How about those Yankees? They look like a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter during their first thirty-seven games. They can’t hit, especially with runners in scoring position. And their defense was never their strong point.
The Yankee pitching, with the exception of Chien-Ming Wang and Mariano Rivera is totally unreliable at best. Whenever one of the relief core steps up his game the disabled list is just around the corner.
The wheels are spinning but the hamster seems to be dead.
Although their future is bright the strongest things that the Yankees have going for them today, are their yesterdays.
Now the Yankee pitching staff has to endure the horrors of Kei Igawa. This guy has as much control as two rabbits on their first date. On the mound his appearance seems to project the luminance of a black light.
It is quite obvious New York or the major leagues are out of Igawa’s league of mental endurance. During the game, when the pressure is on, Igawa appears to be as smart as a box of hair. Sort of like our great president George W. who on occasions (like everyday) is a few clowns short of a circus under pressure. “Hey Ya’ll, the government is open seven days a week and weekends too.” “It`s tough to make predictions, especially about the future...”
Sorry for the side bar it’s that dementia thing creeping in and politics are on my mind. “ Where’s my watch?”
The Yankees invested forty-six million dollars on Igawa, this body by Nissan brains by Mattel toy. The Yankee scouting team was a few peas short of a casserole when assessing Igawa’s talent. Revoke their passports please.
Packaging Igawa in a deal to acquire a player with a pulse has certainly had to cross management’s minds. I’m sure Cashman and Hankenstien are afraid that Igawa will suddenly find his niche the minute he is dealt to another team. But even in Japan his pitch location was up in the zone. He will do no good here.
Management’s assessment of its young pitching staff was a bit premature. Patience has never been a virtue with this organization no matter what they preach. The rest of this year should be interesting if things continue to deteriorate. If the Yankees are still close to their division leaders by the end of June look for a packaged deal for pitching.
Getting A-Rod and Posada back will at least help this anemic offense. But the offense has not helped them in the playoffs. That is IF they make the playoffs. It’s all about pitching.
With a new stadium in the mix and the economy in the state of flush attendance next year could be an issue. Although corporate America seems to buy it’s share of seating in the Bronx, so maybe not.
The Yankees need some front line pitching and this off-season should produce some major changes. There is a lot of money coming off the books so look for a major free agent or two to be signed.
When you look at this series it is the Tigers who are playing the type of ball that got them going this year and propelled them to the top of their division for 99.9% of the year. Quality starting pitching, timely hitting and a pretty good bullpen. They have recaptured the chemistry they displayed for the first half of the year and at a very opportune time.
Every team goes through slumps and the Tigers were showing the strains of a young talented ball club going through a 162 game grueling season. This is where a young, energetic, talented, well-managed ball club becomes extremely dangerous.
The National press and sports writers gave the Detroit Tigers absolutely no chance to win more than one, if any games from the powerful New York Yankees who's lineup has been assessed to be the best ever assembled in the history of post season baseball.
Chemistry is a very large part of team sports and their success. As it stands right now, the Tigers have it and the Yankees do not.
The Yankees have gone through several changes through out the year and were able to put together a scrappy and energetic squad for two thirds' of that season. Now they have put together THE TEAM that was supposed to project them to their 27th world title and it has been only a three-week experiment. This is not enough time to build chemistry through war-hardened camaraderie, among teammates, no matter how experienced and talented these individuals are.
This current Yankee team (this post season one) is just a slightly different looking package from the past three seasons. Just enough big name players who have been "THE GUY" for other teams but do not know the feeling of how to be part of a team player mindset.
The Yankees starting pitching, with the exception of Chien-Ming Wang, has been inconsistent and spotty all year. The bullpen is their Achilles heel. Not a good combination for playoff success.
Johnny Damon has been in a slump and looks as if he is a notch or two below his usual playoff twitchy edge.
Derek Jeter is playing his usual game with an average amount of throwing problems. Nonetheless, he still rises to the occasion.
Bobby Abreau has been steady and below average at the plate so far.
Jason Giambi is awful in the field and overmatched at the plate at times.
Gary Sheffield is not a first baseman and continues to struggle in the post season with New York.
A-Rod, I refuse to state my views, no sense in beating a dead horse although his play in the field has been steady.
Hideki Matsui has played better than I expected. He makes contact.
Jorge Posada has continued to hit the ball hard and his play behind the plate has been as good as ever.
Robinson Cano, has not shown up offensively in this series and has shown his impatience at the plate. His fielding has been as expected.
The Bullpen has done a fair job.
Joe Torre has been a non-factor. He continues to be unable to motivate his team at the most crucial of times. Joe is just a good handler of men, not a motivator.
There is one game left for the Yankees to start putting a stamp on their team chemistry portfolio. That is a huge task for a team who looks more tight and frustrated and has not been able to focus on their ability to play to their strengths. Even if they somehow manage to win the next two games, the Oakland A’s look like The Detroit Tigers West. The problems will continue.
Team chemistry and good pitching. Developing one and facing another. Too much, too soon.
The Detroit Tigers have shown, for the last three games, that they pitch better, hit better and are managed better than the “best team penciled into a post season lineup in major league history.”
I have been on a soapbox most of the year when it comes to promoting Posada. His off-season conditioning has really paid off in ####s. He has played through some injuries and has maintained his stamina for the entire season.
His desire and willingness to take advantage of and be tutored by an all-star catcher, first base coach Tony Pena, has improved his quickness, throwing mechanics and accuracy. This has allowed Posada to throw out base runners at a much-improved rate then at anytime in his long career with the Yankees.
His handling of the pitching staff has been remarkable. His long time personality problems with Randy Johnson are a thing of the past. You can see the respect Randy now has with Jorge every time the duo are teamed up (which now is every start for Randy) on the mound, behind the plate and in the dugout. Jorge made an all out effort to reconcile their differences the first day of spring training. No ego here. Not for Jorge. Not this year. Never.
The revolving door of starters, both through trades and call ups from the minors, has been an easy transition for all arms thanks to Jorge’s command and respect he projects on the field.
His clutch hitting has been obvious to all that follow the Yankees on a regular basis. His is driving the ball with authority. He has Had only one slump all year, which lasted eighteen at bats. Not bad for a catcher his age. When most catchers at this point in their careers are showing signs of slowing down Posada has stepped up and improved all aspects of his game. We who follow this team see it and marvel. The rest of baseball does not.
I was disappointed last Sunday evening when Jorge launched a towering fly ball to left centerfield that was clearly over the fence against the Red Sox, were it not for an amazing leaping over the fence catch by Coco Crisp it would have put the Yankees ahead in the eighth inning possibly winning the game for the Yankees. All this on a national ESPN broadcast. Jorge has been that kind of clutch all year.
He is a not an MVP by offensive numbers but his overall play is MVP quality in his performance and importance to his team. While Derek Jeter is having his MVP season so is Jorge Posada. The oh so quiet MVP
Jorge Posada has been an incredible and stabilizing part of this franchise for ten years. The handling of the revolving door of pitchers (and the personalities that go along with big name pitchers) has been nothing short of amazing and Kissingeresque. We think of Mariano Rivera and his worth to this organization and the guy behind the plate orchestrating his performance, ninety five percent of the time, has been Jorge Posada. Don't think that has nothing to do with some of Mariano's' success. There is a comfort level there that most fans take for granted.
There is a toughness and grittiness about him that is part O'Neil and an arrogance and respect and work ethic like a Clemens. His leadership can be linked to a Jetter persona with a bit more outspokenness. He plays hurt and makes no excuses. His offense is among the best in all of baseball at his position. He is coach able. Look at his reaction and play from his working relationship with Pena. After ten plus grueling years behind the plate (remember he plays an extra five to nineteen high pressured playoff games a year) He is only getting better.
When all is said and done, he will be compaired to the best Yankee catchers of all time. Here's hoping he plays at this level for as long as he wishes and retires on his terms. He deserves nothing less.
