The Big Hairy Monster Thread

[-tz]

Brian Cashman, quoted in today's Times:

“We are still executing the Gene Michael playbook, which is predominantly left-handed hitters that take walks,” he said. “They are selective. They’re typically big, hairy monsters, as I describe them.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/sp...ostseason.html

Does this mean that the Yankees will look to acquire more, or bigger and hairier, monsters this off-season? Is this what this team needs to succeed in 2013, in the regular season AND the postseason?

Discuss.

[JL25and3]

Brian Cashman, quoted in today's Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/sp...ostseason.html

Does this mean that the Yankees will look to acquire more, or bigger and hairier, monsters this off-season? Is this what this team needs to succeed in 2013, in the regular season AND the postseason?

Discuss.

Perhaps it means that the Yankees are reconsidering their grooming code. Prince Fielder is definitely the kind of big hairy monster Cashman is talking about, but he just couldn't be as hairy if he were a Yankee.

If that's what Cashman wants, he should change the organization's rules.

[-tz]

On the other hand ... he called Ibanez a "big, hairy monster."

“Raul Ibanez didn’t hit in last year’s postseason for Philadelphia; he hit in this postseason for us in a massive way,” Cashman said. “Why did we gravitate to him? He’s left-handed, he’s got power, he’s selective — big, hairy monster.

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/10/1...strong-enough/

[ArodEra]

I wonder how he describes his ex goomah

[ArodEra]

Back on topic. This team needs more that that big, hairy, one dimensional monster, of which there were too many clones in 2012. We need better balance in the lineup and not rely on home runs from streaky, low contact hitters. Put the *@&! ball in play!

[just-blaze]

I wonder how he describes his ex goomah

Is she lefty?

[longtimeyankeefan]

Is she lefty?

Not sure of her political leanings.

[hardrain]

But Ibanez is not hairy at all

[hardrain]

A full year Of Gardner makes a big difference in this hairy monster metaphor

[sweet_lou_14]

A full year Of Gardner makes a big difference in this hairy monster metaphor

I've never thought Gardner was the solution to anything. But he's certainly valuable relative to his cost so I suppose he should be part of the 2013 plan.

[teknetic]

I've never thought Gardner was the solution to anything. But he's certainly valuable relative to his cost so I suppose he should be part of the 2013 plan.

He's pretty damn valuable, actually. He sees a bunch of pitches, draws walks, and steals 45+ bases while playing elite defense.

[False1]

I've never thought Gardner was the solution to anything. But he's certainly valuable relative to his cost so I suppose he should be part of the 2013 plan.

Unquestionably. He's valuable, period. At his cost given the alternatives? He's extremely valuable.

[Nettles]

Perhaps it means that the Yankees are reconsidering their grooming code. Prince Fielder is definitely the kind of big hairy monster Cashman is talking about, but he just couldn't be as hairy if he were a Yankee.

If that's what Cashman wants, he should change the organization's rules.

I have felt for years that the grooming code is outdated. In 1973, George looked at mens hair through a 1960s prism of Short/Cleanshaven = good, well behaved nice boys and Long/Shaggy = dangerous revolutionaries. He wanted each Yankee to look like someone that "the right type of families" would be pleased to see dating their daughter.

Is it not obvious that these types of social casting guideline are irrelevant and unnecessary today? Do today's baseball fans (even most grown up ones) make judgments on people on criteria like that? I hope not - and that's from someone (me) who is himself clean shaven and cuts the hair rather close to the scalp.

[NelsonMuntz]

I only wish our offense was selective at the plate this postseason. I've never seen a Yankee lineup in the Cashman era chase so many pitches off the plate and in the dirt.

[Jax Teller]

I have felt for years that the grooming code is outdated. In 1973, George looked at mens hair through a 1960s prism of Short/Cleanshaven = good, well behaved nice boys and Long/Shaggy = dangerous revolutionaries. He wanted each Yankee to look like someone that "the right type of families" would be pleased to see dating their daughter.

Is it not obvious that these types of social casting guideline are irrelevant and unnecessary today? Do today's baseball fans (even most grown up ones) make judgments on people on criteria like that? I hope not - and that's from someone (me) who is himself clean shaven and cuts the hair rather close to the scalp.

Sadly, I've heard many people say that the Yankees are clean shaven because they are "classy." That is dumb as hell. I would love to see the Yankees get rid of this stupid policy.

[snapple]

He's pretty damn valuable, actually. He sees a bunch of pitches, draws walks, and steals 45+ bases while playing elite defense.

Imagine if he hit for power

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

Sadly, I've heard many people say that the Yankees are clean shaven because they are "classy." That is dumb as hell. I would love to see the Yankees get rid of this stupid policy.

At the end of the day I don't think it matters much, but it seems to me to go with the ridiculous stadium that is directed toward a more affluent, older section of society -- which isn't something that is going to necessarily make the Yankees as easily connected to a broader fanbase going forward.

[JL25and3]

Unquestionably. He's valuable, period. At his cost given the alternatives? He's extremely valuable.

However, his B.H.M. Above Replacement is quite low, even if he is a lefty.

[teknetic]

2005: .355 OBP
2006: .363
2007: .366
2008: .333
2009: .362
2010: .352
2011: .343
2012: .337

Steep decline, but it's somewhat expected due to the lack of guys like Giambi/Posada/Sheffield/Matsui/and an in-his-prime ARod and PED's. The current group of hackers who hit for power and not much else is fun at times, but is very prone to prolonged streaks of awfulness.

[BennyTheJetRodriguez]

Sadly, I've heard many people say that the Yankees are clean shaven because they are "classy." That is dumb as hell. I would love to see the Yankees get rid of this stupid policy.

I've heard this too. I guess the most interesting man in the world is not classy to some poeple. Idiots...

[THEBOSS84]

I am disappointed that flymick has not yet posted in this thread.

[Abe Frohman]

2005: .355 OBP
2006: .363
2007: .366
2008: .333
2009: .362
2010: .352
2011: .343
2012: .337

Steep decline, but it's somewhat expected due to the lack of guys like Giambi/Posada/Sheffield/Matsui/and an in-his-prime ARod and PED's. The current group of hackers who hit for power and not much else is fun at times, but is very prone to prolonged streaks of awfulness.

Tek, wouldnt you say that our general approach of going up their trying to take pitches works against us in the postseason, because for the most part the pitchers we face in October are quality ???

They throw strikes, quality strikes at that.

Maybe thats why we constantly see our hitters in the hole 0-2, 1-2.

[Yogi]

He's pretty damn valuable, actually. He sees a bunch of pitches, draws walks, and steals 45+ bases while playing elite defense.

I think it would have been a much different looking team this year with Gardener. He adds tenacity and a "small ball" dimension that was almost totally missing without him. IMO, a healthy Gardener in mid season form could have made a huge difference in the playoffs.

[JL25and3]

Tek, wouldnt you say that our general approach of going up their trying to take pitches works against us in the postseason, because for the most part the pitchers we face in October are quality ???

They throw strikes, quality strikes at that.

Maybe thats why we constantly see our hitters in the hole 0-2, 1-2.

When you face top pitchers throwing quality strikes, the approach barely matters. You can take pitches and find yourself behind in the count, or swing at pitches that you can't do much with anyway. I don't think taking pitches puts the team at a particular disadvantage.

[Abe Frohman]

When you face top pitchers throwing quality strikes, the approach barely matters. You can take pitches and find yourself behind in the count, or swing at pitches that you can't do much with anyway. I don't think taking pitches puts the team at a particular disadvantage.

Maybe they're taking pitches they should be putting good swings on though, just for the sake of being patient.