Comments on: Observations From Cooperstown: The Obsession With Rest

By: flycaster

flycaster — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:12:00 +0000

The word “rest” is a misnomer in this case. It connotes kindergardeners napping, or senior citizens dozing in their rocking chairs on the front porch. The more accurate terms would be “health”, or “recovery” from injury. Playing a baseball game every day takes a toll on a body, especially an over 35 years old body. Not allowing players to recover from injury is poor management, as it results in diminished performance. Witness Tiexiera and Swisher this month. Thus it’s not about being “rested” for the playoffs, it’s about being healthy for the playoffs. If they’re not healthy they could play every playoff game at home and they’d still get bounced.

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:29:33 +0000

I think we’ve probably rested our way right out of the division title. Dave Eiland admitted as much when he said that we have to lose the battles to win the war. We damned well better win that war. Anything but a World Series title is a bust regardless, but particularly when we went out of our way to put he team at a disadvantage, If we lose a deciding game on the road, I don’t think you can possibly bring Girardi back.

By: rbj

rbj — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:43:52 +0000

I wouldn’t knock A-Rod that much. I also have a hip impingement and it can be quite painful at times. I’ve done the ibuprofen route — and after 18 month had a bad reaction to the side effects, pain pills aren’t a long term solution. I’m sure Alex is going through physical therapy, I’ve just started it myself and while it helps with keeping the hip flexor loose, there are times when I feel the bone on bone and that is no fun. I can only imagine what it’s like with swinging the bat or twisting to catch a ball.

As for Jorge, I wonder if he’s still suffering concussive symptoms from time to time.

But in general, yeah, you rest in November.

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:35:53 +0000

[2] I trust Girardi and his coaches with respect to who gets rest and when. I just trust that they know more than we do who needs it. I also have no problem with bench players getting work. That’s why they exist.

re: AJax, let’s not forget the difference in price. I’m not saying Grandy isn’t worth the extra mlllions (and millions, and millions), but would the Yanks be much worse off with AJax in center, and Grandy’s salary going toward an upgrade elsewhere, a pitcher for example? I think over the next few years AJax will be a much better “value” than Granderson – which is not to say I don’t like Curtis. I do, and expect big things from him down the stretch.

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:18:52 +0000

I agree with you, Bruce, about the rest issue; not knowing exactly what’s happening with these guys, the overall impression is an indictment of Girardi’s management (or over-management) of this team. He seems to be better suited for a team of young up-and-comers who need a little pushme-pullyou alternating with kid gloves, but for the most part this is a veteran team and he’s treated them like one of their patches says “FRAGILE” on it. Not expecting much in the post-season except some grumbling about his management, which should make for an interesting off-season.

I still wonder what takes guys so long to approach Kevin Long. If they do and they still can’t get it right, then Cashman needs to start making more phone calls. And on that note, I think if Jackson were still here, Kevin Long would have worked with him to get his power stroke up; perhaps sacrificing some average, but getting far more production from him. I would wait for a couple more years before I make any declarations about Jackson as a hitter. Remember, the Real Action Jackson couldn’t wait to see him playing this season, and Long was practically salivating at the chance to work with him. Grandy’s turnaround has been all right, but we’ll see in the um, long run…

By: hiscross

hiscross — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:43:40 +0000

Who cares. Baseball is like the NBA and NFL, you only play good enought to get to the post season. Yogi oncde the reason the Yankees of his day won so often was because the bonus they got would keep them from working in the off season. Players did make much in those days, so every dollar counted. At least in the NFL season verterns get cut. If A ROD was a Giant, he won’t be (but maybe a Jett).