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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

er, that should have read "The Unit"

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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...

ARod is a better SS, that is why.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

I think shaving his eyebrows would help more.