July 4, 2008

Schadenfreude 50 (A Continuing Series)

John Harper, Daily News:
Joe Girardi can have all the meetings he wants, and the Yankees can talk about being embarrassed all they want, but in games like these, big games the Yankees desperately need if they are ever going to look like a contender this season, they have to be able to count on their stars.

And their biggest stars failed them badly Thursday night. ...

It was so one-sided, in fact, that Girardi closed the clubhouse for 30 minutes and aired his team out for its lack of passion and energy ...

But maybe they're just not that good ...

The shocker was there were some boos for Jeter as well, after a sixth-inning strikeout that essentially punctuated a miserable night for the captain. So apparently even Jeter's championship warranty comes with an expiration date.

Johnny Damon:
The Steinbrenners spent $200 million on us, and we haven't showed what we're made of. And I know this is one game. And I know we have 75 games or so left. We better do something soon. ...

When we put the pinstripes on, there's a lot of pride that goes with it. There's 55,000 fans out there. ... Top to bottom, look at our lineup, what we've done in this game or what we can still do. And we're getting shut out almost every other day or barely scoring one run. It's not good.

Vic Ziegel, Daily News:
The season is getting away from the Yankees, the wild card is nothing they should count on, and nobody wants another game like Thursday night's embarrassment against the Red Sox. ...

[A]fter the Yankees put up nothing but sour numbers, losing 7-0, and today's pitching matchup suggests another Boston Tee-off Party, it's a good time to be wondering if the Yankees understand where they're heading. Be afraid, Yankee fans, be very afraid.

George A. King III, Post:
Sick of watching his team embarrass the most prestigious uniform in sports, manager Joe Girardi blistered the Yankees' ears last night.

"He laid the hammer down," somebody with knowledge of the meeting said. "He challenged them." ...

Immediately upon entering the clubhouse Girardi decided it was time to take the paint off the walls and challenge his underachieving club. When he was done, the coaches followed. Thirty-two minutes after the final out, a grim-faced Girardi emerged from a room that felt like a morgue. ...

The scary thing is that maybe this is what the Yankees are - a 45-41 collection of expensive parts incapable of an extended hot streak due to an inconsistent hitting and a rotation that stunningly includes Sidney Ponson.
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