08/04: Rehabbing Yanks
Posted by: James
Yesterday, Robbie Cano started as the DH for the GCL Yankees and went 2-for-5. Tonight, Cano went 3-for-3 with a 2B and a walk for AA Trenton. He was also able to play the field so it looks like he is on his way back (repeated knocks on wood as I throw salt over my shoulder). He was replaced for a pinch-runner in the 7th but that might have just been as a precaution (at least, I hope so - no official word). Cairo has certainly played a great defensive 2B since Robbie went down but there's certainly something to be said for getting a left-handed 2B who just happens to be a .325 hitter with power back in the line-up.
Also, Octavio Dotel has started pitching again and his second appearance came last night as he started the game for the GCL Yankees. He went one inning and didn't allow a hit while he walked one and struck out one. At this point, his rehab has stopped and started so many times that I'm not sure that even the Yankees brass know if/when he'll be able to make it back. Obviously, we all wish him the best.
Finally, Christian Garcia made his first start of the season for the Low-A Charleston Riverdogs after working his way back from what was originally an oblique injury. Apparently, the Yankees felt that he had put in enough work in the GCL and was ready to make his return. Happily, he made it a triumphant one as he went 6 strong innings, giving up 4 hits, walking none and striking out 4. Garcia (21 in 3 weeks) is a very promising prospect (regard lower than Hughes, higher than Clippard) so it will be interesting to see what he can accomplish before the season is over and just how much of his luster he can recover. Honestly, I'll be happy if he can close out the season without injury or incident and then start off next season as strong as possible.
Also, Octavio Dotel has started pitching again and his second appearance came last night as he started the game for the GCL Yankees. He went one inning and didn't allow a hit while he walked one and struck out one. At this point, his rehab has stopped and started so many times that I'm not sure that even the Yankees brass know if/when he'll be able to make it back. Obviously, we all wish him the best.
Finally, Christian Garcia made his first start of the season for the Low-A Charleston Riverdogs after working his way back from what was originally an oblique injury. Apparently, the Yankees felt that he had put in enough work in the GCL and was ready to make his return. Happily, he made it a triumphant one as he went 6 strong innings, giving up 4 hits, walking none and striking out 4. Garcia (21 in 3 weeks) is a very promising prospect (regard lower than Hughes, higher than Clippard) so it will be interesting to see what he can accomplish before the season is over and just how much of his luster he can recover. Honestly, I'll be happy if he can close out the season without injury or incident and then start off next season as strong as possible.
Posted by: Seamus
YES announced during the Yankees' pregame show that Bubba Crosby has been designated for assignment and the Yankees have called up Jose Veras. Joe Torre said the move was made simply because he was not comfortable with only 11 pitchers on the roster and wanted to add a 12th.
Obviously if Crosby ends up going to Columbus he will be recalled when the rosters expand in September. However, although I highly doubt that the Yankees will need 12 pitchers on their postseason roster if they go that far, it might be a stretch to think that we'd take Bubba along depending on the return of Matsui and Sheffield.
Obviously if Crosby ends up going to Columbus he will be recalled when the rosters expand in September. However, although I highly doubt that the Yankees will need 12 pitchers on their postseason roster if they go that far, it might be a stretch to think that we'd take Bubba along depending on the return of Matsui and Sheffield.
08/03: August 3rd Vs. The Blue Jays
Posted by: James
Even before the Yankees took the field for today's game, Joe Torre took time out of his day to make me a happier man. He put Abreu in the 3 hole and slotted Giambi in the 5th spot (followed by Craig Wilson). I know both Abreu and Giambi have great OBP numbers but I'd much rather see Abreu in front for two major reasons. First, with Abreu's speed, you would have 4 straight players who have very good speed and have great base-running instincts. All 4 guys can can get on and steal if the need arises but more importantly, they can take the extra base, which is something that Jason Giambi simply can't do. Secondly, for as good of a hitter as Abreu is, his diminished power (real or not) does not give him the same presence in the on-deck circle as Giambi does. If you have Abreu on deck, you can tip-toe past A-Rod and take your chances with Abreu singling or doubling the runner over. Well, hopefully, these guys do well today because the more this line-up scores, the more Torre will use it.
As the game started, the Yanks made my smile even wider in the bottom of the first as they scored 3 quick runs. With one out, Derek Jeter singled and after a long fly-out by Bobby Abreu, A-Rod worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Jason Giambi strolled to the plate and launched a long home-run off the first pitch he saw from Shaun Marcum. 3-0 Yankees...exxxcellent. So far, so good - score first to give the new guy some support so he can relax on the mound (he's doing well so far, 3 IP, 1H).
In an interesting move, the Jays go to the bullpen in the third inning with two on (Jeter & Abreu singles). Perhaps the heat started getting to Marcum (or perhaps the Jays didn't want a repeat of the first inning) but he's gone after 2.2 innings. It's not his pitch count either as he's gone about 5 innings and 90+ pitches in his last two outings. Unfortunately , the move works out for the Blue Jays as Giambi works a walk to load the bases but Craig Wilson flies out to right to end the inning (after a very good at-bat).
The Blue Jays got on board in the 5th when with 2 out, Ryan Roberts hit a solo homerun to make the score 3-1. Reed Johnson followed with a double and Frank Catalanotto walked to bring up Vernon Wells with the tying runs on base. However, Corey Lidle was able to induce a groundball and get out of the inning having given up only one run.
The Yankees recovered in the bottom of the inning when Jeter and Abreu led off with singles. A-Rod then hit a ground-ball that pitcher Brandon League misplayed into an error, allowing Jeter to score. League then gave Giambi the free pass to load the bases (with NO ONE OUT), struck out Craig Wilson but allowed a bloop single to Melky Cabrera which plated Bobby Abreu. Two ground-outs from Fasano and Green ended the inning without another run scoring and the score at Yankees 5, Blue Jays 1.
The Yanks piled on some more runs in the bottom of the 6th when with 2 out, Bobby Abreu doubled to left. Scott Schoeneweis intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez to get to Jason Giambi who promptly hit a ground-rule double deep over Vernon Wells' head in center, scoring Bobby Abreu. Craig Wilson followed up with a 2-run single to push the score to 8-1 Yankees before Melky grounded out to end the inning.
As the game started, the Yanks made my smile even wider in the bottom of the first as they scored 3 quick runs. With one out, Derek Jeter singled and after a long fly-out by Bobby Abreu, A-Rod worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Jason Giambi strolled to the plate and launched a long home-run off the first pitch he saw from Shaun Marcum. 3-0 Yankees...exxxcellent. So far, so good - score first to give the new guy some support so he can relax on the mound (he's doing well so far, 3 IP, 1H).
In an interesting move, the Jays go to the bullpen in the third inning with two on (Jeter & Abreu singles). Perhaps the heat started getting to Marcum (or perhaps the Jays didn't want a repeat of the first inning) but he's gone after 2.2 innings. It's not his pitch count either as he's gone about 5 innings and 90+ pitches in his last two outings. Unfortunately , the move works out for the Blue Jays as Giambi works a walk to load the bases but Craig Wilson flies out to right to end the inning (after a very good at-bat).
The Blue Jays got on board in the 5th when with 2 out, Ryan Roberts hit a solo homerun to make the score 3-1. Reed Johnson followed with a double and Frank Catalanotto walked to bring up Vernon Wells with the tying runs on base. However, Corey Lidle was able to induce a groundball and get out of the inning having given up only one run.
The Yankees recovered in the bottom of the inning when Jeter and Abreu led off with singles. A-Rod then hit a ground-ball that pitcher Brandon League misplayed into an error, allowing Jeter to score. League then gave Giambi the free pass to load the bases (with NO ONE OUT), struck out Craig Wilson but allowed a bloop single to Melky Cabrera which plated Bobby Abreu. Two ground-outs from Fasano and Green ended the inning without another run scoring and the score at Yankees 5, Blue Jays 1.
The Yanks piled on some more runs in the bottom of the 6th when with 2 out, Bobby Abreu doubled to left. Scott Schoeneweis intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez to get to Jason Giambi who promptly hit a ground-rule double deep over Vernon Wells' head in center, scoring Bobby Abreu. Craig Wilson followed up with a 2-run single to push the score to 8-1 Yankees before Melky grounded out to end the inning.
08/03: Hot and Cold - July 2006
Posted by: Patrick
Hot
Derek Jeter
25 G, 18 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 6 SB, .412 AVG, .431 OBA, .569 SLG
Kyle Farnsworth
11 G, 1-0, 10.1 IP, 0.87 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, .200 BAA
Chien-Ming Wang
5 GS, 4-1, 35.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .265 BAA
Ron Villone
11 G, 1-0, 17 IP, 2.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .219 BAA
Melky Cabrera
25 G, 19 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 SB, .313 AVG, .358 OBA, .475 SLG
Mariano Rivera
11 G, 0-1, 12.1 IP, 8 SV, 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .273 BAA
Johnny Damon
20 G, 15 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB, .329 AVG, .392 OBA, .500 SLG
Cold
Andy Phillips
25 G, 12 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .165 AVG, .208 OBA, .275 SLG
Jaret Wright
5 GS, 2-1, 21 IP, 6.43 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, .341 BAA
Miguel Cairo
23 G, 10 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBI, 5 SB, .253 AVG, .256 OBA, .320 SLG
Randy Johnson
6 GS, 2-3, 38 IP, 5.68 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .265 BAA
Sidney Ponson
2 GS, 0-1, 9 IP, 10.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, .278 BAA
Jason Giambi
25 G, 16 R, 2 2B, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 1 SB, .186 AVG, .327 OBA, .419 SLG
Bubba Crosby
20 G, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .152 AVG, .176 OBA, .273 SLG
Mike Myers
8 G, 0-0, 4.2 IP, 9.64 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, .364 BAA
Derek Jeter
25 G, 18 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 6 SB, .412 AVG, .431 OBA, .569 SLG
Kyle Farnsworth
11 G, 1-0, 10.1 IP, 0.87 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, .200 BAA
Chien-Ming Wang
5 GS, 4-1, 35.2 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .265 BAA
Ron Villone
11 G, 1-0, 17 IP, 2.12 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .219 BAA
Melky Cabrera
25 G, 19 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 SB, .313 AVG, .358 OBA, .475 SLG
Mariano Rivera
11 G, 0-1, 12.1 IP, 8 SV, 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, .273 BAA
Johnny Damon
20 G, 15 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB, .329 AVG, .392 OBA, .500 SLG
Cold
Andy Phillips
25 G, 12 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .165 AVG, .208 OBA, .275 SLG
Jaret Wright
5 GS, 2-1, 21 IP, 6.43 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, .341 BAA
Miguel Cairo
23 G, 10 R, 1 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBI, 5 SB, .253 AVG, .256 OBA, .320 SLG
Randy Johnson
6 GS, 2-3, 38 IP, 5.68 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .265 BAA
Sidney Ponson
2 GS, 0-1, 9 IP, 10.00 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, .278 BAA
Jason Giambi
25 G, 16 R, 2 2B, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 1 SB, .186 AVG, .327 OBA, .419 SLG
Bubba Crosby
20 G, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .152 AVG, .176 OBA, .273 SLG
Mike Myers
8 G, 0-0, 4.2 IP, 9.64 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, .364 BAA
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
Congrats.
... Jeter is a candidate for this year's American League Hank Aaron Award.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Since 1999, the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, Major League Baseball has recognized the best offensive performer from each league with the Hank Aaron Award presented by CENTURY 21.
Congrats.
Posted by: Jason
...because just 7 days ago Toronto was lurking, a constant threat on the Yankees horizon. Last night at the stadium they looked suddenly less potent, falling almost 8 games back.
It was our old friend Ted Lilly, once the future of the back end of the Yankees rotation. Lilly is one of the few ex-Yankees that triggers nostalgia, perhaps because he's virtually the same "upside" pitcher now as he was then: almost untouchable for 4 to 6 innings, then suddenly an open book.
His counterpart continues to fulfill Guidry's grandiose predictions. On this track, Wang will be recognized as one of the 5 best pitchers in the majors. Mid-90s sink with added late movement. Still in his mid 20's. A tribute to the Yankees' minor league & talent selection system.
Wang pitched into trouble in the second, walking the bases full. Thankfully he pitched out of the jam unscathed, and after that Toronto's offense was a ground ball festival. Wang surrendered no runs and the shutout remained intact until the 9th.
The Yankees offensive output was clustered in the 3rd and in the 6th. "The deuce" (Jeter) went over the opposite field wall in the 3rd for a 1-0 lead.
In the 6th, Alex began the inning with a line drive and a "here I am/no I'm not" slide at second base. After the ball beat him to the bag by 10 feet, Alex wriggled (headfirst) around the infielder's glove. Posada rewarded the effort with a long HR into Toronto's bullpen. 3-0 Yankees.
Still in the 6th, after a Wilson single, Melky ground rule double and a Cairo walk, John drilled a line drive to score another run, 4-0. Jeter's walk with the bases loaded made the game 5-0. Abreu k'd (but he had 2 hits) and then Alex's ground ball shot deflected off the shortstop's glove to score 2 more runs, 7-0.
Alex has 4 hits and 4 RBIs in the last 2 games....watch out.
Glaus's irrelevant HR in the 9th (off of Villone) made it 7-2. It was encouraging to see Villone shake off the embarrassment and prevent a rally by quickly inducing the next 3 outs.
Hang in there, Cory...the offense predicts to score more than a few runs today.
It was our old friend Ted Lilly, once the future of the back end of the Yankees rotation. Lilly is one of the few ex-Yankees that triggers nostalgia, perhaps because he's virtually the same "upside" pitcher now as he was then: almost untouchable for 4 to 6 innings, then suddenly an open book.
His counterpart continues to fulfill Guidry's grandiose predictions. On this track, Wang will be recognized as one of the 5 best pitchers in the majors. Mid-90s sink with added late movement. Still in his mid 20's. A tribute to the Yankees' minor league & talent selection system.
Wang pitched into trouble in the second, walking the bases full. Thankfully he pitched out of the jam unscathed, and after that Toronto's offense was a ground ball festival. Wang surrendered no runs and the shutout remained intact until the 9th.
The Yankees offensive output was clustered in the 3rd and in the 6th. "The deuce" (Jeter) went over the opposite field wall in the 3rd for a 1-0 lead.
In the 6th, Alex began the inning with a line drive and a "here I am/no I'm not" slide at second base. After the ball beat him to the bag by 10 feet, Alex wriggled (headfirst) around the infielder's glove. Posada rewarded the effort with a long HR into Toronto's bullpen. 3-0 Yankees.
Still in the 6th, after a Wilson single, Melky ground rule double and a Cairo walk, John drilled a line drive to score another run, 4-0. Jeter's walk with the bases loaded made the game 5-0. Abreu k'd (but he had 2 hits) and then Alex's ground ball shot deflected off the shortstop's glove to score 2 more runs, 7-0.
Alex has 4 hits and 4 RBIs in the last 2 games....watch out.
Glaus's irrelevant HR in the 9th (off of Villone) made it 7-2. It was encouraging to see Villone shake off the embarrassment and prevent a rally by quickly inducing the next 3 outs.
Hang in there, Cory...the offense predicts to score more than a few runs today.
08/02: So Easy To Boo...
Posted by: James
But you don't see any of the big A-Rod detractors cheer when someone who doesn't have to bother continuously does charitable things.
Passing along the lessons you've learned in life: good for him. Keep up the good work.
"You know when players win championships how they always say, 'It hasn't hit me?'" 17-year-old Jonathon DeLeon said. "Now that I've experience it, it's true. I still can't believe I met A-Rod."
Although he never went to college -- he was drafted straight out of high school -- Rodriguez said he wouldn't have made the money he did without getting a good education. Rodriguez talked about his dedication to staying away from negative influences such as drugs and his obsession with working harder than everybody else.
"I never wanted to look in the mirror and say, 'What if?'" Rodriguez said. "What if I tried harder? What if I didn't try drugs? What if I didn't drink? I never wanted to do that."
...
"Just his presence is dominant enough in terms of his influence on me that I don't think he even had to say anything," DeLeon said. "I'll never forget his message about hard work and what it takes to be successful in life."
Although he never went to college -- he was drafted straight out of high school -- Rodriguez said he wouldn't have made the money he did without getting a good education. Rodriguez talked about his dedication to staying away from negative influences such as drugs and his obsession with working harder than everybody else.
"I never wanted to look in the mirror and say, 'What if?'" Rodriguez said. "What if I tried harder? What if I didn't try drugs? What if I didn't drink? I never wanted to do that."
...
"Just his presence is dominant enough in terms of his influence on me that I don't think he even had to say anything," DeLeon said. "I'll never forget his message about hard work and what it takes to be successful in life."
Passing along the lessons you've learned in life: good for him. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Seamus
Bobby Abreu went 0-3 with a walk in his Yankee debut, but he did score a run in the Yankees' 5-1 victory over Toronto. Coupled with a Red Sox' loss to Cleveland, the win for the Yankees puts them in a virtual tie for first place in the A.L. East (Yankees are percentage points ahead). The White Sox also won, so the wild card race is still tied between them and Yanks/Sox.
Jaret Wright struggled a bit as it took him over 100 pitches to go 5 innings, but as he's done quite a bit this year, he worked himself out of a few jams and allowed only one run on a John McDonald double in the 2nd. The 4th inning was where all the damage was done, as the Yankee offense was quiet throughout most of the game. Alex Rodriguez swung at a 3-0 pitch and lined in to right center field for a double that scored Jeter and tied the score at 1. Abreu followed that up with an almost Paul O'Neill-esque walk to load the bases for the guy who's spot in the outfield he just took away. Bernie Williams followed with a bases clearing double to left to put the Yankees ahead 4-1. The double tied Bernie with Don Mattingly for 2nd on the all-time doubles list. A-Rod scored Jeter on a groundout to short to make it 5-1 in the 7th, and that's how it would end.
So not a bad night I suppose for a guy like Abreu. He got a lot of work out there in RF and although he was 0-3, he worked a pretty impressive walk in the 4th, pretty much persistently fouling off every strike no matter what until Burnett threw four balls. The fans were into it and he was able to get a taste of the Yankee atmosphere on his first day, not to mention helping them move up to first place. I mean not to take anything away from Philadelphia, but how many guys get to play in front of a crowd of 54,000 against the Blue Jays on a Tuesday night?
The Yankees will send Chien-Ming Wang to face former Yankee Ted Lilly tonight at 7 E.T. Wang is coming off a complete game shutout on Friday against Tampa Bay. Joe Torre said yesterday that Craig Wilson will start tonight. I don't think he said where, but either way it looks like another new Yankee will make his debut tonight.
Jaret Wright struggled a bit as it took him over 100 pitches to go 5 innings, but as he's done quite a bit this year, he worked himself out of a few jams and allowed only one run on a John McDonald double in the 2nd. The 4th inning was where all the damage was done, as the Yankee offense was quiet throughout most of the game. Alex Rodriguez swung at a 3-0 pitch and lined in to right center field for a double that scored Jeter and tied the score at 1. Abreu followed that up with an almost Paul O'Neill-esque walk to load the bases for the guy who's spot in the outfield he just took away. Bernie Williams followed with a bases clearing double to left to put the Yankees ahead 4-1. The double tied Bernie with Don Mattingly for 2nd on the all-time doubles list. A-Rod scored Jeter on a groundout to short to make it 5-1 in the 7th, and that's how it would end.
So not a bad night I suppose for a guy like Abreu. He got a lot of work out there in RF and although he was 0-3, he worked a pretty impressive walk in the 4th, pretty much persistently fouling off every strike no matter what until Burnett threw four balls. The fans were into it and he was able to get a taste of the Yankee atmosphere on his first day, not to mention helping them move up to first place. I mean not to take anything away from Philadelphia, but how many guys get to play in front of a crowd of 54,000 against the Blue Jays on a Tuesday night?
The Yankees will send Chien-Ming Wang to face former Yankee Ted Lilly tonight at 7 E.T. Wang is coming off a complete game shutout on Friday against Tampa Bay. Joe Torre said yesterday that Craig Wilson will start tonight. I don't think he said where, but either way it looks like another new Yankee will make his debut tonight.
Posted by: Patrick
Right now Sheff is saying all the right things:
Gary Sheffield welcomed Bobby Abreu with open arms figuratively and literally in their first meeting on Tuesday.
With Abreu now manning Sheffield's usual right field, Sheffield's role, if and when he returns from injury in September -- at the earliest -- will alter. But that didn't stop him from hugging Abreu when he first saw him. ...
"I'm hurt. I can't help this ball club right now," Sheffield said. "They've got to do whatever they have to do to help this ball club, and I'm all for it. When I signed on to come here, the first thing they said was they would do everything they could to help get me a World Series ring and I'm all for it." ...
Sheffield worked out at first base with Don Mattingly before Tuesday's game, trying to learn the proper footwork. Sheffield said he would be fine with a position change, and Torre felt the veteran would have no trouble making the adjustment. ...
"They don't owe me anything," Sheffield said. "I earned everything I got in my 18 years. I never was given anything."
With Abreu now manning Sheffield's usual right field, Sheffield's role, if and when he returns from injury in September -- at the earliest -- will alter. But that didn't stop him from hugging Abreu when he first saw him. ...
"I'm hurt. I can't help this ball club right now," Sheffield said. "They've got to do whatever they have to do to help this ball club, and I'm all for it. When I signed on to come here, the first thing they said was they would do everything they could to help get me a World Series ring and I'm all for it." ...
Sheffield worked out at first base with Don Mattingly before Tuesday's game, trying to learn the proper footwork. Sheffield said he would be fine with a position change, and Torre felt the veteran would have no trouble making the adjustment. ...
"They don't owe me anything," Sheffield said. "I earned everything I got in my 18 years. I never was given anything."
07/31: Just An FYI
Posted by: James
I know, I know... I might be jinxing the team for the rest of the night BUT if the Red Sox lose tonight (Ouch - Ortiz makes me pay for that remark with a game-winning 3-run HR as he continues towards a probable MVP run), Boston's record would be 62-42 for a .596 winning percentage. New York just happens to sport a .598 winning percentage (61-41). Well, with the Red Sox' win, the Yanks are in second place (none back on the loss side) and would be starting out the last 60 games of the season with a revamped (better, stronger, faster!) roster: not too shabby. Let's get ready to rumble.
Also, if you want to hear Brian Cashman's take on the these deals, head over to WFAN and listen to Chris Russo take on the Cashman (RealPlayer required). I think everybody should take a listen to the 18-minute interview if they get a chance, if only to listen to Cashman throw the hammer down on Russo when the Mad Dog gets a little too rabid (starts at about 4 minute mark). One of the best parts - Cashman: "I'm not going to put up with you putting down any of our players". You can hear the tension early on in the interview before Cashman starts to rein it in. Another great Cashman quote in response to a fairly dumb comment on Russo's part: "I think we're all trying to win a championship and that's the feel-good story we're in this business for."
Also, for those wondering about Abreu's slump last year at the end of the year, the man was pretty badly hurt. It was a mistake on management's part in putting him out there every day, though Abreu was a gamer and played every day that they wrote him into the line-up.
Also, if you want to hear Brian Cashman's take on the these deals, head over to WFAN and listen to Chris Russo take on the Cashman (RealPlayer required). I think everybody should take a listen to the 18-minute interview if they get a chance, if only to listen to Cashman throw the hammer down on Russo when the Mad Dog gets a little too rabid (starts at about 4 minute mark). One of the best parts - Cashman: "I'm not going to put up with you putting down any of our players". You can hear the tension early on in the interview before Cashman starts to rein it in. Another great Cashman quote in response to a fairly dumb comment on Russo's part: "I think we're all trying to win a championship and that's the feel-good story we're in this business for."
Also, for those wondering about Abreu's slump last year at the end of the year, the man was pretty badly hurt. It was a mistake on management's part in putting him out there every day, though Abreu was a gamer and played every day that they wrote him into the line-up.
