— Twenty-four, Twenty-five, Twenty-six.... ?
Defensive Indifference
SG said last night that in Chatter that its so much fun to watch the Yankees hit, its a shame we have to watch them pitch and play defense.
Ain’t that the truth.
Newsday gets all witty with its headline saying the Yanks were behind the eight ball after a Cano error contributed to a five-run eighth inning, but in truth it never should have gotten there.
In reality it never should have been that close… Capt. Gold Glove got hit in the face on what should have been an inning-ending double play in the fourth, leading to a three-run outburst.
After that Wang, who had been pitch effectively but not great, pretty well fell apart and was relieved with two outs and the bases loaded by Sturtze v2.2 - who induced a pop foul to Jason Giambi to end the threat.
Sturtze was followed by Jaret Wright to start the sixth, which was followed by me going to bed. However, the box score shows that Wright didn’t completely gag the game away like I expected him to - 2 IP 3 H 4 R 1 ER 2/1 K/BB - but he did get saddled with the loss after allowing a leadoff triple over the head of Johnny Damon to Milton Bradley and then we were off to the races.
The Post’s Mike Vaccaro says it’s too early to panic:
It’s three games. It’s a small sample. It’s impossible to declare that the Yankees only know how to win games with mercy-rule-type leads. It’s impossible to declare anything just yet. But it’s not too early to watch, and wonder, and worry, even if it’s a slight, imperceptible worry.
Amen, brother, amen.
One side note from the game - Michael Kay made me want to strangle him for the first time last night (in the interest of disclosure, it was the first time I saw a game on YES through Extra Innings) when he said that “through 2000, Frank Thomas was a lead pipe cinch to go to the Hall of Fame” but since then his career has just fallen apart and now he’d be “hard-pressed” to get elected. However, Singleton quickly corrected him and about a half-inning later Kay had changed his tune… it’s not baseball season if Michael Kay isn’t annoying me.
The Yanks travel today before hooking up with Anaheim for three over the weekend.
Let’s hope some extra groundballs are on the practice agenda before then.
Sean McNally
Posted: April 06, 2006 at 08:27 AM |
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I thought it was clear that The Jeter was testing Young Wang, and even more clear that Wang failed that test.
I would expect him to be traded for Eric Milton by mid-June.
The only thing I can think of is to get a real 1B and put Giambi at DH, where he belongs.
This is abjectly false, in that Wright pitched excellently last night. Wasn't overthrowing, kept his stuff down...If Wright pitches like that every time out, and the Yankees will have found themselves a great mid-long relief man.
The tremendous problem with the Yankees defensively is that there's just nothing that can be done about it in-season.
I'd differ here as well. There is no excuse for Jason Giambi playing the field at any time. Zero. Period. None. Giambi should be DH, and Phillips or replacement-level-1B-TBD should be playing 1B. Bernie is below replacement level as a hitter at DH, so this is an immediate upgrade.
The defense will be fine; Damon isn't going to screw the pooch on that may fly balls, and Jeter and Cano aren't horrendous defensively (feel free to contest that point all you want, but I think that that it's reasonable to term them "below average" rather than "downright bad".) BUT WHY ARE WE STARTING, BY FAR, THE WORST DEFENSIVE 1B IN BASEBALL?????
The suggestion people have followed in this thread is that they'll need huge amounts of runs, not huge run differential.
Damon's defense so far has made the Sox look pretty smart for snubbing him. I expect he'll pick it up, though - he was perfectly competent in '04 and '05. What's up with Matsui? Eh, probably another three-game fluke to be quite that awful.
Well, there is this
From 2003-2005
DH - Giambi, J. - .217/.384/.414 in 517 ABs
1B - Giambi, J. - .274/.427/.563 in 691 ABs
I'm fairly certain Bernie outhits Giambi the DH and Phillips doesn't sniff Giambi the first baseman.
From 2003-2005
DH - Giambi, J. - .217/.384/.414 in 517 ABs
1B - Giambi, J. - .274/.427/.563 in 691 ABs
I'm fairly certain Bernie outhits Giambi the DH and Phillips doesn't sniff Giambi the first baseman.
Those stats are biased by Giambi playing overwhelmingly in at DH during his parasite/tumor interval. I fail to see how playing the field transforms Giambi from a AAA hitter at his position to an All-Star.
"I frankly have no idea who he is, have never seen his face, but
read good things in Sports Illustrated about him so figured what the heck.
Dan tells me he's a very good pitcher, and I trust Dan, in spite of all of
my better judgments, so I won't be giving him up for "waiver wire" material.
I do like Johnny Damon, Travis Hafner, and BJ Ryan; if you have any interest
in Vargas, feel free to propose an offer that includes one of those players."
I found this funny.
As Alex Rodriguez Fan points out, there are special circumstances surrounding Giambi's time as a DH.
As for Phillips, the Yankees don't have to use him. There are probably a dozen 1B that are free agents or currently sitting on the waiver wire that can hit a bit and play the position adequately. There's no excuse in this day and age to have a bad 1B.
Out of morbid curiousity, did you offer anything, or was it just a general inquiry?
This may be literally true, but what if Jason believes this way, firmly? All indications are that he does.
You knew that someone would quote that one. I think that Jeter in particular has been a worthy shortstop for the last few years, although he needs to hit as he does in order to make up some for his defense. But if his defensive skills actually take a tumble while his offense declines, he falls below replacement-level much more quickly than a more average defender.
I don't want to read too much into one play, but Jeter has struggled with range in the last few years, while if he gets to the ball, he does good things. If he continues to have the same range and his glovework begins to slide, we could easily have a "gots ta go" situation.
Torre should have known when to quit.
Or maybe it was just the first such moment of the new season.
Robby Cano believed that he could gorge all winter and lollygag around the infield, yet still be a regular on the Yankees. Just 'cause a player believes something doesn't make it so.
That being said, there's an obvious interest in keeping players content. But when a player's desires obviously go against the interest of the team, it's time to make Jason "believe" he can hit as a DH.
Out of morbid curiousity, did you offer anything, or was it just a general inquiry?
I made a reasonable offer....I think I offered Kris Benson for him or something like that.
Frank Thomas felt the same effect.
*glances meaningfully at photo of Michael Kay hanging in Erik's bedroom*
But he is only the fifth started to the doctors deem Pavano's buttock ready to play.
An effect so strong that Kyle Farnsworth's head is still spinning from last night's double Thomas ripped as a DH.
Who is next on the minor league food chain? Small again? DePaula?
Yummy. They need the help.
If he is ready by May, great, if not, that is ok too.
Nobody is running away with this division
If he is ready by May, great, if not, that is ok too.
Nobody is running away with this division
Is there any evidence that "rushing" TJS surgery can be harmful? If that's the case, then I'm all for taking extra time. But if its merely a matter of "can Dotel be effective?", why not see what he has? If Dotel has his upper-90's fastball back, he wont need too much command to be an asset.
Link.
-- MWE
Like I said in that chatter, Proctor is a nice guy, but so is my Uncle Teddy, and I do not want my Uncle Teddy pitching in a tie game in the ninth inning
I know that's technically not a "bereavement leave", but come on...
Remember, they let Mo leave before game 1 of the 2004 ALCS, they were not sure if he would be back in time for game 1 (he arrived in the 5th inning)
RP's right.. starting the new year off wrong.
- SMM
I was gonna say...you've been a Yankee fan for an awfully long time for this to be the first time you've wanted to strangle Kay.
It sounds from the comments above as if Jeter was at least as bad.
*WARNING: DAMMING WITH FAINT PRAISE
Well, Cano's was right at him and Jeter "ranged" a bit to his left before fielding the grounder with his forehead... so I guess they were equally horrendous.
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