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September 18, 2005
Giambi's The Key
From Mike Lupica:
A-Rod is having a wonderful season, and might end up MVP of the American League, even if David Ortiz has clearly been the MVP in the season played so far. But as the Yankees have started to play since the first of July, Giambi has been their biggest run producer.
How does this all go without Giambi showing up, the way he has, out of nowhere? The Yankees were desperate to get rid of him, get out from under the $80 million they still owed him when his grand jury testimony about BALCO was leaked. If he was in the last year of his contract instead of the middle of his contract, who is to say they wouldn't have cut him when he started the way he did, and this year looked like last year? Only he did have that contract, one that looked like the worst in all of sports back in May. He also had the right not to go to the minors when the Yankees suggested that.
They were stuck with him. We had him as a cartoon character in the newspaper stealing money.
Now he hits during the second half the way David Justice did five years ago. Now Giambi is the MVP of the second half.
And, he's right.
Just three and a half months ago, I wrote:
Actually, I think I can sum up the difference in the Yankees and the Red Sox over the last couple of years in two names: Jason Giambi and David Ortiz. Yankees have the former and the Sox have the latter. And, it's worse that New York paid gazillions for Jason and Boston found David on the scrap heap. Go figure.
Thanks Jason, for closing the gap.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at September 18, 2005 11:36 AM
Comments
Thanks? At $17 million a year what's to 'thank' him for? I won't fall into that trap.
Posted by: Don at September 18, 2005 01:49 PM
They're all the key, really. I mean, take out Giambi, we're not good. But, what if you take out A-Rod? Or Jeter? Or Mo? All would be infinitely more sizable losses. So, I think it's all of them as a mix and Giambi is certainly a part of it.
Posted by: Patrick at September 18, 2005 01:59 PM
I mean, take out Giambi, we're not good. But, what if you take out A-Rod? Or Jeter? Or Mo? All would be infinitely more sizable losses.
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Chances are, it would probably be the same, no matter which player is out. That's the way the game is set up. IIRC, a player is worth a handful of wins to a team (wish I could find the study)
Look at the number of games won before ARod came to town, look at the number of games won last year, when Giambi missed a chunk of games, look at the number of games won before Jeter came up for good...
Posted by: Raf at September 18, 2005 08:39 PM
Anyone know the Yankees R/G numbers for before and after 7/1?
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at September 18, 2005 10:30 PM