Teixeira dropped to fifth
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 27, 2011 
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The Yankees lineup for the next-to-last game of the regular season has an interesting change in the middle.
Also, be sure to check out the lineup the Red Sox are using for a game they badly need to win. They have Jed Lowrie at cleanup, Carl Crawford batting eighth and a rookie at catcher.
Eduardo Nunez SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
The Yanks were filling their teams with high OBP players since the early 90?s. Stick was a big believer in it. However, he was also a believer in having players that could also hit. The A’s had 2 or 3 guys that were actually good hitters.
If it wasnt for the A’s pitchers, they wouldnt have had the limited success that they did. And after those pitchers ran their course, so did the A’s success.
The whole money ball thing is insulting and most teams have already gone back to the old way of scouting and putting teams together while also being mindful of the sabermetric world.
The As success had much less to do with “Moneyball” than it did with Mulder, Zito, and Hudson.
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Agreed. What was their OBP again?
Cue the Montero complaints….
Also, be sure to check out the lineup the Red Sox are using for a game they badly need to win. They have Jed Lowrie at cleanup, Carl Crawford batting eighth and a rookie at catcher.
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Darnell McDonald ahead of Crawford? Ouch, baby. Very ouch.
They should have Scutaro leading off and Ellsbury batting third.
The marketing and labeling of it as “Moneyball” was the real goal. Like CountryClub said, that is how Yankee teams were constructed for years before it became “popular”.
Nuñez 1st bat (.310 OBP) and Gardner 9th… Sometimes Girardi makes me scratch my head.
my two cents about the bill beane/a’s success:
billy beane is the perfect steroid era gm. get a lot of patient/power hitters with just enough athletic ability to play the field (giambi/hatteberg) and see what happens when they talk to conseco.
that trio of pitchers threw 5 mph faster when they played in oakland. mulder’s out of baseball, zito is a running punchline, hudson is a completely different pitcher
sorry, i live in the bay area and my best friends are huge a’s fans. they haven’t won in years and billy is more interested in the english premier league than the mlb
I guess Cano and Grandy will rest in November
I wonder if the subs will come in sooner, should the RedSox be winning their game.
LGY September 27th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
WEEI has a mobile app so I decided to listen it as I walked my dog. Two things I learned.
1. While Girardi has a binder, Theo Boy Genius has a computer… And he named it… Carmine.
————-
I know I’m late on this but is anyone else having “Weird Science” flashbacks?
CC,
Totally agree with your post.
And I am going to complain about no Montero
Getting Robbie warmed up to that 3 hole…..that’s where he should be.
Moneyball wasn’t just about OBP, it was about finding things that were undervalued. Beane moved onto defense, before it became overvalued, and even speed. He isn’t a one trick pony.
Kd,
I answered you in the last threas….Kelly does have some upside but he’d be behind Manny and Selling for sure.
The Rays have been much more impressive in their recent run than the As ever were……they could right a book called Pitcherball.
They already wrote a book about the Rays
Has anyone stopped to think about how bad Tex has been this season?
He’s gotten a pass because this team’s been incredibly good and consistent but he himself has been an unmitigated disaster for the past two years.
On merit, he should be hitting seventh in this lineup.
Only Gardner and Martin are weaker offensive players. And even Gardner manages to get on base more often.
Derek will have to get to .300 against the Lefty tomorrow.
Thanks Joe.
What’s the book about the Rays?
Just had a wonderful ride home from the dentist listening to WEEI. If you want sense and sensibility, listen to their afternoon hosts. (Mike Adams is a total flake and whiner and he’s in the background sometimes but Holly and Ordway are into telling it like it is.)
First of all they were interviewing “Kruky”. It seems that up until today Kruk has totally believed the Sux would be the wild card. This is the first time he has said he doesn’t think they’re going to make it in. And if they do, they will get eaten alive.
Apparently the Sux are still trying to rent a pitcher.
Major kudos given to the O’s – as there should be.
They think Tampa is a much better team right now than the Sux.
And this was the nicest moment of all.. The whack job Yankee hater Adams was crying about one of the plays in Tampa last night where he said a ball was hit past second and he said the Yankee player didn’t even stoop to get the ball. At which point both Holly and Ordway said “Why should they?” They went on to say that the Sux in the same position would be playing the same way and the Yankees deserve to take it easy and do just enough to stay loose because they have earned the right to do it by positioning themselves the way they have. They also brought up the 14-inning game saying the Yankees could have tried to put that away but they didn’t, showing they aren’t playing favorites.
They also said Francona said the same thing, that the Yankees don’t owe anybody anything except their own team and they are getting ready for the postseason and that is their only concern and it should be their only concern.
In retrospect, losing the 14th inning game will be used as “proof” that the Yankees weren’t trying to stick it to the Sux.
Oh happy day.
Tex has been good hitting right handed……has played great D and has hit 40 homers…….homers he’s not exactly the played they are paying but I wouldn’t call him a disaster.
No, I’m a thriller writer, so Derek Jeter would be my series character. Which sounds weird. On the face of it, he’s the blandest man in the world. He’s the Paul McCartney of baseball. Everything he says in public is measured, upbeat, uncontroversial, and inoffensive. His parents still show up to his games.
But walk that back a step. Can you imagine the constant, crushing pressure involved in that? The sense of always being onstage? The caution, the paranoia, the relentless vigilance? He’s a Cold War story, a CIA guy undercover for 10 years a block from Checkpoint Charlie. Nerves of steel. Not just for the week of the World Series, but all day, every day, year after year after year. He has to be tough as hell. A weaker man would have collapsed under the strain long ago.
And when you watch him long enough, you start to read between the lines and see things in his eyes. This is possibly the most competitive human who has ever lived. Losing burns him up. Which is fascinating in the context of baseball, because he loses at least 50 times a season, sometimes day after day. The only sports franchise in the world comparable to the Yankees is the UK’s Manchester United soccer club, and it regularly goes months without losing. Its Premier League rival Arsenal once went a whole year without losing. The torment caused to a competitive guy who loses 50 games a year must be immense, and the internal mental conflict it must cause would be well worth writing about.
And deeper still, there’s something darker lurking in Derek Jeter. I’ve seen situations where he walks to the plate with the Yankees needing a run, and you sense an absolute determination in him. He’s going to get that run. He’s going to kick and scratch and bite and claw and bludgeon, and he’s going to deliver. He’s going to do what it takes. Deep down, he’s got an assassin’s mentality. He’s a stone killer. If he really were a CIA guy undercover a block from Checkpoint Charlie, he’d garrote his suspicious neighbor in a deserted doorway and then sleep like a baby. You can see it in his eyes. That flicker, that momentary faraway focus. Bland? I don’t think so.
Lee Child is the author of the best-selling Jack Reacher crime novel series. The Affair is available worldwide September 27-29, 2011.
http://www.grantland.com/blog/.....rk-yankees
no clue why montero would sit two games in a row.
clueless joe strikes again
“I guess Cano and Grandy will rest in November”
Maybe Joe’s trying to give them both a chance to finish strong as they are both mentioned as MVP contenders? Just a thought – though I bet they’ll have tomorrow off or maybe won’t even play the entire game tonight.
The Extra 2%
Moving Tex to 5th is a good idea.
Having Nunie bat leadoff is ridiculous.
Pete Abe still does the song for the day (on my ipod now or watever)…. Its ‘Dead man walking’ by Bruce
the team that should’ve been followed was the twins. playoffs every year operating under the same financial constraints as the a’s were.
That’s some lineup Tito’s going to war with.
I guess that’s what winning the off season does for you.
this line up is too good…what is the matter w/ Girardi is he trying to win this game???
Posada is going to be the DH vs righties (at least at the start). So he’s playing tonight to get ABs. Montero will play tomorrow vs the lefty.
Granderson (and Arod) need as many ABs as they can get. Both are struggling right now.
was in NY and went to game 2 sunday. My first experience in the new stadium. I was at the game prior to the rain out on friday, New place is nice. Not over the top. a lot better amentities then the old place. the only down side is the ushers really watch over things. looks difficult to move seats if you want. my seat were ok sec 133 left filed 7 rows or so up, in extra innins tried to move behind home plate, only maybe 15k at the game but ushers did not allow…
yanks are in good shape. I hit tex 5th in the playoffs.. cano is there best hitte rhe needs to be in the RBI situations…
to bad hughes hur this back I thought he had a chance to be the 3rd or 4th starter. counting on the hillbilly is the kiss of death…..
re: The Collapse
I think the cherry on top would be the thought of Red Sox finding themselves in the once-in-a-lifetime position of genuinely rooting for the Yanks. For once, they saw how the other half lives.
Still it did no good, and they’re forever corrupted as fans.
The Yanks have Soriano, Robertson and Mo pitching tonight. With this lineup and those relievers ready to go, it’s all on Colon. If Colon keeps them in the game I expect the Yanks to win. So, root hard for the O’s tonight.
thanks blake
It’s good that the Yankees are now worried about Tex and moving him back in the lineup. The next step is some off-season sessions with Kevin Long. Hopefully next year he can improve his hitting.
Montero vs Price will be worth tuning in.
If the Yankees lose to Detroit and their offense sputters the way they are using Montero is going to be a huge reason why.
Special bats can hit any type of pitching like Cano does, guys who bats are slow or have holes in their swing, see Jorge and Tex left handed, they need the pitchers to make mistakes, Playing Jorge in a playoff series against elite pitching over a kid who can hit any fastball is begging to be a big mistake.
Jorge should be a pinch hitter who if he has really good #s against a certain pitcher or relief pitcher should be used then.
This could be 95 all over again with the Yankees not understanding what they have, only this time it is far worse, since at least with Mariano he was not the known quality that Montero is. If the Yankees don’t understand his talent level, shame on them.
I hope Jorge does great and proves me wrong, but again unless a pitcher makes a mistake, I just don’t see him having success, as much as I want him to.
Way to get the kid at bats against all pitchers Joe to get him ready for the playoffs, oh wait you actually think he can’t hit right handers on what 30 at bats, silly silly man. Actually much much less than 30 at bats since I guess he so disappointed the Yankees in the two really bad games he had where Ortiz and the pitcher for the Mariners struck him out 3 times in each one of those games.
At least after a complete 2 seasons they finally realized hey maybe one of our worse hitters against right-handers should not be hitting 3rd.
Good job of being ahead of the curve Joe.
We talked about this in a previous thread, but I think this Cano/Teix flip flop is only going to be against right handers. I think Cano goes back to 5 vs lefties.
re: The Collapse
I think the cherry on top would be the thought of Red Sox finding themselves in the once-in-a-lifetime position of genuinely rooting for the Yanks. For once, they saw how the other half lives.
Still it did no good, and they’re forever corrupted as fans.”
I don’t remember ever rooting for the Sox to win anything – even if it somehow ended up to the Ys benefit. I’ve remained pure as the driven snow.
Theo’s computer is named “Carmine” and the Sox have a catcher named Lavernway playing tonight.
“Surely” there’s room for a Lenny & Squiggy joke in there somewhere.
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Bronx Jeers: you have a gift.
Ledger_Yankees Marc Carig
Teixiera admits he’s got to work on his lefty swing. RF porch has been too “appetizing.” Going to work with Long in offseason. #nyy
This lineup is way too potent for my liking
Something like Nunez-Gardner-ARod-Tex-Posada-Jones-Dickerson-Laird-Pena is more like it.
We need the O’s to sweep. You know they can do it. If Joe is playing most of the regulars tonight you can bet they won’t be in the lineup tomorrow. The Rays have to trot their A team out there the next two games and they certainly have the pitching. Though in baseball you never know, I’d say the Yanks best shot at winning will come tonight, if it should happen. If the O’s win the next two, and Yanks split, the Rays have the wild card.
So much fun to be a bystander at this point.
Maybe joe is trying to force tampa and boston into a playoff game on thursday. Smart move. Could really hamper both teams ability to advance in the ALDS. Although im sure thats not his clear motive… Its got to be in the back of his mind.
CountryClub September 27th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Ledger_Yankees Marc Carig
Teixiera admits he’s got to work on his lefty swing. RF porch has been too “appetizing.” Going to work with Long in offseason. #nyy
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Best news I’ve read all season.
I love Cano batting 3rd and this move should have been made months ago. I would rather teams pitch around Tex to get to Swish instead of Cano. If they face the Tigers I don’t like Posada batting against Verlander. I don’t think he can catch up to his heat. I would rather they stick with Chavez and Montero at DH during the play offs. But it seems like Girardi has done a complete 360 in that department.
Ooooh…I like the new 3-4-5
cano 3rd means they can’t pitch around him anymore
Tabbert September 27th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Maybe joe is trying to force tampa and boston into a playoff game on thursday. Smart move. Could really hamper both teams ability to advance in the ALDS. Although im sure thats not his clear motive… Its got to be in the back of his mind.
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I honestly don’t think it matters to Joe who gets in. Neither Boston or Tampa will be a walk in the park.
As for a one game playoff, that doesn’t benefit the Yankees. It benefits either Detroit or Texas, neither of whom are exactly appetizing to face in the ALCS either.
Ledger_Yankees Marc Carig
“It’s a great idea.” Teixeira on flip-flopping with Cano
The Yankees are not going to face the WC team in the first round regardless, so it doesn’t really matter which team it is. We, as fans, are enjoying the red sox melt down and WC race. Girardi and the rest of the team are just focused on getting ready for the post season.
BryanHoch Teixeira ok with move to fifth, says Cano is red-hot right now. Thinks move could last at least through playoffs.
One thing I can say about the RS, they play to a full house at home and they have a real ballpark. The Rays play in a dump under a tent and no fans show up even though they are playing for a wild card. Last night 18,000 people showed up, a disgrace.
detroit or texas in a 5 games series is a lot more scary than facing either in a 7 game series. I think tampa in a seven game series would be the toughest matchup out of all the other teams.
Great move by Joe! About time Tex realized that his LH swing is terrible.
Has he completely forgotten how to hit the ball the other away from the left side? I think so.
I would be so happy/shocked if Tex attempted a bunt as a LH. I just want to see 1 attempt.
“I honestly don’t think it matters to Joe who gets in. Neither Boston or Tampa will be a walk in the park”
The Sux have no pitching. They are cooked. Fried. Roasted. You do NOT play the way they have been playing for the last month and you do NOT have your top two pitchers losing games through the month of September and giving up lots of runs and you do NOT have a bullpen that cannot help out every day and win games.
Take the time to listen to WEEI if you need any reassurance about the Sux – or try watching their games. You’ll convince yourself if you do.
right now who would fear the sox?
in fact, right now TB looks like the much tougher opponent.
the yanks are doing what’s best for the yanks and are not concerned with who they play
so for anyone to say they are tanking is ridiculous
Tampa Bay’s pitching doesn’t scare me.
They are all good pitchers, but all hittable and beatable.
None of them dominate like Halladay, Lee, or how Verlander has been this year.
JonLaneNYC RT @jonmorosi Francona in pregame media session: We have a chance to write the ending to this story. #RedSox
YankeesPR We’ve had some people write about postseason game times. TBS and MLB will release those start times once we know our opponent
It took Tex two terrible seasons to realize he has to do something about his left handed swing?
I love the guy, but come on.
Hindsight is 20/20, but ultimately the Yankees would have been better off passing on him, using Swish as their regular 1Bman, and making a move for an outfielder.
His contract has the potential to be one of the most prohibitive in history over the next 6 years if he continues on such a steep decline.
At least Giambi hit for the entire length of his own contract. And Tex couldn’t sniff Giambi as a hitter in his best years.
I know the Yankees will take any team they face. So for me it’s all fun and games. My main interest right now is not watching the Yankees get ready for the postseason. I’d rather watch paint dry. It’s watching the Orioles deciminate thee Sux.
Take the time to listen to WEEI if you need any reassurance about the Sux – or try watching their games. You’ll convince yourself if you do.
One could say you’d be surprised to find the Yankee’s where they are if you listened to WFAN or this comments section all season… listening to the crazies will only get your crazy information.
I think the Stein brothers are making Girardi put his A lineup on the field against Tampa. Everyone hates the Sox but they also want to stick it to the petty minor league Rays organization. I don’t blame them but I think Granderson, Cano and especially Martin can use the rest.
Trisha:
nice post. (per WEII highlights)
I listened to the A.M. show today. Wow, the city of Boston REALLY hates Crawford and Lackey. dang
G-C – What outfielder that was available at the time has outproduced Teixeira over his time with NY?
“right now who would fear the sox?”
Thank you. I cannot see any baseball fan in her or his right mind fearing the Sux. It’s incomprehensible. And no the old “at the start of the postseason the record is 0-0″ doesn’t work here. Sometimes you have to go past the cliche to the reality.
Tex is a 3 hitter vs LHP……great news that he realizes there is a problem ……that’s a big chunk of the battle. K long needs to quieten him down…..probably close him ip a little and shorten and flatten the swing plane……get back to using the whole field.
vinny-b, they are beside themselves with hatred for Lackey! All they are talking about now is how they are going to live through the next three years of his contract.
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
The Sux have no pitching. They are cooked. Fried. Roasted. You do NOT play the way they have been playing for the last month and you do NOT have your top two pitchers losing games through the month of September and giving up lots of runs and you do NOT have a bullpen that cannot help out every day and win games.
Take the time to listen to WEEI if you need any reassurance about the Sux – or try watching their games. You’ll convince yourself if you do.
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trisha, I know you loathe the Sox and I appreciate that. I loathe them too. Nothing would make me happier at this point than to see them complete their collapse into history.
With that said, teams slump and get hot. It’s the nature of the game.
So while I don’t fear the Sox, it’s not out of the question that if they squeeze in, the can flip a switch and begin to turn things around.
Lester and Beckett have both shown in the past they can pitch in the postseason. We haven’t exactly dominated Lackey this year despite his brutal year.
That’s why I don’t think Joe cares who he plays. Anyone can win on any given day.
Tex has an 821 OPS!?
Wow. I had no idea it got that low. Oh well. All will be forgotten if he hits in October.
blake September 27th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Tex is a 3 hitter vs LHP……great news that he realizes there is a problem ……that’s a big chunk of the battle. K long needs to quieten him down…..probably close him ip a little and shorten and flatten the swing plane……get back to using the whole field.
*******************************************************************
K Long can rebuild Tex and turn him into an all-star again!
ID, I’m talking about listening to the radio hosts and their “esteemed” guests.
I feel sorry for Crawford. Always seemed like a nice guy. Never thought Boston was a good fit for him.
The only thing they could have done would have been to let Swisher play 1B and then sign Holliday ……but then maybe they don’t win the WS in 2009
gammons with francesa
Trisha
Let’s just hope the Sux crash and burn the next next days so none of us ever find out if they are capable of turning it on in October.
“G-C – What outfielder that was available at the time has outproduced Teixeira over his time with NY?”
____________________________________________
Nick Swisher.
You can’t justify making Tex one of the highest paid players in history because there ostensibly wasn’t anyone on the market in 2009 who could have surpassed his production.
The problem is we were expecting him to be a consistent .290/.370/.530 type hitter, like he had been his entire career, and he has fallen woefully short of those expectations the past two years.
No one can really fault Cashman for not foreseeing that a relatively young, healthy, and in shape slugger would begin a precipitous decline before his 32nd birthday. I’m not trying to do that myself. But such represents the inherent danger of long term big money contracts, particularly when you dish them out at a position where there is no shortage of offensive talent around the league.
true about tex staying 3rd vs leftys
The .821 is only because he’s been abysmal vs RHP…….its .934 vs lefties
I feel sorry for Crawford too JM. He should have stayed in Tampa or gone to the Angels. Sometimes the extra $$ isn’t worth it.
JM September 27th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
I feel sorry for Crawford. Always seemed like a nice guy. Never thought Boston was a good fit for him.
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Crawford is getting paid $142 million dollars to play baseball. He could have gone to LA or elsewhere if he wanted to.
At least Giambi hit for the entire length of his own contract. And Tex couldn’t sniff Giambi as a hitter in his best years.
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Tex has a .240 average this year, but still has over 30 Homers and 100+ RBI.
Tex also has saved runs and errors at 1st base, while Giambi cannot compare with Tex in the field.
Can we have a lineup of
Pena
Girardi
Pena the coach
Posada
Long
Dickerson
Cervelli
Call up Luis Sojo
and have Rivera play centerfield and bat 9th
Starting pitcher
Scott Proctor 200 being his pitch limit.
Call this the $mallball lineup
kate,
He apologized on his blog last week for having such a bad year…..Yes, he would have been much better off with the Angels, I think. And no, I don’t feel sorry for him financially. LOL
On a more positive note, just how good has Nick Swisher been in his three years here so far?
He shows up to play every single day. Great clubhouse guy. His effort and hustle in the outfield compensate for his lack of great athleticism and make him a very respectable defensive player. And most importantly, the guy is a really, really, really quality offensive player.
I’m hoping to see him around for quite a while longer.
And if all else fails, watch the games. You cannot come away fearing that team if you watch the games.
********
BJK, I am not coming from my loathing. I have watched their games, and they have fallen apart. They don’t have the pitching, and they don’t have the depth. The offense has been unable to score runs for them because they’re always deficit spending. If they need tomorrow to help the through, Lester goes on short rest. Neither Lester or Beckett will be available to start for them. There is NO way that Lackey and a no name take the first two games against any of the contenders. They are dead in the water even if they get in.
Teams that limp into the postseason are the ones in the greatest trouble. It isn’t only that they’ve lost a record number of games in the month of September (second only to 1926 in their history) they in the most critical week of the season cannot close the door. And the Rays are hot right now, make no mistake. One playoff game the Rays will send them packing.
When you have their greatest sycophants like Kruk and Schilling throwing in the towel and saying they don’t see them even getting into the postseason, it’s time to sit up and pay attention. Seriously.
Oh my. We’re missing Giambi now?
Giambi was just as pull happy as Tex, and he was a butcher with the glove.
I’d give Tex his paycheck if he were a Designated Fielder. He makes the whole infield better. He’s a magician out there.
They signed Tex to be a mid .900 OPS guy. Now, he is in the low .800s.
Tex is why I want to draw the Rangers… don’t really like the lineup vs. hard throwing RHPs like the Tigers have.
Give me Wilson-Holland-Harrison over Verlander-Fister-Scherzer
If the Yankees play Detroit in the 1st round, looks like Girardi will use Posada primarily as the DH against right handed pitching, Thats a shame because at this point in their careers Verlander’s velocity is overwhelming not only for most major leaguers, but especially for a 40 yr. old Posada.
I hope we don’t wind up regretting Girardi’s decision on this, but at 40 yrs. of age Posada’s bat speed is way too slow for Verlander. Montero should be the full time DH against both LH &RH pitching.
The pop off Montero’s bat is special and the Yankees should be maximizing his talents right now. But, if the Yankees do play Detroit first, Montero will probably not play much since the Tigers use mostly RH pitching and Girardi seems to be stuck on using Posada exclusively as the DH.
I have a tough time feeling too sorry for a guy getting paid 20+ million bucks a year to do something Id probably do for free……but I get that Crawford is in a place that’s a bad fit and that stinks for him.
So glad Pete A. is no longer running this blog. Did not nor will ever miss the man crush he had
for Springstein. Do miss the GB7 battles with Pete. GB was really close at times of getting thrown out for telling Pete to stretch out.
upstate kate September 27th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
I feel sorry for Crawford too JM. He should have stayed in Tampa or gone to the Angels. Sometimes the extra $$ isn’t worth it.
********************************************************************
That is why I don’t feel sorry for him at all.
He got greedy and now he’s paying the price with a lot of criticsm from the sux fans
BJK September 27th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Oh my. We?re missing Giambi now?
Giambi was just as pull happy as Tex, and he was a butcher with the glove.
I?d give Tex his paycheck if he were a Designated Fielder. He makes the whole infield better. He?s a magician out there.
**************************
agree 100%
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
BJK, I am not coming from my loathing. I have watched their games, and they have fallen apart. They don’t have the pitching, and they don’t have the depth. The offense has been unable to score runs for them because they’re always deficit spending. If they need tomorrow to help the through, Lester goes on short rest. Neither Lester or Beckett will be available to start for them. There is NO way that Lackey and a no name take the first two games against any of the contenders. They are dead in the water even if they get in.
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I’ve watched the games too. They’re super fun to watch.
My whole point is that Girardi doesn’t care about them limping into the postseason. By the time he would have to face either Boston or Tampa, how they got there wouldn’t matter anymore.
All you guys ripping Tex…
Game 2 2009 ALDS: Game winning home run
Game 5 2009 ALCS: Three run triple to bring the team back from 4-0 deficit
Game 2 2009 World Series: Game tying home run in a close game.
Game 1 2010 ALDS: Game winning home run
The seasonal average is weak but great defense, 30Hr, 100RBI every year. Give the guy some respect. He’s been a big player for this team. You sound like Red Sox fans insulting Tex.
LGY – I want them to crash and burn but if by some miracle they don’t I look forward to the laughers they will put in. Come on, you’ve been watching the same games I have. They have nothing left LGY. There is no switch to turn on.
“I feel sorry for Crawford. Always seemed like a nice guy. Never thought Boston was a good fit for him.”
I feel the same way. Before he went free agency, Crawford played his entire career with Tampa. I don’t know who his agent is but I don’t see Crawford as a real slick guy. You can bet your bottom dollar that his agent drove that ship. And there is no way any agent worth his $alt is going to recommend that a player go to a lower-paying team.
Designated Fielder
========
Who can forget Giambi fluid motion in turning 2. Im not sure what I cringed most in.
Watching Giambi field and throw or
Damons girlyman throws from the outfield.
+1 on DF Tex
ok ok Crawford deserves it for going for the $$. I still feel sorry for him. Sorry, I am just such a mom sometimes
the thing about crawford is fenway is exactly the place that is bad for him.
but the sox offered 142, the angels 105. it’s a no brainer
mick September 27th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
gammons with francesa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is Gammons slurring his words yet ?
What would have been a worst Yankee signing.
Crawford for 7 years or what some wanted Lackey for 5?
“My whole point is that Girardi doesn’t care about them limping into the postseason. By the time he would have to face either Boston or Tampa, how they got there wouldn’t matter anymore.”
Yes, but he would have a full awareness of who he was facing. Anyway, this is irrelevant because there is no way they make it to the ALCS. If they get to the postseason they’ll get killed by the competition.
That’s about the Sux. I believe Tampa can compete.
Don’t think it’s a coincidence that since Teix arrived the Yankees infield defense has improved tremendously. I loved Giambi the hitter but at first base….eh, not so much. Watched him botch too many plays over there.
I am hopeful that with a lot of work with KLong, Teix can improve his lefty approach in the offseason.
I am guilty of ripping Tex, only because I know he has under-achieved in the 2011 season to date.
That does not mean he won’t get RED HOT in the post-season and carry the team.
He’s more than capable of carrying this team with his swing and defense.
I think Joe will play the matchup vs RHP…….Montero may start some……I agree he should probably DH every game but Jorge knows how to work counts and has shown the ability to still get big hits.
gammons sounds sedated…medicated if you will
“the thing about crawford is fenway is exactly the place that is bad for him.
but the sox offered 142, the angels 105. it’s a no brainer”
Absolutely.
Can’t believe Miguel Cabrera keeps getting ignored in all the MVP talk…
I feel sorry for Crawford too JM. He should have stayed in Tampa or gone to the Angels. Sometimes the extra $$ isn’t worth it.
====================================================
Maybe Crawford should have signed with the Angels, but why would he stay with the Rays for no money? Most players go for the big bucks, can’t blame him for that. And this could be an off year for him. But I don’t feel sorry for him.
“gammons sounds sedated…medicated if you will”
You know he sounds that way on NESN too, on the postgames. I wonder if he is on medication.
I would take Tex over Giambi anytime, for his glove alone.
G-C – Teixeira has batted .265/.363/.510 in his Yankee’s tenure. If 10 points of BA and SLG are all you are complaining about, I’d say they got exactly what they were expecting out of him so far. If you think BA matters in the long run then, well…
Is he producing at a Top5 player level? No. He has been roughly the 30th most valuable bat in the league since he signed.
Does he have to produce at that level to make his contract worth it? I don’t think so.
Who cares how much money was spent on him? Have the Yankee’s not signed any player they were after because of money since then? No.
He provides elite level defense on top of his 30th ranked bat. The value of this gets constantly understated. Rarely ever gets hurt, no trouble off the field…
He is almost exactly what they thought they were getting. Could he do better? Sure. Has it mattered yet? Nope.
Sean_McAdam If you’re optimistic: play-in game would be 3:30 Thursday afternoon at St. Pete. Game 1 of ALDS (whether it’s @ DET or @ TEX) would be 5 pm
SoS September 27th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
What would have been a worst Yankee signing.
Crawford for 7 years or what some wanted Lackey for 5?
—————————————————————————
Lackey for 5.
There’s still hope for Crawford to earn some of his paycheck. Plus, it’s much more difficult to hide a bad player when they are 1/5 of your rotation. (See AJ Burnett)
Gammons on WFAN talking about the Sox want Bard as a starter to throw 175-200 innings next year because he is more valuable than a back end bullpen guy (WTF?)
Also talking about how Aceves/Morales would likely start over Lackey in a 1 game playoff because they “compete hard” and they could get 6 innings out of them combined.
also said that Bill James’ formula has concluded that Ellsbury is the best player in the league this year, but still think it is a tough call for MVP
Doesn’t sound like he is conceding the playoffs, still thinks they have a good shot if they get to the 1 game playoff.
Gammons has sounded like that since he had the stroke.
Yea….Cabrera ia having an incredible year….he should be right there.
kd September 27th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
the thing about crawford is fenway is exactly the place that is bad for him.
but the sox offered 142, the angels 105. it’s a no brainer
—————————————————-
I thought I remember reading somewhere that Crawford didn’t give the Angels a chance to counter Boston’s offer?
G-C – Also, Swisher doesn’t count for our experiment, he was already signed.
You have to replace Teixeira’s production with a FA 1B or OF over the last 3 years for less money… who is that guy?
If the sox are done and TB is rising then why would anyone in their right mind want TB in the ALCS?
The answer is bc we will beat whomever is put in front of us, I know.
But, if it weren’t the rs, we would root for the weaker team , right?
No. Bc we want the Phillies, right?
GRudges aside it just seems like a fear factor is involved…
Gammons must be drinking heavily these days.
I actually miss his ugly mug on ESPN/ Baseball Tonight!
mick September 27th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
If the sox are done and TB is rising then why would anyone in their right mind want TB in the ALCS?
The answer is bc we will beat whomever is put in front of us, I know.
But, if it weren’t the rs, we would root for the weaker team , right?
No. Bc we want the Phillies, right?
GRudges aside it just seems like a fear factor is involved…
**********************************************************************
Mick-I am not scoreboard watching, but a small part of me wants the Red Sox to make the playoffs because they are dangerous enough to win Round 1, and then be very, very tired and unprepared to face the Yankees in the ALCS
gammons sounded rational
said theyre still looking for a pitcher
LGY – Ellsbury (man it pains me to say that) and Bautista have separated themselves IMO. I don’t even think Granderson has a shot at this point.
King Felix winning the Cy Young last year was both a blessing and a curse. You know how if you kick a door open too hard sometimes it flies off the hinges?
Don’t underestimate the damage it’s done to the Sox when they failed to sign Tex. It forced them to make two major moves to acquire more offense (Martinez and Gonzalez) since 2009. It has had a cascading effect on their pitching depth. They’ve got none now.
Look at the broader picture, signing Tex was a forward looking move by Cashman. He just needs to undo the bad habits in his swing.
Is it bad to root for Tampa to win out and the Sox to collapse even though I think the Rays
are a much scarier team in the playoffs with that loaded pitching staff?
My 12 year old son asked me yesterday why I was rooting for the sox to lose if the Rays are
a tougher out? My response was I would rather the Rays out play us than listen or watch the
sox hype 1 more day than I have to.
He ended it by saying Beckett has a face Id like to punch.
“He is almost exactly what they thought they were getting. Could he do better? Sure. Has it mattered yet? Nope.”
______________________________________
His aggregate slash line is skewed by the career-level year he had in 2009.
Over the last two years his offensive game has been pretty dismal.
I absolutely detest the “watch the games with your eyes” argument but in this case it actually makes a lot of sense. Tex has been a brutal player to watch at the plate for the last two years, perhaps even more brutal than his mediocre production suggests.
Personally, I’m happy that his performance (or lack thereof) goes pretty much unnoticed. He’s too nice a guy and too good of a presence in the clubhouse to deserve to be mistreated.
But he also gets far too much credit for his defense. Every day I see someone new suggest a new, ridiculously hyperbolic statement about how many “runs Tex saves.” Some people go as far to insinuate that he saves multiple runs every time the Yankees play. This is just unmitigated nonsense. He might save a run or two every week, at most. This is not to say his defense isn’t tremendous. But first base defense has never and will never be that important in the first place. Its in the bottom tier of positional significance along with the outfield corners.
YankeesPR We’ve had some people write about postseason game times. TBS and MLB will release those start times once we know our opponent
——————————
72 hours away and we still don’t know what time the game is.
MLB is long past just being in bed with the TV networks. Now it’s like they have a dozen illegitimate kids together with an OB-GYN on standby.
I think most Yankee fans will breathe a sigh of relief if Boston gets eliminated.
More out of fear/respect than hatred .
I am rooting for the Yankee’s to win out. Never let them think they can beat you, even if you aren’t playing your A-game. Confidence is a terrifying aspect of sports. There is no sense worrying about which team they may or may not face in the ALCS.
The oddity about Posada is that he is 6 for 32 since August 26. Yup, six base hits in five weeks. But because two of those hits were high profile, he has the aura of being on something of a roll.
Meanwhile, Montero is considered to have struggled against righties, even though he has put up a .950 OPS aganst them.
Oh well, have to hope that Jorge either does well or does poorly without hurting the final result. He will definitely get the start against Verlander, since he has good career numbers.
SoS-smart kid.
LGY –Ellsbury (man it pains me to say that) and Bautista have separated themselves IMO. I don’t even think Granderson has a shot at this point.
——
This is exactly the stuff I’m talking about.
How in the world does a guy hitting .343 .448 .579 for a 1st place team never get mentioned in the MVP race.
Verlander, Ellsbury, Grandy, Cano, AGon… Same names over and over again yet no Miggy.
“Doesn’t sound like he is conceding the playoffs, still thinks they have a good shot if they get to the 1 game playoff.”
That’s the medicated version of Gammons I guess. He’s about the only Sux supporter still beliving they can do anything.
**************
mick, no I don’t want the Yankees playing the “weaker” team. I want the Yankees playing the best teams and wining the best teams. Because I know they’re better than the competition.
Here’s an admission though. If the Sux were the best team, I’d still want them out of the playoffs. I don’t want them to win anything ever. But that’s my alpha and omega on the Sux. It will never have anything to do with their positioning, always with my hatred off them.
eboland11 Cashman just strolled through clubhouse. Girardi said yesterday ALDS rotation meetings would start today so that could be main reason
G-C – I absolutely detest the “watch the games with your eyes” argument but in this case it actually makes a lot of sense. Tex has been a brutal player to watch at the plate for the last two years
Well, your eyes tell you that. Mine don’t. Since there’s no way of quantifying that, we have stats.
You can’t tell me that his 2009 stats are “greatly skewing” anything, when his 2008 and 2005 stats do the same thing for all his years prior. What we have seen over the last 2 years is who Teixeira really is.
Lackey for 5.
=======
BJK,
Im with you. Lackeys attitude alone would be hard to take for that span. It seems his team
is already experiencing it. His stink eye looks at his defense after a bad play. His hissy fit with
the media.
One thing im surprised about Crawford is his lack of stolen bases. I mentioned before the sox signed him that if his legs go, hes would be a below avg. player. His avg. has sunk, stolen bases have dropped and hes manning a little league left field. Take it all in Sox fans!!
@ESPNJoeyMac: Aceves will be available both tonight and tomorrow.
YES is assuming the game is at 8:30, as they sent Mike out to the stadium to do a show on Friday from 3-8 and Saturday from 4-8. Now they can always change that, but it is likely that 8:30 is the start time.
Now, there was also talk that TBS already has 1 game scheduled for 6 and another for 9:30. I think it depends on if Boston gets in, honestly.
If Boston gets in, then they can try and squeeze both the Yankees and Sox into the prime-time spots and have them split it. If Tampa gets in, they probably do the 5/830 times and we get the 8:30 spot.
love readin the hate on tex, like he hasnt hit over 35 hrs and hasnt drove in over 100 rbis and like defense doesnt matter….
insane…
SoS:
my side is hurting. Hilarious : )
Aceves is going to be the next Scott Proctor.
WOW!!!
Does he have a rubber arm?
Does he know how to say “no” in English, when the team asks him to take the mound?
“I think most Yankee fans will breathe a sigh of relief if Boston gets eliminated.
More out of fear/respect than hatred .”
I think it’s a mixed bag. Betsy has already admitted she thinks they can be dangerous. Other people obviously feel the same way. Then you have another group that just can’t stand them and wishes for their demise “just because”.
***********
I say this with all due respect to anyone who feels other than I do, and I mean this sincerely. I cannot understand how anbody with knowledge of that team and the massive issues they have can believe for a minute they have the ability to go anywhere but down. It is so not computing to me it isn’t funny. I’m thinking that the only thing that can kick in here is the fear factor mick is talking about. And if it is that I see it as totally irrational based on the very real issues they have, top to bottom.
If I’m the only one here thinking that way, so be it. But I am entirely committed to that position and I sincerely believe it’s from watching how they have totally sunk in the month of September and they are out of life rafts.
Did Aceves pitch last night?
Did Torre secretly take over or something?
Girardi approaches Managing like his background dictates.
1 part baseball player. 1 part engineer. 1 part human being.
Interesting blend of whiskey there.
Love this, from the BoSux blog Mr. Abrahoser’s site: ( directed at the Sux, of course ): https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/303754_2266541915174_1597328350_32264760_1521745378_n.jpg
LGY – I thought being in first or last wasn’t supposed to matter?
When I look at it I see that Bautista basically trumps Miggy in everything except BA ( a stat i very little value in). Miggy has been pretty damn lucky this year (.364 BABIP with no speed is kinda amazing). Not to take away from the production he has gotten… but he is essentially tied in R/RBI with a guy on a much worse team surrounding him.
I think Verlander could be a factor as well. Since people are so apt to want to say “Oh hey, maybe this pitcher finally deserves the MVP”, no one wants to look at the second mots valuable guy on that team.
Of course… then I remember that’s exactly how Mauer won an MVP so…
Here’s an admission though. If the Sux were the best team, I’d still want them out of the playoffs. I don’t want them to win anything ever.
========
Im all in Trisha. I always have my A.B.B.(anyone but boston)card out and ready for use. Its
limitless.
Nilsson September 27th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Don?t underestimate the damage it?s done to the Sox when they failed to sign Tex. It forced them to make two major moves to acquire more offense (Martinez and Gonzalez) since 2009. It has had a cascading effect on their pitching depth. They?ve got none now.
Look at the broader picture, signing Tex was a forward looking move by Cashman. He just needs to undo the bad habits in his swing.
I couldn’t agree more.
“Girardi approaches Managing like his background dictates.
1 part baseball player. 1 part engineer. 1 part human being.”
I think that’s a wonderful blend.
SoS – howdy pardner!
dannyburawa Rays yankees game…actually hoping the rays take this one
” Beane moved onto defense, before it became overvalued, and even speed. He isn’t a one trick pony.”
see what happens when you have a gm with experience as a mlb player
Trisha-
That’s some good whiskey. Got to get the blend just right.
Aging helps too.
LGY –I thought being in first or last wasn’t supposed to matter?
——
It matters to the people choosing the award.
We all hate Boston here, that is a given.
Seeing them lose is always preeminent.
The funnything is that beating them in the ALCS is EVEN BETTER than seeing them lose now.
Although, a gritty, gutty downtrodden Sox team coming back from this adversity, how ironic and hypocritical, would be the apple of America’s jaundiced eye.
You can’t talk about Tex without focusing on the splits. He’s still excellent vs LHP, the problem is he’s pedestrian vs RHP.
The Crawford deal is more money and is 2 years longer…..but I think you may get more value out of his deal than Lackeys. Crawford isn’t this bad…….Lackey pretty much is.
OK, I’m out. Have a good evening everyone.
Still can’t bring myself to root against the Yankees, so I’ll just say Go Balitmore.
LGY – Well I guess we need to constantly specify if we are talking about who should win, or who we think will get the votes from the all-knowing BBWAA.
Nilsson September 27th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Don’t underestimate the damage it’s done to the Sox when they failed to sign Tex. It forced them to make two major moves to acquire more offense (Martinez and Gonzalez) since 2009. It has had a cascading effect on their pitching depth. They’ve got none now.
============================================
Yeah, especially the Victor Martinez trade because Justin Masterson would look real good to the Sox now. For 1-1/2 years of Martinez the Beantowner’s have lost a very valuablwe young arm.
By the way, VMart will be in the postseason with Detroit and Beltre will be in the playoffs with Texas.
ID
Lol, yeah. I’m annoyed the sports media isn’t giving Miggy any cred.
SoS:
my side is hurting. Hilarious : )
=========
Great time to be a yank bro. We get to bake the cake and eat it to. vinny, if your side continues
to hurt look up the Romo vest. You might need it for more fun these next couple days.
Trish,
Glad to see you back here. Do your thing. But remember, theres no crying in baseball.
Sometimes it difficult to separate out one’s bloodlust for Sux with the more practical aspect of them as a potential opponent.
Right now they would be a very weak opponent IMO.
In that sense we should want to face them.
Fate will decide some things. We’ll go from there.
LGY – He certainly deserves some, but after his drunken missmash in the offseason he’d be hard pressed to win the hearts and minds of the media. Actually now that I just thought of that… it probably has more to do with this than anything else.
“The funnything is that beating them in the ALCS is EVEN BETTER than seeing them lose now.
Although, a gritty, gutty downtrodden Sox team coming back from this adversity, how ironic and hypocritical, would be the apple of America’s jaundiced eye.”
mick, no matter how stupid this sounds, the fact that they were annointed the best team ever assembled makes me want them to be creamed into the ground without ever going into the postseason. If they get there they will be so decimated by the Tigers or Texas that there will be no shot at the ALCS. So if it happens, that they get in I’ll just have to take my joy in watching them look like a featherweight boxer in his first fight facing Mohammed Ali in his prime.
mick September 27th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
We all hate Boston here, that is a given.
Seeing them lose is always preeminent.
The funnything is that beating them in the ALCS is EVEN BETTER than seeing them lose now.
—————————————————————–
I think I’d prefer them being stuck with the label of worst choke ever.
Just my personal preference.
“Although, a gritty, gutty downtrodden Sox team coming back from this adversity, how ironic and hypocritical, would be the apple of America’s jaundiced eye”
Great descriptive!
“I think I’d prefer them being stuck with the label of worst choke ever.
Just my personal preference.”
Amen!
Seeing the Sux humiliated is soothing.
But fate will decide it.
upstate kate September 27th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I would take Tex over Giambi anytime, for his glove alone.
////
co-signed.
As others have noted, Tex gives us superb, game-saving defense and power. If he can remake his left-handed swing, all the better. I wouldn’t take back signing Tex, no.
Yup, it’s stunning how Miggy gets overlooked. He’s not a guy people like, I guess, because of his debauchery. Still murders with a piece of wood, which sort of is supposed to be the point.
Fangraphs review of the Yankees postseason pitching staff.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....nt-1179405
So if the Sox make the post-season Ellsbury is an MVP, but if they don’t he’s not an MVP?
Even FakePeterGammons is sweating profusely.
(that guy deserves some sort of award, fwiw.)
“Seeing the Sux humiliated is soothing.
LMAO!!!
Why do ppl hate the Yankees?
And love the sox?
Underdog? vs IBM? I’ve actually heard that.
“It’s like rooting for IBM”
Even in 2001 we couldn’t get the love.
Maybe someone knows?
“Can’t believe Miguel Cabrera keeps getting ignored in all the MVP talk…”
Don’t worry about Cabrera. When they hand out awards for Most Valuable Drunken Wife Beater, he can win that award.
Mick:
no one is buying, what you’re selling.
go Tampa!
EEI guys asked Kruk about he MVP award and Kruk said that if it were last month he definitely would have had to give it to Granderson but right now he would have to go Ellsbury because Ellsbury has basically carried the team with his bat and on the bases. That’s what Kruk said anyway.
I think FakePeterGammoms is G. Love.
Yes Ellsbury has carried the Sox to a brilliant September.
no one is buying, what you’re selling.
=======================
not selling anything
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
EEI guys asked Kruk about he MVP award and Kruk said that if it were last month he definitely would have had to give it to Granderson but right now he would have to go Ellsbury because Ellsbury has basically carried the team with his bat and on the bases. That’s what Kruk said anyway.
===============================================
Exactly where has Ellsbury’s bat carried Boston?
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
EEI guys asked Kruk about he MVP award and Kruk said that if it were last month he definitely would have had to give it to Granderson but right now he would have to go Ellsbury because Ellsbury has basically carried the team with his bat and on the bases. That’s what Kruk said anyway.
————————————————————————-
Carried the team to one of it’s worst month’s ever.
If the Sox don’t make the postseason don’t see how Ellsbury could win MVP. Most Valuable Player on the team that had one of the greatest collapses in the history of the sport? Can’t see that happening.
Where has G. Love been lately. I miss his posts.
As you know I hate the Sux as much as the next person (maybe more).
But I believe in giving credit where credit is due.
IMO Ellsbury has had an amazing season and he is one of the few guys on that team who is still performing at a consistently high level.
At least he still has a heartbeat.
If Ellsbury carried the ball for a few extra moments last night in centerfield, he would definitely be the frontrunner.
Ellsbury has been amazing, I absolutely agree. But unfortunately for him he will be penalized for his team’s collapse.
G. Love has moved on to greener pastures.
Said he wouldn’t be back.
Guys, guys, I’m just the messenger. And as MTU points out, Ellsbury has had an amazing season. The Sux probably wouldn’t have sniffed first place without him. And don’t think for a minute that his heroic performance against the Yankees B team – where it took them 14 innings to win the game – isn’t being factored in. In fact it was right after that that I heard his name with ringing endorsement.
Before that it had been Agon all the way. (for the Sux anyway)
I hope G Love comes back……his posts were always very entertaining.
MTU September 27th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
G. Love has moved on to greener pastures.
What, he’s moved to Fenway Park?
“If Ellsbury carried the ball for a few extra moments last night in centerfield, he would definitely be the frontrunner.”
Hit me the same way. I also wondered if he would be knocked down a few pegs for that drop.
The Red Sox & their self image as the anti-Yankees is what makes you roll your eyes.
The media has anointed them this with tender loving affection: out of the mouths of talking heads, Ortiz is “Papi”, Youkilis is “Youk”, etc., and they go along for the ride every year, disparaging the Yankees as they go. This year, it was outright pretending there is no team in the Bronx. They hoped the omission would make us disappear, I guess.
It is they who are obsessed with us.
I’ve always thought their real agenda isn’t winning it all, it’s beating us. That’s what their Yankee obsessed fanbase demands. It’s no wonder they are all amped up for us in the first half of seasons and we’re just business as usual, not hitting our stride ’til we feel like it, and generally crush in the second, because we’re just gearing up generally for the stretch and playoffs. Wins over us, especially lopsided ones or consecutive ones, make them feel invincible and legitimate.
They can cry all they want about seeking the ultimate prize, which all teams do, but their personal little Waterloo is us, ours is the World Series. Sure, they’ve had good teams and they’ve won it all twice, but their identity is wrapped up in beating the Yankees. Didn’t Manny hold up a sign during their WS parade “Jeter’s playing golf”? Odd focus, after you’ve been crowned baseball’s champions.
Unfortunately, since 2004, a large part of the fan base has now decided they legitimize us. Curious, considering we’re the standard in the game with 27 championships. But the players don’t really respond singularly to some Beat Boston imperative, even though some Yankee fans want them to. They just don’t. Our seasons have a pattern, and it’s usually to surge and crest in the second half.
The hokey psychologist in Psycho describes Boston’s POV well when discussing Norman Bates’ obsession with his mother:
“Since he was pathologically jealous of her, he assumed that she was pathologically jealous of HIM.”
That’s what many of us find distasteful about the Red Sox. They’re forced down our throats by the media who is pathologically jealous of a history of Yankee success, so they pretend the Red Sox are somehow the yin to our yang. Nothing to do with “fearing” the Red Sox, as some keep insisting here.
Blake-
I agree. He said he had had his fill of BS.
Don’t think he’ll return. I enjoyed his posts too.
Lowrie at clean up lol
My sources tell me that Lavarnway has booked ad space in Thursday’s Boston Globe.
Apology forthcoming?
JAP
Thanks for that explanation.
They are indeed Wannabes.
As are the mets.
The rest of baseball would be as well but those 2 , being our cousins, have the inferiority complex.
Maybe Trish is right, Crush them.
Prufrock – Well said.
Just like Alex Baldwin said… Grass doesn’t have a rivalry with a lawnmower.
I have no idea why Joe waited so long. The problem is that Tex will be walked because pitchers are not going to be afraid of Swisher, who is not as good and has been absolutely brutal in the post-seaosn
If that were a viable strategy 4 and 5 hitters would get walked almost every time up. Baseball doesn’t work that way.
Too bad we can’t prolong the misery, maybe that’s what the 14 inning affair was about, then we laughed at them and said Heeeere’s Proctorrrrr to give them false hope.
Only to watch their Ace fail them…
Speaking of Ace, maybe he can start the next 2 .
Bat Montero behind Tex..
Discourse, haven’t heard that one. LOL. Grass gives a lawn mower it’s relevance, I guess.
Those commercials are awesome
mick, crush whomever is in our path to the World Series.
@BloggingBombers: MLB has announced that the Yankees’ ALDS Game 1 will start at 8:37 ET at Yankee Stadium.
Swish might be better served in the bottom 3rd of the order.
JAP-
If we’re into crushing I’d rather we use a steamroller instead of a lawnmower.
Is that OK ?
@DKnobler: AL tiebreaker would be 4 ET at TB, NL 8 ET at STL (both Thurs). ALDS Game 1 Fri at 5 ET at Tex/Det, 8:30 ET at NYY
Prufrock – Not much sense in climbing to the top if there isn’t someone’s head to stand on when you get there
Nick in SF September 27th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
My sources tell me that Lavarnway has booked ad space in Thursday’s Boston Globe.
Apology forthcoming?
———————————————————————-
Lavarnway… I hear he’s like Montero, only with more power. (please disregard his current .624 OPS)
mick September 27th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Bat Montero behind Tex..
///
That’s a good idea, mick.
For a different sort of reason… I kinda hope the RedSox make the playoffs.
If they don’t, Selig will be pushing even harder for that second wild card next season.
ID, that’s true, too.
Where is the vaunted Red Sox farm system right now–”one of the best in the majors” according to that so called expert Keith Law?
Where are all of their AAA pitching call ups? Their depth at catcher?
Where, in the biggest game of their season?
One of the fun things about this train wreak of the 2011 Sox is the complete exposure of the bozos in the baseball press. They need their credibility to survive, and it’s taken an enormous hit. I for one hope it never recovers.
Swisher is also better from the right side. .942 OPS vs LHP.
“I have no idea why Joe waited so long. The problem is that Tex will be walked because pitchers are not going to be afraid of Swisher, who is not as good and has been absolutely brutal in the post-seaosn”
That’s what Francesa said as well. Imagine Tex/Swish back to back against good righties with off-speed stuff like the Tigers have? Yikes.
The 2nd WC is coming …..maybe when next year and I actually like it so long as they work the schedule so that the division winners don’t wait too long.
MTU September 27th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
JAP-
If we’re into crushing I’d rather we use a steamroller instead of a lawnmower.
Is that OK ?
///
I don’t know, some of these newer models really have teeth. You should see what one of ‘em did to my Complete Works of William Blake.
Betsy September 27th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
I have no idea why Joe waited so long. The problem is that Tex will be walked because pitchers are not going to be afraid of Swisher, who is not as good and has been absolutely brutal in the post-seaosn
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I’d rather Tex be walked than Cano.
Boston has “talent” in their lower levels…….but so does every club. Their upper levels are barren.
Jim Bowden was criticizing their drafts today……saying that they were missing a lot in their middle rounds and that its killed their organizational depth.
Nice to hear Tex is planning on working with KLong during the off-season to improve his left handed stroke.
I’ve posted it plenty of times before that all you need to do is look at archive footage of Tex prior to coming to the Yankees to see how much of a pure hitter he was batting left handed … hit to all fields with ease.
Became way too much like Giambi … if people want to quibble about him taking so long to do this, hey, better late than never … we still have a WS in the bank and maybe another one coming, so it is not as if Tex becoming a Y2K version of Oscar Gamble has really hurt the Yankees.
To perseverate about Keith Law one more time…he ranked the Sox farm 11th and the Yankees 9th in 2011.
So if the systems are so close, Keith, where in the name of Babe Ruth’s ghost is all that Sox talent when they really, really need it? Oh, that’s right…on the Yankees! How come all they could get at the deadline was Eric Bedard with such prime lower A talent, Keith?
Forget it, he’s toast. What a clown. I hope he is called out on this by the national media.
BJK, I know………..it’s not even about that for me. Tex is not the best, nor the 2nd best nor the 3rd best hitter on the team and he shouldn’t bat 3rd.
JAP-
Next time don’t drink and drive.
jete-grandy-cano-alex-tex-montero/posada-swish-martin-gardner
blake – I know, but I don’t want the players union to give in on the 15 team leagues, balanced schedule and 1 game playoff.
2004 was the high water mark for the Sux organization.
It’s all downhill now.
Order is restored.
Does it really matter when this move was made as long as it is in place when the real season starts on Friday?
Hi everyone!,
JAP, good post in relation to the sux…they are a bunch of wannabes.
Mick,
Yes!, trisha is right! crush them!
Good thing that they move Tex in to the fifth spot, lets hope is the future alingment for the PS against RHP.
MTU, winky-wink
J Al – that was phenomenal. I was actually waiting to see who you were quoting, that discourse was so damned eloquent (not that I think you can’t write like that). But that was A+ essay material.
Seriously, that is publish worthy.
LGY,
Good point
In all fairness, Boston have had to give up a lot of their vaunted prospects recently- like Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden, Felix Doubront, Josh Reddick, Kyle Weiland to name a few- to the land of mediocrity.
Trisha-
JAP can write but I take better photos.
And I’m modest too.
Everything is clinched, the team is in a calm and confident mood, the media is off their backs, the players involved are happy….
Seems like perfect timing to me.
And if you want to talk about their watershed moments, be sure to queue up the asterisks and break out the Jack Daniels!
luis!
Saw your post on trips to both New & Old YS. We’ve got to get you out here to see your countryman.
What part of Venezuela is The Jesus from? & is it close to where you are?
MTU,
Again….what have you been taking!!, you are on fire !
Could it be the ensuing sux collapse?!?
Jesus was born on a Tapui. Born of the jungle.
Alone in his magnificence.
A true son of Venezuela.
“Trisha-
JAP can write but I take better photos.
And I’m modest too.
I think we would get universal agreement on both the photos and the modesty.
1 part photographer 3 parts human being
Luis-
There is a certain exhuberance attached to it. I hope it continues.
What’s the problem, LGY?
trisha-
10 parts Monkey.
Hi JAP,
Hi, yes please!!..not this season but next i am game!!
Jesus is from a little town called “Guacara”, close to Valencia the largest industrial city of the country…I am from Caracas the capital, about a 1 and half hour drive. We are a small country after all….i think Texas State i twice the size of Venezuela.
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
J Al – that was phenomenal. I was actually waiting to see who you were quoting, that discourse was so damned eloquent (not that I think you can’t write like that). But that was A+ essay material.
Seriously, that is publish worthy.
///
Why thank you, trisha. I’ve been holding my sides and thoroughly enjoying your Sux material, by the way. Still waiting for you to come around on you, Yankeefem & going to see our boys knock down that Monster at Fenway if it comes to that in ALCS. I told yankeefem I was in if you promised not to get us killed, but then I read you say you won’t set foot in there. I think it’d be a hoot! Of course, it would necessitate that our friends to the Nawth err, show up.
Theo needs to take a hit on this season. There is no reason that a club with the kind of resources available to him should be in this position with this lack of depth at the end of the season.
Going with Lavernway at catcher? Erik Bedard as your pitcher? In a must win game?
Stars failing is one thing–it happens. Not having a catcher at any level who can be called up is criminal.
luis, isn’t Andruw from Caracas?
Betsy
I just disagree..
JAP,
If you take Trisha with you to Fenway, those sux fans are going to run and hide!!
LGY, I have no problem with that at all……..I’m glad the move was made too.
Luis-
As you know I think Venezuela is a country of great magnificence.
It will be even better when Hugo departs the scene. Which he will.
i have been whinning about tex and the pull thing for months and months.
he finally realizes it………..
And Pittsburgh, who knows a pitcher better than his former team? I’ve noticed, and remarked when it’s happpened, that so many times when a pitcher loses a no hitter, it seems to be by a member of his former club.
Mr Jones?, no he is from Curacao as far as i know, the island is just 35 miles away from Venezuelan shores, so maybe because most curasoleans come to my country to get medical care
Pitt-
I’m anxiously awaiting that moment. More pure joy. Epstein getting his come uppance.
Hope the door hits him on the way out. With his swollen ego I wonder if he even makes it thru the door.
luis September 27th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
JAP,
If you take Trisha with you to Fenway, those sux fans are going to run and hide!!
Mr Jones?, no he is from Curacao as far as i know, the island is just 35 miles away from Venezuelan shores, so maybe because most curasoleans come to my country to get medical care
////
LOL, you’re right. Trisha as secret weapon.
Ahh, thanks re Andruw. Got my “Cs” mixed up.
MTU,
AMEN!!!!!!, seriously it appears that he is terminally ill, the doctor that is treating him is my close friend, and the prognosis is not very good. But still, the country he leaves is a mess, it’s going to take decades to rebuild it.
Next on my agenda is Texas. We owe them a beating. Hoping to remove their claws
and antlers and expose their backsides for all to see.
After that, the coup de gras. We sweep the Phillies in the WS. Their vaunted pitching staff does not win a SINGLE game.
How’s that for dreamin’ big ?
“JAP,
If you take Trisha with you to Fenway, those sux fans are going to run and hide!!
”
I remember going to a May series at Fenway when Nosemar still played for the Sux. When one of the games was over – I think we had won the game – I piled into a subway car with a mass of Sux fans who had just left from the game. Two Sux fans appeared to be a little inebriated and were going on and on about how Nosemar was a better SS than Jeter. I of course had to interject my two cents telling them they were nuts. I did it with my Yankee hat and Yankee jacket on.
(I was stone sober, as I’m a teetotaler.) Anyway, what I guess could have been a very ugly moment turned into a fun moment because we just ended up jawing back and forth. I think part of the reason I got away with it is because I’m female. I hate to say that, but I think it’s true. I don’t think they were going to slug a female! But I was willing to take my chances because no way was I going to let them disrespect our SS!
Luis-
I believe in freedom for all people. That is at odds with someone claiming to be Emperor.
Things will get better. Venezuela is a rich country and merely awaits a true leader.
@Ledger_Yankees: “After having so much success my first year, I got a little too pull happy the last two years. I need to make an adjustment.” — MT25 #nyy
MTU September 27th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
I say it is eminently doable!!!
8:37 start time Friday.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Finally! Cano and Tex are batting where they should be. Took Joe long enough.
@SI_JonHeyman: mets turned down 250 grand and matching evergreen proposal from yankees for proposed aaa move to newark. yanks not thrilled
Trisha-
Nosemar.
Too funny.
He sure does have a big snaz.
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 27th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
No Trish, they probably were sh**less scared from you!!
PittsburghYankeeFan September 27th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Going with Lavernway at catcher? Erik Bedard as your pitcher? In a must win game?
———————————————————————————-
In Theo’s defense, it’s harder to have a better 3rd string catcher when your first 2 catchers are already 3rd string catchers.
LGY September 27th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
@Ledger_Yankees: “After having so much success my first year, I got a little too pull happy the last two years. I need to make an adjustment.” — MT25 #nyy
—————————————————————————-
Seriously, best news of the season.
Yes Tex. You do. And you will.
Make that left-handed swing more like the right-handed one.
New thread—>
LGY September 27th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
@Ledger_Yankees: “After having so much success my first year, I got a little too pull happy the last two years. I need to make an adjustment.” — MT25 #nyy
///
Tex admits it, first step. Attaboy. KLong will fix ‘im.
Off to hear pre-game on CBS.
GO YANKS! (err……..yea….GO YANKS!)
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!
Conchale, hombres. No creen que es mejor dejar la politica fuera.
Especialmente en tan buen momento para nuestro equipo. Digo yo.
Pa’lante y hasta el final.
MTU,
Not to brag about my country, but it is indeed beautiful!
I also believe in freedom for all, i am an admirer of the US, in fact i wish we have had a guy like Washington or Jefferson or any of your founding fathers, they were all real heroes in my book…I’m still in awe when i read that the happiest moment of Washington was when he relinquished power to John Adams in peace. I have many dear friends in the US.
new post –>
DYD INDA WUL September 27th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Tienes toda la razon, pa’lante y mas nada!!