06/11: "This is the worst."
Posted by: Michael
Words spoken by Torre last night after the Cardinals blasted the Yankees 8-1 in St. Louis.
Chien-Ming Wang gave up 7 runs in four innings, although only 4 of those were actually earned runs. What this means is the Yankees played very sloppy in giving up 3 errors. Those were the only counted errors as the Yankees played unenthused baseball all through the night.
Jeter, who hardly ever says anything worth a quote, came up with some big ones last night after the game. Jeter says that "everyone is letting each other down." He also added, "...we're playing like we don't care..." Ouch! Alot of us fans bleed in pinstripes, and to have the captain come up and admit that they don't care? Even if he took a few steps back from that comment... he still threw it on the table.
Torre also admited that he didn't have the players ready to play. Whatever that means. If you are in the big leagues and don't come to play each and every night, that is when we start talking about your heart and desire. Do the Yanks have that right now?
Chien-Ming Wang gave up 7 runs in four innings, although only 4 of those were actually earned runs. What this means is the Yankees played very sloppy in giving up 3 errors. Those were the only counted errors as the Yankees played unenthused baseball all through the night.
Jeter, who hardly ever says anything worth a quote, came up with some big ones last night after the game. Jeter says that "everyone is letting each other down." He also added, "...we're playing like we don't care..." Ouch! Alot of us fans bleed in pinstripes, and to have the captain come up and admit that they don't care? Even if he took a few steps back from that comment... he still threw it on the table.
Torre also admited that he didn't have the players ready to play. Whatever that means. If you are in the big leagues and don't come to play each and every night, that is when we start talking about your heart and desire. Do the Yanks have that right now?
Posted by: David
When things are going bad the manager has to do something crazy and unconventional to jump start the team. Joe Torre did just that as he canceled batting practice and sat Matsui, Giambi and Posada. The result is that it worked. A-Rod hit his first of two homers in the first inning after Sheffield reached on an error by the third basemen. Mike Mussina gave the runs right back but then Tino Martinez hit a clutch two run double to put the Yankees ahead to stay.
A-Rod's first inning home run was the 399th of his career but he wasn't finished. He added his 400th career home run late in the game and became the youngest player in history to reach that plateau at 29 years and 316 days old.
The question now is can the Yankees take this offense and continue it against the first place St. Louis Cardinals? The pitching matchups are Wang vs. Marquis on Friday, Johnson vs. Mulder on Saturday and Pavano vs. Morris on Sunday. Each Cardinal pitcher has seven wins already this season. The Saturday matchup is really intriguing with new Cardinals ace Mark Mulder going against the struggling Randy Johnson. Johnson will have to face a potent lineup on the road in a nationally televised game of the week on FOX. He really hasn't pitched that bad and if the Yankees were the real Yankees, he would have won his last two starts. Pavano also looked great in his last start, giving up only two runs on a homerun but in a losing effort due to the Yankees lackluster offense.
The question for now is are there more shakeups on the way? Paul Quantrill has been getting rocked and it is becoming very clear that Joe Torre has lost confidence in him. He is not used in the seventh anymore unless Sturtze or Gordon have been overworked. Even the outs he got the other night were on balls that were crushed. We still need a lefty reliever. Buddy Groom and Mike Stanton are too inconsistent and can't be counted on in clutch situations. Will Roger Clemens end up in the Bronx or could the Texas Rangers lure him into their pennant chase? It is clear to me that the Yankees need to improve in many areas. They need another starting pitcher to beat contending teams and make the playoffs. The Yankees outfield defense is atrocious. None of the Yankees outfielders can go back on balls that are close to the wall. Sheffield looks awful, Bernie is simply too old and Matsui just misjudges too many balls when playing either left, center or right. In addition, Sheffield is the only one that has any kind of arm.
Who do we use as trade bait? Would the Yankees let go of Matsui to get Clemens? Is Junior Griffey a possibility? You can't get rid of Cano, the kid looks like he has the goods. He is smooth at second, his bat is getting better everyday and he is starting to hit with power. Womack has been a huge bust, if they can move him for a lefty reliever I say do so now.
A-Rod's first inning home run was the 399th of his career but he wasn't finished. He added his 400th career home run late in the game and became the youngest player in history to reach that plateau at 29 years and 316 days old.
The question now is can the Yankees take this offense and continue it against the first place St. Louis Cardinals? The pitching matchups are Wang vs. Marquis on Friday, Johnson vs. Mulder on Saturday and Pavano vs. Morris on Sunday. Each Cardinal pitcher has seven wins already this season. The Saturday matchup is really intriguing with new Cardinals ace Mark Mulder going against the struggling Randy Johnson. Johnson will have to face a potent lineup on the road in a nationally televised game of the week on FOX. He really hasn't pitched that bad and if the Yankees were the real Yankees, he would have won his last two starts. Pavano also looked great in his last start, giving up only two runs on a homerun but in a losing effort due to the Yankees lackluster offense.
The question for now is are there more shakeups on the way? Paul Quantrill has been getting rocked and it is becoming very clear that Joe Torre has lost confidence in him. He is not used in the seventh anymore unless Sturtze or Gordon have been overworked. Even the outs he got the other night were on balls that were crushed. We still need a lefty reliever. Buddy Groom and Mike Stanton are too inconsistent and can't be counted on in clutch situations. Will Roger Clemens end up in the Bronx or could the Texas Rangers lure him into their pennant chase? It is clear to me that the Yankees need to improve in many areas. They need another starting pitcher to beat contending teams and make the playoffs. The Yankees outfield defense is atrocious. None of the Yankees outfielders can go back on balls that are close to the wall. Sheffield looks awful, Bernie is simply too old and Matsui just misjudges too many balls when playing either left, center or right. In addition, Sheffield is the only one that has any kind of arm.
Who do we use as trade bait? Would the Yankees let go of Matsui to get Clemens? Is Junior Griffey a possibility? You can't get rid of Cano, the kid looks like he has the goods. He is smooth at second, his bat is getting better everyday and he is starting to hit with power. Womack has been a huge bust, if they can move him for a lefty reliever I say do so now.
06/08: Can Anybody Explain This?
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees' bats failed us once again tonight, as they wasted a solid start by Carl Pavano and lost to the Brewers 2-1. The Yankees have now lost 9 of their last 10 games and are 0-21 in games in which they've scored three runs or less.
I would've posted more blog entries over the last few days, but I really just don't know what to say. There seems to be no real explanation as to why the Yankees are struggling the way they are. One day it's the inconsistent starting pitching. The next day it's the hitting. The day after that the key relievers in the bullpen are being overused. Is this team just in a horrible funk or are the Yankees simply a 28-30 team?
I think this team is still capable of winning the World Series if they get their act together. For most of May, we've seen that they're at least capable of playing great baseball. Most of the players on the team were here last year and they won 101 games. I don't think they are going to win that many games this year, but I think they can still win 90-95 games and make the playoffs.
What kills me the most about this team is the production at the bottom of the order, in which case I'm really talking about everybody who hits after A-Rod. Some of those guys down there have had key hits, but when the team is struggling, it seems almost as if all the 6-9 batters are automatic outs. Even the once red-hot Robinson Cano is now batting .245. For most of these guys (I'm talking about the whole lineup), I really think that they are pressing too hard. A lot of times when the players surrounding a guy aren't hitting, he feels that he needs to carry the team and hit a bunch of home runs. I think I've seen that a bit from A-Rod over the past week. It's almost as if the team's struggles are hurting players' individual games when it is usually the other way around.
Hopefully the Yankees can grab a victory tomorrow night in Milwaukee. You don't want to go into St. Louis having lost 10 of 11.
I would've posted more blog entries over the last few days, but I really just don't know what to say. There seems to be no real explanation as to why the Yankees are struggling the way they are. One day it's the inconsistent starting pitching. The next day it's the hitting. The day after that the key relievers in the bullpen are being overused. Is this team just in a horrible funk or are the Yankees simply a 28-30 team?
I think this team is still capable of winning the World Series if they get their act together. For most of May, we've seen that they're at least capable of playing great baseball. Most of the players on the team were here last year and they won 101 games. I don't think they are going to win that many games this year, but I think they can still win 90-95 games and make the playoffs.
What kills me the most about this team is the production at the bottom of the order, in which case I'm really talking about everybody who hits after A-Rod. Some of those guys down there have had key hits, but when the team is struggling, it seems almost as if all the 6-9 batters are automatic outs. Even the once red-hot Robinson Cano is now batting .245. For most of these guys (I'm talking about the whole lineup), I really think that they are pressing too hard. A lot of times when the players surrounding a guy aren't hitting, he feels that he needs to carry the team and hit a bunch of home runs. I think I've seen that a bit from A-Rod over the past week. It's almost as if the team's struggles are hurting players' individual games when it is usually the other way around.
Hopefully the Yankees can grab a victory tomorrow night in Milwaukee. You don't want to go into St. Louis having lost 10 of 11.
Posted by: Michael
Selected quotes from the Yankees pitching staff and Torre:
Kevin Brown:
"Some days you don't have the pitches," said Kevin Brown, who gave up five runs, eight hits, walked two and drilled two more in 51/3 innings. "Today I was limited to what I could and could not do."
Joe Torre on Mike Mussina:
"We got the lead, and Moose pitched very effectively early. Then he just fell apart," Torre said, a terse postscript to another numbing evening of Yankees ball. "There's not much you can say, other than he didn't make his pitches."
Carl Pavano:
"I don't know if frustrated is the word," Pavano said. "The [Yankees] definitely needed a solid outing from me to win this game and avoid a sweep and I didn't pitch well at all. My job was to go out there and help the team and I didn't.
Mike Mussina:
"All of the things that made the last month good, all the weapons I had -- the ability to throw breaking balls for strikes, to throw the fastball in and out -- I didn't have any of that today," Mussina said. "It's tough to pitch against any lineup -- let alone theirs -- without any weapons. I didn't have any today."
We live and die by our pitching. Honestly, there were two games where our bats lost the game for us. The Kevin Brown and Unit losses to KC - those were two games that were well pitched and both pitchers kept us in the game.
As I've said before, I'm a firm believer in that it is the players job to get the job done. Not the coaches. They are the talent that the Boss pays, and sometimes overpays, to pitch for the Yankees under the big lights of NY. That being said, I'm also a believer that it takes more than clicking your "pitch-count-thingy" and walking out to the mound for a discussion with the pitcher after he has already given up several runs and putting the Yankees in a bigger hole. Sheesh, somebody wake up our pitching coach!!
And lastly, ever notice that since Quantrill tagged that Detroit player he has, as Wade Boggs used to put it, "stunk up the joint"??
Rant over. I feel better.
Kevin Brown:
"Some days you don't have the pitches," said Kevin Brown, who gave up five runs, eight hits, walked two and drilled two more in 51/3 innings. "Today I was limited to what I could and could not do."
Joe Torre on Mike Mussina:
"We got the lead, and Moose pitched very effectively early. Then he just fell apart," Torre said, a terse postscript to another numbing evening of Yankees ball. "There's not much you can say, other than he didn't make his pitches."
Carl Pavano:
"I don't know if frustrated is the word," Pavano said. "The [Yankees] definitely needed a solid outing from me to win this game and avoid a sweep and I didn't pitch well at all. My job was to go out there and help the team and I didn't.
Mike Mussina:
"All of the things that made the last month good, all the weapons I had -- the ability to throw breaking balls for strikes, to throw the fastball in and out -- I didn't have any of that today," Mussina said. "It's tough to pitch against any lineup -- let alone theirs -- without any weapons. I didn't have any today."
We live and die by our pitching. Honestly, there were two games where our bats lost the game for us. The Kevin Brown and Unit losses to KC - those were two games that were well pitched and both pitchers kept us in the game.
As I've said before, I'm a firm believer in that it is the players job to get the job done. Not the coaches. They are the talent that the Boss pays, and sometimes overpays, to pitch for the Yankees under the big lights of NY. That being said, I'm also a believer that it takes more than clicking your "pitch-count-thingy" and walking out to the mound for a discussion with the pitcher after he has already given up several runs and putting the Yankees in a bigger hole. Sheesh, somebody wake up our pitching coach!!
And lastly, ever notice that since Quantrill tagged that Detroit player he has, as Wade Boggs used to put it, "stunk up the joint"??
Rant over. I feel better.
06/05: Take Your Time, Jaret...
Posted by: Patrick
Before I start, let me say that I have nothing against Jaret Wright... I look forward to him pitching well for us.
But, right now, if we have all 6 starters healthy (when and if he gets back)... the first thing I think is "Jaret is headed to the pen." As easy as it would be to say "stick Kevin Brown down there" - I can't. The rotation has improved and the emergence of Chien-Ming Wang as well as Brown's turnaround make the waters murkier. It's a nice problem to have, as Mr. Torre has probably said (or would, if you asked him).
Let's take a look at the rotation numbers for the past 30 days (according to MLB.com):
Randy Johnson: 3-2, 4.15 ERA
Mike Mussina: 3-2, 4.14 ERA
Carl Pavano: 2-2, 4.75 ERA
Kevin Brown: 4-1, 2.81 ERA
Chien-Ming Wang: 3-0, 3.69 ERA
If it's me and all 6 are available, Wright is not starting right now. He's in the pen. At the same time, we may never have all 6 healthy. Things happen. Who knows how close Jaret is to coming back... could be a set back. I hope there isn't, but there are so many variables in having all 6 healthy. But, the stars could align. If we do, what do you think we should do?
But, right now, if we have all 6 starters healthy (when and if he gets back)... the first thing I think is "Jaret is headed to the pen." As easy as it would be to say "stick Kevin Brown down there" - I can't. The rotation has improved and the emergence of Chien-Ming Wang as well as Brown's turnaround make the waters murkier. It's a nice problem to have, as Mr. Torre has probably said (or would, if you asked him).
Let's take a look at the rotation numbers for the past 30 days (according to MLB.com):
Randy Johnson: 3-2, 4.15 ERA
Mike Mussina: 3-2, 4.14 ERA
Carl Pavano: 2-2, 4.75 ERA
Kevin Brown: 4-1, 2.81 ERA
Chien-Ming Wang: 3-0, 3.69 ERA
If it's me and all 6 are available, Wright is not starting right now. He's in the pen. At the same time, we may never have all 6 healthy. Things happen. Who knows how close Jaret is to coming back... could be a set back. I hope there isn't, but there are so many variables in having all 6 healthy. But, the stars could align. If we do, what do you think we should do?
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees got their first victory since last Friday as they came back from a three-run defecit to beat the Twins 4-3 in 10 innings. Chien-Ming Wang gave us another decent start, going 7 innings and giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Robinson Cano launched a 2-run double in the 5th to cut the Twins' lead to 3-2. Gary Sheffield scored the tying run on an RBI groundout by Hideki Matsui, and Ruben Sierra brought Matsui home with a sac-fly for the go-ahead run in the 10th. Mariano Rivera recorded his 13th save and now has his E.R.A. at an impressive 1.33.
Well it's good to finally get a win under our belts again. For much of the game it seemed like the Yanks would go down for their 7th consecutive loss, but the fought back. It wasn't the most impressive win, but it's definitely something to build on.
It has also come to my attention that despite all his struggles this season, Hideki Matsui seems to be in the middle of everything for this team. Today he brought home the tying run and scored the winning run in the 10th. On the box score it looks like a sub-par 1 for 4, but he produced half of the Yankees' four runs last night. His average is at an un-Matsui like .271 and everybody knows about his power struggles, but he has scored 34 runs this season and driven in 38, which I'm pretty sure puts him on pace for over 100 RBI and 100 runs scored, since the Yankees are about a third of the way through the season. He's not putting up the best numbers of his career, but he is producing.
Well it's good to finally get a win under our belts again. For much of the game it seemed like the Yanks would go down for their 7th consecutive loss, but the fought back. It wasn't the most impressive win, but it's definitely something to build on.
It has also come to my attention that despite all his struggles this season, Hideki Matsui seems to be in the middle of everything for this team. Today he brought home the tying run and scored the winning run in the 10th. On the box score it looks like a sub-par 1 for 4, but he produced half of the Yankees' four runs last night. His average is at an un-Matsui like .271 and everybody knows about his power struggles, but he has scored 34 runs this season and driven in 38, which I'm pretty sure puts him on pace for over 100 RBI and 100 runs scored, since the Yankees are about a third of the way through the season. He's not putting up the best numbers of his career, but he is producing.
Posted by: David
With the Yankees being so pathetic, as fans we need to look for some edge or advantage. Perhaps that edge is not having to face Brad Radke or Johan Santana in this weekend's series against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. However, we couldn't beat the newbies from the worst team in baseball. Did the Yankees feel they could put it on cruise control and just win by showing up? The team was so flat! When it looked like we had a chance to rally, a bone head play would appear. Case in point, Tony Womack gets picked off first with one out and a runner on third and the Yankees lose.
Are we maybe just an outfielder and a good starting pitcher away from the World Series? At times it seems this is the answer. At other times it appears the Yankees are an aging team that just doesn't click together. Do we need a major shakeup? Does someone like Posada, Womack or Bernie Williams need to be traded and try to get and influx of youth onto this team?
The answer has to be Derek Jeter leading the way. He is the captain and has to probably convene a players only meeting and just get in players faces and clear the air. The Yankees are much better than they showed against KC and probably can beat anybody if they play up to their potential.
Mike Mussina goes tonight and he has a very good lifetime record against the Twins. The hitting just has to get better. Where is the big inning? Where is the three, four or five homeruns in one game? Where is the big stolen base? Has anyone seen Mariano Rivera lately? He is like the Maytag repairman, we never need him.
Rest assured, George Steinbrenner will not sit still and wait for long. He will make changes soon and will not tolerate this level of play. I look forward to the Moose starting us off on another winning streak and Mo getting the save. Yankees fans just need to keep the faith.
Are we maybe just an outfielder and a good starting pitcher away from the World Series? At times it seems this is the answer. At other times it appears the Yankees are an aging team that just doesn't click together. Do we need a major shakeup? Does someone like Posada, Womack or Bernie Williams need to be traded and try to get and influx of youth onto this team?
The answer has to be Derek Jeter leading the way. He is the captain and has to probably convene a players only meeting and just get in players faces and clear the air. The Yankees are much better than they showed against KC and probably can beat anybody if they play up to their potential.
Mike Mussina goes tonight and he has a very good lifetime record against the Twins. The hitting just has to get better. Where is the big inning? Where is the three, four or five homeruns in one game? Where is the big stolen base? Has anyone seen Mariano Rivera lately? He is like the Maytag repairman, we never need him.
Rest assured, George Steinbrenner will not sit still and wait for long. He will make changes soon and will not tolerate this level of play. I look forward to the Moose starting us off on another winning streak and Mo getting the save. Yankees fans just need to keep the faith.
06/02: Lifeless
Posted by: Michael
Are the Yankees on life support? Or are they in a coma?
The Yankees just got swept by the worst team in baseball. The same team who as the second lowest payroll in baseball.
Tonight 7 hits, 2 runs scored. Last night 7 hits, 1 run scored. The night before, 5 hits, 3 runs scored.
It goes on... for the entire series with Boston: under double digit hits for each game, with the Yankees being outscored 27 to 9.
What will it take to enfuse some energy back into the team that was rolling previously? It remains to be seen.
The Yankee pitching has been pitching effective enough to keep them in the game, but its been the anemic bats. Its been the paltry baserunning. And something that just should not happen, its been the weak fielding. Excuses? Yes, but very truthful.
I have a feeling this will be a l-o-n-g roadtrip.
The Yankees just got swept by the worst team in baseball. The same team who as the second lowest payroll in baseball.
Tonight 7 hits, 2 runs scored. Last night 7 hits, 1 run scored. The night before, 5 hits, 3 runs scored.
It goes on... for the entire series with Boston: under double digit hits for each game, with the Yankees being outscored 27 to 9.
What will it take to enfuse some energy back into the team that was rolling previously? It remains to be seen.
The Yankee pitching has been pitching effective enough to keep them in the game, but its been the anemic bats. Its been the paltry baserunning. And something that just should not happen, its been the weak fielding. Excuses? Yes, but very truthful.
I have a feeling this will be a l-o-n-g roadtrip.
06/02: Yanks Lose on RJ CG
Posted by: Patrick
Randy didn't pitch a bad game - CG (8 IP), 3 ER is not a bad game. The offense has to be able to muster more than 1 run (a Bernie Williams solo shot in the 9th). The Yankees managed 7 hits and 3 walks and the Royals managed 9 hits and 1 walk. Yet, they score 3 and we score 1. Hopefully we'll get back on track with Pavano tonight, his first start since the 17-1 game against the Sox behind him.
06/01: Ms. Nancy Smith, Yankee Fan
Posted by: Patrick
Nice story in the New York Times today.
Via WasWatching.com.
Since 1965, when Ms. Smith first became a season-ticket holder at Yankee Stadium, she has attended nearly 3,000 games. Over the years, she has more than fulfilled her vows as a dedicated fan, sticking with the home team for better or worse, through sunshine and rain delays, game-winning rallies and blown saves. ...
When George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees, was told of Ms. Smith's steadfast presence, he was thrilled. "I was touched to learn that she considers the Yankees as her family," Steinbrenner said. "We're proud to have people like Nancy filling our seats and cheering the Yankees for so long - she's a breed apart."
Steinbrenner then decided to reward such devotion by giving Ms. Smith his own box seat for Thursday night's game against the Detroit Tigers. ...
Minutes before the game, the Yankee manager, Joe Torre, wearing a full grin, leaped off the bench to greet Ms. Smith. "I'm getting a kick out of this," Torre said to her. "You've been to more games than I have."
Ms. Smith, treated to dinner by the Yankees at their Stadium Club before the game and given a scorebook delivered straight from the Yankees dugout, got another surprise in the bottom of the second inning. Alex Rodriguez, the Yankee third baseman, who was swinging a bat in the on-deck circle, suddenly wheeled around toward the owner's box. "Are you Nancy?" Rodriguez asked.
Ms. Smith, slightly startled, nodded yes. "Thanks for coming out again," Rodriguez said.
By the bottom of the sixth inning, Ms. Smith, glasses on, head down, was hard at work on her scorebook. Deep in thought, she did not hear Derek Jeter shout, "Hey, Ms. Smith!" So the Yankee captain gave it another try. "Hey, Ms. Smith!" he cried out again.
This time, Ms. Smith looked up, her eyebrows pointing north.
"Nice to see you," Jeter said.
When George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees, was told of Ms. Smith's steadfast presence, he was thrilled. "I was touched to learn that she considers the Yankees as her family," Steinbrenner said. "We're proud to have people like Nancy filling our seats and cheering the Yankees for so long - she's a breed apart."
Steinbrenner then decided to reward such devotion by giving Ms. Smith his own box seat for Thursday night's game against the Detroit Tigers. ...
Minutes before the game, the Yankee manager, Joe Torre, wearing a full grin, leaped off the bench to greet Ms. Smith. "I'm getting a kick out of this," Torre said to her. "You've been to more games than I have."
Ms. Smith, treated to dinner by the Yankees at their Stadium Club before the game and given a scorebook delivered straight from the Yankees dugout, got another surprise in the bottom of the second inning. Alex Rodriguez, the Yankee third baseman, who was swinging a bat in the on-deck circle, suddenly wheeled around toward the owner's box. "Are you Nancy?" Rodriguez asked.
Ms. Smith, slightly startled, nodded yes. "Thanks for coming out again," Rodriguez said.
By the bottom of the sixth inning, Ms. Smith, glasses on, head down, was hard at work on her scorebook. Deep in thought, she did not hear Derek Jeter shout, "Hey, Ms. Smith!" So the Yankee captain gave it another try. "Hey, Ms. Smith!" he cried out again.
This time, Ms. Smith looked up, her eyebrows pointing north.
"Nice to see you," Jeter said.
Via WasWatching.com.
