This is Part Four in my series of People to Blame for the Yankees Missing the Playoffs. In Part One, I explained why Manager Joe Girardi was most at fault. In Part Two, I heaped some blame on General Manager Brian Cashman. Third on the list was Hitting Coach Kevin Long. And now the player most to blame: Jason Giambi.
4. Jason Giambi
The Giamzero has been little more than a cancer on the heart of the Yankee lineup since arriving in New York prior to the start of the 2002 season. In the six years before Giambi came to the Bronx, the Yankees won four World Series. In the seven years since, they have won none.
Over the past seven seasons, the Yankees went 530-366 when Giambi played. That's a .592 winning percentage. Without him, the team went 150-87, or a .633 winning percentage.
The fact is New York plays better when the Human Rally Killer doesn't see the field, and that was never truer than in 2008.
The same thing would happen in nearly every game. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Bobby Abreu would reach base, only to be stranded there by Alex Rodriguez and Giambi. That's how a team with the fourth-best batting average in the league can finish seventh in runs scored.
A-Rod would occasionally come through in the clutch, but Giambi rarely did. Jason hit a paltry .213 with runners in scoring position and just .155 in close and late situations. In 22 at-bats with the bases loaded, he picked up just three hits.
Many people choose to ignore Giambi's .247 average (10th worst among all American League qualifiers) because he clubbed 32 homers—but how significant were those blasts? Twenty-two of them (69 percent) were of the solo variety.
By comparison, only 46 percent of Ryan Howard's 48 bombs drove in just one run, and Carlos Quentin's rate was at 56 percent.
My friend Brad calls Giambi the most selfish hitter in baseball, and I'd have to agree. Time and time again, he comes to the plate with three defenders on the right side of the infield and just one on the left. But where does he hit most of his balls? Directly into the shift.
Giambi had just 16 opposite field hits this year because all he wants to do is hit home runs into the short porch in right. There were dozens of instances this year when the Yankees would've benefited more if Jason laid down a bunt or hit the ball the opposite way, but he refused to do so.
Defensively, the first baseman is even worse. His .990 fielding percentage was second from the bottom among AL regulars at that position, as were his nine errors.
Giambi's zone rating (the percentage of balls fielded by a player in his typical defensive zone) was dead last, along with his 36 assists and 77 double plays turned. This is largely because the Yankee is scared to death to throw the ball.
If New York decides to bring Giambi back for the 2009 season, it would be the single worst decision the organization has made since it signed him to a seven-year, $120 million contract on Dec. 13, 2001.
Good riddance, Jason.
Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com. Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com
comments (10) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
Jason giambi is the biggest joke in all of sports, I said it and I say it again letting tino martinez go for giambi in 2002 was the biggest mistake the yankees did. I was and am a tino martinez fan u have a guy that hit in the clutch, he had power in him and I think one of the best 1st basemans in his days.. But like always the yankees look at stats 1st then everything else ohh a guy hit 40homeruns in okland lets go after him noo it don't work like that. That's y they haven't won ever since. Nice article man I hope u bring part 5, with a alex one I beive thathes selfish too
from about 1 month ago
I agree. Letting Tino go was a huge mistake, just like it was when they got rid of Ted Lilly. You read my mind about part 5. It'll definitely be about A-Rod. Thanks for the comment, Jose.
about 1 month ago
I think Jason will prove useful on a second tier team. His presence will help some lesser team get better looks at a pitchers arsenal. He cant help the Yanks because he is not as good as teh guys batting around him. Like you said the homers look nice on paper but when you mention the percentage that were solos, WTF. I cant believe that and I watched every game. WOW. That is a horrible contrast to his bases loaded numbers. He doesnt scare pitchers like he may have used to. For his sake, I hope he winds up back in Oakland. Ive heard rumors of him going north to Toronto. Either way, I for one wont be sad to see him go. I like this setup your doing with the blame game. Its fun to read. I still think you hit the nail on the head with Kevin Long though. Later bro. Good read.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Todd. Yeah that's an interesting point about Giambi helping a young team get a good look at pitchers because he is very patient at the plate. I hope he goes anywhere other than the Bronx.
about 1 month ago
what a biased bunch of shite.
at least you could have had your AUTHORS POLL ask IS JASON GIAMBI THE ANTI-CHRIST?
from about 1 month ago
I'd respond Yes to that.
about 1 month ago
I don't think they'll resign him, at least I hope because he's not worth the money IMO. Suggestion for your next part in the series, Robbie Cano. He had a .271 season BA (his lowest yet), .305 OBP, (lowest yet), and his fielding isn't the greatest at times. We'll see if they bring in Orlando Cabrera to replace him.
about 1 month ago
I agree with most of the comments above. I think the Yankees biggest downfall seven years ago was letting Tino go. It wasn't like Tino was just a good defender and a poor hitter, he excelled at both. When the Yankees got Giambi they knew he wasn't good with his glove and at the time that they signed him there were other guys on the team like Bernie, Posada, and Tino who were big RBI guys. I don't dislike Giambi, but his lack of production over the past several seasons has been increasingly disappointing. He hits into the shift ALL the time. Why doesn't someone teach him how to lay down a bunt up the 3rd base line? No one would ever expect it. He should be hitting for average...his 32 homeruns don't mean a whole lot with a .247 average. How do you have a guy that not even hitting .250 as your number 5 hitter? I really think the Yankees need to part ways with Giambi and go after a guy like Mark Teixiera who can hit from both sides of the plate and actually play first base. I also have a friend who thinks Giambi is the anti-Christ and cites his joining the team with the lack of Yankee championships and I'm starting to think there just might be some truth in that.
about 1 month ago
Amen, Amen, and Amen. The Gambino is a joke. So were the mustaches on July 9th, though the Spanish language broadcasting crew did look good in them when they did the countdown clock rollback on the diamond vision.
I can't quit figure out how we kept Jason and lost Bernie? But that's another subject.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the comment and thanks for the pick of the day, Rocky.
write a new comment