Postgame notes: “We just didn’t get the job done”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Jun 03, 2012 
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After all of the yelling and screaming and finger pointing, the Yankees still had no one to blame but themselves tonight.
“We had plenty of chances to win this game,” Joe Girardi said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”
Twelve runners left on base, 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position — that’s a tough game to win, no matter what the umpire calls in the seventh inning. Mark Teixeira left runners at the corners in the first inning. Robinson Cano left a runner at second in the third inning, and he popped out with the bases loaded in the ninth. Curtis Granderson struck out and Alex Rodriguez popped out with runners at second and third in the seventh.
Those are the Yankees 2-through-5 hitters, supposed to be the most dangerous part of one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups, and they each let opportunities slip away.
“We’ve just to got to go ahead and try to get one across from time to time because they add up,” Granderson said. “No matter what inning you happen to get them, a run is a run.”
Said Girardi: “We couldn’t get the hit. We were patient. We got the walks. We got the hit by pitches. We just never got the hit, and that was kind of the story of our whole night.”
—
Of course, that wasn’t the only story of the night. Joe Girardi and Kevin Long were both ejected in the seventh inning after home plate umpire Bob Davidson called a first-pitch strike to Granderson. The pitch seemed to be low, and Girardi said things only got heated because Davidson seemed to be looking for trouble.
Here’s Girardi’s version of what happened:
“You saw the call on Curtis in a 2-1 ballgame, second and third, first strike. You can probably assume that we didn’t like the call. Then there was the popup over towards our dugout, toward the on-deck circle, that went into the stands. Bob Davidson chose to look right at K-Long opposed to turning over his right and going back to home plate. Now, this is a game of emotion. You’ve got one of the most prolific home run hitters in the game right now, second and third, one out. And you get a call like that? We’re going to be upset. He said, ‘Don’t talk to me that way. I’m not going to let you talk to me that way.’ To me he should have turned and went the other way and he didn’t, and I question what he did.
“… K-Long proceeded to say something to the fact that, what do you expect (after) a call like that? And he threw him out. And that really got me hot, because if he turns over his right shoulder and goes back, we probably don’t say anything. But that’s what he chose to do.”
Girardi, Russell Martin and Granderson all said they believed this to be an isolated incident. They didn’t think it had anything to do with Martin’s comments about Laz Diaz a few days ago.
“I definitely thought it was down,” Granderson said. “I asked him, I said — I had asked him about a pitch earlier in the game — and he goes, ‘The one earlier in the game I might have missed, but that one I have as a strike.’ He said that, I went and looked at the replay. Camera angles are always a little different, but from that view it didn’t look like it. That’s what got Kevin and Joe a little upset.”
—
• For whatever it’s worth, and it’s probably not much at this point, Hiroki Kuroda was awfully good tonight. Miguel Cabrera hit him hard a few times, but Kuroda went seven innings allowing two earned runs. He walked one and lowered his ERA to 3.82. “If your team doesn’t win, it doesn’t matter,” Kuroda said.
• Girardi said he doesn’t second guess his decision to pull Kuroda after just 86 pitches. “I don’t,” Girardi said. “He had a 45-minute rain delay. I don’t second guess that. He did a good job. Cabrera hit everybody hard tonight.”
• Dewayne Wise said he was running on his own when he stole third base in the ninth inning. When he stole second, that was a hit-and-run on a pitch that Derek Jeter couldn’t offer at.
• The Jeter bunt in the seventh inning was called from the bench. “I put it on because I had Curtis coming up,” Girardi said.
• Girardi on David Phelps coming into that tied-game situation in the bottom of the ninth: “It’s tough, but I have confidence, “Girardi said. “He’s pitched well for us this year.” Phelps allowed two hits, got one out and took his second loss of the season.
• The Yankees are still winless in games without a home run this season. They’re 0-12 in such games.
• Martin actually said he thought the zone was pretty consistent when he was behind the plate tonight. Granderson saw things differently from center field. “It was changing,” Granderson said. “That’s the one thing as players we want, we just want it consistent. Whatever it happens to be, if it’s consistently big or consistently small, just be consistent across the board.”
• David Aardsma threw 20 pitches today. He quietly continues to recover from last season’s Tommy John surgery.
Associated Press photos
how many times already has their been a postgame notes headline like, “We just didn’t get the job done.” Pick it up, fellas. Mercy
there. not their. I’m so angry that I did one of my biggest pet peeves
pathetic team
yeah, but “sometimes you just gotta tip your cap.”
that one sounds familiar too
Hang in there Yankee fans – it could be worse like my Jays trapped at the bottom of the present well
Let’s all have a great day tomorrow despite what happens ! I just hinted to my daughter I want that retro Stieb jersey . Poor guy was hurt for ’92, but in my frame he is the reason they got anywhere near there in the first place. Halladay was great but he just didn’t want to stick around, and to Philly ( geesh ) he went Pat Gillick . You people are articulate , well informed, and above all ,………..intense 
I don’t care for this extra wild card thing , nor do I like inter-league play . The meeting of American and National should be sacred unto the world series . Back to 2 division winners in each league! Here’s hoping Rivera makes a full recovery. J
Good morning everyone,
Tough loss. 1 for 12 with men on base usually means that you won’t win. I still think this team will make the playoffs. The thing is that it is not pitching what we need, it is some offense.
That’s why trading Nunez for Jackson doesn’t makes sense to me. If you trade him, do so for a bat.
Kuroda was fine…..good even…..they lost last night because of the offense and because injuries were inevitably going to cause issues with the pen…….
This team needs a bat…..there is no say around that …..they need one now and they need offense going forward ……and they need Cano to be a great hitter……with the age and decline elsewhere he has to take up the slack or they are going to struggle.
Also……I really hope one day they will stop letting Cabrera kill them….I know he did the damage last night with the bases empty and that Prince makes it harder to pitch around him……but still ……
Maybe they can scratch out an unlikely W today……
O-12 without homeruns. Cashman, wake the F up and get a bat. This team has been offensively challenged for the last 2 yrs when they don’t hit homers.
This line up looked better with Gardner and warts and all Nunez.
No homeruns no score.
Morning guys.
One of the more frustrating and depressing losses last night. I’m really not as troubled by two solo blasts by Cabrera. Two runs shouldn’t kill the Yankees. Heck FOUR runs shouldn’t kill the Yankees.
I don’t put much stock in Girardi’s pre- and post-game statements. He can’t say anything that’s not plain vanilla. This is not a team of rookies you can fire up by managing through the media with tough-guy statements. And you really can’t throw your guys under a bus – they are who you have, and I think those things are generally counterproductive in the long run, even if in the short term you might get game or two of results.
No, this is on the players themselves. They have to un-psych themselves out. Go out and get plastered and play with the mother of all hangovers. (Seems to have done wonders for David Wells, right?) Something. Try anything different. Anything.
I saw Cano slam his helmet and bat into the bat rack last night. You know, maybe letting out some of the pent-up frustration in some way will help, rather than the professional, take-it-all-in-stride stuff. As hard as it is to watch, it really does have to be harder to be going through it. These guys are not slackers. They work hard. Maybe they need hypnosis. Who knows?
I felt bad for Kuroda, but at least he didn’t get stuck with the loss – that he did not deserve.
Obviously, they can hit – they get guys on base. How many freaking times a game do then get the bases loaded???? That’s got to be some kind of record in itself, doesn’t it???
Well, I won’t discount today’s game; after all, “Ya can’t predict baseball, Suzyn.”
Meantime, I’m thinking of boycotting my Yankees for a while. It won’t do them any good, but it might save my sanity! (I probably won’t but part of me thinks, maybe if I’m not looking they’ll do better!)
Gardner, Nunez, even Cervelli are missed.
Cervelli had a knack for timely hits.
the whole game was frustrating…..if they start hitting when i counts (RISP), they will win a lot of games……if they don’t, it will be a long season……I do agree that Nunez, Gardner and Cervelli to a lesser degree would help. When pitchers worry about base running, it can provide better pitches for hitters to hit…….and of course you can manufacture runs better.
They should bring in Jose Cano and let him throw BP to his son for a week. Seemed to work wonders last year after the HR Derby.
I also think Stewart should be starting over Martin, at least he scratches out a clutch hit and some RBI once in a while. Martin just stinks now.
Good morning.
What a way to spend a Saturday night! As poorly as the Yankees played last night, watching the at bats vs Valverde gave me heartburn. So did just looking at Valverde!
It was a good night to stay away from the game threads, filled with arguing. The strength-relief staff is faltering. Don’t count on DRob anytime soon as oblique injuries with pitchers are tricky.
Also don’t count on the Steinbrenner’s approving any added payroll before the trading deadline. In fact Garcia will be gone soon either waived or traded for a very low prospect after June 15th when they don’t need his consent. Of course the Yankees will be paying the majority of what’s left on the $4M contract.
For better or worse, this is the team that will have to produce. Help will have to come from within for at least the time being.
DRob – aka Houdini – was truly missed last night.
I should absolutely make a point to not read or post in the game threads. Self inflicted torture.
Man I wish Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin were rearing up the Eastern or International leagues right now instead of the Sally….
At least then theyd have something to turn to.
luis says:
June 3, 2012 at 6:16 am
That’s why trading Nunez for Jackson doesn’t makes sense to me. If you trade him, do so for a bat.
————–
It might make more sense if Hughes has another rocky out today.
Kev-
Lasts nights was particularly bad, and I didn’t even start posting there until the Eighth inning.
Tearing not rearing
I just think the RISP woes are happening because this team is pressing. If they start converting those LOB numbers they’ll be golden, and I see no logical reason as to why they’d struggle so much in those situations.
I don’t think another bat is needed. These guys just
need to click.
RadioKev -
I tend to agree with you.
Quite frankly, it didn’t seem all that bad. At least there were no soap operas goin on like there usually is. People are allowed to speak their minds, especially on a blog for christ’s sake. It really isn’t a big deal.
It looks like that Edwin Jackson-Nunez rumor was just a rumor that has fizzled. It’s interesting that the Cubs have initiated a fire sale, trying to unload some salary, the day before Jorge Soler was finally declared a FA.
He’s only 19, so even though there is a short window to sign international players without going over the new limit, what will signing him do to help the Yankees now, or in 2013?
And even if you make the argument that this is a low AVG/high OBP team, logically they’re still pressing in those big situations. The approach and swings are changing with RISP now.
They need more offense now and going forward both…..
Villa, Good – now I’m not the only crazy on here
It sure would be nice to sign Soler, but the team has to have a walk away point too. I fear some team is just going to want him more.
RadioKev -
Most games it’s been a matter of one hit. One more hit with RISP or with the bases loaded would make a difference. Certainly would have last night and the game in Anaheim that they lost 9-8.
The avg wouldn’t look much better, but the games would be won. They don’t have to score every single instance. But just once….
And it’s not the 2-out situations that kill me – it’s the 0 or 1 out situations. Ugh.
RR212-
I agree that its ok to criticize the players for poor performance. In fact, I was strongly critical of Cano last night. But some of these posters are unable to make critical comments without berating players or constantly harping on their belief that this is finally the year it all falls apart for the yanks. Even though they have been saying the same thing for the past four years and been wrong, including the year we won the series.
Nova-ya,
Look no further than Stewart for proof that your hypothesis is true. His average is awful, but he has produced a few clutch hits than have made the difference in games.
I hear ya Straw, but IMO, I think complaining about the “complainers” is counterproductive. I also find them much more tolerable than some of the silly feuds that go on during the games and some of the agendas on here. I’m also not innocent as I tend to complain as well, but try not to bash players. Regardless, last nite was a tough one. Enjoy the day. I’m headin to the beach to get some sun. Later all.
” what will signing him do to help the Yankees now, or in 2013?”
Probably nothing now…..he will need minor league time. I think the big thing is would he be ready by 2014? They can handle the extra money on the books nkw…..but they peobably cant have 6 or 7 million of dead weight on the payroll in 2014……so to sign him theyll need to believe 1) hes legit 2) he can help soon
The dancing clown tried his best to hand the Yankees a gift but they just wouldn’t take it.
Oh well. They’ll just have to beat Verlander instead.
TheStraw June 3rd, 2012 at 8:37 am
RR212-
I agree that its ok to criticize the players for poor performance. In fact, I was strongly critical of Cano last night. But some of these posters are unable to make critical comments without berating players or constantly harping on their belief that this is finally the year it all falls apart for the yanks. Even though they have been saying the same thing for the past four years and been wrong, including the year we won the series.
——————-
I think you hit on the point last night, that now some fans just expect this team to be a dynasty all the time. First, that’s not how dynasties work as all dynasties end. Nothing lasts forever. Second, those come in a great while and now the game has more checks and balances, for better or worse.
This isn’t a perfect team, but it’s definitely a team that can make the post season.
Also I realize I’m mostly preaching to the early-morning-choir
Anyway, off to the gym. Have a good day folks.
But some of these posters are unable to make critical comments without berating players
———————–
That’s because a number of them are trolls
Kev-
Yup. And I till think they will win the East. The other teams have just as many or more holes than the Yankees. In fact, I think we are better built for the playoffs than the season this year with our rotation, assuming that these RISP problems get better.
Did I read somewhere that the Yanks had the worst BABIP in MLB? That has to sort itself out eventually to a degree.
Anyone concerned about the Yankees bullpen. Fatigue?
It seems that the sidearmers have lost their usefullness. Garcia hasn’t been used since, I can’t remember. Wade, has been terrific, but has now contributed to 2 losses within the last week, Phelps hasn’t been used much, and hasn’t performed well lately.
Three pitchers from AAA, that I thought would help now were Mitchell, Whitley, or Whelan, but looking over these attached stats more closely, they are not performing well. Mitchell has been rocked his last three outings, Whitley hasn’t been much better. Whelan has been good, but suffered a 4 run let down his last relief appearance.
Do you see any help from within, on the horizon from SWB?
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats.....8;sid=t531
YT-
Perhaps Aardsma can help at some point.
I still think Mitchell can be effective because he gets a lot of GB’s.
Blake-
Would the 19 yo Soler be any more ready to contribute in the OF in 2014 than Austin, Williams, or some others already in the system?
The FA outfield market is thin after Hamilton. There’s Delmon Young-but there’s no chance the Yankees would put him in pinstripes. Are the Yankees going to pay Melky 8-10M/year? BJ Upton the same?
It would be nice if they could trade Swisher and get another bat who has 2 years left on their contract until maybe one of the minor leaguers is ready in 2014.
MTU-
Aardsma is projected to be available by ASB. Joba probably August at the earliest. Garcia will be gone, I would think within the next two weeks.
I had read, in an article studying the increase in oblique injuries, posted in 2011, that the average stay on DL for a pitcher, after an oblique injury was 43 days.
The concern with Robertson, and other pitchers coming back from these injuries, as they can reinjure it, especially if they come back too soon.
Yankees need help now, in the bullpen. But then again they could really use a bat, even with the return of Gardner.
Blake-
Here’s a trade that might help, by getting a corner OF’er/1B, that is signed thru 2013.
If the Nats really want Nunez, include him with Nick Swisher for Michael Morse, who just returned from an injury.
Nunez 523.8K
Swisher 10.25M
for
Morse 12:$3.25M, 13:$6.75M
Throw in Garcia 4M for Lannan 5M and the salaries are close.
Thoughts?
Hello again,
I do think that the team needs more contact hitters. Right now, they are too one dimensional for my liking. The high LOB is a result of both pressing and putting aside a good situational batting approach when it counts the most.
Some of it or most of it, is the result of the lineup declining faster than anticipated. They have lost some bat speed. They need to get younger. How are they going to accomplish that, remains to be seen.
Luis-
Up early?
I have to go but I have this quote for you, that probably puts into perspective what some of these overpaid athletes are rationalizing when they aren’t performing.
” Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.”
Until later. Blake and MTU-did you fall back asleep?
YT,
Yup, since I didn’t comment much last night, I decided to give my two cents early today.
Loved the new phrase! And yeah, money can’t buy happiness but it certainly helps.
Trader,
Went to meetin….(church for northerners). Id do that deal maybe……not sure it makes then better now though …..
It is embarrassing that the Yanks have only scored 10 more runs then the Mets. The Mets have David Wright and that is it.
We are already in June so this isn’t a small sample size anymore. Outside of Tex improving and not being the automatic out he was the first 2 months and maybe Garnder coming back where is the improvement coming from?
Is Ibanez going to continue to hit in the second half at his age? Jeter seems to have gone back to what he is after a hot start so our hitting turnaround rests in Gardner’s and Tex hands?
The Yankees bullpen is very thin without Roberson and Mariano…….they have done well but I think it will be hard to keep it up without help…..I hate to say it but I think they need to move Hughes to the bullpen and put Phelps in the rotation…….Phelps won’d be a big upgrade but Hughes’ stuff plays better in short relief.
Just watched those Miggy HRs again. Can’t deny it, exciting stuff:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......291471-996
The first one he absolutely mashes. The second one might be even more impressive as he goes down to get it. It wasn’t even a particularly bad pitch. He just creamed it.
It’s easy to say ‘you can’t let Cabrera beat you,’ but this guy has made a career of it. What are you supposed to do? Walk him for Fielder every at bat? It’s been over said this season….but tip your cap!
Just for the sake of it discussion, is it safe to say Cabrera is a better pure hitter than Alex? And I always forget this, Cabrera is ONLY 29!
Blake:
“Also……I really hope one day they will stop letting Cabrera kill them….I know he did the damage last night with the bases empty and that Prince makes it harder to pitch around him……but still ……”
Walk Cabrera every time in that situation. Another bone head move by the binder.
1/12 with RISP doesn’t cut it either. Billy Martin would be benching some of these guys, pulling his line-up out of a hat and publically scorning some of the worst offenders. George would be demanding to know why guys being paid the big salaries aren’t swinging the big bats. Right now it is offence.
Comet,
Cabrera: .323/.373/.544
Fielder: .320/.384/.507
You’re better off pitching to Cabrera and hoping you make the out that .627 of the time. Putting a guy on base for Fielder isn’t much of a strategic edge.
Radio Kev I get what you are saying but Cabrera was just punishing the ball last night.
“That’s why trading Nunez for Jackson doesn’t makes sense to me. If you trade him, do so for a bat.”
Luis
It won’t get them the bat they need, but I agree. It has been obvious to many, although not to the GM and manager, that offense was the biggest vulnerability on this team. Last night’s loss, just like the ALDS elimination, showed how shallow this lineup has become.
And know one knows what Fielder would have done. When one questions a move like I did we ASSUME that the outcome would be better, but it often wouldn’t be.
make that no-one
The Bullpen is due to get Robertson, Aardsma, Cabral and possibly Hughes back. They should be fine. They are currently sacrificing the future for the present by keeping Phelps in the long releif role so long. They need the rest of the bullpen to get healthy so he can start pitch more regularly probably in AAA but possibly with the Yankees.
I think Nunez is still on the DL so its not like he is available anyway and he definitely has fielding problems to sort out before you should consider bringing him back up. Also Nix has done much better than expected and Chavez is the best choice as backup 3B so we aren’t losong as much as we could have by losing Nunez.
“Until later. Blake and MTU-did you fall back asleep?”
maybe they are doing the gb7 sunday morning facial.
you know, the one where gb7 falls asleep into his oatmeal.
Rich,
To be fair, I never expected this kind of decline this season. Clearly last ALDS was a preview of things to come. And it should have been enough warning to the FO. But what is happening now is that they can’t even handle mediocre RHP. Their bat speed looks gone in some key players, they use to be very good FB hitters, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
They needed to get younger then. And that hasn’t changed, it has gotten worse faster than I could ever envisioned.
What I find baffling is that instead of finding a bat, they are still looking for more pitching. Edwin Jackson for crying outloud!, he is the epitome of a mediocre pitcher.
I know is not happening, at least until the season is over. But I am thinking more and more about the need to retool in order to shorten the inevitable downward perios that lies ahead.
Brian Cashman is a colossal failure at developing hitters. Take away Cano and he has developed ZERO better than average hitters who are still playing for the Yankees. Melky Cabrera is the ONLY player he has ever developed who became a better than average hitter but he hasn’t been one for two full seasons yet (although I think he will be one after this year barring a total collapse.) The Yanks need to re-sign Melky to undo their trading him away. Gardner is a nice player but he’s a career ninth place hitter / super fourth outfielder.
This team is full of chokeartists who can’t hit for average, it’s as simple as that. Take away Jeter and they don’t have a hitter who can hit .300 or better and get on base. Take away Cano and they don’t have a hitter who can hit .300 or better and for power. Take away both players and they have no one who can hit for I’d say .285 or better.
They need to trade Martin because he is NOT worth the minimum four years and $7.5M a year (what he’s making this year) after this season.
They need to trade Swisher because he is showing what he could be if he’s re-signed to a new contract for the minimum three years he will want. He can’t hit for average and would be the worst Yankees defensive outfielder if Ibanez wasn’t playing the outfield. All he can do is hit homeruns and get on base. Take away his HR or OBP and he’s useless. Take away both and he’s an albatross. He’s at the tail end of his prime.
They need to trade Ibanez because he will not hit like it’s 2002 forever.
They need to trade Granderson after they pick up his 2013 club option because he turns 33 on 3/16/14 thus will be too old to give the minimum three years at $15M (what he’d make in $15M if his club option was picked up) he will want after 2013.
They need to trade Teixiera because he still has value as a Gold Glove firstbasemen.
They need to trade A-Rod because he still has value as a guy chasing the homerun title. Seattle would be the perfect team for him to break the homerun record with.
They don’t need to trade Gardner but should trade him if what’s being offered makes sense as again, Gardner is a total career ninth place hitter and super fourth outfielder who I can see tons of teams envisioning as a leadoff hitting CF on the cheap.
One thing about Cano which has me thinking let’s see what he does next year is his OBP. If he is locked up then stops hitting .300 or better and/or power which isn’t much, he’s an albatross.
As much as sentimentality tells me keep Jeter after next year, my mind says let him go no matter what he does in 2013 cuz he’ll want at least another two or three years if not four and do you really, honestly see him playing SS or being at DH 2014-15/16? I don’t. If he exercises his $8M player’s option for 2014, cool, one more year and that’s it, or better: he has an ok 2014 where he can get only $4-7M for 2015 only.
To clarify: Melky is the only hitter Cashman developed who has been better than average after leaving the Yanks.