This is a long, long season folks, and we need to get a grip. An example of what I'm talking about is this Bob Klapisch article called "Klapisch: Money for nothing in CC, Teixeira." You can find similar stuff from Joel Sherman ("YANKS' BIG-MONEY MEN MAKE POOR IMPRESSIONS"), Bill Madden ("CC Sabathia's first-game struggles make for eye-opener for Yankees") and George King ("CC, TEX STINK IT UP IN OPENER"). And for some über-hysteria go over to the YES Network or Yankees.com message boards where some fans have absolutely lost their minds. Some post titles on those boards include, "Great, another pitcher who can't pitch in NY," "THE SEASON IS OVER," "CC So-bad-thia," "THE NEW FAT TOAD HAS ARRIVED," "Today showed why experts "dis-respected" the Yankees" and "They Cannot Even Beat Baltimore." Once again, this is a long season, get a grip.
This Daily News cover is another example of the garbage, surprisingly they were even worse than the Post.
Look, I understand that the writers need to report on what happens in the game, and yes the Yankees looked awful today, so I understand that they have to report that. But can we stop acting like it's the end of the world? They're 0-1 in a 162 game season. It's not a big deal. It's one bad game. We don't need a week of "Can CC Handle New York?" articles.
And yes, I know I've overreacted many times myself, but I'm seriously going to try not to do that this year, not only because it's pointless, but it's really not healthy. I suggest everyone else tries to do the same. This is especially true for the beat writers and columnists who cover this team and influence so many fans. Another thing that bothers me is that it actually cheapens the significance of games later in the season when you turn an April game against the Orioles into game seven of the World Series.
Don't get me wrong, it's not all the writers who went crazy over this loss. Mark Feinsand had this post on his blog called "Yankees will shake off opening daze," and Peter Abraham wrote this post titled, "It's one game, calm down." So there are some out there who aren't trying to convince the Yankees faithful that their season is already over.
If Sabathia, Teixeira, and the rest of the Yankees make a habit of playing this way and are in fourth place in June, then I can understand people acting like it's the end of the world, but for now I think we all should relax.
39 Comments:
Holy freaking @#$% people. One freaking game. Holy @#$%.
tough one yesterday bud, I feel your pain. Hey, 161 left, brighter days ahead for both of us. :)
You are so totally correct, Greg. Since the loss today, I've been purposely avoiding all sports media. I know the anti-Yankee writers and fans will be out in full force over ONE game. It's one freakin' game people! We need to chill out.
The '98 Yankees started out 0-3, remember? Give the team a chance. There were some great things in today's game, actually... Posada and Matsui being productive after their injuries, Cano swinging a nice bat, Jeter with three hits, etc. Let's relax and let the season play out a bit before we all get our knickers in a knot.
Listen to this guy's comemnt on the LoHud Yankees Blog:
"It’s a disaster. They needed Manny and failed to sign him. They also needed Derek Lowe and failed to sign him. Also they needed to move Derek Jeter to the bullpen and Joba can’t throw 105mph so he’s got to go NOW while he still has some trade value. The season is OVER—OVER."
Oh my god. It's one game. I know I keep repeating this but the 1998 Yanks sucked balls the first 4 games. But they ended up WS champs. And the Yankees won the 2008 Opener but look what happened.
people need to relax...wow...
You can actually amend the statement about the 98' Yankees to say, anytime the Yankees opened on the West Coast they looked abysmal. I remember 98' though, the fans and writers were ready to fire Torre after 3 games. People will say this is the way th NY sports media is, but for the life of me I can't understand it and will never get used to it. Reason has to enter into the equation at some point, or at least the evidence of some kind of baseball IQ.
It's too bad that these 'fans' don't bet more. It could help pull some smart people out of this slump.
Yeah it was one game nothing more nothing less. I guess the "so called media" expects the 2009 Yanks to go 162-0 so clearly the one loss is a disaster.
One serious note/comment on the game though was Girardi's decision to bunt Gardner with a runner already in scoring position. Why Joe?
You know, after I got MLB Extra Innings yesterday I was anxious to watch every Yankee game that's on TV. I still am.
Funny, but by the fourth inning I was in mid-season form, cursing up a storm, uttering words to the effect that some players are way past their primes, etc. The only thing I did not do was throw anything!!
Having said that, I also realized that this is only the first game of the season. If we're playing like this in June, then we have reason to worry (I'd say that if we're playing like this in June Girardi will be history, but that's a moot point right now).
I'm still looking forward to flying up to The City for next week's opening series (well, at least two games of the opening series). If any of you guys will be there, let me know!
Mike
bunting with gardner is the smart move. You have to feel confident about Jeter getting a sac fly there.
I'm not arguing that point anon, because I'm sure that's how Girardi felt. I just don't have that same confidence in him. Most of the balls he hits are grounders.
Greg,
Agreed. The sac fly is anything but a sure thing. It's a wasted out. It also may prove to be the one glaring hole with Jeter hitting leadoff instead of Damon. I have more confidence that Damon gets the sac fly there then Jeter. Either way I let Gardner hit there rather then waste the out.
Gardner needs to try to get on base there for top of order and set up big inning. why play for tie? if anything, Joe could have had Gardner bluff bunt to pull in Mora at 3rd and have Pena steal. I like being agressive early in the year. Sends a message even if it fails.
Yesterday was a lot like last year - bad starting pitching, no clutch hits, bad bullpen and enough good things to make you frustrated. Just 1 game though and I like makeup of club. Only a matter of time before they get rolling.
Biggest failure last year besides pitching......scoring with runners in scoring position.
I really can't comprehend how people who have watched baseball their whole lives have such knee-jerk reactions.
I tend to gauge the season in ten game chunks. I think we start 9 on the road before coming home. I'll be content with going 5-4. 6-3 would be great but I won't hold my breath.
Mr. Whitefolks,
I agree completely. The W or L in one game is less important for sure but it's the style and the substance of each game that matters. Win or lose yesterday there are small things that you don't like to see, most notably not scoring runs in run scoring situations.
I HATE the self entitlement attitude that the New York Media has. Its sickening. I'm not sure who died and made them God. I sometimes wish the Yankees would just blow them off. Don't give them the time of day. They have become too righteous and self entitled.
Mike,
I think we all overreact during the games, I know I do. It's the articles and back pages that come out the next morning that drive me nuts.
Anon,
I truly think some of the writers enjoy the idea that they're ruthless and they feed off that. Then what happens is they try extra hard to be douche bags, especially to new players on the team. It's actually kinda sick.
I added a couple articles to the first paragraph. When I originally wrote this I hadn't seen the crap Joel Sherman and Bill Madden had in the papers today.
were you all expecting 162-0 ??? and CC going 35-0??? and tex going 550 for 550..if so some need to lower their expectations a tad..we will lose more games
Typical by some of these writers. King, Sherman they are clowns.
No wonder the newspaper business is falling apart.
Didn't every writer write all winter long that Teixeira was a slow starter. Now that he had a bad start they are all over him
I'm just laughing at the papers. Sensationalism to a whole new degree. You'd think that it was game one of the world series that we played and pitched like this.
It's just further incentive for me to NEVER, EVER read the papers, because this is just further proof what they're all about.
And to my fellow Yankee fans who are making these ridiculous comments, freaking out like the world is over already, I'm embarrassed that you're a fan of the same team I am. You're spoiled, whiny... well, I'll stop there. Let me just say you need to take a step back, get a GRIP, and realize some things. First of all, Sabathia started AWFUL last year, and he was probably amped up as all hell to try and prove something. Once the season gets into swing he'll be alright. Same goes for Tex.
The truth is, last nights game, despite the score, was winnable, even with the poor start from CC.
But anyway, just re-freakin-lax. It's a long season and this is a great team from 1 through 25. They'll win, and they'll win a lot. But they're not going to win every single day.
Dude, your are way off the mark. I would suggest that we all go crazy and get on these guys until they PROVE they can pitch in New York for the Yankees. There have simply been too many asses who come to the bronx and just cant handle it over the years. I have no problem not only feeling like I've been taken by some fat toad who is on track to steal his 161 million dollars, but also being committed to riding EACH AND EVERY ONE of these guys who fail to perform up to OUR expectations. EXCUSE ME but yankee fans and new york city deserve nothing else. Get a grip man. If you want to "keep things in perspective" maybe you shoudl read up on the old brooklyn dodgers or that horrid organization in queens. It sounds like thats where all of you belong. I know I will be giving a nice bronx cheer every time these overpaid jerks fail in a big spot. This is new york after all. Or maybe its not anymore.
So because we're going to give the guy more than one game to prove himself we're suddenly mets fans? Yea that makes sense.
You can't possibly believe that nonsense, can you?
That paper should be called the Daily Met Report, it's so Mets biased now.
Im responding to the feeling I get from all of these fans saying RELAXXXX after what I think is a horrible game. Not for nothing, its been awhile since the O'neil, Brosius, Tino teams and I have yet to see that these new guys have that type of mettle. This is what makes us yankee fans and what makes us different from mets and cubs fans. We dont take any bs. I have pride in the high expectations we have when all other fans will call us whiny..they don't GET IT. We deserve the best and certainly when the team doles out this much cash, these guys should perform as a higher level. Especially the fat man. I do not expect these guys to go 162-0, that woudl be utterly rediculous. However, I will ride everyone until they get that ring for everyone because thats what it is all about. All of them need to prove themselves before they get our respect (or, my respect since im the only one on this blog who feels this way apparently). This is the yankees, not any other team, not any other city.
"Back to Glory" - You're the kind of spoiled jerk Yankee fan that makes us all look bad. I'm suggesting that every great Yankee in history has had his fair share of UGLY performances. How about we worry less about one insignificant game out of 162 and worry more about giving these guys a CHANCE to prove what they have? If CC and the rest of this team dominates from here on out, and especially in the playoffs, I propose that you have to turn in YOUR pinstripes, pinstripes you don't deserve in the first place for such reactionary garbage.
CC is fat.
Every GREAT yankee has certianly had a fair share of ugly performances. What you imply here is that CC is already a GREAT yeankee. If I am a spoiled yankee fan, fine. Then you are a pathetic yankee fan. This guy is not a great yankee, neither is Arod, niether was giambi, neither was sheffield, abreu, randy johnson, jeff weaver, kevin brown, etc. etc. etc....your of the same breed that probably gave those guys a CHANCE too. I will give CC all the chances he needs but I will also BOO the crap out of him until he proves himself. What a joke that I even have to defend myself. Since when does a yankee fan who merely demands a lot of the team have to defend his views. If you were running the team, we would be a kansas city royals. Wait a minute, they havn't won a WS in a lot of years either. I guess with a few more years of fans like you being ok with 4.1 IP and 6R given up then we will that much closer to actually being the Royals. I'd rather be spoiled than be you MOOSE, say hi to shea for me when you get on the 7 train.
When did anyone imply that he was already a great Yankee?
AnyMOOSE said that "I'm suggesting that every great Yankee in history has had his fair share of UGLY performances." The only thing I can conclude is that he has in his head that CC is a great yankee. I am saying that he is an overpaid fat toad until proven otherwise. This is not a team where you put on the pinstripes and you are a champion. To the contrary, you are a bum until you prove you are a champion. This guy is a bum. I really hope that he learns to pitch in the city and can get it together. Until then though, he is nothing more than carl pavano, with better numbers on other teams.
if you have been paying attention to spring training and say that getting Tex and cc was a mistake after one loss, your an idiot
I support everyone that puts on that uniform, "Back to Glory", and the fact is I give players a fair chance to prove it. You sound bitter over past player failures, and I have to tell you that you come off sounding like the "typical spoiled Yankee fan" that people always make fun of.
You're implying that we need to hate every single freaking new player the team gets right off the bat. We must hate them, revile them, boo them, until they win a Cy Young, MVP and lead us to a World Series victory.
I have to tell you, that doesn't sound fun at all. It sounds spoiled and sadistic. You sound like the kind of fan that grew up in the 90s, and all you ever knew was 1996 on, assuming that every single player on the team is a failure unless they're part of a World Series winner.
Sorry, I choose to be a Yankee FAN, and with that, comes supporting a player, new or old, as much as I can. I've shunned losers after they proved time and again that they aren't good, but you booing a guy before he's even played a game in pinstripes, before he's even been given a chance makes me flat out sick. That's a sick, disgusting way to be a fan - to HATE and BOO a player right off the bat.
It embarrasses me that there are "fans" like you who can boo someone before they even have a chance to show what they have. Sad. Very sad.
Hey "Anonymous," I hope you don't know how to read because no one here said that. Do humanity a favor and go get sterilized idiot.
"Back to Glory" You're an ass. I'm not claiming that CC is a "great Yankee" - he hasn't even played ONE SEASON as a Yankee. Your reading comprehension needs a large amount of work if you think there was any implication otherwise.
Your life must be miserable, where you judge everyone you meet to be a bad person until they prove to you otherwise. How you can be so cynical and negative like that before you even give someone a chance to show it is just sad.
You sound like a guy who grew up in the 80's and thats sad. It embarasses me that yankee fans like you have to bring our standards down just because you saw losing teams your entire life. I prefer to keep my standards high because thats what we all deserve. I dont boo and hate the players MOOSE, However, I will not give blind faith to them liek you do when they have no reason to deserve it. There are players that do deserve blind faith though, they are jeter, Mo, Jorgie, guys like donnie baseball and bernie williams. These are MY GUYS. You can have YOUR GUYS because they belong in the fantasy yankeeland that you live in. I like to live in the glorious past, not this borderline pathetic present. I really hope they tack number 27 up there so that these players can be my guys now also. Until then though, they are nothing special and I will treat them accordingly. Thats not to say that I am not rooting for CC to get 28 Ks a game, I am. But if he plays like the fat toad he played like yesterday, he doesn't deserve any undeserving love from me. My hands are caloused from clapping for, and my voice hurts from cheering for the old champions. I am not wasting strength for these guys until they prove they deserve it. Feel free to do so though, they might need your love to make them feel like they are great yankees. Even though they are not.
I may be an ass, but I want GLORY not MEDIOCRITY. If Im an ass for it, so be it.
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