Yankees end of year mailbag: Questions and comments from readers

Okay, I was a Little Mean

Maybe no piece I wrote this year produced more passionate opinions on both sides than, The Yankees need to end their relationship with Bryan Mitchell.

This was an especially mean-spirited and acerbic article, with statements such as:

"Well, the point is, a man of your talent—your very, very limited talent—is wasting his time here in New York. And more importantly, you’re wasting my time."

Some laughed along; some definitely did not.

"Donnie Passmore • 4 months ago Lol hard to justify a spot for Bryan…….."

"Rj Suitor • 4 months ago Why are the Yankees continure this blind loyalty to the likes of Mitchell and Cessa with so much better talent languishing in the minors. Yankees get some common sense please trade, DFA or banish these guys to the minors. Tired of these project pitchers..cut them lose!"

"auggieX • 4 months ago Dear Joe, Prior to my admittedly bad game vs. the Mets, I felt I’ve done pretty well. Despite being used as a starter in the minors and erratically in the majors, I have pitched as well as can be expected. Heck, if you took away three appearances, my ERA is stellar. (BTW we are 2-1 in those games.) Find a different scapegoat, perhaps Aroldis’s dead arm or Mr. Judge’s disappearing act. Suck this, BBM"

"Pmhgroup • 4 months ago Dear Cory “Santa” Claus. (The Santa refeference is obviously for your rather rotund belly, not your jolly attitude.) You penned a rather personal attack, a hateful rant towards a young man after a particularly rough outing. My what a tough guy you are to be so bold as to spew such hate with your pen. One imagines it is highly likely you spend the majority of your nights, watching the Yankees at home, sitting alone, on a worn out couch, eating cheese doodles while you scream obscenities at your television. Still the adult fans of the Yankees wish talentless hacks like you would keep your childish thoughts to yourself. And do yourself a favor, put down the snacks and find yourself a gym."

Nice try, but I still like Jack better as a new dad. Although, this sounds more like mom. But I put out the vibe and have no complaints that it was returned to me. I laughed quite a bit, Pmhgroup, but, once again, it’s crunchy Cheetos, not Doodles.

But Yankees fans are going to talk about what they want to talk about. So, many of the comments quickly turned into a referendum on Joe Girardi.

"Jim Hall • 4 months ago Send Giardi with Mitchell he sucks worse! How can you leave a pitcher in until he gives up 4 runs and nobody warming up in the bullpen, then do the same with the next pitcher but he only gave up two runs when he could get the ball over the plate. I’ve been a Yankee fan since 1947 and the only Yankee manager as bad as Girardi is Stump Merrill."

"ed greeno  Jim Hall • 4 months ago You got that right Jim I also have been a Yankee’s fan since 1947 and you are Joe Girardi is a loser"

"Bill Andrae • 4 months ago The Yankees need to end their relationship with Joe Giradi as long as he continues we will never reach our goals. True we need to part with some pitchers,but how come we keep giving Cessna, Caleb Smith chances when all they seem to know is give up homeruns so leys be real and first thing thos off season is part ways with Giradi."

This is not a debate with a satisfying conclusion for anyone. The Yankees did indeed jettison Mitchell a day or two later. And they did great without him. But neither I nor anyone else knows if the team would have found the same success with him.

And Cashman also fired Girardi. But that was after an unexpected run to Game Seven of the ALCS. If the team wins it all next year, it will be very easy to hypothesize they could have done it with Joe, as well.