Faltering again in Baltimore
Yet one more installment of a Yankees season where the bats just didn’t show up, as the Bombers went quietly against Erik Bedard and the Orioles in a 4-0 defeat down in Baltimore.
Remember in Spring Training when it was a legitimate question if the Yankees could score 1,000 runs? Through 75 games, they’ve managed exactly 400, which puts them on pace to score 863. That would be their lowest total since 2001 (801). Before that, you need to go back to 1995 for a lower tally.
The offshoot is that Clemens again wasn’t able to lock up victory No. 350, an achievement that he’s now tried on three occasions. This is starting to take shades of his pursuit of No. 300 a few years back; this time around, The Rocket didn’t even log a strikeout, the first time in 200 starts that had happened for Clemens.
Meanwhile, there’s news on the possible player acquisition front, as Shea Hillenbrand has been designated for assignment by the Angels. Hillenbrand had grown frustrated with his lack of playing time for the Angels and wore out his welcome, much as he did in Toronto.
Would Hillenbrand make sense as a first baseman for the Yankees? Probably, depending on the cost. It’s anyone’s guess if or when Jason Giambi is coming back, and even when he does, you’d have to view him more as a designated hitter. Doug Mientkiewicz is shooting for an Aug. 1 return, but all things equal, Hillenbrand offers a bit more threatening plate presence to the lineup over Mientkiewicz, Miguel Cairo or Andy Phillips.
With the bats faltering, this might be a move they pursue. The New York Post has also tossed out the names of White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko and Devil Rays infielder Ty Wigginton.
Bryan Hoch
Hillenbrand would be better than what we’ve got, considering what we’ve got right now is nothing. It’s too late to save the team now, though.
Jacob
http://yankeesco.mlblogs.com
the yankeees were built to fail this season. they have no big threat off the bench no center feilder no real first basemen.an why isnt the hitting coach on the look out for the big pink slip maybe cause he helped a-rod have a great season? what about the rest of the team
This team has spit the bit so badly on this road trip that I really don’t think it matters who they bring in. There’s too much ground to make up in the division race and winning the wild card is dependent on the Yankees playing consistently good baseball against good teams as well as bad teams and in the hope that the other teams involved in the wc race all tank all at the same time.
The Yankees couldn’t handle the Rockies because of elevation problems. And they faltered in San Francisco because according to A Rod, the Yankees are not used to playing the aggressive style of baseball that is played in the national league.
Sounds a lot like excuses to me.
So I guess I’m for bringing in Shea Hillenbrand if it will help the Yankees win some games. But understand that we’re hoping for the Yankees to sign someone who has been a problem for two other major league teams within the last year.
Plus, do you really think after seeing how this team has played lately that he’s fired up to don the pinstripes and deal with the New York Media?
And unless he and his agent have vowed to never pay attention to the sports media, they are going to be able to take advantage of the desperate state of affairs that the Yankees find themselves in. Meaning that signing him may be kind of expensive.
I’ve come to the conclusion that based on this teams inability to get the job done with such a small margin for error in the last week, that they simply don’t deserve to win.
And I’m hoping to be proved wrong.
This team is more of a brand right now than any sort of respectable powerhouse. They should focus on the fundamentals of the game more than PR opportunities, for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoMDKLFKEuk
I mean, really?
Plain and simple..the Yanks really just **** this season!!! What else is there to say. Scoring less than 20 runs on this roadtrip against the garbage they played the last 8 games…come on. The divison is out of the question and really so is the wild card. They cant beat the teams they should be sweeping let alone are they going to go into Detroit and do much of anything. Bring up some of the younger positional players and see if they can give any spark to the dead wood that is out there now. God I hope the pathetic Orioles dont sweep them but I am not holding my breath.
I am rushing to say all this before I get caught by my boss…
here goes..
I’ll say it again and again. Getting rid of Sheffield was the dumbest move the Yankee’s could’ve ever done. Granted Sheffield has a mouth, but people say that he is a club house cancer and glad he is gone. Well idiots, do you know think that Bobby Abreau is club-house cancer???? Sheffield was not a club house cancer, he was a feared bat and every major league pitcher would agree. People are so stupid, they think that good team go an pick flowers in between games and skip over the rainbow. Sporta are comeptitive and ego-driven. I would take an agressive put your foot in your mouth player like Sheff any day over a quiet self loathing Bobby Abreau. Another story of a play who just can’t make it in NY.
Pete, I really liked your suggestions of change this past week. I agree totally.
Get rid of Torre and his unmotivating ways. Yeah he has an astounding winning record, but who wouldn’t with the budget and players he managed?????? Now that he has a struggling team, his manager skills are showing and he is just awful!!
How many times this year when Nieves is behind the plate does he give another—potential good bat—a day off. WHy the F*** would you take 2 bats out of the lineup when your team is not hitting?
People who I don’t want to see or I don’t think deserve to wear the Yankee’s uniform.
Carl Pavano – no need to say anything
Kyle Farnsworthless – forget it, he does not belong in the bronx
Bobby Abreau – another steroid user and not anymore why he ***** now.
Jason Giambi – Never liked Giambi steroids, drugs or not. Yeah he has serious power. But he is a complete F-in wreck. He destroyerd himself with Steroids and Speed
Johnny Damon – Christ sake, trade his worthless broken body
and you wonder why the RedSox let him go. At least DL him NOW!
TORRE, GUIDRY and LONG—get rid of these worthless coaches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Players I am 50/50 on canning.
Melky – although he is great defense he has no bat. Partially not his fault since Kevin Long is not helping him and he is a baby. How does Torre ever let him swing at the first pitch? Absolutely no plate discipline.
Cano – nothing special in the minors at all, I am beginning to think that last year was a fluke. Yet I do think he has potential to be great still.
Abreau, Cabrera, Cano or best friends—SPLIT THEM UP!!!!
think about it, if you worked with 2 of your best friends it would be great and work would be much more pleasant, but most people would not be as productive as if they didn’t have their best friends with them when they went to work. Especially if you are fresh out school ( or the minor league in this case ) Melky and Robby are to immature.
Best friends does not equal good teamates.
Seriously, something has to change and change now. During the all-star break split this whole F’in team up please. THey have absolutley no chemistry. Nor do they have a motivating manager, hitting or batting coach.
Playoffs?? Yeah right. Wild Card? Yeah right!
I cannot wait until they break this whole worthless team up minus Posada, Jeter, AROD.
Bernie would be a much better option then Damon!!!!!!!!!!!
Kharma has got the best of the yankees this year that is for sure.
Matsui??? Ever since he broke his wrist he has been awful and I am not feeling like he will rebound.
IF WE DO NOT GET ICHIRO, THE RED SOX WILL!!!!!!!!!!
WITH THAT SAID, WE BETTER GO AFTER HIM WITH ALL OF OUR GUNS AND AN OPEN WALLET!!!
okay.. I’m done.. carry on now, thanks.
I don’t like Hillenbrand.
Mike, sleep it off my friend. I don’t much care for Abreu but you have no proof he did roids. You make a good point about Bernie, he is more healthy than he was, Damon looks much like Bernie in center 2 years ago.
Here’s why Torre should NOT be fired. Torre plays with the players he’s given!!! The bullpen guys, it must be hard for him to trust but what choice does he have? Cashman doesn’t seem to give him any alternatives. Rivera has hardly pitched true but when he plays every other night, Torre is criticized for overusing him.
Here is the trades that should have fired Cashman:
picking Kevin Brown over Andy Pettitte.
Picking Abreu over Sheff
Not getting equal value for Sheff who never should have been traded.
Picking Bruney and Farnsworth over Gordon.
Picking himself over Gene Michaels.
Picking Damon over Hunter, Pierre, the Padres, and anybody else.
Carry all the extra worthless pitches and Josh Phelps over Bernie Baseball.
Bring Raoul Modesi even though Paul O’Neill had expressed a desire to return.
Bringing in Bubba Trammell, Tony Wolmack, Ponson, etc etc.
Not bring back Tino Martinez and Al Leiter.
Signing Carl Pavano over Pedro Martinez.
Trading Javier Vazquez for Randy Johnson and then giving Randy Johnson back for nothing and still paying Johnson’s salary.
Picking Will Nieves over Sal Fasano or Todd Pratt.
Letting Octavio Dotel steal money like Pavano.
TURNING TORRE INTO AN AVERAGE MANAGER WHEN HE’S THE EBST MANAGER IN THE GAME.
mike, agree with most of what you said. However, You shouldn’t be so down on Cano, he is still a young (something this team is pathetically short on), emerging talent with a lot of talent that has yet to be tapped. He has been negatively affected by what has been going on during this seasson. Give him more of a chance. Cabrera is a good offensive player who should have been made a starter much sooner in the season, and the team should have benched Abreu. Unfortunately, I don’t think he will ever hit more than 10 home runs in a season, but he’s still a better option than Abreu. Yes Abreu has to go, but until then try him at DH that way he can focus more on his offensive problems, and have Kevin Thompson start in his place until some kind of deal can be worked out to get another outfielder. Tthanks, Cashman, you have really messed up this team with your bonehead decisions, way to go!!!! You should be fired!!!!
Matt we have a DH or 2 in Giambi and Damon. Thompson is no where near ready offensively, will he ever be? Well, I thought the same about Melky and his defense has improved.
Where we sit:
Rotation
Wang
Pettitte
Mussina
Clemens
Hughes or Igawa
Bullpen
Rivera
Hughes or Igawa
Psycho Myers
Karstens (long reliever)
Villone or maybe Al Leiter I’m hearing
Rasner?
Plus 2 unknown relievers
Field
Posada (backup unknown)
Arod
Jeter
Cano
1b? Young?
Abreu for this season barring trade RF
Cabrera unless upgrade for Hunter CF
Matsui LF
Giambi and Damon until then DH
Cairo Utility
This leaves the fielders short 3 backups.
bpark. both Giambi, and Damon are getting older, and older right before our eyes it seems. Their bodies are breaking down, making them less effective as players, and less reliable. Heck, we can’t even rely on them to stay healthy for a whole season. Not only that, Giambi’s off field problems will also affect his play if they haven’t already. As we know the Yanks are trying to get rid of him and his contract which he is no longer worth. Unfortunately, I don’t think e will get rid of him. As for Damon, he isn’t a prototypical DH. With his age and injuries playing arole his limited offensive abilities will be more limited. Both players’ best days are long gone, and for reasons I have alreadry stated can’t be really co nsidered reliable options for DH. Having both DH is only a temporary solution. I would rather see a younger player with more offensive capabilities who can be relied on to stay healthy, and produce offensively rather see two old players ho are on the last leg of their careers and can’t produce offensively. This team desrves better.
Someone on the coaching staff must go. Although Joe has won, I still give as much credit to Zim has Joe. Since Zim is gone he has been clueless Joe. I have tickets for Sat and don’t even want to go and couldn’t give the tickets away to my employees. Yanks need to look toward next year and need to look at some of the kids on the farm. If Abreau can’t hit then send him to the farm. Why hasn’t Damon been put on the DL? He is worthless the way he is and until he gets his health will be worthless. Where is George? Where is George? Where is George? It was fun having a great team while it lasted. Depressed in CT.
Yankees GM Cashman won’t comment on Torre’s future
By Andrew Marchand
Special to ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: June 28, 2007, 7:22 PM ET
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With the New York Yankees languishing under .500, General Manager Brian Cashman declined to say Joe Torre’s job is safe during an interview on the Michael Kay Show on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York on Thursday.
Even with Cashman’s own job on the line, he vowed not to trade any of the Yankees’ top prospects.
The Yankees entered Thursday’s game against the Orioles at 36-39 and have lost seven of their last eight games. Cashman was asked specifically if Joe Torre’s job was in danger.
I think we are all, obviously, on watch. I don’t think anybody would deny that. I think right now with what is taking place with this club right now, I think everybody currently shouldn’t feel very comfortable and I don’t think anybody does. That’s the bottom line.
Brian Cashman, on Joe Torre’s future
“I think we are all, obviously, on watch,” Cashman told Kay. “I don’t think anybody would deny that. I think right now with what is taking place with this club right now, I think everybody currently shouldn’t feel very comfortable and I don’t think anybody does. That’s the bottom line.”
Earlier in the season when the Yankees struggled, Cashman answered this question by stating that in his mind, Torre’s job was not on the line. Ultimately, such decisions are still up to George Steinbrenner.
Steinbrenner, who turns 77 on July 4, hungers for another championship and has clearly stated that the pressure is on Cashman to deliver.
“He’s on a big hook,” Steinbrenner told The Associated Press at the end of last month. “He wanted sole authority. He got it. Now he’s got to deliver.”
Still, with Steinbrenner’s words still ringing in Cashman’s head, the GM vowed not to trade any of the Yankees’ top prospects, such as starter Phil Hughes.
“I’m not worried about saving my job,” Cashman said. “I’m not worried about doing my job. In doing my job, you have to balance both [now and the future.] I don’t think it is a tough call. You have to make the right call. I’m not being paid to save my job. I’m being paid to do a job.”
Cashman said that Steinbrenner agrees with this stance on not trading prospects.
“At the same time, [Steinbrenner] doesn’t want to give up those young guys either,” Cashman said. “But that could always change, too.”
Andrew Marchand is the Managing Editor of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York City.
I agree with just about everyone who says Cashman should be fired for the terrible job he has done to put this team together. Cashman, it’s good you’re not worried, ’cause you’re definitely going to be hitting the unemployment line at the end of this season. I just pray to God we don’t trade any of our young pitching prospects for some player who is nearing the end of his career, and thus won’t be effective for long. I’ve seen enough of that in the past.
Mr. Cashman and the Yankees have contracted “guns for hire” too long; the latest mistake was Mr. Clemens. These guys are expensive and over-the-hill. How does a GM whose made such bone-head mistakes for so long get to keep his job and make tremendous money at the same time when we fans could do a better job in building a winning team for 10% of the money?
It’s time to boycott the games and make these ****** feel it in their pocket. Nothing we can say on this blog site will make ANY DIFFERENCE! This site is a vehicle for venting our frustrations, not a vehicle for change! Not going to the games will hit them where it hurts – something we ALL understand.
When Don Mattingly was playing I knew the Yanks didn’t have a prayer of even getting into the playoffs but they were fun to watch and to root for. This Yankee team is not worth the price of a YES subscription!