Comments on: Indecision 2010

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:30:53 +0000

I really think all of Javy’s problems are related to his decline in fastball velocity. He seems unwilling to throw it for strikes, which allows hitters to sit on the off speed stuff. If he doesn’t regain his velocity, or trust what he has, then he will struggle all season.

By: WestCoastYank

WestCoastYank — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:10:28 +0000

As for Javy… The meat is in his own head. He may need a Randy Johnson type confidence booster soon.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:19:46 +0000

[12] [15] And for what it’s worth, Aceves has been stinkorific this season as well, at least so far.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:18:26 +0000

[12] I line Ace and all, but what evidence is there that he is the best option for the #5 slot? He’s made five starts in the last three years—an emergency start last year (that went poorly, followed by injury) and four September starts in 2007. Oh, and he was a starter in the Mexican League.

In anyone in the BP should be moved to the rotation, it should be…Joba. But that’s not gonna happen.

In any case, as bad as Javy has been, he at least has a track record as a middling, occasionally good MLB pitcher. I’m willing to trot him out there a few more times before resorting to something desperate like starting to stretch out Aceves or, worse, handing the ball over to Lucky™.

By: Jon DeRosa

Jon DeRosa — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:30:35 +0000

Anybody watch Vazquez last year? How did he keep the ball in the park all year long? A lot of pitches this year are screaming “hit me” on the way to the plate, and a lot of the hitters are obliging.

Even our modest hopes of him being league average for 200 ip are only possible with a vastly reduced homer rate.

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:00:57 +0000

Free Aaron Small (circa 2004)

By: kenboyer made me cry

kenboyer made me cry — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:29:43 +0000

[11] There is someone better out there, and he is in the bullpen. Aceves should be the #5 starter, with Hughes moving to #4.

With only three hits, the Yankees were competitive in this game and with a tough but makeable catch in LF, and a timely IBB, might have won it.

By: rbj

rbj — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:11:26 +0000

[8] Good point. Let’s not get too down even though we’re 1-3 in the last four. We get to feast on the Orioles this week.

While Girardi did screw up this game, I make it less of a Girardi loss and more of a Cashman loss — for having signed Javy in the first place. I understand not wanting to have two young guys in the rotation, given uncertainty over Joba, but wasn’t there someone out there better than Javy?

I did try before the season began, to be agnostic about the Javy signing, but he stinks.

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:05:44 +0000

Good thing Javy isn’t joining the team at the White House today. He’d probably break a vase, or somehow cause an oil spill in the rose garden. He’s got that kinda touch working right now. Gotta feel bad for the guy.

By: flycaster

flycaster — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:01:58 +0000

Great recap, as usual, Cliff. One small point: had Girardi benched Grandy rather than Gardiner, Thames still would have been in left to bungle that double, would he not?

And I do agree about benching Grandy in that situation. Joe’s acting like he’s Ripken or something. I mean, nice player but he’s not gonna make us forget Dimaggio, y’know?

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:47:25 +0000

1) We have played 12 Away games and only 6 Home games.
2) We have already had 1 (dreaded) West Coast Trip.
3) We have played mostly good teams… no weak sisters yet.
4) Our key #2 and #3 hitters have been in the toilet.
5) Our #4 Starter has been very disappointing.
How poorly are we doing?
We are 12 and 6, 1.5 games out

Losing 3 of the last 4 sucks, but we are still in very healthy shape, with very few real issues or injuries so far.

While it’s early, it may have been determined that TB is our competition, not Boston. Knowing who to root for in Boston/TB games will be difficult.

All-in-all, I give us a B+/A-

By: RIYank

RIYank — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:42:44 +0000

[4] I think it’s just the fact that the DH slot is open while NJ recuperates. Good opportunity to give Jorgie a rest without losing his bat.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:59:06 +0000

[4] Interesting idea. I never would have thought that, but it makes sense. Although, hasn’t Cervilli been beat up enough in his young career? Dude’s a human punching bag. Got creamed by a guy from Tampa Bay in Spring training a couple years ago and missed most the season.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:54:32 +0000

[2] Agreed on the bullpen issues. He’s allowed a few of those a year, as long as they don’t happen in the post season. Also, only 3 Yankees got hits in this game.

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:01:24 +0000

As for Cervelli starting two days in a row, I’d almost wager money that Girardi was fearful of one of the Angels barreling into Posada like Teixeira did to Wilson

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:58:15 +0000

I’ve seen this Javy Vazquez, and I didn’t like it much the first time around.

By: Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO

Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:37:33 +0000

[1] Yo Boat, you beat me to it..Gardner was getting on base and running wild, why sit him? Bullpen follies..well, they happen. Hopefully Joe G will never fully embrace his inner SciosciaLaRussa demons..

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:22:52 +0000

Love your reports, Cliff. Is it my imagination or does Girardi have a propensity to sit players who are red hot? Unlike some other Banterites, I like having Thames in the line up. The dude is crushing the baseball. But sitting Gardner (at this time) is a puzzling move. He was probably having the best series of his young career. I’m hoping this is just a brief “managerial slump.” Or maybe he was trying too hard to out Scioscia, Scioscia.