Thoughts On The Francisco Cervelli-Red Sox Incident

Francisco Cervelli has way more energy than I do. If I had one ounce of the energy Cervelli has I would not have waited as long as I have waited since my last post to this blog. Apologies to all my loyal readers and advertisers out there for not doing a good job here lately.

Cervelli doesn't need to apologize. I love the way this guy plays the game. The way he moves behind the plate, and how he pumps his fists and claps his hands is really entertaining. I saw nothing wrong with the way he celebrated his towering home run last night against John Lackey and the Red Sox at Fenway Park. You keep right on celebrating, Cisco, and don't let anyone tell you to do otherwise.

I did have a problem with something else Cervelli did. When Lackey plunked him in his next at-bat, Cervelli took issue with him and shouted angrily toward the mound. Definitely the wrong thing to do. If Cervelli wants to demonstrate his energy and celebrate, he can't expect not to suffer the consequences for it. When Lackey hit him he should have done nothing more than run to first base.

You can't have it both ways, Cicso. If you want to keep saying "That's Cervelli," you are going to have to pay the piper.

Maybe The Yankees Can Just Ask AJ Burnett To Leave

This weekend the Yankees were denied the chance at a sweep of the Minnesota Twins, thanks to AJ Burnett. Burnett, already vilified by Yankee fans, hit a new low with the antics he pulled after Joe Girardi removed him from Saturday's game. We don't know what went on behind closed doors but, outwardly, Girardi didn't throw Burnett under the bus, which he should have done.

Maybe the Yankees can do what the Florida Marlins did to Burnett. On a September day in 2005 Burnett had just lost his sixth straight game and had some very critical things to say about his Marlins teammates, the coaching staff and the front office:

"We played scared. We managed scared. We coached scared. I'm sick of it, man. It's depressing around here. A 3-0 ballgame, I give up one run and leave guys on base, it's like they expect us to mess up. And when we do, they chew us out. There is no positive, nothing around here for anybody." [NY Daily News]

The next day the Marlins asked him to leave the team and he did, one inning shy of 210 innings pitched, which would have landed him a $50,000 bonus.

What an easy solution. Just ask him to leave!

I'm not holding my breath.

Joe Giraradi Show: Guess Who?

Before today's game against the Rays was postponed I thought about what might have happened if the game had been played. Thanks to Freddy Garcia's kitchen accident, the starter for the Yankees would have been AJ Burnett. He would have faced James Shields. Is anyone else out there glad the game was rained out?

Rain outs call for TV networks to present alternate programming. So, in keeping with that tradition, I present some alternate programming of my own, courtesy of the YES Network. Below you can watch a segment of the Joe Girardi Show, during which Joe is tested to see how much he knows about his players. He knows a lot! Enjoy:

After Another Awful Loss To Boston, A Call For A Roster Move

The Yankees just completed a 5-2 road trip. But it feels like they went 2-5. They are only 1 game out of first place. But it feels like 10 games. They are virtually assured of a playoff spot. But it feels like it is in jeopardy. This is the way things feel when the Yankees lose 2 out of 3 to the Red Sox and 10 of 12 overall this season.

Perhaps I wouldn't feel this bad had the Yankees been blown out last night.  But the game was almost won and it slipped away. To make matters even worse today is an off-day. The proverbial page can't be turned until tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night the Angels come to town. I don't know the pitching matchups, but it appears that Ivan Nova will start one of the games. Yes, he's still on the roster. At least, as I write this he is. So is Jorge Posada, although, he's just taking up space at this point. I applaud Girardi's decision to bench him. This is tough to say but, he should be released. Let him go and call up Jesus Montero. It's time.

Thanks, Jorge. It's been fun.

The Red Sox, The Rotation and Supernova

Baseball Armageddon returns tonight when the Yankees open their three-game weekend series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Thanks to the Yankees seven-game winning streak it will be a battle for first place in the AL East. I'm looking forward to the series. I can't wait to see which team will end up on top when all is said and done on Sunday night.

Another thing I can't wait for his the decision the Yankees will make about the rotation. The six-man rotation they used this past week worked out pretty well, if you don't count AJ Burnett's awful start. The team is not committing to continuing the six-man staff next week so it is likely that someone will have to removed from the rotation. Who?

It doesn't look like it will be Phil Hughes. He has already been tapped to start on Tuesday against the Angels. That decision was made before Ivan Nova even made his start last night and I don't think that was fair. By doing that they were essentially telling Nova he was going to be taken out of the rotation. Why? He has pitched better than Hughes this season. Yes, Hughes won 18 games last season but, that was last season.

I'm not saying Hughes should be taken out of the rotation. That distinction should go to Burnett. Big money contract or not, AJ Burnett should be taken out of the Yankees rotation. But, it probably won't happen. Ivan Nova will be sent to Scranton in the next few days. I just hope he keeps pitching well and doesn't let it get in his head.

Here's to you, Supernova.

After The Trade Deadline: The Yankees Can Still Win The War

When the trade deadline came and went yesterday without the Yankees making a move, I was one happy camper. After all, there was no one out on the market that was worth trading for, not even Ubaldo Jimenez.

Maybe I should say especially Ubaldo Jimenez. The guy had a great first half last year. He did nothing much before that and hasn't done much since. And Colorado wanted Banuelos, Betances, Montero and Nova for him? Absolutely ridiculous.

Now the question is this: Can the 2011 Yankees, as presently constituted, win the World Series? When you look at the moves some of the other teams made, especially those of the Rangers and the Phillies, the answer appears to be no. And if the two comeback artists, Colon and Garcia, suddenly reach their expiration dates, the answer is surely no. I know, trades can still be made if a player can clear waivers, but really, who is out there that can really help the Yankees? No one I can think of. So, the Yankees probably can't win the World Series this year.

Is that such a bad thing?  I may be committing blasphemy according to the rules of Yankees Universe, but I'm going to say no. I've make a decision to look at my fandom as a war and at each individual season as a battle. They may lose the battle this year but with their prospects still in tact and their farm system the 4th best in baseball, they can win the war in the very near future.

Go Yankees.