Tagged: Brett Gardner
You are no long in the running for Yankees next top long reliever…
Pitching has been the main topic this off season for the Yankees, and for good reason… Well, pitching and A-Rod, but that’s a given. So, what will I blog about today… A-Rod or Pitching?
I’m sick of writing about A-Rod, that blogging ship has sailed for the time being… So, lets move on to the pitchers.
There is no denying the fact that I love me some Phil Hughes… read this blog, listen to my show, its pretty evident. Anyway… Phil Hughes has been cut and optioned to minor league spring training with the SWB Yankees. Am I mad about this move? You would think so since I’m Pro-Hughes, but I’m not…
In the picture above… Phil is what Tyra would call FIERCE
I understand the value of Hughes being down in the minors. He needs to be down in the minors actually. He and Kennedy should have never been called up in the first place. They were way too young and inexperienced. Sure, they had some highlights, but for the most part, they did… no so great.
Both guys need some time to mature and grow as pitchers in the minors. Sure, some of my feelings are purely selfish, I admit I hope Hughes is with the SWB Yankees for the first 2 weeks of June, so I can see him close up in Charlotte. Selfish, I know, but he needs the work in the minors to build his self back up after a horrible year last year in the majors.
I’m not saying he needs to be in the minors the entire year, but he doesn’t need to have a starting position in the rotation handed to him at the age of 22. Neither does Ian Kennedy. Bad, bad, bad, decision on the Yankees part last year. Make them at least think they have to fight for a spot, don’t just fork it over.
SIDE NOTE: Ian Kennedy makes more money that Phil Hughes… yea, that’s what I said. Either the Yankees have gone crazy, Kennedy has one heck of an agent, or Hughes has one sucky agent… whatever the case, I’m pretty upset about that one.
In other pitching news… Kei Igawa has yet to be cut. He’s thrown 12 and some odd innings of scoreless baseball. WOW big friggin’ whoop, IT’S SPRING TRAINING!!!
I think this is it… this is the golden opportunity all Yankees fans have been waiting for since we realized Igawa was, how do you say… “not very good.” Can you tell I’m excited about this! His own countrymen think he sucks, I would think they would know better than us. Cashman either got some crazy awful scouting reports on Igawa or Igawa fooled everyone… either way it could be a conspiracy (just saying).
I was talking to my man, Bill and we both agreed, Igawa could be sent to the NL and be pretty successful. I think Igawa will be another Jose Contreras, suck while he’s with the Yankees and beast it out when he goes to another team. Trade him to an NL West team and he could be a 10-15 game winner.
Now, all of this brings me to my next point… I’ve heard rumors that the Yankees are opening talks back up with the Milwaukee Brewers to get some trade done to bring Mike Cameron to New York… could they be thinking of trading Igawa? Now, granted that’s the NL Central, but it’s still the NL (not trying to start anything with NL fans, I’m just an AL girl…)
On to Mike Cameron, I’m not a fan of mediocre, middle aged outfielders, even though (again, my guy Bill says) Cameron has some mad range. I think Swish and Gardy can get it done in CF. I’m sorry I know Gardy is probably a quadruple-A player, but I love that dude. So much heart… I guess it’s the high school softball coach side of me that loves Gardy. When I have a girl who plays her heart out, even if she’s not the best on the team, she’s getting playing time!
Yes, I know this pic has nothing to do with anything, but I couldnt resist…
Final Whisper: I have a major announcement coming tomorrow. Everyone tune in to A Show of Their Own tomorrow at 9pm EST to find out what it is. Our URL is www.blogtalkradio.com/ashowoftheirown If you can’t make it to the show, I’ll post the big news on this blog as well after the show.
Baseball Nerdish as Always,
Brit
Kiss Kiss
So, the 50th episode of A Show of Their Own aired this past Sunday. It was probably the worst show for me. Bern did great, but my internet connection was not cooperating with me at all and I think I was on the show for a grand total of 5 minutes.
I love doing the show, but sometimes I wonder if its all worth it. I don’t get paid for the show and I put a lot of work into it and feel like I get nothing in return. Sure, we’ve interviewed a lot of great people and I met Bill, the most awesome guy ever, through my show, so that’s all positive, but the behind-the-scenes stuff just sucks right now. Maybe I’m burned out or something, I don’t know, but at this point I wonder if all this stuff is worth my time and effort. The Yankees really should at least give me and Bern season tickets or something for all we do (just my humble suggestion though).
Anyway… lets get back to baseball.
So, Alex is nursing his hip and is said to be ahead of schedule. I love Alex, seriously… I want him to be the best person (not just player) that he can be. I feel like I need to go visit Alex and set him straight… I think I could give him better advice than the team of folks he has advising him now!
Have you guys seen the latest picture of Alex? Bless his heart, he’s kissing himself in a mirror! ALEX, what are you doing buddy? I thought this rehab stint would help him get out of the public eye for a little bit, which would be the best thing for him at this point, but he goes out of his way to find the media. I guess its whatever floats your boat, but Alex, you can’t be serious… kissing yourself in a mirror?
Bernie Williams has been accused of slapping a woman in a Puerto Rican night club. Ok, I don’t know the truth here, but it’s my prerogative to believe Bernie is innocent on this one. I just can’t believe the mild mannered, soulful, Bernie Williams is a woman beater… just doest make sense to me. So, maybe I have an unhealthy relationship with Yankees players… but I refuse to believe someone I looked up to for the better part of my life could turn out to be some troll. I could be wrong, but I’m praying that I’m not.
Brett Gardner is quickly becoming my favorite player. This guy has heart and its fun to watch him develop. As soon as he learns that he doesn’t need this big majestic homerun swing and starts putting the ball on the ground, he’ll be swell… So, Melky has him beat on arm strength, but Brett has more heart than Melky at the moment… plus Brett’s faster, which is something the Yankees need now because like it or not the game is changing and at some point they are going to have to learn to manufacture runs and not rely on the homeruns.
So, that’s my little spill for now.
FINAL WHISPER: I can’t wait for the actual season to start…
Baseball Nerdish as Always,
Brit
Fighting for “The Franchise”
Pitching, Pitching, Pitching. That was Brian Cashman’s off season mantra. We came, we saw, we conquered the free agent pitchers market. We nabbed the best pitcher on the market. Sure, we spent a lot of money, but we upgraded and made moves that are perceived to bring the World Championship back to the Bronx. I’d like to use this forum as a way to plead my case for the Yankees’ prospects; namely, Phil Hughes. Ok, so you all have probably guessed by now, Phil Hughes is my favorite Yankee, so this may be bias, but so is everything else on the blogosphere.
So, last night on A Show of Their Own, we got into the argument of prospects or free agents/trades. I don’t consider one option better than the other. It all depends on the players involved. I’m emotionally attached to 25 men! I really want Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson, Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera, Robbie Cano, Phil Coke, et al to succeed in pinstripes. They are great guys that we’ve (I guess I should say the Yankees and not we, since I’m not working for the Yankees… yet) developed in our farm system. OK, Phil and Ian went 0-8 together last year, but they shouldn’t have even been up in the majors. YES, Phil had some moments of greatness in 2007, but he was only 21 at the time and he hadn’t matured as a pitcher completely. The fact of the matter is that IPK and “The Franchise” were rushed through the minors. Phil was pitching hurt for the majority of the 2008 season AND he couldn’t see at night. HELLO… I announced on my old blog that Phil was hurt and couldn’t see before the news came out (except I diagnosed him with a strained oblique rather than a broken rib), but if I could see that (all the way in NC) why couldn’t Joe Girardi, or a trainer? Phil needs to take some of the blame too, I suppose. He should have told someone he was hurt, but that comes with maturity as a pitcher.
I think Phil is a great pitcher. Obviously the Yankees feel the same way or they wouldn’t have by passed Johan Santana and all the other deals that flew their way. In 2008, Phil changed his mechanics (that worked so well for him in 2007) subconsciously to compensate for his injury. It happens… Phil worked his problems out this fall with the Peoria Javelins. I think this will be a comeback year for him and IPK. I’m so sick of people dismissing players after one bad year. Everyone hates Cano, Melky, IPK, Phil, EVERYONE… people are actually starting to hate DEREK JETER of all people. Geez, lose some range and you’re just crap in some fans’ eyes. I know I get impatient with players during games, but I think we should all take a moment to remember that these guys are YOUNG. They still have some maturing and growing to do.
All that being said, I don’t know what I want to happen… The Yankees play the Braves in July, I’ll be at all three games. I’m going to Cleveland to see the Yankees and I’ll be at Yankee stadium too… so, I want Phil to be in the majors flourishing, because that’s what is right for him. But, for selfish reasons I want him to be with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during May 12-15. Why? Because Scranton will be in Charlotte to play the Charlotte Knights. I go every year to see Scranton play Charlotte. I’ve made friends at the stadium with guys who work there… they always tell me how to get autographs and find the visitors. If Phil’s with Scranton then I’ll have a better chance at meeting him (which is my new goal in life, sorry Grady).
So, that’s my big dilemma…
Final Whisper: Don’t give up on our young guys. They just need time to get adjusted and realize their potential. They’ll be fine!
Baseball Nerdish as Always,
Brit
The Yankees Baseball Whisperer 