If George were still alive.... I don't think Long is the problem, I think the problem is they have a bad hitting roster and their big time free agents they brought in (Ellsbury, McCann and Beltran) haven't produced like they should be.
http://baseballrebellion.com/cpippitt/alex-rodriguez-kevin-long-swing-woes/ If you ever had some time, read and watch this stuff. It's a joke.
I think it's hard for outsiders who aren't with the team seeing how he works with the players day in and out to say if he's a problem or not. Whether he's good or bad isn't the point, my point is even the greatest hitting coach in the world couldn't do much with guys like Brian Roberts, Brendan Ryan, Zolio Almonte, Zelous Wheeler, Dean Anna, Scott Sizemore, Yangervis Solarte to name a few. I put more on the Yankee failures on Brian Cashman and his 4th straight year of bad roster construction and no depth on the roster or farm system before going after their coaches.
He makes it very known what he teaches. So it's not as if I base my opinion on what I think he teaches. It's not good stuff. I mean, if he all the sudden started teaching stuff completely different, then yes, you could have a point. The Yankees roster obviously isn't great. But that doesn't dismiss the fact of what he does. That's like Joe Madden opening saying he likes to treat his players like 3 year olds, and then someone saying, well you don't know what he really does behind closed doors.
Obviously not to say if Yankees had a good hitting guy, they would win it all this year. But it does have an effect.
I guess I'm just giving the Yankees the benefit of doubt. He's been the Yankee hitting coach since 2007, I would think that if he was doing a poor job or teaching things that don't work or players didn't like him he wouldn't still be with the team. Certain guys swear by him like Cano and him teaching Granderson how to finally hit LHPing. From 2007 to 2012 the Yankees have been a top offensive team, the past two years they haven't been. Do you want to give Long credit for those 5 years then blame for the last 2? Or is it because of the roster h was given to work with? Those are questions that only the Yankees brass would know. Again not saying he's good or bad but he shouldn't be made the scapegoat for the team underperforming. If anyone is to blame it's more on Cashman than Long, whether you like his teaching ability or not.
Haha. No one is making him the scapegoat. Not one person said he was the reason their losing. He is one of many problems there. Just because he isn't the only problem, doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be fired.
You haven't been listening to WFAN in New York the past few days then. Which is why I suspect FinYank brought it up originally. He's been a big topic among Yankee fans lately.
My bad, I thought FinYank did originally but yeah Long has been getting hammered on the radio in NY, he seems to be public enemy #1 right now because the Yankees lack of offense.
Rays keep finding something new to complain about. This time it's Joe Maddon complaining about all the people cheering for Jeter this weekend at the Trop. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...th-cheers-for-derek-jeter-at-tropicana-field/ News flash for Joe, but I bet at least 80% of those people at the sell outs were Yankee fans. Let the people who pay for their tickets decide who or when to cheer, as long as they keep it respectful it shouldn't matter that they are paying their respect to a HOFer.
In a kind of shocking move the Sox have sent JBJ down to Triple A and called up Mookie Betts to play CF. Triple A season has only 2 or 3 weeks left so JBJ will be back but yeah I guess being in Triple A and playing everyday without any of the pressures might help JBJ out? Also gives the Sox a few weeks to see Mookie's defense in CF too. I know I always say you can never give up on a young player but outside of a 20 to 25 game sample JBJ has been pretty awful in the MLB, which is a shame because he's still a positive WAR player because his defense is that damn good. I do think this is probably the beginning of the end for JBJ in Boston because I think Mookie Betts is a better overall player anyway.
It isn't shocking, the kid is lost at the plate, he needs to find himself down there.....he went 0-5 last night... His defense is nice, plays a studly CF, but he has to hit, right now he is a defensive replacement at the MLB-level....I am just amazed if it is the beginning of the end for him, he was so highly touted....one of the originals of the string of golden boys you got down there...
80%? Seriously? Let's be a bit more real here fink. Also, Joe wasn't addressing Yankee fans, which is why he said, it's ok to cheer for Jeter, but remember why you came to the game, to cheer for the Rays. It's one thing to cheer for Jeter, it's another to join in on Yankee chants for him. I will praise Jeter until the end. He's a first ballot. Great player. But never should RAYS do that. Give him a standing O. Give him his present. But you're a rays fan.
The Sox want him to shorten up his swing, they think it's a bit long and thus why he is missing pitches to hit. The thing with JBJ is that he wasn't just pumped up by the Sox brass but by every national media that covers prospects. I mean when you look at his numbers in college and the minors you can see why, he has a good eye at the plate, takes pitches, works the count and plays an outstanding CF with a rocket for an arm. Hard not to fall in love with a player like that. The only knock on JBJ was his lack of power and wasn't a speedy guy. I guess the one take away there is that MLB is the hardest sport to play and there's a huge huge gap between even Triple A and the majors.
Eh people did the same thing for Ripken.....a very select few players get this treatment...Jetes is one of them, he is loved down there and he loves TB, don't be surprised if one day he tries to buy that organization..
I don't want to turn this isn't a "Rays can't draw" discussion but obviously the Yankees have a huge fan base around the country, especially in the Tampa area. The Rays have the lowest average attendance in the MLB this year drawing about 17,848 fans a game so when they draw 26k, 31k and 28k for a weekend series those aren't all Rays fans in the Trop. So yeah the 80% thing is probably a bit hyperbole on my part but I'm willing to bet at least half of the Trop were Yankee fans, just like when the Red Sox, another team with a large fan base, come to town half of the Trop is at least made up of Sox fans. And I know Joe wasn't addressing Yankee fans, my point is it shouldn't matter what the fans say or do at a game as long as they are respectful. I went to a Yankee/Sox game at Fenway in August and the whole place was cheering for Jeter everytime he got up and I have no issue with it, same thing happened with Rivera last year. The majority of those fans (whether they are Rays or Yankee fans) are seeing Jeter play for the last time. I just don't understand why Maddon would care enough to to go through the media about it. I'm sure the Rays ownership doesn't care who the fans are cheering for if they can get 10k extra people into the Trop a game. There are certain battles you should pick and certain ones you simply let go and this is probably one Maddon should have let go because there's nothing positive that can come from it. Although that's exactly why I said before that Maddon has a bit of Bobby Valentine in him. I mean has going after a fan base every worked?
Fink thoughts? They say he hasn't played a game in a year and a half. The money isn't an issue but there is some length to that contract.
Hearing some reports that its either a 7 year/72.5 million dollar deal and that the contract starts this year. Not worried about him not playing for over a year because that's normal with most Cuban players due to having to sneak out of the land and stuff. I don't mind the length because of his age, he's 27. So he'll be 34/35 when the deal ends. Also think the contract dollar figure is good too no matter if it's a 6 or 7 year deal. Never seen him play so have no idea how good or bad he is but I'm glad the Sox made a move for an offensive player that can have some impact and has speed, especially when you consider how poor the FA hitters are the next few seasons. The Sox already had a lot of OFers and now even more. I definitely think it's a no brainer now that the Sox are going to use some of them for trades. Wonder what it means for someone like Mookie Betts, as this signing along with Betts probably means the JBJ Era is most likely over. Maybe Betts plays 3B or turns into the Sox version of Ben Zobrist? Should be an interesting offseason for sure.
Alex Speier is reporting it's a 7 year/72.5 million dollar deal that starts in 2014 and ends in 2020. http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/bo...gree-to-seven-year-deal-with-rusney-castillo/
The Yankees new good luck charm.... http://sports.yahoo.com/news/yankee...f-pitcher-wearing-horse-s-head-052604593.html
Giambi was def a guy I would have liked to play ball with.....imagine being on the road with that guy....
This story is kind of crazy: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...ero-montero-tries-to-go-after-him-with-a-bat/ If I'm Seattle don't you have to fire that scout? I mean who in their right mind would do that to a player, especially one that you work with in the organization?
Some Red Sox minor league notes: Henry Owens was named Double A Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, while LHP Brian Johnson, another Sox pitcher, finished 2nd. Anthony Ranuado was named Triple A International League Pitcher of the Year.
So was that intentional? It looked intentional IMO, his left hand was in well before ball, making that move he did with his right arm totally moot unless.........
Didn't see the play live, just tried to watch it on the MLB.com it only shows it once and at that angle it looks very strange however none of the Red Sox after the game thought it was intentional and by all accounts Forsythe is a good guy and not a dirty player by any means. If the Sox did think it was done on purpose I'm sure there would have been a brawl or in the very least Forsythe taking a ball to the ribs. And I'm aware 4 Rays got hit last night but 3 of them were on breaking balls and Maddon when asked didn't think those were intentional either.
Yeah he's a FA after the year but the main reason why the Sox didn't trade him was because they wanted to resign him and the feeling is that Japanese players are very loyal to their teams and don't like it when they get dealt midseason as they don't like to be uncomfortable. Obviously right now its looking like a huge mistake that he was dealt and I was saying it since it was obvious the Sox weren't making the playoffs he should have been traded. I would think the Sox will still like to bring him back however based on his age, injury history and how he's pitched since August it should be a major red flag. But if they can sign him cheaply for 1 year might as well roll the dice. As far as who would be the closer if he didn't come back or isn't good, they signed Mujica as depth, they could also use Tazawa. Of course could use one of their younger arms to fill that role too, it wouldn't shock me if Workman, RDLR or Ranuado ended up as a closer long term. Of course there's always the "sign some guys and hope for the best" strategy that some teams use. The closer position is very low on my list of needs for 2015 though.
Yea he was one of my favorites too, especially his style was so out of bounds and wild. But it was great
Good article on Pedroia: http://www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-gammons-pedroia-gives-red-sox-his-all-on-and-off-the-field/ Love the guy but just hope he can stay healthy next season.
