I'm actually looking forward to seeing Special Kei in action tonight... Want to see his new style, maybe he just lost the sunglasses?
Yes, Damon was "hurting." We've established that. We don't have a DH, but we didn't at the start of the series either. My issue with Damon being out of the lineup was that he should have been in center or at first to begin the series, and either he or Cairo should have been at first. Not Jorge. Not until Posada can no longer bend his knees. I take a LOT of issue with this specific catcher for a pitcher BS. Nieves has heart, but no skill. As 3rd likes to point out, heart is no match for talent. By putting in Nieves, and also losing Damon, while batting Melky first, you change the entire landscape of the lineup. Rather than having Damon lead off with a hit, we get Melky hacking at first pitch balls. Then, at the bottom of the lineup we send up Nieves (an out,) Mussina (a SURE out,) and then back to Melky. It's a total change to the lineup. One change is necessary since it's a NL park, but to totally change the lineup is breaking the chemistry established over half a month of success. --------------------- I see the WC/division series the opposite way you do. I want to focus on the wild card. That's far more "winable" for us right now. All we need to do is win. It doesn't matter who we beat, as long as we win. To win the division, even if we get within 6 by the break, we still need to all but sweep the Sox head-to-head. Basically, we need a repeat of the Boston Massacre, and that's very unrealistic this year. I'd rather focus on the attainable goal of a playoff berth for "dinner" then look at dessert. ------------------------ Okay, I misrepresented my point, and I'll call myself wrong for purposes of the leadoff discussion. Jeter is a very capable leadoff hitter. As I said, I prefer him in the 2 hole with the potential for 1st inning RBI if we have a healthy Damon batting leadoff. But we don't have a healthy Damon. We have a pansy. Then putting Melky up top, we have a free-swinging hacker just like Cano. Whi is the answer? I honestly don't know. Again, I'll bring Teixeira into the discussion. If Teixeira is here, this is how I'd construct the lineup: Jeter SS Abreu RF Posada C ARod 3B Teixeira 1B Matsui DH Cano 2B Cabrera CF Thompson LF If Jane Damon (I think I like Johnny Pavano better as a nickname,) is "healthy" enough to play, then Matsui can be put back out in left, but I'd rather he rode pine on defense. He can still produce RBI, but his glove is atrocious. I want a fast LF who can chase down balls, then actually be able to throw to second on a fly. ---------------------- On an interim basis, while still playing in NL parks, let Cairo play first. The lineup should look like: Jeter SS Abreu RF Posada C ARod 3B Matsui LF Cano 2B Cabrera CF Cairo 1B <whatever pitcher is on the mound> Then, once we've gone back to the AL, let Phillips get his shot at 1B. He'd be the nine-hole guy, Matsui can go to DH, and Thompson can play LF. OR, if Damon is healthy, Matsui stays in LF for now, and Damon leads off at DH. There are far more reasonable ways to construct this lineup than Joe is doing. Look, I would LOVE it if Torre could get the job done. I'd LOVE to talk about what a great job Joe is doing, since that would mean we were winning. But we're not. And there are far too many examples of instances where he's made poor choices that CAN be picked apart and focused on. When Joe makes good decisions, such as letting Wang pitch a complete game, I praise him, and deservedly so. However, those decisions don't last. How about Wang's start immediately after, where he was pulled with TWO OUTS in the bottom of the ninth, with a lead that wouldn't even qualify for a save? Can that be defended? I try to have a fair view of Torre, but he doesn't make it easy. As I've said before, this is like the investment industry "Past performance is no barometer for future success." Torre's rings are old news now. We haven't even appeared in the Fall Classic in years. Yes, he's been the manager for champions, but so have many managers. That doesn't mean they're qualified to do it again. I'd love for Torre to shut me up. I'd have no greater joy short of a Jet's Super Bowl win. I just don't see it happening, and I'd like to get Girardi before the "right" team makes him an offer.
Scary when we're looking forward to an Igawa start, isn't it? Me too though. I hope those tweaks translate up here.
Alio, as far as Damon, I don't think he's in the Pavano category. In Boston he played hurt and through injuries CONSTANTLY. If he says he's hurt, I'd bet that he really is, and it might be quite bad.
You know, I know I'm being unfair comparing him to Pavano. Pavano is a bitch who has been faking injuries for years now. (Sadly, the one that's ending his pinstripe tenure is actually legit.) My biggest problem, and the reason he earned the title from me, is because he signed this huge contract, and he KNOWS he's fragile at this point. His body is shot, and he was looking for one more meal ticket, and Brian Cashman was all too happy to give it to him. If he's as hurt as he claims, he should go into Torre's office and request to be DL'd. Yes, it's a sign of bitchdom, but if he is legitimately that hurt, he's not helping the team by staying active. We can bring someone up who can take his spot and give him the chance to maybe come back in the second half. At the same time, Joe's got to see what's going on too, and make a decision. If he knows Damon is really hurt, then he needs to have him removed from the roster for a couple weeks. I don't know, I thought it was part of a manager's job to know when his players aren't prepared for action. Bleh, every subject I discuss gets me more pissed off at this team. Thanks a lot man. :smile:
alio looking through a lot of your complaints lately...damons old, pavanos gay, we have no first basemen etc....leads me back to my biggest point in this thread....cashman has done a disgusting job!
And dude, I have grown into wholehearted agreement. His trades still impress me, but his ability to sign quality talent is non-existent. Let's not forget he brought in RJ to begin with. That was post-Kevin Brown. He's done some good work on the trading block, but the free agent market is his own personal kryptonite reserve.
Yeah hopefully he atleast does ok. Well hopefully the Yanks can get a win while Im at Griffey's return to Seattle game:up:
"Oh, my goodness gracious! Of all the dramatic things, of all the dramatic things I've ever seen, Roger Clemens standing right in George Steinbrenner's box announcing he is back!" 'nuff said.
I love it. Do you know how to tell if the Mets have had an off day when they are playing worse than the Yankees? dave and shade show up.
