“We feel good right now with where we are”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 02, 2012 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
The Yankees made it all the way to the All-Star break without ever losing more than three games in a row.
Then they lost four in a row twice in the past two weeks.
Before yesterday’s offensive outburst, it was easy to forget that the Yankees had the best record in the American League. It was easier to focus on the nine losses in 12 games. It was easy to miss the sizable division lead and see nothing but missed opportunities.
“We don’t like losing around here, man,” Nick Swisher said. “This isn’t the type of team that deals with losing very well. That’s not our style. We feel like we’re a winning group of guys. Four games in a row? Joke’s over. Enough is enough.”
Good teams go through bad stretches. Jack Curry pointed out on Twitter yesterday that the 2011 Cardinals lost nine of 12 at one point. So did the 2010 Giants. The 2009 Yankees lost nine of 13, and the gold-standard 1998 Yankees lost eight of 12.
“The thing about this team is, we’re not needing one guy to go ahead and do it,” Curtis Granderson said. “The fact that (Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira) are out right now and banged up a little bit, we still can go the way we need to. We still have all the pieces to go out there and win ballgames. That’s the main thing we need to do. We’re not into September yet. We’ve got to focus on the fact that today is August (2nd), our next game will be August 3rd and that’s why we’ve got to go out there and realize that’s the most important thing.”
The Yankees are far from perfect. They hit for more power than average. They’ve pitched well, but their pitching depth has taken a hit. They’re reliable in the field, but not especially dynamic. This team is flawed, just like every other team, but the Yankees are still very good. Yesterday’s lopsided win was a reminder that they have a six-and-a-half-game lead in the American League East for a reason.
“I want it to be 20 games, you know?” Swisher said. “Who doesn’t? We just want to go out there and win games. It’s (the media’s) job to scoreboard watch for us. We feel good right now with where we are. We’re still a little banged up. To be putting up the numbers that we are with the injuries we’ve dealt with, I think that says a lot about this team.”
Associated Press photo
“We feel good right now with where we are”
——————————-
I feel good, but I don’t feel confident. 12 runs, 7 off of Britton a lefty who has terrible numbers in YS.
Let’s see if there is any improvement in the games the Yankees are 1 run down going into the 8th inning.
Blake-
As much as I’d like to see your future wish for the Yankees OF to come true, for the same reasons you wouldn’t sign Grandy to a costly extension, the team trading for him will have the same concerns.
Maybe, ultimately if he won’t sign a reasonable 3 year deal they just let him get to FA and offer him a qualifying offer.
I have to go very soon.
“Are you saying Grandy for Upton. If that were even remotely possible, that deal would have been done before 4PM this past Tuesday. It would have taken more than Grandy to get Upton.”
Nah….and Im talking about this winter. Though I guess Grandy could be in the deal.as a piece…..Im just brain storming…..
“for the same reasons you wouldn’t sign Grandy to a costly extension, the team trading for him will have the same concerns.”
Sure but the team acquiring him wouldnt have to extend him….and if they wanted to they may have more flexibility than the Yanks do……say the Dodgers aquired him…..they have a lot more “cap space” to work with.
Blake-
Keep up the “brain storming.” Maybe Cashman will get the hint.
Have to go. As always a pleasure. Until later!
Later Trader….hey I rhymed
Oh boy. Melky of the groin chop and something about sucking as one of the Yankee leaders. Couthless baseball – Oh joy.
Well, I could resurrect all the invective I had bulit up when he left.
Sure but the team acquiring him wouldnt have to extend him….and if they wanted to they may have more flexibility than the Yanks do……say the Dodgers aquired him…..they have a lot more “cap space” to work with.
———–
I think of it like “waste money space.” It doesn’t seem like a good baseball decision to pony up big for Granderson.
I’ve kept waiting for the shoe to drop, while the Yankees were running up the lead. It doesn’t feel good, as it’s happening. I was willing to be wrong. They smoked a lefty in Yankee stadium – Mmhmm.
Well, I’m enjoying Ichiro, old man skills and all. Small victories.
Wonder how David Adams has looked at 3rd base so far. If he makes that transition, it could lead to Arod becoming a full time DH sometime next season. Adams can flat out hit, and he is a much better defender than Corban Joseph
“I think of it like “waste money space.” It doesn’t seem like a good baseball decision to pony up big for Granderson.”
I agree to pony up big…..but the one dumb owner theory suggests that somebody might. I think there are a few teams that would give a decent amount just to have him for 2013.
I think the thing to consider is if Melky + the prospects from trading Granderson > Granderson himself.
Of course this is dependent on actually being able to sign Melky to an AAV similar to what Granderson would make….
If it would take 4/60 to extend Granderson…..and 5/75 to sign Melky…..then you shoukd probably take the ages 27-32 of Melky instead of the ages 33-37 of Grandy……
“Sure but the team acquiring him wouldnt have to extend him….and if they wanted to they may have more flexibility than the Yanks do……say the Dodgers aquired him…..they have a lot more “cap space” to work with.”
——-
Big contracts for productive hitters aren’t hard to come by right now.
The Yanks are really handicapped by the luxury tax. The new CBA was a complete kick in the teeth to one team – the Yankees. It doesn’t give them time to overcome the long term mega deals they’d given to players back when you could do that sort of thing without thinking twice about it.
“Wonder how David Adams has looked at 3rd base so far. If he makes that transition, it could lead to Arod becoming a full time DH sometime next season. Adams can flat out hit, and he is a much better defender than Corban Joseph”
Dont know….somebody shoukd find out.
But having said all that I fully expect the Yanks to not do any of it and for the 2013 outfield to be
Gardner, unsigned Granderson, stop gap.
If Jason Werth can get a bazillion dollars, Granderson can get slightly less than a bazillion dollars. There will always be a team on the cusp of competing that decides to go for it and will be willing to pay the price for a guy like Granderson, and end up trading him somewhere in the 3rd+ year of the deal, paying part of the contract to do so.
Mesa was called up to Scranton – He of the many moving parts, during each at bat. He makes Teix look stationary. So far, Adams is still in Trenton.
I wonder if they toned Mesa down some or are they still using him as a “Bad example”.
Part of me things the Yanks should dangle Granderson in front of that new ownership in LA just to see what they’d give up for him…..the new competition between them and the Giants could lead to an over pay….both could use him…the Giants really could if Melky doesn’t re-sign.
“The Yanks are really handicapped by the luxury tax. The new CBA was a complete kick in the teeth to one team – the Yankees. ”
yup…they are the only team having to cut payrolll…..all the other teams can actually spend more money and not be taxed.
The changes to compensation, draft, and IFA also free up more money for other teams to spend in free agency as well.
The issues is that the Yanks were at a 210 million dollar payroll….there were some other teams hovering in the 160-180 range right around the old tax threshold (Red Sox, Phillies, etc)…..the Yanks are gonna have to lop 30 million of what they use used to spending while those other teams can actually add 10-20 million to what they are spending……it cuts the gap.
I believe that there are several teams that will spend 189 million if they can do so without being taxed.
I could see 5 years from now as many as 8 or 9 teams having a payroll of around 189 million dollars.
Sure the Yanks could still win at that level…..but theyll have to be smarter and itll greatly reduce the advantage they have had for years….
Thr Rangers brought up Olt after not trading him…..supposed to play tonight.
I have nothing against Melky, but I don’t like his production on a contract year. I wouldn’t pay big bucks for him.
But, but, but – those other teams could ALWAYS spend more than they were spending. I don’t see how the CBA forces any team to spend more than they already could.
What it DOES do is limit the players the Yankees are able to pursue, which makes the available to other teams without having to outbid the Yankees.
I mean what they already chose to spend, not already could spend.
Philadelphia and Boston are also feeling the $ 189 M vibe.
Yanks can get there on attrition alone, but that depends on young guys stepping in and delivering.
If they have a rotation of CC, Nova, Hughes, Phelps and Pineda/Banuelos they would be saving about $ 15 M right there. A Cervelli/Stewart catching platoon lops another $ 7 M off the books and that gets them to $ 187.
You also lose Swisher and Feliciano for $ 14 M more. So there is some wiggle room there. Tons of it if Mariano retires as I keep predicting he will. If he doesn’t Soriano will almost certain opt out so either way that’s at least $ 13 M.
I also understand that there are more teams that are getting those regional TV deals and have more money to spend. That is separate from the CBA. The CBA really has no bearing on what these other teams choose to spend up to the 189.
The ONLY team that is addressed with regard to spending in the CBA is the Yankees, and that is to DISCOURAGE them from spending.
David Adams is okay, but I don’t know that he’s hitting the every day lineup in 2013. He’s a 25-year-old hitting .308 in AA ball with very little power.
http://riveraveblues.com/2012/.....ure-73284/
Tyler Austin write up.
Yanks need to spend their money in more efficiently than it was before… so far Cash has gone wartmart speicial to fill the periphery needs of this team. The big test will come in replacing core of this team. esp on the offensive side.
“I have nothing against Melky, but I don’t like his production on a contract year. I wouldn’t pay big bucks for him.”
He was prerty good last year too
Melky was a 4.2 WAR player in 2011 and already has 4 this year….
Hello Thurman – thinking of you and your family – hope there is some level of observation upon this day
I would bet the Yanks at least dangle Granderson out there to gauge what kind of return they could get for him in a trade this offseason.
martin is a living reminder of thurman… as cashman gaze across the field while G drools over those soft hands catching everything inside of Manhattan. Cant think of more fitting tribute than that…
blake, look likes eta is about 2 year on the tampa dudes… if they ever reach big.
What world are we living in? A minor league stadium’s PA announcer got ejected by the home plate ump:
http://www.businessinsider.com.....ice-2012-8
“blake, look likes eta is about 2 year on the tampa dudes… if they ever reach big”
yea 2014 at the earliest if they really play well and they push them….2015 might be more realistic…..hopefully Mason and Austin are knocking on the door by 14 though….that’ll help things
I thought that was the Best game Hughes has pitched All season. His fastball musta been left in the bullpen, as he consistently was 90-91MPH, yet he countered that by pitching to the big part of the Park. He showed how to pitch with a lead, something Nova should take note of. Great game by a quickly maturing Chucker.
I do Not wantta hear anymore of these Paul Bunyan stories concerning rehabbing pitchers throwing in the High 90′s BLAH\BLAH\BLAH. Chamberlain looked pretty much as we last saw him, which After what he has gone through, is good.
Blake,
But which year reflects who Melky Cabrera really is? Because you know he and his agent are going to want the contract for this year’s production. Melky clearly has the upside, but how will he play without the carrot in front of him?
Incentives are a very powerful thing, and it’s one of the trickiest aspect of sports.
Melky or Granderson, IMO, keep Granderson:
Melky Career: BA .284 OBP .337 Slg. .412 Hr.’s 68 RBI 409
Granderson: BA .265 OBP .344 Slg. .494 Hr.’s 196 RbI 545
and on a personal level–Granderson is a classier guy!
Dont pay a guy based on his past achievements, pay him on what you expect going forward
I don’t know if Long has worked with Granderson lately but he should be after him to get back to hitting the way he used to, using the whole field and stop trying to hit a home run al the time. Disappointing what he is turning into lately, Adam Dunn Lite
I love Grandy as a personality, but no way is he worth a high dollar-long term deal. There aren’t many GMs who don’t realize that most of Grandy’s high HR production is due to the whiffle ball dimensions at RF in YS. 3 years/$35 Mil is doable.
“But which year reflects who Melky Cabrera really is? ”
I don’t know….he’s hitting his prime years age wise and some guys take off when they get to that age and get serious about their careers….maybe that’s Melky.
Would you rather give Melky 15 million a year for the next 5 years for ages 27-32 or Granderson 15 million per year for the next 5 for ages 32-37?
Considering that you could sign Melky for a similar AAV to Granderson and then trade Granderson for a return I think it’s something they should think about…..you’d have to give Melky more years but he’s like 5 years younger…..
Granderson was a 7 WAR player last year…..but what’s he going to be going forward? He’s only at 2 so far this year…..I don’t trust WAR totally because of the weight it places on defensive metrics…..but I do think there is a good chance Melky will be a better player over the next 5 seasons than Granderson just because of age alone……
LathamJoe August 2nd, 2012 at 10:56 am
I love Grandy as a personality, but no way is he worth a high dollar-long term deal. There aren’t many GMs who don’t realize that most of Grandy’s high HR production is due to the whiffle ball dimensions at RF in YS. 3 years/$35 Mil is doable.
—————
Last year Granderson had just one more HR home than away.
The Yankees do NOT need to long-term an ageing CF’er that either Parks it, or K’s. The HR or No Run Attack that Girardi has embraced should be eradicated ASAP, and allowing Public Enemy #1 to walk, will vastly further that cause. Grandy’s current offensive approach, has me rubbing my eyes to make sure that is Not Gorman Thomas out in CF for the Yanks.
Would you rather give Melky 15 million a year for the next 5 years for ages 27-32 or Granderson 15 million per year for the next 5 for ages 32-37?
————–
The answer: Neither.
The big questions that need to be answered:
1) what will it take to extend Granderson?
2) what will it take to sign Melky?
3) what could you get for Granderson in a trade?
They need to find answers to those questions this winter and then decide what to do…..
If the answers are 15 million per, 15 million per, and a good bit……then they should perhaps strongly consider trading Granderson and signing Melky.
“The answer: Neither.”
ok….well if you’re ok with not being very good over the next couple of years then that’s fine I guess.
FORGET Grandy, FORGET Melky. Deal for Upton, and do a Cheap, short-term deal for Gardner in CF.
Yanks are paying superstar money to dudes whose performance merits average to good grades at their positions. that’s their problem in a nutshell, that includes jeter when they can opt to Nunez whose development might benefit the Yanks in a long term.
blake August 2nd, 2012 at 11:04 am
“The answer: Neither.”
ok….well if you’re ok with not being very good over the next couple of years then that’s fine I guess.
———-
Since when are the Yankees fate dependent on Melky Cabrera or an aging Curtis Granderson? That’s desperate thinking.
There’s still: Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn (I think), Martin Prado (I think), Alex Gordon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Nelson Cruz, and Corey Hart that can be obtained through FA by 2014.
There’s trades. There are guys in house. There’s the stop gap strategy and see if we can wait on the young kids.
I just don’t think Melky or Grandy are the right guys to spend money on. I’d rather spend money on the right guys, than spend it because “we need to.”
Like Ellsbury alot . I know he gets hurt alot .. . but speed . defense . and pop …
Probabaly can’t afford him though..
Talk about aging, and then throw Carlos Beltran into the mix???
Ellsbury has offensively done it 1 season. That don’t feed the bulldog with me.
DONNYBROOK August 2nd, 2012 at 11:15 am
Talk about aging, and then throw Carlos Beltran into the mix???
————
That geezer and his .891 OPS.
Who knows what he’ll be like by 2014, but he might still be productive enough and affordable.
At least Jacoby didn’t do it in his walk year.
Adams has looked pretty serviceable the couple of times I’ve seen him, strong arm, adequate range but better to his right. Going to game today but unfortunately, Adams is DH’ing.
“Since when are the Yankees fate dependent on Melky Cabrera or an aging Curtis Granderson? That’s desperate thinking.”
they don’t….I was just saying they need to address the ageitis that’s creeping up
“FORGET Grandy, FORGET Melky. Deal for Upton, and do a Cheap, short-term deal for Gardner in CF.”
sign Melky AND trade for Upton…..then trade Granderson to recoup some prospects. Arm chair GM job complete
Melky and Upton would add about 22-25 million to the yearly AAV of the club…..but you’d be adding a 25 year old and a 27 year old to the lineup and perhaps then you don’t need much else offensively until the kids are ready…..
I watched Joba’s appearance late last night and what I kept wondering was, where is the 97 MPH fastball that was discussed over and over during his rehab assignment?
When some of his fastballs were as low as 91, that was a concern
No matter what happens next year in our outfield, at least we know longer have to hear about the idea of moving Jeter to CF
How effective do we think Mark Montgomery would be in the bigs as a September call up?
the thing about David Adams- whom i really like and have been a proponent of his on here for some time now- is that his bat profiles better at 2B than 3B as he doesn’t project to hit for enough power to be an everyday 3B in the majors.
His hit tool is advanced but he profiles as more of a gap/doubles hitter that may hit 15 Hrs. To me I see him as a bigger Pedroia. Turns an excellent double play @ 2B.
The Yanks have internally for years thought the Cano would eventually have to move to 3B when his range started slipping and I thought in that scenario Adams could play @ 2B with ARod as the full time DH. Adams would be perfect in the 2 hole however I think the yanks may have backed off that as Robbie continues to be the best 2B in the game both with the bat and the glove and shows no signs of slippage at all right now.
Previous to yesterday, I can Not remember the last time I saw Jeet field a grounder on the RF side of 2B. WOW
I thought they were moving Jeter to LF, weren’t they?
Oh well, the Yanks do need a strategy for getting younger and it starts with the OF. If either Upton and Melky can replace Granderson and Swisher for comparable $$$ it makes sense to do that. Melky and BJ turn 28 this month and Justin hits 25 this month as well.
They may also elect to replace Ibanez and Jones in the DH/spare OF roles to give guys like Dickerson opportunities. IF Casey McGehee can return to his 2010 form or even 2009 he could end up being a really nice piece as well. He turns 30 in October.