On the Yankees beat

Get Melky out of the leadoff spot!!!

I know it is early, but I will go ahead and get this out of the way. Andy Phillips sucks. I dont care if we got him 10 at bats a game, he wont hit 210.

yanks are going to have to score runs with #2 - #6 players tonight. cano is too impaitient, phillips cant hit, pett , and melky is impaitient. those 4 spots cant be looked at to get anything going in NL parks.

Come on offense, wake up!

We are just dyno-mite!!! against LHP.

looks like a possible slump is coming on. Could be 10 back if they lose tomight. 14 back here we come again. I hope I'm wrong, but they look like they did earlier in the year.

Anyone else absolutely hate Kay after that HR call?

What a jerk.

looks like a possible slump is coming on. Could be 10 back if they lose tomight. 14 back here we come again. I hope I'm wrong, but they look like they did earlier in the year.

2 runs in 16 innings so far at Coors Field? Are you kidding me? They look pitiful again.

Torre obviously saw Pettite gettin hit hard in the 6th inning, why the hell would you bring him out in the 7th? Torre lost this game.. this is why they should have fired him, oh well. tommorow we can get swept and then bonds can sweep us!

SHOUT OUT TO LIZ

THIS IS HORSESJIT UMIPIRING!!!

HORESSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the Same Rockies team who take 2 out 3 three from Redsox. The Rockies who slaughtered Redsox pitching in Fenway park. They embrassed Schilling and Beckett. It was Beckett first loss if I mistaken.

Im back by the way...

I leave for a week and they start losing?

Terrible albatross around my neck these yankees...

I'll have you all know that while at Sawgrass I used "Yankee" emblemed Calloway golf balls and they come at 4$ a pop!!

Needless to say i was using "Top Flight"s on the third day...

# 17 is a "BTICH"

Nomsayin...

PS The bartender in the clubhouse looked so much like Tim McGraw that I wound up naming him "Tim McGraw II"

He gave me soooo many black eyes about that.

Well the Yanks faced off against the NL hottest team since mid-May and are getting their asses spanked.
8-11 against lefties.Ya ain't gonna win a division or make the playoffs if ya can't hit lefty pitching.
Torre leaving Pettitte in is a questionable decision.
Speaking of Pettitte I know everyone loves Andy but he's given up leads on a number of occasions this season.Even though he has a decent ERA he's for the most part pitching well enough to lose.
Once again the Yanks need RH power in the worst way.That's my new mantra.

Pettite's has been consistent starter for the Yankees so far this season. He deserved a bad outing like this one tonight. I'm sorry for Andy He's been hit hard by bad luck this year. Pettite's should have 8 wins by now if now for Yankees Offense falters and bullpen blowing leads for him.

I know this is a difficult concept.Sometimes you have to win 2-1, 3-2 games not lose them.Pettitte had 1-0 lead and he coughed it up in the bottom of the 6th inning.That has nothing to do w/ the bullpen.Otherwise he pitched great for 5 innings.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-BBO-Yankees-Rockies.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

[quote]

The Yankees had never faced Francis and just as manager Joe Torre predicted, they had trouble picking up his pitches, particularly his changeup. They put two runners on base in the second but Andy Phillips, called up from the minors Tuesday, grounded into an inning-ending double play, and Francis sent the Bombers down in order the next three innings.

Pettitte was having just as much success in silencing the Rockies' bats, allowing just two hits, including a historic single by Helton in the second, through the first five innings.
[/quote]

Yanks are not cut out for NL baseball. having an impatient cano hit in front of awful, awful phillips and then having the pitcher hit is 3 straight outs.

we need to get today over with, get SF over with and head back to east coast.

10 games out will change in 2 weeks. yanks have SF and BAL coming up. red sox have SD and SEA. tigers have ATL and TEX. few wins, coupled by a few lsoes on enemies' side, and we'll have ourselves in good position prior to all star break.

Miguel,

I gotta give you credit for positive thinking!

Here we go, AGAIN! Melky leading off, Phillips at 1B. Brilliant!!!

Torre Mismanaged tonight.

the flow is dead Cairo should have been at 1B I do not want to hear the Andy Philips this and that Torre is lucky Cairo is a professional because moves like this opens up the chance for a bad clubhouse and deservingly so. so what would be Torre's excuse now . the Joe Girardi story is a distraction?? gimme a break he's done

Cairo was batting .333 (1 for 3) against Francis, whereas Phillips has no history. Tonight Rodrigo Lopez pitches and Cairo is batting .357 (5 for 14) against him while Phillips is batting .250 (1 for 4) against him. Let's see who plays tonight.

Pathetic-Looks like the dead bat society is back!

BB,

To be realistic, Cairo is a steady .250 hitter over the past 5 seasons. He is at best an average defensive player and a perpetual bench player. Guys like him actually have better worth to the team NOT playing everyday because they arent able to keep their level of play up for extended periods of time. Additionally he hits for very little power. Im not saying Phillips will be a good replacement but Cairo is not a full time first baseman on anyones team. Im sure they would have prefer a better option there but like Ive said all year they have themselves in a corner with this roster and it will take them many years to get out of it.

The trade scene is just starting to get going as teams now assess the season ahead so some deals may start to occur, but the Yanks have their backs to the wall since they dont have many attractive trade options. Wang, Cano and maybe Matsui. Beyond that all trades are dump trades for them so you cant expect much back in return. Only more players like Phillips.

Good teams win all types of games, low scoring, high scoring and mediocre scoring. A team with all this talent should be able to break through on kid who was consistently around the plate but he did throw from the left side. I got it we'll put horse blinders on the Yanks when they hit. This will make them focus better.

I knew the get Phillips out of there comments would forth coming. And the only two defenses for the him are four at bats and most of everyone else has $ucked in the past two days. Phillips must know that he's on a very short leash.

I still dont understand why phelps was let go for the likes of andy phillips. phelps would have been a considerable option against the lefty last night. would he have gone 4-4?...most likely not. but i like his experience over phillips.

win 11 of 14 and all of a sudden torre become a charity manager. bring up phillips as "everyday" 1st baseman. put cairo on bench because he was doing a great job at first and added some spark to lineup. rest him? cairo rested the first 62 games of season!

that thin air in COL much be giving torre's green tea some adverse effects.

move cairo to leadoff today, and run the order from there -then cano and melky follow sada in 7th / 8th hole.

Nudge,

You play your card until the setback occurs cairo may be the 250 hitter but so is Andy , I 'm not saying he should play the rest of year but the flow should not have been broken until a WAY BETTER option is available , not saying Cairo is mantle but compared to Phillips his baseball IQ is higher. and like i posted yesturday cairo stats were solid at that position for the games he played. this will all be Mute if Andy goes on a tear but out of all the years here he has not shown such. and being that we are in a downside season Torre should have kept his hottest options now the FLow of the team is screwed up and if we have a CF destined for the DL then a bigger splash than first base needs to be addressed. this increases the asking price for TEX.

We need gene michael logic applied here. Matsui era may be over and trade him for some value

cairo isn't the solution at 1st, but certainly looked ok during win streak. now thats he's out and serving as super utility guy, offense struggles (more to blame than just taking cairo out)

nudge-

we didnt send much to philly last year and the two we got back (lidle and abreu) helped in various ways to get to post season. not to say that the trade was a good one, but giving away little for little can pay divends during 2nd half of season. i cant see yanks trading wang, cano and matsu.

what do you think? can yanks trade damon, giambi and /or abreu at end of season such as they did with sheff, wright and big unit? not looking for big names, just relief and other pieces of puzzle. any chance?

matsui era over? his yankeeography premieres next wednesday! ahahaha

I don't care if he is featured in Times Square if he is going to get us good return then it's time to trade him

Cairo is not a long-term solution, and he's not an everyday player as a rule. But right now, he's producing and giving the team a sorely needed spark. They say he gives the team a lot of energy, which has noticeably been lacking the last two games he didn't play in. This is not the time to rest Cairo. Maybe when we're back playing AL teams again, especially a team like Baltimore, Phillips can come in and Cairo can rest. I just don't see the sense in taking Cairo out of the lineup right now, especially since he's had a bit of success against Francis and very good success against Lopez (tonight's pitcher).

Add me to the list of people that think Phillips can't hack it in the show. He looks absolutely lost. I like Chris's idea of putting Cairo in the leadoff spot--while his OBP isn't that great, at least he knows how to take a pitch and has tough ab's. Let the other hitters see what the opposing pitcher has. Melky personally drives me crazy and I would welcome a trade for him. He'll never amount to much of anything if he continues to swing at everything. This is frustrating...I looked at the Rockies and figured we could get two of three. Now, we have to hope to avoid a sweep....

Miguel,

Cashman was the only GM stupid enough to take Abreu last year so I doubt anyone is stupid enough to do that again this year. All those bad contracts that seemed so good when signed dont look so good when you want to dump those guys now. Thats the corner Cashman painted himself into.

The Big Unit and Sheff trades brought back .............Vizcaino! Hows that working out?

Has anyone noticed that just as the Yanks were creeping back above .500 and talk of getting into the hunt for the Wild Card was starting......the number three hitter has once again disapperaed from the offense (0 RBIs last 7 games). Wow, I never expected that to happen!

Bomber, I love your assessment of Cairo and the game being played right now. Here I go quoting you again:

"...the flow should not have been broken until a WAY BETTER option is available, not saying Cairo is mantle but compared to Phillips his baseball IQ is higher. and like i posted yesturday cairo stats were solid at that position for the games he played."

Nudge, when it comes to evaluating the talent of the Yankees, your vision is extremely nearsighted.

Boy, I have to admit the huge change in attitude of the stallwarts on this blog over the past 2 months. Arguing to make the case for Miguel Cairo as the spark to save the team from its demise. Aren't you all aiming just a weeeeeee bit low?

Nudge, it's not about saving the team. It's about keeping a player (any player) in the lineup when he is producing, period. I said the same thing about playing Doug M over Phelps. While Doug & Cairo are not necessarily long-term solutions, they should be played while they are hot. You just don't upset the chemistry of a winning team by gambling. The value of Cairo could change in a week or two, but for the present, you stick with what's working.

Lucy,

In fact I have been one of the few "Big Picture" guys on this blog. I told you what to expect from bunting bobby long ago and it has played out as if I scripted it myself. Remember I am not Yankee-centric and actually enjoy watching other teams play so I am not wound around the Yankee flagpole. I can actually judge players on their merit not the emotion they stir within me since I dont have that tie to the team.

I have been explaining and some are coming over to realize the LONG TERM problems with this team and roster as I have pointed out many time over the past 2 months. Now I am skeptical of Cashmans ability to find his car in the morning much less manage the roster out of this mess he created. But that doesnt mean he couldnt surprise me here and there. But I will let the proof be in the pudding as they say.

You can root root root, because its your team so keep hopeful. Thats what being a fan is about.

right Cairo was not an thought months ago but due to a injury and SLUMPING 1b he was inserted and played his ass off. he is not injured nor slumping so to insert an Andy Phillps is a slap in the face to a performing player these moves refelct the manager, this is when he cannot hide from the blame.
If Adam Laraoche or Mark Tex was obtained then make no mistake about it.

The only thing I can defend is the fact that it is only one game and if Phillips is in the lineup tonight and we lose then the balance of victory has been disturbed and needs to be fixed.

Lucy,

Thankyou!

I admit i was against Miggy so there is no running from that. But he played himself into consideration of everyday play to make the excuse that he cannot play everyday is funny . is he hurt? etc. he is 33 years old and Andy is 31 what is the difference?

Like i said if andy produces then cool this is mute.

BB,

If Cairo starts 8 of the next 10 games over Phillips......how many more hits does that generate for Abreu, Cano, Cabrera and Matsui? Does Farnsworth get more batters out? Mussina get past the fifth more often? Igawa throw a strike more often? Vizcaino makes the all star team? Posada throws a few more runners out? Someone in the outfield actually makes a catch near the wall?

These are all the things that ail this team and your focus is on whether you should start a .250 hitter over a .230 hitter. Im not saying Cairo shouldnt play often but if thats what you think is the problem then your not seeing the forest for the trees.

Nudge, in the past couple of years I have become more of a baseball fan in addition to being a Yankees fan. I do admire players from other teams (esp. Joe Mauer, lol -- and Ichiro), and I do enjoy watching games other than Yankee games. However, I admit to being not only partial to the Yankees, but negatively partial to other teams (such as the Red Sox). I look for the bad in them, I may exaggerate the negative, mainly because they are a threat to the Yankees.

My point is that you, Nudge, as a fan of the game must have a favorite team (my guess would be the Mets, but that's just a guess). If you are a fan of the Mets, for instance, you certainly must see Atlanta in a more negative light. I get the impression you are not neutral concerning the Yankees, but that you're a Yankee naysayer. That's not to say you're an antagonist, but you will always see the glass half empty when it comes to the Yankees rather than half full.

Nudge: I don't disagree with your comments of the entire team. Please see my quote of 10:07 AM, first paragraph. There lacks a connection from game to game. Its similar to an electrical short.

Nudge, sometimes all it takes is one player to spark the team. He gets a hit, he makes a great defensive play, and the team is inspired. It can work the opposite way as well. I guess you don't believe in chemistry and confidence having anything to do with winning. Personally, I think winning goes beyond super talent. Oftentimes the superstar does not spark the team, but it's the energetic guy with great enthusiasm and loads of confidence. We all see the game through different eyes, though, and it's what makes the baseball world go round and round.

Larry, yes, good analogy: "There lacks a connection from game to game. Its similar to an electrical short."

As I have previously stated, I intentionally do not reveal what teams I like because as soon as I do that, you will all put every word i say through a filter that you have regarding your ideas of what people who follow that team are like. I read it all the time here when someone quotes a Red Sox or Mets fan or someone in the media who you all think favors one of those two teams, you all either preface it or follow it up with....typical #@%$ Met or Red Sox thinking they all are blah blah blah.

When it come to the Yankees I have at times admired them i.e. the late 90's teams which I have spoken of in very positive terms many time here. I have to admit to enjoying tweaking the knee jerk Yankee fans who are the band wagon jumpers and know nothing about baseball other than how to read the standings. Those guys usually disappear real fast when the season turns badly as you are seeing on this blog. Most of the "Crazies" that were on here were those guys and you dont hear from them much any more do you?

In two years they will be Met fans if they win a WS and acting like they have always been Met fans.

I do like the baseball debate and each teams fans come at the debate from different view points so being the Libra that I am I enjoy providing the other point of view that would not normally appear on here. So I guess that is a bit of the antagonists role.

Nudge, curiously, do you visit the blogs of other teams? If so, which ones? I ask because you do have some emotional connection to the Yankees, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Please don't misunderstand, this is not a negative statement at all. You certainly add some great feedback here. I'm just curious as to what other teams you enjoy blogging about (if any).

From my perspective what Nudge is trying to point out is: In spite of "superstars" at several positions, no team is going to be as competitive unless they have a solid pitching staff, which would include middle relief, and a solid bench, who can provide an occasional spark and fill in. When any team is forced into the position of playing a "role player" or bench guy everyday, in the end he will be unproductive. there may be a few exceptions to this rule of thumb...such as Alex Cora of the Sox....likely he would be a starter on alot of teams..and with Lugo struggling so badly, many Sox fans are screaming for the Sox to play Cora instead of him. Francona is correct in his stance of "We need Lugo to get going to help us win...he cant do that sitting on the bench."...of course there is the contract of Lugo to consider too.

Im just tweaking now since my background is electrical....its like an elecrical OPEN. A short is actually a connection!

Nudge's gradual chopping down of the goofs and "crazies" that propose outlandish and perplexing yankee scenerios is much appriciated, espeically when facts are provided. as a yankee fan, i tend to disagree with some statements, yet value the the "otherside" agruements.

to each, his own

Nudge, doesn't a short stop the flow of electricity though? Doesn't the appliance cease working, at least temporarily? Maybe I've had the wrong impression all these years of what constitutes a short. (Not meaning to turn this into a physics lesson).

Cano and Cabrera are something like a combined 7-60 w/2 out RISP.There's your electric short.
Then there is 1B .
Once again the Yanks are 8-11 against lefties.The only RH power threat from the right side is AROD.

Cora would be a starting SS on other teams? Which ones?He is what he is a utility infielder.

Cas & Nudge

Good to have you both back now the team is losing again.

Cas-I say that in jest of course.

Nudge-Not so...
I found it strange that you disappeared just when things began to turn around.

What's your "magic number" now?

He may be a starting 2Bman on some other teams...but I do agree that he is best suited in the role he is in...he tends to make an impact when he plays..which is why the fans are screaming for him to play over Lugo.

Hey, Casual, where have you been, Buddy? Welcome back. I absolutely see your point, Casual, but I think there's a proper time to introduce a new player, that he should be introduced during appropriate games. This was a bad time to bring Phillips in. That's not to say he couldn't be brought in next week. It's all in the timing.

Phuck,

I'm always around...not back from anywhere...but my time to play in here has become more limited due to some new and exciting job responsibilities....but I keep and eye on things.

Lucy,

I have occasionally visited the Mets blog on this site. When on travel Ill visit local newspapers hometeam sites as well. Usually i dont post since I like to watch a wile to get a flavor of the people Im dealing with. What started my posting here were the overwhelming number of posters early in the season that thought that all of baseball existed for the benefit of the Yankees. That whenever they wanted to they would just make the decision and get player X for their player Y who they determined sucked. So I battled the crazies and endured vapid chants of "26 Championships" and the like. But I actually found a handful of interesting opinions that make me think as well as brush up on my debating skills. So thats why I stayed here. Blame it on the crazies!

Lucy,
As I pointed out in my post to Phuck...I keep an eye on the posts in here...just dont have much time during biz hjours now....hey..a boy has got to work, y'know...I love these new responsibilities and am having fun with the challenges. I'll throw in a post here and there so you wont forget me.

Lucy,

A short is a direct connection that bypasses the circuit the current is intended to floe through. So therefore the short prevents the circuit or appliance in your case from working properly and could cause damage to the circuit. It is a connection, just not a connection you want.

Is this Hometime ?

PTRS,

I suggest you check your information again. Maybe the blog police is giving you bad info again. I do beleive I missed one maybe two days on here say Friday maybe. I know when i am away it does seem like an eternity though doesnt it?

Well, Casual, your regular contributions were missed.

Nudge, thanks for explaining all that (which you didn't have to, of course, but you really piqued my curiosity).

Miguel, everyone is entitled to an opinion, even "the goofs and 'crazies' that propose outlandish and perplexing yankee scenerios." Where's the harm in proposing something outlandish? We don't need anyone monitoring this blog, telling people what they should and shouldn't write about.

If you're a Yankees fan, I love hearing what you have to say. I'm just not getting the value of Big Brother policing the site and discouraging Yankees fans from expressing their opinion. Yes, many are gung-ho and overzealous, but so what? What's the harm? After all, the name of the blog is On the Yankees Beat, not Red Sox Central.

Lucy,

Dont confuse challanging someones ideas with policing their ideas. Those that have put real thought behind their ideas should always be willing to defend them, others simply want to sound like they know what they are saying and go away on their own because they dont feel the should have to explain their thinking. Its simply their decision to stay or go no one elses.

Hummmh.... I leave this alone getting strange on here.

Here is my point while he may not have been the MAIN reason for success but his contribution sure did Cario stats in the last week has been steady extending Innings or getting that run home. would he have done that in COL?? we don;t know but odds were he would not have done the same as Andy with runners in scoring position and 1 out. we don't know because he was,nt in the lineup we don't know because the mngr decided to sit his steady hand who in the particular order he is in can create extension of the inning. knowing damm well you have the pitcher batting you DO NOT GAMBLE on a unproven player in a season where we need these wins. The other flaw was Nieves and Moose , right there was bad.

Nudge, I actually wasn't addressing your attitude in that response. I was addressing the notion that outlandish ideas are not welcome and rightfully discouraged. Yes, challenging ideas would be okay, as long as it's done politely and respectfully. You have given me much food for thought during the time you're here. Again, as long as the challenge is polite and respectful, it's all good.

Bomber, I'm with you 100% on your last statement. Those were excellent points.

Lucy

I'm sorry for calling you-"Liz" or "Lizzie" I confused you with someone in a fantasy league.

My bad...

Fan, Fanatic -
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.

We are all Fanatics in regards to our rooting intrest. Even the Nudges, Casual are fanatics upon us because they too are fanatic to Debate. people are going to have different ways to express their rooting intrests. To call one crazies etc. is out of touch because most Fanatics express different ways of expression or argument and that does not make one a better fan over another.
I myself may not be 100% logical on the information Hwy regarding the Yankees but it becomes a non issue when were sitting at the staduim with the same rooting intrests.

Hey Dubois

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT ROY TRADE!!!

I know you're screwed and desperate so am i. But I'm not making Roy stronger!!!

Michael, I thought you were referring to me, Queen of the Umpire Complaints. I didn't respond because I wasn't totally sure. But, yes, the officiating once again turned into a nightmare. I thought the home plate umpires were very inconsistent as well this series. It looked like the players were confused as to what they should be swinging at. The calls were all over the place. Now, we did appear to get a call in our favor last night, as Helton seemed to be safe at home (if his finger touched the base before the tag). Who cares, though? I just want fairness and consistency as a rule, for both sides.

Mike ..

I tried to hold on but this season is crap , plus I have Pena who i hope keeps the steady play

Lucy

As do I...

Until I came here I had no problem with "umpires" maybe it's just a symptom of a bad season but I think it's you that did this to me. LOL But I agree that something should be done even if it risks the "slippery slope" Nomsayin

For the record I do miss the crazies. They were always the perfect straight men!

Yankees after Gagne?

According to FoxSports Ken Rosenthal the Yankees are one of the 12 teams that Eric Gagne cannot veto a trade to. The Yankees have been scouting the Rangers over the last two series.

Gagne is 7-for-7 in save opportunities with a 0.50 ERA in 19 appearances. The Yankees, ninth in the American League in bullpen ERA, have scouted the Rangers' past two series.

The Rangers could trade both Gagne and setup man Akinori Otsuka, but the Yankees' interest is in Gagne, according to a major-league source. The Yankees are one of the few contenders that could assume the physical and financial risks involved with Gagne.

In addition to his $6 million salary, he can earn up to $5 million in incentives based on the number of games he finishes.

Nudge

Who are you referring to when you say "crazies" and "straight men" Forgive me if you've gone over my head.

The problem (short) with the team is consistency. There are two players on offense who have been consistent throughout this season, Jeter and Posada. You can't play above .500 ball without offensive consistency. First base, Cano,Cabrera,Damon, Abreu have been lost in space. Matsui and Arod should be more consistent with the amount of Opts. given them to drive in runs. Numbers may not bolster my argument but it seems their are many unfulfilled opts.

The starting pitching has looked much better along with the relief pitching except for Farnsworth and Visciano who are accidents waiting to happen. The performances of too many on the roster does not lend itself to consistency.

I had enough of Inter-league play.

Those fun bloggers that have a thin skin and little of substance to say. When I counter their statements they usually act like I just shot their first born and then try to get in a battle of wits with me. But instead of making points they merely provide me with material for my fertile use of humor and sarcasm that further drives them over the edge until they soon revert to feral assaults involving cursing and analogies and the like.

Usually some of the funniest stuff you get to hear on blogs these days!

Michael,

Don't even bother that is Just a FANATIC way of leading people into their strenghts which is DEBATE.

just realize that all types are welcomed on here.

Too me calling somebody on-line crazy is issue in itself

BB,

Careful thats sounding a little judgemental. Which would make that whole statement a bit hypocritical, dont you think?

Guys,
This is just a bump in the road. No big deal.
We ahd an 8-1 homestand and we were due for a letdown. The Rockies have been playing really good baseball and are handing us our lunch in their ballpark. So what?
One more game and we're outta there.
I missed you all!

http://www.hazelmae.net/hazel_mae_pictures/Hazel_Mae_in_Boston/image8.htm

as Slammin Sammy hit his 600th HR last night, i leave you with this-

who did slammin sammy hit his 1st HR off of?

hint - the pitcher is going for career win # 350 today.

(sammy worthy of Hall call?)

That is the gal who gives us Sox fans the "skinny" on her sports news program.....you can see why I rarely miss it.

600 dingers...worthy of HOF?...absolutely!

Hazel Mae worthy of the hall call?

Observer -

I don't think he'll get in - at least not for a while. Same as Big Mac. Sportswriters taking it upo