I recently received the following message on ESPN FanProfiles. Rather than sending 10 continued messages back to this person, I decided to blog my answers/thoughts.
Original Message: What is happening with the Yankees? jeter's hurt, arod's in a jam, and joe Giradi looks more like a movie star, than a major league manager, and Wang is the only pitcher actually doing something in the lineup, maybe we should've kept Joe, they should've paid him more. What are your thoughts?
First of all I'd like to apologize once again to my regular readers for not posting much. I had an awards ceremony to present at last night and I've not been able to watch the Yankees sinceBaltimore came to town. (I have MLB Extra innings and they blackout all the New York/Baltimore games :( GERR.
Ok, now I'll answer the message...
1. What is happening with the Yankees? The Yankees are in a re-building stage. I hate to say it, but that is exactly what the organization is viewing this year as (at least it sounds that way from the quotes I get from Hank). The Yankees have a few good arms down in the minors, but they don't want to rush them up to the bigs (which I agree with). I actually think they brought Phil and Ian up too fast. They needed another year in the minors in my opinion, DON'T GET ME WRONG -- I LOVE Phil and Ian, but they needed more time to mature as pitchers in the minors. The Yankees are now in the process of switching Joba from a set-up man to a starter. The Yankees are trying to gradually raise Joba's innings then he'll probably go down to the minors for a few starts or so and be back up... In 2009 he'll be a starter from Opening Day on. I think it's a good idea to move Joba to the rotation. Why waste a great arm for one inning every other day or so? Sure, he'll have to hold back a bit as a starter, but he'll still make a great 2 starter. I don't want to make excuses for the Yankees, but they have been hurt this year. You've got to take that into account as well. Yes, they should still be able to win with a few guys out, but with key people missing in action it's easy for the entire team to feel low about missing a leader on the field. The Yankees are getting older too, but I think that has nothing to do with the lack of wins.
2. Jeter's hurt -- Yes he got hit in the hand, but he's listed as day-to-day and played the next day. Jeter has a contusion -- not a broken or fractured bone. Jeter said he wasn't worried about his hand, but then again, he would never tell anyone if he was worried. Jeter went 0-3 the next day with one walk. I don't think going 0-3 means anything as far as the extent of his injury. He just had a bad day at the plate, it happens. Jeter is a trooper, he's going to play unless someone straps him down and locks him up in the training room, I wouldn't be too worried about Jeter.
3. Arod's in a jam -- Not sure what you mean here? So, I'll address both ways I took this...
A.) Arod's in a jam (slump): In Alex's first game back, he went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, not to mention he hit a homer in that game. In his second game back, Alex went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and another Homer. I wouldn't say he's in a slump at all. He's done great in his return and I'm sure all he guys are glad to have him back in the line up.
B.) A-rod's in a jam (he's the only guy hitting): Alex isn't the ONLY guy hitting, but he's the only one hitting homers. Baseball is changing this year. This is no longer a game of heroic come-from-behind victories off late inning home runs. This is the year of the pitcher. I totally believe that statement to be true. Baseball's crack down on steroids is one of the major impacts on the changing game. The bottom line is the Yankees have got to learn how to play small ball. Giambi needs to start laying bunts down the third baseline until some smart manager catches on. He's got to get on base some how. Cano's got to continue improving at the plate. Damon's got to do a better job of getting the pitcher in a deep count and then get on base some how. SMALL BALL that's what it's all about this year. We got to start manufacturing runs!! Alex hates pressure, we all know that, but I think he'll be fine. He likes the spotlight a lot too. Don't expect him to have the year he had last year because I doubt he will.
4. Joe Giradi looks more like a movie star, than a major league manager--- Again, not really sure what you mean by this one, but I'll take a crack at it anyway. Girardi got off on the wrong foot with the media in NY. I think he's now trying to mend that connection with the media so he's doing more chats with ESPN during the games. He's taking his time to talk to the media after the games. Does he want this spot light on him? Maybe, maybe not. He played for the Yankees and he knows what the whole NY media/Yankees scene is all about. Girardi won the NL manager of the year in 2006, so he must know what he's doing. We've got to remember that he's not had a full team for much of this year. I'm delaying my opinion on him for now. I do disagree with a few things he's done so far this year though. I disagree with him taking all the fun stuff out of the locker rooms and I disagree with the way he changes the line up almost every game. He's got to offer the guys some stability, until he can do that; they are not going to play up to their potential.
5. Wang is the only pitcher actually doing something in the lineup -- Wang is a true ACE in every sense of the word. Wang has done well this year, no one can argue that, but what I do argue is that he's the only one doing anything in the rotation. Mike Mussina got off to a rough start, but he's really started to alter the way he pitches. He's starting to listen to the catchers!! Mike had a terrible outing (if you can even call it an outing) his last time through the rotation, but it's going to happen. Andy Pettitte hasn't been what everyone thought he would be, but I honestly didn't expect much out of him this year. I knew this was going to be a rough year for him, but he's done ok. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were just brought up to the majors too soon. Yes, they rocked last year, but growing pains will happen with young pitchers (we just usually don't see it because they are usually still in the minors). Rasner has done amazing since he was called up. I believe he's actually helping restore some order to the rotation. Igawa was brought up for one game, which he lost. I think we all knew the outcome of that game before it even started. Igawa is not Dice-K by any stretch of the imagination, if I was Cashman, I'd look to dump Igawa and pick up another pitcher or two. I personally hope the Yankees go after and successfully sign Yu Darvish. If you don't know who this guy is just google him, I'm sure you'll find plenty of information on him (yes, he has posed nude before). Darvish is better than Dice-K in my opinion. I like how he said he wants to have a perfect season (0.00 ERA), he obviously doesn't settle for mediocrity like I believe Igawa does. As mentioned earlier, the Yankees are gearing up Joba to become part of the rotation, so that will help as well.
6. Maybe we should've kept Joe, they should've paid him more. -- I love Joe Torre. He's the only manager of the Yankees I've ever really know. I die a little inside every time I see him in a Dodger's uniform. His objection to coaching in the All Star Game really made me think of the way the Yankees did Yogi Berra when he was fired as manager. For those who do not know, Yogi didn't go back to Yankee Stadium for a long time after he was fired. He didn't go back until King George Steinbrenner swallowed his pride and apologized to him. Again, I love Joe Torre and it was the saddest day of my life when I found out he was leaving, but I have to accept the fact that he's gone and never coming back to coach for the Yankees again. I don't think keeping Joe Torre would have changed anything though.
The main thing for all Yankee fans to remember is that his is a transitioning/rebuilding period for the Yankees. Cashman is realizing that he's got to "grow" some young pitchers and position players to keep their payroll under control. The Yankees are paying for all the times Cashman bought a used arm for the rotation rather than scouting and developing their own players. I'm not giving up on the season like so many have done; I still believe they can make it to the playoffs.
Baseball Nerdish as always,
Brit