Big Blue Huddle

Well, you guys are certainly contrarians as far as your opinions about Daniel Jones.  I

I guess it

The Yankees have a deep farm system.   This causes Brian Cashman to engage in constant pruning of the 40-man roster.  He realizes that if he doesn't, the Yankees will be raided in the Rule 5 or they will have to designate for assignment some talented, young players.   All understood.  He's actually been excellent the last few seasons.    But when you consider Ben Gamel, Tyler Austin, Jake Cave and especially Billy McKinney, you have to wonder if he kept the right guy.    Especially McKinney, a personal favorite who has taken a circuitous route to MLB since he was drafted in the first round by the As.  He was a coveted trade plum by the Cubs and then the Yankees in the Chapman rental.   It seems like he's been around forever.  He's only 24.  I think he has a few 200-hit seasons in his future. 

Meanwhile, Bird is finally healthy.  At the plate, however, he's starting to resemble Kevin Maas.  He has good strike-zone judgment, good pitch-type discernment.  He swings at strikes.  But he misses a lot of balls that he should be handling.  And although it can be said that none of the other guys is an exceptional defensive first baseman, or even a first baseman at all, Bird hasn't exactly inspired there, either.  Something to think about going forward.  Boone has admitted Voit might get ABs at first. 

I wouldn't be shocked if they did.  I'm not saying that they are a fraud.  Far from it.  But the upper-tier teams that they will face will prove to be formidable.  As for Sales he usually flames out in September, anyway.

Maybe the Red Sox will win 120 games and sweep their way to the World Series championship.   But, maybe not.  I am not convinced,  There are so many lousy teams in the AL, posting expansion-season winning percentages that you have to downward curve their W-L.  Until the recent massacre at Fenway, what separated Boston and New York was the Sox total domination of the "race-to-the-bottom" types , while the Yankees tended to struggle against the same,  Hey the Yanks W-L can also be questioned.   But let's see what happens when the Final Four is known. 

I think the Indians and Oakland are going to be very tough outs;  I haven't even mentioned the Champs & their first three, either. 

About 1998, it is easy to forget that Cleveland went home up 2-1 in that series.  El Duque and David Wells saved Four Rings` bacon.  What is interesting about that is Torre could not stand either.  The antipathy was mutual.  And that near choke presaged what was to happen in `04 against Boston. 

I have seen the rumored, potential deals for the Yankee outfielder. None impress me.  Number 3 starters, relievers and, Heaven forbid, Starling Castro.  Thankfully, that one was quickly shot down.  I imagine Gardner will be dealt.  He is the Yankees most marketable commodity.  Ellsbury's ridiculous contract has only just begun.  Good luck trying to move that one.

With regard to Brett, what people want to claim is his issue-injuries-has not been a problem for three years.  What is at work is fatigue.    Since '13, his plate appearances are 609, 636 & 656.  He has batted 273/344/ 416 ,  256/327/422 & 259/343/399 over the same period.  Power numbers: 33-10-8-52, 25-8-17-58 & 26-3-16-66.  He remains a good percentage base stealer as well.  24/32, 21/26 & 20/25.  Those are not numbers you sneeze at.  And, he is annually rated at the top of outfielders as far as defense. 

If you asked a Yankee fan of a certain age who was the better player, Gardner or Mickey Rivers, he would probably regard the question as an admittance test to a sanatorium.  But here are some numbers on Mick the Quick, who hid behind a misleading average, which masked the fact that he was making a ton of outs. 

'78: 604, 559.  25-8-11-48. 265/302/397. 25/30.
'79. 570, 533, 156.  27-8-9-50. 10/19.  293/319/424.   Gardner has been the more accomplished outfielder.  So I would not be so quick to celebrate Gardner leaving.

What is uncontested is that he wilted in each of the last two seasons.  He was an All-Star in '15.  That is the midpoint of the season.  By Labor Day both he and McCann were dragging their bats through the zone.  What was at work was Girardi's roster formation.

13-man pitching staffs leave 12 everyday players.  The DH was locked with A-Rod.  That leaves the back-up catcher, who does not ordinarily play, and 2 other subs, usually one infielder and one outfielder.  Girardi seems to think that everybody is Ripken or Gehrig. 

I was hoping that Joe would leave after the season concluded.  I knew they would not fire him.  I do appreciate that he won a World Series for the Yankees as both a player and manager.  But by the end of 15, I had seen enough of Joe and his formuliac ways.  I am going to use this forum, which, if memory serves correctly, I started, as a place where I can weigh in against Girardi.  Decribe how he irritates me.

OK  Red:  I will join the bandwagon as neither the Cubs nor Yankees did anything this season to warrant my unswerving support.  Plus Jason Grilli's Dad is a friend of mine.  And Jason is a great guy-I'm happy for him.  Our Dad took us to Forbes when we were little.  I know he never got over Maz or that entire Series.  Go Pirates!

Theo and Terry deny that there is a split with the Bolsheviks. Neil Diamond warming up with a has-been version of "Sweet Caroline" as we type. If the Red Sox slide in, as I think they will, they shouldn't be dismissed as a championship candidate. As I recall Four Rings Joe's last WS Championship (against Mets) was with a team that won less than 90 games that season (2000) because they basically went 0 for Sept. Playoffs = whole different season. Last night's rainout will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader tomorrow. Makes for a wild Sunday for Giants-Yankees fans.

Looks like they went heavy on Dolphin colors, 29.  The populace of Miami was so happy about the new stadium they helped built that they re-called the mayor, amigo. Better park will help, but Miami is still way too hot and humid during the summer. At least for my tastes.

   Alright, Red gives it up. No more rope a dope. Yes, keep those pants on while chasing that Lion into the end zone, Jason. Better CB than CF that guy.

Ah Red you're being a real mother here, I see. Getting all the wrong Jasons. So now I set you up for the toilet-flush dunk.  Who is it?

9-21-11:  Name the light-hitting minor-league CF in the Chicago Cubs system, who quit the sport to enroll at Shasta Junior College. He ultimately played for the New York football Giants. ?

Sorry you missed it Red. And I second the congratulations to the great Mariano. 

All valid points, Giant Obession. Yes, this was a deal that helped all three teams. That is how they are supposed to work. Also, Ian's last four wins: Padres twice. The big one over the Giants and Lincecum.  And last night against the Pirates. Still: 8-1-0-0-1-12, I believe. He won't get the Cy in all likelihood. They'll give it to a Phillie. Lee has him by about .5 on the ERA, which is substantial. Kennedy needed to leave. I'd like to see Joba start over, too. 

Quite a few of you still around I see, Derach. Big win tonight for the Beaners. Beating the formidable Shields. And the Yankees recent offensive ineptitude continues, although CC couldn't maintain a 3-1 lead. Boston can severely dent the Rays chances by getting one more win in the series.