2) I hated to see Gardner apparently determined to not swing at a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded.

3) Gonzalez has been a huge, HUGE disappointment.

4) I was impressed with Rasner, and Sardinha continues to produce big hits.

btw, Abraham reported that Pettitte sustained a minor cut to his finger.

I know Torre loves to break up his R/L hitters but it's crazy to give Melky the extra ABs over Jeter, A-Rod or Abreu. I don't want to obsess over something this small but the few runs it costs over a season might be the win that puts you in the playoffs.

1 3) Sounds like your expectations were too high (a "hugh, HUGH" disappointment shouldn't have been possible), though certainly his defense thus far has not been as advertised.

Here's what Baseball Musings Generator came up with for the '07 NYY ('54-'04 model).

w/Melky and Minky
Max runs/g = 6.453, minimum 6.201 - http://tinyurl.com/37u466

w/Damon and Minky
Max runs/game = 6.531, minimum 6.314 - http://tinyurl.com/2skr65

All of top max. lineups have Jeter batting leadoff and Melky last. It's not just about OB% - Cabrera has a SLG% 91 points lower than Damon. I'd be very happy if Melky has a better year than last year and develops power but the fact is the Red Sox bat Kevin Youkilis leadoff for a reason - he generates more runs for the team in that slot over the long run. Finding 0.1 runs a game is 16.2 runs a year. If you can do that simply with a more efficient batting order why wouldn't you? It's about 1.5 wins a year. There are a lot of conventional R/L/R/L lineups in the model that generate around 6.45 runs a game. Why not use one?

Damon also does a great job. Jeter is a good leadoff hitter, but that aspect of his game is sometimes wanting with his free swinging style.

And Steven Jackson? Meh.

Meanwhile: Bean, Beam, Britton, Veras, Henn, Whelan, and heck even DeSalvo have all pitched better than Vizcaino. If you're counting at home that's seven relief pitchers who will start the year in the minors while Vizacaino blows a few games because he has a MLB history.

Shoot, if it wasn't for Dorf (Bless you Dorfman!), they could have just given Unit away.

Oh wait...

And that's your Daily Dean Rant!

Meanwhile, Stinky Minky continues his impressive hitless streak. The sad part is: He'll still be the opening day starter.

So, let me get this straight. They had two young 1B's in addition to Tony Clark and the Yanks couldn't get one.

Yup, I know - it's an old rant. But it will apply even time MCI starts this year and drive me slowly mad in the process. By the end I'll only be able to type "MCI" over and over again.

MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy. MCI and a close race makes Jim a dull boy.

https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/324917.html

I'm not worried about Gonzalez yet, like yankz said in 9 - it is just spring training after all. Now if June rolls around, and he has 20 errors in the minors, then its time to worry.

Moose versus the Braves today - wonder if more vet hitters than usual will make the trip because its Disney World? Supposed to be a lot of nice golf courses around there.

8 There's also the question of who has options. Spring training is always a small sample size, so unless there's a huge disparity, they'd rather give themselves the most flexibility. Look at Vizcaino for another month, and if he sucks you can cut bait and bring up Britton (or somebody). No great harm done.

I'll have to work on that simulation when the George Steinbrenner "AI" game is available for X-Box.

While he isn't Abreu or Giambi by any stretch, Jeter does exhibit enough patience to walk his fair share. I don't know what the P/PA numbers say, but I'm sure Jeter doesn't rank among other players who are more accurately defined as free swingers...guys such as Vlad and Nomar.

In other words, while Jeter may be a free swinger in the local night clubs, I think he is a moderately patient guy in the batter's box.

As a kid I liked Pags and Rags.

I really liked O'Neill - especially since he used to interact with the fans in the RF porch. Plus, I loved his intensity. That's one thing that hasn't been replaced since he left. Shef was a SOB but he was selfish - always has been.

Meeting Bernie last summer showed just how cool he is. I wish I watched him more closely over the years - but it was so easy for him to blend in and then appreciate the results.

Who doesn't love Donnie B? And he's kind enough to wave/point when you yell his name.

And of course Mo. But loving Mo is like loving a robot - he's so automatic you just can't embrace him as a favorite.

Posada I appreciate as a player - but I'm not sure he'd be fun to have a beer with.

More I think I just like to root for the kids and nothing makes me happier than when they make it. But then I move on to cheer for a new crop. It's like Cano, Wang, and Melky (to say nothing of Jeter) have their fans now - they don't need me. But the transition from prospect to valued teammate was really fun to watch.

That might also explain my craziness with MCI, Cairo, and Pratt. Not only do they offer nothing to the team - they offer nothing to me as a fan. It also goes back to why I was pissed they didn't give 1B to Nick Johnson. To me, the Giambi signing was the moment the dynasty flipped.

Now this year? Can I really root for Phil Huge? We all know he's going to be great.

Otherwise the team is lacking pleasant surprises. That's where I think a young C or 1B would have been a nice gift as a fan.

You?

I argued last year that Andy Philips should get a shot. He got it. He sucked.

ManCaveItch is what he is - a defensive specialist at a position known for offense. Meh. I'd be ok with a MCI/Phelps platoon, I guess.

How often is that really going to happen? Damon has shown a history of playing, injured or not. Typically 10 runs roughly translates to a win. So year of Melky over Damon is 1.6 wins. But 20 games of such a lineup construction is only 2 runs or .2 wins.

Through no fault of his own, he isn't able to participate in the games this spring....meanwhile, Phelps keeps hitting the ball.

I am hopeful that when Phillips is designated for assignment, a team picks him up.

Also, I mentioned this in yesterday's thread, but figured i would mention it again...if anyone wants to participate in a Phil Hughes Community Projection, please feel free to do so at my blog. jeteupthemiddle.blogspot.com

Thanks.

So, could the Yanks send Phillips to the minors without being picked up by another team? I think there's a pretty good chance he wouldn't be picked up, because other teams are having the problem of retaining all the players they kind of like. They won't have a slots for a mediocre first baseman.

As for me the answer is Mattingly, when I was a kid I was a Reggie fan (at least until I read the Bronx Zoo). Just as the torch seemed to get passed from Thurman to Mattingly to Jeter so did my favorite player change through the years. I realize that those guys are an obvious choice, however growing up in Alabama I took a lot of grief for being a Yankee fan and we didn't get much coverage down here. So I guess I just went with the most popular guys (so people would know who I was talking about when they asked me who my favorite player was). I also liked Rickey and Bernie since I played OF. Now of course I guess I am the last Andy Phillips fan around (say it ain't so Cliff).

Then to have nothing behind Jorge, that's a problem too with no solution in the system.

Sure, it's nice they Kevin Thompson and Bronson Sardinha. But light hitting OF's are almost as common as above average hitting 1B's.

My point all along is that the GM has made choices that makes the race closer than it should be. Even if a better 1B meant only two wins, that's two more wins that the other teams need to make up.

30 Thanks and good to hear. Me, I wish A-Rod would bust out with some intense shit - I think he's the one person on the current team that's got an O'Neill streak in him.

(cough) 32 I agree(!) I've always said he should just shout "@#$%-it!" at everyone and play. A-Rod + (@#$%) = 1 Sad A.L. I hope the last three seasons have been seasoning enough.

I think Alex has that in him.

After watching a special on Ali it struck me how he went from being a villain (after the Vietnam stuff) to being one of the most beloved figures in all of sport. All the while talking trash about how he was "The Greatest". He was able to back it up most of the time, but not always (losing a few famous bouts). His trash talk seemed to "get inside the head" of his opponent, giving him a slight advantage. His opponents would try so hard to shut him up that they would get out of their game plan.

It might not be Alex's style or personality to do this, but when his career is done he might very well be considered "The Greatest" so I say that he starts acting the part. If he wants to proclaim it a'la Ali, then go right ahead. At least maybe he will get inside the opponent's head instead of his own.

"Throw the ball, catch the ball, hit the ball, eat the ball, tell 'em to kiss your behind if necessary, play the game."

If some actual Yankee was/is reading this blog and related this mantra to A-Rod, then in him I am well pleased. (cough)

Never has Jeter gotten in someone's face on camera and screamed, shouted or otherwise humiliated his teammate for all to see. The reason we don't see these types of public outbursts from the Captain is as simple as respect and as deep as not letting your opponents or supporters know your weaknesses.

I would hate to be called out in front of strangers about my attitude or my apparent/assorted flaws and weaknesses. Whatever the issues that A-Rod and Jeter have with each other, they've kept the details under wraps even with the micro-speculation that flies around here and everywhere. Some people respond to a public slap in the face or on the butt, but some don't. If A-Rod begins to focus on the fundamentals and forget what the press or Jeter said or didn't say about him, he kills the AL this year. Don't you think that any team would gladly exploit those things if they know they have to face him, especially when he's on a tear?

All that to say this: Jeter, as much as I and anyone else would like him to stick up for A-Rod or at least show some emotion when confronted with potential disruptions, is what he is and has not let anything disturb his production, something his teammates can all gain something from. He's the one with insight on what's going on with whom, and though his approach to handling authority is not outwardly impressive, it has seemingly had enough effect to keep this team in uncommon competitiveness since he was named captain. All we can do is speculate and look at the results, which aren't as bad as we tend to think. (cough)

This isn't a bad thing - I understand that DiMaggio (and Mantle, to a degree) was (were) the same way - just an observation.

Nonetheless, the less time this season we feel the need to discuss the Jeter-A-Rod relationship, A-Rod's coping abilities, et al., the better off we probably are. And the better the Yanks must be doing!

I hope.

I hope some team gives him a chance in the majors.

Even though baseball is different (especially the team aspect instead of an individual sport), I think there are some areas where a little bravdo is not out of line. The confrontation between a batter and a pitcher is a classic one-on-one battle where intimidation plays a part (think Sheff vs. Pedro).

A-Rod may not be able to be the next Ali (Ali was one of a kind), but I wouldn't mind seeing him be more boisterous ("it ain't braggin' if you can back it up"). It always seemed to work for Reggie "Magnitude of Me" Jackson and Gary "Mystique of Me" Sheffield.

I am ready for Alex "Mystiq-itude of Me" Rodriguez.

I read a story about a former non-star Yankee during the lean years when Mickey played out his last few years in decline; the guy was rookie and was on the bench when Mickey stormed back into the dugout after striking out, proceeding to unleash his temper on everything inanimate within reach, all the while cursing up a storm. Then he finally threw himself on the bench next to the rookie, fuming. The guy's obviously shaking like a leaf, when Mickey turns around and looks him in the face.

"You know how the town of Normal, OK got it's name?" Mickey says.

No, to which Mickey starts to tell one of his infamously dirty stories. It loosened him up a lot, but also gave an important lesson that even I got without knowing the actual story. Perhaps there are things we don't really know about Jeter because the ones with direct access to him are more concerned about things related to their columns or editors. I would argue that Joe D., for whatever faults he may have had as a teammate, was passionate about things beyond baseball, which would explain his routine of placing a rose on Marilyn's grave once a year for practically the rest of his life. And considering how most writers and columnists tend to behave in NYC in particular now as opposed to fifty years ago and such, disconnect might be a good strategy. Could you imagine having to be "on" all the time? To be chained to a particular image, regardless of your own imagination or desires?

Think Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) and Charles Schulz (Peanuts). I read where Schulz's ultimate disappointment, regardless of being the most successful cartoonist in history, was that he could never break out of the mold that he created himself with Peanuts. Bill Watterson sited that as one of his reasons for discontinuing his own strip. Apply that to baseball, and the principle can and might end up being the same.

No, and that's why I feel bad for A-Rod, who seems to be in exactly the situation you describe.

I understand Bill Watterson's thinking, and I don't blame him for it. But I sure do miss Calvin and Hobbes.

47 Yeah (sigh) one of my major inspirations.

45 I agree with you Bama, but I would replace "bravado" with focus. I don't see A-Rod devolving into an average ballplayer under any circumstance. Imagine if he had to go through what Andy is going through right now... I can't imagine how the writers would be stepping all over themselves to appear supportive and considerate if he had ongoing circumstances to deal with. That's why you should never buy into the hype, good or bad honestly. If he can't walk on water, I expect him to fail at times more often than I would want, but give the best he's got.

Honestly, I think we need to redefine our heroes and allow these men to do their best. They're only the best after the deed is done.