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A payroll of $209 million should at the very least guarantee that a team is in the thick of the playoff race until the very end, but barring a miracle run, the Yankees won’t be. While George Steinbrenner is no longer in charge, the failure of the 2008 Yankees demands someone to be held accountable and fans are well within their rights to expect changes.
This space has argued in the past that Brian Cashman deserves to return next year and we are not changing that stance. Firing Joe Girardi would be a stupid move, he has had some bad moments, but he certainly seems capable of growing into the job. However, some of Girardi’s coaches need to be replaced.
Fans may howl for Kevin Long’s head since the hitting coach is the easy scapegoat when a team scores 200 runs less in a season, but Long coached the hitters last year and should therefore get a mulligan. Instead, consider Dave Eiland who was brought in with much fanfare about his ability to work with young pitchers. “Generation Trey” as Michael Kay calls them has combined for 4 wins, all from Joba Chamberlain. Kennedy and Hughes bombed out of the majors before getting hurt. Eiland has made some progress with Jose Veras, but he is one of the coaches who should be on the hot seat when the season ends.
The other coach who needs to be replaced has hurt the Yankees in two different decades. In the mid-80’s Bobby Meacham’s anemic bat and awful defense sabotaged the Yankees numerous times. In the present day his freewheeling approach to coaching third has cost them runs at the plate. Through July, the Yankees had 13 runners gunned out at home, among the highest number in the league. Meacham replaced Larry Bowa who was probably the best third base coach in the league and also kept Robinson Cano in line. Cano’s regression cannot be placed entirely on Meacham’s shoulders, but the need for a better job at third and someone who can get Cano going again should lead to Meacham’s demise.
Changes to the staff are just a start of what promises to be a long and interesting offseason for the Yankees.
Photograph of Alex Rodriguez reacting to hitting into a double play by Bill Kostroun/AP
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Girardi must go. He has been unable to motivate his players.
Cashman must go. His strategy is an expensive failure.
While the Yankees continue to fight for October baseball in 2008...a look at the future in 2009 and the lineup...
CF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Ramirez...yes Manny
3B Rodriguez...yes AROD
DH Matsui
1B Texiera
LF Nady
C Posada
2B Cano
SP Sabathia
SP Wang
SP Chamberlain
SP Pavano
SP Mussina
You may think I am out of my mind...but I think this may be our team for 2009. Hometown Home Boy Manny Ramirez will come to the Bronx with shorn locks and desire to destroy the Sox. One team Mark Texiera said he would accept a trade to is the New York Yankees and Texiera and will become the next great Yankee 1st baseman in the new stadium. And C.C. Sabathia chuckles at his press conference wearing his new pinstripes and says "the stripes make him look trim." Pavano signs a one year deal for the league minimum and goes 14-6 in 2009. You'll see...Oh and General Manager Brian Cashman orchestrates the whole thing to the tune of $320 million...start spreading the news...
Frankly, I don't see Posada returning. This year's injury, at his age, is career-ending. Watch for a tearful retirement press conference in November.
Cashman's been coasting on the success of the turn-of-the-century Yanks that he had only a marginal role in putting together. Give me that much cash to work with and I could put together a team that's at least fun to watch. Can his ass.
the yankees hold an option for pavano, so the minimum is not an option for them - he's gone, good riddance.
manny's a cancer.
girardi stays.
meacham goes.
long stays.
eiland stays.
cashman stays too.
arod settles his divorce.
2009 world series champs.