I wouldnt mind Joe coming back. But could someone please have this guy get his team ready to come out of the gate? I am sick of the slow start and the "we dont have to try,were the yankees" attitude that seems to have killed this team the last 3 years when it counts. I just dont understand how this line up can play the way they did down the stretch,and then flatten out in a hurry vs cleveland. SOMEONE needs to light a fire,and thats the manager.
The Daily News says the front-runner is LaRussa, which is news to me. They noted he would bring Dave Duncan (Shelley's dad) as pitching coach. Now this is me speculating - I think Torre would then return to St. Louis, and one one hand, I think several players would want to follow him there (like Mo Rivera) but then again they have a very, very cheap owner. On LaRussa - I think I would rank the candidates as Girardi - LaRussa - Mattingly.
He did get gassed but that was an anomaly. In the minors this year he was still hitting 98-100 MPH in the 7th inning as a starter. He is definitely a starter.
I think Torre will be back for 2 years max and not at 7.5 million a year either. Besides Girardi and Mattingly there is talk of LaRussa but he would die under the media spotlight in NY with his temperment. The real issue is starting pitching. Other then Pettitte who may not return we have nothing. Mussina should be gone but we owe him money. Wang despite how well he does in the regular season looks like a #3. Hughes has potential so we will see. I hope we go after Santana and it doesn't cost us anymore then Kennedy and Ohlendorf. If we don't Boston will. We have more to offer then they do. We should offer Abreu and Posada 3 year deals. I don't care if Rivera comes back or not but we have nothing to replace him with. The real problem is we owe Giambi, Mussina and Matsui 56 million for next year so we are hand tied once again. We should just trade Giambi and pay his salary just to get him off the roster. The other two can fill a role but it won't help next year at all. We are not going to win again until '09 at the earliest. Keeping 40 million on the bench as part time DHs just isn't going to work anymore then having 3 first basemen will.
I am absolutely convinced after this series that the only reason good pitching wins over good hitting in the post season is because of all the days off. The timing is out of whack and by the time it comes back it's too late (at least for the Yankees it is). We faced every good pitcher in baseball during the regular season and beat them all at least once. Yet we are pathetic facing them in the playoffs.
Is that what happened to Boston, Cleveland and Colorado hitters also? Please stop with the sour grapes.
Great article. Nothing really new in it but written extremely well. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/columns/story?columnist=bryant_howard&id=3055250 I would have said the dynasty ended when the great depth of our pitching ended in the early 2000's.
Here is a listing of all the 2008 free agents. Some might have already been granted extensions during the season. I would like to see Cashman get creative rather than keep bringing back the same OLD players. The one area that the Yankees really need help with is pitching. The youth infusion should help the starting rotation but the middle relief definitely needs to get better. Jeremy Affeldt, Scott Linebrink, and Rudy Seanez are guys that should get some consideration. As for a veteran for the starting rotation, what about Livan Hernandez (he eats innings). Just some thoughts... 2008 MLB Free Agents - First Base Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Sean Casey Detroit Tigers Tony Clark Arizona Diamondbacks Jeff Conine New York Mets Julio Franco Atlanta Braves Kevin Millar Baltimore Orioles Option Olmedo Saenz Los Angeles Dodgers Mark Sweeney Los Angeles Dodgers Mike Sweeney Kansas City Royals Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Second Base Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Marlon Anderson Los Angeles Dodgers Craig Biggio Houston Astros Luis Castillo New York Mets Damion Easley New York Mets Mark Ellis Oakland Athletics Option Marcus Giles San Diego Padres Option Tony Graffanino Milwaukee Brewers Tadahito Iguchi Philadelphia Phillies FA if he does not sign an extension Jeff Kent Los Angeles Dodgers Option Mark Loretta Houston Astros Kaz Matsui Colorado Rockies FA if he does not sign an extension Luis Rivas Cleveland Indians Jose Valentin New York Mets Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Short Stop Player 2007 Team Contract Notes David Eckstein St. Louis Cardinals Cesar Izturis Pittsburgh Pirats Option Ramon E Martinez Los Angeles Dodgers Option John McDonald Toronto Blue Jays Neifi Perez Detroit Tigers Juan Uribe Chicago White Sox Option Omar Vizquel San Francisco Giants Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Third Base Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Russell Branyan San Diego Padres Corey Koskie Milwaukee Brewers Option Mike Lamb Houston Astros Mike Lowell Boston Red Sox Greg Norton Tampa Bay Devil Rays Option Abraham O. Nunez Philadelphia Phillies Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees Can void his contract after the season Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Catcher Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Brad Ausmus Houston Astros Paul Bako Baltimore Orioles Michael Barrett San Diego Padres Gary Bennett St. Louis Cardinals Option Ramon Castro New York Mets Wiki Gonzalez Washington Nationals Jason Kendall Chicago Cubs Jason LaRue Kansas City Royals Paul Lo Duca New York Mets Damian Miller Milwaukee Brewers Chad Moeller Cincinnati Reds Jose Molina New York Yankees Josh Paul Tampa Bay Devil Rays Jorge Posada New York Yankees Ivan Rodriguez Detroit Tigers Option Yorvit Torrealba Colorado Rockies Javier Valentin Cincinnati Reds Option Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Outfield Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Bobby Abreu New York Yankees Option Moises Alou New York Mets Option Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants Milton Bradley San Diego Padres Mike Cameron San Diego Padres Brady Clark San Diego Padres Jeff DaVanon Oakland Athletics Adam Dunn Cincinnati Reds Option Darin Erstad Chicago White Sox Option Luis Gonzalez Los Angeles Dodgers Shawn Green New York Mets Option Eric Hinske Boston Red Sox Torii Hunter Minnesota Twins Geoff Jenkins Milwaukee Brewers Option Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves Bobby Kielty Boston Red Sox Rob Mackowiak San Diego Padres Option Orlando Palmeiro Houston Astros Corey Patterson Baltimore Orioles Aaron Rowand Philadelphia Phillies Reggie Sanders Kansas City Royals Sammy Sosa Texas Rangers Brad Wilkerson Texas Rangers Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Starting Pitchers Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Kris Benson Baltimore Orioles Option Paul Byrd Cleveland Indians Option Shawn Chacon Pittsburgh Pirates Roger Clemens New York Yankees Matt Clement Boston Red Sox Bartolo Colon Los Angeles Angels Scott Elarton Cleveland Indians Josh Fogg Colorado Rockies Casey Fossum Tampa Bay Devil Rays Option Freddy Garcia Philadelphia Phillies Livan Hernandez Arizona Diamondbacks Jason Jennings Houston Astros Brian Lawrence Colorado Rockies Option Jon Lieber Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Lohse Philadelphia Phillies Rodrigo Lopez Colorado Rockies Wade Miller Chicago Cubs Eric Milton Cincinnati Reds Odalis Perez Kansas City Royals Option Joel Pineiro St. Louis Cardinals Option Mark Prior Chicago Cubs Kenny Rogers Detroit Tigers Curt Schilling Boston Red Sox Carlos Silva Minnesota Twins Julian Tavarez Boston Red Sox Option John Thompson Kansas City Royals Brett Tomko Los Angeles Dodgers Option Kip Wells St. Louis Cardinals Randy Wolf Los Angeles Dodgers Option Jaret Wright Baltimore Orioles Victor Zambrano Pittsburgh Pirates Top 2008 MLB Free Agents - Relief Pitchers Player 2007 Team Contract Notes Jeremy Affeldt Colorado Rockies Armando Benitez Florida Marlins Hector Carrasco Los Angeles Angels Option Francisco Cordero Milwaukee Brewers Rheal Cormier Cincinnati Reds Vic Darensbourg Detroit Tigers Elmer Dessens Milwaukee Brewers Scott Eyre Chicago Cubs Option Trevor Hoffman San Diego Padres Option Jason Isringhausen St. Louis Cardinals Option Todd Jones Detroit Tigers Jorge Julio Colorado Rockies Joe Kennedy Oakland Athletics Byung-Hyun Kim Florida Marlins Scott Linebrink Milwaukee Brewers Ron Mahay Atlanta Braves Trever Miller Houston Astros Mike Myers Chicago White Sox Option Joe Nathan Minnesota Twins Option Chris Reitsma Seattle Mariners Mariano Rivera New York Yankees Rudy Seanez San Diego Padres Mike Timlin Boston Red Sox Mike Venafro Minnesota Twins Luis Vizcaino New York Yankees Bob Wickman Atlanta Braves Scott Williamson Baltimore Orioles Jay Witasick Tampa Bay Devil Rays Kerry Wood Chicago Cubs
What sour grapes? It's a fact. You don't lead the league in every offensive category all year and then become a pushover in the off season for nothing.
Maybe not until after they negotiate with Arod. Don't forget, Torre's contract is up. He can sign with anybody he wants before then. It's not like he would be getting fired if we don't bring him back.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10092007/sports/yankees/its_an_indian_bummer.htm I could picture it...George just turns around and stares at Cashman, then raises his hand pretty much saying, get out of my face.
It could have something to do with this team being lazy and lackadaisical. It's hard to fight for a comeback when most of your guys are just chillin' out on the bench rather than getting excited. Look at the difference between the two teams last night. The entire game, the Yankees were sitting on the bench while at-bat. The pitchers were all leaning back with their feet up. On the other hand, the Cleveland dugout was leaning over the dugout railing the entire game, while the pen was constantly active. Desire fuels talent. The Yankees lack desire. That's why the bats went cold.
That may say something for Cashman's future too although I think for the first time in recent years he did a great job this year by not trading away our young pitchers for a quick fix.
I agree and that falls on the manager and the captain (in name only) to some degree (I'm still not sure what a captain is suppose to do but since I have never seen Jeter do anything that may be all there is to the job). This so-called "professional" attitude grew old years ago. All the years they would win a playoff series and then not celebrate because it wasn't yet the WS use to make me sick. While I'm not as mad at Torre as I was a few days ago, somebody like Girardi may be just what the doctor ordered for this team. Not Mattingly because he is too much like Joe.
http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/MikeGwizdala/2007/10/09/If_I_Were_George_Steinbrenner_I_Would I agree with most, if not all of this. Very sensible and it would shake things up in the NYY malaise.
I think if they make a 2007 yankees video highlight,it should be titled "Oh my Goodness gracious"-the 2007 Yankees
captain in name only for sure....I agree....Ive yet to see Jeter stand up and say "boy did i suck a dick in this series" did I miss it? Id better see it
