View Full Version : One Month in...Slow Start or Mediocre Team?
yankeesAZ
05-01-08, 09:48 PM
So did we have a slow start or are we simply a mediocre team?
NYIndian2005
05-01-08, 09:51 PM
Can we say yes to both?
If 'Mediocre Team' wins this poll I'll go off.
yankeesAZ
05-01-08, 09:53 PM
Can we say yes to both?
True, probably should have put that option in there.
CyYoung4Vazquez
05-01-08, 09:54 PM
Mediocre does not describe how disgusting they are.
cupcollector99
05-01-08, 09:54 PM
The team was hoping to ride the bats to contention but that isn't working so far, especially since most of the offense is on the DL. The Yankees have a rebuilding project going on but they can't call it that because of the huge contracts hanging around so it's a "transition year". Cashman probably expected this, but not so soon.
I wrote this back when Cashman passed on Santana that anyone expecting this team to seriously contend is delusional.
MattUNC2003
05-01-08, 09:54 PM
So far, this season is the definition of Murphy's Law. The worst can and will happen.
Given the number of injuries to key players, I don't know how anyone can know if the team is mediocre.
shadyridr
05-01-08, 09:55 PM
Mediocre team but thats with the injuries.
mgpenguin
05-01-08, 09:56 PM
In all, I think it's a slow start. We've had a lot of injuries on offense, including injured players in the lineup who should've been on the DL; we've seen terrible hitting from Cano, and two out of five starters have been amazingly bad from the get go. I don't think it will continue in the future- some of the injured players will come back and help the lineup, Cano won't continue to be this awful, and even replacements will be better than Kennedy and Hughes, if indeed it comes to that. We have a team that is capable of making the playoffs.
Dirty Coke
05-01-08, 09:57 PM
Given the number of injuries to key players, I don't know how anyone can know if the team is mediocre.
I agree. Plus, nobody is hitting, 2/5 of the starting pitching can't make it past the 4th inning, yet our record is still better this year than it was this time of the year in 07.
apalradio
05-01-08, 09:57 PM
Mediocre team at best. We constructed it that way by putting all of our eggs in the Kennedy, Hughes basket without a backup plan with more starters ready to take over. Plus, our offense is showing signs of its bodily functions starting to shut down. There simply isn't much going on with this team to indicate that it's anything but mediocre at the very best. Brutal but honest truth. Hope it changes soon.
yankeesAZ
05-01-08, 09:59 PM
Given the number of injuries to key players, I don't know how anyone can know if the team is mediocre.
Even with no injuries to the bats, our pitching rotation is Wang, Petitte, and pray, pray, pray. That's no knock to the kids as they are learning and Moose is giving us a decent effort, but you never know with him.
Retire21
05-01-08, 10:00 PM
Mediocre team at best. We constructed it that way by putting all of our eggs in the Kennedy, Hughes basket without a backup plan with more starters ready to take over. Plus, our offense is showing signs of its bodily functions starting to shut down. There simply isn't much going on with this team to indicate that it's anything but mediocre at the very best. Brutal but honest truth. Hope it changes soon.
I would love to be able to disagree with this, but I can't at this point. It felt like a major thing for the Yankees to even get that 4th run to tie the game.
JohnnyDamonfan
05-01-08, 10:00 PM
Very slow start. Will we make the playoffs this year? Maybe maybe not. We have a history of playing bad and then going to the playoffs when no one expected us too. A baseball team can't suck forever. Hughes and Kennedy will start pitching better I can pretty much guarentee that. So I think once everything sets into play we will kick it into high gear.
I would say that Boston, Toronto, Seattle, Cleveland and Detroit have strong rotations than us.
I would also say that Detroit, Boston, Anaheim and Cleveland have better lineups than ours.
I'd say we are an 80-82 win team until these guys prove they are serious about winning.
PinstripePride
05-01-08, 10:03 PM
Slow start, simply because we are not hitting. The pitching is mediocre, the hitting is not.
NYIndian2005
05-01-08, 10:04 PM
We are putting runners on base just not bringing them home. That has to change. Our hitters are too good to go through a whole season that way. Look at last year. They sucked all the way to the all star break. Then turned it around. I am just hoping its earlier than that this year. Just need to keep the rest of the AL East within shouting distance.
NYYDragoon
05-01-08, 10:04 PM
I want to hope that the offense will get over its slump and learn how to produce again. But even with that, we'll stay in trouble unless the pitching rolls around. So I dunno.
For good karma, I'll go with "slow start".
hellonewman
05-01-08, 10:04 PM
A baseball team can't suck forever.Don't tell the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It's too early to tell. Kay had a stat that said 7 teams had made the World Series since 1990 who were under .500 in April.
Even with no injuries to the bats, our pitching rotation is Wang, Petitte, and pray, pray, pray. That's no knock to the kids as they are learning and Moose is giving us a decent effort, but you never know with him.
I expected a young pitching staff to struggle, but I thought that the offense would be the equalizer until the pitchers developed. The injuries have made that more difficult.
I am disappointed with Giambi and the defense of the corner OFers, both of whom look old, and Cano's offense, and to a lesser extent, Jeter's, but I think they'll come around.
teknetic
05-01-08, 10:12 PM
I would say that Boston, Toronto, Seattle, Cleveland and Detroit have strong rotations than us.
I would also say that Detroit, Boston, Anaheim and Cleveland have better lineups than ours.
I'd say we are an 80-82 win team until these guys prove they are serious about winning.
Detroit's staff is better than us? how? if our offense wasn't completely horrible, we probably would have tagged Rogers, Bonderman, and Robertson more than we did.
apalradio
05-01-08, 10:17 PM
Detroit's staff is better than us? how? if our offense wasn't completely horrible, we probably would have tagged Rogers, Bonderman, and Robertson more than we did.Sounds like the question was asked and answered all in the same post.
yankeesAZ
05-01-08, 10:21 PM
Wow! A dead heat so far in this poll. 13-13.
NYDCYankee
05-01-08, 11:58 PM
Given the number of injuries to key players, I don't know how anyone can know if the team is mediocre.
People love to PANIC!
The same people that were doing it last year are doing it this year.
teknetic
05-02-08, 12:18 AM
Sounds like the question was asked and answered all in the same post.
What? Rogers, Bondo, and Robertson weren't impressive at all, any normal functioning offense tees off on them on those respective nights.
You're really worried about facing anyone in that rotation after Verlander? who hasn't gotten off to the best of starts either.
How do you definie a mediocre team? 81-81? This isn't the '96-'01 Yankees, but certainly not the '90 Yankees either.
azzurribaggio
05-02-08, 01:10 AM
Don't tell the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Or Kansas City...
rodney27nyg
05-02-08, 04:06 AM
Even with no injuries to the bats, our pitching rotation is Wang, Petitte, and pray, pray, pray. That's no knock to the kids as they are learning and Moose is giving us a decent effort, but you never know with him.
Wang, Pettitte, and then we sweat it.:)
rodney27nyg
05-02-08, 04:08 AM
Wang and Pettitte and then ...forget it.:P
cupcollector99
05-02-08, 07:22 AM
Wang and Pettitte and then ...forget it.:P
That's the motto of the April/May 2008 Yankees...
BillBuckner
05-02-08, 11:22 AM
I'm going to say slow start for now. Ask me again in a month.
Soriambi
05-02-08, 11:24 AM
Slow start, simply because we are not hitting. The pitching is mediocre, the hitting is not.
I tend to agree. I'm not so sure that the pitching will end up being good this year, but we'll almost certainly hit a ton better than we have, and that'll make us pretty good.
brosiusbuddy
05-02-08, 02:26 PM
Injury plagued & inexperienced doesn't equal mediocre.
I would say Shelley Duncan as our cleanup hitter basically equals mediocre.
apalradio
05-02-08, 05:24 PM
What? Rogers, Bondo, and Robertson weren't impressive at all, any normal functioning offense tees off on them on those respective nights.
You're really worried about facing anyone in that rotation after Verlander? who hasn't gotten off to the best of starts either.Judging from the time stamp on your post, I suspect you misunderstood mine. Heck, it looked like it was pretty late.
teknetic
05-02-08, 08:25 PM
I know it was Bedard and everything, but our offense is offensive.
Yankees13
05-03-08, 12:16 AM
A little bit of both, but I voted for mediocre team. With an awful rotation and a declining offense, this team simply isn't that good anymore. Without A-Rod and Posada we're probably a 70 win caliber team. If they aren't both back by June 1st our season is down the drain. This is a truly awful team without them, and we will struggle to play 450 ball until their return. The good news is that no one in the AL has jumped out to a hot start, and it looks like everyone is going to beat the crap out of each other, so we may be able to sneak into the wild card if things break right for us.
BonusCantos
05-03-08, 01:10 AM
Probably a slow start; same crap that happens every year. I think it can eventually come together.
millervt
05-04-08, 07:55 PM
Hughes and kennedy really can't be counted as a 'slow start' - they appear to have problems that aren't just a coincidence of a season-starting slump. Other than cano (and possibly giambi, the jury is out on him) again I don't see a lot of season-starting slumps on offense. I know injuries are a part of the reason we aren't scoring more runs, but if I have to define injury as a 'slow start' or 'mediocre', i'd regretfully lean towards the latter. As the yankees are now, they are mediocre (barely above .500), due to the failure of 40% of their pitching and their injuries.
I think the pitching changes will improve our team, with the hope that phil and ian can come back during the year and improve our team (not holding my breath at this point).
Wait for the hot weather...
Jglaubman
05-04-08, 08:34 PM
Guys, this happens every year. We start off very slowly, people think this is the year we are finally done, and then the Yanks get back on track and make the playoffs. I'm not guaranteeing we will make the playoffs, but we will not end up being a .500 team.
b-ball-lunachick
05-04-08, 09:59 PM
Too bad they didn't make this poll public..these are the interesting ones to view. :D
How is this a slow start? We're right in there with every other team. Just because this team isn't 22-11 people should call it a slow start? Compared to the past few seasons, this could be considered a hot start, and we don't even have 2 of the best hitters in our lineup! Nothing wrong with 1 game over on May 5th...Happy Cinco, everyone.
Yankee Fan in Boston
05-05-08, 02:05 PM
Guys, this happens every year. We start off very slowly, people think this is the year we are finally done, and then the Yanks get back on track and make the playoffs. I'm not guaranteeing we will make the playoffs, but we will not end up being a .500 team.
It makes me crazy. Last year (when we were 16-17 and 7 games out at this point) this team came back from a deep hole and almost won the division. Sure, we have a lot of questions about our young pitching, but we are not in any worse place than we were last year. At the least, we'll be in the playoff hunt till the very end....
rodney27nyg
05-06-08, 02:56 AM
It makes me crazy. Last year (when we were 16-17 and 7 games out at this point) this team came back from a deep hole and almost won the division. Sure, we have a lot of questions about our young pitching, but we are not in any worse place than we were last year. At the least, we'll be in the playoff hunt till the very end....
Our rough start (our worst in 30 years) coupled with Boston's second best start in team history...and we lost the division by 2 games.
CJTaKoZ26
05-06-08, 03:48 AM
I cannot fathom why so many people are worried that we are doomed. A-Rod, Posada, and Jeter have all missed significant time due to injury. I might be going out on a limb but they are pretty key pieces to the Yankee lineup. Also, Cano has had a terrible start. Hughes and Kennedy have experienced extreme growing pains.
Our record is still over .500... that is a miracle. We've scored more runs than we've allowed... that is a miracle. We have allowed 1 less run than the Red Sox.. that is a miracle. We have a better record than Cleveland, Detroit, Toronto, ChiSox, and Seattle... that is a miracle.
All this despite missed time or slow starts from Jeter, A-Rod, Giambi, Posada, Cano, Joba, Hughes, Kennedy.
The Yankees have all the excuses in the world to be off to another 11-19 type start a la 2006, but have managed to tough it all out.
Once the entire lineup is healthy + back to their normal selves, why can't this be a top 5 team in all of baseball? And assuming we make the playoffs (no sure thing), do you hate our chances with Wang/Pettitte/Joba starting and Mariano closing games out?
I know we have been spoiled for 12 years, but to call this team mediocre after all it has had to deal with thus far under a new manager is to have no patience.
yankeeman61
05-12-08, 08:12 PM
I have a feeling this question is going to linger for awhile. Yeah, the team is banged up, but that's part of it too. If you don't have the depth to absorb injuries, it's going to hurt worse. The team is capable of playing well at times and just does not show up on other nights, which is infuriating especially when you can't get a QS out of Andy Pettitte while getting dominated by Matt Garza. It's baseball and that sort of thing is expected to happen, but this team seems to be vulnerable in more areas than a typical post season caliber team. Long way to go and a lot can happen, but I see a mediocre team overall, even if and when they are totally healthy. I hope I'm wrong but my gut feeling tells me this really is the transition year. :(
teknetic
05-12-08, 08:17 PM
You can't expect ARod and Po to come firing out of the gates out of the DL. On most nights we just need the lead after 6 innings, we can't even do that..that's how bad this team is right now. It's comical how our bullpen, which was considered a weakness is now our strength..but we can't even use that to our advantage.
Pinstripedbass
05-13-08, 04:34 AM
How's about slow start by the hitters, mediocre pitching staff?
CommerceComet
05-13-08, 08:52 AM
You can put me in the "too-early-to-tell" group. We are definitely mediocre now but the Yankees have been or are missing a lot of key parts (either due to injury or slow starts) and could put things together and go on a nice run.
Coming into the season, my biggest concern was the starting pitching. It remains so. I was very nervous about starting the season with 60% of starting rotation being major questions marks. It seemed more wishful thinking than thoughtful management. I have this nagging doubt about our starters being sufficient to get us into the post-season.
Leche28
05-13-08, 08:55 AM
You can put me in the "too-early-to-tell" group. We are definitely mediocre now but the Yankees have been or are missing a lot of key parts (either due to injury or slow starts) and could put things together and go on a nice run.
Coming into the season, my biggest concern was the starting pitching. It remains so. I was very nervous about starting the season with 60% of starting rotation being major questions marks. It seemed more wishful thinking than thoughtful management. I have this nagging doubt about our starters being sufficient to get us into the post-season.
Our lack of hitting has been a bigger problem than our starting pitching imo.
Yankee Tripper
05-13-08, 11:16 AM
Last year we lead the majors in runs scored. This year we are 8th in the AL. Even when our team was struggling last year early we were in the top 3 or 4 most of the year in runs scored. And were playing serveal games below our expected record based on run differential. This year our 19-20 record is exactly equal to our expected record. I have to think the offense will improve when A-rod & Posada return and Cano is hitting better (as he he has started to the last week or so) but still I'm not sure those 3 players performing up to their average levels is enough to turn this team from a 4.4 run per game team it has been so far into a 6.0 run per game team we had last year.
This year the big improvement was supposed to be the pitching. All those garbage starts from the laudry list of failed pitchers we all complained about were supposed to be replaced by better than league average (or at least league average) starts from Hughes and Kennedy (and later Chaimberlain) but so far Hughes and Kenndy combined to be the two worst starters in all of MLB. Our team ERA sits at 4.39, 10th in the AL and I just don't see the prospects for this improving like I did last year when our pitching stunk at this time.
So right now with nearly 25% of the season done I see this as a mediocre team. Hope I'm wrong but I just don;t have the same faith in them turning this around that I had the past two seasons.
this team's looking at 3rd place this year, barring the rays' pitching stumbling in a major way.
jbauer2485
05-13-08, 09:44 PM
This team is awful.
IMissBillyM
05-13-08, 09:49 PM
This team is awful.
I second that
YanksFan1992
05-13-08, 10:22 PM
I second that
I disagree.
With all of the injuries we still have looked a little better than last year's version at this time. I'm looking at it optimistically, as being the last year of Yankee Stadium, something tells me that this team will put it together and make a run at the playoffs.
apalradio
05-13-08, 10:36 PM
I disagree.
With all of the injuries we still have looked a little better than last year's version at this time. I'm looking at it optimistically, as being the last year of Yankee Stadium, something tells me that this team will put it together and make a run at the playoffs.Your optimism is to be admired. But it sure isn't based on anything we're seeing on the field.
YanksFan1992
05-13-08, 10:54 PM
Your optimism is to be admired. But it sure isn't based on anything we're seeing on the field.
My feeling is that eventually with our level of talent we should be able to pick it up and right now we are still easily with-in range of first place. If it falls to 10-12 games than I will start to get worried.
I guess part of my optimism comes from the fact that we haven't missed the playoffs since I was one year old. :eek:
GimeMoMuny
05-14-08, 12:34 AM
They'll put together some impressive W streaks before too long.
i worry about this team more than last year because we now don't have Joe Torre
Yankee Tripper
05-14-08, 11:02 AM
i worry about this team more than last year because we now don't have Joe TorreI worry about this team more than last year because it simply is not scoring runs and the pitching has been mediocre at best. Last year we had most of the lineup slumping but were still scoring runs early, this year nothing. Last year at this time we were looking at reinforcements to the staff coming from Clemens, Hughes and possibly some of the other kids down on the farm. This year Clemens is nowhere to be seen (nor does anyone particularly want him) and Hughes & Kennedy were miserable in their first go round. Unless their second go rounds are considerably better, we are going to be in for a long season.
I don't think the manager means a whole lot. I actually think Joe G is getting as much out of this squad as he can and don't think Joe T would be doing as well. Joe G has at least show the willinginess to mix and match in the BP and not ride just 2 or 3 guys like Joe T. The result is that the pen that has been a weak point for the last 5 years has actually been one of the teams only strengths to date.
primetime714
05-14-08, 01:10 PM
I worry about this team more than last year because it simply is not scoring runs and the pitching has been mediocre at best. Last year we had most of the lineup slumping but were still scoring runs early, this year nothing. Last year at this time we were looking at reinforcements to the staff coming from Clemens, Hughes and possibly some of the other kids down on the farm. This year Clemens is nowhere to be seen (nor does anyone particularly want him) and Hughes & Kennedy were miserable in their first go round. Unless their second go rounds are considerably better, we are going to be in for a long season.
I don't think the manager means a whole lot. I actually think Joe G is getting as much out of this squad as he can and don't think Joe T would be doing as well. Joe G has at least show the willinginess to mix and match in the BP and not ride just 2 or 3 guys like Joe T. The result is that the pen that has been a weak point for the last 5 years has actually been one of the teams only strengths to date.
The offense will pickup with the return of ARod and both Cano and Giambi seemingly coming out of their extended slumps. Let's remember that ARod was a huge reason we were scoring runs early last year as he really started off the year on fire.
On the pitching front I think we have a real nice 1-4 starters. Wang is a true Ace right now. Pettitte needs to pick it up but I'd imagine he will. Moose has been a very solid 3. Rasner has looked great in the 4th spot. Then we'll see if Kennedy can get the job done in the 5th spot, personally if he is throwing strikes I see no reason why he won't be able to do that. Then we have a very strong bullpen with Mo, Joba, Farnsworth, and others.
Stan Musial
05-15-08, 04:35 AM
This poll should be amended...the Yankees are worse than medicore...calling them mediocre is a compliment.
The major issue is the pitching (starting and partly bullpen) while I think the offense will right itself, I dont see the team going far with the current starting rotation.
yankeesAZ
05-17-08, 03:19 PM
Funny how around the time we swept the Mariners this poll was in favor of "slow start" and now after this past week of bad play, "mediocre" is winning now.
BonusCantos
05-17-08, 03:22 PM
I chose slow start, and I still believe it, but days like this make me wonder.
Mediocre. And Cash now seems to have over-estimated our offense and our pitching.
apalradio
05-17-08, 03:52 PM
Even if this is just a slow start (I hate to waste 25% of a season like this)...even if they find a way to turn this ship around (they did it last year, but we can't depend on that yet again)...even if they somehow rebound from two months of sloppy, dispassionate, poor play, it's just getting harder and harder to like anything about this team these days.
bomber999
05-17-08, 04:05 PM
The offense will pickup with the return of ARod and both Cano and Giambi seemingly coming out of their extended slumps. Let's remember that ARod was a huge reason we were scoring runs early last year as he really started off the year on fire.
On the pitching front I think we have a real nice 1-4 starters. Wang is a true Ace right now. Pettitte needs to pick it up but I'd imagine he will. Moose has been a very solid 3. Rasner has looked great in the 4th spot. Then we'll see if Kennedy can get the job done in the 5th spot, personally if he is throwing strikes I see no reason why he won't be able to do that. Then we have a very strong bullpen with Mo, Joba, Farnsworth, and others.
I'm sorry, but I think that you are looking at the situation through rose-colored glasses. It is true that ARod and Po's absence has damaged the team offensively, and that the offense will be better when they return. However, the offense wasn't exactly gangbusters prior to those injuries. Essentially, you have a bunch of streaky hitters who are quite underwhelming in terms of situational hitting in general, and poor in the clutch. Even at best, theirs is a highly inconsistent offense, equally capable on a given day of putting up 6 runs or making the most pedestrian of pitchers look like a Cy Young contender.
Giambi, were the Yankees better constructed, would best serve this team as a part-time DH and pinch hitter. He is capable of hitting it out, but not much more. He is, fairly demonstrably, past the point where he can be a consistently productive major league player.
This is not getting a lot of discussion, but our bench once again is abysmal. Yes, we have had key injuries, but other teams have been smarter about crafting deeper benches of solid, competent hitters, so that they have greater depth and greater ability to withstand injuries. In the dynasty years, when Bernie went down, we had Chad Curtis. We also had Strawberry and Raines, even Shane Spencer. I hate to use this example, but the Red Sox have Sean Casey as backup 1B- he is hitting .345, gives veteran leadership, and there is no reason why we can't have such players as well, if our GM showed a little bit of creativity and greater baseball acumen, instead of taking flyers on players dropped from mediocre teams or rolling the dice on unproven rookies expected to play key roles on this team.
Finally, let's face it- we have one top-notch starting pitcher-CMW- who would be a #1 or #2 on a contending/championship team. Pettitte was never dominant in his prime and appears to have lost a step from there. He now appears to have caught Mike Mussina disease, which is pitching just well enough to lose. Even though he is considered our #2 starter, he is not nearly as good as our top competitors' #2, and it shows- he is consistently getting outpitched. Mussina and Rasner have been nice surprises thus far, but neither can be counted on to pitch on their current level for an entire season. They are in the Chacon/Small/Al Leiter's first start against Boston category. The fact that we have a team that has a payroll of over $200 million and has ONE consistently reliable starting pitcher is inexcusable. We have three good pitchers in total- CMW, Mo, Joba. I am not ready to anoint Hughes and Kennedy as anything other than prospects (who thus far have underwhelmed, to say the least) until they show me evidence to the contrary.
This is a little more nebulous, admittedly, but it seems to me that, since around 2003, the Yankees have been a team with a collective glass jaw (often in key games), becoming progressively pulseless. A major shakeup might actually help this franchise considerably in the long-term.
The verdict: mediocre team, poorly constructed.
Jglaubman
05-17-08, 04:09 PM
seriously? No one has noticed that this happens every year now?
b_joseph
05-17-08, 04:38 PM
Obviously a slow start, compounded by losing the best player in the game and our in game captain ( Jorge ).
Its all well and good if you lose slugging but keep OBP. But when you lose slugging and OBP...it really puts a strain on your line up.
Alex's and Jorge's replacements havent maintained a steady OBP...let alone a steady slugging percentage.
The team will be 6 or fewer games out by ASB and from there, it will be just about if we are capable of going on one of those runs.
bomber999
05-17-08, 04:42 PM
seriously? No one has noticed that this happens every year now?
I think that a lot of people have noticed this. I'm confused- does this mean that you favor "slow start" and expect the team to repeat '05 and '07 and make the playoffs?
This year has a different feel to me. I hope I am wrong, but I think that the Y's will be looking to trade some vets at the deadline. Let us just hope at least that the young pitching finds itself by mid-season, including Joba after his conversion to the rotation.
It is okay to have a rebuilding year if some pieces start to fall in place.
Bomber999's is a devastating but, to my mind, correct analysis of the present situation with the Yankees. It won't take much to cause the whole flimsy structure to collapse--another humiliating series (like the recent TB series) could of itself cause the kind of demoralization that finishes off a team like this.
Yes, the injuries have been hard to take, but, really, it's the pitching that can't be relied upon for the rest of the season. Wang will have his annual slump (it's normal and human--I'm not complaining). Mussina is overachieving. Pettite is not the pitcher he once was. I'll hold off on Rasner until I see how he performs against former peers of the Yankees (like the Red Sox or LA). Hughes-Kennedy are history for 2008. Nothing can be expected from them, for at least another season.
There will probably be some modest improvement when the wounded return, but this is a 1959-type team, perhaps even a 1965 team. Torre skipped town just in time.
This poll should be amended...the Yankees are worse than medicore...calling them mediocre is a compliment.
The major issue is the pitching (starting and partly bullpen) while I think the offense will right itself, I dont see the team going far with the current starting rotation.
I agree, but I'm using that agreement merely to say I like your handle. He was my favorite player when I was a kid, a whisker ahead of Mantle. MLB ought to be ashamed of itself for not honoring him more while he is alive.
I used to love the way the crowd in Philadelphia--always hostile to the Cards--reacted when Musial coiled at the plate. You could hear the "Stan-the-man's," like a verbal form of "the wave" going round the stadium.
apalradio
05-17-08, 05:37 PM
Bomber999's is a devastating but, to my mind, correct analysis of the present situation with the Yankees. It won't take much to cause the whole flimsy structure to collapse--another humiliating series (like the recent TB series) could of itself cause the kind of demoralization that finishes off a team like this.
Yes, the injuries have been hard to take, but, really, it's the pitching that can't be relied upon for the rest of the season. Wang will have his annual slump (it's normal and human--I'm not complaining). Mussina is overachieving. Pettite is not the pitcher he once was. I'll hold off on Rasner until I see how he performs against former peers of the Yankees (like the Red Sox or LA). Hughes-Kennedy are history for 2008. Nothing can be expected from them, for at least another season.
There will probably be some modest improvement when the wounded return, but this is a 1959-type team, perhaps even a 1965 team. Torre skipped town just in time.This is very much a 1965-type team. I remember that team, and fear that it will take as long to fix it now as it did then.
Jglaubman
05-17-08, 05:56 PM
I think that a lot of people have noticed this. I'm confused- does this mean that you favor "slow start" and expect the team to repeat '05 and '07 and make the playoffs?
Yeah, I mean every year we start off slow, people say "this team is terrible" and then we turn it around. We will turn it around. I won't guarentee a spot in the playoffs, but we will turn it around.
Slow, mediocre and stink.
Ericas367
05-19-08, 09:25 PM
over the past few years the Yankees have slowly started to turn into a mediocre team.
Yankees Empire
05-21-08, 06:08 PM
It is okay to have a rebuilding year if some pieces start to fall in place.
If those "pieces" meant another '96-'00 type run, hell yes, sign me up.
yankeeman61
06-03-08, 10:19 PM
So now that we are 2 months in, do we have our answer yet?
effdamets
06-03-08, 10:48 PM
In fairness - the Yankees didn't stay over .500 last season until circa July 12th or 13th.....
And they are a lot closer to that mark right now compared to last year on this date, so.... maybe the jury is still out on this year's team....
/* prays hard for huge season turnaround!
teknetic
06-03-08, 10:56 PM
This team is in a see-saw battle against itself.
-Offense stinks up the joint; Wang is dominant, Moose does well, bullpen is very good. We lose games because we can't score.
Last few weeks:
-Offense wakes up; Wang is AWOL, Moose has regressed to "decent," bullpen is compromised of Rivera and a group of guys who give me an ulcer. We lose games beacuse we can't keep the opposing from scoring.
yankeesAZ
06-04-08, 12:35 AM
So now that we are 2 months in, do we have our answer yet?
Nope. Some may still be in denial, but we are a mediocre team this year.
Please Yankees, prove me wrong, but last year it felt like a good team playing bad baseball early. This feels like a mediocre team playing mediocre baseball.
Unfortunately for us, we don't have 6 games with the Mariners this month and don't see them again until September. The M's accounted for almost half our wins in May.
BRNXBMRS
06-04-08, 11:11 AM
Change the title to crap team
yankeesAZ
06-05-08, 12:08 PM
Change the title to crap team
As bad as it is, we're not in the same league with the M's.
As bad as it is, we're not in the same league with the M's.
Actually, we are pretty close. We have won only 8 more games than the Mariners.
Also, we have been in last place just about all season. So, again, we are certainly in the same category.
Actually, we are pretty close. We have won only 8 more games than the Mariners.
Also, we have been in last place just about all season. So, again, we are certainly in the same category.
At this point in the season 8 games is kind of a big deal. 8 wins more than we have and you're looking at the best records in baseball.
SandHut
06-05-08, 05:17 PM
I have to say it's a slow start for the Yankees this year. They are exactly .500 at 30-30, and June 5 of last year their record was 25-31...ouch. I forgot how slow their start last year really was. Perhaps it got lost in the amazing moments A-Rod provided us with through April and some of May, though our pitching was certainly an issue and nobody even knew Joba was great yet.
I think this year has been marked by poor hitting w/RISP and poor middle relief performance. Our starting pitchers have also shown a bit of tendency to give up big innings (Kennedy and Hughes being the obvious candidates and Wang/Pettitte having weak outings recently). Moose and Rasner have really been godsends up to this point.
All things considered, to be at .500 when our "kids" are winless/on the DL (and the Yankees are something like 2-13 when Hughes/Kennedy have started), and having lost A-Rod and Posada for several weeks, and with the bullpen being extremely inconsistent (or consistent in the wrong way), I think we could be worse off -- like we were last year at this time.
The key going forward will be to keep everyone healthy and hope the bullpen can stabilize. That might be for Girardi to figure out. But I don't think we have a mediocre team if our offense starts clicking. Hell, then we'd be the Texas Rangers. :)
teknetic
06-07-08, 02:49 PM
This question gets easier to answer with each passing day. Mediocre probably isn't doing justice, however.
Swept by the Tigers..on the cusp of dropping 2 straight to the worst team in the league..at home.
THEBOSS84
06-07-08, 02:50 PM
Last night our pitching was great and our offense stunk (vs the Royals!)
Today our hitting was good but our pitching stunk (vs the Royals!)
In the past years, we had a small sucess reaching playoffs every year and the problems stayed the same, maybe a huge fail will prompt them to cleanup the house and try new things, this year we are moving in a good pace to a bad year .
I will keep watching near every game and cheer for the Yankees but a bad year maybe will be good for a better future, the only problem is when to stop believing in this year Yankees and start to think in the next year Yankees.
yankeeman61
06-11-08, 11:16 PM
Back to .500 we go....AGAIN
Stan Musial
06-12-08, 03:12 AM
I agree, but I'm using that agreement merely to say I like your handle. He was my favorite player when I was a kid, a whisker ahead of Mantle. MLB ought to be ashamed of itself for not honoring him more while he is alive.
I used to love the way the crowd in Philadelphia--always hostile to the Cards--reacted when Musial coiled at the plate. You could hear the "Stan-the-man's," like a verbal form of "the wave" going round the stadium.
Thanks, Thaa....glad to know that there is still some love for Baseball's Perfect Knight. I grew up idolizing the Man...my dad, although a Yankees fan since birth, moved to St. Louis and became a Cards fan..and of course, no one, even today, represented what the Cards are like Stan. He was a classy guy...and I agree that he doesnt get the recognition of others of the same ilk that played for the Yanks or Socks..
But, to me, there just wont be any better...
27IsNext
06-12-08, 03:27 AM
Mediocre team.
The talent is still there, the heart is lacking
apalradio
06-12-08, 10:19 PM
The talent is still there, the heart is lackingOr, it could be that the heart is still there but the talent is lacking.
teknetic
06-12-08, 10:31 PM
Or, it could be that the heart is still there but the talent is lacking.
Talent is there, they just can't execute. Take a look at the A's offense; Chavez leads the team with a .286 BA, but they're 4th in the league with a .275 w/ RISP. We were 11th last week, but now we're 12th (ahead of Toronto and Seattle)
Our pitching is mediocre, but our offense so far has the been the biggest letdown, we all figured it'd change with ARod coming back, but the ineptitude remains.
27IsNext
06-12-08, 10:35 PM
I'm calling it now: this team will not make the playoffs.
njdhockey
06-13-08, 12:17 AM
I'm calling it now: this team will not make the playoffs.
Coming into this year I wasn't expecting the Yankees to make the playoffs. I was fine with that since I wanted to see how the kids would grow. So far the injuries to Hughes and Kennedy after there slow starts, coupled with the struggles of Cano and Cabrera are making this tough to swallow. I was really expecting the kids to progress this year. I still have hopes for them and expect them to be fine, I just hope Hughes finishes strong when he comes back late in the year whether that be in the majors or AAA. I'm looking forward to Kennedy's comeback. Hopefully Cano and Cabrera find their game and pick it up soon.
b_joseph
06-13-08, 12:24 AM
I'm calling it now: this team will not make the playoffs.
Care for a wager on that? PM me if you do.
fellows
06-13-08, 04:20 AM
Everything went wrong with the rookie starters and Cano. Jeter is having a down year so far. Arod and Posada have missed a ton of games. Pettitte and Wang have both been below par in the 1st half. The AL had a chance to bury the Yankees and they blew it. If their top two starters return to form and there are no more major injuries they will cruise to at least the WC.
The Dynasty
06-13-08, 07:38 AM
Everything went wrong with the rookie starters and Cano. Jeter is having a down year so far. Arod and Posada have missed a ton of games. Pettitte and Wang have both been below par in the 1st half. The AL had a chance to bury the Yankees and they blew it. If their top two starters return to form and there are no more major injuries they will cruise to at least the WC.
It happens every year, it seems.
yankeeman61
06-13-08, 08:05 AM
Right now, I would be happy if this team got to 5 games over .500. If they get to that point in the near future (by the end of this road trip) I will start to think it may be possible to make the post season. Unfortunately, they haven't shown they could even get to 3 games over. Mediocrity seems like a very comfortable place for this team. They are fortunate most of the league is mediocre, too.
NelsonMuntz
06-13-08, 09:36 AM
The offense got off to a slow start but over the course of the full season will prove to be very good. Unfortunately I think the pitching is going to be inconsistent throughout the season. That averages out to a mediocre team in my very unsophisticated analysis.
yankeeman61
06-24-08, 08:25 PM
Don't look now, but they're ba-ack...there's been next to zero offense for the last 5 games and tonight's debacle after an off day against the wildest pitcher since Ankeil was the worst of it. I don't think I've seen a Yankee team so close, yet so far away from being a contender.
JeterRodriguezSheff
06-24-08, 09:44 PM
mediocre team, i hope we finish in third or lower, this team isnt going far in the playoffs even if they do somehow make it. Id rather they suck this year and then have an overhaul next year. Gut the entire team at the all star break. Guys like Matsui and Giambi who have no long term role on this team should be dropped. I am sick of this gutless 0-4874389438074543545543545 with RISP offense.
Hitman23
06-25-08, 04:51 PM
If 'Mediocre Team' wins this poll I'll go off.on paper they aren't but results are results and the results are mediocre. Right now, anyway.
webassign
07-01-08, 09:42 PM
3 months in now. whatcha got?
JohnnyDamonfan
07-01-08, 09:45 PM
Mediocre team most definately. You know you're in trouble when I a man who normally looks on the bright side of things is thinking that they can't win.
apalradio
07-02-08, 07:49 AM
Unfortunately, this feels like a mediocre team. I still hope they pick it up in the second half, but we have a makeshift patchwork rotation and an offense that has gone through long comatose stretches all season with no sign that any of that will change. Our defense is dreadful, and our best young position players have disappeared into an offensive fog. Still struggling to stay above .500 halfway into the season, mediocrity rules this team.
yankeeman61
08-10-08, 06:04 PM
Outside of the 8-game winning streak after the ASG it's pretty much the same story it's been all year. All the work they did to get close is long gone. One step up, two steps back and now it's getting to be mid-August. The whole RISP issue, especially a man on 3rd with less than 2 outs has not improved. The injuries have had an impact, but this team just does not and has not functioned well all season long. They get the starting pitching, they don't score. They get both and the bullpen blows up. They get chances and can't capitalize. This team just isn't good enough.
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