All Hands on Deck: Major Trade needed for a Bat

by John Amato on Jul 8, 2008 5:30 PM EDT

There's something not quite right about the Yankees and it has been like this for a long time. They are missing the "it" factor that the post '96 teams used to have and that thing in which the Red Sox now seem to possess. After losing to Florida in '03, the Bombers seem to have hit a wall and can't break through to get back to the series. We've seen a ton of the Kevin Brown and Flash Gordon type meltdowns for way too long, but after the "Bugs," incident with Joba last year in Cleveland, I'm convinced that the Baseball God's have put the Malocchio on this team.

If it wasn't for an act of nature, the Yanks probably would have faced Boston in the AL finals instead of looking at their cans of pest repellent. Come on, I mean when it takes an act of nature to derail a team, then there's something very freaky this way coming.

Yea, we hear all about the pitching problems and that is certainly a major priority, but I'm worried about the bats most of all because they go inexplicably into the tank for long stretches of time while their sub standard pitching keeps them in games. (Was anything as bad as their offensive collapse against Detroit two years ago in the first round?)

How many times can we look at a man on third with less then two outs and see the Yanks limp back onto the field with no runs to show for it? And it's everybody including Jeter, GIambi, ARod, Abreu and so on.

I say all hands on deck at this point outside of the three starters we have left, plus Jeter , ARod (contract), Posada and Mariano, The Yanks should be willing to move anybody, including some of their top prospects to try and break the malaise that has infected this team and bring another very good hitter into this lineup that has the "it" factor.

Matsui was doing a great job of protecting ARod for a while when the Yanks went on their big winning streak but as soon as he went down, so did the bats. I never thought he was the answer anyway so even if Godzilla comes back it changes nothing in my eyes since he's been part of the team jinx. They will fall short again and again even when they make dramatic comebacks like they did last year until some sort of spark is brought back to this team.

Are you with me? What should they do?

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Projections

Losing Damon’s high on-base percentage from the leadoff spot will hurt in the coming weeks, but this offense is quite good. So far, they have been woefully underperforming, for a variety of reasons. Injuries seem to be the biggest reason, but Jeter, Cano, and Melky have been underperforming one way or another from last year.

One thing to keep in mind is that this offense was projected to score around 900 runs. I know projections aren’t perfect, but our pitching so far, even with Kennedy and Hughes’s failures, has actually been very close to the projection. Our offense is underperforming compared to our preseason projections, so even with Damon out (Gardner should be fine), I think we will start to catch up to our original projection. Hopefully.

This lineup is still pretty good, so I hope they start scoring bunches of runs soon. I don’t think we need to drop prospects for bats though. That’s how this whole drought started. Giambi, Sheffield, and other hired guns while letting our prospects go or waste away. I think we’ll be alright.

by DeathSquire36 on Jul 8, 2008 5:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Quick fixes

There are no quick fixes. Keep drafting well, do better on the free-agent market. The Red Sox and Rays have catapulted over the Yankees (long-term). Learn from the competition.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Jul 8, 2008 5:58 PM EDT 0 recs

I say the easier change

Change the manager

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Jul 8, 2008 6:04 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't think there's going to be a major trade

It’s up the the guys they have to do their thing and start producing. Hopefully, Damon and Matsui will be ready in a couple of weeks.

by anaconda on Jul 8, 2008 6:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Bat vs. arm . . arm vs. bat.

I’m not convinced a bat is what this team needs if it is to win this year, itself a dicey proposition. On this point, maybe what this team needs is a third place finish like the 2006 Red Sox, to allow time for the youngsters to further develop.

But, if another first round exit – I mean, if going all the way, is indeed the goal this year, I think they need another pitcher. What changed from ‘03 is obvious. How about losing Andy P, the 2003 version of Clemens, as well as Wells from the rotation? Since then, the playoff starting pitchers have been generally shaky at best, although AP showed his big game potential against Cleveland last year, but that’s the point.

The pre-’04 Yanks won in the postseason because they had strong horses who could win low-scoring, tightly-played playoff games. The 2004-2007 Yankees won in the regular season by beating up on losers and their sorry pitchers but weren’t equipped to handle the playoff chess matches.

This team could more substantially improve itself by getting one more quality start a week. But, face it, who’s that realistically going to be with CC off the market? I get bored listening to names like Blanton, Millwood and garbage like Wolf and Arroyo checked as trade bait. Please.

If they are going to get a bat, it needs to be someone like Ryan Church (not suggesting this move, but identifying the type of player); a hard nosed guy who’s clutch and replaces Abreu, who’s pretty soft. They need a Church, Rowand, Cudduyer type to take on that O’Neill role that’s badly missing. Where’s our Mike Lowell?

I will add that Gardner totally changes the character of this team and Sunday is clear evidence. But, will he hit enough to make a difference?

by Four Train on Jul 8, 2008 6:48 PM EDT 0 recs

We need both and a New GM

We need a bat and a Arm we should have gotten rid of Kennedy he is worthless sitting his butt on the DL like another Yankee pitcher who was suppose to be great. But the real blame falls on Cashman. Not willing to make trades not giving Torre a new contract as soon as he got the Yankees into the playoffs last year. I agree the only players right now who should not be traded offense wise are Jeter, A-Rod, Posada and maybe Giambi and Matsui, but everyone else should be up for grabs. Then pitching wise the only ones that are untouchable should be Andy, Mariano, Joba, and keep Mussina if he is willing to go to the bullpen.

by alireza317 on Jul 10, 2008 9:21 PM EDT 0 recs