Results tagged ‘ Freddie Garcia ’
Hey Yankeeland…Can You Hear Me Now? Good.
I hate to be the one that said I told you so…BUT I TOLD YOU SO! All of you diehards out there with your navy blue caps and your interlocking NYs…I said during spring training that THIS Yankees team would finish double digits behind the division winner, which appears as if it is going to be the Rays, not the Red Sox. At least Boston still has a legitimate chance to win this division and defend their world championsip. What do the Yankees have to look forward to? Eliminating the bloated contracts (well, a few of them anyway) and rebuilding for 2009.
Tuesday night’s harrowing experience in the Boogie Down was a perfect example of why the Red Sox are competing for a World Series title every year now, and the Yankees are doing nothing but running in place. The difference is, running in place for the Yankees is actually watching them fall deeper and further behind as the Rays are young, the Red Sox have built from within, the Orioles are a couple of arms away, and the Blue Jays aren’t going anywhere. The names on the lineup card look real nice…if the year was 1999. It is time to take the wrecking ball to this club and do something productive during the 2008-2009 offseason.
I will quickly go over what happened yet again last night. Pettitte couldn’t find the strike zone, A-Rod was well, A-Rod, and before the Yankees knew what hit them, a second run had scored on an infield hit. I will personally send anyone $5.00 if they can find and certify to me, the last time 2 runs scored on 1 infield hit..all while Jason Giambi stood there, ball in hand and watched. 
The Red Sox are a model of what to do right when it comes to building a major league franchise. The Bombers…everything that is wrong. Overpriced free agents who underperform, turning down trades to acquire the elite players that can help win titles, and such a thin farm system, that the scouting is so ignorant, that they tend to trade off talent that turns into what? Productive major league talent within years of leaving the Yankees stunted farm system.
I hate to be the one to say I told you so Yankeeland…but I told you so. Joe Girardi looked absolutely clueless in the dugout as the Red Sox continued to rack up hits, score runs, and get quality pitching from everyone they threw out there. I can only ride that horse so many times. Will the Yankee brass wake up and fire this incompetent ******* already? It’s almost comical to watch Buck Showalter on ESPN discuss the Yankees, knowing what he would and wouldn’t tolerate from THIS bunch of Yankees. Buck has that sly grin as he knows the phone should be ringing this coming offseason, that he doesn’t have to take a jersey number to signify what his goal as manager would be. To listen to Joe Girardi and A-Rod make their customary excuses for last night’s performance, click the link next to Girardi’s Corky-lookin’ mug:
What could have the Yankees done to salvage this season? Well, as I come to understand the waiver-trade markety, they could’ve acquire Paul Pyrd, oh wait, the Red Sox did that. They could’ve signed Freddie Garcia for the stretch run, oh wait Detroit did that. They could’ve acquired themselved a SOLID centerfielder to upgrade the defense, oh wait, Boston did that too by getting Mark Kotsay from the Braves. Now it could all be too little too late. Then again, I have been tootin’ that horn for weeks as well. The Tigers recently placed Kenny Rogers on waivers. Before you get excited about the possibility of the Gambler returning to the Bronx, let me remind you what he did as a Yankee, when it truly mattered:
In one ******** World Series start back in 1996, Rogers lasted exactly 2 innings, while giving up 5 earned runs. If it weren’t for the heroics of Jim Leyritz, the Yankees probably don’t win that series. If Brian Cashman happens to be reading this…DON”T BRING HIM BACK! You would have better results cokin’ Doc Gooden up and hoping for a few innings. Hell, bring Boomer Wells back. At least that guy knows how to win when the chips are down, but don’t you dare bring back the gutless wonder, Kenny Rogers.
Girardi stated before the game yesterday that New York had to win 2 of 3 to stay in this thing. WRONG AGAIN! The Yankees needed a sweep. Why? Because heading into play last night, the Yankees were only 5 back of Boston in the wild card chase. A sweep makes it a 2 game deficit. Now, they are starting play tonight 6 back in the wild card and the best they can hope for, is to be back within 4 games IF they can take the next 2. That is a full two game swing, if they win the next 2, which is highly unlikely. At least when the Yankees stunk in the late 80s and early 90s, they played hard. This batch of Bronx Bums are playing like death, which is exactly where their season is close to ending up.
The Red Sox have the perfect blend of youthful talent and veterans that care about winning. What a noble concept. The Bombers youngsters either have underperformed (Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy), or don’t care because they’ve already been paid (Robinson Cano, Chien Ming Wang). How refreshing is it to hear players like Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury talk about the team, about winning, and getting back to October. The only thing this group of Yankees care about is getting paid. Well Mr. Steinbrenner, you have gotten exactly what YOU have paid for. I was just discussing this the other day with my wonderful, who I remind you is a Red Sox fan. I asked her if a rivalry can truly exist without both teams being competitive, She didn’t think so, and neither do I. The Red Sox have done their part…perhaps someday, the Yankees will to.
I will be back later to discuss various topics throughout the world of baseball, or if anything new occurs in Yankeeland between now and the opening pitch of game 2 between Paul Byrd and Sir Sidney.
As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya!
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“Cy” Moose? Yanks Split, Head to SoCal for Big Road Series
First. I want to congratulate Mike Mussina as he beat Texas with 7 strong shutout innings Thursday night to improve his record to 15-7 on the season.
Now that I got that out of the way, should we consider Moose for a possible Cy Young Award in 2008? The writers have overlooked Yankee hurlers over the last handful of years. When Bartolo Colon took home the hardware, Mariano Rivera probably should have won. Each of the last two years, you could probably have made the argument for Chien Ming Wang one way or the other. Will the BBWAA get it right this time? Should the fact that Cliff Lee at 15-2 plays for a sorry Indians team? Does his great season really make the difference between 90 losses and 100? If the Yankees come all the way back and reach the postseason for the 14th consecutive year, more of the kudos have to be handed to Mike Mussina that any other Yankee arm on the staff outside of Mariano Rivera. Moose is on pace to win 20 games for the first time in his career. Yes, I said it. For the first time in his career. He has won 18 and 19 games numerous times during his hey day in Baltimore, but as he closes in on 300 career wins, this could be his crowing individual achievement. The writers tend to get emotionally attached to certain players, and from what I have seen and heard, Moose could be that favorite in 2008. Good luck to you Moose and keep up the good work.
As for the rest of this team, I was glad to see Derek Jeter finally decided to show up and hit before the series in Texas ended. Jeter is having his worst statistical season of his career. Is this the start of a downward spiral, or is this a one time aberration and he will be back to his usual self in ’09? We will have to wait and see. A-Rod, earning not one red cent of his $27.5 million annual salary went 0-14 in the series-not what the Yankees need heading into a crucial weekend series at Anaheim. He did however, play solid defense during the finale, making a great dive and throw to help out his pitching staff. I am also excited that Robbie Cano is continuing to awaken from his first half+ slumber, going 3-3 with a pair of doubles in the victory. Mo Rivera came on in the 9th and slammed the door to complete the shutout and get the Yankees their second straight split against an AL West foe.
As for the continuing drama that is the starting rotation, the Yankees will have to use Darrell Rasner on Sunday against the Angels as Andy Pettitte will miss his next scheduled start due to left arm stiffness. My advice, get it rubbed out and nut up Mr. Pettitte. Your team’s season is on the line, and Darrell Rasner isn’t the answer. With yet another starter on the shelf, it is time for the daily Freddie Garcia fix. The following came from Newsday:
Desperate Times for Yankees Call for Garcia
Even though Freddie Garcia didn’t knock over the teams that attended his open throwing session on Tuesday, the righthander could find a new employer within the next few days. The Yankees, said by one insider to be “lukewarm” on Garcia, aren’t in a position to be choosy given their desperation for starting pitching. They appear to be among the most interested suitors, whereas the Mets occupy a lower tier. Peter Greenberg, Garcia’s agent wrote in an e-mail yesterday, “We’ll have a better idea in the next couple of days” about Garcia’s future. Greenberg told cbssports.com that Garcia could remain umemployed and work toward 2009 if no offers come in.
I called for the Garcia signing weeks ago. Not because I knew injuries were going to come in droves, but simply because the backend of the rotation has made me puke in my mouth. They are awful, and let me remind the readers, former 20-game winners with a proven postseason track record don’t fall out of trees everyday. This move is a no-brainer for Cashman. Hell, he gave Ponson not one but two chances to pitch in NY. Then again, I would be giving Mr. Cashman entirely too much credit for believing he has a brain. Stay tuned…
As for the upcoming series in Anaheim, I will personally be attending the Sunday game with my lovely wife Karri, and my mother, as Saturday will be Mom’s birthday, and this game is part of her gift. Unfortunately for Mom, and every other Yankee fan in attendance this weekend, odds are extremely high that a sweep is inevitable. Why? Ian Kennedy, Dan Giese, and Darrell Rasner. Enough said. Now tell me Freddie Garcia isn’t worth taking a chance on. Besides Garcia, don’t forget Eric Milton is getting healthier everyday, and yes, he too has Bronx experience, however little that may be. A proven lefty in the Stadium could prove to be a better bet than any of the three pitching this weekend in California.
I will be making another entry later today, as the game out in California gets closer. As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of the buddy next to ya!
Pitching Woes…Pitching Answers…& Joba…What Now?
The Yankees and Andy Pettitte laid another egg last night, making the casual baseball observer feel as if the Texas Rangers were actually the Anaheim Angels-meaning the best team in baseball. This is not the way to start a crucial road trip, one in which the Yankees can either gain ground on both Boston and Tampa, or by the time they get back to the Bronx, Toronto could replace them as the team chasing the American League Wild Card. I will get back to their Texas performance thus far later in this entry.
As for the problems, it appears as Joba Chamberlain makes his way down the Carl Pavano Highway to Dr. James Andrews, the Yankees need to quit feeling sorry for themselves, accept the fact that Joba could and probably will be lost for an extended period of time, and look at some possibilities to revamp the starting rotation before their regular season becomes irrelevant in 2008.
According to a New York Post Blog the Mets have the inside track amongst the 12 teams who witnessed free agent starter Freddie Garcia workout yesterday at the University of Miami. Reports state that Garcia topped out around 87 mph on his fastball, and that both his curveball and slider looked sharp. This is the time when Brian Cashman must overpay for what could be a season saving stopgap measure. Garcia is a career 6-2 in 11 postseason starts, and has proven himself in big game, pressure situations. Garcia’s agent stated that Freddie would be ready for a return to the majors around the 1st of September.
We can’t forget about Eric Milton. He too is rehabbing, having thrown a simulated game on July 29th, and reported no pain in his surgically repaired elbow, and like Garcia, could be ready for a September return. Okay, so I bet you are asking, what do the Yankees do between now and September 1st? Ahh, good question grasshoppers. I am not one to throw out problems without having done my research. The following could and should be considered for the remainder of August…afterall, what do the Yankees have to lose other than the rest of this season?
First and foremost, Girardi and Cashman should wholeheartedly forget about using both Dan Giese and Darrell Rasner for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation. They both have pitched poorly in their opportunities, Giese out of the bullpen and Rasner in spot duty. The following prospects in my opinion, have earned their shot with the big club. If management ignores these young arms, then what good is a farm system…I mean really!
1.Kei Igawa. Before you start laughing, consider this much: Igawa has pitched plenty of innings this season throughout the Yankees minor league system. As of this entry, Igawa is 12-5 with a 3.39 ERA. His advantage: he is left-handed, which is custom built for Yankee Stadium. His disadvantage: he has taken plenty of lumps, both from big league hitters and from the white hot spotlight of the New York City media.
2. Jason Jones. Who? The big right hander is 11-5 with a 3.03 ERA at Double A Trenton. Yes, it is a big jump from Trenton to the Bronx, but the Yankees seemed not to have any problem doing the same thing with Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy. Why not give the kid a shot?
3. Chase Wright. A familiar name to most Yankee fans, Wright has served in the spot start big league-back-to-the-minor league role before. Wright knows the pressure of pitching in the Big Apple, won’t be intimidated by a late season, pennant chase call up, and is currently 8-2 with a 2.96 ERA for Trenton.
4. Phil Coke. This guy could be a dream for Madison Avenue advertising firms, as Coke could be it-if given a chance. At Trenton, Coke is 9-4 with a 2.51 ERA.
So Yankee fans, before you jump off the bridge, and call this season a bust, know that the farm has capabale arms, arms and names that might not be as sexy and popular as the Big Three of Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy, but capable nevertheless. Perhaps that has been the problem with this Yankee team all along. Maybe reputation has replaced common sense for a franchise that once prided themselves on performance over public image. Don’t get me wrong, every Yankee fan can appreciate what Reggie brought to the table, and Jeter and A-Rod these days. Unfortunately, injuries and poor performances don’t win World Series titles, but they sure look good in their uniforms and on their respective commercials.
Back to last night’s performance (or lack thereof). When this Yankee team is dependent on a .210 hitter to hit a game-tying grand slam to get their sorry butts back in the game, something is seriously wrong. Andy Pettitte, who has historically been lights out after August 1st, looked old and disinterested at best. 5 earned in 5 innings isn’t going to help keep a bullpen fresh for what is turning into a very long road trip already. With another choked away opportunity last night, the Yankees fell 6 1/2 games back in the AL East, and only have the 6th best record in the American League. The last time I looked, only 1 non-division winner gets to play in October. Over the last couple of days, for the first time in a very long time, I am mentally preparing myself for a postseason without the Bombers. It’s that sick in the stomach, almost ”can’t wait for the season to be over” type nightmare. What it comes down to and what it will come down to over the next 8 road games for this Yankees’ team, is poop or get off the pot. Quit playing games with our collective hearts and minds. If you don’t care, quit making us in Yankeeland believe that we should-at least for the remainder of this season.
As always, take care of yourself, be good, and take care of your buddy next to ya. I will be checking back in later tonight after Game #3 of the series, as Sidney Ponson returns to the team who cut him loose over character issues. If that happened to be the case throughout the Yankee clubhouse, how do you cut 25 guys?
Like Sands Through the Hourglass, So are the Days of the Yankees’ Life
Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, my father instilled in me, that regardless of the outcome on the scoreboard, I should always play balls to the wall until the contest came to an end. Often times while he and I would be going over game film, or watching games on television-regardless of the sport, sometimes we would watch as the star of the sport, or the game’s highlighted player would pull up lame or get injured. My father had a term for this, and it is one in which I still often label players I watch today…He coined the term “loser’s limp”. Simply stated, once winning was no longer an option, or the pressure got to be too much, players simply fold or create an injury to avoid competition. Monday night in Arlington, I firmly believe that is what occurred with Yankees’ starting pitcher Joba Chamberlain. He was struggling with his control most of the game, and the Ranger hitters weren’t fooled often by what he was throwing. After losing yet another hitter to a full count walk, Joba grabbed his shoulder (remember, Girardi was coming to give him the hook anyway). What easier way to save face and some embarrassment than to come out injured rather than for no other reason than he simply sucked?
Let’s assume for a split second that Chamberlain is legitimately injured with a shoulder strain, how important does Freddie Garcia’s open scout workout later today now become to the Yankees? If Chamberlain is out for any extended period of time, rest assured the Yankees will get something for the wasted contract they handed Carl Pavano-even if it means he reinjures himself. At this point, if Girardi blows Pavano’s arm up to the point of no longer being able to ever pitch again, call it even for robbing the Bombers of $40 mil for nothing. Absolutely nothing. The Yankees announced Dan Giese will be taking over Darrell Rasner’s spot in the rotation. Why? He has pitched like cow flop too. How about perhaps giving someone down on the farm who has busted his butt all season the shot to prove himself? Why not? Because that would make way too much sense in a season that so far, has had very little if any.
I was one of the loudest critics of Girardi, Cashman, and the Steinbrenners when they cried like little babies that Chamberlain needed to be inserted into the starting rotation. Why? Again, Chamberlain was worth more several days a week that perhaps one start a week. Not since the Rivera-Wetteland setup have the Yankees had a more dominating duo at the back end of the bullpen. Why would they have kept that intact? Because it simply made too much sense. And if Chamberlain is indeed injured for an extended period of time, Girardi has repeated his performance of burning out young arms, just like he did in Florida with the Marlins. Hughes, Kennedy, and now Chamberlain-all injured!
With Tampa Bay continuing to give the rest of the division opportunities to catch them, and the Red Sox now seeing that Jason Bay is not Manny Ramirez, the Yankees continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Why can’t the Yankees hammer a reliever such as Jamey Wright right out of Arlington? Why did it come down to Damaso Marte (another guy struggling with his control Monday night) giving up a walkoff jimmy jack salami to Marlon Byrd of all people? These are the games that wouldbe playoff teams know they have to win and find ways to win. Instead, the standings stay the same, as one more day comes off the calender as the end of the regular season looms only eight weeks away. At this rate, the Bombers will indeed miss the playoffs, and the Yankees have absolutely nobody to blame, except themselves.
Perhaps Girardi before the game tomorrow instead of having the team take batting practice should have them all sit down in the clubhouse and watch the Wizard of Oz? Why? Because at least the tinman knows he doesn’t have a heart, and searches for a way to get one. Perhaps the Yankees can take a lesson, look into the mirror and see that the ablility is there, and that all of us in Yankeeland, when they continue to fail only see a 25-man version of “loser’s limp.”
I will check back in later today, and as always, be good, take care of yourselves, and take care of your buddy next to ya!
Moves, Moves, and Yes, More Moves
Hello Once Again from what I swear is the hottest place in North America (Las Vegas)!
As I sit here, we are about 20 minutes away from the Angels of Anaheim versus the Bombers from the Bronx, and their newest piece of the puzzle, future Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez. It was laughable at how emotional Joe Girardi was when discussing the trade with the media yesterday after it was announced. Once again, just another sign that Girardi has no business being the manager of this team. Who cares that Girardi caught Farnsworth in Chicago, and who cares that Farnsworth was having his best season in pinstripes. In my opinion, it was far too little, far too late. Farnsworth was in the final year of this nightmare of a contract, and of course, of course he is pitching his best right now-want to get paid again! Don’t be fooled. Great stuff, empty brain. Good ridance home run machine.
Brief comments on some other moves that were made (or not made): Griffey to the White Sox…Why? He can’t play centerfield anymore, can’t hit lefties, and is only hitting about .245 on the season. Another case where a GM is in love with the marquee rather than improving his squad for the stretch run…Teixeria to the Halos for Kotchman and a minor leaguer…This could be the final piece of the World Series puzzle for the Angels. Excellent, regardless of whether he hits the free agent market at the end of the season or not. As Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver used to say…”Worry about this year, this year. Worry about next year, next year.” Going for the gold shows how the Angels are trying to make L.A. their town. Last but certainly not least, Manny leaves Beantown for the sunny skies of L.A…Perfect move for the perfect manager. Francona lost control, Theo is Theo, and Manny is still one of the 3 or 4 best pure hitters in the game-BAR NONE! This will force Dodgers management to finally admit that Andruw Jones was a mistake, and either bench he, Andre Eithier, or Juan Pierre. If it were me, Manny would join Pierre and Kemp as the starters until the season ends. Pittsburgh made out like bandits, acquiring power arms, servicable bats, and helped eliminate any chance of David Ortiz ever having another MVP-type season by replacing Manny with Jason Bay. Bay is solid, but does he scare anybody?
Ramirez and Ortiz were the modern-day Ruth and Gehrig combo, and Theo refused to give Manny his props as that type of hitter, and instead got into a pissing match with the much maligned slugger, thus ending any chance, Yes, I said it, any chance of Boston repeating as World Series Champions. With Manny, Boston won more post season games in his 7 1/2 years than they did in the previous 88 combined! Sometimes it is best to think before you act, and everyone got what they wanted…Manny got dealt, thus weakening the lineup and elminating a noted Yankee killer, replacing him with someone who hasn’t ever played in the American League, the Dodgers are now the best team in the NL West on paper, and if Brad Penny along with some other pieces can get healthy, the division is theirs for the taking…and the Pirates, who needed a new direction, have some solid pieces at a cheap price under contract to try and rebuild since the end of the Bonds/Bonilla/Leyland era ended yet again.
One other set of notes before I go…Eric Milton is scheduled to make his first minor league rehab start within the next week, and free agent Freddie Garcia will be throwing before scouts on August 5th. The Yankees will overpay to get his services if they think he can contribute whatsoever. Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner, your time as the 4th and 5th starters in the Yankee rotation is ticking away as we speak.
My next entry will discuss how the Yanks fared against what most national media outlets are labelling the “Best Team in Baseball”.
Be good, be safe, and take care of your buddie next to ya!
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