I can’t say I’ve read the book or that I likely will, but it just doesn’t make sense to me that players can instantly turn their performance up a notch at will or that any significant percentage of professional athletes will purposefully not perform at their peak level unless a contract is on the line. And really if had performed at that top level in all years, they wouldn’t really have to worry about getting a contract from anybody.

Actually, in the BP “Between The Numbers” book there is a study that shows players do turn it on in their last year, FWIW.

Moose has always been inconsistent and a little…I’m not sure fragile is the word, but he gets rattled at times. I really don’t think he’s been dogging it until a contract year. I honestly don’t think there are many players that do – one of your seasons is always going to be better than others and the odds that is going to be during a contract year aren’t any different than any other year. It’s just something that people jump on and take notice of when it’s a contract year.

Kevin Reese is on the team? Seriously, the next 3 weeks is going to put the Yankees probably at least 4 games behind either Boston or Toronto. The question is how do we recover in the time left in the season (which would still be substantial)? If no trade(s)are planned then we take the hit and hope with Sheff’s return and some decent play from Cabrera and Crosby and Pavano’s return, Dotel on the horizon, and RJ straightening out his problems (whatever they are), that we can gain a playoff berth. Otherwise, it’s damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead for some blockbuster wheeling and dealing. Do we have the necessities to get Abreu AND Craig Wilson? Not only do we need to replace Matsui but we have to solve the DH problem that we’ve neglected (thanks Bernie). Either way, we must be decisive or the next 3 weeks will spell sure doom for our post-season chances in 2006. It might be a good time to step back and re-think the direction of this team. I don’t know if Cashman is up to it. I know Mr. Torre has no concerns about 2007.

But, is it a Yankees-fan-faux-pas to wonder about a possible salary push being the thing that’s motivating Moose?
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I suppose it could be… Every year he has put up his numbers, so I’d find it hard to believe that he has incentive to “put up numbers” in a contract year.

It’s still early, but I may have to amend my statement about Moose being a middle of the rotation starter.

What we’re seeing here is a guy who day in and day out does his job with little to no fanfare. Clemens and Unit get the ink, but Mussina is the goods.

bailey, are you saying Kevin Reese has not been a good addition to the club? Come on.

As far as Mussina, I don’t think he’s the type of guy to go “Adrian Beltre” in a contract year. I think you’re just seeing a healthy version who also happened to find a new pitch. He doesn’t strike me as a guy who would jake it for a couple of seasons-this is a guy who still lives in a small town in Pennsylvania, who coaches high school football. He has all the money he will ever need, and then some. After all, those crossword puzzle books cost what, 3 bucks a shot?

This worry about no one walking and the team not scoring is typical Yankee-fan overreaction.

Why didn’t anyone walk the last two games? Why did the pitchers have such low pitch counts?

BECAUSE NEITHER ONE WALKS ANYONE. They’re both control pitchers who throw first-pitch strikes, have excellent control of their fastballs, and have a devastating put-away pitch.

Millwood has only 10 walk on the year (versus 37 strikeouts).
Dan Haren only has 7 walk on the year (versus 43 strikeouts).

We faced two good pitchers back to back and didn’t score many runs. That will happen.

Plus, Matsui only had 19 RBI before he got hurt. So he wasn’t the main run producer on this team.

If anything is going to have an effect, it’s Giambi struggling. Also, having both Bubba and Bernie in a game is a killer. Unless Bernie is batting right-handed, it’s six free outs (though Bubba did pick up an RBI, which means he’ll be in there forever). Although the sad part is that there is no replacement for Bernie. Who would you use — Phillips? He can’t hit any better. This is why it made sense to bring up Thompson and play him every day. At least there’s a possibility he’ll hit.

I have to say that it’s really not just that we are missing Matsui and Sheff… it’s that the other guys aren’t really hitting either…

Today they had 6 hit and NO walks, and out of those 6 hits 2 were from Cano and 1 was from Bubba… so our big *stars* combine to hit for as much offense as our second year second baseman and our automatic out…. oooook.

What’s up with everyone swinging like Soriano in the last couple of games though? the Rangers finished the game with barely more than 100 pitches.. sheese.. they simply aren’t having patient at bats? or was Milwood and Haren simply totally on?

Steve I mentioned the Mussina contract issue several times in recent days. Money is a great motivator.

As for Matsui, well its not just him but Sheffield and the Giambi slump and too many Bernie AB’s.

No, I am not pissed about Mussina pitching well in his contract year. While I think the grip in the change up might have helped, I think what has actually happened is for the first time in 2 years he is completely healthy.

It isn’t like he wasn’t motivated to pitch well in the previous years.