Game 142: Playing for pride
ByWith the late-inning implosion of the Rays’ bullpen earlier this evening, the Yankees find themselves tied for third place. A loss tonight would drop them into fourth place in the AL East. It would be the first time since 1992 that the Yanks are in fourth this late in the season.
Over the course of the evening, we’ve seen a few opinions emerge as to whether or not fourth place matters. Some people feel that if the Yanks aren’t going to make the playoffs — first place or wild card — then it doesn’t matter where they finish as long as it isn’t last. Others — including me — believe it to be a point of pride.
Sure, the $200-million Yankees are a big disappointment this year, but that doesn’t mean they should roll over and give up on the rest of the season. Their fans are still watching; we expect decent baseball. So the team should deliver. Plus, it’s better to win more games than anything else. While some cite the difference in draft picks, the Yanks aren’t going to land one of the top five picks no matter how poorly they do over their final three weeks of the season. I’d rather see them finish in third and land the 20th pick than finish in fourth and land the 18th pick.
To keep the Yankees in third place, Joe Girardi will painfully hand the ball off to Sidney Ponson. The only reason Ponson is starting tonight is because Al Aceves has to replace Darrell Rasner next week. Such are the state of things in September. As a Yankee, Ponson is 3-4 with a 6.22 ERA. Since winning on August 6, he’s 0-3 in 20.2 innings spanning four starts. He’s walked nine and struck out seven while pitching to an ERA of 7.40. I’m glad I’m leaving the house tonight before this game starts. It could be an ugly, ugly evening.
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
I. Rodriguez C
Ponson P
260 Comments»
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“Their fans are still watching; we expect decent baseball.”
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SIDNEY PONSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey I want the yankees to end the season on high note. Just finish the season with a good tatse in their mouth and the fans as well. Go out there and play with professionalism (Which I know they will) and win ballgames and I will surely cheer for them cuz they are my team and I want them to win
Nevertheless, The Yanks are not gonna win the division or WC. My view point is this, hey is 3rd and 4th place a big difference? I can careless about the draft picks or the draft position and protecting picks and etc, forget about that cuz I never really thought of it or went deep into that.
It’s just that really at this point of the season, hey if the yanks played well and finish 4th, hey I’ll be proud my team played iight but also 3rd/4th place really to me is really not a big deal. That shit handle it self with the team performance, and if the yanks play well down the stretch then the position stuff will be handled then. That’s just my perspective on things.
If you don’t care about the draft picks I have a real, real hard time seeing your argument and seeing you call yourself a fan. But hey, everyone has their opinions.
Maybe I said it not right on my part. Let me say it a little bit better.
Ben was talking about you know people not caring about finishing 3rd/4th and others that do.
I was one of the people who really doesn’t care finishing 3rd/4th.
There been people saying, hey let the yanks lose to get high up or have picks protected. I am trying to say I wasn’t really thinking of the draft at all with my opinion. just that, really 3rd/4th really isn’t a huge difference. I care about the picks obviously. I wasn’t dissing the picks, it’s just that I didn’t factor my opinion that Ben allude to with the draft picks.
Gotcha.
I hear what your saying about “dissapointment.” I guess that may be how I’m feeling, but it’s more like inevitability. With everything that went against the Yankees, regarding injuries, this team could have survived a few down years. It’s hard to get frustrated when your resorting to throwing Ponson and Rasner out there. To be honest, they made due with what they had. They had no reason to think they were rushing Hughes or Kennedy, or to think they would get nothing from them. It’s stinks, if your saying dissapointed with how the season went, then yeah, but not dissapointed with the team or management.
Hey Cashman took a risk and it didn’t work out well (and basically everything else)
I can’t fault Cashman takin a risk. If it worked he’s Albert Einstein, if it didn’t, he’s Peter Griffin.
I still think they should stay the course with the young pitchers. No one said it was gonna be easy but in the long run were gonna look back and say it was worth it.
yo dawg don’t hate on Peter Griffin! He’s the man!!
Hey I love Peter Griffin. He’s the funniest dude on the show and my fav character on the show (Stewie and Brian are up there too)
So put Gardner in CF already and see if he is the guy for next year. Put Damon in LF, Xady in RF, and Abreu on the bench. Abreu is not coming back next year.
Agreed. I guess they’re waiting until they’re officially done.
Gardner in CF, Hughes and Kennedy in the rotation, Robertson and Coke pitching regularly out of the pen …
I’ll admit to actually being kinda excited to see that, Yankee born and bred (if you will) ex-farmhands and prospects now with the team and contributing at the big league level.
Me too. Anyone who follows the system would have to like that. That’s the main thing I’ve been looking forward to for a while now.
I know most fans don’t follow the kids, but lets be honest most Yankee fans are following the Giants right now. Let Hughes, IPK, Gardner, Aceves and others gain valuable MLB experience that will pay off down the road. Also, you could be showcasing some of these guys for possible deals as well.
It makes all the sense in the world, I don’t see the point in wheeling out Ponson and haven’t for a while.
Um, I’m a Jets fan
How do the Giants and Jets fans break it down, since there both in Jersey anyway? Is there a geographical break down? I never really got heavily into football, love watching it, but baseball is the jelly in my donut
I’ve always had the impression that Jets fans were wealthier and live in the sub-urbs, while Giants fans live more in working to middle class areas. Then again one of my friends is a Tisch (obviously a Giants fan) so you can’t be sure. Obviously you can never make absolutist decisions but that’s just how I see it–I may be wrong.
I’d say that’s the exact opposite.
Giants fans are more wealthy and suburbian. Jets fans are more working class and more city.
But, in a nutshell, the Giants and Yankees overlap, and the Mets and Jets overlap. Yankees and Jets fans like you and me, Pablo, are the exception.
I agree with the overlapping part. Never really thought about it in terms of city/class, I’ve always just associated Giants/Yanks and Mets/Jets
I would love to see Hughes come back as well, same with Kennedy. Hey I am not a Gardner fan but I wouldn’t given him more playing time. Hell even Melk to see if he improve his game.
I would to see D-Rob back. I like his game alot, he has a good mentality on him and I like his stuff. And Coke has the type of arm to be a very good reliever. Wouldn’t mind seeing Melancon pitch just a inning or two here as well.
Well, I just picked up a 6 pack and I’m stuck in my house thanks to Hanna. How bout a win to make me feel better about my Saturday evening (or lackthereof)?
I’m afraid that 6-pack might not be enough with Ponson on the mound.
WWSD (What Would Sidney Drink) in this situation?
Don’t worry, the 6 pack is a mere warmup for the bourbon sitting in my cabinet.
Now that’s more of the Ponson approach. If only you were talented enough to constantly attempt to throw away your career only to be handed another job without actually earning it, you could really tie one on!
Pregaming. Smart man.
sheeeeeeet, with the Miami-Florida game on, I been drinking strong-ass frozen mango-rum cocktails for about 5 hours now (blended on my bomb-ass Ikon blender, I suggest you all get one.)
If I make it through this Yankee game without going blind, I want a medal.
Im kinda hoping that they finish the season with the rotation of Moose Pettite Aceves, Coke/IPK, Hughes just to have the rookies pitch and have some experience under their belt for next year. Giese/Aceves for a long reliever is NASTY for next year. Easily we will have an elite bullpen next year.
Quote Ponson nevermore!
Anyone like any of the lines for the football games tomorrow? I placed bets on both the Jets (-4) and Packers (-2). Thoughts?
Smart and smart. I keep seeing all these idiot pundits picking the dolphins because Pennington “knows the scheme” and bullshit like that. Problem is, they’re forgetting that Chad Pennington has been legally dead for 4 years now. The Dolphins blow asschunks and they won’t win 4 games this year, including tomorrow night. Huge Jets win. Even with a rusty Favre.
Agreed completely. I also love the Packers on Monday night. I’m not buying into the hype of the Vikings, especially not with their pathetic QB situation. I just hope A-Rodge will not totally suck
All the Vikings hype is ludicrous. They’ll go 9-7 or 10-6, sure, but every expert I hear picking them for the superbowl is on crack. They’re not THAT good.
Mike I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Did you decide on a hockey game yet, both the demos came out for ps3 and I’m kind of on the same page as you, I want to get into hockey. I am highly leaning toward NHL 09 because of its insane MMO mode.
I picked up Battlefield: Bad Company. Fun for a bit, but it gets repetetive after a while, picked up Metal Gear Solid 4, havent’ played it yet, but heard good things
Battlefield bad company was a bad choice, I got into the beta and it just wasn’t fun. MGS4 is amazingggggggggggggg. the singleplayer is awesome and the multiplayer is decent.
Its fun for a bit cause you can blow up just about everything, but other than that, eh
MILK WAS A BAD CHOICE!
Huh?
It’s so damn hot
You’re so wise. You’re like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.
Bark twice if you’re in Milwaukee
I woke up on the floor of some Japanese family’s rec room, and they would NOT stop screaming!
Hello? Who’s there, I’m talkin?
Hello? Who is this? Baxter… is that you? Baxter! Bark twice if you’re in Milwaukee…
Is this Wilt Chamberlain? HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY SOMETHING? HELLO?!?!
You woke the bears! Why did you do that?
For just one night let’s not be coworkers. Let’s be co-people.
-I was in love once.
-Really? What was her name?
-I don’t know.
-That’s not a good start, Brian, but keep going.
WTF?
That movie is cinematic genius, plain and simple. It’s science
NOT SO FAST, INGRATES!!!!! The Public News team is taking a break from our pledge drive to kick some ass.
NO COMMERCIALS, NO MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ron: Let’s go to Brian Fantana, who’s live on the scene with a Channel 4 News exclusive. Brian?
Brian: Panda Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh … Ching … King is inside right now. I tried to get an interview with him, but they said no, you can’t do that he’s a live bear, he will literally rip your face off.
I’m going to go with Madden as my winter game I think. I already started a franchise, but I’m going to delete it and start a new one now that I understand all the bells and whistles. I might as well wait until they post the roster update to start it, supposedly that’ll be soon.
k well if you get nhl 09 let me know.
Did you download the demo? I’ll do it in the morning if I wake up far enough in advance of the J! E! T! S! game.
yeah, its pretty sick. If your curious about the MMO part of it its basically a sports video game dream come true. http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/obj.....ntary.html
Holy crap.
I know right? I was kind of unsure whether I should get it then I saw that video. “Holy Crap” says it all.
If we end up in the last 15 teams in the standing(4 games from that) don’t we get our 1st round draft pick protected.I not say for thev Yankees to lose but if we ain’t gonna go to the playoffs anyways look at the bright side.
They’re at #19 now, and they’re 5.5 games up on the 15th team. They’re not going to drop that far, and no, they’re not going to lose games on purpose.
Right now, without including free agency compensation picks, we have the 18th pick roughly. I just did a quick count, don’t bug me on it. Somewhere around the 18th pick. Right now, I just want the Yanks to win but if they tank, there is some compensation, right?
This whole “lets lose games to get a protected 1st round pick” has officially become my least favorite new incredibly stupid and moronic line of thought associated with the 2008 Yankee season.
Where’s Herm Edwards when you need him?
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!!!!
Agreed. The value of a draft pick is far less than what people are making it out to be, and I heart the draft.
How did Hughes pitch tonight????
Game was posponed.
No games, the whole East coast is apparently under attack by Posiedon
Rained out
Thats right forgot, Hannah huh. Down here in Miami we dodged that bullet and apparently will be dodging Hurricane Ike as well.
Rained out. Pitching tomorrow.
comments by Keith law on his blog on Jeffrey Marquez
Trenton starter Jeff Marquez was ordinary, 89-92 mph with very good downhill plane and fair sink at 89-90. His best secondary pitch was a change or split-change in the low-80s, sometimes with good bottom but other times it was flat with late fading action. Neither of his breaking balls was plus, and he had a kitchen-sink approach rather than any clear pitching plan. If he can work consistently as a sinker-changeup guy, he could pitch in the big leagues, but he’s not a starter in the AL East.
Yeah, sounds about right. I finally jumped on the Marquez bandwagon last winter, and he made me look like an idiot.
STUPID PANDA JERK!
You know I tell ya team that could sneak up on somebody is the Broncos. Jay Cutler could breakout this season and their schedule is not hard.
Agreed. The Chargers are not as good as everyone thinks they are.
Good thing Melky’s back to handshake Abreu. Apparently he does serve a purpose after all
Is everybody here really that willing to just let Abreu go w/o a real replacement for him??? I dont think it would be the end of the world to bring Abreu back next season.
Nady would replace him. That’s the easiest one on the team.
CF is the tricky one.
Nady wouldnt be replacing him. He would play RF, Damon in LF then who the hell in CF???? Basically your telling me Gardner or Melky again at CF????
If the Yankees let Abreu go, they better find a CF who not only can obviously field but come fairly close to duplicating Abreu’s offense which wont be that easy to find…
Yeah but you lose all that production. You’re not replacing Abreu’s bat with Nady’s, you’re replacing Abreu’s bat with Melky/Gardner’s. If they do that, they might score another 150 fewer runs next year.
WOW. Scary how almost identical our replies were. Great minds think alike….
… but you’re only replacing Abreu’s production with Melky’s/Gardner’s if you’re not replacing Abreu with another bat somewhere in the lineup, like Dunn/Burrell/Tex/Manny, etc. etc.
Surely they can’t leave Damon in center, can they? He’s obviously lost some range and he never had an arm – I’d think letting Abreu go and picking up a one-year CF til Ajax is ready would be the best route?
Either that or make up the offense elsewhere on the diamond and allow Melky/Gardner to hold onto it for a year until Ajax is ready.
The Yanks are probably not a WS team next year – I’d think 2010 is the year to get serious, as more of the young pitching will be ready, Damon and Matsui come off the books so they can finally get younger in the OF.
I realize this is a topic for the offseason, but I think the best course of action would be to dump as much of the big contracts named A-Rod or Mo as we can ala 2006 offseason and use 2009 as a transition year.
What they will do, of course, is resign all the oldies not named Giambi and add one of the big SP. And finish in 3rd behind the Rays and Sox again as all those old bats continue their decline.
Mike, what do you think it would take to get Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres? Sounds like Towers wants to rebuild with an eye toward 2010, so he could be available.
-Signed very cheap for next 2 years (3 mil/4.75mil) plus a 2011 5.5 team option
-Similar (.850 OPS) numbers to Tex (.915 OPS) past 3 years
-2 years younger than Tex
-Padres have a replacement in AA named Kyle Blanks
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....anks.shtml
Seems the Padres would want an OFer to replace Giles (who they’re not bringing back), and some other position players. They’re among the worst teams in Runs scored.
It seem it would take Hughes, A-Jax and two other prospects (Whelan and D-Rob.
That sounds right. Hughes, Jackson, Pena and take on all of Adrian’s deal? That might be a little short, they really have no need to trade him with that contract and that kind of production.
I agree I don’t see them trading Gonzalez especially when his contract is cheap and the team wants to spend less.
The idea would be his value will never be higher, so offer to fix a few of their problems with a deal now.
Were actually not a bad fit. They DESPERATELY need a catcher, and we have a bunch of those. I’d dangle anyone not named Montero. They also will need a OF since they wont be bringing back Giles. We have a few guys there.
A-Jax/IPK/Romine for Adrian Gonzalez. I’ll throw in Juan Miranda for 1B next year if they want.
4-1 not sure if that’s giving up too much, but I’m not a big A-Jax guy.
I think thats too pitching heavy. They can’t score runs as it is, and they would be trading one of their big run producers.
Would need to be position players. Catchers and OF help, plus a short term 1B replacement.
That would be a nice pickup for the Yankees, but I cant imagine he would come cheap. Maybe Melky/IPK??? Doubt it though, at least if Im a Padres fan hope not….
IPK is a USC legend, so he would be a nice fit. That’s a good ballpark for him as well. But they need players that could help them score runs. 2nd worst in the NL.
Speaking of the ballpark, I could see A-Gon’s numbers improving going from that pitchers paradise to lefty-loving Yankee stadium. Plus he’s only 26, so he should be entering his prime.
I was at the HR derby and he said to John Sterling when he was interviewed that Yankee stadium would be great for him.
Hey Mike You think Hughes/Kennedy will get traded this winter though?
I doubt it, especially Hughes. I can see IPK going in the right deal, he’s got a ton of value as a young, controllable starter. The Braves would love to get their hands on him I bet, their rotation is in shambles after Jurrjens.
you think they would trade Kotchman?
For the a interesting deal maybe.
Are there any good position prospects to be had from the Braves?
they got Kotchman from the Tex trade.
I bet they’d do an IPK-Franceour swap. But is Frankie fixable?
I wouldn’t want any part of Frenchy. Cano is enough of a hacker for me, the team doesn’t need any more.
The Scary thing is that Cano has better plate disipline than him. At least with Cano you see improvement in that department and also Cano makes contact majority of the time.
Hmmm. A young once-promising player with a cannon for an arm and 0 plate discipline. I think I heard that one somewhere before before
Boy they are down on Franceour that much. Would I do that trade? I don’t know. You Mike? Personally, Im 50/50. I am not a Franceour fan but the upside is better than IPK.
I don’t think so, we’re talking extreme plate indiscipline with Frankie.
Hey guys which team in the NFL you considered most overrated and underrated?
Over rated= Patriots.
Under rated= Lions & Browns
No, the Browns are overrated. I could see them going 7-9 easily.
Lets see derek anderson do it again.
Joe Thomas is a monster though. He’s everything D’Brickashaw was supposed to be
Wake me up when Joe Thomas starts playing cornerback.
Dude are you serious? How can you say the Browns are underrated? I was about to put them as an overrated team. They still have 0 defense and I need to see Derek Anderson do it again before I label them legit. As noted previously in this thread, I think the Vikings are overrated, and b/c of that, I think the Packers are a little underrated.
I really think Brady Quinn is a great quarterback and I think that Anderson getting a concussion was the greatest thing that could happen this spring training for them. Sure they have no defense but don’t knock them for it. I never said they were Super bowl champs of 09 but they are under rated. I forgot about the vikings.
What makes you think Quinn is a great QB? He’s never really played.
What makes you think he isn’t, Hes never really played.
Touche.
Fascinating logic
Well, he certainly doesn’t lack for courage, so he’s got that going for him.
The Patriots over rated? Riight…
Well coming off a season 16-0 how can’t they be. You can’t have the expectation of being a perfect team. I am not being Biased either, I am partially a pats fan since I’ve met a lot of them at the summer camps in Foxboro. Ill pick them over anyother AFC team anyday but I’m a Xcore Giants fan.
Partially a Pats fan? Ew
Youve got to have a team in the opposite conference that you root for. Same way I root for the Cubs in the NL.
The important question is, which part?
Ugh Pats fans are so obnoxious.
http://soulassassins.com/wp-content/douchebag2.jpg
Well they did lose one game last year.
Patriots go from 16-0 to 13-3, yeah overrated.
Texas is giving the Sox a southern beating.
Time for an ARod RISP 3-run HR…
Urge to kill rising.
No beer and no TV makes Homer… something-something.
Go Crazy?
Don Mind if I do!
Now I may be an idiot, but there is one thing I am not, sir, and that, sir, is an idiot,
Inevitable Ponson implosion, hello there
Aaaaaand I’m wrong. Not the first time, that’s for sho’
Every time Sidney Ponson throws a pitch for the New York Yankees, God kills a puppy. Please, think of the puppies!
hahahah funnyest thing ever. My dog has one of those cone things around his head so he wont bite his skin infection and i keep on teasing him and he is sooooo scared of the cone. Poor dog. hehe
There’s one from the archives.
http://riveraveblues.com/wp-co.....kitten.jpg
Good call.
You were right to go with your gut instinct, the lord must have intervened in that one.
Tommie –
SAINTS (-4) over Bucs?
Let me preface all my gambling predictions for the night with the disclaimer that I am quite, quite drunk right now… but, I’d take the Saints. I don’t trust the Bucs on the road, they’re old as shit.
4 points should be enough.
Haha, well it is Saturday night after all. When in Rome…
ChiSox walk off, courtesy of
JI
JIM THOME.
You know Im trying to just enjoy the final games of the season and not get frustrated/pissed off during the games since the season is basically over. Im even flipping around watching the boxing on HBO and the UM/Florida games, yet I still cant avoid getting pissed off at this freakin Yankees offense!!!!
” the $200-million Yankees are a big disappointment this year, but that doesn’t mean they should roll over and give up on the rest of the season”
They gave up the season when they started the year with 2 rookies in their starting rotation. This the funniest game thread all season.
Really?
Really !!!!
It’s a starting point.
People wanted youth movement enjoy the playoffs.
No one said it would be pretty. It’s for the best though.
I hope your right because this sucks.
The Red Sox started the year with one rookie and another guy with limited big league experience in their rotation. Did they give up on the season?
Mike A. you think a guy like Jeter who know nothing, but playoff ball his whole career is going to give a shit about 3rd or 4th place? They will play hard for their own stats, but when you eaten at a five star restaurant who the hell wants McDonald’s
Maybe I’m just drunk, but that shit you just said didn’t make any sense to me.
Was that English?
Most of the Yankees probably don’t give shit about 3rd or 4th place.
Is that better?
lol
Thanks. The theme of the night is “small words”.
I will remember that I just wish I had your skills.
I’m being straight up.
Did that one rookie and the guy with limited experience spend most of the season on the DL?
The guy with limited experience has a No-Hitter and has dominated the Yankees this season.
Incidentally, the rookie, who also has a no-hitter, is now in AA, but that’s neither here nor there.
Man, I really can’t wait to watch some feetball tomorrow.
Just about to say that. Nothing like the first full Sunday of the year.
Giants played thursday.
I know. But Thursday games don’t do it for me. Nothing like a lazy Sunday watchin’ football.
Too bad I can’t watch the Jets then Steelers. Both play at 1.
You like the Steelers too?
I have a soft spot for them. My roommate at Penn State was a Steelers’ fan, and we rarely got Jets’ games on TV there, so I watched the Steelers every Sunday for 4 years.
Woah same. I got a terrible towel in 06 haha
Ha Ill probably check my phone at work but besides that I won’t be doing anything.
Nady is a hitting machine.
An utterly shocking and surprising turn of events.
Phil Hughes could have done that.
Even more importantly, Phil Hughes could have not done that.
Could of, should of, would of the story of the 2008 NY Yankees.
If Abreu and Jeter go on a tear for the rest of the season, the yankees can quite possibly have 6 people in their lineup hitting over 300.
Johnny Damon makes things happen.
Mike Mussina and Johnny Damon, two of the most solid free agent signings in recent memory?
Moose has to be the best FA pitcher signing of the last 10 years. Damon’s been very good when healthy, which of course isn’t all the time.
I take that back. Second best FA pitcher signing behind RJ to the D-Backs.
Hes been on the DL once. I’d say he was healthy all the time.
The fact that he wasn’t on the DL doesn’t mean he’s been healthy. He was really banged up last season and SHOULD”VE been on the DL.
Always been a Damon fan. Moose has been terrific signing, but Cashman haters seem not to reconize it.
Hes had a quiet breakout season, his best as a yankee. His defense is another story.
I think the defense thing is being overplayed, he was the second best defensive LF in the A.L., behind Carl Crawford.
There we are. Run Derek run.
He looks bored.
Can you blame him.
This will be his first season without playing ball in october in his Major league career.
I mentioned this earlier, are you guys all sure you really want to get rid of Abreu????????????
Abreu needs to be in pinstripes next year.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO KISS MY ASS MARINERS.
Fucking shit, Im tired of seeing A-Rod getting drilled!!!!
Gee A-Rod was wrong accepting the biggest contract in sports history.
That kid had a little too much soda I see.
I see.
The only way I can’t see Abreu in is if Nady is truly uncomfortable in right field.
left field* sorry
Hopefully the wheather holds up tomorrow for SWB to play.
Hard to believe I was more interested on that game (really because of Hughes) than tonight’s game.
@Mike- Did you see any of that NHL video yet?
Yeah, I watched it before. Insane. I’m going to download the demo after the game I think. Unless it takes forever like Madden did, then I’ll do it tomorrow.
yeah, its basically worse than madden haha.
That bites.
I started the download now, let it go during the rest of the game.
What the fuck is this “hockey” bullshit you all keep talking about?
Did the winter olympics start already?
Im doing a research project on ALS. Its pretty interesting. Its a shame it had to happen to Lou Gehrig. There was a recent study that thinks there is a link between Lou Gehrig’s disease and Italian soccer players, wierd.
What do you guys think about going after Milton Bradley and Rocco Baldelli to replace Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi? 2009 will be Bradley’s age 31 season, so he should have about three seasons left of his prime, no? Bradley is also a Type-B free agent, but I guess it’s all about his contract demands. Maybe his Type-B status will make the Rangers more likely to re-sign him, who knows?
Would you guys be comfortable with an OF/DH situation consisting of the durability challenged Johnny Damon, Milton Bradley, and Rocco Baldelli? Any problems sticking Hideki Matsui at First Base and signing a guy like Kevin Millar to be a bench bat that wont embarrass as an everyday player?
There is no way in hell you can have an outfield with that trio. They wont see the field together more than 50 times max.
However I would definitely consider having Bradley playing RF if Abreu leaves.
Bradley gets hurt a lot though. It’s hard to count on him playing the field on an everyday basis. He’s gotten hurt several times while DHing this year.
You mean duo, Xavier Nady would be the regular LF, Damon in CF, Bradley in RF, and Baldell,i the DH as the spell outfielder.
I’m all for signing Baldelli as a CF if he can do it. You have to assume Matsui’s the full-time DH next year.
I was thinking maybe Damon LF, Bradley RF, Nady 1b, Matsui DH and finding a CF who can play D and actually hit a bit.
Id still rather just keep Abreu in RF, Damon in LF, Matsui DH and actually for the first time in years have real players at CF/1B for a change.
Baldelli makes really the most sense.
Great spped, tremendous fielder, young and can obviously hit.
The more I think about it, the more I realize just how important Abreu is. How in the world can they let that guy walk?
I been telling you guys that Abreu is better than ya think and gets underrated.
Easy. Replace Giambi and Abreu with Posada and Teixeira.
Done and done.
How does the improve the team though? That leaves them right where they are right now. If anything, you’re taking the production spread out evenly between Giambi and Abreu, and redistributing say 60% to Tex and 40% to Posada.
Something about signing this guy to a 3-year deal and having him be a regular outfielder just scares me. His defense has literally just fallen off a cliff this season, and I don’t have the slightest inkling on why that is.
I know Milton Bradley hasn’t given you consecutive seasons of 400-PA since 2002-2003, but he gives you what Abreu does OBP wise, and more power.
I doubt the yanks give him a 3-year deal.
Agreed. I’d love to bring Abreu back, as a DH, but since that spot is probably reserved for Damon, Matsui, and Posada for the near future, I don’t see how that happens…
I feel you. But at least Abreu can still throw very well and even though his speed doesnt show on the field he can still run real well. I wouldnt want him for 3 years either, but 1-2 more years I have absolutely no problem with that if its possible to bring him back w/o giving him 3 years.
Oh, no doubt, but I can’t imagine him not getting a three year deal. He’s younger than Manny Ramirez and Raul Ibanez, gives you a more complete package than Adam Dunn, and is more durable than Milton Bradley and Rocco Baldelli. You can make a case, that overall, Bobby Abreu is the best outfielder on the upcoming free agent market.
I kinda doubt it.
Heh, I laughed a little bit when Joe Posnanski called Bobby “The Most Boring Good Player in Baseball History”…
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlo.....eter-i-do/
Love Joe Posnanski.
The argument for letting Abreu go would be he’s a player in decline. Look at his walk rates over the past 3 years.
2006-124 BB
2007-84 BB
2008-62 BB (est 67)
For most hitters his age (34) walk rates are the canary in the coal mine. His walk rate this year has been cut IN HALF this from his 2006 total in almost the same number of AB’s (548/543).
That tells you his bat is slowing down. A lot. Notice the way he’s been swinging at 1st pitch strikes this year where he never used to do that when he first got here. He’s looking to make adjustments, and has maintained a good level of production this year as a result. But he’s going to run out of tricks, and his bat will only continue to slow down further as he ages. The fact that the decline started as early as it has (32) tells me he’s not a fitness fanatic (which I knew after last years spring training anyway) and that there could be a big drop in the offing.
He’s a bad investment if he requires more than 2 years to resign, and I suspect he will.
The only guy I would consider is Rocco Badelli.
Joba time.
I wish I Arod would buy a lottery ticket every day, so that I can know which numbers NOT to play.
Let Joba pitch 2 innings tonight, get that damn innings pitched up there so he can freakin start all season and not have the same thing as this year next season.
John Flaherty, shutup. Countless pitchers made the transition mid-season, give it a rest already.
Wow, he just absolutely owned Ichiro in that AB.
Velocity is down, though.
Dont believe the YES gun.
Not really, I’ve seen mostly 93′s. And remember, these are his rehab games. This “shaking the rust off” period is something we usually don’t see because it happens in the minors.
I only said that cause of the Tampa game when the YES gun was 3-4 mph slower than Gameday. Dont know about tonight.
That flip by Jason Giambi failed as much as Tom Brady did: http://www.lolpats.com/images/epic_fail.jpg
My favorite part of that: that they actually made a website called “lolpats.com”
Now THAT is perfection.
http://lolyankees.wordpress.com/
That’s infinitely less funny. And i’d say that even if I was not a yankee fan.
All those jokes were lame.
Saying Jason Giambi throws like an 8-year girl is an insult to 8-year girls everywhere.
http://www.lolpats.com/images/.....locked.jpg
That’s great.
There was one that said:
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
Completed Pass With Rex Grossman
That was a true classic.
Rex Grossman, confidence fail.
http://failblog.files.wordpres.....ilhp-7.jpg
That’s funny because it’s true.
Jesus Christ how fuckin deep were Damon and Abreu playing….
Raul Ibanez is just fucking counting those Minaya-dollars in his head right now…
When will people understand that Mark Texiera is not a superstar player.
If gonna pay a player that type of doe, I want him to be the best player in the MLB (A-Rod in 01 when he sign) or the best hitter in the MLB (like Manny in 01 when he sign)
Tex is niether by a good margin.
So much for letting Joba pitch the final 2 innings….
Holy shit! Chuck Liddell out cold!!!
Thats right that was tonight huh. Evans whooped his ass????
That shit is going to be on ESPN and youtube. Dude, he was completely gone in la la land; body just limp and lifeless..
I heard Coutour is fighting Brock Lesnar in Nov.
Yeah. Brock doesn’t deserve a title shot, but the fight will sell. So it’s all about the money.
Mariano kills another tree.
Thank Mariano for Mariano.
A threat against nature.
The Good Mo giveth, and The Good Mo taketh away.
Amen.
Miguel Cairo is pinch hitting? FAIL.
http://failblog.files.wordpres.....f-hell.jpg
Heh, check out the middle-aged woman in the pink and black, striped tank-top, she’s just going on like shit aint happening.
Mo it is written, Mo it shall be done.
Mosanna in the highest.
You people realize what this game means, right?
Sidney Ponson just bought himself another start. Fail.
http://failblog.files.wordpres.....seball.jpg
LMAO
BENNY AGBAYANI??!?!?!??!?!?!?
What’s next, Butch Huskey? Mel Rojas? Rico Brogna?
I started downloading the NHL 09 demo during the commercial break before the bottom of the 8th, right before Joba came in. It’s only 22% done now…
Fourth place will have to wait another day…