What was Girardi thinking? Quick Notes
by John Amato
on Jul 2, 2008 12:29 AM EDT
Melky hasn't had a hit in what seems like weeks and the Yanks have the tying run at first with no outs in the bottom of the ninth so we know what's coming. Melky is a very good bunter so the obvious play is to put the tying run on with Damon and the pinch hitting Jeter coming up.
Wait, he took a strike on the first pitch. Say, what? Am I seeing things?
I got me off the couch and picked up my cigar. You can't let him swing away, right? OK, he'll bunt now. I blinked and it was 0-2.
Come on, you gotta be kidding me. At this point I was hoping he would just hit a weak dribbler down the 3B line or fly out---heck just strike out and pass it on, but no---he hits into a tailor made double play and ends the Yankee threat. Just another awful loss in the Bronx. What is a home field advantage again?
Girardi's excuse that the lefties weren't swinging the bats so he left it up to Melky and hoped he could get a hit to make it first and third was absurd. Damon is hitting .320; who cares if he walks Jeter to get to Abreu. Get men on base and put the pressure on Texas. This on the job training is painful.
It was unwatchable baseball again. Joba couldn't find the strike zone, but because he has great stuff he only gave up two runs after four bad innings.
On the plus side, Giese looks much better in the bullpen---Robertson went two and showed nice stuff and Veras is still on a roll.
The hitters were in a coma with runners in scoring position as usual.
Does Damon have to get five hits a game now?
Abreu used to be automatic at driving in a runner from 3B with one out. Not anymore.
The loss of Matsui has really put the team in an offensive funk.
Posada got a couple of hits, but still seems to be in a fog at the plate. He just looks uncomfortable. Jorge is a defensive liability also since he can't throw anymore. Kinsler took 3B and the game after doubling off Mo to left with no outs.
How about this bold move. Girardi could have PH Jeter for Melky and then moved Brett into center.
Rivera was bound to give up a run. It should have been a save situation instead of a tie game.
In the fourth after finally pushing across a run against Texas, Betemit struck out and Melky popped up to end another threat with two men on base.
Another blown opportunity to gain ground on Boston.
If they win tomorrow it still won't wash out the terrible taste in my mouth,
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Agreed
it was inexcusable letting Melky swing the bat in the 9th.
I was driving home from work listening to Sterling and Suzyn at the time, and I almost had to pull over I was so disgusted.
by DocBrown82 on Jul 2, 2008 1:03 AM EDT 0 recs
Also agreed
I could have sworn that they called up Gardner to replace the anemic hitting Melky, but apparently they still feel like our starting center fielder should be batting .240 and killing all our run scoring opportunities. If Damon’s foot is hurting him, fine, but if he’s good enough to run the bases as DH, he’s good enough to run down fly balls, in my book at least. Time to get Damon back in left, Gardner in center, and surely the Yanks can find somebody, ANYbody, to hit as the DH better than Melky’s been hitting at all.
by DeathSquire36 on
Jul 2, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
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it's not Melky I'm pissed at
though he is certainly trying my patience.
but this loss is on Girardi. when your #9 hitter is up in the bottom of the ninth with a man on first, a one-run deficit, and nobody out you bunt. don’t overthink it, don’t try to play mind games with the other team.
just put down a damned bunt and get the runner in scoring position. I mean come on…
by DocBrown82 on
Jul 2, 2008 2:41 AM EDT
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they can't afford to be doing this
after that 7-game win streak, this was supposed to be the stretch where the Yanks pulled out to 10 or 15 games over .500. outside of sweep of San Diego, they drop 2 of 3 to a horrible Reds team at the Stadium, split with Pittsburgh, split 4 with the below .500 Mets, and now are in danger of getting swept at home by the mediocre Rangers after getting completely shutdown by Scott Feldman and Kevin Milwood.
Now the Yanks will be just a few games over entering a brtual month with 7 vs. Boston, a set in Tampa, and home series against Minnesota, Oakland, Baltimore, and the really annoying Angels. i was thinking “at least those series are at home”, but when you have the same record on the road as you do on your homefield (22-20), does it really matter? only the Royals, Indians, and Mariners have a worse home record in the AL than the Yankees.
by Clutch like Leyritz on Jul 2, 2008 8:44 AM EDT 0 recs
Totally frustrated
Sitting Jeter….Is he hurt? It’s not the time to rest these guys..
by John Amato on Jul 2, 2008 12:26 PM EDT 0 recs
I'm okay with ...
sitting Jeter, who has looked awfully tired. What ticks me off is something that was mentioned earlier—not ordering Melky to bunt in an obvious bunt situation. It was coaching 101, and Joe apparently had his head up his ass.
Earlier in the game, I believe he ordered Gardner to bunt in a situation I would have chosen to swing away. At that stage in the game, swing away!
Aside from the Melky screw-up, I’m taking issue with several other questionable moves:
—Bringing in Mo when he’s not in a save situation. Okay, he’s the best closer but he’s mediocre at best when not protecting a lead. I’d love to see the numbers when he pitches from behind.
-Not hiding Posada’s obvious arm woes. Joe left Posada exposed last night, in so doing basically sends out an AMBER ALERT to every AL team saying, “When Jorge is catching bring your track shoes!” Give me a break. Put Molina back there. I don’t care if his ball sack is the size of Queens, strap him up and send him out there to neutralize the running game-especially after we tied the freakin’ thing.
—Betemit at short? What happened to Gonzalez. Did he have a big case in D.C. to oversee? Did we jettison him? What’s the deal? Betemit at short cost us a run. Gonzalez wouldn’t have hesitated, double-clutched and had a stroke allowing the runner to score.
I really think Joe is over-thinking. He needs to take a more Torre-like approach right now: pop two Atomic Bombs and fall asleep on the bench. As we all saw last night, when Girardi starts thinking, mistakes are made.
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
by Ronster22 on Jul 2, 2008 3:02 PM EDT 0 recs
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