tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Pinstripe Trouble – Brace Up It’s Going To Be A Long Summer

While losing 6-0 to the Red Sox wasn't bad enough, all hell broke loose when it was reported that Jorge Posada pulled himself out of the lineup before the game.  You see, Posada was demoted to batting ninth.  Batting only .165, Posada was moved to 9th and Nick Swisher was moved to 8th with Brett Gardner and Russell Martin being moved up in the lineup.  What transpired during and after the game tells me a lot about this team and this organization.

Can I understand why Posada was moved down in the lineup??  Yes, but wouldn't it have made more sense to just sit him??  The Yankees know Posada.  They know that he is an extremely proud person who has a fiery personality.  As a result, why wouldn't they have just sat him.  What difference would it have made if he was sitting on the bench or batting ninth.  If he couldn't bat 6th or 7th in the lineup then he didn't deserve to play.

Brian Cashman goes on FOX and tells a national television audience that Posada pulled himself out of the lineup.  As evidenced by Posada's remarks after the game this clearly irritated him.  However, Cashman says that he told Posada and his agents exactly what he was going to say on FOX.  What I found most telling was a comment that Posada made that went something like "that's the way he does things now."  To me that shows that Posada doesn't appreciate Cashman's handling of players.  Think about how the Jeter contract scenario played out.  If Posada feels that way, don't tell me that there aren't others in that clubhouse who feel the same way as Posada.  If that is the case, how can you expect this team to function as a team.

This collection of millionaires is not like the 1977-78 Yankees.  That group took on all the distractions including the meddling of George Steinbrenner and played to win.  They were World Champions twice including the dramatic 14 game comeback against these very same Red Sox in 1978.  Somehow I don't think this collection of players could pull that off.

This entire organization is in trouble.  As I have stated many times on this blog, the farm system has not produced players to begin the process of phasing out older stars, some of whom are icons.  The Steinbrenner boys are responsible for giving Jorge Posada the extra year on his current contract because they couldn't risk further fallout after the hostile break-up with Joe Torre.  Think: bad break-up with Torre, open warfare in contract negotiations with Jeter and now Posada. 

This team has played poorly since last August.  In fact, in an article today in the NY Post it was pointed out that the Yankees were 29-30 from August 1 to the end of the 2010 regular season.  Couple that with their current record, they are 49-47 since August 1, 2010.  Hardly championship material.  What's more troubling is that I don't see much hope of it turning around.

There seems to be a terrible entitlement malaise with this team.  Some of these guys are stilling living off the 2009 Championship.  Some of these guys are living off past performances.  The Yanks have lived off the long ball this year but that tells us a lot.  It tells us that these guys are playing as individuals.  When do you see someone try to get something going by laying a bunt down?  When do you see the Yankees hit and run?  How about stealing a base.

There needs to be a major shake-up.  The Steinbrenners are going nowhere.  Cashman's contract runs out this year and I think there needs to be serious consideration for a change.  Girardi also needs to be reviewed in that I believe that some of these guys he's played with have a problem with him.  Some of the young players down on the farm need to be brought up.  Jesus Montero should be brought up now.  Bring up Jorge Vazquez.  Think about bringing up Kevin Whelan and see what he's got, he of 12 saves and a 1.50 ERA.  There needs to be an infusion of youth beacuse this team is old and stale.  Maybe youthful energy can spur some of these older players.

I have felt from the beginning that this was going to be a long season and there is nothing that this team is showing me that would lead me to believe otherwise.  Tonight they have to depend on Freddy Garcia to avert a sweep.  What does that tell you?

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/yanking_our_chains_3SjsFdJyJZrihm4nvsCdKN

Read the article above by Kevin Kernan.  Brace up boys, it's going to be a long summer!!