Comments on: Competition is None

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:57:23 +0000

Jack Curry tweets:
Brian Cashman just told me that the Yankees have recalled C Chad Moeller and have shifted Nick Johnson to 60-day d.l.

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:14:03 +0000

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=10926

(Will Carroll on Posada’s foot)

Jorge Posada (fractured foot, 6/20)

… a month on the shelf and some question about whether he’ll be able to catch full time when he does return. It’s his right foot, which matters more when he’s batting right-handed than it will at any other time. This type of fracture, described as a hairline one along the instep, tends to heal pretty cleanly, but there is some recurrence risk, especially given how it happened and what Posada is required to do behind the plate. Squatting alone is going to put some pressure on the bone, which is why I think he could come back to the DH slot. …

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:10:56 +0000

this is great, and I think we can all relate

http://fullcountpitch.com/2010/05/20/the-irrational-world-of-yankees-twittering/

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:04:48 +0000

[6] Yesterday showed why you really can’t get to cute in blowouts, especially against a team like the Yankees, which seems to make some kind of comeback, regardless of who they have in the lineup.

I think the media fawns over Maddon because he isn’t the traditional jock as manager, so maybe they relate to him more.

[8] But the Rays dont have half their starting lineup out with injuries, which is at least in part because they have younger players. That would be like saying, let’s see where the Yankees are with a $50mn payroll. Each team has their own realities with which they have to deal.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:59:04 +0000

[5] You know that how?

By: rbj

rbj — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:45:45 +0000

Let’s see where the Rays are when half their starting lineup is out with injuries.

They are a very good, young team and Maddon’s got them playing well, but let’s wait to see them face adversity.

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:42:53 +0000

well actually its May 20th, but my point remains

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:42:36 +0000

[2] oh in-game strategy I have no problem with him at all. Although he can get a little cute sometimes with baserunning in blowouts, but they’re all professionals so I don’t get too hung up on it.

I’m just talking about the media’s fawning over him, which isn’t really his fault. But Terry Francona’s won two championships and I don’t think he gets the same amount of love, which of course has a lot to do with the payrolls, but its worth noticing.

as for Garza’s comments, it is what it is. The team is in first so I can’t really hate on them for being cocky, but it IS May 21st. Lets check back in August 21st and see whats up before we talk about “formulas”.

By: JohnnyC

JohnnyC — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:40:25 +0000

Joe Maddon is the manager who told his pitcher to throw at Tex’s head to discourage him from breaking his HR lead tie with Carlos Pena. That’s who Joe Maddon is.

By: Diane Firstman

Diane Firstman — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:36:05 +0000

So what if the Yanks won the Series last year? The slate reads 0-0 on April 1, 2010, and though “flags fly forever”, you still have to prove yourself all over.

The Rays have proven themselves better over the first 1/4 of the season. They have a right to call out the nay-sayers.

But yes, there is a LOT of baseball to be played, and the schedule turns tougher for them. Check out the “SOS” to this point of the season. The Yanks have had a much tougher road to hoe.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rpi

The Rays aren’t cocky … they’re just very very good at what they do.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:27:40 +0000

As for Garza, I have no problem with his comments because he happens to be right. False bravado is tedious, but if it’s fact, why not say it?

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:20:09 +0000

[1] I’ve become a big Maddon fan after seeing him safety squeeze in the winning run twice. Maddon really seems to combine an aggressive game strategy, which is something that sets him apart from most managers. I don’t think Maddon’s “book” has as many pages as most other managers.

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:07:50 +0000

I’m gonna just say it…Joe Maddon wears thin on me. I like my managers to live off of a strict nicotine/Wild Turkey/misery diet; I don’t do emo glasses and backpacking across Europe in the off-season.