Yankees' Survivor

The New York Yankees 2008 season has passed. Success didn't make an appearance. The list of potential evacuees is long: Giambi, Mussina, Pettitte, Abreu, I-Rod. Viable replacements, filed under slim and none. Accountability isn't part of the plan. All signs suggest team architect Brian Cashman will be back for more. Don't ask me why.

Cash is the people's champion. Brian is a smart, politically adept survivor who remains standing regardless of the circumstances. In an effort to educate myself I consulted some clips:

• "Cashman is an earnest, likeable man. Unlike Minaya, he seldom seems to be called out or held publicly accountable for mistakes — and there have been enough in recent years that would have devastated franchises with lesser payrolls."--NY Times
• "So was it a miscalculation, based on limited looks in 2007, that the Yankees believed two of Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain could stick in the rotation?"I don't necessarily think it was a mistake," Girardi said. "The organization and I felt good about those young kids that were coming up. I think there will be a conscious effort to have more experience on our staff and to have guys who are able to go every fifth day. I think there will be a conscious effort to upgrade our rotation."--Newsday
• "Cashman acknowledged that the Yankee farm system had been a failure when he signed his "full autonomy" contract three years ago, but other than firing scouting director Lin Garrett, he's kept almost all the same execs, scouts and coaches responsible for this abysmal operation. And if Cashman isn't willing to clean house, neither apparently are the brothers Steinbrenner - probably because they don't know where to find better player development and scouting people.
  At least Cashman has talked a good game when it comes to how to build an enduring winning team such as the mini-dynasty he inherited from his mentor, Gene Michael."
• "The Yankees GM since 1997, Cashman's contract expires after this season. He said last week that negotiations on a new deal won't drag out.
  "It will be sooner rather than later," Cashman said. "I won't define either sooner or later."
• Sometimes you can still smell the champagne in the air.
  At Yankee Stadium today, it’s like a wake."--LoHud

Well, the press didn't ease my pain so I went to the people. LoHud, has a poll going that asks the question "Who should take the blame for the Yanks not making the playoffs?" Of the 4290 votes cast 268 pointed the finger at Cash. Even Red Sox Nation chirps in: Abe_Froman Sep 30, 2008, I'm a Red Sox fan & I would love to see him come back for another tour of duty. It seems for every good decision he makes, he then makes two bad ones. Please bring Cashman back!!!!!!!

The people have spoken. Cash is king, long live the king--be careful what you wish for.

Photo/Daylife.com

Yankees Baffle Experts

Baseball prognosticators are scratching their heads over the 2008 New York Yankees. The experts postulated that a juggernaut offense would carry a blossoming pitching staff and the next glorious chapter would commence. The road to the future would be paved in run support.

The games started and the bats fizzled. The potent, patient approach that wore out opposing pitchers during the Torre era was replaced by impatient flailing. The 2007 Yankees scored 968 runs. 2008's squad produced 780, for those scoring at home, a 19% pratfall. No one predicted this.

The Pinstriped puzzle stretched to the starting rotation: Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy compiled a list of hyped prodigies. Old reliable, Andy Pettite would round out the rotation and perhaps, Mike Mussina could find a comfortable seat in the bullpen. The consensus was that Moose's poor 2007 was his sad swan song.

That was then, this is now. Mussina finished with a flourish in Fenway yesterday and garnered win #20. The Moose rebounded from oblivion and won more games than: Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy combined. No one predicted this.

"Baseball has individual statistics and team accomplishments. The foundation of sabermetrics is the realization that these two are related--that the number of wins by a team is a largely predictable outcome of things measured by individual statistics....Essentially predictable; not perfectly predictable." (Bill James--The Bill James Handbook.)

The 2008 New York Yankees have sent the experts back to the drawing board.

Photo/New York Daily News

The Yankees Road Ahead

Johan Santana carries the beleaguered Mets to the postseason door step while Sidney Ponson starts the Yanks' meaningless finale in Fenway. Speculating on what Santana's stats--16-7, 2.53 ERA, 9-0 with a 2.09ERA in last 17 starts-- would have meant to the third place Yankees is a waste of time. The past is gone, let's look ahead.

The Yankees' transition from champions, to playoff flame-outs, to also-rans continues it's course. This off season will go a long way in determining whether 2008 is an aberration or a trend. Decisions will matter. Let's check out the Bombers' Brass:

"You don't know about the Steinbrenner brothers, only one of whom had the grace to show up for the last night of Yankee Stadium. The younger one, Hal, tries to learn the ropes and actually show up at the ballpark, to work with Cashman, a general manager he wants back. The other brother, Hank, is as desperate to be somebody, to be loud and make people notice him, as his father was when he first hit town 35 years ago, occasionally treated like half-a-genius instead of some yahoo in the bleachers because he returns phone calls, as if making headlines is all that matters around here."--(Lupica, NY Daily News)

The Brothers Steinbrenner have done nothing in their inaugural campaign to suggest they are capable of running anything, much less the biggest franchise in sports history. They weren't groomed for their positions and aren't qualified. If logic prevailed, they would turn the reigns over to an experienced baseball man capable of evaluating talent and making cogent decisions, there is no evidence to suggest that this is on the agenda.

"I think it’s 50-50 whether Cashman returns and that may be optimistic. It could depend whether Hal Steinbrenner can control Hank Steinbrenner or to what degree Hank is involved with baseball operations.
Hank’s foolish statements and interference (like during the Santana negotiations, the Posada negotiations, etc.) are not conducive for a GM to do his job. Either Cashman decides he can deal with that or he goes elsewhere. At some point, dealing with such nonsense must be tiresome.
Know this much: Whether you like Cashman as the GM or not, if he leaves it’ll be chaos in the organization. They don’t have anybody ready to step in and many of the people in baseball operations, scouting, the minors, etc. are his people...Cashman has a plan, he’s a smart guy and the Yankees would be wise to let him do his job. Nobody gets forever, but he should get some time to get this thing fixed."--(Lo Hud)

Brian Cashman has been the Yankees GM for eleven years. He inherited the nucleaus of a dynasty with every conceivable competitive advantage. The first 8 years were spent appeasing a tyrant. He was good at this and survived while, "Everybody around me was getting fired."--(Cash.) The last three years he got his wish and is the Decider. After years of throwing money at every issue and creating long lists of failed options, (The list of first base and pitching suspects winds around the corner.) Cash decided it was time to rebuild the farm system. No one could argue with that, it's a no-brainer. The foundation of Brian's plan is that the Yankees would pursue high-ceiling talent and deal with dubious medical histories. Multi-million dollar bonuses flowed and rehab mountain is SRO. The 2007 season provided a tantalizing coming attraction as exuberant youth injected energy in a rickety roster. The 2008 season would unveil the fruits of Cash's plan. And then the wheels fell off. Rushed prodigys morphed to projects. The allegedly bountiful farm crop was barren when fortification was needed. Fresh faces--Tabata, Ohlendorf, Cabrera--were cast aside. Old, faded marquee names were acquired and deployed. The Yankees went back to the future.

All signs indicate that the Bombers' Brass isn't going anywhere. Hank will bluster, Hal will count the money and Cash will do whatever is politically popular. Yankees followers looking for a road back to relevance, should fasten their seat belts.

Girardi's Losing Battle

The task of managing the 2008 New York Yankees would have been daunting for anyone. An historic year, on the biggest stage, starring a rickety roster, looking for support from untested neophytes, featuring deluded expectations, buoyed by the bluster of a novice owner and self-serving hype of a teetering team architect is a script for failure. Joe Girardi, responded by slipping on jersey #27

The games marched on, the injuries mounted, the youth movement bubble burst and Girardi's jaw tightened. He was dealt a bad hand in a big game and no amount of bluffing would work. The game isn't done. Dealing with the ravenous, Big Apple media mob is part of the deal. Girardi's resume doesn't include charm school and the press corps are a tad miffed.

"Meanwhile, it would appear the Yankees have a problem with the credibility of their manager.
Girardi lied to reporters, writes The Daily News.
Girardi has misled reporters and been less than forthright, writes The New York Times.
Girardi did not acknowledge the shoulder injury, writes The Star-Ledger
Girardi said he wasn’t hiding information. But Rivera needs surgery, writes The New York Post
There is a seeming disconnect between Girardi and Cashman on this issue, writes Newsday."--LoHud

The LA Times, updates us on the old Joe: "from game No. 1 Torre is the same affable guy as the one showing up for game No. 159."Except for that one day," Torre corrects, and he's right, a real grouch, cranky and short, the news conference ending that one day, and Torre taking Page 2 aside to apologize for being so grouchy, cranky and short."

Joe Girardi finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He doesn't have Torre's cards or charm. The only remedy is habitual winning. A raggedy hand gives him no chance. Joe Girardi went all-in and lost.

Yanks Slide to Oblivion

The end is near. The 2008 New York Yankees are finished. Storm clouds loom, follow the links:

• "It should have been the Yankees of class and chemistry, not the Yankees of disparate parts that no longer fit.
  It should have been a lot of things that weren’t. But none of it mattered." Credibility took up residence in the loss column.
• "The biggest payroll in baseball was a bust. There was an obvious problem with putting too much faith in young pitchers" Now they tell us.
• "BAD to see the Yankees take a home-grown approach with pitching and fall flat, ending a stretch of 13 consecutive postseason appearances. Does that mean the Steinbrenners will start writing inflated checks and blow the salary market out of whack again?" Actually, they never stopped, A-Rod, Posada and Rivera got paid, the song remains the same.
• "Hank Steinbrenner writing for the Sporting News: Priceless...It isn't fair..it's clearly unfair that a team with a $207 million payroll would lose out to a team with a $43 million payroll." Hank brings back memories of his out of control Dad. There was an infamous story from LA during the Yanks/Dodger World Series (Can't remember which one--I'm from the 60's) King George circulated a story that he got on an elevator with two rabid Dodger fans who mocked the Bombers. George wanted us to believe that a fight ensued and that he fought for the Yanks' pride. A bandaged hand served as alleged evidence. I can't remember a more embarrassing moment. Hank, apparently believes records are made to be broken.
• What's next? "We must act quickly to avert global fairweather fans from abandoning the Yankees en masse."
• The last laugh: "Joe, about never hearing your name mentioned during the ceremony at the closing of Yankee Stadium. It was like you never existed.Pause. "I didn't know what they had planned," Another plan?

Photo/Daylife.com

Hughes Struts Stuff

Yankees' prodigy turned project Phil Hughes delivered a dividend in Toronto Wednesday night. The long road back from rehab mountain found "The Franchise" on the hill, north of the border, auditioning for a job. The journey from heralded draft pick, to Next Big Thing, to suspect has been arduous but Hughes may finally have found MLB viability.

It's been 16 months since Hughes no hit the Rangers for 6+ innings in Arlington. Devastating stuff was a down payment on the Yankees future. Phil limped off the mound that night and took up residence on the DL. The 2007 season produced a lackluster 73 IP, with an ERA of 4.46. Somehow, ravenous Yankees' followers, bolstered by a hyperbole filled press corps, used the modest beginning as a spring board to imminent greatness. The front office rode the wave and made Hughes a linchpin to 2008's fortunes.

Spring Training provided a launching pad for a hype frenzy. Phil would not only pitch he would join the somewhat illustrious (infamous?) Yankees blogosphere. Can you say out of control? The season started, the bubble burst, reality bites. An ERA of 9.00 augmented a vacant win total and a rehab schedule that would make Pavano wince.

The stretch drive is here, the pennant race is gone and "The Franchise" auditions for a job. Last night, Phil Hughes kept hope alive. The born-again prodigy took his devastating Uncle Charlie to the 8Th inning. A confident demeanor was a welcome site. He did the job. "It's important for him to leave knowing that he can do this."--(Girardi.) He's not alone.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Quotebook

The reality of being all dressed up with nowhere to go in the postseason sets in. The quotes just keep on coming:

• Growing pains: "Vanessa Acevedo is a 17-year-old high school senior in Brooklyn who calls it "insanely weird."
  Never in her entire lifetime has she been aware of a Major League Baseball postseason without her Yankees participating."
• Did you say "Insanely weird?" that's Hank's cue: "biggest problem is the divisional setup in Major League Baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair."
  On Joe Torre: "I'm happy for Joe," Hank's Dad vacillated between wacky tyrant and shrewd winner. Apparently, JR. didn't inherit the whole package. Be very afraid Yankee fans, Cash is driving and Hank is ranting deluded directions.
• Back to reality: "Over 162 games, I think there's no flukes. The teams that make it to the postseason, they deserve to be there. We weren't one of those teams."--The captain capitulates.
• "I was a part of it for eight years," said Don Zimmer, long a member of manager Joe Torre's Yankees staff and now an adviser with the Rays -- whose ascendance helped contribute to the Yanks' fall.
  "You know, you always want to beat someone. I don't know how to say it. I don't feel happy that the Yankees are out of the playoffs. We're in it. That's the most important thing. And that's the way I feel. Unfortunately, [manager] Joe Girardi, who is a very dear friend of mine, goes over there and just happens to get there at the wrong time"--Zim and Torre have the last laugh.
• Advice for the team architect: "Run Brian Cashman, run as fast as you can."

Yankees Too Late

The box score read: Yankees 3 Blue Jays 1, Mussina W, 19-9. The standings showed: Last 10--9-1, W-6. The headline blared: "Yankees Eliminated." End of story.

The Yanks are in a strange place, also-ran wasn't part of the plan. Winning when the pressure is off and the season is reduced to trivial pursuit is what losers do. Now, the New York Yankees assume the position.

It's important that the organization keeps its eye on the ball and not be deluded by the fools gold of padded stats. Long term thinking is the only viable out from the self-induced quagmire of mediocrity.

There were disturbing ruminations emanating from the YES booth last night: "Mussina will need 3 years to get to 300; Giambi would like to come back and would be willing to take less money..." Abreu and Pettitte can be lumped in this pile. Good players, in the twilight of their careers, who put up solid stats, in a walk year are not prudent long term investments. The off season re-construction plan should start with this obvious concept. Want to come back because you "really like it here and are a great guy?" One year, big pay cut, every year is a walk year, let's go from there. Let's see how deep the loyalty cuts.

The Yankees journey back to relevance won't be easy. The brain trusts of Boston and Tampa have trumped them and are built to last. Relying on familiar names for too long has the team in a hole. The organization can't afford any more detours.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Move On

The heart-warming ceremony is finished. Yankee Stadium is closed. The pennant race is in Queens. Now what? A few questions to ponder in the extended off season:

What went wrong?

• Spanning the globe for answers we go to a Thailand correspondent:

"It speaks more to a short-sighted team philosophy of annually slapping high-priced ballclubs together, rendering their farm system - which should be their lifeline - fruitless.
Much like that other long-running empire in Rome, the Yankee Kingdom was not conquered from without as much as it crumbled from decay within.
The cracking had started the previous few campaigns; the team barely sneaking into the postseason via stretch-run rallies just covered it up for awhile.
This year, the inconsistency of aging talent and a poorly tilled farm system combined to eat away at the faulty Yank structure to the point it all came tumbling down.
The keen observer could see it coming...Instead of replenishing from within, the Yankees have continued trying to buy their way to a Series title, as in the late 90's-early 2000 glory run.
This years' $200 million hodge-podge spending spree included replacing Matsui with Xavier Nady and Posada with perennial all-star Ivan Rodriguez resulting only in more wheel-spinning.
Attempts to fill those same holes - and others - with youngsters were, predictably, all too brief and disastrous.
The suffocating pressure of Yank management and the Yankee fan base to get it done yesterday has caused many a rookie meltdown."

How do they fix it? Can you say "Stay the course."

• "The Yankees want Brian Cashman back next year as their general manager and have told him so, Hal Steinbrenner said Monday."He knows that we're with him, that we want him back," Steinbrenner said." The Brothers Steinbrenner are borrowing from the playbook used by the Bush White House--accountiblity isn't part of the mix.

Can they buy their credibility back? It's never too early for the rumor mill.

• "CC Sabathia is the free agent the Yankees most covet, though there's a divergence of opinion whether he'd give up his two biggest dreams of playing in his home state of California (one Yankees person expressed some doubt whether he'll come, saying it would take "crazy'' money)"
• "Could Johnny Damon really be the center fielder? No shot. Damon is more than fine in left but he's no full-season answer in center. And while Brett Gardner has provided a recent spark and Melky Cabrera is still around, the Yankees are more likely to pursue a proven commodity to man the most hallowed position in baseball." The front office did such a fine job with the starting rotation and first base, it's time to plug a new hole. Will Austin Jackson get the express ticket to the show? (See Hughes and Kennedy, who transitioned from phenoms to projects after enduring the fast lane.)

There are no easy answers. A quick fix is a pipe dream. The Yankees front office has their hands full. The recent track record speaks. Oh well, how long until the next heart-warming ceremony.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Final Four

Sifting through an avalanche of Yankees related E-Mails is a daily chore, today it was pure pleasure. Last night's bon voyage party at the Stadium was all good. It's been a while since the Pinstriped vibe has been this positive. It becomes clear why recent inept play is so frustrating, we've been spoiled for a long time.

"Every picture tells a story don't it?"--(Stewart.) Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte represent the remnants of a dynasty."That's why we wanted to have that picture, so we always remember that moment," Rivera said. "Like Mickey and Joe and Whitey and Yogi. That's what we represent in this era." Seeing them on the field last night with: O'Neill, Bernie, Tino and Brosius brought goose bumps. Fans who were weened on Yankees baseball the last 13 years may be under the impression that habitual winning is a birth rite. Those of us old enough to remember the pre-Steinbrenner era know better. Enjoy the journey down memory lane, the road ahead looks treacherous.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Reflect on Glory

Nostalgia led off for the Bombers in the Bronx last night. A long list of former players from luminaries to legends lit up the scoreboard before a pitch was thrown. A packed house of raucous fans rekindled memories of glory as the Stadium hosted it's last game.

Ruth Built The House but winning sustained it. A regular season win percentage of .630 topped off by a 101-60 postseason mark says it all. The Pinstripes set a standard that will never be surpassed. Yankees' lifers count your blessings, no one else is this fortunate.

Photo Gallery/ Newsday

Yankee Stadium Memories

Today is bittersweet for many Yankees fans. The curtain goes down of the House That Ruth Built. The memories creep. Nostalgia is on the menu. The AP polls the luminaries:

• David Cone: "...it was so in your face. It was my first experience with Yankees fans and what that meant."
• Mariano Rivera: "Seeing Charlie Hayes catch that ball. The last pitch for the final out."
• Joe Torre: "You can feel the heart beat of the people in the stands.Although, post season play, it's interesting, in 1996 it was terrific but the last couple of times, it's like the people who make the most noise during the season can't afford the tickets and that's the sad part of it."

My flashbacks are different, they're not wrapped in glory. Growing up in the infamous "Horace Clarke era" when CBS owned the team there wasn't much to root for. The marquee names where playing out the string and the farm was barren. We used to bring our gloves and play catch across the street until batting practice started. In those days, the Oakland A's dynasty featuring a colorful array of quality players: Reggie, Catfish, Vida, Blue-Moon, Campy, Bando, Fingers would come to town and we'd go to every game. There are advantages to rooting for a team that struggles to draw one million , purchasing a nose-bleed and walking down to a vast array of prime empty seats was our ritual. I was at Vida Blue day when a neophyte flame thrower was striking everyone out at an unprecedented rate. Moribund Cleveland would come to town and you could close your eyes and know "Sudden" Sam McDowell was warming up by the pop he ignited from the catcher's glove. A faded Felipe Alou tried to play first for the Bombers one year, the Bronx Cheer was in the air, recall telling the chorus to shut-up and sit down that they didn't know who they were booing.

The Yanks got good (1976) and I moved to California. The prodigal son returned in time to witness Jeff Weaver's initiation in pinstripes. Sitting in the top row of the stadium as the Red Sox relentlessly went deep brought back memories of the good old days.

The final chapter concludes tonight in the Bronx. There is a new book, with a shiny cover, across the street, it has no chance to be as interesting.

Photo/New York Times

Yankees Switch Gears

The Yankees brief chapter titled Youth Movement is about to end. The fairy tale wanes; The future looms. Some excerpts from an article titled: "Will Yankees Stick to Star Philosophy on New Stage?

• "with the final out could come a final tearing down of the old Yankees business model, where winning was the primary product, everything else following from that..Now, the need to create perpetual showbiz for the new ballpark could envelop the organization's philosophy."
• "the losing seasons from 1989 to '92 facilitated the assembling of the four-championship dynasty that began in '96, which allowed the Yankees a rare chance to win and grow the brand name to where they now draw more than 4 million a year.That kind of patience will never be possible as they move into a $1.3 billion stadium that has been described as a "five-star hotel with a ballpark attached." The Yankees will not be able to afford a rebuilding cycle; they need to sell just about every seat for every game, and to do so they will have to go for broke every year"
• "Defense wins championships, but will it sell suites? Trying to outspend and outslug their mistakes and lack of range has not worked the last several years, as it is always a recipe for frustration."

A bright tomorrow or an ominous future? Time will tell.

Yankee Stadium Snapshots

Images of old Stadium and new:

• Billy Crystal, paints a vivid portrait of the House That Ruth Built, for the New York Times: "The sun shines a little differently on this part of the Bronx. It has a theatricality to it that is simple and spectacular."
• The new joint-- the House George Built with the taxpayers money-- is captured in a nice photo gallery at WCBS (Hat tip LoHud)

We can only hope that the new place houses a fraction of the success of the real Stadium.

Yankees Search for Center Fielder

Gardner auditions, Damon DHs, Cabrera watches, Jackson looms and the Yankees' quest to fill the center field void continues. The New York Yankees have a proud history in center--DiMaggio, Mantle, Murcer and Williams filled the glamor position impeccably. Since Bernie faded, the front office has been incapable of finding the next big thing.

The opportunity to sign a discounted Beltran was missed. The result--a four year deal to Johnny Damon has produced a void. Johnny's shaky defense and anemic arm provided an opportunity for Cabrera who responded with enthusiasm and potent defense. Two solid seasons were betrayed by a flailing bat and Damon was back where it all began. Fly balls hung for a long time before dropping in for extra-base hits, base runners moved with abandon as the throws bounced in.

The 2008 season winds down without a Yankees pennant race. It's audition time, blazing Brett Gardner enters the mix. Who is this guy? "Gardner has some good things going for him--excellent speed, good range in the outfield, some patience, and the ability to hit for a respectable average. The thing that will keep him on a major league bench..is a complete, total, absolute lack of power...If Gardner suddenly shows the ability to hit .330, it might change things, but his best hope right now is to have a general manager fall in love with him.."--Baseball Prospectus 2008 Guide. Turns out, Brett could be in luck, when asked this spring who would be the next impact player from the farm Brian Cashman responded, "Brett Gardner." Can Brett butcher boy his way to the show? We get the opportunity to find out.

What's next? Austin Jackson is on the horizon. Reggie Jackson commented this spring that Jackson is by far the best athlete in the Yanks system and reminds him of Devon White. The YES booth pondered the possibilities, "The thinking is that he needs a year at Triple-A...you don't want to rush young players before they're ready. Failure on the resume creates doubt and can hurt them.."--(Kay/Singleton,paraphrased) The Yankees having been there and done that with Hughes and Kennedy. The result is that two prodigy's are now projects. The future will have to wait.

Photo/Newsday

Yankee Stadium Finale

The Stadium is set to go out in style. Here are a couple of links with some detail:

• Awful Announcing, provides a schedule of ESPN's coverage. Chris Berman's name is nowhere in sight, can we be that lucky?
• "Longtime Yankees Bernie Williams and Willie Randolph have also publicly acknowledged their attendance.
  "It's going to be awesome," Sunday starter Andy Pettitte said. "It's going to be Bernie's first time back, so that's going to be pretty special, for sure. I'm looking forward to seeing him. I'm sure he's going to get a wonderful ovation." It's all good.
• "I want to see Mo pitch that last inning," Girardi said. "Rightfully, in the ninth inning, there's only one guy to have on the mound." Going out in style, but than again: "Those intending to obtain souvenirs of Yankee Stadium on their own are strongly urged to reconsider. Numerous law enforcement agencies will be on hand for the final game.."

Yankees Regime Falters

The 2008 season dwindles; The Stadium closes. Memories creep and the Yankees tradition of winning on and off the field dissipates. "It really shouldn't have ended this way. The final season in the most storied stadium in baseball shouldn't go into the books as a tale of the utter failure of millionaires to get the job done. It's simply not dignified." Baseball is a game of failure, Yankees followers have been spoiled for a long time.

"If you never win, the feeling of the place never changes, so it is a home," Angell says. "Yankee Stadium isn't like that, and the (George) Steinbrenner regime has made it clear that only winning is acceptable. But that isn't like life and makes for irritation when the winning doesn't continue. A home is where hard news happens often, not a place where you win every year, all the time."

The "Steinbrenner regime" is in the hands of the next generation. Hank and Hal are in their inaugural season and Dad has to be wincing. The focus has been on the field, but the issues off the diamond are embarrassing. An FBI investigation implicated the Yankees' scouting department in inappropriate behavior in regard to the signing bonuses of Dominican prospects. The organization fired two scouts as a result. Congress looks into dealings regarding the new Stadium: "“still ongoing investigation has uncovered substantial evidence of improprieties and possible fraud." Memories of Congress are fresh from the sad saga of Pinstripers Clemens, Pettitte and Giambi.

Ironically, while the organization is hip deep in despicable dealings they are warning fans not to steal the toilet seats, or else: "The Bronx DA really has agreed to prosecute any thefts harshly. So don’t think you’ll get pinched and then get a small fine.
* There will be security and cops all over the exits after games.
* There are literally millions to be made with the sale of seats, signs and other souvenirs of the Stadium. The Yankees aren’t letting you and your buddies walk out with something for free."

Can you say hypocrisy? The brothers Steinbrenner inherited an empire with a brand, "Pride of the Yankees." They have done nothing to live up to the billing.

Cashman Taking Responsibility?

Recently, in a brief, candid moment, Yankees team architect Brian Cashman took responsibility for the organization's demise: "I've put together a club that is where it's at and I'm responsible..I wish I had an answer for it." An answer for what?

"But this year, New York's fortunes have crumbled like a Wall Street bank, leaving Yankee Stadium set to close on Sunday with no October games in its final season.
"Our everyday position players did not perform up to their typical ability," general manager Brian Cashman said. "Not everyone. But I would say mostly as a unit we've struggled there from injuries and underperformance." Um, is that all?

"the Yankees had neither the homegrown talent or the front office smarts to find good complementary players to withstand injuries the way Boston and Tampa Bay did. Xavier Nady was a good addition, but otherwise the Yankees' support players were dreadful. They gave 18 percent of their total at-bats to non-players Jose Molina, Wilson Betemit, Ivan Rodriguez, Brett Gardner, Chad Moeller, Morgan Ensberg, Shelly Duncan, Alberto Gonzalez, Justin Christian, Richie Sexson, Cody Ransom and Chris Stewart. Those players hit .221. The Yankees had a National League offense, if that. The 7-8-9 spots in the Yankee lineup, excluding pitchers, posted a .295 OBP. The Cubs, with pitchers taking most of the plate appearances, had better production from the nine hole (10 homers, 60 RBI) than did the Yankees (8, 38)."

Don't forget the infamous pitching plan that relied on neophytes to carry a load in Gotham's glare, to a place they've never been. Where did that leave them ? "The organization has begun a series of meetings to make a determination on whether it would be beneficial or risky to have Chamberlain throw additional innings. Should the Yanks decide to go ahead and have Chamberlain pitch more in 2008, they are weighing Arizona Fall League vs. Instructional League and starting vs. relief.If Chamberlain does go to winter ball, he'd be joining Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy." The sky has fallen.

Hope for the future? "The question isn’t, What went wrong with the Yankees this year? It’s, What’s gonna go wrong next year?" The sky is the limit. Cash is king.

Coke Refreshes Yankees

Phil Hughes returned to the mound in the Bronx Wednesday, in search of redemption. The Yankees looking to salvage a shred of hope from the mangled 2008 season were looking to rekindle the distant memory of the overpowering prodigy who dominated Texas in the spring of '07. That guy never showed up.

Hughes featuring straight 88MPH lukewarm heat, an overthrown curve and an effective cutter survived four innings. Progress never made an appearance. 22 year old pitchers are a perpetual work in progress, they are supposed to struggle. Someone needs to explain what happened to the heat. "The Franchise" has spent most of the last two seasons on rehab mountain and somehow has regressed. Why?

There is good news to report (seriously.) Turns out things do go better with Coke (sorry.) 26 year old rookie Phil Coke relieved "The Franchise " in the fifth and stretched his string of scoreless innings to 10. The YES booth makes the call: "Not afraid...Coming at you..Aggressive, confident demeanor." Music to the ear.

Phil Coke not only made it through the bushes he survived the Yankees' front office: "Here's some information on Phil Coke from SWB--"Hard to argue against Coke. With a low-90s fastball and a much-improved slider, the lefty forced the Yankees hand in a season when he was left exposed to the Rule 5 draft and went unselected. Although he's been a starter through most of his career, he may have found his calling out of the bullpen." The Bombers' Brass also tried to give him away to the Pirates in the Nady/Marte transaction. It's ironic that the disrespected lefty has filled the void left by Marte's flop. September stats from farm guys looking to make an impression aren't exactly money in the bank (See Shelley Duncan and Ian Kennedy, they are filed under flash in the pan.) But the Yanks, mired in the mud of pessimism are squinting for a glimmer of hope. Any signs of progress are appreciated.

Photo/Pinstripes Plus

Yankee Stadium Retrospective

The countdown on the demise of the House That Ruth Built marches on. Sunday's game is the end. Tom Verducci of SI, in an article titled, "Last rites for the Cathedral," chronicles the past, present and future. The article is a can't miss for Yankees lifers. Some excerpts of note:

• "The new Yankee Stadium will be a stupendous colossus of a revenue generator, which has replaced charm or architectural achievement.." Greed is not good.
• "It's the history, which becomes a personal history because we connect its events to moments in our lives, that made the place beautiful. Yankee fans seemed to pride themselves on not being comfortable. They were there to watch some ball, that's all."
• "I remember watching Ron Woods make a catch at the wall in rightfield, falling over the four-foot barrier and into the seats" It's funny that the obscure tends to carry more weight with time. My memory isn't the best these days (I'm from the 60's) but I remember Ron Woods, a fluid outfielder, circa 1970, with an OPS that would make a stat-head wretch. It's hard to quantify joy.
• "All those kids banging their bats on the concrete trying to get a Yankee rally started in the late 1960s (well, it beat Jerry Kenney trying to get one going, anyway) knocked loose so much paint and concrete from the old ballpark that the Yankees held a staff meeting..." In those days the bumbling Bombers would struggle to draw a measly million. The "Scooter" would be on the radio imploring, actually begging, fans to show up.
• "the story goes that Graig Nettles convinced GM Gabe Paul that the hitters needed a black background. Yankee Stadium, in fact, came to be known as having one of the best hitting backgrounds of any ballpark.
  Reggie Jackson, of course, became synonymous with The Black with his third home run in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series."
• From the glow of memory lane to the glare of today: "It will all be gone soon. The Yankees made sure it would go quietly, without the postseason sendoff it deserved, with a plan for 2008 that could not have turned out much worse. They banked on young pitching and a 900-run offense..the Yankees had neither the homegrown talent or the front office smarts to find good complementary players...These Yankees didn't give their grand old ballpark a proper sendoff." A sad final chapter on a great story.

Yankees Notes and Quotes

There is no pennant race in the Bronx but the news never sleeps:

• Yankees' prodigy Phil Hughes seeks redemption, tonight at the Stadium: "It's kind of almost the same as last year, just missing so much time, being frustrated." " I think it'd be uplifting for him. I think it's important for players to have carrots to reach for going into the off season."--Girardi. It will be "uplifting" for everyone if "The Franchise" demonstrates his alleged high-octane skill set. Should he go the Kennedy route, confidence will be hard to come by.
• Robinson "The Pinata" Cano is the poster boy for the Yankees' failures. It's hard to imagine him thriving in The Big Apple. The reversal of fortune from 2007 is staggering. "when Cano is very good he isn't really all that good, and when he's bad he's terrible. Cano's utter lack of interest in working the count or taking ball four, when combined with his streaky results, so-so power, and lack of speed, means that even at his best he makes a ton of outs and doesn't get on base all that often compared to the average player. The results are still above average, especially when compared with your typical second baseman, but the results are also deceptive and prone to being overrated."--NY SUN (Hattip, Baseball Think Factory) Cano wasn't a highly rated minor league prospect, twice the Yanks tried to package him in trades and were rejected both times. Torre and Bowa, clearly maximized his potential. Talk of trades are fantasy--his value is nill until proven otherwise. The fall from future building block to unmovable liablility is steep. Getting back up, in the Bronx, will be daunting.
• LoHud brings news of another new guy: "Miranda is a 25-year-old Cuban defector who signed with the team in 2006. He hit .287/.384/.449 for Scranton in the regular season with 12 homers and 52 RBI in 99 games. I don’t know that anybody considers him the first baseman of the future but maybe he’ll get a few at-bats down the stretch." Cody Ransom and Wilson Betemit have company on the bench.
• The next time the Yankees suggest austerity is the way to go (Santana/Beltran) remember this: "Although city officials and the Yankees hotly disputed many of the findings, the report concluded that the city and the state invested as much as $850 million in cash and tax breaks in the new stadium, which sits across 161st Street from the team’s historic home in the South Bronx...The use, however, of tax-exempt bonds, will provide the team with savings of about $181 million.."

Photo/Dailyillini.com

Posada Sounds Off

The misery of the Yankees 2008 pratfall prompts diverse reactions from the participants. Neophyte skipper Girardi irks the press by delivering trite cliches through a clenched jaw. The local media accustomed to the gentle coddling of Joe Torre aren't happy. (File that under gas on the fire.) Long time Team Architect Brian Cashman is deft at handling press inquiries and remains the Teflon man. "- Brian Cashman was asked before Monday night's game if it offends him that people are calling the Yankees spoilers in the playoff hunt.Cashman shot back that he has heard them called a lot worse recently.It may sting for him to be reminded that the Yankees are out of playoff contention, but the Yankees general manager is well aware of the team's problems. Words don't change the picture..."

Jorge Posada weighs in with an opinionated rant that underscores the wobbly nature of the organizations plans. "I haven't been watching the whole games," Posada said. "I really can't take it. I can't take nine innings of watching on TV. What I've seen is that we really don't have enough pitching...
He said the Yankees' biggest problem is the starting rotation, saying, "We can't have question marks." Posada said the team needs a solid five-man rotation and campaigned for the organization to pursue at least two top-flight free agent starters, naming Milwaukee's CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, plus Toronto's A.J. Burnett, as potential targets." The organization's choreographed hype campaign about a young revamped pitching staff is exposed by the man behind the plate. Jorge has caught the next big things and gives us a dose of reality.

Posada wasn't done: "I've seen him as a reliever. I think his body is made up for a reliever," Posada said. "I don't think he's going to be able to put up that workload of having 200 innings every year, even at a young age.
"And this year tells you a sign. ... There's a little tendinitis. It just tells you a lot." Jorge was referring to the backbone of hope in the Yankees organization, Joba Chamberlain. The organization had to flinch at these candid remarks.

Joba Chamberlain is the one farm product who has delivered. His job just got tougher: "I'm so tired of it," Chamberlain said. "And it's going to be that way. People are going to have an argument or have a say about it, because I was successful as a starter during the year and I was successful in the bullpen. So it's going to be an argument until we finally figure out where I'm going to stay forever."

There is no magic wand for the Yankees plight. The damage of the 2008 season runs deep. Young building blocks Cano and Cabrera are now liabilities. The promise of Hughes and Kennedy exposed as myth. Joba Chamberlain is the crown jewel. The Bombers' Brass can't afford to squander any more assets. A coherent plan must be drawn up and all parties have to support it. There is no evidence, that this is possible. "Words don't change the picture." Actions do.

Yankees Tell a Sad Story

The Yankees' transition from habitual winner to befuddled fourth place team isn't pretty. A scan of quotes revolving around the Bronx, tell a dire story:

• "I've never seen a Yankees team play like that," a scout from another club said in amazement after the Yankees dropped a 7-1 decision to the Rays. "Cano was swinging at first pitches like it was getaway day. Nady was just lobbing the ball in. The only guy out there playing hard was Jeter."--(Pinstripe Alley, via Was Watching, Newsday.)
• "I just think there have been times, that we don't play the game the right way."--(Mussina.)
• "Sometimes I let the team down, ninety-nine percent of the time I play hard. It's kind of frustrating not helping the team and he's right."--(Cano, after being benched for lack of hustle.)
• "I don't really believe in fantasies that guys just happen to have injuries all the time," Hughes said."
• Pavano...said he didn't notice the boos from the capacity Yankee Stadium crowd, which seemed to have a "here we go again" feeling when Pavano walked off next to trainer Steve Donohue. "I didn't hear any reaction, to tell you the truth...What's the big deal?"
• Last and perhaps least some pretzel logic from the ultimate Yankee turned sort-of broadcaster David Justice: "Posada is a heck of a vocal leader. Rivera, is an unbelievable vocal leader, and I used to love watching the fire and intensity in Mo before a game and he doesn’t show up until the end of a game.
  Jeter is more of a lead-by-example guy. He won’t call a team meeting, doesn’t stand up in a team meeting and doesn’t take the forefront of the floor and say, “This is what we have to do.” His leadership comes from playing hard and approaching the game...What I’m saying is sometimes your team needs a jolt of energy, a spark, something to re-adjust the focus." Funny, I thought Rivera and Posada were still on the team.

The last Yankees dynasty was as good as it gets. Winning the right way, with a core group of professional winners. That was then, this is now--welcome to the bottom of the barrel.

Jeter Brings Down The House

The curtain comes down on the House That Ruth Built and Derek Jeter rises to the occasion. The 2008 Yankess are playing for what's left of their pride and the Captain leads the way. Nine hits in three games ties Jeter with Lou Gehrig, for all-time hits, in Yankee Stadium. It is appropriate that Derek's name will be listed with the Legends--he's earned it.

Derek Jeter is a first-ballot Hall of Fame player with four rings and he's taken for granted. Rather than enjoy the gift of his game, we dwell on perceived flaws. No one is perfect, but Jeter brings it everyday. How many of his teammates can say that?

Yankees' fans have been spoiled for many years by habitual, professional winning. Jeter was the catalyst. The 2008 season hasn't provided much to root for, Jeter's performance this weekend reminds us how good we had it. "That guy there doesn't come off anything but great."--(Cone/YES)

Taking Yankees Seriously

A baseball team is only as credible as their current season. The uniforms and names may be the same but the 2008 New York Yankees are hard to take seriously. I'm tired of reading this: "The Yankees insist they aren't quitting on the season. It was hard to believe it if you watched Game 1 of yesterday's day-night doubleheader, a sloppy, lethargic 7-1 loss to the Rays."I want to go play again," manager Joe Girardi said before Game 2. "I want to go see this club play better. Because I know we're capable of playing better than what we did in that first game." We want to believe the talent is there and there's a convenient answer--It's Melky, um Cano, let's blame the coaches, the new guy can't motivate Yada Yada Yada. One way of dealing with frustration is laughing at it. Here's some comic relief, to ease the pain:

• "The Yankees have announced that Phil Hughes has accepted an invitation to be among the dignitaries, celebrities and former players to celebrate the final homestand in the history of Yankee Stadium...This needed to happen," --(It Is High,It Is Far...) YES could run a special, titled "Generation Trey, the Golden Year.
• "As for the disappointing performance of current general manager Brian Cashman, Oppenheimer announced he would be put in a strict platoon with assistant GM Jean Afterman and may soon be relegated to pinch-general-managing duties"--(The Onion.) The Wilson Betemit of GMs, sounds about right.
• "In conversation, he is unfailingly polite. But ask him if he wonders whether he made a mistake by signing with the Yankees rather than the Angels, and he directs a steely glare at you. If a human could shoot a laser beam from his eyes, Rodriguez would have done so.He speaks slowly, emphasizing every word, raising his voice ever so slightly."I didn't sign a one year deal." he said.The Yankees will be back, no doubt. They have money to throw at every problem this winter"--(LA Times.) Perhaps, A-Rod's "steely glare" came as a result of contemplating tattoo removal. (see photo)

Photo/E-True Sports

Yankees Notes

The rain falls on the Yankees' 2008 pratfall. A few notes:

• The Cashman melodrama is heating up and starting to resemble the Torre spectacle from 2007. Management goes on the record as saying they want a long-term employee back and proceed to undercut perks--authority, autonomy and compensation. Joe was insulted with the Joba rules and an incentive laced contract. Cash gets to keep his office, but will be back to taking the votes of a think tank and running their errands. It would be reminiscent of his first 8 years in the GM's chair and a major step backwards from being the MAN the last three years. Apparently, the Brothers Steinbrenner actually took the time to review the facts. The Bombers won when Cash took instruction and failed when he called the shots. The only remaining question is does he have the connections to get another premium job or will he come back and assume the position.
• Speaking of insulting long-term employees: "Among the guests participating in the pregame ceremonies for the final game at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 21 will be outfielder Bernie Williams, who hasn't been to Yankee Stadium in two years." Bernie was a class act and will provide a reminder to the good old days. Here's a link that will fill you in on what's been going on in Bernie's life.
• How soon they forget: "postseason party begins on Oct. 1, don't expect to find the New York Yankees anywhere near the festivities. Barring a last-minute miracle, the upcoming postseason will be the first without the league's marquee franchise since 1993.
  Are the networks nervous? Not really." It will be interesting to see what happens to MLB's cash cow if the Yanks go in the tank for a few years. There's plenty of money to spread around now but prolonged failure can't be good for the bottom line.

Photo/Tiricosuave.com

Yankees Perceptions

Think you have baseball all figured out? Here's some links that challenge perceptions:

• "Incredible,” Astros first baseman Lance Berkman said. “I don’t know what the Yankees were thinking when they cut him loose, but I’m certainly glad they did. He brings a lot of experience — not to mention the fact he’s got filthy stuff. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that he’s — if not the main reason — one of the two or three main reasons why we’ve made this little run we’ve had.” Berkman is referring to LaTroy Hawkins--seriously.
• "Hawkins is 2-0 with one save in his first 13 innings as an Astro. He has allowed three hits and a .114 batting average in the process, striking out 19. In a related development, the Astros are 30-10 since the paperwork cleared on the Hawkins trade." "Anybody who thinks they can figure this game out is crazy."--Reggie Jackson (Paraphrased.) Mr. October's quote is about three decades old and remains true.
• Note to A-Rod haters: "Mr. Girardi was right: Mr. Rodriguez has hit for the clutch throughout his remarkable, surefire Hall of Fame career. His career OPS in high-leverage situations is .975. In medium-leverage, it’s .960. And in low-leverage, it’s .972. That’s consistent with the American League as a whole during his career, when each year batters in high-leverage situations hit somewhere between 1% worse and 6% better than they did in low-leverage situations.
  The common thread in the A-Rod stories, though, is that his struggles have been exacerbated by playing under the scrutiny of unforgiving fans and media in New York. In those five years, there’s been no discernible pattern." I'll take him on my team any day.
• "When the Yankees splurged last winter to preserve the majors’ best lineup, they showered millions on several hitters. Another deal went largely unnoticed: a three-year, $1 million contract for the hitting coach, Kevin Long, who helped guide the 2007 offense to 968 runs, the most for the Yankees in 70 years...A career minor leaguer, Long was a success story for the Yankees, validation of the organization’s plan to build from within — with a coach as well as with players. A year later, however, the Yankees’ offense has turned from an asset into a major problem." Coaches get too much credit when things go well and too much blame when they don't.

Yankees' Next Step

The smoldering mess of the Yankees 2008 season has 16 games to go. The end can't come fast enough. Yankees' followers would like to believe the organization has hit rock bottom. The only way to go is up. Think again:

• "We're going to do everything we can to win next year. We're not going to wait," Steinbrenner said. "Do everything we can that makes sense. "We're going to fix what we have to fix." So far, so good.
• “If Brian stays on as GM, that doesn’t mean he won’t be the No. 1 guy,” Steinbrenner said. “But the fact is, the more opinions the better." Uh, Oh.
• "Here is what the Yankees should do: Give Brian Cashman two years and total autonomy. That takes him through the end of Joe Girardi’s contract. If Cashman and his hand-picked manager don’t have the team going in the right direction by then, blow it all up and start over." Three years of "total autonomy" and 11 years experience with unlimited assets have produced a disaster. Staying the course won't work.
• Don't think three years is enough time? Here's what happened in Tampa: Sternberg assumed control of the franchise in October 2005, he fired the general manager and replaced him with former Bear Stearns & Co. analyst Andrew Friedman. Matt Silverman, who worked with Sternberg at Goldman, was promoted to president. The Major League Baseball experience of Friedman, then 28, and Silverman, then 29, consisted of two years each working in the Rays' front office...With a $44 million payroll, the second lowest in baseball, the Rays' mix of young players and journeymen veterans are outperforming the Red Sox and New York Yankees, who have a combined payroll of almost $350 million."

Hank Steinbrenner has to be embarrassed. Change must happen. Building a think tank won't work. The Yankees need a strong, proven, independent baseball man to take control of the floundering operation. Decision making skills and cogent talent evaluation should replace self-serving rhetoric as the method of operation. The new Boss and the organization would be best served by turning over the reigns to someone with a fresh perspective and strong baseball acumen. Who? Here's one candidate--Buck Showalter. He worked extensively with "Stick" Michael to build the last Yankees dynasty. He built the Diamondback organization from the ground up. Last season, he was a consultant, during a successful Indians campaign. He currently works for ESPN. The Yankees can't afford to waste more time and resources on dubious decision making. The next step must be in a different direction. The future is now.

Yankees Learn a Lesson

This time last year, the Yankees' season was being rescued by an ebullient group of young players. Joba pumped his fist. Melky and Cano danced and "Played like they were in the park." Duncan went deep and Kennedy resembled the Moose. The media got on the bandwagon and an avalanche of hype buried us until reality reared it's ugly head. Not much to cheer for this season, Alfredo Aceves provides a glimmer of hope but the media has adjusted it's approach:

• "Before you get too excited about Alfredo Aceves, here’s two words for you:
  Ian Kennedy.
  IPK had a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings last September and is now pitching in the International League playoffs. So don’t get too carried away by Aceves having a 1.29 ERA over 14 innings."
• "Baseball teams learn to be skeptical of what they see in September, a lesson that was reinforced for the Yankees this season. They gave starting spots to Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy after both pitched well late last season, a decision that seems rash in hindsight.
  So while there was reason to temper enthusiasm over Aceves, the Yankees were cautiously excited."

Members of the media and hopefully the Yankees manage to salvage a lesson from the mangled 2008 season.

Yankees' Song Remains the Same

Baseball is a game played to a chorus of cliches. The fourth place New York Yankees, firmly entrenched also-rans don't know what to say:

• "What can I say? I'm just not getting the job done," Pettitte said." Actually, compared to his teammates Andy is telling it like it is.
• "Jeter described it as "not good. Now we've got to put together a good homestand ... We're, back, but like I said, we've been in a position where we need to win every day, and that's the position we're in now. We can't afford to lose any more games." The captain has never experienced a regular season like this, denial is expected.
• The general rallies the troops: "I still think our guys believe we have something to play for," Girardi said. "There's no 'X' by our name." Good luck with that.
• "It's going to be a bit strange, because we definitely thought we'd be pushing for that playoff spot," Damon said of the last homestand." A sad closing chapter for The House That Ruth Built.
• Looking to escape the pain? Escape to Fantasy Island: "Could you imagine such a scene at Yankee Stadium now? Could you picture the fans chanting “Hank! Hank! Hank!” and “Hal! Hal! Hal!” as the Steinbrenner brothers wrapped Brian Cashman in an embrace?" This is where we are supposed to say "Wait till next year." It's in the cliche handbook.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees' Changes On Deck

The New York Yankees' 2008 season is what it is. The latest plan didn't work. The wins didn't come. Progress didn't make an appearance and change has to happen.

• "Michael Kay called the Yankees' performance "embarrassing and disgraceful." Or maybe, to be more precise, he put it in noun form - "an embarrassment and a disgrace."
  Either way, I agreed with him. It's one thing to miss the playoffs; the Yankees knew that was a real possibility the moment they told the Twins, "Thanks, but no thanks" on Johan Santana. But what's the excuse for the way the Yankees are going gently into that good night? There is none."
• "Co-chairperson Hank Steinbrenner said yesterday he knows what he wants to do before 2009.
  Steinbrenner seems to think Brian Cashman will be back as Yankees general manager, but in a phone interview yesterday with The Star-Ledger, Steinbrenner did not rule out other changes in the organization.
  "The organization has put together this team the last five, six years, when I was not involved," Steinbrenner said. "I have the unique ability to be able to look at it from outside and on the inside and see what I think happened. I'm not the least bit pleased about what's happened this year.
  "There were still mistakes made the last five, six years, and that's what I want to fix. I have to consider everything. That's what my dad (chairperson George Steinbrenner) would have done, and that's what I'm going to do."
  One of the mistakes the Yankees have to avoid repeating is making mistakes in their evaluation of their players." Cash is covered in political Teflon. For the record, Hammerin Hank is on the clock, his one year scoreboard shows: correct on Santana, wrong on Torre--a .500 record.
• "Only an insane person (say, George Steinbrenner, circa 1982) would fire a first-year manager with a winning record. And the Steinbrenner sons, who ran Joe Torre out of town after he made the playoffs 12 years in a row, aren't about to do anything that might be interpreted as admitting a mistake. Not even if it looks like Torre's going back to the playoffs and they're not." George may have been crazy but he wasn't dumb. The record speaks.

The smoldering mess of the Yankees' 2008 season is virtually over; The promise of an entertaining offseason beckons. It can't happen fast enough.

Yankees "Show Life"

The YES promo blared: " Finish up the road trip with a flourish...Who will be the last man standing when the Yankees face the Angels." Apparently, they didn't get the memo about toning down the hype in light of the dire circumstances.

Yankees starter Alfredo Aceves brought a new chapter to a long 2008 story. Traveling from
Sonora Mexico to Tampa FL. to Trenton NJ. to Scranton/WB PA. to Anaheim CA. Aceves made his starting debut. "He has average stuff and knows how to use it."--Flaherty/YES. The resume backs up the observation: Six years in the Mexican League, 126 games, 34-23, 4.06 ERA. Prior to being promoted from Triple-A he was 2-3 in 10 games with an ERA of 4.12 in Scranton/WB (Stats. from NJ.Com.)

Alfredo received ample support as Robinson (the Pinata) Cano brought his glove and A-Rod the lumber with a three-run bomb. The Yankees 7-1 victory over the elite Angels provided a brief respite on the road to Perdition.

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Worth Rooting For

There hasn't been much to root for in the Bronx this season, but as the Yankees 2008 season goes down the drain, a couple of new faces provide reason to cheer:

• "Alfredo Aceves' journey to his first big-league start took a bit longer.
  Aceves -- a right-hander from that river town in the Mexican state of Sonora who is listed at 25 but looks like he could pass for Jim Leyritz's older brother -- gets the call Tuesday night for the Yankees in place of Darrell Rasner."
• "Coke was called up to the Yankees at the beginning of September from their Triple-A farm team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa., after spending much of the season with Double-A Trenton, N.J.
  He was drafted by the Yankees out of San Joaquin Delta College in 2002" "Three games into his career in Major League Baseball, Sonora's Phil Coke still has a perfect earned-run average."

Yankees Groundhog Day

Can relate to Bill Murray's character in the movie, Groundhog Day, he's stuck in time. The alarm rings to start the day and all the events of the prior day repeat themselves. The Yanks were in Anaheim last night. I was so inspired, didn't bother to set the recorder. The New York Times brought the familiar news: "The Yankees’ season has become a theater of the hopeless, with snapshots that seem to defy explanation."

Deja Vu all over again: "It was the 45Th time this season that the Yankees have been held to two runs or fewer. They had only 33 such games in 2007, and the struggles of the lineup have mystified the front office.
“I wish I had an answer for it,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “That’s been the most frustrating thing all year, our offense.”

The Yanks lost 12-1. While the GM scratches his head about the offense, the pitching staff melts. "Pavano allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and walking one. In four starts since missing 16 months because of elbow surgery, he has a 5.31 ERA." "...Edwar Ramirez, who was released twice by the Angels in the minors, has a 25.20 earned run average against them in five career games. He allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning on Monday." The good news is that Rasner and Ponson had the day off.

We have been there and done this, the list of questions grow and the team architect "Wishes he had an answer." Wishing won't get it done.

Searching for Yankees Inspiration

Writing, on a daily basis, about the New York Yankees is relatively easy for someone who takes Bombers' Baseball far too seriously. It is just a game, after all--yeah right. As a fact-based analyst, I go where the results lead. Never expected to be writing about fourth place during a pennant race. It is what it is.

Baseball is a game of failure. The 2008 New York Yankees have gone over the line. Regurgitating the same old topics is redundant and depressing. Yankees' baseball has always been a shelter from the storm of real life's issues. Now, there's nowhere to hide.

Baseball is a game of hope, "Wait till next year," the battle cry of the defeated. There, allegedly, is always a light at the end of a tunnel. That's where we are today, in a dark place searching for a ray of hope. As soon as I find it, I'll be glad to write about it.

Yankees' Ominous Options

Turn down the noise and stick a fork in the 2008 Yankees' season. "It ain't' over till it's over." Sorry Yogi, it's over. The depth of the Bombers' plight isn't completely illustrated by their embarrassing place in the standings, actually that's only the beginning. Want to know how far the mighty have fallen? Look ahead to next year.

Here's a partial list of dubious options:

• "Hideki Matsui said today he would be willing to play first base next season.
  “I’m pretty sure I could play the infield as well, at first base,” he said. “I’m going to make sure I prepare myself to play on the field, not just in the batter’s box.” Matsui will have surgery to repair cartilage damage on his left knee once the season is over." Despite Matsui's admirable professionalism Girardi mentions that he will DH next year. He should have plenty of competition.
• "Since neither Melky Cabrera nor Brett Gardner has grabbed the centerfield job, that spot is up for grabs. Damon has been playing centerfield nearly every day the past month. Yet he has not been primarily a centerfielder since 2006.On Saturday, Damon said he believes he's awfully close to the level he was at defensively his final year in Boston, after which he signed the four-year contract with the Yankees that runs through next season. "I probably could go out there six days a week, or five," Damon said." The entire pitching staff just rolled their eyes.
• "clearly, Abreu’s bat is in decline mode." Will the Brass be able to figure that out, or is it time for another multi-year extension?
• Strength up the middle? I-Rod is a shadow and gone. Molina is still a career backup. Posada comes back, to fulfill the three years left on that ridiculous contract and celebrate his 38TH birthday in August.
• Pitching? Wang, 40 year-old Moose, Joba in the pen with the old rule book, The Great Rivera tries to befuddle Father Time. The most effective Triple-A starter is Igawa. Hughes and Kennedy are MIA. Good luck with that.

The Yankees' organization has taken a dramatic step backwards in 2008. The richest franchise in history will attempt to buy their credibility back: "One baseball insider believes the Yankees will be in on the bidding for nearly every premier free agent talent this offseason, in hot pursuit of not only CC Sabathia but another top-notch starter, perhaps Ben Sheets or A.J. Burnett, should he opt out. First baseman Mark Teixeira is on their shopping list as well and the Yanks are keeping an eye on closer Francisco Rodriguez, whose 50-plus save season is going to net him a massive deal somewhere. (It could even exceed the three-year, $45 million deal Mariano Rivera inked with the Yankees this past offseason). It sounds implausible that the Yankees would spring for two top closers, but with a new stadium, no World Series in the offing this year and big contracts (Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Carl Pavano) coming off the books, the checkbook is open, primed to be signed."

Let's get optimistic, C.C., Teixeira, K-Rod, and Perez cost 80 million a season for too many years and put the Yanks back in the hunt, assuming everyone stays healthy (File, under pie in the sky.) The dark side? The big tickets make their fortunes elsewhere and the Yanks grasp at Burnett or Sheets who follow Pavano's legacy. Those of you not familiar with the Yankees' infamous Horace Clarke Era will get a history lesson.

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Yankees' Pitching Progress

The season fades but the search for improvement never stops. The Yankees' pitching transition continues:

• The inevitable finally happened as a reeling Rasner gets replaced by some impressive, Mexican League, stuff: "Alfredo Aceves is taking over Darrell Rasner's spot in the starting rotation... Rasner gave the Yankees a shot in the arm when he first joined their rotation in May. He went 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts that month. But his ERA in every month after that was above 5.50. Since the All-Star break, he had gone 0-3 with a 6.17 ERA in nine appearances."
• Next: "In his past three starts, Ponson has allowed 18 runs on 24 hits in just 9 2/3 innings. He has not won since Aug. 6 at Texas and that is his only win in his past eight starts.
  "I cannot give in," he said. "It's September right now. You have to keep going, think positive, and go out there." When the Yanks scrape the bottom of the barrel, we routinely read "What have they got to lose?" How about time? Could Sir Sidney's innings have been utilized by a prospect trying to establish himself? Whatever happened to Phil "The Franchise " Hughes?
• Planning for the future isn't easy: "The more intriguing question could be what they decide to do with Pettitte." What a difference a year makes. Would Andy come back for a 50% paycut?
• Hey, that's our Ace your talking about: "there are some huge red flags, notably in his called strikeouts. Mussina actually has more strikeouts of the called variety than of the swinging type and called strikeouts do not carry over year-to-year anywhere near the level to that of swinging Ks. Mussina seems to me to be tight-rope walking on the cliff."
• The next big thing? "I saw “Jeremy Bleich” in the pitcher’s slot for the SI Yankees. Sure, I got to see Phil Hughes pitch his first game at the Stadium, but this? This is the first professional start for the lefty gamble or, according to some, overdrafted starter."
  
  

Will Cashman Escape Yanks' Mess?

I was on vacation for a couple of days, returned to a mountain of E-Mails reporting the Yankees' condition, here's where they lead:

• If he builds it can he run? "The team also has changed. The Yankees are no longer a playoff lock. Cashman’s hand-picked manager, Joe Girardi, had a rocky first season and may be overmatched by the job. The young pitchers he defended have struggled. The young second baseman he committed to has regressed. The star players who helped define a dynasty are aging. If there was ever a time to leave the Yankees, this is it." (Fingers remain crossed.) One of the amusing notions floating around is the alleged long list of suitors for Cash's services. The good old boys network is alive and well.
• Return on investment? "Their mystique is on life support."
• News from the Northwest: "Throwing a nasty curveball that had Yankees hitters flailing all night, Morrow pitched 7 2-3 hitless innings before pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit.." Wilson who?
• The Boston media is always there for support: "The Yankees can do a little commiserating with the Mariners when they open a three-game series on Friday night at Safeco Field. Hold a chapter meeting of Under-Achievers Anonymous, perhaps.
  Both teams opened the season with huge payrolls and playoff visions. Both have been major disappointments, undone by declining veterans and not-ready-for-prime-time kids. Each faces a stark winter re-evaluating the master plan."

I miss vacation, how many days to spring training?

Yankees' Frugal Folly

The Yankees will pay a big price for missing their first postseason in 14 years. They are not alone in bearing the brunt of failure: " Blame the damn Yankees. In a study commissioned by the Post, Marlin found that when the Yankees advance all the way to the World Series, the city stands to make $141 million, factoring in things like revenue earned by sports bars. But just by making the playoffs, the team earns the city $26 million, and with the Yankees poised to miss the postseason for the first time since the strike season of 1994, this previously taken-for-granted cash can't be counted on."

The Yanks decided to get frugal when it came time for the Santana sweepstakes. While the elite lefty was no sure ticket to the Series, he clearly would have made the Bombers viable playoff participants. The thrifty plan could end up costing them money. Can the Bombers' Brass do anything right?

Yankees to Stay the Course?

Reports from Tampa are ominous:

• "I think we've gone through the frustration and disappointment part -- the focus now is on this whole thing," Cashman said. A new plan?
• "Cashman can afford to be coy since the ball on a new contract is in his court. Hank Steinbrenner -- and more importantly, Hal -- want Cashman back. Cashman has established a good working relationship with Hal and hasn't been hurt by Hank's crazy uncle public comments." Hal controls the purse strings, Cash found his frugal side during the Santana sweepstakes and found an ally.
• "Cashman has been New York's GM since Feb. 3, 1998. He has accepted responsibility for the club's struggles this season, saying that he is accountable for putting the roster together and also for the task of fixing what problems have plagued the team." The price for abject failure despite profound competitive advantages will be a brand new multi year deal? Say it ain't so.

Damon Produces Off The Field

LoHud fills us in on a noteworthy accomplishment for Johnny Damon. Johnny has been nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clement Award: "The Roberto Clemente Award recognizes those players who best represent the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions to their teams."

Follow the link and vote for Johhny B Good.

Yankees Blame Game

The disappointment of the Yankees' 2008 settles in and the search for a convenient scapegoat continues. First it was Melky Cabrera, an anemic bat and flexible contract wiped away two years of productive service.Cabrera took his smile and his arm to Scranton/WB and was replaced by Johnny Damon, a good offensive player who routinely gives away runs with over-the-hill defense and a water-pistol arm. The pitchers miss Melky. The press likes Johnny.

Turns out Melky wasn't the root of all evil. Now it's Robbie Cano's turn to feel the critics heat. Following Cano's path through the organization tells a story. He wasn't a highly respected prospect. The Bombers' Brass twice offered him in trade packages and were rebuked both times. Robbie arrived in the show and was taken under the grizzled wing of Larry Bowa and nurtured by Joe Torre. Cano blossomed and drew comparisons to Rod Carew. In the off season the front office decided to reward Robbie with a 30 million dollar contract. Girardi didn't mince words, stating on numerous occasions that the sky was the limit for Cano. Distorted expectations entered the picture and Cano hasn't been the same since.

Robinson Cano has become the poster child of the Yankees' failed youth movement. What's next? Peter Abraham says, " His career is at a point where it could go one way or the other. I think the Yankees should stick with him because there is greatness to be had." It is routinely suggested that a motivator should be brought in to push the right button. Recently A-Rod mentioned that, "He and Jetes are constantly getting on Cano." (Paraphrased.) More from Abraham, "Whether Cano should need a kick in the pants or not isn’t the point. He does."

When the Santana sweepstakes kicked off, Cano's name was on the early list of candidates to be packaged. I wrote on a fan forum, "I wouldn't trade Cano for any pitcher." The perspective of the 2008 debacle changes things. Joe Torre and Larry Bowa reside in Dodger Blue and offer Melky and Robbie shelter from the storm. The Dodgers have prime prospects to package. Cano has the talent to be a key cog, but can he do it in the glare of the Gotham spotlight? Cano's next transition may be from convenient scapegoat to valuable bartering chip.

Photo/Image Shack

Yankees Pay for Decisions

September is here, the pennant race is gone. For the first time in 14 years, the New York Yankees play out the string and assume the position of spoiler. Why? Follow the trail of dubious decisions, they tell a story.

• "It is no great mystery where things went wrong this season. General manager Brian Cashman decided he wanted to be Billy Beane..." "Cashman, however, decided to change all that because he and the Tampa cabal experienced a troubled history recently while chasing outside talent pools. In direct competition with Theo Epstein of the Red Sox, Cashman signed the wrong former Marlin (Carl Pavano vs. Josh Beckett), the wrong former Japanese star (Kei Igawa vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka) and the wrong former Arizona Diamondback (Randy Johnson vs. Curt Schilling).
  Having been burned so many times before, Cashman went the youth route. He turned his back on Johan Santana, refusing in a proposed deal to give up the quintessential mediocre prospect, outfielder Melky Cabrera. Instead he dived headlong into the 2008 season with a projected starting rotation that included young arms Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and swingman Joba Chamberlain.
  What followed was an unmitigated disaster"
• Phil Hughes was somehow dubbed "The Franchise." The moniker should be worn by Joba Chamberlain, the only phenom to survive the farm express route and dominate in the show. Joba closed out 2007 as the bullpen savior, his optimum long-term value is at the top of the rotation. Let the transition begin. Spring training starts, Joba is in the rotation, so far so good, a couple of weeks prior to opening day, he is shifted to the bullpen, Huh? There are rules for developing and nurturing, concern for innings pitched influences the thinking. It is announced he will go the minors mid-season to stretch out the arm and move to the rotation mid-season. Send your best arm to the minors during the season? Scratch that, the conversion starts in real games and Joba fires his way to impressive production. Finally, a plan that worked, not so fast. Chamberlain pulls up lame and the Yankees hold their collective breath, a flashback to Phil Hughes and a never ending list of rehabbing bonus babys sends chills. Now the end is near, the games are meaningless and the Yanks announce they're bring Joba back to pitch, in the bullpen. Oh well there's always next year: "Chamberlain has thrown only 89 innings this season. If he is a starter all of next season, the Yankees would be asking him to roughly double that total. Curiously, Cashman did not commit to making Chamberlain a starter next spring training."
• The roster expanded yesterday, where was "The Franchise?" "Phil Hughes has recovered from his rib cage injury, but he will build up his innings in the Arizona Fall League, probably not with the Yankees.
  “If there’s a spot to pitch him, I’ll do it,” Cashman said. “But I’m not going to bring him to sit, just for the chance to be around it. He’s been around it. Now he just needs to pitch.” Apparently, a healthy Hughes isn't capable of replacing Bomber busts-Ponson, Rasner or the soon to be departed Pavano. What does that say about the organization's current confidence in "The Franchise." Hughes had an ERA of nine when he got hurt, after watching Kennedy transition from the next Moose to the next Whitson perhaps they're in protect and nurture mode. How's that working out?

The 2008 season started with the promise of a bright future. (Can you remember "Generation Trey?") The light at the end of the tunnel, turned out to be a train as the once proud Yankees have been reduced to spoilers. The price for poor decision making is high. How much more of this can the richest franchise in history afford?

Photo/Newsday

Yankees Notes and Quotes

Someone said, "If it doesn't kill you it'll make you stronger." Clearly he wasn't a Yankees' lifer:

• The mighty have fallen.
• Robbie Cano has gone from the next Carew to convenient pinata in six months. "Cano said. "People always watch the bad things. I don't want to make an error. I would like to be perfect and be the best guy out there. But I'm human and I'm going to make mistakes."
  The 25-year-old Cano has drawn criticism for what has been perceived as a "nonchalant" style of play," The label "nonchalant" is nothing new for Latin players, Cano is getting his first prolonged taste of adversity in the Big Apple. Like the song says, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."
• "Together, all of it seems to be leading to the first meaningless Yankee September in 14 years." "Yeah, some guys are past their prime and all that stuff, but it’s playing baseball. It’s enjoying being around these guys. And if you can’t enjoy it, then you’re beat already."--Damon.
• "Obviously, when I came over here, I was pretty excited to play with this group," said Xavier Nady, who cost them dearly yesterday with a gaffe in leftfield. "I know a lot of the history, a lot of the careers of these guys and the success they've all had. I think everyone is kind of in shock right now."
• Light at the end of the tunnel or train? "hope Sabathia is more David Wells, a beefy lefty whose body belied his durability, than Barry Zito."

Yankees Reward Productive Prospects

September dawns, the MLB rosters expand, help is on the way. Time for the New York Yankees to stock the pine with fresh faces, brimming with high-ceiling talent. The organization's rebuilt farm system gets to strut their stuff.

Joe Girardi mentions that only prospects "earning their way to the big leagues will be called up."--(YES/Paraphrased) This signals a new direction as entitlement based on hyped potential was the former measuring stick. Apparently, the failures of the 2008 season have taught a lesson.

Today's paper reports the list of luminaries who earned their way to the show. "NY plans to call up C Chad Moeller and LHP Phil Coke when rosters expand today."-- (A.P.) Is that all there is? Say it ain't so Joe. A journeyman catcher and one pitcher represent the cream of the productive crop. They must have missed some one, I whip out the recent issue of Baseball America-- International League, Individual Pitching Leaders- A HA --Igawa, Kei (12-5/3.42), file this under be careful what you wish for.

Here's some information on Phil Coke from SWB--"Hard to argue against Coke. With a low-90s fastball and a much-improved slider, the lefty forced the Yankees hand in a season when he was left exposed to the Rule 5 draft and went unselected. Although he's been a starter through most of his career, he may have found his calling out of the bullpen."

The end of the disappointing, actually disastrous, 2008 season comes to a close with a whimper. After witnessing the fruits of the rebuilt farm, ownership is set to travel the beaten path of high-priced free agents in an effort to regain credibility. Back where it all began.

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