Postgame notes: Yankees finally bounce back
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Sep 15, 2010 
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This was shaping up to be perhaps the most deflating loss of the road trip. The Yankees six-run lead had disappeared in one disastrous fifth inning. They’d come back to tie in the sixth, but they’d also stranded the bases loaded that inning. They hadn’t had a base hit in the past three innings, and they’d already burned through those reliable setup men they were missing on Monday.
“If you lose the game, yes, it could have been tough,” Jorge Posada said. “But we won.”
Curtis Granderson made his diving catch to end the ninth, then Posada came off the bench to leadoff the 10th with a fly ball that no center fielder was going to catch. B.J. Upton gave chase for a few steps, then stopped and watched.
“On a road trip when we’ve had some real disappointing losses, that’s a huge home run,” Joe Girardi said.
It’s a little hard to believe the last time Mariano Rivera pitched was that blown save in Texas. Rivera allowed the lead-off single to Carl Crawford, but Posada very nearly threw Crawford out stealing second. Instead, the big throw belonged to Greg Golson, who nailed Crawford trying to go second-to-third for the final out of the game. Alex Rodriguez lifted his glove in the air, Brett Gardner started jumping up and down and Robinson Cano ran out to right field to high-five a September call-up.
In the end, it was that kind of night. After all of the disappointment of the past four days, this was euphoria: A brilliant catch, a clutch home run, renewed perfection from the game’s greatest closer, and an unbelievable throw a guy who spent most of the year in Triple-A. On a road trip when everything had gone wrong for the Yankees, things finally went right.
Here’s Girardi’s postgame.
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Here’s Posada
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• The New York Post was the first to report that Mark Teixeira has been playing with a broken toe in his right foot. “It’s just pain,” Teixeira said. “I think the biggest thing for me is I haven’t been able to work out. I haven’t been able to do extra work. More defensively, moving side to side is a little tough.”
• Teixeira broke his toe on August 31 against Oakland. Doctors have told him it won’t get better until after the season. “I didn’t think we would have him the next day,” Girardi said. “He said, ‘No I’m fine. I’m ready to go.’”
• I’ll admit, I never thought Granderson had a chance to catch that ball in the ninth. Not once. Not until it was in his glove. “At the last minute it’s the only way I’ve got a chance to make a play on it, I’ve got to leave my feet,” Granderson said. “It was good to go ahead and end the inning and get out of that.”
• Rivera had perhaps the funniest take on Posada’s home run: “That’s a good shot. That’s a big shot. It was one run only. Too bad.”
• Golson said he never though Crawford would tag up on the fly ball to right, but he heard Granderson yelling, “He’s tagging! He’s tagging!” As Girardi said, you have to give a lot of credit to Rodriguez for making the great scoop and tag, but it’s ultimately the throw that made it happen. “Everybody in the dugout is pulling for the same thing,” Golson said. “Especially the past few days, we want to pick up a little bit of momentum. To be able to help out any way you can, that’s huge.”
• Boone Logan gave up the big home run in the fifth. After that inning, the bullpen went five innings, allowing only the Crawford single off Rivera. They walked one and struck out seven. Chamberlain-Wood-Robertson is really a dominant right-handed trio.
• Speaking of the pen, Kerry Wood pitched today despite pitching three of the past four days. According to Girardi’s rules, Wood shouldn’t have been available. “Kerry’s a little bit more experienced,” Girardi explained. “He’s a little bit older. He’s been through more. He’s more mature.”
• Girardi said Logan was available because he faced one hitter yesterday. “I’ll check with Booney, but I probably won’t use him tomorrow,” Girardi said. “That’s just the nature of the game.”
• Ivan Nova said he lost some focus in the fifth inning. “After the home run I started thinking, I’ve got to be more perfect,” he said. Nova had been terrific for four innings, but his night fell apart in a big way. “I thought he got caught up with the runner at second a little bit,” Girardi said. “He just lost his location a little bit. He was so good for the first four innings and he got in trouble in the fifth and he couldn’t seem to get the third out.”
• Girardi on why he didn’t bring Boone Logan to face Matt Joyce: “The choice is Nova vs. Joyce or Boone vs. (Sean) Rodriguez because they’re going to pinch hit Rodriguez. I liked what (Nova) did the first two at-bats against him and went with that. He got kind of a jam shot on a fly ball to left field that Kearns almost caught, and I decided to make the change after that.”
• Andy Pettitte’s final rehab start: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. Girardi didn’t quite commit to Pettitte starting on Sunday. “That’s something we’re going to have to discuss and see how he feels on Thursday, which would be his throw day,” Girardi said.
• Some more picture from tonight are in our daily Yankees online gallery.
Associated Press photos
I missed some game. Will catch the highlights on the telly. During the game I was thinking, “Our EIGs did good.”
Hopefully, we take the rubber game tomorrow. ESPN (yeah
)
This is the type of win that club’s can get on a roll………With Andy coming back and Swisher in a few days they’ll be getting the pieces back to make the run into deep October…….
Watching the Rays broadcast, after I turned mute off to hear their devastation after Golson threw out cc, they kept calling him Colson. Repeatedly. Like 7 times.
I had to turn their broadcast on mute after they took the lead….. because all they did was whine about the balls and strikes and continue showing FOX TRAX and saying that we were being benefited.
How can anyone watch a game and listen to 2 guys complain about the umpires all the time? Especially when their team was the one getting all the calls?
Yeah CR9, gotta hate people complaining about umpires.
lol Carl, irony at its finest, I know. But these guys whine every Yankees-Rays game. And they have no reason to whine – they get all the calls. Then, when they play the Red Sox and get cheated from dugout to dugout, they dont complain and offer splendid reviews of how great Beckett, Dice K, Lackey, and the other 2 are.
CR9
The rays broadcasters are some of the most annoying. I don’t mind michael kay if its him vs them ill pick kay anyday. I was wondering when I was talking to my grandfather, why he kept saying colson. Cause those idiots can’t tell a G from a C
tyanks
Absolutely. Im stuck listening to them the 18 broadcasts each versus us and and the Red sox. I dislike Kay and his marbles in his throat voice, but I guess Id rather deal with him than them. He is the lesser of two evils. However, the Rays booth is not so bad when they have Staaaaaaaaaaaaaats and Brian Anderson together. With Kevin Red Sox Kennedy, though, it’s just an umpire whinefest against us.
They just showed Mr. know it all Maddon’s post game comments on espn and he said he had absolutely no problem with Crawford going to 3rd there because Mo doesn’t give up a lot of hits. That’s really stupid to say since with Crawford’s speed he will score on any single.
great win tonight. they needed that game in the worst way. props to the bullpen once again, kerry wood is now bordering on completely dominant with the Yankees so far. Joba looked extremely impressive as well- throwing strikes and looking confident, and throwing 98 doesn’t hurt either.
Jorge stepped up big with the home run. that’s a clutch hit from a proven player there. that’s getting it done. extremely impressive and made even more so because of the ridiculous distance and height it had. it was something else. and golson’s laser throw flat footed + A-Rod’s pick, just an incredible way to end a crazy game.
i’m a little bothered by Tex’s situation. in my mind a broken toe shouldn’t be devastating to a hitter but obviously any pain can be a disadvantage. i just don’t understand why, after A-Rod came back, Tex didn’t get some rest. i understand not wanting to take his bat out of the lineup with Alex out also. but considering Mark has been awful i think pretty much coinciding with the injury, maybe he should have been given some time off after Alex came back.
CR9
I haven’t watched a rays/yankees game this season. The only ones I’ve seen are the 3 I’ve been to. Tonights was an awesome game to be at because the energy was through the roof.(No pun intended) my favorite post from chad was about the standing ovation the rays fans gave granderson for catching that ball. Everyone around me thought it was going to be the second walk off in as many nights. Just an electric game, hopefully that kickstarts them back into gear for the rest of the season.
Finding out that Tex has been playing with a broken brings mixed emotions.
First, I thought of his defense and said, “wow”. Second, was, “aha” no wonder he’s been struggling at the plate. Lastly, it was, “what a warrior.”
Thinking back, tonights game was a lot like the game in july I went to. Matt Garza pitched and I think vazquez pitched. The game went tied into the 9th inning and Cano hit a lead off home run off of Soriano. Robertson got the win that night too. Both were exciting games but tonights was especially thrilling.
Oops forgot the mixed emotions part. Yes, you want to sit him down and give him some relief once in a while, but it’s really a matter of triage right now, and unfortunately he’s one of the healthier bodies.
Ronnie Lott cut his pinky off so he could play.
Now that is a warrior!
This is really funny/scary:
A friend of Joe Girardi pulled the Yankee manager aside during batting practice on Tuesday and offered a mental health tip that’s especially useful in a pennant race. “You have to breathe,” is what Girardi was told. Whether he took the hint is anyone’s guess, but the observation was nevertheless a valid one. The manager’s clubhouse-vibe has been increasingly tense, if not miserable, as the war in the AL East reaches the 11th hour.
http://www.northjersey.com/spo.....rardi.html
“Tony LaRussa will someday be in the Hall of Fame as a master tactician. Lou Piniella made a career on his fire and passion.. And Torre?s legacy was marked by his ability to turn himself into an island of calm ? an invaluable asset when George Steinbrenner was still a fiery, second-guessing presence.
These men are leaders, but not Girardi. Not yet. He?s smart, hard-working and fair with his players. But Girardi?s personality still isn?t strong enough to raise the Yankees? level of play during a slump that came out of nowhere.
All you really needed to know about Girardi is the way he views the pennant race. Sitting in the dugout early Monday afternoon, there was nothing resembling a Boys of Summer appreciation of what was about to unfold, not for this manager. Instead, Girardi addressed the TV cameras and microphones and said, ?it?s work. That?s why they call it work. That?s why we get paid to do what we do, because it?s work.?
It was a revealing but not necessarily surprising moment of admission for Girardi, who didn?t stop there. He reminded reporters that he ?was a player that never really had a lot of fun playing?.I have a different type of personality.?
You wonder if Girardi would be better off managing the Cubs. He has 17 games and whatever he can carve out of October to figure out what really makes him happy.
In the meantime, breathing helps.”
Yes, it’s scary that perhaps Girardi is a better fit for the Cubs than the Yankees.
Girardi is a better fit for the Cubs than the Yankees……my point exactly !
Hey — Captain Clutch,
Thanks for the link on Klapisch’s column.
Great summary of Girardi’s unfortunate management style. Can you imagine being in a losing streak and having that kind of manager to deal with on top of it? Yikes.
It’s a freakin’ GAME. Enjoy it.
Fingers crossed he’ll stop torturing himself and all of us by simply going to Chicago. The Yankees are the last place for a high-strung guy saddled with the chief responsibility any manager has — and that’s to get his players into the best positive mental state possible to kick some b.u.t.t.
What a downer to have him around when the pressure’s on.
come on guys, the Yankees are back in 1st place, won an exciting game last night, and all you want to do is complain about the manager…and that article is BS…blaming Girardi for not making the playoffs in 08??? hello…what about all the injuries the Yankees faced that year, and still came close.
“come on guys, the Yankees are back in 1st place, won an exciting game last night, and all you want to do is complain about the manager…and that article is BS…blaming Girardi for not making the playoffs in 08??? hello…what about all the injuries the Yankees faced that year, and still came close.”
agree with almost everything, but… the yankees didn’t come close at all. 8 games out i believe.
Kiid- well in my mind they were still in there
Good morning kate
The constant whining is starting to get old.
I’d rather try to enjoy the “whole” season than to micro analyze each game or even at times each at bat.
anyway, on a more positive note
Granderson’s catch was #3 on espn’s top plays and Golson’s throw was #1
missed you these past few mornings MY
upstate kate,
You must not remember 2008 and the problems he had adjusting to managing “big boys”. He must have thought he was still in Florida with newbies. Just one quick example: taking the treats out of the clubhouse. Now, to be fair, he tried to make amends by loosening up in 2009. But his high-strung personality is not going to change. I can’t imagine how he ever would have lasted with the old Steinbrenner. Actually, he would have been fired long ago with that George around.
He has demonstrated again and again that he doesn’t deal well in high-stress situations. He was given everything to win last year, and he almost blew it in the playoffs with his manic manuvers.
Yes, we’re in first place. The boys overcame his decision not to yank Nova when he needed to. It took heroic efforts by them. It was an awesome finish after the mid-game meltdown. He yanks Javy after 4 2/3, but leaves in Nova after he’s lost his way in an far more important game?
But I’m not here to argue game moves last night. I simply want to encourage his departure. He’s not going to be much fun watching down the stretch, that’s for sure. And I’m also not sure, the guys are up to handling his basket-case antics.
Klapisch just said what everyone has been seeing who has actually been looking — and those guys who spend much more time around the club than we do can’t help but see what’s been going on. I can see this just from the limited exposure I’ve had.
I love the Yankees; I do not have to love their current manager.
I still like Girardi and think he’s a good fit for this team. For whatever reason he has managed out of character of late…ever since the Baltimore series really.
He’s a really smart guy that knows the game well but people tend to forget that as managers go he’s still very young and relatively inexperienced. I thinl its possible that he learns from these situations and improves hmself as a result of it.
There is no question he has made some bad or questionable decisions the last couple weeks….but also some of the decisions weren’t neccessarily bad but just didn’t go the Yankees way….that happens over the course of a season, just usually not all at once or several games in a row. Maybe I’m in the minority but I still like him as a manager and a couple of bad weeks isn’t going to change that.
blake
I like your voice of reason.
If the Yankees had another manager and things were going bad it would be the same thing.
It seems like today with all the outlets to follow a game people are enjoying it less.
As I read this blog during the down times it seems like all the good managers are here instead of in the dugout.
I won’t lie; I have a feeling of dread when I think about how things are going to pan out with Girardi’s style this year and its impact on the players. We need more help this year than last year in getting hyped up and positive about winning. He just seems absolutely ground down in the dugout. And it’s not like Eiland is a light-hearted soul. Love Pena, though. They need a little joy down there. It’s ok to enjoy the journey.
I won’t be on the blog anymore today (it’s night for me), so enjoy the discussion.
ok, I do remember the sillyness of no junk food when Girardi first arrived, but that isn’t the reason they didn’t make the play offs, there were many injuries that year.
I knew Girardi would 2nd and 3rd guessed for leaving Nova in there, and quite frankly I thought he left him in one batter too many. However, if Nova had been pulled earlier, there would have been complaining about that.
I don’t think Girardi is perfect by any means, I just get tired of the pot shots. To me, he seems to really care about ALL his players, not just his select circle
my real point was…what a great win!!! and maybe winning an exciting game like that sets the Yankees back on track
Wang IS Taiwan
Maybe the Yankees can replace him with a mild mannered guy like Pinella.
kate
I think the no junk food was a Cashman thing.
That article by Klapich was terrible. I am not going to dismantle it, sentence by sentence because it’s not even worthy of me re-posting it. Just a poorly thought out piece, filled with cliches. Klapisch should be embarrassed.
If Girardi really leaves, God help whoever replaces him.
He will not last one year with the criticism of these mediots who make up things and are held accountable to what they write. That will happen to Mattingly too, though I do not beleives Cash beleives he will make good maanager.
The self-proclaimed I know all experts here on this blog will also complain in every post whoever that new manager would be.
Maine,
Of course. The Yankees should just let Lohud manage the team via popular vote
Kate,
I thought he stuck with him two batters too long. I wouldn’t have let him pitch to Longoria because it was pretty obvious the wheels were wobbling. However…his stuff looked fine and he was great until that point. It was one of those situations where you have a fairly big lead and 2 outs and you thinknif he can get that last out then he feels good again and may settle back down in the 6th and give you a little more length….sure the pen was rested but Tampa was already into theirs so if Nova could have gone a little longer then it may have given them an advantage for todays game.
*** Not held accountable ***
Well, after reading the last couple of posts, I don’t have to remind myself why I took a full night off from the blog last night. Didn’t post, didn’t even skim it. Not even after the game was won.
People can’t move on. The posts immediately above mine talk about how Girardi is tense and doesn’t see the game as fun. Irony here? Because those posting these precious gems of information, leaked to the media by a “friend” of Girardi, should take their own advice.
****
Good morning.
Great win last night, but a roller-coaster of emotion.
Nova seems to have difficulties getting through the 5th inning. That’s not enough to start in the playoffs. But he’s got a couple more starts to show he can learn from whatever went wrong last night for him. He can’t let a solo homerun unrattle him.
As much as I have disagreed with SJ44 on his hard line on Girardi, I have to agree about bringing in Logan last night at that time he was brought in. My reasoning is that he’s the only lefty in the pen, and I would think you’d want to “save” him for later in the game in a situation where it was less likely Maddon would pinch-hit a righty. I wouldn’t have thought Logan was going to give up a homerun, though.
I was happy that the Yankees came right back and tied it. Great job by Cano, who had a terrific game. Knew Kearns was going to strike out after he missed his pitch with the bases loaded and one out. Kearns, after a good start with teh Yankees, hasn’t done much at all, and correct me if I’m wrong (and I know someone will
), he stands there looking an awful lot.
Can’t say enough about the rest of the bullpen, Granderson’s catch and hitting last night, Posada’s HR and Golson’s Golden Arm! Wow, what a catch. I think he may be on the playoff roster even if he can’t hit that well. Late inning defense and pinch-running.
My mom called me after the game – from the parking lot where they were having a bit of trouble finding their car – so excited. So she’s 1-1 in Tampa now.
blake
You had a great line the other day about Joe.
Something about manging to get his team ready for the post-season and trying to win home field. How they are not the same thing. If you remember it re post it.
It is obvious to me that Joe is not comfortable going “half way” (LGY quote). I think that has influenced a lot of his recent decisions.
Doreen
I am so happy your Mom got to see such an exciting game
I am hoping the Yankees blow the game out today…no more extra innings, these late nights are killing me!!
Granderson had a great game…he should also get a bit of credit on the Golson throw, as it was him that told Golson that Crawford had tagged up.
Cashman said the no junk food edict was his and Girardi had more trouble with the media than he did with the players in his first year.
Dropping your clean up hitter to 8th in a postseason game is handling the pressure and the stress much worse than anything I’ve seen Girardi do the last 3 years.
The Torre love runs deep with the media who were enthralled with his stories about “Gibbie” and his contempt for the most talented player he managed who he should have been making feel comfortable rather than isolating.
I agree – the lead was big enough to try and let Nova get out of his own mess. His prior two starts, the games were closer and Girardi yanked him quickly. Nova was disappointed he didn’t get to finish his innings and be in line for the win. I think Girardi liked how he was pitching to that point and because of the lead figured it was a good risk to try and let the kid work himself out of it.
I don’t have a problem with that. I just thought Boone Logan was not brought into the game at an appropriate time. Oh, well. As I said before, it was heartening that the Yankees came right back and tied the game.
Doreen
I saw you trying to be a voice of reason among the chaos one night recently and wondered if it was worth the stress.
I read some of the stuff here at times and don’t have the energy to dive in and “fight”.
I’m not saying you’re wrong to try to reason, just saying I don’t have the energy to try to turn back a tidal wave.
Maine Yankee -
It definitely has taken it’s toll – trying to find calm in the storm here.
My husband said he understands the enjoyment I find here, but I tell him about some of the stuff that is said here, and he thinks I let it bother me too much. He’s right. I need some distance. The daytime is usually better. Even if the points of difference are the same, the discussion is usually more rational and less contentious, with less sniping.
I think I’ll be skipping the game threads from here on out. I have enough stress going on without continuing to choose to add that.
Oh please, that’s nonsense.
Managing the Yankees is the best job in baseball.
No other place gives it’s managers the kind of resources and support you get from this organization.
If someone leaves because they can’t take the heat, they don’t belong in the job.
It’s not like the old days when George was using the back page to attack the manager. None of that happens here anymore.
Ask Joe Torre if he would want to change places with Joe Girardi right now.
He would do it in a heartbeat and he HATES the current regime.
That’s how coveted the job is.
When you watch an entire year of baseball, or three seasons actually, of how a manager works, and see him start doing things completely different, people are going to question it.
That’s what has happened since the Baltimore series
For those who don’t think so, or believe everything he has done the past 10 days has been the correct moves, just agree to disagree with those who don’t.
He’s being criticized because his moves have been completely different from the way he has operated the club all season. When one sees that, and the results aren’t there, questions are going to be asked. That’s the nature of professional sports.
It’s not a blind hometown blog.
Once the folks who are trying to make it one realize that, the better off they will be.
Tar,
I said something like Girardi was trying to accomplish 2 goals (the division and getting guys healthy and rested for the postseason) that are essentially working against each other. I agree that has affected some of his decision making because he’s trying to do both with an aging team with injuries.
upstate kate-
She called and it was 11:30 or so. My husband was not amused.
I had momentarily forgotten she was there, and when the phone rings after 9:30 or so, my first reaction is “oh, no, what’s wrong.” We don’t usually call each other after a game. But I think being at a game and being excited about a win is a lot different than just watching it on television. You need to share the experience with someone.
I should mention, my step-dad is not a baseball fan. He’s a Giants fanatic, but can’t see the allure of baseball. I love him dearly, but what can you do with such a person????
Still glowing after last night’s game……………..
That was a HUGE gut check for the Yankees – and they passed, big time.Tying the score after Tampa took the lead was enormous – and then to come up with 2 ridiculous defensive plays? Brilliant.
Thank goodness for Kerry Wood – I really hope the Yanks can work something out with him. I can’t see him getting closer $$$ from a contender, so my hope is that he wants to stay with a contender instead of closing for an also-ran.
I have no idea how Tex is still playing, but he’s not hitting very well with that toe – which is very bad news for us because we need him.
So, Klapisch wrote a negative article? I’m not in the mood to be negative right now, so I think I’ll skip it.
Good for you, Betsy!!
I might add, the same thing happened to Torre during his final years here.
Dropping Arod to 8th in the order in an elimination game and not telling him.
Spending more time with the racing form than scouting reports.
Not pulling the team off the field when the midges hit in Cleveland.
It’s also not confined to this market.
Tony LaRussa is loved in St. Louis. Much like the way Torre was loved in NY.
He’s getting KILLED for the way he has managed the Cardinals this season.
That’s the gig and all that comes with it.
As I’ve said before, Girardi is a good manager having a VERY bad week because he’s going outside of what he does well.
Instead of overthinking, think less, let the players play, and take each game as it comes. That’s how you break losing streaks.
In other words, be yourself and do what you do well.
He’s fine if he gets back to that.
Oops, well I see half the article was posted. If Joe doesn’t want to have fun managing, that’s his business, but if he’s conveying that attitude to his players………..well, just go away. That said, just because Joe doesn’t particularly have fun doesn’t mean he’s players aren’t. I really don’t know that he is the right man for this job. I mean, I know it’s work – of course it’s work – but those quotes make him sound miserable. I don’t want a manager that’s perpetually unhappy around my team.
That was Cashman’s rule about the junkfood, not Joe’s……………
Blake, I don’t think Joe is managing out of character – this is who he is. I think he overthinks things, as if being “creative” or “unusual” will get him bonus points. I really don’t think he’s the right man for this job, not if he’s conveyeing his tension and lack of fun. He sounds like the engineer he would have been had he not made it in baseball.
SJ
I think most of us agree that Girardi has made some questionable decisions lately.
my comment earlier was why not enjoy the win, rather than trash the manager.
Doreen, well a huge chunk was posted, so I couldn’t avoid it, but it still doesn’t take me down and I’m still not going to read the whole article, lol.
I like Joe personally – he’s a very good man and a genuinely decent person. I adore the family atmosphere he’s brought to the club, much more welcoming than Torre ever was (LOVE the daughter’s day, when the clubhouse is open to the daddies’ little girls). However, it seems like Joe is suffocating under the pressure of a pennant race.
That said, I am in no way convinced Pena is the man for the job, not after his blowup in KC.
Nothing wrong with the Racing Form – I read it myself, lol – but Torre’s priorties seem to have been a tad misplaced. He’s gone, though, so no point in rehashing what went wrong…..
Just let the players play, that’s it – that’s all they want to do. Ok, the hurt players need to rest, that’s fine…………..but let the healthy players find some consistency. They’ve played every day for the whole year – let them find a routine. Alex? No more resting this guy – we need him desperately.
It’s not easy knowing that the only lefthanded bullet in the bullpen has been used by the time critical matchups may be needed in the 8th or 9th inning of a game.
This could come back to bite during the postseason.
Javy Vazquez should not be on the postseaon rosters ……. Royce Ring should.
The way Girardi is using Boone Logan for almost every game calls for one additional lefthander.
“That said, I am in no way convinced Pena is the man for the job, not after his blowup in KC.”
You do realize that many successful managers were fired from previous managerial jobs due to blowups so don’t hold that against him.
Betsy,
I really don’t. I think he’s shown a lot of indecision in that last couple weeks which to me is out of character and I really think its in part due to the situation the team is currently in (weighing the division vs getting guys healthy)..
I have noticed a few balls in the last couple weeks that Teixera didn’t get to that normally I think he may have. The toe is a bummer more defensively than offensively because he saves them a ton of runs not only because of his sure hands but because of the range he has…if thats reduced then it could have at least some effect.
Good morning.
Until Swish gets back I like the 3G OF- GGBG, Grandy, And Mr. Golson.
Head to head play decides the pennant.
Mr. Hughes wants his tribute so he’s gonna pitch a gem tonite.
Right Phil ?
I just typed a “great” post (
) and then was told I had to log in – I thought I was!!! And it got lost.
Anyway, my thought was that SJ44 is right when he says, basically, less is more. When you try to force the issue in any situation, it doesn’t usually work; in fact, it usually backfires.
I think Joe is reacting to the disappearance of his starting rotation. I think all the over-thinking is compensation for the fact that he has 1 reliable starter. It is different when you lose pitchers to injury (Pettitte) because you can make substitution and have some consistency. But when you hae 2 of your starting 5 giving you nothing close to what you expected from them, it has to be frustrating as all get-out. I am not including Hughes in this discussion, but I believe Hughes has done what was expected of him and more, overall.
I believe all of the angst stems from the starting pitching situation. It’s always all about the pitching. Girardi, as of now, does not know who his starters for the playoffs are going to be outside of CC. That’s a fairly stressful situation to be in in mid-September.
Every manager makes questionable decisions. The smart ones do it during a winning not a losing streak.
I was looking at the Yankees 2011 schedule at there are some bizarre series.
A few times the Yankees have 3 game series thrown in at home between 2 road trips or a 3 game road trip breaking up a home stand. You do that a few times and you feel like you are passing yourself in the airport.
A 2 game road to trip to Toronto sandwiched between 2 off days? Back to back 4 game series? LOTS of home games in NY in April ?(a Yankee Snuggly Day might be a good idea)
blake -
I noticed that too about Tex’s defense before we learned he had a broken toe. Not often, but a couple of plays that he usually gets to, but didn’t.
And that’s actually more concerning (okay, just a tad more) than his slumping at the plate. He saves so many runs with his stellar defense, you hate to lose it.
Craw, I just wonder if Pena could handle the pressures of NY………….seems like a great guy, though. I wonder how his players felt about him………….I still think Joe will be retained, but we’ll see.
Blake, perhaps your right. He is managing an older team and his SP hasn’t helped him out any. He really does need to relax, though…
I don’t love having just one lefty either, but if the Yankees thought Ring was any good, he’d be up here already.
Girardi is wired tight. That’s just who he is.
For the record, so is Buck Showalter.
Compared to Buck, Joe is the guy at the office party who is drunk and has a tie wrapped around his head.
That in and of itself isn’t an issue.
This is a veteran team.
In many ways, it manages itself. Especially on clubhouse. That makes it easier on a manager.
The big thing a player wants from a manager is consistency.
If you are going to be a jerk, be one all the time.
If you are going to be a nice guy. Be one all the time.
Managers lose clubhouses when they try to be something they are not.
That’s what happened to Girardi in 2008.
Since then, he has avoided that situation for the most part.
No manager is universally loved by his players. Torre certainly wasn’t and neither is Girardi.
He hasn’t lost the clubhouse though and that’s important. Especially at this time of year.
Hopefully, last night settles him down and he gets back to managing the club the way he’s capable of doing.
The Klapisch column? Ok, not his best work, and didn’t break any new ground.
Joe needs to line it up so that CC, AP, and YMH face the Rays @ home.
Full strength lineup.
That’s our best shot to open it up.
That will be the pedal to the metal.
pat -
And I thought this year’s schedule was loony! They say it’s random, but I don’t know. I wonder what the schedules for other teams look like?
I hate 4-game series. Hate with a passion.
Well, I have to get up to White Plains this morning. Catch you all later this afternoon.
“He was given everything to win last year, and he almost blew it in the playoffs with his manic manuvers. ”
Almost doesn’t count.
Tonight’s a big start from Phil. I don’t know what to expect, given his long layoff, but maybe the inning in relief helped him. Even if we don’t win, I’d love to see him pitch well and get back into form.
Later!
Betsy-
Last time Phil was skipped he had some trouble with his command early on but his FB was blazing.
If he is able to avoid the command issues early in the game he is in postion to pitch a terrific game.
He is rested. It was smart to do so IMO.
He has a chance to shine tonite and to really help his team.
I hope he steps up.
MTU, I don’t think I’ll have a tribute tomorrow for YMH, but here’s one for a gut check win last night.
http://picasaweb.google.com/10.....i4gZ357wE#
Doreen,
I believe that’s true re: the source of his angst.
It’s why I was shocked he set himself up like he did in the 5th inning last night.
Nova shouldn’t have pitched to Longoria.
That move triggered the next incorrect move, which was going to Logan rather than Robertson.
Maddon wasn’t going to let a lefty face Logan.
If he goes to Robertson to get Longoria, he gets out of the 5th ahead 6-2.
If he goes to Logan in the 6th, Maddon goes to his bench and he gets Joyce and Johnson out of the game. He also has Chamberlain-Wood-Mo lined up to finish it if needed.
When you have seen Nova begin to lose it in the 5th inning of his other starts, you have to prepare accordingly.
“I believe all of the angst stems from the starting pitching situation.”
Completely agree. How many 6 inning starts have the Yankees gotten in the last 2 weeks? Not many.
Up until the last 10 days, Girardi was praised for his bullpen management philosophy but that philosophy has been thrown in the trash because they are getting no length from starters.
Morning all! Great win last night. I was at the concert at the Stadium but I made it home just in time for the Yankees Encore and got to see the 10th inning. AMAZING play by Golson. Awesome game.
JCPD-
Now I know where all our water went.
To you guys and to L.A.
Looks like you worked hard to position yourself for some of those shots.
They are beautiful and I appreciate you sharing them. Please keep it up. Tandem tributes are most welcome.
Is that the Finger lakes region ?
just beautiful JCPD
good morning Shame
Some of us (me included) who have criticized Girardi the past couple of nights don’t make a habit of doing so, it’s just pretty obvious, as other have said, that he is managing differently than he has for the past 2 seasons. I’m not a huge fan of his but recognize he’s done a good job overall. The problem, though, is that he’s deviated from his normal approach and that is not a good thing for him or the team. Some of the great managers made decisions based on their instincts (let’s use the Torre/Zimmer team as an example of that) so unusual moves came out of that instinct for what might work at that point in time; Girardi manages by his ‘book’ (it’s a pretty big one, of course and is on the bench behind him) so when he varies his approach it is out of his comfort zone and not likely to work out well. Maybe last night’s win helps him get back to his roots but it’s been tough to watch him blow a couple of games recently.
You are correct MTU, it is the Finger Lakes region. That is near the southern end of Seneca Lake, which is probably about 30 – 35 miles in length.
“I think he’s shown a lot of indecision in that last couple weeks which to me is out of character and I really think its in part due to the situation the team is currently in (weighing the division vs getting guys healthy)..”
Blake
We are on the same page on this.
Thanks Upstate. Getting close to being time to head to the Adirondacks for the fall colors.
it’s entirely possible that the Twins will make the HFA a non-issue if they keep winning, they are only 1 game behind right now and a very easy schedule the rest of the way (the only team with a winning record-1 game over .500- is the Jays for 3 games on the final weekend).
JCPD-
I would like to see that area sometime. I’ve heard it’s beautiful. Letchworth was extremely impressive.
180 degrees different from the GZ. Earth in endless variety.
JCPD
the trees are already changing
IMO Letchworth is like a mini Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls all rolled into one
Kate-
You need to take me on a tour.
new thread
MTU
we have just started to explore the area, as our son is in college about 5 miles away from Letchworth…it is a very pretty part of the state
The whole region IS beautiful MTU. My favorite lake is Skaneateles. 12 years ago, I used to wait tables at a restaurant right on the lake, so even when I had a bad day at work, it was still a good day.
Kate-
Lucky you.
If I was back there right now I’d looking forward to the Adirondacks, and to the White mountains of NH.
JCPD-
“I used to wait tables at a restaurant right on the lake, so even when I had a bad day at work, it was still a good day.”
Understood.
MTU
going to NH this weekend…there is a Highlands Games festival at my sister’s ski condo
Kate-
ESP.
Exciting game and a much needed win. Great plays by Granderson and Golson and monster homerun by Jorge. Still Girardi makes dumb comments–on why he pitched Wood after using him 3 days in a row–”. “Kerry’s a little bit more experienced,” Girardi explained. “He’s a little bit older. He’s been through more. He’s more mature. All the more reason to give him some rest–older than both Joba and Robertson. You can’t change the rules from day to day and expect people to respect what you say.
This may sound like an odd question – would there be any way that the Sept 26th game against boston would NOT be a Sunday night ESPN game? I just thought if there was a game with more playoff implications it would be shown instead? I owe my nephews a game and running out of homestand…Thanks!