Orioles @ Yankees - 4/6-4/8 Series Thread

Jeter's XRays came back negative. Good news.

 

Man, Moose beating himself up.

 

I thoroughly enjoy everything that Mussina says about himself and others. It's really quite awesome. He's private and revealing at the same time.

 

I haven't read this whole thread but where are all the Cano haters now that wanted Cabrera to lead off over him?

 

They didn't. They wanted Abreu to lead off. And after these past two games, I have to agree with their assessments.

 

Yeah, but it almost hurts to watch him talk like that. He looks like if he was alone, he'd be punching a mirror, then cutting himself with the broken glass as punishment.

 

Why is that? Or do you mean you want Abreu over Cabrerra? Nobody would argue that one. I would be fine with that if they batted Cano 3rd where he belongs.

 

Yes, if Damon is not in the lineup, they are calling for Abreu to be the leadoff guy. I thought Cano could get the job done, but I was wrong.

I never explained myself about Cano. My feeling that he reminded me of Henderson was that his swing does, not his patience. The guys are definitely right about his lack of plate discipline. He's not even a #3 hitter. He's better off hitting lower in the lineup, where his overactive bat can at least generate sacrifices, rather than empty outs.

I don't think Melky is a guy who could ever lead off. He's way too excitable. I at least trust Cano to get a lot of hits, even if he doesn't walk. Melky is just a loose cannon. I think he's got .280 potential, but he's not going to hit .300 unless someone can rope him in now.

Honestly, I really just want Damon back in the lineup at this point. It's obvious that he's a big factor in our ability to get something started early, and we need all the early leads we can get with this rotation right now. I don't have a lack of confidence in another October appearance, but I don't like climbing out of early holes. The thing is, it depends how Damon's leg really is. I know they said "significant progress" yesterday, but this cold is terrible for a set of legs that aren't 25 anymore. If it risks further injury, I'd rather he sat out until at least after Minny. That turf is no good for his legs either.

(Interesting side note: A guy at work went down to Tampa a few weeks back. He was telling me yesterday he had a chance to go see Damon's boat. Its name? "Tired Legs." I thought that was pretty interesting in an ironic sort of way.)

If Damon can't go, then I've joined the band that wants Abreu in the 1 slot. I'd take Jeter in the leadoff spot too. I'll admit I didn't realize Jeter was better leading off. If I don't constantly look at stats before I write, I'm bound to make more than my fair share of mistakes. Jeter was another case where I was speaking from where I sit. (Sorry guys, I barely remember how to get dressed these days, much less hold a load of stats in my head. I'd never win at all in a Fantasy League. :wink

Right now, assuming Damon is sitting for the next few games, here's what I see for the lineup.

Abreu RF
Jeter SS
Matsui LF
ARod 3B
Giambi DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Mienki 1B (still can't spell it) / Phelps 1B
Cabrerra CF

I moved Matsui up in the lineup to keep the lefty-righty combos intact, plus, he's making a lot of contact.

ARod needs to break out of this rut already though. I don't think the answer is dropping him in the lineup again, but he's got to get some more timely hits. Forget clutchness, he just needs to settle in, and swing a little more easily (relaxed.) He looks like he's starting to force it again. Instead of trying to convince himself he can hit, he needs to just REMEMBER he can.

(Yes, I am being a severe ARod apologist lately, like I was most of last year. The thing is, reading his face lately, he isn't the same guy who failed too often last year. He's allowing his emotions to come out, and he needs that. He's just one of those people that bottles it in, and lets things eat away at his insides. I have hope that at some point, that emotion is going to lead to a shot into the black, and that's going to put him on track.)

I'd actually love to move Jorge up a spot in the order. His bat is hot right now, and Giambi has gone cold. The problem is, it wouldn't help Jason break his slump, and we need his bat more than Posada's.

 

I definitely see Cano batting third. He is the best hitter on the team and that's what you want at #3. Patience is not a need in that spot. Let the first two guys get the walks and your number 3 knock them in. Surprisingly, not only did he have the same BA as Jeter last year, but he hits with more power and had half the SOs Jeter had. As long as he hits I would put him there and if he slumps then move him. Torre keeps wanting to punish him though because he doesn't take walks. It is nice to have a lefty there, especially at yankee stadium, but I would try Cano in that spot until he fails. Especially if they move Abreu to leadoff until Damon comes back. Of course that could be today and this is all moot.

 

If we want to get technical, Jeter was a point higher last year, in terms of average. :wink:

In terms of strikeouts, Cano had 3/4 the at-bats, but more than half as many Ks. Jeter's OBP is .417, while Cano's is .365.

Cano makes a lot of outs. That's what it really comes down to. Knowing that he's going to make a lot of outs, you really don't want him hitting right before the big power guys. Solo shots don't win too many games these days. Matsui is going to get on base, along with Damon, Jeter, and Abreu. That gives ample opportunity to ARod, Giambi, and Posada to drive in runs with Hideki batting 3rd.

Hitting Cano lower in the order allows him to make those outs without stopping a rally before it happens. Sure, he might kill a rally, but at least it would already be started. Imagine the situation if Abreu and Jeter get on, Cano pops up for one out, then ARod comes up with a man on first and second, one out. You know the first thing every Yankee fan is thinking is: "Wonderful, another inning-ending DP."

Now if Matsui is in the 3rd slot, chances are, he's driving in at least a run maybe two, then ARod is coming up, with a man on, possibly in scoring position, with far less pressure. If he Ks, you get Giambi up, with one out, and a runner still on. Even if Matsui is on first, the worst he can do is ground into a DP, and Derek is probably on 3rd, with Giambi coming up.

This is quite a bit situational, but IMO, I'd rather bet on the higher % situations. This team is a machine. If you use a cog where you need a sprocket, the machine stops working. That's been a problem the past two games. Sure, the pitching hasn't been Cy Young worthy, but the Yankees should be able to score at least 6 every game with the players they have.

 

Final line on Hughes: 5 IP, 2 hits, 2 BB, 6 SO. 74/50 pitches/strikes

Kevin Thompson stole three bases.
Eric Duncan hit a home run.
Villone worked a scoreless inning (with two strikeouts).
And Britton closed and got the save

Trenton Jeffrey Marquez throws 5 no-hit innings before losing no-no in 6th. Trenton wins 4-2. Kevin Whelan goes last 2 innings, 0 r, 1 h, 5 K.

Tampa's Ian Kennedy 5 IP, 1 R, 2 Hits, 2 walks, 8 Ks.
Tabata 3-4 with a triple.
Anthony Claggett (picked up w/Whelan in Sheff deal) 2 IP 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K.

 

Sure he makes outs, but he hits. Hitting is what is important in the 3 spot. I like Matsui there too but for whatever reason Torre never seems to even consider that. He probably still thinks Matsui is Godzilla. You just don't put a .340 hitter in the #8 spot for any reason. Especially when you are losing. As you said he had 3/4 the at bats of Jeter and half the SOs. Still a much better percentage then Jeter had. He will put the ball in play or pop it up. He won't be walking back to the dugout after a SO.

 

I think I may have misrepresented my point a bit. Yes, Cano struck out less than Jeter, percentage-wise, (Cano: 11%, Jeter: 17%) but he also makes outs far more often. Jeter gets on base.

I'm not suddenly dogging Cano, I really like his potential long-term. I just think the players that we have can be shuffled much better than having him in the top half of the lineup.

Matsui is more of what I like to see in a #3 hitter. He has some patience, but makes a lot of contact. Even his outs present the possibility of moving over baserunners, but he's going to also get on quite often. Combined with his potential to drive in runs via the long ball, he makes, IMO, a much better #3 guy than Cano.

 

Senility, that can be the only explanation. Even I came around quicker on the leadoff spot.

Thanks Joe. You're only making it easier for Cashman to justify Girardi taking the reigns.

 

Nice smoke there.

 

Oh boy. Here we go again...