Here are some pictures from Joe Torre Day today at Yankee Stadium. I'll have my thoughts on Joe on Monday with an article on his time in Pinstripes.
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Yankees Genreal Manager Brian Cashman doesn't think Alex Rodriguez will be effected by the Joe Torre book. As everyone knows by now, it is said in the book that players called Alex "A-Fraud". People close to Alex say it's a non issue, so does Cashman.
"He's fine," Cashman said. "It's something he's going to have to deal with."
Every spring A-Rod has had to deal with some type of controversy and this year will be no different. He will again be asked about his relationship with Derek Jeter, something Torre also alluded to in his book. Cash said he's spoken to Alex recently about the book and it's topics and he has no issues with it.
"He's already dealt with stuff like this way too many times," Cashman said of the "A-Fraud" fallout. "It's just another thing for him to swat out of the way."
I agree, we're beating a dead bush here. How many times are we going to ask about A-Rod's status in the clubhouse? He's been here for four years, it's time to find something else to talk about with Alex, or how bout leave him alone for once....well the latter may never happen. As long as the media continues to make A-Rod's every footstep a big deal so will we here on the blog.
Players report to camp on Feb. 17th.
I went this morning to go buy the Joe Torre book, "The Yankee Years" and had no problem finding it. I bought it at Barnes and Noble on 86th street. When I went to go pay for the book the cashier told me about a book signing Torre was doing on 46th and 5th. I orginally wasn't going to go through the hassle of waiting on line to meet Joe because I would be waiting for hours. I asked when the signing started and the cashier replied "in 5 mins". So I said I might as well go ahead and try, after all it was snowing like crazy so the line couldn't have been that long, right?
Well a few train stops and a few blocks later I reached my destination. Now I had to see what I was dealing in terms of a line and waiting time. I was also trying to do this and make it back in time for work at 3pm so could the unexpected happen? Could I get Joe Torre to sign my book AND make it back in time for work? It was def worth trying. I walked down the block from where Barnes and Noble's main entrance was and turned the corner only to see a LONG line of people who were there before me to get a glimpse of Joe. As I went to the very back of the line optimism was still with me. Just as I settled into my place on line, I was approached by WFAN and was interviewed about the book. I gave my two cents and they were off to interview another person on the line. All in all I didn't get to see Torre or get my book signed but at least I made it on the radio/tv/internet. That made the attempt worthwhile. I'll be posting my thoughts on the book as I go through it. In the meantime, here's the video from today, look for me around the 2:00 mark.
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Well a few train stops and a few blocks later I reached my destination. Now I had to see what I was dealing in terms of a line and waiting time. I was also trying to do this and make it back in time for work at 3pm so could the unexpected happen? Could I get Joe Torre to sign my book AND make it back in time for work? It was def worth trying. I walked down the block from where Barnes and Noble's main entrance was and turned the corner only to see a LONG line of people who were there before me to get a glimpse of Joe. As I went to the very back of the line optimism was still with me. Just as I settled into my place on line, I was approached by WFAN and was interviewed about the book. I gave my two cents and they were off to interview another person on the line. All in all I didn't get to see Torre or get my book signed but at least I made it on the radio/tv/internet. That made the attempt worthwhile. I'll be posting my thoughts on the book as I go through it. In the meantime, here's the video from today, look for me around the 2:00 mark.
Joe Torre was on Larry King Live last night and talked publicly for the first time about his book. As expected Torre backed up everything that was written and justified it. I found nothing wrong with any of his explanations and I have yet to get upset over anything I've heard so far.Torre said there is no friction between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. He also stood behind his comments about A-Rod and the infamous "A-Fraud". He says it was sort of a clubhouse joke and it was right in front of A-Rod all the time. He said A-Rod knew about the "A-Fraud" comments and it should be no surprise to the superstar. He does say that Alex is concerned with being the best on the team but there's nothing wrong with that. He says Alex just puts alot more pressure on himself than he needs to.
Many people also believe he betrayed the trust of his players by writing the book. He says that he agreed to write the book with Tom Verducci while still in pinstripes. He says that the book tells of his time with the Yankees, which includes the final seasons when being manager of the Yankees became a stressful job. He says he told things they way they were, not just including the good times because then it would be a dull book. Again, I find nothing wrong with that explanation. He wrote it to tell the whole story of his time as Yankee manager, not just the Championship years.
Good work by Larry King on the interview. He went straight into the questions and to Torre's credit, he didn't back away. Joe will be doing a book tour this upcoming week here in New York, the recpetion could be a little different but we'll have to wait and see. Torre will on WFAN on Tuesday with Mike Francesa, that should make for a very interesting interview. Did last night's interview sway your opinion of the book and Joe Torre? For me, it didn't do much. I'm still a Torre fan, he'll always be a Yankee to me.
To read a transcript of the interview click HERE
Every week we'll try to get you up to speed with this week's hot topics in case you missed them. If you haven't been to the ChasingRecords Forum you should check it out. Not only can you share your thoughts on the New York sports scene, you can talk about whatever you want. Going out this weekend? Tell us where you're going, what are the hot spots to hit? Like the UFC or WWE, we got a place on the Forum just for you too. You name it, and we've got it on the ChasingRecords Forum. So click the link at the bottom of this post and register, it's FREE. You may even win some gifts from the ChasingRecords staff. Hope to see you on the boards!
Here's what you may have missed this week:
Monday: What are feelings towards Joe Torre's new book "The Yankee Years?" HERE
Tuesday:How do you feel about the Yankees Starting Rotation now that Andy Pettitte is back? HERE
Wednesday:Are you a fan of the Winter Season? Were you hit by the Snow Storm today? HERE
Thursday: What is the # 1 reason as to why you can’t exercise on a consistent basis?
Could it be the lack of time, no motivation, your finances, or is it something else? HERE
Friday: What are your plans for the weekend? Are you going to be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday? HERE
We look forward to hearing from you,
--Chasing Records & Full Focus LLC
There's a lot to said about the upcoming Joe Torre book, the "Yankee Years". I am looking to obtain a copy of the book hopefully next week and will be able to come up with my own opinion.
I wrote an article for Peter Araham's Yankees blog on Sunday as part of his pinch-hitting series. The article was focusing on Joe Torre's time as Yankees manager. How I thought he did a great job and how we took him for granted while he was here. I had no idea about the upcoming book. The first sounds of the book came around also on Sunday, so it was just a coincidence that my Torre article was posted on the same day the news about Torre's "ant-Yankee" book was released to the public. Now that caused quite a stir on the LoHud Yankees Blog and brought new readers to this site. I thank those that have come and shared their opinions on the matter. I realize that many people became anti-Torre towards the end of his tenure but I think people should read the entire book first before passing judgement on Joe. We have all heard and read different passages from the book, all covering a varitey of topics, David Wells, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, and Brian Cashman.
So far it looks to me Torre just told it the way it was and Tom Verducci wrote it in the book as such. Nothing I've heard has surprised me yet so it'll be interesting to see what else comes to light as a result of this book. I wonder what Torre's response will be when he's interviewed on the matter. Oh man, how quick you can go from hero to goat in this city....only in New York. But please read the book first THEN cast your opinion.
Will you buy the book? Go over to the right and cast your poll on the poll.
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I wrote an article for Peter Araham's Yankees blog on Sunday as part of his pinch-hitting series. The article was focusing on Joe Torre's time as Yankees manager. How I thought he did a great job and how we took him for granted while he was here. I had no idea about the upcoming book. The first sounds of the book came around also on Sunday, so it was just a coincidence that my Torre article was posted on the same day the news about Torre's "ant-Yankee" book was released to the public. Now that caused quite a stir on the LoHud Yankees Blog and brought new readers to this site. I thank those that have come and shared their opinions on the matter. I realize that many people became anti-Torre towards the end of his tenure but I think people should read the entire book first before passing judgement on Joe. We have all heard and read different passages from the book, all covering a varitey of topics, David Wells, Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, and Brian Cashman.So far it looks to me Torre just told it the way it was and Tom Verducci wrote it in the book as such. Nothing I've heard has surprised me yet so it'll be interesting to see what else comes to light as a result of this book. I wonder what Torre's response will be when he's interviewed on the matter. Oh man, how quick you can go from hero to goat in this city....only in New York. But please read the book first THEN cast your opinion.
Will you buy the book? Go over to the right and cast your poll on the poll.
**This article can also be found on Peter Abraham's Yankees LoHud Blog**
They say you don't know what you got until it's gone. Boy are they right. 2008 saw a changing of the guard in the Bronx. Joe Torre was no longer leading the men in pinstripes, Joe Girardi was.
After 12 seasons as Yankees manager, Torre had worn out his welcome. We said goodbye to a man that brought pride,power and respect back to the pinstripes. He made Yankee Stadium the place to be again. He gave so many people so many memories. He gave us everything he had. There was that magical '96 season. Or how bout one of the most dominating teams ever in the '98 team. Or what about 2001 when he gave us strength after the 9/11 attacks. He was as much a face of the recovery in New York as anyone was. He gave Aaron Boone an inspirational pep talk in 2003, right before his homerun in Game 7 won the Yankees the A.L. pennant . That was the last great Yankee moment. For all those reasons and more, I thank you Joe.
I thought I wanted change after the 2007 season. Making it to October was something of the norm around here since Torre took over. I expected nothing less, I admit, Joe spoiled me. He was a good manager and he was the right man for the job all along. He got those Yankee teams through the rough times, he got them through the good times, but most importantly, he got them to October. It's no coincidence that the year he leaves, the Yankees fail to make the playoffs and the team he went to go manage for, went to the LCS. After all this time of questioning his ability to manage, it was Joe that got the Yankees that far, not their open checkbook. The way he handled every situation was all in good taste and it was all in the best interest of the Yankees. Some of us just never knew it unil now.
Now that I see Torre in a different city and see how much he is loved out west, makes me want him back in the Bronx. It doesn't feel the same here without him. I grew up to be such a big Yankee fan because of him and what he did for the team and how he made the Yankees a proud organization again. His pinstripe days are behind him now but that's ok. Those memories will last a lifetime. He will always be a Yankee in my book. One day that no. 6 will get retired right along with the other Yankee greats......that's where he belongs.
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They say you don't know what you got until it's gone. Boy are they right. 2008 saw a changing of the guard in the Bronx. Joe Torre was no longer leading the men in pinstripes, Joe Girardi was.
After 12 seasons as Yankees manager, Torre had worn out his welcome. We said goodbye to a man that brought pride,power and respect back to the pinstripes. He made Yankee Stadium the place to be again. He gave so many people so many memories. He gave us everything he had. There was that magical '96 season. Or how bout one of the most dominating teams ever in the '98 team. Or what about 2001 when he gave us strength after the 9/11 attacks. He was as much a face of the recovery in New York as anyone was. He gave Aaron Boone an inspirational pep talk in 2003, right before his homerun in Game 7 won the Yankees the A.L. pennant . That was the last great Yankee moment. For all those reasons and more, I thank you Joe.I thought I wanted change after the 2007 season. Making it to October was something of the norm around here since Torre took over. I expected nothing less, I admit, Joe spoiled me. He was a good manager and he was the right man for the job all along. He got those Yankee teams through the rough times, he got them through the good times, but most importantly, he got them to October. It's no coincidence that the year he leaves, the Yankees fail to make the playoffs and the team he went to go manage for, went to the LCS. After all this time of questioning his ability to manage, it was Joe that got the Yankees that far, not their open checkbook. The way he handled every situation was all in good taste and it was all in the best interest of the Yankees. Some of us just never knew it unil now.
Now that I see Torre in a different city and see how much he is loved out west, makes me want him back in the Bronx. It doesn't feel the same here without him. I grew up to be such a big Yankee fan because of him and what he did for the team and how he made the Yankees a proud organization again. His pinstripe days are behind him now but that's ok. Those memories will last a lifetime. He will always be a Yankee in my book. One day that no. 6 will get retired right along with the other Yankee greats......that's where he belongs.
One of the things that made Joe Torre so loved in New York was the fact he was such a classy guy. So humble and down to earth, yet he had that demeanor that was stern and had that emotionless look on his face. Of course all the winning he did with the Yankees also helped everyone loved him too.
Back in late 1995 when he was announced as the new manager of the Yankees he was known for being a great catcher but a lousy manager. Having being fired in his previous stops with the Mets, Cardinals, and Braves, Torre came to the Bronx with a lot to prove. Boy did he prove everyone wrong. He restored pride in the pinstripes and brought four world championships while making the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons as manager. Last year when he was announced as the new manager of the Dodgers, he went to another organization where pride needed to be restored. Now, Torre was a legendary manager, with that also brought a bunch of expectations. Was it possible to exceed these expectations? Well considering Los Angeles didn't really have enough talent to go far, Torre had a surmountable task ahead of him. This year we were going to find out if it really was Torre who got the Yanks into the playoffs all these years or if it was the bank account that got him and endless list of All-Stars. Turns out maybe it was a little bit of both, but I think Torre should have been credited more.
Like in New York, Torre had his cast of veterans and youth. Last season Grady Little was criticized for losing his team down the stretch thus costing the Dodgers a chance at making the playoffs. This season under Torre the Dodgers went on an 8 game losing streak in late August yet still found in them to right the ship and charge into the postseason all the way to NLCS, a place they had no business being. Dodgers ownership saw potential with the team they had and added the pieces they lacked. They added Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake, and Greg Maddux. All made significant contributions. Ramirez was in a league of his own batting almost .400 while wearing Dodger Blue. He carried the offense on his back all the way from his July trade up until Wednesday night when the Dodgers were eliminated by the Phillies. One of the things that people got on Torre for his case of over-managing. Yankee fans can recall many instances in which Torre's late inning decisions might've cost the Bombers a game but when Torre came out in Game 4 and took out Derek Lowe after 5 innings it made you wonder what was Joe thinking? Nonetheless it was Joe who got the Dodgers this far.
"He's a leader," Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said. "His performance was everything we wanted this franchise to be."
Sure Manny was a HUGE help, but without Torre pushing the right buttons and guiding the way the first 4 months of the season the Dodgers don't go out and make the trade for Manny and they don't catch the Arizona Diamondbacks. So did Torre exceed expectations this year, his first in L.A.? I think so. If you think he didn't, just look at the status of his former team, the Yankees. They didn't even make the playoffs, forget that the Bombers had a better record, that fact is very misleading. The only thing that matters in sports is winning, especially when you're talking about the Dodgers and Yankees. Torre showed he still was a genius even if he wasn't in the Bronx.
"I came here wondering if managing was still fun," Torre said. "And it was."
The question now becomes what do the Dodgers do with Manny and the rest of their free agents (Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Maddux, and Lowe)? It's going to be an interesting offseason in L.A.
"Hopefully the experience of this postseason helped everybody," Dodger first baseman James Loney said.
Torre came out after the series-eliminating loss on Wednesday night to thank the fans. Maybe he was watching the Yankees final game at Yankee Stadium and took a page out of Derek Jeter's book. The move doesn't surprise me because both men are classy and both men probably have the same mindset as they've spent so much time together over the years so it's just common sense to salute the fans. It's a good way to win over the fans, but in Torre's case, he had already done that...because he made the Dodgers matter again in Los Angeles. Something similar happened in New York back in 1996, he made the Yankees matter again. When it's all said and done Joe Torre will be the man setting the standards for managers everywhere. Oh wait, he already has.
Let's start off the new blog with an old friend, Joe Torre. He and another old "friend" Manny Ramirez are in the LCS looking to reach the World Series in a year where Torre proved he still has steam left in the tank and Manny is showing the world why he is one of the greatest hitters of all-time.
Everyone knows how Torre and the Yankees left off last October and for one, I thought it was time for a change with the Yanks. I loved Torre but it was time to move on. As a Yankee fan, I'll always have a place for him in my heart as he gave me so many great moments over the years. I wish him well in these playoffs and honestly hopes he wins it all. Maybe then, Hank Steinbrenner can shut his mouth and worry about the major issues with his team. As for Manny, I'm rooting for the guy too. I never thought I would say that but it's true. I want him to win a World Series and be able to laugh right in Boston's face. He's one of us now, the anti-Sox Nation.
It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the NLCS plays out, the Dodgers were able to salvage a game last night, thus making this a series again. I do like the Phillies though. The lineup is tough and so is the bullpen. Ryan Madsen setting up an untouchable Brad Lidge is a force to be reckoned with. Kinda reminds me of Mariano Rivera to John Wettland in '96. Ok, maybe I'm getting too ahead of myself but that 1-2 combo at the end of the bullpen for Philly is dangerous right now. And I believe that is a huge difference maker between the two teams. Although Philly's starting pitching doesn't match up with L.A.'s but I think the two teams are well matched. The Dodgers are relying on Ramirez to carry them offensively and so far he has. The pitching has to step up and so does the rest of the offense.
Derek Lowe is starting today's Game 4 on three days rest, the Dodgers need to pull out a victory today to stay alive. Joe Torre knows all about must wins, so does Manny, can they pull it off and tie the series at 2-2? I hope so, I want to see the legacy of Joe Torre live on.
As I've stated before there are many factors that led to this disappointing 2008 season. Offense, defense, pitching, manager, general manager. Today we focus on Joe Girardi.
Well it appears he didn't. Somewhere along the way I believe he lost his players. Melky Cabrera had a good April, then disappeared. Robinson Cano forgot that he was the second coming of Rod Carew in the first half, and even at times in the second half. Those are two players that played well under Joe Torre, oops, I shouldn't have mentioned that name. More on him later. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were absolute busts. Kennedy didn't seem botheres by his last performance in Anahiem where he was rocked again and thought he pitched well. That got him a first class ticket back to the minors. Even through the let downs, Girardi has done well with the hand he was dealt.
Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Mike Mussina and Brian Bruney were asked about Girardi's performance and praised him. Others on the team chose not to comment. Hmm. Not good. That right there shows you how the clubhouse seems divided. That was never the case under Mr Torre. Girardi's biggest mistakes might've been trying to mix and match the lineup too much. Also his always optimistic attitude has come off as a joke. He's told the media his players are fine and then those players magically get hurt within days, if not hours.
That guy in L.A. Joe Torre is sitting pretty at the top of the NL West while Girardi's Yanks sit in fourth place. Had Torre delivered a fourth place team in September he would surely be out the door by now, but since Girardi is handpicked by Brain Cashman and given the ok by the Steinbrenner family, his job is safe.....for now.
I agree but I also think if Torre was here the Yankees wouldn't be in this position. It's a debate that will linger all winter long because the bottom line is this: Torre got the Yanks to the playoffs every year he was here. Girardi failed in his first try. Can't blame Girardi for it, but it does show how effortless Torre made the job seem. Now that the Dodgers look to be playing in October while the Yanks sit at home, Torre's laughable State Farm commerical about his new life in L.A. isn't so funny. He looks like a genius for walking away from the Yankees. What happens if the Dodgers win the World Series? How will that affect Girardi's job? Time will tell.
I think Girardi did what he could this season and I don't hold him accountable. I wanted him as the manager so I have to accept the fate that came along with it. He showed me some fire this season and I liked it. The night he got thrown out and threw his hat to the ground and put on a Lou Pinella like tantrum I got all fired up. It was what I wanted to see, it's what many fans wanted to see. For that night it worked as the Yankees made a 9th inning comeback. Since then, we've got a toned down Girardi, that I don't like. Let the man do his job the way he sees fit. I think he's trying too much to be a media's manager. Let him scream, curse, shove. Whatever gets the job done. Maybe then, ALL of his players will respect him and then ALL of them will play with some pride. While I can't say poor Joe, I can certainly say shame on those players who gave up on him and the team. The lesson we learned here....Joe Torre is a sure genius!
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"I take responsibility for it, that's the only way I know how to do it," Girardi said. "Obviously, my job is to get the most out of everyone."
Well it appears he didn't. Somewhere along the way I believe he lost his players. Melky Cabrera had a good April, then disappeared. Robinson Cano forgot that he was the second coming of Rod Carew in the first half, and even at times in the second half. Those are two players that played well under Joe Torre, oops, I shouldn't have mentioned that name. More on him later. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were absolute busts. Kennedy didn't seem botheres by his last performance in Anahiem where he was rocked again and thought he pitched well. That got him a first class ticket back to the minors. Even through the let downs, Girardi has done well with the hand he was dealt.Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Mike Mussina and Brian Bruney were asked about Girardi's performance and praised him. Others on the team chose not to comment. Hmm. Not good. That right there shows you how the clubhouse seems divided. That was never the case under Mr Torre. Girardi's biggest mistakes might've been trying to mix and match the lineup too much. Also his always optimistic attitude has come off as a joke. He's told the media his players are fine and then those players magically get hurt within days, if not hours.
That guy in L.A. Joe Torre is sitting pretty at the top of the NL West while Girardi's Yanks sit in fourth place. Had Torre delivered a fourth place team in September he would surely be out the door by now, but since Girardi is handpicked by Brain Cashman and given the ok by the Steinbrenner family, his job is safe.....for now.
"Joe has done a good job, he had to deal with a lot," Cashman said of the Yankees losing Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui and Chien-Ming Wang for extended stretches. "He never used excuses and has always looked to solve the problem. He has handled our pitchers very well, he and (pitching coach) Dave Eiland have done a good job."
I agree but I also think if Torre was here the Yankees wouldn't be in this position. It's a debate that will linger all winter long because the bottom line is this: Torre got the Yanks to the playoffs every year he was here. Girardi failed in his first try. Can't blame Girardi for it, but it does show how effortless Torre made the job seem. Now that the Dodgers look to be playing in October while the Yanks sit at home, Torre's laughable State Farm commerical about his new life in L.A. isn't so funny. He looks like a genius for walking away from the Yankees. What happens if the Dodgers win the World Series? How will that affect Girardi's job? Time will tell.
I think Girardi did what he could this season and I don't hold him accountable. I wanted him as the manager so I have to accept the fate that came along with it. He showed me some fire this season and I liked it. The night he got thrown out and threw his hat to the ground and put on a Lou Pinella like tantrum I got all fired up. It was what I wanted to see, it's what many fans wanted to see. For that night it worked as the Yankees made a 9th inning comeback. Since then, we've got a toned down Girardi, that I don't like. Let the man do his job the way he sees fit. I think he's trying too much to be a media's manager. Let him scream, curse, shove. Whatever gets the job done. Maybe then, ALL of his players will respect him and then ALL of them will play with some pride. While I can't say poor Joe, I can certainly say shame on those players who gave up on him and the team. The lesson we learned here....Joe Torre is a sure genius!
Shelley Duncan is here! How do you know that? Here's how:Friday night: 1 for 4, 1 RBI.
Saturday (Game 1): 1 for 4, 1 HR 2 RBI, Yankee Stadium curtain call.
Sunday: 2 for 4, 2 HR 4 RBI, another curtain call.
Via ESPN.com:
"It's a crazy experience," Shelley said. "You kind of get frozen in the moment."That was the weekend Duncan had, and that's why you know who he is. Not to mention fist pounds and high fives that would take your arms off. He's the brother of St. Louis' Chris Duncan and son of Dave Duncan , pitching coach of the Cardinals. He was drafted in 2001 by the Yanks out of Arizona. His infectious manner in which he plays the game has brought a sense of life and enthusiasm to the team and to the ballpark. A factor that the Yankee Stadium crowd did not let go unnoticed. On Sunday, he recieved curtain calls after both of his home runs and recieved a standing ovation upon his third at-bat.
Via Bill Madden, NY Daily News:
"He's not just up there hacking and that's important," said Joe Torre ."He knows who he's facing and maybe it's a benefit to have a father who's a pitching coach teaching you about preparing and focus."What seems to be Shelley's claim to fame is his overjoyed emotion, "It's fun until after he scores," Derek Jeter said, laughing "He gets a little physical when he gets excited." Asked about his aggressive high fives after Saturday's Game 1 win, Shelley offered YES Network reporter Kim Jones a sample. A sample that surprised her as well as her colleagues in the booth.
Should we be surprised with Duncan or is this a preview of things to come? Torre is going to have to find a way to get him in the lineup, a problem that is certainly a good thing for Torre and the Yanks.
With the 2008 All-Star game behind us, the second half of the season is upon us. This is where the contenders show their worth and the pretenders fade away. The Yankees have been known as a good second half team over the past few seasons but this might very well be the toughest second half of recent memory. The Yankees are 51-45 and 5.5 games out of first place. 66 games to go. Now granted this is no reason to be alarmed, BUT do you really think Sidney Ponson is going to continue to pitch effectively throughout the second half? Do you think Richie Sexson will be that much of a help in the lineup? Those two are replacing ace Chien-Ming Wang and slugger Hideki Matsui. Mighty big shoes to fill. How much longer is Mike Mussina going to pitch like its 1999? All of these are BIG questions going into the second half. How about Melky Cabrera in CF? When the heck is he going to hit? Robinson Cano, when does he show us that talent that makes him so untouchable? My friends, I think these Yanks are in serious trouble.
The Yankees were 49-46 after 95 games last season. They ended up winning 94 games. I am a fan and sometimes that alters my thinking of the team and what's realistic but this time, this year I don't see the fight in this team. I don't sense it. I want to believe the Yankees will be playing October baseball but I just don't believe they have it in them. I will admit despite all the injuries (Wang-September, Matsui-Out for the year?, Phil Hughes- September?,Ian Kennedy- ?, A-Rod- 3 weeks, Jorge Posada- 6 weeks, Johnny Damon- a few weeks) the Yanks have done a good job in staying in the race. The Tampa Bay Rays will give the Yanks and Red Sox a run for their money this summer but will eventually fade out. It's the Yanks job to gain ground as the end of the season approaches.
The reason for concern is the .254 hitting with runners in scoring position (heading into last night's game). They hit .293 in similar situations last season.
"It's something that's hard to make sense of," general manager Brian Cashman said. "I have to have belief that these guys will hit because that is what they have done in the past. I have to go on what their track records have been."
But again, this is not Joe Torre's Yankees, it's Joe Girardi's team now. We will now see how much of the last few season was Torre's doing or was it the players? The Bombers have 35 games left on the road, 43 games against teams with a record over .500. Things have to get going now. I've said it all season that I will wait until at least the All-Star break to look at where the Yanks are and what their situation is and what lies ahead of them. Well, at this time, things don't look good in the Bronx. I don't want to count them out just yet, but they're not showing me anything worth believing October baseball is in the future. In order to reach 94 wins the Yankees will have to go 44-23. It's possible and I hope they do make it. But I predict a 39-27 second half. The result of injuries, inconsistent play and lack of clutch hitting. This will leave them with a 90-72 record. I honestly think even that is a stretch for this team but I'm trying to be as realistic as possibe. The Yanks don't take the divison, the wild card is certainly a possiblity because how many AL teams are going to finish with 90 wins?
"I think we can get it done with the players we have," Derek Jeter said. "There's enough talent on this team to get it done."
Is the captain speaking out of confidence or is he speaking like someone who just happens to always say the right thing?
"It's time for us to get going" Girardi said.
I couldn't agree more. I hope the Yanks prove me wrong.
Joe Girardi got his money's worth last night in the bottom of the 9th inning and minutes later pulled out a 2-1 win.
Jason Giambi was called out on a pitch by home plate umpire Chris Guccione on a "foul tip." A couple problems with that. The ball didn't appear to hit Giambi's bat and Guccione didn't make the call until Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez pointed it out. That brought Girardi out of the dugout and in the face of the home plate ump. He was then ejected.
Before he hit the showers he put on his best Lou Pinella impression by slamming his hat to the ground on two occasions and kicked it for good measures.
That was the greatest thing I've seen all season. It's excatly what every Yankee fan wanted to see all these years. The crowd went crazy for Girardi's antics. A manager that will fight for his team and do everything he can to protect them. Girardi has done just that and last night was the icing on the cake. Joe Torre was critcized for not showing that type of emotion during his tenure in the Bronx. This is excatly why I thought Girardi would be a perfect fit for the Yanks as manager. Did it fire up the team? Let's hope so.
Robinso Cano provided the exclamation point on the night as he singled home the game winning run. Is that the type of hit that gets Cano going for the rest of the season? Probably.
Ian Kennedy started the game and pitched well. It was his best start of the season. He did give up four walks but he was agressive in the 3rd inning when he was faced with bases loaded and one out. He got out of the jam and his confidence started to rise.
It was the second consecutive solid outing by a Yankee starter. Now the Seattle Mariners come into town just at the right time. The Yanks swept them earlier in the month and are looking forward to the rematch. The Bombers have their top three pitchers going for them this weekend so it's a chance for the Yankees to right their ship. Last night's win was good for so many reasons, now they just have to keep building off of it.
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Jason Giambi was called out on a pitch by home plate umpire Chris Guccione on a "foul tip." A couple problems with that. The ball didn't appear to hit Giambi's bat and Guccione didn't make the call until Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez pointed it out. That brought Girardi out of the dugout and in the face of the home plate ump. He was then ejected.
"I didn't think it touched him," Girardi said. "Hence I was a little upset..... I wanted to kick something, and I figured that was the best thing. Walls don't work too well. ... I wasn't happy with the explanation."
Before he hit the showers he put on his best Lou Pinella impression by slamming his hat to the ground on two occasions and kicked it for good measures."I enjoyed it," Derek Jeter said. "I was hoping he would kick it all the way to the dugout like Piniella. ... Girardi wants to win. He cares a lot. Just because some people may not have seen it, I know he has that in him."
That was the greatest thing I've seen all season. It's excatly what every Yankee fan wanted to see all these years. The crowd went crazy for Girardi's antics. A manager that will fight for his team and do everything he can to protect them. Girardi has done just that and last night was the icing on the cake. Joe Torre was critcized for not showing that type of emotion during his tenure in the Bronx. This is excatly why I thought Girardi would be a perfect fit for the Yanks as manager. Did it fire up the team? Let's hope so.
Robinso Cano provided the exclamation point on the night as he singled home the game winning run. Is that the type of hit that gets Cano going for the rest of the season? Probably.
Ian Kennedy started the game and pitched well. It was his best start of the season. He did give up four walks but he was agressive in the 3rd inning when he was faced with bases loaded and one out. He got out of the jam and his confidence started to rise.
"For me, in recent history, it was a rarity for you to see that," Kennedy said. "But in my past, I've always pretty much come back and have done that."
It was the second consecutive solid outing by a Yankee starter. Now the Seattle Mariners come into town just at the right time. The Yanks swept them earlier in the month and are looking forward to the rematch. The Bombers have their top three pitchers going for them this weekend so it's a chance for the Yankees to right their ship. Last night's win was good for so many reasons, now they just have to keep building off of it.
Things aren't right in the Bronx. That comes as no surprise. What does, is the lack of offense coming from the Yankees.
The Yankees lost another game and another series. This loss might be cause for some action. The powers that be, Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman might need to find something to boost this ballclub. In recent years the Yanks have made additions to the ballclub when they felt it was necessary. We've seen them get guys off the free agent market: Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon, Roger Clemens and we've seen them promote within the organization: Chien Ming Wang, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Joba Chamberlain.
Each of those moves have proved to be vital in terms of injecting life to a team that lacks the energy a $200 million ballclub should have. Granted, these moves have not led the Yanks to the World Series, but it has led them to the postseason. October baseball is a long way from now but it seems like years away with the way the Yankees have been playing.
12 runs scored in the last 6 games?? Horrid. Losing 8 of 11? Terrible. 20-24? Disappointing. Last place? Embarassing. I think the point was put across. I have said time and time again that the Yanks have been in worse situations ('05 and '07) but those were under different situations. Those were under the calm, cool, and collected Joe Torre. Those teams seemed to have an answer for the slow start. This season is under Joe Girardi, a much more emotional guy. Also, the Yanks had to go on incredible runs to make the playoffs in those years. Robinson Cano had a monster second half. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada had career years last season and ironically both are out now with injuries.
A-Rod is expected back on Tuesday which will help the offense but he can't do it alone. The Yanks need to find a way to get things going. Darrell Rasner so far has been a nice addition to the team but he's only had 2 starts. The bench has been awful, the bullpen has come back to earth after having a nice stretch and the top guys in the roation Wang and Andy Pettitte are expected to win every game they pitch..that's not possible. Mike Mussina has stepped up nicely recently, let's hope that continues.
So what excatly is the answer for the 2008 Yankees? I wish I knew. I hope Cashman and his crew have a plan or else it's going to be a long and ugly summer.
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The Yankees lost another game and another series. This loss might be cause for some action. The powers that be, Hank Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman might need to find something to boost this ballclub. In recent years the Yanks have made additions to the ballclub when they felt it was necessary. We've seen them get guys off the free agent market: Aaron Small, Shawn Chacon, Roger Clemens and we've seen them promote within the organization: Chien Ming Wang, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, and Joba Chamberlain.Each of those moves have proved to be vital in terms of injecting life to a team that lacks the energy a $200 million ballclub should have. Granted, these moves have not led the Yanks to the World Series, but it has led them to the postseason. October baseball is a long way from now but it seems like years away with the way the Yankees have been playing.
12 runs scored in the last 6 games?? Horrid. Losing 8 of 11? Terrible. 20-24? Disappointing. Last place? Embarassing. I think the point was put across. I have said time and time again that the Yanks have been in worse situations ('05 and '07) but those were under different situations. Those were under the calm, cool, and collected Joe Torre. Those teams seemed to have an answer for the slow start. This season is under Joe Girardi, a much more emotional guy. Also, the Yanks had to go on incredible runs to make the playoffs in those years. Robinson Cano had a monster second half. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada had career years last season and ironically both are out now with injuries.“It doesn’t matter if people are out. You can bring back Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio, other guys have to step up. Every team deals with injuries over the course of the year” said Derek Jeter after Sunday night's 11-2 loss to the Mets.
A-Rod is expected back on Tuesday which will help the offense but he can't do it alone. The Yanks need to find a way to get things going. Darrell Rasner so far has been a nice addition to the team but he's only had 2 starts. The bench has been awful, the bullpen has come back to earth after having a nice stretch and the top guys in the roation Wang and Andy Pettitte are expected to win every game they pitch..that's not possible. Mike Mussina has stepped up nicely recently, let's hope that continues.
So what excatly is the answer for the 2008 Yankees? I wish I knew. I hope Cashman and his crew have a plan or else it's going to be a long and ugly summer.
Is it possible to see David Wells come back to Yankee Stadium one more time? According to the NY Post,Wells wants to come back and Hank Steinbrenner is a fan of his.
Wells went unsigned over the winter but continues to throw to his son's high school baseball team to keep in shape.
"I'm in shape, I'd just have to fine-tune a couple of things," Wells said. "I'd need a little bit of time, but not much. Physically I feel fine, real good."
David pitched for the Bombers from 1997-98 and 2002-2003. In '98 Wells pitched a perfect game at the Stadium against the Minnesota Twins. He is beloved by most Yankee fans, although David did raise some eyebrows in Yankeeland. He took himself out of Game 4 of the 2003 World Series with a back injury, which forced Joe Torre to put in Jose Contreares in the game for a second consecutive night. That game was lost in extra innings when Torre summoned Jeff Weaver in and he promptly served up the game winning homerun. In 2005, Boomer signed with the rival Boston Red Sox, a move in which he once stated he would never do.
"New York has always been the favorite of all my stops," Wells said. "When I got traded, I was bitter. When they didn't re-sign me, I was bitter, but I know that wasn't the Yankees, everything was Joe Torre. I wasn't one of his boys. I don't think he liked the way I lived my life or that I spoke my mind."
Wells would welcome the idea of pitching under his former catcher Joe Girardi. Hank admits he's given Wells some consideration concerning a return.
"Obviously, he'll always be a Yankee to me," Steinbrenner said. "I've thought about it.....I saw him on TV, and I did think about it when I was watching.You never know," Steinbrenner said. [Wells] hasn't come up in conversation, but I've had so much other [bleep] to deal with lately."
Wells also stated he believes the Yankees have nothing to lose if they were to resign Wells. I agree. He's a lefty with expirence in New York and might still be able to pitch that big game they need. Whether David can prove to be useful in his mid-40's is another story. I don't think he can do much worse than Phil Hughes and his 0-4 9.00 ERA or Ian Kennedy's 0-3 8.37 ERA.
Give the guy a chance, you never know what you might get. I think the Yanks should take advantage of this situation while the time is right. This Wells-Yankee love affair could take on some stem if fill ins Darell Rasner and Kei Igawa struggle in their starts. As I always like to say, stranger things have happened, so the idea of Wells coming back may seem outrageous at first, but think about it...it could very well be what the Yanks need. I would love to see Boomer back, let's see if the door opens for a return to the House That Ruth Built.
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Wells went unsigned over the winter but continues to throw to his son's high school baseball team to keep in shape.
"I'm in shape, I'd just have to fine-tune a couple of things," Wells said. "I'd need a little bit of time, but not much. Physically I feel fine, real good."
David pitched for the Bombers from 1997-98 and 2002-2003. In '98 Wells pitched a perfect game at the Stadium against the Minnesota Twins. He is beloved by most Yankee fans, although David did raise some eyebrows in Yankeeland. He took himself out of Game 4 of the 2003 World Series with a back injury, which forced Joe Torre to put in Jose Contreares in the game for a second consecutive night. That game was lost in extra innings when Torre summoned Jeff Weaver in and he promptly served up the game winning homerun. In 2005, Boomer signed with the rival Boston Red Sox, a move in which he once stated he would never do."New York has always been the favorite of all my stops," Wells said. "When I got traded, I was bitter. When they didn't re-sign me, I was bitter, but I know that wasn't the Yankees, everything was Joe Torre. I wasn't one of his boys. I don't think he liked the way I lived my life or that I spoke my mind."
Wells would welcome the idea of pitching under his former catcher Joe Girardi. Hank admits he's given Wells some consideration concerning a return.
"Obviously, he'll always be a Yankee to me," Steinbrenner said. "I've thought about it.....I saw him on TV, and I did think about it when I was watching.You never know," Steinbrenner said. [Wells] hasn't come up in conversation, but I've had so much other [bleep] to deal with lately."
Wells also stated he believes the Yankees have nothing to lose if they were to resign Wells. I agree. He's a lefty with expirence in New York and might still be able to pitch that big game they need. Whether David can prove to be useful in his mid-40's is another story. I don't think he can do much worse than Phil Hughes and his 0-4 9.00 ERA or Ian Kennedy's 0-3 8.37 ERA.
Give the guy a chance, you never know what you might get. I think the Yanks should take advantage of this situation while the time is right. This Wells-Yankee love affair could take on some stem if fill ins Darell Rasner and Kei Igawa struggle in their starts. As I always like to say, stranger things have happened, so the idea of Wells coming back may seem outrageous at first, but think about it...it could very well be what the Yanks need. I would love to see Boomer back, let's see if the door opens for a return to the House That Ruth Built.
Kyle Farnsworth got hit with a three-game suspension yesterday by Major League Baseball. Why? Because he tried to hit Manny Ramirez after Manny hit two shots off of Mike Mussina that night. Last time I checked, that pitch didn't hit Ramirez. If you want to discipline him then fine him, but three-game suspension? That's crazy.Since 2002 Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have been plunked a total of 22 times, while Manny and David Ortiz have been hit a total of 3 times. We all know Joe Torre wasn't one to get caught up in beanball wars, but you would have to think this ruling is a little questionable considering the pitch didn't hit the Boston slugger. Joba Chamberlain threw behind Kevin Youkillis and got suspended. That was ok beacuse Joba threw at Youk twice...there's no way the ball slipped out of his hand on two straight pitches.
Now here's how bizarre this suspension is...even Manny himself is questioning the suspension! Yes, you read that right. Manny Ramirez said the suspension is undeserving.
“He doesn’t deserve that,” Ramirez said. “He was trying to protect his player. You know, we hit A-Rod the game before. When you’ve got a guy like that on your team, you’re going to protect him. . . . That’s the way the game is played. You hit one of their guys and they’re going to hit one of yours.”
Now that is something you don't see. A red Sox player siding with a Yankee player. But Manny's right on this one. The suspension will be appealed so let's see how this plays out.
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Ian Kennedy completely bombed last night....again. He only lasted 2 and 2/3 innings thus causing the bullpen more work. He gave up four runs on five hits while allowing five walks. A night after Hughes got lit up again for five runs, Kennedy did no better. At this point in time the Yankees youth movement is NOT working, but it's ok because yesterday I told you why Yankee fans shouldn't worry. Well can these guys at least try and make that statement look somewhat credible? The Hughes-Kennedy duo have combined for an 0-4 start 9.20 ERA in seven starts. Not excatly what the Yanks had in mind this winter when they decided to keep their young guns instead of trading for superstar ace Johan Santana.
The 2005 Yanks started 11-19, the 2007 Yanks started 21-29 and made the playoffs both times. So a 9-10 start for 2008 isn't anything to get alarmed at, especially considering the depth of this rotation. Let the guys in the minors have a shot before moving Joba to the rotation. But someone has to tell Joe Girardi that having Mussina, Kennedy and Hughes following eachother in the rotation is a bad idea. Throw Andy Pettitte in there somewhere, at this rate every time he takes the mound he has to stop a three game losing streak. Alright today is going to be his fourth start of the season but let's hope it doesn't become a habit.
It didn't take Joe Girardi long to put his stamp on the Yankees. A mere three weeks into Spring Training and we already see in a difference in the Bronx Bombers. With the exception of a few players, this is basically the same team that Joe Torre managed in his last game as Yankee manager last October. Yet, we there seems to be a world of a difference this spring.I'm sure most of you have seen the recent developments between the Yanks and the Tampa Bay Rays. Last weekend saw Tampa Bay's Elliot Johnson run over Yankee catching prospect Francisco Cervelli, thus breaking his right hand. Wednesday the Yanks' Shelly Duncan went into second baseman Aki Iwamura with an aggressive slide, which led to a bench clearing brawl. As a result Duncan along with Melky Cabrera were suspended 3 games each by Major League Baseball for their actions in the brawl. Girardi was fined for the incident. The Rays' Jonny Gomes was also fined and suspended 2 games for his "tackle" of Duncan at second base (he plays right field, so how in the world does he end up at second base within seconds of the play?) That, in my opinion is worthy of at LEAST 5 games. A right fielder has no business at second base in what appeared to be an attempt a full fledged charge at Duncan.
"What Jon did was reaction to what they had done, and we did not start a thing," Tampa manager Jon Maddon said. "They perpetrated the entire situation. And then to have the punishment doled out almost on a similar basis, to me is unjust and it's not right. I'm sure we're going to appeal the situation and see what we can do."
"What's unfortunate is it's a situation that if our catcher didn't go down with a broken arm, I don't think (Duncan) would be suspended," Yankees Captain Derek Jeter said. "Now he's suspended and people talk about the way he plays the game. Shelley plays hard all the time. If I were Shelley, I wouldn't change the way I play. There's no reason."
I think too much was made of this situation, but on the other hand according to Don Zimmer and the rest of the Rays, the collision at home plate was "part of the game." So an aggressive slide into second base was "part of the game" as well. This was Girardi's message to the league...don't mess with the Yankees, because we'll get you back. It's something Torre never liked to do while he was manager, so I think this attitude that Girardi brings to the team is excatly what the Yanks need. They will not be push overs for anyone, especially the Tampa Bay Rays! Good for the Yanks and Girardi! The rest of the league has been put on notice, but for now lets just play baseball and get ready for Opening Day.
Oh by the way, the Yanks and Rays play Saturday at Legends Field, we'll see if this situation continues to esculate. Must see tv for Spring Training? We'll find out.
(Frank's articles can also be found at OnTheBlockNY )
According to Joe Torre, Alex Rodriguez could be wearing Dodger next season. "It's possible," Torre said Friday before his annual Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation gala. Via ESPN.com
If A-Rod decides to join Torre out west, he'll join hitting coach Don Mattingly as another former Yankee wearing Dodger blue, as well as former Yankees 3rd base coach Larry Bowa.
The relationship between Torre and A-Rod seems to be on good ground after this past season, which saw Rodriguez post remarkable numbers (.314 avg 54 HR 156 RBI).
Rodriguez is likely to pick up his third MVP in the coming weeks - his second with the Yankees. Whoever decides to pay A-Rod the $350 million he's asking for (and do you really think anyone will?) will be acquiring a great player with great talent. The questions will remain: Can he produce in the postseason? Is it worth spending that much money on ONE player? Is he a cancer in the clubhouse with his self serving attitude? These are the questions GM's and owners will have to ask themselves before handing out the big bucks for Alex. Or of course, A-Rod could always come back to the Yankees....pssh like that's gonna happen. I wouldn't count on the latter, but hey, stranger things have happened.
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"You've got four or five clubs maybe that figure to be in the sweepstakes. There aren't a lot of clubs that are going to be able to pay the money."
If A-Rod decides to join Torre out west, he'll join hitting coach Don Mattingly as another former Yankee wearing Dodger blue, as well as former Yankees 3rd base coach Larry Bowa.The relationship between Torre and A-Rod seems to be on good ground after this past season, which saw Rodriguez post remarkable numbers (.314 avg 54 HR 156 RBI).
"All I know is it was very comfortable for both of us," the manager said. "And I think my being uncomfortable came from the fact that I didn't think he was as comfortable. This year he just seemed to be a different guy in spring training."
Rodriguez is likely to pick up his third MVP in the coming weeks - his second with the Yankees. Whoever decides to pay A-Rod the $350 million he's asking for (and do you really think anyone will?) will be acquiring a great player with great talent. The questions will remain: Can he produce in the postseason? Is it worth spending that much money on ONE player? Is he a cancer in the clubhouse with his self serving attitude? These are the questions GM's and owners will have to ask themselves before handing out the big bucks for Alex. Or of course, A-Rod could always come back to the Yankees....pssh like that's gonna happen. I wouldn't count on the latter, but hey, stranger things have happened.
Not a good day if your a Yankees fan. This is just SOME of the media coverage today. It's been a busy few weeks since the Yanks were eliminated in the Divison Series. Also today, the first day that players can file for free agency, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada did just that. The Yankees are now on the clock with both players. The Bronx, really is burning these days..wow.
