Yankees once again turn to Sabathia in Game 1
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 06, 2010 
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Writing about CC Sabathia is pretty easy. He’s a good guy and all of those around him seem to go out of their way to say nice things about him. When I was writing about Sabathia yesterday, I decided to look back at the Baseball America archives. I remembered him being a big pitching prospect, but he broke into the big leagues right as I was finishing college. I didn’t follow the minor leagues as closely back then, and I wanted to make sure he was as significant a prospect as I remembered.
“He’s intelligent and coachable, a ferocious competitor, and at 6-foot-7 and upward of 260 pounds he can be an intimidating presence on the mound,” Baseball America wrote leading into the 2001 season. “He’s strong with durable mechanics. That he’s a lefthander and only 20 is icing on the cake. He has a chance to be a dominant No. 1 starter at the big league level… Sabathia has no glaring flaws.”
So, yes, Sabathia was one of those premier young pitching prospects at the beginning of the decade. He came up when the Indians rotation was still led by Bartolo Colon, but by his third year in the big leagues, Sabathia was Cleveland’s Opening Day starter. Through the next five years, he got better and better. He grew into the kind of pitcher Baseball America predicted way back when.
In that role of Yankees ace — a role that, as you might guess, comes with considerable pressure — Sabathia seems at ease. It was Kerry Wood — himself once a massive prospect and ace starting pitcher — who explained it best.
“This is what I was born to do,” Wood said. “This is where I was supposed to be. The whole nine yards. You’re at the top of the rotation, you feel like it’s your team, your town, your deal.”
Tonight, the Yankees are Sabathia’s team. Derek Jeter will be there, and Alex Rodriguez will be hitting cleanup, and Mariano Rivera will be waiting in the bullpen, but tonight this is Sabathia’s team.
“I think a lot of people know me where I’m just kind of laid back,” Sabathia said. “I’m the same. I try to treat it no different than any other day I come to the field. You know, nothing special. Be ready to go at 6:30 when Dave (Eiland) comes to get me.”
Associated Press photo
Game day, baby!!
It would be a good start to the day if Lee can beat the Rays too. I know a lot of people on here like the Rays, but I can’t stand them. And not because they’re the Yanks rival, they just rub me the wrong way.
No matter what happens going forward we are very fortunate to have two great competitors in CC and AP anchoring our staff.
They may not have it on a given day but they will always give you every ounce of what they have.
CC and Pettitte and just forget it.
CC-
Feel the same way about Maddon not his team. Can’t stand the guy.
Love the picture of CC.
There were some great pictures taken yesterday. Sadly, I didn’t see any with Robbie though.
But this was my favorite of the ones I saw:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
0 Days, 11 Hours, 19 Minutes until Game 1 of the ALDS
Those are great pix Erin…the team looks relaxed and happy…as we Yankee fans should be
Erica-
Since you’re into countdowns could you please tell me how much time I need to add onto that for our first victory ?
Approximations are acceptable.
MTU-
0 Days, 15 Hours, and 15 Minutes until we win Game 1 of the ALDS
Yeah, Maddon tops the list, MTU.
Erica-
Thank you. I knew you’d have the calculation.
CC-
I’d like to get Maddon behind a horse that has a tendency to kick.
Good piece on the non-inclusion of local voices in playoff broadcasts. Sums up how I feel.
http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/
Ah.. and so it begins.
I’ve been reading through the last couple of threads and I just want to say this: I know emotions run high and low during the playoffs so how about we all make a pact to keep things civil here for the next (hopefully!) few weeks?
I love loving the Yankees. I really do. I love sports, I love competition, and I love winning. But sometimes the worst part about being a fan is that while when my team wins I have this unbelievable feeling of euphoria, when they lose I almost slip into a minor period of depression! I know this about myself. I bet a lot of other people here can feel similar after a tough, early exit from the playoffs. I obsess and rant and become overly critical of every inning because I know that feeling of dejection, if they lose, is waiting for me.
So lets all respect the fact that right now, most of us are in emotional crises. We’re all on the edge. Lets try not be the one to push anyone off… save that for after the playoffs.
Today promises to be the longest workday in history right? It’s only 9:20…lol
Shame-
How you feel is perfectly understandable.
But I have a suggestion for you.
No matter what happens there will always be next year, and the year after, and the year after that.
Try looking forward as well as living in the present. The Yankees will
always be hungry, and always try to get to the top of the mountain.
When we open a window it stays open no matter what happens now.
What else can be said about CC, this signing was a franchise changer.
What a tremendous asset, win or lose.
I said that last year too Doreen…why not have a local broadcaster from each team, who actually knows the team. Last year we heard a lot of the same old year long stories about the empty seats in new YS and the HR flying out…neither of these stories applied to the play offs/WS and yet we heard them over and over. My lasting image was Buck talking about what his Halloween costume was as a kid.
Contrast that w/ the post season analysis we have seen from Jack Curry/Bob Lorenz/John Flaherty, who actually provide relevant analysis.
Shame, did you watch Four Nights in October on ESPN last night? It was all about the 2004 ALCS when the you know who came back from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees. Talk about emotions.
You cannot too high or too low about this stuff. It is baseball. It is a game. It is entertainment. People struggle with poverty, cancer, starvation, etc. Those are things to get depressed about.
Do I get down the Yankees lose? No question. But you have to keep things in perspective.
Erin-
If you are still hanging around, I just sent you an e-mail
Maddon’s latest gig is the blue plaid look for the Rays. The team has blue plaid sportcoats for travel and the Tampa Bay area has blue plaid mania. This replaces the tomahawk haircuts and Maddon dying his hair blue.
Oddly enough, tickets are still available for today’s Game 1 of the ALDS.
SJ, talk about being Switzerland?you might as well have said, ?if the Yanks score more runs than Minnesota in 3 of the games, they will win the series.?
The Yankees are much better offensively than Minnesota and our defense is a little better as well. CC is a little better than Liriano and that could be 40% of the games. When those 2 are on the mound, we have an advantage?Does this mean we will win, well no, but the odds are the yanks will beat Minnesota. If we make the next round, that is when I may be more concerned. It is a 5 game series so anything can happen, but our better offense should be the difference because outside of Mauer their team is mediocre. I will say that D. Young is a solid hitter and Thome is a force against righties and their 3rd baseman is a force against lefties, but you know these things coming in. Now compare that to the Yanks where Cano takes out Mauer, Swisher is better than Young, Granderson and Gardner are both better than Span and Hudson, Arod is better than their 3rd baseman, Tex blows away Cuddyer, and Posada is a better hitter than Kubel and Jeter, even this year, is better than Hardy. that leaves DH, where Thome is their only advantage as he has been a monster against righties?thus me being upset that Ring is not on the roster.
I did a write-up on the splits of the players?hope you enjoy
http://www.stevewigdor.blogspot.com/
Big time game today. Really feel whoever wins this game is going to advance. CC takes the pill and I am happy about that.
a team that struggles w/ attendance issues anyway is certainly going to have problems selling out for a mid week afternoon game
say what you want about Maddon (and I will agree w/ some of it) he has really turned that team around.
upstate kate -
The only “alien” broadcaster who impressed me at all was Ron Darling. He sounded like he at least tried to do his homework.
Buck and McCarver are stale. I don’t even know if they particularly enjoy doing this anymore. When you’re talking about Halloween costumes in the midst of a very exciting WS, what else can the audience assume?
I’ve told this story before but I met CC when he was in rookie ball. My friend who was playing on his team introduced him to me saying “you’re going to want to get this guys autograph”….he sure was right about that and he couldn’t have been a nicer. I love cheering for the guy.
Should be an exciting day today…first course starts at 1:30….the Rays has better win this game or they are in trouble. I don’t think the rest of their rotation outweighs the offense advantage that Texas has…
I appreciate the uplifting words folks. And yes, I understand perspective. I don’t really feel suicidal after the Yankees are out of it, there are far more important things that go on in this world besides baseball.
I just feel so invested in each and every team, each and every year its hard to accept we can’t always win it all. I genuinely like the group of guys on our team this year, and I want them to succeed. I also really would like to see Jeter, Andy, Mo, and Posada get another ring, because we really don’t know how long they’ll all be together. And, I think it really sets the younger/new guys up for big things. Once you win, you don’t want to stop.
Pat, I saw your post on the last thread and sure it is possible that they felt better that a Robertson or Wood might be better at getting Thome out than a mediocre lefty Ring. But, when you see a guy with a 1.20 OPS against righties who is hot, you don’t want any of our righties, except Rivera face him. Thome is so hot against righties right now that he should be walked. That being said, Ring could be used against Kubel or even Mauer as well. The point is that having another lefty not only gives you better matchup situations, it also makes it harder for the opposing manager as he can’t just wait and use Thome at the key spot because he has no issues with a lefty in the pen. The deterrent has value and what value does Moseley or Burnett have? What happens once Logan is used and he will be used every game? Silly not have have a 2nd lefty on the roster
Chambliss – Yes I watched it and the entire time I kept screaming about Joe Torre not bunting. Then I retreated back into my own mind, where the whole thing never even happened
Im on board with the civil next month, Shame!
GOOD MORNING, ALL!
The quest towards 28 begins!
Destiny!
If they had a second lefty that was any good then yea it would have been great to have one. Ring didn’t show that he could handle the job and to me there is too great a risk that he would just come in and walk a guy like Thome.
Liverpool owners agree to sell to Red Sox.
Hopefully, this will take the Red Sox and Liverpool down to lower depths. Although, John Henry – owner of the mid-market Red Sox – is among the top 50 richest men in the world. Perhaps, though, he’ll further his stinginess.
http://espn.go.com/sports/socc.....rd-dispute
Wow Blake, that is really cool
Shame-
Unfortunately it’s in the nature of competition that there can only be one winner.
The only thing I insist on when watching the Yankees is that they give it their all and leave it all on the field. I’m confident they are gonna do that no matter what the results may be. They want to win.
The playoffs are a crapshoot. Effort is not.
A little bit of luck wouldn’t hurt either.
Giants are leaving Zito out of the playoff rotation as well…saying they will either go with Bumgardner or Lincecum on 3 days if there is a game 4.
Blake-
“either go with Bumgardner or Lincecum”.
Either ? That’s too funny.
Blake, the fact that Ring is was the only choice is absurd as well. But why didn’t they get him a lot of work? If you understand what an enormous split difference Thome has you wouldn’t say what you are saying. We are talking about 400 points of OPS…400! For perspective that is the difference between what Cano does against righties and what Berkman does against lefties. Don’t you think you would rather bring in a lefty against Berkman if he hit righties like Cano? ENORMOUS difference.
The point you are missing is that if Ring faced Thome twice and Thome singled in one of those AB’s and he got him out the other, he did a really good job…the odds are the righties will allow more than a base an AB.
“The playoffs are a crapshoot. Effort is not.”
AHgreed MTU. I’m not a person that ever gets on the players for not trying or not having “heart” like some fans. The intangible things, for me, are something people usually take more notice of when we are losing.
All I want to know is that I can come to the blog and not see people killing each other in the comments section. We’re all on the same team here.
MTU,
I’m guessing it would be Bumgardner if up 2-1 and Lincecum if down 2-1.
“Silly not have have a 2nd lefty on the roster”
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Using the splits to make decisions like this depends on keeping the things constant in which you arrived at those splits. Obviously the pitcher has to be LH, but he also has to be a major league pitcher capable of throwing major league quality pitches. Those type of pitches are how certain Twins hitters arrived at those splits. Just being LH doesn’t cut it.
The reason Ring is not on the roster is because he is not a major league pitcher who throws major league quality pitches.
These players are not hitless vs LHP or incapable of hitting LHP. They are major league hitters who will hit anyone RH or LH if you don’t throw quality strikes and Ring has not shown the ability to do that.
Yankee fans should be very happy with this decision, especially those who criticize Joe for overmanaging. Instead of simply going to a pitcher just because he is LH, Joe and the rest of the Yankees chose quality over handedness, which is the right choice.
Just being LH is not enough to get out LH major league hitters. Kei Igawa is a LHP. Should he have been in consideration?
Vikings upstaging Twins in Minny today with Moss’ return.
Shame-
“All I want to know is that I can come to the blog and not see people killing each other in the comments section.”
Don’t hold your breath on that one. A large asteroid is more likely to hit the Earth.
Blake-
All I meant was that if it were a CRITICAL game it’s not even a choice.
You know their Pythagorean W-L record based on run differential has them at 97-65 which would have had them playing in the Bronx tonight. My own autopsy points to the starters as the main reason they fell that last 2% short. There were other mitigating factors but I’d say the ineffectiveness of AJ, Javy and Andy’s injury proved to be too much to put them on top.
There was probably about a dozen games where AJ or Javy put the game out of reach by the 4th inning. Imagine they won even just half of those.
Regardless, they did overcome a lot to be where they are today and I do believe they have the wherewithal to “turn it on”
Go Bombers!
well put LGY…and Girardi has said he is comfortable w/ Wood and D-rob.
Was Ring included in the group working out in Tampa? I know Nova and Nunez are there in case they are needed.
You are too caught up in small sample size stats.
Royce Ring didn’t pitch well enough to be on the post-season roster.
Mid-80′s fastball, average slider and a non-strikethrower isn’t going to get you on the roster.
You have to be more than just LH to get on the roster.
They gave him a shot and he didn’t do well. Simple as that.
The Yankees aren’t “much better” than the Twins. That’s fan talk, not baseball analysis.
If they were, they wouldn’t even be playing them right now. They would be at home, with HFA, playing Texas.
Its an evenly matched series despite the names on the Yankees side of the ledger.
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 October 6th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Today promises to be the longest workday in history right? It?s only 9:20?lol
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With tomorrow’s game at 6:30-
I am running out the door tomorrow at 5 like the building is on fire
So here is the debate I believe –
The Twins pitchers are pitch to contact throw a lot of strikes pitchers ; The Yankees like to be patient and work the count. This is when they are at there best it seems.
So.. Do the Yankee hitters try and work the count or do they go into their at bats in full out attack mode knowing that they are going to get strikes to hit???
Question of the series I believe.
Erica in NY October 6th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Erin-
If you are still hanging around, I just sent you an e-mail
*******************************
Just got it.
Sorry it took me so long-I got caught up doing something at work
At least we’re lucky Morneau is not part of the equation again.
That’s one less big bat to worry about.
LGY-
Couldn’t agree more. The whole lefty righty thing drives me crazy. I hate to see someone like Joba or Robertson start to get into a groove, only to get pulled for Logan to face a lefty. It is a by-product of the laptop management era.
There are situaitons where you want to go to a lefty, such as with Big Papi this year who really struggled against left handed pitching, but more often than not you would be fine with a right handed pitcher, particularly a guy like Robertson who misses bats as well as anyone on the team.
This could be a painful series with Girardi overmanaging. Hopefully he lets the talented players do their thing, but something tells me he will not be able to resist the temptation of overmanaging.
Genious Maker,
I have to agree with LGY here. If you’re going to bring in someone just to face Thome then they need to be a big league caliber pitcher and most of all you need to have confidence that they aren’t going to walk the one hitter they are brought in to face. I’m sure they would have loved to have a second lefty in the pen for this series….they just don’t have one and that’s not Girardi’s fault.
LGY, sure I understand that this is off of major league lefties, however, I disagree with your dismissal with the exception of if a lefty just stinks. But Ring is a lefty who is tough on lefties and has a great breaking ball. He only faced 10 lefties and that is the 2nd biggest issue as this regime just doesn’t see the value in having a 2nd lefty…they should have been giving him work. The biggest issue was that the Yankees did not go get a quality enough lefty that they feel was worthy. Ring is good enough to be the last pitcher on the roster for the postseason though. Remember just having the deterrent makes a huge difference otherwise you allow the opposing manager to dictate when he wants to play his chip…this is managing 101 and it is critical.
Plus Ring was a former #1 pick and has had very solid numbers in AAA so it is not like he is some rag arm guy…he is a lefty specialist and that is all we want him for…ONE batter. Liek I said in my blog, Ring could make a difference in teh series and Moselely will not
@Erica My boss is not here tomorrow, so I’ll be leaving BEFORE 5. There’s a new traffic pattern on 66, and I’m not risking sitting in traffic.
Good morning all,
——————————-
MTU,
We have had bad storms too. I think they are going south to north. Hope all is well at your digs.
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What everyone has said this morning is right on the money. If the Yankees offensively produce during this series we are golden. To me that has been an achilles heal for much of the last 2 weeks or so. We get men on base and leave them there.
IMO, the pitching on our side should be good.
That is the optimist side of me. I am not bothering with the pessimist side.
Liverpool owners agree to sell to Red Sox.
————————————————-
The fact that the Beatles now have some secondhand connection to the Red Sox is a bit troubling.
Then again if they sh*tcan “Sweet Caroline” for “Hey Jude” ? Well that might not be such a bad thing.
re wrote the final paragraph for clarity…Plus Ring was a former 1st round pick and has had very solid numbers in AAA so it is not like he is some rag arm guy?he is a lefty specialist and that is all we want him for?ONE batter. Like I said in my blog, Ring could make a difference in the series and Moselely will not
108 stitches says:
October 6, 2010 at 9:27 am
Maddon’s latest gig is the blue plaid look for the Rays. The team has blue plaid sportcoats for travel and the Tampa Bay area has blue plaid mania. This replaces the tomahawk haircuts and Maddon dying his hair blue.
Oddly enough, tickets are still available for today’s Game 1 of the ALDS.
——
They said on the news that the reason they still have tickets is because some season ticket holders turned in their seats, my dad found some seats right behind the dugout for $215. I told my dad to save his money and buy me Yankees spring training tickets.
Bronx Jeers -
I was looking at the Pythagorean W-L yesterday, too.
The Rays were spot on. So I continued looking. All the playoff teams were right around their actual record, so I figured, in this case, the P/W-L told me nothing I didn’t already know.
But it did make me chuckle to think that if the Yankees had met their P/W-L, the playoff picture would be a little different.
Why is it that in every article I’ve read this morning I keep seeing that last year the Yankees were pretty much a flawless team that was destined to win the World Series from April???
IS that really how it went last season? Because I remember us winning the series against the Twins being possibly/partly based on a bad call by an umpire. I didn’t think we were invincible last year either.
Hey, another idiotic lupica article that mentions payroll. Ugh why do I read that idiot
ConcernedCitizen October 6th, 2010 at 10:01 am
@Erica My boss is not here tomorrow, so I?ll be leaving BEFORE 5. There?s a new traffic pattern on 66, and I?m not risking sitting in traffic.
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I wish I could do that. But with the 10/15 deadline next week, I am so worried I’ll get stuck
Plus- I am having 14 people over on Friday night. I have about 3 hours of baking I need to do tomorrow night in preparation
Blake, do you understand that Thome is doing better than a walk against righties right now and that is against major league righties. You guys don’t seem to get that. He has been hitting at an OPS of 1.20 for crying out loud. But again this isn;t just Thome, it could be Kubel or it could be Mauer. Ring has enough against a lefty to be an OK lefty specialist and that is all you need when comparing to keeping Moseley or Burnett as teh last guy on teh roster.
Bronx Jeers October 6th, 2010 at 10:01 am
The fact that the Beatles now have some secondhand connection to the Red Sox is a bit troubling.
Then again if they sh*tcan ?Sweet Caroline? for ?Hey Jude? ? Well that might not be such a bad thing.
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Bronx Jeers-in no way do I want “Hey Jude” (or any other Beatles song) associated with the Red Sox.
Good Morning everyone, a new season ! I psyched for some potential great games today!
First on the Menu, Price vs Lee should be as good as it gets !
This is WAY off topic but straight from the horses mouth.
David Ortiz really really wants to stay in Boston. But if they don’t want him or really low-ball him… he wants to play for the Yankees.
Of course, this isn’t the 2003 David Ortiz. But it’s nice to see another Sox player who “wants to play for the Yankees”
yea Ring could have lost the series as well where Mosely won’t because he won’t be in the game if the outcome is in question….his role will be to eat innings in low leverage situations….not get big outs in high leverage sitations as would be the case if Ring were on the roster.
Boston Dave – link?
A former #1 pick means nothing.
Chad Mottola is a former #1 pick who was selected ahead of Derek Jeter once upon a time. How did that turn out?
His AAA numbers mean nothing. Albie had unreal AAA numbers this year and still struggled at the ML level.
He doesn’t have a “great breaking ball”. If he did, he not only would have been on the roster, he would have been in the majors the last 3 years instead of being in the minors.
LH relief pitchers with “great” breaking balls don’t spend the last 3 years in the minors as Ring has.
He’s not a difference maker and wouldn’t have been one in this series.
Shame Spencer,
I’m the source
So I know it’s true.
Shame Spencer -
Yesterday morning, I was watching the final game of the ALDS versus Pavano. It was painful to watch. If I didn’t know the outcome, I would have been nervous. Pettitte pitched very well. But after the 6th inning, the Twins ran themselves out of scoring more runs than they did. Until the 9th the only scoring by the Yanks was 2 solo HRs. They didn’t have walks.
I had to laugh when I heard someone say the Twins don’t beat themselves, because that’s exactly what they did last year. (Plus the bad call by the ump)
Looks like everybody can relax about Kearns possibly being in the lineup:
BloggingBombers RT @YESKimJones For a while it seemed Girardi had gone to a Kearns-Gardner platoon in left. Told that Gardner gets the start against Liriano
“First on the Menu, Price vs Lee should be as good as it gets !”
Let’s hope it’s Price-less.
SAS-
The river would have to rise about 600 ft. more to reach us. It is an awesome sight to see flash flooding in the Desert, at least from a safe distance.
All came at once this year. Hope you are well and enjoying Scottsdale.
The Yankees won the series last yr because of a lot of luck. Almost every WS winner has a good dose of luck when they win. Last yr they benefited from shoddy fielding, bad baserunning and poor efforts from closers. And they also got a call or two they shouldn’t have. It’s like that every yr.
The Yanks are the best team in the AL. They probably aren’t better than the Phils this yr (doesn’t mean they wont win if they face them), but they’re most definitely better than the Twins. But, as we all know, the better team doesn’t always win.
Your logic is backward…Ring could come in and face Thome in a non high leverage situation too? If the situation were so needed where Ring would come into the game in a high leverage situation than it is even more valuable to have him on the roster.
I guess you simply can’t see the way thsi will play out, but watch how often it would make a lot of sense to have a lefty come in for one batter in this series and then maybe the lightbulb will come on.
I do also want to make it clear that I don;t think Ring is a great Lefty specialist, but I think his value is far greater than Moseley (the 3rd long reliever) on the roster.
This is the main point along with the idiocy that we don;t have a 2nd lefty in the pen that they feel more comfortable with.
This is an unrelated story, but I was having a conversation with a friend of mine last night about the “Four Nights in October” special. We came to the conclusion that if the Yankees came back from a 3-0 deficit, it would have been downplayed. The narrative would have been, “payroll,” this and, “Red Sox are cursed,” that. The entire sports world was just waiting for someone to beat the Yankees in a devastating fashion.
You don’t hear much about successful people (or teams) being successful, but when they fail at something, its front page news. You wouldn’t read a news story with the headline, “Mark Zuckerburg Still Rich,” but when a movie/book come out about him revealing his flaws, the whole world is reading.
Of course, this friend I was talking to was with me for all seven of those games. We talk about those “four days in October” like we lost a dear friend or something. But last year was more than enough to put it to rest. Just a story I thought I’d share.
Erica in NY October 6th, 2010 at 9:56 am
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 October 6th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Today promises to be the longest workday in history right? It?s only 9:20?lol
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With tomorrow’s game at 6:30-
I am running out the door tomorrow at 5 like the building is on fire
_________________________________________________________________
Seriously what happened the 7:00 games? They playoff times are nuts! ( although dealing with crazy playoff game times is better than no playoff games )
oooohhh…a hint for GTLU
I didn’t plan on Kearns being in there anyway
It never rains in Southern California. Except now. A good reason to leave work in the rear view mirror and get ready for some October baseball watching the greatest sports franchise in the history of the world and beyond! The New York Yankees!
I have my Mickey Mantle signed ball on the coffee table – let’s kick some Minnesota booty!!!!!!
SP Times:
Baldelli and Jennings make roster; Aybar and Navarro don’t
Rocco Baldelli and Desmond Jennings were included on the Rays 25-man roster, Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro did not.
The bullpen includes Jeff Niemann, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls in addition to main four of Rafael Soriano, Joaquin Benoit, Randy Choate, and Grant Balfour.
Some explanation of why the Boston Socks did nothing at trading / waiver deadlines in 2010. The owners are now involved in soccer.
http://www.boston.com/sports/s.....rentPage=1
Doreen – Thats so true!! I almost forgot about the running game the Twins had going. I know a lot of people think the Twins will capitalize on our starters and Posada’s struggles throwing runners out. But I have to wonder if it won’t come back to bite them. The Twins don’t run a lot as it is, which might not matter.. but it certainly could if you have guys that aren’t used to doing the job and perhaps hesitant or not in the habit of reading pitchers very well. Them trying to push the limits with runners on might get them off their game.
Okay. GTLU Announcement.
Erica and I are sharing GTLU duties for the post-season.
We are going with the stricter rules for this.
This means:
1. No lineups will be accepted outside of the “open for business” window. This means no early lineups and no late lineups.
2. No changes will be accepted to lineups which have already been submitted.
3. Lineups which do not include positions along with players will not be accepted, but we will notify you and give you the opportunity to submit a corrected lineup before we enter it.
I will be handling GTLU today. Erica will be doing the honors tomorrow.
The window for submitting lineups today will be 1:00 to 3:00 pm, eastern. I will post my usual “open for business” at the appropriate time.
Erica -
Feel free to add to this if I left anything out.
I have a few things to take care of (baking CC cookies being one of them). Catch you all later.
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 October 6th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Seriously what happened the 7:00 games? They playoff times are nuts! ( although dealing with crazy playoff game times is better than no playoff games )
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Very, very true
BTW, this was a quote from Cashman after Ring was called up…”He got guys out from the left side at Triple-A all year”
The same people said they didn’t want Marte on the postseason roster because he was struggling mightily…I argued then and while Ring does not have the pedigree of Marte, Ring wasn’t pitching very poorly either.
Doreen-
All I have left to add is this…..
The GTLU Gestapo is back!!!!!
The real issue is that the Twins are just playing better than the Yanks right now. We are 39-35 since the All-Star break, and they are 48-26. And the 48-26 understates it, because the Twinkies took their foot off the pedal and played Spring Training lineups after they clinched.
And before you lay it all at the door of AJ and Javy, the Yanks only outscored the Twins by 17 runs in the second half. And that overstates the offensive advantage for the Yanks, because we play in a hitter’s park and they play in a pitcher’s park.
So this will be a tough series. Tonight is crucial.
The logic of putting a guy on the postseason roster just because they are left handed is backwards…if you want to believe it isn’t then ok…..
MTU -
Don’t forget the life vests for the mops.
“So this will be a tough series. Tonight is crucial.”
I’ve said it before, but I think tonight decides the series. If we can’t win behind CC, the next two games will be EXTREMELY high pressure.
Genius Maker
I don’t know if Royce Ring’s mother thinks he’s as much of a difference maker as you do.
He’s faced Thome 4 times- 2 walks and 2 Ks. Robertson and Wood’s numbers are similiar to that against him.
Too small a sample size for such big faith.
Unless Thome is a AAA lefty, Cashman’s comment means little.
I would have gone with Chad’s roster, which included Ring, Nova and Nunez … we will see how it works out tonight.
Liriano has thrown more innings than he ever has this season and struggled down the stretch….yet its not a concern for him but is for Phil Hughes according to the media. Funny how that works….I think they both could pitch well.
Al-
Women, children, and dogs first.
No worries.
Man, SJ, you talk so arrogantly, like you really understand the game, yet you feel there is more value with Moseley than Ring on the postseason roster? This shows a complete lack of understanding of the moves managers make and sometimes don;t make because of the matchup game. Moseley will not see any time in the series unless the game is seriously out of reach. Ring could be used to keep some things in check. Also, to not understand how important it is to have 2 lefties on the roster is mind boggling, especially against a team with lefties.
BTW, Alby can’t throw strikes at the major league level and that is his biggest issue. He has some sort of a mental block and you speak out of both sides of your mouth as minor league numbers DO translate into major league numbers in most cases…there is definitely a statistically significant correlation. That does not mean there aren’t exceptions such as Albie who can’t hit any spots when he comes up in the majors, but my guess is he gets it straightened out somewhat at some point.
That’s pretty ballsy of Ortiz to come out and say that he’d like to play for the Yankees. Not sure how the rancid fanbase will react to that.
Ortiz seems to be a decent guy except for the fact that he’s a cheater who lied about it. Thanks David, but BOS can keep you.
According to many analysts and fans, the Yankes have never played a game that isn’t crucial.
I am not worried about Phil. He pitched very well against the red sox, once as a starter, once as a reliever, both home and away. And if the Yankees chances in the post season come down to having Royce Ring on the roster, they are in big trouble.
In a five game series where the Yanks pitch 2 LHP in 4 out of 5 games two lefthanded specialists or fears of a running game by the Twins is probably not warranted. AP doesn’t allow many folks to steal period. CC keeps most people off the bases and his being LH causes issues for most runners as well. That only leaves the Hughes, Mo or other RP and I’m not too concerned about them either.
I personally want to see Lee pitch great & TB to win in 5 games with Price pitching Game 5. I’d also love for the Yanks to win in 3 so a rested CC would be ready for TB with Price pushed back to Game 2 or 3.
SPTimesRays
Aybar, Hellickson, McGee, Sonnanstine will stay with #Rays to workout; Navarro, Hawpe and Cormier sent home.
Pat, do you understand that if you face Thome 4 times and he walks twice and K’s twice that is a very good thing? Against righties he has an OPS of 1.20!!! The 4 AB stretch is barely statistically valid, but at least it shows he didn’t swing too well against him. Again, I don’t see how anyone can conclude having Moseley on the team instead of Ring makes any sense and if you do, congratulations on agreeing with the same poor decisions Girardi has been making down the stretch. As crazy as it sounds, even if Ring just got up to throw as a deterrent he has more value than Moseley.
This week all the questions and doubts about the decline in skills of the Core Four will be answered. In my opinion, their collective performance, or lack of it, will go a long way towards deciding this series and the Yankees success in the post season.
1. Will Jeter hit in the clutch in October like the Jeter of old?
2. Will Mo be Mo, the most dominating closer to ever put on spikes?
3. Will Pettitte be the keep us in the game, grit it out professional he has been in post-seasons past?
4. Will Posada, one more time, rise to the ocassion behind the plate and at bat?
I say yes!
I disagree about Alby being able to throw strikes at the ML level.
When a pitcher is not used for weeks, you can’t expect him to come into a game and have the control necessary to place the ball where he had been while pitching on a regular basis in AAA.
Alby and others could have helped the pen down the stretch, but, Joe made the decision to keep going back to the same core, thus wearing them down.
One of the pages in his book must have been left behind by Torre.
Laura,
Players say stuff to their friends or whoever all the time. I suppose it’s considered “off the record”
For all I know he’s anticipating the Sox nickel and diming him and he’d want to stick it to them by going to the Yanks.
Silly rumor type stuff but I figured I’d pass it along since I can verify it.
pat October 6th, 2010 at 10:38 am
According to many analysts and fans, the Yankes have never played a game that isn?t crucial.
*****************
This includes spring training games
If I’m not mistaken the Red Sox have an $11 million club option on Ortiz? Is that right?
“If I’m not mistaken the Red Sox have an $11 million club option on Ortiz? Is that right?”
Yes, and they’ll exercise it.
I agree.
I’m just glad that I don’t have to see homer prone Gaudin warming up in the bullpen. 16 homers given up in 60+ innings. Ugh.
The only “Ring” that’s important right now is the WS RING!
Basestealing against has been one major weakness, that really was prevalent more down the stretch, as seen by normally slow Boston’s run at will and succeed against us. Glad we have two lefties going. Please keep the walks to a minimum.
I don’t think I’m a big crucial game proclaimer. But tonight is crucial.
David Ortiz has a 12.5M option with no buyout according to Cots,
The Genius Maker October 6th, 2010 at 10:36 am
SJ has said for over a month now that Joe G has made some questionable moves. Moseley has pitched well enough to be on the roster, especially if something happens to one of the Yankee starters & is needed as a spot starter or backup to AJ w/oblowing out the pen.
On the Thome thoughts of requiring an additional LHP, even if Ring were on the roster who would you chose to pitch to him out of Boone, DRob, Joba, Wood, Mo, or Mitre. I think I’d chose all of them over Ring with perhaps Mitre being the only one I’d have to think twice about.
I really cant picture ortiz in the pinstripes without gagging.
Who will be the unsung Yankee who will rise to the occasion and become the next Aaron Boone? Thames? Kearns? Berkman?
Thames
However good Royce Ring may or may not be, having him on the post-season roster is pointless if Girardi won’t use him in a high-leverage situation.
I think the Yanks leaving Ring off the post-season roster tells you Joe’s thinking on that.
Like the Yankees, the Rays will go with only one lefthander out of the bullpen with rookie Jake McGee sticking around in case they want to use 2 LH if they make it to the ALCS.
George wanted Ortiz, after reaping millions on Giambi. Cashman had to remind him that they had just signed Giambi to play 1st base. I can only imagine how many more WS the Yankees might have been in with Ortiz, than Giambi.
Before I post the update chart there are a few comments to which I wanted to respond.
“One of the discussions here last night had to do with the Yankees ability or inability to hit with RISP”
It is inability or lack of consistency? I’ve seen the Yankees rachet up in the postseason like they are a totally different team.
I remain unworried. I am not worried about the Minny series. I’ve seen Yankee players who have had “unusual” seasons hitting in the clutch in games lately where they hadn’t been hitting. Think Jeter. Anything is possible. We’ll see what happen. No amount of worrying or hand wringing is going to change the outcome of games so you might as well sit back and try to let it unfold without having an ulcer before it even begins. Let it unfold. If people here are worried, you would have been suicidal in 2000. How did that work out?
“So this will be a tough series. Tonight is crucial.”
All series have the propensity to be tough (though I am not seeing this one as particularly tough). Minny didn’t actually tear up the field over the last several weeks. With Mourneau out and Mauer hurting, you have a different look to that team. On any day any team can win. Ask the Florida Marlins. I never fear with CC on the mound.
************
This is a totally serious question. Why does anyone bother reading opinion columns on the Yankee’s chances? Is it because you need fortification because of the way they’ve been playing? Did you read what the “experts” said about the Yankees in 2006? How about 2000? And why ever would someone bother reading someone they continually say they can’t stand or don’t believe in and then report back here the turmoil they feel because they read the stuff AGAIN and didn’t like what the people had to say? I seriously don’t get it. I have never read one of those columns, seriously, EVER, and have survived nicely. I watch just about every game and watch the pregames and postgames and get information and updates from our guys here. If I need more than that, I’m in trouble.
Now I am thinking that there is a possibility that you guys who live in the NY area might read the stuff because it’s part of your local newspapers. Maybe if I were a Sux fan, I might be reading what Shaughnessey has to say about which players will come in with the best golf scores.
So it may be a local thing, and if it is, then I guess I understand why you read the stuff. So I may have answered my own question!
Wait, just so I’ve got this straight… the ragging debate this morning involves a guy that wasn’t even on our team for more than a forth of the season?
OK, forget the very good minor league year Ring had this year, I have taken every lefty matchup in Rings major league career and his numbers are as follows:
33 hits in 139 AB’s (.237), 6 doubles and 2 homers with 25 walks and 41 k’s. OPS against of .676.
.237/.353/.324
This is better than I was expecting as I was expecting about a .710 or so. So at the major league level he has shown a decent ability against lefties.
Sorry guys this is a no brainer.
108 , I think TX has a predominant RH lineup.
Big Al, I don’t disagree with you about Albadejo not getting any regular work, but even when he was called up and put in the game he didn’t perform well. I think he will get it together, but I don’t see him being dominating
“Why does anyone bother reading opinion columns on the Yankee’s chances?”
Honest to god trisha – its the only way to get through a work day when its a game night.
“Minny didn’t actually tear up the field over the last several weeks. With Mourneau out and Mauer hurting, you have a different look to that team.”
You weren’t paying attention. The Twinkies played spring training lineups after they clinched (about 10 games). Their won-loss record during that time is meaningless. And Mourneau has been out the entire second half, and Mauer has been hurting the entire second half.
Don’t wrap yourself in an illusory security blanket. This will be a tough series and the Yanks are going to have to rise to the occasion.
NYY626 – Andy in 2011 October 6th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I really cant picture ortiz in the pinstripes without gagging.
********************************
My thoughts exactly.
I agree with Genius in this case, I would have taken Loogy Ring over Mitre ! (Girardi’s secret lover) , but He is not on the roster , so it’s time to move on.
I heard Joe call Mitre , ‘meaty’!
Advocating Ring for a roster spot by stating some hypothetical scenario, that may not work out as you predict, is idiotic.
You stated he has a “great” breaking ball. That is false. He does not.
He was given an opportunity to make the roster with his supposed “great” breaking ball and did not pitch well.
That is a fact. Something you fail to acknowledge in your rants on this subject.
Guys like Ring you you hope to catch lightening in a bottle.
The guy hadn’t pitched in the majors in three years.
You hope he gets hot and you ride it out for a few weeks.
It didn’t happen because he didn’t pitch well.
What you DON’T do with a playoff roster is put a guy on it simply because he’s LH. That’s dumb.
In fact, if you did a little research, you would find out that the Twins hit into a lot of DP’s.
That makes having sinkerball guys like Mitre and Moseley more valuable to have on the roster than Royce Ring.
Shame it is the attention to detail that can be the difference. Last year people didn;t want Marte on the roster and he ended up being a crucial difference maker. the matchup game is so critical in the postseason.
Girardi won’t be so quick to use Boone Logan in earlier innings. Yankee bullpen righthanders can get LH hitters out pretty well. Keeping Royce Ring ready in Tampa is not the worse idea.
“This is a totally serious question. Why does anyone bother reading opinion columns on the Yankee’s chances?”
**************
Because fans live and breathe baseball and are interested in everything they can get their hands on. Stats, opinions, reports, etc. Because many of the people who write those columns are baseball insiders, who travel and work with the players and coaches. They have access to information we don’t. That’s why they break news; we wait to hear it from them. And many of them are good baseball minds who offer interesting perspectives. Take Jon Heyman as an example. He knows more about the inner workings of the game than almost anyone. Or a Sweeney Murti on the local level.
You don’t have to believe what a writer tells you, or like them, but it’s interesting to read them. And thousands do every day.
I like Dustin Moseley. So if he’s on the roster, I feel good about that. I didn’t see anything from Ring that inspired great confidence in me and it isn’t like he’s postseason tested. At least Moseley has started games for us and played with confidence. And here’s the thing with a starter who relieves. He can pretty much get anyone out – lefty or righty.
While during the season bringing in your lefty is a woo-hoo thing, to me if you are doing that stuff to any great degree in the postseason, it’s either already to close for comfort, or you are in such great shape that you can showboat your guy. I’m not thinking a lefty out of the pen wins the world series for you. In certain situations he might help. Nice to have him there (thank you Logan). But give me David Robertson for innings anytime.
David Ortiz is considered one of the great guys in baseball. He won’t become a Yankee, but if he did, he would be embraced. Just like Johnny Damon was. Just my opinion.
Royce Ring hasn’t pitched in the majors on THREE years prior to his callup.
With the shortage of LH relief pitchers in baseball, if this was such a “no brainer”, he wouldn’t be three years between ML stops.
Especially since, he didn’t pitch well in his September audition.
Cashmoney October 6th, 2010 at 10:55 am
108 , I think TX has a predominant RH lineup.
………………………………..
This is true but David Murphy for one has burned the Yankees this year and although Josh Hamilton is not 100% with hurting ribs, he’s still a presence.
Josh Hamilton sure looked OK this past weekend. He’s an amazing athlete and soon to be AL MVP IMO. He is to be feared no question.
I agree that tonight is a crucial game…can they win the series after losing tonight?…sure they can, but a win tonight erases home field and in one of the remaining 4 games you’ll have Sabathia going against their #4. They have to get at least a split in Minnesota but a win tonight puts a lot of pressure on the Twins going in to Game 2.
I agree that tonight is a crucial game…can they win the series after losing tonight?…sure they can, but a win tonight erases home field and in one of the remaining 4 games you’ll have Sabathia going against their #4. They have to get at least a split in Minnesota but a win tonight puts a lot of pressure on the Twins going in to Game 2.
RayVT asked a good question when he said, “even if Ring were on the roster who would you chose to pitch to him out of Boone, DRob, Joba, Wood, Mo, or Mitre?”
My answer is I woudl rather have Ring face Thome than anyone other than Rivera and Logan. Look at the numbers matchups only (obviously, some players matchup better against each other, but in the 4 AB’s Ring has done well against Thome):
Thome has an OPS of .769 against lefties and 1.153 against righties
Rings Career OPS of let’s just say OPS against lefties is .700 – so (.700 and .769 are in play) avg= .735
Wood against lefties is a .656 OPS so (.656 and 1.153 are in play) avg= .905
Wood is the next best guy against lefties so you get the point.
So while I could see wanting Wood over Ring against Thome, the numbers don’t support it. Robertson and Joba don’t make sense.
A little late to the conversation but choosing between Bumgarner and Linececum for game 4 is sure a great problem to have….
Why wouldn’t you want DRob facing Thome?
“I really cant picture ortiz in the pinstripes without gagging.”
The thought of it doesn’t make me gag (getting Manny Ramirez would do that for me). I don’t think we need Ortiz. It looks like our DH spot is spoken for for several years to come.
Hamilton’s split is hugh in home/away games, but consider he was also good defensively. I would give the MVP to him. I also think the Rangers struggled offensively without him.
“They have to get at least a split in Minnesota but a win tonight puts a lot of pressure on the Twins going in to Game 2.”
Exactly. I’m going to commit the cardinal sin by saying that tonight is a must win. So many things can fall into place if we win tonight.
While Ortiz could put up some impressive power numbers in YS, he is the last thing the Yanks need. They don’t need the DH spot clogged up with Arod, Posada, and others suffering through their aches and pains and getting older. Plus, Ortiz clogs up the bases like none other. I like that the Yanks have gotten more athletic with the addition of Tex and Granderson among others. I hope it continues…
I think DRob is pretty good against lefties. .240 lifetime, .260′s this year if I am not mistaken.
I sure hope Posada is a part time bench player in 2011 and not a DH for any significant amount of time.
“Honest to god trisha – its the only way to get through a work day when its a game night.”
Best answer I’ve seen yet!
“You weren’t paying attention. The Twinkies played spring training lineups after they clinched (about 10 games). Their won-loss record during that time is meaningless. And Mourneau has been out the entire second half, and Mauer has been hurting the entire second half.
“Don’t wrap yourself in an illusory security blanket. This will be a tough series and the Yanks are going to have to rise to the occasion.”
Actually I was paying attention, apparently more than you because Mauer has NOT been hurting the entire second half. In fact it was only during the last three weeks or so of the season that he really started having problems and they slowly shut him down because of it. Which Mauer shows up in the postseason is anybody’s guess? But an effective Mauer – which he was for most of the season – is important to their success.
Ask me anything you want about Mauer. He was the catcher on my fantasy team. I watched him daily.
Illusory security blanket?
Worry if you must. I’m not. Okey dokey, let’s move on from that.
By the way, I am someone here who has the greatest respect for the ability of any team to win on any day. You may have noticed the trashing I took for astutely noticing the Jays would rise to the occasion this season, and also for noticing the turnabout of the Orioles. So the point is not that I don’t have great respect for Minny’s ability. It’s that I have more faith in the Yankees ability to beat Minny.
“Take Jon Heyman as an example. He knows more about the inner workings of the game than almost anyone. Or a Sweeney Murti on the local level.
You don’t have to believe what a writer tells you, or like them, but it’s interesting to read them. And thousands do every day.”
Fair enough. Do thousands read them every day? I’m sure they do. I’ve survived well without them, so to each her or his own.
as a Yankee fan, I think Robbie deserves the MVP. He has played almost every game, and played well. He stepped up big time when Alex was on the DL and Tex was struggling. His defense is stellar.
However, as a baseball fan, I would not be disappointed to see Hamilton get it.
Hitting with risp and less than 2 outs is going to be monumental. I am not even talking about getting 2 out hits. I am focusing on the sac flys and such. That is the Key
I don’t like 5 game sets. I don’t know the numbers, but I would think winning Game 1 of 5 game series is likely a determining factor of who wins the series.
Genious Maker,
I see you have read Girardi’s “book”. What the splits don’t tell you is how Thome does against lefties with 85 MPH fastballs and control issues that haven’t pitched in the big leagues in 3 years….
Genious Maker,
I see you have read Girardi’s “book”. What the splits don’t tell you is how Thome does against lefties with 85 MPH fastballs and control issues that haven’t pitched in the big leagues in 3 years….
Against lefties this year:
Logan: .190
Wood: .211
Rivera: .214
Mitre: .226
Joba: .246
Robertson: .268
With the Yankees Woods average was probably miniscule against lefties.
Royce Ring didn’t do the job when brought up and didn’t earn himself a spot on the postseason roster. lefties hit .375
And oh yeah. Want to test the mettle of a team? Let them survive in the AL East. I’m not blown away by the fact that Minny clinched a while ago.
I think David Murphy is a nice little player 108. He is also few of the guys on TX who hits both on the road and home. He is like a ML version Curtis Colin who does everything pretty decently.
“# 108 stitches October 6th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Oddly enough, tickets are still available for today’s Game 1 of the ALDS.
”
The game was sold out before the opponent was announced. They did release a few hundred I think yesterday that I think they had on stubhub or reserved to try to sell season tickets. I would have went if I won the ticket lottery, would have been a fun baseball game Lee vs Price and Yanks tonight
sorry for the double posts…my phone is acting screwy.
SJ, there is not one thing you said makes sense. First, I didn;t think I said he had a great breaking ball and if I did that was mistaken (I looked back and couldn’t find it…but if I did then my bad. He has a very good slider with a lot of movement that comes from the side.
2) The hypothetical I bring up happens all the time and you should know that. Don;t you think having a guy who you can counter with to bat or a pitcher warming up or having a lefty that you can counter with changes the strategy? The answer is absolutely yes and you know this as does anyone who has a clue.
3) I am not looking to catch lightning in a bottle, I am looking to have good options for Girardi to use and clearly the numbers speak that Ring against a Thome is better than most everyone in our bullpen. If he does his major league career average he should be more effective than the others in our pen.
4) You then say the guy hasn’t pitched in the majors in 3 years…you may want to do some research as he only missed 2009 at the major league level.
5) and finally SJ, you make another icncorrect comment because you talk about the sinker balls of Mosely being so valuable, but Ring gets grounders over 50% of the time for his career as he is a ground ball pitcher…so you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.
I am fine with people disagreeing with me, that is what makes a good discussion, but I guess others don’t challenge your wrong information SJ…I look forward to your response, just try not make stuff up this time
“David Ortiz is considered one of the great guys in baseball. He won’t become a Yankee, but if he did, he would be embraced. Just like Johnny Damon was. Just my opinion.”
I want to say this as politely as possible. Even the Sux fans I know are convinced the guy is on the juice. I don’t know a handful of Yankee fans that would even want to look at the guy. If he were on the Yankees, I’d vomit each time he came up to the plate. But then again I don’t like or embrace cheaters, especially those who lie about it.
Blake
we just thought you had something doubly important to say
SJ said
SJ44 October 6th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Royce Ring hasn?t pitched in the majors on THREE years prior to his callup.
With the shortage of LH relief pitchers in baseball, if this was such a ?no brainer?, he wouldn?t be three years between ML stops.
Especially since, he didn?t pitch well in his September audition.
******************
well that would be fine if that were accurate, but he faced 87 lefties between 2007 and 2008…he only didn’t pitch in 2009.
As for this year he faced what 10 lefties with no rhythm at all??? A lefty specialist should be pitching 4 times a week not once a week. I would prefer to look at his career and he was very good this year in the minors and Cahsman stated he got lefties out all year in the minors.
And when you say he is a great guy do you mean steroid wise or personality wise? This is the guy who said he should have gotten MVP over Jeter and who uses every F-bomb in the world when talking to reporters, and complains bitterly about everything.
Our definitions of great are definitely our of synch. I also think you living far away from the reality of this jerk and me living within 50 miles of it has to make a difference.
CC is what a bona fide ACE #! starter is all about
Can always count on him to lead the staff.
David Ortiz is a platoon DH in the same vein as Thome, Berkman and others at this point.
His hr power is still appealing in YS3 , but how much ? that’s the eternal question.
Absolutely no to Ortiz as a Yankee. It’s been hilarious enough watching him run to 1st base like it was the electric chair.
Posada, Montero, and others will get DH time in 2011. Ortiz is not a fit.
At least Posada would catch 40-50 games in 2011 with Montero and (Cervelli ?) catching the rest.
The bat of Ortiz is clearly slowing with age as evidenced by his starts of 2009-2010. No thank you.
“Actually I was paying attention, apparently more than you because Mauer has NOT been hurting the entire second half. In fact it was only during the last three weeks or so of the season that he really started having problems and they slowly shut him down because of it.”
Actually I was paying more attention than you. You conveniently forgot Mourneau, and the Twins’ lineups after they clinched, in your repost. And Mauer has been hurting off and on (heel in May, knee in September) but it looks like he’s good to go now.
But feel free not to worry, I don’t demand that people worry.
I hope we don’t see Kearnsy in the outfield tonight.
West Coast Yankee Fan October 6th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Why wouldn?t you want DRob facing Thome?
************
a 1.153 OPS against righties…He may very well be doing it and even if Ring were on the roster he still might, but the point is that Thome is a very dangerous guy against righties and it is in our best interest to limit those AB’ as much as possible. If he were hitting behind or even near Mauer you may be able to get a lefty on both of them in one move.
I hate to admit this but I would love to see David Ortiz on the Yanks next season.
The Sox might be tempted to decline that option too. He had a great season but 12.5 seems to be way above market for a full–time DH.
And I think even with all the age they’ll have next season the Yanks will invest some $$$ in a lefty DH.
I doubt it would be Ortiz type money but you never know…
Shame,
From Verducci column on si.com:
No, the real advantage is having Game 1 at home. Why? It’s the most important game of the Division Series. The winner of Game 1 is 12-0 in the Division Series over the past three years and 21-3 since 2004.
So if your team loses Game 1, there is only one thing to do. Panic.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....z11ap58fwf
Yankees pitch well, play rejuvinated, and don’t make mistakes, they’re going to the WS.
Posada’s value as hitter is largely tie to him as a catcher. At DH , his numbers would be pedestrian at best. I think the Yanks will need a full time DH to max their offense. I don’t konow who though.
Big Papi is lethal against RH pitching still, So is Thome this year.
Bronx Jeers-
The Sox have a lot of moving pieces to nail down over the winter – Beltre and Martinez heading the list. I think they will exercise Ortiz’ option if only to give them one less thing to worry about.
You do realize Cashman has input on the post-season roster don’t you?
In fact, if he was sold on Ring as much as you believe he is, he would be on the roster.
The fact he is not should tell you, despite pleas to the contrary, he didn’t pitch well enough in his audition to merit a spot in the roster.
He’s not a differencemaker. If he was, lefties wouldn’t have hit .375 off him in September.
You should read your own posts re: what you wrote regarding his stuff. It was laughingly inaccurate.
Interesting results from Girardi and Cashman’s rotating DH this year. Mixed bag.
.256 BA
.338 OPS
.440 SLG
.777 OPS
25 Home Runs
83 RBI’s
152 Strike Outs
Compared to Matsui’s Numbers With Anaheim: (145 games – 482 AB)
.274 BA
.361 OPS
.459 SLG
.820 OPS
24 Home Runs
84 RBI’s
98 Strike Outs
* Note: Just interesting nothing more. I realize the Yankees have decided they need the DH spots to be flexible to accommodate older players.
Royce Ring lives on a pretty good sweeping slider that if he gets over the plate can be effective….if he doesn’t then he’s not any good. He didn’t show an ability to do that in the time he was called up and therefore I wouldn’t be comfortable with him in a playoff game…and apparently neither would the Yankees. That’s really all there is to it.
JM – Thanks for the info! That article is pretty interesting..
I think it also serves as the best case for why every series should run 7 games in the playoffs. I just HATE the 5 game format.
Can’t believe we’re actually debating Royce Ring in here this morning. Ridiculous.
Didn’t Ortiz hit a HR off of him last week or something? He was barely on the team this year.
His “former 1st round pick” status is more of an indictment than a plus at this point.
You read these posts where people are pushing these kind of ridiculous agendas and you start to wonder if they have OCD or something.
blake October 6th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Genious Maker,
I see you have read Girardi?s ?book?. What the splits don?t tell you is how Thome does against lefties with 85 MPH fastballs and control issues that haven?t pitched in the big leagues in 3 years?.
******
Blake you shouldn’t blindly trust what SJ wrote as accurate because almost his entire post was wrong. He pitched in 2008 and 2007 so I guess he meant lefties who haven’t pitched in a year (even though he pitched all year in the minors). Also, I didn’t check this but someone posted that he has faced Thome 4 times and walked him twice and K’d him twice. if our righties did that, it would be a huge success
“And I think even with all the age they?ll have next season the Yanks will invest some $$$ in a lefty DH.”
I think Erica knows someone they could get. Just a guess.
Okey dokey, on to the charts.
To answer PatM – if you lose in one of the series, you are definitely not out of the running. That’s why the escalating points can really help someone. You can pick every team wrong in the division series and get it right in the cls and world series and win it all. It’s also the reason why I do a series at a time.
*************************
Here is the updated chart. Please check to see that I’ve gotten your predictions down right!
http://members.cox.net/lsdorga.....SERIES.pdf
Here is how it works from here.
If you want to give a prediction on the Texas series, you have to have your guess in no later than 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 6th.
If you want to give a prediction on the Phils series, you have to have your guess in no later than 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 6th.
If you want to give a prediction on the Yankees series, you have to have your guess in no later than 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 6th.
If you want to give a prediction on the Braves series, you have to have your guess in no later than 8:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7th.
Of course the safest way to do it is to get all of your predictions in by 12:30 p.m. Wednesday!
If you give me any predictions past their individual times, I will only use those that are still timely.
One hour before the start of the specific series is end time for predictions.
Please put my name in the post if you are going to predict.
“# JM October 6th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Shame,
From Verducci column on si.com:
No, the real advantage is having Game 1 at home. Why? It’s the most important game of the Division Series. The winner of Game 1 is 12-0 in the Division Series over the past three years and 21-3 since 2004.
So if your team loses Game 1, there is only one thing to do. Panic.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c…..z11ap58fwf”
+++++++++++++++++++
Which is why having Sabathia out there for Game 1 and he can be used confidently on short rest in Game 4 having done it numerous times before, is the ultimate equalizer.
Its not like the Yankees are sending Chien-Ming Wang out there, no offense to Wang but we always had to hedge out bets with him going into a series and when he tried the one time in 2007 vs Cleveland to work on short rest, he bombed on the mound.
The Yankees have in CC a shut down ace, well rested and ready to go, that is what you want on the mound for you. Not a pitcher in baseball we can’t match up CC against and expect a win, not one, even Halladay or Lee included.
“Yankees pitch well, play rejuvinated, and don’t make mistakes, they’re going to the WS.”
YA VOL! It’s pretty much that basic.
ONWARD AND UPWARD.
Greetings from Arizona. Looking forward to my first trip to In and out Burgers! Yankees win tonight entitles me to a visit!
Hello to Upstate Kate, Erin, Erica and Erin.
Trisha-
Please put me down for NO predicitons. Just hopes and dreams.
Thanks.
“And I think even with all the age they?ll have next season the Yanks will invest some $$$ in a lefty DH.”
—————————
The Godzilla?
Hey Trisha – I’m game!!
Lets see..
Yankees in 4.
Rangers in 5.
Phillies in 4.
Braves in 5.
Yankee Trader October 6th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Against lefties this year:
Logan: .190
Wood: .211
Rivera: .214
Mitre: .226
Joba: .246
Robertson: .268
With the Yankees Woods average was probably miniscule against lefties.
Royce Ring didn?t do the job when brought up and didn?t earn himself a spot on the postseason roster. lefties hit .375
***********
First, I hope everyone understands that batting average tells us very little. second, Ring has allowed 3 hits in 8 AB’s for crying out loud. Not exactly significant as one bloop hit changes form .250-.375. Look at his career OPS against of .675 or so.
I wish people here would try and be fair when proving a point.
I am one of 2 people who agree Ring should Be on the postseason roster, but i am not saying other guys suck or falsely reporting items like SJ had or trying to manipulate numbers so they prove a point, I am admitting that Ring is not some very trustworthy lefty out of the pen, but based on what I have seen and based on what is history tells us and based on the Minnesota twins lineup, I am 100% sure he adds a lot more value than Moseley and possibly AJ will (although I do think AJ might be good out of the pen and I would have liked to see them use him in that role down the stretch)
Genious Maker,
I don’t blindly trust anything and whether he pitched in 2008 or 2007 that doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t prove that he was any good when he was given the chance.
“Actually I was paying more attention than you. You conveniently forgot Mourneau, and the Twins’ lineups after they clinched, in your repost. And Mauer has been hurting off and on (heel in May, knee in September) but it looks like he’s good to go now.
But feel free not to worry, I don’t demand that people worry.
”
It wasn’t a matter of convenience. It is my great perspicacity that allows me to synthesize everything at such a rapid pace that I don’t need to regurgitate. I just pull it all together and give you THE
Frgot to say hello to Doreen as well.
Doreen I understand where you were coming from last night and agree. It is the very rare athlete that doesn’t do his/her best every time out. What is beyond them physically and mentally is only something they can work on.
What’s “THE”
Well damn, in the middle of my brilliance, Chad throws up another thread and my post gets cut off!
Okay, let me simplify it. Al Central v. Al East.
I go with the Yanks.
Also, I think you know by now that I was born without the worry gene. I don’t know how to do it.
Hey MTU good morning my friend. Lovely out here!
Comet-
Have a great time out West.
Hope you brought your umbrella.
trisha – true pinstriped blue
October 6th, 2010 at 11:23 am
And when you say he is a great guy do you mean steroid wise or personality wise? This is the guy who said he should have gotten MVP over Jeter and who uses every F-bomb in the world when talking to reporters, and complains bitterly about everything. Our definitions of great are definitely our of synch. I also think you living far away from the reality of this jerk and me living within 50 miles of it has to make a difference.
************************
I hardly think any Yankee fan should be mentioning steroids. So what if he thought he should get the MVP over Jeter, good for him, why wouldn’t you want any pro-athlete not to be proud, confident and competitive.
As to using the f-word. Pro-athletes? You are kidding right?
So you living on the East Coast makes you more knowledgeable about David Ortiz? Really?
trisha -
“I’m not thinking a lefty out of the pen wins the world series for you.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Think of the high leverage positions Marte pitched in last WS.
Yes, IMO, Logan could be pitching in a high leverage position, with the game in the balance, as could others.
MTU –
That’s sweet. I really did a combination plate. Hopes and dreams topped with a dusting of reality.
MTU we had hail the size of tennis balls yesterday. Wow!
Thanks MTU! Hope all is well with you as well. How is your family member who was hurt a few months back coming along?
Wave,
I basically agree but I do think it’s going to be tempting for them being the backstabbing cheapskates that they are.
The “no buyout” makes it even sweeter for them.
And he produced like a 12.5$$ player but I think teams are always looking for the next Abreu/Vlad or to a lesser extent Thome like deal.
# Shame Spencer October 6th, 2010 at 11:32 am
JM – Thanks for the info! That article is pretty interesting..
I think it also serves as the best case for why every series should run 7 games in the playoffs. I just HATE the 5 game format.
_________________
Agree. They play 162 games and then the first round is five games? I really hate it as well.
Trisha-
As long as they give it everything they’ve got I’ll be happy.
Can’t ask for more than that.
Comet-
Tell me about it. If I wasn’t 600 ft. above the river I’d be building an Ark right now.
Have fun at In-N-Out. You might consider some hiking as well.
It’s the calorie reduction model of fandom.
Comet-
On the mend. Slow steady progress but at least it’s progress.
Thank you for asking.
“I hardly think any Yankee fan should be mentioning steroids. So what if he thought he should get the MVP over Jeter, good for him, why wouldn’t you want any pro-athlete not to be proud, confident and competitive.”
Seriously? Well friend I could throw up purple over Roger Clemens because he’s a liar. I guess you didn’t see the part about owning up to it.
You don’t mind cheaters who live about their cheating, apparently. I do. End of story.
“As to using the f-word. Pro-athletes? You are kidding right? ”
Yeah right because you read those stories every day. The Yankees ALWAYS use the F-bomb in anger when they talk to reporters. And complain every time they’re called out on strikes and walk away whining like two-year olds.
“So you living on the East Coast makes you more knowledgeable about David Ortiz? Really?”
A-parrently-LY. Not just on the east coast. In the back yard of fenway field. I gave you an out. Take it.
************
I’ve read some of your posts and I’ve read some of the disagreement with your views and let’s leave it at this. I tend to be with the posters who definitely think you miss out on the big picture. Whether or not you do, we do not think alike. Not unusual on a blog where lots of people post. There are a cadre of posters here with whose thinking I am more in synch. No big deal.
G. Love October 6th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Can?t believe we?re actually debating Royce Ring in here this morning. Ridiculous.
Didn?t Ortiz hit a HR off of him last week or something? He was barely on the team this year.
His ?former 1st round pick? status is more of an indictment than a plus at this point.
You read these posts where people are pushing these kind of ridiculous agendas and you start to wonder if they have OCD or something.
*******
LOL, don’t let logic and facts get in your way…I guess much like SJ
and no, he didn’t allow a HR to Ortiz and if you think having a 2nd lefty in the pen is ridiculous than that speaks volumes…
blake October 6th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Genious Maker,
I don?t blindly trust anything and whether he pitched in 2008 or 2007 that doesn?t change the fact that he didn?t prove that he was any good when he was given the chance.
******
Blake so you will take the 8 AB’s or 2 innings as proof? WOW, I guess you don’t take any relevance to the 130 AB’s in the previous years? Or that he pitched very well this year in the minors…but those 8 AB’s is what we will make our decision on? OK, but some of the same people stated that ARod was a choker because of a 32 AB stretch and I was on the this same board arguing with everybody about how idiotic it was. In fact, only Rich in NJ agreed with me. Then lo and behold ARod got his postseason OPS above his regular season OPS.
Now Ring does not have near the track record of ARod and I am not even saying that Ring is a very good left handed specialist, but what I am saying is that he should do better against Thome than more of our righties and he is clearly more valuable to have on the team than Moseley who will never be used unless the game is out of hand
New Post: The view from the other side
The Genius Maker October 6th, 2010 at 11:32 am
******
Blake you shouldn’t blindly trust what SJ wrote as accurate because almost his entire post was wrong. He pitched in 2008 and 2007 so I guess he meant lefties who haven’t pitched in a year (even though he pitched all year in the minors). Also, I didn’t check this but someone posted that he has faced Thome 4 times and walked him twice and K’d him twice. if our righties did that, it would be a huge success
————————
you really have to be kidding about Royce Ring, right? This is a guy who pitched for Atlanta in 2008 with an ERA over 8, didn’t pitch at all in the majors in 2009, and who was awful in his September callup. He walks batters at an alarming rate and doesn’t have major league stuff. Other than that, he’s great. Nick Swisher throws lefty also and can play some outfield, pinch hit, and maybe get a lefty out, that’s a better choice than Ring.