New York Yankees 2008 Season Official Thread

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by myasu

Well,

I just can't stop imagining what these guys would be talking about while this photo was taken...

Don's telling Wade: "Never mind playing for those bums. When your contract runs out, come on over and play with us!"

Originally Posted by thomamon

Don't you remember what happened during the Stump Merril era?

Not off-hand. Please enlighten me.

[thomamon]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

Don's telling Wade: "Never mind playing for those bums. When your contract runs out, come on over and play with us!"

Not off-hand. Please enlighten me.

Donnie grew his hair too long and it became a big fiasco.

Don Mattingly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by thomamon

Donnie grew his hair too long and it became a big fiasco.

Don Mattingly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ah yes, now I remember. I dug these two back-to-back New York Times articles out of their archive; you might enjoy them:

BASEBALL; Mattingly Flap: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow? - New York Times

BASEBALL; No More Split Ends as Mattingly Rejoins Yanks - New York Times

Those were both written by Murray Chass on August 16-17, 1991 and they describe the incident but only mention that Mattingly went back into the lineup after promising to get his haircut. I found someplace else the follow-up that "He [would] get one two days later‚ and the hair [would] eventually be auctioned off for $3‚000 to benefit a children's charity."

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I am reminded, by the way, that Mattingly's cult status really took off toward the end of his career and thereafter, when the Yankees won the World Series without him after all those years of his playing for mediocre Yankee teams. People really started appreciating how hard he had played despite the lack of success and his chronic back problem.

Don't get me wrong; he was always a fan favorite, just not the icon he is now. He surely wasn't always popular with management during his playing days. Now, of course, he's "Donnie Baseball" to everyone.

[edog23]

Good stuff. I can't remember if that was about the same time when he went with the goatee with the "long" hair.

Also, it looks like Donnie's taking over as the hitting coach with the Dodgers after the break. I hope this means most of his personal business has been taking care of with his family and he's happy and ready to get back to work as a coach.

[Tony M]

It must have rained in June at some point. I looked at the scoreboards this morning and thought why was Moose batting?

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Tony M

It must have rained in June at some point. I looked at the scoreboards this morning and thought why was Moose batting?

Yes, it was a makeup game, the Yankees stopping by in Pittsburgh on their way to Toronto. And yes, Moose was batting alright. He got his first hit in six years!

Darned Bucs played us tough again, though. They stole two out of three from us, those Pirates!

[RchW]

Nice win for substance over hype tonight. Total control by Halladay.

[1998 Yankees]

Somebody else may start a "R.I.P. Bobby Murcer" thread - I'll post it here, just for us. For some reason, this bothered me more than usual for this kind of news. Rest in peace, Bobby.

[edog23]

I've been reading and watching all sorts of stuff on Murcer's life and everybody he was in contact with during his life and all of them send he was always smiling. He always had a nice thing to say and he was full of life. While fighting his bout with the brain tumor, he wanted to get back to work and never let him get down.

RIP, Bobby.

[myasu]

What do you guys think the Yankees should do with Matsui?

He is not a hitter he used to be, and he is not a OK OF anymore.
I think he lost his power after the unjury couple of years ago (maybe it has a lot to do with his bad knees, too), and is not worth the money he is making anymore. (IMO)

I know the Yankees have looked for the way to give him away after 2007, but do you think they will try to do the same after this season, if any team want him at all???

[CommishJoe]

The Yanks are moving in a direction different than Matsui takes them. I could envision them trying to trade him after this season. The only reason they would keep him is the publicity for the Japanese market, but if he's stinking up the town, or relegated to DH duties, that's not the kind of press the Yanks would want. It really depends on how he finishes up the season.

[myasu]

Originally Posted by CommishJoe

The Yanks are moving in a direction different than Matsui takes them. I could envision them trying to trade him after this season. The only reason they would keep him is the publicity for the Japanese market, but if he's stinking up the town, or relegated to DH duties, that's not the kind of press the Yanks would want. It really depends on how he finishes up the season.

I agree.
And I see less and less Matsui publicity this year, even though he has been Japanese media's favorite for a long time. (Because of his personality)
I guess the question is, if there is any team that wants him after this season.

At the end of this month, maybe, but after the season?

[YankeePride]

They dangled him last year and wanted Cain but the Giants said no.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by myasu

What do you guys think the Yankees should do with Matsui?

He is not a hitter he used to be, and he is not a OK OF anymore.
I think he lost his power after the unjury couple of years ago (maybe it has a lot to do with his bad knees, too), and is not worth the money he is making anymore. (IMO)

I know the Yankees have looked for the way to give him away after 2007, but do you think they will try to do the same after this season, if any team want him at all???

He's having a fine year at the plate. His problem (at least offensively) is that he hasn't been able to get into enough games, but he's been just fine when he's played (or isn't a .404 OBP good enough anymore?). He's certainly not the outfielder he used to be, but I don't know that he's that much worse than Damon in left field, and I don't think it's a big problem if he's the DH anyway -- I'd rather see a lineup with Damon in LF, Matsui at DH, and Giambi at 1B than Damon/Matsui in LF, Giambi at DH, and Betemit or Duncan at 1B, that's for sure.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by mlyons

He's having a fine year at the plate. His problem (at least offensively) is that he hasn't been able to get into enough games, but he's been just fine when he's played (or isn't a .404 OBP good enough anymore?). He's certainly not the outfielder he used to be, but I don't know that he's that much worse than Damon in left field, and I don't think it's a big problem if he's the DH anyway -- I'd rather see a lineup with Damon in LF, Matsui at DH, and Giambi at 1B than Damon/Matsui in LF, Giambi at DH, and Betemit or Duncan at 1B, that's for sure.

For once, I agree with mlyons. That bothers me.

[CommishJoe]

Please say no Brian .. PLEASE?!?!?!?!

FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Matsui rehab hits snag; Yanks may look at Bonds

[myasu]

Originally Posted by mlyons

He's having a fine year at the plate. His problem (at least offensively) is that he hasn't been able to get into enough games, but he's been just fine when he's played (or isn't a .404 OBP good enough anymore?). He's certainly not the outfielder he used to be, but I don't know that he's that much worse than Damon in left field, and I don't think it's a big problem if he's the DH anyway -- I'd rather see a lineup with Damon in LF, Matsui at DH, and Giambi at 1B than Damon/Matsui in LF, Giambi at DH, and Betemit or Duncan at 1B, that's for sure.

Yes, he is still a pretty good hitter, and I see your point.

My point is,

Is he worth the money he is making right now, given that he will not get back to his healthy form again, missing probably 40~50 games every year.
If the Yankees were to really rebuild the team with younger players, I still think Matsui should be the first player they will try to let go.

[mlyons]

Matsui's not really making all that much money as Yankees go. He's getting paid the same as Damon, less than Posada, a lot less than Abreu, and way less than Giambi. I'm not crazy enough to call him a bargain, but his salary isn't something that concerns the Yankees front office too badly, I think. Especially considering Giambi, Mussina, Pettitte, and Abreu's contracts are all up at the end of the season. Those guys are leaving way before Matsui.

Matsui will play out to the end of his contract in 2009, and then he'll probably take some sort of pay cut and stay on with the Yankees in a more limited role.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees

For once, I agree with mlyons. That bothers me.

I knew it! I knew agreeing with mlyons was wrong! It just did not feel right, you know? Here's the proof (with a nod to Joe, whose own story link contained this news but I did not want to even think about the possible B***s aspect):

Yankees' Matsui might need surgery on knee -- Newsday.com

Yankees' Matsui might need surgery on knee

The Yankees might have to get used to life without Hideki Matsui, because there is a growing possibility that he will need season-ending surgery on his left knee.

[Tony M]

nah. I'll just delete your duplicate post