How can you ever, ever, ever pinch run for A-Rod? How can you leave AJ Burnett in there to face a second batter in the 7th inning?
The people demand Joba Chamberlain in the 8th and we won't stop until it happens. Long live Joba!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
THE MELK MAN DELIVERS
My time is short as I'm headed to the Bruce Springsteen concert, but all I have to say is take a seat Brett Gardner, your time is done.
MELKY!
MELKY!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Joe knows Baseball
Pretty solid win for the Yankees yesterday. Albaladejo really showed something when he was able to escape that jam. Maybe he's going to become somebody Girardi can rely on other than Bruney and Mo. Bruney looks like an absolute stud, and combined with the close of last year, he looks to have fully cemented himself in the 8th inning role.
Obviously putting Joba there is the stupidest idea you could ever have, but I guess he'll have to throw 5 consecutive perfect games before morons like Mike Francesa understand. Furthering the point Joba must remain a starter, as my esteemed colleague Peter Abraham has pointed out, Mark Melancon has allowed 5 baserunners in 9 scoreless innings while striking out 15 in AAA. Get that man a spot in the bullpen immediately. Bullpen pitchers can be found, starters are a different sort of talent.
No real Joe Girardi gripes yesterday. He managed the bullpen well, pinch hit Posada at the proper time, all in all a well-managed game. The only thing I would question is having Ransom try and lay down a sacrifice with Matsui on first. Obviously he got thrown out at second, Matsui is arguably the slowest runner in the American League. How can you expect a sacrifice there to be successful? Either pinch run or let Ransom swing away (yuck.)
The Brett Gardner watch continues: On base percentage: .292, slugging percentage .311. But oh my, he works so hard and really cares! For comparison sake:
Brett Gardner: 45 at bats, 0 homers, 3 walks, 9ks.
Melky Cabrera: 17 at bats, 2 home runs, 2 walks, 1 K.
Melky's OPS is over 1.000. Clearly that will drop with more than 17 at bats, but why not give the young lad a shot? The Melk Man can deliver.
As Kevin Goldstein from Baseball Prospect said when he ranked Melky #10 on the Top 10 Talents 25 and Under list for the Yankees: "I'm not a great believer in Cabrera or Brett Gardner, but Cabrera's bat gives him the edge for the final spot." That pretty much sums it up.
And yes, I will continue to abuse Brett Gardner until he is no longer playing every day.
Obviously putting Joba there is the stupidest idea you could ever have, but I guess he'll have to throw 5 consecutive perfect games before morons like Mike Francesa understand. Furthering the point Joba must remain a starter, as my esteemed colleague Peter Abraham has pointed out, Mark Melancon has allowed 5 baserunners in 9 scoreless innings while striking out 15 in AAA. Get that man a spot in the bullpen immediately. Bullpen pitchers can be found, starters are a different sort of talent.
No real Joe Girardi gripes yesterday. He managed the bullpen well, pinch hit Posada at the proper time, all in all a well-managed game. The only thing I would question is having Ransom try and lay down a sacrifice with Matsui on first. Obviously he got thrown out at second, Matsui is arguably the slowest runner in the American League. How can you expect a sacrifice there to be successful? Either pinch run or let Ransom swing away (yuck.)
The Brett Gardner watch continues: On base percentage: .292, slugging percentage .311. But oh my, he works so hard and really cares! For comparison sake:
Brett Gardner: 45 at bats, 0 homers, 3 walks, 9ks.
Melky Cabrera: 17 at bats, 2 home runs, 2 walks, 1 K.
Melky's OPS is over 1.000. Clearly that will drop with more than 17 at bats, but why not give the young lad a shot? The Melk Man can deliver.
As Kevin Goldstein from Baseball Prospect said when he ranked Melky #10 on the Top 10 Talents 25 and Under list for the Yankees: "I'm not a great believer in Cabrera or Brett Gardner, but Cabrera's bat gives him the edge for the final spot." That pretty much sums it up.
And yes, I will continue to abuse Brett Gardner until he is no longer playing every day.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
More on Brett Gardner v. Melky
While I may have mentioned in hyperbole in a previous post that after 10 games it was clear that Brett Gardner was not the CF for the New York Yankees, I was not basing my entire statement on solely the 2009 season thus far. Let's not forget that Gardner had nearly 150 at bats last season and posted a putrid OPS of .582 (OPS+ of 53). Combine that with 11 games from this season and Gardner has appeared in 53 major league games and 183 at bats with a career OPS of .596 and an OPS+ of 56. Melky's career OPS/OPS+ are .705 and 84, respectively. If you are willing to toss out Melky's crappy season of last year, those numbers balloon to jump to .728 and 90.
I know that the doubters will certainly point to 183 at bats as too small a sample size to judge him. So let's placate these Gardner fans and take a peak at his minor league stats, shall we? I dare somebody to point to something in those statistics that lead you to believe that Brett Gardner can help the team more than Melky Cabrera. He had a career minor league slugging percentage below his OBP. He walked a lot in the minors, you may argue? He still struck out more than he walked, and bad a BB/K ratio of .803. Compare that to Melky's .686 BB/K ration in the MAJOR LEAGUES, and that seems to be a wash as well.
Brett Gardner is young and still learning the game? Brett Gardner was born August 24, 1983; Melky Cabrera was born August 11, 1984. The Melk Man is almost a full year YOUNGER than Gardner.
The Melk Man is off to a hot start this season, is simply straight up better than Brett Gardner at the plate, and has the vastly superior throwing arm (he has 35 career assists). Why would they start Brett Gardner in CF again?
Also, I would just like to reiterate that I do not necessarily think Joe Girardi should be fired, I just purchased the domain name because I couldn't believe it was available. I'm willing to give Girardi the benefit of the doubt, for now.
I know that the doubters will certainly point to 183 at bats as too small a sample size to judge him. So let's placate these Gardner fans and take a peak at his minor league stats, shall we? I dare somebody to point to something in those statistics that lead you to believe that Brett Gardner can help the team more than Melky Cabrera. He had a career minor league slugging percentage below his OBP. He walked a lot in the minors, you may argue? He still struck out more than he walked, and bad a BB/K ratio of .803. Compare that to Melky's .686 BB/K ration in the MAJOR LEAGUES, and that seems to be a wash as well.
Brett Gardner is young and still learning the game? Brett Gardner was born August 24, 1983; Melky Cabrera was born August 11, 1984. The Melk Man is almost a full year YOUNGER than Gardner.
The Melk Man is off to a hot start this season, is simply straight up better than Brett Gardner at the plate, and has the vastly superior throwing arm (he has 35 career assists). Why would they start Brett Gardner in CF again?
Also, I would just like to reiterate that I do not necessarily think Joe Girardi should be fired, I just purchased the domain name because I couldn't believe it was available. I'm willing to give Girardi the benefit of the doubt, for now.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
CMW and the Brett Gardner Experiment
Well, all in all a great day for the Yankees. Nothing like a 22-4 loss to make you feel good about the team. First, something has to be wrong with Chien-Ming Wang--obviously. I'd like to think that it is a physical injury of some sort. I'm not sure how you can go from 19 wins 2 years in a row to being the worst pitcher in the Major Leagues just like that without something being really wrong. Seems like there has to be a physical issue, or maybe mechanics or something like that. At the very best, it's just an absolutely crushing lack of confidence, but I'm not sure that would be the reason he's leaving sinkers up around the belt to just get smacked.
Either way, it's absolutely certain that there is no way Wang can make his next start, which would be scheduled in Fenway. There is no way Girardi can put him out there after these three past starts. With a day off this week, they don't have to have Phil Hughes pack his bags in Scranton quite yet, as they can afford to skip Wang's turn and pitch everybody else on regular rest. With skipping Wang the Yanks will have Burnett, Pettite, and the Big Guy ready to go in Fenway. That's what they need to do.
As for what to do with the Wanger after that, that's quite another issue. I'd say put him on the DL with whatever injury you want to call it and just have him dominate some AAA for a while to see if he can workout with whatever ails him. Hughes can get a cup of coffee in the big leagues and we'll see how he looks.
And now onto the failed Brett Gardner experiment. After 10 games I feel confident in saying that Brett Gardner is not a MLB-caliber player, especially not for the New York Yankees. Everybody seemed to think that since he is fast and doesn't really hit that he must be a good fielder. Those people were wrong. He made two awful plays on consecutive balls today--first taking a crappy route to a Hafner ball and then dropping it for a "double." Very next batter he takes another horrible route to the ball and lets it get past him to the wall. Combine this with his Johnny Damon-esque arm and it's apaprent that he's more of a liability out there than an asset. Let's not forget to mention that this kid can't hit a lick.
With homers in back-to-back games, and with an absolute cannon for an arm, I don't think Joe G has a choice but to put the Melk Man out in CF for the time being. I know last year was absolutely horrible, but the two previous years he put up an OPS+ 95 and 89 respectively. While those numbers aren't going to be confused with Mickey Mantle or other Yankee CF's of yesteryear, there is literally no chance Brett Gardner can put those numbers up--no matter how scrappy he is or how many bases he steals.
These two are just placeholders while Austin Jackson get's seasoned in AAA, but Melky is the best choice for now. AJax is off to an absurd start in the minors, but I'll understand if they want him to play every day for a year in Scranton and then be the starter in 2010. Joe--Brett has to go, and he's got to go right now.
While we are at it, Dave Robertson (PECOTA favorite) and Mark Melancon have got to be a part of the big-league bullpen immediately. They are better than half the guys out there. Get them to the Bronx, quickly.
Either way, it's absolutely certain that there is no way Wang can make his next start, which would be scheduled in Fenway. There is no way Girardi can put him out there after these three past starts. With a day off this week, they don't have to have Phil Hughes pack his bags in Scranton quite yet, as they can afford to skip Wang's turn and pitch everybody else on regular rest. With skipping Wang the Yanks will have Burnett, Pettite, and the Big Guy ready to go in Fenway. That's what they need to do.
As for what to do with the Wanger after that, that's quite another issue. I'd say put him on the DL with whatever injury you want to call it and just have him dominate some AAA for a while to see if he can workout with whatever ails him. Hughes can get a cup of coffee in the big leagues and we'll see how he looks.
And now onto the failed Brett Gardner experiment. After 10 games I feel confident in saying that Brett Gardner is not a MLB-caliber player, especially not for the New York Yankees. Everybody seemed to think that since he is fast and doesn't really hit that he must be a good fielder. Those people were wrong. He made two awful plays on consecutive balls today--first taking a crappy route to a Hafner ball and then dropping it for a "double." Very next batter he takes another horrible route to the ball and lets it get past him to the wall. Combine this with his Johnny Damon-esque arm and it's apaprent that he's more of a liability out there than an asset. Let's not forget to mention that this kid can't hit a lick.
With homers in back-to-back games, and with an absolute cannon for an arm, I don't think Joe G has a choice but to put the Melk Man out in CF for the time being. I know last year was absolutely horrible, but the two previous years he put up an OPS+ 95 and 89 respectively. While those numbers aren't going to be confused with Mickey Mantle or other Yankee CF's of yesteryear, there is literally no chance Brett Gardner can put those numbers up--no matter how scrappy he is or how many bases he steals.
These two are just placeholders while Austin Jackson get's seasoned in AAA, but Melky is the best choice for now. AJax is off to an absurd start in the minors, but I'll understand if they want him to play every day for a year in Scranton and then be the starter in 2010. Joe--Brett has to go, and he's got to go right now.
While we are at it, Dave Robertson (PECOTA favorite) and Mark Melancon have got to be a part of the big-league bullpen immediately. They are better than half the guys out there. Get them to the Bronx, quickly.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Pitch Counts matter!!
Are you absolutely totally completely insane Joe Girardi? I just checked the calendar, and yes, it is in fact April 16th. CC Sabathia just left the game after throwing 122!!!!! pitches. The guy you just signed to the largest ever contract or a pitcher you throw him 122 pitches in the third start of the season? What are you doing?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Green Light?
Big win for the Yanks today...only one Joe Girardi gripe.
First and Second 2 outs, Nick Swisher (hottest hitter in baseball right now) on deck. 3-0 Count to Big Tex and he's got the green light. I know that he's a very patient hitter, and I know that he's a very good hitter and a professional and all that mumbo jumbo. But how about the God damn take sign for once?
Alex Rodriguez has exactly one career homer on a 3-0 pitch, back in 2001. Everybody should be taking 3-0, especially 1st and 2nd with the hottest hitter on deck.
Of course Tex swung, fouled it off, and then proceeded to fly out.
First and Second 2 outs, Nick Swisher (hottest hitter in baseball right now) on deck. 3-0 Count to Big Tex and he's got the green light. I know that he's a very patient hitter, and I know that he's a very good hitter and a professional and all that mumbo jumbo. But how about the God damn take sign for once?
Alex Rodriguez has exactly one career homer on a 3-0 pitch, back in 2001. Everybody should be taking 3-0, especially 1st and 2nd with the hottest hitter on deck.
Of course Tex swung, fouled it off, and then proceeded to fly out.
Monday, April 13, 2009
TBAGS and Eddy Ram
I guess the best way to start out is to give a little background on my baseball fandom. First, I am, I suppose, what one might call a seamhead. I don't care how a player fits in in the clubhouse or what his "stuff" looks like--only objective statistics are what matter in the game of baseball.
I would now like to introduce you to what I (borrowed from the esteemed Max Kellerman) call TBAGS--Typical Baseball Analayst Guys. They are your standard ESPN announcer (Joe Morgan) who frankly have no idea what the fuck they are talking about and spew nonsense about how hard a player works or how he helps change the clubhouse atmosphere. All of that stuff is meaningless, these TBAGs just spew the standard sports paper crap w/o even thinking about what they are saying.
There is a wildly popular Yankees Blog out there--I'm not going to say that the writer is a TBAG, because I frequently check it, but he's pretty darn close. The blog is amazing for quick lineup posts, or inside information that only a nerdy sports journalist is privy too. When he starts to analyze the team set up and roster calls, however, is when he oversteps his bounds as the lowly beat writer.
Since, this is a site named Fire Joe Girardi, I am going to post my views on the things that Joe G is being hotly criticized for and just give my take on them....
The Bullpen
With the season less than a week old, pretty much the only thing that Joe Girardi is being criticized for is the bullpen--both its makeup and its use.
Everybody's favorite TBAG argues that tonight's game (15-5 whipping by the Rays) is the exact reason that the team needs to carry what they call a "long man." To me, that seems completely unreasonable and is seemingly useless. Why on earth would you waste a valuable roster spot (there are only 25 remember) to have somebody on the team who's entire purpose is to pitch when the starter gets injured or when you are down by so many runs you can't reasonably come back. Is it really worth it to the Yankees to have Brett Tomko sit on his fucking ass in the bullpen and only come in when the game is essentially already out of hand? The Yankees can just do what they did today and piece together the rest of the game after Wang got crushed and move on from there. There is absolutely NO need to have a roster spot taken by Brett Tomko (who, first of all sucks) just so he can sit on his ass and collect a paycheck. Johnathan Albaladejo isn't very good himself, but he can get a few guys out when needed and he throws hard. He certainly is more valuable than somebody who's designed to only come in when the game is out of hand.
Joe Girardi's Use of the Bullpen
This isn't even really worth arguing right now, but people have been criticizing Joe for his management of the 'pen in the game they blew against the Royals. Not bringing out Mo for the 8th inning was the correct move--to early in the season for that. My question is why not just leave Marte out there? You are paying him $13 million to do something, and that should be more than just being a lefty specialist. So what if Billy Butler had a .956 OPS against lefties, pitch him carefully and get him out or walk him and face the next guy. Too much mixing and matching and you are left with Phil Cokeface on the mound. That never ends well.
And frankly, I'm tired of TBAG making fun of Edwar Ramirez. The guy last season gave up less than a hit per inning and had more than a strikeout per inning. How does it get better than that as a reliever? Yes, because of the changeup he's going to give up a few monstrous home runs, but how on earth is he not a bigger part of the bullpen? Come on, Joe. Get him in there.
I would now like to introduce you to what I (borrowed from the esteemed Max Kellerman) call TBAGS--Typical Baseball Analayst Guys. They are your standard ESPN announcer (Joe Morgan) who frankly have no idea what the fuck they are talking about and spew nonsense about how hard a player works or how he helps change the clubhouse atmosphere. All of that stuff is meaningless, these TBAGs just spew the standard sports paper crap w/o even thinking about what they are saying.
There is a wildly popular Yankees Blog out there--I'm not going to say that the writer is a TBAG, because I frequently check it, but he's pretty darn close. The blog is amazing for quick lineup posts, or inside information that only a nerdy sports journalist is privy too. When he starts to analyze the team set up and roster calls, however, is when he oversteps his bounds as the lowly beat writer.
Since, this is a site named Fire Joe Girardi, I am going to post my views on the things that Joe G is being hotly criticized for and just give my take on them....
The Bullpen
With the season less than a week old, pretty much the only thing that Joe Girardi is being criticized for is the bullpen--both its makeup and its use.
Everybody's favorite TBAG argues that tonight's game (15-5 whipping by the Rays) is the exact reason that the team needs to carry what they call a "long man." To me, that seems completely unreasonable and is seemingly useless. Why on earth would you waste a valuable roster spot (there are only 25 remember) to have somebody on the team who's entire purpose is to pitch when the starter gets injured or when you are down by so many runs you can't reasonably come back. Is it really worth it to the Yankees to have Brett Tomko sit on his fucking ass in the bullpen and only come in when the game is essentially already out of hand? The Yankees can just do what they did today and piece together the rest of the game after Wang got crushed and move on from there. There is absolutely NO need to have a roster spot taken by Brett Tomko (who, first of all sucks) just so he can sit on his ass and collect a paycheck. Johnathan Albaladejo isn't very good himself, but he can get a few guys out when needed and he throws hard. He certainly is more valuable than somebody who's designed to only come in when the game is out of hand.
Joe Girardi's Use of the Bullpen
This isn't even really worth arguing right now, but people have been criticizing Joe for his management of the 'pen in the game they blew against the Royals. Not bringing out Mo for the 8th inning was the correct move--to early in the season for that. My question is why not just leave Marte out there? You are paying him $13 million to do something, and that should be more than just being a lefty specialist. So what if Billy Butler had a .956 OPS against lefties, pitch him carefully and get him out or walk him and face the next guy. Too much mixing and matching and you are left with Phil Cokeface on the mound. That never ends well.
And frankly, I'm tired of TBAG making fun of Edwar Ramirez. The guy last season gave up less than a hit per inning and had more than a strikeout per inning. How does it get better than that as a reliever? Yes, because of the changeup he's going to give up a few monstrous home runs, but how on earth is he not a bigger part of the bullpen? Come on, Joe. Get him in there.
Welcome Aboard
You may know me as the creator of absolutely hilarious, albeit short lived, blogs such as ARodisclutch.com, brettfavresucks.blogspot.com and entrylevelgrumblings.blogspot.com. I'm back in business, sort of, here at FireJoeGirardi.com.
Frankly, I don't even know if Joe Girardi should be fired--of all the sports it is clear that baseball managers have the least impact on the game. However, once I saw that the domain was unowned for some crazy reason, I couldn't pass on the chance to get this blog up and running.
Frankly, I don't even know if Joe Girardi should be fired--of all the sports it is clear that baseball managers have the least impact on the game. However, once I saw that the domain was unowned for some crazy reason, I couldn't pass on the chance to get this blog up and running.
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