On the Yankees beat

Hey Jim: whatever works for Ponson is OK. I'm sure he'll provide good quotes the following day. Having know a few individuals who were dependent on the spirits, etc. They can be pretty jumpy when trying to refrain from use. So, cut him some slack , we need much help on the mound these days.

I've noticed these boards getting awfully quiet when the Yanks lose, lately. And suddenly they've been losing more than they should.

I didn't really think this was our year to begin with, but like a good blind rooter, I held out hope for the kids. I didn't want Santana, but I didn't think Melky was gonna do the job in CF, either.

We went into the offseason knowing there were weaknesses with power from the right side, on the bench, bullpen (lefty especially). But NOT ONE of those weaknesses was addressed.

I've been a Cashman supporter all these years, but he simply hasn't done the trick. Sure, he's rebuilt the system with a million athletic righty pitchers. But, except for Joba, almost all of them are bionic, at this point.

Yeah, there are kids coming, and we've got some trading chips, but the guys on the field in the Bronx are looking like crap right now, and the ones who look the worst are the recent imports from the system. Cano needs a spanking, Melky needs to be traded--but who would take him?

We're relying on Moose and Pettitte to hold us together, and we can't even win their games. Late June was looking good for a while, but I'm losing hope, now.

girardi said he'll give melky a breather.

they have great air in colorado...

time to get rid of useless weight.

From the previous thread.....

Bomber,

You’re wrong about Cashman regarding the draft.

The difference is the Yanks have put much more emphasis on the draft since 2005 and it is now starting to make a difference.

The Rays have completely relied on the draft since their inception in 1997 because that was the only thing they could do with the lack of payroll.

The Yanks' biggest problem was that they essentially ignored the draft once they started winning rings in the late 90s and early 2000s. This team really shot themselves in the foot as a result and instead relied on quick fixes with FAs.

Here's something very insightful that you and other Yankee fans really need to read.

It's an article that was published in New York Magazine back in 2004 - the year before Cashman took over player development and hired Damon Oppenheimer and Newman to run the draft:

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/sports/features/9611/index2.html

-------------------------

“Cashman, unlike every other GM, has no influence on whom the Yankees draft. “The best political answer would be, it’s not part of the job description,” he [Cashman] says slowly. “That’s just how George has his business set up. He wants separation between the Tampa office and the New York office. I don’t think the Tampa office and the New York office particularly like the separation, but it’s there. There’s times we’re pit against each other. That’s the way he wants it. He thinks it promotes independent thought. At times it can promote us all not being on the same page.””

--------------------------

The article states in plain English that Cashman had nothing to do with the draft before 2005 and that was extremely unusual for a big league GM. Back then, the draft was controlled by George's Tampa people.

The farm has really turned around since Cashman took it over and hired guys like Newman and Oppenheimer to do their thing.

People can blame Cashman for a lot of things - and many are warranted, including some bad FA signings - but don’t blame him for the lack of MLB-ready talent on the farm. He’s done a great job on the draft since he took over 3 years ago and deserves credit for that.

If you want someone to blame - blame George and the old Tampa Mafia. They are solely responsible for the Yanks’ lack of commitment to player development for a number of years.

And that’s the truth.

So my earlier point stands. Give Damon Oppenheimer his choice of Top 5 picks over a span of 12 years and I’m quite confident that the Yankee farm system would be just as fruitful as the Rays.

I'm greatly surprised at the lack of hitting these past 4 games or so.Hopefully the Offense will snap out of it's current malaise.

This kid Patterson is a keeper .It appears although it's still to early to tell NY has returned Ohlendorf to starting at Scranton.

Its quite ironic that the pitching staff has done a credibile job while one of the most powerful offensive lineups looks like the bad news bears. Melky needs some rest.

Don't understand Girardi's decision not to bunt in the 9th. Melky $uck$ from the right side of the plate. The team is struggling to produce runs on its own accord than the mgr. must help by directing the team. Small ball would have helped in this matter.

Now, if Gardner could get on base to use his speed. He looks great running from home to first then to the dugout.

Oh well, we knew it would be this type of year of inconsistency but the offense was to be our savior. Abreu in the I don't have a clue phase as of now.

Ninth inning last night as bad as it gets manager wise.

1. Why didn't Jeter bat for Melky?

2. If Melky bats why didn't he bunt?

3. Why didn't Gonzalez steal 2nd befor Melky could hit into a double play?

Melky is a lousy bunter.Jeter batting for Melky the starting CF for the last 2 yrs? Why not take Melky out to the back and shoot him? Gonzalez is not a wiz on the base paths.

Viper - great post on Cashman!

I'll have to agree with the haters on the 9th inning moves last night. I was surprised Jeter didnt hit for Wilson and then REALLY surprised that Melky didnt bunt. Not sure what the thinking was other than lefties were coming up. Still not an excuse when you're down a run in the 9th with a speedy runner on 1st and no outs. Melk needs a break big time, he's putting the ball in play, but taking weak hacks. Lets see if a couple days off can fix his swing.

Joba was a mess, was the extra day off to blame? Maybe, maybe not. This was the 1st time Ive seen him lose the plate like that. He has to command that fastball and get ahead of the hitters. Lets see if he can bounce back next time out.

Ruse: he's hitting .245 at least a poor bunt has a chance to advance the runner. I understand the CF issue but to rely on an ineffective bat from the right side is questionable but it was not totally wrong . I'll give you that .

Larry

I agree even a strikeout on a bunt attempt is better then a taylor made DP.For a Manager that's a tough call.Melky's confidence is lagging you don't want to completely destroy it.

Ranger's catcher is only throwing out 1 out of 8 runners - Melky is 0 for 18 - and even worse from the right side - people pinch hit for starters all the time - don't really understand your objections.

Joba ain't ready ladies and gents...

I still believe he is and will be a fabulous success for us but his control in a starting role is somewhat disappointing...

Don't get me wrong I'm loving the kid's K/9 but his "WHIP" is $hitty with all those walks nomsayin??

Basically, he may be all we hoped he would or could or will eventually will be...Justin Verlander/Young Rocket-esque etc...But it may take some time for him to get his "Stuff" together in a starting role...ie having to face a lineup more than once, twice, and three times..Is quite different than having to blow away 2 or 3 batter every two days with your max effort heater and devastating slide piece...

I really think cashman has to do something wonderful or we're gonna be Phucked for this year.

The Rays are KILLIng the Sox right now and not showing any signs of fear or intimidation.

The fact that our offense has seemingly gone on strike is not helping...

For the first time in the 4 yrs of serious "fandomatic obsession" that I've dedicated to this franchise I actually feel insecure.

It's a very weird feeling and I must admit I'm not very comfortable facing the stark reality that appears to be looming for our beloved team.

To reiderate what I've been saying since I showed up on this blog 3 yrs ago...I think it's very sad that our veterans ie Jeter/Posada/ and most importantly Mo look to be likely to spend their rapidly expiring productive years as "Longshots" or "Underdogs" when the conversation of another championship is taken into consideration.

With only a year or two left for those heroic members of our great dynasty days It makes me sick to think that we can't allow them the opportunity to win atleast one more time in their twilight etc..

If Mo never closes another game 7 or WOrld Series clinching 9th inning again I'll be incredibly disappointed with our ownership.

We owe it to our few original vets of the magical 90s era to provide them a the personnel to end their careers in style not like a team trying to lower it's payroll for public relation reasons....Ie Cashman wanting to be proud of fielding a cheaper team without the "Blank Check" rep that he seems to think is somehow embarrasing..

Ps...I'm quite drunk right now so I apologize for the grammar or lack their of etc...4t

Hate to say it, but maybe we shouldn't use Mo in non-save situations?

Drunk at 9AM Mike? I knew I liked you for a reason!

Gotta disagree with you, I dont want Cashman to do a damn thing. Its time for the Yanks to take their medicine. We are paying for past mistakes over the last 3 ½ years. Bad contracts, ignoring the farm, trading away young players, signing Old Vets for silly money ( Rocket ). The bad, knee jerk moves since our last ring are surfacing. I was, and still am, rooting for a ring this year..like any other year, but I also realize that this is a transition year no matter what is publically stated.

I would love for the yanks to win another ring while Jeter, Mo and Jorge are still with the team, but we cant cripple the long term health of our franchise to do that. I wanted the Yanks to win in Oneils last year, Bernie's last year, Uncle Joe's last year...things dont happen that way though. Yankee fans think that they own baseball, that things should just work out for us. Well that's incorrect, we are no different than any other team. We need to build up a farm system, make smart FA pickups and form a TEAM. Not just high priced All star mercenaries looking for a ring and a fat contract.

Im glad the front office finally realizes that a different approach since 2000 is needed, Im on board! O cashman my cashman! Im drinkin the Kool-Aid!!!!

Mike, enjoy the rest of your day boozin it up. Today's my last day at work, then Im on vacation, Ill be boozin it up with you my friend!!!!

PTRS
"We owe it to our few original vets of the magical 90s era to provide them (sic) a the personnel to end their careers in style not like a team trying to lower it's payroll for public relation reasons"

Who is we...the fans? What else could we do besides buy 4.1 million tickets?

When is the last time Jeter came up with a big hit? Mo's been great but he's also blown several games this year. Posada's killing us behind the plate. Maybe they owe it to the fans to start playing up to their salary level, or at least 1/2 of it. That may do us all some good.

Geez man - those stories about John Challis had me nearly in tears.

I think it's entirely unfair to single Jeter out after all:

RISP .306
2 outs RISP .344
Late and Close .316

not to shabby.The offense is inconsistent.Damon has cooled off.A-ROD isn't getting the big hits he did last yr.Giambi is incapable of getting a big hit .They miss Matsui's bat. Abreu does a disappearing act every 2 weeks or so.Cabrera ?

It would not have been wise to pinch-hit Jeter for Melky last night and I say that as the leader of the anti-Melky brigade in this forum.

Instead, Melky should have bunted WB over to second to give Damon and Gardner (or Jeter) two shots at getting the tying run in from second.

So if Jeter was going to pinch-hit for anybody, it should have been for Gardner with a runner on second rather than for Melky with a runner on first.

Simple logic that I would think a Northwestern grad should have figured out.

You're right, Ruse (Are you Ruse, CA?). I only listed him because PTRS specified Jeter, Posada and Mo. But in reality, I'm absolutely disgusted with the entire bunch of overpaid, overhyped morons, and I'm frustrated beyond belief, to the point where I am close to "taking a break" because no sports team should cause the ogita I have - it's just not worth it. No one is dying playing this game so why do I need to get so worked up?

besides, no prudent individual would expect his favorite team to make the playoffs every year. It just doesn't happen

I wrote about this on my blog this morning and I linked the post on my name (shameless plug)

But a stat that was pretty incredible about the Rays:

since the first completed year of 6 division play, the best team after July 1 made the playoffs 12 out of 13 times.

Only the 2006 Red Sox, who got hit with injuries ranging from Ortiz's heart, Varitek's knees and Lester having cancer.

(They rebounded OK in 2007)

But all the Rays have to do is play 1 game over .500 the rest of the way to win 90 games.

I guess we should start worrying about them!

Bosstrots

Yes formerly known as ruse,ca.

If anyone wants to discuss trade talks howabout:

Holliday
Fuentes
Taveras

for
Melky
McCutchen
Claggett
Tabata and 1 other low level pitching prospect.

I know it ain't going to happen but I can dream can't I??

WOW...that is a huge dream, will never happen in a MILLION YEARS, but who am I to squash such a wonderful dream?

Dream away ruse, dream away.....zzzzzzzzzzzz

Just a follow-up on my point from last night and the Yankee farm.

For all the predictably bad moves that Cashman has made in recent years, specifically FAs, his best move of all as GM was hiring Oppenheimer to run the draft.

I took a few minutes to read through the last several Yankee drafts and here are some players in the system who were drafted before 2005 who still have a decent to legitimate chance to help out the big club at some point:

Phil Hughes, Jeff Marquez, Christian Garcia, and Jeff Karstens.

Well, that’s about it.

Now here’s a list of talent in the system who were drafted by Oppenheimer who also have a decent to legit chance to contribute to the Yanks’ success:

Brett Gardner, JB Cox, Alan Horne, Austin Jackson, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Zach McAllister, Dellin Betances, Mark Melancon, Dan McCutchen, David Robertson, Andrew Brackman, Austin Romine, Gerrit Cole, Jeremy Bleich, and Joseph Bittle.

Anyone see a pattern here?

The point is that the Yankees really blew it for several years because of their lack of commitment to the draft and we are certainly seeing the domino effect on the big club because there is such a lack of MLB-ready talent (especially position players) to help them right now and in 2009 with so many contracts coming off the books.

The old Yankee way of quick fixes and signing aging FAs to long term deals has really come back to bite this team on the @ss and it’s going to take some years to fix. We’re seeing it every day with a slow aging group of veterans in that lineup and lack of consistency.

The Rays and Red Sox are way ahead of the Yanks on the player development front as a result of that neglect and the Yanks are really paying the price for it.

Again, that is George’s fault and the old Tampa Mafia.

I was watching Melky in his 9th inning AB and I see that he steps in the bucket a lot. By doing that, he won't get good wood on the ball on anything outside. Those 2 called strikes were on the outside part of the plate and to him, they looked outside. He falls into an 0-2 hole and has no choice but to swing at anything close. Because of his lack of plate discipline and stubbornness on his part, the DP was bound to happen. I was screaming at the TV ( a lot of good that did for me) "bunt", Bunt" "BUNT", but to no avail. Anyway, the next time that he's up, watch him.

The Yanks have scored a grand total of 5 runs in 3 games. They get good pitching and now they can't hit. Also, I agree with Jon K in that why the hell do they bring in Mo in a tie game? I know, I know, but he's not good in those situations. He doesn't seem to bear down.

new blood is needed , however it is done. its july, and this team is terrible, flat, lifeless, unenergetic, not hungry, not angry, i don't care how much they're paid.

One more thing.
Chamberlain was constantly pitching from behind. 91 pitches in 4 innings is not a stopper in my book. He walked the 1st 2 guys to start the game and was lucky to get outta Dodge with only a 2 run deficit.
They look old, tired, lifeless as Angry just said and maybe they all should start to drink expressos before and during games.
Yeah; it's a "transition year". They're transitioning from bad to worse!

Once Melky took the 1st pitch for strike one, I think they took the bunt off. The pitcher was wild and Yanks were trying to get a favorable count for Melky. Still think Melky should have been going up there with one purpose in mind - BUNT. Viper and ruse are right. But I think the Yanks DO need to make a trade to shake things up, and I believe Oswalt might be obtainable. Pettite and he are friends and I think the Yanks could offer enough prospects to make this happen. Oswalt has plenty left and although I know pitching isn't the problem right now, we need to shake things up going into the 2nd half of the season. The hitting (might) come around and Rasner for the rest of the season is not the answer.
With a rotation of:
Pettite
Joba
Oswalt
Mussina
Ponson
We might be able to go on a little streak, or at the very least avoid prolonged losing streaks. Plus Oswalt hasn't been seen by a lot of AL teams and would be effective. Gotta start thinking outside of the box. Oswalt would help this year and next year. We could leave the kids down in AAA for more seasoning.

Wake up Yankees! Girardi - stop overthinking!

That came from me.

To all of my fellow Yankee bloggers:

Have a great Independence Day weekend!

We gotta break this curse somehow!

Lets Go Yankees!

Down with the Devil Rays!

John G,

That's incredible...it didn't work for me either. You would think with 2 people yelling the same thing...

Good one Boss! :-)

so then the Tampa mafia is responsible

for

Jeter , posada , Mo, Bernie,

what I'm saying is this

if it was Kennedy or Upton the yanks pick Ian

Crawford or Brackman the yanks would pick a Brackman arm and all.

Longerio or gardner the Yanks pick Gardner

Just the Yankee way they profile too much instead of just choosing Talent

Shoot the Yankees probally would have picked hughes over Kazmir if both was in the same draft.

At the end of the day the argument is useless because the team did'nt have the opportunity to choose top 5.

You can have top choice all you want but if you have no skilled person making the selection then it's pointless. so far the choices is ok (outside of their injuries) but who is to say that there was'nt some better prospects that the Ynaks could have picked?

BB - wrong again, I guess Tampa knew how to select talent in 04 when they drafted stud Jefferey Niemann #4 overall instead of...

Jered Weaver
Billy Butler
Stephen Drew
Josh Fields
Phil Hughes
Blake Dewitt

Or in 05 when Tampa slected super stud Wade Townsend #8 overall instead of...

Mike Pelfrey
Cameron Maybin
Andrew McCutchen
Jay Bruce
Jacony Ellsbury
Joey Devine
Colby Ramus

Listen, the Ray's have had a top 10 pick every year since they came into this league..for every Longoria, Price, Hamilton, Upton...there is a Baldelli, Townsend, Niemann, Brazelton. Its a 50/50 shot at the draft, the fact that they are picking so high means that when they do hit, those players are going to be very good. In fact since 99, only Baldelli, Price, Upton and Longoria are still on the team. They released Hamilton straight up. You act like the Ray's are some super talent scouts but the Yanks just pick based on "profiles" not talent. Thats a bunch of crap.

BB - you are one of the most bitter Yankee fans on this blog, never giving credit to the organization, while bashing them every chance you get.

Not sure why, you seem like an undercover Mets fan to me...oops sorry, I guess you're a Rays fan.

; )

Kisses Bomber

Love Always,

DRU

XOXOXOXOXOX

Bomber, no offense, but you really don’t understand what this team has done.

Evan Longoria was the #3 overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft. The Yanks had no shot at him whatsoever because their turn didn't come around until the #21 pick.

In that very same 2006 draft where TB got Longoria, Oppenheimer drafted Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Melancon, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Zach McAllister, and Dan McCutchen. That’s a pretty loaded crop of talent.

In 2005, the first season of the new draft regime, Oppenheimer drafted Brett Gardner, JB Cox, Austin Jackson, and Alan Horne.

And you’re wrong about another thing, it was the old Tampa Mafia who chose the safe picks rather than high-ceiling talents with risk. Oppenheimer has adopted the riskier strategy and it has paid off big-time.

What you really need to do is evaluate the success rates of the Oppenheimer drafts a few years down the road and compare them to the old regime from 1998 to 2004. Stick Michael had major influence on drafts when he was GM (when Jeter, Williams, Mo, Pettitte and Posada were drafted), but George didn’t extend that same courtesy to Cashman for whatever reason until he demanded it in 2005.

Whatever happened from 1998 to 2004 is irrelevant now because it’s not the same regime who is evaluating and drafting these kids.

Again, Cashman deserves blame for his FA signings and stuff like that. Those are legitimate criticisms. But he has done a masterful job with the draft and player development by making Oppenheimer the guy in charge.

You put competent people in charge of the draft and your investment will pay off big time. But the problem is the Yanks (notably, Steinbrenner) didn’t have competent people running the draft for a number of years and it is really hurting them now.

Well, times have now changed - finally. It’s not going to happen overnight, but the Yanks will be in really good shape in that department for years to come if Oppenheimer continues to run the draft.

No yo uall is not seeing my point.

Do you really think that the Yanks would have Drafted a crawford if they was the ones picking first ? or would they have chosen someone else?

I see ya'll point our system is now is the bomb but what I'm saying is that i don't see the Yankees drafting a BJ upton if he had fell in their lap?

That is part because we have Jeter but would they have tried to shift his position(upton) that was a tampa rays internal desicision.

Nobody is bitter over what the current squad has done but for every credit people want to give BC and his crew and 100% bash George and that is not right so in fact I'm a realistic yankee fan who understands that yes George may have been crazy on some things success did come at one point and while we may give Gene credit on alot of stuff it was georges pick of Torre and Watson and the go ahead to hire BC that should be looked at. As much as I love Stick and do not hide my happiness for his work he too would have done things different with the 96-00 yankees he we would not have hired girardi who was the better defensive catcher than stanley . he and buck was not to thrilled with Straw it was george who wanted him . Cecil fielder would not have been a Yankee it was Watson who did that , charlie hayes , Tim raines, Chilli davis , so while BC and Gene can get the credit we forget about Bod watson who was impactive in ONE season.

Now if BC is saying he had no power during the championship run the n why give him credit for the WS Victories or trades. Who's choice was it to trade Eric Milton and others for Knobby . Cano for example was a player underestimated within his own organization because he would have been traded for either randy johnson or jaime moyer

Now while we may bash the Giambi signing the fact remains he was the hottest hitter in baseball just as Phil hughes was considered the hottest prospect so what is the difference.

Dru i don't know about you but i'm the most intense Yankee fan yo ucan come across however I come from the era of overhype Jim A , and Larry M can agree with me on this . I once heard on how Mike PAgs was supposed to be the next Nettles, On how Rickey was traded for Eric Plunk , Greg Caderet, who was supposed to be hot prospects, on how Dan Pasqua was supposed to be a hot prospect, remember brian fisher ??? he was supposed to be the next goose!!!! so don't say efforts was not given in producing prospects in the past , Patience limited yes but no chance given is false and saying George had his hand in EVERY MOVE is false as well , george was waking up saying give me Ron Hassey . or steve Kemp, yes Mike witt was his doom , ken phelps , but trust me Prior GM had their faults as well.

The tampa situation happened because

1, pitching had sucked for so long

2. with a new manager who was at first a risk added with a popular but not very well situated pitching coach , yes word has been out for a long time about Mel and his overhype.

what I'm saying is that until I'l lsee production I will reserve my excitement

and for your info the below names I root for hard.

Joba,

Austin Jackson

Mccutchon

Justin Christian

Humberto Sanchez

ANd DRU ... stop it with the kisses!!! not this way

Bomber,

My point isn't to bash George for letting the draft to be handled by incompetent people. But he deserves blame here too. My point was that it is the blame shouldn’t all be directed at Cashman because of the way the current team has been assembled.

It was George that allowed the organization to get away from the draft and player development - which is an unbelievable blunder considering it was the young core of Yankees who were most responsible for winning championships.

And I didn’t say that Cashman didn’t have any power during the late 90s dynasty years. What I said - and the evidence is clear - is that he had nothing to do with the draft and player development during those days. The Tampa offices controlled that part of the organization - not Cashman.

Two completely different things.

BTW, I have no idea why you’ve brought up BJ Upton again but he wasn’t going to fall in anyone’s lap. Upton was the #2 overall pick in the 2002 MLB Draft.

That’s the point I‘m trying to make with you. Any competent organization who is serious about player development would be able to churn out a loaded farm system like the Rays when you’ve got a choice of one of the Top 5 players in the country for 12 consecutive years.

I just hope Oppenheimer continues to run the draft because the Yanks are going to be in great shape in that department over the next several years.

It’s just going to take time and patience to do that - which is something I know you lack.

Vipes what I'm saying is this

if the Yankees had the Number two pick in '02 they most likely would not have picked BJ upton

Basically what i'm saying keeping it real is that there are certain players the Yankees do not see fit in their "planning "regardless of talent. I hope that will change with the new Minor league crew .

As good number players like Manny or Josh Hamilton may have had coming into their draft HAD the Yankees been able to draft them they would have declined it just seems that way.

Manny draft is during the dumb years of Yankee world .

The man was advertised here in NYC almost every game when he played for George Washington High school. I don't know what year he was drafted so before I place total blame who did we choose the year Manny was drafted?

Ya right Dude Time and Patience is an issue with me and this squad , just like right now I'm ready to ship melky and place gardner in his spot , Brett has won me over something about him he has the magic in him, Yo ucan tell a good player just by the vibe sometimes.

Iam rooting for the future trust me I am in fact I would have no problem repalcing most of this team with prospects and just let them play it out.

I advocated last season out of ST that the Youth was the life of the team even in ST and I called for it this year.

By the way the ALL TIME YANKEE OVERHYPE QUOTES ever stated in my rooting years.

this one is a compassionate one as the player was a solid player but not to the level of this comparision.

Mickey Mantle - to whom Bobby Murcer was labled to be the next of.

Rickey Henderson / Barry Bonds - to whom people was saying Roberto Kelly was going to be the next.

Just a lil Yankee humor
lets go Yanks