JASON GIAMBI WEARS GOLD THONG FOR LUCK: REPORT

May 16, 2008 --

Baseball players are legendary for their superstitions, but Jason Giambi's technique for snapping a batting slump may rank among the strangest : He puts on a gold lame, tiger-striped thong.

"I only put it on when I'm desperate to get out of a big slump," he told Portfolio.com.

Giambi has shared his slump-breaker with other Yankees New York Yankees , including Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Johnny Damon Johnny Damon , Robin Ventura and Robinson Cano.

"All of them wore it and got hits," he said. "The thong works every time."

Clearly, Giambi could use a little help from the golden thong about now. As the Yankees continue to sputter heading into their Subway Series against the equally sluggish Mets New York Mets , Giambi is hitting .188.

But Giambi, in the final season of a seven-year, $120 million contract, sa id he doesn't listen to booing by the crowds at Yankee Stadium.

"I never hear the boos because I'm too busy booing myself," he told Portfolio.com. "No critic is worse on me than me. I can beat myself up pretty good."

mikeyjay21:

"All of them wore it and got hits," he said. "The thong works every time."

Is this the SAME thong?  Sounds like it!  What's the Seinfeld line when Kramer wants to borrow his swim suit?  Found it:

JERRY: I don't know, my bathing suit?  That's a little familiar, I don't want your...your boys down there.

KRAMER: C'mon, what's wrong with my boys?

JERRY: Your boys should stay in their neighborhood.

Or, also in line with a Seiny episode, Weeks should just freeball it and see if the added sensation wakes his ass up a little bit....

But, I honestly do not think it is effort or attitude with Ricky, you want this guy to succeed so bad that it hurts. Almost as much as it might hurt if he did go "free" and got hit in the sweet spot.

jkloklo

 

jkloklo:

Or, also in line with a Seiny episode, Weeks should just freeball it and see if the added sensation wakes his ass up a little bit....

But, I honestly do not think it is effort or attitude with Ricky, you want this guy to succeed so bad that it hurts. Almost as much as it might hurt if he did go "free" and got hit in the sweet spot.

jkloklo

 

Agreed.

I am still pulling for this young man to do well and get out of this early season funk as well. We need him big time, and he deserves it the way he carries himself and comes to play every day.

He still must try repay his manager and GM and teamates for sticking with him and having faith in him despite a slow start. He owes no one any-thing really when you think about it, but that is all about learning how to be a young star and how you carry your stardom.

You  must learn to do deal with responsibility, accountability, disappointment and success. Not get too down when you struggle and remain a bit humble when you are blowin up...

He has a great makeup...along with most of the guys on the team. It will start falling for him and no one will be happier as a fan then I...   

Maybe he needs to go back to AAA and try and figure out what he is doing.  Last time he did that he came back and was on fire toward the end of last season.  He just is struggling so bad up here now that his confidence might be shaken.  God I would love to see him succeed (for the Brewers chances), however he is struggling something fierce right now.  I am not sure if Hall has options left, but maybe he should join him.  Bring up Branyan and let Dillon or Counsell play 2B until they right the ship.

Yost said he is sticking with Rickie in the leadoff spot. Does that mean Sunday he will be batting 7th? Examples of Yost saying one thing and then doing the other: We are not switching Braun and Prince just yet... bang next day they switch Gagne is our closer... oops, next day he is removed

What other team in major league baseball has three starters who are hitting below .200? Cameron, Hall, and Weeks not only cannot hit, but many times cannot even get a piece of the ball and there you have it--Strikeouts.  How many times do you see Hall take the first pitch right down the middle and then eventually strike-out?  Cameron is pathetic at the plate and Weeks is not much better.

I say get those three out of the lineup and play somebody, anybody, and let the chips fall where they may! The Brewers are never going to compete and win games with these three duds in the lineup.  Remember when Weeks was going to be the next super star and Cameron was the glue that would bring a pennant to Milwaukee? Hall was going to be a home run slugger and possibly an all-star.

We should  be tired of Yost, Melvin, and Gord Ash's optimism about this team and get back to reality!

 

BigBrew/PackFan:

We should  be tired of Yost, Melvin, and Gord Ash's optimism about this team and get back to reality!

 

 

Interesting.  Optimism and confidence are often cited in management research as being desirable traits for leaders.

Yost should switch Weeks and Kendall in the order. There is no reason to stick with Weeks as he struggles. Take some of the pressure off by lowering him in the order.