HOPE Week returns to the Bronx
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 10, 2010 
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Because a lot of this year’s HOPE Week events are surprises for the individuals and groups involved, most of the day-to-day details are not yet available to the public. This is the latest press release from the team announcing the return of HOPE Week. A few additional details have been given to the media for planning purposes, and it honestly sounds like an amazing series of events for some very deserving people.
The New York Yankees are proud to announce details regarding their 2010 HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere & Excel), a unique week-long community program that will bring to light five remarkable stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities.
Initiated in 2009, HOPE Week is rooted in the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.
Each day from Monday, August 16, through Friday, August 20, the Yankees will reach out to an individual, family or organization worthy of recognition and support. Though each day’s celebration will culminate at Yankee Stadium, outreach will often take place away from the Stadium, allowing the Yankees to personally connect with individuals and highlight their success.
A unique aspect of HOPE Week is that every player on the roster, as well as Manager Joe Girardi and his coaching staff, will participate in the outreach for the five events.
Equally significant during HOPE Week is gaining publicity for the highlighted causes and organizations. The greatest challenge facing many not-for-profits is generating interest, awareness and funding for their missions.
Last year’s HOPE Week introduced fans to community heroes Marco and Jen Chiappetta and their Patchwork of Young Leaders Society. Yankees players and Girardi joined them in their home to take part in their mentoring program. The Yankees also encountered Tom Ellenson, Ranjit Seal and Melvin Williams, each of whom have overcome disabilities and serve as inspirational members of society. In addition, the organization held an anniversary celebration for George Murray, his wife, Kim, and their 4-year-old son, Trason. Murray had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and succumbed to the disease a couple of weeks after his Stadium visit. The club also hosted an overnight carnival for Camp Sundown participants, who suffer from a rare genetic disorder that does not allow them exposure to UV light.
The Yankees community initiative was recognized at the 11th Annual National Sportsmanship Awards in St. Louis in November 2009, honoring their work with Camp Sundown. Additionally, President Barack Obama officially announced the return of HOPE Week in 2010 during an April 26 White House ceremony celebrating the team’s 2009 World Series championship.
HOPE Week events and individuals will be introduced via a series of press releases prior to each day’s events. The Yankees thank DKNY, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Flyte Tyme Worldwide Transportation, Hard Rock Cafe, Kunath Signs, Legends Hospitality Management, Majestic, Modell’s, New Era, New Jersey Transit, New York City MTA, New York Stock Exchange, Nike, NYPD, Party City, Turkey Hill and Utz for their upcoming HOPE Week generosity.
Great news
# West Coast Yankee Fan August 10th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
The Yankees are valued at almost $2 billion dollars. They spent $2.8 million on their entire bench this year. I understand budget constraints, but there isn’t much substantive difference between $210 million and $220 million for a team like the Yankees. The new stadium is a cash cow, along with YES, the stadium operations company they have with Jerry Jones, merchandise revenue, foreign revenue and much more.
————
No matter how much money they rake in, we have no right to complain about payroll when we aren’t the people writing the checks or paying the bills.
It’s very easy to spend someone else’s money. If Hal wants to keep the payroll around $200M and not a penny over, we have no right to tell him he’s wrong.
HOPE Week is pretty awesome
Awesome. I love HOPE week.
Erin-
Hahaha. If you rearrange our words I think we both just said the same thing
YAY
Purely by coincidence, the game we are attending this year is the last night of HOPE week.
The Other Phil
enjoyed your post…I really liked Sui, Johnny and Melky, but it is time to move on and support our new guys.
Erica in NY August 10th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Erin-
Hahaha. If you rearrange our words I think we both just said the same thing
*************************
LOL I just noticed that too. Great minds think alike.
the E&E twins strike again
GF: Well said. With some of the comments since yesterday’s game (trade/dump Granderson, sign Lee and Crawford, etc.), it’s pretty ridiculous that some fans think the team can “just go get” X player(s).
I can see why fans of other teams think that Yankees fans are spoiled.
Great news about HOPE week.
This is going to be a fun series against the Rangers. Tough pitching matchups that could go either way. They better at least take 1 from Texas because I’m going to the Yanks-Royals games. I’m pretty sure my Yankee game record of attending in person is like 1-12. I was at all 3 games they lost in Chicago last year. I didn’t attend the Sunday game and bam they win. My apologies ahead of time everybody.
YankeeBlue222 August 10th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
jacksquat August 10th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
It seems some people won’t be happy until there is an All-Star at every position and every spot in the lineup. That’s not happening.
********
I don’t think that is the issue. I think it’s that we gave up a top prospect and a serviceable LHP reliever for someone who makes twice as much money than his replacement (Melky) for the same (if not worse) production.
I guess the numbers show that Granderson was a slight upgrade over Melky.
.240/.307/.417/.724 vs. .270/.331/.378/.709
I don’t believe the Yankees would have ever gone into the season with both Melky and Gardy in the starting lineup though.
The Yankees were surely hoping for more power from Granderson to date. He was supposed to produce like a corner outfielder. Time for him to sit against any lefty he has not hit against in the past.
I know the same can be said for ARod’s power, but he’s got nearly 90rbis.
Yes, Jeter has also fallen off, but he’s still better than just about every other SS in the American league.
Jeter isn’t being paid to be just about better. Goes for A-Rod too.
YankeesWFAN If you’re weatherman in Dallas, good time for vacation. Its 100 and sunny every day. Who needs ya?
Patrick:
Absolutely. Most of the entire lineup has been inconsistent. It’s easy to pick on CS (and deservedly so), but nearly everyone has been up and down, outside Swish, Robbie and until recently, Gardner.
The risk you run with prospects is whether they will actually produce at the next level. So far, AJax has been doing a good job in Detroit. But it is Detroit, the AL-C, a weaker division than the AL-E. I think he’ll end up being a good player, but I hope that Granderson turns it around and will be the better of the two.
Melky is what he is. He’s hitting .270 in the NL-E. He’s an average fielder with a good arm, a little pop in his bat and that’s about it. I’m not going to miss him.
GF-
I responded to you in the previous thread.
The Other Phil August 10th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
GF: Well said. With some of the comments since yesterday’s game (trade/dump Granderson, sign Lee and Crawford, etc.), it’s pretty ridiculous that some fans think the team can “just go get” X player(s).
I can see why fans of other teams think that Yankees fans are spoiled.
=================================================================
We are spoiled fans. The Boss would have it no other way.
The 2010 Yankee are a vary good team. The 2009 Yankees proved to be great. Let see if the 2010 team can prove to be great.
Lee will likely be a Yankee in 2011. Crawford? not likely.
We’re hitting the 2/3 marker of the season….Curtis will come out of his funk and put it together for the stretch run……He’s just too good a player to just disappear
# Carl August 10th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Jeter isn’t being paid to be just about better. Goes for A-Rod too.
=======
What do comments like these mean? Really, I’d love to hear your reasoning.
If they were being paid league minimum, then it would be okay for Alex’s power to drop off while still driving in runs?
HOPE week = good karma
major kudos to Jason Zillo
Yankee fans still marvel about how the White Sox could have traded Nick Swisher for nothing.
Curtis Granderson so far is having a season very similar to the kind of season Swisher had in 2008.
It’s easy to be on the winning end of a deal for a player who comes off the worst year of his career. Much, much more difficult to live through that horrible season as it happens.
The White Sox traded Swisher for reasons very similar to the reasons people are coming up with to dump Granderson in the off season.
Hope Week is awesome.
Betsy, not sure what you were trying to say in the last thread. What is Gardner’s fault? It is unfair that BG’s struggles have shined the light on CG. But CG got a pass most of the season thanks to BG’s season up to the ASB.
RiverAveBlues I feel bad for CMW. RT @bkabak: Nats manager doesn?t think Wang will pitch this year. http://bit.ly/cGvsso
# The Other Phil August 10th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
# Carl August 10th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Jeter isn’t being paid to be just about better. Goes for A-Rod too.
=======
What do comments like these mean? Really, I’d love to hear your reasoning.
If they were being paid league minimum, then it would be okay for Alex’s power to drop off while still driving in runs?
What do you think it means? If A-Rod was making the league Minimum, he would be replaceable. A-Rod is making 27.5 million to be one of the best players in the league. He’s not even the 3rd best player on his team. Same with Jeter.
the Yanks brought in former paratrooper George Murray last summer. He was stricken w/ALS, but at least for one day it didn’t seem to matter:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
he had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
he died two weeks later.
We are spoiled fans. The Boss would have it no other way.
The 2010 Yankee are a vary good team. The 2009 Yankees proved to be great. Let see if the 2010 team can prove to be great.
Lee will likely be a Yankee in 2011. Crawford? not likely.
===========
I understand what you mean, but I guess I should have clarified that some fans think Yankees fans are spoiled brats. The Boss wanted to win, no doubt and I loved him as an owner for that. But I also hated his meddling and the “X player isn’t producing! Dump him and get me Y player!” mentality, which some fans have adopted. It takes time for some players to adjust, whether it is to a new team or coming up to the bigs. I think they should be given that time to adjust. I also think that sometimes, players just have bad years. It happens. But Granderson is too talented to be this bad. I refuse to believe that. Look at Swish’s year with CWS. Look at Brosius’ last year w OAK before joining the Yanks.
I agree that Lee will most likely be a Yankee next year. But if it doesn’t happen and he goes somewhere else for more money, you know there will be comments here saying “they should have given him $30m/year! Whatever it takes!!! ARGHH!!!” I don’t subscribe to that thinking.
# Carl August 10th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
What do you think it means? If A-Rod was making the league Minimum, he would be replaceable. A-Rod is making 27.5 million to be one of the best players in the league. He’s not even the 3rd best player on his team. Same with Jeter.
===
So, what, you think they aren’t trying to be better? You think they’re dogging it, sitting on their big fat contract? How much they make has nothing to do with it, so bringing up their salary is irrelevant and ill-informed.
MTU,
Very sorry to hear about the accident but it sounds like things are looking better now.
I can attest to a grueling rehab. It was not fun and I had to learn how to walk again after being bedridden for so long.
I’m still a young guy (36) and age really does make a big difference in recovery/healing time.
People never know what they are capable of doing until they are staring death in the face. At this point, I’ve gotten used to the intensive therapy that I’m continuing to progress on my own now that it is over.
I’m roughly 90-95% of what I was before it all started last Oct. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to battle through it.
“# Erin August 10th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
YankeesWFAN If you’re weatherman in Dallas, good time for vacation. Its 100 and sunny every day. Who needs ya?
”
ha ha
Watching Montero’s walk off shot from last night it was difficult not to think of Alex Rodriguez.
A right handed hitter with that kind of power at that age is really hard to get over.
The yankees have arguably the top 20 year old player in the minors and also arguably the top 17 year old player in the minors (at least in the top 2).
That’s quite a statement for this organization and how far it’s come.
is there a link for Montero’s shot?
GF-
Thank you for your kind words. Your recovery sounds almost complete.
Your struggles were indeed great. Glad you found the strength as the alternative was not very good.
In my case, the person is more than twice your age so you can imagine, or maybe can’t, the enormity of their challenge.
They are tough as nails and blessed with great will.
And it is my fervent hope that coupled with the enduring love of family will lead to a positive outcome and help carry them through.
We will be there every step of the way, so to speak.
Hope your travels are now filled with better things.
# hardwired7 August 10th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
is there a link for Montero’s shot?
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....#038;_mp=1
ty, Carl.
what a beast.
BloggingBombers Gotta love Texas in August
http://tweetphoto.com/38104076
CB August 10th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Watching Montero’s walk off shot from last night it was difficult not to think of Alex Rodriguez.
A right handed hitter with that kind of power at that age is really hard to get over.
The yankees have arguably the top 20 year old player in the minors and also arguably the top 17 year old player in the minors (at least in the top 2).
That’s quite a statement for this organization and how far it’s come.
———————————————————————————————————————-
CB, His home runs follow the same track as his hits….just about an even split between all five areas Right, center, lefy and both gaps. The only way they can pitch him is by how they pitch to him. Pitch him inside and force him to pull orpitch him outside and force him to hit to right field. Their problem is that he hits them off or over the walls. Very much like Rodriguez. He’s as solid a hitter as there is. He doesn’t walk as much as people want, but, he doesn’t strike out a lot, either. At times, he reminds me of Frank Thomas. Vicious line drives everywhere and strong as an ox. He’s not quite that stiff on defense as people make him out to be. Just rough around the edges.
“Curtis Granderson so far is having a season very similar to the kind of season Swisher had in 2008″
Like I said the other day, if people are hellbent on trading him at the end of the year, they’ll be looking at a Marquez/Betemit-like package in return. When it’s all said and done, the White Sox ended up moving a pretty good young lefthanded pitcher in Gio Gonzalez and solid but unspectacular everyday outfielder in Ryan Sweeney (what they sent to Oakland for Swisher) and ended up with Marquez and Betemit. I don’t think Yankees fans want to wake up one day this winter and realize they traded Jackson, Kennedy and Coke for a utility infielder and a 4A pitcher.
This is Montero’s Saturday night homer. Watch how easy the swing was and how fast it left.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....#038;_mp=1
RiverAveBlues Random Fact of the Day: Phil Hughes has given up one unearned run all season. #fb
The Boss was a great owner and did what he thought was necessary to win. He was a dictator that sometimes pushed the right buttons, sometimes not.
I believe that the formula that Hal and Cash are using will work even better. The Yankees are now set up to succeed using the revenue to create a strong farm system as well as being able to buy any free agent the desire. We are about to be spoiled even more as Yankee fans. This team could win 1/3 of the championships in the foreseeable future; far beyond the days of Jeter, Posada, Mo, Andy, or ARod.
Back to Granderson, he will sit against lefties more often than not going forward in 2010. Cash brought in Kearns for this reason. In the off season Granderson will undergo a Swish like transformation and be back to an everyday player in 2011.
thanks Carl and GB for the video
My pleasure, Kate
np
Yankees should encourage Alex to be to Jesus what Edgar was to Alex.
A physically capable body + high baseball IQ is a very valuable combination.
The Other Phil …I add you to my “small” list of favorite posters (CB, Doreen) who post intelligently with no malice. I totally agree with all you posted here today and with the way
it was posted. Thanks !!!
Here’s to a great road trip for the Yanks….I’ll be at the Stadium on Monday for the return of Johnny D and the beginning of Hope Week (one of the best things the Yankees have ever done). Can’t wait !!!
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Those HRs looked too easy.
Check his bat.
j/k
pat, I think that Montero will end up with two mentors in Rodriguez and Posada. Posada spent hours with him this past spring down in the bullpen. Can’t think of two better mentors than that. The final polish comes from Long and Tony Pena.
Yanksgal07:
Thanks. There’s a lot of reactionary posting that happens here, both in the sense of “go get/get rid of X” and “spend spend spend! It doesn’t matter how much!”
As a longtime Yankees fan, I’m all for the team putting the funds back into the team, but even the Yankees have a limit, whether some fans like it or not. I’m also not one to give up on a player because of one bad year. Maybe I was in the minority, but I didn’t want them to get rid of Javy the last go around. There were people here that wanted to dump Robbie a few years ago for the terrible plate discipline he had. We see how that worked out.
There’s a lot of great discussion here and I’m glad to be a part of this community. My opinion is my own and I have no problem if someone wants to contradict me, but the bridge jumper posts are the ones that I find rather ridiculous.
Yanksgal07 August 10th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
The Other Phil ?I add you to my ?small? list of favorite posters (CB, Doreen) who post intelligently with no malice. I totally agree with all you posted here today and with the way
it was posted. Thanks !!!
Here?s to a great road trip for the Yanks?.I?ll be at the Stadium on Monday for the return of Johnny D and the beginning of Hope Week (one of the best things the Yankees have ever done). Can?t wait !!!
***************
Please tell Johnny I love him.
Thanks
MTU,
Good luck with your health issues. I just got back from RMNP where we did a good bit of hiking. My goodness, it is amazing. We overlooked snow capped mountains from the cabin. I will send you some photos as soon as this work I am supposed to do now is taken care of. All in all I much prefer vacationing.
Let me let everyone know it is very hot here in Texas for today’s game, especially after returning from Colorado.
Did you guys see this video of this kid bailing on his girl when a fly ball comes their way? The announcers are pretty funny. Hat tip to RAB
http://deadspin.com/5609094/ch.....eadspin%29
New series tonight vs the rangers.
Team is going up against a couple of tough lefties.
From all accounts, Posada is very helpful to the upcoming catchers…as is Mo to pitchers, even pitchers on other teams…and I remember stories about Robbie and Melky tagging after A-rod. Contrast that w/ Brett Favre, who reportedly has not been helpful to young quarterbacks. This is an aspect of Posada, and the Yankees in general, that gets overlooked.
I’m guessing that guy won’t be seeing home plate for a while.
have a cigar August 10th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I’m guessing that guy won’t be seeing home plate for a while.
—————
nicely done
Other phil, news flash, when “team x” can offer more mopney in free agency than any other team, they can sign “player x” and “player y” both if “team x” chooses to do so. It’s economics, it has nothing to do with “spoiled fans”.
Phil…
I felt exactly the same way about Javy. I felt he was put in a position to fail when Joe T. bought him into that game with the bases loaded against Damon especially with his propensity to give up homers. I always liked Javy and I’m happy he turned it around after the start he had to the season. I’m not saying he’s CC but he’s done very well for the team. He’s lost quite a few games with no help from the offense but he’s held his own.
I love reading this blog too (not so much at game time tho’…even with the registration). I do like many of the posters but I admire those who can do it rationally without nastiness toward others (which I realize can be hard after reading some of the nutty comments that are made). The people who worry over every start and call the team or certain players failures after a loss are the posters who I don’t hold into high esteem. Arm chair managers who think they know better than the professionals being paid to run the team.
I’m happy the Yankees try to keep the team competitive every year. You win some years, you lose some years but you can’t say they don’t try. I’ve been a fan for over 45 years and I know what losing is …I lived through it (late 60′s, early 70′s and the 80′s). No matter what …win or lose…I’ll always love my Yanks. Thankfully they have been a lot easier to love since ’96 ..haha.
Anyway ….keep posting as I definitely will keep reading.
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
Austin-
Kind sentiments appreciated. It is a loved one and not me.
Glad you made it back from RMNP in one piece. I kept thinking of “Cliffhanger” and didn’t want to have to send out a search party to rescue you.
Looking forward to seeing your photos.
I posted some in the previous thread that you may have seen ?
Anyway, hope you had a great time.
From the cool back to the heat of the jungle.
It ain’t easy.
Erica …I will pass it along. I’ll give him a big hug and kiss for you too …;)
GB
The youth re-invigorates the vets as well and pushes them. Win/win.
Speaking of youth, how are the dynamic duo doing?
From the last thread thanks to all the well-wishers- much appreciated.
MT, I’m at Duke majoring in public policy. Between the Yankees, Saints (I’m actually a lifelong fan) and Blue Devils last year I may have had the most fortunate year a sports fan has ever had
pat August 10th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
GB
The youth re-invigorates the vets as well and pushes them. Win/win.
Speaking of youth, how are the dynamic duo doing?
———————————————————————————————————————-
They’re the secret formila for tiring “Killer” out. He still climbs into the playpen and sleeps with them. they usually sleep on top of him.
Yankksgal07,
I too have been a fan for a long time and remember the days when I longed for a .500 record. I appreciate a winning team now, but it isn’t our birthright. Teams and players have good years and bad. Teams and players often have good days and bad. Baseball is very difficult at this level. The worst player in the majors is an amazing player.
I get frustrated when players are said not to try or not to care. Ridiculous. They care and they try or they would have fallen by the wayside long before reaching the majors. Booing a player for a bad pitch, bad game, bad at-bat or a bad month is silly. Are their people who really believe that helps? If a fan wants to help, support the team and players as they, like the rest of humanity, can use support at the hard times.
I shall down descend from my soap box.
GB, what would your top 10 prospect list roughly look like if we speed ahead to the offseason? Just for kicks I’d say mine would look like this:
1- Jesus Montero, C
2- Dellin Betances, SP
3- Gary Sanchez, C
4- Andrew Brackman, SP
5- Austin Romine, C
6- Jose Ramirez, SP
7- Brandon Laird, 3B
8- Slade Heathcott, CF
9- Eduardo Nunez, SS
10- Graham Stoneburner, SP
G-C
You’re quite welcome. All the best to you and yours.
Good luck with your studies and thanks for satisfying my curiosity.
I enjoy your posts especially those attempting to support JC.
We have been allies in that regard.
Yanksgal07 August 10th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Erica ?I will pass it along. I?ll give him a big hug and kiss for you too ?;)
************
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I really hope Johnny gets a big ovation. He deserves it
My lineup entry:
SS Jeter
RF Swisher
3B Arod
2B Cano
DH Thames
1B Berkman
LF Kearns
C Cervelli
CF Gardner
We certainly have!
Speaking of the devil, I believe he’s now thrown 7 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
On one hand, its a great sign. On the other hand, I can’t tell you he’s looked markedly different in those outings then he had in a previous handful when he’d given up runs. It almost seems like a case example of BABIP in the works. Joba had been bad, but not quite as bad as his stats appeared on the surface.
If he can continue to attack the zone and throw his slider for strikes, he’s honestly good enough to not give up more than a handful of runs for the rest of the year. If his focus wanes, however, he could end up blowing his ERA back up to 6.00 and not having any chance of salvaging something out of this season. Its very delicate with him.
MTU,
I did see and enjoy your photos. It made me sigh for some more of the mountains.
I didn’t see your original post about family health trouble. It sounds as things are improving. Thank goodness.
I would like the world to see me as climbing up the side of a mountain, but it is more like panting as I walk another switchback. I would recommend it to everyone as the mountains make the rest of the world seem bigger and my problems smaller.
MT, we certainly have been!
Speaking of the devil, 7 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings and counting.
After tossing six innings yesterday afternoon against the Red Sox, Phil Hughes had accrued 128.2 innings on the season in 21 starts. He’s averaging just over six innings per outing, and as his current pace, as ESPN’s Ian Begley noted, he’ll reach his soft innings limit of 175 at around September 18 in Baltimore with two weeks of the regular season and the October slate remaining. The Yankees will have to be creative to get the most out of the right-hander who has emerged as the team’s third best starter.
Already this year, we’ve seen how the Yankees plan to get the most out of Hughes. They’ve skipped his starts twice but with less than stellar rests. On four or five days’ rest, Hughes is 12-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 113 IP. In just three starts following six or more days of rest, Hughes is 1-2 with an 8.04 ERA, and in those 15.2 innings, batters are hitting .367/.451/.650. Notwithstanding the small sample size, those results are like night and day.
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....ngs-33541/
Austin-
Good. I’m glad you did.
They are definitely improving. Thanks.
You are preaching to the choir on the last part of your post.
It is why I try to share what little I can by posting the photos here.
I had a trip to the Sierra’s scheduled before this unfortunate incident
happened.
Hoping things will begin to stabilize soon so that I can at least get back to day hikes.
All the best.
Austin …
Don’t start me on fans booing their own players. I don’t even boo opposing players (ok…I came close when I was at the ASG at Yankee Stadium and Paps came in but I even restrained myself then…haha). Put it this way…I was actually at games where they booed Mo & DJ. Sadly… if they could boo either of those two they will boo anyone. I also feel the same way as you (with the exception of a few rare players) they are all trying to do their best but sometimes or even some years it just doesn’t work out. I don’t care if they make league minimum or if it’s Arod …they don’t deserve to be booed. If you truly are a fan you should show support when they are down ..not push them down even further. What I find truly amazing is that people blame the young fans for the booing…I go to plenty of games and believe me it’s not just the kids…unfortunately.
As you said …the worst player to get to ML level is an amazing player just for getting there.
Go Yankees 2010 !!
“His home runs follow the same track as his hits….just about an even split between all five areas Right, center, lefy and both gaps.”
GB7-
What’s there really to say? He’s just remarkable. Like you were saying before about his swing – it’s just an amazing swing. It’s a ridiculous swing. The combination of balance, plate coverage, hitting to all fields and bat speed is off the charts.
I know comparisons can get ridiculous with prospects but he really does make one think of guys like Alex, Frank Thomas and Miguel Cabrera.
How many right handed swings do you ever see like Montero’s? It just doesn’t come along all that often.
I remember seeing Frank Thomas when he first came up. It was just so strange. Here was an absolutely hulking human being, a guy how made a bat look like a tooth pick in his hands and when he swung he looked like George Brett only from the RH side. His swing was just so great – so balanced but he was just so strong that the swing was mechanically sound like Brett’s but violent and viscous. It was like no one should be able to play the game that way – but Thomas could.
That’s just the feeling one gets with Montero. It’s crazy to compare him to these guys but his talent is just so through the roof it’s hard to really peg it without those kinds of comparisons.
He’s 20. He should not be able to do these things. But he does.
He’s one of the youngest player in the IL (forget if he’s still the youngest as he was at the start of the season).
Since June 25th he’s put up a 1.225 OPS. And the thing is that even after that very poor stretch to start the season it’s not shocking to see him put up a 1.200+ ops for a sustained period of time in AAA. Maybe a bit surprising given his age. But not shocking.
The really special guys are able to hit to all fields and do so with power. Montero’s nothing like those dead pull power guys that the game populated with. Most all star power hitters are of that fashion.
But that’s not going to be Montero. Like Alex, and Thomas and Miggy Cabrera he’s a RH power hitter who is going to spray missiles all over the park.
He is really special. No question about it. This is a kid who legitimately has a shot to be the single best hitter in baseball one day. He’s got a shot to make runs at the triple crown. Not saying he’s going to do those things but he’s got that kind of potential.
Erica …
I agree…he should get a big, loud ovation and he definitely deserves it. Johnny was a great
guy when he was here as both a teammate and player.
Go Yankees 2010 !!!
pcaldera 1. Texas plays NYY, BoSox, Rays in next 3 series
G-C
Every little bit helps. I hope he survives the Winter so he gets another chance to shine. Even if it is as a reliever. API should be in his future plans. No doubt about that.
I can’t imagine Johnny not getting a well deserved ovation…Sui certainly did.
And lucky you Yanksgal to be there to see it
MTU
I thought you had a hiking plan all figured out for Joba in the off season
Kate-
It would be my pleasure but the thought of carrying JC doesn’t appeal to me very much.
Bret and I had a deal to whip him into shape.
Maybe we better just leave it to the professionals after all.
# theREALkevin August 10th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Other phil, news flash, when “team x” can offer more mopney in free agency than any other team, they can sign “player x” and “player y” both if “team x” chooses to do so. It’s economics, it has nothing to do with “spoiled fans”.
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“Newsflash”, I never said it wasn’t about economics. Of course if a team decides to blow their payroll and sign every player imaginable they are free to do so. The Yankees decided the 2008 season was the time to do that, and I was more than happy that they did it. My point was, there are some Yankees fans (here and in general) that expect the team to “just go get” every potential free agent, salary be damned, and then get mad and call for Cashman’s head, say he doesn’t know what he’s doing, etc… Those, in my view, are spoiled fans, and to me, are an embarrassment to Yankee fandom.
And most teams can afford to spend the cash, they just don’t choose to do so. That’s their right, but they can’t gripe about losing their players when they leave via FA.
Kate …
I’m fortunate to be able to go to many games. I was there when Matsui got his ring too…on Opening Day. It was truly emotional for both the players and the fans but mostly
for Sui. I know it was time for a change but I do miss him. I went to LA to see the Yankees play in June and I went to check out Angels Stadium. We only stayed an hour because we were headed to Vegas but I wanted to see the Stadium (I’ve seen 22 so far). We stayed till Sui got up his first time …unfortunately he didn’t do anything but it was so weird seeing him there. The Stadium itself was pretty nice and it was decked out for the upcoming All Star Game. I bought an All Star Yankees Mickey Statue (like the All Star Statue of Liberty they had
for each team for the Yanks ASG). I love visiting all the stadiums either for games or just the
tours. I’m looking forward to seeing Johnny D again …especially to send him love from Erica
Go Yankees 2010 !!
Yanksgal
you are indeed lucky, especially to have seen the ring ceremony. It is weird to see Sui in an Angels uni.
People are going to LOVE tonight’s lineup. haha
CB, I always thought Thomas swung a bat like Bo Jackson ran with a football. Fast, powerful, smooth and violent. Not sure what the issues were this season during the first 2 and a half months. I’m sure that Miley and Wynegar were told not to mess with it. I’m still wondering if it wasn’t a carry over affect from the hand injury from last year. It’s one thing to pick up a mechanical flaw, but, quite another to lose all power without it being a physical problem. Whatever it was, he’s back to what he was the previous 2 years. The fact that he doesn’t strike out much at all is what helps make him that much more special. another thing is that from the start of the season until Mid-May, he hit into 11 double plays. He’s hit into two since the 15th of May.
I find it hard to believe it’s bridge jumping for calling Granderson a disappointment.
The team still wins in spite of him. Heck, this team still wins in spite of a whole heckuva lot this season.
It’s not the gritty gutty walk off type of team, but they just keep winning and minimize losing streaks.
Everyone who still sees a diamond in Granderson I give credit to.
I’m looking at hard facts. His numbers have been trending down for the past 4-5 seasons.
He hasn’t improved in any of those.
Maybe he’ll figure it out. Maybe this is rock bottom and he gets the help he needs to make his skills productive again.
Right now, that’s not happening.
And no one is accusing him of being lazy or not trying. By all accounts, Long is working hard with him all the time. It’s just not bearing any fruit.
Will I be stunned if he becomes a productive player here? A little.
The comparison to Swisher isn’t fair because as many have forgotten Swisher carried the team for a few weeks in April last year while Arod was out.
When he fell off the cliff, he was still taking pitches, driving up pitch counts and getting walks.
Granderson does none of those “unsung” positive things. Outside of 2-3 clutch homers, he’s done nothing to carry this team or show that he’s capable of being a catalyst in this lineup.
You look at the numbers and you see a pattern of decline in the player.
I’m just not confident we’re going to see much better for the life of this contract.
I hope he proves me wrong.
CountryClub August 10th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
People are going to LOVE tonight?s lineup. haha
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I thought this was pretty good: Ledger_Yankees Off days + Lefties + Babies = Today’s Yankees lineup.
I’m sad Robbie’s not in there, but I do remember Girardi saying he was going to get a day off soon.
New Post w/lineup