Comments on: The Jason Giambi X-Factor

By: steve (different one)

steve (different one) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:21:46 +0000

no, they can decline the option, then offer arbitration. once the option is declined, he becomes a free agent, just like any other player with an expiring contract.

i believe they did this with Leiber, and collected a draft pick.

By: RollingWave

RollingWave — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:04:12 +0000

could they even offer him arbitration ? he has a option. wouldn’t buying out the option techincally decline the arbitration in the first place?

By: Jeterismyhomeboy

Jeterismyhomeboy — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:54:24 +0000

What you're doing, in turn, is cherry-picking. The time he missed in 2004 was directly correlated to his steroid use. He had a pituitary tumor, for goodness sakes. The reason I chose 2005-2007 was because it's a time when steroids could be dismissed as an enhancer for his performance. 139 games is a pretty solid amount, especially considering that he went between being 1B and DH in those years. He missed 23 games a year, which is not an enormous amount. Moreover, you can't dismiss that in 2007 he had far less playing time (the fewest AB since his rookie season) and was coming back from a very painful, slow-healing foot injury. He tore muscle in his foot. He hasn't shown any particular track record since having a tumor of being particularly injury prone. It's not like Johnny Damon, who has persistent, nagging injuries, or that god-forsaken man, Carl Pavano. He's been there for the majority of the season, hitting excellently. Moreover, pre-injury he was mashing like normal. Reason implies that if he hadn't injured his foot, a total freak injury unrelated to steroid use (unlike the pituitary tumor), he would have been a productive part of the Yankee lineup. Missing 14.2 percent (less than 1 in 5) of games over the last two years doesn't suggest that he's injury prone at all. In fact, the only major health issues he's had were the tumor and tearing the arch of his foot. I see nothing in his games played that suggests he is injury prone in any way shape or form. It's like suggesting that Matsui is injury prone because he broke his wrist in 2006.

By: Manimal

Manimal — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:32:02 +0000

He certainly wont hurt the team, anything he will do will be productive.

By: Spike

Spike — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:53:10 +0000

Giambi sweats like a beast…. That’s all I have to say on this topic at this time.

By: steve (different one)

steve (different one) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:21:11 +0000

moose had a great year in 2006. why would he have decided to change his regimen last offseason when his old regimen was still working?

he failed last year, and now he is working to change that.

why are we criticizing him for that again?

By: steve (different one)

steve (different one) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:11:42 +0000

yeah, i don’t think you can get a heel spur by “half assing” it.

he was hurt last year.

not that i am going to fall over myself to defend Giambi, but let’s stick to what we do know.

By: Count Zero

Count Zero — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:06:28 +0000

I don’t question Giambi’s ability to mash when he’s healthy. However, I do question his health, you very selective sample not with standing.

First of all, for a guy who is essentially a $20MM DH at this point, 139 games isn’t all that hot. It’s JD Drew territory only without playing a position.

Second of all, I like the way you chose the two good years. 2004-2007, he averaged 110 games per year. In other words, he has missed 33% of the games the Yankees played over the last four years

That sound like a healthy guy to you? Because it sure doesn’t to me. For $20MM, 110 games a year is a pretty colossal bust anyway you slice it. Oh, and the Miguel-Cairo-like OPS+ of 90 in 2004, and a spectacular 108 in 2007. But yeah — cherry pick that sample to prove your point. LOL

By: jsbrendog

jsbrendog — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:51:57 +0000

get rid of him he’s a bum. a stinky bum. he’s done and should have just left years ago

By: Jamal G

Jamal G — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:47:17 +0000

As http://blog.nj.com/yankees/ pointed out Giambi has been a force in his 6 seasons (4 healthy) as a NYY. He has averaged 30 HRs and 85 RBIs through is Yankees tenure. We are praying, literally praying for that type of production from our 1B platoon this year of Duncan/Ensberg or whoever fills out that spot. A healthy Giambi will bring productions close to that average, maybe a .250/.410/.550 line? I don’t think that’s completely out of the question if he splits time with Matsui at DH and whoever at 1B since that was his batting line in 2006 where he started 64 games at 1B.