And especially for the next week while they are still fairly easy. No matter what though, we have won this series and as I have said all along if we can just keep winning series we will be fine. Nobody else in the AL is playing even close to .667 ball but us. (.625 since June 1st which includes that disastrous west coast road trip)
Agreed. The good news is, with Kei Igawa out of the rotation and replaced by Phil Hughes, the Yankees have a solid chance to win each and every game, regardless of the pitching matchup. Even more so if Damon, Cano, and Abreu continue to hit. Lots to feel good about.
Looks like Damon could be headed out of town to make room for Giambi. I don't really like that but there just isn't any room left for all the people they are trying to bring up. Not sure what choice they have though. Keep somebody you are paying 23 million to in the minors or try and trade somebody you are paying 12 million to (and pay most of that even in a trade) for the next 3 years. I don't think they want to send Duncan down. Interesting. I saw Giambi was in Tampa's starting lineup last night but was PH for in his first at bat. Not sure what that means. http://www.nypost.com/seven/0802200...what_lies_ahead_yankees_michael_morrissey.htm
Hmm. I guess Damon really would be the odd man out, if Giambi is back to form. Mostly because Melky has outperformed him by a good amount, both offensively (surprising) and defensively (not even remotely surprising). There's no spot for him, except as an expensive fourth outfielder. It's kind of a shame to be in this situation right as he seems like he's starting to hit again, though.
The bad thing is there is nobody but Cairo (and that's a real stretch) who can play outfield if anybody gets hurt. Duncan and Giambi can't play anything. Not sure about that new guy.
It's at the bottom of the Damon article you posted. :wink: :smile: I read Betemit can play the outfield, sort of. I guess they just sort of shoved him out there a while ago. And Duncan is a corner outfielder, albeit a sub-par one. Ultimately, I'd like them to say goodbye to Cairo, since Betemit can play 2B, 3B, SS, and some outfield, and Phillips can play 1B, 2B, and 3B. You've got his positions covered with better players. Keep Giambi as the primary DH. Keep Damon around and work him in when and where you can. I bet he could still technically be a starter. It's the time of year where everyone can benefit from a day off each week. Let Damon rotate through the outfield and give Giambi a day off every now and again. I don't know what that would mean for Duncan.
If only it were September 1st and then this problem goes away. I also read they may still try and trade Farnsworth too. I don't think they need so many people in the bull pen anymore now that it seems they know who can help and who can't.
Mo, Vizcaino, Chamberlain, Ramirez, Bruney, Karstens, Villone. There's my ideal pen. It'll never happen, but it'd be nice. I'm sure it's going to be Myers instead of Bruney.
Myers is pretty cheap (1.2 mil). Maybe somebody would claim him if we threw him out there. He can't get the person out we bring him in to pitch to anyway.
Starting tomorrow Boston has 6 with LA, 3 with Seattle and three more with Baltimore over the next two weeks. 9 of them on the road. So, while our schedule is hard, it starts a week later, their's can only help us too. Just have to keep doing our part.
I'm actually going to have to agree with you Cappy. I like Cairo, but I'd rather he was the odd man out right now. If they're going to bring back Giambi, fine, but let Betemit be the utility guy, along with Phillips' flexibility. Giambi and Damon can rotate off the bench (and how much would that IMPROVE the bench,) along with both coming in to play some field. Giambi is obviously only a 1B, but at least that allows Joe to move Phillips into another spot. Duncan, if he stays, can fill in as well. Myers should be gone. I can't understand why he's still here. My pen, if it were my way: Mo Viz Chamberlain Karstens Farnsworth (yes, I am still trying to have faith in him) After that, I'm tossed. There's not much room left for pitchers at that point. I would probably want to keep Villone, simply because we'd otherwise have no lefties in the pen. (Unless Andy would be willing to make a move to the pen...) That's 11 pitchers. I like Edwar, but there really isn't room for him, and he's only had limited work up here. There's no guarantee on his success. As much as I have lost confidence in Farnsworth, I've lost just as much in Bruney. So I guess my pitching staff would be: Wang Hughes Pettitte Clemens Moose. Then Mo, Vizcaino, Chamberlain, Karstens, Farnsworth, Villone. (11) Then my roster would be: Cabrera CF Jeter SS Abreu RF ARod 3B Giambi DH Matsui LF Posada C (which is messed up that the team's best AVG hitter would bat 7th.) Cano 2B Phillips 1B The bench would have Betemit (utility/PH,) Damon (DH/LF/CF,) Duncan (DH/PH/1B,) and Molina (C.) (13) That leaves one roster spot open. The three guys I would debate that spot for are Bruney, Ramirez, and Cairo. Honestly, I'd rather sacrifice the arm for the extra bench player, but I could deal with the guy being Bruney. Looking at this now, Torre's right. This is actually a "good problem." I just hope Giambi has enough time to work back into the lineup and not be another Sheffield/Matsui.
Farnsworthless over Bruney? Give me a break! Bruney's ERA is 3.35? Farnsworth is what? 4.5? He is way too outspoken for a shitty reliever, last week the whole thing with Posada? Screw this redneck hick! I'm stunned the Yanks didn't trade him for Wickman, I don't care that Wickman sucked as a Yankee...And ATL wanted the Yanks to pay most of the salary, fine...He is so trashy man, a total joke.
going to the game today. I'm not a Yanks fan, but I'm going with a bunch of Yanks fans so it'll be fun. I hope to leave the game having witnessed a historical home run and with a nice tan
The potential upside of Farnsworth trumps the potential upside with Bruney, simple as that. Neither has impressed me enough, but we don't have anything else to take the spot.
This whole thing is a problem. They want Hughes, Chamberlain and Giambi all up now. There aren't 3 people with minor league options that I see. Henn and Duncan are it and they don't want to send Duncan down. I don't know how they resolve this. Oh, I'm wrong. I guess Bruney does too and maybe a couple of others.
Bruney going down is one spot. Dumping Myers to waivers is two. Who am I not including in my list that is here? There has to be a player I'm forgetting, since Proctor was a one-for-one with Betemit. EDIT: Is Henn up here with the team? If so, there's your third guy.
Atlanta wanted the Yanks to pay ALL of his salary, not most. That means the Yanks would be paying seven figures for the pleasure of having Bob Frikkin' Wickman in the pen. As bad as Farnsworth is, you don't make that trade. If I had to guess, Giambi will replace Duncan, just because of the options. Not a horrible move, since he'll be back soon, anyhow. Hughes and Chamberlain replace Henn and probably Bruney (but when I close my eyes at night, I dream that it's Myers).
