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How would you fix the Yankees?

It's time to put your GM cap on and figure out how to turn this team around.  

The object of this thread is to move beyond and expand from the easy and obvious "Fire Torre" or "Fire Cashman" responses because neither answer requires any cognitive thought.

Besides, Cashman isn't going to get the boot in the middle of the season and I believe one of the stipulations for the Clemens' signing was that Torre is going to stay in the dugout for the entire season.

So, fellow Yankee fans, what would you do to improve this team if you're Brian Cashman?  Can the season be salvaged?

Please stay away from ludicrous trade suggestions such as Kyle Farnsworth, Mike Myers, and Bobby Abreu for Johan Santana or Jake Peavy because those kinds of trades don't happen in the real world.

I realize this is a challenging question, but we are all amateur managers and GMs throughout the season, so now it's time to test your knowledge that expands beyond blaming Torre and Cashman for everything because changing managers or GMs mid-season can't be the only solutions to fix this team.

Give it your best shot and tell us what you would do.

0 recs  |  Comment 58 comments

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It's tough to say
We don't know who will become available over the next few months.

But, for the sake of argument:

If Brian Fuentes is available, that would be nice. However, it's a Beckett-Lowell kinda deal where Colorado insists we take Helton, I'd say no. There is just no reason to take on that ridiculous contract.

I'm sure Kansas City is looking to sell Mike Sweeney. But he's far on the downside of his career and doesn't play a lick of D. There's little risk involved, since he's a FA after this year, but he's also not much of an upgrade. Might as well give Phelps those at bats.

There's one very interesting name out there: Adam Dunn. The Reds have a $13 mil option on him for next year, which makes him pretty affordable in this market. However, they're building from the ground up right now, and everything looks to come together when Dunn is on the back end of his prime. It's going to cost you Clippard and then some, but considering the Yanks pitching depth (and that they have better projectable pitchers than Clippard), that might make sense depending on what you have to give up.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for....
No doubt, it's a very difficult question to answer.

However, most people just advocate firing Torre or Cashman and don't have a lot of suggestions beyond that.

For a team playing as bad as they are, changing GMs or managers can't be the only solution.

by anaconda on May 20, 2007 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dump Senor Hustle now
It is clear they aren't going to pick up the option, so dump him now for anything you can get. I also endorse trading Farnsy too. Unfortunately Melky has shown his true colors so we can't sell high like we could have this winter. Damn.
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 20, 2007 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another
If St. Louis falls out of contention (they're heading that way), Isringhausen would be an interesting option. He has a club option for '08.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 1:57 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

How has he
looked this year, he really hasn't had that many opportunities.  According to StrappedYanke, Yanks could get Puljos and Izzy for Phelps and Minky.  Then he should steal on his first hit and begin playing Billy ball.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It is hard to say
Without knowing exactly who is available. I still think it starts with firing Torre. If he has to stay in the dugout, demote him to director of sleeping during the game but he can't be the manager any more.

It also depends on what you mean by "fix". Are you trying to salvage something from 2007 or just looking ahead to 2008 and beyond? Personally, I don't think 2007 is salvageable with deals. The flaws are just too great that adding one or two guys is not going to change the fortunes of this club. I would see if I could get something of value for F-Word or Mussina or Abreu or anyone else who doesn't have a no trade deal.

As for Adam Dunn we already have weak arm'd OFers. Would you try him at 1B?

Every week you read that Tampa has Crawford on the block. I would see if we can use some of our great minor league pitching depth to get him.

by tiyuri on May 20, 2007 2:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Why would you trade Moose?
Capable starting pitchers aren't exactly a dime a dozen these days and he's a bargain by today's standards.

If you get rid of Moose, you have to replace him with somebody and another rookie in his place doesn't seem like the logical way to go.

I'm not arguing that Moose is spectacular, but getting rid of a capable starting pitcher for next to nothing doesn't seem like a grand strategy to turn the team around.

by anaconda on May 20, 2007 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wouldn't give him away
but quality starting pitching is very valuable. If we could get a solid prospect to help us long term I would do it. Obviously that wouldn't help this year but if you are giving up on this year, moving guys with value makes sense and Mussina certainly has value.

by tiyuri on May 20, 2007 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And Moose would have to agree
He's a five and ten.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 20, 2007 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

1B for Dunn
There's not enough flexibility in the outfield to stick him out there.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't understand all the 'trade Moose' talk
either.  Yes, you could get something for him maybe, but another starting pitcher of greater value? Despite all the 'the bats are cold, the pitching is fine now' talk, Yank pitching is still in tatters, it's just not being kept alive by CPR until the ambulance arrives anymore.

Let's put it this way: If Moose went on the block, how much you wanna bet he'd end up in Boston in a second?  

You can never have too much starting pitching [still smarting over Arroyo]...

Monty

by Monty on May 20, 2007 2:45 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure
the Yanks would trade Moose to the Red Sox.  Keep up the great contribution to this site.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jeez.
I'll go away if you want me to, in the meantime enjoy all the Mets fans :-P

I got sidetracked in making my point which is "Boston would take him in a second" not that the Yanks would ever make that trade.

by Monty on May 20, 2007 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

your exact line
Let's put it this way: If Moose went on the block, how much you wanna bet he'd end up in Boston in a second?

That does not say the Boston would take him in a second.  That says if he was on the trading block, he would be in Boston in a second.

i really don't care if Mets/Sox fans are on this site.  It always keeps it more interesting.  I stop by overthemonster now and then also.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I completely screwed it up
Somehow between the thought and writing it down, I completely brainoed and wrote down something moronic.  

What I meant was "His value should be apparent.  Your heated rivals would take him in a second, and not just to take him away from you.  And Boston's pitching is widely considered to be in 'kick ass' shape."

Boston's pitching has more than a few holes-- 'Hansack' is one you could and the Braves did drive a truck through.  Jo-el is even worse... Despite that, In an alternate universe where the Yanks would trade Moose to Boston, I think Boston would love to take him.  Thus implying that any Yank fan who thinks trading Moose is a good idea is crazy.  Or thinking beyond this month/this season.  Which doesn't seem to happen often.

As for my 'valued contribution', you make it sound like I said "LOOK OVER THERE" and then stole all the beer.  

by Monty on May 20, 2007 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heh...

It's time to put your GM cap on and figure out how to turn this team around.

I think pfisty's first response would be for the GM to fire themselves. Just a guess...

by PsiFighter37 on May 20, 2007 2:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That is a wonderful idea
If Cashman resigned, gave back the salary he has earned this year and apologized the city of New York, I would forgive him.
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 20, 2007 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the
Yanks should start playing Billy Ball.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 2:54 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Kill the snake
or whatever the hell it is that is putting a whammy on this team right now.

I don't care who the GM or the manager is, if the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th starters spend time on the DL or currently occupy space on the DL, you're not gonna win.  Counting on Pavano & Igawa was dumb, but the guys lined up to fill in for them all went down, as did Moose and Wang for a spell, which no one could have predicted.  And when they finally lined up a reliable rotation, a rainout or a comebacker would arise and wreck everything again. It's really been unbelievable.

And if guys who have spent their entire careers hitting suddenly stop, how do you plan for that?

If you don't believe me look at Boston. For the first time last night, because of an injury and a rainout, they had to reach beyond their original rotation for a game.  Result:  Braves 13, Sox 0.  Even .700 teams won't win too often when they're using their # 6 starter.
 

by matthaggs on May 20, 2007 3:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Be patient
OK, 10 straight years of division winning and 12 straight playoff years, I can live with a rebuilding year. We have the payroll to get right back in it and do not need to take 5-10 years like the Marlins, Angels, White Sox & Indians tend to do. Look at what the Red Sox did by bagging last year after the August Massacre, they came back strong with one big move a lot of small moves. It will pain me to possibly see another 1986 rematch this year, but that's how it seems to be going. Go Tribe and Brewers. Let's bag some of these salaries...Giambi, Abreu, Arod & Farnsworth to name a few. If we can get any prospects for them would be a plus. It scares me to think where we'd be without Arod's April, but if things continue we're going to be left with nothing anyway, now is the time to cut bait. We'll spend the rest of the summer fighting for a wildcard & if things fall right, we can have a competing rebuilding team (like Philadelphia last year). Free agent targets for 2008: Carlos Zambrano & Dontrelle Willis to anchor the staff. Or use some of our traded stock to make a run at Santana (The Twins could never resign him in 2009 - just right for the new stadium debut). Perhaps Zambrano can be had in an arod trade to Chicago & if our new GM is smart, they wrangle Armamis Ramirez in the deal too. Two big contracts for one. Look at Mike Lowell this year for proof of that method. Todd Helton can provide both OBP & defense at the 1B position. He scares me with recent back problems and being away from Colorado. But has always been known as a solid ballplayer both in the clubhouse & on the field. Let's go after a couple bargins or buy low guys. Look what the Mets did with Oliver Perez, Shawn Green & Moises Alou. All three were considered low yield and the mets have gotten the most out of them for relatively little. No more big contracts for risks. Jorge Cantu, Morgan Ensberg & Brett Myers come to mind. All three have lost their role on their team and should be had at a modest price.

by kendee1 on May 20, 2007 3:32 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

paragraphs...
I had it paragraphed, it morphed it when I submitted. Sorry.

by kendee1 on May 20, 2007 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I couldn't read the whole thing, but
This goes for everyone: Stop talking about Dontrelle Willis. He is not a good pitcher. He has been horseshit the past two years. He would get lit the fuck up in the AL, just like his buddies Burnett and Pavano.

Plus, he's not a free agent after next year.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Correction
He's not a free agent until after the '09 season.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed.......
I didn't want Willis during the off-season and I don't want him now.

He allows way too many base-runners to be a consistent winner in a tougher league.

by anaconda on May 20, 2007 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fix the Yanks?
Let's start with identifiable problems.

Pitching: It is interesting to debate whether we should do something additional here or wait for the bandages to come off and the rehab starts.  

Things look a lot better when Rocket and Phil hit and the 911 starters can reiforce the BP.  I think I stand pat unless someone starts shopping a no 1 or 2 starter.  I do not see that.

Catching: backup now.  Heaven help us if Jorge catches cold.

Depth:

First base:  carrying 3 firstbasemen of whom 2 are marginal and one is too hurt to play D uses too much roster space.  If we fix this we get wiggle room.

Other parameters; I propose we try to win this year AND next.  I can not worry about what will happen 4 or 5 years from now.  Cross that bridge ...

So, we need a everyday firstbaseman.  We need a ligit big league starter, not a star, a starter.  Jason Giambi is a great hitter and his OBP is part of the teams backbone.  But carrying him AND a platoon is too much.  So, Minky and Phelps have to go.  Replace them with one player for first and some more bench.  

So, I'm not against taking Helton.  Would you give up a pitching prospect?  Maybe one with a broken bone?  Maybe a big deal could be made here. Send them Phelps, Philips, Nieves, and a AAA starter and a big league relief pitcher (Viz, Farns) for Helton, Fuentes, and a Catcher.  They have 3 that would be an upgrade on Nieves.  (Although maybe not a solid major leaguer)  If they wanted Eric Duncan he might be someone I'd give.

What would it take to get Crawford?  Mabe Duncan and $ would do that?

Is there an upgrade possible for Cairo?  I'm not sure.

You know the main things we need are a BU catcher and a spark to combine with some decent breaks.  But we will need to get help on any real injury outside the outfield or first.

Thought;  Can Matsui learn first.  He has good hands, good insticts, works hard.  

Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical(Yogi)

by Cbeck3 on May 20, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Crawford
No way he's traded in the division. I'd love it, trust me, but it's just not going to happen. The D-Rays are an emerging team, and to further empower the Yankees isn't on their to-do list. Especially for Duncan, who is on the fringe of being considered not a prospect anymore.

I agree about the platoon being ridiculous. However, Phelps is a power bat off the bench. Those come in handy later on in the season and in the playoffs. Plus, I'm not sure we can trade him, since he's a Rule V player and must be returned to Baltimore if he's not on the 25-man roster.

Colorado is going to get way more value than you suggest for Fuentes. While they may take mere salary relief for Helton (once again, the long term doesn't look too bright), Fuentes can get them a good young player.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unless Terry Schiavo
has been hired as the Colorado GM, your proposed trade is downright laughable. You can't honestly think they would make that deal, can you?
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 20, 2007 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Repetition
do not make the Terry Schiavo and the Cory Lidle jokes any funnier, fyi.

Jokes of that nature are best left to the pros.

And you sir, are not a pro.

by matthaggs on May 20, 2007 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the tip
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 20, 2007 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think
the first thing you would have to do as GM is make a decision: are you going to try and save this 2007 season or are you going to try and turn this thing around over the course of a few years? Tiyuri's example of trading Moose makes sense to me if we were looking at turning the Yanks around over multiple years, simply because baseball has such an awesome prospect system that no other sport can claim.

Personally, I gravitate towards saving this season, if only because we threw such an exorbitant amount of cash at Clemens. So, four moves I would try to make (I don't know that much about player salaries, so please feel free to correct me):

  1. Aggressively pursue either J. Gomes or J. Cantu of the D' Rays. Gomes started '06 absolutely raking, but was slowed by injury problems through the second half of the year and into the offseason. He hadn't made a full recovery by spring training, and the influx of new talent (Upton, Young, Dukes) has totally minimized his role. The same goes for Cantu; Here's a guy who had 28 homers in '05, and has gotten 17 AB's all year. Gomes can play all 3 OF positions I believe, and wouldn't Cantu make a hell of a lot better utility man than Cairo?
  2. Dunn, Teixeira, or Adam LaRoche. Teixeira, I'll admit, is quite a stretch, but as Powerhouse pointed out, Dunn is a possibility. LaRoche was brought into Pittsburgh this year and has performed way below expected; however, he's a guy who heats up post-All Star break throughout his career. Also, he's hit 52 homers over the last two years. I just realized... all three play first as their natural positions; please don't bash me too hard?
  3. As far as catchers go, why not look into acquiring P. Bako from the Orioles? Hernandez has returned relatively strong, it can't be too long before the O's give up on the season (yet again), and while Bako does suck, "suck" is a very very relative term among catchers.
  4. Finally, in terms of pitching, the rotations looks to shape up decently by mid to end of July. I seriously believe DeSalvo can serve as an average starter until then. My main focus is on relief; as far as that goes, I'd look into acquiring hard throwing Seth McClung from Tampa Bay (who's currently in AAA), who doesn't really have a spot any more with Reyes in the closer role.
Back, to the wall, ssseeeya! And a home run for... ... ... ... ... Bubba Crosby!

by atthehive on May 20, 2007 3:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Teixeira is interesting
Here's the thing: Texas is fucking horrible. They have a shitty team now, and that doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. Teixeira makes $9 mil this year, and will probably make in the $12 to $14 range next year, depending on if he goes to arbitration. Then he becomes a free agent at the age of 30 (that's how old he'll be in '09, which would be his first year with a new team).

They would have to be idiots not to dish him now, right in the prime of his career. He's not going to help this team win, because there is no one around him. Plus, it's not like he's tearing the cover off the ball.

Since we're acting as GMs in this thread, this is my approach. You call Jon Daniels and say, "look, we know you'd trade Teixeira if you got something usable in return. What do you want? Don't be ridiculous; we're not giving up Hughes. Make me a fair offer, and we'll see what we can do."

Otherwise, he's just eating up payroll.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 20, 2007 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well said.
Back, to the wall, ssseeeya! And a home run for... ... ... ... ... Bubba Crosby!

by atthehive on May 20, 2007 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Depends on
what the Yanks are trying to do.  Rebuild or still try to win the wildcard.  If its rebuild, I would take off the list Moose, Bruney, Proctor, Clemens, Matsui, Pettitte.  They (not likely though) should be availalbe if trade opportunitites are good.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Are Moose, Clemens, Matsui and Pettitte
even tradeable? I imagine that Clemens and Pettitte have no trade clauses or would probably retire rather than go to a shitty(ier) team. And Moose can stop any trade he doesn't want. I think Matsui has a no trade clause as well.
Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on May 21, 2007 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I understand your point
but I don't think Matsui does have a no-trade
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 21, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah, thanks
I was guessing but thanks for the heads up
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 21, 2007 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/new-york-
Full:
Arod, Jeter, Giambi, Abreu, Matsui, Pavano.

Partial:
Damon, Mussina ("no-trade protection" also 5/10).

5/10:
Posada, Rivera.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 21, 2007 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Red SOx
alredy lead 4-0 against hudson

by John Amato on May 20, 2007 5:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

CLE and DET won too
Fucking awesome.
Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on May 20, 2007 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Since most
of us are bumed on how well the Yanks are doing, I figured I would post this.  I have a meeting with my team at work this week and we are trying to come up with ideas for motivation, showing teams that came from behind.  Maybe this can give us hope.

MLB-
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_8_64/ai_n15370740

The greatest pennant-chase comebacks in baseball history: here are 14 teams that trailed by 10 or more games near the season's midpoint and went on to win division or league titles
CALL, THEM THE LUCKY 14, TEAMS that by the end of June fell 10 to 15 games behind a front-runner, yet overcame formidable odds to snatch a division title or league pennant away from a rival seemingly assured of finishing on top.
If one stretches a point, and accepts what many purists consider a debasement of the game, the "wild card" berth, a case might be made for increasing the total to 15 or more teams that have shaken off early and mid-campaign staggers to enter postseason competition with a blistering stretch run.
It's always a possibility, the wild card arrangement having vastly increased the number of teams that might make the most of a closing desperate dash to salvage an otherwise disappointing season. It could happen this time around, with four, five or six also-rans in each major league clutching at the last straw in the closing weeks.
Last year, for instance, the Houston Astros spent two-thirds of the season scuffling around and below .500. Their record on August 14, 2004, was an unsightly 56-60, and they were in third place 19 and one-half games behind the National League Central leading St. Louis Cardinals, as well as seemingly out of even wild card contention.
It's on record now that the Astros, revived by new manager Phil Garner, outfielder Carlos Beltran and pitchers Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt, went 36-10 in their final 46 games of 2004 to gain the N.L. wild card berth.
All the same, the Astros still wound up 13 games behind the division champion Cardinals, who ended up 105-57. As commendable as the Astros' drive was, their failure to finish first tends to downgrade the merit of their achievement in some quarters. After all, some might say, the goal is to be on top, not achieve something that resembles the game of Monopoly's second prize in a beauty contest.
Admittedly, many former skeptics have warmed up to the wild card, especially if they've benefited from it. Among the "converts" have been pitcher Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox, who wouldn't have had the opportunity to win the 2004 World Series without it as they finished second in the American League East. Yet, Schilling admitted he didn't like the innovation when it was introduced in 1995.
"Not until there was one," he said. "I think it's done a lot for the game, though. Once you started to see situations like this, where you have six, seven, eight, nine teams (in contention for a wild card berth) with two weeks to go, you never had that before, and I think that's good for the game."
Schilling echoed the sentiment of many others, former doubters or not, yet while the wild card may be good for the game in an awkward fashion, it doesn't alter the fact that the chief aim of every team should be to finish first. The wild card generally becomes the goal only when it appears painfully evident that first place is out of reach.
Nevertheless, the wild card is here to stay, so it's a waste of words to condemn it as a radical departure from the notion that only first-place teams deserve to contend for World Series championships. (As it happens, the latest three Series titles have gone to teams that were outplayed during the 162-game regular season schedule but sneaked into the post-season as wild card entries.)
Sour grapes from a purist? Maybe. But when it comes to the game's greatest come-from-behind charges, tradition rules. Only first place counts, and that's what The Lucky 14 aimed for and achieved after it seemed an impossible goal with the front-running team sometimes almost out of sight, in one instance 15 games ahead.
Here's a rundown on The Lucky 14, the list of teams that trailed by 10 or more games going into the month of July since 1900, but captured a league pennant or division title:

  • 1914 Boston Braves were 15 games out on July 6 with a 26-40 won-lost record. They went 68-19 in the final 87 games of the season to win the N.L. pennant by 10 games over the New York Giants.
  • 1930 St. Louis Cardinals endured a 12-game shortfall on August 9 with a 53-52 record only to win 39 of their final 49 games to win the N.L. pennant by two games over the Cubs.
  • 1935 Chicago Cubs were buried 10 and a half games behind the Giants on July 5 with a 38-32 record, but won 62 of their final 84 games, including a 21-game winning streak from September 4 through September 27, to win the N.L. pennant by four games over St. Louis and eight and a half ahead of the Giants.
  • 1936 New York Giants were grounded in fifth-place in the N.L. with a 42-41 won-lost record, 10 and a half games behind the Cubs. In their final 71 games, New York went 50-21 to capture the NL. pennant by five games over the Cubs who went 36-38 in their remaining 74 contests.
  • 1942 St. Louis Cardinals were burdened with a 10-game deficit on August 5 with a 62-39 mark, but won 44 of their last 53 games to overtake the Dodgers by two games to win the N.L. pennant.
  • 1951 New York Giants lagged behind the Dodgers by 13 games on August 12 with a 59-51 record In the remaining 45 games of the season, the Giants went 37-8 while Brooklyn went 27-24 during that span and lost the pennant on Bobby Thomson's home run.
1964 St. Louis Cardinals loitered 11 games out on August 24 with a 65-58 record, but the breakdown of the Phillies who went 16-23 in the final 39 games while the Cardinals went 28-11 helped St. Louis capture the N.L pennant.
  • 1969 New York Mets were lagging by 10 games behind the Chicago Cubs on August 14 with a 62-51 won-lost mark before they closed out the season with a 38-11 run as the Cubs spun into a 18-27 nosedive. The Mets captured the N.L. East division by eight games.
  • 1973 New York Mets were 11 and a half games in arrears of the Cardinals in the N.L. East division on August 5 with a 48-60 won-lost mark. The Mets finished the year with a 34-19 record in the final 53 games while the Cardinals suffered to a 20-31 mark during the same span.
  • 1973 Cincinnati Reds grimaced at a 11-game handicap, trailing the Dodgers, on July 1 with a 39-37 record only to go 60-26 the rest of the year while Los Angeles struggled with a 44-39 mark during the same stretch and lost the N.L. West division to the Reds by three and a half games.
  • 1978 New York Yankees trailed by 14 games in the A.L. East division on July 20 with a 48-42 record. The Yankees won 52 of their remaining 73 contests including a one-game playoff over the Red Sox to win the AL. East with a 100-63 mark.
  • 1989 Toronto Blue Jays were struggling in sixth-place in a seven-team A.L. East division with a 38-45 won-lost record before going 51-28 in the final 12 weeks of the season to win the division crown by two games over the Orioles.
  • 1993 Atlanta Braves suffered a 10-game deficit on July 23 with a 55-42 record before going 49-16 in the final 65 games to win the N.L. West division over the Giants by one game.
  • 1995 Seatlle Mariners sagged 13 games behind the California Angels on August 3 with a 44-46 record before going 35-20 to win the A.L. West title, while the Angels struggled with a 22-33 mark during the final 55 games of the season.
The passage of time has clouded the fame as well as the details of some of these improbable and relatively rare charges to the top by teams whose cause seemed to have turned hopeless.
Certainly not even extremely knowledgeable fans are likely to cite the Cardinals' 1930 surge after a poor start as being among the memorable recoveries. Nor are there many other than their most fervent followers who would refer to the Reds' revival of 1973 or the Blue Jays' thrust of 1989 as being on a par with the more celebrated examples of thrilling second half comebacks in the game's long history.
Even the most recent such feat, that of the Mariners just 10 seasons ago when they came from being 13 games behind on August 3. 1995, to capture the American League West title, hardly put a dent in the public consciousness, let alone became the stuff of legends. That's probably because only a division title was involved, and the Mariners failed to go on and win the A.L. pennant.
On the other hand, there's no denying that the achievements of at least five of The Lucky 14 teams have achieved virtually mythical status, and have become enshrined among the highlights of baseball's history.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 20, 2007 6:35 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

My take
Well, Nuke's scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man's here. We need a live... is it a live rooster?
We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose's glove and nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present.
We're dealing with a lot of shit.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 20, 2007 11:17 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm
Any chance Texas takes Pavano, Igawa, Karstens/Rasner, and possibly Abreu for Texiera?
Of course not. He'd be an interesting fit. He worships Don Mattingly (hence the #23), plays a solid 1b, and is starting to heat up.

Free agent after this season, and Texas isn't going to be able to keep him. I've heard he'd love to play for his hometown Orioles, but I suspect Yankee dollars and Donnie Baseball could change his thoughts.

Texas is still paying on Arod. What if we forgave that debt, plus threw in a couple of mid level guys and a veteran? Just thinking out loud. But I would make a serious run at Texiera before the season ended.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 21, 2007 9:20 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Not after this season
Tex is property of the Rangers until after the 2008 season.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

That sucks
I was pretty certain he was free after this season. Hmm, all the more reason to pursue him. Probably would have been more successful had we jumped on him when he wasn't swatting homers by the bunches.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 21, 2007 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

People have said that on this site before
but when I look it up over at Cot's, it says his deal only runs through '07.
Do you know something that they don't?  They're usually pretty reliable.
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/texas-rangers.html
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 21, 2007 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Look at his service time
Four years. Five after this year. You need six to become a FA.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ah
I was thinking that once you hit 5 you're free.  Thanks.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 21, 2007 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

these are the
trade ideas that make Yankee fans look like morons.  Pavano (who will be out for 07/08), 2 shitty pitchers in Rassner/Karsetens, and a hitter who will be a free agent after this year.   This bag of shit for Texierra.  Please.
Great Success!

by ReLaunch on May 21, 2007 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Honestly
I don't think Cash makes a move for another month.  Unless he's got a good starter on the way for this week, there's no need for a starter.  If he were going to reshuffle the pen, he'd have already brought Britton up and dished Viz, and exept for Cano there's no starter on the team who is replaciable.
If we're not within 5 of the division or wild card by June 15, I wouldn't be surprised to see Cashman wave the flag on the season.
But I think we will be.  The bats are heating up again, and the pitching is righting itself.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on May 21, 2007 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ronan Tynan
Has anyone else realized that the steady decline of the the Yanks can be traced to the introduction of Irish singer Ronan Tynan to the Yankee Stadium microphone following the sad days of 9-11-01.
My suggestion to right the ship is to employ another singer of equal talent to lead us in patriotic song every 7th inning at home.Kate Smith has long since departed this mortal coil,so she should be retired and perhaps a monument...somewhere. Perhaps in the off seaason we can explore who is available from the New York Metropolitan Opera,and pounce with an offer that would be hard to refuse.Or perhaps, if Peter Lemongello is available...hmmm...no, maybe not.  

by pounder on May 21, 2007 11:49 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe my memory is going
After all, it was 11 years ago. But wasn't Tynan singing at Yankee Stadium back in '96?
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But Tynan
Was always around for the playoffs.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ronan Tynan
...probably still faster than Bernie....but can he play second?????

by pounder on May 21, 2007 12:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Just kidding
Please do not take me seriously about RT,I am feeling strangely optimistic about the upcoming Bosox series and feel 2 wins sets us back on track.Remember this name..Brett Smith, Trenton,either as trade bait or a soon to be call up.

by pounder on May 21, 2007 12:37 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Alan Horne
I'm a bigger fan of him than Smith. Plus, Chamberlain and Kennedy. Smith may be a decent spot starter at some point, but with the Yanks pitching system, he's pretty low in the pecking order.
River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on May 21, 2007 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brett Smith
B.Smith has taken a huge step forward  this year.If he continues to improve,and I believe he will, he could be a real good pitcher.Also, he is not "pretty low in the pecking order",in fact,look for him to debut in the Majors,hopefully with the Yanks,as early as this year.  

by pounder on May 21, 2007 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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