On the Yankees beat

Not good news, I was hoping he would disappear for the rest of the year.

When Giambi comes back I think the Yankees should put him at first base. The team is just better with Melky in the outfield and Damon DHing.

Jason can start at first and be lifted late for Phillips and eventually Doug M. but if Giambi's bat doesn't provide enough incentive to keep him in the lineup then he should be a glorified pinch hitter the rest of the year, not forced in like Sheff was last season.

I agree Chip.

If they do the same thing this year as last year, then our goose is cooked!

I like the lineup as it is now.

You know they are going to play the guy that makes the most money.

Chip:

In an ideal world you'd want Giambi at 1B, even though he's pretty brutal there, so you could use Damon and/or Shelley at DH. But I've had plantar fasciitis for 3 years. It's controllable but it doesn't go away. Bear in mind that Giambi started feeling pain immediately after his first game at 1B on April 28. As many of us have been saying since Opening Day, we simply have too many DH's.

By the way, I'm glad we gave Edwar a fair look on his call-up. He didn't pitch for 14 (!) days, then was sent out to the mound to be a basket case and then unceremoniously demoted. If I were Cashman I would have ORDERED Torre to gradually bring him along. I don't think Cashman believes he has that kind of authority over Torre. Or is afraid to try to use it. I hope the same thing doesn't happen with Joba the Hutt.

Watch Torre bury Shelley when Giambi returns.

Zander I agree with you .No way Torre takes Phillips off 1B .Duncan will be the "Odd Man Out".Good James Mason movie BTW

And if Giambi returns healthy and hitting well?

Zander:

If the team had been playing laughers like the last few, it would of course have made sense to throw Edwar into the mix.

But remember, those 12 days he was not called on to pitch were not comprised of games like that. It would have been irresponsible to prioritize his getting to the mound before the need to win some games, and Torre would have been crucified (rightly) for doing so.

So sorry. That 5:41 Anon was me.

Giambi playing the field?
Puh-lease! I mean do you REALLY think he can play first off of the DL?

Be my guest!
And expect lots of balls rolling to the tarp

Giambi can play the field better than Papi or Manny.

Not arguing about Papi's skills. Then again, they are not asking Papi to play the field.

Right now Matsui should be the DH but Damon and soon Giambi will be there.

If Giambi could play the field, they wouldn't have tried Sheffield there last year.

He can't play the field... so that means Damon will either be the left fielder or first baseman.

(Somehow that sentence will be twisted into me being jealous.)

Giambi and Mussina are going to screw this team. Giambi coming back will mess up Melky's playing time. He plays better when he gets more playing time. It almost reminds me of last year with Matsui and Sheffield. Mussina is going to kill us. Between him and Igawa, and the bullpen they are going to put me over the edge. Hopefully Hughes will be on the way up quickly. But this our team until July 31st. Let's hope they make some moves on the pitching front.

I just heard that Milwaukee got Linebrink from the Padres for 3 minor leaguers.

I think that Giambi should be on the bench, period.

Keep the lineup the way that it is.

Sully makes some good points.

Thanks John G.

I do NOT understand what the Padres are doing!

I mean they got three young players including Will Inman who is supposedly the real deal (so was Todd VanPoppel) and this is a GREAT move for the Brewers who now have a deep pen.

But what are the Padres thinking? They are one back in the loss collumn of first place. With their pitching (and their bullpen!) and with no real powerhouse in the NL, they would have a GREAT chance of winning the pennant this year.

Why break up the bullpen now? Granted if Inman and the other dudes develop into solid major league pitchers it will look like a great move.

But shouldn't they be trying to win THIS year?

And while everyone has been hemming and hawing over Teixera, a real solid reliever went from one big market powerhouse (San Diego) to another (Milwaukee.)

Again the rich get richer! DAMN YOU MILWAUKEE! THE BREWERS ARE RUINING BASEBALL!

We need a salary cap to prevent the Brewers to continue raiding teams of their talent!!!

Giambi is the DH. That's definite. Remember, the FIRST game of the year that he played 1B, his foot flamed up.

Torre has always been a player's manager. Sitting a former MVP for a career backup or sitting a bonafide leadoff man earning $12m for an energetic young outfielder is out of the question.

He has no regard for team chemistry when it comes to feeding his stars' egos.

Hopefully, he can ride the Damon/Matsui/Giambi DH carousel and try to find an everyday spot for Melky just to keep up the defense and energy.

Giambi's inability to play the field has been screwing over the Yankees for a while now.

He can't play f-ing first base and that led to the embarassment of Sheffield at first base in the Detroit series last year... to having to start Olerud and Clark in the 2004 playoffs and this year going through the Mientkeivicz (sp?), Cairo, Phelps, Phillips, Duncan merry go round.

If their $20 million 800 pound gorilla could field the easiest position on the diamond, then Damon could DH and Melky could play every day.

Then again, if Damon can't be the every day CF he should go on the DL and maybe then put Giambi at DH.

Instead they'll be trying to juggle a $20 million and $13 million DH and inevitably bench young hungry players like Melky, Duncan and Phillips.

Again, if it were me (and its not) Giambi would strictly be a pinch hitter at this point.

By the way, anybody think that Shelly Duncan's call up right before the trade deadline is a coincidence?

I mean, we haven't seen him enough to know if he's the real deal. We haven't even seen him play the field. Anyone know, is he another Andy Phillips or a legitamate prospect that might fetch some bullpen help?

Here is my solution to the return of the Giambino.

Your rotate the four outfielders (Melky, Damon, Matsui, Abreu) based on opposing pitcher, rest schedule, and hot bat.

You platoon Giambi (against RHP) and Duncan (against LHP).

The way I see it, the toughest decision is whom do you take off the 25 man roster when you are adding a DH. It will probably be Duncan, but should probably be the extra reliever we've been carrying most of the season.

Why deal Duncan?
Why count on Giambi? Why not have a young kid electrify the Yankees a la Spencer and Ledee?

One of the only relievers who could have made a difference has been snatched up by Milwaukee.

Why not have someone spark the team?

Sully no mention of Manny.
I also said that Giambi is a better fielder that Manny. But then again you have a problem with personnel evalution when it comes to the Sox.
Calling Manny's lack of hustle a bonehead play makes you look like a nitwit.

Oh yes,I almost forgot...Damon is 9 for his last 18 and playing great defense.

Sully, I agree with you but you forget it's Torre we're talking about. The ULTIMATE player's manager. If he had any regard for team chemistry, he would put Damon on the DL and Giambi on the bench but he cares about these players' pride and legacy.

Damon has NEVER been on the DL and he takes a lot of pride in that. I'm sure he knows, as does every Yankee fan, that he should have shelved himself this year but he got selfish (just like he did when he reported to camp overweight and out of shape.)

Giambi's "fired-up" comment is just extra pressure to make sure that Joe doesn't bench him. He'd have to be a complete idiot to ignore the fact that the team has taken off since he got hurt, but he's being selfish. If he was a genuine team player, he'd have said in his AP interview, that he'd have to work his way back into a lineup that has won 15 out of their last 17 (or whatever) and is in a Wild Card race.

Our dynasty teams had no egos (or very few). Straight up young(er) selfless, hungry players who liked each other and didn't care about padding their stats for the hall.

Ask yourself, who had the bigger ego? Abreu or Paulie? A-Rod or Brocious? Giambi or Tino? Damon or Bernie? All the former right? Then ask yourself which of those guys actually won something?

Gitmo,

That's some solid logic. No sarcasm. It keeps veterans fresh, allows you to play the hot hand and have a weapon to come off the bench.

It makes sense.

There is a better chance I'll be face first in Liv than that happening.

Joe doesn't bench "his guys" even if it means honoring a guy like Giambi who has let him down over and over again

Giambi's pathetic, old, fat, and slow, no way I want to see him in pinstripes again. Leave him in SWB for the rest of his contract.

Sully,
Sad to say but you're right again. Use Duncan as a spark leave Giambi in the minors. Atleast the young kids are hungry and eager to prove themselves.

Ok this is what you need to do. You play Giambi at first and put Phillips in for late defense then you rotate Matsui and Damon between LF and DH. Keep Duncan on the bench to pinch hit and fill in at DH every one in a while.

Right now, I wouldn't make any deals. There's not much out there and the ones that are good would cost way too much at this point.
I don't think that the Yanks are showcasing Duncan. I just think that he's the RH bat that they needed to get a look at. The problem is he's just a DH and can't play the field. We already have too many DH's now. I expect him to be sent down once Giambi is back with the club.
In my opinion, he shouldn't play unless Damon goes into a funk again. The Yanks have been playing good ball since just before the break (16-5) so why mess with that? You guys may say that we need his power bat in the lineup, but I don't think that's necessary. Matsui has been hitting HR's and Cano has been hitting again. Phillips is playing good baseball and can handle the job at 1st.
My concern is Moose and Igawa; 2 weak spots in the rotation. Getting Hughes back will be a boost.

Sully, while it's a good idea in theory, Ricky and Shane were called up to replace Chad Curtis. LF was a revolving door during the dynasty. Duncan didn't get called up to replace a Chad Curtis, he got called up to fill in for a former MVP. Now we all know that Giambi should stay home but that's not the way Joe thinks.

As far as I know, Duncan isn't anything special, he's an Andy Phillips clone. So I say ship him and a minor-leaguer somewhere for bullpen help.

I know some of you love Duncan's hustle and attitude but you get that with Andy. How many game-winning rbi's has Andy since his callup? It's gotta be at least 3. He's playing his best baseball of his career, in the prime of his physical development and has a great glove (remember the game he saved against Toronto with that DP.)

The way I see it, Shelley doesn't give me anything Andy doesn't give me. Ship him out for some pen help.

Maybe the Yanks should put Chamberlain in the rotation along with Hughes and move Moose to the pen. Maybe he can be the 8th inning guy.
Send Igawa to SWB first, then to Japan on a slow boat. Tell his team in japan that they can keep the money as long as they keep him!

Cashman,

Manny is a medicore outfielder who sometimes plays with his head so far up his a-- that you wonder if it will come back out his mouth like an MC Escher drawing.

He meanders between being a bonehead and a dog.

And just when you want to curse him out, he goes on a hitting tear... like he has been since the All Star break (after a disappointing first half.) He's been carrying the Papi-less offense during the 5 game winning streak. It's part of the deal with Manny... he's like a hitter savant. He might be brain damaged for all I know. He might be an arrogant a-hole. But he can hit... and that's why we love him. He's the strangest superstar in sports. But man he has been hitting.

Damon has indeed been playing better. I still maintain his not going on the DL before the All star break hurt the team.

But hey, more power to Damon if he is improving.

Me calling Manny's play a bonehead play does NOT make me look like a nitwit. There are so many other and more valid reasons of why I am a nitwit.

But make no mistake... I AM a nitwit

First of all, when Giambino returns, Duncan will be sent back down. Someone has to go. Secondly, I don't think Minky is coming back anytime soon and I don't think the Yanks care if he does. Thirdly, Giambino will be the DH because he does it well in spite of what most of you "experts" think. Damon can be the odd man out (hitting like .235) or they'll rotate OF's to give them all day off per week. Giambi will be PLAYING...get used to it!

what is the teams record with and without Giambi

once you see that reality then you see that Giambi has been WAllY PIPPED!!

Wally Pipped?

Be serious, Bomber.

You're making less and less sense lately.

BB

Don't think you can look at the record with/ without Giambi and call that fair. Early in the season (Giambi in), the team sucked as a unit. Many guys have come around now. Has nothing to do with Giambi.

The problem with Giambi is how long will it take him to get his timing back. He can't field, run or situational hit. Keep him in rehab as long as you can.

Ok rick but Giambi is and wil lnot come around any time soon and we do not have the time nor Patience to have some player FEEL they way Back into swing. we NEED these Wins and if he wants to help then coming off the bench should be the best option. remember last season with sheff and matsui.

ALSO remember a cloud of attention will follow with Jason regarding his talk with the Steroids commission

he should play 10 minor league games

I have visited your site 437-times

I could not find this site in the Search Engines index

Giambi is the best thing that the Yankees ever had so I say bring him back.