I went through this Friday night and finished it looking over the East river with a Corona as the sun came up.

Hello, my name is Rich and I’m an Yankee-a-holic.

Funny, I had this experience on Sunday. Of course, now we’re all giving up which means one of two things:

They’re going to really tank and tank but good, 90 loss territory. Or, they’ll do something to annoy us, like really annoy us, win 12 games in a row or the like.

Personally, I’d put the odds at 90% for the former, 1% for the latter, and 9% that I’m struck by lightening and never have to worry about the whole stupid mess again.

As much as it hurts to give up, it’s at least refreshing.

2008 could potentially see the a team without:

ARod $25M
Posada $12M
Pettitte $16M
Abreu $15M
Rivera $10.5M
Vizcaino $3M
Mientkiewicz $1.5M
Myers $1.2M
Cairo $0.75M
Clemens $18.5M

That’s $84.95M - just about half their current payroll. There are buyouts (I think Posada is owed his 2007 buyout because they exercised his option) but whatever. Start over.

I’m still in a bit of denial, not because I think the Yankees are great or anything, but just that the rest of the American League is so bad as well.

Even WITH this loss, which drops them, what seven games under .500?, they’re still less than eight games out of the Wild Card (admittedly, with about 239 teams between them and the Wild Card leader).

Until that wild card lead hits ten games, I can’t give up on this season.

“Funny, I had this experience on Sunday.”

Wow, you weren’t kidding Saturday (which was hilarious btw).

Of course, when I said “until it hits ten games,” I meant some time in the recent future. If it DOESN’T hit ten, but stays at eight for a few more weeks, then yeah, I’d cut bait, too.

“As much as it hurts to give up, it’s at least refreshing.

2008 could potentially see the a team without:

ARod $25M
Posada $12M
Pettitte $16M “

Those are three of our top performers. God, Jeter will be it.

Well, you can certainly keep them. Or you can start over.

Although I would have fired Torre after last season, I don’t think he deserves to be fired for what has transpired this season, but, but in baseball, when you can’t change the players during the season, the only possible option to change the direction of the team is to fire the manager. I think that is their only real option at this point, whether or not it actually turns out to have a positive effect.

I would fire Torre and ask Girardi to step in. What’s the worst that could happen, they could suck?

IMO, if the Yankees are indeed out of it by the trade deadline, they need to be aggressive, but not in the usual fashion that they have been before. Instead of receiving salary dumps, they need to send the expensive players with big 2008 contracts AND lots of cash to other team and get young position players in return. They basically need to pay for youth and de-gunk this immobile, old, roster full of bad defensive and streak offensive players. Saltalamacchia needs to be on that list. Perhaps Aybar or Napoli from LAA as well. They also need to make a play on Teixera.

There’s 50 games or so until the All-Star break…..Let’s wait until then before we lay then to rest…5 games out by the break…..

Man, pat, you are an upbeat fellow.  I’m almost inclined to agree but I feel the team needs to make some major moves for any kind of turnaround to occur.

the yankees don’t pay arod 25 million.

if cashman is let go before the end of the season (which would be a big mistake in my book), the new GM isn’t going to have the balls to trade away yankee-legends like posada.  Abreu and farnsworth would probably be the only chips, and their performance so far this season leaves a little to be desired.

It’s a shame that the yankees won’t trade with boston, b/c they are going to be one of the few big buyers at the deadline.  If the yankees are willing to eat farnsworth salary, maybe a team like the brewers would be interested. 

I had “that” moment of giving up on the season when they lost the first game to the angels.  dont’ know why that was different than any other loss, but that was the final nail.  The tough part now is somehow justify not watching the games while not considering myself a “fair weather fan”.  Should i force myself to watch even though i’m not enjoying what i see?  seems pointless.

I’ll continue to watch because (1) I still think they’ve got a shot at the wild card and with good pitching could be a tough team to beat in the playoffs and (2) if this is really the end of what started in 1995, then what will make the next run sweet is the stretch of bad years that comes before it.

Cutter - I agree, and I think Jeter, Pettite, Posada, Mo, and even ARod will not be going anywhere, although ARod’s numbers even this year are masking that he is extremely streaky and is striking out A LOT. Everyone else should be made available, as well as most of the Yankees financial commitment to them for the next year. For example, they should trade Farsnworth and most of what he’s owed for youth.  A team in contention will take that if Farnsworth can put together some reasonable splits or a nice stretch of strong performance. Who knows.. but it will be interesting to watch in a different way then we’re used to.

Red Sox fan here, and I’ve seen enough baseball to know this year isn’t over yet.  The Yankees will go 25-3 in June or something ridiculous to climb back into it, and everything will be normal again.  Logic fails when everything goes pear (did for me last August), but the Yankees aren’t even close to done yet.

It’ll be infuriating seeing you play .700 ball until October, it really will.

It’s simple guys, just pick up 3 games a month and they’re right back into the race…..Twins did it last season, Oakland did it a few years ago….113 games remaining, it’s a rally away from happening…..The pitching will be the foundation come mid-June, as the rotation will be qiute impressive…...Playing .600 ball is what was expected at the least this season…,Remember the schedule in June-July is set up for a streak of 40 out of 60 games…It’s going to happen, although it seems far fetched right now, but it’s coming guys….Don’t fold just yet…..Baseball is a game of streaks, we yet to have our good streak…..

I dunno, Pat, we look to these examples of it happening (Minnesota, Oakland), but those are pretty much the exceptions, not the rule.

That being said, like I said before, I haven’t given up yet either.  However, this is as about as close as it gets to being over.

If Giambi, Abreu and Matsui are all over the hill and Jeter and Posada come down to earth and Damon doesn’t heal, this may really be a mediocre offense.

I meant ‘over the hill’ or ‘off the juice’.

ARod $25M
Posada $12M
Pettitte $16M
Abreu $15M
Rivera $10.5M
Vizcaino $3M
Mientkiewicz $1.5M
Myers $1.2M
Cairo $0.75M
Clemens $18.5M

I`d bring back A-Rod, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera, and maybe Clemens

Pettitte is a player option, not a team option.  I’d have to think if Pettitte keeps pitching the way he has been, he’ll decide to come back.  A-Rod is also basically a player option, so again up to him (I know it is more complicated, but…)

Posada definitely gets a contract, unless he completely collapses.  Probably 2 years with a 3rd option.  If Cervelli keeps playing well, that would give him a year or two as Posada’s backup.  Rivera and Clemens…we’ll see how this year plays out.  If Rivera finishes the year with an ERA over 5 (doubt it, but still), he may not want to pitch any more.  Ditto for Clemens.

I’d also be interested in bringing back Myers, depending on who else steps up of course.  He’s cheap, usually effective, and willing to take on any role.  From one pitch to 4 innings.

Yay! For the past three seasons, I’ve wanted this team to rebuild. Here’s their opportunity. Before we start clearing the deck, let’s just hope that Cashman is still in charge at the trading deadline. I’m more hopeful that he’ll keep the younger pitchers we have in the minors rather than try to pour more gasoline on the fire by doing some “Ken Griffey Jr. for Phil Hughes, Tabata, Chamberlain, Kennedy deal just so the organization looks like they’re still trying to win, so fans come on out to the ball park!” crazy-ass deal. That would kill me. Losing, and losing often doesn’t bother me as much if the team takes advantage of it. And oh yeah, re-sign the homegrown Yankees in the off-season, everyone else can walk the plank.

If Damon goes on the DL, KT should come up.

At least they’ll get a good draft pick next year….and at this rate won’t have to worry about losing it by signing free agents.

this team is way beyond blaming Torre at this point, but there were some moments this weekend where i was just completely dumbfounded.  he is doing things that NO OTHER manager in MLB would do.  no other manager would have lifted Clippard the other night.  it just doesn’t happen.  same with Mussina.  ridiculous.

like i said, it’s on the players at this point, but man was that some dumb ass managing.

Like i said, it’s on the players at this point, but man was that some dumb ass managing.

I think part of the problem is Joe thinks that this team still has a chance to win. He’d rather lose with guys like Ron Villone than try to win games with rookies like Clippard. If Torre’s unable or unwilling to make best use the wholesale change of the roster from depending on over-priced and over-riped veterans to a more youthful core of players, than he has no place on this team beyond this year.

I’ll still watch, mainly for the young pitchers.  But also to see if Cano gets it going, and if Jeter & Posada keep fighting the good fight… going down valiantly with the sinking ship.

There is still a remote possibility of a comeback (for the wildcard, anyway), but the team really hasn’t displayed that it has the talent, health or desire for such a comeback.

“But also to see if Cano gets it going, and if Jeter & Posada keep fighting the good fight… going down valiantly with the sinking ship.”

That’s what I want to see. I remember Jeter standing on first clapping on his teammates in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS. I look foward to more of that.

If I see Vizcaino pitch for the Yankees again, I may have to ban myself from watching any more games.  I really can’t take him anymore.

Viz must go.

When you get shutdown by four pitchers with ERAs over 6 in the space of a few weeks and you’re ZERO and nine since May 3 in games decided by less then four runs they’re just has to be some kind of mass psychosis sweeping this team.  Has anyone tested the water?

By the way, you can include The Houston Astros of just 2 seasons ago who marched thru the second half on their way to the World Series…..My point is, that these teams did not posses the pedigree or the wealth of talent that the Yanks have….So I’m trying to shed some positive vibes to those fans of the Bombers not to give up, or worse yet, jump onto the bandwagon in Flushing…If anyone is even considering so the see ya….We’re talking piking up 3 games a month, and that’s on the premise that the Chowdahead 9 still play at a .700 clip….Shame on you if you give up with 113 games remaining…..That’s so bush….

I wonder what the record is for most games played without anyone on the team recording a save.  It’s getting pretty impressive, especially considering the 3 run save rule, which is pretty silly.

pat m, while your optimism is admirable, your math makes no sense.  If Boston plays at a .700 clip for the rest of the year, they end up with 113 wins.  Do you seriously think in any universe the Yankees can go 92-21 in their remaining games?  The Yankees, who haven’t won more than three games in a row all year?  Good luck with that.

If Boston goes 56-56 over the rest of the season, the Yankees have to go 70-43 just to catch them.  It’s fine to break it down and say it’s “only 3 games a month” but that’s a lot of ground to make up on a good team.

Does anyone on the Yanks ever try to work with Cano to give him a better mental approach to hitting?  The pitchers seem to know when to not throw him strikes and he obliges by swinging at too many pitches he can’t handle.

That’s my point, there’s no way Boston continues at this pace….Ther’re not that good, and the Yanks are not this bad…..They will be coming back to the pack real soon….5 games by the All-Star break….Remember 2000, early July the Yanks were just 3 games above .500…..David Justice comes over, key players return from the DL, team catches fire ( late slump down the stretch )...They take out the Mets in 5…..Then again there’s always the Wild Card as a fall back option…...It’s very easy to quit, takes some balls to gut it out….

We’re talking piking up 3 games a month, and that’s on the premise that the Chowdahead 9 still play at a .700 clip.

If the Red Sox play at a .700 clip like you say, for the Yankees to catch them then will require the Yankees to play .814 baseball the rest of the way, a 132 win pace.

The Yankees can pick up three games a month on the Red Sox, but not if the Sox keep playing like they have. Any scenario for a comeback relies on the Red Sox being more like a .550 team the rest of the way.

AND THEY WILL….

But why would the Red Sox drop down like that?

It’s not like the Red Sox have huge holes that haven’t been exposed yet, right? They’ve lost Beckett, and are STILL winning every game. Their offense is Top Three in the league with a few major players not having great years.

They look like a really, really good team. To the point where the Yankees really can’t beat them up about losing the division, as they’d have to have had an amazing year to win the division this time around.

The WILD CARD, on the other hand, is still gettable. Not LIKELY, but it is still gettable. So I’m sticking around for awhile for that.

The more I think about it, the clearer it becomes that fairly or unfairly, firing Torre is the best hope this team has to turn things around. But I don’t want Mattingly, another placid personality, to get the job. Given the alternatives, I prefer Girardi.

“It’s very easy to quit, takes some balls to gut it out…. “

I don’t think anyone is quitting (I could be wrong). I’m not, I’ll still watch every game I can see (Is it wrong that I’m mildly excited about how easy tickets will be to get if the are out of the race in September?) but I have no expectations for this team anymore, I don’t expect them to make the playoffs, hell I don’t even expect them to beat up the bad teams anymore at this point because they just haven’t looked like a good team for anything more then three or four games at a time. That’s weird for me, because I’m 22 and the Yanks have been a playoff team since I can remember following baseball closely (I have memories of when they blew in the early 90s, Espinoza, Hall, Balboni, but nothing like following a team for a season). So I’ve given up on the playoffs, but not on the team, or the season.

The Wild Card is still very much in play, but something has to be done to turn this team around. It’s not going to just happen sua sponte.

Have to agree that Joe Girardi should get the nod over Mattingly. Part of that is based upon what happened to Yogi in 84-5. If Don comes on and the team flounders, George may have to fire Mattingly because it is looking more and more that the team is poised for an overhaul. I don’t want him mad at the Yanks as Yogi was at the time and then go into a 20 year exile.
Icons shouldn’t be put in that position. Can you imagine Mantle being the manager of the late 70’s Yankees? Beer would have been readily available in the clubhouse, that is for sure, but it wouldn’t have worked out.
Girardi is a little more of a rah-rah type, and if he doesn’t work out, he gets the axe. No big deal as he played for a lot of clubs.
As to the remainder of this year. The Yanks should monitor what they have. I would like to think that they should go after K-rod this winter. If they get too awful, he may pass them by. That’s the problem, if NY doesn’t go on and at least post a respectable season, they could lose A-rod, Andy could throw in the towel, and more importantly the FA’s that could help may be swayed to greener pastures, and I’m not referring to more money.
You know, if it gets much more worse, perhaps Joe, classy as he is, might voluntarily step aside. Seems strange, but it could happen. The guy has to be twisting in bed at night over this. (along with some of us)

Oh, man. Go after K-Rod? That may be a wise move, but holy hell will I have a hard time rooting for him.

i don’t think K-Rod can be a FA, having famously come up in September of 2002.  he should have another year of arbitration.