Comments on: Yanks suffer tough 5-4 loss to Cleveland

By: dre

dre — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:11:30 +0000

girardi still sucks

1. if wang is pitching good then let him pitch another inning and let Aceves be your emergency starter on Wednesday..

2. Garder had 5 ptiches to steal..your couldn’t give the sign to the first base coash to tell him to steal on the next pitch? so its not that Girardi is incomptent its that a rookie outfielder who is playing for his playing life, doesn’t respect Girardi enough to listen to him and steal???

3. yes Gardner is our 4th ourfielder cause hes a bad outfielder…yet our genious manager always bring hims in for defensive purposes in the 9th to take over Center!!!!!!

By: Ogie Oglethorpe

Ogie Oglethorpe — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:45:57 +0000

When did I ever complain about the bloated payroll? This is the Yankees. They should have a big payroll. All that I’m saying is that the stakes are high and we have a two-time 19-game winner ready to go.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:23:28 +0000

Fair enough and well put. However, I think a major part of this equation is him getting it together against major leaguers. At some point, for a guy like Wang, dominating minor leaguers does nothing.

By: DaveinMD

DaveinMD — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:00:11 +0000

In one breath you complain about the bloated payroll and the next you want to send down the promising cheap young player. You can’t have it both ways. Your attitude is the exact reason for the bloated payroll. Hughes has nothing more to learn at AAA. If Gardner could track a fly ball, Phil gets a quality start. He just pitched in bad luck yesterday.

By: DaveinMD

DaveinMD — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:57:59 +0000

Massively inflated by one really bad start. Its amazing the lack of patience some people have with young players. And then you’ll complain when our team is too old.

By: Mike HC

Mike HC — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:22:10 +0000

I am just saying that using Wang in the bullpen has some unintended consequences, like limiting the pitches he can throw in relief due to the fact they are trying to stretch him back out to be a starter. As I wrote below, moving Wang to the pen has not been such a disaster, but it adds complication that would have otherwise been nonexistent if he was starting in the minors.

It was not about proving he can dominate minor leaguers, it was about getting Wang healthy and back to how he has pitched in the past. It will be clear that he is ready when he is able to go a full game pitching effectively. While this game was very encouraging, it is by no means a guarantee he is back to his old self.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:14:56 +0000

So far, I still believe the Yanks would have been better off without Wang on the active roster. It’s true that he’s pitched well in his recent appearances, and I have every reason to believe that, if the Yanks were to install him into the rotation, he would do well. But he’s hardly been a difference-maker. In one game, the Yanks used him with an insurmountable lead. Today, they used him to prevent falling further behind, but in the end, they still lost.

Meanwhile, Wang himself said that, if he were called upon to start, he would be able to throw just 80 pitches in his first start building to around 100 in his second. Had the Yanks allowed him to make that Friday start in AAA — the day I thought the move seemed like a panic move — he would probably have the arm strength necessary to throw a full outing.

Furthermore, the Yanks’ bullpen has been reduced to Aceves, Coke, Veras and Rivera. The Yankees seem to have special usage patterns for Wang and refuse to use Tomko. I believe Wang’s spot could be utilized.

Did I overstate how bad the decision was? Probably. Do I still think it wasn’t right decision? Yes.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:09:22 +0000

I participated in this “debate” and agreeed with Steve that the move was hardly a “panic” move. Ben, I must say, your silence is deafening. Are you going to admit that your choice of words and conviction that this was a horrible decision was, shall we say, over stated…

By: Reality Check

Reality Check — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:06:13 +0000

Hit and run with runner on 3rd is a unusual, but I thought that was right call here. Kerry Wood notwithstanding, that is what I would have called for. Perfect count. Not JG’s biggest mistake (see no Mo), but a mistake in my book nonetheless. And in any case, have no idea why sports reporters following team never ask such questions (other than fear of losing access).

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:58:22 +0000

So what exactly is? Dominating AAA batters has drawbacks as does working out of the pen for the Yanks. The FO would be criticized either way. Personally, I thought it was the right move at the time and we now know he is ready. If we have to wait one start at 80 quality pitches before he can give 100 in a start, in the grand scheme of things,this is a good thing.