The Yankees have now lost six games in a row and stand at .500 – as they hit the official first one-third mark of the season. But, worse than that is the way this team is going about their business.
I’ve seen shit fights in the monkey cage at the zoo that are better organized than the way this club is playing in the field. And, the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree had more life to it than this team is showing now.
Look at the players on the bench during the game. It’s a funeral in the dugout. Look at Torre’s body language when they show him on T.V. He looks like a Slinky that’s been twisted and pulled too many times.
This squad needs an injection of aggression – and in a hurry. Many times, complacency needs to be interrupted via an angry response to an occurrence. But, this team cannot afford to wait for something on the field to perhaps stir it on. Management needs to send a message to this team. And, it should be something loud enough to hit a nerve and make them switch their channel from flight to fight.
A little less “back on the heels” and a little more “attack!” would be a welcome sight at this point. It’s time to start pushing people around as opposed to being pushed around. And, since no one on this unit seems to have what it takes to be the one to set the example, maybe it’s time for an import?
10 Responses to “June 3rd @ The Twins”
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June 4th, 2005 at 2:03 am
Hey- at least they didn’t lose ground to the O’s.
Listening to Rob Neyer in the car late tonight- he was talking about the yankees and how they are a mediocre team- big losing streaks, big winning streks, no consistency, etc. He pointed out that good teams do not have these types of streaks- good or bad- they just consisently win 6 or 7 games out of each 10….not win 10 then lose 6 in a row.
He then went on to predict that the Yankees will go on a tear very shortly. He also said that there are way too many teams, good or overachieving, that will have more wins than the Yankees- he thinks the Yankees will go 91-71 and have the 5th best record in the AL- behind- O’s, Sox, Twins, W. Sox and Angels.
Anyway- Steve….what do you suggest management does to motivate the team? You think firing Torre is the only hope at this point?
June 4th, 2005 at 8:55 am
I would suggest taking away something that the team likes/loves to send a message. Torre could be it. Or, if you don’t want to do that now, well, believe it or not, Giambi is still well liked in the clubhouse (for some reason?). Maybe they cut him to try and send a message that says “you either perform or you will be replaced – regardless of the cost” – and see if that sends a message.
The ‘what’ is not as important as getting the message sent – whatever works to that end is fine with me.
June 4th, 2005 at 2:28 pm
They’re not firing Torre.
They’re not cutting Giambi.
They could (should?) cut Brown. Who’ll then be picked up by the Bosox and pitch brilliantly…..
June 4th, 2005 at 3:59 pm
I don’t understand why Giambi is always at the short end of the posts. Giambi is not hitting in every spot and playing every position.
giambi wasn’t expected to carry the load….my concern is with Matsui, Posada, and now Jeter who can;t seem to hit.
June 4th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
The problem isn’t the hitting, it’s the pitching; they’re 11th in the league in ERA.
June 4th, 2005 at 8:06 pm
How much of that is the result of a couple of pitchers on the staff, as opposed to the staff as a whole?
June 4th, 2005 at 8:09 pm
Phil – Giambi shouldn’t even be on the roster, that’s the issue.
June 4th, 2005 at 8:23 pm
“How much of that is the result of a couple of pitchers on the staff, as opposed to the staff as a whole?” – SL
Courtesy of ESPN
Brown: 5.14
Pavano: 4.50
Johnson: 3.92
Mussina: 4.32
Wang: 4.06
FWIW, the Sox aren’t that far from the Yanks, ERA-wise
June 4th, 2005 at 11:26 pm
and the guys in the pen?
June 5th, 2005 at 10:55 am
Courtesy of CNNSI, the Yankee pitching staff
Rivera, Mariano 1.33
Sturtze, Tanyon 2.70
Gordon, Tom 2.96
Johnson, Randy 3.92
Wang, Chien-Ming 4.03
Mussina, Mike 4.32
Bean, Colter 4.50
Pavano, Carl 4.50
Brown, Kevin 5.14
Rodriguez, Felix 5.40
Karsay, Steve 6.00
Quantrill, Paul 6.53
Groom, Buddy 6.59
Stanton, Mike 7.36
Wright, Jaret 9.15
Henn, Sean 19.29
Also, the Yanks have scored 288 runs, the staff has given up 282.
Baltimore? 298/245
Boston? 300/276