I was ready to turn the page, I really, really was. I had written the beginning of my blog post entitled "Time for a little Yankee optomism" and planned on finishing it up last night after Phil Hughes pitched a solid game and the Yankee bats smacked the incredibly mediocre Adam Eaton around all night long.
That..............did not happen.
So now I am writing a very different post because the problems that have plagued this team aren't going away. Let's forget about Phil Hughes for a second. I think we have enough evidence in all ready to suggest that Franchise is NEVER going to be the pitcher he was promised to be a few years ago. This isn't even so much about results as it is about stuff. When you watch special pitchers, they jump out at you. Their "stuff" is electric and impossible to ignore. They might hang a breaking ball or give up runs, but you see the promise in their ability. Hughes has none of that.
His fastball shows itself to be mediocre time after time. The velocity is no where near what it was advertised to be (remember when the Yankees told everyone he pitched consistently in the mid to uppser 90's?) and it is as straight as an arrow. Hitters tee off on heater on a regular basis. His slider is, again, mediocre at best, his changeup isn't a quality pitch, and his cutter is okay but certainly not earth shattering. When the only pitch you have that is top quality is you curve, that just isn't going to be enough.
Maybe Hughes shows himself to be better than what he has looked like through the majority of his career to this point, but he is never gonna be a top of the rotation guy, in my opinion, and we have enough evidence to make that pretty obvious at this point.
No, the problem with this team is beyond the overhyped and extremely mediocre Hughes. When Wang is healthy, he will be relegated to the minors where he can dominate triple A players yet again. The problems this team faces are far more serious.
Their defense has been terrible, and there is no excuse. Nick Swisher is a decent corner outfielder and, despite the "statistics" in regards to Jeter, there really isn't a woeful defender in the bunch, yet collectively this team makes a lot of bone head defense plays, whether it be throws off line, missing the cutoff man, always coming up short on the nice play, never making the great play, and seemingly out of position on a lot of routine plays. Last night, Mark Teixeira broke towards first base on a ball that seemed well within his grasp. One can only assume that a terrific defensive player like Tex didn't go after the ball because he thought Robbie Cano was nearest to the play. Then, in that faithful second inning, Nick Swisher inexplicably airmails a throw, after the runner at third had already stopped, over the cutoff man, catcher, and all the way to the back stop. Making the play even worse, Phil Hughes, who was running to back up the play, didn't even notice the ball flying over his head. He looked as if he was simply running to a position rather than, you know, backing up the play. Hughes didn't turn his head until it was already past him. Those two plays show a lack of fundamentals that has existed with this team for the last two years.
Then, you have the story of Mark Teixeira. The man is hitting below .190 right now. Think about that for a second. The man is hitting below .190. That isn't a slow start. That is a scuffle. That is a detriment to the team. I still believe that Tex will end up with a nice year, but at this point leaving him in the three hole when it's obvious he just can't get the job done is killing the offense. He needs to temporarily be dropped in the lineup, case closed. The Yankees are already 5.5 games out, staring up at Toronto, Sox, and Tampa. It is obviously way too early to worry about standings, but Boston and Tampa are obviously going to be in the race all season and Toronto may be good enough to hang in contention for much of the season. Being behind three quality teams by multiple games is never a good thing.
The bullpen continues to be an issue and the fact that certain guys still have a place on this team is unacceptable. How the HELL is Edwar Ramirez up right now? WHat does he bring to the team? How can he possibly help? What about Jose Veras? He was good for one month last year. He has been putrid this year. Why is he on the team?
The lack of hitting with runners in scoring position is a two year problem now and it is hard to believe it is going to turn around any time soon. This team just doesn't do the little things very well. They don't move runners, get runners in from third with less than two outs, or get two-out hits. There is never, ever a rally. What can possibly account for that, considering the talented offensive players they have?
Finally, I am convinced now more than ever that Joe Girardi is just not a good manager. PERIOD! First, we have the tangible evidence in that his teams have now spent the last year plus well behind the better teams in his league. His training staff has misdiagnosed how many players now?- failures that have resulted in players spending more time on the DL than originally imagined. His handling of the pen this year, a strength last year, has been horrific. Look at last night. The Yankees call up Brett Tomko to be a long man/middle reliever. Phil Hughes is knocked out in the second. Time for Tomko, brought up specifically for these types of situations, right? Nope. Instead, we get Edwar Ramirez, who lets an 7-0 lead explode into an 11-1 lead. Ramirez, who had been used for an inning or two at the most all year, was extended to 3.1 innings. Then, in a game completely out of reach, he brings in Jonathan Albaladejo, one of the few relievers who has shown an ability to pitch in tight games and get outs. So now, Johnny Abba is wasted in a game already outta reach. Why? What could the reason possibly be? Then, to complicate matters even more, he brings in Tomko at the end of the game. Why not use him in the long relief role if you were planning on using him in the game? Why waste him in the ninth in a blow out?
But the real problem to me isn't the strategy but the tenor of the team. All the errors and miscues wreack of a team not well coached or prepared. The young pitchers have either stagnated or declined under the guidance of the supposed young-player gurus Girardi and Dave Eiland. And the soccer-mom mentality of this team is mind-boggling. Last night, Phil Hughes put together another bad outing for this team. If you look at his starts in the majors, it is incredible how many of those starts gave the team no chance to actually win, getting knocked out between the second or fourth inning. Yet Hughes got the little leaguer treatment yet again on the mound, with a pep talk and a pat on the back. It's the same treatment almost everyone on the team gets no matter how putrid their performance.
Last season we watched as Robinson Cano slept walked through the year and made bonehead play after bonehead play, yet it wasn't until September, when the season was pretty much over, that he was sat down for poor play.
Mark Teixeira isn't even hitting .200 yet he won't be moved out of the three hole or sat a day to collect his thoughts. Phil Hughes pitches poorly against the Red Sox and it is the umpires fault, then can't get out of the second inning and he gets a pat on the back.
These are professionals and each and every one of them (yes, Phil Hughes included) is a man. Maybe it's time to kick someone in the ass, not coddle them and make excuses. In three injury-plagued seasons, Phil Hughes has had three good performances. The rest have been either been generously labeled mediocre or outright horrid. Maybe the time to pat him on the back is over. Maybe he could use someone saying "hey, kid, when can we take the training wheels off? Any time soon or no?"
I don't know what has to happen, and Girardi seems like an exceptionally nice man, but there is something missing with this team, pure and simple. Something just isn't right with this team and the always-positive Girardi doesn't seem to be pushing the right buttons. His stock "we believe he'll come out of it" and "he'll work hard and make the adjustment" or "we know how good he can be" answers scream of a guy who refuses to take the rose colored glasses off for any reason.
This team has played poorly and has been coached poorly. I don't know what the answer is, but the equation has to be changed. If there was a Steinbrenner who actually cared about baseball still in charge, something would have been done already.
Sunday, May 3
A-Rod, Selena Roberts, Joe Girardi, and maybe even something about baseball
I like tooting my own horn, so let me play the trumpet a little bit and remind folks new to the blog what I wrote about A-Rod the day after he decided to opt out of his contract with the Yankees: "Alex Rodriguez informed the New York Yankees last night - via text message by the way - that he is officially opting out of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent when the offseason begins in the next few weeks. It was a classless, lowlife act by a prima donna, whiny, pretty boy who still believes that being booed at Yankee Stadium is this generation's version of being fired on at Bastogne.Now comes the hard part. The Yanks have said there is NO chance they will get back involved with the mega-talented anchor and they HAVE to stick to their guns. Why? Will the Yanks, on the field, be better off without him? Of course not, but the truth is that, eventually, someone has to yell ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Instead, the Yankees resigned the man to a 10-year, $300 million contract that will take him through the age of 40 and essentially my 30's as a Yankee fan (I'm 31 right now).
Now, I'll admit, I did have a change of heart somewhat when the Yankees began to throw around replacement names at third base, but what that post proves is that first impressions are usually right.
Alex, two years into his new contract, is already an utter nightmare. He is officially a steroid user, meaning his future pursuit of all-time records will be more Barry Bonds-eian in feel than inclusionary and redeeming. Did I mention A-Rod will be paid millions each time her tarnishes.......um, I mean passes another homerun record in the dust? Great marketing Yanks.
His health has to be a concern at this point. A former steroid user experiencing a cyst on his hip that will require two surgeries? No chance this is just the beginning of his medical condition as he gets older, right? I didn't think so.
And as much as you might want to blame the media for the neauseating coverage he receives, only the most maddeningly blind A-Rod fan would refuse to place much of the ownous on the man himself. As Peter Abraham pointed out on his blog today, while A-Rod was dating the Material Girl, Madonna (while still married by the way) one of his seven publicists would routinely contact the media to "tip them off" as to where the couple might be that night.
That isn't the actions of a man looking for peace and quite outside the public limelight.
And if he is acting this way at 32, why would anyone believe that he is due for an infusion of maturity anytime soon? Nope, you can expect some sort of Page Six story popping up at least twice a year for the next nine years, no question.
But all of this might be overlooked if A-Rod can perform at a level worthy of his obscene contract. That, of course, has to be called into question at this point.
Forget the injury issues, which could turn A-Rod from a 158-game mainstay at third into a "he needs a few days off a week and at least one stint on the DL a year" type of player very quickly. How, in all that is holy, can anyone expect that A-Rod's lofty numbers weren't very much influenced by his drug use?
Only the most naive would have believed that Alex gave up roids when coming over to the Yankees. Would it stand to reason that, perhaps, A-Rod's best season, 2007, was influenced by a return to the drugs which had helped him so obviously while in Texas? And, if that is the case, would it also be out of the realm of possibility that, now forced off the drug because of the intense scrutiny he will receive, his production will fall off dramatically? What if the Yankees, starting this year, realize they are paying $27 million a year for Joe Crede?
And unlike other contracts that have seemed impossible to move, this on will be a conversation stopper. NO ONE is taking A-Rod. NO ONE!!!!!. That means, good, bad, ugly, the Yankees have this man for the next decade.
Now on to Selena Roberts.
As you could tell from the above comments, I am not exactly erecting a shrine to A-Rod any time soon. But that doesn't mean I think Roberts is innocent of any wrongdoing here. The woman, to me, is everything wrong with the media, and I am saying that as a member of the media. Let's not forget that Roberts is the same classless reporter who soiled the reputations of the Duke lacrosse players years ago and still refuses to apologize. Imagine that level of arrogance and simple lack of conscience where you can help to destroy a group of young mens' lives and, when you are proven abslutely wrong, still find a way to justify your actions. To me, that SHOULD call everything she has to say into question.
I haven't read the book, and I don't plan to. Besides some accusations that A-Rod's steroid use was more pervasive than first reported and that he might have tipped pitches to opposing batters in the hope they would do the same for him (the most serious accusation to come from this tell-all) the rest of the book seems filled with stories about his bad tipping at Hooters and his affairs with strippers. Wow!! Let me get my money ready.
But the problem have with the book is not just that the information seems silly and selacious, it also seems to be based solely on accusations made by people unwilling to go on the record.
Much of what Roberts reports seems to have stemmed directly from people who refused to lend their name to the rumors.
Some fellow reporters have made the claim that Roberts has the "right" to write any kind of book she wants and that, as evidenced by the Sports Illustrated story, written by Roberts, that outed A-Rod as having failed a drug test in 2003, she has gotten it right about the slugger in the past. But just because she got it right once doesn't mean she got it right this time. Not to beat a dead horse, but she couldn't have gotten the Duke case more wrong, yet that hasn't seemed to signal a problem with her credibility in some people's eyes.
And even if all of these accusations are true, why would a truly professional journalist report such scandalous rumors without demanding people put their names out there for scrutiny? How can she, as a person, feel comfortable leveling such scathing stories with nothing to back it up other than a journalistic promise that, "I really trust my sources, even though I won't tell you who they are."
The idea that no one within the media has questioned Roberts' motivations and techniques is beyond me. Some, including my favorite blogger Abraham, have ways to excuse Roberts. The fact that she has written a tell-all book about a seemingly uninteresting athlete is explained away as being her "right," as if simply having the right to do something means it is excuseable. Then, the fact that the book's release date was moved up to coincide with A-Rod returning from the DL is excused as simply a "money-making tactic" that, again, is justfied on the premise that greed is understandable.
I guess it comes down to the fact that some of us expect people to be as decent as possible and not simply take the low road because it is unobstructed.
And then we come to Joe Girardi.
Today, GI Joe evidently became very, very emotional when talking about Alex. His defense of his slugging star is expected and, in many ways, noble. I give him credit. But Girardi, first, needs to be smarter when addressing the media. Just say "we are moving forward" and let it stand at that. Would some members of the media try and make a story even out of that? Sure, but what is a juicier story, the one that is obviously contrived out of think air or the one that centers on the manager's overly emotional reponse to a question about A-Rod?
Joe, just worry about managing the game and try and diminish the attention a story gets, not inflate that story.
Instead, the Yankees resigned the man to a 10-year, $300 million contract that will take him through the age of 40 and essentially my 30's as a Yankee fan (I'm 31 right now).
Now, I'll admit, I did have a change of heart somewhat when the Yankees began to throw around replacement names at third base, but what that post proves is that first impressions are usually right.
Alex, two years into his new contract, is already an utter nightmare. He is officially a steroid user, meaning his future pursuit of all-time records will be more Barry Bonds-eian in feel than inclusionary and redeeming. Did I mention A-Rod will be paid millions each time her tarnishes.......um, I mean passes another homerun record in the dust? Great marketing Yanks.
His health has to be a concern at this point. A former steroid user experiencing a cyst on his hip that will require two surgeries? No chance this is just the beginning of his medical condition as he gets older, right? I didn't think so.
And as much as you might want to blame the media for the neauseating coverage he receives, only the most maddeningly blind A-Rod fan would refuse to place much of the ownous on the man himself. As Peter Abraham pointed out on his blog today, while A-Rod was dating the Material Girl, Madonna (while still married by the way) one of his seven publicists would routinely contact the media to "tip them off" as to where the couple might be that night.
That isn't the actions of a man looking for peace and quite outside the public limelight.
And if he is acting this way at 32, why would anyone believe that he is due for an infusion of maturity anytime soon? Nope, you can expect some sort of Page Six story popping up at least twice a year for the next nine years, no question.
But all of this might be overlooked if A-Rod can perform at a level worthy of his obscene contract. That, of course, has to be called into question at this point.
Forget the injury issues, which could turn A-Rod from a 158-game mainstay at third into a "he needs a few days off a week and at least one stint on the DL a year" type of player very quickly. How, in all that is holy, can anyone expect that A-Rod's lofty numbers weren't very much influenced by his drug use?
Only the most naive would have believed that Alex gave up roids when coming over to the Yankees. Would it stand to reason that, perhaps, A-Rod's best season, 2007, was influenced by a return to the drugs which had helped him so obviously while in Texas? And, if that is the case, would it also be out of the realm of possibility that, now forced off the drug because of the intense scrutiny he will receive, his production will fall off dramatically? What if the Yankees, starting this year, realize they are paying $27 million a year for Joe Crede?
And unlike other contracts that have seemed impossible to move, this on will be a conversation stopper. NO ONE is taking A-Rod. NO ONE!!!!!. That means, good, bad, ugly, the Yankees have this man for the next decade.
Now on to Selena Roberts.
As you could tell from the above comments, I am not exactly erecting a shrine to A-Rod any time soon. But that doesn't mean I think Roberts is innocent of any wrongdoing here. The woman, to me, is everything wrong with the media, and I am saying that as a member of the media. Let's not forget that Roberts is the same classless reporter who soiled the reputations of the Duke lacrosse players years ago and still refuses to apologize. Imagine that level of arrogance and simple lack of conscience where you can help to destroy a group of young mens' lives and, when you are proven abslutely wrong, still find a way to justify your actions. To me, that SHOULD call everything she has to say into question.
I haven't read the book, and I don't plan to. Besides some accusations that A-Rod's steroid use was more pervasive than first reported and that he might have tipped pitches to opposing batters in the hope they would do the same for him (the most serious accusation to come from this tell-all) the rest of the book seems filled with stories about his bad tipping at Hooters and his affairs with strippers. Wow!! Let me get my money ready.
But the problem have with the book is not just that the information seems silly and selacious, it also seems to be based solely on accusations made by people unwilling to go on the record.
Much of what Roberts reports seems to have stemmed directly from people who refused to lend their name to the rumors.
Some fellow reporters have made the claim that Roberts has the "right" to write any kind of book she wants and that, as evidenced by the Sports Illustrated story, written by Roberts, that outed A-Rod as having failed a drug test in 2003, she has gotten it right about the slugger in the past. But just because she got it right once doesn't mean she got it right this time. Not to beat a dead horse, but she couldn't have gotten the Duke case more wrong, yet that hasn't seemed to signal a problem with her credibility in some people's eyes.
And even if all of these accusations are true, why would a truly professional journalist report such scandalous rumors without demanding people put their names out there for scrutiny? How can she, as a person, feel comfortable leveling such scathing stories with nothing to back it up other than a journalistic promise that, "I really trust my sources, even though I won't tell you who they are."
The idea that no one within the media has questioned Roberts' motivations and techniques is beyond me. Some, including my favorite blogger Abraham, have ways to excuse Roberts. The fact that she has written a tell-all book about a seemingly uninteresting athlete is explained away as being her "right," as if simply having the right to do something means it is excuseable. Then, the fact that the book's release date was moved up to coincide with A-Rod returning from the DL is excused as simply a "money-making tactic" that, again, is justfied on the premise that greed is understandable.
I guess it comes down to the fact that some of us expect people to be as decent as possible and not simply take the low road because it is unobstructed.
And then we come to Joe Girardi.
Today, GI Joe evidently became very, very emotional when talking about Alex. His defense of his slugging star is expected and, in many ways, noble. I give him credit. But Girardi, first, needs to be smarter when addressing the media. Just say "we are moving forward" and let it stand at that. Would some members of the media try and make a story even out of that? Sure, but what is a juicier story, the one that is obviously contrived out of think air or the one that centers on the manager's overly emotional reponse to a question about A-Rod?
Joe, just worry about managing the game and try and diminish the attention a story gets, not inflate that story.
Saturday, April 25
Well, that sucked
I really don't want to talk about last night's game. There are too many things that just piss me when I spend more than 1 minute reliving the last few innings. If I had to point out some specifics they would be: loading the bases with no one out and getting NOTHING out of it in the ninth because Robbie Cano grounds into a 4-2-3 double play; Brett Gardner wasting an out in the tenth because he one-hopped a bunt to first that Youkillis turned into an easy force at second to get the ever-fleet footed Jose Molina; that little prick Dustin Pedroia robbing Jeter of a hit and a go-ahead RBI in the tenth with a diving stop up the middle; Girardi pulling Johnny Abba with one strike against Ellsbury to use Rivera for four outs, even though the whole world knows that, at this point in his career, Mo is far more effective when he is only asked to get three outs; Teixeira continuing to struggle and looking like A-Rod up there right now, just squeezing the bat wayyyy too hard; and Rivera just throwing a freakin gofer ball to Jason bay that had no movement. Why they weren't busting that asshole inside EVERY PITCH is beyond me.
But that was yesterday. It seems as if the Yankees and Red Sox do this every year now. The Sox take a few early in the season, winning the first round, then the Yankees come back sometime in May and take round two, and so it goes, back and forth all year. It also seems that Mariano ALWAYS blows a lead to the Sox early on. As much as it hurts to watch that group celebrate on the field, it is only April 24 (well, 35 today) and there is a whole lotta baseball to be played.
However, there are some disturbing things to come out of last night's game. Brian Bruney is evidently going on the disabled list with elbow problems. He is getting, or has gotten, an MRI and will now try and get back as soon as possible. Bruney had the same thing happen to him last year. He was flying along, pitching great, then he hurt his foot, lost essentially the whole year. Hopefully this isn't as serious, but in a certain way it is already more worrisome because it involves his arm, not just his foot. Plus, it adds to the uncertainty surrounding this team right now. Bruney had established himself as the definite eighth inning guy. Now, who moves into that role? Phil Coke, who has pitched much better as of late? John Abaladejo? Does Mark Melacon, who was just called up, have it in him to take control of the later innings, the way people believe he will in the future? Not good at all.
Damaso Marte just isn't that good folks, that's what it comes down to, and with Xavier Nady on the DL and Marte just stinking it up left and right, you have to begin to wonder if yet another Brian Cashman move will prove to look good on paper and be horrendous in practice. We keep waiting for Marte to be "good" but, at some point, you have to accept someone is who they show themselves to be. Simply put, Marte's leash should be getting a lot shorter.
I hope someone has Don Mattingly on speed dial because Joe Girardi continues to show why he is a B manager trying to win with an A franchise. The yanking of Johnny Abba last night for Mariano was absurd for a variety of reasons - Rivera, as mentioned before, is far more effective when asked to only get three outs now, Ababaladejo had it working and had a strike on Ellsbury before being lifted, you need to find out what you have in a guy like Johnny Abba, especially considering Bruney will be on the DL - but the true failure in that move was that it showed the Yankees were willing, on April 24, to manage scared.
It started early in the game when Dave Eiland made a few trips out to the mound to talk to Joba Chamberlain, obviously telling him to "be careful" with Kevin Youkillis. Then, pulling Abaladejo for Rivera is a move you make in September, or even August, not April. Joe Torre NEVER managed early Yankee/Red Sox games like do or die, and Francona doesn't either. There might be a little more emotion wrapped up in the games, but it doesn't mean you step outside of your norm. Last night, Girardi looked exactly the way he has looked since taking over the Yankees - scared and uncertain. Not the way you want your manager to look.
Now, the Yankees will turn to Burnett today to get the Yankees back on track AGAIN against Beckett. Here's to hoping the team comes to play after such a devastating loss last night.
But that was yesterday. It seems as if the Yankees and Red Sox do this every year now. The Sox take a few early in the season, winning the first round, then the Yankees come back sometime in May and take round two, and so it goes, back and forth all year. It also seems that Mariano ALWAYS blows a lead to the Sox early on. As much as it hurts to watch that group celebrate on the field, it is only April 24 (well, 35 today) and there is a whole lotta baseball to be played.
However, there are some disturbing things to come out of last night's game. Brian Bruney is evidently going on the disabled list with elbow problems. He is getting, or has gotten, an MRI and will now try and get back as soon as possible. Bruney had the same thing happen to him last year. He was flying along, pitching great, then he hurt his foot, lost essentially the whole year. Hopefully this isn't as serious, but in a certain way it is already more worrisome because it involves his arm, not just his foot. Plus, it adds to the uncertainty surrounding this team right now. Bruney had established himself as the definite eighth inning guy. Now, who moves into that role? Phil Coke, who has pitched much better as of late? John Abaladejo? Does Mark Melacon, who was just called up, have it in him to take control of the later innings, the way people believe he will in the future? Not good at all.
Damaso Marte just isn't that good folks, that's what it comes down to, and with Xavier Nady on the DL and Marte just stinking it up left and right, you have to begin to wonder if yet another Brian Cashman move will prove to look good on paper and be horrendous in practice. We keep waiting for Marte to be "good" but, at some point, you have to accept someone is who they show themselves to be. Simply put, Marte's leash should be getting a lot shorter.
I hope someone has Don Mattingly on speed dial because Joe Girardi continues to show why he is a B manager trying to win with an A franchise. The yanking of Johnny Abba last night for Mariano was absurd for a variety of reasons - Rivera, as mentioned before, is far more effective when asked to only get three outs now, Ababaladejo had it working and had a strike on Ellsbury before being lifted, you need to find out what you have in a guy like Johnny Abba, especially considering Bruney will be on the DL - but the true failure in that move was that it showed the Yankees were willing, on April 24, to manage scared.
It started early in the game when Dave Eiland made a few trips out to the mound to talk to Joba Chamberlain, obviously telling him to "be careful" with Kevin Youkillis. Then, pulling Abaladejo for Rivera is a move you make in September, or even August, not April. Joe Torre NEVER managed early Yankee/Red Sox games like do or die, and Francona doesn't either. There might be a little more emotion wrapped up in the games, but it doesn't mean you step outside of your norm. Last night, Girardi looked exactly the way he has looked since taking over the Yankees - scared and uncertain. Not the way you want your manager to look.
Now, the Yankees will turn to Burnett today to get the Yankees back on track AGAIN against Beckett. Here's to hoping the team comes to play after such a devastating loss last night.
Sunday, April 19
Journal for 4/19/09 Game versus the Indians
Welcome to From The Free Seats first official running game-time journal, where I will post my thoughts and observations from the game as they are happening (which means a few more curses mixed in than I am used to). I thought today might be nice to start this new portion of the blog up because a.) the Yanks are coming off their most embarrassing loss in recent memory and b.) they will be facing fan favorite Carl Pavano.
It is an absolutely gorgeous day (even in Connecticut) and everyone currently at the park should feel blessed to be there.
1:00 P.M. - All of the discussion this morning has been about Wang and the consensus is..........no one knows what the hell to do. I have gone back and forth on this a few times and I think the smartest thing to do would be to let him go out there and see what he can figure out. The guy is a 19-game winner who was 8-2 last year before the injury. If he isn't injured (and the yanks insist he isn't) then this is mental and the only way to deal with that is to let the man go out and pitch. No, Fenway is not the ideal spot to get healthy, but he has to get better some time, right?
1:15 P.M. - Evidently jet streams aren't that big of a deal when you make quality pitches. After walking Sizemore, Burnett got two pop flys to right that didn't travel at all. Perhaps, in a normal park in a normal universe, those would have been in the infield. Truth is, quality pitchers get quality hitters. Fausto Carmona didn't seem to struggle with the gravity-bending wind currents that have evidently set up shop at the Stadium.
1:18 P.M. - This is the loudest I have heard the Stadium over the last four games. That 2-strike count got people up and cheering. Yesterday, as the fans booed Wang, and today, as they just cheered for the strike out, is the first time I got the sense a game was being played in the Bronx. (There is still a big, big difference in the vibe, however. Last night I caught a bit of the Yankee Classic rewind of the July 4 game in '04 when Jeter went flying into the stands and you heard that traditional buzz that has been absent so far from the new place. Hopefully, when the weather gets better and the games become more meaningful, that begins to change).
1:22 P.M. - They just showed the crowd reacting to Pavano. It is safe to say that today, in my opinion as a Yankee fan, is a MUST WIN!!!!!!! This guy should not, in any way be allowed to come into Yankee Stadium in a different uniform and do something he couldn't do for four years while in pinstripes - win a game.
1:25 P.M. - Has anyone else noticed how off the YES MPH gun for last pitch thrown has been this year? I mean I don't know how many times it has posted a 57MPH reading or a 68 MPH reading, when obviously the guy was throwing much harder. Why has that continued to be a problem?
1:30 P.M. - Well, that's nice. A 1-2-3 inning recorded by Pavano where no one got the ball out of the infield and the Shin Soo Choo hits another right fielder homer. That one looked to be struck well and it just got over the fence but, still, the # of homers so far at the Stadium is literally absurd. I like offense as much as the next guy, but who wants to watch Coors Field baseball in the Bronx?
1:34 P.M. - Pretty obvious that Burnett doesn't have quite the stuff he did his last outing, or maybe the Indians are just a much better hitting ballclub. And as I write that he gets a nice 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Second servings on Pavano. Let's hope for a Wang-ian like second for Raja of Rehab here, shall we?
1:35 P.M. - AMC HD (Channel 222 if you're in the Connecticut Comcast service area) is playing Heat for the third time this weekend. Love that film. I remember being somewhat disappointed when I first saw it because Pacino's acting seemed so over the top, but over the years it has become one of my favorite movies. Just a GREAT cops versus robbers flick.
1:45 P.M. - And that's why defense does matter at first base. Teixeira makes a Mattingly-esque type of play on a hard liner that had right field written all over it (and if it ever got into right, who knows what might have happened. It might have launched from the ground over the wall or something). Tex is gonna end up saving everyone a lot of errors this year.
1:50 P.M. - Lost in all the Wang worries is how bad Matsui has looked. Godzilla had a nice spring but, so far, he has looked 60 rather than 34-years old. He runs with a noticeable limp, there doesn't appear to be a lot of pop left in his bat, and he seems to be reaching for pitches as he struggles through. The biggest problem the Yankees face in potentially losing Nady for the season is what to do if Matsui just doesn't have it anymore. Before, it simply would have been Swisher getting those at bats. Now, Swish is your every day RF, so Matsui has to run out there at DH. If Nady truly is gone for the year and Matsui doesn't respond, the Yanks could definitely be in the market for another hitter (and remember, the Yanks have Matsui, Nady, and Damon coming off the books next year, so they could conceivably add a big outfield bat without worrying they would be putting a huge dent in the bottom line).
1:59 P.M. - Michael Kay made a good point last inning (it took me a while to come to grips with that, but now I am ready to admit to such a monumental shift in the norm). The guy who is salivating the most over the "jetstreams" must be A-Rod. His popups travel further than most anyway. If that wind continues to blow out the way that it has, A-Rod might be due for a 40+ homer year, even with his month+ time off.
2:04 P.M. - We can talk about how the new stadium plays, but that Garko homer was just an absolute rocket. That ball is outta every stadium in the majors except maybe Fenway, where that nasty looking Green Monster probably would have gobbled it up.
Burnett isn't as sharp today as he has been but it is still only 3-0 and Carl Pavano is on the mound. If the Yanks can't find a way to slap Pavano around for more than 3 runs, you can't put that on Burnett. The Yanks paid big bucks for quality pitching, not perfection. A 3-run deficit against Pavano and this Indians bullpen should be laughably easy to handle.
2:15 P.M. - Okay, here is a spot where you need to score some runs. Jeter gets the first hit, a liner double, and Pavano looks a little uneasy. Damon needs to do something.
2:16 P.M. - And, as I say that, Damon lines one right on the button to third. Unfortunately the third baseman was standing there and made a nice play. Two outs now with Jeter still at second.
I have to tell you, the fact that Pavano is pitching a 1-hitter right now really, really, really, really bugs the hell out of me, especially considering he is throwing nothing but junk up there. It would be nice if the Yankee hitters started picking up on some jetstreams right now.
2:19 P.M. - Nice, nice hitting by Tex. That wasn't a bad pitch and it fooled him. He just kept the hands back and rocked it into right. A Swisher Sweet would be nice right about now.
2:20 P.M. - You know, as much of an annoying and bothersome personality as A-Rod can be, you can see how much the team needs him here. Swisher is not a four or a five hitter, more like a terrific six or seven hitter. A-Rod lengthens this lineup perfectly. Once he gets healthy, to me the lineup should be Jeter, Damon, Tex, A-Rod, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Matsui, Gardner. On the days when Posada DHs, you simply move Cano up in the lineup. His hot start would seem to warrant more run-production responsibilities.
2:25 P.M. - Not many times you get to say this with a Yankee, Indians game, but this is flying by right now. Top of the fifth and we are less than an hour and a half into the game? Important spot right here for Burnett. Keep the Indians at bay and let the Yanks get their licks in against Pavano as quickly as possible. There is only so long the guy can go pitching a 2-hitter.
2:30 P.M. - The length of games is certainly a problem and the biggest problem effecting that are the umpires. Burnett throws a strike that hugs the outside part of the plate, a pitch that was called a strike three times already today. This time? It's called a ball. The way umpires make up their strike zone on the fly is just absurd. More strikes should be called. Belt high fastballs should be called. Consistency throughout the game should be demanded. If you had umps who kept a consistent strike zone throughout the game, and didn't discount any call that was right down the middle, these games would come in much quicker.
2:34 P.M. - Nice pitching by Burnett. He saved himself a headache there. You can't walk the #9 hitter in this lineup, the way he did right there with Cabrera. It almost came back to haunt him as Sizemore looked like he launched one to right, but the laws of physics decided to show up and the ball didn't sail 500 feet over the wall. Now, it would be nice if the Yanks could somehow figure out the magic that is Carl Pavano.
2:39 P.M. - Two pathetic swings by Cano and Matsui there and Pavano is one out away from getting through the fifth with a 2-hit, one run game. This is just sad really. It isn't as if Pavano is channeling Don Drysdale here. Just terrible swings by the Yanks. And as nice of a guy as Cody Ransom might be, whatever the Yankees saw in him is yet another indication of how shaky their organizational talent-evaluating truly is. No one thought Ransom would be a slugging hero, but he simply can't hit at all and he has already made enough errors (and too few spectacular plays) to warrant a demotion. On that Pavano pitch, Ransom literally swung while the ball was on the ground as if he just simply wanted to make contact.
This is just a horrific offensive showing from the Yanks right now. They have four innings to turn it around.
2:48 P.M. - With a man on in the top of the sixth and one out, Burnett is over 90 pitches. If he gets a double play here I think you can still send him out for the seventh, but if not and he is over 100 after this inning, you probably don't send him out. So who is your seveth inning guy today? Bruney and Mo are set up for the eighth and ninth, especially if the Yanks scratch out a few runs. Do you go to Coke? Marte? It will be interesting.
2:51 P.M. - Terrific play from Cano there, backhanding the ball, keeping it from going into center, flipping it to Jeter who did a nice job catching and throwing quick for the DP. Got Burnett out of the inning and might buy him the seventh. That's the type of play Cano is capable of making every day. It's his lack of concentration that really keeps him from becoming Roberto Alomar.
2:57 P.M. - Talk about sucking the life out of an inning. Jeter at times seems like he wants to place a ball instead of just hit the damn thing and it looked like that there. He passed up on two pitches on the middle/inside part of the plate for one on the outside to try and line it into right. And the swing was less than aggressive. Not a great at bat for Jeter and his penchant for hitting into DP's continue. Coming out of this inning with nothing would be very, very, very bad as Pavano just hung a pitch to Tex that he might have been able to hit to outerspace.
3:04 P.M. - Two terrible at bats kill the Yankees there. Jeter hits a weak grounder to second for a DP after taking gofer ball fastballs right down the middle. Then, Swisher comes up, takes a hanger right down the middle that could have been CRUSHED, then checks his swing on a ball, then swings at a bad breaking ball off the plate. The fact that the Yanks have let this creep get off pitching this game is almost as embarrasing as losing 22-4 yesterday. Again, have some pride. Have some guts. Get some hits.
3:11 P.M - This is a bad, bad gut-check game for the Yankees. First, they were embarrassed yesterday. You would expect a little attitude today. Second, the Yanks have made it very clear what little respect they had/have for Pavano, a guy who CLEARLY had no desire to actually pitch for this team. He came into this game with a 7 ERA and he throws nothing but junk. I mean NOTHING but junk.
We are in the seventh and Pavano is beating this team 3-1. As a Yankee fan, I can tell you this game ticks me off far, far, far more than yesterday's game. Pavano DESERVES to get beat up and now he will leave with a chance to win the game.
3:15 P.M. - Is it me, or is it obvious that Burnett is gassed here and should be removed? Especially against Sizemore, who already rocketed a pitch off of Burnett today? He's walked 6, thrown 106. I'm sorry but Girardi always seems to be one step behind when it comes to making moves. He either yanks guys too quickly or leaves them in their two long. I'm starting to get the sense that he is Chevy Chase at the blackjack table in National Lampoon Vegas Vacation.
3:18 P.M. - That was honestly the best case scenario with Sizemore. Burnett was obviously spent at the beginning of the inning. Girardi now brings in his shaky bullpen in a bases loaded, 1-out scenario. As a manager your job is to put people in the BEST situation possible and then ask them to perform. Girardi rarely does that. This is a prime example of why Girardi is a bad manager. Now, you HAVE to come in throwing strikes. With an erratic umpire on the mound, that is just a horrid position to put your bullpen in.
Does anyone have Don Mattingly on speed dial?
(before anyone accuses me of being reactionary when it comes to Girardi, understand that this isn't about the first three weeks of the season here. This is about an entire season last year. Girardi has proven himself to be either a mediocre manager or a bad manager, depending on the day. There is nothing one can point to that Girardi does exceptionally well. If you're going to spend $200 million on a team, why not have the best manager possible?)
3:25 P.M. - Give Johnny Abba a lot of credit. His manager put him in a terrible situation and he did a terrific job of getting two weak grounders. Now the Yanks, with nine outs to go, have three innings to pull out two runs. Maybe they will be lucky enough to have the hall of famer Carl Pavano out of the game and they can go after some Indians bullpen help.
3:31 P.M. - Now all you want from Matsui is for him to turn the hands over and at least ground it to first or second. Don't leave Cano standing on second for Cody Ransom and Jose Molina.
3:33 P.M. - Forget everything I said about Matsui. The man is the epitome of clutch. Seriously, nice piece of hitting there. Just went with the pitch and lined it into left center for the hit and the RBI. You also have Posada on the bench. One would assume that you could bunt Ransom and pinch hit for Molina with Posada. Problem is, even with Matsui on second his knee has been so bad there is no guarantee that you will be able to score him from second on a hit. But you still have to bunt Ransom and hope that something good happens to where you don't need Matsui to round third at 100 percent (for those wondering why you don't pinch run for Matsui, it's because there is a lot of game left and Pena would be your only option).
3:38 P.M. - Yet another plea from Cody Ransom to be sent down. Bad bunt all the way around, but especially because Matsui is running. You HAVE to make the third baseman or even the first baseman (who is right handed and would have to pivot around to throw to second) to field that ball. Again, if Ransom can't hit and isn't a great fielder, explain to me why he is up at the majors?
3:41 P.M. - WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Posada with the homer. That is a tough one. Replay looks to show that it hit the top of the wall, bounced off one of the fans, and then came back into play. Now it will be interesting because it does appear that the RF's glove touched it as well and might have bounced it back into play. Very interesting.
(BTW, replay is suppose to speed up the game, right? Instead of endlessly debating, this was suppose to eliminate the debate. But the truth is, this has gone on for a while, a lot longer than if they had just made a call and gone with it.)
3:47 P.M. - I am a Yankee fan here so call me biased, but I think the umps got this one right for one simple reason - the rule of thumb with instant replay in every sport is that there has to be indisputable evidence to make an overrule. We see in the NFL all the time refs overturn calls where there is absolutely no evidence to support their arguement. Right there, one COULD have made the case that the RF's glove touched the ball and that's what caused it to bounce back into play. However, there wasn't one angle where that was obvious. So, without indisputable evidence, the umps did the right thing and differed to the call on the field. To me, instant replay should be reserved for flag poles and for when the ball bounces off an outfield wall or something back into play. That replay right there is really borderline, I feel. That's a judgement call by the ump because, really, that is a fan interference call, not a "did it go over the wall" call.
3:53 P.M. - Well, after all that, it's 4-3 Yankees and Posada continues to show that he has made a full recovery. That was an old-time Yankee homer, just getting over the wall. Great, clutch hit by Posada. Now your bullpen sets up perfectly. Bruney for the eighth, Mariano for the ninth. As long as everyone stays to form, this would be a nice win for the yanks. That assumes everyone will do their job. I, for one, PRAY they do, not so much for the win as to avoid the "Joba needs to go to the pen" arguements that will come out.
(One of the positives from this game, I believe, was the 2/3 inning from Johnny Abba. If Bruney continues to pitch well, and Rivera stays Rivera, the Yanks really only need to find one or two more sturdy, solid pitchers. Johnny took a step in that direction today. As I said, he picked his manager up by coming in to a no-win situation and winning. If Phil Coke can pitch with more consistency and Marte can get things figured out, the bullpen can still be a real positive).
4:01 P.M. - Bruney has definitely solidified himself as that 8th inning guy and, somehow with Joba not in the pen, the Yankees will find a way to get the ball to Mariano with a lead. Bruney, Albaladejo, Phil Coke, and really every other bullpen guy (even Mo) are prime examples of why the "Joba needs t be in the pen" arguement is so absurd. These guys were retreads who found a niche in the bullpen after failing as starters. Mariano was a failed starter. Bruney was cut by the Diamondbacks. Albaladejo was a throw-in piece to a minor trade, and Phil Coke was a guy who had a 5 ERA in the minors as a starter. Joba, for his short career so far as a starter, has an under-3 ERA. He has 4 PLUS pitches and he is a big, powerful kid who could be a horse.
Again, I would just like to offer my thanks to Bruney because, to me, there is nothing more insufferable than listening to people talk about Joba going to the pen. But it won't end. Bruney could pitch 30 scoreless innings and, the first time he gives up a 2-run dinger the calls will come for a move. Some people are too arrogant to admit they are flat out wrong (calling Mike Francesa. Is Mike Francesa in the house?).
4:15 P.M. - Ransom needs something here. He is hitting .128. Even for a place-holder, that's not cutting it. He has a 2-0 count. If you can't put a good swing on this, it's time to look for different employment.
4:19 P.M. - Well, if you're Cody Ransom, you'll take a broken bat double that falls in because the left fielder loses it in the sun and pulls up. Tonight, when he's talking to the girls who can't get in to see Jeter at the night club, that will turn into a rocket down the line that put a close, nip-and-tuck game to bed as the crowd stood in applause. Score one for the Cody.
4:30 P.M. - What looked to be an uninspired game by the Yankees that would be remembered for how their favorite son, Carl Pavano, stymied them for 6 innings turns onto a terrific, come-from-behind win to split the series with the Indians. Mariano comes in and gives up a hit, but that's it. A ho-hum 9th and the Yanks win 7-3. Nice way to go into the next series against the A's.
Game observations - The negative from this game? That's an obvious - Carl Pavano and his virtuoso performance. The rest was all positive. First, Matsui got a big hit, which is much needed and good news for him, Second, the team has had a nice knack for coming back in games early this season, something missing last year. Third, Bruney continues to be that 8th inning shut down gut and Jonthan Albaladejo saved the game for the team, getting big outs in that top of the seventh, when things could have gotten out of control. If Johnny Abba gives up any kind of hit there, the game is probably over. Fourth, Posada seems to be in mid-season shape and has been swinging a GREAT bat this year. Fifth, Burnett bent but didn't break and the Yanks played nice defense, especially at first, second, and third. Tex, Cano, and Ransom all made really nice plays.
Now, the yanks will get ready to welcome back Jason Giambi and the newly retooled A's. With a weekend series at Boston looming, you would like to see the Yankees rattle off a few wins in a row here. The big question this week will be who makes the start on Friday? Is Wang out there at Fenway or do the Yanks skip a Wanger start? We will see.
It is an absolutely gorgeous day (even in Connecticut) and everyone currently at the park should feel blessed to be there.
1:00 P.M. - All of the discussion this morning has been about Wang and the consensus is..........no one knows what the hell to do. I have gone back and forth on this a few times and I think the smartest thing to do would be to let him go out there and see what he can figure out. The guy is a 19-game winner who was 8-2 last year before the injury. If he isn't injured (and the yanks insist he isn't) then this is mental and the only way to deal with that is to let the man go out and pitch. No, Fenway is not the ideal spot to get healthy, but he has to get better some time, right?
1:15 P.M. - Evidently jet streams aren't that big of a deal when you make quality pitches. After walking Sizemore, Burnett got two pop flys to right that didn't travel at all. Perhaps, in a normal park in a normal universe, those would have been in the infield. Truth is, quality pitchers get quality hitters. Fausto Carmona didn't seem to struggle with the gravity-bending wind currents that have evidently set up shop at the Stadium.
1:18 P.M. - This is the loudest I have heard the Stadium over the last four games. That 2-strike count got people up and cheering. Yesterday, as the fans booed Wang, and today, as they just cheered for the strike out, is the first time I got the sense a game was being played in the Bronx. (There is still a big, big difference in the vibe, however. Last night I caught a bit of the Yankee Classic rewind of the July 4 game in '04 when Jeter went flying into the stands and you heard that traditional buzz that has been absent so far from the new place. Hopefully, when the weather gets better and the games become more meaningful, that begins to change).
1:22 P.M. - They just showed the crowd reacting to Pavano. It is safe to say that today, in my opinion as a Yankee fan, is a MUST WIN!!!!!!! This guy should not, in any way be allowed to come into Yankee Stadium in a different uniform and do something he couldn't do for four years while in pinstripes - win a game.
1:25 P.M. - Has anyone else noticed how off the YES MPH gun for last pitch thrown has been this year? I mean I don't know how many times it has posted a 57MPH reading or a 68 MPH reading, when obviously the guy was throwing much harder. Why has that continued to be a problem?
1:30 P.M. - Well, that's nice. A 1-2-3 inning recorded by Pavano where no one got the ball out of the infield and the Shin Soo Choo hits another right fielder homer. That one looked to be struck well and it just got over the fence but, still, the # of homers so far at the Stadium is literally absurd. I like offense as much as the next guy, but who wants to watch Coors Field baseball in the Bronx?
1:34 P.M. - Pretty obvious that Burnett doesn't have quite the stuff he did his last outing, or maybe the Indians are just a much better hitting ballclub. And as I write that he gets a nice 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Second servings on Pavano. Let's hope for a Wang-ian like second for Raja of Rehab here, shall we?
1:35 P.M. - AMC HD (Channel 222 if you're in the Connecticut Comcast service area) is playing Heat for the third time this weekend. Love that film. I remember being somewhat disappointed when I first saw it because Pacino's acting seemed so over the top, but over the years it has become one of my favorite movies. Just a GREAT cops versus robbers flick.
1:45 P.M. - And that's why defense does matter at first base. Teixeira makes a Mattingly-esque type of play on a hard liner that had right field written all over it (and if it ever got into right, who knows what might have happened. It might have launched from the ground over the wall or something). Tex is gonna end up saving everyone a lot of errors this year.
1:50 P.M. - Lost in all the Wang worries is how bad Matsui has looked. Godzilla had a nice spring but, so far, he has looked 60 rather than 34-years old. He runs with a noticeable limp, there doesn't appear to be a lot of pop left in his bat, and he seems to be reaching for pitches as he struggles through. The biggest problem the Yankees face in potentially losing Nady for the season is what to do if Matsui just doesn't have it anymore. Before, it simply would have been Swisher getting those at bats. Now, Swish is your every day RF, so Matsui has to run out there at DH. If Nady truly is gone for the year and Matsui doesn't respond, the Yanks could definitely be in the market for another hitter (and remember, the Yanks have Matsui, Nady, and Damon coming off the books next year, so they could conceivably add a big outfield bat without worrying they would be putting a huge dent in the bottom line).
1:59 P.M. - Michael Kay made a good point last inning (it took me a while to come to grips with that, but now I am ready to admit to such a monumental shift in the norm). The guy who is salivating the most over the "jetstreams" must be A-Rod. His popups travel further than most anyway. If that wind continues to blow out the way that it has, A-Rod might be due for a 40+ homer year, even with his month+ time off.
2:04 P.M. - We can talk about how the new stadium plays, but that Garko homer was just an absolute rocket. That ball is outta every stadium in the majors except maybe Fenway, where that nasty looking Green Monster probably would have gobbled it up.
Burnett isn't as sharp today as he has been but it is still only 3-0 and Carl Pavano is on the mound. If the Yanks can't find a way to slap Pavano around for more than 3 runs, you can't put that on Burnett. The Yanks paid big bucks for quality pitching, not perfection. A 3-run deficit against Pavano and this Indians bullpen should be laughably easy to handle.
2:15 P.M. - Okay, here is a spot where you need to score some runs. Jeter gets the first hit, a liner double, and Pavano looks a little uneasy. Damon needs to do something.
2:16 P.M. - And, as I say that, Damon lines one right on the button to third. Unfortunately the third baseman was standing there and made a nice play. Two outs now with Jeter still at second.
I have to tell you, the fact that Pavano is pitching a 1-hitter right now really, really, really, really bugs the hell out of me, especially considering he is throwing nothing but junk up there. It would be nice if the Yankee hitters started picking up on some jetstreams right now.
2:19 P.M. - Nice, nice hitting by Tex. That wasn't a bad pitch and it fooled him. He just kept the hands back and rocked it into right. A Swisher Sweet would be nice right about now.
2:20 P.M. - You know, as much of an annoying and bothersome personality as A-Rod can be, you can see how much the team needs him here. Swisher is not a four or a five hitter, more like a terrific six or seven hitter. A-Rod lengthens this lineup perfectly. Once he gets healthy, to me the lineup should be Jeter, Damon, Tex, A-Rod, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Matsui, Gardner. On the days when Posada DHs, you simply move Cano up in the lineup. His hot start would seem to warrant more run-production responsibilities.
2:25 P.M. - Not many times you get to say this with a Yankee, Indians game, but this is flying by right now. Top of the fifth and we are less than an hour and a half into the game? Important spot right here for Burnett. Keep the Indians at bay and let the Yanks get their licks in against Pavano as quickly as possible. There is only so long the guy can go pitching a 2-hitter.
2:30 P.M. - The length of games is certainly a problem and the biggest problem effecting that are the umpires. Burnett throws a strike that hugs the outside part of the plate, a pitch that was called a strike three times already today. This time? It's called a ball. The way umpires make up their strike zone on the fly is just absurd. More strikes should be called. Belt high fastballs should be called. Consistency throughout the game should be demanded. If you had umps who kept a consistent strike zone throughout the game, and didn't discount any call that was right down the middle, these games would come in much quicker.
2:34 P.M. - Nice pitching by Burnett. He saved himself a headache there. You can't walk the #9 hitter in this lineup, the way he did right there with Cabrera. It almost came back to haunt him as Sizemore looked like he launched one to right, but the laws of physics decided to show up and the ball didn't sail 500 feet over the wall. Now, it would be nice if the Yanks could somehow figure out the magic that is Carl Pavano.
2:39 P.M. - Two pathetic swings by Cano and Matsui there and Pavano is one out away from getting through the fifth with a 2-hit, one run game. This is just sad really. It isn't as if Pavano is channeling Don Drysdale here. Just terrible swings by the Yanks. And as nice of a guy as Cody Ransom might be, whatever the Yankees saw in him is yet another indication of how shaky their organizational talent-evaluating truly is. No one thought Ransom would be a slugging hero, but he simply can't hit at all and he has already made enough errors (and too few spectacular plays) to warrant a demotion. On that Pavano pitch, Ransom literally swung while the ball was on the ground as if he just simply wanted to make contact.
This is just a horrific offensive showing from the Yanks right now. They have four innings to turn it around.
2:48 P.M. - With a man on in the top of the sixth and one out, Burnett is over 90 pitches. If he gets a double play here I think you can still send him out for the seventh, but if not and he is over 100 after this inning, you probably don't send him out. So who is your seveth inning guy today? Bruney and Mo are set up for the eighth and ninth, especially if the Yanks scratch out a few runs. Do you go to Coke? Marte? It will be interesting.
2:51 P.M. - Terrific play from Cano there, backhanding the ball, keeping it from going into center, flipping it to Jeter who did a nice job catching and throwing quick for the DP. Got Burnett out of the inning and might buy him the seventh. That's the type of play Cano is capable of making every day. It's his lack of concentration that really keeps him from becoming Roberto Alomar.
2:57 P.M. - Talk about sucking the life out of an inning. Jeter at times seems like he wants to place a ball instead of just hit the damn thing and it looked like that there. He passed up on two pitches on the middle/inside part of the plate for one on the outside to try and line it into right. And the swing was less than aggressive. Not a great at bat for Jeter and his penchant for hitting into DP's continue. Coming out of this inning with nothing would be very, very, very bad as Pavano just hung a pitch to Tex that he might have been able to hit to outerspace.
3:04 P.M. - Two terrible at bats kill the Yankees there. Jeter hits a weak grounder to second for a DP after taking gofer ball fastballs right down the middle. Then, Swisher comes up, takes a hanger right down the middle that could have been CRUSHED, then checks his swing on a ball, then swings at a bad breaking ball off the plate. The fact that the Yanks have let this creep get off pitching this game is almost as embarrasing as losing 22-4 yesterday. Again, have some pride. Have some guts. Get some hits.
3:11 P.M - This is a bad, bad gut-check game for the Yankees. First, they were embarrassed yesterday. You would expect a little attitude today. Second, the Yanks have made it very clear what little respect they had/have for Pavano, a guy who CLEARLY had no desire to actually pitch for this team. He came into this game with a 7 ERA and he throws nothing but junk. I mean NOTHING but junk.
We are in the seventh and Pavano is beating this team 3-1. As a Yankee fan, I can tell you this game ticks me off far, far, far more than yesterday's game. Pavano DESERVES to get beat up and now he will leave with a chance to win the game.
3:15 P.M. - Is it me, or is it obvious that Burnett is gassed here and should be removed? Especially against Sizemore, who already rocketed a pitch off of Burnett today? He's walked 6, thrown 106. I'm sorry but Girardi always seems to be one step behind when it comes to making moves. He either yanks guys too quickly or leaves them in their two long. I'm starting to get the sense that he is Chevy Chase at the blackjack table in National Lampoon Vegas Vacation.
3:18 P.M. - That was honestly the best case scenario with Sizemore. Burnett was obviously spent at the beginning of the inning. Girardi now brings in his shaky bullpen in a bases loaded, 1-out scenario. As a manager your job is to put people in the BEST situation possible and then ask them to perform. Girardi rarely does that. This is a prime example of why Girardi is a bad manager. Now, you HAVE to come in throwing strikes. With an erratic umpire on the mound, that is just a horrid position to put your bullpen in.
Does anyone have Don Mattingly on speed dial?
(before anyone accuses me of being reactionary when it comes to Girardi, understand that this isn't about the first three weeks of the season here. This is about an entire season last year. Girardi has proven himself to be either a mediocre manager or a bad manager, depending on the day. There is nothing one can point to that Girardi does exceptionally well. If you're going to spend $200 million on a team, why not have the best manager possible?)
3:25 P.M. - Give Johnny Abba a lot of credit. His manager put him in a terrible situation and he did a terrific job of getting two weak grounders. Now the Yanks, with nine outs to go, have three innings to pull out two runs. Maybe they will be lucky enough to have the hall of famer Carl Pavano out of the game and they can go after some Indians bullpen help.
3:31 P.M. - Now all you want from Matsui is for him to turn the hands over and at least ground it to first or second. Don't leave Cano standing on second for Cody Ransom and Jose Molina.
3:33 P.M. - Forget everything I said about Matsui. The man is the epitome of clutch. Seriously, nice piece of hitting there. Just went with the pitch and lined it into left center for the hit and the RBI. You also have Posada on the bench. One would assume that you could bunt Ransom and pinch hit for Molina with Posada. Problem is, even with Matsui on second his knee has been so bad there is no guarantee that you will be able to score him from second on a hit. But you still have to bunt Ransom and hope that something good happens to where you don't need Matsui to round third at 100 percent (for those wondering why you don't pinch run for Matsui, it's because there is a lot of game left and Pena would be your only option).
3:38 P.M. - Yet another plea from Cody Ransom to be sent down. Bad bunt all the way around, but especially because Matsui is running. You HAVE to make the third baseman or even the first baseman (who is right handed and would have to pivot around to throw to second) to field that ball. Again, if Ransom can't hit and isn't a great fielder, explain to me why he is up at the majors?
3:41 P.M. - WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Posada with the homer. That is a tough one. Replay looks to show that it hit the top of the wall, bounced off one of the fans, and then came back into play. Now it will be interesting because it does appear that the RF's glove touched it as well and might have bounced it back into play. Very interesting.
(BTW, replay is suppose to speed up the game, right? Instead of endlessly debating, this was suppose to eliminate the debate. But the truth is, this has gone on for a while, a lot longer than if they had just made a call and gone with it.)
3:47 P.M. - I am a Yankee fan here so call me biased, but I think the umps got this one right for one simple reason - the rule of thumb with instant replay in every sport is that there has to be indisputable evidence to make an overrule. We see in the NFL all the time refs overturn calls where there is absolutely no evidence to support their arguement. Right there, one COULD have made the case that the RF's glove touched the ball and that's what caused it to bounce back into play. However, there wasn't one angle where that was obvious. So, without indisputable evidence, the umps did the right thing and differed to the call on the field. To me, instant replay should be reserved for flag poles and for when the ball bounces off an outfield wall or something back into play. That replay right there is really borderline, I feel. That's a judgement call by the ump because, really, that is a fan interference call, not a "did it go over the wall" call.
3:53 P.M. - Well, after all that, it's 4-3 Yankees and Posada continues to show that he has made a full recovery. That was an old-time Yankee homer, just getting over the wall. Great, clutch hit by Posada. Now your bullpen sets up perfectly. Bruney for the eighth, Mariano for the ninth. As long as everyone stays to form, this would be a nice win for the yanks. That assumes everyone will do their job. I, for one, PRAY they do, not so much for the win as to avoid the "Joba needs to go to the pen" arguements that will come out.
(One of the positives from this game, I believe, was the 2/3 inning from Johnny Abba. If Bruney continues to pitch well, and Rivera stays Rivera, the Yanks really only need to find one or two more sturdy, solid pitchers. Johnny took a step in that direction today. As I said, he picked his manager up by coming in to a no-win situation and winning. If Phil Coke can pitch with more consistency and Marte can get things figured out, the bullpen can still be a real positive).
4:01 P.M. - Bruney has definitely solidified himself as that 8th inning guy and, somehow with Joba not in the pen, the Yankees will find a way to get the ball to Mariano with a lead. Bruney, Albaladejo, Phil Coke, and really every other bullpen guy (even Mo) are prime examples of why the "Joba needs t be in the pen" arguement is so absurd. These guys were retreads who found a niche in the bullpen after failing as starters. Mariano was a failed starter. Bruney was cut by the Diamondbacks. Albaladejo was a throw-in piece to a minor trade, and Phil Coke was a guy who had a 5 ERA in the minors as a starter. Joba, for his short career so far as a starter, has an under-3 ERA. He has 4 PLUS pitches and he is a big, powerful kid who could be a horse.
Again, I would just like to offer my thanks to Bruney because, to me, there is nothing more insufferable than listening to people talk about Joba going to the pen. But it won't end. Bruney could pitch 30 scoreless innings and, the first time he gives up a 2-run dinger the calls will come for a move. Some people are too arrogant to admit they are flat out wrong (calling Mike Francesa. Is Mike Francesa in the house?).
4:15 P.M. - Ransom needs something here. He is hitting .128. Even for a place-holder, that's not cutting it. He has a 2-0 count. If you can't put a good swing on this, it's time to look for different employment.
4:19 P.M. - Well, if you're Cody Ransom, you'll take a broken bat double that falls in because the left fielder loses it in the sun and pulls up. Tonight, when he's talking to the girls who can't get in to see Jeter at the night club, that will turn into a rocket down the line that put a close, nip-and-tuck game to bed as the crowd stood in applause. Score one for the Cody.
4:30 P.M. - What looked to be an uninspired game by the Yankees that would be remembered for how their favorite son, Carl Pavano, stymied them for 6 innings turns onto a terrific, come-from-behind win to split the series with the Indians. Mariano comes in and gives up a hit, but that's it. A ho-hum 9th and the Yanks win 7-3. Nice way to go into the next series against the A's.
Game observations - The negative from this game? That's an obvious - Carl Pavano and his virtuoso performance. The rest was all positive. First, Matsui got a big hit, which is much needed and good news for him, Second, the team has had a nice knack for coming back in games early this season, something missing last year. Third, Bruney continues to be that 8th inning shut down gut and Jonthan Albaladejo saved the game for the team, getting big outs in that top of the seventh, when things could have gotten out of control. If Johnny Abba gives up any kind of hit there, the game is probably over. Fourth, Posada seems to be in mid-season shape and has been swinging a GREAT bat this year. Fifth, Burnett bent but didn't break and the Yanks played nice defense, especially at first, second, and third. Tex, Cano, and Ransom all made really nice plays.
Now, the yanks will get ready to welcome back Jason Giambi and the newly retooled A's. With a weekend series at Boston looming, you would like to see the Yankees rattle off a few wins in a row here. The big question this week will be who makes the start on Friday? Is Wang out there at Fenway or do the Yanks skip a Wanger start? We will see.
Saturday, April 18
On a fine April afternoon, a couple of observations as the Yanks comeback from down 45
I thought this might be a good time to put a few random thoughts down as I watch the Yanks play through a wonderful 20-4 game, in which they are not in the lead.
*I HATE joining the overreaction crowd that proclaims the seasom done after less than 20 games of a 162 game schedule has been played, but I do think the warning bells have to be sounded now in regards to Chien Mien Wang. This isn't early season struggles here folks. This is just non-competitive. Joba struggled yesterday. Wang simply doesn't look like he belongs on the mound.
I have literally no evidence to back up what I am about to say, but something physically has to be wrong with the man. His velocity has been nonexistent this season (that patented 94 MPH sinker is barely getting over 90 now), his pitches have little bite to them, and everything is up. How could this possibly be simple mechanics? Seriously, no pitcher suffers through mechanics issues where they simply can't get someone out. Joba had mechanics issues yesterday, Burnett had mechanics issues his first game of the season, and because they have great stuff they were able to record outs and give a presentable outing. This is about stuff, as in Wang has none right now. Nothing is working, and I don't care what anyone says about his "side work," there is something more than a crisis of confidence going on here. Maybe his foot hasn't healed and he can't push over. Maybe something is wrong with his arm and he isn't telling anyone. But, at this point, something needs to be done.
What? I have no idea. I don't think you can officially send Wang down to the minors at this point. I'm sure he isn't eligible for that kinda move. Do you "find" an injury, even if none appears real, to send him out to get right? Do you skip him a start? Do you throw him out there a couple of more times and hope things turn around? I'm not sure how many more of these the team can take. Wang has officially lost 3 of the 6 total games the Yankees this year, and none of them have been competitive. I don't know what has to be done, but at this point I think more than weekends with Dave Eiland are needed.
*I am shocked right field is playing so short. I mean, SHOCKED and a little disturbed. I like offense as much as the next guy, but the Yanks went out and spent the equivalent of the GDP on pitching to make sure their success isn't predicated on winning 8-7 games. I don't want this to be an American League ball park version of Colorado or Houston. Hopefully things calm down a little bit, but some of the homers today were really a joke. Even Tex knew he didn't get all of that one when he got back to the dugout. You could see him almost grimace, as if to say 'wow.'
*Another disturbing aspect of the new stadium is the church-atmosphere. Today was the first time it sounded a little like the old Stadium when the fans were booing Wang off the mound. Besides that, it has sounded like a crowd that has almost been interrupted by a baseball game at certain points in time. And there is nothing worse than seeing sooooo many empty seats behind homeplate and up the foul lines. Even when the place is packed, it looks like someone bought the place out. Just not a good look.
*I am willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but I still do not get Joe Girardi as a manager. In the Kansas City game where the bullpen blew the lead for Joba, Girardi brought Marte in to handle two lefties. His stuff was obviously on, he got two quick outs, he had a one run lead, and Billy Butler was coming to the plate. Not only that, but afterwards there were two lefties coming up after Butler. Does Girardi leave Marte in? Nope. Here comes Veras, who gives up a walk. Then, he brings in Coke, who gives up the lead. HUH??????????? Doesn't make any sense. The reasoning given after the game is "Billy Butler kills lefties." Couple of things wrong with this logic. First, we're talking about Billy Butler, not Mickey Mantle. Butler is playing for Kansas City for a reason. If you're a good pitcher you should be able to get Billy Butler out. However, if for some reason you decide you don't want to let Marte pitch to Butler, try and let him get himself out, give him nothing to hit, and then go after the lefties. Marte was ON. Why give that up? Horrid.
Second, in the first game at the Stadium, Joe pulls Sabathia, brings in Edwar Ramirez for some reason, then brings in Phil Coke, who throw three nasty pitches and gets the out. Does he leave Coke in to start the next inning? Of course not. Instead, he goes with Veras. I'm sure some equation told him this was the right thing to do, but why would you yet again yank a guy who is showing you he has good stuff that day for someone else? Of course it backfired and the Yanks gave up the lead because Veras couldn't have been worse.
Then, today, in a laugher, let me ask two questions: how do you put yourself in a position where you have to put Posada at first in a laugher because you don't have any more position players to throw out there? Girardi pulled Jeter in the fourth but has left Posada out there to play an unknown position. Who is more likely to get hurt, Jeter playing his normal position or Posada playing out of position? Then, in the seventh, Girardi sent Matsui up to pinch hit in a 20-4 game. Why? The only things that can happen in that scenario are all bad. And what happened? He got hit in the knee. Wonderful.
Let me just say.........I am not sold on Joe Girardi at all.
*The worst sign of the season would be if the Yanks didn't come out and just pummel Pavano tomorrow. I mean, if he went out there and pitched a gem I would have no confidence in this team going forward. After a day like this, where each and every one of them should be utterly embarrassed, they have to come out and take their pound of flesh.
There is no pitcher that deserves an a** beating more than Pavano, is there?
*I HATE joining the overreaction crowd that proclaims the seasom done after less than 20 games of a 162 game schedule has been played, but I do think the warning bells have to be sounded now in regards to Chien Mien Wang. This isn't early season struggles here folks. This is just non-competitive. Joba struggled yesterday. Wang simply doesn't look like he belongs on the mound.
I have literally no evidence to back up what I am about to say, but something physically has to be wrong with the man. His velocity has been nonexistent this season (that patented 94 MPH sinker is barely getting over 90 now), his pitches have little bite to them, and everything is up. How could this possibly be simple mechanics? Seriously, no pitcher suffers through mechanics issues where they simply can't get someone out. Joba had mechanics issues yesterday, Burnett had mechanics issues his first game of the season, and because they have great stuff they were able to record outs and give a presentable outing. This is about stuff, as in Wang has none right now. Nothing is working, and I don't care what anyone says about his "side work," there is something more than a crisis of confidence going on here. Maybe his foot hasn't healed and he can't push over. Maybe something is wrong with his arm and he isn't telling anyone. But, at this point, something needs to be done.
What? I have no idea. I don't think you can officially send Wang down to the minors at this point. I'm sure he isn't eligible for that kinda move. Do you "find" an injury, even if none appears real, to send him out to get right? Do you skip him a start? Do you throw him out there a couple of more times and hope things turn around? I'm not sure how many more of these the team can take. Wang has officially lost 3 of the 6 total games the Yankees this year, and none of them have been competitive. I don't know what has to be done, but at this point I think more than weekends with Dave Eiland are needed.
*I am shocked right field is playing so short. I mean, SHOCKED and a little disturbed. I like offense as much as the next guy, but the Yanks went out and spent the equivalent of the GDP on pitching to make sure their success isn't predicated on winning 8-7 games. I don't want this to be an American League ball park version of Colorado or Houston. Hopefully things calm down a little bit, but some of the homers today were really a joke. Even Tex knew he didn't get all of that one when he got back to the dugout. You could see him almost grimace, as if to say 'wow.'
*Another disturbing aspect of the new stadium is the church-atmosphere. Today was the first time it sounded a little like the old Stadium when the fans were booing Wang off the mound. Besides that, it has sounded like a crowd that has almost been interrupted by a baseball game at certain points in time. And there is nothing worse than seeing sooooo many empty seats behind homeplate and up the foul lines. Even when the place is packed, it looks like someone bought the place out. Just not a good look.
*I am willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, but I still do not get Joe Girardi as a manager. In the Kansas City game where the bullpen blew the lead for Joba, Girardi brought Marte in to handle two lefties. His stuff was obviously on, he got two quick outs, he had a one run lead, and Billy Butler was coming to the plate. Not only that, but afterwards there were two lefties coming up after Butler. Does Girardi leave Marte in? Nope. Here comes Veras, who gives up a walk. Then, he brings in Coke, who gives up the lead. HUH??????????? Doesn't make any sense. The reasoning given after the game is "Billy Butler kills lefties." Couple of things wrong with this logic. First, we're talking about Billy Butler, not Mickey Mantle. Butler is playing for Kansas City for a reason. If you're a good pitcher you should be able to get Billy Butler out. However, if for some reason you decide you don't want to let Marte pitch to Butler, try and let him get himself out, give him nothing to hit, and then go after the lefties. Marte was ON. Why give that up? Horrid.
Second, in the first game at the Stadium, Joe pulls Sabathia, brings in Edwar Ramirez for some reason, then brings in Phil Coke, who throw three nasty pitches and gets the out. Does he leave Coke in to start the next inning? Of course not. Instead, he goes with Veras. I'm sure some equation told him this was the right thing to do, but why would you yet again yank a guy who is showing you he has good stuff that day for someone else? Of course it backfired and the Yanks gave up the lead because Veras couldn't have been worse.
Then, today, in a laugher, let me ask two questions: how do you put yourself in a position where you have to put Posada at first in a laugher because you don't have any more position players to throw out there? Girardi pulled Jeter in the fourth but has left Posada out there to play an unknown position. Who is more likely to get hurt, Jeter playing his normal position or Posada playing out of position? Then, in the seventh, Girardi sent Matsui up to pinch hit in a 20-4 game. Why? The only things that can happen in that scenario are all bad. And what happened? He got hit in the knee. Wonderful.
Let me just say.........I am not sold on Joe Girardi at all.
*The worst sign of the season would be if the Yanks didn't come out and just pummel Pavano tomorrow. I mean, if he went out there and pitched a gem I would have no confidence in this team going forward. After a day like this, where each and every one of them should be utterly embarrassed, they have to come out and take their pound of flesh.
There is no pitcher that deserves an a** beating more than Pavano, is there?
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