that’s more likely.
there are spots for players where they separate the yankees from the league.
those spots and slots are where the player should be playing and how he should be judged.
“Some of you people are making the mistake of assuming that fans are rational.”
More like mourning the fact that they aren’t rather than assuming that they are.
Blake, we’re going to see “Hughes sucks” in here – from the trolls and even from some regulars who wanted to see Joba win the job. We’ll see the media’s version of “Hughes sucks” tomorrow – in other words, they can’t say it like that, but they’ll babble on and on about his high ERA as a starter, etc.. It’s going to be unbearable if Phil doesn’t pitch at least decently. I wish he had never had that game in Baltimore last year because it completely skewed his #s. I also wish he’d never started in 2008; the #s obviously count against him, but he was hurt and it showed.
The thing I’m most concerned about for tonight’s game is command. You know Phil is going to be hyped up and, as a result, I think he’s going to be wild. I don’t think we should judge him on tonight’s performance – it’s been a very long time since he started a game.
Point taken, pat.
Randy, that makes sense. To be noted, the Yankees have always talked like Javy was their #4, but fans have talked like he’s going to leapfrog Andy and AJ and become the #2. If he pitches that well, I believe Javy would still be the #4 pitcher because I do not see the Yankees adjusting their rotation to account for this. Actually, given rainouts and days off, it really doesn’t matter who’s the #1, #2, etc…; it’s like the lineup when it turns over – there’s no real leadoff man after the first inning.
And I just realized “assuming” doesn’t get you caught in the filter anymore!
Betsy,
I’m excited to see Phil throw tonight but I’m cautiously optimistic about how he will do. As you said he’s probably going to be jazzed up for the start and that plus a long layoff can equal command issues. Hope not, but if he struggles with his command I won’t be surprised nor will I jump off the nearest bridge.
What does being a #4 starter mean at this point in the season? It’s not like he is pitching to a 4.75 or even a 5.00 ERA. He has been ineffective no matter how you view him. To me, it’s merely a sample size issue at this point.
As for Gardner, it’s too early to know for sure, but all the Yankees may have are 4th OF in LF, which they can live with, but it’s also why on a pitching-centered team, defense should be the priority there.
Blake, that’s how I feel. I also forsee doom and gloom if he’s not throwing 93 MPH, lol………..
Hey that’s great, now I don’t have to think up synonyms for assume becaused I assumed that I couldn’t say assume without getting filtered
Erica is going to swoon. Johnny damon now has 1,000 RBI after yesterday’s game.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....ng_he.html
Hughes said most of the details from his first attempt to stick as a big-league starting pitcher have devolved into a blur. Yet, he still remembers clearly the experience of making his last few starts with pain in his ribs, which he tried to conceal.
“I just remember thinking to myself, ‘I’ve just got to go as long as I can without saying something just because I’m pitching so horrible right now it’s going to look like I’m trying to make an excuse for myself,’ ” he said.
Hughes eventually went on the disabled list. He didn’t pitch in another big-league game until that September.
“It was definitely a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of wondering what I was doing here and stuff like that,” Hughes said. “I was so grateful for last season, to be able to get another opportunity, to go out and have some success.”
*******
Boy, I feel for Phil – and I’ll bet that what Phil felt then is what Javy felt in 2004. If only they had each said something…..but yet, I understand why they didn’t.
I’m very excited for Phil’s debut tonight – that said I’m hoping the fans don’t put too much pressure for him to be great out of the gate this season.
Hypothetical:
Carlos Beltran comes back mid-May; plays well but the Mets are out of it by the trade deadline.
Beltran to the Yankees for McAllister and Betances. Given Carlos’s contract and injury status I don’t think they could get more than a couple of B prospects.
A healthy Beltran is better than Crawford.
Would you do it?
Hint – I don’t believe there’s any wrong answer; both opinions have merit.
NOTE: THE YANKEES AND METS WOULD NEVER MAKE A DEAL FOR A PLAYER LIKE BELTRAN
Javy’s ‘struggles’ don’t worry me. I don’t think they’re any more an indication of how he’s going to perform this season than the fast starts of Jose Guillen or Vernon Wells are an indication of how well they’re going to perform this season.
LOL Madden: Vasquez can’t handle Pinstripes…………..nope, I didn’t read it, just saw it on the News website.
What makes you think that Beltran will be healthy or stay healthy. Please keep your imaginary trades quiet. We don’t want to see them be stolen.
The Yankees are not going to trade for an $18.5m contract without sending back a similar contract in a deal.
They are FAR more likely to need pitching than a bat.
Chip,
I don’t think the Yanks are trading for older oft injuries position players with big contracts anymore…and as you said the chances of a mets/Yankees deal are very low. Beltran hasn’t even started baseball activities yet…who knows what he will be this year.
GreenBeret7 April 15th, 2010 at 8:42 am
What makes you think that Beltran will be healthy or stay healthy. Please keep your imaginary trades quiet. We don’t want to see them be stolen.
—————————————————–
Are you senile or have you always been this big of a moron?
I only ask because I pretty plainly wrote “with Carlos’s contract and injury status I don’t think they could get more than a couple of B level prospects for him”
Obviously there is injury risk with Beltran – just as there is injury risk with every frickin player in baseball.
Just out of curiosity (legitimate curiosity) were you really a Green Beret or did you just pick that as your name for this because you thought it would earn you the respect of fellow bloggers?
As for Hughes, I hope he has a quick and easy 1st inning, and the Yankees score a few early runs so he can relax and just pitch.
Blake and Rich – I tend to agree with you on this.
The only caveat I would put in is this:
Would you rather have Beltran at 1 year $18 mil or Crawford for 5 years at $15 mil/year
Hughes will rule!
I hate to lose! Yesterdays lose was avoidable !
Chip,
Beltran’s contract runs through next year…I don’t see them trading him for B level prospects when they have this year and a contract year next year…and I don’t see the Yankees taking on that contract for a player that can’t stay healthy anymore.
Chip, after the one year of Beltran at 18 million, then what?
Blake -
Yeah I know. When I said that the Yankees would have Beltran for one year I meant next year.
As for his health – I fully accept that it’s a major question mark – I do though wonder how much of that has to do with the fact that the Mets seem to have incompetent medical personnel.
I’d rather the Yankees spend money on pitching.
What’s the point of spending 18 million on Beltan when he cannot stay healthy?
Swisher, by the way, still doesn?t know who put the fake ring in his box. Mariano Rivera finally gave him the real one, but the prankster is still a mystery. ?I need to do some undercover stuff and hire some people (to find out who did it),? Swisher said.
******************************
This is hilarious! I can just picture a Yankee version of The Usual Suspects.
blake April 15th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Chip, after the one year of Beltran at 18 million, then what?
———————————————————–
Slade Heathcott? Abe Almonte? Eduardo Nunez (if they ultimately move him out there which I think they will do)
Nate McLouth?
Oh, Chipper. That hurt. I only said it because we’d hate to see some other team steal you and your keen baseball intellect away from us.
Betsy -
I just finished reading Marc Carig’s feature story on Phil and was going to link it here for you. I see you’ve already read it!
Chip,
I agree on the Mets medical staff.. That whole organization is just a mess. Crawford just seems to fit better to me if Gardner doesn’t work out….from age to personality to work ethic..he just seems to be more the type of guy they are after these days.
GreenBeret7 April 15th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Oh, Chipper. That hurt. I only said it because we’d hate to see some other team steal you and your keen baseball intellect away from us.
——————————————–
Doesn’t really answer my question.
That’s alright though. I was always one to respect my elders and while I ultimately don’t know you and thus can’t respect you I certainly won’t mock a cranky old geezer like you.
Just do me a favor – if you’re ever sitting around and someone calls you towards the light – just go.
You are aware that McAllister is the next minor league starter to be called up if there is a need for one, right? And since Betances is still recovering from surgery and neither he nor Mcallister are B level prospects, would you share that pipe that you’re smoking?
The Yankees passed on Beltran a few years back when he was a free agent and I think they would do so again. Crawford is younger,healthier and a better player IMO.
These fantasy deals would go over well at Disney Land. They have a place for them…FantasyLand.
I agree on the Mets medical staff.. That whole organization is just a mess. Crawford just seems to fit better to me if Gardner doesn’t work out….from age to personality to work ethic..he just seems to be more the type of guy they are after these days.
I don’t disagree at all. Crawford is a natural LF (bringing in Beltran would mean moving either him or Granderson out of position) and a more dynamic #2 batter.
That said, I believe a healthy Beltran is a more complete player than Crawford and if nothing else would represent a solid fall-back option if for whatever reason Crawford isn’t available this winter.
I hope Hughes remembers to take his “moxie” pill before today’s game.
That way the Phickle Phinger of Phate can shine on him.
Fran, not only that, but another big contract center fielder is not a need. If NYY has a need right now, I’m not sure where it would be. I don’t see a problem in left when you have a center fielder with a corner outfielder’s bat and center fielder’s speed and glove.
GreenBeret7 April 15th, 2010 at 9:06 am
These fantasy deals would go over well at Disney Land. They have a place for them…FantasyLand.
———————————
Thanks for your opinion. You don’t like discussing Hypothetical trades there is a very easy answer…don’t weigh in.
Fran -
Yankees passed on Beltran because Cashman felt he could only afford either Beltran or Randy Johnson and went with the latter…I think we can all agree that it was a huge mistake.
MTU, Hughes will give the Angels and critics the finger tonight.
Simply put, I think it is a huge leap of faith to think that Beltran will remain healthy – he isn’t even finished rehabbing yet.
Doreen –
I agree – which is why I prefaced the hypothetical with Beltran returning and performing well for an extended period before the Yankees would even consider trading for him.
GreenBeret7 April 15th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Erica is going to swoon. Johnny damon now has 1,000 RBI after yesterday?s game.
*************
YAY for Johnny!!!! Congratulations
Doreen, lol – the first thing I did this morning was look for articles on Phil..
I think the Yankees internally need to temper their expectations. If Joel Sherman is to be believed, the Yankees secretly think of Phil as a # 3 in a #5 starter’s spot. He’s said this before and now again today. I think it’s possible Phil ends up that good by the end of this year, but if they are expecting him now to pitch like a #3, then that’s unfair to Phil because they’ll end up being disappointed if he pitches like a young #5
That was George’s decision, not Cash’s….
Anybody know if MLBnetwork will be using the YES feed tonight or if they will have their own announcers?
There are so many ridiculous views here (and in the seats of Yankee Stadium) that it boggles my mind. Did Javier have a good start yesterday? No, but he wasn’t so bad that he needed to get booed. He left after 5.1 innings of three-run ball with his runner on second (the 4th run credited to him). Considering that through the 5 innings, the Yankees had three hits (no walks) and one run on offense, I wouldn’t exactly say that Javier was the entire problem.
Blaming Javier for 2004 is such a joke. As someone stated earlier, he was great in the first half, and fought his way through the second half with an injured shoulder and pitched in game 7 because no one else was available. The entire Yankee team fell apart in games 4-7, yet it seems only ARod and Javier get blamed by fans.
For the Brett Gardner critics… can someone please show me where he is a terrible hitter? I am willing to accept major major league and minor league statistics to prove your point. When it turns out that there is no evidence that he can’t hit, can people stop railing against him?
He is 26 years old and has always shown the need for plate appearances to reach his abilities to get on base. Just like Teixeira, when he gets enough plate appearances, he will acclimate himself well.
Gardner has only had 457 plate appearances, and has a wRC+ of 93 which is slightly below average among all hitters. Given that he hits ninth in the order and plays fantastic defense, that is something that benefits any team in baseball. Plus, that offense includes many games where he came in as a replacement late in the game and his plate appearances were sporadic. 2009, where he got his most plate appearances, his wRC+ was 107 which is above average.
In fact, all of the projections at fangraphs had Gardner producing at average-to-a-above-average at the plate. He hits ninth, and is a great fielder. Please explain to me what makes him not an MLB-caliber hitter.
He is beginning to enter his prime years as a hitter, and this is the first season where he will get regular at bats every day… if he stinks all year, then maybe an opinion on his abilities at the plate will be warranted. Until then, comments against Gardner are pure drivel from spoiled fans.
You are aware that McAllister is the next minor league starter to be called up if there is a need for one, right? And since Betances is still recovering from surgery and neither he nor Mcallister are B level prospects, would you share that pipe that you’re smoking?
Actually based on performance I would say Ivan Nova would be the next minor league starter to be called up if there was the need for one.
Second – McAllister = Dan McCutchen. A solid RHP who will probably make it to the show but is likely a back of the rotation starter – of which the Yankees have a plethora of options.
I am aware Betances is still recovering from surgery.
A back of the rotation starter and a young, upside minor leaguer with injury issues are the definition of B level prospects.
GB-
“MTU, Hughes will give the Angels and critics the finger tonight.”
I think my expectations for Hughes are realistic, and so I’m not concerned.
I figure his season should resemble a “bell curve”.
Some great starts.
Some stinkers.
And most right in the middle.
He can Phlip the Angels the bird all he likes.
I hope he rocks their world.
blake April 15th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Anybody know if MLBnetwork will be using the YES feed tonight or if they will have their own announcers?
——————————–
Praying for the latter, assuming the former.
GB-
By the way, that was a pretty strange start for my man Z-Mac last night.
He didn’t last long but he showed a lot of grit.
Erica, that’s a pretty impressive total for a leadoff/#2 hitter with as few seasons as Damon and Jeter have. he’s closing in on some pretty significant milestones, like 1500 runs scored and 2500 hits. As long as he’s healthy, by the end of 2011, he’ll have his 500 doubles, 100 triples, 1700 runs scored, 400 steals, 1,000 walks and 2700 hits. His decision after that is playing long enough to get to 3000 and the HOF.
blake April 15th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Anybody know if MLBnetwork will be using the YES feed tonight or if they will have their own announcers?
************************
blake, my brother told me that on Tuesday afternoon they had the YES feed, so I’m assuming it would be the same tonight.
GB,
I don’t see any glaring needs for the Yankees right now either. I am ok with Gardner although as the season goes along, I am waiting to see how he performs.
GGBG is doing fine so far but he needs to bunt more.
A lot more.
blake,
The game is not on YES tonight. The game is on My9. Don’t know if that affects the MLB feed.
Quick Quiz-
Why is this date (one of the happiest of the year) significant in Yankee history???????
(No cheating!!!)
Hey Chippie,
How about a trade where yanks get Youkilis, Pedroia and Ortiz for Ace Aceves.
Just hypothetical huh, huh, huh.
Just want to talk trades with you ya know, ya know
GB7-
I would love to see him get 3,000. Not sure if its in the cards though. 2,500 would be wonderful though
Dellin Betances isn’t even throwing from a full mound yet. Why exactly would the Mets be interested in acquiring him and a back of the rotation guy (at best) for Beltran?
The Yankees aren’t taking on a huge salary for a guy who is injured a lot, let alone the fact they already have a CF in Granderson.
The problem with these imaginary trades is they make no sense. Its probably best to think them through before posting so it will save you getting upset when people pick them apart.
Slade? Abe Almonte? Have you ever even seen these guys play?
How do you project them to be anything at this point, let alone being close to the majors in another 2 years?
MTU, he pitched pretty well with some hitters like Mench in the line-up. He’s a contact pitcher that gets his strikeouts. He’s just turned 22 in December and Mench was the only one to hit anything hard. Just a lot out fouls and Nunez’ error really extended the first inning to 26 pitches. He wasn’t missing by much and averaged only 6 balls per inning. He did well in his 2nd start as well as his first start in AAA.
They didn’t pass on Beltran because of a Cashman call. They passed on Beltran because George Steinbrenner ordered Cash to get Randy Johnson and wasn’t going to commit anymore money to another high end player that off-season.
It was George’s call, not Cash’s on that trade. Cash wanted no part of Randy Johnson.
Fran, Gardner wouldn’t have been my first choice to keep in the Atlanta trade, but, he’s hardly embarrassed himself. I did notice that he hasn’t tried bunting after the first two games, which surprises me. Depending on the situation, I’d have him bunt once a game and hope he’s safe about 25% of the time.
New Post: Today in The Journal News
GB-
“he pitched pretty well with some hitters like Mench in the line-up. He’s a contact pitcher that gets his strikeouts. He’s just turned 22 in December and Mench was the only one to hit anything hard. Just a lot out fouls and Nunez’ error really extended the first inning to 26 pitches. He wasn’t missing by much and averaged only 6 balls per inning. He did well in his 2nd start as well as his first start in AAA.”
I’m sold on Z-Mac.
Love his C and C.
Nothing flashy.
Just solid.
He has a good baseball pedigree.
Looking forward to watching him really pull it together over his next few starts.
yea they used the Yes feed Tuesday. I was kinda hoping for Costas again but they may have just done that as a special for Yankees/Sox.
Funny thing about Javy and 2004. He didnt pitch well, but he at least got a win in the series. He had to play Kevin Browns Caddy who pitched a whopping 3 and 1 third innings in 2 starts. The whole team was to blame for 2004…hell, even Mo blew 2 saves.
new thread
Those same fans that rag on Javy Vasquez will love how he eats innings as the season moves along and keeps the bullpen from being overused.
Betsy -
I hope the Yankees mean “eventually” with Phil being a #3 in the #5 spot. He certainly has that potential. But I think somehow Hughes has the necessary maturity to deal with expectations. He’s crammed a lot into a few years, and done almost all his developing in the eyes of the public. Pitchers in other organizations (most other organizations) have the luxury of developing under the radar.
His success last season, even if it was out of the bullpen, has to have given him that last “oomph” to absolutely KNOW he can handle major league hitters.