Let's go Yankees

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Gander

A Rod was fine, Tex did stink, but the Yankees are so much better than the Phillies that theyy can absorb such a loss in production from one of their key players. The Phillies can not. Too much is being made of the Phillies pitching. It was good enough to get this thing to 7 games and a Phillies WS win wasnt out of the question if Ryan Howard hits like he is capable of. I realize he doesnt love hitting off of left handers, but hes in the freaking big leagues, suck it up.

Did you watch any of the games?

It was a pretty close series. If Matsui doesnt golf that curveball in game 2 the entire series changes. When Boston swept the Cards a few years ago, that was a team that was clearly better than the other.

And 'suck it up"? Why would a guy be able to do something that he hasnt been capable of doing his whole career? He doesnt hit lefties. He wont ever hit them very well.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Did you watch any of the games?

It was a pretty close series. If Matsui doesnt golf that curveball in game 2 the entire series changes. When Boston swept the Cards a few years ago, that was a team that was clearly better than the other.

And 'suck it up"? Why would a guy be able to do something that he hasnt been capable of doing his whole career? He doesnt hit lefties. He wont ever hit them very well.

then why not take him out of the lineup or move him to bat 8th like torre did to a-rod a couple of yrs ago when he couldn't get a hit?

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by gales0678

then why not take him out of the lineup or move him to bat 8th like torre did to a-rod a couple of yrs ago when he couldn't get a hit?

Because you dont show up your all star stud mvp first baseman like that and expect to be able to look him in the eye ever again...unless you are joe torre and clearly dont like the player that you are doing that to.

Sometimes in sports, your star players are faced with less than desirable situations. Good or bad, you roll with your stars and hope for the best.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by gales0678

then why not take him out of the lineup or move him to bat 8th like torre did to a-rod a couple of yrs ago when he couldn't get a hit?

You can't do that. He and Utley are your franchuse players you don't what to show him up. What if the Yankees pull their left handed starter and the clean-up position comes up against a righty and he is in the 8 hole?

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by 3kings

You can't do that. He and Utley are your franchuse players you don't what to show him up. What if the Yankees pull their left handed starter and the clean-up position comes up against a righty and he is in the 8 hole?

torre did it with a-rod was he not a franchise player?

[3kings]

Originally Posted by gales0678

torre did it with a-rod was he not a franchise player?

Gales, I don't recall the situation. Details? He must have had a reason or was trying to teach him a lesson. Howard is still a young maturing player you don't want to instill in him that he can't hit top quality lefties(even though he can't). There had to be an expectation that Pettite would only last 4-6 innings on 3 days rest and you wanted him in the clean-up spot to bat against the Yankee middle relievers and protect Utley.

[Gander]

So if you are Ryan Howard and you know you struggle with lefties, and you know the Yankees have pretty much all lefties, and very good ones at that, you would rather stay in the game and cost your team a chance at the title?
Rather than be a man and let somebody else come in and replace you, somebody that could do better than go 3 for 19, and a total of 1 RBI in the first 5 games?

Ya, this makes sense. Because you are a "franchise player", just stay in on and things will evntually go your way...

And Chuck, I probably watched about half the amount of innings you did so maybe I am not the best person to say that the Yankees were a lot better than the Phillies. But I was actually referring to the talent level and the potential each team had. I saw a lot of the Yankees this year and I dont think they played near to their potential this postseason, yet they still moonwalked through the post season. Yawn, good for the Yankees, glad its over with. I am baseballed out.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by Gander

So if you are Ryan Howard and you know you struggle with lefties, and you know the Yankees have pretty much all lefties, and very good ones at that, you would rather stay in the game and cost your team a chance at the title?
Rather than be a man and let somebody else come in and replace you, somebody that could do better than go 3 for 19, and a total of 1 RBI in the first 5 games?

Ya, this makes sense. Because you are a "franchise player", just stay in on and things will evntually go your way...

And Chuck, I probably watched about half the amount of innings you did so maybe I am not the best person to say that the Yankees were a lot better than the Phillies. But I was actually referring to the talent level and the potential each team had. I saw a lot of the Yankees this year and I dont think they played near to their potential this postseason, yet they still moonwalked through the post season. Yawn, good for the Yankees, glad its over with. I am baseballed out.

You didn't see the Yankees sitting Texeira did you? Good players go in slumps too. The Yankees were a superior team which became magnified when you got no production from your clean-up hitter.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Gander

So if you are Ryan Howard and you know you struggle with lefties, and you know the Yankees have pretty much all lefties, and very good ones at that, you would rather stay in the game and cost your team a chance at the title?
Rather than be a man and let somebody else come in and replace you, somebody that could do better than go 3 for 19, and a total of 1 RBI in the first 5 games?

Ya, this makes sense. Because you are a "franchise player", just stay in on and things will evntually go your way...

And Chuck, I probably watched about half the amount of innings you did so maybe I am not the best person to say that the Yankees were a lot better than the Phillies. But I was actually referring to the talent level and the potential each team had. I saw a lot of the Yankees this year and I dont think they played near to their potential this postseason, yet they still moonwalked through the post season. Yawn, good for the Yankees, glad its over with. I am baseballed out.

Who would they play if Howard sat?

And who on the Yankees outside of Tex didnt hit well in the playoffs? Swisher?

I mean where are the Yankees that much more talented than Philly?
I will give you 3rd. Posada is a better hitter than Ruiz, no doubt. The 2nd and 3rd starters. The closer. OK that is 5 out of 25 guys. Yet utley is clearly a better 2nd baseman and Werth is better than Swisher. So......the fact is that the Yankees won 4 out of 6 more or less because their pitchers better dealt with the Philly line up than vice versa. And when you spend as much in the off season on your top 2 guys, you should.

Baseball is a game meant to be played everyday over a period of time. The way the playoffs are set up clearly favors an old team like NY with a #1 pitcher who can go on short rest. I understand that these are the conditions that are and will be played under and teams can moild their teams as such. But the while yankees were the better team, it was hardly because Ryan howard didnt hit or bred lidge blew one game but because outside of Cliff lee their starters simply couldnt keep them close enough.

What always amazes me is how Oakland, San Diego and MN can come up with these light out bullpens every year made up of retreads and wash out guys yet Philly and the yankees can have such shaky pens? Outside of mariano who is a freak of nature the rest of the Yankees bullpen was costly and weak. The Phils use Chan Ho, enough said.