On the Yankees beat

Seriously, WHO CARES if Joba celebrates?

It's called emotion... nothing wrong with that

So this should make Rick Keyes happy - according to Ken Rosenthal the Yankees and Cubs are sniffing around a possible Matsui for Lilly deal. It would be a 1 for 1 swap. The money splits out evenly.

Why would the Cubs do this: Because they are starved for left handed pop in their lineup. Matsui would likely play RF and replace Reed Johnson in their lineup.

Why would the Yankees do this: Matsui has been probably the most offensively consistant Yankee this season, but the fact is that he's a DH on a team with too many DH's. The odds are that Posada will be ready to hit before he's ready to catch which means the team would put him in as the every day DH and either Matsui or Damon would become a bench player.

Since both Matsui and Damon have no trade clauses this deal is no where near a reality, and more likely might be sending Bobby Abreu to the Cubs since his contract is up after this year. The Yankees would then play Matsui in RF

___________________________________________
For the record - I still do not like Ted Lilly and think that he will be nothing better than average if he were a Yankee.

Chip,
It makes sense, Georgie is probably going to have to DH for a while when he comes back.

I am with Jim...
This is not showing up a player. If he were to point at the player...that's different. Look at the red sox, they enjoy showing up the pitcher, or paplbum, he shows up the batter. When I played ball, the pitcher would drill a hot dog. If you were a pitcher, the batter would bunt down the 1st base line, and run you over. These days, the players make to much money for that to happen.
Let Joba be Joba, after all if Manny can be Manny...why not! 27/08.

interesting trade idea...

i like matsui but i think he's definitely on the down swing, his value both as a performer and as a trading chip constantly going south.

lilly? who knows? he's a lefty, he knows the AL, he's no better than a no. 4, but maybe that's good enough. we need someone who is stable (even if "stable means an ERA of around 4.3 probably, at best), who can eat up innings and give the team a chance to win.

losing mussina and probably andy next year, even if we sign c.c., it could be a good move. but definitely not a no-brainer.

I prefer players that act as if they have been there but in today's game, "let Joba be Joba." Its all over the majors. This celebration of players is part of the fabric of game.

We have a ton of DH's on this team but its a long season and anyone of them could go on the DL especially Giambi.That being said," I believe its a bit early to trade for Lilly."

it looks strange on the yankees due to the fact that there was hardly any young players on the team especially pitchers. Girardi is letting these players be free.

Was people saying was Joba going over board when he was pulling all his hair out after giving up the HR? was people saying the papers was going over board when the back pages ahd the event in bold letters ?? Joba reads

"WERE PEOPLE SAYING" not Was people saying....

grammar police

Look, last year the media credited guys like Joba, Melky, Cano, Hughes, Duncan, and Kennedy for bringing youthful enthusiasm to a very buttoned up, corporate clubhouse. Whether it is Shelley bashing forearms, Melky and Cano hopping up and down in the dugout, or Joba fist pumping (which by the way he had done exactly two times this year) that is part of the youthful enthusiasm that they bring.

I get the people who are saying that the players should act more reserved, but I'm going to assume that most of the folks saying this are older people. Consider the fact that Joba probably grew up watching guys style after hitting homeruns, he probably saw on TV Ugeth Urbina or Derek Lowe doing their thing after recording big outs. Watch Sportscenter and tell me how young players in high school, college or the minors are supposed to get the impression that big shows of emotion on the field (in any sport) are sometimes inappropriate.

In the days of Munson or Bob Gibson, this wouldn't be acceptable behavior, and the players themselves would take care of it. They wouldn't whine about it the way Delluci did because Cleveland's pitcher in the next half inning would have done something about it, but that's not where baseball is today. 20 years ago, players hot dogging like Rickey Henderson were the exception, today they are the rule. It is what it is, just part of the changing game, like the DH, lighter maple bats, and helmets...

Chip

You might be surprised, but I'm not for trading Matsui for Lilly at all. Matsui is one of our best clutch hitters. And, one of the main reasons I wanted Lilly was BECAUSE all he would cost is money. I still would like to see him here, but not at the expense of Matsui or Abreu!!!

Here's a question though.

If Posada can hit before he can throw we know that the Yankees will bring him back - now maybe they play him at first and relegate Giambi to the bench. If they don't though then he'll have to DH. So if Posada is the DH that leaves 3 guys (Matsui, Damon, Abreu) for 2 spots (LF and RF). How do you make it work without dealing one of those three guys? Damon and Matsui both have no trade clauses.

They're all older guys and at-bats will be found. To me, if Giambi is indeed heating up, I leave him where he is until he goes cold, then run Posada in there. As long as Posada cannot catch, I'd have him concentrate on rehabilitating that shoulder and not much else. Matsui just ended a 17 game hitting streak, he's been consistent and Damon, when he's going well, puts the lineup in another gear.

Someone will get hurt, tweak something, pull something or just need a breather so if Posada needs at bats to stay fresh, they will be there. Like Joe T. always used to say "It's a nice problem to have".

I would not trade Matsui for Lilly at all. I'd rather see the Yanks just gut out a bad year and get the kids more experience than panic now and make a trade for a mediocre pitcher.

Jim,

Personally I agree with you. You know my stand on Lilly. If the Yankees are going to trade for a mediocre pitcher I would rather they gave up a B or C level prospect for an Arroyo or Matt Chico type.

Hey AssW**e if you want proper english drink some tea and play some cricket chum. this is a baseball blog and in no way will attacks be performed on here if it is not sports related.

Put on a redcoat and jump in the Pond with weights on your ankles buddy ole chum.

It seems by a preponderance of the conversation. The Lilly deal should be put on hold. He was much more attractive last year at FA time then now.

Go to the dance with what you have and it will work out. The pitching seems to be working itself out, one way or another. The young guys are getting there lessons in OJT. We can still content in a division which now has 4 pretty good teams which means the likelyhood of a run away is unlikely.

Our offense needs to produce and Matsui and Abreu do just that. Giambi is the guy to ride and discard when the time comes.

WFAN in New York is reporting Ian Kennedy will make the start Friday night at the stadium for the Yankees. Rasner will start Thursday in Tampa - Igawa back to Triple A.

Found this on www.rotoworld.com - mlb tab

The New York Post reports that the Yankees will recall Ian Kennedy from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start against the Mets on Friday.

He'll take Kei Igawa's spot after the left-hander made just one start. Kennedy pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings for Scranton last Tuesday. He's expected to throw one inning tonight in preparation for his outing versus the Mets.

It makes sense from the stand point that if you're going to get nothing out of Igawa then you might as well throw Kennedy. Ian's biggest problem was falling behind hitters, He seemed to be afraid of contact. Hopefully he got that out of his system in his Triple A start and remembered how easy the game is when you throw strikes.

Chip: Rasner has a sense of his stuff and understands that he can't strike them out so he must rely on the seven guys behind him, much as Pettite has learned. Kennedy just has to pitch away from middle up and he'll be fine. Every pitcher regardless of his stuff gets hit.Mussina and Rasner do well with change of speeds and location. So will Kennedy once he trusts his stuff and ubderstands no pitcher can avoid contact.

Larry M, You are a very wise man!

Mike and The Mad Dog have Sweeny Murtri on now. Igwana is going to the bullpen and they're calling up Kennedy to pitch Thursday against TB. Rasner is pitching on Friday against the Mets.

Boy is this organization screwed up or what?

Heres a new concept......let a young pitcher pitch like a full or near full season at AAA......THEN bring them up to the big team.

I know that pitchers can skip AAA and be successful..but thats the exception not the rule. Unfortunately the Yanks want to split AAA for all the pitchers because they are sooooooo desperate that they suddenly find AAA inconvenient. The teams that REALLY are concerned about young pitchers will SLOW THEM DOWN moving to the majors to be extra careful they are prepared, not just pay lip service to being cautious by putting stupid innings limits on that are self fullfilling because they aren't prepared to pitch at this level.

BTW who waved the magic wand to make Kennedy a star again?

Leave it to the Yanks!

Nudge - So who exactly would you pitch on Friday? It's very easy to rant, but do you have any better alternative at the current moment?

The line on Kennedy today - 1IP 1H (CS) 12 Pitches, 7 Strikes. He's already out of the game.

Barry,

Im not the GM so it isn't my responsibility to prepare for the season with a full complement of major league pitchers. Obviously Cashman didn't think it wad his job either. But the fact is you have to make up your mind what you want to do. Do you want to develop a young pitcher and take a hit at the ML level because you weren't smart enough to have a backup plan......or do you want to keep throwing a kid out there to get his clocked cleaned praying that some angel will appear and make it all better for him.

I vote for the first option and had I been GM I (and this has been stated by me umpteen times) would have NEVER gone into the season with 2 unproven rookies in the rotation. The Yanks should have made acquiring a #4 starter their top priority in the off season. Simply a guy with 1-2 years on his contract who is a placeholder that can keep them in games more often than not.

BTW Barry these opinions have been stated on here ad-nauseum by me so I am not ranting without an alternative. You are just coming in mid-game complaining about things you missed.

Old Ranger:

I appreciate the compliment but for many years when I was a youngster watching the Mick and the guys. I would get upset over the Mick going down with the K and losing to the Braves and Pittsburgh in the WS made for a long winter. Just like Kennedy has to trust his stuff. He needs to grow up. With this maturity comes the reality check of this is not USC or Tampa but where all the boys can hit. Even the guy hitting .238 could be hitting .290 with 1 hit more a week as a fulltime player.

He'll get it. Its not downtown Bagdad where 19 year olds with the American flag growup overnight as they must. This is baseball and the mind must takeover but the urgency is not there for Mr. Kennedy as of yet maybe the trip to Sranton was an eye opener.

Chip:

Watch Sportscenter and tell me how young players in high school, college or the minors are supposed to get the impression that big shows of emotion on the field (in any sport) are sometimes inappropriate.

Easy answer Chip...you tell them....ITS INAPPROPRIATE.

See when my kid took off all his clothes and ran out onto the field to see me, I told him not to do that....and he never did again. So it works...called communicating....setting standards. If anyone on the LT Giants tried to do that Gastineau crap....it would have lasted 1 play...the coach and the rest of the defense would have ended it and the guy would be apologizing after the game to the media. So no its not sports centers fault or a unfair standard by older people...its common respect for the game and the players in it. Like I said....be a successful player for 6-8 years, then you can style. Till then cut the teenage antics.....it makes you look foolish.

Nudge -

If it were JUST Joba pumping his fist, or JUST Cano and Melky doing their little dance or JUST Duncan bashing arms - then you would have something. But around the league, players young and old, style - frankly until a player drops his pants and pinches a loaf on the rubber I'm not going to get bent out of shape about it.

Things change, you can either change with them or whine about "the way things used to be."

And by the way, Joba is 23, so isn't he pretty much in the age range where you would EXPECT teenage antics? Dumba$$

Chip,

You have it backwards. At 23 you should be keeping as LOW a profile as possible since you are lucky to be here. I don't care how many people are doing it, wrong is wrong.

I was playing indoor soccer against a team that we knew well. One forward who wasn't very good beats me clean and scores. On the way back he does some little dance in front of me. By the end of the game he was hoping that the ball wouldn't be passed to him because everytime he got the ball he was either on the ground or slamming into the boards. Each time I asked him "Got a dance for that?"

BTW his teammates didn't come to his defense once because they knew as well. Thats how I knew you don't play sports because you don't have aplayers mindset.