Nattering Naybob: I have been a fan of the New York Yankees for about 40 years now, Red Ranger (roughly the same time as you have been, I’m sure). In all these 40 odd years, including the dark days of the early 90s / Oscar Azocar Era, I do not think I have ever seen anything quite like the sickly offensive output that the Yankees have been putting on this post-season, in particular during the first two games of their current series with the Detroit Tigers. The four biggest culprits are, in order of least work to most worst, in my opinion: Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, and starring Robinson Cano as the biggest perpetrator of hitting malfeasance. Cano set a major league record that is sure to stand for a long time, as longest hitless streak (26 at bats) without a base hit, in a single same-year post-season.
But at least Cano is making contact, albeit resulting in weak ground balls directly at infielders. Granderson, A-Rod, and to a lesser degree Swisher, seems to have literally lost the ability to make contact with a pitched baseball by means of swinging a bat. All throughout this season we were told by Joe Girardi and others that there was no need to worry about the Yankees’ season-long ineptitude at situational hitting, since they were able to pummel their opponents with home runs (they set a team record for home runs in fact). Now during the playoffs, when they run into better, smarter teams, and their hitters’ weaknesses are pre-scouted more thoroughly by their opponents, some observer’s fears are being realized. The ability to hit home runs to remedy a multitude of sins does not come into play as much during the playoffs.
Maybe the Yankees will shock me and the rest of their fans by somehow, some way beating Justin Verlander Tuesday night, in Detroit no less. But the way things are looking, I sense yet another whimpering Yankees exit in the playoffs at the hand of a younger, more resourceful and nimble team than themselves.
At least your Giants beat the 49ers on Sunday.
The Red Ranger: Live by the sword, die by the sword. It takes heart and not just the highest payroll to win the World Series. Lately, I do not believe the Yankees have the heart needed to drive for the championship. Look who won it for them in the first round. Raul Ibanez, someone who has not been with the Yankees that long and who is still hungry for the championship and for whom it probably matters whether they win or lose. Not having Rivera and Jeter on the field will certainly diminish the experience factor but may lead to some more hungry play on the field. Although Derek Jeter has time and time again come up with some incredible plays in the playoffs.
Nattering Naybob: Now yesterday comes a story from the New York Post (whose credibility in some issues over the years has, admittedly, proven to be “fluid”) saying that during Game 1 of the Tiger series, A-Rod was sending mash notes via a transcribed baseball to two ladies in the field box seats behind the Yankees dugout. Historically I have been an A-Rod supporter, some might say “apologist”, but if this story is true, I have to say it should represent the point of no return for A-Rod’s tenure with the Yankees. Unless he redeems himself for whatever is left of the Yankees’ playoff run, I think they need to engage in some sort of buyout of the remainder of his contract, or if all else fails, simply release him, swallow the rest of his contract (thanks, Hank Steinbrenner), and find a new third baseman for next year and beyond. I said last season that they should have tried out Jesus Montero at third base. If Miguel Cabrera can play third base serviceably, Montero could have as well. Too late though, as Montero was traded to Seattle this past winter for pitcher Michael Pineda, who has missed all season with a potentially career-threatening injury.
UPDATE: The Yankees lost Game 3 last night, 2-1 in a typically pathetic display of offensive malpractice. On a night where Justin Verlander actually did not have his 100% “A” game, the Yankees still managed only 2 hits until the 9th inning (by Ichiro Suzuki,who I think must be retained by the Yankees next year). Now the Yankees have to win four straight games with their offense in a shambles, to proceed in the American League playoffs. Pretty sad.
Second Grade Minds 