With the New York Yankees coming off back-to-back wins against the Kansas City Royals to keep their slim playoff hopes alive for the time being, I figured it was time to break out the second Yankees Roundtable Discussion of the season.
Allow me to introduce you to my fellow Yankee writers who will be participating in this edition of Bombers Banter: Matthew Goodman, Colin Linneweber, and Adam Mayerhoff (Jersey).
If you're a top Yankee writer who was left out of this discussion, don't worry, it's probably because you were included in the last Bombers Banter, and I just wanted to give some new people a shot at contributing.
Those writers who took part in the first roundtable will be notified once again for the next discussion. As always, if you'd like to get involved, just post a comment here or shoot me an e-mail.
This discussion will center on the Yanks' recent struggles and their chances of getting back into the pennant race.
Enjoy and feel free to comment.
Question: Things have spiraled out of control for the Yankees since their eight-game winning streak to open the second half of the season. What can be done to turn things around and get the team back in contention for a playoff berth?
Matthew Goodman: The injuries to Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford have opened a small window for the Yankees to claw their way into the playoffs. But if the Bombers are going to advance to the postseason, they need to get more consistent with their offensive production.
The rotation has done as well as it can, considering all of the injuries. Plus, Phil Hughes has been pitching well and could provide some stability in only a week or two. The bullpen, despite recent hiccups, has been a team strength.
Unfortunately, the team seems unable to put together pitching and hitting on the same nights. They also lack flexibility and depth. The lineup has the ability to put up big numbers down the stretch; all that's left is to see if they can do it.
Colin Linneweber: Start hitting with runners in scoring position and finally realize the urgency that they face.
Jersey: A lot has gone wrong for the Yanks. The offense is inconsistent, the starting pitching has been poor, and the bullpen has been awful of late. However, I think all three of these are fixable.
The offense and bullpen are too good not to pull it together, but the real issue is starting pitching.
Ponson has been a pleasant surprise, but I don't think anyone truly expects him to continue this way. Rasner is on his way out as soon as Joba comes back, and while Geise has been good so far, so was Rasner in his first few turns.
With three-fifths of your rotation unreliable, you'll have trouble making the playoffs, especially when the climb is so steep. However, Joba is not expected to miss too much time, and perhaps Phil Hughes or a veteran pitcher acquired via waivers can help bring stability back to the rotation.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Jordan Schwartz: Clearly they need to start doing a better job with runners in scoring position, especially getting that runner home from third with less than two outs with a groundball or a sac fly.
However, Manager Joe Girardi also needs to put them into easier run-scoring situations, and that means bunting. Not bunting with Johnny Damon up with two on and nobody out in the ninth inning of a tie game on Saturday was completely ridiculous.
If you're not going to lay one down there, you might as well take the bunt completely out of the playbook, which it looks like Girardi has done.
Question: Should Brian Cashman have tried to claim former Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Paul Byrd off waivers?
Matthew Goodman: Cashman did the right thing. While Byrd has been on a hot streak recently, he's a finesse pitcher whose ERA was above 5.00 about a month ago. He's moving to a hitters' park, where he'll probably get beaten up a bit.
I doubt he would have been better than Rasner or Ponson, whom he would have been replacing had the Yankees claimed him. The short porch at Yankee Stadium greatly decreases his value since he's a right-handed flyball pitcher.
Colin Linneweber: It couldn't have hurt. Cashman has done a nice job this season. Unfortunately, injuries have ravaged the season. Cashman and his flunkies believe that Hughes, Kennedy, and Pavano are options as good as Byrd, and they will all return in a short amount of time.
Jersey: Absolutely. Byrd has been very good since getting advice from Bert Blyleven on a mechanical issue. With the rotation as unreliable as it is, a veteran starter can't hurt. Perhaps there is still another pitcher soon to be made available, but with Jarrod Washburn off the table as well, the options are wearing thin.
Jordan Schwartz: Definitely. Despite the injuries to Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, the rotation actually remains the team's strength, which doesn't say a whole lot about the offense.
That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Darrell Rasner is 2-6 with a 7.04 ERA since June 11. You're telling me the Yankees wouldn't be better off with Paul Byrd, who's 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA since July 21?
Question: How do you feel about Joe Girardi's strategy of constantly shuffling the lineup in order to give guys days off?
Matthew Goodman: The strategy is fine, since the Yankees have an older lineup that requires micromanagement to keep guys fresh. It is a testament to Girardi that the Yankees have done as well as they have, given the injuries they have suffered.
Losing Matsui and Posada hurt them greatly and forced Girardi to turn to an admittedly thin bench to generate production. The struggles that Jeter and Cano have endured were completely unexpected and Girardi bears no blame for them.
Colin Linneweber: I like consistency. A lack of consistency breeds chaos, and chaos is never good for a squad. Set roles are the way to go.
Jersey: I don't mind shuffling the outfield so much because Melky Cabrera wasn't hitting enough to earn consistent playing time before being sent to the minors. Giving some players half-days off by DH'ing them is not a bad idea, even if it means sticking a Wilson Betemit or Justin Christain in the lineup.
However, the recent benching of Johnny Damon was utterly bizarre. Shuffling is not the worst idea in the world, but Girardi needs to be wary of over managing.
Jordan Schwartz: I hate it. When you have an offense that has been struggling as much as the Yankees, it doesn't make sense to sit Johnny Damon when he's on a five-game multi-hit streak or to insert a mediocre hitter like Wilson Betemit into the lineup.
Maybe part of the reason these guys aren't hitting is because there's no consistency. One day they're playing the field, the next day they're the DH, and the third day they're riding the pine. These guys don't need all these days off. It's baseball, not basketball.
Question: Do you think Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman will be back with the Yankees next year if the they fail to reach the playoffs?
Matthew Goodman: It would be shortsighted to let them go, given the injuries the Yankees have sustained. Cashman is responsible for the revival of the Yankees' farm system. It has already born fruit (Chamberlain, Hughes, Cano) and is poised to provide even more quality players over the next few years (Melancon, Jackson, Montero).
The depth Cashman created allowed the Yankees to go out and get Nady, Marte, and Pudge without gutting the system. He should be allowed to see his plan through.
As for Girardi, he has done a magnificent job of keeping morale high and riding out the wave of injuries. He lost his two top starters (Wang and Chamberlain), his starting left fielder (Matsui), his starting catcher (Posada), and various other players at some points.
Through it all, he has managed the bullpen effectively and kept workloads reasonable, so both position players and pitchers will be reasonably fresh down the stretch. He should be given at least one more year so he can manage a healthy team.
Colin Linneweber: Both should have the liberty to do as they please. Girardi will unquestionably be back. Cash may decide to run the Phillies. I expect both to be back, though.
Jersey: Yes and yes. The team has suffered through a lot of injuries, and that is the fault of neither the manager nor the GM. While this was not the only problem they had this year, it was a major one, and I don't think the Yanks could justify firing either of them.
Jordan Schwartz: All indications are that they will both return, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not they deserve to. Cashman did a great job getting a big bat in Xavier Nady at the trade deadline, but he failed to add another arm to the rotation in Washburn and Byrd, something he also couldn't do this past offseason with Johan Santana.
Girardi has really been a disappointment. I thought he'd bring a lot more National League-style small ball to a Yankees team that for too long had sat back and waited for a three-run homer under Joe Torre. Girardi hasn't done that, but in the end, I guess both guys deserve another chance because of all the injuries the team has suffered this year.
Question: Who is the team MVP through three-quarters of the season?
Matthew Goodman: Without a doubt, the team MVP has been Mike Mussina. At the beginning of the season, he was an afterthought, a washed-up veteran on the verge of baseball oblivion. By reinventing himself as a pitcher, he has proven to be resilient and effective by stabilizing a battered rotation.
I know that A-Rod has been good when healthy, and Mariano has been close to perfect. But Moose shored up the team's greatest weakness and has a shot at posting one of the best seasons of his Hall-worthy career. That, to me, is MVP-worthy.
Colin Linneweber: Without question, Mike Mussina.
Jersey: It's got to be Mike Mussina. Rivera has been incredible, but with the rotation as shaky as it's been, Moose has actually been mentioned in Cy Young talks. He's kept the Yanks in the race more so than any other player thus far.
Jordan Schwartz: It's definitely Mike Mussina. In April, a lot of people, including myself, questioned whether or not he deserved to be in the rotation, but now the question is whether or not he deserves Cy Young votes. His 16-7 record and 3.35 ERA have kept the Yankees afloat during an injury-plagued season.
Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and authorhouse.com. Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com
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3 months ago
Great piece -
I dont think it wise to say coulda, shoulda, woulda done things...The Bombers need a bench - Richie Sexson was supposed to fill a role, and he didnt so he was let go. That role is still needed - Sheff or Bonds - either is good.
The rotation? I am throwing my hat in the ring for Clemens because as a 4.18 last year and being injured - that is a bull dog I want in NYs corner and he would be a welcomed improvement to most in the rotation - a 4.18 is one of his lowest ERAs and with the competitive drive he brings to the team, the Yanks wouldnt fall short on heart - as weve seen all too often this yr.
Giese, Rasner, Hughes Kennedy are more children who have been playing on the Yankees and helped NY get to where they are - losing. Same with Pavano - who gave up 5 in 4.1 inngs last week to more kids. When NY lost Wang and then Joba the rotation became worse is by default - getting Byrd wouldnt replace Joba or Wang, so suffice it to say the rotation is in trouble for the first time all year - with exceptions.
**** Moose, Pettitte, Clemens, Ponson, and Hughes until Joba is back *****
- Wang is done for the yr. That is the rotation NY needs IF theyve not already written this year off. You're supposed to go with proven talent, not unproven talent. Whats the incentive for Wang to work so hard when kids are starring in the rotation? Same with Moose and Pettitte - unproven talent in the rotation and in the pen landed NY where they stand -
Time for NY to go with what made them so successful - top vets
no one on this team - gets this team any better, they will get them where the got them - worse..
Love Girardi's style - his shaking the line up has won many games and got NY on some great winng streaks - but you can only play who you're given and the best on the team dont always play, while some of the worst do - Abreu is out of right field and DH'g if I am Girardi -
from 3 months ago
Patrick, I don't get why you're obsessed with Abreu DH'ing. If he is the designated hitter than Matsui can't play. Hideki is returning this week and he can only DH for probably the rest of the season due to his knee injury. You need his bat in the lineup so Abreu, Damon and Nady have to play the field everyday. I know Abreu doesn't make the best reads of balls off the bat and he's terrified of the walls, but you can't deny how valuable his arm is. He has nine outfield assists this year, which is second among AL rightfielders and he'd probably have more if people weren't so worried about running against him. His arm prevents runs from scoring. You can't take him out of the field.
And you sure do love those washed-up, tarnished, accused steroid users. Bonds and Clemens? Nevermind the fact that they're 44 and 46 years old, respectively, but they haven't played a major league game in nearly a year.
Thanks for the comment and I'll make sure to e-mail you for the next Bombers Banter.
3 months ago
Wow, Clemens. I guess if he started to get major league ready today he would be ready in time for say.....October. At this point Bonds is pretty much in the same boat. Sheff, I agree. Might add a bit more intimidation into the lineup but Im not sure thats the problem either. We have a great proven lineup that refuses to hit in the clutch or in situational at bats. What ever happened to the sac bunt or the sac fly. We have been unable to do either consistantly. I call for a new batting coach and felt that way the second month of the season. I wish I had the stomach or the time to review the number of times the yanks have had men in scoring position with no outs and COULD NOT GET THE JOB DONE. Bases loaded in particular. Simple baseball folks is what is missing here, simple situational clutch hitting. It doesnt seem to be pushed as heavily as it should be, everyone, Kevin Long in particular keeps talking about bad luck hitting. I say bad hitting period which it is his job to correct and that has not been done. Joe G needs to start stealing more, bunting more, and letting these guys know what is fundamentally wrong with this offense. Folks that is the problem this year, not pitching as everyone seem to like to point out. The pitching has been quite the surprise, this tattered, peiced together rotation is our saving grace right now. Chin up Yanks fans, 5 games out of the WC and six games w those BoSox. It can be done, just dont hold your breath.
from 3 months ago
It's good to know there are other small ball enthusiasts out there. Thanks, Todd.
3 months ago
Great article. I agree with a lot of what you guys had to say. I definitely think that the lack of hitting with runners in scoring position has really hurt the Yankees this season. They have so many capable offensive weapons that it seems almost unbelievable that they can't get runs in. The pitching for the most part has held it together. I'm curious about where the team would be had Wang not been lost since June and if Joba had not gotten hurt. Hands down Mike Mussina should get the team MVP award. He has been nothing but consistent and given the team a chance to win every time out. I wouldn't DH Abreu for a long stretch of time...he's got a good arm in right field and if he would just get over his wall issues, he would be fine in the field.
As for Girardi's style, I think he has dealt with all the injuries well. This is a veteran team and certain guys may need a day off or need to DH in order to stay healthy down the stretch. Benching Johnny Damon in Minnesota was ridiculous. Taking out the guy who has the best batting average on the team when the offense is having trouble scoring runs is crazy. Girardi could have DHed him in the first game and put Nady in left, and then alternated with the other guys like Abreu or Giambi as the DH and put Damon in left. Not to mention the team had off on Thursday so that serves as a day of rest. I do wish the team would play more small ball. Girardi played for many years in the national league, and he managed there which is why I'd like to see more bunting or hitting and running. Abreu can't lay down a bunt to save his life, but guys like Damon, Jeter, Gardner, and Cano (with some work) can lay down a bunt and sacrifice runners over or possibly get on for an infield hit. The Yankees playing small ball would probably throw a lot of teams off balance and right now any way there can be a win they have to jump on it.
A comeback is possible...they just have to put together some consistency. We'll just have to hope Boston and TB go on a little bit of a losing spree so we can gain some ground. It also wouldn't hurt if the line up started putting up some serious runs on the board.
3 months ago
All four of you are so quick to blame the Yankee's floundering season on injuries. I've got news for all of you: injuries happen to EVERY team (winning teams included), and you dont see the Angels, White Sox or the Rays whining about them. They make due with what they have and capitalize on the times when they are healthy.
Speaking broadly, quickness to blame injuries really masks more fundamental problems with a franchise--things like lack of depth, unwillingness to challenge players to fit new roles, etc.
from 3 months ago
None of us put the entire blame on injuries. If you had real reading skills, you would see that I wrote:
"Clearly they need to start doing a better job with runners in scoring position, especially getting that runner home from third with less than two outs with a groundball or a sac fly.
However, Manager Joe Girardi also needs to put them into easier run-scoring situations, and that means bunting. Not bunting with Johnny Damon up with two on and nobody out in the ninth inning of a tie game on Saturday was completely ridiculous.
If you're not going to lay one down there, you might as well take the bunt completely out of the playbook, which it looks like Girardi has done."
and:
"Maybe part of the reason these guys aren't hitting is because there's no consistency. One day they're playing the field, the next day they're the DH, and the third day they're riding the pine. These guys don't need all these days off. It's baseball, not basketball."
and:
"All indications are that they will both return, but I'm still on the fence as to whether or not they deserve to. Cashman did a great job getting a big bat in Xavier Nady at the trade deadline, but he failed to add another arm to the rotation in Washburn and Byrd, something he also couldn't do this past offseason with Johan Santana.
Girardi has really been a disappointment. I thought he'd bring a lot more National League-style small ball to a Yankees team that for too long had sat back and waited for a three-run homer under Joe Torre. "
Did I mention injuries once there?
3 months ago
The Paris Hilton's of Baseball? That is probably the worst comparison I've heard in quite awhile. What's worse is you are talking as if the players have the ability to buy who they want and run the team, which is clearly not the case. The Mets have increased their ticket prices for 2008 and for their new stadium seats for next season, yet you're not claiming that they are the Paris Hilton's of Baseball. The team in Queens signed Pedro Martinez, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, and Billy Wagner who required large contracts, and you're not complaining about how they are trying to buy a championship.
As for you referring to Giambi as a slob, you make it sound as if he was given his large contract recently. THe $23million he is earning for 2008 was set up when he first joined the team, when he was coming off of his MVP season. Do I think he currently deserves $23 million? Absolutely not. But it's done and over with so throwing that into your argument is completely unnecessary. There is nothing wrong with a team offering a player any amount of money that they can afford to pay.
And for your information their payroll is not $230 million, it's $207. And how would you suggest that they buy a back up plan? Do you think that at the start of the season they could have foreseen losing players like Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Hideki Matsui, and Joba Chamberlain to injuries over a long stretch of time? No one can predict things like that so how could the team know what they would need in their back up plan if they have no way of knowing who would suffer the injuries? They have done the right thing all season and that is to try and fix their problems from within the organization. At trade deadline time they made good trades without sacraficing their farm system. I would say that was a good management job. And for the record...do you think you could explain how a bunch of drunken sailors spend their money since yet again you made a comparison completely out of context.
from 3 months ago
I would just ignore Eddie. All he does is post the same tired comments bashing the Yankees but he doesn't have enough creativity or smarts to write a single article of his own. Yankee haters are a dime a dozen. They're so jealous, it's funny.
3 months ago
I find a lot of people are quick to blame injuries this year, well we had injuries last year too, and we did fine. While we arent dominating by any stretch of the imagination we are still clinging to some hope of a playoff spot with all these injuries everyone is so quick to point out. I find the fact that we still have a shot to be a testament to the strength and depth of our organization. We have lost some extremely key players for extended periods of time and here we are not a lock but a definite possibility for post season ball. For anyone who blames injuries that should be considered. As for the Paris Hiltons of Baseball, thats just not nice, or coherant. Im not even sure what that means. I like many Yanks fans am just tired of watching the lack of clutch hitting we are being subjected to, accompanied by some questionable management tactics. I know Joe G has his reasons but they dont really gel with the book of baseball sometimes. The Moose has been such a pleasant surprise, and its really is great to watch, Im extremely happy for him and the Yanks. Gojira returns to our lineup tonight and that should be a great boost. He adds a little fear back into the second half of the batting order. Go Yanks, weve got a tuff one in store with the Jays who look to be making a later run.
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