Pregame notes: “Trying to do what’s the best thing to win”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Oct 17, 2012 
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Another day, another lineup, another game with Alex Rodriguez on the bench.
“This is not easy to do, and it’s not what I necessarily want to do,” Joe Girardi said. “You’d like to have a steadfast lineup, but we have a lot of guys that are struggling. Sometimes you’ve got to make changes. We’re trying to do what’s the best thing to win games.”
Tonight’s lineup has Brett Gardner playing again, Curtis Granderson benched for the first time, hitless Eric Chavez back at third base, and recently benched Nick Swisher back in right field and moved up in the order to No. 2.
Girardi said he’s reacting to Granderson’s ongoing strikeout problems, trusting Chavez’s long-term impact against right-handers, giving Swisher another chance after a couple of hits earlier in the series, and believing that Eduardo Nunez is an improved defensive player with a good bat.
“When I went into the postseason, this is not what I imagined having to do,” he said. “You thought we’d have a set lineup, and we might change it if there’s a left hander or a right hander, but the struggles have been tough. Right now, I think you have to worry about the present – but you do have to worry about the long term effects as time goes on.”
It seems like Rodriguez has been the scapegoat, but Brian Cashman pointed out that Rodriguez’s struggles are not the small sample size that we’ve seen from guys like Swisher and Robinson Cano. Rodriguez has struggled against right handers all year, got much worse in the past month and a half, and has been awful in the playoffs.
Both Girardi and Cashman said the decision to bench Rodriguez has nothing to do with reports of him hitting on a woman from the dugout in Game 1. Cashman said the lineup is “discussed organizationally” and is not strictly Girardi’s choice.
“Purely baseball related,” Cashman said. “This is all about winning.”
Has Girardi talked to Rodriguez to make sure their relationship is not broken beyond repair?
“That’s a great question, and I know that, but it’s not something that I feel is right to answer (about) the conversations that we have and what takes place between a player and a manager,” Girardi said. “Are the conversations long or are they short? How do you do it? When do you do it? That’s personal stuff that I like to keep in the clubhouse, but as a manager, when you’re in the playoffs, you really have to worry about the present. But as time goes on, you’re going to have to worry about the future as well.”
• Cashman said there was nothing new discovered in Derek Jeter’s broken ankle — no ligament damage or anything — and the new recovery timetable is simply the product of Dr. Robert Anderson being more conservative than the Yankees medical team. Cashman believes the four-to-five-month estimate means that Jeter will be playing in games within four to five months. He’ll begin baseball activities before that.
• Cashman and Girardi both indicated that they expect Jeter to be ready for Opening Day. Cashman said he has no plans of pursuing a free agent shortstop as a reaction to the Jeter injury. He cited Nunez and Jayson Nix as in-house alternatives if Jeter isn’t ready in time.
• All day, Cashman has denied — in a text to me and in conversations with basically every other beat reporter — a report that the Yankees are engaged in trade talks that would send Rodriguez to the Marlins. “False,” Cashman said. “One hundred percent false.”
• Rodriguez responding to the story that he tried to get a woman’s phone number from the dugout: “I said it was laughable,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been here a long time in New York, I think nine years, I’ve never addressed anything from Page 6, I’ve never addressed anything from blogs or gossip columns. We’re here to cover baseball. Some of the criticism out there is very fair and I can live with that, but some of the other stuff is not fair. And you just move on, you don’t worry about it too much. I’ve been in New York a long time.”
• Phil Hughes sore back does not seem serious, but Girardi said the Yankees are still not sure what they’re going to do with him or when they’ll be able to use him again. It seems possible he could be available out of the bullpen before the end of the series. “We don’t really need to do anything today, so let’s see how he feels and find out,” Girardi said.
• Girardi acknowledged that Chavez hasn’t been much better than Rodriguez this postseason. “His at-bats, I feel, have been pretty good,” Girardi said. “You look at his at-bats off of Verlander last night, he got the barrel of the bat to the ball three times. You do have to look at those things.” It’s also worth noting, again, that Rodriguez’s struggles against right-handers have gone on since well before the postseason.
• Why take a chance on Nunez at shortstop with CC Sabathia on the mound? “Nunie’s played well defensively for us (since coming back),” Girardi said. “He’s had some plays in this series, and I really like his at-bats.”
• Andy Pettitte was officially announced as the Yankees Game 5 starting pitcher.
• Are the Yankees prepared to fly home tonight if they lose this game? “My bags are wide open,” Girardi said. “I haven’t packed a thing.”
Associated Press photos
“win tonight! the other crap can wait till the season’s over.”
Ys Guy – you may not have noticed it but the forum GMs have been talking about next season since almost the first day of this season. What makes you think they’d ever stop talking about it now??? It’s amost next season!
Against All Odds October 17th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
mick October 17th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
ou mean other than the first WS win since 2000
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sss
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Cashman is that you
DavidWaldstein Verlander saw A-Rod in the tunnel after game 3 and asked him, “What the H— is going on?” Rodriguez apparently didn’t have an answer.
Tyler October 17th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
DavidWaldstein Verlander saw A-Rod in the tunnel after game 3 and asked him, “What the H— is going on?” Rodriguez apparently didn’t have an answer.
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Wow.
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SMH even the opponents are asking wth is going on.
He can still flash the leather……
PeterBotte
A ball just bounded off the BP screen and was headed at Teixeira’s head. ARod jumped and blocked it. Yeah, that just happened.
SMH even the opponents are asking wth is going on.
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who cares what the opponents think?
therealarieber: A-rod then tossed the ball into the stands to an australian bikini model. Ok, that part didn’t happen.
This thing with Big Al (my private nick name for Alex) is getting uglier by the day. This won’t end well.
This is great theater, but it only turns positive if they can reconstruct this offense in the offseason. You think the fans are apathetic now? Just imagine bringing back this same group next year. It will be like the old days at cavernous Cleveland Stadium, with the guy with the drum and 800 other creatures.
“benched for middling players” ??? in case you didn’t notice, chavez’s ops was 70 points higher than alex’s this year.
ALEX is a middling player(in a total slump)
I wonder how yankees players see the treatment arod is receiving…and how about opponents (because they do matter), free agents, etc. that may be sought after in the future
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SMH even the opponents are asking wth is going on.
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who cares what the opponents think?
mick October 17th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
SMH even the opponents are asking wth is going on.
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who cares what the opponents think?
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Nobody but you don’t think that Verlander approaching A-Rod like that is just a little bit interesting?
Win tonight and you have Andy on the mound tomorrow…. Win tomorrow and it goes back to NY ad you just never know……
Detroit isn’t some powerhouse….. They aren’t a great team…. They were incredibly inconsistent all year and routinely lost to the Indians and Royals.
Win tonight and take it from there
I guess eric chavez even going hitless has good at bat is good enough. Ok. But commiting an error that resulted in the winning run is still good enough along with the above mentioned? come on, this decision is way beyond performance.
Win tonight, worry about tomorrow tomorrow.
Verlander trolling. Classic.
mick October 17th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
SMH even the opponents are asking wth is going on.
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who cares what the opponents think?
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Sure who cares what players on other teams think.
Player 1: I’m thinking about going to the Yankees this season
Player 2: Yankees??? why go there??? They pushed out Posada last season, played hardball with their living legend Jeter, and recently made one of the greatest players ever into a platoon player.
Ys Guy – you may not have noticed it but the forum GMs have been talking about next season since almost the first day of this season. What makes you think they’d ever stop talking about it now??? It’s amost next season!
–
Trade speculation is the life blood of any sports forum, there is limited room for discussing any given game or up coming game, and the yankees moves now impact their future goals which the owner has outlined recently and reaffirmed during the season.
Opponents become free agents.
i’ve never liked alex and i think the team would be better moving forward without him.
that being said, i hope he gets a chance to get back into this series and turns this story on it’s head.
he’s a yankee and i want to see him succeed as long as he is.
in case you didn’t notice, chavez’s ops was 70 points higher than alex’s this year.
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Yeaaa but he got this with very favorable platooning & in a limited amount of starts/PAs (he didnt qualify for batting title)
Tabbert October 17th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Verlander trolling. Classic.
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I don’t think that was a troll.
Against All Odds October 17th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
mick October 17th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
scapegoated?
he has been a bum from day 1.
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That bum bought you a chip in 09. We would still be saying haven’t won since Torre’s Yankees.
In the animal kingdom, when a member is ill or dying he/she gracefully walks away from the larger group (herd/pride). If only the Yankees were a pride of lions.
Like everyone else, I’ve been deeply disappointed by the team’s performance in the ALCS.
I thought there was magic in G1. It turned out completely the other way after Jeter’s injury. The simultaneous slumps have been unbearable.
I do believe that playing 30+ days of intense baseball in Sept/Oct finally took a toll on everyone’s hitting. The playoff schedule was unkind to this team – it really needed a day off last week between series.
My hope now is to go AB to AB, inning to inning and game to game. One could look at this as trying to take two of three in Detroit to bring it back to NY. After that, you never know.
It starts tonight with CC.
Go Yankees!!
if alex rodriguez has to stand on hitting harder pitchers than his backup to show he’s the better player, he needs to retire.
Sure are some strong feelings on here regarding A-Rod.
I agree with those who say that Girardi should do whatever it takes to win w/o regard to egos, etc.
The Yankees have their backs against the wall.
This is the last train to gun hill.
Miss it and you’re left behind in the wilderness.
if we lose today it wont be because of him…..they’re not giving him the chance
Ys Guy October 17th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
if alex rodriguez has to stand on hitting harder pitchers than his backup to show he’s the better player, he needs to retire.
For those that haven’t read it yet
Oct. 17 Brian Cashman pregame interview
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
Jerkface, even though I think it’s living in the future and not the present (never my idea of fun) I’ll give it to you. I guess people can do both well and I’ve seen you and others do both well.
But do you think that maybe in a game thread people should give it a rest? I’m certainly not targetting you and I don’t believe you spend your time that way if you are in a game thread. But I have seen people show up and have full-blown discussions about what should happen with different players next season. Why the freak litter the game thread with talk about next season? Isn’t there plenty of time to do that every other minute of the day?
Now if people want to talk about the future of umpiring, well that’s a different story altogether…
@karlravechespn karl ravech
if the yankees are grasping at straws, how come one with a-rod’s name feels like it will never be picked..647 career homeruns and no sniff
@karlravechespn karl ravech
those in the know say a-rod call is all about how he is swinging the bat, i respectfully disagree and believe more to it..
“But these are also the guys that got us the best record in the American League and put up the highest run total in our league, or one of the highest” – Cashman.
Yes indeed. And that’s why I said today that I didn’t believe the Yanks won the AL East, the toughest division in the AL anyway, with smoke and mirrors. It’s also the reason that I say there is no way that the Yankees are as bad as they look right now.
And the reason I believe this can turn around at any moment and I still haven’t give up on this team.
Ugh.. repost:
Shame Spencer October 17th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Interesting Arod interview… I do like that he said he thinks he makes any line up better including an All-Star game line up lol!
He looks like he wants to cry lol, but I gotta give him credit for gritting his teeth and smiling through this one…
Hope CC throws a shut out.
A-Rod should be in the lineup tonight. The Yankees are taking this sh*t too far.
RMS — if he doesn’t throw a shut-out, there might not be a game 5.
RMS-
The way the the O has been he’ll almost have to.
It sure would be nice to see some.
RealMichaelKay
Heavy rain suddenly in the forecast for game time here in Detroit. Ugh. Hoping it blows through.
#Yankees clearly making Arod pay for their dumbness giving him that ridiculous contract. Now they are trying to force him out because of it.
You know, the Karl Ravech tweet does have me thinking there is more going on with A-Rod than we know about.
Why are people pining for Alex?
Even Reggie had a short 5 year stay here and he brought us a championship in ’77 after a 13 year drought.
His star was too much for Yankeedom to handle or maybe they just thought he was also done.
The Yanks have always been about the team, not the individual.
This is where IMO they part ways…
How can Girardi believe what he’s doing now with A-Rod will not impact their relationship going forward.
How does Giradri explain giving Cano a pass, he plays every day, and stays at the top of the line-up, dispite having a worse PS than A-Rod, it has to be personal!
great. i’ve heard on the radio 4 different reporters saying that a-rod seemed very mad, upset during batting practice and looked incredible, hitting balls very well, with great power. just great
I wonder if the yankees are considering a large buyout of ARODs contract (~60 MM) that will allow him to be a free agent or play for amore reasonable salary over the next 4 years
A-rod can always pinch hit if they want him in there at some point.
Verlander is asking?
wow, this doesnt do good when yanks try to land another big free agent.
Yanks are dumb
only if coke and a smiley are in..
A-rod is not gonna give up over 40 million dollars.
He’d have to be crazy to do that.
it would be a large onetime hit to get the payroll under control
Hey Joe Torre, Joe Girardi here. Well, if you think you pissed off A-Rod, I not only grabbed him by the ba**s, I gave them a good hard twist.
My guess he’ll not be sending me a Christmas card this year, lol. Thanks for your advise on how to manage him.
I do believe that playing 30+ days of intense baseball in Sept/Oct finally took a toll on everyone’s hitting. The playoff schedule was unkind to this team – it really needed a day off last week between series.
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bay,
I think they’re being gassed is valid. Age does not help that, however.
Talk about being stacked against you; first the schedule and now rain in the forecast for 10 PM? Just in time to knock CC out of a perfect game.
MTU he could get somebidy probably eveh the yankess to pay him 10 MM/yr over the next 4 years to stay whole
Later folks!
A-rod is not gonna do that.
He’s not gonna take 60 mil when he is owed over 100 mil.
You’ve got to be kidding.
mick—you think the Yanks are going to dump A-Rod and eat (most of) his contract. And this is the first step?
I agree with you, mick. The A-Rod party is over. They don’t care whether Joe has burned any bridges. They want him out and I completely support that.
pay him, if you wanna get rid of arod.
like I said, on this matter Arod is a winner.
I think Cashman will threaten to cut Arod if he doesn’t agree to coach him on how to pick up chicks
MTU October 17th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
A-rod is not gonna do that.
He’s not gonna take 60 mil when he is owed over 100 mil.
You’ve got to be kidding.
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No shot. Totally agree MTU.
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A’s have the young age on their side – and they looked just as lost against Verlander and for the most part – the Tigers – except for Valverde – who the Yanks have hit in this series.
You know what’s ironic… I was hoping that this off season would make the org’s plans for going forward more clear. But if they move Arod, I think that’ll only confuse me lol.
The Yankees have decided that 30 mil/yr. PT 3B and DH who isn’t hitting Right-handers doesn’t work for them.
Yeah. That might have something to do with it.
That said, they are the ones who offered the contract.
Also who says A-Rod doesn’t bounce back next season ?
the Hotstove season could be white hot this year.
blake October 17th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I think Cashman will threaten to cut Arod if he doesn’t agree to coach him on how to pick up chicks
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I think Cash can pick up “chicks” – it is just ARod is more well of financially to pay the crazy ones to go away – - – -
ARod thinks the lineup and team is better with him in it when asked by reporters
Does this damage his relationships with Joe. Hesitated but no.
I love the Yankees.
Focus is on winning a game and going from there.
I have to believe that ARod is more than a little hurt.
Stoneburner — the Yankees should be/are supposed to better offensively than the A’s. Now reality is another matter . . .
Age does not help that, however.
*******
A’s have the young age on their side – and they looked just as lost against Verlander and for the most part – the Tigers – except for Valverde – who the Yanks have hit in this series.
Girardi is officially on tilt.
No way on earth should he be starting Eric Chavez over ARod. Slump or not, at least ARod has a hit.
How is he supposed to come out of a slump on the bench???????
I would not have sat him against Verlander, but fine, you do.
Now it is time to get him back in the lineup. Slump or no, he has earned it far more than Chavez.
MTU I don’t think you understand what I am proposing. Give him around 60 Million to set him free and offer him 10 MM$ or so per year for each of the next 5 years an new conttract that will make him whol if he accepts it. We may lose himt to another team but the yankees make a one time large payment and get his contact off of the books for purposed of furute luxury tax payments
This team exhaled after its death match season long struggle with the O’s.
Look at Cano.
He was red hot then fell off the cliff.
No off day didn’t help matters.
With any production from him, we would be winning this series right now.
Hey Joe Torre, Joe Girardi here. Well, if you think you pissed off A-Rod, I not only grabbed him by the ba**s, I gave them a good hard twist.
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People were outraged when Torre dropped Alex down in the line-up. Well, Girardi outdid Torre by a long shot.
ZMANINSJ October 17th, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Stoneburner — the Yankees should be/are supposed to better offensively than the A’s. Now reality is another matter . . .
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Not if it is an age issue. And the A’s were supposed to be second to last or last in the AL West – I guess things do not go well on preseason predictions sometimes – oh well – - – -
ARod has a right to be pissed. His manager is humiliating him, and staring a guy that has not gotten a postseason hit, and who made a key error that ended up being the deciding run last night.
Lol at the post about arod having a nice batting practice. YEAAAA because hitting well in BP means SOOO much. Gimme a break. Dude cant even catch up to 88 mph fastball…
YT-
He may be hurt but he simply has not performed against Right-handed pitchers.
This is crunch time.
Whoever gives them best chance should be in there.
Apparently the Yankees do not think A-rod is that person right now.
Perhaps he thinks he is but the facts are not on his side at the moment.
Only beef from me is that Chavez has sucked as well.
How does Giradri explain giving Cano a pass, he plays every day, and stays at the top of the line-up, dispite having a worse PS than A-Rod, it has to be personal!
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I don’t like what they’re doing because it’s sleazy. But surely you can answer your own question re Cano.
“But these are also the guys that got us the best record in the American League and put up the highest run total in our league, or one of the highest” – Cashman.
Guy is totally clueless. Did not many people here on this forum predict the inconsistent Yankee offense would sputter in the post season? Were the previous 2 postseasons not proof enough to Cashman that this team tended to shrink in the big spot? This is and has been a front running offense that tended to score runs in bunches when they weren’t really needed and lost alot of low scoring games where execution of fundamentals were usually difference in winning and losing. Sad to see ARod and others being scapegoated while the main culprit of this debacle (Cashman) gets a free ride.
Arod has no right to be pissed. He had his chance, numerous chances actually… and failed, failed, and failed again. All he needs to do is go look at game film and realize that he cant even hit 88 mph fastballs. There are highschool kids that could strike alex out right now. I don’t care about the numbers he put up back in the day, or if he is mad, or his feelings are hurt. You had your chance(s) bro.
Chavez hits hr tonight, and they still lose. how’s it?
OK rm.
I understand what you are saying now.
Sorry.
INTELLIGENT FAN’S CREDO
Play today, win today.
Stop worrying about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow.
Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery, today is a gift. That’s what they call it the present.
Rein it in, stop ruminating over the team’s past, and root like all hell for today. Anything else is superflulous.
Show you have faith in the moment.
Clear your heads, prepare for a victory, and deal calmly with problems that may present themselves.
And if in the end things don’t work out the way you planned, that is the time to go back to the drawing board. In the meantime, breathe and let things flow.
GO YANKS!!!
Man, if we could just make A-Rod disappear. At least that would be one huge headache gone. I don’t care what it takes, just get younger and more athletic. Bring back Melky. Do whatever it takes to shed A-Rod, Swisher and Granderson. Start Nunez at third base next year. Melky, Gardy, and Nunez would make for a much quicker, much more exciting team.
Yankees Draft Report Card postseason:
http://www.baseballamerica.com.....14207.html
MTU October 17th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Only beef from me is that Chavez has sucked as well.
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Nix at 3B!!!! SPEED KILLS AHHHHHHH!!!!
ARod had the 35th best OPS in the AL this year. A far cry from his glory days, but certainly enough to garner a start in the playoffs. Certainly more than Eric Chavez.
blake October 17th, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I think Cashman will threaten to cut Arod if he doesn’t agree to coach him on how to pick up chicks
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HA!
The Yanks should do this in the offseason re: A-Rod:
1. Trade him and $68M to the Cubs for Alfonso Soriano so the Cubs pay (A-Rod) the same amount of money as they would pay Soriano if they kept him and whatever homerun milestones A-Rod reaches. Assuming A-Rod reaches the first milestone (660 HR) next year but doesn’t reach the second one (714 HR) in 2014, they don’t pay more extra money for A-Rod until he reaches 755 HR and let’s be honest: do you see A-Rod hitting 111 more homeruns in the next five years to reach 755 HR? I don’t. He could average 22 HR each of the next five seasons and he’d still fall short of 755 HR by a homerun (and $6M for that milestone) and lose $18M in homerun milestone bonuses. The Cubs would probably have to pay only $12M extra for $48M total for five years of A-Rod.
Theo Epstein has no market whatsoever for Soriano because no one believes Soriano has finally turned a corner at age 36. None of the AL Central teams could take on his $18M a year through 2014. The only AL West team who could take on his salary is Texas but they’re not bringing him back. The Angels are already stuck with Vernon Wells, they don’t need another overpriced underachiever. The only AL East team besides the Yanks who could take on his salary is Boston, but Boston plans to bring back David Ortiz for DH and I doubt they’ll take on Soriano’s $36M due through 2014 after shedding all their big contracts save Lackey.
Soriano becomes the Yanks 2013-14 DH who can play some LF and RF.
2. Move Jeter to 3B and make Nunez the new everyday SS.
A-Rod moved from SS to 3B so Jeter could remain at SS, Jeter should do the same. Nunez is younger and faster with more range than Jeter. I think Nunez would be a serviceable SS if he was given the chance to play every day, besides that there’s no guarantee Jeter will be ready for Opening Day 2013 let alone 2013 spring training.
To all of you who are expressing surprise or dismay at Binder Joe’s humiliation of Arod: You have very short memories. Binder Joe spent the entire 2011 season humiliating Jorge, one of the proudest, most hard working and productive members of the team. Humiliation of stars (of whom he is probably jealous, because of his own pitiful playing career) seems to be Binder Joe’s MO.
Cano went colder than an iceberg in the North Atlantic.
Tabbert -
By your logic, Cano should be benched too.
Correction: Yanks pay $78M ($114M owed A-Rod – $36M owed Soriano), Cubs pay $36M plus up to $30M in homerun milestone bonuses (probably no more than $12M / for the first two homerun milestone bonuses.)
bring back melky ?
ok, great idea.
hman23 October 17th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
ARod had the 35th best OPS in the AL this year. A far cry from his glory days, but certainly enough to garner a start in the playoffs. Certainly more than Eric Chavez.
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Dude, you’re right. At least, I agree with you.
Hey – they humiliated Posada and then he made them look ridiculous by hitting over .400 in the postseason. That was some “washed up” performance.
Been saying all along I think the hand injury is factoring in, here. Be nice if they could somehow pull even and Alex gets another shot, and makes good on it.
Girardi is sending a terrible message to the rest of the team. He is acting like the posters on the site.
Yanks will fire Joe Giradi this winter and name Tony Pena Mgr…….Brian Cashman could be first to go…….
Sigh… I don’t want to remember how Jorgie went out… I just don’t want the Yankees to be the new Red Sox when it comes to player departures.
The Yankees are effectively picking Girardi over ARod. They can only have one going forward, and it’s pathetic that they would prefer the binder to a guy who still has some baseball left in him.
Give me a choice between ARod and Cashman i’ll take ARod. He’s done less damage to organization in my opinion.
Pat – You really think so? I could actually see Joe not wanting the headache.. but I dunno that we see both depart.
And by the way don’t lay all of this at Joe’s feet.
He said in his PC that this was an “organizational” decision w. regard to A-rod.
I suspect Cashman had way more to do with this than Girardi.
(Mick has pointed that out earlier).
The Brass in this organization can be very ruthless when they get into “buisness” mode.
We’ve seen it.
Personally Trisha if I discuss anything other than the game during the game its for my own sanity. Takes my mind off the atrocious offense and the increasing likelihood of the yankees being eliminated. Whats great is I can do that & pay attention to the game as well, while saving myself from dwelling on the constant failures of the lineup.
I would ask why you litter the game thread with back & forths with the trolls, instead of merely focusing on the game in the present?
And of course there is the reason that you can only say ‘We need to keep it scoreless this inning to give our team a chance’ or ‘This pitching is so good, please score some runs so its not wasted’ so many times.
what did Alex mean by “There’s blood in the water”?
Girardi needs to go if the Yankees cannot pull this out. Plain and simple.
He is the scapegoat. I get him not starting but why not just come out and say its because of RH pitching. Period. Why all that struggled longer crap. Cashman needs to STHU.
Go Yanks! Lord knows, in a world like this, we need a party.
Rain predicted for Detroit around 9 or 10 pm.
Pat M.-
I think Hal approves of what’s going on with Cashman and Joe.
Only thing that will affect him is the bottom line.
If that slips too much every one is fair game.
Don’t think it’s slipped far enough yet.
Trade speculation is the life blood of any sports forum, there is limited room for discussing any given game or up coming game, and the yankees moves now impact their future goals which the owner has outlined recently and reaffirmed during the season
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JF, simply put some people have no strategic feel for the game. So they feel left out when people talk above them with what makes baseball special. You know like roster moves, a hit and run, who should PH or PR, and what relief pitcher to bring in next.
People who don’t have a freaking clue about baseball just blindly follow the FO and whatever Joe does because they can’t think for themselves. And then when the team loses if all else fails they blame the umps. These are uneducated very uneducated people in the sport of baseball.
I almost feel sorry for these people. Almost.
hman — a lot of them need to go. I personally can go either way on Girardi, but the lack of performance by the players is more painful.
Yeah. A-Rod has a hit. Against a left hander. He’s 0-18 with 12 strikeouts against right handers in the playoffs. Scherzer has some of the nastiest right handed stuff in the league. It’s a no brainer to bench A-Rod tonight regardless of what is going on with his off the field stuff.
MTU-
You are totally right giving the team the best chance to win. My beef in what is likely going to be a loss in the next day or two, is that the Yankees and ARod are stuck with each other for up to 5 years. Chavez, Swisher, even Grandy are not.
Put in all your regulars so that neither of them have an excuse if they lose tonight. ARod won’t be able to say, that he thinks the lineup is better with him in it if he goes 0 for 4.
I get him not starting but why not just come out and say its because of RH pitching.
==============================
Cash and Girardi both stated that.
Pat M. October 17th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Yanks will fire Joe Giradi this winter and name Tony Pena Mgr…….Brian Cashman could be first to go……
Pat, Oh I truly wish that comes to fruition.
NYY_Girl_Penny October 17th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
what did Alex mean by “There’s blood in the water”?
———————-
Did Alex himself say that or did someone say Alex knows there is blood in the water.
hman23
As you can see, some feel it is a legitimate move, some feel it is not. If I am reading the tea leaves correctly, Girardi does not trust Alex to get the job done against right-handed pitching.
My feeling is that he might get an AB tonight or end up in the game if the situation presents itself.
In the meantime, I don’t particularly think Girardi cares about the message he’s sendiing to the rest of the team. I think he cares about winning.
That’s what he’s paid to do.
Against All Odds October 17th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
NYY_Girl_Penny October 17th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
what did Alex mean by “There’s blood in the water”?
———————-
Did Alex himself say that or did someone say Alex knows there is blood in the water.
Alex himself.
Yanks will fire Joe Giradi this winter and name Tony Pena Mgr……
=====================================
doubt that.
.
Well blood in the water in many cases refers to a shark feeding frenzy. When there is blood in the water it’s feeding time…time to attack and eat.
Does Anyone use IRC ? IRC #Yankees on freenode is buzzing.
“Yeah. A-Rod has a hit. Against a left hander. He’s 0-18 with 12 strikeouts against right handers in the playoffs. Scherzer has some of the nastiest right handed stuff in the league. It’s a no brainer to bench A-Rod tonight regardless of what is going on with his off the field stuff.”
Makes sense to me Kev.
YT-
There seems to be other potential agendas at work here.
Other issues in play.
I think the Yankees would love to find a way to rid themselves of A-Rod’s overinflated contract.
His lack of production seems to provide them with an opening to begin a process.
Psychological warfare may now be the vehicle.
They pulled it with Jeter.
Therefore A-Rod is definitely vulnerable at the moment.
I’m quite sure Cashman would love to be rid of it.
He was against from the start.
To his defense, it’s not as though Girardi has the ’98 offense to work with. Lots of old garbage and some not-so-old garbage sits in that dugout. It’s hard to criticize his decisions when the players almost en masse stink.
Against All Odds October 17th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
NYY_Girl_Penny October 17th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
what did Alex mean by “There’s blood in the water”?
———————-
Did Alex himself say that or did someone say Alex knows there is blood in the water.
——————–
Alex did. My interpretation was ‘when you’re not playing well, the sharks come out to feed’ type of thing…
Pat M-
Naturally it makes more sense to fire the manager than get rid of the nonperformers, especially when 6 of 9 of your regular starting position players are playing terribly. I’ve seen replays of some of them, including Tex who is doing something, and they are all missing the pitcher’s mistakes.
Why would Tony Pena be the answer for this team going forward?
I think what Alex meant was that if he were a Marlin then he could swim away from the blood in the water
Well. It’s almost time.
Enjoy the game as best you can.
With any luck we’ll win one and live to fight another day.
Later.
@DKnobler
ALCS Game 4 delayed “due to weather in the area.”
So….. they’re going to ‘wait this one out’????
I thought they said it wouldn’t rain for another hour or two?
Game delayed.
wallace matthews ?@ESPNNYYankees
A-Rod on reports of trade talks between Yanks and Marlins: “There’s blood in the water.”
https://twitter.com/ESPNNYYankees
new post
Cashman isn’t going anywhere cause he’s a yes man to Hal and Girardi isn’t going anywhere cause he’s a yes man to Cashman…..
Honestly I think Girardi has done a good job this year despite some really tough circumstances of Injury Nd underperformance
It is very good news Jeter had no ligament tear. Bones heal, ligaments are trickier.
Let’s win guys. I am not ready for a Yankee off season.
I thought they said it wouldn’t rain for another hour or two?
———————————————————————————-
That was the original YES weather report. As we know, weathermen are usually wrong.
Alex should maintain himself and that goes for any democrat in the mid nineties.
Pat M. October 17th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Yanks will fire Joe Giradi this winter and name Tony Pena Mgr…….Brian Cashman could be first to go…….
///
Fine with me. I’ve been lobbying for Pena and Oppenheimer since January.
Trisha,
Speak up. You were too quiet in your 7:50 post.
MTU-
You want to rid yourself of ARods contract, the obligation of the Yankees to pay him. Spike his gatorade with testosterone and have him caught 3 times in one year. Of course I’m joking, but with his salary at 28M next season, a full NTC, the backing of the MLB Players Association, and the likeliood he passes Mays 660 homers for another 6M, he’s virtually untradeable.
Maybe in 2015 when his salary is lower at 21M.
Just my 3 cents.
Everybody in that lineup with the exception of Jeet had long stretches of futility. Alex has a target in his back. Seen it before. Bernie, Jeet, Po, Andy, and Alex have all been there. Guess its Alex’s turn again
Alfred, just safely in from the HWY – good to see you pick up your team!
austinmac –
Tar – Swish sat yesterday and Granderson is sitting today.
I think Joe wants to win. Period.
New Post—————->
MTU October 17th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
And by the way don’t lay all of this at Joe’s feet.
He said in his PC that this was an “organizational” decision w. regard to A-rod.
I suspect Cashman had way more to do with this than Girardi.
///
This is likely true.
jmills October 17th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Alfred, just safely in from the HWY – good to see you pick up your team!
///
Hi jmills!
Thank you for the good wishes. No one better than C for this task, and Nuney’s quick bat and his and Gardner’s fresh legs ;D
Tar,
He’s indeed wearing the bullseye now.
Good evening,
Pat M…I sense a little irony on that comment…But if true, That would make my day…Unlikely though.
Tony Pena would be perfect for a rebuilding period
Primo,
Good to see you around
Trisha -
Of course Girardi wants to win. But do you really believe putting ARod on the bench in favor of Chavez gives them a better chance? Based on what, a seven-game sample size? If this is so plainly the best lineup, then why did it take Girardi 168 games to figure it out? Why wasn’t he platooning ARod and Chavez from Day 1?
I’ll tell, you because ARod overall is a better player. It would be one thing if Chavez was red hot, but he clearly is not. Why does he deserve the chance to break out of his terrible slump more than ARod?
All they say is it sometime take just one swing or one AB. ARod got a very nice hit on his last at bat in game 2, if I remember correctly. But because of Girardi, we will never know if that was a turning point for ARod in this series.
If this is coming from Cashman, which I believe may be accurate, its bush league.
that’s freakin ridiculous. baseball needs to blow up the radar maps. walk out onto the field, if it’s not raining, you start the freakin game!