Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
You can't win if you don't score. Last night the Yankees got ten men on base, but couldn't push any of them across against the underwhelming duo of lefty Brian Burres and righty Jim Johnson. The Yanks have scored just two runs in two games in Baltimore, but the story last night was the failure of rookie starter Ian Kennedy to get out of the third inning.
Kennedy got into trouble right away, but was rescued from his first-inning jam when Melky Cabrera ranged deep into the left field gap to snag a deep drive for the third out with the bases loaded. (Likely encouraged by that catch Melky later misplayed two long drives which ricocheted off the wall and back over his head.) A nifty pickoff play at second base allowed Kennedy to escape a second inning jam with just one run allowed. In the third, he wasn't so lucky.
After striking out Nick Markakis, Kennedy hung a slider to Kevin Millar, who deposited it in the left field seats to make the score 2-0. Kennedy then walked the next two men, his fourth and fifth walks of the game. That drew his manager out of the dugout, not for a pitching change, but for a stern lecture about the need to throw strikes. Kennedy's first pitch to the next batter was a ball, but he proceeded to strike him out on three more pitches. He then fell behind the next hitter 3-0 before surrendering a two-run double. With that, Joe Girardi had seen enough.
Still fuming over Kennedy's nibbling, Girardi gave a very aggressive post-game press conference. Some of the highlights:
"It's hard to pitch the way he's pitching. You have to attack the zone. Five walks in 17 hitters? You can't pitch that way. You have to attack the zone and throw strikes. . . . You make all hitters better when you're behind them. You just can't pitch that way. To me, it looks like he's not aggressive enough."
"You have to find out what people are made of, and he has to make adjustments. He's gotta fight his way out of it. I'm planning on him being out there his next start. He's just missing. He understands. It's a minor adjustment that he has to make for us, and he'll do it."
"I never lose patience. This game is hard. It was hard for me. It's hard for all players. I'm never going to lose patience."
Kim Jones: "Joe, you say you don't lose patience, but it is obvious this is testing you."
Girardi, angrily: "No. It isn't testing me. I hate losing. That tests me. But I believe in my people, and you continue to encourage them, and you work with them, and they get better.
When asked about both Burres and the Orioles he mentioned specifically the things they did that his team isn't right now, though he didn't make the comparison explicit: "They're playing good fundamental baseball. They're throwing strikes. They're getting hits with runners in scoring position. They're not making errors [Robinson Cano made the game's only error last night]. They're not walking people."
During the YES broadcast, Michael Kay, who has been covering the Yankees since 1987, spanning the terms of 8 Yankee managers, said the only Yankee manager he's seen take losing as hard as Girardi was Billy Martin.
On the up side, Ross Ohlendorf saved the bullpen once again with three-plus innings of scoreless relief (though he was charged with two runs when Billy Traber plated both of his bequeathed baserunners in the seventh setting the final at 6-0 Orioles). Joba Chamberlain returned from Nebraska with good news about his father's continuing recovery from what he described as "some respiratory stuff" and shook off the rust by striking out two in a scoreless inning. Jose Molina also returned to action. He went 0-for-3 and failed to catch the only man who attempted to steal against him, but if Molina can catch and Posada, who played first base, is almost ready, the Yanks should be able to farm out Chad Moeller and bring back Shelley Duncan, who has hit .342/.468/.816 with four homers in ten games since being optioned down to Scranton. Of course, the Yankee roster hijinx will continue with the Rodriguez family still expecting a new arrival and Kyle Farnsworth facing a suspension for throwing behind Manny Ramirez, but with an off day finally arriving on Monday and the weather heating up, things are starting to return to normal.
But those guys always had a history of lack of command. With Phil and IPK, the opposite is true. They both have histories of excellent command. So while I am not happy with their performances so far, I do not believe what we have seen is what we can expect for the future.
And both guys have shown, as rookies, that when their command is on, they are both above average (or better) pitchers.
I said in the previous thread that it's hard for us to fathom the pressure on these kids. Even though we say 'we know they will have growing pains', we still hope and quasi-expect quality MLB performances.
We know they are both mature and level headed. We seem to 'know' they can handle the pressure of pitching successfully in NY.
We know Santana, Liriano and many other stud pitchers took a year or 2 to find 'themselves'. Intellectually, we know what Phil and IPK are experiencing is par for the course.
Yet we still hope and quasi-expect quality MLB performances.
Look at Carlos Pena, once he was on a team where there were no expectations on him. He blossomed.
Phil and IPK are kinda like our kids. They need to know we still 'love em to death' even if they fail. I think the super high expectations, the Santana stuff, the 'fall of the Yankees'... all this stuff weighs on them. They have to learn how to crawl before they can walk. I don't doubt their talent. I just hope the fans give these kis the support they need.
This year, like last year, we win with our offense. The team needs to give our pitchers the feeling that no matter how well/poorly they pitch, the team will keep them in the game.
In 2 years it will be different, and we will expect of young pitchers to carry the team. But for now, winning or losing is on the offense. If we give up 10 runs, we have to expect our O to get 11 runs.
It is up to our vets, and especially JD and Jason, to step up. I don't think we have a better chance with Brett and Shelly. Maybe lightning will strike or a midseason trade will change things, but my feeling is this year, we live or die with 'the old guys'.
I think that you may be forcing a false dichotomy, that this is a choice between JD/Jason or Brett/Shelly. I know you are a big fan of defense and count the innumerable balls that JD catches, but at some point you stick Matsui or Duncan in the OF because their bats outweigh JD's glove. Moreover, moving Matsui into LF opens the DH spot for Posada (since he may never catch again at this rate) or the DuncBerg/Betemit platoon.
Similarly, at 1B you have Ensberg/Duncan/Betemit/Posada on any given day. At some point you have to pull the plug on the Giambi Resurrection Project.
So basically, 1] there is no need to go outside of the current roster (+ Duncan, who is only at AAA b/c of Posada's injury) to try to find some offensive solution; 2] there is no reason to be trapped into a simple solution (Gardner for Damon, Duncan for Giambi). Cashman has done a very good job of constructing a much more flexible roster than we have seen in years. They need to start using that flexibility.
I have two comments here. One is a repeat: careful what we wish for. Everyone was so excited (or many here were) about 'the kids', there was grief and dismay at the thought of dealing PKH and/or IPK for the best starter in the game (along with Melky, to be fair). This may very well have been the right move ... but as OYF (sort of) says, it takes time. Where I disagree a bit is his implication that time might be, like, May or June? It may be 2009 or even 2010. And it remains a 'to be seen', Judging talent is a guess, an educated one but ... so it was ALWAYS going to be a bumpy ride this year with two rookies and at least one aging control pitcher and not a lot behind them. That led to my hoping for a sixth starter pick-up all winter and spring.
Next comment: good hitting takes pressure off kid pitchers sometimes, but not always (we did give IPK a 6 run lead last start). But what really takes pressure off a whole team is a manager with some equilibrium and poise. You can kick the vets if they are 'giving away at-bats' which is what Leyland just did in Detroit, but kicking the kids ...? I said it more than once ... the Yankees run last year after the way they started ought to have got Torre manager of the year. Bullpen management? If NO one is throwing well, the middle relief is a landmine for any team. Right now I'd call Girardi a rookie, too. One year in the quiet of Florida does not a New York media manager make. Not out the gate.
In short, I think he and I are saying the same thing, which isn't that uncommon except when the topic is Roger.
But I think if he'd JOINED me in calling for another starter to be signed, Cash might have listened! :)
Digging further, the "projected records" based on offensive statistics has the Yankees at the same place as their actual record. So it's not as if the team is getting unlucky- they're hitting and pitching like a .500 team right now. Last year, the team had scored 27 more runs than they allowed and still were 4 games under .500. This year, they've scored 14 fewer runs than they've allowed, and are in the middle of the pack with both hitting and pitching.
All in all, a very average team so far. I'm much more concerned than I was at this time last year...
That said, I am wondering when, exactly, the offense will come around.
So... who was that? Lohse? And at what cost? Colon? We didn't hear of it, but are we sure Cashman didn't look for someone, and found nothing worthwhile?
4 DH Posada and then what? Molina's bat over JD's? And have both of our Cs in the same lineup?
Matsui missed a ball that lead to 6 runs. Hard for his bat to make up for that. He is painful to watch in LF. As long as he hits, DH is a fine place for him
At what point is JD's glove worth his bat? .750 OPS? Maybe the problem is not his bat, but his bat leading off? Maybe a .750 OPS batting 9th is OK?
Shelly has a career 7 yr MiLB OPS of .822. Last year, when he exceeded expectations, his OPS against RH pitching was .802.
And as bad as Jason is on D, he is good at scoops. He has already saved a number of errors. Posada at first is NOT better D. If you want Shelly/Ensberg at 1B against LH pitching... fine. Thats maybe 20% of our games.
My point is, unless Jason can't even post a .800 OPS, he seeme to be our best bet at 1B against RH pitching.
And while JD is not longer a great runner, his base running is still a small asset over Mats/Duncan.
I agree we have options within our current roster. I'm saying if we get .750 OPS from JD and .850 OPS from Giambi, we are OK. I think we need to give them enough time for them to prove they CAN'T do that, before alternatives look better.
I may be nuts, but I think Jason is still good for a .850 OPS.... but not if he's not close to an everyday player.
Go git 'em, Stopper. Show the kids how it's done.
I also agree with you about giving Damon time and even Giambi (less sure about Jason myself, would like to be wrong). But yes, Giambi's scoops have saved Jeter (especially) several times already. We could lead off with Jeter/Melky for now, and wish Cano had his act together to bat 2nd.
Posada as DH? Agreed again, way too soon for that in a 4 year contract! It may get there but ... we really don't want both Cs in the game at once. Is Matsui really and truly stick-a-fork as a LF? If so, means his knee is NOT back, you know.
1) Making Durham, NC part of "Orioles territory"
2) TWC refusing to air the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network because too few people care about Orioles games in North Carolina.
And yet, not being able to watch the game might be a good thing...
13 you captured the feeling well
And I really hope Cashman does not sign a now free Frank Thomas.
That's a specious argument. Posada will have to DH if cannot throw the ball. So, you are going to have a BUC in any case. By keeping Damon in the lineup you are therefore sacrificing either Posada or Matsui.
"Matsui missed a ball that lead to 6 runs. Hard for his bat to make up for that. He is painful to watch in LF."
This to is a somewhat bogus argument. So, Matsui's bad play gets "credit" for ALL the runs that follow? And we assume that he will make such negative plays every single game? Show me the stats.
That he is painful to watch is an aesthetic argument, not a scientific one.
Mark my words.
I can't vouch for the "offense," though.
"At what point is JD's glove worth his bat? .750 OPS? Maybe the problem is not his bat, but his bat leading off? Maybe a .750 OPS batting 9th is OK?"
First, this assumes that he will hit .750 OPS, which he is currently about 60 points below (if I recall). Matsui's career OPS is around .850. Are you convinced that Damon makes up 100 points of OPS with his glove? Moreover, Matsui is streaky and he currently hitting .900+ OPS. Wouldn't it make sense now of al times to stick him into LF and ride the hot streak, since his mat surely will outweigh his glove as long as he is raking?
Yes, a good start would be to move Damon down to 8th or 9th in the lineup. But if he continues to scuffle around .680 OPS, they may have to think about benching him...at least as long as the offense is scuffling.
Finally, you sort of ignored the suggestion that Duncan can stand in LF with a glove tied to his arm.
I wonder if he wants to be a platoon DH?
http://tinyurl.com/62esgu
The money quote:
"Damon is clearly the better fielder when it comes to chasing balls in the gap, and he doesn't have the judgment problems that Matsui has. Having said that, there is very limited evidence, be it statistical or anecdotal, that he redefined play out there. The huge gap between Matsui and Damon is a creative invention, an urban legend generated by the expectations that Damon, as a relocated speedy center fielder, is somehow overqualified to play left."
Up the middle, please, for God's sake.
Please, just meet the baseball.
Geez, the Yankees make everyone look like Carlton and Koufax.
That's not good.
I knew this game was going to be infuriating just be looking at who was pitching for the O's
Even nicer play by Jones.
Oh well, at least that's two well-struck balls.
Here's Jason.
Someone do something with/to Jason.
I know it might just be my imagination and that I don't see Manny everyday, but man, he just never seems to look bad at the dish the way Alex does. He always seems in complete command of the AB, especially in "pressure" situations.
He never seems jumpy or on the defensive. Alex, for his part, seems to enter an AB on the defensive when he's struggling. You just know he's feeling the pressure and will swing accordingly.
Sigh.
Maybe he needs to start wearing his headphones again.
A-Rod, when off, is jumpy and swings at pitches that aren't his pitches. You can see it coming and see him thinking. Manny is sort of the opposite in that you don't see him thinking through it, even if he is
Robby needs to fucking start hitting.
Whatever with Manny, Alex needs to step it up.
He doesn't need to be a superstar (though that would be nice), but Christ, is it too much to ask him to have a representative ab, line a single somewhere with Derek out there on second?
Someone has to drive in runs, you know?
A nice little groundball up the middle!
Ok, Team, keep it coming!
It's on you, Derek.
It's on you.
Alex: .306 .389 .578
the numbers alone say that Manny is a flat-out better hitter...
This is what is so frustrating about trying to track clutch performance. If clutch=2 out RISP Manny is a monster; if it=late and close, he's a choker......
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I can't say for sure, but if you remember, I have been advocating (here) that Matsui be taken out of LF since July last year. This young year already, there was a HR into the first row that JD definitely would have caught, and a ball over Mats head, that lead to 6 runs, that JD could have caught. Those arew just 2 I remember.
Did you see Matsui running the bases when he (barely) scored a few games ago? I assume he was running full out, but he looked like he was running in quick sand. I would guess that with a ball hit in the LF gap, that in the time it takes to run it down, JD would gain 5'-10' over Mats.... which is huge.
I know the Yanks need another DH-type like a hole in the head, but it's tempting to think about. Nah....
Before his slump, in the first week, he was batting .240 w/3 HRs. So... what AL teams needs a cheap and possibly good DH?
Man, just what we need.
What's next?
Thank you, Robby.
Hit a fucking fly ball there. Situatonal hitting. Lift the fucking ball.
THIS GUY IS KILLING US!
i submit to you that 99% of all ballplayers who are cooked think and feel exactly that....
2-0 for us, why does it feel like we're down 4-1 or something?
I thought fake tags are illegal!
And the comedy of errors continues. Freaking amazing when the O's make you look like a sloppy team
Ok, as I type that, he does steal third, but I was going to say maybe he'll steal third and then steal home.
might as well stand behind my pessimism...
Watch the flight of the baseball and describe said flight to the audience.
Just because you have some special homerun call doesn't mean you have to prepare ahead of time to use it.
Oh, God, it's this Bradford clown.
I hate watching him pitch.
Nice.
i'm sure they both got this one right.
On the other hand, given Moeller's prowess, you had to assume that ball was gone....
what a catch.
111 Good question. I guess they need someone to go into histrionics so the fans know when to get excited.
5-3 Texas, man on 2nd, 2 out, bottom 8th, pitching change.
Just remember, Fenway makes lots of hitters look real nice
Ok, Joba here, you know, b/c "he's the 8th inning guy"
Just call this thing.
What clownery.
It caromed under his legs and he had to turn around and chase after it like a stooge.
Now Bruney's got himself quite a mess to clean up.
I was just about to say I have a bad feeling about this.
He popped up, good.
Ugh, can't we just call this game now???
Girardi does not think any of his relievers can get 3 outs before allowing 6 runs.
What is Mo doing in a 7-1 game, just getting some work in?
If Giambi's released tomorrow, I suspect that Duncan & Betemit will get time @ 1b. Ensberg will see time there as well. Maybe Posada.
DH will have some rotation of Damon, Matsui, Abreu & Duncan and whomever needs a day of rest or is rehabbing from injury.
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