Since a good many of us on this board are 50+ I was wondering what trade or decision did the Yankees make over say the last 30-40 years that had you asking...."WTF are you guys thinking?" For me there's been several but I'd have to say the handling of the way Bernies career came to an end after the 2006 season. 131 games 12 / 61 / 281 and he wasn't worthy of another year. It just seemed to happen way to quick & I thought he deserved more. JMO.
Very well put Rick... Hmm, I'm going to have to think hard on this one. I gotta' take Kim to the Dr. here soon for most of the day, today. I will give this one some serious thought today, and get back to you. (you didn't think I wouldn't bite like a fish on this one did you, as long as I'm not flapping around on the shore)...LOL.
Wasn't he signed as a free agent? I got one for you, Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. I mean really was George smoking something?
I remember hearing him as the player who hit the most HRs after being a Yankee... but I don't remember him while with the Yankees or in the farm... or the circumstances... And... I know I'm not 50+, hell, not even 40+, but I was thinking from my very early years there were a number of situations handled poorly... Gene the Stick Michaels, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson coming and going... Or even more recently, how things were left with both Don Zimmer and Joe Torre...
And as much as I didn't like the guy I think letting Reggie walk was a mistake. And I think years later George even admitted to that.
OK, I'm not 50 yet (46 going on 47), but my trilogy of WTF are pitchers: Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano.
I got to agree on the above. The Pitcher's noted, never performed to expectations, or previous accomplisments. Pava-NO, utterly pissed me off, so did K.Brown. Johnson was a dud, and washed up. McGriff would of made an awesome DH, and 1st bagger backup. I read in SI, when McGriff was still a Minor Leaguer, and Top Prospect, how he would hit balls up and over, the 3rd deck in RF. Many a Yank, said they had never seen anything like the Crime Dogs HR's. Yep, letting Reggie come to Anaheim was a mistake on George's part. Obtaining "The Chemist" Jose Canseco.in 2000,off of waivers, was a joke. To bad we didn't know what we know now, or Jose would of never been able to come out of the Clubhouse. I loved seeing P. O'Neill being signed. He was a stud in Cincy and The Bronx. Buehner's little brother (a spitting image clone of his big brother Jay), played 1st base in Lancaster, for the JetHawks in 96. He could smash a ball, yet never was his big brother either, also little brother was a dud, but in the M's Org. Of course, my favorite acquisitions were seeing Catfish, Reggie, come to NY, from Oakland, a great score or pickup of Free Agency, in your face. I wasn't happy to see Doug Drabek get traded either for (Pat Clements, Cecilio Guante and Rick Rhoden). I never like Rhoden's lazy sloppy approach or ways, I despised everything about Rhoden. Drabek had one nasty curve-ball, one of the best for His Time, a big mistake letting Doug go.!! Getting Pinella, "Sweet Lou" for Lindy McDaniel in a trade was an utter steal....!!! Letting Goose Gossage go to San Diego was a joke. So was letting Nettles go, traded for Dennis Rasmussen, and a player to be named later, who was that player anyway?? I also was glad to see Sparky Lyle come to NY for Danny Cater. I also enjoyed seeing Sudden Sam McDowell come to NY, although he was pretty muich washed up, and a alcoholic by then. Nothing of his glory years in Cleveland. His 1-6 record, was nothing to what we were used to seeing, in a once great Lefty. I enjoyed seeing Bobby Bonds come to NY as a FA, also.
Bobby Bonds wasn't off the FA pile, he was aquired via a trade with the Giants. Bobby (Bonds) for Bobby (Murcer). As both a Giant & Yankee fan I hated to see the Giants trade him. But seeing him go to the Yankees softened the blow. And after a good season with the Yankees (30-30) The Yankees used him to pull of the trade that would put them into the world series. Trading Bonds to the Angels for Mick the quick & Ed Figarora. Again for the 2nd year in a row I hated losing Bonds but It ended up being one of the greatest trades George ever pulled off. Bonds was one of my favorite players & had he stayed with the Giants he probably would not only have been in the HOF today but I've no doubt he would also have been a member of the 500 HR club. I'm not sure why Bonds played for so many teams over the years (I believe 8) but I heard he had his demons that mostly came from a bottle. A great talent. which became a great waste after only (I believe) 14 seasons.
Ooops, my bad, I meant to say that....I don't know what got into me, late night, bloodshot eyes, and a lethargic mind, I guess. Your right, I honestly enjoyed seeing Bonds in NY, but thought he should of never left Frisco, he seemed at home there. His day with Mays, were incredible. Bonds was (from what I heard in the area that time) supposed to be heir apparent to May's throne. He was fast as a greased bug, a decent glove, and fielder, when he wasn't running into Mays. His hitting was streaky, a good line drive hitter, with some pop, but his batting avg. suffered, from his trying to hit a HR every AT Bat. Good morning Rick, sent you a PM.
Not many realize that he was well on his way becoming the 1st 40-40 player. I think it was in 73 when he finished with 39 HRs & 43 SBs. He had I think 10 games left in the season to hit #40 but it never happened. SHIT!, there was suppose to be a sad face at the end. I copied & pasted by no luck. Oh well.
I may of forgot to say, when placing smileys, ensure your cursor or mouse click where you want the smiley, then click on the smiley icon...When highlighting text for color or font types, then highlight the field of words, then click on the color or bold, or size you want the text to be...but opposite for smileys, just ensure your cursor is where you want the smiley...
1. Letting Reggie go. (Mistake) 2. Trading Buhner for Phelps (Mistake) 3. Trading Kelly for O'Neill (Glad I was wrong on that one). 4. Passing up Jack Morris' discount (Mistake) 5. Passing up Carlos Beltran's discount (mistake) 6. Letting Pettitte go after 2003 (Mistake) 7. Signing Dave Collins (Mistake) 8. Signing the Goose after Lyle was the Cy Young (Glad I was wrong about that) 9. Firing Dick Howser after he won 103 games (Mistake) 10. The last 3 Billy Martin hires (Really?)
