Jason Giambi to begin rehab assignment

by anaconda on Jul 25, 2007 3:34 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi is set to start a minor league rehab assignment Friday night with Class A Tampa and hopes to rejoin the team next week.

The designated hitter, who has been sidelined since May 30 after tearing tissue in his left foot, said he will play two games with the Yankees' Florida State League team before he is re-evaluated Sunday.

"I'm to that point where I really can't do any more working out, taking BP and running," Giambi said. "Now it's going to be more game activity. I think that will be a gauge to see how I do."

Giambi took on-field batting practice for the second time Wednesday and went through an extensive base running session.

"I'm fired up," Giambi said. "It's gone faster than I expected."

Giambi is hitting .262 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. His foot began bothering him soon after he played the field for the first time on April 28, and he hit .117 in May with three homers and six RBIs.

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I get the feeling this is not good

Giambi's coming in at a point when we're firing on all cylinders. He's going to kill the chemistry, just like Sheffield did last year.

by docgonzo on Jul 25, 2007 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

Disagree

Giambi's gonna have all the time he needs to get his swing in order. If he can go back to his usual .400 OBP then he's better than a trade.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 25, 2007 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed....

2006 is 2006 and that doesn't mean history will repeat itself.

Giambi coming back healthy can only help this team.

by anaconda on Jul 25, 2007 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

you can never

compare anyone to sheffield.
he's the ultimate team chemistry killer.

by Clutch like Leyritz on Jul 25, 2007 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

indeed it is

i miss the random power bat off the bench.. the ruben sierras of the world.. i think shelley is a great guy to have off the bench..

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Jul 25, 2007 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Hurry Back Giambino

Giambi, like Matsui and ARod, can carry the team singlehanded when he is hot. And he is the type of threat that makes the other manager change something. Roster spot? Probably Duncan's gone, but he will be a Sept. call-up so its not too bad. If Damon continues to hit and keep his OBP up, he plays CF, with Melk going in for late inning defense or to give a rest to Hideki or Abreu. Its a better team with Giambi back. This is not a Sheff thing trying to find a spot for a bat because somebody took your job.

When asked what he thought of Canseco being the first to do 40/40, Mickey Mantle replied "Hell if I knew that y'all would make such a fuss, I'd 'a done it!"

by mickey07 on Jul 25, 2007 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

sigh

what will this do to the lineup? all I can see is that it will take playing time away from melk. torre has never had the balls to take starting spots away from the money guys, and im convinced melky is a large part of the reason we've been playing so well recently. this is sad saaaad news. im sure he's not ready to play first yet, and DH-ing him will kill the lineup and further decrease the likability of the team.

the only good I can see coming from this is that giambi maybe increases his trade value and makes it so we can maybe ship him to the angels or somewhere for somebody young in the offseason.

there is no way that this news improves the team. no way at all.
:(

by char6587 on Jul 25, 2007 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Its good

then that you aren't the GM of any baseball team.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 25, 2007 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah

There are plenty of teams I'd let him run. Braves, Marlins, Mets, Philies, Nats, Cubs, Reds, Astros, Brewers, Pirates, Cards, D-backs, Rockies, Dodgers, Pads, Giants, O's, BoSox, D-Rays, Jays, ChiSox, Indians, Tigers, Royals, Twins, Angels, A's, M's, and Rangers.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 25, 2007 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

ya

I was gone to a camp in the mountains of north carolina and they didnt have a resource I like to call the NEWSPAPER! I was so lost but its taken me a couple of days to get back to watching ball and I like what the Yanks are putting out there, they look like a whole new team. They look like a team with confidence. I like the idea of Giambi returning soon because, like the others said, it will be another bat in the line up. Things are looking very very good.

God is a Yankee fan

by DarksideJU08 on Jul 25, 2007 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

He can really help if he's healthy.

Maybe they'll dump a pitcher and keep Shelley.

And do not get too dewey eyed thinking about trading him. Between his health, his contract size and his trade restrictions I doubt he'll be traded.

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

by Cbeck3 on Jul 25, 2007 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

It looked

like they made the right choice with Johnson. He hasn't played a full season in his career.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 25, 2007 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Line-up

The way I think you prevent disrupting the line-up is by keeping melky in it, atleast until he stops hitting (although he might keep this up all season.) I think they should give Damon a LONG look at first base. If he can play average 1st, I think they should leave melky in center, DH Giambi (batting 5 probably), and put Damon at first. I'd give occasional starts to phillips at first (as long as he hits) and give Damon a few outfield starts, DH days, or days off. It would keep our line-up potent and add power. Our infield defense would suffer some, but hopefully Damon would be an OK fielder.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Jul 25, 2007 8:24 PM EDT reply actions

what?

isnt there any part of you guys that believes that a team needs a couple sort of scrappy underdogish guys to win? giambi takes away this youth and excitement from the lineup.

also just remind yourselves what your rooting for..
would you rather have a damon/giambi team win or a shelley/melky team win?

plus, giambi's a cheater, which is convenient that we can all forget this when talking about how classy the yankees are.

stop pretending that his OBP is anything worth writing home about anymore.

the yankees are 20-25 with giambi in the lineup and they are 34-21 without him in the lineup. its easy to see why you all want him back?

having giambi in the lineup does not work. we have tried this before. remember? (2002 - 2006...)

---does anyone have any news on doug mientkiewicz?

by char6587 on Jul 25, 2007 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with the part that the Yanks

are better off without him. We started winning consistently when he went out with the injury; and there is something to be said for young, talented, hungry players.

And please, people: Stop mentioning Damon at first. We have a solid first baseman who knows how to field his position. Leave Damon in the outfield or at DH.

by docgonzo on Jul 26, 2007 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe me

I'd rather have Shelly/Melky win. But, see, I've been following baseball for a while now, and I've learned a few things, and one of those things is the way to win games is to not make outs.
His OBP is among the best in the league every year. We think of .350 OBP as the mark of a good ballplayer (akin to hitting .300). If a guy consistently has a .400 mark plus a slugging above .500 then he qualifies as one of the elite sluggers in the game. This is something to write home about. I think I will write home about it right now.
"Dear Mom and Dad,
Jason Giambi kicks ass at baseball, even if he did use steroids like countless other athletes whom we will ever possitively identify. While he is not gritty or scrappy or even vaguely underdoggish because he makes tens of millions of dollars (instead of just hundreds of thousands of dollars) I still enjoy rooting for him because he makes my favorite baseball team better at the game of baseball.
Love,
John"

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 26, 2007 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

yea...

yankees and underdog do not go in the same sentance, i'm sorry, but they don't. Just because we put melky cabrera and shelley duncan in doesnt mean we are an underdog. Hell, let's put Cairo at 3rd base instead of Arod, then we will REALLY be an underdog. While we're at it, we can put Kevin Thompson in left field for Matsui, and bench Posada for Molina. I guess it would be a better story to see all of these younger, more exuberant players win than the money grubbing veterans we currently employ.

I was just thinking how much we DIDNT need a player who hasn't had fewer than 30 HR and a .410 OBP in a complete season since 1998. Really, I don't think we need that. I guess this week of Shelley Duncan proves that Giambi is a useless player who should never play again. Please. Anyone who doesn't want Giambi back ought to as themselves why the hell they want Johnny Damon playing instead. Damon really sucks balls.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Jul 26, 2007 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

awesome post

by Greenfuzz on Jul 26, 2007 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I have no problem seeing Giambi back

in the lineup as long as it is the one that takes pitches, hits home runs and doubles and walks a lot. If it is going to be the one that strikes out, pops out to the catcher and limps towards first base, I'll pass. The question is how long they should give him to figure out which one he is going to be? If he starts off slow or if the Yanks start losing games my guess would be that he will receive a lot of heat.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Jul 26, 2007 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I also hope he doesn't jump right into the heart of the order too.

Let him get his feet wet in the 6 or 7 hole and keep Godzilla behind ARod.

by matthaggs on Jul 26, 2007 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Cash and Torre

said last night that they didn't expect Giambi back as quickly as he claimed. He's been off long enough that a couple weeks (working up the ladder) in the minors is not out of the question.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 26, 2007 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Wouldn't rush him ...

We are on a nice run ... right now without Giambi, but adding him at DH (so long as he swats a few homers and keeps his OBP around .400 is a good thing). Cabrera can still get his at bats spelling Damon, and Matsui.

Who knows, by the time Giambi comes back, we might be hitting the skids again.

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

by Ronster22 on Jul 26, 2007 8:43 AM EDT reply actions

Screw Giambi

The Yankees have a more flexible lineup and a more useful roster without him. I hope he never sees Yankee pinstripes again.
http://valentinesviews.blogspot.com/2007/07/screw-giambi-and-more-baseball-stuff.html

by ETVal @ Pinstripe Alley on Jul 26, 2007 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

That's the biggest question about Giambi...

Is he healthy? And will he stay that way? He hasn't been for a few years now.

by docgonzo on Jul 26, 2007 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

My question is this

What do we do about him next year. It is obvious that he is in a decline of sorts( Health ). If he comes back and is average, what does the team do for next year? IF he comes back and is close to his normal self than that is great, but he was feeling good at the beginning of this year. And look at what happened, do we want to take the risk of having him next year just to have him break down again?

The only way I'm going to win a Gold Glove is with a can of spray paint. Reggie Jackson

by yanksfan77 on Jul 26, 2007 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

hate to beat a dead horse

but his body is breaking down from coming off the juice. it's obvious. i don't forsee him staying healthy for any extended period of time. i agree that if he's healthy, he is a great guy to have in the lineup.. i just don't think we can count on that.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Jul 26, 2007 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

He was fine

all of last year except for when he had back spasms from fielding errant Jeterian throws.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 26, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

well i hope i'm wrong

a healthy giambi is a good thing for the yanks. we'll see.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Jul 26, 2007 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

That and

that tear in his wrist which made him useless in September and the playoffs.

Pride, Power, Cocktease

by ReLaunch on Jul 26, 2007 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

They have no choice but to take the risk

because he's an immovable contract that isn't going anywhere.

They need to make sure they have a power bat on the bench next season in case Giambi does down again.

The good thing is that Giambi's contract will be off the books after the 2008 season.

by anaconda on Jul 26, 2007 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Unlike Damon

who is too tough to go on the DL.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 26, 2007 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

.330???

You need to take off the oxygen mask if you think even for a moment Giambi is going to hit .330... ever.

'Roids have taken their toll, and the guy moves like a 45 year old beer league softball pitcher. There ain't no infield hits in those legs, and he'd be lucky to tally .260-.280 --which is fine so long as his OBP hovers around .380-.400

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

by Ronster22 on Jul 26, 2007 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

And where's he been since?

That's my point. A couple more trips to the DL and he'll more closely resemble Colonel Pike from Star Trek.

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

by Ronster22 on Jul 26, 2007 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

No way ...

we'll ever see that Giambi again. That Giambi disappeared down the toilet with his last vile of HGH. What we have now is a hobbled, muscle bound masher who when he's not suffering from injuries from years of steroid abuse, can hit the ball a mile.

But because of his past, and refusal to take the ball the other way, Giambi at best is a .270-.280 hitter. Good enough for me--provided he's around .400 OBP.

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

by Ronster22 on Jul 30, 2007 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

not so sure about all this giambino fever

This seems to have been established already...BUT...Giambi has not batted .330 since his days in Oakland and hasn't posted an avg above .300 since '02 - his first year in pinstripes.

If his bat has pop and he still sees a lot of pitches and can post a high OBP then he might be able to help out...despite being a liability in the field and an absolute logjam on the bases.

...but the expression "if it ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind - the team is playing well now and I'd be hesitant to mess with things unless they make a change for the worse.

Here's to hoping they give Giambi a long hard look down in the minors (and possibly on the bench until the team cools down - which hopefully won't happen anytime soon) before they stick him in the lineup.

Power bats are always tempting/alluring, but have we forgotten so soon? The World Champ teams we witnessed not so long ago never had a single player hit more than 30 HR in a season. Giambi may not be the answer and he certainly won't cure all that ills this team.

by losjanks on Jul 26, 2007 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

re: Clogging the bases

Except that if he gets on late in a game (draws his customary 7th or 8th inning walk) and then Torre has to burn two more players (a pinch runner and then a fielding replacement if he was at 1b or another pinch hitter later if his slot should come to the plate again).

I agree that you don't want to waste outs...but we have to look at the whole picture. As stated before his greatest positives are the potential pop in his bat and ability to see many pitches and get on base.

But you can't ignore the fact that he:

-will never score from first
-often can't score from second (and if he's in front of other players when we are getting key hits with other runners on, he slows them down too)
-could get doubled up on a ground ball covered in molasses and hit through the rough at augusta national
-runs like he has 10 tons of lead in his ass
-and while we're at it has never learned to go the other way so as to combat the hampering/incredibly-frustrating giambi shift. as a result he isn't as valuable a hitter as he used to be because they suck up grounders through the right side that once-upon-a-time were rbi singles.

Walks are better than outs, but they are not as good as hits. We must put OBP in context rather than bow before the altar of Billy Beane and Moneyball. Not saying it isn't a valuable way to analyze the game. But it ain't the only way.

by losjanks on Jul 26, 2007 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

That is an inditement

of the management and the construction of the bench, not of Giambi. And that's one we can work on.
With him in the lineup for 5 ABs a game, we'll face far fewer one run late inning deficits.

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

by jscape2000 on Jul 26, 2007 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

kida dragging it out here, but...

I'd generally agree with you on the "guy who doesn't make an out more than 60% of the time"...but that works a lot better if the whole team is constructed that way.

If Giambi gets on base only to get doubled up because Cano or whoever else is hitting behind him and swung at the first pitch they see, his OBP is useless.

From what we've seen of him before the injury, he is probably going to hit some dingers, a double or a single here or there, and walk a lot. .262 .380 .436 That was his line before the injury.

a. .380 is well below the -not make an out 60% of the time- rate
b. .436 isn't anything to write home about as far as SLG is concerned; Phillips is at .420 and can actually play 1b, and the only other current starters who are below that are Melky, Abreu and Damon - so unless you are going to sit Damon on the bench and DH Giambi there's no way to get Giambi in the lineup.

by losjanks on Jul 27, 2007 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions