Thursday, August 02, 2012

Thurman Munson June 4, 1947 - August 2, 1979



I thought it was appropriate to remember one of the greats in Yankee history. 33 years ago today he lost his life in a plane crash at the Akron-Canton airport. It is this tragic event that is my first real Yankee memory.

35 comments:

Crash said...

Yankees have the Mariners coming to town for the weekend. And since trading Ichiro, the Mariners are one of the hottest clubs in baseball. Maybe not exactly what a struggling Yankees team needs right now.

Crash said...

Yankees release Jack Cust. They DFA Pena.

Cliff Lee has been placed on waivers. Be interesting to see if the Yankees place a claim and if so how the Phillies handle it.

Everyone had Texas and LA battling it out for the AL West and one of the Wild Cards, but here we are in August and it's the A's who are now ahead of the Angels in the standings. If the Angels do not make the playoffs, it has to be considered one of the greatest disappointments of all time giving the amount of talent they brought in during the offseason and at the deadline.

Crash said...

Marlins earlier this season (just a couple of weeks ago) traded for Carlos Lee (from Houston). At the deadline the Marlins had a deal in place with the Yankees for Carlos Lee but he invoked his no trade clause and did not want to go to NY.

Interesting.

Crash said...

Banuelos has been shut done for the year. For a bone bruise on the elbow???

He only pitched in 6 games this year. Yankees are considering winter ball for him if he heals up in time.

old professor said...

Too bad about Cust. He was working on getting his swing back and apparently got it back.

I don't see the Yankees going for Cliff Lee. If the Phillies place him on waivers, there is a trade in the works and this is a formality. Carlos Lee has NEVER played for a winner and now you know why.

Nova looked absolutely terrible. Just spent four days in LA you can have the left coast.

Crash said...

Dodgers claimed Cliff Lee, but Philadelphia is publicly stating they had no interest in trading Cliff Lee. I call bull sh*t. The Dodgers and Phillies did actually discuss it and couldn't come to agreement and all the insiders say it was all about how much $$ Phillies were willing to eat.

Cliff Lee would look a hell of lot better than Nova right now. Nova has been the worst pitcher on the staff over his last 8 starts, or something like that. Garcia hasn't been great either. Thankfully the Yankees probably don't have to worry about either of them come October if Pettitte comes back. you go with CC, Kuroda, Pettitte and Hughes in the playoffs. Kuroda has been the Yankees best pitcher for a couple of months now. Very consistent.

old professor said...

Yankees lose again because Hughes forgets how to put people away.

Crash said...

That this is an interesting comparison:
Alex Rodriguez ($29,000,000) 352 AB, .276, 11 HR 44 RBI 54 R.

Eric Chavez ($900,000) 186 AB, .280, 11 HR, 26 RBI, 24 R.

old professor said...

Once Chavez reaches the same number of bats, the comparison will be more favorable to Chavez. Yankees refuse to acknowledge that A - rod is on the down slope of his career. They always put it in terms of waiting for him to get hot. Not going to happen.

When Pettitte comes back, who gets bumped from the rotation. I take both Garcia and Nova out and put Pettitte and Phelps in the rotation.

Crash said...

I agree about Phelps and Pettitte. Garcia and Nova are not pitching well...I think each get one more start whoever does worse gets skipped and Phelps gets the start. Especially with the lead down to 4.5 games.

Don't look now but the Nationals are the best team in baseball with a .613 Win%, Then Cinci, Texas, and NY.

old professor said...

Last night's game showed the Yankees are getting tight and the losing is becoming a problem. Cano drops and fumbles a ball he normally handles; Tex goes too far to his right the field a ball and doesn't come up with it and knocks it away from Cano. Even Robertson looked frustrated on the mound and could not control his curveball.

The team needs to pick it up and loosen up. Detroit has good pitching, but the Yankees are making all of Tiger hitters look like all-stars.

Texas is wherer they are because of the West being weak. They are finding out that the signing of Oswalt did not prove to be a God send. And Darvish has learned that once a pitcher goes through hitters once around, they will make adjustments thus his mediocre record. If he is as good as advertised, he will make the necessary adjustments. If he doesn't can we say Irabu??

Don't understand the Girardi logic of taking CC out of the game when he did.

Crash said...

I agree the team looks tight. Everyone trying to do too much.

The 7th inning doesn't bother me with Robertson. I mean it was a crap infield hit and a little bloop single. That's baseball luck, nothing more. If Robertson was crushed then I would second guess it a little bit.

Today's game delayed first pitch scheduled for 1:35. Small 3 hour window to get the game in though. Probably going to be rain shortened.

Crash said...

Good win yesterday for the Yankees. I think Girardi blew his top for no reason. Not sure if that's what sparked the comeback, but whatever.

I have to say I've been impressed with Kuroda. He had a slow April, but he has been by far the most consistent Yankee pitcher of the season. Yankees should look to bring him back on a 1 or 2 year deal.

Yankees have a 5.5 game lead on Baltimore and are heading to Toronto for a 3 game set. Yankees play Baltimore 7 times from Aug 31 - Sept 9. That will be the division.

old professor said...

Lead has shrunk. Rays now in second place. Hughes chokes the chicken in the fourth inning.

Crash said...

Second outing in a row where Hughes pulled an AJ Burnett and just really gave it up in one inning. With CC going to the DL the other guys need to step up and Hughes didn't.

Kuroda has pitched well, Nova finally pitched well against the Jays, and Garcia has actually pitched well since being brought back to the rotation, even though I don't like to give too much credit. The most he has given up is 4 runs against Oakland. If Phelps can go 5 tonight I think the Yankees have to be happy with that.

Crash said...

17 years ago today Mickey Mantle passed away.

old professor said...

Okay one in the book against Texas. Yankee offense comes through as does Phelps and Lowe. Phelps looked good and Lowe looked even better. Hey this could be a new tandum that allows the Yankees to keep CC out until September 1st.

Crash said...

I was impressed with Phelps. Even in the first inning when he threw 25 pitches, he only allowed the 1 run. The HR to Davis was poor location and a Yankee Stadium HR. But he really did well to limit the damage at that point and made it through 5 innings. Lowe while he had good movement on all of his pitches, he was leaving pitches up in the zone and it looked like the Rangers were just missing them. Not going to complain about the result but he needs to keep the ball down as a sinker pitcher.

The HRs by Chavez and Swisher were blasts, no home field advantage with those shots.

Crash said...

Pedro Feliciano was perfect in his second GCL rehab outing. He could be with the Yankees by September 1 if progress continues. He'll probably follow a similar path as Joba. Pitch on consecutive days, then multiple innings, etc.

Crash said...

Another great pitching performance from Kuroda. Swisher is thriving in the 2-hole. Yankees have the best record in the AL and have a 6 game lead over both Baltimore (who beat up the Sox last night) and the Rays (who lost to Seattle in walk off fashion).

Boston is a couple games under .500 and 6.5 back in the WC, I think 12.5 back of Yankees. Apparently a lot of trouble brewing over in Boston.

Crash said...

Well now we know why Melky was playing so well...50 game suspension for PED use. IDIOT!

old professor said...

Garcia a model of consistency again. Glad to see Feleciano is pitching in the minors earning his two year major league contract. Maybe he will get in to a couple of games after September 1. It will be interesting to see all of the moves the Yankees have to make when CC, Pettitte, Feliciano, and A-Rod come back.

Crash said...

Yankees take the series with Texas. That's pretty big. Go for the sweep this afternoon, then the Sox come in for the weekend.

old professor said...

It would be nice if Nova could pitch as well as his previous three teammates. However, he leaves too many pitches in the hitting zone. Hamilton could become the first hitter in history to hit five home runs in a game.

Boston is slumping again and they are doing their best to rollover and play dead. Yankees should be able to finish the Sox season this weekend by sweeping.

old professor said...

Phelps pitches well and takes the loss. Rumors are beginning to swirl that when CC comes off of the DL it will be Joba that is sent down. He has put on weight looks out of shape and can't hit his spots.

Crash said...

Kuroda pitched another great game and in the process put the Sox 4 games under .500 and have sent them well on there way to missing the playoffs for a 3rd straight year.

By the way, Yankees should offer Kuroda a good contract at the end of the season.

I have no problem sending Joba down. But I the bigger question has to be who comes out of the rotation...Phelps has pitched real well. Nova had a good start Freddy has been consistent and Hughes was decent, not great but decent. I guess Phelps has to go back to the pen but he has proven he can be in the rotation for next season.

Crash said...

Just read a piece by Joel Sherman about Hughes and Joba and where they fit in with the Yankees long term as both are free agents after next season. Sherman speculates that they should trade Hughes after this season.

One line from Cashman that I thought was interesting was not about Hughes or Joba, but rather Pineda. He is not counting on him at all for 2013...from the NY Post: "Cashman said Pineda “would not be a factor” in building a 2013 rotation because “he is coming off of a major injury. The best thing to do is just forget about him until he declares himself ready to help. Let him surprise us as a luxury.”

Sherman thinks Hughes's asking price will be $8-12MM per...Kuroda is getting $10MM and is pitching lights out, not sure Hughes can justify such an asking price.

Sherman ponders a Shin-Soo Choo for Hughes trade in the offseason. Choo is making less than $5MM now, will be a free agent after next year and is represented by Boras. At best that would replace Swisher for next year.


Crash said...

Went to bed the Yankees were up 3-0, wake up and they lost 9-6 WTF!!! I think Joba should be sent down...I can't believe he drills Youkilis again.

old professor said...

Not only is Joba having issues, but so is Logan. Joba was not ready nor is he ready to face major league pitching. (He may have actually worn out his welcome in NY). Logan has now taken two loses in a row. He is not hitting his spots and looks like he is overused. The entire bullpen has become a liability. Eppley is giving up hits as is his left handed counterpart. Don't be surprised to see the Yankees cough up the lead in the East. They are playing sloppily and the Rays are hot. The use of all of the role players may finally be catching up with the team.

Crash said...

Nova to the pen Phelps stays in the rotation when CC comes back. Nova has had 1 good start in his last 10. With an ERA approaching 5 for the season, he's essentially replaced the mediocre performance of AJ.

old professor said...

Swisher is reportedly looking for a Jason Werth kind of contract. That translates to seven years and $126 million. That averages approximately 18 million per year or 5 million per year than he is making now. If this rumor is true than say good-bye to Swish and his Nicky Swish t-shirts.

Apparently the young arms have thrown a wrinkle in the future plans of the Yankees. Joba has been a disappointment, Hughes an even greater disappointment, Pineda won't be ready until July and only if he is in shape and stops drinking, Campos was shut down, Banuelos and Betances have either been hurt or demoted so neither one will be ready for prime time next year or even 2014 and Warren needs more work.

This translates to the Yankees spending money on free agent pitchers they were not anticipating.

Team also seems to have hit another cold spell and it is definately at the wrong time.

Crash said...

If Swisher is asking for that kind of money he won't be in pinstripes next year. I can't even see the Yankees making a competitive offer.

I think the Yankees have to look to sign Kuroda and Pettitte to deals and make a decision on Hughes and/or Nova. Both have value on the trade market and could net OF help to replace Swisher. Maybe Upton or Reddick or Choo, something like that. That also means Phelps is in the rotation next year though.

old professor said...

Before the Yankees look at making a trade that will include Nova and/or Hughes, for an outfielder, they will have to decide what the rotation will look like next year. At this point it is CC and four question marks. Kuroda may not want to pitch next year. Pettitte has already insi aged he would need to sit with his family to discuss, which means a March decision. Garcia could also be gone.

Crash said...

Bartolo Colon fails a PED test...50 game suspension means the A's need a pitcher ASAP if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. Just throwing this out there...Swisher and Nova or Hughes for JJ Reddick and a minor leaguer.

Crash said...

No offense last night, except Jeter. Hughes didn't pitch poorly, my only complaint, and it has been his & Nova's trend all season, when the Yankees comeback to tie or take a lead they give it right back. It took Hughes all of 3 pitches to give the lead back to Chicago after Jeter tied it. That is unacceptable.

The other 'news' is loud mouth Skip Bayless questioning if Jeter is taking HGH. This guy is an idiot.

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