WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/19/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 19th, 2009 · Comments (57)
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Love to see us score some early runs tonight, and take a nice lead so CC doesnt have to throw 200 pitches..
steve should make a write up on how every player is performing poorly ever day…
FYI – I know that the WC is designed to be Yankees-centric. However, today, I have a special offer – if you want to use this entry to comment on, and revel over, as Yankees fans, the recent Mets woes – feel free. Some game by the Muttsies last night, huh? And, the talk on MLB XM Radio this AM was all about how the Mets are still the Mets of the last few years – even with Willow gone. And, how Reyes is a dog, etc. As Yankees fans, this stuff doesn’t get old, does it?
I have a special offer – if you want to use this entry to comment on, and revel over, as Yankees fans, the recent Mets woes – feel free.
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I really have a tough time reading the Mets. As much as I want to say their pitching stinks (other than Santana and K-Rod), their defense stinks and their team construction stinks, they still play in the National League. There are enough poor teams and poor pitching in that league for a Wright or Reyes to put that team on their back and put wins together, even with Delgado going down.
I’ll enjoy the tough spot they’re in, but i’m certainly not ready to bury them. They’re still 5th in the NL in RS and 3rd in the NL in team ERA (obviously skewed by Santana’s unbelievable ERA of 1.36), They do have enough talent to get hot and get wins, and I wouldn’t mind some of those wins coming at Fenway.
Anyone else impressed by Cervelli so far?
clintfsu813 wrote:
Me. Where would the Yankees be with him, Pena and Coke this season?
clintfsu813 wrote:
clintfsu813 wrote:
What’s not to like or be impressed?.. Great defense and strong and accurate arm….The funny thing is we hear so much about Romine and Montero, but just goes to show, not every HYPE has to catch our attention… I have no idea why he didn’t make the squad this year, but from what I have seen he is n upgrade to Molina, especially in the hitting department.. I will be very disappointed if he is sent back when Posada and Monlina come back… Hey Cashman… how about some PR work for this kid?..
I live with my brother, who happens to be a die hard Mets fan. OMG was he pissed last night!! Baserunners who miss bases, firstsackers who can’t make an accurate throw from 50 feet, etc. etc.
BTW, he tells me that if the Yankees are dumping Cashman Omar Minaya should be available after this season.
Steve Lombardi wrote:
Where they currently are now?
Steve, not to beat a dead horse here, but did you hear anything about Special Need Kei being an option in the Johan Deal two years ago?… I am not sure, but I thought I read it somewhere on your blog or one of the links.. Can you help me out??..
I will be very disappointed if he is sent back when Posada and Monlina come back… Hey Cashman… how about some PR work for this kid?..
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I also have enjoyed Cervelli’s work back there, but we all know once Posada and Molina come back they are the two catchers. We have a lot to be excited about for Cervelli next year, when Molina is a free agent, or if the Yanks feel they want to carry three catchers for some reason.
But I agree Lou, what’s not to be happy about? He’s done all you could ask for from a backup catcher, and more.
@ Tresh Fan:
I feel for your brother dude.. Horrible play at first base last night but if you see the play. Stokes the pitchers was cutting in from of the first base men and he had to throw it wide… Tough way to lose a game but Church has to touch third base and where was the coach on that play too?….
but no Thanks for Omar.. We have a list of guys waiting in the wings to replace Cashman.. But I am hoping the guy’s name is Gene Michaels
YankCrank wrote:
Hey Yanke crank… Did you watch the WBC this year?.. If not then, man you missed this kid perform… I watched all of the match ups and I almost feel off my easy chair when I seen him on the Italian team.. I was like where has this kid been the last two years and remembered he was the catcher last spring who broke his wrist on the collision at home plate with the Rays.. Totally impressed with his all around game!!!…
Steve Lombardi wrote:
Agree with you Steve, Man I am sure glad the Pirates took a pass on Coke last year in the X-Man deal… I got to see this kid play in the minors and I still think he has a shot to replace Pettitte one day in the rotation.. My only frustration with Coke was he took so long to figure out the Rubik’s cube but i am glad he is finally putting it together… Is it me or is it at times the NY Yankees draft this kids with special talent but their maturity process takes forever to develop?.. Can we say Phil Hughes and IPK and Beckman?… Don’t we have a staff of head shrinks to help with this?.. Just my thoughts on it..
did anyone see the met game last night? what actually happened? I watched till the 9th then passed out
did anyone see the met game last night? what actually happened? I watched till the 9th then passed out
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-Mets scored the winning run in top of the 11th but Ryan Church missed 3b, Dodgers appealed and he was called out.
-Bottom 11, Beltran got crossed up with whomever was in RF and ball dropped in for Mets 4th error, then O-Dog hit a grounder to 1b and Shawn Green threw the ball away for 5th Mets error, Dodgers win.
Corey wrote:
I never did play by play but to sum it up.. Mets tied the game at 2-2, then in the top of the 11th, Church got on base. I am not sure who the next batter was at the time but he hit a double and Church missed third base as he rounded the bag and the pitcher of the Dodgers noticed it.. Church would have scored but the appeal held up and was called out on third base.. No run scored… bottom of the 11th,. Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs.. Manuel moved the infield in and also called in Beltran from CF to play in front of second base.. I never seen 5 infielders in baseball before but after Facal popped up to left field Orlando Hudson hit a ground ball to first base.. The throw to home was wide and missed the catcher.. Dodgers scored…
@ Sicilian Lou:
Cervelli’s grandmother is Italian, IIRC. Marco Scutaro of the Jays is another Italian-Venezuelan player. I had no idea that there were so many Italians in VZ.
As for Igawa-Santana, a quick search brings this up;
http://waswatching.com/2007/12/11/kei-igawa-offered-to-twins-in-santana-package/
Sicilian Lou wrote:
Luigi il Siciliano, you sure you don’t have relations in the Land Down Under!!!?? Aussie Butch agrees with you big time. Stick is Da Man when it comes to indentifying talent and whatnot. Howsabout Stick as the GM and Buck as the Asst GM calling the shots? That’s a pretty formidable team manning the ship. Omar gone? Guys , Freddy Coupon just extended him like what 3 or 4 years? If I were a Mets fan I would have wanted him gone after the debacle of last year. Two years in a row of them spiting the bit and he gets rewarded with an extension? EFF that! And their division rival, the Phightin’ Phils, winning it all, that is totally unexceptable.To be fair, Cash Man should have been excised last year NOT rewarded either after the Red Sox becoming the model franchise under his watch and the debacle of last year. If the Yanks don’t make it into the playoffs, I want him gone! Bring in Stick and Buck and that’s a good start. Holy shit, I sounded like the infamous/notorious Jerome from Manhattan there….BTW what the hell happened to him?
@ YankCrank:
lol that sounds like a classic met-type loss
Raf wrote:
Raf… What can I say but THANK YOU very much for the help!!…
YankCrank wrote:
I was up late last night and couldn’t believe what happened. Just when the Mets seem so unbeatable, they revert to their Omarian and Manuelian ways! Mind you, I’m not reveling in their misery BUT this one stings for Mets fans. They wanted 0-Dog instead of that big mistake, Castillo, BUT Omar wanted to go with his guy,Castillo. Church evidently didn’t read the manual on baserunning fundamentals either! The Mets gave away that game to the Hollywood Dodgers with some inept play. And in the end, St Joe Torre gets yet another win sans Manram the Juicer.
Sicilian Lou wrote:
Um, Cervelli is an Italian name too(it means brains in Italian), so I suppose that his Italian descent is also on his grandfather’s side as well. I had a Venezuelan girlfriend who was of 100% Italian descent. Some of them have gone back to Italy to live and claim Italian citizenship because of the psuedo-Marxist /banana republic dictatorship of Hugo Chavez.
butchie22 wrote:
Hey Butchie.. Let me ask you a question any Sicilian blood in you?… I have been a fan of Stick for years.. I have a 1967 Gene Michael’s helmet that I have used to drink some of the bubbly on occasion out of.. But lately, its been a dry spell if you know what I mean!!…. I would love the idea of Stick and Buck!.. I didn’t even think of that.. as long as Buck stays far away from the dugout!!.. I am not sure he and A-Rod would get along.. Don’t need another Martin and Reggie on out hands again!!….
Raf wrote:
Easy explanation for the Italians in Venny… I know a thing or two here being a trader on wall street about Venny and its people..
During the Great depression, most Italians wanted to come to America, but only could afford the boat ticket to South America.. hence most didn’t know the difference and also most were swindled out of their hard earned money.. Sad, but when you hear the stories by so many of the older people, my conclusion about most people stand.. People just suck… Also, Argentina is another South America country you will find a large amount of Italians too…Not to mention how most of us are all Yankee fans!!.. Thank You Joe DiMaggio!!!….
But Butchie is right, dual citizen ships are normal because of Lunatic Chavez…
Cash Man should have been excised last year NOT rewarded either after the Red Sox becoming the model franchise under his watch
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Now we punish GM’s when other organizations are well run?
If you want to argue that Cashman hasn’t done a good job, that’s a separate argument. But to advocate for his firing because the Red Sox are a model franchise simply misses the point.
Sicilian Lou wrote:
Zero Sicilian blood, mate. I do think that Sicilian women are hot, though! I’m part Italian and that part is Venetian. Yeah, I know the snobby Northern Italians etc so on…..There is also a sizeable Italian population in Australia as well. My father grew up in Adelaide ,South Australia which is very multi-ethnic like NYC. The most Italian thing about the Aussies is that they “don’t drink that American type of coffee” ,they drink ESPRESSO! Espresso never really caught on with non – Italians in the US, really though. Something like half of Argentina is of Italian descent and there are a lot of people of Northern Italian descent there.
Italians in VZ is something that I find amusing, that there were so many Italians in VZ. Same with Japanese in Peru (thanks to Fujimori). It’s amusing to me to see Japanese speaking fluent Spanish, because it’s not something that I’m accustomed to. Same with Spanish speaking Chinese people (also of which there is a lot in Peru). Same with Blacks in Peru. It’s amazing to see the local influences in the things that I normally experience here in the states, be it the food, drink, music, culture, or women
Thank goodness for the Italians in VZ, or else I never would’ve come across the perfect woman, Miss Viviana Gibelli
MJ wrote:
Lets not get off the posts here and let us all agree to disagree.. I for one don’t want to get into Cashman today!.. Let’s for once all agree on something one day and say that Cervelli is a nice addition to this ball club and the future looks bright for Yankee fans behind the dish!!…
MJ wrote:
It’s not so much that that are run well THEY are run much better and much better results spending much less money. Cash Man is out spending them by 10s of millions of dollars each and every year and the REd Sox have won two championships in the last 5 years and were one game away from the world Series whereas the Yankees were sitting home on their thumbs! Of course, Cash Man should be blamed when he has the most resources and unarguably middling results compared to the Red Sox….. You mean to tell me you want to see another championship banner raised in Boston, while the Yankees don’t make it again..C’mon already!
Raf wrote:
Remember Sofia Keiko, Raf? Not bad looking! I had a friend from Peru who was half Japanese. There were quite a few Japanese Brazilians AND Peruvian Brazilians who went back to Japan because of the economic woes in those countries. I remember Japanese friends in college saying how dramatic Japanese Brazilians were! Viviana Gibelli….. I prefer Monica Bellucci BTW! Hot Italian girl from the North….very yummy!
butchie22 wrote:
I am half Sicilian and half Napolitani didn’t find out about my Sicilian heritage until I did a look up on my Dad’s family… Growing up, not one mention of the Sicilian blood line but after what I found out, I understand why.. lets just say they are the type of people that WHEN THEY MAKE AN OFFER, YOU DON”T REFUSE….
I like Italian espresso.. As a kid my grandfather would take me to little Italy in Manhattan after a Yankee game and went to a little cafe on Mulberry street.. There he and I would spend hours talking about some of the great ball players he seen growing up which included Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ruth, Ty Cobb and of course Joe D.. Up until he passed away, and boy I sure miss my grandfather, he said that Joe D was the best all around ball player he ever seen.. I am glad I got my baseball education from him and the Love of this sport but I am equally happy he didn;t have to see today’s players shame this game like some have..I know it would have broken his heart….
Sicilian Lou wrote:
Mate, we can bloody well agree on that point. Cervelli has hit much better than he has in the minors and been a pleasant surprise. I don’t know if this will continue, but he’s a great story anyway.
Raf wrote:
Raf a few words here.. Molto bello. Lei ha il gusto di impectable- very beautiful, You have impecable taste….
Sicilian Lou wrote:
Napolitano and Siciliano, too? Being Napolitano in Italy was sorta of like being Sicilian because Naples has the Camorra, which also makes offers you can’t refuse. Naples had a garbage crisis because of the Camorra last year, where the garbage wasn’t picked up for days on end. That was a very big embarrasment for Italy.In addition, after the big earthquake in the 80s many Camorra memebers stole millions of lire from the fund to help earthquake victims as well. Many Camorra members ended up with mansions as a result.Anyway, it’s cool that you are so proud to be Sicilian, people should embrace who they are..except for Ca$h Man! ooopss, a Freudian slip , if there ever was one………
butchie22 wrote:
Butchie, odds are you are right.. but boy would it be nice if the Yankees found another Yogi!!!…..
@ butchie22:
If it a wonder I am so critical??!!!.. LMAO!!…
Sicilian Lou wrote:
You mean Molto bella. Lei ha gusto impeccabile. Unless of course you meant that Raf was Molto bello(bello is masculine variant of beautiful for a male)!:)
butchie22 wrote:
LOL.. Hey its been a while since I had to write in Italian.. but yup.. bella, but I am sure Raf has some beauty qualities about him..
Just another note on Cervelli:
I know some of you have said here that they’d be upset if Molina got his time back once he was healthy, but the fun in seeing what Cervelli can do is all measured for next year. I think with Posada’s early injury and DL trip this year, we can somewhat assume his days of catching 120+ games are probably over.
Small sample size, but if Cervelli can prove to be somewhat adequate with the stick, how convenient would it be to give Cervelli a lot of starts next year with Posada proving to be a 50/50 catcher and DH? That way, maybe we can bring back Matsui and have him do the DHing when Posada is catching…all while letting Posada stay fresh with a decent backup in place who can catch, throw and hit.
I know it’s assuming too much and it’s way too early to draw that conclusion, but that would be a pretty good advantage for us.
this is all if matsui is willing to take a 1 year deal…otherwise you shake his hand and tell him thanks
I think Posada’s days of catching even 80 games are over. And I’m not all that hot on Matsui next year either. If the 2010 Yankees were my Strat-O-Matic team I’d have A-Rod at DH, Jeter at 3B, and Pena at SS.
I think Posada’s days of catching even 80 games are over. And I’m not all that hot on Matsui next year either. If the 2010 Yankees were my Strat-O-Matic team I’d have A-Rod at DH, Jeter at 3B, and Pena at SS.
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then who catches? posada rides the pine?
If the 2010 Yankees were my Strat-O-Matic team I’d have A-Rod at DH, Jeter at 3B, and Pena at SS.
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I wouldn’t go that far. A-Rod is still an above average 3b, and whether we like it or not, Jeter will be our SS next year. I also think Matsui has a lot of pride and loyalty and would accept a one year deal, but you never know.
Cervelli catches. Posada will be turning 39 in 2010 and coming off two injury riddled years.
Tresh Fan wrote:
Don’t remind me.
so you’re prepared to put a lineup featuring pena, cervelli, and at least 1 of gardner/melky as your starting lineup opening day? i dunno about that
Corey wrote:
I got to agree here with Corey.. Nothing wrong in bringing some of the Young kids to learn from the Vets.. Sounds like how things were done in the 90′s.. but that’s allot of young players in key roles.. Cervelli is still learning and I think a full year under his belt to get to know the players and call a game is very important to his development.. Melky I always liked. but I got this horrible feeling that he is not long for the roster beyond this year.. I do hope I am wrong. Gardner is a role player and too bad he doesn’t hit consistently and have a better arm..Pena.. Not sure what to make of him yet.. I don’t see a prototype SS out of him yet.. but still young.. Can he be a Bartlett like the Rays have or is he another Price of the Red Sox?.. If he hit .300 and flash the leather well, we can all sleep a bit easier when the Captain hangs up the spikes.. But they are young and promising, not sure if I would chance having all of them at once start in 2010.. IMO…..
@ Sicilian Lou:
agreed my paisono, i like pena as a utility infielder and cervelli could be my dream 3rd string catcher in the future romine/montero catching/DH tandem, but starting? If he’s starting, you better have an all-star in Austin Jackson to assume the role of starting CF, and I don’t think we have that either. I like a possible bench of Pena, Gardner, Cervelli for next year, but starting is an entirely different story
Just another thought here about Cervelli.. I know the yankees will not carry three catchers but this is a strong reason why they should.. Molina walk year and Cervelli should get the call as the backup.. So why not just have him here and learn from both these vets?.. Prospect-Suspect aside the kid has the right make up to be good.. Strong arm, handles the staff well and he needs the right grooming… Sounds to me when you have Pena, Girardi , Jose and Molina that;s an awful lot of experience to learn from.. Something he will not get in the minors………
Pena, Girardi , Jose and Molina that;s an awful lot of experience to learn from..
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Sorry that was to say Pena, Girardi, Posada and Molina…
Corey wrote:
Correy I think your right about this.. Nice fill in player I see in Pena.. I don’t see this stud SS yet in him but nothing wrong with a good defensive player who you can count on for those 15 day DL stints guys go on…
I do hope the Yankees take a looooooonnnnggggggg look at a kid in college named Ryan Jackson out of the University of Miami…. Maybe some of you heard of him maybe not.. I went to UM many years ago so I have vested interest in the school.. But the kid is 6’3 195 lbs and a speed demon,.but then at 20 years old who isnt… Great defense and hits with power.. A true leader on the club with some impressive credentials… .. One of the top defensive SS in college baseball with great range and strong arm…. he has the same make up of another Ryan Braun..I hope the kid is on the board..
YankCrank wrote:
Yup I agree Yankeecrank.. Matsui will be a gentlemen and will let the Yankees know if he can continue.. Truth be told, earlier this year, I thought for sure he was going to hang it up.. He looked hurt running the bases and he still does.. I am so grateful for the memories he has given me, but one year deal is all that should be offered… If not, maybe a place in the YES Asian booth will work.. LOL…
Gentleman, I believe there are three things you are forgetting here:
1.) The Yankees haven’t won a World Series in 9 years.
2,) The Yankees haven’t reached the World Series in 6 years.
3.) The Yankees haven’t won any post season series in 5 years.
Call me crazy, but I think that the current strategy of adding a name brand free agent or two to the line-up each season isn’t working out so well. I do think that some very radical changes to the roster need to be made by 2010 or this team is going to become very bad very soon.
your crazy if you think a lineup with those hitters in it will do anything
Ben Franklin defined insanity as repeating the same actions over and over and expecting different results each time. The line-up featuring Jeter—A-Rod—Matsui—Posada failed “to do anything” in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Even adding the bats of Giambi, Damon, Sheffield and Abreu didn’t help. And if it fails in 2009 with Teixeira you’re willing to try it again in 2010? Who’s the crazy one?
Tresh Fan wrote:
Those lineups failed because the pitching was awful. You dont break up your strength and make it worse because of some unrelated weakness. This is the same argument as people saying the Mets should break up their core, as if the reason they missed the playoffs the last three years was Beltran, reyes, and Wright.