The Yankees have been completely outplayed by the Rangers through the first four games of the ALCS. There is no doubt about that. The offense has been terrible. Pitching outside of Andy Pettitte has been poor. The Rangers have kicked the World Champions’ a$$.
Also disturbing during the carnage has been Girardi’s in-game pitching moves. From his decisions to leave in laboring pitchers to his baffling avoidance of Mo, we have to wonder if Girardi thinks it’s still September.
In Game 3, Cliff Lee was masterful. There isn’t anything Girardi could have done to overturn Lee’s dominance. However, as Texas came to the plate in the top of the 9th, and the Yankees trailed by only 2 runs, Girardi refused to utilize the greatest reliever in baseball history in a best effort to maintain the scoreline. Instead, he called Boone Logan to pitch to Josh Hamilton, and then summoned David Robertson (who was left in way too long). By the time the Yankees batted, the game was well out of reach.
Heading into Game 4, the big question mark was how AJ Burnett would perform. Having not pitched since October 2nd, AJ was showing signs of burnout in the 5th, but he valiantly made it through unscathed, only allowing two runs on the night. While AJ wasn’t Electric!!, we would have signed up for that pitching line in a heartbeat.
There was no reason to put him back on the mound in the 6th, but if Girardi truly felt compelled, the hook should have been quick.
Hello 3-run homerun from Bengie Molina, after an intentional walk with 2 outs.
In comparison, Sweet Ron Washington removed Tommy Hunter at the first sign of trouble in the fourth inning. It was an ALCS move and a decision which likely changed the course of the game.
Lastly in Game 4, with the Yankees down four runs heading into the top of the 9th, Girardi once again left Rivera on the pine, and conceded the game by putting in Sergio Mitre. Predictably, Mitre was destroyed and the Rangers lead became seven runs. Granted, the chances of the Yankees turning around a 4-run deficit with 3 outs remaining is very, very low. But, Mariano’s last appearance was on Friday, October 15th and this is the playoffs. What is the probability of the Yankees coming back to win this series now?
49 Comments
Jerome from Manhattan October 20, 2010 01:59
Fire Girardi!!!!!!!!1111!!111
Bobby Valentine October 20, 2010 02:06
The Yankees should hire me
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:13
valentine is anothers looooooser
Lou Pinella October 20, 2010 02:17
Joey’s just getting ready for my old Cubs gig. Hey, Anita, get me a beer.
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:19
what about tony momy pena?
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:27
do we really need crawford or werth?
Billy October 20, 2010 02:28
These are LoHud comments-section talking points, boys. The Girardi-bashing is nauseating.
Derek Jeter October 20, 2010 02:29
Am I still overpaid bitches?
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:35
I THINK WE NEED LEE AND SORIANO(NOT ALFONSO)
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:40
AND MAYBE TRADE GRANDY OR SWISH AND TEHN SIGN DUNN TO PLAY OUTFIELD
OMAR CAMACHO October 20, 2010 02:43
IF WE SPEND A OT IN THE OFFSEASON 2008,AND MADE RESULT,WHY NOT MADE IT AGAIN IN 2010 OFF SEASON SIGN LEE5 YEARS 90-96 MILLION,DUNN 50 3 YEAR DEAL SORIANO 40 3 YEAR DEAL
DONALD TRUMP October 20, 2010 02:45
HEY DEREK IM THE 2011 CAPTAIN!!YOURE FIRE!!!!
SERGIO MITRE October 20, 2010 02:46
AND IM THE 2011 NEW DELUXE CLOSER LOOOSERS!!
Joe Girardi October 20, 2010 02:49
I just want to hurry up and end the season so I can stop doing interviews because not only do I manage like a moron, I look like a moron with my braces.
Sensitive RAB guy October 20, 2010 03:38
Omar: Turn off the fucking “CAPS” button
Teix October 20, 2010 04:24
hey guys, sorry: i just wasn’t feelin’ it this postseason.
see you all in June.
massapequa parking October 20, 2010 07:41
Two bad things happened yesterday.
Thing 1: The Cubs made their temporary manager permanent.
Thing 2: Joe Girardi went down the list of “things to do in the sixth inning” and found “intentionally walk the go-ahead run, then leave your spent pitcher, who gave you all you wanted, in to pitch a first pitch fastball to a guy looking dead red.” Hmmm. That’s in the looseleaf just before “go out to second base and pull down your pants.”
Some here were praising Mr. Girardi and excusing his Sept. swoon with claims that he had handled it well, setting the Yanks up for the Twins, etc. Not so much.
Jon Schimenti October 20, 2010 08:11
JOE GIRARDI INTENTIONALLY WALKED THE GO-AHEAD RUN ONTO FIRST BASE!!!!!!!!!!
MannyGee October 20, 2010 08:24
outside of being in there 1 batter too long(yeah lets intentionally walk David Murphy to get to the guy who is 3-3 on the night)…. AJ pitched an awesome game. I agree with NoMaas here, Joba had been warming since the 3rd inning, he should have come in to face Murphy.
Like the Petitte mistake to Hamilton 2 nights ago, one pitch changed this game about 70000x over.
Obvious October 20, 2010 08:34
When all is said and done, Joe Girardi will get a sizable piece of the blame pie. But lets not put all of this on his shoulders. CC & Phil deserve a huge piece. Any hitters not named Cano (possibly Jeter and Granderson as well) deserve a rather large piece as well.
World Series TV Ratings October 20, 2010 08:49
Lookin bad for me!
Col. John Matrix October 20, 2010 08:54
The Yankees didn’t lose this game because Girardi left Burnett in too long.
The Yankees didn’t lose this game because Girardi IBB’ed David Murphy (the right move, by the way).
The Yankees didn’t lose this game because Cervelli caught .
The Yankees didn’t lose this game because Teixeira got hurt.
The Yankees didn’t lose this game because Mitre imploded in the ninth, after Logan and Joba sucked up the 7th.
The Yankees lost this game because they haven’t had a run scoring hit with a man in scoring position in about a month. They lost because the offense has failed on numerous chances to put up a big number and put some distance between themselves and Texas. They lost because Nick Swisher is too stupid to realize that he’s just been hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Because Teixeria, A-Rod, Swisher, Posada, and Gardner are a combined 8-for-68 with 21 K in this series. They lost because Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland were too tough to score more than 3 runs on.
You want to assign blame for this debacle, don’t point at Girardi, or Cashman, or Burnett. This one is entirely on the offense.
Let off some steam, Bennett October 20, 2010 09:00
I agree with Matrix, and the first paragraph of nomaas’ post:
The Yankees have been completely outplayed by the Rangers through the first four games of the ALCS. There is no doubt about that. The offense has been terrible. Pitching outside of Andy Pettitte has been poor. The Rangers have kicked the World Champions’ a$$.
That being said, Girardi went insane in September and it looks like he never recovered.
Sensitive RAB guy October 20, 2010 09:09
Matrix, I don’t see how Gardner gets thrown in with Swisher, etc.: going by the #’s, and by what he did in games 1, 3 & 4.
Jason October 20, 2010 09:18
I wonder if the Yankees even have a bunt sign…..
Skin Cancer October 20, 2010 09:33
A bout of me would have been more entertaining than last night!
Lou Brown October 20, 2010 09:55
I disagree with the notion above that Cashman is not to blame. Cashman, above all, put this team together. Including it’s manager. If one was looking to blame someone the buck stops at the top.
This team was based on hitting the ball and scoring runs. That is the way it was constructed by it’s architect. So if the team doesn’t do what it’s designed to do there has to be, in my mind, a flaw in it’s design.
As the old adage goes pitching and defense win championships. Where as the defense is there, the pitching isn’t and hasn’t been all year. To be that expectant of the offense, to think they can constantly put up staggering numbers is flawed thinking and a failed design.
Cashman doesn’t get a free pass in my book.
Devil's Advocate October 20, 2010 10:02
It’s hard to make blanket statements about a team’s construction based on one series.
Jon Schimenti October 20, 2010 10:16
Cashman is the best GM in baseball. Only one team wins the world series, unfortunately although we won last year this year doesn’t look promising. The Yankees won 97 games despite plenty of misfortune and playing in a division with the Rays, Sox and Jays. If they were in the AL West they would have won 105 games. Cashman is not to blame, he is the reason we can win a world series every year. Let’s not say anything negative about him based upon 4 games worth of crappy play and horrid managing. All managers are horrible, they are a superstitious bunch who refuse to change and won’t take any risk that involve modern statistical thinking for fear of being ripped in the press and on talk radio. Girardi isnt good but sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.
Common Sense October 20, 2010 10:37
Cashman tried to get too cute, like his arrogant douchebag friend Theo. Sorry but at some point the “new wave of GM’s” need to stop looking at pie charts & graphs & walk around their clubhouse. Looking at the moves from last year the only one that could be considered an upgrade was the trade for Curtis Granderson & it took 4 months for that to bear fruit.
Bringing back Vasquez had train wreck written all over it. Cashman had to know the first home run he gave up, the fans & media would be all over him. It’s not like he got rid of a non productive player for him either. This was arrogance plain & simple. No sense in rehashing Damon & Matsui, but that is why you need to look at team as human beings & not numbers. If Johnny Damon is a little full of himself, so what. Jeter is as well he just maybe hides it better. Besides weren’t we all happy last year that the focus switched from kissing lord Jeter’s ass to the newcomers in the clubhouse. Win today don’t let it end at the stadium & lets see what happens in Texas.
Lou Brown October 20, 2010 11:15
I disagree yet again with the dogmatic view of some of you around here.
1) My aforementioned thesis was bases on the FACT that the Yankees were 24-54 this season when scoring fewer then 5 runs. To say that I made a blanket statement based off of one series shows that you weren’t paying attention at all this season. This team was created to win at the plate not at the mound. With this year being dubbed the “Year of the Pitcher” in the media, I think it is safe to say the logic of just go out there and hit the ball is completely flawed. Especially, when 104 starts for this team came from guys who had season eras over 4.
2) I fully disagree with the notion that Brian Cashman is the best GM in baseball and think that such a statement is so naive that it is not deserving of the attention of any serious argument. However, I am sure I’ll hear otherwise from the inept fans on this board that are willing to spend countless hours showing their baseball knowledge accounts to nothing but homerism. (And I am not talking about the guy who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey)
Col. John Matrix October 20, 2010 11:15
Vazquez didn’t work not because he couldn’t pitch in NY. He was doing a fine job of pitching in NY from May through July, when he was the best pitcher on the staff. Vazquez didn’t work because the guy dumped 4 mph on his fastball over the course of 3 months. He completely fell off a cliff stuff-wise. That had nothing to do with his mentality.
Col. John Matrix October 20, 2010 11:19
If you really think that having Damon and Matsui on this team would make them better, you are either delusional or you just flat out know nothing about baseball. Take your pick. I seem to recall a few terrible Octobers with both Damon and Matsui playing everyday roles from 2006-2008. I guess we just choose not to remember those because last year went so well.
And since when is Melky Cabrera a “productive player”? He just got cut by the Braves. A NL team. With no offense to speak of. He’s hideous. Stop the irrational nostalgia and selective memory, please. We’re all tired of it.
Joe Girardi's Orthodontist October 20, 2010 11:57
My dumb ass adult-braces patient said he liked the matchup of Molina v. Burnett. What did your stupid binder say about Molina v. an overrested Burnett at 100 pitches?! Who cares who he is facing, he was tired for the past two innings, and any idiot could see that! RITARDI sucks!
Common Sense October 20, 2010 12:03
Gee Col, or should I say GM Brian Cashmna. You must have ignored the first part of the statement I made when I said GM’s need to stop looking at stat sheets & look at the make up of the clubhouse. As for all of you who keep defending these trades maybe you should stop it. Change for the sake of change can be shortsighted most of the time. Some of the moves that were made didn’t need to be made.
Nick Swisher October 20, 2010 12:07
Hey guys I’m coming back soon. Just wait. I’m the OBP machine! I might play 20 games next year!
Nick Johnson October 20, 2010 12:08
wrong nick…nick.
Brett Gardner October 20, 2010 12:09
Can you guys hurry up and trade me already. Just get it done. A pitching screen, fungo bat, and bucket of BP balls should get it done. That’s about my worth right now.
I'd trade for Gardner October 20, 2010 12:36
If someone wanted to trade me one of the best OBP guys in the league, I’d listen.
Col. John Matrix October 20, 2010 12:38
@Common Sense – you think this team is losing because of the make-up of the clubhouse? You are even stupider than you look.
The team is losing because they just aren’t hitting. That’s it. Plain and simple. Neither Damon nor Matsui would be helping much their, either, since:
a) both regressed big time this year
b) the guys who are currently filling their roles on the roster (Granderson, Thames, Berkman) are three of the only ones actually hitting in this postseason.
Replace Granderson with Damon and Teixeira is still 0-14, Swisher is still an automatic out, ditto Posada, ditto A-Rod.
Common Sense October 20, 2010 12:42
Uh oh you just criticized the Yankees most valuable player. Bad things are coming your way.
Common Sense October 20, 2010 12:45
Col did you get a hold of some bad glue in Nam. Aren’t all of assholes always talking about small sample sizes. I have no problem with Granderson if you read my earlier post, but didn’t Cashman say he didn’t want to have one person be the DH? Fine so now we have a semi productive platoon. I could go on but it’s pretty obviuos you are way too intelligent for the likes of me.
Nomaas proves itself wrong October 20, 2010 18:12
If the Yankees have been outplayed, what could a manager really do? You guys prove yourselves wrong.
vinny-b October 20, 2010 23:20
thankful the Cubs hired their manager.
as this means Girardi will be back.
- the Steinbrenners like him
- Cashman likes him
- I like him
*and that is all which matters
Joe Pawlikowski October 21, 2010 15:11
I think Girardi gave Burnett the black eye and being Christian he made it up to him by keeping him in.
FNG October 23, 2010 00:10
Based on the moronic posts here, any number of douchebags could manage better than Joe. Including the staff of Nomaas, whos resume includes interviews, photoshops and website hosting. Solid shit right there, boy…
BMG October 26, 2010 17:50
Trade me, and I’ma steal yo shit!
Lakeesha Notah January 21, 2011 12:16
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