Three broken parts

by Wrongfont on Jul 6, 2008 9:08 AM EDT

Part number one is either move Giambi to the bottom of the lineup or put him on the bench. With a man on third and less than two out you don't need a six run homer you just need contact and more often than not Jason fails to get the job done. I'd rather see a Punch-and-Judy type up at the plate with men on base who can make contact and get the freaken run in from third.

Part number two, I love Posada but his arm is dead and I don't believe it shall rise. We need a catcher who can hit 275 or better and throw out runners.

Part number three, all of us know the answer to this one. A dominant frearless pitcher who can throw strikes and put a little fear into hitters who like to crowd the plate.

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While I think you may be right

about Posada’s arm and I want to see him spend some more time at first, I think you need more context for the other two points.

1) So long as Giambi keeps hitting the way he has since May (about .310/.440/.615) I’d argue that hitting behind Arod is just where he belongs. The real trick is, if Damon goes on the DL, I want to see Girardi just slide the entire lineup up a spot.
Jeter-Abreu-Arod-Giambi-Posada (DH/1B)-Cano-Cabrera-Molina-Gardner
Based on what I’ve seen of Joe G. I think he’ll pull a Torre and simply insert either Melky or Gardner into the leadoff spot (he’s fast and a slap hitter, so he must be a leadoff man).

3) I too would love “a dominant fearless pitcher” like Gibson or Koufax I just don’t see him hanging around waiting to be traded to the Yankees.
A lot of people wanted the Yanks to trade the prospects to the Twins and give a seven year deal to Santana. He went to the Mets instead, and he’s been very good, but his fastball is down 2 MPH from his Cy Young Season in 2006, and he’s given up a ton more flyballs and line drives than he has in the last 4 seasons.
He’s been good, but not $23 million good.
The guys who are that good are under their team’s control for the next several years. So the only way to have one of these dominant pitchers is to grow him- which is just what the Yanks have been trying to do since 2005.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 6, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

I Agree But . . .

Giambi does belong behind A-Rod, however, I just wish he would cut down on his swing with a man on third and less than two out in a close game. You gotta get that run in. As Casey used to say “Butcher Boy” the ball and never leave that runner stranded, no excuses for not executing. Leaving that runner stranded just changes the complection of the whole game. Giambi isn’t the only hitter to blame but my expectations from him are much higher when he gets the opportunity to deliver.

As far at dominant pitchers. It baffles my mind why we come up with all these guys with great potential and they never seem to get it done. Meanwhile the freaken Red Sox come up with Lester, Masterson and whatever the hell the other guys name is and they outshine our Hughes and Kennedy entry. (exception Joba, who so far looks good) The young studs are out there but they seem to fold under the pressure of playing for the Yankees.

by Wrongfont on Jul 6, 2008 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

The Red Sox

Lester is 24 (a year older than IPK, 2 years older than Joba and Phil) and this is his third year in the bigs. His first year he allowed 43 ER in 81.1 IP with a 1.65 WHIP. Last year was a mild improvement, 1.46 WHP but still 32 ER in 63IP. He took a big leap forward this year, 1.31 WHIP, but don’t let the no-hitter hype fool you. His LD% is the same as ever. He’s getting hitters to ground out earlier in the count than previous years (see Friday’s game), his K/9 and BB/9 are both down, but I don’t think it’ll continue. He might not go back to being the terrible pitcher he was previously, but he’s no ace.

Masterson has pitched 54 innings, and he basically profiles as IPK-lite. He’s faced 9 teams (3 NL), and only seen the Rays twice. When he’s been through the league another time or two, then I’ll worry about him.

And Buchholz is back in triple A, where he just got lit up last night by the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Yep, the Iron Pigs. Again, don’t let the ESPN/ no-hitter hype scare you.

It’s not folding under the pressure, it’s the luck of who gets injured and who doesn’t. Bronx Bound will go up in a couple of minutes (I’ve got one more thing to look up), check out the number of pitchers who are on the DL right now.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 6, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions