Hank Steinbrenner says he's cutting the team some slack and that injuries are a big reason the Yanks have struggled so much this year. Pretty un-George-like. Do you agree? Sure, we lost Posada, Matsui and Wang, and we had high expectations for Hughes and Kennedy, who have also been hurt and have not contributed, and even A-Rod and Damon spent some time on the DL, and now it's Joba. But shouldn't a team that - for the most part - has still penciled in Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon into the lineup every night have a lot more wins? Are the injuries a legit excuse, or has this $200 million dollar team still underachieved?
7 comments:
Hate to say it, but I don't give the Yanks as much of a pass when it comes to injuries as much as I would any other team. So they only have five all-stars on the field instead of eight? Most teams only have one or two. When some guys go down, the big thumpers need to carry the team. Not happening this year. And time is running out.
It's a combination of everything that has resulted in a very sub-par year..injuries are part of it, but it is mostly the inability to hit in the clutch. It ALMOST bit them in the ass again last night.
It also seems that a lot of these guys are just sleep walking at times, particularly Cano and Abreu. I know they have this easy going thing going on, but it really looks like laziness at times, especially Cano.
You can blame injuries in the rotation to a point - especially Wang and Joba - you're probably losing the net effect of at least 10 wins there - and that's being conservative, but you also have to recognize the fact that Hughes and Kennedy are complete embarrassments. Maybe they'll be good at some time..somewhere..but take all of the games they lost, and factor in all of the OTHER games lost by their replacements, because they just couldn't do the job (then both became "injured"..what a coincidence), and you probably have the Yanks hovering around, if not in, first place.
Some other players who are complete zeros - most of the rookie guys that Girardi seems intent on sticking in there on a daily basis, Melky, Bettemit etc...essentially the whole bottom of the order. Wasn't like that in 93, was it?
On the upside, I love Xavier Nady. He is the O'Neil type player we've been lacking. Not a superstar - just a good, solid player that will hit in the clutch and give you a good game every day. I'd take a guy like that over a Manny any day of the week. His buddy Marte on the other hand...
Rich
..case in point..another loss by Rasner, and yet another loss with Pudge behind the plate. Forget the division, this team won't make the playoffs at all. Make your October plans now..
Rich
"I love Xavier Nady. He is the O'Neil type player we've been lacking. Not a superstar - just a good, solid player that will hit in the clutch and give you a good game every day."
My thoughts, exactly. I even thought of the same comparison to Paulie last week.
This was the roadtrip to hell. Ugly. And perhaps something they can't overcome.
On another note ... I like Girardi a lot, and as a fan, I have his back. But giving Damon a "day off" in the first game of the Twins series was dumb. They just got swept in L.A., and winning the Twins series was huge. He decided to bench the guy who's leading the team in hitting, and who has spent time on the DL, and who has been used as a DH. It's not like he's been out there on the field for 9 innings for 120 games. And it's not like he's 43 years old. Damon needed to be in the lineup that night, trying to make things happen. Hell, bewteen New Year's and Memorial Day - almost six months - I don't get a free day off, and I don't make $15 million a year. Though there's been very few moments like that, it might have been the worst move he's made as manager. - Alan
First: Thanks Alan for creating this. It's freaking awesome. Sorry I am a little late to the party.
I agree w/ mo 42 regarding the free passes. Every team faces injuries. A cash-strapped team like the Devil Rays would be expected to tank if they get a few major injuries (which they have). But the Yanks have bench players that would be starters on most teams (Sexon and Betemit aren't great players but would start on a lot of teams). They have a pretty deep well of players in Scranton and Trenton to pull from. You just suck it up.
Nady and Damon are the only position players I really see showing any fire out there. This is just from me watching games on YES, so who knows. But I don't sense that "scrappiness" that was on the great Torre teams. I know they had the big boppers, but they got the man over to second base, they bunted occasionally, etc. This team plays AL ball through and through, just waiting for the HR. Kind of weird considering Girardi managed in the NL and played most of his career there too.
It looks like Cano is kind of going through the motions.
And here's something worth discussing: If you somehow knew Wang would go down, would you have made the Santana trade?
Agree about the lack of fire, but who knows how many trash cans or water coolers are getting busted up in the clubhouse after some of these loses. We can only hope that is the case.
LOVE Nady.
Post a Comment