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Q & A with Pete Abe of the Journal News

By Bill Campione

Peter Abraham follows the Yankees beat for the Journal News and writes my favorite Yankees blog. Besides being a fellow Elvis Costello fan, he provides witty insights and information that is hard to find anywhere else. Pete Abe sat down with us for interview on the state of Yankees.

FullCountPitch: I feel that the underachieving of the Yankees is a result of an aging offense that was expected to live up to past performance. Some have suffered serious injuries (Posada, Matsui), some have been woefully inconsistent (Abreu, Giambi, Jeter), and almost all have not hit in the clutch. Put that with the regression of Melky and Cano, and a subpar bench and this team is fighting to stay in the wild card race.
Do the problems run deeper than that? Is this team poorly conceived or did everything just go wrong at once?
 
Pete Abraham: I don’t feel the team was poorly conceived. It was largely the same team that led the game in scoring by a wide margin last season. It’s a combination of factors: injury, decline of older players and the failure of some younger players to adjust to how teams pitched them. It’s impossible to gauge a percentage, but the managerial change clearly had a poor impact on the offense. Girardi tinkered endlessly with the lineup until just recently and is far less relaxed than Torre was. You can’t coach a baseball team like a football team.
 
 FCP: Joe Girardi has made some very curious decisions lately. How do you feel about the following:
 
- Sitting Damon and Giambi against LHP
- Playing Wilson Betemit so often
- Late game pinch hitting and defensive substitutions
 
Pete Abe: I’ve commented on all these things in my blog. I think he’s far too wrapped up in playing righty/lefty matchups. The Betemit thing is more on Brian Cashman, who inexplicably loves the guy. The substitutions are a product of who they chose for the roster, not so much strategy. Their bench has generally been lousy all season.
 
 FCP: Girardi seems a little more tense than Joe Torre, especially during the recent losing streak. Has his personality had an effect on the team’s play or demeanor?
 
Pete Abe: Seems a little more tense? Yeah, you could say that. He makes caffeine nervous. Girardi is a young manager whose first team had mostly rookies. Now he has a veteran team and he’s tried to manage the same way. I think he’ll learn and get better but clearly he’s had some problems this season connecting to his team. But that was bound to happen no matter who was manager. Once Torre left, there would be adjustments for everybody involved. He’ll learn the players better and they’ll learn him. If not, they’ll have to make a change.
 
 FCP: The Yankees have had numerous team meetings this year, the most recent reportedly taking place on August 19. What is generally said at these meetings? Do you think they have any impact on winning?
 
Pete Abe: If you played youth or high school or college sports, you know the drill. The coach tells you to relax, but implores you to play with intensity. Don’t try too hard, but get the job done. It’s the usual cliches because there is no magic formula. I personally don’t feel meetings help. These guys are pros. Managers hold meetings so they look like they’re doing something. Meetings are more to impress the owner.
 
 FCP: The Yankees attempted to integrate young pitching into a team that had World Series hopes. With injuries to many of their young starters, they may attempt it again next year. Is it possible to rebuild and compete at the same time?
 
Pete Abe: Sure, if the kids play well. Look at Minnesota this season.
 
 FCP: Do the Yanks have a chance at the division? The Wild Card?
 
Pete Abe: Sure, they have a chance at the WC. The division is out of reach unless Tampa Bay pulls a Mets.
 
 FCP: What have been Brian Cashman’s biggest successes and failures? Do you think he deserves another contract? Do you think he wants another contract?
 
Pete Abe: Cashman has been the GM a long time, it would be a long list to compile. I think he’s better than most, although he makes some curious decisions on pitchers. They should bring him back. Once he knows whether he wants to come back. I would think he does.
 
FCP: Hank Steinbrenner is indicating a big push at star free agents next year. CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira seem like the logical choices, but can any team, even the Yankees, give six and seven year contracts anymore? It seems to have hamstrung them as they try to compete and carry bloated contracts for players like Giambi and Damon.
 
Pete Abe: Listen to Hal, not Hank. I think they’ll make a big run at Sabathia, not so much at Teixeira. Look for them to try and sign Sabathia to a five-year deal at an inflated value (like $23 million a year) instead of a seven-year deal at $20 million.
 
FCP:  Tell me something about A-Rod I don’t already know.
 
Pete Abe: I could, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy.
 
 FCP: Has the media crossed a line when it comes to players’ personal lives? Do you have to ask A-Rod about his alleged affairs? Do you want to?
 
Pete Abe: I don’t think the sports media has crossed the line. We generally do not care what a guy does off the field. I have never asked A-Rod a question about his personal life and have no desire whatsoever to.
 
FCP: Why do you think your blog is so popular, especially among other bloggers? What does the blog offer you that you regular space in the Journal News does not?
 
Pete Abe: I try and post often and put some thought into what a fan would want to know about the team. I have more space than I have in the paper, that’s the advantage.

FCP: I saw on your bio that you are a fan of Elvis Costello. What is your favorite album and song?
 
Pete Abe: My favorite album is Trust and my favorite song of his is “Oliver’s Army.” 

Great thanks to Pete for his time and insights. You can read his Yankees blog here or you can catch him in the Journal News.

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