Splitting the four-game series with the Red Sox, after the way it began, with two losses that included a shutout so bad it prompted a half-hour-long team meeting, has to be considered a moral victory for the Yankees. They made it through a very un-Mariano-like portion of an inning on Saturday; after which he snapped back into his usual dominant self; and escaped with a one-run win then. On Sunday, it required extra innings and Brett Gardner coming through against Jonathan Papelbon. How's that for a welcome to the big leagues moment?
On our Bronx and Beans blog, they've got pictures of Manny Ramirez's three called strikes against Rivera with some amusing captions.
In other news today, Alex Rodriguez remains a star of the highest order. He tied Mickey Mantle for all-time home runs with 536 on the same day that news broke that his wife, Cynthia, was filing for divorce after 5 1/2 years.
Johnny Damon went on the DL, and will have to watch the upcoming two-game series against the first-place Rays.
Wally Matthews thinks Joba will be great, but that he can't be the Yankees savior.
And barring some injuries or other unforeseen events, Mike Mussina will not be going to the All-Star Game. The Yankees will be represented, though, with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez selected to the team.
That's it for me today. I know you're all just getting back to work after a long holiday weekend, but we were busy at the ballpark this weekend and I'm off today.
Comments (53)
How bout a plug to help get some votes for Giambi???
We need his Stache to represent us in the Derby.....
Arod is to much of a coward to do it. Its the final season in Yankee stadium and you got a chance to respect that by playing in it.
A-Rod's #1 priority is to the Yankees - not a home run derby.
Too many players have said that the derby screws up their swing. Bobby Abreu is a perfect example of that.
It would be cool to see A-Rod in the derby but not at the risk and potential expense of the team who signs his paychecks.
Comment at 14:00 not me. Wish these MORONS would float away.
I have absolutely no problem with any player who opts out of a home run derby.
I hope that the comment at 14:00 really is Viper.
Home run derbys are anathema to good hitters.
Easiest way to at least temporarily ruin a good swing.
I don't have a problem w/ A-Rod not getting in the HR derby. He's so neurotic about his swing that if he feels it will mess him up, then that's cool with me. However, history shows that the last time he participated (while with Texas) his second half numbers actually improved so he should consider that as well.
I'm still astounded that Jason Varitek is on the all-star team...that's the biggest head shaker of the whole event.
Jason Varitek has worse numbers than Melky Cabrera and is an All-Star - that's really all you need to know about why people give Selig such a hard time about making this game count for anything. If Terry Francona has any credibility whatsoever, 'Tek doesn't get off the bench during the game. Actually, if I were Varitek I would be embarassed to show my face.
As for Alex and the home run derby - who cares? Yes it would be nice to have a Yankee in it, and there still might be with Giambi, but it doesn't count for anything and if the man thinks it is going to interfere with him going forward then who the heck are we to argue. I would rather have his head and swing in the right place when the Yankees come back from the break than thinking that his swing is all screwed up.
By the way - there's no way the Yankees could have out done the Brewers in the Sabathia deal. True, LaPorta is a AA player but I can promise you he'll be in Cleveland by the end of August - he's far more advanced than Jackson or Tabata are.
Rays tie KC in btm 9th on Carlos P HR! He's hitting like he's capable again. Kaz vs Sir Sidney tomorrow? YIKES
FINALMENTE!!!
Chip
I didn't think we'd get Sabbathia at least not THIS YEAR...
But I am a little surprised/dismayed at what I'm hearing from Cashman..
I actually heard that he said something to effect of "we're not sure if we're gonna be buyers or sellers"
Mind you, that statement was made immediately following the first two losses to Boston.
I'm going to be really pissed if he doesn't do something at the very least to help the bullpen.
Then I guess we'll just have to hope Carl Pavano want's to maintain his playboy lifestyle by fetching himself a new contract after the stellar stretch run that he and Wang will share on our march to glory in October lol.
;-)
Seriously though I really hoped to get Harrang but that was before the offense totally shut off after the interleague play followed shortly by 2/3's of our offensive production hitting the DL...
I don't know what we need first anymore
A starter?
A corner OF?
Another Starter?
A lefty for the pen?
A closer from a shite team to replace joba's 8th?
A Shortstop who plays like Derek Jeter used to play? YEAH I SAID IT!!!
I guess I can't blame Cashman for being on the fence.
Varitek should have declined. What a joke!
with internet access..........
Lol, that idiot is getting it from several different people and deserves it!
So why don't YOU float away, Mary!
My gut feeling is the Yankees will not do anything of major consequence by the trading dead line. Why may you ask because we are so well supplied with players. No. The Yankees have no positional players on the farm to spare for trades from what I gather. The players are not at AAA level and if the talent is at AA or high A than the Yankees won't trade becaues there will be nothing in the pipline because this team is getting old as we speak. With Hughes and Kennedy on the DL all pitching decisions are put on hold. This will allow the Yankees to evaluate the pitching talent for the wintertrades or FA signings.
The years of winning and signing FA's has seriously placd this team in jeaopardy of more than this year of transition but the next two years. Yes, 2009 could very well be a repeat of this rise to mediocrity. We are laden with pitching choices but not much more which is near ready.
The kid Gonzales might satisfy some teams but obviously he can't get regular off the bench duty so who would be interested.
This kid David Robertson looks very good. I would like to see him get a shot at the starting rotation next year if he has a third pitch of some worth. He throws very nicely in the 90-92 range with a good curve (old fashion style).
We need another righty in the lineup perferrably OF with the hopes of signing Tex.(high hopes).
This is a bit off-topic but let me take a minute to pay homage to my all-time favorite Yankee, Mickey Mantle, after A-Rod tied his HR mark last night with #536.
It's pretty well established now just how fast Brett Gardner is and you can see it whenever he's on the base paths. Gardner might be the fastest Yankee since Deion Sanders or Mickey Rivers.
I read an article last night about Gardner’s speed and here's a direct quote:
------------------------------
Gardner, 24, isn’t Johnny Damon, but he can add a speed element the Yankees have lacked. Scouts have clocked him at 3.9 seconds from moment of contact to first base on a ground ball — at the top of the scale for a left-handed hitter.
------------------------------
The reason I'm making the Gardner reference here is that legend has it that Mantle was timed at 3.1 seconds from home to first before his knee injury in the '51 WS.
As fast as Gardner is, to think that Mantle might’ve been nearly a full second faster to first base is just mind-boggling and tells you a lot about the unbelievable physical specimen that he really was.
Not only was Mantle one of the greatest home run hitters in MLB history, but he could also run with Olympic sprinters as well.
Anyways, since it’s an off-day and Mantle’s home run mark was tied yesterday by the modern day Mantle - I just wanted to tip my cap to one of my heroes and perhaps the most talented ballplayer in the history of the game.
to have seen Mantle or even Rivers!
This delusional fool keeps on creating a life he could never have lived.
He's super mental health man who deals with killers, rapists and other never do wells! Facing death each day!
Funny how he is on here 24-7.....how does he ever find the time amidst all that harrowing activity??????
Now he remembers Mantle, which would make him retirement age?
lol...............
Viper: If your info on Gardner is accurate 3.9 to first on contact then we are getting way too excited. The average speed for a righty hitter is 4.3 on contact. Now, .4 of second is much when your talking 90 feet but Gardner will have to use his smarts to make his speed advantageous to the team.
I saw Mantle play many times and I have heard his speed to first at 3.2 which is splitting hairs but just confirming your info. Also, They make such a big deal about A-rod putting it into the bullpen in LC. I saw the Mick so many years ago put 2 into the LC field bleachers against the Senators if the memory serves me in the same game. Mick was bigger than life. I would sit in the bleachers just to see the 7 on his back. As I got older in the middle years it was obvious that players would pass him but the HR are numbers are rediculous, today. So, I was more remembering the Mick when Arod hit his HR. No curtain calls in those days. Melky would carry Mick's glove out to the field and run back into the dugout if he were playing in those days. There are just too many teams today with the pitching talent watered down, Kei Igawa 46 million, I rest my case.
Larry,
A time of 4.0 seconds or less by a lefty hitter from home to first is considered "exceptional" on the scouts' rating system.
http://www.baseballtips.com/print/5tools.html
I'm excited to see any Yankee with that kind of speed because we haven't seen that element for so many years. It seems like a dying breed in that clubhouse.
But if Mantle's time of 3.1 seconds is remotely close to being accurate, that's truly amazing.
Phucker,
I know we all complain about the bullpen, mostly because Farnsworth and Hawkins are a part of it, but if you think about it, overall the bullpen, even without Joba, has been excellent, especially lately when the Yanks have really needed them with the starters not lasting very long at all seemingly every night.
Also in the good news department, Robinson Cano has woken up from his two and a half month slumber and seems to be collecting at least two hits every night. I'd like to see the power come back a little better but he's going pretty good right now.
I tend to agree with Larry regarding the trade deadline. I don't think the Yanks can solve all their problems with one trade and I don't think they need to sell off anyone (unless they can actually get something for Igawa or Hawkins). I think they should keep phasing in the young guys, not all at once mind you, but let them get their feet wet, especially the young arms in the bullpen so they can be ready for next season and try to get this team ready to contend in 2009.
If Wang and Hughes can come back and be somewhat effective, that is as good as a trade for starting pitching.
Jim,
Ugh...Depressing.
I was hoping for someone on the blog to lift my spirits with my last 16:54 post, not admit that they too were as pessimistic as I am!!!
It was a cry for help people!!!
Come on Jim!!!
I'm on the proverbial "ledge" and you tell me to move over and make room???
LOL
Seriously though ...I really feel like we're a couple series away from being "Sellers" for the first time in my Yankee fandom...
Basically I feel like a Mets fan did up until about 3 days ago.
BTW to clarify my never having known a Yankee team to be "Sellers" I'm 28, but I only got seriously involved when Jeter and Mo came around. Before that I was more of a casual baseball fan so this is a very odd feeling to have for me.
Ps...Please spare me the spoiled Yankee fan BS...
We've got a 200 million dollar team and if Cashman sits on his hands and doesn't even attempt to make an effort to put us back into contention when we are clearly in trouble then I'll have to regrettably apologize to "Roy" and Viper to a lesser degree...
Maybe Roy was "right" ???
Aa nd the Steinbrenner heirs really aren't interested in continuing their fathers relentless desire to win 1st and ask questions (budgetary) later...
Not sure I'll survive 10 weeks of a baseball season that doesn't include my team in any relevant contention.
:-(
Oh lookie!!
Sox WIN!!!!
YAY !!
AND SO DID THE METS!!!!
THEIR ONLY ONE GAME OUT!!!
I think i'll get drunk now.
Phucker,
You shouldn’t be depressed. This has been an ongoing transition for three years, but some fans (yourself included) just refused to believe it.
Cashman refused to make a big splash last season too and decided against dealing Hughes, Joba, or Kennedy. I’d say it was the right move.
A deal to get Sabathia would have started with Hughes and Austin Jackson and that was just to start negotiations. Why in the world would the Yanks want to sacrifice their future for the sake of having Sabathia for 2-3 months?
It didn’t make sense.
Besides, they need more than Sabathia to be a legitimate WS contender when the team isn’t scoring runs with any consistency. This is a team that has scored 2 runs or less a total of 29 times in 89 games - which is astounding.
The problem with the Steinbrenner-led Yankees is that they went to the well far too often with FAs and quick fixes and neglected the draft and player development for several years. Now, because of that neglect, teams like TB and BOS have a much better farm than the Yanks do and can keep promoting young players from within the system to help out the big club.
It’s going to take a few years to fix it, but the Yanks will be in the same boat soon enough.
Roy didn’t see the current transition this way. He said the Yanks became a “bottom line” organization after the sons took control of the team and put winning second. He also said the team was going to be sold.
That’s not the case at all. Cashman and the Stenbrenners realize that having the highest payroll certainly doesn’t guarantee anything and injecting youth into the core of this team is the best way to fix the problem.
And the fact that everyone harps on their $200M payroll has become such a cliché over the years that the team wants to change that. I’m betting that the payroll next season will be closer to the $160 - 170M range.
Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem with this team being “sellers” at the deadline. The problem with that approach is other teams have to want what their selling and I’m not convinced that will be the case.
There probably won’t be any buyers for Farnsworth or Hawkins and the market for aging talent like Abreu is thin. Giambi doesn’t have any trade value. Damon is hurt and so is Matsui. There’s not a lot left to sell.
Missing the playoffs could be a blessing in disguise for this team. Just look at the 2006 Red Sox.
Phucker,
Don't be too sad. Sure, this team may not contend this year and that may be hard to take for you since this is your first time going through this type of thing, but take it from me, a fan since '73 who has been through changing managers like underwear, the Alvaro Espinoza and Mel Hall years, that taking a step back this season to build a better team for next year and beyond is worth it. Let's face it, this team has milked all it could out of the "dynasty" teams by adding and subtracting so many pieces to go with the core players (Jeter, Mo, Jorge) so it's time to go back to 1995 and get younger and make smart moves that help the team. Having said all that, I believe signing Sabathia and Tex in the off season is very important to this team's development. They are great fits for the Yanks because they fill enormous holes and they are the right kind of free agents: young and in the prime of their careers, not has beens like the old guard used to sign.
Keep your head up Mike, it will get better or you might just want to stay drunk for the next 8 months or so.
LOL
Viper and Jim,
Touche...
However sobering, in principle, I agree with you both that the sensible, prudent-most importantly-UNEMOTIONAL choice of direction for this team's legacy and winning longevity is indeed to pay for it's past sins...
Perhaps arrogantly shirking the development of one's own talent does have consequences that money itself cannot avoid when taking into account how much has changed in the recent evolution of the game ie...Teams locking up their young players often shy of 21yrs old, more testing for PED's, and the seemingly never ending premium placed on young starting pitching blah blah blah.
FINE!!!
Yeah maybe we are all witnessing the cost of how short sighted (albeit well intentioned) our front office and more obviously George had been all those years.
Obviously I'm an idiot though cause I actually liked the "Win Now/Annual Playoffs or Kill Yourself M.O." but apparently it has run it's course...
After all enoughs enough right?
We alI know it's not a "choice" so much as it is an inevitable reckoning that at some point so might as well get it over with the sooner the better right??
Wow now I'm really on board I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!!
NO MORE PROCRASTINATION!!!
WE MUST GET YOUNGER AND WE CAN NOT WAIT ANOTHER SECOND!!!
NO IT MUST BE 2008...IT MUST BE THIS THIS YEAR LEST WE DIGG THE HOLE DEEPER AND PROLONG
OUR SUFFERING
Forgive me if you're tired of this diatribe because even I am beginning to bore myself with what I've been harping on ad nauseum for three years here with all of you....
BUT!!
How exactly does the decision to replace the familiar "Win Now" paper weights in the Yankee Front offices with the new "surrender"...ahem-I mean "ATONE NOW" (engraved stationary and coffee cups) serve our aging original dynasty members who deserve not to have their twilight years of remaining efficacy wasted while the organization makes good on all the "neglect" and "gluttony" of chasing every 38yr former cy young winner from 2000 to 2004??
I'm sorry but you do not "Rebuild" or take a proverbial "TIME OUT" when you still have M^&*THAF^&*$G MARIANO RIVERA!!!
Who by the way miraculously continues his epic greatness (enjoying one his best seasons ever statistically) while his pathetic, negligent, and shamefully constructed embarrassment of a" TEAM" continues to flounder among the likes of the Blue Jays and Orioles.
All I'm saying is NOT NOW!!!
What is truly sinful is not enjoying/appreciating the last few precious years of this man who we are IMO all very fortunate to have seen.
I never saw Mickey Mantle or Joe D or Gehrig or Ruth but I saw the greatest ever in Mariano and it is absurd that a legend of his talent continues to waste away while Cashman/Hal restore their "reputation as a GM/Owner" or whatever else that's motivating this insulting new philosophy.
I've said a lot and I am a little inebriated so I'm sorry for being overly dramatic or moderately incoherent but make no mistake by no means do I intend to be lobbying on the side of a "slash and burning firesale" of the entire farm for Matt Holliday/CC Sabbathia Brian Fuentes and Rich Harden for this year.
I'm just saying it makes no sense not to be at least reasonably flexible while keeping the longterm goals in perspective when the team you chose to construct has a finite window of productive years left in their bodies.
1995 Yankees was not young
Hey, Jim A, in 73 the Yanks were already on the road to getting better! I go back to Jerry Kenney, Gene Michael, Jake Gibbs, Horace Clarke years. And take it from someone who had to live through it, after growing up in the days of the 50's Great Dynasty and seeing such memorable years as 56, 58 and 61 (along with just a few other championships!), those first few years of collapse were really tough to live through.
So, in a sense, I can feel Phucker's pain. But Michael, the Yanks will be back. They're doing this right way (finally), changing with the times. Back in the 50's, the Yanks not only had a marvelous farm system, they also had the K.C. A's, their AAAA farm team! Guys like Cerv, Terry, Lopez and, of course, Roger Maris, were picked up when and as needed by trading away guys the Yanks no longer wanted. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, Bob Cerv might have come and gone twice from K.C.!
In any case, those days ended, the Yankee owners knew they were selling the team and stopped pumping money in the farm system and the late 60's early 70's were the result. Steinbrenner brought in some smart baseball people in Gabe Paul and Al Rosen and the Yanks got back into the winning column.
Things went downhill again when George got big, greedy eyes for superstars and has beens. It took a new reign under Michael and Watson to get back to basics.
So now the Yankees face a new challenge and new ideas to address the latest problems. If you listen to smart guys on this blog, like Viper, Larry, Chip, DRU, HYD and Jim A. you'll be listening to some very saavy baseball fans.
Take heart, PTRS, because the battle back is only in the early stages. But with a bit of luck the Yanks will be a very exciting team in a year or two. And let's face it, even now, without all the projected young talent and possible young FAs that will be coming along down the pike, the Yanks are nonetheless a fun team to watch, with a lot of terrific players. And that's not too shabby for a team that's quite obviously in transition.
Yanks61,
You are talking about some dark days in the late 60's.
How does one describe, and can anyone believe, that going to games in the Stadium in 66-70 involved you and 10-12,000 other diehard Yankee fans and FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND OR SO EMPTY SEATS!!
You could be sitting in the upper level and hear Dooley Womack snoring in the dugout.
Bring back Ross Moschitto for OT'ers day!!!
Yanks61....
Just curious....
What is your earliest memory of the Yankees, both live and/or on TV or radio?
For me...I can still vivdly remember (on TV) the last inning of the '62 WS against the Giants when Roger Maris made an outstanding throw to keep one of the Alou Bros at 3rd base after a Mays double in the 9th inning..
And then, with 2 outs, and the score 1-0 Yanks, Ralph Terry "induced' Stretch McCovey to hit a laser into Bobby Richardson's waiting glove.
My earliest "live game" memory was either 60 or 61 or 62 (I can't say for sure, I was only 5 in in 1960) and sitting in the right field porch seats and chastising Al Kaline for not playing deep enough for Roger or the Mick. (He was only 5 feet from the wall).
And then exitting the game through the RF bullpen.
ACTUALLY GETTING TO WALK ON THE FIELD!!!!
Kat should do a blog at some point inviting people to write about:
A/Earliest memory of being at Yankee Stadium.
B/Top Moment witnessed at Yankee Stadium.
Yanks61,
Nice Yankee recap. I'll add one thing. The decline era had more to do with the institution of the baseball draft than the Yanks not putting in money. Once the Yanks could no longer buy up all the young talent and had to compete through the draft they collapsed. Also the collusion between the owners and their business partners in KC was gone when they sold the team.
The point could be made that if you look at the years that the Yanks could not use their money advantage (post draft and pre-free agency) they were one of the mid-tier teams in baseball.
See 1965 through 1975. About .500 with no playoff appearances.
BRING ON THE RAYS!
Yanks61,
Nice Yankee recap. I'll add one thing. The decline era had more to do with the institution of the baseball draft than the Yanks not putting in money. Once the Yanks could no longer buy up all the young talent and had to compete through the draft they collapsed. Also the collusion between the owners and their business partners in KC was gone when they sold the team.
The point could be made that if you look at the years that the Yanks could not use their money advantage (post draft and pre-free agency) they were one of the mid-tier teams in baseball.
See 1965 through 1975. About .500 with no playoff appearances.
===============================================
Sad to say it but he is correct with the above post.
the teams decline actually happened on two fronts.
resistance on signing minority players until Elston
and the draft
notice the team's climb back into contention with the FA ERA
Don't discount the fact that the Yanks can't cherry pick from other teams like they used to now because teams have more money to lock up their own talent, but the Yanks are not rebuilding, they are simply transitioning while still trying to contend.
They do not want to waste the last years of Rivera, Posada and Jeter as they rebuild so they will infuse young talent, mix them with the veterans and sprinkle in the "right" free agents when they are available such as Tex and Sabathia hopefully.
The Yanks will always have the money advantage, but they have to make it work for them in a different way now. Instead of simply buying the best available free agents every season, they will have to and are putting their money into scouting talent all over the world and developing those players with top notch instructors and facilities.
Let's face it though, player development requires a lot of luck but the Yanks increase their odds when they can draft and sign the highest rated college and HS players and outbid teams for them as well as players in other countries.
Question ?
what was the core of the Yankee teams in the championship 70's years and how was they obtained.
In fact looking at the 77 all star game there was alot of all stars that later on, became Yankee's
Boy do you got to love the depth of our bullpen right now and going forward the rest of the season.....
Mariano
Veras - Looks amazing as of late
Farnsworth - Still don't trust him but is not a bad guy to have in there
Robertson - Great young gun
Ramirez - Has been unhittable lately
Britton - Underrated
Bruney - Pitched a scoreless inning yesterday in a rehab start
Giese - Throws strikes, has some good stuff
Traber - Not sure if he is going to last in the majors with all these other guys pitching better
Hawkins - Waste of money, but could be primed for a 2nd half turn around
Ohlendorf - Has the stuff, just needs to work a little more on it
Albaladejo - Any chance he comes back this year??
Humberto Sanchez - pitched a scoreless inning yesterday in his 5th rehab start
We also got guys who have been pitching very well in AAA such as Patterson and Strickland.
Hey Yankee land.
Wanted to say hello and give a few quick thoughts.
Losing those 2 one run games in the Bronx made me want to vomit.
Winning 1-0 last night helped ease the pain.
I have NO CLUE who to root for in the Tampa-Yankees series.
My team is chasing Tampa and they need to make up ground...
But besides being against my nature to root for the Yankees, I don't want them pulling ANOTHER Lazarus act (shades of 2005 and 2007)
Best I can do is hope for 3 20 inning games in the Bronx.
Also, as a Red Sox fan, I too think Varitek being added to the team is a joke.
I love Tek and will give him standing ovations from now to the end of time... but he's such an automatic out this year that some of us are wondering if Doug Mirabelli would have been a better offensive option.
OK, that's all I got
Anon,
The architect for the 1970s Yankee run was Gabe Paul, who fleeced the Indians, the Red Sox and the Angels in some trades that lay down the foundation for the 3 pennants and 2 rings
The core players from trades were:
Willie Randolph (from Pittsburgh for Doc Medich)
Chris Chambliss and Dick Tidrow (from Cleveland for Fritz Peterson and a bag of balls)
Graig Nettles (from Cleveland for John Ellis and a bunch of nobodys )
Mickey Rivers and Ed Figeroua (from the Angels for Bobby Bonds)
Sparky Lyle (from the Red Sox for Danny Cater)
Lou Pinella (from the Royals for Lindy McDaniel)
Bucky Dent (from the White Sox for Oscar Gamble)
Of course there were the three big free agent signings by George
Catfish Hunter in 1975
Reggie Jackson in 1977
Goose Gossage in 1978
And there were three big components from the farm
The Captain Thurman Munson
The Ace Ron Guidry
And the underrated Roy White
But the bulk of the core was made from very shrewd moves…
Ranolph, Chambliss, Tidrow, Nettles, Rivers, Figeroua, Lyle, Pinella and Dent were all picked up and only Oscar Gamble was of any real value after 1976.
Folks… THAT is a good GM
Does Gabe Paul have a plaque in Monument Park?
If he doesn’t they should put one up in the new stadium
Does anyone remeber the bonus baby rule - if they signed for a big bonus they had to come to the majors immediately - the Yankees had a very short bench for a while as these characters sat and did nothing - never made the team eithera s far as I can recall.
The Bonus Baby rule was another attempt by baseball to equalize the Yankess money advantage in the post war era. The Yanks would sign players just to keep them away from other teams and let them wither in the minors. The rule stated that any bonus contract of.....$4,000........or more meant that player had to be on the 40 man roster for at least 2 years (not in the majors). After 2 years the team could option them to where ever.
At one time it was said the Yanks had the second best team in baseball.....in the minors.....without any of them getting a shot to make the bigs.
The rule was abolished when the draft came into effect.
Correction, the rule was revised in 52 to require 2 years of ML service
My first Yankee game in person my here, Mickey Mantle, walked 4 times! Talk about being gypped! The Yankees won the first 13 games I went to - including several in extra innings ( I always rooted for extra innings just to get to see more baseball). Yogi hit the clutch hit to send it into extra inings or win the game every time. He was the greatest clutch hitter ever.
Hey Nudge - the Giants aren't doing too bad - remember our great debate before the season began?
Jon,
They are 11 games under .500 and if you take away the one good pitcher they have......they are 20 games under .500.
But that is better than I thought they would do...sadly.
Jon,
Remember that professor that did a math formula that said they would end the season 76 - 86? Well they would have to go 37 -36 the rest of the way to do that. Unles Lincecum pitches every third day thats not likely.
Anon,
The architect for the 1970s Yankee run was Gabe Paul, who fleeced the Indians, the Red Sox and the Angels in some trades that lay down the foundation for the 3 pennants and 2 rings
The core players from trades were:
Willie Randolph (from Pittsburgh for Doc Medich)
Chris Chambliss and Dick Tidrow (from Cleveland for Fritz Peterson and a bag of balls)
Graig Nettles (from Cleveland for John Ellis and a bunch of nobodys )
Mickey Rivers and Ed Figeroua (from the Angels for Bobby Bonds)
Sparky Lyle (from the Red Sox for Danny Cater)
Lou Pinella (from the Royals for Lindy McDaniel)
Bucky Dent (from the White Sox for Oscar Gamble)
Of course there were the three big free agent signings by George
Catfish Hunter in 1975
Reggie Jackson in 1977
Goose Gossage in 1978
And there were three big components from the farm
The Captain Thurman Munson
The Ace Ron Guidry
And the underrated Roy White
But the bulk of the core was made from very shrewd moves…
Ranolph, Chambliss, Tidrow, Nettles, Rivers, Figeroua, Lyle, Pinella and Dent were all picked up and only Oscar Gamble was of any real value after 1976.
Folks… THAT is a good GM
Does Gabe Paul have a plaque in Monument Park?
If he doesn’t they should put one up in the new stadium
================================================
Thank You Sully,
Basically you answered my question and prooved my point in the same breath.
Every basic Yankee dynasty dealt with Good GM moves and farm and FA Balance .
Meaning that .....
This years squad should not have been assembled they way it did.
after last season 1st half disaster the theme should have been on youth and on a collective basis. I heard the cries of that player not being ready and all I can say is this team does not have the wiggle room to be selective.
Who ever was tradeable should have been dealy away and replaced by a prospect. If you can replace 3/4 of your rotation with unprovens the same should have been done with positional players.
it is historically proven that the Yankees dynasty's was helped with the addition of certain FA's to
Thanks Nudge, Jim A and Anon for adding some further points about the Yankees of the late 60's, early 70's. Especially thanks to Sully for actually giving the details of Gabe Paul's remarkable job. Agreed, Sully, Gabe Paul should have a plaque in Monument Park, no doubt about it!
Islander505, one of my earliest memories was of heading home from the library in Jersey City and listening to the Yankee/Dodger WS game in 53.
It was crazy because whole neighborhoods (and obviously all the corner bars) were tuned in via radio or TV and I caught the score as it changed throughout my long walk home (I'd stop outside a house or bar to look or listen for a while.) When I first left the library, the Yanks lead 3 - 0, then 3- 1, then 3 - 2 and then tied 3 - 3. As I walked in the door, Billy Martin had just singled in the winning run in the ninth inning of game 7!
I had also followed the Giants at the time and seen a few games from the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium on TV before that, but that's the first game which has really stuck in my mind.
My first live game was in 1955. Like everyone, that first time stepping into the old Stadium was an even more awe inspiring feeling then when I first stepped inside the Cathedral at Chartres! I couldn't believe that I was sitting a few rows from the field and from Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Phil Rizzuto and Jerry Coleman, all warming up just in front of me.
The Yanks had gotten Don Larsen and Bob Turley as part of a massive trade with the Orioles before the season and "Bullet Bob" was on the mound. Well, I won't bore you and everyone else with the details, but the Yanks won that game 4 -3, with all the scoring in the first inning!
Yes, I walked on the field after games (mostly doubleheaders - weren't they wonderful!) many, many times!
Islander505, thanks for the invitation to walk down Memory Lane. Hopefully, we haven't bored everyone else to drink!
Varitek being added to the AS roster (which by the way was due to votes by the players and managers...not the fans), is akin to Jeter winning the GG two years in a row.
Sad to say it but he is correct with the above post.
the teams decline actually happened on two fronts.
resistance on signing minority players until Elston
and the draft
notice the team's climb back into contention with the FA ERA
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True! The Yankees denial (or slow pace)to draft or sign Minorities in the Mid 50's early 60's hurt them later on, as their stars became older. The 65-66 yankees are very much like this team now with aging players.
lets just hope our prospects pan out for the better
CO,
The AL is really shallow at so many postions this year. I mean there are actually people lobbying for Giambi to be an All Star. How strange is that?
CO,
I regards to Varitek....I guess the players thought it would be a nice thing to do for him. I remember the years when Willie Mays was always the starter if CF for the NL stars even when there were 10 other better outfilders. Now Tek is no Willie but maybe this is one last bone to give the dog.
Sorry about that, but that was me (Yanks61) at 12:09 regarding early memories!
As for the bonus baby stuff, wasn't it Tommy Carroll or somebody like that who was the most noteworthy Yankee bonus baby of that period? I remember that he played in a Mayor's Trophy Game and tripled over Willie May's head. I believe that he only ever got a few ML at bats with the Yankees and disappeared out of baseball without ever making it with anyone.
Tommy Carrol....lifetime .300 hitter.....perfect SB record.......traded to who else....KC in 1959.
Played a total of 64 games in 3 seasons with 30 AB's
In the spring of 55 Howard was in the Clubhouse in St Pete where the Yanks trained in those days.The Yankees head scout Paul Krichell came over to introduce himself. Krichell later said to Weiss "I like that young man, he has manners even though he`s black" Weiss was the GM of the Yankees
If George Weiss was to have a negro on the Yankees,he would have one,but only one.He was not going to have a loud mouthed Negro like Jackie Robinson or Vic Power. He would have a Negro who would accept the conditions of that time.Live in segregated quarters and be grateful just to be playing for the Yankees Ellie Howard was the perfect fit.In 1955 he was a Yankee and quite a Yankee. Add to the fact that you had a manager calling a player eight ball was not good for the team.
with that being said 1955 was the first year of a black player in NYY, That being said it hurt the team even though they was in a good run it hurt becasue their stubbornness in opening up a more diverse playing field and relying on aging stars hurt them as their stars were either retired or past their prime. the same went for Boston until
Tommy Carroll was before my time Yanks61...The only Mayor's Trophy Games I remember were against the Mets.
I googled Carroll and he was out of baseball in 1959, so yeah, it could've been him.
I had 3 great Yankee Stadium moments...all equally number 1.
A/Aug 12, 1964. Yanks and Chisox, Wednesday Matinee.
Mickey hit a MAMMOTH BOMB (towering fly ball) over the tarp in CF off of Ray Herbert (one of 2 that day- LH and RH) that was measured at, I think 496 ft or something). Bro and I had box seats about 10 rows behind the dugout (only about 15k in attendance that day).
B/Chris Chambliss walkoff HR off Mark Littell in 1976 to send the Yanks back into the WS. (Upper deck seats with college buddies -we had tickets for all 3 games of the ALCS).
C/All 3 games for the 2001 WS against the D'backs. Had Uecker seats for the games....last row of upper deck. MOST IMPORTANTLY----had my 12 yo son and 17 yo daughter with me.
PRICELESS.
Interesting how my seats kept getting WORSE as time went by.
George Weiss was an open racist. Thats why the Yanks were the second to last team to have a black player. The owners were also rumored to be against the inclusion of blacks but were not as open about it as was Weiss. Weiss in his later years with the Mets seemed to recant his positions but his prior stances left no doubt about his feelings toward black players. Casey was not much better in his opinions but got away with things because of his age and success.
I remember Casey talking about the Mets Black catcher having problems holding onto pitches and saying he couldn't understand it because if you ever saw him in the clubhouse with a piece of watermelon you wouldn't think he would drop anything. Amazingly there was no uproar over such a statement. It was just Casey being outrageous as usual.
Nudge...
"George Weiss was an open racist"
No question....
On a personal note, and beyond the racism, George Weiss' name is one that was never mentioned in my household growing up.
My father was an outfielder in the Yankee farm system in the 40's.
(All NYC in High School in '37or '38 -can't remember).
I have stories about Weiss that would curl the toes.
But not for this blog.
Cold hearted spineless "t"rick would be putting it mildly.