**Official YANKEES 2009 Thread** (1 Viewer)

[Liquid Tension]

Having a pitcher throw a great game can make a coach look great. CC was dominating yesterday as Baltimore had an amazing amount of defensive swings (just trying to not strike out). I was impressed with the game Cervelli called. While I think he goes for the strike out a little too much by “wasting” too many pitches, his thought process is good. I had been commenting (to myself) that Sabathia should throw his change for a strike as they are just not ready for it. In the 7th inning Cervelli called for the change and it was off the plate for a ball. I said to myself again, “throw that change for a strike” and the next pitch Cervelli called for the change and he threw it for a strike that was not swung at. Then, with CC throwing a solid 95, he called for a change again and the batter was way out in front. Tripled up on the change…it was a great call. Later in the 7th inning he tripled up on the change again with great success; that is how you call a game! (this is not to say that tripling up on your change is a great frequent strategy - it isn't, but the situation called for it)

Some notes:

The first batter lined to LF and Damon should have caught it, he backpedaled too early and if he would have kept coming for the ball he would have had a fairly routine sliding catch in my opinion.

Cano has been struggling but has any guy lined out more times than he has? He was robbed in the 9th inning and earlier in the game hit a hard line grounder to 2nd base. While he is having trouble catching breaks in a slump, Swisher is simply not swinging well. Michael Kay made the comment that pitchers are just throwing strikes early in the count and he is falling behind. I don’t agree with this; he is just not putting a good swing on good pitches. Pitchers have also started to throw more junk to him as he was feasting on fastball earlier in the year. He is now missing them along with more junk.

Two nights ago, Jeter twice made a weak or no tag and caught the ball before the bag on steals of 2nd. If he waits and snaps he might have had the runner both times. It amazes me that a veteran like Jeter doesn’t handle throws like Cano who takes the ball as deep as he can and then snaps the tag down. Jeter may not be as quick as Cano, but that is even more reason to let the speed of the ball get the ball to the bag rather than catch the ball bring it “back” to the bag and then down. As a catcher that would have ticked me off.

Damon broke 4 bats the last 2 games; it is crazy that my prediction that he breaks 5 bats a week was too light.

I know ARod has homered in 4 straight games, but he is still not locked in. I made the comment that he will not be back until he drives his 2nd pitch to right center; he has still not done this and that is a staple for Alex. Ken Singleton astutely pointed out that every one of ARod homers has been to LF. Later in the game ARod drove a ball to deep CF that was caught, but I would argue that if he weren’t looking to pull everything that ball would have been gone; it was just ever so slightly off the end of the bat. ARod is still pulling off the ball and pitchers are going to see that all they need to do is pitch him outside until he adjusts (which he will). In the meantime, I hope they keep making mistakes.

OPS order:

Damon: 1.006

ARod .994

Posada .987

Texiera .894

Swisher .872

Cabrera .842

Cano .807

Matsui .789

Jeter .771

Cervelli .763

Gardner .718

Pena .645

SEVEN in a row!

 

[Reaper]

I think you are way off base. First no results? Making the playoffs EVERY year but one is a very good result. I am sure you are smart enough to understand that the playoffs are somewhat of a crap shoot so making the playoffs is an excellent result. Second, Manhattan is the most expensive city in the US bar none! This is not debatable. Third, is Boston the 3rd highest payroll? I believe that has been the case, behind the Mets. You have yet to use any logic in your argument, instead you say I am making excuses that are off base. You have yet to refute anything I have said. They have made the playoffs EVERY year except last year and they were decimated with injuries (is that a bad excuse?)

I have been the first person to criticize the Yankees and I have been on Jeter's defense before anyone else here was talking about it. I will also be critical of any player or manager, but some of the comments here are absurd. I don't think the Yankees are perfect, in fact, the Yankees do have an advantage and I think they should make the playoffs 80% of the time, but that does not mean that such hyperbole and off comments such as "with their payroll they should win 135 games" isn't ignorant!

Sorry finless, your post is worthless

Worthless?Well you believe wrong. They're 4th in Payoll $80 million behind the Yankees. That's 3 A-Rods. Or the entire Blue Jays team as I pointed out earlier. Now does the cost of living only effect the Yankees? I'm trying to understand you here. Because it doesn't seem to have much of an impact on any other New York team or the other teams I listed. You chose to ignore that. Just answer that question. Or why a team that outspent every other team by close to $100 million the last few years can't win a pennant. The playoffs are a crapshoot? Really? And I'm the one not smart enough to understand The same teams must be some good dice rollers. No one gives a #### about playoffs. You spend 200 million a year for a decade you should bring home some hardware.

I'm not trying to fish you here. I just don't understand how you're not disgusted.

Are you saying that we should be angry at the Front Office because they've spent all this money and have very little to show for it?

Pretty much. I'd be pissed. Just like I get pissed at Red Sox ownership when they sometimes fail to open their pockets. I've been saying it since the beginning of the year the Sox missed the boat and I honestly don't think they have the firepower to go to the series this year. You don't lose Manny (and Ortiz) production and replace it with Jason Bay and improve.And I guess it's not really being mad at them for spending money. It's for not getting enough out of that money on the field.

Well THAT is just the beauty and unpredictable thing that makes Sports so great!!!If you tell me the Yankees front office puts on the field the most talented or near the most talented team, then I tell you there isn't much more they can do - The rest is the FUN that is Baseball and sports. To see it play out.. They made some good moves, some bad but, overall we agree the talent is pretty good - AND the minor leagues look good.

Once you put the best or near the best talent on the team, at some point you need to sit back and watch... The Patriots KILLED the league 2 years ago - No doubt in anyone's mind the Talent was better than anyone, they damn near go undefeated and blow people out in the process... Same team comes back a year later but wait, they lose 1 key player And What happens??????? If the NFL allowed the Pats to spend whatever they wanted that year to make up for Brady would it have helped - Lets say the Pats could sign any available QB for Any amount of money???? Who would they get??? Would the fact that they gave the player 40 million dollars Guarantee he was the best player in the NFL??? Talent is limited.

I understand the great Pats would over time use that money better than anyone... But, in that period we saw the most talented team Kill the league and then become pretty average at the snap of a finger.

If the Yankees, made every single move perfect, Maybe had the genius that is Boston baseball working for them, You would still come around fishing for something... Again, all part of the fun!!!

 

[jobarules]

You boys enjoying Big Tex?

Don't worry, he will start hitting when it no longer matters.

Yep

 

[Darth Cheney]

I think you are way off base. First no results? Making the playoffs EVERY year but one is a very good result. I am sure you are smart enough to understand that the playoffs are somewhat of a crap shoot so making the playoffs is an excellent result. Second, Manhattan is the most expensive city in the US bar none! This is not debatable. Third, is Boston the 3rd highest payroll? I believe that has been the case, behind the Mets. You have yet to use any logic in your argument, instead you say I am making excuses that are off base. You have yet to refute anything I have said. They have made the playoffs EVERY year except last year and they were decimated with injuries (is that a bad excuse?)

I have been the first person to criticize the Yankees and I have been on Jeter's defense before anyone else here was talking about it. I will also be critical of any player or manager, but some of the comments here are absurd. I don't think the Yankees are perfect, in fact, the Yankees do have an advantage and I think they should make the playoffs 80% of the time, but that does not mean that such hyperbole and off comments such as "with their payroll they should win 135 games" isn't ignorant!

Sorry finless, your post is worthless

Worthless?Well you believe wrong. They're 4th in Payoll $80 million behind the Yankees. That's 3 A-Rods. Or the entire Blue Jays team as I pointed out earlier. Now does the cost of living only effect the Yankees? I'm trying to understand you here. Because it doesn't seem to have much of an impact on any other New York team or the other teams I listed. You chose to ignore that. Just answer that question. Or why a team that outspent every other team by close to $100 million the last few years can't win a pennant. The playoffs are a crapshoot? Really? And I'm the one not smart enough to understand The same teams must be some good dice rollers. No one gives a #### about playoffs. You spend 200 million a year for a decade you should bring home some hardware.

I'm not trying to fish you here. I just don't understand how you're not disgusted.

Are you saying that we should be angry at the Front Office because they've spent all this money and have very little to show for it?

Pretty much. I'd be pissed. Just like I get pissed at Red Sox ownership when they sometimes fail to open their pockets. I've been saying it since the beginning of the year the Sox missed the boat and I honestly don't think they have the firepower to go to the series this year. You don't lose Manny (and Ortiz) production and replace it with Jason Bay and improve.And I guess it's not really being mad at them for spending money. It's for not getting enough out of that money on the field.

Well THAT is just the beauty and unpredictable thing that makes Sports so great!!!If you tell me the Yankees front office puts on the field the most talented or near the most talented team, then I tell you there isn't much more they can do - The rest is the FUN that is Baseball and sports. To see it play out.. They made some good moves, some bad but, overall we agree the talent is pretty good - AND the minor leagues look good.

Once you put the best or near the best talent on the team, at some point you need to sit back and watch... The Patriots KILLED the league 2 years ago - No doubt in anyone's mind the Talent was better than anyone, they damn near go undefeated and blow people out in the process... Same team comes back a year later but wait, they lose 1 key player And What happens??????? If the NFL allowed the Pats to spend whatever they wanted that year to make up for Brady would it have helped - Lets say the Pats could sign any available QB for Any amount of money???? Who would they get??? Would the fact that they gave the player 40 million dollars Guarantee he was the best player in the NFL??? Talent is limited.

I understand the great Pats would over time use that money better than anyone... But, in that period we saw the most talented team Kill the league and then become pretty average at the snap of a finger.

If the Yankees, made every single move perfect, Maybe had the genius that is Boston baseball working for them, You would still come around fishing for something... Again, all part of the fun!!!

I think Fin sees the writing on the wall in regards to the Yankees superiority on the field and is planning his defense and criticism well in advance of their World Series victory. Well played Finless.

 

[ScottNorwood]

I love the smell of ownage in the morning

 

[Sammy3469]

According to baseballreference.com this team is younger in both its pitching and hitting than any year after 1996.

Thanks for answering my question. Everyone kept saying we were old and I thought we were younger this year and after Damon and Matsui leave we will get younger. A good plan is in place folks!

Just answer who is going to be their corner OFs next year and tell me if a plan is in place (your basically looking Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Bay as viable Corner OF FAs). The only excellent things Cashman has done the past 3 years is sign Teixera and Sabathia and both those are no-brainers if you have 20 million to blow on each guy. Plus that Age stat is meaningless right now since all their old guys have been hurt allowing Cervilli's and Pena's 23 ages to alter the stat. Take them out and your left with starters with an average age 31.33 (and that's allowing for Swisher starting over Nady).Plus the farm system isn't all that great.

 

[Liquid Tension]

According to baseballreference.com this team is younger in both its pitching and hitting than any year after 1996.

Thanks for answering my question. Everyone kept saying we were old and I thought we were younger this year and after Damon and Matsui leave we will get younger. A good plan is in place folks!

Just answer who is going to be their corner OFs next year and tell me if a plan is in place (your basically looking Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Bay as viable Corner OF FAs). The only excellent things Cashman has done the past 3 years is sign Teixera and Sabathia and both those are no-brainers if you have 20 million to blow on each guy. Plus that Age stat is meaningless right now since all their old guys have been hurt allowing Cervilli's and Pena's 23 ages to alter the stat. Take them out and your left with starters with an average age 31.33 (and that's allowing for Swisher starting over Nady).

Plus the farm system isn't all that great.

I am not sure what my choices will be exactly, but my plan would be that I would let Matsui go no matter what. Damon is the type of guy that may only want to play one more year and then retire with game left so it is possible that i would sign him for one more year. I would not sign a 3 year deal with Damon so most likely I am letting him go as well. I have Gardner and Melky as OF'rs and depending on how they do that impacts my decision process as well. Further, will Austin Jackson be ready? That being said, I would look at Matt Holliday but track how he is doing in the AL and away from Coors (he is in a pitchers park now). Jason Bay, sure, I like him as a player. I was one of the only people saying that people were going to nuts with Boston losing Manny because Bay would be almost the same overall player (slightly better defensively, but not as good a hitter, but still solid at the plate). Carl Crawford would be an interesting guy to replace Damon. He is a similar OF'r in that they both have putrid arms. Crawford will be around 28 next year so that would be a good 4 year signing. He doesn't walk like you would like for a leadoff hitter, but he clearly has the speed. I haven't analyzed every free agent and every player that may become available.

 

[ScottNorwood]

LOL @ u haters. Yankees R gettin healthy. Teixerra is a STUD 2nd half player. A-Rod is getting healthy. Should be the BEST offense in the league. Once Wang gets right, that rotation will be NASTY with a capital N.1) CC2) AJ3) Pettitte4) Wang5) Hughes/JobaThat's some serious DEPTH. Joba could go to the pen and it will be LIGHTS OUT after the 7th inning. So what if they played .500 ball for the first month? This team is poised. I'm predicting 115 wins and they will cruise to the WS.

How many games in a row have the Yankees won since this post? I've lost count.

 

[jobarules]

According to baseballreference.com this team is younger in both its pitching and hitting than any year after 1996.

Thanks for answering my question. Everyone kept saying we were old and I thought we were younger this year and after Damon and Matsui leave we will get younger. A good plan is in place folks!

Just answer who is going to be their corner OFs next year and tell me if a plan is in place (your basically looking Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Bay as viable Corner OF FAs). The only excellent things Cashman has done the past 3 years is sign Teixera and Sabathia and both those are no-brainers if you have 20 million to blow on each guy. Plus that Age stat is meaningless right now since all their old guys have been hurt allowing Cervilli's and Pena's 23 ages to alter the stat. Take them out and your left with starters with an average age 31.33 (and that's allowing for Swisher starting over Nady).Plus the farm system isn't all that great.

Isnt Holliday and Bay FAs?Anyway, my plan would be to resign Damon to play DH (1 or 2 yr deal only), stick Cabrera in LF (if he continues having a decent season), start Jackson in CF, and have Swisher for RF. Dont get me wrong, that would be a very weak OF but the strength of this team is the IF (ARod, Jeter, Cano, Teixeira) so they can get away with a weaker OF.

 

[Bogart]

You boys enjoying Big Tex?

Don't worry, he will start hitting when it no longer matters.

Yep

Good to see it took him only this long to get that AVG above 0.240. It is amazing what $22.5 million buys you now days.

 

[Nigel]

Second, Manhattan is the most expensive city in the US bar none! This is not debatable.

lol at cost of living having anything to do with the high Yankee payroll. Add up all of the incremental costs over the course of a year for a ballplayer playing for the Yankees compared to the somewhere like Texas. Maybe the average player actually spends an extra $100K? And please don't count the cost of Johnny Damon renting a 10K sq ft penthouse at The Ritz, or other similar extravagences. They do that because they're getting paid so handsomely, not the other way around. I'm talking about the extra cost of meals, normal housing, taxis, booze, etc for the 90 or so days they actually spend in the city each year.

I don't begrudge them - spend it if you got it. But that point is just absurd.

 

[ScottNorwood]

You boys enjoying Big Tex?

Don't worry, he will start hitting when it no longer matters.

Yep

Good to see it took him only this long to get that AVG above 0.240. It is amazing what $22.5 million buys you now days.

Bogart, you're better than this

 

[Bogart]

You boys enjoying Big Tex?

Don't worry, he will start hitting when it no longer matters.

Yep

Good to see it took him only this long to get that AVG above 0.240. It is amazing what $22.5 million buys you now days.

Bogart, you're better than this

Not really.The only redeeming quality that scum has is that he turned into Salty, Feliz, Andrus, Harrison and Jones.

 

[Liquid Tension]

According to baseballreference.com this team is younger in both its pitching and hitting than any year after 1996.

Thanks for answering my question. Everyone kept saying we were old and I thought we were younger this year and after Damon and Matsui leave we will get younger. A good plan is in place folks!

Just answer who is going to be their corner OFs next year and tell me if a plan is in place (your basically looking Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Bay as viable Corner OF FAs). The only excellent things Cashman has done the past 3 years is sign Teixera and Sabathia and both those are no-brainers if you have 20 million to blow on each guy. Plus that Age stat is meaningless right now since all their old guys have been hurt allowing Cervilli's and Pena's 23 ages to alter the stat. Take them out and your left with starters with an average age 31.33 (and that's allowing for Swisher starting over Nady).

Plus the farm system isn't all that great.

Isnt Holliday and Bay FAs?Anyway, my plan would be to resign Damon to play DH (1 or 2 yr deal only), stick Cabrera in LF (if he continues having a decent season), start Jackson in CF, and have Swisher for RF. Dont get me wrong, that would be a very weak OF but the strength of this team is the IF (ARod, Jeter, Cano, Teixeira) so they can get away with a weaker OF.

I fixed the IF and I think Posada will be handling a fair portion of the DH'ng. Let's not let the recent hot streak cloud the judgment that Damon has a career OPS of .793 and he will be turning 36 next year. I know players are playing better at older ages, but the 35 mark to me seems like 30 used to be? I think one year is the way I would go so we are not far off, but in general I would say move on. Heck, if we are looking at an old DH, maybe we want to see if Vlad is still able to hit?

 

[jobarules]

According to baseballreference.com this team is younger in both its pitching and hitting than any year after 1996.

Thanks for answering my question. Everyone kept saying we were old and I thought we were younger this year and after Damon and Matsui leave we will get younger. A good plan is in place folks!

Just answer who is going to be their corner OFs next year and tell me if a plan is in place (your basically looking Damon, Matsui, Nady, and Bay as viable Corner OF FAs). The only excellent things Cashman has done the past 3 years is sign Teixera and Sabathia and both those are no-brainers if you have 20 million to blow on each guy. Plus that Age stat is meaningless right now since all their old guys have been hurt allowing Cervilli's and Pena's 23 ages to alter the stat. Take them out and your left with starters with an average age 31.33 (and that's allowing for Swisher starting over Nady).

Plus the farm system isn't all that great.

Isnt Holliday and Bay FAs?Anyway, my plan would be to resign Damon to play DH (1 or 2 yr deal only), stick Cabrera in LF (if he continues having a decent season), start Jackson in CF, and have Swisher for RF. Dont get me wrong, that would be a very weak OF but the strength of this team is the IF (ARod, Jeter, Cano, Teixeira) so they can get away with a weaker OF.

I fixed the IF and I think Posada will be handling a fair portion of the DH'ng. Let's not let the recent hot streak cloud the judgment that Damon has a career OPS of .793 and he will be turning 36 next year. I know players are playing better at older ages, but the 35 mark to me seems like 30 used to be? I think one year is the way I would go so we are not far off, but in general I would say move on. Heck, if we are looking at an old DH, maybe we want to see if Vlad is still able to hit?

So you'd move Jeter to the OF? I can live with that but I doubt the Yanks do it next year. Also I agree on Damon but he had a great year last year and in 2006 as well.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Second, Manhattan is the most expensive city in the US bar none! This is not debatable.

lol at cost of living having anything to do with the high Yankee payroll. Add up all of the incremental costs over the course of a year for a ballplayer playing for the Yankees compared to the somewhere like Texas. Maybe the average player actually spends an extra $100K? And please don't count the cost of Johnny Damon renting a 10K sq ft penthouse at The Ritz, or other similar extravagences. They do that because they're getting paid so handsomely, not the other way around. I'm talking about the extra cost of meals, normal housing, taxis, booze, etc for the 90 or so days they actually spend in the city each year.

I don't begrudge them - spend it if you got it. But that point is just absurd.

$100K? You have no idea what you are talking about. I have an employee that was paying an extra $3600 a year just for working in LaGuardia NY compared to NJ. That is based on the city tax. If a Yankee player was making 15 mil just a few % points of city tax could be many hundreds of thousands of dollars. What about no state income tax in some states? Why do you think the Yanks can charge as much as they do for their seats? because there is a lot of wealth in the area. the cost of living is high, the income is high, everything is high. Therefore the Yankees generate the most income and can then pay the most income. I can't believe people can't see how it is all interconnected? Their payroll is high because they can afford it and the owners choose to throw it back into the product which in turn (they hope) return more than if their product was bad. That being said, the same contract in NY is worth less in NY than it is in TB, this is irrefutable? You guys can laugh and stick your head in the sand as long as you want, but it doesn't change the facts.

BTW, that is before the normal cost of items. You can say Damon has a penthouse, but the same crib someplace else would be a heck of a lot less. There is a reason Jeter is building his huge home in the TB area and not in NYC

 

[Liquid Tension]

You boys enjoying Big Tex?

Don't worry, he will start hitting when it no longer matters.

Yep

Good to see it took him only this long to get that AVG above 0.240. It is amazing what $22.5 million buys you now days.

Bogart, you're better than this

Not really.The only redeeming quality that scum has is that he turned into Salty, Feliz, Andrus, Harrison and Jones.

I agree with Bogart on the bolded parts

 

[ScottNorwood]

 

[Raider Nation]

Back to back to back.

THIS is what we signed up for.

 

[flysack]

Hi everybody. Are we having fun now?

 

[The Ghost of Common]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

 

[ScottNorwood]

 

[Raider Nation]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

0.2/10

 

[The Ghost of Common]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

0.2/10

Yankees Win to Millions of Dollars spent ratio?? Didn't realize it was that low.

 

[jobarules]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

 

[Reaper]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

Umm............................... yeah. I expected a tight 3-way rollercoaster of a race Just with TB in Toronto's spot.What did you expect at this point?

 

[Reaper]

Quiet in here tonight.

I would be in here talking about what a great weekend the Yanks had but all non-die hard Yankee fans were told we were trolls and we wouldnt be entertained if we came into this thread.Now that you're winning do you want the non-Yankee fans back in the thread? Pick one - can't have it both ways.

TROLL

 

[The Ghost of Common]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

Umm............................... yeah. I expected a tight 3-way rollercoaster of a race Just with TB in Toronto's spot.What did you expect at this point?

I expect with that payroll the Yankees should be 162-0 to be honest. Best team money can buy.They should easily be up 10 games in the standings by now at LEAST or I'd want my money back for any tickets I bought.

 

[jobarules]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

Umm............................... yeah. I expected a tight 3-way rollercoaster of a race Just with TB in Toronto's spot.What did you expect at this point?

I expect with that payroll the Yankees should be 162-0 to be honest. Best team money can buy.They should easily be up 10 games in the standings by now at LEAST or I'd want my money back for any tickets I bought.

well good thing for you you're not a Yankee fan. Seriously this has gotta be fishing.

 

[The foo]

Back to back to back.THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

Umm............................... yeah. I expected a tight 3-way rollercoaster of a race Just with TB in Toronto's spot.What did you expect at this point?

I expect with that payroll the Yankees should be 162-0 to be honest. Best team money can buy.They should easily be up 10 games in the standings by now at LEAST or I'd want my money back for any tickets I bought.

well good thing for you you're not a Yankee fan. Seriously this has gotta be fishing.

Its amazing the amount of "payroll" comments increase as the yankees win total increase. Yankess win.Payroll!Payroll!Payroll!

 

[Finless]

But let me dissect your rambling. I think this is pretty much common knowledge

So once again you answer my question like a politician giving an answer that has nothing to do with the question. You stated cost of living in MANHATTAN has swollen up the Yankees payroll. But have not answered why it doesn't effect the payrolls of other New York teams or teams in high cost of living areas. It has nothing to do with cost of living. I has to do with being in the largest market in the country and ownership who refuses to lose and will pay whatever it takes to put the best team on the field. That's worked swimmingly over the last decade. You keep hiding behind the cost of living rather than admitting NY tries to buy it's championships. If I were in your shoes I'd say "hell yeah. It's nice having dollars to throw around". I wouldn't be sitting their hiding behind some crap about what rent is in NYC. But along with my smugness knowing the ownership will pony up the dough I'd be disgusted that we hadn't one anything in a decade spending 4 times what the average team spends. "WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS".And with this new crap-shoot playoffs the league has going on anything could happen. You do know the wild card and divisional winner are usually separated by only a couple of games right? So why wouldn't it be a crapshoot? I'm not even sure what you are trying to say. The Red Sox and Yankees have played in a division with 3 teams who have not shown up for about a decade. Kudos to the Yankees for making the playoffs. Your points make no sense. I'm not even sure you're a baseball fan.

 

[Darth Cheney]

But let me dissect your rambling.

I think this is pretty much common knowledge

So once again you answer my question like a politician giving an answer that has nothing to do with the question. You stated cost of living in MANHATTAN has swollen up the Yankees payroll. But have not answered why it doesn't effect the payrolls of other New York teams or teams in high cost of living areas. It has nothing to do with cost of living. I has to do with being in the largest market in the country and ownership who refuses to lose and will pay whatever it takes to put the best team on the field. That's worked swimmingly over the last decade. You keep hiding behind the cost of living rather than admitting NY tries to buy it's championships. If I were in your shoes I'd say "hell yeah. It's nice having dollars to throw around". I wouldn't be sitting their hiding behind some crap about what rent is in NYC. But along with my smugness knowing the ownership will pony up the dough I'd be disgusted that we hadn't one anything in a decade spending 4 times what the average team spends. "WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS".And with this new crap-shoot playoffs the league has going on anything could happen. You do know the wild card and divisional winner are usually separated by only a couple of games right? So why wouldn't it be a crapshoot? I'm not even sure what you are trying to say. The Red Sox and Yankees have played in a division with 3 teams who have not shown up for about a decade. Kudos to the Yankees for making the playoffs. Your points make no sense. I'm not even sure you're a baseball fan.

OUCH!!!!

 

[Michael Brown]

But let me dissect your rambling. I think this is pretty much common knowledge

So once again you answer my question like a politician giving an answer that has nothing to do with the question. You stated cost of living in MANHATTAN has swollen up the Yankees payroll. But have not answered why it doesn't effect the payrolls of other New York teams or teams in high cost of living areas. It has nothing to do with cost of living. I has to do with being in the largest market in the country and ownership who refuses to lose and will pay whatever it takes to put the best team on the field. That's worked swimmingly over the last decade. You keep hiding behind the cost of living rather than admitting NY tries to buy it's championships. If I were in your shoes I'd say "hell yeah. It's nice having dollars to throw around". I wouldn't be sitting their hiding behind some crap about what rent is in NYC. But along with my smugness knowing the ownership will pony up the dough I'd be disgusted that we hadn't one anything in a decade spending 4 times what the average team spends. "WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS".And with this new crap-shoot playoffs the league has going on anything could happen. You do know the wild card and divisional winner are usually separated by only a couple of games right? So why wouldn't it be a crapshoot? I'm not even sure what you are trying to say. The Red Sox and Yankees have played in a division with 3 teams who have not shown up for about a decade. Kudos to the Yankees for making the playoffs. Your points make no sense. I'm not even sure you're a baseball fan.

I'm not going to get into the whole cost of living debate, but I do want to address what I think the point was with the playoffs crapshoot thing.Basically, the money gives you a big advantage in getting to the postseason. But once the playoffs start, not only does salary not matter, but talent doesn't even matter as much. Otherwise, Jeff Suppan and Kenny Rogers wouldn't have pitched remarkable playoff games in recent seasons. And the Yankees would've lost the World Series to the Braves twice in the late 90's.It's too small a sample size to get anything from (much like the first few weeks of this season, but I digress...)The Yankees payroll affords them the ability to make a mistake on a guy, and it affords them the ability to go out and nab three of the top four free agents this offseason. But it doesn't enable them to get a sac fly with 1 out in a tie game in the 8th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS. It doesn't strike out the side in the bottom of the 9th. The players in those positions have to do it, not the money. And even in the years the Yankees were WINNING the World Series, they caught plenty of breaks in order to win. They weren't always the best team in baseball. Hell, you could argue that the only year they had the no-doubt best team was in 1998. All those other years, they played well and pitched well in the playoffs but they also got a lot of breaks.So I think the point is, talking trash about the Yankee shortcomings in the postseason since 2001 is kind of pointless, because it's not like they've lost because they weren't good enough. They lost because the other teams got great pitching at unexpected times, or because they didn't catch the breaks they used to. And in the years they won, they won because they got great pitching at unexpected times, or because they did catch the breaks.

 

[Reaper]

Back to back to back.

THIS is what we signed up for.

You signed up for 3rd place with by far the highest payroll in the league?

Umm............................... yeah.

I expected a tight 3-way rollercoaster of a race

Just with TB in Toronto's spot.

What did you expect at this point?

I expect with that payroll the Yankees should be 162-0 to be honest. Best team money can buy.They should easily be up 10 games in the standings by now at LEAST or I'd want my money back for any tickets I bought.

Ok.

That's a new and refreshing shtick. Please stay!!!!!

 

[ScottNorwood]

 

[Michael Brown]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.

Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

 

[jobarules]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

That sux dude. Reminds me of a Yankee Met game I went to. My SIL went to the game also in different seats. She passed out in the bleachers cuz it was so hot. Then after the game, the parking attendant got my car and parked it for us. Before we got a chance to get into the car, he got another car and rammed it right into my car (I guess he wasnt looking). We had to argue with the parking lot owner and get a cop until he would finally agree to pay for it. My dad had to drive all the way back to the Bronx to get the cash from him after we got an estimate.As far as Wang, his stuff looked alot better but he still had problems sinking some pitches. Dont give up on him.

 

[Liquid Tension]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

Michael, I am sorry to hear about your dad's surgery, but I hope the surgery proves to be perfectly successful! Best Thoughts,LT

 

[Liquid Tension]

But let me dissect your rambling. I think this is pretty much common knowledge

So once again you answer my question like a politician giving an answer that has nothing to do with the question. You stated cost of living in MANHATTAN has swollen up the Yankees payroll. But have not answered why it doesn't effect the payrolls of other New York teams or teams in high cost of living areas. It has nothing to do with cost of living. I has to do with being in the largest market in the country and ownership who refuses to lose and will pay whatever it takes to put the best team on the field. That's worked swimmingly over the last decade. You keep hiding behind the cost of living rather than admitting NY tries to buy it's championships. If I were in your shoes I'd say "hell yeah. It's nice having dollars to throw around". I wouldn't be sitting their hiding behind some crap about what rent is in NYC. But along with my smugness knowing the ownership will pony up the dough I'd be disgusted that we hadn't one anything in a decade spending 4 times what the average team spends. "WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS".And with this new crap-shoot playoffs the league has going on anything could happen. You do know the wild card and divisional winner are usually separated by only a couple of games right? So why wouldn't it be a crapshoot? I'm not even sure what you are trying to say. The Red Sox and Yankees have played in a division with 3 teams who have not shown up for about a decade. Kudos to the Yankees for making the playoffs. Your points make no sense. I'm not even sure you're a baseball fan.

Probably should just ignore posts that bring nothing to the table, but I do want to point out that not only have you misrepresented my points about the cost of living (I never said it was the only or even the largest factor in the Yankees large payroll) it is obvious you don't have the comprehension skills to understand the how much luck contributes to winning in the playoffs. Enjoy your world Finless!

 

[flysack]

GET THE SHAVING CREAM!

 

[Raider Nation]

Yanks rally in the 9th for a win. Papelqueer gets raked by some no-name catcher for a blown save.

All is right with the universe once again.

 

[cobalt_27]

Yanks rally in the 9th for a win. Papelqueer gets raked by some no-name catcher for a blown save.All is right with the universe once again.

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.Nice to see them tank another one.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Yanks rally in the 9th for a win. Papelqueer gets raked by some no-name catcher for a blown save.All is right with the universe once again.

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.Nice to see them tank another one.

I agree. I could see that guy become John Rocker if he starts to pitch poorly. He seems like a real ##### to me. I was almost as excited to see that homer from the Mets as the Yankees comeback. GREAT AB from ARod. It was interesting that Lidge had thrown 8 straight sliders, including the Texiera AB, and then gave ARod his first fastball of the AB and Alex crushed it. I heard some people saying that it was stupid to give ARod a fastball, but I think the issue was more where the fastball was. ARod had seen 5 straight sliders away so one would think he would see another slider away with an open base. Alex had to be looking out over the plate? Throwing a fastball trying to sneak one by Alex was not necessarily a bad thought, but I would have thrown it on the inside corner because ARod was looking outside and probably looking for the slower slider. ARod actually timed the outside fastball perfectly, but that same pitch on the inside p[art of the plate would have jammed him as I don;t believe he could have been quick enough after the way the AB had set him up. Obviously Lidge felt he could slip the fastball by him, but with that logic, he has a much better chance of doing that on the inside part of the plate where a batter has to be much quicker. After the homer Cano came through with the hit and SB followed by another walk off hi by Melky! Melky has some holes in his game, but the guy is not afraid to get up in a key spot and he has produced far better than we could have hoped so far.Should be a fun game with CC and Hamels going at it, I hope the weather isn't a factor.

 

[Michael Brown]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

Michael, I am sorry to hear about your dad's surgery, but I hope the surgery proves to be perfectly successful! Best Thoughts,LT

Thanks buddy! From what the doctors have said, everything went great with the surgery. One thing I did forget to mention about my Friday was when I went to go buy myself a hot dog in the third inning. I was about halfway finished when I noticed a LOT of mold on the underside of the bun. I brought it back to let them know, and in its place they at least gave me two mold-free footlongs...would've been nice to not eat moldy bread to begin with though...maybe I should add this to the Yankee Stadium thread so people can further rip the place!

 

[Michael Brown]

Yanks rally in the 9th for a win. Papelqueer gets raked by some no-name catcher for a blown save.All is right with the universe once again.

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.Nice to see them tank another one.

I agree. I could see that guy become John Rocker if he starts to pitch poorly. He seems like a real ##### to me. I was almost as excited to see that homer from the Mets as the Yankees comeback. GREAT AB from ARod. It was interesting that Lidge had thrown 8 straight sliders, including the Texiera AB, and then gave ARod his first fastball of the AB and Alex crushed it. I heard some people saying that it was stupid to give ARod a fastball, but I think the issue was more where the fastball was. ARod had seen 5 straight sliders away so one would think he would see another slider away with an open base. Alex had to be looking out over the plate? Throwing a fastball trying to sneak one by Alex was not necessarily a bad thought, but I would have thrown it on the inside corner because ARod was looking outside and probably looking for the slower slider. ARod actually timed the outside fastball perfectly, but that same pitch on the inside p[art of the plate would have jammed him as I don;t believe he could have been quick enough after the way the AB had set him up. Obviously Lidge felt he could slip the fastball by him, but with that logic, he has a much better chance of doing that on the inside part of the plate where a batter has to be much quicker. After the homer Cano came through with the hit and SB followed by another walk off hi by Melky! Melky has some holes in his game, but the guy is not afraid to get up in a key spot and he has produced far better than we could have hoped so far.Should be a fun game with CC and Hamels going at it, I hope the weather isn't a factor.

I'm not Keith Hernandez when it comes to guessing the pitch selection, but I did turn to my bro right before that pitch and say, "He's gone slider down for the last few...if he tries to sneak a high fastball in there, A-Rod's going yard".I for one am excited about the Yanks having Steve Balboni back on the team!

 

[Reaper]

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.

WTF was THAT?????

 

[Reaper]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

Michael, I am sorry to hear about your dad's surgery, but I hope the surgery proves to be perfectly successful! Best Thoughts,LT

Thanks buddy! From what the doctors have said, everything went great with the surgery.

 

[Raider Nation]

What a day. My dad went in for heart surgery this morning, and while everything went well it's still heart surgery. Was going to go see him but was told we should wait til tomorrow when he's feeling better. So we had tickets for the game tonight and went over. Took the most circuitous route in history to get to the game trying to avoid Memorial Day weekend traffic (to no avail)...got there by the 2nd inning only to see an already lethargic crowd taken out of it by the Ibanez HR...which also provided a glimpse of what to expect with Wang (more of the same)...followed by getting hit on my side door by some jagoff who doesn't know what a merge means (he had just hit another car's bumper about 2 minutes earlier)...after the 1.5 hour drive home that normally takes no more than 40 minutes, I finally get home to find out the passenger's side door doesn't open. I had only inspected it at the scene for exterior damage, of which there was nothing but a scratch.Now I'm going to bed to pretend this day never happened.

Michael, I am sorry to hear about your dad's surgery, but I hope the surgery proves to be perfectly successful! Best Thoughts,LT

Thanks buddy! From what the doctors have said, everything went great with the surgery.

 

[flysack]

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.

WTF was THAT?????

Yea, did I miss something? What makes Paps look John Rocker unstable? Did he flip out on the Mets or something?

 

[jobarules]

Paps is a ####### nutcase. Certifiable.

WTF was THAT?????

Yea, did I miss something? What makes Paps look John Rocker unstable? Did he flip out on the Mets or something?

He went ballistic when a runner was called out at 2nd base (the guy was clearly out).