Aug
11

Game 119: Holy crap you guys …

By Mike Axisa

Jason Giambi is sitting against a lefty again. Oh, and so is Johnny Damon. Sure Giambi’s OPSing 1.375 on the road trip, Damon’s hitting .406 in the last 7 games, and lefties are hitting .338 off Glen Perkins, but hey, let’s sit them anyway. Not like the team is in a Wildcard chase or anything.

Damaso Marte is likely to be unavailable tonight after throwing 29 pitches yesterday thanks to that inexplicable second inning of work. Unfortunately Minnesota’s 3-4-5 hitters tonight happen to be Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel (the same combo manager Ron Gardenhire has been using for about a month-and-a-half), all lefthanded batters. So when push comes to shove in the late innings tonight, get ready for some Edwar Ramirez change-up action, or even … gasp … Billy Traber. Heck, even if Marte is available, he’s going to be gassed.

So remind me again, what was so bad about Joe Torre running mediocre middle relievers like Scott Proctor and Tanyon Sturtze into the ground? Hey, I wonder if that whole fiasco about IPK’s comments would have been so ridiculously blown out of proportion if Torre was around to work his media magic …

1. Christian, LF
2. Jeter, SS
3. Abreu, RF
4. A-Rod, 3B
5. Nady, DH
6. Cano, 2B
7. Sexson, 1B
8. Pudge, C
9. Melky, CF

And on the mound, Sidney “will pitch for food” Ponson.

Notes: Pudge has actually turned Sid Ponson into a pretty decent starter, squeezing a 2.03 ERA & .519 OPS against out of him in their two starts together (SSS, yes I know) … Joba’s going to start his throwing program on Wednesday … Hideki Matsui is close to beginning a rehab assignment

(forgive me, I’m just frustrated that the manager continues to not put the team in the best position to win during one of the more critical stretches of the season)

Posted on Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 7:15 pm in Game Threads.

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437 Comments »

GoYankees says:

“I’m just frustrated that the manager continues to not put the team in the best position to win ” …

Don’t worry, I hear spring training will be over soon!

 
Randy says:

you’re no more frustrated than i am. i have talked repeatedly about how his lineup and in game decisions have cost us a couple games. this lineup doesn’t make sense. but who am i?

 
Ivan says:

What media magic, the way they kiss his ass all the time.

I disagre with some of the decisions he’s made tonight but give the a guy break here. When ya team is not playing well hey the manager always looks bad.

I agree, Giambi should be in the lineup and Damon maybe but you have alot games to go, and Damon isn’t no spring chicken.

Randy says:

you don’t have a lot of games left and you’re playing a team that is ahead of you in the wild card standings. i agree that he isn’t the complete reason they’re not playing well but he has definitely had a hand in it. his use of marte has been questionable and his lineup decisions throughout the year have been puzzling at times. damon could dh so you don’t have to worry about his energy level as much. i just don’t get it given the circumstances. i hope these guys come through tonight so this conversation will be moot.

Ivan says:

I agree that his lineup changes have been questionable and replacing Giambi with Sexson with a lefty doesn’t really help but I think we are just focusing on the negative things way too much during the bad streak with the manager. Not as good as you think you are or bad.

As for Marte, the Texas game yeah he probably could of taken him out, as for yesterday game okay he tried to buy an inning, and trying to plan something it didn’t work out and besides he took him out right.

How you he’s not available today? Probably not, but who knows.

I understand ya complaint but again your letting the bad baseball get to ya too much with Girardi a little bit.

 
 
 
E-ROC says:

“Horrendously Retarder,” that’s a cool tag, lol.

I wonder how many runs the Yanks will score in this game. Girardi should stop tinkering with the lineup. He is putting too much thought into putting together a lineup.

Mike A. says:

Heh, it was supposed to be “Horrendously Retarded,” but I misspelled it in my haste to leave work. Fixed now.

 
 
Patrick says:

Thanks for the mention, Mike.

 
Ivan says:

Plus, I was thinking, wouldn’t it be the best year for TB to win the division this year? Think about it, just looking at the #’s, Tampa lets be honest have been lucky this season. Add in the fact that Boston and NY have had a down year, if your TB fan alot of the stars are pretty align right?

Same goes for LA, they have been pretty lucky too just looking at the #’s and this there best chance of winning as well.

 
Jamal G. says:

If Joe Girardi feels Johnny Damon needs a day off, then he needs a day off. You can’t get on Girardi for not managing Damaso Marte’s innings properly then bash him for not running out daily a 34-year-old outfielder with shoulder, knee, heel, and overall leg injuries in his past. Not only have the Yankees not had a day off since July 24th, but Damon just played four straight games in that smoldering Texas heat, flew to California, then flew halfway across the country to Minnesota. Again, Girardi has daily access to the team, if he feels Johnny Damon needs a rest, he needs a rest.

I know it’s the stretch run here, but you can’t just ignore the player’s health.

Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the flip side to this argument as well. We need our top nine out there every single game. However, we all know that Johnny Damon isn’t exactly Cal Ripken Jr. out there, if he is noticeably lagging then is it not for the greater good to give him a partial day off and get him rejuvenated with two days off within this week?

Nady Nation says:

Sorry Jamal, I don’t buy your argument. Damon said himself he feels good and didn’t know why he wasn’t in the lineup. If he’s healthy at this time of year, he needs to play.

Jamal G. says:

Damon said himself he feels good

How many players have you known to admit to the media and/or their manager that they need a breather, especially when said player is on a team during a playoff stretch run? Come on now, you can’t use a player’s comments as a basis for your argument.

Nady Nation says:

I understand that, but I’m going to give the veteran the benefit of the doubt. Damon knows his body, he knows when he needs a blow. He knows what’s on the line, so if he says he’s fine, there’s no reason he shouldn’t DH at the very least (then he gets the half day off if you wanted to give him a break)

Jamal G. says:

My point is that you can’t ever, and I mean ever, expect a veteran athlete to say he needs a day off during a pennant chase, it just won’t happen. Johnny Damon is one of the veteran leaders of this team, he tries to set an example, he wants to be that daily warrior. He sees how guys like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are in the lineup everyday, you think he wants to say he needs a day off publicly during a time like this with players like that on his team? No dice.

Nady Nation says:

How does Girardi KNOW that he needs a day off though? Especially if Damon has given no indication that he’s banged up or needs a rest.

Jamal G. says:

Joe Girardi is the manager of a baseball team, it’s his job to know this, how are we suppose to question whether he feels Johnny Damon needs a day off or not?

Also, how do you know Johnny Damon has not given any indication as to whether he needs a day off or not? I mean, how do you know Damon has not flagged certain signals that Girardi has in his head on whether a player is lagging a bit? Remember, Damon is 34-years-old and just a couple days removed from playing in a four game series that included weather north of 100-degrees and a couple flights halfway across the U.S.

These indications you speak of are not all verbal, body language is key. Managers know not to trust their player’s words on a player’s health and/or availability, you would be a naive fool to do so. We are not in that clubhouse, we are not on the field for stretching, running, and batting practice.

You talk about giving the benefit of the doubt to the veteran player, how about giving some of that to the veteran player and current manager? Girardi is someone who knows how a player’s mind works and what he would tell his manager if his manger asked him if he needed a breather during a playoff chase in August.

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Nady Nation says:

You make good points Jamal. To me, (which I just realized), this is more about sitting BOTH Giambi and Damon. If you wanna give Damon a breather, fine, but Giambi should not be sitting out 2 games in a row during the stretch run for Dick Sex – I could care less if a lefty is on the mound.

 
Jamal G. says:

Now that’s a sentiment we both agree with. I don’t like that match-up crap, think it is highly overblown. If these professional hitters can hit, they can fucking hit. The handedness of a pitcher is not as huge as it is made out to be.

 
Nady Nation says:

OK, only took us about 10 comments to reach some sort of agreement. I’ll take it

 
daneptizl says:

I’m with you Nady Nation. If Damon needs a rest, DH him.

 
 
 
chris says:

Enough of this bullshit. Girardi treats these players like they’re crippled senior citizens. Everyone needs a day off, but right now, it’s crunch time. You can’t have Damon sitting in this game. Or, at least you can’t have both he and Giambi sitting. In the past, Joe Torre didn’t give his veterans time off. Now, Girardi gives them too many days. It’s ridiculous and there hasn’t been much of a compromise between how the two Joes handle these lineups.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

Thank you Jamal.

Take a player’s word at times with a Grain of salt.

A Pitcher can suck al day and if you ask him if he’s okay or can you get this guy out he’s gonna say yeah. There Athletes, what you expect.

 
 
 
 
steve (different one) says:

the giambi thing is stupid, but i have to think there is more to damon than we know about.

it’s not like girardi thinks justin christian is damon’s platoon partner.

maybe he’s banged up.

Sexson for giambi is retarded. i will give the benefit of the doubt on damon.

 
Bruno says:

He sits all the lefties vs a lefty, but Melky starts over Christian?!?!? Girardi’s wrong thinking isn’t even consistant!

steve (different one) says:

Christian is playing.

 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Mike, I could not agree with you more on pretty much everything you said. Girardi has not been the baseball guru that we heard he was going to be, at least not thus far. Hopefully we win despite the paltry lineup

 
A.D. says:

I’m fine with Damon or Giambi out, but not both, and its not rest for Giambi, he was off yesterday. You can tell me that Damon needs the day off, but seems doubtful that Giambi needs 2

 
Manimal says:

Good Job Girardi! You will justify the twins decision NOT to trade Johan to the yanks by making Melky play!

 
Mark B says:

We better win tonight or the criticisms of Girardi’s managing moves down the stretch like tonight’s line-up and last night’s bullpen use will start to come into question. I was a huge Joe Torre fan, though feel Girardi deserves a complete season to be graded. So far, it isn’t looking great.

 
Ivan says:

It is Girardi second year managing, and third youngest manager in the league, so he has some stuff work on.

 
Ivan says:

I also like to send deep condolences to Dave Miley and his family today. Just got news that Dave Miley’s son was killed in a car accident this morning. Hopefully he fights through this latest adversity and will keep his son in his heart.

 
Ivan says:

One more bit of news and you never wish for shit like this because it is foul and don’t want stuff like this to happen but Evan Longoria will be on the DL with a frature wrist. Just maybe the break the yanks needed.

Jamal G. says:

Carl Crawford hit the DL a couple days ago as well. Tim Wakefield for Boston in addition.

Mike A. says:

You never wish injury on anyone, I’d much rather beat them at full-power. At the same time though, I don’t feel bad for them one bit after the injuries the Yanks have had to deal with.

Ivan says:

Plus, they have gone through the least adversity compare to the likes of the Yanks and even the Sox. I mean give the sox credit, Becket has been so-so, Ortiz is having an off year, Manny’s gone(and the distractions) Buchholz who they relied on has been awful, BP has been bad, injuries to Wakefield and inconsistent hitting.

 
Jamal G. says:

Eh, call me dishonest but fuck that code of a warrior crap. if Tom Brady didn’t play in Super Bowl 42, I would’ve been ecstatic and just as jubilant as I am now if the Giants would have won the Super Bowl sans Tom Brady for the Patriots. Sure, you can say it is a bit sweeter knowing that the golden boy got his ass handed to him by the Giants’ defense, but as a fan, I could care less if they were at full strength or not.

They are in the way of the Yankees making the playoffs, fuck ‘em, let ‘em deal with some injuries, won’t hear me complaining if Boston has to start Bartolo Colon, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Clay Buchholz in our upcoming three game set because of injuries to Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling.

A.D. says:

Its definitly sweeter that Brady was in, though would have been a media field day if he couldn’t play in the superbowl, given his back-up hasn’t been the starter since high school.

Regardless injuries are part of the game, gotta win anyways

 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Not to mention Carl Crawford is on the DL and his season could be in jeopardy. Their offense is pretty depleted at the moment

 
 
Nady Nation says:

I’ve been strangely pumped for this game all day, despite the team’s recent struggles. Let’s get this ship going in the right direction…

 
Mike A. says:

Another unclutch hit by A-Rod.

Steve H says:

He just might unclutch hit his way to a batting title

 
Ivan says:

Speaking of A-Rod, That fat double chin bitch Chris Carlin really need to Shut the fuck up. He kills A-Rod all the time.

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Dude, do you say that in your sleep?

 
 
Ivan says:

You know that hit figgins got off Mariano still is bothering me a bit when that GB punto hit towards Cano.

Jamal G. says:

I still think the base-runner on first base kind of screened Cano a bit from from his route to the ball.

Ivan says:

Put Betemit in there too.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

it’d be better if they just didn’t discuss the debacle of this weekend

 
Manimal says:

holy shit, I thought he over threw second base from that camera angle. Scared me for a second. Hell of a play by the No-range-shortstop

A.D. says:

yeah, same, very odd camera angle

 
 
Nady Nation says:

Wow, the Sawx are calling up another knuckleballer to replace Wakefield in the rotation.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....p;c_id=mlb

A.D. says:

didn’t even know they have one

 
Mike A. says:

Charlie Zink sucks. 29yr old career minor leaguer, I think this is his 4th straight year in AAA. Went to the same school as Ryan Pope, the Savannah College or Art and Design.

related to Ryan Zink?

Mike A. says:

I don’t believe so.

How was Ecuador?

amazing. my mother donated her kidney to my uncle so i wanted to be around for that and to take care of her, so i needed to stay longer

 
 
 
 
 
Ivan says:

Yo I was reading articles and listening to people and watching TV and almost everybody had the yanks done.

 
Manimal says:

Sexsons scared of the ballllllllllll, Sexsons scared of the ballllllllllllll

 
Manimal says:

Imagine if they went on a ‘07 Colorodo Rockies streak.

 
BigBlueAL says:

Jesus Christ Kay and Flaherty are KILLING Cano all game long so far.

Manimal says:

They’ve been in the booth so much together they got on the same cycle and I guess its that time of the month for them…:D

 
 
Nady Nation says:
 
Ivan says:

Did the Yanks caught a break.

 
A.D. says:

old 1st to 3rd on the thow away

 
A.D. says:

thats Sexson at his best right now

 
A.D. says:

gold gloves have nothing to do with calling games…

 
Nady Nation says:

Are you kidding me right now? Melky and Christian to get this run in…ugh

 
Ivan says:

that was great Pudge.

 
A.D. says:

Melky at his finest

 
Nady Nation says:
 
Smitt Dog says:
 
Mike A. says:

Dammit Johnny. Oh, I mean Melky.

 
Manimal says:

Congratulations Girardi!

Joop says:

I don’t understand how you blame Girardi for that.

Davi says:

bench melky for the rest of the year except for late innings defense when there is no possible way he will have to bat. alternate j.c/damon in left and center and put nady where they aint.

 
 
 
Ivan says:

I gonna go outside and blow some steam off.

 
bklynJT says:

FUCK YOU MELKY!!!! Seriously… FUCK YOU!

 
Mac says:

Fucking Melky. I hope he feels bad for being absolutely terrible.

Ivan says:

He does, he just can’t help it that he sucks.

 
 
Ivan says:

A raw Austin Jackson is better than Melky right now.

 
A.D. says:

Shoulda pinch hit right there with Damon

 
Yankee1010 says:

Comically bad baseball. Is there a more infuriating offense in the league?

 
zzzzz says:

is there anyone left to defend melky’s performance this year?

bklynJT says:

We’ve all jumped on the RAB bandwagon. The Melky hate is stronger and growing stronger by the day.

 
 
Davi says:

could melky suck anymore. I finally realize why he sucks so much. on second thought its vulgar so i wont type it here.

 
Nady Nation says:

We need to stop putting runners in scoring position, that’s the main problem. Just stay on first base and score when we get some XBH’s. Seems like a simple formula to me

 
A.D. says:

Span, Gomez, and Young could turn into one hell of an outfield, if they reach near their potential

 
Ivan says:

Yo melky makes Brett Gardner look like Grady Seizmore.

 
Mike Pop says:

they are getting ridiculous man.. cano on 3rd with no outs… bunt bunt bunt fuck it jus bunt him in

 
Dave P. says:

Hmmmmm. Just saw the lineup. Is Girardi aware the team is in a pennant race?

 
Joey H says:

ok with all due respect to christian, i love the kid, his enthuiasm, his energy but WHY THE FUCK is he headling off?

 
A.D. says:

Adam Everett really?

 
Nady Nation says:

Adam Everett hits a HR, wow

 
Mike A. says:

Adam freakin’ Everett did not just hit a homer.

Ivan says:

That was Adam Everett.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

i cant believe this lol i really cant

 
Ivan says:

Even the scrubs are getting hurt.

 
Smitt Dog says:

this is one of those points where I really need one of the posters here to talk me off a ledge. I’m seriously having thouights of giving up on ‘08 for this team. I know its not impossible, but its becoming seemingly incredibly unlikely. Please someone give me some real reason to believe they will at the very least make this exciting?

bklynJT says:

Just give up on them already. It will save you years on your life.

Smitt Dog says:

I’m leaning that way…

I don’t want to be ne of those guys, never have been, but they’re finding new ways to lose every game. I look at the standings and I’m always amazed that this team is above .500 – When I watch them I feel like I’m watching the equivalent of a lottery team in the NBA.

Please someone give me something to believe in…

 
 
Nady Nation says:

It’s the 2nd inning, we’re only 4 games back in wild card with 6 games to play against the wild card leader, Boston isn’t that good, and we have some starting pitching reinforcements on the way in the coming week or 2. That good?

Smitt Dog says:

Thank you… Reasoned comments like that help me alot.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

ill do my best.. if we go 9 and 3 over these games befor we hit boston than win 2 of 3 from them we will be in the lead for the wild card by 2 games or 3 games lol hapy

Smitt Dog says:

Thank you. The thing that I keep coming to is that they are going in the opposite direction of a prolonged winning streak. All the years that they were winning, little things were going their way, now its almost always the opposite. I appreciate the effort, but until this team shows me they are capabable of ripping off 9 of their next 12, its a hard sell.

Mike Pop says:

lol sorry man.. ur right tho nothing goes their way man.. some of there hard hits if they would go a foot or 2 to the left or right its a base hit.. balls dont drop in the of for them.. its rough man but im not making any excuses i jus had so much hope for this team coming in partly because of hughes and kenndy/// i jus dont give up on them im prolly wrong and they prob will miss hte playoffs but i cant think like that.. i kinda wish we kept mccutchen tho

 
 
 
 
Manimal says:

In one play Christian has showed more balls in the outfield than Abreu all year.

BigBlueAL says:

Who cares, Christian still sucks….

Manimal says:

Name a major leaguer that could get that ball. Sure it was at the wall but it was definitely not catchable. Maybe one of those Gary Mathews Jr plays could’ve gotten it.

Joop says:

Who cares, Christian still sucks….

It doesn’t change that fact.

 
 
 
 
bklynJT says:

The funny thing is that I wasn’t even phased by that hr.

 
Mike Pop says:

this offseason with its free agency shopping is going to be fun !

Ivan says:

I don’t know about that. I think the Yankee FO would be dissapointed but not furious.

 
 
Davi says:

I played 3 sim games of the lineups in the show today. won all 3. although i got some timely hitting w. RISP. but I’m confident the yanks can win today because frankly I suck at the show, and hopefully the yankees suck less than me.

Mike Pop says:
 
A.D. says:

did you have Melk & Christian in the lineup, and did Adam Everett hit a HR?

Davi says:

yep, duplicated the exact lineups. No Everett never hit a HR, but Mauer and Mourneau hit back to back jacks and I still won.

 
 
 
Manimal says:

I hate when I hiccup. Like right now.

Davi says:

drink water upside down

 
Manimal says:

Holy shit guys i just did this and it fucking worked, no joke! I just searched on google. My lungs hurt a little but no more hiccups.
http://www.cognitial.com/hiccups.asp

 
 
Ivan says:

Jeter has seen two pitches. two outs.

Jamal G. says:

It’s three pitches if it makes you feel any better. ;)

Ivan says:

I didn’t see the last pitch my bad lol.

 
 
Captain Wiley says:

He sleeps with some fine lookin women though. Makes me proud to be a Yankees fan.

 
 
Joey H says:

clueless joe anyone?

Jamal G. says:

Michael Kay, just shut up.

Joey H says:

HE IS! Wasnt that what they were calling the previous joe years ago? this joe is more like, head in my ass joe

 
 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:
 
 
Mike Pop says:

we will hit this guy tonight i promise u my fellow fans

 
Ivan says:

iight yanks can certainly comeback. Hopefully Ponson doesn’t implode.

 
Joey H says:

in fact tonight im going to watch WWF wrestling .. just like watching the a yankee game.. outcomes are predictable..

Ivan says:

it’s actually the WWE Jabroni

Joey H says:

watver man, i was a WWF fan not this WWE bullshit. where all they care about is appealing to little kids.

Ivan says:

Yea the WWE material is dry.

Joey H says:

one of my old favorites “Kane” i hear is supposed to put on his mask again. i was in MSG the night he took it off. i was ready to cry lol

Ivan says:

The good ol days, when the rock was one of the funniest people with a mic and Stone Cold was the baddest SOB. Now we have superman John Cena.

Joey H says:

john cena is a little prick. he wants to be ike the rock. the rock always gave that announcer guy who went to ESPN a hard time. hesthere for little 13 year old girls to cream themselves. BRING BACK BEER DRINKIN CIGARETTE SMOKING MIDDLEFINGER SALUTING baddassses allready!

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Mike Pop says:

if joba and phil come back for the boston series ill be stoked

Joey H says:

…. no ill be stoked if they come back and pitch well. which i do expect them too.

 
 
Joey H says:

oh and is longoria out ? fractured wrist im hearing..

A.D. says:

yup, on the DL today

Joey H says:
 
 
Smitt Dog says:

15 day DL, fractured wrist

 
 
Jake H says:

Team has no energy. They already know that this is a game that they lost.

Manimal says:

I agree. There is no sense of urgency or panic. They are all wayyy to laid back for my taste.

Ivan says:

Now how you know that.

Manimal says:

Derek Jeter has seen 2 pitches!

Ivan says:

three Jamal told me. Besides you really think Jeter is just playing through emotions?

 
 
 
Joey H says:

yea considering that i thought with girardi they would have a fire lit under their asses

 
 
Ivan says:

I thought Melky suppose to supply that.

 
Nady Nation says:

Are you being serious right now? It’s a 2 run game in the 4th inning

 
 
Mike Pop says:

they gonnan win this game jake “im a bad fan” h

 
Joey H says:

why does sir sidney think its ok to fall behind in counts with 2 outs? if he just keeps attacking the zone it will make a dfference in so many ways

 
Manimal says:

Knowblauch and that reliever, forgot his name at the moment…

BigBlueAL says:

shit missed it, trivia question??

Mike A. says:

Which players (2) played for Twins ‘91 WS team and the Yanks ‘98 & ‘99 WS teams.

 
 
Manimal says:
 
 
Mike A. says:

Knoblauch has to be one…

 
Mike Pop says:

willie banks is one of them

Mike A. says:

Holy crap moly, I forgot all about him.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

banks and chucky boy

 
Manimal says:

well we solved that one quickly.

 
BigBlueAL says:

Answer is Knobie and Chili Davis…

 
Jake H says:

This team doesn’t inspire me to believe that they will come back.

 
Ivan says:

Boy the yanks are being SO by the immortal Glenn Perkins.

 
A.D. says:

Chili Davis & Knoblach

 
Mike Pop says:

it sucks tho too see them struggle i cant even watch baseball tonight becuz i cxanrt stand to watch them

Manimal says:

I only watch ESPN when the yankees win.

Ivan says:

word. They love that the yanks are struggling.

Remember when the Sox collapse two years ago, you notice how the people in ESPN were all down making all types of excuses.

Manimal says:

no I’m just too disgusted to watch.

 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Dick Sex, how bout justifying your presence in the lineup back to back days?

 
Mike Pop says:
BigBlueAL says:
Mike A. says:

Chili wasn’t on the ‘98 and ‘99 teams, was he?

Ivan says:

he was on 99 I know that, probably 98 too.

And he was Jamaican.

 
A.D. says:

he was, Banks wasnt

BigBlueAL says:

Banks wasnt even on Twins in 91 dont think..

A.D. says:

Banks was on the 91 twins, was on the 98u yanks, but was traded to arizon, and wasnt on the 99 yanks

BigBlueAL says:

yup ur right he was on 91 Twins..

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BigBlueAL says:

Yup, only seasons he played was 98 and 99. He got hurt early in 98 but came back at end of season, even hit a HR in ALCS.

Mike A. says:

Shit, you’re right. I was confusing him with Charlie Hayes.

 
 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Good thing Giambi’s not playing

 
Mike Pop says:
 
Charles says:

If these Yanks can’t even beat these Twinkies,oh man…

Steve H says:

You mean the Twinkies with a better record than us, and an 8-3 pitcher on the mound? Oh yeah, and at home, where they win 65% of their games.

Charles says:

I just don’t think they had a chance to compete this year given that they traded Santana and Liriano is coming back from an injury. Their offense, aside from Mauer and Morneau, isn’t really that good too.

 
 
Smitt Dog says:

They can, but I’d bet they wont. Thats whats frustrating.

 
 
Manimal says:

Whats better than toasted poptarts. FROZEN POPTARTS.

Davi says:

take 2 chocolate poptarts, put some ice cream in the middle. its pretty good.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

we signing tex dunn and a pitcher

Manimal says:

just tex and sabathia

A.D. says:

yeah no Dunn please

 
Mike Pop says:

we aint getting sabathia.. he likes to hit and dominates in the nl

Steve H says:

I think an extra $20mil would make him put down the bat. While he may like the NL, who’s gonna pay him?

 
 
 
Charles says:

Tex and sheets for me.

Joey H says:

CC over sheets anyway of the week! at least we know CC can pitch in the AL and stay healthy.. he even won a CY young

 
 
 
Ivan says:

We need Jesus Montero on this team.

Shit he probably hit better than Melky right.

A.D. says:

i’d take him over melk in an rbi situation right now

Ivan says:

Seriously, I would take Montero over Melky in a big spot.

 
 
Manimal says:

Seriously, why is J-up in the majors at 19 but Montero isn’t even in AA.

Charles says:

You do know that J-Up is a once-in-a-generation talent no?

Manimal says:

I never even said Majors. Dub-A. T’is all.

 
 
Steve H says:

Where should we start?

 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

no tex dunn sabathia manny sheets

 
Ivan says:

Cabrera and Christian back to back ouch.

 
CJ says:

Melky. Cabrera. is. the worst. player. in the majors.

 
Nady Nation says:
 
Manimal says:

I hate when umps dont give time.

 
Lanny says:

I’ve pretty much had it with Girardi.

I appreciate Torre even more now.

BigBlueAL says:

But Torre blew out Sturtze and Proctor’s arms!!!!!

 
Jamal G. says:

I don’t, fuck Joe Torre.That man ruined people’s careers.

Joey H says:

at least he got us to the playoffs

Steve H says:

With much better teams. Torre never relied on 2 rookie starters, that produced 0 wins thru August 11th, lost his ace, lost his catcher, the MVP for a few weeks, AND still had his team in contention.

BigBlueAL says:

does 2005 ring a bell at all????

 
Mike A. says:

Lest you forget the days of Small, Chacon, Redding, May, Franklin, Bean…

Steve H says:

And if Darrell Rasner was the 10-0 that Small was, and Ponson was the 7-3 that Chacon was, we’d be in the playoffs. So you give the credit to Torre for that?

 
 
Joey H says:

and thsi is where yo uare wrong, joe G didnt rely on two rookie starters , that was a cashman decision

Steve H says:

Well you’re blaming Girardi, not Cashman. So I’ll take all of Torre’s playoff appearances and give the credit to Cashman for those too.

Joey H says:

steve if you are going to argue at least make some sennse. i said nothing about blaming girardi in this thread do begin with. it was a jamal comment.

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Steve H says:

you said at least Torre got us to the playoffs in response to jamal’s comment. I apologize if that wasn’t a knock on girardi probably not getting us to the playoffs, but that’s how i took it.

 
Joey H says:

no it was more of a dont disrespect torre because he doesnt deserve that, through thick and thin he found a way to win.

 
Steve H says:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

That man also won us 4 championships and got us to the playoffs every year of his tenure

 
kunaldo says:

so did billy martin…

 
Ivan says:
 
BigBlueAL says:

You have got to be kidding me. Fuck Joe Torre??? Fuck this new Florida Marlins approach of relying on all these fuckin youngsters and only givin a shit about how the fuckin Single-A hitters are doing and how they drafted some stud HS pitcher who will never make it to the big leagues. Ill take winning WS titles over being excited about prospects who might be good for the Yankees in 2012….

Steve H says:

Well the Marlins have won a title more recently than we have.

 
Jamal G. says:

OK, maybe it was a bit too strong, but this fucking Joe Girardi bashing is getting on my God Damn nerve.

BigBlueAL says:

Why have so much loyalty to Girardi though?? If anything you should praise Torre, not rip him, the way you defend Girardi because you know Torre actually won 4 WS titles….

Jamal G. says:

The bashing on Joe Girardi has nothing to do with Joe Torre though, a lot of it is just needless complaining and short-sightedness. Since people have an issue with the lineup tonight then every single time Melky Cabrera, Justin Christian, or Richie Sexson make an out, you have twenty different people coming out of the woodwork to call for the man’s head.

The players still have to play the game.

BigBlueAL says:

True enuff seperate things totally, just next time dont go sayin Fuck Joe Torre please….

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Mike A. says:

Please, if anything he resurrected Sturtze’s & Proctor’s careers.

Joey H says:

…… resurrected… as in…. they had any type of a decent career before that ?

Mike A. says:

Bad choice of words, but did they not have their best seasons under him?

 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Jamal, how can you honestly say “fuck Joe Torre”? How can a Yankee fan possibly say that?

BigBlueAL says:

He is too young to remember when the Yankees actually won titles, ive noticed these younger Yankees fans remind me of Red sox fans when they were always frustrated with the Yankees always winnin and them suckin, now its the opposite and all u read here is people rippin the Red Sox as if they suck when they have 2 titles in 4 years…

Joey H says:

very true, in order to appreciate the tradition .. youve got to live it

 
 
 
 
 
Davi says:

its’ melky’s bday today. thats why girardi is playing him. because really thats the one reason I would play him. well no. I still wouldn’t play him. I’d let him be that bat boy as a bday gift.

 
BigBlueAL says:

Wow Yankees shut out thru 5 with only 3 hits, shocking considering the juggernaut lineup Girardi put out there…

 
Lanny says:

This is the worst lineup Ive seen this year. Girardi reminiscing about his time in the NL?

Are we giving up?

 
Mike A. says:

I sure hope Damon’s feeling well rested.

 
Mike Pop says:

Why isnt melky getting sent down

 
Mike A. says:

On the bright side, Ponson’s pitching pretty decently.

Charles says:

Yep. And he’s got a pretty sick 11:1 GB-FB ratio.

Charles says:
 
 
 
Pedro says:

Can we fire Girardi now, or do we have to wait till we’re out of contention? If you add up all the OBP’s of the bottom four of lineup, you might not get to .400, they are THAT bad, only Girardi can’t see

Jamal G. says:

So now Joe Girardi is an idiot for playing Robinson Cano and Ivan Rodriguez, whatever.

Steve H says:

Yeah, let’s see Molina and Betemit. What are their OBP’s Pedro?

Pedro says:

Cano and Pudge have been horrible, but only Girardi doesn’t know, so he adds two other horrible bats to the lineup in Sexson and Melky. There’s no way with Cano and Pudge, there are no viable options, but you have to minimize the damage, he has options for Melky’s and Sexson’s spot… So instead of having only 2 bad hitters in the bottom of the lineup, we have 4 because our manager doesn’t have a clue.

 
 
 
 
kunaldo says:

thank GOODNESS we have all these righties in today or else our offense would be in real trouble…

 
Brian Cashman says:

i wish we could go back and get johan for melky and ian now

Jamal G. says:

No, you don’t wish that because you yourself publicly stated that it would have taken Chien-Ming Wang in addition to those two and another prospect to land Johan Santana. The other deal was for Phil Hughes, Cabrera, and two other prospects…for the umpteenth fucking time.

Mike Pop says:
Jamal G. says:

I’m sorry man, but the hating on Joe Girardi has me a bit on edge.

Mike Pop says:

me too the hating on joe girardi is too much.. we loved him before the angels series we are all mad on edge lol.. none of us are use to this shit

 
 
 
Joey H says:

no, it was wang and johan straight up im pretty sure.

Lanny says:

Hughes for Santana?

Who doesnt do that now?

I wont count IPK and Melky because they aren’t real players. Who doesn’t make that move with 20-20 hindsight?

Jamal G. says:

Fuck that, I still won’t make that move.

Lanny says:

Why? You like being a 3rd place team?

When they overpay for also ran starters like AJ Burnett this Nov after Sabathia spurns them what will you say?

Hughes doesn’t have half the stuff Santana has and it’s not like Santana is 40 yrs old.

Stop thinking every prospect is an all star. You have to give up good to get good.

And if theres one thing the Yanks have in abundance its right hand pitching.

Ivan says:

It’s easy to say that when the team struggles like this.

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Steve H says:

Where did that come from?

 
 
 
 
 
Smitt Dog says:

This is like watching paint dry.. then filling the paint can with razor blades and fucking it

 
Ivan says:

You should of done that the first time Ponson.

 
Mike A. says:

He cuts the mustard … I love it.

 
Charles says:

Melky wasn’t really a stud prospect to begin with. He had a hot streak in Triple A which led to his promotion, had that memorable catch to take away Manny’s homer, which immediately thrust him into the hearts of Yankee faithful, and has sucked ever since. I wish they demote him and call up Gardner again.

Mike A. says:

Let’s face reality here. If his name was say, John, he’d be much less appealing.

 
 
Mike Pop says:
 
Mike Pop says:

We need jesus thats what we need

Davi says:

J.C is playing in left today. hell his last name is Christian.

Mike A. says:

“Hell his name is Christian.”

Heh.

 
 
 
A.D. says:

So Shooter Hunt, nice pick for the Twins so far

Charles says:

Did the Yanks get a chance to get him at the supplemental round?

 
Mike A. says:

I don’t think so, but ~30 innings in A-ball does not a career make.

Ivan says:

especially a college pitcher.

 
 
A.D. says:

no they could have only gotten him instead of Cole, which you’d never do, but he’s put up numbers since signing

 
 
 
Ivan says:

Man if the yanks were playing better, we could be WC leaders cuz Boston is just playing some bad baseball right. Getting no hit again. Shit we making Boston look like the Angels right now how the yankees are playing..

 
Mike Pop says:
 
Ivan says:
 
Lanny says:

What young player has distinguished himself besides Joba?

Cano is pretty terrible unless you like .300 OBP.

The only high level talent in the high minors is AJ and hes 2 yrs away.

Melky should have been traded 2 years ago when his value was high.

Not even RAB can defend IPK anymore.

Ivan says:
 
Steve H says:

Cano hit .342 as a 23 year old 2b, then followed that up with a .306 19 hr/97 rbi season. Pretty terrible?

Lanny says:

Cano has clearly regressed this season. It shows he can’t make the adjustments. His value is high and he should be moved while he can. A free swinger with a .300 OBP isn’t an All Star in my book.

Pedroia is clearly the better player between the two.

Steve H says:

He had a horrible April, but has hit .295/.287/.327 in 3 full months since. Pedroias obp is .361 so he’s not exactly Barry Bonds, and has less power, not that I had ever mentioned Pedroia. Tell me how good Bucholz is, or have you completely written him off? He’s been terrible with a bigger sample size than IPK. What are they saying about him on Sox boards?

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Ben, Mike, and Joe don’t have to. I and a lot of other people with some damn perspective will gladly take their place.

 
 
Pedro says:

There’s our golden boy, the best 27 million can buy.

 
Charles says:

This is just not our year. Ugh.

 
Mike Pop says:

we shoulda got a deal done for johan regardless.. we prolly coulda pulled off some shit without giving up hughes wang or austen jax that woulda topped the mets shit… we coulda centered it round tabata

 
Charles says:

Is there such a team record for the most GIDP in a season?

Steve H says:

The 1996 team grounded into more DP’s than this team is on pace for.

 
 
Mike A. says:

As far as I can tell, the Twins are the only team with two former 1/1 draft picks on their current roster.

 
Ivan says:

Fundamental baseball by the twins, something the yanks lack.

 
Mike A. says:

Girardi should go over to Damon & Giambi on the bench and ask them why they think the team isn’t scoring.

Nady Nation says:

He’s saving Giambi to pinch run for Christian

BigBlueAL says:
 
 
 
Pedro says:

LOOK AT THAT! They can get that runner in from 3rd base with less than 2 outs, didn’t know that was legal.

 
Steve S says:

I give in. Ponson doesn’t completely suck.

 
Charles says:

For all the Ponson detractors out there, he has so far defied all our expectations on him. That’s 3 straight quality starts now.

Ivan says:

and the yanks are gonna lose two of three quality starts.

 
 
Pedro says:

Have he had a hitter ahead in the count the whole game?

 
Davi says:

is phelps swimming tonight. I need to watch someone who wins.

A.D. says:
 
 
Mike Pop says:

uhoh i smell a rally

 
Mike Pop says:
 
Lanny says:

A-Rod is having the softest statistical season I’ve ever seen.

Jamal G. says:

What sense does that make?

Steve H says:

Very disappointed you didn’t get an answer to this one, I wanted to see the spin on it.

 
 
 
Nady Nation says:
 
Charles says:

Could have used Giambi on that spot for Sexson..

 
Pedro says:

Is there one hitter on this team who can turn on a FB?

 
Jamal G. says:

Jon Danks’ no-no is broken up by the pedophile.

Davi says:

youkilis? is there another pedophile in mlb?

Jamal G. says:

LoL, you know there isn’t.

Davi says:

he’s seriously looks a rabid truck driver who solicits truck stop whores with every std in the book. I would not let any small children or women within 1000 feet of him

 
 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

these guys are so soft mentally its sad

Charles says:

So true..It’s disappointing because everyone knows they’re capable of being way better than what they’re currently showing.

 
Ivan says:

I totally disagree with ya saying.

 
 
TheLastClown says:

Why is Pudge swinging at balls on tees?

TheLastClown says:
Lanny says:

have you watched Pudge hit the past decade?

Hes a free swinger

 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

look at it this way if boston loses tonight we in the same spot we were this morning .. BRING IN BOOF BONSER PLEASE

Jamal G. says:

Boston takes 2-1 lead on J.D. Drew’s 2-RBI-2B.

 
Ivan says:

now they got the lead.

 
 
TheLastClown says:

Fats quick as a cat!

 
Charles says:

Adam Everett looks like a hobbit.

 
Ivan says:

Nothing is going right right now.

Jamal G. says:

Just one of those spells, it just looks worse because of how deep we are into the calendar.

 
 
Mike Pop says:

the shit in the lineup ins coming up

 
Nady Nation says:

And Boston is now winning. It just keeps getting better. At least we’re going down with our best out there tonight…

 
A.D. says:

Pudge still has the reflexes

 
Randy says:

red sox took the lead.

 
Charles says:

Damn, Ponson with that 17-2 GB-FB ratio. Nasty.

 
Nady Nation says:

Why is Melky still in this game right now? Someone please explain this to me

Davi says:

they should have pitch hit giambi for sexon last inning, then switched out damon with melky

 
 
Pedro says:

Shouldn’t even allow Melky to leadoff, but we don’t have a manager.

 
Mike Pop says:

minny man if they come out of nowhere and sign a big bat in the offseason or make a trade for one that is a real real serious team with those 5 young pitchers… baker and liriano absolutelyu filthy

 
Joey H says:

is anyone else amazed about how fast this game progresssed? in all likely hood, the game will beover by 1030

 
Ivan says:

Melky can’t even get the ball outta the infield.

 
Nady Nation says:

Attention Joe: JOHNNY DAMON IS ON YOUR BENCH RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE HIM IN THE GAME, EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT START

 
CJ says:

Melky Cabrera followed by Justin Christian. Wow, what a way to start an 8th-inning rally. This is ridiculous.

 
Mike Pop says:

WE are the fucken yankees man why are we doing so bad

 
Jamal G. says:

If the Yankees lose tonight they will go on a 5-game winning streak. You heard it here first (No, I’m not joking).

Mike Pop says:

i do agree with that shit… there will be a meeting in the clubhouse tonight after the game like after the lester loss

 
Charles says:

I don’t get it. How?

 
Mike Pop says:

lol cuz they gonna blow up

 
 
 
Nady Nation says:

Jamal, can you defend Girardi for not pinch hitting Damon for EITHER Melky or Christian there? I’m interested in hearing that argument

Jamal G. says:

Other than wanting to give him a full day off, no, can’t come up with a logical reason why not.

 
 
Ivan says:
 
Charles says:

Oh my, the term “pinch-hit” exists Joe.

 
Mike A. says:

Ponson’s going to wind up with a CG loss.

Nady Nation says:

Mike, can you believe that Damon did not just pinch hit for either of the putrid OF we had up that inning? Am I the only one who cannot believe that?

Mike A. says:

It would have make sense, therefore the manager choose not to do it.

Nady Nation says:

Oh true. I forgot he goes by that school of managing

 
 
 
 
Mike Pop says:

listen to eminem right now it makes shit better