Yankees' Notes and Quotes

Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte carried the Yanks to a 5-1 win in Toronto last night. The stellar performances by proven champions provided a welcome relief from the onslaught of negativity that accompanies failure in the Bronx. Jeter and Pettitte have shared a long list of experiences in pinstripes, missing the playoffs isn't one they can fathom, "You almost feel like nothing is insurmountable."--Pettitte (AP) The noble philosophy will be put to the ultimate test as the stretch drive travels through a grim reality.

Notes & Quotes:

• Too late: In an article titled, "These Yankees Need To Be Dismantled--Immediately" the author writes: "There is nothing left for the Yankees to prove in 2008. They've established themselves as one of the weaker sisters in club history." In the spring of 2007, I wrote an article suggesting that the Yanks trade off the over-the-hill gang and bite the bullet with kids in order to rebuild a solid foundation. I suggested a front office person with experience in this monumental task be hired and suggested Buck Showalter, who built the Diamond Backs from the ground up and has a successful Yankees' pedigree. It would have been tough then, it's impossible now. The seasoned veterans with big names and contracts have no trade value. The departing free agents--Giambi, Abreu, I-Rod must go. The tricky part is replacing them. Take a close look at the hyped farm, compile a viable list of names, good luck with that. "This figures to get a lot worse before it gets better."--NY Times (Paraphrased.)
• The bright side: "Some people maybe don't want to take a gamble on me with my past," Ponson said. "Thankfully Brian gave me a call. I'm trying to help this team make the playoffs." Who says scraping the bottom of the barrel is beneath the richest franchise in the history of the world? Sir Sidney, the Round Mound of Rebound has filled one of the holes in the Yankees' rebuilt rotation. The future is ours.
• When the Yanks picked up first ballot Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez for the infamous Farnsworth the headline writers pretended Pudge was arriving with a time machine. Reality has a way of rearing it's ugly head: "While Rodriguez has won a record 13 Gold Gloves as a catcher, he seems to have had trouble getting in synch with the Yankees' pitchers.Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte have continued to pitch to Molina (Pettitte worked with Rodriguez once before that was abandoned), and with Rodriguez catching, Yankees pitchers have a 6.21 ERA.The Yankees have gone 3-7 in Rodriguez's starts,"
  The fact is the Yanks had to make this trade because of a lack of viable options. It's not a surprise that a 36 year old catcher who has been catching full time in the show since 19 is done. Dombrowski of Detroit is no fool, would he really take Farnsworth for a productive player at a key position?
• Here we go again: "Reports had the oft-injured Pavano suffering from a stiff neck this week, but Wednesday he threw a side session with Double-A Trenton. Thunder pitching coach Scott Aldred told the Times of Trenton that Pavano looked "perfect" and was the best Aldred had seen him." Wait, there's more breaking news, "Asked after Tuesday's game whether Pavano had to skip a scheduled bullpen session because of a stiff back, Girardi said the righty was fine.
  "He has normal soreness," Girardi said.
• Words that haunt: "In fact, to appreciate fully just how deluded Cashman's defense of Pavano makes him sound, compare them with how, just eight months ago, the Yankee GM characterized the work ethic of one of Pavano's teammates.About the center-fielder who delivered the GM four championship rings, Cashman, recall, had this to say,"[He] got into his music and that took away from his play," and that as a consequence, in 2005, he'd had a "terrible season".Bernie Williams, a foundational pillar to the Yankees late 90's dynasty, neglected his responsibilities and deserted his team in 2005..."
• "It’s hard to decide what’s more amusing, that Irabu had 20 mugs of beer or that the bar allowed to him to get out another credit card and pay his tab after he beat up the bartender.
  Meanwhile, Kei Igawa spent a peaceful night at his apartment in Scranton watching Tora! Tora! Tora!" Peter Abraham delivers some much needed comic relief.

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