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The Ugly Truth About the New Yankee Stadium
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Roger Angell
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Bill James
Pat Jordan
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Rob Neyer: Part 1, Part 2
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Buck O'Neil
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Juicing the Game by Howard Bryant Part 1 Part 2
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How About That! by Stephen Borelli
The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff
The Last Nine Innings by Charles Euchner
Clemente by David Maraniss
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanaski
Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson:
Yankee Century: Part 1 Part 2
Red Sox Century: 1 2 3 4
The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball

Players

Major Leauge Roster:

Infielders:
J. Giambi BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
W. Betemit BR BP E MLB mi
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BC mi

Outfielders:
B. Abreu BR BP E MLB
J. Damon BR BP E MLB
X. Nady BR BP E MLB
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB mi
B. Gardner BR E MLB mi
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB mi

Catchers:
I. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
J. Molina BR BP E MLB
C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi
F. Cervelli BR BC mi

Starting Pitchers:
M. Mussina BR BP BC E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP BC E
P. Hughes BR BP BC E mi
C. Pavano BR BP BC E mi
A. Aceves BR E mi

Relief Pitchers:
M. Rivera BR BP BC E
J. Chamberlain BR BP BC E
D. Marte (L) BR BP BC E
J. Veras BR BP BC E mi
E. Ramirez BR BP BC E mi
B. Bruney BR BP BC E mi
D. Giese BR BP BC E mi
C. Britton BR BP BC E mi
P. Coke (L) BR BC E mi
D. Rasner BR BP BC E mi
S. Ponson BR BP BC E mi
D. Robertson BR BC E mi
H. Sanchez BC mi

15-day DL:
C. Wang BR BP BC E
60-day DL:
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC

Coaches:
J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP BC
R. Thomson (Bench) BC
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP BC
B. Meacham (3B) BR BP BC
T. Peña (1B) BR BP BC
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BP BC

40-man Roster:
AAA
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi
J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
I. Kennedy BR BP BC E mi
C. Wright (L) BR BP BC E mi
J. Marquez BR BC mi

Designated for Assignment:
B. Traber (L) BR BP BC E mi

Select Minor Leaguers:

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
B. Castro BR mi DL
C. Basak BR BP BC E MLB mi
E. Duncan BC mi
N. Green BR mi
B. Broussard BR mi
M. Carson BC mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi
J. Brown BC mi DL
K. Igawa (L) BR BP BC E JB mi
M. Melancon BC mi
J.B. Cox BC mi
S. Strickland BR BC mi
S. Jackson BC mi
E. Milton BR BC mi DL
V. Zambrano BR BC mi DL

AA Trenton Thunder:
K. Russo BR mi
R. Peña BC mi DL
C. Malec BC mi
M. Vechionacci BC mi DL
A. Jackson BC mi
C. Curtis BC mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
P.J. Pilittere BC mi
J. Jones BC mi
G. Kontos BC mi
J. Nuñez BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DL
A. Claggett BC mi
O. Perez BR BC mi
M. Gardner BC mi
K. Whelan BC mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi

A Tampa Yankees:
E. Nuñez BC mi
C.J. Henry BC mi DL
T. Battle BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Gil BC mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
Z. McAllister BC mi
W. De La Rosa (L) BC mi
C. Garcia BC mi

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:
J. Snyder BC mi
M. Cusick BC mi
B. Suttle BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
J. Montero BC mi
D. Betances BC mi
J. Heredia BC mi
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi

Low-A Staten Island Yankees:
D. Adams mi
P. Venditte mi

Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube (past mL stats)
mi = MiLB.com (current mL stats)
E = ESPN (current splits, game logs)
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
JB = Japanese Baseball.com

The Recently Departed

2008 Yankees:
R. Sexson BR BP E MLB
M. Ensberg BR BP E MLB CLE mL
A. Gonzalez BR BP E MLB mi WAS
K. Farnsworth BR BP BC E DET
L. Hawkins BR BP BC E HOU
S. Patterson BR BC mi SD

Nady/Marte Trade:
J. Tabata BC mi
J. Karstens BR BP BC E mi
R. Ohlendorf BR BP BC E
D. McCutchen BC mi

2008 Campers/mLers:
C. Woodward BR BP BC E MLB PHI mL
J. Lane BR mi BOS mL
G. Porter BC mi WAS mL
J.D. Closser BR mi SD mL
S. Henn (L) BR BP BC E mi SD
H. Phillips (L) BR BC mi TB mL
S. White BR BC mi

2007 Yankees:
J. Torre (Mgr) BR BP BC LAD
D. Mientkiewicz BR BP BC E MLB PIT
A. Phillips BR BP BC E MLB mi CIN
J. Phelps BR BP BC E MLB STL
M. Cairo BR BP BC E MLB SEA
K. Thompson BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT
B. Sardinha BC mi SEA mL
W. Nieves BR BP BC E MLB WAS
R. Clemens BR BP BC E mi
T. Clippard BR BP BC E mi WAS
L. Vizcaino BR BP BC E COL $7.5m/2yrs
M. DeSalvo BR BP BC E mi ATL mL
M. Myers (L) BR BP BC E LAD mL
R. Villone (L) BR BP BC E mi STL
S. Proctor BR BP BC E LAD
J. Brower BR BP BC E mi CIN mL
C. Bean BR BP BC E mi ATL mL

2007 Campers and mLers:
E. Durazo BR BP BC E MLB mi
A. Cannizaro BR BP BC E MLB mi TB mL
A. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi LAD mL
K. Reese BR BP BC E MLB mi
R. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT mL
O. Santos BC mi BAL mL
T. Pratt BR BP BC E MLB
T.J. Beam BR BP BC E mi PIT mL
B. Kozlowski (L) BR BP BC E mi Japan

Molina Trade:
J. Kennard BC mi

Abreu Trade
M. Smith (L) BR BP BC E mi PHI
C. Monasterios BC mi PHI
J. Sanchez mi PHI

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Tick, tick, tick...

2005-06-27 09:46

by Alex Belth

I believe that George Steinbrenner is not the same man he was back in the seventies and eighties, but at some point you figure he's going to do something. Someone has to get canned, right? So long as the Yanks continue to play as poorly as they have, it just seems inevitable. So who will be the first one to get it? Brian Cashman or Mel Stottlemyre? My guess is that it will be Mel.

Comments

2005-06-27 09:59:03

1. Nick from Washington Heights

I'd say Mel too. Of course there's the whole issue of Torre's loyalty to Mel, and the chance that Joe'll go if Mel goes.

2005-06-27 10:01:17

2. Alex Belth

Joe may be loyal. But methinks he is more loyal to the dough he's got coming to him than to a pitching coach in the last year of his career. Mel will understand.

2005-06-27 10:11:35

3. Nick from Washington Heights

so then who'd take over Mel's position? that guy Allen?

2005-06-27 10:17:31

4. Upperdeck

I'm all for Mel leaving. But I've been thinking after Pavano's game last week, maybe Jorge is the real problem? We've all seen him make the same baserunning mistakes for years now, maybe he's just as dumb behind the plate as he is on the bases?

2005-06-27 10:23:26

5. rsmith51

How bad could Posada be if they won 100+ games the last few years and a couple of world series rings with him as starting catcher?

I suppose you could say the same about Mel, but Mel can't hit to make up for his deficiencies.

2005-06-27 10:24:28

6. NetShrine

Whoever has been responsible for all those 0-2 and 1-2 hits given up the last couple of years should be the one to go, and that's not Cashman.

2005-06-27 10:28:33

7. Athos

Cashman should go. I feel like we're finally reaping the fruits of his labor... in a bad place and no wiggle room, youth or much of a farm league. Mel and Joe are as good as it gets when it comes to coaching.

2005-06-27 10:33:32

8. unpopster

I was listening to some WFAN goons yesterday and the subject of Posada and The Unti came up. Supposedly, Randy has made it very clear that he'd rather pitch to Flaherty (that's old news). So, I watched the game with that in mind last night and saw him pitch a very decent game to Flash.

Then comes the 6th inning when Posada pinch hit. Next half of the frame, Jorge is behind the plate and Randy really begins to struggle (ridiculous errors not withstanding).

For the record, before Cano's BIG error, The Unit gave up a single to Wright, a double to Woodward, and then a walk to Castro.

I don't know, but in my book 1+1=2. Maybe Randy just started to tire but I think there just might be some truth to the idea that Posada may be somewhat responsible for Johnson's mediocre first half.

2005-06-27 10:35:14

9. unpopster

er, that should have read "The Unit"

2005-06-27 11:26:21

10. Dan M

unpopster, you undermine your own argument. Of course fatigue was an issue: it was the 7th inning, on a very hot and humid evening, and he was nearing, and then over, the 100 pitch mark in the 7th. And, Woodward's "double" was a really deep flyball that Wocrack misjudged. Plus, RJ got flat out rocked by the Devil Rays last week with Jorge on the bench. So, sorry, but I'm far from convinced.

2005-06-27 11:55:24

11. KJC

"RJ got flat out rocked by the Devil Rays last week"

Man, did anybody ever expect to see that sentence written?

2005-06-27 12:00:33

12. domvjr

Anybody read Shaugnessy'a article in yesterday's Globe, basically saying that the American League race is over, and the Sox will win going away. A little early for that prediction, I think! Wasn't it last year at this time that Sox were left for dead after the Yanks swept them at the Stadium. I hope the Yanks can make that dope eat his words. David Wells offers his opinions on the state of the Yanks in todays Globe. Opinions are like @@@holes, everybody has one.

2005-06-27 12:26:39

13. David

In my opinion, Cashman has done a poor job, given all the money he had. Look how thin the Yankees are. Starters Tony Womack and Robinson Cano are mediocre major leaguers. Starter Kevin Reese is a mediocre minor leaguer.

2005-06-27 13:05:24

14. Alex Belth

The problem with evaluating Cashman is that it is nearly impossible for us to know what deals he has done and which ones came out of Tampa. The Womack deal has George's boys written all over it.

2005-06-27 13:05:40

15. uburoisc

How does the possibility of getting Jason Schmidt look, and what would the Yanks have to give up? Getting a top-flight starter for a run might make the most difference, or do you think CF is more urgent? My trouble with Kotsay, etc, is there doesn't seem to be any great OF out there, while JS might become a truly great pitcher; he certainly seems to have the goods. I'd rather have Bernie in LF and Matsui in CF with JS on the mound than get a so-so CF and fail to get some pitching.

2005-06-27 13:07:56

16. KJC

The best way to deal with Shaugnessey is to ignore him. He's an idiot & is only good for getting a rise out of people (both Sox fans & otherwise). Now that he can't write about the Curse, he's trying a different approach: the Sox can't lose! Call off the remaining games -- no need to go through the formality of the second half of the season!

2005-06-27 13:10:00

17. joe in boston

First of all, let me begin by saying how much I have enjoyed the comments. Stuck here in boston has not been easy (especially lately). For a long time, it was a blast: Grady Little, Buckner, "No Arm"... I mean Nomar, et al....kept the fun going for me. Then last year... oh well.

I think that Mel will go. This team is so dysfunctional it makes me ill. I was watching the game last night wishing for a Paul O'Neil to blast either a home run or a water cooler. They seem to be a batch of spare parts, very expensive ones mind you, with a few outstanding players (Jeter, Mo, Sheff come to mind). It will be very interesting to see if they can put any consistency together.

2005-06-27 13:18:35

18. uburoisc

I hear Joe Randa (.864 OPS so far) might be up for grabs. How about putting Randa at 3B, move Arod to SS, and use Jeter to fill the OF hole. I actually think Jeter would make a vary good OF; he seems to have an uncanny ability to judge fly balls and is a natural athlete. Jeter may soon be facing his age at SS just as Bernie did in CF, is it better to make the shift now?

2005-06-27 13:28:20

19. Athos

No way on the Jeter move... that's like shaving the mane off a lion. I don't doubt that Jeter could play well elsewhere, but you're suggestion is like replacing a tire on the good wheel when the other three are flat...

2005-06-27 13:30:14

20. uburoisc

ARod is a better SS, that is why.

2005-06-27 13:32:34

21. Athos

I'm not sure that the problem for this team lies at SS...

2005-06-27 13:42:22

22. joe in boston

To me, up here in Boston, I see the Yanks as having 2 choices. Either you hang in there with what you got and hope for the best (not to mention a complete revamp next year)....or you make some of these moves everyone is suggesting (fire front office staff, move an Inf to Center, make a trade etc.) I vote for the former.

2005-06-27 13:46:02

23. uburoisc

There are problems all over this team, pitching, defense, and Tony Woemack being a catagory by himself. This team is losing games they should win and probably will not make the playoffs. The way I see it, ARod is arguably a better defensive SS than Jeter; Jeter moves to the OF for the good of the team. There really aren't many appealing OF players available right now. Of course, if Jeter says "no," then I agree, nix it, but would Jeter go to the OF if he thought it might get the team into the playoffs? It may solve the big, glaring problem that Yanks do have: a .540 hitting LF/CF hack. That and starting pitching (along with Giambi coming the rest of the way around) could get them the wild card on a roll.

2005-06-27 13:51:22

24. joe in boston

Can you believe how much PTime T. Woemack gets ? I'd rather see Roy White out there

2005-06-27 14:01:08

25. Upperdeck

i heard the outfield for tonight is:
LF Woe-mack
CF Bernie
RF Sierra
DH Sheff
If this is true, Joe is a schmuck.

2005-06-27 14:09:38

26. uburoisc

Upperdeck, I'm going to assume you are joking, but if you are not, what team in baseball would have a worse OF that that combination? Are there any? If that is his OF, fire him. Enough.

2005-06-27 14:11:36

27. Alex Belth

Rodriguez at short would make the Yankees a better team. It's not where the team's biggest problem lies, but you have to realistic about it. If they are going to move Jeter it would not be in the middle of a season. That would create too much chaos.

That being said, I'm just one of many fans who believe that Jeter would be an ideal left or maybe even center fielder, ala Robin Yount.

I don't think he'll volunteer to make that move however, and so long as Torre is managing, it will not happen. Jeter would have to step forward. Some people might criticize Jeter and say he's not being a true team guy by staying at short. On the other hand, a guy like Jeter has gotten where he is by an amazing belief in himself and his abilities. He is an extremely proud guy. I just don't see him looking at himself as hurting the team defensively.

Now, that shouldn't ultimately be his choice. He doesn't need to be Mr. Golly-shucks, I'll do whatever I can do to help, Skip. This isn't Super Joe McEwing we are talking about. But if the Yanks are begining a losing trend, you have to treat a situation like replacing Jeter with Rodriguez with a lot of sensitivity. By the time they get around to it, Rodriguez and Jeter's defensive abilities will probably have declined significantly anyway.

2005-06-27 14:49:23

28. JohnnyC

The way ARod's been playing third base this season, his defensive abilities may have declined already. I've noted before how much ARod's physique has changed from even 3 -4 years ago: heavier, more muscular, less flexible...all adaptations to maximizing his offensive abilities. Frankly, I don't think he could play shortstop at a Gold Glove level anymore. After all, even Ripken, his idol, had the range of a postage stamp by the time he reached 30. Granted, Cal was never quite the athlete ARod is...but the comparison's not far-fetched. If Jeter moved to CF in the off-season (which I think would help not only the team's overall defense but his own offensive game), the Yankees should try to acquire/develop/hatch a slick-fielding shortstop with plus offensive skills. Aren't too many of those guys around.

2005-06-27 14:50:18

29. Nick from Washington Heights

The OF/DH situation tonight is:
Matsui-LF
Woemack-CF
Ruben-RF
Sheff-DH

And the great Womack Mystery Tour continues. Torre trips the light fantastic and we wait until the hit wears off.

2005-06-27 14:53:20

30. JohnnyC

With rumors that Bret Boone maybe traded to the Padres, the most likely dump-off for Womack seems kaput. Maybe that's why they're playing Womack in CF...to enhance his trade value. I can't believe I actually wrote that.

2005-06-27 15:00:01

31. singledd

Jason Schmidt has some injury problems. If the Giants are letting him go, I am suspect. If Matsui is NOT at DH and Sheff is, then one of them is hurt. I'd rather have Sierra in LF and the lineup then Womack. If Jetes was willing to go to the OF, he'd be there by now. Forget that. Not happening. Jetes doesn't seem to have a big ego... but being ousted for ARod? Too much to bear. Having Bernie in LF allows Tino at first. The D is somewhat of a wash. About Defense, Womack in LF and Giambi at 1st (and Bernie at DH) is not any better then Bernie in LF and Tino at first (and Giambi at DH). In terms of Offense... well.... not a hard one there.

2005-06-27 15:02:43

32. singledd

"Maybe that's why they're playing Womack in CF...to enhance his trade value."

I think shaving his eyebrows would help more.