On the Yankees beat

I don't think that "avg. with runners in scoring position" is horrible. My guess would be that we haven't had many runners in scoring position period. Basically, we rely on the HR for run production.

Cano comes to bat and whiffs on 3 consecutive pitches at his sholaces. Torre does nothing. If it were Lou Piniella, he'd grab Cano and ask him "where's the patience, and whats up with the 3 second at bat

JOE-
I think there would be some profanity in Uncle Lou's "comments" to Cano.

Yea, Cano swings at some terrible pitches, all at his feet, I think pitchers are starting to think he is predictable at the plate. He needs to be more paitient.

They know he'll swing at everything so they're throwing him garbage

The kid looks like a completely different person this year. Sadly a lot of them do.

at Actress Q& A on Arod and Mariano

[quote]

http://38pitches.com/2007/05/25/qa-xiii/#more-85

Some of these questions are obviously from earlier posts. I’ll catch up if time permits this week.

Q-Who do you think is a better closer at this point, Papelbon or Rivera?

A-Not a question that can be answered with anything but opinion really. Mariano is, in my opinion the best closer of all time. His resume better be a unanimous first ballot Hall of Fame one. On the other hand I think Paps is the best closer in the game right now.

Q-What do you think is different about Alex this year? Is it because he’s thinner, doesn’t care since this is his walk year, has learned from his first 2 years NY? Did you handle Alex differently tonight knowing on the tear he has been on then in season’s pass?

A-I think the biggest change is based on what he stated early in the year. He trimmed down and feels like he’s quicker this year.

Q-I was wondering what your opinion of the job Hideki Okajima did. Did he pitch his butt off or what? I mean, he had to face Jeter, Abreu, and A-Rod (and Thompson as well) and only gave up the walk.

A-He’s been nothing short of phenomenal this year. A huge lift for us and given how well our pen has been as a whole it’s been one of, if not the reason we have gotten off to the start we have.

Q-do you think Mo has maybe hit some sort of wall, mental or physical. the man has been hands down the most dominant closer of our generation(I’m 28). and has done so for 10+ years…he has to eventually fade away.

A-Not at all. Having closed I can tell you one of the hardest parts of closing, and relieving, is staying sharp while not consistently pitching. Most relievers will tell you that being able to throw on a semi-regular schedule far outweighs any other factors when it comes to staying sharp.

Q-Quick question. I know it was brought up on SoSH a lot, but A-Rod currently looks like he’s so comfortable in the batter’s box that he may as well bring a laz-y-boy chair and a pitcher of margaritas. Is there any reason why not to try and brush him back once or twice and make him think a little more?

A-This was written after our first series obviously. Bottom line is that you go into a game with a plan for everyone, and guys that are as hot as he was that’s no different. You have smaller margin for error obviously but you have to execute. Coming in on guys to make them uncomfortable is one way of doing it for sure, but the only pitches that have an effect on a hitter on the inside part of the plate are pitches that something happens with. Breaking a guys bat, jamming him badly, knocking him down on occasion. If you aren’t getting one of those results then most times you are wasting pitches.

Posada Hurt

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse there is news that posada is dealing with a sore tendon behind his left knee and that he may sit down a few games. That's all we need is for Nieves to be our starting catcher. WTG on planning the backup Cashman. At least this might start the firing ball rolling faster without Posada's bat.

May 30 Bryan Hoch, of NewYork.Yankees.MLB.com, reports New York Yankees C Jorge Posada (knee) has been nursing a sore tendon behind his left knee and could sit Wednesday, May 30. Posada might also sit so that he would be good to go in all three upcoming games against the Boston Red Sox.

Cashman denies any rift with Torre

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6866494

[quote]

"Joe (Torre) and I are as close as we have always been and Girardi has not spent any time in the front office since he has been here with the television,'' said Cashman.

"I have only seen (Girardi) once, and that was when the team was in Texas. He has been as off-property as he can be. When he was here as a coach he would come upstairs, but it was to look at videos of players.''

Cashman said his relationship with Torre has never wavered during the team's struggles this year.

"We are as tight as we always have been,'' said Cashman. "I've taken responsibility for what has happened and Joe has taken responsibility.''[/quote]

So, is Torre gone yet? Please make it happen already!!!