Even though Bobby Abreu was 1-for-4 Friday night, Joe Torre thought his at-bats were “quality” and moved him back into the No. 3 spot for Saturday. “This is where I want him to succeed. I’m more comfortable with him there,” Torre said. Abreu’s only real hot streak this season corresponded to the Yankees’ 14-3 stretch so Torre obviously hopes the formula will work again. Unfortunately, Abreu went 0-for-3 Saturday and was booed after striking out in the eighth.
Here’s the Saturday lineup:
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada C
Matsui LF
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Phillips 1B
Torre also said he had spoken to Kyle Farnsworth about the reliever’s latest meltdown. Farnsworth was upset at being removed with two outs and two on in the eighth inning Friday night. “I can understand his frustration. He’s a passionate guy,” Torre said. But the manager pointed out that Mariano Rivera was the man called on to get a four-out save on Friday, a reliever he called the best he’s ever seen. Torre’s message to the fiery Farnsworth: Don’t do it again. “I don’t think it’s an issue,” Torre declared.
Comments (57)
And THAT'S the ballgame!
When the Yankees lost 7-0, I thought "You know what this team needs? A firstbaseman on DL!"
I think there is a malfunction at the Newsday junction?
This team will be fine in the long run if they can stockpile the rotation with studs next season.
It may be a tall order, but they need to do whatever it takes to get Zambrano in pinstripes this off-season. He is inclined to stay in the NL, so they are going to have to do a recruiting job for the ages to persuade him to come to the Bronx.
People in Yankeeland are going to insist on picking up more bats, but I say they need to stack the rotation and fill the lineup gaps as best they can with solid but not necessarily All-Star caliber players. Solid bats are much easier to find on the FA market than a frontline starting pitcher.
Imagine a Yankee rotation of Wang, Zambrano, Pettitte, Hughes, and Moose with Joba Chamberlain getting some action at some point during 2008.
It is no coincidence that the Yanks were at their best during the dynasty when they had a strong rotation that compared with any in MLB. It is the lack of starting pitching that has kept the Yanks out of the WS since 2003.
This is a strategy that could work as soon as next season. It works for Oakland year after year and their offense is always among the bottom half in the AL.
The bullpen will certainly benefit as a result because they won’t be overworked so much. We’ve already seen that they can be an effective bunch when given the proper rest and a few of these guys probably won’t be brought back next season (Myers, Villone, and perhaps Vizcaino).
Unfortunately, there are too many immovable contracts throughout the lineup that prohibits the team from making certain moves until they are off the books. Cashman has made his bed with some of these guys, so he’s going to have to sleep in it for awhile.
Until then, the team will be fine if they can sign solid FAs like Aaron Rowand instead of the ridiculous cash they would have to spend on players like Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, or Ichiro Suzuki.
This team can be great again as soon as next season. They just need to make the right moves in certain areas for that to happen.
Don't worry Yankee fans... it's only April. There's lots of time to turn this around!
All you need is one big winning streak and a bunch of games against struggling teams like the Giants, Orioles and A's and everything will be back on track
Oh wait
Nice job by the boys today, they had 1 hit. What more do you want? And, Igawa is clearly worth $46 million, right Cash? Billy Martin is rolling over in his grave, I'm puking my guts out, and the BOSS just sits there doing nothing!
Players do come back from being on the DL and often they're healthy ????
The 2 positions that are offensively killing the Yanks right now are 1B and RF and the 3rd and 8th place hitters in the lineup.It's not a coincidence that Abreu and the 1B for the day are usually the 3rd and 8th place hitters.
Andy Phillips since his callup is 2-17 a real shot in the arm.
I don't agree about the bullpen being an effective bunch.Proctor and Farnsworth positively suck and are not winning type pitchers w/ Myers not being far behind.
THE REAL LOSERS HERE:
CARL MAYS
SULKY
What did I do?
I am pointing out that the Teixera desire doesn't come within 500,000 miles of making sense
Adding a SWH HR bat and a gold glover at 1B makes perfectly good sense.To me it does ,maybe not to the next person.The Oakland A's have more HRs than NY.
Team can lead the league in OBP but what does it matter if you have no one driving them in.Plus lefty pitching is killing NY.Check the numbers.
Getting Teixera now doesn't make any sense because they would have to give up Hughes, or Chamberlain to get him.
Why mortgage the future of your rotation for a guy that will be a FA at the end of 2008?
Cashman has already said that he's not trading those guys anyways.
Getting Teixera now doesn't make any sense because they would have to give up Hughes or Chamberlain to get him.
Why mortgage the future of your rotation for a guy that will be a FA at the end of 2008?
Cashman has already said that he's not trading those guys anyways.
If you heard the post game comments from YES it was very interesting to listen to Jorge Posada. He kind of intimated that some guys were out there going through the motions. Can it be Abreu? Or maybe Cano? Or maybe Matsui? I have real problem with Abreu and Cano. Matsui has done it before with this team. He's actually had success here. Like i said a million times on this blog. The Yankees have to make a choice. The teacher or the pupil. Get rid of the player or the hitting coach. And if this continues(which it has) then you have to make the choice of getting rid of the manager or the GM. Or how about this both!!
Peace
Take care and enjoy your weekend. Don't let this horrible baseball ruin your weekend!
Proctor stinks. Fire Cashman
Bill James says...
A few minutes ago, I got curious... what really is wrong with the Yankees? Why don't we have more wins? Taking a look at the Bill James Pythagoreon Theorem (or ESPN's derived ExpectedWins stat) the Yankees Expected Win-Loss record is 44-33. Their current actual record is 37-40. This is a -7 game gap, which is by far and away the biggest in baseball. Arizona is +6 in their actual record, but then again, they play in the NL West.
Taking a closer look at the numbers, we see the Giants are second worst in wins translating to their ExWins total, coming in a -5.
So here's the question.... why, when the Yankees have decent numbers, are they so bloody bad?
I hate to bring it down to all one stat, but is it really all about the 1-run games in which we have a brutal record this season? If we were performing to our ExWins total, we'd be 5 games back of Boston... funny how a season goes.
Anyway, thoughts anyone?
Cashman - " We like Proctor's Arm, He had tremedous makeup. right now He's suffering from fatigue for being overused.
Joe -" Right now, Scottie doesn't trust his stuff, His loses his released point and mechanics out of whacked. It's all about confidence with him"
Sign free agents Buehrle, Zambrano,Nathan,Hunter and Itchy.
Dump Abreu,Clemens,Pettitte,Moose and the highest paid player in the game this year Giambi-$23,428,571
Trade Melky and Farnsworth to the Braves for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.They will need a CF after Jones bolts and they always liked Farnsworth plus you will break up the 3 Amigos-
Cano-Melky and Abreu something that is needed to save Cano's career.
Oh yes, when Clueless Joe is shown the gate lets hope he leaves with Gator and Donny Baseball under each arm.
I think our horrendous start in April, due to an unprecedented number of injuries to so many crucial players, leaving us in the dust so early on, is the reason for that 7-game deficit. Once recovered, the team was expected to win every game, which placed a lot of pressure on players that weren't up to the task. Under normal circumstances, their performance might have been exceptional, but being forced to excel on a daily basis might be too much to ask less-seasoned players like Melky, Cano, Phillips, in addition to those rookie pitchers who were asked to carry an already decimated team. A losing streak or a two- or three-game loss during a normal season is expected and acceptable and expected; the same scenario is devastating to this team that has been playing catch-up since April.
Jacoby Ellsbury has been called by Satan, I mean The Redsox to replaced Crisp who's going to Dl
Trade either Kennedy or Chamberlain, Tabata, and a "marginal" prospect and get TEX once he's off the DL. When the 3 hole in the Yankee batting order has been productive, this lineup has scored plenty of runs. Since the 3 hole has "gone dry", the Yankee offense has been non- existent. Hillenbrand is not the answer. I'd rather see a minor leaguer like Duncan get the opportunity to show what he can do, than bring in a "stop gap" like Hillenbrand. Cashman has been entrusted with carte blanche over a $200 million dollar team. He needs to show some leadership, and either trade for TEX, or send up the white flag and give the prospects their chance at the big league level. Currently, he is doing absolutely nothing.
Teixera isn't coming to the Yanks -- at least, not now.
Obviously, some people here haven't learned from the mistakes of old.
Trader Vic, do you even hear yourself?
Yeah! Sign a bunch of high priced free agents! That's the ticket!
That's worked soooooooo well recently!
What makes Zambrano/Hunter/Beuhrle/Nathan ANY different from Unit/Brown/Vasquez/Damon/Giambi/Pavano etc?
We don't need Tex, Posada and Damon can split time at 1B and DH with Salty filling in for Posada behind the plate.
Um... Teixera is INJURED!
How does an injured player help your team?
Also, FYI, he isn't a middle reliever
He's a hitter
Who
Is
On
The
Disabled
List
My view is that it's unfair to promote minor leaguers in an attempt to save and carry a losing team. My feeling is that minor leaguers with great potential should be brought up at the beginning of the season or when the team is doing well enough so that these kids are not being asked to win out of desperation. It's too much to ask of inexperienced newbies whose careers might be ruined as a result of being asked to perform an impossible task. I mean, if big shot MLBers can't do it, why should anyone expect them to?
thats right, bring in a whole new group of mercenaries, what a brilliant idea1...typical yankee fans, lets get rid of this guy and bring in that guy. I have a great idea,why not just play the game like evry other team and draft some good young talent and play them, even if it means not making the playoffs for a year or two.Stop being vultures by trying to steal stars from the other teams, whos best years are always the year befor the yankees aquir them!also, its time to strip jeter of his captaincy, his greatest claim to fame is allowing his team while up 3-0 in the playoffs to party prematurely and then get swept! he's not the true champion everyone makes hime out to be, he just went along for a ride early in his career. He should be traded for some young arms at this point, we already have a better shortstop than him, why do we need two star shortstops when there's so many holes????
Bring in Texiera? Isn't that what is wrong with the Yankees right now? Too many homerun hitters and superstars with big contracts. Yeah he is the answer.He would fit in great with the rest of these sluggers who have not been slugging anything lately. I hope the Yanks stay far away from him and the contract he would look for. Let's focus on pitching,pitching and more pitching because as of now the Babe Ruth little league in Brooklyn has a better bullpen then us.
Right now the Yanks have 1 just 1 bonafide HR hitter.AROD.Giambi was the other one but as you well know he's always hurt.I don't think Posada and Matsui are 30+ HR types.They might contribute 40 between them.
Abreu has warning track power .There is absolutely no production from 1B or DH to speak of.Last time I looked Tex was making 6 mil per and is 27 yrs old.
Obviously none of us are watching the same baseball games.
Sammy is major league baseball a communist organization? Should teams take turns winning and losing? I find you UNAMERICAN with your comments that the Yankees should just lose and take it in stride like every one else. That is so stupid. They should not try and win? Is this why other fans hate the Yankees because they try and use all their resources to win every year? If so then again its another reason to be thankful that we don't root for losers that the likes of Sammy does. If you were a fan of the Yankees, and you where stating that they should be smart in their pursuit of options that would be one thing. But that was not the case with your posting.
Take care
Abreu has warning track power? The Yankees play in a little league park! What ARE you talking about?
For the rest of you NL bashers I have this: We've seen what the Yankees can DO in NL parks, especially in the NL West, so your sounding like complete and utter idiots.
Speaking of idiots, people who simply WANT the Yankees to get ANYONE just like that is a little immature and assumptive. Please keep those wishes and wet dreams to yourself, you indeed sound pretty dumb.
Six moces that need to be done in off-season if not before:
1. Give A-Rod extension
2. Trade for Texeria and extend.
3. Hire Girardi to manage.
4. Bring up Hughes, Joba, Horne, Ramierez, and Britton.
Get rid of Myers, Villone, Basak, Phillips, Nieves, etc.
5. Sing Ichiro, get Abreu out of here.
I don't get the Yes Network but would be very interested if Posada indicated the slackers in anyway. I would find it hard to believe Cano has mailed it in. I believe Abreu has and is overwhelmed with the NY expectations.Posada does the catching. I wonder if Igawa is going through the motions.
Sammy Davis Jr.,
1. Have to agree with you.
2. Trading for Teixiera is going to require either Hughes, Chamberlain, and/or Tabata in the deal. After all of this, do you really want to absolutely devastate our farm system once again for a player who has one more year on his contract?
3. Girardi would be a great choice for Yankees manager AFTER this season. Fact is that this season is most likely lost already. And as Yankees fans, we owe it to Torre not to embarrass him after everything he has done for this organization.
4. Chamberlain and Horne are dominating AA-ball. Unless you want another Ryan Bradley on your hands, I think it would be best to let them progress as the Yankees have been doing. Can't argue with Ramirez and/or Britton. Although, Ramirez has iffy stuff and will probably be hit in the MLB. Britton has been good wherever he's been, so why he is not up is beyond me.
5. Once again, throwing money around at high-priced veteran free agents is the recipe for disaster. Ichiro will be 34 when he becomes a FA. He'll require a minimum 4 or 5 year deal. Do you see what's happening to Damon? Expect the same to happen to Ichiro. If you're going to invest big money in a player, do it when they are b/w 28 and 32. Anything else is asking for disaster.
Sammy, where'd you get your information on Jeter letting everyone "party" up 3-0. Please give me a source for this as I've never seen anyone make that claim before. Jeter went along for the ride? Might want to pull up his playoff numbers, they're actually pretty good. People who actually know what they are talking about (this doesn't include you) know he's been good in the playoffs and has been a major contributor. Look at the year he's having this year for crying out loud! Come up for some air once in a while, will ya? For the life of me, I can't figure out why some people just want to bash this guy.
Roy, why the daily posts of "send some talented but unproved AA'ers to Texas for Tex" comment? Why would they do this? Tabata, last time I checked wasn't having a good year. Neither guy has proven that they can do this against AAA players let alone MLB'ers. Why would you assume they wouldn't want major league ready talent in return? How would they ever sell this to their fans? Is this really better than just taking a chance with two compensatory picks? I'm sure you'll wait a few days and throw that nonsense back up on the board, but for the life of me, I don't know why. Bottom line, no Hughes, no Tex, and Cash ain't doing it. Now please stop with the nonsense.
if orlando cabrerra (angels ss) were with the yanks instead of jeter for all these years, the yanks would have still won 4 titles, if arod or even tejada were the ss of the yanks all along, the yanks would have 5 or 6 titles during the same time period.please don't mention the "flip" play against oakland because that has got to be one of the most overrated plays there have ever been. jeter's cookie cutter cliche's may sound like he's a winner, but his actions(shunning arod, separating the team into pre and post championship teamates say otherwise.....trade him, save a bundle and build around the true superstar (arod)
ps: thanks jetes for talking clemens into coming back, maybe you can go back to your glory days again!
Sammy you must of been watching Jeter with your two glass eyes all these years. Because even with one you would of saw greatness. Did you forgot all the clutch hits and homeruns that Jeter had for the Yankees? Remember 2000, 2001? Homerun off of Leiter in game 5 of the World Series? You probaly don't root for the Yankees. I know Met and Red Sox fans hate him because his so good. But if you truly are a Yankees fan then the only thing that explains your stupidity is that you have two glass eyes!!
Quote from Ron Guidry in Ny dailynews
"Maybe they're just dead tired," pitching coach Ron Guidry said of Proctor and Myers. "We abused them the first month and a half of the season."
Proctor's frustration was obvious even before his burning ceremony. He said he would understand if Torre had lost confidence in him.
"I wouldn't trust (myself) right now the way I am throwing," Proctor said. "It's pretty pathetic."
Are you kidding me? They're just dead tired? No, just say Proctor and Myers are both s*ck .
Future looks even worse than present
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/07/01/2007-07-01_pity_the_pinstripes.html
Bill Madden says Future looks even worse than present. Omg, Madden is clueless sob. Is it because Yankees doesn't have position players for the future? I can't believe this guy still have a job as journalist. The Yankees have Tabata, Carlos Urena, Austin Jackson, Brett Gardner, Vecchinonacci. Did I mentioned that They also drafted Carmen Angellini in this year draft? Can someone please email this clown Bill Madden bmadden@edit.nydailynews.com.
Ramirez is up...but Torre won't use him unless the game is a blowout, like he did with Britton who pitched great and was sent right back down so even though Ramirez is on the roster don't look for him to pitch if Torre is still managing....Carlos Pena was playing 1B for Columbus last year 105 games and did pretty good, then Yank released him, now he is playing well for the DRays and mentioned as a possible trade ...great job Cashman, we could have kept him for this year..he plays great defense and hits better than Minky and was not coming off surgery...do you plan for the future at all?????...can we please have Gene Michael back running this....Torre thanks for all you have done but your time is up...bring in Bobby Valentine or Giradi and the youth, trade off some guys and get ready for next year....Mattingly needs more time to learn, he is not ready yet.....I am OK with not making the playoffs, but not OK with trying to be mediocre and watching guys not trying and taking 3 pitch at bats, get some guys up here(Britton, Duncan, play Phillips more) who want to fight and lets get some positives out of this season before its too late....
Larry, below is Posada's quote, and I'm sure if he was any more specific, it would have been front page news.
"Posada said that Gaudin didn't have no-hit stuff; the Yankees just couldn't find gaps and didn't come through. "I'm not talking about unlucky," Posada said. "I just think luck comes when you go after it. It seems like, at times, we just go through the motions. Today is one of those cases. That's the way it is. I think everybody knows what I'm talking about."
Lucy: Thanks, I thought it was more specific toward individuals. Jorge's comment speaks volums of the mentallity of this team.
I'm so surprised as to the mental condition of such proven performers. If this is the case then we should move some out and some of young guys on the big club.
baseball is american sport mostly and players from other countries may not care to win world series same way as americans...they get paid more money on one day than whole year in native country...too much money can make players lazy...living too good life can be distraction...poor and hungry better than rich and lazy...
Teixiera is EXACTLY what we need (only if we can sign him to an extension). He is a young switch hitter with power, and he plays gold glove 1B. He would be one more solid young piece that we could build the future around for years to come. As far as prospects go, they are just that and nothing more. I say go for it as long as the number of prospects is reasonable.
When is Cashman going to own up to the fact that Igawa is a bust? I actually believe (as Jorge said) that some guys were going through the motions yesterday. But, on the other hand, I can understand why when they see Igawa on the mound. They probably figure why bust my ass when this clown is going to give up the game anyway.
Cashman put the current Yankee team together, and if he is going to do nothing to fix\improve it, he should be "fired" immediately. What is he there for? He should be thanked for re-stocking the farm system, and "escorted" by security from Yankee Stadium. To do nothing while this team struggles is grounds for termination. Once Torre's "security blanket" is gone, he will soon follow.
bad bad moves or no moves...sounds like black sox visiting new york
Roy and Rick: I don't find fault with your comments with Tex. But he's one part. There are other parts Igawa is going to be a bust. This was evident from the Youtube video. Mussina signed through next year. Damon our 4th OF, no backup catcher.We could go on and On. How about no 8th inning setup man. It might be time for Cashman to move on. Leaving Torre to finish out the year with younger players getting 80+ games of OJT. The WC is our only salvation and we have to play .590 ball. Its not happening.
I would love the Stick to come back.
Rick, trust me, if Cash doesn't include Hughes, you aren't getting Tex. Period. And as other have pointed out before, a) right now he's hurt and b) his numbers away from cozy arlington the last few seasons aren't that great. When the Yanks won in the past, it was pitching, and since we have so many holes, trading our best pitching prospect and the cloesest thing to a can't miss number one starter makes little sense. Time will prove I'm right, we aren't trading for Tex. If it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside though, keep dreaming about it.
Sammy, you've been added to the "don't bother to respond list." Jeter's numbers compare favorably to many of the Yankees' legends. He is almost certainly a future HOF'er and has an outside shot at 4000 hits. He has made one clutch play after another in the post season to support his all around good numbers. Your speculation that we would have done this or that with another guy is just oral flatulence (Arod, really, have you seen the guys post season numbers?) Many fans of other teams hate him because of this, and I'm going to chalk you up as being one of those guys...
new york black sox...getting paid great money and not winning...maybe no bribes but its criminal...
I've been talking up Teixeira for months now.
Bloggers who suggest that his numbers are better at Arlington are correct but isn't that often the case ? Players who are acclimated to their home ballpark generally hit better there?
Tex has posted good numbers at Yankee Stadium.And like I've said over and over again he crushes lefties.
Also it's not the Yankees fault the Rangers can't keep their players under contract.The Rangers are faced w/ the fact most competitive teams have good 1B maybe w/the exceptions of NY,Atlanta.Atlanta isn't going to mortgage their future on a 1B,They don't have that kind of money.Baltimore doesn't have the depth in their farm system to match any offer the Yanks can make.
Texas is faced w/ either holding on to Tex until the end of 2008 in which case the 2 draftees they receive as compensation will take another 3-5 yrs to develop or trade Tex off now for a few decent prospects.
If Texas decides to trade Tex other teams will wait them out to the last minute which puts Texas in a compromised situation.
Texas also wants to unload Millwood,Gagne and any number of their plus 35 yr olds.
I seriously doubt the Yanks will trade any of these pitchers:
Hughes
Chamberlain
Kennedy
Horne
but could make an offer like this:
Marquez
Miranda 1B DH
Whelan
As you can see no one would be selling off the farm.Texas would be getting some potentially good MLB players in return.
I understand the other side of the discussion about not "mortgaging" the future but lets face it I don't know of any great Gold Glove switchhitting 27 yr old 1B available via FA .Does anyone?
Yeah, ruse, all you gotta do is close enough to the Rangers GM to slip a mickey into his drink and he'll take Marquez, Miranda, and Whelan for Tex. Yep, can't wait till Tex gets here...
Hey Ruse,
We can still have that Guillotine sent to the Stadium if you're interested!
1 hit wonders!
They make me sick!!
They quit on us!!!
MICHAELZ
I'm curious about what the Yanks will do.I'm just making suggestions.I think your overvaluing what Tex will net for Texas.
JOHN G.
Fed Ex it ! ASAP
Ruse,
It's on it's way!!!
Madden's column really bothered me today.
I hope that he's wrong.
RUSE-
Your right. You were pushing for TEX way back in the off-season. To me, he's a better stick than Tino was, and a switch hitter to boot. "Cash" should give up either Chamberlain or Kennedy, and 2 other minor leaguers excluding Hughes. Proven players of this caliber become available very, very, seldom. Throw in the fact that with a #3 stick in the lineup we have a legitimate shot at the wild card, and this is a "no brainer". Cashman has got to make this deal to deflect attention from the biggest stain on his resume. "Igawa's Folly".
I think you'll see the yanks bring in a lesser name like wigginton or hillebrand (and my guess is the latter because TB is too stupid to make a trade to improve their team). I think the Yankee brass are beginning to realize this is a lost season. He'll do something, but he won't mortgage the future. He said as much this week.
Bringing in TEX for Chamberlain or Kennedy,(no Hughes), and 2 minor leaguers is not "mortgaging the future". Letting a GM hang around who made numerous bad moves in the off-season, and now does nothing as the season turns into a major embarassment to all Yankee fans is ridiculous. If Cashman fails to get TEX for the players I mentioned, he goes. Torre follows immediately.
Let me repeat
DUMP/TRADE/BUY OUT:
Abreu-Pettitte-Moose-Clemens-Giambi-Melky and
Farnsworth plus the rest of the bullpen that has been used and abused by clueless Joe.
SIGN:
Zambrano=Hunter-Beuhrle-Nathan and Itchy. All players with 5+ years left that will help us compete and blend in with the prospects.
No matter how much Torre BS the truth is that this team has tanked....Not underachieved like they have the last six years but TANKED.
Hey Vic, it ain't that easy. Just cuz the Yanks want someone doesn't mean they get 'em. Beuhrle is in the process of signing a long term deal with the sox. Zambrano wants to stay in the NL. Signing Ichiro to a long term deal at his age would be the Damon mistake all over again. Perhaps you are confusing real life with fantasy ball. I like your ideas...I'd also like a brand new Porsch for $16,000. Both the Yankees and I will have to make other arrangements.