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Did anybody else just notice Don Mattingly sitting with his legs crossed girl-style?

i made the same comment when i saw donnie on the bench.

anyway, who do you want cairo on the playoff roster in place of? shelly? i would much prefer right handed power off of the bench than *maybe* a pinch running stolen base.

it can't be betemit either, he is just better than cairo. also can't be philips obviously. also, the yanks aren't going to sacrifice a pitching spot for him either, it just won't happen, nor should it.

Dude are you drunk? You want Cairo taking up a roster spot just because he might have some elusive "Dave Roberts, type moments." Come on. Take a hot shower, drink some coffee, sleep it off.

I agree with you, Steve. Cairo is a great utility infielder because he plays four positions very professionally. I understand that Betemit is the more dynamic offensive player, but he is not the defensive player that Cairo is--not to mention the baserunner or bunter. The question is what do you want from your utility infielder? Sound defense, good baserunning and bunting skills? Or better offensive sabremetrics?

In this situation, this is where Smallball trumps Moneyball.

Joel, how much do you even know about Betemit? Have you seen him play before he got to the Yanks?

Just because he can hit doesn't mean he can't smartly run the bases or bunt.

Cairo's defense was overrated. His arm is horrible, and he wasn't good at third base.

Here's what I want from my utility player: should someone go down, he can play there for a while and NOT hurt the team. For all the love Cairo got, he was a punchless hitter without much skill. I'll take Betemit every time.

If the Yankees are desperate for a base-stealer in the playoffs, they can bring up Brett Gardner.

I'm a big fan of Cairo, and I think it's unfair to call him overrated. He wasn't an all-star, but he could fill in anywhere, handle the bat well, and run well. I don't think anyone can say Cairo did anything to hurt the team - he did everything Torre asked of him and then some.

That being said, he was the only player that Yankees could "could" cut ties with. Betemit has to stay with the club, otherwise what was the Proctor trade for. Dunncan is developing a cult following because of his HR power and gritty attitude, and Phillips has become the everyday first baseman. That leaves you with cutting Damon or Giambi (ummm, not an option) or cutting another pitcher, and the bullpen is as inexperienced as its been all year, so we need the extra arms.

So as much I liked Cairo, and appreciate what he brought to the bench, it was the only move to make. I hope he catches on and does well somewhere.

Joel, please define both SmallBall and MoneyBall.

Some of these anti-Cairo comments are a bit harsh, but I do agree with the outcome. I really like him and it's not fair that he got DFA'd. However, he simply got caught in a numbers game and the numbers do not favor him. Betemit can basically do everything Cairo does, has far more power, is much younger and has much more upside. His defense is more than adequate. I'm sure Cairo will help someone (if not the Yanks) b/4 the season's through.

Meanwhile, one can't help being impressed with Joba. Despite his obvious nerves, the kid battled thorough. He clearly has great stuff. If he can maintain his control, we can really have something special here down the stretch.

baileywalk, I saw Betemit live on Sunday. What I saw was a guy who almost threw a doubleplay ball into rightfield and was saved on a fantastic play by Cano. Then I saw him not cut off a Joey Gathright grounder--which let Gathright get an infield single. Mussina glared over at Betemit after the play.

This is not to say that Betemit can't be a competent infielder. But my first priority for a utility infielder is to come into close games and not mess up. I trust Cairo over Betemit in those situations. With Damon, Giambi and Duncan on the bench, I have no idea how a guy like Betemit fits on this roster. The trade for him still mystifies me unless the Yanks are absolutely sure they are not resigning A-Rod and see Betemit as someone who can grow into the next thrid baseman.

The Brett Gardner stuff is nonsense.

The Brett Gardner stuff is nonsense.
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Um, why? Steve mostly wants him around because he can steal bases, and the only thing he has over Betemit is speed. So if the Yankees are really desperate for a base-stealer in September they can bring him up to be a late-inning base-stealer. Why is that nonsense? I saw Brett a lot while he was in Trenton last year and he blazes. I saw him steal on a pitch-out.

Cairo was one of the main reasons people bitched and complained about how the Yanks had a 200-million-dollar payroll but a 2-cent bench. Cashman is finally cleaning that up, and I'm happy about it.

baileywalk, I'm not looking for a basestealer. The Yanks have a number of guys who can steal a base in a big spot.

And, I'm not looking for a big bat. The Yanks have three big bats off the bench right now.

What I'm looking for is a guy who in the 12th inning in 51 degrees in misty rain in Detroit in mid-October can turn a double play. That's Cairo. That is the utility infielder role on a club.

I think we're all shying away from what is truly important here... that Don Mattingly may not have a penis.

Joel, are you kidding? You're judging Betemit because you saw him once at Yankee Stadium? That's just a foolish statement.

Betemit is serviceable in the field. He has a much stronger arm than Cairo and plays a better third base. I have nothing but confidence that he can turn a double play.

Yes, Cairo can do that. But in the bottom of the 12th, he's just as apt to ground into a double play of his own.

Betemit is serviceable in the field. He has a much stronger arm than Cairo and plays a better third base. I have nothing but confidence that he can turn a double play.
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And he can play SS as well as 1b. Phillips can play 3b, 2b, and 1b. Duncan can fill in in the OF and 1b. All have more upside than Cairo.

There was no need for Cairo to be here. I wish him the best of luck.

The Yanks actually have a bench now. This pleases me.

I think we're all shying away from what is truly important here... that Don Mattingly may not have a penis.
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I think the fact that he has children disputes this claim.

Seeing this comment, I can tell that you and another poster named Garcia are really going to get along.

The Sporting Brews,

Cairo's career fielding numbers are far superior to Betemit's--except at 3B, which is Betemit's natural position. Betemit has virtually no experience at 2B or 1B. Torre's quote about Betemit trying 1B sounds like Torre talking about Sheffield last year.

So now we have a UTILITY INFIELDER who has no experience on the right side of the infield, is a below average SS, and is competent at 3B.

But hey, his OPS, OBP, VORP and BABIP are better than Cairo's so that makes everything great. Right?

But hey, his OPS, OBP, VORP and BABIP are better than Cairo's so that makes everything great. Right?
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Exactly. That's why Betemit is still with the team, and Cairo isn't. That's why backup utility infielders are a dime a dozen.

Cairo's this year's Rey Sanchez, Luis Sojo, Paul Zuvella, Andy Fox, etc, etc, etc