Kevin Long Wants Derek Lowe Over Manny Ramirez
Via Lisa Guerrero:
My husband and I are in Phoenix to attend the wedding of Scott’s old University of Arizona teammate Kevin Long. Kevin is the hitting coach for the Yankees and came really close to heading to the Dodgers this season with Joe Torre. Instead, he stayed in New York out of loyalty to the team that gave him a shot in the big leagues (in 2007) after toiling in the minors for 18 years, primarily with the Royals organization.
Much like the Republicans, the Yankees also have to reassess their disappointing performance this year and figure out a winning strategy for the future.
For example, there has been some speculation that Manny Ramirez will don pinstripes next season, just in time for the inauguration of the new Yankee Stadium. Obviously, as their hitting coach, no one would be more pleased with that scenario than Kevin but, surprisingly, Manny’s not the Dodger who could most improve the Yankees in 2009.
Kevin thinks that New York might make Derek Lowe the priority.
“We need to solidify our starting pitching,” he told me. “We were the only team in baseball last year with less than three starters that threw 100 innings (Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte). We have to address the pitching situation first.”
In terms of Manny, Kevin adds, “He’d be a great fit for the Yankees. We’d love to have him. We have the resources and it’s hard not to think about what the Yankees could do with him in the lineup. You’d have to say that if we shored up our rotation and get Manny, we’d be the front-runner next year.”
Being honest: The first thought that came to my mind when I read this in Lisa’s blog was “I wonder if A-Rod and Madonna sent Kevin a nice wedding present?”
Yeah, like Lou Costello, I’m a baaaaad boy.
This actually disturbs me. It appears as thought Kevin Long doesn’t even know why the Yankees did poorly last year. It’s as though he has no idea what the team ERA, or that it was actually the offense, not the pitching, that failed the team.
Does management not have a year-end review with the coaches where they crunch all the numbers and explain everything to them? I agree the team needs at least one starter, maybe two. But for Long to seem so oblivious to what actually happened on the field last year…. it sort of makes me wonder how oblivious the coaching staff is.
It’s as though he has no idea what the team ERA, or that it was actually the offense, not the pitching, that failed the team.
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Well, you figure if they haven’t gotten it by now, they will never get it.
But yeah, let’s blame the pitching, instead of an offense that scored 200 runs less than the year before. Much easier that way.
Derek Lowe is not the answer, unless the question is, who is most likely to be the most over paid free agent of the 2008 post season.
Frankly, I thought Manny should have been suspended by MLB for his actions. Being a clown is one thing, but quitting on your team and then blackmailing them by threatening to quit is outrageous. This from a guy completing a $160m contract, with an option for $40m more.
The Sox treated Manny like a King. They forgave everything he did. I live in RSN, and got to see ‘Manny highlights’ on TV for years. Watched as journalists tried to rationalize and look the other way. ‘Manny being Manny’ was the only way to deal with it. It made people sick, but they valued his bat too much, so almost everyone stayed silent, until the end.
T McCarver is an idiot, but he was dead on about Manny. DISGRACEFUL.
I am a whore for Yankee Wins as much as the next guy, but I draw the line at Manny. Bonds? OK. Pete Rose? OK. Shoeless Joe? OK. Even Pontoons? OK.
But no Manny. DISGRACEFUL.
He should never, NEVER wear Pinstripes.
Oh, please.
The Red Sox FO is just as much a culprit as Manny himself. How was this season different than any other season of Manny? The only difference is that this time, the Red Sox FO actually was able to trade him. Call Manny disgraceful, but the Sox FO were the enablers. You can’t gladly accept the production, and then complain about the players’ immaturity, ESPECIALLY when you know that’s part of the package. And you had to know that was part of the package when you signed the guy, otherwise, as Steve likes to point out, you’re not doing your job.
Sorry, Sox fans, you’re wrong on this one. Without Manny, you don’t get 2004, and you probably don’t get 2007. And he acted exactly the same in 2007, but no one was complaining when he was hoisting that WS trophy!
The cognitive dissonance, and the willingness of RSN to be lead like sheep by the Red Sox FO, is absolutely amazing.
Also, as everyone including Joe Torre says, Manny’s work ethic is second to none. It’s not like he doesn’t care.
‘work ethic’ generally pertaining to preparation, practice, etc. and not necessarily other ‘ethical’ aspects.