High and Tight.

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Girardi Has Lost His Mind

Saw this quote by Girardi about Brett Gardner:

After the Yankees didn't re-sign Johnny Damon to play left, sent Cabrera to the Braves and traded for Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson, Gardner emerged out of spring training as the primary left fielder, although Marcus Thames then got some of the time against lefties.

Yet Gardner is off to a .370 start as a lefty vs. the lefties, going 10 for 27.

"I've always thought of him as an everyday player because he hits left-handers," Girardi said.

Now he is an everyday player, moving from left to center while Granderson recovers for perhaps a month from the groin strain he suffered last Saturday.

Remember last year when the beat writers jumped all over Girardi for "lying" about injuries? Why isn't anyone calling him on this?

Gardner is now playing against lefties because Granderson is hurt. Before that, Girardi moved the better centerfielder to left because he didn't want to have to make Granderson change positions due to the platoon he'd set up between Gardner and Thames. Gardner was not starting against lefties at all, as anyone who regularly reads this space has seen mentioned many times before.

Now, Girardi claims he "always thought of" Gardner was an everyday player because he "hits left-handers"? Girardi chose to instead play Granderson - who has repeatedly proven an inability to hit lefties - instead of Gardner.

Joe, just admit Gardner proved something to you and not that you "knew it all along."

It comes off as disingenuous and revisionist to anyone who has been paying attention.

Labels: brett gardner, girardi is an idiot, joe girardi

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 10:02 AM 1 comments

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Girardi's "Set Roles" Costs Another Game

The situation last night: Dave Robertson came into the game in the 7th inning and faced one batter and struck him out (the box score will show 0.2 IP but one of those was a failed steal attempt).

In a tie game in which you never know how many pitchers you might need, it made sense to send Robertson - who looked good and threw minimal pitches - out for the 8th. However, Robertson isn't the "8th Inning Guy™" so when the 8th started, Chamberlain was called upon. Besides the fact that it's an easy way to burn through a bullpen in a potential extra inning game, Chamberlain had terrible numbers against Kendrick who was due up in the 8th (.667 lifetime average).

When a guy is pitching well and there's no reason to yank him - don't. Girardi's set roles (using his 8th Inning Guy™ in the 8th in a tie or with a lead, regardless of how the game is going, using Rivera only for th e9th and only in save situations instead of high leverage situations) is going to cost the team more wins this year.

I wish for once a manager would grow some balls and manage intelligently and not just stick to "the book" so they don't have to be second guessed if it doesn't work.

This isn't second guessing either - I was yelling about it from the stands in Anaheim last night as soon as Joba came out from bullpen.

Labels: 8th Inning Guy, bullpen, bullpen roles, david robertson, girardi is an idiot, joba chamberlain

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 10:07 AM 0 comments

Friday, April 09, 2010

Well, at Least Now We Know Why C-Grand is in Center

While Gardner clearly was the superior centerfielder based on all available metrics including the naked eye, Girardi chose to put Granderson in center on an everyday basis and shift Gardner to left.

It's become apparant that Girardi didn't want to move Granderson to center from left when he plays Thames against lefthanders, because for some reason, Girardi has decided to platoon Gardner and Thames in left.

Maybe Girardi isn't aware that Gardner isn't the one who needs to sit vs. lefties.

Gardner vs. righties .330/.358/.688
Gardner vs. lefties .311/.317/.628
Granderson vs. righties .367/.530/.897
Granderson vs. lefties .271/.343/.615

It's fairly obvious who the one with the problem via lefties is out of the pair. Yes, Thames destroys lefthanders, and if you're going to play him at all it would be vs. a tough lefthanded starter. However if you're going to bench someone, make it Granderson and not Gardner, unless the players prove otherwise.

This seems more like a salary-driven "proven vet" Torre-type move. Let's hope it doesn't continue.

Labels: brett gardner, c-grand, girardi is an idiot, lineups, marcus thames

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 10:53 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Joe Girardi: PLEASE STOP BUNTING

The situation: tie game, men on first and second, no outs. Johnny Damon (he of the 25 home runs and the poor bunting history) is at the plate.

Damon bunts: foul, strike one.
Damon bunts: foul, strike two.
Damon bunts!!!!!!: sacrifice

The runners move up, everyone congratulates Damon... and the Angels promptly walk Mark Texieria with first base open.

If it were Brett Gardner, Ramiro Pena, or say Jose Molina at the plate, OK, fine, sacrifice away. Damon has a shot to win the game there, and even a deep fly gets the man to third with one out.

The double-play will still be in effect because of course the Angels walk Tex.

Sometimes this year it seems Girardi has fallen in love with the bunt (especially with Jeter) but it's such a poor percentage play that he needs to knock it off.

Also it could be just me, but it seems they mostly bunt against the Angels and Rays, teams built on small/Ozzie/slap/speed-ball.

Labels: bunting, girardi is an idiot, joe girardi, johnny damon

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 4:38 PM 5 comments

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

ATTN: Joe Girardi

PLEASE STOP BUNTING WITH GUYS WHO CAN WIN THE GAME WITH ONE SWING.

Stop giving away outs with 2 men on, no one out, and a 1-run deficit in the 9th. There was no reason for Swisher to be bunting. He's a guy that can hit the ball out of the park, or at least move Hairston to third on a sac fly. Plus the dude gets on base at a great clip (4th on the team amongst regulars behind Jeter, A-Rod and Tex).

Sure, maybe Swisher strikes out or hits into a double play there, but you have to try to win the game, and giving up free outs is not a good way to do it.

Update, 6:18PM PST: Swisher just came up with runners on first and second, nobody out, and hit a double to score the lead runner and move the other to third. That would have tied the game last night, and moved the runner.

Labels: bunting, girardi is an idiot, joe girardi, nick swisher

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:31 PM 2 comments

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Of Whom Does Cody Ransom Own Naked Photos?

Brian Cashman? Joe Girardi? One of the Steinbrenners?

Why is Cody Ransom still on this team? They sent down Ramiro Pena because they wanted him to get regular at bats, even though he's a better hitter and much better defender than Ransom.

They traded for Eric Hinske, who Cashman said could play third, and yet they kept Ransom.

Then they traded for Jerry Hairston, Jr., the ultimate utility sub. He can play all infield and outfield positions. Yet they send down Shelley Duncan on a day they want to play righties against Danks and put Ransom in the lineup at first base! Ransom then repeatedly came up in high leverage situations with men on base and the game at hand, and failed miserably. Girardi never pinch hit for him.

Sending down Duncan and playing Ransom is pure idiocy. Oh, Duncan hasn't been playing that much first base this season? No problem, throw him in right and move Swisher to first if you're going to DH Teixiera.

Look - Ransom cannot now and never could hit. He is not an outstanding defensive player. Here are - position by position - every player who can play the same positions Ransom can:

3B - Alex Rodriguez, Jerry Hairston, Eric Hinske
SS - Derek Jeter, Jerry Hairston, Alex Rodriguez
2B - Robinson Cano, Jerry Hairston
1B - Mark Teixiera, Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada, Jerry Hairston, Eric Hinske

Why is God's name is Ransom still on the roster? The supposed answer: Duncan still has options and Ransom does not. Well, think about this - WHAT TEAM IS GOING TO CLAIM A MEDIOCRE DEFENSIVE SUB WHO HITS LESS THAN .200 WITH NO POWER?

Something is going on here.

Labels: cody ransom sucks my balls, girardi is an idiot, roster moves

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 11:31 PM 3 comments