Two decisions that mattered
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jul 02, 2010 
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Joe Girardi talked about two significant decisions that might have cost the Yankees this afternoon. I was pretty sure I already knew answer to the first question, but I was kind of surprised at the amount of detail with which he answered the second.
Top of the eighth, two outs, runners at the corners
Why not bring in Mariano Rivera to face Aaron Hill?
“I can’t keep getting him up and down because we’re going to hurt him,” Girardi said. “I have to be really careful when I do it. He also pitched yesterday… That’s not something where we can afford to push the envelope.”
Bottom of the sixth, not outs, runners at first and second
Why not have Francisco Cervelli bunt against Brett Cecil?
“You have a slow runner (Posada) at second,” Girardi said. “You have a lefty on the mound that’s falling off toward third base. It’s got to be a perfect bunt. Cervi’s got two hits off this guy. Lefties are hitting .180 (against him) and there’s a left-hander (on deck). The wind’s blowing in. A sac fly is going to be difficult.”
Associated Press photo of Joba Chamberlain after he allowed the tying run in the eighth.
I can’t say I disagree about Mo – he’s been used a lot lately and there is no more important arm on the team than his.
Its pretty rough when guys like AJ and Javy pitch well enough to win but can’t quite get there. Oh well.. in the words of Swish, “tomorrow’s a new day, boys!!”
Chamberlain looks like a fat toad.
Chad-
Please ask Girardi why he keeps Joba as his set-up man, and doesn’t give Robertson a chance, until Cashman can swing a deal for a reliable arm in the bullpen.
Pretty good answer on the Cervelli/bunt issue. Some rebuttals could be made, but it’s obvious he thought it out.
Joba blows
Robertson might be a better option, but I’m not sure that’s the case.
Robertson has pitched 28 times and allowed at least one run in eight games (28.57 percent of the time). He’s allowed more than one run six times (21.4 percent of the time).
Chamberlain has pitched 35 times and allowed at least one run in 10 games (28.57 percent of the time). He’s allowed more than one run five times (14.2 percent of the time).
Yea Girardi is right, they really can’t afford to push Rivera too often….especially at this time in the season. They have to get more consistent getting him the ball in the 9th…thats just the bottom line. Thats the biggest difference between this years team and the 2009 team right now IMO. I think the offense will hit at some point but they have to find a way to bridge the gap from the rotation and Mo.
Blake-
Time for a trade for an EIG.
@ Yankee Trader
Boy thats a ballsy question to ask especially after D-Robs performance today. 2 very hard hit balls that we were lucky to be caught in the 10th inning, and the 11th inning… well need I even say anything?
Robertson had nothing today. And what makes it worse if you have to bring in ChoP to bail him out. As bad as Joba has been, we still had a chance to win the game after he was done pitching.
I am confident in Girardi making the right decisions. The guys just aren’t executing. Its not on Joe, its on guys who are paid a ton of dough to execute.
Joba is our next Farnsworth – lots of talent, but no ability to execute consistently.
It’s more of going with a hot hand than one set guy.
Since the Memorial Day meltdown, Joba has been terrible. Robertson less so.
Instead of being wedded to one EIG, perhaps it’s better to do it ny committee until Cash finds an EIG at the deadline.
This much we know. Chamberlain clearly isn’t the answer as the EIG.
MTU,
Might be the only option….
“Time for a trade for an EIG”
Easier said than done. Competition for bullpen help will be fierce and likely result in teams overpaying for it. Still a month to see whether some of the SWB crowd may be able to fill some of the void, before pulling the trigger on a trade.
SJ,
totally agree.. The only label in that pen should belong to Mo. The others (Joba included) should be used however and whenever is best to get Rivera the ball until someone steps up and takes the setup job or until they trade for someone.
Blake-
I am not against bringing up some guys from the Minors to try out for BP jobs but not the EIG.
It’s a pity we lost Ace and that Mitre is hurt.
Anyone that gets one of those tryouts should be a strike thrower.
Too many walks by the relief core in general.
Z-Mac might be a good one to try as he generally had always been around the plate and has a good sinker.
Nova seemed to have some potential also.
Alby should probably get another chance too.
What do you think is going on with the offense ? Any changes there ?
You really can’t trade for an EIG.
The best you can do is take a chance on Kerry Wood’s salary or on Octavio Dotel from the Pirates and hope for the best.
But there are no lockdown 8th inning guys sitting there waiting to be plucked for Ramiro Pena and Kevin Russo plus cash.
If one of those type of guys are available, you will have to pay dearly for them.
G. Love-
We need a good one so let’s get one. We have plenty of trade chips.
When the timing is right let’s make a move.
MTU:
Who’s the guy? You want someone like Soria? If so, you’ll likely have to be prepared to bid a fond farewell to a Romine or someone of that ilk.
Billy-
There must be someone Cash can identify. He must find an EIG for us.
We need one and I do not see an internal candidate to fill the slot.
I want someone who throws strikes. Tired of all the walks.
I was at the game. Beautiful day. Ugly result.
I can’t really fault Joe with either decision. Mo can’t be the answer for every problem in the eighth inning.
The idea that I have is if the M’s would trade Brandon League, then we give up one big catching prospect and expand it to get Cliff Lee in the deal as well.
If the M’s love Romine or Montero and they have to be in the deal for Lee, then you force them to give us League to make the deal happen.
At that point, you see if you can beat the draft choice compensation picks in a trade for Javy from an NL team.
Otherwise, we’re stuck with 6 starters and you can’t put Hughes back in the pen.
I imagine teams like the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Reds, etc. would all have interest in a Javy Vasquez rental.
But I don’t give the M’s what they want for Lee unless I get League.
MTU:
Don’t disagree. Just sayin’ folks have to have a full appreciation of the whole supply and demand thing. A reliable EIG, if such an animal is available, will cost big time.
G Love:
Don’t know that League is anymore reliable than Joba, but your idea is interesting.
Billy-
If it does it does. Got to have a reliable one. It’s required.
Let Cash figure out the how.
And while we’re at it. We need a bat too.
It will happen. It needs to happen.
I have to laugh hysterically about this ‘EIG’ talk. You all think you’re experts but you nothing except for these dumb writers opinions. One, get a life. Two, come up with an original thought. Blowhards.
Girardi’s answer was short for “no real confidence in anyone at this moment”!
MTU,
I really think the offense will get it together and hit at some point. Maybe that’s just me and my blind faith but there are just too many good hitters in that lineup for them to struggle for too long. I would like to add another DH/bench bat at the deadline but the pen is my only big concern moving forward.
I’ll be interesting to see what Cash comes up with. I’m a big fan, but the Johnson, Chan Ho, Coke, deals have all gone bad….I miss Damon too.
Clowns, so whats your advice “expert”?
Know nothing. A great nickname for this group, the know nothings. LMAO
# clowns July 2nd, 2010 at 6:59 pm
I have to laugh hysterically about this ‘EIG’ talk. You all think you’re experts but you nothing except for these dumb writers opinions. One, get a life. Two, come up with an original thought. Blowhards.
—————–
I have to say, very appropriate name for a troll. Clown.
I just don’t see how a “bat” will cure Arod, Tex, Posada, Jeter, Granderson.
We have the “bats”.
“Instead of being wedded to one EIG, perhaps it’s better to do it by committee until Cash finds an EIG at the deadline. ”
Sj – So true. I’ve thought the same for a while. But I guess the questions are who is really an option there if no one has a stand out ‘hot hand’ at the moment? In the beginning of the year, Joba got the job because of injuries and basically being the only decent option.. but even now, I don’t know that there is a stand out candidate. Is there any arm in AAA that could work in the pen and maybe give us a lift? Or are we basically resigning ourselves to the fact that we’ll be looking elsewhere?
CS-
I never said anything about curing anything. Of course we need those guys to get it going but another bat would mitigate a small portion of the problem at least.
I’m sensing that people are upset.
Billy D,
League has 1.10 WHIP. He’s not closer material, but he’s a good setup arm.
I’m against trading for Lee because we don’t have the hole in our rotation right now, but if trading for him enabled us to get the bullpen help we need…then I’d be willing to trade top prospects.
I mean, you can try to trade for League straight up, but the M’s will ask for Romine and that will be that.
If they really covet one of our young catchers, there could be a way to expand the deal to get Lee and League.
You’d also be able to fill needs through a Javy trade in my opinion. While I hate to run him out of town again, I don’t think he’s in the Yankees long term plans.
Good one vblade. Your naame is as dopey as can be, at least mine directs itself at you, twit.
CS- the answer, don’t reference an 8th inning guy. EIG wow, pls tell me men still watch baseball. Either you middle relief or you don’t.
Kay stinks. We r Missing damon and matsui. Offense blows
MTU, I understand. Wasn’t arguing with you, just venting frustration!
Phelps is off to a bit a of rocky start at Scranton.
# Nick in SF July 2nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm
I’m sensing that people are upset.
======================
Not funny.
Joba and offense should apologize.
The offense won’t be this bad for long. Once it reverts to the career norm, the margin of error will increase.
But get Park off this roster.
A lot of bed-wetters in here!
And btw, trading Montero for Lee is kooky talk.
Cashman should have left last year’s team in tact. This team is too inconsistent offensively.
It’s not like Matsui:
.256 .333 .417 .751
or Damon:
.268 .362 .391 .753
are hitting particularly well.
I’m really, really glad I was out for today’s game and couldn’t watch. Just awful.
Some observations:
1. Right now this is not a playoff team. As Betsy pointed out in their last 51 games they are 3 games above .500. Hitting .245 is also not getting it done.
2. As SJ44 points out very simply:
“Let’s face it, if Jeter, Arod, Tex, Posada and Granderson don’t hit, I don’t care what Cashman does at the deadline, they are in trouble.
Its half the lineup that isn’t hitting. Its not just 1 or 2 guys.
When that happens, and you have this many unmoveable contracts, its tough to fix.”
Tex hitting the way he is means big trouble, maybe for another 6 years. Alex is not Alex, whether it is the hip or age or some combination of both. Jeter is not the Jeter of last year. It may well be injuries with Jeter as he insists on playing through them.
The SP is fine. It has been great in fact. I think the league has adjusted to Hughes and now he needs to make some adjustments.
The bullpen is a heap of trouble. Mo is great. Beyond that we have everyone struggling. When I saw Robertson in the 10th today I thought there’s the 8th inning guy. Then came the 11th and I was not so sure anymore. In any event I’d like to see Robertson given a chance in that role.
Who’s have ever thought that we’d be anxiously awaiting the return of Mitre.
Finally do not trade for or sign pitchers from the NL. Beware of hitters from the NL. The two leagues at this point are not comparable and have not been for several years.
“Tex hitting the way he is means big trouble, maybe for another 6 years”
RUFKM? Because Teix is slumping for a few months, you think it’s reasonable to worry about the next six years? That’s freakin’ nuts.
Markakis just donged. Is it too much to ask the O’s to bail us out?
“1. Right now this is not a playoff team.”
@Comet
Are you insane? The team that in first place in the toughest division in baseball with the best record in baseball and the best run differential in baseball is not a playoff team? You have no idea what you’re talking about. You should be barred from writing baseball analysis. Your opinion has negative value.
Feeling the pressure, mick?
La di da, la di da…
The Yanks will be fine, there in 1st place…
Maybe when they’re 1/2 game out people will panic.
I am far from panicking but la di da don’t cut it, it’s the other extreme.
Those same people will finally wake up if disaster strikes.
They live to say I told you so.
So really the “naysayers” are somewhere in between the bridgejumpers and the complacent.
They are the realists.
King of the one-liners hasn’t been too funny lately.
Are you a Yankee fan?
Yankees Interested In Ty Wigginton
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....inton.html
This team is not ready for the playoffs. We need a relief pitcher and another bat.
The pressure?
If you get upset with aspects of your team’s play….stay cool.
Wouldn’t want to see you sweat.
I get just as down when they lose as I do up when they win.
Most Yankee fans are like that.
The complacent ones are not true fans.
mick, no offense, but the question is pretty stupid.
Stupid might be the wrong word.
LOL, the Tigers already have 4 runs in 3 innings against the Mariners who just left town after taking the Yankee series.
There is nothing wrong with getting upset when the team loses. The problem is when people are ready to jump off of the Brooklyn Bridge about it. It’s no longer early, but it’s not late either. There is time to get things together. They need to start hitting the ball. Plain and simple.
“This team is not ready for the playoffs. We need a relief pitcher and another bat.”
It’s July 1st. Oh, and which team scares you in the playoffs? The Red Sox? The Rays? People here can focus all they want on the Yankees flaws, but the big picture is that other teams are equally if not more flawed.
So if Cash makes a few trades is he jumping off a bridge?
How long do you wait for hitters to hit and the bullpen to pitch?
What is the cutoff point?
By some fans accounts, no moves should be made, it will work out.
How can they be so sure?
If anybody’s really worried about the Yankees, the movie “Wall Street” is on CNBC right now.
Look for the scene when Charlie Sheen’s character gets arrested. The answers to all the Yankees problems can be found within that scene.
This team , as it stands, could be knocked off in a short series, with the bullpen it has and the hitting it hasn’t had.
The starting pitching has carried us.
If one of our competitors gets Lee that would also hurt.
Mick, u need a box of tissue?
Any team can be knocked off in a short series. The pen will be improved by the starter that isn’t in the playoff rotation.
Again, as has been mentioned, unless Alex, Teix, and Jeter hit, nothing matters.
Plus, the need to smell the coffee with Park.
The Mets signed Bruney. Him and K-Rod can locker next to each other now.
ich in NJ July 2nd, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Any team can be knocked off in a short series. The pen will be improved by the starter that isn’t in the playoff rotation.
========================
Javy in the bullpen?
Maybe Hughes would help.
After ths pen loss, looks like Mariano will get his big fat contract, unless Cashman wants a nightmare without him!! I’ve never seen a Yankees pen so shaky.
This is a team built to win now….we have Mariano Rivera, the best closer in the history of baseball pitching as good as he ever has…that is an advantage that has won us 5 World Series…we need to milk that for all we can…are you listening Cashman b/c there will be a day that we won’t have Rivera and winning will be tougher so make some trades for a bat that can invigorate the line-up, like it did with Bobby Abreu in 2006…..when we got Abreu, the offense just clicked and I know our offense is inconsistent and terrible right now and has been for alot for the season…just look at the pitchers who have shut us down, they get lit-up before or after they face us but shut us down and I’m sorry I can’t attribute that all to being fired up for playing the Yankees…the time to act is now Cashman, maybe go get Adam Dunn to DH and trade Joba and Montero to the Royals for Dejesus and Soria…Royals can use Joba as a starter and he will do good there, closer to his Nebraska roots and Soria can learn from Mariano and be a great set-up guy….reports from scouts on Dejesus is that he is better than Damon and Granderson…..losing Montero hurts but Soria is a good and won’t come cheap….and Romine will be the future catcher…..now your job is easy Cashman, get it done!!!!!
Yes, mick, although there is no way the pen will be constituted as it is now by Aug. 1st
Mo said he’s willing to go year to year. I wish Jeter would be as well.
This is not the same Jeter that I know.
He hasn’t been himself.
The same with Tex and to some extent Alex.
These do not look like slumps.
This team was winning at the beginning of the year so what has changed?
I doubt in a matter of a month or so age caught up with the whole team.
The mets were struggling & made a few simple moves that turned their season around.I know they are not great but add a lee & they can go far.
They brought davis up
yanked maine & perez out of the rotation.
I would bring albaladejo up first before i spend money on a setup man,he has been lights out.
Trade for a big bat dh like dunn to make the lineup circular at least on paper.
Bullpens usually get fixed from within by rotating arms til you find a gem instead of full steam ahead with the arms now who are not getting it done.
I can tell you one thing though,a catcher is becoming a huge priority,as soon as one of romine/montero is ready they are up.
If one was ready now posada should be the ft dh so we would not have to trade for one.
This offense is screaming for help & cash should get a bat,the pitching should be ok & we will find a pen arm from within,i try alby tomorrow.
Park has to go. This will be another admission of guilt from Cashman along with Winn, Thames and Logan.
Gaudin must go. That would clear room for callups and give them a few weeks of exposure before the deadline.
I could see a blockbuster involving Granderson and Joba.
NEW THREAD========>>>>>>>>
Park can’t pitch, Yanks can’t hit, Joba could be just another Indian with a firewater problem.
How do you keep Park over Logan?