On the Yankees beat

Not that I'm not interested, just that we chewed this over pretty thoroughly back when AR made the remarks.

Actually my favorite part of his quote from that day isn't repeated in the Bee. That's the part where he says his first obligation is to the Yankees, "right now".

A little obvious, but marketing is marketing...

Jeez, anyone else think Kat has a big crush on A-Rod? He seems to be one of her favorites and likes to praise him. Maybe it's just something I noticed.

Anyway, I expect A-Rod to be a Cub next year. He loves Pinella and I think the NL intrigues him.

I'm trying to avoid thinking about it - mostly because there are still 6 months between now and then.

Sammy - look again, Kat didn't make that blog entry.

BTW - Torre and Cashman should not be fired, Torre should not be given a new deal after this season, Cash should be retained.

Damm Dude drop some jewels if the Yankees don't own up to Alex. the Downside is that the Giants is just as Bad as the Yankees and have no farm = No future.

My man CHip said Cash should be retained. I don't know lil Homie, jury is out on that dude if you asked me that mess like 4 years ago true, but now he is suspect. the problem is who do you replace him with? do you bring abck Bob or does he want no part of the Yankees now? Gene Michael? You would need a REAL BASEBALL PERSON.

Joe Torre is out at home, he is old, tired, the intensity is not apparent in the clubs on field performance. Why is Joe so sacroscant, Billy Martin was a five time Yankee mgr and Joe Torre can`t be fired. It is time for him to go.Let Hawaii say Aloha to Joe

Oh, the connection is so obvious, it's just hitting me over the head.

A-Rod loves the Dominican Republic, having descended from there. He's talked about the beauty of the island, the tremendous baseball growth, the talented players, the new baseball parks, the potential for producing winning teams. Maybe he'll play there next year.

But then again A-Rod loves Toronto, the women, the clubs, and the idea of playing with a roof over his head. He loves the Canadian people, the beautiful country, the fresh air. Chances are he'll play there.

Of course, we all know that in order for A-Rod to be approached by a specific team next year, he has to drop hints the season before. It wouldn't work for him to flat-out say to San Francisco in the off-season, You're one of my choices, I'd love to play for you.

The obvious fact is that EVERY team would want A-Rod next year. Does anyone truly believe he needs to drop hints now in order to secure a job next year with the team of his choice? Amusing, indeed.

The only clear fact is that A-Rod can't sneeze without his intentions being analyzed. A-Rod said in yesterday's MLB interview that he pays no attention to what's written about him. Maybe we should follow his suit.

The Giants are in a better spot than the Yankees because they have TONS of young pitching.

Zito has been up and down but he will do fine. Cain, Lowry and Lincecum make up a terrific young starting 4 for the future.

A-Rod on that team would be loved by the fans and with those young pitchers have a legit shot.

A-Rod will probably play for the team next year that either:

A. Pays him the most money.
B. Has the best chance of winning the World Series

San Francisco doesn't obviously fall into any of these categories (just very remotely).

I can't imagine A-Rod playing for a team merely because he likes the ballpark. A-Rod would be loved by any fans everywhere if he could carry his team single-handedly to the World Series -- or contribute substantially to that end. What makes San Francisco fans so unique that A-Rod would play for them sans the money and sans the OBVIOUS World Series potential? I'm just not seeing that logic at all.

Cano's is overrated.. He will be a future backup infielder . He's lousy in risp and bases loaded situation. Cano's struggles hitting great pitching. He's swings at everything He sees.As a Yankees Fan, I don't think He's everyday player.

Cano's is overrated.. He will be a future backup infielder . He's lousy in risp and bases loaded situation. Cano's struggles hitting great pitching. He's swings at everything He sees.As a Yankees Fan, I don't think He's everyday player.

Anon -

Every hitter struggles to hit great pitching - that's what makes it great pitching.

Curious if you felt this way last year when Robbie was third in the league in hitting behind Mauer and Jeter.

One last point on A-Rod's obvious elation in San Francisco. I believe the "record breaking" atmosphere caused A-Rod's optimistic personality to surface. There was much talk about A-Rod eventually surpassing the record Bonds was presently trying to break while the Yankees were visiting. A-Rod actually talked about Bonds, about the record, about his own future potential. It was a show and a reminder of his own potential greatness. In my mind, he stole a bit of Bonds' thunder and welcomed the spotlight to that degree. That was the message I walked away with when A-Rod graced the media with an interview in San Francisco (aka Bondsville), as opposed to Colorado or Baltimore.

Robinson Cano = It was a fluke last year.

Anon

What was it in 2005 then? Why is last year a fluke but not possibly this year? Look, you don't like Cano, fine, your choice - I think you're an idiot - my choice.

We deserve a losing team....

Going into the season we all assumed this was a playoff team and a chance to win it all. It hasn't paned out and there are many reasons for it, none of which can be fixed easily. But it is amazing to me to see all the fair-weather fans that want to throw everyone, players, coaches, management, the bat boy under the bus for failure. Sometimes you get to enjoy the success and also deal with the failure. All of you that love Arod suddenly now and wanted him gone last year. Just based on his performance (not contract or opt outs or anything like that brought in). What a joke. It's the same now with every player on this team. Go down the list of players and tell me who exactly you support? Matsui no, Damon no, Melky no, Giambi no, Arod no, Clemens no. You should have never rooted for any of these guys when they were winning games for you then either. Whomever they sign or bring in here if they struggle for a month you want them gone or it is someones fault. Spoiled. If I were a player reading this stuff why would I want to play in front of you guys? I am not saying it is everyone on this blog or even close, but I will be happy enough if the Yankees seek to rebuild and not make any dumb moves, but build a future championship team while sheading some of the dead weight here. On the bright side, if they miss the playoffs this year, maybe some of the fans can go back to rooting for the Mets and jump on that band wagon.

Possibly the opposition has Cano figured out, while he hasn't been able to figure out the opposition. I hear this is very common among new players (pitchers and hitters) who have a great rookie year but don't make it any farther. I also hear that the second and third years are a better measure of a player's true worth for that very same reason. Can Cano adjust to those pitchers who are adjusting to him? That's the ultimate test.

I would add that Cano's great success last year, coupled with the fact he's playing with the Yankees, might make him more of a target and focus of the opposition than, say, a .250 hitter. You can be sure Cano's vidoes are extremely popular and greatly watched by American League pitchers and scouts.

Oh my goodness gracious!

Lucy -

This has been a crazy season on a lot of fronts - Cano is struggling, Abreu is chasing pitches, Oliver Perez looks like an ace, Andruw Jones and Julio Lugo are both hitting under .200 on the year, and the season is still not half over yet - I'm sure some of these trends will iron themselves out still.

You're all fired!

Chip, you wish the yankees had oliver perez!

Cano is a good player and I'm glad that he's a Yankee.

His problem is that he hasn't learned how to make adjustments yet.

I mentioned in other posts here, probably when we had our last losing streak, that the league has caught up to him and he now has to make adjustments.

he still is a free swinger and has a tendency to chase the high pitch. He has to learn not to do that and basically to look in one "zone" for a pitch that he can drive.

He'll learn.

Oh my goodness gracious, why are we paying clemens all this money? Oh my goodness gracious!

Did anyone notice the Newsday poll about the worst announcers? The Yankee announcers were voted numbers one and two for the worst. Just like the team on the field.

On A-Rod:

He's having a career year and i would like him to stay with the Yanks.

However,
right now we stink with him so we can stink without him and take the 25 mil and get some other players.

If he goes, he goes.

at least i have my money! suckers!

Can I have a day off? My pride hurts.

"oh my goodness gracious" was NOT posted by me, but by someone who obviously doesn't have anything intelligent to add.

Chip

Thank goodness you are not running the Yankees! Torre and Cashman can't be fired??? PaLease...just like all the off season moves and discussions, you are wrong again my friend! Torre is a bump on the log manager and Cashman keeps aquiring all the WRONG players.

I thought this team had an offense that was supposed to score 1000 runs this season??? What's the one change that might explain why soooo many of these guys look lost at the plate (Cano swings at balls over his head and then looks at strike 3 down the middle, etc)? Could it MAYBE be the hitting coach? Long should be sent out and put Donnie back as hitting coach. It's worth a try.

"Quote from posters from Sosh TheoShmeo and Cyberlibrarian - Al Osama Team The Red Satan aka Redsox -

TheoSmeo

Not at all. While it's not nearly as enjoyable when the Sox have just gotten swept and left a gazzilion men on base, it's still must see TV after a MFY loss. Between the the inevitable Torre hang dog look, the clipped Jeter cliches -- "we've got to just win, it's noting more than that" -- and the Damon stammer -- "we have got to get back on the winning track, we are a better team than we are showing" -- and, of course, the hushed tones of Michael Kay, Bob Lorenz and Ken Singleton, that show is just priceless.

Parenthetically, regarding Kay, it's bizarre how excited he gets when the opposing team hits a homer. His call of the Huff homer had to drive MFYFs nuts.

Cyberlibrarian

On his radio show in NY, he tries to convince people he's not a Yankee fan. Nobody really believes him, so I'm thinking his home run call is yet another attempt to make people believe he's impartial.

But I agree with you -- I love watching Al Yankzeera when the Yankees lose. I read somewhere that their ratings are up because non-Yankee fans are watching to see the Yankees lose.

Rick -

Does firing Torre or Cashman mid season do anything? I don't think so. Do I think Torre comes back next year? Nope. Cashman should though. Look - I said it yesterday - The Braves, who made the playoffs 14 straight years, fell apart last season, did they fire Cox? No. Did they fire the GM? No. And they would have been foolish if they had. Was Cashman acquiring all the wrong players over the last 9 years when the Yankees were winning the division title year after year after year?

You want to fire Long and move Mattingly back into that role - well it's not like Donnie is not with the team - and you've got a couple of guys having great offensive seasons so the hitting coach can't be all bad. This is just a down year - injuries and slumps happen and right now they are happening in spades.

Only a fool who knows nothing about the sport thinks his team is going to be in the playoffs every year. Since I know you are not a fool Rick, I'm chalking your attitude up to simple frustration.

A couple of comments, I love San Francisco, Napa Valley, Carmel area and would go back every chance to enjoy the offerings of these areas but live in SW Florida, an area called Sarasota.

An Arod surely loves San Fran and the ballpark but he has some particulars that need to be met. A team willing to pay $250 million over 8 years. A team that has a chance to win the WS. Three stud pitchers are a very good start but make no mistake Arod cannot singularly lead a team to the WS. He hasn't done it for the Yankees in his four years. The media frenzy is always here. Its something that he graves but must be more discretionary in his free time recreations. This goes in any town.
I will not venture a guess where he goes I said months ago that I wanted the Yankees to keep the best third baseman in baseball and I would enjoy his abilities much like the Mick. NY is ARod's kind of town but does he know it.

As far as Cano, he 24 yrs. of age. His father played professional ball and helped him possess the mentallity to make it this far. I believe his maturity on the mental side has not advanced as fast as the physical abilty to play the game. Patience, this kid canbe good. He frustrates me with every at bat this year. Last year it was his fielding. So, the elimination process is taken place of all bad faults. I believe his talent for hitting will surface in the second half. He's no different than some of young people that you meet in the real world. They mentally are not ready to pursue adulthood but eventuall find their way. Cano watches Arod, Jeter, Posada everyday and is getting first hand what it takes to be great at your trade. Patience, leave this kid alone and he will produce or we could put Gonzalez their hitting .235 or Andy Phillips get my point.

Anon, You are such a coward. I love losers like yourself. You probaly beat up as a kid. Never had a chance to beat up the bully. Now when the Yanks lose you fill vindicated. The BIG BAD YANKEES R LOSING. Get a life and go to a French or Red Sox blog

Metsy -

No I really don't wish the Yankees had Oliver Perez - he's still the same pitcher that was so bad the Pirates were happy to be rid of him.

PLEASE don't go to SAN FRAN A-Rod. Although it would be 1 city where he won't be tempted by any straight beauties.

The Redsox are New Big Bully in town.... Hail Luficer... All Redsox players pleads their allegiance to Satan .

I mean Lucchino =lucifer

Outstanding post, dayanks65.

Too many fans take this team for granted and should taste some losing for awhile to appreciate what this team accomplished over a span of 12 seasons.

Every dominant team has to fall on their faces sooner or later (Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, UCLA Basketball, Alabama Football, Miami Hurricanes Football, USC Football, Edmonton Oilers, the old Yanks with Mick towards the end of his career) and the current Yanks are no exception.

listen Chip I agree with your stance but lets get into the real here.

the team had a 9 game stretch with wins closed the lead to 71/2 games with Boston then proceeded to lose another bunch of games and let a struglling sox team actually pick up 3 games even by playing 500 ball. Reality the yankee team is not consistant we can blame players until we're blue. Donnie is there but is not INVOLVED fully in the every day hitting coach duties. This team could be a challenge for LONG and perhaps Donnie should move back to that role full time and devot his time in improving the hitting. if there is a window to make a run then we need to pursue it and having non consitancy on the playing and coaching level is not helping.

DO we fire Torre ?? I'll lead to no but if he is shot and we need that boost then why not , lets say a Girardi comes in and the team does'nt make the playoff's but ends the season on a tear just missing the playoff's and leaving that hungry taste in their mouths for next year.

Brain Cashman - he should not make another deal after this season, you referred to his 9 year run.

That is overrating him. He inherited a team already in progress from the Gene Michael days and Inherited a good system from bob watson. he did good deals in giving jeter and bernie contracts his major additions were adding a scott Brosius Chuck K. and Dave Justice and Glenn allen hill who helped lend some energy to carry the team to the WS and of course AROD deal is his best one. Mussina and other say it was Torre that convinced them to sign.

Giambi was supposed to be his big splash and it did'nt work , plus it was said George was behind that deal, Sheffield in 04 was a great sign again george's idea.

Vlad was'nt pursued hard enough for him to think the yankees was serious.

Pedro called

Beltran begged

Cashman ignored and said he was good with Bernie or Bubba and HAD to settle with Damon who looked like a good sign.

You do not let a Beltran walk away.

I will not go into this year.

Bomber,

Beltran was a year before Damon - and outside of last year Carlos has looked over-matched in NY

Vlad was rejected because George wanted Sheff

Pedro pitched one year longer than Pavano and has been on the shelf since.

Hey Chip, have you watched Oliver Perez pitch this year, such as when he beat the Yankees? Enough said.

Hail the new kings of ny: the Mets!

Again!

Give me $180mil right now or I'm gone. Got it, homey!

Look, Mets lose all the time, every year. Please forgive me for acting like an idiot when they are having a winning streak. I'm just enjoying these wins while I can. Yankees kick Met butt every year, so please allow me to chew my little bone.

Will Wang be able to pitch a shutout tonight and get the Yankees on the right track?

waaahhh, waaaah, boo-hoo, boo-hoo, mama is calling me for beddy bye time. let me find my passafyer and my blankie so I can go sleepie poo. Nighty night all you awesome Yankees fans.

waahh, waaaah, boo-hoo, boo-hoo. mean mommy, mean mommy.

only a wimp would call himself metsy.

We go own 1-2-3 in the 1st on what, 7 pitches?

Someone wake this sleepy team up!!!

Wow, Bedard is just flat out amazing. What would the 95 - 01 Yanks have done against him?

The USA Today had a huge story on the best high school baseball players in the country. (No, not in China or Japan, it was our beloved USA! USA! USA!)

Hopefully Cashman got a copy of the paper.

Keep stocking the farm like Tampa Bay and sooner or later some will develop or we can trade them. Some of the injured players we got for RJ and Sheff could still pan out. ER is lights out and there is a lot of talent pitching wise ... the young kids ...

Who knew so many would slump so badly all at the same time?

I don't think Salty is going anywhere. And I don't think any of the trades I proposed are being contemplated ... (Sowers, Catalanatto) but as Ruse, CA. once wrote everyone wants to either be an owner or player or coach or GM.

It is fun to speculate.

We need to make lots of moves and fast, I don't know what the inertia is?

But then again I am not too bright. We can't afford to be sanguine about any of this ... especially when we don't know what sanguine means ...

On a personal note, I have been asked to donate many of my photos from all around the world to a pretty amazing charity looking to raise US$ 35K, so that was pretty neat, a nice way to start the day!

Thought for the day ...

Lucy is Uber!!!

Go Yankees!

From hot and humid St. Louis (Hong Kong meets Phoenix),

Ant

YOU DO KNOW DJ GOT US THE LEAD YES??

DIANE!!!

RUSE!!

LUCY!!

DIANE LOL

CASUAL??

I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN ABANDONED!!!

Amazing that i though it was going to unravel in the 6th inning. Boy at least it went to the 7th and then it happened. Did we think Abreu was going to catch that ball? I dont know about you but if that was me in my Sunday softball league i would of dove for the freaking ball. Maybe Bobby should play soccer like the rest of his people. What a wossy!! And now for our future this in from ESPN radio with Michael Kay. If you heard Cashman this afternoon with Michael Kay the more you realize how lost this team is. He was waxing poetic about our starters (Chamberlin, Kennedy, Horne)Here's Cashman I tried to stockpile pitchers who will be major league ready. They will be contributing to this team for 6-10 years." This is such a crap shoot. Don't start feeding fans with this BS. I though Brien Taylor was the next Sandy Koufax? What a bunch of bull he's feeding us. This guy has a track record for knowing pitching? Please. I just wish this season could end and that fool would get fired. Torre's glass slipper fell off. He should go kiss Buck Showalter, Gene Michael, Bob Watson's collective asses. He is the perfect guy to keep this losing going. Just look at his track record with the Mets, Braves, Cardinals. So their you go.

George are you sleeping? Where are you? Are you alive? Can we hear from you instead of your publicist?

Memo to Red Sox and Met fans. Before you start with your dynasty talk win a three in a row. Not three in 95 years. And not three in 50 years for the Met fans. Finally if we Yankee fans could stop listening to WFAN from 10-6pm then our voices could be heard. I am tired of those Met fan host(and Yankee bashers) getting ratings from berating our team. They are a Mets station so let them have the Mets fans as their audience. I would rather listen to Michael Kay. He doesn't piss you off when he talks about the Yankees. He's tough on them but you don't have the childish antics of WFAN. That's my rant.

Have a great night!!!

From the NY Times:

The Yankees are no longer interested in trading for Teixeira, who is on the disabled list and will command a better offer than they will be willing to make.

The Yankees are leery of dipping into the depth they have built in their farm system to make a trade for short-term help. That explains their reluctance to jump at Los Angeles Angels first baseman Shea Hillenbrand, who was told he would be designated for assignment on Friday.

The Yankees would take Hillenbrand, but only if the Angels paid almost all of his salary and accepted very little — probably a low-level prospect — in return. Hillenbrand is making $6 million this season and is batting .254, with an on-base percentage of only .275.

General Manager Brian Cashman is considering almost anything at this point, and if the Yankees do not get Hillenbrand, they may turn to Shelley Duncan to see if he can help at first base. Duncan, the brother of Chris Duncan of the St. Louis Cardinals, is batting .302 with 19 home runs and 58 runs batted in for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Anthony, thanks for your uber compliment. You are so sweet -- and generous with that very special and unique charitable contribution. Hats off to you.

Michael, sorry I couldn't keep you company last night, but I'm here mostly mornings, occasionally in the afternoon, but you will almost never see me here past 7 pm. When the Yankees start playing, I'm usually off-line. Maybe when they start winning again more regularly you'll find more companionship during the games. I'm glad to see you holding up the fort, though, even during the bad innings. Kudos to you.

But I will acknowledge, Michael, that was a great come-back in the 8th by Derek. I'm just pissed that the game wasn't called rather than suspended. I've never seen 1 1/2 innings resumed at a future date due to a rain-out. I guess Mora got his accusatory ranting across quite clearly to the umpire, not accepting the fact that he was merely allowing Jeter to finish his long at-bat as the rain steadily increased. What nonsense!

Lucy -

I think the rule is that a game can't end with the home team losing until they get to bat. I could be completely wrong about that though.

Why not the Latter?
honestly I was impressed with Phillips at bats. to keep fouling them off was good to see, I would call up a few Youth maybe the scranton vibe would carry over

Bomber -

I don't get the impression that Duncan is much of a prospect - he's 27 I think and strikes out a ton. He's basically Shane Spencer type.

As for Phillips, he's not exactly "youth" at 30.

your correct chip that is known.

However it can be argued that the game could have been called off with a tie score and PP'd your right on the home team issue casue the met game was called with the mets wining

Ok I did'nt know the guys age , but there must be some kind of vibe on that scranton team that possibly could carry over and affect t he big club mainly the Melky's Andy , even cano must know some of them.

Jeter was here in 95 with Andy then Posada in 96 correct

Chip, you could be right, but I thought the rule was that they had to play five (or six?) innings with the home team getting last licks in that inning. Beyond that inning, I didn't think it mattered because it's already considered a complete game. If the Orioles had to have last licks no matter what, why was Mora arguing so vehemently? I would think he'd be familiar with the rules.

I can honestly say I've never seen a game resumed a month or two later for the sake of playing 1 1/2 innings. I think if the home team always had to have last licks no matter what the inning, you'd see more resumed games of this nature. My understanding could be wrong though.

Well I think the point Mora was making was that the umps screwed up by taking the tarp off the field in the first place. I can't argue with him on it. The game was official - the weather was horrible - it should have been called right there - by starting it up again it looked (I'm not saying this was the case) like the umps were trying to give the Yankees a chance to come back. Like I said, I don't think that was the case, but I can see how the O's would be ticked about the decision.

Lucy,

New rule this year on suspended games.

Lucy -

If that was Yankee stadium it would have rioted if the game was called the same exact way. the only issue is the timing of the game being Susp. to play an inning and a half is crazy but it is what it is. Me personally i would have told mora you want to continue? I dare you to try and get three outs in this weather. the conditions was changing by the second. No need to risk injury on behalf of bad game calling

The Yanks luck out since I beleive the old rule would have rolled the scoring back to the last fully completed inning which would have left the score at 4-4 Orioles and they would have gotten the W. In an attempt to not erase performances that have occurred they changed the rule to allow the Stats if you will to stand. The same with tie games, they get resumed and the stats are kept in the books.

Bomber -

I'm with you in principle - I would rather see guys like Henn, Edwar Ramirez, Eric Duncan, Bronson Sardhina up if the team is going to lose - rather than a Villone, Myers, Cairo, or Doug M. but I don't think the team is there yet - I'm betting that if things haven't turned around by the All-Star Break the Yankees will use the time to remove some veterans and install some young players.

As far as Shelley Duncan is concerned what does it matter if he's 27 and a Shane Spencer type?
Duncan:
OBP .383
SLG .576
BB 36
SO 70
AB 262
HR 19
RBI 58

Cashman is an idiot.He finds it fiscally worthwhile to spend 20+ million for Clemens and 11+ mil per for Mussina but wants to save a few million on a professional hitter who might help the Yanks.IDIOT.

I 'm glad Cashman is holding the line with reaching out and grabbing every fix at the trade deadline. Torre indicated that Phillips hitting in the 9th hole is a compliment to the people already in the lineup than give the him AB's and lets see if he can do it. This is not last year. He's not going to hurt you fielding wise and I'm sure can hit as much as DM. He reached the seats on Thursday got one swing and almost put it out. He sacrificed which helped the club.

Don't mortgage the future for a fix on and underachieving team which I believe unofficially the Yankees have decided to let the chips fall where they may. One guy can't change it. Once again I'd dump Meyers at least and bring up Henn. If, a trade for Farnsworth comes about then move up Britton if the return is a prospect.

We are now going on what 3 months of talk about the young guys you shouldnt give up and not mortgaging the future, yet we have seen a parade of young guys and future Yankees come through and not one is a keeper yet. So just who the heck are you guys talking about?

LARRY

So Phillips hit a solo HR? Isn't that what he's paid to do ?He also popped up w/the bases loaded if he had gotten a hit would have blown the game open for NY.
Paying a few million for Hillenbrand isn't going to hurt NY in the long run and is not even much of a gamble.
I'm sure the Tex sweepstakes are far from being over.

Hey this is the Umpire.

The game was playable if the pitchers knew how to throw stikes the game would have been over faster. so stop the crying , my guy gave you Yankees a Break, so be quiet if you cannot hold a two run lead for a Inning and a Half then MLB is not your home.

Nudge, thanks for clarification of the new rules. I feel better now. But under the old rules, how would the Oriole have won with a tied score of 4-4? Or did you mean 6-4?

Chip, if Mora didn't want the game to continue, he should have argued at the appropriate time, when the tarps were taken off the field. Once the game resumes, his argument becomes too self-serving to be given any merit.

Bomber, you're right, no team wants a game to be called when they're losing, but the weather conditions should prevail and the umpire is supposed to make an objective decision. Somebody is going to be unhappy, but that's life in the big leagues. I'm just glad we're winning, with men still on base, going into the next at-bat come July 27.

Nudge -

Giving up on a young player after this small a sample size is what often leads to making mistakes. Not every player is going to be Andruw Jones or Miguel Cabrera and burst onto the scene with great success. Some scuffle their first couple of times out before settling in.

Ruse - I wasn't saying Duncan shouldn't get called up, I was just responding to Bomber's comment about wanting to add youth to the team - at 27 I don't think Duncan represents 'youth' could he be a passable player? Sure, why not. But I don't know that there's any difference between him, Josh Phelps and Andy Phillips. I get the feeling that why Phillips got the nod over Duncan this time around are his experience and he's probably a better defender at the position than Duncan is.

Nudge makes a good point about the duds who have thus far come up from the farm system. Cashman had better be right about the perceived talent that still lies within, since they are going to be relied upon to carry the Yankees in the future. These guys are unproven at Major League level and it may take them years to develop once they hit the big leagues. They are a gamble. I still personally prefer proven veterans who may miss occasional games with injuries rather than some energetic kids who are, in reality, purely hit or miss at a higher level of play.

Too add on to Chip, Phillips power numbers were only a notch back from duncans - Translation would that mean anything in the Bigs. WHo knows , maybe if we started a handful of rookies in the lineup it probally can change things.

I know this is old but I keep going back to SPring Training, we won most of our games becasue of the rookies and once we took them out we started looking dull,

Chip I think either you are Ruse, or Rick noticed this as well.

The energy was incredible

I would add that infusing youth into a team can take many years, since we just don't know the major league potential of many of these players. They may come and go in that hit or miss fashion I just referred to. Building the team with the farm system is certainly very doable, but it could be very, very time consuming. Do Yankees fans really want to wait several more years as we sift through the farm system for keepers?

Lucy,

I don't think we have seen duds - Hughes looked like the real deal before getting hurt. DeSalvo, Wright and Clippard showed flashes but lacked consistency.

Those guys especially compiled very good minor league stats by throwing out of the zone and getting minor league hitters to chase. That obviously doesn't work as well on the major league level where hitters are more patient. I'm not saying they'll be studs, they probably will at best be 4th or 5th guys, maybe pen arms - but at a time when those type of pitchers are commanding $10 mil a year, doesn't it make as much sense to cultivate them as it does to cultivate potential aces like Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy?

CHIP

My gut feeling is the Yanks will move Abreu by the trade deadline.If Damon's legs are OK he goes back to CF and Melky gets the nod in RF at least temporarily.DH goes to either Duncan or Hillenbrand and 1B to Phillips barring any unforeseen trade(s).

Nudge: the Yankee future immediately rests with pitching at the AAA level and AA. No positional players are ready or qualified to be promoted from AAA.

Ruse, Ca. Hillenbrand's presence only masks the idea that the Yankees are making a run at it. His addition will not change ineffective hitting and weak relief pitching. Phillips can handle the position as well if left alone as Hillenbrand would be handled.

If the Yankees can't hit enough with their present lineup then so be it. This is my interpretation of the Yankee brass's actions or inactions. Look at the lineup who should you change based on stats of prior years. They are underachieving and thats that.

I don't believe Spring Training is a good litmus test for success since the opposing team also plays their rookies. Oftentimes, the starting pitcher is taken out after 2 or 3 innings and replaced with experimental pitchers. Many pitchers are merely concerned with building stamina while being kept to a low pitch count; or they may be practicing a particular pitch they're trying to perfect (which should already be perfected by the time regular season rolls around). Spring Training is merely one big practice session, so it's hard to give performance level too much weight.

Bomber - I think what we are seeing with guys like Phelps and Phillips before him is that not everyone is made to be a reserve player. What I mean is that lots of hitters are rhythm hitters - when they only play once a week they can't get in that groove - so while Andy, playing every day in the minors, is able to put up very respectable numbers, he comes up, sits, and then can't hit, which in turn forces Joe to sit him more.

Lucy -

The farm system was so depleted over the last couple of years that the Yankees did not have any prospects at the high minor levels, but they have been touted for a while as having very good prospects in the lower levels - those guys are now starting to move higher through the system - will all of them make it? Of course not, but Hughes will be back in the rotation by August, Chamberlain and Kennedy are on track to possibly contribute to the Yankees by the start of next season, Humberto Sanchez will be back from surgery giving the Yankees yet another plus arm (and possibly one that they can put in front of Rivera without having to worry). The picks of Andrew Brackman and Chris Carpenter in the draft are being lauded as terrific moves (despite the fact Brackman probably needs TJ surgery) Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson are progressing along nicely - and we'll have to see what happens with some of the other guys.

I would rather wait for a year or two than trade those guys away for aging veterans who may help us this year, but will leave us worse off down in the next.