On the Yankees beat

langston and greene suck

It's nice to see the fans still supporting the team with their votes. I just wish their popularity stemmed from winning rather than star quality.

Mo 27 IP

MO HAS THROWN LESS THIS YEAR THAN:

MYERS 29
BRUNEY 32
PROCTOR 41
VIZCAINO 37
FARNSWORTH 31

It is obvious that Joe has taken an overdose of stupid pills; when Mo is the least used man in your below avg pen and u keep losing 1 run games, something is wrong; WIN THE FLIPPIN GAME JOE, DO NOT WAIT FOR S OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NEVER GONNA COME IF U KEEP PUTTING IN HACKS LIKE PROCTOR

ALSO, POSADA NEEDS TO BE PULLED IN A 2-2 GAME WHEN ON 1st IF U ARE GONNA BUNT HIM OVER; HOW BASIC IS THAT?
Disgusting loss, disgusting season, major overhaul needed, this team will never win as constructed
Clemens, Moose, Andy all running on fumes and none are stoppers
Damon/Abreu 2 mistakes, both are below avg fielders and can't hit anymore
Cano has taken step backwards this year
Utility MI is our starting 1B
No backup C

The main reason why I hear Yankee fans want to keep Cashman around is he improved our farm system. Fine.

Here is how I see it- Cashman made sure the right people handled the drafts. It's not like Cashman is out there making the picks and is some minor league guru.

Let's take a look at some of these moves Cashman has done:

Siging Igawa- it's early but this is going to go down as a huge mistake.

Signing Damon- he got one good year out of him. Damon is only going to get worse and can't play CF anymore. 2 years left of this bum.

Signing Pavano, bringing back Mussina.

Signing Clemens.

Getting hosed in the Sheffeild and RJ trades. Thnk this team would rather have Sheff than Abrue right now?

The bench: how can a team with a 200mil payroll have a bench of Nieves, Phillips, Thompson, and Basak. They're not major league players!!

Refusing to call up Britton and Edwar and Duncan.

Believing in Torre.

Cashman must go and so does Torre. It's the only way things will get better.

Lucy - I can't begin to fathom the stupidity of all your statements.

Why don't you put in your resume for GM? You sound like you have all the answers.

Sorry Lucy. I'm a yankee fan but I can't read.

Those comments are for Mike C

I don't understand why our signatures are placed BELOW the line, rather than WITHIN the post itself. It's the ONLY blog or message board I've ever seen that's set up like this. This is confusing for many people, especially new people. It's a very common misunderstanding.

Kat, is there any possibility this can be changed? Can you ask the webmaster or technical department to do something about it? Or is this request too problematic to work out?

Here's an interesting observation from Rob Neyer:

I'm 100 percent sure that Joe Torre is trying to win.

Well, maybe 99 percent sure. I know just enough about quantum physics to know I can't be 100 percent sure about anything.

But I'm 99 percent sure that Torre is trying to win. After all, someday he's going to be elected to the Hall of Fame as a manager, and there aren't many Hall of Fame managers who weren't really, really trying to win.

You had to wonder last night, though. You had to wonder, while watching Scott Proctor walk home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, with Mariano Rivera never having thrown a single pitch in the game.

As a friend wrote me last night, a few seconds after Corey Patterson trotted home with that winning run,

It's just insane. There is no logical reason why, facing a situtation WHERE YOU CANNOT GIVE UP A RUN, OR YOU LOSE (and fall two games under .500), you would choose Proctor over Rivera. This is managing to a statistic -- the save -- rather than to win. According to Torre's logic, you use Proctor when you simply can't give up a run, and you use Rivera when you can. Absurd.

Indeed. I've been harping on this since (at least) Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, when the Yankees lost a 12-inning game and Rivera never left the bullpen. But Torre keeps making the same mistake, over and over and over again.

Last Saturday in San Francisco, the Yankees lost a 13-inning game. Rivera never left the bullpen. In fact, every relief pitcher pitched except the Yankees' best relief pitcher.

Granted, Rivera had thrown 20 pitches the night before. So we'll cut Torre some slack there. But last night? Rivera hadn't pitched at all since that 20-pitch outing last Friday. Last night he was as well-rested as you'd ever want your closer to be. No slack on this one.

In Torre's autobiography he wrote, "I'm more concerned about winning the game than trying to cover my butt."

Really, Joe? Next time you're on the road and the game's tied in the ninth, prove it.

The All Star game means absolutely nothing to me. I stopped voting after I attended a game and witnessed ushers handing out multiple ballots to fans and urging voting more than once for the hometown players on the ballot. Throw in the multiple "on-line" voting done today, and you have an absolute joke. I enjoyed the days when the players selected the starting lineup for each team. Back then, this made the game mean much more to the players. I never "tire" of thinking about the Yankees and their place in the standings, whether they be 1st or last place, and I have seen them finish in both. Being a Yankee fan can at times be frustrating, but never tiring. If your "tired", your not a fan, your a "sunshine patriot". Take a seat on the bench.

CHIPPER-
Excellent point about Torre\NO MO. Now if Cashman will only listen to you, and get us a "manager" and a "stick".

I was scratching my head too.
Also:
Cano not being able to put a sac bunt down.
Abreu grounding out to the SS
Cairo w/ his earth shattering 5 RBI failing to pick up an RBI single.

Jimmy:

You think Cashman got hosed in the Sheffield and Johnson trades? Let me ask you, what do you think is the trade value of a malcontent 39-year old malcontent RF/DH coming off major wrist surgery that kept him out for a year and wants a 3 year extension on his contract? What is the market value of a 41-year old malcontent pitcher who makes $16 mil and pitches to an ERA of 5 coming off major back surgery?

You want to blast the Damon signing, fine, but I'll bet you right now that if you look at the numbers they will tell you this is a better team when Damon plays than when he doesn't

You want to knock the Pavano signing, fine, but there were 7 other GM's willing to spend just as much to sign him (including Boston, Seattle, the Cubs, Orioles) he was considered by far the best option in that free agent class of pitchers at the time

The bench is a disaster, I don't know why Britton and Edwar are still in AAA but I imagine it has something to do with the fact that there is no room for them right now given the fact that the current relievers (good bad or indifferent) cannot be sent to the minors.

You want to blast believing in Torre - well I'm not his biggest fan right now - but is there a reason to not believe in a manager who has gotten his team to the post season every year since he's been here?

Look - we're all freaking out about Yankee losses - the fact is we're spoiled. I'm not saying it is excusable but did the Braves, who made the playoffs 14 straight years, clean house because they didn't make the playoffs last year? No. They went out and tried to address the problem and I'm sure the Yankees will do the same.

And Jimmy -

Cashman may not be the one making the picks or scouting the players, but he is the one who is refusing to fall into old bad habits by trading those prospects for quick fixes.

7 years ago if this was going on do you think the organization would still have a Phil Hughes, Jose Tabata or Joba Chamberlain? No, they would have been traded for players on the wrong side of 30 that make a ton of money and could offer a quick fix. Cashman has preached patience - last year, when Matsui and Sheffield went down, the Phillies offered the Yankees Abreu for Hughes - by waiting he still got Abreu, but didn't have to give up anything for him.

Recent promotions:
Juan Miranda to Trenton
Colin Curtis to Trenton
Austin Jackson to Tampa
Steven White is pitching well for SWB.

Good to see a bunch of guys moving quickly from A to AA - that bodes well (Miranda and Curtis join Joba and Kennedy)

Also Tabata is hitting better at high A than he was - still light on power numbers but lots of doubles and an average around .300

Steve White is an enigma - he has very good stuff (better than Clippard) but he just can't always put it together.

Sheffield is a full time DH this year so it's unfair to compare him to Abreu who is paying the field. If Sheffield had to play the field every day he would most likely be injured or his production would be less. The Yankees came into 07 with Giambi as their DH, so they had no place for Sheffield and got younger players in return.

Johnson was on the DL in April and is hurt again.

Yankees need to do what Phillies did last year- be sellers at the deadline, get rid of dead wood and then make a run with a revitalized team. Trade Myers, Proctor and Farnsworth for whatever you can get then call up young arms to pitch the 7th and 8th. If they succeed, then we are in good shape. If they fail, it's no worse then what's going on now.

CS07

I don't think there is much of a market for the guys you mentioned - Proctor probably given his relative youth and light contract would be the most attractive of the group, but I don't think the Yankees want to trade him.

I'm thinking at some point (hopefully soon) Cashman will do what he did a couple of years back and just release some players to shake the malaise - There's no market for Villone or Myers and they are not getting the job done for the Yankees - so let them go. Sean Henn can do just as well as Villone and with his great change-ups I'm sure Edwar Ramirez could probably get lefties out too.

A person who's recently talked to the Yankees said they have told the White Sox in trade talks involving Mark Buehrle that not only is their top pitching prospect Philip Hughes off limits, so are Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Alan Horne. According to a recent article in Baseball Prospectus, the Yankees now have the best corps of pitching prospects in baseball. That's a nice turnaround for Cashman and scouting director Damon Oppenheimer.

There is no one to trade. Who wants Villone, Myers, Abreu? If the Yanks release any of them, and I'm all for getting rid of Villone and Myers, but they'd have to eat their contracts. I'd like to see some of the guys at AAA come up, notably Britton and Henn, to see if they can solidify the pen.

All of the pen's woes are magnified because the Yanks are just not hitting.

Top Ten Lists - Best Baseball Franchises

http://www.roaminggolfer.com/sportsbeat/?p=7

1) Boston Redsox

2) St Louis Cardinals

3) Ny Yankees

The moves the Yankees have to look at are the ones where they either take on money or make minor tweaks.

Maybe a team with a player they don't want will consider trading that player for a player the Yankees don't want.

For example - Baltimore has a terrible pen - maybe they would consider Millar for Villone. The money is about even and the O's could play Aubrey Huff or Jay Gibbons at 1st.

Maybe the Tigers, who just sustained yet another injury to a reliever would part with an outfielder for Luis Vizciano?

I don't know - but we need to stop waiting for blockbusters and start looking for small tweaks.

Roy

"Sunshine Patriot"

Well done. I like that.

I visualize a swap meet. Instead of folding tables for merchandise, a slightly raised platform for each team, with those standing life-size cutout figures representing players to be swapped. Fans behind velvet ropes scream advice. GM's scurry between platforms lugging the cutout figures around until they are satisfied or until the bell rings!!! Everybody freeze!! That's your team.

I'm listening to Mike and Doggie on the net and Francesa hit the nail right on the head: THEY AREN'T HITTING!
I said the same thing. Our top 5 lefties are a joke! Damon's been hurt and isn't doing anything. Giambi is always hurt. Matsui, Cano and "Bunting Bobby" are awful! In fact, "Bunting Bobby" should be on the bench cause he's a head case!
Melky is NOT an everyday player. Did you guys see that fly ball that fell between him and "Bunting Bobby"? Who called for that ball?
Farnsworth-less is just that. Proctor, Bruney and Myers can't throw strikes.

Watch out for the Twins!

This is a mess!!!!!!!

Fair enough, Chip. Good post.

And on the topic of the day?

The All-Star game is a bore to think about, a bore to read about, a bore to watch and only escapes being a bore in memory because it is forgotten instantly.

A couple of weeks ago Cashman was on WFAN and was questioned about the bullpen. He said that most teams in MLB have bullpen problems, and if he put his 7th and 8th inning guys on the market (i.e.- Farnsworth, Proctor, Vizciano), he would have about 10 offers right away.

If that's the case- bring it on!

I'm shocked that Cano's actually listening to Abreu. Abreu's is cancer in the clubhouse. My advice to Cano, Please don't listened to Abreu, He's loser.

Man listen SHEFF HAS HEART and this Punk ass team does not, these fu#kers is quitters man, they did'nt want sheff because of his mouth, sheff would have bust his ass out in RF he would have given effort, he was traded for a injured player who we cross our fingers is the truth. So what he has a mouth? many teams have such players so?? the yankees issue is they hate when the truth or critisim is revealed. the yankees can give critisim but cannot take it. CHip your right when it comes to us fans being spoiled. We are also immune to truth and reality at times especially when things is down. We won 9 games in a row and it got us over .500 and everyone on here is thinking playoffs and forgetting the issues that caused our demise. this team has no flare and the Manager whom I love has had it. forget firing him he's had it. We keep speaking youth movement this player is this and that. My friends I tell you this you don;t know squat about them until they throw a pitch or get a hit in the bigs. Here we have a SUPREME opportunity to test our crop with the demise of the vets and we don't make the movement. when you view the other teams that ahd to make climbs up from the celler they did it with roster changes either a few call ups who performed etc. when the OF was in shambles they should have called up some of these players. People on here state these players is not ready until a couple of years? well that is a problem if were not tradeing them for more ready help is the option . This is the SHOW the big stage the Prime Event if we not obtaining majoe help then you need to call up these SUPPOSEDLY untouchable players ASAP. Let the PAYING fan get used to them now. DO not wait until the grand opening in 09 to introduce youngsters

Michael PTRS, If you were paying attention in your American History classes instead of having dreams about Jeter being naked you would know that Roy didnt just make up that term.

Anon,

You say Abreu is cancer in the clbhouse. How do you know that? What has he done that would cause you to say that about him? I know he stinks on the field but elaborate on your statement.

Kat: I have no interest in the All Star game. The selection of the players is so wrong. Its practically meaningless to indicate All Star selection next to the players pedigree.

Cashman's Hot Stove moves were readily accepted by most of the bloggers. Now, as the team is going south, so far. Some of our esteem colleagues are calling for his head and Joe's. Sometime between the Hot Stove and 2009, the team had to retool. As in factory work, retooling calls for shutdown of production. Cashman is in the process of correcting the wholesale of our young players who are everywhere in the MLB. These next two years will be trying times for the Yankee org. and its fans. We are spoiled beyond consolation with the quality teams that have been assembled and won pennants and championships. Cashman has a mission with a vision for success. First, its securing the pitching and moving it onto the roster with our core of vets, who will be around for the next couple of years. In the meantime positional players and FA signings will create the final pieces of the puzzel. This is what I believe is the plan. For me I can take the ups and downs but prefer youth learning through trial and error as opposed to the failures of guys like Viscaiano, Meyers and Farnsworth. The team has not jelled and this is not Cashman's fault but his responsibilty, his team. Joe should be allowed to finish out the season with dignity and maybe surprise us with a playoff berth. I believe a change is needed. Joe has too much attachment to certain players who earn his trust then become under achievers. A fresh face and thought process would be welcomed.

We gain nothing by firing Joe and Cashman in fact retard our progress and their is progress being made just not in the standings.

Big Rome,
Sheffield was a cancer on this team. Big Rome you need to get some clue instead of popping off like Grandmaster P

Hey get a clue, Wasn't sunshine patriot a term used for people who would only support the US revolution when we were winng?

Larry,

Keep in mind that the Hot Stove bloggers are the 16-24 year olds that havent learned as much about baseball that some of the other bloggers here have forgotten. If the Fantasy League guys agree on something....you can be sure that it will deliver a bad result. Fantasy Leagues are point based. Baseball is scored by runs. No parallel, its a game of amusement. You wouldnt go to the field based on the results of a stratomatic baseball season would you? (for those 16-24 YO, stratomatic baseball was the precursor to fantasy league and BB video games).

So the consensus hear during the winter months was generally from the least knowledgable and experienced at baseball. They may brag about how well their Fantasy team is doing but thats why the call it FANTASY BASEBALL!

LOL -

Clue - 2007 yankees is 2 games below .500 even after a 9 game winning streak

Clue - Detroit is 45-31 that makes them 14 games over. Gary the cancer is batting 289 and 17 hr's and 50 rbi;s

Abreau the nice guy is hitting
257 - 4hr's and 35 rbi's

never in SHeff;s stint with the yankees has the team been this bad.

Again some yankee fan cannot handle the truth.

and what makes Sheff a cancer? can't the tigers say the same now? especially after the GQ article and how they handling it? 14 games over .500 and 1 game out of the division lead in a much tougher division.

there goes your get a clue notion.

FANSWORTH IS A CANCER!
MYERS IS A CANCER!

WHINEY DAMON IS A CANCER!

Nudge: So true! I wonder how many of them actually played the game. Played the game to the point beyond fun but to the point of understanding it or trying to perfect their position to actually compete. Their view may be more tolerant of the decision makers and less tolerant of missed bunts for sacrifices or unproductive outs.

GET A CLUE,

Use a name we can recognize if you expect anyone here to take you seriously.

You may not have noticed that we ignore people who use a different moniker every time or hide behind pretentious 'titles' like GET A CLUE.

Grow up and take responsibility for what you say.

Nudge and Larry did you play Division I or professional baseball? Yes we all this is a game of failure. But they are Major League ballplayers. Shouldn't they have mastered the fundamentals? But i think we can all understand and appreciate how hard it is to hit an ball and throw strikes. It doesnt matter if we werent pros like you guys.

Larry , are you conceding the season or you trying to save it ? this team is dead it would take another 9 game win streak JUST to enter contention and then to say they need another streak to get over the hump in the playoff's. This team would not make it out of the first round and too me that is a waste of time of the fans and the Youth that should be on the field.

Lucy,

As far as the name posting beneath the line rather than next to the actual blog post, I've not heard any other complaints about it. So as far as I'm aware, it's not a big problem for most people. I'm sorry you don't like it. Hopefully people adjust to it, as I don't think it's that different once you are accustomed to the format.

Thanks,
Kat

For those of you that "knock" Fantasy Baseball, please check out Bill James and his relationship with MLB and Fantasy Baseball.

I'll pass on that!

LOL

Where that phil guy at?? no debate on my fact findings ?

those extra 15 rbi's sheff has may have closed the gap in our one run game poor record LOL,

Hey big rome

Maybe the Yankees record was never this bad when Sheffield was here- but he was here for the biggest choke in the history of MLB when they blew a 3-0 ALCS lead, and he was batting third and did absolutely NOTHING

He also did absolutely NOTHING against the Angels in 05. (Other than run into Bubba Crosby that kept an angels rally going).

He did absolutely NOTHING against Detroit in 06 and looked like a fool at 1st base (not to mention the team took off in May after he was injured).

If you want to go further back, he sat out an elimination game for the Braves in the NLDS against the Cubs (with a supposed injury), and yup, the Braves were eliminated.

Yes, the Tigers are playing well now, but they had a much better record at this point last year, and they played in the World Series last year, so Sheffield didn't exactly turn the franchise around.

Let's see how the whole season plays out and see where Sheffield is in October.

I have always like "Sheff", but looking back serves no purpose. We need to look ahead this season and beyond.

cs07,

But he played a great first base!

My man you refer to playoff games my friend. that is point in hand, With BOBBY your not GOING to the playoff's as for the Biggest choke in history you have others who are involved in that. I do believe that year he was SECOND IN MVP Voting. Issue here is this lil Homie, a big production bat is missing from the lineup.

I tell you this as well if sheff was still here Bobby A would be playing better. there is nothing better than having a guy on your squad in your face telling you your a bum basically. sheff's vibe is good for teams that is lacking we need that energy on this team instead you have a bunch of maxi pads who cry at every critisim applied there way. if the team is taking a lost with the current sqaud then roster changes from within should be done. sit these vets and play some kids if they supposed to be all that.

Abreu's a homie? Since when? Has he gone for the Michael Jackson treatments?

Get a Clue: I give no slack to Cano's inability to lay down a bunt. My level of play has nothing to do with what I wrote which was past HS but obviously their are many bloggers who have not played beyond little league who are great fans but blame Cashman and Torre for the failure of teams physical abilities. The team assembled this Spring should be sitting right next to Boston, neck & neck.

Big Rome: I have been a Yankee fan since '55 when I recognized Mickey Mantle as a Yankee and my idol. Many years of rooting for the same team. No, I haven't given up the season as far as WC but believe it canbe accomplished with guys like Henn, Britton. The acquistion of Wigginton which I called for in ST. And a back up catcher (Toby Hall) who can hit more than Mussina. But I see down the road and have tired of the sell off propspects for today's wins. This is longterm contracts to 32 yr olds frustrate me. It blocks the movement of youth onto the team and more teams like '95-'01.

Yo roy your right cannot look back I'm just punching walls with this team my man. I love my yankees but i see truth as well. This team man I don't know what the F**k is up with them. Poor Jeter, He probally wakes up and say you bum ass Mutha F**kers he never had to experience this kind of sh*t. he should go to the bums on the team and shake their asses saying SNAP OUTTA IT!!!! LOL

Nah, Jeters to busy figuring out how to make A-Rod look bad so he can get the spotlight again.

Rome:
Abreu was one of the reasons they made the post-season last year (he killed Boston in the 5 game sweep).

Roy:
Yes, let's look ahead. One of the broadcaters recently said that if Jeter wants to reach 4,000+ hits, he would have to change positions. It might be intersting if the Yankees go to him in the off-season and propose a Robin Yount-like move to CF ( an equally glamorous position). Then you lock up A-Rod and let him play short anad package Melky for a servciable 3rd basemen. The only drawback here is the corner outfield positions- you would be stuck with Damon in left and Matsui in right (assuming they let Abreu go and no one wants to take Damon or Matsui). I think the Jeter to CF thing is interesting.

My man Larry much love to you my friend I would have love to see Mantle Play I'm Jealous . I was just a slurp im my pops nut sack (oops excuse me ladies)

But that is what i want to see, the youth , everyone has high regards for these lil crumb snatchers if that is the case bring them up

I forget how this works...is Jeter a lil Homie or no...I dont know.

LARRY

Truth is most of the talent in the Yankee farm system is at Trenton AA and Tampa A .The Yanks have maybe 3 or 4 pitchers at SWB who might have to varying degrees of success MLB careers.

Shouldn't Jeter get to 3000 before they start to plan for his 4000th? Or did someone change the number system while I slept last night.

Nudge:

Sorry I meant 3000- a typo.

OK makes more sense now!

Jeter barring injury and if he continues to hit at current levels for the next 3 yrs will probable reach 3,000 late 2010 early 2011 at the age of 36.

Yo Nudge

Yeah Jeter is a lil Homie compared to my Height. what he 6-4 ?yeah lil homie is a shorty on my squad I'm 6-10 Power foward baby boy.
put the grey poupon down LOL

Ruse:

Which means he would have to play to age 43-44 to get over 4,000. Don't know if he would hang around for the record- he wouldn't need the money (like Rose did!), but if he gets close, why not stick around. I think he has a real shot at passing Cobb for #2. Let's just hope he does it as a Yankee.

Since Cano's change his number and give it to Roger, He never been the same hitter .

Baby Boy? Now thats got to make you 60+ years old to use.

BTW Jeter is listed at 6'3"

cs07-
Your Jeter to CF\A-OPT to SS is a very interesting idea. With Jeter's declining range on grounders, and many wanting to somehow get A-OPT back, it makes sence. Whether A-OPT returns or not, I like the idea.

Cs07

Who knows ? I think he's destined to be a DH in 2011.Most great players tend to slide at the age of 36-37 we would have to assume his playing time would be limited to 140 or so games a year.My guess Honus Wagner or Tris Speaker are in reach 3430 and 3515 respectively.

Ok Nudge well he even shorter, Nah I'm not 60 plus my friend. I still a pup probally to you sir.

I'm just relaxing in Life, This yankee team however is giving me exclusive headaches but i Love the game of Baseball eventhough I'm all football and basket ball

The Flying Dutchman! Greatest SS of all-time!

Robin Yount made the move to CF in 1985 at the age of 29.Jeter making the same-type move at the age of 33-34 doesn't make any sense.

Big Rome,

Baseball is much more ups and downs than the other 2. Its made for causing phyical ailments. Thats why the top releivers award is sponsored by Rolaids! Maybe Excedrin can get an award named after them too. Maybe the manager who gives the fans the most "huh" moments or something.

The Flying D made 60 errors at SS in 1905.I know I know this is before well manicured diamonds.Great hitter.

Didn't Sparky Anderson do Excedrin TV commercials ?

RUSE-
Jeter still has good foot speed, and his relay throws show he still has a strong arm. His age shouldn't nix this "idea".

Also the players used to cut the palms out of their gloves because the gloves were so bad they couldnt feel the ball when it was in it. Not to mention they were about 6 inches shorter.

Youth and speed in the OF.

You right that game is 100% mental and coordination I respect that. In B-Ball if you one down you can just heave the ball and get the three or two, In baseball you have to face that heat or that beast at the plate.

I love baseball like i love chess.

I love Football/Basketball just to get the job done and get that rush

The question is from where?