Big games and big results from the big man
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on Sep 30, 2011 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Justin Verlander is impossible to overlook. He’s been too good this season, too good to think there’s any other pitcher in this division series capable of having a bigger impact.
Surely squaring off against a pitcher like that sparks something extra inside of CC Sabathia.
“I wish I could sit here and say yeah, but no, not at all,” the Yankees ace said. “I still have to go out and do my job. Like I said, I’m out pitching against the Detroit Tigers and that lineup. I really can’t get myself concerned with what he does.”
Sabathia is the Yankees answer to Verlander, and the two are very familiar with one another having spent so much time together in the American League Central. They’ve already met once this year. It was on Opening Day. Both took a no-decision.
“CC’s a horse,” Derek Jeter said. “He wants to be out there. He’s a guy that wants to finish his games. He’s been our ace. He’s been the guy that we look to for big games and big results, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”
This is the key matchup. In a five-game series, a 1-0 lead is huge. The Yankees and Tigers are going with their best.
“I have a ton of confidence in CC,” Joe Girardi said. “This is a guy that’s been doing it for a long time. He’s been doing it in the postseason for us as well. He’s a guy that gives you a ton of innings, but he gives you quality innings. I have a ton of belief. You know he’s not going to panic. If he gets in a tough situation, he’s going to continue to make his pitches.”
Here’s Sabathia during yesterday’s press conference.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
—
Don’t forget, we’re doing a chat here on the blog today at noon. See you there!
Associated Press photo
Verlander can be beaten, especially in YS with its short right porch. It’s happened to Doc Halladay. One of the keys will be to use the Yankees vast edge in speed and have Jeter[wait till you see his career numbers vs Verlander], Gardner, and Granderson run every chance they get.
Yankee career numbers vs. Verlander:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/.....-verlander
Al Alburquerque. Great name. LOL
As it should be.
Our best against theirs. Best team wins.
Fantastic. Luck be our lady tonight.
VN-
Imagine if he lived there ?
Albuquerque Al or Al Albuquerque ?
That’s tough.
Let’s do this thing.
Box score from the Verlander-Sabathia matchup-
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;mode=box
AlbaQWERTY?
I hope the Yankees score early and hold the lead.
I don’t like them as a come back type of outfit. Not this year’s M.O.
And God forbid it turn into extras.
Let’s see some pitchin’ and some O.
Always expect the unexpected.
YT-
Is he a secretary in the OS ?
So how is everyone else distracting themselves until 8:37pm because I need some tips..
And I’m on board with blake.. I can’t believe how much of a story the Yanks ‘giving away’ the last few games of the season has become. It just illustrates how in order to have any MLB story matter, the Yankees need to be tied to it. With that in mind I will only add this: You’re Welcome, Baseball. You’re welcome. Because when half the country is already in NFL mode the only way to keep things interesting is to kill the Yanks. Again, you’re welcome.
Posada is the DH out of respect to his long Yankees career, and not because he’s the better choice. Montero brings more to the plate, be it against RH or LH pitching. Let’s hope all players contribute, and don’t tank in the PS, as some are prone to do. To win #28 will take a complete team effort.
BTW Alburquerque just came back from a hip strain-might be an issue on those cold nights in NY and Detroit.
I’m baaaaaack….
at least for a couple of minutes.
First of all I’m very much looking forward to this match up – two teams with very similar squads. An ace, a surprising #2 and then question marks abound in the rotation. Very solid offensive teams. Top of the line closers. I give the Yankees a huge edge in defense and the pen leading up to the closer. Should be a fantastic series. Yankees in 4.
On another note, I’m sorta giddy about what’s going on in Boston. This whole thing with Terry leaving, I think, is the first of what could be a plethora of panic/reactionary moves that set that organization back a couple of years.
Consider that the best in-house candidates they had for the job of replacing Francona both left within the last couple of years (Farrell and Mills) the best “experienced” manager available might be Bobby V which would be a joke and unlike in past years there isn’t that young guy who is just hands down ready for his first managerial job (and I think Boston is too complex for someone to have it as their first job, much like New York is). Sure, they could wind up with a puppet manager to execute the orders of Theo and Luccino, but I don’t see that working out either.
They said that the issue that happened to piss Francona off during the Toronto series was the clique that has been mentioned were drinking beers durings games when they weren’t starting are playing
E_Lipsman Congratulations to Brandon Laird and Austin Krum on winning Rawlings Minor League Gold Gloves. http://pic.twitter.com/nvwcq62M
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 9:16 am
They said that the issue that happened to piss Francona off during the Toronto series was the clique that has been mentioned were drinking beers durings games when they weren?t starting are playing
********************
Yankee Trader September 30th, 2011 at 9:14 am
BTW Alburquerque just came back from a hip strain-might be an issue on those cold nights in NY and Detroit.
*************************
How cold is it in New York? Do I dare hope for a Ninja Cano appearance?????!!
Please do not look at what the Yankees did against Verlander early in the season, he’s not the same pitcher he was then, perhaps twice as good. On the other side of the coin, CC needs to be the pitcher we saw mid-season, and not the pitcher we saw in September.
IMO, it all starts and ends with CC being the pitcher he’s capable of being, or it will be a very tough series.
Posada is the DH out of respect to his long Yankees career, and not because he?s the better choice.
—————————————————————-
If that is really the case then Joe shouldn’t be managing this team. I felt the same way when Torre refused to bunt against Schilling because its not the Yankee way. If you put an inferior product on the field and don’t give your team the best chance to win then you should look for work elsewhere
YankeesInk Bill Madden reporting Francona fired. And he’s the one guy at the NY Daily News I don’t take with a grain of salt. http://nydn.us/oJWFaj
Not a lot of love for the Yankees and their chances of winning it all:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoff.....redictions
Like everyone else out there, I worry about their starting pitching. If their bullpen can provide a lot of solid innings, they may be able to win with decent offence and long stretches of reliever dominance. But I am not betting on it.
Chad,
RE: ” Big games and big results from the big man ”
Could you post C.C.’s career postseason stats?
I wonder how many times really he got “big results” in “big game” situations.
nice to see you Chip
Erin September 30th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 9:16 am
They said that the issue that happened to piss Francona off during the Toronto series was the clique that has been mentioned were drinking beers durings games when they weren?t starting are playing
********************
————————
I need a link/explanation!
Hi Chip! Good to see you during the season. Hope to see you during the playoffs.
Erin -
It’s definitely on the cooler side, but I don’t know if it’s Ninja weather yet.
Al-
Good morning.
Yes. Would love to see CC pitch up to his potential.
And you are also correct in saying that this Verlander is not the one we saw early.
I hope he’s off his game.
I believe CC is 5-1 in PS play. How many were against the lowly Twins, I’m not sure.
That’s a shame about Francona but managers out there wear out their welcome pretty quickly, the fact that he’s lasted almost a full decade is a lot to be proud of.
Get Verlander early.
Shame Spencer,
I just heard it on the Dennis and Callahan on WEEI. They mentioned the guy who had the story but I forgot his name
Supposed to be in the upper 40s by game time the next couple of nights. Bordering on Ninja territory but maybe not quite there.
Shame-
It’s great for us because it will only weaken the Sux further IMO.
Hint:
Alex. This would be a wonderful time for you to show up. Feel free
to do so.
Thanks Villa Nova and JM.
Sigh.
Let’s see some pitchin’ and some O.
———————————
MTU-
Let me add. The Tigers have the least # stolen bases in the majors this year. Austin Jackson leads the team with 22 SB-only ONE against a lefty.
BIG AL-
Morning. Righties hit Verlander slightly better in BA .215-.174 for lefties and Slugging % .364 to .271 for lefties. That could be due to Verlander’s deadly CU against the lefty hitters.
Posada career wise has had 6 hits[3 doubles] off Verlander. He was 0-4 this year on opening day.
While I think Posada deserves all the respect due him,at this stage in his career, Verlander might very well feed him a steady diet of the changeups, and make him look inept.
Further thoughts on Posada vs Verlander tonight?
Found a link: http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....rticleFull
MTU -
I don’t fear any pitcher, and this team has shown they do better against top pitching they’ve faced several times, and bomb against the new pitchers they’ve never seen, so I think they’ll hold their own hitting wise. It will be very, very important to take advantage of any opportunities they get. If they start off by leaving men on base, and don’t get the big hits, they could easily drop game one. Every pitcher seems to have an inning they give the opposing team an opening, and if it’s not taken advantage off, they come back and shut you down. I have faith this team will go all the way.
I caught a little bit of Mike and Mike this AM, and they had somebody on (I think it was some Boston radio guy but I wasn’t really paying that close attention) who said he thinks it was more like Francona wanted out than the other way around.
MTU – I agree completely. Whoever fills that role next year is going to have to take at least a full season to adjust. Its probably best for Tito, though. Managerial jobs are always very fickle, its rare to stick with one club for very long with only a few exceptions.
Hope Swish shows up for the post-season this year. He’s been abysmal in the past. Without Arod (seriously doubt he’ll do much at all), we need the others to come to play and win big.
Go CC!
The Sox have as many playoff wins over the past 3 seasons as the Mets.
An excerpt from a Jackie MacMullan article:
So did the 2007 World Series team. There are 11 players remaining from that championship club, which at first glance looks like a huge number, but the problem is too many of them no longer play prominent roles in the Sox clubhouse. The captain, Jason Varitek, is a sub. Tim Wakefield has been reduced to “insurance” in the rotation. Beckett was an ordinary pitcher this season. Dice K’s career could be over. J.D. Drew is an apparition.
Ellsbury is a 2007 alum and an MVP candidate, a magnificent player with the brightest future of them all. His teammates like and admire him, but he keeps to himself, confides only in Jed Lowrie.
Can you blame him? His teammate two or three lockers to his left continued, as recently as two months ago, to publicly question Ellsbury’s decision to retreat to Arizona last summer for treatment for broken ribs. Kevin Youkilis has always been a hot button. On occasion, his intensity and his honesty were his biggest assets, but not this season. The injured Youkilis showed up every day the way he wanted Ellsbury to, but he turned so sour and cynical that his carping and insistence on inserting himself into other people’s affairs turned him into a detriment.
Then we have Ortiz, who had a redemptive season on the diamond. He has long been credited for galvanizing the Latino players and justifiably so, but he didn’t seem to grasp how damaging it was to publicly question whether Alfredo Aceves should be a starter instead of a reliever, and how it undermined both the manager and the general manager at a critical time of the year.
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/.....-chemistry
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Posada is the DH out of respect to his long Yankees career, and not because he?s the better choice.
—————————————————————-
If that is really the case then Joe shouldn’t be managing this team. I felt the same way when Torre refused to bunt against Schilling because its not the Yankee way. If you put an inferior product on the field and don’t give your team the best chance to win then you should look for work elsewhere
—————
I don’t think that’s the case – I think Posada is the DH because, against RH hitters, he’s the best option the Yankees have at this juncture. In looking at it objectively, the only other option really is to use Chavez at DH or 3b and let Alex DH. I don’t think Girardi wants to throw Montero to the wolves by tossing him into the lineup against the best pitcher in the league at home in the playoffs after only a cup of coffee (albeit a good one) in the majors.
I’m sure if Jorge struggles, Girardi will make an adjustment.
By the way – I would like to go on record today that this winter I am rooting for the Yankees to sign Mark Buhrle. I think he would be a better, less expensive investment than CJ Wilson.
I have a funny feeling Francona realizes some of the players that are the problem in that clubhouse aren’t going anywhere any time soon..
Erin September 30th, 2011 at 9:29 am
I caught a little bit of Mike and Mike this AM, and they had somebody on (I think it was some Boston radio guy but I wasn’t really paying that close attention) who said he thinks it was more like Francona wanted out than the other way around.
~~~~~~~~~
That was my take on watching Francona’s comments. He sounded like he hated how the team was so fragmented. Good guy, that Francona. Seriously, who could take 8 years of Boston and not be worn down?
Did you guys see Edes column on the team’s internal issues — Youk sounded like a real jerk and a literal cancer in that clubhouse.
Erin-
Weather forecast for NY:
http://www.weather.com/weather.....1:US?role=
Did Francona get fired?? I heard earlier that he was going to tell the Dead Sox that he wasn’t returning!!!
i hope tito likes deep dish pizza. or maybe he just needs to know his way around dc. if he wants a job next season, he’s gonna get one. he’s a good manager, good luck to him.
By the way ? I would like to go on record today that this winter I am rooting for the Yankees to sign Mark Buhrle. I think he would be a better, less expensive investment than CJ Wilson.
*******************
White Sox Guy would never let me hear the end of it if the Yankees get Buehrle.
Erin-
I believe that about Tito. He knows when to abandon a sinking ship.
Al-
Neither do I because on any given day they can be off their game, or be put off of it.
If there is someonbe to fear Verlander certaintly would be at the top of the list though.
I like the Mano a Mano thing between our horse and theirs.
YT -
Your guess is as good as any on Posada, but, I fear we’ll see a lot of 3rd strikes looking.
Montero has been a huge favorite of mine, and he surprised me with the manner in which he handled himself, after that first game against Lester. The second time around, he was more relaxed, and showed why he is so highly regarded.
Maybe Girardi looks at Montero as his BU C, thus not wanting him in the game as DH, should Martin get hurt, bringing in Montero to catch at that point would mean losing the DH.
I don’t have that answer, but, if Montero gets his AB, and does well, Joe will have to use him, if Posada does not produce. Posada knows this is his last PS, and that may drive him to play above his season numbers, let’s hope so.
CC — I believe you posted the article I read, so my mistake. The things I read about Youk may have been penned by MacMullen. I read it hours ago.
I don’t buy the poor chemistry argument as the reason Boston fell apart. It was the same team that bulldozed through the AL for much of the season – I don’t believe that all of a sudden they stopped liking each other and that’s why they collapsed.
More likely it was a combination of injuries, poor play from key guys (Lackey and Crawford), and just no depth – the result of all the moves they’ve made in the last couple of years. Kyle Weiland might be a nice prospect but there’s no way he should be starting big games down the stretch right now as he was – but that’s the situation they were in.
I may be in the minority, but I would love the Yankees to go after CJ Wilson.
There are several reasons, but I’m sure the off season will give us plenty of time to say yes or no to many FA or trade rumors.
Thanks YT. Sadly, not cold enough for the Ninja.
I’m starting to feel the butterflies and I’m only watching the game from my couch.
Feels like game 1 of the postseason is tonight now.
Going to be a great game. GO YANKS!!!!!!!!
Al-
I don’t think you are. Many here like him.
I’m not a fan of his though and hope we do not persue him.
The 2012 class offers the potential of a lot more talent if that’s the route we chose to go.
I love that now that the Sox have fallen out of it every talkinghead is blaming the injuries… “Its a good team, but the injuries killed them” is the trope I keep hearing. Ridiculous. Last I checked, their 3 MVP candidates were all still healthy by year’s end..
I didn’t watch many Dead Sox games in September. How was it Francona’s fault that the Sox collapsed?
Wasn’t it possibly the “HAND” that Theo dealt him?
gotta wonder if youk will be back. one year plus a $1M buyout option left on his contract, not a very good 3bman, dogging ellsbury…..
when theo talked about big changes, that could be one of them.
Chip -
The reason the RS had no depth, is due to the poor GM moves and trades. They had no one to bring up that was remotely ready for prime time. If I owned the RS, Theo would be holding as presser saying both he and Tito would not be returning. Given the stories coming to light, the RS team was not a TEAM, just a bunch of idiots playing like it was pick-up baseball, and allowed to do as they pleased. They needed a strong guy managing the team, not a buddy.
In any case, I’m glad it worked out as it did, much better for the Yankees.
YT-
I agree. Be happy though because if Tito leaves it only weakens that team further.
Which is just what we want.
Did you guys see Edes column on the team’s internal issues — Youk sounded like a real jerk and a literal cancer in that clubhouse.
Wang In Taiwan
I would be interested to read this article anyone got a link.
Shame-
That would be 4 MVP candidates-Ellsbury, Pedroia, Gonzalez and Ortiz!!
However you’re exactly right.
Are they going to blame ace Lester’s poor performance on some sort of injury?
Chip — it sounded like the poor chemistry wasn’t the sole reason for them falling apart. The problem was is that when things started going south (i.e., injuries starting to pile up), the players then didn’t back each other up the way Tito had hoped they would. He mentioned in his press conference that he was unhappy with their support for each other when they were still winning and winning big. It was then that he had a closed-door meeting (unbeknownst to the press). I guess they had some real cliques, along with bad attitudes.
I loved hearing Gonzalez actually blame their schedule and how they just had too many late games on TV on travel days. Boo, hoo. Hey dude, you could have stayed in podunk San Diego if you didn’t want the spotlight (I can call San Diego podunk because I lived there for a while. It’s certainly not New York or Boston).
From the sounds of the reports coming out, Francona had lost the clubhouse a bit. Players drinking beer during games, while they weren’t playing, but still that is not a good way to behave. Francona just might not have the heavy hand needed in that clubhouse.
Gee, I don’t recall the Yankees getting as much sympathy for the injuries they suffered through in 2008.
MTU -
Let me ask you this, if the Yankees were to hit the FA market, looking for SP, who would you want them to sign, and in what order?
Unknown — here you go.
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/.....-chemistry
in the middle of this article Youk’s treatment of Ellsbury is mentioned
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/.....-chemistry
jinx!
Mgumpher September 30th, 2011 at 9:47 am
~~~~~~~~~~~
He managed them like he was dealing with responsible adults and he wasn’t.
Shame Spencer September 30th, 2011 at 9:33 am
I have a funny feeling Francona realizes some of the players that are the problem in that clubhouse aren’t going anywhere any time soon..
———————
Could just be he’s tired of Boston. As I understand it the media up there’s even worse than it is down here.
I think he’s at a stage where he just is ready for a new challenge – it happens. I’ve always been a firm believer that all managers and general managers have a shelf life. Torre, for example, didn’t need to go because of results, he needed to go because the job was stale and you could see that in how he was managing, he wasn’t thinking, he was managing by muscle memory – there were players he trusted and he was going to ride them no matter what. Francona did the same thing. Tim Wakefield’s a great guy, a Boston icon, but he wasn’t effective anymore. Same with Varitek. But Francona kept running them out there because that’s what he knew.
In the end, Francona will land on his feet – maybe he takes the Chicago job but I doubt it – that team is a mess with zero young talent and a lot of aging players on bad contracts. I could see him doing well with the Mariners if they decided to make a change. Nice, low key atmosphere, wonderful city, fantastic young talent in a division that is up for grabs.
As for the Red Sox, as I said earlier, I think this will be the first of many moves. I think they’ll be major players for Jose Reyes to help solidify their gaping hole at SS, they will try desperately to move Lackey but aren’t likely to find any takers and if they do it will be for someone else’s headache (Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito). I think Bard’s demise down the stretch will force them to commit more money and years to Papelbon than they had planned and I think it’s entirely possible that Youk’s injuries the last couple of years will inspire them to let Ortiz walk so that they can phase Youk into a DH role.
It might still look appealing to become the next manager of the Sux, but I would stay away from it if I was anybody up for the gig.
—–
Back to the Yankees, if tomorrow is rained out, do you think that they would play Sunday and then lose the travel day and play right away in the Motor City on Monday?
Lester has said on multiple occasions that he felt fine.
kate — jinx, double jinx.
Francona will always be looked on fondly in New England because of the two World Series championships. My Red Sox-loving relatives (who are still in shock at the moment) will be sad to see him go. Epstein should fire himself for some of the boneheaded moves he’s made in the last couple of seasons.
Hamels
Cain
Those would be the primary targets. I doubt they reach FA though.
There may be others on the list but those are off the top.
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Posada is the DH out of respect to his long Yankees career, and not because he?s the better choice.
—————————————————————-
If that is really the case then Joe shouldn’t be managing this team. I felt the same way when Torre refused to bunt against Schilling because its not the Yankee way. If you put an inferior product on the field and don’t give your team the best chance to win then you should look for work elsewhere
————————————————————————————————————————-
Exactly who was it that was supposed to bunt? There were 2 players on that team that could bunt….Jeter and Cairo. Jeter lead off 2 innings and in the other two at bats, he had an RBI single. In the other at bat, there were two outs. Cairo was 2-3 with 2 doubles. Were you going to bunt with Williams, Posada and Matsui? Those were the only ones that would have made much of an impact with a bunt….assuming they knew how.
Another thing Verlander hasn’t been that solid in his last few starts. Notably getting lit up a bit by Buck’s Birds at Comerica.
One thing is for sure if he was pitching with the NY on his chest everyone would be saying how Verlander is really struggling and is “falling apart” at the worst time possible.
Just a thought that is more than likely true…
Wang IS Taiwan September 30th, 2011 at 9:49 am
Mgumpher September 30th, 2011 at 9:47 am
~~~~~~~~~~~
He managed them like he was dealing with responsible adults and he wasn?t.
____________
Granted, but it is the managers job to know when players aren’t being responsible for themselves and try to correct it.
I think Francona is a good manager, but good managers don’t always fit with the type of guys you have in a clubhouse. Francona has been there for 8 years also, and after a number of years go by the message is just lost.
From that article:
“Ultimately you don’t need a team that wants to go out to dinner together,” he said, “but you need to have a team that wants to protect each other on the field and be fiercely loyal to each other off the field.”
I agree with Chip in that there were much bigger reasons for the collapse, but I do think the fractured clubhouse played at least a small part in it.
Time to walk the Mops.
BIG AL September 30th, 2011 at 9:48 am
MTU -
Let me ask you this, if the Yankees were to hit the FA market, looking for SP, who would you want them to sign, and in what order?
————-
I know you asked this of MTU, but here’s my two cents:
1. CC
2. Darvish
3. Buhrle
4. CJ Wilson
I guess they fired Francona to assign blame where it doesn’t belong. Sh!t rolls downhill.
UnKnown September 30th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Another thing Verlander hasn?t been that solid in his last few starts. Notably getting lit up a bit by Buck?s Birds at Comerica.
+++++++++++++
According to Buck, Verlander was saving himself because they were going to the post season and Verlander wasn’t throwing his A stuff.
Mgumpher September 30th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Agree with ya. You know, after you’ve been managing the same guys for that length of time, it’s almost impossible to suddenly morph into somebody else just because their behavior requires it. I think it’s best if Francona goes. Watch what those whiny players do if Boston hires in a Showalter-type who doesn’t much care to protect them from the ferocious media. Francona ran so much interference for them.
Of course – as I’m predicting doom and gloom for Boston – watch as they go out and trade garbage to the Braves and Marlins respectively and wind up with Jason Heyward and Logan Morrison.
Jacksquat, I believe the decision was Francona’s.
BIG AL-
Too early to talk about potential FA starting pitchers. However here’s the list of possible potentials, some who I believe have resigned:
Starting pitchers
Erik Bedard (33)
Mark Buehrle (33)
Chris Capuano (33)
Bruce Chen (35)
Bartolo Colon (39)
Aaron Cook (33) – $11MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Kyle Davies (28)
Doug Davis (36)
Ryan Dempster (35) – $14MM player option, no buyout
Zach Duke (29) – $5.5MM club option with a $750K buyout
Jeff Francis (30)
Freddy Garcia (36)
Jon Garland (32) – $8MM club option with a $500K buyout
Aaron Harang (34) – $5MM mutual option with a $500K buyout
Rich Harden (30)
Livan Hernandez (37)
Hisashi Iwakuma (31)
Edwin Jackson (28)
Kenshin Kawakami (37)
Scott Kazmir (28) – $13.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Hiroki Kuroda (37)
Rodrigo Lopez (36)
Paul Maholm (30) – $9.75MM club option with a $750K buyout
Jason Marquis (33)
Kevin Millwood (37)
Sergio Mitre (31)
Roy Oswalt (34) – $16MM mutual option with a $2MM buyout
Brad Penny (34)
Oliver Perez (30)
Joel Pineiro (33)
C.C. Sabathia (31) – may opt out of remaining four years, $92MM
Javier Vazquez (35)
Tsuyoshi Wada (31)
Adam Wainwright (30) – $10MM vesting option for ’12, $12MM for ’13
Tim Wakefield (45)
Chien-Ming Wang (32)
Brandon Webb (33)
Dontrelle Willis (30)
C.J. Wilson (31)
Chris Young (33)
HaleMark The last time A-Rod faced the #Tigers in the playoffs? He batted 8th. My story: http://nyp.st/pP9YyM #yankees
Mgumpher September 30th, 2011 at 9:47 am
From the sounds of the reports coming out, Francona had lost the clubhouse a bit. Players drinking beer during games, while they weren’t playing, but still that is not a good way to behave. Francona just might not have the heavy hand needed in that clubhouse.
———
Eh, this is the same team (though not the same players) that in 2004 passed around a bottle of JD before every game – they won a title that year.
I agree – it’s likely that after this long he did lose the clubhouse, but I think that’s more on the players than on him. Again, there’s nothing wrong with a good manager and a good team parting ways when the relationship gets stale. It’s the nature of the beast.
Wang,
It’s very possible that Edes said/wrote something similar about Youk.
The Francona storyline was interesting yesterday, but from this point forward I couldn’t care less. It’s time for Yankee baseball!
Mgumpher September 30th, 2011 at 9:58 am
UnKnown September 30th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Another thing Verlander hasn?t been that solid in his last few starts. Notably getting lit up a bit by Buck?s Birds at Comerica.
+++++++++++++
According to Buck, Verlander was saving himself because they were going to the post season and Verlander wasn’t throwing his A stuff.
———-
Oh sure thing Showalter I am sure he really didn’t want to win #25. whatever…
Trader -
First of all it is NEVER too early to talk about Free Agents
Second, I’m amending my list from above:
1. CC
2. Darvish (if posted)
3. Buehrle
4. Harden
5. Wilson
Wang IS Taiwan September 30th, 2011 at 9:59 am
Jacksquat, I believe the decision was Francona’s.
—
To be fired? Did the RS decline his 2012 club option, or did Francona say he didn’t want it?
Of course – as I’m predicting doom and gloom for Boston – watch as they go out and trade garbage to the Braves and Marlins respectively and wind up with Jason Heyward and Logan Morrison.
——————————————————–
Chip-
I know you’re saying that in jest. It’s more likely the crafty Braves front office will get Theo to take back Lowe in a trade!
As far as I have seen, there isn’t a decision yet on Francona and Boston. They are meeting this morning and that started about 1/2 an hour ago.
Has someone said differently yet?
I wouldn’t be surprised if they split ways. Francona was talking in a way that was a lot different than he usually does. Theo was sounding defensive about some of the things Tito was saying.
The FA pitching market is very thin this winter. Next winter has all the big fish (assuming they don’t sign before then).
Exactly who was it that was supposed to bunt? There were 2 players on that team that could bunt?.Jeter and Cairo
—————————————————————
That wasn’t the issue. The issue was Joe saying we don’t bunt because that is not the Yankee way.
Unknown, I agree. It seems Showalter loves to just talk, many times without much thought behind it.
Chip -
CC is a given, if he opts out, the Yankees will give him more money and re-sign him.
I like Darvish, but, I’m always a bit worried about signing Japanese pitchers, Darvish seems to be different from the others in many respects.
I’d place CJ Wilson ahead of Buhrle, but we seem to be on the same page.
It may come down to cost and years. I like how CJ Wilson has pitched against the RS, but, that could be said of AJ before he became a Yankee as well.
Chip -
Is Harden an FA this off season?
Time to walk the mops, back later.
I think CJ Wilson will be a target of the Yankees and the Red Sox. That should make things interesting.
I am hoping that Cashman breaks a bit from tradition and offers CC an extension or some boost in salary deal to keep him from opting out. CC is a good clubhouse guy. It wouldn’t be good to have him even have a chance of going elsewhere.
i dont want to see another longterm contract for a SP unless cc opts out and signs elsewhere.
i think cash is going to work out a trade for a #2 this offseason.
Fast drive-by to say that I didn’t realize just how big the “expert” groundswell was for Detroit until I watched some MLB special (forget the name).
No credit for the fact that of his losses this year, 2 were to the Yanks?
I’ll read posts when I get home from my appointmen, but I’m hoping that there’s support for our Yankees here, meaning that others genuinely believe that we can beat Detroit. I certainly understand respecting Verlander. I don’t expect that we will shut out Detroit in all of the games. But we do have the best record in the AL, and we do play in the toughest division, and we do have more runs and a lower ERA than Detroit and are ranked higher in fielding (though that one is close!)
Later y’all!
GO YANKEES!!!
And also, Vegas gives the Yanks the odds.
Buster Olney
I picked SF to beat BOS in the World Series, so my postseason pick must be taken in the proper context: I’ve got Rangers beating PHI in WS.
And we also beat Fister!
Bye
Boone-
AaronBoone_ESPN My picks- Rangers over Rays. Tigers over Yanks. Phils over Cards. Brewers over DBacks. Tigers over Rangers. Phils over Brewer. Phil over Det
On the other hand, I kind of like the fact that nobody is picking the Yankees. They do well in the “underdog” role.
JonLaneNYC #Yankees release ALDS roster. Notable omissions: Bartolo Colon, Austin Romine, Raul Valdez and Hector Noesi.
Breaking news: Francona out as Red Sox manager
BOSTON — A major league source has confirmed that Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to part ways.
Francona is meeting with team ownership at 10 a.m. The team has two options on Francona’s contract, for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, which it has chosen not to exercise. Francona, however, is also ready to move on, and is in agreement with the decision.
More to come . . .
http://www.csnne.com/09/30/11/.....eedID=7750
Red Sox have Beckett under contract for 3 more years, Lackey for 3 more years (lol), Lester for up to 3 more years, and Matsuzaka for 1 more year. I don’t know if they are going to add another expensive pitcher to that.
I agree Trisha, for all the reasons you posted.
I kinda like the Yankees being regarded as underdogs too Erin.
listening to WEEi….talk of players who were not in the lineup drinking beer during games….
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Exactly who was it that was supposed to bunt? There were 2 players on that team that could bunt?.Jeter and Cairo
—————————————————————
That wasn’t the issue. The issue was Joe saying we don’t bunt because that is not the Yankee way.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Then you have no issues that they didn’t bunt. Your issue was with what Torre said. Big difference.
I agree with the comments made earlier by another poster, Francona knows that the trouble makers on the roster will not be so easily moved with time left on their rosters.
His loss our gain in my opinion. RSN is a flaming wreck this AM.
Al -
1. Yes, Rich Harden’s a FA. Given his injury history I’m not looking to give him a 5 year deal or something like that – but a 1 year $8 mil pact wouldn’t be a bad investment.
2. In Buehrle vs. Wilson it comes down to a couple of things for me. A) CJ is going to want (and get) a contract in the range of what AJ and Lackey got – I don’t think Mark would want that much. B) I think he’s more of a pitcher than Wilson and will be a terrific influence on young guys like Betances and Banuelos.
jorge has done NOTHING this year to deserve being in the starting lineup. it is obvious to anyone who has watched the team this year that jesus montero should be the DH against RIGHTIES or lefties. such shortsighted logic which i feel may hurt the yankees. did manny ramirez sit against righties? how about miguel cabrera? play the kid!!!
JonLaneNYC Full #Yankees Division Series roster http://bit.ly/pFDriU
Watch the Sox trade a bunch of garbage for King Felix…
Erin September 30th, 2011 at 10:17 am
JonLaneNYC #Yankees release ALDS roster. Notable omissions: Bartolo Colon, Austin Romine, Raul Valdez and Hector Noesi.
———–
Not shocking – as Chad said, with Hughes and AJ in the pen they didn’t need Noesi or Colon. The Tigers don’t have a big LH bat so they don’t need a second lefty in Valdez and with Posada DHing Montero will be Martin’s back-up
Agree ,Montero should be in there…..
# CountryClub September 30th, 2011 at 10:04 am
The FA pitching market is very thin this winter. Next winter has all the big fish (assuming they don’t sign before then).
————————————
Hopefully that doesn’t happen again. This past pitching class was suppose to have Verlander, Doc, Lee, Beckett, and Cain.
DocTodd September 30th, 2011 at 10:20 am
listening to WEEi….talk of players who were not in the lineup drinking beer during games….
————-
Again though – this didn’t hurt them when they were dominating play for most of the season. Did it all of a sudden catch up to them in September?
During the last game between the Yanks and Rays Michael Kay said that Joe Maddon lets his players do what they want. He has no rules on player conduct save two – be on time and play hard.
KMart_LI Remember when it looked like Posada wouldn’t make the postseason roster? Well, he believed he’d make it all along: http://bit.ly/qTGIr2 #nyy
Would really like to know if the decision to DH Posada against rh pitching one from Girardi.
Maddon on the other hand doesn’t seem to have a problem making the tough call.
informal poll here…
does ANYONE think posada should be DH ing over montero?
im just curious. i really think this decision could haunt the yankees
2nd random Laverne and Shirley reference this week…..
Peter Botte
Weird, just saw KRod and the Big Ragu skipping down the sidewalk singing “Schlemeil, schlemazel, hafenfeffer incorporated.”
Chip….whatever went on, I’m just happy A’s heck to see THE NATION in distress…:)
How long will they stay with Posada if he’s not hitting?
Not like it’s written in stone.
Maddon doesn’t have a veteran w/ many years of post season experience.
He also doesn’t have the media attention, or a large fan base to deal with.
He is golden just by making the play offs this year.
Red Sox have Beckett under contract for 3 more years, Lackey for 3 more years (lol), Lester for up to 3 more years, and Matsuzaka for 1 more year. I don’t know if they are going to add another expensive pitcher to that.
—————————————-
They also have free agents in Drew, Scutaro[club option], Wakefield, Varitek, Ortiz and Papelbon, which if none are resigned gives them around 37M. But then A-Gon’s 21M kicks in.
Have to go.
Jeter has very good career numbers vs Verlander. In limited appearances against Verlander, so does Gardner. Get on base, run, run, run, using the Yankees superior speed vs the Tigers-last in SB in the majors. Be aggressive at the plate as the stats show Verlander gives up hits and most homers with count 0-0, and 0-1, and I think the Yankees will win it and surprise a lot of “pundits”
jonathan p September 30th, 2011 at 10:31 am
informal poll here…
does ANYONE think posada should be DH ing over montero?
im just curious. i really think this decision could haunt the yankees
————-
Montero should be DHing all games.
In all honesty, you can’t predict playoff performance.
How many times in the past have things happened you’d never think would happen?
How many players who were supposed to be the stars ended up not contributing at all?
How many scrubs have ended up being, if not MVPs, at least contributing greatly to their teams?
I think the best course of action is to sit back, relax, let the players do their thing. In the end, that’s all we can really do anyway.
***
Side note: Who is “Big Ragu?” I assume he’s a Brewer, with the L&S reference.
Maddon doesn?t have a veteran w/ many years of post season experience.
He also doesn?t have the media attention, or a large fan base to deal with.
—————————————————-
Torre didn’t seem to have a problem sitting Vets in the postseason when they were facing a tough lefty
If C.C. has his good rhythm and locates his fastball well, he’s tough to beat.
As for Jorge, he should be used for pinch hitting purposes. Chavez can get around a fastball better from the left side and the same with Montero from the right side.
Just a hunch-but I have a good feeling about Posada in this series.
However, provided they make it to the ALCS and he hasn’t done much, Montero will probably take over the majority of the DH at bats.
I’m not too worried about it
Big Ragu was a character (Carmine) on Laverne and Shirley. Haven’t thought of that show in 20 years and first someone mentioned it here this week and then a NY beat writer mentions it in a different context. Random.
I hope the Yankees can turn around their extra innings and 1 run performances during this Tigers series.
We could use a walk-off tonight or tomorrow night. It’s been a long while.
Let’s Go Yankees!!
DocTodd September 30th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Watch the Sox trade a bunch of garbage for King Felix…
—————-
Entirely possible.
Here’s my prediction:
Manager – Larry Bowa (kick butt type who will bring discipline but still take “advice” from management.
Current FA’s
JD Drew – Gone
Wakefield – Gone
Papelbon – stays – Bard’s collapse will force theo to keep him I think
Ortiz – Gone – Youk’s injuries will prompt the team to open up the DH spot for him
Scutaro – Gone
Varitek – Gone
FA’s they’ll bring in
Jose Reyes – fills a glaring need at SS and is the sexy splash that the Nation will call out for.
Jason Kubel – He can DH, but if the Sox need to play someone else there he can also take the field.
Lineup:
Reyes – SS
Ellsbury – CF
Pedroia – 2b
Gonzo – 1b
Youk – 3b
Kubel – DH
Crawford – LF
Salty – C
Reddick – RF
Rotation:
Beckett, Lester, Bucholtz, Dice, Lackey
I see.
People want Jorge around, as long as he doesn’t play? Is that it?
Jorge has good numbers against righties. He’s a seasoned veteran with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.
If he is awful, he won’t play further, but I think people underestimate JOrge Posada, as they have almost his entire career.
I have no idea if Montero would do better against Verlander. He was brought up to be the DH against lefties.
Girardi sees Posada’s career numbers vs Verlander, his decent numbers vs rhp this season, and Montero chasing too many breaking pitches headed off the outside of the plate from rhp. That’s why Posada is in there vs rhp, right or wrong.
I’m pretty sure Montero will be hitting vs a lot of pitchers next year.
Other people questions answered in the positive and Yankees in the negative again per ESPN.
Nova is a question mark because he is an unproven rookie who could crumpble under the pressure of the moment but Moore has a great chance to be effective because Texas will be unfamiliar with his stuff?
pat -
Okay. Thanks.
I knew Big Ragu from the show; I just wonered if there was a player on the Brewers with that as a nickname.
As far as the Red Sox go I think they will try really hard much like us to trade for a young number 2 starter and I think Ellsbury could be used to obtain one. Youkolis could be traded as well. I think they will try and move Bard into the rotation which means Papelbon will be back. If they keep Youkolis then I can see them letting Ortiz leave and use Youkolis more at DH and slide Lowrie over to third.
They will also look to do anything possible to get out from Lackey?s contract and trade him. 1 thing I don?t see them doing is getting involved in any more long term deals so no to Reyes or Wilson
Again, if you look at Verlander’s splits, righties have a better BA and slugging average this year than lefties- as one person said yesterday probably due to his deadly CU used on the lefties.
Righties who can hit the other way stand a chance of doing some damage against him in YS. I hope I’m wrong, and the mainly left handed line-up will do some damage tonight!
Now I really have to go. Have a great day today. Jeter with his 3000 hits and Rivera with his saves record. Mystique and Aura are back!!!
jimbaumbach The Steinbrenner jet is currently en route to New York, in advance of tonight’s playoff opener. #yankees #tigers #alds
jonathan p September 30th, 2011 at 10:31 am
informal poll here…
does ANYONE think posada should be DH ing over montero?
im just curious. i really think this decision could haunt the yankees
================================
I know that everybody is excited about the shiny new toy, but the correct choice is to use Posada in the series against the Tigers. It’s not even a close call. Montero may have the bat speed, but Posada has the savvy to have tougher ABs against a guy like Verlander, who would make any rookie–even a suypremely talented rookie–look foolish. Posada would have to have demonstrated a much bigger decline in production against righties than he has to warrant benching him in favor of Montero.
I think that Montero will get his chances during the postseason, but against the Tigers, they will have to come off the bench. In fact, not only is Posada a better option against right-handed pitching, but keeping Montero on the bench means that Girardi will be able to use him to maximum effect in key spots late in the game, neaturalizing the lefties in the Tigers ‘pen.
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 10:43 am
As far as the Red Sox go I think they will try really hard much like us to trade for a young number 2 starter and I think Ellsbury could be used to obtain one. Youkolis could be traded as well. I think they will try and move Bard into the rotation which means Papelbon will be back. If they keep Youkolis then I can see them letting Ortiz leave and use Youkolis more at DH and slide Lowrie over to third.
They will also look to do anything possible to get out from Lackey?s contract and trade him. 1 thing I don?t see them doing is getting involved in any more long term deals so no to Reyes or Wilson
—
Have to disagree with most of that. Very unlikely they trade Ellsbury. They already have 5 starters under contract. Bard becoming a starter after tiring as a reliever is unlikely. Lackey is even more untradeable than AJ unless they eat almost all of it, which I doubt. Lowrie to 3B and Youk to DH with Papi leaving might happen. Don’t really know about Sphincter Lips, but they might look elsewhere after his choke in the most important game of the year. Reyes would be a mistake like Crawford so I hope they do that.
by the way – if this is true I jump all over it:
Hughes, Swisher, Sanchez and Brackman for Heyward – thoughts?
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports......amn-minds/
Marc Carig tweeting about a possible Joe Torre replacement of Francona? That would be strange…
I have no problem Jorge DHing tonight’s game it’s the ALDS plan that he will hit against right handed pitching that annoys me.
Should be a game to game call. As we know things can go south pretty quickly.
A few men left on base in a loss to the Tigers can change public support and sentiment one way or the other pretty quick.
Let’s just hope the manager isn’t willing to makes changes if that’s the case.
Gossip Tweet
JoAnnaLGarcia Day off: amazing workout + morning coffee w @NickSwisher + getting PUMPED for game 1 ALDS = HEAVEN #letsgoyankees!
Chip -
I understand your point on Buehrle, but, the way I look at it, if I go after an FA, I want the pitcher to be a substantial upgrade over what I already have available to me, and Mark, IMO, is not.
I believe the “B’s” are 1-2 season away from being ready, if they both pan out at all, so if I could sign CJ Wilson to a 4-5 year deal, knowing AJ comes off the books after next year, that would give me; CC, Nova, Wilson, ?, ? going into 2012. And no, I’m not countong on Hughes. If he come back strong, all the better.
New Post: Yankees finalize division series roster
Acouple of long batting streaks ended this year. alex Rodriguez’ 13 year run of 30+ homers and 100+ RBI and Albert Pujols’ 10 year run of .300+ BA, 30+ doubles, 30+ homers and 100+ RBI. Pujols ended with a .299 BA, 37 homers and 99 RBI. It’ll be a long time before we see that again.
Kanye West: “Yo, Tito, Imma let you finish, but I just wanna say that Lee Majors was the best Fall Guy ever!”
Triple Short of a Cycle September 30th, 2011 at 10:43 am
As far as the Red Sox go I think they will try really hard much like us to trade for a young number 2 starter and I think Ellsbury could be used to obtain one. Youkolis could be traded as well. I think they will try and move Bard into the rotation which means Papelbon will be back. If they keep Youkolis then I can see them letting Ortiz leave and use Youkolis more at DH and slide Lowrie over to third.
They will also look to do anything possible to get out from Lackey?s contract and trade him. 1 thing I don?t see them doing is getting involved in any more long term deals so no to Reyes or Wilson
—————
They have a solid top 3 in their rotation (Beckett, Lester, Bucholtz) it’s the back end that stinks but I don’t see how they can fix that unless they find someone willing to take Dice (who may not be ready to pitch) or Lackey off their hands.
I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be in on Reyes – he fills a positional need, is young, and has proven he can play under a microscope – true, it will cost them a good chunk of change, but with Drew, Varitek and Ortiz coming off the books they have money to spare.
Chip —-
That’s gross overpayment for Heyward.
He’s a really talented guy, but was horrible in 2011 (.708 OPS), in just his second pro season.
Can’t get enough of the Mike and Mike Parody of “Sweet Caroline”..
http://youtu.be/k2VNr_U5ccw
I am also a little nervous about the Jorge at DH, but my gut tells me he might just be due for a big series here. Joe is putting the binder aside and going with his gut and little bit of loyalty mixed in. As one who has been calling for a little injection of inspiration along with the cold statistics, I guess I should be on board with this call. Kick ass, Posada!