If George was alive, there would be a big meeting in Tampa today. At the conclusion of that meeting someone would leave without a job. Justified or symbolic, the first ax would fall. The Boss would apologize to the fans and angrily announce that the 2013 season begins TODAY.
Everyone would laugh, George is overreacting again, what a tyrant! Well, the last time the Yankees were swept in a best of 7 was 1976 to the Big Red Machine. The 2012 Tigers are an 88 win team and not the '76 Reds. The '76 Yankees were competitive in that series, this group didn't show up.
After game 4, there was none of that fire or determination to fix what just happened. What we got was a monotone manager and an equally as monotone general manager talking about disappointment and adjustments.
There is no need to rehash the numbers or detail the failings of Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez and "The Player Formerly Known As A-Rod." We all know what they DIDN'T do.
And poor Nick Swisher, not only did he choke again in the postseason, Swisher's wife, JoAnna Garcia, learned that her NBC sitcom, “Animal Practice,” was canceled. Remember when NBC scheduled "Animal Practice" to debut in the middle of the Olympic Closing Ceremonies and bumped The Who?
In the coming days this blog will do what the Yankees hierarchy did not do after the sweep, that is look into the future and begin the 2013 season.
Rest in peace Mr. Steinbrenner, you are missed. Especially today.
"All things considered, it's surprising they're still tied for first place after 135 games. If Girardi had known in Spring Training how it would all play out, he surely would have signed up for a share of first place on Sept. 5."
How about this: If Girardi had known on June 11, when they had a 10 game lead, would he have signed up for a share of first place on Sept. 5? Would you? I think not.
"More was expected of Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova. But they were never supposed to be the keys to this strange season."
Mr. Longball
Anyone that expected Phil "Mr. Longball" Hughes to more than an average .500 pitcher was fooling themselves. Hughes' pitches are not measured in MPH, they are measured in FEET. He is a serviceable #4 starter that will see better days in a lesser teams uniform.
"Girardi has perfected the art -- and believe me, it's an art -- of answering every question the same way. He never raises his voice. He almost never seems irritated."
Except for when he is smug and bats his eyelashes at you. Ever notice how when he thinks he is above and beyond he bats his lashes at you? Makes you want to chuck the remote at the TV.
"The Yankees were not poorly constructed. They are not poorly managed. They do not lack heart. They lack bodies."
The Over Manager
Yes, they ARE poorly managed. They are OVER MANAGED. His constant "mixing and matching", as he calls it, hurts more than it helps. I don't care if the opposing pitcher throws with his left hand, right hand, big toe or other appendage, if Alex Rodreguez is hurt, I don't want to see Jayson Nix or Casey McGehee at 3rd when Eric Chavez is on this team. Sometimes your tired starter is still better than some of the scrubs he runs out of the bullpen. 100 pitches...take him out, put in a scrub. Insanity. Too many times Girardi does not put the best possible team on the field and that is his #1 job. Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart are better hitters than Russell Martin. The defense between the 3 are equal but Girardi keeps putting Martin out there with his .190 average. This week we saw Girardi at his best by trying to out manage a fellow over manager versus Baltimore. Fail.
"In 49 days, their lead in the American League East has gone from 10 games to zero. In that time, they've gone 20-25. They've averaged 4.4 runs per game. Their ERA is 4.00. Neither number is particularly good. Neither number is awful, either. "
10 to ZERO and 20-25 IS awful! This team was built for more than 4.4 runs per game and with some of the pitchers on this team 4.4 doesn't cut it. "With Sabathia, Pettitte, Hiroki Kuroda and Hughes pitching well down the stretch, the Yankees are good enough to make the playoffs."
GM Brian Cashman
Again, expecting more from Hughes than he is capable of delivering. Nobody should expect anything out of Pettitte. We know his reputation, but to count on anyone coming off of an injury is not a smart move. Brian Cashman needed to get a starter at the trade deadline and failed to do so. Instead, he got an outfielder and a scrub infielder.
"They never expected to be playing with this roster, but that's the hand they've been dealt. Girardi must somehow get his guys to take a deep breath and worry only about themselves."
The problem here is that Girardi is not the right guy to lead this. How long will it be before we see Jeter getting "rest" while Eduardo Nunez makes 2 errors at short and another game is lost? It WILL happen. When will another pitcher, who is pitching well, be removed for a lefty/righty mix and match, only to have the next pitcher blow the game?
"They're in more trouble than they ever expected to be, but nothing has been lost."
Nothing? A 10 game lead is not "nothing".
The Yankees are an under performing team and the manager makes it worse. When this season is over, regardless of the outcome, big changes need to be made.
Take a breath Mets fans. I know you are all very excited over the wonderful season that R.A. Dickey is having but don't go ordering his Hall of Fame plaque just yet or hanging #43 on the outfield wall.
Historically, knuckleballers are .500 pitchers (as starters) over a career with a knack for double digit loss seasons. Most of their compiled records are due to longevity since most pitch into their 40's as relievers. While R.A. might win 20, don't be shocked if he loses 15 next season.
Here is a brief history of the knuckleball and some of its more famous users:
History: (from Wikipedia) The identity of the first pitcher to throw a knuckleball is uncertain, but it appears to have been developed in the early 20th century. Lew "Hicks" Moren (1906) of the Philadelphia Phillies was credited as its inventor. However, Eddie Cicotte apparently also came up with the pitch while at Indianapolis, and brought it to the modern major leagues two years later in 1908. Since Cicotte had a much more successful career (and also gained later notoriety as one of the players implicated in the Black Sox scandal), his name is the one most often associated with the invention of the pitch today.
Hall of Famer Phil Niekro is probably the greatest of them all. Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleball pitcher. He also amassed 274 losses in his 24 year career with the Braves, Yankees, Indians and Blue Jays. "Knucksie" lead the NL in losses in 4 consecutive seasons between 1977 -1980. He won 20 games twice and lost 20 games twice. He pitched a no-hitter in 1973 and his #35 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 1984 even though he didn't retire until 1987. He actualy played for the Braves AFTER they retired his number.
Joe Niekro (brother of Phil), went 221-204 with the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros, Yankees and Twins over 22 seasons. His best season was 1979 (21-11. 3.00) with the Astros. He had double digit losses 11 times. including an 18 loss season in 1969. In 1987 Niekro was suspended for 10 games when umpire Steve Palermo discovered a nail file in his pocket. Neikro died in 2006. His family sponsors the Joe Neikro Foundation which is committed to aiding in the research and treatment of aneurysm patients.
Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm, primarily a reliever, (52 starts / 1070 appearances), went 143-122 in 21 seasons with 10 teams. His best season was 1952 (15-3, 2.43). He pitched in a NL leading 71 games, all in relief. Wilhelm retired with the lowest career Earned Run Average of any Major League hurler after 1927 (2.52) who pitched more than 2,000 innings.
Charlie Hough went 216-216 in 25 seasons with 4 teams. Hough ad 13 double digit loss seasons, including 12 in a row between 1982-1993.
Wilbur Wood went 164-156 with the Red Sox, Pirates and White Sox. Between 1971 and 1974 Wood went 22-13, 24-17, 24-20 and 20-19. In 1975 he was 16-20. In a 6-1 loss to the California Angels, on September 10, 1977, Wood hit three consecutive batters in the first inning. Wood started both games of a doubleheader for the White Sox against the Yankees on July 20, 1973. (He lost both games).
Tom Candiotti compiled a 151-164 record over 16 seasons with 5 teams, notably the Indians and Dodgers. Candioti lost 10+ games 10 times and won 10+ games only 8 times. His best season was 1988 (14-8). He lead the NL in losses with 15 in 1992 and the AL with 16 in 1996. Candiotti appeared briefly in Billy Crystal's 2001 movie "61*" as pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm and was was inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Recently retired Tim Wakefield finished with a 200-180 record over 19 seasons, 17 with the Red Sox and 2 with the Pirates. Wakefield started 463 out of 627 appearances. He lost 10+ games 11 times and lead the AL in losses with 15 in 1997 and won 10+ games 11 times. His best season was 1998 when he went 17-8 but followed that with 6-11, 6-10 and 9-12 seasons between 1999-2001.
Steve Sparks became a knuckleballer after he dislocated his shoulder by attempting to rip a phone book in half while in the minor leagues with the Brewers. His best season was with Detroit in 2001 when he went 14-8. In 9 seasons he was 59-76. Sparks retired in 2005 and does some TV work with the Astros.
R.A. has never faced the Yankees. That changes Sunday night vs. CC Sabathia.
If one were to watch the news coverage of Mariano Rivera's injury, and were able to edit out what happened, you'd think he died and fans are ready to sew on the black arm bands on their 42 shirts.
Mariano Rivera got hurt. It's a YUGE (as Mike Francesa would put it) obstacle for the Yankees but one that they can overcome.
As Alex Rodriguez put it last night "we are the New York Yankees and nobody is going to feel sorry for us, guys are going to have to step up."
"A" is right and it starts with HIM. It also starts with Teixambi and Cano. These guys need to start hitting NOW.
Life without Mo will be a lot easier if they need to rely on a closer less often. This team has the capability of staying out of save situations if guys step up, as "A" says.
Then we hear "is Robertson ready to be the closer?" Should Soriano assume the role based on his experience in closing games for Tampa Bay?"
The answer is YES to BOTH. Rafael Soriano has the experience and David Robertson has the talent. Soriano and Robertson should share the role and then slowly increase Robertson's games until he's the full time closer come mid September. There is NO reason to throw him into the closer spot all at once.
The final step will be to move Hughes into a set up spot where he has succeeded in the past when Andy Pettitte arrives.
Another amazing thing to hear is "why is he shagging fly balls!!??"
Please...anyone with half of a Yankees brain knows that this has been his routine since his minor league days, some 20 years worth. Most true Yankees fans knew this and I never heard "is it safe for him to be doing that?" over the last 18 years, so lets not start now.
So, is this the end of Mo? I say no. Mariano Rivera is a proud man. He feels that he let his team down, which is absurd. Derek Jeter last night said "he'll be back" and I think so too.
Mariano Rivera will leave baseball on HIS terms. If he is physically able to return in 2013 (maybe 2012), he'll be back.
New
playoff system (2 wild cards in each league instead of 1) vs Old…
Using
the statistical projections for this upcoming Major League Baseball season,
here are the chances for everyMLBteam under baseball's new playoff
rules and their percentages under the old system.
Team
New
Old
ARI
32%
27%
ATL
51%
38%
BAL
0%
0%
BOS
80%
56%
CHC
27%
20%
CHI
9%
8%
CIN
52%
42%
CLE
31%
27%
COL
12%
12%
DET
70%
67%
HOU
0%
0%
KCR
1%
0%
LAA
71%
54%
LAD
7%
6%
MIA
60%
45%
MIL
34%
26%
MIN
1%
1%
NYM
4%
2%
NYY
94%
84%
OAK
1%
0%
PHI
66%
55%
PIT
0%
0%
SDP
10%
8%
SEA
0%
0%
SFG
57%
53%
STL
60%
50%
TBR
55%
29%
TEX
85%
73%
TOR
4%
1%
WAS
28%
17%
CREDIT: A version of this article appeared Mar. 12, 2012, on page B11 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Yankees, Red Sox To Get Wild Boost.
