Back at work in Tampa, Jeter declines to comment on Rodriguez
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 04, 2013 
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I won’t get to Florida until this weekend, but obviously a few Yankees are already at the minor league complex getting a head start on spring training. Our friends Erik Boland and Anthony McCarron are already down there, so give them a follow on Twitter. Sounds like not much is going on today, but here’s the Associated Press with the latest from the complex.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees captain Derek Jeter plans to wait until teammate Alex Rodriguez addresses his latest off-the-field controversy before commenting on the matter.
The Miami New Times reported last week that Rodriguez bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances during 2009-12 from Biogenesis of America LLC, a now-closed anti-aging clinic in Coral Cables, near Rodriguez’s offseason home.
The new public relations firm for the three-time AL MVP issued a statement denying the allegations.
“I don’t comment on anyone until they speak first,” Jeter said Monday. “Let him address his situation before I comment on it. Let him speak first and then we’ll talk about that.”
Rodriguez admitted four years ago that he used PEDs from 2001-03. He had hip surgery last month and is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break.
Jeter started his second week of workouts on a baseball field after breaking his left ankle last October. The 38-year-old fielded 55 grounders on the grass in front of the infield dirt at shortstop at the team’s minor league complex. He also hit in a batting cage.
The 13-time All-Star expects to start in New York’s opener against Boston on April 1. He plans to start running later this month at spring training.
“Everything’s been good,” Jeter said. “Everything’s right where it needs to be. The goal is April 1st, that’s when we start our season. I’m right where I need to be. I’ve been progressing just fine.”
Jeter broke the ankle lunging for a grounder in the AL championship series opener against Detroit on Oct. 13, and had surgery a week later.
Associated Press photo
Well, hasn’t Alex already made a statement?
This is a no-win situation for Jeter.
Shame Spencer February 4th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Chip February 4th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
I’m still not sure what Tex said that was wrong here?
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Read what Tex wrote and tell me you could see Jeter saying it.
It’s one thing to state the obvious and say, ‘hey, we’re all overpaid.’ But it’s quite another to say “well I’m getting older, am a tick behind, oh well, what can you do?” He’s openly stated he’s not trying to go the other way anymore.
His PR firm did.
Really what could Jeter say anyway? I don’t want him on the team? It’s a shock, which it isn’t?
Let’s get to Spring Training so I can watch some of the kids play, maybe they will be smarter.
And accepting the .240 average thing is just the icing on the cake.. I mean, who would say they are okay with that while getting paid that kind of money? You can’t even pretend you’d like to be more consistent?
Tex’s comments read more like a cop out to me. If it was just the ‘we’re all overpaid’ thing I’d take no issue with it at all.
Ravens’ Ray Lewis leaves as a champion
February 4
Detroit News
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“For his final ride, Ray Lewis took the path of John Elway, Jerome Bettis and Michael Strahan.
He walked off into the sunset as a champion.
“What better way to go out,” he said, after the Ravens preserved a 34-31 win in Super Bowl XLVII with a goal-line stand in the final two minutes. “The more I think about it, it was my teammates, the way we went out, the things we been through all year.
“I was tested through this journey (and I tested positive ed.). It was an up-and-down rollercoaster — the injuries — and we stayed together. Honestly, when God is for you, who can be against you?”
///
Maybe Alex should tell everyone that God is for him?
I think Tex said he will concentrate with what he does best. And given the loss of Arod (even if he has been gone), Swisher gone, even Marrtin’s 20 homers – Tex hitting 40 is actually more important this year than in others. I am against relying on the home run ball, but they have weakened there so I hope to see Youkilis hit and get on and hope to see Tex up there with runners on a lot more this year with Jeter, Youk, Gardner and Ichiro.
Youk has a new stance:
@YESNetwork
Kevin Youkilis to demonstrate his new stance on upcoming “Yankees Access” on YES: http://yesnet.me/YONXYb
Rich,
Not true.
“I stand behind Alex as a friend and teammate and hope that these allegations are false. If they’re not though; if Alex did this then he should be held accountable the same as any other player under MLB’s drug policy. For now though, I’m sure he’s doing his best to get back and help the team.”
Tex hitting 40 is actually more important this year than in others.
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Tex has only hit 40+HRs once in his career.
This is the other problem I have with him. If you want to be a slugger, you better do that better than you have been at least.
If you’re a cheater, it’s smart to make your statements through a PR firm. They can steer you away from problematic language you’ll regret later, and dodge cagey follow-up questions from smart reporters. Even better, when you’re eventually exposed, it won’t be your voice on all the recordings telling everyone how innocent you are.
If you’re not a cheater, however, you can make your own statements. No need to point out which kind of ballplayer we’re dealing with here.
What did Jeter do when he appeared to be declining? He found his old hitting coach and worked on getting back to waiting on the pitch, and abandoning what Long had him do.
Tex should be doing something similar. Maybe he is, but his words paint another picture.
Shame Spencer February 4th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Shame Spencer February 4th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Chip February 4th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
I’m still not sure what Tex said that was wrong here?
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Read what Tex wrote and tell me you could see Jeter saying it.
It’s one thing to state the obvious and say, ‘hey, we’re all overpaid.’ But it’s quite another to say “well I’m getting older, am a tick behind, oh well, what can you do?” He’s openly stated he’s not trying to go the other way anymore.
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So he’s not going to try to hit for high average anymore, that instead of making an effort to go the other way he’s going to try to hit the ball over the heads of the shifting players. What’s wrong with that?
Chip
He can’t stand behind someone without knowing the full facts. Maybe what he means by A-Rod addressing the issue, is to him?
Well he hit 39 twice in the last 4 years. I hear you though, I don’t think hitting 265-270 should be out of the question when he was a much more consistent hitter coming here. But the upcoming season, I think they need his 35+ homers say more than 10-15 points better in his batting average. And he has to get back to drawing walks as last year was not great.
I’m sure there’s no pressure on Tex from the team to hit for a better average.
Cashman’s “hairy monster” philosophy is in line with Tex’s expressed goals as a hitter.
Having said that, I don’t think Tex is a good candidate for not trying to hit over the shift, any way.
This is why we needed/need young bats; players like Tex are slowing down and are virtually incapable of making lasting adjustments.
Tex should not be tweeting.
In 2 seasons, we might be lucky if Tex is even OBP’ing at .300 based on his intense regression.
If Arod said the stuff Tex said he’d be harangued on here.
So he’s not going to try to hit for high average anymore, that instead of making an effort to go the other way he’s going to try to hit the ball over the heads of the shifting players. What’s wrong with that?
——————————
There’s nothing wrong with it.. if he does it. But wouldn’t that bring his average up? Tex is going to keep getting swallowed up by the shift.
Phranchise February 4th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Well he hit 39 twice in the last 4 years. I hear you though, I don’t think hitting 265-270 should be out of the question when he was a much more consistent hitter coming here. But the upcoming season, I think they need his 35+ homers say more than 10-15 points better in his batting average. And he has to get back to drawing walks as last year was not great.
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I thought the trend was that BA is irrelevant as long as OBP and OPS is good?
Would I like Tex to hit for a higher average? Sure. But do I want him to do that by trying to slap singles to LF? No, not any more than I want Brett Gardner up there trying to pull the ball over the fence. Different players have different roles and should have different approaches.
Tex is only 33. Same as Pujols. Look at his numbers decline as well. Do we think Albert is incapable of improving next year? Don’t think so, but is he on the back side of his career as well? Sure he is. I really don’t have a problem with what Tex said as I feel it was off the cuff. But I would like to see a lot more this year than last as he now is needed to produce in the middle of that lineup, batting 5th is not an option.
More like eaten alive by the change.
Rich in NJ February 4th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Chip
He can’t stand behind someone without knowing the full facts. Maybe what he means by A-Rod addressing the issue, is to him?
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Which is why you say “I hope he didn’t do this thing, but if he did do it then he should be face the consequences”
“Having said that, I don’t think Tex is a good candidate for not trying to hit over the shift, any way.”
Not with his present uppercut LH swing. It would have to change and that takes time and patience.
Chip, that’s sort of my point, my biggest disappointment was the walks which tie directly into being selective. Think about Ibanez’s approach at the plate, he made the pitcher come to him last year. Tex had a lot of weak swings and misses out of the zone last year. I want to see him be aggressive, but locked into the strikezone like he has been in the past.
Chip
What if A-Rod personally assured him that any PED use ended when he left Texas? Could you blame Jeter for wanting to be able to talk to him personally before he publicly comments? Some anodyne statement won’t satisfy anyone.
Phranchise February 4th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Tex is only 33. Same as Pujols. Look at his numbers decline as well. Do we think Albert is incapable of improving next year? Don’t think so, but is he on the back side of his career as well? Sure he is. I really don’t have a problem with what Tex said as I feel it was off the cuff. But I would like to see a lot more this year than last as he now is needed to produce in the middle of that lineup, batting 5th is not an option.
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Of course – I think Tex was intensely frustrated last year with Kevin Long trying to tinker with his stance and approach and everything else and he’s just saying “hell with it. I’m going back to what got me here, what I’m comfortable with and I’m not going to get caught up over-thinking my at bats.”
Look I’m not saying nor have I ever said Tex is useless.. he’s got a lot of value. But in terms of what is best for the Yankees in the current climate, I just feel like they should/should have tried to move him.
How would we know they didn’t try to move him?
Who would want that contract?
Rich in NJ February 4th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Chip
What if A-Rod personally assured him that any PED use ended when he left Texas? Could you blame Jeter for wanting to be able to talk to him personally before he publicly comments? Some anodyne statement won’t satisfy anyone.
—————–
Why not? Derek has been making statements like that his entire career and they’ve managed to keep the NY press satisfied for nearly 20 years.
It’s funny. The Tex comments are being applauded by those in the media because it’s refreshing to them to see a guy open up and tell the truth.
But to many of us, they’re awful. His salary and the contract he received being a completely different kind of hitter than he has rapidly declined into are part of the reason why guys can’t be retained, signed or traded for.
Yes, the Yankees didn’t have to give him that contract. But in this instance, I’m on the side of the Yankees. They thought they were paying for a cornerstone bat to mitigate the decline of Arod, Jeter, et al…instead, they got one year of prime production and the rest has rapidly declined into a player who seriously should be considered a platoon player. He hits so poorly now vs RHP that if Girardi puts him in the middle of the lineup, he’s close to an automatic out. Yes, he’ll hit his HR’s, but 30+ HR’s may help win 30 + games unless he bunches up and hits them in the same game. Then it helps win less games.
It’d be one thing if the team was littered with offensive stars, but now that is not the case. They’ve sliced and diced the talent pool here since 2009. Part of the reason is 189 and a huge part of why 189 doesn’t help the Yankees are guys like Tex & Arod not earning their salaries.
Hey, if Tex wants to glide into old age gracefully at 33 (33 people), bully for him. Most guys at 33 aren’t thinking about their baseball mortality, but our sensitive juice pressing sports yapper is. Great…and he’s only here for like 10 more years. Imagine what facing 34 is going to do the poor guy. We all should just lower our collective expectations and be happy he doesn’t break a hip during warmups.
I’ve never, in my life, seen a Yankee who was counted on to be huge act so small. Name me one other Yankee who in the middle of a megabucks contract came out and said something comparable to this.
Giambi drugged his way into his deal here and never once came out and said something this depressing about lowering expectations for himself.
I think Tex is just trying to cover his butt because without Arod in the lineup, the focus is going to be on him and he wanted to get out in front of that story.
Phranchise February 4th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Chip, that’s sort of my point, my biggest disappointment was the walks which tie directly into being selective. Think about Ibanez’s approach at the plate, he made the pitcher come to him last year.
————————
I get what you’re saying, but you’re saying Tex should be more like Ibanez when Ibanez had a much worse offensive season than Tex did last year.
G.
First of all – 33 isn’t old for most professions, but in professional sports it is. Derek’s been calling himself an “old man” since he turned 30.
Also he’s not saying, “well I’m going to suck and that’s all there is to it.” I think what he’s saying is more along the lines of, “I’m not going to overthink anymore, I’m not going to keep tinkering and changing stuff to get different results, I wasn’t comfortable last year or the year before as I did it. Instead, what I’m going to do is focus on doing better the things I do well already.”
blake says:
February 4, 2013 at 2:39 pm
If a player in MLB got busted for deer antler extract or whatever the week of the World Series then the actual games would be an afterthought….they’d be talk of forfeit….of suspension etc….In the NFL they talk about Ray Lewis accending to the sky at the 50 yard line after the win….it’s hilarious
Rich in NJ February 4th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
“Having said that, I don’t think Tex is a good candidate for not trying to hit over the shift, any way.”
Not with his present uppercut LH swing. It would have to change and that takes time and patience.
///
I agree. He’d have to totally reconstruct his lower half, too. He’s a back leg hitter with a really inefficient swing that generates flyball power.
Speaking strictly of Tex here as a LHB.
I said it years ago in here and say it again:
Tex has gone Hollywood.
Get a hairstyle and stick with it, stay away from the camera and microphone and for gods sake stay off Broadway.
Stay the dork you came here as…
Chip,
I see where you’re coming from but tell me honestly how you’d feel if CC came out and said, “I’m getting old, I like to eat and my metabolism is slowing down and my stuff is not as sharp, so my days of winning 20 and being the man are pretty much over but I’ll probably win 10 games every season going forward”…
“Hey, if Tex wants to glide into old age gracefully at 33 (33 people), bully for him. Most guys at 33 aren’t thinking about their baseball mortality,
It’s reality though….players used to start declining around 33 and they are again……I don’t love the reality that is Tex but it is what it is and if he admits it then I don’t have an issue with it.
He and the fans both need to stop pining for what he used to be and focus on what he can do….which is hopefully play good D….hit lefties….and hit some homers from the left side
I’m fine with Tex being a .250 hitter with a .330 OBP and 35 HR. Last year he was light in the HRs and I think that was because in the early part of the season he was trying hard to go the other way (plus he missed time with injury). I would be thrilled if he got back to where he was 2 years ago when he hit .256 with a .365 OBP – I don’t see that as being too hard for him to reach nor do I think his notion of focusing on what he does well would preclude that.
blake,
So when the Yankees can’t get Chase Headley, Justin Upton or whatever other player of the moment that is being focused on because Tex is making about 10 million a year more than he’s worth, you’re okay with it for the next bunch of years?
It’s not just Arod’s money preventing acquisitions.
G. Love February 4th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Chip,
I see where you’re coming from but tell me honestly how you’d feel if CC came out and said, “I’m getting old, I like to eat and my metabolism is slowing down and my stuff is not as sharp, so my days of winning 20 and being the man are pretty much over but I’ll probably win 10 games every season going forward”…
——————
Apples and oranges though. You’re comparing a guy deciding to focus on the hitting approach he’s most comfortable with to a guy deciding to not take care of himself physically.
“So when the Yankees can’t get Chase Headley, Justin Upton or whatever other player of the moment that is being focused on because Tex is making about 10 million a year more than he’s worth, you’re okay with it for the next bunch of years?”
Nope….it sucks but there is literally nothing they can do about it. They need to get as much value out of Tex’s money as they can and for them to do that Twx needs to admit to himself his limitations…..he’s never going to hit for average from the left side again most likely….he’s too old to rebuild his swing from the ground up….so he need to be the best flawed player he can be….meaning he needs to maximize what he can do and stop worrying about what he cant
Chip,
I used the CC comparison because I interpret what Tex is saying as he’s not trying to get better and is happy with what he is even though that isn’t what he was brought here to be. It’s too early in his mega-deal to be retreating and it says a lot to me about the psyche of the player.
soft yankees:
tex, grandy, cano
gamers:
jeter
potential to be hardcore:
ichiro, youk, hafner, gardner
notice an infusion?
What I’m saying is that it would t make me feel better for Tex to either lie or be in denial about what he is…..if he stood there and said yea I’m gonna hit .300 next year with a .950 OPS and earn my contract then Id feel no different because that ain’t happening
Phranchise February 4th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Tex is only 33. Same as Pujols. Look at his numbers decline as well. Do we think Albert is incapable of improving next year? Don’t think so, but is he on the back side of his career as well? Sure he is. I really don’t have a problem with what Tex said as I feel it was off the cuff. But I would like to see a lot more this year than last as he now is needed to produce in the middle of that lineup, batting 5th is not an option.
//
Tex has been saying for over a year now that he can’t really do much about his mechanics.
I don’t think Albert is a good comp, despite their ages. Tex is an aging swinger. Albert has a swing for the ages.
G. Love February 4th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Chip,
I used the CC comparison because I interpret what Tex is saying as he’s not trying to get better and is happy with what he is even though that isn’t what he was brought here to be. It’s too early in his mega-deal to be retreating and it says a lot to me about the psyche of the player.
——————–
But that’s not what he’s saying. What he’s saying is that he’s going to try to get better by improving what he already does well rather than reinvent himself at age 33 as hitter.
The CC hypothetical you put up there is a player saying “eff it, I’ve got my money, I don’t need to take care of myself anymore.”
blake February 4th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
What I’m saying is that it would t make me feel better for Tex to either lie or be in denial about what he is…..if he stood there and said yea I’m gonna hit .300 next year with a .950 OPS and earn my contract then Id feel no different because that ain’t happening
———————–
Exactly – we’re all smart enough to know where Tex is in his career and that the player he was in Texas isn’t around anymore.
“Tex has been saying for over a year now that he can’t really do much about his mechanics.”
He can’t….they have always been bad from the left side….he used to be strong enough and quick enough to cover for it…..
Kevin Youkilis to demonstrate his new stance on upcoming “Yankees Access” on YES: http://yesnet.me/YONXYb
——–
I love it. Youk is going to have a nice year.
Mick -
I really think that (health permitting) we’re going to get vintage years from Ichiro, Hafner and Youk – three guys who will thrive playing in games that matter as opposed to on the noncontenders that they’ve been with.
So we get to stop hearing about the back of Tex’s baseball card?
I think Tex is just trying to cover his butt because without Arod in the lineup, the focus is going to be on him and he wanted to get out in front of that story.
///
Tex? Out in front? Surely, you jest?
——–
I love it. Youk is going to have a nice year.”
Lemmi guess…Youk is in the best shape of his life
blake February 4th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
“Tex has been saying for over a year now that he can’t really do much about his mechanics.”
He can’t….they have always been bad from the left side….he used to be strong enough and quick enough to cover for it…..
///
Yep, if he tried to go the other way he’d probably break his leg or something.
Kevin Youkilis to demonstrate his new stance….
He should stick with the old stance. He’s 33.
G. Love, I actually do blame the Yankees.
They should have noticed what we all did; that Tex wasn’t going to age well and that they did not have “excess offense.” The guy is what he is. They didn’t see it coming, but fans did? Their bad.
When Don Mattingly couldn’t stand up straight and lost all his power to back injuries, I don’t ever recall him telling a reporter or the fans, “I can’t be me anymore.” He went out there and tried and even re-invented his swing a few times to compensate for the decline in his game from injuries.
Jeter, who couldn’t hit a ball out of the infield a few seasons ago and looked done, went back to his old hitting coach and rediscovered his swing. He never once said anything like Tex did when he was struggling or declining.
Mo lost a few mph’s off his cutter. Never once uttered anything close to this.
I accept Tex for what he is because as a Yankee fan, you have no choice. He has a no trade guaranteed contract and he is not interested in trying to find out how to become a more complete hitter. He just wants to mash and miss from the left side of the plate and hope to he knocks 20-25 HR’s out that way that help win games.
That said, just because you accept something doesn’t mean you have to like it.
Last season it was the cough. This season it’s his natural age related decline. Next season it’ll be the cotton in the uniforms.
Lemmi guess…Youk is in the best shape of his life
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Actually that is the only thing I am worried about. Staying healthy is going to be huge for him. If he stays healthy he will produce.
“Jeter, who couldn’t hit a ball out of the infield a few seasons ago and looked done, went back to his old hitting coach and rediscovered his swing. He never once said anything like Tex did when he was struggling or declining.”
That’s why he’s going to the HOF on the first ballot with like 95% + of the vote.
As I said…..I don’t like the situation with Tex at all….but he’s not wrong in his assessment and obviously he’s not giving any money back….so we are stuck and we need him to be the best if what he’s for left
J.AP,
I can’t blame the Yankees for signing him when they did. They thought they were getting a middle of the order masher with patience, power and a high average. He looked like he would fit in the Matsui, Sheff mold as those players were leaving.
But yes, I do blame the Yankees for treating offense like they had it covered the past few years while Tex declined. There were so many moves that strictly cost money they could’ve done to compensate for this happening.
This is where relying on the back’s of the baseball cards instead of what’s actually happening on the field is dangerous.
I think you could argue the Yanks should have predicted that Tex might age early with his LH swing…..
It’s just funny how so much has changed in the game of baseball in a short period of time.
I was just thinking how Bernie was run off the team with only a minor league invite for being a guy who probably could only hit .270-.280 with 15HR’s as a 4th OF/part time player.
We’d kill for that version of Bernie on this team right now.
G.Love,
I didn’t dislike the signing, either. Just talking about them turning a blind eye to what was in front of them the last three seasons. This version of Tex would have made far more sense in the bottom third of the order or sixth.
jcrasnick
Brandon Webb is retiring from baseball. according to agents Jonathan Maurer and Mike Montana of Millennium Sports.
“I was just thinking how Bernie was run off the team with only a minor league invite for being a guy who probably could only hit .270-.280 with 15HR’s as a 4th OF/part time player.”
That’s like a 50 million dollar player now
To be fair, the 2nd to last season of Bernie’s career he OPS’d .688 and hit under .270 the 2 years before that. He was also going to be 38. I’m sure if the team were in such disarray as it is now Bernie would have been brought back, but lets not make it seem like its sooo different.
blake February 4th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
“I was just thinking how Bernie was run off the team with only a minor league invite for being a guy who probably could only hit .270-.280 with 15HR’s as a 4th OF/part time player.”
That’s like a 50 million dollar player now
______________________________________________
Wonder if they would try to do the same to jeter if next year he declines the option on his contract and wants to negotiate another muti-year deal
They say two heads is better than one but in Youk’s case I’d say one head is greater than two.
As for Tex…
Definitely hedging against us fans and our outrage at his decline. If he uses Twitter, it’s more likely he browses blogs. hypersensitive. Grow up Tex and STOP SWINGING FOR THE FENCES YOU IDIOT
I’ve been watching the Bourne movie series online these past few nights. Bourne Identity and Bourne Supremacy. Next up is Bourne Ultimatum. It’s incredible theater if you ask me.
Tackelberry,
I actually think it’s a certainty that Jeter takes the opt out to negotiate a better deal unless he has an awful season or just decides to retire with Mo & Andy.
If Jeter hits .250 or less they’ll play hard ball with him & plant stories about him being done probably.
.275 or above and they’ll have to pay him more than what he’s contracted for.
.300? They’ll have to pay him a lot.
“Why not? Derek has been making statements like that his entire career and they’ve managed to keep the NY press satisfied for nearly 20 years.”
We’re guessing, Chip. Jeter has something in mind. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Things got a little harder, nagging injuries added up, heavy weightlifting took a greater daily toll. ”
if this is really true about the weight lifting. it’s not difficult to see why teixeira’s swing has slowed down.
teixeira seems like a hard worker. i’m pretty sure he is and it shows in his defense and his fitness level. the problem is that weights don’t help swing speed. if a hitter wanted to swing a bat faster, he’d need to swing a lighter bat and not a heavier bat for example.
i realize this isn’t accepted by most people, but the way you swing fast is to swing fast. that’s not just a yogism. if teixeira trains by using heavy weights he’ll be very good at heavy weights. it’s entirely possible that he’s lifted his way into a slower aging swing.
the way to swing fast is to practice swinging fast.
pat February 4th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Kevin Youkilis to demonstrate his new stance….
He should stick with the old stance. He’s 33.
———————–
BURN!!
Youk is trying something new to get better… please don’t make me like Youk, 2013 Yankees.
“I was just thinking how Bernie was run off the team with only a minor league invite for being a guy who probably could only hit .270-.280 with 15HR’s as a 4th OF/part time player.
We’d kill for that version of Bernie on this team right now.”
thank you,i’ve been saying that for years. bernie had ridiculous right handed numbers his last year.
that would be a .936 OPS
when cashman dumped bernie was when i first started hating the guy.
.300? They’ll have to pay him a lot.
—————————–
I hope beyond hopes that Derek is one of our 3 best offensive players again this season. Chad said in the chat he thought if Jeter opted out they’d give him the Bernie treatment. Talk about apples and oranges… If they ever did that to Jeter I might actually quit the Yankees. And there’s very little that could even make me consider such treachery!
Tex to me is the definition of an overrated player. He’s not BAD and there are aspects of his game that are very good, bordering on the great. But his compensation far exceeds his value to the team. And no, I don’t like his comments. They belay the attitude of a guy who is willing to settle rather than adjust and do whatever it takes to succeed. I got the same feeling when he poo-pooed the idea of bunting for singles against the shift.
Bernie wasn’t dumped. He declined to come to spring training. Thats like saying the Yankees fired Torre.
The 2007 Yankees had Matsui, Damon, Melky, and Abreu. Its not like they had an abundance of guaranteed playing time.
I hope the Jeter situation doesn’t get ugly …I think both parties probably learned from the last go round and itll be handled better this time.
If Jeter has a good 2013 then I do expect him to decline the option and try for a 2 year deal though and I can’t blame him
If the guy is hitting over .275 I don’t see how the Yankees can hardball him… (unless they sign that stealthy Cuban, mwahahahahaha!).
cashman fell in love with his brain cramp at first base with mientkiewicz and josh phelps.
that took up two spots that didn’t need to be taken up.
as torre said cashman didn’t have a feel for the game.
like a lot of people who spend more time with numbers than they do on a baseball field.
that was the tell on cashman how he treated bernie.
it was a character thing. once you saw it, you could never not see it.
cashman is an a hole.
“Last season it was the cough. This season it’s his natural age related decline. Next season it’ll be the cotton in the uniforms.”
And the year before that it was “i’m a slow starter and it’s april/weather.”
G. LOVE,
If Tex gets off to a cold start this year it will get late early and he will definitely feel the heat from fans and media.
pat February 4th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Kevin Youkilis to demonstrate his new stance….
He should stick with the old stance. He’s 33.
—
LOL
I just don’t wanna be coming up on September listening to how Tex is burnt out from all those extra games he had to play in March.
If they’re smart, they’ll rest Tex more this year and throw Youk at 1B and Adams or someone else at 3B. Obviously this all rests on Youk hitting well… at least better verse RHP.
A slowing bat is a great time to start letting the ball travel and as a result sometimes the ball will go opposite field when you hit it.
Of course he’d need to fix that massive uppercut (lefthanded) swing. Just mirror the righthanded swing. He’s supposed to be a professional hitter.
“as torre said cashman didn’t have a feel for the game.”
I want Cashman gone, but Torre lacked a feel too…for the pen, unless he had a perfectly staffed one.
i could see youkillis making a comeback with the yankees.
stranger things have happened.
if he does , red sox fans will have a new yankee to hate.
rich in nj-
let’s just say torre wasn’t afraid to use up a guy’s arm
“I want Cashman gone,”
rich in nj-
was there a specific trigger with you on wanting cashman gone?
do you remember when you first decided that?
randy
It was incremental, but apart from his suboptimal moves, his insulting nonsense about maintaining Stick’s model of power and patience, when Stick didn’t stack the lineup with low AVG hitters just because they had power and patience, and the junk about Joba’s shoulder won’t hold up to starting when Pineda had a shoulder injury that actually required surgery and he won’t be relegated to the pen.
rich in nj-
yeah, joba to the bullpen was really just a whim of cashman’s. just the other day , looking at joba’s starting era and phil’s starting era showed that joba is about a half run better.
what is with the hanging on to Joba as a starter?
he was frustrating and ineffective.