Eventful day at the Stadium

I have to to Mr. Girardi some credit. he did a very smart thing and finally benched Cano for his uninspired play. This sends an important message that anything less than a full effort will not be tolerated. Why was this such an important event for the health of the yankees? Well as i wrote earlier:
As someone who has been studying winning teams for many years, it is my opinion that much of the blame for the Yanks current failures rests on mr. Cano's shoulders. A player who is not giving his all, or at least who does not appear to be, does much more damage to a teams spirit and morale than a player who is having a bad year statistically but has a team first attitude. And it appears to be the Yankees main problem now is their damaged spirit. You simply do not see players like Cano who give a lackluster effort on teams like the Rays or Angers. Their managers know, as do other wise managers, that even 1 player like that can be a severe cancer on the morale of the entire organization. That is why the first thing winning managers like Lou Pinella do when they enter a new organization is clean house of any cano-like players, if that player will not get with the program. The old saying "your only as strong as your weakest link" is particularly true in baseball, which is the sport in which a single star player has the least impact. there are 25 men on a roster, the team is really one entity, and 1 bad attitude can adversely affect the entire organism in a way that the stats may not truly show. When a player commits an error when they are giving 100% (like jeter) or makes a mistake because they are being aggressive, that is one thing, but when players make errors because they appear to have a care-less attitude that has a much more profound impact on the psyche or subsconcious mind of the team as a whole, and modern science now knows that this subsconcious mind is much, much more powerful that the concious mind. This is why the Red Sox jettisoned Manny despite the fact that he was productive and they had an option of 1 more year on his contract, and played better when once he was gone, because when his teammates saw him not hustling, etc it hurt their team psych badly and they were getting swept left and right 9even in Fenway) just before the trade. Now they look like the best team in the AL

Give Girardi Credit??? How, Why, The question is what the H E L L took so long? I can NOT give this MORON any credit, look at the year. Where the H E L L was he and his staff all year long. Maybe if he grew a set EARLIER in the t year I would give him credit.. Girardi deserves NOTHING!!! He is only showing some balls because the year is almost over and he will NOT have to face whoever he upsets long... This shows me he has NO balls...!!!!!

Humberto Sanchez, the center piece of the Garry Sheffield trade has been called up to Yankees. Congrats HUMBE!!!

Ok... First, calling Lou Pinella a "winning" manager is a BIT of a stretch.... He's got a mediocre record (barely above .500) with a couple good seasons and only two really GREAT ones (90' with the Reds- WS, and 01 with the M's.) His motivational style USED to border on 8 year old temper tantrum but I'll admit has HAS mellowed in his later years.
I think that Girardi did exactly the right thing and is showing some managerial mettle in this situation. Gave his second baseman enough rope to hang himself, just so he KNEW it while supporting him in his efforts. This is Cano's watershed. It will show what kind of player he's going to be and I think Joe handled it well. Regardless of what he or Joe or anyone says, Cano knows why he's on the bench. Erickson forgets that Cano must've done SOMETHING to earn a $30M contract after only his 2nd full season in the majors. So they knew what he was capable of and were willing to give him a chance to work it out. I disagree that Cano was a major reason this team tanked. He's 24. He's not a team leader in the way Jeter and Jorge are. ARod is having another great season, Jeter has been struggling a bit but is still one of the best in the majors. Giambi may not have the average but he's second on the team with homers. Moose is CERTAINLY leading by example. Even Jorge and Matsui trying to play thru injuries to help the team. Damon may not be hitting for power as much this season but he's almost 20 points above his career BA and more than 20 points above his career OBP. This team HAS leaders on it. As I've said already, it's not the individual stats that dragged on this team and I don't think that it's Cano that did it either, at least certainly not all by himself.

It is funny at this point in the season, that NY has replaced Tampa as the team that "could have". The pitching staff is deplorable at best, and Cano has been a saving grace since the blowout in NewYork against Baltimore. I should know. It is the first and last game I will ever attend. This "team" has become a collection of single achievements, and until they become a unified team it will never change. Maybe a world series is in their future. In about 86 years. Next year we can look forward to Manny and Hamilton, because hitting is clearly what NY needs. Can we please hire someone from outside the Knicks organization to build a team? Till then, enjoy the off-season and enjoy Boston possibly wearing another ring. I guess that is what Steinloser meant when "all will be right in the universe."

rcngolf,
Do you really think that Girardi handled it well? OK then you must be OK eith the way the season went? It sure sounds like it in your little statement above. I guess you also want to KEEP Giambi also, sure sounds that way? Like you I can NOT blame the season on Cano! He is a VERY small part of a team that NEVER came together this year! However If Girardi made his ball less move about 3 months ago, Maybe the other players on the team would have noticed and tried a little harder??? You would think however that playing NEXT to a Hall of Famer like Jeter he ( Cano) would learn something. Like how to play the game? Knowing now what the Yankees know I doubt they would have signed Cano for that lenght of contract? I really think they were trying to keep him out of someones hands.
Rember this is the WORST Yankee team(and I use that term loosley) in 15 years! Changes will be made hopefully for the better and Giambi is Gone! He was a waste almost from the begining, lously at first base, can't throw to save his life, always swinging for the fences, you think if he really was a TEAM gut he would learn hoe to hit to Left field?? There is just too much wrong with this team to write here, so hopefully changes will be made!

Wow Joe Girardi finally actually did something right! There is no telling what he might be able to come up with between now and the end of the season! There is still no X beside the Yankees in the standings! Ha Ha what a joke. I wonder who Girardi is trying to impress now after being such a miserable failure all season orrrrr he still can't think that the Yanks are still in a pennant race does he??? How about Pavano, adding insult to INJURY! I can't believe he actually left the field with an injury. For the record Manny got traded for his off field crap. Things like attacking a 60 year old Red Sox employee over tickets (attacking old people must run in the Red Sox organization) and demanding his contract be renegotiated while the team is in a pennant race (yes they ARE in a race) are distractions a real team does not need. They have been putting up with his on field stuff since he got there.

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD September 14, 2008
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Akron (Indians) 1
Trenton 5
W: J. Marquez (1-0, 3.27); L: F. Herrmann (1-1, 1.46); SV: J. Jones (1)
HR: AKR: M. Whitney
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2008_09_14_akraax_treaax_1&t=g_box&did=milb
Trenton Wins Series 3 – 1
You may also see http://www.yankeesdaily.com for details.

Brian,

Do you have any word on who the Yankees will be sending to the Arizona Fall League and the Hawaiian League?

Arizona lists Austin Jackson and Kevin Russo. We have heard repeatedly that Phil Hughes is going, plus the rosters say 3 more pitchers and an infielder.

Will they have an instructional program in Florida?

Thanks

YANKEES MINOR LEAGUE SCOREBOARD September 15, 2008
NO GAMES
Trenton Thunder Eastern League Champions (AA)

Bryan,
Here's what Chad Jennings reports:
Hughes - Phil - AFL
Jackson - Austin - AFL
Sanchez - Humberto - AFL
Garcia - Christian - AFL?
Marquez - Jeffrey - AFL?
Bleich - Jeremy - HWL
Brackman - Andrew - HWL
Romine - Austin - HWL
Sublett - Damon - HWL

Erickson,
Tried a little harder? In our lineup yesterday were 4 of the 9 hitting OVER .300. One is two homers shy of the league lead and leads the league in slugging. Another is in the top 10 in homers. And that game had a lot of scrubs in it.
I never said we should keep Giambi. He's not the future of this team and he's done in NY.
And why do you think he was fine sending Melky down a couple months ago but left Cano up? Both are young, both have shown they can play at a high level. Maybe it was a managerial decision. But regardless, the problem wasn't with the individual stats, on either side of the ball, but with the TEAM.

To follow on, here is what I expect to see next summer:

LF: Nady, CF: Melky, RF:??, 3B: Arod, SS: DJ, 2B: Cano, 1B:??, C: Jorge, DH: Matsui. Damon's name needs to slot in there. He's got another year to go and has not much trade value.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Gardner make a play for RF. Ransom will be given a chance. Bet"I still can't hit"emit will be around (if they were going to dump him, they would have already.) That's not the sea-tide of change I think many are looking for.

rcngolf,
The one you mention leading the league in slugging, almost in home runs ect., has been terrable this year with runners in scoring position, but he DOES lead the league in hitting into DOUBLE PLAYS with runners in scoring position!! I have already heard Gardner WILL not be STARTING next year, Ransom will start in AAA also. I heard the other day again trade talks with Cano for a possible pitcher in the off season, will NOT be ruled out! Also I think alot of problems with Cano and Melky is that they were TOO friendly and hard to control (together)so that had a small part in seperating them this year also. Just happens that Cano had the Big contract and Melky did NOT, thats wht he was sent down. I HOPE with a LOT of ***** kicking Cano will come around. And I agree he has alot of talent BUT he MUST bring it out from this point on! The BOTTOM line is that this group of players DID NOT act like a TEAM this year AT ALL!!!!

Golf,
Gardner doesn't have the arm for RF and his speed would be better utilized in CF or LF. Also I see a crunch on the 40 man roster just before the Winter meetings in December. Since bench/utility types are easy to obtain, I wouldn't be surprised to see Betemit and Ransom both DFAd. Betemit cost us only one medoicre arm (arguably) and Ransom was a minor league free agent! We may see Giambi back strictly as a pinch hitter and DH (not the primary!)

Todd,
The farm is light in middle infielders who can hit. Without knowing available FAs or trades, I'd say Cano must be a keeper. Besides, why would Long be spending all that time with him this winter?

Robert,
I agree Cano should stay. But kick his you know what. I still do NOT think Long will have anything to do with him in the off season. I really do not think Long will be here?, besides I think his father will do a better job.? But a little humor, to answer your question if Long is with Cano ALL winter consider it PUNISHMENT!! HA HA..

Todd,
You must have missed this by Bryan:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080911&content_id=3457073&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Erickson,
I agree w/ you on the Girardi comment. What took Sgt Slaughter so long? I would've benched that **** well before the Sll-Star break. Cano should be more embarassed for robbing the Yankees w/ that contract & crappy season. Forget being yanked. I expect him to be the beeyatch that he is and ask for a trade or he'll simply tank for the rest of his contract. If I'm wrong then better for '09.

Censored word was T_U_R_D. This blog blows w/ lame censorship & erroring on pages while loading.

End of season and he finally gets it by sitting Cano great manager. Getting every ego to work toward one goal is the job of the manager. Melky and Cano can start to understand its a team game or send them packing. Nady should move to right field as Bobby is afraid of the fence. Matsui or Damon can take over at first base and the other one plays left field.

Regardless of an error, both Melky and Cano have become great Yankee players. Giraldi needs to wake up and use the right players. Every player at one time or another makes a mistake. There was no reason to treat Cano the way he did. Giraldi is as useless as they come. I think, no I know he's on an ego trip. The rank of manager has gone to his head and he is abusing it. I have said it many times that the team is like a platoon of soldiers with the purpose of completing a mission with success. If the leader sucks, the team/platoon will fail. Giraldi, Gardner, Molina, Povano and a few other that are truly not giving it 110% should pack their bags.

Someone in the Yankee Stadium should take the initiative to get the crowd exited like they used to be at one time. The Yankee fans were really loud and gong-ho. Now it's like being in a funeral.