Postgame notes: “These guys dominated us”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 23, 2010 
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It doesn’t make the loss any easier to swallow, but the Yankees don’t have to look too deeply for the reason they lost this series. It wasn’t one play, or one decision or one player who cost them the American League pennant.
“They overall played better,” Derek Jeter said. “They pitched better. They hit better. They overall just out-played us. That’s just the bottom line. They were a lot better than us these six games.”
Look back at the games the Yankees won.
Game 1 was decided by a single inning. The Rangers bullpen flinched and the Yankees took advantage with a rally that seemed to be a good indication of things to come. It was instead, a blip on the radar.
Game 5 was a win to hold off elimination, but even in that game, the Rangers had 13 hits and the Yankees were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
In the four losses, the Yankees scored a total of six runs. All told, the Yankees had two regulars — Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano — who hit better than .270. The Rangers had six regulars who hit better than .300.
“They deserve it,” Lance Berkman said. “They beat us. I don’t feel like we gave it to them. We didn’t kick the ball around. We didn’t play sloppy baseball. They just beat us.”
That’s the reality of this series. The Rangers might not have a better team, but they certainly had a better series. One team in the American League Championship Series played like it belonged in the World Series, and that’s the team that’s going to be playing in the World Series.
“These guys dominated us,” Brian Cashman said.
• As you might expect, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi all said they have not thought about — much less decided — what’s going to happen next season. “We’ll see,” Rivera said. “That, I will tell you guys later on when it happens.”
• Series MVP was obviously Josh Hamilton who hit .350 with four home runs and seven RBI. He was intentionally walked five times, which set an ALCS record.
• The final pitching line is awful, and he took his second loss of the series, but Phil Hughes was actually one pitch away from a pretty good start. Two on and two outs, a 1-0 count to Vladimir Guerrero, Hughes tried to throw a curveball down and away. It wound up in the middle where Guerrero hit a two-run double that broke a 1-run tie. “I tried to make as good of a pitch as I could in that situation,” Hughes said.
• Upset about the decision to intentionally walk Josh Hamilton to bring up Guerrero? “That’s the smart play,” Hughes said. “That’s arguably the MVP of this league. You can’t let a player like that beat you.”
• CC Sabathia was never used. Instead it was Dave Robertson who allowed the back-breaking two-run home run by Nelson Cruz. “I went to a right-handed reliever,” Girardi said. “We were facing right-handers and that’s where I decided to go. I went to David Robertson. You have to remember, CC was coming off a 112-pitch (game). If there was a situation where we would use him against a left-hander, we were going to try to use him in a situation against the left-handers in the bottom of the order if that came up.”
• The one offensive bright spot for the Yankees this series was Robinson Cano: .348 with four home runs and a team-high five RBI.
• Girardi said he was hoping to go to Kerry Wood for the sixth and seven and Mariano Rivera for the eighth and ninth. If that didn’t work out, he still had Sabathia if he needed him.
• Sticking with Hughes to face Guerrero? “Hughesy has had success off Vlad Guerrero and got him out twice (tonight),” Girardi said. “That’s why he stayed there.”
• Every hitter I talked to in the Yankees clubhouse said Colby Lewis did nothing different tonight, he just did everything well. The Yankees were hoping to adjust after seeing him in Game 2. “His adjustments were better,” Jeter said.
• Everyone was ready to give Lewis credit, but at the same time: “We have to be accountable,” Alex Rodriguez said. “We feel like there’s no way that we go and score one run tonight. That’s on us.”
• The last out belonged to Rodriguez. “I had no doubt I was going to get on base,” Rodriguez said. “Then he throws me that dragon of a curveball. I think both me and Lance Berkman, who was behind me, we both flinched.”
• In this stadium, where Rodriguez is booed with so much venom, of course it came down to him. “I was actually pretty excited about that at-bat,” he said. “It’s unbelievable how things come around, and of all people I’m the last guy up there. I’m sure it made it a little bit sweeter for them.”
• It’s easy to forget that a lot of these guys know one another and like one another. “I am happy for guys like Michael Young and Colby Lewis who I played with when they were just kids,” Rodriguez said. Of course, that happiness doesn’t take away the sting. “This is going to hurt for a while,” Rodriguez said. “And it should.”
• Statement from Hal Steinbrenner: “On behalf of the New York Yankees I want to congratulate the Texas Rangers, Chuck Greenberg, Nolan Ryan and their entire ownership, staff and organization on winning their first American League Pennant. They played liked champions and we wish them the best of luck representing the American League in the World Series.”
• Just a quick note: I just booked a flight that leaves in six hours, so I need to hurry back to the hotel. I have quite a bit of audio that I’ll get on the blog tomorrow. Thanks for sticking around, everyone. I really do appreciate it. I’ll have more follow-up on the blog tomorrow and in the coming weeks and months.
Associated Press photos
Thanks a lot!
Not sure if anyone should be over analyzing anything Cliff Lee says at this point. However, I know better than that and some of you will.
Just wait and see how it plays out or maybe at least until the final pitch is thrown in 2010. My goodness.
• Sticking with Hughes to face Guerrero? “Hughesy has had success off Vlad Guerrero and got him out twice (tonight),” Girardi said. “That’s why he stayed there.”
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I was thinking of last years ALCS. Vlad got Hughes then as well.
Thanks Chad!
I don’t believe in the “one pitch away” theory……………he pitched a bad game and that’s that.
The Yankees got dominated every which way you can possibly be dominated………..Cash has some major work to do this offseason; I’ll be curious to see what, if anything, he does with the lineup
Thanks, Chad.
ApocaLoHudalypse Now.
Hey Betsy,
The party’s over for 2010. Unfortunately, we were right about being concerned.
Ian Kinsler is right but he has alot to learn about being a gracious winner.
?We outplayed them in the first game, and they got away with one,? said Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, referring to the Yankees? five-run comeback last Friday. ?They were able to take one from us. They outplayed us one game, beat us in New York in the last game of the series. Other than that, did they really have a chance??
Chad, Sam,
Thanks for all the hard work. All of us really appreciate what you do.
SAS, yep……..all we can do is to look to next year.
Kinsler can say what he wants to even if he sounds like a sore winner.
pat, Betsy,
That’s Kinsler’s problem. One of these days he’ll grow up.
OK, on that note I will say goodnight certainly not goodbye…sleep well everyone
Betsy, you made a comment a while ago (I’m catching up) that, in my opinion, shows that you create much of your own negativity:
“I think they are underestimating the pitch they will make to Lee”
I don’t think you have any evidence whatsoever to opine on what the Yankees think it will take to get Lee or what they think the Rangers or other teams will offer. No Yankee employee or owner has said a thing about it. You just made that up in your head.
Maybe some people here are overestimating how easy it will be to get Lee, but that has zero to do with what Cashman and ownership think about it.
They had a pretty good idea about getting CC, no?
Enough is enough, Girardi has made bad decisions all year. He wouldn’t have a job if the boss was still in control of the team. When he came out and said we are going to try and rest our players it doesn’t matter if win the division, well idiot it does matter we lost a game that should have been in new York, we always play better at home, and that’s not the half of it, he lost the game tonight by putting Robertson in which Texas lit up the last time he faced them. His line up really worked out, didn’t it. Kevin Long is horrible and don’t get me started on our pitching coach, after Mel stotlemire and Guidry who the he’ll is this fool calling balls and strikes no wait what strikes yeah those are the ones they were waiting in that went 440 feet. All I got to say is Hank and Hal if your dad was Alive, your grounded forever, and yeah thanks for hiring an idiot!
Kinsler was probably hammered when he said that.
And to be honest, I don’t really mind it. I actually kind of like it.
I don’t particularly understand the concept of gracious losers. There’s a difference between being classless and not being a “gracious loser.” Joe Dimaggio was the classiest player in baseball history and I’m not sure he was ever particularly eager to congratulate opposing teams on their victories.
Nick, I don’t feel like going back and checking my post, but I’m almost positive I was referring to fans underestimating the pitch Texas will make – not the Yankees
# Nick in SF October 23rd, 2010 at 2:21 am
Betsy, you made a comment a while ago (I’m catching up) that, in my opinion, shows that you create much of your own negativity:
“I think they are underestimating the pitch they will make to Lee”
I don’t think you have any evidence whatsoever to opine on what the Yankees think it will take to get Lee or what they think the Rangers or other teams will offer. No Yankee employee or owner has said a thing about it. You just made that up in your head.
Maybe some people here are overestimating how easy it will be to get Lee, but that has zero to do with what Cashman and ownership think about it.
They had a pretty good idea about getting CC, no?
She does this a lot.
I’m also pretty upset that there was no postgame mention of how this team failed to uphold Steinbrenner’s memory this season.
This is the kind of effort that somewhere in the sky I firmly believe he’s breaking water coolers about.
Its like all the talk about George evaporated after four days of intense coverage.
I can’t say I like the way they memorialized him because it seemed like it wasn’t even something that crossed their minds.
Very upsetting to me.
What does the opinion of fans have to do with whether or not the Yankees know what it will take to sign a player?
I won’t even remember Kinsler’s comments in the morning because all I’ll be thinking about is what the Yankees have to do to improve themselves…..
Nick, I have no idea what you are talking about. I never said the Yankees were underestimating what it would take to get Lee.
It’s easy hire a staff that knows how to win!
I must have misread your comment.
Then we are both optimistic that the Yankes will sign Lee if they think he’s worth what it will cost.
Good.
# Nick in SF October 23rd, 2010 at 2:30 am
I must have misread your comment.
Then we are both optimistic that the Yankes will sign Lee if they think he’s worth what it will cost.
Good.
lol
You know, I’m not as angry as I thought I might be after this loss.
But I want to stop hearing how Burnett and Hughes were “one pitch away from a good start.” Both men were *bad.* The end lines were very indicative of how they pitched. The fact that they weebled and wobbled but didn’t fall down until “that one pitch” should not be a applauded. Andy Pettitte was beaten by one bad pitch. Hughes and Burnett were beaten by lousy starts that looked better than they were until the end
Yeah, well, Hal can wish them luck all he wants, but I, personally, hope the Giants close things out on their end tomorrow, and Texas falls flat on their face, is swept in embarrassing fashion, and Washington is driven back to the nose candy, caught, and fired, so I never have to watch him jumping around like a G.D. retard in the dugout ever, ever again.
I do not wish the Rangers and their stupid antler schtick anything but the worst.
Nick, no…………I think Lee could very well stay in TX. I’ll worry about other things instead.
G-C:
Sorry, but I don’t think that’s really an issue. People talk about “heart”, “fire” and “effort” as tangible things. Do you really think they didn’t put forth an effort to win? Is it reallly an issue of Texas playing with more “fire”?
Texas made good pitches and got Yankees hitters out on them. Yankees pitchers made bad pitches and Texas didn’t let them go by and hammered them. Simple as that. You don’t really believe that Hughes, CC, A-Rod et al didn’t want to win the games, Steinbrenner’s memory or no, do you?
And on a side note to that, does Steinbrenner’s death really give the team more motivation to win? Sorry, but I don’t buy that.
Fire Girardi, hire Lou at least he knew the boss and he hates to lose, Girardi is a moleayarn
GC
It should be easier to be a gracious winner than a gracious loser.
Betsy
Take a few days off before you start rebuilding the team. Even Cashman wouldn’t commit to diving into the job of rebuilding on Monday and he actually gets paid to do it.
Depending on how things play out with the WS, I have no doubt that Texas will make a push to re-sign Cliff Lee. But he’s stated time and again that he will test FA so the Yankees will have an opportunity to make an offer, which I have no doubt will be a competitive offer.
It will be on Cash, Girardi and CC to make the sales pitch on why he should join the Yankees over Texas (or any other team).
From a money standpoint, I have no doubt that the Yankees will have the best offer. It will depend on what Cliff Lee wants from a lifestyle perspective.
dbrentgray: just because a guy doesn’t throw temper tantrums in the dugout doesn’t mean he doesn’t hate to lose. Remind me, when did Lou Piniella manage a team to and win the WS?
Joe G isn’t perfect, but guess what, none of them are. People worshipped Torre until they didn’t. Win and all is right with the world. Lose (even in the ALCS where 14 other teams would have killed to be) and the team and management need to be blown up.
What if Lee recruits CC to opt out and join him in the new Texas dynasty???
We could be stuck with Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova! Oh yeah, and AJ. Maybe Joba could start again.
Pat, you find a post of mine where I said we need to rebuild. Guess what? You won’t find one.
# Nick in SF October 23rd, 2010 at 2:43 am
What if Lee recruits CC to opt out and join him in the new Texas dynasty???
We could be stuck with Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova! Oh yeah, and AJ. Maybe Joba could start again.
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I don’t see that happening. Unless the team goes in the tank, I believe he will be with the Yankees for the duration of his contract.
# ChokeXOnXFailure October 23rd, 2010 at 2:34 am
…and Washington is driven back to the nose candy, caught, and fired…
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Well that settles that. You’re a-hole.
How about not wanting to win the division, what did what did the boss do to Billy Martin for less?
# dbrentgray October 23rd, 2010 at 2:48 am
How about not wanting to win the division, what did what did the boss do to Billy Martin for less?
Maybe after this series people will understand why we didn’t win the division.
A classy statement by Hal as well as Washington during his news conference.
It’s time for Hal, Cashman and the entire Yankee organization to get to work as plenty of work awaits them.
That’s easy, we have the highest paid payroll in baseball, and a minimum of five HOF’s I don’t think it’s the players. Any fool could have won the division with this team!
Why would a player who is going to the World Series say he can’t wait to hit free agency???? You guys are unbelievable. “Free agency will take care of itself” uttered by every Free Agent who changed teams in the history of the game.
“I love this city, I love my teammates. I will NEVER be a new york yankee.” – Famous last words uttered by atleast 2 former yankees.
# dbrentgray October 23rd, 2010 at 2:48 am
How about not wanting to win the division, what did what did the boss do to Billy Martin for less?
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And yet, they still made it to the ALCS. With the wild card, baseball is different now. This is not the 80s with Herr Steingrabber signing and firing managers and players at will. This misguided notion of “heart” or “fire” is pretty stupid, IMO. A hot team will hit, a cold team will not. The Yankees were ice cold. Does that mean they wanted to win less than Texas? No. They hit the ball hard off Lewis tonight, but they were right at guys. Contrary to what some here may think, the players cannot decide where the ball goes. A couple of those hard hit balls go 2-3 inches in a different direction and who knows what happens tonight.
If you want the team to go back to the ridiculous notions of the 80s, I have news for you: it ain’t happening. And I, for one, am very happy about that.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in baseball.” – Mark Teixeira, on his Angels playoff run in 2008 which ended with him joining the New York Yankees.
Lee has already said he’ll test free agency. That means all bets are off and any team with a reasonable offer has a shot. Money talks.
Also, Yankees were ‘absolutely not’ getting Teixiera.
Until they did.
“CC Sabathia really likes the west coast, its where he grew up, and he has told Ned Coletti he really likes the Dodgers…. Angels owner Arte Moreno has said he will be making an offer.” – Media before CC Sabathia announces he will become a New York Yankee
We have won one world series in ten years, sorry were not Boston that’s not good enough we are the Yankees the greatest team in the history of sports I don’t want to go back to the 80′s.
# dbrentgray October 23rd, 2010 at 3:06 am
We have won one world series in ten years, sorry were not Boston that’s not good enough we are the Yankees the greatest team in the history of sports I don’t want to go back to the 80’s.
The Yankees have won one world series in the last 2 years.
Piniella managed the Cincinnati Reds between 1990 and 1992, a tenure that included winning the 1990 World Series in a 4 game sweep of the heavily-favored Oakland Athletics, who were the defending champions.
# dbrentgray October 23rd, 2010 at 3:06 am
We have won one world series in ten years, sorry were not Boston that’s not good enough we are the Yankees the greatest team in the history of sports I don’t want to go back to the 80’s.
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And this is why people think Yankees fans are spoiled, petulant brats.
They won the World Series LAST YEAR. For most fans of teams, that would hold you for several years. But arrogant, spoiled brats like you think the Yankees ‘deserve’ to win the WS every year. It’s fans like you that give me a bad name.
They didn’t dominate “us.” They dominated Girardi. The man has no business managing the Yankees. He is the Michael Kay of the dugout.
Congrats to the Rangers for a well-deserved ALCS win. They outplayed the Yankees in every facet of the game. Hopefully, Girardi and Cashman will notice that the ‘post-steroid era’ of baseball is pitching, defense, and speed, exemplified by teams such as the Rays, Texas, as to a lesser extent, the Phillies.
As this team ages, the bats are getting slower. It’ll be interesting to see how Cash adds to the starting rotation, and rebuilds the bullpen, while bringing in some young position players.
Jeter A-Rod and Posada are old.
Everyone else didn’t play well
Outside of Grandy and Cano that is.
I hope the Yankees take Montero north with the team.
Girardi and Cashman will notice that the ‘post-steroid era’ of baseball is pitching, defense, and speed
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The yankees were well ahead of the Rangers in ERA before Andy Pettitte went down. We’re actually pretty close to them in stolen bases (only 20 off). And equal to them on defense.
The yankees right now are built to be strong in every facet of the game. Its unfortunate that AJ Burnett and Javy exploded. Its pretty clear that Cashman is focused on pitching and defense.
I cannot believe rehiring Girardi is at the “top” of Cashman’s wish list this offseason. This organization must be blind….
And that being said the Rangers flat outplayed the Yankees. They deserve it. The Yanks looked old and just did not get hot. It really seemed like the team never clicked altogether all year. Unfortunately that didn’t change this postseason.
I would love to see the Yanks intermingle some of their young prospects into this roster starting next season. The real prizes of Cashman’s campaign to boost the farm system are getting ready to make an impact. Guys like Montero, Brackman, Betances, Banuelos, etc. should slowly start trickling in… maybe that will help things.
I love Kinsler running his mouth…. The guys still has won nothing in his career and spends 3/4 of every season on the disabled list…. man I wish they took these Rangers. I hate seeing Washington smiling and Ryan yacking it up… Digusts me…. just wish the Yanks felt the same way…. Jeet’s probably drinking champaign with then already…
I missed what Kinsler said. Anyone have a link?
The yankees right now are built to be strong in every facet of the game.
——————————
Really? The Ranger pen outlasted the Yankees. Who was the answer to Derek Holland? More importantly, Nolan Ryan is rewriting the book on starting pitching, returning starters to 7 or 8 innings. Take notice MLB.
Yankee Bullpen imploded. Outside of Wood, whom will probably be someone else’s closer next year, and Mariano, the pen wilted under the pressure. That’s where the oft-injured, but experienced Marte, believe it or not, would have helped. Logan did ok, and will probably be an arm in the pen. Aceves was sorely missed, though Mosely did well, but probably won’t return. He’s earned a #4 or 5 starter’s job somewhere else too.
The Ranger outfield of Cruz, Hamilton, and whomever, outplayed, out hit, outscored, and out ran Gardner, Granderson and Swisher.
The Ranger DH’s of Murphy/Francour outhit Thames/Berkman.
The Ranger Catchers outhit Posada and Cervelli, AND threw out runners. Yankee Catching defense continues to slip. Cervelli better play some winter ball, as Romine is knocking on the door.
Ranger infield was on par with Yankee infield defensively, with Andrus outranging Jeter (of course), and outrunning them while on base. Arod and Jeter look slow. Cano and Tex are slow. Jeter hits into an amazing amount of DPs AND has swung at more first pitches this year than he seemingly has in the last 5 years combined.
Yankees are built to be strong with their #1 pitcher in the rotation, CC. That’s it.
Hughes will learn from this season’s successes and failures, but he’s not ready to be a #2. Pettitte is a warrior, may not return, but could remain a #3 pitcher, especially in the playoffs. Javy was your #4, but he was ineffective – again – and will not be resigned.
AJ is no better than a #3 on good days, and #4 on bad days, but should be a 15-10 pitcher every year.
Another complement to CC is needed, and Lee could be that piece. But don’t rule out Webb and others. If $$ are an issue, then a trade may be more likely than FA, especially if Joba and Gardner are the pieces in that trade.
2011 awaits…
MTU, BIG AL……. I sent my final tribute to you guys, just in case you lost it the first time.
Stupid Yankees.
Yankees 2010 RIP. Where are the ‘SONGBIRDS” ? ? How bout one that rhymes with ‘DREAMIN’ ? ?
Great job this year – Chad, Sam and thanks!
For all their undeniable talent, the Yankees had no answers for Texas. They could not hit the Texas pitchers and the Yankees could not pitch effectively to Texas. That malignant dwarf Lupica wants to put Game 6 on Girardi, as if the manager hits and pitches. What a boob. If the Yankee offense was competitive against Colby Lewis last night, what happens with Guerrero doesn’t much matter.
Not sure what happened with the Yankee pitching, both starters and relievers. But they sure were sub-par against Texas. Still, I’m more mystified that, with the exception of a couple of innings, and except for Granderson and Cano, the bats were asleep. It’s like the September Yankees showed up for the ALCS. By the same token, maybe the answer is so obvious that I’m overlooking it: Texas was just dominant and deserved to win. We’ll know better after Texas faces the final test in the WS. The good news is that this loss gives Cash more leeway to make tough decisions than if they had won. Any changes he makes in the off-season won’t be viewed as messing with success.
Cliff Lee is likely at the top of Cashman’s list after resigning Girardi. The Jeter contract is getting done. After that, IMO, Cash has to consider closer insurance/8th inning guy. And don’t forget Mo’s a free agent. Then we come to catcher.
Posada is going to spend more time on the bench or DL than ever before in 2011 and Cervelli was exposed this year. Unless Austine Romine is ready as we speak, Cash badly needs a starting, MLB-qualified catcher for 2011. How about John Buck? Victor Martinez will hit more, can play 1st base, DH and catch, but he can’t throw. V-mart would fill the Nick Johnson hole and then some. But for pure catching, it’s Buck among free agents.
There’s enough offense on this team for the regular season, but Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner needs to bunt more and attempt more steals. An improved Granderson is something to look forward to for a whole season and 2010 likely MVP runner-up Cano is the new Yankee offensive anchor. Allow Tex his usual slow start in 2011 and hope that Jeter can adjust his failing muscles to being less aggressive/more selective and staying out of weak grounders to SS and 3d base. (Girardi really needs to consider batting Jeter lower in the order if he cannot stop his addiction to weak grounders. It’s time). A-Rod should bounce back next year and hopefully Swish did not have his career year in 2010 with a backslide in 2011.
Pitchers (Lee or another front line starter, and keep an eye on closer/relievers) and catchers top the Yankee’s list for 2011, IMO.
Sign Lee
Resign Jeter for less than his current annual
Reup with Mo
Give Montero a shot
Host Andy Pettite day
The Yankees won CC’s starts. In the first one, they looked rusty, but came alive in that one inning to take the game. The did everything right offensively that one inning. I will not take that inning away from them, or dismiss it as “well, if that inning didn’t happen,” blah, blah, blah, because it DID happen. And Moseley was outstanding in relief, as were the other pieces used that day.
The second game – flat out bad game. Hughes pitched too poorly and there was little chance of the offense being able to pull off another comeback like the day before. I’d have to go back and look, but I do believe they had some chances early to get back into the game, but didn’t. I do remember them hitting balls hard off Lewis, but finding no holes.
Game 3. Pettitte vs. Lee. Andy Pettitte did what Pettitte always does. He limited the Texas offense to the 2-run HR by Hamilton for 7 innings. Lee was dominating. But the bullpen lost it (did a complete turn around from game 1). I figured, well, if the bullpen was going to have blip, that was the game to do it.
Game 4. This game was winnable. And this is the only game I put on Girardi making a mistake by staying with AJ too long. He got 5 very good innings out of AJ, and the Yankees had the lead. It was a winnable game. Oh, and Tex finally going down? Just the general feeling created by that injury made a comeback seem unlikely to me in that game.
Game 5 was Yankee baseball at its best and gave hope for at least one more game.
Game 6? Hughes worked hard to keep the Yankees in that game. I don’t have a problem with him facing Vlad. He made a bad pitch and all series, the Rangers hadn’t missed a single badly executed pitch. I don’t think even once. They were that good. I did wonder aloud why not Kerry Wood? But it was for one out. As poor an outing as Robertson had had prior, I don’t believe that should have a bearing on whether or not he’s used again. Because ever relief pitcher has a bad outing now and again and if you don’t use them again, you’re stuck with a bullpen of one guy – who himself has had a bad outing once or twice in his career (
). But Robertson’s failure and the 2-run HR by Cruz was the death-blow. Lewis pitched well again.
In short, I think two of the games the Yankees lost were winnable games. I think it came down to poor execution of pitches, some tired pitchers, and an offense that for the most part could not get it done. They got on base, but didn’t put guys across. And frankly, I don’t care a lot about the RISP stat. All you ever need to do is score one more run than your opponent. But when the hitting with RISP is almost non-existent, then it is THE problem.
****
As for the season as a whole. The turning point was Andy’s injury. So many dominoes fell after that. Prior to that, AJ and Javy’s struggles could be withstood because you had two guys in your rotation that were going at least 7 innings a pop. When Andy went down, you had ONE, CC. The bullpen held it together for as long as they could, but the cracks started to happen with overuse and overexposure. The fewer innings you need to use your bullpen, the better they do.
And for whatever happened in September, Girardi has been excellent at getting his bullpen into shape – getting it on rotation and trying to minimize overuse and overexposure. But it becomes an impossible task when the starters don’t do their jobs. Javy was brought over mostly because his history showed he would give innings – quantity and enough quality. With the exception of one month of work, he gave neither. But as bad as Javy turned out to be, AJ was far worse. Javy seemed to me to be able to at least try to keep the team in games he had nothing – you could see it. AJ? Well, that’s something that he is going to have to address this off-season by taking a long hard look in the mirror and getting to the bottom of his struggles.
And even with that all of that, the Yankees won 95 games, held on to get a spot in the playoffs, had the 2nd best record in the AL, swept the Twins (and no matter what anyone says, no one expected that) and pushed a 6th game in the ALCS when clearly they had not much left in the tank.
Girardi has some flaws as a manager, but many are addressable. He also has strengths and it is unfair to ignore those because you don’t like how the season turned out. Fans of 26 other teams would kill for the Yankees’ season.
It’s disappointing that a year that started out with such promise ended up without an appearance in the World Series. But there were so many things to like about this season. And I wish people would remember that there is no crystal ball, and you make moves with information in front of you, you make some educated guesses, you prepare yourself and then, even with all of that, you can only hope for the best outcome. You can guarantee effort – you cannot guarantee results. Baseball is a game played and run by human beings. No one is flawless.
Fantastic post doreen just Fantastic
My Starting 5 for 2011:
1. CC
2. Lee
3. AP
4. Phil
5. AJ
If Andy retires:
1.CC
2.Lee
3.Hughes
4.AJ
5.Nova/Brackman
Brackman is going to be a interesting in 2011
murphydog -
I agree with you that losing in the ALCS gives Cashman a little more freedom to make unpopular moves.
I do hope that Girardi will tweak the batting order a little come spring. Moving Cano into the 3-hole with Tex out could have opened the door to something along that order. A lot may depend on what pieces get moved around this winter.
Jeter is going to be the first NY Yankee to reach 3,000 hits. I think Jeter will look at this season and do the requisite work to adjust as his body has, undeniably, aged some (hey, it’s no sin – it happens to everyone). I’m not certain what Girardi will do, because I think they’ll want to give Jeter as many opportunities to get to 3,000 as they can, but I’d love to see if Girardi will juggle the lineup at least in spring to see what’s what.
Cervelli clearly disappointed defensively this year. The more he played, the less he hit and the more sloppy he got behind the plate. Not a good thing. I’m not anxious to get Victor Martinez, but I think if they believe Montero will see enough time behind the plate, he will make the team this spring. Otherwise, he may start in AAA just to get “warmed up” and make an appearance 6 weeks or so into the season. If Cervelli is strictly a back-up they could keep him. But I don’t think they should necessarily carry 3 catchers. Clearly, I believe this is the one position that is going to get a lot of scrutiny and should.
I like Gardner, but if they choose to put him in a trade, it wouldn’t kill me. I think the only way that happens is if they strike out on Lee and need to find another pitcher to fill the gap. I’m not certain Pettitte is coming back, but his statement last night is not why. He said the same thing last year after winning. He’ll rest, he’ll evaluate, he’ll discuss with his family, and he’ll make a decision. But I’d have contingency plans at the ready.
I’d like them to try to keep Wood at whatever cost. Mo is over 40 and needs a “second.” I think Wood will get opportunities to close next season if he stays. He’s a good piece out there.
The work Cashman has to do is basically all centered around pitching/catching.
Terrific posts Murph and Doreen.
God works in strange and mysterious ways.
Of all the cities for me to be this weekend, he has me in New Orleans, my favorite city.
I’m covered either way. If they won, I celebrate. If they lost, I can “forget” about it! lol.
Seriously, as disappointing as it is, you can throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to retooling the team.
From September on, many, many mistakes were made by everybody. GM, manager and players.
You win and lose as a team. No one area cost them. Everything did.
Plenty of time to address off-season needs.
Now? Time to take a deep breath, realize going to the ALCS, two wins away from the World Series is NOT a “failed season” and move on.
All you can do.
Back to my beingets.
Have a good weekend everybody.
SJ44 -
Enjoy the beignets and other New Orleans specialties!
My husband just game me the “four months to pitchers and catchers” line. Made me smile.
Hope always springs eternal for the baseball fan.
To all the die hard yankee fans that have been posting here day in and day out and u know who u are, it’s been a pleasure to be reading your posts. It’s been a great season, obviously #28 wasn’t completed but they will be back in the hunt in ’11
Murph, good morning. As far as hoping Romine is ready any time soon, forget it. His defense isn’t as good as what Montero offers, regardless of what the so-called experts yammer on about. He has the tools, but, right now, he has as many issues, if not more than Montero, both in throwing and especially with the two bigger issues, passed balls and a propensity for committing catcher’s interference errors. His bat is pretty solid and he has some power, as well as pretty good footspeed, produces runs and should hit for good average. His tools are Thurman Munsonish. Not saying that he’ll become that, but, he reminds me a lot of that type. Very athletic and has the skills to play multiple positions, which would greatly increase his value.
I think that Buck is going to look for a full time spot as a catcher and I’m guessing that Boston, Toronto and Detroit will be the big bidders for him. A solid fallback might be Miguel Olivo.a
Good Morning GB7
What do u think of brackman’s future for next season?
Hi GB7 -
Romine had a tough year in 2010. I’m wondering if he could have used time off rather than a stint at the AFL?
Not really sure that Kerry Wood could deal with a full time closer’s role. He has only been moderately successful doing that, but, he’s a killer set-up guy. I’m wondering if he’d take an $18 mil, 3 year deal to take on that job? NYY has paid that price a couple of times in Marte and Farnsworth.
I think for catching, the Yankees may need to think about going after a starting catcher. That might bring Buck into the picture for a 1 or two year deal maybe with a club option for a 2nd or 3rd year.
It seems the Yanks are in bad timing right now at the position. Jorge’s days as the full time catcher seem to be over, and all reports say Montero isn’t ready to be relied on as the main guy. Jorge probably starts half the games or less behind the plate next year barring injury, and probably gets a lot of DH time.
Would VMart be open to a shorter term (3 years)? Although, that doesn’t address defensive issues at all.
GB7 -
I think there’s at least a good chance that Wood and Cashman talk. I’d love for Wood to stay. I think it’s a good fit for both parties. But who knows how Wood is thinking. He put up some really good numbers for the Yankees and it should make him attractive to some teams out there. But the question always comes down to, who’s willing to pay what and for how long, isn’t it?
Doreen, Romine’s pretty healthy and he needs some game time to get those issues worked out. he’ll only get about 25 or so games in playing in the aFL so, that would give him a long rest. He’s having the same issues there that he’s had throughout his career. 3 passed balls and 1 catcher’s interference error in his 6 games, so far. He needs the work, I think.
I think the Yankees would be willing to pay 5-7M per year for Wood to stay on, but I have to believe that some team would offer him at least 8 per year to close. Even if we think he may not be an ideal closer, some team would take a chance on him.
Al Rivera October 23rd, 2010 at 8:23 am
Good Morning GB7
What do u think of brackman’s future for next season?
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Al, I know where I would like to see him, but, it runs counter to what others want. He’s a starter, but, I’d love seeing him groomed as a closer. I see a bigger, more intimindating version of Gossage. He’s always been a slow starter in the rotation, but, then he gets rolling. When NYY had him in the bullpen for the last half of 2009, he was deadly. Almost no walks or homers allowed. His real issue is moves to first base (throwing errors) and wild pitches. He’s yet to get that worked out.
I love everything about New Orleans except chicory coffee.
There are some here that have the maturity of a newly pubescent middle school boy and a total lack of memory.
The 2010 team didn’t live up to The Boss’ legacy? Do you not know that in 37 years as an owner The Boss came up short of winning the World Series 30 times? And they came up short of getting to the World Series 27 times?
This was a good year, not a great one. Like last off-season, which was after a great year the Yanks have to go about the business of trying to get better and younger without getting more expensive. It’s not easy to do, that’s for sure.
This series might have gotten the Yanks thinking more about Carl Crawford. I suspect they will want decisions ASAP from Pettite and Rivera though it’s hard to see either walking away from the amount of money that will be on the table.
Posda’s contract, which has been an albatross since year one will be an ever larger one in 2011. The catching is going to be most interesting because Cervelli is at best a once a week guy and Montero is still a kid who may or may not be ready offensively and almost certainly is not ready defensively.
It’s gonna be a wild ride
GB 7 — could Romine end up a Brandon Inge type?
Thanks, GB7.
I’m sure coaches are working with him on the problems. Perhaps he gets a more concentrated look in spring training, now that he’s poised to move up the ladder (AA to AAA)?
for sure there’s a lot decisions to be made with this team in the off season & where’s jorge with his contract
I just have a feeling Andy will leave
Doreen, I’d love to see wood stay on, too. I think some team might offer him closer money, but, I don’t think that he’ll take a job just to close for a bad team. he wants to win. Like Lee, playing close to home doesn’t really seem to mean that much. winning and a good contract (probably his last) will mean more. It seems like he enjoyed his time in NY and he certainly blossomed in the set-up role. He seemed to learn a lot with Rivera, Sabathia and Pettitte. We can hope, though.
Doreen and GB7,
Good to see you both posting here still, I have had almost no time to even read the blog the last few months, let alone comment on anything.
At least with Posada’s contract, the Yanks know they will be out from under it after next season. The elephant in the room is, what to do about Jeter? They can’t pay him his current value, which is probably about 8-10M per year; but I can’t see them paying him the 20 or so he is making now for the kind of performance he is putting up. And how many years?
More interesting is what they do with him in the lineup. With Jeter having so many 1 pitch ABs and slipping into the .260-.270 range, can they afford to have him at the top of the lineup whn e Tex is batting 3rd, hitting in the .250s? Or do they proceed on the basis that they both simply had off years and will bounce back?
On thing this offensive year has done as far as Jeter is concerned is that it put to bed any speculation of a position switch. He is only hitting at a level you can deal with from a SS, 2B, or catcher.
Summation
Over the past year I’ve been primarily negative on Brackman. He had yet to show me anything resembling the stuff he had in college and his command and mechanics were a mess to say the least. As of now, he still has a lot to learn about pitching, about how to read the bat, when to be more aggressive, among other things. Taken on its own you’d think he has a very long, difficult road ahead learning to be more consistent.
But given the progress I’ve seen from last year to spring training to now, I’d have to say that the righty has shown the ability to improve rapidly. He now shows solid command in the strike zone, a smooth and rather effortless over-the-top delivery, and the dynamic arsenal of a top-of-the-rotation starter. If given the time and patience to develop, he now has all the ingredients needed to make an elite big league starter. Again, there is much work to be done, but Brackman now is much more than just a guy you can dream on, and instead is a pitcher making outstanding progress.
Frankie Piliere spent the last three seasons working as a scout, most recently in the professional scouting department for the Texas Rangers in 2009. He now serves as the National Baseball Analyst here at FanHouse.
86W, not sure if Romine could be an Inge type. He’s never played anywhere but catcher. Pat M. thinks he could play 3rd base pretty well, and he has good footspeed. People forget that at one time, Inge was Detroit’s center fielder when Granderson was out.
Doreen, GB7, SJ:
Halloo!
GB7: Thanks for the truth on Romine. That means the Yankees are really in bad shape at catcher. Gotta do something. Does Posada catch even 50 games next year?
SJ: enjoy the food and night life down there in the Crescent City. The only exotic places I go are courthouses in the 5 Boroughs.
Doreen: 4 months till pitchers and catchers? I think I can make it. Maybe
wonder what their plans are for joba in 11….no one thing he needs to get himself in shape, he just looked like he got bigger as the year went on
Mark in Tampa -
Hi!
I don’t concern myself with Jeter’s contract terms. As far as I’m concerned, he’s in a different category altogether, and I believe the Yankees have been prepared for this for a few years, even up to considering that, because he is human, Jeter’s skills will diminish some as he (shudder) ages.
But I do think it is a fair question to want to know where he will fit in the lineup; it is time to start figuring out how Jeter and the Yankees are best served by one another on the field. Off the field is a no-brainer.
I think he will have a better year in 2011 than he did this year, but not as good as 2009, for what that’s worth (nothing! haha).
Mark— Good points with one exception. It doesn’t matter where you most productive players or least productive players are defensively. what matters is what the offense as a whole produces. The Yanks get off the charts productivity at 2B for example, letting virtually any other position be somewhat less productive.
$ 13.1 next year for whatever is left of Jorge is a killer. I think Buck would be a perfect fit and he’s bound to want to win isn’t he? Buck could catch 80 X and DH 40X and Jorge could do the same.
I’ve said all along the Jeter negotiations will be the most interesting in baseball history, perhaps. It’s really up to him and his ego. Does he want an iconic salary for services rendered or is he content with appropriate compensation for the player he is today?
86w183,
Hello to you as well.
You are right about the overall production, of course, but when you need to replace players, it is much more common to find a strong hitting LF, for example, than a strong hittng SS. My point was that moving Jeter to left or elsewhere makes no sense b/c he gives little to no advantage over other alternatives, whereas his production as a SS is still in the top 5 or so in baseball.
Another question is, how different would these Jeter negotiations be if he had already reached 3000?
Murph, I don’t think that the catching for next year is in such dire straights. If they don’t bring in a buck/Olivo type catcher, I think that both Posada and Montero could split that catching at around 70 games a piece and Cervelli (if he stays) getting the rest. Posada/Montero could also split the majority of the DH spots. Posada said at the beginning of the season that he knew this would most likely be his last year as a full time catcher and that he wouldn’t mind DHing and playing a little 1st base. I think his bat comes back around to close to the 2009 range. He still hit for power this year.
As far as Romine goes, he can still be a good catcher, but, he just has a few more issues than what the “experts” said. It’s not a physical thing..it’s mostly technique/mechanical. He’s never had a full time catching instructor, so, next year he’ll have Butch Wynegar. Posada spent a lot of the last two STs with Montero and he really did improve. I think that Romine gets the time this year and Pena takes on Montero’s instruction to polish him.
before anyone thinks that the yankees can’t have an ugly duckling year at catcher next year as they bring in montero to be paired with posada , the rangers are going to the world series after a regular season where their catchers hit .212 with a .605 OPS.
with the revenue aspects of baseball there are no super teams anymore. even the best teams will have several weak spots.
the yankees can afford a year or even a few years of having montero develop if he really has the elite bat it appears that he has.
Montero is the real wild card in these discussions. How much can he catch at the MLB level next year sets up some other moves.
Posada has caught 213 games the last 3 years and 183 the last 2. Expecting anything more than 80 or so in the year he turns 50 is simply unrealistic. The thought of Cervelli catching
Yanks have ALL the leverage with Jeter if he has the 3,000 in the bank. Great point Mark.
It all starts with Jeter, Rivera and Pettite and goes from there. That helps determine needs and also helps determine financial flexibility. If all 3 return (at comparable $$) it’s hard to see them having the money for Lee and anyone else.
Here’s a question: do they pick up Wood’s option? They’re the Yankees–they have the money. Use Wood as Mariano’s backup, and see where you are at the end of 2011. An interesting thought. Wood is due closer money, so it becomes really interesting.
Cliff Lee is coming to the Yankees. Let him win a WS in Texas, but the guy is winning the lottery.
For all the talk of “age,” the only person I worry about is Jeter. Alex will continue at 30/100, Mo will be Mo, and Andy will still be a decent #3. Posada should now be a DH, but they have Montero as the catcher–on any other team he’d start next year if he has a good spring.
Obviously Jorge turns 40, it’s just sometimes he looks like he’s 50 — running the bases for example!
Amazing how many potential free agents there are on the current roster….
Berkman, Nick Johnson, Kearns, Thames, Vazquez, Pettite, Rivera and Wood
and I can not fail to mention the urgently important Chad Gaudin
The team is really not THAT old. They have enough players in their prime for them not to be considered old. I know only the Phillies were ranked older but when you have a couple of 40 year olds on your roster the average age of a team really increases.
# 86w183 October 23rd, 2010 at 9:22 am
Obviously Jorge turns 40, it’s just sometimes he looks like he’s 50 — running the bases for example!
Amazing how many potential free agents there are on the current roster….
Berkman, Nick Johnson, Kearns, Thames, Vazquez, Pettite, Rivera and Wood
and I can not fail to mention the urgently important Chad Gaudin
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out of that group you might see two possible three retained
Doreen: An absolutely outstanding post – you’re in the upper echelon of Lohud posters with SJ44, CB, Pat M. and Randy. Thanks so much for the perspective.